Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 122: Sun Wang

Just when the ceremony courtyard was bustling with excitement, Shen Zhu finally broke through the second layer of protection of the treasure vault.

The wushu armor, supported by a wooden frame, was placed conspicuously on the second floor. It was woven from fine metal threads, entirely black, radiating a soft, dull glow. Even after decades, or even a century, there wasn’t a trace of rust on it.

Shen Zhu finally shed her adept facade and stared at it in a daze for a moment.

Unfortunately, time was limited, and she didn’t allow herself to relax for too long. Shen Zhu quickly collected herself, carefully prying off the glass cover. She immediately removed her silken steel armor and put on the wushu armor. The steel armor was painted black and was much heavier than the wushu armor. But when hung on the wooden frame, there was not much visible difference.

After doing all of this, Shen Zhu fixed her hair and rushed to the ceremony courtyard.

She didn’t really care about the fate of the Chigou Sect; the earlier she returned, the better. Not to mention that the longer she stayed away, the more suspicious it would be. If she could help Shi Jingzhi early on, she might be able to fool him with her “merits”.

In the best-case scenario, Hua Jingchun’s plan would go smoothly and restrain Wu Huai. The worst-case scenario would be the complete failure of the plan, leading everyone to scatter in disarray.

Unfortunately, when Shen Zhu arrived on the scene, the situation was entirely different from what she had imagined.

The followers of the Chigou Sect were neatly kneeling on the ground. Wu Huai was pinned to an ancient cauldron with a long sword, though he wasn’t critically injured. A man wearing a mask and ceremonial clothes stood in front of Wu Huai, looking as if he had walked out of the potrait of Su Zhi.

Above the portrait, on the eaves of the building, Shi Jingzhi, Su Si, and Yan Qing were on one side, while Qu Duanyun and Xu Jingming were on the other, confronting each other. Hua Jingchun seemed to be in the least tense situation, standing in the center, ready to suppress anyone who wanted to assist Wu Huai. The scholars from the Yueshui Pavilion were frantically taking notes.

Shen Zhu: “…” It seemed she missed the most exciting part.

Shi Jingzhi noticed Shen Zhu’s return. He glanced at her briefly, then focused again on Qu Duanyun. “Last time, Sect Master Qu was quite enthusiastic. Why are you ignoring me now?”

Even though Shi Jingzhi spoke jokingly, he was almost certain about something. With just one sentence, he touched on Qu Duanyun’s secrets.

[This troublesome little brother of mine, I have to trouble you to take care of him along the way.]

The Immortal Assembly was a loose organization fond of connecting with talented individuals. It wasn’t surprising that the influential head of the Qu Clan, Qu Duanyun, was recruited. However, Shi Jingzhi’s royal identity was surely a secret.

Having spent over two decades observing people in the palace, Shi Jingzhi didn’t miss any of Qu Duanyun’s subtle reactions. It was clear that Qu Duanyun already knew about his identity.

[Once you return to Yidu… Please convey my regards to the Imperial Preceptor.]

…This sentence was probing.

“As expected of the Sect Master of the Kushan Sect. You’re even more cunning than the rumors suggest,” realizing his lapse, Qu Duanyun candidly admitted.

Xu Jingming looked confused. “What are you talking about?”

Before he could understand, he felt a sharp pain in his neck and blacked out. Qu Duanyun sighed, retracted his sneaky hand, and said, “I underestimated you.”

His tone was calm, showing no guilt for being discovered.

Using both logic and emotion, Shi Jingzhi proposed, “Sect Master Qu, why not come to my sect for some tea and a chat? If you’re unwilling, we might have to force you.”

Shi Jingzhi didn’t think there was anything wrong with the three-versus-one situation. After dealing with Wu Huai, four against one would be fine too.

Qu Duanyun chuckled lightly, as if he had anticipated this move, “I know what Sect Master Shi wishes to ask. As for your condition of hematemesis, there’s no cure other than the ‘Shirou’. However, I won’t hand over such an item so easily.”

Shi Jingzhi’s smile flickered, then faded.

Qu Duanyun put away his sword with a hint of pity in his eyes. “Someone as smart as Sect Master Shi should know that I’m not lying about your illness.”

“Sect Master… Brother Qu is so forthright, why not seize the day? How about sharing with me that ‘Hundred-Year Project’ as well?”

“Hundred-Year Project?”

This struck a nerve, and Qu Duanyun’s expression darkened.

“You’re not the one who should be asking about this. Instead of worrying about these things, you should focus on surviving this year.”

Shi Jingzhi, always cunning, touched his chin. “Then we’ll have to invite Sect Master Qu to come with us.”

Qu Duanyun paused, chuckling softly. Taking another step forward, his eyebrows remained sharp, his eyes twinkled like stars, and an aura of righteousness surrounded him. Based on the scene, one might think that Shi Jingzhi was the villain.

“Thanks to the treasure map and Buddha beads you handed over, Taiheng is only one step away from the ‘Shirou’. I have issued the command, and it will be proclaimed to the world that they must have my approval as sect leader. If I were to fall into the hands of villains because of this, it would be better if the Shirou never appears.”

Qu Duanyun’s right palm faced upwards, gripping at thin air.

“Sect Master Shi, your life could be in my hands. If you resist, the area where the Shirou is will be turned to ashes.”

Upon hearing this, Yan Qing looked at Shi Jingzhi, his eyes filled with worry. Su Si spoke mockingly, “What Sect Master of Taiheng. You’re clearly more suited to be the Patriarch of Chigou than Wu Huai!”

Qu Duanyun snorted coldly. “I, of Taiheng, have been exorcizing demons and defending the righteous path for hundreds of years. Humans should be treated as humans, and evil spirits have their own ways of being dealt with. I, Qu Duanyun, have no regrets in my heart.”

Su Si was about to make a move but was blocked by the Medicine Cures Illness flag. He was about to call him “spineless” when he swallowed his words, feeling intimidated by Sect Master Shi’s eerie laughter, which sounded like poisoned wine mixed with thick honey.

“Thank you for the lesson, Sect Master Qu.” Shi Jingzhi gave a slight bow, sincerity evident in his tone.

Startled by that laughter, Qu Duanyun nearly took a step back. Seeing Shi Jingzhi’s hostility dissipate, he reached out to support the unconscious Xu Jingming, seemingly about to leave the rooftop.

“Sect Master, shouldn’t we chase after him?” Su Si asked, surprisingly obedient.

Yan Qing was still worried about Shi Jingzhi’s health. “You’re severely ill. What if we can’t get the Shirou?”

“There’s no need to panic. It’s not time to turn against each other yet.”

Shi Jingzhi responded calmly with a firm tone.

Indeed, Qu Duanyun hadn’t lied. However, he wasn’t a real god and didn’t know everything in the world. The statement “there’s no cure other than the Shirou” was… peculiar.

Looking at his attitude, Qu Duanyun seemed to be somewhat displeased with Shi Jingzhi, showing no need to take Shi Jingzhi’s feelings into account. If the Imperial Preceptor wanted the Shirou, Qu Duanyun should have said, “The Shirou is now in the hands of the Immortal Assembly; you’re finished.” He didn’t need to admit “there’s no cure other than the Shirou”. Even if he directly threatened with the Shirou, Shi Jingzhi wouldn’t act recklessly.

In Qu Duanyun’s words, he clearly believed that Shi Jingzhi still had a chance to get the Shirou and even intentionally or unintentionally provoked his competitive spirit. Clearly, no matter how he looked at it, Qu Duanyun had an advantage. Facing Shi Jingzhi, the leader of such a small sect, Sect Master Qu’s attitude was overly cautious.

…It was as if he knew Shi Jingzhi had a great possibility of taking the Shirou.

Could it be that Yan Budu’s “Shirou” was also “actively given by the immortals”? Was this a coincidence?

Interesting. Could that Shirou also be a part of the Child of Desire and the Hundred-Year Project? What was more intriguing was that when Qu Duanyun mentioned the Hundred-Year Project, he showed no guilt towards the “victim” and even had an elusive hint of envy in his tone.

In the past, Shi Jingzhi was obsessed with life and probably chose to overlook these subtle peculiarities. But now, with his desires satisfied, he was unusually calm. It was as if countless hands were pushing him towards the Shirou.

The more it was like this, the more careful he needed to be.

“Let’s go. It’s time to send the ‘Su Zhi’ back to the Yellow Springs.” Shi Jingzhi smiled.

Under the eaves.

Shen Zhu saw the yang fire shatter into countless sparks, and the ash of the deceased rose once again with the wind. In just a moment, the “person in the painting” disappeared without a trace. Quietly, the mask used for the ritual silently returned to its original position.

Below the stage, the members of the Chigou sect were still shouting for the “Patriarch”. The atmosphere of the ritual had never been so lively. Although their “Young Patriarch” was still nailed to the ancient cauldron, the members were already in a frenzy. The eight Protectors were whispering to each other, discussing something. Hua Jingchun picked up Wu Huai’s Bone Sweeping Sword, took off the hilt directly, and showed the rough part inside the hilt to everyone.

“Those who don’t believe can check the sect’s records. There should be a Chigou pattern carved inside the hilt.” Her voice was already hoarse, but she still tried her best to shout loudly. “This Bone Sweeping Sword is fake! Patriarch Su protects our Divine Sect!”

“Patriarch Su protects our Divine Sect!” The members inside the courtyard also shouted in unison. “Long live the Divine Chigou Sect!”

Holding the fake sword, Hua Jingchun turned to Wu Huai. The latter looked surprisingly calm. “Are you going to kill me?”

“Not worth dirtying my hands. Someone will deal with you.”

Wu Huai laughed, showing blood-stained teeth. He said loudly, “How can the dead come back to life? Your tricks may deceive some for a while, but not for a lifetime.”

Then he turned to the crowd below. “Since you all love tricks so much, I’ll show you another—”

He opened his mouth wide and vomited out a jade ball slightly smaller than a baby’s head. The jade ball stretched his mouth until it cracked and bled. Wu Huai seemed unconcerned, vomiting more and more smoothly. Following the jade ball were a slender torso and limbs. No one knows how Wu Huai, with his physique, managed to vomit it all out.

The thing looked like a terrifyingly thin child, glowing with a jade-like green. Like a newborn fawn, it twitched on the ground a couple of times, staggered to its feet, and slowly stretched out in the sunlight.

Suddenly, it extended its extremely slender hands, grabbing Wu Huai. The next moment, they both disappeared on the spot, like a flash, leaving only a wisp of dust.

Protector Hua didn’t expect the cooked duck to fly away and was immediately stunned on the spot. Everything happened so fast that even Shi Jingzhi couldn’t react in time.

The members who were just shouting out loud were silenced by this strange scene, like ripples of quiet spreading out. Before long, everyone in the courtyard was silent. Everyone froze in place, and the previous lively scene disappeared.

With the unexpected turn of events, Shen Zhu no longer cared about any excuses. She just wanted to return to her team. However, just as she approached Sect Master Shi within three steps, she received a palm strike from him. The force wasn’t huge, but it was full of inner force. If she hadn’t been wearing the wushu armor, her organs would have been shattered, and she would have been half dead.

Shen Zhu’s vision went dark, and she completely lost consciousness.

When she woke up, it was already the next night. Shi Jingzhi was standing in front of her bed, looking at her with crossed arms. Yin Ci stood by his side with a somewhat helpless expression.

Shen Zhu moved her lips, but before she could speak, Shi Jingzhi emotionlessly pointed at the medicine bowl on the bedside. “Enough, I know you were wearing the wushu armor. You didn’t even break a bone, so hurry up and drink the medicine.”

“…You knew.”

“Where there are many ancient relics, there’s always the smell of preservation and anti-corrosion potions.” Shi Jingzhi pointed to his own nose. “Your movements still show you’re wearing armor, but they’re much lighter than before. I’m not a fool.”

Shen Zhu obediently picked up the medicine bowl. The brew was so bitter that she wished she could curl her tongue.

Watching Shen Zhu drink half of it, Shi Jingzhi finally smiled slightly. “Before, I treated people as objects and didn’t expect any loyalty from you. The clues you are investigating still belong to the Immortal Assembly. I won’t pursue this matter this time, but don’t let it happen again… A’Ci, let’s go.”

He walked a few steps away, then deliberately paused. “I added a little something extra to that medicine. You’ll know its effects soon. Now that I’ve attacked you in public, we have set clear boundaries. Remember to use this situation wisely.”

Yin Ci didn’t leave with him. “You go first. I still have some things to do.”

Shi Jingzhi didn’t press him, and happily walked out on his own. Yin Ci watched Shi Jingzhi leave, then suddenly appeared next to Shen Zhu’s bed. Shen Zhu’s back was instantly drenched in cold sweat.

“For betrayal in crucial moments and doing things one’s own way, even with a good reason, if you were under me, you’d be dead,” Yin Ci casually remarked as he picked up the empty medicine bowl.

Whether intentionally or not, a trace of Yin Ci’s murderous intent brushed past Shen Zhu, making her flinch.

Yin Ci glanced at her. “…Don’t worry, the medicine isn’t poisonous. It’ll just make your complexion look terrible, like you haven’t recovered from a serious injury. However, if you ever play with his life again, next time he might not be there to punish you.”

“Senior, don’t worry. I want to live a bit longer,” Shen Zhu weakly replied. “What about Wu Huai?”

“We haven’t caught him yet,” Yin Ci said without looking back, exiting the room.

Having caught the big fish that was Qu Duanyun, they had already reaped a lot. No matter how strange Wu Huai’s abilities were, with him being severely injured, he would appear before people sooner or later. With Chigou’s favor, capturing Wu Huai was just a matter of time.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles. The more bizarre skills Wu Huai revealed, the more advantageous it was for the Kushan Sect.

Thus, despite Wu Huai’s escape, Yin Ci was in a good mood. However, his mood only lasted until he stepped into Hua Jingchun’s room—

As Yin Ci entered the room, a round object rolled to his feet. It rolled over the stone floor, making a dull cracking sound. It was a polished round stone; not a precious gem but a common semi-transparent stone found in the desert.

He had seen it before, in his darkest delusions.

“A’Ci, look at this clay statue…”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. This servant was clumsy. Sect Master Shi, is it alright that it got dropped?”

The voices of the people seemed muffled, as if underwater. Yin Ci picked up a stone with trembling fingertips. When he finally looked up, the clay statue made by Lady Sun had fallen and shattered, revealing its contents.

A wrinkled booklet and more than a dozen beautifully polished round stones were scattered on the ground, like the innards of a statue, full of a sense of decay and desolation.

[I’ve collected so many beautiful stones. Cuicui will definitely like them. Don’t you think so, General Yin?]

The figure in the illusion stood in front of him, with sand filling the gaps in his armor.

With a blank face, Yin Ci gripped the stone tightly, causing his knuckles to softly crack.

“…Sun Wang.”

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