Chapter Fourteen: Zisheng, the Flute Demon (Part Two)

Pain! It hurts so much! Shi Jun grimaced, feeling both exhausted and in agony.

However, landing here was safer than remaining on the open ground. Turning into this ridiculous bird without even any feet—what if someone stepped on him? That would be dangerous.

A faint, cool scent drifted into his nose, somewhat like peppermint. His dizzy, heavy head cleared up a little. Looking toward the high platform, he saw that Le Tu, Chun Niang, and the others had vanished without a trace, while the gathered demons were bustling about, excited and shouting to one another:

"Nisu’s treasure is about to be opened!"

"Hurry, go find it!"

Some went in groups of three or five, others acted alone. For a moment, the sky and the main path were filled with demonic shadows, noisy and chaotic, even more clamorous than a marketplace in the human world.

Shi Jun could bear it no longer. Seizing an opportunity, he ducked into the bushes to avoid the gaze of the Weeping Trees. He transformed back into his original human form and pulled out his treasure pouch, digging through it to see if there were any transformation talismans among the pile the Yaksha had given him. He truly did not want to appear in the form of that wretched Butterfly-Winged Water Beast; if that perverted demon forcefully conscripted him to carry it around, he would either be worked to death or die of anger.

After searching for a long time, he found only colorful talismans with strange, bizarre patterns, but none were labeled for a beginner like him. He grew immensely frustrated. He wanted to turn back into the Butterfly-Winged Water Beast, but although he knew the incantation, he had no idea which talisman to use. His head felt as big as a bushel basket. After pondering for a long time without finding a solution, his stomach began to rumble with hunger. He simply sat on the ground, pulled a bottle of mineral water and two pieces of bread from his pouch, and leaned against a tree trunk, eating and drinking heartily.

Whatever, he thought. If the soldiers come, block them; if the water comes, earth will cover it.

That lecherous Huang Sha had been completely soul-stirred the moment he saw that Zi Sheng earlier, trotting after him and forgetting his mission to the Demon Realm entirely. They had agreed to meet at some... what was the name of that mountain? How was he supposed to get there?

At this thought, Shi Jun jumped up abruptly.

"Oh, no! I can't remember the name of the meeting place that Qing Yan and the others mentioned!"

The dry, hard bread stuck in his throat, neither going up nor down. Shi Jun threw his head back and gulped down a large mouthful of water, finally catching his breath before collapsing in defeat.

***

Before he knew it, thousands of demons had disappeared without a trace, leaving only the vast, circular clearing with that trunk, as large as a multi-story building, standing lonely in the center.

Shi Jun poked his head out to look around, only to notice that the circular windows on the trunk were gone; he guessed someone must have closed them.

A perfectly good assembly had been ruined by a few sudden claps of thunder, a gust of wind, and an earthquake. He wondered what the organizers made of it. Shi Jun felt a tinge of regret—if the meeting had lasted longer, perhaps he could have learned the whereabouts of Chi Yang and the others. At the same time, he felt a bit of relief—with the meeting aborted halfway through, it seemed unlikely to resume anytime soon, which meant Le Tu’s plan to use other demon tribes to surround and annihilate Chi Yang would be temporarily shelved.

Of course, it was hard to say. These demons seemed driven by profit above all else. Even those who had initially spoken well of Fu Yao turned their backs the moment they heard his defection was linked to the Demon Witch’s treasure. It seemed they valued the treasure far more...

Hiding among the Weeping Trees, he found it hard to transform back into his previous form, but to these uninvited guests, the trees didn't pay him the slightest mind; they were all focused on weeping. The dense forest also shielded him from the strong winds, and even if it started to rain, he likely wouldn't get wet. Hiding here was safe for the time being, though he had no idea how to reunite with Huang Sha and the others.

Strangely, after weeping for a while, the trees seemed exhausted. One by one, they closed their eyes, their expressions still sorrowful, as if they were conserving energy to continue their weeping after a rest.

If he couldn't change back into the Butterfly-Winged Water Beast, would he be discovered if he went out? How was he supposed to leave this haunted place?

Perhaps it was his naturally lazy personality, but after agonizing for a moment, Shi Jun brushed the thoughts aside. Since there were no answers for now, he might as well get some sleep. If there were any problems, he would deal with them after waking up.

Hmm, his arms were truly aching. He had exhausted them flapping those wings earlier.

Shi Jun walked a few steps into the forest, found an exceptionally thick Weeping Tree, pushed aside the weeds on the ground, and lay down comfortably against the trunk.

"Demon Witch Nisu... is his treasure really that attractive?" he muttered, drifting into a deep sleep in such a perilous place.

***

"Child, have you found your father?" His mother, Qin Xiaoya, was full of anticipation and hope.

"Don't worry, I will definitely find him!" Shi Jun replied loudly.

A burst of laughter reached his ears: "How interesting. Are you searching for Nisu’s treasure even in your dreams?"

Shi Jun shook his head, opened his eyes, and jumped up.

Standing gracefully before him, with a gentle smile on his lips, was the handsome young man—wasn't that Zi Sheng, the one who had taken the Black Panther? Hadn't Huang Sha followed him out? Where had he gone?

"You... how are you here?" Shi Jun asked subconsciously.

*Drip!*

A cold sensation hit his neck as a drop of water fell. He poked his head out, but the canopy blocked the view. He could faintly hear the sound of heavy rain falling outside the forest. It had been raining for a while, but he hadn't known it while hiding in the dense woods.

Zi Sheng’s emerald eyes surveyed Shi Jun up and down: "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? May I ask, little brother, why are you blocking my doorstep?"

*Doorstep?* Shi Jun paused for a moment and looked around: "Your home?"

Zi Sheng stepped forward and tapped twice on the tree trunk Shi Jun had been leaning against. With a creak, a small door opened in the trunk, just large enough for a person to walk through.

At the entrance, Zi Sheng turned around and looked at Shi Jun: "The wind is cold and the rain is heavy; would you like to come in and sit for a while?"

"...Yes! Of course I would!" Shi Jun’s curiosity was piqued, and regardless of what might happen next, he said, "Then thank you, sir!" He hurried after Zi Sheng through the small door.

Once inside, Shi Jun realized the tree trunk was hollow. It was surprisingly bright and spacious, furnished with tables, chairs, cabinets, and a bed, all crafted from a white, glossy wood. A screen divided the room into front and back sections, and a wooden ladder in the corner led to the top level of the treehouse.

The room was spotless, elegant, and tidy. There were even paper books and paintings on the walls, several volumes neatly arranged on the desk, and a *guqin* resting on the tea table. The room was dry, warm, and filled with a faint, pleasant fragrance.

"This is truly a world of its own!" Shi Jun remarked, unable to stop himself from voicing his thoughts.

A flicker of surprise crossed Zi Sheng’s eyes, and he smiled faintly: "Please, sit." He turned, brought a tea tray from behind the screen, poured a cup, and handed it to Shi Jun.

Shi Jun thanked him, took a deep sniff of the tea's aroma, and sat down comfortably in the chair with a sigh. His gaze fell upon a book on the table, and he couldn't help but be stunned: "An English edition of *Moment in Peking*?"

This demon was truly miraculous. He actually read Lin Yutang? And in English, no less! Were demons this well-educated?

Unexpectedly, Zi Sheng’s reaction was even more surprised than his: "How did you know?"

"Uh..." Shi Jun didn't know how to answer for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, I've read it."

Seeing Zi Sheng looking at him thoughtfully, he felt a bit uneasy and quickly changed the subject: "By the way, I thought I saw a Butterfly-Winged Water Beast following you earlier. Why don't I see it now?"

Hearing this, the usually composed and elegant Zi Sheng suddenly wore an expression of extreme distress and shook his head: "Don't mention it, it was simply disgusting. To think..." He paused for a moment and countered, "Why are you asking about that perverted little water beast instead of the Black Panther or Xun Ji?"

*Perverted little water beast?* Shi Jun could easily imagine how Huang Sha must have been following Zi Sheng with a lecherous, thick-skinned look, perhaps even calling him "Ah Zi" or "Ah Sheng." He couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"...I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Shi Jun felt he was being rude, but he couldn't help himself, laughing until he was clutching his stomach and gasping for air.

Zi Sheng shook his head and smiled helplessly: "It's alright. Is that little water beast a friend of yours?" He paced the room with his hands behind his back for a few steps, then turned and asked, "You are a mortal, aren't you?"

***

He had been exposed! Shi Jun was startled. He stopped laughing, straightened his back, and looked at Zi Sheng with dark, probing eyes: "How did you know?"

"Interesting. You admitted it the moment I probed," Zi Sheng arched an eyebrow, looking at Shi Jun with interest as he sat down in a chair. "There are quite a few in the Demon Realm who can take on human form; you could have denied it."

Shi Jun couldn't guess the young man's intentions, but since he had been found out, there was no point in hiding. He replied nonchalantly: "I am a human. Is that very strange?"

"Of course. Since ancient times, no mortal has ever been able to enter the Demon Realm. You are the first."

"The first human spy?" Shi Jun asked with a grin.

Zi Sheng chuckled: "That's a fresh term. But don't worry, the Demon Realm has never held malice toward the Human Realm. Why would we treat you as a spy? After all, most of us demons originated from the Human Realm, and many have received care and kindness from mortals. To us, the Human Realm feels as dear as a hometown."

"Is that so?" Shi Jun was very interested: "How so?"

Seeing Shi Jun’s youthful, impatient curiosity, Zi Sheng smiled generously and began to recount: "I am a perfect example. When I was young, I was merely a bamboo stalk in the Human Realm, growing in a place of scenic beauty and abundant spiritual energy. Every day, I absorbed the essence of the sun and moon and the aura of heaven and earth, gradually developing my own consciousness. The one who took care of me was a poor but well-read scholar named Zhang Jicai. Although his home was bare and he lived a lonely, destitute life, he loved bamboo to the point of obsession. He cared for me deeply, tending to me daily, and even when he had troubles, he would confide in me, treating me as a confidant..."

Zi Sheng fell into his memories, and Shi Jun listened quietly.

"Being with Brother Zhang and listening to him recite poetry and prose every day, I gradually understood a great deal. I only regretted that I had consciousness but could not speak; otherwise, being able to compose poetry and music with such a virtuous friend would have been a wonderful thing!"

Shi Jun thought to himself: *If you had spoken back then, you probably would have scared that Brother Zhang to death. I don't know if that would have been a wonderful thing.*

"It is a pity that it didn't last long. Brother Zhang fell ill and never recovered. After losing my dear friend, a poor couple who made flutes for a living moved into his hut. They cut me down and made me into a flute to sell at the market."

"After I was made into a bamboo flute, I thought my life was over. Who would have known that my bit of spiritual consciousness would remain intact? While retaining my memories, I was surprised to find that I could absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth on my own without outside help. After drifting for many years, I met the second great friend of my life. His name was Liu Yong. He was a man of great literary talent, deeply knowledgeable in music, and a lover of flutes. He saw me at a street vendor's stall and immediately treated me like a treasure, taking me home."

"Liu Yong? Are you talking about the Northern Song dynasty poet Liu Yong?" Shi Jun exclaimed in complete shock.

"Wherever there is well water, there are people singing Liu's lyrics." Zi Sheng sighed, his expression lonely: "Indeed, it is that very Liu Sanbian who wrote lyrics by imperial decree!"