Hello guys, so sorry for the long wait! I was looking though my drafts and found chapter 75 which I had completed during the holidays. In this chapter, it is revealed that the Demon God is not what he is made out to be. Please forgive my tortoise updates=X
Hua Qian Gu felt as though she was going to be ripped into pieces in the howling wind and the contorted space. An intense pain spread across her entire body and all her organs. She could not breathe here. Her lips and face were pale, her head spinning. She wanted to pike. She could not see her surroundings clearly. Fragments and dismembered parts of ghost seemed to be dancing among the ash. The space around around seemed to stretch and contort like an illusion. She wanted to struggle, but the force here was too great.Amidst the tragic and strange howls of ghost, she gradually lost consciousness.
When she woke up, her surroundings had quietened. She felt like she was lying amidst soft fluffy clouds, warm and comfortable. Before she opened her eyes, she could already feel the cleanliness and brightness of her surroundings.
The light peered through the gaps between her eyelids. She could not see anything, yet she felt as though she could see the whole world. She felt as though she was in a beautiful illusions. She was too tired. She indulged herself in this feeling, unwilling to open her eyes and wake up.
However, she seemed to hear the cry of an infant. She thought that she was hallucinating, but the crying got louder.
She opened her eyes and surveyed her surroundings. It was completely different from what she had imagined. She thought that the inside of the black hole be like hell, pitch black and burning. However she did not expect the surroundings to be gentle and bright with nothing. There was sky or earth, there was nothing. Even where she stood on did not seem to be solid. There was only a crescent moon above her.
Amidst the clean bright light, she could not find anywhere to sit. She quickly closed her eyes tiredly, if not she would go blind in the light.
Then she heard the crying of the infant faintly again, as though it came from all directions. Because there was no landmarks, she could not tell where she was going. Hua Qian Gu could only close her eyes and walk towards the source of the sound.
Finally when the sound seemed very close, Hua Qian Gu opened her eyes and was shocked to see a giant thousand petaled lotus suspended in mid air. The lotus was crystal clear like an ice sculpture, emitting a soft glow.
Inside, there was a naked crying infant, lying in the heart of the lotus, his tiny arms and legs wildly flailing.
Hua Qian Gu was shocked. Could this be the Demon God? But why was it in the form of an infant?
She slowly ascended and flew into the lotus flower and stared down at the three to four month old infant. In the clear and loud cries, there wasn’t a single trace of grief, as though he was merely announcing his existence.
Hua Qian Gu was a bit unsettled. She went a little closed. The child was very small withpretty pink skin. He was extremely adorable.
The child stopped crying when he realised someone was looking at him. He curiously opened his big black eyes and looked at Hua Qian Gu. His pupils were as clear and bright as spring water. In this world, only an infant could have such a clear gaze and an innocent and adorable expression.
He pouted and gurgled as though he was taking to Hua Qian Gu.
Hua Qian Gu felt her heart tingle and soften, as though it was being wrapped in clouds. She knitted her eyebrows together. She would never expect things to develop this way.
The infant’s eyes blinked and rolled his round body. Then he placed his tiny hand into his mouth and began sucking at it.
Hua Qian Gu carefully landed on the lotus flower and took a few minute steps towards him. Finally she squatted beside him and peered down at him.
The infant gurgled two sentences before grabbing his feet and placing it in his mouth.
Hua Qian Gu could not help but laugh. She stretched out a small finger and gently touched him. Soft, bouncy and warm. He was clearly an ordinary infant.
He looked at Hua Qian Gu and gave a few kicks with his small legs, then he reached out to grab the Tian Shui Droplet hanging off Hua Qian Gu’s neck. However, his hands were too short, so he decided to grab her hair instead.
His adorable gestures had melted Hua Qian Gu’s heart to putty and she could not help but stretch out her finger to poke his chubby cheek. The baby immediately reached out to grab her finger and started giggling. That innocent and pure smile was surpassed the most beatiful picture in the world.
Hua Qian Gu saw him sucking her finger, it was so ticklish she could not help laugh. She gently picked him up. His small body was so soft that he did not seem to have any bones. When she carried him, she was afraid she would accidentally break him. His skin was as smooth and glossy like milk or silk. His hands continually waved.
Afraid that he would catch a cold, Hua Qian Gu took off her thin outer coat and wrapped him in it, revealing on his tiny face.He struggled and poked out his small hands and touched Hua Qian Gu’s face. Then he started smiling happily again.
Hua Qian Gu looked at his small hands. It was small, chubby, fair and tender with a few dimples on the back of his hands. She felt a surge of tenderness in her heart and she gave him a small peck. He smiled even more happily.
However Hua Qian Gu started to worry. There was no boundaries, no objects in this black hole. Here he was the only living thing. He must be the newly formed body of the Demon God. Even though he looked like a harmless infant, but once he took form, he would carry the enormous power of the Demon God and nobody would be able to stop him then.
Didn’t she come here to stop the Demon God from being born? If she did not kill him before his power was restored, then when would she do it?
However, he was only an infant who knew nothing. Why should he pay the price for something he had yet to do because he was born with the enormous power of the Demon God.
A vigorous struggle began within Hua Qian Gu. Huge droplets of sweat started flowing down her forehead. The child in the bosom did not seem to realise that his life and death depended on her decision. He continually gnawing on her finger like it was a candy.
She struggled desperately as she looked at the innocent baby in her bosom. A voice told her that she must consider that the entire world’s hand was at stake and she could not cause a huge calamity because of her softheartedness. Furthermore, this was caused by her and she should solve it herself.
However, how could a Demon God be born of a lotus flower? Didn’t that prove that fat the beginning, there was no distinction between good and bad, the kind and evil? He was now an ordinary infant. How could the value of his existence be adjudged by events that had yet to occur? Humans are good by nature. If someone patiently guided him on the right path, just like how Shi Fu had taught her, then the destruction of the six realms might not happen at all!
That voice spoke again. What if it doesn’t work? The Demon God is still the Demon God. Today, she let off him because of her softheartedness. In the future, millions of people would die because of her actions. Now, the fate of the six realms and eight wilderness were grasped in her hands. How could she take such a big risk?
Hua Qian Gu closed her eyes. Yet who had said that the lives of two people were weightier than the life of one? Were the lives of millions more important than that of one person? The value of life could not be measured by sheer numbers! Killing one person to save another was wrong. Does that mean that to save two or to save a million people, it was definitely correct? Shi Fu had taught her that what was important was not one’s ability but his choice. So what if he carried the enormous power of the Demon God? As long as he had a heart for good, he may even be a blessing to the world!
However that voice continued to argue. Authority leads to corruption and power breeds evil. Nobody can control their own desires. Such great power can never lead to good. It will only breed evil and greed. How could she use the world as a stake and bet on a ending that was bound to be tragic.
No! No! Hua Qian Gu shook her head in terror. As long as someone guided him well, there would be no such conclusion. How could a child be sentenced to death before anything was set in stone? She still believed that human hearts were kind.
She hugged the child tightly and lowered her head and gently touched his forehead. She had never killed. How could she kill a completely defenceless infant.
Since she caused this, she would be responsible to the ended.
She muttered softly: ” From now, I will raise and teach you as if I am your parents. I will teach you to read and write, teach you etiquette, teach you right from wrong, teach you history. If you are to have any evil though, I, I will not be merciful anymore.”
Hua Qian Gu took off the prayer beads that had accompanied her all these years from her wrist and placed it on his tiny foot. She raised her head to look at the crescent moon above.
“There is no heaven and earth, no sun or stars, only a moon. You will use Nan Wu (Nan means south, Wu means none) as your surname and use Yue (moon) as your name. I hope that when you grow up, you will have the heart of a budha, and contain the sun and moon and the entire world in your heart. Please don’t ever make me regret the decision I made today.”
The child in her bosom seemed to understand her words and gave a brilliant grin, squinting his eyes to form two tiny crescents.
Since Hua Qian Gu had set her mind to it, she relaxed a lot. She looked at how he was continually grabbing things to place it in his mouth.
“Xiao Yue, are you hungry?” Hua Qian Gu was a bit shocked. Why did the Demon God need to eat? But she was not his real mother. Don’t talk about milk, her chest was basically undeveloped. What could she feed him!
She suddenly remembered that she had picked some Pin Grass and placed it in her Xu Ding in case she was hungry. She realised she had not eaten in a few days. Even though she was immortal and did not need to eat, there was a psychological need to eat. Hence she took out the Pin Grass and ate a bit herself, before chewing it and feeding a little to Nan Wu Yue.
She almost felt full immediately and all her fatigue disappeared. She played with him for a long while before taking out the Ling Qi Zither that she used normally to play a tune for him.
Thinking that her Shi Fu’s poison was finally neutralised, she was comforted. Thinking of Shuo Feng, Lu Xiao, Wen Feng Yu who died for her, she felt pain. Thinking of how her Shi Fu and the entire Immortal Realm were eager to catch this utter sinner, she felt extremely indignant. The sound of her zither was happy at times and sad at times. However what she thought of the most was still each moment she had spent with Bai Zi Hua.
Suddenly she felt someone grab the corner of her sleeve. She looked down to see Nan Wu Yue crawl beside her. He looked up and smiled at her innocently.
Hua Qian Gu carried him in her bosom and he touched his face gently with his small hands, as though he wanted to make her happy. Hua Qian Gu lowered her head to kiss his cheek knowing that he was ten times more sensitive that any normal person.
She felt something was wrong. She looked at him closely. He had indeed grown a lot. The speed was astounding.
Nan Wu Yue was very obedient, not crying or throwing a tantrum. No matter what Hua Qian Gu did, he loved to crawl over and around her. He was only a tiny thing, yet he was gurgling beside her ear as though he was talking to her. He loved to gnaw on her finger. Hua Qian Gu was shocked to find that he had already grown milk teeth.
Perhaps, he would learn to speak much earlier than others. Hence, she continually told him stores and taught him to speak. As he watched her mouth continually open and close, he eyes seem to sparkle as though he could understand.
After a rough calculation, Hua Qian Gu found that for everyday spent in the black hole, Nan Wu Yue grew one year. Hence, in about 20 days, he would possess the powerful and perfect body needed to carry the power of the Demon God.
Hua Qian Gu started to fret. She was afraid that time would pass too past. Before she could teach Xiao Yue anything, before he had time to differentiate good from evil, he would have to go out to face the world.
Hence, she tried even harder to talk to him, teach him more things and play the zither for him to train his character.
Usually, a child’s first words would be Mama, Niang Qin (formal version of mother in chinese), but Nan Wu Yue’s first phrase was “Hua Hua…….”
Other children would only refer to themselves by their names, but Nan Wu Yue had learnt to say “I” from very early on, having a very clear self-consciousness. At first, hua Qian Gu was slightly worried, but after two three days had past, Nan Wu Yue had gradually grown up and slowly learnt to walk under her guidance. Other than being smarter and growing faster than normal children, there were no other differences.
He was slightly shy, very obedient, never losing his temper or being wilful. He had never shown any evil or violent. In fact, when he heard Hua Qian Gu talk about sad stories of the human realm, he would cry sadly like a child.
Nan Wu Yue almost learnt on immediately when Hua Qian Gu taught him to write and play the zither. No matter what theory, he would understand it with one explnation. Hencce, it was very easy to teach him. Hua Qian Gu let him read the books that she had carried in the Xu Ding. He had had to quickly flip through it once to memorise everything and learn it. As for other things, Hua Qian Gu would pick some useful things and tell him bit about it. Afraid that he would find it boring, she would accompany him and play games. However Nan Wu Yue was always very patient and innocent.
Since both of them did not need to eat or sleep, all their acitivites were almost conducted on the thousand petal lotus. Hua Qian Gu occasionally taught him some immortal mantras and swordplay. She felt that if she directed him in the right direction, it was like making a small opening in a dam. If there was a place for water to flow, when there was a flood, the dam would not overflow. It was no plausible to completely keep him from learning about him birth. If he was suddenly provoked, he would be forced into a corner. hence, why not let him know his idenity from the start and know his circumstances and how he could avoid problems.
Hence, once he came to the age of knowing, she told him honestly about the birth of the Demon God, including why she entered the black hole and how she would kill him if he harmed people.
Nan Wu Yue realised that he was different but accepted it very naturally. He coyly hugged her waist and sweared that there would never be such a day. He wanted nothing but to stay with her forever.
Hua Qian Gu felt her heart warm. She was comforted and touched, and a whole host of other complicated feelings. Nan Wu Yue relied on her absolutely like she was his mother. He liked to listen to the funny and mundane things that happened in her life. He lacked interest in immortal arts and fighting.
Hua Qian Gu was half elated and half sad. She was glad that he had such a pure heart. But she was sad that the whole world wanted to kill him. Yet, she had trained him to be like a lamb, so kind that he was not willing to hurt anyone. Even if he had the power of the Demon God, what was the use if he could not protect himself?
Furthermore, as a Chang Liu disciple, for her Shi Fu and to atone for her past mistakes, she needed to return to accept punishments. At that time, without her to accompany him, take care of him and protect him, what was he to do?
When Nan Wu Yue heard her say this, he made his first display of anger: “You are not to leave Xiao Yue! No matter what happens, you are not allowed to leave! If you leave, even if I have to go to the corners of the earth, I will find you! Nobody is allowed to punish you! If anyone dare to harm you, I will……..”
She felt that Nan Wu Yue was speaking in anger like a child and the thousand petal lotus glow and heat up, Hua Qian Gu quickly covered his mouth and hugged him tightly.
“Remember what Jie Jie told you?”
“I remember…..” Nan Wu Yue lowered his head.
“If you don’t what to hurt Jie Jie, respect my decision and no matter what happens, don’t easily hurt others.”
“Hua Hua Jie Jie’s Shi Fu. What kind of person is he? Will he punish Jie Jie very harshly?”
“He is the most noble Shi Fu in this world, the most powerful immortal and the person who treats Jie Jie the best.”
“Then why…..”
“Because Jie Jie did something worng. Hence, she has to be punished. So Xiao Yue, remember never to do anything bad or Jie Jie will beat your buttock.”
Hua Qian Gu tickled him and Nan Wu Yue laughed, rocking in her bosom back and forth, begging for mercy.
“Jie Jie treats Xiao Yue the best. I will be good to Jie Jie too. Xiao Yue likes Jie Jie the best.”
“Jie Jie likes Xiao Yue too and I will take good care of Xiao Yue too.”
"Jie Jie, let’s stay here. As long as Jie Jie accompanies me, Xiao Yue would rather stay in this black hole of every, never going out, never caring about what happens out there, never seeing the sun, as long as I can be with Jie Jie forever.”
Hua Qian Gu felt a shock pass through her body. She looked at his still young and child like face with such a clear and determined gaze. he actually, actually was willing to be trapped in this place forever? She hugged him tightly, so touched that she did not know what to say. The outside world had no place for them. If they could forever stay here, the world would be safe and Xiao Yue would face no danger. This was a win win solution. Just that she would probably never be able to see Shi Fu…….