Repaying the kindness of raising
Inside the thatched hut was a wooden bed, covered with withered yellow straw and a tattered black cotton quilt, on which lay an old woman with white hair.
The old woman's face was ashen, her eyes were tightly closed, her lips were slightly parted, her wrinkles were deep and frightening, and her brows were furrowed tightly together, as if she was still worried about something.
Zhu Xun placed a meat bun in a broken earthenware bowl and held it to the old woman's ear. After doing this, he turned and ran to You Youju, tiptoeing to hand her one of the meat buns.
"Immortal, eat."
You Youju took a half-step back, stunned, the surprise still frozen on his face. Seeing the old woman, he felt a strange sadness, even guilt, that almost overwhelmed his emotions.
He glanced at the old woman on the bed, her life hanging in the balance, then at the little devil with rose-red eyes holding a meat bun, and choked up.
He shook his head, took a deep breath as if regaining his breathing, and pushed the bun back: "I don't want it, this is for you."
The child nodded and stopped eating, then began to devour the food with gusto, his cheeks bulging as he thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
You Youju calmed herself down, her expression softening considerably, and moved toward the old woman.
You don't even need to walk a few steps; the small house, which isn't very big to begin with, has a faint odor after just a few steps.
You Youju struggled to watch the little devil eating heartily. If nothing unexpected happened, this was the old woman who had adopted him. The book didn't give much attention to this person. You Youju only knew that after her death, Zhu Xun's already difficult life became even more difficult. He was treated worse than a pig or a dog. He was beaten countless times for stealing and often had to hide in the mountains and fight with wild dogs for food.
He was nearly devoured by demons several times, and because of his beautiful appearance and ominous eyes, he was captured by several sorcerers and made to be admired and tortured. Later, because the Demon Regent was searching for the Demon Emperor, he was tortured beyond recognition due to his unusual appearance.
It was because of the regent's misjudgment that they narrowly escaped death...
Thinking of this, You Youju got goosebumps all over and shivered.
It seems to have been timely enough.
He slowly turned around, pondering how to tell the still-child Zhu Xun about his "death".
He tried to bolster his courage, and finally mustered the courage to say to Zhu Xun, who had already finished her steamed buns, "Zhu Xun, she... is dead. Do you understand what death is? It's..."
Before You Youju could finish speaking, Zhu Xun spoke calmly, his face still expressionless, only his eyes shining like jewels: "I know."
His tone was as flat as if he were stating that he ate two bowls of rice for lunch.
Without sorrow or pity, without joy or worry, this is indifference. The attack caught even the most naive off guard.
A sudden, long silence made You Youju shudder and shiver.
"Then why..." He didn't finish his sentence, glancing at the cooled meat bun before noticing that next to the bowl of buns, there were many hardened and blackened steamed buns, which You Youju had just mistaken for pebbles of different sizes.
"Give it back to her." That same indifferent expression appeared on a child's face, completely out of place.
"Give her back?" Yu Youju was speechless.
“She fed me and raised me with love and care. When she was sick, I fed her and cared for her with love and care. She was entrusted by someone to take care of me for money, but her husband gambled away that money. But I still repaid her kindness. I don’t owe her anything anymore.” Zhu Xun looked innocent and calm, her eyes as lively as a puppy’s.
So that's how it happened. The little child, barely longer than his leg, displayed clear logic and composure. Is that a good thing or a bad thing...?
You Youju felt a deep sadness. Fortunately, this was just a character in a novel. His life and his personality were predetermined. He wouldn't feel pain. But he was alive and well in front of her. This feeling was too complicated.
"Immortal? Immortal?" Zhu Xun had already walked up to You Youju, looked up and called out to him. Her rose-red eyes were beautiful and sharp, making You Youju want to run away.
You Youju swallowed a non-existent mouthful of saliva, took Zhu Xun's hand, and went straight out the door.
Zhu Xun hadn't been led around like that for a long time. The last time was when he tore off the blindfold and was discovered by the villagers, who chased after him and scolded him.
When Granny Wang dragged him by the hand and they stumbled up the mountain, she cursed him as a jinx while pulling at his unsteady, wobbly steps.
The thick calluses and barbs on his hands pricked his delicate hands like dry, tangled weeds and branches, making Zhu Xun's hands red.
At first, Wang Po liked him very much, but later she always cursed him for being unlucky. She hated herself, but she never let go, as if she was waiting for someone.
So Zhu Xun clumsily took care of her when she was sick, until she died.
But the hands in front of him were not like those of the common rural villagers, which were dark and strong, like dull knives that could cut. A push could send him flying far away, and a slap could make him dizzy and bleed profusely.
Instead, it was like a warm, soft white steamed bun, or a smooth bamboo branch with distinct nodes, still slightly damp, tightly wrapping around him and caressing him.
He blankly grasped the immortal's hand, then nervously tried to pull it back, because he discovered that his hands were incredibly dirty and black, with yellow mud even under his fingernails. The cracked areas resembled black gullies winding across his rough skin, like a winter field.
It truly sullies the jade-like bones of this immortal.
Before she could hesitate, Youju walked outside and let go of her hand. Zhuxun's hand hung in her sleeve as she grasped at the lingering warmth, savoring the emotions she had just experienced.
"Wait here, I'm going to bury her." With that, he gritted his teeth, rushed into the house with a death-defying air, and then rushed out again carrying a straw mat. He immediately began digging a hole, completing a series of actions without any hesitation.
"Phew~ I'm exhausted." You Youju wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve and erected a monument.
Then he called Zhu Xun over: "Zhu Xun, come here. Kneel down, and that will be a way of repaying the kindness of raising you."
Zhu Xun, as always, obediently kowtowed in front of the mound.
It was getting dark, and You Ju, covered in sweat and with a resentful look on her face, wondered why she had suddenly become so kind.
He looked down and smelled a faint scent on himself, his eyebrows furrowing in dismay. You Youju forced a smile and asked Zhu Xun, "Where do you usually bathe?"
Zhu Xun blinked, tilted his head, and asked, "Do immortals also need to bathe?"
You Youju almost wanted to throw out a fainting emoji, even the immortal is sweating profusely right now!!
But he still maintained a friendly smile. He probably wasn't powerful enough to have an Immaculate Holy Body yet. At most, he was a half-immortal who knew some rudimentary magic to cheat and swindle.
As if suddenly realizing something, Zhu Xun moved his small hands, which were taut from the mud, and subconsciously put them behind his back. He politely said to You Youju, "Please follow me, Immortal."
Zhu Xun led You Youju through a maze of turns, through forests and caves, until they finally arrived at a cave entrance as darkness fell. They then bent over and walked through the cave, finally reaching a bright and open space after passing through the narrowest part.
You Youju cast an illumination spell very naturally, and her eyes immediately lit up. She was so overjoyed that she stopped breathing.
This is a cave-like hot spring, with wisps of water vapor like mist. The natural pool is as green as jade, with rippling blue waves. There is an exit at the front, and the passage is shallow and winding, through which you can see another room.
The entire space was not only spacious and expansive but also boasted beautiful scenery. Ju could sense that it contained a great deal of spiritual energy, which instantly filled him with strength and swept away his fatigue.
"This must be the Peach Blossom Spring, sob sob sob," You Youju thought to herself, overjoyed and weeping.
This is most likely one of the Demon Emperor's few hobbies in the book—soaking in hot springs. So this little rascal discovered this treasure trove at such a young age!
This must be one of the many hot springs that Zhu Xun, after becoming a demon, loved to visit most – the Yin-Yang Spring.
This cave has two springs; the hot one is yang, and the cold one is yin.
The interplay of Yin and Yang not only soothes the body and mind but also enhances spiritual power. Therefore, Youyouju, while reading the book, believed that Zhuxun might still harbor nostalgia, not forgetting his old haunts even after becoming a demon for so long.
You Youju patted Zhu Xun on the shoulder and said with satisfaction, "You really know how to find a place, kid. You're willing to share this with me."
This is where Zhu Xun found it while running around all day. He chased a rabbit to this place, where some mushrooms grew at the entrance of the hole. He would take them back and cook them into soup, which tasted delicious and could barely fill his stomach. Or, whenever he was beaten, he would come here to sit quietly for a while and stare at the spring surface that reflected his eyes.
He explored the spring, and the water had a strange, unbearable feel where it flowed. He thought that even the spring might not welcome him.
"Please, immortal, I am but a mortal and cannot bathe with you." He humbly lowered his eyelids and turned to walk towards the cave.
You Youju grabbed him: "Hey! What immortal or mortal? Come on, let's wash together properly. There's no need to be shy. We're both men, what's there to be afraid of?"
Without any hesitation, You Youju took off her three layers of clothing, leaving only a pair of underpants against her body. She entered the spring alone, and instantly felt her body and mind warmed. A continuous stream of power and spiritual energy flowed into her through her pores.
"Ah~ That feels so good. Is this the power and feeling of a cultivator?"
You Youju closed her eyes in a blissful state, her whole body relaxed, her long legs floating on the blue waves shrouded in white smoke, her skin fair and rosy, like snow.
The blush spread from her body to the corners of her eyes and ears, appearing and disappearing in the mist, adding to her mystery and giving her a natural, ethereal beauty.
In Zhu Xun's eyes, this appearance was comparable to that of a celestial being banished from heaven. But perhaps even a banished celestial being couldn't compare?
Zhu Xun was so engrossed in watching that he didn't even blink, forgetting his earlier composure. The immortal raised his eyes, and their gazes met in the air.
For a moment, Zhu Xun forgot to breathe; she must be the most beautiful person in the world.
"Come here." The immortal opened and closed his mouth, and Zhu Xun walked forward uncontrollably as if under a spell.
"Take off your clothes and wash them properly. A real man shouldn't be so petty." The immortal, who was a living jade Buddha, didn't speak, but when he did, he was quite approachable and down-to-earth.
When Takehiro regained control of his consciousness, it was when he was stung by the hot spring water.
He immediately frowned, his little face scrunched up.
You Youju gently stroked his face with her damp fingers, wiping away the dry dirt, and asked considerately, "What's wrong? Are you not used to it?"
Zhu Xun shook his head, and suddenly realized that it was not strange that the slender, jade-like fingers had cupped handfuls of hot spring water and gently poured them onto his face. Zhu Xun remained motionless in the water, letting the immortal wash away the dirt from his face.
Her small face shone with dazzling brilliance, like a gemstone that had been cleansed of dust. Her eyes were bright and clear, misted with layers of water, as if they had been washed clean.
You Youju nodded in satisfaction and gave Zhu Xun's hair a good ruffle.
After dealing with the little devil, he left the bath. With a snap of his fingers, he was dressed. With another snap, a brand new set of clothes appeared by the pool, except this time the jade crown was missing.
Looking at the thin figure, You Youju said with a pang of sadness, "If those people humiliate you with food, you can stay far away. You don't have to kneel down to those kinds of people."
Zhu Xun stared at him blankly, seemingly not understanding: "But as long as you kneel down and get beaten, you can get steamed buns, and the beatings they gave you weren't as severe as Uncle Wang's in the village."
You Youju pursed his lips, feeling guilty. Wasn't he just talking without understanding the situation?
It's fine if you're well-fed and clothed, but you go and try to teach a child who's starving and poorly clothed to maintain their self-esteem... That's just awful.
He felt unwell and walked alone out of the cave, instructing Zhu Xun, who had not yet come out of the bath, "Get up and change your clothes. Don't soak for too long."
You Youju sighed; she had nothing left to exchange for.
It seems that hunting demons and monsters can earn some extra money and ensure one's basic survival.
You Youju, with eyes focused on the nose and nose on the heart, mentally explored the depths of his spiritual power, mimicking the cat and the lion. He then began to familiarize himself with the basics.
This body is so good that I can grasp its essence in just a few moments, making my movements fluid and natural, and my energy is perfectly integrated with my body. Various techniques guide me, as if I have already practiced them countless times.
You Youju was still a little dazed. He actually thought he was dreaming. Maybe it was because he was awake for a short time and slept for a long time, so everything felt unreal.
Moreover, not only did he master his skills in one go, as if melting snow in a red-hot furnace, but he also used magic with ease, giving off an unreal feeling of rising to prominence overnight.
"Ha, is this just a pipe dream for a dying man like me?" You Youju shook his head and smiled bitterly, with a hint of self-mockery: "Heaven has truly been kind to me."
"Immortal..." a childish voice came from the cave entrance.
You Youju turned around and saw Zhu Xun sitting at the cave entrance, staring at him for an unknown amount of time.
Wearing the white clothes he had bought at a "high price," he looked much more presentable. However, the plain white clothes made his rose-red eyes stand out like bright flowers in the snow, dazzling and eye-catching.
He bent down and touched Zhu Xun's wet head. His hand felt warm, and in just a moment, the dry, yellow hair became fluffy.
You Youju was secretly pleased, as if she had already mastered the trick, and made no attempt to hide the smile on her lips. If she could keep dreaming like this, there was nothing wrong with it.
Thinking of this, his tone lightened considerably: "What's wrong?"
Zhu Xun looked up, her curiosity evident: "Why don't immortals use magic tools when practicing? I've heard that immortals all have magic tools. What is your magic tool?" Her little face was flushed from soaking in the hot spring, and her eyes were shining brightly.
You Youju was actually penniless and clueless, but he pretended to be profound and said, "I'm waiting for my 'destiny'. A magic weapon not only has to suit the user, but also has to be destined for the user in order to achieve twice the result with half the effort and use it with ease. Good 'destiny' is even harder to find."
Zhu Xun nodded as if he understood, "Then the immortal and Zhu Xun are destined to be together, right?"
You Youju was taken aback, a tender green sprout emerging in her heart from this adorable little devil. She laughed and patted his head, quite pleased with the little devil's sweet words.
It's just unknown what this 'fate' means to Zhu Xun.
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