Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 17: Zhuazhou

At that time, Xu Jingming firmly believed in the crown prince’s words.

It wasn’t blind faith. Children were naturally sensitive to dangerous creatures. Every time Xu Jingming approached Shi Jingzhi, he could feel that strong aversion.

The previous Imperial Preceptor said that his destiny was weak. His mother feared he would die young, so she sent him to the Imperial Preceptor’s side every few days, claiming it was for “warding off evil spirits”. Because of this, Xu Jingming often overheard various conversations.

Such as the dialogue between his Emperor Father* and the Imperial Preceptor.

*[Fu wang] (父王) It is a term of address used by the emperor’s children, which literally means “father king”.

Regarding his terrifying older brother, the previous Imperial Preceptor once said such things—

[Your Majesty, if this child is not eliminated, he will become a disaster that topples the nation.]

Looking at the result, his Emperor Father didn’t heed the advice. Shi Jingzhi had a stroke of luck and managed to survive until today. When his eldest brother, Xu Jingxing, ascended the throne, given how much he disliked the influence held by the Imperial Preceptor, he naturally wouldn’t obey the Imperial Preceptor’s commands.

Xu Jingming prided himself on being a cautious person. After being crowned “Prince”, Xu Jingming sought out experts from all over the world to analyze Shi Jingzhi’s destiny. Those experts were genuine, and their answers were similar—this person was a great calamity, and if left unchecked, disasters would occur.

Great Yun had been prosperous for many years, with the people living in abundance. Xu Jingming lived comfortably and happily, having no desire to experience a chaotic era. The words of the Imperial Preceptor became a thorn in his side, occasionally causing him pain and preventing him from sleeping peacefully.

It would be best if Shi Jingzhi died.

However, the Emperor seemed to have his own considerations. Shi Jingzhi didn’t have the imperial surname, no fiefdom, and not even a royal palace, but he still had his life. If Xu Jingming were to take action openly, he would likely anger the Emperor.

But if Shi Jingzhi died in the Ghost Tomb, no one could find fault with it.

“Kill him.” Xu Jingming snapped his fan shut.

Shi Jingzhi gasped for breath and hoarsely said, “Are you giving up the Buddhist bead?”

Xu Jingming replied, “I came to the Ghost Tomb, firstly to search for treasures, and secondly to find an opportunity to eliminate you, a great evil. Even if I only kill you, this trip will still be worthwhile—our encounter here is fate.”

“As for the Buddhist beads, even if your explanations sound reasonable, it’s still just speculation. Am I foolish enough to believe your words? Moreover, even if the map of the Buddhist beads is incomplete, it doesn’t mean the items cannot be found.”

Shi Jingzhi fell silent and gradually showed a hint of sadness.

Xu Jingming sneered. “Stop pretending that we have brotherly love*. You—”

*(兄友弟恭) Idiom referring to the love and respect between brothers.

“It’s not like that,” Shi Jingzhi said sorrowfully. “You know about the Blood-Making Rope, and you recognize the Suffering From Parting. Just purchasing this information from the demonic sects has cost you thousands of silver taels, and you even took risks and entered the tomb yourself… In the end, even if the Buddhist beads aren’t complete, you only want my life.”

As they spoke, his sadness grew deeper. “Why didn’t you say it earlier? Even if we split the money in half, I would have been willing to meet you alone and let you kill me. Xiao Qi, even though you’ve had a mental deficiency for quite some time, this is just too…”

Xu Jingming became furious, and his hand holding the fan trembled. “What are you waiting for? Kill him now!”

The four masters rushed forward.

Only outstanding candidates with a clean background, carefully cultivated by major sects, had the privilege of becoming royal guards. Even if they were the leftovers unpicked by the Emperor, their strength was still formidable.

Shi Jingzhi stood up and stretched his legs. “What a pity. I was planning to rest a little longer.”

He kicked half of the flagpole on the ground with his toe, and as the flag rolled up, it became a longsword in his hand. The wooden pole was adorned with golden fire, shining brightly and somewhat dazzling. The flagpole cut through the air, leaving a trail of light in the darkness.

Shi Jingzhi stopped smiling, and the oppressive feeling around him intensified. One of the masters approached but was struck by the fiery sword wind. Although he managed to dodge the sword qi in time, his clothes were grazed by a spark.

Yang fire wasn’t an ordinary flame and was difficult to extinguish. When the man’s attention was divided, Shi Jingzhi swiftly moved behind him, cutting him in half at the waist. He then grabbed the upper body of the man and turned, blocking the simultaneous attack of three swords.

While the others were disarmed, Shi Jingzhi used a new footwork technique, twisting and collecting the corpse neatly, throwing it into a sacrificial pit along with the sword.

“Xiao Qi, if you had sent them along with the Chigou Sect to chase me, I would definitely be dead by now.”

Then, he dodged a kick by bending his waist and swiftly struck, shattering another person’s skull.

“When I left Yidu, there were at least five thousand people in the martial world who could kill me. To this day, there should be no more than a thousand left. But among these thousand, there are none by your side.”

“Truly evil.” Xu Jingming spat. “You deliberately acted disgracefully along the way just to hide your true strength…”

“I was genuinely scared. Why would I pretend?”

Shi Jingzhi’s tone remained calm.

He grabbed the fronts of the remaining two people’s robes and slammed them forcefully into each other. Then, he singled out the one with a wide face and flattened his head with a palm strike.

“Of course, you can certainly feign composure and conceal your true nature. With time, when we meet again, those people will have a higher opinion of you… But I don’t have time. Unable to discern between truth and falsehood, you are inferior to my little disciple.”

Xu Jingming looked at the blood-soaked Shi Jingzhi and struggled to maintain his composure. “You yourself are a monster, so why are you afraid of ghosts?”

“You wouldn’t understand.” Shi Jingzhi didn’t kill the last person, allowing him to lie unconscious on the ground. “Since creatures like me exist, there might as well be vengeful spirits. I can kill humans and monsters, but if I encounter ghosts…”

He took a few steps forward and used his bloody hand to press heavily on Xu Jingming’s crown.

For a moment, Xu Jingming thought his brain would splatter everywhere. His knees gave out, and he sat on the ground, paralyzed.

Shi Jingzhi lowered his gaze but smiled again. “…If you encounter a ghost, you will experience this kind of ‘fear’.”

Then he took a step back. “Rest assured. If you die here, Eldest Brother will come after me. Look, I’ve left you with a bodyguard.”

It took Xu Jingming a while to regain his senses, and he clenched his teeth. “Aren’t you going to steal my Buddhist bead?”

“If I steal it now, how can I explain it to my disciple? Remember, you need to play along with me later, or else…”

Xu Jingming swallowed his saliva. “Or else?”

“I haven’t figured that out yet, but you can find out for yourself.” Shi Jingzhi waved his hand casually, breaking Xu Jingming’s sedan chair into several pieces and throwing it into the sacrificial pit.

Shi Jingzhi did it on purpose. He was absolutely deliberate. Xu Jingming looked painfully at the wreckage of the sedan chair—there were enough corpses on the ground, yet Shi Jingzhi insisted on destroying his sedan chair.

Losing the argument, Xu Jingming’s anger flared up. “Eldest Brother has shown you mercy by allowing you to leave the palace since he thought you were running out of time. I know you’ve established a sect, but if you dare to secretly train private troops…”

“I’m not that free. There are various bonds in the world that you still have time to experience, but I only have one year left.”

Shi Jingzhi looked at the slowly descending stone pillar, while keeping his tone flat.

“As for family affection, I don’t expect it from you. And as for longing, even if I were lucky enough to meet my destined person, I couldn’t afford to treat them seriously while struggling to survive. Friendship is also good, but deep relationships require time to cultivate… and I don’t have time.”

“People say that once you become someone’s teacher, you become like a father to them for a lifetime. Taking on a disciple is a good idea. However, children have short memories and fragile lives, making it difficult for them to accompany me into dangerous places. But now, this is just perfect. Even if I die a year from now, he will remember me for a lifetime.”

Xu Jingming was stunned for a moment and then reluctantly said, “If he’s willing to accompany you to the Ghost Tomb, he’s either incredibly foolish or has ulterior motives.”

Shi Jingzhi approached him, squatting down in front of him with a trace of blood still on his face. “So what?”

“What?”

“Xiao Qi, do you know about the ‘Zhuazhou*’ tradition? When a child reaches one year old, they randomly grab something, and people believe it’s their destiny. I did something similar.”

*Zhuazhou is a Chinese ritual held at a child’s first birthday party, when the child is 1 year, i.e. typically twelve months since birth (although variable reckonings as to what constitutes a year of age for entitlement for zhuazhou exist), old. The parents put various objects before the child, often objects that symbolize career choices or personality traits. The child’s choice is used to forecast its future.

“I went to a desolate place and randomly picked someone as my disciple. Whether he’s good or evil, as long as he hasn’t already taken on a master, I will sincerely be his master… Isn’t that also destiny?”

Xu Jingming was shocked by his nonchalant tone. “But if he wants to cause trouble…”

Shi Jingzhi avoided answering, continuing with a smile, “You can reassure Eldest Brother that I will only take in this one disciple. I can’t handle more. Your bodyguard will wake up in a while; I’ll leave first.”

With that said, Shi Jingzhi climbed onto the stone pillar and prepared to leave.

Xu Jingming suffered losses on all fronts*; even his words were turned into a joke by Shi Jingzhi, and his chest felt stifled. He composed himself and continued with a sharp tongue.

*Losing both wife and army (喪妻喪軍). Idiom referring to a person who suffered multiple major losses or setbacks.

“Sincerely be his master… Sincerely? How much sincerity can a monster like you have?”

Shi Jingzhi paused for a moment. “I don’t know either, so I also want to see.”

His figure quickly disappeared at the entrance of the cave.

Xu Jingming wiped his sweat and looked around at the bloody scene, feeling anxious once again. With the prophecy of the “disaster that topples the nation” hanging over his head, and with the clear intention of treating his disciple kindly…

That person, Yin Ci, better be an ordinary person with integrity.

At this moment, Demonic Lord Yin, the “ordinary person”, was familiarizing himself with the surroundings at the exit, waiting for his ghostskin robe to dry.

There were four exits from the “Suffering From Parting”, leading to a wide hall. Inside the hall stood two rows of sturdy stone pillars, adorned with symmetrical giant stone sculptures, finally resembling a proper tomb.

However, he hadn’t noticed Yan Qing and didn’t know where that unlucky guy had been thrown by his ancestor.

A rumbling sound echoed, and the ground trembled slightly. Hearing more pillars descend, Yin Ci held his breath and quickly hid behind a pillar.

He had extracted some smoke bombs from Elder Lu’s fragments. If it wasn’t Shi Jingzhi who arrived, he could play some tricks, disappearing mysteriously, and create evidence of the existence of a “mysterious master”.

As a precaution, Yin Ci had previously walked around inside the hall, deliberately spreading bloodstains everywhere. Even if it was Shi Jingzhi who came, that fox wouldn’t be able to sniff out his location.

Unexpectedly, that person came running straight towards his hiding spot.

It would be too late to retreat to the room now. However, this was only the second person to emerge, so it shouldn’t be his naive master. Unfortunately, things didn’t always go as planned, and Demonic Lord Yin’s luck had never been good…

With a cold expression, Shi Jingzhi flashed in front of Yin Ci, pointing the broken half of a flagpole directly at his throat.

“W-W-W-What are you?”

His gaze swept over Yin Ci’s white clothes, making sure that Yin Ci was still catching his breath before he sternly asked his question.

“What… What did you do to my disciple? He’s in his early twenties and has no martial arts skills.”

Yin Ci raised an eyebrow slightly—since Shi Jingzhi was so sure that he met his ‘mountain disciple’, this kid must have done something.

Why not take this opportunity to test his words? Looking at the furious Shi Jingzhi, Yin Ci suddenly felt a playful impulse.

“Your disciple?”

Yin Ci deliberately feigned confusion, then burst into laughter.

“…Hmm, most likely I killed him.”

The author has something to say:

Fox Shi, Demonic Lord Yin: three-in-one—best friend (?) + true love + disciple—isn’t it surprising?

When a beauty faces another beauty, seduction is ineffective. After all, they have both looked in the mirror!

Yan Qing: Boss, stop flirting and come to rescue me. I’m facing a life-threatening crisis during the probation period——0(:3 )～ (;3_ヽ)_

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 16: An Old Acquaintance

Yin Ci felt a wave of dizziness.

In his sight, the ground rose up, the ceiling pressed down, and walls squeezed in from all directions. Boundless fear seeped out from deep within his memory. His hair stood on end, and his blood froze. All senses were momentarily obscured, leaving only the heavy scent of blood in his mouth and nose.

The flickering flames gradually receded, and everything twisted into darkness. Just like back then…

“Not a bad move.” Yin Ci raised his eyes.

Even though Lu Fengxi had wandered the world for decades, taking countless lives, when he saw those eyes, he couldn’t help but shudder.

His opponent not only didn’t fall, but his killing intent had intensified. Those eyes—no longer the eyes of an evil spirit; at least an evil spirit was once human. The entity standing across from him now resembled a pure creature born in darkness.

Lu Fengxi widened his eyes in horror as he looked at his opponent. He wanted to say something, but he realized he had lost his lips, tongue, and teeth.

That person stood amidst a splatter of blood with a cold and resolute face filled with malice and eyes emptier than the sacrificial pit. His icy gaze passed through Lu Fengxi and lingered in the void.

In the next moment, Elder Lu couldn’t see anything.

……

Yin Ci slapped himself in the pool of blood, regaining some clarity. Unfortunately, it was too late—Lu Fengxi had been completely torn to shreds, and it would be difficult to even throw him into the sacrificial pit, let alone bury him.

Fortunately, he retained a shred of sanity, keeping in mind Shi Jingzhi’s fox nose, so he didn’t splatter too much blood on himself.

“Sound of Terror—the name is quite apt.”

Using the technique of sound to provoke fear in people, he had never seen such a fresh move. It seemed that during his absence from the martial world, the Ling Sect had come up with some strange things.

Yin Ci picked up the staff from the flesh and blood, finally understanding its material—it was pieced together with human bones. Judging by its softness and hardness, it was likely made from processed children’s bones.

The Ling Sect remained the same over the centuries.

Yin Ci sneered, dismantling the lantern. After spending some time, he crushed the staff into pieces and carefully burned it to ashes.

Then, he picked up the three Ling Sect disciples and pulled out a knife. One by one, he threw them into the sacrificial pit, causing the stone pillar to rumble and descend a large section.

Only two people’s weight remained.

Yin Ci approached the unconscious monk from Jianchen Temple and adjusted the monk into a more natural lying position. He also checked the dryness of the ghostskin robe and hung it in a more ventilated area.

After completing all of this, Yin Ci sat on the edge of the sacrificial pit, gazing into the bottomless pit. He contemplated for a while, folding up the hem of his white robe, revealing his bare legs. The pale skin brushed against the rough edge of the stone, leaving behind faint red marks.

In a flash of cold light, his hand rose, and the knife fell.

Yin Ci severed his left leg, which plunged into the deep pit. Before long, something resembling blood-soaked tree roots emerged from the severed area. They coiled together, tightly wrapping around each other, forming new bone and flesh until a new left leg was regenerated.

Yin Ci remained expressionless, raising his hand for another slash. His newly regenerated left leg was once again severed, and a large amount of fresh blood sprayed along the edge of the pit. Flesh and blood tumbled and rolled, creating a disturbing muffled sound as they hit the stone walls.

This repetition occurred over a dozen times until, finally, the stone pillar began to tremble and descended completely.

Everything was ready. Next, all Yin Ci needed to do was put on the ghostskin robe, bring the monk out, and weave a convincing lie—they had encountered a powerful individual with an unknown identity. This person had knocked out the monk and himself, somehow caused the stone pillar to descend, and then disappeared without a trace.

The monk was hit by a palm strike that caused confusion and blurred memories. At most, he could vaguely recall the general situation but couldn’t provide many details.

But before that, Yin Ci had to quickly retrieve the treasure at the top of the pillar.

Yin Ci leaped onto the stone pillar and, as expected, found a Buddhist bead on the top. However, there was a strange dust around the bead, as if something had been placed there for a while and then swapped out with the Buddhist bead.

Considering that there weren’t many monsters in the Ascension Hall, the eerie conditions of the Ghost Tomb became even more peculiar.

…He didn’t know if his cheap master would survive this ordeal.

A short while ago, in another chamber.

Shi Jingzhi’s hand slapped against the stone surface with a crisp and resounding sound. He groaned and moaned for a while before breaking free from the effects of the anesthetic. When the fire ignited, he was still sitting on the ground, rubbing his legs.

The flag “Medicine Cures Illness” was too long, so a section was poked out from the liquid sphere, which was dissolved by the lake water, leaving behind only “Cures Illness”. Shi Jingzhi stood up, leaning on the flagpole, and took a few deep breaths with a pained expression.

In the center of the room stood a stone pillar inscribed with “Suffering From Parting”, which he recognized. A few steps away, the people from the Rong Palace stood quietly. The sedan chair had returned to its original state.

In addition to the person inside the sedan and the four skilled guards from the Rong Palace, two solitary individuals had regained consciousness and were looking around.

Including himself, there were a total of eight people in the room. The “Suffering From Parting” required the weight of about five people, if they included…

Before he could finish his thoughts, the guards from the Rong Palace suddenly pounced, throwing the two solitary individuals into the sacrificial pit. After a moment of silence, sounds of agonizing screams, unlike human voices, emanated from below the sacrificial pit.

The stone pillar trembled and descended a notch.

The four guards turned around and looked at Shi Jingzhi, preparing to take action—

“Hold on, let me have a word with him first.” Finally, the person inside the sedan spoke. From the sound of his voice, it was a young man.

He lifted the curtain with a folding fan and walked out, revealing his face. His features were quite handsome, making him resemble a charming young man.

Tapping his palm with the folding fan, he sarcastically remarked, “What’s this? Changed to another wooden mask again?”

“Every time I come across a market, I buy one as a souvenir.” Shi Jingzhi readily took off the Nuo mask.

The person inside the sedan was above average in appearance, but compared to Shi Jingzhi, he instantly became a supporting character, like a green leaf next to a blooming red flower, especially one with spots.

Seemingly aware of this, the person unfolded the folding fan, covering almost half of his face. On the fan, the word “Tranquility*” was written in skilled calligraphy, indicating the work of a renowned calligrapher.

*In terms of being calm and composed.

He stared at Shi Jingzhi for a moment. “Do you have anything else to say?”

“Yes,” Shi Jingzhi said with a grin. “Since you dared to come in person, that sedan must be quite valuable, right? I’ve been short on money lately. Can I borrow some…”

“Nonsense.” The person displayed a hint of anger. “I’m asking you, since you’re about to die here. Do you have anything else to say?”

Shi Jingzhi sighed. “You’ve been following me since the Paper Figure Street, and you’re still so impatient.”

“If you hadn’t been lucky enough to accompany Shi Zhongyu and coincidentally travel together, you wouldn’t have even made it into the Ascension Hall,” the man sneered.

“We’re already talking about the Ascension Hall? Haven’t you noticed that something is off?”

“What do you mean?”

“The Ascension Hall… No, the Ghost Tomb is too mild. It’s not Yan Budu’s style.”

The person looked at the stone pillar in silence. “You call this ‘mild’?”

“The first level is originally not difficult, so it retains a relatively intact design. As for the second level, the Ascension Hall is too spacious. If they only wanted to set up the Corpse Explosion Bone Curse and the sinking liquid spheres, there would be no need to build such a finely crafted maze.”

The man furrowed his brow. “…Continue.”

“Most importantly, the Corpse Explosion Bone Curse can reduce the number of people, and so can the “Suffering From Parting”. There’s only a layer of liquid mass in between, lacking a sense of aesthetics.”

Shi Jingzhi sat down on the ground, resting his chin on his hand. “The leader of the Ling Sect considers the tomb a sacred place. Even if he wants to design a trap for conflicts, this is completely turning things upside down—the Ghost Tomb should be filled with slaughter mechanisms rather than an ambiguous guiding game.”

The man in the sedan chair: “…This is the first time I’ve heard someone complain about a lack of mechanisms.”

“If it were up to me, I would hide a large number of monsters and spells in the maze, dispersing the intruders and slowly killing them. When the survivors are reduced to a fixed number, then the heavens and earth would be overturned, and the liquid sphere would appear randomly, purely as a matter of luck.”

“Each room would be paired with two people, adjusting the weight requirement of the ‘Suffering From Parting’ to about one and a half persons. If they wanted to escape, they would definitely have to leave behind some limbs. Once the first person exits a room, all the other rooms would be sealed—only the final survivor would be allowed to enter the third level. Empty-handed and most likely missing limbs, they would have no choice but to die in despair at the destination.”

Having finished, Shi Jingzhi smiled even brighter. “Isn’t this more like a ‘Ghost Tomb’?”

The person inside the sedan sneered. “Whether it resembles a ghost tomb or not, I’m quite clear that you and that Yan person are of the same kind.”

“Don’t be impatient. I haven’t finished yet.” Shi Jingzhi raised his hand to signal.

With disheveled clothing and casual movements and a pair of phoenix-like eyes filled with a playful smile, he resembled a legendary evil immortal from folklore. Unlike before, the gentle aura that surrounded Shi Jingzhi dissipated completely, leaving only an imposing pressure.

“Yan Budu, a man of the times, is not more naive than me. I dare to guess that Yan Budu placed the Buddhist beads in the Ghost Tomb after its construction. To ensure that enough masters survived, he exterminated the monsters in the Ascension Hall and altered all the rules of the arts. This ensures that people can fight over the Buddhist beads without the entire force being wiped out.”

Feeling the strong momentum from the opposite side, the person inside the sedan became somewhat impatient. “So what? Ultimately, he wants the Buddhist beads to flow out of the Ghost Tomb and cause chaos?”

“That’s right, he used the Ghost Tomb as a stepping stone—meaning that the tomb is no longer important to him.”

The man abruptly held his breath. “Are you saying…”

“Yan Budu isn’t in the tomb. Assuming the Shirou truly exists, the Buddhist beads are highly likely to be a clue.”

Shi Jingzhi extended his index finger and tapped his lower lip.

“My Buddhist bead is not on me. I can guarantee that if I die, you will never obtain it.”

“To acquire information about the Ghost Tomb, you must have spent quite a sum of money on the demonic sects. Why? Are you planning to collect the Buddhist beads personally to please Eldest Brother*? …Can you even gift something that’s not a complete set?”

*[Dage] (大哥).

“Insolent! You dare call him ‘Eldest Brother’?” The man’s face turned pale.

“We are blood relatives. Why can’t I call him that? If I call him that to his face, he has to respond.”

Shi Jingzhi said casually.

“It’s strange. Clearly, it’s you who don’t know etiquette. After all, I am your older brother, Xiao Qi¹. Oh, you prefer a more serious title… How about calling me ‘gege²‘ and see how it sounds, Your Royal Highness of Rong?”

¹Little Seven. This indicates most likely he’s the 7^th son in the family hierarchy.
²Older brother (哥哥). || Note: [Gege] is often a more informal way to address someone than [xiong] (兄), which is often considered a more formal and respectful term (compared to gege). In this context, considering his status (and apparently his disdain for Shi Jingzhi), for Xiao Qi to address him as [xiong] (more respectfully), it would be kind of like a slap in the face. Though I doubt he would want to call him [gege] either.

The person in the sedan—Prince Xu Jingming of Rong*, from the Rong Imperial Palace—choked hard, and his gaze was mixed with vigilance and disgust, without a hint of appreciation.

*Clarity: Xu Jingming is his name, while Rong is more like his title (most likely bestowed on him by the emperor).

Shi Jingzhi ignored his attitude and smiled at him.

Xu Jingming took two steps back on the spot, and a familiar memory flooded into his mind once again.

At that time, he was still young and shouldn’t have remembered much. But the day he first met this “older brother*”, Xu Jingming remembered it very clearly.

*[Xiong zhang] (兄长). Also a term for older brother, but carries more respect than just [Xiong] (兄).

On that day, the crown prince* led him, standing far away outside the garden. Inside the garden, Shi Jingzhi sat in the pavilion, gazing at the lake absentmindedly. After a while, as if sensing their presence, Shi Jingzhi turned his head, his face showing an inexplicable calmness that didn’t match a child’s.

*[Taizi] (太子).

Back then, Shi Jingzhi wasn’t much older, and his face was surprisingly delicate—so delicate that it didn’t seem real. At first glance, he stood out from his surroundings, as if he had been stripped away.

“Ge…ge…?” The young Xu Jingming pointed to the pavilion.

“Jingming, he’s not your ‘gege’.”

The crown prince lowered his head and calmly responded.

“He’s a monster.”

The author has something to say:

Shi Jingzhi: I’ll take off a layer of disguise here.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 15: Trapped Beast

The gigantic fish bone in the center of the lake rotated with the ice, once protruding from the water, now presenting a submerged appearance.

They had stayed in the Ascension Hall for a full six or seven hours. Most of their energy was depleted, and with few monsters along the way, they couldn’t immediately enter a state of tension.

Trapped within the space enclosed by the ice and the serpent bones, there was nowhere to escape. They could only watch the world spin before their eyes.

The coldness around them grew heavier, causing their joints to stiffen, and the visible breaths turned increasingly misty.

Yin Ci wasn’t particularly nervous. Even if everyone died here, he could retrieve the Buddhist beads. But if he was the only one left, the path ahead would be difficult—no one knew if there were any mechanisms that required multiple people to trigger.

If things went wrong and he was trapped at the bottom of the Ghost Tomb for a long time, he wouldn’t be able to endure it.

He needed to find a way to save everyone.

“Shizun, put me down. I can step on the serpent bones.”

Shi Jingzhi squatted down, stroking the white bones a few times. “Hmm, okay… A’Ci, don’t wander around. I’ll figure something out.”

At this moment, the Ascension Hall had rotated halfway, and the lake water surged in large quantities through the gaps in the ice, reaching the same level as the serpent bones. If it continued to rotate for a moment longer, everyone would be forcefully submerged into the water.

The sensation of the world overturning was particularly suffocating, with the air slowly slipping away, driving one almost insane.

Shi Zhongyu remained calm and attempted to break the ice beside her, where there was no water. Meanwhile, Shi Jingzhi ignited his golden fire, bombarding the serpent bones beside him. Yan Qing was quite self-aware—he held onto their luggage and waited obediently, occasionally shifting positions to make room, adopting an appearance as if resigned to fate.

However, he was the first to encounter trouble.

Yan Qing stepped on a piece of serpent bone and lost his balance. He passed right through that bone and, with a splash, fell into the water, sinking into the depths of the lake in front of everyone. Unlike the previous sacrifices, his body wasn’t corroded.

However, the turbulence in the lake water made it too murky, and people couldn’t see where he sank.

“Don’t move. It’s an illusion.” Shi Jingzhi reached out and touched the “serpent bone”, easily passing his finger through the illusion.

People were focused on the maze itself and wouldn’t pay attention to whether the serpent bone was missing a piece—let alone notice such a delicate illusion.

Everyone immediately stopped their movements. Shi Zhongyu unleashed a flurry of sword strikes, breaking the illusion, and the serpent bones slowly vanished, revealing a gap large enough for one person to pass through. Shi Jingzhi dropped a piece of jerky down, which instantly dissolved, no different from before.

As the lake water was about to engulf them, Shi Zhongyu anxiously said, “It must be Yan Qing’s bloodline that triggered something. Did anyone see clearly just now?”

Yin Ci raised his hand. “The direction of the sediment is wrong.”

Masters could perceive even the slightest details, and almost simultaneously, everyone looked down at the lake water beneath their feet.

Green water covered the white sand, and their flow appeared somewhat turbid, interspersed with liquid clusters—they were soft and transparent, sharing the same green color as the lake water. At first glance, they were extremely difficult to notice, resembling glass beads in the water.

The liquid blob had a cocoon-like shape, just big enough to fit one person.

Shi Jingzhi took a breath. “These things are floating around… It seems they only actively transport the descendants of the Yan family.”

Given the situation, they had to jump out of the hole in the serpent bones and precisely land in the liquid spheres. If they missed or deviated, the consequences ranged from missing limbs to losing their lives on the spot.

There weren’t many people from the Taiheng Sect, and they were all trusted followers of Shi Zhongyu. They nodded to her and one by one jumped down. The liquid spheres enveloped them and quickly sank into the lake.

However, the liquid spheres moved swiftly, and the thought of not having another chance if they made a mistake weighed heavily on their minds. What could have been accomplished earlier was now seemingly impossible. When it was Jin Lan’s turn, his face turned pale. He shuffled his feet against the ice surface, unable to move forward.

Seizing the opportunity, Shi Zhongyu gave him a push. Jin Lan took a sharp breath and successfully retracted his body, only leaving a corner of his clothing exposed.

The fabric was immediately swallowed by the lake water.

Next were the people from the Rong Palace.

The person inside the sedan didn’t step out. The sedan folded itself into a barrel shape, sealing the person tightly inside. The experts from the Rong Palace simply threw the sedan down the gap, disregarding the liquid spheres, but the sedan didn’t shatter.

Shi Zhongyu coldly watched as those from the Rong Palace departed before jumping into the lake herself. At this moment, only Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci remained on the serpent bones, and the ice surface was about to close completely.

“A’Ci, come. Let me help you find the right timing.” Shi Jingzhi took a deep breath.

Yin Ci shook his head. “No.”

“Don’t be afraid.”

“These pits seem more like traps. If Shizun’s guess is correct, the liquid spheres are attracted by the Buddhist beads.” Yin Ci quickly explained. “I can jump by myself, but if the Buddhist beads aren’t here, the liquid spheres might disappear.”

They had two choices. Either Shi Jingzhi retrieved the Buddhist bead and went first, or Shi Jingzhi went first, and he would jump afterwards.

Since they only had one Buddhist bead, it was considered precious. Yin Ci had just prepared to remove the Buddhist bead to return it—

Shi Jingzhi interjected. “Are you sure you can jump?”

Yin Ci froze in his movements. “What?”

“I’m asking you, are you sure you won’t jump wrong?” Shi Jingzhi tiptoed, afraid that the soles of his shoes would be corroded.

“I’m sure, but…”

Shi Jingzhi interrupted with a smile, “Then I’ll go first. Don’t worry, since you have the Buddhist bead, I will definitely come find you.”

With that, he jumped decisively into the water and quickly sank.

…This guy’s logic is truly strange. Can’t he clearly distinguish what’s more important between an ordinary disciple who’s half-baked and a Buddhist bead that’s a life-saving clue?

Yin Ci fell silent for a moment and eventually jumped into the lake.

In the next instant, the ice surface completely flipped over, and the lake water surged in. The serpent bones, previously submerged beneath the lake surface, emerged on the ice, forming a new maze.

The descent didn’t take long. However, the material of the liquid sphere caused Yin Ci’s ghostskin robe to wrinkle and rendered it temporarily unusable.

The sound of rocks rubbing against each other echoed from above. Yin Ci adjusted his posture, landing silently. He then took off his sect attire and ghostskin robe. Suppressing his aura, he blended into the darkness, surveying the room in front of him.

The room was neither large nor small, unlike a burial chamber. In the center of the room stood a pillar-like device that extended to the ceiling, and at the base of the pillar was a bottomless pit. On the other end of the room lay four members of the Ling Sect and a monk from Jianchen Temple.

Yin Ci licked his fingertips with his tongue—indeed, the liquid spheres were laced with an anesthetic as his tongue instantly felt numb.

Taking a sweeping glance, Yin Ci roughly guessed Yan Budu’s intentions. He leaped lightly and hid behind a ghost-faced sculpture, intending to observe the situation quietly.

Before long, the unconscious people gradually regained consciousness. As if timed perfectly, a fire ignited in the room. The stone pillar was illuminated by the fire, and a line of text slowly became visible.

The members of the Ling Sect stepped forward first.

“Elder* Lu, it says, ‘Dispelling a Thousand Gold, Ascending to Heaven in Five Steps’… What does it mean?”

*[Zhang lao] (长老) Normally used to address an elder/senior of a religious organization.

Lu Fengxi, one of the elders of the Ling Sect, had a sickly crooked donkey-like face. He was known for his sinister and despicable actions, which Yin Ci had heard of. However, his martial arts skills were commendable, and currently, he could fight against two and a half Shi Jingzhi.

Elder Lu took the lantern and carefully inspected the pillar. “According to our records, this object is called the ‘Suffering From Parting’. There is a precious treasure placed at the top of the pillar. We need to throw a heavy object into the sacrificial pit for the pillar to descend.”

He took back the lantern and chuckled dryly. “A heavy object, at least the weight of five men.”

Everyone was taken aback.

The monk from Jianchen Temple spoke. “Can we break the stone sculpture and use the stones as a substitute?”

Lu Fengxi sneered. “Not to mention the stone sculpture; even the walls are made of muyan stone, which is invulnerable. The path we came from has also been sealed off by stone slabs, so we can’t return the same way.”

The monk fell silent and leaned against the wall, silently reciting scriptures. Lu Fengxi paced around the room, and his expression started growing colder. “I haven’t found any other exits.”

“Is—Is the Divine Hierarch* planning to trap us here and let us die?”

*[Jiaozhu] (教主) Founder of a religion (in this case, the sect).

Everyone relied on the liquid spheres to come to this place, so they must not have brought much luggage. However, there were only five people in the room. If no one brought anything, no one would be able to lower the pillar.

Did Yan Budu miscalculate?

Lu Fengxi clicked his tongue. “Since the pillar can descend, there must be an exit at the top. It seems that this ‘Suffering From Parting’ is crucial.”

Pausing for a moment, he raised his staff and continued, “The Divine Hierarch never makes mistakes. There must be someone hidden in the room… Who dares to play tricks in front of me?”

With a chuckle, Yin Ci descended barefoot.

He took off his ghostskin robe and didn’t put on shoes. He was dressed in a white undergarment from head to toe, resembling a ghostly figure. With his long, ink-black hair flowing down, his face revealed a captivating allure, turning even a ghost into a charming specter. In this eerie tomb, he exuded an atmosphere that was both ethereal and alluring, like wisps of smoke around a warm jade.

The five people on the opposite side fell into silence—this person definitely concealed his identity. Otherwise, no one would forget that face.

Seeing that he was unarmed, Lu Fengxi relaxed a bit and asked, “Who are you?”

Yin Ci smiled and replied, “A dead man.”

Unfortunately, this person wasn’t like his cheap master. Lu Fengxi showed no fear and charged forward with his staff, shouting, “I’ll take you out first!”

The other disciples of the Ling Sect were still in a daze. “Wait, Elder. With such an appearance, he might be an immortal…”

Lu Fengxi was furious. “Immortal, my ass! Look at his eyes. He’s more like an evil spirit!”

“A pity.” Yin Ci easily evaded the attack. “If you had a little less killing intent, maybe I would be willing to use some immortal techniques to save you all.”

“You don’t even dare to reveal your name—what kind of immortal are you?” Lu Fengxi shouted angrily.

Yin Ci chuckled but remained silent. He quickly moved his feet and positioned himself next to the monk from Jianchen Temple. Before the monk could react, Yin Ci struck his forehead with a palm and pressed several acupoints.

The monk immediately slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Three disciples of the Ling Sect immediately surrounded the monk, attempting to throw him into the sacrificial pit. Yin Ci curled his lips, and with a sweep of his palm, the three disciples crashed into the wall, spewing out blood.

Lu Fengxi grinned wickedly. “Well done! I’ll throw them in together later!”

Although Elder Lu smiled, he knew he was no match for Yin Ci. His offensive gradually turned into a defensive stance as he darted around the room. Yin Ci effortlessly got rid of the cumbersome encumbrance and chased after him, emitting a strong killing intent.

Unfortunately, Lu Fengxi’s escape was too cunning, turning the scene into a cat and mouse game.

Strangely, Lu Fengxi’s martial arts were extremely mediocre, quite different from the rumors. Yin Ci furrowed his brow and became more cautious in his attacks.

Lu Fengxi had previously killed top-notch masters like Snow Spear Cui Wen and the Old Broken Mountain Feng Yishan. He must have concealed some killer moves. Despite being battered and injured by Yin Ci, he showed no intention of retaliating.

His weapon was coated with poison, but the toxicity wasn’t high. It was just that the material of the weapon was somewhat rare. The only problem was that the firelight was dim, and the staff was covered in blood, making it difficult for Yin Ci to see clearly for a while.

Lu Fengxi escaped panting for breath, as if he had truly reached a dead end, while Yin Ci became even more cautious, only using palm winds to attack, always maintaining a distance.

He couldn’t die, but he also didn’t want to be thrown into the sacrificial pit after being hit. Once it reached enough weight, the sacrificial pit might be sealed by the muyan stone, trapping him deep in the tomb.

Just the thought of it made Yin Ci’s internal organs feel a chill.

Seeing that the other party didn’t want to get close, Lu Fengxi grinned, revealing his rotten black and yellow teeth. He split the blood-soaked staff into two pieces and suddenly struck out without warning. “Fall!”

Yin Ci could withstand the poison but couldn’t defend against the curse that entered his mind. Using blood to perform sacrificial rituals was originally an evil art. Upon hearing this malicious sound, he stopped his actions.

Elder Lu continued to strike vigorously with a pleased expression on his face. “Even if you’re a great immortal, as long as you have ears, you’ll fall under the terror of my sound. Kid, keeping your distance won’t help. Dying instantly is more merciful than suffering.”

As he said this, Lu Fengxi’s face turned dark green, and blood started flowing from his seven orifices. This move obviously harmed the enemy while also hurting himself.

“With this move, cough, I’ve never spared anyone. Fall for me—”

The author has something to say:

Yin Ci: Shizun’s = unit of combat power (?

Lu Fengxi is roughly equal to 2.5 on the power scale √

Shi Jingzhi: This evil disciple! (T^T)

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 14: Ghost Eyes

Yan Qing planted his sword tip on the ground, standing upright. His facial features were handsome and refined, but coupled with a pair of blood-colored irises, he looked like an evildoer no matter how they looked at him. Jin Lan stood there in a daze; face filled with disbelief.

The most famous characteristic of Yan Budu back then was his pair of deep red “ghost eyes”. Even among the descendants of the Yan family, not everyone possessed them. It was the ironclad proof of the Yan bloodline.

Yan Qing turned his crimson gaze towards Jin Lan and said, “Ten years ago, you brought me into the Taiheng Sect. Today, I have repaid the debt of gratitude for that act.”

Jin Lan opened his mouth, and his expression was still somewhat blank. “You were only eleven years old that year. How could… You deliberately infiltrated the Taiheng Sect; is it for revenge?”

Worried that Yin Ci might miss out on the big show, Shi Jingzhi explained in a whisper, “Yan Budu was excessively debauched and had many offsprings. During the two years when the righteous martial world besieged the Ling Sect, almost all of the descendants of the Yan family were wiped out. The Taiheng Sect was at the forefront. Ah, we’ve stumbled upon a scene of revenge! Ten years of biding one’s time and enduring setbacks, tsk tsk…”

Yan Qing looked helpless. “Do I look like someone seeking revenge to you?”

Shi Zhongyu didn’t lower her sword. “If you don’t seek revenge, then why did you lurk in my sect for ten years and even secretly learn martial arts?”

“With these ‘ghost eyes’, I can only pretend to be blind. It’s not easy for a blind person to find a job. The Taiheng Sect is a prestigious orthodox sect, with high monthly wages for servants and free food and lodging.”

Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci: “…” This young man is too honest, without a trace of Yan Budu’s wickedness.

Shi Zhongyu’s grip on her sword loosened. “Regarding the matter of secretly learning our techniques—”

“It was wrong of me to learn it secretly, but I just didn’t want to be in this kind of situation.” Yan Qing felt embarrassed. “Senior Shi understands righteousness deeply, and I wanted a chance to be able to explain. If I were to encounter any seniors who are hostile to evil, I would need some confidence to escape.”

An eerie silence fell over the scene.

“Why don’t you become a monk at Jianchen Temple? It’s not a bad choice.” Jin Lan muttered. “Specifically picking the Taiheng Sect, it’s hard to believe you have no ulterior motives…”

“I am indeed quite curious. As the saying goes, ‘Misfortune does not befall one’s wife and children¹.’ The Taiheng Sect advocates the doctrine of the golden mean², and in theory, they wouldn’t do something to such an overkill. During these ten years, I tried to investigate the truth but couldn’t find anything…”

¹Idiom implying that even in times of misfortune or danger, one’s family members remain safe and unaffected, and the one at fault takes sole responsibility for their action. || In this context, it means he’s not out to seek revenge against everyone at the Taiheng Sect just because they are simply in the sect and had no involvement with the massacre.
²Middle of the road.

Jin Lan held his breath.

Yan Qing continued, “So I gave up and decided that saving money was more important.”

The members of the Taiheng Sect: “……”

Not far away, the red threads seemed to come alive again, binding the scattered bones together. Just as Yin Ci was about to speak up to warn them, Shi Jingzhi swiftly rushed over.

He covered his shoes with golden fire, firmly stepping on the bones while his eyes remained fixed on the Taiheng Sect.

Yin Ci: “…Shizun, do you really want to watch the show that badly?”

This was the Corpse Explosion Bone Curse, and it was extremely fast. Once it touched flesh and blood, it would explode the entire human body. Unfortunately, it didn’t have a chance to demonstrate, as Shi Jingzhi forcefully crushed it on the ground.

Yin Ci reasonably suspected that surname Shi was afraid that this spectacle would be interrupted by the Bone Curse.

Shi Jingzhi focused intently. “Shh!”

Shi Zhongyu glanced silently in his direction and softly said, “The Taiheng Sect’s hunting order hasn’t been canceled. According to the sect’s rules, anyone from the Yan family is to be killed on sight. Those who steal martial arts shall have their arms severed.”

Yan Qing pursed his lips.

Shi Zhongyu nodded slightly at him and deliberately raised his voice. “We’re now inside the Ghost Tomb and shouldn’t discuss our positions but instead work together. These past few days, you have helped us obtain many treasures, offsetting your previous actions… On behalf of the sect, I hereby expel Yan Qing from Taiheng.”

After saying that, she walked up to Shen Zhu. “Miss Shen, although Yan Qing is a descendent of the Yan family, I can assure you that he has nothing to do with the Ghost Tomb. Please refrain from reporting to the Yueshui Pavilion.”

If this information were to be leaked, aside from those seeking the secrets of the Ghost Tomb, even the remaining enemies of Yan Budu alone would be enough to kill Yan Qing several times over.

Shen Zhu smiled. “It is said that the Green Maiden way is stubborn and rigid, but it seems everyone has been mistaken. Isn’t it too lenient to just ‘expel him from Taiheng’ when it concerns a demonic bloodline?”

Shi Zhongyu responded sincerely, “My sect’s pursuit of the Yan descendants a hundred years ago is nothing to be proud of. Yan Qing entered Taiheng when he was only eleven years old and grew up in the sect without causing any trouble. The servants accompanying us on this trip were randomly selected, and initially, he was unwilling to come…”

At this point, Shi Zhongyu hesitated slightly. Shen Zhu tapped her lips with the tip of her pen. “Continue. I’m still listening.”

Shi Zhongyu: “Um, Yan Qing only learned the basic techniques of a junior disciple, and his skill level is very poor. He has helped me greatly this time, and it’s not righteous to force him into a dead end like this.”

Yan Qing: “…”

Shi Jingzhi: “Oh, I guess that’s where he learned his honesty from.”

Yin Ci rested his chin on his master’s shoulder and lazily nodded, feeling sleepy again.

Shen Zhu rolled her eyes and tore off a page of her notes, crumpling it casually. “Yan Qing’s identity as a younger brother* is not significant, and this news isn’t worth much. If I encounter any difficulties in the future, please keep in mind today’s event, Senior Shi.”

*[Didi] (弟弟).

She casually pointed to the sedan chair in the distance. “But what of them from the Rong Palace…?”

“Don’t worry, they won’t be interested,” Shi Zhongyu said indifferently.

Shi Zhongyu walked toward Shi Jingzhi, who was diligently crushing the bones, gesturing for him to step aside. Just as those bones were struggling to piece themselves back together, Shi Zhongyu swung her sword a few times at their vital points, and they ceased to move.

Seizing the opportunity while everyone was at a distance, Shi Zhongyu whispered, “Yan Qing, you are dexterous, with keen hearing. You will definitely be able to assist Sect Master Shi.”

Shi Jingzhi understood and gladly offered another favor. “Rest assured, Miss Shi.”

With the Buddhist bead obtained, the group resumed their journey. Yan Qing followed at the back of the team, feeling a bit lost. Jin Lan hesitated for a while and finally stamped his foot, handing his own baggage to Yan Qing.

“There’s some drinking water inside, consider it a token of gratitude for earlier. You don’t need to return the sword to me. Keep it for self-defense,” he said stiffly. “Yan Qing, take care of yourself.”

Yan Qing accepted the baggage in silence.

Seizing the opportunity, Shi Jingzhi ran over with Yin Ci on his back and said in a gentle voice, “Brother* Yan, do you want to join the Kushan Sect?”

*[Xiong] (兄) Big brother.

Yan Qing turned his head, somewhat surprised. “Sect Master Shi, don’t you mind my identity?”

“I don’t mind at all, the Kushan Sect is in need of manpower.” Shi Jingzhi smiled warmer. “It’s just me and my discipline. We still haven’t recruited any servants. I’ll provide a monthly allowance of five hundred wen, including room and board. Are you willing?”

A trace of pain appeared on Yan Qing’s face: “……”

‘It seems his monthly allowance has decreased a lot,’ Yin Ci thought. But this kid was quite aware of the situation without honestly mentioning it.

“Okay.” After a while, Yan Qing said sorrowfully, “Fi—Five hundred wen is enough. Thank you, Sect Master Shi, for your hospitality.”

“No need to be downcast. The food at my sect is definitely tastier than that of the Taiheng Sect. Oh, and change into a set of our sect’s attire and put on a mask… The mask is in A’Ci’s bag. You can carry it for him.”

When it was just the two of them, Yin Ci carried the luggage while Shi Jingzhi carried Yin Ci on his back, making the burden quite heavy. When Yan Qing joined, Yin Ci originally thought he would make Yan Qing carry him, but Shi Jingzhi only handed over the luggage.

Following the instructions, Yan Qing put on the sect’s attire and took out another rough Nuo mask, obediently wearing it on his face—there were only two small holes carved for the eyes, perfectly concealing his red irises.

The Kushan Sect now had another masked individual, looking even stranger.

As the only member dressed normally, Yin Ci cleared his throat lightly. “Since we are now family, let’s speak openly. Brother Yan, why were you unwilling to enter the tomb initially?”

Yin Ci now understood the matter with the Faceless Monk—Yan Budu had given special treatment, and his descendants didn’t need to possess high-level martial arts to perceive the clues. But on the flip side, if this bloodline attracted something unpleasant…

Yan Qing: “The divination result wasn’t good.”

Yin Ci was momentarily speechless. This person wasn’t just beyond practical, he was excessively practical.

Yan Qing explained voluntarily. “I have learned a bit of divination, occasionally trying to predict good and bad fortune. Before setting off, I cast a divination*, and the result was truly bizarre.”

*Hexagram.

Shi Jingzhi’s spirit was stirred. “I’ve also read many books on divination. Come, tell us about your results.”

Yan Qing: “I use apricot stones for divination, one side coated with cinnabar and the other with ink. The outcome is determined by the number of red and black sides. The previous time, all the apricot stones stood upright.”

Shi Jingzhi didn’t catch the allusion and could only express his true feelings. “…Indeed, it’s frightening.”

Yan Qing lowered his head. “The Taiheng Sect’s fortune is auspicious, except in my case. That’s why I faked an accident to withdraw but ended up encountering the two of you… Perhaps this is fate.”

Seeing Shi Jingzhi starting to become suspicious again, Yin Ci calmly interjected, “Brother Yan, no need to worry. Our Sect Master is a traveling healer. I can cook, and you can play the role of a blind fortune teller. If things really become unbearable, we can set up a stall at the street corner together.”

Shi Jingzhi immediately reacted as if his tail had been stepped on. “Nonsense! I can support the two of you!”

Yin Ci chuckled softly, tightening his embrace around Shi Jingzhi’s neck. His cheap master was warm, and there was a faint medicinal scent about him. Perhaps it was from years of consuming medicine, seeping into his being.

Although this person was peculiar and kept some things hidden, his emotions were genuine in every aspect.

Yin Ci didn’t dislike this kind of person.

If the Buddhist beads had no relation to the Shirou, then everything was like fetching water with a bamboo basket*. He might be able to find a way to let this person live a few more years and add some variety to his own dull life.

*Idiom used to describe a futile or fruitless effort, similar to attempting to carry water with a bamboo basket, which would only result in all the water leaking out.

After all, watching fallen flowers turn into mud was always better than watching filth breed maggots.

After walking through the serpent bone maze for several more hours, the group stopped to rest.

Yan Qing rearranged the luggage, then sat down properly, savoring the ham and glutinous rice cake. The anguish on his face from the salary cut eased slightly.

The surroundings were as bright as day, the scenery magnificent, and the presence of monsters abnormally scarce. Shi Jingzhi used his inner force to heat up a pot of tea and sat down with Yin Ci still on his back, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

Yin Ci had a faint sense that something was off.

The Blood Rope had a time limit, and it could only catch up to someone by killing and extracting their blood. Even so, this level was too straightforward, not even resembling a proper challenge. It was less intimidating than the Paper Figures Street. Yin Ci bit into the jerky given by his master and spoke in a muffled voice, “Shizun?”

“Hmm?”

“Is this level too easy? There aren’t many monsters, and the prayer beads can be abandoned so easily. Is Yan Budu really that accommodating?”

Shi Jingzhi sighed. “Ah, I can’t figure it out either. With his design, every step should be a deadly trap, but the Ascension Hall is quite sloppy. If I were Yan Budu… at the very least, I would wait until the Buddhist beads on this level are collected and focus on attacking those without beads—those people are either lacking in ability or desire, so they’re not easily manipulated.”

As soon as the words fell, the ice surface rumbled and began to slowly tilt.

Yin Ci: “…” Speak of the devil. That person surname Shi has to be a descendant of Yan Budu.

In the next moment, everyone stood up.

Not only was the ice surface tilting, but the entire Ascension Hall began to rotate. In no time, this level would flip upside down.

The survivors would be trapped beneath the ice, destined to plunge into the flesh-devouring lake.

The author has something to say:

Comrade Yan Qing, wanting to avoid overtime, took sick leave but failed to escape, being forced to go on a business trip. In the end, he was laid off when the project was nearing completion, not only losing the bonus but also his salary…

It’s a tragedy, a real tragedy.

Kinky Thoughts:

I debated back and forth between keeping the form of addresses in pinyin or translating them, and ultimately decided to translate them while making a footnote on their pinyin term.

I find that leaving too many terms untranslated would make it confusing and convoluted, especially for readers who are not familiar with the xianxia/wuxia setting (me included, and I have read my fair share of works). Though I have decided to keep the more known form like Shizun, as that’s a pretty common term that most people know.

I may change my mind later down the line if I find the localization too jarring and awkward and will make fixes accordingly.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

Chapter 13: Bloodline

Shi Jingzhi’s fingers were cold, and his palms slightly damp. This wasn’t acting; he was genuinely afraid. Yin Ci couldn’t be bothered with etiquette anymore and tightened his grip.

It was such a rare opportunity for a top-notch thrill that he couldn’t let it slip away easily.

When Yin Ci didn’t let go of his hand, Shi Jingzhi breathed a sigh of relief and muttered a barely audible “thank you”.

A strange thought suddenly occurred to Yin Ci—when Shi Jingzhi first learned that Yin Ci was willing to explore the tomb, he was so happy. Could it be that he was actually scared of ghosts and didn’t want to explore alone?

Fear could easily affect performance, so he needed some reassurance.

“Shizun.”

“Yes?”

“There are no ghosts in this world.”

Shi Jingzhi thought of it as the ramblings of a young one. He turned to the side and patted Yin Ci’s head with his other hand. “Master understands.”

Yin Ci continued to comfort him. “Someone once said that I have an incredibly strong fate and specialize in dealing with evil spirits. Even if a ghost appears, I can protect you.”

Shi Jingzhi turned his face, giving him a complicated look. “Specializing in dealing with evil spirits, huh? That’s great.”

After saying this, Shi Jingzhi strangely calmed down, and even his pulse became steadier. Yin Ci was quite satisfied.

Inside the hall, there were arrays set up. It didn’t feel like descending; it felt more like moving forward in a dark tunnel. The Chigou Sect led the way, walking and exploring, advancing slowly in the darkness.

“A’Ci.” Shi Jingzhi suddenly exerted more strength in his hand. “Walk slower.”

After speaking, Shi Jingzhi quietly turned around, put something around Yin Ci’s neck, and adjusted his collar. The movements were astonishingly swift that onlookers would only think he was tidying up his disciple’s clothes.

Yin Ci lowered his head and saw a round shadow inside his collar—Shi Jingzhi had threaded the Buddhist bead with a sturdy thread and hidden it on him.

Yin Ci was almost confused by the intermittent vigilance of this person. What was he thinking to entrust him with such a thing?

“Wear it properly.” Shi Jingzhi pulled back his hand, and there was a bit of warmth in it.

“Shizun, aren’t you afraid I’ll run away?”

Shi Jingzhi replied without hesitation, “If you really run away, no matter where you go, I will catch you.”

Yin Ci: “…” Forget it. Let him dream for now.

At the end of the tunnel, there was a faint blue light. When they reached their destination, everyone stopped in their tracks.

The scene before them was like an illusion.

However, as soon as Yin Ci saw the scene clearly, he pushed Shi Jingzhi to the ground, and both of them fell. Before Shi Jingzhi could ask why, blood from the person beside them splattered across his face.

Just as everyone reached the end of the tunnel and was stunned by the sight of the second layer, several steel wires came from behind like a gust of wind.

The major sects had abundant experience in battle and didn’t lose many people. However, the rest weren’t so lucky—many had been cut into segments by the steel wires, leaving blood and entrails covering the ground.

The group, which had nearly three hundred people, now had less than a hundred remaining, excluding the injured who stayed on the first level.

“It’s… It’s truly vicious. Brother Yin, you have quick reflexes.” Jin Lan’s reaction was a bit slow, and he ducked a bit late, losing a good amount of hair from the back of his head.

“Intuition. Being targeted by mountain beasts from behind feels similar to what just happened,” Yin Ci mysteriously explained.

As he had expected, Shi Jingzhi’s external martial arts were mediocre, and his muscle reflexes hadn’t been trained well. He had come close to becoming a soul under the wires. His cheap master sat on the ground, still in a dazed state.

Yin Ci squatted down, poking his numb face. “Shizun, look, I told you I have a strong fate.”

Shi Jingzhi slowly extended both hands and tightly held Yin Ci’s hand. “Good disciple, there is nothing I can do to repay you but to use my body and… Uh, slave like a horse*.”

*(做牛做马) Idiom referring to working hard or toil diligently to the point of servitude or self-sacrifice.

Yin Ci hinted, “You can increase my monthly allowance.”

Shi Jing immediately became serious. “That matter is a separate issue.”

Most of the people had experienced hardships in the martial world and wouldn’t panic because of corpses. Only the Changle Sect had suffered near-total annihilation, and their thin leader was still crying and sobbing. The others quickly regrouped and observed the scene inside the “Ascension Hall”.

Yan Budu had chosen his timing quite well; the scene inside the hall was indeed awe-inspiring, causing people to forget their actions.

Unlike the Paper Figures Street, the Ascension Hall was filled with a cold light, standing on the lake. There was no solid ground; only an ice surface with neat patterns. Underneath the ice, a liquid shimmered with a faint blue fluorescence that was crystal clear.

So clear they could vividly see it—the lake bottom was adorned with various corals and landscapes, all constructed from translucent white bones, including human bones. Bone fish swam leisurely under the influence of the arrays.

The surroundings were brightly lit, as if it were daylight. Beautiful green lights enveloped various bones as if all signs of life were sealed within the ice. Compared to a palace, it felt more like a courtyard of bones.

The view at the center of the lake was particularly magnificent. A giant fishbone was located at the spatial center, unrivaled in size. The fish’s head leaned forward, with half of its body frozen in ice and the tail naturally connected to a serpent’s bone. The serpent’s bone covered the entire second level, with rib ends embedded in the ice surface, creating countless passages.

Carp leaping over the dragon gate symbolized auspiciousness, but the atmosphere was extremely eerie.

Shi Jingzhi: “… Did Yan Budu misunderstand the meaning of ‘ascension’? Has this carp only transformed halfway and gotten stuck at the Dragon Gate*?”

*Clarity: The Dragon Gate holds transformative and auspicious opportunity or challenge that can lead to great success, advancement, or a higher level of existence (ascension). According to legend, carp that can swim upstream and successfully leap over the Dragon Gate transform into dragons. This symbolizes overcoming obstacles, perseverance, and achieving greatness. || In this context, it would mean immortal ascension.

Yin Ci wiped his face. It seemed this kid hadn’t been scared out of his wits and had recovered quite quickly.

The attention of everyone wasn’t focused on the half-transformed carp fish. In front of them was a dazzling maze of bones, with no hints or information to guide them. They couldn’t even form teams. If they wanted a large group to explore together, it would take an eternity.

“Stop searching. There won’t be any hints. Yan Budu made this to prevent intruders; it’s not meant for entertainment,” Matron Wuxue said indifferently. “Given the current situation, we can only go our separate ways.”

She tapped her cane on the ice surface and led the Chigou Sect into the maze.

A lone ranger seemed eager to follow the Chigou Sect, hastily rushing after them. However, as soon as he stepped onto the ice surface, it suddenly collapsed, and he fell into the lake in an instant.

He was enveloped in pearl-like bubbles. After the bubbles dispersed, his clothes, weapons, and flesh were all dissolved, leaving behind only a set of pristine white bones and a complete network of blood vessels that made people uneasy.

The intricate dark red network of blood vessels hung in the air for a moment after detaching from the skeletal frame. Eventually, it sank to the bottom of the lake, gradually losing color and crumbling into fine sand.

The leader of the Changle Sect was on the verge of collapse. He attempted to retrace his steps, only to find a solid wall behind him and the tunnel had disappeared.

“The Chigou Sect used inner force beneath their feet.” Shi Zhongyu recalled for a moment, then raised her voice. “Everyone, gather your true qi at the soles of your feet at all times and don’t slack off.”

She led by example, stepping onto the previously collapsed ice surface, which remained intact.

After contemplating for a moment, Shi Jingzhi crouched down. “A’Ci, come up. Master will carry you.”

Yin Ci politely declined, “Shizun, it’s really…”

“It’s fine. I can’t just leave you here.” Shi Jing didn’t hesitate. “We’re following the Taiheng Sect, so it won’t be that dangerous.”

Shi Jing was slightly taller than Yin Ci, and with ample inner force, carrying him wasn’t much of a burden. Yin Ci hooked his arms around Shi Jing’s neck and nestled quietly. Although his hands and feet were cold from fear, the temperature of Shi Jingzhi’s body was warm, making him quite comfortable.

Yin Ci’s emotions involuntarily relaxed a bit, and he began to look around again.

Previously, with the fireworks on the Paper Figures Street, he hadn’t paid much attention. But now, upon closer inspection, he noticed that the people from the Rong Palace had brought a sedan chair inside, seemingly somehow managing to evade the steel wires.

The sedan chair was adorned with expensive talismans and was carried by several masters, steadily advancing.

At every major intersection, both the Taiheng Sect and Rong Palace would send a few people in different directions. After walking for two to three hours, Shi Zhongyu’s group was left with less than ten people.

Among them were the Changle Sect, the Kushan Sect, and Shen Zhu from the Yueshui Pavilion.

The sedan chair from the Rong Palace followed behind at a steady pace. Shi Zhongyu’s gaze flashed with a hint of disgust. She maintained a steady breath and whispered to Yan Qing, “Is that sound still there?”

“Yes, it’s a regular clicking sound. We’re getting closer,” Yan Qing honestly replied.

Yin Ci didn’t perceive the danger. Feeling the warmth from Shi Jingzhi’s back, he nearly fell asleep amidst the swaying. In a daze, a dense yin qi swept over, and Yin Ci’s consciousness suddenly became clear.

Not long after, Shi Jingzhi also stopped in his tracks.

The serpent bone maze revealed an “end”. There was no exit at the end, only a transparent ice well.

The well was built on top of the ice surface, and dangerous green liquid rippled within it. Directly beneath the well, deep within the lake, sat a skeleton.

The skeleton was entangled with red threads, with its bones intact. It sat cross-legged, counting prayer beads in its hand with its hollow eye sockets gazing upward.

The prayer beads were also carved from white bones, totaling fourteen in number, with only one of them being dark in color—the wooden Buddhist bead was mixed among them looking undamaged. However, the entire skeleton sank beneath the lake’s surface, a distance away from the ice.

Shi Zhongyu attempted to cover her spirit weapon with yin fire, but as soon as the spirit weapon touched the water, it dissolved instantly. The people from the Rong Palace also tried for a while but couldn’t find any tools that could be submerged in water.

Yin Ci coldly observed, already knowing how to retrieve it—the Buddhist bead from the Ascension Hall was probably beyond their reach. This mechanism was completely different from the Paper Figures Street, filled with pure malice.

After pondering for a while, Shi Jingzhi turned his head. “Let’s not go for this Buddhist bead. Let’s find a place to rest.”

At the same time, Shi Zhongyu furrowed her brow and slowly shook her head. “Mm, let’s find the exit first.”

One of the masters from the Rong Palace opened the curtain of the sedan chair and reported to the person inside. Shortly after, one of them approached the Taiheng Sect. Shi Zhongyu thought the person was coming to talk, and she took a step forward—

That person grabbed the leader of the Changle Sect and snapped his neck. He placed the thin leader, who refused to close his eyes even in death, at the edge of the well, and used a blade to cut open his neck.

Immediately, blood fell into the lake, forming a twisted blood rope in the water.

The length was still not enough, so the person reached out to grab Yan Qing. Shi Zhongyu drew her sword, and yin fire brushed against the blade. “How dare you!”

Taking advantage of Shi Zhongyu’s distraction, another person replicated the same action and killed the remaining disciple of the Changle Sect.

Another corpse was added, and more blood fell onto the blood rope.

Shi Zhongyu’s face turned incredibly grim. “You won’t get away with this—”

Unexpectedly, one of them assessed the length of the rope and swiftly committed suicide by cutting their own throat at the edge of the well. Finally, the blood rope reached the prayer beads, solidifying with the bead string. At the same time, the initially formed blood rope began to crumble.

The other person grabbed the blood rope and started to retract it. The blood rope, stained with lake water, quickly corroded his hand into a bloody mess. However, without uttering a word, he continued pulling the blood rope.

The Buddhist bead was quickly retrieved, lifted up by the almost bone-only hand of the person, and sent into the sedan chair.

As soon as the blood rope touched the air, it rapidly transformed into sticky blood clots, scattering in a messy mix of black and red on the ground. Yin Ci narrowed his eyes, suddenly having an unpleasant premonition.

“Those from the Rong Palace are truly despicable. Senior Shi seems very angry. Shizun, let’s move a bit further away…”

Before he could finish his sentence, the ice surface began to tremble. The red threads on the skeleton changed their binding method, tying the bones into an insect-like structure. It suddenly moved, crawling out of the well and pouncing towards Jin Lan, who was closest.

Despite drawing her sword, Shi Zhongyu was still too far away. Jin Lan, with his back to the skeleton, didn’t react in time, and the tragedy seemed inevitable—

“Ding.”

The hard bone collided with a longsword.

Yan Qing accurately unsheathed Jin Lan’s sword, blocking the attack. He gritted his teeth as a flurry of sword techniques erupting as he flung the skeleton away.

Yin Ci couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. This kid’s skill level wasn’t great, but his movements were quite delicate. It was evident that he had put in a lot of effort in training and had potential.

There was only one problem—that was the orthodox sword technique of the Taiheng Sect, impossible to pass down to servants. A blind man couldn’t learn such precise moves.

“Yan Qing, explain!” Shi Zhongyu shouted while her Green Maiden Sword Technique slashed at the skeleton.

Without receiving an answer, she casually waved her sword, aiming the tip at Yan Qing’s black cloth eye patch. Yan Qing sighed, opening his eyes.

His eyes were perfectly intact, clear and lucid. However, the color of his irises wasn’t like that of an ordinary person; it was a deep crimson, like blood.

Shi Zhongyu’s face quickly paled.

“…Are you a descendant of Yan Budu?”

“Yes.”

The author has something to say:

The blind man is not blind√

Shi Jingzhi: Xiao Yin, thank you for your contributions to the company.

Yin Ci: Give me a raise.

Shi Jingzhi: I will hang your photo on the wall of honor.

Yin Ci: Give me a raise.

Shi Jingzhi: (eyes wandering)

…You’re heartless! Boss Shi!

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