Chapter 280 (end)

Six Months Later

"Zheng Nan, don't run so fast."

A child who was still wearing open-crotch pants* wriggled his two fleshy short legs, skipped through the flowering shrubs, and pounced on the person who was tending to the flowers.

Xie Bi An hugged Zhong Zheng Nan, and the two let out giggles at the same time.

"Master." Zhong Zheng Nan called out tenderly, "It's so hot."

"You run around like this and are sweating all over. No wonder you’re feeling hot." Xie Bi An clamped him with both arms and wiped the mud off his hands before picking him up. He turned around, went inside the house, and poured him a cup of water.

The child took the cup of water and gulped it down.

"Slow down, or else you’ll choke. Why do you do everything so rashly? You’re like......" When Xie Bi An was about to continue speaking, he couldn't help laughing. This child was the reincarnation of his master, so it’s not surprising that he’s similar to master’s temperament.

"One more cup." The child wiped his mouth and handed it to Xie Bi An.

When Xie Bi An saw his naïve appearance, he couldn't help but laugh again. Why was he so similar to the way his master craved wine back then? When his master was young, did he have the manner of drinking wine when he drank water?

At this time, the courtyard door was pushed open with a creak. Fan Wu She came in while carrying a piece of pork, two jin of white wine, and a basket of vegetables: "Big brother, I'm back."

"Have you bought everything I asked you to?"

"I’ve bought them all."

Xie Bi An took the items and checked: "Fengdu's Xiaoyaoniang is master's favorite drink. Let’s make a few dishes that master loves to eat."

Right now, they were in Fengdu's Orchid Garden.

After sealing the Heavenly Secret Talisman, they began to eliminate the ghosts inside and outside of Fengdu. In a few months, they brought back many people who had left their homes. In these few days, everyone in the city has been rebuilding their homes in full swing.

The orchid garden, which was mostly destroyed previously, was also planted with all kinds of orchids. He recalled that he had not rebuilt the orchid garden in Wuji Palace in his previous life, because at that time, he was already dispirited even though he was the emperor who could easily plant orchids all over Daming City. Now that he had personally rebuilt the orchid garden in Fengdu, not only was his wish fulfilled, but it also made him realize that his natural character, which had been frozen for a long time, was recovering bit by bit.

Today was the anniversary of Zhong Kui's death. They planned to set out on their journey with Zhong Zheng Nan after paying homage to Zhong Kui. Fengdu had returned to peace and stability, and the underworld was in charge. They wanted to travel around to subdue the demons and eliminate the evil spirits.

Fan Wu She rubbed Zhong Zheng Nan's head: "Did you listen to your master when I wasn't around?"

"I listened. Did martial uncle bring sugar figurines for me?"

"Still thinking of eating candy every day?" Fan Wu She took out a small rubber ball from his qiankun bag, "Go and play with this."

The child hugged the small rubber ball and ran out excitedly.

Xie Bi An was still thinking about making a few dishes when his waist was tightened suddenly. Fan Wu She hugged him from behind.

"Cut it out." Xie Bi An was a little nervous. He turned his head back to find Zhong Zheng Nan for fear that the child would see something. However, Fan Wu She was used to being presumptuous, and this was probably not Zhong Zheng Nan’s first time seeing it.

"He’s playing outside. Don't mind him." Fan Wu She put his steaming hot lips on Xie Bi An's neck. "I haven't seen big brother for 2 hours and missed you already. What can I do about it?"

"You’re talking nonsense again."

"I'm not talking nonsense. You see, we have to cultivate, take care of our child, eliminate evil spirits, and plant flowers every day. We really have too little time to be alone." Fan Wu She put his forehead against Xie Bi An's cheek and said with dissatisfaction.

"That’s nonsense. We’re together every day." Xie Bi An patted his hand, "Alright, alright, let go of me. That Dongpo pork* has to take a long time to stew."

Fan Wu She came close to Xie Bi An's face and acted like a spoiled child, "Kiss me, big brother."

Xie Bi An secretly smiled and gave a peck on Fan Wu She's lips.

"Tell me what you did during the 2 hours when I was away. I don't want to miss it at all."

"I moved a few flowers and fertilized them. When we leave in a few days' time, the orchid garden will be handed over to Aunt Liu to take care of, and I'm still a bit worried."

"We will come back from time to time." Fan Wu She continued to kiss Xie Bi An's face intimately, "Big brother is so fragrant. You were originally very fragrant, but every time you stay in the orchid garden for a while, you become even more fragrant.”

"You use the same things as me to fumigate your clothes and quilt with aromatics, as well as bathing supplies, so the smell on your body is also similar to mine."

"That's different. Big brother just smells extraordinarily good. I've loved it since I was a child." Fan Wu She chuckled, "You blame me for biting you. It's all because big brother smells so good that I want to eat one mouthful at a time."

"Alright, don't say such......" Xie Bi An's face was hot. He couldn't stand Fan Wu She’s obscene remarks all day long. He would be even more ridiculous if their clothes were taken off. He pinched Fan Wu She's hand, "Hurry up and let go, I'm going to cook."

Only then did Fan Wu She reluctantly released him: "I'll help you."

"Okay, wash the meat."

In the past, when Xie Bi An cooked in Wuji Palace, Xiao Jiu also liked to be around the cooking stove*. No, in fact, he liked to be around his big brother. He often said he wanted to help, but he just wanted to steal food. Now, Xiao Jiu had grown up. He would still steal food. However, he really did help out. They washed their hands together and made the broth. What was sweet and fragrant was not only the food, but also the great tenderness between lovers soaked in the smell of smoke and fire in the world*.

----

They brought along the steaming hot food and wine, carried Zhong Zheng Nan, and went to pay homage to Zhong Kui.

Zhong Kui's grave was always clean and tidy. A cultivator who had received Zhong Kui's grace volunteered to be the tomb keeper. Tens of thousands of people had gone to worship the Heaven Master’s memorial temple a few li away from morning till night. The actual place where he was buried was not known to outsiders.

Xie Bi An placed the wine and food properly, burned the incense, and brought Fan Wu She and Zhong Zheng Nan to kneel down together.

"Zheng Nan, this is your grand-master*. He’s master’s master. In the future every year, master will bring you to pay homage to grand-master. If one day master is too old to walk, you must also come on behalf of master. Do you understand?"

Zhong Zheng Nan still couldn’t read the words on the tombstone and did not even understand who was lying there. He only nodded obediently: "Disciple understands."

Xie Bi An kowtowed deeply, "Master, disciple has come to see you."

Fan Wu She also kowtowed, "One day as a teacher, a lifetime as a teacher. Master, the disciple will use the rest of my life to redeem my sins. Master can watch over me from heaven.”

Xie Bi An filled up three cups of wine, drank with Zhong Kui*, and told him everything that had happened in the past. When something sad was mentioned, he couldn’t help but shed tears. He really missed his master. Throughout his two lives, only Zhong Kui treated him sincerely and unconditionally for his own good from the beginning to end. To him, Zhong Kui was his master and father who filled in his great shortcomings in his previous life and gave him the skills and faith to persevere in this life.

Upon seeing this, Zhong Zheng Nan reached out his little hand to wipe Xie Bi An's tears and said in a soft little voice, "Master, please don't cry."

Xie Bi An was greatly touched. He embraced the child and a surge of strength grew as he said softly, "Master, I hope this disciple has not let you down."

Fan Wu She said gently, "Big brother is the best disciple in the world. Master would be proud of you."

Infinite softness and firmness were growing in Xie Bi An’s heart as he looked at the tombstone standing quietly in front of him, and the clever child nestling in his arms. He smiled and said, "Master, I will spend my life subduing demons, eliminating evil spirits, protecting the people, and guarding the stability and peace of the human and ghost realms, just like how you did." He looked at Fan Wu She, "Junior brother will also help me."

Fan Wu She took his hand, "Yes."

Xie Bi An said solemnly and certainly, "When Zheng Nan grows up, he will pass on this mission from generation to generation. In the next hundred million years, the world will still pay homage and worship Heaven Master Zhong Kui."

From now on, there would be no more Human Emperor or Supreme Demon. Those horribly dark or beautiful legendary stories would gradually fade away in time. Only two Impermanence immortals, one black and one white, would wander around Jiuzhou all year round, subdue demons, eliminate evil spirits, release fierce ghosts and wronged spirits from suffering and enlighten them so that a clear distinction between life and death would be made and everyone would respect each other without disturbing one another. It was also ensured that the good would be rewarded and the evil would be punished so that everyone would respect karma.

The story has an end, and life is long.

--End of the book...

 

SQC’s notes: Ahhhhhhhhh it’s ended it’s ended it’s ended HAHAHAHAHA

 

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PS: hahahaha finally finally hahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA fk I’m having neck problems for sitting too long in front of my laptop.

PPS: I want to thank my dear editors Emzie and Limit for your hard work and dedication in helping me out. Without you guys, I would literally drown in the vast sea. And...thank you readers for appreciating this masterpiece written by SQC, feel free to comment your reviews here or in Novelupdates, would love to hear what others' have to say about this. Honestly, I feel the ending is pretty rushed and abrupt. (I still dk what SZH was doing before he reincarnated LOL) Hopefully, SQC will make it up in the extra chapters.

PS from Emzie: Holy crap I can't believe we made it to the end. When I first joined this project, I never even thought about making it this far, it doesn't even feel real. But yes, I agree with you that the ending felt a bit rushed. I want to know what Zong Zi Heng did before his reincarnation too! Like did he go to hell like Zong Zi Xiao or was he given a duty to fulfill like Day and Night Patrol? Would Fan Wu She have seen anything if he looked at the three lives stone? Can't wait for the extra chapters to see if our questions are answered!! (also Xiao Lan and Xiao Hong papapa scene?? Maaaaybe??)

 

open-crotch pants* [开裆裤]---worn by toddlers. This term appeared in one of the chapters before (I forgot which), but I didn’t include a picture. Here’s how it’s looked like (see pic below, modernized version), so yeah technically you can see the toddler’s butt exposed when they wear it.

Dongpo pork* [东坡肉]---(see pic below). My parents’ favourite but not mine HAHA because it looks so fatty. Usually, this dish is served in Singapore’s Chinese wedding, where guests will eat it together with white buns (see 2^nd pic below)

cooking stove* [锅台]---(see pic below)

smell of smoke and fire in the world* [人间烟火气]---there’s no proper EN TL for this. The full phrase for this is 人间烟火味，最抚凡人心 which comes from 《一日禅知》. Meaning: the common things/ordinary life you see in your street/town are things that bring you the most comfort.  

grand-master* [师祖]---aka Shizu. Idk the EN for this lel so I just followed the grandfather à great-grandfather way of addressing

drank with Zhong Kui* [陪钟馗喝了起来]---ZK didn’t literally drink xD From what I watched from dramas, the living will pour the wine on the ground.

 

Edited on 11 Aug. 21 (Emzie)

 

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