Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 77: The First Lie

Bai Shuangying noticed that Fang Xiu wasn’t skinny at all as a child.

Little Fang Xiu was sturdy, with soft, round cheeks and limbs. By the time he was nine, he was already 140 cm tall, with an amazingly good complexion.

The accident happened on a day when autumn leaves fluttered outside the window.

The family car had broken down, and his parents had gone out to find a mechanic. Little Fang Xiu sat obediently in the main room at his grandma’s, eating sesame pancakes and reading a book. His grandmother chatted with two neighbors, occasionally laughing out loud.

Little Fang Xiu clutched his book but didn’t really read it. He kept his ears pricked, secretly listening to his grandma’s conversation.

After his cousin’s family and his grandfather passed away, his grandma had become withdrawn. She often sat in the courtyard, dazed, for the whole day.

She refused to move, so Fang Xiu’s father took extended leave to stay with her in their hometown for a few months. Still, her mental state didn’t improve. In fact, her memory rapidly declined. During the New Year, she kept calling Fang Xiu by his cousin’s name and even forgot to put sugar in the sesame pancakes.

It was the first time Little Fang Xiu truly felt the impact of death.

Losing a loved one was like contracting a serious illness.

He was a child, so he recovered the fastest. His parents, although deeply saddened, eventually pulled through. Only his aging grandmother was completely crushed, growing weaker by the day.

She had once been full of energy, telling ghost stories from the old generation that could go on for a whole day without repeating.

Now, she could only recount one thing, over and over: She said she shouldn’t have encouraged his cousin’s family to travel. She shouldn’t have told Grandpa when they had trouble.

Expressionless, she repeated the tale like a sutra, as if by taking on all the blame, the dead might return.

After the incident, the family visited Grandma every month.

Yet to Little Fang Xiu, it felt like seeing her just once a year, because she was deteriorating at an alarming rate. A year ago, she had been walking with ease. Now her joints were stiff, trembling with every step. Her face looked like a rubber mask, completely lifeless.

…Then, one day, she smiled brilliantly again.

Grandma solemnly told the family that she had joined the “Guishan Sect”. The brothers and sisters in the sect had enlightened her…

She had done wrong in her past life and was here now to pay the price. As long as she accumulated enough merit in this life, they could all be reunited in the next leaving a peaceful and happy life.

“The sect leader knows tons of spells. He’s a descendant of a famous ancient sage, with a whole family lineage!”

Her eyes sparkled with life. “So many people in the city believe in him. Even celebrities do!”

Now that she had “confirmed” she was a sinner, Grandma was suddenly in high spirits.

Little Fang Xiu couldn’t understand why.

His parents fought about it several times. His mother insisted on taking a hard stance, even if it meant forcing Grandma to move to the city.

His father, on the other hand, wanted a softer approach. Grandma refused to leave her hometown and had finally found a source of comfort. Her mental state had just improved. If she realized she’d been deceived, she might spiral again.

They could simply visit her more often, keeping her from getting too deep into it.

“I’ve heard a lot of people believe in that sect. It’s not like they’re all doing crazy stuff.” His father smiled stiffly. “Mom just donates some money and recites scriptures. Let’s just keep an eye on it and not upset her.”

“But it’s wrong.” Little Fang Xiu frowned.

His father looked sorrowful. “When someone’s sick, you should treat them, right Xiu Xiu? But for some elderly folks, the treatment might be more harmful than the illness.”

Mom: “Just yesterday the paper reported on the cult running illegal communities, even encouraging suicide!”

“That’s in the big cities… Mom’s in a remote place. Not many locals believe here. It’s not that serious…” His father mumbled, unclear who he was trying to convince.

And so, months passed.

Mom failed to change Grandma’s beliefs, and Dad couldn’t convince her to move. They even sought police help, but since she was elderly, the authorities could only give verbal warnings.

Back then, the Guishan Sect was expanding rapidly. Officials could barely manage urban followers, let alone rural elders.

Little Fang Xiu, still a child, thought hard but found no solution. All he could do was help his parents keep an eye on Grandma.

Her energy improved, almost alarmingly so, like an engine pushed beyond its limits. She began contacting them more often. Now that the autumn break had arrived, she immediately called the family home for a seasonal visit.

…Inside the room, Grandma was still chatting with the neighbors.

One kindly looking aunt stood and handed a booklet to Fang Xiu.

“Reading is good. Take a look at this too.” The cover featured a middle-aged man in Taoist robes with a serene and noble bearing. Text along the sides read: “Zhuang Chongyue, 58th-generation descendant of Zhuang Guiqu”, “Number One Immortal Across All Realms”.

The title in large print: “Guishan Divine Words”.

What utter nonsense. Little Fang Xiu frowned deeply and turned his head away, refusing to take it.

The woman’s smile didn’t change. “No problem. I’ll just read it to you.”

“Return, return…”

“Merit complete, all will rejoice—”

Fang Xiu covered his ears.

“Xiu Xiu, don’t be rude!” Grandma chided gently, then turned to the woman. “Don’t mind him, sister. My boy’s too young. He’s been misled by those outside lies. He’ll come around.”

He’ll come around?

Little Fang Xiu looked at her in confusion. She looked down at him and smiled, mouth stretched wide.

The woman nodded with approval. “Yes, yes, your family’s smart. They know truth when they see it. Over there, they’ll be well taken care of.”

“My son takes after me. He’ll be fine.” Grandma declared proudly. “The Master’s arrangements are all in place. They should be arriving soon… If it gets too chaotic, I’ll go help calm them.”

Taken care of? Arrangements?

Grandma’s smile was warmer than ever, but Fang Xiu felt a creeping unease.

“Grandma, are you trying to send us away?” he asked.

“Oh, what a sweet, smart child. He understands!”

The two neighbor women praised him with exaggerated grins, looking at him like some primitive monkey.

Fang Xiu ignored them. He set down his book and grabbed Grandma’s clothes. “Grandma?”

“Xiu Xiu, our family made too much money so we can’t accumulate virtue.” She gently held his hand and whispered, “I told your dad many times, donate more to the gods, donate more, but he never listens… If this goes on, we won’t be family in the next life.”

“Grandma just wants your parents to attend Master’s class and learn more. It’s just like school. It’s not a bad thing.”

The neighbors parroted like a chorus. “Yes, yes, learn more. Master Zhuang’s disciples came here. They really know magic. He’s a living immortal!”

“Schools don’t teach the real stuff anymore. It’s all lies. The world these days—tsk…”

Little Fang Xiu: “…”

His wrist was hurting from Grandma’s grip, but she didn’t seem to notice. She stared at him intensely.

“Be a good boy and keep this secret for Grandma, okay?”

“Your parents have been deceived, but they’ll realize the truth soon. Then we’ll all worship the living immortal together and be one big happy family in the next life!”

Fang Xiu’s body went stiff. He didn’t respond.

“Xiu Xiu, don’t you like Grandma?” Her grip tightened.

“Keep it secret for Grandma, okay?”

“Keep it secret for Grandma, okay?”

“Keep it secret for Grandma, okay?”

She repeated the words sweetly, but her strength grew terrifying.

His wrist felt like it might snap. The two neighbors slowly closed in.

Fang Xiu parted his lips, took a breath, and squeezed out one obedient “Okay.”

Grandma finally let go. Her wrinkled face crinkled with a blissful smile.

“This child understands. He knows right from wrong.” She said, “You know, my grandson never tells lies.”

Fang Xiu played dumb and managed to slip out of the main room.

He picked up a branch and pretended to doodle by the gate. All three inside were watching him as cold sweat beaded down his back.

Who knows how long he waited before his parents returned, tired and dusty. When he heard their voices, he instinctively relaxed.

“I still think someone messed with the car. It was fine when we got here.”

“You’re overthinking. I’ll book a car in a bit.”

“Don’t wait. Book it now. These are mountain roads… We won’t get back by tomorrow…”

Their voices echoed through the yard.

Grandma and the neighbors came out smiling to greet them.

“Dad! Mom!” Little Fang Xiu dropped the stick and ran forward.

Grandma’s demeanor was strange. Fang Xiu had a bad feeling.

If the Guishan Sect really wanted to take his parents away, this was serious. And if it was serious… he shouldn’t keep it a secret.

His parents were capable. Maybe they could talk Grandma out of it.

…Being a lying bad kid just this once should be okay, right?

…Grandma loved him so much. She’d definitely forgive him.

Before his parents could enter the house, Fang Xiu hugged his dad’s waist and whispered quickly, “They said the Guishan Sect made arrangements. They want to take all of us away.”

His father froze. Two seconds later, he picked Fang Xiu up and gave his wife a look.

His mother caught on immediately and smiled warmly. “Mom, lunch can wait. We’re going to take Xiu Xiu for a walk in the mountains.”

“The mountains are dangerous. What’s there to see?”

“Yeah, a lot of people go missing up there,” the neighbor uncle said loudly. People outside slowed their steps and turned to look. They didn’t look at the ones shouting. They looked at Fang Xiu’s family.

Like ants spotting sugar.

Fang Xiu shuddered and clung tighter to his father’s neck.

Grandma looked around and her smile faded. “The mountains are dangerous. Don’t drag the kid around. Come in and eat.”

“Come on, Mom, what are you talking about? I grew up here. I know what’s safe. We’ll just take a stroll and pick some wild herbs.”

The villagers came closer. Fang Xiu’s father held him tighter, and his voice became drier.

His dad’s lie was weak. Grandma’s smile vanished entirely, her face now eerily blank like the villagers around her.

“Qiongyu, you’re lying to me,” she snapped. “Lying to your own mother?!”

His father’s voice was like burning coal. “Mom… really, we’ll be right back…”

More villagers showed up—way too many. It felt unnatural.

Like the entire village had crawled out of every corner to surround them.

Fang Xiu was dazed. But hadn’t Grandma said only a few families in the village believed this?

“Stubborn fools must be shown the truth—”

“Denying a living immortal? Must be possessed—”

“Her son’s the richest and owes the most merit—”

……

The villagers chatted loudly, eyes locked on them. They formed a wall of flesh, cheerful and oppressive. Some men held hoes or pitchforks, pacing idly.

Fang Xiu recognized two aunts who’d always been kind to him. They were now grinning, showing off gleaming scissors.

He curled up and buried his face in his father’s chest. His father was drenched in sweat, chest heaving, heartbeat like an earthquake.

Maybe seconds passed, or centuries, before his mother screamed, “Run!”

Almost instantly, Grandma bellowed, “Stop!”

Fang Xiu had never heard her scream like that.

But his parents didn’t stop.

They didn’t run for the village gate. They bolted into the mountains, knocking aside villagers in their way.

The crowd misjudged and missed the chance to intercept.

“Chase them! Hurry!”

Grandma stomped and panted, starting to run herself.

Fang Xiu felt numb.

His mother had kept him from reading too much about the Guishan Sect. He only knew it was a dangerous cult. People used words like “crazy” or “fanatic” to describe it.

Now he knew that wasn’t enough. It was like calling death “cold”. Too thin. Too empty.

The car was broken, so his parents fled on foot. As the view behind them shrank, he saw Grandma’s form pursuing wildly.

“Don’t run, Grandma…” he murmured. “It’s bad for your health.”

His parents were in good shape. The older villagers were left behind. Only a dozen or so young men kept up. Grandma fell behind too, leaning on a tree, shrinking in the distance.

“Fang Qiongyu, come back!” Her twisted body wailed. “You’re unfilial. This is a sin—!”

Fang Xiu’s father let his mother run ahead while he carried Fang Xiu at the rear.

No matter how Grandma screamed, he never looked back.

They stumbled through the mountain.

Some villagers nearly grabbed Fang Xiu’s hair.

“Fang Qiongyu, come back and collect your mother’s body!” Seeing them vanish into the forest, Grandma shrieked herself hoarse. “Fang Xiu—you lied to Grandma! …You’re demons! All of you!”

Her voice was full of grief, as if her only remaining relatives were not escaping, but running towards death.

“My merits—” She clawed at her face while tears blurred her vision and then slammed her head into a nearby tree.

Little Fang Xiu opened his eyes wide.

In his pupils, Grandma’s body sagged and slid down the trunk like a cloth bag. She didn’t move again. A bright red patch spread across her body.

There were no more screams. The world suddenly became silent and even the villagers’ shout grew faint.

At that moment, Fang Xiu didn’t feel sad. It all felt like a bizarre nightmare that he couldn’t understand… He still had a hint of sesame pancake on his tongue.

How strange, he thought. Even though they’d run so far, and Grandma looked so small, he could still see the hatred in her eyes.

Grandma hated me.

Why? Because I lied?

He remembered her picking jujubes with him, cooking his favorite sweets, stuffing his bags with snacks when he left. She’d never let him go, and now, she had thrown him away. Those memories weren’t fake. That love wasn’t fake.

…He just didn’t understand.

“Dad…” Fang Xiu mumbled as if he was dreaming. “Grandma fell…”

Warm liquid dripped onto his neck. He didn’t know if it was his father’s tears or sweat.

His father kept running and didn’t answer.

Everything dimmed and the memory faded away. Bai Shuangying knew what that meant… Fang Xiu’s grandmother had completely died.

Their karmic thread had ended.

Looking at Fang Xiu again, Bai Shuangying felt a moment of disorientation.

He couldn’t match that innocent child with the man in front of him. It was like a chubby kitten had grown into a lean, fierce leopard, like a different species.

His human really was incredible.

Unfortunately, even after seeing the karma, Bai Shuangying still didn’t know how Fang Xiu became who he was today.

After all, when the memory ended, Little Fang Xiu was still like that little black dog—bewildered and naive, unable to grasp the situation.

Still, he’d gained something from this glimpse.

Zhuang Chongyue, 58th-generation descendant of Zhuang Guiqu?

No wonder the Guishan Sect spells countered him. It turned out that the leader was the disciple of Zhuang Guiqu. After hundreds of years, that bastard’s legacy was still haunting the world.

Bai Shuangying tugged at the chains on his body and narrowed his eyes. That old Zhuang had a hand in binding him too.

And now Fang Xiu, someone with a grudge against Guishan, had summoned and unsealed him? This was too much of a coincidence to be a coincidence.

Good. Fang Xiu had fallen into his hands now.

He just needed to understand more, dig deeper… and hold tighter…

Bai Shuangying let go of his hand. The karmic thread slipped back into Fang Xiu’s body. The scenery twisted and blurred. The courtyard around them transformed into the one from Fang Xiu’s memory.

From the marks on the bricks to the branches of the jujube tree, everything matched exactly.

…Come, Fang Xiu.

We’re going to live for a very, very long time.

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The author has something to say:

Next up: Not captivity in a cat nest (×), but sweet domestic life (√)

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