Chapter 20: Yellow Horse and White Sheep

Cheng Shan was momentarily stunned, repeating the words of the man in her mind several times before realizing it. Was this person a deity? Thinking about it again, it made sense. Han Luo had been so high-profile; his purpose was probably to attract immortals so that Ming Yan would have some reservations. Thinking of this, Cheng Shan’s eyes shone brightly, and she asked, “Immortal Lord, can the Immortal Lord save my dad?”

“Dad?” The immortal messenger slightly turned his body and pointed backward at Cheng Qian. “Are you talking about him?”

Cheng Shan nodded vigorously, but the messenger seemed to feel none of her eager anticipation. He shook his head solemnly. “Your father’s lifespan has already come to an end. For someone to forcefully prolong his life has violated the rules. Once the true qi in his body is exhausted, I will have to send him to the reincarnation department according to the law.”

Cheng Shan’s heart sank. She took two steps back, gripping the Demon King’s bow in her hands, and said in a deep voice, “How should we handle this?”

The messenger glanced indifferently at the Demon King’s bow and coldly replied, “Mortal affairs should not concern the affairs of the netherworld. It’s not your business.”

Cheng Shan raised the bow threateningly, saying fiercely, “You can’t take him away!”

“Miss,” the white-robed messenger smiled, “this matter doesn’t concern you.”

Cheng Shan activated her true qi, forming it into arrow-shaped energy on the bow and pointing it at the messenger without backing down. “Regardless of your status as an immortal or deity, this is a family matter. Nobody should interfere. I ask you to leave immediately.”

The messenger restrained his smile. “Interfering with reincarnation is a crime in the Nine Hells. Miss, don’t be disrespectful.”

“Take your punishment!” Cheng Shan released the energy arrow. The messenger dodged, and the arrow energy pinned to the broken wall of the small attic behind, instantly covering the walls, beams, and floor with layers of ice crystals, forming an ice barrier around Cheng Qian as she intended.

The messenger’s eyes showed a hint of surprise. He chuckled, “Interesting.” Drawing a long sword from behind, he slashed, and a sharp sword’s energy soared into the sky. The sword’s aura repelled the black barrier around Cheng Qian, instantly cleansing it. Cheng Shan struggled to stay in place, not being pushed back by the sword energy.

Seeing Cheng Shan’s unwavering determination, the messenger, keeping his smile, carved a deep groove in the blue stone floor in front of Cheng Shan with a swing of his sword, saying, “Fate is predetermined. Since you are a fellow practitioner, why cling to it?”

“Who said we’re fellow practitioners?” Cheng Shan’s eyes reddened with anger. “When the demon came to my home, you ignored it. Now that my home is broken, do you think it’s appropriate for you to come and collect the body? Have you no shame?”

“Miss, please calm down,” the white-robed messenger sighed. “I’m not here to collect a corpse; I’m here to collect a soul.”

“In the end, it’s a life to be claimed.” Cheng Shan drew her bow again, intensifying her true qi. Through gritted teeth, she said, “Either take both my father and me, or you won’t touch a hair on my father’s head.”

The messenger, with a bitter smile, spoke, “Interfering with fate, judging by the crime, the underworld awaits. Miss, don’t offer a toast but harbor resentment.”

“Take your punishment!” Cheng Shan released another arrow. The messenger evaded, and the arrow’s energy pierced the broken wall of the attic. Cheng Qian was enveloped in a desired ice barrier.

The messenger, with a suppressed smile, said, “I won’t interfere. If Ouyang Jun has determined that your father’s life should end, it’s likely accurate. Even if you manage to take him back, it will be a challenge to preserve his life. Do you really want to do this?”

Cheng Shan, troubled, asked, “What should I do? If he takes my father away, there’s no turning back. I must bring my father back.”

The white-robed messenger fell into silence for a moment, appearing hesitant. “If Ouyang Jun has determined that your father’s life is at its end, it’s likely accurate. Even if you manage to take him back, it will be a challenge to preserve his life. Do you really want to do this?”

Cheng Shan, in a moment of confusion, had always believed that the recent bizarre events were just temporary disruptions in her life. She thought everything would return to normal sooner or later, and she would still be the child cherished by her parents, not worrying about anything. She had never considered where to go or what to do if her parents were truly gone.

Suddenly, a chill ran down Cheng Shan’s spine. Facing Han Luo, facing Ming Yan, and even facing Yin Li, Cheng Shan felt fear, but none of those moments compared to the dread and confusion she felt now. Without a home, she felt suspended in midair, without a starting point or a destination.

Cheng Shan instinctively avoided contemplating this possibility. Thinking that if Han Luo could keep her father in the mortal realm, she should be able to do the same, she nodded solemnly and said, “I must.”

The white-robed messenger sighed helplessly. “In that case, let me handle it. Miss, you just need to stand by.”

A sudden appearance of help made Cheng Shan overjoyed, but her joy quickly turned to bewilderment. Who was he calling a servant? Cheng Shan looked around and asked, “Who are you talking to?”

After a light laugh, the white sheep disappeared, and in his place stood a dignified man in scholar’s attire with a refined smile. He bowed to Cheng Shan, his voice low but clear: “I am Yang Taizai. Greetings, Princess.”

 “Ah?” Cheng Shan looked bewildered, repeatedly stepping back. “Uncle, you… you’ve got the wrong person.”

Yang Taizai stood up straight, smiling calmly. “The Zidian won’t easily acknowledge a master. Miss, you must be the reincarnation of the princess without a doubt.”

“Zidian?” Cheng Shan was confused for a moment, only to realize he was referring to the Demon King’s bow. Holding it in her hand, she examined it for a while, recalling how she found it. She still felt like a passerby who had stumbled upon a lucky find. However, this person claiming to be “Yang Taizai” seemed knowledgeable and skilled. Cheng Shan swallowed the denial that almost slipped out and said vaguely, “Reincarnation and such, I have no way of knowing. But I do find this bow handy. Mr. Yang, do you have confidence in dealing with Ouyang Jun?”

Yang Taizai evaded the question but smiled, saying, “Does the princess know the origin of the Zidian?”

The use of “princess” made Cheng Shan uncomfortable all over, feeling awkward. Yet, reluctant to deny the assistance she might gain, she mustered a forced smile and said, “I would like to hear the details.”