The streets were filled with the lingering scent of fireworks, and scraps of red paper were scattered everywhere, mixed with melted snow. From a distance, it looked like a pile of spring petals.
Every household was rushing to stock up on goods for the final day. The fragrances of cakes, sweets, nuts, and roasted snacks permeated the air, as people crowded the streets, trampling on the remnants of snow. The atmosphere in the streets and alleys was lively, and even the cold of early spring couldn’t freeze the excitement.
Celebrating New Year’s was a tradition that existed even before the founding of Great Yun, and even though the people later worshiped the Imperial Celestial, the festive atmosphere didn’t diminish.
Outside the Imperial Preceptor’s residence, lanterns were also hung up in line with the prevailing custom. Behind the crimson gate, there was no trace of a festive atmosphere.
As a loyal follower of the Imperial Celestial, the atmosphere of celebration in Jiang Youyue’s residence was practically nonexistent. However, the Imperial Preceptor had always been magnanimous and didn’t interfere with the people’s self-celebration. He didn’t care if a maid put on festive hairpins or if a servant wore new clothes.
He had few concerns, and Shi Jingzhi’s whereabouts were the most important among them.
“So he did go to the Mishan Sect. What’s the situation over there?”
Jiang Youyue tended to the bonsai on the shrine, calmly listening to the report from his subordinate.
“He made contact with Chen Qianfan of the Mishan Sect.”
“Chen Qianfan? That’s a character. Back then, he nosed around everywhere and almost discovered the location of the Ghost Tomb… Hm, it’s not surprising that he sought out Chen Qianfan after returning from Huilian Mountain. It seems that the boy is very interested in the ban.”
The subordinate, also dressed in ceremonial attire and wearing a mask of worship, spoke.
“We just don’t know if he intends to break the ban or seal away his memories. The Mishan Sect prefers to have limited direct contact with outsiders. Master, if we intervene recklessly, it may arouse suspicion.”
Jiang Youyue carefully pruned the bonsai’s unruly branches before slowly turning around. “It doesn’t matter. If he intends to break the formation, the Mishan Sect doesn’t need to intervene for us to find out.”
“The Queen of Milan’s Arcane Arts is still in the North. If Jingzhi were to break it and uncover the clues—”
“So what if he discovers something? Remember, this matter depends on his destiny. We just need to wait quietly for the outcome. If he bears a heavenly mission, then we can intervene. If he is just another ‘problem’, we will deal with it as we have in the past.”
The young subordinate hesitated to speak.
“Master, this disciple still believes that while success depends on fate, planning is necessary. The Queen of Milan was intelligent and resourceful, while Yan Budu was proud and talented. Both of them tended towards perfection but stopped at the final step. As for Shi Jingzhi…”
“There’s no need to worry needlessly. Let’s discuss it again in a few days. If he truly intends to break the ban, I will tell you then. How about the progress with his disciple? Have you found anything?”
“There is nothing significant at the moment.”
“Hmm, let’s keep an eye on it. As long as the ‘Great Ban’ in the northwest is still there, even if Shi Jingzhi takes King Yan as his disciple, it won’t change his fate.”
“Yes.”
A thousand miles away, in the desolate North.
The group returned to Chen Qianfan’s residence, and the sky had completely darkened.
Chen Qianfan sat down on a stool and poured himself a pot of hot tea. He rubbed his beard, and it took a while for Shi Jingzhi’s words to register in his ears. “Huh? You said you want to break the ban?”
“…Yes.” Shi Jingzhi’s tone was quite solemn.
“Well, you’re quite in line with my temperament, kid. But in that case, things will be a bit difficult. If you just want to make a disaster warding talisman for that girl, cutting off a piece of corpse will be enough. But to break the ban, you’ll need at least three ancient corpses.”
Chen Qianfan grumbled as he stood up and pounded his old waist.
“The arrangement of the formation for breaking the ban is also quite troublesome. Ah, come to think of it, it’s quite a hassle. It’ll take at least ten days to finish…”
Shi Jingzhi: “Senior Chen, I’ve been wanting to ask, why is it necessary to use ancient corpses as materials? Are there any alternative substitutes?”
Chen Qianfan glanced at him and then spoke slowly.
“Whenever it comes to spells and magic formations, you need the bodies of monsters as materials for casting them. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Some living creatures naturally possess much greater qi than others, and they are called ‘monsters’ in the world. In fact, the world is filled with spiritual qi, and some living creatures naturally absorb more qi, resulting in their transformation into monsters. When a monster dies and its body decays into mud, it still contains abundant qi. Based on this, spells can be cast. The more intelligent the monster, the better the effect of its corpse.”
Chen Qianfan slowly flipped through his record book.
“The same principle applies to humans. Humans are also living creatures, and they possess the most abundant qi. That’s why I need the ancient corpses from that Arcane Arts.”
No wonder Chen Qianfan said he was “good material”.
“That’s right. The ancient corpses in that Arcane Arts are excellent ‘monsters’ and the most effective materials for casting spells. However, it is taboo to kill people for materials, which is the first iron rule of the Mishan Sect. So, I can only use human corpses.”
With that, Chen Qianfan smiled meaningfully.
“In this world, there are no rootless trees or water without source. Spells and magic formations, which go against the natural order, have an effect that is only fifty percent efficient and consume at least three times the energy. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have spent thirty years studying the immortal body.”
Shi Jingzhi fell into contemplation, and Yin Ci lowered his gaze, remaining silent.
However, this subtle atmosphere didn’t last long.
Shi Zhongyu didn’t have the leisure to ponder magical theories. Ever since she heard, “It’ll take at least ten days to finish,” a worried expression appeared on her face.
She could wait, but her sect couldn’t. If they delayed for another ten days, there was a possibility that she wouldn’t be able to make it in time for the Seventh Day after the funeral of the sect leader of Taiheng.
Shi Jingzhi noticed her anxious gaze. “It will only take a few days to obtain the corpse pieces. Human lives are at stake. Miss Shi, you should return to Taiheng first.”
Shi Zhongyu didn’t take advantage of the situation. “In that case, how will Sect Master Shi return to the Central Plains?”
“I’ll make an arrangement with Miss Shi for half a month. I’ll send my disciple to assist you in obtaining the materials. After half a month, Miss Shi will come back with the Arrow Horses to pick us up. How does that sound?”
Shi Zhongyu finally breathed a sigh of relief, and a hint of gratitude appeared in her expression. “Thank you, Sect Master Shi.”
Su Si hugged Lord Bai tightly, his complexion almost as pale as the goose’s feathers. “Do we have to stay here for another half a month?”
This place was barren, with nothing but snow outside the window. Su Si had only been here for one day, and he felt completely idle. On top of that, Yan Qing’s sword practice had reached a state of obsession, and no matter where he practiced, he would lose himself in it. After joining the Kushan Sect, his days became increasingly desolate.
Shi Zhongyu quickly mediated, saying, “Our sect has a temporary resting point in Twin Rivers. I will have someone waiting there early. We won’t actually be delayed for half a month.”
Su Si sighed. “I’m not targeting Senior Shi… Sect Master. Today is New Year’s Eve. If we calculate like this, we won’t be able to enter the city until before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month?”
Shi Jingzhi: “…”
Shi Jingzhi turned pale with shock. “New Year’s Eve is already here? Wasn’t it supposed to be seven or eight more days?”
It wasn’t surprising that Sect Master Shi didn’t realize it. With just the master and disciple of the Kushan Sect, one facing a life-and-death decision and the other already living without knowing which day it was, they almost forgot that there were still joyful events in the world. Only Su Si, with his carefree nature, remained alert.
Moreover, Chen Qianfan’s place lacked any festive atmosphere. It was to be expected, as Chen Qianfan had the appearance of a carefree recluse. He wouldn’t pay attention to any of that.
Poor Su Si had been crawling and struggling at the bottom of the martial world. He longed for a bit of festivity in his daily life, but now he couldn’t even hear a single firecracker.
Granny Wei came forward to refill the tea, and upon hearing this, she smiled and said, “There are so many young people here. Why don’t we celebrate New Year’s as well? I’ll make a couple more dishes for dinner. I even sewed a new jacket, but Mr. Chen doesn’t like wearing it…”
Chen Qianfan stroked his bread a few times and said indifferently, “It’s up to you. I don’t care.”
‘Anyway, he will forget everything by tomorrow,’ Yin Ci thought.
He looked at Shi Jingzhi, knowing that his cheap master loved lively events. He happened to be facing a decision that concerned his life so he certainly wouldn’t want to miss such a festival.
Sure enough, Shi Jingzhi’s serious expression disappeared.
He walked a few steps and stood in front of Su Si, saying earnestly, “So what if we can’t enter the city? How can our sect not celebrate New Year’s?”
Seeing Shi Jingzhi’s expression, Yin Ci finally felt relieved. “Yan Qing, go decorate the room, and I’ll help Granny Wei prepare the food.”
Granny Wei’s eyes became a little moist, and she became almost jubilant. “Good, good. We still have some leftover flower petals from a few days ago. I’ll use them to dye some paper and make paper-cut window decorations. Oh, New Year’s should be lively.”
Chen Qianfan snorted a few times but didn’t say anything.
Anyway, they had to play with the Arcane Arts at daybreak, so they might as well do something at night, which would be considered a combination of work and rest.
Although Shi Jingzhi wasn’t the type to shy away from anything, unfortunately, his role in this matter was equivalent to that of Lord Bai. Shi Jingzhi, as the sect master, couldn’t contribute much and was assigned to observe Chen Qianfan’s research on magical arts—even Su Si, who could mince meat, could at least help with making dumplings.
Whether it was due to self-awareness or simply laziness, Shi Jingzhi remained silent and walked past the boundary in the front hall, plunging into the chaotic side. In no time, Sect Master Shi and Elder Chen were whispering to each other, even getting physical.
Yin Ci carefully watched for a moment, making sure there was no trace of gloom on Shi Jingzhi’s face, before withdrawing his gaze.
Throughout the journey back, he felt that Shi Jingzhi had gained an unusual heaviness, but perhaps this was just his imagination.
Time passed quickly.
They hadn’t planned for an extravagant New Year’s celebration; just a festive atmosphere would suffice. Unexpectedly, just as they finished decorating the windows and cooking the dumplings, Shi Jingzhi, who had initiated the whole thing, left Chen Qianfan’s side and went out alone.
Yin Ci patted off the flour from his hands and followed along openly.
Shi Jingzhi’s emotions had been unstable regarding life and death matters. At this moment, when it was the liveliest time in the mortal realm, he was left in the northern region, carrying an unknown amount of pressure on his shoulders. It wasn’t impossible for him to lose control.
He had to keep a close eye on Shi Jingzhi.
Outside the door, the accumulated snow remained a dull blue, covering the ground and spreading to the horizon. The sky was filled with dark clouds, and sporadic snowflakes fell, obscuring the stars and moon.
Shi Jingzhi stood in the windowless room, surrounded by emptiness, and turned to look at Yin Ci. “A’Ci, you really followed me.”
Yin Ci didn’t tease him. “Your decision isn’t insignificant, and it is difficult for ordinary people to make such a choice. Who knows how the addiction will act up? From what I know, someone is an expert in self-harm.”
“I promised you that I would no longer harm myself.” Shi Jingzhi wasn’t annoyed. “As your master, when I make a promise, I keep it.”
Yin Ci stared at him for a moment. “If you want some peace and quiet…”
“No, stay here. Don’t go anywhere.”
Shi Jingzhi smiled sincerely.
“This might be my last New Year, and I really want to celebrate it properly. Tomorrow, on the first day of the first lunar month, we’ll start studying the Arcane Arts. It’s also in line with the occasion.”
Yin Ci didn’t respond to his playful remark. “Stop talking nonsense. Next year, I’ll take you to Yidu to celebrate the New Year. They have the liveliest lantern festival there.”
Shi Jingzhi’s gaze gradually softened. “Alright, Master approves.”
Immediately after, he exhaled heavily and took out an object from his pocket.
“But we should still celebrate this New Year properly. A’Ci, watch closely.”
With a flicker of flame, he ignited something with a sizzling sound.
Then, that thing exploded directly in Shi Jingzhi’s arms.
Yin Ci’s scalp went numb in an instant, almost startled to the point of exploding as well. That explosive force was no joke. If things went wrong, half of his face might have been blown to pieces.
His mind reacted before his body. He swiftly moved to grab Shi Jingzhi. This time, he didn’t have time to coordinate his movements, and his qinggong didn’t look too graceful. It even seemed a bit awkward.
“Just when I said no self-harm, are you trying to commit suicide to show me?”
Yin Ci anxiously checked for injuries, almost about to roar.
As the thick smoke dispersed, Shi Jingzhi’s face was blackened by the fumes, but his skin remained unscathed. Yin Ci finally breathed a sigh of relief, only to see him smiling innocently.
“You—”
There was a sharp crack.
In the silent night sky, a golden light soared from Shi Jingzhi’s arms, shooting up into the sky, then exploding into a dazzling display of golden fireworks. Golden sparks scattered beneath the dark clouds, momentarily illuminating the sky, and the familiar scent of fireworks filled the air.
It was a rough firework, imposing and dazzling.
“I’ve seen people do it in Yidu. I won’t hurt myself. But since it’s the first time, I wanted to test the effect. I knew A’Ci would follow me, so I secretly wanted to show it to you.”
Shi Jingzhi chuckled.
“Do you care about me that much?”
This little brat even knew how to imitate him. Yin Ci released the other’s wrist with a stern face. “Don’t let it happen again.”
Shi Jingzhi’s gaze became complicated.
Although the mysteries grew heavier, the grudge he held in his heart about his dusty fate dissipated completely at this moment.
Yin Ci still hadn’t told him the reasons behind revealing his identity to Shi Zhongyu today. With their shared secret now public, there was indeed a trace of melancholy remaining in Shi Jingzhi’s heart.
However, now it seemed that Shi Zhongyu was different from him—
Perhaps Yin Ci himself wasn’t aware of it. In that instant when the fireworks ignited, Yin Ci was far from being composed and lacked the demeanor of an elder. Unlike the time in the forbidden area, he lost that air of superiority and leaped away in a clumsy, panicked manner.
In just a moment, Shi Jingzhi’s heart seemed to stop, and in the vast world, only the faint sound of the fireworks bursting remained.
Perhaps Yin Ci would never know.
He would never know what kind of solace he had received on this lonely, cold night amidst countless dark unknowns.
Suddenly, Shi Jingzhi wasn’t so afraid anymore.
The author has something to say:
Remember to be safe when setting off fireworks! Don’t imitate Fox Shi; it’s not safe—
The sky was clear, and the sunlight was transparent as the sun leisurely moved across the sky.
The small monsters on the ground shrieked incessantly, making people’s ears ache. The Arcane Arts was surrounded in the center, with thousands of severed heads on it—their mouths and eyes tightly closed, silent. The air was heavy with the aura of corpses, which was so dense even the noon sunlight couldn’t disperse it.
Perhaps due to the time, its movements carried the stiff sluggishness unique to corpses, slightly slower than in the morning.
The enemy is weak, and we’re strong. Once the words were spoken, Yin Ci no longer held back. Sword qi surged, a sinister aura pressed down, and the killing intent was no less than that of the half-dead Arcane Arts.
Shi Zhongyu was taken aback by the menacing aura, but she didn’t waste any time being startled. With the danger facing her sect master, she didn’t hesitate to assist Yin Ci with all her might, holding the tattered Green Maiden Sword and exerting all her strength.
Elder Chen finally nodded in approval. With his hands behind his back, he still had no intention of making a move.
Just as Shi Jingzhi started to relax, he immediately became restless. He believed in the importance of practical combat, and now being forced to watch the battle was more uncomfortable than having ants crawling all over the soles of his feet.
“Senior Chen, this junior will go and assist… Ah!”
He had just tentatively uttered half a sentence when he received a smack from Chen Qianfan.
Sect Master Shi took a sharp breath, his eye sockets sore from the hit. He touched his head and felt a quite prominent lump.
“Impetuous.” Chen Qianfan commented without reservation. “You finally got a good spot to observe, but you can’t analyze the battle situation properly. Just fighting, all you know is how to fight.”
Shi Jingzhi remained silent. He didn’t know what there was to analyze about that eerie thing on the other side. Although his attention was divided due to the matter of his ban, he had at least been staring and watching the whole morning, causing his head to go numb and goosebumps to repeatedly rise. The Arcane Arts always looked the same, repeating the same three moves like a set pattern.
Now that he had made a promise to his disciple, he felt infinitely confident and even raised his voice. “I watched it in the morning, and it’s already ingrained in my mind.”
Chen Qianfan gave him a sideways glance. “Oh? Let’s use that dead-faced boy as an example—if he were to strike the head of that corpse, how would the Arcane Arts react? How would the other corpses move? Come on, show me each and every detail.”
Shi Jingzhi: “…”
He suspected that this old man was just being difficult. The Arcane Arts was covered in unknown spells; how could anyone see through it?
Chen Qianfan chuckled disdainfully, not bothering to conceal the contempt on his face. “Youngsters are just youngsters. At least those two kids over there know what they’re doing, but you seem to have plenty of free time. I’ve said earlier that you coming along would be useless; why are you so clueless?”
“They need to figure out how to harm the Arcane Arts, turning themselves into a sharp blade. They can’t afford to be distracted. Since they’ve chosen to be the blade, they don’t have time to analyze the overall situation, and that’s where I, as the wielder of the blade, come in. Sharpening the blade doesn’t hinder the chopping work. It’s never wrong to study and analyze… Haa, I had hoped you would be somewhat useful, but it seems this old man was expecting too much. You’re utterly useless.”
Shi Jingzhi endured the taunt without showing any resentment.
He stood silently for a while under the evaluation of being “utterly useless” and then respectfully saluted Chen Qianfan. “This junior has learned from your guidance.”
Shi Jingzhi regained his composure. His amber eyes were glued to the Arcane Arts, and his gaze gradually became completely focused.
Chen Qianfan was slightly taken aback, and in the end, he raised his beard and revealed a less sarcastic smile.
Shi Jingzhi no longer allowed himself to be distracted by the matter of his ban, as his entire heart was devoted to the Arcane Arts. In his eyes, the thousands of ancient corpses would at times form orderly armies, and at other times, they would turn into chaotic flesh. Even the slightest movement under the sword qi would spread like ripples, leaving no trace to be found.
As Shi Jingzhi continued to watch, he gradually became fascinated. The horrifying corpses transformed into symbols that constructed puzzles, no longer able to evoke his fear.
If he attacked this area, it would retaliate. Three corpses would group together, and five corpses would scatter. Spells would come from the southwest, supported by the corpses…
“Crack!” “Ah!”
As Shi Jingzhi was lost in his thoughts, his head was suddenly struck by an unexpected heavy blow.
He felt as if this old man would beat him into a fool, but he couldn’t get angry. He clenched his teeth and said slowly, word by word, “Senior?”
“You should eat something. Your state just now was good, but it consumes a lot of mental energy. When you’re really on the battlefield, being too focused isn’t good—your mind needs to be sharp, but you also need to protect your body.”
It suddenly dawned on Shi Jingzhi. He had been completely absorbed and hadn’t moved for two hours. As he took a step forward, his head spun, and he immediately spat out blood. His legs were also numb and sore, and he almost couldn’t stand.
Chen Qianfan stayed in place and lit a fire, throwing a piece of excessively sweet brown sugar cake to Shi Jingzhi.
“Eat it, then take a break.”
“…Senior, have you ever fought against the Arcane Arts?” Shi Jingzhi respectfully sat by the fire.
Chen Qianfan stroked his beard and flipped through a thick record book. “A few times. When I was in my thirties or forties, I could still handle it, but when I got older, I couldn’t keep up. I could only cooperate with the juniors.”
Shi Jingzhi fell silent for a while, gazing at the heavy and ancient record book.
“Did you abandon your memories like this to become an immortal?”
“Although it’s true that I’m doing this for an immortal body, causality cannot be overlooked.”
Chen Qianfan casually took a bite of the sugar cake.
“Human beings are easily obsessed with the ups and downs of the past—forgetting all of that prevents sorrow. This way, when I become an immortal, I won’t suffer from the mundane world.”
“Of course, I won’t delete daily trivialities… Otherwise, I wouldn’t even remember who I am, which would be absurd.”
‘Perhaps people without object obsession are just like this,’ Shi Jingzhi thought to himself.
He made an effort to swallow the overly sweet cake. “Senior, are you certain about the existence of an ‘immortal body’?”
“In this world, few die of natural causes; most die from illness. If the internal organs don’t fail together, then I replace whichever part is failing with a magical artifact. Take Wei Chun, for example. She had a lot of problems caused by injuries when she was young. If I hadn’t replaced her internal organs, she wouldn’t have lived past forty.”
Shi Jingzhi felt a little regretful for a moment. He was a person whose entire body, including the meridians, was malfunctioning. Otherwise, replacing internal organs could be a way out for him as well.
“Immortal body… Senior, it seems to me that your method is more like dying of old age.”
“That’s why I’m still searching for techniques.”
Chen Qianfan lifted his eyelids and flipped through the thick record book again. He found a page and pushed it toward Shi Jingzhi.
“When I was young, I traveled to many places, but it’s a long story. Read it yourself… This is a secret legend I acquired. You’re in a precarious situation, so maybe you’ll find it useful.”
Unlike the brief notes from earlier, the text on that page was dense and filled an entire page. Shi Jingzhi had good eyesight, but he found it a bit difficult to read.
The young Chen Qianfan recorded the topic about an immortal body in great detail.
The immortal body was often related to the legends of immortals and Buddhas. Just like the current Shi Jingzhi, relying on his youthfulness, Chen Qianfan roamed the vast lands of Great Yun, searching for related clues.
He had been to the northwest city of Shafu. In the desert near the ancient battlefield, Chen Qianfan found a secluded village.
Usually, there were similar tales of gods and monsters in specific regions, and Chen Qianfan had long learned to separate fact from fiction. However, in that small village, he heard an unprecedented legend.
The village was tiny, and its inhabitants rarely interacted with the outside world. It was rare to encounter something extraordinary, but any elderly person could vividly recount the story, as if they were present.
Over two hundred years ago, the village was plagued by bandits and wolf packs. In one winter, the bandits who frequently raided suddenly vanished without a trace. The incident was strange, so the village elected the bravest young man to investigate the bandits’ lair.
He only found scattered, fleshless skeletons everywhere.
It seemed as if the bandits had been devoured by wild beasts, leaving behind only sticky, fragmented flesh. Among the gushing blood, there was only one survivor.
That person was young, dressed in tattered but luxurious clothes, resembling an immortal descended from the heavens.
Unfortunately, he was a fool.
He didn’t recognize or respond to any speech, standing there in a daze like a withered tree devoid of vitality. The young man assumed he was a slave captured by the bandits for their amusement, so he carefully fed him and brought him back to the village, where he was cared for alongside the man’s wife and children.
Even if that strange person couldn’t do anything, just watching him was pleasing to the eye. Not to mention that he had great strength, and once familiarized with the village, he could help with simple and heavy tasks.
But as the years passed, the strange person still couldn’t speak and didn’t want to interact with anyone. When he had no work to do, he would find an open space to sit and remain seated for half a day without moving.
The village elders said that his “heart was broken” and there was no cure for it. The village had a simple and honest atmosphere, so they regarded the strange person as an additional quiet scenery and didn’t disturb him.
Ten years passed without incident.
Ten years later, the young brave man from before had become a middle-aged man in his forties. His children had married and had children of their own, and his grandchildren were babbling. However, the appearance of the strange person hadn’t changed at all; not a single wrinkle or strand of white hair had appeared.
If it weren’t for the fact that the strange person had an exceptionally beautiful and otherworldly appearance, coupled with that muddled and idiotic look, people would almost have been fearful of him.
The climax of the legend was a wolf attack.
Every winter, the village would suffer one or two waves of wolf attacks. Usually, the villagers only needed to guard the outer walls of the village and keep the village gate locked. But that year, the wolf pack had a wolf demon leading them, and the wolf demon was cunning enough to command the wolves to breach the village walls.
People were filled with fear, and they all hurried back to their homes, tightly closing their doors and extinguishing their candles.
At that time, the strange person was carrying firewood towards the woodshed. The host took the opportunity to push him into the narrow woodshed and was about to lock the door after extinguishing the lantern—
“A cold wind swept by, and the flesh on the host’s right arm disappeared in an instant, leaving only a bloody arm bone.”
Chen Qianfan swallowed the sugar cake and spoke enthusiastically.
“I occasionally go back and read this legend. It’s quite exciting.”
Shi Jingzhi furrowed his brow; the strange person’s actions felt somewhat familiar. Considering this was old news from two hundred years ago, he continued reading obediently.
The host was severely injured and felt both angry and afraid, feeling as if his kindness had been rewarded with betrayal. He left the strange person behind, rushed to the main house, and tightly locked the door, only daring to look outside through the cracks in the window.
The strange person looked at his bloodied hands, revealing an expression of pain for the first time in ten years.
He stumbled out of the woodshed, right into the oncoming wolf pack.
The village didn’t have yards, and the moonlight was just right, allowing the neighboring houses to see everything clearly.
That extraordinary person was instantly pounced on by the wolf pack. His limbs were torn apart, and he was killed on the spot. However, the next moment, he swayed and stood up, his limbs fully restored—those wolves didn’t even have time to swallow the remains in their mouths.
With a flash of sword qi, the starving wolves were instantly skinned and dismembered, turning into a pile of bloody corpses.
That person exuded an extremely chilling killing intent as he advanced through the beast horde. Wherever he went, bones piled up like mountains, and blood flowed like rivers. The moonlight, as frosty as snow, turned red.
In the midst of the slaughter, for some reason, the strange person seemed to become more and more clear-minded, and his gaze grew increasingly desperate.
The wolf demon suffered a great loss and became furious. It rushed towards the strange person, performing a tragic spectacle of tearing a person apart in front of everyone once again.
But no matter how many times he fell, the person would always restore himself from the remains.
Under the bright full moon, blood-red fine roots rose into the sky like demonic creatures emerging from the abyss.
They continuously gathered and formed, mending the injuries. And the strange person, seemingly impervious to pain, charged forward countless times, leaving wounds on the enormous wolf demon. It was said that later, even when the wolf demon wanted to escape, the person caught its tail and forced it to stay.
Gradually, the faint light of dawn appeared, and not a single wolf from the pack survived.
The strange person’s hair was disheveled, his clothes tattered, and his body covered in blood and flesh. He stood quietly in front of the wolf corpses, gazing at the gathering villagers.
In a hoarse voice, he said something, but no one could hear it clearly. The host with the injured arm felt miserable, and the villagers, filled with indignation, threw stones at the strange person.
The strange person didn’t speak anymore. He allowed the villagers to throw stones at him, keeping his head down and bowing to the village. Then he stripped off the wolf demon’s fur, drenched in blood, and left.
In the end, the legend, like usual, said that the immortal or demon disappeared without a trace.
Shi Jingzhi furrowed his brow.
Chen Qianfan raised an eyebrow. “Did you also notice? Shafu is near the main stronghold of the Chigou Sect. This is a legend from over two hundred years ago, and a hundred years ago, the Chigou Sect produced Su Zhi, who became famous with the Bone Sweeping Sword technique. The Bone Sweeping Sword technique is very similar to the methods of that strange person. I’ve investigated it thoroughly, and this legend is probably true.”
“However, Su Zhi lived for ninety-nine years before his life came to an end. Perhaps that strange person was an ancestor of the Su Clan, and the immortal technique wasn’t passed down.”
Shi Jingzhi: “Two hundred years ago was the heyday of the Queen of Milan. So, Senior believes that the strange person is related to Milan’s techniques?”
Chen Qianfan didn’t avoid the topic; he extinguished the fire with a stream of urine.
“Mm, that peculiar effect—I’ve only seen it in the Milan techniques. Even if that person didn’t use the Milan techniques, it must have inspired him… Kid, if you don’t get the Shirou, trying this path wouldn’t be bad either. I happen to be in need of an assistant.”
Shi Jingzhi absentmindedly responded.
He had personally witnessed the condition of “recovering with blood-colored fine roots”. In the forbidden area, when he shattered the unfinished flesh idol, it had recovered in the same way.
And as a “descendant of the Su Clan”, Yin Ci was also investigating the flesh idol. Could this be a coincidence?
The battle in the forbidden area that day kept repeating in his mind. Shi Jingzhi sat on the cold snow, but his back was covered in a layer of sweat—the movements of the flesh idol became more and more familiar as he recalled them, so familiar that it made him uncomfortable all over.
Shi Jingzhi lifted his gaze and looked towards the Arcane Arts not far away.
The same.
Compared to the flesh idol, the Arcane Arts appearance was even rougher, and it possessed evil techniques that the flesh idol didn’t have. It also needed to devour external objects to replenish its energy. But the way their bodies moved was exactly the same.
When was the Yongsheng Imperial Celestial Shrine built? It also seemed to be over two hundred years ago, during the same era as the Arcane Arts.
What happened in this land two hundred years ago? If the Arcane Arts was a cursed artifact, then what was the flesh idol?
Shi Jingzhi felt a chill run down his spine, and his breathing became difficult.
“…Senior, if we chop off the head of the Arcane Arts, will it regenerate?”
Chen Qianfan sneered. “How could such a good thing happen? It was originally much larger than this. Another corpse doesn’t randomly grow when one of them falls.”
But just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Chen Qianfan had to add another comment.
“The head is completely dead, and the meridians aren’t connected. Vital qi can’t flow through. How can it regenerate? If you really want to restore the flow of vital qi, you need a whole piece of living flesh.”
For example, using monsters to corrode living people, turning them into living meat paste, and patiently collecting them.
Someone… or rather, “something” had already done this.
Shi Jingzhi remained motionless.
He sat between the vast heavens and earth, feeling icy cold all over. His flesh and skin felt as thin as paper, and the cold wind blew through his bones. The giant idol in the forbidden area appeared before his eyes once again, weighing him down so heavily that he couldn’t even lift his head.
Shi Jingzhi gritted his teeth, and a taste of blood slowly filled his mouth.
For the first time, he realized how unfamiliar the world before him was.
The flesh idol was related to immortals, and the Shirou was also related to immortals. Currently, the flesh idol was covered in a layer of gold, making it look beautiful and worthy of worship. The belief in the Shirou immortality spread widely, causing people in the martial world to fight for it endlessly.
But could this belief in “immortality” also be a thin layer of fragile gold?
At this point, he didn’t think that the immortals in the legends were as kind and amiable as they were portrayed.
But even if he doubted, Shi Jingzhi couldn’t just let go of that glimmer of hope. It was as if he was tied by countless threads named “desire”, and he had no choice but to walk the path that had already been predetermined.
This feeling was simply nauseating.
If it weren’t for A’Ci being by his side this time, he would have chosen to erase his memories and continue his enthusiastic and ignorant pursuit of survival.
Not long ago, he still had some fear and hesitation about breaking the remnants of the ban. In this instant, that struggle was completely suppressed by determination. Shi Jingzhi couldn’t wait to take action now, digging out that “immortal qi” from his mind.
He was determined to break this ban.
Chen Qianfan didn’t know what was on the young man’s mind. He waved his hand at Yin Ci and Shi Zhongyu, calling them to come over.
“It’s getting late, and the yin qi is heavy at night. Dealing with the Arcane Arts won’t be easy. The effects of the Breath-Halting Pill are also about to wear off. Let’s go back for now and come back tomorrow.”
As he spoke, Chen Qianfan swiftly recorded the day’s observations, and then deftly removed the memories. The entire process was smooth and natural, flowing like eating and drinking.
With no opponents left, the Arcane Arts indeed didn’t leave and continued to wander in place.
But just as the group was about to disappear from view, it slightly lifted its enormous head and turned towards the direction they were leaving.
In an instant, the thousands of severed heads on its head simultaneously opened their eyes. Thousands of cloudy eyeballs, slightly protruded, reflected the figures of the four people in the snowy field.
Thousands of lips were tightly sealed shut, and the Arcane Arts remained as quiet as ever.
The author has something to say:
Kushan Sect’s special way of dealing with a san check*—
Upon hearing Chen Qianfan’s conclusion, Shi Jingzhi felt a bit perplexed.
Setting aside his own lack of strength, Yin Ci definitely wouldn’t want to give it his all. The origins of this disciple of his remained a mystery. This person only displayed his true power during extremely perilous situations, like when he ventured into the forbidden area and was entangled by the butterflies.
Although the Arcane Arts in front of them was bizarre, its attacks weren’t very proactive. It was because the Mishan Sect had a “no brute force” condition that forced them to fight bitterly until now.
Shi Zhongyu lost a fingertip, while the others were unharmed, including Yin Ci and Chen Qianfan, who didn’t even participate in the battle. No matter how you looked at it, this situation had nothing to do with being in a “perilous situation”.
Well, the matter Yin Ci wanted to investigate was related to the idol, while this trip was only for the sake of the ban. He was willing to intervene in this matter, which already demonstrated his commitment.
As Shi Jingzhi was contemplating the situation, he saw Yin Ci ponder for a moment before walking over to Shi Zhongyu.
“Miss Shi, I have something to discuss with you.”
Wait a minute, “Senior Shi” has suddenly become “Miss” now? It was unusual that Shi Zhongyu didn’t inquire about the origin of this “A’Ci” and the agreement to hide their identities, right?
Upon hearing the statement about Yin Ci holding back, Shi Zhongyu showed a slight contemplative expression. Now that Yin Ci took the initiative to speak, her response also carried a sense of inquiry. “Please speak.”
Yin Ci: “No need to rush. I would like to first take a look at the wound on your hand. That Arcane Arts is extremely peculiar, and its techniques might have some effects.”
Shi Zhongyu was taken aback and raised her hand with a mix of confusion and suspicion. “This… uh, you also have knowledge of spells?”
“A little understanding.”
Yin Ci flicked his sleeve and used the edge of his cuff to support Shi Zhongyu’s injured hand. Shi Zhongyu decisively severed her finger, promptly removing the middle fingertip. However, that technique wasn’t compatible. The wound continued to bleed, showing no signs of healing. The blood had an abnormal bright red color, which was quite alarming.
Shi Jingzhi: “…”
Aren’t I the doctor here? Shouldn’t I at least ask Chen Qianfan for a look? Is my disciple going too far by taking the initiative today?
…No, maybe A’Ci is just investigating the attack methods of that Arcane Arts.
Shi Jingzhi, with a head full of question marks, solemnly explained to himself.
Unaware of the string of doubts in his master’s mind, Yin Ci maintained a composed and dignified appearance. “Miss Shi has a keen eye and handled it promptly. However, this technique is dangerous, relying on blood as its foundation, and the wound is not easy to recover from. It would be better for you to seek assistance from Senior Chen.”
With his gentle and courteous words, accompanied by a touch of casual superiority, he was quite different from the respectful distance he had shown earlier.
As a member of the Taiheng Sect, Shi Zhongyu held a high position. She was strong-willed but not dense in the head. In just a few words, Yin Ci subtly conveyed this subtle change, and she vaguely understood the implied subtext behind “having something to discuss”.
“It’s just a minor injury, not a big deal. If you have something to say, let’s focus on the main matter first.”
Her eyes were fixed on Yin Ci.
Yin Ci took a step back and briefly performed a gesture of respect.
“I am Yin Ci. We have met under the Ghost Tomb…”
Without waiting for Shi Jingzhi to interject, Yin Ci brought up the previous claim of being a “descendant of the Su Clan”. Unlike the previous time with Shi Jingzhi, before Shi Zhongyu could suspect anything, he openly confessed his identity as the “white-robed person from the Ghost Tomb”.
Shi Zhongyu’s face turned solemn, while Shi Jingzhi stood there dumbfounded.
Sect Master Shi didn’t know how to join the conversation. Yin Ci left him no room to maneuver and completely disregarded the Kushan Sect in his words. According to his disciple, he was just a pitiful person “being used” and “knowing nothing”.
Yin Ci’s explanation was succinct, and Shi Zhongyu didn’t remain silent for too long.
“I see.”
Shi Zhongyu sighed.
“Our sect also investigated the clues about the white-robed person but gained nothing. Brother Yin, there’s no need to worry. Although there are conflicts between our sects, we won’t disregard reason and shift blame to the Su Clan, who left the Chigou Sect.”
“You are magnanimous, Miss.”
“However, if you are that white-robed person, your strength would be enough for me to address you as ‘Senior’. The white-robed person didn’t harm the righteous sects in the Ghost Tomb. With Matron Wuxue present, Senior didn’t want to expose the Su Clan’s identity. This Junior can understand that.”
Shi Zhongyu lowered her head slightly, and her words carried a sense of respect.
“I still have a personal matter to investigate, and I will also accompany the Kushan Sect in the future. I hope, based on this trip, you won’t reveal my identity.”
Shi Zhongyu clasped her fist. “Naturally.”
After the two finished speaking, Shi Jingzhi remained somewhat dazed, and a chill seemed to permeate the air around him.
He had originally considered the other person’s identity and strength as a shared secret between them, a kind of unique connection forged through their shared tribulations. Yin Ci only removed a small portion of his disguise when they were on the brink of life and death. But Shi Zhongyu only lost a fingertip, and his disciple readily confessed everything.
From a rational standpoint, Shi Jingzhi understood. Yin Ci, being cautious, must have sufficient reasons to expose his identity. Perhaps there was even a plan related to the overall situation. However, he couldn’t suppress the surge of emotions welling up within him.
Now, Shi Zhongyu was just like him.
Yin Ci hadn’t lied to Shi Zhongyu. No one understood better than Shi Jingzhi that Yin Ci indeed had a personal matter to investigate and needed the cover of a small sect. After all, their relationship was rooted in this joke-like “master-disciple relationship”.
The way Yin Ci treated Shi Zhongyu seemed familiar to Shi Jingzhi. When they first met, he also felt that sense of ease and goodwill.
So if Yin Ci needed a “master”, would it be just a switch from a Zhang Jingzhi to Li Jingzhi? After spending a long time together, would Yin Ci wholeheartedly treat him in the same way?
Upon careful consideration, although their relationship had deepened over time, it was still closer to the care and affection of a “senior” for a “junior”.
It wasn’t as special as he had imagined.
Suddenly, a cloud of misty grievance surged within Shi Jingzhi.
His heart felt like it had been stuffed into a teapot and simmered over a low flame. His ears were filled with the bubbling sound of bubbles, and each bubble burst with a faint cry of “This isn’t fair.”
Shi Jingzhi raised his robe and sat cross-legged on the snowy ground, attempting to calm this sense of “unreasonable trouble” with the help of the accumulated snow. Within this inexplicable melancholy, he suddenly understood Chen Qianfan’s reason for erasing memories.
It was all because worldly entanglements were truly troublesome.
If it weren’t for his decision to enter the secular world when he returned to Huilian Mountain, he would have happily embraced the existing “mortal bonds”. No matter how Yin Ci treated others—whether he announced his true identity and paraded around with a dozen wives and concubines—he wouldn’t care.
But now, things were different. Shi Jingzhi had accumulated a bellyful of pent-up frustration that swirled in countless circles, not knowing where to begin or where to pour out. His entire being was filled with a sense of unease.
Shi Jingzhi remained silent and stewed in his own frustrations, while Yin Ci remained oblivious to it all.
Seeing that the timing was right, Yin Ci lowered his voice. “There is another personal matter I wanted to privately ask for your help, Miss.”
“What is it?”
“I have a friend who once admired Shi Chongyu of the Taiheng Sect. It has been twenty years, and I haven’t been able to find any information about Shi Chongyu. I wanted to ask if you have heard of a person named ‘The Broken Jade Spear’ Shi Chongyu.”
Shi Zhongyu’s eyebrows raised, and she made an immediate connection. “Your Sect Master…?”
“No, Shi Jingzhi has nothing to do with this matter. I had the same suspicion before, but it turned out to be a misunderstanding.” Yin Ci once again dismissed Shi Jingzhi completely. “If you help me this time, consider it a personal favor owed to the Taiheng Sect.”
Shi Chongyu wasn’t an important figure, so Shi Zhongyu readily agreed, “This Junior has heard of this person, but the matter was too long ago. I will have to examine the sect’s disciple records in detail. I do have the authority for that. Once this matter is resolved, I am willing to help Senior investigate.”
“Thank you, Miss.”
This conversation took no more than the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Shi Zhongyu went to ask Elder Chen for bandaging, while Yin Ci returned to Shi Jingzhi’s side—how terrible. His cheap master’s expression was turning green. If it were framed, it could be used as an illustration for a grotesque storybook.
Shi Jingzhi looked somewhat displeased, but the direction and source of his dissatisfaction were different from when he was in Yuanxian Village.
Back then, Shi Jingzhi’s anger surged outward, but now it gradually condensed inward, suffocating him.
What’s wrong with him?
Did he feel anxious after seeing how difficult it was to deal with the Arcane Arts? Or was it seeing Chen Qianfan erase his memories that made him unsure how to choose and resent the unfairness of fate?
Well, Yin Ci could test them one by one.
“Regarding the matter of the Arcane Arts, Shizun doesn’t need to worry. I have already explained our identities to Miss Zhongyu, and we will be able to handle it with full force.”
Shi Jingzhi gave him a meaningful glance. “We don’t need talismans, so the Arcane Arts is of no use. A’Ci, you don’t have to go all out like that.”
Yin Ci choked for a moment, unable to reveal that he had privately asked for a disaster warding talisman, so he had to change the direction of the conversation. “Senior Chen wants the techniques from the Arcane Arts. If I exert a little more effort, it will also demonstrate the sincerity of the Kushan Sect. When the time comes, he can handle the ban for Shizun, and perhaps be more careful.”
“Mm.”
Yin Ci sat down beside Shi Jingzhi and tried to make his tone gentler. “Did Shizun see the technique just now? Senior Chen is familiar with that technique, so I’m sure he will erase the memories beautifully.”
“Even if I forget about the trip to Huilian Mountain, does it not matter to you?”
Yin Ci fell silent for a moment and decided to speak honestly.
“As long as the green mountains remain, there will be firewood to burn. Resolving the formation is too risky; your life is more important.”
“Without the trip to Huilian Mountain, I would revert to the state where I couldn’t give birth to that inner demon and treat you as an object without truly understanding. That would be tasteless and meaningless.” Shi Jingzhi finally turned his head slightly, his voice filled with struggle. “Living like that, nothing would be fulfilling.”
As he spoke, his voice trembled.
This trembling didn’t stem from anger. Considering the option of “risking his life to break the ban”, a tremendous fear rushed into his head, seizing his throat.
It was like someone with acrophobia standing at the edge of a precipice or someone with aquaphobia trapped at the bottom of a lake. Shi Jingzhi’s breathing became rapid, his legs weakened, and his entire body felt as if it had been plunged into icy water.
But unlike in the past, he didn’t descend into madness. Shi Jingzhi thought that it seemed that his newly revived human heart still had some use.
Yin Ci noticed Shi Jingzhi’s abnormality and decisively grabbed his wrist. “Object addiction?”
“Mm, object addiction.”
Shi Jingzhi knew he needed to calm himself, but he couldn’t find the peace of mind he sought. The feeling of unfairness only added fuel to the fire, leaving him restless.
“I don’t want to hesitate either, but memories are precious and hard to let go of.” Shi Jingzhi stared directly at Yin Ci. “A’Ci, I know you don’t want anything for yourself. If you only expect me to stay alive, it’s better for you to treat me poorly.”
He tried to convince himself to abandon that small piece of the past. But the more he reminisced, the stronger his fear grew.
Apart from the memories sealed within, those memories were perhaps the best he had in his entire life.
Just a moment ago, he had been thinking that if he were to erase his memories, he would become like Chen Qianfan—able to step over the bodies of those he once cared about and continue pursuing his own goals.
On one hand, Shi Jingzhi thought it would be good, allowing him to wholeheartedly focus on survival. On the other hand, it wasn’t what he wanted. He hoped that time would freeze in the night when they relied on each other not long ago—the moment he found release.
He had never felt such agony before, nor had he ever vividly experienced the feeling of being “alive”.
He didn’t know what to do.
His body vehemently rejected the idea of “taking risks”. Shi Jingzhi’s body burned with heat, and his vision gradually tinted with a blood-red hue. In this blurry, crimson world, Yin Ci shifted positions and sat in front of him.
“Treat you poorly? What nonsense are you saying?”
Yin Ci sighed heavily, then reached out and held Shi Jingzhi’s ears with both hands.
“Since the matter of the ban is causing you so much trouble, I’ll just say it outright—Shi Jingzhi, I have only one wish. I don’t want you to die.”
After speaking those words, a hint of gentleness appeared in Yin Ci’s eyes, as if he had finally let go of a heavy burden.
“Whether you see me as a disciple, a friend, or a senior, I have no right to interfere with your choices. If I were to forcefully persuade you to give up your memories for the sake of fulfilling that promise of ‘a long life’, it would be despicable.”
“If you give up your memories, I will return and give you another Huilian Mountain memory and help you find a human heart once again. If you want to take risks, I will do everything in my power to increase the chances of your survival.”
“Choose, and I’ll protect you.”
‘This person is truly a pain,’ Shi Jingzhi thought.
Regardless of whether Yin Ci’s words came from the heart or not, at this moment, Shi Jingzhi couldn’t bear to forget them.
The madness of fear still lingered, but Shi Jingzhi’s heart gradually felt more at ease, and his chaotic thoughts slowly fell into place, transforming into a warm current.
“I want to break the ban.”
Shi Jingzhi heard himself say those words.
“Otherwise, if I forget about the trip to Huilian Mountain, I will also forget about the agreement to ‘expose each other’s secrets’ …It would be quite a loss.”
After speaking, Shi Jingzhi held Yin Ci’s hands that were cradling his ears and pulled them down. “You’re the only master in the whole world like me, so don’t act so indifferent.”
In the depths of despair, there was always a hand reaching out. He seemed to be gradually getting used to living with that fear.
Yin Ci didn’t know how to react for a moment. He looked at Shi Jingzhi, whose expression gradually relaxed and finally revealed a helpless smile.
“Alright then, later I’ll face the enemy with the Bone Sweeping Sword Technique. Shizun, you have nothing to do, so just watch a bit longer. Maybe you’ll find some use for it after a couple of days.”
Compared to the crooked Kushan Sect, the impact on Shi Zhongyu was the greatest.
She skipped over the terrifying history of two hundred years ago and went straight to the point. “To create a disaster warding talisman, human corpses are used as materials? Isn’t that desecrating innocent deceased individuals? This kind of thing…”
Her stubbornness as a member of the Taiheng Sect returned.
Chen Qianfan sneered, “Powerful talismans have high material requirements. It’s not surprising to use human bodies as materials. Girl, if you don’t want to offend the dead, then find someone with abundant inner force and kill them on the spot. That can also be used as material—I think that fox-eyed kid is quite suitable.”
Shi Jingzhi: “…”
He had just been marveling at the strangeness of the Arcane Arts, but now his attention had to shift back.
Shi Zhongyu naturally refused to kill indiscriminately. “Senior, you’re joking.”
“Then what? Is it more important to protect your Sect Master or to preserve the intact corpse of someone who died two hundred years ago? You figure it out.”
Shi Zhongyu’s face turned pale and green, but in the end, she compromised. She let out a soft sigh. “After going through this, I no longer have the face to condemn the Chigou Sect as a demonic sect.”
Only then did Chen Qianfan nod in satisfaction. “Stubbornness is one thing, but being stubborn to the point of no cure is another. Not bad.”
This old man had a way of praising people with an insulting tone.
At the same time, the eerie Arcane Arts, in its horrifying appearance, finished devouring the corpse of the deer monster. It stood quietly in place, surrounded by a group of smaller demons who were gnawing on the remains. The white snow reflected the early spring sunlight, making the pile of corpses clearly visible.
The bodies were fused together, and the connecting parts resembled melting wax, like some kind of eerie flesh scales. The writing on the corpse’s skin slowed down, revealing its content. It wasn’t the formal script of the Yun Dynasty but rather tadpole-like talisman symbols.
“Alright, for the next few days, it will only wander around this area. If you can tear off one corpse, it will be considered a great achievement.”
“Miss Shi, as yang fire can restrain yin evil, I’ll go.” Shi Jingzhi volunteered.
But as soon as he took a step forward, Chen Qianfan gave him a resounding slap. Chen Qianfan brought out his inner force this time, making Shi Jingzhi cover his head and feel stars spinning before his eyes.
“Who do you think you are? Among this group, you are the most dangerous.”
Chen Qianfan scolded without holding back.
“Didn’t I just tell you? This Arcane Arts must be handled with care. Just the techniques inscribed on one piece of the corpse would take someone four to five years to study. This is the treasure of the entire Mishan Sect. And as for yang fire, does your family use torches to hold precious calligraphy?”
“But…” Although a normal landscape painting wouldn’t bite people, this thing looked dangerous no matter how you looked at it.
“Only those with the ability can possess the Arcane Arts. You just have to be cautious. If you overestimate your abilities and damage the yet-to-be-understood Arcane Arts, you’ll be expelled from the Mishan Sect at best and, at worst, pursued by the Mishan Sect. Do you want to give it a try?”
Shi Jingzhi was speechless.
On the side, Yin Ci shook his head silently.
Leaving aside the strength of the Arcane Arts, just this rule alone was enough to trap Shi Jingzhi. He excelled in battles by relying on brute force and overpowering his opponents with the power of the yang fire. Now that his inner force and qinggong were up to par, the only thing lacking was meticulousness and attention to detail.
This matter still required him and Shi Zhongyu to take action.
“Alright, I’ve said everything I needed to say. Wait for half an incense stick, then you can go up and try. Remember to be gentle. I will assist you with spells.”
Yin Ci raised an eyebrow. “Senior, aren’t you joining us?”
Elder Chen stood his ground. “This thing is very dangerous, and I value my life. Why, you’ve already asked me to do so much; you wouldn’t want me to take the risk of losing my life as well, would you?”
Yin Ci suspected that this old man had a craving for the ancient spells on the ancient corpse and couldn’t deal with the Arcane Arts alone, so he brought them here to do the hard work.
But it worked out perfectly. Trading spells with the disaster warding talisman was fair and just, without owing any favors.
While thinking about this, Chen Qianfan spread open the old record book and quickly wrote a few lines with a charcoal pencil. He didn’t hide it from everyone; the handwriting was neat and clear, easily visible at a glance.
Elder Chen quickly wrote down the arrival time of the Kushan Sect and Shi Zhongyu, the purpose of this trip, and the need to make two sets of disaster warding talisman. Then, he glanced at Yin Ci and deliberately added a few lines of unfamiliar characters before stopping.
With the recording complete, Chen Qianfan spread the record book on the snowy ground. Without even tidying up the charcoal pencil he created a formation with true qi out of thin air.
Yin Ci’s expression changed slightly.
It was a delicate destruction spell specifically designed to erase memories. Many years ago, Yin Ci had also considered using it to seek liberation. He once asked someone to use this spell on himself, but unfortunately, it relied on physical destruction, and his self-healing ability rendered it ineffective.
Chen Qianfan had definitely improved this spell. If the original spell was likened to a bone-cutting knife, the one in his hands was more like a delicate micro-engraving knife, swift and accurate.
The spell took effect, but the target of the attack was Chen Qianfan himself.
A faint white light flashed, and Chen Qianfan was stunned for a moment. He looked around somewhat dazedly, then lowered his head to read the words in the record book.
After reading those few lines, he straightened his back and collected the thick book.
Except for Yin Ci, no one recognized the true nature of that spell. With the completion of the spell, cast on Chen Qianfan himself, they only thought that the old man wanted to strengthen his own abilities. However, Chen Qianfan reacted strangely. Instead of being enhanced by the spell, he seemed to be confused by it.
The tense atmosphere before the battle transformed into confusion. Chen Qianfan calmly immersed himself in the confusion, his gaze sweeping across everyone.
His gaze was cold and clean. Among them, the longing for Shi Jingzhi as “good material” disappeared, as did the admiration for Shi Zhongyu, and even the curiosity about Yin Ci’s inquiry regarding the spell vanished.
It was as if it had been their first encounter yesterday.
Compared to before, Elder Chen’s attitude hadn’t changed much. After observing everyone, Chen Qianfan hummed and said sharply, “Alright, let’s go.”
Yin Ci cleared his throat and asked on behalf of his two bewildered companions, “Senior, what did you…?”
“Just deleting unnecessary memories.”
Chen Qianfan seemed accustomed to such scenes long ago and couldn’t even be bothered to shift his gaze.
“Becoming an immortal means severing the seven emotions and six desires. Unnecessary connections will only be a hindrance. Alright, you guys, hurry up and go deal with the corpses over there. Little Fox-Eyes, you can take a good look. Erasing memories is that simple.”
Yin Ci understood.
No wonder Chen Qianfan didn’t ask for their names; he had planned to forget them from the beginning.
In this way, to him, they were just three juniors who he met for the first time. Chen Qianfan knew nothing about them. Even if they were covered in wounds, with intestines hanging out and blood flowing, he wouldn’t have the slightest emotional fluctuation.
Reducing worldly encounters to a few lines on paper was indeed a cold and heartless approach.
No wonder Chen Qianfan, a man full of emotions, could isolate himself from the world for thirty years in the northern lands.
Yin Ci wasn’t surprised. This method was cruel but effective. He had bid farewell to generation after generation of people, from his youth, when he was full of vigor and passion, to seeing the elderly being buried and offering incense. Countless vivid loves and hatreds had vanished into thin air, unremembered, leaving only a faint impression in his heart.
No matter how tumultuous the waves of the past were, when looking back now, they were merely a concise phrase, “It did happen,” unable to evoke any sense of nostalgia.
Unfortunately, he was different from Chen Qianfan after all. Time didn’t have an immediate effect like a spell. Before memories faded away, he had to engrave them in his heart.
Yin Ci tightened his grip on the Hanging Shadow Sword. He glanced, intentionally or unintentionally, at Shi Jingzhi. A few steps away, Shi Jingzhi stared at Chen Qianfan in a focused manner. Even the fear of the Arcane Arts had dissipated, leaving behind a thoughtful expression on his face.
After a hundred years, would Shi Jingzhi also become his “It did happen”?
Yin Ci tightened his grip on the sword.
He let out a breath, abandoning the cluttered thoughts in his mind, and rushed towards the terrifying Arcane Arts not far away.
……
To be honest, the Arcane Arts was even more difficult to deal with than Yin Ci had imagined.
With the current desolation of the Milan Kingdom’s land, the Arcane Arts had a massive body but lacked sufficient energy, and its movements weren’t particularly fast. Yin Ci’s Bone Sweeping Sword technique was precise and should have been perfectly effective against it.
Unfortunately, with Shi Zhongyu by his side, he couldn’t unleash the full potential of the Bone Sweeping technique. Moreover, the magic of this thing was truly peculiar. Yin Ci and Shi Zhongyu struggled for half an hour but still couldn’t touch its oily skin.
It seemed that there was an invisible, sticky aura surrounding the Arcane Arts. Every time Yin Ci’s sword swept past, the nearby corpses would convulse, and the magic symbols would immediately gather and emit a bright red light.
Yin Ci felt as if he had struck something soft and resilient, causing his sword to slip and not even touch the corpse. There were annoying little monsters all around the Arcane Arts’ feet, so he couldn’t stay on the ground for too long and couldn’t slowly wear it down.
Therefore, Yin Ci decided to focus his attack on one spot.
He fixed his gaze on a corpse at the side of the Arcane Arts’ waist. The black sword reflected the gleam of snow, swift as lightning, as if it wanted to shatter the cold wind.
However, it seemed as if the Arcane Arts had seen through his intentions. Qi gathered near Yin Ci’s point of attack, and a murky fluid seeped out from the gaps in the corpse, mixing with the gathered qi to form a soft and pus-like blister, making the surface even more slippery.
Facing such a giant monster, not having inner force was always the most fatal weakness. Not to mention cutting through flesh and sweeping bones, Yin Ci felt as if he was cutting through a clump of mud and water, leaving no trace of injury.
Not far away, although Shi Zhongyu had inner force, she was even more miserable than Yin Ci.
Several snake-like spell characters wound around the blade of the Green Maiden Sword, corroding it into a pockmarked state.
If Shi Zhongyu hadn’t promptly discarded the sword, she would have nearly lost her right hand—one of the spells had almost touched her fingers, and her fingertips almost instantly turned an unnatural pale green.
Shi Zhongyu made a quick decision, took out a small knife, and cut off more than half of her fingertip. Blood splattered, and the spell was satisfied and retracted, quickly engulfing that small piece of fingertip into the Arcane Arts..
“Hmm. I’ve figured out your styles.”
Throughout the whole process, Chen Qianfan remained calm, stroking his messy beard. Shi Jingzhi clenched his fists, his face solemn, his thoughts unknown.
“That girl has some sincerity but limited talent. As for dead face boy, at this stage, you’re still holding back?”
Yin Ci sheathed his sword and flipped mid-air, landing steadily on the snowy ground. “It was just a tentative move.”
Shi Zhongyu also stopped upon hearing this. She hadn’t had the chance to bandage her wound, and blood droplets scattered on the snow, resembling blossoming plum flowers. “Please give us some guidance, Senior.”
Chen Qianfan waved his hand. “Rest for a while first. It won’t leave immediately. Sort out your own issues first—if you’re absent-minded and hesitant, you won’t be able to deal with the Arcane Arts.”
“After assessing your abilities, if you want to deal with it, you’ll have to go all out.”
Tired to the point of exhaustion didn’t delay someone’s early rising.
At the hour of the tiger, Shi Jingzhi writhed around Yin Ci’s side a few times before pulling himself up. Little did he know that this time his talented disciple didn’t laze in bed either. Like peanuts being pulled, he followed Shi Jingzhi and emerged from the blankets.
There was no trace of Yan Qing in the room. Ever since he acquired the Sword of Compassion and the “Jade Bell Sword Technique”, it seemed like Yan Qing had firecrackers tied behind his head. He would explode whenever he slacked off. Only Su Si slept sprawled on the mat, with Lord Bai curled up like a snowball pressing against his chest.
Shi Jingzhi kicked the blanket near his feet and covered Su Si, whose hands and feet were exposed. Then he dragged his drowsy disciple back to the front hall, moving quietly.
The elderly seldom slept much. Granny Wei was already busy in the hall. The sky outside was still dark, but it was adorned with a beautiful indigo color when illuminated by the snow. They didn’t know whether Elder Chen had slept or not, but he was still glued to the table, most likely still pondering his path to immortality.
“The young man with red eyes went out to practice swordsmanship.”
Granny Wei smiled warmly as she fetched a basin of hot water. The soup in the pot was still the same, with a consistent aroma, though it was uncertain if salt was added today.
Shi Jingzhi glanced at Chen Qianfan out of the corner of his eye. This old man was at least from the Jianchen Temple and had also been beaten by the Sword of Compassion. He definitely wouldn’t overlook anything. Unexpectedly, when Chen Qianfan saw the descendant of the Yan family wielding that sword and leaving, he remained as steady as Mount Tai, composed and unruffled, without a hint of surprise.
He was too calm.
Chen Qianfan seemed to sense Shi Jingzhi’s gaze but couldn’t be bothered to lift his eyelids. “Today, I’ll take that girl to dig for materials. You all should contribute as well. Tell that dead-faced boy to come with me. And as for you, think carefully about whether you want to discard your memories or gamble your life.”
Shi Jingzhi made a quick decision. “I’ll go too.”
Finally, Chen Qianfan raised his precious eyes and glanced at Shi Jingzhi. “What are you going for? Itching for something to do? I only need one of you, too many eyes are annoying.”
“Master’s diagnoses is clear, so it’s best to deal with the problem efficiently*. His medical treatment isn’t like those people in the martial world, asking for strange rewards. Actually, I’m also suffering from a peculiar illness and would like to ask Master for advice.”
*Cut the mess quickly (快刀斩乱麻) Metaphor referring to handling things decisively, grasping the key points, and solving the problem quickly.
“You’ve got some nerve, even holding in a fart until the next day. Well, fine. I do hate it when people ask for too much at once. Come over here.”
After half an incense stick’s time.
“Can’t be cured, can’t be cured. Either wait for a stroke of luck or wait for death,” Chen Qianfan said bluntly.
Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci: “…”
Chen Qianfan glared at them. “What’s wrong? This is an inherent ailment. I’ve lived this long seeking immortality. Why should I bother with someone else’s problem from birth? But your condition is too peculiar. I’m afraid no one in the Central Plains can diagnose it.”
Shi Jingzhi didn’t have high expectations to begin with and didn’t show disappointment. “Senior has sharp eyes. This illness is indeed extraordinary, and I am currently seeking desperate measures to save myself.”
Shi Jingzhi remained calm, and Chen Qianfan’s temper softened slightly. “Hmm, it’s an unconventional solution. I’m somewhat interested in that desperate measure, but my old arms and legs can’t compete with a young person.”
Speaking of this, he showed a somewhat regretful expression. “There is still more than half a year of lifespan left… It’s a pity. Your inner force is so abundant—clearly a good material for spellcasting.”
“Senior is too kind. To be honest, this junior wants to accompany senior on this journey to learn—”
Elder Chen returned to the table with his hands behind his back and began manipulating the monster corpse again. “I wasn’t praising you. I just said that your body is full of inner force, suitable for use as material for crafting weapons and formations.”
Shi Jingzhi: “…”
So “material” was meant literally.
It turned out that this old man wasn’t regretting his own short life but rather lamenting that he couldn’t die at this moment, allowing him to skin and dissect Shi Jingzhi for research.
Shi Jingzhi took two steps back, half hiding behind his disciple. The politeness in his tone wavered. “…This junior still wants to go.”
Elder Chen looked him up and down; his semi-long beard trembling slightly. His tone became somewhat gentler. “Alright.”
Shi Jingzhi suspected that this kindness wasn’t directed at him but rather at his physical body. He guessed that Elder Chen felt the excellent material was out of reach, so he could at least take a look. Fortunately, with the assurance of the Jianchen Temple, Chen Qianfan couldn’t possibly be a person who killed and desecrated corpses. Shi Jingzhi mustered up his courage and joined the expedition.
The breakfast soup this time had salt in it, and the taste was unexpectedly good.
After the meal, Granny Wei continued to embroider her flowers as usual, humming a vulgar tune she had picked up from somewhere. “The warm breeze loves the charming peach branches, the spring river is calm, whose home is filled with spring…”
Her dialect wasn’t quite accurate, but the melody of this song was spot-on. Even when sung in an elderly voice, the melody remained soft and pleasant, carrying a touch of lingering notes, adding a hint of southern water vapor to the northern land.
Chen Qianfan chewed on cud like a cow, pretending not to hear. He took the food prepared by Granny Wei, turned himself into a luggage rack, and leisurely walked out without even saying goodbye.
The snow didn’t reach their calves. Chen Qianfan led the way at the forefront, and the group walked at a moderate pace.
Yin Ci remained silent throughout the journey, resisting the impulse to glance at Shi Jingzhi. He still couldn’t figure out how to intervene in this matter in a gentle manner. Poor him; he had never acted as a father to anyone in his hundreds of years of existence. This was the first time he experienced a feeling of helplessness.
Although he picked up Sun Huaijin when Sun Huaijin was only eleven or twelve years old, Yin Ci always felt that something was different.
Shi Jingzhi didn’t really “expect” anything from him.
Sun Huaijin was indeed an ordinary person who needed guidance in every aspect. But the Little Mute never truly regarded him as a father, and Shi Jingzhi didn’t need his care either. With his exquisite senses and dexterous skills, even though he liked to cause some physical pain to himself, Shi Jingzhi knew it wouldn’t endanger his life.
Ever since his inner demon emerged, Shi Jingzhi’s understanding of human emotions had grown rapidly. On the other hand, Yin Ci, since his birth, had never treated people with a gentle and soft demeanor. Even when he previously felt distressed about someone’s injury, his actions were filled with the dominance of a superior.
Shi Jingzhi fully accepted it, thinking that it wasn’t because he was indecisive or soft-hearted but rather to avoid conflict with him.
Neither of them knew who was taking care of whom, and the more Yin Ci thought about it, the more powerless he felt.
For trivial matters, forcing Shi Jingzhi to make such a big decision would probably put an end to their hard-earned friendship. The tangled mess in his hands became warm and alive, and Demonic Lord Yin’s swift blade couldn’t cut through it, giving him a headache.
Yin Ci wasn’t the only one pondering this. Shi Zhongyu also cared about her sect leader and had already run halfway with her three souls and seven spirits. Her knees were almost stiff. Shi Jingzhi walked at the back of the group, feeling bitter in his heart.
Clearly, he was the one facing life and death, yet at this moment, he had become a gravedigger, urging two young and beautiful bodies forward. With the addition of the silent Elder Chen, no matter how he looked at it, he was the most energetic one among the group.
However, Shi Jingzhi’s enthusiasm didn’t last long. As the sun rose, the sky became clear, and the snowscape seemed like a paradise on Earth. Unfortunately, Chen Qianfan insisted on taking the darkest path. The further the group walked, the more desolate the surroundings became, and the cold wind grew increasingly chilling. The scenery gradually became eerie, and a bone-chilling cold seeped into the depths of their bones.
Elder Chen stopped in front of a glacier.
The glacier was covered in pristine white snow, and embedded in the snow was a dead deer. The deer appeared aged, as if it had frozen to death in that spot. Its carcass lay on its side within the snow, relatively intact with no visible signs of blood.
The antlers of the deer were covered with strange-looking flesh bulbs, indicating that it was a deer monster with subtle transformation.
Chen Qianfan muttered indistinctly, took out a logbook, and made a mark. “We’ll use this as a guide today.”
Upon hearing that they were searching for materials, Shi Jingzhi initially thought they were going to hunt monsters or unearth some heavenly treasures. Now, facing a dead deer, he was a bit confused. “Guide?”
Chen Qianfan revealed a faint smirk. “Spells are difficult to make, but I have experience dealing with such difficulties. Materials are hard to find, so of course, the young ones should contribute too. Don’t babble nonsense. Shut up and watch. It’s not easy to find a big monster corpse. You all better work hard later so we don’t miss this opportunity.”
The other three people obediently stood in place.
Chen Qianfan first took out a bowl of dried, black-red fruits and scattered them on the deer corpse. Then he melted snow to make a small pot of thick medicinal juice, which he carefully poured around the deer corpse, forming a deep red pattern. The thick substance, like blood, didn’t disperse with the melted snow but instead formed clear traces.
Chen Qianfan meticulously painted the pattern; his steps were light, not stepping on even a trace of the medicine.
When the formation was complete, the intricate details dazzled the eyes, resembling the techniques used by Granny Wei.
Whether it was an illusion or not, Shi Jingzhi felt that the deer corpse seemed fresher now, not as stiff as before. It appeared to have recently died, emitting steam as if it were still warm.
Chen Qianfan touched and felt around, took out four dark-brown, coarse incense sticks, and stabbed one into the eyes of the deer monster. Once ignited, the incense emitted a blue flame, and the black smoke rose straight into the sky, causing one’s hair to stand on end.
Shi Jingzhi took a breath of cold air, feeling his teeth ache. No matter how he looked at it, this thing seemed more like dark magic than immortal arts.
“It’s done.”
Chen Qianfan turned around and leaped out of the formation. He shook his bundle and took out a bottle of dirty pills, pouring four into his hand. He didn’t care about the dirt and ash on his hands.
Those pills emitted a pungent and sour odor with a suspicious oily sheen.
Elder Chen didn’t mind and took one, crunching and chewing on it.
Shi Jingzhi held back a cry of despair and struggled to pick up one pill. He had some lingering hope, thinking that maybe it would only smell nauseating but not taste as extreme. However, as soon as it entered his mouth, it felt like a layer of rotten mud enveloped his tongue, bitter and greasy.
He stuffed a handful of snow into his mouth to suppress the strange taste. Even Shi Zhongyu grimaced, while Yin Ci remained indifferent.
“That was the Breath Halting Pill. In theory, you should hold your breath for a long time, but you youngsters definitely can’t do that… Using this, you can breathe slightly. Remember not to make loud noises or breathe heavily.”
Shi Jingzhi whispered, “Senior, can you hold your breath for a long time?”
“Naturally.”
“Then this pill…”
“About three to five years. It’s still fine.”
Shi Jingzhi wanted to cry without tears.
Finally, the incense stick inserted in the deer’s eye suddenly brightened. The black smoke on the incense abruptly changed direction, all pointing towards a nearby glacier like four taut black ropes.
“The Arcane Arts of the Queen of Milan. It’s here, it’s here,” Chen Qianfan said. “Listen to my commands later and don’t act rashly—especially you, boy with the fox eyes. Your inner force is too strong. If you recklessly damage the Arcane Arts, you’ll be opposing the entire Mishan Sect.”
Yin Ci couldn’t help but exclaim, “The Arcane Arts?”
He had heard of it before. According to the Mishan Sect, the Arcane Arts contained complex and profound spells. The Arcane Arts itself was also quite dangerous, and even the members of the Mishan Sect were reluctant to touch it unless necessary.
Yin Ci himself couldn’t perform such arts, and the masters of the Mishan Sect specialized in their own fields, so not many people were willing to study the Arcane Arts. He had skipped this clue and only investigated the existing arts of the Mishan Sect.
Who would have thought that today they would stumble upon it?
However, it was unexpected that the Arcane Arts wasn’t stored in a secretive location.
While everyone was speculating, the four incense sticks burned out.
At this moment, without Chen Qianfan explaining, Yin Ci already understood why the Arcane Arts couldn’t be stored and where the danger lay—
A sizable group was approaching in a grand manner.
The main composition of the group consisted of peculiar-looking insect and rat monsters, interspersed with several hundred larger monsters. The group of monsters swayed as they marched, lined up neatly like a funeral procession.
They surrounded a monstrous figure that was about five to six zhang tall.
Judging by its figure, the monstrous being resembled a woman, but her body wasn’t complete. Instead, it was made up of numerous pieced-together naked corpses. Her head was composed of thousands of heads, with densely packed faces stacked together, like something from a nightmare.
The bodies didn’t rot or bloat, emitting no foul smell of decay. On the pale skin, numerous dark red, ink-like worms crawled around, resembling living creatures.
Maintaining a kneeling position, it slowly moved forward with the group, and the countless heads on its “head” jostled and pushed, revealing a seam in the middle. Then, with its patched-together giant hands, it picked up the deer monster’s corpse and inserted it into the opening on its head.
After chewing slowly, it spat out a pile of broken bones. The surrounding smaller monsters swarmed over and devoured the remains.
“This is the Arcane Arts of the Queen of Milan. The ancient corpses on the Arcane Arts are essential materials for warding off disasters, and the spells on the ancient corpses are a unique creation of the queen herself. She dedicated her life’s study to it. With her own body as the core, she refined the most vicious weapon of Milan using her own corpse.”
Chen Qianfan whispered.
“This place is rich in resources, but in the past two hundred years, the original residents of Milan have all moved away, and only the Mishan Sect, skilled in the arts, has remained. Young ones, the Mishan Sect never settles in one place without reason.”
“Two hundred years ago, wherever humans and animals gathered, it would easily attract a group of monsters guided by this weapon. The weapon would devour those with the strongest inner force to sustain itself, while the monsters would consume their remains, coexisting with each other. Initially, it wasn’t called the Arcane Arts but was referred to as the ‘Queen’s Funeral’.”
Receiving such results, Yin Ci felt somewhat disappointed.
He lacked inner force and was unable to delve deep into the study of techniques. To unravel formations, one had to skillfully and precisely apply inner force, which required a great deal of practice. He only possessed theoretical knowledge, but when it came to the battlefield of “formations”, he was nothing more than an inexperienced scholar.
This formation was set up by a master, and Chen Qianfan could unravel half of it, which theoretically meant he was no ordinary person. Unfortunately, Sect Master Shi’s life was at stake, and the fifty-fifty bet was too thrilling.
Shi Jingzhi cherished his life above all else.
It was no wonder the ban remained untouched, and there was no movement from the person behind the scenes—it seemed they had a clear understanding. Although there were people daring enough to gamble their lives, Sect Master Shi wasn’t one of them.
Not to mention that Shi Jingzhi valued his own life, Yin Ci also had no intention of letting him take such risks.
From this perspective, erasing memories was a certainty.
If they talked about the memories triggering Shi Jingzhi’s ban… it should have started with the trip to Hualian Mountain initiated by the Lord of Greed. Memories were easily rekindled and connected, making it necessary to completely erase them, including the cause and effect, in order to be truly clean.
The nights spent together at the lone pavilion, the gazes exchanged at sunset by the Buddha statue—from now on, only Yin Ci would remember them.
Yin Ci’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
Just at that moment, Shi Jingzhi spoke. “Senior, do I have to make a decision now?”
Contrary to Yin Ci’s expectations, he didn’t immediately come to a conclusion.
Chen Qianfan put away the small cymbal. “It’s none of my business. You can choose whenever you want; it’s not like I have the headache. If you’re going to stay here for a long time, just pay the rent.”
Shi Jingzhi breathed a sigh of relief. “…I’ll think about it some more then.”
Yin Ci approached, intending to say something, but Shi Jingzhi gently shook his head and made a gesture for silence.
“A’Ci, shh.” After turning his face away from Yin Ci, the elegance and composure on Shi Jingzhi’s face disappeared, leaving only a pleading look tinged with confusion. “Don’t say anything. Let me think it through on my own, okay?”
Yin Ci frowned, but Shi Jingzhi whispered again.
“After all, I can’t ignore your thoughts.”
Yin Ci’s heart softened once again at his words, so he could only sigh and agree.
This matter concerned human life, so Yan Qing and Su Si weren’t too surprised to see Shi Jingzhi hesitate. Shi Jingzhi straightened his clothes and regained a solemn expression. “Yan Qing, Su Si, help Granny Wei tidy up the room, and don’t let her tire herself out as the host.”
His words were impeccable and flawless.
Unfortunately, when Chen Qianfan realized that there were no memories to be erased, he instantly lost interest in Shi Jingzhi. He forcefully squeezed himself into the “pile of garbage” filled with monster corpses, spread out his precious record book, and started hurriedly recording.
Throughout the entire process, Elder Chen never lifted his head, treating all the elegant guests in the room as if they were wooden stakes.
Fortunately, Granny Wei was a reasonable person. She didn’t stop the two servants from the Kushan Sect who were running around cleaning the house and instead sat down at the table willingly. She kept herself busy by taking a piece of coarse cloth and embroidering on it.
Granny Wei’s embroidery skills were astonishing. She embroidered a peach blossom branch so vividly that it seemed about to burst out of the fabric.
“Master Chen is just like that. Don’t mind him. He has a good heart,” she explained in a somewhat uncertain tone while embroidering.
Shi Jingzhi once again displayed his likable talent and sat next to Granny Wei, pulling up a chair. “Before I came here, I had also heard some stories about Chen Qianfan… Master Chen. He is indeed remarkable.”
Yin Ci couldn’t help but cast a sidelong glance at Shi Jingzhi—the stories he heard most likely were specifically researched and sent from those exhausted messenger sparrow demons.
Unexpectedly, Shi Jingzhi didn’t pursue the topic further. He changed the subject. “Granny, it’s getting dark. Aren’t your eyes tired from embroidering? Should I brighten up the lights for you?”
“My eyes are good, and they still work well.” Granny Wei smiled and extended her hand, showing the traces of formations on it. “I used to have health problems, and many ailments. Even these eyes were treated by Master Chen with his immortal techniques.”
Shi Jingzhi was quite adept at conversation. Before Yan Qing could finish washing the pot, he already brought up Granny Wei’s identity—considering Granny Wei’s ordinary background, it didn’t seem like a big deal.
Granny Wei was getting old, and she couldn’t remember many things clearly. Nevertheless, they were able to piece together her background from her ramblings.
Granny Wei’s real name was Wei Chun, and she had some Milan lineage. When she was young, she was bought by a wealthy merchant from Twin Rivers. Due to unbearable abuse, she injured her owner and escaped. Afraid that someone would be waiting for her on the way to the Central Plains, she took a decisive action and ran towards the Mishan Sect, where the population was sparse.
When Chen Qianfan found her, Wei Chun was on the verge of freezing to death. Chen Qianfan silently treated her illness and was about to send her away.
“Seeing him living in such a miserable state every day, looking disheveled and I had nowhere else to go, I struck a bargain with him and stayed here.” Granny Wei laughed. “I clean for him, and he treats me and feeds me… Time flies so quickly. It’s been thirty years in the blink of an eye.”
Yin Ci asked, “Master Chen has been living here for thirty years?”
Granny Wei smiled and squinted her eyes. “Yes, researching the path to immortality. Master Chen is the best healer I’ve ever seen. He always said those elixirs and panaceas were unreliable. If you want to become immortal, you have to eliminate pain and cultivate an incorruptible body on your own.”
So, he was someone who specialized in healing techniques. No wonder the abbot felt the need to introduce him. However, it was peculiar for an eminent monk to pursue the path of longevity, making one wonder what extraordinary experiences he had been through.
Seeing Yin Ci hesitating to speak, Shi Jingzhi pulled him aside and whispered in his ear, “Actually, I looked into it. Master Chen is a complex person. When he entered the Jianchen Temple for the first time, he was completely heartbroken. He was considered a top scholar, but he was rejected by the girl he adored. Without even taking the exam, he turned around and left the secular world.”
Yin Ci: “……” Yet he still managed to enter the Jianchen Temple. He’s truly a talented individual.
Shi Jingzhi: “According to the abbot’s words, he was extremely intelligent but also full of pride and emotions. Chen Qianfan didn’t accept it and went to retrieve the Sword of Compassion—although I didn’t get any specific information, his situation seems similar to Su Si’s.”
That meant he was mercilessly beaten by the sword.
Yin Ci: “And then?”
“He had a great awakening and realized that he wasn’t suited to be a monk. He found the swordsmanship of the Sword of Compassion fascinating. So the next day, Chen Qianfan returned to secular life and joined the Mishan Sect, attempting to become an immortal.”
Yin Ci was speechless.
If it weren’t for Chen Qianfan’s sharp mind, just looking at the trajectory of his life, he was clearly unreliable.
However, as Yin Ci looked at Chen Qianfan’s expressionless face, he couldn’t help but feel that something was off. This person was completely absorbed in his own little world, indifferent to outsiders, and had a sharp tongue. No matter how he looked at it, he didn’t seem to have much to do with being “emotional”.
Throughout the night, Chen Qianfan remained seated at the table. He would cook something for a bit and jot down some notes for a while, resembling a fully wound-up puppet more than a passionate living person. He didn’t say a word, and Granny Wei didn’t pay him any attention either, focusing on her embroidery.
But in the middle of the night, she would specially pour him a cup of warm tea before going to sleep.
Yin Ci was waiting for this moment. He briefly diverted Shi Jingzhi’s attention and walked up to Chen Qianfan.
“I’ve never heard of a disaster warding talisman.” Yin Ci got straight to the point.
Chen Qianfan raised an eyebrow. “I made them using curses myself. It’s normal if you don’t know. What do you want?”
“Can the risk of unraveling formations be blocked with a disaster warding talisman?”
A look of blatant disdain flashed in Chen Qianfan’s gaze. “To unravel formations, you must first break and then establish, dividing the formation with force. You bear the injuries, while he’s the one being broken by the hammer—forget about formations. It’s like me cutting you and the poison blood oozing out on its own. Can a talisman block that?”
Yin Ci remained silent.
Chen Qianfan’s sarcastic and strange manner was quite different from the orthodox nature of the Jianchen Temple. Monks, at the very least, possessed some compassion, but this person was different. Every word he spoke carried a hint of mockery, asking if you were stupid.
For a moment, Yin Ci really wanted to give this old man a piece of his mind.
Yin Ci took a deep breath and continued with his humble inquiry. “Can a disaster warding talisman prolong one’s life?”
Chen Qianfan raised an eyebrow. “I’ll tell you the truth. This disaster warding talisman was created by the Queen of Milan. Originally, it was a curse called ‘Transferring Calamity’. The cursed person carries the sub-talisman, while the cultivator holds the mother talisman. The cultivator can mutilate themselves without pain or injury, but as for the cursed person… Hmph.”
He snorted twice and glanced at Yin Ci, who maintained a calm expression, before continuing, “Even if I have made some improvements, its essence is still transferring external diseases and injuries, not altering one’s fate. It can’t save the diseases one carries since birth. When the time of life is up, it can’t save you.”
‘Indeed, there are no miracles in this world,’ Yin Ci thought. After all, if a disaster warding talisman could block everything, the emperor would have become an undying old monster a long time ago.
After pondering for a moment, Yin Ci lowered his head. “If it’s not too much trouble, I still want to request a pair.”
Even if it couldn’t save Shi Jingzhi from his congenital ailment, his cheap master was still a mortal with a fragile body. He couldn’t die anyway, so it would be better to have some protection against life-threatening disasters.
Chen Qianfan narrowed his eyes. “I would call you filial, but you don’t seem much like that kid’s disciple. What are you to him?”
Yin Ci was about to organize his response when the person in question twirled his beard again and muttered to himself, “Forget it. It’s not my concern anyway. If you want a disaster-p warding talisman, go out tomorrow with that little girl to gather materials.”
Yin Ci replied numbly, “Thank you, Senior, but this matter must only be privy between you and me*.”
*(天知地知) Idiom referring to only heaven and earth knows (but no one else).
Chen Qianfan widened his eyes. “Why should I listen to you?”
Yin Ci picked up a clump of mud from the side of the table and made a slight alteration to the incantation on the slate. Although he couldn’t perform magic, his theoretical knowledge was on par—at least enough to disturb the old man’s peace of mind.
Chen Qianfan: “Alright, heaven knows, earth knows, only you know, and I know… Kid, come back here and finish modifying this incantation!”
Naturally, Yin Ci didn’t turn back. He happily left behind Chen Qianfan’s roar.
He would help him correct a few theoretical aspects of magic another day, considering it as repaying a favor.
Granny Wei and Shi Zhongyu slept together, while a separate room was provided for the four men. Granny Wei spread a thick and soft monster skin on the ground and placed four sets of bedding.
After spending a whole day in the shuttle and walking through the snowy plains for most of the day, everyone was exhausted. Su Si and Yan Qing slept on top of each other, while Lord Bai took Su Si’s pillow, dozing off lazily.
Even Shi Jingzhi couldn’t wait for Yin Ci and leaned against the bedding, falling asleep while sitting.
Just as Yin Ci approached, Shi Jingzhi twitched his nose.
Smelling a familiar scent, Shi Jingzhi didn’t bother to open his eyes. He didn’t speak, but his brows slightly relaxed, and the gloom on his face dissipated somewhat.
As soon as Yin Ci sat down beside him, Shi Jingzhi relaxed completely and fell into a deep slumber.
However, Yin Ci couldn’t sleep.
Now that he had some free time, he thought he would contemplate the concepts of the yang fire, examine the benefits and drawbacks, and prepare for a detailed conversation with Shi Jingzhi tomorrow. But his mind was unusually chaotic.
[What are you to him?]
Yin Ci couldn’t come up with an answer immediately to Chen Qianfan’s unintentional question. Then, from what standpoint should he interfere with Shi Jingzhi’s own choices?
Having been in seclusion for too long, Yin Ci had long forgotten how to control others without being overbearing. Encountering someone he wanted to handle with care now made his centuries of experience useless, and he felt utterly clueless.
How troublesome.
…Well, forget it. He would have plenty of time to think about it tomorrow when they set out.
Chen Qianfan was roughly sixty years old. It was unknown whether he had drunk some immortal wine or had figured out some magical technique at the Mishan Sect, but his hair was all white, yet his appearance didn’t show signs of aging. He was also very strong and didn’t have the typical leanness associated with old age.
Monk Juehui had a stern face, while Abbot Juefei had a smiling face, forming a contrasting pair. The former “Monk Jueguo” had an expressionless face, complementing the previous two, forming a perfect set.
However, Chen Qianfan’s facial features were more remarkable than those of Juefei and Juehui. He was also dressed in the elegant attire of the Mishan Sect, with a blue and white outfit that sets him apart from worldly affairs. However, when combined with Chen Qianfan’s overly robust physique, it failed to evoke any sense of immortalness.
Chen Qianfan placed the basket filled with monster corpses on the doorstep and brushed off the snow from the soles of his shoes.
“Xiao Chun, is someone here?” His tone was indifferent, devoid of emotion.
Xiao Chun, who was known as Granny Wei, immediately stood up with joy. “Yes, we haven’t had visitors for five or six years… Oh, Master, you are skilled in divination, so you must have known already.”
“Yes, Juefei called here. Remove your masks; let me see your faces.”
Inside the room, only Shi Jingzhi and Shi Zhongyu showed their faces, while the remaining three also removed their masks. Chen Qianfan’s gaze swept across everyone’s faces, but he didn’t linger on the appearance of Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci.
“…Hmm, it will do.”
After scanning each person’s face, Chen Qianfan spoke vaguely while taking off the heavy record book hanging from his chest. Finally, he reached for a small cloth bag at his waist and threw it beside the corpse basket, causing a few pale red petals to fall out.
In this manner, he unloaded the burden from his body, then walked to the table without any pretense and slapped the record book onto it.
Shi Jingzhi took the opportunity to glance at it. The record book had a demon skin cover and yellowed pages with frayed edges, indicating its age.
“Speak, what is it?”
After settling down, Chen Qianfan drank nearly half a bowl of soup in one breath and asked straightforwardly.
All the polite words that Shi Jingzhi had prepared vanished.
Chen Qianfan clearly had no intention of adopting a “hospitable” attitude and got straight to the point, which felt a bit distant. They had been guided here by Juefei, but this person hadn’t asked about Juefei’s recent situation.
Although they didn’t have to lie to his face, which made Shi Jingzhi breathed a sigh of relief, but Chen Qianfan’s attitude was cold and unapproachable.
Seeing no one speaking, Chen Qianfan rolled his eyes like a dead fish. “Are you all mute? Did you come all this way just to have a meal at my house?”
…It was the familiar enigmatic eccentricity of the Jianchen Temple. Shi Jingzhi relaxed slightly.
He also got straight to the point. “A ban was placed on this junior’s memories during the first three years by someone. Recently, the ban has been triggered, and I hope Senior can help resolve it. The reward can be negotiated, and I will do my best.”
“Oh, I thought it was a big deal.” Chen Qianfan waved his hand dismissively. “It’s just a trivial problem. After the meal, I’ll take a look. And you, yes, you, the little girl—aren’t you traveling with them?”
Shi Zhongyu, who didn’t expect to be called out so quickly, stood up cautiously and bowed.
“I am Shi Zhongyu from the Taiheng Sect. I have come here to pay my respects…”
“Don’t bother me with useless nonsense. I’m not interested in your name.” Chen Qianfan, with his poker face, sounded impatient. “What’s the matter? Just tell me.”
“Our sect leader is critically ill, and there is no cure.” Shi Zhongyu didn’t dare to say more than necessary.
“Do you have the pulse jade with you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Well, then your matter is even more trivial. Wait in line behind that boy, and we’ll discuss it after the meal.” Chen Qianfan gulped down the soup and let out a satisfied belch. “I’m done eating; you can do as you please. Xiao Chun, I’ve brought back the demon flowers for you to deal with.”
Granny Wei happily replied, “Ah, would you like more soup?”
Chen Qianfan said, “Sure, bring another bowl.”
Yin Ci took a sip of the unsalted soup and furrowed his brows slightly.
This Chen Qianfan was quite interesting.
Shi Jingzhi’s ban was complex, and even if Yin Ci still had his inner force, he didn’t dare to rashly break it. No matter how he looked at it, this wasn’t a “trivial problem”. Chen Qianfan didn’t seem like a braggart either, so there might be another ingenious solution.
Upon hearing that there was a solution, Shi Jingzhi and Shi Zhongyu ate quickly, wishing they could stuff the bowls into their mouths.
After the meal, Shi Zhongyu barely had time to wipe her mouth before she handed over the pulse jade with both hands.
The pulse jade was warm and soft, capable of recording a patient’s pulse for about seven days. It was considered an auxiliary tool for remote diagnosis and treatment, but it was expensive enough to leave people speechless. Only the Taiheng Sect could afford such extravagance.
Chen Qianfan pressed the pulse jade for a while.
“Are you trying to deceive me? This pulse pattern indicates a common deficiency with fever. Does the patient have any other symptoms?”
She thought that the Mishan Sect would discover something unusual, but with one sentence, Shi Zhongyu’s hopeful anticipation was dampened.
“It’s just a persistent high fever, nothing else. After several days of high fever, the Sect Master showed signs of Broken Horse—”
Chen Qianfan raised an eyebrow. “Signs of Broken Horse?”
Shi Zhongyu suddenly felt like she misspoke. “’Broken Horse’ is an internal term in our sect. It means that the elderly person is critically ill and difficult to save. I…”
Chen Qianfan let out a grunt, interrupting Shi Zhongyu directly, his tone showing a bit more interest. “People in the Central Plains have also noticed, not bad. ‘Broken Horse’, ‘Broken Horse’. It’s quite an apt description. I used to call it ‘Heaven’s Displeasure’, meaning something similar. In the end, whether it’s Broken Horse or Heaven’s Displeasure, the result is the same—there is no hope left.”
Chen Qianfan stroked his medium-length beard and made a clicking sound with his mouth.
“And you, with your fox-like eyes and the flag of a wandering healer, you must have treated some illnesses and should have noticed something, right?”
When he said this, Chen Qianfan didn’t even glance at him. It took a moment for Shi Jingzhi to realize that Chen Qianfan was beckoning to him. “I have only seen a few cases, but I did sense something.”
“Severe injuries and serious illnesses seem to have a certain threshold. Before reaching it, treatment is more effective. Once crossed, it’s like trying to stop water with bare hands—medicine becomes useless… But isn’t this a normal situation?”
Yin Ci also had a similar question.
It was natural that mild conditions were easier to treat while severe illnesses were more difficult. It was just the elegance of the Taiheng Sect to have coined specific terms for them.
Chen Qianfan seemed to sense their doubts. “I used to think this was normal too. However, this place is at the intersection of three kingdoms, and occasionally, some foreigners come seeking help—those people from Luojiu and Great Yun are similar. They also have this invisible and intangible ‘threshold’. But interestingly, the Qituo people don’t have it.”
Su Si couldn’t help but interject. “Perhaps it’s because foreigners have different constitutions.”
Chen Qianfan gave Su Si a disdainful look. “Do you think I wouldn’t have thought of such a basic reason? If we must compare, the constitutions of the Qituo people and the Great Yun people are more similar. The Luojiu people, regardless of gender, are all nine feet* tall, and their lifestyles are nothing like the Great Yun people, yet they share this similarity?”
*[Chi] (尺) A Chinese foot, so 9 Chinese feet is which is about 9.81 normal feet.
Su Si felt the piercing gaze as if Chen Qianfan had seen through him to the core, and he couldn’t help but keep quiet.
Chen Qianfan withdrew his gaze. “I call it ‘Heaven’s Displeasure’ because its characteristics are quite interesting. Anyone who triggers ‘Heaven’s Displeasure’ is destined to become a burden.”
“Compare them with the Qituo people who don’t have ‘Heaven’s Displeasure’. If both have a double leg fracture, the Great Yun people will recover in just half a month, while the Qituo people will take two to three months. But if both legs are bitten off by tigers and wolves, even if treated in time, the Great Yun person will die, while the Qiduo people have a chance to survive.”
“The older and weaker a person is, the more likely they are to trigger ‘Heaven’s Displeasure’. It’s not surprising that you think it’s the elderly who experience Broken Horse. Little girl, your Sect Master… Let me think, he’s around seventy, his meridians are already damaged, and he has been burned into a useless person, right?”
Shi Zhongyu obediently replied, “Yes.”
Immediately, she hesitated for a moment, but then said, “My family has been in the spice business with the people of Western Ridge for a long time, and the people of Western Ridge have never experienced a situation like the Great Yun people. There was a person from the Western Ridge who had a bone injury in our shop, and it took a hundred days to heal… At that time, I thought it was a coincidence, but it still felt strange.”
So that’s why she was particularly concerned about the “sign of Broken Horse”?
Yin Ci lowered his gaze.
The “signs of Broken Horse” discovered by the Taiheng Sect were the same as Chen Qianfan’s “Heaven’s Displeasure”.
The “Immortal Potential” of the Yuanxian Village people and the “Cuckoo Calamity” passed down among the people were the “Monster Material” that Yin Ci named himself.
They seemed to vaguely grasp the edges of some abnormal thing, but because the information was sporadic, they couldn’t reach a unified understanding.
“This ‘Heaven’s Displeasure’ is strange,” Yan Qing suddenly muttered.
Usually, it was only Su Si who couldn’t control his mouth, so it was rare for Yan Qing to get involved in these peculiar matters. Yin Ci turned his gaze and didn’t miss this anomaly. “What’s strange about it?”
Throughout the journey, Yan Qing had developed a sense of awe towards Yin Ci that he couldn’t put into words. Seeing Yin Ci looking over, he quickly sat up straight on the bench.
“It’s nothing major. I just saw Lord Bai and had some random thoughts. In the past, when I helped people raise livestock, their habits were the same.”
The more Yan Qing spoke, the less confident he became.
“For minor injuries and illnesses in livestock, you should treat them quickly. But if the treatment is troublesome or the injury is severe, you should quickly slaughter them for food; otherwise, it would just waste feed.”
This association could be described as either simple or cruel, and Su Si, who was next to Yan Qing, was also stunned for a moment. “San Zi, you… really dare to think.”
Yan Qing quickly explained, “The real ‘Heaven’s Displeasure’ definitely isn’t like that. We all experience life, aging, sickness, and death. I haven’t heard of anyone being killed and eaten. I just said it casually.”
Chen Qianfan’s eyes lit up, and he picked up the old record book, flipping through it quickly. After writing for a whole incense stick’s worth of time, he realized that he had neglected the main matter.
“If ‘Heaven’s Displeasure’ has been triggered, then it’s fine. You’ll accompany me outside for a couple of days to gather some materials, and I’ll make a disaster warding talisman for you.”
Chen Qianfan calmly put down the notebook, yawned, and appeared as if nothing had happened.
“A disaster warding talisman?”
“You’ll redirect your Sect Master’s illness onto yourself and ward off the disaster for him. You’re still young and won’t easily trigger ‘Heaven’s Displeasure’. If your Sect Master’s illness suddenly becomes mild, you can deceive the heavens and temporarily relieve the state of ‘Heaven’s Displeasure’. Take this opportunity to quickly investigate your Sect Master’s problem. Won’t that solve it?”
Shi Zhongyu stood still in her original spot. “Senior, aren’t you going to prescribe medicine?”
Chen Qianfan had no expression on his face. “Prescribe medicine? Given the patient’s condition, it doesn’t seem like some unheard-of, strange illness. His symptoms are too few. It’s more like someone has deliberately weakened his body and deliberately triggered ‘Heaven’s Displeasure’ to make his death appear more natural.”
“I can at most make him regain consciousness and provide some clues. But let me tell you this, if you ward off the disaster for him for too long, you will also become a useless person. You…”
“That’s fine.” Shi Zhongyu interrupted Chen Qianfan for the first time. “To be able to ward off a disaster for the Sect Master with my own life is enough.”
Chen Qianfan looked at her seriously for the first time. “Alright, next.”
Shi Jingzhi silently stepped forward.
Yin Ci also focused his attention and temporarily set aside his thoughts on “Heaven’s Displeasure” and “Demon Material”, preparing to observe how Chen Qianfan would resolve the situation.
Unfortunately, the more he watched, the more he felt that this person was a bit unreliable.
Chen Qianfan didn’t prepare a ritual room or burn incense. Instead, he casually dragged over a log and had Shi Jingzhi sit in a spacious area. He didn’t bring out any extraordinary magic weapons either; he just rummaged through the cluttered pile of miscellaneous items in the corner and found a small, dark bronze cymbal.
With a serious face and rolled-up sleeves, he fiercely struck the cymbal beside Shi Jingzhi’s head, buzzing and clanging, resembling a shamanistic ritual dance performed in the countryside.
As Shi Jingzhi sat there, he exuded an air of funeral solemnity. He looked bewildered but didn’t dare to ask anything, so he sat there stiffly like a meditating monk.
Unexpectedly, after buzzing and clanging for half an incense stick’s worth of time, a complete formation appeared behind Shi Jingzhi’s head. It emitted a brilliant golden light and had extremely intricate patterns. Against the backdrop of Shi Jingzhi’s head, it looked like an evil god’s divine radiance.
Chen Qianfan: “Oh, this… can be treated too. But it’s up to you, kid.”
“Up to me?”
“If you only want to get rid of the suffering caused by the ban, it can be done with a cup of tea. I will remove the portion of your memory that triggered the ban, and the ban will completely fade away. Problem solved—I’m quite skilled at removing memories.”
Chen Qianfan clapped his hands.
“But if you want to break the ban, that’s a different matter.”
Shi Jingzhi licked his dry lips. “Please explain.”
“The level of the cultivator who placed the ban is higher than that of the elders in my sect. I’m not specifically trained in breaking formations, so how could I easily break such a complex thing?”
“If you insist on breaking it, the chance of life or death is fifty-fifty.”
“Choose, kid.”
The author has something to say:
Yan Qing: A person with intermittent episodes of Yan Budu’s bloodline (…
Master Chen’s violent breakthrough method √
Yin Ci: Alright, let’s see the talented person’s precise surgical skills to remove the lesions.
Chen Qianfan: (Takes out a shovel) Come, let me dig into your skull.
The next morning, outside the Qu Clan’s courtyard.
Several tall and majestic Arrow Horses were snorting, continuously stomping the ground without a moment’s pause. Steam rose from their skin, creating a hot mist in the air.
These Arrow Horses were carefully nurtured horse demons provided by various sects. They were twice the size of ordinary horses and had astonishing endurance. When they ran, their long manes seemed to carry fire, making them several times faster than the wind itself. They also left no trace as they galloped, moving like a gust of wind.
The Arrow Horses of the Taiheng Sect were particularly robust, without a single strand of stray hair.
Unfortunately, there was no sign of the horse-drawn carriage with the soft cushions and small stove that Sect Master Shi had dreamed of, let alone any snacks for the journey.
Hovering behind the horses were four coffin-like artifacts. Shaped like shuttles, they were firmly fixed to the horses’ bodies, with each one perfectly accommodating a person.
The smile on Sect Master Shi’s face gradually disappeared, and his complexion turned pale. He asked, “Miss Shi, what is this?”
Shi Zhongyu: “These are ‘protective shuttles’. Our sect’s Arrow Horses are incredibly fast, and the carriage would be cumbersome. The wind on the road is like a turbulent stream, and without proper protection, it is easy to suffocate. I can use our sect’s treasures for self-defense, so I can only inconvenience everyone to lie down for a while.”
Shi Jingzhi: “……”
The good news was that the horses were fast. The bad news was that they would become cocooned behind the horses’ rear ends. They wouldn’t even get to enjoy the scenic view, let alone see the horses’ tails.
Seeing Shi Jingzhi’s stiff expression, Shi Zhongyu added, “Our sect’s Arrow Horses never rest. I will personally ride and control them. There’s no need to worry; I’ll support them with my inner force. We’ll reach the northern lands in just a day and a half.”
Yin Ci, observing the four airtight protective shuttles, furrowed his brows. The shuttles had ventilation mechanisms, so they wouldn’t suffocate, but…
The shuttles made by the Taiheng Sect were truly airtight, perhaps due to limited visibility, as the craftsmen didn’t leave even a small translucent gap.
Yin Ci’s eyelid twitched, but he remained silent.
After a moment, he turned around and said, “In that case, I’ll make some sweet soup. It’ll be easier to consume on the journey.”
Watching Yin Ci’s back, Shi Jingzhi’s astonishment and helplessness disappeared without a trace. He quickly looked at Shi Zhongyu and swiftly regained his usual diplomatic demeanor. “A day and a half? That’s excellent. Thank you, Miss Shi.”
He pondered for a moment, and then added, “I think these protective shuttles are quite heavy. They might slow down the Arrow Horses’ speed. Our sect doesn’t have much luggage, so four shuttles is excessive. Three should be enough.”
Shi Zhongyu was taken aback. “But…”
The shuttles had reserved space for personal belongings, and two people could fit in them comfortably. However, the space was limited, and few people would willingly get so intimately close to each other.
“Three will be enough.” Shi Jingzhi smiled. “To be honest, I have some ailments that require others’ care. I can’t manage alone for such a long time.”
After speaking, he even intentionally spat out a small mouthful of blood.
Yan Qing and Su Si: “…”
The Sect Master’s skill at speaking lies with a straight face was truly unparalleled. If they didn’t know the truth, they would have believed it to be true.
Unfortunately, the two young individuals were too thin-skinned and couldn’t stick to people as closely as the Sect Master did. Moreover, to let the horse drag him along, Yan Qing had to hold the Sword of Compassion throughout the journey. If Su Si were really close to him, they would likely finish the journey in a day and a half, with Su Si’s life hanging by a thread due to the beating given by the Sword of Compassion.
No, it was absolutely not possible.
The two of them swiftly slipped into their respective protective shuttles, afraid that Sect Master Shi would prioritize efficiency and reduce the weight by another shuttle.
When Yin Ci returned after making the sweet soup, he noticed that the four shuttles had become three. A flicker of surprise crossed his face, but he didn’t say anything. He distributed the sweet soup and quietly entered his own protective shuttle.
After closing the shuttle, a faint sound of breaking through the air came from outside. As they set off, as Yin Ci had expected, a thick darkness crowded in from all sides.
Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci lay back to back, which gently rose and fell with their breaths. Their long hair intertwined, indistinguishable, and warmed by the temperature of their backs.
The presence of the other person was so palpable that the darkness in front of them seemed to thin out slightly.
Shi Jingzhi didn’t explain why he reduced the number of shuttles. He simply relaxed his body and let out even, relaxed breaths.
To be honest, if Shi Jingzhi hadn’t voluntarily reduced the number of shuttles, Yin Ci wouldn’t have spoken up. He had long forgotten the taste of showing weakness, and now that he was mentally stable again, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to grit his teeth and endure.
Yin Ci had expected this to be a torture lasting a day and a half. Little did he know that Shi Jingzhi would lie down beside him, turning the torture into a rest during the journey.
Indeed, the inner demon of the Buddha Heart Formation had made him blind, and every morning, he would confirm whether Shi Jingzhi was by his side. He had already revealed many subtle flaws, so it wasn’t surprising to be discovered as someone afraid of the dark.
With his eyes half-closed, Yin Ci sighed for the hundredth time, feeling fortunate for his foolish cheap master.
If Shi Jingzhi were a little more foolish, he would be even easier to deal with. Little did he know that this person was a genius at sticking close to others’ hearts. Just by pointing out one aspect of “human nature”, he quickly grasped how to be more tactful and get along with people.
The feeling of oppression transformed into a soothing warmth, but the intensity remained unchanged.
Yin Ci couldn’t control or manipulate it. Even if he mustered the aura of three hundred years, he couldn’t suppress Shi Jingzhi’s vibrant and lively aura.
Yin Ci couldn’t help but suspect that this guy was born to counter him. He had long trained his heart to be as hard as iron, with only a small crevice of softness, which this person took advantage of to the fullest, making him show a bit of human warmth.
If Yin Ci was like this, let alone other ordinary mortals with normal lifespans.
Shi Jingzhi had always been skilled at observing people, and now he was even more at ease. If he wanted to, given enough time, he could almost make anyone like him.
At this thought, a notion struck like an ice pick, shattering Yin Ci’s mind full of tenderness.
…Based on Shi Jingzhi’s previous behavior, he didn’t understand what it meant to truly get along with others. To achieve that, there couldn’t be anyone staying around Shi Jingzhi for too long.
Not to mention blood relatives, even servants and mentors couldn’t stay for too long. Shi Jingzhi was like a stone thrown into a torrent, unable to cling to the light dust called attachment.
Someone capable of doing such things must have known from the beginning what they needed to guard against and what Shi Jingzhi was. Since they took precautions down to the level of a ban on a three-year-old child, why would they spare Shi Jingzhi’s life? And why let him roam freely now?
Yin Ci didn’t believe it was solely out of “kindness”.
It was apparent that Shi Jingzhi had a certain understanding of his background and had concerns. He didn’t intrude based on their past but allowed Yin Ci to personally choose to “go to him”.
Unfortunately, his cheap master thought he had come up with a tricky question, but the answer he could provide was only one.
He hoped this journey to break the ban would allow him to firmly grasp the fox’s tail of this person.
Yin Ci turned over and moved closer. Shi Jingzhi’s body temperature was already high, and his nose touched the black hair of the other person. He squinted his eyes and enjoyed the warmth.
Shi Jingzhi noticed Yin Ci’s slight movement and smiled. “So, A’Ci is afraid of the cold.”
Yin Ci admitted frankly, “Yes.”
He took advantage of the situation and got even closer. Darkness enveloped his eyes, blending the past and the present into one. Yin Ci almost reached out his arms to embrace the source of warmth in front of him, but when he touched the waist of an adult man, he retracted his hand.
When the Little Mute was still small, Yin Ci could easily hold him tight. The Little Mute loved to sleep on his chest, drooling and wrinkling Yin Ci’s fine clothes.
That child also had a high body temperature. Yin Ci protected him in his arms, as if holding a soft sun. That warmth was comforting, so Yin Ci silently allowed the brat to mess up his clothes.
Now, Shi Jingzhi was bigger than him. Fortunately, this person hadn’t grown into a burly man with a tiger’s back and bear’s waist*. Yin Ci could still wrap his arms around his waist.
*Metaphor for someone who’s big and stout.
Unfortunately, the Little Mute from years ago had grown into an adult. The two of them squeezing into this narrow space made their actions seem frivolous.
Yin Ci retracted his arms and changed the topic. “Speaking of ‘fear’, I’ve wanted to ask for a long time. Why is Shizun so afraid of ghosts?”
In his impression, both the Little Mute and Shi Jingzhi had always been brave. Even when facing gods and buddhas, they had an air of fearlessness, as if saying, “I’m not afraid of anything. What can you do to me?”
But his cheap master looked down on everything, was versatile in his interactions, yet he was afraid of ghosts. It really puzzled Yin Ci.
Shi Jingzhi stiffened for a moment.
“It’s not that I’m very afraid.”
He expressed himself quite seriously.
“When encountering unprecedented abnormal things, it’s not a big deal to be a little scared. As a master, I cherish my life, so I should pay more attention to these, um, details.”
Yin Ci stared at the back of Shi Jingzhi’s head with a smile.
“And I always feel like I should be afraid.” Shi Jingzhi muttered. “It’s a bit strange when you put it that way… It shouldn’t be the case…”
The relaxed tone in his voice suddenly disappeared, causing Yin Ci’s heart to skip a beat—
Shi Jingzhi’s steady breathing suddenly became rapid, and his body trembled slightly.
“Shizun?”
“Uh.” Shi Jingzhi weakly replied, “It’s nothing. I’ll just… sleep for a while.”
Yin Ci mercilessly grabbed his wrist. As expected, Shi Jingzhi’s heartbeat was chaotic, and he had a thin layer of sweat on his body. It didn’t look like his usual illness, but more like the ban was acting up.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just a headache. It won’t endanger my life, I know it,” Shi Jingzhi said weakly. “Everything will be fine once we arrive at Mishan Sect. A’Ci, let’s just sleep and conserve our energy.”
They were lying down peacefully, so why did it suddenly act up?
However, Shi Jingzhi clearly didn’t want to talk about it, so Yin Ci had no choice but to move his body and embrace him. He covered the back of Shi Jingzhi’s cold neck with his palm and massaged the acupoints on his head with his other hand.
Shi Jingzhi let out a painful yet relieved breath and buried his face in Yin Ci’s chest.
The pain of the ban was like tearing open an unhealed wound. Shi Jingzhi felt as if thousands of needles were randomly poking his brain, making it almost cease functioning.
Abbot Juefei was truly worthy of being a great master, so he immediately advised him to go to the Mishan Sect. Back then, he had insisted on finding the Shirou, not knowing how much suffering he would endure.
Ever since the Greed Butterflies activated the ban, the attacks had become unpredictable. A single word, a faint scent, and the pain would follow without him realizing their connection to the past.
But it was a human flaw that the more one knew they shouldn’t think about something, the more unstoppable the thoughts became.
Yin Ci’s fingers were warm and powerful, and he accurately massaged the acupoints. Shi Jingzhi found a moment of relief and buried his nose in the fabric of Yin Ci’s clothes, taking a careful sniff.
Yin Ci’s scent was somewhat astringent, but it didn’t resemble medicine. He smelled like soil from a grave, soaked in blood for too long, blending into a sinister fragrance that instinctively made one want to stay away.
However, Shi Jingzhi found that this scent brought him an extreme sense of peace, even causing his eyes to feel a bit sour.
His head throbbed even more.
On one hand, there was the intense pain in his head, and on the other hand, there was the usual throbbing in his meridians. The two sensations overlapped, finally giving him the appearance of a dying person. Shi Jingzhi tightly closed his eyes and struggled to gather the fragmented memories in his chaotic mind.
His pain completely alarmed Yin Ci, who firmly held him without hesitation. “Clear your mind, focus! Don’t recall anymore.”
But he wanted to remember.
Although it was painful, Shi Jingzhi always felt as if his fingertips were already touching something. He had long grown accustomed to pain, and he didn’t want it to stop.
Perhaps this could be considered self-harm, but without any wounds, even if Yin Ci became angry because of it, he wouldn’t be too furious. Shi Jingzhi hazily thought this while continuing to sniff Yin Ci’s scent trying to dig deeper into his memories.
Why was he so afraid of ghosts?
In the hazy state, the fiery red maple forest appeared once again. Just as Shi Jingzhi was about to delve deeper, he was startled by a touch on his waist.
Yin Ci freed up one hand and held onto his waist tightly.
The fleeting phantom of those memories dispersed, and the headache lessened slightly. Shi Jingzhi felt Yin Ci’s hand holding his, unsure of what expression to show.
They had embraced each other before, but every embrace had a reason.
Protection, or putting on a show, or when the situation was critical, seeking the comfort of skin-to-skin contact.
But what about now?
Now, neither of them needed physical protection, nor did they need to put on a show. There was no imminent danger. Yin Ci’s breathing became slightly faster, clearly indicating his anger. The hand that held him was tight, and Shi Jingzhi didn’t dare use his inner force to break free.
Having another person pressed against him was indeed warm, Shi Jingzhi thought hazily.
Not only was he unable to concentrate, but an unfamiliar emotion made his hair stand on end and his neck tingle.
“Now behave yourself. When we arrive at the Mishan Sect, think whatever you want,” Yin Ci said in a deep voice. “What? Do you think I can’t tell the severity of your headache? Are you going to keep getting caught up in trivial matters?”
“I won’t, I won’t. I won’t do it next time.” The residual pain in his head made Shi Jingzhi grumble in response.
Who knew what this close warmth had touched, but the ban kicked up a storm in his mind. Before Shi Jingzhi could close his mouth, he let out a loud yell.
Yin Ci: “…”
Shi Jingzhi: “…” He felt wronged—truly wronged.
Yin Ci let out a cold laugh and released his hand that was wrapped around Shi Jingzhi’s waist. He disregarded any master-disciple etiquette and propped himself up on his elbows, half pressing against Shi Jingzhi’s body. A cold aura emanated from him, flowing downward. “Shizun, you’re quick to dare the ‘next time’.”
His long hair cascaded like flowing water, forming a small pile on Shi Jingzhi’s chest. The smooth strands of hair brushed through the air, intensifying Yin Ci’s chilly scent.
The ban stirred again, and for a moment, Shi Jingzhi couldn’t tell if this person intended to save him or provoke him.
There were advantages too—being in the darkness heightened his sense of touch, making the weight and breath of the person even more distinct. Shi Jingzhi had never been so intimately close to another person, and half of his mind was rusted, lacking the strength to activate the ban.
“I’ll think about it. Since words mean nothing to you, what would be a suitable punishment?”
Yin Ci was very close, and his voice was low, as if pressing on Shi Jingzhi’s acupoint with his voice.
Shi Jingzhi held his breath and concentrated like a confused and bewildered plank of wood. This time, his disciple’s momentum was overwhelming, and he had an intuition that it wouldn’t be as simple as “no specially made breakfast”. He anxiously waited for a while, but instead of a continuation, he was met with trembling from Yin Ci.
…This person was trying to hold back laughter.
“A’Ci, are you teasing me?” Shi Jingzhi was still a bit dazed.
“At the very least, Shizun is completely distracted now.”
Shi Jingzhi felt annoyed, but he had to admit that this person’s methods were effective, and he truly had nothing to say.
“Let’s sleep.” Yin Ci moved away from him and resumed the position of embracing Shi Jingzhi.
This time, they were face to face, and the ban didn’t act up again. Shi Jingzhi, taking comfort in this inexplicable sense of peace, slowly closed his eyes.
After an unknown period of time, the protective shuttle suddenly came to an abrupt stop.
Yin Ci held him tightly in his arms, ensuring his head and neck weren’t impacted. The shuttle opened, and daylight spilled in, accompanied by a chilling breeze mixed with snowflakes, causing Shi Jingzhi to shudder.
The cold wind blew away the fleeting thoughts, and the two of them stepped out of the shuttle and onto the soft snow.
While the Central Plains had a hint of spring, the Northern Region was still filled with endless cold winds. The Arrow Horses grumbled; their breath creating steaming pits in the snow. The ground was covered with a thick layer of snow, reminiscent of the desolate mountains from over a month ago.
The sky was covered in dense clouds, and fine snowflakes floated down. In the distance, the mountains stretched endlessly, and all was silent.
“The Mishan Sect has set up a demon-quelling formation nearby, so the Arrow Horses are reluctant to move forward.”
Shi Zhongyu draped a thick cloak around herself. After a day and a night, despite the protection of her magical treasure, her nose and ears were still red from the cold wind, and a hint of exhaustion could be seen in her eyes.
“Once we cross that small mountain, it will be entirely the Mishan Sect’s territory facing us.”
Yan Qing curiously asked, “Entirely? I’ve seen the map, and it seems almost the size of a small country over there.”
Shi Zhongyu’s attitude toward Yan Qing remained good. “That’s correct. This is the northernmost part of Great Yun. To the west is the kingdom of Qituo, and to the east is Luojiu. Divided by the mountains, there used to be a small country called Milan.”
Shi Jingzhi continued the explanation, “Over two hundred years ago, there was internal turmoil in Milan. Great Yun took the opportunity to conquer it. The Queen of Milan was skilled in magic, and her supporters were obsessed with formations and spells. After Milan’s downfall, these people took refuge in their homeland, which eventually became the embryonic form of the Mishan Sect.”
As his attention shifted, the headache quietly disappeared, and he felt refreshed.
Su Si held the trembling Lord Bai tightly. “Shouldn’t the Mishan Sect hold a grudge against Great Yun? Why would they still have dealings with the martial world of the Central Plains?”
“The last Queen of Milan was originally from Great Yun.”
Shi Zhongyu’s expression became somewhat complicated.
“She was originally the princess of the Yun Dynasty and was married off to Milan in her sixteenth year. After ten years of bloodshed and chaos, she climbed to the pinnacle of power. She was a woman who could topple nations, with extraordinary wit and calculations… but she was also cruel and ruthless.”
“She brought the entire nation of Milan to its peak and then pushed it down from the heights, causing the entire country to fall into turmoil. The emperor at the time seized this opportunity and conquered Milan in one fell swoop. The Queen of Milan leaped off a glacier and died at the age of twenty-seven.”
Yin Ci had indeed heard about this incident. At that time, Milan was already in a state of turmoil, and even if the Yun Dynasty hadn’t intervened, Qituo and Luojiu wouldn’t have let go of such a juicy piece of meat.
The royal family of Milan at that time had been completely wiped out by Queen Xu Luo, and their bloodline had been severed. The people had also been tossed around to the point where they were barely clinging to life, becoming scattered and unable to produce strong animosity.
The last glorious moments of Milan could only be glimpsed through the magic of the Mishan Sect.
“Enough, I’ll teach these two little ones a lesson when I get back. But current matters are more urgent.”
Shi Jingzhi timely returned to the topic and unfolded the letter from Abbot Juefei.
“After crossing this mountain, if we continue for half a day, we’ll arrive at Chen Qianfan’s place, where Senior Chen resides.”
Shi Zhongyu pursed her lips and exhaled a big breath of white vapor.
“You all go ahead first, and I’ll follow half a day later. Consider it as if I’m trailing behind you, and you can pretend not to know.”
She didn’t move, her expression somewhat bitter.
Shi Jingzhi raised an eyebrow in surprise. He had this feeling back when they were at the Qu Clan’s residence—despite their cooperation, Shi Zhongyu always kept a certain distance from them.
Even when she noticed the addition of two “new faces” in the Kushan Sect, she didn’t show any interest or inquire about it.
She had been helpful and had also sold them favors. If this were in the past, Shi Jingzhi would have avoided getting involved in the troubles of Taiheng. However, the timing of Taiheng’s matter was suspicious, and coupled with Shi Zhongyu’s unwillingness to abandon a dying person, he appreciated her empathy.
Shi Jingzhi couldn’t help but stop in his tracks. He was about to ponder further when Yin Ci gently pushed him forward.
Receiving support, Shi Jingzhi’s wavering disappeared instantly. “Time waits for no one, and the situation of Sect Master Qi is critical. Even half a day is precious. Miss Shi, if you have any difficulties, you may as well speak up and let us hear it.”
Shi Zhongyu’s complexion became complicated, indicating her hesitation. “It’s nothing. My request is somewhat unreasonable, and I’m afraid it may offend the members of the Mishan Sect. We all came with our own purposes, and I don’t want to involve Sect Master Shi.”
Shi Jingzhi didn’t back down. “I have long heard of Taiheng’s benevolence and righteousness. Yet, this time, you have been obstructing us at every turn. If it’s just to save some gold and silver, it’s truly disappointing. Now you say it may clash with the Mishan Sect… Miss Shi, what’s the story behind Master Qi Xundao’s illness?”
Shi Zhongyu embraced her Green Maiden Sword tightly, as if only that cold, lifeless object could give her some peace of mind.
She stood there quietly for a while, but Shi Jingzhi’s persistence didn’t waver. She finally sighed and spoke again.
“A few days after we retrieved the treasure map, Sect Master Qi suddenly had a high fever and fell into a deep sleep. Our sect has many renowned doctors, but the symptoms were too few for anyone to make sense of. With the turmoil in the martial world, the news of the sect leader’s serious illness would undoubtedly have a significant impact, so our sect kept the information hidden.”
“Despite what Duanyun said, at the beginning, everyone put in their best efforts. But the sect leader’s condition deteriorated rapidly, displaying signs of being at death’s door. After a few days, we could only sustain him with herbal medicine. At first, for ten days, no one had any objections. But after half a month…”
Shi Zhongyu wore a bitter expression, hesitating to speak, and eventually changed the topic.
“Taiheng is currently facing numerous troubles, and Sect Master Qi’s meridians have already deteriorated, making it impossible to return to the past. Even if he were to recover from this illness, he wouldn’t be able to continue as the sect leader of Taiheng.”
Shi Jingzhi understood.
Taiheng’s money didn’t come from thin air. Aside from the government’s support, they also had fertile fields, flourishing forests, shops, and escorts. These livelihoods required financial support, and it wouldn’t be easy to expend such resources for just one person.
At present, Sect Master Qi was either being sustained by medicinal soup, slowly dying in a coma, or being forcibly saved as a disabled person for a few more years. In either case, it would require Taiheng to invest significant manpower, resources, and wealth.
There were no filial sons in front of long-term illness. As a large sect, it was difficult for everyone to work together, so would Taiheng really, for the sake of a simple sense of “righteousness”, be willing to save a disabled person regardless of the cost?
“Some people want to give up, but I’m giving it my all with another group of people, causing chaos within Taiheng. As things became increasingly chaotic, the elders sent Duanyun to discuss it with me. I understand Duanyun’s concerns, but I… I just feel that Taiheng shouldn’t be like this.”
Shi Zhongyu gently stroked the Green Maiden Sword, lowered her gaze, and her tone became softer.
“For decades, Sect Master Qi has exhausted himself for Taiheng, and his kindness towards me and others is as heavy as a mountain. If there is no hope left for him, I will never force it. But there is clearly hope, and yet we selfishly decided to give up… any other sect could give up, but Taiheng shouldn’t be like this.”
Yin Ci swept his gaze around, and indeed, within the Kushan Sect, there was no unified opinion on this matter—
Yan Qing looked at Shi Zhongyu and nodded with a somewhat emotional agreement. Su Si widened his eyes as if he had witnessed a stubborn donkey becoming enlightened, full of disbelief.
Shi Zhongyu didn’t mention too much about the internal affairs of Taiheng, but Yin Ci could imagine. If giving up was the majority’s decision, she would probably have already been labeled with accusations of “disrupting the sect”, “womanly compassion”, and “ignorance of the current situation”.
No wonder she had been so irritable when they met a few days ago. To withstand that kind of pressure, her backbone had to be exceptionally strong.
Seeing that everyone remained silent for a long time, Shi Zhongyu sheathed her sword, and her expression became calmer.
“That’s the situation. I want to ask the Mishan Sect to save a person who is at the end of their life. The members of the Mishan Sect are proud and arrogant, so they might consider me unreasonable.”
Shi Jingzhi burst into laughter. “Miss Shi, you’re overthinking. Senior Chen Qianfan has the Buddhist name ‘Jueguo’ and used to be a monk at the Jianchen Temple. While others may refuse, an eminent monk of the Jianchen Temple would never get angry over saving a person’s life.”
Shi Zhongyu’s expression changed several times before settling on “relief”.
She raised her fist towards Shi Jingzhi. “Sect Master Shi, you didn’t have to get involved in this matter. Today’s favor, I, Shi Zhongyu, will remember it.”
The road ahead should be relatively easy to traverse.
Thankfully, the Mishan Sect was built on the ruins of Milan, and the area was vast and sparsely populated. Besides the demon-quelling formation, there were no complicated formations or troublesome monsters in sight.
The only danger was perhaps the ruins buried under the snow. Hidden beneath the thick layer of snow, who knew how many unknown dangers lay concealed. As long as one wasn’t careful, stumbling and falling face-first into the snow was a minor matter. Quite possibly, they might even come face to face with a frozen corpse from two hundred years ago.
Sect Master Shi’s mind was elsewhere, and after walking a few steps, he stumbled and nearly had an intimate encounter with a snow-covered human head.
That head had experienced who knew what with its bluish-black swelling, twisted, and deformed. Its facial features were misplaced, and a frozen eyeball had popped out of its eye socket.
Unfortunately, Shi Jingzhi was preoccupied with important matters. When suddenly faced with this difficulty, it caused half of his soul to explode and the ban to fall into complete silence.
When he regained his senses, he found himself clinging to Yin Ci again, and the latter was patiently trying to pull him off.
Shi Zhongyu had witnessed this scene before in the Ghost Tomb and now deliberately averted her gaze, pretending not to have seen anything.
After this incident, Shi Jingzhi completely dismissed the idea of using his physical body to plow through the snow and save energy. He took a deep breath, and his qinggong suddenly soared. He moved as if treading on thin ice, naturally grasping the technique without any guidance.
Fortunately, apart from that, there were no other mishaps. Following Juefei’s instructions, the group arrived at their destination before sunset.
Unexpectedly, Chen Qianfan’s residence had no trace of immortal or Buddhist aura.
He had chosen a ruined Milan trading post and transformed it into a dwelling. The house was indeed spacious, but the exterior was patched up in a strange and mismatched manner. The building still bore scorch marks, and many holes were plugged with demon skin. The surroundings were an endless expanse of snowy plains, emanating a lonely atmosphere that surged up to everyone’s feet.
An elderly woman was the first to notice them.
The old woman seemed to have some Milan lineage. She had slightly curled white hair and a tall nose bridge, but her eyebrows, eyes, and skin resembled those of a typical Central Plains person. Although her dwelling was peculiar, her clothes were clean, and even the damaged areas were carefully embroidered with flowers.
“Hello there,” she rubbed her hands as she greeted in Great Yun’s official language, though not very standard. “Are you here to see Master Chen?”
Shi Jingzhi moved his mask aside and politely greeted her, “May I ask who you are?”
“Good kid. Just call me Granny Wei.”
With a smile on her face, Granny Wei’s wrinkles gathered together.
“Master Chen isn’t here right now but come on in and have a seat first. I’ve cooked some hot soup. It’s not easy for you to travel such a long way… Oh, did you bring a gift? You’ve come a long way; that’s too polite. How about I cook something for you later…”
She caught sight of Lord Bai in Su Si’s arms. The Lord Bai’s feelers instantly tensed up, and it desperately tried to burrow into Su Si’s outer robe.
“The gift is here.” Yan Qing came to the rescue in time and handed over the prepared gift.
Considering that the Mishan Sect was located in a remote area with inconvenient merchant traffic, before their departure, Qu Duanyun had prepared some inexpensive but practical trinkets for them.
“No need to be so polite. I don’t understand these things. We’ll talk about it when Master Chen returns.”
Granny Wei’s smile remained unchanged as she chattered away, leading everyone inside.
The house had been converted from a trading post and had an incredibly spacious front hall.
The left half of the front hall was completely occupied by gray-black slate tiles. The tiles were about three fingers thick, standing on the ground with inscriptions that were incomprehensible. Numerous slate tiles surrounded a table, which was piled high with precarious scrolls and various unnamable instruments.
The gaps between the slate tiles and the table were filled with barrels of mummified monster corpses. The place was freezing cold, and the interior was far from warm. The corpses of the monsters emitted a faint smell of decay, combined with the frigid air, creating an aura of isolation that kept people at a distance.
On the other hand, the right half of the front hall was impeccably clean and neatly arranged. The slate floor was devoid of any specks of dust, and a warm fire burned in the stove. The table was covered with a beautiful, embroidered tablecloth, and even the vase had dried branches tied together to form small flowers.
Granny Wei served them soup one by one. “Master Chen is conducting research, and he goes out to capture monsters every evening. He’s a stickler for time and will come back before dinner. You can wait here at ease. He doesn’t talk much, but he has a good heart and won’t make things difficult for you…”
Yan Qing couldn’t bear to see the old woman serving them, so he stood up first. As a result, the table was lighter than they had anticipated, and the entire table shook when he stood up, splashing some soup onto Granny Wei’s gloves.
“Granny, I apologize. Let me help you out, you…”
Yan Qing apologized halfway but couldn’t continue.
Granny Wei smiled and took off her gloves, revealing a hand covered in densely engraved blood-red patterns. Layers upon layers of magic arrays intertwined on her hand, making it dizzying to look at.
The patterns were incredibly intricate and complex, to the point where even Yin Ci couldn’t make sense of them at a glance.
The old woman didn’t think much of it herself. She seemed used to it and swiftly changed into a new pair of gloves. “Oh, you can just sit there. I’m quite strong and robust. Master Chen said that while staying here, you should move around more to invigorate your blood and loosen your muscles.”
No one dared to move this time.
Yan Qing obediently sat back in his chair, placing his hands on his thighs.
Granny Wei served herself a bowl of soup and leisurely drank it. “It’s fine, don’t worry about Master Chen. You all go ahead and drink. It’s cold here, and not drinking will make you feel chilly.”
Yin Ci was the first to pick up his bowl and take a sip. The soup had a gentle flavor and didn’t contain any strange ingredients. However, it lacked even a hint of saltiness, possibly due to some special preparation method in this place.
With Abbott Juefei as their guarantor and Yin Ci taking the first sip of the soup, everyone mechanically drank the hot soup without taste and continued to wait with a brave face.
Finally, as the sun set, the door opened.
Chen Qianfan returned in triumph with a large basket filled with bloody monster corpses.
Seeing the dagger, the leader on the ground chuckled in pain. “It would have been better if you had just watched from the sidelines. Protecting an insignificant fool, you’re just digging your own graves…”
However, the following scene nearly made him bite his tongue.
Yin Ci maintained his grip on the dagger with his two fingers, and sword qi surged around him, leaving deep sword marks in the mud. Although he had no inner force, the bursting killing intent was no less than that of the dagger.
Immediately, he let out a cold snort and exerted force with his shoulder and wrist. The dagger flashed with a cold light as he flung it back to its original trajectory.
The frosty blade shattered the wind, faintly producing a sound of breaking through the air.
When masters faced off, they could tell each other’s capabilities with a single move. Intimidated by the returned dagger, the faint and blurry aura from afar instantly dissipated, leaving no trace.
The three “bandits” looked as if they wanted to grind their teeth, but Su Si coldly smirked as he pressed their acupoints one by one, then dislocated their jaws and pulled out three bloody venomous fangs. Seeing that the leader was losing too much blood, Su Si grabbed a handful of still warm wood ashes and applied them directly to the man’s wound.
The “bandits” mixed their saliva with blood, and their eyes filled with resentment.
On the other side, Shi Jingzhi was ready to seek revenge. Unexpectedly, Yin Ci immediately counterattacked and frightened away the formidable opponent that had come. As a result, Shi Jingzhi’s spirit deflated quite a bit.
Ignoring the three men at his feet, he turned to Yin Ci with a dejected expression. The latter gave him a faint smile, and the previously brooding and sinister aura vanished without a trace.
Su Si and Yan Qing were accustomed to this. However, Jin Lan’s impression of the Kushan Sect was still stuck on the temporary sect formed in the Ghost Tomb in order to “make up the numbers”. He only knew that Shi Jingzhi could barely fight, but in the span of about a month, the Kushan Sect had gained another truly formidable master.
Not to mention the person who threw back the dagger had an otherworldly demeanor, leaving everyone breathless, there was also the exquisite and exaggerated beauty of the current Sect Master’s face. Even the newly dressed servant-like member looked as enchanting as a peach blossom, unlike an ordinary person.
…The number of suspicious members in the sect had increased.
The group of people looked so refined that it was frightening, and they happened to be squeezed in a desolate and dilapidated house in the remote wilderness, with gloomy and rainy weather. No matter how one looked at it, it seemed like the beginning of a supernatural story. Jin Lan quickly took a step back, and his instinct to exterminate demons and evil made his heart pound.
He ignored the enemies and looked at Yan Qing, his expression filled with terror. Could it be that your Kushan Sect is really not from some demonic sect?
Yan Qing slowly turned away, avoiding that inquiring gaze.
On the contrary, Shi Jingzhi recovered from his grief and pain, and kindly spoke up. “Brother Jin, this group of people who came is undoubtedly ill-intentioned. There must be a reason behind it. May I take a look at the medicinal herbs?”
Jin Lan didn’t know whether he should be grateful or on guard, his tone drifting. “Y-You can take a look. Senior Sister entrusted me with this task, and there’s no need for any concealment.”
As he handed over the medicine box, his gaze even swept toward the other three people behind them, as if trying to find the tail of a monster.
Shi Jingzhi took it in stride, leaving behind an even brighter smile, and then proceeded to examine the medicinal herbs.
As Jin Lan had said, the box of medicine contained only medicine—precious medicinal herbs that could be purchased anywhere in the world—without any extraordinary items like the Ice Peak Snake Lotus. There was nothing unusual mixed in the herbs, and the box, though made of expensive materials, showed no signs of hidden compartments.
This box of medicine was just as orderly as Shi Zhongyu herself.
“These are all mildly nourishing medicines.”
Shi Jingzhi carefully sniffed them and sealed the medicine box back in its original state.
“The Taiheng Sect is indeed wealthy and powerful. This box of medicine is worth at least seven to eight hundred taels of silver.”
Jin Lan chuckled absentmindedly.
Shi Jingzhi: “However, the quantity of medicine is quite large, and these medicines don’t target specific ailments. They can only be used to sustain life. Is someone in your sect seriously ill?”
Jin Lan looked away and fell silent.
“These three men are assassins from the Chigou Sect. They have scorpion tattoos on their bodies.” Su Si rummaged through the clothes of the three men. “Their skills are not particularly refined, likely belonging to the lowest level. They disguise their identities by traveling in groups of three, secretly accompanied by a skilled master. This is a typical assassination technique of the Chigou Sect.”
As a fugitive former young Patriarch of the Chigou Sect, he was more than willing to expose them.
Although they weren’t qualified to know Su Si’s identity, upon hearing his words, the three assassins could still guess that he was a former insider of the Chigou Sect. The three men immediately became anxious, writhing on the ground, and their resentful gazes turned into disdain.
Su Si pretended not to see them. “Even if they are the lowest-level assassins, they are more than capable of killing this young man. Although the Chigou Sect is a demonic sect, they have their own rules and would not engage in such a boring act of robbery. I believe the target is not the medicine but the life of this young man.”
“Nonsense! I, Jin Lan, have no enemies and hold no position. Why would they need to go to such lengths to kill me? Moreover, even if I fail to deliver this box of medicine, it wouldn’t truly affect that person—”
As he spoke, Jin Lan hastily closed his mouth and looked at the ground.
Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci exchanged glances.
Yin Ci: “Su Si, do you have any confidence in getting these three men to talk?”
“It’s impossible. If we used any torture methods to extract information, the ‘Red Scorpion Foot’ wouldn’t dare accept such a hefty payment. Rules are rules. Even if Matron Wuxue herself were here, these three would not betray their client.”
“I suppose so.”
Even if these three men lied, there was no way to verify it. Seeing that the rules he had established were closely followed, Yin Ci didn’t know whether to feel gratified or resigned.
“These three individuals do seem to have some principles. Since our sect’s information cannot be exposed, let’s give them a quick and painless end.”
Jin Lan, after all, came from a reputable sect, and he quickly interjected, “There’s no need for that. Let the Taiheng Sect handle it. If I don’t return on time, Senior Sister will definitely send someone…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Su Si swiftly snapped the necks of the three assassins, silencing them instantly.
Jin Lan took another step back, pressing himself against the wall.
…This was undoubtedly a demonic sect.
It wasn’t until the sound of horses coming from outside that Jin Lan remained pressed against the wall, resembling a raised mural.
As Jin Lan had said, the Taiheng Sect had indeed sent people to find him. However, the two who arrived weren’t ordinary members but influential figures in the Taiheng Sect—Shi Zhongyu, the senior disciple, and Qu Duanyun, a top-ranked member of the Taiheng Sect.
“Senior Sister!” Seeing his savior, Jin Lan hugged the box tightly, finally feeling a sense of returning to the human world from the realm of demons.
When he turned his head, the four members of the Kushan Sect had already put on their Nuo masks, transforming from ethereal immortals to monstrous demons. Shi Jingzhi boldly unfurled his “Medicine Cures Illness” banner, deliberately indicating his identity.
Jin Lan: “…” Why wasn’t he treated this way?
Shi Zhongyu, dressed in sturdy clothing, had an unpleasant expression. As soon as she saw the banner, she promptly dismounted and respectfully greeted Shi Jingzhi, “Sect Master Shi.”
Qu Duanyun remained seated on his horse. “Shi Jingzhi of the Kushan Sect?”
Shi Jingzhi maintained his composure. “Indeed.”
“I am Qu Duanyun. I’ve heard much about you.” Unlike the troubled expression of Shi Zhongyu, Qu Duanyun politely smiled and dismounted.
Through the Nuo masks, Yin Ci silently assessed Qu Duanyun.
This person had sharp eyebrows and a commanding presence, appearing to be a typical member of the Qu Clan.
A hundred years ago, Taiheng’s Qu Tinglei, along with Yan Budu, Kongshi, and himself, were collectively known as the Four Greats. Qu Duanyun was the direct disciple of Qu Tinglei and ranked among the top ten of the younger generation in martial arts. He was polite and had a good reputation, no less than Shi Zhongyu.
It was rumored that he was highly favored within the Taiheng Sect and had basically been designated as the future Taiheng Sect leader.
Yin Ci swept a glance out of the corner of his eye. Indeed, Su Si had already hidden behind Yan Qing, using his Sword of Compassion to half-conceal himself—his whole being on the verge of exploding. Yan Qing was clearly familiar with Qu Duanyun’s identity and considerately stepped forward, making his friend appear more inconspicuous.
“Senior Sister, Senior Qu, why have you both come?” Jin Lan finally regained his senses, feeling surprised by the attention he was receiving.
“I was on my way to the Qu Clan’s residence, but since you haven’t returned for a long time, we decided to look for you,” Shi Zhongyu said with a stern face. “You smell strongly of blood. How did you end up in such a sorry state?”
“Don’t stand here asking questions.” Qu Duanyun mediated. “It’s damp outside. Let’s go to the branch of my family’s residence first, find shelter from the rain, warm ourselves by the fire, and have some tea while we talk.”
Shi Zhongyu pursed her lips, remained silent for a while, and eventually sighed in agreement.
Half an hour later, at the Qu Clan’s branch residence.
The branch was conveniently located near this wilderness, adjacent to a small grove of trees, offering a serene and tranquil atmosphere. The room had been warmed by a brazier, devoid of annoying dampness, with a faint scent of pine in the air.
The furniture in the room was ordinary in material but elegant in design. There were no pretty maidservants in the courtyard; only a few kind-hearted and gentle old servants, and the tea and snacks were of ordinary style.
This place was different from the simple direction of the Jianchen Temple but emitted a similar pure aura.
At the table, Jin Lan rambled on, recounting the details, while Shi Zhongyu didn’t even touch her tea, allowing it to slowly cool down.
“Jin Lan isn’t capable enough. Thank you, members of the Kushan Sect, for your help.” She lowered her head and expressed her gratitude on Jin Lan’s behalf.
Qu Duanyun shook his head and replaced Shi Zhongyu’s cup with a hot one. “So, it was the Chigou Sect causing trouble. That old hag suffered a loss in the matter of the treasure map and is still trying to provoke us like this… Sect Master Shi, your two disciples won’t join us for tea? I’m not that formal here.”
“No need. Our sect’s White Goose Demon was frightened earlier and needs care.” A twitch appeared at the corner of Shi Jingzhi’s mouth.
Joking aside, those two youngsters, one being a descendant of the Yan family and the other the former young Patriarch of the Chigou Sect, wished they could hide hand in hand in the kitchen stove. If Qu Duanyun discovered their identities, the next generation’s conflict between the righteous and the evil in the martial world could start ahead of schedule.
Qu Duanyun didn’t insist. “Alright, later on, I’ll have someone prepare some warm meals to drive away the cold and deliver them separately to them.”
Jin Lan’s situation was already suspicious, and the appearance of the two remarkable individuals from the Taiheng Sect made the strangeness of the matter double. Unfortunately, Shi Zhongyu transformed into a gourd with a saw-toothed mouth*, while Qu Duanyun kept diverting the topic and didn’t mention anything about the medicinal ingredients. Shi Jingzhi could only temporarily give up on probing.
*Metaphor for someone who is silent.
The people from Taiheng were honest but not foolish. Clearly, something inconvenient to disclose had happened within the Taiheng Sect. If they were to press for answers, it would only waste the hard-earned goodwill.
“In fact, the purpose of our sect’s visit to Taiheng this time is twofold.” Shi Jingzhi began following the prepared script. “I obtained a rubbing left by Miss Shi at the Jianchen Temple. However, there happened to be some matters at the Jianchen Temple, making it inconvenient to have it delivered promptly, so I have decided to personally bring it here.”
Shi Zhongyu didn’t delve deeper and absentmindedly responded, “Mm, thank you, Sect Master Shi.”
“And the other matter is that our sect is planning to head north to visit a member of the Mishan Sect. However, the northern region is vast and bitterly cold, and it would consume too much time to travel back and forth. So, I would like to borrow some Arrow Horses…”
Creak.
Shi Zhongyu pushed back her chair and stood up. Surprisingly, she completely changed her previously despondent appearance, gripping the table with both hands and staring intently. “The members of the Mishan Sect have always been reluctant to see people. How do you expect to find them?”
Shi Jingzhi: “Venerable Juefei knows someone who is acquainted with a senior from the Mishan Sect and helped us write a letter of introduction.”
Shi Zhongyu showed a hint of relief on her face. “I—”
“Senior Sister,” Qu Duanyun warned.
Shi Zhongyu didn’t back down. “What’s wrong? This is a stroke of luck. It’s just borrowing some Arrow Horses; it can’t be considered ‘needlessly wasting manpower and resources’, right? This time, I won’t involve others. I’ll go by myself.”
Qu Duanyun shook his head and looked helpless. “Sect Master Shi is still here; let’s discuss this matter later.”
“Sect Master Shi isn’t someone who is greedy and forgets loyalty. He is trustworthy, and I saw it with my own eyes.”
Shi Zhongyu gritted her teeth.
“Duanyun, even if you don’t believe him, you should at least believe in the Buddha Heart Formation of the Jianchen Temple and the discerning eye of Venerable Juefei… That Venerable is most knowledgeable about cause and effect and wouldn’t help someone with just a casual request. Before, when I wanted to seek help from Venerable Juefei, didn’t you stop me with this reason?”
“That’s different. Besides, even if we find someone from the Mishan Sect, they may not have a solution. Senior Sister, please calm down—”
Jin Lan kept his head lowered and dared not make a sound.
Shi Jingzhi put down his teacup decisively. “Enough with the evasiveness. Just speak up. What illness has afflicted your sect’s leader?”
The two individuals from Taiheng froze in mid-action.
“Others may not be able to tell, but I have… come across very similar medicine. Those medicines are used to prolong life, a ‘life and death soup’. Those who use this method to prolong their lives are usually afflicted with strange illnesses, on the brink of death, with no other prescriptions to take, and can only rely on this to sustain their lives.”
“If it’s your elders, friends, or relatives of the two of you, the expenses would truly be immense. Taiheng isn’t lacking in resources, but they wouldn’t squander them for personal reasons. I won’t mention Jin Lan, but the two of you are being secretive about it as well, so it’s not difficult to guess.”
Qu Duanyun pressed his forehead and looked bitter. “Senior Sister, I’ve told you not to bring up this matter anymore.”
“This time, you invited me to your family’s branch residence precisely because of the instructions from the elders and to privately discuss this matter with me, right? Sect Master Shi has connections, and I didn’t intend to hide it.”
Shi Zhongyu spoke frankly.
“That’s right. Our sect leader suddenly got ‘Broken Horse’, and the sect’s renowned physicians are helpless. If we don’t quickly find the root cause, even the life and death soup won’t sustain them for long.”
“Broken Horse?” Shi Jingzhi asked curiously.
Qu Duanyun let out a long sigh. “It’s an internal term within Taiheng. Even the strongest and most valuable steed, once its leg is broken, can only wait helplessly for death. Our sect leader, despite being spirited and energetic until a few days ago, couldn’t withstand the onslaught of the illness.”
“In that case, if it’s a matter concerning the sect leader, why did you stop Miss Shi from saving them?”
“Sect Master Shi is not aware of everything. The ‘Broken Horse’ is not uncommon. Even in the mortal world, when an elderly person gets injured or falls ill, it is a hundred times harder to save them than an ordinary person.”
Qu Duanyun shook his head.
“Everyone has their own destiny. Even if we were to save Sect Master Qi and restore his consciousness, his vitality has been greatly damaged, and he won’t live much longer. The cost of this matter is enormous, and ultimately, it is bound to be futile. The elders are considering the best interests of the sect, which is why they sent me to persuade Senior Sister.”
“At the very least, Sect Master Qi should regain consciousness and make the decision himself.”
Shi Zhongyu’s tone was icy.
“Sect Master Qi is highly respected. For decades, he has managed our sect very well. Now that he is in trouble and we haven’t even identified the cause of his illness, do you expect us to give up on him? My Shi Clan has some savings. If you think the expenses are too great, I will use my own money to cover them.”
“Senior Sister, you are too stubborn. Your approach will only harm the overall situation. Even if Sect Master Qi wakes up, he will surely give up. He values Taiheng too much to jeopardize others for his own sake… Our sect has already invested a lot in the treasure map matter and is unable to handle both issues.”
Shi Zhongyu sneered. “Such lofty selflessness. Duanyun, I will make myself clear. I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly. I will use my own money, and if anyone has a problem with it, they can tell me themselves.”
Qu Duanyun furrowed his brow slightly, and his tone became stern. “Sect Master Qi’s life is his life, and Jin Lan’s life is his life. If it weren’t for your insistence, our sect members wouldn’t be traveling the same fixed routes every day and attracting the attention of the Chigou Sect.”
“If it weren’t for the assistance of several individuals from the Kushan Sect today, we would have barely managed to retrieve Jin Lan’s body. Can the Shi Clan afford these lives?”
Shi Zhongyu’s face turned pale, and she clenched her fist, causing veins to pop out on her fair hand.
“If I can’t find out the truth during this trip to the Mishan Sect, I will apologize publicly and leave Taiheng. If any of my sect members die during that time, I will personally go to each door and kowtow.”
“But saving Sect Leader Qi is our duty, and on this point, I, Shi Zhongyu, will never back down.”
Shi Zhongyu stood tall with a straight back. As a refined woman, she exuded an unyielding aura, appearing like an immovable rock. Qu Duanyun remained silent; his face filled with helplessness.
Yin Ci finally understood the subtle atmosphere between the two earlier. However, as an outsider, he genuinely didn’t care about Sect Master Qi’s life and death. Compared to the internal disputes within Taiheng, he was more concerned about another matter—
While Abbot Juefei was cursed and burned alive by yang fire on the front foot, shortly after, Sect Master Qi fell seriously ill. If it weren’t for Shi Zhongyu’s stubbornness, forcibly snatching someone from the hands of King Yama, Taiheng’s leadership would have already changed hands.
Qu Duanyun was still young—not to mention whether he could gain the support of the majority—his experience was incomparable to the elder generation’s Sect Master Qi. In this way, Taiheng wouldn’t be as tragic as the Jianchen Temple, but it would still suffer a severe blow, losing much of its former prestige.
Was it just a coincidence?
Shi Jingzhi clearly didn’t want to get involved in this matter. He simply cleared his throat and said, “If Miss Shi is willing to lend Arrow Horses, our sect is also willing to accommodate Miss Shi.”
“Then it’s settled. There’s no time to waste. We’ll leave tomorrow. Jin Lan, go back and inform the people around you that from now on, when delivering medicine, there must be a minimum of three escorts. Don’t stop the life and death soup. I will bring back a solution.”
Shi Zhongyu said coldly, no longer looking at Qu Duanyun.
“I’ll send a message to prepare the Arrow Horses.”
Qu Duanyun didn’t stop her and sighed. “…I understand.”
After Shi Zhongyu left, Qu Duanyun finally let out a sigh of relief. He turned to Shi Jingzhi. “Originally, I was here to be a host, but it turned into a conflict within our own ranks. Please forgive me, Sect Master Shi.”
He anxiously scratched his head.
“Senior Sister has a point. Sect Master Qi has treated us well, but given the current situation… Haa, during this trip to the Mishan Sect, please take good care of Senior Sister. I, Qu Duanyun, hereby express my gratitude in advance.”
Qu Duanyun respectfully lowered his head and bowed.
Shi Jingzhi looked at him for a moment, then returned the bow, giving a flawless response.
The Taiheng Sect was located northeast of Yongsheng, which was not too far away. Shi Jingzhi didn’t want to leave too many traces, so he didn’t hire any transportation and instead took a shortcut on foot, disguising themselves from the public.
They walked for a full four days.
During the first two days, Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci traveled together, discussing and studying the Sword of Compassion whenever they had the chance.
Even divine physicians needed to observe and inquire about various symptoms, analyze formations, and examine difficult cases. They required a quiet room filled with incense, precise instruments, and medicinal concoctions for experimentation. However, in the wilderness, their conditions were limited. The two of them had nothing but their bare hands and couldn’t discern any special features.
One hand was about to be cooked while the other was about to freeze off, but they couldn’t find any clues left by Yan Budu.
Currently, everyone was heading to the Mishan Sect, so there was no urgency in searching for Kongshi’s grave. Shi Jingzhi simply handed the Sword of Compassion to Yan Qing and let him practice with it casually.
After all, only Yan Qing could handle that thing.
However, compared to before, the journey for the Kushan Sect was far from easy this time.
After four days of walking, except for Yin Ci, the other three had developed numerous blisters on their feet—Yan Qing’s being the most severe, with his shoes soaked in pus and blood.
But Yan Qing remained silent. As long as he had time and could move, his hand would rest on the hilt of the Sword of Compassion, with as many blisters in his palm as on the soles of his feet.
Perhaps the bloodline of Yan Budu had instilled some determination in Yan Qing, but he directed that determination entirely towards himself. He was originally serious in nature, and now he had become even more intense, carrying an air of wanting to break his bones with every move.
Seeing Yan Qing’s seriousness, Shi Jingzhi, as the sect master, couldn’t sit still and started to engage in self-torture as well.
So when Yin Ci prepared breakfast every day, the three of them were already exhausted, panting from their practice. If one disregarded their unrelated cultivation techniques, the Kushan Sect almost appeared like a proper martial arts sect.
On the fourth day, fine, cold rain started falling from the sky.
The surrounding area was filled with irritating darkness, and the road became extremely muddy and difficult to traverse. As they reached the boundaries of Taiheng, Shi Jingzhi didn’t force his disciple and found an uninhabited, dilapidated house where they luxuriously took a rest during broad daylight.
The house was in the middle of nowhere, with no village or shop nearby. It was also small, like a temporary shelter for hunters.
The ground inside was still muddy, without any gravel covering it. The amount of dust in the salt shaker exceeded the amount of salt, and the small iron pot was covered in reddish-brown rust with a few holes in the bottom. Fortunately, the house had drafty walls, allowing fresh air in, and there was no unbearable, strange smell.
Yan Qing brushed off the dust on the bed and spread a dry cloth on it, creating a dry spot.
Yin Ci started a fire on a makeshift stove and cooked some salted meat and wild vegetables into a soup. As the pot simmered, he turned his head to see Shi Jingzhi and Yan Qing using their inner force to dry their clothes. Their heads were emitting steam, giving off a pitiful appearance.
“Once we borrow the Arrow Horses, we won’t have to suffer like this anymore.”
The drizzling rain was annoying, and seeing the miserable state of the Kushan Sect, Shi Jingzhi quickly tried to stabilize their morale.
“The Arrow Horses are fast and stable. We can all sit inside the carriage. Each person can hold a small heater and be comfortable.”
Su Si hummed indifferently, treating Shi Jingzhi’s reassurance as a futile attempt to quench their thirst. Yan Qing caught his breath and began wiping the Sword of Compassion as if he wanted to polish it with a piece of cloth.
The goose demon, Lord Bai, lay motionless in the corner of the bed.
Speaking of the past few days, Lord Bai suffered the most.
Shi Jingzhi deliberately reduced his contact with the outside world, so it couldn’t have its tender and fresh vegetable leaves and had to search for some scraggly wild greens to eat. It couldn’t eat whenever it wanted; most of the time, Su Si carried it in his arms to feel the wind. The formerly plump Lord Bai had become noticeably thinner, losing much of its previous air of dominance.
Since comforting them didn’t work, Shi Jingzhi resorted to plucking two exceptionally tender wild vegetables to console the goose, whose brain wasn’t functioning well. But just as he handed the vegetable leaves over, Lord Bai slowly lifted its head and looked in another direction.
It didn’t have the strength to stare at the four people with its gaze, but it weakly “honked” twice and tugged at Su Si’s sleeve with its beak, pulling him towards the door—despite the fact that even during their previous trip to Huilian Mountain, it had never displayed such proactive behavior.
Everyone had blisters on their bodies, emanating a strong smell of blood, but Shi Jingzhi couldn’t detect anything unusual in the vicinity. Instead, it was Yin Ci who stopped stirring the soup, raising his eyebrows.
“Someone is coming this way,” he succinctly stated.
“Let’s hide. Lord Bai is warning us,” Su Si decisively responded. “This place is desolate and remote. The person approaching might not have good intentions.”
Yin Ci shook his head. “It’s too late to hide now. The smoke from the cooking can be seen outside. Besides, it’s an open field out there. We’ve been cautious enough on this journey, and the person might not be specifically targeting the Kushan Sect.”
After contemplating for a moment upon hearing this, Shi Jingzhi hastily rummaged through his luggage and threw a few old clothes to Su Si. “A’Ci and I will hide. Su Si, you handle the situation with the person.”
Su Si enjoyed seizing any opportunity to pick fights, but he never wasted words during crucial moments. He wrapped the clothes around his head like a turban and tied a cloth around the back of his hand, presenting himself as an elderly person. Yan Qing quickly blindfolded himself and covered the Sword of Compassion with a blanket.
At a glance, they looked like a poor father and son struggling to survive in the wilderness.
The room was narrow, and Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci had nowhere to go except to roll under the bed. With a tattered cloth covering the bed from above, it served as a good hiding spot.
Yin Ci adjusted his position for a moment, tightly gripping the Hanging Shadow Sword, ensuring that if anything happened, he could rush out and attack first. Shi Jingzhi, on the other hand, hugged Lord Bai. Rather than appearing nervous, he seemed more intrigued.
He even had the leisure to steal a few glances at Yin Ci and help him brush off the cobwebs from his hair.
The cold and damp rain permeated the air, and the smell of mud filled their nostrils. Yin Ci had originally held his breath and concentrated, but now he couldn’t maintain much tension due to Shi Jingzhi’s restless movements.
[Aren’t you afraid?] Yin Ci couldn’t help but silently inquire.
[If I were alone, perhaps I would be afraid,] Shi Jingzhi replied with a smile. [But hiding like this, I just feel a sense of familiarity and amusement. It reminds me of the past…]
As he said this, he suddenly stopped abruptly, pressed his forehead, and his face turned slightly pale.
Yin Ci hesitated for a moment, but eventually freed one hand and gently pressed it against the side of Shi Jingzhi’s forehead. The latter let out a soft sigh, and his tense body relaxed slightly.
Having confirmed that Shi Jingzhi’s condition didn’t worsen, Yin Ci withdrew his hand and focused his attention back outside the bed. Shi Jingzhi didn’t speak anymore either; he and Lord Bai, along with the bubbling sound of the wild vegetable soup, maintained a calm atmosphere.
Half an incense stick’s worth of time passed.
Just as the pot of wild vegetable soup came to a boil, urgent knocking was heard at the door. Su Si cleared his throat and tremulously spoke with an old man’s voice. “Who is it?”
“Help! Please, kind sir, let me hide. I will be deeply grateful on behalf of the Taiheng Sect!” The person’s voice was hoarse and fragmented, accompanied by heavy panting.
Yin Ci’s movements under the bed paused.
…Taiheng?
Although this place was remote and desolate, it still fell within the boundaries of Taiheng’s territory. Could someone be so blind as to attack a Taiheng disciple here?
Su Si exchanged a glance with Yan Qing. Su Si climbed onto the bed, facing the wall, and unsheathed his butcher knife. Yan Qing took two steps forward and cautiously opened the door—
“It’s you?!”
The person at the door exclaimed.
Although the person’s voice wasn’t loud, it was clear enough for everyone to hear—a familiar voice. This time, everyone recognized it without a doubt. It was Jin Lan, one of Shi Zhongyu’s followers at the Ghost Tomb.
Naturally, Yan Qing also recognized him. He quickly spoke, his tone filled with inquiry. “It’s Jin Lan.”
“Let him in,” Shi Jingzhi muttered from under the bed.
With permission granted, Yan Qing pulled Jin Lan inside and immediately bolted the door shut. “What are you doing here?”
“I should be asking you the same question. Who’s that old man on the bed? …Never mind that. Let me find a place to hide quickly, and make sure you lock the door tightly.”
After speaking, Jin Lan took a deep breath and hurriedly crawled under the bed with his bundle.
Shi Jingzhi, Yin Ci: “…”
Jin Lan: “…”
During their expedition to the Ghost Tomb, Shi Jingzhi almost always wore a nuo mask. Jin Lan hadn’t seen Shi Jingzhi’s face before, so suddenly encountering these two faces made him feel a bit dizzy. It took him a while to regain his ability to speak.
“Yan Qing! There are two fox.. fox demons under the bed… Mmm!”
Jin Lan was about to crawl out, but Yin Ci mercilessly pulled him back under the bed, covering his mouth. Yan Qing also patted the bed to signal him to stay calm.
Jin Lan had seen a lot in his life, so he quickly regained his composure. His eyes were nervously fixed on the outside, tightly clutching the package in his arms.
The next group of visitors wasn’t as polite—they kicked down the wooden door and brazenly barged in.
“Search!”
Yin Ci saw a pair of feet approaching in front of him. Based on the legs, the leader appeared to be a robust middle-aged man dressed like a bandit. They didn’t ask questions as Jin Lan had anticipated, instead treating the “father and son” inside the room as inconsequential and immediately began rummaging through everything.
Listening to the footsteps, it seemed there were three pursuers.
Two of the subordinates kicked and struck the dilapidated cabinet and straw pile near the door.
The freshly cooked salted pork soup was spilled on the ground, causing Shi Jingzhi’s eyebrows to instantly furrow and his face to grow even paler.
“You, blind man, where are you hiding the person?” The leader grabbed Yan Qing by the collar.
“We are just passing travelers seeking shelter from the rain. We haven’t seen anyone,” Su Si replied, still with the elderly voice, while his back was facing everyone. “The New Year is approaching. Why shed blood unnecessarily?”
“I do want to shed blood today,” the leader sneered. “Let’s kill these two first to prevent any trouble. Hurry and search. Don’t keep the boss waiting—hiss!”
Before the leader could finish his sentence, Yan Qing tightly gripped his wrist. Yin Ci emerged from under the bed. His Hanging Shadow Sword flashed, directly severing the man’s ankles.
Yin Ci’s sword strike was swift and without hesitation. Both ankles of the leader were severed to the bone, and blood gushed. The burly man’s eyes widened, and his heavy body slowly fell backward.
At the same moment, blood spattered.
Shi Jingzhi shattered the bed frame. With his palms emitting golden flames, he struck the bandit’s subordinate closest to him. The subordinate took a solid blow, crashing into the dilapidated wall. The long knife he used for self-defense was distorted by the golden flames.
Su Si let out a light laugh, leapt into the air, and subdued the last person. He pressed his butcher knife against the man’s throat, drawing a thin line of blood.
Everything happened extremely quickly. Before the leader’s body even hit the ground, all three of them were already under control.
The leader clenched his teeth. The pool of blood from his ankles gradually spread on the muddy ground, emitting a strong bloody scent. The three men looked at everyone with a gloomy expression, but none of them pleaded for mercy or screamed in pain.
Jin Lan, holding his bundle, opened his mouth wide, locking eyes with Lord Bai. The latter looked at him with a complicated gaze but eventually stuck its head out and gave his nose a strong twist.
Tears welled up in Jin Lan’s eyes, and he quickly crawled out from under the bed, rolling away in a mess.
“You three have quite a backbone. You don’t seem like ordinary bandits but rather martial artists,” Yin Ci said as he sheathed his sword, pressing his foot onto the leader’s wound. The leader’s forehead veins bulged, but he remained silent.
“Jin Lan, how did you provoke them?”
Jin Lan looked at Yin Ci apprehensively and swallowed back the question “Who are you?”.
“I-I didn’t provoke them! I was entrusted by Senior Sister to collect some medicinal herbs from Yidu, but I was followed by these villains all the way here… I always thought they were after the herbs and didn’t consider other possibilities.”
As the pool of blood from the leader reached the soles of his boots, Jin Lan took a deep breath. “The herbs are valuable, but it shouldn’t come to this extreme—”
Before he could finish his sentence, a dagger grazed his cheek and directly aimed at Yin Ci beside him.
Yin Ci quickly turned his head to dodge. With his two fingers, he firmly stopped the dagger in its tracks. Even so, the dagger’s force broke off several strands of his hair, and the powerful inner force transmitted through the thin blade, causing his fingers to go numb.
If the herbs were as precious as the Ice Peak Snake Lotus, it wouldn’t have been Jin Lan’s responsibility to escort them. It was indeed unlikely for things to escalate to this extent for a box of medicinal herbs.
Regardless of the purpose, the person who made a move this time was undoubtedly a true master.
Kinky Translations 