The afterlife blew up Gensokyo

This is an unprecedented golden age for both immortals and mortals.

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Under a clear blue sky, the warm sun overhead cast a gentle spring glow.

In an ordinary house in the neighborhood, the person who was guiding this grand event between immortals and mortals was patiently carving a green bamboo flute with a small knife.

After the Eastern Emperor Bell was used as the foundation for the Dragon Vein, he temporarily lost the ability to enter the Heavenly Realm. However, thanks to the "Channel Between Immortals and Mortals" that was temporarily opened after the Dragon Vein was activated, his communication with Xiao Ye and Xiao Xi was not cut off.

In the past, immortals or celestial beings residing in the heavens would not have been able to travel between the mortal and immortal realms as easily as they do now. However, with the surge in spiritual energy in the mortal realm, the constraints of so-called rules have naturally decreased significantly.

The reason Shi Bai created so many powerful monsters was not only to lay the groundwork for his plans for the distant future, but also because he wanted the immortals in the heavens to descend to the mortal realm and gather the faith of this vast territory.

With the growing and immense faith, or perhaps the unique power of incense offerings, the dragon vein he had painstakingly built was gradually maturing. It was estimated that in a few hundred years, it would be able to fully achieve the goal he had predicted when he first constructed the dragon vein.

Overall, it was a rather massive project, but most of the work was delegated to the immortals in the celestial realm by Xiao Ye, who felt sorry for him. So, he usually had a very relaxed life, spending his days admiring flowers, playing the flute, playing the erhu, and doing odd jobs...

Anyway, he had finished the most difficult part, so Bai didn't plan to worry about the finishing touches anymore.

Over the years, besides teaching Huo Qing'e and Xiao Hong Meiling, he has spent most of his remaining time diligently learning how to be a suitable behind-the-scenes mastermind...

For this world to develop, certain things are essential to its own plans.

For example, after the Holy Lord was sealed by Lü Dongbin, he retrieved the Twelve Zodiac Talismans, and then planned to distribute the power of the sealed talismans around the world. He also planned to search for other suitable demons, and use his collection to try and recreate other demons from his memory… He was incredibly busy.

As for how much of a role his current actions will play in the future, to be honest, Shi Bai himself has no idea. But anyway, doing this kind of thing will definitely not be a loss, and he can also take the opportunity to clear out his inventory. WIN-WIN, a win-win situation.

It's fair to say that the storage ring he wears contains a ton of junk and odds and ends, piled up haphazardly like nesting dolls, and he's never had time to sort or clean them up... to be honest, he couldn't possibly sort and clean them all.

Dangerous things, such as a SpongeBob version of the Yellow King, a peanut who likes to play the "statue" game, and an old man with even stronger vitality than him, were all locked up in the system space.

Inside his storage ring were mostly non-dangerous items.

For example, a warehouse full of lollipops, a must-have for pleasing little girls; a warehouse full of toys, a warehouse full of pretty clothes and dresses, a warehouse full of orange juice and cola, a warehouse full of orange juice and cola, all essential for pleasing little girls...

Of course, in addition to these daily necessities, there were also some other things stored here.

For example, there's the [Treasure Hammer] he traded from the Oni Clan, the [Stone Mask] he'd kept hidden away for a long time, the [Sparkler] that can transform him into the Giant of Light, Ultraman Tiga, the [Arrow] that has a chance to awaken a Stand, the [Yin-Yang Jade] that he usually uses to crack walnuts, the one-of-a-kind [Workbench]... and the [Cellphone] that combines countless functions and has been upgraded to +10086 by him insanely.

...But a phone that can't connect to the internet is a useless phone.

There were too many things, too many different kinds, and the endless nesting of items completely robbed Shi Bai of any interest in spending time properly sorting and organizing them.

Just as you never know whether the poor Schrödinger's cat is dead or alive, you will never know how many other boxes and rings are trapped inside a single box.

Anyway, when Bai Xin suddenly decided to do some statistics, after opening 763 layers of "matryoshka dolls" and still not seeing the end, he decisively gave up.

...So how incredibly bored I must have been to do something so outrageous?

After uttering a sigh, Shi Bai put down the knife in his hand, blew away the bamboo shavings on the table, and then picked up the completed bamboo flute.

Because playing the erhu on the street could easily lead to people throwing cabbages at him, he decided to temporarily switch his instrument to the flute. Don't ask why; the reason is simply that it makes him seem more ethereal and otherworldly.

After slightly adjusting the pitch, Shi Bai held the bamboo flute to his lips and, after a moment of contemplation... played a majestic tune.

"Clap."

As the sound of a bamboo flute began, a bird that had been perched peacefully in a tree swayed slightly before falling with a thud right onto the head of someone below.

"Hmm, it seems I do have a talent for music; even the birds are captivated by it."

After the song ended, Shi Bai reached out and removed the trembling little bird from his head, nodding with satisfaction.

As the saying goes, good friends are easy to find, but true confidants are hard to come by.

So far, the only person who appreciates his music and whom he considers a kindred spirit is Xia Mi, who calls him "senior brother" and eventually marries Chu Zihang.

It's just that we don't know how the young couple's life has been all these years. But judging from their trip to Tokyo, it seems that Chu Zihang will be henpecked after marriage...

Shaking his head to stop thinking about it, Shi Bai put the little bird back on the treetop and casually tucked the bamboo flute he had just made into his waistband.

If nothing unexpected happens, he will probably keep this bamboo flute with him forever... After all, it's better to carry a bamboo flute with you than an erhu.

"Dad, you're disturbing the peace again!!"

Just as Shi Bai stood up, a voice came from the courtyard gate, and a red-haired girl who looked to be no more than ten years old ran in from outside.

"Call me brother."

Rolling his eyes, Shi Bai sat back down.

"Where is your sister Qing'e? Why didn't she come back with you?"

"Sister Qing'e heard that there were evil spirits causing trouble on the Xunyang River nearby recently, so she went there alone to exorcise them."

After running a few steps to Shi Bai's side, Xiao Hong Meiling's gaze lingered curiously on the emerald green bamboo flute that was tucked diagonally into Shi Bai's waist.

"Dad, why aren't you playing the erhu anymore?"

"Call me brother."

Without glancing to the side, Shi Bai picked up the can of cola from the table, his face completely calm and collected.

"Also, have you finished your daily practice?"

"I've finished it, but I still don't understand why I had to learn something so complicated."

Seeing that her adoptive father had no intention of letting her play with the bamboo flute and instead asked about her homework, Xiao Hong Meiling couldn't help but pout unhappily.

“Those things are too difficult. Rather than spending time learning them, I would rather go back to the waterfall in the mountains and practice martial arts.”

"That's precisely why I'm making you learn it. Didn't I already say that a long time ago?"

Shi Bai gave a soft hum and took a sip of cola.

"Master math, physics, and chemistry, and you'll be able to go anywhere in the world without fear!!"

"But those things are just too complicated..."

With almost half her body pressed against her cheap father, Xiao Hong Meiling, with a bitter face, secretly pulled out the emerald green bamboo flute and hid it in her sleeve.

"Physics and chemistry are okay, but math is really super hard, and that linear algebra high tree... Can I just skip it?"

"No."

Putting down his sugary drink, Shi Bai showed no mercy.

"You need to have something of your own... I've already assigned your homework for today, go do it."

"But why doesn't Sister Qing'e have to learn these things?"

Standing up straight, and subtly hiding her right hand behind her back, Xiao Hong Meiling looked defiant.

"I'm very strong! I feel that even without learning these things, I can travel the world without fear!!"

"Yes, you are very strong, but you need to have something of your own... I, as your older brother, will not harm you. In short, you just need to do as I say."

Looking up at the sky where dark clouds had suddenly gathered, Shi Bai narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I have to go out for a bit, I'll be back in a little while, you go do your homework."

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Xunyang River.

As dark clouds gathered in the sky, the weather darkened, and a strong wind swept across the land, carrying with it icy water droplets.

Looking at the turbulent river before her, Huo Qing'e's expression was extremely serious, and a few drops of blood slid from her fingertips.

Beneath the boiling surface of the river, a vast, enormous shadow looms.

She initially thought it was just an ordinary monster, but she never expected that what was lurking beneath the Xunyang River was a dragon capable of stirring up towering waves and causing changes in the celestial phenomena.

On the vast river, mist filled the air, and some fishing boats that were still sailing on the river were tossed about on the turbulent water, creating a dangerous situation.

Looking at the panicked people on the fishing boats who might be swallowed by the giant waves at any moment, Huo Qing'e's expression changed several times.

save? Still not saving?

With her current level of cultivation, saving the people on the river would be easy. However, given the presence of a malevolent dragon lurking at the bottom of the river, she would have to risk her life if she chose to save them.

There was really no need to save them. What do I care about their lives? I've already done my duty, and saving them wouldn't benefit me at all.

In the past, she might not have had so many dilemmas, but now, she doesn't know why she has started to hesitate.

But when she came to her senses, she found herself on the surface of a turbulent river, with a large, dark shadow getting closer and closer below her.

A raindrop landed on the back of her hand, bringing a slight chill.

The rain that had been accumulating in the air for so long finally began to pour down.

Even though I was still hesitating, my body started moving on its own... Am I really an idiot?

With a wry smile, ignoring the ever-approaching shadow beneath her, Huo Qing'e began casting spells to rescue the innocent people who had already fallen into the water or were about to fall in.

So I really am an idiot, risking my life to save people who have absolutely no connection to me. I would never have done this before...

Perhaps, I just didn't want him to be disappointed in me... I wonder if he'll seek revenge for me or something...

Just as Huo Qing'e was lost in thought, an oil-paper umbrella quietly opened above her head, and a figure dressed in white reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Immediately afterwards, a slightly reproachful voice rang in her ear.

"It's raining, don't you know to use an umbrella?"

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ps：ヽ(ー_ー)ノGood morningヽ(ー_ー)ノ

Chapter Thirty-Two: Huo Qing'e and Shi Bai

The rain on the Tianjie Street is as crisp as the grass, but the grass color is far away but not close.

When the fishermen who had just escaped death regained their senses, the boiling river surface calmed down again, and a light spring rain began to fall.

The beautiful fairy who had saved them from their mortal danger had vanished without a trace, along with the white-robed immortal. On the now tranquil banks of the Xunyang River, an oil-paper umbrella drifted leisurely away.

Centuries later, a statue standing at the head of the Xunyang River has been passed down along with the myths and legends of the past.

"Remember to bring an umbrella next time it rains."

With his gaze fixed straight ahead, Shi Bai, holding an umbrella, walked with Huo Qing'e towards the small courtyard where they were renting a place. As he spoke, he spoke to Huo Qing'e, who was closely following him.

"I, I know..."

Rain streamed down half her cheek as Huo Qing'e answered with a complex expression and mixed feelings.

Although she has grown from the young girl who ran away from her wedding to a graceful young woman over the past ten years, she is still quite different in height from her teacher.

The area that the oil-paper umbrella could cover was limited, and since her teacher had deliberately tilted the umbrella towards her, almost half of the rainwater flowed down the oil-paper umbrella and landed on her head, resulting in her being soaked on one side of her body.

Even so, Huo Qing'e still hoped that the journey back could be longer. Their embrace in the air over the past decade was perhaps the most intimate contact they had ever had… only to find her mind blank at the time.

After all, the most intimate action the two of them had ever taken was holding hands when he took her to the Heavenly Realm.

...But I don't think I disappointed him, right?

Huo Qing'e secretly turned her head to look at her teacher's face.

"You make me very disappointed."

"........."

"Do you remember how I taught you before? In terms of how to conduct yourself and do good deeds?"

"……Remember."

"So how did you do it?"

"I……"

Huo Qing'e opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

"Helping others is fine, but only to the extent you can. Saving people is also fine, but don't easily put yourself in danger. You think that's being a hero? In my opinion, it's just being a fool."

Shi Bai's tone was extremely indifferent.

"I have no recollection of turning you into a fool, but your performance today was truly disappointing."

"...Shouldn't I have gone to save them?"

After a moment of silence, Huo Qing'e raised her head.

"Teacher, I have never forgotten what you taught me. But..."