Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 142: Vermilion

The Kushan Sect stayed in Juyi Valley for three days.

As the Alliance Leader, Yan Qing couldn’t be isolated from the world for too long. The intention of the master and disciple was to leave him some time to calm down, but Yan Qing never panicked from start to finish. He just practiced martial arts in silence and did miscellaneous tasks with the same demeanor as always.

However, after descending the mountain, the situation deteriorated rapidly.

There were some scattered towns under Kushan. When everyone went up the mountain, it was still bustling. However, after a few days, the town was deserted, and no one was in sight. Unlike the anomaly of the abandoned Xizhuang, traces of people’s hasty evacuation filled the place. Above was the bright spring light; below were broken eggs, spilled rice, and trampled vegetable leaves. Miscellaneous objects were trampled to pieces, leaving only a pile of pitiful wooden fragments.

Near the temple in the town, there seemed to be a family preparing for a celebration, with a lively red decoration at the door. But now there wasn’t a single person on the street, and the festive atmosphere turned desolate.

Yin Ci recognized this scene. Three hundred years ago, the Yun Dynasty wasn’t yet stable. Wars were raging, bandits were everywhere, and the people were like startled birds. Whenever there were rumors of bandits coming, people would gather their food and belongings and flee to the big cities in advance.

As the leader of thousands of troops, Yin Ci had seen this situation too many times.

Kushan was to the east of Yidu, closer to Luojiu. Perhaps the border situation wasn’t good, and some desperate looters had emerged… In these three hundred years, Great Yun had been prosperous, and such a scene had never occurred.

Shi Jingzhi, quick-witted, guessed almost immediately. “Bandit troubles?”

“It might not be true,” Yin Ci sighed, “but if people are convinced, the situation isn’t much better.”

The entire town lay silent, like a piece of meat that was on the verge of rotting—shiny on the surface, but the smell of decay was evident.

“Now we don’t even need to find an inn. It’s quite convenient.”

Shi Jingzhi rubbed the wound on his throat, but his expression wasn’t as relaxed as his tone.

“It seems my Emperor Brother, after all, couldn’t hold on.”

Now he understood the ambition of this Hundred-Year Project. When He Cheng’an appeared out of nowhere and began to support Xu Ye, his intentions were intriguing. Not to mention the current royal family, even the founding emperor Xu Ye might have been just a pawn.

Now the world was about to fall into chaos, and the frontier was unstable. According to the arrangement of the Immortal Assembly, he should be the one to eat the Shirou and be used by the Imperial Preceptor’s lineage. By then, they would kill Xu Jingxing and gather people’s hearts in the name of the gods, promoting him, the talented heir to the throne… Whether for the demon tree or personal gain, everything seemed within their grasp.

No wonder he was lured out of the palace with the news of the Shirou. It seemed that before Yan Budu lost control, they wanted to observe his performance and “inspect the goods” in advance. Accidentally blaming the Kushan Sect was probably because they were worried he might gather forces and create unpredictable variables.

They seemed to think of him as a docile pig ready for slaughter.

…But if he hadn’t met Yin Ci, he might already have been roasted, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

Shi Jingzhi swallowed hard, feeling a lingering fear.

Yin Ci noticed that Shi Jingzhi suddenly stopped in front of a pork stall. His face was indecipherable as he stared at the greasy hooks.

Despite his vast experience, Yin Zizhu couldn’t understand the unpredictable mind of the other. He paused for a moment and then guessed, “Hungry?”

To his surprise, Shi Jingzhi responded with a hint of subtle resentment on his face as he patted the meat stand, “Tonight, we’re having roast pig, and I’ll be the one to roast it.”

Yin Ci: “…” There was no need to say it with such gritted teeth.

That being said, such a deserted town was indeed a good place to lay low. Yin Ci pondered for a moment and turned to Yan Qing. “You go ahead and find Shi Zhongyu. Miss Shi is trustworthy. She should be able to help with the matters of the martial world. Now that you’ve just become the Alliance Leader, the situation is initially settled, and the Immortal Assembly might not risk moving against you.”

Yan Qing stood silently, obviously waiting for more.

Sure enough, Yin Ci paused and then continued, “If someone inquires, tell them that Sect Master Shi is critically ill and cannot travel far. He needs to recuperate here for some time.”

“Yes.”

In the past, Yan Qing would have asked about the Sect Master’s well-being. However, ever since he learned about the demon tree, he became more reticent, seemingly having his thoughts. Yin Ci didn’t feel any resentment, so he let him be.

The large town was left with just the two of them.

The sky was clear, and white clouds floated leisurely. Looking at Kushan in the distance, Shi Jingzhi felt a surreal sense of detachment. It felt as if, like twenty-four years ago, they had never parted and had always lived here.

A chubby sparrow flew over and pecked at Shi Jingzhi’s earlobe. He was then brought back to reality.

Yin Ci recognized the sparrow. “Shen Zhu?”

“Right, Shen Zhu and Su Si must have hidden well. I need to inform her about the demon tree matter. She has been researching the Invitation to God Formation for years; she must have made some discoveries.”

Shi Jingzhi playfully poked the soft sparrow and suddenly smiled faintly.

“Why are you smiling?”

“It’s nothing, just a sudden thought. Back then, I wanted to control matters outside the palace and searched everywhere for trustworthy people. At that time, Miss Shen pretended to be a maid to enter the palace, wanting to uncover the palace’s secrets. She initially thought that these ‘secrets’ had nothing to do with the Immortal Assembly and was greatly disappointed. But now…”

Shi Jingzhi coughed out blood, yet a smile still hung on his face.

“Zizhu, if there are enough ants, they can destroy a dam that stretches for thousands of miles, right?”

Su Si was a monster material, born from a demon tree. Yan Qing had ghost eyes and was a descendant of a Child of Desire. Without the bond between them, they might not even have discovered the source of Yuanxian Village. Moving further back, the Immortal Assembly overlooked a lonely girl. Without Shen Zhu, they wouldn’t recognize the Invitation to God Formation and wouldn’t find the Immortal Assembly.

All these coincidences were just typical human behavior.

A hundred years ago, Yan Budu committed suicide on Zongwu Mountain, using his flesh to mock the universe. Two hundred years ago, the Queen of Milan took a leap, hiding her hatred-filled discoveries in the snow. Three hundred years ago, the mercury in a coffin was stolen, giving the sleeping general a glimmer of hope.

His beloved, using bones as weapons, finally returned to the sunlight and met him in the mortal world.

Generation after generation of Imperial Preceptors, century after century, there were always oversights in the Hundred-Year Project. These seemingly insignificant “oversights” took root and led them to where they were now.

Sadly…

Shi Jingzhi coughed violently, spitting out a large amount of blood. Overwhelming vital qi flooded him, signaling the end of his lifespan.

Yin Ci held him up and stayed silent. They slowly walked through the desolate streets. When they reached an inn, Yin Ci finally spoke.

“Back on Huilian Mountain, we made a bet. I found the cause of your illness first and can make a request.”

“Mm.”

“I’ve decided what I want,” Yin Ci said. “I have a plan. We’ll discuss it tonight.”

“Why not now?”

“I have other things to do before we talk in detail.”

Entering the inn, Yin Ci settled Shi Jingzhi.

“Don’t even think about eating meat in your weakened state. I’ll make some medicinal porridge for you to warm up and eat tonight.”

Shi Jingzhi resisted. “No porridge, no! Zizhu, there’s no one here. Where are you going?”

“Don’t worry. This Disciple won’t abandon his Shizun. I’ll return tonight,” Yin Ci cheekily replied. “If you’re really scared, I can knock you out. I guarantee you’ll wake up at night.”

All of Shi Jingzhi’s spirit was gone. He eyed the porridge pot warily, wishing he could throw it away. Reluctantly, he rested.

“I know my body. I just need two hours to recover,” Shi Jingzhi said seriously. “Then I can eat and even run around the town. No porridge, no beating… If I don’t hear from you by dusk, I’ll prepare food and look for you.”

Yin Ci silently stroked Shi Jingzhi’s hair.

“Mm,” he said vaguely. “I remember. You’ll come looking for me.”

After that, he pushed Shi Jingzhi back onto the bed and, mercifully, didn’t prepare the porridge.

Shi Jingzhi lay restlessly in the empty inn. He eventually drifted off to sleep.

He awoke at sunset. The peach tree branches outside his window had turned orange by the setting sun. There was still no sign of Yin Ci. Gathering his strength, Shi Jingzhi rushed to the inn’s kitchen—

As promised, he’d prepare food to find Yin Ci.

Fortunately, there was still some pork left in the well water. Shi Jingzhi quickly roasted some meat and made some pancakes. He wanted to get some wine but noticed the best had been taken. It seemed Yin Ci had been here, perhaps wanting to drink alone given Shi Jingzhi’s condition.

Shi Jingzhi shook his head, picked up the food box, and left. Before leaving the courtyard, he hesitated, then plucked a peach blossom, placing it on the food box.

Yin Ci carried the Hanging Shadow Sword on his back. The scabbard was made of fragrant wood that he had gifted, so it was easy to trace by its scent. Shi Jingzhi followed the aroma, tracking it diligently along the path.

First, he came across a better wine shop on the opposite side. Various ingredients had been taken, but there was no sign of the stove being used.

…What could this mean?

Frowning, Shi Jingzhi continued, tracking the scent. Next, he passed some general stores, then a fabric shop. Yin Ci had stopped at these places but didn’t linger. From what he could tell, it seemed as if his senior disciple had dumped him at the inn and went out on his own.

The roasted meat in the food box was getting cold! At this time, the Master felt like crying but had no tears.

Quickening his pace, he followed the afterglow. However, when he reached the place where the aroma was strongest, he stopped in his tracks.

He stood in front of the town’s temple.

Kushan was already barren, and the town was pitifully small. Despite the sparse population, there was a statue of the Imperial Celestial, but it was merely a common clay statue. It had been thrown outside and shattered into pieces. But what was even more shocking—

The temple was adorned with red wedding lanterns. It seemed festive, celebrating something. The courtyard doors were ajar, and the scent of wine and food wafted from within. The setting sun painted the sky with fiery hues, and everywhere he looked, it was a lively red scene.

Shi Jingzhi stood still, his legs feeling numb. Regaining his senses, he rushed into the courtyard, holding the food box.

Unlike a typical wedding feast, there weren’t tables set for numerous guests. Only one table with two chairs, some fine dishes, and two jugs of good wine. This setup was right in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded by red fabric and lanterns, replacing the usual incense cauldron, creating an eerie, defiant atmosphere.

“You can’t just borrow someone else’s place for such things. As for the decorations… I left some silver coins. Consider them bought,” came Yin Ci’s voice. At that moment, he was sitting atop the temple’s roof.

Holding a half-drunk jug of wine, his hair and clothes fluttered in the evening breeze. When they first met, amidst falling maple leaves and the scent of wine, the scene was red all around. Now, the despair in his eyes had turned into a lively defiance.

“You came just in time. A little later, and the food would have been cold. Here, get changed first.”

A package flew towards Shi Jingzhi. When he unwrapped it, a bright red ceremonial robe was revealed.

The robe was tailored to fit, with beautiful stitches similar to his “Medicine Cures Illness” flag. It was clearly hand-stitched by Yin Ci. Shi Jingzhi, overwhelmed with emotion, nearly dropped the robe. After a while, he finally found his voice.

“You…”

Tears welled in his eyes, and it took him a while to lighten his tone.

“You didn’t keep your word. Where’s the grand palanquin you promised?”

Yin Ci paused, then laughed heartily. “The immortals are watching now. I’ll make up for it later.”

Shi Jingzhi, holding the food box adorned with peach blossoms, responded, “I’ve only brought this little gift. It’s quite disgraceful… Since I owe you now, wait and see how grand the feast I’ll host next time will be.”

Once dressed, the clothes fit perfectly. The light fabric felt like protective armor, and Shi Jingzhi had never felt so comfortable and free. Within moments, the demon tree roots on the other side seemed like insignificant weeds, unable to distract or disturb him.

As he stepped out, he bumped into Yin Ci, also in his ceremonial attire.

Yin Ci usually wore plain or gray clothes, so Shi Jingzhi had never seen him in red.

Yin Ci had exceptionally fine features, elegant but not overly flamboyant, truly resembling a gentleman of jade. Now in red attire, his usual indifference and detachment were completely hidden, leaving only a dignified sharpness and vigorous vitality. Even though his black hair still cascaded loosely, Shi Jingzhi could envision him with his hair tied back, donning armor, fighting fiercely on the battlefield.

At this moment, Yin Ci was also observing him closely. As he looked on, his expression slightly contorted, and eventually, he couldn’t help but laugh. “Who would have thought my life would be like a bizarre tale, and in the end, I’d truly marry a fox spirit in a temple.”

“Yes, I am a great immortal destined to bring about the downfall of a nation.” Shi Jingzhi couldn’t help but laugh as well, feeling no pain even from his wounds. “As for whose nation it will be, it’s still uncertain. Great General, would you be willing to join me in wreaking havoc upon the world?”

“Of course.”

“We have no heavens or ancestors to pay respects to in this setting.” Shi Jingzhi’s eyes softened. “Shall we bow to each other?”

Inside the temple, the two, resembling immortals, stepped forward to bow to each other. However, instead of bowing, Shi Jingzhi couldn’t resist and transformed the gesture into a loving kiss.

Living in this world, he had never felt so content. His disciple was truly cunning… not to mention a Child of Desire, once a mortal tasted such pleasure, how could they consider “defeat” and “death”? When he first encountered the demon tree, he thought he’d never find peace in this life. Who knew that in just a few days, he’d walk out of that hopeless darkness?

Was being with a beloved such a wondrous thing?

His overwhelming desires felt satiated and dormant, obedient to a degree that was hard to believe. Past worldly ties, the deep bond between master and disciple; after all the twists and turns, all he wanted was to live alongside “Yin Zizhu”.

After a long kiss, the two sat by the table.

The setting sun had faded, and the twilight deepened. The dishes on the table were cold-resistant. Shi Jingzhi used a mild flame to warm them, but the flavor didn’t change much. The warm glow of candles filled the courtyard. Both picked up their wine cups, took a deep breath, and almost simultaneously began to speak.

“Since you and I have already—”

“Now that we’re married—”

Considering that the other had “a plan to discuss in detail”, Shi Jingzhi hesitated. “You go first.”

“I have a plan that might save your life. Ever since discovering the secret of the flesh idol, I’ve been contemplating it.”

Yin Ci lowered his eyes and spoke calmly.

Shi Jingzhi didn’t show overt joy, only a serious, listening demeanor. The plan Yin Ci had kept hidden for so long was unlikely to be pleasant. Indeed, Yin Ci took a sip of wine first, a blush appearing on his pale skin.

After a moment’s focus, he looked solemnly at Shi Jingzhi.

“…For this plan to work, you’ll need to ‘kill’ me. Jingzhi, now that we’re married, I promise I won’t abandon you. This is my guarantee.”

As the spring breeze blew, flowers swayed in the courtyard, and the candle flames flickered. The town was silent.

Having reached this point, Yin Ci intended not to hide anything more.

Contrary to Yin Ci’s expectations, Shi Jingzhi, faced with this grim topic, showed neither despair nor anger. He just quietly looked at him, a smile gradually forming.

“Coincidentally, I was about to say the exact same thing. I also have a plan, and you’ll need to ‘kill me’.”

Shi Jingzhi poured another cup for Yin Ci, his tone playful.

“But I have to wait for a reply from Shen Zhu… Zizhu, since our thoughts align, why not discuss it after the reply? A moment in the spring night is precious and shouldn’t be wasted.”

The wind tilted the peach branches on the food box, causing the petals to gently fall.

Yin Ci’s last shred of concern faded, and his energy returned. He took his wine cup and gently pressed it to Shi Jingzhi’s lips. The lips became slightly deeper in color due to the moisture.

“You’re right.” Yin Ci moved closer; his breath mixed with a hint of wine. “Such good wine and a beautiful night aren’t for grim discussions. Husband, how about you come with me and we have another toast?”

On one side, warm wind whispered, and the aroma of wine and meat lingered. On the other, though they were alone, the atmosphere was devoid of any flirtation.

After retrieving the Shirou, Su Si didn’t immediately return to Chigou. He hid in an underground chamber, watching Shen Zhu deal with the Shirou.

Without Yan Budu’s jade eyes, the Shirou reverted to its enticing green appearance. Unfortunately, having seen its true nature and detesting the Immortal Assembly, neither had the desire to touch it.

Su Si, a man of action, had been idle for days, which almost drove him mad. But Shen Zhu remained calm, almost poking the fruit with a needle in her meticulousness. Bored, Su Si could only watch.

“Hey, hey, hey, you’re messing around so much. What are you going to do with the fire?”

Shen Zhu had been probing the Shirou for days. Initially using a lustrous mirror and jade clamps, she now had various fires ready to burn a piece of the fruit’s stem.

“It doesn’t decay and can’t be easily destroyed. It seems one must consume it to unlock its power.”

Shen Zhu mused, toasting the fruit piece over a dark flame.

“Still eating it? Haven’t you seen? It looks utterly disgusting,” Su Si grumbled while playing with a rope. “Didn’t you get the Sect Master’s letter? With that massive inverted demon tree, why bother with this thing?”

Annoyed by his nagging, Shen Zhu moved the fruit piece to another flame.

“I know you want to leave, to find your martial Alliance Leader.” Tired of his noise, she dropped her friendly demeanor. “But you’re hiding here for your safety—the Immortal Assembly might not be fooled. If you leave now, they might capture you and take the Shirou.”

She made a mock-threatening gesture, reminding him of the dangers outside.

Su Si clutched Lord Bai and fiercely stroked it. “Anyway, Sect Master Shi just wants to feign near-death in front of them. I don’t think he plans to eat it, so handing it over won’t matter much…”

“Won’t matter? I’ve looked into it thoroughly. This thing is just like the immortal wine; indeed, it shares the same origin with the bare branches.”

Shen Zhu narrowed her eyes at him.

“We can’t get the bare branches, and the immortal wine is just wine soaked with that demon, so they’re all hard to verify. But this is a genuine part of the demon tree; perhaps we can find its weakness.”

Su Si was in disbelief. “What weakness? …You want to destroy that demon tree? Have you gone mad?”

“The one who’s mad is your sect leader.”

Shen Zhu wiped her hands nonchalantly and said, “But destroying it would mean obliterating the very foundation that the Immortal Assembly cherishes. Of course, I’d be more than happy to see that.”

To Su Si’s shock, he inadvertently loosened his grip. Lord Bai managed to break free, flapping its large wings frantically. The line of flames was blown elongated by the wind, instantly igniting the papers on the table and accidentally setting Shen Zhu’s clothes on fire.

The two trusted the goose for its ability to predict auspicious and inauspicious omens. They never expected it to cause such a mess. Shen Zhu immediately grabbed the demon fruit and pressed it to her chest. “Water, now!”

Reacting swiftly, Su Si grabbed a bucket from the corner and splashed water all over Shen Zhu. The flames, which weren’t ordinary but rather poisonous, were quickly extinguished before spreading.

Shen Zhu let out a sigh of relief, releasing the Shirou with lingering fear—these flames weren’t ordinary ones; each was highly toxic. Even a slight touch resulted in several burn holes in her clothes. The Shirou was stored in a glazed container that had been enchanted with a spell, and fortunately, it was unharmed.

However, the piece that had been cut off was affected differently.

It turned a dull purplish gray, emitting a foul stench as if it was a piece of rotting flesh. After a while, it completely withered, losing its alluring aroma.

Although Su Si wasn’t as knowledgeable as the disciples of the Yueshui Pavilion and wasn’t familiar with these demonic things, one glance was enough for him to conclude—

It was dead.

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The author has something to say:

They are married!!!

Sect Master Shi: I demand a grand palanquin! A grand one that needs eight people to lift! (gesturing)

Demonic Lord Yin: ? You’ll be sewing the wedding clothes next time.

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