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After bidding farewell to Di Jun and Taiyi, Ye Chuanze got up and headed out to find Fuxi.
Whenever Ye Chuanze had free time, he would often visit Fuxi for a drink. As soon as Gatekeeper Boy saw him, he immediately called out, "Daoist Ye," and without any announcement, opened the Cave's door, allowing him to enter.
"Why have you come today?" Fuxi asked, somewhat surprised to see him.
"What? Are you unhappy to see me?" Ye Chuanze replied with a smile.
Fuxi chuckled and said, "You're talking nonsense again. I just noticed that your Cave has been closed lately, and you rarely go out. I thought you were contemplating Dao Law. So seeing you here today is a bit unexpected."
"I'm just too lazy to go out," Ye Chuanze said as he walked over and casually sat down on the couch opposite Fuxi, his posture relaxed and familiar. He showed no awareness of being a guest; his demeanor suggested that he was the owner of the place. There had never been any formality between him and Fuxi. He always revealed his true self in front of Fuxi, without pretense or airs—there was no need for that.
Fuxi glanced at Ye Chuanze's lazy and unserious demeanor, shook his head with a smile, and chose not to comment. This person always seemed cold and unapproachable at first glance, but in reality, he was more laid-back than anyone else and surprisingly soft-hearted. If one did not witness it firsthand, they might not believe that this man, whose eyes carried a heavy aura of killing intent, would actually tend to injured small animals.
On Buzhou Mountain, countless creatures roamed about daily, and many small animals would get injured—either harmed by predators or accidentally hurt by thorns and brambles. Whenever Ye Chuanze came across an injured animal, he would stop in his tracks and apply some herbs to help them heal. Over time, it became common for injured small animals to appear wherever Ye Chuanze went.
Fuxi once saw him crouching down with a gentle expression as he held an injured rabbit in his hands, carefully applying medicine to its wounded leg. At that moment, Fuxi was taken aback; he had never seen such a soft expression on Ye Chuanze's face before. His expressions were usually either indifferent or filled with killing intent. It seemed that all his tenderness was reserved for these innocent little creatures.
Fuxi speculated that perhaps it was because these small animals posed no threat at all! This allowed Ye Chuanze to lower his guard and pour his softer emotions into these naive and harmless beings.
Long ago, Fuxi had noticed that Ye Chuanze had strong defenses around his heart and found it difficult to open up or trust others.
Ye Chuanze took out two small bottles of wine and tossed one to Fuxi. He uncorked the bottle and took a swig before casually asking, "Where is Nüwa?"
"She went out to visit friends."
"Heh..." Ye Chuanze chuckled lightly upon hearing this and looked up at him. "Did you two have another argument?"
Fuxi remained silent.
Seeing Fuxi's quiet demeanor confirmed Ye Chuanze's guess. Ever since the last incident where Nüwa secretly stole the Primordial Purple Qi from Red Cloud behind Fuxi's back, the atmosphere between Fuxi and Nüwa had been strange. Fuxi was the type who kept everything bottled up inside; he never expressed what was on his mind. Nüwa felt angry but didn’t want to confront Fuxi directly, so she often made excuses to go out visiting friends to avoid him. Now when they spoke, they frequently ended up in disagreements; it was usually Fuxi who chose silence first while Nüwa simmered with frustration.
"Sister, it's not worth holding on to. Fuxi, try to look at it differently. Men always have to go through some things," Ye Chuanze said unenthusiastically.
Fuxi glanced up at him but remained silent.
Seeing this, Ye Chuanze felt helpless. The conflict between Fuxi and Nüwa ultimately stemmed from their differing worldviews. Nüwa was strong-willed and cared about her reputation; she had hopes of achieving sainthood for herself and wanted Fuxi to achieve it as well. She wished for the best for him. However, Fuxi was gentle and indifferent, unconcerned with power or status. To him, it was enough that Nüwa could achieve sainthood; if he could not, there was no need to force it.
As a result, their differing opinions inevitably led to disputes.
Ye Chuanze thought that Nüwa was a typical case of wanting her brother to succeed and being frustrated by his lack of ambition. Sometimes he wondered if the situation would be better if their roles were reversed—if Fuxi were the one to achieve sainthood, perhaps he would take better care of Nüwa. If Nüwa got into trouble, Fuxi would step in to help her out. And with Nüwa's strong and combative nature, having a powerful Sage behind her would mean no one would dare provoke her. This way, they would complement each other harmoniously.
Unfortunately, reality was quite the opposite; it was Nüwa who achieved sainthood, not Fuxi. Sometimes, Ye Chuanze pondered why it had to be Nüwa who became a saint. In the end, he concluded that perhaps it was because Nüwa was a woman. Under the Heavenly Dao, balance and order were paramount. Among the six ordained Sages, the Three Pure Ones were the inheritors of the Eastern Xuanmen tradition, while Zhun Ti and Jieyin were the founders of the Western Buddhist teachings. Nüwa was the only woman among them. This position of Sage symbolized the balance between East and West, the interplay between Daoism and Buddhism, and the harmony of Yin and Yang.
This also explained why it was Nüwa who created humanity; historically, women have been responsible for bearing offspring, making her the only one capable of such an act.
Ye Chuanze took a sip of wine and sighed deeply before asking, "Did Di Jun come looking for you?"
Upon hearing this, Fuxi nodded and replied, "That is indeed the case."
"Why did you agree to him?" Ye Chuanze asked. "I thought you weren't someone who cared for power or status."
After a long silence, Fuxi said, "Di Jun has a point. My demon kin are numerous but scattered across various regions, their strength fragmented. If we can unite these dispersed forces, it would become a formidable power that cannot be underestimated. The primordial conflicts make survival difficult for lesser demons; if what Di Jun says is true, then establishing the Heavenly Palace will provide the best sanctuary for all demons. Since there is no harm in it and potential benefits, why should I refuse as a member of the demon race?"
Surprised by his answer, Ye Chuanze remarked, "I didn't expect you to have such a compassionate heart."
"It's just me doing what I can!" Fuxi replied before looking up at him again and asking, "What about you? Why did you agree? As far as I know, you've always avoided getting involved in these matters."
"Ah! I avoided trouble because I lacked strength in the past; I prioritized self-preservation," Ye Chuanze said. After pausing for a moment, he looked at Fuxi and asked, "Fuxi, what kind of person do you think I am?"
Before he could respond, Ye Chuanze continued, "Do you think I'm indifferent and emotionless, with no desires or ambitions? That I avoid standing out in everything?"
Upon hearing this, Fuxi fell silent and lowered his gaze slightly.
Ye Chuanze glanced at his expression, curling his lips in a light mockery, "I'm not that kind of person! In fact, I really enjoy lively situations; overly quiet days only make one feel dull and boring. I also want to experience the feeling of being above all beings, is it really that wonderful? Fighting against heaven, earth, and people is endlessly enjoyable!"
A person's current situation determines their pursuits at that stage. Before taking form, Ye Chuanze sought to avoid being captured and forcibly turned into a treasure, ultimately succeeding in transcending and taking form. For this reason, he endured hiding and compromised everywhere. Once he cultivated enough power in human form, his desires expanded; he wanted strength, power, and status.
As a man, he was inherently passionate and combative, possessing a strong spirit of adventure, yearning for excitement and conflict, aiming to become a winner on the battlefield, gaining both fame and power, ultimately becoming the greatest figure in life.
Ye Chuanze's belief was that not striving for supremacy and godhood in Primordial would be a waste of his journey.
Heavenly Palace would be the best stage for him to pursue supremacy and godhood; in this life as a demon, he must fight for the demon race. He would bring glory and victory to the demon race, and in return, they would grant him the highest honor.
A so-called god is one who is revered by all people. Ascend to Godhood means being esteemed by the masses, ascending to the divine platform, and being conferred as a deity. Without the admiration and faith of the people, there can be no existence of a god.
Ye Chuanze is an immortal, not a god.
Currently, Primordial has only immortals but no gods. Only when Heavenly Palace emerges will there be divine positions conferred.
"Fuxi, I am different from you; I crave battle and desire a battlefield where I can freely showcase my abilities." Ye Chuanze looked at Fuxi and said, "My friend, I hope that in the upcoming conflicts, you can stay out of it and protect yourself."
Once the demon race unites into a kingdom and Heavenly Palace emerges, Primordial will undoubtedly become turbulent again with waves of conflict.
Upon hearing this, Fuxi stared at him for a moment before finally sighing deeply without responding.
The two drank until late into the night; Ye Chuanze became slightly drunk with flushed cheeks before bidding farewell to Fuxi.
The next morning, Ye Chuanze got up from bed, bathed and changed clothes, then headed to Purple Cloud Palace.
Outside Thirty-Three Heavens, at Purple Cloud Palace.
Haotian was dozing at the door when Ye Chuanze entered and lightly called out, startling Haotian, who quickly opened his eyes.
"Why are you here! Senior brother, are you looking for the master?" Haotian asked.
"Indeed, you should go inform the master."
"No need. Since it's you, Senior Brother, there's no need to report. Just go in and find the master directly."
Ye Chuanze nodded at this and walked into the Purple Cloud Palace.
After passing through the winding corridor, he arrived at a quiet bamboo grove. Inside the Red-Tiled Pavilion, Hongjun was sitting upright on a seat, with a chess game set before him, black and white pieces alternating. Hongjun held a black piece, gazing at the chessboard with a contemplative expression.
"Master." Ye Chuanze called out from outside the pavilion.
Hearing this, Hongjun looked up. Upon seeing him, his gaze paused, and he said in a cool voice, "Come in!"
"Sit down," Hongjun instructed.
Ye Chuanze lifted his robe and sat down opposite him. Just as he was about to speak, Hongjun interrupted him, "Finish this game with me."
Ye Chuanze immediately fell silent and looked down at the chessboard. Then his lips twitched; this game... was a deadlock! How could he play?
"Master, I concede," he said decisively.
"You haven't even played yet; how can you concede?" Hongjun replied lightly.
"The disciple's skills are inferior; I won't embarrass myself."
Hongjun glanced at him and said, "How are your skills inferior? Have you forgotten everything I taught you?"
"My chess skills were taught by you, Master, so naturally I can't compare to you. When playing against you, I will definitely lose. My skills being inferior means I can't match your prowess; as for others..." Ye Chuanze puffed out his chest proudly, "Defeating them is a piece of cake!"
At these words, Hongjun's hand trembled slightly, nearly dropping the piece he was holding. He was clearly taken aback by Ye Chuanze's boldness. He had taught Ye Chuanze's chess skills; did he not know how capable he was? Although a master often thinks their disciple is the best, Ye Chuanze's chess skills indeed needed more practice.
"Master, what's wrong? Did your hand cramp?" Ye Chuanze asked with concern in his tone.
"Not a problem," Hongjun said with an unchanged expression. "Come, let's finish this game of chess together."
"…Master, let's do something else! Playing chess is too dull. Look at the beautiful scenery today, the weather is lovely. How about we drink and have some fun instead?"
Upon hearing this, Hongjun looked up at him, his expression calm. "Drink? You can't behave like last time, holding onto my sleeve and not letting go until the end."
"…Can't you forget such an embarrassing thing, Master?"
Hongjun gazed at him coldly. "How could I forget?"
"…" Ye Chuanze.
Ye Chuanze felt he could no longer continue the conversation with Hongjun, so he dropped the topic. He took out two jars of wine and placed them on the table, saying, "It's always your wine that I drink, Master. I feel quite embarrassed! This is wine brewed by me; please give it a try." He then eagerly poured a cup for him.
Hongjun looked at him, picked up the cup, and took a light sip.
"How does it taste?" Ye Chuanze asked.
"Not bad," Hongjun replied with a calm voice.
Hearing this, Ye Chuanze thought to himself that Hongjun's "not bad" probably meant "very good," and he immediately felt happy. In his excitement, he became even more attentive and poured another cup for Hongjun. "Master, have another drink. Drink more."
Hongjun silently drank another cup of wine.
"This is a token of respect from me to you; please drink more, Master." Seeing Hongjun's cup empty again, Ye Chuanze quickly filled it once more.
Ye Chuanze understood well that getting someone drunk at the table could lead to all sorts of agreements. His goal today was to get Hongjun drunk and then persuade him to agree to establish the Heavenly Palace. Additionally, while Hongjun was intoxicated, he planned to take advantage of him a bit. He couldn't let Hongjun keep teasing him about his drunkenness in the future. He vowed not to rest until he avenged this grievance!
Ye Chuanze poured cup after cup of wine for Hongjun, who drank without showing any signs of intoxication. Hongjun's expression remained unchanged; he showed no signs of being affected by the alcohol, as if he were drinking plain water instead. Ye Chuanze secretly observed Hongjun's face and felt anxious; they were almost out of wine, yet he still wasn't drunk!
"Master, have another cup!" Ye Chuanze suppressed his impatience and poured another cup for Hongjun.
Hongjun calmly drank without changing his expression, while Ye Chuanze picked up the Wine Jug and poured another cup of wine. Hongjun took the cup, and Ye Chuanze watched his movements, thinking that Hongjun would drink it down like before. Unexpectedly, Hongjun suddenly reached out, grabbed Ye Chuanze's chin, and brought the cup to his lips, forcefully pouring the wine into his mouth.
Ye Chuanze was completely caught off guard by this action and, in a moment of carelessness, ended up being forced to drink a cup of wine. The wine was poured hastily, and some of it spilled from the corners of his lips, dripping down.
"Cough cough... Master, what are you doing!" Ye Chuanze shouted angrily.
Hongjun looked at the corner of his lips, his gaze flickering. He suddenly reached out with a finger, wiped it at the corner of Ye Chuanze's lips, then brought it to his own mouth to taste it. With a calm expression, he said, "We can't waste it."
"..." Ye Chuanze.
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