BAAF Chapter 99.2

Di Yunyu’s expression froze. He belatedly realized the little one was angry.

 

The entire quiet forest echoed with crisp crying. Di Yunyu, appearing calm, put down the orange in his hand, used magic to bring down all the oranges from the tree, piling them into a small mountain as tall as a person, then moved the Nascent Soul to the top of the orange pile.

 

“They’re all yours. You’re the Orange Mountain King. Happy now?”

 

This only made the Nascent Soul cry louder. It wanted to get down from the orange mountain, but as soon as it stood up, the oranges beneath its feet rolled away.

 

It also rolled down in a flash, stumbling, and was caught midway by Di Yunyu, dizzy and disoriented.

 

The Di Yunyu before it had split into several images, and it didn’t know which one it pounced toward. Grabbing the warm clothes, it couldn’t stop hiccupping with tears.

 

Di Yunyu looked down at the small figure constantly burrowing into his embrace, resisted the urge to throw it out, and awkwardly held it.

 

He had never been this intimate with anyone.

 

But if he pulled the Nascent Soul out of his embrace, the crying probably wouldn’t stop all night. Di Yunyu, reaping what he had sown, frowned while patting the small head to comfort it. As the sobbing gradually weakened, the Nascent Soul fell asleep.

 

Di Yunyu looked at his clothes, wet in a small patch, sighed, and rubbed his brow.

 

This time after falling asleep, the Nascent Soul woke up quickly, but it was Shen Liuxiang who opened its eyes—he really couldn’t stand it anymore. Estimating the time, he figured he could hold on for a while, so he took control of the Nascent Soul.

 

Di Yunyu noticed the change and raised an eyebrow: “You’re here.”

 

Shen Liuxiang nodded, picked up an orange from the ground, held it with both hands, wiped it, and took a bite. He couldn’t taste anything; it was purely for the sake of it.

 

“What will Father Emperor do next?” Whether facing the tribulation or subduing the demonic beast, preparations had to be made.

 

Di Yunyu glanced at the sky. In less than half an hour, it would be dark. “Grill fish.”

 

There was a stream ahead. With a sweep of his divine sense, he could see many fish swimming in it.

 

In his youth, while cultivating on Shenqi Mountain, he often caught fish from the river to fill his stomach. After becoming Emperor, he never did it again. Now, as he was about to leave, he wanted to grill fish once more.

 

“?” Shen Liuxiang raised his head, his lips stained with a bit of orange juice, asking in confusion: “Didn’t you say no living things would be left?”

 

“You actually believed that,”

 

Di Yunyu’s tone carried a hint of laughter: “Would you believe anything I say?”

 

Shen Liuxiang: “…”

 

In the original story, how Emperor Di’s word was law, his golden mouth and jade words… it seems it was all deception!

 

But compared to his lofty, looking-down-upon-all-beings-in-the-Three-Realms demeanor, Di Yunyu seemed much more human like this. Shen Liuxiang took steps to quickly catch up.

 

However, the Nascent Soul was only palm-sized, with short arms and legs. No matter how fast it ran, it couldn’t catch up to the figure ahead.

 

Seeing the figure disappear, Shen Liuxiang was only looking around searching when he carelessly stepped into a mud puddle, “splash,” falling right in.

 

Di Yunyu noticed the rustling running sounds behind him had disappeared. Looking back and not seeing anyone, he returned a few steps to find a small figure in a mud puddle, half-submerged, arms flailing vigorously.

 

He bent down, hooked the collar, and lifted the Nascent Soul out.

 

Shen Liuxiang was covered in black mud, his clothes dripping wet, his crown lost, his black hair spread wetly behind him.

 

Di Yunyu looked at him and suddenly said: “Your filling is showing.”

 

Shen Liuxiang’s face showed a question mark, but Di Yunyu offered no explanation. He found the small golden crown in the mud puddle, took him to the stream to wash, magically dried his hair, then placed the golden crown on his head, binding the soft black hair meticulously.

 

Afterward, Di Yunyu caught a fish in the clear stream.

 

Seeing his long legs step forward, not knowing where he planned to go, Shen Liuxiang quickly grabbed Di Yunyu’s clothes, swinging like on a swing, hanging from the gold-embroidered hem.

 

Becoming a literal pendant.

 

In a wide clearing in the forest, backed by an ancient tree, Di Yunyu stopped.

 

Shen Liuxiang released his reddened hands, accidentally falling to sit on small pebbles on the ground. Wincing with pain, he got up and rubbed himself.

 

At three, he was the Imperial Palace’s prince; at four, held in the Emperor’s palm… Growing up, growing up meant becoming self-reliant.

 

Shen Liuxiang sighed wearily.

 

Night fell, bringing tomorrow one step closer.

 

Shen Liuxiang’s heart unconsciously quickened, growing nervous. He shook his head, dispelling the drowsiness from controlling the Nascent Soul.

 

Di Yunyu unhurriedly turned the grilling fish over the fire. Noticing the small figure squatting nearby, eyelids drooping, constantly shaking his head, he raised his hand and conjured a fan. “If you don’t want to sleep, move around.”

 

Shen Liuxiang took the fan, sized appropriately for the Nascent Soul, and fanned the fire. He had thought such a small breeze would hardly make a difference. Unexpectedly, with a casual wave, the flames before him suddenly leaped up, dancing with a gorgeous swaying in midair, as a cool wind rose in the forest.

 

Shen Liuxiang was startled, instantly losing all drowsiness.

 

This fan, finger-sized for normal people, was actually an extraordinary magical artifact. Even with the Nascent Soul’s form, it could unleash such power. “Where did Father Emperor get such a treasure?”

 

The fish was almost done. Di Yunyu took it off the fire and casually said: “There’s plenty more on Shenqi Mountain. If you can find them, they’re all yours.”

 

Shen Liuxiang nodded, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on the grilled fish. Just from its appearance, he knew it must be deliciously plump.

 

He pressed his lips together, looked up at the fish, then at Di Yunyu. A pair of jade chopsticks appeared in the latter’s hand, picking up a small piece of fish meat, which he extended toward Shen Liuxiang first.

 

Shen Liuxiang was pleasantly surprised and hurriedly stood on tiptoe: “Ah~”

 

After a moment, he had opened his mouth for nothing but air.

 

Shen Liuxiang narrowed his eyes slightly to see Di Yunyu eating the fish meat, the firelight illuminating his handsome face, his expression even more surprised than Shen Liuxiang’s, his eyes half-mocking.

 

As if saying: Did you really think I was going to feed you? Really?

 

Shen Liuxiang pouted slightly. It was only because he had no chopsticks… He silently picked up two thin twigs from the ground, wiped them, and raised one hand.

 

Di Yunyu lowered the grilled fish slightly.

 

Shen Liuxiang struggled to manipulate the two twigs, using herculean effort to pick up a morsel of meat. Just as he was about to bring it to his mouth, his fingers trembled, and it fell with a plop.

 

Shen Liuxiang: “…” Might as well go to sleep.

 

He put down the twigs, planning to find a clean place to sleep. But as soon as he took a step, he was caught by slender fingers hooking his collar, lifted into the air, and in an instant, landed in a warm, comfortable place.

 

Shen Liuxiang blinked, looked up, and could just see the cold, sharp jawline, as if outlined by a hard pen, clearly etched in his vision.

 

Then, a rice-grain-sized piece of fish meat, held by jade chopsticks, was brought to his mouth.

 

Di Yunyu looked down: “You can’t taste anything. What’s there to enjoy?”

 

Shen Liuxiang opened his mouth, took in the small piece of fish meat, and after the jade chopsticks withdrew, chewed it with his white teeth, his cheeks puffing slightly. “I can feel it’s hot, the meat is tender, and there are no bones.”

 

Di Yunyu chuckled softly and fed him a bit more.

 

After they had eaten most of the fish, Di Yunyu glanced at the sky. “There’s still some time, you can rest for a while.”

 

Hearing this, the small figure sitting in his embrace showed traces of unease on his face. He scanned around Di Yunyu’s waist, his gaze falling on a jade pendant emanating golden light.

 

Di Yunyu picked up Shen Liuxiang, and with a flash, appeared on the ancient tree. The slender figure leaned against the tree, sitting askew on a branch, looking up at the night sky, with stars scattered across it.

 

The small figure in his arms kept moving around, as if trying to find a suitable position, but after searching for a long time, he couldn’t sleep comfortably anywhere.

 

Finally, when Di Yunyu had grown weary and was lying on the thick branch, Shen Liuxiang found the right spot, lying flat on Di Yunyu’s broad chest, accompanied by a warm, steady presence, he drowsily fell asleep.

 

Di Yunyu did not sleep. In fact, he was accustomed to being alone, and with a warm little thing suddenly on his chest, he couldn’t possibly sleep.

 

He patiently allowed Shen Liuxiang to sleep soundly for a while.

 

But Shen Liuxiang had terrible sleeping posture—sprawled out in all directions, occasionally rolling back and forth—completely different from the previously curled up, well-behaved small Nascent Soul.

 

Di Yunyu’s brows moved slightly as he picked him up and placed him on a small velvet blanket he had just created beside him. Then he sat up, spread his palm, and his spiritual power formed into golden threads, extending in all directions.

 

His tribulation was approaching, and the sealing power buried deep underground was gradually weakening. He could now detect Qiongqi’s condition through the barrier.

 

In a moment, Di Yunyu withdrew his hand. Dark clouds gradually obscured the stars and moon, his handsome face hidden in the dim, unclear light and shadows, with no expression visible.

 

Glancing at the little one beside him, Di Yunyu casually broke off a small branch with leaves and swept it across the tender white cheeks, driving away the buzzing, annoying mosquitoes.

 

Counting the time, after half an incense stick had burned, he tapped Shen Liuxiang’s head with the branch.

 

Shen Liuxiang opened his eyes drowsily, saw green leaves swaying before his eyes, paused for a moment, and suddenly awoke.

 

He wiped the corner of his mouth and emerged from the velvet blanket: “What does Father Emperor need?”

 

Di Yunyu withdrew the branch: “Sing a song for me.”

 

Shen Liuxiang: “Huh?”

 

He was incredulous, but Di Yunyu irrefutably brushed aside his two small hands in front of him and stuffed a small erhu into his arms. “Sing the same one as last time.”

 

Shen Liuxiang: “…”

 

Di Yunyu’s lips curled slightly: “If you sing well, like last time, there will be a reward.”

 

Shen Liuxiang recalled the two spirit stones from last time and felt utterly unimpressed. But seeing Di Yunyu’s light eyes fixed on him, waiting for him to sing, he had no choice but to clear his throat and reluctantly begin playing and singing.

 

In an instant, a voice trying hard to express desolation, yet unable to hide its soft, sweet, childish tone, began singing with the erhu accompaniment.

 

“Little Liuxiang, in the fields so yellow, at three or two years old, lost his mother.”

 

“Following Father, life is not easy.”

 

“Little Liuxiang, wants his father.”

 

…

 

Toward the end, his voice unconsciously grew weaker. Shen Liuxiang blinked, looked up at Di Yunyu, and was about to speak when a sudden change occurred within the barrier. The entire space began to shake violently.

 

Shen Liuxiang’s face paled, but he saw that in the entire deep forest, except for the ancient tree where they were, everything had been collapsed and depressed by an overbearing, fierce energy.

 

Heaven shook and earth moved, mountains and rivers shattered completely.

 

Di Yunyu remained calm, extending his slender hand to turn the small face looking around back toward him. His light eyes fell on Shen Liuxiang: “What are you afraid of? You sang quite well, and haven’t received your reward yet.”

 

Shen Liuxiang was stunned.

 

Di Yunyu opened his palm, and a phoenix feather appeared floating in midair.

 

“My cultivation has been continuously dissipating, which I’m not pleased about, so I used this phoenix feather to store it. If one were to obtain the cultivation inside, though not at my peak, it would be enough to look down upon the Three Realms.”

 

Shen Liuxiang’s eyes suddenly widened, and the words “instant ascension” involuntarily appeared in his mind.

 

Di Yunyu observed his astonished expression, a light smile appearing in his eyes as he shrunk the phoenix feather until it resembled a small golden hairpin.

 

Amidst the world turning upside down around them, he unhurriedly inserted it into Shen Liuxiang’s soft black hair.

 

“Whether you give it to Xingchen, Xinglian, or keep it for yourself, it’s up to you.”

 

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