diskusbooks Chapter 346 Tears of the Mortal World! (Page 12)
Chapter 346 Tears of the Mortal World! (Page 12)
The Emperor of Fengdu stared intently at Zhang Yun, who was dressed in black, with his deep, abyss-like eyes. The twelve jade tassels on his imperial crown swayed slightly, making a crisp clinking sound.
The aura of the underworld flowing around him suddenly froze, and even the yin winds of the entire underworld stood still for a moment.
"You are... the creator god Zhulong?" The voice of the Emperor of Fengdu was deep and resonant, carrying the weight of a thousand years of history. His gaze seemed to pierce through the body of Zhang Yun in black, looking directly into the essence of his soul.
Zhang Yun, dressed in black, stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile playing on his lips.
His robes fluttered without wind, and tiny sparks of lightning flickered in the tips of his hair. Facing the gaze of the Emperor of Fengdu, he neither flinched nor yielded, but simply shook his head slightly.
"Yes...and no." These three simple words contained an unspeakable mystery. As he spoke, a dragon's shadow seemed to flicker in the depths of his pupils, vanishing in an instant.
The Emperor of Fengdu frowned almost imperceptibly.
He raised his right hand, and a wisp of pure Netherworld power condensed at his fingertips. The power swirled in his palm, but it could never get within three feet of Zhang Yun in black.
"I see..." The Emperor of Fengdu withdrew his hand thoughtfully, the dark patterns on his imperial robe flowing like water. "It seems that there are some interesting changes in this world."
Zhang Yun, dressed in black, smiled without saying a word, but turned to look at Lin Qiye, who was comforting Jialan in the distance. His gaze held a hint of amusement, yet also seemed to hold a deeper meaning.
The Emperor of Fengdu followed his gaze, and when he saw Jialan on Lin Qiye's back, a look of realization flashed in his eyes. He gently flicked his sleeve, and the entire Underworld trembled:
"The cause and effect have been settled today, everyone... it's time to go back..."
However, before the Emperor of Fengdu could finish speaking, the distant netherworld mist suddenly parted like a tide. A beam of clear light descended from the void, illuminating the entire gloomy underworld.
An old Taoist priest dressed in a coarse cloth robe and straw sandals walked slowly towards them.
With each step he took, a blue lotus bloomed beneath his feet, each lotus petal opening to emit boundless light.
The old Taoist priest had a simple and unadorned face, his eyes were half-closed, and he exuded no aura, yet he made the entire underworld fall silent.
The Emperor of Fengdu's expression hardened, and he immediately straightened his robes. The subtle patterns on his imperial robes flowed like water, and his twelve-tasseled imperial crown tilted slightly forward. He clasped his hands together, performing an ancient salute:
"The steward of the Underworld greets the Primordial Heavenly Venerable!" His voice carried an unusual respect.
A glint flashed in Zhang Yun's eyes as he silently took a half-step back. Lin Qiye and the others held their breath, and even Jialan instinctively gripped her husband's sleeve.
Upon seeing the appearance of the supreme being from mythology—Yuanshi Tianzun—the entire underworld seemed to freeze.
Lin Qiye's pupils contracted sharply, and Jialan on his back clearly felt his muscles tense instantly. He subconsciously took a half step back, his Adam's apple bobbing with difficulty: "This...this is..."
The prayer beads in Cao Yuan's hand fell to the ground with a "clatter," the smooth beads rolling down the steps with a crisp sound. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out; he could only mechanically turn his head to look at An Qingyu beside him.
An Qingyu's broken glasses hung askew on his nose, his eyes wide and staring behind the lenses. His usually proud reasoning abilities had completely failed him, and his fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of his clothes.
Baili Pangpang collapsed to the ground with a thud, his round, chubby face trembling. He pointed a trembling finger at the old Taoist priest, his lips opening and closing several times before he managed to squeeze out a broken sentence: "Yuan...Yuanshi...Tianzun?!"
Although Shen Qingzhu remained standing, fine beads of sweat had appeared on his forehead. He was completely unaware that his sidearm had slipped to the ground. His usually composed face was now filled with disbelief.
The most exaggerated reaction came from Jialan. This woman, who had been asleep for a thousand years, slid directly off Lin Qiye's back, her legs so weak she could barely stand. Her slender fingers gripped Lin Qiye's sleeve tightly, her nails digging into the fabric: "Husband... Husband... this is..."
An eerie silence fell over the entire underworld, even the drifting ghostly energy seemed to freeze. Only Zhang Yun, dressed in black, remained calm, even casually adjusting his cuffs.
The gaze of the Primordial Celestial Venerable swept over everyone, and each person being looked at felt as if their very soul had been seen through.
The old Taoist priest nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over everyone. His gaze, seemingly calm, seemed to pierce through to the past and future. When it landed on Zhang Yun in black, a faint smile appeared on his lips:
"Fellow Daoist Zhulong, how have you been?"
Upon hearing this, the Emperor of Fengdu's pupils contracted slightly, clearly shocked by the title. Zhang Yun, dressed in black, merely chuckled and bowed, saying, "The Heavenly Venerable's Dharma Eye is as sharp as a torch."
The Primordial Celestial Venerable said no more, and turned to look at the Great Emperor of Fengdu:
"Now that you have returned from your tribulation, you shall once again take charge of the Underworld. However..." He flicked his sleeve, and a beam of clear light entered the Emperor's brow. "Keep this tear of mortal life."
The Emperor of Fengdu trembled, and the human-like light in his left eye reappeared. He remained silent for a long time before finally bowing deeply: "Thank you for your guidance, Heavenly Venerable."
At this moment, the gaze of the Primordial Celestial Venerable suddenly fell on Baili Pangpang. His eyes, which seemed to see through eternity, narrowed slightly, revealing a thoughtful expression.
Baili Pangpang shuddered, his round face trembling with fat. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his fingers unconsciously twisted together.
Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, he suddenly pulled a gleaming Rolex watch from his pocket and presented it with trembling hands:
"Heavens...Heavenly Venerable...this is a local specialty..." His voice trembled, the watch face reflecting a blinding light in the glow of the Netherworld Fire, "A limited edition..."
A rare crack appeared on the usually calm and composed face of the Primordial Celestial Venerable. He stared at the modernly crafted watch, his lips twitching almost imperceptibly, before slowly shaking his head.
Upon seeing this, Baili Pangpang's little eyes suddenly lit up:
"Heavenly Venerable One! Do you see my exceptional talent and wish to take me as your disciple?" He was so excited that the fat on his face trembled. "I am exceptionally hardworking!"
This time, Yuanshi Tianzun turned around directly, his wide Taoist robe sleeves fluttering lightly:
"You have your own destiny!" The voice carried a hint of helplessness.
Just as Baili Pangpang lowered his head in disappointment, Yuanshi Tianzun suddenly raised his hand and unleashed a beam of clear light.
The light flowed into Baili Pangpang's round belly like water, transforming into a warm and smooth jade-like Ruyi mark inside his body.
"This is given to you."
As the Celestial Venerable finished speaking, Baili Pangpang trembled, and a soft, jade-like light suddenly emanated from his body. He touched his belly in surprise, where an ancient, simple ruyi pattern faintly appeared.
"This...this is..." Baili Pangpang was so excited he was incoherent. "Heavenly Venerable, you still have faith in me, don't you?"
Yuanshi Tianzun looked at Baili Pangpang's treasure-giving expression, and a rare hint of helplessness appeared on his usually calm face.
He gently shook his head, his long, snow-white eyebrows trembling slightly, and the wide sleeves of his Taoist robe fluttering without wind, as if expressing his inner speechlessness.
Just as the Celestial Venerable raised his hand, preparing to send everyone away from the Underworld, Zhang Yun, dressed in black, suddenly stepped forward.
His boots made a crisp sound as they stepped on the dark stone steps.
"Uncle Li," Zhang Yun, dressed in black, looked directly at the Emperor of Fengdu, his tone unusually serious, "Aren't you going back to check on Tingting?"
The Emperor of Fengdu trembled slightly, the twelve jade tassels on his crown clinking together crisply. He instinctively tried to shake his head, the dark patterns on his black imperial robe flowing like water.
Zhang Yun, dressed in black, didn't give him a chance to refuse and continued:
“Uncle Li, I know what you’re thinking.” His voice was exceptionally clear in the silent underworld. “To put it bluntly, you’re afraid that you won’t be able to let go of your responsibilities as the Emperor after seeing them.”
The fingertips of the Emperor of Fengdu trembled slightly, and the glimmer of humanity in his left eye flickered.
Zhang Yun, dressed in black, pressed closer step by step:
"But that's no excuse for your selfishness!" His voice suddenly rose, startling Lin Qiye and the others into holding their breath. "A nation exists only after its families exist; the small family and the nation are the same!"
When he got excited, Zhang Yun, dressed in black, even ripped off his black outer robe, revealing a T-shirt underneath that read "Harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things."
This abrupt outfit instantly added a touch of comicality to the otherwise serious atmosphere.
"Don't make a decision to 'die in battle' just to escape for the sake of temporary escape!" Zhang Yun, dressed in black, pointed at the Emperor of Fengdu's nose.
"Do you know that Tingting waits for you at the door every day? Your old man's dumpling-making skills are getting worse and worse, so he's waiting for you to come back and teach him!"
The Emperor of Fengdu's robes suddenly fluttered without any wind. He turned his back, but everyone could see his slightly trembling shoulders.
Zhang Yun, dressed in black, softened his tone:
“This isn’t how family treats people… You still need to go and see them.” The words were spoken very gently, yet carried an undeniable force.
Yuanshi Tianzun watched quietly from the side, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.
He gently waved his sleeve, and a beam of clear light condensed into a water mirror before the Emperor of Fengdu, reflecting the expectant figures of his elderly father and daughter at home...
The Emperor of Fengdu finally let out a long sigh, and the jade beads on his imperial crown shook violently:
"That's enough..." Her voice carried a tenderness unseen for a thousand years.
...
As dusk settled, the aroma of noodles wafted from the kitchen of the small town hotel.
Li Deyang's elderly father was hunched over kneading dough at the workbench, his calloused hands covered in flour. The dumpling wrappers on the table were uneven in thickness, and some were even torn, revealing the filling inside.
"Grandpa, when is Daddy coming back?" Tingting leaned on the windowsill, her little face pressed against the glass, her breath condensing into white mist on the window.
She specially wore her favorite red dress today, and tied the bow on her braid three times.
The old father paused, a hint of worry flashing in his cloudy eyes:
"Soon, your dad... is busy with work..." Her voice trailed off, the last few words almost muffled from her lips.
Just then, the hotel's wooden door creaked open. A familiar figure stood in the doorway against the light, carrying the chill of the night breeze.
"Dad, I'm back."
Li Deyang wore that faded old jacket, a gentle smile on his face. His eyes no longer held the imposing air of the Emperor of Fengdu, but were filled with the warmth of returning home.
The old father's rolling pin clattered to the ground, splattering flour everywhere. Tingting, like a little swallow, rushed over: "Daddy!"
Li Deyang bent down to catch his daughter and lifted her high in the air. Tingting's red dress drew a cheerful arc in the air, and the bow on her braid trembled merrily.
"You brat..." The old father wiped his eyes and deliberately put on a stern face, "The dumpling wrappers are all rolled out, why aren't you helping out!"
The kitchen quickly became lively. Li Deyang skillfully rolled out dumpling wrappers, his movements much more efficient than his elderly father's.
Tingting sat on his lap, her little hands clumsily kneading the dough, making all sorts of oddly shaped "creative dumplings".
"Daddy, this is for you!" Tingting held up a crooked dumpling, her little face full of pride.
Li Deyang took the misshapen dumpling, but handled it as if it were a precious treasure: "It's so pretty, our Tingting is so skillful."
The steaming dumplings were quickly cooked.
The three of them sat around a small table, and the father, for the first time ever, poured three glasses of baijiu (Chinese liquor) – even Tingting got a small half glass.
“Come on, the New Year is a time for family reunion.” The old father’s voice was choked with emotion.
The snow fell silently outside the window, while the lights inside the house were warm and cozy.