The Demon Lord and I: Frenemies - Chapter 26

Chu Zaishuang saw Fei Wanghuai lost in thought, waved her hand in front of his eyes, and prodded, “Well? Isn’t this the kind of matter that could shape the fate of the world?”

“…It is.”

She immediately puffed up, straightening her shoulders with pride. “So I was right – studying ancient texts is important!”

“Yes.” Fei Wanghuai brushed off that subtle expression. Seeing her so energetic, he laughed. “Why do you still act like a child? Don’t you ever get unhappy?”

She could be overjoyed just by refuting him in a few words, and always found excitement in the smallest things. A bag of osmanthus buns, a Go manual, a red flower knot, a small shovel for digging spirit herbs – all simple things, yet she could be fascinated by them for ages.

She truly had a child’s heart. Perhaps because she lived simply, even her emotions were pure.

“Everyone has joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. Of course I get unhappy too, just not very often.” Chu Zaishuang pondered his sudden question, then added quietly, “And when I’m feeling down, Xiao Shi will comfort me.”

Most people can’t share all their troubles with others. Even with blood relatives or Dao companions, there is always some reservation – you can’t reveal all the shadows inside.

But she was different. She had Xiao Shi.

It stayed in her Sea of Consciousness, sharing her emotions and experiences at any moment, shouldering half her setbacks and pain, and always standing by her unconditionally.

Fei Wanghuai listened to her rambling, but missed the last part of her words. He suggested, “Let’s keep going up. We’ve spent too long on this floor.”

“Alright.”

They continued upward along the stone steps.

Even though he knew reading ancient texts would help him solve the puzzles, Fei Wanghuai’s pace in the Tongtian Tower didn’t improve much. After poring over vast stone walls, he only barely reached the hundredth floor.

With no windows in the Tongtian Tower, it was impossible to tell the time. Since he had agreed to contact Bone Elder at midnight, he couldn’t afford to stay until the Mirror Stone’s spiritual energy dissipated. He said, “We really don’t have enough time today. I’ll come earlier tomorrow, and we’ll continue then.”

They had already reached the hundredth floor, having long since entered the top ten of the Tongtian Ranking. Fei Wanghuai was probably on the list by now.

“You’re heading back already?” Chu Zaishuang was surprised. “Why not go up one more floor? Maybe we’ll see something different.”

“What’s up there?”

“There’s an extension on the hundred and first floor.”

Fei Wanghuai looked puzzled, but patiently solved the puzzle, and – following her advice – climbed to the hundred and first floor of the Tongtian Tower.

The Tongtian Tower had no windows or side doors, relying entirely on the illumination of the Flower Mirror. But this floor was a little different: it actually had a terrace extending out from the tower itself.

The terrace was surrounded on three sides by stone walls, with one side opening back into the tower. Standing here and looking out, they could take in the entire view of Lotus Peak Mountain, even making out islands floating among the clouds and mist.

It was deep into the night, with bright lights shining. Thousands of illuminated dwellings gathered among the green mountains and soaring peaks, forming a sea of stars that reflected off winding lakes and rivers. Overhead, the stars were scattered like chess pieces; below, the myriad forms of life. A cool breeze brushed their faces, and a surge of exhilaration welled up in their chests.

Looking up, one sees the vastness of the universe; looking down, the abundance of living things. So the eyes roam and the heart soars, fully enjoying the pleasures of sight and sound – and that, truly, is happiness. (1)

The two stood beneath the sea of stars, hands resting on the slightly rough stone wall, admiring this rare sight.

Fei Wanghuai said, “Sword flight is forbidden near the Tongtian Tower. I didn’t expect a place like this, where you can see everything in the sect so clearly.”

“It’s not just the sect. Tonight the mist is too thick, but if you come during the day, you can even see the entire Qionglian Twelve Islands.” Chu Zaishuang said happily, “I realized a long time ago that the puzzles on the first hundred floors all come from within the islands, and those on the latter hundred from outside. Once you step past the hundredth floor, you can see the whole island – and it feels different.”

One cannot see the true face of Mount Lu because one is in the mountain. When someone has explored every corner of a familiar place, and then crosses the hundredth floor of the Tongtian Tower, looking back on this world, their heart is moved in a new way.

Clouds and mist swirled, as if in a fairyland. In the darkness, the Lotus Flower Sect looked striking and serene, immersed in a quiet, blissful dream.

No matter how beautiful the scenery, it still was not home.

Fei Wanghuai braced his arm against the stone wall, gazing at the drifting clouds and full moon in the deep blue night. Suddenly, he said, “Where I used to live, there was also a high stone cliff where you could see a similar view.”

But at that time, he was still young. He hadn’t had time, as she had, to get to know every blade of grass and tree in his homeland before leaving in a rush, never to return.

“Was it like this?”

“More or less, but there weren’t any mountains – just endless, rippling waves. On full moon nights, the sky would be bathed in silver, and even the sea would shimmer, as if sky and sea were one.” He spoke softly, “That night, the moon would be especially large. Moonlight would fill both sky and sea, making it feel as if the sea might swallow the moon. So people called that night ‘Moon Devouring Night.'”

(1) Adapted from the ancient text: Looking up, one sees the vastness of the universe; looking down, the abundance of living things. So the eyes roam and the heart soars, fully enjoying the pleasures of sight and sound – and that, truly, is happiness.
Chu Zaishuang widened her eyes and pressed on, “A moon that can illuminate both the sky and the sea? Isn’t that almost like the sun?”

Fei Wanghuai nodded, “Yes, it only happens one day a year. I haven’t seen it anywhere else.”

“So where did you used to live?” Chu Zaishuang found it novel, her eyes brighter than the stars. “I’ve never heard of such a thing. Take me to see it, will you?”

He paused slightly. “…It’s too far.”

So far that even he couldn’t return; the scenes in his memory were already blurred.

She said generously, “Then just take a few more steps.”

“There’s no time to go now.”

“That’s nothing. It’s not like we have to go right away. Cultivators have plenty of time, so you’ll find a chance to go back eventually. Just remember to bring me along then.”

“Alright.” Fei Wanghuai chuckled softly. “As long as you still want to go then, and still have the courage to come with me.”

Once she learned his true identity, she’d probably regret it endlessly, realizing her current innocence and foolishness.

“My father used to say that my brother and I have nothing at all, except for our courage.” She said loudly, “I’ve been to plenty of strange places in the sect before, so it’s nothing.”

*

Time passed and midnight drew near.

Fei Wanghuai rested for a while on the rooftop, then said he’d leave first, claiming he had matters to attend to at Lone Star Mountain.

Chu Zaishuang didn’t follow him down the tower. She planned to wait until the Mirror Stone’s spiritual energy was depleted before leaving. At midnight, Tongtian Tower would directly transport everyone inside out of the tower, and a crowd would appear at the entrance-maybe she’d run into Su Hongli and Li Jingjie.

She simply stayed on the rooftop, sitting cross-legged to practice Gathering Qi and Condensing Essence, passing the time as she waited for midnight to arrive.

Although she’d climbed as high as the 174th floor before, truth be told, she hadn’t really cultivated inside the tower. As a child, she lacked a Dao Heart and never thought of it; later, after contracting Soul Separation Syndrome, she gave up entirely. For other cultivators, Tongtian Tower was a place to absorb spiritual energy; for her, it was just a place to read and seek answers.

Of course, now that she had learned the Golden Lightning Technique, she could finally practice Gathering Qi and Condensing Essence.

[The weather is really nice tonight.]

“It is.”

As the night breeze blew, not only did Xiao Shi feel refreshed, but even her soul felt lighter, as if she might chase after the moon halo drifting in the night.

Under the starlit sky, she closed her eyes slightly, her mind clear, and recalled his words about the moon, curiosity surging within her. So, there really was moonlight as dazzling as sunlight in this world. It was a pity she’d never seen it herself, only heard it described in words-the elegance and mystery of that unknown realm.

It wasn’t enough; there were still so many questions, so many sights she hadn’t seen.

After the hundredth floor, she was intimately familiar with the Qionglian Twelve Islands, but the world held even broader horizons.

She herself was so very small, but the world was vast-so vast she couldn’t see its end.

With a deep breath, inspiration flashed; the sense of blockage vanished, and a brilliant aurora appeared before her, as if she’d suddenly broken through the darkness to carve out a path.

Spiritual energy surged upward, her whole body light as a feather, filled with gentle power.

[You actually advanced!] Xiao Shi sensed the change in her Sea of Consciousness, exclaiming, [You’re at Three Leaves Mid Stage now!]

Ever since Chu Zaishuang contracted Soul Separation Syndrome, her cultivation had stagnated at Three Leaves Initial Stage. Now, this sudden advancement was truly extraordinary.

Chu Zaishuang opened her eyes, flexing her fingers as she adjusted, puzzled, “But I’ve only been Gathering Qi for a short while. Even with the Golden Lightning Technique, it shouldn’t be this fast.”

[It’s easier to gather Qi in the tower than outside. I just noticed it myself-outside, it’s much slower, but here in the tower, you’re as fast as an ordinary cultivator.]

Because of her illness, Chu Zaishuang’s cultivation had always lagged behind others; she needed to absorb two or three times as much spiritual energy just to make a little progress. Before, she couldn’t even use techniques, so her Qi Gathering was even slower, leaving her stuck in place.

Now, she’d mastered the Golden Lightning Technique and was gathering Qi inside the tower, instantly breaking through her shackles.

A sphere of water mixed with electric currents formed in her hand, its glow growing brighter and its outline gradually emerging. Its shape was not like a blooming flower, but rather round and plump, more like an unopened bud-its true nature still indistinguishable.

“Looks like I’ll need a higher cultivation to find out what it is.” Chu Zaishuang observed the glowing sphere, pondering, “Do you think it’s getting clearer? Or am I just seeing things?”

[It does seem a bit clearer. There are people in the Lecture Hall at Three Leaves Mid Stage who still can’t condense a proper Primordial Spirit Flower. Maybe you just need more practice.]

“But in theory, at Three Leaves Mid Stage, even if you can’t condense a Primordial Spirit Flower well, you should at least be able to see it.”

The Lotus Flower Sect only recruited disciples at Three Leaves Mid Stage and above, precisely because of the Three Leaves Heart Bloom-by then, the Dao Heart was basically stable, and a Primordial Spirit Flower would definitely form. Yet she still couldn’t see the flower’s core.
Could it really be that she had been afflicted by Soul Separation Syndrome, missing the time to bloom, and now unable to unfurl her petals?

She wanted to know what kind of flower she was, but perhaps she had always remained outside the garden, never possessing a unique flower language, different from everyone else.

Chu Zaishuang said nothing.

[Come on, don’t be so down. When your cultivation gets higher, maybe there’ll be a turning point.] Xiao Shi comforted her. [Besides, even if you really don’t have a Primordial Spirit Flower, so what? I don’t have one either!]

She muttered, “You share a body with me, of course you can’t have one. That’s a weird thing to say.”

[That’s why, no matter what, you’ll always have me by your side.]

“You’re right. I’ll keep practicing.”

Chu Zaishuang continued to sit cross-legged, Qi Gathering, planning to try again before leaving the tower.

*

At midnight, the cultivators inside the tower were moved to the entrance of the first floor, still holding the Mirror Stones that had lost their spiritual energy.

Crowds gathered before the Tongtian Ranking, and many noticed changes on the board, surprised by the sudden appearance of a new name.

Fei Wanghuai was ranked fourth, having reached the 100th floor. He was enjoying the view on the rooftop of the 101st floor, but hadn’t yet completed the Meditation Slate’s questions.

“The fourth place changed! The ranking order shifted!”

“Is Fei Wanghuai a new disciple?”

“That’s nothing. I’ll be impressed when someone surpasses first place.”

The top spot was still held by the Nameless One; no one had guessed their identity to this day.

Chu Zaishuang approached the Tongtian Ranking and spotted Su Hongli and Li Jingjie. She quickly called out to them. Seeing her emerge, they made their way through the crowd and gathered in a corner.

Li Jingjie, noticing she was alone, asked in confusion, “Where’s Wanghuai?”

“He said he had something to do at Lone Star Mountain, needed to fetch something, and would come back later to keep climbing.”

“Impressive, really. Over a hundred floors in a day-he’s been hiding his strength. Everyone’s talking about him.” Li Jingjie looked at Chu Zaishuang, sighing in admiration. “But you’re even more amazing. If you could get on the ranking, you’d scare them all out of their wits!”

“As if I don’t want to? It’s not that I can’t.” Chu Zaishuang let out a long sigh. “I’m clearly on the ranking, but can only walk in glory at night. I want to brag too!”

Li Jingjie laughed, “I like how straightforward you are. Much better than Wanghuai’s modest act.”

The crowd at the entrance of the Tongtian Tower gradually thinned. At midnight, they were forced out of the tower, only to re-enter with their Mirror Stones. Nearby, only two or three cultivators were hawking Elixirs to passersby.

“Should we wait for him?” Chu Zaishuang looked around and asked, “Or go climb the tower first?”

“Either way is fine with me.”

Su Hongli took the yellow gourd from her waist, shook it, and heard nothing inside. “Do you two still have any Elixirs?”

“I’m out,” Li Jingjie said, pointing at the Heavenly Treasure Weasel on his shoulder. “You saw it earlier-it stole and ate them all.”

[That’s right, you two were so busy chatting you forgot to take Elixirs. That means your cultivation speed could’ve been even faster!]

Back on Floating Street, Su Hongli had brought Elixirs for others, all made from her recent efforts.

Chu Zaishuang and Fei Wanghuai had been chatting as they climbed, and since she rarely cultivated, she naturally forgot to take Elixirs. She had no idea what Fei Wanghuai was thinking, as he didn’t remind her either, just solving questions and chatting along.

She said blankly, “It’s mostly his fault. Isn’t he good at cultivation? How could he forget something like that?”

It was one thing for her to neglect taking Elixirs, but for someone as diligent as him, there was no reason to forget.

[You two talked so much, even I lost patience listening. Maybe he was worried about choking while eating and talking, so for safety’s sake, he just didn’t take any Elixirs.]

“…”

“My gourd’s empty too. I bet Zaishuang’s out as well.” Su Hongli took a small pill furnace from her storage pouch and set it on a nearby patch of open ground. “I just bought this, and I’ve got some Spirit Heart Flowers with me. Why don’t we refine some Elixirs before heading up again?”

Chu Zaishuang had only read about alchemy in books and rarely seen it in person. She humbly asked, “Can we really refine here? Won’t we run out of ingredients?”

Li Jingjie said, “Just say what you need, I’ll go buy some on Floating Street.”

Su Hongli replied, “No worries, I’ve got everything.”

Chu Zaishuang clicked her tongue, “The self-discipline of an Alchemist.”

Su Hongli organized her storage pouch, quickly assembling the ingredients, then tossed the Spirit Heart Flower and other materials into the furnace. She closed the metal lid, pressed her fingers together, and recited an incantation: “Three Flowers Gather at the Crown, Five Qi Return to the Origin, True Qi and Fire, One-Nine Revolutions!”

Suddenly, flames burst forth, white smoke billowed from the furnace, carrying wisps of medicinal fragrance, and a buzzing sound came from within.

Author’s note:

① “Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection”