Chapter 107: Learn from the Past to Understand the Future
Although Dahei’s habit of smashing things whenever he disagreed wasn’t exactly admirable, Lin Jin still had his doubts.
He looked at the Penglai Ancestor beside him and said helplessly,
“May I ask something… Ancestor, why insist on making him enter the Dengwen trial? The Dengwen Sword Pavilion is supposed to open only for the inheritance of the Pavilion Master, and only disciples of Misty Pavilion should qualify, right? He’s not even human—he’s a celestial demon.”
“You think I can’t tell he’s a celestial demon?”
The Penglai Ancestor crossed his arms. Lin Jin wasn’t sure if he imagined it, but the smile on his lips seemed a little mischievous.
“This place gets unbearably boring. Every few hundred years, a junior shows up, and I can’t even appear to chat with them—I can only pretend to be the rules of the pavilion and exchange a few lines. Now that I finally have some entertainment, why would I let it go? But to be honest…”
He leaned in conspiratorially, covering his mouth as if sharing a secret.
“I was originally going to let him off. But that little demon is way too stubborn! Did you hear him? He even cursed at me! Now I have to mess with him.”
He rolled up his sleeves in mock anger.
“So? Help me out? If you don’t want to, then I’ll just beg you.”
“…?”
Lin Jin’s feelings were complicated.
The founding master of Misty Pavilion—an immortal ancestor—was… begging him for help just to amuse himself?
Was this world a little too absurd?
After a moment of inner struggle, Lin Jin looked between the ancestor and Dahei, then broke into a matching mischievous grin.
“How do I help?”
“Simple!”
The Penglai Ancestor waved his hand, pulling Lin Jin out of Xiao Lanqi’s barrier and returning him to his own.
He pointed at the array on the ground.
“Lie down here.”
“Oh…”
Lin Jin obediently lay down on the cold stone floor.
But as soon as he stretched out, something occurred to him. He looked up at the ancestor.
“Ancestor, I should probably tell you—if you’re planning to use me to threaten him, it might not work. We’re not that close, and he doesn’t seem to like humans. He probably wouldn’t care whether I live or die.”
The ancestor raised an eyebrow.
“Not close? How is that possible? Isn’t he your—”
He stopped mid-sentence, glanced at Lin Jin, and swallowed the rest of his words.
“Ah, never mind. Whether it works or not, we’ll just try. Lie still, close your eyes, and don’t move!”
“….”
Lin Jin sighed inwardly. Since the ancestor insisted, he stopped arguing.
He closed his eyes, imagining himself as Sleeping Beauty.
Meanwhile, Xiao Lanqi was still hammering away at the barrier, determined to smash it to pieces.
Soon, another crack formed.
He sneered, about to strike again—when a voice behind him suddenly shouted:
“Stop!”
This time, it sounded real.
Xiao Lanqi turned sharply, ready to attack—but froze.
The barrier behind him had disappeared, revealing the neighboring space.
There, a thin young man in green robes lay motionless on the ground.
Lin Jin.
Xiao Lanqi had always thought his complexion looked deathly pale. Seeing him lying there now, eyes closed, something in his chest flickered uneasily.
Nearby stood a young man in plain Daoist robes—just a translucent figure, yet carrying overwhelming pressure.
“…What did you do to him?”
“Not important.”
The Penglai Ancestor dropped his playful demeanor, his gaze turning cold.
Before Xiao Lanqi could lash out, the ancestor raised his hand, revealing a small glowing orb.
“Do you know what this is?”
Xiao Lanqi narrowed his eyes.
“…Soul blood?”
“Not bad.”
The ancestor smirked.
“I’ve never seen anyone dare make trouble in my pavilion like this.”
“Who are you calling a junior?! Open your eyes—I’m a celestial demon! You humans, aren’t qualified to claim me as your descendant!”
“Celestial demon or not, once you’re here, you’re under my control.”
Xiao Lanqi’s temper flared, but he held back, staring at the fragile drop of soul blood.
“So you’re threatening me with his soul blood? If you’ve got a problem, take it up with me! Don’t drag others into it! Aren’t you humans supposed to value fairness and honor? And this is how you act?!”
“Others have their principles. I have mine.”
The ancestor smiled wickedly.
“I like threatening people with soul blood.”
He tilted his head.
“You have two choices. Either I crush this and let you go… or you behave and enter the trial.”
Xiao Lanqi scoffed.
“Ridiculous. Who do you think he is to me? Crush it if you want. Then let me out of this place.”
He turned his head away.
But the ancestor noticed—despite his indifference, Xiao Lanqi’s glowing green eyes kept sneaking glances at his hand.
Got you.
Suppressing a grin, the ancestor raised his hand dramatically, about to destroy the soul blood.
Just before it shattered—
“Wait!”
The ancestor immediately stopped.
“Oh? Didn’t you say I could crush it?”
Xiao Lanqi’s brows furrowed deeply.
“…Put it back.”
His voice was rough with irritation.
“It’s just a stupid trial. I’ll do it, okay?!”
“Good choice.”
The ancestor nodded and opened a gate of light.
Still grumbling, Xiao Lanqi watched until the soul blood was restored, then shot the ancestor one last glare.
“Just walk in?”
“Yes.”
“Hypocritical old man.”
With that, he stormed into the light.
After he disappeared, the Penglai Ancestor let out a long breath, wiping sweat from his brow.
“That kid’s temper… I haven’t been cursed out like that in centuries.”
Then he paused.
Even if he wanted to punish him… Xiao Lanqi was a celestial demon. His fate and path weren’t under the ancestor’s control.
“Alright, kid. You can get up now.”
Lin Jin hadn’t heard anything—he had nearly fallen asleep.
He sat up, somewhat helpless.
“Dahei… does have a bad temper. But he’s not a bad person.”
“I can tell.”
The ancestor shrugged.
“You said he hates humans, that threatening him wouldn’t work. But the moment I mentioned your soul blood, he rushed into the trial. Not very willingly, though—he cursed me the whole time.”
He sighed theatrically.
“I have no authority at all…”
Lin Jin realized—this ancestor really loved acting.
But… Dahei entered the trial for him?
That surprised him.
“Well, you were threatening him. Of course, he wouldn’t be happy. He’s just like that—quick to anger, curses at everyone. Don’t take it personally.”
After saying that, Lin Jin glanced around.
“Ancestor, since I can’t participate, could you let me leave? Something’s happened at Misty Pavilion. I only came here by accident—I’d like to go back.”
“Ah, no rush. You’re from Misty Rain Mountain—this doesn’t concern you. Stay a bit longer, keep me company. I’ll show you something interesting.”
“…Huh?”
“What kind of interesting thing?”
“The little demon’s past, of course!”
The ancestor grinned.
“‘Witness the past’ means exactly that. We look at what he’s been through, what obsessions he carries, what lies deepest in his heart. Only then can I judge whether he’s worthy.”
Lin Jin hesitated.
“That feels… kind of intrusive.”
“You’re not an outsider.”
He paused, then corrected himself.
“You’re his friend, aren’t you? You’ll be dealing with him a lot in the future. Better to understand him now—maybe you’ll get cursed at less.”
Before Lin Jin could refuse again, the ancestor formed a seal.
The space around them dissolved.
The world shifted.
Gray clouds pressed low over a blood-red land. Buildings of dark wood stood everywhere, adorned with intricate silver carvings.
“I love this part,” the ancestor said. “It’s like watching a play in the mortal world. Life is a play, and a play is life. But this is my first time watching a celestial demon’s story.”
He glanced at Lin Jin.
“Do you know his name?”
“…Qi?” Lin Jin guessed.
The ancestor raised an eyebrow but said nothing, instead pointing ahead.
There, a small child—no more than three or four years old—stood with a wooden knife, seriously hacking at a training post.
Big eyes. High nose. Black hair. Green eyes. Pointed ears adorned with silver ornaments.
Lin Jin blinked.
That’s… Dahei?
He was this cute?!
Just as Lin Jin stepped closer—
“Xiao Lanqi!”
A stern female voice rang out.
Turning, Lin Jin saw a stunning woman of the demon race.
Her long hair was elegantly styled, her presence regal, her robes exquisitely embroidered with shimmering threads.
Xiao Lan…?
Lin Jin raised a brow.
The little boy frowned.
“Don’t call me that!”
The woman’s sternness melted instantly into warmth.
“Alright… A-Qi.”
Satisfied, the boy dropped his knife and ran into her arms.
His small body passed right through Lin Jin.
The woman knelt and caught him.
“Oh my, someone’s gotten heavier. Whose little demon is this?”
“Not heavy!” he protested, wrapping his arms around her neck, laughing.
“Of course it’s Mother’s good A-Qi!”
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152