Immortal Father

Li Ping’an strolled forward with his hands behind his back, and Dizang instinctively stepped back half a step.

Li Ping’an smiled at the sight: "Nephew, are you afraid of me?"

Dizang didn’t find an excuse, clasped his hands in greeting, and said earnestly: "Both of my senior brothers met their ends at His Majesty’s hands, it’s just that my little heart feels heavy."

"Those two senior brothers of yours were not of the benevolent kind."

Li Ping’an asked leisurely:

"In your view, was I right or wrong in killing Qia Feng and Calamity?"

Dizang was silent.

Li Ping’an gazed at Dizang’s delicate face, as if ready to fight at any disagreement.

Suddenly, a somewhat immature voice came from Dizang’s feet:

"Whatever His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor does is surely right.

"Master, those two senior brothers of yours were guilty of countless crimes, having harmed innumerable beings, terrorizing and enslaving uncountable members of the Human Race. The Heavenly Emperor killed them for the sake of countless living beings!

"Isn’t that right, Master? You always say so, Master, please respond, Master."

Dizang smiled helplessly, nodded slowly: "From the viewpoint of justice, it is right."

"Nephew’s dog is quite perceptive," Li Ping’an said with a smile.

Dizang replied: "It is called Diting, and it is not actually a canine."

"I’m a dog, I’m a dog, Master," Diting quickly said, "If His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor says I’m a canine, then that’s what I am."

Dizang:...

Li Ping’an:...

Good heavens, this Diting even left Li Ping’an speechless.

"Ahem!"

Emperor Li Tian cleared his throat, and continued in a gentle tone:

"Nephew may have some misunderstandings about me.

"I always focus on matters, not people. If I truly intended to target all of the Western Sect’s disciples, there would have been no need to wait for your two Sect Hierarchs to return. I had plenty of opportunities to act against you.

"However, take you for example, although you haven’t committed any evil deeds, you have enjoyed the benefits brought by your senior brothers’ misdeeds."

Dizang nodded slightly: "What Your Majesty says is true. I indeed carry a portion of guilt upon me, and that’s why I wish to do more good deeds for peace of mind."

"Doing good is not easy."

Li Ping’an asked with a smile:

"So Nephew, how many good deeds have you done so far?"

"Well, truth be told..."

Diting interjected: "My Master has done plenty of good deeds! He’s saved thousands or tens of thousands! My Master has walked the world disguised as a little Daoist, driven away demon beasts, slain the vicious, spreading justice everywhere!"

Dizang gave an embarrassed smile, lifted his foot and nudged the excessively talkative big dog away.

Li Ping’an almost burst out laughing.

This Diting, truly cherishes its life.

Dizang was considerate enough and whispered:

"What Dizang has done are merely what is within sight and effortless, not worth mentioning. Any Immortal could achieve them.

"Your Majesty established order, opened the framework of the Three Realms, broke old barriers, founded the Heavenly Court, established reincarnation, eradicated the Sea of Blood, and destroyed the inner heavens—these kinds of great deeds, Dizang is far from capable of matching.

"But, as a disciple of the Western Sect, Your Majesty and the Western Sect inevitably have some rift. In private, Dizang must face Your Majesty indirectly."

"What a concept, facing indirectly."

Li Ping’an nodded slowly:

"Today I came to the underworld not specifically to find you, just happened to discover your whereabouts and came down to chat with you.

"I have three questions for you, and your answers might have a certain impact on you and the Western Sect that nurtured you."

Dizang said earnestly: "I quietly listen to Your Majesty’s teachings."

"First question, if ten thousand years ago you had the power to stop Venerable Qia Feng from his actions, would you have acted or advised him?"

"Of course, I would."

Dizang’s expression grew a bit somber:

"Actually, if not for that time when Jie Sect attacked Mount Ling, we wouldn’t have known what our senior brothers were doing."

"From a young age, we followed both teachers in cultivation, only focusing on cultivation and paying no mind to other affairs."

Li Ping’an continued: "Now that the Western Sect has openly issued a warrant for Maitreya, if Maitreya appears seriously injured before you, asking you to save his life, would you save him?"

Dizang hesitated little, softly said: "I would save him."

Diting nearly panicked.

Li Ping’an asked with a smile why, and Dizang pondered several times, then said slowly: "Because he is my senior brother."

"But Dizang, saving this being, who has previously committed unpardonable crimes and will continue to endanger millions of beings, will you really save him?"

"When Dizang saved him, he was just Dizang’s senior brother."

Dizang smiled serenely:

"Dizang is willing to save him, and afterward, go to the Heavenly Court to confess to the same crimes as sheltering him, bearing the same guilt as him.

"Perhaps saying ’I won’t save him’ might manifest so-called righteousness.

"But Dizang truly can’t say it, nor can he do it."

Li Ping’an’s smile gradually faded, and he said slowly: "This third question, if one day your two teachers were to commit unforgivable evil acts against all beings, would you be willing to stand your arm in front of them?"

Dizang nodded with firm gaze.

He said: "Although I don’t believe the two teachers would betray all beings, if that day really comes, Dizang will do what must be done."

"Good."

Li Ping’an said slowly:

"These three questions were answered well. You continue your practice, I need to return to the Heavenly Court to attend to matters."

Dizang was filled with confusion: "Your Majesty appeared just to ask me these questions?"

"Why else?"

Li Ping’an laughed:

"Even if I wanted to kill you, I would need a reason.

"You didn’t kill or commit arson, and you have accumulated a lot of merit by doing good. What reason do I have to kill you?"

"Practice, your Great Dao is also quite important to this world."

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅✦𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾✦𝗇𝖾𝗍

Li Ping’an raised his hand and patted Dizang’s shoulder.

Dizang stood stunned, and when he came back to his senses and turned to look, Li Ping’an was already gone, with only a trace of the Heavenly Emperor’s Dao Charm lingering behind.

"Master... Master?"

Diting sat at Dizang’s feet, raised a paw, and poked Dizang, muttering: