Deep within the eerie mansion.
Shen Tanqi held Sandan, staring dumbfoundedly at Jing Wei. He said, “I really can’t accept such a big gift. My household is already too full, even the pets are double in number.”
He bent down, trying to gently help Jing Wei up, but Jing Wei stared at him intensely, as if he wouldn’t get up unless Shen Tanqi agreed.
After a long while, Shen Tanqi’s hand went stiff from trying to help, and he finally said helplessly, “I really can’t accept it.”
Huo Yening watched them quietly for a while, then put down his tea cup and said softly, “Get up, Jing Wei. He doesn’t want you.”
Even though he had anticipated this outcome, he hadn’t expected Shen Tanqi to refuse so bluntly.
Jing Wei stood up, casting a sharp glare at Huo Yening before saying coldly, “In that case, I shall take my leave.”
With a wave from Huo Yening, Jing Wei transformed into a peregrine falcon and flew out the door.
Leaving Shen Tanqi holding Sandan, staring wide-eyed at Huo Yening.
“What are you staring at? Give me the kid,” Huo Yening said.
Shen Tanqi blinked, “You’re willing to treat him?”
“Of course,” Huo Yening replied lazily, taking Sandan from his hands.
Shen Tanqi asked again, “Not asking for a penny?”
Huo Yening laughed in exasperation. “I’m a dying man; what use do I have for your stinking money?” Sometimes, he really thought Shen Tanqi must have been his brother in a past life. This knack for being a pain was just too similar to his.
Shen Tanqi froze for a moment, staring at Huo Yening’s face that looked just like his brother’s, and asked blankly, “You’re dying?”
“Yeah,” Huo Yening replied nonchalantly, not taking it seriously. He began to absorb the demonic energy from Sandan, speaking calmly as he worked, “Give me a few drops of your blood. Using your blood as a medium to infuse spiritual energy will prevent his body from rejecting it.”
Without hesitation, Shen Tanqi borrowed a long sword from Lin Tanjiu, cut his finger, and let the blood drip into Huo Yening’s hand.
“I’ll absorb the remaining demonic energy in him. For now, he won’t risk becoming demonic again. If it recurs when he grows up, you and Yu Ce can take turns suppressing the demonic energy in his body. It won’t harm him.”
Shen Tanqi listened quietly, feeling a slight ache in his heart. Even though he knew the person in front of him wasn’t his brother who raised him, and their bond wasn’t deep, it still hurt to watch someone he cared about walk toward death.
“You’re sick. Can Yu Ce’s dragon ball cure you?” Shen Tanqi asked, trying to sound casual.
Huo Yening didn’t look up, answering softly, “I borrowed his dragon ball years ago. It’s a miracle I’ve lasted this long. It can’t be cured.”
Shen Tanqi, feeling a bit frustrated, said, “But don’t give up. There might be other ways. There are so many miracle doctors out there. Maybe one day you’ll find someone who can heal you…”
Hearing the urgency in his voice, Huo Yening looked up and smiled, “Are you worried about me?”
Shen Tanqi fell silent.
Huo Yening didn’t mind. After absorbing the demonic energy from Sandan, he handed the egg back to Shen Tanqi, saying calmly, “I’m not sick. I’ve just not practiced demonic cultivation for too long, and my life span has run out.”
Humans have a short lifespan, barely a few decades. Without practicing immortality, they die early. Cultivating immortality can extend life to over a hundred years.
The same goes for the demon clan. Compared to humans, demons already have a long life span. But without practicing demonic cultivation, their lifespan will eventually run out.
Huo Yening had lived through the wars of the three realms, seen the rise and fall of countless geniuses in the vast world of cultivation, and witnessed the fleeting beauty of blooming flowers and shifting clouds. He had seen it all, and felt he had lived long enough.
The only thing he couldn’t let go of was the little bird he had raised with his own hands.
Jing Wei was still young, unaware of the dangers of the world. Without his protection, who knew what hardships would break his wings in the future.
“After I die,” Huo Yening smiled, “I hope you and Yu Ce will take good care of Jing Wei. He’s stubborn, with a hard mouth but a soft heart, different from the cold and heartless demons.”
Shen Tanqi recalled Jing Wei’s cold gaze, pressed his lips together, and asked, “Why don’t you practice demonic cultivation?” Unlike Yu Ce, Shen Tanqi believed that if practicing demonic cultivation could keep him alive, it was worth a try.
The world is vast, but staying alive is the most important thing.
Huo Yening found this amusing, pointing at him, “Jing Wei asked me the same thing. You really are different from that old-fashioned Yu Ce. If you became a demon, you’d be a formidable one.”
He tried to lighten the mood, but Shen Tanqi couldn’t smile. “If not practicing demonic cultivation means dying, and practicing it means living, I would definitely choose to practice demonic cultivation.”
At this, Huo Yening fell silent.
He shook his head, and seeing Shen Tanqi’s confused look, he softly said, “If my death can show the human and demon realms that there are demons who don’t practice demonic cultivation, maybe one day, the three realms can coexist without prejudice and hatred, like in the old days, where everyone is like family.”
Just like how Shen Tanqi called him brother and he called Shen Tanqi his little brother, humans and demons could also become friends and family.
What he was doing now was simply paving a way for the future generations of demons.
Shen Tanqi stared at Huo Yening in shock, saying, “Your idea… it’s too idealistic.”
He had never seen someone as extremely idealistic as Huo Yening, willing to sacrifice his life for a goal.
“It’s quite grand, isn’t it?” Huo Yening raised an eyebrow and said, “One day it will come true, just like when the demon clan and humans signed a treaty to coexist peacefully. The demon clan is also part of all living things.”
Shen Tanqi stared at him and said, “Now I think you’re not quite like my brother.”
Huo Yening laughed, “Oh, so you’re not pretending anymore? Before, you were calling me brother quite convincingly.”
Hearing this, Shen Tanqi nodded, “It was indeed an act. You and my brother look the same, are the same height. I even wondered if you might be my brother in disguise. But now I see, you’re nothing alike.”
“My brother never had such grand ambitions,” Shen Tanqi said quietly. “Maybe he did in the past, but after he had to support me and my sister, going out to work and making money, losing an arm in the process, he never had those ambitions again.”
Huo Yening, curious, asked, “Really? Your brother is more impressive than I am. I can’t even make money.” After a pause, he smiled and said, “You have a sister? What does she look like?”
Shen Tanqi processed his self-deprecating comment, then pointed to Lin Tanjiu, “She looks like this. Pretty, isn’t she?”
Huo Yening examined Lin Tanjiu for a moment and remarked, “Beautiful. No wonder I felt like we looked alike. What do you think, sister?”
Lin Tanjiu bit her lip and said, “Senior, your aspirations are too great for me to live up to.”
A demon who refuses to practice demonic cultivation for the sake of the demon clan’s future is worthy of everyone’s respect.
No wonder the head of the Feiluan Sect trusted this daemon healer so much to hand over the Feiluan egg for treatment.
He truly is… a reliable and trustworthy demon.
But indeed, he does look a bit like her.
Lin Tanjiu couldn’t understand.
It seemed like fate had brought them together again in this form, gathering them as a family to bid farewell to Huo Yening, who was nearing the end of his life.
With Sandan’s demonic energy absorbed and the evening approaching, Shen Tanqi also needed to return home. Before leaving, he couldn’t help but say again, “Yu Ce is in the city now.”
Huo Yening nodded, leaning against the door frame as he saw them off. “I know.”
Shen Tanqi tentatively suggested, “How about using the dragon ball again?”
“No need,” Huo Yening waved his hand, urging them to leave. “Healer Huo is closing shop. There won’t be any more business. Don’t come again. Even if you do, I might not be here.”
Shen Tanqi wanted to persuade him again, but Lin Tanjiu and Taro Ball dragged him away.
Watching Shen Tanqi step over the threshold, Huo Yening silently thought to himself, “Fool.”
He had known all along that Shen Tanqi was pretending, just trying to establish a connection.
But if—
In the next life, if they could be real brothers, that would be nice. He envied Shen Tanqi’s brother for having such a good brother.
He really envied him.
Returning to the main hall, Jing Wei had been waiting behind him for some time.
Huo Yening smiled at him. “You came at the right time. I got Shen Tanqi’s blood.”
Turning his hand over, Huo Yening revealed the blood Shen Tanqi had just dripped.
“Come,” Huo Yening approached Jing Wei and fed him the drop of blood. “From now on, don’t go causing trouble for him. If someone really tries to kill you, go to Rongyun Sect and find Shen Tanqi and Yu Ce. They will help you.”
Only by having Jing Wei acknowledge him as master through blood could Huo Yening die in peace.
Jing Wei was a demon, and to establish himself in the demon clan and survive, he must practice demonic cultivation. The only way Jing Wei could practice demonic cultivation without making grave mistakes was to acknowledge a master through a blood pact.
By acknowledging someone like Shen Tanqi as his master, even if Jing Wei made missteps, there would be someone to guide him back.
With Jing Wei’s talent, becoming a minor demon lord in the future would be no problem. Shen Tanqi and Yu Ce would find Jing Wei useful when they want to contain the demon clan.
This was the best solution he could think of, benefiting everyone involved.
Jing Wei swallowed the drop of blood, trembling all over as if freezing cold. A golden pattern appeared on his forehead—a sign that the master-servant contract had been established.
Huo Yening took off his black robe and draped it over Jing Wei’s shoulders, whispering, “Endure it, get through this.”
After a long while, Jing Wei regained his composure and looked at him coldly. With the contract now sealed, he fiercely threw off the cool black robe from his shoulders without looking back. “Since you are determined to hand over our master-servant contract, from now on, don’t let me see you again. If I do, it will be your death day.”
Hearing this, Huo Yening seemed to find it amusing, a faint smile playing on his lips as he leaned on his chin, his gaze fixed firmly on Jing Wei. “You turn hostile so quickly.”
“I had little to do with you to begin with. Who made you force me to acknowledge Shen Tanqi as master?” Jing Wei’s voice was icy.
Knowing his resentment and his unwillingness, Huo Yening sighed softly. He reached for a jar of pear blossom wine from the table, produced in Wenqiu City. He poured the clear wine slowly onto the ground and muttered, “Alright, there’s no need to trouble you further. It won’t be long before I die anyway. Don’t you know that?”
The young man stood stiffly, his fingers tightly clenched inside his sleeves, as he heard Huo Yening murmuring behind him, “After more than a decade of friendship, even if we must part ways today, let’s not make it so awkward. This bottle of wine, consider it a gesture from me to you, wishing you— may you ascend to the position of demon lord soon, wielding great power, with everyone beneath you and no one above.”
He poured another bottle, his large hands removing the red cloth from the stopper, sprinkling it freely onto the ground, almost whispering, “This bottle of wine, I wish for myself—”
“Life has its origins, and death its destination. It’s better to reach nirvana early, with no regrets.”
Jing Wei’s eyelashes trembled lightly, his whole body shaking uncontrollably. He wanted to turn around and ask Huo Yening if he really had to die, if he really couldn’t practice demonic cultivation.
He didn’t understand why Huo Yening, as a member of the demon clan, chose not to practice demonic cultivation.
Was it just to show loyalty and to make the three realms accept the demon clan?
Huo Yening was so naive to think that he could make the daemon and human races accept the demon clan, it was harder than reaching the sky!
For such a foolish idea, Huo Yening really hadn’t practiced demonic cultivation again. Jing Wei couldn’t understand it, and he didn’t want to understand it either.
What’s wrong with being a demon? It’s so satisfying to kill whoever you want, why care about others’ opinions.
“When you were young, I found you on the ancient battlefield of the Three Realms. I don’t know which heartless person gave birth to you and left.” Huo Yening reclined on the soft chair, emptying the remaining sake from the bottle into his mouth, whispering softly, “I raised you with my own hands, and you haven’t killed anyone until now. After I die, Yu Ce and Shen Tanqi will protect you.”
Jing Wei finally turned his head, his voice filled with resentment, “I don’t need their protection to become a demon lord. Is this what you want, to make me their puppet?”
Huo Yening closed his eyes, offering no response.
In the long silence, he sighed softly and said resignedly, “They won’t treat you like a puppet. I owe Yu Ce a debt of gratitude, and my relationship with Shen Tanqi is still passable. Only by handing you over to them can I have some peace of mind.”
Those malicious demons of the demon clan would undoubtedly send Jing Wei to his death if he returned to them now, unarmed and defenseless. By allowing Shen Tanqi to acknowledge him through a blood pact, at least Jing Wei could secure a way out for himself, a last resort for when he had nowhere else to turn.
Jing Wei opened his mouth as if to speak, but hesitated, looking at him. After a long pause, he swallowed his words and turned his eyes away indifferently, saying, “Since that’s the case, you should feel reassured now and go die.”
Huo Yening seemed oblivious to the resentment in his tone and simply nodded. “Yes, it’s time to die. What use is there in lingering on in this world, constantly being cursed and unable to hold my head up?”
“It serves you right to be insulted,” Jing Wei blurted out without hesitation. “You think if you do good for me, I’ll be grateful to you. But you forget I am a heartless demon. Even if I had feelings, they would only be hatred towards you. This is all just your foolish sentimentality from spending too much time with humans and daemons! Utterly foolish!”
Huo Yening pursed his lips and remained silent, calmly pouring the wine from the jug into his mouth.
Yes, he was utterly foolish.
Quite so.
It was better to hate him than to miss him.
“Jing Wei,” he softly called out.
Ignoring his words, Jingwei stubbornly turned his face away, not looking at him. From behind him, Huo Yening’s voice sounded nonchalant, almost teasing, “We won’t see each other again. Come here and give me a hug.”
When he was young, Huo Yening used to love hugging him. Back then, Jing Wei was chubby like Shen Tanqi, with a face that was irresistibly cute when pinched.
Jing Wei coldly gripped the sword at his waist and strode out the doorway without looking back.
“I’m returning to the demon clan. When you die, have someone send me a message so I can come and dig up your lonely grave.”
Since Huo Yening was determined to die, Jing Wei saw no need to bother with a dead man.
He was a demon. How could a demon have feelings?
If Huo Yening was foolish enough to die, let him die. No one would shed a tear for him.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
