Bai Dao Yuan’s death left Hong Yue momentarily silent, but she soon turned away, no longer looking at the grotesque corpse on the ground.
“Mother!”
“You’re alright, that’s wonderful!”
Xiao Huang gazed at his mother with a face full of joy.
“Xiao Huang, you heard just now, your father might still be alive, so I must go find him. Come with me!”
“Once we find your father, our family can be together properly.”
Hong Yue looked at her son tenderly, though her tone lacked much joy.
Mo Fan quietly observed the mother and son, casually waving his hand to collect Bai Dao Yuan’s storage bag and the flying sword beside him.
Though he didn’t know the specifics of Hong Yue and Xiao Huang’s father, it was clear to him that Hong Yue’s feelings were complex.
Perhaps she wasn’t as eager to see that dog demon as she claimed.
But duty compelled her to seek his whereabouts.
Mo Fan looked at Xiao Huang, curious to hear his response.
At this point, it was up to Xiao Huang to decide, especially since Hong Yue’s breakthrough was astonishing, leaping from early Foundation Establishment to Core Formation in one go.
Even Mo Fan couldn’t help but marvel at her cultivation talent.
With such a formidable prodigy as his mother, Mo Fan didn’t dare entertain any ulterior motives.
He wanted to keep Xiao Huang, true, but sometimes things were beyond his control.
Xiao Huang fell silent, and after a long pause, he shook his head, looked at his mother, and said gravely, “Mother, I’ve grown up!”
“You taught me that once I make a choice, I must stick to it firmly!”
“I’ve already promised this Demon King Senior, and I won’t go back on my word. From today, I’ll follow him forever!
Only this way can I repay his kindness to us!”
Mo Fan was touched by these words. He wanted to recruit Xiao Huang partly because of his half-demon identity and partly because of his unwavering devotion to his mother.
This devotion was called filial piety!
Filial piety was almost exclusive to humans. At Black Wind Mountain, Mo Fan rarely saw demons, after taking human form, remember their mothers or keep them close.
But Xiao Huang did!
To protect his mother, he even hid his identity and strength, borrowing money from mortals and dealing with them.
This was truly remarkable!
In Mo Fan’s eyes, someone so devoted to filial piety was likely to be loyal and worth recruiting!
“Xiao Huang, your mother is now a Core Formation cultivator. No one can sway your decisions.”
“If you wish, I could slay this demon with one strike, and it wouldn’t count as breaking your promise!”
Hong Yue’s next words sent a chill down Mo Fan’s spine.
Bloody hell!
I went through all that trouble to save you and your son, and this is how you repay me?
Mo Fan felt like a stampede of ten thousand mud horses was galloping through his mind, leaving him utterly bewildered.
“Mother!”
“There’s… no need for that, is there?”
Even Xiao Huang was stunned by his mother’s domineering words, then gave a wry smile, “You taught me since I was young that a drop of kindness must be repaid with a gushing spring. How could I act ungratefully now?”
“Besides, I’ve grown up and want to carve my own path, not always be sheltered by you!”
“As for… that father, I leave it to you to find him. We’ll surely reunite one day!”
Xiao Huang’s tone grew firm, his face stubborn as he looked at Hong Yue.
“Pfft!”
Suddenly, the stern Hong Yue burst into laughter, smiling gently, “I was only teasing you. I taught you these principles, so how could I not understand them?”
Mo Fan quietly sighed in relief, genuinely worried that Hong Yue might turn on him in a moment of ingratitude.
Her breakthrough to Core Formation made her strength unfathomable, and he wasn’t confident he could match her.
The gap in cultivation was too vast for divine abilities to bridge.
“Since you’ve made your decision, I won’t say more. Take care of yourself and don’t risk your life for fleeting bravado!”
Hong Yue pointed at Xiao Huang’s forehead, her tone soft, “This parting may last who knows how long. I’ll now pass on my master’s legacy to you!”
Moments later, Hong Yue withdrew her hand, then turned to Mo Fan with a smile, “Thank you for saving us today!”
“Without you, my son and I would surely have perished!”
“This is a debt of life!”
“I have little to offer in return, so I’ll pass on my master’s legacy to you as well. I hope you’ll treat my son kindly!”
Before Mo Fan could respond, Hong Yue pointed at his forehead.
Soon, streams of information flooded into Mo Fan’s mind.
The information was divided into three parts:
First, the method of crafting and controlling Sword Pills.
Second, alchemy techniques, including Flesh Cauldron Alchemy.
Third, the secret movement technique “Seven Star Dragon Step”!
This was the entirety of Hong Yue’s inheritance from her master!
Hong Yue soon withdrew her hand. Mo Fan, eyes closed, carefully processed the information in his mind before slowly opening them, clasping his fists in a bow to Hong Yue, “Mo Fan thanks Senior for this generous gift!”
“No need for thanks. Mere external objects, no matter how valuable, can’t compare to the lives of my son and me.”
Hong Yue waved her hand, a gentle spiritual force lifting Mo Fan upright. She studied him for a moment before smiling, “To easily kill a late-stage Foundation Establishment Bai Dao Yuan with mid-stage Demon General cultivation, you’re truly impressive!”
“I hope my son’s choice isn’t mistaken!”
“I leave him in your care. Once I find his father, I’ll come for you!”
Hong Yue gave Xiao Huang, who looked reluctant to part, a final deep look, smiling, “My son has finally grown up!”
With that, she transformed into a streak of rainbow light and vanished.
Mo Fan heard a whoosh by his ear, looked up, and saw a red glow disappear into the horizon.
“Such speed!”
“Even the former Black Wind Demon King couldn’t match that, could he?”
Mo Fan mused inwardly, understanding that though Hong Yue had just broken through to Core Formation, her dual cultivation of sword and alchemy likely made her far stronger than her realm suggested.
As if struck by a thought, he shouted toward the horizon, “Senior, my demon mountain is called ‘Black Wind’. Don’t go to the wrong place!!”
“Great King, that senior is long gone. She probably can’t hear you,” Da Tou remarked.
“Always with the chatter!”
Mo Fan turned and glared at him, then looked at the still-somber Xiao Huang, grinning, “Don’t be sad. Though your mother’s gone, you still have us. Once I take you to Black Wind Mountain, you’ll love it there!
I won’t boast, but Black Wind Mountain is full of demon talents who speak eloquently. You’ll absolutely love it!”
“Senior, is that true?” Xiao Huang looked at Mo Fan skeptically.
“Heh, of course it’s true!”
“Ever heard of Ri La? No, right?”
“Someday, let Da Tou show you…”
Mo Fan slung an arm around Xiao Huang’s shoulder, laughing cheekily, his words making Da Tou instinctively clench his legs…
