Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 97: Rescue

Shi Jingzhi was frightened by his own speculation and shook his head to clear his mind, trying to calm himself down. It was just a guess after all. He had been injured before, but his wounds had never produced blood roots like Yin Ci.

This was a matter of life and death, and such dangerous conjectures couldn’t be taken lightly. He couldn’t just go and explain to Yin Ci, stab himself in the process, and accidentally meet his end. That way, Yin Ci would surely remember him forever—he would undoubtedly become the coldest joke in Yin Ci’s life.

Shen Zhu saw Shi Jingzhi’s ever-changing expression and knew that he had wandered off to an unreliable place again. At this moment, she wanted nothing more than to immediately leave the mountain and investigate the newly acquired clues about the “Invitation to God Formation”. Just as the sect leader was lost in thought, her patience was nearly exhausted. “What do we do next? Should we…”

“Nobody move.” Yin Ci suddenly spoke up.

Finally, he moved his sword away from Yu Zikuan’s neck. The Hanging Shadow Sword swept through the night, cutting off the closest line of the formation. Yin Ci then half crouched down, his fingertips touching the wriggling gelatin.

Yin Ci frowned. “Is this formation still active?”

Yu Zikuan had been fully under their control and hadn’t made any suspicious moves. However, the formation’s qi had only paused momentarily, and in the time everyone was distracted, it once again began to stir.

Shen Zhu suddenly lost interest in speculating about the origins of the formation. She quickly ran to the edge of the formation, closed her eyes, and carefully felt it. “This is really… What’s going on?”

Things had gotten so out of hand that Yu Zikuan didn’t bother being cautious around the strange people in front of him anymore. He immediately rushed to the location where the demon corpses were buried, dragging them out one by one and attempting to extinguish the formation by breaking the materials.

It was futile.

Even when the demon corpses were removed, the formation continued to operate on its own. The flickering brilliance dimmed slightly, but there was no sign of it being extinguished. Yin Ci’s brow furrowed tighter. “This is…”

“It’s a remote control formation,” Shi Jingzhi muttered. “I read about it in Senior Chen’s records—if a battle formation is too dangerous or the casting process is too complicated, the casters will set up an auxiliary formation in a safe location and activate it from a distance. This method consumes extra materials and manpower, but it does exist.”

Given the preparations on the other side, Yu Zikuan looked more like a puppet used to draw the formation.

Not many people in the world recognized the “Invitation to God Formation”. If the people in the martial world found Yu Zikuan’s corpse, they would at most attribute the attack to “crazy revenge” and then investigate his non-existent “allies” on the mountain.

Who would have expected that such a small battle formation could kill so many people on the mountain? Once everyone was dead, the mastermind could cleanly remove themselves, leaving no trace.

As one wave subsided, another arose. The night was shrouded in demonic fog, and chaos reigned all around. Even the sound of insects couldn’t be heard. A vague sense of oppression came from all directions, and the formation under their feet emitted a subtle killing intent. The scene in front of them resembled the Yellow Springs* of hell. Even when standing still, their hearts felt as if they were being pounded by a mortar, stirring up panic.

*A river in hell that divides the living realm from the dead. Souls cross it to reach the afterlife.

People could struggle to overcome the current evil demons in front of them, but how could they contend with the might of heaven and earth?

“Let’s run.” Su Si croaked. “This thing won’t stop. Staying here will only lead to our deaths in vain.”

Yan Qing grabbed his hair. “Indeed, we should leave, but is there a way to spread the message?”

Shen Zhu shook her head. “Even if we tell the truth, no one will believe us. There are many small sects around, and they won’t easily trust our words. Besides, the Kushan Sect has a bad reputation, and Warrior Yu has been presumed dead for years. Young Patriarch Yan has little credibility. Forgive my frankness, but even if we tell the truth, it will only be considered a conspiracy.”

The fourteen Buddha bead treasure maps were already a game of competition among major sects. After finally having a chance, everyone was working day and night, enduring the demonic mist, to search for clues. If suddenly someone claimed this place was dangerous, only fools would believe it.

Kongshi’s grave wouldn’t disappear overnight; there was still time. However, if they stay longer, they might end up being buried with Venerable Kongshi and Yan Budu.

Yin Ci put away his sword and looked at the group.

Su Si and Shen Zhu were ready to pack up and escape. Yan Qing remained silent and didn’t immediately object, but knowing his character, he was probably considering how to save more people along the way.

As for Shi Jingzhi… He was lost in thought for a while, but a mysterious smile gradually appeared on his face. It was hard to figure out what he was thinking. If it had been before, he would have run faster than anyone else in this dangerous situation.

Yin Ci looked curiously at Shi Jingzhi and didn’t speak immediately.

To be honest, Yin Ci didn’t really want to leave at this point. With this whole commotion caused by the Invitation to God Formation, the situation here was bound to be chaotic in the near future, and they would waste a lot of time—despite having Lord Bai in their hands, Kongshi’s grave was still carefully hidden by Yan Budu, so it wouldn’t be easy to find.

Shi Jingzhi couldn’t afford to wait, so they couldn’t continue to be passive.

The Invitation to God Formation was a novel thing. It was like using a bull’s knife to kill a chicken*; this method might be able to deal with a large number of mortals, but for him, it couldn’t reach the level of destroying an “immortal body”. From the activation of the formation to the dissipation of its residual power, it would probably take three to five days. During this time, when no one was on the mountains, he could go ahead and find…

*(杀鸡焉用牛刀) Metaphor referring to applying excessive or disproportionate force or effort to deal with a small or simple problem (AKA using a sledgehammer to crack a nut).

As he was thinking about this, he suddenly felt warmth on his fingers. Shi Jingzhi calmly moved closer and lightly pinched Yin Ci’s finger.

“Thinking of solving this on your own again?” Shi Jingzhi asked in a low voice. “Before, you said it was ‘for me’, but now you want to separate?”

Yin Ci helplessly said, “I mentioned cooperation before, and I won’t hide it from you. I was just planning to discuss with you—I’ll take advantage of the formation’s activation and go up the mountain immediately to seize the initiative. You can continue searching for information about the grave on the outside while we communicate using the sparrow demons.”

The various sects had been searching for the grave for some time, and they hadn’t gathered a lot of information. Once they fell into chaos, relevant information would be easier to obtain. By cooperating in this way, their efficiency wouldn’t be low.

He really couldn’t hold the Sword of Compassion himself, but by confirming the location first, they could save time coming later. The only cost that Kushan Sect had to bear was himself enduring some hardship, which was a pretty good deal.

Shi Jingzhi narrowed his eyes at Yin Ci for a while, and the faint smile on his face faded away. He sighed lightly and looked a bit unhappy.

Yin Ci didn’t understand.

Using the resources at hand was the safest and most advantageous approach, and it could be considered a “fair cooperation”. He didn’t know which nerve of Shi Jingzhi he pricked, which made his whole face fall.

Weren’t they getting along just fine earlier? Moreover, Shi Jingzhi had always been clear-headed. This kind of simple advantage and disadvantage, he should be able to grasp it clearly.

Who knew that Shi Jingzhi would turn around and leave, leaving him a clearly rejected back.

Yin Ci said helplessly, “Alright, Shizun, the situation is urgent. Can we just—”

“I have my own plan.” Shi Jingzhi turned his head slightly and glanced at Yin Ci. “My beloved disciple is fearless and isn’t afraid of anything, even me. I’m sure he won’t be afraid of my plan either.”

…He’s actually angry now, and he’s even more secretive about it. Yin Ci could tell from Shi Jingzhi’s tone that he was somewhat unhappy.

Without waiting for him to come up with a way to ease the atmosphere, Shi Jingzhi walked away a few steps and stopped in front of Yu Zikuan.

When their eyes met, Yu Zikuan let out a sigh from his languid face. “It was my carelessness that led us to this disaster. I will go to Taiheng to reason with them and try to save as many people as possible. You all have awakened me under such coincidental circumstances, and it is a kind act. It’s best for everyone to leave this place as soon as possible.”

Yan Zheng remained silent, and his expression kept changing. “With such a strong formation, the people outside the Grand Pavilion probably won’t survive… Since things have come to this point, I’ll go back and stabilize them. Since the martial world will be in chaos sooner or later, having fewer members of the Ling Sect wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

In his words, it seemed like he had no intention of escaping.

After pondering for a moment, Shi Jingzhi touched the Medicine Cures Illness flag. Then he slightly released some pressure, causing the surrounding mist to disperse along with the force. For a moment, the malevolent qi of the Invitation to God Formation was suppressed.

“Shen Zhu, you understand the Invitation to God Formation. If you try your best to obstruct the activation of the formation, how long can you delay it?”

“Huh?” Shen Zhu was momentarily confused.

Whether the formation was activated sooner or later, did it make a difference? Though she had thoughts, she answered truthfully, “To fully activate the formation, they need to complete the ritual chants, which would take around three to four hours of work… If I cause some disturbances here, I can delay it for up to five hours.”

Regardless of whether it was activated earlier or later, they would only be able to delay it for half a day at most. With so few people available at the moment, what could they achieve in half a day? Moreover, Shen Zhu understood the personality of this man. Shi Jingzhi wasn’t the type to suddenly develop a sense of kindness and salvation for all living beings.

What exactly was this person planning to do?

“Since no one believes the truth when spoken, lying is also a way.”

Still with his back turned to Yin Ci, Shi Jingzhi raised his voice a little, showing a calm and compelling tone.

“Shen Zhu, you stay here and try to destroy the formation, buying us some time. Yan Qing, you go with Yan Zheng to the vicinity of the Grand Pavilion and, on the way, retrieve your sword. After taking the sword, meet up with me when you leave the mountain… Su Si, you wait near the Chigou Sect’s camp. With your abilities, you can disseminate false information, right?”

“I can do it…”

“Senior Yu is excellent at archery. Please help us by sending some false information to the Taiheng Sect. Then use your archery to spread the message to the smaller sects. Those small sects have no independent judgment. If they see that the Grand Pavilion and the Taiheng Sect are deciding to leave, they won’t stay here any longer.”

After finishing his instructions, Shi Jingzhi walked back to his disciple’s side in a slow and leisurely manner.

“Due to the mist covering the mountain, not many people will venture deep inside. Just talking about leaving, half a day should be enough. As for you, A’Ci…”

Yin Ci guessed this person’s plan and felt a mixture of emotions. “I’ll stay by your side.”

Facing Shi Jingzhi’s plan, it seemed that he only had this one choice. He could no longer enter the mountain with the Invitation to God Formation blocking everyone’s way. Shi Jingzhi finally expressed satisfaction and smiled again.

“What are you all talking about? What message are you spreading?” Su Si finally couldn’t hold back anymore.

Shi Jingzhi inserted the flag into the formation, and the sect leader’s token on the flagpole swayed gently.

“It’s simple. You and Senior Yu act quickly; try your best to tell everyone—’The Kushan Sect has found the key to the Shirou and is preparing to leave.'”

Su Si: “…”

Su Si: “Sect Master, are you trying to get yourself killed?”

At this moment, they were wanted by the major orthodox sects due to the massacre at the Jianchen Temple. The demonic sects might not care about the well-being of the orthodox sects, but they would undoubtedly covet the clue to the Shirou. By spreading this message, Shi Jingzhi was practically teasing both sides and committing suicide in a rather creative way.

To save others but lose one’s own life, was it worth it? Or were the master and disciple planning to take advantage of everyone’s inattention and quietly become monks at the Jianchen Temple?

But when it came to other motives, Su Si really couldn’t figure out any intentions beyond “saving people”.

This was the first time that Yu Zikuan took a serious look at Shi Jingzhi. “Shi Jingzhi of the Kushan Sect? …Sect Master Shi, you truly understand righteousness. I admire you. You’re truly different from the rumors.”

Not only was he different from the rumors, but the Kushan Sect was also wildly different from the rumors. However, Yan Qing saw that he could save people without saying a word and immediately nodded in agreement. Su Si thought it over and felt that there was still a chance to escape, so he reluctantly agreed as well.

Time was limited, and people didn’t continue to question. They quickly dispersed into the night. Soon, the place was empty except for Shen Zhu, who was fully focused on obstructing the formation, and the master and disciple of the Kushan Sect.

Shi Jingzhi leaned on his precious flag and walked calmly outside the formation, as if the crazy idea just now wasn’t his own. Yin Ci took two steps forward and stood by his left side.

“I can guess your purpose in ‘saving people’, but this method also carries risks.”

Yin Ci was still calculating the details of the plan.

“The major orthodox sects haven’t sent any formidable masters, but Chai Xin has already suspected Yan Zheng. Yan Zheng might not be able to control the elders of the Ling Sect. If too many people from the Ling Sect come out…”

“How does A’Ci understand the meaning of ‘treasure*’?” Shi Jingzhi interrupted Yin Ci’s words and asked a non sequitur question.

*(珍重) As in referring to something precious (to be treasured/cherished).

“What?” Yin Ci’s thoughts were almost thrown off track by this person’s erratic thinking.

By the Invitation to God Formation, the mist continued to churn restlessly. Compared to the previous oppression, the mist now appeared even more entangled and inscrutable. Shi Jingzhi stopped in his tracks and turned to face Yin Ci. In the night mist, those amber-colored eyes remained razor-sharp.

“The giver is extremely powerful and willing to give everything for someone. This kind of ‘treasure’ is indeed touching. If I were an ordinary person, I might also stop here. Accepting goodwill peacefully is much easier… However, if there are other desires, it may seem like I don’t understand the situation.”

Shi Jingzhi caught a strand of Yin Ci’s long hair, and his expression was no longer as restrained as before, but rather unusually calm.

“Unfortunately, I happen to be the greediest person in the world. One person shielding another behind them cannot be considered ‘cooperation’. Now that I have the opportunity, I will show you what my ‘treasure’ truly means.”

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