Chapter 399: We Must All Speed Forward!

The Yang family of Guanjiangkou.

Yaoji returned to her old home, touching the qin platform, the bookshelves—memories flooded her heart; during her time with the Yang family, though she occasionally had to go out to deal with the Three-Headed Cobra, the household was peaceful, happy, and undeniably real.

Back then, Yang Jiao trained his body daily at home, while Yang Jian was a constant troublemaker, chasing girls at the Niu household every day; as for Yang Chan…

A faint smile appeared on Yaoji’s face, and as her thoughts stirred, she heard Yang Chan’s voice.

“Bind the firewood tightly, the Three Stars shine in the sky—tonight, what night is this? To meet such a good person—oh my, oh my, what shall I do with such a good person…”

Gu Qing softly recited the poem; Princess Seven and Yang Chan laughed beside him. Hearing the words, Yaoji turned deathly pale and rushed toward Yang Chan’s location—the poem was clearly from a wedding night revelry.

With a loud “whoosh,” the front door burst open. Yaoji looked inside the room and saw Gu Qing holding Princess Seven on the bed, while Yang Chan, though not participating, stood nearby with a serene smile.

“Mother?”

Yang Chan stared in surprise at Yaoji.

“You little brat…”

Yaoji stepped forward, saying: “You haven’t seen your mother in years—why don’t you talk more with her?” She pulled over a chair and sat down.

Instantly, Yang Chan and Princess Seven stopped fooling around with Gu Qing; one sat before Yaoji, the other poured tea and served her, while Gu Qing was left ignored.

“Thanks to Mother bringing Brother Qing to Li Hen Tian to seek the medicine.”

As Yang Chan spoke, her gaze unconsciously drifted toward Gu Qing.

In the past, Yang Chan had been uncertain in her feelings, but Gu Qing had unhesitatingly swallowed the Soul-Cutting Pill—this had firmly settled her heart.

“Yes, thanks to Auntie.”

Princess Seven added immediately.

Yaoji had no desire to dwell on that topic; she gently touched Princess Seven’s cheek and said: “Time flies—Little Seven is already so grown. Back then, you were just a tiny thing clinging to me…”

She had raised all ten Golden Crows and the celestial maidens—she had endless experience raising children. Now, with the conversation shifting, she effortlessly steered it all back to the past.

Yang Chan sat beside Yaoji, her gaze filled with longing, remembering the peaceful days of their family.

“So you’re just leaving me out like this?”

Gu Qing pulled over a chair and sat opposite Yaoji, forcefully inserting himself into the conversation, his hands gripping Yang Chan’s and Princess Seven’s small hands on either side.

Yaoji narrowed her eyes at his hands and said coldly: “Didn’t you leave me alone by the Heavenly River too?”

Before returning to the mortal world, Gu Qing had gone into the Heavenly River to find the Weak Water. His “emotion” had made the Weak Water unable to resist, and the two had engaged in a fierce battle; after it ended, Gu Qing had gained much merit from the Weak Water.

Now, Yaoji brought it up again—this was a warning.

“I’d love for you to join in—dare you?”

Gu Qing shot back immediately.

Yaoji thought of the turbulent Heavenly River and blushed.

“Enough…”

Yang Chan quickly intervened; one was her mother, the other her husband—she naturally didn’t want them to quarrel.

“Splash… splash…”

“Splash… splash…”

Strange commotion echoed through the Yang residence.

Gu Qing, Yang Chan, Yaoji, and Princess Seven rose and stepped outside the Yang residence, where under the bright daylight, a ghost stood before the gate—drenched in blood, pounding furiously on the door.

“Who are you?”

Yang Chan frowned slightly and said: “What grievance do you bear?”

To appear in broad daylight and pound on the Yang residence’s door—this ghost carried overwhelming resentment.

“Don’t you recognize me?”

The ghost’s eyes glowed crimson as he glared at Gu Qing, Yang Chan, and Princess Seven, furious: “Didn’t you say I was destined to be an emperor? Why did I die so horribly?”

At these words, Gu Qing, Yang Chan, and Princess Seven stared intently. After a moment, Yang Chan hesitated: “Are you Bo Yikao?”

“Yes—it’s me!”

Bo Yikao raged: “You deceived me! You deceived me!”

Bo Yikao’s resentment soared—he had been chopped into minced meat by King Zhou, his death excruciatingly cruel.

“I said you had the destiny of an emperor.”

Gu Qing said: “Your brother hasn’t posthumously honored you yet.”

Posthumous honor?

Bo Yikao’s spirit froze.

“Rest easy now.”

Gu Qing patted Bo Yikao’s spirit and said: “An emperor’s place is reserved for you.”

Bo Yikao glared at Gu Qing—his resentment had multiplied tenfold.

Gu Qing pinched his fingers, ignoring Bo Yikao’s state, recited a true incantation, and layers of pure flame spontaneously appeared on Bo Yikao’s spirit, burning away all his resentment. Then Gu Qing pointed—Bo Yikao’s spirit was drawn forth, heading straight toward Jiang Ziya’s Spirit Enthronement Altar.

So what if he was the Purple Micro Emperor?

Gu Qing calmly withdrew his fingers—in every world, he was your strict father.

Turning back, Yang Chan glared at Gu Qing—clearly, his casual attitude had directly caused Bo Yikao’s death.

“His name is on the Spirit Enthronement List—he was destined to die.”

Gu Qing gave a rough explanation.

“Spirit Enthronement List…”

Yaoji, concerned for the Yang brothers, immediately activated her Heavenly Eye to check recent events. In her vision, she gasped in surprise, leapt into the air.

“What’s wrong, Auntie?”

Princess Seven asked anxiously.

“It’s about Yang Jian.”

Gu Qing could use sunlight to locate people faster than Yaoji.

“What?”

Hearing this, Yang Chan and Princess Seven immediately urged Gu Qing to lead them to Yang Jian’s location.

In Dongsheng Shen Zhou, among the Ten Isles and Three Islands.

Yang Jian held his three-pronged, two-edged blade, guarding Ao Cunxin beside him. Behind them, a golden glow flickered faintly—forcing Yang Jian to stay alert against this opponent with astonishing speed.

“Yang Jian, just leave me and go.”

Ao Cunxin pleaded.

Her body was covered in wounds.

“Shut up!”

Yang Jian barked: “I’ve never abandoned a friend!”

“Woof! Woof!”

Xiaotianquan barked twice in agreement.

The golden shadow attacked again. At that moment, the sun in the sky blazed brilliantly—golden rays wove into threads, encircling Yang Jian, Ao Cunxin, and Xiaotianquan. As the golden shadow neared, it recoiled as if terrified, veered aside, and fled toward a nearby island.

“Heaven and Earth Without Limits—Ten Thousand Li Pursuit!”

Xiaotianquan used his divine power to lock onto the golden shadow’s location.

At that moment, Gu Qing, Yaoji, Yang Chan, and Princess Seven appeared before Yang Jian.

“Mother, sister.”

Yang Jian greeted them, but turned his face away when he saw Gu Qing—he couldn’t accept his sister marrying Gu Qing.

Yang Chan saw Ao Cunxin’s severe injuries and immediately activated the Precious Lotus Lamp to heal her. “No, no!”

Ao Cunxin hurriedly stopped her.

Gu Qing also halted Yang Chan and said: “Can’t you see? She doesn’t want your healing—she’s waiting for your brother’s attention.”

This pierced Cunxin’s heart—her face flushed, her eyes darting constantly toward Yang Jian.

“Miss Cunxin, don’t think you owe me for saving you.”

At this moment, Yang Jian displayed the poise of a future man—dressed entirely in black, holding a folding fan forged from the Three-Headed Cobra, he spoke with grace to Cunxin.

Hearing this, Cunxin’s spirit dimmed.

Yang Jian ignored Cunxin entirely and turned to Gu Qing and Yaoji, explaining the attack: overall, the golden shadow had targeted Ao Cunxin; Yang Jian had intervened out of justice, and had been relentlessly pursued ever since…

“It’s the Golden-Winged Great Peng.”

Yaoji confirmed after hearing: “He has a habit of snatching and eating dragons—this attack on Cunxin likely stems from that.”

“I see.”

Yang Jian held his folding fan and said: “Mother, you take care of this dragon maiden—I’ll go find him alone!”

Previously, Yang Jian had been constrained by carrying Cunxin; now that he was free, he intended to fight this foe properly.

“Xiaotianquan!”

Yang Jian called out—Xiaotianquan had already locked the location and flew with him toward the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s landing spot.

“Sigh…”

Cunxin watched Yang Jian’s retreating back and sighed helplessly, turning to Princess San and saying: “Sister Yang Chan, could you heal me again?”

Yang Chan said nothing, raised the Precious Lotus Lamp, and shone its light upon Cunxin.

Yaoji gazed at the vast sea, where two golden lights clashed continuously, churning the ocean into roaring waves, stirring clouds and mist—now unburdened, Yang Jian dominated the battlefield before the Precious Lotus Lamp, overpowering the Golden-Winged Great Peng.

“My son’s talent is truly extraordinary.”

Yaoji nodded repeatedly, her gaze unconsciously drifting to the lying Ao Cunxin, smiling as she asked: “Miss, which Dragon King’s daughter are you?”

The Dragon King of the West Sea.

Cunxin hurriedly replied.

The Heavenly Rules forbade immortals from becoming deities, but the dragon clans of the Four Seas were exempt. Yaoji watched Cunxin’s infatuated expression and thought this girl had potential.

“Do you have feelings for him?”

Yaoji asked.

When marrying off her daughter, Yaoji had been heartbroken—but when her son took a bride, she became ecstatic.

Cunxin looked at Yaoji and nodded firmly; she truly had fallen for Yang Jian.

“That’s good!”

Yaoji felt this was the only good news she’d heard since Gu Qing’s resurrection.

“It’s just…”

Cunxin glanced at Yang Jian, who was still fighting.

“What is it, just what?”

At that moment, Gu Qing abruptly interjected: “The situation is this: you like him, but he doesn’t like you. You think his cultivation is so profound he doesn’t need you—but still, you follow him. Amid the dangers of the Divine War, he’ll slowly come to see your worth, and without realizing it, you’ll become indispensable to him. Only then will the Dragon King of the West Sea realize: the Emperor’s nephew isn’t such a prestigious match. They’ll rush to stop you—and you’ll break through every obstacle.”

Gu Qing painted a vivid future for Cunxin. Everything he described seemed entirely plausible to her, and upon hearing his promised happy ending, Cunxin couldn’t help but burst into joy.

“So what?”

Gu Qing went on: “I’ve laid out the whole process for you. Nobody likes reading details—just skip straight to the next step.”

“Next step?”

Cunxin asked, puzzled.

“Just go straight to the bridal chamber…”

As Gu Qing leaned in to explain further, Yaoji stretched out her hand and shoved him away.

“This is the daughter-in-law I’ve chosen. Don’t go flirting with her.”

Yaoji said sternly.

Your taste is pretty average.

Gu Qing thought to himself.

Seeing Gu Qing fall silent, Yaoji asked: “What you just said might well come true—but my daughter-in-law isn’t…” Yaoji had already begun calling her daughter-in-law.

“I was just joking. Why take it so seriously?”

Gu Qing smiled and said: “Relax. Your son’s cultivation is rare in the Three Realms—he’s gold wherever he’s placed. The Dragon King of the West Sea’s little test means nothing to them.”

Only then did Yaoji finally relax.

“Your vision is quite far-sighted.”

Yaoji looked at Gu Qing and said: “Why not look at me? See what my future holds.”

Since Yang Tianyou’s death, Yaoji had been listless. Now that Yang Chan had a lover and Yang Jian had found someone, she wondered—if Yang Jiao also found love, then she might…

Yaoji still looked somewhat lost.

“Your future?”

Gu Qing glanced around, then leaned close to Yaoji and whispered: “Your daughter will marry an unparalleled hero. Your two sons will become war gods of the Heavenly Court. Together, we’ll change the Heavenly Court’s rules—adding one new clause: the husband of Yaoji may marry his mother-in-law…”

Yaoji had been listening intently, but Gu Qing’s sudden twist left her dazed. His face was so close she didn’t think—she slapped him.

“Slap!”

Gu Qing caught her wrist, grinning: “Mother-in-law, shall we fast-forward?”

Yaoji had been sinking into sorrow thinking of Yang Tianyou, but Gu Qing’s teasing instantly lifted her gloom. She was both embarrassed and furious—she wanted to whip him soundly.

“Mother?”

Yang Chan turned around and saw Gu Qing holding Yaoji’s hand. She exclaimed in surprise.

Yaoji yanked her hand away, turned her face toward the churning sea, where over a dozen beams of light converged. Sun Wukong was leaping about among them, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

“Mother Jinling, Mother Wudang, Mother Guiling, Mother Yunxiao…”

Sun Wukong suddenly spotted them, pointed at Gu Qing, and shouted: “Look! That’s my dad!”

The group of immortal women froze, staring at Sun Wukong in disbelief: “You have a father?”

Sun Wukong nodded vigorously: “I was born of heaven and earth, but having a father isn’t strange!”

That’s strange!

The female immortals of the Jie Sect exchanged glances. They’d seen a little monkey with profound Daoist arts who called them “Mother,” so their maternal instincts had surged—and they’d showered him with gifts and accepted the title. But now he’d produced a father? That made their role as “mother” invalid.

All the female immortals fixed their gazes on Gu Qing by the island’s shore.

“So it’s him!”

When the ten suns blazed in the sky, Gu Qing shot them down, devoured the suns, then wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Court and sealed off the Yao Pool—the Jie Sect’s women had all heard of it.

“Strip him!”

Bixiao gritted her teeth.

“Don’t be reckless.”

Yunxiao raised her hand to stop her: “He’s not without connections.”

“I’m not going to peel his skin.”

Bixiao said: “We sisters will strip him naked and humiliate him—see if he dares let his son go around calling every woman ‘Mother’ again!”

At these words, the Jie Sect’s female immortals’ eyes lit up.

(End of Chapter)