Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 139: Grief

The Shirou was taken away, and everything returned to normal. At this moment, the morning sun rose completely, birds chirped loudly, and the forest was bathed in radiant spring light.

The stench was replaced by a fresh fragrance, with only a hint of blood lingering in the wind. Shi Jingzhi collapsed weakly onto a wooden chair, his long hair and clothing soaked with the blood gushing from him. He seemed to be breathing less and less, his life hanging by a thread, creating a scene of sorrow.

The senior disciple of the Kushan Sect arrived late. Yin Ci jumped down from the treetop and quickly pressed various acupoints on Shi Jingzhi’s body, frantically trying to stop the bleeding and close the wound. The medicine box was thrown aside, its valuable contents scattered everywhere. Yin Ci poured and applied the medicines heedlessly.

Shi Jingzhi’s eyes were tightly closed, his face paler than winter snow, and his breath faint like a spider’s thread floating in the wind. If it weren’t for Yin Ci desperately trying to save him, he would have been no different from a corpse.

Knowing that Yin Ci had no inner force, Shi Zhongyu rushed forward to infuse her own qi to heal the wounds. Only then did Jin Lan react, calling others to clear a space for a proper treatment.

After witnessing the strange and unsettling scene, everyone was in disarray and shock. But seeing the life-threatening situation, everyone did their part. Some provided medicine, some lent their strength, and they barely managed to save Shi Jingzhi.

Yan Qing stood amidst the chaotic crowd, silent as a wooden stake. He gazed at the blood-covered, unconscious Shi Jingzhi and deeply frowned.

Then he turned to look in the direction where Su Si had fled, still without saying a word.

In the bushes, Su Si moved as fast as he could. Upon escaping Juyi Valley, he quickly mounted a black horse and continued his escape towards the outskirts of Kushan. As he had anticipated, several presences began to converge around him, drawing closer and closer.

“They’re really impatient,” Su Si remarked, urging his horse to go faster.

He had spent all of his sixty-seven taels on this. More than five or six were spent on handy tools, and the rest was used to purchase the horse. Though it wasn’t a top-tier steed, it was young and sturdy, built for long runs.

The “Shirou” was stored in a crystal jar by Su Si, securely tied to his chest, leaving no gaps. Even though it had returned to its enticing form, its torturous fragrance could not escape.

Once outside the mountains, another reddish-brown horse awaited him. A masked woman in martial attire was atop it. “I’ve set up a diversion spell. This way!”

“Good!” Su Si’s mouth curled in a smile.

Riding the horse felt like being hit by a storm. Holding the reins tightly, Su Si’s focus gradually shifted away from the blurred scenery ahead.

He wondered about Shi Jingzhi’s condition.

Memories from a few days ago resurfaced. Every time he recalled that day, Su Si found it utterly absurd.

That day, Shi Jingzhi had specially dismissed Yan Qing and summoned him. Su Si had assumed he was being tasked with another errand and had even planned to negotiate a higher fee. However, upon hearing Shi Jingzhi’s request, Su Si wished he had an extra pair of legs to run away faster.

“Have you lost your mind?!” Su Si exclaimed.

He then turned to Yin Ci, hoping he would intervene. But Yin Ci, though showing a displeased expression, actually agreed with Shi Jingzhi.

“This method is indeed the best. After all, you come from the bloodline of the ‘Red Scorpion Feet’ of Chigou. You know how to skillfully hold back.”

Crazy, these two are insane. Su Si had been fighting in the rivers and lakes for many years, yet he had never seen such a bizarre request. He pinched himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.

“Hold back? The two of you want me to slit the throat of the Sect Master. If you want it to look like a real assassination, you have to consider the subsequent rescue—if the rescue goes wrong, he’s done for!”

Besides, Shi Jingzhi’s health was already compromised. A stab, even if not fatal, would only make things worse. With the ‘Shirou’ right at hand, Su Si couldn’t figure out what these two were up to.

Wouldn’t a swift death be merciful?

“I want to understand clearly.”

Shi Jingzhi’s voice was shaky, but firm.

“With things set up to this extent, even if I’m a replaceable tool, the Immortal Assembly should intervene. Su Si, leave for a few days, and remember to make some mistakes in advance. If someone hinders you, let it be. If not…”

Shi Jingzhi didn’t finish, but Su Si knew what he meant.

He was just a “small player”. If the Immortal Assembly wanted, obstructing him would be easy. But their inaction indicated only one possibility –

They had an unconventional method to ensure Shi Jingzhi “won’t die”.

Moreover, Shi Jingzhi was already suspicious of the ‘Shirou’. Taking it for himself provided Shi Jingzhi an excuse “not to consume” it. This way, he could focus on studying the ‘Shirou’ without revealing his intentions to the Immortal Assembly.

Apart from this being an insane plan, Su Si couldn’t find any other flaws. After pondering for a while, he said, “Why does it have to be me? Shen Zhu can cast spells; she’s not incapable.”

Shi Jingzhi gave a slight smile. “Because you can take over the Chigou Sect.”

Su Si’s relaxed expression vanished instantly. “When did I decide?”

“Because both of us know, Yan Qing is not one to hide. Knowing his character, how long do you think he can hide his tail once he steps into the arena?”

Shi Jingzhi stared intently into Su Si’s eyes.

“You probably understand better than anyone that life is not about licking one’s wounds. To protect friends, you need power… Now, Chigou is a piece of meat right in front of you. If I’m not mistaken, you’ve already discussed this with Protector Hua, right?”

Su Si remained silent, then chuckled after a while. “Sect Master has sharp eyes; nothing can escape your notice.”

This was the perfect opportunity. If he gave up Chigou, he would only travel with his friend as a servant. Faced with the Immortal Assembly targeting the Kushan Sect, they could only expect suppression and anxiety.

And they were just servants of the Kushan Sect, with no say in decisions.

Although Su Si seemed indecisive on the surface, he had made up his mind. He intended to delay this matter and stay with the Kushan Sect for a bit longer. Not to mention his own resentment towards the Chigou Sect; once he took over, their laid-back days would be over.

What a pity.

“So, let’s speak candidly. Sect Master Shi, what’s in it for me?”

Su Si’s aura subtly shifted, his tone no longer that of a servant, but more like the Young Patriarch of the Chigou Sect.

“Chigou has always had a decent relationship with the righteous path. If we kill and steal treasures at the last moment, it’s equivalent to slapping the faces of the righteous. Even if I don’t care about its reputation, it’s still a tool in my hands. I have to get some benefits from it.”

Shi Jingzhi laughed.

He glanced at Yin Ci next to him, his voice softening. “By taking on this task, you get two benefits. First, we won’t pursue the matter of you altering the Bone Sweeping Sword. Second…”

“As far as I know, Yan Zheng is finding ways to shirk responsibilities. You, gaining fame in front of the righteous people by killing for the ‘Shirou’, is the perfect time to take over the Ling Sect… Su Si, do you want to be the first to unify the demonic sects?”

First, they would deceive the Ling Sect disciples. Once they found out the truth, leaving wouldn’t be easy. Once Chigou took over the Ling Sect’s branches everywhere, they would undoubtedly be the rulers of the demonic sects. Then, not to mention protecting Yan Qing, even if the entire Kushan Sect sought refuge, he would be able to protect them.

Su Si bit his thumbnail, silent for a long time, then gradually displayed a bloody grin. However, he suddenly seemed to realize something, and the rising hostile aura vanished, replaced by hesitation.

If everything could be that simple, he wouldn’t be targeted by the Lord of Ignorance on Huilian Mountain. If he fully becomes the leader of the demonic sects, how could he call himself a “hero” in front of San Zi?

Seemingly seeing through his concerns, Yin Ci said calmly, “People in the demonic sect have always been disunited. If you’re not accustomed to it, you can destroy it afterwards. But the martial world can’t be purely righteous. Instead of letting villains run wild, it’s better to take control of the ‘evil path’.”

In principle, this was true. Su Si was torn. Even though Yin Ci had vast abilities, could he really become the leader of the demonic sects? Perhaps this was just empty talk.

Thus, Su Si remained silent for a moment, not continuing the conversation. He took a deep breath and abruptly changed the topic. “What did Sect Master Shi mean by ‘not pursue the matter of altering the Bone Sweeping Sword’? Even if Protector Hua doesn’t care, what does this have to do with the two of you?”

The next moment, he saw the master-disciple pair exchange glances, their faces screaming, “We’ve been waiting for you to ask that.”

……

That day, Su Si left the door floating with two new bumps on his head. The stingy fox said he wouldn’t pursue the matter but still rewarded him with two qi-filled blows. Standing beside the “Old Patriarch” of the Chigou Sect, Su Si stood upright and endured without uttering a sound.

Who would have thought that after a hundred years, he would face the sword’s master again? Recalling his past flaunting in front of Yin Ci, Su Si wished he could travel back in time and slap himself.

What a mess. The Kushan Sect was truly the number one den of thieves in the world. He should’ve taken San Zi and run!

Choosing this time to clarify the shocking news “Yin Ci is Su Zhi” was clearly an intimidation! It was intimidation!

Unfortunately, Su Si had to admit that he was truly intimidated. He had originally intended to flee if things went south, but now he had encountered an immortal debtor—

This debtor could chase him to the ends of the earth, so where could he run? Su Si smashed his own little plans and gave up.

He had to accept his fate.

However, the character of the Old Patriarch of the Chigou Sect seemed much gentler than legends suggest. As Su Si was leaving that day, Yin Ci, seeing him almost stumble, added, “Keep Yan Qing in the dark about this, or it might hurt your relationship. I’ll explain to him later… I’m sorry.”

“Huh?” Dazed by the surprising news, Su Si responded, “What’s the big deal? His acting sucks anyway; he shouldn’t know. As for our feelings… don’t worry, they won’t be hurt.”

Thinking of his friend, Su Si felt a bit relieved.

“He said he trusts me, and he will.”

…Yes.

Su Si pulled himself out of his memories, his smile growing wider. The recent events at the Kushan Sect made him more determined than ever. He felt exhilarated facing challenges head-on.

The woman beside him shot him a displeased look. Su Si laughed heartily and spurred his horse forward.

“How thrilling!”

As Su Si madly escaped, Shi Jingzhi remained unconscious. Yin Ci stayed by his side, constantly feeling his pulse.

It wasn’t a spell that trapped Shi Jingzhi—his health had been deteriorating lately. Being injured in such a state meant he was seriously wounded. Fortunately, his breathing was steady, and there were no signs of “Heaven’s Displeasure”.

Yin Ci surveyed the surroundings. Familiar faces surrounded them, and there was no sign of the Immortal Assembly. After the anomaly, the shock of the Shirou being taken was much weaker. People were still discussing the cause of the anomaly. While Shi Zhongyu was distracted by the incident, Qu Duanyun had disappeared, likely trying to contact Jiang Youyue.

Their speculation was probably correct.

Yin Ci held onto Shi Jingzhi’s cold hand and pressed it against his forehead.

He had deliberately climbed a tree when the anomaly first appeared, coming down when the Shirou was taken. Everyone’s attention was fixed, and the anomaly on him didn’t alarm them. When he descended, he had a clear view:

When Shi Jingzhi was bleeding profusely, seemingly on the brink of death, the bare branches around trembled violently. Their roots entwined in the air, forming a vague shape, seemingly reaching out to Shi Jingzhi. For some reason, Yin Ci felt a familiar sensation, a vague consciousness emerging from his heart.

That consciousness was blurry but assertive. It was as if something whispered in his ear while he was drunk.

[Save him.]

There were no words, but Yin Ci understood.

[Save him.]

This thought kept repeating.

Fortunately, Yin Ci had already intended to save him. As soon as he began to treat the wound, the surrounding branches returned to their original state. With the Shirou too far away, the jade eye became ineffective, and the branches disappeared from their view. As Shi Jingzhi’s condition improved, that vague consciousness also vanished instantly. If Yin Ci hadn’t lived for hundreds of years, he might have mistaken it for his own thoughts.

He checked everything on his own end. Now all that was left was to wait for Shi Jingzhi to wake up and see if he had made any other discoveries.

Shi Jingzhi’s eyes remained closed, but his brows were slightly furrowed, as if he had seen something terribly frightening. Yin Ci didn’t care about the surrounding gazes and held Shi Jingzhi’s hand tightly.

“Wake up,” Yin Ci whispered softly. “We had plans that we haven’t carried out yet. Do you want to back out?”

But a serious injury was still a serious injury. Unlike Yin Ci, Shi Jingzhi didn’t have the terrifying ability to heal instantly, so he couldn’t wake up right away. Yin Ci made some fish soup and crushed some juice for him, straining away the residues, and then fed it to him mouth-to-mouth.

Shi Jingzhi was in a coma for four days.

During his coma, most people came to the conclusion that the visions they had seen were illusions created by Su Si. Though many still had doubts, they couldn’t make sense of it all in this wild, remote place.

It was around this time that rumors spread about Su Si’s connections with the Chigou Sect. The sad reputation of the Kushan Sect intensified, and the unconscious sect leader seemed even more pitiful.

Nobody expected the intense conflict to end in such a bleak way.

“The demonic sect is just that, a demonic sect. We shouldn’t have underestimated them.”

“What a pity about Sect Master Shi…”

“You all should leave,” Yan Qing said with a tired face, giving a formal bow and forcing a smile. “The Sect Master is stable now and can be moved today. You have already expended a lot of effort on our behalf. We really appreciate it.”

After the tumultuous events, nobody wanted to confront the ghost eye Alliance Leader. The caravan arrived in a grand fashion and left in disarray, leaving only tracks stained with the scent of blood. Shi Zhongyu, who held the Reverse Yang Token, also departed with Taiheng.

Throughout the whole incident, no one from the Immortal Assembly approached Shi Jingzhi. The atmosphere in the mountains was peaceful, and it seemed like all plots and schemes were blocked outside, leaving a sanctuary for them.

Shi Jingzhi’s wounds showed signs of healing. Yin Ci carefully carried him into the carriage. His neck wound was critical, so they were the last to leave to avoid jostling him too much.

As the sun set and the moon rose, the stars filled the sky. Only the Kushan Sect’s carriage remained in the tranquil Juyi Valley.

Yin Ci fed Shi Jingzhi some liquid food and then brought over the medicinal soup. However, this time, just as the bowl approached Shi Jingzhi’s lips, there was a little reflection on the edge of the bowl.

A tear glistened.

Shi Jingzhi had opened his eyes at some point. Those amber eyes, once full of life, now only showed profound sadness. Unable to speak because of his throat injury, he just shed tears uncontrollably.

Shi Jingzhi, always so prideful and skillful, now appeared so vulnerable. Tears flowed freely in the dim carriage. He weakly raised his hand, pushing the bowl away, then slowly and firmly hugged Yin Ci, burying his face in Yin Ci’s chest.

After a while, still crying, Shi Jingzhi held Yin Ci tighter, like a drowning man clutching onto a lifeline. In the past, he had always been extravagant and arrogant. Even when faced with Yin Ci’s true form, he hadn’t blinked. Yin Ci couldn’t imagine what had terrified Shi Jingzhi to this extent.

Near death, what did you discover?

Yet Yin Ci didn’t ask, nor did he share what he had seen. He simply held Shi Jingzhi, just as he had comforted a child who had awoken from a nightmare twenty-four years ago in the same place.

“It’s okay to cry,” Yin Ci said softly, caressing Shi Jingzhi’s hair. “What’s the worst I could do, laugh at you? You’ve suffered enough. Don’t hold back. Even if the world collapses, we can stay here, and I’ll be with you until the end.”

Finally, Shi Jingzhi began to sob, albeit silently.

Yidu, the Imperial Preceptor Residence.

Qu Duanyun rushed over after receiving a summons from Jiang Youyue. Even though days had passed since the incident, he was still somewhat dazed. He couldn’t afford any delays.

The Jianchen Temple wasn’t completely sealed off, the Ling Sect hadn’t been uprooted, and the Chigou Sect had announced that they had a new Young Patriarch. Not to mention, a disciple from the Kushan Sect had now assumed the position of Alliance Leader, and even Shi Zhongyu had produced the Reverse Yang Token. If she found solid evidence, his position as Sect Master would be in jeopardy.

The essential “Shirou” was also taken by people from the Chigou Sect. If it was consumed by irrelevant individuals…

Just thinking about it gave Qu Duanyun goosebumps.

It was undeniable that the Immortal Assembly had been planning in the martial world for a long time, but the current situation was full of loopholes. Faced with these “achievements”, Qu Duanyun had nothing to say, and his ambitions had long since dissipated.

“I’ve failed as your student.”

“Mm.” Despite the continuous bad news, Jiang Youyue remained calm and even seemed to be in a good mood. “To hone your mind, you need to experience hardships.”

“What about the Shirou…”

Jiang Youyue smiled faintly. “Given Shi Jingzhi’s character, this is probably part of his plan. If he really didn’t want to let it go, snatching the Shirou might be harder than taking a set of his moves. He probably has reservations about the Shirou and is testing us.”

Relieved to know that the Shirou wouldn’t just be consumed by anyone, Qu Duanyun exhaled.

“Duanyun, do you know why I put you in charge of this?”

Jiang Youyue asked leisurely.

“Ever since you came into this world, you’ve been considered a favored child of heaven. Upon learning of the Hundred-Year Project, you would undoubtedly harbor feelings of discontent and aspire to take Shi Jingzhi’s position… Dead bait makes it hard to catch fish. Your genuine desire to snatch the Shirou is what can dispel that person’s doubts to the fullest extent.”

Qu Duanyun remained silent.

Indeed, with the Immortal Assembly plotting against major sect leaders and his own presence in Taiheng, it seemed as though they were determined to obtain the Shirou.

Regarding the anomaly they witnessed that day, it could be explained that “Yan Budu set a trap to deceive people.”

Although Shi Jingzhi might have doubts about the Shirou, he, like many, would find a myriad of “justifiable” reasons to persuade himself, especially given he was a Child of Desire.

“Remember, if a plan’s conditions are too stringent and intricately linked, it’s akin to seeking destruction. As my student, you should’ve seen through this.”

Jiang Youyue added with a hint of amusement.

Qu Duanyun closed his eyes—it turned out that Jiang Youyue didn’t care about the success or failure of the plan, and he was just a pawn in his hands.

“This student learned his lesson.”

He was genuinely disappointed and regretful.

Seeing the dejected expression on Qu Duanyun’s face, Jiang Youyue laughed heartily and said, “No need for that. I went through the same when I was younger. Duanyun, if you clearly lost to Shi Jingzhi and still tried to forcibly take the Shirou, that would truly disappoint me.”

“Don’t be disheartened. No matter the current state of the martial world, it’s already riddled with wounds and holes, and that’s enough… Come, I believe you must be curious about the unusual phenomenon you witnessed that day. It’s time I told you everything.”

Qu Duanyun, expecting reprimand, instead received an unexpected boon. The conflicting feelings, akin to both ice and fire, were truly unbearable, making him feel a tingle down to his very roots. Before he left the room with Jiang Youyue, he finally mustered the courage to cautiously ask his teacher a question—

“If I had forcibly taken the Shirou then, what would you have done?”

Without pausing or looking back, Jiang Youyue answered in a gentle tone, accompanied by the faint smile from earlier.

“Do you need to ask? …You grew up in Taiheng, so you must have consumed the Tranquil Heart Pill.”

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