What if I don't want to ascend to immortality?

Chapter 34 Return to Academy
"Have you noticed that Little Rabbit seems to be much smarter than the last time I saw her?" Han Jie said softly, looking at the little devil sitting next to Qiao Mu with a big smile and muttering to himself. "Her strength also seems to have increased a bit."

Meng Qingtong nodded. "It seems I guessed right. Little Rabbit's power was not complete before. She was born from Sister Lin's obsession, and Sister Lin's obsession was not just wanting a child."

"Oh? You don't just want a child?"

She sighed softly, "Women who are obsessed with love, wanting children to this unhealthy degree, must be doing it all for the man they love. Like Song Huiping, it's true she was easily swayed and had a second child, but who was she doing it for? Does she really think having and raising children is such an easy thing..."

Han Jie seemed to be thinking about something, and slowly said, "So, you are verifying whether the source can continue to have an impact after the demon is generated?"

"Hmm. The key is the extent of the impact." Meng Qingtong quickly made notes in her phone's document.

She disliked using her divine sense to input data, feeling it was a waste, so while typing with her head down, she muttered to herself, "Now it seems quite significant, which is good news."

"How good is it?"

“That’s wonderful.” She smiled sweetly and looked up. “The existence of the little rabbit proves that as long as the source of the mind is positive, it is possible to give birth to a demon that is not harmful but rather beneficial. And the current influence makes me feel that even demons that have already been born can be affected by changing the source. Good influence can help them reform, and bad influence can weaken their existence, making it easier for us to exorcise them. Don’t you think this is fantastic news?”

“That’s certainly a good reason to protect the little rabbit.” Seeing through her thoughts, Han Jie smiled smugly.

“Otherwise, I can’t exactly write to Dean Fang, ‘I really can’t bear to see Sister Lin upset, so let the little devil pretend to be her daughter for a while, can I?’ Dean Fang won’t say anything to me, but Aunt Huang will definitely spank me. I don’t want to do that.”

Meanwhile, Qiao Mu said something to the little rabbit, and the girl happily ran to the bedroom, picked up a big plush rabbit, and handed it to him like a treasure.

Qiao Mu took it, looking at the worn-out plush toy. It was as if something had triggered her emotions, and she hugged the little rabbit tightly, resting her face on her shoulder, and said in a choked voice, "Thank you, thank you little rabbit, thank you for being here... still with Mommy."

The sound of the lock clicking came from the entrance hall. Little Rabbit struggled to get out, leaving Big Rabbit in Qiao Mu's arms, and ran over excitedly, "Mommy, Mommy, Daddy's here to see you! It's Daddy!"

Lin Sisi, who was changing her slippers, didn't look up and casually scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about, silly little rabbit? Don't joke like that with your mother."

“It’s not a joke.” Qiao Mu was already standing beside her, his eyes filled with tears, forcing a smile, and said softly, “Sisi, it’s me, I’m here, little rabbit… you’ll have a dad from now on.”

Lin Sisi was bent over, her second slipper halfway on her foot, her whole body stiff, as if she had been struck by a martial arts master's acupoints and couldn't move.

However, maintaining this posture was quite difficult; her body swayed and she staggered as if she was about to fall.

Qiao Mu could no longer restrain his impulse. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and hugged her tightly, murmuring, "I've finally... found you..."

The little rabbit opened its eyes wide, looked at its mother, looked at its father, hesitated for a moment, took two steps back, turned around, and strolled to stand near its main body on the bay window, no longer wanting to disturb them.

Meng Qingtong certainly wouldn't spoil the mood at this time. Anyway, she's been called on by Han Jie to connect to his telepathic frequency all the time, and she's almost used to communicating with her partner silently in her mind.

Han Jie glanced at her. "You're happy too?"

“Of course, I love seeing these kinds of family reunions.” She rested her chin on her hands, her smile barely concealed in her crescent-shaped eyes. “There are so many people in this world who go through all sorts of ups and downs and don’t end up together, so seeing a happy ending makes me very happy. Besides, I’ve put in so much effort to help, so I should get some credit, right? If I do this kind of thing a lot, when it’s my turn in the future, God won’t feel comfortable giving me a bad ending, won’t he? Good people get good rewards, that’s the only justice in the world.”

Han Jie patted her head and laughed, "Definitely. If he doesn't give it to you, I'll chop him in half with my sword."

Lin Sisi was indeed stubborn, and Qiao Mu was a bit reserved in front of outsiders, so he simply picked her up and carried her into the inner room for "negotiation".

The little rabbit was still standing by the window, looking somewhat forlorn.

Meng Qingtong went over and hugged her, gently rubbing her head, "You've had a tough time these past few days, Little Rabbit."

"I... am my mother's child," the little rabbit said with a smile. "If something happens to my mother, I will disappear with her. So, I have to give it my all."

Meng Qingtong hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, "You could have gone to find a new source. Why didn't you leave?"

“Mom only had me then. How could I leave?” The little rabbit raised its hand to wipe away the tears that had fallen. “Mom only had the little rabbit, and the little rabbit only had Mom. Those were… the happiest times for the little rabbit.”

"Don't be so sad." Meng Qingtong gently patted her. "You probably think that with Dad by your side, Mom's mental state will become more stable, and she won't need the illusions you create anymore. Your foundation will gradually shake until you find another source of support, or... disappear. Right?"

"Isn't that right?" Little Rabbit sniffed. "Little Rabbit, you weren't a real... child to begin with. Since it was all an imposter, all a dream of your mother's, then when your mother wakes up, she should... go back to normal."

“It’s normal for a mother to expect this. How could she not have you as her child?” Meng Qingtong bent down and picked her up, looking her in the eye. She said softly, “Your brother Han and I came all this way not just to give you a father. We also hope that you can truly become a part of this family. Your mother’s love for you is so strong that it can inspire a feral beast to be born. Believe me, no matter how much she recovers, as long as she retains her memories from this period of time, as long as she remembers the days and nights you spent with her, she will always be your mother.”

“But I…” the little rabbit said sadly, “I’m afraid I can’t hold on much longer. Mom’s health is still deteriorating, and I’ve already given it my all. Before, because of the excessive exertion, I became silly and clumsy. Now that I’m clear-headed, I estimate that I can only stay with Mom for a few more months at most. So, I want to dispel Mom’s illusions before I go. I don’t want her to be sad because of me. I’m not her real child…”

“You did better than many real kids,” Han Jie suddenly interjected.

He walked over and gently placed his palm on the small flowerpot. "I've never done anything like this before. I hope you won't make me regret making this exception."

The fluctuations of spiritual energy enveloped the slender vines, and in an instant, countless fine spiritual patterns appeared on the small leaves as if they had been engraved.

Immediately, he shook his hands, and desolation and weeping blood appeared simultaneously.

The little rabbit was so frightened that it clung tightly to Meng Qingtong, turning its head away and not daring to look at her again.

The thin thread in the desolate sword tip moved, connecting to the weeping blood. The two swords spun, circling the dodder's body in mid-air.

A faint halo flashed, and a transparent sphere seemed to appear around the main body of the dodder.

Meng Qingtong turned around, letting the trembling little rabbit look at her true form from her shoulder, and said with a smile, "Well, the problem is solved. Even if your mother cuts off your allowance, your big brother's ancient, secret spiritual runes will be enough to keep you going for decades. As for the barrier, it will follow your true form. Unless you run around in front of spirit masters, no one will notice that you're a little demon. Tell me, what else are you worried about? I'm in a good mood, so I'll ask my big brother to solve them for you."

Han Jie sheathed his sword, casually crossed his arms, and smiled slightly. He adopted a posture that suggested, "If you dare to ask, I'll help."

The little rabbit shook her head, tears welling in her eyes, and slid down, clinging to Meng Qingtong's shoulder. Turning around, she bowed deeply to Han Jie solemnly, sobbing, "Thank...thank you...big brother..."

"Sister Xie Qingtong is enough." He took a step to the side, avoiding the bow, but his tone remained gentle as he said, "If it weren't for her, you would have vanished into thin air by the time we first met."

The little rabbit was startled again and shrank back behind Meng Qingtong, refusing to come out. Lin Sisi bought a lot of ingredients, but in the end, it was Meng Qingtong who cooked.

No one knows exactly what the two talked about inside, but in the end, Lin Sisi cried so much that she couldn't breathe, and it was Meng Qingtong who found a paper bag containing underwear to help her recover.

Afterwards, Lin Sisi nestled in Qiao Mu's arms, her eyes brimming with tears and sobbing. She didn't look like someone who could cook properly at all, so Meng Qingtong had no choice but to roll up her sleeves and quietly go to the kitchen.

As usual, Han Jie stood by and watched, taking the opportunity to taste the saltiness.

When it was almost done, Meng Qingtong picked up a slice of braised pork for him to taste, and said, "I don't have any assignments for now, I need to go back to the academy and focus on my studies for a while. What about you? When are you going to meet with Dean Fang?"

Han Jie skillfully connected with the telepathic connection so as not to delay enjoying the food, "I still need to think about it some more."

"Okay. Think about it again. Anyway, you'll need to look at houses again soon, and the bonus will be in your account soon. Hmm... the advantage is what I said: if the dean is willing to help, it will be much easier to keep your identity a secret. Being a graduate of the Second Academy, especially an outstanding graduate, will give you more options in the future. The training equipment and environment are quite good during your time at the academy. As for the disadvantage, it's that you won't be as free as you were when you were living a carefree life."

"Hmm, it's a little bland."

"Huh?" Meng Qingtong was taken aback, then realized that he had changed the subject and started commenting on the taste of the food.

She seasoned it and then fed him another piece, saying, "I feel like you're not really keen on enrolling in our school. If you really don't want to, you can just tell me, and I'll try to find another way to arrange it."

"After leaving my original sect, I haven't thought about learning from anyone for a long time. To become a student, I naturally need to think it over carefully." Han Jie sniffed the aroma of food mixed with cooking oil in the kitchen, looking languid. "Don't worry, I don't plan to go too far away from my partner. Once I've thought it over, I'll come to the Second Hospital to find you."

Meng Qingtong was slightly encouraged and smiled as she analyzed for him, "If you really want to go, I suggest you choose the Spirit Weapon Department. It's not good to keep your Heart Sword Form hidden all the time. Once you get to know those senior teachers in the Spirit Weapon Department, we can find a way to make them believe that these Heart Swords are all refining magical treasures created by you, this peerless genius. Then you can use them openly. If anyone asks you for research permission, just say that these are your natal weapons and that you will donate them to the Spirit Science Academy after you die."

"I know what I'm doing." Han Jie looked out the window. "Of the six systems of spiritual arts in your world, I'm still more interested in spiritual magic."

"The head of the Spiritual Law Department is Professor Liu. You don't want her to remember the unpleasant experience of reshaping the plaza with her face as soon as she enters the classroom to take attendance every day, do you?"

"That makes some sense," Han Jie replied casually, picking up the plate of braised pork slices and walking out.

He had already decided to go to the Second Hospital, but he didn't want Meng Qingtong to know his decision yet.

She was his first guide in this strange world, and also a partner with whom he would inevitably cooperate for a long time. She also possessed the Demon Emperor's natal magic weapon, the Myriad Demon Guide. If it weren't for the fact that he had to be discreet about many things between men and women, and that she was too perceptive and always able to sense things, he would have wanted to leave a wisp of his divine sense in Meng Qingtong's soul to guard her 24 hours a day.

How could he possibly spend his days loitering outside, resting, and playing on his phone, while leaving such an important person to study, attend classes, and cultivate himself at the academy?

He has to go and keep an eye on it himself.

However, having the same direction does not mean that we have to follow Meng Qingtong's arrangements.

Han Jie is a senior who is at least two thousand years older than himself. It's hard for him to accept that he would actually go and mingle with a bunch of kids around twenty years old in the classroom and in the training ground.

Now that Dean Fang already knew some of his secrets, he had another plan in mind. He believed he would give Meng Qingtong a big surprise.

Unsurprisingly, Qiao Mu completely convinced Lin Sisi with his sincerity and earnestness. At the lunch table, when they were thanking each other profusely, the two of them and the little rabbit sitting in the middle already looked like a family of three.

After agreeing to remember to invite her to their wedding banquet in the future, Meng Qingtong left with Han Jie and went to the nearby Ling'an Bureau to take out an extra layer of insurance for Xiaotu—registering her under her own name.

In this way, according to the relevant non-compete agreement, if anyone suspects Xiaotu's situation and entrusts a spiritualist to handle it, she, as the first person to handle the case, will be the first to receive the information.

With everything settled, Meng Qingtong finally felt relieved and left, returning to the city.

The next day, after breakfast, Meng Qingtong returned to the hospital to continue her cultivation.

Han Jie accompanied her all the way, seeing her off to the gate.

"People say there's no time like the present, Han Jie, why don't you just come in and meet Dean Fang?" As they walked through the gate, Meng Qingtong couldn't help but offer another word of advice.

Han Jie smiled and said, "I already said I would consider it, there's no need to rush."

"Alright, now that you've made up your mind, remember to let me know. I'll contact Dean Fang for you."

Han Jie neither nodded nor answered this time.

Meng Qingtong glanced at him suspiciously, then turned and hurried inside.

Only after that tall, slender figure disappeared around the corner with light, quick steps did Han Jie put away his smile and walk towards the guardhouse next door.

Inside, an elderly monk, not young at all, was fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan while listening to an ancient opera on the radio. He was reclining on a chair with his eyes half-closed, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Instead of guarding the academy gates, a giant dog with glossy fur stood guard. Judging from the glint in its eyes, it was clearly a spirit pet carefully cultivated by the Spirit Envoy Department.

Before Han Jie could even knock on the window, the old cultivator opened his eyes, glanced around, waved his hand, and said, "Young man, the enrollment period for this month is over. If you don't have anyone in your family to pull strings for you, come back next month."

Han Jie smiled and said, "I'm not here to study."

"Oh? You're here on business? The visitor registration form is over there. Fill it out yourself, and then tell me who you're looking for." After the old monk finished speaking, he closed his eyes again.

Han Jie didn't fill in the form; instead, he directly stated his purpose.

"Please tell Dean Fang that Han Jie came to see her and plans to teach here for a while."

(End of the prologue of Volume One)

(End of this chapter)