The door was rattling, the raccoon cat was watching, the door was violently shaking, and the raccoon cat simply stopped watching.
Hu Delu gave the door a middle finger and sneered contemptuously, intending to ignore this uninvited guest.
In his world, the entire Hundred Demon Ancient Kingdom, except for the Empress, there was almost no one who could control him.
The Empress had just come by recently, and the few old-timers who could still intimidate him were either in long-term seclusion or liked to travel outside the borders of the Ancient Kingdom.
Moreover, most of them had no real relationship with him.
The only person he was somewhat familiar with was Li Changyi, who would only think to visit once every few decades.
Besides, Li Changyi had just been here a few days ago, so he could basically rule him out.
He obviously didn’t believe a raccoon cat could be unlucky enough to be disturbed twice in a row, and both times by people he couldn’t even argue against.
This was more absurd than choking to death while drinking water.
After all, in the Yaojie, he had never even heard of a demon choking to death on water.
Holding this belief, Hu Delu walked into the room, dragged out a bamboo chair, placed it properly by the door, then closed the door behind him, crossed one leg over the other, and began eating a candied hawthorn skewer.
He squinted his eyes, watching the violently shaking door—cracks even appearing on it.
“I don’t believe it. If it’s some irresponsible junior barging in, I swear I’ll beat you so badly your own mother won’t recognize you.”
Saying that, he bit into a piece of the candied hawthorn, chewing thoughtfully as he mentally calculated the compensation fees for the door—though, admittedly, some of that was extortion.
“Bang—!”
But before he could think further, there was a loud explosion, and the previously sturdy bamboo door shattered into pieces in an instant.
The bamboo rods that composed it flew out like sharp blades, heading straight for him.
“Holy crap!”
Shouting in alarm, Hu Delu quickly ducked as the bamboo aimed at his head whooshed past, embedding itself in the door panel behind him.
Then came a series of whistling sounds as more bamboo rods followed, encircling him tightly in the middle.
“Damn it! Which bastard is this bold? Don’t you know who I am…!”
“Who do you think, Hu Delu!? I thought you were sleeping to death in your own house—I was just about to collect your corpse.”
At the yard gate, Li Changyi lowered his raised leg, lightly dusted off his clothes, and with a knowing smirk, teased the red-faced, furious man.
“Oh, so you were sunbathing? This bamboo bed is quite unique, but if you sleep on it too long, you get a stiff neck. So… did you sleep so awkwardly you can’t speak?”
He walked in with his hands behind his back, casually glancing at him before turning his gaze to the medicinal herbs planted nearby and walking over.
Hu Delu was both embarrassed and angry, swallowing the curse words he wanted to shout.
It was a classic case of a mute swallowing a bitter pill.
Damn it, how unlucky can I be!
Li Changyi was just here a couple of days ago—why is he back again?
He stepped out of the Zhizi Sword Formation, twisted his neck, and waved his fists aggressively at the white-haired old man who had his back turned—not exactly subtle in his intent to fight.
“Hm?”
“Hm! What’s wrong?”
But the old man seemed to sense the subtle killing intent, suddenly turning around to meet Hu Delu’s eyes now back to a normal walking posture.
“What? You don’t welcome me? Judging from your emotional fluctuations, you look pretty dissatisfied.”
“Oh no, no, your visit has brought honor to my humble home. I’m more than happy, how could I be dissatisfied?”
How could I dare be dissatisfied?
Tushan Yunxi might be the Empress, but I’m senior to her.
Just a few words of respect are enough.
She wouldn’t do anything to me.
But you, sir, your seniority is so many levels above me, plus your temper… If you were unhappy, you could skin me alive on the spot, and I wouldn’t dare say a word.
Hu Delu slapped his own mouth, cursing himself internally for his “jinx,” then took small steps over to Li Changyi’s side and bent down to whisper.
“Senior Li, why are you picking herbs yourself? Let me do it. You should rest…”
“Get lost. Go pick some Seven Star Grass and Yinyang Flower on the side. I’ll handle the rest.”
With a slap, he pushed Hu Delu aside.
“Yinyang Flower, Seven Star Grass? Could it be…?”
“That’s right. That brat Xun Yi has gone berserk again, and this time it’s serious. I barely managed to suppress most of it after using up my reserves.”
The white-haired old man squinted his eyes, bent down, and plucked a few mature herbs, putting them into his Space Bag before heading deeper into the woods.
“By the way… don’t call me ‘senior’—I’m only a couple thousand years older than you. That’s not really ‘old,’ right?”
“Yes, yes, you’re still young, not old at all.”
Hu Delu nodded as he helped pick some herbs, then suddenly asked.
“By the way, why do you care so much about a human junior? Even though the Ancient Kingdom Academy is jointly founded by the four ancient kingdoms and you’re its dean, you’re ultimately from the Hundred Demon Ancient Kingdom. Isn’t it a bit problematic to nurture a human like this? What if the countries tear each other apart and you and your disciple get caught in the middle…?”
“Why? Because I want to, alright? It’s not like you don’t care about that brat. Every time something happens, you’re more anxious than me. Damn it, and now you’re asking these questions—hypocrite. Get lost…”
“Uh, well…”
Hearing the impatient reply, Hu Delu smiled awkwardly and dared not ask further, fearing the next second he might get hit.
It wasn’t that he was really scared—it was just that when he was a kid, Li Changyi used to hit him for being naughty so often that he’d developed a mild trauma.
There was no further conversation or chatting.
The two fell into silence, broken only by the rustling sound of pants legs brushing herbs and the soft snapping as herbs were pulled out.
After a long while, a hoarse voice suddenly spoke.
“Actually, this kid’s personality is somewhat like my granddaughter’s. Plus, she has no parents or relatives, so I decided to take her as my disciple. As for those concerns you have about conflicts—if they really happen, it doesn’t matter. I don’t care.”
“Hm? Your granddaughter…”
Hu Delu was slightly stunned.
His mouth trembled as his gaze dropped and his voice lowered significantly.
“So that’s how it is. I understand now. I wondered why you’d do this, turns out it’s because of that…”
He muttered “I see” repeatedly, a white-clad little girl who liked to follow him around calling him “uncle” appearing in his mind as he sank into memories.
Suddenly, he felt a heavy slap on his back.
Li Changyi slapped him.
“What are you doing? Why the long face? Looking more miserable than me? Old man here has come to terms with it—what are you still hung up on? That girl brought it on herself, just like her mother falling for a weakling man. She’s stubborn too, saying I don’t understand those pretty boys, so I can neither stop nor beat her…”
As he spoke, the old man’s expression darkened, and anger flickered in his brows.
“Damn, it pisses me off just thinking about it. If I had known the outcome, I wouldn’t have had a daughter at all—what a curse!”
“Uh… please calm down first. I just feel that girl has grown up under my watch. Although not my biological daughter, she’s half mine…”
“Oh, since she’s my daughter’s daughter, you’ve automatically slipped into the role of a stepfather, huh? Good son…?”
Li Changyi’s extremely “generational” comment made Hu Delu cough violently before recovering.
“Uh… your choice of words is totally off. What stepfather role? I… never mind. Let’s not talk about this. It sounds like I’m some sentimental third party.”
“You’re shameless, I get it.”
The old man glanced at the candied hawthorn stand not far away and pursed his lips.
Hmph, stubborn pride makes you suffer.
You really think I don’t know your nostalgic thoughts?
Too bad things have changed.
If I’d known earlier, I would’ve set you two up—at least it wouldn’t be like this, with old people sending off young ones…
Ah, forget it.
No use regretting.
He sighed deeply, bent down, and picked another herb, changing the topic.
“But lately, I’ve been quite annoyed. That girl Shangguan Xun Yi is talented and obedient in cultivation, but I’ve noticed… she seems to like some brat.”
“What!?”
Hu Delu instinctively shouted.
“Where is that brat? I’ll go chop him up right now. How dare he lay a hand on our Hundred Demon Ancient Kingdom’s girl? He must be courting death!”
Thinking about Li Changyi’s granddaughter and Shangguan Xun Yi at thirteen, taken as a disciple, Hu Delu’s murderous intent flared.
He didn’t want to see that tragedy repeat.
Dying for so-called “love” was, in his worldview, the most worthless, most selfish way to die.
In his crude words, that kind of thing was just crap.
“Hey, calm down. I’ve already met that brat.”
“Oh… so he’s already dead?”
“Stop talking nonsense. Am I the kind of demon who kills innocents at random?”
He kicked Hu Delu’s butt.
Seeing the latter’s expression say “Isn’t that true?” he kicked again before continuing.
“That brat… I estimate he won’t last long. His character’s good, but his luck is bad. Shangguan Xun Yi’s clan—some Shangguan something—are raising him as a medicinal ingredient.”
Wait, Shangguan’s medicinal ingredient?
That sounds familiar.
Could it be a coincidence…?
But Xun Yi is indeed from the Shangguan family, so… damn!
Hu Delu’s expression turned priceless for a moment.
“He’s called Yun Mu, right? Why do you look like you know him?”
When the name Yun Mu came out, he no longer bothered answering and just covered his face with a bitter smile.
No matter where he goes, that brat shows up—from the Empress and the little princess’s prophecies to now Shangguan Xun Yi’s disciple.
What a string of romantic luck!
But… hearing it’s this guy made him feel unexpectedly relieved.
At least this little fellow seemed to have a good character.
But is it really okay?
Though this world doesn’t have strict monogamy rules, these girls are possessive.
What if they start fighting over him…
Would he get torn into pieces?
Uh… whatever, that’s none of my business.
As long as he doesn’t do anything despicable to hurt that little girl, I don’t care.
He looked up at the old man and nodded.
“To be honest, the Empress just came to talk to me about him.”
“What!?”
Li Changyi was shocked, eyes wide open in disbelief.
“Wait, the Empress’s business? Don’t tell me Tushan Yunxi that blockhead is interested in some brat like that?”
Seeing the old man so surprised, Hu Delu wasn’t shocked at all.
After all, the Empress was famous for her indifference to others.
And even putting aside her aloofness, for a demon empress to be interested in a human brat was ridiculous in itself.
Plus, with the coincidence of Yun Mu and Shangguan Xun Yi being mentioned, it was no wonder he lost his composure.
“Oh, don’t be so shocked. The Empress is interested because of the Prediction Tree,”
Hu Delu said, patting the old man’s shoulder, his posture suddenly more upright. “Otherwise, how could a human like that catch her attention?”
Hearing this, Li Changyi seemed to understand a bit of the reason.
He slapped away the hand on his shoulder and looked toward the small house.
“Do you still have any tea? Let this old man have some.”
“Tea? Um… to be honest, the Empress and her group just took the last of it. I don’t have any left.”
“Really? I thought you had more than one jar? You hid it in the backyard?”
“Uh…”
Damn, how does this old guy know I hid a jar in the backyard?
I put so many demon power formations around it; sixth and seventh level cultivators differ by just one level!
“Hahaha, if you hadn’t said it, I’d have forgotten. I’ll brew some for you right now.”
This was the eighth generation of bad luck.
He was raging inside but kept a respectful appearance, speaking as he ran toward the back of his house.
Near the house, he suddenly remembered something and turned back to ask.
“Senior Li, you’ve been here so long without going back. Is Xun Yi really okay? I remember the stars she communicates with influence her personality quite a lot. Aren’t you worried something will happen?”
“No need for you to worry. She’s the same as always, already suppressed it. Just bring the medicine back later and have her drink it. I haven’t seen any problems in all these times.”
Li Changyi paused, then added, “Also, don’t call me senior—I’m only a couple thousand years older than you, not that old.”
“All right, all right, Senior Li. Since that’s the case, I’ll brew some tea for you.”
Hu Delu answered perfunctorily, scratching his head with some concern.
Is it really okay?
What if we go back and find she’s missing?
Forget it, with the old guy’s strength, there shouldn’t be a problem—unless… he’s careless?
No matter, I’ll brew the tea first.
Don’t know what curse I did to be this unlucky today.
Annoying…