Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 81: If

Yin Ci didn’t stay there for too long.

He couldn’t let out a mournful cry; he just silently shed tears as if trying to drain the blood from his eyes. When this person went mad, he suppressed his madness, suffering silently.

After sitting for the duration of an incense stick, he straightened the young Shi Jingzhi’s collar for an entire hour and then took his hand.

“I’m sorry about earlier. Let’s go back.”

On the edge of the cliff of destruction, the blood in Yin Ci’s eyes had faded compared to before. His voice was no longer as gentle as when he was crazy; it sounded bitter, cold, but with a touch of sincerity.

The changes were subtle that a young child wouldn’t be able to distinguish them.

Shi Jingzhi’s neck turned red; he was relatively unharmed, at least not to the extent of triggering his “object addiction”. Children had limited understanding, so how could they know that they had just experienced a near life-or-death situation? He only thought that a flower had cured his benefactor and saved him from a beating, considering himself quite extraordinary.

So, he immediately cast aside the losses he had just suffered and, with his other hand, made gestures and acted spoiled, immediately asking for fish.

Yin Ci patted his head, his eyes filled with mixed feelings.

That night, Yin Ci no longer casually fed him with whatever food was available; he started to cook proper meals.

Sliced fish, lightly grilled, paired with sweet and sour juice, tasted soft and sweet when eaten. Fresh small fish with their internal organs removed were cooked until crispy by the fire. The texture of the root vegetables was dense and fragrant, complemented by tender wild shoots, providing an incredibly refreshing taste.

The young Shi Jingzhi ate without knowing what time it was. If it weren’t for Yin Ci providing perfectly balanced meals, he would have vomited from overeating.

This time, Yin Ci didn’t inquire about “fate” or “answers”. He quietly stayed by the side, continuing to meditate. The air of hostility and killing intent gradually dissipated. Yin Ci’s expression became calm, revealing a cold and jade-like temperament.

After finishing the meal, The young Shi Jingzhi was filled with emotions, tears welling up in his eyes—he had never eaten such delicious food in his life, nor had he ever seen someone as attractive as Yin Ci.

In this secluded forest, this person was a demon slayer with earth-shattering abilities. And he could also cook a great meal; he must be an immortal in human form.

Previously, the immortal¹ had blood on his body, surely indicating that he was injured somewhere.

The three-year-old child felt that he had discovered the truth—he had been saved by a god¹ and owed a tremendous debt of gratitude. But the god was a bit fierce, and if he didn’t repay the kindness properly, there was a chance he might be abandoned.

¹Note: There’s two terms being used. He’s calling Yin Ci himself an immortal [xian ren] (仙人) which is usually refer to someone who had ascended through cultivation, while this term god [shen xian] (神仙) is more of a general term referring to a celestial/divine, encompassing deities, gods, spirits, and even immortals.

Thinking of this, the young Shi Jingzhi felt a sense of crisis. Whenever he had a chance, he would scrutinize Yin Ci with his eyes, searching for opportunities to repay the favor.

Yin Ci didn’t know what was going on in the little brat’s head. With the night growing colder, he drew the child closer to him, and the two of them fell asleep under the maple tree.

Everything was calm. The tiger demon that had escaped earlier pretended as if nothing had happened. Taking advantage of the dark night and strong winds, it leisurely returned for a free meal. In exchange, it generously lent out its fur, providing a warm tiger meat mattress for both of them.

The moon and stars were thinning. As the moon started to set, the sun rose.

At that time, the young Shi Jingzhi didn’t know anything yet, but he had a natural talent for understanding people’s hearts.

The young Shi Jingzhi was particularly sensitive to those fluctuating emotions. He closely followed that trace of blood, and whenever Yin Ci showed any signs of unnatural hostility, he would be the first to rush forward, carefully embracing Yin Ci until the pain in his eyes subsided.

If Yin Ci clenched his fists and cut his palms, the young Shi Jingzhi would forcefully pry open his hands and earnestly protect them with his own two hands.

If Yin Ci fell into a frenzy, with sword qi about to erupt, the young Shi Jingzhi would pounce on him and straighten out the black hair that should have flowed like a waterfall.

And if Yin Ci couldn’t calm down no matter what, the young Shi Jingzhi would resort to his last trump card—

The demon flower from a few days ago had scared him half to death, and he didn’t dare touch it anymore. Instead, he would save red leaves and offer Yin Ci a few beautiful leaf “flowers”.

And finally, he would accompany it with a full-force hug.

Now it seemed that these attempts to appease were naive, bordering on foolishness. However, for some unknown reason, Yin Ci was truly pulled out of the abyss by this childish helping hand.

Day after day, the blood in Yin Ci’s eyes grew fainter. The young Shi Jingzhi was quite satisfied—even though he still couldn’t find the wound, it was indeed slowly healing.

Later on, the god even allowed him to sleep on his chest.

The young Shi Jingzhi loved being in the god’s embrace. The faint, cold fragrance enveloped him, and when held by the god, an unprecedented sense of security came from all directions. It felt like the least worrisome place in the world.

Delicious food, beautiful scenery, and the company of a god. He could go wherever he wanted and play however he liked, never feeling so relaxed before.

When Yin Ci was feeling better, he would even play those childish games with the young Shi Jingzhi. Even when he wasn’t feeling well, Yin Ci would quietly stay nearby, watching him frolic in the soft fallen leaves.

There was only one worry left for the young Shi Jingzhi.

Once the god’s injuries were healed, would everything come to an end?

Was he useless to him?

In the young Shi Jingzhi’s vague memory, “kindness” was a scarce commodity that required fair trade. Without merit, one wouldn’t receive rewards, so he was always cautious and careful, trying to gain a little from others.

People who were kind to him were already few and far between, and no one would be kind to him without reason.

Children’s ability to be anxious and hesitant was far beyond that of adults. The young Shi Jingzhi was frightened by his own speculations, unable to sleep. The “object addiction” that had remained calm for several days gradually resurfaced.

He couldn’t eat with peace of mind; he always felt like it would be his last meal and had to eat more, even if it made his stomach uncomfortable. He couldn’t fully enjoy playing either, always feeling that the person beside him would return to the heavens at any moment. If he couldn’t relax for half an hour, he would crawl into Yin Ci’s arms for a while to make sure he was still there.

This suspicion almost drove the young Shi Jingzhi mad. He had no power to control everything he wanted, but he feared that his desires would be too heavy, causing the god to dislike him, so he resorted to biting his fingers hard.

Fortunately, the “god” gradually recovered, spoke more, and understood why he was so timid.

“With your current state, you’re not exactly normal either.”

Yin Ci pulled his blood-soaked finger out of his mouth and carefully bandaged it. His gaze was clear, with only a faint hint of red left in his eyes.

The young Shi Jingzhi hugged him with a sense of grievance, burying his face in Yin Ci’s chest, unable to break free no matter how hard he tried.

“Alright, stop biting your fingers. Let me teach you a mantra. Remember it well.” Yin Ci ruffled his hair. “Evil spirits roam in the Juyi Valley, but I won’t abandon you.”

However, the gentler Yin Ci was towards the young Shi Jingzhi, the more the latter broke down. He seemed unable to handle this continuous stream of kindness and refused to let go, his face turning red with frustration.

Yin Ci looked at the young Shi Jingzhi in such a state and quickly realized what was going on. He frowned and looked at the trembling child.

“…Kid, has no one ever cared for you?”

The young Shi Jingzhi looked utterly confused.

Yin Ci sighed and lightly flicked his head. “This Seat doesn’t have any intention of making any deals with you. If I’m kind to you, then that’s how it is. If I have to gain something from a three-year-old, I’m either worthless or a beast.”

The young Shi Jingzhi covered his head that was flicked, growing even more perplexed.

His little world, based on the theory of “fair exchange”, had been functioning for quite some time but was now on the verge of collapse. Could there truly be “goodness” in the world that didn’t require trade?

Could he really trust this person?

Seeing the young Shi Jingzhi stunned, Yin Ci simply hugged him tightly. “The fact that you and I can meet in this desolate place can be considered fate. Since no one has cared for you, how about being This Seat’s son?”

After a while, Yin Ci let out a bitter smile and added, “This Seat doesn’t even need you to take care of me in my old age.”

The young Shi Jingzhi didn’t have a clear concept of “parents”, but he understood what it should mean and grasped the implicit meaning in Yin Ci’s words—the god genuinely wanted to protect him and didn’t require his constant efforts to please.

The sincerity in the god’s gaze was different from the people who used to deceive and placate him.

In a fleeting moment, something seemed to break in his heart. Unfamiliar emotions surged forth, starting with a sense of grievance, followed by an incredibly tender feeling. At that moment, the young Shi Jingzhi couldn’t distinguish it clearly.

He was busy shedding tears, sobbing silently, and indiscriminately wiping his tears on Yin Ci’s sleeve.

“Alright, Little Mute, I’ll take it as you’ve agreed. Don’t bite your fingers anymore. After reciting the ‘Purifying Words’, you can go play.”

But the young Shi Jingzhi didn’t let go; he clung tightly to Yin Ci, as if a drowning person clinging to the last piece of driftwood.

It was like a newborn bird opening its eyes for the first time, and he had never felt so at peace.

The days that followed felt like a dream.

Even when the young Shi Jingzhi grew up, he had never experienced such a feeling—he didn’t need to worry about anything, nor did he need to second-guess anyone. And he could be genuinely kind to that person, placing complete trust and dependence without reservation.

The gentle breeze of early autumn, the serene sunlight.

Those were the best moments of his life.

After nearly half a month, the blood in Yin Ci’s eyes had almost faded away. Even so, the young Shi Jingzhi didn’t let any of Yin Ci’s low moods go unnoticed; he always found an opportunity to ask for a hug.

And Yin Ci would respond with a smile.

The adult Shi Jingzhi watched, lost in a daze, as his heart ached spontaneously.

…If only he could leave with Yin Ci and disappear from the world, how wonderful would that be. Even if he suffered from a strange illness and couldn’t live past thirty, it would still be a fulfilling life.

Unfortunately, he knew in advance that the ending of the story wouldn’t be like that.

He watched as the autumn colors grew richer, playing like he usually did during his childhood. Suddenly, the earth trembled violently, and dry leaves rustled while debris flew through the air.

A malicious figure emerged from the ground, nearly knocking him off his feet.

In an instant, the stench of demonic qi exploded and soared, surpassing the six-eyed tiger demon by a hundredfold.

The Juyi Valley was originally a royal hunting ground that collected various strange monsters. But later, they lost control of the monsters, and the royal family could no longer manage them, so they simply let it go. It was rumored that there were many colossal monsters in the valley, sleeping year-round, their forms unknown to mortals.

The young Shi Jingzhi, perhaps due to some connection with fate or maybe because his qi was truly delicious, had attracted such evil monsters.

The colossal monster was as tall as two adult men, resembling some kind of lizard. Its skin was covered in brown tumors, and it had a large round black eye in the front of its head. Opening its mouth wide, its sharp teeth struck chaotically, emitting a saliva that exuded a suffocating stench.

A three-year-old child had never witnessed such a grand spectacle before; even a mere flower ball could cause him to have nightmares for seven days. When this thing crawled in front of him, the young Shi Jingzhi’s hair stood on end.

Fortunately, the phrase “crying for father and mother*” still applied to him to some extent.

*(哭爹喊娘) Idiom referring to someone who’s panicking or crying out for help in a desperate situation, to a point of an embarrassing state (often used derogatorily to highlight cowardice).

With courage, the young Shi Jingzhi ran away as fast as he could. And in the next moment, Yin Ci indeed descended from the sky. The sword qi of the Bone Sweeping technique struck directly at the round giant eye.

With a muffled sound, the murky liquid from the eye splattered out.

The colossal monster let out a painful roar, while its body still charged towards the young Shi Jingzhi, solidly taking in a few strikes of the sword qi.

Yin Ci’s movements were graceful and elegant, striking precisely and beautifully.

Even without any inner force, facing such an advantageous opponent, Yin Ci didn’t show the slightest intention of retreating. He had no sword in his hand, and the sword qi was no longer as chaotic as before. Only his black sleeves fluttered in the wind, launching sharp and concentrated attacks.

Like invisible whips, they descended like a storm, each strike accompanied by a fine spray of blood.

The colossal monster had thick skin, but it couldn’t withstand such sharp and fierce attacks. It recoiled, relying on its massive body, relentlessly charging toward the young Shi Jingzhi, determined not to give up without taking a bite.

Seeing that thing relentlessly chasing after the young Shi Jingzhi, Yin Ci let out a cold snort.

He stood not far from the young Shi Jingzhi, intercepting the monster’s path, and instead of retreating, he engaged in close combat with the colossal monster.

As it approached, the power of the sword techniques grew stronger. Freed from madness, the sword qi moved at will, and the attacks were quite effective. Under the fierce assault, the one-eyed giant monster was injured, losing a significant portion of its flesh, revealing its white skeletal frame.

This roadblock couldn’t be bypassed, and it finally stopped in its tracks.

In the flickering dark light, the demonic qi surged. A purplish-black tongue shot out from its mouth, its edges sharp and teeth menacing, moving as fast as lightning.

Without inner force for protection, that human body was as fragile as paper in front of it.

Yin Ci was too close to evade. From the neck to the waist, he lost half of his body in an instant.

The “immortal” vitality ceased to exist, and blood gushed out wildly, with his organs seemingly about to spill out. The giant monster, feeling triumphant, let out a low roar and turned its attention to the young Shi Jingzhi.

But Yin Ci didn’t step aside, nor did he fall down.

He stood in his incomplete state, letting the blood rain down upon him like a storm. Then he raised his head and gave the giant monster a bloody smile.

Amidst the falling red leaves and scattered strands of hair, he once again charged forward.

At the edge of that terrifying wound, numerous blood-colored fine roots emerged. They quickly formed new organs, bones, and flesh, instantly restoring Yin Ci’s half-body.

Truly more eerie than the demonic monster itself.

Several even more fierce sword qi rose, with the momentum to completely destroy the giant monster, causing it to cry out in agony.

The opponent couldn’t be killed or defeated, and it had lost too much blood. However, it realized too late as Yin Ci’s offensive became more erratic, displaying an unstoppable momentum.

In the end, it fell on the path of escape, collapsing into a heap of severely wounded flesh.

The young Shi Jingzhi, filled with wonder, stared at Yin Ci’s figure, completely captivated. He was securely enveloped in a sense of peace.

That person was truly an immortal, the only immortal he knew.

His immortal was invincible, and no one could bring him down.

He didn’t need to fear anything.

The young Shi Jingzhi stumbled and rushed toward Yin Ci, who skillfully lifted him up, allowing him to sit on his arm. Shi Jingzhi tightly grasped the cool, smooth long hair, regretting his inability to speak.

After a moment, he held onto Yin Ci’s neck tightly, trembling with all his strength, his body shaking with excitement.

Yin Ci, considering the child’s young age and being frightened by the monster, gently patted Shi Jingzhi’s back. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you.”

However, the child still refused to let go and trembled even more intensely.

“How about I make a feast with all fish for you tonight?”

“…Or should I go back and play hide-and-seek with you?”

Shi Jingzhi continued to tremble, clinging to him.

Yin Ci pondered for a moment and then tore him away from himself, looking directly into those amber-colored eyes.

“We’ve known each other for so long, and I haven’t properly granted you anything. How about this? I’ll fulfill one of your wishes. Is that okay?”

Shi Jingzhi finally stopped trembling. He stared at Yin Ci without blinking, forgetting even how to nod or shake his head.

Ignoring his torn black clothes, Yin Ci lowered his eyes and smiled slightly. Bathed in the warm autumn sunlight, that smile carried a hint of warmth.

“Little Mute, since you can’t speak your wish, This Seat will grant you a life free of worries and a hundred years of longevity.”

The young Shi Jingzhi hesitated for a moment before reaching out one hand and pressing it against Yin Ci’s cheek. Feeling the warmth in his palm, he dared not let out a breath.

With blood scattered like maple leaves, it pricked his eyes.

“…But you have to be a good child and not let down those around you,” Yin Ci added in a low voice.

Shi Jingzhi finally regained control of his mind. He vigorously nodded, tightly gripping the long hair in his hand and burying his head in the crook of Yin Ci’s neck.

The scent of the immortal was very pleasant. He closed his eyes, and his heart leaped with joy.

Born lonely, he had now touched an unbreakable and rock-solid affection. At least in this moment, he was free from worries and fears.

In a daze, he felt that this happiness was simply not of this world.

It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. It was a thousand times better than roasted fish when starving or sweet fruits before dying of thirst.

The next moment, intense heat and severe pain struck together.

The young Shi Jingzhi immediately spewed out a mouthful of black blood and convulsed in Yin Ci’s arms. His arm was instantly covered in dark blue blood vessels, and his whole body seemed to be falling apart.

Yin Ci was startled by his unusual condition.

He almost immediately let go of Shi Jingzhi, took his pulse, and furrowed his brows tighter and tighter. Then he tried to pick up Shi Jingzhi, who let out a series of non-human screams from his broken throat and vomited a large pool of black blood.

The child’s fever was severe, and his illness was bizarre and not easy to touch or move. Yin Ci quickly made a decision. He placed the child on a soft pile of fallen leaves and, without hesitation, cut open his wrist, soaked it in blood, and applied it to Shi Jingzhi’s forehead.

“We don’t have time to search for medicine here. There’s a medicine shop in the town outside the mountains. I’ll go and be back in no time.”

Yin Ci’s calmness in his words was on the verge of collapsing.

“Wait for me here. It won’t take half an hour for me to return.”

After saying that, he hastily dragged the new dead giant monster. Despite its miserable death, it still lingered with demonic qi. Even if he wasn’t nearby, with the monster’s corpse guarding Shi Jingzhi, no other monster would dare approach.

Finally, Yin Ci gently touched Shi Jingzhi’s burning face, activated his qinggong, and disappeared in an instant.

The young Shi Jingzhi lay alone on the fallen leaves, feeling the warmth around him gradually fade away, and the autumn wind suddenly turned colder. He longed to grab onto the hem of Yin Ci’s clothes and keep him by his side. But in the midst of the intense pain, he lost the strength to lift his hand, unable to even let out a cry.

The nearby demon corpse still emitted heat, its appearance repulsive. However, Shi Jingzhi dared not close his eyes. He held onto his eyelids, counting his heartbeat little by little, wishing time would pass more quickly.

Unfortunately, it seemed that fate had destined him for parting.

Not long after, a gust of magic suddenly rose, and three people and a dog appeared before him. Leading the group was a dog demon, with steam rising from a hole in its head.

Behind the dog demon was an elderly man with white beard and a withered appearance.

He glanced at Shi Jingzhi and spoke with a grave tone, “Since the establishment of Great Yun, no one has ever had their ‘fixed desire’ before the age of fifteen. This child is only three… It seems that I have won the gamble against the emperor.”

“If you really wanted to protect him, why did Master inform the emperor early that this child is a ‘catastrophe to the nation’? If not for that, the Emperor wouldn’t have decided to take action so quickly.”

Following beside the old man was a familiar face—Jiang Youyue, respectfully asked.

“The Emperor no longer believes in us, and he must have already sought another way to calculate things. If we concealed this matter, we would only offend the Emperor*.”

*Clarity: Dragon’s countenance/face (龙颜). In this context, he’s not referring to just the emperor, but also the emperor’s face (and, by extension, the monarchy itself).

Jiang Youyue suddenly realized. “So that’s why Master deliberately set up this gamble? Leaving this child in Juyi Valley for a full month, allowing fate to determine life or death… And the Emperor agreed?”

“Yes. His Majesty, the True Dragon Emperor*, firmly believes in the divine favor bestowed upon Great Yun. He will never admit that fate stands on the side of the ‘catastrophe to the nation’.”

*(真龙天子) Term used referring to the emperor. Back in the old days, it was believed the emperor was a real dragon that descended from the sky (the Son of Heaven).

The old man sighed.

“Just now, there was another life around this child. He must have encountered a troublesome master—using the body of a great monster to protect him and using blood instead of water to apply to his forehead. That master acts obsessively and won’t easily let go of this matter. Fortunately, I was prepared in advance… Qi Zhe, come here.”

Apart from the old man and Jiang Youyue, only a child remained among the three.

That child was about the same age as Shi Jingzhi, dressed in the robes of a disciple of the Imperial Preceptor. He was clever and bright, with round and shining eyes.

“Master?” The young child looked up, smiling innocently.

A tinge of sadness flashed in the old man’s eyes.

His withered hand pressed against the child’s neck, and the child collapsed softly, instantly losing his breath. Without even looking at the body, the old man walked to the monster corpse, pointing at a piece of flesh dripping with blood with one finger.

Numerous visible and invisible magic formations floated up from the monster’s corpse, gradually converging into two clusters of red light. After a while, the clusters of light dispersed like ghostly flames, enveloping Shi Jingzhi and the child’s corpse separately.

In a matter of a few breaths, the clusters of light burst open.

In an instant, the dirt on Shi Jingzhi’s face and the clothes on his body were exchanged with the child’s remains. Apart from the terrifying blood streaks covering his body, he instantly appeared much cleaner.

The old man personally lifted Shi Jingzhi while the child’s remains were dragged by the dog demon and placed in Shi Jingzhi’s original position.

“Huo Luo, eat.”

The dog demon trembled in fear of the great monster’s corpse, whimpering as it picked up its tail, wanting to retreat quickly. The old man shook his head and cast several spells, causing the dog demon to lose its sanity and madly tear and devour the child’s remains.

Although his mind felt dull, and at this moment, he was horrified and chilled to the bone, the young Shi Jingzhi hadn’t lost consciousness—

In less than half an incense stick’s worth of time, there were only tattered cloth fragments left on the fallen leaves, along with unrecognizable flesh and shattered bones. There was no trace of the head remaining. The tiny stomach had been bitten off for the most part, revealing undigested grilled fish and crushed fruits.

Even the residue in the stomach had been exchanged by the spell.

“In this way, that person shouldn’t investigate further.”

The old man spoke indifferently.

“Just in case, the surrounding mountain households should also be taken care of properly to prevent that person from digging deeper.”

Jiang Youyue respectfully lowered his head and said, “Master’s foresight is admirable. However, regarding this child’s fixed desire—”

“This child is young. It would be enough to seal him here. I will have a detailed discussion with the Emperor. As for the future…”

In the next moment, the group of people disappeared on the spot, leaving only a sentence drifting with the autumn leaves.

“…Obey the heavenly mandate. Let’s wait and see what fate has in store.”

Fresh blood flowed over the fallen leaves, covering the fabric stained with Yin Ci’s blood, which gradually turned cold.

The autumn scenery remained unchanged in this place, except that there was no trace of vitality left.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 80: Possession

In autumn, the sky was high and the clouds faint, while the maple forest was dyed red.

But the three-year-old brat didn’t know how to appreciate it. He only knew how to cry and walk and was on the verge of crying himself breathless.

The sensation of becoming a human-shaped kite was quite mysterious, as the adult Sect Master Shi had realized long ago. Perhaps it was the effect of breaking through the ban, but this place was somewhat similar to Yan Budu’s “state of mind”. He was being dragged along like a wandering ghost, following his childhood self.

All the thoughts and feelings of that young child were transmitted into his consciousness. There weren’t many chances to relive the past. Compared to lamenting the past, Sect Master Shi found some amusement in it—after all, he knew the outcome in advance; this child wouldn’t die no matter what.

So Sect Master Shi focused his attention and carefully observed his past self.

For some reason, at that time, he couldn’t make a sound, only gasping for breath and sniffling. The young Shi Jingzhi stumbled among the fallen leaves, and with a slight misstep, he would fall and struggle to get up on his own.

After crying for a long time, he finally realized that silently shedding tears was of no use; no one would come to rescue him.

So he had to suppress his panic and concentrate on dealing with his fears—not far from him, something let out a terrible howl, clearly the sound of a beast with claws.

Three-year-old Shi Jingzhi had cried for so long that his head was spinning, and his legs were weak. Not to mention escaping, he couldn’t even walk far. Instinctively, he found a tree hole and squeezed his whole body into it, using fallen leaves to block the entrance and not daring to breathe too loudly.

The beast stopped howling, and he didn’t dare to peek. At that time, he was both tired and scared, so he quietly curled up in the hole, half asleep and half unconscious, throughout the night.

The next day, it was hard to say whether he woke up due to hunger or thirst.

Children would get hungry quickly, let alone go a whole day without food or water, while also exerting a considerable amount of physical energy. He was like a naive young cub that strayed too far from its nest and was destined to die from thirst.

Under “object addiction”, the torment of hunger and thirst was a hundred times harsher than usual.

This time, he realized the value of water and dared not cry anymore. Awkwardly crawling out of the tree hole, the young Shi Jingzhi found a moderately sized tree branch as a makeshift cane and began walking unsteadily.

It wasn’t like there weren’t any brightly colored fruits in the forest; he had tasted them. The fruits were bitter and numbing in his mouth, clearly not edible. Some fruits pecked by birds hung on the branches, but the trunks were too sturdy, and the branches were too high, creating an insurmountable barrier.

After walking on an empty stomach for a few hours, he found a slightly rotten mouse. The will to survive prompted him to open his mouth, but the smell of the dead mouse was so foul that he couldn’t eat much before vomiting.

With great difficulty, he mustered the courage to open his mouth, but instead of alleviating his hunger, it almost made him vomit all the water out, leaving him seeing stars.

He had to find some water to drink first, then search for something to eat.

Otherwise, he would die here.

At that moment, he still didn’t understand what “death” meant, but that intense craving was already active and forced him to maintain his fear. Guided by the will to survive, the young Shi Jingzhi steadfastly moved in a certain direction.

Even if he didn’t know what lay ahead, he didn’t dare stop there.

To stay alive, he had to find something. Like a river, a path to escape, or better yet, the scent of a living person.

He didn’t know how long he had been walking; blisters formed on the soles of his feet, his lips were cracked and bleeding, and his stomach rumbled like a drum. The young Shi Jingzhi’s vision gradually filled with stars, and he wavered in place, barely having the strength to stand upright.

It was at that moment that he caught a whiff of food.

Not the smell of fresh blood or ripe fruits. He smelled the tantalizing aroma of roasted oil, kissed by fire, so delightful it felt like a dream.

Overwhelmed with astonishment and joy, his legs, like two soft noodles, regained strength. So he mustered his last bit of energy and moved on all fours toward the direction of the scent, fearing that it might suddenly disappear, leaving him stranded in this perilous forest.

The surrounding fallen leaves fluttered, appearing as a blur of gold and red. His eyes were fixated on that thin thread of vitality —

“Little brat, do you not value your life to come to a place like this?” a voice sounded.

Although the person’s tone was icy, to the young child at that time, it was like heavenly music.

Not far away, that thread of “vitality” pierced straight into his eyes.

In that instant, Sect Master Shi felt a layer of cold sweat form on his body. Forget about spectating and seeking amusement; the scene before him was absurd to the extreme, as if a bucket of icy water was poured over his head.

The face of the black-clothed person was no longer blurry.

This “vitality” that arrived at his moment of death had the exact same face as Yin Ci.

In an instant, the fully grown Shi Jingzhi felt a chill run through his body, a tingling sensation on his back, and he was on the verge of trembling. Deep down, it felt as if someone was pushing him in circles, returning him to the starting point.

That person leaned against a resting tiger demon, exuding an aura of alcohol and blood. He played with an empty wine jar, grinding the fallen leaves into fine and crisp sounds. His long hair, resembling silk, cascaded over his loose black clothes.

The voice had the same tone, with an identical demeanor. The aura was as icy as snow, and the chilling hostility was awe-inspiring.

Even if they were father and son, or master and disciple, there would never be such an identical display of power and aura. Shi Jingzhi had accompanied Yin Ci for many days and understood in his heart that he couldn’t be mistaken.

It turned out that this karmic bond had been planted more than twenty years ago.

For twenty years, Yin Ci’s appearance hadn’t changed at all. Had he drunk immortal wine, or was there… some other reason?

If there was one difference, it was that the current black-clothed person seemed noticeably colder than the Yin Ci Sect Master Shi knew.

The black-clothed figure in front of him was more like an empty paper shell, with a touch of madness evident in his features. He exuded a heavy sense of death, resembling an old man on the verge of decay. Although he smiled at this moment, there was no trace of laughter in his dark eyes.

The specter from the future stood still in the fading light, with a lingering cold sweat on his back. He stared at the person so close yet seemingly far away, his lips slightly trembling. “A’Ci…?”

However, the Yin Ci from his memories didn’t respond to his call, and the past version of himself didn’t continue to examine the other person.

The three-year-old child had no understanding of appreciating beauty or analyzing situations. The young Shi Jingzhi stared intently, completely ignoring Yin Ci’s mocking remark—it went in one ear and out the other. He had no mind to pay attention to the “stranger” in front of him and immediately pounced like a tiger, heading towards the remnants of roasted snake not far away.

He anxiously tore off a bit of meat that remained on the bones and stuffed it all into his mouth, wishing he could chew the bones into pieces and swallow them. When the burning sensation in his stomach subsided a bit, he grabbed an empty wine jar with a remaining bottom and didn’t care about the overwhelming smell of alcohol; he just wanted to get some water for himself.

To his surprise, as he was about to stick his head into the jar, Yin Ci pulled him away. With just two fingers, Yin Ci lifted him up and, incidentally, finished off the remaining wine in the jar.

“This is poisoned wine. Don’t drink it,” Yin Ci casually remarked.

The child didn’t understand the difference between “real wine” and “fake wine”. The young Shi Jingzhi, unable to find any water, had tears welling up in his eyes. He pitifully clung to the hem of Yin Ci’s clothes, making dry “ah ah” sounds in his throat.

Yin Ci glanced at him expressionlessly and pulled out a wild fruit from his sleeve, tossing it casually. The action was more like dismissing a small animal that had accidentally strayed into this place than taking care of a human child.

“Finish eating and then get lost.”

The voice was low and carried a sense of roughness, like a blade with bloodstains rubbing against it, giving off an ominous coarseness.

The wild fruit was moist and sweet. The young Shi Jingzhi gobbled it down, even sucking the fruit seed clean. Then, disregarding the massive tiger demon, he happily toddled over to Yin Ci’s side and began tugging at his clothes.

When he grew a bit older and learned some martial arts theory, he would understand that this behavior was essentially equivalent to courting death—

Yin Ci’s state was clearly abnormal.

He stood in front of the tiger demon, his eyes fixed on emptiness, with a mixture of hostility and bloodlust swirling around him, almost overflowing. His once beautiful face was pale, tinged with a distinct blood color in the whites of his eyes.

A typical manifestation of pent-up anger and madness.

An abnormal pressure surged, causing the tiger demon to open its six eyes and all its fur to stand on end. It struggled to get up and ran away.

Yin Ci’s bloodlust grew even stronger.

He paid no attention to the fleeing tiger demon. Instead, he leaned against the large maple tree behind him, sitting on the ground again and adjusting his qi and calming his breath. With only a child by his side, Yin Ci didn’t bother hiding his emotions. His face held a mixture of hatred and sorrow, as if all his thoughts were filled with despair.

For a moment, sword qi scattered, dispersing countless red leaves.

The sword stance vaguely carried the aura of the Bone Sweeping Sword technique, yet it was completely out of control, filled with madness.

However, the bold little kid wasn’t afraid of anything. Since he hadn’t managed to obtain more fruits, he simply changed his strategy.

Adhering to the principle of “as long as the green mountains are preserved, there’s no need to worry about firewood”, he tightly grasped Yin Ci’s robe and nestled against Yin Ci’s waist. He acted as if the immense evil and fierce sword qi beside him didn’t exist, squinting his eyes as if ready to fall asleep.

Yin Ci’s evil qi was also suppressed by this fearless little thing.

He glanced at the dirt-covered child beside his leg and a hint of bewilderment flashed across his face. Then, he grabbed the back of the kid’s clothes and lifted him up, seemingly wanting to shake some courage out of him.

The three-year-old child had a face covered in dirt, licked his lips a few times, and laughed at Yin Ci fearlessly.

The young Shi Jingzhi’s mind was filled with the sweet taste of the fruit from earlier, and there was still a lingering sweetness in his mouth. He felt that the person in front of him was a kind and familiar living Bodhisattva. So he opened his short arms and flapped them with all his might, expressing his extreme fondness and desire for peaceful coexistence.

If there were more fruits, that would be even better.

Yin Ci gazed at the child in front of him with a dazed expression, completely subdued by this young and reckless fugitive—he seemed to regain some clarity, no longer going mad, but furrowing his brow and handing over another wild fruit.

The little brat devoured it eagerly, then used the edge of Yin Ci’s sleeve to wipe his mouth.

This time, the young Shi Jingzhi wasn’t satiated, but he was no longer famished either. He had finally escaped the torment of “objection addiction” and the boundless fear that accompanied it. With great difficulty, he found a moment of peace, maintaining the posture of being held by Yin Ci and dozing off on the spot.

Yin Ci: “…”

He put the little brat aside, but the person suddenly rolled over and snuggled back to Yin Ci’s leg. Clinging to that warmth, afraid that the living Bodhisattva would abandon him.

Yin Ci lowered his eyes with a complicated expression.

He quietly watched the young Shi Jingzhi for a moment, as if giving up something, then slowly rested his head against the trunk of the maple tree and closed his eyes. The latter didn’t think much about it and simply hugged Yin Ci’s leg, falling asleep peacefully.

The sunset sank, and silence enveloped the surroundings. If it weren’t for the sword qi and marks left on the ground, the previous madness would seem like a mere illusion.

The next day, Yin Ci’s bloodshot eyes became even more intense, but compared to yesterday’s frenzy, he seemed to maintain his sanity.

He began to talk to the young Shi Jingzhi. However, his tone was more akin to studying a completely new species than the warmth and kindness of an adult.

“Your voice… Hm, you accidentally ate poisonous grass, but it will recover after some time.”

Yin Ci seemed to have made up his mind to shift his focus, finding something to say.

“Are you a child from the mountains? You don’t look like an abandoned child, so how did you end up in Juyi Valley? Where are your parents?”

Shi Jingzhi tilted his head and pondered for a moment, but apparently couldn’t come up with an answer suitable for outsiders. He didn’t even manage to gesture, only vigorously shaking his head, almost shaking it off.

Yin Ci suddenly realized. With a look of pity, his face was saying, “It turns out you’re a mute.”

He lost interest in communicating with the mute and continued to sit cross-legged, closing his eyes and focusing on regulating his breath. However, while dealing with his possession*, he didn’t forget to prepare some food for the little brat by his side.

*The term being used (which is also the title of this chapter) is (入魔) which means “falling into demonic possession”. It’s commonly used to describe a state in which a person, usually in the context of cultivation, becomes overwhelmed with negative emotions, loses control, and succumbs to darkness or evil influences. It signifies a state of being possessed or influenced by evil forces, leading to erratic behavior, loss of rationality, and potential harm to oneself or others. || In terms of cultivation, it means succumbing to your inner demon (which causes qi deviation that leads to “possession”).

On this day, the young Shi Jingzhi not only got sweet fruits but also had the fortune to eat a few grilled fish. The fish was rich in oil, with crispy skin and fragrant meat. He ate with such delight that he almost swallowed his own tongue.

Having eaten his fill, his tense nerves relaxed slightly. Shi Jingzhi took advantage of the situation and stuck close to Yin Ci, trying to gather more sense of security.

He leaned closer, and Yin Ci didn’t avoid him. Yin Ci only opened his bloodshot eyes slightly, quietly gazing at the child beside him. His expression held a subtle solemnity, revealing neither joy nor anger.

“Juyi Valley is a place where monsters gather, and suddenly a three-year-old child appears… Are you destined to bring me answers?”

As the young Shi Jingzhi stuffed his mouth with fish, he struggled to show a face of confusion.

Yin Ci sighed lightly and tugged at his own face. “Kid, after you finish eating and drinking, how about giving me some answers?”

At that moment, Shi Jingzhi was afraid of hunger and worried about not having his next meal. His whole being was consumed with eating, and he had no space to ponder Yin Ci’s words.

On the other side of time, the adult Shi Jingzhi stood silently. Unable to resist, he reached out his hand but couldn’t touch Yin Ci, who was only a step away.

Having been together all these days, he had never seen Yin Ci display such an expression—filled with sorrow and melancholy, almost fragile.

What destiny? What happened to you? …Why do you wear such an expression?

Each question clenched at his chest, causing a sour ache, but memories were just memories. No matter how vivid the recollections, the real “him” didn’t exist in this time and place.

The initial excitement of experiencing memories had faded away, leaving Shi Jingzhi with a bitter taste in his mouth.

On the second day of their encounter, Yin Ci suppressed his killing intent, and the two of them coexisted peacefully.

Unfortunately, on the third day, calamity struck.

Since ancient times, possession was never a state that could be easily quelled—no matter how hard Yin Ci tried to maintain his clarity, that clarity was only temporary.

Unresolved knots of the heart led to possession; it was only a matter of time. Yin Ci still teetered on the edge of madness, just one step away from crossing the threshold.

On this day, Yin Ci seemed to have lost interest in conversing with the young Shi Jingzhi, or perhaps he simply lacked the energy to speak. Apart from preparing food for the child by his side, he spent most of his time in a daze or in a state of drowsiness.

At noon, Yin Ci leaned against the maple tree as usual. He was afflicted by some torment; veins bulged on his neck and forehead, and his eyes completely turned into an ominous dark red.

He gradually hugged his arms tightly, with his ten fingers deeply embedded in his own flesh. Fresh blood instantly dyed his black clothes even darker. Around Yin Ci, the sword qi, filled with killing intent, began to disturb the surroundings, reducing all the nearby wine jars and bones to powder.

Once again, the young Shi Jingzhi approached. This time, Yin Ci ruthlessly opened Shi Jingzhi’s hand, struggling to form words.

“You… Wait for me here. Don’t wander… There are monsters.”

Yin Ci fell silent for a moment; his voice was tinged with a hint of paranoia, each word carrying traces of blood. It was partly an order and partly a plea.

“As long as you… wait here, I… will come back… Please wait for me… okay?”

Perhaps the emotions were too despairing. Even though the young Shi Jingzhi was only three years old at that time, he finally began to grasp the meaning. He hesitantly looked at Yin Ci and nodded cautiously.

Yin Ci sighed with relief, enduring immense pain as he unsteadily stood up. His gaze had started to become unfocused, forcibly squeezing out the last bit of clarity, and he forced himself to leave the big maple tree.

However, this was a memory from the young Shi Jingzhi. Even if the adult Shi Jingzhi wanted to follow Yin Ci, he couldn’t truly accompany him. He could only be trapped alongside his younger self, listening to the distant cries and howls of beasts and watching the flock of birds startled by the out-of-control sword qi.

Yin Ci struggled to resist the state of possession.

But possession stemmed from an ailment of the heart. Without breaking free from obsession and resolving the heart’s troubles, no matter how tenacious the struggle, it would only be a delay. Even though they were separated by a great distance, the adult Shi Jingzhi could still discern the despair that filled the air.

As a child, he didn’t fully grasp such emotions, but he could sense the pain and suppression in the person’s tone. Shi Jingzhi looked worriedly in the direction Yin Ci had left and began to wait obediently.

One hour passed, then two.

The distant cries became increasingly agonizing, but Yin Ci didn’t return. Shi Jingzhi sat with a furrowed brow for a while, feeling as restless like ants on a hot pan, and the worry on his face grew heavier.

After all, a child’s mind didn’t have many deep thoughts. He hesitated on his tiptoes for a moment, then clenched his teeth and ran out. The direction was opposite to the cries, resembling an escape.

As Sect Master Shi was dragged along, he was almost infuriated by his past self.

Did he have a special fondness for poking the tiger’s behind? Did he have to provoke his benefactor, who was halfway into possession?

Little did he know, he wasn’t simply running around for fun—following the path Yin Ci had taken to find him, the young Shi Jingzhi discovered a meadow full of wildflowers. This flower field wasn’t far from the big maple tree, a round trip that could be completed within the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

…Children’s thinking was truly simple.

If the other person was feeling uncomfortable, just give them something beautiful, and they would feel better.

The three-year-old firmly believed in this ironclad rule. Shi Jingzhi specifically chose the most beautiful flower, carefully tucking it into his embrace, his face filled with pride that said, “I’m going to repay the favor.”

However, as he walked back, something went wrong.

No matter which way he went, he couldn’t find the way he came from.

Gradually, the sun set in the west, and the mist thickened, carrying a strong demonic aura. Shi Jingzhi carefully held onto the flower while uncontrollably starting to sniffle.

Despite only being half an incense stick’s distance away, he walked for two or three hours and still couldn’t find his way back. It seemed that he was spinning in circles on the same forked path, and with each turn, the scenery along the road grew increasingly desolate.

In the end, he stepped on black mud formed by decaying leaves, and the forest in front of him turned into bare, decaying wood.

The fog was so thick that he couldn’t see the path ahead. The young Shi Jingzhi’s legs grew weak as he walked. He didn’t dare to stop or look back—whether it was an illusion or not, he always felt the sound of friction following him from behind.

The sky gradually darkened.

Finally, the young Shi Jingzhi couldn’t walk any further. He felt afraid and wronged, on the verge of giving up, so he turned around.

Behind him was a large cluster of writhing flowers.

Those flowers were as vibrant as blood, the same as the one he had just picked.

They bloomed one after another, with petals overlapping and forming a nearly perfect giant sphere. The sphere was as tall as a person, and below it were limb-like roots, supporting it as it moved slowly. In the mist, filled with shades of black, white, and gray, the flower ball shone with a dazzling red, occasionally pulsating like a freshly dissected heart.

The intoxicating floral fragrance spread, embracing like a warm, open hug.

At the first sight of the flower ball, at the moment when he smelled the fragrance, the young Shi Jingzhi was enchanted. He tottered towards the flower ball, getting closer and closer until he could see the animal corpses beneath the flowers.

His instinct screamed to escape, yet his body insisted on moving forward—

As if sensing the struggle of its prey, the fragrance of the flowers grew stronger. They were sweet and comforting, enveloping people in a drowsy state, making even the decaying flesh and bones appear lovely.

Three steps, two steps, one step.

Just before he embraced the flower ball, the mist instantly dissipated.

An extremely evil sword qi slashed through, slicing the flower petals into countless blood-like specks.

It was Yin Ci.

The flower ball was quite savvy. It suddenly let out a miserable scream, abandoning the tender flesh right in front of its mouth and slithered away, leaving behind a tangled mass of roots.

The sun had just set, and the stars were sparse in the sky, with the glow of twilight still lingering. The golden-red leaves returned to their places one by one, and the black mud underfoot turned back into soft fallen leaves.

The young Shi Jingzhi was extremely excited. Just as he turned around, he was startled by the increasingly intense killing intent from the other party.

Yin Ci’s whites of the eyes were still a crimson red, filled with surging blood. He lifted the young Shi Jingzhi’s collar and spoke in a dreamlike voice.

“Didn’t I tell you to wait for me?”

Not far away, the adult Shi Jingzhi trembled. It was the first time he had heard Yin Ci speak in this tone, and it was also the first time he had seen someone express such overwhelming killing intent with such gentleness.

Yin Ci didn’t come specifically to save him. This person had obviously suffered from an undeserved stimulus and was now in a semi-mad state where reason was lost.

The young Shi Jingzhi was also frightened and stunned. He could only stare blankly at Yin Ci, his eyes showing a hint of panic and confusion.

Yin Ci stood there, holding him up for a long time. His whole body trembled, and blood seemed to flow from his eyes. His dark eyes gradually became concealed by the color of blood.

At the same time, the sword qi around him didn’t stop. Its coverage grew larger and its speed faster, destroying everything in a nearly frantic manner.

“If you were going to betray me from the beginning, why did you nod in agreement? Ah, I understand now. So it was the will of heaven… You only came at this critical moment to accompany me to the edge of the cliff for the last time…”

Before Shi Jingzhi could react, Yin Ci’s tone became increasingly gentle.

Using only one hand, he held the young Shi Jingzhi suspended in mid-air, as if grasping a fragile bird. Yin Ci’s eyes were almost entirely blood-red, and his pupils were shattered.

“You came specifically to tell me that even the most innocent child has an inherent nature of ‘harming others’. The world is already so murky, and a human heart is useless… What a great answer. I like it very much.”

Yin Ci exerted some force with his fingers, each word dripping with blood, and his pupils were completely submerged in red. His voice became softer and softer, and the killing intent grew stronger.

“I should have learned from Yan Budu, taking lives and killing the innocent without hesitation. Perhaps I would be struck down by divine retribution—a thunderbolt that would cleanse me completely, bringing relief… Or maybe I should start with you.”

Instead of snapping Shi Jingzhi’s neck in one breath, he slowly closed his fingers, his hand trembling slightly.

The young Shi Jingzhi was being choked and couldn’t breathe.

He was naturally intelligent, but at this moment, he had the mindset of a child of only five or six years old. He couldn’t understand those words and sentences, and in his mind, there was only one simple thought—he had failed to keep his promise, and his benefactor was angry.

If this was someone else, he would probably have bitten down. But this was his benefactor who had saved his life, and he was the one who had wronged him first, so he couldn’t bite.

The young Shi Jingzhi scratched his chest hard, struggling to find the flower. He tightly grasped the wilting flower branch and passed it to Yin Ci’s arm, trying to give it to Yin Ci properly.

Despite it being increasingly difficult to breathe, he kept his gaze fixed on Yin Ci’s eyes, trying to make him understand his intentions.

This is the flower I’m giving you. It’s really beautiful.

I won’t run around like that again next time.

Don’t be sad.

Throughout, he didn’t scratch or pinch his own hand. The child’s eyes were pure, filled only with apology, concern, and a hint of instinctive panic.

Utterly pure.

Yin Ci’s hand pressed against his neck, but ultimately couldn’t tighten his grip.

After releasing Shi Jingzhi, for some reason, Yin Ci appeared even more desolate than before. He held the deformed wildflower, slumping onto a pile of fallen leaves.

The raging sword qi gradually dissipated, and Yin Ci exerted force with his hand. The flower was almost crushed, oozing a liquid that resembled blood.

His madness slowly faded, leaving behind only a mess and a sense of helplessness.

The young Shi Jingzhi believed that Yin Ci hadn’t calmed down yet.

He, like a grown-up, gently stroked Yin Ci’s head, and his hand naturally slid down the side of his face, tidying up the disheveled hair. Then, like he was afraid he hadn’t done enough, the young Shi Jingzhi opened his arms and cautiously hugged Yin Ci.

The last trace of evening glow faded away.

Yin Ci didn’t move or respond. The adult Shi Jingzhi stood by, silently watching this memory from over twenty years ago that was sealed away in dust.

Through the long passage of time, he finally managed to touch a fragment of Yin Ci’s past.

It was incredibly heavy and extremely cold.

He could only stand a step away, like a wandering soul, watching Yin Ci slowly close his eyes, tears stained with blood streaming down his face.

The young him knew nothing, and the present him couldn’t even touch a single strand of hair.

Having lived in this world for twenty-seven years, Shi Jingzhi had experienced bitterness, grievances, and melancholy, as well as resentment, hatred, and despair.

But never before had he felt such pure “sadness” filling his heart.

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Kinky Thoughts:

Ah… There are so many good chapters in this novel. This one made me quite emotional.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 79: Break the Formation

As soon as Elder Chen’s words came out, the whole place fell silent.

At this critical moment, everyone’s true nature was revealed. Shi Zhongyu clenched her teeth, and her face was filled with anger. Yan Qing was still young, so all he could do was grip the hilt of his sword tightly, at a complete loss.

Yin Ci wasn’t panicked. He began to calculate coldly—even if he had to reveal his indestructible body here, even if it meant damaging the Arcane Arts, he could do it.

Cleaning up afterwards wouldn’t be a problem either. He could force Chen Qianfan to erase the memories of everyone present.

But destroying the Arcane Arts would create a grudge between the Kushan Sect and the Mishan Sect. And even if he managed to destroy the Arcane Arts, he wouldn’t be able to stop the massive horde of monsters alone. The others would still have to escape.

Instead of adding another problem, it would be better to simply run away with Elder Chen.

…But would the matter of breaking the ban be left unresolved like this? Yin Ci didn’t know whether he should feel fortunate or regretful.

A few steps away, Shi Jingzhi showed no signs of confusion. He asked only two questions.

“Do you really need to use ancient human corpses to make Miss Shi’s talisman and break my ban? Can’t we use other powerful monsters as substitutes once we escape from here?”

“Do you think burning tree branches can replace burning coal?” Chen Qianfan rolled his eyes.

Shi Jingzhi sighed regretfully.

The Mishan Sect members were always elusive and isolated from the world. Those willing to help would be even fewer. With less than a year to live, he still had to find the Shirou and didn’t have time to search for someone to break the ban.

As the saying went, “First effort brings success, then decline, and finally exhaustion*.” Shi Jingzhi instinctively resisted the matter of breaking the ban. Now that he suddenly encountered a disaster, the courage he had built up over several days instantly vanished.

*(一鼓作气, 再而衰, 三而竭) Idiom referring to doing things all at once. If tried a second time, it will decline, and the third time will be exhausted. It highlights the importance of enthusiasm and momentum and being aware of their subsequent decline so as to avoid reaching a point of exhaustion or depletion if the effort isn’t sustained. || This comes from Gao Gui, who rallied his fellow countrymen of Lu, which was being attacked by the army of Qi. He says, “Fighting depends on courage. The first time the drums sound, courage will be lifted. The second time the drums sound, courage will be low. The third time the drums sound, courage will be exhausted. Once courage disappears, you will be conquered!”

It was as if the heavens wanted him to choose “erasing his memories”.

A wild sense of loss of control surged within Shi Jingzhi, but he recited the “Purifying Words” several times to keep calm.

He still had something more important to confirm.

“Senior, if there is only this one choice, shouldn’t you have started making the artifact already? Why are you still talking to us here… Do you have any other methods?”

Chen Qianfan laughed loudly. “Right, you have sharp eyes, kid. But you might not like my method.”

“Senior, please tell me.”

“The formation outside the room can probably last for three or four days. During this period, I will make a bold move and break your ban.”

Yin Ci: “…”

Wait a minute, this old man doesn’t seem like the type to rush to do good deeds, right?

Sure enough, Chen Qianfan had a sly smile on his face, as if a weasel was wishing the chicken a Happy New Year. “Once your ban is broken, I only need to make a slight modification to the remnants of the formation, and I can turn it into a living puppet curse.”

Shi Jingzhi’s smile stiffened.

The term “living puppet curse” sounded ominous, and this old man was talking about it with such joy.

Chen Qianfan noticed Sect Master Shi’s tension and considerately added, “You have astonishing inner force but lack skill. As for me, I have the skill but cannot match your inner force and physical abilities. I will use you as a living puppet, and together with your disciple, we might be able to dismantle the Arcane Arts entirely.”

“The most difficult part of the living puppet curse is implanting the techniques into the consciousness, which cannot be accomplished quickly. But you are different. You already have a ready-made ban in your head. Let’s break it first and make some adjustments to make it work. Don’t worry, once you’re finished with the Arcane Arts, as the caster, I can easily remove the remnants of the formation.”

Yan Qing suddenly realized. “The difficulty of the living puppet curse lies in poking holes in a living person’s mind, and the Sect Master already has a hole in his mind that can be conveniently used. Is that what you mean?”

Shi Jingzhi almost lost his temper with his servant. No wonder the Sword of Compassion chose this brat. It seemed he had some understanding of the Yin-Yang wisdom of the Jianchen Temple.

But the most important thing now wasn’t to maintain the proper decorum of the sect. Shi Jingzhi swallowed hard. “But you said the success rate of breaking the formation is fifty-fifty. What if I die—”

Chen Qianfan stroked his beard and smiled even more kindly. “If you die, you die. It also works out, as you’ll be good material. You look like a monster at first glance—more useful than those two corpse hands, and we can escape faster.”

Yin Ci and Shi Jingzhi: “……”

So, it seemed this old man wouldn’t suffer any losses, no matter what.

“The preparations for breaking the formation inside the house are just right. If you want to break the ban, this is the final opportunity.” Chen Qianfan continued to promote. “Actual combat is the best teacher. If I control you for a while, you can also learn a lot.”

He tactfully omitted the part about “burning you as fuel if it’s a failure”.

Yin Ci: “To break the formation, we need three ancient corpses, but we only have a pair of hands now.”

Chen Qianfan: “It will be consumed gradually. Isn’t the Arcane Arts outside? Swing your blades as hard as you can. Even if you can only remove a finger, it will accumulate. There’s at least a formation blocking the outside, so a little dirty trick won’t matter.”

From his words, it was as if the Arcane Arts of the Milan Queen wasn’t some demonic guardian outside but a field of common chives ready for harvest.

Everyone lost their temper completely.

Even if they escaped, those pairs of corpse hands would be consumed. For Shi Zhongyu, staying behind was the only way to save her Sect Master. But it was Shi Jingzhi who had to take the life-threatening risk. She eventually pursed her lips and didn’t plead.

Taiheng remained the same unyielding Taiheng.

Yin Ci wasn’t as composed as before.

He could accept doing everything humanly possible and leaving it to fate for Shi Jingzhi to break the formation in the most prepared state. However, everything now had to be done in haste. The ancient corpses that would have taken ten days to prepare were now needed on the go. It was absurd.

Even the basic materials for breaking the formation might not be available on time. No matter how he looked at it, the risks were too great.

…Wait, ancient corpses?

Yin Ci slowly lowered his head and looked at his own hands.

Did he count as a “monster” as mentioned by Chen Qianfan? If he did, then…

Thump, thump.

Just as this thought flashed through, something rang in his ears. That sound was completely different from his heartbeat, and a sudden, inexplicable pain followed in his neck.

In the dim light, a blurry impression suddenly emerged from the depths of Yin Ci’s mind, forcefully interrupting his thoughts.

Thump, a head fell to the ground. Fresh blood dripped and flowed, and the floor was still warm and slippery. His body felt light and heavy, difficult to control. Occasionally, when he had the opportunity, he would exert all his strength and struggle to prop himself up, and then a loud thump would sound again.

He didn’t know how long it lasted before he stopped struggling.

Unfortunately, whether he moved or not, whether he knelt or fell, that sharp blade would always be timely in its descent. Yin Ci could even discern the process of the blade losing its sharpness.

Someone repeatedly beheaded him, and the cold despair mixed with the pain in his neck, almost drove him crazy.

At that time, his consciousness was blurred. His eyelids seemed to weigh a thousand catties, and he couldn’t open his mouth. So he could only listen to the sound of the blade falling, silently screaming in his brain.

At that time, he heard a familiar voice. Amidst the sound of his head rolling on the ground, that voice intermittently approached and receded.

[Store more… count up to three thousand… useful…]

His memory was too chaotic, and Yin Ci originally thought it was an illogical nightmare.

Now that he knew that “a monster’s body is the best material for casting spells”, that dream didn’t seem so absurd anymore.

But upon further consideration of this matter, a sense of madness crept into Yin Ci’s heavy mind. He instinctively looked at Shi Jingzhi, hoping to dispel the coldness with his fiery temperament.

Coincidentally, Shi Jingzhi also looked at Yin Ci inquisitively and said, “I still want to break the ban.”

Shi Jingzhi thought Yin Ci would say something, but to his surprise, Yin Ci remained expressionless and just stared straight at him without uttering a word.

So, disregarding the trembling of his teeth, Shi Jingzhi gathered his courage once again and said, “Senior, this junior chooses to give it a try to break the ban.”

He was afraid that if he waited any longer, he would impulsively choose the path of self-preservation and run away.

Chen Qianfan was very satisfied. “Alright, that’s settled then. You three go out…”

“Yan Qing, Miss Shi. The defense outside is up to you. I will stay here to protect the Sect Master.” Yin Ci retracted his gaze and interrupted Chen Qianfan.

Yan Qing: “Senior Yin, if you don’t go, then we—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Shi Zhongyu grabbed the back of his collar and dragged him outside. “Junior Brother Yin won’t harm the Sect Master. He has his own thoughts. Let’s go first.”

Even though he had left Taiheng, Shi Zhongyu’s authority still lingered. Being scolded by an elder, Yan Qing immediately shrank his neck and swallowed the rest of his words.

Yin Ci remained silent.

Shi Jingzhi was uncertain about Yin Ci’s thoughts. “A’Ci?”

“I have some knowledge of formations. At the very least, I’ll stay until the formal process of breaking the formation begins,” Yin Ci said lightly. “What’s the matter? Does Shizun want to face life and death alone?”

This struck a nerve with Shi Jingzhi, and he grumbled, “Hmm, you’re right. If I faint, you can go out then.”

Chen Qianfan gave Yin Ci a meaningful look. “You’re being overly sentimental. It’s fine if you stay.”

He threw the corpse hands towards the eye of the formation, and an invisible force twisted and crushed the corpse hands, turning them into a ball of bone fragments.

The ball of flesh floated above the eye of the formation, emitting a sizzling sound like burning. The large formation in the hall slowly emitted a faint light.

Granny Wei seemed accustomed to such things and continued embroidering her flowers not far away. With countless evil spirits outside the door and a strange formation inside, the scene was indescribably bizarre.

Shi Jingzhi took off his shoes and cautiously crossed the strokes of the formation, occasionally glancing sideways at the ball of flesh.

Elder Chen became impatient. “Hurry up. Don’t waste time!”

In the center of the formation, a wooden platform was placed. It seemed to be ignited by the formation, slowly emitting smoke, with dim green sparks flickering on and off. It sounded nice to call it a spiritual platform, but in less flattering terms, it resembled a barbecue grill.

Shi Jingzhi stopped just one step away from the wooden platform. “Should I write a farewell letter first…”

Originally, in such a solemn and grave life-or-death situation, with the interference of the Arcane Arts, it instantly turned into a chaotic marketplace scene. Shi Jingzhi couldn’t even summon the emotions of parting from life and death.

If he were to die in this predicament, it would be unbearably humiliating.

Chen Qianfan accurately guessed his thoughts and used the flesh ball in advance, making him not dare to hesitate for too long.

“I… um, I need to explain the arrangements of the Kushan Sect…” Shi Jingzhi stood motionless, standing on the threshold of fate, not knowing what he was saying.

As he expected, this needed to be done swiftly and decisively. At the critical moment, he only paused briefly, and the instinctual fear and panic grew stronger, almost devouring his rationality.

It was okay if he didn’t break the ban. It was fine to forget. So what if he was being controlled? At least he would still be alive. He didn’t want to die, not one bit.

Shi Jingzhi exerted all his strength to barely stay in place, and his mind even started planning an escape route.

“Go.”

A hand gently pushed him from behind.

“Since you’ve made up your mind, then go. I told you, I will protect you.”

At that moment, the warmth of that hand almost scorched him. Shi Jingzhi’s eyes instantly welled up with tears, but he didn’t dare to turn around.

“A’Ci, can I have a few more words with you?” he almost pleaded.

“Say it after you break the ban.” Yin Ci’s attitude remained the same.

“…Mm.”

It was much more difficult to resist instinct than he had imagined. It was as if he were strangling himself without relying on any external force, solely suffocating himself with bated breath. “Object addiction” deliberately magnified this pain and fear a thousandfold, forcing him to abandon everything.

The remaining warmth on his back was almost Shi Jingzhi’s last reliance.

In the end, he took that step forward.

After lying down on the platform, he listened to the crackling and scorching sound beneath him, unable to take his eyes off Yin Ci.

With flickering shadows and the smell of flesh and dust in the air, the other person’s presence was like a thread that kept him somewhat reassured.

He hoped this wouldn’t be his last sight.

However, Yin Ci turned out to be even more ruthless than he had imagined. The person crossed the faint light of the formation and covered his eyes with a hand.

“Sleep. You’ll be fine.”

Chen Qianfan saw the opportunity and didn’t give Shi Jingzhi any time for farewells. He sat down in front of the wooden platform, began to pinch a series of formations, and headed straight for the ban.

Shi Jingzhi immediately fell into a deep sleep, his brows still furrowed in pain.

“Alright, you’ve done enough sentimentalizing. You can leave now.” Chen Qianfan didn’t even lift his head as he spoke to Yin Ci.

Yin Ci ignored him. “Granny Wei, can you help me sew two charm bags? The light in the inner room is brighter.”

Granny Wei hesitated for a moment, realizing that he had something to say, and obediently went to the inner room.

“Sure enough, you have something to say, don’t you? If you have something to say, just say it. If you wait any longer, I won’t be able to focus.”

“I am also one of the ‘monster beings’ mentioned by Senior.”

“Indeed, and what? Do you want to sacrifice yourself to save your master? Unfortunately, with your physique, you won’t match three ancient corpses.”

“I have my own solution.” Yin Ci said calmly, “Senior has extraordinary courage, so I believe you can endure.”

“You’re still playing coy. Are you trying to protect your master, or do you want to kill him?”

Yin Ci took off his outer garment, picked up the Hanging Shadow Sword, and smiled at Chen Qianfan.

“I said I would ensure his long life.”

Then Yin Ci swung the sword horizontally, and blood splattered everywhere.

If Chen Qianfan hadn’t seen and experienced so much, he would have almost been frightened and trembled by this person—

Yin Ci’s sword qi was sharp as he mercilessly severed his own neck, causing blood to spurt out instantly. Then his entire body fell into a pool of blood, the head separated from the body, still with a smile on his face.

Next, a large number of blood-red, fine roots emerged from under the head. They quickly formed the outline of a human body, gathered together to form new flesh, bones, and organs, emitting a chilling rustling sound.

The headless body lay quietly aside, and a few blood-red, fine roots sprouted from the severed neck, but another head didn’t grow.

While the skin hadn’t fully healed yet, Yin Ci sat up and grabbed the Hanging Shadow Sword. With each swing of the sword, blood flowed, his movements displaying a chilling numbness and proficiency.

Once, twice, three times, four times.

In less than half a stick of incense, there were four headless bodies on the ground.

Only then did Yin Ci put on his outer garment, blood soaking through the fabric, clinging to his newly regenerated body. He looked like a painting, but Chen Qianfan had no mental capacity to digest the scene before him.

As the sword qi swept through, the four bodies were swept away from the eye of the formation. Just like the pair of corpse hands, they instantly twisted into a bloody, shapeless mass. This time, the formation on the ground no longer emitted a faint light, but a dazzling brightness.

“Is that enough?”

Yin Ci’s voice carried a smile, and the bloodstained Hanging Shadow Sword pointed at Chen Qianfan’s throat.

“If it’s enough, then forget about what just happened and focus on saving Shi Jingzhi.”

Chen Qianfan’s face still held a trace of confusion. “You… You’re the one with the immortal body? No wonder even your master stopped calling you. Who the hell are you…”

“Forget. Save him. You don’t need to find your little book; I will dictate it to you.”

Yin Ci exerted a little more force on the tip of the sword, and a drop of blood oozed out of Chen Qianfan’s wrinkled throat.

“Don’t worry, if you can break the ban and forget properly, This Seat will leave you a corpse to study.”

Chen Qianfan looked deeply at Yin Ci; his voice hoarse.

“With these driving formations, it’s enough. Who would have thought that I, as an old man, could have such an effortless day… This old man promises you.”

With a flash of white light, everything returned to calm.

Chen Qianfan turned around woodenly and began to break Shi Jingzhi’s ban in earnest.

Shi Jingzhi was still in a deep sleep, unaware of everything happening outside.

Contrary to what he had previously imagined, he didn’t lose consciousness directly. When he regained awareness, Shi Jingzhi subconsciously stomped his foot and found himself standing on soft, red leaves.

It was deep autumn, with golden red hues all around. The sunlight on his body brought a faint warmth.

This was the scene he had seen countless times in fragmented memories. Now, when he looked at it, it was complete and real, and the annoying headache didn’t follow him like a shadow.

Was this the key memory sealed by the ban?

Shi Jingzhi wanted to move forward but couldn’t take a step. Just as he was sinking into confusion, the answer came to him—

A child passed straight through Shi Jingzhi’s body, struggling to move forward.

The kid had a dirty face, as if he had just finished crying, and he was still sniffing hard. He wore old clothes typical of mountain villagers, covered in dusty and dirty patches that blended seamlessly with the fallen leaves on the ground.

He walked through the leaves, step by step, heading deeper into the forest. Shi Jingzhi was like an invisible kite, being dragged along with him.

The little brat hadn’t fully developed his features, yet his face still exuded the innocence of a child. However, when Shi Jingzhi saw those amber eyes, he could guess without a doubt—

It was his younger self from childhood.

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