Return of the Immortal Emperor Daddy

The writer Tao Yuanming once recorded the story of the Taoyuan Immortal Realm. It tells of a fisherman during the Eastern Jin period of Dragon Country who entered a peach grove. At the end of the grove was a small hill with a little cave entrance. Initially, the cave was very narrow, just wide enough for one person to pass through. After walking a few dozen more steps, it suddenly became spacious and bright.

Inside was a flat, wide expanse of land with rows of neatly arranged houses, fertile fields, beautiful ponds, and plants like mulberry trees and bamboo groves. Paths crisscrossed the fields, and the sounds of clucking chickens and barking dogs echoed intermittently. The men and women toiling in the fields were dressed just like people from the outside world. The old and the young were all content and living in peace.

Some say Tao Yuanming’s Taoyuan never existed, but it did, right here in the Underground World. Its people loved peach trees and cultivated elixir fields. But today, the Sixth Heavenly Demon and other leaders of the Shogunate had suddenly attacked Peach Blossom Spring, rendering this tranquil Utopia deathly silent.

Along both sides of the streets, the wooden buildings stood empty and deserted. What was once a peaceful and beautiful place now seemed as desolate as a haunted realm.

Among the fields, from within the tall grass, a small head popped out. It was a little girl, about eight or nine years old. She looked around a few times before speaking to those behind her. "Everyone, keep lying low! Don’t come out. Once Grandpa Tao returns, we’ll be fine."

In the dense underbrush were numerous prone figures, including the elderly, women, and children. But a look at their faces revealed a shared, profound sadness.

To avoid the chaos of war during the Qin era, their ancestors had led their families and neighbors to this isolated place, never to leave again. Thus, they had severed all contact with the people outside Peach Blossom Spring. Later, they discovered other people living in the Underground World, but they kept to themselves and did not interact with them.

They lived in harmony and asked for nothing. Why, then, had they attracted the attention of a group of Immortal Seekers? They were merely living peacefully, not seeking immortality themselves.

"How did we possibly offend them?"

"I don’t know."

They detested the people of the Shogunate, who had attacked their homeland for no reason at all.

"Why? Heh heh heh, it seems you’re very eager to know the reason!" The men of the Shogunate had finally discovered the people of Peach Blossom Spring hiding in the fields. Their leader, Toyotomi Hidekata, scoffed, "Very well! Since you’re so desperate to know, I’ll tell you!"

"In this world, the strong devour the weak! That’s right. The reason I’m bullying you is simply that I am stronger than you!"

Toyotomi Hidekata’s voice was sinister, causing the people of Peach Blossom Spring to grind their teeth in anger.

Just because they were weaker? Did that mean they deserved to be bullied?

The other lords of the Shogunate stood beside Toyotomi Hidekata, their auras overwhelmingly powerful. With each step they took, their compounded Yuan Force made the very fields tremble.

The faces of the men, women, and children of Peach Blossom Spring turned as pale as paper. It was over. They knew their lives would end here.

"I need the best medicinal herbs," Toyotomi Hidekata continued, a crazed laugh suddenly erupting from him. "And everyone in the Underground World knows that only you people of Peach Blossom Spring ignore the path of immortals, choosing instead to quietly stay home, nurturing medicinal plants and cultivating flowers and fruits. I initially thought the other Immortal Seekers from Dragon Country would protect you, making our task more difficult. But it turns out they don’t care about you at all! All they care about is their own cultivation, their own quest for immortality!"

"Since that is the case, we of the Shogunate will be taking over Peach Blossom Spring."

"You don’t want to die? That can be arranged. You will change your names—call yourselves Mountaintop, Tanaka, Wellside, whatever you like. But from this day forward, you have nothing to do with Dragon Country. You are merely slaves who will cultivate medicinal herbs for our Shogunate."

His words were the height of arrogance. The people of Peach Blossom Spring gritted their teeth, but the Shogunate’s power left their faces drained of color.

One of the elderly men gathered his courage and shouted through clenched teeth, "When Elder Tao returns, he will kill you!"

"Are you talking about Tao Qianyang, Tao Yuanming’s descendant, one of the few literary figures in the Underground World?" Hearing the name, Toyotomi Hidekata’s expression grew solemn.

At that moment, Tokugawa Ieiken added, "Unfortunately for you, he has gone to attend a literary conference."

Toyotomi Hidekata smiled once more. "Then your fate is sealed. Either die, or change your names and become my slaves."

"Impossible!"

"I’d rather die than be called something ugly like Tanaka, Wellside, or Mountaintop!"

"That’s right! Our own names are beautiful. We don’t want your disgusting names."

"You can forget it!"

Men and women, young and old, their eyes burned with defiance. They would face death before becoming slaves to Toyotomi Hidekata.

Watching this, Toyotomi Hidekata’s eyes filled with extreme killing intent. "You people of Dragon Country are despicable. A worthless breed... You’ve been hiding here from war since the Qin Dynasty, but it seems you share the same foolish nature as those on the surface, completely oblivious to reality! You refuse to surrender no matter what, only adding to the casualties. Wouldn’t it be better to just submit peacefully?"

The people of Peach Blossom Spring knew little of what was happening on the surface. Their last update had come from a fisherman from Wuling who had stumbled upon their home by mistake. It was only then that they learned of the Han, Wei, and Jin dynasties that had passed. Here in the Underground World, they rarely communicated with the other inhabitants. They were completely unaware of what had truly befallen Dragon Country.

"Refusing to submit means certain destruction!" Toyotomi Hidekata commanded with a great sweep of his hand. "Charge! Kill them all and take over this Peach Blossom Spring!"

The elixir fields of Peach Blossom Spring were exceptionally good. Toyotomi Hidekata and his followers were just waiting for Yuan Tianjing to return from the surface with Wu Tian’s treasures. With Peach Blossom Spring’s herbs, their Shogunate could finally create its own Elixirs. The thought of Elixirs that could grant an extra year of life with a single pill excited the members of the Shogunate.

Immediately, they attacked as one, charging like ravenous tigers and wolves toward the men, women, and children of Peach Blossom Spring.

Death descended.

"Is this really the end for our Peach Blossom Spring?"

"The Eastern Taizhong Palace also tried to recruit us, but we refused to submit to their command."

"So, even though we share the Yan Huang lineage, they won’t help us?"

The people of Peach Blossom Spring were not afraid to die. But they didn’t want to die for nothing, not when they all had dreams yet to be realized.

"I’m not even married yet!"

"I’m still a virgin!"

"I just want my little daughter to survive."

"I wish she could live..."

But the men of the Shogunate paid them no mind; they knew only how to kill.

"STOP!"

At that moment, a deafening shout rang out as the village chief of Peach Blossom Spring and an old man hurriedly returned.