"That fat guy wants to mess with me?" Shi Hao asked casually as he sat by the jade table, pouring himself a cup of fine wine. While savoring the drink, he also enjoyed the bustling atmosphere of the imperial capital.
"Yes, you should be careful," the Heavenly Fox Fairy said with a sweet yet sly smile, her large eyes curving as she spoke.
"Why is that fat guy bothering me for no reason? I haven’t offended her. If she dares to cause trouble, I'll just subdue her on the spot," Shi Hao declared boldly.
He knew the Witch couldn't be trusted, and after just coming out of a big battle, he was in a relaxed mood, so his words carried a teasing and joking tone.
The Witch grinned and asked, "What do you mean by 'on the spot'?"
"Didn't you say you’d sell her to me? I've been waiting. If she really causes trouble, I'll just carry her back to the village and make her the mother of my children," Shi Hao said, waving his hand in a rough manner. In truth, he wasn't a big, burly man but still a delicate-looking youth. He was only speaking in this way to play along with the Witch's banter.
The Heavenly Fox Fairy laughed so hard that she bent over, completely unconcerned with her appearance. Her collar slipped, revealing a large expanse of fair, snow-like skin, as smooth as jade, her arms glowing with a pearly sheen. Her beautiful face was radiant, and her eyes sparkled with life.
"If she really comes, would you dare make a move?" the Witch asked.
"Why not? Didn't you say you'd find a good match for her? Who’s better suited than me? I'll marry her!" Shi Hao replied confidently.
"You said it yourself, you're going to subdue Fairy Yue Chan," the Witch said with a bright, mischievous grin.
"Subdue that fat guy," Shi Hao nodded in agreement.
"Heh heh," the Heavenly Fox Fairy's laughter made Shi Hao feel uneasy. He sensed something was off and quickly turned his head. A graceful figure stood at the door of the private room.
"Fat guy, I mean, Fairy Yue Chan, when did you get here?" Shi Hao scratched his head, unsure what to say, wearing an innocent, clueless expression.
"I've been here for a while," Fairy Yue Chan replied with no expression on her face. She was breathtakingly beautiful, dressed in snow-white clothes, without a trace of earthly dust, like a celestial maiden descending from the moon palace.
Shi Hao felt awkward. It was clear the Witch had set him up.
"How did you arrive so silently?" he quickly realized the issue and felt a chill down his spine. This fairy was terrifying, managing to evade his spiritual senses entirely.
Fairy Yue Chan remained calm and composed, as if she hadn't heard any of the previous remarks, or perhaps she had chosen to filter them out. She walked into the room but did not sit down.
"She has a secret treasure that hides her aura, perfect for ambushing prodigies," the Witch said with a smile.
Shi Hao remained silent. Since Fairy Yue Chan hadn’t mentioned the earlier conversation, he wasn’t about to bring it up and invite trouble. He pretended nothing had happened.
However, the Witch wasn’t going to let it slide. She’d create trouble out of nothing, let alone when there was something to work with.
"Oh, our divine young hero, your fairy lover is here. Why don’t you carry her back to the village and make her the mother of your children? I’m looking forward to a little nephew soon," the Heavenly Fox Fairy laughed sweetly, her voice ringing like a bell.
Shi Hao pretended not to hear, looking out at the bustling street below. "The imperial capital is amazing, so many people everywhere."
"You're terrible at changing the subject. What are you talking about? If not people, what else would be walking around the streets, trees and plants?" the Witch rolled her eyes and continued the earlier topic. "Fairy Yue Chan is already here. What happened to all that bold talk you were just giving? Don't leave her out in the cold now."
Shi Hao realized things were getting out of hand. He needed to take control of the conversation, so he spoke up. "Fairy Yue Chan, is there something you need from me?"
"There are indeed some matters," Fairy Yue Chan replied.
Shi Hao's heart skipped a beat. Was she really here to cause trouble? Logically, she shouldn’t be the first to make a move, given the complex situation in the capital.
Fairy Yue Chan smiled gracefully, like a spring breeze, without her usual veil. Her flawless, ethereal beauty was without a single blemish, her black hair flowing, her bright eyes full of charm.
"Fairy, please don’t smile at me like that. Otherwise, the Witch will start urging me to carry you back to the village again," Shi Hao said.
"It’s clearly you who wants to carry me. Why drag me into it?" the Witch chimed in.
Fairy Yue Chan ignored this and instead asked, "Are you a disciple of the Heaven Mending Pavilion?"
Shi Hao was surprised, unsure why she asked this question, but he nodded. There was nothing to hide, as many people knew about it.
"That means we are of the same lineage. You should be closer to me, and not let this Witch mislead you," Fairy Yue Chan said.
"Hey, did you hear that? Fairy Yue Chan is asking you to be closer to her. You’re really dense, you know? Show her some initiative!" the Witch teased.
"What? You want to go back to the village with me? No problem. My grandfather and Uncle Lin Hu have been telling me I should marry a few wives at my age. Even Brother Da Zhuang's kids are already running around," Shi Hao said.
"Hahaha!" The Witch laughed loudly. She knew Shi Hao was just joking to deflect and shift the conversation.
Fairy Yue Chan remained calm, not blushing or getting angry like other girls might. She was utterly composed and said, "If you like, we can capture the Witch together and give her to you as a wife."
"Can you even give someone away like that?" Shi Hao’s mouth fell open in surprise. He hadn’t expected the pure, otherworldly Fairy Yue Chan to say something so outrageous.
The Witch smirked. "See? The holy fairy is more cunning than anyone. She’d do anything to achieve her goal. There’s even a legend of a fairy from their sect who served a demon to reverse a catastrophic battle and change history. If you’re strong enough, you could be that demon king and have Fairy Yue Chan serve you."
"We truly share the same origin, from the same lineage," Fairy Yue Chan remained unaffected by the crude jokes, letting them drift past her like the wind.
"Please enlighten me, Fairy. Why do you say that? I'm confused," Shi Hao asked. He couldn’t understand how his time training at the Heaven Mending Pavilion was connected to a great sect from beyond the wilderness.
"Very well, I will tell you the truth. I am from the Heaven Mending Sect. Does that name ring a bell?" Fairy Yue Chan asked.
She stood very close to Shi Hao, her eyes bright and clear, the delicate scent of a young girl emanating from her, like orchids and musk, as she gazed quietly at him.
Shi Hao's heart shook. The Heaven Mending Sect and the Heaven Mending Pavilion differed by only one word. It seemed there was indeed a connection, and suddenly, he felt as if he had understood something.
"The Heaven Mending Pavilion originates from beyond the desolate domain. It is a branch of my sect. Tracing its origins, you are all disciples of the Heaven Mending Sect," Fairy Yue Chan revealed a shocking secret.
"Oh wow, sister, your thick skin is showing! Since when has the Heaven Mending Pavilion become your branch? You guys never admitted that before, but now you're throwing yourselves at them," the Witch teased.
Shi Hao's mind stirred. He believed there was indeed a connection. Some of Fairy Yue Chan's words rang true, though the full story and hidden truths remained veiled.
"It’s true. Some unpleasant things happened in the past, but ultimately, we are of the same lineage. The founder of the Heaven Mending Pavilion was originally a disciple of the Heaven Mending Sect. In fact, he always wanted to return, which is why he established the Heaven Mending Pavilion in the desolate domain," Fairy Yue Chan explained.
Shi Hao was shaken, immediately recalling Grandfather Gui. Back then, his hair was disheveled, an ancient sword embedded in his skull, and he was raging under the sky, crying out in despair, claiming he was a forsaken disciple.
At that time, Shi Hao had wondered what kind of powerful sect could expel someone as formidable as Grandfather Gui. It was astonishing, considering Grandfather Gui was a being who dared to strike down even respected figures without hesitation.
"An ancient powerhouse who once ignited his divine flame was cast out by the Heaven Mending Pavilion. And now, they have the audacity to seek out his disciples. How ironic," the Witch sneered.
"We can't change what happened, but within our sect, it's always been acknowledged that the Heaven Mending Pavilion is a branch of our Heaven Mending Sect," Fairy Yue Chan explained.
"It's a pity the Heaven Mending Pavilion was destroyed," Shi Hao said coldly. What was the point of saying this now? Where were they when the Pavilion was in dire need?
"We learned about it too late, but in the end, there will be a reckoning. It won't be long before chaos engulfs the Desolate Domain, and the sacred will be reduced to nothing," Fairy Yue Chan said solemnly.
At that moment, Shi Hao felt unsettled. The powerful Grandfather Gui had once been from the Heaven Mending Pavilion but was driven out of his sect. Just how terrifying was this great sect?
He had always believed the major sects from beyond the Desolate Domain were incredibly strong, capable of ruling over vast territories. But he hadn't imagined that even those who had ignited the divine flame could become forsaken disciples. It was far more frightening than he had ever anticipated.
"The Heaven Mending Sect is vast, with a legacy spanning endless ages, tracing back to the Primordial Era. It spans not just one domain," Fairy Yue Chan explained further to Shi Hao.
A sect spanning multiple regions—it sounded like something out of a fairy tale, leaving Shi Hao in a daze.
"Perhaps it's better to say that the Heaven Mending Sect has roots in more than just one great domain. For example, in the Desolate Domain, the Heaven Mending Pavilion is considered one of our branches," Fairy Yue Chan elaborated.
"You’re only eyeing his potential, hoping to bring him into the Heaven Mending Sect," the Witch interrupted, speaking domineeringly. "But what can you offer him? If Shi Hao joins my Heaven-Severing Sect, we’ll empty out your Heaven Mending Sect, and giving him Fairy Yue Chan as a bride wouldn’t be a problem."
"The Heaven-Severing Sect acts against the natural order. In the end, it will all come to nothing. Don't try to mislead him," Fairy Yue Chan countered.
"The Heaven Mending Sect? Ha!" The Witch shook her head before turning even more assertive toward Shi Hao. "If you follow her, you'll gain nothing. But if you follow me, even she could be yours. The choice is obvious. There's no need to hesitate."
"You..." Fairy Yue Chan's expression turned cold.
Shi Hao remained silent, deep in thought. It seemed both sects valued him, but this placed him in extreme danger. On the surface, it appeared advantageous, but the moment he leaned toward one side, the other might mercilessly strike him down.
The Heaven-Severing Sect and the Heaven Mending Sect—just by their names, they were clearly opposing forces. Conflicts between great sects over doctrine and traditions were often the most terrifying.
"Can't I be both a demon king and a god-king?" Shi Hao asked, his thick-skinned nature showing as he posed the question.
Three days and over ten chapters written—I'm exhausted. It feels harder and harder to keep writing, with each chapter taking longer and longer to complete. Is this the legendary process of exhausting one's essence? Time to push on and write the next chapter. To be continued...
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