Translated by Luen Translations

Edited by Birdie

Chapter 34: God and Devil Decision (2)

The skies were high and the clouds were faint with an occasional wild goose flying by. In front, it was flat land as far as the eye could see. The dense, tall grass were straight to the point that they didn’t have waists. 

(T/N: the waist is where people bend so no waist just serves to further emphasize how straight the grass is)

Being used to seeing the Devil Realm’s lamp light, the blue sky and white clouds made one look quite forward to seeing them. Tian Zhen hadn’t left the Devil Realm for many days so when she suddenly saw this kind of scenery, her mood greatly improved.

Lu Xiaocan silently sat atop the small white tiger and appeared to have a heavy load on his mind.

Tian Zhen had long taken note of him and asked, “Brat, what’s going on?”

Lu Xiaocan jumped up and glowered at her. “Hey, what’d you call me!?”

“Yes, yes, this subordinate made a slip of the tongue. Please don’t blame me little heavenly king,” After all, Tian Zhen didn’t really dare to offend him. She rushed to restrain her laughter and said, “Did you do something wrong again and get scolded by your fuhuang?”

“No.” Seeing her apologize, Lu Xiaocan wasn’t in the mood to continue arguing and sat down again. He discontentedly rubbed the small white tiger’s head.

Tian Zhen said, “So as to thank you for escorting me, let’s do this. What happened? You speak and I’ll listen?”

Lu Xiaocan fidgeted. “There’s no point in explaining it to you!”

Tian Zhen patiently said. “Although it’s not certain whether or not I can help you, if you tell me, I can think of a solution for you. If you don’t speak, there won’t be even a bit of a solution.”

“Fuhuang doesn’t even want you anymore. What solution could you have?” Lu Xiaocan looked at her and felt a little hope, “You seek out fuhuang and ask him not to make me disappear. How about it?”

“Make you disappear?” Tian Zhen was startled. Lord Devil God was somewhat violent, but it wasn’t to the extent that he would ruthlessly turn his own son into cannon fodder!

Lu Xiaocan said, “My constitution isn’t good. Fuhuang is dissatisfied and wants a better son.” 

Tian Zhen expressed her comprehension and then laughed in spite of herself. “Even if he wants another son, he won’t let you disappear. Hurry up and stop letting your imagination run wild.”

Lu Xiaocan stubbornly said, “Fuhuang personally said so last night. He has never told a lie.”

He sought out his son last night to say this? Tian Zhen blanked for a moment. Still not believing this matter, she comfortingly said, “You…”

“Bird King arrived.” Lu Xiaocan interrupted her.

Atop the empty, broad plains, a majestic fire phoenix flew over. Riding on the phoenix was a person, donned in white clothes, tall crest, and hands holding long pipes.

Tian Zhen said, “That’s your Uncle Zhao Huajun.”

“Calling him uncle is being polite. He wouldn’t even care if Da Peng Bird killed me,” Lu Xiaocan gave a low snort and slapped the small white tiger and ran off, “I’ll wait over there for you!”

Over here, Lu Xiaocan had just left when the fire phoenix descended in front of her.

“Little Phoenix.” A gentle call.

“King.” Tian Zhen bowed.

Zhao Huajun walked down from the fire phoenix’s back. The white clothes stood out among the long, dried up, yellow grass; it was exceptionally elegant and striking. He waved his hand and ordered the fire phoenix to go a bit of a distance away to wait. After that, he slowly walked over and lifted her up and gave a slight smile. “Little Phoenix, have you been well?” 

Tian Zhen also gave a slight smile and nodded. “Very well. Many thanks to King for remembering to be concerned.”

“Even if you were peeved you shouldn’t have run all over the place, making me worry up till now.”

“I’m sorry, I was too rude and impetuous.”

“Who would’ve thought that you were in the Devil Realm. You’ve suffered,” Zhao Huajun wrapped her in his embrace, “Always like a child. Do you have any idea how much effort I spent while searching for you? Were it not for the meeting two days before…next time, you absolutely cannot act like this.”

The familiar warmth dimly evoked the heart-beating feeling of that time. Tian Zhen was silent for a moment and then said, “I don’t know why King has invited me out here. Is something the matter?”

Zhao Huajun lowered his head to look at her and softly said, “Little Phoenix, there will inevitably be many unexpected things in this world. To be able to find you today and see that you are safe and sound, I’m elated. Don’t be mad anymore, alright?”

“Don’t worry King. I’ve long since thought it over and understood,” Tian Zhen explained, “It’s just that His Majesty is aware that I came outside this time. If I’m late in returning, I’m afraid that His Majesty will blame me.”

Zhao Huajun remained calm and collected. With a slight smile, he nodded his head. “Alright, alright, I know. His Majesty is currently waiting at the imperial court to see you. We’ll return first and then talk.”

Tian Zhen said, “King has misunderstood. I’m talking about His Majesty the Devil God.”

Zhao Huajun frowned. “As a member of the Divine Winged race, do you realize how serious those words are?”

Tian Zhen nodded. “I’m very clear.”

The expression on that handsome face gradually became severe. Zhao Huajun looked at her. “You truly wish to defect from Heaven?”

“If the God Realm had a reason for me not to desert it, then it would be the kindness that King has shown me. Having saved many of the two realms’ war generals, I believe this kindness can be considered as repaid,” Tian Zhen left his embrace, “It’s just a pity that I nearly paid for it with my life. If it weren’t for His Majesty’s protection, I’d have passed away long ago. It’s the so-called knowing who has given you kindness and seeking to return that kindness. Right now, the one who has treated me with kindness is His Majesty. How can I betray the Devil Realm?”

Zhao Huajun shook his head. “I truly was helpless that time when I attacked. Little Phoenix, you have always been smart. Do you mind?”

“I do mind,” Tian Zhen calmly said, “I wholeheartedly saved people and yet the people that I saved didn’t care about my life or death at all. In those gods and immortals’ eyes, I’m just an insignificant member of the Winged race. It wouldn’t be a loss even if I did die. I understand King’s loyalty to the God Realm. Opportunities are hard to come by and if you people were able to injure him, it would destabilize the Devil Realm’s situation. However, choosing to attack meant that you were abandoning my life. Never mind those gods and immortals, the moment King attacked, I couldn’t not mind it anymore.”

Zhao Huajun said, “If it were Yiyi (Dragon girl), I would still do the same thing.” 

“I know, that’s why I don’t blame King,” Tian Zhen turned around, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll return first.”

Zhao Huajun held tightly onto her wrist and strictly said, “You won’t even listen to my words. Winged race traitor, do you want me to personally punish you!?”

Tian Zhen’s heart cooled. “Were it not for saving King, I definitely wouldn’t care about the lives of those gods and immortals nor would I appear in that kind of place, endangering my own situation. If King wants to punish me, how could I dare to object?”

Zhao Huajun helplessly smiled and used a soft tone, “It’s not a lie that you have thrown your lot in with the Devil Realm and many people personally saw it. Today, I specifically came to bring you back so as to protect you. Little Phoenix, do you still not understand? Listen to me and return with me.”

Certain now that he wouldn’t let her go, Tian Zhen had made preparations early on. She insincerely lowered her eyes and pretended to be ashamed. After a while, she said, “I understand King’s labors and pains, but I still have some unfinished business that require me to make a trip back to the Devil Realm.”

“What important business?”

“It concerns the Devil God’s secret.”

Zhao Huajun gave an “oh” and then looked at her with a smile. “No need. I already know.”

Already know? Tian Zhen totally didn’t expect that this excuse would fail and was immediately caught unprepared. “I still have stuff left in the Devil Realm.”

Zhao Huajun raised his eyebrow. “What stuff?”

“Nothing much, just some pill medicine and what not.”

“No problem, when we return I’ll call people to prepare the same things for you.”

“No need, I’ll go back and get it myself. It’s not troublesome.”

“Important things still can’t compare to a person,” Zhao Huajun held her in his embrace once more, “I found you with great difficulty. If I were to let you go back and take a risk, wouldn’t that make me worried?”

She should’ve known earlier that this person was the highest grade of two-faced. As expected, she couldn’t hide it from him. Tian Zhen simply and straightforwardly said, “I won’t be going back with king.”

“It’s beyond your control.” Zhao Huajun’s expression didn’t change as he beckoned the fire phoenix over. 

Tian Zhen struggled, “Little heavenly king! Lu Xiaocan!”

Unknowingly, a crowd of black clouds had appeared above her head. The layer of clouds split open, followed by daylight falling down. It wasn’t Lu Xiaocan but the Void Heaven Devil Emperor that everyone in the six realms revered.

Not expecting that he would come as well, Tian Zhen was both shocked and pleasantly surprised. “Your Majesty!”

Zhao Huajun stood firm. “Biaodi.”

Black eyes slightly moving, the Devil God slowly shifted his line of sight and didn’t reply.

The two black and white figures stood within the wind, the sleeves of the golden-edged robes flapping up and down. The atmosphere was gradually becoming more and more strained.

Finally, Zhao Huajun sighed and said, “Biaodi, she is originally a member of my Phoenix Clan. For the sake of our friendship back then, I hope that you can be lenient and let her go this time.”

The Devil God finally spoke, “She has already joined me.”

“Biaodi isn’t willing to let her go.”

“I let her go. She’s unwilling, you shouldn't force her.”

Zhao Huajun let go of Tian Zhen. He took the green peacock feather hairpin from atop her head and then looked her in the eye before slowly saying, “Being captured, I can still protect you this once, but insisting on staying in the Devil Realm…Little Phoenix you know the consequences. What the future will be like, I can no longer guarantee. Do you understand?”

Tian Zhen was silent for a moment and then said, “Many thanks to King for reminding me. I’ve made my decision.”

“Merely because of receiving his kindness?”

“If there’s anything else, then it’s because I like His Majesty. There’s no need for King to feel bad. When we meet in the future, do what you have to.”

Zhao Huajun blanked for a moment and his handsome face slightly sunk. “This matter can’t be decided willfully. Little Phoenix, you have to think it through!”

Tian Zhen said, “Don’t worry King, the Devil Realm is very safe.”

Zhao Huajun restrained his anger. “Safe?”

“Questioning my ability,” The Devil God raised his left hand, killing intent immediately appearing, “You… want to incite war between the two realms again?”

The war-like part of his nature showing, Tian Zhen laughed in spite of herself. You don’t have to be like this in order to prove your abilities. I know that being a citizen of the Devil Realm is the safest. She rapidly flew to the Devil God’s side. “I have never questioned it before Your Majesty.”

The Devil God gave an “Mn” and drew his hand back.

Zhao Huajun didn’t speak anymore. He turned around, mounted the fire phoenix, and left.

Following him with her eyes until he faded away, Tian Zhen contrarily felt as if a weight had been lifted off her mind. She asked, “Why did Your Majesty come?”

“I anticipated that he wouldn’t let you return to the Devil Realm,” The Devil God said, “Naive Bird Woman!”

Tian Zhen admitted that she was very foolish and very naive. She reckoned that it was because she had lived a peaceful and safe lifestyle for too long. She softly corrected. “Your Majesty, I’m Phoenix.” 

The Devil God looked at her for a few seconds and then said, “Fussy Phoenix!”

Why was she still being used in a fill in the blank question! This god was an expert at immediately putting the things he had just learned into practice, he wouldn’t ignore it. Tian Zhen finally discovered this. Right, next time she should directly tell this god “I’m Tian Zhen.”

“I want to go back to living in Your Majesty’s Qin Hall.”

“I permit you.”

Throughout the journey back to the Devil Realm, Tian Zhen couldn’t resist smiling. She thought of this god’s aloof and remote expression when he rudely waved his sleeve and said “I permit you.” What a proud deity.

The loose ends from before now tied up, at present, she was faced with a very serious problem. 

From this day onwards, she had become an official Devil Realm citizen. The kind that Heaven’s gods would kill on sight without any pardoning. If she wanted to live longer, she would have to give the future some more consideration. Lord Devil God was the only support. Currently, the most detrimental thing was that although this god was incredibly strong, sometimes his unusual temperament was overly good. He didn’t use schemes and he was very conceited. He loved fighting by himself most. Moreover, it was the kind of fighting where it was him against a group of people. At most, he would only bring his two sons out to fight. Everyone else would all hide at the back.

This was no good, no good.

Tian Zhen silently calculated. Returning to the Devil Palace, a small figure could be seen in the distance, sitting alone at the top of a rock hill. It was raining in Void Heaven and within the rain, the lamp light shone upon a small face that had a rare trace of loneliness on it.

Seeing her, Lu Xiaocan was first astonished and then his face showed a joyful expression.

Tian Zhen purposefully lagged behind the Devil God.

Sure enough, Lu Xiaocan hopped over and took the initiative to pull her wing. “Fuhuang told me to come back first. I thought you were going to leave with the Bird King.”

“I still haven't accomplished what I promised you, how could I leave?” Seeing him braving the rain to wait for her, Tian Zhen felt some tender affection for him and rubbed the moist, red hair on his head, “Look, your fuhuang doesn’t want to part with me. Relax, I’ll go plead for you right now.”

This brat showed a sinister gaze again and disdainfully said, “Fuhuang was watching. Do you think that you could still live if you really were to betray the Devil Realm?”

Indeed, it was very dangerous. Tian Zhen gave a long sigh.

This god cared the most about moral character. If she really were someone who went whichever way the wind blew, it would be very hard to guarantee that she would still be able to stand here. Fortunately, she had made the correct choice. It could be clearly seen that power acted as a booster for one’s moral character. The Devil Realm had this god so it’d be out of the question for everyone’s morality and ethics to not improve. 

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