Author: Kinky

Escape From the Asylum Ch14

Kinky3 Comments

Author: 木尺素 / Mu Chisu

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

Chapter 14

Now, Qi Liuxing faced two choices.

First, directly use the mirror to escape to the treehouse.

Second, use the mirror to lure these three believers into the lake.

The first choice would undoubtedly push Zhou Qian directly to death.

As for the second choice, as Zhou Qian said, it would be a waste of the item.

After all, besides these three and the two that fell into the lake earlier, there were still a full fourteen believers on the opposite bank about to be deified.

The situation they faced would only become more critical.

This mirror was perhaps their last trump card.

However, if they abandoned these two choices, without a doubt, Qi Liuxing knew he wouldn’t live much longer. He was about to die.

Sweat poured from his forehead, back, and palms, layer after layer.

Just as he hesitated, and the three believers’ powerful impending attack was about to be formed—

The sky suddenly fluttered with green fluff-like objects, as beautiful as drifting catkins.

Feeling suddenly refreshed, Qi Liuxing noticed a prompt.

[Player Qi Liuxing, HP has recovered to 80%]

Almost at the same moment, the earth trembled.

Then the three deified believers simultaneously turned around, facing another direction.

Qi Liuxing also looked over.

A massive shield appeared out of thin air, smashing fiercely onto the ground, leaving a crater.

With the shield’s descent, all the NPCs’ aggro was forcibly transferred, targeting the person behind the shield.

As for the people emerging from behind the shield, it was Gao Shan and Yun Xiangrong.

……

On the other side of the Sin Lake.

Zhou Qian approached Epoh.

Not long ago, when he had just landed from the [Flying Rope], he was nearly attacked by a believer turned into a cat.

Qi Liuxing reliably diverted that person in time.

Zhou Qian momentarily felt safe and also confirmed one thing—he had entered the area covered with petals, but the believers still attacked him. Thus, the reason those 20 believers didn’t attack each other wasn’t due to the petals all over the ground.

Excluding the petals, not considering whether to eat the apple, the third factor that could be excluded was real and fake believers.

Believers worship the Great God and possess some psychic ability. But if this is the distinction, then the players posing as fake believers will almost never get the protection buff. Thus, with such a disparity in power between the two sides, the achievement rate for the hidden goal would never reach 10%.

After ruling out all possibilities, only one factor differentiated the 19 believers from the 4 players—the players hadn’t hurt the god Epoh.

Glancing back across the lake and seeing the young couple approaching and Qi Liuxing hadn’t used the mirror to escape, Zhou Qian smiled and continued forward.

He walked straight through the ankle-deep white petals and sat next to the equally white Epoh.

“My God, can you hear me?” Zhou Qian asked him.

In the sea of flowers, Epoh slowly opened his eyes.

Looking into Epoh’s eyes, Zhou Qian pointed to the deified believers not far away and asked, “They don’t attack each other because they hurt you?”

After a while, Epoh nodded. “They are all torturers, carrying the [Mark of Pain]. You don’t have this mark and are seen as outsiders. That’s why they attack you.”

“All the players thought that by not harming you, they could save themselves. But it seems that this very action has brought about their doom.”

Zhou Qian raised an eyebrow and leaned closer to Epoh, almost touching foreheads.

In this position, staring into his eyes, he whispered, “You’re so cunning. Even I was deceived by you.”

[Player Zhou Qian triggered the key term: [Mark of Pain]]

[“Mark of Pain” function: Will not be targeted by deified believers]

[Method to acquire the mark: Hurt the god Epoh]

Those who hurt the god Epoh would bear the Mark of Pain.

The apples on the trees were born from Epoh’s blood and pain.

The believers who ate the apples infused with memories of pain would become gods.

So the deified believers carried the scent of pain. Even when they lost their minds, they would see those with the Mark of Pain as their own kind and wouldn’t target them.

After understanding this logic, Zhou Qian sighed and looked at Epoh with a kind of pity.

“It seems I must hurt you.”

Zhou Qian’s words truly shocked Yu Xian, who was watching on the screen.

Yu Xian: “No, that’s wrong! Before the Goddess left, she said something! The grand ceremony is over! Believers can no longer harm the god Epoh! Did Qian Ge forget?! Challenging such a big boss, he’s in trouble!”

Zhu Qiang’s face paled, apparently quite alarmed.

But he quickly regained his composure and said sharply, “No, no, no! You’re forgetting something!”

“What did I forget?”

“Qian Ge isn’t a real believer! The Goddess said that believers cannot harm Epoh, but she didn’t say anything about others!”

“Fuck! Qian Ge is taking advantage of this loophole in the wording?!”

Inside the game.

As expected, Epoh looked at Zhou Qian and said, “The grand ceremony is over. Believers can’t hurt me anymore.”

Zhou Qian gently replied, “What if I’m not your believer?”

Zhou Qian had the guts to say this because he realized that Epoh didn’t take humans seriously and didn’t really care if they were real believers. Even the Goddess could tell that five of the believers were suspicious, so how could the Great God Epoh not see it?

If he really cared, all four fake believers would be in grave danger.

But he did nothing, completely unmoved, showing he truly didn’t care.

This also implied that the initial scoring game shouldn’t necessarily result in a player’s death.

The Great God didn’t really care about the authenticity of the believers. The goddess had fake believers score each other, either as a formality or just to toy with humans. After all, luring believers to eat the apple suggested their true nature might be malevolent, rather than purely benevolent as it appears.

So, if Zhou Qian gave everyone 20 points and the other four agreed, all five might have survived until the 10 o’clock ceremony. Perhaps the goddess would have let all five attend the grand ceremony together.

Unfortunately, Dong Xiang was determined to put Zhou Qian in a life-threatening situation.

Zhou Qian had no choice but to protect himself.

Nevertheless, despite his judgment, Zhou Qian didn’t explicitly declare himself a fake believer. Instead, he used the word “if” to gauge Epoh’s reaction.

Epoh didn’t seem to care, not even raising an eyelid.

Seeing this, Zhou Qian laughed.

Then, with a gentle, almost beguiling tone, he asked, “Would you let me hurt you?”

Epoh replied with confusion, “You don’t believe in me, yet you want to harm me? How do you intend to harm me?”

Epoh’s question was also what the Yu Zhu duo were wondering.

What would Zhou Qian do to Epoh? Punch him? Slap him? Or even stab him?

Zhou Qian, not being a believer, harming Epoh especially after the ceremony had ended… Would Epoh remain indifferent?

To everyone’s surprise, Zhou Qian looked Epoh up and down, pondered for a moment, and then reached out to pinch a strand of his long hair.

“How about… I pull your hair?”

Epoh: ?

Yu Xian, Zhu Qiang: ???

The reason Zhou Qian considered pulling hair was due to its low risk.

Plucking a few strands from Epoh wouldn’t cause any real harm, hopefully not provoking his anger, but it would still allow him to acquire the [Mark of Pain].

So, under Epoh’s increasingly puzzled gaze, Zhou Qian decisively pulled out several strands and twirled them around his finger.

The forced separation from the scalp caused a slight pain that made Epoh frown slightly.

Seeing his reaction, Zhou Qian casually stood up and waved his finger at him. “Great god, continue your rest. Thank you!”

Epoh didn’t seem angry; he was just quietly watching Zhou Qian.

He was surrounded by white petals, and his features were exquisitely perfect. Blinking occasionally, he appeared innocent and harmless.

But was this his true appearance?

The believers who ate the apple transformed into various monsters.

So, if one were to strip away this beautiful facade, what would Epoh’s true form be?

The Great God Epoh likened humans to ants.

Humans and ants had vastly different appearances, each seeing the other as a monster.

Gods might possess appearances unimaginable to humans.

Perhaps they disguised themselves to prevent instilling fear in humans, like the beautiful goddesses and, of course, the current Epoh.

If you were to remove this innocent disguise, would your true appearance be terrifying?

Numerous thoughts flashed through his mind. Before leaving, Zhou Qian waved at Epoh. Thinking of something, he fondled the hair wrapped around his index finger, and a beautiful smile appeared on his face. He asked Epoh, “Do you know, in ancient times, what it meant when a girl gives her hair to someone?”

Epoh seemed to have no idea what he was talking about.

Looking at him, Zhou Qian slowly replied, “It means she wants to marry him.”

Yu Xian exclaimed, “Damn, he’s even flirting with the Great God Epoh?”

Zhu Qiang remarked, “I have a reasonable suspicion that he’s trying to probe something.”

Inside the game, amidst the giant tree’s branches and leaves, Epoh’s expression was serene and calm.

Seeing his unresponsive face, Zhou Qian narrowed his eyes.

No reaction to lines outside the game’s script? Could it be… you’re truly just data in the game?

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

Qizi Ch14

Kinky2 Comments

Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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

Chapter 14

Ying Feng closed the dormitory door firmly, also shutting out the lingering resentment he felt towards Ling Xiao.

He leaned against the door, taking a long time to calm his racing heart.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to settle scores with Ling Xiao. The humiliation of being beaten defenselessly in front of everyone was still fresh in his mind. But the moment Ling Xiao approached him earlier, the suppressed palpitations inside him stirred once again.

He looked down at his hands, sensing a residual tingling sensation in his blood. So, this was what it felt like to be on the verge of awakening. He hadn’t given it much thought when he learned about it in the infirmary earlier, but now it seemed unbelievable.

This was a sign of maturity among the Tianxiu people and a pivotal moment in one’s life. Facing such a bodily change for the first time, even Ying Feng couldn’t remain entirely composed.

At this moment, Ying Feng had forgotten what Yao Tai had once told him: that people nearing their awakening might find medicines ineffective. He assumed it was just hormone imbalances pre-awakening and hadn’t considered any other possibilities.

—”Don’t you feel lonely entering the pre-awakening period, yearning to share life with someone else?”

Yao Tai’s words echoed in his ears. Hesitating, Ying Feng took out a peach pit-like object from his pocket. After the day’s unexpected onslaught, it was fortunate that it wasn’t damaged.

He was here, in this academy, still in an immature state… This was all the information Ying Feng had.

But he rubbed the surface of the peach pit, wondering, ‘Who are you, really?’

A few meters away in another dormitory, Ling Xiao jolted awake from a profound dream. He was panting, his forehead drenched in sweat.

In the dream, he was entangled with another person. What started as a fight soon changed in nature. Being still immature, Ling Xiao didn’t understand the implications of the dream’s turn.

Jolted awake by the unfamiliar sensations, it took him a moment to realize he’d been dreaming.

Lying still in bed, only his chest heaving rapidly, Ling Xiao judged by the pitch darkness that it was still deep into the night. Closing his eyes, fragments of the dream flashed by—why had he dreamt such a thing?

After a while, Ling Xiao finally relaxed. Just as he tried to turn and go back to sleep, he realized he couldn’t move. Panic surged as he realized that he was paralyzed.

With each individual having their own room, Ling Xiao couldn’t even call for help in his state.

Forced to lie motionless, cold sweat dripped down his forehead, gradually cooling and chilling him. The bedsheet beneath him grew damp with his sweat, and the discomfort was palpable.

Thoughts raced through his mind, including the grim idea that he might be dying. However, the dream from earlier continued to dominate his thoughts.

After what felt like an eternity, Ling Xiao drifted back into sleep and didn’t wake up until the next morning.

Ling Xiao blinked, taking in his surroundings, then sprang up from his bed with agility.

He could move his hands and feet, and he looked at his limbs in puzzlement. Everything seemed normal, and he felt no discomfort. The bed, which was slightly damp before, had been dried by his body temperature. The previous night’s ordeal felt like a mere nightmare.

Having regained his composure, Ling Xiao quickly put the unsettling events of the previous night behind him. He grabbed two packets of food and headed out, bumping into Lan Sheng and Ping Zong, who were on their way to the cafeteria.

Despite being broke, Ling Xiao was always up for some fun. He went to the cafeteria and began eating his strawberry-flavored energy bread.

Lan Sheng couldn’t stand it any longer. “Are you on a diet? Always eating that?”

Ling Xiao, with his mouth full, mumbled, “I’m saving money.”

“For what?”

“Not telling.”

Lan Sheng lost interest. “A normal person would be full after one of those. You’re eating two? Don’t you worry about overeating?”

Ling Xiao was puzzled too. “I don’t know why, but I was so hungry when I woke up. I could even eat another one.”

Ping Zong handed him a croissant, asking with concern, “Ling Xiao, are you starting to develop?”

Ling Xiao paused, bread in his mouth. “Could it be?”

“Hah, hard to say.” Lan Sheng laughed gloatingly. “Given his level of obliviousness, he might not even realize if he’s awakened.”

“Bullshit.” Ling Xiao kicked him from below.

“It’s said that students within the academy have started awakening,” Ping Zong reminded him seriously.

“So soon?” Ling Xiao quickly finished the bread in his mouth. “Who told you that?”

“Word from the infirmary,” Lan Sheng continued. “This time, the majority affected are the eleventh graders. Didn’t Dr. Yao mention? The awakening period can spread widely.”

Most of them started their awakening period in the tenth grade. Those who progressed to the eleventh grade were either late bloomers or students who hadn’t found suitable partners. They only constituted a quarter of the tenth graders, and the number in the twelfth grade was even less.

“We don’t interact much with eleventh graders. It won’t affect us, right?” Ling Xiao asked naively.

Lan Sheng gave him a knock on the head. “Are you an idiot? There are so few in the eleventh grade. If the older students don’t have partners, of course, they’d look in the tenth grade, which is about to awaken. With interactions, it’s bound to spread. Someone like you, a single guy, is their prime target.”

Recalling the two sketchy seniors from the other day, Ling Xiao expressed disdain. “I don’t want that. I think Bikong is pretty good, so I plan to stay a couple more years.”

“A couple of years? Even if you stayed another ten, it’d be fine. I wish you to soon become the second ‘Zhen He’ of Bikong.”

“Fuck your crow’s mouth*!”

*Term used to describe someone’s mouth that’s particularly smelly, but now often used to describe a person with a particularly disdainful mouth that always says bad things. 

Unfortunately, Lan Sheng’s prediction was accurate. The second wave of awakenings started among the tenth graders who had close contact with senior students, quickly engulfing the whole campus. Lan Sheng and Ping Zong were among the first batch.

Ling Xiao had once selfishly hoped this day would come later. Yet, when it did, he could only send his blessings to his two best friends.

“When we first met ten years ago, who would’ve thought I’d be sending both of you to your wedding chamber?” Ling Xiao mused. “Of three companions, two find happiness together, leaving one alone.”

Friends who accompanied them felt uneasy seeing such a sentimental Ling Xiao. They jostled and pushed the couple into their wedding chamber—a special double room set up by the school in the infirmary building. They hadn’t expected thorough security checks where even Ping Zong and Lan Sheng’s daggers were confiscated.

“By six in the evening, all unrelated persons must leave,” the medical staff reminded. “Everything brought should be taken away. We will inspect.”

“If you didn’t know better, you’d think this is a security check before interstellar travel.”

A friend teased, “I’ve never seen someone so tactless. It’s a wedding chamber, not a sendoff. Hanging out with Lan Sheng, you’ve developed a crow’s mouth as well.”

This was their first time entering the “bridal chamber”, so they did it with glee.

“Damn, this bridal chamber is quite bare,” Ling Xiao commented as soon as he entered. There was nothing in the room but the most basic furniture, and everything was white, like a double ward in a hospital.

The others all laughed at him. “Aren’t you a bit too innocent? Isn’t it enough to have just a bed for the bridal chamber? What more do you want?”

Ling Xiao was unconvinced and muttered under his breath, “At least have bouquets of flowers or something.”

He walked around the room and finally focused on the wall.

“Do you guys find this room strange?” he asked.

“What’s so strange about it?”

“This wall,” Ling Xiao punched it hard, only raising a bit of dust, “is made of the same material as the training room. Why would they use such a sturdy material for just a bedroom?”

“Why are you concerned about that? Come drink with us.” The ‘alcohol’ they referred to was actually a low-alcohol content beverage suitable for youngsters.

Ling Xiao’s suspicion was ignored. He wanted to drag a chair over to sit but found that even the chairs in the room were fixed to the ground.

“What’s going on?” Ling Xiao pushed the chair, table, bed… without exception. The only time he’d seen furniture bolted to the ground like this was in intensive care units.

“Ling Xiao, you’re acting very strange today,” one of his classmates commented.

“Of course, his two best friends are having their coming-of-age ceremony. He might be even more nervous than they are,” another chimed in.

Ling Xiao chuckled awkwardly.

“Just come over here. We can sit on the floor. Even if you move the chair, it won’t be enough for everyone.”

Hoping he was overthinking things, Ling Xiao rubbed his nose and joined them.

Drinking too much of the low-alcohol beverage could still get one drunk. Ling Xiao, slightly tipsy, quickly forgot his previous concerns. They reminisced about the silly things they had done over the years, teasing and laughing, creating a lively atmosphere.

They partied for over two hours. Before leaving, Ling Xiao hugged them tightly, crying and laughing as if they would be parting forever after this night.

In the end, a few classmates had to use all their strength to pull Ling Xiao, who clung onto his friends like a bear, away. After walking a few hundred meters outside and being hit by the cold wind, Ling Xiao’s emotions finally calmed down.

“Are you okay?” A classmate patted him on the back.

Ling Xiao waved his hand. “I’m fine, just drank too much. I’m a bit dizzy.”

“Go back to your dormitory and rest.”

“It’s still early.” Ling Xiao looked at the sky. “I want to take a walk by myself.”

Everyone else wisely left him alone. Ling Xiao wandered around the campus and ended up on the rooftop of the teaching building.

Ling Xiao’s friendship with Lan Sheng began on this rooftop. They were freshmen that year and liked to gather on the rooftop at noon, making jokes and having fun. Those were beautiful memories.

Ling Xiao climbed up to his favorite spot on the rooftop. The setting sun cast its glow on him but didn’t provide any warmth. The occasional breeze kept him awake. Lost in a daze, he heard the door squeak, and then footsteps. Someone was on the roof.

“Why are you following me?” As soon as the person spoke, Ling Xiao’s eyes widened, and his foggy mind cleared instantly.

Why was Ying Feng on the rooftop? And who was he talking to?

When the second person spoke, Ling Xiao’s expression darkened. Why did he always run into these two together?

He heard Zhu Yue stammering, “Ying Feng… I…”

Ying Feng sounded impatient. “What do you want to say?”

“Actually… I had my first awakening reaction yesterday. Dr. Yao said it was a pseudo-awakening, and I will fully awaken in ten days.”

A normal person would have offered congratulations, but Ying Feng remained cold. “So what?”

“So,” Zhu Yue mustered up the most courage he had ever had, “I am willing to give you my heart’s blood. Will you be with me?”

Ling Xiao clutched his chest tightly, wondering where this sudden pain came from.

His emotions were too volatile today. It must be because of Lan Sheng and Ping Zong, and that damn drink.

“I refuse.” Ying Feng’s voice was so cold that one had to wonder what could possibly move him. “I won’t be with you. Get that idea out of your head.”

His refusal was so direct that even Ling Xiao felt embarrassed for Zhu Yue.

Zhu Yue had probably expected this response but hearing it directly from Ying Feng was still a blow.

“Ever since the last time you saved me from the seniors, I’ve only had eyes for you. I know you’re not close to anyone, but you helped me. Does this mean that in your eyes I’m not as insignificant as others, even if it’s just a tiny bit?”

“I helped you simply because we’re classmates. I don’t regret helping you, and I would do it again. But it’s just because we’re classmates; don’t overthink it.”

“I don’t believe you,” Zhu Yue said eagerly. “If it had been someone else then, if it had been Ling Xiao, who confronts you every day, would you have stepped in without hesitation?”

“Ling Xiao doesn’t need my help,” Ying Feng said expressionlessly. “In this regard, he’s much stronger than you.”

Zhu Yue’s face turned pale. He walked to the entrance of the rooftop, hesitated, then turned around and firmly said, “As long as you’re not with anyone, it proves I still have a chance. I’ll stay in Bikong until you accept me. I hope you remember, my most precious feelings are reserved only for you.”

After saying this, he left. Ying Feng originally came to the rooftop to get some fresh air but now felt disturbed. As he turned to leave, he saw Ling Xiao sitting on a higher platform.

“You’re really heartless,” Ling Xiao said, looking down. “He was so sincere that even I was almost moved by him, yet you had no reaction.”

Ying Feng looked up coldly. “You eavesdropped.”

“I came first. How could it be eavesdropping? I’m just curious, what kind of person can move your heart? You’d spend so much money on information without knowing its authenticity; could it be that you are looking for your lover from a previous life?”

Ying Feng turned his head, ignoring him.

“I never thought you’d be such a devoted person. But what if you find them? Dr. Yao said the chances of meeting again are slim to none. Even if you find them, from their appearance to their personality, everything might have changed. They might even be someone else’s Qizi.”

Ying Feng looked displeased. “Have you said enough?”

Ling Xiao jumped down from the platform, landing right in front of Ying Feng. “Now someone is offering their heart to you, and you won’t accept. What kind of person are you looking for?”

Ying Feng didn’t want to respond. Looking at Ling Xiao, he smirked maliciously. “I don’t know. Maybe if you offered your heart’s blood, I might consider it.”

“Hah,” Ling Xiao scoffed. Just as he was about to retort, an indescribable sadness surged from his heart, leaving him speechless.

Ying Feng was taken aback. “Why are you crying?”

Ling Xiao mechanically touched his face, realizing it was wet. Tears uncontrollably poured out. After a panicked glance at Ying Feng, whose eyes showed a rare hint of surprise, Ling Xiao turned and ran, fleeing from the rooftop.

Ying Feng, left behind, looked puzzled. He unconsciously lifted his hand as if to wipe away Ling Xiao’s tears.

At that moment, he felt a strange sensation, as if air had solidified into a soft kiss on his fingers. It vanished in an instant.

Was it an illusion?

The author has something to say:

Given the complex setting of the Tianxiu society, the technology, culture, customs, and other fields are made similar to Earth for the convenience of Earthlings to understand and not due to the author’s laziness.

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

Sendoff Ch97

Kinky3 Comments

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 97: Rescue

Shi Jingzhi was frightened by his own speculation and shook his head to clear his mind, trying to calm himself down. It was just a guess after all. He had been injured before, but his wounds had never produced blood roots like Yin Ci.

This was a matter of life and death, and such dangerous conjectures couldn’t be taken lightly. He couldn’t just go and explain to Yin Ci, stab himself in the process, and accidentally meet his end. That way, Yin Ci would surely remember him forever—he would undoubtedly become the coldest joke in Yin Ci’s life.

Shen Zhu saw Shi Jingzhi’s ever-changing expression and knew that he had wandered off to an unreliable place again. At this moment, she wanted nothing more than to immediately leave the mountain and investigate the newly acquired clues about the “Invitation to God Formation”. Just as the sect leader was lost in thought, her patience was nearly exhausted. “What do we do next? Should we…”

“Nobody move.” Yin Ci suddenly spoke up.

Finally, he moved his sword away from Yu Zikuan’s neck. The Hanging Shadow Sword swept through the night, cutting off the closest line of the formation. Yin Ci then half crouched down, his fingertips touching the wriggling gelatin.

Yin Ci frowned. “Is this formation still active?”

Yu Zikuan had been fully under their control and hadn’t made any suspicious moves. However, the formation’s qi had only paused momentarily, and in the time everyone was distracted, it once again began to stir.

Shen Zhu suddenly lost interest in speculating about the origins of the formation. She quickly ran to the edge of the formation, closed her eyes, and carefully felt it. “This is really… What’s going on?”

Things had gotten so out of hand that Yu Zikuan didn’t bother being cautious around the strange people in front of him anymore. He immediately rushed to the location where the demon corpses were buried, dragging them out one by one and attempting to extinguish the formation by breaking the materials.

It was futile.

Even when the demon corpses were removed, the formation continued to operate on its own. The flickering brilliance dimmed slightly, but there was no sign of it being extinguished. Yin Ci’s brow furrowed tighter. “This is…”

“It’s a remote control formation,” Shi Jingzhi muttered. “I read about it in Senior Chen’s records—if a battle formation is too dangerous or the casting process is too complicated, the casters will set up an auxiliary formation in a safe location and activate it from a distance. This method consumes extra materials and manpower, but it does exist.”

Given the preparations on the other side, Yu Zikuan looked more like a puppet used to draw the formation.

Not many people in the world recognized the “Invitation to God Formation”. If the people in the martial world found Yu Zikuan’s corpse, they would at most attribute the attack to “crazy revenge” and then investigate his non-existent “allies” on the mountain.

Who would have expected that such a small battle formation could kill so many people on the mountain? Once everyone was dead, the mastermind could cleanly remove themselves, leaving no trace.

As one wave subsided, another arose. The night was shrouded in demonic fog, and chaos reigned all around. Even the sound of insects couldn’t be heard. A vague sense of oppression came from all directions, and the formation under their feet emitted a subtle killing intent. The scene in front of them resembled the Yellow Springs* of hell. Even when standing still, their hearts felt as if they were being pounded by a mortar, stirring up panic.

*A river in hell that divides the living realm from the dead. Souls cross it to reach the afterlife.

People could struggle to overcome the current evil demons in front of them, but how could they contend with the might of heaven and earth?

“Let’s run.” Su Si croaked. “This thing won’t stop. Staying here will only lead to our deaths in vain.”

Yan Qing grabbed his hair. “Indeed, we should leave, but is there a way to spread the message?”

Shen Zhu shook her head. “Even if we tell the truth, no one will believe us. There are many small sects around, and they won’t easily trust our words. Besides, the Kushan Sect has a bad reputation, and Warrior Yu has been presumed dead for years. Young Patriarch Yan has little credibility. Forgive my frankness, but even if we tell the truth, it will only be considered a conspiracy.”

The fourteen Buddha bead treasure maps were already a game of competition among major sects. After finally having a chance, everyone was working day and night, enduring the demonic mist, to search for clues. If suddenly someone claimed this place was dangerous, only fools would believe it.

Kongshi’s grave wouldn’t disappear overnight; there was still time. However, if they stay longer, they might end up being buried with Venerable Kongshi and Yan Budu.

Yin Ci put away his sword and looked at the group.

Su Si and Shen Zhu were ready to pack up and escape. Yan Qing remained silent and didn’t immediately object, but knowing his character, he was probably considering how to save more people along the way.

As for Shi Jingzhi… He was lost in thought for a while, but a mysterious smile gradually appeared on his face. It was hard to figure out what he was thinking. If it had been before, he would have run faster than anyone else in this dangerous situation.

Yin Ci looked curiously at Shi Jingzhi and didn’t speak immediately.

To be honest, Yin Ci didn’t really want to leave at this point. With this whole commotion caused by the Invitation to God Formation, the situation here was bound to be chaotic in the near future, and they would waste a lot of time—despite having Lord Bai in their hands, Kongshi’s grave was still carefully hidden by Yan Budu, so it wouldn’t be easy to find.

Shi Jingzhi couldn’t afford to wait, so they couldn’t continue to be passive.

The Invitation to God Formation was a novel thing. It was like using a bull’s knife to kill a chicken*; this method might be able to deal with a large number of mortals, but for him, it couldn’t reach the level of destroying an “immortal body”. From the activation of the formation to the dissipation of its residual power, it would probably take three to five days. During this time, when no one was on the mountains, he could go ahead and find…

*(杀鸡焉用牛刀) Metaphor referring to applying excessive or disproportionate force or effort to deal with a small or simple problem (AKA using a sledgehammer to crack a nut).

As he was thinking about this, he suddenly felt warmth on his fingers. Shi Jingzhi calmly moved closer and lightly pinched Yin Ci’s finger.

“Thinking of solving this on your own again?” Shi Jingzhi asked in a low voice. “Before, you said it was ‘for me’, but now you want to separate?”

Yin Ci helplessly said, “I mentioned cooperation before, and I won’t hide it from you. I was just planning to discuss with you—I’ll take advantage of the formation’s activation and go up the mountain immediately to seize the initiative. You can continue searching for information about the grave on the outside while we communicate using the sparrow demons.”

The various sects had been searching for the grave for some time, and they hadn’t gathered a lot of information. Once they fell into chaos, relevant information would be easier to obtain. By cooperating in this way, their efficiency wouldn’t be low.

He really couldn’t hold the Sword of Compassion himself, but by confirming the location first, they could save time coming later. The only cost that Kushan Sect had to bear was himself enduring some hardship, which was a pretty good deal.

Shi Jingzhi narrowed his eyes at Yin Ci for a while, and the faint smile on his face faded away. He sighed lightly and looked a bit unhappy.

Yin Ci didn’t understand.

Using the resources at hand was the safest and most advantageous approach, and it could be considered a “fair cooperation”. He didn’t know which nerve of Shi Jingzhi he pricked, which made his whole face fall.

Weren’t they getting along just fine earlier? Moreover, Shi Jingzhi had always been clear-headed. This kind of simple advantage and disadvantage, he should be able to grasp it clearly.

Who knew that Shi Jingzhi would turn around and leave, leaving him a clearly rejected back.

Yin Ci said helplessly, “Alright, Shizun, the situation is urgent. Can we just—”

“I have my own plan.” Shi Jingzhi turned his head slightly and glanced at Yin Ci. “My beloved disciple is fearless and isn’t afraid of anything, even me. I’m sure he won’t be afraid of my plan either.”

…He’s actually angry now, and he’s even more secretive about it. Yin Ci could tell from Shi Jingzhi’s tone that he was somewhat unhappy.

Without waiting for him to come up with a way to ease the atmosphere, Shi Jingzhi walked away a few steps and stopped in front of Yu Zikuan.

When their eyes met, Yu Zikuan let out a sigh from his languid face. “It was my carelessness that led us to this disaster. I will go to Taiheng to reason with them and try to save as many people as possible. You all have awakened me under such coincidental circumstances, and it is a kind act. It’s best for everyone to leave this place as soon as possible.”

Yan Zheng remained silent, and his expression kept changing. “With such a strong formation, the people outside the Grand Pavilion probably won’t survive… Since things have come to this point, I’ll go back and stabilize them. Since the martial world will be in chaos sooner or later, having fewer members of the Ling Sect wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

In his words, it seemed like he had no intention of escaping.

After pondering for a moment, Shi Jingzhi touched the Medicine Cures Illness flag. Then he slightly released some pressure, causing the surrounding mist to disperse along with the force. For a moment, the malevolent qi of the Invitation to God Formation was suppressed.

“Shen Zhu, you understand the Invitation to God Formation. If you try your best to obstruct the activation of the formation, how long can you delay it?”

“Huh?” Shen Zhu was momentarily confused.

Whether the formation was activated sooner or later, did it make a difference? Though she had thoughts, she answered truthfully, “To fully activate the formation, they need to complete the ritual chants, which would take around three to four hours of work… If I cause some disturbances here, I can delay it for up to five hours.”

Regardless of whether it was activated earlier or later, they would only be able to delay it for half a day at most. With so few people available at the moment, what could they achieve in half a day? Moreover, Shen Zhu understood the personality of this man. Shi Jingzhi wasn’t the type to suddenly develop a sense of kindness and salvation for all living beings.

What exactly was this person planning to do?

“Since no one believes the truth when spoken, lying is also a way.”

Still with his back turned to Yin Ci, Shi Jingzhi raised his voice a little, showing a calm and compelling tone.

“Shen Zhu, you stay here and try to destroy the formation, buying us some time. Yan Qing, you go with Yan Zheng to the vicinity of the Grand Pavilion and, on the way, retrieve your sword. After taking the sword, meet up with me when you leave the mountain… Su Si, you wait near the Chigou Sect’s camp. With your abilities, you can disseminate false information, right?”

“I can do it…”

“Senior Yu is excellent at archery. Please help us by sending some false information to the Taiheng Sect. Then use your archery to spread the message to the smaller sects. Those small sects have no independent judgment. If they see that the Grand Pavilion and the Taiheng Sect are deciding to leave, they won’t stay here any longer.”

After finishing his instructions, Shi Jingzhi walked back to his disciple’s side in a slow and leisurely manner.

“Due to the mist covering the mountain, not many people will venture deep inside. Just talking about leaving, half a day should be enough. As for you, A’Ci…”

Yin Ci guessed this person’s plan and felt a mixture of emotions. “I’ll stay by your side.”

Facing Shi Jingzhi’s plan, it seemed that he only had this one choice. He could no longer enter the mountain with the Invitation to God Formation blocking everyone’s way. Shi Jingzhi finally expressed satisfaction and smiled again.

“What are you all talking about? What message are you spreading?” Su Si finally couldn’t hold back anymore.

Shi Jingzhi inserted the flag into the formation, and the sect leader’s token on the flagpole swayed gently.

“It’s simple. You and Senior Yu act quickly; try your best to tell everyone—’The Kushan Sect has found the key to the Shirou and is preparing to leave.'”

Su Si: “…”

Su Si: “Sect Master, are you trying to get yourself killed?”

At this moment, they were wanted by the major orthodox sects due to the massacre at the Jianchen Temple. The demonic sects might not care about the well-being of the orthodox sects, but they would undoubtedly covet the clue to the Shirou. By spreading this message, Shi Jingzhi was practically teasing both sides and committing suicide in a rather creative way.

To save others but lose one’s own life, was it worth it? Or were the master and disciple planning to take advantage of everyone’s inattention and quietly become monks at the Jianchen Temple?

But when it came to other motives, Su Si really couldn’t figure out any intentions beyond “saving people”.

This was the first time that Yu Zikuan took a serious look at Shi Jingzhi. “Shi Jingzhi of the Kushan Sect? …Sect Master Shi, you truly understand righteousness. I admire you. You’re truly different from the rumors.”

Not only was he different from the rumors, but the Kushan Sect was also wildly different from the rumors. However, Yan Qing saw that he could save people without saying a word and immediately nodded in agreement. Su Si thought it over and felt that there was still a chance to escape, so he reluctantly agreed as well.

Time was limited, and people didn’t continue to question. They quickly dispersed into the night. Soon, the place was empty except for Shen Zhu, who was fully focused on obstructing the formation, and the master and disciple of the Kushan Sect.

Shi Jingzhi leaned on his precious flag and walked calmly outside the formation, as if the crazy idea just now wasn’t his own. Yin Ci took two steps forward and stood by his left side.

“I can guess your purpose in ‘saving people’, but this method also carries risks.”

Yin Ci was still calculating the details of the plan.

“The major orthodox sects haven’t sent any formidable masters, but Chai Xin has already suspected Yan Zheng. Yan Zheng might not be able to control the elders of the Ling Sect. If too many people from the Ling Sect come out…”

“How does A’Ci understand the meaning of ‘treasure*’?” Shi Jingzhi interrupted Yin Ci’s words and asked a non sequitur question.

*(珍重) As in referring to something precious (to be treasured/cherished).

“What?” Yin Ci’s thoughts were almost thrown off track by this person’s erratic thinking.

By the Invitation to God Formation, the mist continued to churn restlessly. Compared to the previous oppression, the mist now appeared even more entangled and inscrutable. Shi Jingzhi stopped in his tracks and turned to face Yin Ci. In the night mist, those amber-colored eyes remained razor-sharp.

“The giver is extremely powerful and willing to give everything for someone. This kind of ‘treasure’ is indeed touching. If I were an ordinary person, I might also stop here. Accepting goodwill peacefully is much easier… However, if there are other desires, it may seem like I don’t understand the situation.”

Shi Jingzhi caught a strand of Yin Ci’s long hair, and his expression was no longer as restrained as before, but rather unusually calm.

“Unfortunately, I happen to be the greediest person in the world. One person shielding another behind them cannot be considered ‘cooperation’. Now that I have the opportunity, I will show you what my ‘treasure’ truly means.”

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

Bu Tian Gang Ch170

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Author: 梦溪石 / Meng Xi Shi

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

Chapter 170

Although Dong Zhi was still temporarily confused, wondering why they were previously inside a book and now suddenly seeing a dragon—and Long Shen, who was originally on a mission to find the book’s owner, had unexpectedly appeared here—the most pressing issue at the moment was not to seek answers but to deal with the dragons before them.

Apart from the dragon that was entwined with Long Shen, there were nine other shadow dragons formed from light, acting as the primary dragon’s avatars, all of which were swooping down on them. Clouds move with dragons, and winds with tigers. The dragon’s motions stirred the clouds into huge whirlpools, creating even bigger waves, blocking everyone. Blades of wind covered the sky, slashing countless marks on them.

The power of the shadow dragons was unexpectedly strong. Comparing them with past enemies, Dong Zhi realized they were on par with the heavenly demon avatar that Song En tried to resurrect. Although Dong Zhi was now much more powerful than before, he was still facing multiple shadow dragons. Chang Qing took on three, while Dong Zhi was left to deal with the remaining six.

As for Kan Chaosheng…

A big yellow cat was bobbing in the water; its front paws clutching Xiao Zhao’s collar, while its hind legs and tail flailed desperately. Only because he wasn’t an ordinary cat could he drag along a grown man’s body. Still, it was quite a struggle, with the cat grumbling constantly.

Kan Chaosheng had an obsession with the fact that a jiao was inferior to a dragon; every time a dragon appeared, he refused to transform back into his sea serpent form, just like the last time on Changbai Mountain.

Despite the vast size difference, the dragon in combat with Long Shen couldn’t kill him. Furthermore, Long Shen seemed unafraid of the huge waterspouts, slicing through them effortlessly with his sword. Over time, the silver dragon grew impatient and transformed into a tiger-like beast, attempting to strike Long Shen from above—a momentary gap in his sword’s defense.

A massive force bore down, dimming the radiant sword light. Looking over, Dong Zhi could barely make out the combatants, both swallowed by the swirling waves. As he was momentarily distracted by looking at Long Shen, a shadow dragon lunged from behind, passing directly through his body.

A chill surged in Dong Zhi’s heart; a metallic taste rose in his throat. His sword, bereft of its protective aura, dimmed instantly. The other five shadow dragons, seeing their vulnerable prey, swiftly closed in, seeking to tear him apart.

While Long Shen was dealing with the main dragon and Chang Qing still had two shadow dragons to fend off, with Kan Chaosheng being of no help, Dong Zhi realized he had to save himself.

In the eyes of the six shadow dragons, Dong Zhi was as good as dead, his soul seemingly more appetizing than previous prey.

Yet, this “easy prey” resisted. Six talisman fire shot from mid-air towards the shadow dragons. At the same time, clouds rolled in the sky, lightning struck, and amidst the brilliant flashes, the shadow dragons writhed and howled, instantly losing all their momentum.

Chang Qing, initially considering aiding Dong Zhi, was taken aback seeing him summon lightning. He realized he had underestimated Dong Zhi’s capabilities and remembered how Dong Zhi had spared him back in the office.

He once felt inferior due to his half-demon nature. Later, after acquiring skills, his inferiority gradually transformed into arrogance. However, once he ventured out, he realized that there are always people better than oneself, and there’s always a higher sky beyond the sky.

However, Dong Zhi stumbled upon a peculiar issue.

True dragons wouldn’t fear heavenly thunder, as such thunder was only effective against evil and malevolent beings. Considering the shadow dragons were heavily affected by the thunder to the point of near-death, it suggested that the dragon fighting with Long Shen wasn’t a true dragon either.

If it wasn’t a dragon, then why was Kan Chaosheng just now intimidated by its presence and dared not transform into his jiao form?

Under the heavenly thunder, the shadow dragons were enveloped in thunderous light, their figures gradually turning transparent as they wailed in agony. At that moment, the beast fighting Long Shen also let out an angry roar, abandoning Long Shen to pounce towards Dong Zhi!

The beast was incredibly fast. In less than two seconds, it had moved from several meters away to right in front of Dong Zhi. It was then that Dong Zhi noticed that the beast, which resembled a tiger, had a face that looked human.

The lightning illuminated the facial hair on the beast’s face, but its eyes were filled with human-like resentment. Moreover, a smile appeared on its face, making it look exceptionally eerie. It was such an unsettling sight that Dong Zhi felt it was even worse than any zombie or other hideous creature he had ever seen.

Compared to it, although the Heavenly Demon was terrifying, no matter what its true form looked like, it at least had a face that could enchant people. However, the monster in front of him seemed to embody the greatest malice in the world. Just one glance from it was enough to make someone despair to the point of wanting to do nothing and even prefer death.

When the monster’s shadow approached, Dong Zhi had just lifted his Changshou Sword when immense pressure bore down on him. His wrist was forcibly bent downward, making it impossible to raise his sword. In a matter of seconds, not only did the monster’s claws reach out for him, but its vividly red, thick tongue also licked towards his face. Dong Zhi could already feel a stinging pain on his face, as if it were being scratched by needles.

The gusting wind abruptly stopped!

The beast was swept up by a ray of light. Dong Zhi found himself embraced by Long Shen, as waves of water gushed over him, blocking his breathing. However, Long Shen quickly tightened his grip, and Dong Zhi could feel the breath coming through Long Shen’s mouth.

Huh?

Dong Zhi struggled to open his eyes, feeling a bit dazed due to his earlier injuries. He allowed himself to be embraced by Long Shen, who shielded him from the surging waves with his body. Subconsciously, Dong Zhi embraced Long Shen’s back; although weak, their entangled bodies seemed perfectly in sync to the onlookers.

“Fuck, when did the boss get so open about his feelings? Public displays of affection can kill you! Why do I have to save him? He’s so heavy. What does he eat, rocks?”

The big yellow cat looked up and was dumbfounded for a few seconds before pushing Xiao Zhao toward the shore, mumbling to itself in meows that no one understood.

Xiao Zhao couldn’t respond either.

Another spectator, Chang Qing, didn’t have the energy to worry about Dong Zhi at the moment. As soon as he saw the beast thrown into the air, he leapt up to engage it in battle.

Weakened by Long Shen, the creature was nowhere near as strong as before and couldn’t even transform back into its dragon form. But while dodging Chang Qing’s attacks, it glared at him with eerie green eyes and spoke human words.

“Why do you help humans kill me when you are a demon? I can give you power and make you stronger.”

“I despise demons,” said Chang Qing coldly, slashing down mercilessly. The creature screamed and fell heavily to the ground, attempting to flee but was quickly surrounded by a ring of fire.

“Let me go! Tell me what you want, and it’s yours. You’re after the murderer, right? I know who it is! Just let me go!” it wailed.

At that point, Dong Zhi and Long Shen walked over.

“Isn’t this thing a dragon?” Kan Chaosheng said, having never seen such a pathetic dragon.

Long Shen replied, “It’s a half-dragon, a mix of a dragon and an Aoyin*.”

*Monster found in Chinese mythology commonly believed to attack and devour humans. It has a long tongue and likes to eat human brains.

The Aoyin was documented in the “Classic of Mountains and Seas”, a mythical creature that resembled humans, fed on them, and was good at deceit and illusion.

Dong Zhi found that the information he had crammed for the Special Administration exam actually came in handy. At least he didn’t need further explanation from Long Shen and immediately understood the origin of the Aoyin.

Being a half-dragon, it inherited the dragon’s mighty power, but it couldn’t fully eliminate the cruel and bloodthirsty traits of the Aoyin. Ultimately, to most powerful non-human beings like dragons and the Aoyin, fragile humans weren’t to be protected. Just as humans could dispose of the lives of animals like cats, dogs, rabbits, and turtles at will, humans were also just disposable animals to these mythical creatures.

Only beings like Long Shen and Tang Jing, who were created by human hands and imbued with the spirit of heaven and earth, would consider it their duty to protect worldly peace, possessing a great love even more noble than most humans.

As for Kan Chaosheng, Dong Zhi suddenly understood why Long Shen had kept him in Group 2: to watch over him and prevent him from straying off the path, unlike the Aoyin, who acted recklessly until it met its match.

As the Aoyin tumbled through the flames, ghostly qi wafted out from the fire, hastily dispersing in all directions.

Dong Zhi looked at these ghostly qi in surprise, roughly understanding the situation.

This Aoyin, with half-dragon bloodline, might be seeking the power to survive, or perhaps it wanted to become stronger. But under the constraints of modern societal rules, where it couldn’t freely kill and eat, it devised a method. Through a blank book, it allowed those who browsed the book to glimpse their deepest desires, then slowly corrode them. Like Su Huan, it would lure her soul completely into the book, then produce Shadow Ghosts to kill her, either to eat her heart and brain or to devour part of the dead’s soul. In any case, this would satisfy its hunger, and then it would leave the soul of the deceased to lure the next victim.

Before Su Huan, others had already died. And before their discovery, who knew how many crimes the Aoyin committed in secret, resulting in so many spirits now escaping in haste.

After all, the world was vast, and the Special Administration Bureau wasn’t omnipotent. There were always oversights.

But the heavens were just. The Aoyin couldn’t escape forever.

Long Shen waved his hand, and the majority of the wailing souls were sucked into a peculiar mirror. A small portion managed to flee quickly and soon disappeared from sight.

At first glance, the mirror seemed familiar to Dong Zhi. He quickly remembered it seemed to be Tang Jing’s magic weapon.

He wanted to inquire about Tang Jing’s well-being, but now wasn’t the time. Chang Qing slashed down with another sword, piercing through the Aoyin. The flames spread, turning this monster into ashes.

Long Shen didn’t stop it, for considering the Aoyin’s killing spree, even if brought back to the bureau, the outcome would be the same.

Dong Zhi looked around and found they were by a large lake. There was no sign of human activity or even buildings around. It likely was some nature reserve, which was why their earlier commotion went unaddressed.

It was still dark, with a grayish-blue hue covering the sky, even eerier than the complete darkness of night.

Yet, in the distance, there was the sound of iron chains rattling. It seemed like someone was dragging a long chain across the ground.

Dong Zhi felt a stir in his heart and was about to speak when Long Shen silenced him.

Looking at Chang Qing and Kan Chaosheng, both man and cat were intently listening to the sound of the chains with a solemn and silent expression.

Xiao Zhao, lying on the ground, stirred and finally came to his senses.

“Where is this… It’s so cold,” he murmured weakly.

It was no surprise that, for a detective with skills superior to an average person, facing monsters like the Aoyin and fierce spirits like Su Huan rendered him useless. Furthermore, Su Huan swapped bodies with him and confined him to a shadow, making him drenched in water like a drowned rat. Only now has he escaped the danger.

Dong Zhi was relieved to see Xiao Zhao awaken.

“You’re okay…”

He stopped mid-sentence. Earlier, Xiao Zhao’s soul was forced out by Su Huan and they had captured it. But amidst their chaos battling the shadow dragons, they hadn’t been able to attend to Xiao Zhao’s soul, unsure if it returned to his body.

How could they be sure that this Xiao Zhao was the real one?

Seeing everyone staring at him, Xiao Zhao sneezed and looked uneasy.

“What’s wrong?”

The sound of chains grew closer, and no one could pretend to ignore it.

Long Shen furrowed his brow. Dealing with the Aoyin hadn’t caused such a reaction, but now he genuinely felt it was a tricky situation.

“Master?”

“Someone from the underworld is here,” Long Shen stated.

<<< || Table of Contents || Lore Glossary || >>>

Full Server First Kill Ch45

Kinky7 Comments

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 45: The Beginning of a Legend

Nol wasn’t particularly worried about how they might be treated by these few players.

Based on the professions and equipment of the players in front of him, he could estimate their attributes. Even if he and Teest were numerically lower in level than the players, both of their attributes were genuinely monster-level. Even if a Level 50 dragon was lower than a Level 80 swordsman, it could still easily beat a hundred swordsmen.

Not to mention, they had a shadow wolf hidden in their shadows.

After leaving the instance, the shadow wolf retained the attributes from inside the instance. If it were smart enough, its combat power would be higher than both of theirs combined.

Unfortunately, it was a super cautious fool. If it really came to fighting, its overall strength would only equal one Teest.

Even so, the combined strength of the three of them was quite formidable.

The issue was the exposure of information, which would lead to endless troubles. Not to mention, the identity leak of the “Mad Monk” alone would bring them a whole kettle of problems.

Nol nervously clutched Teest.

[So that’s how it is. It’s my first time seeing such a magical item. It seems to have no consumption.]

Teest glanced at the tuning fork in the priestess’s hand. [Which means… it must have significant limitations.]

[Yes,] Nol confirmed. [It can only detect ‘absolute lies’. In other words, you can choose not to answer or answer irrelevantly. As long as you’re not lying in response to the question, it’s fine. And when in use, the tuning fork must be displayed in front of the target.]

This was a common problem with sacred attribute items. They have oddly high moral requirements, and they tend to be very specific and peculiar about it.

[So, no problems then. Let me confirm once again: you don’t intend to confront them, right?] Teest asked.

[Mm.]

Their telepathic communication was as fast as lightning. Teest inhaled lightly, holding Nol tighter.

“What the hell are you trying to do? What’s that in your hand? Don’t come any closer!” Teest shouted, sounding both terrified and pitiable.

Nol wondered if Teest learned this from one of his victims.

The priestess stopped and looked at them gently. “It’s okay, I won’t come closer. I just want to ask you both a few questions.”

Her voice was melodious, and her words were slow and clear. “… Are you two ‘players’?”

“What’s ‘players’?” Teest feigned confusion for a second, as if he didn’t understand her question.

The priestess frowned slightly; the tuning fork lay quietly in her hand.

“Why are you both so defensive against us?” She changed her question.

“We’ve encountered people like you before,” Teest said tightly. “His earring was exactly like yours, and he tried to kill me and my brother! God, he nearly succeeded.”

The players quickly exchanged glances. The priestess spoke faster. “Are you sure the earring was exactly the same?”

“No, no, his earring was covered in blood. But so what? They looked exactly the same!” Teest shouted accusingly.

The tuning fork remained silent.

“You encountered a ‘Demon’ from the Eternal Church. Rest assured, we are ‘Saints’ from the Temple of Life,” the priestess said softly. “If you encounter someone with a blood-stained earring again, run away as fast as you can… What happened to the Demon who wanted to kill you?”

Out of the corner of his eye, Nol saw the mage take out a communication crystal, and the knight’s hand went to his sword hilt.

These players seemed very wary of anything related to the Eternal Church. If this question wasn’t answered correctly…

“A man who looked like an assassin killed him,” Nol interrupted before Teest could speak.

He leaned forward slightly, turning his face to Teest’s shoulder, his voice trembling. “I didn’t see the details. I just heard he died…”

The tuning fork remained silent.

“It seems these two really aren’t players,” the knight whispered to the mage. “As for the guy from the Eternal Church, who knows if he’s really dead or not…”

Success. Relief washed over Nol.

“Alright, I just have one more question,” the priestess continued gently. “Are you two really brothers?”

‘…Isn’t it rude to ask about private matters?!’ Nol thought, choking on his relief. Could these players be treating them as rare NPCs, trying to get some quest?

“He’s not my real brother if that’s what you’re asking,” Teest responded without hesitation, the determination in his voice just right. “Even though we have different mothers, I swear in the Goddess’ name that our bond is close. I won’t let anyone question that.”

The tuning fork was silent, as if it were dead.

The priestesses stopped speaking, lowering her hand. Then, her smile became even brighter. “I heard from the merchants that you plan to visit your relatives in Silver Windmill Village. That village is a bit far from Grape Collar. Why don’t we escort you there?”

Nol: “…” So persistent. Typical of players. Should they start wearing masks next time?

Teest obviously had the same thought. “How could we? We are mere commoners. How could we trouble such noble Saints like you—”

“It’s no trouble. We were heading there anyway,” the priestess said with a smile.

Alright, he was wrong. Nol thought this was becoming a real problem now.

“Going to Silver Windmill Village to visit relatives” was Teest’s excuse to decline the job offer. The Mad Monk talked nonsense all the time. It would be surprising if Silver Windmill Village even existed. How would he fabricate relatives out of thin air?

“But…” Teest hesitated beside Nol.

“It’s fine, as long as your relatives haven’t joined any heretical sects, we won’t do anything.” The priestess paused meaningfully. “Or do you have other concerns?”

“No.” Teest lowered his head, placing his hands together in the shape of a wheat stalk. “I just didn’t expect the Saints to be so kind… May the Goddess’ glory shine throughout the land.”

……

[What do we do now?] Nol sat in the players’ open carriage, looking grave.

The beautiful priestess with a youthful appearance sat beside them. Her light flaxen hair draped over her shoulders, her green eyes slightly closed, looking serene and holy.

Having gone through the baptism of Barto in the novice village, Nol wondered about the gender of the player controlling the character, just like he was unsure about the gender of the young-looking paladin.

Better to remain silent, Nol decided, communicating only with his “elder brother” Teest.

[What will we do when we reach our destination? Use an illusion spell? “Dream manipulation” can’t cover such a big lie.]

[Don’t worry, I have a plan,] Teest replied confidently.

Trusting Teest’s assurance, Nol didn’t ask further. He stealthily reached into his shadow to stroke some wolf fur for comfort.

The problem was if they remained silent, the players would initiate conversation.

“So, what happened to you two? I heard from Billy that he found you in the forest.”

The white mage, sitting opposite Nol, inquired. Nol glanced at the handsome mage and found that, in an inconspicuous corner, the mage was holding a golden tuning fork.

…So you’re playing this game? You have a magical item, but so do I. Since Teest was playing the good cop, now it was his turn to play the bad*.

*One sings with a red face, the other with a white face (一个唱红脸一个唱白脸). Idiom referring to one person acting as the “bad guy” while the other acts as the “good guy” or the mediator (aka good cop, bad cop).

Nol spun the brooch on his chest. “We were harassed by that earring-wearing weirdo… the Eternal Church cultist. Didn’t my brother tell you?”

“Do you want to hear the details? I moved everyone’s corpses to the side of the cabin, letting them rest in the flames. So many bodies… Do you want to know more, like how he talked about dismembering us? Or the sound of everyone’s necks being snapped?”

Nol continued, trying to look and sound as “traumatized” as possible.

The white mage was taken aback and quickly put away his tuning fork. “No, no, I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry for making you recall such horrifying memories. I was just curious how you both escaped, and well, I felt magical energy from you…”

“We do have magical items,” Nol said. “I’m learning magic. I thought Mr. Billy told you all.”

“Hey, calm down.” Teest, playing the caring older brother, gently patted Nol’s back. “I know you’re upset, but remember, these are Saints. Be respectful.”

After that performance, thankfully, the players didn’t ask him any more questions.

‘I’m sorry, my fellow players… If I can be sure you’re all trustworthy, I will definitely make it up to you,’ Nol thought silently.

The players’ carriage moved swiftly. By sunset, they had reached Silver Windmill Village.

The beautiful and prosperous village was surrounded by grape fields. From there, one could see the spire of the Temple of Life and the white windmill in the fields.

“Thank you all for escorting us. We can manage on our own from here.” Teest bowed politely, his temporary black hair loosely braided over one shoulder.

Nol nodded solemnly in agreement.

“Why would we escort you halfway? Tell us, where do your relatives live?” asked the blonde, blue-eyed paladin.

Teest hesitated for a moment, finally managing a smile. “Please follow me.”

Nol was bewildered as he followed Teest. The group headed toward a farmhouse at the edge of the village. The farmhouse appeared to be quite affluent; the building was large, and its walls were covered in well-maintained rose vines. The garden in front of the house was wild yet ordered, exuding a rustic charm.

“Aunt Sophie, it’s me! Ross and I are back!” Teest called out from the entrance.

Only a few seconds after his shout, a chubby middle-aged woman with an apron dashed out from the doorway. Though her figure had changed over the years, her face still retained the beauty of her youth.

“By the Goddess, my little Landus, little Ross—!” She embraced both Teest and Nol, planting passionate kisses on the tops of their heads. “Five years, right? You’ve grown into young men. Why did it take you so long to visit me?”

Nol: “…?!” Seriously, this works too…?!

He stiffened in “Aunt Sophie’s” embrace, not daring to move.

“Let’s talk inside, Auntie. Something happened at home.” Teest’s voice took on a melancholic tone. “Oh, these people here are from the temple. They’re the ones who brought us back.”

“Oh my, people from the temple!” Aunt Sophie exclaimed loudly, attracting the attention of several neighbors. “Please come in. Would you like to stay for dinner? I make delicious honey cakes. I can prepare them in no time!”

“Thank you for your kindness. We’ve brought our own food, so we won’t trouble you,” the players exchanged glances. The priestess stepped forward and bowed in gratitude.

Finally, the wooden door closed, blocking the players from view.

Stretching and yawning, Teest carelessly plopped down on the couch. “I’m exhausted. I originally wanted to visit Grape Collar first.”

The affectionate expression on Aunt Sophie’s face faded. She approached Teest, who deftly took out his wallet and counted out twenty gold coins for her.

She accepted the money skillfully. “I thought you were dead.”

“Likewise.” Teest grunted. “I was worried someone else might have taken this place. That would’ve been awkward.”

Aunt Sophie gave him a sidelong glance. “If it weren’t for the sake of the ‘General’, I wouldn’t bother taking your money. Why did you bring people this time? Ah, such a handsome lad. No wonder you never showed interest in girls before…”

Teest turned away, clearly not interested in chatting. Aunt Sophie didn’t seem offended and shot a smile at Nol before disappearing with the coins.

“Occasionally, I need a trustworthy identity. Aunt Sophie’s nephew ‘Landus’ is one of them,” Teest explained, suppressing another yawn. “If ‘Landus’ is accompanied by ‘Ross’, it implies I also have a male companion. Sophie’s clever; she knows how to keep up with the lie.”

[Does she know you’re the Mad Monk…?] Nol communicated telepathically with Teest.

“Only you know that, honey,” Teest said sweetly, turning to face Nol. “She firmly believes I’m a lowlife criminal.”

“Are you not? If you had ambition, the ‘General’ would’ve recruited you long ago.”

Aunt Sophie emerged with a plate of honey cakes, their aroma filling the room. “Here, young man, try my cooking… You seem like a good lad; don’t let this guy deceive you. He’s only good-looking. If he had any sense, he wouldn’t be hiding out here.”

The married Mr. Nol gave a wry smile and quietly thanked her before taking a bite. The cake was soft, sweet, and milky—like biting into a cloud. Nol handed a piece to Teest.

Teest hesitated but eventually opened his mouth, taking a bite. “Not bad.”

“My heavens, he’s finally eating something I made? Young man, what magic did you use?” Ms. Sophie was taken aback.

“The magic of love,” Teest quipped. He sat up from the sofa and stretched out his hand, reaching for another piece. “One more!”

Nol didn’t bother correcting Teest’s nonsense. He walked over to the window, admiring the beautiful flowers outside.

The players’ figures had completely vanished.

They seemed even more cautious than he’d imagined. The situation on the players’ side must be tense.

He must not reveal his identity before finding trustworthy players. But as a mere NPC, how could he ensure contact with players, much less gather inside information?

He needed a plan.

Looking at his fingers, Nol noticed they still smelled of milk and honey.

Thinking about it, a magical apprentice living in a secluded forest village, whose homeland was almost completely destroyed by cultists. Only his elder brother survived, the two depended on each other and headed to the big city to seek refuge with relatives… Perhaps this was a good beginning for a story.

In his setting, “Dragon Blood Hero Drake” was a faithful companion to the players and an important NPC in the main storyline. Drake, with his tragic past, was a core character who grew with the progression of the story. Players should witness his growth set against the backdrop of the era.

Maybe he could also become such a “growing main storyline NPC”.

In that case, player groups would actively approach him. Even if players couldn’t receive missions from him, they wouldn’t be suspicious, and they might even help in rescuing his neighbors…

The problem was that the current era was dominated by unknown religions. The Temple of Life and the Eternal Church had taken most of the players, so he couldn’t replicate Drake’s heroic leader route.

He wanted to discover the truth of the world, shelter his scattered neighbors, establish a stable relationship with the players, and maintain the initiative…

Got it.

Nol tucked away his fingers, revealing a slightly bitter smile.

It didn’t matter if he couldn’t become a hero; he believed his character wasn’t suited for it. Considering his situation, “swaying between good and evil, a seeming antagonist who’s both enemy and ally” might be more appropriate.

[Teest.]

[Hmm?]

[Interested in doing some bad things with me?] Nol asked.

[What kind of bad things? By your moral standards… let me think, stealing Aunt Sophie’s honey cakes?]

[No.]

Nol turned around, his back facing the window. The blood-red sunset sank behind him, and the sky gradually darkened.

[I want to openly establish a monster organization.]

The honey cake in Teest’s mouth almost dropped, but he bit it in time. [“What?”]

[I don’t want to act in secret anymore. I need more information,] Nol said. [But this will carry certain risks. If you mind, you can leave—]

Before Nol could finish, he swallowed his words. He took a deep breath and spoke again.

[You once said, ‘I am yours.’ I hope you are still mine.] Nol smiled at Teest. [I really, really need you, Teest.]

[Since you’ve put it that way, I have no choice but to obey, Lord Nol,] Teest replied with a smile.

Aunt Sophie hadn’t lit the lamps yet. As the sun set, the things in the room were quickly engulfed in shadows.

“Now that we’ve come this far, I genuinely want to ask you,” Nol began, “I don’t believe I could persuade you with just a few words… Why are you staying by my side? What do you really want?”

Teest finally stood up from the sofa and walked to the window, leaning against the opposite side of the sill. The afterglow of the sunset came in, casting long shadows of both.

“I want the ‘truth’ of this world,” Teest said with a smile, leaning closer to Nol. “It just so happens we’re on the same path. What a coincidence.”

Nol suddenly recalled the horrified and desperate expression of the Whitebird City Lord before he died and the skill with which this man interrogated Liang Guanghui.

Despite the Mad Monk’s erratic behavior, the Teest he knew didn’t seem to be a mere sadist. Could it be that he wasn’t just hunting high-ranking cultists for fun but…

“Could it be that before our arrival, you killed to get more faith—”

“Shh.”

Teest raised a finger to his lips.

“It’s nothing unusual. As long as one is alive, one always seeks an answer—if not, how can one go on living, right?”

“At least that’s how I am,” he said.

The author has something to say:

Teest: Even though we have different mothers (actually, their fathers are also different), I swear in the Goddess’ name that our bond is close (do you think the Goddess dare not recognize it when we got certified before her?). I won’t let anyone question that (truth).

Nol: …………………………………………………Indeed.

Kinky Thoughts:

End of second arc.

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

Sendoff Ch96

Kinky5 Comments

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 96: Conjecture

As the spy was engulfed by the demon’s corpse, Jiang Youyue remained unfazed. This person was a servant sent by the Rong Palace. Jiang Youyue had discreetly followed the clues to the edges of the Chigou Sect, but even he couldn’t find concrete evidence to implicate them.

However, he never needed evidence to kill someone.

The reason he had kept the spy until now was that he didn’t mind these flies gathering some irrelevant information. Jiang Youyue knew well that there was more than one spy in the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence. Apart from the unruly major sects of the martial world, the young emperor also remained vigilant towards him. If the servants disappeared too quickly and frequently, he might be caught by the emperor, delaying important matters.

Not to mention that some of those spies could very well belong to the emperor himself.

Three hundred years had passed, and people seemed to forget the position of the Imperial Preceptor’s office during the founding era.

The first Imperial Preceptor accompanied the founding emperor on numerous military campaigns, achieving great merit. It was rumored that he had never made a mistake, his judgments were accurate as if he had divine insight, and he could even control the winds and rains on the battlefield, hailed by the common folk as the incarnation of the stars. The emperor of that time heavily relied on the Imperial Preceptor, seeking his counsel on all matters, big and small. After the Imperial Preceptor sacrificed himself for the heavens, the Imperial Preceptor’s Office became a true sacred shrine in the eyes of the people, inviolable.

From that time on, the position of “Imperial Preceptor”, which should have been just a title, gained real power. Everyone respected and obeyed—after all, the Imperial Preceptor must be the spiritual heir of a Saint, and a Saint was a god bestowed upon the world by heaven—how could they have ulterior motives?

However, the good times didn’t last. As Great Yun grew stronger and prospered, the need for divination diminished. Talented individuals emerged from all corners of the nation, and the Imperial Preceptor’s lineage, aside from divination and managing the celestial shrine, had little significant impact. Yet, the public’s belief in the Imperial Preceptor’s ability to communicate with the divine remained steadfast, and they continued to attribute the prosperity of the nation to the Imperial Preceptor’s Office.

With them so close to the bed, how could others sleep soundly. The successive emperors gradually disassociated the Imperial Preceptor’s lineage from the “Imperial Celestial”. Each emperor was wary of any trouble caused by the Imperial Preceptor’s lineage, but the Imperial Preceptors themselves remained low-key and honest, as if they had accepted their fate.

Now, even people from the martial world dare to audaciously infiltrate the Imperial Preceptor’s Office.

…Perhaps, with their mortal bodies, they could only see money, power, and longevity, engaging in these petty struggles. They couldn’t comprehend the ambitions of an eminent person. After enjoying peace and stability for too long, people’s vision would inevitably narrow.

Jiang Youyue thought nonchalantly as he passed through the hall with the formation and continued deeper underground.

The stone passage grew narrower and darker, and the fragrance in the air became increasingly intense. The brilliance of the magical tools swept past Jiang Youyue one after another, emitting a soft humming sound, smoothly creating a path for him. At the end of the path was a small door, shrouded in thick darkness, resembling the entrance to a tomb.

Jiang Youyue lifted the lamp by the door and knocked three times in an orderly manner. The door slowly opened a crack, revealing a murky eye that gleamed with an unpleasant green light.

Seemingly confirming Jiang Youyue’s identity, the creature moved aside, making way. Jiang Youyue took a deep breath, not knowing how many times he had stepped into this room.

The light from the lamp illuminated the stone chamber.

The thing who opened the door wasn’t tall, extremely slender, and had a figure that resembled an overly emaciated young man. It wore luxurious white clothing that exuded a shimmering blue glow, as if it were a living jade sculpture. Upon closer inspection, the thing had all its limbs and facial features intact, but they appeared shallow and faint, almost as if they were stickily connected together. Its chest didn’t show any signs of movement; there was no sign of breathing.

After opening the door, it quietly sat back down by the side of the door, motionless. Jiang Youyue paid no attention to it and raised the lamp a bit higher, examining the four walls of the stone chamber.

Hundreds of headless corpses wrapped in white blood-stained cloth hung densely on the walls. A blue-green liquid flowed continuously, evenly pouring over each body, emitting a barely audible gurgling sound. Each corpse had a small wooden sign hanging from it, on which short numbers were carved. The bodies were still intact and moist, but many of the wooden signs had already started to show signs of decay.

Jiang Youyue took down the most decayed wooden sign. The characters were filled with cinnabar, neatly written as “Two thousand six hundred and ninety-eight”.

Immortal bodies were undying, but wooden signs would eventually decay. Jiang Youyue took a new wooden sign from the shelf and used his true qi to carve the characters again, hanging it back on the immortal body. Throughout the whole process, his expression was even gentle.

After the Saint sacrificed himself to the heavens, he left behind the position of “Imperial Preceptor”—not an idle or comfortable position. He sacrificed himself to end the natural disasters of that time. He left behind numerous immortal arts and spells that seemed more like divine miracles than earthly techniques. He established the “Immortal Assembly”, recruiting talents and building celestial shrines in various places. These deeds became part of legends and have been passed down to this day.

…However, only the successive Imperial Preceptors knew that the Saint had left behind a room full of immortal bodies.

Three thousand of these immortal bodies existed, but their origins were unclear. They were the highest-grade materials for performing spells in the world. The Immortal Assembly never used them in their practices, strictly adhering to the Saint’s last instructions, only employing them for the “Hundred-Year Project”.

Using some of the immortal bodies to prolong his master’s life could still be considered part of the Hundred-Year Project, Jiang Youyue thought as he pointed at one wooden sign after another with his fingertips. After all, Great Yun desired an heir, and only his master managed to raise a “suitable” candidate in Shi Jingzhi. Therefore, letting his master witness the completion of the Hundred-Year Project could also be seen as fulfilling destiny, from beginning to end.

Not to mention that the grand plan was already approaching completion, just like the “Invitation to God”. Although it hadn’t been formally concluded, nothing could ruin it now.

Jiang Youyue carefully inspected the condition of the immortal bodies one by one, respectfully paid his respects to the headless corpses in the room and closed the heavy stone door.

The atmosphere on Zongwu Mountain wasn’t as peaceful anymore.

Yu Zikuan’s explanation was surprisingly simple—he had merely befriended a member of the Mishan Sect, with whom he often conducted trade with when he was in Taiheng. Through this contact, he obtained the battle formation. Throughout the entire transaction, Yu Zikuan had been using the identity of a “Taiheng Elder”. In theory, the Mishan Sect members shouldn’t know his true purpose.

Furthermore, their plan was formally established only after hearing about the “Shirou clues” on Zongwu Mountain, and there were no suspicions of long-term planning leading to leaks. So, Yan Zheng’s gathering the elders from various branches and ordering the activation of the Fog Tomb Formation came first, while Yu Zikuan secretly set up the battle formation later, which seemed to proceed logically.

This plan, which only they knew about, was beyond anyone’s imagination that such a deadly twist would occur. Regardless, looking at the current situation, it was impossible to continue using the unfortunate “Invitation to God Formation.”

What was peculiar was that upon realizing this, Yan Zheng’s expression was even uglier than Yu Zikuan’s. “Even if it targeted only the Ling Sect, indiscriminate killing on Zongwu Mountain, how does that benefit the person who orchestrated this?”

Yin Ci: “…” For the Ling Sect’s Patriarch to casually say, “Even if it targeted only the Ling Sect”, it made him feel somewhat sorry for Yan Budu, his once formidable opponent.

However, Yan Zheng did point out the most puzzling aspect—if they hadn’t encountered Yu Zikuan, many sects would have lost a large number of people. In this case, not to mention framing and entrapment, they wouldn’t even find the mastermind behind it all. It would lead to smaller sects fearing for their lives, larger sects suspecting each other, and the remnants of the Ling Sect causing trouble everywhere, further disrupting the already chaotic martial world.

To say that this was for not wanting people to find the “Shirou” clues, this approach was also problematic. The “Invitation to God Formation” couldn’t be permanently activated, and once this group of people died, those who should come looking for the clues would still come.

…Why would someone undertake such a laborious and thankless task?

Yin Ci was deep in thought, unaware that the Sect Master had discreetly glanced at him with increasingly serious eyes. After a moment of contemplation, Shi Jingzhi pulled Shen Zhu aside.

“Have you seen the scene when the ‘Invitation to God Formation’ is activated?” Shi Jingzhi asked in a low voice.

“Yes.” Shen Zhu lowered her eyes and said, “The Immortal Assembly once set up this formation in my hometown. When the formation was activated, the surroundings seemed to be engulfed in invisible flames, and I watched everyone gradually ‘burn dry’… The entire town was destroyed in an instant, but I managed to stand at the edge of the formation’s effect and survived.”

“No survivors in the formation? None at all?”

“No one survived, but the plants and animals were unharmed. The Immortal Assembly only searched around the perimeter and killed potential witnesses. I was young at the time and pretended to be ignorant, which allowed me to escape unscathed.”

“Mm, this formation’s residual power is dangerous. It seems to be a certain death formation.” Shi Jingzhi then glanced at Yin Ci from a distance.

“Your Highness?” This question seemed to have a subtle deviation from the current situation.

“Nothing, just curious.”

Shi Jingzhi’s tone was light, but the fog in his mind was even heavier than the Fog Tomb Formation. Throughout his journey, he truly experienced going through mountains of knives and seas of fire. If he hadn’t encountered Yin Ci back then, leaving aside starving to death on Kushan at the age of three, even if only considering the most recent events, he would have already been sliced to pieces by the Ghost Tomb mechanism. Encountering the Goddess, battling Zheng Fengdao, and even the recent lifting of the ban—all of these events could have led to his death.

Now, on Zongwu Mountain, if the “Invitation to God Formation” was indeed as dangerous as Shen Zhu described. Even with Yin Ci by his side, he would undoubtedly perish. All the life-threatening situations he had faced so far couldn’t be avoided with just help from outsiders.

The “Hundred-Year Project” had been ongoing for at least two hundred years, with the Children of Desire as an important part of it. The Imperial Preceptor had actually allowed him to wander around freely, relying on “coincidences” to stay alive. Even when he could foresee that he would be in danger, he remained indifferent and did nothing… Wasn’t this such a wasteful plan to discard so many Children of Desire each generation? How could a plan that had lasted for hundreds of years have so many loopholes?

Shi Jingzhi touched his chest and felt the safety charm given to him by Yin Ci. Beside the talisman, his heart was beating strongly beneath the not-so-thick outer garment.

At this moment, he wasn’t concerned about why this formation appeared here or who would benefit from it. A nearly absurd idea flashed through his mind.

If it were in the past, Shi Jingzhi would undoubtedly laugh out loud at such a crazy guess. However, with Yin Ci by his side, he couldn’t find it in himself to laugh anymore.

…For some unknown reason, it seemed that the Imperial Preceptor’s lineage was convinced that he “would not die accidentally”.

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

Qizi Ch13

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Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

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

Chapter 13

Two masters were about to duel, instantly capturing the attention of the entire class. Those who were practicing before consciously made way, leaving only Ling Xiao and Ying Feng alone in the arena. They stood casually, but their eyes were constantly locked on each other, always ready to move.

Everyone was focused on the match, but some had their attention misplaced. Zhu Yue’s gaze towards Ling Xiao was dark and resentful. How he longed for all of Ying Feng’s attention, but someone else had easily captured it. Moreover, that person had previously shielded him from a blade at a critical moment.

“I bet Ling Xiao will make the first move.” A voice reached Zhu Yue’s ears. He turned his head and saw it was Lan Sheng, who was closest to Ling Xiao in class.

Beside Lan Sheng, Ping Zong smiled knowingly. “Then you’re sure to win. No matter the situation, Ling Xiao always makes the first move. He’s not a patient person.”

As if to prove their words, in a split second, both of them launched attacks simultaneously. However, only those with the keenest observation could see that Ling Xiao took the initiative. Being proactive was always his style of combat. Ying Feng’s exceptional reaction speed was also evident. If not for that, how could he, even when reacting second, match Ling Xiao’s speed?

In a flash, the two fought multiple rounds at the center of the arena. Their rapid movements left only afterimages, making it hard for the onlookers to keep up. Ling Xiao’s moves were typically flamboyant, with strikes coming from all directions, which was a feast for the eyes.

In comparison, Ying Feng’s observation and response capabilities were superior. No matter how fast or complex Ling Xiao’s moves were, Ying Feng could instantly find his weak points and attack. This often forced Ling Xiao to alter his strategy mid-move. Yet, even then, Ling Xiao would transition smoothly, leaving no opening for onlookers to notice.

The two moved from the center of the arena to the edges and back again. The entire training room became their battleground. Their blows were fierce and intense, more of a real combat exercise than a simple spar. If not for the special materials of the training room, it might have been destroyed.

During one of their exchanges, Ling Xiao jumped onto the wall to dodge Ying Feng’s assault. This position allowed him to push off the wall and return with greater momentum, at a speed almost impossible for an average person to evade—except for Ying Feng.

Ying Feng had accurately anticipated Ling Xiao’s trajectory and had a response plan in mind. However, in a split second, he felt numbness spread throughout his body, making it unresponsive.

With a loud thud and accompanying gasps, Ying Feng staggered back. Seizing this opportunity, Ling Xiao pursued without mercy.

Ying Feng’s vision blurred. To him, Ling Xiao was but a series of high-speed afterimages. He felt sharp pain in various parts of his body, powerless against Ling Xiao’s relentless assault.

The audience sensed something was amiss. At first, they thought Ling Xiao’s punch had injured Ying Feng. But as time passed, Ying Feng couldn’t even defend himself, let alone counterattack.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, the spectators feared for Ying Feng’s safety. Among them, Zhu Yue was the most concerned.

“Stop it!”

A scream echoed through the training room, snapping the frenzied Ling Xiao back to reality. He realized too late that Ying Feng wasn’t fighting back. But by then, he was already rushing towards Ying Feng, ready to land a final blow. With his current momentum and strength, the defenseless Ying Feng would be severely injured!

In a flash, a dark figure darted between them, taking the full brunt of Ling Xiao’s punch. Despite Ling Xiao trying to pull back, the blow was still immensely powerful, making the intervenor’s face turn pale instantly.

Regaining his balance, Ling Xiao called out anxiously, “Ping Zong!”

Almost simultaneously with his shout, Lan Sheng rushed over from the side of the field, shouting Ping Zong’s name. He anxiously grabbed Ping Zong’s arm. “Are you alright?!”

Even though Ping Zong had summoned all his defensive power to block the punch from Ling Xiao, he still felt numbness in both arms. If that punch had hit Ying Feng, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

Facing the worried look of Lan Sheng and filled with regret, Ping Zong slowly steadied his breath. He moved his arm, feeling grateful that he was not seriously injured.

“I’m fine.” He gestured with his chin towards the person behind him. “See how he’s doing.”

Ying Feng, out of sheer pride, managed to stand without collapsing in front of everyone. Zhu Yue, who rushed over almost at the same time as Lan Sheng, circled him, asking questions in concern. Ying Feng felt a buzzing in his ears, making him even more irritated.

He stood silently for a while, and slowly sensation returned to his body. When he could control his limbs again, he slowly opened his eyes, giving Ling Xiao a cold look. This gaze made Ling Xiao stiff, leaving him speechless.

In front of everyone, Ying Feng walked out, step by step. Despite trying to maintain a steady pace, his steps seemed a bit unsteady. Zhu Yue wanted to support him but was clearly rejected. Like everyone else, he could only watch Ying Feng walk out of the training room alone.

Ling Xiao stared blankly at the retreating figure of Ying Feng for a long time. When he came to his senses, he noticed a hostile gaze directed at him. At this moment, Zhu Yue’s resentment was undisguised, and even the previous life-saving grace couldn’t offset this growing hatred.

Ling Xiao didn’t realize that from this moment on, he had planted the seed of resentment in Zhu Yue’s heart. Feeling guilty, he turned his face away. Lan Sheng was still showing concern for Ping Zong, making Ling Xiao feel more isolated—some hated him, some ignored him, and some had their own priorities. The thought ignited a flame of nameless rage inside him, coupled with an overwhelming feeling of loneliness.

Another person burning with inner fire was currently lying on a check-up table in Dr. Yao’s medical room. A printer nearby diligently carried out its task.

Dr. Yao took the printed report, quickly scanning it. “Congratulations, you’ve entered the pre-awakening stage. Your awakening will soon occur, and your body is ready for secondary development. All indicators are excellent.”

“So excellent that I won’t fight back when hit?” Ying Feng remarked sarcastically.

“Your reaction just now is a normal manifestation of pre-awakening, commonly known as pseudo-awakening. About ten days after this pre-awakening, you will enter the actual awakening phase. The real awakening will not have the numbness in the limbs, so you don’t have to worry.”

She pulled up Ying Feng’s file. “Have you chosen your partner?”

“No,” Ying Feng answered quickly.

Dr. Yao nodded. “It’s okay if you haven’t. I can give you a calming injection once a month, so the awakening won’t cause you any trouble until you find a suitable partner.”

“Is it harmful to the body?”

“Not at all. Of course, you can also choose not to take the injection. After awakening, you’ll only have a normal physiological reaction. All individuals in this state have enough reason to deal with these reactions. Just avoid intense physical confrontations, like earlier, or else it can cause hormonal imbalances. Oh, and without the calming injection, you’re not allowed to participate in field practice.”

“I’ll take it,” Ying Feng responded, eager for the opportunity for field practice.

Dr. Yao quickly prepared the injection. Watching her insert the needle into his skin and the transparent liquid flow into his veins, Ying Feng felt his body cooling down, the previous heat vanishing in an instant.

“Remember, even though this calming medicine can suppress your physical reactions, you still need to be careful not to get too close to someone in the awakening phase. Otherwise, the hormone secretion in their body might affect you and negate the drug’s effect.”

“How long can I take this medicine?”

“As long as you’re willing, you can continue indefinitely. Although we hope that you will become adults soon, we will never force any student to undergo the coming-of-age ceremony without being prepared. The oldest student in the academy has been in his immature form for twenty-two years now and hasn’t found a suitable partner, but we still respect his choice.”

“What if I can never find a match?”

“Bikong is a primary academy, with the highest grade being twelve. After this age, you can choose to stay in school, continue your studies in your immature form, or even work. Such cases have been common in previous years.”

“However, only at Bikong will you enjoy the safest protection. If you choose to study or work in your immature form, many dangerous professions will be limited. I think you know why.”

“I understand,” Ying Feng replied succinctly.

“There’s something you might not be aware of. Seeking a spouse during the awakening period is also one of our instincts. Although tranquilizers can certainly suppress your physical reactions, they won’t alleviate your psychological needs.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t you feel lonely entering the pre-awakening period, yearning to share life with someone else?”

Ying Feng silently pondered for a moment. “No.”

“Alright.” Yao Tai gave up. “Some people are emotionally late bloomers. But slowly, you will, and the urge will become more and more pressing, forcing you to actively seek your other half.”

Ying Feng sat up. The slight twitch of his lips due to pain didn’t escape Yao Tai’s eyes.

“Do you need me to treat any other injuries?”

Ying Feng placed his hand on his chest, feeling a bit of tenderness. Judging from his experience, there was probably a bruise. Recalling the force of Ling Xiao’s strike, he frowned at the painful memory.

“No need.” Ying Feng declined Yao Tai’s offer and left the infirmary.

When he returned to his dormitory, there was an unexpected guest. Although Ling Xiao was in the same grade as Ying Feng, their dormitories were far apart. Ying Feng didn’t think it was a mere coincidence.

Seeing Ying Feng return safe and sound, Ling Xiao’s worry faded, replaced by relief. Sadly, these deep-seated emotions went unnoticed. As Yao Tai said, some people were emotionally late bloomers, and unfortunately, Ling Xiao was one of them.

The corner of Ying Feng’s mouth twitched upon seeing him. “What are you here for? I don’t have banana-flavored energy bread for you.”

Ling Xiao hesitated. “Are you alright?”

“Thanks to you, I’m not dead.”

Ying Feng tried to open the door, but Ling Xiao blocked him.

“What do you want?” Ying Feng asked impatiently.

“Hit me. I won’t fight back.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

Seeing Ling Xiao resign himself to death, Ying Feng found it quite amusing and laughed out loud.

Ling Xiao’s face darkened. “Are you looking down on me?”

“Shouldn’t a normal person apologize in this situation?”

Ling Xiao was at a loss for words, as if apologizing was the most embarrassing thing in the world.

“Just hit me.”

Ying Feng scoffed. “I need to get into my dorm. Please move.”

Ling Xiao stubbornly stood his ground.

This time, Ying Feng’s anger flared. He grabbed Ling Xiao by the collar and pulled him close. Even though Ying Feng was shorter, he completely dominated in aura. They were so close that their noses nearly touched. Ying Feng’s words landed heavily on Ling Xiao’s face.

“Rest assured, one day, I will settle this score with you.”

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

Escape From the Asylum Ch13

Kinky1 Comment

Author: 木尺素 / Mu Chisu

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

Chapter 13

Within Apple Paradise, the canopy was filled with vast expanses of green trees. A gentle, constant light bathed the entire palace. Flowers as white as snow scattered across the horizon, and the lake gleamed with a blue as deep as the world’s rarest sapphires…

Against this backdrop, Zhou Qian hovered in midair, suspended by a single rope, and gazed distantly at Qi Liuxing.

His eyes and words possessed a powerful, bewitching force.

Qi Liuxing felt as if he had no choice but to follow Zhou Qian’s plans.

Even if what lay ahead was a treacherous path or an irretrievable hell.

Echoing in Qi Liuxing’s ears were the words Zhou Qian spoke not long ago.

“I lied to you before, and now I want to apologize.”

“Are you hesitating about using the Tick Tock Clock? If you use it to save me, it’s out of affection, not duty. Don’t feel pressured.”

“You have an innocent heart. It’s invaluable.”

“Only when you become a hero to everyone can you truly bear the title ‘Sword God’.”

……

18 was an age where one was most willing to risk it all and face all challenges head-on.

Qi Liuxing gripped his sword tighter; his gaze towards Zhou Qian became more resolute.

Zhou Qian spoke again. “Qi Liuxing, I won’t leave you alone in danger. If you chose to stay, please do your best to hang on. The young couple will come to help you.”

“Why would they help me? Can you foresee the future?”

“Yes,” Zhou Qian replied with a mysterious smile. “I can predict the future. They will come back.”

Qi Liuxing didn’t understand and wanted to ask further, but there was no time.

Across the lake, two more believers had completed their transformation.

Their pupils turned white, red light radiated from their bodies, and wings sprouted from their backs. After scanning their surroundings briefly, they both set their sights on Zhou Qian and flew towards him.

Zhou Qian, at Rank F, had a max HP of 300. Engaged with Believer No .1, he now only had 150 HP left.

These two transformed believers were both at a higher Rank C, with 4,000 HP. With their attack power, even a breath on Zhou Qian might have killed him.

There were three crystal bridges in total. The left one was already destroyed, and the middle one was where Qi Liuxing had set up a barrier. The barrier would automatically detect and block aggressive NPCs for three minutes but had no effect on players.

Thus, Qi Liuxing had taken the middle bridge.

Just as Qi Liuxing had stepped onto the bridge, the two winged believers almost reached Zhou Qian.

With a swift unsheathing of his sword, Qi Liuxing unleashed the [Divine Sword Stance]. Multiple sword qi immediately split and rushed towards the two.

Perhaps they had learned from the believer who died earlier by the lakeside when his wings broke; these two had skillfully dodged the sword qi, not even losing a single feather.

However, Qi Liuxing’s objective hadn’t really been to hit them.

He acted to draw their attention.

And he undoubtedly achieved his goal.

Initially, the two believers targeted Zhou Qian since he was closest. But after the attack, their hostility was drawn towards Qi Liuxing, and they both charged at him.

Using his rapid speed, Qi Liuxing turned and sprinted off the crystal bridge. The two winged believers couldn’t catch up to him immediately—the barrier had successfully stopped them. Whether they flew or burrowed, they couldn’t cross the bridge for three minutes.

With the immediate threat behind him gone, Qi Liuxing took a breath and relaxed a bit. He had looked back and seen Zhou Qian swing with the rope, landing on the opposite shore.

Hidden achievements were hard to obtain, but there was still a 10% chance.

Zhou Qian’s prediction was accurate. While the 19 believers ate the apples almost simultaneously, they hadn’t all transformed at the same time. Otherwise, being surrounded would mean no chance of survival for the players.

Now that four believers had consecutively transformed, with the fifth yet to come, as long as they continued at this pace and did not all transform at once, Qi Liuxing was confident. He could draw their hostility towards him while they attacked Zhou Qian one after another.

But Qi Liuxing knew in his heart that going on like this wasn’t the solution.

The barrier’s duration was about to expire, and the two winged believers would soon fly over. If Zhou Qian couldn’t find a buff in time, more and more believers would attack him.

Moreover, although the speed of those believers wasn’t particularly fast at the moment, their evolutionary capabilities would eventually make them astoundingly fast, at which point he wouldn’t be able to escape.

The best strategy was to lure them into the lake.

Especially those two believers about to breach the barrier.

But how?

Every second passed, and as the barrier’s time decreased, Qi Liuxing almost lost grip on his sword hilt, for his palm was slick with sweat.

Suddenly, a system prompt came from his wristwatch.

[Player Zhou Qian has initiated a trade request]

[Zhou Qian, as the seller, wishes to sell you the [Universe Teleportation Mirror]]

[Zhou Qian’s price: 0 gold coins]

[Universe Teleportation Mirror’s function: Set a teleportation point through the mirror to achieve instant teleportation]

[Teleportation range: Within 500 meters]

[Duration: 5 minutes]

Zhou Qian’s zero-price offer was clearly a gesture to give the item to Qi Liuxing. This mirror, a valuable escape tool, was known to cost as much as 3,000 gold coins.

Qi Liuxing couldn’t afford such an item at the moment.

The reason Zhou Qian could afford it was because he had collected a substantial amount of gold coins during the scoring minigame. Even so, this item probably drained nearly all his savings.

What remained of Zhou Qian’s money wouldn’t be enough to buy another mirror like this.

Thus, even though Zhou Qian had deceived everyone during the minigame, he was now not only risking it all alone but also gifting Qi Liuxing his only escape tool. Was it as he had previously said—he didn’t genuinely want to swindle everyone, but rather control the situation without wasting time on communication?

Moved by this gesture, Qi Liuxing quickly accepted the trade request.

In the trade interface, along with the item came a voice message from Zhou Qian.

“Here’s a strategy: use this mirror to deceive the believers into the lake.”

“The mirror can only be used for 5 minutes. Don’t waste it on just one or two believers. First, kite them. When a sufficient number of believers chase you, lure them all into the mirror at once.”

“Of course, if you become afraid or regretful and no longer wish to cover for me, you can use the mirror to escape to the treehouse. But—”

“I know you’re not that type of person. You’re the brave and fearless Sword God.”

……

On the other side of the phone screen.

Yu Xian remarked, “Seems like the Sword God is deeply moved? His eyes are red! But it’s understandable given Qian Ge’s gift after his earlier deceit.”

Zhu Qiang interjected, “Wake up, Lao Yu. And you too, Sword God on the screen. Think about when Qian Ge gave the mirror. It was after the winged creatures went to attack him, and only after the Sword God really helped distract them!”

Yu Xian was taken aback. “Ah, Qiang Ge, are you suggesting…”

Zhu Qiang: “If Qi Liuxing didn’t help, Qian Ge could completely abandon the hidden achievement and use the mirror to escape to the treehouse! You think this move isn’t cunning? The idea of ‘placing oneself in a deadly situation to then come out alive’? He had already calculated his way out and wouldn’t truly put himself in danger!”

“Qian Ge has never truly trusted Qi Liuxing!”

“If Qi Liuxing really ran away, given Qian Ge being Rank F, he would stand no chance. He could only use the mirror to escape! Abandoning the hidden achievement is still better than losing his life!

“But if Qi Liuxing stays to help divert those two monsters, it means he’s indeed decent and must’ve been convinced by Qian Ge’s previous words. In that case, Qian Ge would further entice Qi Liuxing by offering the mirror, making him willingly stay.”

“Think about it, why didn’t he offer the mirror earlier or later, but precisely at this moment? Would he really risk being attacked by two deified monsters just to swing? He’s taking a risk, but he’s also taking the opportunity to observe Qi Liuxing!”

Looking back at the phone screen, Zhu Qiang said earnestly to Qi Liuxing, “Thinking of not saving him is just a natural response, and you have a naive heart? Talk of saving the world is even more laughable…”

“Just take Qian Ge’s words with a grain of salt; don’t take them seriously! He didn’t dare trust you easily! I don’t think he really wanted to save the world either!”

Yu Xian came to his senses. “Damn! Qian Ge is incredible! Every word he says is like making a move in a chess game…”

Zhu Qiang: “Isn’t it? Qian Ge went to the other side of the lake for clues, letting Brother Sword God provide cover, diverting attention… and now even letting Brother Sword God kite around while luring the enemies into the lake… Qian Ge is ruthless.”

Yu Xian muttered, “He’s ruthless to others, but also to himself. There are so many monsters ‘deifying’ on the other side of the lake… He only has 150 HP; if he’s not careful, he’s really done for.”

“What’s with that look on your face?”

“I think you’re not entirely accurate. I wouldn’t say Qian Ge is using Qi Liuxing. He truly wants everyone to get the hidden achievement. It’s just that his methods are too extreme and too much of a gamble.”

“I think you’ve been brainwashed by him too!”

“By the way, wait… what did Qian Ge mean by ‘the couple will definitely come back’? Did we miss something? When did he set this up?”

“I don’t know. In any case, Qian Ge is just incredible. Let’s keep watching.”

Inside the game.

Two deified followers with wings were temporarily stopped by the barricade for three minutes; the other believer hadn’t completed their deification yet.

Taking advantage of this brief respite, Qi Liuxing took out a mirror from his bag. After understanding how to use it with the system panel, he quickly adjusted the coordinates, setting the mirror’s teleportation point above the lake surface.

After preparing everything, he temporarily returned the mirror to his bag and looked toward the other side of the lake.

Epoh was by the trunk of the giant tree, surrounded by apple-filled tree crowns. Underneath the apples stood clusters of followers who had eaten the apples.

Zhou Qian was walking towards Epoh, step by step, entering the encirclement of the followers.

This scene made Qi Liuxing’s eyelids twitch.

Then, about 30 meters away from Zhou Qian, a red light suddenly appeared.

The fifth deified believer was born!

The believer radiated a red glow, and his body hunched down with all four limbs on the ground. It was covered with shiny black fur. He opened his mouth and let out a “roar”, seemingly transformed into a cat.

Pacing back and forth on all fours, he narrowed his eyes menacingly, eventually setting them on Zhou Qian.

With pale pupils locked onto Zhou Qian, murderous intent filled the eyes of the deified believer. In a flash, before he pounced on Zhou Qian, Qi Liuxing quickly acted.

An arrow shot towards the other shore, aiming directly at the cat-like believer.

[Item: Precision Shot*]

*(百步穿杨) Idiom referring to superb archery skills and, by extension, someone who’s very strong. It comes from a story in ancient China of a famous archer who could consistently hit a willow leaf from a distance of a hundred steps.

[Function: Select target to shoot; range 1,000 meters; 90% accuracy]

With a crisp sound, it was the noise of a blade piercing an eyeball.

After letting out a very mournful cry, the deified believer immediately turned to look at Qi Liuxing and charged towards him.

Once again successfully drawing Zhou Qian’s aggro, Qi Liuxing’s palm gripping the sword was sweating again.

He didn’t use his skill just now, of course, because he only had 60% MP left.

He could only try to attract aggro using items.

He succeeded, but he had no moves left after that.

Qi Liuxing had no items left in his bag that could attract aggro, and his MP bar was only enough for one major move, or three regular Sword God stances.

But the giant cat was rushing over from another crystal bridge without barriers.

And with the three-minute timer counting down, those two winged men behind the barrier were already staring at him, seemingly ready to pounce on him and tear him to pieces.

The situation was dire. Qi Liuxing realized he could only buy Zhou Qian another two minutes at most.

From the moment the first believer began to ascend, Qi Liuxing had been calculating in his heart.

The time gap between each believer’s ascension was about two minutes.

After the birth of the believer who turned into a cat, there was less than two minutes until the next believer’s ascension, and then they would attack Zhou Qian.

Zhou Qian must find the so-called buff within these two minutes. Otherwise, everyone would be done for.

What Qi Liuxing had to do was hold off these three deified believers for these two minutes and prevent them from returning to the other side of the lake to attack Zhou Qian.

Compared to the leisurely pace of the first believer crossing the bridge, the giant cat moved incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, it reached Qi Liuxing and immediately swung its paw.

The space in front of him seemed to be torn apart by five lightning-like claw marks.

Almost instinctively, Qi Liuxing dove to the ground.

He barely avoided the lethal blow. Though he wasn’t hit directly, his HP had sharply decreased by 1,000, dropping directly to 50%.

Probably due to the skill cooldown, the giant cat didn’t immediately launch a second attack on Qi Liuxing. It just stared at him with murderous white pupils.

Those eyes clearly conveyed, “You’re already dead.”

To make matters worse, the three-minute barrier restriction was up, and the two winged monsters fluttered their wings, suddenly coming up to Qi Liuxing.

At that moment, the giant cat glared fiercely at Qi Liuxing, raising its paw, clearly preparing for a second round of attacks.

Surrounded by three such high-level monsters, Qi Liuxing was in grave danger and had to use his ultimate move.

With the [Divine Sword Second Stance], his long sword soared into the air, autonomously drawing a circle in mid-air.

Countless sword shadows immediately emerged from the ring of light, almost illuminating the palace dome before swiftly attacking in all directions.

It was clearly an AOE* skill, and the swords moved like a rainbow, seemingly able to annihilate everyone in an instant.

*Area of effect. An attack or defense, such as a spell or skill, that affects all characters within a specified range of the target place or character.

Even the Yu Zhu duo watching from the phone screen were shaken by the sword’s brilliance.

The two were following Zhou Qian’s perspective on their phone screens, but across the lake, they still witnessed the astounding scene.

“Damn, that’s so powerful! Truly a Sword God! Killing someone every ten steps, never leaving a trail for a thousand miles!!!”

“Indeed powerful! No wonder it consumes half of his MP.”

However, 10 seconds later.

[Believer No. 9 HP has decreased by 3%]

[Believer No. 6 HP has decreased by 3%]

[Believer No. 15 HP has decreased by 3%]

Qi Liuxing: “……”

Yu Xian, Zhu Qiang: “……”

Such fierce moves, yet the score was 0-5.

Those gua sha* masters’ reputations were truly deserved.

*Traditional Chinese medicine in which a tool is used to scrape people’s skin in order to produce light petechiae. Practitioners believe that gua sha releases unhealthy bodily matters form blood statis within sore, tired, stiff, or inured muscle areas to stimulate new oxygenated blood flows to the areas, thus promoting metabolic cell repair, regeneration, healing, and recovery. || In this context, it’s basically making a joke of Qi Liuxing’s moves only to barely make a dent on the monsters (like gua sha doesn’t really hurt you even though it looks severely bad).

These NPCs were simply ridiculously strong.

Even Qi Liuxing couldn’t help but curse.

Then he faced the most dangerous moment since entering the game—all three believers were about to unleash their ultimate skills on him.

His pupils uncontrollably dilated, and Qi Liuxing looked enraged.

He quickly pulled out an item from his bag—a mirror.

Should he… Should he use it now?

The author has something to say:

Can you guess what the real buff is?

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

Bu Tian Gang Ch169

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Author: 梦溪石 / Meng Xi Shi

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

Chapter 169

Instead of saying they were in a book, it would be more accurate to say they were in a den of ghosts.

As the Shadow Ghost that had swapped bodies with Xiao Zhao was exposed, the meeting room instantly filled with the wailing of countless ghosts.

The lights on the ceiling flickered on and off, mirroring the darkness outside, where there was no moonlight. The atmosphere was reminiscent of a ghost story, particularly one about vengeful spirits who died unjust deaths.

Indeed, the room was filled with eerie, overlapping apparitions and countless chilling voices that seemed to recount their tragic lives, wishing to vent all their resentment on the few people present.

When these ghostly qi lunged at Chang Qing, he used his sword to fend them off. However, when the mass of spirits was split into smaller forms by the sword’s power, they brushed against his face and body, leaving a stinging sensation. When Chang Qing touched the affected areas, his fingers were sticky with red.

He was a practitioner, and if these ghostly qi could inflict such harm on him, one could only imagine what they would do to ordinary people.

Xiao Zhao’s body and shadow were torn apart. While the shadow was protected behind Dong Zhi, the body faced even more aggressive ghostly qi. Shadow Ghosts came at them from all directions, trying to devour the shadow behind Dong Zhi. Dong Zhi formed a barrier with his sword, surrounding Xiao Zhao’s shadow, preventing any ghostly qi from approaching.

He threw talisman fire which multiplied and illuminated the area, driving back and annihilating the malevolent spirits, leaving the rest to flee in every direction.

Xiao Zhao sat on a nearby sofa, his head slightly bowed. His mouth was stretched into an exaggerated smile, but his eyes emitted a chilling green glow.

Dong Zhi and Chang Qing knew that this wasn’t Xiao Zhao, but a ghost possessing his body. The real Xiao Zhao had been banished into the shadow, and if they allowed this ghost to continue possessing him, Xiao Zhao’s vitality would soon be extinguished, and his soul would be lost.

“Why aren’t you trying to kill me anymore?” Xiao Zhao chuckled eerily. The chilling sound almost made Dong Zhi want to cover his ears.

Chang Qing approached menacingly with his sword. “Do you think I won’t do it?”

“I can destroy this body before you kill me, ensuring he never returns!” the ghost retorted menacingly.

Dong Zhi quickly intervened, trying to negotiate.

“My friend, possessing Xiao Zhao’s body won’t help you. He’s a single guy, and moreover, he’s a police officer who constantly faces danger. Why would you want to occupy such a body? How about this: You return his body, and I’ll help you cross over to the other side.”

The ghost snorted. “Cross over? So I can be reborn? Can you greet King Yan and promise I’ll be reincarnated into a wealthy family next time? Otherwise, I’m not going!”

Dong Zhi sarcastically replied, “Why not just ask to be reborn as the son of the US president?”

The ghost glared. “Can you make it happen?”

Dong Zhi was at a loss for words. “Brother, every world has its own rules. If I could do what you’re suggesting, why would I be here catching you? Wouldn’t it be better for me to just kick back, relax, and live the easy life of a trust fund kid?”

The ghost’s voice suddenly soared several pitches, becoming even more shrill. “Why is it that some people are born with everything they want, while I can only be looked down upon and overshadowed by others? They don’t have to put in any effort; they can just rely on their family’s connections to get into a good university. Growing up in a poor family, what could I possibly do? Did I ask for this? Why is it so unfair? Why?”

A thought flashed through Dong Zhi’s mind, and he blurted out, “You are Su Huan!”

The ghost suddenly fell silent.

Taking advantage of its momentary daze, Dong Zhi quickly said, “Su Huan, do you know that you were murdered? Your husband, Deng Bin, has been taken in as a suspect. If we can’t find evidence to exonerate him, he might be convicted of murder!”

Of course, Dong Zhi was just spouting nonsense, but his goal was to get a reaction from the ghost.

As expected, the ghost chuckled sinisterly. “Then let him die!”

The voice was filled with deep resentment, making it hard to believe these were Su Huan’s true feelings. According to what Dong Zhi knew, while the couple often had disagreements, it hadn’t escalated to divorce, let alone murder. If it were true that Su Huan’s desire for Deng Bin’s death stemmed from him slapping her on the street on the day of her demise and this desire remained unchanged even after her death, that would be quite an exaggeration.

However, the ghost’s response confirmed that she was indeed Su Huan, Deng Bin’s wife.

Dong Zhi asked, “Fine, let’s say you two had a broken relationship and you deeply resent Deng Bin. But you were murdered. Don’t you want to find the real killer? Do you remember how you died?”

Su Huan, or rather, the spirit possessing Xiao Zhao murmured, “How did I die?”

It sounded both like a question and a rhetorical one.

She seemed lost, trying hard to recall.

“Deng Bin liked me, pursued me. He came from a wealthy family, and being with him was prestigious. Friends envied me for marrying into wealth. But after marriage, he changed. He felt my family’s poor background tarnished his reputation. Whenever my parents visited, he would show his displeasure. Eventually, they stopped coming… When we attended banquets, his friends felt I was lucky to marry him. I even overheard some women gossiping about how I clung to Deng Bin and how my educational background was a disgrace to him. Could I choose the family I was born into?”

Su Huan’s expression shifted, revealing anger and bitterness.

“Deng Bin himself wasn’t academically gifted. If not for his privileged birth, would he have had such a smooth life? If I was born into a family like his, would I even care about Deng Bin?”

“Every month after receiving my salary, I send half of it home. With what’s left, I have to pay rent and buy food. I also want to purchase luxury products like Dior, Givenchy, and La Mer, but I can only afford them once or twice. For the rest of the month, I have to be frugal and save on meals. But those women! They aren’t as pretty as me, yet just because their parents are wealthy, they can afford the most expensive skincare products. They travel around the world every day, watch shows in Paris, ski in Switzerland. The makeup that costs me a month’s salary, they can buy half the store’s stock of handbags without batting an eye…”

Tears rolled down Xiao Zhao’s face, looking somewhat comical but also revealing the deep despair within.

“This world is so unfair. I resent it so much!”

This sentiment expressed by Su Huan wasn’t unique. Many people might grumble about life’s unfairness but would move on and work hard. However, Su Huan, being exceptionally beautiful, was constantly judged based on her looks and family background, which only amplified her sense of injustice.

“You know the world is unfair. I saw your body in the hospital. Despite being dead for over 24 hours and frozen, your beauty was still striking. Do you know how rare such natural beauty is? I’ve seen celebrities like Han Qi and Hui Yiguang without makeup, and they weren’t much more beautiful than you. So, what about those less fortunate in looks and unable to afford surgeries? You always focus on those better off than you, but have you considered those worse off?” Dong Zhi retorted.

Su Huan gave a bitter smile. “What’s the use of being beautiful when you have no power or influence? Being beautiful and poor is even scarier. I was once harassed by thugs when I was in school, and I was too terrified to attend for months. My parents couldn’t do anything except accompany me to school. If I had Deng Bin’s family background, would those thugs dare approach me? You can’t possibly understand! I resent being born poor. I resent all the injustices!”

Chang Qing suddenly said, “I can understand.”

The dim and eerie light cast a large shadow on Cheng Qing’s face.

“I’m half-demon, with the bloodline of a monster. When I was younger, I couldn’t control it; my appearance would sometimes reveal my nature. My mother was actually afraid of me, which is why she fled far away to work in the South. Back then, I often felt hatred—hate that she gave birth to me in the first place. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have to face all this. So, I also hate all demons; they shouldn’t exist in the first place. Once I’ve exterminated them all, incidents like this will never happen again,” Cheng Qing said calmly, as if narrating someone else’s story. “But just now, I suddenly realized that maybe I don’t hate her as much as I thought. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have appeared before me.”

Su Huan’s expression changed, remaining silent, making it hard to figure out what she was thinking.

Dong Zhi sighed and finally said, “The notion that all people are born equal is bullshit—an intoxicating illusion. Some are born intellectually challenged, some are geniuses; some are beautiful, some are ugly. And let’s not even talk about family background. But since you are born, you have to strive to live. You can’t go back to the womb, can you? Look at yourself; you’ve tormented yourself into this state. Are you happy?”

Su Huan started laughing. “Happy? Why shouldn’t I be? If I’m not having a good time, I don’t want anyone else to either. If I can drag someone down with me, I’m absolutely thrilled! And this book can give me everything; whatever I want, I can get it here!”

As they spoke, the shadow of Xiao Zhao began to tremble more violently, its color gradually fading. Dong Zhi became anxious.

He almost extinguished the hope that Su Huan would voluntarily leave Xiao Zhao’s body, as she was full of resentment and wouldn’t heed any advice.

They had no choice but to resort to force.

He gave Cheng Qing a look, indicating they should subdue Su Huan and force her out of Xiao Zhao’s body.

Su Huan, having turned into a vengeful spirit, was extremely perceptive and immediately sensed their intent. She let out a chilling laugh and suddenly lunged—not at them but at the table.

A pair of scissors lay on it.

She was going to commit suicide!

If she couldn’t have it, neither could anyone else!

Dong Zhi, not knowing if Su Huan was originally so extreme or had been influenced by the book, was sure he couldn’t let her do it. With a thought, he already had his Changshou Sword in hand, flashing like lightning.

Cheng Qing also acted, thinking his movement was fast enough, only to find Dong Zhi was faster. His sword light flickered and arrived in front of Su Huan, knocking the scissors away and blocking her path. Cheng Qing arrived just in time to trap Su Huan from both sides!

Dong Zhi used a Sunlight Talisman, aiming it at Su Huan. She let out a wail, and a dark mist rose from her head. A massive figure appeared behind her and swallowed the mist.

Cheng Qing turned around sharply to see a black jiao twisting its body. The jiao transformed into a child’s shape since the room couldn’t accommodate its large size. Kan Chaosheng had awoken at some point, waiting to coordinate from behind them.

After swallowing Su Huan’s spirit, his expression soured, and he spat it out.

“Yuck, how could something taste so bad?”

Just then, the ground shook violently, a black fissure appearing at the center of the room and expanding quickly, sucking in everything. Su Huan’s spirit was the first to be drawn in, followed by Xiao Zhao’s trembling shadow. Dong Zhi acted quickly, grabbing hold of him as both were inevitably sucked in.

The fissure finally closed, leaving the room in a dark void, as if a book had been shut, locking everything within, never to return.

But Dong Zhi and the others didn’t end there. They all heard a massive water sound.

Not the sea, not a waterfall, but a waterspout connecting heaven and earth, sucked them in. They spiraled in mid-air uncontrollably, all except for Kan Chaosheng.

For him, water was second nature. If a jiao drowned, it would be the biggest joke since the creation of the world. He roared lowly, transforming into his magnificent original form, caught Dong Zhi with his mouth, and flew out of the waterspout’s range.

Cheng Qing, dizzy from the spinning, without thinking, threw Xiao Zhao toward the black jiao and grabbed the jiao’s tail to fly out.

“Damn it, don’t grab my tail. It’s for steering!” Kan Chaosheng roared.

Before he could regain his composure, several gigantic creatures charged straight at them. At first glance, these creatures looked similar to Kan Chaosheng’s original form, but Dong Zhi was immediately startled to realize they weren’t water jiaos but real dragons. In front of the might of the dragons, Kan Chaosheng trembled out of instinct, losing control of his body, and accidentally flung Dong Zhi and the others away.

Dong Zhi quickly summoned his Changshou Sword, managing to stabilize himself mid-air, and grabbed onto both Xiao Zhao and Kan Chaosheng, who had transformed back into a big yellow cat.

“Just look at yourself! Isn’t it just a dragon? After all, you’re almost a fully transformed dragon yourself!” Dong Zhi scolded in anger.

The cat, soaked and looking like a drowned rat, meowed angrily at him, though it was unclear if it was arguing or just putting on a show.

A dragon’s roar resounded, causing everyone to shiver slightly. An inevitable sense of fear welled up within them. Dong Zhi had seen a dragon before, but it was a bone dragon and was dead. Now, in front of them, was a living, breathing dragon.

The might of a dragon dominated the four seas, and all creatures bowed before it. Dong Zhi suddenly realized that this saying wasn’t just about the majestic appearance of a dragon. Perhaps Kan Chaosheng’s earlier fear was involuntary, for Dong Zhi felt the same now. He knew he should muster up courage, but fear automatically surfaced in his mind.

However, not everyone felt this way.

Not far from them, someone was battling a silver dragon. The silver dragon roared and spiraled, spewing water that transformed into massive tidal waves. These waves were enough to change the expression of any creature between heaven and earth. However, the person moved effortlessly amidst the massive body of the dragon, seemingly leisurely, without being at a disadvantage.

After watching for a good five or six seconds, only one thought crossed Dong Zhi’s mind. ‘Damn, my master is the coolest person in the whole world!’

<<< || Table of Contents || Lore Glossary || >>>

Bu Tian Gang Ch168

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Author: 梦溪石 / Meng Xi Shi

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

Chapter 168

Chang Qing stared intently at Dong Zhi, as if trying to see if a flower would emerge from his face.

“You claim to be real. What’s your proof?”

Dong Zhi: “I don’t have proof, but don’t you all realize where the problem lies?”

Chang Qing: “An illusion?”

Dong Zhi: “How could there be so many illusions? You all are practitioners. How could a mere illusion trap you? We are probably inside that book now.”

A thought crossed Chang Qing’s mind, reminding him of the sight of his long-deceased mother.

“So, it’s a book that realizes one’s desires?”

Dong Zhi corrected, “More like a book that amplifies the desires of the heart.”

Xiao Zhao rubbed his swelling bump, grimacing, “What are you both talking about?”

Since the case began, the book had become an essential clue, hovering around the deceased. Even Captain Yin felt that Su Huan’s death might be related to the book. This was even more obvious to Chang Qing and Kan Chaosheng, but they never expected that the book could literally pull someone inside it.

“Whatever you desire, the book will grant it. Each page of the book probably acts as a portal. The more you desire, the more you’ll be pulled into the next portal,” Dong Zhi speculated.

Chang Qing nodded. He had the same guess, which was why he had stopped Xiao Zhao from leaving the conference room earlier. The moment they stepped out, they would likely enter another space, making it even harder to find others.

“How did you enter here?” Kan Chaosheng asked.

Dong Zhi: “Master sent me in.”

Kan Chaosheng cheered, “Boss Long is here! If he’s around, there’s no problem we can’t solve!”

Dong Zhi selectively explained the situation to Xiao Zhao in simpler terms, but Xiao Zhao remained in disbelief.

“We are clearly still in the conference room. We haven’t gone anywhere!”

Dong Zhi: “Every space in the book is created from your memories. If the memory is clear, the details are sharp. If the memory is vague, the details become blurry. You said you went downstairs to buy cake, but you can’t recall the details of the journey, can you?”

Xiao Zhao: “What about the other colleagues?”

Dong Zhi: “They’re also illusions. Don’t think about anything now. Just stand at the door and look outside. You’ll see nothing.”

Xiao Zhao did as told and was stunned. Stepping out of this room should lead to the department’s common office area, which always had someone on duty even at night. It shouldn’t be empty like now.

Tonight, it should have been Tan Jie’s shift. Just as the thought came to him, he saw Tan Jie waving at him from around the corner.

“Xiao Zhao, haven’t you left yet? Come help me!”

He instinctively stepped forward but was suddenly pulled back. When he looked again, Tan Jie was gone.

Chills ran down Xiao Zhao’s spine.

“Weren’t you told not to get distracted?” Dong Zhi remarked.

Xiao Zhao quickly responded, “I won’t think about it anymore! I promise!”

Chang Qing asked Dong Zhi, “How did you get in?”

Dong Zhi: “My master sent me in. He’s now investigating the origin of the book.”

Chang Qing: “Any leads?”

Dong Zhi: “Before Su Huan, another victim had borrowed the book and later died in a car accident. Su Huan wasn’t working in the library then. Another librarian had processed the book borrowing. Captain Yin found that librarian. With my master there, there shouldn’t be any problems. Let me first get you out of here.”

Xiao Zhao grew impatient as Dong Zhi kept looking at the ground. “Director Dong, how do we get out?”

Dong Zhi, looking amused, replied, “I don’t know. My master didn’t tell me. But since we’re here, there’s no use panicking. Let’s sit and think.”

Xiao Zhao took out his phone to call for help but found no signal.

Kan Chaosheng, frustrated, suddenly transformed into a large yellow cat. He sprinted around the office, jumped up and down like a cat with its tail stepped on, howling away. He then transformed back to human form mid-air and grumbled. “There’s truly no way out. This isn’t an illusion; there’s no boundary!”

Xiao Zhao, with eyes wide open, watched him change from man to cat and back to man, thinking he was still dreaming.

“Don’t bother, we’re idle anyway. Let’s play a game of ‘Truth or Dare’!”

Dong Zhi sits cross-legged on the sofa with his sword beside him. His relaxed posture made it seem as if he was casually hanging out with friends at home.

Kan Chaosheng was frustrated. “Look at the time! Why are you playing games? We should be thinking of ways to get out of here!”

Dong Zhi raises a finger. “One game. Once we get out, I’ll put in a good word for you in front of Master, saving you half a month’s bonus.”

Kan Chaosheng: “Oh, in that case, let’s play a few rounds.”

Chang Qing: “…You’re the most shameless demon I’ve ever met, a disgrace to the demon world.”

Kan Chaosheng, getting angry upon hearing this, was quickly held back by Dong Zhi, who then explained the rules of the game.

The four of them would roll dice. The one with the lowest score had to answer a question from the person with the highest score within two seconds. If they couldn’t or refused to answer, they had to do something for the other party. A simple little game.

The four sat in a circle.

Xiao Zhao, puzzled, asked, “Where did the dice come from?”

Dong Zhi flips his hand, revealing three dice in his palm. “I brought them.”

Kan Chaosheng curiously asked, “Why do you carry dice around?”

Dong Zhi: “To play with Boss Long. I had planned to have a fun bet with him today.”

Kan Chaosheng excitedly forgot about their predicament. “What’s the bet? I want to play too!”

Dong Zhi: “The loser removes an article of clothing. Want to play?”

Kan Chaosheng: “…”

Dong Zhi rolled the dice on the coffee table, scoring 17 points. “Alright, your turn.”

Kan Chaosheng found the game boring, constantly mumbling to himself. Chang Qing, however, was calm. He rolled a 12. Xiao Zhao got a 9, and Kan Chaosheng got the lowest, a 6.

According to the rules, it was Dong Zhi’s turn to ask Kan Chaosheng a question.

“Not many people know about my affairs with Boss Long. Why, the last time Master and I returned to the special bureau, even the doorman gave us a second look? Did you spill the beans?” Dong Zhi twitched a little when mentioning this.

Seeing this, Kan Chaosheng quickly sold out He Yu. “I didn’t say anything! It’s He Yu with his big mouth. He starts conversations saying, ‘I’ll tell you a secret, don’t share it with others’, and then he spills everything. I overheard him last time!”

Dong Zhi: “…..”

They continued the game. This round, Chang Qing got the highest score, while Xiao Zhao got the lowest.

“What’s your favorite food?” Chang Qing casually asks Xiao Zhao.

Xiao Zhao: “Spicy hotpot.”

Chang Qing nodded. “Continue.”

In the next round, it was Xiao Zhao scoring highest, with Dong Zhi lowest.

Xiao Zhao asked Dong Zhi, “Director Dong, what do you desire most?”

Dong Zhi: “Oh, there’s a lot. I’m quite greedy.”

Xiao Zhao laughed. “That kind of answer breaks the game rules! Give a specific one!”

Dong Zhi: “I want to be with someone.”

Xiao Zhao: “A crush?”

Dong Zhi smiled. “We’re already together now, so I don’t have any other desires.”

Xiao Zhao chuckled. “Really? You’re so easily content?”

In modern cities, everyone sought similar things. Yet many hustled their whole lives without achieving them. Some were born privileged, while others worked a lifetime without matching the starting point of the privileged. Desires made people restless, leading to resentment and demons within.

Even Xiao Zhao, a police officer, had aspirations like promotions, raises, and romance. So he found it hard to believe Dong Zhi had no desires.

As they chatted, Kan Chaosheng sensed something amiss. Xiao Zhao’s face was slightly turned to Dong Zhi, but his shadow on the floor wasn’t.

The room was lit, casting distinct shadows of the four on the floor or walls. However, Xiao Zhao’s shadow was oddly turned another way. It was subtle and eerie, but Kan Chaosheng noticed.

Before he could speak, Chang Qing silenced him. “The game isn’t over. Sit tight!”

Kan Chaosheng glared at Chang Qing, wanting to retort but only managing a growl. Chang Qing patted his head, and the fat yellow cat fell asleep on the sofa.

Dong Zhi glanced at them but remained silent.

Throwing the dice again, Xiao Zhao had the highest score, while Chang Qing had the lowest.

Xiao Zhao scratched his head. “I don’t know what to ask.”

Chang Qing said, “You can ask about my background.”

Xiao Zhao was puzzled. “What’s so special about your background?”

Chang Qing slowly replied, “You all saw it earlier. The lady named Chang is my mother. She was just a regular woman born in the mountains and had no special abilities. She passed away early. However, my father was a demon.”

Dong Zhi was also surprised. “So that’s why you can recognize the true form of some demons?”

Chang Qing: “Yes, that’s why I’m extremely sensitive to the aura of demonic creatures. And I suspect that the owner of this book is a half-demon.”

Dong Zhi asked Xiao Zhao, “What do you think?”

Xiao Zhao, feeling lost, responded, “How would I know?”

Dong Zhi grinned. “Don’t you?”

Feeling overwhelmed by their cryptic stares, Xiao Zhao stood up unwittingly. “Of course I don’t!”

Dong Zhi pointed to the floor. “You’ve stood up, so why is your shadow still sitting?”

Before the words had settled, Chang Qing had already made his move!

He charged at Xiao Zhao swiftly. Xiao Zhao, anticipating this, roared and astonishingly leapt onto the ceiling, clinging to it tightly. His eyes turned blood-red, and he began to cackle eerily. The Changshou Sword swung, but the figure on the ceiling vanished instantly, leaving only the shadow on the floor.

Chang Qing approached the shadow, lifting his sword to strike, but was held back by Dong Zhi.

“That’s the real Xiao Zhao!”

Chang Qing was startled.

If a person had a shadow, they were alive; if not, they were a ghost. Xiao Zhao, being alive, had a shadow. However, the Shadow Ghost had stolen his shadow and switched places with him, inhabiting his body and imprisoning the real Xiao Zhao within the shadow.

The Shadow Ghost wasn’t an ordinary ghost. It was a ghost with grievances that had been trapped and refined, making it more challenging and terrifying than regular ghosts.

The book created a unique space for it, and within this realm, it was invincible. Unless it was killed, Dong Zhi and the others would never escape.

In his heart, Chang Qing had to admit that Dong Zhi’s observations were acute. Although he noticed something off about Xiao Zhao, he hadn’t realized that the real Xiao Zhao was inside the shadow.

Since descending the mountain, Chang Qing had been making a living by fortune-telling and advising on Feng Shui. Even when encountering Kan Chaosheng, a jiao with five centuries of cultivation, he was unimpressed. However, in front of Dong Zhi, he genuinely realized the hidden talents among ordinary people.

If the apprentice was this powerful, how impressive must Dong Zhi’s master be?

The shadow on the floor struggled ceaselessly, as if crying out silently.

Dong Zhi shouted, “Xiao Zhao, I know you’re in pain now, but only you know where your body is. We need to retrieve it!”

The shadow quivered violently upon hearing this, seemingly understanding. It laboriously raised a hand, pointing to the right.

Dong Zhi and Chang Qing instantly looked up, seeing a conspicuous reflection on the ceiling.

However, at the same time, they felt a chill on the back of their necks, as if someone had blown cold air on them. Dong Zhi’s hairs stood on end, realizing that there was more than one Shadow Ghost!

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