Chapter Sixty Four(Deviation)

Demonic beasts were demonic beasts, their cores almost the same as those from normal spiritual beasts, minus the pure chaotic energy lingering within. However, their behaviors were self-destructive and unintelligent, making them more dangerous for mortals who begged the cultivators from sects to assist them in controlling and hunting them down. The madness in their eyes comes from wrongful cultivation or a deviation in their fleshy bodies, allowing negative energy to soak in their bones and settle. Yin and Yang, dark and light—all things have a balance. Though people call it "demonic energy," in truth, it was nothing more than the dirtiness of humanity and amalgamation of resentment in the world forming a solid entity in the form of demonic beasts. If immortality chases clarity, righteousness, and purity. Then "demonic energy" was fear, hatred, and jealousy.

Emotions, as Wang Minglan said, were more key to cultivation than one would first think. Did the heart not dictate what one yearns and fights for? Did the mind not calculate for gains and benefits for self-satisfaction? There were two types of demonic royals (or so humans have been told): one was a royal who turned from ascension or failed their tribulation on the threshold of godhood, crippling their capability of cultivating immortality and driving them to madness. And the other, the shattering of their beast core. Without it, a spiritual beast couldn't be called a spiritual beast at all. Merely a dull, simple animal like the rest, hunted by mortals for either sport or food. Not a thought in their mind, not a shred of mortal intelligence. 

It could be said to be their most vulnerable but powerful asset, which, unless given freely, no sane spiritual beast would expose it of their own accord. That was why the serpents especially despised the traitor who gave his everything only to lose it all and become a shameful, disgusting joke. The question, "Can demonic royal beasts be forced into existence?" Had once run along the mouths of those with malicious intent but swiftly met their end under the fangs of all. Met with the cool and unhesitating reply of said royals, who knew their bodies the best. 'Naturally, not possible. Who dares?' So, trust those disdainful eyes that turn their nose up at demonic royals with the utmost revulsion and contempt.

Cultivators quieted down, never daring to touch the bottom line nor questioning how those spiritual royal beasts could promise never to turn against them in the great war ever again. Extracting that beast's core and soaking it in the fresh blood every night, accumulating endless resentment for hundreds of nights, perhaps even decades. During this process, said royal would endure endless suffering and tortures under the crawling animosity suffocating them as if drowning in pools of dirty, salty water covered in thousands of open wounds. The stronger the mentality of the royal, the more torturous the process was as their sanity was drained bit by bit till only the instincts of a rabid beast were all that was left in the body. 

An unholy, irredeemable sin. It was knowledge imprinted upon each Chuanqi upon birth, left by their ancestors and the heavenly laws. Not a single one would give away this damning and terrifying secret, which was somehow discovered by their ancestors of the past. They never questioned its origin, for it was a chilling scenario to imagine oneself in. Who knew what immoral matters occurred during the darker ages... Chao Bai, too, after nearly losing all the acid in her stomach, weakly kept her mouth shut. Refusing to explain a single thing to them, no matter how much they pestered her anxiously on the side as to what was wrong. 

Instead, she gripped Feng Shuchang's arm till she almost drew blood, hoarsely whispering to the man. Her silk blindfold nearly soaked entirely in sweat, "Feng Shuchang. If you run into a Chuanqi outside that desert fox, you tell your people to run as far as they can. No matter where they run to—the ocean, the desert, the plains, a different plane, or a subspace—they must get away as far as possible. No matter the race, get as far away from them as possible." If there was one thing all beasts could agree upon, no matter the blood running in their veins. It was that, though called a "beast," those creatures lost to the chaos had nothing in relation to them. Puppets to chaotic energy. Brainless monsters. 

And royal demonic beasts? Calamities walking. Without a doubt, a royal had turned from ascension once more. Just this thought alone sent a shiver down her spine. But who? A warm palm rubs the back of the shaking spiritual beast. Feng Shuchang was filled with regret and self-reprehension. Unable to let go, as currently Chao Bai was leaning on him for support, he worriedly hums quieter, only letting her hear him as he responds soothingly. Seemingly coaxing the agitated spiritual beast, "Alright. Yes, whatever you say. I will do what you say, breathe, Chao Bai." With this reminder, Chao Bai indeed took a deep breath and used Feng Shuchang's support for a few more seconds before decidedly straightening her spine under their concerned gazes. 

"You cannot allow Jiang Tengyi to leave with only just us six; mobilize every single unit on hand." Feng Mei Xing's tense heart thumps painfully; she could hardly breathe due to her anxiousness before her brother also froze up beside her. Chao Bai exhales slowly, firmly ordering the siblings without a single intent of allowing rejection of her orders. "I will have to prepare more; from now until he leaves the sect lands, I will be in isolation." The humans paled. Throats dry, hands frozen solid, pupils trembling. Ignoring their reactions, it was Chao Bai who stood up without letting them grab a single thread of her sleeves. When she opens the door with intentions to leave, almost everyone becomes uneasy, seeing an unwelcome face seemingly waiting for her outside. 

His eyes filled with annoyance, and his whole body language seemed to scream reluctance to be present. Yet, it was still that same desert fox with an intolerant air about him who stiffly rose an arm up for the spiritual beast who he had been feuding with just mere moments ago. As if it were natural, the exotic man and mountain fairy stood side by side without a hint of hostility between them. Even seeming, somewhat harmonious and fitting. Thus, startling and confusing the humans watching on with wide eyes further. "Xiao Bai…" Feng Mei Xing restlessly followed, seemingly intending to separate them. A person with three more steps into the ways of spiritual beasts than humans, Ehuang was the first to stop her. 

Her eyes sweeping from the careful actions of the man holding their treasure despite the disdain on his features. Then, she seemed to understand something deep in her heart and hesitated before standing straighter and declaring, "...I will stay here with you." 

________________________________ An Xing Rebellion Year Seven ________________________________

Chao Bai had no need to rush her recovery anymore after repairing the crack. Now that she knew that a fallen was helping behind the scenes, it was only a matter of time before the smart spiritual beasts would join this war. So, leaving the chaos to erupt in those clans to distract the enemy first. Chao Bai had the desert fox deliberately leak the news of the corrupted royal. The first year, she was still pouring her all into cultivating and recovering while hearing news of the Feng siblings making plans to cause small scuffles of their own. No longer on the passive side of receiving trouble. Those part of the alliance had taken the offense, forcing the sects with the golden city to slowly raise their heads from their tables of gold.

The influence and knowledge that the golden city was harboring demonic beasts had set them all on edge. They could no longer wait, and Chao Bai was also tactically aware they were running out of time. She knew the limits of her own body best right now; she knew when her body would grow weary. When her body was close to collapsing, she knew when she would reach self-destruction. She also knew what would bring her beyond that delicate line leading to spiritual deprivation. A shadow with steps as light as paper lands on the windowsill of her room, their body covered from head to toe with black ink.

Yilin reports with a bowed head to the woman with shut eyelids sitting upright in an empty tower with nothing but a cushion to accompany her. "Lady Chao Bai, the young master arrived to the port city with young master Ling safely at noon yesterday and rented a room in a travelers' inn. It seems they intend to cross the sea as you predicted." Hearing this, as expected, Yilin saw the woman who had never moved since settling here two years prior besides listening to his words and giving some advice. Finally lifts her head to face the ceiling, opening her silver eyes a sliver. Her white hair scattering from her lovely features and pink lips spilling like a curtain of snow framing the fairy's beauty. 

He lowers his gaze from the celestial, spiritual beast whose core was finished solidifying before his very eyes. The brief years in isolation, resting in a land abundant in raw spiritual energy, were beneficial. "...He is as fearless as always." Towards this insult, Yilin actually agreed with her assessment deep down and didn't remind her. Reaching towards the incense beside her, Chao Bai lightly pinches the smoking tip, cutting off the burning ember between her fingertips. Rubbing the ash between her thumb and pointer finger, the woman acts decisively. 

Her aura calm, her spiritual sea no longer a mess, a powerful layer of cold iron engraved in her heart. "Yilin, gather the troops of the western border and prepare to infiltrate enemy lines. I will personally lead them when storming the fortress of those sects who stand in our way. Tell King Feng and the Madam, we will move at dawn." Once more, similar to a scene in the distant past, Yilin acknowledged her words by dissipating like a droplet of water wiped from a wood table. Soaking the last bit of delicate, earthy lilac incense imbedded into her robes. The woman stood slowly from her seat with purpose, prompting a red shadow to jump through the window entirely. 

Unchanged from the past, his head still tilted lightly out of respect for her suppression, Hulian murmured mockingly under his breath while honestly leading her his arm. "So you finally intend to leave this rabbit hole after getting what you needed. As expected of a sea serpent, selfish and domineering till the end." As he vented and helped escort her from the tower, a pale hand lifted to his nose, holding an exquisitely carved earring. Its body was made entirely of an unknown rainbow crystal material; within, he could sense almost instantly it was carved with precision and carried a protective seal. 

Stifled by this sudden gift, Hulian nearly bit his tongue as the woman beside him spoke eloquently despite his hostility. "As promised, the elixir to soothe your contractor's son's injury. However, it is not a panacea nor a miracle medicine, so do not expect it to take effect immediately. As long as the patient is resilient and determined to live, naturally, the elixir will also react positively to his spiritual sea." Those pale fingers mime attaching the cool material to his own ear, making him hold back a shiver. "Place it like so; you will know when the worst of the burden has been lifted when it completely shatters, falling from their ear." 

Hesitant but filled with hope because of her words, Hulian carefully took the earring from her hands, still unsure about trusting a sea serpent entirely. As he examines the earring for any tampering, he bluntly expresses his doubt to her. "Are you sure a cultivator's cracked core can be cured through your means?" She also didn't believe he would trust her words, only stating plainly "Although it is true that my kind will give almost anything for power, when it comes to deals or promises, as royals, naturally, we will always see through to our word." Receiving this as a given promise, Hulian pressed the doubts he had about her down and casually pockets the relic with care while stating the obvious. 

"If the mortals knew that you could heal your beast core but also a cultivator's core, they would not let you go." Although cracks in cores were not common, they weren't exactly uncommon. Humans, especially those who cultivated powerful but delicate cores, couldn't recover so easily from this type of internal injury. It was why those who chased the Heavenly Dao were even more ruthless than spiritual beasts with their morals and conduct. Those who could recover on their own were rare; most of the time that crack would only continue to spread until eventually they would be reduced to an average mortal. After all, spiritual roots were innate and refined into cores; cultivating them granted you more strength, but once that core was destroyed, your spiritual roots would naturally be ruined with it. 

It would be ok if she, as a royal, could already overcome that precarious hurdle and recover. But being able to soothe the spiritual sea of human cultivators too? It was definitely not something people could overlook so easily without being tempted to take her into their own hands as a life-saving backup. This had long been known by Chao Bai, so unperturbed, the indifferent spiritual beast steps over the threshold calmly. "I do not need you to remind me of this." Seeing as she knew the severity, Hulian also no longer mentioned this dangerous subject carelessly. "ChanChan has been clamoring to meet you again, diligently pestering me each day since you entered the tower. Your doctor has somehow placated her occasionally throughout the weeks, but she still seems reluctant to let it go." 

Chao Bai's lashes flutter open slightly to peer up at the vinegar-drinking desert fox and nearly click her tongue. "It is within her nature to revere me." Hulian sneers despite carefully helping her avoid a puddle on the floor. His tone was sarcastic. "A serpent knows compassion towards weaker beings?" Unfazed and not denying his doubts, Chao Bai hums faintly, "Not compassion, mutual benefits." What would a mere fish spirit be able to provide for what were once the rulers of the silver sea? Hulian ponders to himself with furrowed brows, not wanting to voice his curiosity and make himself seem too eager. 

Were instincts also why ChanChan didn't really like him? Although the little fish's attitude towards him couldn't be called cold, it certainly wasn't warm. Her respect towards him was a guarantee, but compared to the reservation she had shown him all this time. Her adoration and attachment to a silver serpent of all people had truly thrown him into a self-reflection spiral recently. Within the range of her reach, as expected, the flash of orange was all the warning they were given before a body of wet scales threw itself into Chao Bia's arms once more.

However, unlike before, Hulian was faster and stood between them, catching the clingy fish, who was about to drench Chao Bai, with a stern look. "ChanChan, behave." Falling into the hands of the desert fox, the little fish's expression of joy shattered to reveal brief rejection and disgust, amusing the two adults. It quickly turned into sulking reluctance, as if knowing such disrespect was certainly not appropriate before the royal scolding her. Despite all of this, her body language was honest, and she pushed Hulian's chest further from her even at the threat of being dropped by him onto the stone floor. 

Perhaps before he would have tolerated her behavior, but faced with an actual comparison of treatments, Hulian felt bitter and teased the child. Deliberately stepping away from Chao Bai so her soft paws couldn't touch the other's sleeves. "Your lady doesn't want you. I've diligently taken you under my wing as a master, yet you dare to cling to others? Who is good to you? Do you even know?" As the child's face started to tremble, before the pitter-patter of her salty tears fell from her lashes. Chao Bai leaned in, her eyelids lifting to reveal her glittering stardust eyes, her voice tolerant, like speaking to a junior. "Child, what did you bring me?" 

Even if he knew the results, he was blank-faced as ChanChan ignored his previous words and directly pulled Chao Bai's face over so the three were squeezed together. One not daring to let her fall from his arms and the other tolerant of her behavior as if spoiling the young spiritual beast. The picture of two elegantly matched beauties turned into a family of three doting on their daughter, drawing more than one rolling eye. Especially when the beauty with a toddler's paws holding onto her face gave a soft smile when the child rubbed noses with her sweetly. 

ChanChan, enchanted by her subtle rise of the lips, plants a bold kiss on the woman's cheek and righteously raises her own to Chao Bai, who chuckled lightly at her behavior. Knowing that she was the first "kin" in heart the child had probably ever known, Chao Bai's cold demeanor naturally softens. Under Hulian's risen brow, she benevolently granted the child her wish and kissed her cheek, lighting the little fish's cheeks on fire due to delight. Then, almost smugly, she sent her sect's ancestor a look that seemed to say, "Didn't you tell me to behave? Look, my lady doesn't mind my behavior; only you do!" "...." Not stooping to a child's provocation, Hulian directly placed the happy ChanChan into her tube and took Chao Bai's arm, pulling her away. 

"This way, your doctor has been treating others during her free time in the clinic and gained quite the reputation." "Ah! Ah!!" Ignoring the angry calls behind him, Hulian plays deaf while taking the sea serpent away from the spiritual beast, who had yet to perfect human form. Following them were the giggles and teasing looks from the disciples who 'accidentally' heard news of the spiritual beast in seclusion leaving the tower today. "Which one drank vinegar just now? Wasn't it Sir Hulian?" "Haha! Did you see Sir Hulian's face when ChanChan sent him that gloating look? It's the first time I've seen the noble man actually go expressionless." 

"She's even more beautiful than they said~! Did you see her smile?" "Is Sir Hulian officially pursuing her? They're so well matched it would be a shame if he let her go just like this." Although a bit far away now, Hulian's ears still twitch and flick with each whisper and laugh trailing them. The eyes of each disciple would first widen upon seeing him, then brighten mischievously when they saw the person on his arm. Though insulted and aggravated by being seen as a couple with the sea serpent. Sir Hulian couldn't be called an irrational man and didn't dislike Chao Bai for it, still diligently doing his duty as her escort. 

After he took a look at the woman's expression and saw she didn't have any reaction to their words, he too soon calmed into indifference towards the heated gazes on them until they entered the medical hall. Quite like Chao Bai, the entire hall smelled of herbs, letting people relax on the spot. There was quite a large gathering of spiritual beasts inside who simultaneously turned their heads to the two royals. Birds, cats, dogs, pigs, you name it, they were all there. And surprisingly, a few of them even dared to carry bowls of sea creatures. "*Squawk!!" A hawk couldn't hold back its cry upon finally noticing the sea serpent half unfurling her wings in agitation. Abruptly, all of them nearly folded their knees or cowered away instinctively only to be shot a terrifying cold look from Hulian and freeze in place. 

Useless things. Scoffing at their spineless behavior, Hulian purposely led Chao Bai more carefully under the stares of both spiritual beasts and human cultivators, ignoring both frightened and sparkling eyes. He lifts the curtain behind the counter, passing the stunned disciple behind the counter without needing to ask. "Here, she's in the back." After shooting one more glare of warning to the spiritual beasts, he too entered the backroom. When asked what was wrong, those small spiritual beasts clamped their mouths shut and refused to open them no matter what. Who would go against a royal spiritual beast's orders? 

Did they think their life wasn't hard enough? Even if their contract partner urged them or coaxed them to say it, they didn't dare expose the sea serpent. Though not quite as intelligent, they weren't dumb enough to give anything away about these ancestors who were the most pure of their bloodlines. The moment she stepped foot into the back curtain, she could smell blood and the heavy air of sickness mixed with the herbs from before. Her eyelids flutter for a second, yet by the time Ehuang popped her head out from behind a curtain she appeared indifferent. Her eyebags were much more severe than Chao Bai's, the patient. 

Chao Bai listens with half a tilted head as the woman tiredly nods at her, stating hoarsely, "Stay there, don't come over. There's a small case of the pox I haven't gotten to yet; I'm afraid you'll catch it." She herself wore a face mask, her hair pinned up tightly so as to not get in her way. Her long robes tossed away for a thin, light hanfu, easy to maneuver in. A whimper came from the curtain, and Ehuang sighed before coaxing patiently and reentering the curtained-off section. "Alright, alright, I'm here. Don't worry, it won't scar up your beautiful fur. I promise you'll be as good as new soon. Don't scratch or bite your rashes anymore; it'll only get worse, ok?" 

Along with her mindless coaxing and praises, Hulian and Chao Bai were rather expressionless and didn't want to admit they were the same species as the fussy spiritual beasts being tricked by these humans into obliviousness. Although he was more desensitized towards this kind of scene, being born on the main plane. Hulian still crinkled his nose, looking down on the lower spiritual beasts. It was rare for them to be able to cultivate adequate mortal bodies, so his tolerance of ChanChan could be said to be a generous exception because of her talent in cultivation. 

Releasing his arm, Chao Bai consciously stood at a standstill, commenting lightly. "You can go. Though it is unlikely we will see each other again unless you join the front lines, may your journey be pleasant until then." Still somewhat awkward with the royal being used as a weapon of war, Hulian openly expressed his reluctance to leave her to her fate. Even if he knew how blackhearted the woman was. "Are you taking part directly?" Peering down at her shut eyes and watching as she reached into her sleeve to pull out that familiar silk blindfold, his eyes narrowed unhappily. 

"If not me, who else?" The silk in her hands was pulled away by the other rather aggressively but not enough to hurt her as the fox lowered his head to growl in her ears. "Silver-tongued beast with no heart, what is your goal? Is your life not short enough?" Partaking in a human war, what exactly did she have up her sleeves? What did she want so badly she would be ruthless with her own body like this? A royal lowering herself to this degree to be a commander on the battlefield for mere humans—even Hulian with a human contractor wouldn't accept being part of so much meaningless bloodshed unless it affected his contractor directly. 

"Hiding and hiding only to toss all pretenses away to draw blood debts that don't belong to you." Trailing his hand along her arm to her fingertips, all the way her pallid, icy skin could be felt through the thin white fabric, chilling his own heart. The desert fox, eye to eye with the thin line of starlight beneath her lightly shut eyes, smiled with subtle gloominess. "Lady of the Mist, you take your life so lightly even the heavens sent a warning of your erratic behavior. Will you ignore their summons?" 

There was no righteousness in their world. If left alone, they will roam without a care; if provoked, they will also take vengeance. If they were hungry, they would hunt; if they were restless, they would wrestle with a few demonic beasts, testing their limits and self-preservation. Perhaps for spiritual beasts it was easier to bow their heads and grow close to human beings because they didn't have to concern themselves with heavenly tribulations. But she and he were Royal Chuanqis. Coveted and yet feared, powerful solitary creatures whose only purpose is to pursue their own joys and strength. When had a Chuanqi ever bowed their head willingly and thrown themselves into human affairs? 

Human affairs. Indeed, there was a time when she, too, was taught and thought the same thing, disdaining these earthly obsessions, especially with the foul blood running in her veins. However... "Perhaps it runs in my blood or is part of the ruthless string of fate for me to keep meddling in these 'human affairs' we all scorn." Taking the silk blindfold from his hand, ignoring his pondering gaze, she reduces the volume of her voice, blocking out all outside speaking as light as a feather. So much so it tickled his chest like little needles. "-Did you know that foolish ancestor hundreds of years ago who preached the cross-contamination of blood ties and pure love also left a trail of peach blossoms in his wake?"

Without any intention of waiting for his reaction, she also left a trail of bitterness and loathing in her wake as she foretold calmly to the stiff fox. "Driven to the brink of insanity, the woman with a loathsome egg growing in her stomach instead of a human cut open her own stomach trying to kill the demon spawn draining her life force and beauty with a dull kitchen knife. With bloody hands and her insides already spilling from her flowing womb, she stabbed the demon egg in her belly a hundred times. Yet, she couldn't pierce a single hole into the round ball that came out of her own body and, in the end, died under the hand of the 'father' who hatched me." 

Peering up at an unseen object in the darkness of her silk blindfold, the beauty touches her face casually. Seemingly a hint dazed herself but more rueful than anything, as there was a hint of hollow laughter added within her words catching his breath. "Now, you can go in peace, knowing one of my greatest weaknesses too. Will that do? Mister Desert Fox?"