Chapter 91: I Refuse to Be Fa Hai
The demoness ahead carried a person over her shoulder, yet her speed remained unfathomably swift. Her form melded into the night wind, weaving through the dense forest like a spectral gale.
Chen Yan was not far behind. With the Lightness Talisman augmenting his steps and the Escape Formula surging through his meridians, he vanished into the shadowed woods in the blink of an eye, trailing closely behind.
His figure barely touched the ground as he moved, a testament to his mastery over energy. Having ascended to the Origin Stage, his cultivated qi surged to its limit, his movement arts surpassing the demoness’s speed by a slight margin.
Yet, he did not rush to overtake her. Instead, he activated Qi Observation and carefully scrutinized her aura. Her demonic energy was thick, far surpassing that of his old companion, Gui Geng, the ancient tortoise. However, she paled in comparison to the likes of Old Madam He or the cunning fox demon You Su Yi.
Judging by her aura, she was merely at the early Origin Stage.
Realizing she was not beyond his capabilities, Chen Yan’s mind eased. As he sprinted, his hand slipped into his pouch, fingers tightening around the Mountain-Like Maternal Love Talisman.
However, the demoness’s speed was relentless. Her form flickered and shifted like windblown leaves, making it impossible for him to lock onto her with his energy. The talisman, brimming with power, remained dormant in his grasp.
The chase stretched across two or three miles, until a slope loomed ahead.
Chen Yan, a native of these lands, had already mapped out the terrain in his mind. His steps subtly slowed, widening the distance between them, while quietly gathering qi in preparation.
As expected, just as she reached the foot of the hill, the demoness abruptly halted, whirled around, and let out a piercing shriek before lunging at him with clawed fingers.
Prepared for this very moment, Chen Yan invoked the Escape Formula, sidestepping several meters in an instant.
Her strike met only bark and sapwood. The force of her claws split a tree apart, sending splinters flying in every direction.
Seizing the opening, Chen Yan countered with a Command of Control: Seal Formula.
The demoness stiffened as his qi ensnared her, her expression turning to one of alarm.
Yet, in the next heartbeat, she let out another sharp cry. Her form suddenly collapsed, flattening into a gray-yellow blur, before rolling swiftly along the ground. Snow clung to her fur, blending her into the wintry landscape—a tangle of yellow and white tumbling through the frost.
Chen Yan’s seal had missed its mark. But now, her true form was revealed.
A… Weasel Demon?
His brows knit as he inhaled sharply. Spreading the fingers of his left hand, he unleashed the Yuan Qi Variant of the Six Veins Divine Sword—a barrage of qi-formed blade-light.
Index, middle, ring, and pinky fingers thrust forward simultaneously, sending four sword-like arcs whistling through the air.
The weasel demon bounded and twisted, evading deftly within the snow-laden forest. Her movements stirred flurries of white, her figure a blur against the moonlit trees. Chen Yan’s sword energy carved through bark and branches, woodchips scattering like arrows.
He unleashed over a dozen slashes in quick succession. Finally, with a pained cry, the demoness faltered—one of the energy blades striking true. Her small form tumbled into the snow, rolling before coming to an ungraceful halt.
Before she could recover, Chen Yan’s fingers flickered once more, forming a seal. “Command of Control: Seal!?”
This time, his technique struck cleanly.
The weasel demon lay motionless, completely subdued.
Chen Yan exhaled, his chest rising with the thrill of victory. This was the first time he had faced an adversary of equal cultivation in a head-on clash. No retreat, no trickery—pure skill, spellcraft, and swordplay.
Unlike his previous encounters with the Mountain Fiend or the White Fox, where he had relied on clever maneuvering and allies, this was his fight alone.
And he had won.
Without even using Gu Qing Yi’s Mountain-Like Maternal Love Talisman.
The immobilized weasel demon gritted her teeth, her sharp voice ringing in the cold night. “You human cultivator! My master and I have no quarrel with you! Why do you ruin our endeavors?”
Chen Yan’s gaze was impassive. “Wang Chu Yi is my friend. You sought to harm him. How could I not intervene?”
The weasel demon’s rage deepened. “Harm him? What nonsense! How have we harmed him?!”
Chen Yan frowned, sensing movement behind him. The sound of rustling snow reached his ears. He turned slightly to see the other demoness—the one cloaked in a human guise—struggling to kneel in the frost.
She spoke in a pleading tone, her voice trembling. “Honorable cultivator! My master speaks the truth! We have never sought to harm Chu Yi.
Yes, I have… shared pleasure with him, and yes, I borrowed some of his Yang Qi to temper my body—but I never intended him harm!”
Chen Yan’s expression hardened. His gaze swept over her disheveled figure, and he shook his head. “Enough of this indecency. Restore your true form at once.”
With a resigned sigh, her body shimmered and contorted. The illusion fell away, revealing a small Rabbit Demon with soft fur, white streaked with gray. She lay shivering in the snow, a wound at her side where one of Chen Yan’s sword strikes had landed.
Chen Yan stepped forward, grasped the rabbit by the ears, and unceremoniously tossed her beside the weasel demon.
“A weasel demon taking in a rabbit demon as a disciple—an unusual pairing.” His tone was cold. “Now, explain. How did you deceive Chu Yi? How did you torment the old monk at the temple? And what other wicked deeds have you committed? Speak—one by one.”
The weasel demon scoffed, refusing to answer, her defiance burning in her eyes. But Chen Yan’s keen sight noticed her attempting to stir her energy, striving to break free from the seal.
He sneered. With a flick of his finger, another Sword Finger shot forth, striking her square in the chest. She howled in pain, her secretly gathered qi scattering.
Before she could muster another defiance, he pressed his fingers into another seal.
“Command of Control: Seal!”
This time, there was no struggle. Only silence.
Immortal Huang let out a startled cry, then exhaled a long breath. When she looked at Chen Yan again, her gaze was no longer just filled with fury—it held a trace of fear. She swallowed any further words.
Chen Yan pointed at the Rabbit Demon. “You speak! And you’d best not play any tricks.”
The Rabbit Demon shivered, her long ears trembling in the cold night wind. She hesitated, then spoke haltingly, “This esteemed cultivator must have misunderstood. But I swear upon the Heavenly Dao, I have never harbored any intent to harm Wang Chu Yi! My master and I merely sought refuge in these mountains, away from the world, to pursue our cultivation.”
She paused, her expression growing bleak. “The Heavenly Dao is indifferent. For those of us among the Demon Race, the path of cultivation is fraught with hardship! I have only just reached the stage of transformation, yet within three to five years, I will face my Minor Heavenly Tribulation. My cultivation is weak, and I lack a formidable Innate Divine Ability—when the tribulation descends, I fear I will be reduced to mere dust.
“After much deliberation, my master and I sought a shortcut. That was when we encountered Wang Chu Yi, the young monk. His body is of the Innate Yang Constitution, carrying the Three Fires of Destiny! His blood and Qi are extraordinarily abundant—far surpassing ordinary mortals… I… I merely coaxed him into lending me some of his Yang Qi to refine my Inner Core…”
Chen Yan’s mind flashed back to the scene earlier that night—the Rabbit Demon, bare as the moonlight, slipping under the blankets.
Borrowing Yang Qi?
His expression turned cold. “You are of the Demon Race, yet you dare to extract essence from a human? Do you not consider this harming others?”
The Rabbit Demon paled, trembling with fear. “Esteemed master, I swear my cultivation is weak—I only took the barest amount of Yang Qi. I would never harm him! Besides… my master and I dwell within these mountains. If I am to refine my Inner Core, I require his Yang Fire for an extended period, not merely a single instance. How could I afford to drain him dry?
“Far from harming him, I would even protect him against those who might!”
She hesitated before continuing, “Furthermore, each time I performed this technique, I used Illusion Arts to cloud his mind. He only perceived it as a mere dream. When he awoke, he would think nothing more of it—a fleeting Spring Dream at most. It caused him no great harm. And… and…”
She faltered, then quickly added, “And Wang Chu Yi possesses an unusual constitution. His Yang Fire burns far brighter than that of ordinary men. I only ever took the smallest fraction each time—it would never weaken him.”
Immortal Huang, the Weasel Demon, who had been silent until now, scoffed and let out a bitter sigh. “Foolish disciple, why waste your breath? These human cultivators all share one desire—to slay demons and harvest our Inner Cores! Regardless of whether we harmed Wang Chu Yi, this man would still kill us and take our cores. His so-called righteousness is just an excuse!”
The Rabbit Demon shrank back, her entire body trembling. “No! Please, don’t kill me! Don’t kill me! Esteemed master, I swear—I have never once sought to harm a human!”
She was practically sobbing now. “My master and I have always been careful. Even in extracting Yang Qi from Wang Chu Yi, we ensured great restraint. I feared for his health, so I asked my master to space it out longer. In these past days, we alternated—one night, I would take some, then three days later, my master would take her turn…”
Chen Yan’s expression froze.
Wait.
What did she just say?
Three days you take from him. Then three days your master takes from him?
Damn.
He suddenly recalled what they looked like in human form—Immortal Huang, the Weasel Demon, and the Rabbit Demon. Both were stunning, each exuding an enchanting, otherworldly beauty.
They… they were both doing this?
And they were taking turns!?
That brat Wang Chu Yi—he was only eighteen!
Chen Yan felt his brain short-circuit. Two female demons preying upon an eighteen-year-old youth in such a way… this was beyond belief! Such an outrageous transgression against all moral order—
—was almost envi… No! Ahem! Absolutely despicable! Utterly heinous!
Suppressing his bewilderment, he forced his voice steady. “Then explain why you were tormenting the Old Monk.”
The Rabbit Demon shook her head. “That old monk… he learned some rudimentary techniques from who-knows-where. His skills are mediocre, but he is fond of meddling. When he stumbled upon us absorbing Wang Chu Yi’s Yang Fire, he sought to drive us away. Yet, his abilities were too weak. My master and I merely toyed with him.”
She pressed her forehead to the ground in fervent supplication. “But we never wished him harm! If we had, with his meager skills, we could have devoured him long ago!”
Chen Yan fell into deep thought.
Throughout her entire confession, he had been observing her with his Qi-Observing Technique. If she had been lying, her Qi should have revealed subtle abnormalities.
Yet, as she spoke, her aura remained unchanged.
She claimed she never intended harm toward Wang Chu Yi, and in truth, that wasn’t far from the reality—when Chen Yan had first seen Wang Chu Yi at the village entrance, the youth bore traces of Demonic Qi upon him. However, there was no sign of misfortune or ill fate surrounding him. Quite the opposite—his fortune seemed to be thriving.
And his body? In excellent condition.
Despite having his Yang Qi extracted by two female demons every three days in turns, Wang Chu Yi showed no sign of weakness. Tonight, he had dashed up and down the mountain, scouring the forests, exerting himself for hours—yet he was still full of vitality, barely short of breath.
What kind of physique was this…?
Chen Yan frowned. “Regardless, humans and demons are of separate paths. If you remain in long-term contact with him, the encroaching Demonic Qi will eventually corrode his fate and weaken his spirit. You must be aware of this!”
His words were earnest. In the past, Old Madam He had taken great care to ensure her Demonic Qi did not harm her adopted son. She even had him carry a Jade Amulet at all times to repel the Demonic Qi, protecting his fate.
But this was different.
These two weren’t just residing nearby. They were directly absorbing his Yang Qi.
No talisman or amulet could prevent this.
Demonic Qi was Demonic Qi.
No matter how well-intentioned they were, prolonged exposure would undoubtedly harm Wang Chu Yi’s destiny and vitality.
The rabbit spirit lifted her tear-streaked crimson eyes and, with a trembling voice, pleaded, “We… we have always known the truth. But please, O Eminent Master, grant us your mercy! In your mortal world, there exists an ancient saying—a single night as husband and wife, a lifetime of gratitude.
“Though we are of the demon race, we, too, possess hearts that yearn. How could we ever bring harm upon Chu Yi? I only wished to borrow his Yang Flame to temper my Inner Core so that I could withstand the Heavenly Tribulation. Once my cultivation is complete, my master and I would leave this place, never to trouble him again.
“For him, it would have been nothing more than a fleeting dream, a passing haze. Our departure would not disturb his life in the slightest.
“Furthermore, though we are demons, we understand the principle of gratitude. Chu Yi has helped me cultivate, and such a debt must be repaid. My master has already prepared a generous gift, which we have hidden within the Buddha statue in the abandoned temple. Before our departure, I planned to visit his dreams and guide him to uncover it beneath the statue’s base.”
Chen Yan remained silent for a long moment before furrowing his brow and asking, “How many more times must you… ahem… partake in his essence before your Yang Flame Refinement is complete?”
The rabbit spirit was stunned.
Chen Yan sighed. “Speak. How many?”
“F-Five—no, three! Three more times! That should be enough!” she stammered, her body trembling.
“And your master?” Chen Yan’s gaze shifted toward Immortal Huang.
The weasel spirit shook her head. “For me, it was merely to break through to the next realm. I can stop here.”
A breakthrough?
Then you had best cease now!
Chen Yan’s thoughts churned. Immortal Huang was far more powerful than the rabbit spirit—her cultivation had already reached the Origin Realm. If she wished to ascend further, who knew how many years it would take? Even if Chu Yi’s Yang Flame endured her essence extraction, the slow corrosion of demonic energy would surely consume him over the years.
After much deliberation, Chen Yan let out a long sigh.
Forget it…
He was no foolhardy guardian of righteousness—he had grown up watching The Legend of the White Snake. And truly, who among its audience ever felt sympathy for Fa Hai?
“Damn it, I have no desire to play the role of Fa Hai here…” he muttered under his breath.
These two demons, whatever else they were, had treated Chu Yi with sincerity. The rabbit spirit had even invoked the saying a single night as husband and wife, a lifetime of gratitude.
To be the one who crushed this fragile bond of affection—
Why must it come to this?
“Return to the mountains for now,” Chen Yan finally said, turning his gaze to the rabbit spirit. “You’ve been wounded by my arcane arts, so you’ll need at least two days to recover.”
After a pause, he continued, “I will speak with Chu Yi. If he holds no affection for you, then you must leave this place forever. But if… if he, too, harbors feelings for you—then in three days, he will place a new New Year painting on the back door of the temple. If you see it… then just… just go on with your damn business. After all, it’s only three more times.
“I will remain in the village for a while longer. If either of you dares to harm a single soul, do not blame me for taking action. I may not wish to play Fa Hai, but I will not hesitate to slay demons who break their word!”
Hearing these words, the two demons were overjoyed. The rabbit spirit, in particular, knelt before him, kowtowing repeatedly in gratitude.
Chen Yan sighed and waved them away before making his descent from the mountain.
Upon returning to the abandoned temple, he knocked on the old monk’s door and recounted the night’s events.
The old monk listened with a peculiar expression. After a long silence, he let out a bitter chuckle. “How was I to know it would be like this? I merely saw demons taking an interest in Chu Yi and feared for his safety…”
As he spoke, his expression grew even stranger. “Old Madam Huang… if what you say is true, and if Chu Yi is also willing… are we to simply stand by and allow these two female demons to continue seeking him out?”
“It’s just three more times. What does it matter? He’s already survived this long, and his body is fine.” Chen Yan ruffled his hair in frustration. “If you disagree, that is your choice. But I, for one, will not slay these two demons.”
He looked directly at the old monk. “I refuse to be Fa Hai. Do you wish to play the role instead?”
The old monk’s expression twisted in discomfort. He thought to himself, Those two demons could beat me into the dirt without breaking a sweat. If you choose not to interfere, what power do I have to stop them?
“But… this is still a temple,” the old monk stammered, “and for them to do… such things… within these sacred walls—”
Chen Yan grinned and interrupted, “Oh, come on, old master! Everyone in this village knows who you are. Are you really a devout monk? Recite the Diamond Sutra for me. Can you even recall a single verse?
“You’re not truly a monk. You fled here in your youth after enduring great hardship, seeking refuge from the mortal world’s sorrows. You never had faith in the Buddha’s teachings.”
The old monk’s face stiffened. Though it was undeniably the truth, it was not easy to hear it laid so bare.
And now, there were two female demons planning to visit his disciple every few days, right under his nose…
He simply couldn’t accept it.
“Then do as I suggest—turn a blind eye. You’ve been feeling unwell, haven’t you? I’ll pay for you to stay at the county hospital for ten days or so. By the time you return, everything will be over.”
At the mention of money, a thought struck Chen Yan. He led the old monk out of the meditation chamber and into the temple’s main hall.
Circling behind the clay Buddha statue, he delivered a swift kick to its base—
A dull thud echoed as a hidden compartment shattered open.
A short moment later, just as expected, a cloth bundle was unearthed from within. Unwrapping it revealed a stack of golden ingots, their deep amber glow flickering under the dim light—no less than twenty of them!
This must be the so-called “gift of gratitude” from the Rabbit Spirit.
Chen Yan gazed at the ingots, his breath catching involuntarily.
Good heavens! If one were to measure the worth of this transaction… then Wang Chu Yi’s price at eighteen years old was far from cheap!
Wait—!
Chu Yi was still locked in the woodshed!
With a swift motion, Chen Yan hoisted the lad onto his back and carried him into the main house. First, he moved aside the shattered bed planks, then settled Chu Yi onto a sturdy chair.
He reached up, plucked the talisman from the young man’s forehead, and lightly patted his cheek.
Chu Yi groaned twice, slowly awakening. He sneezed with full force before blinking his wide, drowsy eyes at Chen Yan. Then, sluggishly, he spoke, “Big Bro? You, just now…”
“Big Bro was just having a little fun with you. Don’t ask too many questions.” Chen Yan waved a hand dismissively. “Now, there’s something important I need to discuss with you.”
“Oh.” Chu Yi nodded without hesitation. His mind was slow, but his trust in Chen Yan was absolute. If his elder brother said not to ask, then he wouldn’t ask. Instead, he simply said, “Little Yan Bro, whatever you want to talk about, I’m listening.”
Looking at that guileless face, Chen Yan sighed and shook his head. A helpless smile tugged at his lips. “I’ll ask you something, and you must answer me honestly—have you been having a strange dream lately?”
As soon as he said that, Chu Yi’s face flushed a deep red. His wide eyes froze, but his neck shrank back like a startled tortoise.
“Th-that… B-big Bro, how did you know…” Chu Yi stammered before shaking his head. “Actually… actually, it’s not one dream. It’s… two.”
Of course, it’s two…
Chen Yan rolled his eyes at the fool.
He nodded and continued, “Alright, then listen carefully. What I’m about to tell you might shake your soul just a little…”
A few minutes later, after laying out the entire truth, Chen Yan observed the ever-changing expressions on Chu Yi’s face—shock, disbelief, confusion, embarrassment… and finally, complete silence.
When Chen Yan finished speaking, Chu Yi remained utterly still, staring blankly into space as if his soul had momentarily fled.
“So,” Chen Yan cleared his throat, his tone steady, “I need to know your thoughts on this matter. Now that you understand the truth—though you always thought it was just a dream, it has been ongoing for quite some time. Tell me, do you harbor any feelings for those two Demon Spirits?
If you are unwilling, I will make sure they never bother you again. You have my word—I will personally ensure they stay far away from you forever.
But if… if you do feel something, then…”
Chu Yi’s gaze remained fixed upon the floorboards, motionless. His mind seemed trapped in some unseen struggle.
Minutes passed before he finally lifted his head. In a small voice, he murmured, “Big Bro… I was wondering why I kept spacing out these past days. The dream… even after waking, I would remember everything. Their words, our time together…”
“Alright, alright! No need to go into details!” Chen Yan quickly raised his hand to stop him.
“I—I don’t mean that,” Chu Yi clutched his head, his fingers digging into his hair. “It’s just that… I kept thinking about it, over and over. Why was I having the same dream every night? And what if… what if it was real…?”
Got it.
Chen Yan now understood completely.
“I’ve given you the message,” he said, standing up and clapping Chu Yi on the shoulder. “Three days from now, if you’re willing to accept them, then place a New Year’s painting on the back door of the temple. They will come to you that night.
If you decide against it, then don’t put up the painting, and they will never trouble you again.”
With those words, Chen Yan turned and left, leaving the foolish lad alone to ponder his fate.
Descending the mountain and returning to the village, Chen Yan strode home along the familiar path. The courtyard gate was ajar.
He stepped inside and shut the door behind him.
The main hall was shrouded in darkness. But seated by the doorway, basking in the dim moonlight, was Gu Qing Yi.
The floor in front of her was littered with sunflower seed shells. She still held a handful in her palm, idly cracking them open between her teeth as she watched him enter.
“No scent of blood on you. Seems you didn’t kill anyone tonight.” She tossed the remaining seeds back into her pocket, dusted off her hands, and shook her head. “Boring. I’m going to sleep.”
“Boring?”
Chen Yan’s lips curled into a knowing smirk. “Aren’t you at all curious about my evening’s adventure? You might regret not listening—it was quite the spectacle.”
“Hm?”
Gu Qing Yi paused mid-step and turned back, eyes narrowing slightly.
Chen Yan strode forward, extending a hand. “Give me some sunflower seeds. No proper gossip session should be without them.”
At once, Gu Qing Yi’s eyes sparkled with mischief. She reached into her pocket, grabbed a handful of seeds, and dropped them into Chen Yan’s palm. Then, as if struck by inspiration, she darted back into the house, returning with two cans of cola, shoving one into Chen Yan’s grasp.
Only after these rituals of camaraderie were complete did the twenty-one-year-old Little Step-Mother settle herself primly onto a small wooden stool. She blinked expectantly at Chen Yan. “All set! Now, spill!”
“Have you ever watched The Legend of the White Snake?”
“Of course!”
“Good, then listen well—tonight, I almost played the role of Fa Hai! Here’s what happened…”
For the next ten minutes, Chen Yan spun the tale of his night in the mountains, embellishing details with a storyteller’s flourish.
By the end of it, Gu Qing Yi’s face was filled with regret. “That sounds like so much fun! If I had known, I would’ve gone with you!”
“Oh, heavens no!” Chen Yan waved a hand emphatically. “You have far too much of a killing intent. If you had been there, you’d have simply drawn your blade and cut down those two demons on sight—an act far more grievous than Fa Hai’s!”
Gu Qing Yi’s eyes twinkled as they shifted. Suddenly, she asked in a hushed voice, “Tell me… do you think Wang Chu Yi will hang New Year’s paintings at the back gate in three days?”
Three days later…
Chen Yan did a quick calculation.
It was already past midnight—officially the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month. This year, there was no thirtieth; the twenty-ninth would be New Year’s Eve. That meant in three days, it would be the first day of the New Year.
“I think he probably will,” Chen Yan mused. “That kid… he’s a bit slow-witted, but he does have some lingering affections. He won’t be able to completely let go.”
Gu Qing Yi scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Hah. Men.”
“Hey? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Affection? I say it’s lust!”
Chen Yan waved her off. “Come on now, what era do we live in? If both sides are willing, and it’s neither immoral nor illegal, why should anyone interfere? Besides, those two are demon spirits. Are you seriously trying to apply human ethics to them?”
Gu Qing Yi narrowed her gaze, tapping a finger on her knee. Then, in a hushed, conspiratorial whisper, she declared, “Three days from now, we’ll sneak over to the temple’s back gate and see for ourselves whether Wang Chu Yi puts up those paintings.”
Chen Yan cast a long, knowing look at this Heavenly Mortal Realm warrior—
No… Gu Qing Yi!
Do you still remember your own persona?!
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation