Zanxing (Retranslated)

Extra 2 - Meeting Again (2)

“Someone opened the door from outside?” Bu Jiang asked in surprise. “Who was it?”

Zanxing paused for a moment before replying, “It was an ordinary mortal girl with no cultivation.”

Gu Baiying also found it unbelievable and asked, “Someone you knew?”

Zanxing shook her head. “I didn’t know her, and she didn’t know me. It seemed… she thought the person coming out of the door would be someone else.”

She still remembered the girl she encountered. The girl had an ordinary, delicate appearance. Pushing open the gate of the Asura Ghost Path had not been easy for her. One wrong step, and she would have been dragged into the tunnel by the evil spirits. If Zanxing hadn’t used her demonic power to restrain the Asuras in the final moments, the girl would likely have been pulled in as well.

Mortals rarely approached the Asura Ghost Path, yet this girl seemed familiar with the place. While clearly frightened of the Asuras, she did not exhibit the terror of someone seeing them for the first time. It was as if she had been there before.

Perhaps she was waiting for someone? But at that time, Zanxing was merely a fragment of her soul. She couldn’t reveal herself, nor could she inform the girl. Apart from the evil spirits, the girl had been the only living being in the Asura Ghost Path. Whoever she was waiting for was likely not there.

The girl had waited for nearly half a month, but there was no more movement from within the Asura Ghost Path. Eventually, she left, but not before placing a pouch at the entrance. Zanxing had examined it. There was a single character embroidered on it: Chun.

“Regardless, I’m fortunate she opened the door at the last moment, allowing me to escape,” Zanxing said. “But at that time, although my soul had been restored, I still couldn’t temper or reshape my body. So, I couldn’t fully appear, nor could I travel far. All I could do was continue slowly nurturing myself.”

Like a seed that required nurturing and watering to grow into a full tree.

“Fortunately, over the past few years, the spiritual energy in Douzhou has gradually become abundant, which greatly helped with my recovery,” Zanxing sighed. “I sought places rich in spiritual energy to soak my soul, slowly tempering and reshaping my body. Even so, it still took several years.”

Bu Jiang looked at her and asked, “So now…?”

“My body was nearly restored before, only lacking a final trace of demon power. Now that I’ve returned to Heishi City, I was able to replenish that last bit of the Demon King’s power from the spiritual veins in the mountains. From now on,” Zanxing smiled, “it’s as if nothing has changed!”

In truth, it wasn’t entirely accurate to say nothing had changed—her cultivation had been somewhat diminished. However, for Zanxing, this was already the best possible outcome. As for the rest, she could slowly repair it over time, there was no need to rush.

Hearing this, Bu Jiang finally relaxed, patting her chest in relief. “That’s good to hear. It seems our demon clan’s fate hasn’t run out yet. Even Gui Yansheng, through a twist of fate, ended up doing something right.”

She looked at Zanxing and slowly broke into a smile. “Welcome back, Zanxing.”

Time resumed its forward march, and there was immense relief in knowing that it wasn’t the end—perhaps it was even a new beginning.

Suddenly, there was a noisy commotion at the entrance, along with calls of “Young Princess.” Xiao Shuang entered the room, and Bu Jiang asked, “Who’s making such a racket outside at this hour?”

Xiao Shuang replied, “Lantern Ghost and the others heard that the Young Princesss has returned, and they’re clamoring to see her.” He glanced at Zanxing, his eyes full of the joy of reunion. “I told them before that if the Young Princesss ever came back, they could return to the Chaos Hall. Now…”

Now, it was time to bring them back.

Zanxing remained silent.

She turned her head to look at Gu Baiying, who was watching her leisurely, a faint, cool smile playing on his lips.

Without hesitation, Zanxing grabbed Gu Baiying’s hand and quickly spun around to leave. “It’s really too late today. Whatever needs to be said can wait until tomorrow. I have some things to ask Gu Baiying. Mother, I’ll take my leave for now.”

She pulled Gu Baiying along as they left, and Xiao Shuang looked toward Bu Jiang, who sat on the high seat.

The Demon Queen adjusted the folds of her black robe, resting her chin in her hand as she watched them depart. For the first time in many years, a genuine and contented smile spread across her face.

Xiao Shuang also began to smile, and as he did, he thoughtfully asked, “Your Highness, should we liven up the city for a few days?”

Bu Jiang stretched lazily, as though shedding years of exhaustion, and spoke languidly, “It’s been so quiet for all these years. It’s time to bring some liveliness back.”

“Pass down the order,” she commanded, “The Demon King has returned. Let the city celebrate for a hundred days.”

The Chaos Hall remained just as it had always been.

Hong Su was in charge of managing the hall during the day. Out of concern that the young human girl might feel frightened in the vast, empty palace, Bu Jiang had allowed her to sleep at the Yao Ming Hall at night.

Yao Ming Hall was always bustling with male companions coming and going, bringing a lively atmosphere.

At this late hour, Zanxing hadn’t yet sent word to let Hong Su know she had returned.

Without the hundreds of lamps waiting to light the hall, the empty Chaos Hall seemed rather desolate. In the pool belonging to Water Lord, the Yin spirits and demon bones were polished daily, gleaming brightly. The mural of the Demon Mother and Nine Sons on the pillars was as vibrant as ever.

Zanxing’s gaze fell on the thick, slightly swaying rope near the window.

That rope had once been hung up for Mimi to play with. Mimi loved to cling to the rope and swing back and forth. Regular ropes would wear out in just a few days from its antics, but the coarse rope from General Rope was fire and water resistant, immune to blades, and incredibly durable.

Now, though, the wind moved the rope gently, yet the figure of the spirit beast was nowhere to be seen.

Gu Baiying walked up beside her, following her gaze. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke, “Mimi…”

When Zanxing had once been used as a pawn, Mimi had carried her into the vortex. It was born because of her and perished because of her.

Now Zanxing had returned, but Mimi…

Gu Baiying’s expression softened, visibly moved.

Zanxing turned around and from the palm of her hand, a glowing golden orb slowly emerged. The orb, about the size of an egg, radiated a soft warmth. It seemed almost alive, as if it were breathing.

“This is…” Gu Baiying was momentarily stunned.

“This is Mimi,” Zanxing said.

“Back then, I didn’t form a contract with the spirit beast, and that ended up saving it from total destruction. Mimi has the bloodline of an ancient divine beast, so even the Heavens couldn’t fully erase it.” After a brief pause, Zanxing continued, “But even after five years, this egg has only just reached its current form. It may take another ten, twenty, or even fifty years before the egg is full of enough spiritual energy for Mimi to hatch again.”

“Still,” Zanxing smiled softly, “this is already the best possible outcome, isn’t it?”

Gu Baiying looked at the egg and let out a small laugh, “It is.”

As long as it still existed, there was hope, and with hope, everything had meaning.

Zanxing carefully put the golden egg away and sighed, “When I left back then, I did my best to arrange everything. Now that I look back, every piece has fallen into place. In the end, I didn’t waste all my efforts.”

Gu Baiying glanced at her, seemingly reminded of something. With a hint of mockery, he snorted, “Indeed, even your concubines were properly dealt with. You really did go through a lot of trouble.”