Chapter 158: In a World of Suffering, May We Find Eternal Joy!

Chapter 158: In a World of Suffering, May We Find Eternal Joy!

Within the Martial Realm of the Immortal Empire was the nation of Fan. As dusk cloaked the capital city, traders and soldiers who had busied themselves all day began to pack up, eager to return home.

At home, loving wives had readied delicious meals, and children awaited their fathers' return, hoping for small gifts. Thousands of lights illuminated the city, casting a peaceful glow that painted a tranquil picture of contentment.

Life here was simple—work, family, respect for the elders, and raising children. While humble, there was a quiet beauty in this life of companionship, children and grandchildren around one's knees. It was a life filled with little joys.

But even such serene lives could burst like delicate bubbles.

Inside a modest teahouse, a girl in plain clothes leaned on the windowsill, watching the bustling crowd below. With a pout, she lamented, "Grandpa, I miss Stray Dog!"

The teahouse owner, a robust old man with snow-white hair but a face flush with vitality, chuckled. "Miss him? The lad's only been gone a few days!" He popped a few goji berries into his tea.

"I don't care. I want to go to the Heavenly Realm too," the girl protested.

"Nonsense! It's chaos up there. Easy to get in, not so easy to get out. Our Martial Realm is far more peaceful," the old man advised with heartfelt sincerity.

"Peaceful?" The girl rolled her bright eyes, scheming about sneaking into the Heavenly Realm. Resting her chin on her hands, she gazed up at the sky.

"Huh?" She noticed that, at some point, a fan-shaped shadow had appeared overhead, obscuring a third of the sky. The shadow seemed to pulse, as if something within it was growing.

"What's that?" The citizens of the capital, winding down from their day, looked up, equally puzzled by the quivering shadow. Strangely, after merely a few glances at it, a profound sadness welled up within them. It felt as if some great tragedy had befallen them, a pain so intense it made eyes tear up involuntarily.

The city was awash in a sea of anguish, even though nothing had ostensibly transpired. Inside the teahouse, the burly old man, who was just steeping his tea, suddenly paused. A look of horror crossed his face.

"Peacock!" He roared low, ready to spring into action. But from the fan-shaped shadow overhead, a streak of black light abruptly shot down.

WHOOSH! With a piercing sound, the black ray tore through the air.

THUD! The beam, quick as a flash, darted into the teahouse, striking the old man square in the chest. It pierced his heart and pinned him to the floor. DING DING DING! Several more black beams followed, nailing the old man's head, torso, spine, hands, and legs. As they shimmered, their true form became apparent: they were black feathers!

"Monster..." With eyes wide in shock and filled with rage and sorrow, the old man stared at the shadow in the sky. With every ounce of his strength, he struggled, black blood pouring from his wounds.

HUM! Suddenly, the black feathers ignited, and in a blink, the old man was engulfed. Flames roared, and in moments, the entire teahouse was ablaze, a fire that threatened to consume the sky.

"Run..." With immense effort, the old man cried out one last time to the girl in plain clothes. Blood-tinged tears of defiance welled in his eyes. Then, he fell silent forever.

"Grandpa!" The girl, wide-eyed and utterly horrified, watched the chaos unfold. She collapsed to the floor, limp. Her grandfather was gone... Her mind went blank, and after the initial shock, her eyes filled with sheer terror.

"Monster! Demon..." Panicking, she scrambled to her feet and rolled out of the teahouse, narrowly escaping the engulfing black flames.

BOOM! The teahouse was reduced to ash. Trembling from head to toe, the girl numbly looked up at the menacing shadow in the sky. By then, the fan-shaped shadow blanketed half the sky, achieving an almost mythical eclipse.

It was early evening, and yet half of the heavens darkened completely. The sky churned with a misty obsidian, akin to a vast black ocean.

The girl's heart ached with profound sorrow. Yet, to her astonishment, townsfolk from every corner of the city emerged from their homes. Each of them, with hands lifted towards the sky, appeared to be embracing the heavens themselves. Tears streamed unchecked down their faces, their pain palpable.The original appearance of this chapter can be found at Ñøv€lß1n.

"In this world of suffering, may we find eternal joy..." Over a million voices whispered in unison. Their eyes, fixed on the sky, seemed to find a singular hope amidst the sea of despair—like spotting the sun of faith amidst encroaching darkness.

"Do they look good?" With the pins in her hair, Lady Hua Lian twirled in front of him, radiant as a blooming flower.

"They're the icing on the cake; you're already breathtaking," Moon Fairy complimented.

"You sure have a silver tongue," she teased, winking.

Gazing at the vibrant street, a sigh escaped her lips. "The human world is beautiful. Once, I was a fox, sneaking peeks at this bustling world from a corner..."

"But today, you have it all," Moon Fairy remarked.

Lady Hua Lian shook her head softly. As he was about to speak again, she placed a finger on his lips, silencing him. "Let's stroll a bit more."

Moon Fairy thought, You've had me strolling half the night already! But for his beloved, he'd play the gallant companion. "Of course," he nodded. Bathed in soft light, the pair—two ethereal figures—strolled the streets, a dreamy spectacle to behold.

Yet, no one dared approach them! Shopkeepers didn't even dare to charge them because everyone recognized them as demons, walking brazenly in the Heavenly Realm. They were the esteemed guests of the Immortal Empire.

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Later that evening, in a high-rise tavern within the Heavenly Realm, in a tastefully appointed room, Lady Hua Lian leaned by the window. Bright lights of the world below filled her gaze.

"Such are the fireworks of the human world," Lady Hua Lian mused, a touch of melancholy coloring her voice.

Moon Fairy stood nearby, bathed in the ambient light, his silence enveloping him. "After wandering all night, are you not content?" he asked.

Sighing softly, Lady Hua Lian replied, "To suddenly possess what one knows can never truly be owned is like leaving an echo to the sorrowful wind."

"Do you wish for the entire human world?" Moon Fairy's tone was even.

"I don't, but someone does. Someone desires its destruction..." Lady Hua Lian murmured sorrowfully.

"Who?" Fangs peeked out from Moon Fairy's lips, suggesting danger.

Lady Hua Lian shook her head, signaling him to refrain from further inquiries. Suddenly, a chill raced down her spine. Startled, she turned.

In the shadowy corner of the room stood a towering figure.

"Eternal Joy!" Lady Hua Lian trembled, her radiant face paling, and she slowly knelt before the shadow.

The shadow took a step forward. It belonged to a middle-aged man with pale skin and raven-black hair—hauntingly handsome, his ruby-red eyes shimmering eerily in the dark. He took a seat by the window, his chilling gaze scanning the bustling world below. Deep within those eyes seemed to echo the cries of countless souls.

Throughout, Moon Fairy remained motionless, while Hua Lian knelt even lower.

"My dear Lian..." The man gently tapped the table and whispered, "Pour the tea."

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