NIP #462 - The truth about Jiekong's life experience (2 in 1, please order)
#462 - The truth about Jiekong's life experience (2 in 1, please order)
In the depths of the Azure Hill Country Lord's mansion, a secluded and elegant courtyard featured a winding emerald pond, its surface rippling with layers of crimson waves. Padded cushions were scattered artfully around the rockery-lined corridors, where Zhong Wu Ye, Ming Jue, and others sat respectfully. Across the pond sat a woman with delicate eyebrows and unparalleled grace.
She was none other than Dongfang Hongyu, the queen of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan, exuding captivating charm and ethereal beauty with every gesture. She smiled gently at Jie Kong before her, her expression like that of a kind and affectionate elder sister.
"Jie Kong, there has always been a connection between us, but you have been unaware of it," Dongfang Hongyu said softly, her red lips barely moving.
Jie Kong looked puzzled, fidgeting with the hem of his robe, and remained silent.
"Your mother, Dongfang Wan'er, was my own sister," Hongyu said gently. "From a young age, she possessed rare spiritual roots and extraordinary talent. After adulthood, her cultivation advanced rapidly, and she soon qualified to venture into the mortal realm for training."
As she spoke, she stretched her slender arms slightly, a hint of nostalgia and reluctance flashing in her clear eyes.
"But she fell in love with a noble young man there and even bore you, a child," she paused, a fleeting shadow of sadness crossing her face. "It violated the rules of our Nine-Tailed Fox Clan, angering the Heavenly Fox Sacred Lord."
"Later, she was punished and banished to the mortal world, reduced to an ordinary human," Hongyu said, sighing softly. "Sadly, she sincerely loved that young man, but she could only live in the mortal realm, enduring a life of humiliation as a concubine."
She looked at Jie Kong, who appeared pained, and shook her head slowly.
"Jie Kong, your mother, as Consort Chen in the Great Yuan Imperial City, was isolated and helpless, enduring scorn and bullying. Yet, she wholeheartedly gave birth to you, showing her deep expectations for you."
Jie Kong was stunned, seemingly unable to accept this shocking revelation.
"Twenty years ago, on the night when Emperor Yongping was born at the same hour as you, a shocking conspiracy unfolded!" Dongfang Hongyu's expression turned solemn. "At that time, Empress Galuona, a cunning demon, gathered a group of trusted eunuchs to poison your mother, Dongfang Wan'er, to ensure her son, Emperor Yongping, could ascend the throne!"
Upon hearing this, Zhong Wu Ye and the others gasped. Jie Kong's fists were clenched tightly, his eyes glaring at Hongyu. Hongyu simply smiled and continued.
"What's more, they falsely accused you, an infant, of being a 'nation-destroying demon' and ordered the palace guards to take you out of the imperial city and abandon you in the wilderness!" Her face grew even more grim. "If not for the abbot of Ciji Temple saving you, your whereabouts would be unknown."
"I saw with my own eyes that the emperor, when seriously ill and at someone's behest, wanted to make you the heir. Who would have thought that those people in the Great Yuan Palace were a bunch of vipers who would devour their own children!"
Dongfang Hongyu finally slammed her fist into the pond, sending water splashing, a few crimson droplets landing on her heroic face.
"Alas, what sins did poor Wan'er commit to deserve such a fate?" After a long while, she finally calmed down a bit and sighed softly, "Jie Kong, do you hear me? This is your true origin!"
Jie Kong was clearly immersed in extreme pain, his whole body trembling violently, tears streaming down his face.
"Alright, Jie Kong, don't be too sad," Dongfang Hongyu comforted gently. "I came to pick you up personally because I want you to no longer wander aimlessly and to receive everything that belongs to you."
She smiled faintly, stood up, and waved her robe gracefully.
"Our Heavenly Clan's thirty-six grottoes and Heavenly Treasure Pavilions are all waiting for you, our relative, to inherit them. We are family, and I recognize you, my nephew, as a son-in-law."
"From now on, you are the rightful heir to the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan."
With that, Dongfang Hongyu stepped forward, cupped Jie Kong's face in her hands, and whispered something in his ear. Jie Kong simply nodded blankly, the grief and anger on his face gradually subsiding.
"Let's go, we'll return to the grotto-heaven now," Hongyu smiled and waved her hand. Immediately, a group of servants behind her brought out a huge bronze mirror, emitting a strange golden light.
At this moment, Zhong Wu Ye hesitated for a moment, then suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Jie Kong's other hand.
"Jie Kong, do you really want to go back?!"
She looked at Jie Kong with a serious expression.
"I want to see the place where I was born," Jie Kong said quietly.
...
The memorial ceremony took place at dawn, as the sky was just beginning to lighten.
In the quiet and vast cemetery, a slender, snow-white cenotaph stood surrounded by lush green trees, resembling a blooming white lotus bud, radiant and captivating.
Jie Kong walked slowly to the tomb alone, standing with his hands at his sides. His deep eyes were almost entirely shrouded in deep sorrow at this moment.
He gently picked up the white silk shirt in his hand, gazing at the exquisite flower patterns embroidered on it, and the gentle and graceful face of his mother, Dongfang Wan'er, appeared in his mind. It was probably the dress she often wore when she was Consort Chen in the palace.
"Mother," he murmured, his voice low and hoarse, seemingly filled with countless helplessness and sorrow, "Did you endure humiliation and suffering in that mortal life?"
Jie Kong slowly squatted down, reverently placing the silk shirt gently in front of the tomb. Perhaps the last trace of his mother's fragrance still lingered on it.
"You gave birth to me and raised me, it was really not easy for you," his eyes were already wet. "You willingly threw yourself into the mortal world, fell in love with that young master who was not your destined marriage partner, and condescended to be a concubine in the human world for my sake. It seems that from that time on, you were destined to taste all the threads of this world."
He lowered his head and remained silent for a moment, then sadly wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, looking at the distant green mountains.
"But even so, you still insisted on giving birth to me," Jie Kong's voice was already hoarse. "From the beginning, you knew that I was destined to endure immense hardships, right? After all, my half-human, half-demon identity was the greatest taboo in that imperial city."
"I sincerely thank you for your courage and tenacity, otherwise I would never have appeared in this world."
Jie Kong was already sobbing uncontrollably at this point. He took a few deep breaths, forcibly calming his emotions, before slowly continuing.
"But mother, isn't it those scheming people who caused you all this suffering?" He clenched his fists tightly, his expression filled with unwillingness and anger, "They disregarded everything and harmed you in order to fight for power and profit, and even almost killed me, an innocent infant. Ah, these vile crimes, I will definitely avenge you!"
A gentle breeze blew, stirring up the crimson dwarf cherry blossoms in front of the tomb. Jie Kong silently watched the petals swirling and swaying in the air, as if he were in a dreamlike otherworld.
After a long while, he finally slowly calmed his emotions, respectfully holding a handful of green grass from in front of the tomb with both hands, piously pressing it to his brow.
"Mother, I have come here this time to personally comfort your spirit in heaven. Rest assured, with your son here, I will definitely avenge your greatest regret!" Jie Kong took a deep breath and vowed firmly in front of the tomb.
After saying that, he picked up the white silk shirt in front of him and respectfully folded it back in front of the tomb. Finally, he took out a blooming white lotus from his arms and solemnly placed it next to the tomb.
In this way, in the fragrant mist of the early morning, Jie Kong silently mourned his biological mother. And at this decisive moment, he finally made an important vow to his mother as her son.
...
It was not long after the memorial service for his mother, at noon when the sun was high, but the shadows of the trees in front of the altar still provided a peaceful shade.
Jie Kong sat under the tree, watching the open space in front of him, where Zhong Wu Ye was practicing martial arts. Her bright yellow monk's robe shone in the sunlight, like a brilliant rising sun, making it difficult to look away.
Zhong Wu Ye's heroic figure loomed in the scorching light, her movements were elegant and concise, and every move and style exuded supreme demeanor and majesty, like a soaring eagle, exuding domineering power.
Jie Kong watched quietly, a faint smile gradually appearing on his face. After a while, he finally opened his mouth and said: "Wu Ye, come and sit for a while."
Zhong Wu Ye responded and came over, her toes tapping on the ground, and suddenly her figure flickered, and she appeared in the shade of the tree next to Jie Kong. Her blue silk was scattered on her shoulders by the wind, making her look particularly beautiful and moving. In those dark eyes, there was a wise look in the midst of calmness.
"Jie Kong, why did you suddenly call me over?" She asked, unconsciously playing with the hat that hid the dragon horns on her head.
"Miss Wu Ye, we have known each other for many years, and we both have different species, and we were once panicked about it," Jie Kong looked sad and slowly recalled the past, "But now that I think about it, we still value this matter too much."
Zhong Wu Ye looked at Jie Kong curiously, with a few doubts.
"Yes, I was once extremely confused about my own life experience, and I didn't know where the root was," Jie Kong smiled self-deprecatingly, "It is difficult for me to accept this half-demon and half-human image, so how can I expect others to understand it?"
Zhong Wu Ye nodded silently in agreement. She knew that Jie Kong's words were true, and they had both felt extremely troubled and helpless about their special identities.
"But now I finally figured it out," Jie Kong took a deep breath, his eyes firm and energetic, "Since we are born different and have extraordinary blood, why should we complain about ourselves? Instead, we should be proud of ourselves for having this unique identity!"
He stood up, his whole person tall and straight, like a majestic green pine pointing straight to the sky.
"Miss Wu Ye, look at my current appearance, although it is a human face and a dragon demon shape, I have never wanted to hide it."
As Jie Kong spoke, he stretched out his hand and gently stroked his cheek, "I am proud to be a different kind, because this is the source of pride and strength that God has given me!"
Zhong Wu Ye was deeply moved when she heard these words. In Jie Kong's eyes, she saw unprecedented confidence and calmness.
"You are so right," After a long time, Zhong Wu Ye finally said in a deep voice, "We who have the blood of different species should be proud of it, instead of denying ourselves."
She slowly took off the hat on her head, revealing the pair of dragon horns hidden in the shadows. The sunlight cast a warm light on it, dazzling and forming a sharp contrast with her beautiful face.
Zhong Wu Ye was also full of enthusiasm, she waved her slender hand and responded loudly: "That's right, we are the most unique creation in this world! We should stride forward and show our different kinds of demeanor!"
The two laughed for a long time in the shadows of the trees, as if they had finally unloaded the last burden in their hearts.
...
After that, Zhong Wu Ye checked the remains of the Dragon's Eight Sons that she had collected in the room,
The night was deep and everything was silent. A ray of cold moonlight fell from the window, outlining a pool of peaceful silver on the brick floor of the room.
Zhong Wu Ye sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and lowered her hands into meditation. Her body was instantly wrapped in a faint golden light, like a bright moon, gentle and majestic.
After a while, Zhong Wu Ye slowly opened her eyes, her eyes firm and focused. She took out an antique jade box from her sleeve and held it respectfully in front of her.
This is where the remains of the Dragon's Eight Sons that she has collected over the years are located. Each dragon bone exudes a deep and mysterious aura, like a seat of embers waiting to be rekindled.
Zhong Wu Ye divided her hands, and the jade box opened automatically. Eight bones of different shapes lay quietly inside, emitting a faint fluorescent blue light under the moonlight, which made people couldn't help but feel solemn and respectful.
The first piece was a thick and powerful dragon tail bone, covered with tough dragon whiskers, and the texture was extremely hard. The second piece was a curled dragon claw, and the sharp nails at the end of the claw were irresistible. The third piece was a section of dragon waist bone, twisted powerfully, and the joints were protruding.
...
Zhong Wu Ye took out the eight remains one by one and respectfully placed them in front of her. Although there was only a space one person high, her movements were extremely calm and elegant, as if this was the supreme dragon residence.
Each time a dragon bone was taken out, the moonlight would flow over it for a while, and the fluorescent blue light would become more and more dazzling. Soon, the entire room was shrouded in the mysterious aura of these eight dragon bones, giving people a sense of being in a different fairyland.
"The Dragon's Eight Sons, although they have fallen, your essence and blood still remain in the world," Zhong Wu Ye put her hands together and recited respectfully: "Today I will reunite your remains into one, let the essence and blood be revived, and guide me to find the remains of the last dragon son!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the eight bones suddenly trembled, emitting a dazzling fluorescent blue light! The light became brighter and brighter, and finally converged into a ray of dazzling dragon-shaped light pattern, circling and dancing in the air, like a real dragon swimming in the void!
Zhong Wu Ye widened her eyes and stared intently at this magical dragon-shaped light pattern. She saw it rotate a few times in the air, then suddenly paused, and suddenly shot out a light, pointing directly to the northeast of the room!
"So it's there!" Zhong Wu Ye smiled slightly, and drew a secret handprint on her chest with her right hand. Suddenly, the guiding light became even more dazzling, making the entire room almost lose its shadows!
Looking closely, the beam of light was straight and powerful, yet at its end, it gradually transformed into elegant and ethereal dragon-shaped light spots. The light spots swirled and danced in the air, sometimes coalescing, sometimes scattering, as if performing a mysterious dragon dance.
"I understand, it's within the Great Abyss Dynasty!" Zhong Wu Ye murmured to herself, her eyes filled with determination. She slightly spread the fingers of her right hand, and immediately those light spots began to spin and converge, finally transforming into a three-dimensional topographical map!
It was a panoramic view of the Great Abyss Dynasty!
Zhong Wu Ye focused intently, and saw that above Tai Lake, beside the Clear River, in a place where the terrain rose and the wind and clouds surged, a bright dragon shadow was flickering and dancing!
"Found it! It's in that dragon-occupied land!" Zhong Wu Ye was overjoyed, her eyes shining with determination. She immediately clasped her hands together and concentrated, engraving this miraculous geography entirely in her heart.
Then, with another wave of her hand, the light spot dragons gradually dimmed, and finally all disappeared into the darkness of the room. The eight dragon bones also became still again, lying obediently on the ground, returning to their original appearance.
Zhong Wu Ye breathed a long sigh of relief, carefully picked up the eight bone fragments one by one with both hands, and placed them back into the jade box. She reverently bowed with both hands in front of her chest, then closed her eyes, circulated her inner strength, and allowed that faint golden light to surround her entire body once more.
The next goal is clear: find the last remaining bone!