## AST 1847 - Life is a Journey

Sometimes things are just that marvelous. Much like Qing Xuan, mysterious beyond mysteries, there wasn’t much of a relationship between him and the Vampiric Demoness Empress. Yet, suddenly, despite a distance of thousands of miles, such a bond had been forged.

This relationship was all due to Qing Xuan. If not for her, the two would be walking their own paths and Qing Shui would eventually forget all about the Vampiric Demoness Hills.

Qing Shui held on to Qing Xuan, seeing her smile and those beady, crystalline eyes, innocent and pure, seemingly curious about the world. If it was in his previous life, a newborn having such an expression would be shocking, but everything was normal in this wondrous world.

The Vampiric Demoness Empress quietly looked at Qing Shui and their daughter. Seeing the adoration and tenderness in his eyes, it was the epitome of a father taking care of his daughter. She had never thought of such things happening.

The life of the Vampiric Demonesses was unimaginable to outsiders. There were practically no fathers amongst them. Only the Empress and some other Demonesses with special arts could give birth through sucking blood. The rest had to conceive much like humans.

Whether it was humans or animals, every creature had emotions. The Vampiric Demonesses would never know who their fathers were, or if their fathers were sucked dry by their mothers. This was not a strange phenomenon.

This was a culture. A legacy, perhaps, which other species would find it hard to accept, but it was the most normal occurrence for the Vampiric Demonesses.

Vampiric Demoness Empresses had a much simpler legacy. They roughly knew their parents, just like her. Once she grew up, she would leave her home nest to find a new place to become a ruler, seeking fortunes to become a Vampiric Demoness Empress.

Her mother was merely a Vampiric Queen. She hadn’t reached the Empress level, and she herself only became a Vampiric Demoness Empress due to her fate with Qing Shui.

This separation by title was not only symbolic but was also a representation of a qualitative difference in level.

Only the Queens amongst Vampiric Demonesses were allowed to have families, while ordinary Demonesses were not permitted to do so, unless they chose to leave the race. However, humans would be hard pressed to accept them. Vampiric Demonesses were also forbidden from having men within their living grounds.

Qing Shui raised his head at the elated Empress: “Staring at me that way, perhaps you have some things to say?”

Qing Shui could sense the loosening atmosphere so he started cracking jokes. This statement actually showed that he had accepted her but he didn’t know if she had accepted him yet.

Qing Shui’s acceptance wasn’t for any and everything, but just to treat her as one of his own, due to their daughter, he was fated to be unable to escape from her.

“I’m a vampiric demoness.” She smiled as she stated.

Qing Shui lowered his head to look at the sleeping little lass: “You’re just telling me the difference between me and you.”

“What is your name?” The Empress softly asked. As to this day, she still had no clue what he was called.

Qing Shui could sense her inner contradictions, but smiled naturally at her: “I’m called Qing Shui. Though we weren’t related in the past, with her, everything changes, I’ll respect your decisions, but the bond between us has already been established.”

She was stunned. She knew this man was big on loyalty, or else he wouldn’t have come all the way here. Only after a long time did she respond, “I know you don’t really like us Vampiric Demonesses. There’s really nothing between us. You don’t have to force yourself.”

“I’m not forcing myself. If I felt stifled and forced to come, I wouldn’t have come at all. I just feel that I’m antagonizing you.”

“Antagonizing me?”

The Vampiric Demoness Empress was stunned, before smiling as she said: “I don’t feel wronged at all. I’ve only tasted your blood. I’m a picky eater after all.”

She said this very softly and calmly.

Qing Shui finally got the hint. This was a sort of confession: The Vampiric Demonesses would suck someone’s blood to confess to them.

Qing Shui looked disbelievingly: “You…..like me?”

“Well, I don’t hate you.” She replied.

Qing Shui awkwardly chucked: “I was excited for nothing. I thought you fell for me.”

The Vampiric Demoness Empress was slightly confused, as she could clearly sense the bias this man had towards her earlier, or at least the bias towards her race. Yet, this new change made her slightly uncomfortable.

“You want me to fall for you? Do you not hate the Vampiric races?”

“I’ve seen many things. Life is like a journey that must be traveled no matter the spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them. That would only create sorrow. If you can’t resist them, you might as well enjoy yourself.”

“Vulgar!” The Vampiric Demoness Empress glared at him.

Qing Shui looked at that half glaring, half gleeful gaze. Her face still enchanting beyond compare, swaying Qing Shui as he continued staring.

She began to get flustered from his gaze, slightly lowering her head from embarrassment.

“I think I’ve lost out on this.” Qing Shui said as he returned to his senses.

The Vampiric Demoness Empress didn’t know what he was talking about so she asked, “What did you lose out on?”

“The little lass has had plenty, but I haven’t drunk any yet.” Qing Shui smiled.

“Drink? What do you want to drink?” She was stunned, as she still didn’t fully understand some of Qing Shui’s mannerisms and traps.

“I want to drink your milk.”

“Please die.”

Qing Shui smiled as he looked at that embarrassed woman. His senses were still very sharp as he was able to feel her heart wavering. Though the two were not very familiar, he could joke like this because of their daughter.

It should be a joke, as he thought. Still, Qing Shui couldn’t help but look towards the Vampiric Demoness Empress’ peaks. They seemed even perkier, perhaps due to the recent birth.

But Qing Shui knew that they still needed time. She had just given birth and needed care. They still needed time to work things out together.

Unknowingly, half a day had passed and the three started lying down on the bed together, with Qing Shui right next to her. The little lass had already fallen asleep.

Qing Shui looked around, before saying: “Wait for a while. I’ll go make some food.”

A woman after labor needed more nutrients and minerals. Though they were all powerful experts, with very good bodies, a little bit of nourishment was always good.

Qing Shui’s medicinal soup was done well. He did not think it would be worse than anyone else’s. Though he couldn’t have blind faith in himself, self-confidence was still important.

The Vampiric Demoness Empress looked at Qing Shui in shock. She had never expected him to do this, as not even talking about the ability, but strong experts like him rarely would serve women like this.

While she was still in the state of surprise, Qing Shui started to leave. He had the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal so finding the kitchen itself was unimportant.