Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 9: The Faceless Monk

The pill in Yin Ci’s throat was incredibly spicy, and it dissolved rapidly. He bent over, coughing violently. The fiery sensation coursed through his throat, spreading heat throughout his body. Sweat instantly broke out on his back.

“You’re alive, you’re alive,” Shi Jingzhi exclaimed with lingering fear. “A’Ci, you almost scared me to death. I thought you couldn’t handle the cold. Here, take two more!”

Yin Ci pushed away Shi Jingzhi’s hands and said softly, “Thank you, Shizun. One is enough for me.”

Seeing his disciple’s sarcastic spirit returning, Shi Jingzhi shifted his attention back to the paper figures—the three attendants who had transformed into paper figures perfectly fit in with their surroundings, resembling new additions to the brothel.

Matron Wuxue took out a long needle and prodded and stirred the paper figures. When she withdrew the needle, it shone with a bright blue light, with some clumps of silvery thread sticking to it.

Matron Wuxue sighed and said, “This creature is called a firefly spider. Its eggs are like cotton fibers, dispersing upon encountering warmth. The eggs hatch inside a living organism, consuming all the flesh and bones. They then use the web to form a living outer shell, luring other prey to touch it… This is an extremely rare monster, but Yan Budu actually used it to create these ‘paper figures’.”

With these words, even the slowest among them understood—the seemingly joyful male and female paper figures surrounding them weren’t the work of skilled craftsmen but were originally living beings transformed into paper.

“Matron, is there any way to deal with these paper figures?” The leader of the Changle Sect wiped his sweat and asked.

“Don’t touch them, and don’t knock them over. Just use external objects to move them aside.” Matron Wuxue waved her cane again. “Now disperse and quickly choose rooms to clean. It’s getting dark, so stay inside your rooms.”

As soon as he heard that it was getting dark, the pale-faced leader of the Changle Sect said, “Matron, this…”

Matron Wuxue ignored him and turned to leave.

“We of the Divine Chigou Sect didn’t come to be servants.” One of the disciples sneered. “At night in a big tomb, who knows what might come out. If you’re really afraid, why not go seek help from those noble orthodox sects over there? They love being taken advantage of.”

The accommodating Taiheng Sect had taken charge of the main hall for tea gatherings. They moved the paper figures to a corner, shielding them with screens, and thirty people slept on the floor together. The Chigou Sect, on the other hand, seized the best rooms, sprinkled medicinal powder outside the rooms, and set up a pile of peculiar and strange objects before tightly closing the doors, out of sight.

The rest could only choose rooms nearby. Shi Jingzhi, quick-witted, managed to grab the room closest to the Taiheng Sect.

“Aren’t you going to sleep on the floor with the Taiheng Sect?” Yin Ci asked curiously.

“The big window outside faces directly into the courtyard, and the courtyard is filled with… cough.” Shi Jingzhi’s face turned pale as he pushed the door open. “Look, the Chigou Sect has entered their room. Having a door is definitely better than not having one.”

The door creaked open, revealing an interior bathed in flickering firelight, with an even stronger scent of cosmetics. Amidst the vibrant silken curtains, two paper figures with disheveled hair were intertwined in a passionate embrace.

Shi Jingzhi was horrified by the eerie scene in the underworld, causing his hair to stand on end. He slowly stepped back and closed the door.

“Yan Budu must be crazy.” He gritted his teeth. “Let’s go, A’Ci. We’ll sleep on the floor.”

Yin Ci chuckled and glanced at him. He snatched the flag, and entered the room again. He used the flagpole to push the paper figure under the bed, then unfolded the bedding and spread out the mandarin ducks playing in the water blanket.

Finally, he pulled out the face of a filial disciple. “Shizun, please.”

Two paper figures nestled under the bed, with a white paper arm slanting out. Shi Jingzhi almost trembled in fear, barely holding back his trembling figure. “Maybe not.”

Yin Ci threw the flagpole back with an innocent look on his face. “Shizun, you’re capable of killing people, yet you fear dead bodies?”

“Listen carefully; blood and vengeful spirits are two different things. I don’t fear blood, only ghosts.” Shi Jingzhi gripped the flagpole with two fingers and had a look of painful reluctance, as if saying, “I don’t want this flag anymore.”

Yin Ci barely suppressed a laugh as he tucked the arm back under the bed. He lay down on the bed first and said, “Don’t be afraid. Let me suppress the yin qi.”

After all, he was a three-hundred-year-old undead. Even if there were vengeful spirits in this tomb, they would have to address him as Senior.

Unfortunately, Shi Jingzhi was completely unaware of this. Seeing his disciple so enthusiastic, he had no choice but to feign calmness and climb onto the bed in unison. With a veil separating them, he looked around and felt as if he were in Qizhou, thinking it was all just a nightmare.

However, the irritating silence reminded him time and time again that he was still immersed in this nightmare.

Shi Jingzhi wished he could bury his head in the covers, but he was afraid of embarrassing himself in front of his disciple. So he kept his body stiff, looking more like a dead person than an actual dead person.

“A’Ci…”

Yin Ci interrupted him. “This won’t do. How about Shizun sleeps first, and I’ll keep watch for the first half of the night. We can switch off in the second half.”

“We’re on the same page.” Shi Jingzhi pulled the blanket and bravely added, “If anything happens, wake me up immediately.”

Though he said that, Shi Jingzhi couldn’t immediately fall asleep. He gradually relaxed his limbs and suddenly laughed lightly.

Yin Ci’s heart shook—could it be that he had pushed Shi Jingzhi too far and scared him mad?

“It’s nice to have a disciple.” Shi Jingzhi’s voice sounded tired. “They say that being a teacher is like being a father for life*. The ancients have not deceived me. We’ve only known each other for a few days, and yet you’re willing to follow me even to a place like this.”

*Saying that conveys the idea that the role of a teacher is akin to a parent or father figure, emphasizing the long-lasting impact and responsibility that a teacher holds over their students.

Yin Ci couldn’t quite figure out if Shi Jingzhi was moved by his son’s filial piety or lamenting his disciple’s naivety.

He felt like he should say something, but it seemed a bit too late to broaden his horizons now. Any normal person wouldn’t willingly open their eyes to such twisted perspectives.

So he spoke sincerely. “I’ve said it before. I have nowhere else to go.”

“I was the same before,” Shi Jingzhi muttered, “but now it’s different… Now we have the Kushan Sect.”

The second half of his sentence was unclear, and when Yin Ci looked again, Shi Jingzhi had already fallen asleep. Yin Ci reached out and ran his fingertips over the features of the paper mask. The mask was roughly made, with unfinished wooden thorns on the edges.

Taking on a human face, concealing a divine one*.

*Author is referencing (摘下面具是人，戴上面具是神). It refers to the act of removing one’s mask, which represents revealing one’s true human identity and authenticity. It implies being genuine, sincere, and true to oneself. On the other hand, putting on a mask represents assuming a different persona or adopting a role, symbolizing the ability to transcend one’s own limitations and embody something greater or divine.

Perhaps the distorted features of this Nuo mask were too distorted, and the association with gods and ghosts had caused him to have some illusions—Shi Jingzhi’s despair in the first half of the sentence was comparable to his own.

Forget it, too many thoughts about gods and ghosts. Yin Ci flipped out Shi Jingzhi’s white cloth and unethically covered it over the Nuo mask.

Before he could adjust the cloth, the sound of footsteps came from outside.

The rustling was light and even, gradually approaching. It sounded like the footsteps of straw sandals on the ground. However, there were over a hundred people on their side, and none of them wore straw sandals.

Yin Ci’s spirit shook, shaking Shi Jingzhi vigorously. “Shizun, something you sensed is here.”

Shi Jingzhi stiffened at the words, covered his head with the blanket, and slowly curled up into a ball. Yin Ci heartlessly lifted the blanket, trying to act nervous. “Listen, is that the sound of footsteps outside?”

Shi Jingzhi, with keen hearing, replied, “Yes, definitely.”

The master and disciple held their breath and listened carefully. The sound of straw sandals stopped briefly at their door and then continued walking away.

“Maybe someone from the Taiheng Sect got up to relieve themselves,” Shi Jingzhi whispered.

Yin Ci: “They specifically went to the outhouse? In this ghostly place?”

Shi Jingzhi: “……” Well, according to Yan Budu’s madness, there would most likely be paper figures in the restroom.

Before they could finish their conversation, the sound of rustling straw sandals echoed once again. This time, it returned and stopped at their door. Whether it was an illusion or not, the paper figures under the bed seemed to move a few times. Now, Shi Jingzhi pulled Yin Ci towards him and shrank into a corner.

Wrapped in a quilt, the two of them looked like a newlywed couple being raided by bandits on their wedding night.

Yin Ci struggled to push aside the blanket. “Let me go and take a look. There is a lot of killing and heavy negative energy in our mountain village. Maybe I can suppress it.”

Yin Ci didn’t believe in ghosts—in his hundreds of years of existence, he had traveled far and wide. He hadn’t seen vengeful spirits, but he had encountered many people pretending to be gods and ghosts. Now that he had witnessed this new phenomenon in the tomb, his long-lost curiosity had been piqued.

But as soon as he stood up, the sound of the straw sandals moved farther away. The person seemed to be pacing back and forth in the corridor, occasionally stopping. Strangely, whether it was the small sects around or the Taiheng Sect sleeping in the hall, it seemed that not many people had noticed this anomaly.

Yin Ci opened the door, causing the wooden door to creak sharply. He looked to the left first and noticed three more people at the end of the corridor.

Shi Zhongyu stood in the front with her sword drawn. Jin Lan and the blind Yan Qing followed behind her with pale faces. Before Yin Ci could speak, Shi Zhongyu spoke first. “Can you hear it too?”

Yin Ci: “Shizun heard clear footsteps, but I could only hear a little.”

When Shi Jingzhi saw Yin Ci and the mysterious figure talking, he finally gathered up the courage to approach them.

Shi Zhongyu bowed her head respectfully, stretched out her hand, and pointed. “Can you see it?”

Yin Ci followed her fingers and looked to the right.

A monk stood at the end of the corridor, holding a crudely made bark lamp. He was over eight feet tall, wearing straw-soled monk shoes and a tattered robe. His face had no facial features, as if there was a boiled egg on top of his shoulders.

The monk stopped moving and turned his blank face towards them, as if observing them.

Shi Jingzhi’s confusion overcame his fear. “Why is there a monk in a brothel? This isn’t right.”

The three members of the Taiheng Sect: “……”

Yin Ci admired his master’s ability to focus on the important points.

Fortunately, there was someone more frightened than Shi Jingzhi. Jin Lan trembled for a while and struggled to explain, “Yan Qing has keen ears and claims to have heard strange sounds. I couldn’t hear anything, so I went to find Elder Sister… and it turns out she can hear it too.”

After speaking, he pointed shakily across the corridor. “Senior Sister* and Sect Master Shi both say there’s a monk there, but I can’t see anything…”

*[Shijie] (师姐) Term used specifically use to address an older/higher rank female member of one’s sect. Lit. Senior Martial Sister/Teacher Elder Sister.

Yin Ci took the opportunity to lie. “I can only see a faint shadow… Judging by everyone’s reactions, most people probably can’t see it.”

Shi Jingzhi glanced at his disciple and sighed softly. He took two steps forward, holding a flag, and saluted the faceless monk. “Master, the sea of Buddhism is boundless, and you will see the shore when you look back.*”

*It’s a saying in Buddhism that conveys the idea that the teachings and wisdom of Buddhism are vast and limitless, and the path to enlightenment lies in realizing that one’s true nature is already within oneself. By “turning back,” it refers to the act of looking inward and realizing one’s inherent Buddha nature. In other words, one can find enlightenment by seeking within oneself rather than searching externally. It encourages practitioners to understand that the ultimate goal is already present and can be realized through self-awareness and self-discovery. 

Yin Ci once again admired him in earnest—what on earth was he saying? If that were a real monk, even refraining from violence would be a display of self-control.

The faceless monk either didn’t understand or didn’t hear, as it didn’t react aggressively. But when Shi Jingzhi took two steps forward, it took two steps back, maintaining a fixed distance.

Shi Jingzhi found the monk’s retreat strange, and his scalp tingled, so he took two steps back. Little did he expect the faceless monk to make the same move, advancing two steps towards him.

Shi Jingzhi: “…”

He jumped up and down on the spot, moving back and forth and left and right, but the monk mirrored his every move perfectly, as if it were a reflection in a mirror, and their distance remained the same.

The onlookers watched the two of them engage in this bizarre dance, and the atmosphere of terror dissipated. Shi Zhongyu cleared her throat and said, “Sect Master Shi, stop. Just stop for a moment.”

Only then did Shi Jingzhi stop, gasping for breath and spitting out a mouthful of blood, whether from exhaustion or fright. The blind Yan Qing looked bewildered, while Yin Ci struggled to suppress his laughter.

Only Jin Lan nervously asked, “Elder Sister, so he wasn’t possessed after all?”

Shi Zhongyu shook her head and rolled up her sleeve, revealing a string of translucent white prayer beads.

“This is one of our sect’s treasures. If there is any evil presence within three zhang*, the blood essence bead will immediately turn from white to red. Right now, it has no reaction, so it’s neither a ghost nor a demon.”

*Each zhang is about 3 ⅓ meters.

Yin Ci deliberately guided the conversation. “Hmm, not a ghost or a demon, so it must be an illusion?”

Shi Zhongyu affirmed, “Exactly. It’s a spell set up by a person. It’s highly likely that it has targeted Sect Master Shi in particular.”

Shi Jingzhi let out a relieved breath. “As long as it’s not a vengeful ghost and just an illusion…”

Shi Zhongyu added, “…But this spell is complex, and I can’t see through it. If it’s a curse or something similar, it could still pose a life-threatening danger. Sect Master Shi must be careful.”

Shi Jingzhi silently swallowed back his breath.

“Yan Budu wouldn’t be so kind as to set up a spell just for fun.” Yan Qing, who had remained silent for a long time, suddenly spoke. “Could this be bait, deliberately luring the prey elsewhere?”

Yin Ci deliberately took over the conversation. “If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better to use a normal appearance as bait? A monk strolling in a brothel looks suspicious.”

Shi Jingzhi grunted and gradually calmed down. “Let’s go and take a look.”

Rarely seeing him so serious, Yin Ci raised an eyebrow.

“It’s hard to say if there’s really a hidden motive. Yan Budu is extremely picky and detests monks the most. Given how he had restored this brothel to this point, if he wanted to use it to carry out killings, he would send a beautiful woman.”

He even revealed a smile.

“Since we’re already being targeted, it’s boring to just passively wait for death. A’Ci, go and wake up the person from the Yueshui Pavilion. We’re leaving now.”

After speaking, Shi Jingzhi placed a hand on his disciple’s shoulder, his lips almost touching Yin Ci’s ear—

“If I were Yan Budu, I would deliberately expose some treasures. ‘Two peaches to kill three warriors’—wouldn’t that be delightful? …If that’s the case, given Yan Budu’s malice, it wouldn’t be surprising to use a monk as a guide.”

*Idiom that comes from a historical story referring to a clever tactic of strategy that yields unexpected and significant results (AKA killing two birds with one stone). || You can read about the story in my Kinky Thoughts.

“When everyone is fighting to the death, they will surely think—’If only we hadn’t seen that detestable monk, how great would it be.'”

The author has something to say:

The beginning refers to a unique divine medicine of the Kushan Sect, the Chongqing Extra Spicy Hotpot Base Powder Pill (×

Kinky Thoughts:

The idiom of two peaches to kill three warriors comes from a story during the Spring and Autumn Period. Gongsun Jie, Tian Kaijiang, and Gu Yezi were courtiers of King Jing of Qi. While they were brave, they were also arrogant.

One day, Xianguo Yanzi passed them, walking humbly, but these three people didn’t stand up to show their respect.

He voiced his complaint to King Jing about how they don’t respect the court and the monarch. He then suggested to the king to send them two peaches as a reward based on their merit.

When the peaches arrived, Gongsun Jie and Tian Kaijiang boasted their achievements and took away one peach each. Seeing this, Gu Yezi refused to accept it and, after stating his achievements, drew his sword at them. Seeing this, Gongsun Jie and Tian Kaijiang felt ashamed, and they both handed over their peaches and committed suicide. When Gu Yezi saw them commit suicide, he also felt ashamed. Not wanting to be the only one left, he too committed suicide.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 8: Paper Figures Street

The Ghost Tomb belongs to the first leader of the Ling Sect, Yan Budu.

Yan Budu was born into the wealthy Yan family and grew up in extravagant luxury as the youngest son. He possessed exceptional intelligence and once brought the Yan family to its pinnacle, earning him the reputation of a genius.

He believed himself to be a prodigy destined to become an immortal. At the age of seventeen, he ceased business ventures and used a large sum of money to establish the Ling Sect. He collected rare treasures from all over the world to build his own tomb. He even proclaimed that if he achieved immortality, the tomb would remain empty, but if he died, he wanted to be buried in the most luxurious tomb.

Ten years later, the Ghost Tomb was completed. Due to the massacre of countless craftsmen involved in its construction, the Ling Sect was targeted for retaliation by the righteous martial arts sects.

Yan Budu was indeed a rare genius of his time. He led the Ling Sect in stubborn resistance for a full two years, slaying numerous enemies with his sword. Against all odds, he managed to survive. However, just when the Ling Sect was starting to recover, Yan Budu mysteriously disappeared.

Yan Budu would never vanish without a trace. After a year had passed, the members of the Ling Sect concluded that the Ghost Tomb had been sealed and Yan Budu had been secretly buried by his most trusted followers.

And so, the legend of the Ghost Tomb began, passed down for a hundred years.

…While the Central Plains were in chaos caused by Yan Budu, Yin Ci was in the borderlands, searching for clues about “immortals”, completely missing out on the grand spectacle. Several years later, he assumed the identity of Su Zhi and led the Chigou Sect in an attempt to find the Ghost Tomb. However, the opportunity didn’t present itself, and he failed to locate it.

Back then, the notion of using the Shirou wasn’t as mystical, so Yin Ci didn’t bother to pursue it. After all, given a hundred or so years, future generations would find it for him.

And now, the descendants stood at the entrance of the Ghost Tomb, hesitating to take the first step. In the end, it was the monks of the Jianchen Temple who led the way, igniting their lanterns and dispersing the darkness with their dim yellow light.

However, what appeared before them wasn’t the burial chamber but the entrance to a street.

As they stepped inside, ghostly flames ignited once again, illuminating the entire street with bright lights. The ground was paved with smooth blue stone bricks, devoid of any bloody footprints and with little dust.

The play of light and shadow filled the street, bustling with a market-like atmosphere. Fragrances, elegant attire, and splendid lights filled every corner. The long street seemed endless, like a vibrant scene resembling a busy marketplace.

The top of the tomb was coated with an unknown substance, appearing black and reflecting no light, making it difficult to gauge the distance. Numerous small pearls of light simulated a starry sky, while the moon exuded a jade-like color, incredibly lifelike. The shops on either side of the street were not much different from those in the mortal world. The bricks and stones were genuine, but the pedestrians and goods on the stalls were all made of paper, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Just then, a grating sound that made one’s teeth ache rang out.

The steel support at the entrance was unexpectedly crushed by the tomb gate. Two heavy stone doors closed on their own, sealing the people inside the tomb. It happened so suddenly that those who were initially standing at the entrance, unable to move, were now scrambling and crawling to escape the tomb, narrowly avoiding being crushed into pulp.

In just a moment, a piercing scream emanated from outside the tomb gate, followed by silence.

Ahead was an endless dark street, while behind them was a dead-end emanating a bloody stench. The smell of a trap instantly intensified, causing everyone to fall silent.

After a while, Shi Jingzhi slowly raised the silver bell, and even Yin Ci shivered in response.

“That door was probably made using monsters,” Shen Zhu emerged from behind a paper figurine, sounding relaxed. “There must be monsters lurking in the tomb passage… We were lured in here, but it’s unclear whether it was for treasure hunting or to feed the monsters.”

She took two steps forward, and the light from her lantern cast shadows on the paper figures, making their expressions appear animated, further heightening the eerie atmosphere.

“Do not panic; both the Jinyu Group and members of various sects are waiting outside. If the tomb door can be opened once, it can be opened a second time. Even if it can’t be opened, my sect has enough food and water to sustain everyone for seven days. Within these seven days, we will surely find a solution.”

The “senior sister” from the Taiheng Sect stepped forward and spoke. Her voice was still low and pleasant to the ear.

“Little girl, you speak well. My Divine Chigou Sect hasn’t spoken yet,” an old voice rang out.

“Matron Wuxue*,” the senior sister from the Taiheng Sect—Shi Zhongyu’s complexion changed, then immediately paid her respects. “I didn’t expect the Sect Master of the Chigou Sect to personally be here. I apologize for my rudeness.”

*Literally means Dark Blood.

Matron Wuxue chuckled pointedly. “How could I miss such a grand tomb? I can’t guarantee anything else, but there must be an exit.”

The combination of good and evil sung in harmony gradually calmed everyone down.

“That’s true. The old leader of the Chigou Sect is here. If we can’t find a way out, no one in this world can save us,” Shi Jingzhi murmured to Yin Ci.

Yin Ci’s attention, however, wasn’t focused on this matter. He observed the paper figures around him and remarked, “Shizun, the hair on the paper figures seems to be real human hair.”

Shi Jingzhi: “…”

Shi Jingzhi: “Good disciple, Master doesn’t want to know.”

Yin Ci: “Alright, Shizun. Speaking of which, I’m a bit curious… Legend has it that thousands of craftsmen were sealed alive in the Ghost Tomb, but where are their remains? Where did they go?”

Shi Jingzhi felt helpless and on the verge of tears. “A’Ci, do you hate me?”

Yin Ci stifled a cheerful laugh and shook his head sincerely.

“I see that the dark street splits into two paths. Why don’t we divide our forces and reconvene here in three days?” Matron Wuxue spoke again; her voice sounded hoarse. “Each group should consist of about a hundred people, which is just right. More people would be difficult to maneuver, while fewer people would invite trouble.”

The Jinyu Group hid 108 jade beads. After fierce competition, there were 12 sects and 39 independents who qualified. Including the inclusion of the Kushan Sect, which didn’t meet the upper limits of the quota, there were fewer than 300 people descending into the tomb. The dark street was filled with paper figures, with over 200 people crowded together, making movement inconvenient.

After finishing speaking, Matron Wuxue didn’t listen to others’ opinions and directly took out a small clay jar. “For the sake of fairness, children, come forward.”

The Chigou Sect, known for their unorthodox methods and tomb raiding, had no one nitpicking. Representatives from each sect stepped forward and reached into the clay jar.

The first one to reach in was Shi Zhongyu from the Taiheng Sect. She frowned and withdrew her hand, finding a chess piece-sized white dot on the back of her hand. Those who followed also had dots on the back of their hands, either black or white.

Matron Wuxue smiled and said, “There are two snakes in the jar. Just one bite will discern the essence of Yin and Yang. Descending into the tomb also requires the harmony of Yin and Yang; otherwise, it will attract some filthy things… These snakes have their venom removed, so there’s no need to worry. What about that kid over there? Aren’t you going to try?”

She glanced at Shi Jingzhi with her cloudy, old eyes and smirked.

Shi Jingzhi instantly stood upright and said, “You’re too kind, but I had already agreed with the Taiheng Sect earlier to accompany them on this journey. Besides, whether we get bitten or not doesn’t make much difference. As they say, those who deal with big matters shouldn’t fuss over trivialities. Since you’re generous, there’s no need to worry.”

Yin Ci was amazed to find that his master, despite coughing up blood, could still speak at length without a pause.

Matron Wuxue chuckled a few more times and shifted her gaze away. With her corpse-like fingers, she pointed and matched black and white together in harmony. In no time, she divided the people into two groups.

The Jianchen Temple and Ling Sect went one way, while the Taiheng Sect and Chigou Sect went together. The rest followed the larger groups. Only the people from the Rong Palace couldn’t determine their Yin-Yang status. Matron Wuxue didn’t insist and waved her hand, including them in her own team.

“A’Ci, you were lucky to have bumped into the Taiheng Sect earlier.” Shi Jingzhi patted his chest. “With the Taiheng Sect, the Chigou Sect probably won’t openly cause trouble…”

“Sect Master Shi, how did you offend the Chigou Sect?” Jin Lan curiously asked.

“I stole a jade bead from them… Haa, don’t mention it. That old woman keeps glaring at me.” Shi Jingzhi turned his head, pretending that Marron Wuxue didn’t exist.

Yin Ci no longer teased Shi Jingzhi and observed more attentively.

Yan Budu was a madman. The setting inside the tomb couldn’t be deduced with common sense. Although this was only the first layer, there might still be clues related to the Shirou.

The dark street had split into two paths, and they took the left one. Looking up, the street was still filled with paper figures, creating an eerie “festive” scene.

This path resembled a brothel street, with lanterns emitting warm-colored lights and a pungent smell of decaying cosmetics piercing the nostrils. Regardless of gender, the paper figures were all dressed up and adorned, with disheveled black hair and lifelike gestures and movements.

However, there was an absolute absence of any human sounds, and the silence was suffocating.

“Let’s find a house first to clean up and spend the night.” Matron Wuxue pointed to the most luxurious brothel. “That one will do. At least it’s livable, and who knows, it might even hide some treasures.”

Yin Ci silently nodded. No one knew where the path to the next level was or when the tomb door would open. It was better to establish a base first to ensure that people’s spirits wouldn’t scatter.

However, this dark street was surprisingly exquisite. The lights outside the brothel were magnificent, and the interior was no less so. The paper dishes on the banquet table were incredibly realistic, with people playing musical instruments and engaging in lively conversations. Each table was unique, without any repetition.

It felt too close to the mortal world, yet the chill only intensified.

“Don’t touch anything with your bare hands. If you must touch, use your cold inner force to freeze your fingers, without a trace of body heat. The underground is filled with yin fires, so be cautious when using ordinary sources of fire…” Upon receiving a signal from Matron Wuxue, several Chigou Sect disciples stepped forward to take command.

Shi Jingzhi exclaimed, “The Chigou Sect Master has quite the generosity, even knowing to help others first.”

“It’s not about selling favors, but raising cannon fodder,” Yin Ci casually remarked, then quickly added, “My grandfather used to say that there is nothing good in the demonic sect.”

“A’Ci, I’ve been meaning to ask you about your grandfather—”

Before Shi Jingzhi could finish his question, trouble arose from the side of the Changle Sect. The street of paper figures was too eerie, and the attendants accompanying the leader of the Changle Sect collapsed—one young man, only seventeen or eighteen years old, stumbled and instinctively grabbed hold of a nearby paper figure.

Matron Wuxue let out a long sigh. “Everyone, step back.”

With that, she swung her cane, striking it in front of several Taiheng Sect disciples. “No need to approach. If there are no traps, he will naturally be fine. If something suspicious happens, it’s too late to save him now.”

The young man’s legs went weak, and he sat motionless for a long time. Only then did he stand up, supporting himself on the table, seemingly unaffected. Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, the touched paper figure suddenly moved.

It twisted in an awkward and stiff manner, and its smiling face became more pronounced. In the next instant, the paper figure’s mouth opened slightly, and it spontaneously ignited without any wind. Cyan flames licked the paper, producing wisps of milky-white smoke.

The faces of the Chigou Sect disciples turned pale. “Turn your inner force cold, quickly!”

In the next moment, Yin Ci realized he was being tightly hugged by Shi Jingzhi, with his head pressed into his chest. Cold true qi surged into every corner of his body, and soon it disappeared without a trace. Despite their close physical contact, they felt as cold as ice.

“A’Ci, hold your breath.” Shi Jingzhi gritted his teeth.

The others also activated their cold inner force, holding their breath and focusing their minds. The white smoke bypassed them and headed straight for the three Changle Sect attendants, who possessed no martial arts.

Everything happened in an instant. The attendants had no time to react before inhaling the white smoke.

They trembled for a moment, barely able to struggle. Accompanied by a rustling sound, small holes appeared on their skin, then slowly closed. They remained still, allowing the holes on their bodies to expand and shrink in a rhythmic pattern.

Shi Jingzhi seemed to realize something, and his breathing suddenly became short. Yin Ci made a decisive move and covered Shi Jingzhi’s mouth and nose with his hand. The two of them pressed tightly together, not uttering a word.

In the span of a cup of tea, the rustling sound ceased, and everything returned to silence.

Matron Wuxue let out a sigh and tapped her cane on the floor. The group finally resumed breathing and started to move.

The leader of the Changle Sect trembled and turned his head to look at the three attendants. As he looked, the old man let out a scream, causing his feet to slip nearly falling into the same fate as the attendants.

“Interesting,” Shen Zhu murmured softly.

Approaching for a closer look, they saw that the three individuals now had smiles on their faces, frozen in natural poses, with their skin having the same texture as the paper figures… or rather, right before everyone’s eyes, the three living people swiftly transformed into “paper figures”.

Yin Ci recognized what it was.

A moment ago, the holes on their skin had not yet closed. They continued to expand while being patched up by similar-colored “fabric”, creating an illusion of fluctuating hole sizes.

Their bones, organs, and flesh were all consumed by “that thing”, leaving behind only a vivid false shell.

Surname Shi had keen senses, so he probably noticed something amiss just now. However…

Before Yin Ci could finish his thought, Shi Jingzhi lifted his chin. His cheap master forcibly opened his mouth and stuffed a pill the size of a lychee into it, then delivered a firm palm strike to his chest. Yin Ci couldn’t resist openly, and almost choked to tears.

…A miscalculation. He had momentarily lost focus and seemed to have forgotten to resume breathing.

The author has something to say:

Hug ← pretending to play dead together

Chin lift ← immediately stuffed with a disgustingly bitter pill

Shi Jingzhi: ?! My disciple is about to die ———— (pupils quaking)

Yin Ci: ? I forgot to breathe—a minor detail.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 7: Bloody Footprints

In the previous few days, Shi Jingzhi could fall asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow. But today, he tossed and turned on his bed for a long time, unable to calm his breathing. With such a big person flipping like pancakes beside him, Yin Ci couldn’t sleep either.

After flipping like a pancake 99 times and turning 81 times, Shi Jingzhi knowingly asked, “A’Ci, did you fall asleep?”

Yin Ci felt that if he were fifty years younger, he would have strangled this annoying guy instead of letting him roll around like a madman beside him.

But the destination was close at hand so Yin Ci was in a tolerable mood, and he answered calmly, “No, I haven’t fallen asleep yet.”

“Mm.” Shi Jingzhi fell silent again for a while before asking, “Are you really going to come with me tomorrow?”

Yin Ci slowly exhaled, wondering what kind of medicine this guy was selling*.

*Medicine sold in the gourd. Idiom referring to someone who’s unpredictable that you don’t know what they’re up to, just like how medicine inside a gourd is unknown. 

“After we descend into the Ghost Tomb, the sects won’t cause trouble. But the Ghost Tomb is dangerous, and you haven’t even mastered your footwork. Even if I protect you, I can’t guarantee that you won’t get injured. Maybe you should…”

Yin Ci heard one thing but understood another—he came here specifically to explore the tomb, and Shi Jingzhi had agreed happily before. Who knows why he suddenly changed his mind.

“You stay on the surface, where there’s food and drink. The Jinyu Group slaughtered so many cattle and sheep for their blood, so there will be meat every meal for the next few days. When I bring the treasure up, then you can…” Shi Jingzhi continued to blabber.

Yin Ci decisively interrupted him. “If that’s the case, then it’s better if Shizun forbids me from going down into the tomb. Why bother asking back and forth?”

Shi Jingzhi immediately shut up.

Yin Ci secretly sneered. As a mere “ordinary person”, he was useless underground, but Shi Jingzhi was particularly delighted that his “disciple” was willing to go into the tomb. Perhaps Shi Jingzhi just wanted someone to boost his courage, or maybe he wanted a meat shield in case of emergencies, or perhaps he saw Yin Ci as a backup food source in case of unexpected circumstances… While Yin Ci knew something was fishy, he couldn’t be bothered to care.

For other sects, the Ghost Tomb might be a dangerous trial ground. But for him, it was at most a game to kill time. In any case, he couldn’t die, and if he did, he would profit from it.

That kid surnamed Shi, who was tossing and turning, definitely had some guilty reason behind it. When Yin Ci bluntly asked, Shi Jingzhi instantly became a silent gourd, not even turning his body.

Yin Ci closed his eyes, satisfied, but just as he was about to fall asleep, Shi Jingzhi’s words hit him again.

“Because you are my disciple. As your Master, I should take my disciple on more experiences,” Shi Jingzhi said with a touch of grievance, “And everyone around us is a stranger. I also want you to accompany me. I admit that this idea is embarrassing. But this Ghost Tomb…”

It seemed that sleep was out of the question now. Yin Ci sat up and turned around.

“If Shizun is willing to protect me, that’s enough. If Shizun can come out alive, I’m sure I can too. And if Shizun can’t, then I’ll accompany you in death down there.”

Shi Jingzhi had a face full of filial devotion, causing Yin Ci to hitch his breath. “A’Ci, don’t be like this. Master’s will isn’t firm.”

“Shizun has shown great kindness to me. When we met on Kushan that day, it was destined by heaven.” Yin Ci continued to act. “Even if there are difficulties in the tomb, Shizun is blessed and will definitely turn misfortune into fortune. Besides, where in the world are there opportunities without risks?”

Shi Jingzhi’s eyes reddened from being played, and a hint of affection for this stubborn guy appeared in his gaze. “I’ll take you. I’ll take you.”

Yin Ci lay down satisfactorily and just tucked himself in when—

“Actually, Master is going into the Ghost Tomb to seek the elixir of immortality.”

You don’t need to pour your heart out. I just want to rest. Yin Ci turned around with a mix of sadness and anger. But his mind suddenly tightened, and he was already half awake, so he had to continue listening.

“I’ve always had poor health since I was little. Everyone said I couldn’t be saved, and my family gradually stopped caring for me. This time, I’m exploring the Ghost Tomb to find a ray of hope. But rumors are just rumors, and there may not actually be an elixir of immortality there. Even if I don’t find it, as you said… Well, it won’t be a loss to broaden my horizons.”

Yin Ci completely lost his sleepiness. “Since Shizun lives in Yidu, why not go to the Immortal Summoning Meeting?”

“You know about the Immortal Summoning Meeting?” With so many people around, Shi Jingzhi even wore a Nuo mask while sleeping. He lay on his side, locking eyes with Yin Ci, with a few red marks on his face from the pressure.

“I know. My grandfather mentioned it, and there’s even a nursery rhyme about it in the city. It goes… ‘At the Immortal Summoning Meeting, ascend the divine path to reach the Nine Heavens*…'”

*It refers to the highest level in heaven (depending on the belief), but you can take it as just “heaven” (to reach godhood/becoming an immortal).

According to common sense, if there were monsters in the world, there must also be immortals. However, Yin Ci had dug through the ground but hadn’t found a single strand of an immortal’s beard.

Those people at the Immortal Summoning Meeting were the closest to “immortals”. The meeting was held every ten years in Yidu, and the jade talisman for entry was worth a fortune. If one caught the attention of an immortal, they could receive a jug of immortal wine and eternal youth.

Yin Ci had gotten his hands on more than just one jug of immortal wine. He had tried various things with them, but he still couldn’t manage to kill himself. No matter how he looked at it, it looked like medicinal wine with some special effects. Perhaps it could cure Shi Jingzhi’s problems.

“My family managed to get a few drops for me, but despite drinking it, it had no effect at all.” Shi Jingzhi’s voice sounded a bit bitter. “Perhaps it’s my fate… I just want to struggle a bit longer.”

“There are only a few immortal cultivation sects, and they only use monsters to set up arrays. I’ve visited a few, but no one has achieved immortality.”

‘Indeed,’ Yin Ci thought. They were seeking opposite things, but they ended up in the same place—with nothing in return.

“It will be alright.” Seeing Shi Jingzhi speak from the heart, Yin Ci casually brushed it off.

“Hopefully.” Shi Jingzhi sighed. “A’Ci, I haven’t talked about this with anyone before. It feels refreshing to let it out. A’Ci…”

Yin Ci covered his head with the blanket. This guy isn’t finished yet?!

Shi Jingzhi lowered his voice and reached out to pat Yin Ci’s head through the blanket. “Don’t worry. I will take good care of you.”

Under the red brocade blanket depicting mandarin ducks playing in water, Yin Ci felt that something was off about that statement*. However, sleepiness had the upper hand, and he was too lazy to bother about it.

*Clarity: In Chinese culture, it is believed that mandarin ducks mate for life, so they’re often symbols of a couple staying together. Given what Shi Jingzhi just said to Yin Ci and the reference to the blanket, Shi Jingzhi’s statement could mean “I’ll take care of you (as your spouse)”, which is why Yin Ci felt what he heard was off.

The warmth of the sun couldn’t suppress the chill of the Ghost Tomb. The stone slabs were as cold as ice, making it difficult for most people to sleep soundly.

The next morning, the Jinyu Group specially prepared delicious beef soup and greasy pancakes for breakfast. Even the monks from Jianchen Temple were given bowls of mushroom porridge. Shi Jingzhi sipped the hot soup but didn’t touch the dry rations, which was unusual for him.

The people from the Rong Palace didn’t show up, probably taking care of their own meals.

After everyone ate and drank their fill, they entered the Ghost Tomb with the rising sun.

The entrance gate of the tomb had been carefully cleaned by the Jinyu Group, but the heavy scent of blood still lingered. As soon as they stepped into the tomb, the warmth brought by the food immediately dissipated, leaving only a bone-chilling coldness.

“That Yan Budu is ridiculous. He buried himself in such a ghost of a place yet dared to aspire to become an immortal… It’s almost as if he’s possessed,” someone murmured softly.

As if in response, a low laugh echoed through the dark tomb passage. In the next moment, the lamps in the tomb lit up one by one, emitting a ghostly blue light that flickered without wind, like a sinister invitation.

Disciples from the Taiheng Sect gripped their swords, while the monks from Jianchen Temple lowered their heads and silently recited Buddhist mantras.

Shi Jingzhi shivered from head to toe. “I’ve got goosebumps.”

Yin Ci remained quite calm. “Just shake it off yourself.”

Shi Jingzhi: “I knew it was right to bring you along! Good disciple, you’re so brave.”

Yin Ci had a mischievous thought to tease him and spoke with ill intentions. “Shizun, if I were you, I would plug the bell. Grandfather said that monsters and demons are easily attracted by sounds…”

“Nonsense! This bell of mine is made of pure silver, and it wards off evil spirits!” Shi Jingzhi muttered while stuffing scraps of paper into the bell.

The disciple from the Taiheng Sect witnessed this embarrassing act but pretended not to see it. Jin Lan approached with Yan Qing. “Sect Master Shi, please come this way.”

Shi Jingzhi looked at Yan Qing with longing in his eyes, not bothering to hide his envy. Yin Ci couldn’t help but chuckle.

The tomb passage was neither long nor short and had been thoroughly explored in advance. The major sects were well-prepared, and even the smaller sects and schools that followed knew how to imitate them, so there were no incidents along the way. When they reached the main gate of the Ghost Tomb, a few people in the rear seemed quite impatient and dared to bypass the major sects and squeeze toward the tomb gate.

The tomb gate was covered with densely packed talismans, each stroke soaked in ominous dark red. Three people had a vacant look in their eyes, and instead of stopping, they directly crashed into the stone gate—

The Taiheng Sect and Jianchen Temple acted at the same time, blocking the other two from behind. Unfortunately, the distance was too short, and the leader of the group was charging too fast, resulting in a solid collision.

However, there was no sound of impact. The person’s body slowly melted into the tomb gate, accompanied by exposed ribs as blood splattered, accompanied by silent screams.

The two who were intercepted suddenly regained their senses, and instantly wet their pants.

“Many thanks, everyone.” A thin staff squeezed through the crowd. “He was my servant. Perhaps he was too relaxed just now and became confused.”

Yin Ci recognized the thin staff. It belonged to the leader of the Changle Sect, who always traveled with four servants, even if it meant wasting a spot in the Ghost Tomb. If it weren’t for Shi Jingzhi appearing halfway, this old man would have been Yin Ci’s target.

Yin Ci turned around calmly, intending to touch the talismans on the door. But as he took a half-step, he suddenly felt a strong force from behind—Shi Jingzhi’s bell had been inserted into Yin Ci’s belt at some point, firmly hooking onto him.

…This kid. He was trembling so much earlier, but now his grip was surprisingly steady.

“Shizun, I’m still sober.”

“Mm.” Shi Jingzhi didn’t tremble this time. He was carefully examining the tomb gate. The person from earlier had been completely devoured, leaving no trace on the entrance.

“Extremely vicious,” Jin Lan muttered in a low voice. “Did you see? That’s the true nature of the members of the demonic sects.”

Yan Qing: “I don’t see.”

Jin Lan rolled his eyes and turned to Yin Ci and Shi Jingzhi. “In any case, the two of you must not act recklessly. Follow us closely before descending to the second floor and be cautious so that you don’t die without even knowing how.”

A few steps away, the members of the Chigou Sect had already taken out a pile of iron tools and were cautiously prying the door open. The Ling Sect held their sect’s scriptures, pinching their noses to endure the smell. The two major orthodox sects were also not idle, activating the protective arrays they had purchased at a high price to defend the area.

Despite the various conflicts, the major sects had all sent their elites, and everyone remained calm—if they were to fight before even entering the tomb, it would only entertain the bystanders.

Yin Ci turned his body, and the silver bell behind him fell to the ground. Shi Jingzhi took a deep breath and bent down to pick it up.

The others were busy, and coupled with the recent death, silence fell upon the tomb passage. Suddenly, Shi Jingzhi shouted, “Ah,” and the echo reverberated endlessly. The Chigou Sect member who was prying the door stopped and looked over with anger.

Shi Jingzhi pretended not to see and pointed with a trembling hand towards the ground. “Are those footprints?”

The tomb passage was dimly lit, especially near the tomb door, where a thick layer of dust had accumulated on the ground. Yin Ci squatted down and brought the torch closer, illuminating a few faint footprints.

Those footprints were stained with old blood, incompletely imprinted on the stone slate. Covered by dust, they appeared no different from ordinary stains.

Yin Ci initially only discovered the aged bloodstains, intending to lead Shi Jingzhi to investigate. Unexpectedly, this kid immediately recognized the true nature of the bloodstains.

His master was truly an exceptional bird.

However, the current exceptional bird was feeling uneasy, with its feathers about to explode. “These are definitely footprints—footprints of an adult man… This person’s feet were soaked in blood, and he walked out barefoot!”

“What the Patron* said is accurate. These bloody footprints are over a hundred years old.” The monks of Jianchen were first to agree.

*The term he’s using is (施主) which refers to a benefactor/patron/offer giver. It’s a respectful term Buddhist practitioners use to address someone (for their, usually financial, support and generosity).

Jin Lan gasped. “Over a hundred years ago… Did Yan Budu really pretend to be a corpse?”

Just at that moment, the tomb door emitted a muffled sound and slowly opened.

Inside the door was a thick darkness, like a void.

The author has something to say:

Yin Ci: No worries, the ghost tomb is younger than me.

Shi Jingzhi: A ghost story right beside me!The Fox Spirit Master and the Painted Skin Disciple, from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio. (x

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 6: Blind

That person was dressed neatly and plainly, with a black cloth covering his eyes. Surprisingly, he was actually blind.

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault for not paying attention.” The blind man remained seated on the ground, hastily apologizing.

Yin Ci didn’t say anything. He glanced at the crowd behind the man—there were over a dozen young people, including the blind man, all dressed alike. Undoubtedly, they were members of the Taiheng Sect.

The Taiheng Sect was one of the top martial arts sects in the righteous martial world. Its disciples conducted themselves with righteousness, living up to the words “the righteous way of martial arts”.

Sure enough, someone immediately stepped forward and said, “Young master, are you injured? This blind servant bumped into you due to our sect’s inadequate discipline… Yan Qing, get up quickly!”

“I sprained my foot,” the blind man said.

“I think you simply don’t want to go to the Ghost Tomb. We don’t need you to be the vanguard, and the monthly pay is five times your monthly salary. Others can’t even beg for it,” a disciple of the Taiheng Sect said angrily. “Did you do it on purpose? Get up. What are you sitting there for!”

The blind man appeared to be around twenty years old. He was tall and had a wheat-colored complexion matched with a handsome face. He stood up tremblingly, looking pained.

“Alright, I’m coming.” After watching the spectacle, Shi Jingzhi rolled up his sleeves and unfurled his “Medicine Cures Illness” flag with a snap.

The disciples of the Taiheng Sect: “…”

Yin Ci continued to remain silent. In fact, that disciple was about seven to eight points correct—the blind man did intentionally bump into him. The force of the collision wasn’t strong, and it wasn’t meant to provoke a fight. From his movements, it could be inferred that he had already sprained his foot before the collision.

However, regardless of the blind man’s intentions, his plan was doomed to fail—Shi Jingzhi grabbed the man’s ankle and secretly injected a large amount of true qi. With a cracking sound, the blind man immediately let out a cry of pain.

“It’s done. It’ll heal within a day.” Shi Jingzhi wiped his hands.

The blind man’s handsome features wrinkled, and a hint of sorrow appeared between his brows.

Yin Ci felt somewhat pleased with this misfortune. The sprain wasn’t serious; he would recover completely after lying down for five or six days. However, he happened to encounter Shi Jingzhi, whose inner force was as strong as one wen weighing as three taels*, and he insisted on using true qi to heal the sprain.

*Idiom describing something as extremely valuable or worth much more than its apparent value.

The Taiheng Sect was indeed a major sect, and its disciples could see through Shi Jingzhi’s methods at a glance. Their expressions were somewhat unnatural as one of them said, “Thank you very much…”

“No need to be polite. In a few days, we’re going to the Ghost Tomb. Why not go together?” Shi Jingzhi’s face was full of smiles that couldn’t be concealed by the mask. “I am Shi Jingzhi of the Kushan Sect. I assume all of you are here on behalf of the Jinyu Group.”

The disciple choked, clearly not expecting such a quick response.

The Ghost Tomb had a complex structure, and all the major sects had explored some of its secrets to varying degrees. Shi Jingzhi made it clear that he wanted to take advantage of the Taiheng Sect, but unfortunately, the Taiheng Sect had too much face to outright refuse.

“So you’re Sect Master Shi.” A cold and clear female voice sounded, as she obviously noticed the jade pendant swaying on the flag.

“That’s right,” Shi Jingzhi responded with a smile. “I only have one disciple under my sect. With the two of us lightly armed, we’ll surely not cause any trouble to you.”

“Senior Sister, take a look at this…” The disciple who spoke initially had a frustrated expression.

The girl referred to as “Senior Sister” nodded. She wore white clothes, had a well-proportioned face, and exuded a righteous aura in her brows and eyes. Although her appearance couldn’t be considered stunning, it still gave people a favorable impression.

She glanced up and down at Shi Jingzhi and paused her gaze on his mask for a moment. “Our sect’s member initiated the collision first, and we received someone’s favor afterward. If Sect Master Shi doesn’t mind, you can join us in a few days.”

“Let’s go. Don’t block the entrance of the inn,” she said decisively, turning around and entering the inn.

Before the Taiheng Sect’s group left, the blind man let out a long sigh, listening with a sense of regret.

“Well done, my good disciple.” Shi Jingzhi ignored the blind man’s displeasure and patted Yin Ci’s back enthusiastically.

“I was originally planning to wait for the battle between the righteous and evil sects and seize the opportunity amidst the chaos to catch some wounded, but who knew an opportunity would arise so soon… What’s with that expression of yours? If anyone from the Taiheng Sect gets injured inside the tomb, I’ll still treat them. As the esteemed leader of the Kushan Sect, how could I miss out on such a chance to gain an advantage?”

Yin Ci couldn’t be bothered with him. “Shizun, what does ‘on behalf of the Jinyu Group’ mean?”

“Today, the Jinyu Group has started counting the jade beads. Three days for counting, one day for verification. They say the Ghost Tomb isn’t far from here, and we’ll be able to enter the tomb within the next five days at the latest. We arrived early, and there will be other sects coming later. The Shunhe Inn has been reserved, just for the two of us…”

“I can’t afford to stay there,” Yin Ci smoothly continued the conversation.

Shi Jingzhi chuckled. “Registering disciples with sects is too expensive. I still need to reserve your monthly allowance, or else my pockets will be empty. Speaking of this tomb visit, are you going or not?”

“Whether I go or not, what difference does it make?”

“If you go, I’ll only take one of the treasures we find, and the rest will be yours. If you don’t go, I’ll say you have diarrhea, and I’ll go alone.”

Indeed, this person’s goal was focused on the Shirou.

Seeing Yin Ci’s silence, Shi Jingzhi thought he was indecisive. “Rest assured, if you go, I will do everything to ensure your safety. If you don’t go, when I get the money, I won’t be stingy with you.”

Yin Ci pretended to struggle for a while. “Rarely do I get to see the world. I’ll go.”

As soon as Yin Ci finished answering, Shi Jingzhi immediately burst into laughter, his face beaming. It was unclear what he found so amusing. Having satisfied his happiness, he took out a pill of moderate size from the medicine box and broke it with his hand, revealing a translucent and crystal-clear jade bead.

“Come on, let’s hand over the jade beads first.”

In the following days, Yin Ci prepared dry rations.

Shi Jingzhi was very picky. The dry rations not only had to be filling but also tasty, and the flavors couldn’t be the same. Aside from being urged to squat in a horse stance and practice wielding a knife, Yin Ci spent the rest of his time revolving around the stove. But Yin Ci didn’t get angry at Shi Jingzhi—being able to maintain an innocent identity for three years and cook for three days actually had its own amusement.

Finally, the day of departure arrived.

Shi Jingzhi specially bought two garish, thin cotton quilts, claiming that he wanted to earn some extra money. Yin Ci carried the quilt embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in water on his back, and despite his desire for death over the years, he felt a new sense of despair.

The Taiheng Sect always abided by their promises and even allowed the two of them to ride in the sect’s dedicated carriage. After a bumpy ride, the carriage finally stopped in front of a chaotic mountain range.

The path ahead was steep and impassable for horses, so everyone got off the carriage.

“I’m Jin Lan. Both of you, follow me.”

The person who came forward was the Taiheng Sect disciple who had appeared a few days ago. He had an ordinary appearance but a loud voice. “Yan Qing, Yan Qing—what are you doing? Catch up!”

The blind man followed upon hearing the words. He carried a mountain of luggage on his back, without using a blind cane, and walked as if nothing was amiss.

Yin Ci casually swept his eyes around and then looked at the people nearby. After the Jinyu Group finished counting the jade beads, these were all the competitors. Each sect could bring a maximum of thirty people into the tomb, and there weren’t as many people as he had imagined.

There were five prominent factions.

Naturally, the first was the “leader of the righteous path”, the Taiheng Sect. Not far from the Taiheng Sect, there were monks from the Jianchen Temple with their bald heads shining. Both sects belonged to the righteous path, so even when they stood together, the atmosphere was harmonious.

On the other side stood the Chigou and the Ling sects. The two demonic sects seemed ready to clash.

The Chigou Sect started as tomb raiders, and the Ghost Tomb was a piece of meat that they were determined to acquire. Meanwhile, the tomb belonged to the founder of the Ling Sect. Although the Ling Sect was currently in decline, they couldn’t tolerate their ancestor’s tomb being seized by others. Before even entering the tomb, the two sects had already erupted in several small-scale conflicts.

The atmosphere of the last faction was rather delicate and emitted a strong sense of dissonance among the crowd.

“Those are people from the Rong Palace, associated with the imperial court.” Jin Lan was the first to speak, as he noticed Yin Ci gazing in that direction. “Don’t offend them and cause trouble for our sect.”

Shi Jingzhi laughed at the remark. “Of course, the Taiheng Sect has at least enjoyed its fair share of the emperor’s rations. I’m well aware of that.”

Apart from these five major factions, the rest were a bunch of miscellaneous individuals, including small sects and schools of mixed qualifications, such as the Kushan Sect. These people were stretching their necks, eagerly staring at the chaotic mountains as if they could dig out treasures with their eyes.

Finally, a temporary wooden platform was erected on the stone surface, and the leader of the Jinyu Group appeared.

The leader of the Jinyu Group had a greasy face, was short and fat, and spoke in a strange, auspicious manner. He mumbled on the platform for a while before getting to the point.

“In this tomb, it’s first come, first served. Each sect will be accompanied by several disciples from the Yueshui Pavilion to record the list of acquired treasures.”

He twirled his goatee, adding a hint of pressure to his voice.

“If anyone breaks the rules, naturally, you all can join forces to attack them and divide their treasures. Apart from that, if any of you want to play tough, you need to leave this territory first and then come back.”

With a wave of his fat hand, he said, “Yueshui Pavilion, please!”

The disciples from the Yueshui Pavilion didn’t arrive in a carriage or gather in a specific location. As soon as the leader of the Jinyu Group finished speaking, they mysteriously appeared from the mountainside like ghosts, heading toward their respective factions.

Yin Ci held his breath—there was a reason for it. The disciples of the Yueshui Pavilion were all dressed in extremely gaudy attire, with color combinations that could blind the eyes. They looked as if they had just plundered a rural brothel and randomly put on clothes with their eyes closed.

For a moment, even the demonic sects became quiet. Their people might dress extravagantly in red, but when had they seen such a scene?

“This is to avoid confusion with the attire of disciples from various sects,” the leader of the Jinyu Group considerately added, noticing that the disciples of the Yueshui Pavilion had solemn expressions. “They weren’t like this before and usually have good taste.”

The disciples of the Yueshui Pavilion: “…”

Yin Ci heard a chuckle from beside him. “This old ghost sure talks a lot.”

Oh, the Kushan Sect, which could barely be considered a sect, still had a person from the Yueshui Pavilion assigned to them. He turned his head and saw a girl in peach-red clothes and a bright green skirt. The girl had ordinary features, but her makeup was exquisite. She wore a small silver whistle around her neck, adding a touch of flavor to her tacky attire.

It was well known that the Yueshui Pavilion didn’t accept female disciples. Yin Ci couldn’t help but pause his gaze for a moment.

“What’s wrong, little brother? Haven’t you seen a beautiful sister before?” The girl approached with a smile. Looking at her bone structure, he confirmed that she was indeed a woman.

Yin Ci breathed a sigh of relief. Among the eye-catching attire, a girl in peach-red clothes and a bright green skirt was still better than a bulky man in the same outfit. The Taiheng Sect had suddenly gained three robust men wearing peach-red satin, making the disciples’ faces turn green.

As if seeing through his thoughts, the girl smiled again. “My name is Shen Zhu. I hope the two of you will do well and not die too soon. I want to spend more time in the Ghost Tomb.”

Shi Jingzhi remained calm, as if he hadn’t heard anything. His eyes looked to the ground, as if his mind had wandered off somewhere.

After entering the mountains, Shi Jingzhi maintained his ghost-like appearance throughout the entire day.

The Ghost Tomb was hidden deep within the mountains, taking advantage of the dragon veins*. In this chaotic mountain range, there were no inhabitants, not even a mountain path. Each sect had profound martial arts skills, and with the guidance of the Jinyu Group, they managed to reach the entrance of the Ghost Tomb before nightfall.

*Winding mountain ranges.

The entrance to the Ghost Tomb was quite conspicuous.

The Jinyu Group had cleared the surrounding pine and cypress trees and laid down blue stones to create a small square. On the square, there were golden arrays one after another, with blazing flames at each corner, creating an atmosphere that was still eerie and chilling. As the crowd approached the entrance, a stale and suffocating aura hit them, mixed with a suffocating stench of blood.

The Jinyu Group spared no expense this time. Yin Ci secretly sighed.

The tomb of the demonic sect’s leader naturally required a blood sacrifice to seal it. To break this evil formation, fresh blood with a warm aura needed to be continuously poured day and night, and it was crucial not to abandon it midway. The Jinyu Group had to bring a large number of live animals deep into the mountains and have people accompany them to spill blood as needed in order to break through the outermost layer of the tomb.

Breaking the seal required the combined effort of hundreds of people, which wasn’t something ordinary tomb raiders could do.

After breaking the seal, the next step was to ventilate. The Ghost Tomb had been sealed for a hundred years, and the tomb passage was filled with poisonous gas. The Jinyu Group specially ignited medicine to control the air flow and set up the “royal wind arrays” in various air vents. Dealing with a tomb of this level, medicinal wind needed to be maintained for forty-nine days.

The royal wind array was similar to other arrays and required the activation of the flesh and blood of monsters, which cost a large sum of money.

When the Ghost Tomb first emerged, Yin Ci had explored the situation alone. It was truly airtight, and opening the tomb would undoubtedly require great force. Otherwise, even the Chigou Sect wouldn’t obediently comply and would have made a move long ago.

While Yin Ci was still pondering about the Ghost Tomb, a call came.

Whether it was resentment or guilt, the blind man, Yan Qing, hummed like a mosquito. “The Taiheng Sect has reserved a place for you to rest. We’ll depart when the rooster crows tomorrow, so don’t oversleep…”

Shi Jingzhi had somehow circled around behind Yin Ci and hooked his shoulder. “How can that be? We martial artists always wake up earlier than the rooster…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Yin Ci shrugged him off, leaving him grinning and following behind.

When they arrived at their destination, Yin Ci spread the satin quilt embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in water while glancing sideways at Shi Jingzhi. After they descended to the tomb tomorrow, he wanted to see if this kid would dare to sleep in.

The author has something to say:

There’s only one supporting character left to make an appearance…!

Guess who will join the team now? (?

Someone asked why Yin Ci didn’t find the jade beads at first… Initially, he was playing the role of a simple mountain dweller, and if he had crushed all the pills, Shi Jingzhi would have realized something was wrong as soon as he woke up. After that, Shi Jingzhi admitted to stealing the jade beads, so Yin Ci didn’t need to look for them anymore.

Kinky Thoughts:

Considering how many names were dropped in this chapter, I don’t even know who actually is the supporting cast…

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