The Demon Lords

Chapter 811 178: Heart Shift (5)

The people,

all have feelings.

No matter how cold-hearted a person is, in the end, they are still human.

Tian Wujing slowly opened his right hand, and beside him, strands of blue energy began to appear gradually.

The world knows the Prince Jingnan of Yan State as a formidable Third Rank Martial Cultivator, but few know that Tian Wujing actually possesses Daoist abilities, even though he doesn't practice Daoism.

With the Daoist mental techniques, he could forcibly gather his focus and soul, enough to pull Zheng Fan back from the brink of losing control to his inner demons.

However,

before Tian Wujing could act,

he saw a wisp of black energy emerge from Zheng Fan's body, carrying a filthy and impure aura.

Tian Wujing stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowed, and he did not move forward.

Before him, Zheng Fan also ceased retching, his body no longer convulsing as before, and even managed to stagger to his feet.

Everyone has their own fortune.

From Tian Wujing's perspective, he didn't care about the little secrets Zheng Fan might have within him; besides, as a military commander, it was impossible for him to be as strict about distinguishing right from wrong like those countryside Qi cultivators.

As long as it could be useful to Zheng Fan, he didn't mind its existence.

Of course, the premise was that it had to really be useful.

"This is... interesting."

...

"Hehe... hehe... hehe..."

The laughter of a child began to reach Zheng Fan's ears.

Zheng Fan raised his head somewhat blankly and looked ahead.

He saw Mo Wan standing there wearing a bellyband, watching him.

And beside himself,

the two versions of himself on the left and right,

were still there,

mimicking his movements.

For a moment,

Zheng Fan was confused, unsure,

who exactly Mo Wan was calling out to.

When a person loses their sense of identity, the fear and unease are overwhelming; that feeling of disconnection is markedly stronger than the desolation felt when walking down the city streets late at night, only to find there's no place in the city where they belong.

It seems, like one is an abandoned child, the world so vast, yet there is no place to truly call home.

Tian Wujing did not intervene,

Mo Wan did.

Mo Wan's specialty,

was his ability to use illusions, drawing people into them, exploiting the loopholes in their minds, and ultimately causing them to collapse in hysteria.

This was Mo Wan's source of enjoyment;

of course,

in other words,

those adept at posing questions, must first deeply understand the method of solving them.

Mo Wan was quite puzzled,

normally, as long as his "dad" wasn't shot or hacked,

he could comfortably sleep tucked away in the armor's specially designed recess.

But as he slept,

he suddenly sensed something amiss,

upon waking,

he found his "dad" had unwittingly set a trap for himself, nearly getting himself entangled eternally.

You can die,

but you must be killed by me,

what's the point in suicide?

This was Mo Wan's first thought upon awakening, and once it arose, he appeared almost without hesitation, even though behind his dad stood a terrifying presence that scared Mo Wan.

"Hehe... hehe... hehe..."

In Zheng Fan's view, Mo Wan continued to laugh.

Zheng Fan was increasingly bewildered, even beginning to retreat; he was already starting to forget his identity, afraid to admit who he really was, like a... an unrecognized existence.

"Clap clap clap!"

Mo Wan started to run towards them.

Actually, if one didn't particularly focus on Mo Wan's eyes, Mo Wan really appeared as a very cute infant.

Moreover, his eyes, upon longer observation, seemed rather easy to get accustomed to.

Mo Wan ran up to Zheng Fan,

to be precise,

he ran to stand before three people.

Mo Wan reached out his plump little hand,

like a child rushing ahead, realizing his dad hadn't followed and running back to grab his dad's hand, dragging him forward.

Zheng Fan wearing a hoodie on the left reached out his hand,

Zheng Fan wearing armor on the right also reached out his hand,

only Zheng Fan himself dared not move.

Yet Mo Wan didn't touch their hands,

he continued to wait for Zheng Fan.

Are you... waiting for me?

Zheng Fan couldn't believe it, at this moment, he felt as if he had fallen into a swamp, truly unable to believe someone would reach out to grab him.

In fact, everyone goes through their sensitive periods; outwardly strong men or women, when faced with stimuli or when emotions accumulate to a certain point, they might lie in bed alone at night, silently weeping. Usually rough nerves then seem somehow annoyingly sensitive.

Zheng Fan was in such a state now; he was still himself, but at this moment, incredibly fragile.

"Come on... come on..."

Mo Wan urged.

Finally,

Zheng Fan hesitantly stretched out his hand,

Mo Wan moved forward, grabbing Zheng Fan's hand.

He,

chose me?

Instantly,

a feeling of acceptance washed over, as if a light had reappeared in his world.

The previous fears and anxieties began to dissipate at that moment;

along with them, the two versions of himself vanished.

Unable to see the true face of Mount Lu due to being within the mountain itself;

when Zheng Fan was pulled upright by Mo Wan,

when Zheng Fan's eyes suddenly opened wide again,

when in his sight,

there was no more sensitivity,

he regained reality.

Reflecting on his previous fragility, it even seemed a little laughable.

What was wrong with me?

How could I have had such ridiculous thoughts?

Is this still me?

If the blind ones knew, I'd truly be laughed to death.

Zheng Fan stood up straight,

even instinctively tried to cover up his prior loss of composure,

with a dry chuckle,

followed by a stretch.

In an instant,

the previously restless energy inside him settled down, flowing smoothly and orderly.

The realm barrier which had long been stuck within Zheng Fan was naturally and effortlessly overcome.

There were no earth-shattering surges of energy,

nor were there howling winds across the four corners,

there was only,

a weak black light flashed from Zheng Fan, disappearing so quickly it couldn't be caught.

Even Zheng Fan himself,

didn't realize at that moment he had progressed in such a surprisingly low-key manner.

Nonetheless, the sudden onset of refreshing clarity made Zheng Fan feel incredibly relaxed.

Further upstream, the screams of the Chu people continued to echo; Zheng Fan yawned, feeling neither excitement nor abomination.

Every army prepares to kill and to be killed when going to battle, what's so odd about that?

Turning around, looking at the Wang River, now stained red with the blood of the Chu upstream, Zheng Fan couldn't help but kneel by the riverbank,

burying his face into the river water,

for a long while,

before lifting his head,

and sitting upright again.

"Whew... whew..."

Zheng Fan wiped the water droplets from his face with his hand while breathing heavily.

Twisting his head,

he noticed Tian Wujing standing not far away,

Zheng Fan couldn't help but laugh:

"Prince, this river water has quite the flavor now!"

...

After the alliance was formed, the Chu people left the city;

with an order from the Prince Jingnan, he slaughtered forty thousand surrendered Chu army troops, staining the Wang River red with blood.

The news reached Yanjing,

the court was enraged,

the Yan Emperor was furious;

immediately,

two decrees were issued,

one sent to Chu State with apologies;

the other sent to Jade Plate City, scolding Tian Wujing for his arrogance, stripping him of his princely title;

Prince Jingnan turned back into,

Lord Jingnan.