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

"Oh dear, it's just the two of us now. I hope the little snake can start cultivating soon, otherwise it'll be too boring."

Fortunately, she was mentally prepared and Bai Qingyu has come to terms with it.

Once the child grows up, you can let go. There's no need for so much fuss. It's understandable that you feel sad, but it's not like you're going to die. It's not a matter of life and death. You'll see each other again in the future. She should be happy that her child is doing well and achieving great things.

Bai Qingyu boiled a pot of water and took a simple bath.

Sitting under the eaves at night, I rest my chin on my hands and gaze at the sky, listening to the pattering rain.

Both her children are gone, and she's leaving too; she'll be leaving this heartbreaking place tomorrow.

·

The familiar figure practicing swordsmanship was no longer in the courtyard. Bai Qingyu got up early. At this time on weekdays, Dong Qing would be standing in the courtyard feeding the chickens and ducks and teasing the neighbor's tabby cat, while Chang Sheng would be practicing his swordsmanship slowly but gracefully. Finally, he would go to the kitchen to prepare breakfast and call everyone to come and eat.

Now, the yard is empty, and the small pot is still cold. The tabby cat on the eaves peeks out, seemingly searching for the familiar figure who used to feed it dried fish.

Having saved the money for renting the courtyard, Bai Qingyu once again carried her large book trunk on her back.

However, this time it wasn't the book box that came to life. Yesterday, Feng Yuan gave him a storage ring, and Bai Qingyu swept aside the pills and a long sword inside, leaving a small space for other things. He stuffed all sorts of random things from the book box into it, leaving only blankets and clothes.

After the quilts and clothes were packed tightly inside the book box, it looked much cleaner and tidier. The book box used to be no book box at all; it was more like a large shelf. Others carried book boxes to the capital for the imperial examinations, but she carried book boxes to move house and bring her whole family with her.

Should we leave now?

Zhen Tian had recovered from her injury and was wearing a fur coat that looked like a cloak. Except for her small head peeking out, her whole body was tucked under the cloak, making her look petite and cute.

Bai Qingyu was dressed similarly, but with an extra book box.

"Yes, let's leave now. I don't want to stay in this sad place anymore. It's pointless. Let's move on to the next stop." Bai Qingyu stretched.

She parted ways with her two children here, and she never wants to come back. Actually, she could have gone back to the Ten Thousand Mountains. After all, her original intention in leaving the mountains was to take her children to see the outside world and the prosperity of the capital. Now that her children are gone, her original goal is no longer necessary.

What motivates her to continue is the scenery along the way. Going back would only lead to loneliness, so she might as well explore the world and maybe even meet another child she can take care of.

The demonic power adhered to the soles of the shoes, preventing them from getting dirty with mud and water.

As Bai Qingyu left the courtyard, she took one last look back at the place where she had lived for several months.

Although she hadn't lived there for long, less than half a year, the impression it left was extremely deep. Bai Qingyu felt that she would never forget her life there.

"Zhentian, do you know that there are only nine days left until New Year's Eve?"

As they walked out of the county town and onto the country road, Bai Qingyu turned back to the purple-haired girl beside him and said...

Zhen Tian nodded. "Yes, I know that. It's just that I've never celebrated New Year's Eve before. I only know that the whole county is very lively during those days, with many people on the streets every day, and everyone has a smile on their face."

"Of course, this festival is a very, very important festival for people. I still celebrate it every year with Holly and Changsheng. I don't know when we will have the chance to reunite on New Year's Eve again."

Slowing down and walking side by side with Zhen Tian, ​​Bai Qingyu thought for a moment, "Zhen Tian, ​​do you think I'm particularly unlike a monster? I always see things from a human perspective, and I even celebrate human festivals with my child."

Zhen Tian pondered for a moment after hearing this, "There are indeed some, but I don't think it's a serious matter. Whether you're a demon or a human, as long as you're happy, that's all that matters. Why think about these things? It's just a way of life and an attitude."

"Yeah, how I live my life doesn't seem to concern anyone else."

Bai Qingyu would occasionally have this thought.

She is a demon, and apart from her life before she took human form, her life afterward was even more human than that of a human. Wouldn't that make her an anomaly among demons?

But there was nothing she could do. She wasn't raised by a demon, and she had never been in contact with other demons before. At most, she had come into contact with wild animals. She used to be a human, so living like a human seemed quite normal.

She had no idea what life was like for demons, so how could she possibly live like one?

Eating raw meat and drinking blood?

Forget it, after the transformation, I still think the processed Fifteen tastes better.

"Sister Bai, where are we going now?"

Zhen Tian turned his head and asked.

"I don't know either, I'll just wander around. Anyway, with you with me, I'm not lonely on this journey. Thank you, Zhentian."

Zhen Tian blushed at Bai Qingyu's words, and her voice immediately became weak, "No, no need, I should be thanking Sister Bai. It was Sister Bai who made me realize the warmth of home."

"Hehehe, alright, no need for that. The important thing is to be happy. There's still a long future ahead. Let me play you a tune." Bai Qingyu's laughter was melodious. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she took out the flute from behind her.

It was too late for Zhen Tian to speak. The shrill, off-key flute music echoed through the fields. It was only because of the cold weather that no one was working in the fields; otherwise, they would have certainly cast a questioning glance at Bai Qingyu.

After playing for a few minutes, Bai Qingyu put the flute away and suddenly felt that she should learn some other instruments, such as the erhu or pipa, because the flute was indeed not suitable for her.

"Tsk, it feels a bit strange without the two little ones."

Walking along the country lane, Bai Qingyu looked around. The absence of Dongqing's chattering voice made her feel uneasy. If Dongqing were here, she would definitely ask endless questions about the surrounding scenery. But now no one was talking, and Zhentian wasn't the type to be noisy.

"It seems like there hasn't been much snow this year. I was planning to build a snowman and have a snowball fight, but it looks like that's not going to happen."

"Does Masahiro like winter?"

Bai Qingyu took half a step closer to Zhen Tian, ​​almost touching her shoulder to shoulder.

Suddenly, I started thinking, if Zhen Tian has the body of a snake, does she hibernate? There's a hibernating snake quietly lying in the little bookshelf I carry on my back. If Zhen Tian also hibernates, I'll be so bored.

"I really like winter. It feels like after the snow falls, the people in those towns are quiet amidst the hustle and bustle. The key is that there is also New Year's Eve in winter."

"Don't you need to sleep in winter?"

"No, winter does lower my body temperature, but it's not a big problem, I can adapt."

"That's good. I was worried you might hibernate too. The weather has been very cold lately, and we haven't seen any small animals. We haven't even seen a rabbit along the way." Bai Qingyu released her spiritual sense. The principle was to use her meager demonic power to diffuse in the air, spreading it in all directions, and then using the feedback from the demonic power to understand the surrounding situation.

Just as she expected, even the rabbits went into hibernation.

"If I have the chance, I'd like to find a fox spirit or a rabbit spirit to raise. They're so fluffy and comfortable to hug."

"Are fox demons and rabbit demons really okay?" Zhen Tian turned her head. She remembered that Bai Qingyu only liked cubs. Whether it was a fox demon or a rabbit demon, once they cultivated into demons, they would definitely not be cubs anymore.

"Of course, I can raise as many offspring as I want. But it would be best to find exotic beasts like Xiang Zhentian and the little snake, which have high intelligence from birth and are easier to raise. As for wild animal offspring, I don't want to raise children but pets."

Bai Qingyu answered seriously that she had thought about this question, which is why she had never gone to the mountains to find wild animal cubs that had gotten lost from their mothers to raise. Firstly, she was not sure if they would become familiar with each other, and secondly, wild animals generally have short lifespans, and she did not want to experience the pain of separation from their mothers every ten years or so.

“Zhentian is very good.” Bai Qingyu said with a smile, “If we count by age, Zhentian is actually a cub. I really hope that God can give me more cubs like Zhentian.”

Bai Qingyu felt a little embarrassed by Zhen Tian's words and turned her head away, unsure of what to say.

“In this world, there are actually many strange beasts like you and me. In the words of Tianyang Palace, we are all auspicious beasts. Then there are also ferocious beasts. I feel that the little snake may also be an auspicious beast. I have never seen such a small snake with such high intelligence.”

With a wave of her hand, she exclaimed with great ambition, "If possible, I want to adopt all the alien beast cubs. It would be so lively!"

Although Bai Qingyu didn't know what kinds of exotic beasts there were, he should have copied Yunru's booklet down back then. It would have been better to research where the auspicious beasts corresponding to the research institute could be found. Anyway, he had nothing to do now, so he could just search the world for his cub.

Unfortunately, I didn't find it, so I could only search aimlessly.

Bai Qingyu believed in his luck. With Changsheng and Dongqing both possessing such remarkable talents, and Xiaoshe and Zhentian being so-called auspicious beasts, he might just find another offspring to pick up wherever he went.

"Have you encountered any of these strange beasts that I'm talking about over the years? They're different from normal wild beasts that have become demons. Like you, with bird feathers and a snake's body, and me with a crane's body and a phoenix's tail. These kinds of creatures don't usually appear; they're unique in the world."

Zhen Tian thought about it carefully, "I've never seen it either."

"That's such a pity. Oh well, you can't force these things. Let's just let nature take its course. Hey, there's a town up ahead, let's go check it out."

·

A day and a night passed, and Shimen County continued to recruit disciples. This process would last for three full days. After three days, the disciples who passed the assessment could set off. Instead of being taken directly up the mountain, they would travel all the way to Shenhua Mountain.

They were trained to strengthen their bodies and cultivate their minds, to learn that every step of the way is paved with hard work, and that going to Shenhua Mountain doesn't guarantee instant success. They were told to stay focused, train diligently, and persevere.

Dong Qing was a special recruit, so he didn't have to walk to Shenhua Mountain like the other disciples. After taking on the role of a disciple yesterday and saying goodbye to Bai Qingyu, he stayed overnight at the Tianyang Palace residence. This morning, Feng Yuan took him to Shenhua Mountain.

Dongqing has already reached the Foundation Establishment stage, so there's no need for her to take the mountain path. She should go to Shenhua Mountain first, since she doesn't need to cultivate with the other disciples anyway.

So, as the saying goes, comparisons are the thief of joy. While many disciples were excitedly imagining their wonderful future lives, Dongqing could be said to have already risen to prominence.

He was exceptionally talented and had Yunru's recommendation.

Standing atop Feng Yuan's giant gourd, Dong Qing gazed at the receding scenery below, wondering, "My aunt must have left by now. Where will she go next? Will she adopt other children? Will she encounter any danger?"

Beside her, Feng Yuan spoke softly, "You've always wanted to learn swordsmanship since you were little. Have you ever thought about why the sword in your heart was created, when it was created, and what made you want to learn swordsmanship?"

What is a sword? This is a question that every sword-wielding disciple will be asked. The most common answer is that it is for protection, for family, for slaying demons and monsters and protecting all living beings. It is all about love and justice.

Dongqing snapped out of his reverie and replied without much hesitation, “Master, the reason I initially wanted to learn swordsmanship was because I read a book my aunt bought when I was a child. I thought the sword immortals in the book were amazing, so I admired them a bit. I thought that if I became a sword immortal, I would be as dashing as the sword immortals in the book.”

"Well, and then?"

"Actually, I didn't think too much about it at the time, because my aunt always helped me with everything. This idea lasted until a few months ago. After that, when I practiced swordsmanship, I would often ask myself what a sword really is and why I take it. In the end, I thought that a sword is just a tool, a tool that exists to kill enemies."

Dongqing spoke these words with great seriousness. To tell an old swordsman that a sword is merely a tool, she was prepared to be scolded, because no matter what, that was what she thought, and she couldn't lie.

"Hmm... It's like this: even without a sword, I can't give up what I need to protect. Even if the sword breaks, my hands and my legs can still be swords. So, a sword is just a tool, and that's how it is for my disciple."

To put it simply, it's still about protection. It's just that Dongqing didn't portray the sword as something lofty or noble; it's merely a tool, a tool for killing enemies, nothing more.

Feng Yuan nodded. "You mean, the sword represents conviction, right?"

"Ah."

"A belief like a sword, hmm, not bad, it's good to have this awareness, but you will find in the future that a sword is not just a tool. My disciple, watch closely."

Feng Yuan took a step, and golden light shone brightly from her body, as a long sword flew out from her body. Dong Qing stared wide-eyed, as if Feng Yuan and the sword had become one, or rather, the sword was her, a part of her body.

A golden light slashed across the sky, as if a long sword had cleaved the heavens and earth, splitting open chaos. Dong Qing felt a blur before his eyes, and Shenhua Mountain was right in front of him.

Looking back at her master, he had already returned to normal, as if the sword strike that had cleaved through space and achieved a shrinking effect was merely an illusion. This was his way of showing her that a sword wasn't just a tool; it could also be an embodiment of oneself.

For Dongqing, it is already very good to be able to realize that the sword is a belief. This realization is a path that he must understand and follow in the future.

Once you break through this level, you can try to achieve oneness with the sword.

"My dear disciple, we have arrived at Shenhua Mountain. This is where Tianyang Palace is located."

Shenhua Mountain is a colossal mountain, or rather, a mountain range. Looking down at the magnificent glazed array, Dong Qing couldn't contain his awe.

Volume 1: Chapter 72 The Life of Two with Shinten

At the same time, Changsheng was also walking around. Unlike Dongqing, he was all alone. His tattered coat was tied with rope, and he carried a small bundle on his back, which served as a scabbard, with the Demon Sword lying quietly inside.

In just one day and one night, large patches of blood were visible on Changsheng's body. Of course, this blood was not his but that of a group of thugs. An hour ago, he had killed a whole group of bandits, leaving no one alive.

It wasn't the bandits who approached him; rather, he went to find them on his own initiative.

Last night, he witnessed the bandits kidnap a mother and daughter. If he hadn't arrived in time, the mother and daughter would have been killed.

Walking through the mud, Changsheng's destination was the Immortal Tower State, a place of danger but also opportunity. The Demon Sword told him that there were good things there, the blood essence left behind by countless demons and humans after their deaths. He could absorb this blood essence to strengthen his body, which was the Demon Sword's favorite technique.

If he doesn't absorb this vital energy, it will eventually turn into miasma or something similar. It's better to strengthen himself.