Hao Zhu paused here, then continued to recall: "After we couldn't find him, not long after, our clan ascended to the Heavenly Realm and became immortals. But I never expected that more than a hundred years ago, during a small battle between the Demon Clan and the Heavenly Realm, I would actually see him! And he was already demonized!"

Upon hearing this, Ya Zi understood. He said, "You mean he became a demon? But in the last hundred years or so, the immortal and demon races have rarely fought. And even when they do fight, the celestial realm wins more often than the demon realm. So, was that bamboo not far from death back then?"

“That’s right,” Hao Zhu nodded upon hearing Ya Zi’s words. “At that time, the Demon Realm did indeed lose, and he was almost completely destroyed. However, since we are of the same race, I couldn’t bear to see him die like that, so I secretly saved him. But because his whole body was filled with demonic energy and he didn’t have a trace of pure spiritual power, I had no choice but to destroy all his cultivation and then hide him in a bamboo forest and plant him. But it was because of this that the Heavenly Realm discovered it, so the Heavenly Emperor sentenced me to be banished to the mortal realm for harboring a demon. Fortunately, because he had become an ordinary bamboo and I had planted him, he was not dug up and was spared.”

"Oh, I see. Your situation is pretty bad too, but at least you managed to save your people in the end."

Yue Jiuling felt that Hao Zhu was actually a pretty good bamboo immortal, no wonder the Heavenly Emperor only punished him by sending him to the mortal realm, which was not a very severe punishment.

Ya Zi looked at Hao Zhu and said, "Hmm, you're quite loyal. But what do you want to do by bringing us here today?"

Yue Jiuling asked curiously, "Yeah, what do you want to do? We didn't hurt that bamboo!"

"I know that, but he has been slowly cultivating for nearly a hundred years, and he has even become a spirit again, so could you please let him go, Miss Yue?"

"Hehe~ So you already knew. I thought you didn't~"

When Yue Jiuling heard Hao Zhu's words, she smiled. She now understood that Hao Zhu knew everything, including what happened to Yue Jiuli inside the bamboo.

She said with a hint of helplessness, "Borrowing spiritual power to cultivate back then was actually out of necessity, but don't worry, once we've nurtured the spirit bamboo, we'll leave immediately and return the spiritual power and cultivation."

"Yes, I actually guessed that. After the bamboo was possessed, I originally planned to take action, but after seeing that it was you and hearing about your deeds, I didn't. I just kept observing from the shadows. Fortunately, I wasn't wrong. You really are not a bad person."

Hao Zhu had been guarding his clan in the human realm for years. He knew that the bamboo had been possessed, but after seeing that Yue Jiuli had no choice but to possess the bamboo, he did not drive Yue Jiuli away and allowed her to recuperate inside the bamboo.

After listening to Hao Zhu's words, Yue Jiuling said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Bamboo Fairy, we've possessed your clan for so long. But don't worry, we actually planned to leave, but since we've merged with the bamboo, we need to nurture our souls first before leaving. Also, we need to help your clan recover, which is why it's taken so long. But don't worry, we'll try to leave as soon as possible."

"Yes, yes, the renowned Yue Jiuling of the demon realm, I believe you."

Hao Zhu felt much more at ease after hearing Yue Jiuling's assurance. Actually, he was still a little flustered when he exposed himself, because he knew who the two people in front of him were and that he was absolutely no match for them with his strength. He couldn't even handle one of them.

However, because he also cared about his clan and was afraid that Yue Jiuling would not leave the bamboo, he had no choice but to risk exposing himself. Fortunately, he did not make the wrong bet, because Yue Jiuling never intended to keep the bamboo forever; she just couldn't leave it for the time being.

Yue Jiuling and her divided souls actually still love their original bodies. They have been trying to find their true forms and have not wanted to find substitutes. So, Hao Zhu can finally rest assured now.

Seeing that Hao Zhu was finally relieved, Yue Jiuling said, "Hehe~ Don't panic, it's just a bamboo shoot. We won't really steal it. Don't worry, we can return it to you in a while."