Chapter 135: Water

The Demon Child had successfully licked his way up.

Originally, that should have been perfectly natural.

Yet compared with everything that had happened before it still felt incredibly unexpected.

Inside the courtyard, each of the six Demon Kings now carried his or her own thoughts.

First the change in the Demon Child had already told them beyond any doubt:

Master had entered the realm of an Eighth Grade Martial Artist.

According to their previous experience next should come one after another recovering another layer of their original strength.

Second ever since Master returned this time, he had obviously changed.

And that change left all six Demon Kings unable to fully understand him.

They did not know exactly what Master was thinking.

Or perhaps before this, although they had always treated Zheng Fan as “Master” in both word and deed none of them had ever truly taken that relationship deeply to heart.

“Creak…”

With his hair still wet, Zheng Fan pushed open the door and walked out.

After only a short distance, he reached the courtyard.

“Master.

“Let me dry your hair.”

Siniang immediately stood.

She found a towel and began helping Zheng Fan dry his hair.

Zheng Fan did not refuse.

He simply sat down where Siniang had been sitting before.

Siniang asked, “Master.

“Would you like some sheep oil?”

Although Yinlang Commandery lay on Great Yan’s southern frontier, compared with the eastern lands as a whole it was still thoroughly northern country.

Qian poets habitually described Qian’s three frontier commanderies as bitterly cold lands.

Any official exiled there would first invite friends to drink and eat as though arranging his own funeral in advance.

In winter skin cracked easily.

Sheep oil was a common method used by desert barbarians to prevent and treat chapped skin.

Its main ingredient came from rendered sheep fat.

More luxurious versions mixed in several medicinal herbs common in the desert.

“Sure.”

Siniang squeezed a little sheep oil onto her hands.

She rubbed them together.

Then placed both palms against Zheng Fan’s face and began spreading it across his skin.

Although Siniang had spent years doing needlework her hands were not rough in the slightest.

On that point—

Zheng Fan possessed considerable authority to speak.

Once she finished, Zheng Fan smiled.

Then said, “I still think urea cream or Dabao felt more natural to use.”

When he was young, Zheng Fan remembered his family using urea cream.

Later they gradually switched to Dabao.

“The profit margin is too thin.

“So we never made it,” the Blind Man replied.

“Mm.”

Zheng Fan had only mentioned it casually.

Everyone else also sat down.

Siniang remained standing behind Zheng Fan, massaging his temples with both hands.

The Blind Man took a cigarette from his iron case and offered it over.

Zheng Fan accepted it.

“Master.

“There are some things we need to tell you.”

“Go ahead.

“We’re all family.”

Zheng Fan looked very calm.

Yet for some reason that calmness made the six Demon Kings present feel something strangely unreal.

If one said their relationship had developed some crack that truly had not happened.

Everyone still got along perfectly well.

But there was unquestionably a membrane between them that had begun growing thicker.

If one wanted to talk about suspicion and wariness those feelings had actually been strongest back in Tiger Head City.

The current problem was different.

As Master matured step by step and especially after the journey to the capital had accelerated that maturation enormously—

Zheng Fan’s individual self had begun waking up.

The Blind Man’s empty eye sockets appeared unable to see anything.

But as a former psychologist he could actually capture these changes with frightening precision.

If one had to explain it the former Master had resembled an ancestral tablet.

When the time came to worship it they worshiped.

When they needed to kneel they knelt.

When respect was due they showed respect.

But a tablet was still ultimately only a tablet.

Its existence was merely somewhere to place their thoughts.

Now the tablet had become a spirit.

It was turning into a person.

Perhaps Zheng Fan had never consciously intended to do anything.

But as he matured and became increasingly integrated into this world the “master-and-subordinate” relationship between the two sides had slowly begun correcting itself.

“Master.

“There is one matter we only recently discovered.

“The recovery of strength among the seven of us appears to be closely related to your own level of strength.”

“Oh?”

Zheng Fan looked surprised.

But perhaps because he had come outside with wet hair into the cold wind or perhaps because Siniang’s massage felt too comfortable his mind felt somewhat groggy.

So the “oh” and the surprise accompanying it did not look especially convincing.

He could not exactly ask the director to shout “Cut” and reshoot the scene.

So Zheng Fan simply continued, “I see.”

Every Demon King present was a monster at reading people.

Even Fan Li though he often said astonishing things was still different from an idiot like Hero Chen.

Everyone understood.

Master’s reaction proved that Master had actually guessed this already.

And precisely because he had guessed it after advancing this time, he had deliberately hidden the matter.

“Yes.

“Every time Master’s strength rises by one grade— our own strength seems to recover by one layer as well.

“But there also appears to be some kind of ritual involved.

“Like holding an application form and going to the proper government office for a seal.”

“So you need my recognition?”

“Yes, Master.”

From beginning to end the Blind Man had been speaking on behalf of the other five.

“So that’s how it works.”

Zheng Fan nodded.

Then added, “I’m Eighth Grade now.”

The Blind Man remained silent.

Waiting for Zheng Fan to continue.

Even Siniang’s fingers still massaging his temples paused for the slightest moment.

Then she immediately resumed with exactly the same pressure as before.

Zheng Fan reached up and took Siniang’s hand.

Siniang allowed him to hold it.

When it came to understanding a man’s thoughts nobody present could compare with Siniang.

That tiny pause of the fingers if someone claimed she had simply tensed up from sudden nervousness—

Zheng Fan would not believe it.

She had only wanted to soften the atmosphere slightly using her identity as his woman.

It did not really count as scheming.

More like habit.

Even instinct.

Ordinary husbands and wives living together sometimes needed little techniques to adjust the mood.

“Everyone, don’t be so serious.

“I only just woke up.

“But somehow I feel even lazier than before.”

“Master must have been exhausted by the journey to the capital.”

Once you returned home once you rested and relaxed once the earlier mental pressure disappeared the body naturally began loosening and collapsing into laziness.

“Maybe.

“We really are family.

“Truly.

“I don’t want conversations between us to feel like this.

“Let’s make things livelier.

“Most of you have saved my life before.

“Without all of you—

I would not have survived until today.”

“Master.

“Saying something like that— that is what truly sounds distant.”

“No.

“Blind Man.

“Wait.

“Let me finish.”

The Blind Man nodded.

The cigarette in his hand still had not been lit.

“Before—

I always treated this world, and my own resurrection, as the opening of some game.

“For the most part—

I faced everything in this world with the mentality of playing one.

“Truthfully— you were similar, weren’t you?

“All of us never quite fit into this world.

“On this trip to the capital—

I met the Marquis of Jingnan.

“The Marquis of Zhenbei.

“And the Yan Emperor.

“All three.

“Don’t laugh at me.

“When I stood in front of them—

I was pretty damned scared.”

Smiles appeared on everyone’s faces.

“This world is genuinely fascinating.

“But also genuinely helpless.

“We’ve been playing this game according to the steps for quite a while now.

“Counting everyone under our hands— even if they aren’t all of one heart we’re approaching two thousand troops, aren’t we?”

More than four hundred barbarian soldiers.

The thousand-plus Zuo and Huo clansmen who arrived today.

Then Hong Bazi, Xiao Yibo, and the men they had brought from Tiger Head City.

Not quite two thousand.

But close.

“You think the way I’m talking right now sounds like I’m preparing to retreat from the torrent and go back to being a rich local gentleman?”

The six Demon Kings said nothing.

“Maybe someday.

“But not now.

“I’m simply a little confused.

“No matter how fun a game is— if you play it for too long eventually you get tired.

“But fortunately— this isn’t a game.

“This is a new life.

“A life you can see.

“A life you can touch.

“When playing a game— you can choose to quit whenever you like.

“Shut down the machine.

“But life?

“You cannot control the progress bar.

“Whether you want it or not— whether you like it or not it keeps pushing you forward.

“I tried setting new goals for myself.

“Before, I thought—

I want to become a Demon King.

“I want to become Emperor.

“I want to establish my own dynasty.

“But truthfully—

I don’t really possess that much political ambition.

“Especially— and there is nothing embarrassing about telling all of you this at the Tian estate in Tiancheng Commandery, I personally watched Tian Wujing order the extermination of his own entire clan.

“At that moment I thought— if becoming a great figure requires paying that much if it requires making that kind of decision then what is even the point of becoming a great figure?

“His Majesty the Emperor of Great Yan treats his own sons like they were all fathered by Old Wang next door.

“As for women…”

Zheng Fan lifted his head and glanced at Siniang beside him.

Then continued, “I’m already pretty satisfied.”

Power you became afraid of it?

Women you’re satisfied?

Then what motivation remains in life?

Thoughts churned inside the Demon Kings’ minds.

But outwardly everyone listened with serious expressions.

Still—

Zheng Fan’s buildup strongly resembled Second Brother Zhu Bajie preparing to say:

“Let’s split up.

“I’m going back to Gao Village.”

“This world is slightly unfair to me.

“And to all of you.

“It did not give us a concrete objective.

“Something like:

If you fail to accomplish this within a certain amount of time you die.

“Having such a goal would obviously be brutal.

“But without one— it becomes very easy to get lost.

“I have not thought about disbanding.

“Back then, you gave me a choice.

“Become a wealthy local gentleman— or go stir up trouble.

“I chose the second without hesitation.

“Even if I had to choose again—

I would still choose the second.

“Heaven gave all of us a chance to genuinely live again.

“We should at least make something magnificent out of it.

“By now, you probably think everything I’m saying sounds contradictory, right?

“Sigh.

“Siniang.

“Later, make me a cup of cold medicine.

“I think I really have caught a slight cold.”

“Yes, Master.”

Zheng Fan took out a fire striker.

He lit the cigarette the Blind Man had given him.

Took a drag.

Then slowly exhaled a smoke ring.

“People are contradictory creatures.

“I said just now— personally, I don’t like Tian Wujing’s lack of emotion.

“Even though he genuinely is an extraordinary man.

“I also don’t like how indifferent our Yan Emperor is toward family.

“Even though he is unquestionably a sovereign of enormous talent and vision.

“But you know something?

“That day inside the imperial palace—

I led Jingnan cavalry into the palace.

“Iron hooves thundered behind me.

“And I looked at those three men walking at the very front.

“I felt… my blood boiling.

“I envied them in that moment.

“I imagined that someday—

I might stand like that too.

“But the dishonest part of me is this:

I only want the part where they get to feel good.

“I don’t want the part where they have to pay for it.

“I don’t want the suffering they had to endure.

“Just like what I was telling all of you now.

“I don’t want there to be schemes and calculations between us anymore.

“I may have been a comic artist.

“But here— this position I occupy sometimes feels less like sitting on a throne and more like sitting above a fire being roasted.

“Sometimes I really wish I were a comic character too.

“Like all of you.

“One of you.

“If that were the case— perhaps I wouldn’t have so many extra thoughts.

“Sorry.

“My condition tonight might not be very good.

“I originally didn’t want to come out.

“But I knew you were waiting for me.

“My thoughts are somewhat messy.

“So everything I’m saying is messy too.

“Bear with me.”

The Demon Kings’ gazes wandered.

Connected with each other.

The more they listened the more confused some of them became.

Yet at the same time the longer they listened, the more clearly they could feel Master’s sincerity.

Contradictory?

Very.

Perhaps—

Master really did have a cold.

It felt almost like returning to the studio from their previous life.

The wastebasket overflowing with tissues used to blow his nose.

Cold medicine sitting nearby that he did not dare drink because it might make him sleepy.

And all the while enduring dizziness while forcing himself to finish artwork.

Work drawn in that condition naturally became slightly chaotic.

But often that was also when a person forgot excessive technique and presentation.

And simply spoke from the heart.

The Blind Man never spoke.

He simply listened quietly.

At first he had still been trying to distinguish whether Master’s current state and everything he was saying represented some sort of performance.

Then, he stopped struggling with that question.

If Master’s behavior was an act then it meant this young wolf already had fangs of his own.

If it was not then there was even less reason to struggle.

“I want to play.

“I don’t have a goal yet.

“But I think I should go find one.

“At the same time—

I understand clearly that without strength without power we do not even possess the freedom to search for meaning in surviving inside this world.

“I also want to try standing above others.

“But only in the most selfish, willful sense.

“I do not want to live as painfully as those men do.

“I think if I want the days ahead to be freer— more interesting then first I should genuinely speak openly with all of you.

“I never dared say these things before because I was afraid of you.

“Or perhaps—

I simply had not thought this deeply yet.

“Now— it is not because I suddenly possess enough confidence or qualification to say them.

“It is because I genuinely want to treat all of you as family.

“I only personally created the Demon Child.

“The rest of you were works created by my partners.

“But please believe me— when I continued drawing all of you later, I genuinely put emotion into it.

“Because by then, most of the studio’s works had already been banned.

“I couldn’t make money from you anymore anyway.

“Something profitable does not necessarily have to come from interest.

“But most things people keep doing without profit— usually do.

“So— let’s stop suspecting each other.

“Stop thinking so many complicated thoughts.

“Do not calculate what I’m thinking.

“And I will stop calculating your attitudes.

“If there is a problem— ask directly.

“If there is something you want to say— say it directly.

“Let all of us try to live a little happier in this world.

“A little easier.

“This is a world that eats people.

“We can go outside and eat other people.

“But inside the home— no.

“What I mean is—

I want a real home.

“Like Tiger Head City.

“Like Willow Fort.

“Every time I travel far away and return—

I feel as though I have come home.

“You can continue calling me ‘Master.’

“But you do not need to truly treat me as some Master standing above you.

“Sorry.

“My head really feels damned uncomfortable.

“Motherfucker.

“I’m an Eighth Grade Martial Artist now.

“How does that not even give me enough resistance to avoid catching a cold?”

Zheng Fan cleared his throat.

He pointed toward the tea set in front of them.

“Siniang.

“Pour everyone a cup of tea.”

Siniang nodded.

She walked forward and poured tea for everyone.

Zheng Fan lifted his own cup.

The tea had long since gone cold.

“I really dislike formalism.

“But the older I get— the more I understand one truth.

“Some formalities— you simply cannot skip.

“Oh.

“Right.

“Blind Man?”

“I’m here, Master.”

“Is there another possibility— that if I die all of you may die as well?”

The Blind Man nodded.

“Yes.

“There is a very strong possibility.”

“Heh.

“That’s pretty good.

“Unfortunately I only possess one life.

“I can’t test it for you.

“But Blind Man— even if that possibility did not exist—

I still believe that day at the relay station outside Yin City you and San would never have abandoned me and fled for your own lives.

“Because doing that— would have been too boring.

“Too meaningless.”

The Blind Man thought for a moment.

Then said, “That is true.”

“Right, San?”

Zheng Fan looked toward Xue San.

Xue San sighed.

“Master.

“We came to this world together.

“If we left you there to die while we slipped away— that would have been damned dishonorable.

“And damned dull.”

“Exactly.

“So today— let’s indulge in formalism once.

“Tea instead of wine.

“Drink.”

All seven people present raised their tea cups together.

And drained them.

“Good.

“Starting tomorrow— we face each new day with everything we have.

“We face this world.

“We face— our new lives.

“My speech is over.

“Thank you, everyone.”

Everyone began applauding.

Not very loudly.

Not especially sincerely.

Nor because they were deliberately trying to cooperate.

They simply felt this was the kind of moment where applause belonged.

Zheng Fan raised one hand.

Placed it over the left side of his chest.

Then said, “Truthfully— there is one thing where I feel luckier than those three men.

“The Marquis of Jingnan.

“The Marquis of Zhenbei.

“And His Majesty the Emperor.

“For the three of them to stand together like this is genuinely not easy.

“It is practically a miracle in political history.

“I do not know what method they used to confirm this trust between them.

“I do not know whether, in the middle of the night, any of them ever woke suddenly in fear.

“But I— can prove something.

“I can prove every word I said tonight came from the heart.

“And I can prove—

I genuinely trust all of you.

“Don’t laugh.

“I think I’ve actually started liking this kind of bond.”

Zheng Fan closed his eyes.

His left hand remained over his heart.

In the next instant six overwhelming auras erupted at once!

————

(End of Chapter)