Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 128: Etiology

Hua Jingchun stared blankly at Wu Huai’s head.

Shi Jingzhi had thoroughly examined the head inside and out and then passed it on to Chigou. Upon receiving the head of an old acquaintance, Hua Jingchun didn’t know how to handle it.

She had known Wu Huai since they were young and always held a deep admiration for the Chigou sect. Relying on his talents, Wu Huai joined the Immortal Assembly in his youth, leaving for Yidu, never to return. Initially, he wrote letters to her, but gradually, even those stopped coming.

Passion could fade, and youth was fleeting. Perhaps Wu Huai saw a vast world and lost interest in the barren northwest and the tomb robbing sect.

Yidu was dazzling, and if Wu Huai didn’t want to return to Shafu, he didn’t. Hua Jingchun wasn’t particularly surprised, nor did she inquire further.

She always acted decisively, never dwelling on sentimentalities. It wasn’t until the “Young Patriarch” appeared that she once again saw Wu Huai’s familiar yet estranged face.

She was now in her forties, but his appearance seemed to have stopped aging. The only proof of their past connection was the little “compassion” Wu Huai showed—he didn’t kill her on the spot but instead threw her down the Three Provinces Cliff.

Apart from that, she saw only a proud and cold stranger.

The Immortal Assembly always maintained a gentle public image, and Wu Huai wasn’t someone who simply followed others. Two decades had passed, and the changes in the opposition shocked Hua Jingchun. Being targeted by such an organization, had Chigou really escaped disaster?

In the end, she agreed to the Kushan Sect’s proposal, proposing a martial arts conference in the name of Chigou. The Chigou sect was a demonic sect and didn’t need to participate. According to Yin Ci’s words, the conference would divert the Immortal Assembly’s attention, giving Chigou some peace.

The Kushan Sect still held their Young Patriarch hostage, and Hua Jingchun saw no reason to refuse. As per the agreement, Chigou just needed to give their verbal commitment…

…How strange!

“Sect Master Shi, our proposal for the martial arts conference has been made, and the response has been good.”

Hua Jingchun said patiently, craning her neck.

“Many sects have suffered mysterious misfortunes. They all seek balance and will want to make a final stand. In this situation, in a few days, balance must be restored. So…”

Shi Jingzhi peeked out. “So?”

“So, we’re even! Even though our sect robs tombs, we have our limits!” Hua Jingchun held the head, almost in tears. “This is unacceptable!”

Shi Jingzhi smiled brilliantly, retreating back into the shadows.

This wasn’t the Kushan Sect; it was more like a den of foxes. Both the master and disciple were both deceitful, and Hua Jingchun regretted her choices.

A few days ago, the news of the martial arts conference was released. Just when Hua Jingchun wanted to discuss the matter of Su Si, Shi Jingzhi made another request.

[Sister Hua, I’d like to visit the temple in Shafu City. You have good relations with the officials of Shafu, right? Can you arrange for the temple to be closed for a day, saying Chigou wants to worship the Imperial Celestial?]

The Chigou sect, always dealing with tombs, cared deeply about the spirits. Previously, they had closed temples for worship, and given their recent tribulations, a session of worship seemed appropriate. Including the Kushan Sect wasn’t a problem.

She readily agreed then, but now deeply regretted it.

They gave the Kushan Sect three hours. Hua Jingchun initially thought the Kushan Sect might be looking for clues in the temple. But to her surprise, the duo brought tools and went directly to the celestial’s statue, tinkering behind it.

The clinking sound irritated Hua Jingchun. Fortunately, the Chigou sect was a demonic sect, allowing her to suppress the urge to expose the two. All she could do was hold her head, wanting to cry without tears.

She had intended to make some wishes in front of the celestial, hoping for Wu Huai’s peaceful passage without haunting Chigou. But now, she felt that the Imperial Celestial was incredibly merciful for not punishing them on the spot. She just hoped that when divine retribution struck the master and disciple, it would be accurate and not harm the Chigou sect.

Had Protector Hua seen what was behind the celestial, she probably wouldn’t have been able to stay in the temple.

Yin Ci patted Shi Jingzhi’s back. “Be careful, don’t really scare her.”

“No worries, she can’t see.” Shi Jingzhi crouched even lower, the silver knife in his hand gleaming. “Three hours is a bit tight; we need to be quick.”

After the martial arts conference, they would inevitably confront the Immortal Assembly. By then, they’d have no chance to get close to the flesh idol, so they decided to take advantage of Chigou’s reputation to examine it.

Removing a large shell according to the pattern, they indeed saw the flesh idol inside. This one looked fresher than the one in Yongsheng Temple. The eyes in the flesh moved quickly and shed tears as soon as they saw the two.

Shi Jingzhi gently peeled off layers of meat paste, occasionally packing a portion. As the idol slowly healed, Yin Ci controlled its shape with his sword qi, ensuring that Shi Jingzhi could peel deeper and deeper. The statue was massive, and as Shi Jingzhi delved deeper, separating the meat became increasingly difficult. Sweat formed on Shi Jingzhi’s forehead. He didn’t have time to wipe it, and many sweat droplets crossed his eyelashes and seeped into his eyes.

Just as Shi Jingzhi was about to blink to relieve himself, Yin Ci freed a hand to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

“Thank you.” Shi Jingzhi sighed with relief. “How much longer?”

“Half an hour.”

“I’ve almost reached the innermost part. Do you still have that strange feeling?”

Yin Ci paused for a moment, then said firmly, “It’s even stronger than before.”

“I’ve probably noted the way the meat is layered. Remember the giant tree root statue in the forbidden area? The structure of this flesh idol matches the tree root’s direction completely. It must be a ‘blueprint’ for those who shape the statue.”

Shi Jingzhi’s eyes were fixed on the incision of the flesh idol, and he continued to cut further inside.

Yin Zizhu was a mortal, and this meat paste was once human too. Both had touched “immortality”, though under very different circumstances. Yin Ci felt an indescribable familiarity with these flesh idols, and it wasn’t for no reason. Since the flesh idol was man-made, he was sure he could find its flaws.

Hiss.

A soft sound echoed as Shi Jingzhi’s blade touched something.

Surprisingly, a piece of white cloth with blood characters appeared amongst the layers of flesh. The white cloth, soaked with blood, blended with the dark red meat, only faintly showing its original color. Positioned at the core of the flesh idol, the cloth covered something relatively solid. Thick layers of meat and bones intertwined around it, protecting whatever was behind the cloth.

That must be the flesh idol’s “core”.

After a brief search, Shi Jingzhi chose a protrusion with fewer obstructing bones. Despite the fatigue in his wrist, he delicately lifted the cloth, treating it as gently as a fragile bud.

What lay beneath the cloth felt slightly stiff, perhaps hiding the secret of the flesh idol’s undying nature.

The answer was right in front of him, and Shi Jingzhi felt a bit emotional. Back in the forbidden area, the two were busy being wary of each other, and their main focus was on the Shirou. They had let the flesh idol burnt beyond recognition, which was a regrettable incident.

…Fortunately, it wasn’t too late.

Shi Jingzhi didn’t damage the cloth with the blood characters. Taking a deep breath, he skillfully located a seam with his silver knife and finally unfolded the cloth—

Half of a pale hand was revealed.

The hand was slender and beautiful, with an extremely fair complexion, showing no signs of decay. Amidst the writhing meat paste, this hand gave him chills.

He had seen this hand before. He had kissed it. This hand had once shielded him when he was young and had given him the most comforting embrace.

…He would never mistake it. It was Yin Ci’s hand.

Before he could process it, the malicious truth pierced his heart. Shi Jingzhi’s hand trembled, and he almost dropped the silver knife.

Yin Ci, standing beside him, couldn’t see what was inside the incision. Thinking that Shi Jingzhi was exhausted, he was about to comfort him when Shi Jingzhi turned his head, his eyes filled with horror.

“I know…”

Shi Jingzhi licked his dry lips, his voice shaky. He tried to start on a gentle note but couldn’t find any clean words amidst the bloodshed.

“I know why He Cheng’an kept beheading you. This meat statue isn’t your kind. Its core is made of ‘you’.”

He said, almost in despair.

Yin Ci didn’t immediately grasp the situation. He looked blankly at Shi Jingzhi for a moment, intending to see for himself, but was stopped by Shi Jingzhi’s hand.

Shi Jingzhi’s voice was hoarse. “Your body is inside. Lately, you… you’ve been unstable; it’s best not to look.”

After saying that, Shi Jingzhi carefully restored the layers of meat and cloth. He stood in front of the incision, waiting for it to heal. Yin Ci didn’t push him away but stood silently, obviously waiting for him to continue.

Shi Jingzhi stood there as if in a trance, piecing together fragments of information.

The earliest temple of the Imperial Celestial was in Yidu, created by the first Imperial Preceptor. Over the centuries, only a dozen temples were added.

The complexity of the meat statues indicated that they weren’t successful right away. The earliest temples probably used Yin Ci’s body as material, as an experimental ground. Yin Ci’s body was limited, so the Imperial Preceptors didn’t waste much, so the statues were built conservatively.

Two hundred years ago, the temples of the Imperial Celestial appeared on a large scale.

That was during the era of the Queen of Milan. They had witnessed similar events in that era. The Queen of Milan’s Arcane Arts was based on one person as the core, and the others as flesh. Although the “composition” wasn’t pure, it could also absorb vital qi and ensure its immortality.

However, the Arcane Arts carried the fragmented remains of ancient corpses. Initially, Shi Jingzhi only felt that the two seemed similar, without delving deeper into the matter. Reflecting on it now, in the grand scheme of things, they were never far from the truth.

[The corpse is completely dead, with no connected meridians. Vital qi cannot flow. How can it be resurrected? To channel the vital qi, we need a continuous piece of living flesh.]

Chen Qianfan’s voice echoed again in his mind.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Shi Jingzhi bitterly said, “I have a speculation…”

“Inspired by the Queen of Milan’s Arcane Arts, the Immortal Assembly began manufacturing these flesh idols.” Yin Ci spoke first; his voice was still calm. “Using my headless corpse as the ‘core’ and cultivating ordinary monster materials for flesh, they can mold thousands of idols.”

“Also, the structure of the flesh idols is identical to the giant tree root idol. And that structure is identical to your ‘true self’. They were molded in your likeness. They are your…” Shi Jingzhi couldn’t continue.

Yin Ci placed a hand on a flesh idol, staring at the eyes within the fleshy mud. He wasn’t sure if there was any consciousness behind those eyes or if his voice could be heard.

After a deep sigh, Yin Ci finally said what neither wanted to voice.

“They are my ‘replicas’.”

When he said this, Yin Ci felt as if his heart stopped.

He had previously speculated about the immortality of these flesh idols. In his speculations, he thought he was one of them, maybe a highly successful “finished product”.

But he was the first—the original “flesh idol”.

This wasn’t an overnight endeavor. Someone knew of his “true self” and used it to create the tree root idols, which were then replicated. Others researched the Queen of Milan’s techniques, using his corpse as the “core”. Yet others cultivated villages like “Yuanxian Village” for their flesh and labor.

This wasn’t the work of a single moment or individual. It would take at least a century of accumulation. The Imperial Preceptors expended such effort not just for novelty. Why flood the nation with these crude replicas?

…Perhaps he knew the answer.

Yin Ci approached Shi Jingzhi, cupping his face to steady his head.

The sweat still glistened on Shi Jingzhi’s face, and Yin Ci could feel the heat radiating from him. Without words, Shi Jingzhi seemed to understand, his eyes shifting from fear to sorrow.

However, Yin Ci spoke.

“The Arcane Arts remain active by constantly absorbing vital qi. In the barren north, it can sustain itself for centuries by consuming some monsters.”

Flesh idols were semi-living, even more sophisticated than the Arcane Arts, and definitely more powerful.

“A’Ci…”

“The flesh idols don’t need to fight or move. They are placed in the most prosperous cities, with worshippers constantly coming. The vital qi they absorb is clearly excessive, and this excess must have a purpose.”

Creatures with excessive vital qi were monster material, occasionally found in nature. The monster materials in Yuanxian Village weren’t exceptional, but their quantity was unusually high. If one intentionally increased the vital qi, one could artificially produce monster materials…

What could be achieved by gathering the vital qi of the entire nation?

“Zizhu, stop.” Shi Jingzhi tried to retreat, but Yin Ci held his head firmly.

“How did I not think of it earlier? I’ve met the only child of Xu Li, and he’s definitely not a Child of Desire. Previous generations of Child of Desire weren’t outstanding, so much so that the Queen of Milan from two centuries ago was the first to become famous. It was only when temples were everywhere that the Child of Desire began to flourish—interestingly, I even killed one of them.”

That Imperial Preceptor never revealed the truth to the Queen of Milan.

Yin Ci’s voice grew softer.

“After all, how can a person have thousands of desires out of nowhere? It’s merely the worshippers’ desires channeled into the vital qi. When you’re born from such vital qi, it’s natural to be of such a nature.”

“…” Shi Jingzhi remained silent, looking intently at Yin Ci as his amber eyes moistened.

The two stood behind the idol. The space here was narrow, as if only the two of them existed between heaven and earth. The air was filled with solemn incense, and they were surrounded by the grotesque, writhing mud.

If this scene were a dream, how wonderful it would be.

Shi Jingzhi searched his heart and soul, trying to find words to refute Yin Ci and deny this terrifying speculation. Unfortunately, Yin Ci’s theoretical reasoning was sound, and he could find no flaws.

Yin Ci’s hypothesis was likely correct.

He carried the blood of Yin Ci’s enemies and blossomed from Yin Ci’s remains.

Even for the great general Yin Zizhu, there must be a limit to resentment. Shi Jingzhi wasn’t particularly guilty, but his heart pounded painfully in his chest. Overwhelmed by deep pity, he didn’t have the time to ponder the conspiracy. His heart wavered—should he now beg “Please don’t vent your anger on me”, or should he let Yin Ci vent his frustrations fully?

Shi Jingzhi couldn’t find an answer. So he simply closed his eyes, adopting a “do with me as you please” demeanor.

Unexpectedly, he didn’t encounter the rage of Yin Ci, not even a suppressed angry breath. After a brief silence, something warm and soft touched his lips, and a slightly warm tongue teased its way through his teeth.

It was a kiss, intense but brief. After the intimate moment, Yin Ci finally let go of Sect Master Shi’s head.

“I won,” he whispered.

Shi Jingzhi: “…?”

“Back on Huilian Mountain, we had a bet. If I uncovered the cause of your ailment first, you’d grant me a request.”

“Huh?” Sect Master Shi, having just experienced a whirlwind of emotions, was somewhat dazed.

Yin Ci’s face held not a hint of resentment; his usual nonchalant look prevailed. “What do you mean ‘huh’? There are limits to everything. Even a Child of Desire is mortal. When filled with so much vital qi, how could they have a long life? Your meridians are likely being torn by the excessive vital qi.”

“…Well, I won. I’ll ask for my reward first,” He emphasized again.

Shi Jingzhi touched his chest, still not fully recovered. “Aren’t you resentful of me?”

At that moment, he even forgot about the cause of his illness.

Considering that Hua Jingchun was still in the shrine, Yin Ci held back his laughter. “What nonsense. If I held a grudge over every causality, the Yun Dynasty would’ve been wiped out by me. Meeting you is a blessing.”

Otherwise, he might never have known the truth.

“The ‘results’ accumulated by the Immortal Assembly over the centuries are mine. The most promising descendants of the Xu and Sun families are mine. Is there anything more wonderful in the world?”

Hearing this familiar rhetorical question, Shi Jingzhi was stunned for a long while. Yin Ci looked at him with a smile, just like before he knew the truth.

After a while, Sect Master Shi finally showed a genuine smile. He reached out to hug Yin Ci. ‘How wonderful,’ Shi Jingzhi thought. The cause of his long-sought illness had been revealed. Although many mysteries remained unsolved, he had never felt so at peace…

Wait, something’s wrong.

Yin Ci watched as Shi Jingzhi’s hugging gesture slowly distorted, turning into one of holding his head, then slowly crouching down.

“Regardless of what they made the Child of Desire for, or how the Shirou work,” Shi Jingzhi said, clutching his head, “if the cause is as you say, to survive, wouldn’t I have to destroy all the flesh idols in the country?”

There were thousands of temples. Even if he and Yin Ci split up and destroyed one a day, they wouldn’t have enough time.

Wasn’t he doomed?!

Outside the shrine.

Su Si and Yan Qing wore tattered civilian clothes, hiding in a dark alley, guarding several bags of kerosene. Yan Qing occasionally checked the time, while Su Si’s head drooped, nearly falling asleep.

“It’s almost time,” Yan Qing reminded considerately.

Su Si rubbed his face, his gaze a bit scattered. “Three hours, my back is stiff… San Zi, have you ever started a fire before? Are you sure you can handle it?”

“Never,” Yan Qing admitted. “But if we seem too proficient at playing resentful refugees plotting revenge against Chigou, wouldn’t that raise suspicions?”

“You can be quite scary sometimes,” Su Si remarked, patting his face to wake himself up. “It’s strange, this time they sneaked in perfectly and brought everything they needed. Why risk everything by setting a fire?”

Yan Qing gripped the kerosene bag, momentarily lost in thought. “Perhaps the Sect Master had other considerations.”

“What are you thinking about? I’ve never seen you daydream while working.”

“Thinking of you,” Yan Qing said seriously. “The Chigou sect wants you to be the next Young Patriarch. Are you planning to stay?”

Stunned, Su Si paused before teasingly asking, “Do you want me to stay? If I do, won’t it be hard for you alone?”

Yan Qing didn’t take the bait. “I know you. You’re not indecisive. Just yesterday, the Sect Master talked to you. If you’ve made up your mind, tell me…”

“I haven’t,” Su Si smirked. “Didn’t you once say that someone like me wouldn’t announce my departure? Oh, and you also said that if I ever speak up, you’d trust me.”

His own words were thrown back at him. Yan Qing sighed. After a moment, he picked up the kerosene and started the fire as planned.

The matchstick ignited the kerosene, and the flames soared up to eight feet high. The region of Shafu was arid and lacked water, so within a short span of time, the temple was covered in thick smoke with flames reaching the sky.

The next day, news from the Yueshui Pavilion spread all over the southern and northern regions—

The Patriarch of Chigou committed heinous crimes with far-reaching implications. Wu Huai met his tragic end, sparking widespread anger among the people. The members of Chigou, carrying Wu Huai’s severed head, went to the temple to pray and dispel the curse. However, they were attacked by a group of desperados who set the temple on fire. While no Chigou members were harmed, the temple in Shafu was destroyed due to the uncontrollable blaze.

According to bystanders, a young child passed by the burnt statues and reportedly heard numerous sighs of relief. With the catastrophe so recent, what relief and sighs could there be? It was likely just a sensational rumor circulating among the public. Everyone was advised not to be gullible.

---

Kinky Thoughts:

Well, in a way, He Cheng’an was correct. Yin Ci’s “offspring” is the strongest.

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>