Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 145: Farewell

Bright golden flames rose three meters high, and a sound like the tearing of silk echoed through the air.

The sword conveyed a subtle sensation, as if cutting through a swamp. Then something fell onto Shi Jingzhi—it was cold and soft, feeling much like raw flesh. Despite its lightness, it didn’t hurt Shi Jingzhi upon impact.

With a successful strike, Sect Master Shi nimbly rolled over and knelt halfway on the ground, with golden flames encircling him.

“General Yin!” He raised his voice, addressing with respect. “I saw it clearly just now. Another flesh root is connected to this thing!”

In an instant, Yin Ci leapt out from the bushes, stepping on the wind. The jade eye was embedded in his left eye socket, from which blood continuously seeped, like never-ending tears of blood.

Through the blood-stained vision, Yin Ci saw everything clearly.

The giant hands hovered in mid-air, their spider-like fingers halted in their motion, evidently caught off guard. Shi Jingzhi’s move was precise and steady, successfully cutting off one of the slender fingers.

The finger wobbled as it fell to the ground, rolling twice before its joints started to bend.

Unlike his own situation, blood-red tendrils sprouted from the wound on the giant hand, yet a new finger didn’t immediately form. The severed finger also stretched out tendrils, seemingly trying to reattach itself.

Without hesitation, Yin Ci lunged forward, touching Shi Jingzhi’s skin.

The moment their skins touched, the vast forest of bare branches and the giant floating hands appeared. Shi Jingzhi glanced at the thread between the fingers with a gaze as cold as ice.

They touched only for an instant, and as soon as they separated, the vision in front of Shi Jingzhi vanished.

But a glimpse was enough.

The reattaching process of the severed finger was interrupted once again by Shi Jingzhi. The golden flames on his sword burned brightly, almost white. Although they couldn’t destroy the roots, they could slow their growth.

Yin Ci, taking advantage of his sight, constantly rammed into the giant hands, adjusting them to a more convenient strike position for Shi Jingzhi. If Shi Jingzhi’s movements went astray, Yin Ci would swoop in. Their fleeting touches brought brief glimpses into another world—a sight so fast that ordinary people wouldn’t even have time to react.

However, a Child of Desire wasn’t an ordinary person.

Both continued without pause—one swift as the wind and lightning, with incredibly sharp movements, and the other circling an unseen enemy, his swordplay intricate yet brutal. Occasionally, they brushed past each other, adjusting their perspectives, reminiscent of petals and butterflies in a fierce storm.

Shi Jingzhi kept targeting the same spot, forcing the mysterious entity to relinquish the troublesome finger and quickly regenerate a new one.

The abandoned slender finger began to take shape. Even without Yin Ci’s assistance, Shi Jingzhi could see it clearly. Ignoring its unusually long form, it was almost beautiful.

The finger, with its smooth skin and intact nail, exuded vitality. It lay quietly on the grass, two inches longer than an adult man’s leg.

It was within reach.

However, Shi Jingzhi didn’t immediately show any greed. He kicked the finger away as if uninterested and continued his attack with his sword. Yin Ci also pressed on. They seemed intent on revealing the true form of their foe.

As they expected, the entity found their actions intriguing and didn’t immediately flee.

In Yin Ci’s vision, the giant hands transformed back into a mass of flesh. Dark red tendrils covered it, and it morphed once again. Like a fetus in the womb, it curled up, gradually taking the shape of a human.

The figure was tall and dressed in white. He stood with his back to Yin Ci, looking at Shi Jingzhi with a faint smile. Shi Jingzhi immediately stepped back—the entity had initially appeared emotionless, but now its human-like expression sent chills down his spine.

Golden flames rose higher around Shi Jingzhi, but the entity didn’t engage in conversation. After observing Shi Jingzhi for a while, it turned to face Yin Ci.

Yin Ci shuddered uncontrollably.

Even though he knew the flesh could control puppets, seeing that familiar yet strange face left him both shocked and bewildered.

“General Yin, it’s been three hundred years since we last met, hasn’t it?”

The entity’s voice was clear and pleasant, with a hint of vivacity.

“Little brother, long time no see.”

…Such a casual greeting.

Yin Ci stood frozen, his face pale as ice, feeling as if his blood was freezing.

Just by appearance, what was in front of him looked no different from Sun Wang; even the tone of speech and small movements were exactly the same. However, Sun Wang’s eyes always carried a joyful look, while the eyes of this thing seemed to be covered in a layer of mist, empty inside.

Something had completely changed.

This used to be the head of the Sun Clan, who would pick beautiful stones from bloody battlefields as gifts for his beloved wife. He was also the General Sun who, despite facing immense pressure, painstakingly learned to write and tearfully documented the truth.

Standing before him now might just be the second half of his life as a warrior, the long-celebrated “Marquis of Lie’an”.

Indeed, Sun Wang had documented this. However, the clue was so subtle that neither he nor Shi Jingzhi noticed it.

Before offering the sacrifice to the heavens, He Cheng’an entrusted some “super tonic” to Lady Sun.

At that time, Sun Wang was in extremely poor condition, locking himself in his room to weep and write, looking extremely frail. Sun Wang and He Cheng’an had a sworn brotherhood, and Lady Sun, worried about her husband, suspected nothing—

She might have personally prepared and fed that tonic, which was the Shirou, to her husband.

After that, Sun Wang’s records abruptly ended. The world no longer had the agonized General Sun, but only a great loyal official who was “devoted to Great Yun”.

How would Lady Sun feel when she recalled that day?

“Sun Wang” didn’t go back to his hometown with her. Instead, he held great power, with the Sun Clan shining brilliantly, and all his descendants becoming accomplished. Yet amidst this prosperity, Lady Sun packed away her cherished half-lifetime collection of small stones, along with Sun Wang’s records, sealing them into an idol.

Facing that rough idol, what was she praying for?

In Yin Ci’s memory, Lady Sun was always a contented person with a smile on her face. After that incident, would she still smile like that?

Three hundred years had passed, and her body had turned to bones. Yet, her beloved stood here, his hands stained with invisible blood, casually saying to him, “Long time no see.”

…How was this different from mocking the corpse of his friend? At the end of this Hundred-Year Project, would Shi Jingzhi also end up like this?

Thinking of this, Yin Ci was filled with rage but managed to suppress his emotions.

Seeing Yin Ci’s fluctuating facial expressions, the creature continued to smile and said, “I wondered why this generation’s Child of Desire has so many tricks. Turns out you’ve been interfering. Truly fitting for General Yin, who even managed to break out from the Northwest Prohibition… After all this time, no one noticed. Humans really are unreliable.”

“But you alone managed to investigate the Children of Desire to this extent. Truly, as they say, ‘A man changes in just three days; one should look at him with fresh eyes*’.”

*Farewell for three days, look back with admiration (士别三日，刮目相待) Idiom referring to if you haven’t seen each other for a long time, they have made progress in such that you can no longer look at them with old eyes.

The creature spoke as if making small talk, showing no concern about Yin Ci’s escape.

Yin Ci slowly adjusted his breathing, staring intently at those dark greenish eyes. “Where is He Cheng’an?”

“Brother He?” The creature raised an eyebrow and laughed loudly. “Brother He is far away in Luojiu, very safe.”

“I see. If it’s convenient, please arrange a meeting.” Yin Ci’s spirit wasn’t dampened; he casually said, “Three hundred years have passed, and I have a lot of questions for him.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. Brother He has long gone underground, nourishing a new Hanging Tree with his body.”

Yin Ci gritted his teeth.

He was tricked. What so-called Saint? What Hundred-Year Project? He Cheng’an had probably consumed the Shirou by the time he found Xu Li and helped him become emperor.

All previous affections were just illusions from He Cheng’an’s past life.

“It’s interesting. The Child of Desire is right here, yet you don’t seem to care.” Yin Ci smiled coldly. “After consuming the Shirou and becoming a puppet of that demon tree… the Hanging Tree doesn’t sound too tempting. As far as I know, a Child of Desire would rather die than accept the Shirou.”

“That Yan Budu is inherently dark and suspicious, always thinking of ridiculous things. He pretended to agree to take the Shirou but killed the messenger I sent. That messenger’s eyeball is now embedded in your eye socket.”

The creature replied nonchalantly.

“Now with me personally taking care of things, the Child of Desire doesn’t need to have any misunderstandings. You should stop with your puppet talk.”

Then, it gracefully turned and reached out to Shi Jingzhi, who was a few steps away.

“In one’s life, one simply seeks satisfaction and ease. Immortality can become boring over time. If you eat the Shirou, you can freely roam the beautiful landscapes. When you’re tired of living, just find a scenic place and bury yourself. But before you get bored, the Hanging Tree will keep you safe from illness and injury, controlling winds and summoning rain. Even if you want to be an emperor for hundreds of years, you can.”

Shi Jingzhi held his breath, neither moving forward nor retreating.

“What he told you, mostly, is the nonsense that ‘the Hanging Tree will seize your mind’. You’ve almost died twice, so you probably have some insights. It doesn’t even have consciousness; how can it manipulate minds? …Do you think my actions and demeanor can be imitated by a tree?”

Shi Jingzhi’s eyes flickered, seemingly swayed.

Yin Ci, infuriated, denounced immediately, “It’s all nonsense! I—”

“‘The Sun Wang I know would never do such a thing.’ General Yin, you’ve lived for three hundred years, and you’re still so stubborn—people’s hearts change easily. After I consumed the ‘Shirou’, my perspective broadened considerably.”

The creature gleefully interrupted Yin Ci.

“This concerns the life of a Child of Desire, so I must be honest with everyone—Shi Jingzhi, the price you’ll pay is merely being influenced by the ‘Shirou’ and feeling an exceptional affection and closeness towards the Hanging Tree.”

Shi Jingzhi pursed his lips and remained silent, seeming even more hesitant. However, hearing this, Yin Ci oddly became calm.

“Do you still remember Cuicui?”

“What does it matter if I remember?” The creature retorted. “Mortal women are insignificant. Brother Shi has no relatives or friends, so there’s less trouble.”

It stood openly, speaking calmly, seemingly confident that the two men were powerless against it. Shi Jingzhi looked torn, while Yin Ci looked grave, but his mind raced.

The current situation precisely matched their findings.

[The matter of the ‘Shirou’ has been somewhat deciphered.] Shen Zhu once sent them a long letter. [The ‘Invitation to God Formation’ summons the malevolent root of the demon tree, which can instantly drain a person. The technique connected to the demon tree is inspired by the ‘Shirou’. However, the ‘Shirou’ is not a genuine divine object. It doesn’t grant superhuman abilities, and its effects are not complex.]

[Firstly, it connects a person to the demon tree, sharing life and death.]

Saying “sharing life and death” was more like the Hanging Tree solely nourishing the person who consumed the ‘Shirou’, granting them immortality.

[Secondly, fine roots grow throughout the person’s body, controlling their mind. The exact effects are unknown.]

Based on the creature’s words, the effect seems to be “exceptional affection and closeness” to the demon tree. When it mentioned Cuicui, there was no emotion on its face, which indicated the effects were extraordinary—resembling that of the Crab Slave*.

*Sacculina, a genus of barnacles that is a parasitic castrator of crabs. They stick to the host’s organs, which gives it the group name of Rhizocephala, meaning “root-head”. Often times they extend these roots into the host’s brain and central nervous system, which scientists hypothesize helps explain how the parasite can manipulate the host’s behavior.

With thousands of roots running through him, Sun Wang probably regarded the demon tree as a cherished son, doing everything to protect it.

Perhaps Sun Wang was still “alive”, but was he still “Sun Wang”?

[Thirdly, its seeds are embedded in the human body, carried to distant places.]

There were countless plants that used animals to spread their seeds, so the Hanging Tree wasn’t special. Although the creature said, “Die when you get tired of living”, the reality was uncertain—like parasite blackworms leading mantises to streams and cordyceps making larvae burrow into the ground, it appeared at first glance to be a ‘voluntary choice’.”

However, this hid excellent news.

Even those “immortals” who can cooperate with the Hanging Tree, as they expected, have limited knowledge. Even if Yin Ci, connected by a flesh root, was running everywhere, it couldn’t get close, unable to detect anything.

Very good.

“Brother Shi, come with me. No need for further complications.”

Unaware of Yin Ci’s thoughts, the creature laughed even more brightly.

“General Yin is merely dissatisfied and wants to vent through you… You’re my descendant and have the bloodline of Xu Li; how can he not hold resentment towards you?”

“You are just being used by him.”

Shi Jingzhi was taken aback for a moment; the color of wavering on his face was extremely evident. He struggled for a while, and his initial momentum had already diminished significantly. In the end, he spoke with relative respect. “Burying General Yin under the Great Prohibition is somewhat…”

“The Great Prohibition of the Northwest is based on him. For three hundred years, it has protected against wind and desertification, defended against external disasters, and ensured the peace and prosperity of the local people. General Yin claimed to be willing to fight for the people and die for Great Yun. All we did was let him get what he desired; where is the wrongdoing in that?”

That thing looked on with a calm and undisturbed gaze, as if discussing something that was a matter of course.

“Moreover, this has nothing to do with you. A Child of Desire has a limited number of lives. For now, I can still ensure you won’t die. When your time comes, even I won’t be able to do anything… You’re a smart person. You know how to choose.”

Shi Jingzhi glanced at Yin Ci, still hesitant in his eyes. Seeing Yin Ci’s gaze turn cold, he hesitated for a long time, but didn’t make any definite statement. “The two of you were old acquaintances, both seemingly immortal, yet holding different opinions. I… I need to go back and think about this.”

After speaking, there was a slight twist on Shi Jingzhi’s handsome face.

“I was previously rude to you, the Marquis of Lie’an. I apologize first.”

The entity showed no signs of displeasure, but rather seemed magnanimous. “Being cautious is good. I won’t rush you. If you were fickle, this Shirou wouldn’t be yours to take. If it weren’t for the suspicious actions of Yan Budu and my old friend interfering, I wouldn’t want to complicate things.”

Shi Jingzhi glanced at Yin Ci again, finally bowing his head against that piercing gaze, and said, “Farewell, Immortal.”

With that, he waved his hand, sending a dazzling flame towards that finger. Instantly, a patch of grass turned into a charred heap, billowing with smoke.

Seeing this, the entity looked at the visibly angry Yin Ci with a smirk.

“General Yin, I hope you remember the greater good and stay true to your word.”

With that, it turned into a liquid form, slowly vanishing into thin air. Aside from the scorched ground, the place remained as clear and bright as before, with only a gentle breeze blowing.

After a short while, the two still stood silently in the grass.

“Is he gone?” Shi Jingzhi cautiously asked.

“…He’s gone.”

Upon hearing this, Shi Jingzhi quickly moved to the scorched ground, rolled up his sleeves, and dug out the finger—it was already light, and the heat wave just blew it away from its original position, obscured by the smoky ash, appearing as if consumed by the golden flame.

The principle was simple but sweat still formed on Shi Jingzhi’s back. The entity’s oppressive aura was strong, making it difficult for him to precisely control the golden flame without showing signs of panic.

Ensuring the finger was intact, Shi Jingzhi finally sighed in relief. He joyfully held it and flaunted it to Yin Ci. “Zizhu, did I perform well?”

“Very well, I couldn’t find any flaws.” Yin Ci gently patted the ash off him, smiling with some difficulty.

Regardless of the unexpected appearance of the “acquaintance”, Yin Ci’s heart was heavy. Even if they had agreed to act, Shi Jingzhi might still be influenced by that creature’s words. The intensity of his desire was overwhelming, akin to a suffocating person longing for air. It wasn’t something that could simply be resisted by willpower.

Shi Jingzhi’s face was relaxed, perhaps not wanting to burden him further.

“Jingzhi, if you’re truly wavering, you can discuss it with me at any time.”

“Wavering?”

Shi Jingzhi’s action of stroking the severed finger paused.

He approached Yin Ci, leaned slightly forward, and gently removed the jade eye. As the foreign object was taken out, Yin Ci’s eye opened again; its beautiful iris restored to its original state.

“Zizhu, you’re still too indifferent—one side requires loyalty to the Hanging Tree, working for it. Considering the busy times, it just means a little more time to live. On the other side is being with the one you love, free and easy for a lifetime. Between the two, is there really a need to waver? I’m the greediest of the Children of Desire. How could I choose?”

“I want both the time and you. Let’s proceed with the plan. I’m very clear-headed now.”

Far away.

Su Si mounted a black horse, with Lord Bai tied up in his arms. “Hey, I’m leaving.”

Shen Zhu glanced at him. Without saying anything, Su Si read the words “Hurry up and leave” from her face.

“I mean, we do share some sort of camaraderie as fellow servants. I’m going to do something important; you should at least say a few words.”

Su Si clicked his tongue, looking somewhat aggrieved.

“Haa, only San Zi is easy to talk to. Let’s go, Sixty-Seven Taels. Let’s return to Chigou.”

With that, he tugged the reins and rode off on the black horse named “Sixty-Seven Taels”, soon disappearing into the distance.

Shen Zhu rolled her eyes, weighing the two glazed jars in her hands. One contained the Shirou, and the other had sliced fruit pieces. She placed them in a thick bundle of papers. Once everything was ready, Shen Zhu finally cracked a stiff smile.

“Doing something ‘important’?”

She caressed the packed cloth bag as if touching a lover’s skin.

“I’ve waited for this moment for over twenty years.”

The author has something to say:

The Crab Slave is a fascinating R18G (?) parasitic creature, wholeheartedly recommended to everyone! (…

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 144: The Immortal

The stone chamber was empty.

Qu Duanyun wasn’t sure whether to be pleased or worried. He was pleased that a century-long endeavor could result in such a spectacular outcome. However, he was concerned due to the odd circumstances, which were far from his previous understanding. Back then, he assumed that immortals lived above the clouds, dressed in flowing robes, often seen in silhouette but not in person. The recent explanation of the Shirou from the Grandmaster left him feeling lost and overwhelmed.

According to the Grandmaster on the flesh idol, the True Immortal should be the last person to have consumed the “Shirou”.

He or she only provided intelligence for the Hanging Tree, having lost all humanity. Once Shi Jingzhi consumed the Shirou and became the new True Immortal, this individual would leave to a foreign land and bury themselves in the soil.

In other words, if the “Immortal” was about to leave Great Yun, why choose this time to meet?

Although these thoughts whirled in his mind, Qu Duanyun obediently knelt beside Jiang Youyue and bowed towards the empty space.

After the bow, the stone chamber began to shake. Invisible fine roots emerged from the crevices of the rocks. They intertwined and oozed dark red flesh, slowly forming a human figure. At first glance, it seemed like a person being formed from the void, growing organs and flesh, followed by skin. The sight was deeply unsettling.

Once the flesh was formed, countless delicate roots turned milky white, wrapping around the figure like a cocoon of silk. Shortly after, a simple white robe materialized, with its hem dragging on the ground without gathering any dust.

Upon closer inspection, Qu Duanyun found the milky white substance eerily familiar, much like the manifesting threads of the “Three Thousand Threads of Worries”.

Just like that, a man materialized out of thin air in the underground chamber.

Unexpectedly for Qu Duanyun, the man wasn’t an “ethereal-looking old man”. Instead, he was tall and muscular with deep-set features—undoubtedly handsome. However, his eyes, hidden in shadows, glowed a bright luminescent green. Just by looking into those eyes, one would be reminded of a wild beast in the night.

With a stern expression and undeniable determination, the man felt strangely familiar. Yet, his gaze was so intense that, despite Qu Duanyun’s vast experience, it caught him off guard.

Much like a tiger observing a bug, there was no malice or curiosity in those green eyes, just an overwhelming presence that made it hard for one to raise their head.

Although Qu Duanyun was semi-informed and had prepared internally, the innate fear within him bubbled up uncontrollably.

Was this the True Immortal?

Upon his arrival, the True Immortal stood silently without even the slightest movement or sign of breathing. If one were to ignore the daunting aura, he genuinely resembled a tree.

“This is the second-generation True Immortal of our Great Yun,” Jiang Youyue whispered. “You might have heard of this shell. It belongs to one of the founding heroes—Sun Wang, the Marquis of Lie’an.”

“The body it chose is simple, making it a top-quality vessel. It’s been around for about three hundred years, and its abilities are well understood. If Yan Budu hadn’t given up the Shirou, he would have already left this place to ‘seed’.”

Jiang Youyue remained kneeling, his head lowered. His voice was soft but loud enough for the True Immortal to hear. Yet, the immortal just watched, unmoving.

Suddenly, Qu Duanyun felt that this being wrapped in human skin wasn’t “not understanding”, but rather, “indifferent”.

It only required their respect and submission. Given the vastness of the Hanging Tree, it probably didn’t care about these “insignificant beings” at its roots.

Jiang Youyue continued, “The reason I brought you here is for the Hanging Tree to mark you beforehand. Even if you’re severely injured, you won’t exhibit… the ‘broken horse’ symptoms that Taiheng mentioned.”

Like his master, Qu Duanyun kept his head lowered. “Thank you, Master.”

Jiang Youyue, with the utmost respect, bowed again to the True Immortal, who finally turned to Qu Duanyun.

Countless snow-like, thin roots crawled over his skin, their faint green glow puncturing his body with countless tiny blood spots. The blood spots quickly scabbed over, and Qu Duanyun felt a weight lifting from him, a sensation of profound relief.

This feeling was extremely peculiar, like being trapped in a damp tomb for a lifetime and suddenly being released into an endless open space, feeling a refreshing cool breeze.

Before Qu Duanyun could fully process the sensation, the True Immortal, wrapped in Sun Wang’s shell, resumed his original posture, looking much like an exquisite statue. His green eyes fixed on Jiang Youyue, unblinking.

Jiang Youyue, still kneeling, stood upright. He took out a fine silk scroll from his chest and was about to unroll it when the True Immortal’s expression changed for the first time. For a split second, he appeared more human.

“The Child of Desire is in danger. I will be back shortly.”

His voice was clear and pleasant, very human-like, but with an extremely detached tone.

Subsequently, he instantly turned into a lump of flesh right where he was and quickly vanished into thin air.

The oppressive aura in the air abruptly dissipated, and both of them breathed a sigh of relief. Qu Duanyun didn’t have time to feel the changes in his body; he hastily wiped the fine sweat from his forehead.

“…The second generation True Immortal? Wasn’t Sun Wang from the founding period?”

“Who do you think led the way to conquer this world?” Jiang Youyue sighed. “The Saint specifically chose Xu Le to gradually establish the territory of Great Yun. At that time, the nation’s power was weak, and Xu Le’s abilities were limited. The True Immortal was a civil official, so they couldn’t get involved in warfare… Just as the Shirou matured, the Saint gifted it to Sun Wang.”

When it came to worldly matters, Qu Duanyun got it immediately.

After the True Immortal He Cheng’an gifted the Shirou, he disappeared under the guise of “offering sacrifices to the heavens” and went abroad to “sow seeds”. Xu Le passed away, and the Imperial Preceptor died. Compared to the young prince, Sun Wang had a greater reputation, making him an excellent choice.

As it turned out, the Saint wasn’t mistaken—after Sun Wang became the True Immortal, he served as a loyal regent and later went on to war, becoming a famous minister of his generation. He laid a solid foundation for Great Yun and continued He Cheng’an’s plan, “sowing seeds” in the royal bloodline.

Three hundred years passed. Great Yun’s foundation was robust, and the heirs were all raised well. It was time for the Hanging Tree to find a better puppet.

Just now, that True Immortal said, “The Child of Desire is in danger”, and then disappeared immediately. Could it be…

Qu Duanyun gasped sharply.

Seeing this, a faint smile appeared on Jiang Youyue’s face. “As you thought. Duanyun, is there anything else you want to ask?”

“No more.”

Qu Duanyun swallowed, saying it with lingering fear in his heart.

No wonder his master didn’t care about Shi Jingzhi’s life at that time; the destiny he once looked down upon was even more terrifying than he imagined.

At this moment, Shi Jingzhi was lying on the edge of the town.

There was no one around, and he painfully curled up. His clothes were stained with blood, and a deep wound marked his throat—

The members of the Changle Sect slashed his throat first, followed by Su Si cutting his windpipe. The current cut was precisely at the old wound. With three injuries combined, the wound appeared even deeper and longer.

Blood was everywhere, staining the green grass and dried stems. In his dying agony, Shi Jingzhi’s fingers dug into the soil, trembling.

Unlike last time, Yin Ci didn’t immediately appear to treat the wound. Only a gentle breeze circulated, making a soft whistling sound.

Dozens of steps away, Yin Ci had completely hidden his presence, hiding in the bushes. The scent of blood in the wind grew stronger. He held the disaster warding talisman tightly, staring unblinkingly at Shi Jingzhi. Unconsciously, his fingernails pierced his palm, staining the talisman bright red.

Shi Jingzhi was dying; there was no doubt about it.

Yin Ci had seen too many people die in front of him, taking their last breaths. He had to muster all his cruelty to resist the urge to use the disaster warding talisman.

However, no matter how dire the situation, no matter how much Yin Ci felt for him, he couldn’t look away for a moment. At this moment, what he held was not a talisman but the life of his beloved.

[Zizhu, when the time comes, you must restrain yourself.] Shi Jingzhi had repeatedly warned. [The demon tree is also a demon of this world. The True Immortal won’t wait for me to die before coming. If necessary, activate the disaster warding talisman when I take my last breath; it should still be on time.]

Life was precious to a Children of Desire, and even though Shi Jingzhi spoke calmly, he was trembling. Despite this, he insisted on speaking.

[My life is in your hands, General.]

Yin Ci had fought on countless battlefields and traveled the world for over a hundred years. The cycles of life and death were but fleeting moments to him. However, right now, he felt like he was seeing an injured person for the first time, and the sweat soaked through his inner garments.

In the distance, Shi Jingzhi twitched a couple of times, with barely any movement in his chest. Yin Ci clenched his teeth, about to activate the mechanism on the disaster warding talisman—

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed.

It felt as if the world suddenly stood still, with the clouds frozen and even the leaves no longer trembling, exuding a sense of absurd stagnation. The quietness seemed to be the calm before a storm. Yin Ci abruptly stopped his actions, taking out the jade eye. Without any hesitation, he embedded it into his eye socket.

Connected to the underground demon tree, although he didn’t possess inner force, he had an inexhaustible supply of vital qi. Indeed, the jade eye, once filled with this vital qi, became active again. Within Yin Ci’s vision, bare branches filled the sky once more. The culprit that disrupted the atmosphere also revealed itself—

A lump of flesh appeared above Shi Jingzhi, hovering in mid-air, moving slightly, and vaguely taking human form. Just when Yin Ci thought it would take shape, it twisted instantaneously, transforming into two extremely thin giant hands.

The pair of giant hands flicked at their fingers, and the emerald green vital qi gathered into a distinct thread. One of the hands held Shi Jingzhi in place while the other stitched up the wound on Shi Jingzhi’s neck. The skinny fingers moved like spider legs, stitching skillfully and eerily, one stitch after another.

With the dance of the qi threads, the wound closed at an unnatural speed. Though the deep scar remained, the gushing blood ceased in an instant. Without this jade eye, others might find it mysteriously halted from bleeding.

Shi Jingzhi had long been unconscious, hanging by a thread.

The giant hands continued their meticulous sewing, as if mending a delicate doll.

A wave of nausea surged in Yin Ci’s stomach. He covered his mouth with one hand, barely containing his breath.

Their speculation was indeed correct.

Past Children of Desire either committed suicide or died in madness, all deemed subpar products. However, Shi Jingzhi remained mentally stable, still wanting to live even on the brink of death… Such a “high-quality” individual wouldn’t break so easily.

The lineage of the Imperial Preceptor likely already knew of this—knowing that Shi Jingzhi had the protection of an “Immortal”.

…Perfect.

Yin Ci took a deep breath, activating the disaster warding talisman.

Since you’ve come, don’t think about leaving so easily.

Having been treated by the “Immortal”, Shi Jingzhi’s injuries weren’t that severe. Once the talisman took effect, the remaining pain vanished in an instant. He swiftly awakened from unconsciousness, opening his eyes.

Without the jade eye, he couldn’t see the giant hands and the needle. Fortunately, the unexpected event didn’t hide its presence.

Lying in a pool of blood, Shi Jingzhi gazed up at the clear sky, smiling faintly.

“Nice to meet you.”

The next moment, the Hanging Shadow Sword emerged, and golden fire shot to the sky.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 143: Plan

Yin Ci opened his eyes to a bright scene outside the window. The town was empty, but the birdsong remained melodiously sweet.

Even in such a small town, the temple of the Imperial Celestial was splendidly magnificent. Yin Ci had dismantled the clay idol on the altar. The remaining platform, padded with a few quilts, was just right for use as a bed. The sunlight shining on the red silk fabrics inside the temple warmed the heart at a glance.

The thick red candles had burned down cleanly, with wax tears dripping down the table’s edge. In the dawn light, they gave off a semi-translucent haze that was truly beautiful. The cup used for the ceremonial exchange of drinks lay tipped over to one side, the residual wine emitting a faint fragrance.

If one ignored the temple’s scent of incense, it truly resembled a bridal chamber. Away from the hustle and bustle of the world, even amidst the chaos, there was a certain leisurely charm.

The hastily sewn wedding garments lay crumpled on the ground, while the inner garment hung nearby, swaying gently in the warm breeze. Yin Ci reached out to grab it but felt a strong restraint from his waist—Shi Jingzhi seemed to have completely forgotten about waking up at the hour of yin and held Yin Ci tightly, sleeping soundly.

Both were without their undergarments, so the sensation of skin touching skin was incredibly distinct. Shi Jingzhi’s body temperature was slightly higher. Yin Ci felt as though he were leaning against a large hot water bottle; it was comfortably warm and dizzyingly intimate.

Yin Ci didn’t force himself to reach for the clothing, but with some difficulty, he turned around. He then hugged Shi Jingzhi’s shoulders, pulling him closer to his chest.

Wrapped in a familiar scent, Shi Jingzhi’s face relaxed even more in sleep.

After a night of passion, they had explosively released pent-up emotions. However, if it weren’t for the injury on Shi Jingzhi, he might not even have closed his eyes—insatiable in desire, always wanting more. Even expecting this, Yin Ci was still taken aback.

Originally, Yin Ci thought that because Shi Jingzhi was injured and physically weak, he shouldn’t be too assertive and would need to treat him gently and take the initiative to guide. Who would have thought that Shi Jingzhi was exceptionally perceptive and intuitive, channeling all his unrestrained energy into action. Startled, Yin Ci occasionally glanced at the wound and, when necessary, licked it with his tongue, fearing that Shi Jingzhi might get too carried away and forget about the fresh injury on his throat.

Their mutual desires surged like a flood breaking through a dam or a sudden storm. Fortunately, even in Shi Jingzhi’s fervor, a sense of rationality remained, and Yin Ci didn’t suffer any setbacks. Both the master and disciple were trained in martial arts, making them evenly matched in bed. By the latter part of the night, both of their minds had nearly melted from the intense passion and satisfaction, with little memory of the rest.

It was a true wedding night in every sense.

Yin Ci, who had lived a life of asceticism for over a century, could not compete with worldly desires when deep feelings arose. These bottomless desires were like a vast abyss that was hard to fathom, yet intriguing and captivating.

With that thought, Demonic Lord Yin lay down confidently—he hoped to wake up a bit earlier to see Shi Jingzhi’s sleeping face.

With the pain from his injury and the horrifying vision of the demonic tree, Shi Jingzhi hadn’t slept soundly in a while. Now, his head was buried in Yin Ci’s chest, and his breath was shallow and drawn-out. Yin Ci’s fingers brushed over the red marks left from the previous night. The warmth of soft hair tickling his fingers was soothing.

He moved very gently, but unfortunately, a soft rumbling sound emanated from someone’s stomach, followed by eyes fluttering open.

Waking up, Shi Jingzhi was disoriented. He groggily looked up at Yin Ci. “Zizhu, I had a wonderful dream, where we became…”

He was halfway through his sentence when he clearly saw that Yin Ci wasn’t wearing his inner garments. Sect Master Shi was stunned as if struck by lightning and froze on the spot for quite some time. One hand moved from Yin Ci’s earlobe to his chest.

The other’s skin was warm, and the heartbeat was steady and strong, clearly indicating that this wasn’t a dream.

Seeing Yin Ci’s teasing eyes, Shi Jingzhi quickly withdrew his hand as if he had touched a soldering iron, his face turning red. In the sunlit temple, Sect Master Shi’s face almost matched the color of the red candles.

Unable to hold back, Yin Ci laughed. “Your shyness seems to fluctuate. Don’t be shy to touch. It’s not like I will break.”

He then casually got up and put on his inner garment.

“Let’s get up. We need to go back to the inn. I’ll prepare some food later, and you boil the water. We sweated a lot last night; a good bath is in order.”

Shi Jingzhi remained seated on the altar for a while.

The moment paired with the scene made them seem like a normal couple in love, without the worries of demons or conspiracies. Everything he had sought in life seemed within reach.

“I understand.”

Blinded by the dawn, Shi Jingzhi instinctively reached out towards the light. But halfway through, he shifted direction and touched the scar on his neck, exhaling a deep sigh.

“…No porridge for breakfast. There’s a stream behind the temple. I’ll catch a few fish.”

However, the powerful allure of that spring night was overwhelming. Even though the steamed fish was deliciously sweet, and the egg custard was silky smooth, Sect Master Shi still couldn’t taste anything. If not for Yin Ci’s timely intervention, this man might have almost stuck his chopsticks up his nose.

By the time the two of them entered the bath, the man still looked disoriented.

“Above the word ‘desire’ there is a knife. The ancients didn’t deceive me*. Especially when the one you treasure is in front of you, it truly torments the heart,” Shi Jingzhi said as he picked up a strand of Yin Ci’s long hair, which was moistened by the warm water and shone like black jade. “If one sets one’s heart on something but cannot obtain it in the end, that is truly a living hell.”

*Clarity: He’s talking about the word (色) which means color, but in this context it means lust/desire. On top of the word (色) it has the radical (⺈) that’s similar to (刀) which means knife. Thus, what Shi Jingzhi is saying is, there’s a knife hanging over one’s desire (head), suggesting that giving in to such desires can lead to trouble. The latter half of the sentence refers to how the wisdom of the ancients (wise ones) indeed holds true, referring to the former half of the sentence.

This person was still young and vigorous. Yin Ci couldn’t help but laugh. “You’ll never step into that ‘living hell’ in this lifetime. Just be at ease.”

Shi Jingzhi’s earlobes turned slightly red, and he half-submerged his face in the water, blowing out a stream of thoughtful bubbles.

After a while, Shi Jingzhi, with a serious expression, was about to speak. Unexpectedly, a sparrow suddenly descended from the sky, scratching the top of his head causing him to hiss. “This is a sparrow demon raised by the Yueshui Pavilion. Can’t it read the mood?”

The sparrow innocently hopped around twice and then perched on the rim of the tub, tilting its head to look at him.

Before meeting his lover, Sect Master Shi wasn’t eloquent. Just as he finally mustered up some thoughts, they were disrupted by this little feathery ball. He unhappily opened a delicate handkerchief and began to read a message from Shen Zhu. The more he read, the higher his eyebrows rose.

“Zizhu, about the matter we discussed yesterday, we can now discuss it in detail. Since both require action, let me speak first.”

Shi Jingzhi gathered his wet hair, his eyes no longer showing confusion and shyness. Under his powerful presence, the romantic atmosphere shifted, and even the peach branches outside the window seemed to take on a solemn air.

“When you first followed me, you wanted to die, didn’t you?”

His question was so direct that Yin Ci didn’t know how to respond, so he simply nodded.

“And now? After a hundred years with me, do you still wish to continue living?”

Yin Ci looked at Shi Jingzhi with a complex gaze. This person was truly different from when they first met. He no longer acted impulsively without thinking. Instead of showing anger at Yin Ci’s affirmation, Shi Jingzhi revealed understanding.

After pondering for a moment, Yin Ci sincerely replied, “In my two hundred years, I think I’ve seen the ups and downs of the world. But now I realize I must have missed a lot… However, such scenery, I cannot see alone.”

“I don’t need immortality. Just growing old with you is enough.”

Shi Jingzhi nodded seriously. “I understand.”

“What do you think?”

“You, Zizhu, and those who ate the Shirou are the same, an ‘Immortal’. Based on that, you all are probably connected to the demon tree and can be considered the same kind.”

“Yes.”

“This is unprecedented. It’s hard to say whether, after separation, you can survive. How could I bear to use you as a test? It’s better to capture that person and see.”

Shi Jingzhi waved the handkerchief in his hand.

“To deal with that demon tree, Shen Zhu and the others have found a way.”

Yin Ci frowned slightly. “Capture that person?”

That person likely ate the Shirou and was the previous “puppet”, certainly more powerful than Yin Ci, who was an accidental product. How could they just capture him at will?

“Yes, capture him,” Shi Jingzhi said with a bloodthirsty smile. “Last time I was on the brink of death, I could clearly feel someone’s intention to rescue me—if it wasn’t you who saved me, then someone else was about to. The demon tree has no consciousness, and the people of the Immortal Assembly weren’t nearby. The only one who could intervene without detection was him.”

Yin Ci suddenly understood Shi Jingzhi’s intention—

“Zizhu, I’m their carefully cultivated ‘good puppet’. If he… that thing comes to rescue, it would make sense why the Immortal Assembly ignored me all along.”

Shi Jingzhi traced the wound on his neck, and a drop of blood seeped out, mixing with the warm water.

“This time you come to kill me, not rescue. Wait for him to intervene, and we can catch his trail… Once we catch him, we might get more information about the demon tree.”

The blood mixed with water slid down Shi Jingzhi’s collarbone, disappearing into the bath.

“Even if things go horribly wrong, we still have the disaster-warding talisman as our last resort.”

Though the idea was mad, after a moment of silence, Yin Ci slowly revealed a smile.

“It’s a good plan, but it needs some refinement… Come closer, now it’s my turn to share my thoughts.”

Yidu, the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence.

Qu Duanyun, dressed in new clothes, was led underground by Jiang Youyue.

“Master, if Shi Jingzhi refuses to eat the Shirou…”

“Even if we don’t mention the Children of Desire, there’s a saying among mortals: ‘drinking poison to quench thirst*.’ A Child of Desire’s nature is extremely selfish; it’s impossible for him to give up his life for external things.” Jiang Youyue spoke calmly. “Admittedly, we made mistakes in handling the Yan Budu affair and explained things too clearly. This time, we’ve left room for maneuver, and Shi Jingzhi will naturally be unable to resist the urge to live.”

*Idiom referring to seeking temporary relief regardless of the consequences.

Despite such words, Qu Duanyun always felt that something was amiss.

For someone on the brink of death, Shi Jingzhi seemed too composed. As for his disciple of unknown origin, he had yet to fully understand him. There were rumors that “Yin Ci is a descendant of the Su Clan”, but no one could provide concrete evidence.

Then there was the Great Prohibition in the Northwest… Although the prohibition was still in effect, its efficacy was gradually weakening. Jiang Youyue once said that as long as the Great Prohibition was still effective, there wouldn’t be significant leaks. Yet, all these anomalies were like tiny holes in a white wall, constantly unsettling him.

Finally, the two stopped in an empty underground stone chamber. Seeing Jiang Youyue halt, Qu Duanyun hesitated for a moment, preparing to voice his doubts.

However, before he could speak, he saw Jiang Youyue lift his robe and kneel down, even more respectfully than when facing the previous Imperial Preceptor.

“I greet the True Immortal. I’m getting old, so I’ve specially brought the younger generation to pay respects to your Esteemed One.”

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