Chapter 39: The Person Before Me Was No Longer the Same

These words made the Old Sword Cultivator and Su Xiaoxiao pause in surprise.

“It is not serious?” The Old Sword Cultivator blinked.

He didn’t quite understand what Chen Changsheng meant.

Chen Changsheng said, “Logically, the demonic nature suppressing the human nature would make it uncertain whether the child could be born safely. But I do not know what method you used to maintain a balance between the child’s human nature and demonic nature. There should be no problem with a safe birth.”

Hearing this, Su Xiaoxiao felt extremely excited. She said, “Immortal Elder, can my child truly be born safely?”

Chen Changsheng nodded. “It should be fine. But it will be very difficult for him to survive.”

Su Xiaoxiao didn’t seem surprised by these words, though worry flickered in her eyes.

Chen Changsheng smiled gently. “It seems you have already thought of a solution. Can you tell me—will you eliminate the human nature, or the demonic nature?”

Su Xiaoxiao looked up at Chen Changsheng, astonished that this Celestial Immortal had even discerned this.

For so many years, he had noticed nothing.

Yet Chen Changsheng, with just one glance, had anticipated even future events.

Su Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and said, “I will eliminate the human nature.”

Chen Changsheng nodded. “Becoming a demon is indeed better. Otherwise, this child would face endless gossip from the world after birth. Better to stay away from this society.”

Su Xiaoxiao agreed. “You possess profound understanding of the Great Dao, Immortal, seeing everything at a glance. However, I am not choosing this path for my child to avoid gossip. The Imperial Palace is truly heartless. I don’t want him to end up like his father—sitting upon the seat of the Human Emperor, gradually forgetting himself and everything around him…”

Hearing this, the Old Sword Cultivator asked, “Are you disappointed with the Emperor?”

Su Xiaoxiao fell silent. Sometimes, no answer was an answer.

And it was a clear “yes.”

The Old Sword Cultivator continued, “But it was you who pushed him onto that throne.”

“That was the only thing that could make him happy back then.”

Su Xiaoxiao said calmly, “I once naively believed he would always remain that ‘Little Yan Xun.’ But reality rarely matches our hopes. Now, his eyes hold only the Path of Immortality and schemes of the Imperial Court—nothing else.”

The Old Sword Cultivator sighed inwardly, yet showed no pity on his face. Choices carry their own consequences; sympathy was pointless.

Chen Changsheng asked, “What do you plan to do then?”

Su Xiaoxiao lifted her head and exhaled deeply. “Once my child is born, I will send him to Qishan to be raised by the Elders of the Fox Clan. As for me… I shall likely stay here.”

“To accompany him through his final years?” inquired Chen Changsheng.

Su Xiaoxiao nodded. “Life between Heaven and Earth is like a fleeting shadow—both sudden and brief.”

The Old Sword Cultivator remained wordless.

He thought this Fox Demon was foolish beyond stupidity.

Chen Changsheng, however, replied peacefully, “A human life spans barely a century—a mere blink in the eyes of a demon. Accompanying him through this lifetime will complete your duty.”

He reached out and plucked a strand of hair.

Su Xiaoxiao took it, puzzled. “Immortal Elder, this is…?”

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“Our meeting here is fate. This child, once born, will face many hardships. This hair cannot save his life, but it may shield him from some suffering.”

Su Xiaoxiao moved to kneel in gratitude.

Chen Changsheng helped her up. “No need. Perhaps fate will bring us together again.”

Su Xiaoxiao froze, staring at the Green-Robed Gentleman before her. For a moment, she felt dazed.

A hazy figure suddenly surfaced in her mind.

That figure merged with the gentleman standing before her.

In that instant, it was as though centuries had passed…

Chen Changsheng glanced at the Old Sword Cultivator beside him. “Let us go.”

The Old Sword Cultivator nodded, and together they departed.

Su Xiaoxiao watched the retreating figure of the Green-Robed Gentleman.

She had a feeling she would see this gentleman again.

For one fleeting moment, she sensed he was someone deeply important. Yet when she tried to grasp the memory, nothing surfaced.

The two walked through the Imperial Palace.

Still troubled, the Old Sword Cultivator asked, “Is the child in her womb truly unharmed?”

“Of course not. Anything born of a human and a demon has inherent problems.”

Chen Changsheng replied, “However, she found someone to resolve it. As she said, an Elder of her clan likely helped balance the human and demonic natures within that fetus.”

“Won’t this cause a flaw at birth?”

“It will.”

Chen Changsheng explained, “A human spirit and a demon spirit coexisted. While they balanced during the pregnancy, after birth, the Three Souls and Seven Spirits disperse between two places, leaving neither a proper human nor a proper demon—a wretched existence. But that Fox Demon seems to have a solution—likely stemming from an established practice.”

The Old Sword Cultivator’s eyes widened. “Celestial Immortal, are you saying…?”

Chen Changsheng nodded. “Long ago, someone must have attempted this. Likely, members of today’s Fox Clan include those who were once born of both human and demon—demons who had their human nature destroyed.”

The Old Sword Cultivator stood speechless.

How dare they!

Such defiance of the Heavenly Dao even had predecessors charting the path?

This…

He protested, “This defies cosmic order.”

“Yet it exists.”

Chen Changsheng said, “Sometimes, success lies in daring to imagine. But you need not remain in this Imperial Palace any longer. Whatever difficulties arise for that child, others will intervene to aid him.”

The Old Sword Cultivator shook his head, frowning. “I’m wondering—if one destroys the human nature to become a demon, damaging the Three Souls and Seven Spirits… how does one even survive?”

“If you’re truly curious, wait until the child is born and observe. You may find your answer then.”

“Will you not stay?”

Chen Changsheng waved a hand. “I came only for a sword and witnessed a spectacle. No need to get involved further.”

The Old Sword Cultivator clicked his tongue. “Immortal, that sounds like you’re calling me a meddler.”

“I never said it.”

Chen Changsheng chuckled. “Actually, though shameless, your judgment on matters proves sound—better than most.”

The Old Sword Cultivator grinned. “Never expected praise for this old fool. Hehe, truly rare.”

Chen Changsheng smiled back. “I merely speak the truth.”

The Old Sword Cultivator found him unexpectedly easy to get along with—even somewhat agreeable.

Chen Changsheng glanced toward the palace gates. “Since it’s rare for me to visit Shangjing… could you show me around?”

The Old Sword Cultivator gladly agreed.

He gestured forward. “After you, Immortal!”