The Demoness picked up the Card with both hands as if she had just been bestowed with the most precious treasure.
The Card depicted a ray of pure dark light surrounded by people in robed priest clothing, all of which were dancing and singing.
The Demoness lightly pressed this Card against her forehead.
The Card scattered into a black ray of light that enveloped her.
A few moments later.
The black light disappeared, the Demoness was kneeling on all fours, breathing heavily as the sound of faint chanting sounded around her body.
The horns on her head became longer, more curved, her skin becoming paler and a faint but thick and heavy shadow now existed behind her back.
The Demoness stood up, exuding a sense of inexplicable allure.
“Thank you so much, your grace”
The Demoness bowed to Xiao Die, delightfully thanking her.
—–it wasn’t just the hex that was dispelled from her, but her entire being had become different.
“No need, you would have broken through sooner or later, my Card merely sped this process up a bit”
Saying so, Xiao Die gave the Demoness a glance.
Aren’t you going to run away?
The Demoness understood, bowed to her again, then hurriedly left the bar.
The man wanted to pursue her, only to carelessly trip on his way out.
He struggled for a while before being able to stand back up.
“You! You dared interfere with our Wraith realm matters by yourself!?”
The man furiously looked at Xiao Die.
Xiao Die didn’t even bother to look at him and just refilled her glass as if nothing had happened, continuing to drink.
The man retreated to the side, took out a talisman, and muttered to it: “The mission failed… because there was interference… yes, I’m at the bar, someone saved that Demoness from the far…”
The talisman turned into a flare and flew out from the bar.
At this point, not only did the other customers at the bar not leave, they all looked like they were expecting to watch something fun play out.
Not too long after that, the door of the bar opened.
Following the cold night wind, several men in yaksha masks entered the bar.
“Sir”
The man quickly stepped up to greet them.
“Who stopped you?” the leader asked.
The man pointed at Xiao Die.
He glanced at Xiao Die, slowly losing his frigid killing intent.
He simply stood still, not saying a word, as if fallen into some sort of troublesome situation.
Xiao Die silently chuckled, then spoke up: “What? The deal isn’t even done, and you’re already planning to try something against us?”
Hearing that, the leader finally started to walk towards Xiao Die.
He removed his yaksha mask, revealing an old face full of wrinkles before telling her: “Sorry for offending you, I truly am. We naturally wouldn’t dare to offend Lady Die[1], it’s just that this is my subordinate’s first time at Void City, he’s blind even with his eyes, I hope Lady Die can forgive it”
“Just go, just don’t bother me again while I’m drinking” Xiao Die replied.
“I understand, we’ll leave immediately”
The old man bowed to greet her, then brought his subordinates away.
A conflict was easily resolved without issues.
As the other customers saw that there wasn’t anything else to watch, they stopped caring about Xiao Die and went back to their businesses.
The bar returned to its previous calmness.
In the corner, the two orange cats silently watched everything unfolded.
“Gongzi, Xiao Die seems to be considerably impressive now” Shannu whispered.
“She has always been impressive, extremely so” Gu Qing Shan replied.
——to be honest, I still owe her my life.
At the time, the Rakshasa world had already been taken over by another world, but neither the white fox nor I knew about it.
If I had followed the white fox to the Rakshasa world, I might have died right away.
Xiao Die saved my life and told me to bring her flower to Barry in exchange.
It was due to that that I had the chance to come into contact with the 900 million World Layers, got to know Barry and Kitty, join the Justice Iron Fist club, head to Aboul, and ultimately save Laura.
I never thought after so much time, when I travelled back in time to try and head into the Wraith realm, I’d run into her at Void City that was in its vicinity.
Suddenly.
Seemingly noticed something, Xiao Die’s languid eyes abruptly opened wide.
She turned to a corner of the bar, her gaze seeing nothing but the void.
“Oh my, I’m sure, you’re Gu Qing Shan, why are you here?” Xiao Die asked in surprise.
Her gesture once again drew the other customers’ attention.
Even the few bartenders standing near the counter were curious.
They all turned their gaze to that corner, some even utilized clairvoyance techniques.
But no one found anything.
It was empty.
Seeing that Xiao Die had sensed him, Gu Qing Shan hesitated a bit before undoing [Orange Sovereign Transformation] and walked out from the corner.
Shannu remained in the orange cat form, sitting on his shoulder, cautiously watching the surroundings.
“Long time no see” Gu Qing Shan smiled.
Various stifled gasps of shock could be heard.
So there really was someone in the corner!
Xiao Die observed Gu Qing Shan, then said: “I’ve heard quite a bit about you recently, are the others still fine?”
Gu Qing Shan paused a bit.
Quite obviously, in this environment, for the sake of safety, while still reaching her goal, she didn’t mention Barry and Kitty’s names.
This was to protect them.
“They’re still fine, but many things have happened recently, and this place doesn’t seem like it’ll be convenient for talking” Gu Qing Shan replied.
Xiao Die stood up and happily said:
“It really has been a long time, come, let’s go to my place, we can talk while having a drink—— I still remember how well you can hold your liquor”
“Ah, then I’ll have to trouble you” Gu Qing Shan smiled.
With Xiao Die leading Gu Qing Shan, the two of them left the bar.
They walked through several blocks, made 7-8 turns, then finally arrived at a residential district.
“Over there”
Xiao Die pointed ahead and told him.
Gu Qing Shan looked where she pointed, only to see a small house built from red bricks, surrounded by wooden fences. The house’s garden had quite a few fresh flowers and a few big trees that cast their shadows all over the yard, forming a large shade”
From afar, among a host of other residential buildings, this red brick house appeared highly peaceful.
“What a nice place” Gu Qing Shan praised.
“Really? How long have you been here?” Xiao Die asked.
“Two days” Gu Qing Shan replied.
Hearing that, Xiao Die chuckled full of implications.
She brought Gu Qing Shan through the path and in front of the house.
There was a large grey dog sitting in front of the door, soundly sleeping, when the two of them walked by, it didn’t even bother batting an eyelid.
As Gu Qing Shan took a seat in the living room, Xiao Die went to brew tea.
A few moments later, the tea was done.
“Thank you”
Gu Qing Shan received the tea, took a sip, then began to explain everything that had been going on in the 900 million World Layers.
It took him around half an hour to inform her about everything, and whenever Xiao Die had questions, Gu Qing Shan would honestly answer her.
“Who would’ve thought that so many things had happened? And here I thought the 900 million World Layers was a peaceful place” Xiao Die sighed emotionally.
Gu Qing Shan recalled their previous meeting and sincerely gave her his thanks: “I must thank you for saving me at that time, and to send me to the 900 million World Layers as well”
Xiao Die waved her hand dismissively: “No need to be so formal, it was only because I had observed your every moment in the Suspended world and found that you were worthy of my efforts that helped you. In truth, I’m glad that you managed to join the Justice Iron Fist Club”
“Why did you leave the 900 million World Layers and enter Void City?” Gu Qing Shan curiously asked.
“I knew the 900 million World Layers well——- I knew that it was artificial and that its Laws had shortcomings, it also lied next to the terrible Eternal Abyss, existing in a zone of continuous Apocalypses; occasionally, traces of both [Order] and [Chaos] could also be seen——– which were related to some unique and powerful entities. For many species of the void, not only was the 900 million World Layers weak and destitute, but it also carried little to no benefits at all, very few were actually willing to go there”
After explaining this, Xiao Die’s smile weakened a bit.
She sighed, then continued: “Both my son and I have become demonic entities, and I didn’t want him to have to rely on killing and devouring others to mature or grow, that’s why I brought him to the Boundless Void to test our lucks, seeing if there would be some way for him to live an ordinary life”
Gu Qing Shan stayed silent for a bit, then asked: “I have a weapon from the Eternal Abyss that can reverse time, would that be able to help you?”
Sensing his goodwill, Xiao Die refilled his teacup and slowly replied with a smile: “That won’t do. At that time, when I was going into labor, those humans surrounded and attacked me, causing my son to live for only a few moments after birth… it was only at the final moment that I used a forbidden technique to turn my son into a demon, connecting my soul to his, taking on over half of his death for him to finally came back to ‘life’”
“If you reversed time, my son and I would still remain in that state without any changes”
“Not to mention, he had already begun to mature, even if you turn me back to my state when I was pregnant… he wouldn’t be able to do the same, and there would be no telling what would happen”
Hearing that, Gu Qing Shan couldn’t help but be speechless.
Indeed, sometimes, reversing time isn’t going to solve every problem.
Some people are born with a tragic fate, the only thing that can be changed is their direction in life and future…
Gu Qing Shan cautiously asked: “Where’s your son? I don’t see him anywhere”
Xiao Die answered: “He’s probably at school, it’s a boarding school, so he won’t be back until the weekends”
Gu Qing Shan was a bit surprised but also a bit more relaxed.
He couldn’t help but sigh in relief, then took a sip from his tea.
Observing his reaction, Xiao Die slightly smiled.
Gu Qing Shan leaned on the sofa, casually asking: “Since Void City doesn’t reject any entities, the two of you have settled down here?”
“That’s right, we’re living quite well right now” Xiao Die picked up her cup of tea and answered with clear eyes.
“A, that’s right, I’m quite confident in my concealment technique—— how did you discover me at the bar?” Gu Qing Shan curiously asked.
“I left a brand on you, and I sensed it earlier” Xiao Die replied.
“So that’s the reason” Gu Qing Shan was shocked.
Xiao Die explained: “You’re a considerate person with plenty of means, as well as decent talents. I assumed that you would get a chance, sooner or later, to leave the 900 million World Layers and explore the Boundless Void, so I left that brand on you”
She reached a finger out to lightly tap Gu Qing Shan’s chest.
A small light flickered at Gu Qing Shan chest before disappearing again.
“Every individual can only use this brand a single time during their entire lives—— if you were killed by something, this brand would allow your flesh and soul to return here to Void City and be revived” Xiao Die muttered.
“That’s potent!? I shouldn’t be keeping this, you’re a mother with a child, you should have kept this for yourself” Gu Qing Shan exclaimed.
“It’s ok, you’re still very young, and very weak, you need it a lot more than I do” Xiao Die waved her hand dismissively.
Gu Qing Shan’s heart was heavy.
Xiao Die was able to meet Barry and Kitty one last time.
To thank me for that, she gave me such a considerable thing.
Xiao Die appeared nostalgic and explained: “Because both my son and I were so distinct, I received an invitation just as we were about to leave the Suspended world, and the gift accompanying that invitation was this brand”
Gu Qing Shan said: “Wait a moment, you’re currently part of an organization?”
Xiao Die answered as a matter of fact: “Of course, I’m currently a teacher at the Ominous Demon Tower, responsible for teaching soul devouring and world feeding. Ah right, my son is also going to school there”
Gu Qing Shan: “…”
[1] just in case anyone wants to know, her name is actually pronounced “di-eh”, not die
