Hometown

After standing by the railing for a while, Ye Jiuya asked, "What did you see in the South Sea?"

"The Heart Tempering Mirror is actually a passage from the Heart Demon realm to the human world. The one above Xingluo Abyss is for humans to enter the Demon Realm, but the Demon Realm's fortune is flourishing, so demons can appear in the human world in physical form," Chen Weichen explained what he and Xing Qiu saw in the South Sea, then continued, "It's not that they are just coming out now - they had already appeared at least when we were in Jinxiu City. They aren't that smart, and must be driven by someone to want the fated treasures. We need to be careful in a few days during the dharma debate, and especially when opening the Platform of Life and Creation."

Having explained most of the situation, he returned to his room. Under the current circumstances, the two of them definitely could not stay in the same room anymore.

As they parted, Chen Weichen asked, "How is your cultivation?"

- That drop of Nascent Soul Energy must have injured his foundation.

"It can be replenished when I break through."

"That's good then."

This was not the kind of damage that ordinary cultivation could recover from. Only by connecting with the Dao at the top three realms could it be restored.

Chen Weichen also understood that for Ye Jiuya to reach the third level of the heavenly realm, he only lacked the resolution of one obsession.

As he turned to enter his room, he heard Ye Jiuya ask, "What about your cultivation?"

"I'm fine," he said in a light tone, "After all, it was just your aura - I'm not scared to that extent yet. The injury from sleeping with you for one night can be healed by sleeping alone for two or three nights."

Having said all that needed to be said, they exchanged another glance and a gentle, light kiss before returning to their respective rooms.

Over the next few days, Chen Weichen and Xing Qiu became the two most idle people in the entire Zhichen Temple.

On Ye Jiuya's side, the group was studying day and night how to deal with the heart demons, not to mention the other monks' coursework also intensified in preparation for the upcoming dharma debate.

Even the little novice monks they encountered on the road were talking about related matters - they had not experienced such a grand occasion before. Although they were not qualified to participate, they still looked forward to it.

Chen Weichen could at least read some scriptures or meditate, allowing his Immortal, Buddha and Demon energies to become more naturally integrated. Xing Qiu, on the other hand, had nothing to cultivate. Besides discussing some strange demon cultivation techniques with Chen Weichen every day, there was nothing else to do.

The two of them joked around all day, sounding very reasonable and logical. With just a few words, they could make monks with shallow attainments doubt their understanding of the scriptures, sending them back to the library to recopy the sutras. Or they would go down the mountain to play with cats and dogs - giving the abbot Kong Shan a big headache. As a respected and kind elder, he could not intervene directly, but he also dared not order his junior brothers to deal with matters related to this Demon Emperor, fearing it would involve something deadly.

Fortunately, the two of them finally had enough fun with things on and below the mountain, and went to the human world.

The little phoenix transformed, becoming a purple phoenix with a wingspan of over thirty feet, carrying the two of them and flying out of Zhichen's territory.

"Today is the day my sister is supposed to get married," Chen Weichen said, stroking the phoenix's feathers. "Give me one of your feathers?"

Xing Qiu patted the phoenix, hearing it let out an obedient cry, then flew up into the air, plucking one of its crest feathers.

"Although it carries some fortune and can help ward off some misfortune for your sister," Xing Qiu said, "this little phoenix ultimately isn't a true phoenix. It can't bless a person with lifelong good fortune like a phoenix feather can. Why don't we go to a phoenix nest and pluck one?"

Chen Weichen gave him a helpless look. "Just stay put."

Xing Qiu wanted to go play somewhere else. "I heard your Immortal Dao has many nice places that I haven't been to yet."

Chen Weichen raised an eyebrow. "What places have you heard of?"

"The phoenix nest in the southern fertile lands counts as one. There's also Chuixing Waterfall, Shuangyue Bay, the small Kunlun west of Liuli Heavenly Palace, where the white clouds originate. In the north there's Hanjing Pool and Mount Liuxue. In the middle there's also the Greater and Lesser Dragon Courts and Mount Huandang."

"On the way to Fuyao Platform, we can take a look at the Greater and Lesser Dragon Courts. If you're still following me after the dharma debate, we can go to Mount Huandang, but it will be a bit dangerous. As for the other places, feel free to visit as you please after the various sects recognize you at the dharma debate."

Xing Qiu's eyes lit up.

Chen Weichen put away the phoenix feather. "The Heavenly Dao is ultimately watching. Wanting too much will backfire. I now only hope for them to live out their lives safely and soundly. I can't be greedy for anything else."

"How boring," Xing Qiu leaned back into the soft phoenix feathers. "The Heavenly Dao - it's really so boring. I thought that by cultivating the demon dao to its peak, I couldn't advance any further, and would have to oppose the Heavenly Dao next. But then that bald monk said all paths lead to the Great Dao. I suffered so much bad fortune for nothing, and in the end I was still following the Heavenly Dao. Only getting involved with the heart demons counts as greatly going against the natural order. Now I don't even feel like cultivating anymore."

Reaching the end of the cultivation path, not only was there nothing to do, it was also a huge letdown. It really left one feeling helpless.

"Speaking of which, the separation of the Demon Dao and Immortal Dao, and the separation of the Heart Demon Realm and human world..." Xing Qiu looked up at the sky.

"- You mean to say that since the Demon Dao and Immortal Dao ultimately merge, the Demon Realm and human world can also find a way to the same destination despite taking different paths?"

"That's right," Xing Qiu said. "When I'm really bored, I also flip through some books. That taiji double-fish diagram is said to illustrate yin and yang giving rise to each other, one waning as the other waxes, each containing the other..."

As he was speaking, they had already arrived at their destination. The establishment of the new dynasty did not have a particular impact on these major cities that had not experienced the flames of war. It was still a prosperous and peaceful scene.

The two of them concealed their presence and stood inside the Chen family residence.

Maids and servants in festive clothing were busily coming and going with things.

The eldest daughter getting married was indeed a big event.

Chen Weichen looked in from outside the window. The maids were standing properly below, holding various items. The bride was sitting in front of a bronze mirror, already wearing her red wedding dress, as her aunt was combing her hair.

The aunt had a kind face, her eyes filled with gratified joy. Holding a red wooden wedding comb, she chanted as she combed, "One comb to the head, riches and honor without dread..."

Chen Weichen took Xing Qiu and slipped back into his own room. Taking a peach blossom paper, he wrote a few words with a brush, then took a box and placed the phoenix feather inside. He returned to outside the room where the bride was.

"Two combs to the end, a pair flying wing to wing. Three combs to the end, hearts joined eternally..."

With her hair done up and the phoenix crown properly placed, she was just about to put on the large red veil when suddenly there was a light tapping sound at the window.

The bride looked up and saw a small bird, shaped like a phoenix in an auspicious purple color, pecking at a slender red wooden box that had appeared on the windowsill at some unknown time, as if intentionally trying to draw the attention of those in the room.

The aunt went over first, took down the box, opened it for a look, and handed it to the bride.

A glowing purple feather lay inside, with a piece of paper underneath.

She recognized it as the peach blossom paper her second brother loved to use. With a soft "ah", her delicate jade fingers picked it up and unfolded it to read.

Others could vaguely see some sincere and heartfelt well-wishes on the peach blossom paper, along with lines like "being beyond the mundane world, all is well, no need to worry", and finally signed off with "Your younger brother Weichen bows from afar".

The bride's eyes reddened as if about to shed tears, but she forcibly held them back. Facing the courtyard outside the window, she scolded half-resentfully, half-coquettishly: "You troublesome little beast."

Though scolding with her mouth, she carefully put the items away, treasuring them.

She put on the veil, and with the matchmaker holding her hand, bid farewell to her parents, left the boudoir and the family home.

The eldest brother of the Chen family waited at the door to carry his sister into the large red wedding sedan.

But she did not know that on this journey, someone else had accompanied her for a stretch.

"Not letting her see you?" Xing Qiu asked.

"Perhaps we may never meet again in the future. It would only add to her worries, better not to see her," Chen Weichen said with a smile.

At this time, Old Master Chen, who was watching the red wedding procession disappear into the distance from the front door, frowned and looked around for a long time before saying to his wife, "I always feel like Weichen is right beside us."

The wife said, "Old Master, you must miss him too much."

"No, that's not it." Old Master Chen continued to look at the crowd. "The hearts of family members are connected, different from others. Wife, you should also take a good look."

They searched the crowd for a long time but could not discern anything. Finally, the wife said, "I wonder how that little beast is doing now, he never knew how to take care of himself."

Old Master stroked his beard, "Didn't he send a letter some days ago, telling us that all is well? That one in our family, crazy or not, has always been different from others. We know that one day he will go far away."

"That may be so," the wife's eyes reddened as she wiped away a tear, "but I still remember when the little one was young, seeming to understand nothing and unable to even speak; he would just hug people tightly, which was incredibly endearing."

Old Master sighed and comfortingly held his wife in his arms.

Chen Weichen lowered his eyes slightly, his voice a bit hoarse as he said to Xing Qiu, "Let's go."

Xing Qiu did not speak and silently followed him towards the outskirts of the city.

As they were about to turn a corner, Chen Weichen looked back.

He gazed at the large red wedding sedan disappearing into the distance, at the people standing under the "Chen Manor" plaque, at the peach blossom tree on the street corner, at the entire city.

It was as if he wanted to engrave these images in his heart - permanently.

As they were about to leave the city, he suddenly thought of something, "I didn't see Ah Hui and Xiao Dao, they should have been there."

Then he frowned, "I need to go back and check."

When they returned, the people at the door had dispersed. They went to the courtyard where Chen Weichen usually resided. Xing Qiu transformed into the appearance of a young servant and stopped a maid, "Sister, have you seen Brother Wen and Sister Dao?"

The little maid replied resentfully, "Where did you come from that you forgot the Madam forbade mentioning Brother Ah Hui - Sister Dao is feeling unwell today and is resting in her room."

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, they knocked on Xiao Dao's door. Xiao Dao opened the door, looking haggard. Unable to hide any longer, Xing Qiu undid the magic technique for Chen Weichen.

Seeing the young master, Xiao Dao choked back a sob and collapsed into his arms, crying, "Young Master, you've finally returned."

Chen Weichen gently patted her shoulders. When she finally calmed down, he asked, "What exactly happened? Where is Ah Hui?"

"He's gone mad!" Xiao Dao stamped her foot. "At first, he was afflicted with a strange sickness that left him in a daze, often unable to be woken. Later it turned into hysteria. He kept saying the young master had died, sometimes that the young master was struck dead by heavenly lightning, sometimes that he saw Sect Leader Ye holding a sword and killing the young master, and sometimes that the young master committed suicide in a grand palace on a mountain. We showed him the young master's letter, but he wouldn't even look at it, only saying that this year's August 15th would be the young master's day of death, along with other nonsense that we couldn't understand!"

"Ah Dao," Chen Weichen closed his eyes and took a deep breath before saying to Xiao Dao, "Think carefully, what else did he say? Where is he now?"

"He's gone! Disappeared a month ago, and the family couldn't find him no matter what. I remember he often mentioned a mountain, called Huan-something."

"Mount Huandang?"

Xiao Dao nodded vigorously, sobbing.