I am Guhuoniao, not an umbrella demon, please do not disturb me.

With another snap of her fingers, a semi-transparent barrier enveloped their hot spring.

It's not that I'm trying to stop the kids outside from spying on me, but I'm worried that some strange noises might get out and they might hear them.

"Um, Makoto, I suggest you hide the feather robe, otherwise it will be very uncomfortable to soak in it."

Bai Qingyu admitted that there was an element of deceiving Zhen Tian in her statement, but it was also the truth.

Feathers are uncomfortable when they get wet, so it's best to hide them and expose your skin instead.

Hesitantly, Zhen Tian removed the feather robe from her body. She gently bit her lower lip, her eyes misty with shyness, and an alluring blush appeared on her face. She covered her chest with one hand and then wrapped a bath towel around herself.

She didn't have Bai Qingyu's ability to snap her fingers and instantly change into a bath towel while removing her feather robe, so she had no choice but to do it this way.

The hot spring was quite large. Zhen Tian did not sit opposite Bai Qingyu, but sat next to Bai Qingyu.

"It's been a year, really."

"Ok?"

"It's been a year, let your older sister see if you've grown up!"

"Oh, sister!"

Suddenly, Bai Qingyu extended her two demonic claws from the silence. Zhen Tian quickly dodged, and for a moment, the sound of water, along with Bai Qingyu's giggles and Zhen Tian's cries of resistance, echoed within the barrier.

Just as Bai Qingyu had expected, soaking in a hot spring did indeed produce strange sounds.

Fortunately, she had the foresight to set up a barrier in advance. The only ones who heard the sound and saw what happened in the hot spring pool were probably two innocent bath towels floating on the water.

In the courtyard, everyone was cleaning up the mess, completely oblivious to the commotion in the backyard.

Xiao Yao originally wanted to go too, but the little snake stopped her.

Her reason was that it was something adults were doing, and children shouldn't watch.

·

The noise from the hot spring in the backyard gradually subsided after a while.

A tempting blush appeared on Bai Qingyu's face, whether from shyness or the heat of the spring water was unknown.

Leaning against the side, Bai Qingyu looked up and gazed at the sky.

She was isolated by a barrier; she could see the sky, but things in the sky couldn't see inside.

“Zhen Tian, ​​I went to Xizhou this time and was deeply moved. Can you imagine millions of people being treated like livestock and kept in captivity?”

Zhen Tian's face was much redder than Bai Qingyu's, and her chest heaved slightly. When she heard Bai Qingyu's words, she turned her head to look at her.

"To raise them like livestock?"

"Yes, it means exactly what it says, treating people like livestock."

Bai Qingyu splashed water in the hot spring with her delicate hands, her eyes glazed over. "I saw it. It was in Xizhou. All the people were kept in small towns, living worse than livestock. Their only hope was to pray to the so-called Divine Phoenix that had long since departed."

"At first, when the divine phoenix descended, they prayed for its blessings. Gradually, they discovered that the divine phoenix's power was omnipotent, and driven by desire, they became increasingly greedy. With the divine phoenix around, they planted the seeds in the fields and then left them to their own devices, even letting the divine phoenix do the harvest."

"Until the very end, they were no longer willing to even sow seeds, living in that dreamlike, false world."

"Generation after generation, they no longer rely on their own hands or labor to obtain the life they want."

"Now, these people are long dead, but their descendants are forced to live the same lives they did. The difference is that these descendants have no idea what changes labor can bring. Their understanding is just to pray and wait for food to come."

At this point, Bai Qingyu suddenly changed the subject, "I really want to know where this Divine Phoenix went."

“She and I are of the same race, both are Guhuoniao. It’s certain that she is dead, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”

"This Divine Phoenix is ​​much stronger than me. As far as I know, the leader of the Fate Sect is her adopted child, and the powerful woman named Yun Ru from the Heavenly Sun Palace is also her adopted child."

"If the child became a top-tier powerhouse, then how did she die?"

Bai Qingyu had no idea what Luo Tian thought when he saw Shuten and his group coming to their door.

Since he was raised by the Guhuoniao, he should be familiar with this scene.

Once a child of the Ubume, now it is being attacked by the other children of the Ubume.

"Sister, don't overthink it. There's a reason for her disappearance, and that's all in the past. You are you, and she is she. Just like Onikiri, whom you mentioned, after he was reincarnated, wasn't he just a stranger with the same soul?"

Zhen Tian gently comforted Bai Qingyu, then took Bai Qingyu's small hand that was splashing water and placed it in his own.

Bai Qingyu turned her head and met her gaze.

That seems to make sense. Roche died and became a demon called Onikiri. Even if Onikiri were born, he wouldn't have much of a connection with Roche.

Could I end up like Roche, where after the previous Ubume died, her power formed a phantom that drifted into the distance and eventually became me?

You could say you are her, and she is you. Or you could say there is absolutely no connection between you.

“You’re right. She’s been dead for at least several hundred years. Things have changed, and the only trace she left behind is a behemoth like the Fate Cult. After all, time is the most terrifying force.”

Bai Qingyu turned around and grabbed Zhen Tian's bird claws and wings in her hands.

The hands of the true heaven are not human hands, but bird claws.

Over time, Zhen Tian got used to it. Apart from her sharp claws, she wasn't much different from a human hand.

Stroking Zhen Tian's wings, Bai Qingyu said softly, "You've used up all the golden feathers you've had over the years, haven't you?"

"Yes, I've already used it."

The True Heaven can produce one golden feather a year to increase its strength. Bai Qingyu has never inquired about it over the years, but suddenly remembered it today.

"Hmm...not bad, barely at the Nascent Soul stage."

After sensing Zhen Tian's cultivation level, Bai Qingyu nodded.

When she first took human form, Zhen Tian was only at the early stage of the Golden Core realm. She couldn't be called a little monster, but her strength wasn't very strong either. Now, after several years, she has reached the Nascent Soul stage, so at least there's no need to worry about her safety. The Nascent Soul stage is enough for her to protect herself.

The premise is that you don't encounter a situation like the Fate Cult.

"The Nascent Soul stage should significantly extend lifespan, right?" Zhen Tian asked softly.

Compared to combat ability, she cares more about her lifespan.

Bai Qingyu is far more capable than her. What if, many years later, Bai Qingyu is still at her peak while she herself has grown old?

Upon hearing Zhen Tian's words, Bai Qingyu was taken aback, but then understood what Zhen Tian meant.

"It's alright, don't worry. It's not a problem for a Nascent Soul demon to live for five hundred years, and it's not like it will stagnate for such a long time to come."

"What if...?"

"What if what? What if you get old?" Bai Qingyu couldn't help but laugh at Zhen Tian's adorable reaction. "Don't worry, even if that day really comes, you will always be my pillow sister."

"It's because I can't sleep without Miss Shinten."

Zhen Tian was embraced by Bai Qingyu, and instead of dodging, she leaned against Bai Qingyu's chest.

·

For the next few days, Bai Qingyu stayed with everyone at the Mushan Courtyard. Ten days later, she took all her belongings and headed towards Tongzhou.

Living in the mountains, the environment is nice, but it's not very convenient.

After thinking it over, Bai Qingyu decided to move back to Tongzhou.

Putting aside everything else, the accommodations in Tongzhou are much more upscale than here, with high walls and large courtyards, where you can enjoy lotus flowers and goldfish when you have free time.

Most importantly, she wanted to visit a private school.

He left without saying goodbye that day and didn't go back for a year. I wonder how those children are doing.

Shuten wanted to come along, but Bai Qingyu didn't let him. He had a status now, and things were different from before.

He used to be able to leave in the morning and come back at night, like a playful child. But now, he has to stay in Nanshan to manage his subordinates. However, it doesn't mean he should abandon Shuten-dōji. Anyway, his home is there, and Shuten-dōji can go back for a meal anytime he wants.

In addition, it is worth mentioning that Huang also left. He did not say why, but only said that he would come back to visit Bai Qingyu regularly in the future.

The child had grown up, and Bai Qingyu did not try to keep him. She only told him to take care of himself and then gave him a feather so that he could sense his location at any time.

Changsheng didn't leave because Dongqing hadn't returned yet. He planned to take her and his aunt to spend a few more days together after Dongqing came back before he went back.

There's another reason related to Ji Xuan. These past few days, Ji Xuan has been using a communication talisman to tell him that she will soon finish dealing with things in Xishan and then be able to come back so that Bai Qingyu can see her.

After packing up, Bai Qingyu returned to the large courtyard where she lived in Tongzhou. She greeted the prince and then tidied up the courtyard, which she hadn't lived in for a year.

After tidying up, Bai Qingyu arrived at the familiar courtyard and was filled with emotion.

A year has passed in the blink of an eye, like a dream.

Without the boisterous Shuten-dōji and the quiet Araragi cleaning in the yard, it suddenly felt like something was missing.

She had thought before that her family was like a carriage traveling in the dark, with people getting on and off, guiding those lost children, and she was the driver.

Even though I was gone for a year, the carriage continued to travel on the road without ever stopping.

Now, Ara has disembarked to pursue his future. Shuten-dōji has also disembarked, racing towards becoming the Demon King.

However, Shuten-dōji's situation was rather special. He got off the carriage but not completely, and often lingered on it, eating and drinking for free.

Just as Bai Qingyu was feeling sentimental, he saw Zhen, with her hair disheveled, walk past him holding a small green snake.

"poison."

Hearing Bai Qingyu's voice, Zhen turned her head and asked, "What's wrong, Aunt?"

"Come here, let me tie your hair."

"Oh."

Holding the still wriggling little green snake in her hand, Zhen obediently sat down in front of Bai Qingyu.

While braiding her hair, I also sensed her cultivation level, which was similar to Zhen Tian's, at the Nascent Soul stage.

"Did you try what I told you the day before yesterday and see if it works?"

"I tried it, and it worked very well."

As Zhen spoke, she raised one hand, and a bright green feather appeared in her palm.

The feathers seemed to be covered with a thin layer of demonic power, isolating them from the poison.

"As long as it works."

I simply tied Zhen's hair into a ponytail and told her to cook the snake thoroughly before eating it.

Unexpectedly, Zhen returned from the kitchen just a few minutes after agreeing.