The Little Peacock Raises a Snake (GL) Chapter 39

After leaving Hundred Flowers Valley, Qu Linyan carried Fu Xiaoba and flew at full speed. No one dared stop them.
With her cultivation, if she flew as fast as she could, she only needed two days to return from the demon capital to the flood dragon clan. But when she left the valley this time and came back, the way her clansmen looked at the two of them had completely changed.
Before, it had been dissatisfaction. Now, it was anger.
More than five hundred years ago, Qu Linyan had gone to the heavenly realm under her clansmen’s urging. Her purpose had been to take phoenix heart blood to save Qu Muqing.
At that time, she had failed. Although the clansmen had been disappointed, they also knew very well that the matter was too difficult for her. After that, no one mentioned it again.
Now, the little demon Qu Linyan had brought back from the human world was actually a phoenix clan member descended for a tribulation. Such a coincidence could not have happened without Qu Linyan knowing nothing, yet she had chosen to hide it and marry her.
The immortals and gods of the heavenly realm had always thought highly of themselves and looked down on demons. If an immortal became tangled with a demon during a tribulation, it damaged the heavenly realm’s dignity. The heavenly realm would never ignore it.
If it were a minor immortal, the heavenly realm might break their immortal bones, strip away their immortal body, and after heavy punishment, if they were still alive, leave them with a damaged life to cultivate again. But for a bloodline as noble as the phoenix clan, the heavenly realm would surely capture her back. Even if they could not, they would rather kill her than tolerate her staying with a demon.
If Fu Xiaoba stayed here, she could not save Qu Muqing, and she could not bring the flood dragon clan any benefit. This special “little demon” would only bring the flood dragon clan the endless fury burning down from the heavenly realm.
In the end, the leader of the flood dragon clan had chosen to protect an outsider. She no longer wanted her own elder sister and no longer cared about the safety of the entire flood dragon clan.
Facing those angry eyes, Qu Linyan did not explain much. In the end, she was not afraid of being hated by the elders and many clansmen. Those fence-sitters did not yet have the courage to rebel. Once support from the devil clan arrived, their attitudes would naturally change.
Qu Linyan dared face the whole flood dragon clan with the resolve in her heart. Only Xiangsi was different. She did not know how to face Xiangsi.
Every time she had returned in failure before, Xiangsi had waited at the entrance of the spiritual cave to comfort and encourage her.
But this time, when she brought Fu Xiaoba back, Xiangsi did not come to greet them.
She let Xiaoba return to the room to rest first, while she went alone to the forbidden area.
Inside the Black Ice Cave, Xiangsi knelt beside Qu Muqing. In her hand, she held a somewhat old wooden comb. As usual, she was arranging the hair of the woman who had not woken for a thousand years.
Qu Linyan hesitated for a moment, then slowly stepped forward. But then she heard Xiangsi speak.
“It has been one thousand years.” Her voice was soft. “Time is so long, and the past is so distant. I often wonder whether, in this world, apart from you and me, everyone else’s obsession has already faded.”
For a thousand years, Qu Muqing had quietly lain in this cold Black Ice Cave. Xiangsi’s spiritual power had also continued nourishing that body and the three souls and seven spirits that could not merge into it.
The once firm belief had long been worn away by time. Who could say they were not already tired in both body and heart, even if they never said it out loud?
Qu Linyan wanted to say something, but she also knew deeply that no matter what she said now, she could not change Xiangsi’s deep disappointment in her.
“A-Yan, you actually wanted to give up long ago, didn’t you? It was only that everyone kept pushing you. You could not find an excuse to stop, and you could not find a reason to live for yourself…” As Xiangsi spoke, she lowered her eyes and smiled bitterly. “That woman must be very good, right? Good enough that you would risk everything for her like this.”
Qu Linyan was silent for a long time, then said, “Xiangsi, I admit that when I first tricked her out of Wuyou Valley, it was for my sister. But I wanted to use her and hurt her, while she treated me with all her heart. How could I… how could I bring myself to do it?”
Xiangsi said, “Anyone could act for you. All they need is your nod.”
Qu Linyan shook her head. “I will not sacrifice her, and I will not allow anyone to touch her!”
Xiangsi was silent for a long while. Then she laughed softly and said, “I knew long ago you would say that.”
Qu Linyan said, “There must be another way. My sister’s three souls and seven spirits still exist. I refuse to believe there is no way to return them to her body!”
Xiangsi closed her eyes. “But you and I will grow old in the end. How many thousand years do we have left? When we are both gone, she will sleep forever. She will sleep forever in this loneliest, coldest place…”
“A-Qing, I regret it…” Xiangsi lowered her lashes, and tears seemed to shine in her eyes.
Qu Linyan could not help clenching her hands.
She believed the world was so vast that there had to be another way, a way that did not require sacrificing Fu Xiaoba.
There had to be. There had to…
*
News spread everywhere that a little peacock demon carrying the phoenix clan bloodline had appeared in Hundred Flowers Valley of the demon realm. Even more laughable, this demon was a woman, and she had actually married the black flood dragon, leader of the flood dragon clan, who was also a woman. The news soon reached the Heavenly Emperor’s ears.
The reason the Blue Luan had descended to the lower world for a tribulation was that five hundred years ago, the black flood dragon had been arrogant and barged into the heavenly realm without permission, only to be subdued by the Blue Luan.
Now, not only were the two unharmed, they had even married each other as women. Was that not making the heavenly realm a joke?
For a time, the Heavenly Emperor was furious, and all the immortals knelt on the ground without speaking.
The Heavenly Emperor turned his gaze to the Star Lord of Fate. The Star Lord was so frightened that he hurriedly volunteered. “Heavenly Emperor! My Reincarnation Mirror showed Fairy Blue Luan has been staying in Wuyou Valley in the human world all along. She never took even half a step away, so she should not have appeared in the earth realm… This matter has not yet been confirmed. I am willing to set out for the lower realm immediately and investigate whether the news is true. If the Reincarnation Mirror truly made a mistake, then it is my failure of duty. When the time comes, I will accept whatever punishment the Heavenly Emperor gives!”
After receiving the Heavenly Emperor’s permission, the Star Lord of Fate immediately descended and hurried to Wuyou Valley.
He could not bear the Heavenly Emperor’s fury. But when he thought of having to face that always-arrogant demon in Wuyou Valley, his head hurt badly.
That demon had impressive cultivation and also seemed to have a close friendship with Black Tortoise Divine Lord Zhiming. If there were any choice, a minor immortal official in charge of fate stars like him would never want to do such a thankless task.
Fortunately, when he arrived at Wuyou Valley, that demon was not in the valley. He activated the spirit of the Reincarnation Mirror and followed the spiritual aura to find the little peacock in the mirror, the one that had not yet taken human form. After forming hand seals and testing it with magic, he was shocked to realize he had been fooled.
How was that peacock the reincarnation of Fairy Blue Luan? It was simply a shell made from spiritual power. Using Fairy Blue Luan’s sword, Qingchen, from her time in the heavenly realm, someone had tried to deceive heaven and cross the sea in secret.
How could a demon have a heavenly realm magic artifact? The answer did not need to be said.
The Star Lord of Fate did not dare think too deeply. He hurriedly brought the Qingchen Sword back to the heavenly realm, rushed to the Heavenly Emperor’s sleeping palace, held the sword in both hands, knelt, and said, “Reporting to the Heavenly Emperor, the Reincarnation Mirror was disturbed by this sword’s spiritual aura and lost Fairy Blue Luan’s whereabouts. I do not… no, I did fail in my duty. I cannot deny the blame, and I am willing to accept punishment!”
“How did Fairy Yun Su’s sword end up with a wicked beast?” The Heavenly Emperor sat on the dragon throne at the highest place. Even without anger, he carried authority. “Star Lord of Fate, do you know who committed this act of deceiving heaven?”
“I…” The Star Lord hurriedly knocked his forehead to the ground, his whole body trembling. “I… I have a guess, but I do not know whether I should say it.”
“Say it, and your failure of duty will be pardoned.”
“This…” The Star Lord thought for a moment and said, “As far as I know, Wuyou Valley is occupied by Fu Zhuochen, a great demon of the bird clan. This demon has always been arrogant. He drove away the local land god, claimed to be an immortal, and enjoyed many years of worship from humans… Also…”
“Also what?”
“Also, this demon seems to have a close friendship with Divine Lord Zhiming. Not long ago, he came to the heavenly realm, and Divine Lord Zhiming met with him…”
“Zhiming?” The Heavenly Emperor frowned.
“It should be Divine Lord Zhiming… If not, I truly cannot think of why that demon would have Fairy Yun Su’s Qingchen Sword.”
The Heavenly Emperor thought deeply for a moment, then said in a furious, low voice, “A wicked beast of the demon clan dares look down on the heavenly realm. If this spreads, will it not make us a joke? Go capture that beast. Cut off his six roots and destroy his six senses. Ruin his foundation and let him repent. At that time, we can ask Zhiming what else he has to say.”
“But, but… Heavenly Emperor, Fu Zhuochen was born different. He is the only red peacock between heaven and earth. His talent is excellent, and his cultivation is not shallow. I fear…”
“You may tell him this. If he wants the peacock clan to disappear completely from the human world, then he may continue to resist. I will give him five days. If he has not surrendered after five days, every peacock in the four regions of the human world will die because of him. When that time comes, we will start with the east, where Wuyou Valley is. One region will be wiped out each day.”
To the heavenly realm, demons were only grass, trees, or beasts that had gained intelligence.
It was only a warning. Killing one demon was fine. Wiping out a whole clan was also fine.
*
The Star Lord of Fate was about to descend again with a mournful face and a pounding headache when Ciyin ran into him.
“Star Lord! What happened? I heard you went to the lower realm…” Ciyin tightly grabbed the Star Lord’s sleeve, her eyes full of anxiety.
“Oh, little Flower Goddess, please do not hold me here! That bold demon in Wuyou Valley made a fake Blue Luan to fool me. The Heavenly Emperor’s face just now was truly terrible. I have to go down and capture that demon…”
Ciyin still held on to the Star Lord and pressed him. “Capture… capture him, and then what?”
“Cut off the six roots and destroy the six senses.”
All living beings had six roots: eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind.
When the six roots touched the six dusts, they gave birth to the six senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and thought.
If a person lost the six roots and six senses, they could no longer feel anything in the world. It was no different from death. No, perhaps it was worse than death.
Ciyin thought this in her heart, but she did not dare say much. Now the Heavenly Emperor was furious. If anyone had even the smallest connection to demons, they would draw fire onto themselves.
But that demon had taken such a risk for Yun Su in the first place…
No. She had to find a way to delay the Star Lord and warn Fu Zhuochen to hide in the earth realm for now.
“Star Lord, Star Lord, wait. That is not right. That demon’s cultivation is quite high. How can you go alone? Besides, demons are very cunning. What if he hurts you…”
“Little Flower Goddess, you worry too much. The Heavenly Emperor has already given an order. If that demon does not surrender, he will cause every peacock in the human world to die… There are many types in the bird clan. Surely they will not force themselves forward for the peacock line alone.” The Star Lord waved his hand and said, “Little Flower Goddess, listen to my advice. Do not walk too close to Divine Lord Zhiming these days. That demon dared do this mostly because Divine Lord Zhiming ordered it. The Heavenly Emperor is punishing one to warn another.”
Ciyin froze when she heard this. By the time she came back to herself, the Star Lord had already gone far away.
After that, Ciyin no longer dared go see Zhiming. She only paid more attention to the still-quiet Wuyou Valley each day while arranging flowers.
The Star Lord had been guarding there the whole time, and the Heavenly Emperor’s meaning had already spread to every demon in the human world.
For a time, every intelligent demon of the peacock clan dragged their families and fled in panic. Some rushed to Qixia Mountain, hoping to seek protection from the bird clan leader. Others wanted to flee to the earth realm and hide somewhere beyond the heavenly realm’s control.
But aside from these intelligent demons, there were still too many ordinary peacocks in the human world. Most of them knew nothing about the disaster about to happen. Even if they knew, they had nowhere to hide.
On the first day, Fu Zhuochen did not appear.
On the second day, Wuyou Valley was still very quiet. Only the summer flowers bloomed especially bright.
On the third day, Ciyin gradually felt her heart become a tangled mess. She did not want to see a whole clan of living beings suffer an undeserved disaster, but she also could not help hoping Fu Zhuochen would not appear.
On the fourth day, Fu Zhuochen appeared after all. He wore red robes, brighter than all four seasons of the human world.
The Star Lord explained why he had come. Fu Zhuochen only brewed a pot of tea. His expression was as calm as if he were hearing a bit of household gossip. At the end, under the Star Lord’s slightly awkward gaze, he drank a cup, stood, straightened his clothes, and said coldly, “One person should bear what one person has done. I will go back with you. There is no need to involve the innocent.”
Ciyin could not help biting her lower lip. She tried hard not to interfere anymore.
But after wandering aimlessly through the vast heavenly court for a long time, she still could not hold back. Following bits of news she heard along the way, she found the place where Fu Zhuochen was being held.
Seven demon-suppressing pillars and five demon-binding ropes sealed every spiritual point in his body. In such a situation, even if he had heaven-reaching power, he could not use a single bit of it.
Even so, he still looked as if nothing had happened. He leaned against one of the demon-suppressing pillars, his eyes quietly watching the distant clouds roll and scatter. There was not a trace of fear in his gaze.
“Not bad treatment. Five hundred years ago, the black flood dragon was locked here too.” Ciyin lifted her skirt and slowly came closer. At last, she crouched beside him. “You are rather relaxed, sitting here. Is the view good?”
Fu Zhuochen glanced at her and did not speak.
“Do not tell me you do not recognize me?” Ciyin smoothed the edge of her skirt, sat hugging her knees, and looked at Fu Zhuochen. “Last time, I was the one who took you to see Divine Lord Zhiming. You were fierce to me, too.”
“Sorry.” This demon said sorry, but his attitude was not sincere at all.
Ciyin did not mind. She only shook her head. “I am not saying I hold a grudge. I only came for Zhiming to see… to see whether they have made things hard for you.”
“No need.” Fu Zhuochen said lightly, “Please trouble the fairy to tell Zhiming that he can push all responsibility onto me. It was my idea alone to begin with. He does not need to drag himself into it.”
“Do you know how the Heavenly Emperor plans to punish you?” As Ciyin spoke, she watched Fu Zhuochen’s expression. Seeing that he did not seem to care, she could not help frowning. “The Heavenly Emperor has decided to cut off your six roots and six senses. Do you know what that means?”
“It means… first protecting your three souls and seven spirits, then cutting away your eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, stripping flesh and leaving only bone, and finally erasing all your memories. You will forget all sounds, colors, and shapes in the world. You will forget what you loved and hated. You will forget who you are. You will not die, but from then on, you will remain in the world neither living nor dead.” Ciyin said, “It is a pity. You were born so good-looking. If you truly suffer this heavenly punishment, not even an inch of skin or flesh will be left.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Ciyin saw a flash of panic pass through Fu Zhuochen’s eyes. She sighed. “You are still afraid.”
Fu Zhuochen closed his eyes. “You people of the heavenly realm have methods crueler than any devil clan I have ever seen.”
Ciyin lowered her lashes and said softly, “This is called removing impurity. Without six roots, one does not touch the six dusts, and so one has no worries.”
That was what she said, but she had never been able to bear seeing such cruel heavenly punishment.
“True. Dead people have no worries either.” Fu Zhuochen smiled as if it did not matter. “If it really is as you say, forgetting is better than remembering. I will treat it as my lifespan ending.”
“You demons are so strange…” Ciyin did not understand. “A mortal lifetime is only a great dream to Susu. When she wakes from the dream, she will marry Divine Lord Zhiming, and Divine Lord Zhiming will also treat her very well. I do not understand. Were you not entrusted by the Divine Lord to care for her? Is it worth reaching this point just to help continue a dream?”
Under Ciyin’s gaze, Fu Zhuochen thought for a long time. In the end, he shook his head and said, “I used to think that too.”
Later, he realized that the person he had always cared for and protected had never been Fairy Yun Su, who had an engagement with Zhiming. It was Fu Xiaoba.
His younger sister was that foolish and lazy little peacock in Wuyou Valley, the one who had never even had a proper name.
If those five hundred years in the mortal world were truly only one dream of Yun Su’s, then when she woke from the dream, Fu Xiaoba would no longer exist.
But Ciyin could not understand no matter how she thought. Yun Su would return from her tribulation in the end. What meaning was there in this demon risking everything to delay things for her?
Her heart felt blocked. She wanted to tell Zhiming about this, but before she reached Northern Xuan Palace, she ran into Zhiming, whose face was full of worry.
“Divine Lord Zhiming, that demon friend of yours…”
“I already know.” Zhiming answered in a low voice and could not help clenching his fists.
Just now, he had already seen the Heavenly Emperor.
Clearly, the Heavenly Emperor was deeply angry about Yun Su forming a bond with a demon clan member. His cold face had been full of fury.
“I absolutely will not allow the phoenix clan bloodline to fall into the demon realm. Blue Luan has been misled by a demon in this life. That should not have happened. If she is willing to return, then let her re-enter reincarnation according to the fate written by the Star Lord of Fate. If she is unwilling, then destroy her three souls and seven spirits.”
“…”
“Ten days. Within ten days, I want to see a result. Zhiming, are you willing to lead troops to the earth realm and handle this matter for me?”
“…”
“If you cannot do it, I can send Mengzhang. As for pleading for that demon, do not mention it again.”
“I can do it!”
“Can you truly do it?”
“Ten days will be the limit. Once Yun Su returns, I hope the Heavenly Emperor can show Fu Zhuochen mercy.”
Ten days was the deadline the Heavenly Emperor gave him, and also his only chance to make up for his mistake.
If he could not bring Yun Su back, not only would Fu Zhuochen have his six roots and six senses cut away, even Zhiming himself would likely be unable to escape blame.
When Ciyin heard this, her brows drew tight. “Ten days? This… how can that be enough?”
“It is enough.” After Zhiming spoke, he closed his eyes. “I only fear Yun Su will hate me from now on.”
“Does it have to be you…”
“Even if I do not go, there is still Mengzhang. If I go, at least I will not harm her three souls and seven spirits, and I can also protect Fu Zhuochen.”
After Zhiming said this, he turned and left.
Ciyin watched his departing back and felt that every step he took seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.
*
For thousands of years, the heavenly realm and the earth realm had used the River of Forgetfulness as their line and had not disturbed each other.
The immortals and gods set up the underworld east of the River of Forgetfulness so all living beings could reincarnate endlessly. A small number of demons lived together with the devil clan west of the river, and there had been no contact between the two sides for a long time.
Then one day, thousands of heavenly soldiers crossed the River of Forgetfulness and charged straight into the demon realm’s territory, yet no one stopped them.
In the end, what the heavenly realm wanted was only the little peacock demon beside the flood dragon clan leader. Although the flood dragon clan was also a demon clan, it had always been at odds with the other clans in the demon realm. When the heavenly realm came to trouble the flood dragon clan, the other clans did not kick them while they were down. Only standing by and watching was already a great mercy.
Two days later, both exits of Soul-Wounding Valley were surrounded by layers of heavenly soldiers and generals. The general in front was the Northern God of the human world, Black Tortoise Divine Lord of the heavenly realm, Zhiming.
He declared that if the flood dragon clan did not hand over Fu Xiaoba within five days, the heavenly realm would flatten Soul-Wounding Valley.
The flood dragon clan had long been in decline. Now only several hundred clansmen remained, including many old people and young flood dragons who had not yet taken human form.
In such a situation, even if Qu Linyan alone could resist several hundred heavenly soldiers, what use would it be? For a time, everyone in the flood dragon clan was frightened. The voices shouting to sacrifice Fu Xiaoba grew louder and louder.
Fu Xiaoba no longer dared step out of that small home. She was afraid of seeing people. It was not only the flood dragon clansmen. Even when she occasionally saw Xiangsi, she felt too ashamed to lift her head.
On the first day, the flood dragon clan made no move.
On the second day, many clansmen began to panic.
On the third day, more and more clansmen began asking Qu Linyan to make a statement.
On the fourth day, Qu Linyan’s residence was surrounded by people petitioning her. Every word forced Qu Linyan to give up Fu Xiaoba.
“Clan Leader, if Madam stays here, then she is a fallen immortal, and we are dragging her into that fall. That is a serious crime! If Madam dies, then it is only her own failure in the tribulation. We cannot be blamed, and we can still save the former clan leader…”
“If the Clan Leader truly does not plan to save the former clan leader, then hand this woman back to the heavenly realm! Do not ignore the safety of the whole clan for one woman!”
“Clan Leader cannot bear to give up one person’s life. Can you bear to give up the hundreds of lives in our flood dragon clan?”
Although Qu Linyan had set a barrier outside the house and no one could come in, how could Fu Xiaoba not hear those voices?
She suddenly felt that her very existence was a disaster. Not only could she not help Qu Linyan with anything, she had also drawn heavenly soldiers and generals here and caused the entire flood dragon clan to fall into danger. No wonder the clansmen wanted to beat and kill her.
Qu Linyan gently stroked her cheek. “Xiaoba, I will not let anyone hurt you.”
Fu Xiaoba lifted her head. A trace of emotion rose in her eyes, but in the end, it was like a flame that had not yet been lit, easily snuffed out by the angry shouts outside.
Tears shone in her eyes as she asked softly, “Were we really wrong to be together?”
“Bringing the dead back to life is also defying fate. I chased that method for half my life. Did I not also spend half my life being wrong?” Qu Linyan gently wiped the tears from the corners of Fu Xiaoba’s eyes. She held Fu Xiaoba’s cheeks and touched their foreheads together. “I am not afraid of being wrong. I am only afraid that after being wrong for so long, all I can get in return is regret.”
She said, “Xiaoba, I will not allow the clan to hurt you! Do not leave. You promised me. You said you would not leave…”
At that moment, tears slipped from the corners of her eyes, and her voice kept choking.
“Do not be afraid. As long as I still have one breath left, no one can take you from my side!”
Each word sounded like a plea. She wished she could dig out her true heart and beg for the trust of the person before her.
“Tomorrow, I will fight for you. If the people of the heavenly realm want to take you away, they must step over my corpse first… For you, I am willing.”
Fu Xiaoba did not answer. Her eyes were red, and she let Qu Linyan kiss the corners of her eyes, then follow the tear tracks down to her neck.
Qu Linyan reached out and lifted Fu Xiaoba, carried her to the bedside, and let her sit on her lap. Then she drew Fu Xiaoba into her arms and gently untied the sash at her waist. Her fingers moved upward from below, slipping away the thin clothing.
She could feel the person in her arms sobbing and trembling without stop, but she still did not stop the movement of her fingers. She only leaned close to Fu Xiaoba’s ear, pushed her down beside the pillow, and whispered, “I love you.”
“I… do too…”
Outside, the curses were like knives and swords, wanting to stab the two of them full of wounds. But under the blame of thousands, they met each other with open hearts.
In that moment, they were only two people flying into a flame.
They did not understand heavenly rules. They did not want to carry chains. To them, all right and wrong, black and white, good and evil no longer mattered at all.