The Villainous Shizun Is As Beautiful As A Flower

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T/N: Quick thank you to Queli for their support and Ko-fi donation MWAH

Shen Liuxiang looked at it. If it was the demon realm, then the unending main river must be the Tianhe, the lifeblood of the demon race. The place where the Tianhe originated, shrouded in black mist, was the Great Mountain Sea, the holy land of the demon race.

Countless powerful cultivators had attempted to explore that place, but in the past thousand years, the only person who had come out alive from it was Emperor Yunyu.

As the person in question, Shen Liuxiang couldn’t help but ask curiously, “What’s inside the Great Mountain Sea?”

Emperor Yunyu replied nonchalantly, “I forgot. It seems to be a relic from the Primordial Era, recording some history of the demon race. Anyway, it’s not very interesting.”

Shen Liuxiang thought to himself, impressive! Emperor Father is really impressive! To say that a relic from the Primordial Era is not interesting, if this was in the outside world, people would fight each other to the death for even a speck of dirt.

Emperor Yunyu flicked his finger, and on the topographical map, three places lit up with dazzling starlight.

“The location of the sealed demon beast Qiongqi, I also forgot about it. But at that time, I left behind three scrolls, and one of them is genuine. Recently, someone found one of the scrolls and tried to open it. My residual magic was still on it, so they weren’t successful. However, I sensed the scroll’s aura, and it’s distributed in these three locations. I want you to retrieve the scrolls for me.”

Shen Liuxiang blinked. Forgetting about such an important matter as sealing demon beasts?

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Emperor Yunyu glanced at him, “Just a group of small demon beasts. I don’t need to remember them all the time. I provided them with a lair to keep them in line. Since I have no intention of going to see them, why should I remember the locations?”

Shen Liuxiang looked at Emperor Yunyu with his seemingly casual attitude towards the “small demon beasts,” his eyes widened in disbelief.

Several hundred years ago, the Four Great Demon Beasts – Qiongqi, Taotie, Tingtu, and Chaos – appeared simultaneously. It was a calamity that could be called the apocalypse of the Three Realms. But to hear it from Emperor Yunyu’s mouth, it was like watching a group of stray cats fight. He then carried them away one by one so as not to spoil his mood.

After a moment of silence, Shen Liuxiang asked, “Are the demon beasts powerful?”

Could it be that the rumors in the world were wrong, and the demon beasts were actually weaker than expected?

“Quite powerful,” Emperor Yunyu’s voice was calm. “But if they were to come out now, the several demon kings in the demon realm of today combined wouldn’t be able to match even one of their fingers.”

Shen Liuxiang: “?!”

The demon race didn’t have a clearly defined cultivation hierarchy, but each demon king could at least contend with a Harmonization cultivator. Among them, the Great Demon King was even on par with Mahayana Realm cultivators a hundred years ago.

Emperor Yunyu looked at him, “The demon race’s ancient King from the Primordial Era having this level of strength isn’t surprising.”

Shen Liuxiang raised an eyebrow, gathering from Emperor Yunyu’s words that these demon beasts weren’t descendants; they were the actual beings from the Primordial Era. If that was the case, why had they hidden on the continent all this time? How could they have remained silent for thousands of years and then suddenly caused trouble several hundred years ago?

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He was just about to ask when Xu Xingchen, seeing him constantly bothering Emperor Father, interrupted with a frown, “This is all recorded in the library. You can go read about it. Emperor Father, can you please discuss the important matters?”

Emperor Yunyu turned his head and pointed to a spot lit up on the map, “This is the Eight Wastelands.”

Shen Liuxiang’s expression turned peculiar.

Xu Xingchen glanced at him. Since the incident with the jade slip, he had looked into Shen Liuxiang’s background and was surprised to find that his disciple was none other than the Ninth Demon King who ruled the Eight Wastelands.

Since Emperor Father mentioned this place, it was likely that Zhou Xuanlan was the one who had the scrolls.

Xu Xingchen said, “Most likely, it’s Zhou Xuanlan!”

Shen Liuxiang replied, “He wouldn’t do that!”

A person with the intention of messing around with the Qiongqi would have grand ambitions. They either wanted to use its power to unify the demon realm or even the Three Realms.

Setting aside whether Zhou Xuanlan had such ambitions, the act of manipulating demon beasts was something that would inevitably bring disaster. Shen Liuxiang couldn’t believe he would do such a thing.

Not accepting his denial, Xu Xingchen coldly snorted, “You trust him so much. After we go to the demon realm, how are we going to investigate him? You will surely protect him in every way possible. And if it really is him, will you make excuses for him, saying he had his reasons, that he isn’t power-hungry? That he doesn’t want to bring calamity to the Three Realms?”

For the first time, Shen Liuxiang was left speechless.

He couldn’t deny that if it really was Zhou Xuanlan had such intentions, he would probably think just as Xu Xingchen described.

Xu Xinglian furrowed her eyebrows slightly and tugged at Xu Xingchen’s sleeve, “Brother, let it be. It’s natural for Elder Brother to trust his disciple.”

Xu Xingchen wasn’t satisfied, “But Zhou Xuanlan isn’t just his disciple. He’s also the Ninth Demon King of the demon realm. I’m worried he’ll let his emotions get the best of him and ruin everything.”

At this moment, Emperor Yunyu removed the jade slip from his wrist and wound the cord around his finger, gently swaying it in front of Shen Liuxiang.

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“I won’t give you the jade slip to prevent you from revealing the landing point to him.”

Shen Liuxiang was taken aback for a moment, then firmly said, “Emperor Father, he wouldn’t harm me.”

Emperor Yunyu looked at him, his expression showing a hint of helplessness. He pointed to the Eight Wastelands, “The Eight Wastelands lie at the intersection of the demon realm and the other two realms. It used to be a barren wasteland where nothing grew, infested by countless fierce demon beasts. But in just a few years, it has transformed into a renowned paradise in the demon realm.”

He looked at Shen Liuxiang and asked, “Do you know why?”

Shen Liuxiang nodded slightly, “He told me about it. Instead of vying for those feng shui treasures, he established a paradise in the barren land.”

Emperor Yunyu asked again, “Do you know how he did it?”

Shen Liuxiang replied, “By fighting.”

Emperor Yunyu corrected him, “No, by slaughtering.”

The Eight Wastelands was a chaotic land where demons, both sentient and non-sentient, roamed. There were also cultivators and demonic cultivators who intruded into the demon realm. It was a mess of mixed interests and chaos.

Many powerful demons had attempted to conquer the Eight Wastelands, but without exception, they had all failed.

Zhou Xuanlan’s ability to rule the Eight Wastelands wasn’t just due to his strength; it was also because of his brutal methods and merciless actions.

“The Eight Wastelands have only two types of people: the dead and those who submit to the Ninth Demon Kings.”

Shen Liuxiang’s expression stiffened slightly.

He was far away on Mount Shengqi, and he wasn’t well-informed about the situation in the demon realm. By the time he received the jade slip, Zhou Xuanlan had already become the Ninth Demon King. When asked about how he subdued the Eight Wastelands, Zhou Xuanlan had claimed that people actively challenged him, seeking to claim territory. He defeated them and continued winning until he gradually claimed the entire region.

After pondering for a moment, Shen Liuxiang said, “A new king ascending the throne won’t keep their hands clean.”

Emperor Yunyu nodded, “You’re right. All the Demon Kings began their rule this way, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with it. But why did he hide this from you?”

Shen Liuxiang lowered his gaze and pursed his lips, remaining silent.

Emperor Yunyu looked at him, “Clearly, he didn’t want you to notice the changes he’s undergone. But you must realize that when you meet him again, he’s no longer just your disciple; he’s now the Ninth Demon King. If you continue treating him as the person he used to be, you’ll suffer a great loss.”

Shen Liuxiang raised his head, hesitated for a while, and then raised his hands in a surrendering gesture.

He said somewhat listlessly, “Alright, I promise to be cautious.”

Emperor Yunyu turned his gaze to two other locations, “Apart from the Eight Wastelands, there are the territories of the Great Demon King and the Seventh Demon King. Your landing point will be outside Kirin City. Start investigating from the Seventh Demon King and find the scrolls.”

Shen Liuxiang recognized the name of the Seventh Demon King, a fire qilin (1) who had been gaining a lot of attention in recent years.

Emperor Yunyu gave a few more instructions before standing up and leaving. As he was halfway out the door, he turned back and added, “Continue your game of Emperor against each other. I won’t disturb you any longer.”

The other three immediately crumpled the playing cards into a ball of scrap paper as a sign of their determination.

They dared not continue the game! They dared not!

Shen Liuxiang watched Emperor Yunyu’s departing figure and suddenly woke up. He walked to the window and picked up the pot with Shen Bubu in it before chasing after him.

He couldn’t bring Shen Bubu along on this trip, so he needed to find someone to take care of him.

If he could ask Emperor Yunyu, it would be even better. His profound cultivation would undoubtedly benefit Shen Bubu greatly if they were in close proximity.

Emperor Yunyu gazed at the ginseng in the pot and then slightly lifted his eyelids, locking his gaze onto the young man who dared to stand in his way.

” At sunrise, you must bring him out to bask in the sun and return him to the sleeping palace at sunset, and then you have to turn over the soil and water him every few hours – do you think I have the leisure for such things?”

Shen Liuxiang blinked his phoenix eyes and trembled his long lashes, loudly declaring, “There’s nothing that Emperor Father doesn’t want to do; there’s nothing that Emperor Father can’t do.”

Emperor Yunyu’s eyebrows raised slightly, and he accepted the porcelain pot with the white jade inside with a half-smile, “Bring back the scrolls for me, or else this will be your hostage.”

Shen Liuxiang: “?!”

He was about to snatch it back when Emperor Yunyu’s wrist turned, easily evading his attempt. With Shen Bubu in his hands, he left with ease.

Shen Liuxiang: “…”

…

In the grand and magnificent hall, under the illumination of the surrounding spirit stones, a teleportation array emitted a faint glow.

A group of people stood with solemn expressions on either side of the magic array.

“Two Young Masters, it’s time. Please step into the teleportation array.”

Xu Xinglian tugged at Shen Liuxiang’s sleeve, her eyes slightly red. Seeing this, Shen Liuxiang patted her head and reassured her with a few words before turning to look at someone else.

Xu Xingchen’s face remained indifferent. His light-colored eyes didn’t reveal any emotions. As Emperor Yunyu’s gaze met his, he slightly nodded.

“Xinglian, no crying. Why weren’t you like this when I left the palace before?”

Xu Xingchen was unhappy, grabbing Shen Liuxiang’s sleeve and heading toward the teleportation array. “And you complain about me being slow, yet you’re the slowest one here.”

However, halfway there, Shen Liuxiang broke free from his grip and turned back.

“What are you doing?”

Xu Xingchen protested, his gaze following Shen Liuxiang. In the next instant, his eyes widened.

Not only him, but the eyes of everyone else in the hall also widened like copper bells, and they were so astonished that they couldn’t utter a sound.

The young man’s phoenix eyes seemed to glisten with moisture. He turned back and hugged Emperor Yunyu, burying his face in his robes. His voice sounded slightly hoarse as he said, “I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Father, for your care over the past seven years.”

During the time he had started soaking in the medicinal pool, he had found it painful and refused to enter it. Emperor Yunyu had forcibly thrown him into the water, and he had desperately climbed out. Afterward, Emperor Yunyu had pressed his head into the pool, fully immersing him in the medicinal water.

At that time, Shen Liuxiang had been powerless to resist and had felt extremely angry. While he begged for mercy, claiming that he no longer wanted to remove the demon toxins, he also cursed Emperor Yunyu for neglecting him in the cultivation realm for so long and now suddenly pretending to be a good person.

In the midst of the intense pain in the medicinal pool, he had finally grabbed Emperor Yunyu’s hand and bitten him fiercely, out of a retaliatory instinct. He refused to stop until he tasted blood.

Throughout this period, regardless of being scolded or bitten, Emperor Yunyu had only frowned slightly and let him be. He didn’t make any other moves. Day after day, the two of them had gradually reconciled as Shen Liuxiang became accustomed to the pain of the medicinal pool.

Looking back now, Shen Liuxiang realized that this earth-shaking display of fatherly love, if shown by anyone else toward Emperor Yunyu, would likely have resulted in rows of tall grave mounds by now.

He slightly narrowed his eyes and thought to himself, “Having a dad is really great, even if he’s just an adoptive father.”

Suddenly being hugged, Emperor Yunyu’s body involuntarily stiffened. He rarely had such intimate contact with others, so he stood there, a bit dumbfounded. He surveyed the scene, noticing the horrified expressions of the people present, as if some cataclysmic event had occurred.

For a moment, Emperor Yunyu lowered his gaze and looked at Shen Liuxiang in his arms. He imitated Shen Liuxiang’s previous gesture of comforting Xu Xinglian, placing his palm on the young man’s head and gently patting it.

“Don’t be clingy. I’m not falling for this. A hostage is still a hostage.”

Shen Liuxiang, with his face buried in Emperor Yunyu’s robes, tilted his cheek slightly. The black hair on his head brushed against Emperor Yunyu’s palm, feeling surprisingly soft.

Emperor Yunyu fell silent for a moment, then continued, “If it’s really impossible to complete, just come back. It’s not a big deal.”

Shen Liuxiang was about to nod when suddenly, he was forcefully pulled from behind. He heard Xu Xingchen’s enraged voice near his ear, almost on the brink of madness.

“How could you hug Father! Let go! Let go quickly! I’ve never even been hugged like this when I was a child! And now, even as an adult! It’s so embarrassing! Let go! Hurry and let go!!!”

Xu Xingchen’s eyes were bloodshot, driven to the edge of jealousy. After pulling Shen Liuxiang out of Emperor Yunyu’s embrace, he dragged him away without looking back, heading into the teleportation array.

“You’re so annoying!”

With Xu Xingchen’s infuriated voice, the two of them entered the teleportation array. A flash of light later, they disappeared from the hall.

The remaining people in the hall were still in shock, unable to recover. They wanted to look but didn’t dare, sneaking glances at Emperor Yunyu as if they had just witnessed a catastrophic event.

Emperor Yunyu remained calm, about to leave with his hands behind his back, when his expression suddenly changed slightly.

He raised his hand and looked at the thin string wrapped around his wrist. He realized that the jade slip tied to it had disappeared.

After a moment of silence, Emperor Yunyu chuckled, his handsome face displaying a touch of helplessness. Then, he swung the large, phoenix-embroidered sleeves of his robe and left the hall.

T/N:

Immortal Shen: Okay okay I’m done fighting I’m literally going to see my beloved disciple in 3 days

Emperor Yunyu: …

Immortal Shen: …

Immortal Shen: …Sike BITCH!

(1) – Qilin is a creature that appears in Chinese mythology and is described as a one-horned beast with dragon-like features, it’s body shaped like an ox, deer, horse with it’s body fully or partially scaled.