Stumbling and tripping, Yin Ren left the area of the Valley of Remains and decided to lie on the ground for a few minutes after his fifteenth fall.
Knowing that the subject was the “small” animal he had fed before his death, along with the “grand” scenery outside the window that had lasted for centuries, Yin Ren did feel some emotions, but these emotions were quite limited. Especially after they entered the same body, he could directly sense Zhong Chengshuo’s thoughts.
This time, Zhong Chengshuo had exposed all of his secrets. This guy no longer had any secrets given the level of their relationship, so he didn’t bother hiding anything.
The convenience was that Yin Ren quickly grasped the perspective of Zhong Chengshuo from a thousand years ago. The inconvenience was even more apparent—they could only communicate verbally on a physical level; otherwise, Yin Ren couldn’t figure out which thoughts were in Zhong Chengshuo’s head he wanted to express.
In fact, he couldn’t even imagine what Zhong Chengshuo was thinking about before.
Now that the memory world had clearly encountered problems, they were almost clueless about the current situation. And as a more typical “monster”, Zhong Chengshuo’s inner thoughts… were unexpectedly normal but also somewhat abnormal.
[Today is Thursday, and there’s a promotion at the store. But we probably can’t go back today. If we buy chicken thighs after returning home, it will be two yuan and six jiao more per kilogram. How about buying some expensive ingredients to celebrate our improved relationship? But if I make chicken curry, I can add apples, which would be more meaningful… Yin Ren also prefers chicken curry.]
Thinking of this, Zhong Chengshuo’s thoughts went blank for a second, and then a new train of thought emerged.
[Apples and cucumbers taste like cantaloupe when mixed together.]
[Cantaloupe… I need to explain King Yama’s recent whereabouts to the Nightwalkers, leaving some traces, saying that I was on a mission in the highland area. I can take the opportunity to turn Yin Ren into a partner of King Yama in appearance.]
[So, this is how I looked in Yin Ren’s memories. I should record it when I go back. I wonder what kind of Primordial Elemental I am and what specific physiological features I have. Does Yin Ren now count as my kind? I’ve given him some power, does that make him my descendant? Is this unethical?]
[Do Elementals have ethics?]
“I have human parents from a human perspective, unless you want to make up for a thousand years of Chinese New Year money.” Yin Ren spoke in a low voice. “Zhong Ge, I respect you as an elder brother. That’s about it.”
[But I had no cognition before, and my cognition from a thousand years ago was only equivalent to that of a human baby. Then I slept until twenty-eight years ago. Regardless of physical lifespan, my mental age is only around thirty.] Zhong Chengshuo’s thoughts accelerated for a moment.
Yin Ren: “…” He could almost imagine that person’s serious tone.
It was such a familiar pattern, as if he had used it himself in the past.
But when he thought about Zhong Chengshuo’s actions from a thousand years ago, Yin Ren broke out in a cold sweat.
That guy directly infused him with half of his power—although compared to the “rotten” corruption source, these powers were relatively stable. But they were still the genuine, most pure power of calamity. The fact that he didn’t explode into fireworks on the spot could be considered a miracle in the field of anomaly studies.
He went from being an anomaly to an Evil Spirit… No, a Primordial Elemental cub. He was probably closely connected to these powers.
What was the situation with Zhong Chengshuo, and what exactly was he himself? Yin Ren was extremely curious. Unfortunately, they could only speculate here, and to further study it, they had to leave this cursed place.
To leave this cursed place…
“It’s a bit strange.” Yin Ren turned over on the ground, facing upwards. “This world should have ended long ago, but it still exists. The magical system is completely based on the ‘Archive’, consisting of memories and consciousness. It shouldn’t have these issues.”
“I know… I’m just thinking about the difference between the two.” Yin Ren stared at the fiery sunset. “If we had to put it into words, the Archive is a closed personal consciousness, while this one has a connection to the Evil Spirit… Apart from that, there shouldn’t be any difference. The corruption source didn’t issue any special warnings either.”
At this point, Yin Ren seemed to remember something. “Speaking of which, I have something to ask you. I showed you the memories of my communication with Dog Thing just now.”
Zhong Chengshuo asked, “What’s the matter?”
“Dog Thing initially thought that everyone outside was real. It told me that ordinary creatures couldn’t bear it.” Yin Ren toyed with the ends of his hair with his fingers. “But it can attach itself to a phone. After all, a human brain should be stronger than a mobile chip, right?”
“…”
[Storage space, definitely not. As for chips and systems, the biological brain, no matter how you think about it, should be more sophisticated than a mobile processor. Bearing capacity… storing large amounts of data…]
In the instant he received the question, Zhong Chengshuo’s thoughts began to race.
[And there are unidentified external data… devices… entities… connections…]
This time, Zhong Chengshuo’s thoughts were almost exploding internally. Countless principles and formulas that Yin Ren had never encountered before formed a hurricane, and clues about the Other Side danced within it.
And after the calm of the hurricane, Zhong Chengshuo once again took control of Yin Ren’s mouth.
“It’s the internet.”
“…What did you say?”
“This is my conjecture—the reason for the appearance of unknown memories in the memory world is the ‘internet’.”
This time, Zhong Chengshuo even took control of Yin Ren’s hands. He got up in one roll and picked up a stick from the ground.
“Without delving into deeper principles, you can think of the ‘internet’ as a ‘thing’ that can connect countless devices. Whether it’s complex devices or simple ones, you can obtain the necessary data through it.”
Yin Ren, who had been in the modern world for less than a year, said, “…Slow down and speak in plain language.”
Zhong Chengshuo’s thoughts paused for a full five seconds.
“Let me put it in simpler terms. When you use the online features on a tablet, for example, the things you watch online are not provided by the tablet itself. If you don’t connect to the internet, you can only access locally downloaded data.”
Yin Ren struggled to recall his experiences with a tablet for watching shows. “That’s true.”
Leaving aside other matters, whether there was internet access or not was one of his major concerns in the modern world.
“If we consider the human brain as a ‘device’, then this situation can be explained.”
Zhong Chengshuo intentionally slowed down his thoughts.
“The ‘Archive’ only allows Shian to explore the individual human brain, which can be seen as ‘accessing local data’. But this time, in order to supplement memories, you also ‘connected’ the memories of the Evil Spirit into it.”
“That’s right…” Yin Ren instinctively responded.
“So, when you were designing the magical system, did you specifically design it to connect with the memories of ‘Shian’s Evil Spirit’?”
Yin Ren was stunned.
Indeed, they didn’t. According to their initial calculations, as the energy source supplying magical power, the Evil Spirit’s memories would automatically fill in the details of Yin Ren’s memories. Considering that no one else would have memories from a thousand years ago, they left a “loophole” in Yin Ren’s memories and didn’t specify a particular object.
“Your memories about this era have been ‘connected’,” Zhong Chengshuo said solemnly.
“This also explains why the people in Huajisi have such clear details—portraits, records, rumors… People like Fu Shangliu and Li Heyan must have left behind a large amount of information. These ‘brain devices’ provide memories that collectively form what you and I see.”
Yin Ren tried to digest this interpretation of the new era. “Are you saying that the memory world of the present actually comes from everyone’s memories of this era?”
“Historical books, paintings, rumors, anecdotes passed down by descendants, even memories and legacies of other creatures… The previous army of 150,000, perhaps there were scattered survivors who passed down their experiences to future generations.”
Those pieces of information transcended time and continued with the extension of life. In the depths of the memories of certain individuals still living in the world, fragments of memories from that era remained.
“Yin Ren, this world is ‘data’. It is a compilation of memories from countless creatures about this era that you obtained from the ‘internet’.”
“No, that’s not right.” Yin Ren frowned. “According to what you said, these brain devices would have to be ‘connected’ to function. I have seen memory magic, and its influence is not that extensive.”
This time, without waiting for Zhong Chengshuo to respond, Yin Ren read his clear and resolute thoughts.
[Your magic—I’m afraid it is closer to ‘commands’.]
[That enormous network composed of countless ‘brains’ may have existed even longer ago.]
Yin Ren subconsciously tightened his fingers, and the dried tree branch in his hand snapped. Zhong Chengshuo’s conjecture was too absurd, and he instinctively wanted to find the flaws in it… But upon careful consideration, it could explain many things.
The fact that Dog Thing could survive on a phone was probably because the “internet” is a lower form of that network and shares certain similarities with its natural habitat. It couldn’t return to its own world and could only condescend to accept a more primitive and accessible substitute.
Qi Xin and Mr. Qiu, those Elementals, enjoyed controlling people whose brains had issues. Perhaps it was because these people’s “devices” had malfunctioned, making them more susceptible to invasion.
Even the Archive provided evidence—only when abnormalities occurred in the brain did a significant invasion of Primordial Elements occur in the Archive.
Just like “Primordial Elementals” could refer to that group of peculiar beings, could that ancient network already have a name?
For example… “The Other Side”?
……
Darkness surged, and Shen Mo’s possessed body instantly crumbled.
He calmly “resurfaced” once again, leaving this so-called memory world. This time, he let go of his controlling consciousness and no longer attempted to return.
He had gathered enough intelligence.
For example, Shian had obtained detailed information from a thousand years ago through some means. For example, in the past, there was a colossal invisible creature in the Valley of Remains that was even deadlier than the Evil Spirits.
And this time, after Shian discovered the anomalies in this supposed memory world, it was highly likely that they would touch upon the essence of “the Other Side”.
To ensure smooth progress on Sunken Society’s plans, they needed to accelerate their actions.
Kinky Thoughts:
For those confused about the explanation of why the memories was still continuing despite the Evil Dog Spirit being sealed and Yin Ren (from a thousand years ago) is “dead”:
Basically, when they designed the spell in order to enter the memories of the past (similar to the Archive), it’s not really “magic” but more like a command prompt. Think of it like it’s a search engine.
Yin Ren designed the spell and inputted: Take me back to 1,000 years ago during this time and place so I can show my memories. However, given how much time has passed, Yin Ren’s memory may be spotty, so they tethered the spell to the Evil Dog Spirit to fill in any gaps.
However, Yin Ren left a loophole, in that instead of making the spell filter specifically “Take me back to 1,000 years ago during this time and place using my memories and the Evil Dog Spirit’s memories” he didn’t include the bold portion. After all, this was memories from 1,000 years ago and besides him and the Evil Dog Spirit, no one else would be alive now. So when the spell was cast, it not only pulled in memories of the two, but also the entire world (just like the internet; when you search for something, if you don’t specify specific details it’ll pull in a bunch of stuff related to whatever prompt you enter).
This explains why Huajisi’s headquarters is so vivid and other details despite the Evil Dog Spirit and Yin Ren have never been there. The spell was pulling memories from the descendants of those people during that time that had passed down their stories/fables/recountings to their offsprings. Overtime, these stories became the memories of their descendants and when Yin Ren cast his spell, it also pulled in the modern day people’s memories.
He had actually heard of the term “Cuckoo Calamity”. Cuckoo birds lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, and the hatched chicks then become the dominant ones, snatching food from the other nestlings.
The legend of the “Cuckoo Calamity” was only prevalent in remote areas—where unknown monsters impregnate women who give birth to children who are remarkably beautiful and look drastically different from their parents and siblings. Such children often possess astonishing talents and have a much larger appetite than ordinary people.
According to Yan Qing’s account, this “A’Si” completely matched the description.
A’Si was born in the Su Family in Xizhuang. His real name was Su Sigou. He was born with exquisite facial features and delicate skin.
However, in this impoverished and remote village, the Su family could easily be considered ugly. The Su couple looked like a pair of broad-shouldered and stout brothers, with naturally dark skin and eyebrows thicker than thumbs. Their group of children also had crooked lips and misaligned teeth—none of them pleasing to the eye.
And amidst them was Su Sigou, like a white dove among a flock of quails, which was extremely eye-catching.
If a child like him was born in the city, the parents would only consider him to be exceptionally gifted. Even if there were suspicions, they would be limited to questioning the mother’s fidelity and not considering the doings of a monster.
But in the Su family, the fourth son was not much different from a monster—the village was closed-off, everyone knew each other well, and each child was witnessed being born by the villagers, so there was no room for falsehood.
As Su Sigou grew day by day, he became even more delicate. He possessed naturally strong hands and had an appetite that could rival that of an adult. Due to the poverty of the Su family and their aversion to this child of unknown origin, they simply let him roam freely, finding his own food in the mountains.
The other villagers also believed that this child brought misfortune and didn’t treat Su Sigou kindly.
However, Su Sigou was born lacking common sense and was particularly adept at sticking his hot face against a cold butt*, even finding joy in doing so. He spent his days running around, using his strange strength to hunt for food in the mountains, living a somewhat comfortable life.
*Idiom used to describe someone who’s willing to endure humiliation or seek connection with someone who doesn’t treat them well. It conveys the idea of seeking warmth and acceptance from others who are indifferent or even hostile towards them.
He even took a friend for himself—
Yan Qing’s father wasn’t a kind man and only knew how to boss his son around. When Yan Qing was just beginning to understand things, he worked and earned money while also having to serve his father. He was busy all day long, unable to eat a full meal, and ended up skinnier and smaller than a wild cat.
As fellow unfortunate individuals in the village, Su Sigou was particularly curious about Yan Qing. He secretly observed the Yan family’s courtyard for two days and became so enraged that he directly captured Yan Qing to be his friend.
Having grown accustomed to the wilderness in the mountains, Su Sigou was skilled at finding food. Yan Qing relied on him to eat meat and not be burdened by his unreliable father, who could have easily caused his early demise.
“Afterward, there was trouble in my family, so we decided to escape together. Thanks to A’Si’s familiarity with the mountain paths, I wouldn’t have been able to get out on my own.”
Yan Qing finished his breakfast with a heavy heart and gently put down his chopsticks. “We relied on each other to survive for several years before getting separated ten years ago. Only he knows that I buried the mountain ghost coin, and only he would leave a note hidden in my house’s window.”
“I see. So that Su Si… cough, are there any other peculiarities that A’Si has?”
Shi Jingzhi’s eyes brightened, seemingly quite interested in the story of the “Cuckoo Calamity”.
Yan Qing was somewhat surprised. “None. Besides having a good-looking face, he has strong hands. As for his mind… Well, let’s just say A’Si is the type who wouldn’t turn back even if he bumped into a wall*. But he has an excellent character and would never actively provoke others.”
*Metaphor for someone who’s stubborn and unwilling to listen to different opinions.
Shi Jingzhi was too preoccupied with inquiring about A’Si to notice the deepening gaze of his disciple.
The determination of the “Cuckoo Calamity” was inherently ambiguous, with few folk records. Yin Ci had once investigated it but ended with inconclusive results. It had no relation to the region, constellations, or solar terms, and its appearance followed no discernible pattern.
However, through his investigation, he unexpectedly discovered a certain fact.
Every year, there would always be some extraordinary children born—beautiful and exceptionally talented. These individuals were rare, with approximately one in a million people falling into this category. The ratio was interesting, similar to the probability of other species giving birth to monsters.
Yin Ci decided to call these people “monster material*”.
*Clarity: As in potential (not in a physical sense). For example: He’s leadership material, i.e. he’s born to be a leader. In this case, he has material to become a monster [yao] (妖.)
Yin Ci was an orphan and didn’t know if his face was a gift from his parents or something forcibly bestowed upon him by the heavens. But judging by Shi Jingzhi’s reaction, his handsome master was most likely one of those “monster material”.
Apart from individuals like Yin Ci, whose appearances stood out, ordinary people were oblivious to the concept of “monster material”, so it was normal to be curious. Seeing Shi Jingzhi becoming intrigued by the mystery, Yin Ci had no intention of stopping him.
An anomaly in Xizhuang, a one-in-a-million monster material—the simultaneous occurrence of these two phenomena meant that there must be something intriguing about this place.
The three members of the Kushan Sect wandered around the village for another hour but found no new clues. They then shifted their search to the outskirts of the village.
The stray cats and rats from last night had disappeared, and the village had returned to its silent state, raising some uneasy feelings in Yin Ci.
As one grew older, premonitions tended to be more accurate, for the worse. Sure enough, just as they reached the edge of Xizhuang, they spotted two figures in the distance.
With sunrise approaching and no snowfall, their vision was still relatively clear.
A girl of about ten years old stood in the snow. She wore a brand-new red coat and had two pointed pigtails on top of her head, appearing lovely and cute. However, the thing she held in her hand had nothing to do with “cute” no matter how he looked at it.
At a glance, that thing resembled a small foal. Only when the three approached closer did they realize its true identity—
A strangely shaped black dog.
The black dog was extremely tall and had slender and muscular limbs covered in shiny fur. That, in itself, was ordinary. What was strange was its head. The dog had no eyes; its skin on the face was the same as the nose, with dozens of nostril-like holes evenly distributed. Its mouth was large and long, almost splitting its skull in two.
At the moment, it was exhaling white vapor, revealing sharp teeth.
Yin Ci saw Shi Jingzhi’s eyes go from blinking to rubbing, and from rubbing to wanting to pluck out his eyeballs, so he decisively grabbed his master’s wrist.
“Shizun, I’ve seen this kind of thing in the mountains. It’s definitely a monster, and from the looks of it, it’s probably a dog demon.”
“A’Ci, the books say that monsters are the most beautiful among their kind*—”
*Clarity: Remember, there’s a difference between [yao] (妖) and [mo] (魔). Yao/monsters can look divine and pretty like (for example the nine tails demon fox), while mo/demons take on an “evil nature”. This dog demon is a [yao], which is why Shi Jingzhi says this.
Having lived for hundreds of years, Yin Ci had never seen a monster that met human standards of “beauty”. “A dog’s aesthetics of its own kind should be compared to… a dog.”
Shi Jingzhi fell silent. He slowly turned his head, making an effort to ignore the strange-looking black dog.
This time, Yan Qing stepped forward first. His face was pale as he half-squatted down. “Little sister*, do you know where the people here have gone?”
*[Meimei] (妹妹).
“Yes, I know. They’re in Yuanxian Village!” The little girl said softly and delicately. “I’ve come to take you to Yuanxian Village.”
“They just left like that? Without taking anything?”
The little girl blinked her eyes, seeming to not understand the question. “Yuanxian Village has everything. Why would they need to bring extra things? Brother, your eyes are so beautiful. You seem to have immortal potential.”
Yan Qing patted the little girl’s head and stepped back. “I’ve never heard of Yuanxian Village. If there’s a village nearby, A’Si couldn’t possibly be unaware of it.”
He didn’t dare speak openly in front of the girl. Fortunately, both the master and disciple were quick-witted and could sense the hidden meaning.
If “Yuanxian Village” truly was a good place, A’Si wouldn’t have left a blood-written message.
The little girl was patient, waiting in place. Shi Jingzhi pretended to lead the way, but suddenly, the dog demon let out a loud and fierce bark. Thankfully, after their encounter in the Ghost Tomb, Shi Jingzhi remained calm, only stumbling slightly.
Yin Ci took the opportunity to support his master, leaning down to whisper, “Shizun, there are people in the distance.”
While Shi Jingzhi’s attention was focused on the dog demon, he failed to notice several other auras. Besides the girl in the red coat, there were six other auras lingering nearby. Yin Ci caught a glimpse of the nearest one with his peripheral vision—
That person wore a bulky white robe, bound with white ropes and intricate knots. His face was covered by a white mask, and he wore a tall white decorative hat, giving him an eccentric appearance that perfectly blended with the snowy landscape.
The other six people surrounded them, gradually closing in, without uttering a word.
Shi Jingzhi’s felt a bit tongue tied. “Little sister, we have urgent matters, so we won’t be going for now.”
“In that case, I’ll just have A’Huo bite you.” The little girl appeared distressed. “Yuanxian Village is a good place. Only bad people wouldn’t want to go. Right, A’Huo?”
The dog demon barked, showing its approval.
In the next instant, one of the white-robed individuals raised his hand and swiftly struck at Shi Jingzhi.
His attack carried no intent to kill, and it lacked strength. However, the trajectory twisted, as if bones and joints were misplaced. Shi Jingzhi narrowly avoided it, but his mask was knocked off.
Yan Qing and the little girl gasped simultaneously.
During their time in the Ghost Tomb, Shi Jingzhi had always worn his mask, and only took it off when sleeping. Yan Qing usually slept early and had never seen the true face of the sect leader.
When the fox revealed his face, the little girl looked even happier. “This brother also has immortal potential! Everyone will surely like you. Come with me quickly.”
Shi Jingzhi glanced at the dog demon and asked straightforwardly, “In your realm, is immortal potential determined by appearance?”
The little girl shook the dog leash in her hand, and the dog demon obediently sat down, drooling profusely from its mouth.
“Yes, the stronger the immortal potential, the more beautiful and powerful a person becomes! Brother, you must be exceptionally powerful.”
Shi Jingzhi: “…” I’m not talented. I just recently got beaten by a fish.
Yin Ci quickly picked out the key point and nudged Yan Qing. “That girl doesn’t seem to be lying. If the fourth son of the Su family is really a ‘Cuckoo Calamity’, there’s a good chance he’s still alive.”
Yan Qing’s spirits lifted.
Shi Jingzhi also gradually calmed down and looked at his disciple and servant. “Yuanxian Village, immortal potential… Do you have immortals in your village?”
“Of course, we have been serving the immortals for generations.”
The little girl pouted, as if Shi Jingzhi had asked a silly question like whether people need to eat.
“No one who comes to the village wants to leave. The outside world is smelly, desolate, and cold—I hate it… Hey, are you ready? With the protection of the village’s immortals and no guide, no one can find Yuanxian Village.”
Yin Ci was particularly sensitive to tales of immortals. Upon hearing this, his interest was thoroughly piqued. Even if Shi Jingzhi was reluctant, he had to bring his master along.
He cleared his throat. “Little sister, my master is in poor health. Do you have any spiritual medicine over there?”
The little girl seemed to have not heard him speak at all, not even giving him a glance.
…The fake face on the ghostskin robe was indeed ordinary, far from the level of having “immortal potential”.
Shi Jingzhi took a few steps, shielding his disciple behind him. Then, he put on his brightest smile. “Do you have any spiritual medicine that can cure all diseases?”
The little girl smiled sweetly. “Yes, we do.”
Shi Jingzhi’s smile became even more charming. “Let’s go then. We’ll visit Yuanxian Village, and maybe we’ll meet your friend, Yan Qing.”
Yin Ci and Yan Qing were eagerly awaiting those words and had no objections.
At sunrise, the three of them set off. Under the brilliant morning sun, Xizhuang lay silently in the snow, like a crushed cicada shell.
The six bulky white-robed figures lined up behind them, leaving two neat rows of footprints. The last white-robed individual seemed injured and walked with an unsteady gait.
His footprints were oozing with pus and blood, as if he had walked not as a living being but as a highly decomposed corpse.
The three of them went from house to house, conducting a thorough investigation. After half a day, nightfall was approaching, and all they came across was a group of rats and a few dirty and skinny cats.
The houses were well-equipped with living essentials, and there was access to water. There was no sign of any abnormalities.
The mysterious disappearance of the villagers frustrated Shi Jingzhi. He wanted to turn around and find Zheng Fengdao, ready to fight to the death. At least Zheng Fengdao would breathe and could be considered a living being.
“A’Ci, remember to leave some coins after we’re done. Do we… Do we have to spend the night here?”
“It’s getting colder these days, and it’s easy to freeze to death sleeping outdoors.” Yin Ci stated the truth. He wasn’t particular and went ahead and borrowed a pot to steam meat and cook porridge, preparing to rest.
Yin Ci understood Shi Jingzhi’s temper well. It was easy to placate his cheap master—once there was someone to accompany him, after his frantic anxiety subsided, he would ultimately resign himself to the situation.
Sure enough, Shi Jingzhi adjusted his cloak and approached Yin Ci.
“Everything is so tidy. It doesn’t seem like the work of bandits.”
“Mm.”
“If there were herds of animals passing through, they wouldn’t leave the livestock untouched.”
“Mm.”
“A’Ci, where do you think the people here have gone?”
Yin Ci scooped a spoonful of hot porridge, turned his head, and fed it to his master, simultaneously diverting his attention. “Shizun, where do you think Yan Qing has gone?”
Shi Jingzhi got agitated in an instant and nearly choked on the porridge. He forcefully pulled Yin Ci out of the house. Yin Ci didn’t even have a chance to put down the iron spoon, and the steam from the rice broth met the cold wind, instantly freezing into a thin layer of ice.
Fortunately, Yan Qing hadn’t vanished into thin air.
He hadn’t gone far when he stopped at the gate of the courtyard. The young man stood in the white snow like a tree that was too straight. He breathed heavily into his frozen red hands and looked bewilderedly at the empty village.
“Yan Qing, let’s go back inside first. This place is eerie, and when it gets completely dark, who knows what might come out…”
“Sect Master, I want to go home and take a look.”
Shi Jingzhi was momentarily stunned, only then realizing what he meant by “home.”
Yan Qing claimed to be half a resident of Xizhuang. He had concealed his identity and joined the Taiheng Sect when he was eleven. Before that, he must have had a home in this village.
But the mixed emotions on Yan Qing’s face made it difficult to discern which ones, if any, were sadness.
This person had a sensitive background, and Shi Jingzhi had never inquired about his childhood experience. Now it seemed that Yan Qing’s life had been even more difficult than he had imagined.
Shi Jingzhi sniffed and said somewhat absentmindedly, “It’s not safe for you to be alone. We’ll accompany you. Um, if you don’t mind…”
“No, it’s okay,” Yan Qing replied hoarsely.
Xizhuang was small, and each farmhouse was tidy and neat. Yan Qing led them through the empty houses and walked towards a corner of the village, stopping in front of a dilapidated house.
The abandoned house was half the size of the surrounding farmhouses. It looked like it had been abandoned for a long time and appeared to be a chaotic pile of ruins from a distance. The courtyard walls were covered in lumps of soil, and the roof had completely collapsed.
At the entrance of the house stood a broken tree, and under the tree was a huge stone covered with snow. As the night grew darker, the snow crust emitted a cold, bluish-gray color.
Yan Qing squatted in front of that stone, wiping away the snow to reveal a series of crooked and twisted markings—
Yan Ziren’s grave.
There were no birth or death dates, just three simple characters.
Even though Shi Jingzhi lacked refinement, he was still greatly shocked to see one bury one’s own father in the backyard and casually use a stone as a tombstone. He coughed up a mouthful of blood before managing to speak. “Yan Qing, this is…”
“My father,” Yan Qing said with a complicated look. He didn’t perform any rituals.
“Isn’t this a bit… Shouldn’t we choose an auspicious time to move his resting place?”
“No need. He showed me kindness, and I supported him until his death. We owe each other nothing.”
Yan Qing found an empty space and sat down, gently rubbing his temples as if trying to vomit out his emotions. “Sect Master, you didn’t ask about my background before, and I’m grateful for that. But now that we’re here, let me tell you so that you can be at ease.”
Yin Ci sensed a touch of resentment and stood quietly beside Shi Jingzhi, appearing attentive.
Yan Qing’s background didn’t involve much bloodshed; it was simple to the point of being ordinary.
His father had sought refuge with the Ling Sect when he was young, but because he lacked ghost eyes, any tokens, and martial arts skills, he was mistaken for a fake and had half of his leg crippled.
It was difficult to reintegrate and be recognized by the sect, but the pursuers from the martial world never let go. Later, his father married Yan Qing’s mother, and to evade the pursuit, they fled to Xizhuang together.
As far back as Yan Qing could remember, Yan Ziren only knew how to drink.
After Yan Qing finished his work and returned home, he would either hear his father mumbling about the ancestor’s great accomplishments or be beaten by him. In rare moments of clarity, his father would only tell him that when he joined the Ling Sect in the future, he would become a respected figure, enjoying a life of luxury, freely choosing women, and living like an immortal.
At this point, Yan Qing fell silent.
He gazed at the stone, devoid of any hatred, as if he were looking at someone unrelated to himself.
Shi Jingzhi momentarily forgot to be afraid and spoke in a softer tone. “And your mother?”
“My mother was pregnant and supported my disabled father all the way here. After giving birth to me, she was gone. She was so sincere, feeding a dog with all her heart. My father married her only because he didn’t want to cut off the Yan family bloodline… My mother doesn’t even have a grave.”
Yan Qing slowly extended his hand, covering his eyes with his palm.
“My father must have wanted these ghost eyes,” Yan Qing said. “He always dreamt of sending me to the Ling Sect to prove that he was a descendant of the Yan family.”
Shi Jingzhi took a breath and asked, “Then why…?”
Before the question was complete, Yan Qing already understood his meaning. “The villagers knew about my ghost eyes, and they kept a close eye on me. They were afraid of me exposing their secret and tarnishing the village’s reputation as a ‘haven for the successor of a demonic sect.’”
Yan Qing withdrew his hand, revealing an unpleasant smile. His red pupils emitted a faint gleam, like extinguished embers.
“Some people wanted to kill me but fear retaliation from Yan Budu’s vengeful spirits, so they dare not make a move… My father once hoped that I would grow older and take him to escape to the Ling Sect. Unfortunately, when I was nine years old, he had a drunken fit, bumped his head on the doorstep, and died.”
“You know what happened next. I changed my surname and joined the Taiheng Sect, where I stayed for ten years.”
Yin Ci suddenly realized. A child who had to bend down to survive wouldn’t care about those elusive and empty sources of pride. Yan Qing’s father was truly useless, subjecting his son to endless hardships, yet failing to instill in him a sense of cynicism.
Taking care of a disabled drunkard from a young age, it was no wonder Yan Qing was so skilled with his hands. Compared to that, the Taiheng Sect could be considered a paradise on earth.
Shi Jingzhi was deeply moved. “I understand now. You’ve come here to officially bid farewell to your father. Ah…”
Yan Qing shook his head. “My father had a finely carved pure silver mountain ghost coin. He treasured it so much that he didn’t exchange it for alcohol. When I left, I was still young and dared not carry it with me, so I buried it under a tree.”
As it turned out, he had come to retrieve money. Shi Jingzhi’s sense of gratitude gradually froze in the chilling wind.
Yan Qing used his sword to dig the soil, and before long, he pulled out a small wooden box. However, as soon as the box was opened, his face froze—
There was no mountain ghost coin inside the box; only a poorly crafted longevity lock*.
*Usually given to a baby to wear on its hands or neck. It expresses people’s good wishes that the lock will bring health and good luck to the child.
Yan Qing threw the box away and rushed straight into the house. The abandoned house had no roof, and it was covered in thick layers of snow. Yan Qing had a clear goal in mind. He found the window and used his fingers to scrape the gaps in the window frame.
He actually scraped out a piece of cloth. The fabric was pure white, indicating that it had been recently placed there.
Yin Ci and Shi Jingzhi crowded together, leaning in to take a closer look.
Blood words were written on the cloth, with fewer words than on the tombstone*. The handwriting was extremely sloppy, as if hastily written: [San Zi, escape quickly.]
*Clarity: In Chinese, it’s fewer characters.
Shi Jingzhi asked, “Who is San Zi?”
“It’s me.” Yan Qing tightly grasped the longevity lock. “It’s impossible. How could A’Si… Sect Master, can we stay here a bit longer? I want to figure out what happened here.”
Shi Jingzhi’s heart softened even further, but his mind remained clear. “Yan Qing, to be honest, the abilities of the Kushan Sect are limited. The situation in Xizhuang is strange, and your friend advised you to escape quickly. It’s best for us to leave as soon as possible to avoid complications.”
Yan Qing’s loyalty and righteousness were admirable. However, his deep bond with the children during his short stay in Xizhuang couldn’t compare to the lives of three members of the Kushan Sect.
As the words left his mouth, Yan Qing also realized that his request was somewhat excessive. Being honest and straightforward, he didn’t know how to manipulate others, so he could only hold the small longevity lock in his hand, feeling helpless.
Yin Ci timely stepped in to mediate. “How about this, let’s wake up earlier tomorrow and explore a bit more before we leave.”
Shi Jingzhi was cautious in his approach, while Demonic Lord Yin was always eager for something new. The longer one lived, the rarer it was to encounter fresh events. Missing out on this village would mean missing out on this opportunity.
Shi Jingzhi didn’t answer, but his jaw was tense, clearly still concerned.
Yin Ci grabbed his master’s arm, adding fuel to the fire. “Grandfather used to tell a similar story. These people may have ‘bumped into an immortal*’. And on Yan Budu’s map, it mentioned Zongwu Mountain, which might be related to this.”
*(撞仙) A term used to refer to accidentally stumbling upon or encountering an immortal or supernatural being, often resulting in unexpected consequences or a supernatural experience.
After pondering for a while, Shi Jingzhi finally relented. “We’ll wake up at the hour of the tiger and spend another three hours investigating before we depart.”
The three of them returned to the house, each with a bowl of meat porridge, and carefully sealed the doors and windows. Yan Qing tidied up his few belongings, sat down against the wall, and didn’t close his eyes all night.
The night passed without any incidents.
Shi Jingzhi kept his word and woke up precisely at the hour of the tiger. It was freezing cold, and Yin Ci clung to the bed, unwilling to get up. The room was too small for the bamboo rod method to be effective, making it difficult to employ the poking technique.
Shi Jingzhi sneered twice and went outside to take a walk. When he returned to the room, he rolled up his sleeves and, with his two icy hands, reached into the blanket and touched Yin Ci’s shoulder and neck.
Demonic Lord Yin nearly exploded on the spot.
He had no choice but to begrudgingly get out of bed, intentionally preparing a tasteless breakfast.
Throughout the night, nothing unusual happened, which gave Shi Jingzhi some confidence. He comforted Yan Qing, who had lost his appetite. “Yesterday, we arrived too late, and it was too dark to see clearly. Now that it’s getting brighter outside, we might find some clues.”
Yan Qing’s eyes turned green, and he absent-mindedly responded, “May the Sect Master’s words be true.”
Yin Ci finished his breakfast early, feeling bored. “Tell me about your friend. With such a close relationship, have you stayed in contact all this time?”
“We haven’t seen each other in ten years, so I thought he was dead.”
Yan Qing had a blank expression on his face, and his chopsticks were suspended in mid-air.
“…A’Si wouldn’t come back to the village just to stay. He must have come specifically to find me.”
The master and disciple exchanged a glance—based on this statement, “A’Si” didn’t seem like an ordinary childhood playmate. It was also understandable considering that Yan Qing had grown up with a pair of blood-red ghost eyes, even if the villagers reluctantly accepted him, they wouldn’t allow their own children to get involved with such “dirty things”.
If someone could play with Yan Qing, they must not be an ordinary person.
Shi Jingzhi took over the conversation. “Your friend doesn’t live in the village?”
“No. The shortcut we took when we came here was the route he used to help me escape.”
“People in the village call him the ‘Cuckoo Calamity’, keeping their distance… Now that I think about it, I don’t know if he can be considered human.”
The author has something to say:
Present-time Fox Shi: Slips a cold hand into the blanket.
Demonic Lord Yin: ?!
Future Fox Shi: Entirely burrows into the blanket.
“This isn’t the real past, so it should be fine, right?” Ge Tingting nervously asked.
Everything that should have ended suddenly had no visible end in sight. Amidst the lively atmosphere of Huajisi, she could almost hear the sound of fear quietly surging. With the realization that this “world” was still functioning, Fu Xingchuan, who had become a prominent figure, grew significantly quieter. Ge Tingting had a foreboding feeling that something wasn’t quite right.
“I don’t know.”
Fu Xingchuan admitted decisively.
“But we must ensure that things progress on the right track, and no one can say for certain whether this ‘memory world’ will in turn affect Yin Ren and the Evil Spirit.”
“Well… Second Uncle’s right. We’d better not take any risks,” Fu Tianyi concurred with a worried expression.
He no longer wanted to go on missions with Unit 9 of the Haigu branch. After two consecutive unfortunate encounters with these cursed phenomena, his spirit felt as if it had aged twenty years. He hadn’t seen much of Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi, but the streak of bad luck seemed endless.
“Hmph.” Huang Jin scoffed.
As a major laborer in this mission, he couldn’t be bothered to be polite anymore. “What do you mean ‘not taking risks’? Now the Great Celestial Master and the Evil Spirit are buried underground, no one knows what happened afterward in that era. How can we ensure we’re on the ‘right track’?”
Despite being a wild spirit smith by origin, Huang Jin had a certain understanding of metaphysics history.
During the waning days of the Gong Dynasty, the Gouluo Army invaded and advanced all the way to the capital. After a decade of chaos, a grassroots-born divine general emerged, ultimately donning the yellow robe and establishing a new dynasty.
The last emperor of the Gong Dynasty didn’t trust Huajisi, and the capital was tormented by the Gouluo Army. It was said that a significant portion of Huajisi’s records were lost, and a considerable number of precious books were taken by the Gouluo people. It was only through the sacrifice of cultivators and scholars of that time that the core records were preserved. Afterwards, Huajisi followed the new emperor and established its headquarters in the new capital, ushering in another wave of prosperity.
What Huajisi had experienced during that time left behind significant gaps in history. Even the biographies of Fu Shangliu and Li Heyan, the two leaders, weren’t particularly detailed.
“We have some stories handed down in our family,” Fu Tianyi hurriedly interjected. “Fu Shangliu had a gentle temperament, moderate strength, and a fair-minded person. A very traditional Fu family descendant.”
“Li Heyan was his good friend, a well-known talented woman during the late Gong Dynasty. She made significant contributions in both science and literature, but she had a strict character and was a bit arrogant.”
“Are there no specific event records?” Lu Xiaohe asked, rubbing her temples feeling a headache.
If they didn’t handle things in accordance with the personalities of those in Huajisi, it would be uncertain whether the people of Huajisi would accept it. Moreover, they were unaware of the rules of Huajisi in this era, and a slight mistake could lead to loopholes.
Fu Tianyi shook his head. “No… Fu Shangliu is the grandfather of our ancestor, and even our ancestor is not clear about what happened back then.”
Fu Xingchuan looked irritably at the tips of his claws. This would have been the perfect time to contact Professor Li for help, but unfortunately, they were completely cut off from the outside world.
The two leaders of Huajisi had only received information, without even receiving a royal decree. The Emperor made it clear this time that he wanted to sideline Huajisi, but if the royal cultivators were to break that seal, who knew what might be unleashed—
Unknown shadows more powerful than the Evil Spirit, the still-living Great Celestial Master, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers who died in vain. By directly uncovering this chaotic mess, it was evident that the Emperor felt that the downfall of the country hadn’t been satisfying enough.
Meanwhile, Lu Xiaohe paced back and forth within the vast halls of Huajisi, repeatedly reviewing the letters received by Li Heyan.
The atmosphere in Huajisi was also a bit strange. Despite the liveliness, various shades of worry could be seen on people’s faces. From time to time, someone would pause in front of the statue of Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi, gaze at it for a while, and sigh quietly.
The offering plate in front of the statue of Zhong Yi had become significantly fuller since Lu Xiaohe had arrived. Among the offerings were many small pieces of candied fruit, clearly added by the members of this place.
They didn’t yet know that Zhong Yi had already perished deep within the mountain cliffs.
However, they did know that “Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi had annihilated the 150,000 Gouluo Army”, and they could more or less guess what the Emperor intended to do.
Huajisi was founded by Fu Liu, a disciple of Zhong Yi. The first group of core members were all abandoned orphans picked up by Zhong Yi. For so many years, Zhong Yi had been dealing with the evil beings and bringing in the latest knowledge about them. His relationship with Huajisi was quite delicate, and if one were to insist on describing it, “teacher and friend” would be the most appropriate words.
The connection between the Great Celestial Master and the mortal realm was limited to the annual night patrol of Yin Village and communication with Huajisi.
With this in mind, it was understandable why the Emperor had reason to suspect that Huajisi “knew but didn’t report, deserving death”. Lu Xiaohe’s gaze swept across the worried faces of the members of Huajisi, unable to help but force a bitter smile.
“Since Fu Shangliu is a traditional Fu family member, he must hold Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi in high regard. In a situation like this, he certainly won’t sit idly by.”
Fu Xingchuan was the first to break the silence.
“As for Li Heyan… Li Nian is a bit like her. These science-minded people can’t tolerate fools, and they definitely won’t approve of the Emperor’s reckless behavior. She will also take action. The problem is, the Emperor has been displeased with Huajisi for a long time, and his approach is wrong. Tianyi and Xiao Lu might even lose their heads. Be careful, you two.”
Since Li Nian couldn’t hear, former Minister Fu freely muttered about his former partner to his content.
Lu Xiaohe’s pacing came to a halt, and her eyes brightened.
“Order everyone to gather all the materials related to the Valley of Remains from the archives!” She commanded in the guise of Li Heyan.
Fu Xingchuan nodded approvingly, while Fu Tianyi remained dumbfounded in place. “What…?”
“Collect all the maps, all the records—don’t miss a single one. Including the spirit weapons used to send letters to the Great Celestial Master, make sure nothing is overlooked. Stack them all in the courtyard.”
“Lu Xiaohe…”
“I’m the rear commander.” Lu Xiaohe raised the corner of her mouth. “A rear commander must always consider the big picture, remember?”
Fu Tianyi looked puzzled as he watched everyone bustling around. Soon, the books, maps, and mechanical birds in the courtyard piled up into a small hill, resembling a not-too-big burial mound.
“Very good,” Lu Xiaohe said.
“Also, organize the detailed records, movement trajectories, and correspondence related to the Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi and place them in the main hall. Remember, it’s only about his personal matters, and we must protect the knowledge he provided.”
“Finally, forge a few recent communications stating that the Great Celestial Master is currently traveling in the southern marshes.”
Fu Tianyi’s gaze toward Lu Xiaohe gradually changed. “You wouldn’t…”
The others hesitated and looked at “Fu Shangliu”. Seeing that he didn’t object, no one questioned “Li Heyan”. There was a vast amount of information related to the Great Celestial Master, almost filling one-third of Huajisi’s main hall. The statue of Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi was partially submerged under the materials, and the offering plate on the altar was pushed askew.
Lu Xiaohe casually took down a floating oil lamp artifact, rolled up her sleeves, and personally poured the lamp oil onto those precious documents.
There was a small gasp from the members of Huajisi.
“What… What are you doing?! This is a great disrespect!” One of the senior scholars couldn’t hold back any longer, shouting with a flushed face and a thick neck.
Lu Xiaohe, with her sleeves rolled up, held the still-burning orange-yellow oil lamp in one hand. It was now twilight, and the firelight mixed with the evening glow, creating an orange-red glow.
“He is not a god.”
Beside Lu Xiaohe stood a strange statue covered in a red veil.
When it came to recalling Yin Ren, the first thing she would think of was him checking in for work, rushing to leave after work, and his radiant figure stuck in the cafeteria. Compared to the countless evils lurking in the mountain village and killing hundreds of thousands of enemy soldiers, she still preferred the sight of him hunched over, dealing with Excel.
That was the Yin Ren she knew.
Lu Xiaohe had never seen him actively seeking any “past glory” or “famous reputation”. Even when he went to the Fu family at that time and saw the ceremonial array dedicated to the Great Celestial Master, his embarrassment outweighed his joy. Lu Xiaohe could almost hear the sound of him scratching the ground with his toes.
Moreover, he even fell in love with Zhong Chengshuo, a well-rooted science post, and he was deeply serious about it.
The Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi, proclaimed by the Emperor of the mortal realm as the descendant of the Zhong family, and revered by the mortal cultivators as the Great Celestial Master. But in the end, he said he should be surnamed Yin.
…In the end, all he wanted was to avenge his friends.
Yin Ren may be powerful, or he may have turned into some kind of Evil Spirit that Shian couldn’t resist, but he was also an ordinary person she knew.
He definitely wasn’t a “god.”
“He’s not a god. You all have read those letters, so you must know this… His handwriting is quite ugly, isn’t it?”
Lu Xiaohe glanced at the statue. This wasn’t something that “Fu Shangliu” would say, but it was appropriate for a science post to say.
“Now the Emperor wants to use him as a weapon—you know he can’t do that, and he definitely wouldn’t like it. The consequences of his refusal—all of you are intelligent people, and you can certainly guess.”
“We will preserve the knowledge he left behind. But as a person… As a highly accomplished individual, he may have research value, but as a friend, as a mentor, I believe he deserves some peace.”
“Now, I’m going to light the fire.”
Lu Xiaohe lifted the oil lamp over the letters and records.
“If any of you want to dissuade me or report it to the Emperor, this is your last chance.”
The members of Huajisi had been restless for a while, but they fell silent in the end. Some looked at the pile of materials reluctantly but eventually shifted their gaze to the statue.
Lu Xiaohe let go of her hand.
The burning oil lamp fell.
The flame of the spirit lamp was fiercer than an ordinary flame, and the brilliant red flames instantly engulfed the documents. A trail of fire crawled through the courtyard along the lamp oil, quickly igniting everything related to the Valley of Remains.
The members of Huajisi hugged their precious spirit weapons, commanded the specially prepared bodies, and orderly ran out of the main hall. Inside, only billowing smoke remained, along with the splattering sparks that illuminated the contours of the statue. The ashes fell like snowflakes, fluttering in the tongues of fire.
On the remnants of the letters, one could still see the twisted and clumsy handwriting, and each colloquial phrase was rapidly devoured by the sparks.
[The weather near Yuanzhou is excellent today. I caught a particularly large, vengeful scorpion and discovered a new weakness…]
[Can you make a mechanical bird with more strength and send me some corn cakes? I can exchange it for a recipe to appease the fierce ghosts…]
[Last time, you mentioned that Zhang Wen’s nephew was born. Congratulations! Do you have any wedding candies? I’m sending a tranquility talisman drawing with this letter…]
They eventually turned into fine ashes.
Lu Xiaohe wore a very “Lu Xiaohe-like” gentle smile and clapped her hands.
Li Heyan’s hair was disheveled, with a few strands of black hair hanging over her shoulders. The orange-red firelight illuminated her eyes, reaching towards the sky.
Fu Tianyi stood dumbfounded. “That was ruthless…”
But it was indeed a solution.
The Valley of the Remains was remote and difficult to find. The annihilation of the 150,000 soldiers was mostly due to the Great Celestial Master’s spell being too conspicuous, as indicated by the results of nearby diviners’ divinations. However, the spell had a wide-reaching effect, making it difficult to find the location of the Great Celestial Master.
Although the Emperor didn’t allow Huajisi to go, his own cultivators would surely use the information from Huajisi to search for the Great Celestial Master.
The letters exchanged with the Great Celestial Master, the messages sent by the Great Celestial Master from various places, the records of the Great Celestial Master’s journeys… everything about the Great Celestial Master.
“No wonder everyone says there is little information about the Great Celestial Master.” Amidst the growing flames, Ge Tingting murmured. “It might have been true back then…”
“Whether it’s cultivators or scholars, everyone is human,” Lu Xiaohe responded softly.
“Knowledge is indeed important, but sometimes ‘protecting a friend’ is even more important. Since we are humans, we should do something foolish.”
A thousand years ago, the real Fu Shangliu and Li Heyan most likely chose a similar path.
Lu Xiaohe took two steps forward and ignited the forged “travel itinerary” letters in the tongues of fire. Facing the incoming people from the palace, she confidently turned around.
“Huajisi is on fire, ignited by a spirit weapon. It’s difficult for ordinary people to put out the fire, so we will find a way ourselves. Hmm, you want the Great Celestial Master’s whereabouts? I happen to have snatched a few letters, so you can take them.”
“If you want to hold a grudge, blame it on the fact that this era doesn’t have cloud storage… Ah, nothing, I didn’t say anything.”
……
In the nearby wilderness, a figure was staggering along.
That person was dressed in a “Leader’s Close Confident with a Great Problem*” shirt, with his hair tied up—it was none other than a modern-looking Yin Ren.
*His shirt refers to someone who is close to a leader or holds an important position and is facing significant difficulties, implying that their action or their situation poses a threat or risk to the leader. || In this case, it’s quite apt as Yin Ren does give headaches to Fu Xingchuan, the top dogs of Shian.
“It’s pretty twisted, don’t you think?” Yin Ren muttered to himself.
“I don’t think so.” Immediately, he slightly changed his tone and answered himself. “That body is inconvenient to move, and even if it could move, it would make Shian suspicious.”
“You’re already suspicious enough.” Yin Ren’s tone became lively again. “Zhong Chengshuo, I slept with you, but this kind of…”
The feeling of sharing one body was just too strange.
After dealing with the tens of thousands of Gouluo soldiers, Yin Ren’s consciousness quickly entered a nearby body. Who would have thought that Zhong Chengshuo would refuse to budge—
The good news was that Yin Ren, armed with the experience from a thousand years later, suppressed the power of the Evil Force perfectly. He no longer needed to wrap himself up like a cocoon and could simply transform into a set of clothes.
The bad news was that now he was in a real and close cohabitation with his boyfriend, which resulted in his limbs not coordinating well.
Luckily, he had thrown Dog Thing into Yellow Millet. No one in this world would taste that bitterness again, which was truly wonderful. Yin Ren thought deeply, then stumbled and fell to the ground.
Once he adjusted to the body, he would be able to use the levitation spell.
He had to tell Shian the “truth” and his speculations about the memory world as soon as possible.
After locking onto the target, Zhong Chengshuo desperately began to shrink his size. Humans were already small, and human infants would be even smaller. If he waited until he arrived at the destination to shrink, it would surely attract attention.
It was a major undertaking. Zhong Chengshuo patiently shrank his body, gradually reducing it from the size of a sea to the size of a suitcase. After shrinking, he still wasn’t satisfied. He tapped against the adjacent intact bones, comparing their sizes.
The skeleton was clean and intact. It belonged to that person.
The bones emitted a faint ripple, slightly stronger than the nearby fragmented bones, but there was no significant change. Zhong Chengshuo “looked” at the corpse for a while with regret, then instinctively manipulated the space, creating a gap.
He slid into the gap, smoothly gliding towards the wisher.
So many ripples.
Living beings and inanimate objects emitted unique ripples, and Zhong Chengshuo had never been in such close proximity to such a large quantity before. He had to get closer, feeling the familiar aura emanating from the offering.
The ripple of the offering was somewhat similar to that person’s ripple.
Near the offering, two humans were still praying. In the gaps between prayers, they occasionally exchanged a few words. Unfortunately, at that time, Zhong Chengshuo could only barely “hear” a small portion of their conversation.
[The child’s features are severely misaligned. Are you sure your modifications are fine?]
[I used the best source of corruption. It’s normal.]
[The brain is damaged; the organs are incomplete… It won’t live for long. If we kill it, I wonder if it will count as a sacrifice to the gods…]
[Today is almost done. Let’s rest for now.]
It seemed that these two individuals had no other wishes… Well, at least no wishes that he could understand.
After the ripples of the two individuals moved away, Zhong Chengshuo cautiously tore open the gap. He extended a small portion of his body and touched the corpse of the infant. He quickly explored the body cavity—the infant’s body was dissected, with its organs forcibly pulled out, leaving an empty void within the torso.
The facial features of this infant grew on the surface of the body, with the hands and feet in disarray and misalignment. Now it seemed to be a typical characteristic of severe corruption from Evil Force.
While sealed underground, Zhong Chengshuo came into close contact with numerous corpses, gaining some understanding of human physical structure. Parts could be adjusted if they were in the wrong place; he contemplated this slowly.
As for other physiological details…
This was different from that rabbit. He could mimic the appearance, but he couldn’t easily deceive the senses. He needed to be more perfect, which surely required obtaining true human senses.
Vision, hearing, smell… He couldn’t complete them purely through imagination. It would be better to absorb and fuse with this body.
As for what would happen after the fusion, how his physique would change, Zhong Chengshuo had no idea. He was only curious and not afraid—failure and death were merely outcomes.
At that moment, he remained indifferent.
Without hesitation, Zhong Chengshuo entered the empty cavity of the corpse, completely merging his body with the flesh of the remains. His body flowed through the nerves, integrated into the blood vessels, deciphering the subtle information from every part and assimilating with each cell.
Throughout the process, the deceased infant became “whole” once again.
The corruption within the body was no longer an obstacle. The damaged brain was repaired by activated cells, and the misaligned limbs gradually returned to their proper positions along with the bones. The facial features that were scattered throughout the body decayed and fell off, and the infant’s head gradually displayed regular and normal features.
As the fusion deepened, the surrounding ripples gradually weakened. The void was rapidly filled, and countless fresh perceptions surged like a tsunami.
The sticky fabric was dampened with blood and the hard surface beneath the fabric.
The cold air, the choking incense, the heavy scent of blood.
Sounds—the muffled conversation behind a door, the gentle rain outside the window, the thudding of wheels rolling on the street, the sharp honking of a horn, the advertisement music from a snack shop mixed with the laughter and anger of customers; these all created a cacophony that crashed directly into Zhong Chengshuo’s mind.
And darkness.
Compared to emptiness, darkness was a dense and rich “sight”.
The eyes of the infant’s corpse had yet to open, only sensing darkness. Zhong Chengshuo had heard about “colors” from that person, and he thought there might be something wrong with his own eyes, hesitating if he had grown an extra pair. However, there was still only darkness before him.
It was only later that he realized there was a thin layer of flesh on his eyeballs that he could move.
He struggled to adapt to this body, tilting his head slightly and exerting effort to lift his eyelids a little.
He was not far from the window. Outside, it was nighttime, and the colorful neon lights of the city shone through the dirty glass, dazzling to an indescribable extent. Raindrops pattered against the window, gathering into streaks of water that refracted countless brilliant, fragmented lights.
Zhong Chengshuo stared blankly at the window.
In the past, he didn’t particularly like raindrops. They would annoyingly pelt his body, creating a continuous series of ripples that made him feel irritated.
Now, he could no longer sense those ripples. His body had deeply merged with the flesh of the infant, and the human sensory perception completely replaced those ripples.
He saw a brand-new world.
Zhong Chengshuo struggled once again to turn his head and looked at the ceiling, dyed indigo by the night. A spider leisurely crawled across the ceiling, and the tracks left by its long legs appeared so fresh and unpredictable.
This was the “human world” he was about to explore.
Zhong Chengshuo remained dazed for several hours before he remembered that even after the fusion, he still needed to retrieve the organs that had been pulled out of the infant’s body—they were still connected to his body, which was much more convenient.
He extended the short and chubby hand of the baby, grabbing the organs near the abdomen, and started the effort of pushing them back into the abdominal cavity.
At that moment, the lights in the room suddenly turned on.
A haggard-looking woman wearing slippers walked in, her face was unusually exhausted, but remnants of her once beautiful appearance were still visible. She walked crookedly towards the refrigerator, took out a can of beer as blood continued to drip between her legs.
“Damn it, such a nuisance. Need to find a decent clinic to deal with it,” the woman grumbled irritably. “That Wei guy is so good at modifications, why didn’t he give himself a uterus…”
With a popping sound, she opened the beer can, and her gaze unconsciously swept over the altar on the table.
Zhong Chengshuo hadn’t had a chance to put down the intestines in his hand. The situation was urgent, and he couldn’t naturally move his head, so he strained to move his eyeballs. This resulted in the baby’s two round and black pupils deeply sinking into one corner, looking particularly horrifying.
For a moment, both the woman and the baby froze in place, with only the incessant ticking of the clock in the room remaining.
“Wei Huaxian!” After about half a minute, the woman used magic to summon an empty hand, shouting loudly, “Wei Huaxian, come over and see what you’ve done?!”
Zhong Chengshuo continued to be frozen, unable to understand what the woman was saying at that moment. He only held onto his intestines, unsure of what to do next.
He had exposed himself too quickly!
What was worse, he was completely unfamiliar with this completely new form. After the fusion, Zhong Chengshuo couldn’t separate smoothly. At the moment, he couldn’t exert his original power and had no idea what he could do in his current state.
“Ah… Ah…” In a moment of desperation, Zhong Chengshuo subconsciously made a sound, but he had no idea of the meaning behind those sounds.
The woman took a deep breath, using magic to shield herself, and cautiously approached.
In the next moment, the beer can clattered to the ground, and white foam spilled out from the opening, filling the air with the characteristic bitter taste of beer.
The woman stared directly into Zhong Chengshuo’s eyes, and her magic suddenly shattered. In the dim yellow light, she collapsed to the ground, her face contorted, bleeding from all seven orifices, trembling like a leaf caught in the wind.
Only then did Zhong Chengshuo remember that when he grew his eyes, the program was too chaotic due to the confusion caused by the “eyelids”. He didn’t handle it properly—his eyeballs still retained the simple structure of his original form.
Through his pupils, the woman saw a part of his original form.
He was careless, but luckily it turned out well.
“Ah…” The woman curled up on the floor, limbs trembling, and her body convulsing.
At that moment, a handsome man arrived late. At first glance, he saw the woman convulsing and groaning on the floor, but he didn’t show any intention to help. The man named “Wei Huaxian” activated the spirit weapon in his hand and looked around warily.
Zhong Chengshuo had a sudden inspiration and used the same trick again. “Ah…”
As expected, the man’s gaze was immediately drawn to him. However, just as the man was about to approach and take a closer look, a knocking sound came from the door.
The knocking was heavy and urgent, filled with impatience.
The man instinctively concealed the spirit weapon and turned around. “Who is it?”
“When are you guys going to pay the rent!” A spirited female voice sounded from outside the door. “I’ve been asking for an increase in rent every week, and you still haven’t paid!”
The man cursed under his breath and didn’t open the door. “My wife just paid you yesterday!”
“I said it’s an increase, but she still gave me last week’s amount. Give me the extra money now. Give it to me! If you don’t, I’ll call the police!”
As soon as the word “police” was mentioned, the man’s expression changed. He glanced sideways at the woman convulsing on the floor and spat fiercely.
“Stop shouting. I’m coming!” The man took out his wallet and counted several bills.
But as soon as the door opened, a series of blunt sounds erupted. The man was instantly pinned down by several burly men. “Don’t move, police!”
The remaining police officers rushed into the room, searching everywhere. The middle-aged man in charge was the first to notice the woman in the living room. “Suspect found, Kong Miao. Xiao Li, call 120! Xiao Wang, let the forensic team in!”
The middle-aged man squatted down, flipping the woman’s eyelids. Two female officers promptly took their positions, guarding the woman closely.
“She fainted but still has a pulse,” the man stood up.
At this moment, the middle-aged man finally noticed Zhong Chengshuo on the table—a newborn with an unusually small size, holding onto intestines without moving, looking like some kind of strange ornament.
Zhong Chengshuo quickly closed his eyes, hiding the remnants of his original form in his pupils.
Immediately after, the middle-aged man’s voice echoed through the room. “Where’s the ambulance? Call them again, there’s a child here!”
“Captain Zhong, Xiao Li just made the call…”
“Call them again!” The man shouted anxiously.
Then he approached Zhong Chengshuo, whether due to nervousness or fatigue, he was panting heavily. The heat and sweat radiated through the fabric, and Zhong Chengshuo could clearly feel it.
He hid the remnants of his original form deep within his eyes and then opened his eyes to look at the man.
“Shh… It’s alright, it’s alright. Don’t be afraid.”
The man had a scruffy beard, bloodshot eyes, and pulsating veins on his forehead. He leaned over the table, afraid to touch the “internal organs turned out” child and his eyes were filled with worry.
“Damn it, those scum from the cult. They’re not human…!”
Although Zhong Chengshuo couldn’t understand what the man was saying, he knew that he might be safe now.
So he made an effort to move his arm and brushed his fingertips against the man’s nose, moistened by sweat. The warm and moist skin; this was how it felt to touch a human. Zhong Chengshuo thought carefully.
The “Captain Zhong” became teary-eyed.
“It’s alright.” He cleared his throat, his voice hoarse. “It’s alright…”
He repeated it over and over again, as if he wanted Zhong Chengshuo to understand.
Zhong Chengshuo didn’t understand, but he had a vague sense that he might never see this man and woman again.
It wasn’t his fault. They were taken away earlier, and they hadn’t explained their wishes clearly. Now, after merging with a human body, Zhong Chengshuo couldn’t perceive ripples or traverse through space. Zhong Chengshuo thought seriously, it wasn’t his fault.
If they can meet again, they can discuss it then.
……
In the next memory, a four- or five-year-old Zhong Chengshuo was observing green bean worms in a rural courtyard. He held the plump worm in his palm and carefully felt its body contract when it wriggled.
“Hey, want some sweet preserved fruits?” An old man smiled and beckoned.
“Yes, thank you, Grandpa,” Zhong Chengshuo said fluently.
“Do you want to come with Grandpa to pay respects to our ancestors this afternoon? There’s a fair outside, where people draw sugar paintings, make dough figurines, and even perform magic tricks! How about it? Do you want to go?”
“Paying respects to our ancestors?”
“Yes, our ancestors were well-known metaphysical masters. Everyone in the nearby villages knows about ‘Master Zhong Ma’…”
“How do we pay respects?” Zhong Chengshuo’s attention seemed to be elsewhere.
“We burn incense for our ancestors, offer fruits and preserved fruits, and if we have money, we might even offer some meat.”
“Offering sacrifices?” Zhong Chengshuo put down the bean worm, took a piece of sweet preserved fruit, and chewed vigorously. “But the ancestors are already dead.”
Most deceased humans were unable to fulfill their wishes. Zhong Chengshuo analyzed it seriously in his mind.
“Just for our ancestors to have a taste.” Grandpa Zhong handed Zhong Chengshuo another piece of sweet preserved fruit. “This is our gesture of goodwill. Ancestors have spirits in heaven, and they can also enjoy something delicious.”
Zhong Chengshuo chewed on the sweet preserved fruit, looking at the apples on the nearby fruit tree.
“Okay, I’ll go…”
“Dad! What are you saying? Weren’t you the one who said we shouldn’t bring a child to pay respects to our ancestors?” Zhong Yude, in his fifties, rushed over with a bag of snacks. “Come on, Chengshuo. We don’t need these feudal superstitions.”
“Zhong Yude, have you become rebellious?” Grandpa Zhong chuckled and raised his cane, pretending to strike.
“Alright, alright. I’m past my rebellious stage. Here’s the plan: I’ll take Chengshuo with me, and you and Mom can perform the ancestral rites. I’ll take Chengshuo outside to wander around.”
“That works.”
Zhong Chengshuo was lifted up by Zhong Yude, but his gaze remained fixed on the apples on the tree not far away. The apple tree in the courtyard was short, and a few green apples swayed on its branches.
“‘The dead can taste it,’ a widely recognized belief.” He muttered to himself.
That night, Zhong Chengshuo took an apple he had begged for at the market. He found a plate, stood on his tiptoes, and placed the apple on the table.
“I don’t know whose human this is. I haven’t forgotten your wish. I brought you an apple. I will also protect the descendants of those children from before.”
He rested his hands on the edge of the table and murmured softly.
“You’re right, this human world is indeed worth visiting. Everything is interesting, but there are still many things I don’t understand, and I need to learn slowly. I will study diligently.”
In the darkness of the night, Zhong Chengshuo lifted his head and sniffed the fragrance of the apple. Then he reached into a plastic bag under the table and took out another apple. He rinsed it with water and took delightful bites.
“Fulfilling wishes is so troublesome.” He mumbled to himself. “I won’t take on so many in the future.”
The memory ended.
Yin Ren floated silently in the darkness, looking at Zhong Chengshuo, who was so close.
Why did Zhong Chengshuo go to such lengths to investigate his sister’s death, even delving into the dark side of the metaphysical world?
Why did Zhong Chengshuo engage in the arduous and thankless task of hunting down ruthless killers?
…And why did Zhong Chengshuo leave a fresh, vibrant red apple every day?
It turned out to be much simpler than he had imagined. There were no conspiracies, no peculiarities. It was just a once formidable Primordial Elemental that fused itself with a human body, clumsily fulfilling three wishes through a series of coincidences.
Yin Ren let out a sigh of relief.
Perhaps, a thousand years ago, they were merely passing acquaintances, briefly accompanying each other or barely brushing shoulders.
He was supposed to have died on that rainy day a thousand years ago in the Valley of Remains… The children who lived in the Valley of Remains might have grown up healthy and gradually established a beautiful city nestled by the mountains.
The Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi would only exist on paper until he was buried deep in the annals of time.
Who would have thought that his ending would become a new beginning, all starting with that crude altar and that peculiar black rabbit?
Yin Ren found it hard to determine whether he felt bitter or joyful at this moment.
The exchange of thoughts was only momentary. Zhong Chengshuo’s descent into the abyss was followed by Yin Ren’s inability to suppress his emotions, and darkness erupted completely.
“What are you thinking?” Zhong Chengshuo sincerely asked through their mental connection.
“Leaving this place,” Yin Ren said, “and then eating all the apples in the refrigerator. In the future, I can buy them myself.”
“And then I’ll share with you the wish for ‘peace and safety’, and we can make it together.”
“And then?” The sadness on Zhong Chengshuo’s face slowly faded away.
“And then… and then we’ll figure out what all of this is about.”
Yin Ren had a faint feeling that among the scattered clues of the Primordial Elementals, the Other Side, and the Divine Descent, a vague thread had emerged.
……
The capital city, Huajisi.
Fu Xingchuan stood at the incredibly detailed headquarters of Huajisi and sniffed near the base of the wall. Ge Tingting stood in front of the giant statue of Zhong Yi with her mouth gaping wide open, frozen in place. Huang Jin had found a corner and slumped inward, ignoring everyone.
Fortunately, this place was within the sphere of influence of “Fu Shangliu” and “Li Heyan”. The members of Shian had been particularly vigilant, and there were no suspicious individuals following them into the internal premises of Huajisi. It was unknown whether the elusive follower had given up.
“It’s really strange, isn’t it?”
Lu Xiaohe glanced at the bustling interior of Huajisi with a complicated expression. She was dazed for a moment, then began to browse through the letters that “Li Heyan” needed to handle. “The scenes here are too vivid. Even now, I still can’t figure out where these memories came from.”
“Uncle, do you think this spell is based on the Archive’s spell?”
Fu Tianyi pondered, almost pulling out his beard in frustration.
“It’s strange. There shouldn’t be any problems. I mean, the Archive is a personal memory database, while this one is just connected to the network…”
Fu Xingchuan’s tail drooped, his face wrinkled, lost in thought.
Fu Tianyi didn’t wait for an answer from Fu Xingchuan. Instead, he heard a suppressed exclamation. In an instant, everyone’s gaze turned toward the source of the exclamation—Lu Xiaohe was holding a piece of paper with an incredibly grim expression.
“What’s wrong, Xiaohe Jie?” Ge Tingting finally tore her eyes away from the statue of Zhong Yi.
Lu Xiaohe read the words on the paper once again, closing her eyes.
“It says here that the 150,000 Gouluo troops were completely wiped out in the mountains.”
Fu Tianyi and Fu Xingchuan exchanged a glance. “Could it be the work of that flesh puppet, or…?”
“I don’t know. The problem is, the emperor firmly believes that it was the work of the Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi. In Yin Ren’s memories, the annihilation of the 150,000 troops was probably mentioned by the emperor as well.”
Lu Xiaohe carefully chose her words.
“He wanted his trusted cultivators to go to the Valley of Remains, invite the Great Celestial Master, and seek his assistance in resisting the Gouluo army.”
“…What the hell?” Huang Jin, in the corner, finally couldn’t help but interject. “Yin Ren was supposed to be dead at that time, right? Besides, he never had any contact with people outside Yin Village.”
A wry smile slowly appeared on Lu Xiaohe’s face.
“Yes, only Huajisi had communication with the Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi. This time, the Great Celestial Master single-handedly annihilated the main force of the Gouluo troops. The emperor believes that Huajisi knew but deliberately concealed the true strength of the Great Celestial Master, allowing the Gouluo army to invade. That’s why he wants his own cultivators to go to the Valley of Remains instead of sending Huajisi… The last ruler of the Gong dynasty truly lives up to his reputation.”
Ge Tingting listened, seemingly grasping only fragments of the conversation. “But at that time, Yin Ren was already…”
Yin Ren had already sunk into a deep slumber in the depths of the earth, leaving a seal at his place of rest, fearing that his existence as an “Evil Spirit” would have additional impact.
“Breaking a seal, excavating the altar… top-tier cultivators are capable of that. And even if they obtain the corpse of the Great Celestial Master, there are many… many ways to make use of it.”
Lu Xiaohe turned away.
Within her line of sight were rows and rows of walls adorned with corpses.
The author has something to say:
Xiao Zhong: Xiao Zhong here, taking orders. But why is it that nothing can be immediately fulfilled? Ugh…
Xiao Yin: …Because that wasn’t even a wish to begin with!
There was no cheering from the people; they just stared blankly at the screens. The weight of their current hope was too heavy, and no one wanted to entertain the thought of surviving, only to be further thrown into the abyss. They gazed at Zhu Yanchen on the screen, waiting for him to continue speaking.
From the command center, Zhu Sheng could see everything happening in the square. Slowly rising from his chair, his expression was quite complicated—he knew better than anyone that this was not the work of the command center. But Zhu Yanchen was alive, so where had he been and what had he been doing during this time?
…According to the data provided by those papers, Zhu Yanchen, as a researcher, wouldn’t live for long. However, the person on the screen appeared full of vitality and looked healthy no matter how you looked at him.
“Go and trace the source of the signal.” Zhu Sheng waved off one of his assistants and continued to stare fixedly at the person on the screen.
Unlike Zhu Sheng, Yi Ning had been managing the city’s infrastructure under high pressure recently. When he saw Zhu Yanchen, he almost couldn’t control his emotions. He drank a glass of ice water, wiped his face vigorously, and sat in front of the screen broadcast.
Zhu Yanchen’s tone remained as usual; he didn’t waste words and went straight to the point. In just a few minutes, he succinctly explained several matters:
He discovered the loopholes in the player system and, lacking evidence, went out of the city with collaborators to search. At that time, he had been in contact with the erosion substance for too long and had little time left, with no intention of coming back alive.
However, along the way, he made significant discoveries. Now he held short-term anti-erosion drugs in his hands and had dedicated people working on further improvements. As for evidence, they had clearly found it—although when he discovered the monster “Sigma”, it already had the intention of attacking Y City.
But Sigma was too powerful, and he couldn’t leave any visual records of it. Relying solely on drawings and oral accounts, not many people would believe him. Even if he successfully became the leader, if he immediately strengthened the military, he would face countless obstacles. So Marshal Zhu decided to go with the flow and not get involved in the power struggles within Y City. He had been hiding outside the city, focusing on researching purification weapons and developing drugs to enhance the survival rate of human soldiers.
The explanation was simple and easy to understand, delivered in one breath, leaving people dumbfounded. If they wanted to question, they couldn’t find any loopholes to challenge.
“Compared to waiting for its invasion, I believe proactive arrangements are better. Sigma is highly intelligent, and before it officially strikes, it will undoubtedly linger in Y City for a few days. One is to test the waters, and the other is to accumulate fear.”
As Zhu Yanchen narrated, he maintained his cold demeanor. Fortunately, “calmness” was rare at this moment, and people were eager for him to remain composed.
“Unfortunately, even if there is no formal war, a small number of people have left this world due to fear, illness, or injuries. I have anticipated such situations and do not intend to shirk responsibility… I am deeply sorry. After the war is over, I will provide appropriate compensation and assistance to these families.”
He lowered his head and apologized calmly.
At this moment, the people didn’t have the energy to cause trouble; their attention was focused on the phrase “after the war is over”.
Marshal Zhu spoke with a confident tone, which was exactly what they needed. People began to suppress their instinct for survival, and a faint glimmer of vitality emerged in the crowd—when the apocalypse was right under their noses, their choices were limited. Regardless of whether it was true or false, he spoke with such clarity and certainty that he must have some ability.
“Lastly, I understand what you all want to ask. Regarding the true nature of Sigma—simply put, it is still an Erosion Swamp that you’re familiar with, but it has evolved some intelligence. As for the black wolf over there, it is essentially a similar creature, but it is my ally, so you don’t need to worry.”
It was clear to everyone that it wasn’t a human, but no one dared to ask, and even if they did, no one would be able to hear it.
“Three days. At most three days, this war will come to an end. That is my guarantee.”
With a firm and resolute statement, the crowd, which had been stagnant like dead water, finally accepted this tantalizing hope. People began to shout; the young people gathered on their own, and an air of desperation emerged throughout the square. Suppressed for nearly a month, this unexpected stirring brought forth a brilliant light to the entire city.
“Report, we have traced the source of the transmission. It is currently moving… right outside the command center.” At the same time, an assistant quickly stepped into Zhu Sheng’s office.
“Prepare the DNA testing device to confirm his identity. Also, arrange a meeting room.” Zhu Sheng closed his eyes and answered decisively.
As soon as Zhu Yanchen arrived at the entrance of the command center, he was stopped for identity verification and then directly led to the meeting room. He wasn’t the least bit surprised by this; on the contrary, the ones who were most excited were the several leaders in charge of research—they almost shed tears upon seeing the lively young master of the Zhu family.
“Isn’t erosion irreversible? How did you manage to survive until now?”
“Do you have any information about the anti-erosion drugs?”
“Regarding your thesis, I have a question—”
“Quiet.” Zhu Sheng coldly interrupted; his imposing presence silenced the researchers immediately.
“What’s going on?” Zhu Sheng then turned to Zhu Yanchen.
“Now is not the time to explain. My friend is still dealing with the Erosion Swamp.”
Zhu Sheng sighed deeply. “Is it Shu Jun?”
Zhu Yanchen remained silent.
“How is that possible?! Wasn’t Shu Jun killed on the spot by the purification cannon?” The closest senior researcher to Zhu Sheng immediately exclaimed. “Mr. Tang’s design was fine, and the theory wasn’t wrong!”
“What if Shu Jun isn’t in that creature’s chest? I was a bit curious before—Shu Jun is a talented strategist; he wouldn’t easily reveal the ‘main body’. And during these days of conflict, the casualties were abnormally low. It’s understandable that the synths didn’t want to provoke the general public. But even considering that, the casualty count was still too low.”
As Zhu Sheng spoke, he didn’t look at Zhu Yanchen.
“From the synthetics’ uprising to Xia Yufeng’s exposure, it was all part of your collaboration plan with the synthetics, right? To lure the monster here and expose a ‘fatal weakness’ is the quickest way.”
“If there’s no breakthrough, there’s no progress.”
Zhu Yanchen sat down politely in front of his seat.
“Mr. Zhu, according to the laws of the United Government, I am now the new leader of the United Government. Even if the handover period has not passed, I have emergency leadership rights, just like you. But let’s put aside the small talk. I will only address two points.”
“First, we have developed weapons capable of combating the Erosion Swamp, and the location of their deployment will be announced later. The purification cannon design was also handed over to me by Mr. Tang, but the plan is not complete. It was used to deceive Sigma into making a move. Sigma is no different from an intelligent wild beast, but I kept one thing hidden—unfortunately, there is an experienced synthetic by its side giving instructions. Don’t underestimate it.”
Yi Ning tried to digest this information. “Aren’t the synthetic humans cooperating with you?”
“I only gained the cooperation of the majority. Once they knew the truth, they didn’t hesitate to act against me.” Zhu Yanchen looked at Zhu Sheng.
Zhu Sheng remained silent.
“Secondly, the resistance drug against erosion does exist. Currently, it can temporarily enhance human resistance to erosion. As for erosion treatment and long-term prevention, further research is still needed. As for the short-term resistance drugs, in addition to the necessary stockpile, I have already distributed them to the surrounding population of the settlements. Currently, the residents in the settlements have taken emergency shelter in the eastern part of the city, so there shouldn’t be any problems for now. Once the formula is provided, I believe the production can continue within the city to supply the military.”
“Are you saying that those massacres were also…”
“We used some small tricks. After all, Sigma has spies in the city, and to deceive it, we had to deceive our own people first. Considering the importance the United Government places on the settlements, I don’t think anyone will question it.”
Yi Ning slowly covered his face and let out a long sigh of relief. The conference room fell silent—this plan could be described as far-fetched to the point of absurdity, yet terrifyingly realistic at the same time.
“Now that you have reached this point of cooperation with the synthetic humans, can’t you have them join in the fight against Sigma?” Someone at the conference table tentatively spoke. “It seems like there’s only Shu Jun…”
Zhu Yanchen immediately turned his gaze; his eyes were unusually cold.
“Why?” he asked briefly. “Shu Jun is willing to help me out of personal friendship. As for the other synthetic humans, haven’t they refrained from causing destruction within the city? Isn’t that enough? Why do you think they are willing to cooperate with me? Is it because they didn’t find protecting humans satisfying? Or is it because they don’t want to live anymore?”
That person was bombarded with a series of questions and couldn’t say a word.
“Now, let’s proceed with the operational meeting. Within three days, Shu Jun will hold off Sigma while the security team clears the surrounding Erosion Swamps. Once the battlefield is cleared, we will concentrate our forces to deal with Sigma. As for the specific arrangements…”
“I’ll go to the security team,” Yi Ning suddenly interrupted, his voice filled with weary hoarseness.
Zhu Yanchen looked at him, his expression blank.
“You will definitely go to the front lines, I know,” Yi Ning smiled bitterly. “Someone needs to stay in the city, and having one Zhu elder is enough… I want to go and support the security team.”
“…”
“Indeed, unlike me, you can handle it alone. And if worse comes to worst, you still have Dong… you have Miss Xia as your right-hand. But I don’t want to continue hiding here, training for emergency arrangements within the city. I need to use my own eyes to see what kind of trouble we have brought upon ourselves.”
“That is a real battlefield, Mr. Yi—different from when you led Groundwater. This time, there is no Luo Duan to designate tactics, and your talent lies in social management. I’ll be straightforward—your on-the-spot command ability is only above average, and your experience with the Erosion Swamp is limited to paper, which doesn’t make you suitable for the front lines.”
Zhu Yanchen didn’t respond to his outburst.
“When the time comes, I will arrange your position based on your capabilities, without giving you too much command authority… but are you okay with the possibility of getting injured or even killed?”
“Yes.”
“As for the Tang family…”
“I don’t care. This is my request as a ‘human’. You’re right, I’ve been theorizing for too long, and I’ve been too self-righteous.”
“Very well.” Zhu Yanchen didn’t waste any more words. “Now, regarding the tactics against the Erosion Swamp, these are my current thoughts…”
The meeting didn’t last too long. Zhu Yanchen shut down any questions, probing, or opinions that deviated from the main topic. Zhu Sheng, who rarely spoke, watched Zhu Yanchen’s decisive actions from the main seat and fell into a long silence.
He didn’t express any objection to being assigned to the rear command. It must be said that many people at the table still harbored some internal family conflicts in their hearts, but seeing Zhu Sheng’s reaction, they could only swallow their pride and obediently follow orders.
“This battle is destined to be dangerous and cannot last too long. The next three days will be the peak of enthusiasm among the city’s residents. Once this period is over, the people’s heart of Y City will be completely shattered, and the situation will become difficult to salvage. This is our only opportunity to defeat Sigma, and I don’t want to see any actions that are irrelevant to the overall situation.”
The young master of the Zhu family had made quite a few remarks after slipping away from the brink of death. Compared to the younger generation who felt suffocated by this overwhelming pressure, people began to miss the previous “Marshal Zhu”, who used to be confined indoors and remained silent.
But who would want to have a falling out with their own lives?
The giant black wolf didn’t wait for long. That night, the human army was fully armed—
Everyone had just left the mountainous area, and the ground beneath their feet was still mixed with rocks and gravel. The surroundings were desolate, with sparse weeds and no signs of villages. The shadows of the mountains loomed close, making the night even darker.
The cold of the winter night was as sharp as a thin blade, slicing through the feeling of fear and seeping into their limbs. Looking at the panicked Shi Jingzhi, Zheng Fengdao seemed to be enjoying himself. “Have you made up your mind? Tell me.”
Shi Jingzhi clenched his fists tightly. “If I hand over the prayer beads, Senior won’t hurt us, right?”
Zheng Fengdao’s long face revealed a smile. His small, triangular eyes glanced from top to bottom, resembling someone sizing up three dead dogs.
“Huh? Well, maybe.”
“Swear on your Hierarch. Otherwise, I’ll burn the prayer beads to ashes, and no one will be able to take them.”
Shi Jingzhi’s fingers slightly spread, and a ball of flame appeared in his palm. He didn’t take off his mask, but his determined expression clearly showed the characters “burning jade and stone*” written all over his face.
*(玉石俱焚) Idiom describing a situation where everything, regardless of its value or worth, is destroyed or sacrificed together.
Zheng Fengdao exhaled a white mist, and his smile turned cold. “Tsk… I, Zheng Fengdao, swear on my Hierarch that I won’t harm the three members of the Kushan Sect after obtaining the Buddhist beads today.”
He stared at Shi Jingzhi fiercely, revealing his slightly sharp teeth.
“Is that enough?”
Yan Qing whispered, “Sect Master, he said he won’t harm us today. You have to think it through—ugh!”
Zheng Fengdao suddenly flashed in front of the two of them, striking Yan Qing’s abdomen with the back of his saber. Yan Qing was tall, but he was sent flying three zhang away. He fell to the ground in pain, vomiting in the snow foam.
Yin Ci almost exclaimed, ‘Elder, you just sent the endangered heir of your Hierarch flying.’
Shi Jingzhi couldn’t afford to indulge in random thoughts. He swallowed his saliva nervously. If Elder Zheng had used his blade, Yan Qing would have been literally cut in half.
“After obtaining the Buddhist beads today, I won’t harm the three members of the Kushan Sect.” Zheng Fengdao took two steps back and slowly repeated it, dragging out the word “after” for a long time.
Shi Jingzhi took a deep breath and took out two Buddhist beads that smelled of rice wine. His fingers were stiff, and his palm trembled, whether from the cold or fear.
“I’m still not satisfied. You have so many tricks up your sleeve, kid. How about Sect Master Shi also make a solemn oath? Hurry up.”
Shi Jingzhi closed his eyes. “If these Buddhist beads are fake, let me, Shi Jingzhi, be childless and without descendants.”
Zheng Fengdao took the Buddhist beads with satisfaction and sniffed them hard. “Not bad, you know your place.”
He put away his nine-ringed saber and swaggered away. Shi Jingzhi quickly walked to Yan Qing’s side and checked his injuries.
Yin Ci watched the scene with some displeasure. “Shizun, you actually gave it to him?”
Shi Jingzhi replied, “How is that possible? Those beads are fake.”
Yin Ci: “…”
Yan Qing: “?”
The panic on Shi Jingzhi’s face disappeared instantly. “Thanks to Matron Wuxue, I’ve gained a lot of experience with fear. A’Ci, do I look convincing?”
“Very convincing.” Shi Jingzhi had astonishing natural talent; even Yin Ci was deceived.
“I had guessed that the Ling Sect would block our way. Zheng Fengdao has been loitering around us these past few days. I got old Buddhist beads similar to the real ones from a monk and boiled them in glutinous rice wine. Now, with the sky so dark, he can’t tell the difference since he’s not from the Chigou Sect.”
Yan Qing trembled as he said, “Sect Master, you didn’t mention this before.”
“If you two were aware and reacted accordingly, what would we do if we exposed ourselves?” Shi Jingzhi’s relaxed attitude had returned as he handed Yan Qing a bottle of medicine.
Yan Qing was somewhat dazed. “But you swore…”
“Swore? I don’t believe in all that nonsense. The Kushan Sect has been mingling with the Taiheng Sect for too long, and Zheng Fengdao actually took us for righteous individuals.”
Yan Qing became even more confused. “Aren’t we?”
Shi Jingzhi smiled. “When did I ever say I wanted to join the righteous path?”
Yan Qing groaned, unsure if it was the pain in his abdomen or the stomachache from being caught off guard. He curled up like a lonely shrimp, exuding a faint sense of resignation.
Yin Ci was satisfied and began to play along. “Shizun, let’s escape quickly. Once Zheng Fengdao realizes something is wrong, he’ll expose it and kill us all… At this point, should we still go to Qizhou?”
Although the Ling Sect was declining, its disciples were akin to mad dogs. Even if they suffered a setback the size of a grain of rice, they would fiercely fight back. Zheng Fengdao, as an esteemed elder, would probably grow resentful of being played around by Shi Jingzhi, a novice. They would most likely become annoyances in his eyes.
Qizhou was prosperous, which undoubtedly meant there were spies from the Ling Sect. It was possible to go there, but it would inevitably lead to a chaotic situation and several complications.
Constant vigilance against thieves could be exhausting. Shi Jingzhi and Yan Qing were both fragile, and if he happened to look away for a moment, they might disappear without a trace, which would be a huge disappointment.
With these thoughts in mind, Yin Ci proactively approached Shi Jingzhi and softened his voice. “Shizun, let’s not go to Qizhou. It’s better to find a small place to hide for a while.”
Shi Jingzhi, overflowing with the heart of a good master, fell for his words. “A’Ci makes a good point. Let me think…”
Yan Qing remained curled up for a while, but when he heard the crucial point, he finally got up from the ground. “I—cough—I know a place where we can temporarily hide.”
He brushed off the ice debris from his body, and the contrast against the darkened ground made his complexion even paler.
“Sect Master, this location is connected to the same mountain range as Zongwu Mountain. We can travel along the mountain. Inside Zongwu Mountain, there’s a village called Xizhuang. It’s usually cut off from the outside world, which makes it very difficult to find, so hardly anyone knows about it.”
Shi Jingzhi’s eyes lit up. “How do you know about it?”
Yan Qing’s gaze dropped to his feet. “I’m half a Xizhuang native.”
This was like dozing off and being handed a pillow. Shi Jingzhi immediately became enthusiastic, grabbing Yan Qing and bombarding him with questions, almost asking him to recite the genealogy of the Xizhuang villagers. Yan Qing answered honestly, but there was no trace of nostalgia in his words.
Yin Ci had never heard of Xizhuang, but he was familiar with Zongwu Mountain.
Zongwu Mountain was vast, with Yongsheng to the west, Qizhou to the east, and the Ling Sect’s territory to the south. The northern side of the mountain was treacherous and filled with steep peaks, and the land was particularly barren, with hardly any human presence.
To travel from Qizhou to Yongsheng, one had to take a detour to the north.
Coincidentally, the Ghost Tomb wasn’t far from Zongwu Mountain. By turning southwest, they could directly enter the Zongwu Mountain range. According to Yan Qing, he knew a shortcut—if they were willing to take a risky path and endure hardship, they could reach Xizhuang in three or four days.
Now that their destination was confirmed, Shi Jingzhi, eager to survive, led them on an overnight escape. The three of them kept running until the sun was high, and then they settled in the forest.
The place they arrived at was near a river. The water was clear and not completely frozen, making it a suitable resting spot.
After their trip to the Ghost Tomb, they had another mouth to feed, and there was little food left in their bags. Shi Jingzhi looked earnestly at Yin Ci. “Good disciple, I want to eat fish, but a pheasant will do.”
He even placed an order.
However, the winter forest was desolate, with no wild fruits to be found. They could only rely on hunting for meat. With his mountain-dwelling background, Yin Ci could be regarded as returning to his original occupation.
Yin Ci stood up. “Martial artists can withstand the cold. Shizun, go catch the fish. I’ll look for pheasants and rabbits, and Yan Qing can gather some firewood. I’ll cook for you later.”
An hour passed.
Yin Ci carried three pheasants in his hands and looked up to see his pitiful master—Shi Jingzhi was sitting by the river, using his inner force to dry his clothes. Steam rose from his body, turning him into a freshly steamed bun.
Demonic Lord Yin asked cruelly, “Shizun, where’s the fish?”
The steamed bun of a master looked mournful and pointed to the red mark on his chin. “I caught a big one, but… cough, it almost knocked me unconscious.”
Yin Ci’s mouth twitched. “It’s fine if there’s no fish. The pheasant meat is enough.”
Indeed, his master had amazing inner force but lacked practical combat and life experience. He definitely didn’t take the strength of the fish into account and ended up with his dignity wounded.
“You’re laughing at me,” Shi Jingzhi said bitterly.
“No, Shizun, you just misjudged.”
“A’Ci…”
Before they could continue their banter, Yan Qing returned. Seeing his spoils, the master and disciple both fell silent.
Yan Qing carried a bundle of tall firewood on his back and dragged a small, skinny wild boar in his hand. His head and neck were covered in sweat and mud, clearly indicating a tough battle.
Receiving the surprised gazes of the other two, he explained while gasping for breath, “I found it while gathering firewood and decided to try catching it.”
Shi Jingzhi’s gaze became vacant. “Does the Taiheng Sect have this kind of training?”
“Somebody taught me when I was young.” Yan Qing smiled shyly. “I don’t know how to cook, so I have to trouble Brother Yin. Oh, no fish?”
Shi Jingzhi looked at the pheasants in Yin Ci’s hands and then glanced at the wild boar Yan Qing had dragged along. He raised his head and said, “As the Sect Master, I suddenly don’t feel like eating fish. It’s too extravagant in this remote wilderness. We’ll have it another day, yes, another day.”
Master Zhuang could never have imagined that his masterpiece would be used for slaughtering chickens and pigs a hundred years later—Yin Ci unsheathed the Hanging Shadow Sword and efficiently dealt with the prey.
The three pheasants were stuffed with herbs and spices, salted, smoked with pine branches, and then roasted. The whole boar was skillfully butchered by Yin Ci into neat pieces. He smoked the pork ribs and fried the herbs and salt on a stone slab, instructing Yan Qing to heat water, peel the sausage casings, and make some sausages as dry rations.
The aroma of roasted meat filled the air, and golden fat dripped onto the flames, sizzling and crackling.
Yan Qing watched with respect. “Indeed, you come from a hunting background. I thought using a sword would be more troublesome…”
Yin Ci didn’t even lift his head. “As long as you’re familiar with the connection of bones and flesh, you can pick the meat with your bare hands.”
Shi Jingzhi’s gaze finally shifted away from the roasted pheasant, seemingly enlightened.
But when he started eating, any trace of seriousness vanished.
With his mouth full of pheasant and holding a rib in his hand, the Sect Master said, “Yan Qing, you’ve got ghost eyes. Why didn’t you join the Ling Sect? If you open your eyes in front of Zheng Fengdao, he would never dare to harm you.”
Yan Qing’s face turned red from eating. “I would never want to have any association with the Ling Sect, even if it costs me my life.”
“Why?”
“The people in the demonic sects are all crazy. The Chigou Sect worships Su Zhi, and the Ling Sect is fanatically obsessed with the Yan family bloodline. I’m just a servant who doesn’t understand anything. Even if I were to obtain a high position in the Ling Sect, I would only be a puppet, and countless enemies would emerge out of thin air.”
“The so-called ‘benefits’ would be nothing more than having enough food to eat and being forced to mate with innocent women like an animal.”
The more Yan Qing spoke, the more aggrieved he seemed.
“It’s better to be a law-abiding citizen. You can support yourself legally and spend your life with the person you love.”
Yin Ci: “…” This kid is realistic, and he sees things quite clearly.
Ironically, Yan Qing, who had the highest talent among the descendants of the Yan family that Yin Ci had seen, had no interest in the Ling Sect.
Shi Jingzhi was also satisfied with this answer. After they finished eating and resumed their journey, he helped Yan Qing carry the smoked sausages and bacon.
With the wild boar, the group had no shortage of food. They were young and strong, and they all had a foundation in martial arts, so they traveled quite quickly. In just under two days, the Kushan Sect found Xizhuang.
However, something seemed odd about Xizhuang.
The small village lay silently beneath the accumulated snow, with no smoke rising from chimneys, and the crops in the fields were completely buried under the snow. The houses were well-preserved, with cured meats and fish hanging from the eaves, fresh rice in jars, and cold leftovers on the stove.
Livestock lay frozen stiff in their sheds.
But the villagers seemed to have vanished into thin air.
The author has something to say:
Considering that Demonic Lord Yin is skilled in everything except… Well, he can’t give birth (…) Shi Jingzhi’s oath seems to have come true.
Also, as modern people in reality, let’s stay away from so-called “wild game”! Trustworthy meat is the one that has gone through quarantine. ☆-∑(>ω0)b
Kinky Thoughts:
Well, technically, he will be punished for lying (though I don’t think he’ll consider that punishment).
He wasn’t the only one taken aback. Even Matron Wuxue didn’t expect Yin Ci to be so straightforward—she was momentarily stunned before shifting her gaze to Yin Ci.
“Is this an admission that your Kushan Sect has concealed the treasures? Or is it that you are truly the person in white?”
Yin Ci didn’t answer immediately.
He put on the appearance of an inexperienced youth, released his grip on Shi Jingzhi’s hand, and stepped forward to stand in front of his cheap master. “I was making a living in the mountains before, and I don’t recognize any of you seniors. But I know that all of you are renowned figures with vast knowledge and experience. I’m sure you can tell that Shizun’s reaction is genuine, and he was completely unaware.”
Even though Shi Jingzhi was cunning, he was only twenty-seven years old and lacked significant life experiences. Faced with such a major turn of events, he couldn’t deceive the likes of Monk Juehui and Matron Wuxue, who were his elders.
But Yin Ci was different.
Having experienced life’s trials and tribulations for hundreds of years, Yin Ci could fake not only his breath, heartbeat, and facial expressions but even cold sweat.
Indeed, Monk Juehui observed Shi Jingzhi for a while, nodded at Shi Zhongyu, and both of them relaxed slightly. As long as Shi Jingzhi didn’t do anything unjust, they could openly protect him.
Even if it was only protecting him alone.
Matron Wuxue’s gaze was sharp, and she let out a wicked chuckle. “So what if Shi Jingzhi doesn’t know? Regardless of whether it’s the master violating the rules or the disciple committing taboos, the Kushan Sect has broken the rules… Of course, if Shi Jingzhi is willing to expel this person and leave him to our discretion, I won’t trouble the Kushan Sect.”
Yin Ci wasn’t surprised.
He was even somewhat secretly hopeful—would Shi Jingzhi, for the sake of self-preservation, ignore the reasons and simply abandon him?
But to his surprise, Shi Jingzhi didn’t hesitate. “A’Ci has a gentle nature and is not a person who is greedy and unprincipled. Since he concealed it from me, there must be his reasons. Let’s listen to his explanation first.”
Yin Ci glanced at him while Shi Jingzhi was still fuming, but his tone remained firm.
Interesting.
Yin Ci deliberately put on a frightened look. “This Buddhist bead was definitely given to me by that person in white. I was too nervous before and didn’t even notice it. I only discovered it in my pocket yesterday.”
“I don’t have a discerning eye and can’t tell if this is the Buddhist bead everyone is looking for. I only dared to confirm it just now.”
Shi Zhongyu asked, “Why didn’t you report it?”
Yin Ci smiled wryly. “Even if I told the truth, would anyone believe me? I don’t even know that person in white, yet he specifically gave me the Buddhist bead. If Matron Wuxue were to say that the Kushan Sect colluded with the person in white, we wouldn’t be able to refute it. If they want to find fault, then…”
“There’s no reason to worry about that,” Shi Jingzhi added in a low voice.
Yin Ci curled his lips in response, then unexpectedly dropped to one knee and performed a grand salute to Matron Wuxue,
There was a sharp tearing sound.
Yin Ci tore off his sect attire, revealing a white inner garment. As soon as everyone saw the clothes, they held their breath.
On the inner garment, there was a row of crooked blood characters, dried and long since faded—
[On the second day after the Human Shaped Coffin was broken, a Buddhist bead was found in my pocket.]
Yin Ci’s expression was sincere. “If Shizun had known in advance, no matter what I do now, Matron can say that Shizun ordered it—but now that Matron has seen that Shizun is completely unaware, it’s clear that I acted alone.”
“To prove that I have no intention of concealing, on the day I found the bead, I wrote the blood inscription on my clothes. After we leave the tomb, the Jinyu Group will thoroughly examine our clothes. This obviously shows I can’t hide it… You’re all highly skilled masters and can certainly tell the freshness of blood.”
Shi Zhongyu suddenly realized something. “Young Friend* Yi, are you afraid of implicating Shi Jingzhi?”
*[Xiaoyou] (小友) Used to address someone younger or less experienced than you in a polite and friendly manner often in a mentorship or guidance context.
As expected, the Taiheng Sect came forward to resolve the situation, aligning perfectly with Yin Ci’s plan. He had prepared this way out when he decided to “play a little longer”.
Yin Ci raised his head. “That’s right. It would be fine if the Buddhist bead was fake. But if it’s real and it’s already in my possession, I can’t pass it on and harm others.”
“Whether reporting it to the Yueshui Pavilion or secretly informing Shizun, it may implicate Shizun. That’s why I came up with this terrible idea.”
Yin Ci’s current words weren’t his true thoughts, but his voice was gentle and pleasing, making it sound extremely convincing.
After speaking, he turned his gaze to Matron Wuxue and inserted a subtle suggestion. “Matron, indeed, Shizun has offended the Chigou Sect, and it’s natural for you to disapprove of him. However, this matter has nothing to do with him. As for what you asked earlier about whether I am the person in white…”
Yin Ci reached up and untied his blood-soaked clothes, revealing his upper body wrapped in the ghostskin robe.
“That master saw the face of the person in white, and a Buddhist monk wouldn’t lie. Master, do you remember what the person looked like?”
The monk joined his hands together. “That person had white skin like jade and an otherworldly appearance that clearly showed they were not an ordinary person. There is not the slightest resemblance between this Young Patron and that person.”
Yin Ci’s upper body was lean and muscular. The ghostskin robe made his skin appear dull and rough, covered in small scars. At a glance, he resembled a lively and beautiful beast.
Unfortunately, there was no connection to “white skin like jade” or an “otherworldly appearance”.
“I grew up in the mountains since I was young and just turned twenty this year. After fulfilling my three years of mourning for my father, Shizun brought me down from the mountain. You can investigate as much as you want. Matron, how could I, a poor mountain dweller, have any connection with that skilled person in white?”
Matron Wuxue was left speechless with a slightly annoyed expression. “The Kushan Sect, the Kushan Sect… What a fox’s den.”
The Chigou Sect placed the most emphasis on lineage and couldn’t stoop as low as the Ling Sect in terms of shamelessness. Although Matron Wuxue was shrewd, throughout the journey, she followed her own rules and couldn’t bring herself to severely punish Yin Ci, who emphasized the importance of respecting “one’s master and teachings”.
Yin Ci took a breath and took out his prepared trump card. “I understand the rules. Even if it’s for the sake of our sect, if I make a mistake, it’s still a mistake. I have a suggestion; I don’t know if everyone can accept it…”
Zheng Fengdao sneered. “Speak up.”
“For the time being, let’s entrust this Buddhist bead to the Jianchen Temple for safekeeping. When we reach the surface, we can use it to make a few maps, with each person having one. As for me—Matron, please give me a palm strike. As long as I can stay alive, I don’t mind.”
When Shi Jingzhi heard the first half of the sentence, he didn’t react much. But when the latter half was spoken, he became anxious. “A’Ci, what nonsense are you talking about?!”
He wanted to rush over, but Shi Zhongyu firmly held him back. “We’re all here. Matron Wuxue wouldn’t dare to kill on the spot… Sect Master Shi, calm down!”
“I only hope Matron won’t make things difficult for Shizun,” Yin Ci lowered his head and continued.
Matron Wuxue coldly said, “If I strike you, your meridians will be severely damaged, and you’ll become a useless person. Your master was just using you to make up the numbers. Whether he wants you back or not is another matter. Even so, are you willing?”
Yin Ci initially shrank back, but then tremblingly said, “Regardless, Shizun has shown me kindness.”
“Good boy.” Matron Wuxue’s tone was complicated. “Fine, I’ll strike you, you little fox, and spare the bigger one.”
Before anyone could react, her palm struck Yin Ci’s chest.
Yin Ci was immediately forced back over ten steps, violently crashing into the wall and spitting out a mouthful of blood. He tried to move a few times but couldn’t stand up, feigning weakness.
On the other side, Shi Jingzhi unexpectedly broke free from Shi Zhongyu’s grip with eyes almost ablaze.
Matron Wuxue halted her steps. “What’s this? Your disciple managed to rescue you at great difficulty, and you want to come and die?”
When Shi Jingzhi spoke, his voice was filled with a sinister chill. “I wouldn’t dare. I just want to remember what happened today.”
Having said that, he rushed to Yin Ci’s side, took off his coat, and covered his disciple. Then he took out a medicine box and carefully fed Yin Ci some medicine.
“After we leave this tomb, I will settle accounts with you.” Shi Jingzhi gritted his teeth. “If she cripples your hands and feet, what will you do in the future?”
“In the future? Does Shizun no longer want me?”
Shi Jingzhi’s hand trembled, spilling half of the medicine. “Nonsense, I would never do such despicable things. Don’t think about those meaningless thoughts.”
Yin Ci chuckled.
Crippled hands and feet were just external injuries that could be healed. The Chigou Sect was ultimately a demonic sect, so Matron Wuxue wouldn’t be so merciful.
She would definitely use the Chichi hand technique, which can sever a person’s meridians* and completely cripple him. Unfortunately, Yin Ci’s meridians had long been ruined, like a sieve with multiple holes, which had no practical significance.
*Clarity: Meridians are a channel of network in the body through which qi flows. By severing/striking/sealing the meridian (or pressure points), it can kill, cripple, or immobilize the person.
Letting Matron Wuxue take action was advantageous because it wouldn’t leave any obvious external injuries, so as not to raise suspicion.
As for internal injuries… Shi Jingzhi would investigate immediately, coinciding with Yin Ci’s incomplete recovery from his internal injuries. All Yin Ci had to do next was act convincingly, allowing Shi Jingzhi to check again after a few days.
In order to make the act more convincing, Yin Ci spat out some medicine with difficulty. Shi Jingzhi’s medicine was extremely bitter, causing his throat to feel sour.
“Don’t force me to drink, Shizun. I have chest pain and can’t swallow,” Yin Ci said sullenly, then spat out another mouthful of medicinal soup.
Shi Jingzhi’s gaze became complicated. He took back the medicine bowl and drank it himself, slowly.
Suddenly, Yin Ci had an ominous premonition.
Sure enough, in the next moment, Shi Jingzhi grabbed his hair and pressed his lips against his. His strength was so strong that it frightened Yin Ci, and he instinctively struggled but was held down by Shi Jingzhi.
Yin Ci was used to teasing others but had never been played with like this.
Yin Ci originally wanted to push Shi Jingzhi away, but there were people watching nearby, so he had to continue the act and obediently let Shi Jingzhi administer the medicine.
…This kid really has a strong desire for revenge.
Yin Ci clenched his teeth reflexively, but Shi Jingzhi took advantage of it and even used his tongue, scaring him into quickly opening his mouth and swallowing all the medicine.
After feeding the medicine, Shi Jingzhi wiped his mouth with a cold expression and silently inserted the Buddhist bead back.
His aura of righteousness was so strong that no one could say a word for a moment. Yan Qing, who had been observing the whole process, sat down slowly, hugging his knees and pretending to be a potted plant.
Yin Ci remained seated, with the taste of bitter medicine in his mouth. It seemed that his plan wasn’t so perfect after all, and he expressionlessly smacked his lips.
An instant barrier appeared, and the ground rumbled as the floor slowly rose.
Everyone stared vigilantly at the ceiling, afraid that Yan Budu would leave behind some tricks. Fortunately, this time it ended safely, and the stone slabs sent them back to a familiar place—the entrance of the first floor.
The injured people who had stayed on the first floor protected their luggage and crowded against the wall, with faces full of lingering fear.
The Buddhist beads were distributed among the group, and the barrier finally disappeared. According to the agreement, Shi Jingzhi took a bead and gave it to the Jianchen Temple. Then he carried his “seriously injured” disciple and stood by the door.
Compared to when they arrived, there were new large characters added to the door, in brownish-red color, written boldly and exuberantly, seemingly in blood.
At the first glance of those characters, Zheng Fengdao respectfully kneeled down and performed a solemn salute.
“‘Tired bones form a tower, disdainful of riding the wind’…” Shi Jingzhi softly recited and looked at Yan Qing. “Is this a message left by Yan Budu? Yan Qing, what does it mean?”
Yan Qing had an expressionless face. “I really don’t know anything.”
Yin Ci didn’t understand it either, but he knew the other meaning behind these characters. Yan Budu wantonly left a message at the exit of the Ghost Tomb, which pointed to one possibility—
“Yan Budu is truly not inside the tomb,” Matron Wuxue said. “This just got interesting.”
“Matriarch, we… We haven’t found a way to unlock this door.” The members of Chigou Sect gathered around Matron Wuxue, relieved to see her return unharmed. “We need your help.”
“At this stage, Yan Budu wouldn’t set up something too difficult. If the Buddhist beads were lost here, how could it cause chaos in the mortal realm? Now get out of the way and let me have a look.”
She circled around the door for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter.
“Yan Budu, you clever one. No wonder I couldn’t figure out the puzzle before. The blood characters were actually a clue. Everyone, just walk straight out.”
Jin Lan remembered the horrific state of the servant of the Changle Sect and shivered. “But this door devours people!”
“Is that so? Then why didn’t it devour these blood characters? I’ve observed them, the blood characters are deeply soaked into the door, and the bloodstains are still visible. This door can be penetrated by flesh and blood and is unlikely to be broken with other tools.”
Matron Wuxue prodded her cane against her attendant.
“Go on, you. Walk over and take a look. Remember, use your true qi to cover your clothes, and after you go out, don’t touch the surface of the door. And make some noise when you’re outside.”
The person obediently nodded and walked briskly towards the door. Just as he touched the surface of the door, he seemed to sink into a swamp and was engulfed vertically.
He walked steadily, without struggling or screaming. However, after waiting for a long time, there was no sound heard from the other side.
“Hmm, it seems there’s another mystery on the other side of the door. No matter, I won’t misjudge Yan Budu’s character. Children, let’s go.”
“Wait, Matron.” Monk Juehui suddenly spoke.
Matron Wuxue didn’t mince her words. “What is it?”
Monk Juehui took out his own three Buddhist beads and put them together with the one Yin Ci had given them earlier. “Your sect still has sticky rice wine, right?”
“…Monk, what do you mean?”
“Amitabha Buddha. The Buddhist map beads are ominous objects, and our temple has no intention of getting involved in the dispute. It’s better to copy all four Buddhist beads here. Once the copying is done, I will destroy them myself.”
Yan Qing was shocked. “Sect Master, you said ‘I can give them away, and naturally, I can take them back ‘ …Did you know that Venerable Juehui would do this?”
“Mm. The monks aren’t interested in immortality. They retrieved the <Woodless Sutra>, so their purpose has been achieved. They certainly don’t want to see the martial world in chaos,” Shi Jingzhi said absentmindedly. “They can’t control other major sects, but at least they can take care of themselves.”
Yan Qing: “But…”
“Yin Ci handed over the Buddhist bead of the white-clothed person. The Jianchen Temple has four beads, while the other sects each have two. With this revelation, everyone will have three-sevenths of the map, which will save a lot of trouble.”
He turned his head and looked at Yin Ci on his shoulder. “I just didn’t expect that you, A’Ci, would come up with a similar idea. You really get along well with the monks.”
Yin Ci hummed twice and continued to feign his injuries with closed eyes.
Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci had been thinking along the same lines. Yin Ci made that suggestion precisely to influence Monk Juehui’s thinking. Now it was his turn to say some foolish words and act innocent.
However, the taste of the medicine made him reluctant to open his mouth. Not to mention that he still felt Shi Jingzhi’s touch on his lips.
So Yin Ci remained silent and started to think about how to get back at him.
Yan Qing continued to be confused. “I can’t understand. You already guessed it, so why did you give the Human Shaped Coffin’s beads to the monks? Isn’t that giving everyone an undeserved advantage?”
“We don’t have many Buddhist beads in our hands. If everyone focuses on snatching them, we’ll definitely be targeted. But if everyone has enough of the map, they will be more concerned about the major sects conducting a carpet search. It will reduce the attention directed towards us.”
As the members of the Kushan Sect muttered among themselves, Monk Juehui finished copying the precious map and began distributing them. After each representative received their copy, Monk Juehui clutched the four Buddhist beads in his palm and crushed them into powder.
After the dust settled, Monk Juehui let out a long sigh.
“Is it over? I’m going first then.” Matron Wuxue waved her hand and instructed the members of her sect to use their true qi to protect their belongings as she led the way through the gate.
The members of the Chigou Sect left, yet outside the gate, there was still silence—not even the sound of footsteps.
Shi Jingzhi took a deep breath. “Let’s go too.”
Yan Qing tensed up with fear, but Shi Jingzhi immediately grabbed the back of his collar and dragged him forward. “Don’t worry, even if someone has to encounter trouble, it won’t be you.”
While saying that, Shi Jingzhi’s warm inner force enveloped Yin Ci again. Yin Ci simply buried his nose in his master’s shoulder and closed his eyes.
Matron Wuxue’s judgment was correct.
However, the “other side of the door” no longer existed. The tomb passage was packed with grotesque creatures, with their slimy limbs pushing them towards the exit. In an instant, the three of them were pushed out and fell to the ground.
They opened their eyes.
A certain ash-red creature filled the tunnel. Its limbs were intertwined and covered in mucus, each one as thick as a thigh. Those who couldn’t enter the tomb on the first day were probably squeezed to death by these things.
Yan Qing silently took out the farewell letter from his pocket and tore it into pieces. Shi Jingzhi sat on the ground, desperately shaking off the sticky fluid from his body, almost shaking his head off.
Yin Ci looked up at the sky—it had been so long since he had carefully looked at the blue sky, almost forgetting how refreshing it could be.
Perhaps Yan Budu had obtained an opportunity and truly found the path to immortality. And they, holding three-sevenths of the map, were going to play this treasure hunt game with the major sects. All he had to do was enjoy the process and claim the treasure in the end.
Regardless of whether it held any physical clues, he wouldn’t be bored in the coming year.
They didn’t wait long before the other sects were also thrown out by those creatures. Once everyone had left, the creatures let out a sharp screech, retracting back, and the tomb passage was left empty and dark.
The Ghost Tomb was sealed once again.
The legend of the Shirou, circulating for a hundred years, didn’t fade away with it but revealed a potential blaze.
The scattered group of people lay in front of the tomb square. The Jinyu Group provided dry robes and offered hot water, towels, and sweet porridge. While everyone cleaned themselves up, the Jinyu Group finished organizing the list of treasures.
Except for the Kushan Sect, all the other sects could be considered returning with full loads. Aside from the treasures that belonged to their respective sects, there were countless other valuable items that could be traded.
Within the designated area of the Jinyu Group, there was no conflict among the representatives of various sects. They maintained tacit understanding, allowing the Jinyu Group to inspect and purchase the treasures, which they would then immediately sell to those interested. Those who didn’t want to trade were already packing their treasures and planning a safe return route.
The cold square suddenly became lively, faintly resembling a marketplace.
“We don’t have much from our sect, so we won’t stay here. We’ll go to the resting area first. Please help pass on the message to the Jinyu Group.” Shi Jingzhi bowed to Shen Zhu.
The disciples of the Jinyu Group who were nearby immediately approached. “Sect Master Shi, you can still buy even if you don’t sell! We obtained a large batch of divine weapons this time, and the leader has invited masters to maintain and repair them. Huh, they’re even better than new.”
Shi Jingzhi slowly took out the golden hairpin, and his eyes filled with sadness. “This is all I have.”
The smile on the face of the Jinyu Group’s disciple froze. “This… um, isn’t this the Hanging Shadow Sword you’re wearing? It certainly can be exchanged for a handsome sum.”
Shi Jingzhi: “No. This that’s a gift I gave to my disciple. I can’t just sell it.”
Yan Qing looked at the pained Shi Jingzhi and pursed his lips as he handed over his own backpack, “Sect Master.”
“Hmm?”
“When we were at the Paper Figures Street, Senior Shi asked me to collect some jewels as hardship pay. You can take half of it.”
Shi Jingzhi was shocked. “That wouldn’t be right, would it?”
“If Sect Master Shi hadn’t taken me in, I would have died down there a long time ago. I’ll have the remaining half delivered to Senior Shi… Thank you both for saving my life.”
Shi Jingzhi’s eyes were filled with tears. “Good, good. Yan Qing, I’m raising your monthly allowance to 800 wen!”
Yan Qing looked numb.
Yin Ci, relying on his identity as an injured person, was once again carried on Shi Jingzhi’s back. Seizing the opportunity, he cleared his throat. “Shizun, what about me?”
Shi Jingzhi replied, “A’Ci, after going through so much, you and I are like father and son. What’s mine is yours, so why bother about such trivial matters?”
Yin Ci: “?” You bastard. Who’s the father and who’s the son?
Shi Jingzhi knew that Yin Ci’s meridians were already damaged, and when Matron Wuxue struck him, it only added some internal injuries that could be slowly healed. But since his disciple liked being carried on his back, he would carry him.
He winked at Shen Zhu, asking her to step back, and then walked towards the depths of the marketplace.
Yan Qing was quite knowledgeable and didn’t take too many jewels when Shi Zhongyu asked him to. Shi Jingzhi looked longingly at the divine weapons, and a small sigh escaped his throat.
Yin Ci was comfortable lying down but was annoyed by Shi Jingzhi’s groaning. He whispered in his master’s ear, “Shizun, Yan Budu lived a luxurious life so even his daily necessities are top-notch. Your flag is damaged, so why not go over there and see if there are any alternative materials…”
Before Yin Ci could finish speaking, Shi Jingzhi put him down on the ground and swiftly rushed out.
Yin Ci: “?”
Yan Qing patted him sympathetically. “Brother, it’s not easy.”
Yin Ci gritted his teeth. “Indeed.”
Half an hour later, Shi Jingzhi returned happily, holding a large pile of things in his hands.
“A’Ci was right; the burial objects are treasures… Look at this Clear Silver bamboo pole; it was taken from a burial fan and is much sturdier than ordinary swords. Do you see this piece of fabric? It’s cold-silk hemp cloth used to wrap divine weapons, impervious to water and fire. The feel of it, tsk tsk.”
Shi Jingzhi’s face was filled with happiness, as if he wanted to hug them tightly and kiss them fervently.
Seeing Yin Ci’s and Yan Qing’s deadpan expressions, Shi Jingzhi revealed a mysterious smile.
“These are for you… Here! This is a self-defense sword for Yan Qing. It may not be a famous sword, but at least it’s something from the Ghost Tomb, which is stronger than ninety percent of the weapons on the market. Yan Qing, you’ll be in charge of the remaining money. Use it for future food, drink, and daily needs as you see fit.”
Yan Qing received the money pouch and the sword, remained silent for a while, and finally showed a shallow smile.
“Next is A’Ci… I bought a scabbard made of ambergris for your Hanging Shadow Sword. I had it painted black, which suits it perfectly.”
Shi Jingzhi placed the Hanging Shadow Sword into the scabbard and handed it to Yin Ci with both hands. “Its sharpness can harm others, so be sure to keep it safe… I traded it for the golden hairpin. From now on, I won’t inquire about your personal matters.”
Yin Ci was taken aback.
Shi Jingzhi naturally patted the top of his head. “Let’s consider ourselves a good master and disciple pair, alright?”
His tone was gentle, and his smile was unchanged. Yet, there was a hint of hidden vigilance in his eyes, along with a touch of sadness and a plea.
Yin Ci pretended not to understand but ambiguously responded, “What is Shizun saying? As long as you don’t kick me out, you will always be my good master.”
Shi Jingzhi’s smile brightened a bit. “Mm.”
Then, he proudly took out two delicate pastries and whispered, “Look, these are high-quality pastries sold by the Jinyu Group. You two have been waiting for so long, so let’s eat some before we leave.”
As he said that, he didn’t take a single bite himself. Instead, he pulled out a leftover pancake from his bag and gobbled it up.
Yin Ci stopped nibbling on the pastry. “Shizun, aren’t you going to eat?”
“I’ve already eaten.”
It was a lie. Shi Jingzhi still had traces of monster slime on him, but he didn’t touch a single crumb of the pastries. It seemed that he was trying to save money and didn’t want to buy anything for himself.
They say life is short, and this kid’s life is especially short. Why bother?
Yin Ci handed over the pastry. “I don’t like sweet things. Shizun, please have it.”
Shi Jingzhi solemnly accepted it. “To receive such a good disciple like you is truly a blessing from heaven.”
However, in that instant, when Shi Jingzhi picked up the pastry, his movement slightly stiffened.
Immediately, he elegantly began eating, savoring each bite and eating as if he were in a trance. The momentary stiffness seemed like an illusion. Yin Ci didn’t notice anything amiss and let it go.
He took a bite of the pancake that Shi Jingzhi had nibbled on, chewing casually. Although the pancake had been sitting for a few days in the cold of the tomb, it still tasted fresh and delicious.
Yin Ci was used to his own cooking and quickly finished the pancake. Shi Jingzhi and Yan Qing, on the other hand, ate slowly and leisurely, chatting as they ate.
Shi Jingzhi, with a mouth full of powdered sugar, spoke unclearly. “Do you two know the origin of this Hanging Shadow Sword?”
Yan Qing licked the crumbs from his palm and shook his head.
“Have you heard of Zhuang Wufeng? He was a master swordsmith a hundred years ago, and he personally forged the Guanwu Sword that was buried in the Human Shape Coffin. In his later years, he crafted the Hanging Shadow Sword and incorporated wushu ore into the sword—wushu ore is extremely lightweight and can disperse true qi. Nowadays, wushu ore is hard to come by, and there’s not a price for its value.”
Yan Qing politely asked, “So, this sword should be very valuable, right?”
Shi Jingzhi smiled awkwardly. “Well, wushu ore is usually used to make armor. Wushu soft armor can disperse incoming true qi and is a precious protective gear. Using wushu ore to forge a sword means that the user’s own sword techniques cannot be infused with true qi, which is suitable for A’Ci.”
Yan Qing: “But, just like wushu armor, can it also block the enemy’s inner force?”
Yin Ci interjected coldly, “Well, it has to be able to block it in the first place. The enemy won’t be fixated on the sword; they’ll just chase after the person and beat them.”
“Then… what if it’s melted to make wushu armor?”
Shi Jingzhi shook his head. “There’s very little wushu ore inside the sword. If you were to make armor with it, it wouldn’t even cover the back of your hand.”
Yan Qing racked his brains, “This sword can break through inner force, so it can at least be used for assassination.”
Shi Jingzhi’s face was filled with emotion. “Master Zhuang thought the same way, but unfortunately, assassins didn’t buy it—their poison can kill instantly without any additional tricks. The sword is indeed a good one, but he couldn’t find a buyer, which made him furious, so he named it the ‘Hanging Shadow* Sword’… Maybe he thought ‘Lonely Sword’ wasn’t elegant enough.”
*In this context, “hanging shadow” connotes a melancholic or sorrowful state of mind, most likely reflective of the fact that no one wanted to buy his sword.
Yin Ci suddenly realized—it was no wonder the sword looked familiar to him. Zhang Wufeng had tried to sell it to him years ago.
What did he say at that time? Something like, “Even if I don’t have inner force, I can still use a top-notch sword. At most, this sword is just a decoration. Whoever uses it is a fool.”
The principles of heaven were evident, and retribution was unfailing*. Even as the leader of a demonic sect, one shouldn’t speak carelessly.
*Proverb conveying the idea that the universe is just and fair and consequences of one’s actions, whether positive or negative, will inevitably manifest.
Silently, he hugged his Lonely Sword tightly and let out a sigh.
Zhang Wufeng had excellent skills, but he had long surpassed the stage of relying on weapons. He would make do with it.
The three members of the Kushan Sect spent several days in the temporary marketplace. With the concoctions given by Shi Jingzhi, Yin Ci’s pretense of “weakness” ceased, and he gradually resumed his normal mobility.
However, peace was short-lived.
The Jinyu Group made a fortune, acquiring numerous treasures to be sold at high prices when they left the mountain. This was the last night of revelry, with colorful lanterns and joyful red decorations everywhere.
But as the day of the Buddhist beads emergence drew closer, in the eyes of the martial world, the festive atmosphere gradually turned bloody.
That night, Matron Wuxue was in her tent, calculating the clues on the treasure map. She heard a few extremely subtle sounds outside the tent and perked up her ears, tossing the papers on the table into the brazier.
“Who?” she sternly shouted, but there was no reaction from her nearby disciples.
Then, she saw someone in white attire.
“Shh—” Yin Ci raised a finger.
Matron Wuxue’s eyes widened, and her killing intent suddenly diminished. “You’re the one in the white clothes? You… You look like…”
Her lips trembled for a moment. “You look exactly like the portrait of former Patriarch Su. Who exactly are you?”
Yin Ci smiled. “A member of the Su family.”
“That’s impossible!” Matron Wuxue insisted. “If former Patriarch Su had descendants, our sect would have known!”
“He didn’t want you to know, and he had his reasons.”
Yin Ci casually took her cane and made a few random gestures. As the leader of the Chigou Sect, Matron Wuxue could definitely tell—
“The Sweeping Bones Sword Technique… So you are the successor of former Patriarch Su. No wonder you concealed it so perfectly, leaving me clueless,” Matron Wuxue said hoarsely. “You revealed yourself because of the tomb. I apologize for offending you.”
After speaking, she held her left wrist with her right hand, about to break it, but Yin Ci used the cane to flick it away.
“Ignorance is not a sin. I had secretly entered the tomb beforehand and considering your status as the leader of your divine sect, it’s normal for you to be cautious,” Yin Ci said leisurely. “Since you didn’t find me, let’s just forget about it. I don’t want to torment an old woman.”
“If you want to enter the tomb, why not join my divine sect? I can provide you with any identity other than that of Sect Master.”
Yin Ci raised an eyebrow. “I don’t want to ride on my ancestors’ coattails. Alright, now that you know my identity, tell your people not to probe around anymore. It’s unpleasant.”
“Yes.”
“One more thing. The affairs of the sects are busy. Even if the matter of the Ghost Tomb is significant, a sect leader should not personally attend.”
“I have already selected a successor and am cultivating them within the sect.”
“I see.” Yin Ci nodded and turned to leave.
“Young Friend, please wait!” Matron Wuxue coughed twice. “Aren’t you interested in seeing the Buddhist bead treasure map?”
“At this stage, you still want to test me?” Yin Ci didn’t look back, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. “I have no interest in that thing. I didn’t take it in the tomb, and I certainly won’t take it now.”
He threw the cane behind him.
“I originally wanted to give you a chance to snatch the bead, so I gave it to the young disciple of the Kushan Sect. Who knew that kid would be so stubborn, refusing to report for the sake of his sect.”
Matron Wuxue’s wrinkled face twitched slightly. “This old one is stubborn and failed to create an opportunity to snatch the treasure, wasting your efforts.”
Yin Ci smiled and said, “No need for such words. I’m delighted that you’re willing to abide by our ancestors’ rules… Is there anything else you want to ask?”
Wu Xuepo lowered her head. “Young Friend, take care.”
Yin Ci left the tent, quickly put on the ghostskin robe, and made his way back to the territory of the Kushan Sect. He felt a sense of relief being able to separate the relationship of the “person in white” and the “Kushan Sect”,
The Kushan Sect’s tent was far from comparable to Matron Wuxue’s; it was cramped and had a slight draft.
The scene inside the tent was the same as when he left.
Yan Qing honestly hugged the blanket, curling up in a corner. Shi Jingzhi was also sound asleep with his brows furrowed as if he were having a nightmare.
Just as Yin Ci was about to lie down next to Shi Jingzhi, the latter turned over, and his arm draped over Yin Ci’s waist.
Yin Ci: “…”
He was about to push that arm away when he saw Shi Jingzhi’s brows relax, and his complexion improve.
What’s with this guy?
“A’Ci.” Shi Jingzhi applied a bit of force with his arm and mumbled groggily. “A’Ci, don’t go… Master will treat you well…”
Yin Ci stopped moving and patiently listened.
“If you leave, Master… will have to spend time catching another… obedient one…”
Shi Jingzhi made a few more murmurs before swallowing the rest.
He swallowed it just in time, and Yin Ci snorted. He resolutely pushed away that arm and tucked it back into Shi Jingzhi’s blanket. Shi Jingzhi slept soundly, completely unaware and unresponsive.
However, the next day, before dawn, Shi Jingzhi woke up. He danced with his newly acquired Clear Silver bamboo pole and poked Yin Ci and Yan Qing awake.
Yin Ci wasn’t polite. “Is Shizun hungry again?” It was still the hour of the tiger, but god knows how this slacker managed to wake up so punctually.
Shi Jingzhi: “Am I someone who’s that unreserved? Get up. We have to escape.”
Yan Qing yawned. “We haven’t left the Jinyu Group’s territory yet…”
“You still want to leave with them? The major sects have arrangements outside. We’re like rats sneaking into a beast’s herd, and everyone wants to catch us. You two shouldn’t wear your sect attire. I bought some old servant clothes for you to change into.”
Yan Qing obediently changed his clothes. “Does the Sect Master have to keep wearing a mask?”
A Nuo mask was much more noticeable than their sect attire.
“No, they will definitely be watching groups of three. A’Ci has a pale complexion; smearing something on his face will help him pass as inconspicuous. Yan Qing, you should hunch over, squint your eyes, and stick on a fake beard. Later, I’ll hide in the box, and you two can carry the box to mix into the Jinyu Group. We’ll take the opportunity to leave the mountain.”
Yan Qing had followed the Taiheng Sect for ten years and was used to following the rules, so he was momentarily stunned. Yin Ci, on the other hand, accepted it well. “Listening to Shizun’s plan, it seems like our destination is set.”
“Before you two woke up, I traced our exclusive treasure map. We will follow the Jinyu Group to Qizhou first, then head west to Yongsheng.” Shi Jingzhi shook the paper in his hand. “Yongsheng is marked on the map, and there might be clues there.”
“Wait, Qizhou is separated from Yongsheng by the Zongwu Mountain; it’s impossible to cross. Shouldn’t we go north?” Yan Qing asked.
“Other sects would think the same, so we have to climb the Zongwu Mountain.” Shi Jingzhi said excitedly, “Yan Budu intentionally drew this mountain, so there must be a deeper meaning behind it.”
Yan Qing’s gaze drifted again. “We might have to climb this mountain for over a month…”
Yin Ci interjected at the right moment. “Shizun, aren’t you afraid other sects will get there before us?”
“Demonic Lord Yan’s clues won’t be so easily deciphered. Besides, we’re traveling light, and we have enough stamina. We can climb over in just over ten days.”
Before leaving, Shi Jingzhi sneakily left a light on and arranged the bedding to look like a person. The three of them joined the lower ranks of the Jinyu Group caravan—the servants who transported goods without interruption were already half asleep. They blended in and proceeded smoothly along the way.
Until they left the Jinyu Group’s territory.
The Jinyu Group caravan was taking a break when a nine-ringed blade flew through the air and stabbed directly into a large box.
This group was responsible for transporting daily necessities and had lax security. They were momentarily stunned by the sudden attack.
Who would take the risk of offending the Jinyu Group just to steal pots and pans?
The two people in charge of the box didn’t try to escape; instead, they shouldered the burden and rushed towards the outskirts of the group. It was still dark, and the surroundings were dim. The two people with the box quickly disappeared.
“What were those two carrying? Weren’t we just transporting junk?”
“What are you saying? If it was something valuable, would that person be willing to cut through it with a knife?”
“Even if there was something valuable, it must have been a mistake by the people in charge of supplies… Forget it, let’s hurry and leave. Be careful not to get caught up in it.”
The attackers didn’t make another move against the servants. They sneered coldly, leaped over the tips of the grass, and chased after the two “servants” carrying the box.
“Is Sect Master dead?” Yan Qing gasped for breath.
Yin Ci matched his footsteps. “He’s fine. If that strike had really hit him, we would have heard screams.”
Yan Qing: “…”
Yan Qing: “Why do we still have to carry him? Can’t we run together?”
Yin Ci succinctly replied, “The saber belongs to Zheng Fengdao. We definitely can’t escape—”
Before he could finish his sentence, the nine-ringed saber was snatched away in midair. Zheng Fengdao landed in front of the two, emitting a fierce aura that felt as chilling as an icy wind. Even from a distance of seven or eight steps, they could feel the cold.
The box shifted, and it cracked open. Shi Jingzhi gasped for breath and stuck his head out. His Nuo mask was crooked, and he had a pair of pants on his head.
Zheng Fengdao ignored his appearance. “Sect Master Shi, hand over the Buddhist beads. You’ve caused a lot of trouble for that old witch from the Chigou Sect, and just based on that, I will spare your lives.”
Shi Jingzhi straightened his posture. “And if I don’t hand it over?”
Zheng Fengdao laughed heartily. “If you don’t? Then I’ll settle the score for Elder Lu.”
“Lu Fengxi was killed by the person in white. What does that have to do with my Kushan Sect?”
“He was killed while your disciple was present, so it’s as if your disciple killed him.” Zheng Fengdao brandished his blade with blood stains that were still not wiped clean.
Shi Jingzhi: “…”
Yin Ci dryly coughed. “Grandfather said not to reason with the people from the demonic sects. Shizun, this big brother seems to have made Matron Wuxue back down, so he must be formidable. What should we do?”
That was the truth. Zheng Fengdao was much stronger than Lu Fengxi; at this stage, he could probably take on five Shi Jingzhi.
Zheng Fengdao enjoyed the flattery and was in a good mood. “Oh, the kid understands things well. Here’s the deal, Sect Master Shi. If you don’t hand over the prayer beads, I’ll kill your servant first, then kill your disciple after. So, have you thought of an answer?”
Yan Qing: “?!”
Yin Ci became interested once again. How would Shi Jingzhi resolve this situation? Would he make a desperate move, flee in chaos, or…
Shi Jingzhi’s complexion turned grim, gradually revealing the panic he felt when he was being harassed by Matron Wuxue.
“I’ve thought of it,” he said with difficulty.
Kinky Thoughts:
Maybe Yin Ci should tone down on the acting. He should consider it lucky (unlucky?) it was oral medicine and not a suppository.
As he regained awareness, Yin Ci was lying beside him. Shi Jingzhi felt around and found Yin Ci’s face—he was still breathing, not dead.
Relieved, Shi Jingzhi ignited the yin fire once again, and this time it radiated its usual brightness. After hesitating for a moment, Shi Jingzhi couldn’t help but worry about his disciple. He propped up Yin Ci and slowly moved forward with some effort. Along the way, the others either remained unconscious or unable to move.
If the Human Shaped Coffin were still intact, it wouldn’t have left so many survivors. It was likely that it had been destroyed.
However, if it had been destroyed normally, several masters wouldn’t be completely silent. If they were also knocked unconscious like himself…
It was probably the work of the person in white.
Shi Jingzhi felt a chill down his spine. He searched behind Yin Ci’s neck for a while, relieved when he found the Buddhist bead still there. The person in white was probably not interested in the Buddhist beads; otherwise, they would have taken advantage of the chaos and killed everyone.
The person’s target must be something else.
But Shi Jingzhi didn’t care—he had no interest in any other treasures. As long as he and his disciple were breathing and the Buddhist beads were safe, it was enough.
After dragging Yin Ci for a while, he finally woke up. Yin Ci blinked in confusion, and said in a hoarse voice, “Shizun?”
“Here,” Shi Jingzhi replied softly. “A’Ci, can you walk on your own?”
“I feel a bit dizzy… but I can manage. Shizun, did the seniors win?”
“They did.” Shi Jingzhi still supported him cautiously.
The two of them walked towards the area with the most wounded, and finally found the Human Shaped Coffin in a certain corner—it was heavily damaged, with the gaping wound in its neck particularly striking. Shi Jingzhi finally released Yin Ci and took out a small cutting knife, smearing the yang flame on its blade.
The array was already broken, and the Human Shaped Coffin had become much more fragile. The yang flame naturally countered yin objects, so the Human Shaped Coffin was easily cut open with the small knife.
Inside the coffin, there wasn’t much, but each item was extremely precious.
In addition to Yan Budu’s Death Whip, there was a long-lost famous sword and an infamous demonic knife. There were also various scrolls, some of which were stained with dried blood, likely secret scriptures stolen by the Ling Sect.
Three Buddhist beads lay quietly among them, carefully picked up by Shi Jingzhi.
He pondered for a moment. “A’Ci, I will keep the lamps burning for you. Go and wake up everyone nearby… Don’t forget the people from the Yueshui Pavilion.”
Yin Ci pretended to be puzzled. “Isn’t it first come, first served?”
“‘With gold and jade filling the hall*, none can guard it all’… Our small sect can’t withstand all of this,” Shi Jingzhi said calmly. “Wake them up as soon as possible.”
*(金玉满堂) Idiom referring to abundant wealth. Combined with the next line, it means it’s impossible for anyone to protect or possess it (wealth) all.
“Understood.”
Yin Ci counted the number of people he had knocked out. Before long, he managed to wake up several key figures and brought two disciples from the Yueshui Pavilion.
Meanwhile, Shi Jingzhi arranged the treasures from the coffin in a row, illuminated by a lantern, so that everything was clear and visible. None of the secret scrolls had been opened.
“Esteemed seniors, these are the treasures from the coffin, along with the three precious map beads.” Shi Jingzhi smiled. “The Human Shaped Coffin was defeated together by everyone. This junior dare not be presumptuous and has only cleaned up and not taken anything.”
Faced with these treasures, no one raised the issue of “first come, first served”. Even the disciples from the Yueshui Pavilion remained silent, and the atmosphere grew tense.
“The Human Shaped Coffin wasn’t destroyed by this humble monk; I dare not take credit.” Monk Juehui broke the deadlock.
“Buddhism emphasizes the cycle of life and death and does not cling to worldly possessions. If this junior may speculate, Venerable probably came for the lost secret books and Buddhist treasures. Just a while ago, I saw the <Woodless Sutra> written by the Jianchen Temple…”
At this point, Shi Jingzhi changed the topic. “Thanks to Venerable for lending me the Infinity Prayer Beads, we were able to successfully battle the Human Shaped Coffin.”
The monks couldn’t help but feel helpless, but they weren’t foolish enough to argue at such a crucial moment. The <Woodless Sutra> was a treasure of Buddhism, and the Jianchen Temple had no intention of getting involved in this mess until Yan Budu hid it in the tomb.
Monk Juehui folded his hands together and chanted “Amitabha*.”
*It’s a general term as a greeting or farewell, but also to express apologies, praise, anger, or in this case, gratitude.
“Shall we return the <Woodless Sutra> to the Jianchen Temple?” Shi Jingzhi asked politely.
“Let them have it already. Stop wasting time,” Matron Wuxue said impatiently, clutching her injured arm. “No one cares about that bald donkey’s scriptures.”
“Thank you, Patron.” Monk Juehui received the scripture with both hands, and the pained expression eased from his face.
“The Death Whip originally belonged to the Ling Sect. The Guanwu Sword is from the Taiheng Sect, and the Cuo Yuan Knife is a treasure of the Chigou Sect. There are also these secret scrolls… Esteemed seniors have contributed greatly to this battle, so it’s only fitting that these items be returned to their rightful owners.”
After speaking, without waiting for the reactions of the important figures, Shi Jingzhi respectfully presented the treasures.
With the major threat eliminated and no external enemies, the various sects were on guard against each other. After weighing their options, they silently accepted the treasures.
Zheng Fengdao took the whip and spoke with a displeased tone, “By bribing everyone like this, kid, do you intend to keep the Buddhist map beads for yourself?”
Shi Jingzhi ignored him and said, “There are still some unclaimed items. Let’s give them to the Rong Palace. After all… ahem.”
He stumbled over his words, but everyone understood. Out of consideration for the imperial court’s face, they couldn’t let the Rong Palace leave empty-handed.
Xu Jingming’s face turned pale with anger. Unfortunately, he was facing esteemed and influential figures, and he wasn’t the emperor. He couldn’t risk a confrontation and could only grudgingly agree.
“Lastly, the Buddhist map beads.” Shi Jingzhi’s voice remained steady. “According to the rules, it’s first come, first served…”
Zheng Fengdao: “Ha, just as I suspected!”
“…But I want to distribute them. The Taiheng Sect has been of great help to me along the way, while the Jianchen Temple suffered the heaviest losses in holding off the Human Shaped Coffin. As for my Kushan Sect, I used my inner force to support everyone and maintain the bead net. I will only take one Buddhist bead. Does anyone have any objections?”
As his words reached the end, a faint hint of authority emerged in Shi Jingzhi’s smile.
Yin Ci was amused as he listened from the side.
Shi Jingzhi’s fox tail was now hooked onto the Taiheng Sect and the Jianchen Temple. The Ling Sect was left with only a single member, and the Chigou Sect was severely weakened. They couldn’t afford to be tough against the two major orthodox sects while dealing with the Kushan Sect.
Shi Jingzhi divided the three Buddhist beads, giving one to Monk Juehui and one to Shi Zhongyu. Finally, he made a grand gesture towards Matron Wuxue and said, “Forgive me, Matron, there aren’t enough prayer beads to go around. How about this? My sect will never touch the items in this tomb again.”
Matron Wuxue stared at him for a while. After a moment, she turned away and said, “Instead of that, who was the hero who destroyed the Human Shape Coffin?”
No one responded.
Wrinkling her brow, Matron Wuxue stopped asking. She pondered on the spot for a long time before finally walking away with her cane.
Yin Ci enjoyed the show and even took out a pack of fried rice, crunching on it loudly. Shi Jingzhi was hungry from watching him, so he grabbed Yan Qing from the crowd, and the three of them started a fire and heated their rice on the spot.
The other sects didn’t have the leisure for such things. They were busy tending to the wounded and exploring, each of them as busy as spinning tops. Only the three members of the Kushan Sect remained motionless with full bellies.
Yan Qing ate carefully and attentively, but once he was full, he didn’t touch his food anymore. He glanced at Shi Jingzhi, who was trying to explode himself from food, and hesitated before speaking. “Sect Master Shi, don’t you want the Buddhist beads? Are you really giving them away like this?”
“I can give them away, and naturally, I can take them back.”
Shi Jingzhi happily took a bite of the fried bun, speaking casually but with conviction.
“…And if it’s what I desire, there’s nothing that I can’t obtain.”
Yan Qing stopped packing his food box. “But Sect Master, you are no match for Senior Shi.”
“What are you thinking? I’m not going to steal them. Rest assured, I will make Miss Shi willingly hand them over.”
On the side, Yin Ci no longer bothered to pretend, allowing a smile to creep up on his lips.
Keeping this kid was the right decision.
The three members of the Kushan Sect took turns keeping watch, wasting a full two days in one place. During this time, the various sects thoroughly plundered the Palace of Leisure. The Chigou Sect found the exit and returned as if they were loaded with loot.
However, compared to their initial arrival, their numbers were now reduced by more than half, with only a dozen survivors remaining.
The exit was beneath the bed of the Human Shaped Coffin, and it took considerable effort for everyone to pry open the volcanic rock slab. After the slab was lifted, a set of descending stairs was revealed.
At the end of the stairs was a narrow barrel-shaped space.
The ground was marked with seven lines crossing the center, dividing the circular floor into fourteen equal parts. The surrounding walls were smooth and impossible to climb and there was no ceiling on the top, only darkness.
Around the room, there was a circle of smooth copper rings, with fourteen fist-sized heads attached to them. Each head had an exaggerated, distorted smile, with one eye missing, and the size of the eyeball matched that of the Buddhist beads.
Cautiously, Shi Jingzhi prodded one of the heads, and it smoothly slid and adhered to the nearest head with a ‘pop’. He was startled and hesitated to touch it again, wrinkling his face in disgust.
Shaking his head, Yin Ci stepped forward and effortlessly separated the two heads.
Matron Wuxue glanced at the two of them. “The Yan family won’t let us go so easily. Everyone has to put the Buddhist beads on those faces so we can seize them after leaving the tomb… Children, come over and stand in position.”
After the members of the Chigou Sect stood in place, she collected two heads and placed the Buddhist beads in them one by one. As soon as the beads were in place, two stone slabs beneath her feet lit up.
At the boundary between light and darkness, a transparent barrier gradually rose, shining with reflections. The barrier was as hard as iron, separating the members of the Chigou Sect inside.
Following that, the members of the Jianchen Temple and Monk Juehui took out their three Buddhist beads and placed them in order. The same was done by the Taiheng Sect and Zheng Fengdao of the Ling Sect. Xu Jingming took out two beads and quickly embedded them, remaining vigilant as he glanced at Shi Jingzhi.
Three beads from the Jianchen Temple, two from the Taiheng Sect, two from the Chigou Sect, two from Zheng Fengdao of the Ling Sect, and two from the Rong Palace… a total of eleven beads.
Shi Zhongyu also took out two prayer beads, creating a subtle atmosphere in the room.
Furrowing her brows, Shi Zhongyu asked, “Are we missing one? The disciples of the Yueshui Pavilion, please check.”
The disciples of the Yueshui Pavilion flipped through the records and said, “There were only three prayer beads reported for the ‘Suffering From Parting’. They went respectively to the Rong Palace, the Taiheng Sect, and the Ling Sect… One is missing.”
Shi Zhongyu recalled for a moment and said, “The missing one belongs to the group led by Brother Yin. Sect Master Shi, do you have any clues?”
Xu Jingming added fuel to the fire. “Yes, I heard about it. Sect Master Shi was the first one to leave.”
Shi Zhongyu smiled embarrassedly. “No, I didn’t mean anything by that, just…”
Matron Wuxue sharply interrupted, “The Rong Palace and the Taiheng Sect have obtained the prayer beads, and Zheng Fengdao of the Ling Sect and my sect shared the same room and took the beads in front of me. We will certainly not protect our enemies… Sect Master Shi, if you continue to hide and conceal, none of us will be able to leave.”
She then smiled maliciously. “If it weren’t for Yan Budu leaving a trick, you would have deceived everyone. This is a violation of the rules. Shi Zhongyu and Monk Juehui, two honorable figures, would you protect this insignificant little boy?”
Shi Zhongyu furrowed her brows. “Matron, you’re mistaken. Sect Master Shi was initially with the people from the Rong Palace, and the Buddhist bead was obtained by them. Sect Master Shi rescued two people from another room, and I personally witnessed it—the ‘Suffering From Parting’ had already been deciphered by someone. You should be aware that the ‘Suffering From Parting’ can only be broken from the inside.”
“He rescued Yin Ci and another monk from the Jianchen Temple. Previously, these two were together with Lu Fengxi. With Elder Lu’s skills, they certainly wouldn’t be opponents.”
The monk who had been present at the time also stepped forward. “I can testify that it was a person in white who broke the ‘Suffering From Parting’. Sect Master Shi was initially in another room, so it couldn’t have been him.”
He took a deep breath, muttered a few unclear words, and spoke again, “This humble monk saw the face of the person in white, and it was very… cough. This humble monk can confirm that I have never seen that person before.”
Matron Wuxue narrowed her eyes. “According to your statement, there is a skilled master who disguised their identity and infiltrated the group? No, I heard that you had already fainted. Perhaps the person in white is disguised as that Yin kid. Has anyone heard of this master-disciple pair before entering the Ghost Tomb?”
Her gaze was vicious. “Taking a step back, it’s possible that the person in white didn’t take the Buddhist bead and it was coincidentally picked up by Sect Master Shi.”
Yin Ci sneered inwardly. It seemed that his own junior wanted to kill two birds with one stone—
According to the rules of the Jinyu Group, hoarding loot and hiding one’s identity were major taboos.
If Shi Jingzhi concealed the Buddhist beads, he could be labeled as “breaking the rules”. The Chigou Sect could freely seize them without having to wait until they left the tomb.
If the person in white had taken the Buddhist bead, they would inevitably have to hand them over now, and some flaws would surely be revealed. Likewise, the Chigou Sect could logically besiege that person and see what rare and precious treasures they had obtained.
What was even more wonderful was that the scapegoat would be the monk himself, stirring up trouble.
Yin Ci looked at Shi Jingzhi beside him. His cheap master maintained a calm demeanor, but his lips were slightly pursed, indicating that he had also guessed Matron Wuxue’s intentions.
He was surely aware that if the person in white wanted to continue hiding their identity, they would find a way to shift the blame onto the Kushan Sect.
The Kushan Sect’s prospects were grim.
Shi Jingzhi couldn’t match Matron Wuxue’s expertise, and Zheng Fengdao wouldn’t remain idle. They might even play a trick behind the scenes.
Yin Ci grabbed hold of Shi Jingzhi’s left hand. The hand trembled slightly and was cold as ice.
Matron Wuxue removed the Buddhist beads from the heads, and the barrier slowly disappeared. She tapped her cane on the ground, stepping forward and enunciating each word. “Sect Master Shi, have you thought of an explanation?”
Unfortunately, she had picked the wrong opponent.
Both the prayer beads and Shi Jingzhi were things that Yin Ci had his eyes on. Although the Chigou Sect was a demonic sect, it wasn’t so easy to overstep its boundaries. Matron Wuxue was still too green in his eyes.
The Chigou Sect held great reverence for “persistent authority*”, and he understood its operating rules better than anyone else.
*In this context, it means that they hold high regard for those who hold/held high positions in their sect (like the founder or sect leaders thereafter).
Yin Ci tightened his grip on that hand. “Shizun, as I said—I have a strong destiny and specialize in combating demons and evil. Those in the demonic sect should be associated with the word ‘evil’.”
His words weren’t loud but audible to everyone.
Yin Ci didn’t release Shi Jingzhi’s hand. His other hand reached into his pocket, formed a fist, and then opened his fingers—
“The last one is with me.”
The author has something to say:
The phrase “Nothing can keep a house full of gold and jade” comes from chapter 9 of Laozi’s <Tao Te Ching>.
———
As usual, here’s a promotional preview. If you’re interested, you can find it in the author’s column. The novel <Evil As Humans>.
Yin Ren is a thousand-year-old rare-born evil creature. He chose an ominous day and happily tore apart the seal. Wherever he went, talismans shattered, stone tablets burst open, fierce ghosts shrank into a ball, and even zombies got weak in the knees.
People around him felt uncomfortable within a three-foot radius due to his presence. Yin Ren wandered around, feeling quite restless.
Zhong Chengshuo frowned. “Why does this person always loiter near the crime scene? I’ll go check it out.”
And he casually took Yin Ren with him.
Yin Ren: (；ω；)!
An atheist gong x Ghost King shou
A mini-supernatural criminal investigation story where an atheist brother encounters a supreme evil, and they cooperate (?) to solve cases.
Kinky Thoughts:
This is the last of the free chapters on jjwxc. If you’ve been enjoying the novel so far and are able to, please consider supporting the author by buying the raws. I used Google Chrome with their auto translate and this guide on how to buy novels on jjwxc. Remember, only with your (financial) support can artists continue to produce more great works.
The author note is a summary of her next work (which I’m also working on). You can check it out: Evil As Human.
Yin Ren’s memories continued until the cliff was filled in.
Huang Jin let out an exhausted sigh, almost falling out of the range of the levitation spell.
Despite the twists and turns and the confusion of identities, with Yin Ren’s memories providing additional corrections, Shian and the others witnessed the birth of the Evil Spirit and the fall of Zhong Yi. Countless valuable pieces of information were now in their hands, awaiting further analysis.
As the memory world reached its end, regardless of any mistakes made, as long as everything was concluded, they would be able to leave normally.
Huang Jin was the first to close his eyes.
He never wanted to go through such misfortune in his life again. When he returned to reality… Wait, something’s not right?
The frigid air remained unchanged, and the scent of blood and carnage still surrounded Huang Jin. The presence of the other consciousness was still apparent, and the sense of strain on his body hadn’t disappeared. Unable to resist, Huang Jin opened his eyes, and if he had a mouth, he would have taken several deep breaths.
The illusion projected by Yin Ren came to an end, and the memory world returned to its previous state. Before him was the intact cliff, and the valley below was empty, with no trace of the darkness.
Everything had returned to how it was when they first arrived.
The memory world continued.
Although the protagonist, “Yin Ren,” was unexpectedly controlled by the flesh puppet and unable to progress through the logic of the memory world as intended, an end was still an end. The memory world could be rewritten, but it definitely had a fixed “apocalypse”.
“This doesn’t make sense,” Fu Tianyi muttered, swallowing a mouthful of saliva. “At this point… At this point, the Great Celestial Master should already be dead, right? At the very least, he should be sleeping underground.”
Why does the memory world still exist?
“I found it strange from the beginning,” Lu Xiaohe said in a deep voice. “Whether it’s the Great Celestial Master or the Evil Spirit in Yin Village, they definitely haven’t had any contact with Huajisi Headquarters, let alone seen Fu Shangliu and Li Heyan. But both the situation at the headquarters and our own appearances… they are extremely… realistic.”
“I…”
Ge Tingting timidly raised her hand.
“I was also wondering why we have a god’s-eye view instead of Yin Ren’s first-person perspective if these are Yin Ren’s memories. At first, I thought it was a completion of the memory spell, but now it seems that something is off everywhere…”
“Could it be that we really traveled back in time?!” Fu Tianyi’s voice trembled slightly.
“Impossible.”
Fu Xingchuan impatiently moved his paws.
“There’s no spell that can reverse time—that’s the basics of basics. The construction of the memory spell must have flaws, but could it be a problem with the Evil Force as the power source? Let me think.”
“If the path isn’t the problem, and neither is the direction, then there is only one possibility.”
The “flesh puppet” possessing the Great Celestial Master suddenly spoke up.
“The condition of the destination was different from what you all initially determined.”
Is this place really just a world composed of Yin Ren’s and the Evil Spirit’s memories?
“We shouldn’t stay here for long. Anyway, let’s…” Fu Xingchuan’s words were interrupted as his ears twitched.
It was the sound of footsteps.
Countless footsteps approached from all directions, accompanied by the clashing of weapons and the scraping of armor. Having just experienced the projection of the Yellow Millet projector, the sound was painfully familiar.
“Even though the Evil Spirit hasn’t manifested, why is the Gouluo Army still coming?” Lu Xiaohe’s hand holding the charcoal pencil trembled slightly.
They had sealed the Evil Spirit in Yin Village together, and the “Great Celestial Master” flesh puppet had only ever served as a power source, never forming an oath with the Evil Spirit possessed by the enemy. With no Evil Spirit present, the Gouluo Army had no reason to change course.
“Back to Huajisi Headquarters!” Fu Xingchuan made a quick decision. “We’re being followed!”
“You mean…”
“In Yin Ren’s memories, there were letters from the Gouluo people. Even without the Evil Spirit, if we send letters with the same content, we can still trick the Gouluo Army into coming.” Fu Xingchuan spoke rapidly. “The enemy is still nearby. We need to return to Huajisi Headquarters immediately!”
Fu Tianyi didn’t dare wait any longer. He immediately exerted his levitation spell. However, this time, someone stepped out of the spell’s range.
In the mountain breeze, a figure in red clothing and black hair swayed as the flesh puppet-controlled Great Celestial Master approached the edge of the cliff.
“Hey, we’re leaving!” Fu Tianyi shouted, “The Gouluo Army is coming, and we can’t handle the kind of array created by the Great Celestial Master. Run!”
At the edge of the cliff, the body of the Great Celestial Master turned around.
Bloodstains dotted the red robe, and the long hair was accentuated by the dark clouds, appearing so black it sent shivers down one’s spine. The crimson eyes narrowed, forming a small arc at the corners.
The flesh puppet was smiling.
The Gouluo Army had already begun rushing towards the cliff, and the golden light of their spells grew brighter. Everything in the illusion was about to replay, and Fu Tianyi’s heart raced to the point of chest pain.
“You…”
“Go.” Fu Xingchuan pondered for a moment. “Ignore it.”
“But—”
“That is not Yin Ren’s true body, and regardless of what this accursed place is, it is not the true reality.” Fu Xingchuan raised his head and looked at the “Great Celestial Master” with fluttering robes in the mountain breeze.
“This person is not your true comrade either.”
Time was running out as the Gouluo army’s encirclement rapidly closed in. Fu Tianyi clenched his teeth and led everyone to rush into the sky.
Zhong Chengshuo watched as the Shian members left.
In less than half a minute, the Gouluo Army’s group of cultivators reached the top of the cliff. They were shouting something, but Zhong Chengshuo didn’t bother to listen. Facing the imposing army, he took a step backward.
It was a step into the void.
In the oppressive gloom, accompanied by disordered rain threads, that crimson figure gracefully descended like a bird with broken wings.
Zhong Chengshuo fell backward, tumbling down the cliff into the darkness that only the “Great Celestial Master” could see.
“I’ve come to meet you, Yin Ren.”
He whispered silently.
The next moment, just as it was in Yin Ren’s memory, that darkness boiled over again.
Like pouring cold water into hot oil, the darkness erupted in an instant, splattering like blood and covering most of the valley. There were no spells or cages this time. The chaotic darkness splashed around, catching the colossal army that surrounded it off guard, drowning them completely.
Directly looking at that darkness would cause living beings to explode into bloody pulp. Coming into direct contact with that darkness, the hundreds of thousands of soldiers were like snowflakes in boiling water, leaving not even a trace of residue.
The mountains and rivers fell silent, and the withered grass swayed. There was no earthquake or collapse in sight.
Similar to Yin Ren’s memory, the dense aura of death permeated the entire Valley of Remains.
……
Time rewound by one second.
The moment the body of the Great Celestial Master touched the darkness, Zhong Chengshuo sent out his own thoughts—his actions were extremely proficient. After all, he had lived within that colossal body for an unknown period of time.
Yin Ren had yet to react when he was swept into the darkness.
Compared to emptiness, the darkness seemed particularly substantial. What was even better was that within this darkness, he finally obtained a relatively normal body—just slightly transparent, but that didn’t matter.
Because Zhong Chengshuo was standing right in front of him.
The two faced each other, suspended in the depths of darkness, and Zhong Chengshuo appeared as how Yin Ren was most familiar with him. He was wearing the loose linen clothes when they had first met, and his eyes behind the glasses remained dim.
In that moment, countless emotions surged up in Yin Ren’s heart. The bittersweet taste was difficult to describe, as they intertwined with each other, ultimately blending into a tinge of bitterness.
Yin Ren opened his mouth with countless questions he wanted to ask Zhong Chengshuo. He especially wanted to ask that person, “Who are you? Where do you come from? Where are you going?”—the ultimate questions in life.
But despite his desire, after the long period of emptiness, when he saw that innocent and handsome face, he found himself unable to ask.
He wasn’t sure if he would like the answer.
“…Where is this?” Finally, Lord Ghost King changed the subject.
“Segments of my memories,” Zhong Chengshuo softly replied.
“I have discovered your secret, and for a fair trade, I should give you a secret in return.”
Yin Ren froze. It was the familiar rhetoric, the familiar Zhong Chengshuo.
“I know you are the rabbit… No, I know you are the black lake,” Yin Ren subconsciously answered.
In the darkness, Zhong Chengshuo furrowed his brows slightly. “Mm, but your information is not complete. Speaking of which, this is a secret at the level of marriage. In addition to revealing your memories to Shian, you need to offer something extra.”
“I…”
“After we leave here, please tell me your bank card password,” Zhong Chengshuo solemnly requested.
Yin Ren: “…”
Yin Ren: “Deal.”
Once they were away from this place, he was determined to make this unlucky rabbit regret ever crossing paths with him.
Zhong Chengshuo took a breath and continued to explain, his tone reminiscent of a narration in a wildlife documentary. “What you’re seeing now is me attempting to grow eyes for the first time.”
Is this some kind of information that needs to be specifically added? Yin Ren’s mind was filled with confusion.
“Let me explain my viewpoint first,” Zhong Chengshuo said. “After your apparent death, me and you remained dormant deep underground. Until a certain point in time, I suddenly sensed a tremendous ripple—it was massive, yet its fluctuations were very weak, unlike in this world. It was probably trying to enter the human world, just like I did back then.”
“In simple terms, it was banging against a wall, and it woke me up.”
Yin Ren nodded. “But what does this have to do with you growing eyes?”
Zhong Chengshuo simply looked at him and slowly revealed a smile.
The next moment, Yin Ren was engulfed by memories that belonged to Zhong Chengshuo. Those sensations and thoughts flooded in instantly. They overwhelmed Yin Ren, and he struggled to arrange them in a coherent order.
First came the familiar void.
Zhong Chengshuo seemed to be sound asleep, with no thoughts circulating. Then, the massive ripple he mentioned suddenly struck. The vibrations traversed through space, abruptly awakening the slumbering Zhong Chengshuo.
He found himself blankly lying on a pile of bones, feeling the impact of the massive ripple “banging against a wall”. Around him, there were only faint ripples reflected by countless bones.
What was he supposed to do?
Oh right, peace, the apple… and going to the mortal world.
His power had been restored, so perhaps it was time. However, that person said he should protect himself. If he were caught by humans as soon as he appeared, he wouldn’t be able to explore the human world properly.
Zhong Chengshuo moved his colossal body and decided to find a human shell.
Fusing with a set of bones, carefully reading the details of the ripples within, and transforming into a human form… it should be feasible. After playing around with bones on the ground for a while, he ultimately gave up on those fragmented ripples.
They were underground, and he didn’t know how to leave this eerie place once he became human.
What if he chose the surface? He pondered slowly, almost wringing his brain dry.
Half a year had passed since he was awakened, and Zhong Chengshuo finally had an idea—he spread out his body, concentrated his consciousness, and began to perceive the prayers of people for the concept of “god”.
Countless thoughts rushed into his mind.
There were those who made wishes using “money”, a concept he couldn’t understand and had little interest in. There were also those who made wishes to “become a vegetarian next time” which Zhong Chengshuo couldn’t comprehend even more—those wish-makers didn’t even want to share any offerings.
Amidst the jumble of wishes, he suddenly sensed a prayer saturated with a strong scent of blood.
[Gaze upon me.]
The worshiper made a wish.
[Gaze upon me and grant us extraordinary power beyond the mundane world and bestow upon us supreme happiness.]
…I don’t understand what this means at all.
Unfortunately, at that time, Zhong Chengshuo clearly had no sense of reserve. He pondered in place for a while and decided to go and see first.
Because he was very curious about that offering.
The small offering carried the essence of blood and death, exuding a familiar aura. What was most marvelous was that he could discern that ripple—
