The little Heavenly Demon truly was born under an ominous sign. The moment she entered the world, she was nearly tossed to death by these few.
True Zipeng's furious voice rang out behind them. "Where do you think you're going?!"
The giant bird that had seemed on the verge of death suddenly flashed forward like a streak of light. The phantom woman above its head dissipated instantly.
Cheng Qian instinctively tried to raise the massive fang to block the attack, but it was too large and heavy. With one hand holding the baby, he couldn't maneuver the unwieldy weapon at all.
Only then did he regret leaving his wooden sword by the bear's corpse.
He didn't even have time to adjust his grip on the baby. He could only twist his body, shielding her as best he could.
The giant bird's claws descended, blotting out the sky. There was no way to evade. Even Li Yun had no time to draw out half a bottle of golden clam water.
Cheng Qian felt the sharp talons looming above his head. His scalp tightened.
So this is the end.
But the expected agony never came.
He looked up sharply — and saw the enormous claw halted midair.
Blocked by a wooden sword.
The sword was no more than two inches wide — the kind they used daily for practice.
"Master!" Cheng Qian blurted.
He had never found Mu Chun's seemingly careless figure so imposing.
Mu Chun glanced at him, faintly amused. His gaze swept over his still-lively disciples. Though clearly exhausted, he merely snorted in his usual tone. "You lot… ah. Go first. Return and wait for me."
With a flick of his wrist, he deflected True Zipeng's massive strike aside. The already unstable cavern shook violently again.
Cheng Qian hesitated, reluctant to leave. Li Yun shoved him lightly and whispered, "Do you think Master can't handle that old woman? Hurry. Don't get in the way."
This time, even Yan Zhengming didn't object.
The four of them — and the half-demon child — filed out of Zipeng's dwelling. They followed the long stone steps back over the mountain and climbed up from the pool. By the time they reached the top, night had fallen completely, and the moon hung high in the sky.
Cheng Qian finally removed his hand from the baby girl's mouth and nose — he had been covering them in the water to muffle her cries. He set aside the Heavenly Demon, who was nearly twitching from crying, and let out a long breath.
Their mutual torment ended at last.
None of them mentioned returning to the sect. The one obsessed with cleanliness forgot about dirt; the hungry forgot about hunger. They sat together by the mountain pool, waiting for Mu Chun.
The deeper the night, the colder the air near the water.
Cheng Qian wrapped his clothes tighter and glanced at Han Yuan, who shivered in nothing but a borrowed robe. He thought the fool deserved it.
Before he could say so, Yan Zhengming voiced it for him.
Arms folded, Yan Zhengming stared at Han Yuan sternly. He even flung his sword far away. The moment Master returned safely, he intended to kick the extravagant blade straight into the pool — it had slashed a rat and stabbed a toad.
Coldly, he said, "You dared climb the back mountain within a month of entering the sect. Planning to reduce Fuyao Mountain to rubble someday? You might as well have been roasted by that rat!"
Han Yuan's bruised face twitched. He started to flare up — then remembered his brothers had risked everything to rescue him. His righteous indignation fizzled out instantly. He bowed his head and endured the scolding.
Just as Yan Zhengming was preparing a thorough reprimand, Li Yun quietly interrupted.
"Senior Brother… Junior Brother… it was my fault. I pushed him to go into the back mountain. I didn't know it connected to Demon Valley."
Everyone froze.
Han Yuan wasn't truly foolish. He might like mischief, but he wasn't heartless. He had harbored some resentment — until Li Yun followed the others into the valley unarmed to save him.
Now, hearing Li Yun take the blame, the last trace of discomfort in his heart disappeared.
He muttered awkwardly, "No… I wanted to come too. Besides, you all saved me."
Li Yun continued, as if a floodgate had opened. "After entering the valley, I realized what kind of place it was. I was terrified. I almost turned back several times. If not for Eldest Brother and Third Brother…"
Cheng Qian felt an inexplicable fondness then. The four of them sat crookedly together, battered and disheveled, yet in rare harmony.
"Who wasn't afraid?" Cheng Qian said with a faint smile. "I was terrified too."
"I didn't see that," Yan Zhengming snorted. "Especially when you were touching that bear's corpse."
Cheng Qian blinked, confused. "I didn't touch it much. I only wanted its sharp teeth for self-defense. Second Senior Brother had nothing in hand."
Yan Zhengming realized too late what he'd implied. A thin flush rose on his face.
Li Yun lowered his head hurriedly, hiding a smile.
Han Yuan, far less restrained, burst out laughing, nearly waking the sleeping Heavenly Demon.
Only Cheng Qian remained genuinely puzzled.
Annoyed, Yan Zhengming grabbed a pebble and hurled it at Han Yuan. Han Yuan dodged and shouted, "Business! We have business! Senior Brother, spare me! There's still this female demon — are we taking her in?"
Li Yun said, "That depends on Master. Demon Valley certainly doesn't want her."
No one wants her.
The words struck Cheng Qian unexpectedly hard. He looked at the sniffling Heavenly Demon and felt a faint pang of pity.
"In all likelihood she'll stay," Yan Zhengming said. "Master loves bringing things back. But we should give her a name first. Otherwise…"
He shot Han Yuan a meaningful look.
Han Yuan's eyelids twitched at the memory of his own unfortunate name.
Yan Zhengming sneered. "If Master names her 'Han Finger' or something equally dreadful, she'll resent us her whole life."
They debated various poetic and absurd names.
Finally, Yan Zhengming declared, "Since we fished her out of the mountain pool, let her be called 'Tan.' She'll take Master's surname — Han Tan."
Han Yuan eagerly added, "Good! We can also call her 'Water Pit'!"
Yan Zhengming didn't even bother hitting him this time.
Time passed unnoticed.
Exhaustion overtook Cheng Qian. Leaning against a rock, he drifted into sleep amid his brothers' quiet chatter.
At dawn, he was gently nudged awake.
Mu Chun stood before them, travel-worn and no longer ethereal, looking deeply troubled.
They had entered the mountain as four.
They had come out as five.
His gaze swept over his apprentices: the stern eldest, the yawning second, the confused third, the guilty fourth.
He sighed. "I am three hundred years younger than True Zipeng, yet I look like her father. Do you know why?"
Without waiting for an answer, he looked directly at Han Yuan. "Because she has no disciples."
Han Yuan's chin nearly sank into his chest.
Yan Zhengming, oblivious to the deeper rebuke, asked brightly, "Master, what did you say to that old woman? She didn't scratch you, did she?"
Mu Chun rolled his eyes. "Naturally I reasoned with her. Those who cultivate must be cautious in speech and conduct, persuade others with virtue. How can you speak so rudely to your seniors?"
"She almost scratched me!" Yan Zhengming protested. "One day I'll pluck her feathers and make a duster for the mission hall!"
Mu Chun fell silent.
After venting, Yan Zhengming remembered something. "Oh, Master — we even picked up an apprentice for you."
Mu Chun looked at the chubby-armed Heavenly Demon, clasped his hands behind his back, and stared at the fading night sky.
"My disciples," he sighed with endless weariness, "please let me live a few more years."
Thus, Han Tan became their little junior sister.
In legends, little junior sisters of immortal sects were peerless beauties, delicate as flowers.
No one imagined such a fairy wearing diapers.
At first, Mu Chun arranged for several maids to take turns caring for her.
After only a day and a half, three rooms had been cried into near ruin.
When she raised her voice, even True Zipeng's residence had trembled.
Brick houses stood no chance.