Chapter 17: Short-Lived Bug
In front of a towering Parasol Tree whose crown resembled a splendid canopy, Fu Shaoguang flapped his wings and flew into the Grotto beneath the tree.
The Book Collection Cave was also called the Tree Collection Cave.
The cave was not a mountain cave, but an old tree hollow.
It was the true form of an old Parasol Tree Demon, and hundreds of books were stored inside the hollow for the demons to read.
This demon was the guardian.
Hundreds of leaves floated inside the hollow. Gongyang Yang often came here, and Fu Shaoguang had asked him about the place when he arrived.
Bamboo Slip were hidden within the leaves; large leaves indicated thick Bamboo Slip with extensive content, and vice versa.
Flapping his wings to a leaf, Fu Shaoguang extended a foot and lightly tapped the leaf, causing water-like ripples to spread, revealing book titles: Yu Mountain Gazetteer, Miscellaneous Talks of Dayong, Dream Pool Essays, Eighteen Applications of Poison... Leaf after leaf lit up. He saw many interesting books, some of which gave him the urge to read, but important matters came first, so Fu Shaoguang continued his search.
A Brief History of the Demon Market and A Century of the Demon Academy came into view. He grabbed the two leaves, floated to a tree-stump-like table, infused them with magic power, and the leaves transformed into Bamboo Slip.
Fu Shaoguang began flipping through them, focusing on the introduction to Empress Yuli, carefully scrutinizing every word and phrase.
The Empress indeed possessed an umbrella-shaped Magic Treasure.
The Empress had already been a Great Demon a century ago.
The Empress once bestowed Bamboo Fruit upon an Old Cicada Demon, helping it extend its life by ten years.
Found it! It really is... Empress Yuli!!!
Filled with joy, Fu Shaoguang continued reading. By the time he finished the two volumes of Bamboo Slip, the eastern sky was turning a fish-belly white. He flapped his wings and flew away. The Bamboo Slip shook, reverted into two leaves, and automatically floated back to their original spots.
Leaving the tree hollow, Fu Shaoguang flew to the treetop to collect the Morning Sun Purple Qi. He wouldn't miss any chance to cultivate; Breaking Through the realm was the safest and most reliable Life Extension Method.
And it was controlled by himself.
The Parasol Tree was also collecting the Morning Sun Purple Qi.
Fu Shaoguang benefited greatly; collecting Qi for one day here was better than accumulating it over several days—a pleasant surprise!
Finishing his cultivation, Fu Shaoguang returned to the tree hollow, picked up the two leaves for Eighteen Applications of Poison and Dream Pool Essays, and approached an old, sleeping face.
The eyes, ears, mouth, and nose were clear, but the skin was wrinkled bark, resembling a decoration embedded in the cave wall.
It was the Old Tree Demon.
Fu Shaoguang flew around it.
The Old Tree Demon slowly awoke, its eyelids half-drooping, its consciousness still seeming hazy and sleepy. It glanced at Fu Shaoguang, then simply opened its mouth and exhaled a breath.
The Wood Qi landed on the leaves, duplicating two new leaves for Fu Shaoguang to take away.
He returned home and went to sleep.
When the sun set in the west, the Mayfly woke up.
Stretching lazily and drinking some Spirit Honey Water, Fu Shaoguang read the Bamboo Slip by the fading light of the setting sun.
Eighteen Applications of Poison introduced the basic uses of poison in clothing, food, housing, and travel. Some ideas were ingenious, and the application directions made Fu Shaoguang's eyes light up.
Especially the statement, "Poison is no weaker than medicine; if medicine nourishes all things, poison can too," which, though only a few words, gave him a sudden feeling of enlightenment, as if he had been guided out of confusion.
【Perhaps I can try Nourishing Life with Poison.】
Once the thought arose, it lingered in Fu Shaoguang's mind. He felt it was feasible, or at least worth a try.
If the scope is broadened, perhaps the world will open up.
The last trace of residual light was swallowed by darkness. As night fell, Fu Shaoguang put away the Bamboo Slip, flapped his wings, and left home.
Hundred Flowers Pavilion.
It was an exquisite two-story building.
Its exterior featured black bricks and green tiles, while the interior was brightly colored.
A striking poem was written at the entrance:
Fine drizzle moistens a hundred flowers,
Deep valleys and dense forests conceal the Demon's home.
Dusk settles, water ripples rise.
A gentle song winds around the cliff.
It was said that a Flood Dragon Great Demon wrote this to pay the Flower Fee. The literary talent was decent, making it popular among fellow demons who always scrutinized it carefully, but no matter how much Fu Shaoguang analyzed it, he couldn't grasp the essence.
He felt he wasn't suited for this kind of thing.
Definitely not! He absolutely didn't understand!
This wasn't his first time visiting, but he didn't go inside. He entrusted a bug at the entrance to deliver a message and waited outside.
The female aura inside was too strong, and the male aura was even more aggressive. Either way, they were poison wrapped in honey.
Just like the poem outside.
Fortunately, many demons were loitering outside the Hundred Flowers Pavilion—demons who couldn't afford the services but borrowed fire at the entrance to warm themselves.
Blending in among them, Fu Shaoguang didn't stand out.
Although the surrounding demons secretly eyed him, Fu Shaoguang was used to it and acted as if he hadn't noticed.
Soon, a Cicada Demon walked out. It was the one Fu Shaoguang knew, the Chief Musician.
Mayflies know not the morning and evening; Huigu know not the spring and autumn.
Neither Mayflies nor cicadas, once mature, can survive the winter. Even after becoming demons, winter remains exceptionally difficult to endure.
Fu Shaoguang naturally wouldn't discuss business on a freezing street. He took the Cicada Demon to a restaurant and reluctantly ordered a pot of fake... Pseudo-Spirit Wine!
Plus two plates of pastries.
Demons are simple-minded and mostly straightforward.
Fu Shaoguang was accustomed to this style. He took out the prepared Wooden Plaque and wrote his message directly:
【Brother Shan, the Cicada Demon whose life the Empress extended back then, the book specified he was from the Shan Family. Was he your ancestor?】
The Cicada Demon's wings vibrated slightly. He drank a cup of wine to warm himself and said, "That is my ancestor. Is Demon Friend interested in life extension?"
Without waiting for Fu Shaoguang's answer, he realized, "Of course. Short-Lived Bugs like us must find a way to extend our lives. Otherwise, all the hard work of Achieving Sentience and cultivating will turn to dust when our lifespan ends, only serving as a joke."
Mentioning this, the Cicada Demon took another deep gulp of wine, his carefree tone laced with a hint of sorrow.
【Drink, eat pastries, talk business.】
The Cicada Demon smiled faintly, "Alright!"
After half a pot of wine, the Cicada Demon said goodbye and returned to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion across the street. Soon, the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments arose.
The tune was fresh and light, but Fu Shaoguang could hear a thread of helpless sorrow hidden within the bright melody.
The Cicada Demon's sorrow was also the pain of countless Short-Lived Bugs.
His heart felt heavy. He instructed the Snow Mole Cricket Waiter to pack up the remaining pastries and wine. After listening to the song, Fu Shaoguang paid the bill and left.
Flying through the street, his emotions were unsettled.
Looking up at the unchanging bright moon in the Nine Heavens, and thinking of his Fugacious Bug Life, his conviction gradually solidified.
Cultivation, life extension, Immortality!
He must become The Number One Bug in Heaven and Earth!
Ankang Alley, Ancient Pine Courtyard.
Fu Shaoguang sipped his wine while sprawled on the soft couch, gazing at the moon through the window. With seven parts of intoxication taking hold, he guided the Moon Essence at midnight. The moonlight flowed silently like water, hazy and dreamlike.
Whether it was the influence of the wine or a Sudden Enlightenment, Fu Shaoguang's wings vibrated, and the moonlight actually flowed around them. After an unknown period, his wings began to stream with water-like moonlight.
The moon in the sky and the moonlight on earth reflected each other.
Fu Shaoguang's figure strangely disappeared, seeming to dissolve into the moonlight, but this void was fleeting.
Inside the bedroom, he was already fast asleep, with only the moonlight streaming through the window, resting beside him, silently covering him with a layer of hazy blanket.
Early the next morning, his head felt a bit groggy.
Fu Shaoguang shook his head. Sure enough, Pseudo-Spirit Wine shouldn't be drunk excessively. Yet, apart from the headache, his bug body felt especially comfortable, after all, even pseudo-wine still contained the character 'spirit.'
One pot cost fifty coins!
He boiled Morning Dew until steam curled up, added spirit honey and Goji Berries. Once the temperature was suitable, Fu Shaoguang drank it. His bug body was nourished, and his hangover eased considerably.
After eating and drinking his fill, he recalled last night's conversation.
The Old Cicada Demon whose life was extended was the grandfather of the Cicada Demon Musician. He had followed the Empress quite early. Besides playing the zither for the Empress for half his life, he also taught Zither Art at the Demon Academy for half his life, and even served on the battlefield, achieving outstanding merit, which was why the Empress bestowed a blessing upon him.
As expected, life extension is not easy!
Fortunately, he now had a direction for his efforts.
As long as he contributes enough, there will be a chance.
Having set his goal, Fu Shaoguang finished collecting the Morning Qi and intended to read Dream Pool Essays. The title reminded him of the classic work of the same name from his previous life, which was why he borrowed this book.
Just as he opened it, a knock sounded at the door.
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