Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 120: Trade

Qu Duanyun coldly looked at the tea in the cup.

The Red Scorpion Feet was an assassin organization trained by Chigou, especially proficient in pharmacology. This drug should be the formula of theirs, colorless and tasteless. After being mixed with water, it only becomes slightly bitter, making it very suitable to be added to wine or tea. Qu Duanyun tasted just a little, and his tongue started to feel numb.

If he looked closely against the light, he could see a very inconspicuous floating powder in the tea. Ordinary people didn’t have such good eyesight, so with a little shadow, this oversight was practically negligible.

Qu Duanyun, having trained in the Immortal Assembly, could taste that subtle difference. The drug was potent; even if he, with his profound inner force, drank it, would be paralyzed for a moment. It was even worse considering he was momentarily distracted, and if paralyzed for even a few moments, it could be disastrous.

…Fortunately, someone sent a warning in advance.

Perhaps this time, the “fate” mentioned by his master stood by his side. The corner of his mouth curled up almost imperceptibly.

Each guest’s seat was fixed, and under Qu Duanyun’s fruit plate was an inconspicuous note. On the note were just a few words, neatly and beautifully written:

[There’s deceit in the tea.]

Wu Huai was arrogant and ruthless. Now that he was almost in the position of Patriarch, he didn’t publicly oppose Qu Duanyun. With a twist of his hand, using his inner force, he made a singing girl drink the tea. She struggled briefly and then fell to the ground, falling into a deep unconscious state.

After pondering for a moment, he repeated the act, making several others drink the tea. The singing girls panicked, but fortunately, no one else was harmed. It seemed only the bowl chosen by Wu Huai was drugged.

Wu Huai’s face darkened.

“How can this be!” A chubby Protector exclaimed. “Where’s the manager?”

A skinny man hurriedly stepped forward and knelt. “It’s my fault! But, but the drugs and wine were discreetly purchased from unrelated merchant groups. I don’t know how the mistake occurred—”

Before he could finish, a long sword pierced through his head. Wu Huai casually withdrew the sword and sneered, “You can’t even keep news about the procurement safe. And our prestigious Chigou can’t even secure a couple of bags of drugs. Absolute stupidity.”

Hearing this, the elder in charge of the guards was sweating profusely. Just as Wu Huai was about to lift his sword, a burst of qi from Qu Duanyun deflected the blade slightly.

“Today is a big day for the Chigou Sect. Seeing blood is ominous,” Qu Duanyun said calmly but firmly. “Patriarch Wu, it’s better to stop now.”

Wu Huai clenched his teeth, wiping the blood off his sword. He looked over the silenced members of the Chigou Sect who were silent in the audience. As the sun rose higher and the last traces of wind disappeared. The bells hanging around quietly resembled eyes looking down upon the earth.

“Forget it.” Wu Huai showed a creepy smile. “Whoever dared to drug so many, I’d like to meet them…”

Before he could finish, several strands of cold qi shot out, directly piercing through some inconsequential singing girls and servants. Those with some status in the sect were safe, but the lower-ranking members, unaware of the internal unrest, began to gather and shout in confusion.

The “corpse incense” was almost burned out, and Wu Huai stood amidst the mist, sword slashing, turning nearby objects into ash. He didn’t move but stared intently at the few entrances to the courtyard.

The people of the Yueshui Pavilion silently recorded everything. Qu Duanyun returned to his seat, took a sip of water, and had no intention of stopping Wu Huai.

Not far away, in the secret chamber.

“Go!” Hua Jingchun, hearing the commotion, immediately ordered.

Shi Jingzhi said leisurely, “Protector Hua has many people in the sect. Hasn’t anyone given a clear signal?”

“Too many eyes and ears, easy to mess things up.” Hua Jingchun shook her head, showing a trace of ruthlessness on her face. “Even if we fail, there’s no turning back. Dying here, in front of the former Patriarch’s portrait, is worth it.”

Shi Jingzhi didn’t ask any further and rolled up his flag. “The Chigou Sect has righteous people like you. It won’t perish yet.”

Hua Jingchun smiled briefly before rushing out of the chamber with a prosthetic leg, followed by only about ten people, making this a huge gamble. Just as Shi Jingzhi was about to follow, he heard Yan Qing urgently say, “Sect Master, Miss Shen Zhu hasn’t returned yet. Should we leave a note…”

“No need,” Shi Jing Zhi responded without looking back. “I know where she is and what she’s doing.”

When he said this, Shen Zhu had already arrived at the Chigou’s treasure vault.

The usual relaxed expression on her face was gone, and there was a trace of wet ink on her fingertips. When she cracked the entrance mechanism, Shen Zhu specifically rubbed her fingers on the hem of her clothing, wiping off the ink completely. She then seemed to think of something and took out a booklet she had with her. A page of fragmentary paper was torn out and scattered under the lush holly.

The missing part of that fragment was identical to the note that Qu Duanyun received.

On the day of the ascension ceremony, with distinguished guests present, the defenses in other areas of Chigou were much weaker than usual. Chigou’s treasure vault was where the top antiques were stored. Even if it was still heavily guarded, if something happened to the new Patriarch, the masters here wouldn’t just stand by. With the masters gone, she might be able to cope.

…However, if the “kidnapping of Wu Huai” went too smoothly, Shen Zhu would run out of time.

The Kushan Sect only wanted Wu Huai and the clay figure. The clay figure, not being a valuable item, would certainly not be stored in the treasure vault. Once this occurred, Chigou’s defenses would only become tighter, and she would no longer have a chance. Even if they owed a huge favor, Hua Jingchun would never agree to “entering the Chigou treasure vault to search”. Shi Jingzhi’s life was at risk, so he wouldn’t help her with such a troublesome task that came at a great cost.

So, the best way was to stir up trouble, let the group outside fight for more time, and act first and report later. As for what would happen next… if things went well, she would stay; if not, she would just run away.

Shen Zhu bit down on her breath-holding ring and quietly disabled the mechanism. Bypassing over a dozen patrolling followers, she squeezed herself into a very narrow ventilation shaft and finally reached the outer perimeter of the treasure vault.

There was no one around. She took off the Chigou robes that concealed her, revealing her fitted attire underneath. The room was dark, so she lit a spell-activated torch. Her gaze quickly scanned each neatly placed artifact, searching for her target.

Unfortunately, while the outer items were rare and valuable, they weren’t what she was looking for. Time ticked by, and Shen Zhu took a deep breath, holding it as she began to undo the restriction leading to the middle layer. The dense runes reflected in her eyes, but they couldn’t hide the burning determination within.

[A’Zhu, refining wushu ore is a craft that not everyone can do,] her mother’s now blurry face from her memories said. [Our whole village relies on this to eat. The methods of the Sun Village and Wang’ankou are stolen from our village.]

[Stolen?]

[They might steal the form, but not the essence. Our wushu armor from Shenhe Village is a royal treasure. A’Zhu, you’re so smart; when you grow up, you’ll definitely be more successful than us.]

[Yes!]

…However, whether it was Sun Village, Wang’ankou, or her hometown of Shenhe Village, they all perished one by one in a strange “natural disaster”. On the day Shenhe was wiped out, the village was celebrating. She had argued with her parents and ran far away in anger.

Children were often temperamental and would quickly lose their temper. The young Shen Zhu walked until her stomach was empty and her feet blistered. She had no choice but to turn back home. From a distance, she saw her parents running out to look for her.

Her father relaxed the moment he saw her, almost collapsing to the ground.

Her mother was anxious and angry, but she couldn’t bring herself to hit her. [Wild child, always running around. Aren’t you afraid of being kidnapped?]

Shen Zhu wore straw sandals that day, which were soaked with blood. Her mother, feeling sorry, squatted down in front of her and opened her arms. [Come here, I’ll carry you. Tonight, when we go back, we will—]

Unfortunately, Shen Zhu never heard the rest of that sentence.

The Invitation to God Formation was activated, and all living beings within it were obliterated, as if an invisible fire was burning. The boundary of the formation separated Shen Zhu from her parents. She watched as they suddenly distorted, collapsing to the ground, turning into twitching human skins.

Just like rain penetrating parched land, her parents quickly shriveled into pieces and disappeared, leaving behind a pair of sweat-soaked clothes.

…Ordinary villagers, without any inner force, naturally couldn’t survive even a single breath.

Villages capable of refining wushu ore were consecutively destroyed, and the method to refine wushu ore was lost. After that, wushu ore products on the market disappeared one after another. To get to the bottom of the conspiracy of the Immortal Assembly, she had to obtain a piece of wushu ore product—

Yin Ci had the Hanging Shadow Sword, but he was abnormally strong, and Shen Zhu knew she couldn’t ask for the sword. However, since the Ghost Tomb could excavate a “Hanging Shadow Sword” made of wushu ore, the most likely place to have wushu armor would be the tomb-raiding Chigou.

Shen Zhu suppressed her memories, exhaled sharply, and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she had arranged the runes in order and broke the seal.

“Father, mother,” she mouthed silently. “Let me take a look at the wushu armor. I’ll surely figure everything out and take you away from the City of Unjust Death.”

At this moment, the commotion from the Chigou area returned to silence.

Hua Jingchun led a group of people rushing into the courtyard, immediately spotting Wu Huai on the stage, who was sneering coldly. Wu Huai firmly gripped the hilt of the “Bone Sweeping Sword”, looking down on Hua Jingchun from above.

“It’s really you.” His grip on the sword tightened. “Protector Hua, I gave you a chance once.”

Hua Jingchun glanced over the shattered cups scattered on the ground and understood the situation. Her face remained calm, and she looked straight at Wu Huai. “I’m already here, yet you’re still blabbering nonsense.”

She purposely moved her injured leg, her tone becoming more ruthless. “You call this ‘giving a chance’? I’d love to offer you such a chance. Huai Ge, it’s been decades since we met, you’ve truly rotted to the core.”

“Merely a turtle in a jar*. Call me whatever you like.” Wu Huai stood unfazed, despite Hua Jingchun’s insults.

*(瓮中之鳖) Idiom referring to someone who’s trapped or in a predicament where there’s little to no room of escaping (AKA rat in a cage, sitting duck). 

Yin Ci clicked his tongue lightly.

Wu Huai appeared to be in his twenties, around the same generation as Yan Qing and Su Si. However, when Hua Jingchun mentioned “it’s been decades”, it became clear that he was an old cucumber painted over—presumably, he consumed some immortal wine. And if he did, then he was inevitably linked with the Immortal Assembly.

Thinking of this, Yin Ci attempted to exchange a glance with Shi Jingzhi. However, the Sect Master was admiring the portrait of “Su Zhi”, oblivious to the tense atmosphere around him.

Yin Ci: “…”

Shi Jingzhi, ignoring the tense atmosphere in the courtyard, seemed to regard the Taiheng Sect and the Yueshui Pavilion as air. He approached Hua Jingchun and tugged on her sleeve. Poor Protector Hua, with her face still stern and ready to sacrifice, took a while to react. “What are you doing?”

“The situation has changed—”

Hua Jingchun didn’t even look at him. “If the situation has changed, then you should leave first. This is an internal conflict of Chigou; you don’t need to be involved.”

“No, the situation has changed, and I need to be compensated more.” Behind the mask, Sect Master Shi narrowed his eyes mischievously, his tone even softening. “Sister Hua, I want the portrait of Patriarch Su. If you agree, I’ll help you take down Wu Huai.”

Hua Jingchun was expecting a big demand, but this request took her by surprise. She finally shifted her gaze from Wu Huai, looking incredulously at Shi Jingzhi.

“That portrait is an antique and is just for ceremonial use. It isn’t worth much. What on earth…”

“I’ve taken a liking to it.” Shi Jingzhi specifically glanced at Yin Ci, then continued with a grin, “So, are you willing or not?”

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 119: Shocking Change

In the deep of night, all was silent.

The servants had gone to rest, leaving only Qu Duanyun alone in the room. Setting aside his book, he drew a scroll of paper from his sleeve. He ground the ink well before absorbing it with the nib of his pen, holding it above the paper.

He pondered for a moment, then clicked his tongue lightly. It took him a while to pen down the words “To the Esteemed…”

[Northern Shafu. The Great Prohibition in the northwest operates as usual, but due to the increasing sandstorms in the west, the market is not flourishing.]

Xu Jingming was talkative, but fortunately, he admired the emperor immensely. To avoid bothering the emperor, Xu Jingming rarely visited the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence after growing up. He could surely tell a harmless little lie to Jiang Youyue without being found out.

Jiang Youyue was an excellent master in many aspects but was overly bound by traditions and left things to fate. As the saying goes, indecision brings trouble upon oneself. Although Shi Jingzhi only had less than a year left to live, he shouldn’t be underestimated. Leaving things as they were wasn’t wise.

What if something happened to Shi Jingzhi? Then wouldn’t everyone’s efforts be in vain?

But whenever these concerns were raised, Jiang Youyue was always evasive.

“Once you inherit my mantle, you’ll understand the truth,” was always his answer to any query.

While Jiang Youyue highly valued him as a disciple, Qu Duanyun could sense that he had kept many secrets from him. The Great Prohibition in the northwest was one such mystery—where did this power from this seal come from? Even a disciple of the Imperial Preceptor couldn’t figure it out.

How could there be such “power” without reason?

Jiang Youyue mentioned that as long as the Great Prohibition of the Northwest exists, no matter how much Shi Jingzhi struggles, he cannot change his fate. Maybe by concealing some harmless information, he could slightly deviate from the plan set by his master.

There was no problem in the world he couldn’t solve, and no situation he couldn’t control. Qu Duanyun didn’t want to dedicate his life to that crafty “artificial demon”. Would his master still remain unfazed once Shi Jingzhi fails and he successfully takes over?

Thinking of Shi Jingzhi’s face, Qu Duanyun’s grip on the pen tightened, and rare anger appeared on his face. He took a deep breath to continue writing calmly.

[This morning, Wu Huai will ascend. With the closure of the Jianchen Temple, the dissolution of the Ling Sect, and both Chigou and Taiheng in our hands, everything is ready.]

The morning light was dim, and it was almost dawn. In the Chigou courtyard, smokeless celebratory firecrackers were lit.

All the followers changed into their brightest robes, gathering in the courtyard. The lower-ranked followers were cheerful, not knowing what the new leader looked like. Those of higher rank hid their concerns well.

The Protectors of the sect displayed a variety of expressions. Among the nine, Hua Jingchun was missing, leaving eight with different moods. They sat casually in the main seats, resembling a demonic version of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea.

Although the ceremony was outdoors, numerous steel wires hung above the courtyard, with bone chimes floating among them. In the center stood an ancient cauldron, with three sticks of blood-red incense. The scent was so strong it was dizzying.

Protector Hua and her group hid in a nearby secret chamber. She sniffed the peculiar fragrance and said sharply, “It’s ‘corpse incense’. The ceremony has started.”

As Shi Jingzhi turned to Yin Ci, the latter explained as if reading his mind. “It’s a detoxifying incense used for corpse purification and during tomb visits.”

During major ceremonies with large crowds, there was a risk of poisoning. As Chigou was notorious for grave robbing and had many enemies, such precautions were necessary.

“What about the tea mixed with the drug…?”

“As it was chosen by Protector Hua, it won’t be detoxified.”

Yin Ci explained while examining the chamber. This was the execution room where he used different methods to kill himself during his “persistence period”. The spacious and hidden room provided easy eavesdropping. He wondered how Hua Jingchun found this place and thought that if she dug deeper, she might find many “old bones”.

Now, with Shi Jingzhi blinking and standing there, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

Hua Jingchun couldn’t afford to be distracted. She counted the time bit by bit, chanting, “Remove the mask to show the true face, offer past commitments for peace. Respectfully announce to the world, a cup of wine disrupts the Yellow Springs… Six cups of tea, half an hour, and two incense sticks are still needed.”

Yan Qing was familiar the second time after the first encounter. He had caused a commotion in the Ling Sect once, and at this moment, he had already gripped the stone sword tightly. Only Su Si was playing with the butcher knife, his beautiful eyes wandering around, unknown of what was on his mind.

“Where is Shen Zhu?” After looking around for a long time, Su Si asked in a low voice.

“I don’t know. She said she had something urgent just now.” Yan Qing scratched his head. “Miss Shen is as smart as ice and snow. She must know the way… Why are you asking this all of a sudden?”

“This place is gloomy, and the aura of death is too heavy, making me feel anxious. What’s wrong with that Su Zhi? Why does the Patriarch of Chigou have such weird rooms?” Su Si frowned, showing no sign of nervousness.

Yan Qing hesitated for a while, and the momentum he had built up was almost drained.

Their ability to hide their movements wasn’t as good as that of the master and disciple of the Kushan Sect. Hua Jingchun’s gaze immediately shot over. “You brats, be quiet!”

Unfortunately, the youth were often curious. Once Yan Qing was led away by Su Si, he couldn’t hold back. He moved closer to Su Si and whispered, “Doesn’t she recognize you?”

Su Si snorted back like a mosquito. “Chigou fears that the Protectors and the Great Protectors will try to woo the Young Patriarch in advance. According to the rules, the Young Patriarch won’t reveal his true face easily. Many people have been chased by Chigou, and those who chase me don’t even know why.”

He smirked coldly.

“The token is the most tangible evidence. Insiders in the sect vouched for it, probably because Matron Wuxue knew many secrets of the Chigou Sect, and her strength wasn’t weak.”

After the two finished chattering, they waited quietly for an incense stick’s time.

“Miss Shen hasn’t come back yet. Did she encounter something?” Yan Qing sounded worried, seeing that Shen Zhu hadn’t appeared for a long time.

Su Si was distracted and said, “The Sect Master isn’t in a hurry, why are you? San Zi, did you fall for her?”

Yan Qing’s face instantly matched the color of his eyes, and he finally managed to reply, “Maybe the Sect Master might not know, I…”

“San Zi, let me teach you something. Shen Zhu is a subordinate of the Sect Master. If the master doesn’t care about the actions of his subordinates, there are only two possibilities—first, he knows exactly what the subordinate is doing and believes everything is under control. The second…”

Su Si laughed mischievously.

“Second, he knows that whatever the subordinate does, it won’t hinder his main business.”

Qu Duanyun was sitting in the guest seat, carefully watching the ceremony in front of him.

Bells rang in the wind, making a crisp sound. The smoke from the corpse incense was dense and heavy, forming a milky mist that flowed from the ancient cauldron to the ground, covering the ground in a foggy wave. The singers from the sect sang the folk songs of Shafu, melodious and smooth. The tune was mixed with the roughness unique to the desert land, and every melody seemed to have been polished by the wind and sand.

His eyes watched and his ears listened, but his heart wasn’t there. Since he sent back the word cloth, Jiang Youyue hadn’t responded. The word cloth in his sleeve was quiet, without any warmth from magic activation.

As always.

Most of the affairs of the martial world were handled by him. Although figures like Juefei, Qi Xundao, and Matron Wuxue died due to the Twin Roots, he had been leading the efforts to destroy the Ling Sect and deal with Taiheng. Despite this, his master always looked at the sky, murmuring words like “fate” and the “immortal path”.

It seemed as if, just by relying on the word “fate”, all these troubles would resolve themselves.

He couldn’t understand why the Imperial Preceptor didn’t want to learn from their past mistakes. They revered the rules left by the Saint, yet they weren’t willing to be flexible.

In his opinion, the Hundred-Year Project didn’t necessarily have to involve the “Child of Desire”.

The melody reached its climax, and the women’s voices were strong, singing with the might of thousands of troops. Qu Duanyun smiled calmly, but under his sleeves, his hand slowly clenched into a fist.

Finally, Wu Huai stepped onto the stone platform in the middle. He took off his mask and picked up a stick of corpse incense.

Wu Huai had a handsome face, and combined with the mist on the ground, it gave him a somewhat celestial appearance. He deliberately imitated the attire of Su Zhi, wearing all black with delicate gold embroidery at the edges. As the hem of his robe flowed through the mist, his original fierceness was masked, turning into a harmless cold aloofness.

In the innermost part of the courtyard, there hung a large portrait of Su Zhi. The person in the painting wore a mask, only showing a chin. However, he had a dignified posture and an extraordinary aura, as if a flying immortal had descended to the world. Compared to the demonic sect courtyard, this painting was more suitable for being placed in a shrine.

Wu Huai held the incense in both hands, paying his utmost respects to the portrait with a bow. Then, with a twist of his body, he inverted the incense and placed it back into the censer. A burst of vital qi swept over, reigniting the tip of the incense.

“I am Wu Huai, the Patriarch of the Chigou Sect, successor to our third Patriarch, Su Zhi. With all of you as witnesses today, from this moment onward, Chigou is my Chigou.”

He gripped the handle of the Bone Sweeping Sword and turned to face the guests from Taiheng and the Yueshui Pavilion.

“Servants, bring the wine and tea!”

A mute and blind servant presented a tray to Wu Huai with six cups on it. At the same time, everyone in the guest seats received a cup of Shafu herbal tea. Wu Huai glanced over the cups, picked up the one infused with honeysuckle and mint, and raised it in salute to the sky. As his lips touched the rim and he was about to down it in one go—

“Stop!” Qu Duanyun shouted.

Wu Huai paused his movement, almost instantaneously stopping his hand. “…Sect Master Qu, what advice do you have?”

Qu Duanyun narrowed his eyes at the teacup in his hand, gently swirling its contents, and took a slight sip. Immediately after, he slammed the cup down on the table, revealing for the first time a stern expression in public.

“Patriarch Wu, something has been added to this tea. It would be wise to check the one you’re about to drink.”

The author has something to say:

Fox Shi: The painting is not bad. Once the fight is over, I’ll take it back and hang it in my Kushan Sect—

Demonic Lord Yin: …

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 118: A Small Move

“Details or not, what’s the difference? I’m here, so I certainly didn’t come to assist Wu Huai. Once you catch him, whether to kill or to torture, Chigou will not interfere.”

Hua Jingchun didn’t answer directly.

Shi Jingzhi didn’t plan to persuade further; he hummed with realization. “My apologies.”

Yin Ci looked coldly at Hua Jingchun. She didn’t know the identity of the members of the Kushan sect, so naturally, they didn’t pry too much. However, based on Protector Hua’s knowledge of Wu Huai, if she said they didn’t know each other, he would never believe it.

But as Hua Jingchun said, just capture Wu Huai and draw out the Immortal Assembly. He had no interest in their relationship—he and Shi Jingzhi had more pressing matters to attend to.

“A’Ci looks good in black.” Shi Jingzhi took off his old person disguise and changed into his night attire, revealing only his eyes. “Once our sect has money, I’ll change our uniform to black.”

Yin Ci was amused. Shi Jingzhi, truly lived up to his name as a “Child of Desire”. While his life wasn’t guaranteed, he was fantasizing about the future uniform of the Kushan Sect. This made Yin Ci reflect on something—for some reason, Shi Jingzhi liked to discuss the “future” with him more and more.

Whenever he talked about the future, he was always excited and no longer showed fear towards death.

However, the stronger the hope, the thicker the despair when hope was lost. For a moment, Yin Ci didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing. He pressed his buzzing head, trying to shake off those thoughts.

“The current one is fine, no need to change. Shizun looks better in brighter colors. Otherwise, someone might kidnap you.”

Shi Jingzhi’s face always had a certain seductive charm. Now, after his near-death experience, the corners of his lips always had a playful smirk, making him look even more cunning. If he also wore black, he would surely be mistaken for a demon.

Shi Jingzhi chuckled, glancing sideways at Yin Ci. “A’Ci is right. I have to be safe and sound until you propose to me. Speaking of which, I’m having trouble placing this tranquility charm. I’m afraid it’ll fall when I move around. Help me adjust its position.”

Upon mentioning the talisman, Yin Ci’s sharp demeanor softened. He silently moved closer and tied the brocade pouch inside Shi Jingzhi’s chest. They were of similar height, and as Yin Ci adjusted the pouch, their foreheads accidentally touched.

“In recent days, I’ve been listening to A’Ci, and I haven’t been seriously injured. This is my reward to myself.” Even so, Shi Jingzhi’s breath carried a faint bloody smell. “If A’Ci stays intact this time, I’ll reward you too.”

Yin Ci sighed secretly. “What reward?”

Sect Master Shi shamelessly replied, “I’ll kiss you again.”

Yin Ci: “……”

Shi Jingzhi’s learning speed was too fast, which wasn’t always a good thing. Now, doing such a thing, he was just slightly embarrassed, showing only red ears. Yin Ci somewhat missed the old, blushing Shi Jingzhi that was as bright as a tomato. The slight worry he felt after detecting the scent of blood was now diluted by this light joke… He wondered if this fox did it on purpose.

The moon was rising outside the window, and the clouds were dense, creating a perfect opportunity to act.

Their mission was to drug the kitchen of the Chigou Sect.

Hua Jingchun followed the principle of “don’t entrust those you doubt, don’t doubt those used*”, entrusting this crucial task to them. However, in Yin Ci’s opinion, she was more concerned about the incompetence of her close associates.

*(疑人不用，用人不疑) It’s a proverb referring to don’t employ those you doubt and don’t doubt those you employ. || In this context, since Hua Jingchun is using the Kushan Sect, she no longer doubts them.

Sect Master Shi was no longer the same incapable person. Under Yin Ci’s guidance, he moved swiftly, leaving only a few trembling leaves in his wake.

The custom of the Chigou Sect had always been to celebrate joy rather than mourn. Founded by tomb robbers, each generation’s Patriarch feared retribution in the afterlife. They were buried in simple graves, with the location kept secret, calling it “self-punishment”. With the ascension ceremony approaching, the entire sect was decorated. Scorpion flags were erected everywhere, and golden lanterns hung. Bone bells tied with red string clinked under the eaves.

These bone bells had thin steel wires woven in between. If touched, all the bells would resonate with an eerie sound that could be heard for miles. Moreover, every courtyard was filled with patrolling officers, holding lanterns, their spines tenser than a bowstring.

Yet no matter how tightly guarded the Chigou Sect was, it couldn’t resist two masters, one of whom knew the place inside out.

“There’s a hidden passage under this wall. Pass through, and you’ll find a corridor to an abandoned house,” Yin Ci said confidently.

Back then, to hide the secret of his “immortality”, Yin Ci always wore ghostly attire in public. When he lived in the sect, he always needed places to breathe. Most of the secret chambers and passageways in the Chigou Sect were designed by “Su Zhi”.

Now that Su Zhi was here in person, all those miscellaneous artifacts were all overlooked. The master and disciple moved like two agile cats, winding around until they quickly found the kitchen of the Chigou Sect.

The cooks of the Chigou Sect were all internal members. The kitchen was lit all night, ensuring that those on night patrols and nighttime activities were provided with meals. The Chigou kitchen had its own courtyard, complete with flowing water and beautiful scenery; the design was so grand it seemed wasteful.

“…A’Ci, this kitchen takes up such a big courtyard, and it’s quite extravagant. Was it your idea?” Shi Jingzhi crouched on the eaves, inhaling deeply.

“I sometimes prepare the meals myself.”

“How elegant.”

In reality, it was to test some poisons, trying various ways to poison himself. Some toxins were hard to swallow without treatment. During his years with Chigou, Yin Ci consumed many poisons, but it only ended up providing the Chigou assassins with a poison handbook. He himself remained lively and agile.

These things were hard to explain to Shi Jingzhi, so Yin Ci could only accept it silently. Mentioning those past suicidal tendencies around him seemed as distant as a previous life.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but reach out and touch the back of Shi Jingzhi’s head. Shi Jingzhi was startled, but instead of moving away, he leaned into Yin Ci’s palm, savoring the warmth for a moment.

Before they could get any closer, a pleasant aroma suddenly rose from below, followed by a low complaint.

“It’s understandable for those working at night, but why is that sect leader of Taiheng also staying up so late? It’s already late, and we still have to prepare additional food.”

“It’s the high-profile righteous sect acting all high and mighty. After all, our previous Patriarch was quite courteous to Taiheng. Otherwise, he would always be remembered for being too aggressive. Didn’t Patriarch Su say, it’s called the way of swelling… swelling mediocrity*!”

*Clarity: He’s misremembering it by saying (肿庸之道) instead of (中庸之道). The [zhong] (肿) and [zhong] (中) sound similar but mean different things; the former meaning to swell, while the latter meaning middle. The latter is a Chinese philosophy referring to “The way of moderation” that emphasizes moderation, balance, and harmony.

“…That doesn’t sound right. Anyway, what did Qu Duanyun order? It smells so good.”

“Don’t mention it. It’s freshly slaughtered top-grade chicken. His servant delivered a menu, saying our food is too oily and spicy for Taiheng’s taste.”

Shi Jing Zhi was irritated. “The last time we visited the Qu’s residence, wasn’t that guy quite frugal? A’Ci…”

“We’ll have chicken tomorrow.” Yin Ci understood.

The master and disciple shared a smile, waited for the two servants to leave, and then sneaked into the kitchen.

The medicinal teas and wines used for the ascension ceremony were sourced from different merchants and sealed in the deepest cellar of the kitchen. With Yin Ci, the ancestral spy, everything went smoothly—they were just applying a temporary, mild powder, which wasn’t toxic and hard to detect.

After adding the medicine, they still had an hour before their agreed return time. Sect Master Shi was naturally not content to just wait. “Let’s check on Qu Duanyun. Maybe we can find some leads on the Immortal Assembly.”

As an honored guest of Chigou, Qu Duanyun stayed in the scenic Fallen God Tower, surrounded by trees, a lake, and views. The whole building had only one room with lights on. The master and disciple approached quietly, skillfully sticking to the wooden windows.

“The chicken soup has cooled down enough. Send it to Xiao Huan,” Qu Duanyun, engrossed in a book, said without looking up. “It’s chilly at night in Shafu, and she’s young and frail. It’s good for her to nourish herself.”

“Sect Master should eat first. We are just servants; leftovers are good enough for us.”

“She looked pale during the day. If this continues, I fear she might catch a cold. I have abundant inner force; I don’t need this bowl of soup. Take it.”

It was a scene of Taiheng’s nobility and kindness, but Shi Jingzhi frowned, looking somewhat discontented and puzzled. Even through the black cloth of their night clothes, Yin Ci could see his frown.

However, Qu Duanyun was a first-class master, so they had to be careful even with their breathing, let alone communicate. Neither made a sound and remained as silent as wooden thresholds outside the door.

Besides a few ordinary old servants, only Qu Duanyun remained in the room. Upon careful listening, there were no other sounds. Indeed, it wasn’t easy to spot clues regarding the Immortal Assembly.

However, Qu Duanyun hadn’t turned many pages when the silence was broken by footsteps.

Judging by the sound, the newcomer was a young man of considerable height. The master and disciple held their breath and watched as Xu Jingming entered. “This place is too cold, Qu Duanyun. Does your Taiheng have any warm pots? All of Chigou’s have a stinky smell, very unclean.”

Shi Jingzhi’s eyes instantly turned from expectation to disgust without any transition.

“I am not your servant,” Qu Duanyun replied with a smile. “Your Highness brought four carriages of luggage; I’m sure you have alternatives.”

“It’s been spring for a while. Who would’ve thought it’d be this cold. It’s not a valuable item. Can’t I buy one?” Xu Jingming argued.

Qu Duanyun sighed and made a gesture. An old servant presented a pot wrapped in an embroidered bag and handed it to the Prince of Rong.

Holding the pot, Xu Jingming was still reluctant to leave. “Tomorrow is the ascension ceremony. Aren’t you going to sleep?”

“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Everything’s fine.”

“You weren’t this formal before. Over the years, we’ve grown more and more distant,” Xu Jingming murmured. “How about a drink? Remember when we…”

“In a foreign land, there are things we shouldn’t speak of,” Qu Duanyun said indifferently. “Your Highness has gotten what he wanted. You should rest.”

“It’s because we are in a foreign land, and I have no one to talk to that I feel this way. When we were younger, we could be called ‘friends’. What’s with this attitude now? You think I’m not worthy? Can’t I decide not to sleep?”

With that, he looked playful and said, “If you want me to rest, that’s fine. I just bumped into that old servant who brought the soup… That maid, her name is Xiao Huan, right? If she warms my bed, I’ll sleep.”

Qu Duanyun put down his book, resignedly saying, “Alright, I’ll send someone to have her prepare.”

Xu Jingming was taken aback.

Outside the door, Shi Jingzhi frowned even more. He watched Qu Duanyun warily, his amber eyes slightly narrowed. Yin Ci held his breath, his eyes shifting between the two.

Xu Jingming was stunned for a moment, looking somewhat dispirited. He glanced disappointedly at Qu Duanyun and shook his head. “Forget it. I was just joking. She’s a good girl. I can’t just have my way with her. But you…”

He didn’t continue, paused for a while, and silently held the soup bowl as he left.

Qu Duanyun maintained his calm demeanor, his gaze focused on his book. In the firelight, Yin Ci saw clearly—it was undoubtedly a book on military strategy, with dense annotations in red.

Neither were in the mood to watch Qu Duanyun’s night reading, but Shi Jingzhi didn’t immediately return to his remote residence. He jumped to the top of the building, where the clouds parted, revealing the dim moon. From this height, he could see the entire area.

The desert night was cold. Shi Jingzhi lowered his mask, exhaling a white mist.

Yin Ci worriedly said, “Let’s go back. You might catch a cold.”

“If there’s chaos tomorrow, we won’t see such a beautiful view,” Shi Jingzhi said, looking at the moon. “After all, this is a place you built.”

Although Shi Jingzhi was sensitive, he wasn’t the type to get sentimental at crucial moments. Yin Ci remained silent for a long time before asking, “…Do you have something to say?”

“Tomorrow, we must keep a close eye on Qu Duanyun,” Shi Jingzhi said quietly, not looking at Yin Ci. “Xu Jingming’s birth chart is weak, and his mother frequently sent him to the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence. After Xu Jingming tied up his hair*, his mother allowed him to leave the palace for fun… At that time, there were no members of the Qu family in the palace. How did he meet Qu Duanyun when he was young?”

*In ancient China, the act of tying up your hair (into a bun) is usually done around the age of 15 as a sign of stepping into adulthood (which happens at 20).

The most likely place was the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence.

Yet, it would be reckless to conclude based on this. Just as Yin Ci was deep in thought, Shi Jingzhi spoke again.

“And I’m good at reading people. He makes me uncomfortable. Even before going to the Northlands, I didn’t like him. Now, seeing him again, I wasn’t wrong… The expression he had when serving chicken soup and the one when he dismissed Xu Jingming, weren’t much different. He doesn’t care that much, whether it’s about Xiao Huan or my foolish brother.”

This time, Shi Jingzhi didn’t laugh. No matter how much he tried to suppress his aura under the frosty moonlight, that overwhelming intention still spread out.

“A’Ci, you are immortal. Naturally, when you act, you carry a sense of looking down upon the world. But deep down, you possess worldly integrity. As long as someone in danger is worth saving, you’ll always put yourself at risk first—shh, don’t interrupt me. Did I say something wrong?”

Yin Ci closed his mouth, signaling Shi Jingzhi to continue.

“Qu Duanyun… this person is neither unkind nor unjust, and he’s certainly not hypocritical. But I don’t like his ‘sense of looking down upon others’. The last time I felt this kind of chill was when I heard about ‘Heaven’s Displeasure’.”

“Even if it wasn’t through the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence, he and Xu Jingming might still have met, I know. It’s just my intuition—Qu Duanyun may be related to the Immortal Assembly.”

At the same moment, inside the building, Qu Duanyun took a deep breath and snapped the book shut.

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Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 117: Doubt

Inside the brocade pouch was a piece of monster skin.

The monster skin was beautifully processed. It was soaked in medicinal juice, its four corners were neatly uncurled, and intricate patterns were carved on it. Within the patterns, silver dust was embedded, which shimmered with a hazy glow in the moonlight.

For a moment, Shi Jingzhi couldn’t recognize the function of this monster skin. All he knew was that it was not simply a “tranquility charm”. He tiptoed back to the woodshed, carefully dried his hands, and took out Chen Qianfan’s record book.

Perhaps sensing his presence, Yin Ci slept soundly without any signs of waking.

After browsing for about the time it took to burn an incense stick, Shi Jingzhi understood a little more. The small object in his hand was the “Disaster Warding Talisman” made by Chen Qianfan. Elder Chen had made one for Shi Zhongyu in the past. This one was probably sought by Yin Ci behind his back.

Had he encountered such a life-saving item in the past, he might have been overjoyed. But now, poking the small piece of skin, Shi Jingzhi felt a pang of sorrow and even a hint of anger.

Yin Ci wouldn’t die; him stepping forward to take on the disaster was indeed the most “practical” approach. If Yin Ci were his subordinate or partner, he would gladly accept it.

…But not when it came to “his A’Ci”.

It seemed like this man was used to putting himself in a “sacrificial” position. Shi Jingzhi wasn’t sure where he picked up this bad habit. Yet, rejecting Yin Ci’s gesture outright might hurt his feelings. If reasoned with, the argument would turn to the worthiness of exchanging pain for a life.

Staring at the monster skin, then shifting his gaze to the sleeping Yin Ci, Shi Jingzhi felt his anger dissipate somewhat.

He bit his fingertip, and using a small silver knife as a brush, he began to modify the patterns on the monster skin. With a steady hand, the lines he carved were indistinguishable from Chen Qianfan’s. He then ignited a strand of yang fire, melted some silver into powder, and thoroughly changed the spell.

On this talisman, he set a small prohibition. Unless Shi Jingzhi himself agreed, even if Yin Ci wanted to ward off disaster for him, the talisman’s function wouldn’t activate.

After modifying the monster skin, he carefully placed it back into the brocade pouch, kissed it with frustration, and then returned it to his chest.

But when Sect Master Shi laid on the straw bed, he had already lost his sleepiness. He felt as if there was a lump in his throat, choking him while he tossed and turned restlessly. Yin Ci secretly gifted him the talisman, and he sneakily modified it. Despite their close bond, their interactions now resembled the cautious maneuvering of their early days.

After staring blankly for half an hour, Shi Jingzhi decided to playfully “punish” his disciple. Turning to Yin Ci, he cleared his throat and began to hold his breath. This method was quite effective—as the moon shifted, sweat formed on his forehead, and his eyes glistened. He looked genuinely distressed.

Yin Ci was awakened by Shi Jingzhi’s restraint.

He was sleeping soundly with his face buried in his hair. Yin Ci had difficulty breathing, and the arms around him were holding him tightly, causing him to open his eyes in displeasure.

Upon opening his eyes, he saw Shi Jingzhi with an unusual look. Yin Ci became alert instantly. If not for Shi Jingzhi holding him so tightly, he might have reached for his sword to counter a non-existent “enemy attack”.

Shi Jingzhi used his inner force, confining Yin Ci in his embrace, thoroughly waking him up.

“…Let go of me. Let me check your pulse for you,” Yin Ci anxiously said. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing, just a nightmare.” Shi Jingzhi’s eyes were moist, and he sighed deeply. The scene, illuminated by moonlight in the wooden shed, suddenly had an eerie, mysterious atmosphere.

Yin Ci knew what kind of person Shi Jingzhi was. Even if Shi Jingzhi had a nightmare about being torn apart by evil spirits, he wouldn’t show such vulnerability. Yin Ci always felt a sense of conspiracy around him.

Yin Ci: “We’ll leave the village tomorrow. Let’s sleep for now.”

Sure enough, Shi Jingzhi hugged him even tighter. “I dreamt that you died because of me. It was a very tragic death, and I was very upset.”

The two were very close, and the tranquility talisman on Shi Jingzhi’s chest was particularly noticeable. The talisman was poking into Yin Ci, making him feel uneasy. He quickly responded, “Even if I die, I can come back to life, so don’t be sad.”

Yet, Shi Jingzhi pressed him against the talisman. “But my heart is still panicking… If I were torn into pieces and could also come back to life, would you want to see me suffer?”

“Of course not.”

“Me neither.” Shi Jingzhi buried his nose in Yin Ci’s neck, taking a deep breath.

‘It’s not the same,’ Yin Ci thought. As long as there were cracks on the porcelain, it wouldn’t matter if there were a few more—with more experience, one would become more resilient and could handle more hardships. Shi Jingzhi wasn’t yet thirty and hadn’t experienced the hardships of the world. It would be best if he stayed as far away from death as possible.

But Yin Ci wasn’t sure if Shi Jingzhi had found the disaster warding talisman, and he hesitated to speak, not knowing what to say.

“We are fundamentally different after all.”

Hearing this, Shi Jingzhi sighed into Yin Ci’s neck. “Is that so? I thought we were somewhat alike. I used to believe that as long as I could save my life, any price was worth it. As for you, you seem willing to sacrifice yourself over and over again to achieve your goals.”

“……”

“Now that I have you, the matters I must consider have multiplied out of nowhere. Not only do I have to survive, but I also need to protect myself, learn to get along with more people, and strive to please you.”

“That sounds quite troublesome.” Yin Ci chuckled briefly.

Shi Jingzhi, discontentedly, bit his neck.

“But when I look back, living ‘by any means necessary’ seems like taking the easy way out. Treating everyone around me as mere objects, using everything that can be used. Without much thought in this way, I’d end up alone. Had it not been for A’Ci pulling me into the mortal realm on Huilian Mountain and supporting me in helping Shi Zhongyu in the Northlands, I would’ve missed all these recent opportunities.”

Yin Ci felt a sharp, tingling pain on his neck. The kid got angry and bit him again for some reason.

“Just like Ah Ci, constantly relying on ‘immortality’ as an excuse for laziness, never thinking of moving forward.”

Yin Ci was taken aback.

Ever since that day on Zongwu Mountain, when he unintentionally unleashed a new sword technique, something awakened deep within Yin Ci. But after that, it felt stuck in limbo.

For a martial artist, stagnation of the mind was common. With Shi Jingzhi to worry about all the time, Yin Ci never delved deeper. That realization now stirred within him, accompanied by a piercing pain.

He stayed silent, hoping that Sect Master Shi would finish his insights from his “nightmare”. Yet, Shi Jingzhi seemed to know when to stop, giving Yin Ci a mischievous look.

Then, with a yawn, the fox rested his head in Yin Ci’s arms. “Let’s sleep. We’ll leave the village tomorrow. I’ve rambled on and on in the middle of the night; if I keep going, A’Ci might get annoyed with me.”

It seemed like he was stirring the pot and then running away, leaving Yin Ci both amused and exasperated.

However, Shi Jingzhi’s plot had its effect. Yin Ci was the one who couldn’t sleep. Once Shi Jingzhi was asleep, Yin Ci gently touched the brocade pouch on his chest, thinking deeply.

“Not moving forward anymore?” He had never considered this. He wasn’t against change, but even if he could “move forward”, in which direction should he go?

He realized he was still “alive”, but he had lived alone for so long, not knowing how to live with someone else.

Centuries of experience seemed to be washed away, and he didn’t want to expose his clumsiness. On one hand, he had faint realizations; on the other, his habits were cultivated over centuries. The two conflicted, leaving Yin Ci restless throughout the night.

The next morning, as usual, he made Shi Jingzhi’s favorite pancakes but forgot to add salt. Shi Jingzhi ate them all without a word, looking quite satisfied.

“Wu Huai is very cautious. The ascension ceremony is imminent, and he won’t venture out for no reason.” Hua Jingchun fitted herself with a wooden prosthesis and used a long stick as a crutch, tapping the ground step by step. “Once he is officially recorded by the Yueshui Pavilion, even if the Chigou Sect dislikes him, they won’t assist us… This is our only chance. Be careful everyone.”

In the following days, Hua Jingchun’s complexion greatly improved. With her authority restored, her petite figure seemed to stand as tall as nine chi.

She swept her stick and pointed to a disciple of the Chigou Sect not far away. “Come, repeat the plan. If there’s a slightest oversight, you’ll eat three of my stick techniques.”

The man sweated profusely. “We… We will disguise ourselves as Shafu tea merchants to infiltrate the Chigou Sect. The ascension ceremony is at the hour of chen*. We’ll mix something into the tea two hours earlier. Once everyone present is incapacitated, we can capture that scoundrel Wu Huai…”

*About 7 or 8 AM (depending on the dynasty).

“Hmm, good. Taiheng and the Yueshui Pavilion are honored guests, most likely staying at the Fallen God Tower. Foreign merchants stay at the Immortal Seeker’s Residence. As long as you follow the rules, no one will discover us. Before the ascension ceremony, take no rash actions, lest we alert them. Understand?”

“Yes!”

There were those who listened, but naturally, some pretended not to hear. Sect Master Shi gave a meaningful “Mm” and winked mischievously at Yin Ci, a clear sign of his intent to defy.

The Immortal Seeker’s Residence, used for hosting a mix of outsiders, was quite a distance from the Chigou Sect main branch and wasn’t heavily guarded. Hua Jingchun had insiders within Chigou, so this should have been an easy task. Unfortunately, the Prince of Rong made a visit, and the sect was on high alert, scrutinizing everyone.

Fortunately, Protector Hua, with her expertise, disguised herself as a limping old man, gave wrinkles to everyone’s faces, and even added the unique odor of the elderly. She had already influenced some Chigou guards, so they paid no interest to this group of elderly tea merchants, allowing them to slip in.

Hua Jingchun was very composed. She didn’t go anywhere but simply guided her team in the courtyard to dry and grind the medicine. She didn’t even bother befriending the guards.

“Pick the good honeysuckles from over there, grind them finely, and mark the mixed medicine. Wu Huai is very particular; his honeysuckle tea must be brewed with the finest powder!”

She instructed in a low voice, her sharp eyes darting around.

“Mint leaves shouldn’t be too big. The size of a cat’s eye is just right. Any bigger or smaller, pick them out… Young warriors, if you’re not helping, don’t make trouble here. Just leave that blind man to me.”

“I am curious about one thing.” Shi Jingzhi stroked his chin, feeling the fake beard he was wearing. “I remember when Wu Huai first joined the sect, he pushed you off the Three Province Cliff.”

“That’s right. What about it?”

“To prevent any foul play during the Chigou ascension ceremony, six bowls of wine and tea are presented, and the new Patriarch picks one.”

“…Correct.”

“Protector Hua, pardon my bluntness. Don’t you think you know a little too much about Wu Huai?”

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