Bai Yue was quite satisfied with Bai Qian’s appearance, as she looked seven or eight parts similar to her own.
Currently, the strength of Bai Yue’s soul was not yet sufficient to control two physical bodies simultaneously. According to System Liuliu, she would need to wait until her cultivation level broke through to the Eighth Tier before she could achieve that. Therefore, Bai Yue did not intend to let little Long Haochen meet Bai Qian just yet; there would be plenty of time to build a relationship later.
"Yue'er, I’ve brought Haochen over," Fengxiu said, pushing open the door and walking into the courtyard. He looked around at the simple, austere surroundings and his brows furrowed tightly. "Yue'er, why must you insist on suffering needlessly? It’s one thing for you to endure hardship, but why must you drag little Haochen into it too?"
"..." Bai Yue could not help but roll her eyes. Her father had started his long-winded lecture again, trying to persuade her to move back to Xindu to live.
"Just listen to your father and go back to Xindu. Then I wouldn't have to commute between Xindu and Aoting Town every day just to see my grandson. For a Demon God Emperor to be reduced to this, it’s truly stifling," Fengxiu said, feigning pity.
Bai Yue had long since steeled her heart; she would not be swayed by Fengxiu’s words. Ever since she had moved to Aoting Town, her father, the Demon God Emperor Fengxiu, had treated the small wooden cabin as if it were the Demon God Palace, showing up daily without fail.
"Father, if you find it troublesome, you don't have to come. I never forced you to," Bai Yue said, waving her hand and dismissively shooing him away.
Fengxiu’s handsome face fell, and he stated bluntly, "I’ve decided. Before little Haochen starts school, I will move the administrative affairs of the Demon race to Aoting Town. I only need a clean room and a desk inside."
Fengxiu looked so pitiful, asking only for a clean room, that Bai Yue could do nothing but give in. The next day, she tidied up a room for him to use as an office. The Star Demon God Vassago was pressed into service, forced to come to tiny Aoting Town to set up a teleportation array capable of spanning a thousand miles, just so that the Black Dragon Commander, Huang Shuo, could ferry confidential Demon documents between Xindu and Aoting Town every day.
...
Spring passed and autumn returned; two years slipped by in the peace and quiet of Aoting Town.
Bai Yue’s laundry business had grown to the point where everyone in the town knew her. They all praised her for being industrious and clever, lamenting only that she was a widow raising a baby all on her own. Kind-hearted neighbors often tried to introduce her to suitors, feeling it was difficult for a single mother to raise a child and wanting someone to help her share the burden, but Bai Yue politely declined them all.
【Host, the day has finally arrived for the Child of Destiny, Long Haochen, to enroll in the Knight Temple’s Aoting Branch!】 Liuliu’s tone was brimming with excitement; she had waited too long for this day.
"Father said that since Haochen is enrolling today, he would bring back a gift. He's been gone for half the day now, why hasn't he returned?" Bai Yue was genuinely curious about what kind of treasure this gift might be.
【Perhaps it’s a divine artifact, or maybe a life-saving scroll?】 Liuliu guessed uncertainly. Over the past few years, she had watched Fengxiu’s doting affection for the Child of Destiny, Long Haochen. As the derivative spirit of the Heavenly Dao for the book *Divine Throne*, she had never imagined that after changing the timeline and meeting again, the bond between Fengxiu and Long Haochen would be so deep.
Fengxiu’s love for Long Haochen had started as an extension of his love for Bai Yue, but eventually, it had become a genuine connection of heart to heart. This transformation was undoubtedly influenced by Long Haochen’s personal charisma. The Child of Destiny was inherently pure and kind; if he could move the God of Divine Retribution, one could imagine just how virtuous and innocent he truly was.
"Daughter, look at the good thing I’ve brought for Haochen," Fengxiu called out before he had even entered.
Bai Yue stepped out of the room into the courtyard and saw Fengxiu holding a bear cub. It looked cute and fluffy.
"Father, you aren't planning to give this bear to Haochen as a gift, are you?" Bai Yue pressed her hand to her forehead, feeling a generational gap. She regretted not asking what he planned to give before he left! "Haochen isn't even five years old! Is he supposed to keep the bear, or is the bear going to eat him?"
"Don't worry, this bear is very spiritual and quite a fighter. With it by little Haochen’s side, we can both rest easy," Fengxiu said, patting the bear’s head. The little bear spoke in a human voice: "Your Highness Yue, old Bear here can take on ten at once. Even if a Divine Knight showed up, I could knock him flat!"
Bai Yue pointed at the bear and blinked, asking tentatively, "Father, don't tell me this bear is Valefor!"
The bear grinned foolishly. "Your Highness Yue, this is my avatar. Don't look at it as small; it has one-tenth of my spiritual power! If a Divine Knight came looking for trouble, he wouldn't be able to break through my avatar's defense even after a day and a night. Can't help it, old Bear’s hide is thick!"
No wonder her father had been gone most of the day; he had gone to find Valefor and have him manifest an avatar to protect Haochen. Valefor’s constant mention of "Divine Knights" made it clear: he was afraid that Long Xingyu would sneak over and try to snatch Haochen away from her!
"When Haochen returns, if he likes you, you can stay," Bai Yue said slowly.
Valefor breathed a sigh of relief. His hanging heart finally settled. His Majesty had given him a strict order: he had to cling to the wooden cabin in Aoting Town no matter what. If he messed this up, his true form would be in for a rough time when he returned. A bear's life was not easy; he sighed heavily.
...
Bai Yue pulled Fengxiu into the room and had him set up a soundproofing barrier before she spoke. "Father, by sending Valefor’s avatar here, are you trying to keep an eye on me and Haochen?"
Seeing his beloved daughter’s cold face, Fengxiu hurriedly explained, "I’m just being cautious! If you get entangled with that scoundrel Long Xingyu and there isn't a demon around to protect you, I won't be at ease!"
Bai Yue decided to make things clear with Fengxiu. "Father, I truly have no feelings left for that scoundrel Long Xingyu. The reason I brought Haochen to Aoting Town to study at the Knight Temple is that I don't want to waste his cultivation talent. Besides, this was the revelation from the prophecy of the Mother of Destiny."
Fengxiu didn't know the specifics regarding Liuliu’s existence, but he could guess the general situation. The Mother of Destiny was the savior of the Holy Demonic Continent chosen by the spirits of the Heavenly Dao, and Bai Yue naturally stood on the side of the Demon race. Therefore, once Bai Yue invoked the name of the Mother of Destiny, Fengxiu had not stopped her from leaving the Demon race to come to Aoting Town.
"I am just worried that you lack the strength to defend yourselves. I have placed a seal on Valefor’s avatar. To the outside world, it will appear to be nothing more than a bear-type magical beast. Only when you encounter danger will it break the seal to protect you," Fengxiu looked at Bai Yue with a candid gaze, his eyes filled with worry for his daughter and grandson.
"Fine! The bear cub can stay, but you must leave!" Bai Yue said helplessly. "Father, I have a premonition that Long Xingyu will find his way to Aoting Town soon. So, after today, don't come back."
Liuliu had issued a warning to her: the day the Child of Destiny would meet Long Xingyu was drawing closer. Liuliu couldn't predict the exact date because the butterfly effect caused by her presence had made *Divine Throne* diverge from its original story. In any case, to be safe, her father needed to leave quickly to avoid running into Long Xingyu.