Translator – Misty

Chapter 2: Bewitchment

Gu Qingfeng stood silently beside the stele, contemplating deeply. Learning that a hundred years had passed since the Heavenly calamity and that the era before it had become ancient history, he felt a profound sense of nostalgia.

Honestly, he wasn’t surprised that the era before the calamity was now considered ancient.

Looking at history, the eras of the Remote Antiquity, the Great Antiquity, and the Far Antiquity all evolved similarly, with each cataclysm marking the end of an old era and the beginning of a new one.

As for why the cataclysms occurred and why the Heavenly Dao judged all sins, it was merely the result of the evolution of the Heavenly Dao’s origin and an inevitable rule in the development of history.

What really astonished him was the realization that he had been ‘unconscious’ at Crimson Flame Ridge for a full hundred years…

“Aunt, do you think the King of Crimson Heavens really reincarnated?”

The spirited young girl gazed at the stele and asked, “After the Cataclysm, many ancient powers have reincarnated… Why is there no news of the King?”

“How would I know such things? Ever since the Cataclysm, there have been rumors every year that the King will reincarnate… But it’s been almost a hundred years, and there’s still no sign of the King’s reincarnation. Besides, the King went through immortal tribulation three hundred years ago, and the Door of Reincarnation opened during the Cataclysm, right?”

“Wasn’t it said that the King wasn’t killed by the Immortal tribulation but ascended to the heavens under a different name? If that’s true, shouldn’t the King also reincarnate?”

“Girl, those are just rumors. No one really knows if the King was killed by the Immortal tribulation.”

Many ancient powers have reincarnated?

Hearing the conversation between the two women, Gu Qingfeng was initially puzzled but soon came to an understanding.

He knew that during the Cataclysm, the laws of heaven and earth were in chaos, and some immensely powerful being had opened the Door of Reincarnation… Many powers, including immortals and demons, entered the Door of Reincarnation to escape the Cataclysm. Gu Qingfeng, due to special reasons, couldn’t enter the Door of Reincarnation.

Did his old friends reincarnate?

In the distance, the young girl in white stared at the stele, her eyes filled with longing, and whispered, “If only the King really reincarnated…”

“Girl, you’re not bewitched by playing the King’s music too much, are you?” The beautiful woman glanced at her and said seriously, “I advise you to play less of the King’s music. It’s not good for you.”

“Aunt, I just like the King’s music, how can I be bewitched! Don’t be so exaggerated!”

“Girl, I’m not joking with you. The King’s music is strange and profound, and ordinary people can’t control it. Haven’t there been many who became bewitched by playing the King’s music over the years? Even some went mad… You better remember this, or how can I explain to your mother if you become bewitched by playing the King’s music?”

“Others are others, I, Ouyang Ye, will not be bewitched!”

Ouyang Ye rolled her eyes at her aunt and then fell into deep thought while staring at the stele. She loved music and was fascinated by the King’s compositions, feeling as if she was witnessing the King’s glory in ancient times.

Could playing the King’s music really bewitch someone?

No!

Impossible!

At least I won’t be.

Ouyang Ye shook her head confidently, certain she wouldn’t be bewitched.

Gu Qingfeng listened and smiled wryly. He had indeed created many musical compositions in his time, and as the beautiful woman said, many were strange and not easily mastered. If playing these could bewitch people, it was possible, as music can resonate with a person’s spirit. Those with weaker spirits could easily be influenced, leading to Qi Deviation.

What puzzled Gu Qingfeng was that although he had immersed himself in music and created many compositions, he had never taught them to anyone else. How did so many people come to play his music, and some even became bewitched? If that were true, then he bore a great responsibility.

“Girl, don’t blame your aunt for nagging. You’ve been coming here more often lately, and you think I don’t know your thoughts?”

“Aunt, don’t talk nonsense, I haven’t!”

“Girl, I’ve been involved in music longer and deeper than you. I’ve also played many of the King’s pieces. Do you know why so many people love the King’s music? It’s because his music, and he himself, are extremely charismatic.”

“His piece ‘Wind Rises Over the Great Qing Mountain’ is heart-stirring. After listening, it’s easy to resonate with the spirit, as if dreaming back to ancient times, witnessing the King’s crazy battle against numerous heroes at the Great Qing Mountain. Men listen and are filled with admiration, and women are moved and infatuated.”

“Then there’s ‘Phoenix Seeking Its Mate’… that was a piece the King played for the Holy Mother… so passionate, so heart-wrenching… Women who listen are all deeply moved…”

“Aunt! That’s you, not me. I’m not moved, and I’m not infatuated…”

“Not moved? Not infatuated? Are you trying to fool me?” The beautiful woman glanced at her and said irritably, “Then tell me, why have you been trying to please Elder Huo De lately? Either sending fine wines or exquisite dishes…”

“Elder Huo De is the person I respect the most. Is it wrong to be nice to him?”

“Naughty girl, do you really think I’m a three-year-old child? Do you think I don’t know what you’re after? Aren’t you interested in the Blood Flame Bracelet that Elder Huo De possesses? That bracelet was personally crafted by the King of Crimson Heavens. If you’re not infatuated with the King, why would you want his personally crafted bracelet?”

“I… Can’t I like magical treasures?”

“Enough with your stubbornness.”

The beautiful woman wanted to scold Ouyang Ye but then thought better of it and advised, “Girl, listen to your aunt’s advice. In the future, just listen to the King’s music… Don’t play it yourself… It really can bewitch you… I almost…”

“Almost what?” Ouyang Ye asked with a grin.

The beautiful woman glared at her and said, “Just play less of the King’s music from now on. Don’t forget, he was once a demon, and not just ordinary demon. Otherwise, why do you think the King was judged?”

“Hey, Aunt, you’ve always admired the King. Why do you talk about him like this?”

“I admit I admire the King for his unparalleled talent, his aloofness, his extraordinary accomplishments, his unruliness, and his domineering pride. But admiration is just admiration. I admire the King, but it doesn’t mean I’m infatuated with him. After all, he was once a demon, a sinner in the eyes of the Immortal path.”

“Hmph!”

Ouyang Ye snorted coldly, not wanting to listen anymore. She hated when people said the King was a demon or a sinner of the Immortal path.

The beautiful woman sighed helplessly, knowing her niece didn’t like to hear these things. Looking at the sky, she said, “It’s getting late… Girl, I have to go meet Wang, the leader of the Weihu Gang. Do you want to come with me?”

“Wang, the leader? That fatso always looks at me lecherously. I don’t want to go with you. You go by yourself.”

“Alright, then you go back to the villa first.”

Standing in the cemetery, watching the beautiful woman leave, Gu Qingfeng was somewhat puzzled.

Did he hear them mention the Blood Flame Bracelet, which he had personally crafted?

Gu Qingfeng thought hard but had no recollection of the Blood Flame Bracelet. He had crafted many magical treasures in his life, so many that even he didn’t know the exact number.

“Wait a moment!

Elder Huo De?

Why does it sound so familiar?

Suddenly, Gu Qingfeng was startled, and an unkempt old man appeared in his mind.

Could it be Elder Huo De, that old man?

After careful recollection, considering this is Crimson Flame Ridge, Gu Qingfeng could almost confirm that the two women were definitely referring to that old rascal from back then, who used to eat, drink, gamble, and dig pits to trip people. He vaguely remembered that old man seemed to be from the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect. Just now, the two women referred to Huo De as an elder, so these two women must be disciples of the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect?

Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect…

It was the largest cultivation sect in the surrounding area back then…

That old man, Huo De…

Heh heh!

He had been away from this world for over three hundred years, right? He wondered how that old man was doing now…

The beautiful woman left quite a while ago, but that girl named Ouyang Ye doesn’t seem to want to leave. She just stands there, lifting her head, looking at the stele, her expression somewhat lost, and she murmurs softly.

“King, are you really a sinner in the path of immortality?”

“Not at all.”

“Although I still can’t play the tune you composed before you fell into darkness… Well… maybe I’ll never be able to master it with my musical skills. But I was fortunate enough to hear Sister Su play it once. From that tune, I could clearly sense that you fell into darkness against your will.”

“Even if the whole world calls you a demon, a sinner of the Immortal Path, you will always be the greatest hero in my heart.”

“Uh, King, will you really reincarnate and be reborn?”

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“Many people say that you were killed by the Immortal Dao three hundred years ago… that it’s impossible for you to reincarnate…”

“But there are also people who say that you didn’t… but rather, you ascended under a different name…”

“I think, if you really ascended, you must have experienced the great calamity of the heavens a hundred years ago. I heard that during the calamity, the gates of reincarnation were opened… many immortals and demons were reincarnated… If you really ascended back then, you must be reincarnated, right…”

“But… the news about your reincarnation has been circulating for almost a hundred years now… It’s been said almost every year, but why haven’t you reincarnated yet…”

“If you really do reincarnate, that would be great… I really, really want to see you… and thank you for your music that has accompanied me for so many years… It has taught me a lot.”

Ouyang Ye stood in front of the stele, talking to herself. Since falling in love with the music of King of the Crimson Heavens, she had come to the cemetery almost regularly to speak her thoughts.

Speaking of Gu Qingfeng’s life, he had achieved in the Immortal Dao, dominated the Demonic Dao, and even defied the Heavenly Dao. He had seen great ups and downs and had seen the world. Now, stripped of everything by the Heavenly Dao and returning to his hometown in his youth, standing in front of his own mausoleum, looking at a girl pouring out her heart to his tombstone, he felt an indescribable emotion.

Looking at the girl’s hesitant expression and thoughtful eyes, Gu Qingfeng shook his head slightly and sighed, walking over and saying, “Little girl, I advise you to play fewer tunes by the Gu Tianlang in the future.”

Ouyang Ye, who was feeling sentimental, suddenly heard this sentence. She was first stunned, then, after realizing what had been said, she stared at the disheveled man with a frosty face and angrily retorted, “Who are you? It’s none of your business!”

“Who am I?”

This question made Gu Qingfeng unsure how to answer for a moment. He looked up at his own tombstone and suddenly found it somewhat amusing, saying, “I’m just a passerby who happened to overhear you talking to yourself here. Actually, your aunt is right. The Gu Tianlang is just a sinner in the path of immortality, in the end, he is a demon. Why bother…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Ouyang Ye turned around instantly, her exquisite face covered in frost, and her eyes glared angrily at Gu Qingfeng as she coldly rebuked, “I warn you, if you dare to speak ill of the King again, don’t blame me for being impolite to you!”

Ouyang Ye could tolerate her aunt saying that the King was a sinner in the path of immortality, but she absolutely would not allow anyone else to say it.

Perhaps the sudden appearance of this beggar had disturbed her mood. Ouyang Ye did not linger here any longer and only took a glance at the tombstone before turning and leaving.

“Youth…”

Looking at the departing figure of the young girl, Gu Qingfeng pondered for a moment and then followed along. He thought that since this girl was a disciple of the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect, it wouldn’t hurt to visit that old man, Huo De.

(End of Chapter)