Rebirth As A Human Cauldron Chapter 21

Chapter 21

The journey to Liangzhou wasn’t particularly long, but for some reason, the pace had noticeably slowed over the past two days.

During the night, for the first time ever, Qin Duan was taken off the carriage and settled into an inn along the way. The Blood Demon Sect was a relatively new cult that had emerged in recent years. Apart from the fact that the sect leader had somehow split into two, Qin Duan knew nothing about it. So, when a young servant respectfully invited him to disembark, he didn’t think much of it. He simply looked forward to returning to his room, enjoying a soothing bath, and sitting by the desk with wet hair while sipping tea. It was only then that he remembered to inquire, “And what about Wu Que?”

The servant was a tall, muscular man with a reddened complexion that stretched the fabric of his clothes, making him appear somewhat uncomfortable within his attire.

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Once the door closed, he heard faint rustling noises outside. Qin Duan attempted to throw a talisman towards the entrance. Before it even hit the ground, it burst into flames and turned into ashes.

He let out a cold laugh, finding this tactic all too familiar.

—Yet, in this world, there were very few formations that could trap him. Considering the person who set up this formation was only semi-skilled, they went through the motions without considering whether the spiritual energy inside was sufficient.

With almost effortless effort, Qin Duan dismantled the formation, doing so silently and seamlessly. He merely created a small gap at the weak point where the strokes of the characters intersected, and he slipped out through this opening.

Outside the room, the full moon stood high in the sky, its round disc suspended in the open space, devoid of clouds or stars.

Qin Duan gazed at it for a while before realizing that today was the Mid-Autumn Festival, a day of reunion.

Ever since becoming Qin Duan, he had lost interest in mundane festivals. Even during the hundred years he spent with Bai Lingzhi, it had mostly been a master-disciple relationship. He taught Bai Lingzhi what he knew but rarely expressed opinions on right or wrong, let alone involving himself in worldly matters… Yet, he had granted almost every request Bai Lingzhi made, contributing to the enigmatic and somewhat spoiled character of the youth.

But Wu Que was different. Qin Duan truly regarded him as a son. During the years of gradual recovery from his severe injuries, he wasn’t entirely free from concern. It was said that the Asura Body was impervious to pain and could self-heal, but who could guarantee it was flawless?

The cultivation method of the Asura Body was demanding and cruel, with only a few succeeding. With no guidance from predecessors and no peers to rely on, Qin Duan had to tread this path alone, exploring step by step through the sea of corpses and blood.

Assembling fractured bones throughout his entire body wasn’t an easy task. Even though he didn’t feel pain, it was still his flesh and body. Qin Duan had lain in bed for half a year. During this time, he was a complete invalid—unable to speak, move, or even gesture with his hand without great effort. Despite practicing asceticism for years, he couldn’t channel his energy, couldn’t cleanse the impurities from his body… If he hadn’t encountered Wu Que, his life during that period would have been incredibly miserable, easy to imagine.

The lanky youth with red eyes, carrying him around, wiping him down, feeding him with less-than-delicious yet filling food—without these efforts, he could have survived, but not with such ease.

Qin Duan’s heart wasn’t impervious. He admitted being moved by the young man’s actions. So, once he had slightly recovered, he cleaned the young man, dressed him in fresh clothes, and bestowed the name of his adopted son upon him.

He taught him right from wrong, the principles of being human. This instruction contained more than just theoretical teachings; it included lessons he thought he had forgotten long ago. Those things had been buried alongside enemies’ laughter and the bodies of loved ones during the blood-soaked years.

On this Mid-Autumn night, a night of reunion, the paths of Taoyuan Village were adorned with paper lanterns of various shapes and sizes, each lifelike in appearance.

People gathered joyously, children wandered the streets and alleys with candy figures and snacks, filling the air with laughter and cheer.

As for Qin Duan, he remained within his residence, racking his brains to make a pastry for his son.

He faintly recalled his childhood Mid-Autumn Festivals, with the kitchen staff making palm-sized pastries, arranged neatly on exquisite plates, for everyone to share as they enjoyed the moonlight.

Never mind the fact that he had refrained from mundane life for centuries, even during his time as Young Master Qin, he wasn’t adept at cooking… Qin Duan had no idea how to make these treats. Following common logic, he purchased some flour and ended up kneading it for a while. After steaming, it puffed up like dumplings, losing the patterns he had initially intended, folding into a haphazard mess that hardly resemble anything.

His hands, stained with too much blood, were ill-suited for handling pots and pans. Thus, the dessert ended up a disaster. When Qin Duan placed it on the table, he couldn’t bring himself to meet his son’s eyes. Instead, he took out two bottles of Osmanthus wine and placed them on the table.

Upon opening the bottle, a fragrant aroma filled the room.

Wu Que, perhaps out of politeness, finished everything, leaving nothing behind, not even a trace.

Qin Duan sat to the side, taking occasional sips from a small wine pot. Perhaps under the influence of alcohol, he spoke extensively about mundane matters for the first time ever. For instance, the celebrations shared during auspicious occasions, like this day of universal joy, and the tradition of moon-gazing during reunion nights.

Wu Que listened quietly, never interrupting, never posing a question. Qin Duan continued on, uninterrupted, until the last drop of wine was consumed from the pot.

“Son, the world is vast, and one day, you will have to venture out and see it for yourself.”

Setting down the empty wine pot, Qin Duan squinted at the quiet young man seated across from him, unable to resist extending his hand to ruffle the black hair. 

Moonlight filtered gently, casting elongated shadows beneath the two figures, enveloping them in a moment of absolute silence.

It was still a night like this. Qin Duan stood atop the void, bathed in moonlight, closing his eyes as he extended his consciousness to search for traces of his son.

Wu Que hadn’t gone too far; his power was such that he wouldn’t bother hiding his aura. It didn’t take Qin Duan much effort to determine his direction. Riding the night breeze, Qin Duan pursued the direction.

He had never taught Wu Que anything about cultivation. Even the talismans he occasionally crafted for amusement were mere tricks for mortals. As for the rumors about the Demon Body, he had heard them before. Such individuals were born with a demonic aura that would drive them insane upon contact with blood. Since this child possessed such an extraordinary nature, Qin Duan never thought of guiding him toward the path of cultivation, nor did he intend to teach him anything about increasing strength. Yet, in the end, human plans were ultimately overshadowed by fate.

Wu Que, however, had embarked on a path that was the last thing Qin Duan wanted to see, a path taken resolutely and with such determination.

Following his consciousness, Qin Duan arrived at a rugged mountain range, detecting a scent of iron rust carried by the night wind. It was like the aroma of dried blood, dense and strong. He furrowed his brows, peering towards the source—the smell led to a towering mountain cave on the edge of a precipice. It stood amidst the night, exuding a lonely and isolated feeling.

A force saturated with brutality and murderous intent surged from within the cave. Approaching it would stir the most primal of impulses. Qin Duan’s figure flickered, and his somewhat gaunt form stood at the edge of the precipice. His robe billowed in the wind, making a rustling sound, as if it might be blown away with a single gust.

The prohibition left behind by that individual repelled outsiders from invading. Qin Duan extended his right hand; his crimson fingertips touched the air, and a touch of blood-red blended into the surroundings. Wu Que’s cultivation was too advanced, and he wasn’t confident he could leave unscathed. This act nearly exhausted all his mental strength, causing his face to pale instantly. Under the moonlight, his skin seemed almost translucent.

Fortunately, while Wu Que had lost control, he hadn’t yet completely lost his sanity. The prohibition reacted to the call, a glimmer of light flashing. At the same time, a hoarse roar echoed from deep within the cave, “You don’t need to interfere… Go away!”

Qin Duan sneered, “I’m your father. Who else if not me?”

As he spoke, his back remained straight, his thin attire outlining the protruding butterfly bones on his back. His black hair danced in the moonlit night, and his fingertips gathered a red glow. Despite his limited strength, a hint of his previous life’s shadow was discernible.

Wu Que fell silent. The trembling sound of his breath could barely be heard, and even the prohibition at the entrance weakened slightly. Qin Duan took a step forward, gritted his teeth as he pushed through the remaining strength in his body, and quickened his pace to move further inside.

Within the darkness of the cave, his son’s clothes were disheveled. His eyes held a deep crimson glow, a red mark on his forehead continued to flicker, and his damp hair clung to his face. His complexion was pallid, lips tinged with blue, and he looked utterly disheveled.

A formidable force was tearing at his soul. Wu Que’s expression contorted severely. When he saw Qin Duan enter, he lowered his head and tugged at his own hair with his fingers, emitting a low growl akin to a wounded beast. His tall figure curled up, as if he wished to hide entirely within the darkness.

“Go away… Don’t come closer!”

Qin Duan remained indifferent, taking another step forward.

And so, the person’s hunched back began to shake violently. At times, he would call out to his father in confusion, then his expression would turn ferocious, “Kill… kill him, I want to…”

“But… you can’t. That’s your father…”

The blood mark on his forehead glowed once more. Wu Que’s expression grew fierce. He was crouched against the rocky wall at his side, fingers scraping across the rough stones, leaving behind trails of blood.

“It was he who didn’t want me! It was him…”

“He can’t die… If he dies… I…”

His voice grew softer and was now filled with a profound sense of sorrow.

“He’s already dead… by my hand…”

“His death has nothing to do with you.” Qin Duan squatted down and gently lifted Wu Que’s chin. The young man’s face was filled with agony but devoid of tears.

His father disliked it when he cried, so this time, he didn’t shed any tears.

Yet, Qin Duan’s hand still touched the corner of Wu Que’s dry eye. “He never blamed you, nor did he resent you.”

“But… he’s dead,” Wu Que trembled as he spoke, his lips quivering. His vacant gaze held an abundance of pain, yet no tears.

“His death… has nothing to do with you.”

“…But he’s dead.” Wu Que’s voice quivered, his lips trembled. His gaze remained unfocused, consumed by pain. “He’s gone… Without him in this world, what meaning does it have for me?”

“He wanted me to see this world… But this world doesn’t have him. What’s the point?”

His expression changed, his fingers clenched into the ground. “Then it’s better to destroy it all. Since he likes it so much, I’ll have this world accompany him in death!”

“Would this make him happy? Will he… appear in my dreams?”

Wu Que’s expression softened. “It has been five hundred years, Father, and I’ve never seen you in my dreams.”

“Dad, I was wrong back then. Can you forgive me, please?”

“Father, I regret it now. You said once you do something, you can’t regret it, but I still do.”

“Dad, I don’t want to lose you…”

“Father, I won’t cry anymore. Could you come back and visit me? Is that possible?”

“Dad, I miss you…”

He rambled on, incoherent and confused, his tone frantic. This was the lament of the soul torn in two, once united yet living separate lives, their roots still tightly intertwined.

So, every full moon night, they would “reunite” in this agonizing manner. However, Qin Duan stood between them like a thorn, the core despising the errant heart demon, and the heart demon envying the core’s abundant affection. Thus, they repelled and abhorred each other, yet simultaneously understood that they both bore the blame for what happened in the past.

Desire to possess, to invade, to plunder… These were Wu Que’s yearnings for that person, a twisted love that not even death could erase.

They were accomplices.

Qin Duan observed the torrent of pain in his son’s eyes, a medley of emotions swirling within him. He didn’t know how to respond or how to offer solace. He simply watched in silence, until the exhausted and breathless figure before him collapsed. Then, he drew closer and gently kissed the furrowed brow.

“Actually…” I’ve thought of you too, he paused, feeling the awkwardness of his position now. Uttering those words might provoke the other person, so he swallowed the rest of the sentence.

Wu Que looked up in a daze, meeting his calmly composed gaze. It seemed as though he sensed something in that look. His Adam’s apple bobbed a few times as if he wanted to speak, but ultimately remained silent.

Qin Duan wordlessly tightened his embrace, allowing the other to rest his head against his shoulder. The heavy, ragged breaths washed over the exposed side of his neck, tickling him slightly.

Wu Que’s body was hot, akin to a red-hot branding iron. Sweat soaked through his clothes, his disheveled hair spread out messily, picking up bits of gravel and dirt, making him look unusually disheveled.

An unfamiliar force surged within him, his split soul repelling itself, each part taking turns to dominate his body. Wu Que’s eyes shut tight, his body in Qin Duan’s arms trembling unnaturally. Sometimes he struggled to push away, but he would always cling desperately at the last moment.

Strangely, he wasn’t utilizing any other force, just straightforward physical struggle. Qin Duan had to exert some effort to restrain him, inadvertently working up a sweat. He pressed Wu Que’s hands against the ground, smiling. “…Behave.”

The latter glared at him with gritted teeth, his crimson eyes resembling a wolf eyeing its prey. He could attack and snap his throat at any moment.

Not only was Qin Duan unafraid, but he even reached out to touch the dry, cracked lips, prying open the tightly clenched teeth. He let the other bite down on his finger, and fresh blood flowed.

“Hiss…” He took a breath, “Sharp teeth, sharp mouth. Impressive, just as expected from my son.”

Caught off guard by the sudden influx of a sweet, metallic taste in his mouth, the bloodstain between Wu Que’s eyebrows flickered for a moment, finally maintaining a somewhat subdued intensity.

When he finally released his grip, Qin Duan looked at the teeth marks etched into his knuckles and felt like his finger might be useless now.

He retrieved some wound ointment he had left from when he treated Feng Li, applying it to the marks. Before he could wrap the wound, his wrist was suddenly gripped. Wu Que’s crimson eyes seemed to glow in the darkness, appearing eerie. He was staring at Qin Duan’s injured finger, revealing a complex array of emotions.

Qin Duan couldn’t resist teasing him. “What’s wrong? Haven’t bitten enough? Want a few more nibbles?”

The young man even licked his lips and apologized in a hoarse voice.

Qin Duan didn’t respond, attending to his wound instead. He patted Wu Que’s shoulder and stood up.

“Now that everything’s fine, take some rest and come out… I’ll be waiting at the entrance.”

He didn’t look at the expression on the other person’s face again, just walked slowly to the outside of the cave and let out a soft sigh.

Neither of them made things easy.

But that boy, the way he struggled against himself, was quite pitiful… Qin Duan admitted he couldn’t be too heartless. If he were truly ruthless, he would have killed the person when they broke his limbs and tried to imprison him. Why leave such a problem for himself?

In the past, he always believed that staying alive was most important, yet he never truly pondered why he wanted to live.

The former Qin Duan had crawled out of hell for revenge. The later Qin Duan understood the terror of death, so he didn’t want to die, didn’t want to accept his fate.

But what about those people… Feng Li, Bái Língzhī, Wēn Yǔshū, Wu Que… why did they manage to stay alive until now?

Qin Duan hadn’t thought about it before, and now he dared not think about it. Even in that moment when his soul was torn apart in his previous life, he hadn’t expected that in this world, someone would genuinely care about his life and death to the extent of being willing to pay any price to ensure he lived.

All because of those… those brief encounters, those fleeting moments together. For him, they were like stones thrown into the vast sea, sinking to the unlit depths, unable to stir even the slightest ripple.

Even he himself had treated them as memories to cherish, never reaching out to hold onto them. Instead, he turned and walked the path that led to transcendence.

Yet, he never knew what kind of pain they endured, what price they paid, after being left behind.

Right or wrong, Qin Duan couldn’t distinguish anymore.

The night wind was cool, but the heart within his chest was warm. He wasn’t the merciless demon who crawled out from a sea of corpses and blood. He was a human.

A human heart is soft; it beats, and it can ache.

So, when faced with those who had made mistakes but still loved him deeply, he couldn’t remain indifferent.

Though he had only been reborn for a few months, his previous life felt so distant, so remote that he couldn’t be bothered to delve into it.

As for the truth behind the Heavenly Dao’s words… Qin Duan looked at the sky in the distance, which was beginning to show the pale light of dawn, and let out a soft sigh.

It was only a day’s journey away from Liángzhōu, and following their previous pace, they could reach it within half a day.

Those who had been entangled with him would be waiting at that altar for the arrival of this “sacrifice”… Thinking about it, Qin Duan found it somewhat amusing.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t notice when Wu Que emerged from the cave, staring at his back for a long time.

Many times, Wu Que had wanted to walk up to him directly, to embrace him and ask if he truly was that person. Yet, just as he mustered the courage to take that first step, Qin Duan suddenly turned around and said, “What’s wrong? Is everything fine?”

A seemingly light remark, but it extinguished all the courage he had gathered so painstakingly.

Wu Que softly hummed in response and thanked him.

Qin Duan’s gaze fixed on the red mark on his forehead. But from the tone of his words, it didn’t sound like the more childish heart demon. So he asked, “So, you can merge too?”

“We were originally one, it’s just that sometimes… I lose control.” Wu Que spoke calmly, then his expression shifted. His eyebrows lifted slightly, revealing a mildly displeased demeanor. “What’s the matter? Is that not acceptable?”

“…Nothing.” He found it quite amusing, and Qin Duan, carefree, enjoyed watching his son’s changing expressions. He grinned playfully. “So, are you going to stay like this for a while?”

“Tch, no way. I don’t want to keep fighting him for control of the body all the time.” The heart demon pursed his lips. He was about to say something more when Wu Que pressed him down. “Once you regain your strength tomorrow, you can come out on your own.”

“Why do you always get the final say?”

“Because I’m the original…”

“Okay, okay, enough. It’s almost dawn.” Qin Duan stretched lazily. “After tossing and turning all night, I haven’t slept well… Mm.”

He barely moved when he was suddenly scooped up horizontally and held close to a chest.

Wu Que lifted his head slightly, not bothering to look at the person’s expression. “You sleep.”

Qin Duan squinted, taking advantage of the dim morning light to notice the slightly reddened earlobe of the person in his arms.

He chuckled, then mischievously reached out and pinched it. Wu Que instinctively tried to evade, but seeing the strip of cloth wound around the person’s finger, his heart tightened, and he allowed it to happen.

After a few repetitions, he grew impatient. The red mark on his forehead glowed, and his tone turned irritated. “Hey, are you going to sleep or not!”

Qin Duan thought to himself, “Silly kid, your father here isn’t an ordinary person.” But he obediently said he would sleep while still playfully teasing the other. Along the way, Wu Que switched personas several times. When they finally arrived at their destination, Qin Duan threw him into the carriage. Unable to bear it any longer, Wu Que pounced on him.

As Wu Que nibbled and threatened to bite his neck, Qin Duan casually remarked, “We’ll be in Liángzhōu tomorrow.”

The words were like a splash of cold water, extinguishing all desires. Wu Que looked at him with a complex expression, then waved his hand and left the carriage.

Outside the window, the sun rose slowly.

Qin Duan leaned against the window, watching the radiant sunlight blanket the earth. With a long neigh, the horses started moving, the wheels rolled, and the carriage headed steadily toward Liángzhōu.

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Patreon early access for patrons: Chapters 22 and 23

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