Reshaping
Shuofeng was hurriedly trying to soothe the two little cubs in his arms while Feng Qi told Ji Chaoyun what had happened between him and Yan Huaqing.
“...So right now, we must stop the Demon Clan from breaking the seal.” Ji Chaoyun quickly said, “I’ll give the order at once...”
“Wait.” Feng Qi caught hold of him and looked toward the sky. “It’s too late.”
The dust from Wujincheng’s collapse had yet to settle. Countless stars still dotted the Demon Realm’s night sky, seemingly untouched by everything that had happened tonight.
What none of them could see was that beyond this night sky, within the vast and boundless spatial rift, a barrier shattered with a thunderous crash!
Feng Qi’s brows drew together. The taste of blood rose from his chest, and a thin trail slowly slipped from the corner of his lips.
He raised a hand to wipe away the blood and said heavily, “The Demon Realm’s seal has been broken.”
Ji Chaoyun stared at him, then abruptly turned. “Shuofeng!”
“This subordinate is here.”
Ji Chaoyun said, “Send word immediately to every allied force within the Demon Realm. They are to return to the Immortal Realm at once and prepare for battle! The Immortal Realm as well...”
“We’ll handle spreading the word.”
A voice approached from the distance. Jun Ruzhuo led a contingent of allied forces toward them at great speed.
Jun Ruzhuo hurried before Ji Chaoyun and dropped to one knee. “Elder Brother, let the divine soldiers return to the Immortal Realm. Leave the Demon Realm to us of Lingyuan Sea.”
Ji Chaoyun said, “The Demon Realm is vast, and we don’t even know how many demon soldiers remain in ambush. You...”
“It won’t be only us.”
Before Jun Ruzhuo finished speaking, dust rose again in the distance. Ji Chaoyun looked over. Some figures raced across the ground, while others flew through the air. Countless members of the Immortal Realm allied forces were arriving from every direction.
“Mingxin Sect, here to reinforce you.”
“Qixing Palace, here to reinforce you.”
“Bitao Pavilion, here to reinforce you.”
...
“Hongmeng Academy, here to reinforce you.”
Hearing that familiar voice, Ji Chaoyun paused and turned, meeting a familiar gaze.
Li Hao led a group forward at a brisk pace. He winked at Ji Chaoyun, then straightened his expression and said, “All allied forces near Wujincheng have already gathered. We’ll send people separately to find those farther away. Once everyone has received word, we’ll all return to the Immortal Realm together to face the enemy.”
“Li Hao, you...” Ji Chaoyun looked around. Countless familiar faces stood behind Li Hao, every one of them armed and ready for battle.
Li Hao smiled. “I’m the chief disciple of the Inspection Hall now. Show some respect and call me Senior Brother.”
“Ahem!” Feng Qi coughed lightly and swept him a cold glance.
Li Hao guiltily rubbed his nose, then said solemnly, “Hongmeng Academy has dispatched three hundred and seventy-six disciples from the Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow ranks. We await Divine Lord’s commands!”
The various clans divided among themselves to search for the allied forces still trapped within the Demon Realm, while the divine soldiers returned first to the Immortal Realm to resist the demon invasion.
The gathered forces dispersed one after another, and the small stretch of ruined ground abruptly fell quiet.
Feng Qi watched everyone leave, then turned to Ji Chaoyun. “You...”
“If you’re thinking of making me leave now, I won’t.” Ji Chaoyun sat atop the tiger’s back and cut him off.
Feng Qi looked up at him and smiled. “You were just saying the Immortal Realm was in grave danger. Why are you suddenly unwilling to leave?”
Ji Chaoyun did not answer. He only looked at him quietly.
Feng Qi’s robes were soaked with blood. Several wounds from demonic energy marred his cheeks and forehead, yet he remained as handsome as ever.
Holding the two little cubs in his arms, Ji Chaoyun suddenly smiled. “Just now... did you think I had fallen into that ravine and would never return?”
Feng Qi paused, then looked away. “No. I knew you would come back.”
Ji Chaoyun asked, “What about you? Can you return safely?”
Feng Qi fell silent.
“You arranged where everyone else should go. What about yourself?” Ji Chaoyun said. “Three hundred years ago, you turned your own flesh and bones into the Demon Realm’s seal. Now that the seal is broken, are you planning to use this body of flesh and blood to fill it again?”
The spiritual power required for the Demon Realm’s seal was far beyond what an ordinary person could imagine. Once the seal collapsed, reshaping it could only lead to the same outcome as three hundred years ago.
This was the choice Yan Huaqing had forced upon him.
His own life, or Ji Chaoyun’s.
Feng Qi said, “Actually, I...”
“You don’t need to say anything else.” Ji Chaoyun lowered his eyes and gave a bitter smile, then held out a hand to Feng Qi. “Come up. I’m going with you.”
“...”
“Hurry. There’s no time. How many more demons do you plan to let escape?” Ji Chaoyun said firmly. “Even if you are destined to leave this place today, I’ll stay beside you until the very last moment. Don’t even think about pushing me away.”
They looked at each other for a long while before Feng Qi finally sighed and smiled. “I really can’t do anything with you.”
He leapt onto the tiger’s back and wrapped one arm around Ji Chaoyun, pulling him and both children into his embrace. “Then we’ll go together.”
The white tiger gave a low roar and was about to spread its wings when Feng Ci suddenly tugged at Feng Qi’s sleeve. “Father, over there...”
“...What is it?” Feng Qi followed his gaze but saw only a heap of ruins left behind by the collapsed buildings.
Before Feng Qi could ask again, Feng Ci suddenly slipped from his arms, pattered a few steps over, and crouched down to search through the rubble.
“Feng Ci!”
The two hurriedly urged the white tiger after him.
The white tiger lowered its head, caught Feng Ci by the collar, and lifted the little cub into the air.
Feng Ci was still clutching a piece of broken stone. His short legs kicked a few times, as though he could not understand why he had suddenly been lifted off the ground.
In the ruins before him, a thin little boy was curled among the shattered tiles and stones. He opened his eyes, revealing a pair of moist red pupils.
The boy was covered from head to toe in dust, making his original appearance impossible to discern. Only those eyes shone a vivid crimson, strikingly bright.
He was a pure-blooded demon.
The demonic energy around them was so dense that even Feng Qi had failed to notice the little demon’s presence at first.
The boy crawled backward several steps, his eyes widening in fear.
Feng Qi had no intention of making an enemy of a child, especially one who looked no older than Ji Chu and Feng Ci. He was about to speak when Feng Ci said first, “Don’t be afraid. We won’t hurt you.”
The child seemed surprised. His expression relaxed slightly as he asked in a small voice, “You... really won’t kill me?”
The white tiger turned its head and tossed Feng Ci back onto its back.
“We won’t kill you. Go.” Feng Qi had no desire to say more and urged the white tiger to leave.
“Wait!” The boy suddenly gathered his courage and called after them. He looked at Feng Ci, then raised his eyes toward Feng Qi and tentatively asked, “Then could you... not lock me away?”
Feng Qi and Ji Chaoyun both froze.
Ji Chaoyun asked, “You mean the seal?”
The boy climbed out from among the broken stones and rubble. “I... I heard everything just now. You’re going to close that door, aren’t you?”
“I heard there are very, very beautiful sights outside that door. Demon Venerable once promised he would take us to see them. If you close the door, we won’t be able to go out anymore.”
Ji Chaoyun said quietly, “When your people cross to our side, they bring danger to us.”
The boy tilted his head in confusion. “Danger? Why would there be danger?”
“...”
The boy lowered his head. “I’m sorry. I just... I just really want to go outside and see it...”
☁
The white tiger’s roar tore through the night sky.
Ji Chaoyun leaned against Feng Qi’s chest and watched the scenery before them suddenly change. Chaotic darkness and bands of deep blue light entered his sight.
“Still thinking about that child?” Feng Qi asked quietly beside his ear.
“No. I’m thinking about you.” Ji Chaoyun said, “Everyone in this world stands in a different place. There can never be a choice that satisfies both sides. This world has treated you so unfairly. It always makes you choose and always demands that you sacrifice something.”
Feng Qi smiled and shook his head. “Perhaps things aren’t as hopeless as you think.”
Ji Chaoyun caught the meaning behind his words and abruptly looked back. “What do you mean?”
Feng Qi only smiled without answering.
Ji Chaoyun said, “You already thought of a solution? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?!”
“Actually... I was trying to tell you just now, but you wouldn’t let me speak...”
Feng Qi’s voice grew quieter with every word. Ji Chaoyun was nearly frantic. “What exactly is it?”
The white tiger finally reached the edge of the spatial rift. The gate of light that had once separated the two realms had already shattered. Looking outward from here, they could see brilliant sunlight beyond.
Feng Qi swept a hand through the void and said softly, “Do you remember when I returned to the Divine Realm and they told me that the person capable of breaking this deadlock was about to appear?”
“All this time, I’ve been wondering who that person could be and why they still hadn’t appeared.”
“Just now, I finally understood. That person actually appeared long ago.”
Feng Qi rested his chin against Ji Chaoyun’s shoulder and lowered his gaze toward the two little cubs in his arms.
Ji Chaoyun looked down blankly. “You mean...”
Feng Qi did not answer. He rubbed the children’s heads and asked warmly, “Can you tell Father why you followed us today?”
The two cubs looked up. Two completely different pairs of eyes, both equally bright and vivid, looked up at Feng Qi.
“B-Because...” Ji Chu had been frightened by the scolding earlier. She clutched Feng Qi’s hand and said timidly, “Because we wanted to protect Papa and Father.”
“What about Feng Ci?”
Feng Ci looked at Feng Qi and said earnestly, “Because... I felt that if we didn’t come, something very frightening would happen.”
Feng Qi asked again, “Then if Father has to do something very dangerous now, will Ji Chu and Feng Ci protect me?”
“We will!”
Ji Chaoyun realized what Feng Qi intended to do and hurriedly seized his hand. “No, Feng Qi. This is only your conjecture. There’s no proof at all. Besides, they’re still children. What if...”
“This isn’t conjecture. It’s instinct.” Feng Qi said, “They could destroy the demonic creatures Yan Huaqing released in an instant. They could escape unharmed from Wujin Abyss. Even I couldn’t do those things.”
Feng Qi turned his hand and clasped Ji Chaoyun’s fingers, his voice gentle. “Little Dragon, trust them. Trust me too.”
Feng Qi rose into the air and flew before Ji Chaoyun.
He extended his hands toward the two children, his gaze warm. “Will you lend me your spiritual power?”
Ji Chu and Feng Ci looked at each other, then placed their tiny palms in Feng Qi’s hands.
Two torrents of spiritual power rushed without restraint into Feng Qi’s body!
“Mm...” Feng Qi’s brows drew tight as he forcibly endured the two currents of spiritual power rampaging through his meridians.
Seeing pain appear on their father’s face, Ji Chu and Feng Ci shrank back in fright and tried to pull their hands away.
Ji Chaoyun laid his own hands over the children’s.
“Don’t be afraid.” Ji Chaoyun’s voice was hoarse. He gazed at Feng Qi with deep attachment, then closed his fingers over those two little hands, holding them tightly between his palm and Feng Qi’s. “You can do it. Don’t be afraid.”
After a while, the two forces finally settled and merged into one within Feng Qi’s body.
The two little cubs drooped weakly. Two flashes of light appeared, and they returned to their original forms and fell back into Ji Chaoyun’s arms.
Ji Chaoyun hurriedly caught both children. When he raised his head, Feng Qi kissed him hard.
The kiss was shallow yet lingering. After a long while, Feng Qi released him and stroked Ji Chaoyun’s cheek with his thumb. “Watch me, Little Dragon.”
“I’ll be back soon.”
Then Feng Qi flew toward the chaotic heavens above.
A moment later, red-gold light appeared in the distance.
It was like the first ray of sunlight at the dawn of creation, slowly spreading from afar until it illuminated the entire sky.
The scorching, dazzling radiance transformed into an indestructible barrier that enveloped the entire Demon Realm.
Wherever the light passed, every band of light erected by the Demon Realm burned away. Farther out, the demon army still fighting the divine soldiers within the rift between the two realms was likewise burned to ash by the searing radiance.
The barrier gathered and closed before Ji Chaoyun, forming a golden gate of light.
☁
“Are you really planning to leave this gate here instead of sealing it again?”
Ji Chaoyun and Feng Qi stood above the clouds, looking toward the sole passage between the Immortal and Demon Realms, which remained unsealed.
Feng Qi held Ji Chaoyun and slowly said, “Three hundred years ago, I realized my spiritual power was about to run dry. Left with no other choice, I sealed away the entire Demon Realm, only for that to give rise to even more trouble afterward.”
“Since I’ve been given another chance, I can’t repeat the same mistake.” Feng Qi smiled faintly. “Besides, I want to see whether this world truly has no way to satisfy both sides.”
Ji Chaoyun asked, “What do you plan to do?”
Feng Qi smiled and shook his head. “What you should be asking is what the Immortal Realm plans to do.”
Ji Chaoyun only half understood and muttered, “I don’t understand. Whatever you decide to do, I’ll support you.”
“Truly? Then what if I said...”
A mischievous smile appeared at Feng Qi’s lips. He leaned toward Ji Chaoyun’s ear and whispered a few words.
“...” Ji Chaoyun turned toward him, his ears instantly reddening.
Feng Qi laughed heartily and was about to lead Ji Chaoyun back when he noticed something. “Eh?”
He reached into his robes and took something out.
It was an inner core glowing with pure white light.
Ji Chaoyun asked, “Bai Qiuyue’s inner core? Didn’t Yan Huaqing take it? How did it...”
Feng Qi frowned slightly.
He looked back toward the Demon Realm and suddenly recalled how Yan Huaqing, despite being on the verge of exhausting his spiritual power, had still thrown himself at Feng Qi and grappled with him. “Perhaps he put it into my robes then...”
“He... wanted you to save him?” Ji Chaoyun asked. “Does Bai Qiuyue truly still have a chance of rebirth?”
“It isn’t that easy.” Feng Qi sighed. “One inner core and a remnant soul. Even if he someday lives again, he won’t remember his former life.”
“Forget it. Let fate decide.” Feng Qi tucked the inner core into his robes and wrapped an arm around Ji Chaoyun as they walked toward the white tiger behind them.
On the tiger’s back, one dragon and one phoenix were nestled against each other, sound asleep.
The two little cubs’ spiritual power had already been returned to them. Perhaps the journey had simply exhausted them too much, because they had slept until now without waking.
Feng Qi helped Ji Chaoyun onto the white tiger. Ji Chaoyun asked, “Where are we going?”
“Back to the Immortal Residence.”
“What about the tens of thousands of demons who escaped before you reshaped the seal...”
“Why bother with them?” Feng Qi raised a brow. “Are a few scattered demon soldiers really worth this Venerable One taking action personally?”
“Right now, all I want is to return to our room, hold my Little Dragon, and enjoy a good sleep. Whoever disturbs me is getting beaten.”
Plans, however, could never outmatch fate.
By the time it took an incense stick to burn, the white tiger landed at the Immortal Residence. Feng Qi jumped down with his heart full of anticipation and reached up to receive his Little Dragon, only to unexpectedly meet a pair of red-gold eyes.
Feng Qi: “...”
Ji Chaoyun: “...”
Never could His Lordship the Heavenly God have imagined that after transferring their spiritual power, the two cubs would suffer no ill effects whatsoever. After a nap, they were instead brimming with energy and stubbornly pestered Ji Chaoyun into playing with them for the entire night.
Feng Qi, forced to spend that night alone in an empty bed: “...”
☁︎₊˚⊹ The Author’s Jade-Slip Aside ⊹˚₊☁︎
The power went out while I was writing this chapter yesterday, and between that and losing the draft and switching devices, it ended up a little rough in places. I charged my computer today and revised it immediately. I also added an important piece of information toward the end, so you can reread the chapter if you’d like.
Next chapter is the finale o(≧v≦)o
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