Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 32: Fables

Bai Wei had been hungry for an unknown period of time, speaking incoherently as if he hadn’t had a proper rest in a long time. Shi Jingzhi didn’t rush to ask him questions but instead let him sleep for a while.

Out of old acquaintanceship, Yan Qing tidied up the courtyard and the house, making it finally look like a place where people lived.

Perhaps not having seen his own kind for many days, Bai Wei slept deeply when he finally got the chance to rest. It wasn’t until the sun was setting that he woke up again. This time he had some appetite and managed to eat a little.

After eating and sleeping well, Bai Wei still looked like a skeleton, but the light in his eyes was brighter. Yin Ci recognized that it wasn’t the radiance of survival. When a person was overwhelmed by despair and only clung to a single thread of obsession, their gaze became like this.

“This matter started from a year ago.”

Bai Wei was skilled at storytelling, but when it came to his own story, his tone became dry.

“My father fell ill, so I went up the mountain to find medicine. That’s when I encountered A’Lu… She was playing in the forest, and I had never seen such a beautiful girl before. I thought I had encountered a mountain spirit.”

As one of the few literate people in the village, Bai Wei had a sense of arrogance deep down and some unrealistic romantic feelings in his heart. When he saw that extraordinary girl, he didn’t run away but instead approached her.

After chatting for a while, Bai Wei could see the girl’s personality. A’Lu was sensitive and pure-hearted, with a charm that was lacking in the village girls.

Bai Wei himself was good-looking and skilled in storytelling, and he also had a sense of reason. The two of them, with their talents and appearance, developed an affection for each other after a long period of secret meetings. They eventually became a couple, just like in those fantasy novels.

But this union wasn’t easy.

Even after becoming a couple, Bai Wei still didn’t know where A’Lu came from. A’Lu remained evasive about it and only urged Bai Wei to go with her. However, Bai Wei’s elderly father was still alive and deeply attached to Xizhuang. He was unwilling to die as a guest elsewhere and strongly opposed it.

Just by insisting on marrying A’Lu, whose origins were unclear, Bai Wei had already greatly offended his father. He didn’t dare say a word against his father’s wishes.

“So we made a promise to endure for a while. Once my father passes away, I will go with her.”

Bai Wei said this, revealing a smile that seemed like crying.

Yan Qing was somewhat puzzled. “Leaving aside the fact that women usually marry into their husband’s family, if you’re willing to go with her, just wait a few years, then how…”

How could there be such a big event that made the village disappear…

“You still don’t know, do you? Well, of course the Goddess won’t tell you now. Those who become members of Yuanxian Village can indeed learn the means to come and go freely. But if you leave Yuanxian Village for more than three days, you will… you will lose consciousness and fall into a coma.”

He insisted on not using terms like “death” or “ascending to immortality.”

“Since my father didn’t want to leave Xizhuang, A’Lu could only stay at home for two days and then disappear into the mountains for a day. That’s how we managed to get by. When she was doing well, she would occasionally bring back some gold and jade from the mountains to support the family. I didn’t want to burden her, so I worked hard and saved up, fearing that in the future, when I follow A’Lu to the ‘immortal realm’, others will look down on her.”

“For the people of Xizhuang, I told them she was a maiden* who had descended to the mortal realm. Humans and gods shouldn’t be together, so she has to return to the heavens every other day.”

*Fairy, Fairy Maiden, Female Celestial/Immortal (仙女)

Even Yan Qing didn’t inquire further this time.

He and Su Si were born in Xizhuang, so they knew the nature of the villagers very well. The people of Xizhuang weren’t heinous criminals; they were just ordinary poor people—with both commendable simplicity and the matching viciousness that came from being born in ignorance.

According to Bai Wei’s account, the reality wasn’t far off from their speculations.

The young men in the village were the first to develop twisted ideas.

Bai Wei had a decent appearance and could read, making him already an exception in the village. Now that he had married a wife who seemed like a celestial being, and they were getting along so well and their household was visibly improving, it made others jealous.

Yet the guy surname Bai wasn’t lazy; on the contrary, he even worked harder, truly not knowing how to appreciate his good fortune.

Since Bai Wei was able to find a celestial wife on the mountain, it was only natural that they could as well. Bai Wei was just a bit bolder and luckier. As for women, they had long hair but shortsightedness. As long as they could be found, they could surely be married.

With such foolish thoughts in mind, they began secretly tracking A’Lu.

A’Lu would return to the immortal realm every other day, and she wouldn’t be the only maiden in the immortal realm. As long as they found the way to the immortal realm, what was there to worry about not being able to find a maiden wife?

At first, A’Lu was very cautious. When she entered the forest, she would ride on a black dog demon. The black dog demon ran incredibly fast and never left any opportunity for people to follow. Later, when A’Lu became pregnant and her belly grew bigger every day, she had to switch to riding a sturdy red leopard.

With a pregnant woman on its back, the red leopard dared not run too fast. Finally, one day, two hunters secretly followed A’Lu all the way until the end.

A day later, A’Lu returned to Xizhuang unknowingly, but the two hunters never came back and disappeared completely.

The families in Xizhuang couldn’t just let it go after losing their sons. They rallied their relatives and gathered in front of Bai Wei’s house, demanding an explanation from A’Lu.

“What maiden? I think she’s just a mountain spirit who deceived my son and ate him!”

“That’s right! Being pregnant, she definitely couldn’t resist eating people.”

“She’s going back into the mountains in a couple of days so she can reveal her true form. Let’s stop her here and see what kind of creature his wife really is—”

People squatted in front of the Bai’s residence, tightly gripping hoes and hatchets. A’Lu could probably guess what had happened, but she was afraid of incurring the wrath of the gods upon her parents and family, so how could she reveal the location of the “immortal realm”.

She could only cry.

Bai Wei knelt outside, his voice hoarse, repeatedly reasoning with the villagers.

A’Lu really didn’t know what had happened, and she really had to go back. His elderly father at home was also in critical condition and needed to see a doctor…

Please, I beg you.

“I gave them all the money I saved over the years, not knowing how many times I knocked my head. I only ask them to let A’Lu go back to the mountains and allow the doctor to come in and treat my father. What does it have to do with me… But even after they took the money, they still demanded that A’Lu be handed over.”

“Those people kept blocking the way outside. A’Lu, who is pregnant, dared not leave the house. The village doctor was afraid of trouble and refused to come in.”

“In the end, my father passed away, and she fell asleep.”

Bai Wei clenched his fists tightly.

After that, things were quite simple.

The Goddess of Yuanxian Village arrived in the village with two children and a cart full of gold. She announced that she had come to retrieve the “sleeping” A’Lu, and the villagers of Xizhuang won.

They had discovered the immortal realm, and they all qualified to ascend to immortality. The hunters who had disappeared earlier were also in the immortal realm, waiting for them.

She distributed gold to the people and spoke in a gentle tone. “I am busy, and time is limited. You don’t need to bring anything, just follow me.”

It was unclear if she used some kind of magic, but the words of the Goddess were terrifyingly convincing.

They no longer questioned if they had offended a divine being in the first place, as the divine being was now rewarding them. After all, there were plenty of such strange fables. Perhaps the immortal realm had its own rules, and they were just fortunate.

In less than half a day, there was no one left in the village. To please the divine being before them, the villagers didn’t take anything, fearing they wouldn’t make it in time to ascend to immortality.

Only Bai Wei didn’t desire the immortal realm.

He silently buried his father and then stood guard by his “sleeping” wife, feeling at a loss. She still had breath and warmth. Perhaps there was still time, and when they returned home, she would wake up, right?

On that day, the villagers of Xizhuang all arrived at Yuanxian Village. The Goddess had instructed in advance that every household in Yuanxian Village should stay indoors and let her lead the villagers into the forbidden area.

The villagers of Xizhuang, upon seeing this paradise-like place, didn’t suspect anything and obediently entered through the tree gate.

They never came out again.

Bai Wei remained by his wife’s side, unwilling to leave. Although they had returned to her hometown, she still slept soundly. A little girl ran to her side, pouting and shaking A’Lu.

“Sister, sister! Why did you ascend to immortality so early? Didn’t we agree to wait until I grow up?”

“Guide her back.” Mian Jie wiped her eyes and forced a smile. “Child… Your name is Bai Wei, right? Let go now. A’Lu is gone.”

“My daughter has already left.”

……

“It’s strange, isn’t it?” Bai Wei nervously stared at the four of them. “She clearly still had a heartbeat, so how could she be dead? On the first day, I wanted to go to the forbidden area to find her, but Mian Jie—no, mother—refused to let me go and kept stopping me. Now that the deadline given by the Goddess is approaching, even if she wants to stop me, she won’t be able to.”

“If she’s alive, what will you do then?” Shi Jingzhi asked calmly and flatly.

He wasn’t immersed in the tragedy like Yan Qing, nor was he silent like Yin Ci and Su Si. As soon as Bai Wei finished speaking, Shi Jingzhi smoothly continued.

Yin Ci was somewhat surprised. He had expected that with Shi Jingzhi’s sensitive nature, there would be no shortage of tears and runny nose at this moment. Who would have thought that Shi Jingzhi was incredibly calm, almost to the point of being ruthless.

Bai Wei hadn’t expected Shi Jingzhi’s reaction either, and for a moment, he couldn’t respond. “Wh-What?”

“You’re behaving like someone who can’t find a way to survive and can’t seek death, clamoring to accumulate immortal potential. Even if the Goddess sends you to some mysterious place, just being able to see the forbidden area will be enough… Whether or not you can see your wife, even if she remains asleep all alone. Are you implying that making one trip will fulfill your wish?”

Bai Wei: “I…”

“Actually, you also believe that she’s dead, don’t you?” Shi Jingzhi said expressionlessly.

He did have an unrealistically handsome appearance, and when he didn’t show any expression on his face, it gave off a sense of terror like something “otherworldly.”

As if it was some kind of evil wearing beautifully crafted human skin.

Bai Wei stared intently into Shi Jingzhi’s eyes and couldn’t help but take a half step back.

“What else can I do?” His voice was hoarse. “I have no other options.”

“I don’t understand. You’re reckless enough to gamble with your life, but too weak to let go and fight again.”

“It’s easy for you to say! If it were you—”

“If it were me, the first thing I would do is figure out why the Goddess appeared only after A’Lu’s ‘death’. If she cares so much for her subjects, to the extent of being willing to destroy the entire Xizhuang village, why didn’t she take action earlier? The Goddess had captured the Xizhuang people who came to spy on her before, and when A’Lu didn’t return on time, wouldn’t she have guessed A’Lu’s situation?”

Bai Wei was stunned on the spot. He had indeed never considered this question.

The Goddess had been in power in the village for over fifty years, with the appearance of a young woman and the presence of a mountain itself. It was difficult for people to harbor doubts when standing in front of such a figure.

“The Goddess… she might have other reasons…” Bai Wei said as if in a daze.

Shi Jingzhi pressed on, step by step. “Do you really want to see your wife or not?”

Bai Wei’s scattered gaze finally gradually cleared, and he stared at Shi Jingzhi for a moment before performing a deep bow. “I have learned my lesson.”

“That’s right.”

Shi Jingzhi seemed quite satisfied. He patted Bai Wei’s shoulder, and there was a hint of a sinister aura in his tone. “If my loved one is taken away, even if the other side is truly a god, I will do everything in my power to teach them a lesson.”

Yin Ci furrowed his brow slightly.

Shi Jingzhi wasn’t making empty boasts. That hint of madness quietly emerged between his words, only to be forcefully suppressed by his cheap master.

“Please help me,” Bai Wei said, gulping down the hotcakes. “Help me find out what happened to A’Lu—help me find her body… I want to live. If she’s alive, I’ll rescue her. If she’s dead, I’ll give her a proper burial and offer daily worship.”

“In exchange, I, Bai Wei, will be your servant and do whatever you command.”

Su Si also dropped his carefree appearance. He frowned, “If you want to find your wife, you’ll have to spend a considerable amount of time in the forbidden area, right? We only stayed inside for how long when we infiltrated the funeral procession? Half an hour? One hour? Is that enough time to search for someone?”

Shi Jingzhi smiled faintly. “Brother Bai still wants to ‘accumulate immortal potential’, but doesn’t actually accumulate it.”

Bai Wei was a bit confused, choking on the hotcakes in his mouth. “What do you mean?”

“There are three possibilities beneath the forbidden area. One is as Mian Jie said, there’s another small world inside. The second possibility is that the people of Xizhuang are all imprisoned at the bottom of the forbidden area… To be honest, neither possibility is very likely. Xizhuang’s environment is already harsh, and the former is just adding unnecessary details. If the latter is true, someone would have to deliver food to the forbidden area.”

Shi Jingzhi stroked his chin.

“The third possibility is that the so-called ‘accumulation of immortal potential’ actually means dying beneath the forbidden area. The Goddess, with her appearance, doesn’t seem like someone who would do it herself. Most likely, she would let the white-robed monsters do it for her or simply throw people to their deaths.”

Bai Wei: “…” Just a moment ago, this person was encouraging him, and now he was asking him to go die?

“It would be troublesome if traces were discovered during the funeral procession in Xizhuang. Even if she were to take action, she wouldn’t do it above the forbidden area. At this point, Bai Wei needs our help.”

Shi Jingzhi turned to Bai Wei.

“We will provide you with the tools to climb the rock walls. If she tries to throw you to your death or let the white-robed monsters take you down to kill you, you have to escape halfway and hang on the rock wall for a while. Once you receive our signal, you can climb back up and search for your wife’s stone chamber.”

“If she personally takes you to the very bottom of the forbidden area, you have to plead with her and try to get her to leave first, while you ‘fend for yourself’. Once she’s out of the forbidden area, you can climb up the rocks to find her… When you come up, we’ll be waiting at the exit. Then you can lay low for a while, and we’ll find an opportunity to escape together.”

“So you’re saying I won’t be in any danger?”

“No.” Shi Jingzhi raised an eyebrow. “In case you don’t escape in time or if the situation exceeds expectations, you might end up with blood splattered on the spot. But with our help, you at least have a fifty percent chance of surviving and slowly finding your wife.”

Bai Wei remained silent for a moment.

Then he took a deep breath and said calmly, “By helping me, what do you gain?”

“I’m curious about the situation in Yuanxian Village and want to understand it. As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you won’t be defeated in a hundred battles*.”

*Quote from The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Full quote is: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Yan Qing nodded in agreement, while Su Si looked elsewhere, lost in thought. When he noticed Yin Ci’s gaze, he suddenly snapped back and put on a carefree smile.

For the remaining time, everyone busied themselves with preparing the tools.

To avoid arousing suspicion from the Goddess, Bai Wei couldn’t bring too many things. Shi Jingzhi gave him a small bottle of pills to enhance his strength and stimulated several acupoints to ensure Bai Wei’s joints remained flexible and he wouldn’t accidentally harm himself.

Finally, Shi Jingzhi dug out a small bottle from the bottom of the medicine kit and poured out two withered little things—

“These are acacia beans, born from demonic plants, usually used to perceive the condition of patients. Soak them in your blood, and each of us will take one.”

Shi Jingzhi explained to Bai Wei.

“The two beans are connected. If we burn this one with fire, your bean will heat up as well. At that time, it will serve as a signal, and you will know that the Goddess has indeed left. If you die down there, the beans on this side will turn to dust, and we’ll know something happened to you and won’t wait outside any longer.”

Bai Wei solemnly took the beans. “I understand. Sect Master Shi, I will certainly not casually abandon my life.”

Afterward, Bai Wei rested for two more days and practiced using the iron claws to hook onto the rock walls. After eating Yin Ci’s specially made meals for two days, his cheeks finally regained fullness and no longer looked skeletal.

The madness in his eyes lost its sharpness and transformed into unwavering determination.

Yin Ci was somewhat envious of Bai Wei. If it weren’t for Shi Jingzhi keeping a close eye on him, he would have loved to go down and take a look himself.

Unfortunately, Yuanxian Village was extremely peculiar, and Shi Jingzhi was on high alert. He could even count how many times Yin Ci turned over in bed at night. Even when Yin Ci claimed to use the bathroom, Shi Jingzhi would sit up vigilantly, afraid that his disciple would be captured by some unknown monster.

Yin Ci couldn’t help but feel amused and exasperated.

The road to finding the Shirou was long and arduous, and Shi Jingzhi was still necessary as a shield. He couldn’t reveal his identity yet. Yin Ci had to obediently stay by Shi Jingzhi’s side and play the role of a normal person with a strong desire to survive.

If the heavens granted him a reasonable excuse to venture into the forbidden area, he would be the first to go.

But Yin Ci didn’t expect the opportunity to come so soon.

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The author has something to say:

Demonic Lord Yin, if you think a fox is really a soft fox, you’ll eventually be exposed.

Oh, it’s destined to be exposed, well, that’s fine (…

Yin Ci: Constantly testing the boundaries of self-destruction.jpg

Shi Jingzhi: No, you don’t want to.jpg

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 31: The Forbidden Area

After listening to Auntie Liu’s strange phenomenon, Yan Qing remained silent for a long time.

Being in his early twenties, he wasn’t good at expressing his emotions. Yin Ci could sense his thoughts—this place was worse than the Ghost Tomb. At least in the Ghost Tomb, the killing intent and malice were openly displayed. Yuanxian Village, on the other hand, appeared beautiful like a splendid flower, but buried beneath were deformed corpses with half-rotten hands protruding.

Yan Qing struggled within himself for a while but couldn’t come up with a solution. Subconsciously, he looked towards Shi Jingzhi.

Finally, Shi Jingzhi remembered his responsibility as sect leader. With a deeply troubled expression on his face, he hesitated for a moment before suggesting an idea that wasn’t really a solution. “The village entrance ceremony takes place during the full moon, and there is still some time before that. It’s not realistic to find someone to guide us out, so why not search for the villagers of Xizhuang? Perhaps someone has stayed behind in Yuanxian Village…”

Su Si: “That’s right. We can also help Brother Yin with matchmaking. We shouldn’t fear the worst-case scenario.”

Shi Jingzhi’s fox tail was stepped on again. “No, that’s my disciple! I mean, we can’t waste time on such matters. It’s better to concentrate on finding clues. I promise to take you all out of here.”

Yin Ci patted his master’s arm and muttered, “Yes, yes, of course, good, good,” while his thoughts wandered off.

When the villagers visited earlier, Yin Ci confirmed one thing.

“People with immortal potential” were likely monster material, which made sense as they were screened based on their appearance. According to this reasoning, it was highly probable that the villagers were also monster material.

The problem was, could they really gather so many monster materials out of millions of people? On the other hand, Yin Ci had encountered many monster materials, and normal monster materials didn’t have random restrictions like “a fatal injury within three days” and also aged slower than ordinary people.

He couldn’t figure out the reason for the existence of Yuanxian Village.

There were no apparent abnormalities outside; the answers were likely inside the forbidden area, which included a fresh death technique he had been longing for.

As if they were on the same wavelength, Shi Jingzhi paced around the room, and his eyes suddenly brightened. “Let’s not look for someone today. Instead, we’ll join the funeral procession.”

Yan Qing was startled. “Funeral procession? For whom?”

“Auntie Liu passed away here, and we’re somewhat connected. It seems the villagers have some favorable opinions of me. I’ll go and plead with them. After all, we are considered half-villagers, and we have our reasons. Can they really stop us?”

The more he spoke, the more feasible it sounded. “The villagers will keep the body in the forbidden area. We can openly and honestly follow them inside to have a good look.”

Yin Ci felt extremely pleased. His master was indeed useful.

He immediately cast an admiring gaze, making sure Fox Shi’s fur was in order.

To prove their amiable intentions, before setting off, Shi Jingzhi took the time to dress up, only lacking a couple of flowers to stick in his hair. Su Si and Yan Qing stood on either side, with the alluring fox squeezed in front to attract attention, while the inconspicuous Yin Ci stayed at the back. In this manner, the four of them arrived at the central area of the village.

Along the way, Shi Jingzhi had flowers thrown at him by the men and women of Yuanxian Village, and he narrowly avoided getting hit on the head by fresh fruits. He dodged and smiled, trying to maintain his composure, but it was truly an arduous task.

Yin Ci, on the other hand, bit into a fruit and continued to leisurely observe their surroundings.

Today was another sunny day, with flowers blooming profusely and a gentle spring breeze. There was no difference from yesterday. The funeral procession was easy to find, as everyone was dressed in bright red attire, visible from eight hundred lis away.

Relying on his handsome face, Shi Jingzhi managed to exude a hint of celestial aura, surpassing even the Goddess. The villagers had no resistance to this celestial aura, and Shi Jingzhi was extremely skilled at fooling people. After some back and forth, he managed to convince the leader.

“You accompanied Auntie Liu on her journey, and that’s fate,” the leader mumbled in a daze. “I’ll have someone prepare clothes for you. Hurry up and change.”

Shi Jingzhi’s smile became even more sincere. “Thank you, big brother. We’ll be right back.”

Su Si, who had become the talk of the town for revealing himself to be a “woman”, received a bright red robe, making his complexion slightly bitter. In the end, he still changed into it and tidied up his hair.

The other three were much quicker.

While waiting for Su Si, Shi Jingzhi glanced at his disciple and suddenly felt that the discrimination in Yuanxian Village was unreasonable.

The funeral procession attire was very revealing, and anyone could see Yin Ci’s excellent figure. His body was neither bloated nor skinny, with long and well-built limbs. His beautiful silhouette tapered into a narrow waist, as if carved from the most delicate mold.

His temperament was also good.

Even though his disciple was wearing a red robe, he seemed to be in a frigid abyss. This calmness, even if baseless, always put Shi Jingzhi at ease.

Shi Jingzhi thought he truly lived up to his expectations as the disciple he had chosen. He didn’t find a single fault with him, so how could other cats and dogs have the right to look down on him?

Su Si tied up his hair in a convenient and stylish bun, and the group once again blended into the funeral procession.

In the middle of the procession, they saw Auntie Liu again.

Auntie Liu’s eyes were tightly closed, and the corners of her mouth seemed to have been smeared with something, forming a strange smile. She was dressed in a brand-new red silk dress, with her limbs bound by branches controlled by others, making her stagger along with the procession.

Her chest still rose and fell, and her joints weren’t stiff. At first glance, Auntie Liu was just a living person with slightly unsteady steps.

The sound of joyful music filled the air, but it was unclear whether she could hear it or not.

Red paper fluttered in the sky, making her look like a peculiar bride. Shi Jingzhi slowly approached Auntie Liu and discreetly touched her arm. Auntie Liu still had body temperature, but her flesh felt soft and spongy, as if there was a large handful of cotton wrapped underneath her skin.

Yet, she didn’t have the appearance of rotting or swelling.

Shi Jingzhi frowned and then pinched Yin Ci’s arm to compare, making sure it wasn’t his imagination.

Things were becoming increasingly strange.

However, the loud suona music was causing pain in their eardrums, and Shi Jingzhi couldn’t communicate with his disciple, so he could only continue forward with the team.

The forbidden area was located in the center of the village, with a large tree serving as the entrance. The children of the village gathered around the tree, curiously watching the funeral procession.

The tree had likely been growing for many years and had possibly become a demon. It wasn’t particularly tall, but its trunk was extremely thick, requiring thirty people to wrap their arms around it. Near the tree roots, there was a gate-like structure, and the familiar black dog demon was sleeping at the entrance. When the procession approached, it growled a few times and moved aside.

Walking through the tree gate, they could immediately see a massive pit.

The pit was wide, almost the size of a whole house. It was terrifyingly deep, and its bottom couldn’t be seen at a glance. Stone steps spiraled downwards along the edge of the pit, covered in moss, with decaying ropes swaying at the edges, making it look rather unsafe.

The funeral procession stumbled down the path.

The suona music echoed in the stone walls, and one after another, figures in red merged into the shadows. Auntie Liu’s warm corpse was surrounded by everyone as they moved forward. As the procession delved deeper, the decaying ropes swayed, emanating an indescribable strange odor from the depths of the pit.

The warm atmosphere of Yuanxian Village was completely gone, leaving only boundless eerie strangeness.

After descending to a certain depth, Shi Jingzhi’s footsteps began to hesitate.

The funeral procession carried torches with their flames flickering unsteadily, making it difficult to observe. But through occasional glimpses, Shi Jingzhi could roughly piece together the scene in his mind.

Numerous white-clad monsters hung on the walls of the pit, resembling numerous large cocoons stuck to the stone. The chains suspending them swayed gently, as if keeping time with mournful melodies. The smell of moisture grew stronger, mingled with the scent of fresh raw meat and a faint hint of excrement.

The stone steps were completely engulfed in shadows, but the touch became increasingly sticky. Something unknown had adhered to them, and with each step, a sweet and bloody liquid-like substance would be splashed up.

The inner walls of the pit were carved with rows of neat small rooms. These stone chambers were exquisitely crafted, appearing ancient, as if the work of a thousand years ago.

Suddenly, Shi Jingzhi had a bizarre thought. This place didn’t resemble a graveyard; it was more like a twisted prison.

The group stopped at a certain level of the pit.

It wasn’t a deliberate choice; the stone steps simply ended there, and below was an abyss with no end in sight.

“Let’s leave her here, by Lao Liu’s side,” someone whispered.

People carefully maneuvered on the narrow stone steps, making way for Auntie Liu. Two villagers supported her and took her to a single small room, helping her lie down comfortably. There were several pieces of men’s clothing scattered around her, damp and almost blending with the dark-colored stone slabs.

“Shouldn’t she be buried together with Uncle Liu?” Shi Jingzhi asked in a low voice.

“Uncle Liu has already ascended to become an immortal. This is his small chamber. Look, his clothes are still here,” someone nearby explained in a low voice.

Yin Ci shifted his position slightly.

In just one night, the body disappeared?

Yin Ci scanned the narrow stone chamber but didn’t find anything unusual, so he quietly took a couple of steps back and looked at the bottomless pit. A gust of wind blew from below, and the indescribable smell became even stronger.

The walls of the pit were uneven. Even if he jumped down, he could still climb up… So he should just pretend to slip and…

Snap.

Shi Jingzhi had quietly approached and grabbed his wrist. “A’Ci, it’s very dark here. Don’t wander around. Be careful not to fall.”

Yin Ci: “…Yes.”

Shi Jingzhi held his wrist tightly and continued to ask, “Can everyone become an immortal so quickly?”

“Some are faster, some are slower. It’s hard to say for sure. Not many people ascend consecutively, and usually, nobody comes down either.”

“What about the people from Xizhuang Village?” Yin Ci followed up.

As soon as he asked the question, almost everyone turned their heads to look at him with obscured and unclear gazes.

“A’Ci!”

“Shizun, it’s okay. They won’t do anything to you. Fellow villagers, I mean no harm. I’m just curious. Given this situation, how would I be ‘handled’?”

“The Great Goddess said that those people gather immortal potential in the pit below.” The voice of Yin Deng’s mother, Mian Jie, came through. “There’s a small world down there. Just as you enter here from the shrine, they go over there from the well.”

Shi Jingzhi tightened his grip on Yin Ci’s wrist.

“The Great Goddess is merciful. Even when faced with sinners…” Mian Jie wanted to continue.

“Mian Jie, you’ve said enough. Talking too much about matters of the immortals may invoke taboos,” the leader of the villagers interrupted her. “This brother may not necessarily need to gather immortal potential. Who knows, there might be a girl who takes a liking to him.”

His words became more and more hesitant, and towards the end, it sounded like he didn’t even believe it himself.

Shi Jingzhi snorted coldly, and a trace of anger overshadowed his fear.

“A’Ci, let’s go back.”

Mian Jie’s heart softened. She hurriedly approached them, taking three quick steps, and whispered, “My daughter brought you in, so you can be considered someone fated with our family. There’s one more person in the village who needs to find a marital partner, and you can go with him. That way, you won’t feel too anxious.”

Yin Ci suddenly halted his steps. “One more person?”

The dim light flickered, and he could still see the hesitation on Mian Jie’s face.

“…Yes, one more person. His name is Bai Wei, originally from Xizhuang Village. He hasn’t left his house for the past half month. If he can’t find a spouse, he won’t be able to continue living in the village.”

Shi Jingzhi remained cautious. “Sister, from what you’re saying, gathering ‘immortal potential’ down there doesn’t sound like a good thing.”

Mian Jie opened her mouth but ended up dryly uttering, “Yuanxian Village is better than down below, that’s for sure. Bai Wei also has some fate with us, haa…”

She let out a soft sigh and squeezed her way to the front of the group, evidently not intending to continue speaking with them.

Shi Jingzhi was about to catch up, but Yan Qing tapped his arm and lowered his voice, “Sect Master, I know Bai Wei. Let’s go back first and talk.”

Once they left the damp giant well and stepped back into the sunlight, there was a certain delight in returning from the realm of immortals to the mortal world. Unfortunately, no one was willing to waste time pondering it. Although they didn’t make any major discoveries in the forbidden area, they had obtained a surviving member from Xizhuang Village without much effort.

The three of them didn’t even return to their lodging. Only Su Si hurried back to change into men’s clothing and dragged Lord Bai out.

When Su Si rejoined the group, there was a goose feather stuck to his head, and Lord Bai was twisting in his arm vigorously. Su Si acted as if he had no sense of pain, taking out fresh cabbage leaves that he had prepared in advance. “Lord Bai, find someone.”

Only then did Lord Bai let go and give him a sour, master-like gaze, seriously scrutinizing Su Si.

“Help me find someone,” Su Si coaxed it carefully. “Help us find Bai Wei, okay? After all, he’s somewhat related to you*.”

*Clarity: They both have the same name/surname (same character) white [bai] (白).

Yin Ci doubted if the goose understood human speech—it gobbled up the cabbage with a crunch and continued to twist Su Si’s leg as if torturing him. It finally let go when Su Si winced in pain and walked away, huffing.

“Follow it!” Su Si made a quick decision.

Lord Bai led the group, swaying and tottering for nearly half an hour, until they reached the southwest corner of the village. They were just a stone’s throw away from their destination—only a few scattered houses remained there. Lord Bai then turned around, diving into a nearby pond.

“There aren’t many houses, so let’s search one by one,” Su Si seemed accustomed to such treatment. “It’s just…”

He nervously glanced at the goose’s backside and lowered his voice. “It’s just a goose, so it doesn’t have much of a brain.”

“Bai Wei is Teacher’s son. I used to work at his father’s school. He’s about four or five years older than me, and he’s a decent person. At least, he didn’t avoid me because of my ghost eyes,” Yan Qing said while searching for the person and addressing the group. “He has a handsome appearance and is good at telling stories. The village girls really like him.”

He didn’t even mind the inauspiciousness of his ghost eyes, and he had Yan Qing deliver small gifts on their behalf when he worked at the school. Yan Qing earned some leftovers as a messenger fee, which also improved his impression of Bai Wei.

However, when they pushed open Bai Wei’s door, they didn’t see a charming and talented scholar; instead, they saw a living skeleton.

Bai Wei’s courtyard was a mess, with shredded paper scattered everywhere. The owner of the courtyard sat there blankly, covered in dust, with only his two eyes remaining clean on his face. With such a countenance, it was already a success if he didn’t scare people to tears, let alone win the affection of young girls.

At first glance, Yan Qing didn’t dare recognize him, but Bai Wei was the first to do so. There was no other reason—Yan Qing’s red eyes were a distinctive feature.

“The boy from the Yan family.” Bai Wei’s lips quivered. “…You’re not dead, huh?”

Afterward, he withdrew his gaze and muttered to himself. “When a person isn’t well, hallucinations start to appear…”

Su Si hesitantly said, “Bai Wei, is it really you?”

Bai Wei carefully scrutinized Su Si for a while, and his gaze stopped at his teardrop mole. “The ‘Cuckoo Calamity’ of the Su family. It seems my eyes are playing tricks on me… And you—are you here to take me to the realm of immortals? Can a fox spirit do that?”

Shi Jingzhi: “…”

Shi Jingzhi: “I’m sorry, I am human.”

He immediately approached, checked Bai Wei’s pulse, and opened his medicine box. “This person is very weak and hasn’t eaten or drunk for a long time. Here, open your mouth. Have some honey.”

Bai Wei shook his head and turned his face away. “I have no appetite.”

Shi Jingzhi: “Oh.”

Decisively, he stimulated Bai Wei’s acupoints and poured the bottle of honey into his mouth, then gave him a bowl of water.

“If you’re determined to die, I won’t stop you. But we just arrived here and still want to leave… From the looks of it, you seem to know something. If you’re willing to help, I can make your death more comfortable.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Wei suddenly tensed his body, grabbed Shi Jingzhi’s collar, and burst forth with terrifying strength. “I don’t want to die! Who said I want to die? I just want to save A’Lu and our child. At least see them one more time, I…”

He struggled to catch his breath, as if this thought pained him. “I…”

“Take your time.” Yan Qing reassured him. “Don’t rush. There are no villagers here.”

Yin Ci silently revealed a false face to prove that Yan Qing’s words were true.

Bai Wei struggled to get up, broke off a piece of dry cake from the table, and forced himself to swallow it. He looked at the four of them with determination. “Xizhuang… Are all the people from Xizhuang gone?”

“They brought it upon themselves, brought it upon themselves! …But am I not also to blame? If it weren’t for me, everyone could have lived well.”

He laughed with laughter that sounded like cries, and his gaze was filled with a dangerous madness.

“You’ve come at the right time. I was planning to seek the Goddess tomorrow and ask her to send me to ‘save my immortal potential’.”

---

The author has something to say:

Fox Shi: ? Why does everyone think my disciple can’t find a partner? Alright, I’ll marry them.

Demonic Lord Yin: ?

Demonic Lord Yin, the face can be hidden, but the body can’t. What a pity, what a pity (?)

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 30: Immortal Potential

After obtaining Su Si’s consent, the group brought Auntie Liu back to their lodging.

Yin Ci cooked a bowl of porridge and had Yan Qing feed it to Auntie Liu little by little. Auntie Liu made a few raspy sounds in her throat. A glimmer of light returned to her eyes, and her eye sockets became moist again. Her face had few wrinkles, but she appeared like a flower wilting after being away from water for a few days, emitting a strange sense of withering.

“No, the bleeding won’t stop. Yan Qing, get some hot water and prepare needle and thread.” Shi Jingzhi gritted his teeth.

Although it had been bandaged, the small wound continued to ooze blood slowly, staining the cloth a dark red. Shi Jingzhi heated the needle, sewed up the wound with a thread, and carefully wiped the sutured area with pure alcohol—while the bleeding had stopped, another kind of liquid slowly seeped out.

The liquid resembled diluted blood, with a faint green glow on the surface. It was translucent and contained many fine, filamentous impurities. Those filaments seemed to possess life as they slowly crawled, reopening the sutured wound, and the blood began to flow again.

It was as if something was trying to break free from her veins.

Yin Ci had seen people who naturally bled uncontrollably, but Auntie Liu’s symptoms were completely different from theirs, exuding an eerie aura.

Shi Jingzhi was still trying to clean up those filaments, but they were endless and couldn’t be completely removed no matter what he did.

His hand gradually began to tremble.

Seeing the blood flowing again, Auntie Liu wasn’t surprised; instead, a hint of sorrow appeared on her face.

“That’s enough. This is the ‘three-day wound’. It’s useless,” she said. “Thank you all. It’s better this way… Anyway, there’s no one left in my family.”

Yan Qing walked to the bedside and tried to console her. “You just asked the Goddess for the miraculous elixir. It seems that this ‘three-day wound’ is not necessarily fatal.”

“Ah, the Great Goddess does have a miraculous elixir. That medicine can resurrect the dead and turn flesh into bones, but it’s only given to children and women in childbirth. Ordinary people can’t use it.” Auntie Liu smiled bitterly as her lips turned paler. “It was my impulsiveness. Lao Liu and I are both sixty years old, so it’s normal for the Goddess not to give it to us… I just miss Lao Liu.”

Yan Qing was startled. “Sixty?”

Auntie Liu looked no older than forty and still retained her charm. Seeing Yan Qing’s reaction, she wasn’t surprised. “I’ve heard that people outside age quickly. It seems to be true.”

Then she pushed the soup bowl away wearily. “I appreciate your kindness, but please send me back. If I die here, the house will also be tainted with bad luck.”

Su Si raised an eyebrow. “You just stay here. I’m not afraid of bad luck. What kind of person would I be if I let an old person go back and die alone?”

Auntie Liu smiled wearily and tightly held Yan Qing’s hand.

Yan Qing was a bit nervous but didn’t retract his hand. “Is it true that if someone stays in the village, they will die from the ‘three-day wound’?”

“Don’t worry for now. After the village initiation ceremony, you will become like this… Lao Liu came to the village several decades ago, and he told me…”

Yan Qing: “We won’t participate in the initiation ceremony.”

“If you don’t participate in the initiation ceremony, you will never be able to leave the village. Actually, the ceremony is quite good… As long as you don’t suffer a major injury, you’ll live a life free of illness and calamity and age slowly.” Auntie Liu exhaled slowly. “Child, don’t be disgusted. Let me hold your hand for a little longer… When Lao Liu was young, his hands were this big and so warm…”

She held onto Yan Qing’s hand like so, slowly closing her eyes, with a few tears streaming down her cheeks.

Shi Jingzhi collected his tools expressionlessly and suddenly stood up, walking towards the door. This fox might have discovered something, and Yin Ci hesitated for a moment before following him.

Outside the door, the night was deep, and the stars filled the sky.

Shi Jingzhi looked up at the sky, not saying a word. Yin Ci took a few steps forward and tapped his master’s back. “Shizun, what’s wrong?”

“When people died in the Ghost Tomb, it was only a moment with a fitting end,” Shi Jingzhi whispered, “But Auntie Liu doesn’t have to die. It’s just a minor wound… but I can’t find a solution, and I don’t even know the reason.”

It turned out their pulse was similar and so was their despair. Shi Jingzhi felt grief similar to Auntie Liu*.

*The fox is sad at the death of a hare (兔死狐悲) Idiom referring to feeling sorrow or sympathy for others who are in a similar situation or facing a similar fate.

Yin Ci had just discovered a new way of dying and happened to be in the right mood, so he couldn’t help but offer a few words of comfort. “At least Shizun has found a new clue. And the miraculous elixir does exist; it can cure Auntie Liu, so it must be able to cure Shizun too.”

Shi Jingzhi turned his head and looked at Yin Ci intently. Suddenly, he extended his arms and tightly embraced his disciple.

“Shizun?”

“A’Ci, let me hold you for a moment.” Shi Jingzhi lowered his head and held Yin Ci tightly.

Shi Jingzhi’s body temperature was slightly higher, and the warmth permeated through the thin fabric, giving the sensation of being invaded. But Yin Ci had always liked warm things, so he closed his eyes and allowed Shi Jingzhi to embrace him.

It was fine for the younger generation to act spoiled; there was no harm in it.

The other’s breath was somewhat hurried; perhaps they had once again encountered an incomprehensible dead end, and despair surged up again. Yin Ci remained motionless, with his hands hanging by his sides. He didn’t hug Shi Jingzhi back, but he didn’t break free either.

After holding Yin Ci for quite a while, Shi Jingzhi finally let out a breath. “I feel better now. Thank you.”

He didn’t say anything more, turned around, and walked a few steps towards the door before stopping and waiting for Yin Ci to catch up. Yin Ci watched his master’s figure and suddenly felt that this person was somewhat pitiful.

Seeing someone else being embraced, Shi Jingzhi seemed to be attracted by that emotional connection and had to experience it firsthand.

He often had moments of panic, indicating that he might not be naturally timid. That day in the Ghost Tomb, his emotions were like a turbulent sea, rushing forth relentlessly. His master seemed to be unable to handle his own emotions. Like a little beast abandoned by its pack, there was no one to teach him.

But he happened to be extremely knowledgeable and had formidable inner force.

The longer they spent together, the more Yin Ci found it difficult to fathom his master’s background. But today, when he remembered the mute boy, he felt a bit more tolerant towards Shi Jingzhi.

Although this fox was cunning in a thousand ways, what was the point of competing with a dying person?

The night passed uneventfully.

Su Si slept in bed, sprawled in all directions. Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci squeezed together, wrapped in a blanket. Auntie Liu held Yan Qing’s hand, and Yan Qing couldn’t bring himself to let go of her. He sat by the bed the whole night.

With the sunrise and the crowing of the rooster, everyone felt refreshed. However, Yan Qing’s face was pale and dark. He was nodding off at the edge of the bed, on the verge of slipping off the chair.

Auntie Liu lay quietly in bed. Her face was pale, and her chest rose and fell slowly, as if she was deeply asleep.

“She… She’s fine,” Yan Qing explained to the empty air in a daze. “Her hand is still warm. She’s fine.”

Su Si angrily pried his fingers apart. “Are you an idiot? Didn’t you think of calling for a replacement when you felt tired? Go to sleep now!”

Yan Qing stumbled to his feet and flopped onto Su Si’s bed, falling asleep in that position. Shi Jingzhi cleaned himself up and went to check Auntie Liu’s pulse.

Yin Ci didn’t bother with them and started a fire to cook rice porridge.

As the window opened, the air carried flower petals and grass fragments, gently pouring in with the sunlight. The morning in Yuanxian Village was particularly pleasant. The eerie aspects were somewhat blurred, giving a sense of peace and tranquility.

Breakfast was prepared, and Shi Jingzhi filled an extra bowl of porridge and set it aside by Auntie Liu’s bed.

The tranquility persisted until everyone finished breakfast.

Suddenly, voices came from outside the window. Yin Ci was the first to lean out and take a look.

There were five or six people gathered at the door of Su Si’s home. One person carried a roll of green grass mat on his shoulder, while another held a small white porcelain bottle with a jade-carved twig inside.

Lord Bai didn’t make a fuss; it was lying in its nest with its head tucked under its wing, still sound asleep. Su Si glanced at it, set down his bowl of porridge, and opened the door with relief.

The leader of the group was a young man. “Sorry to disturb you. We’ve come to collect the body.”

Su Si furrowed his brows. “What body? Auntie Liu is perfectly fine.”

The man smiled and shook his head. “You’re all outsiders, so perhaps you don’t understand.”

With that, he confidently entered the house and approached Auntie Liu. He lifted her eyelids.

“Here, see for yourselves.”

This time, not only Shi Jingzhi but even Su Si took a step back. Only Yin Ci secretly moved closer to get a clear look.

Countless strands of light green thread emerged from Auntie Liu’s pupils. These threads were strikingly similar to the ones flowing out of her wound yesterday. They squeezed within her eyeballs, tearing her pupils into fragmented pieces and sealing them tightly. Her eyes were in complete disarray, looking nothing like those of a living person.

But she still had breath, a heartbeat, and body temperature.

“People from Yuanxian Village ascend to immortality like this,” the leader of the group said calmly. “Since she won’t wake up, let us take her away.”

As he reached out his hand, Shi Jingzhi stopped him. “Wait a moment! Let me try again.”

He took a silver needle and pierced several major acupoints on Auntie Liu’s body. Even if Auntie Liu remained unconscious, her body should have shown some reaction. However, Auntie Liu continued to lie motionless, resembling a wooden sculpture that could breathe.

“Is that enough? If you want to try other methods, I won’t stop you… but everything you can think of, we’ve already tried. Who hasn’t had a family member ascend to immortality? Who doesn’t want their loved ones to stay a few more years?”

Shi Jingzhi didn’t move away; he stood in front of Auntie Liu. “But she is still alive.”

His voice was somewhat soft, and it was unclear whom he was trying to convince.

“Auntie Liu is considered half of our family—not some spectacle for you to see. If the body remains here, the Goddess will surely be angry, and you all may suffer.” The man’s tone grew heavier.

Su Si immediately stepped back, Yin Ci remained silent, and Yan Qing continued to sleep on the bed, weakly gripping his hand.

After a while, Shi Jingzhi finally moved aside and turned his back.

Seeing that he no longer resisted, the villagers unfolded the grass mat and carefully wrapped Auntie Liu in it, carrying her on their shoulders.

“We have one more thing to do on this trip. First, wake up the person on the bed. Yes, you three, come a little closer—according to the Goddess’ orders, you need to test your immortal potential.”

The atmosphere had been tense before, so the man deliberately softened his tone when saying this.

Under the eaves, they had to lower their heads. The situation was unique, and no one wanted to antagonize the Goddess now. Shi Jingzhi took advantage of the situation, forced a smile, and approached as requested.

Yan Qing was also pulled off the bed by Su Si, dazedly joining them. Only Yin Ci calmly returned to his seat, continuing to drink his porridge, completely ignored.

The man took the white porcelain bottle and extracted a few drops of liquid that resembled water onto the backs of the three individuals’ hands.

As soon as the droplets touched Shi Jingzhi’s hand, they instantly turned bright emerald green. The droplets on Su Si’s hand also changed color, revealing a pale green hue. However, the droplets on Yan Qing’s hand were different—his turned into a murky grayish-yellow.

“Indeed, it’s not easy to find hospitable guests. It’s rare for two of you to come at once. Brother, it’s a pity. Like the young man over there, you have no immortal potential.”

The man sighed at Yan Qing, shaking his head regretfully.

“To be honest, people without immortal potential are usually not allowed to stay in the village. If you want to stay, you’ll have to marry a woman from the village. But with your looks, brother, it shouldn’t be difficult for you to stay.”

He once again dismissively ignored Yin Ci.

Facing Shi Jingzhi and Su Si, especially Shi Jingzhi, the man’s smile became brighter. “As for you two. You are our compatriots by nature. Take the time to explore the village first. When the full moon arrives, the Goddess will conduct the ceremony to officially welcome you into the village.”

“Can my disciple be tested as well?” Shi Jingzhi negotiated. “It wouldn’t be fair to skip him like this, would it?”

“There’s no need to test him. Anyone with immortal potential is undoubtedly attractive.”

Shi Jingzhi’s smile froze on his face. “Does A’Ci have to get married in order to stay… What if he and Yan Qing can’t find someone to marry?”

The man pondered for a moment and replied vaguely, “The Great Goddess will handle it.”

“Brother Qing and I are married,” a crisp female voice suddenly spoke up.

Su Si hugged Yan Qing’s arm and spoke in a playful tone, mimicking a female voice. “Anyway, I have entered the village so does this count?”

Yin Ci: “…”

Shi Jingzhi: “???”

All the melancholy on his face was suddenly blown away, replaced by astonishment.

Even the villagers were startled. “You…”

“I was originally a girl, but it’s inconvenient to travel alone, so I disguised myself as a boy. I didn’t dare to reveal my identity when I was suddenly brought to the village… Now that my lover is here and you haven’t given me any trouble, I have nothing to worry about.”

Su Si was originally delicate in appearance and not particularly tall. Now he deliberately hunched his body, making himself appear even shorter. Strangely, his demeanor and voice were incredibly natural, without any sense of awkwardness. He looked like a tall and slender girl dressed as a boy.

Villager: “Well… that shouldn’t be a problem. Miss, we apologize for any offense before. Ahem, now there’s only the other young man left. Time is limited, so you should think of a solution quickly.”

Yin Ci turned his head slowly and looked at Shi Jingzhi.

Shi Jingzhi immediately shook his head vigorously, like a tambourine. No, no, he really couldn’t do this. He had a much larger build than Su Si and lacked any feminine features. He couldn’t fool anyone.

Yin Ci found Shi Jingzhi’s panicked appearance amusing.

He had no intention of pursuing the village women just to “avoid being dealt with”. On the contrary, he wanted to be captured by the Great Goddess as soon as possible and experience her abilities. However, such thoughts were too extraordinary and couldn’t be revealed to others.

Yan Qing, who already had insufficient sleep and was startled by Su Si’s revelation, remained dumbfounded in place. Even when the villagers left he couldn’t come back to his senses for a long time. “A’Si, are you really a girl?”

“San Zi, are you an idiot?” Su Si reverted to his normal voice. Then, in a granny’s tone, he continued, “If I speak like this, will you think of me as your grandma? It’s one thing if others get fooled, but you still believe it?”

“But your actions just now—”

Su Si stretched his muscles, and his gaze turned cold. “I’ve scraped by in the lowest levels of the martial world, performing ventriloquism and singing. Let’s not dwell on that. San Zi, this is just a temporary measure. Escaping as soon as possible is the main priority… Look at Auntie Liu’s condition. Something is increasingly wrong with this place.”

Yan Qing’s expression changed completely. “Auntie Liu’s condition? What condition? I was just about to ask, where is Auntie Liu?”

Su Si looked troubled, and Yin Ci stepped forward. “Let me explain.”

Not far away, the porridge left by Shi Jingzhi for Auntie Liu was still at the bedside. It gradually cooled down until it was completely cold.

……

At the same time, in the center of the village.

The Goddess sat in her room, holding the pen with her fair fingers, and started to write a letter on the “word cloth” in front of her. She didn’t address it to anyone by name, only writing the characters “To the Esteemed.”

[From Zongwu Mountain’s Yuanxian Village. One person born this month, two newly acquired individuals with immortal potential, excluding two elderly individuals. The number of villagers has increased by one, but it has not exceeded the predetermined limit.]

The Goddess wrote slowly, holding her breath and concentrating, afraid of making the slightest mistake. After writing a few characters, she would stop, wiping the sweat off her forehead.

[If this continues, the idol will be completed within the year.]

---

The author has something to say:

“Word cloth” was mentioned in Chapter 4. They are fish demon skins that can transmit information in real-time~

Comrade Yan Qing doesn’t have immortal potential. How pitiful. He’s handsome, unaffected by [spoiler noise], thanks to his hereditary handsomeness √

Actually, if we peel off the ghostskin of Demonic Lord Yin and test it, there might be some surprises! The villagers—

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 29: The Goddess

Su Si had a way of dealing with villagers. He showed no surprise or fear, always smiling and amusing Yin Deng.

After collecting their clothes and closing the door, Su Si’s expression turned serious. “It seems they really like Sect Master Shi. I’ve been in this village for almost half a month and haven’t heard anyone mention it.”

Shi Jingzhi frowned. “I’ve never heard of such a symptom. Brother Su, have you encountered any other strange things during your time here?”

“Believe me, this is definitely not a good place.” Su Si played with the cleaver absentmindedly. “The weather, the temperature, the humidity of the wind—nothing has changed in half a month. What’s even more terrifying is that they haven’t asked me to do anything.”

Upon hearing this, Yan Qing’s expression became increasingly puzzled.

Su Si casually tossed the cleaver onto the table and reached out to pull Yan Qing’s face. “San Zi, we lived together for two years, and I should have taken you out more often. In this world, there’s no pie in the sky that’s force-fed to you; only cases of forcibly taking you as a wife, not as a father.”

Shi Jingzhi intervened to ease the tension. “Forcing someone to come but not allowing them to leave, without any ulterior motives, can only mean they want to harm you.”

Yan Qing suddenly realized.

“The Taiheng Sect has a clean and upright reputation, but I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing. It seems the children have all turned foolish.” Su Si let go of Yan Qing’s face with an expression filled with concern.

With limited information in their hands, the group couldn’t plan ahead. After chatting for a while, it was time for lunch. Shi Jingzhi had an impressive record, so Yin Ci had prepared a table full of fish.

Su Si didn’t touch his chopsticks. “San Zi, can you still return to Taiheng? According to what you said, Senior Shi doesn’t seem angry with you. How about changing your identity… You two, I’m not saying that the Kushan Sect isn’t good. But as you can see, my brother here is just a piece of wood and can’t withstand any storms.”

Yan Qing lowered his eyes. “I’m afraid I can’t go back.”

Su Si shook his head and wiggled it. “Forget it, forget it. If you can’t go back, then you can’t. When I become a great hero, I’ll protect you. How about this, once we leave this place, you can come with me…”

Seeing the master and disciple start eating, Su Si finally picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

“I’ll go with you.” After swallowing the fish, Su Si spoke seriously. “Being realistic is important, even for a great hero. Sect Master Shi, does your Kushan Sect still need people?”

Shi Jingzhi: “…”

Shi Jingzhi: “To be honest, I’m out of money.”

“Forget about money. Let’s not worry about that. I still have some silver on hand, and that’s enough for meals.” Su Si was enthusiastic.

Yin Ci glanced at Lord Bai and suddenly interjected, “Brother Su, what can you do?”

“Ah?”

“Since Shizun isn’t taking on disciples, then you can only be a servant. Yan Qing is good at miscellaneous tasks, while I handle hunting and cooking. So, what does Brother Su plan to do?”

Su Si scratched his head for a moment. “How about I lend you Lord Bai?” he suggested.

‘Now it’s in my hands,’ thought Yin Ci. ‘If that goose demon really has extraordinary intuition, it can be used when searching for the Shirou.’

He thought to himself and glanced at Shi Jingzhi, only to find his master looking at him with an affectionate gaze that gave him goosebumps.

Yin Ci nearly choked on the fish soup.

“A’Ci, eat slowly.” Shi Jingzhi patted his back.

Despite his fears, Shi Jingzhi still held more fondness than caution for his disciple.

Before entering the Ghost Tomb, he had entrusted Shen Zhu to thoroughly investigate everyone. Along the way, while he was fearful, he had secretly observed each person. If someone had assumed another’s identity, he should have noticed. But he didn’t.

He had also fought against that person in white. Judging from their bone structure, the white-clad person was only around twenty years old. After reaching the third level, with only a few dozen people remaining, the range became even smaller. Yet, he still couldn’t find them.

And the one whose background he couldn’t uncover was none other than Yin Ci. He had tried probing multiple times, but Yin Ci remained unmoved like a mountain, making it impossible for Shi Jingzhi to come to a definite conclusion.

So, he resorted to a compromise—he would place a layer of window paper between the two of them and put the matter on the back burner. By saying “I don’t care about private matters”, regardless of whether Yin Ci was the person in white or not, it wouldn’t harm their relationship.

Apart from these things, Yin Ci was a perfect disciple—thoughtful, sensible, and skilled in cooking. If an ordinary person were caught up in these extraordinary events, they would inevitably harbor resentment and grievances. However, Yin Ci not only had no complaints but also raised objections to Su Si’s desire to join them.

Shi Jingzhi inexplicably remembered the cat he had secretly raised in his childhood.

That cat had an extremely strong sense of territory and was keen on hissing at everything unfamiliar. Other than that, it was good to pet. The current situation seemed to be black and white, as if it wasn’t that important.

Lost in his thoughts, Shi Jingzhi burned his tongue with a fish ball. Before he could say anything, Yin Ci handed him a cup of cold water.

If their encounter at Kushan was truly fate, then this time fate was rather gentle to him.

After satisfying their hunger and thirst, Shi Jingzhi took out the clear silver bamboo pole and compared it to the coarse hemp cloth, sighing.

Su Si was eager to prove his worth. Even before he finished swallowing the fish in his mouth, he became more talkative. “Sect Master Shi, what are you worried about?”

“The previous flag is damaged, and I want to make a new one. Going to the banquet at night with just a bamboo pole will only raise suspicions,” Shi Jingzhi explained while smearing some soot from the stove and skillfully drawing the bold and vigorous characters: “Medicine Cures Illness”.

“Surely there must be an embroidery expert in this village. But I’m not at ease with taking things out. Bringing in an outsider would also be inconvenient for conversation. Brother Su, do you have any ideas?”

“I have needles and thread… but San Zi can at most do some patchwork, not embroidery. How about Sect Master bring a kitchen knife and keep it in your pocket?”

Wouldn’t that make it even more suspicious? Shi Jingzhi firmly shook his head.

After finishing his fish soup with a loud gulp, Su Si let out a big burp. “Well, then I have no solution. There are only four grown men here. Who would have the idle time to learn embroidery?”

Yin Ci replied expressionlessly, “I can.”

Su Si: “…You can both cook and do embroidery. Brother, are you really his disciple and not his wife?”

Yin Ci couldn’t be bothered with arguing with the younger generation. “I happen to know a little bit.”

It wasn’t that he enjoyed it; he was simply bored and had tried all kinds of crafts to pass the time. Even if Shi Jingzhi wanted a sugar painting right now, he could easily create a zodiac animal on the spot.

Ignoring his astonished master, Yin Ci directly took the bamboo pole and fabric and skillfully started sewing the flag. In no time, the flag took shape, even more exquisite than the previous one.

Shi Jingzhi was deeply moved. “A’Ci, if you were a girl, with this skill alone, you would definitely marry well.”

Yin Ci coldly raised his eyes. “Shizun, what characters do you want to embroider on this flag? Let me think… ‘Medicine Cures Illness’, right?”

Shi Jingzhi suddenly fell silent, not daring to say another word.

In less than half an hour, the flag was embroidered. Yin Ci’s stitches were delicate and neat, the characters on the flag were clear and full, and the fabric was well stretched. Shi Jingzhi hung his jade pendant on it and vigorously rubbed his face against the flag, clearly delighted.

Su Si looked at Yan Qing. “San Zi, I thought you enjoyed doing housework, but there are people in this world even crazier than you… You can’t admit defeat!”

Yan Qing: “???”

While the three of them were busy with their own discussions, Yin Ci secretly approached Lord Bai, attempting to touch it. If this goose demon’s intuition was truly remarkable, perhaps it could help him find a dead end. Although he despised this creature, it was necessary to build a good relationship.

But to his surprise, Lord Bai widened its round black eyes, and the two flesh antennae on its head slowly stood upright. It opened its mouth at Yin Ci, revealing rows of fine teeth.

Yin Ci continued to reach out—he had tamed countless demons, so how could he be afraid of this creature?

As it turned out, it dared indeed.

Lord Bai slowly bit down on Yin Ci’s hand and twisted it forcefully. It stared at him defiantly, as if issuing a warning. Helplessly, Yin Ci had to pry open its beak and retract his hand.

Fine, there’s always tomorrow.

Nightfall arrived quickly.

The four of them changed into ordinary attire from the village and headed to the banquet with Yin Deng. Considering the situation, Lord Bai would easily be mistaken for an extra dish, so they had to leave it behind to guard the house.

The banquet was set up in an open space on the side of the village, with round tables arranged. The four of them joined the Yin family at one table, and the table was filled with abundant dishes. Laughter and joy surrounded them. If they hadn’t just found out that someone had died, this scene wouldn’t be much different from a countryside wedding feast.

Having eaten a lot for lunch, the four of them didn’t have much appetite now and barely touched their chopsticks.

Yin Deng thought they were being reserved. She put down the spoon she was using to feed her younger sister and smiled at Shi Jingzhi. “Big brother, from now on, the whole village is one big family. Don’t feel like outsiders.”

“Yes, half of this banquet is for you. It’s been a long time since we had new guests in the village, so everyone is very happy,” Yin Deng’s mother added in a gentle voice. “Tonight, the Goddess will make an appearance. It’s a big event.”

Shi Jingzhi: “The Goddess?”

“The village immortal!” Yin Deng cheerfully said. “Mom said that the Goddess has been here for over fifty years but usually doesn’t show herself. However, if a child is born in the village or new people arrive, she comes out to greet them.”

Yin Ci happily sucked on the tip of his chopsticks. Everyone at the banquet treated him as if he were invisible. He felt more at ease than the attention-grabbing Shi Jingzhi and could freely look around.

As scheduled, the Goddess made her appearance after the banquet.

The Goddess was exquisitely beautiful, appearing to be less than thirty years old. She wore a casually styled light green dress and her black hair loosely tied in a bun, with a jade hairpin inserted that swayed with her steps.

She walked through the lively banquet, and the surrounding festive atmosphere instantly dissipated by half. The villagers dared not touch the Goddess and their eyes were filled with reverence and infatuation.

…An immortal?

Yin Ci didn’t sense anything particularly special about her.

The Goddess stopped in front of Shi Jingzhi and carefully examined him, showing a satisfied expression. But before she could speak, a woman rushed over from the side.

The woman hurriedly knelt down, holding the hem of the Goddess’s clothes, and stammered, “Great Goddess, could you make an exception and let Lao Liu come back to accompany me for two more years? I know ascending to immortality is a good thing, but, but…”

“Auntie Liu, what are you doing?!” Yin Deng’s father lowly scolded. “The elixir is not meant for ordinary people. Have you forgotten the rules?”

Auntie Liu looked like she was in her middle years, but there was still a youthful lament in her eyes. “Lao Liu left too early. I suddenly said at noon that I wanted to drink broth, and he went to cut…”

Yin Deng couldn’t understand the underlying sadness in the conversation. “But that was Uncle Liu’s own carelessness, and besides, ascending to immortality isn’t a bad thing.”

Auntie Liu just continued crying.

The Goddess wasn’t angered; she gently helped Auntie Liu up. “Parting from life and death is always hard to get used to. It’s normal if you’re not accustomed. The banquet is too noisy; you should go home and rest for a while.”

The Goddess had a gentle and compassionate appearance, exuding a somewhat merciful Bodhisattva-like temperament. As Auntie Liu looked at her face, her tears gradually stopped, and she nodded absentmindedly.

She got up, bowed to the Goddess, and staggered back. But just halfway, she suddenly fell to the ground and cut her palm deeply.

Shi Jingzhi instinctively reached for the medicine box.

“No need to bother. She’s also ascending to immortality,” Yin Deng exclaimed loudly.

Auntie Liu cowered on the ground, sitting there as if she hadn’t reacted. A large amount of blood gushed from her palm, seeping into the ground.

Shi Jingzhi still paid no attention and stood up to go over and bandage her. Auntie Liu was like an unconscious puppet, motionless, allowing Shi Jingzhi to clean the wound and apply ointment.

“Auntie Liu, go home and get ready. You don’t have much time left…” someone nearby said to her.

“She’ll come with us, and I’ll treat her,” Shi Jingzhi interrupted. “This injury isn’t a big deal; it shouldn’t be fatal.”

The Goddess watched with interest. “Very well, everyone needs to adapt, so let him go. In a few days, he will surely come to find me.”

Yin Ci stared fixedly at the Goddess, sensing something vaguely.

In that brief moment, he felt the aura of magic from the Goddess. The incident with Auntie Liu just now wasn’t an accidental fall; it was intentional by the Goddess.

Shi Jingzhi’s behavior also surprised him.

Although his master couldn’t be considered evil, his kindness wasn’t so overflowing. Shi Jingzhi had already reached his limit by tending to Auntie Liu’s wound, so it didn’t make sense to bring her along. However, this convenience worked in Yin Ci’s favor. If he could discover the secret of the villagers’ easy deaths, he might be able to conduct some experiments on himself.

Shi Jingzhi said, “Yan Qing, carry Auntie Liu on your back. We’re leaving.”

“Shizun, why do we have to take her back?”

Shi Jingzhi glanced at Yin Ci with burning eyes and whispered, “You know that my health isn’t good.”

“Yes.”

“Auntie Liu’s pulse is three parts similar to mine.”

---

The author has something to say:

Yin Ci: He’s a fox. Happy, pet him and touch him.

Shi Jingzhi: He’s a cat. Happy, pet him and touch him.

Some time later.

Yin Ci: Change back!

Shi Jingzhi: You change back first!

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