Chapter 7: Divine Eyes

When Xu Hua woke up, it was dusk.

The green and pink of the lotus pond outside the window caught her eye. Dragonflies flitted about, and the slanting sunlight warmed her dark pupils. Xu Hua sat up, feeling much heavier than usual. Her hands were weak, and she felt extremely frail.

This shouldn't be the case.

She looked down and suddenly realized that her hand on the pillow... was incredibly fat.

Xu Hua touched her face... very well, she was twice her size.

This is terrible!

She struggled to get out of bed, and good heavens, one of her legs was thicker than her former waist! This...

Xu Hua slapped her forehead, her face a picture of utter dismay. She didn't even dare look in the mirror beside her. This body is wrong—how could she have gotten so fat!

She grabbed a robe and put it on, but the robe was made of light gauze, the thin fabric clinging to her "heavy" figure.

The scene was too beautiful to bear.

Xu Hua buried her face in her hands, and it took her a long time to recover from this devastating shock. Then she pushed open the door and went out. It was dusk, and farmers were driving their cattle and sheep back to their pens.

Chickens and ducks, noisy along the way, also spontaneously returned to their roosts.

The rosy clouds were like scattered brocade, needing no adornment, naturally forming a poem or painting.

Xu Hua stood at the door, and the momentary tranquility even dispelled the doubts about her resurrection.

Suddenly, someone called softly behind her, "Hua Hua?"

Xu Hua turned around abruptly and saw a woman dressed simply, carrying a bamboo vegetable basket, standing right behind her. She hadn't even noticed her! She suddenly realized that the power of her divine sense had weakened terribly.

The peasant woman stepped forward and suddenly reached out to touch her head. "Huahua, are you hungry? Mother will cook for you right away. Today I'll make braised fish, Huahua's favorite."

Xu Hua felt a strange sense of absurdity. She avoided the woman's hand and asked, "What year is it now?"

A hint of surprise flashed in the woman's eyes. "Huahua, it's the 400th year of the Peaceful Era..."

Xu Hua shook her head and asked, "What year in the Celestial Calendar?"

The woman looked blank. Xu Hua felt there was no need to ask any further. This place wasn't a celestial realm or a demonic realm. Besides, where else but among mortals could one find such a peaceful evening scene?

Her words and actions were unusual, and there was obvious fear in the woman's eyes. Xu Hua, of course, saw through it and gently comforted her, "Mother, don't be surprised. My mind was muddled before, but now it's suddenly clearer. That's why I asked."

The woman was overjoyed. "My child! You've been mentally impaired for fifteen years. Could it be that Heaven has taken pity on our Ji family and restored your sanity?"

Mentally impaired for fifteen years... Xu Hua was helpless and could only offer a perfunctory reply, "Mother, although I am mentally clear-headed, I have forgotten many things from the past."

The woman took her hand and led her into the house. "My dear daughter, as long as you've regained your senses, I'm relieved. We've discussed this marriage so many times, but it always fell through. Now it's all right."

What?!

Xu Hua felt as if struck by lightning. There was a Guanyin Bodhisattva statue in the house, and the woman quickly pulled her to kneel before the Bodhisattva. Xu Hua kowtowed helplessly.

The woman kept rambling on, recounting the hardships of raising her alone all these years.

Xu Hua asked, "Don't I have a father?"

The woman's expression darkened, and after a long pause, she said, "Back then, your mother was pregnant for three whole years. There was always a lot of gossip in town. Later, your grandmother... disliked you because you were... thought your mother was unlucky. She forced your father to remarry, and now they don't live with us."

Xu Hua was completely bewildered. She'd been resurrected, and her memories of Huacheng were intact. She'd simply been resurrected into an ordinary family in the mortal realm. And what was this about being mentally impaired for fifteen years?

Had fifteen years already passed? Or was her soul attached to this body?! No, the sweet scent of osmanthus lingered around her, so why was she still a demonic puppet?

Seeing that she was distracted, the woman couldn't help but feel uneasy. "Hua Hua, let me go find a doctor to examine you again. Once you're better, we'll go see your father and grandmother."

Xu Hua didn't really listen to her, only nodding casually.

The woman immediately went out to find a doctor. Xu Hua lowered her head and noticed a jade pendant hanging around her neck. She reached out to touch it, almost gritting her teeth: "Breath of Gods and Demons."

The Breath of Gods and Demons trembled, feigning insufficient spiritual power, only jumping slightly. Its faint light intensified, reflecting off her hand with a shimmering green glow.

The magical artifact's response was weak, and Xu Hua had no choice but to accept reality. She stood before the bronze mirror, where a woman's figure appeared indistinctly. She pinched her thick double chin and murmured, "Who resurrected me? Why did they ignore me after the resurrection? Could it be because I've become ugly..."

The Breath of Gods and Demons flickered but remained silent—the reason it was ignored after the resurrection was because the person who resurrected her... had been in seclusion for over a decade.

It hesitated, feeling it couldn't betray its former master, yet also unable to disobey the contract. After much deliberation, it finally sent a message to Tian Qu Zi. If Xu Hua knew, she would grind me into powder and drink it with boiling water... Tears welled in its heart.

---

In the Bitter Bamboo Forest, the protective array Lian Heng could isolate all magic. However, the Divine Demon's Breath was bound to Tian Quzi, and Lian Heng dutifully connected a wisp of its divine consciousness to it.

Tian Quzi, who'd been busy in seclusion stabilizing his cultivation, finally received news—the Divine Demon's Breath said, "She's awake."

Tian Quzi opened his eyes. The surroundings were still dark and cold.

The wind carried the bitter scent of the bamboo forest, staining his clothes and hair. He tried several times to control himself, but couldn't resist controlling the Divine Demon's Breath. The Divine Demon's Breath, with an "I knew it" expression, quickly transmitted an image using the technique of capturing light and shadow.

In the simply furnished boudoir, Xu Hua stood before a bronze mirror, scrutinizing herself with a gloomy expression.

...Tian Quzi frowned—this... seems a little fat. It's better to be a little chubby, lest she take advantage of her beauty to cause trouble.

The Breath of Gods and Demons stared at Tian Quzi, quite nervously. Tian Quzi, like his character, was always extremely cautious when performing magic, never allowing for mistakes.

But it had deliberately infused its master's spirit embryo with more spiritual power. Although the body was deformed, it could at least temporarily ward off the lustful desires of some lonely old men, right? Alas, what if Tian Quzi really wanted to do this or that to its puppet head?

Fortunately, Tian Quzi was watching carefully but gave no other orders.

Xu Hua was also examining herself in the mirror. Obviously, someone had resurrected her with the Breath of Gods and Demons. But her spirit and body were not something that could be easily conceived by a mortal. Time and energy must have been consumed immensely.

Did this master lose patience later and fully activate the Breath of Gods and Demons, causing its spiritual power to be exhausted? And did her body swell due to the excessive spiritual power?

So now, her spirit was as weak as a mortal's—the Breath of Gods and Demons had no more spiritual power to nourish her spirit.

Xu Hua gently stroked the aura of gods and demons. This peerless artifact, which was always brimming with fighting spirit, only responded to its former master with a trace of warmth.

She'd always been a woman who loved beauty. Now, looking like this... it would probably take her some time to accept reality. Tian Quzi pondered for a long time, unable to understand where he'd gone wrong. He could only force himself to stop paying attention to the messages from the Divine Demon Breath and use the protective mountain array, Lian Heng, to announce his exit from seclusion.

That person's appearance was different, but knowing she was conscious, he could no longer calm down.

Seclusion was pointless.

Zai Shuanggui was undoubtedly the most concerned for him, and immediately asked Jun Qianzi to examine his pulse. Knowing his cultivation was unimpeded, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He didn't want his disciple, whom he'd relied on for half his life, to suffer any mishap in his old age.

Tian Quzi understood his concerns and let him do as he pleased. As night fell, he finally couldn't resist and activated the Divine Demon Breath again. The Divine Demon Breath seemed rather unwilling. Its master had awakened, and it clearly didn't want to be a spy. But bound by the contract, it had no choice but to comply.

A moment later, Tian Quzi received the image reflected from the Divine Demon Breath. Xu Hua sat at the table, a braised fish in front of her.

Tian Quzi, having fasted for too long, could no longer imagine the taste of the dish. Xu Hua's eyes gleamed with a green light, her gaze fixed fiercely on the bowl and plate.

She swallowed hard, touching her protruding belly. A moment later, her hand moved down, pinching her thighs. Finally, with a snap, she slammed her chopsticks on the table and left.

Tian Quzi endured it all, but a slight smile played on his lips.

---

The next day, Xu Hua woke precisely at the beginning of the Mao hour (5-7 AM). The Goddess's Dew and the Serpent's Blood hadn't taken effect all night. Her body was simply languid, like a ripe peach, yearning to be picked by a beloved.

This yearning was gentle and lingering, almost comforting.

Ying Chi had used the Goddess's Dew and the Serpent's Blood precisely because these two drugs were extremely potent and stubborn, and utterly intractable. But now, their effects were so weak, it was truly shocking.

Xu Hua was filled with confusion, but this wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

She sat before the mirror. The cosmetics on her dressing table were quite limited, suggesting she hadn't needed them before. Even a skilled cook can't cook without ingredients—she had no choice but to style her hair in a way that barely flattered her face.

Finally, she searched for her clothes in the wardrobe.

As dawn approached, her mother woke up.

The woman's maiden name was Fan Qiongzhi. Seeing Xu Hua busy trying on clothes, her face brightened with a smile. "My daughter should dress up nicely, so your father and grandmother will be happy to see you."

Xu Hua smiled wryly. The feeling of having her mother nagging beside her was novel. "You've been kicked out, and you're still trying to please them?"

Fan Qiongzhi was taken aback, then said, "Huahua, don't hate them. They are, after all, your blood relatives..."

Xu Hua waved her hand. "I don't hate them. I should hate you."

Fan Qiongzhi said, "What's there to hate? We've made it through all these years, haven't we? Huahua, being women is inherently a hard life. Remember, always be tolerant and forgiving. Kindness will always bring good fortune."

Xu Hua chuckled. "I know, Mother."

Fan Qiongzhi picked out the best piece of cloth she'd woven, and grabbed two of the hens she'd been reluctant to eat, not letting Xu Hua carry them, but carrying them herself, leading her all the way to her husband's current home.

Fan Qiongzhi's husband, named Ji Hanzhang, was a well-known scholar in Xiancha Town. He'd once passed the imperial examination and obtained the title of Xiucai, but unfortunately, he was unlucky and had no money to bribe his way out, so now he could only make a living by teaching at a private school in town.

Fortunately, there weren't many people with official titles in Xiancha Town, so he had quite a few students. The Ji family was quite well-off.

Xu Hua followed Fan Qiongzhi for a full eight miles before finally arriving in town. Xu Hua was drenched in sweat, enduring the hardship—this body needed more movement and walking. Otherwise, how could she lose weight!

She arrived at Ji Hanzhang's house, a grand mansion with high walls and a deep courtyard. Only a few peach trees peeked out from behind the walls, flaunting their newly hung green fruit.

Fan Qiongzhi stepped forward, hesitated several times, and finally gently knocked on the door knocker.

A moment later, someone opened the door—judging by her clothes, she was clearly a maid. Upon seeing her, the maid immediately frowned. "It's you again! What are you doing here? How many times have I told you, the master is busy!"

Fan Qiongzhi quickly said, "Chuizhu, tell the old lady that our Huahua has regained her senses! Not only does she speak clearly and fluently, but her movements are also quite charming!"

Xu Hua wanted to laugh. The first half was one thing, but where did the second half, "charming movements," come from?

Sure enough, as soon as she spoke, the maid named Chuizhu glanced at Xu Hua at the door and sneered. "Charming? Even the pigs that were slaughtered yesterday are thinner than her. You'd better go back quickly, lest the madam sees us and we all get scolded."

With that, she immediately prepared to close the door.

Fan Qiongzhi quickly blocked the door. "Well... Chuizhu, I brought two chickens and a piece of cloth. Use the chickens to make soup for the old lady to nourish her. Use the cloth to make clothes for the master—the color and fabric are his favorites..."

Chuizhu impatiently urged her on. "Alright, alright, go on!"

The door closed as soon as she finished speaking.

Fan Qiongzhi turned around somewhat awkwardly, smiling, and said, "Huahua, your father isn't home today, let's go back first. Next time he's home, Mother will bring you again."

Xu Hua didn't return the way she came. Instead, she climbed higher and higher, almost reaching the mountainside of Lingquan Mountain. Fan Qiongzhi felt uneasy. "Huahua?"

Xu Hua's gaze swept over the Ji family mansion below the mountain, and she suddenly asked, "Do you really like him that much?"

Fan Qiongzhi said, "What?"

Xu Hua said, "Ji Hanzhang, does Mother really like him that much?"

Fan Qiongzhi lowered her gaze, no longer looking at the green tiles and red walls. "Huahua... your father is actually very learned. You don't know, he has an official title, he's a Xiucai. In the whole town, his poetry is the best..."

Xu Hua turned her head and stared at her. "If I had a way to bring him back to your side, would you be willing?"

When she said this, her pupils were dark, like an unfathomable abyss. Fan Qiongzhi shivered involuntarily, her anxiety growing stronger. "Huahua?"

Xu Hua pointed. "Three days from now at midnight, the southeast wind will be strong. If you set fire here, the wildfire will definitely spread to the Ji family, giving them enough time to escape. The government will be too busy extinguishing the mountain fire to care about this house. They'll let it burn to the ground to avoid harming the neighbors. Old lady, are you a Buddhist? Have two masters visit the house one after the other, subtly whispering in your ear, and you'll be able to go back soon."

Tian Quzi, while writing calligraphy, kept an eye on the situation. Hearing this, he was quite surprised. Although Xiancha Town was far from the Yin-Yang Academy, it was still within its territory. How could she be allowed to act recklessly?

Fortunately, Fan Qiongzhi's face turned pale. "Huahua! How could you come up with such a vicious plan! They are your blood relatives! Water and fire are merciless. If something happens to them, you will be burdened with a guilty conscience for the rest of your life!"

Xu Hua smiled faintly. "Mother is unwilling to use a simple method. Then we will have to go through a bit more trouble."

Tears welled in Fan Qiongzhi's eyes. "Huahua, are you possessed? Why can't I understand what you're saying..."

Xu Hua grasped her hand, feeling it tremble. She gently patted the back of her hand. "Mother, I'm fine."

---

Back home, although Fan Qiongzhi was downcast, she still went to the kitchen to cook for Xu Hua. Xu Hua was troubled. Her resurrection was very inexplicable. Logically, the most likely person to resurrect her should be Tian Quzi. He was present and had the ability.

But she'd only met this old scoundrel once, and they didn't get along, almost becoming enemies. If he really saved her, it was probably for the sake of the Demon Puppet Clan, and he shouldn't have abandoned her in this deserted village.

The second choice was Ying Chi. He was also present and presumably had the ability. But given his personality, she was probably lying on his bed now, a plaything in the name of love. Whether she was conscious or not didn't matter.

Xu Hua couldn't understand. As she approached the town, she'd been keeping a watchful eye on her surroundings, checking for any magical arrays monitoring her. Could this town even be an illusion? But it wasn't. Looking around, it was just an ordinary village. Aside from being a bit remote, there was nothing unusual about it.

She went into the kitchen, picked up a few vegetable leaves from the basket, and quickly boiled them. "Mother, this is fine for me."

Fan Qiongzhi hurriedly said, "How can that be?! You just woke up, you're still weak..."

Xu Hua almost burst out laughing. "Mother!" Eating any more would be like eating more than a normal pig!

So, Tian Quzi saw Xu Hua sitting at a table in a simple, elegant room, slowly eating boiled vegetables while staring at a bowl of braised pork...

Fan Qiongzhi beside her looked worried. "Hua Hua, where are you fat? This kind of figure is auspicious, good for bearing children! Come on, have a piece of meat."

Xu Hua grabbed her chopsticks as she was about to pick up some meat, swallowing hard. Who the hell dared to disturb the divine and demonic energy! "I swear I won't become a demon puppet until I kill you!"

After dinner, Fan Qiongzhi wanted to go out to work. She was skilled at embroidery and hardworking, supporting herself and her daughter by mending and washing clothes for others.

Xu Hua said, "Don't go today, Mother. Come with me, I'll teach you a breathing technique."

Fan Qiongzhi was confused, and even Tian Quzi frowned—he'd deliberately chosen a secluded place to avoid attracting attention. Fan Qiongzhi also had no spiritual roots. What use would a breathing technique be to her?

Xu Hua led Fan Qiongzhi to sit on her bed, gently pressing her lower abdomen, indeed teaching her breathing techniques. Fan Qiongzhi herself had no spiritual roots and could not absorb spiritual energy on her own. Xu Hua slowly guided her, slowly injecting her own spiritual power into her body.

Xu Hua had just woken up, and her spiritual power should have been very low, so she soon looked tired.

But even this small amount of spiritual energy was incredibly beneficial to Fan Qiongzhi. She was drenched in sweat, and when she wiped it with a towel, she saw it was stained and dirty.

Fan Qiongzhi was shocked. "This… Huahua!"

Xu Hua waved her hand. "Spiritual energy strengthens the body, expelling impurities. Mother, don't worry, this technique was taught to me by an immortal in my dream. It can prolong life."

Fan Qiongzhi was skeptical, but she couldn't bear the filth and went to take a bath.

Xu Hua lay back on the bed and actually fell asleep.

Tian Quzi unconsciously reached out and touched her image in the void. The aura of gods and demons was clearly caught off guard, trembling slightly, and the image moved backward. Tian Quzi casually withdrew his hand, his face slightly flushed.

---

Xu Hua urged Fan Qiongzhi to practice breathing exercises daily, pouring almost all of her pitiful spiritual energy into her.

While she practiced, Xu Hua took out all the cloth she'd woven and cut and trimmed it to make clothes for her. While working, she placed the aura of the gods and demons on the corner of the table, weighing down one end of the cloth. When Tian Quzi projected his image through the aura of the gods and demons again, a strand of her hair fell precisely onto it.

This reminded him of the fragrant scent of her hair that night in the guest garden.

Xu Hua was skilled at tailoring and even more adept at threading a needle. Dressed in such simple clothes, sitting in her humble abode, she didn't resemble a demon puppet head, but rather possessed a gentle, refined beauty.

Fan Qiongzhi entered and placed a bowl of sweet soup on the table. Seeing her daughter cutting cloth, she wasn't distressed at all, her face beaming with maternal love. "My child has grown up, it's time for her to have some nice clothes. Tomorrow, Mother will take you to town to buy a few. And some cosmetics too."

Xu Hua didn't even look up. "With my figure, what difference does it make what I wear! Make one for Mother first."

Fan Qiongzhi was both pleased and distressed. "Mother doesn't need any clothes, the ones I made last year are still new!"

Xu Hua stopped talking, her needlework surprisingly fine.

Tian Quzi suddenly asked, "Does the Puppet Master also know embroidery?" He was asking about the Breath of the Gods and Demons.

The Breath of the Gods and Demons was quite disdainful, boasting, "My Puppet Master is unparalleled in wisdom and strategy, what is there that she can't do?"

Tian Quzi said, "The skills of the Flying Needle Workshop." The Flying Needle Workshop was an embroidery workshop in the Immortal Sect specializing in weaving. Their needlework was very famous.

The Breath of Gods and Demons was smug, clearly admiring its master. "When I was young, I studied at the Flying Needle Workshop for a while."

Tian Quzi quickly caught the key point. "The Flying Needle Workshop doesn't accept outer disciples, so you must have been stealing their skills, right?"

The Breath of Gods and Demons immediately became furious. "Can a skill learned through one's own ability be called stealing?"

...

Xu Hua's newly tailored clothes were youthful in style. Fan Qiongzhi, who'd been nourished by spiritual energy in recent days and was already radiant, looked at least ten years younger after wearing them. She looked as if she'd returned to her twenties.

Fan Qiongzhi didn't realize it at first, until one day, while she was sewing, someone called her from outside. "Sister-in-law Ji."

Fan Qiongzhi looked up and saw that the person who'd come to the door was none other than the famous local matchmaker, Zhao.

She was both surprised and delighted—she knew that her own Hua Hua had been considered an unlucky person since birth, and no matchmaker had ever come to her door since she was a child.

She quickly went to greet her. "Aunt Zhao, come in and sit down!"

While welcoming her, she quickly prepared a string of copper coins and slipped them to her. The matchmaker chuckled. "Sister-in-law Ji, these past few years, Master Ji hasn't cared for you much. Raising your daughter alone must have been tough."

Fan Qiongzhi quickly called out to Xu Hua. "Hua Hua, come and greet Grandma Zhao!"

Xu Hua smiled and bowed. Matchmaker Zhao covered her mouth with a red handkerchief, smiled, and said, "Sister-in-law Ji, seeing you all alone, don't you have any other thoughts?"

Fan Qiongzhi said, "Aunt Zhao, you know me. What else can I think of now? I just hope Hua Hua can find a good family and not be as lonely as I am. That would be enough for me."

Matchmaker Zhao chuckled and said, "Not wanting to be lonely is easy, isn't it? To tell you the truth, I came here on behalf of Master Li from the next village. You know Master Li's family, right? They're a wealthy family. He's always wanted to take a second wife."

Fan Qiongzhi hesitated. "But Aunt Zhao, my Hua Hua is only fifteen years old..."

Matchmaker Zhao grinned, revealing her large teeth. "Who said Huahua! That Master Li was worried that someone too young wouldn't be a good match. He happened to see you at the market last time, and oh dear, it was love at first sight. So, he asked me to be his matchmaker..."

Fan Qiongzhi's mouth dropped open in surprise.

Xu Hua didn't hear what the two talked about afterwards.

Even after seeing Matchmaker Zhao off, Fan Qiongzhi was still somewhat dazed. At this moment, she walked up to Xu Hua and suddenly asked, "Why did Master Li suddenly take a liking to me..." Her voice was filled with shame and indignation.

Xu Hua smiled slightly. "Are you a little smug amidst your shyness?"

Fan Qiongzhi turned away in embarrassment, scolding, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Xu Hua said, "What's so hard to admit?"

Fan Qiongzhi blushed and asked, "Huahua, what kind of man do you like?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, even through the barrier of divine and demonic energy, Tian Quzi held his breath. Then he heard Xu Hua say, "Actually, I don't like men."

...These words felt like a kick to the gut for Headmaster Tian Qu...

---

Thoughts:

After spending over a decade in seclusion trying to resurrect her, Tian Quzi has succeeded—but with unintended consequences. Xu Hua has awakened in a considerably larger body, her spiritual powers weakened to mortal levels, and placed in a humble village far from cultivator society.

Meanwhile, Tian Quzi watches from afar, unable to resist checking in on Xu Hua despite trying to maintain his seclusion, gradually revealing his growing obsession. The chapter ends with a comedic gut-punch when Xu Hua casually states she doesn't like men—devastating the secretly watching Tian Quzi who has spent over a decade resurrecting her.