Chapter 87: Encirclement in the Bamboo Grove

"Help! Divine One, save me!" A young immortal in plain clothes thrashed about in the pool, crying for help, on the verge of sinking beneath the water. Suddenly, a graceful female immortal in white descended, casting a pale goose-yellow ribbon to pull the drowning immortal from the water.

The female immortal was petite and exquisitely lovely, her bright eyes shining like the full moon, her delicate lips pink and lively.

She was none other than Keke, who had shed her beastly nature and cultivated a human form.

The drenched young immortal knelt on the ground, bowing repeatedly. "I was playing by the pool and fell in by accident. Thank you, Divine One, for rescuing me. Thank you!"

"If you cannot swim, then do not play near water next time," Keke said, preparing to fly away.

Seeing this, the young immortal suddenly leapt up, tossing an Immortal-Binding Rope that ensnared Keke.

Keke cast a spell and broke free. Summoning two short swords into her hands, she demanded, "Who are you? Why do you plot against me?"

The young immortal whistled, and a host of celestial soldiers and the right lieutenant appeared, surrounding Keke. It turned out the drowning immortal was actually the left lieutenant in disguise.

"Come with us to the Celestial Palace. If you know what's good for you, surrender at once!" the left lieutenant shouted, drawing his sword.

"Who'd want to go to that cursed place?" Keke replied angrily.

"Refuse a toast, and you'll drink a forfeit! Attack!" The celestial soldiers formed a sword array, unleashing countless flying swords toward Keke.

Keke mounted her sword and fought amidst the celestial soldiers, who spared no effort, using every divine art and spell to hem her in.

Suddenly, several pellets flew in from the side, striking the left and right lieutenants on the back of the head. Both cried out, clutching their heads, and the formation fell into chaos.

Little Bai, carrying several pears, emerged from the bamboo grove, his tiny form shielding Keke.

"Little one, you're here? Where's your father?" Keke immediately abandoned the celestial soldiers, turning to chat with Little Bai.

"Father took a detour when he climbed the mountain, afraid Auntie Shanhe would spot him. I came to find you first, Mother," Little Bai replied.

"Shanhe doesn't chase him anymore, so what is he afraid of? Unless he's using it as an excuse to tease her again. Come, let Auntie take you to your mother. May I have one of your pears?" The two chatted and walked away, completely ignoring the celestial soldiers.

"Stop! Such arrogance from a wild immortal! And who is this child?" the right lieutenant shouted in anger and humiliation.

Little Bai's face darkened; he turned and replied imperiously, "You think these petty tricks can fool anyone? Pathetic. I can't be bothered with you. If you know what's good for you, go back where you came from. Don't make my father angry."

The right lieutenant was left speechless by this child's babyish yet forceful words. Furious, he ordered, "Seize this little monster and take him back for questioning!"

The celestial soldiers formed the Flying Immortal Sword Array again, unleashing a barrage of arrows at Little Bai.

Little Bai snorted, flicked a pellet, and struck the left lieutenant's wrist. The sword array shattered instantly.

The celestial soldiers were aghast.

"How can one so young break the Flying Immortal Sword Array?" the right lieutenant exclaimed in disbelief.

Little Bai covered his mouth, grinning mischievously.

The left lieutenant, gnashing his teeth, conjured the True Samadhi Fire. The soldiers followed suit, shaping the flames into a dragon that lunged straight at Little Bai.

The fire dragon closed in, but then a gentle breeze swept through the swaying bamboo, and the dragon abruptly turned, barreling toward the celestial soldiers instead. The flames grew fiercer.

The soldiers scrambled to defend themselves, but the fire dragon exploded, splitting into countless crimson spirit arrows that shot into the officers' and soldiers' hair buns. Caught off guard, they ran about in panic, heads ablaze, rolling on the ground, howling in distress—a pitiful sight.

An elderly woman with white hair stood among the bamboo paths.

"Grandmother! I've missed you so much!" Little Bai rushed toward me.

"Bullying women and children, you deserve to have your faces scorched," I said, lifting Little Bai into my arms. With Keke, we abandoned the hapless celestial soldiers and soared away.

I sent Keke to find Chunfeng and Shanhe, then walked slowly along the forest path with Little Bai in my arms, scolding him softly, "Mother told you not to study formations, yet you disobeyed." I could not allow him to become Mingzhong's ally, so I opposed his learning of immortal arts and military strategy. Yet he was obsessed, and no amount of discipline could change him.

"I want to become strong to protect you, Mother. Then you won't always have to disguise yourself as an old woman," Little Bai replied seriously.

"I don't need your protection. I like being an old woman," I answered coldly.

"Then I'll protect all living beings," Little Bai said.

"They don't need your protection either," I retorted.

"When I master everything, I can protect all beings like Father God does. Then Father God can come back and stay with you," Little Bai said solemnly.

Though five hundred years had passed, those words still sent a tremor through my heart. I had never told Little Bai the truth of his birth—only that his 'father' gave him life but was always busy, while his 'dad' was the one who raised him, Chunfeng the Divine One. Thus, he always believed his birth father was a high god like Chunfeng, devoted to all beings and deeply in love with his mother, always calling that shameless man "Father God."

"Mother, have a pear to soothe your throat, and talk with me a while longer," Little Bai said, pushing a pear into my hand.

A wave of sorrow swept through me as I gently stroked his head.

With such a father, and a mother as cold as I, five hundred years of neglect had left him shouldering burdens no child should bear, making one so small say such things.

"I've missed you so much. I love you!" Little Bai gazed into my eyes, declaring earnestly. He came to see me on Jade Bamboo Mountain every seven days, each time saying sincerely that he missed me. This time he had learned to say he loved me.

I smiled, "You've learned such sweet words from your father."

Little Bai had spent most of his childhood with Chunfeng. Chunfeng wanted to set an example for him, lest he grow up to be as dissolute and cruel as his real father. And I scarcely dared face Little Bai. I could not help seeing glimpses of Mingzhong in his adorable face… Every smile, every gesture reminded me of him—on the Cliff of Immortal Pursuit, in the Jade Purity Realm, among the multitude of beings… It pierced my heart.

Little Bai explained earnestly, "I didn't learn from Father. I'm saying it for Father God. I dreamed of him last night. He said he missed you, loved you, and wanted you to take care until he returns soon."

Hearing this, I could not tell if my heart felt bitter or sweet.

Now the Netherworld was stirring again—his 'Father God' would soon return. Though I had prepared for everything these five hundred years, and Chunfeng had arranged countermeasures with the Emperor of the Nine Provinces and his disciples, I still didn't know how to face that man, how to avenge my wrongs. I did not want Little Bai's dreams to be shattered, nor for him to become another Mingzhong.

Lost in thought, I was suddenly startled as someone snatched Little Bai from my arms!

"You brat! Raising you was a waste! Your father thinks of your mother day and night, yet you never say a kind word for him!" Chunfeng scolded, giving Little Bai a playful slap.

"Father can speak for himself! I believe in your abilities," Little Bai laughed.

"You! You'll be the death of me! You're truly the spawn of that little crow… Xiaobai was just like you, utterly infuriating!" Chunfeng wagged his finger at Little Bai, just as he had scolded me when he first came to be my disciple.

I couldn't help but laugh. This foster father and son, so different in temperament, bickered daily—it was truly amusing.

As the two joked, a familiar voice called from behind, "Divine Ones, please wait."

"Annoying! Go back where you came from! Don’t think I don’t know you brought a rabble to make trouble!" Chunfeng turned, holding Little Bai, and snapped at the newcomer.

"Forgive me, Divine Chunfeng, for disturbing you," the young immortal replied.

"Go home. When did you become so muddleheaded?" Chunfeng grumbled.

"And may I ask, how should I address this lady?"

I turned and smiled faintly. "Second Prince, I am Little Bai's foster grandmother."

"Greetings, Grandmother," Tian Sheng said, not recognizing me.

I led Tian Sheng to the bamboo cottage in the woods, sending Little Bai to play with Shanhe and Keke. Chunfeng, Tian Sheng, and I sat down for tea.

"Tian Sheng, how is Zizhen?" I asked.

"Indeed, you've been dispatched by the Heavenly Emperor to guard the borders all these years, always on the move. How has my goddaughter fared with you? Have you treated her well?" Chunfeng chimed in.

"Thank you both for your concern. Zizhen is well—and now expecting a child," Tian Sheng replied, his face glowing with happiness.

"So you brought a whole troop of celestial soldiers for a family visit? Quite an entrance," Chunfeng teased, waving his folding fan.

Tian Sheng sighed, then recounted in detail how the Star Lord of the Northern Dipper had observed the omens, the Heavenly Emperor had cited the goddess Nüwa’s prophecy, and, persuaded by Crown Prince Tiande and Lord Puhua, had sent him to slay the 'Crimson Flame Demon Star.'

Upon hearing this, Chunfeng's brows shot up; he slammed the table. "A bunch of senile fools and a thoroughly shameless villain! My… Little Bai's grandmother lives here in peace—how could she be the Crimson Flame Demon Star? Refining the world? They should refine their own rotten brains first! That prince has had enough!"

"Let it go. You know what those people are like," I said, trying to calm him.

Hearing Chunfeng, Tian Sheng looked at me in surprise. "Are you the True God Dayin, Grandmother?"

I smiled faintly. "I dare not claim that title. I have no divine name; it's just what people call me." Realizing there was no point in hiding, I admitted the truth.

"How could Little Bai's foster grandmother be the Crimson Flame Demon Star? I've long heard of the True God Dayin's service to the heavens. Forgive me for my disrespect," Tian Sheng said, bowing deeply.

I gave a cold smile. "Crimson Flame Demon Star? Tiande flatters me."

If I truly were the Crimson Flame Demon Star, would I care for the peace of the heavens? I would have stormed the Celestial Palace and refined the world long ago.

I had once thought Tiande, as crown prince, would be merciful to his own brother, Tian Sheng, but I had overestimated his sense of kinship. Sending his own brother to slay the 'Crimson Flame Demon Star'—if both sides were wounded, Tiande would eliminate rivals and reap the rewards.

Now, knowing what Tiande had done to Tian Sheng, I could not endure any longer.

"Since the Second Prince trusts me, I must share certain secrets with you," I said to Tian Sheng.