Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 118: A Small Move

“Details or not, what’s the difference? I’m here, so I certainly didn’t come to assist Wu Huai. Once you catch him, whether to kill or to torture, Chigou will not interfere.”

Hua Jingchun didn’t answer directly.

Shi Jingzhi didn’t plan to persuade further; he hummed with realization. “My apologies.”

Yin Ci looked coldly at Hua Jingchun. She didn’t know the identity of the members of the Kushan sect, so naturally, they didn’t pry too much. However, based on Protector Hua’s knowledge of Wu Huai, if she said they didn’t know each other, he would never believe it.

But as Hua Jingchun said, just capture Wu Huai and draw out the Immortal Assembly. He had no interest in their relationship—he and Shi Jingzhi had more pressing matters to attend to.

“A’Ci looks good in black.” Shi Jingzhi took off his old person disguise and changed into his night attire, revealing only his eyes. “Once our sect has money, I’ll change our uniform to black.”

Yin Ci was amused. Shi Jingzhi, truly lived up to his name as a “Child of Desire”. While his life wasn’t guaranteed, he was fantasizing about the future uniform of the Kushan Sect. This made Yin Ci reflect on something—for some reason, Shi Jingzhi liked to discuss the “future” with him more and more.

Whenever he talked about the future, he was always excited and no longer showed fear towards death.

However, the stronger the hope, the thicker the despair when hope was lost. For a moment, Yin Ci didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing. He pressed his buzzing head, trying to shake off those thoughts.

“The current one is fine, no need to change. Shizun looks better in brighter colors. Otherwise, someone might kidnap you.”

Shi Jingzhi’s face always had a certain seductive charm. Now, after his near-death experience, the corners of his lips always had a playful smirk, making him look even more cunning. If he also wore black, he would surely be mistaken for a demon.

Shi Jingzhi chuckled, glancing sideways at Yin Ci. “A’Ci is right. I have to be safe and sound until you propose to me. Speaking of which, I’m having trouble placing this tranquility charm. I’m afraid it’ll fall when I move around. Help me adjust its position.”

Upon mentioning the talisman, Yin Ci’s sharp demeanor softened. He silently moved closer and tied the brocade pouch inside Shi Jingzhi’s chest. They were of similar height, and as Yin Ci adjusted the pouch, their foreheads accidentally touched.

“In recent days, I’ve been listening to A’Ci, and I haven’t been seriously injured. This is my reward to myself.” Even so, Shi Jingzhi’s breath carried a faint bloody smell. “If A’Ci stays intact this time, I’ll reward you too.”

Yin Ci sighed secretly. “What reward?”

Sect Master Shi shamelessly replied, “I’ll kiss you again.”

Yin Ci: “……”

Shi Jingzhi’s learning speed was too fast, which wasn’t always a good thing. Now, doing such a thing, he was just slightly embarrassed, showing only red ears. Yin Ci somewhat missed the old, blushing Shi Jingzhi that was as bright as a tomato. The slight worry he felt after detecting the scent of blood was now diluted by this light joke… He wondered if this fox did it on purpose.

The moon was rising outside the window, and the clouds were dense, creating a perfect opportunity to act.

Their mission was to drug the kitchen of the Chigou Sect.

Hua Jingchun followed the principle of “don’t entrust those you doubt, don’t doubt those used*”, entrusting this crucial task to them. However, in Yin Ci’s opinion, she was more concerned about the incompetence of her close associates.

*(疑人不用，用人不疑) It’s a proverb referring to don’t employ those you doubt and don’t doubt those you employ. || In this context, since Hua Jingchun is using the Kushan Sect, she no longer doubts them.

Sect Master Shi was no longer the same incapable person. Under Yin Ci’s guidance, he moved swiftly, leaving only a few trembling leaves in his wake.

The custom of the Chigou Sect had always been to celebrate joy rather than mourn. Founded by tomb robbers, each generation’s Patriarch feared retribution in the afterlife. They were buried in simple graves, with the location kept secret, calling it “self-punishment”. With the ascension ceremony approaching, the entire sect was decorated. Scorpion flags were erected everywhere, and golden lanterns hung. Bone bells tied with red string clinked under the eaves.

These bone bells had thin steel wires woven in between. If touched, all the bells would resonate with an eerie sound that could be heard for miles. Moreover, every courtyard was filled with patrolling officers, holding lanterns, their spines tenser than a bowstring.

Yet no matter how tightly guarded the Chigou Sect was, it couldn’t resist two masters, one of whom knew the place inside out.

“There’s a hidden passage under this wall. Pass through, and you’ll find a corridor to an abandoned house,” Yin Ci said confidently.

Back then, to hide the secret of his “immortality”, Yin Ci always wore ghostly attire in public. When he lived in the sect, he always needed places to breathe. Most of the secret chambers and passageways in the Chigou Sect were designed by “Su Zhi”.

Now that Su Zhi was here in person, all those miscellaneous artifacts were all overlooked. The master and disciple moved like two agile cats, winding around until they quickly found the kitchen of the Chigou Sect.

The cooks of the Chigou Sect were all internal members. The kitchen was lit all night, ensuring that those on night patrols and nighttime activities were provided with meals. The Chigou kitchen had its own courtyard, complete with flowing water and beautiful scenery; the design was so grand it seemed wasteful.

“…A’Ci, this kitchen takes up such a big courtyard, and it’s quite extravagant. Was it your idea?” Shi Jingzhi crouched on the eaves, inhaling deeply.

“I sometimes prepare the meals myself.”

“How elegant.”

In reality, it was to test some poisons, trying various ways to poison himself. Some toxins were hard to swallow without treatment. During his years with Chigou, Yin Ci consumed many poisons, but it only ended up providing the Chigou assassins with a poison handbook. He himself remained lively and agile.

These things were hard to explain to Shi Jingzhi, so Yin Ci could only accept it silently. Mentioning those past suicidal tendencies around him seemed as distant as a previous life.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but reach out and touch the back of Shi Jingzhi’s head. Shi Jingzhi was startled, but instead of moving away, he leaned into Yin Ci’s palm, savoring the warmth for a moment.

Before they could get any closer, a pleasant aroma suddenly rose from below, followed by a low complaint.

“It’s understandable for those working at night, but why is that sect leader of Taiheng also staying up so late? It’s already late, and we still have to prepare additional food.”

“It’s the high-profile righteous sect acting all high and mighty. After all, our previous Patriarch was quite courteous to Taiheng. Otherwise, he would always be remembered for being too aggressive. Didn’t Patriarch Su say, it’s called the way of swelling… swelling mediocrity*!”

*Clarity: He’s misremembering it by saying (肿庸之道) instead of (中庸之道). The [zhong] (肿) and [zhong] (中) sound similar but mean different things; the former meaning to swell, while the latter meaning middle. The latter is a Chinese philosophy referring to “The way of moderation” that emphasizes moderation, balance, and harmony.

“…That doesn’t sound right. Anyway, what did Qu Duanyun order? It smells so good.”

“Don’t mention it. It’s freshly slaughtered top-grade chicken. His servant delivered a menu, saying our food is too oily and spicy for Taiheng’s taste.”

Shi Jing Zhi was irritated. “The last time we visited the Qu’s residence, wasn’t that guy quite frugal? A’Ci…”

“We’ll have chicken tomorrow.” Yin Ci understood.

The master and disciple shared a smile, waited for the two servants to leave, and then sneaked into the kitchen.

The medicinal teas and wines used for the ascension ceremony were sourced from different merchants and sealed in the deepest cellar of the kitchen. With Yin Ci, the ancestral spy, everything went smoothly—they were just applying a temporary, mild powder, which wasn’t toxic and hard to detect.

After adding the medicine, they still had an hour before their agreed return time. Sect Master Shi was naturally not content to just wait. “Let’s check on Qu Duanyun. Maybe we can find some leads on the Immortal Assembly.”

As an honored guest of Chigou, Qu Duanyun stayed in the scenic Fallen God Tower, surrounded by trees, a lake, and views. The whole building had only one room with lights on. The master and disciple approached quietly, skillfully sticking to the wooden windows.

“The chicken soup has cooled down enough. Send it to Xiao Huan,” Qu Duanyun, engrossed in a book, said without looking up. “It’s chilly at night in Shafu, and she’s young and frail. It’s good for her to nourish herself.”

“Sect Master should eat first. We are just servants; leftovers are good enough for us.”

“She looked pale during the day. If this continues, I fear she might catch a cold. I have abundant inner force; I don’t need this bowl of soup. Take it.”

It was a scene of Taiheng’s nobility and kindness, but Shi Jingzhi frowned, looking somewhat discontented and puzzled. Even through the black cloth of their night clothes, Yin Ci could see his frown.

However, Qu Duanyun was a first-class master, so they had to be careful even with their breathing, let alone communicate. Neither made a sound and remained as silent as wooden thresholds outside the door.

Besides a few ordinary old servants, only Qu Duanyun remained in the room. Upon careful listening, there were no other sounds. Indeed, it wasn’t easy to spot clues regarding the Immortal Assembly.

However, Qu Duanyun hadn’t turned many pages when the silence was broken by footsteps.

Judging by the sound, the newcomer was a young man of considerable height. The master and disciple held their breath and watched as Xu Jingming entered. “This place is too cold, Qu Duanyun. Does your Taiheng have any warm pots? All of Chigou’s have a stinky smell, very unclean.”

Shi Jingzhi’s eyes instantly turned from expectation to disgust without any transition.

“I am not your servant,” Qu Duanyun replied with a smile. “Your Highness brought four carriages of luggage; I’m sure you have alternatives.”

“It’s been spring for a while. Who would’ve thought it’d be this cold. It’s not a valuable item. Can’t I buy one?” Xu Jingming argued.

Qu Duanyun sighed and made a gesture. An old servant presented a pot wrapped in an embroidered bag and handed it to the Prince of Rong.

Holding the pot, Xu Jingming was still reluctant to leave. “Tomorrow is the ascension ceremony. Aren’t you going to sleep?”

“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Everything’s fine.”

“You weren’t this formal before. Over the years, we’ve grown more and more distant,” Xu Jingming murmured. “How about a drink? Remember when we…”

“In a foreign land, there are things we shouldn’t speak of,” Qu Duanyun said indifferently. “Your Highness has gotten what he wanted. You should rest.”

“It’s because we are in a foreign land, and I have no one to talk to that I feel this way. When we were younger, we could be called ‘friends’. What’s with this attitude now? You think I’m not worthy? Can’t I decide not to sleep?”

With that, he looked playful and said, “If you want me to rest, that’s fine. I just bumped into that old servant who brought the soup… That maid, her name is Xiao Huan, right? If she warms my bed, I’ll sleep.”

Qu Duanyun put down his book, resignedly saying, “Alright, I’ll send someone to have her prepare.”

Xu Jingming was taken aback.

Outside the door, Shi Jingzhi frowned even more. He watched Qu Duanyun warily, his amber eyes slightly narrowed. Yin Ci held his breath, his eyes shifting between the two.

Xu Jingming was stunned for a moment, looking somewhat dispirited. He glanced disappointedly at Qu Duanyun and shook his head. “Forget it. I was just joking. She’s a good girl. I can’t just have my way with her. But you…”

He didn’t continue, paused for a while, and silently held the soup bowl as he left.

Qu Duanyun maintained his calm demeanor, his gaze focused on his book. In the firelight, Yin Ci saw clearly—it was undoubtedly a book on military strategy, with dense annotations in red.

Neither were in the mood to watch Qu Duanyun’s night reading, but Shi Jingzhi didn’t immediately return to his remote residence. He jumped to the top of the building, where the clouds parted, revealing the dim moon. From this height, he could see the entire area.

The desert night was cold. Shi Jingzhi lowered his mask, exhaling a white mist.

Yin Ci worriedly said, “Let’s go back. You might catch a cold.”

“If there’s chaos tomorrow, we won’t see such a beautiful view,” Shi Jingzhi said, looking at the moon. “After all, this is a place you built.”

Although Shi Jingzhi was sensitive, he wasn’t the type to get sentimental at crucial moments. Yin Ci remained silent for a long time before asking, “…Do you have something to say?”

“Tomorrow, we must keep a close eye on Qu Duanyun,” Shi Jingzhi said quietly, not looking at Yin Ci. “Xu Jingming’s birth chart is weak, and his mother frequently sent him to the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence. After Xu Jingming tied up his hair*, his mother allowed him to leave the palace for fun… At that time, there were no members of the Qu family in the palace. How did he meet Qu Duanyun when he was young?”

*In ancient China, the act of tying up your hair (into a bun) is usually done around the age of 15 as a sign of stepping into adulthood (which happens at 20).

The most likely place was the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence.

Yet, it would be reckless to conclude based on this. Just as Yin Ci was deep in thought, Shi Jingzhi spoke again.

“And I’m good at reading people. He makes me uncomfortable. Even before going to the Northlands, I didn’t like him. Now, seeing him again, I wasn’t wrong… The expression he had when serving chicken soup and the one when he dismissed Xu Jingming, weren’t much different. He doesn’t care that much, whether it’s about Xiao Huan or my foolish brother.”

This time, Shi Jingzhi didn’t laugh. No matter how much he tried to suppress his aura under the frosty moonlight, that overwhelming intention still spread out.

“A’Ci, you are immortal. Naturally, when you act, you carry a sense of looking down upon the world. But deep down, you possess worldly integrity. As long as someone in danger is worth saving, you’ll always put yourself at risk first—shh, don’t interrupt me. Did I say something wrong?”

Yin Ci closed his mouth, signaling Shi Jingzhi to continue.

“Qu Duanyun… this person is neither unkind nor unjust, and he’s certainly not hypocritical. But I don’t like his ‘sense of looking down upon others’. The last time I felt this kind of chill was when I heard about ‘Heaven’s Displeasure’.”

“Even if it wasn’t through the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence, he and Xu Jingming might still have met, I know. It’s just my intuition—Qu Duanyun may be related to the Immortal Assembly.”

At the same moment, inside the building, Qu Duanyun took a deep breath and snapped the book shut.

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