Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 10: Threads of Worries

Before Shen Zhu arrived, her voice preceded her. “In principle, one disciple from the Yueshui Pavilion should accompany ten people. Since there are only five of you, I alone will be enough. Having more will only add to the confusion.”

Jin Lan exclaimed in surprise, “When did you arrive?”

“From the time when Sect Master Shi started bouncing around.” Shen Zhu smiled brightly.

She didn’t embarrass Shi Jingzhi further and continued, “I recognize this technique. It’s called ‘sticky shadow’, a guiding technique. However, creating an image for guidance is too extravagant and not intuitive enough. As a result, it has been lost for a long time. I didn’t expect to see it here… Sect Master Shi, please step back ten paces. Don’t worry. It’s just a phantom image, and it can’t harm anyone.”

Shi Jingzhi obediently took ten steps back. The phantom initially followed suit but stopped halfway, no longer following him.

“This is the effect of going the wrong way. Sect Master Shi, please move forward twenty steps and head towards the fork in the road.”

Shi Jingzhi complied, and the phantom walked ahead of him, choosing a path at the fork.

Shen Zhu: “You see, this is how it leads.”

Jin Lan: “…It’s really troublesome. No wonder the technique has been lost. Isn’t a compass good enough? Who has nothing better to do than create something like this?”

Yin Ci calmly remarked, “Perhaps a hermit?”

Yan Qing remained silent for a moment and reluctantly asked, “Can I not go? I don’t want the treasure.”

“No.” Shi Zhongyu shook her head. “Just now, you were the first to notice the footsteps, and I need your ears. When we return to the sect, I will report this matter to the sect leader and request recognition for your contribution.”

Yan Qing reluctantly agreed, and Yin Ci glanced at him a few times.

With a single collision, he knew that this blind man had mediocre martial arts skills, even inferior to Jin Lan’s. And those who could see the sticky shadow technique also had mediocre martial arts skills. Explaining it solely based on their keen ears wouldn’t hold up.

Could it be that the technique had other selection criteria?

Coming to explore the Ghost Tomb was indeed the right decision. Interesting events were truly unfolding one after another.

Yin Ci smiled and poked the blind man. “Brother Yan, you have Senior Sister Shi protecting you, but I can only follow my Shizun. Look, I dare to go, seeking fortune in dangerous situations.”

Shi Jingzhi: “…Good disciple, there’s no need to be so frank.”

Jin Lan was trembling like a sieve but didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of his Senior Sister. So, the three members of the Taiheng Sect, the two members of the Kushan Sect, and Shen Zhu, forming a group of six, set off discreetly.

Shi Zhongyu consciously took on the role of team leader. “We are few in number, so our focus is on exploration. If conflicts arise, don’t get entangled.”

Yin Ci wasn’t surprised. Shi Zhongyu was the senior disciple of the Taiheng Sect, well-known and highly regarded in the martial world. In terms of overall strength, Shi Jingzhi was no match for her.

The faceless monk quietly moved forward, leading them away from the brothel and into the narrow alleyways. Unfortunately, even with their caution, Yin Ci still noticed a trailing presence.

An aura followed closely behind, neither too near nor too far, accompanying them all the way to their destination—

The faceless monk stopped in front of a coffin shop. It turned around, clasped its hands together, and dissipated like thin smoke. The shop had two levels, a typical and inconspicuous establishment within the dim alley.

Shi Zhongyu rolled up her sleeves, making sure the others could see the blood essence bead bracelet. The beads were pure white like snow before but had turned dark red as if they were dripping with blood.

She brandished her sword and said, “There are monsters nearby, so be cautious.”

The other five instantly took cover behind her, forming a neat and orderly line, resembling a row of chickens.

Old Hen Shi Zhongyu: “……”

She pricked her finger and smeared a few drops of blood on a pebble before flicking it towards the shop’s entrance. The pebbles fell silently, without making any noise. Shi Zhongyu looked at Yan Qing, who shook his head.

“It seems that the monsters are not the type to attack proactively,” she sighed.

Shi Zhongyu put away the blood essence beads bracelet, held a sword in her right hand, and switched to a bronze dagger in her left hand. When she stepped into the coffin shop, her white clothes cast a pale-yellow hue, but her fierce aura remained undiminished.

The “chickens” followed behind her quietly, maintaining a distance of about five steps.

Inside the coffin shop, there was nothing particularly special. The shopkeeper, made of paper, was leisurely reading a book. There were no customers, and only lacquered coffins lined up. The air carried a faint smell of blood, and the blood essence beads grew increasingly red, on the verge of turning pitch black.

Suddenly, Shi Jingzhi stopped in his tracks. Despite wearing the Nuo mask, his demeanor and aura were completely different from before, even causing Shi Zhongyu to give a sideways glance.

“Nobody move.” His tone lacked the previous ease. “Miss Shi, the monster is the ‘Three Thousand Threads of Worries’.”

Shi Zhongyu immediately became serious. She tossed the bronze dagger to Jin Lan and said, “Cut a circle around our feet and quickly go back to report!”

Shi Jingzhi shook his head. “It’s too late. This group is quite numerous, and I’m afraid we’ve already fallen into their trap outside the shop.”

Jin Lan and Yan Qing were bewildered by their cryptic conversation and looked at the empty coffin shop, expressing their confusion. Yin Ci lowered his head, hiding his face in the shadows, remaining silent.

“‘Threads of Worries’ is a type… Well, whether it’s an insect or a vine, there’s no definitive conclusion. In any case, it’s a kind of creature that is as thin as spider silk, weightless, and invisible to the naked eye. When they gather in the thousands, they form the ‘Three Thousand Threads of Worries’.”

Shen Zhu explained smoothly, still composed. “They start climbing up from the feet. When they pass the waist and abdomen, it causes a slight itch, and it only becomes noticeably uncomfortable after they reach the neck. Unfortunately, by the time that happens… Well, we’ve only just entered, so there must be a solution.”

Jin Lan and Yan Qing were only in their twenties, and this change of topic frightened them. “You mentioned it, but what happens when they reach that point…?”

‘The Threads of Worries would knead a person into a half-dead lump of flesh, feeding on them with tomb-dwelling insects and rodents, slowly devouring them,’ Yin Ci added in his mind.

Actually, there was no problem if it directly ate insects and rodents. Yin Ci had seen the Threads of Worries mold live rats into lumps of meat. It was just that human bodies were larger and possessed more vitality, making them particularly appetizing.

The group of Threads of Worries was so numerous that their appetite seemed insatiable. No wonder Yan Budu kept them in the coffin shop, where the coffins were undoubtedly filled with “feed”.

Ever since becoming immortal, Yin Ci gradually gained the ability to see various invisible creatures. At this moment, countless fine threads flowed before him like a stream. Flowing down from the second floor, they climbed the walls and covered the coffins, forming a large puddle outside the shop. The items in the room were covered in silver-white threads, as if struck by a snowstorm.

Silently, they bypassed his feet, whether out of fear or disdain, refusing to touch him even slightly.

Yin Ci glanced at the other five. The Threads of Worries had climbed on the ankles of the three from Taiheng Sect and Shen Zhu. On the other hand, the Threads of Worries had already reached Shi Jingzhi’s knees, as if he had donned a pair of white fur leg guards.

Yin Ci: “…” Why? Have they identified him as tender and tasty with delicate skin?

But that didn’t stop him from continuing to watch the spectacle. After all, he was just a “weak mountain dweller”. When the situation became critical, he would find a way to help Shi Jingzhi.

Shi Zhongyu reacted quickly. She drew a blood circle in her palm, splattering blood around her. Taking advantage of the distraction caused by the Threads of Worries, she took out several pills and threw them to the others.

“These are poison pills. Take them quickly,” Shi Zhongyu whispered, then threw five white pills. “The white ones are antidotes. Take them after escaping.”

Shen Zhu gulped down the poison pills. “Not bad, not bad. Mixing poison in the blood slows down the erosion speed of these things… Sect Master Shi, you seem to be quite familiar with Threads of Worries. Have you dealt with this thing before?”

“I’ve read about it in books. It can be resolved by setting fire to burn it.”

Everyone fell into silence—this was a street full of paper figures. Even touching a paper figure required first chilling oneself. If they were to set fire on the spot, all the firefly spiders within a radius of two li would come rushing for the feast.

Shi Jingzhi seemed to have thought of something and became playful again. “Yan Budu is quite interesting, using a monk to lead us to slay the Three Thousand Threads of Worries. Is he trying to get us all to become monks?”

Yin Ci: “… Shizun, please be quiet. If we don’t escape soon, we’ll have a collective funeral.”

Shi Zhongyu had no interest in listening to Shi Jingzhi’s nonsense. A faint green light flashed on her sword, emanating a subtle heat. Yin Ci watched as her sword danced like the wind, cutting through all the surrounding Threads of Worries.

Shi Zhongyu used the Green Maiden Sword technique that embodied yin and yang. Her sword emitted a green shade of yin fire. The sect leader of Taiheng Sect specifically chose her to lead the team, most likely because of this skill.

Shi Jingzhi fell silent and stared at her swordsmanship without blinking.

Yin fire belonged to yin and was highly effective against living creatures but less effective against evil beings. Shi Zhongyu had taken the poison and was specifically targeted by the Threads of Worries, causing her complexion to gradually turn pale.

Meanwhile, Jin Lan used the bronze dagger to make random slashes beneath everyone’s feet, attempting to lead them on an escape. However, before they even reached the door, their feet felt as if stuck in a quagmire, firmly entangled by the Threads of Worries.

Seeing the dire situation, Shi Zhongyu decided to abandon defense and instead clear the path for the other five.

Jin Lan’s eyes instantly turned red. “Senior Sister…”

Unexpectedly, just as the Green Maiden Sword technique was swung halfway, a flagpole appeared out of nowhere. Shi Jingzhi’s voice carried a smile. “Miss Shi, life is precious. Don’t always think about sacrificing yourself heroically.”

The words “Medicine Cures Illness” appeared on the flag, and a layer of golden fire emerged. The golden fire was dazzling and radiant, yet the flag itself remained unscathed.

“I have no intention of stealing the skills of my peers. It’s just an urgent situation, so please bear with me. Thank you for your guidance.”

Shi Zhongyu: “…You’re welcome?”

Shi Jingzhi received the affirmation and then inverted the flag with his hand… and began sweeping the ground with it.

He did something to the Green Maiden Sword technique, transforming the yin fire into yang fire. The yang fire adhered closely to the flag, never dispersing. The flag was much broader than the sword’s blade, resulting in an excellent effect. The Threads of Worries immediately lost interest and scattered, fleeing in all directions.

Shi Zhongyu stood bewildered in place, only turning her head after a while and speaking to Jin Lan. “Remember to bring a dust cloth next time we exorcize demons.”

After saying that, she fell into deeper perplexity—converting vitality into fire and using fire to cover objects was her unique skill. How could it be so easily learned?

Yin Ci watched with amusement as the Threads of Worries formed a heap, trembling and squeezing into the corner, resembling a pile of snow that had been swept up.

…It seemed that this time, he didn’t need to intervene.

While Shi Jingzhi was busy sweeping the shop, the others simply sat on the ground and consumed the antidote. Jin Lan and Yan Qing had the weakest martial arts foundation and were still affected by the Threads of Worries, making it difficult for them to walk for a while.

By the time Shi Jingzhi finished cleaning, the large mass of Threads of Worries had already crawled out of the coffin shop, rolling away in sadness.

Shi Zhongyu’s blood essence beads had turned white again, but the awkward atmosphere remained unchanged. Shen Zhu said she wanted to take samples and make records, then disappeared to an unknown location. With one person missing, the atmosphere became somewhat colder.

Jin Lan attempted to liven up the mood. “Thanks to Senior Sister and Sect Master Shi, we managed to drive away the monster with great difficulty. Now we can freely search. With so many coffins in the shop, there must be a lot of treasures hidden.”

“Jin Lan, be cautious with your words.” Shi Zhongyu finally snapped out of her thoughts. “The absence of monsters doesn’t mean there are no trap mechanisms.”

Meanwhile, Shi Jingzhi put away the flag and opened his medicine box. “The poison and monster’s attack surely depleted our vitality. Come, everyone, take some medicine.”

Having witnessed Shi Jingzhi’s strength, Shi Zhongyu spoke with a hint of respect. “May I ask, Sect Master Shi, what is this?”

Shi Jingzhi replied, “It’s a specialty of the Kushan Sect called the Power Pill.”

Shi Zhongyu: “…”

Shi Zhongyu sighed and patted her own face, regaining some composure. “Thank you, Sect Master Shi, for your assistance just now…”

“It’s a family imitation technique that’s difficult to explain. It worked out by chance. Don’t dwell on it, Miss Shi.” Shi Jingzhi stood up. “You all go ahead and take the medicine! I’ll go out and investigate. The Threads of Worries might still be around.”

Yin Ci chewed on the pill and looked meaningfully towards the main entrance.

Outside the coffin shop.

[Apologies, I haven’t found the right opportunity since I received the demon sparrow’s message.] Shen Zhu put on a more serious expression and communicated through lip-reading. [Yin Ci indeed has a grandfather who was well-read, and his father sold fur in town for a while. However, I haven’t found much information about Yin Ci himself.]

Shi Jingzhi gazed quietly at her.

Shen Zhu frowned. [It’s not surprising there is little record since Yin Ci’s family lives deep in the mountains. It’s not a flaw but…]

[You’ve done well.]

Shi Jingzhi replied in the same manner.

[Rest assured. I have my own measures.]

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The author has something to say:

Demonic Lord Yin: Enjoyed the show, though it’s not convenient to applaud.

Master Shi, the real sweeping monk. (×

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Kinky Thoughts:

In terms of whether something is a demon or monster, I’ve decided to translate it within context and what just flows better. Generally, there is a difference though. The Threads of Worries are a type of [yao] (妖) which could be considered a monster or demon. Different from “devils/fiends” [mo] (魔) which could also be considered demons as well.

The difference lies in that [yao] generally isn’t inherently evil, while when westerners think of “demon” it’s always within an evil context. Likewise, [mo] are demons that are inherently evil.

This nice glossary breaks it down in more detail.

On another note, in terms of cultivation, yin and yang represent the duality of the universe and are opposite forces.

Yin is commonly associated with feminine energy (cold, darkness, ice), while Yang is commonly associated with masculine energy (light, fire, heat).

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