Unaware of the ways of the world for three hundred years 3

He felt guilty for the rest of his life because of one person.

He chuckled as he stroked the bamboo slip and headed towards the place where the transvestites lived.

If Huaiwen hadn't harbored great ambitions and Liu Min hadn't been determined to succeed, Fulin would likely have had to go to great lengths to devise a plan to take them away.

Recalling the past always brings sadness. He stroked the bamboo slip and sighed, finally leaving the place of demons and returning to Fengqin Mountain. The disciples were deeply grieved by the deaths of Bai Yuqi and Huaiwen. Upon seeing him return with the bamboo slip, they all came forward, eager to avenge the two.

Fu Lin advised them, "I will handle this matter myself. Besides, this matter is already settled, so there is no need to cause any more trouble. Moreover, you have not yet attained immortality, so you must not act recklessly."

"Then Master, shall we let Ling Shan Xuan Ye kill our senior brothers and sisters?"

“You all know who killed whom,” Fu Lin said frankly.

The disciples exchanged glances, saying nothing more, though some were unwilling to accept it. Fu Lin then spoke to another disciple, gave him some instructions, and dismissed the rest. He walked outside alone, looked up at the blue sky, and sighed deeply. This sacred place of cultivation would never again find peace.

Only a year had passed when one day, the disciples of Fengqin Mountain discovered the words of wisdom left behind by Fulin: "I no longer need to teach you. You may cultivate yourselves, and in time you will become immortals. I wish to ride the wind and depart, vanishing into the world. With this departure, Fengqin will no longer have me."

After that, Fulin disappeared without a trace. The disciples of Fengqin Mountain searched the entire Three Realms but could not find their master. Furthermore, people kept coming to Fengqin Mountain to impersonate Fulin. Helpless and unwilling to let Fengqin Mountain be trampled on by others, they did their best to seal off Fengqin Mountain.

The news caused a great uproar and controversy across the human, demon, and divine realms. Officials appeared in dreams to their descendants, indicating a change in their ways. Some officials, seeking promotion, even used the guise of searching for the "Blessing of the Gods" to curry favor with the Heavenly Emperor.

The Heavenly Emperor was deeply grieved and ordered all the officials to do their utmost to find the magic staff. Just then, the Southern Heavenly Palace in the Divine Realm shook, and a dangerous aura rushed in from outside the palace, swept past the Heavenly Emperor's left side, and landed firmly on the Heavenly Emperor's throne.

The gods swarmed around the Heavenly Emperor, who waved his hand, signaling them to retreat. Mo Heng and the others stared at the knife, their hearts pounding. Nan Zhi's eyes gleamed; she was astonished.

The temple shimmered with golden light. Dangerous spirits flew up from the throne and circled the temple. Fearing for their lives, the gods quickly took out their magical artifacts to protect themselves.

A soft "whoosh" sound rang out, and countless spirit butterflies flew into the temple. A priest raised his sword and slashed at the spirit butterflies, but unexpectedly, the spirit butterflies suddenly landed on the swords and transformed into fire foxes, burning the priests.

The Heavenly Lord frowned, flicked his sleeve, and the thousands of spirit butterflies turned to ashes, revealing the person hiding behind them. The gods looked and saw it was none other than the master of the danger—Lingshan Xuanye.

The temple erupted in commotion as everyone formed ranks, determined to subdue this raging evil.

With one hand behind his back, the gods fell silent. The Heavenly King calmly took two steps forward and said gently, "Demon King Lingshan, it is an honor to have you here. There is no need for formalities."

Xuan Ye slowly descended into the temple. He had a stern face and sneered, "It's my first time here, so I should bring something."

The Heavenly Emperor smiled gently and asked, "Since that's the case, you've delivered the gift. May I ask what brings you here?"

Xuan Ye emphasized sharply, "Don't you know your place?"

The Heavenly Emperor smiled and said, "In that case, you all may leave. I have important matters to discuss with the Demon King Lingshan."

The gods were reluctant, worried that the demon king might suddenly go berserk. The Heavenly Lord persuaded them a few more times, and only then did the gods leave. Nan Zhi, however, approached and said, "Heavenly Lord, regarding the matter of the Brush, why don't I stay and listen?"

The Heavenly Emperor glanced at Nan Zhi and acquiesced. The once noisy temple instantly became quiet and deserted.

Xuan Ye asked, "Where is Fu Lin?"

The Heavenly Emperor sighed, "I don't know either."

Xuan Ye scoffed, "What a fine brotherhood, a sworn brotherhood, yet you know nothing about this. I don't care whether Fu Lin lives or dies. But what he owes me, I'll take."

Nan Zhi asked, "What does he owe you?"

"The lives of gods and men."

Xuan Ye mocked lightly, "He wagered on all of you priests: if you can't find the vengeful spirit of the Manjusaka flower and kill her, I will kill you all."

The story of Pei Suqin, an eight-hundred-year-old ghost, is somewhat known in the divine realm, but very few people are aware of it anymore. Xuan Ye has now openly revealed it to the Heavenly Emperor and Nan Zhi, forcing the two to ponder its implications.

But the Heavenly Lord was no ordinary person. He smiled calmly and teased, "It seems that the Drunken Dream Pavilion's business has spread to Fulin."

"The Divine Official Fulin is an object of reverence for ordinary people and Taoist cultivators in the mortal realm, and he is also your Heavenly Lord's right-hand man and sworn brother." Xuan Ye said coldly, "If this gets out, it will have a huge impact on my Drunken Dream Pavilion's business. Do you think I won't come and settle accounts?"

The Heavenly Emperor replied, "Since it's a business deal, then there's room for discussion."

Nan Zhi continued, "You said you made a bet with Fu Lin, what proof do you have?"

Xuan Ye glanced at Nan Zhi, then arrogantly turned his head away and ignored her. Nan Zhi pursed her lips and looked straight at the Heavenly Lord.

Seeing Xuan Ye's unyielding and unapproachable demeanor, Tianjun sighed and said helplessly, "I will take care of what Fulin promised you. But you should know that Pei Suqin is no ordinary ghost."

Xuan Ye replied, “A word from the Heavenly Emperor is worth a thousand pieces of gold. Such an important matter should be widely publicized. I believe the Heavenly Emperor will bring good news. I am a businessman, but without proof, I fear I cannot be at ease.”

The Heavenly Lord smiled calmly, his palm facing upwards, a scroll floating in his hand. He conveyed to Xuan Ye, "Now you can rest assured."

After Xuan Ye finished examining the writing on the scroll, he put it away and said, "In that case, Heavenly Lord, you mustn't keep us waiting too long."

After speaking, Xuan Ye waved his sleeves and flew away.

Seeing the man walk away, Nan Zhi asked suspiciously, "You believe he came here just for this?"

The Heavenly Lord's expression darkened, but quickly softened: "He has never liked to be enemies with the divine realm. This time, he broke in for nothing more than the word 'love.' There are countless people who are troubled by love. No one can escape it."

After a long pause, Nan Zhi finally spoke: "Then... I'll take care of this."

The Heavenly Emperor waved his hand and laughed, "No, I have my own arrangements for this matter."

Suddenly, a great tremor shook the ground. A junior priest rushed in, panting, and said, "It's terrible, Your Majesty! That demon king has blown up the palace of the True God Fulin!"

Nan Zhi's eyes widened as she exclaimed, "No way! Fu Lin's super luxurious palace!"

As he spoke, he ran outside, with the Heavenly Emperor following behind. The two of them watched the thick black smoke rising high. The clock that had hung high in the Fulin Palace was tilted, and the eaves that should have been golden had turned brown. The air was thick with smoke and fumes. Some people wanted to run to put out the fire, but they found that ordinary water could not extinguish it.

When they tried to use magic to extinguish the fire, the foxfire from the demon king Lingshan had already burned down the entire Fulin Palace, and the foxfire went out on its own.

The Heavenly Emperor shook his head helplessly: "Still too mischievous."

Who would have thought that this promise would last for three hundred years?

On another note, after Xuan Ye burned down Fu Lin's palace and swaggered away, he didn't return directly to Luo Fu. Qing Ye sent him a message that the king intended to use the murder of the demon as a warning to all cultivators, emphasizing that royal dignity is the most sacred and their rights cannot be challenged.

The news caused considerable internal strife within the transvestite community, and Liu Min, being physically weak, seemed unable to withstand the strain. Thinking of this, Xuan Ye went to check on things.

When others arrived at the ladyboy club, they found it deserted, a stark contrast to its former bustling atmosphere. Where countless people once clamored to enter, now no one came. It seemed the ladyboy club's fate, like that of Fengqin Mountain, was one of decline.

Xuan Ye made no attempt to disguise himself this time. He entered through the main gate and saw several men leaving with their bags on their backs.

When Uncle Lin saw Xuan Ye standing outside the door, he thought that Xuan Ye, who was fair-skinned and clean-cut, looked like someone who had come to become an apprentice. So he went up to him and waved his hand, saying that he was no longer accepting apprentices.

Xuan Ye put his hands behind his back and said he wasn't there to be an apprentice, he just wanted to come in and take a look.

Uncle Lin found it strange, but there were especially many strange things happening this year. In addition, the transvestites were suffering heavy losses. He sighed and said, "Whatever, as long as they don't steal or disturb us, it's fine."

Xuan Ye nodded and went inside.

He had been here before, but this was his first time entering through the main gate. The grandeur was naturally not as great as his Luofu City, but the demi-mansion's appearance was still respectable, at least it was dignified and otherworldly.

He walked along the bluestone path, lined with peonies on both sides. He remembered that when he had visited before, these peonies were quite vibrant. Now, they were clearly neglected, overgrown with weeds, and the peonies were withered and yellow.

Further inside is the main hall of the ladyboy/ladyboy association, used for receiving guests and holding discussions. On either side of the main hall are rows of small huts, which look like offices.

After passing through the main hall, they arrived at a small back garden. This small garden had four paths, each leading to a different place. Xuan Ye remembered that the path on the right led to Huai Wen's residence.

Xuan Ye walked the path Huai Wen had taken. Although everything had changed, his heart was filled with a curse. He hadn't come in then because rumors were circulating outside that he was going to kill Huai Wen.

This time, Xuan Ye was filled with sorrow. He gently pushed open Huai Wen's door, but before he could even take a closer look, he saw Liu Min sitting at Huai Wen's desk, lost in thought.

Only when Xuan Ye stood in front of Liu Min did he look up, a hint of shock appearing in his eyes, but it quickly faded. Liu Min asked softly, "Are you a friend of my A-Jun?"

Xuan Ye remained silent, so Liu Min chuckled, "If you are a disciple of Fengqin Mountain, then you're too late. If not, then there's only one possibility..."

Their eyes met, and Liu Min was once again shocked when Xuan Ye's black pupils suddenly turned red. After a long while, he stammered, "You've come."

Xuan Ye was surprised that Liu Min was not surprised by his arrival, and then lowered his head and slowly said, "I'm sorry."

This was the first thing Xuan Ye said, and it was something Liu Min hadn't expected.

Shocked, Liu Min chuckled helplessly, "Ah Jun, look, even the Demon King has arrived."

Xuan Ye raised his eyes, paused, and said solemnly, "The rumors outside that I wanted to kill A-Jun are not what I said. I have never had such a thought."

"The person is dead..."

Xuan Ye remained silent, filled with self-reproach. He wanted to say something but didn't know how to begin. But seeing Liu Min's heartbroken appearance, he felt his own mistakes were too heavy, and he remained speechless for a long time.

Liu Min broke the silence: "Humans and demons, demons and gods, gods and humans—whoever is in these three, there will always be someone caught in the middle, suffering. Ah Jun... died like that. Those who stand out will be taught a lesson. That's how the human-demon alliance was met with hostility, warnings, and ultimately defeat. It was my fault for not teaching her these principles."

Xuan Ye said, "It's not your fault."

Liu Min looked at Xuan Ye and said, "I didn't see you on the day A-Yun's coffin was buried. But Onikiri came to tell me that you had come. That day, I wanted to kill you with my sword. But later, the king ordered the extermination of the human and demon clans, including A-Yun's father's side. I should have exterminated my clan, but the imperial decree changed its mind on the day it arrived. So I investigated, and Onikiri told me everything. They told you that the human and demon clans were in trouble, and you helped us get through it."

At this point, Liu Min chuckled self-deprecatingly: "It's truly laughable. Outsiders are all saying that you killed A-Jun, yet you're hiding in the shadows helping my transvestite clinic. This is a complete contradiction. Tell me the truth about what happened to A-Jun that day."

Xuan Ye's heart clenched. No one had told Liu Min the truth about Huai Wen's death. Why? Why had no one told him the truth? Xuan Ye's expression turned cold and serious. After meeting Liu Min's gaze, he sighed deeply. Not wanting to lie, he truthfully recounted the events of that day.

It was as if yesterday were replaying itself; though the bloody scene was no longer there, it felt as if he were right there. Liu Min's eyes reddened. He leaned on the table, slowly rising to his feet, gripping the edge with both hands, his grip tightening fiercely: "My Ah Jun actually died at the hands of a fellow disciple! That was her senior brother..."

But Liu Min quickly lost his strength and sat helplessly in the armchair: "People can never be understood."

Xuan Ye calmly said, "I killed him."

Upon hearing this, Liu Min simply closed his eyes quietly, and only opened them after a long while: "A-Jun's life has been turbulent, so may she rest in peace. I will be dying soon, and it is no use pursuing these matters any further. Lord City Lord, you no longer need to bother taking care of my Human-Demon Bureau."

Xuan Ye, whose face had been somber, suddenly raised his head. He stood still and said righteously, "I, Xuan Ye of Lingshan, hereby swear that if one day humans and demons need me, I will certainly not fail A-Jun's wish and will lend you a helping hand."

Seeing this, Liu Min said no more. He got up, told Xuan Ye to look around the room as he pleased, and then left. But he hadn't gone far when he turned back to look at him. He was filled with regret and sighed in his heart at the impermanence of life.

After that, Liu Min, just as he had predicted, died of illness. The grandson of Liu Min's younger brother came and took over the transvestite clinic. While cleaning Liu Min's room, he discovered the last words Liu Min had written before his death.

It read: Of all the words in the world, gossip flows most widely, and even a lifetime is insufficient to discern the truth from falsehood in human nature. Only the powerful can achieve victory. Looking back on your lives, of all your prayers and desires, in your few short years, there will always be one wish that remains unfulfilled. In this world, only by living can one truly transcend heaven and sea. Yet, one must also bear the fact that even living does not guarantee peace, and death may come in danger. Now I depart, returning only to dust; once the dust settles, that is enough.

Beside the letter lay a bundle of untied scrolls. Upon opening them, they found a portrait of Xuan Ye, with Huai Wen's inscription below—"This painting is unacceptable; it has no credibility." Further down was Liu Min's inscription—"This demon is malevolent; it will bring chaos to the world. But if there is a chance, it may still be useful."

As dust settled and years passed, the portrait was lost, and no one could paint another picture of Lingshan Xuanye. However, the inscription on it was clearly remembered, so a new scroll was found, and Liu Min's words were recorded again. This tradition has been passed down for three hundred years.