Chapter Five: The Unfathomable Human Heart

The beautiful woman studied herself with a mischievous smile and said playfully, “Look, now I am Little Moon. Sister, it’s your turn to transform!”
“Your transformation technique is already perfected, Sister. Even those ancient Nascent Soul cultivators would struggle to see through it. But look at mine—have I made any progress?” As soon as she finished speaking, Little Moon spun on the spot, demonic energy swirling around her. In the next moment, there stood a breathtakingly beautiful woman of unrivaled charm.

“Little Moon, do you see any progress in your sister’s magical arts?” Little Moon mimicked her sister’s voice, imitating her coquettish tone.

“Sister, your transformation is actually a shade better than mine!” the beautiful woman replied, copying Little Moon’s honest manner.

The two women looked at each other and burst into delighted laughter.

The beautiful woman was quite pleased with her own creativity, silently admiring her ingenuity. Little Moon, however, could only resign herself to the situation. In her heart, the human race was a detestable one—skilled at deception and hypocrisy—at least, that’s what the records said. She had never actually interacted with humans herself, but now, the opportunity had come!

She wanted to see for herself if love was truly as great as they said.

The two wandered through the valley, playing each other’s roles and speaking from the heart.

“Miss Meidie! Miss Little Moon! Where are you? I’ve been looking for you for ages. If you hear me, please come out!”

“Miss Meidie! Miss Little Moon! Can you hear me?”

A tall, clear-featured young man appeared, carrying a small bundle on his back. He wore rough homespun clothes, already torn in many places by branches, and his tired face and hoarse voice spoke of many hardships on the journey. It was no wonder—a minor cultivator at only the second level of Qi Gathering, making it this far was no small feat.

“Sister, do you hear someone calling your name? Why does that voice sound so familiar? Guess—is it that Li something-or-other?” Little Moon said, her eyes glinting with mischief.

Meidie raised her delicate fist and scolded, “Little Moon, you rascal, don’t slip up later! Remember, his name is Li Qing!”

Little Moon vanished in a flash, leaving behind only her voice: “I know, Sister. Sounds like he’s just ahead. Let’s hurry, or else you’ll be crying again if he gets eaten by wolves!”

Meidie could only smile helplessly and cast a spell to chase after her.

The two sisters appeared behind the young man at the same time. Little Moon, imitating her sister’s voice, called out sweetly, “Young Master Li, I’m here!”

Li Qing turned around, his eyes rimmed red, and hurried toward her, grasping Little Moon’s hand in excitement. “Meidie, I searched so hard for you! I’ve been lost here for three days. I’m really useless!” He hung his head in shame, as embarrassed as a child caught in mischief.

It was the first time Little Moon’s hand had ever been gripped so tightly by a man. His affectionate gaze and the scent of a mature man washed over her, making her heart flutter despite her usual distaste for weak men. With her sister watching, she blushed and quickly withdrew her delicate, jade-like hand.

She asked, “Young Master Li, how are your mother and the villagers?”

Li Qing, realizing his impropriety, quickly replied, “Thank you, Miss Meidie. The pill you gave me was miraculous—within less than half a month, everyone in the village was cured. They all want to meet their living Bodhisattva! In fact, they asked me to bring you this gift.”

He took off his bundle, opened it, and handed Little Moon a bright red cloak.

Little Moon glanced at Meidie, silently asking whether she should accept it. Meidie nodded.

Seeing Little Moon’s hesitation, Li Qing said, “Miss Meidie, you come from a wealthy family and may not care for humble gifts, but this cloak was bought with all the villagers’ savings. My mother worked three days and nights to make it from silk brought from the county. When I arrived, her eyes were nearly blind, but she insisted we save the young people first. She said she was old and useless, and others needed help more. In the end, her life was saved, but she went completely blind. Still, she was happy—she said, ‘Winter is coming. If our benefactor wears my cloak, she’ll be a bit warmer.’”

Something inside Little Moon was sharply moved. Cultivators possessed vast powers, but only cared for their own benefit, fighting and killing for resources and longevity. Yet this simple mortal woman could give selflessly, asking nothing in return. Was this the difference between immortals and mortals?

Even facing blindness, the old woman still thought of others. Little Moon grabbed the cloak, draped it over her shoulders without a second glance, for she could find no reason to refuse the kindness of a good-hearted woman. What could make the old woman happier than seeing her cloak worn by the person she’d made it for—what could better show her life’s value?

Then, quite pleased with herself, Little Moon spun like a butterfly in front of Meidie, fluttering her eyes as if to say, “Sister, your cloak is now mine!”

Meidie was deeply moved, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, caring nothing for the cloak itself.

Suddenly, as Little Moon basked in her emotions, she collapsed with a shrill cry, rolling on the ground in agony. The beautiful, graceful maiden was gone—in her place was a snow-white fox with four thick tails, ensnared in a net woven of fine golden runes.

The fox’s eyes glowed red as it struggled desperately to escape. Li Qing’s aura surged—Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, late Nascent Soul—his hand formed a seal and he chanted a strange incantation. The runes on the net flared, binding the four-tailed demon fox even more tightly. Little Moon’s powers were sealed, and she could only fight with brute strength.

A strange look flashed in Li Qing’s eyes. “Meidie, you’d best stop struggling. This is my master’s Heaven-Net Treasure. You can’t escape. Just surrender and spare yourself the pain.”

Meidie stared in shock as her beloved trapped Little Moon. In that instant, she realized she had been deceived. Frustration, humiliation, and pain welled up within her, nearly making her faint. She thought, I cannot mourn for this heartless wretch. I must tear him to pieces and save Little Moon. Meidie spread her hands, which turned into razor-sharp claws, and revealed her true form.

A snow-white four-tailed demon fox appeared. Unlike human cultivators who forged magical weapons, demon beasts’ bodies were their greatest treasures. A four-tailed demon fox was the equal of a late Nascent Soul master, and her claws were many times stronger than magical artifacts. Meidie prepared to attack.

Suddenly, a Buddhist chant resounded: “Amitabha! Evil creature, take my Thousand Mercies Palm!”

From beside a pine, spiritual energy surged and an elderly monk appeared, kindly and dignified, with white brows hanging to his shoulders and a white robe embroidered with gold kasaya. As his words faded, a vast palm of golden Buddhist light appeared above Meidie’s head, composed of countless smaller hands, each bearing the Buddhist swastika, with sacred chanting ringing out as the giant hand pressed down.

Even with the body of a four-tailed demon fox, Meidie felt as if she were sinking into a mire, her movements impossibly sluggish. Buddhist arts required both spiritual cultivation and physical training, forging the indestructible Vajra Arhat body. This palm was far stronger than Meidie’s own power. Though she had grown up in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains and had never left, she had heard tales of the Eight Great Human Cultivators.

Those so-called great cultivators were only a step away from the Spirit Severing stage. The foremost among them was Master Huiming of the Grand Temple, famed for his Thousand Mercies Palm, which, it was said, could withstand even Spirit Severing experts.

Meidie was inwardly shocked—this plot involved the foremost Buddhist temple. Weren’t they supposed to be compassionate and detached from the world?

She had no time for further thought. Gathering all her demonic power, Meidie’s body grew, her four massive tails spinning violently as she lashed out at the enormous palm.

A deafening explosion shook the heavens. The giant palm trembled and the golden light dimmed.

Meanwhile, caught in the Heaven-Net, Little Moon shouted to Meidie, “Little Moon, run! Don’t mind me! Go and tell my father, the King of Ten Thousand Demons, to avenge me! I’ll take them down with me if I must!”

With that, her snowy fur bristled as she readied herself for self-destruction. The self-destruction of a four-tailed demon fox would certainly obliterate both Li Qing and Huiming, leaving not even their souls behind.

Li Qing’s face changed. “Now that you’re in my hands, your fate isn’t yours to choose. Not before my plan is complete. How can you die now?”

He changed his hand seal, tightening the Heaven-Net. Countless black threads seeped into Little Moon’s body, locking her demon core, and instantly dispersing her gathered power.

End of Chapter 5 of The Mortal’s Immortal Path.