Chapter 284: In Those Days

It was only at that moment when the two silly uncles and Mumu had recognized Wen Leyang.

The two silly uncles cheered loudly; their faces still revealed that foolish smile. They pulled at him from the left and right as they asked about everything continuously.

Mumu held the long needles in her hands. Her entire being was akin to a clay doll as she stood absentmindedly on the same spot, with her red little lips widening. She glared at him incredulously... After a long while, her eyes suddenly turned red.

After four years apart, there was almost no change in Mumu; she was still dressed in red as she was before and appeared like a flickering flame when the wind blew. She was still as beautiful as she was when they first met. Despite having her cultivation power vastly enhanced, she appeared even younger on the contrary, with her huge eyes shining brighter than the moon.

Meanwhile, the young and old generation of the Wen family too heard of the commotion. They walked out of their houses one after another and were stunned for a moment upon seeing Wen Leyang, without exception. Soon after, they exploded in a series of cheers. The First Grandfather burst out laughing. He led the few family elders and the First Uncle as they walked towards him in quick strides. Father Wen and Mother Wen refrained themselves from crying hard, but a joyous smile flashed through their faces.

Meanwhile, Mumu had only recovered from her surprise. Her cheer was accompanied by some sobs, as she stretched out her hand to wipe away the glittering joy on the corners of her eyes. She turned around and ran towards their bridal chamber. Mumu prioritized loyalty; she was calling out for Xiaoyi. She did not react as imagined by Wen Leyang during the journey, which was to dive head-first into his arms without a care in the world.

There was one person who did dive into his arms; it was Hanba.

After the initial shock, Hanba discovered that Darling was not with Wen Leyang, but the father and daughter were connected in their hearts. Fifth Brother too could not care about blushing, as he grabbed Wen Leyang's shirt as he asked in a ghastly manner, "Where is the Darling?"

Wen Leyang hastily answered, "Darling is fine. She returned to Qinling Mountains to look for you after we came out of the mountain together."

Hanba's expression had only relaxed when a vibe of awkwardness flashed across his face. He released Wen Leyang's shirt shyly, but his mouth twitched. Not knowing what to say, he then cracked his mouth into an exceedingly hideous smile to Wen Leyang.

Hanba's four limbs were complete right now, with the severe injuries from four years ago healing completely. Chang Li too had a plump and healthy look. The broken arm from the last time she launched the demon body breaking spell too had regrown.

While the small stone house in the middle of the village was already enshrouded in heat waves; it had been four years. You've Got Me was still in a cocoon; it had not transformed into a butterfly, but it was not dead as well.

Meanwhile, all the people of the Wen family finally gathered. Each of them pulled at Wen Leyang and asked about his wellbeing. However, they spoke and asked the questions that confused Wen Leyang. Most of the questions were - How is your cultivation power enhanced vastly this time? Which state of the Art of Poison have you cultivated in? How are you as compared to the few senior demon immortals?

Wen Leyang pondered for a while before he understood - Chang Li and the rest portrayed him to be trapped for ten years. This matter was certainly not revealed to the Wen family, so they randomly came up with an excuse that he was on an adventure and was cultivating, in order to humor the young and old people of the Wen family.

Meanwhile, at the sudden sound of a bang on the door, Xiaoyi staggered slightly in surprise as she ran out of the bridal chamber. There was a child of three to four years old following behind her. At first, Wen Leyang thought that it was Ah Dan, but under close inspection, the child had a dark complexion and was skinny; far less radiant and vivacious than Ah Dan.

Even though the child had a dark complexion and was skinny, a large head and a thin neck, Wen Leyang's heart was beating wildly. Even his breathing felt beyond heavy - all within a single glance. Xiaoyi could not care about the child behind her, as she dashed towards Wen Leyang with Mumu. Four years later, Xiaoyi had already completely shed away the immaturity of a young girl. She remained as crystal clear as water, but her graceful beauty had already turned into an intense charm capable of seeping into one's bones!

The moment the two wives walked out, Chang Li and Zhui Zi were too embarrassed to pull Wen Leyang and refused to let go anymore. They gazed at one another and giggled, before hastily getting out of the way.

At this moment, there was no other person in Xiaoyi's eyes. The entire world was being blocked behind her man! In the meantime, the child who was running behind her foolishly tripped and fell. Wen Leyang watched as the child was about to fall over. Feeling extremely sympathetic, he hastily ran over to hold the child upright before his huge head hit the ground. It was at this moment when Wen Leyang truly felt as if the blood of his entire body was boiling. He could even clearly sense the vitality of the child's heartbeat, the prosperous thriving of the child's hair, and the sincerity of the child's blood flow!

The hug that was supposedly meant for Xiaoyi and Mumu had been given to the child right there and then. There was not a sense of unpleasantness in Xiaoyi's expression. She held onto Wen Leyang's tough and strong arm from the side tightly and said to the child softly, "Go, look for your father and mother!"

The child responded; his movements were agile as he jumped onto the ground. Much to Wen Leyang's surprise, he shouted aloud for 'father' and 'mother', as he ran towards the three-inch nailed Wen Bushuo, who was standing nearby with a merciful expression...

There was a graceful Qing Miao woman standing beside Wen Bushuo, who bent over and picked the big-headed boy up. She was filled with affection, yet reprimanded gently, "You've always liked to spend time idling in Mother Xiaoyi's house...", Wen Leyang could remember faintly that on his grand wedding day, this Qing Miao woman was precisely Xiaoyi's bridal counsel.

At a rare moment, the three-inch nailed Wen Bushuo laughed aloud; he asked Wen Leyang with pride, "My son, does he look like me?"

Everyone broke out in an uproar and laughed loudly. Xiaoyi and Wen Leyang each blushed scarlet, and even Mumu was also blushing, at a loss of whether to cry or laugh with them...

After the merry occasion, Wen Leyang followed the three demon immortals to the back of the village. After Chang Li conjured the sound-proofing prohibition spell, Wen Leyang first explained about the general idea of his encounter of escaping out of the ghost formation 'Different Paths' with Little Five. Then, he looked towards the few demon immortals. He was about to inquire but did not know how to start asking all at once.

Zhui Zi understood that Wen Leyang had a belly full of questions to ask now, so she spoke cautiously, "There's no need to rush, I'll explain everything to you."

Wen Leyang spoke ferociously, "There's no need to mention the past. After this, no one is allowed to leave me behind anymore!"

Zhui Zi hastily nodded; her face expressed pity as if she was afraid that Wen Leyang would start scolding her in a bad mood, yet her gaze was very bright. There was a glimmer of joy in her eyes.

Four years ago, on Wen Leyang's grand wedding day, Zhui Zi too regained the memories of her past life.

The incidents that took place in Zhui Zi's past life, was almost the same as what was described by the descendants of the heaven's cone nails on the Goddess Peak. The immortal master teacher possessed an exceedingly high cultivation base. He was unpredictable; the crowd of top master cultivators that cultivated the power of sun and moon and five elements followed closely by his side. Zhui Zi's lineage belonged to the heavenly water; her sect originated from the highland's snow peak, and spent generations cultivating in the power of soft water. They had the relationship of teacher-disciple and friendship with the immortal master teacher all along. As compared to those other sects, Zhui Zi had a more intimate relationship with Kong Nuer.

Zhui Zi inhaled a deep breath; she smiled as she looked at Wen Leyang, "That immortal master teacher and the heavily-mustached man that we met on the Goddess Peak appear exactly the same."

Wen Leyang nodded. The heavily-mustached man who controlled the Landhopper on the wasteland, the top cultivator who trapped Red Pot with his body on the Desert Rebel Mountain, the immortal master teacher who planned the demon suppression on the Black and White Island - these three people were exactly the same, as expected.

Wen Leyang could have been more foolish, yet he would still understand that after the brother had died, the twin younger brother took his place. Neither the wife could recognize him, nor his nieces and nephews... It was like a scene from the movies. These three people were like three twin brothers, only that they were on a larger scale than the imagined extent. There were no other two people with the exact same appearance in this world. Whether it was Zhui Zi, Red Pot, or the golden monkey, Qian Ren, their vision was sharpest to the greatest extent. There was no way they could mistake a person at all. Unless... These people were split bodies!

Wen Leyang was still confused temporarily, whether the immortal master teacher of the heaven's cone nails was actually also a split body similar to the heavily-mustached man and the rest... Or was he Kong Nuer's god-level body?

Zhui Zi understood Wen Leyang's thoughts. She smiled gently to him, "That giant sword Molten Metal Fire Bell, was precisely his treasured weapon."

Wen Leyang now understood that Kong Nuer had an extremely high cultivation base, yet he only had one split body of a Sword's Resolve. Needless to say, he had the same identity as the other two heavily-mustached men who used their bodies to rule over the Landhopper on the wasteland and sealed Red Pot on the Desert Rebel Island. They were all split bodies that belonged to a peerless master cultivator.

He could not help but feign laughter. There were a total of four Kong Nuer in the world - One was the god level body and three were the split bodies. Fortunately, those three small-sized Kong Nuer cultivated their split bodies each into a Sword's Resolve. If not, everything would definitely be in a completely chaotic mess.

Zhui Zi sat slowly onto the ground and wrapped her arms around her knees. Her tone of speaking sounded so light, it was akin to floating.

Wen Leyang and Chang Li too sat down together, Hanba hesitated for a moment and knelt down in front of them...

Those days, Kong Nuer gathered all the good hands under his command and proposed the idea of suppressing the nine-headed monster to them. Xiang Liu was supposed to be the evil creature that lived and died together with the heaven and earth, while the immortal master teacher was the erudite person who protected the heaven in everyone's heart. His wish to suppress the nine-headed monster was supposed to be a matter of unquestionable moral truth in everyone's heart. Zhui Zi too did not ponder too much over that. Back then, Kong Nuer did not mention the method to suppress the demon specifically. The crowd discussed for a while before they were dismissed. They then returned to their own places and devoted themselves to figure a way out.

Zhui Zi on the other hand was fully relaxed. In her clear and nimble mind, she had since noticed that Kong Nuer had already figured out a way. He allowed the group to return and think; that was but a mere formality.

As expected, not long afterward, Kong Nuer himself found Zhui Zi on the Geladaindong Peak. When they met, Zhui Zi was guiding her disciples. Everyone was using their supernatural powers to polish the snow mountain together. Kong Nuer was startled; he did not know how to react as he scolded, "I have predicted that you'll never concentrate on completing your homework!"

In Zhui Zi's past life, she was also a woman who was extremely beautiful. She immediately laughed and answered after she heard Kong Nuer, "You have since figured a way out in your heart; my thoughts are futile. Anyhow, I'll only do everything that you instruct me to." She regarded Kong Nuer as a master teacher and a friend. Their relationship was also rather intimate; there was no need for feigned courteousness when they were spending time alone.

Kong Nuer burst out laughing as he nodded, "I can never hide anything from you!"

However, when Zhui Zi was inquiring about his specific method to suppress the demon, Kong Nuer shook his head and refused to answer directly, "I do have a method earlier, but I'm afraid that there's still some oversight in the plan. I will need to probe on Xiang Liu's tracks beforehand so I can be at ease."

This time, Kong Nuer's trip to the highland's snow peak was to look for Zhui Zi to join him in probing the nine-headed monster's whereabouts. In good hands with exceedingly high abilities under Kong Nuer's leadership, Zhui Zi's cultivation base was not the most profound one. However, the true water was formless; Zhui Zi's cultivation method was most adept in hiding the tracks. Wen Leyang had since witnessed this skill of hers from when he was on the snow peak's Hua family.

This time it was Zhui Zi who was startled; Xiang Liu's ominous name was known all over the world. How would it allow anyone else to get near?

However, Zhui Zi had full confidence in the immortal master teacher first, while secondly, based on Zhui Zi's own cultivation base, there were very few enemies that were her match in the entire world. She had profound skills, so naturally, she was brave. In the end, she still agreed to Kong Nuer's request.

Before both of them departed, Kong Nuer took out a jade box that was placed with a prohibition spell, which could not be opened. His tone was stern as he spoke to Zhui Zi, "This box is important; hide it properly!"

After she was done hiding the jade box, the two divine immortal-like master cultivators joined hands and departed. Kong Nuer seemed to have since found out about Xiang Liu's location beforehand; he brought Zhui Zi along as they traveled towards the north all the way until they dashed into the nine-headed monster's lair.

Despite Zhui Zi possessing a profound cultivation base, she was still inherently lively and vivacious. She regarded Kong Nuer as a senior family relative in her heart and asked about the secret hidden within the box continuously. Kong Nuer was very annoyed by her continuous inquiries, and in the end, he spoke ambiguously, "The item hidden in that box is where I am heading to!"

When she was sharing all these matters, Zhui Zi's gaze was spreading with a faint smile all along, as if she was truly acting like a spoiled child to a family elder. Wen Leyang was feeling a pain in his heart and lightened his breathing quietly. He was afraid that he would disrupt her momentary joy, for anyone knew that perhaps in the next second, the strong pain capable of decaying souls and corroding bones would have splashed towards the sky!

Zhui Zi was certainly not so easily humored by Kong Nuer's words and tried to figure out every possible idea all along the way. Occasionally, she tried to beat around the bush, while at times, she pestered and asked endlessly. In the end, she just acted her own age by threatening Kong Nuer of her return home.

Yet no matter which method Zhui Zi tried to use, Kong Nuer did not speak a word anymore. She did not have any other tricks to use in the end, so she followed her family's immortal master teacher in disappointment as they rushed to the end of the north land.

Before they entered Xiang Liu's lair, Kong Nuer suddenly stopped Zhui Zi who was about to conjure a magic spell, "This trip here is dangerous to the utmost extent. You must bear one matter in mind, but if you can't promise me, then you and I shall retreat and head back to where we came from, right now!"

Zhui Zi's face was initially filled with impatience, but after she listened to Kong Nuer's stern words, she nodded in agreement.

Kong Nuer seemed to ponder for a moment before he made up his mind and said to Zhui Zi, "Xiang Liu is an ancient evildoer; its cultivation base far exceeds mine. If I were to be involved in any harm later... you shall return to the Geladaindong Peak. No matter what peculiar matter happens, do not acknowledge even if another immortal master teacher with the exact same appearance as me were to deliver an oracle to summon you. Also, don't ever think about opening that box! Live in seclusion from then on, and cultivate for the heaven's path with a calm heart."

As he spoke, Kong Nuer paused for a moment. He then continued, "And also, certainly do not try to avenge me!"

Zhui Zi was astonished; she widened her eyes and asked, "What do you mean by another immortal master teacher...?"

Kong Nuer did not wait for her to finish her question before he shook his head and interrupted, "If you can't promise that, then even though I won't be able to die in peace, I will think of you as a daughter, and you will think of me as a father. This shall be my last testament!"

Zhui Zi was both astonished and fearful in her heart, yet she still took an oath and made a vow to abide by Kong Nuer's baffling last testament.

Kong Nuer laughed and spoke soon after, "But this is just the preparation for any contingency. Even if we were to fight against the nine-headed monster, it won't be easy for it to kill me. There's no need to worry too much."

Soon after, under Zhui Zi's concealment of water element magic art, both of them secretly snuck into Xiang Liu's lair.

At the time, Xiang Liu did not notice that someone was approaching it quietly, yet Kong Nuer who had been cautious and vigilant all along accidentally made a loud movement. He revealed his track from that point onwards. Xiang Liu soon discovered Zhui Zi's hiding magic art after it was startled. It suddenly jumped up and attacked them.

The two people had no courage to continue fighting; they spread their legs and ran away. Kong Nuer revealed his grace as a member of the senior generation. He protected and covered for Zhui Zi along the way, and in the end, under Xiang Liu's nine-headed continuous attack, his human body was shattered forcefully!

At this point, Wen Leyang could not help but gasp under his breath, in surprise.

Zhui Zi's body quivered once; she was awakened from her memories. She nodded to Wen Leyang gently and laughed, "Of course he is dead, otherwise, how will the Sword's Resolve of the Molten Metal Fire Bell be sealed?" Kong Nuer's human body was shattered. The giant sword Molten Metal Fire Bell was also struck by Xiang Liu and flew away. Simultaneously, the Sword's Resolve small sword Firetail was also sealed in accordance.

Under Kong Nuer's desperate protection, Zhui Zi managed to escape alive. She was so dispirited that she only wished to return to the Geladaindong Peak.

Unexpectedly, just as mentioned by Kong Nuer while he was alive, she had just returned to the land of the east when she received the immortal master teacher's oracle-delivering spiritual crane.

Kong Nuer was apparently already dead, yet he was still calling for a gathering of his subordinates. At the time, Zhui Zi still did not know that the recently deceased Kong Nuer was only a split body. Even though she was feeling surprised and suspicious in her heart, she still abided by Kong Nuer's last testament in the end. She returned to the Geladaindong Peak by herself and planned to stop mingling in the worldly affairs and mortal matters from then on. Instead, she focused on cultivating herself in hopes that she would completely understand the heaven's path soon.

Zhui Zi was scared out of her wits and walked at an extremely slow pace on her way back to her home. It took a few months before she finally returned to the snow peak, but on the same night she returned, the tragedy that destroyed her sect descended from the heaven!

At this point, an exceedingly peculiar expression appeared on Zhui Zi's face, yet her gaze suddenly turned sharper and colder than ice needles, "The other Kong Nuer led a few master cultivators from the rest of the heaven's cone nail sects and struggled their way onto the snow peak! They claimed that I cravenly clung onto life instead of braving death, and refused to surrender my primordial spirit and the heavenly water spirit. They also didn't even allow me to explain. They attacked and slaughtered my disciples! The highland's snow peak that was of the same lineage as the heavenly water spirit was severed at this point!"

He had since understood the result of that incident, but when he heard Zhui Zi's personal description, Wen Leyang still felt a muffled bang erupting in his body - The Poison of Life and Death's raging tide circulating abruptly, a gush of rage that was deep to the greatest extent enough to shatter the heaven and earth, exploded from the bottom of his heart ferociously!

Zhui Zi, on the contrary, placed her icy-cold little hands on Wen Leyang's forehead gently. He could only feel as his glabella chilled; the raging fire that was surging skywards was rapidly dimmed, in exchange was a heartfelt pity. He raised his hand and held Zhui Zi's delicate hand.

The disciples of the highland's Heavenly Water Sect were powerful, yet how were they worthy to fight the top master cultivators that were of the same level as Zhui Zi? Zhui Zi utterly did not understand what was happening there.

Before her eyes, no matter if it was Kong Nuer's voice, the appearance of his behavior, or conduct, he was no different from the immortal master teacher who died in Xiang Liu's hands. But alas, even if she were, to tell the truth, everybody else would just regard her as cravenly clung to life instead of braving death, and that she was pestering unreasonably. Zhui Zi was almost driven to madness. She wanted to fight the enemies desperately, but under Kong Nuer's personal attack, she was not even injured for one bit before she was captured alive by him.

Zhui Zi then turned her head to the side and looked towards Wen Leyang, "That immortal master teacher who instructed his subordinates to kill all my disciples was Kong Nuer's god-level body. He ensured that I was uninjured. It was for nothing but to strip away my entire primordial spirit!"

Wen Leyang nodded. Ever since he heard of Kong Nuer appearing after he died, Wen Leyang could basically predict the rough idea of the sequence of events that took place.

Kong Nuer's god level body was not revealed in the mortal world. Every matter was handled by his split bodies, and the master cultivators of the heaven's cone nails were also the joined force of that split body.

It was unknown what the reason was behind Kong Nuer's wanting to deal with the nine-headed monster, but the split body was also killed by Xiang Liu. Due to that, the god level body had no other alternative but to appear personally. He stole the split body's identity to continue to lead his subordinate into forging the Black and White Island's demon-suppressing great formation.

Even though the split body and the god level body were the same matter, they were still considered two different people. Zhui Zi was one example; she was only acquainted with the split body that was already dead, and not acquainted with the god level body that was alive and jumping about. Whether it was to condense the heaven's cone nail or to hide the truth, Kong Nuer's true body must kill Zhui Zi.

The lineage of heavenly water on the snow peak was slaughtered and annihilated. Zhui Zi was too weak to resist and was captured alive by Kong Nuer's god-level body. Soon after, the god level body dismissed the group of his subordinates. Once he was done stripping Zhui Zi's primordial soul, he used his exceedingly high supernatural power to punch through the crystal ore cave. He procured the heavenly water spirit, and he laid down the Thirteen Shall Not Pass prohibition spell.

Kong Nuer's cultivation base far exceeded Zhui Zi. It was not that difficult for him to kill her, yet the act of capturing her alive without causing any injuries truly did exert a lot of Kong Nuer's effort. Afterward, he exhausted a great amount of life vitality to strip Zhui Zi's primordial spirit, before punching through the ore cave and procuring the heavenly water spirit. He then laid down the prohibition spell. Naturally, there was no need to mention his extremely aloof cultivation base, but after Kong Nuer was done settling all these matters, he was also extremely exhausted.

Just as Kong Nuer's god-level was carrying Zhui Zi's primordial spirit and the heavenly water spirit, while walking out of the ore cave fully satisfied, a streak of lightning-like human figure suddenly pounced towards him. Soon after, the human figure stabbed his finger into Kong Nuer's glabella ferociously!

Zhui Zi's primordial spirit that was stripped away was carried with Kong Nuer all along because her primordial spirit had yet to perish. Hence, Zhui Zi was still aware of everything that was happening around her.

After Zhui Zi's primordial spirit took a close look at the person who was supposed to be Kong Nuer's god-level body, she truly felt as if a divine thunder capable of destroying the heaven and earth exploded next to her ears. The person who was attacking Kong Nuer was surprisingly that body of hers that had already lost her primordial spirit!