Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 35: The Idol

At present, the master wasn’t going mad, and the disciple wasn’t drowning either. Shi Jingzhi suppressed his anger, refraining from even grabbing Yin Ci’s hand as they walked into the pitch-black forbidden area.

Yin Ci remained vigilant, sensing the trembling in Shi Jingzhi’s footsteps, but he felt that the level of caution was somewhat exaggerated.

Now, he didn’t care about inquiring into the origins of his cheap master; he was more interested in knowing what kind of being his cheap master was.

The two of them remained in this tense atmosphere, each standing a step apart, neither uttering a word.

The forbidden area at night had no trace of light and was even darker than the Ghost Tomb. The stone steps under their feet were covered in moss and were incredibly slippery. Yin Ci had obtained a lantern from the villagers and walked cautiously. It was difficult to imagine how a child could walk with closed eyes in such a place.

When performing a play, one must act the part convincingly. Yin Ci would take a step and then pause, shining the light on each stone chamber on the cave wall.

The small chambers were almost empty, with at most some remnants of clothing or gold and silver jewelry. Not to mention corpses, they couldn’t even find a single bone.

Last time, there were too many people during the funeral, and they couldn’t observe carefully. But now, upon closer inspection, even the Paper Figurine Street was infested with bugs and rodents, yet the forbidden area was devoid of even half of a creature.

It was unclear whether it had a connection to the outside world or if spells didn’t work here, but the entire deep pit was cold and silent, like newly formed thin ice on the water’s surface, with the air frozen solid.

There was no trace of light anywhere.

The two of them wandered around, walking until they reached the end of the stone steps. The end of the steps was particularly cold, with a thin layer of ice forming on the surface of the stone, making it even more difficult to walk.

Yin Ci specifically glanced at Auntie Liu’s stone chamber, and indeed, it was empty. Only a few pieces of clothing were haphazardly mixed together, exuding a hint of sorrowful coldness.

“Neither Yin Deng nor Bai Wei are up here.” Shi Jingzhi cleared his throat. “The situation downstairs is strange. You should follow me back… Huh?!”

Suddenly, the last few stone slabs sank downward, disappearing into thin air. A cold sensation came from behind the two, and their feet were suspended in mid-air as they fell straight down.

Yin Ci leaned closer to the rock wall, grabbing Shi Jingzhi’s wrist with one hand and reaching for the edge of a stone chamber with the other.

He didn’t care about himself, but if Shi Jingzhi were to fall, he would become a lump of fox meat. Yin Ci might be seeking death, but he hadn’t planned on dragging another companion along on the journey to the underworld.

Besides, he might not necessarily die.

Yin Ci firmly held onto the stone platform, gradually regaining his strength, when he suddenly felt an unfamiliar sensation on the back of his hand.

Something was caressing his hand.

Yin Ci raised his head abruptly, squinting his eyes. The lantern had fallen not far above, and there was still a flicker of fire, allowing him to vaguely make out the situation—

A hand reached out from within the stone chamber.

…They had just checked a moment ago, and all the stone chambers were empty.

But that hand did exist. It was extremely withered, resembling a dried corpse, and its shape was quite peculiar, with fingers longer than those of an ordinary person.

The touch of the hand was icy cold and dry, without a hint of warmth.

The hand stretched out from the depths of the stone chamber, resembling the delicate legs of a spider. It bent at an angle that didn’t conform to human structure, gently prying open Yin Ci’s fingers.

Yin Ci remained silent as he slid down quietly. He feared that if Shi Jingzhi saw this thing, he would be frightened out of his wits, and saving him would be even more troublesome.

Shi Jingzhi simply assumed that Yin Ci couldn’t bear his weight. Taking advantage of the situation, he adjusted his posture and thrust the flag forward. The clear silver bamboo pole lit by the yang fire was inserted into the stone wall like a block of tofu.

The two of them descended for a while, awkwardly suspended in mid-air. They had an intimate encounter with the white-robed creature hanging on the wall. As they drew closer, the stench of blood and flesh became even more pronounced. The white-robed creature remained motionless, yet possessed a warmth reminiscent of a living person, making them extremely uncomfortable.

Shi Jingzhi’s expression fluctuated, seemingly wanting to let go and be done with it.

On the other hand, Yin Ci firmly held onto the chain, suspending himself together with the white-robed creature.

“Shizun, what should we do?”

With the situation urgent, Shi Jingzhi no longer held a grudge against his disciple. After steadying his emotions for a moment, his whole body burst into yang fire, illuminating the area above them.

His original intention seemed to be to illuminate the surroundings, figure out how far they had slipped, and calculate the distance to climb back. However, as soon as he shed light on the situation, Shi Jingzhi saw it too clearly.

Numerous long and slender hands extended from various stone chambers, forming a web above them, clearly indicating that they were not meant to ascend.

Now things were even worse. Shi Jingzhi, who was unprepared, trembled all over. He slid down a section of the bamboo pole, almost falling straight down. Yin Ci grabbed him and said with great seriousness, “Since we can’t go up for the time being, we might as well go down and take a look.”

Shi Jingzhi gulped and swallowed his saliva. “A’Ci, are you serious?”

The forbidden area was within reach, and Yin Ci couldn’t be bothered to act or beat around the bush. He got straight to the point. “The Goddess has become wary of both of us. Even if we manage to escape now, it will be difficult to obtain any other information. Shizun, since we’ve come…”

Shi Jingzhi couldn’t decide whether the terrifying aspect was the hand web above or his disciple saying “since we’ve come” in the face of this situation.

However, what Yin Ci said was indeed reasonable. If they didn’t enter the tiger’s den, how could they catch the tiger’s cub? Shi Jingzhi didn’t want to spend the rest of his life in Yuanxian Village. He looked up at the hand web and took a deep breath. “Lend me the Hanging Shadow Sword.”

The two of them awkwardly switched positions in midair. Shi Jingzhi held the “Medicine Cures Illness” flag in one hand and the Hanging Shadow Sword in the other, alternating between inserting them into the rock wall, steadily descending. Yin Ci embraced his master’s neck, keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings.

The further down they went, the more white-robed creatures there were. They hung silently at the ends of iron chains, varying in size from dozens to hundreds. As they delved deeper, the stench of rotting flesh grew stronger, making them nauseous.

It was unknown whether Fox Shi’s nose could withstand it.

After climbing down for an unknown length of time, the two of them finally caught sight of a faint glimmer.

They had reached the bottom of this bottomless forbidden area. From a distance, they could see countless peculiar-shaped objects at the bottom of the pit, resembling enormous withered lotus leaves. A jade-green liquid flowed out from an unknown source, winding its way down and forming a thin layer of water at the bottom of the forbidden area, reflecting a soft shimmering blue light.

The bottom of the water was covered in dark-colored silt, seemingly mixed with something, but from their distance, the two couldn’t make out the details.

In the center of the shallow pond, surrounded by these numerous “lotus leaves” stood a deformed “lotus pod” made of stone.

Its convex and concave shape was opposite to that of an ordinary lotus pod. It resembled an empty bowl, filled with a luminous green liquid. Several cylindrical stone platforms stood within the bowl with their tops protruding above the liquid surface, varying in size. From top to bottom, they vaguely resembled dark “lotus seeds”.

Occasionally, liquid overflowed from the edge of the stone lotus seed. It flowed intermittently, cascading into the water below, creating a gurgling sound like a waterfall.

This was the only lively scene in the pit. Everything else was desolate and stagnant, enveloped in a peculiar sense of tranquility.

Having witnessed the man-eating lake in the Ghost Tomb’s second level, Shi Jingzhi didn’t want to touch any unknown liquid. Leaning on the flagpole for leverage, he pushed himself up the wall, rushing towards the outermost stone platform of the “lotus pod”. Compared to their first encounter, Shi Jingzhi’s movements were more coordinated this time. He even found the time to change his posture, holding Yin Ci horizontally in his arms.

However, his landing wasn’t ideal.

It took more than a day to freeze three feet of ice*. Despite diligently practicing his external martial arts for a few days, Shi Jingzhi still lacked proficiency. If it weren’t for his disciple acting as a cushion below, Shi Jingzhi would have nearly stopped abruptly with his face.

*(冰冻三尺非一日之寒) Proverb that emphasizes the idea that significant achievements or profound change require time, effort, and perseverance (AKA Rome was not built in a day).

The two of them barely stopped at the edge of the stone platform, with less than a yard of space. They narrowly avoided rolling down.

Yin Ci, cushioned by his master’s flesh, couldn’t move and was firmly squashed. Rarely, golden stars flashed before his eyes, and for a moment, he didn’t want to say anything.

Shi Jingzhi, who almost flattened his disciple like a dumpling wrapper, felt embarrassed as he climbed up. “A’Ci, just now… urgh!”

He didn’t finish his sentence as his complexion changed, and he turned his head to vomit.

Yin Ci quickly got up and saw the reason behind Shi Jingzhi’s vomiting—

There were people.

Underneath the translucent liquid resembling jade, numerous people lay. Dozens of individuals were in the lotus stone bowls, while there were hundreds more in the shallow ponds surrounding them.

Well, perhaps “lay” wasn’t quite accurate. Those people no longer resembled humans. They were naked, as if molded from the softest colored wax and slowly melted, their bodies turning into a viscous paste. Their flesh sank underwater, with dark red muscles protruding outward, mingling with their internal organs, forming a strange and grotesque red mud.

Yet they were still alive.

Many eyeballs hadn’t completely melted and were slowly rotating within the gaps between bones. Twisted hearts floated above their flesh, beating laboriously. Blood flowed extremely slowly through the deformed skin.

Yin Ci didn’t know if these people still had any consciousness, and he hoped they didn’t.

This wasn’t the kind of death he sought.

Shi Jingzhi vomited for a long time before finally recovering his composure. Under the pale light, his complexion wasn’t much different from that of a dead person.

“I smell Auntie Liu.” Shi Jingzhi trembled. “I’ve given her medicine before, so I remember its scent.”

At this moment, Yin Ci didn’t have the mindset to tease him. Shi Jingzhi was only twenty-seven years old, not some mentally twisted lunatic. Seeing such a scene suddenly was naturally overwhelming.

Even someone as knowledgeable as Yin Ci was momentarily horrified.

The Ghost Tomb was strange, but all those peculiarities were still within the realm of “humanly desires”. However, what lay before their eyes was different. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn’t made by human hands.

Yin Ci silently approached and let Shi Jingzhi bury his face in his shoulder. It seemed as if Shi Jingzhi had found a lifeline as he held onto his disciple tightly, taking deep breaths for quite a while before barely calming down.

Knowing the true nature of the red mud in the shallow pond made the stench in the air particularly nauseating.

“Shh.” Yin Ci patted his back. “I have a strong destiny, capable of overcoming evil spirits. Remember, Shizun?”

“I remember.” Shi Jingzhi wiped the corner of his mouth and weakly smiled. “Now I understand what happened to the acacia bean. Bai Wei… he might be here.”

Neither alive nor dead, the acacia bean couldn’t turn to ashes and couldn’t maintain its original form.

As if hearing their conversation, a small sob suddenly emanated from the chaotic shadows. Shi Jingzhi stiffened, unsure, and raised his voice slightly, “Yin Deng?”

The sob immediately turned into a mournful wail, and now both of them heard it clearly. It was indeed the voice of a young girl. The voice came from the central stone platform, not too far from where they stood.

The master and disciple were standing on a small stone platform at the edge. Shi Jingzhi staggered to his feet and began moving toward the center of the stone lotus.

The fluorescence was weak, and at such a short distance, shadows could easily engulf the appearance of things. From this perspective, there were figures standing on the other stone platforms. Those things remained motionless, standing at about nine feet tall, certainly not the size of a little girl.

If they wanted to reach the central stone platform, the two of them couldn’t avoid them.

The master and disciple seemed to reach a silent agreement and refrained from acting rashly. Shi Jingzhi didn’t dare ignite his yang fire, afraid of alarming them. Both of them held their breath and carefully avoided each eerie silhouette, relying solely on the faint fluorescence as they stealthily made their way towards the center of the stone platform.

Upon reaching the central stone platform and confirming the silence around them, Shi Jingzhi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Located in the center of the pit, where the fluorescence was slightly brighter, they finally got a clear view of the central stone platform.

Standing on the platform was an unfinished towering statue of a deity, and Yin Deng was sobbing at its feet. She curled up into a dark red bundle, motionless, like a fallen fruit for offerings.

Not to mention the young Yin Deng, even Shi Jingzhi hesitated to move after getting a clear look at the deity.

The deity was approximately thirteen feet tall—quite massive—and of a common size seen during the Yun Dynasty. They even recognized the appearance of the statue, which was also very common—it depicted the national deity of Great Yun’s state religion, the Imperial Celestial.

However, it wasn’t an ordinary clay statue.

Its framework wasn’t made of iron or wood but of genuine human bones.

Countless human bones were used in its construction, forming a delicate and symmetrical structure. Rows of arm bones, bundles of leg bones, neatly assembled pelvic bones, and interwoven rib bones. Different-sized skulls were strung together, stacked in an orderly manner. Even human teeth became part of the sculpting props, densely embedded together.

The bone surface was covered in flesh membranes, with blood vessels and tendons inseparable, tightly binding the skeletal structure of the deity. Viscous flesh paste was layered on top, compressed, and molded into the divine body and garments. To ensure the flesh remained intact, tiny light green fibers were mixed into the flesh paste, identical to those emanating from Yin Deng’s eyes.

Within the intricately constructed skeleton, a large mass of hearts was intertwined, beating lightly and slowly. Some deformed eyes could be seen within the flesh paste, their gazes scattered as if lost in a dream.

…A living flesh idol.

Currently, only half of its flesh body had been sculpted, with one side vivid and the other skeletal. The finer details weren’t deeply carved, indicating that it was clearly an unfinished work. Its head had not been sculpted with distinct features; only a rough structure was outlined, with the flesh paste loosely stretched over it, and delicate blood vessels clearly visible.

The deity slightly bowed its head with its movements exuding a bone-chilling sense of compassion, similar to the Goddess.

Yin Deng lay at the foot of this colossal entity with her left arm deformed from some impact, with traces of the flesh paste’s texture showing through.

Shi Jingzhi took two steps forward, attempting to hold her. Suddenly, a green light flashed, and he unknowingly activated some kind of spell, instantly flooding the entire underground space with light. Bright beams came from all directions, dazzling their eyes.

All shadows disappeared into nothingness, and the complete view of the underground space appeared before them.

Yin Ci didn’t have a chance to observe the details around them. Previously, the darkness was dense, and they could only see where the fluorescence illuminated. Now that everything had taken form, it added the final straw to everyone’s nerves, pushing them to the brink of collapse.

After the flesh idol, a truly colossal idol was revealed.

The statue was embedded in the cave wall, with only its massive head and part of the upper body exposed. If it weren’t for the fact that half of the head was embedded in the wall, this statue could completely block the pit.

It was undoubtedly not formed by human hands—this statue was composed of countless intertwined tree roots, showing no trace of deliberate intervention.

The deity slightly leaned forward, as if observing the people, and the bright light illuminated its facial features formed by the intertwined roots.

The Imperial Celestial had a face that appeared somewhat androgynous, with a beautiful and plump appearance. However, unlike the statues worshiped in temples, there was no trace of compassion between its eyebrows; only boundless indifference. The slender arms hung at the edge of the statue, twisted and contorted like dying ghost spiders.

Shi Jingzhi supported himself with the flagpole as he stared in disbelief. His whole body seemed about to collapse, but he managed to stand firm, avoiding sitting on the ground.

His face turned pale, and he murmured, “We came too early. We should have let Yan Qing divinate first. At the very least, we should have brought that goose along.”

Yin Ci remained silent.

He stood directly in front of the flesh deity. From this angle, the two statues complemented each other, creating an extremely eerie beauty.

In front, scattered bones and flesh; behind, countless plants and trees. The scene was no different from the myriad of creatures in the world.

For some unknown reason, a subtle sense of familiarity arose in Yin Ci’s heart. This place was clearly not his place of burial, yet it felt like some kind of destiny.

How absurd.

The author has something to say:

Shi Jingzhi: If I am guilty, the law should punish me instead of taking me on a tour of the underworld attractions _(;з」∠)_

Yin Ci: This master worship is too lively, but it’s lively in the wrong direction _(;з」∠)_ 

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 34: Heaven and Earth Are Impartial

Su Si had just escorted Yin Deng back home last night and became the focus of Mian Jie’s inquiry. She grabbed his shoulders and shook him, but he didn’t forget to change his voice to a girl’s. “Yin Deng is missing again?”

“I asked her during the day, and she only said she dreamed of A’Lu last night, and A’Lu was crying sadly.”

The more she spoke, the more choked up she became. “I thought the child was emotionally affected by the dream, but then she disappeared again after just falling asleep tonight… Her father and I locked the door specially… Are you sure you haven’t seen her?”

Su Si shook his head.

Mian Jie’s face was exhausted, and her hair was in disarray from being grabbed. She stood still for a while and gritted her teeth. “Her father went to ask people around, and I… I’m going to ask the Great Goddess. In case Yin Deng ran outside the village boundaries but went the wrong way…”

Her voice became more and more trembling, scared by her own imagination.

Yan Qing put on his coat. “Don’t jump to conclusions. We will also help you look for her. Yin Deng has small steps, so she can’t run too far.”

With the chaos outside, pretending to have somnambulism tonight was out of the question. Yin Ci slowly got out of bed and let out a resigned sigh.

Shi Jingzhi had already dressed neatly in the sect’s attire and lifted the “Medicine Cures Illness” flag. “A’Ci, we will also go and look for her.”

The villagers searched for a long time. The good news was that there were no fresh footprints or traces outside the village. However, the bad news was that there were no traces of Yin Deng inside the village either.

The Goddess was finally invited, still in her graceful appearance, with her hair neatly arranged. After hearing the villagers’ account, her face showed some sorrow. “She may have entered the forbidden area.”

“But isn’t A’Huo guarding outside the forbidden area?” Mian Jie knelt on the ground and responded with a somewhat mournful voice. “She’s just a child. How could she have bypassed the dog demon? And there are people in white robes guarding inside the forbidden area. There should have been some movement…”

The Goddess’s expression was slightly displeased. “This matter is suspicious and needs to be thoroughly investigated.”

“I want to go in.” Mian Jie’s eyes were red. “Great Goddess, let me go in and find her.”

“A’Mian, you understand the rules. That’s not a place for those who haven’t ascended to immortality, so the villagers are not allowed to enter the forbidden area. If you displease the divine spirits in the forbidden area, there will be only a dead end. Although Yin Deng is young, breaking the rules is breaking the rules, and I cannot help you.”

Mian Jie let out a bitter laugh. “Then I will ascend to immortality right now, and you can immediately prepare my funeral. Yin Deng is still young, and she has just gone missing recently, so she must still be alive. Please help me find her, I beg you to help me find her…”

After speaking, she rushed towards a nearby tree trunk, seemingly intending to take her own life in public.

Yin Ci acted quickly, grabbing her, and suddenly had an idea in his mind.

“Great Goddess, a few days ago, I had a conversation with Bai Wei, and he mentioned that he wanted to enter the forbidden area to accumulate immortal potential.”

The Goddess finally turned her gaze toward him. “What about it?”

“Bai Wei has no immortal potential, just like me. But he was able to enter the forbidden area with you, and I heard that he didn’t bring anyone who had already ‘ascended to immortality’… May I ask, Great Goddess, how long was he able to act normally after entering the forbidden area?”

Shi Jingzhi sensed the hidden meaning behind Yin Ci’s words and exploded. “A’Ci, let’s go back and discuss this!”

“Shizun, time waits for no one,” Yin Ci firmly expressed. “Great Goddess, if  ‘that’s not a place for those who haven’t ascended to immortality, so the villagers are not allowed to enter the forbidden area’, what about people from outside the village? Since the immortals haven’t bestowed their protection upon me, they shouldn’t have the authority to punish me either, right?”

Shi Jingzhi was about to be driven crazy by his disciple—what bullshit are you spouting?! Common sense would tell you that people would give face to their own family. If a stranger trespassed on their territory, they would be kicked out as far as possible.

But unexpectedly, after contemplating for a while, the Goddess actually agreed with that heap of bullshit. “Immortal potentials are weak and insignificant, as insignificant as ants, and indeed, they would not immediately alarm the celestials. If you act quickly enough, you might have a chance to try.”

Yin Ci nodded happily, seeing the Great Goddess in a slightly better light for the first time.

Shi Jingzhi wasn’t a rare saint, and he didn’t believe that Yin Deng’s life was worth more than his own disciple’s. He shouted hoarsely with a tone filled with intimidation, “As your master, I forbid it!”

On the other side, Mian Jie had already collapsed on the ground. On one hand, she hoped that Yin Ci would bring her daughter back, but on the other hand, she felt the same panic as Shi Jingzhi. Countless emotions choked her throat, and she couldn’t utter a word. Yin Deng’s father, after searching the surroundings, finally arrived. He held his wife and daughter in his arms, muttering as if praying.

Yin Deng’s younger sister hung onto her father’s chest. She seemed to sense something and wailed loudly, struggling desperately as her cries pierced the sky.

The atmosphere froze for a moment.

Shi Jingzhi felt numbness in his limbs. His rationality told him that if he stopped Yin Ci now, it would only make the actions of the Kushan Sect in the village more difficult. But with the strange phenomenon involving Bai Wei and the subtle attitude of the Great Goddess, Yin Ci’s journey this time seemed more perilous than auspicious.

And deep within his heart, that unnamed emotion erupted again, like a curse that couldn’t be shaken off.

Like it had for the past twenty years, it burrowed into the depths of his mind and whispered softly to him—everyone is suffering, longing for the unattainable, jealous of what they once had. Even ordinary people experience gains and losses, but everything for you goes against your wishes, leaving you unable to obtain what you seek.

Aren’t you resentful?

Look, the panicked and pitiful family of Yin Deng is staring at Yin Ci as if it’s only natural for him to bring their daughter back. They must consider it a given that “their daughter will live until tomorrow”, which is why they cannot accept reality. How arrogant.

For the sake of this “given”, they even want to gamble with Yin Ci’s life.

Yin Ci was clearly his disciple, his possession, his “karmic bond”. How dare they?

This emotion, like a hunger from seven days of fasting, ignited a cold fire within him in his chest. He had to tear something apart, seize something, to extinguish it.

Shi Jingzhi had once thought it was an inner demon*, appearing too early. When he was just coming of age, it was already accompanying him. A young child wouldn’t even understand earthly desires, so how could it give rise to such a complex whirlpool of desires?

*In terms of cultivation, they are negative emotions and mental barriers that hinders one’s training and cultivation.

Fortunately, no matter what this impulse was, Shi Jingzhi was extremely familiar with it. He knew well how to control this ferocious beast, not letting it harm others when it was unleashed.

For example, he could crush this intense desire and transform it into anger.

Perhaps Shi Jingzhi had been silent for too long, and the gazes of the many villagers all concentrated on him. The rise and fall of Shi Jingzhi’s chest gradually intensified, and anger ignited in his eyes. Wearing that not very magnificent sect master’s robe, he slowly exuded a silent aura of oppression, a sense of pressure stronger than even that of the Goddess.

Yin Ci instantly dispelled his pleasant mood.

Shi Jingzhi usually had an appearance as if he would be scared to death with just a slight carelessness. Even though Yin Ci knew that this person’s origins were mysterious, he didn’t pay much attention to him, treating him as if he had raised a clingy big fox. And when things got out of control in the Ghost Tomb, he simply thought his master had some personality issues, naturally carrying a bit of madness.

It made the game more exciting, and Yin Ci had no complaints.

…Until this moment.

Speaking of which, this was the first time Yin Ci had seen Shi Jingzhi calmly release pressure.

Yin Ci slightly arched his back, showing some genuine vigilance. He had seen true powerhouses before, and Shi Jingzhi didn’t rank among them. But when a person was serious, the aura they emitted could reveal many things stemming from their nature.

The same level of oppressive feeling, as seen in the Jianchen Temple, was mostly heavy and profound, while in the Taiheng Sect, it was mostly righteous and clear. As for the demonic sects, it was either chillingly cold or twisted and viscous. Yin Ci had fought with Yan Budu several times back then, but even Yan Budu’s oppressive aura couldn’t escape the norm.

But Shi Jingzhi was different.

Yin Ci had never experienced this kind of pressure from him. It was almost empty, to the point of being somewhat pure—without malice, somewhat naive, but undoubtedly carrying an aura that could tear everything apart and crush all things into mud.

“The heavens and earth are impartial*” were the words that suddenly collided in Yin Ci’s mind.

*This comes from the fifth chapter of Laozi’s <Tao Te Ching>, which is a philosophical idea that nature, fate, or the forces of the universe don’t possess human-like qualities of kindness, compassion, or moral judgment. Instead, they operate on their own laws and principles, without consideration for individual human desires or concerns.

Facing this conveniently obtained cheap master, he felt a similar sensation to “dread” for the first time.

Shi Jingzhi’s expression changed constantly, and he stood in place for a while before turning and walking towards the Goddess.

Ordinary villagers could mostly discern the strength of a person’s aura, but the Goddess evidently noticed something extraordinary about this person. She didn’t even bother to display a sympathetic expression and had a hint of caution in her eyes.

Shi Jingzhi stood before her. “You can go into the forbidden area alone.”

“…Yes.”

“If the immortal potential is weak and insignificant as ants, then if the immortal potential is strong enough, can they stand on equal footing?”

The expression on the Goddess’ face turned ugly. “How could a mortal compare to a true immortal? But indeed, the immortals would regard you as my subordinate and wouldn’t act recklessly.”

Shi Jingzhi obtained the answer he wanted. “Then I will go in with my disciple, and you tell that dog demon to step aside. I’ll go and explain a few things to my people first, and I’ll be back soon.”

He grabbed the back collar of Yin Ci’s clothes and dragged him towards Yan Qing and Su Si. The two of them had just regained their senses, and the way they looked at Shi Jingzhi was as if they were looking at an upside-down walking bear.

“With such a big commotion, if A’Ci and I go down, the Goddess will definitely observe from the outside,” Shi Jingzhi said concisely. “You take this opportunity to find the Goddess’s residence and look for clues.”

Yan Qing was taken aback. “But we…”

Shi Jingzhi couldn’t be bothered to explain and continued, “This is a chance that has fallen into our laps. Whatever you can find out, find it. Got it? Even if you can only see the door frame, remember the patterns on it.”

Then he tugged on Yin Ci again and gritted his teeth. “When this matter is over, I’ll show you what I can do.”

This fox was truly infuriated. He had even learned to make fierce threats.

Wasn’t he afraid of death? He should have stayed outside. Yin Ci couldn’t make sense of the urgency in Shi Jingzhi’s mind. This person’s logic was as if it were taught by dogs.

It was a twist of fate. He had initially wanted to grab a simple-minded scapegoat. Who would have known that this scapegoat would transform into a wooden collar around his neck? Yin Ci felt somewhat uncomfortable about it.

Shi Jingzhi showed no mercy. His gaze was solemn. “I’ll ask you again, are you really going?”

“Yes.” Yin Ci had lived for over three hundred years and was bored to the point of growing moss. He couldn’t let a death puzzle slip by right under his nose.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Shizun, you don’t have to come.”

“You still remember that I’m your master? If Mian Jie can sacrifice herself for Yin Deng, am I weaker than a fragile woman?”

Yin Ci let out a hoarse sound and didn’t retort. In his words, there seemed to be an inclination towards treating Shi Jingzhi as a teacher who would be a lifetime father. He decided to change the topic and act dumb. “We have been inside before. Without the Goddess interfering this time, we might even come across Bai Wei.”

Shi Jingzhi replied with a snort.

Yin Ci obediently closed his mouth.

The black dog was sent aside. Inside the tree gate, it was pitch black, like a toothless giant mouth.

Yin Ci couldn’t help but speak again. “Shizun, have you really thought it through? You still have a way to turn back now…”

Shi Jingzhi: “Hmph.”

He was truly angry this time.

…Well, he would take it step by step and adapt to the situation.

At the same time, in Yidu.

Prince Xu Jingming of Rong returned to the capital but didn’t immediately present the Buddhist beads. Shi Jingzhi saw through his intentions—he was missing too many Buddhist beads, and he felt embarrassed to bring them before the Emperor to seek credit.

So he temporarily entrusted the map to the Imperial Preceptor for safekeeping.

Although the Emperor didn’t favor the lineage of the Imperial Preceptor, there had been no mistakes from two consecutive generations of Imperial Preceptors. The previous Imperial Preceptor was an elder of three dynasties, while the current one was the favored disciple chosen by the previous generation, carrying the spirit of a sage.

The Imperial Preceptor, Jiang Youyue, had a refined and ethereal appearance, appearing to be around thirty, but he was actually over sixty. He calmly accepted the Buddhist beads without any waves on his face.

Xu Jingming lowered his head. “That troublemaker took on a disciple and is also pursuing Yan Budu’s legacy. We need to seize the treasure first, not only for the Emperor but also to eliminate the troubles for Great Yun.”

Jiang Youyue said gently, “Him taking on a disciple may not necessarily be a bad thing.”

“Not necessarily a bad thing? He is a national calamity. It’s not so easy for him to settle down. He only has a year left to live, yet he still has thoughts of establishing his own sect. He most likely harbors ill intentions.”

Jiang Youyue smiled. “This child has a strong attachment and desires. The more attachments one has, the more shackles one carries. Everything has two sides, so do not make hasty judgments.”

“The current Emperor… No, Elder Brother has already been deceived by him. Are you also being deceived by him?”

Jiang Youyue didn’t answer. With a smile at the corner of his mouth, he continued reading his book.

Xu Jingming couldn’t catch his breath, feeling that he had exhausted himself for Great Yun. These people all thought they held absolute power and were carefree, completely unaware of the terror that Shi Jingzhi possessed.

As the saying went, “A three-year-old can observe an elder*.” If they had compared him with his monstrous older brother using this saying, they wouldn’t have taken him so lightly.

*Idiom that refers to even at a young age, a person can discern the character, behavior, and qualities of someone older or more experienced. It suggests that one’s ability to judge and perceive the true nature of others can develop early in life.

But thinking about it, Xu Jingming sneered to himself. They must not have carefully observed that monster.

As the youngest son of the former emperor, Xu Jingming was destined for an idle life from the moment he was born. His older brothers were all busy with their own affairs, while he, weak and sickly, declared himself the rival of the demon incarnate. Apart from carrying books on his back, Xu Jingming spent the rest of his time engaging in various vices and being idle.

He had always been extremely curious about Shi Jingzhi.

To him, Shi Jingzhi was like a colorful venomous spider. Xu Jingming was terrified to death but couldn’t help but be drawn to it for something new.

Shi Jingzhi was raised by his father in the deep palace and was bound by numerous restrictions. Xu Jingming couldn’t recall much from his early years, but two restrictions stood out in his memory—

Everyone around Shi Jingzhi, regardless of their position, had to be changed every month without repetition. His meals couldn’t be too poor, but also couldn’t be too good. Regardless of Shi Jingzhi’s preferences, the taste had to be changed every day.

Xu Jingming knew all of this because of a serving maid he liked who went on duty with Shi Jingzhi for a month. When the maid returned, she was nervous, and when asked what had happened, she refused to speak.

The palace had limited manpower, and the people around Shi Jingzhi had to be constantly changed. There weren’t many people assigned to his residence. Taking advantage of his audacity, Xu Jingming personally sneaked in to investigate.

He specifically had the maid cover for him, afraid of being discovered by Shi Jingzhi.

How old was Shi Jingzhi back then? Seven or eight?

He sat upright at the stone table, eating his meal in an orderly manner. The dishes were simple and plain, and Shi Jingzhi only sampled each dish lightly without showing any abnormality.

Until the maid removed the dishes and brought out the desserts.

The desserts were a new creation from the imperial kitchen. They weren’t particularly precious, but they exuded a delightful fragrance and were crispy and delicious. Even Xu Jingming had several plates. Shi Jingzhi stared fixedly at the unfamiliar desserts and suddenly dismissed the maid.

At first, Shi Jingzhi didn’t touch them.

He just stared at them intently, as if they were the most enticing things in the world. After an hour of wandering, Xu Jingming returned, only to find Shi Jingzhi unmoved, still locked in a stare with the desserts. His gaze was filled with a crazed desire, as if he were a starving beggar watching a feast.

He had just finished his meal, so it was unlikely for him to exhibit such behavior. Could it be that he had gone mad?

Or perhaps the desserts were delicacies beyond compare, and Xu Jingming’s taste buds were dull, unable to perceive their quality?

As Xu Jingming pondered, Shi Jingzhi finally made a move. He grabbed a handful of desserts and greedily stuffed them into his mouth like a starving ghost. He ate so voraciously that he nearly bit off half of his finger, his hands dripping with blood.

In an instant, the plate that was once full of desserts was left with only one piece.

Shi Jingzhi suddenly stopped, his face stiffening for a moment as he took out a short bamboo rod.

It was an instrument of punishment used in the palace, inscribed with spells. It caused excruciating pain but left no lasting injuries.

Xu Jingming watched as he raised the bamboo rod and mercilessly struck his own arm. In the next moment, Shi Jingzhi writhed in pain and fell from his seat, curling up on the ground.

Xu Jingming, who would have a serving maid blow on him for a mere bump, had never seen such a scene. He was immediately frightened. With hair standing on end, he ran away.

It wasn’t because he had nothing to eat or was unable to satisfy his hunger, so why act so violently? Elder Brother was right; Shi Jingzhi was born with a problem.

A few days later, to confirm that what he had seen was not an illusion, Xu Jingming sneaked back to take a look. It had just rained, and Shi Jingzhi’s whereabouts were unknown, but the piece of dessert remained untouched. Soaked in the rain, it had turned into a moldy residue.

Several months later, a banquet was held in the palace. Shi Jingzhi sat obediently in the corner, eating and drinking with grace and courtesy. No matter what kind of pastries were served, he only took a few bites, barely even looking at them, showing even more restraint than the other princes.

The wild desire and madness that had been witnessed that day seemed to have been nothing but an illusion.

What a deceiver.

Shi Jingzhi had deceived everyone for over twenty years, finally convincing the emperor, his elder brother, to let the “troublesome one who behaved no differently from an ordinary person” return to his domain like a tiger released into the mountains.

The more Xu Jingming recalled, the angrier he became. He rose from his seat with a heavy heart, bowed to Jiang Youyue, and prepared to leave.

However, just as he turned his back, Jiang Youyue spoke again in his usual calm tone.

“Your Highness, there is no need to be resentful. I am well aware… His act of taking on disciples may not be a bad thing for you and me. But for the young person who becomes his ‘disciple’, it is like inviting disaster upon themselves.”

Jiang Youyue closed his book, sighed, and closed his eyes.

“An endless abyss gathering of myriad mundane desires in one person—how can an ordinary person withstand it? In the end, it is close yet unattainable, and escaping is also impossible.”

“I wonder if it will be the ‘master’ who falls into madness first or the ‘disciple’ who will drown in it.”

The author has something to say:

Yin Ci: Thank you for the invitation, but I am not an ordinary person.

However, it is true that Demonic Lord Yin has brought himself a lot of trouble. Fox Shi may be sweet, but he is neither foolish nor innocent (?

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Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 33: Nightmare

Bai Wei’s “accumulation of immortal potential” began in the late night.

Most people regarded the Goddess with awe and were indifferent to the people of Xizhuang. The only ones who came to see him off were Yin Deng and Mian Jie. Yin Deng’s father stayed at home, taking care of their youngest daughter, who couldn’t speak yet.

According to the words of Yuanxian Village, they were Bai Wei’s final “destined encounter”.

The Goddess stood at the entrance of the tree gate, with two white-robed monsters standing on either side. A huge demonic tree cast a massive shadow behind her, and its twisted branches scattered in all directions, resembling the gates of the underworld.

She reached out her hand towards Bai We with a face still filled with compassion. “Have you made up your mind?”

Bai Wei pursed his lips and turned his head to look at the two women behind him, trying to find a glimpse of A’Lu’s shadow on their faces.

“Don’t go.” Mian Jie slowly shook her head. “I know my daughter. A’Lu will be heartbroken.”

Yin Deng looked at her mother in confusion. “Isn’t ascending to immortality a good thing? Brother is going down to accumulate immortal potential, and when he accumulates enough, he’ll be able to see sister again.”

Mian Jie tightened her hand on Yin Deng’s back. “Yin Deng, do you miss A’Lu?”

“Of course I do. I miss her every day.”

“Mom misses her too… Mom would rather have you both stay by her side than enjoy the blessings of ascending to immortality.”

“The Goddess said that we will all ascend to immortality sooner or later, and then we can meet again.”

The little girl proudly lifted her head. “When that time comes, I’ll tell Sister that I missed her for so long! I still want her to help me tie my hair.”

The Goddess remained silent with her face displaying a gentle smile.

Mian Jie frowned slightly, showing a hint of sorrow. She stopped speaking and simply held her daughter tightly.

Bai Wei shook off his long robe and knelt in front of Mian Jie, solemnly kowtowing. “When I married A’Lu, we only paid respect to heaven and earth. We couldn’t pay respects to our parents… It’s time to make up for it now. Mother, please accept my bow.”

After saying that, he stood up and walked towards the tree gate without looking back.

“I really like this brother,” Yin Deng whispered. “Mom, I also want to see Sister. Can I go with Brother?”

“Yin Deng, let’s go home.” Mian Jie didn’t answer. She simply chewed on that one sentence with anguish. “Let’s go home.”

They said to ascend to immortality, one must undergo bitter cultivation on earth and be bestowed by the heavens. Once someone left the mortal world, they would never return. Who could distinguish between truth and falsehood?

The world only saw life and death as vast and boundless.

It was only after the Goddess entered the forbidden area that the four members of the Kushan Sect quietly approached. Shi Jingzhi remained quiet for a long time before finally exhaling slowly. “This ascension to immortality sounds more and more ominous. It’s amazing that the people of Yuanxian Village can bear it.”

“They have no choice.” Yin Ci stood beside him. “For anyone who has sent away several loved ones with their own hands, who would dare assert that ascending to immortality isn’t a good thing?”

“Now it all depends on Bai Wei. I hope he can hold on and find his wife,” Shi Jingzhi muttered. “A’Lu must not disappear like Lao Liu…”

“Yes.”

Yin Ci stared at the tree gate not far away, itching to move. Unfortunately, Fox Shi’s claws were once again hooked onto his belt, making it difficult for him to even move away.

They patiently waited, transforming into two night cats lurking under the eaves. The acacia bean in Shi Jingzhi’s hand remained quiet, indicating that Bai Wei should be fine, but the Goddess hadn’t come out either.

Strange, does the “accumulation of immortal potential” ceremony take this long? Or were they overthinking it and the Goddess, being inherently good-natured, was truly in a small world beneath the forbidden area?

An hour later, the Goddess finally walked out of the forbidden area with a calm and gentle smile seemingly etched on her face. Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci couldn’t discern her emotions at that moment.

The bean remained quiet, showing no signs of change.

Shi Jingzhi’s spirit shook. He stretched his legs to relieve the numbness, and a small cluster of yang fire ignited at his fingertips. He gently roasted the bean, which was extremely hot. If Bai Wei was still alive, he would definitely receive the signal.

The sky finally darkened until one couldn’t see their own fingers stretched out in front of them. The demonic tree in the forbidden area rustled.

The black dog demon yawned and lay steadily at the entrance, like a pool of black ink. The moon slowly moved, and time approached the late hours of the night. Yin Ci rested his head on his master’s shoulder, peacefully dozing off.

Meanwhile, Shi Jingzhi spread his palm and stared intently at the acacia bean in his hand, as if he could ignite it through sheer gaze.

Time had never been so torturous.

After about two more hours, Yan Qing hesitantly spoke up, “Sect Master, about this bean…”

“The bean is definitely fine. We agreed to wait, so we’ll continue waiting. It’s still some time before dawn, and no one will… Hm?”

In this world, things often came when you feared them.

A small red figure approached the tree gate, stumbling as if she were a corpse in a funeral procession. The black dog demon perked up its ears, showing hesitant hostility and revealing its sharp teeth.

Yin Ci was startled by the hostility and instantly opened his eyes. “Is that Yin Deng?”

However, Su Si’s reaction was faster than everyone else’s.

While Yan Qing’s legs went numb from squatting and he hadn’t yet regained his senses, Su Si leaped down from his hiding spot. He flashed in front of the black dog demon and swiftly pulled Yin Deng back, displaying agile and beautiful footwork.

After landing while holding the little girl, Su Si’s face gradually showed a hint of regret.

“This little girl is sleepwalking.” He placed Yin Deng down and acted as if nothing had happened. “There’s nothing wrong. Just don’t wake her up. How about this, I’ll leave for a while and take her back to Mian Jie.”

Yan Qing stared fixedly at him with a complex gaze.

“…No objections? Alright then. You guys go about your business. I’ll go first.”

Su Si carried the little girl on his back and ran off without looking back, lacking the light and graceful demeanor he had before. Yan Qing’s expression darkened slightly as he continued to watch them until Su Si’s figure disappeared into the night.

However, Shi Jingzhi wasn’t surprised by it. Yin Ci also remained silent on the matter, pretending not to understand anything.

Aside from occasional slips and exaggerations, Su Si’s acting skills were passable. However, Su Si had overlooked a major premise—if he really was a “butcher” like he claimed to be, no matter how knowledgeable and well-traveled he was, he wouldn’t be able to stay in Yuanxian Village peacefully for half a month.

He had seen the white-robed monsters early on and lived here alone, bound and restricted in his daily life. Even though Su Si was considered audacious among ordinary people, this environment was enough to make him feel somewhat fearful.

However, despite Su Si’s blustering behavior, he didn’t show any signs of fear in his actions and gestures.

This kid must have some tricks up his sleeve. During the ten years he was separated from Yan Qing, it couldn’t have been as simple as he claimed.

…Unfortunately, young people were still young after all, and Su Si’s experience wasn’t enough to sustain this act. Not to mention Yin Ci, a three-hundred-year-old monster, Su Si probably couldn’t even deceive the slightly older Shi Jingzhi.

However, as fellow wanderers of the world, neither the master nor disciple were foolish enough to stir up internal conflict during this sensitive period.

Since Su Si was willing to act, they were happy to go along with it. They were all accustomed to acting anyway, and at least Su Si’s cherished treatment of Yan Qing was genuine, so it wouldn’t hinder their progress.

There was already a layer of paper between them as master and disciple. Even if the four members of the Kushan Sect were wrapped up like paper lanterns, it didn’t seem to matter much.

With this in mind, Yin Ci couldn’t help but glance at Shi Jingzhi.

With his cheap master as a convenient shield, and if he included himself reluctantly, the Kushan Sect had a total of four people, three of whom had undisclosed backgrounds. Only Yan Qing’s identity was known, but given his identity, it was more reassuring to have that background undisclosed.

He wondered if Sect Master Shi had consulted anyone about his fortune-telling; his fate certainly posed a big problem.

Just as dawn approached and their plan was about to fall apart, Shi Jingzhi was startled.

Yin Ci shook off the resurgent sleepiness and asked, “Is something wrong with Brother Bai?”

“…I don’t know,” Shi Jingzhi’s tone was complicated as he opened his palm, revealing the acacia bean.

The acacia bean hadn’t turned to ashes. It remained a reddish color, but it was no longer plump like before; it had shriveled into a small, half-dead lump. Not even Shi Jingzhi or Yin Ci recognized this kind of response.

Shi Jingzhi still didn’t give up hope, but he waited until the east began to lighten. Bai Wei hadn’t returned, and neither did Su Si.

If they waited any longer, the villagers would start their activities.

The three members of the Kushan Sect squatted on the eaves for an entire night. No matter how skilled they were, they still needed proper blood circulation. Yin Ci’s legs and feet were a bit numb, and at this moment, they only needed a bamboo pole to push them all down.

Shi Jingzhi didn’t want to be seen as a suspicious figure. He took the lead and retreated, sighing as he rolled off the eaves with a somewhat awkward movement resembling a slippery dumpling.

The three of them returned to their residence dejectedly, and Su Si was waiting inside, having prepared breakfast for them.

Seeing only three figures, he blinked in surprise. “Is Bai Wei dead?”

“I don’t know.” Shi Jingzhi repeated dejectedly and threw the shriveled acacia bean onto the table.

Su Si pursed his lips and changed the subject. “Last night, I took Ying Deng home, and Mian Jie accompanied me all the way. I didn’t dare return to the forbidden area. Look, all the food on the table was brought by her… I just said Ying Deng wandered around the village, and I happened to be awake, so I sent her back home.”

He avoided mentioning last night’s issue with his agility. It seemed he had made up his mind to gloss over it.

Yan Qing didn’t inquire further. “Sect Master, what do we do next?”

“At the very least, Bai Wei proved one thing. The area beneath the forbidden area is not simple—it’s even worse than we imagined. Until we figure out the truth, no one should act on their own.”

Shi Jingzhi rubbed his tired legs and showed signs of exhaustion.

Yin Ci understood what he meant.

The Goddess herself might not be particularly powerful, but her strength lay in the unknown. To enter or exit this place, they had to pass through a maze of spells. If they went astray, even the strongest person could be lost forever.

Yin Ci himself wouldn’t be lost forever. He could waste time and wander around until he found a way out. But the process would be boring, and he would miss out on the outside’s competition for the Shirou. No matter how he thought about it, it wasn’t worth it.

Suddenly, it seemed that they were at a dead end. They could only obediently wait for the village entrance ceremony and then rush in, hoping to find a way to survive.

How troublesome.

It would be better to play a little trick tonight, let his cheap master sleep soundly while he ventured into the forbidden area and took a leap off the cliff. The area at the bottom of the forbidden area wasn’t large, and even if there were mazes, they wouldn’t be too complex. It wouldn’t delay much time.

Inspired by Yin Deng, Yin Ci decided to pretend to have a sleepwalking episode tonight. After all, with Yin Deng’s nocturnal wandering as a precedent, even if he rambled on afterwards, it wouldn’t seem too out of place.

Since he had made up his mind, Yin Ci obediently climbed onto the bed and began to catch up on sleep. After all, he had stayed up all night last night, and tonight he would be sleepless again. He couldn’t afford to be drowsy in the forbidden area.

After finishing breakfast, Yin Ci didn’t bother his exhausted master any further. He yawned endlessly and climbed onto the bed, covering himself with the blanket and falling asleep.

Unexpectedly, he actually had a dream.

Yin Ci hadn’t dreamt in nearly a hundred years and almost couldn’t distinguish between the dream and reality, thinking that he had fallen under some kind of spell again. He stood silently in the dream for a long time, realizing that his thoughts were drifting and everything around him was hazy, gradually regaining his senses.

Perhaps it was true that one’s thoughts during the day would manifest in dreams at night. Yin Ci dreamt of the great demonic tree in the forbidden area.

The demonic tree had shed all its leaves, withered and blackened, standing on a vast snowy plain. The nearby houses had vanished, leaving only a scattered heap of bones where the guard dog demon once stood.

In the dream, Yin Ci wasn’t wearing his ghostskin robe. He was dressed in white attire from the Ghost Tomb, barefoot, stepping on the snow, yet he didn’t feel the slightest chill.

It seemed that he really yearned for this forbidden area, even in a literal sense, in his dreams. Yin Ci self-mockingly thought to himself as he stepped on the dog demon’s pale bones and decisively entered the tree gate.

Inside the demonic tree, there was no longer a vast, deep well; the dark tree hollow had transformed into a clean and spacious hall.

Yin Ci couldn’t help but slow his pace.

The hall was ordinary in decoration, and the pale spiraling soul-calling coils swayed gently. In the center of the hall lay a huge and peerless coffin, with the coffin lid pushed aside, covered in unknown vines.

There was no corpse inside the coffin, only a shattered idol.

The idol was made of clay and meticulously painted with bright colors. Now it was brutally shattered into hundreds of pieces, with no blood on the broken surfaces, yet emanating an indescribable sense of bloodiness.

One of the pieces was a fragment of the head, with a vivid giant eye remaining on it, staring directly at Yin Ci.

The coffin was filled with shattered idols, and on top of the broken idols, there was a person.

The woman had disheveled long hair, wearing a crimson dress, and had a swollen belly. She knelt on the fragments of the idols with her hands covering her face, crying in extreme sadness.

As Yin Ci listened attentively, he felt a throbbing headache. There was only this one woman in the hall, but her cries seemed to come from millions of people—the voices of men, women, and children mixed together, emanated from her mouth.

It seemed as though countless invisible hands grabbed Yin Ci, forcing him to walk towards the direction of the coffin.

In the dream, Yin Ci couldn’t use martial arts, so he could only be dragged along by those hands, pulled in front of the woman. Sensing something, the woman slowly stopped her tears and lifted her head.

She was very young, with facial features somewhat resembling Mian Jie, but with an additional touch of youthfulness unique to young people.

However, her eyes weren’t quite right.

Her eye sockets were red, and her pair of eyeballs kept turning—the woman’s eyes were densely packed with countless pupils, leaving no trace of white. They varied in depth, eagerly jostling for space, as if bubbles rising on the surface of boiling water.

As if countless people’s pupils were squeezed together, seen through a pair of eyes.

“Not you!” After recognizing Yin Ci, she let out a scream of extreme fear, trembling like a sieve. “Not you. Stay away!”

It was the first time Yin Ci had been humiliated with this face. He instinctively touched his own face but couldn’t feel any features.

His face disappeared, replaced by countless root-like entities that filled his visage. They stretched forward in a chaotic manner, with a rough and icy-cold texture. For some reason, although he retained his vision, he couldn’t see these nearby foreign objects.

“Don’t come closer. Don’t come closer!” The woman seemed to be under immense pressure as she cried out, covering her head. The shattered idols beneath her emitted a soft cracking sound and broke apart further.

She grabbed the pieces of the deity statues and recklessly threw them at Yin Ci.

“Stay away from us!” She shouted with a myriad of voices. “Get out of here!”

Yin Ci wanted to explain, but the stone fragment hit his forehead directly, causing an incredibly real sensation of pain. Yin Ci jolted awake with his back covered in a thin layer of sweat.

Truly a strange dream.

Shi Jingzhi heard the noise and came over to check; he was visibly startled by Yin Ci’s appearance.

“A’Ci, you…” Shi Jingzhi handed him a warm towel, hesitating in his words. “You usually sleep soundly, so how did you end up bumping your head like this today?”

Yin Ci slowly touched his forehead and let out a sigh. The stone fragment from the dream had indeed left a bruise, but fortunately, he recovered quickly enough that Shi Jingzhi didn’t grow suspicious.

“I had a nightmare,” he answered softly.

Regardless of what secrets the forbidden area held, tonight he was determined to uncover them completely.

For the rest of the day, Yin Ci stuck closely to Shi Jingzhi’s side, never leaving even an inch. He was obedient to the point of being alarming. Despite Shi Jingzhi’s extreme nervousness, he gradually became less vigilant in comforting him.

Unfortunately, Yin Ci’s plan to jump off the cliff hadn’t been put into action yet, as a new complication unexpectedly arose.

Not long after nightfall, there was suddenly a commotion outside. Mian Jie knocked urgently on their door with her face streaked with tears.

“Yin Deng is missing. Have you seen her?”

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