Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 97: Rescue

Shi Jingzhi was frightened by his own speculation and shook his head to clear his mind, trying to calm himself down. It was just a guess after all. He had been injured before, but his wounds had never produced blood roots like Yin Ci.

This was a matter of life and death, and such dangerous conjectures couldn’t be taken lightly. He couldn’t just go and explain to Yin Ci, stab himself in the process, and accidentally meet his end. That way, Yin Ci would surely remember him forever—he would undoubtedly become the coldest joke in Yin Ci’s life.

Shen Zhu saw Shi Jingzhi’s ever-changing expression and knew that he had wandered off to an unreliable place again. At this moment, she wanted nothing more than to immediately leave the mountain and investigate the newly acquired clues about the “Invitation to God Formation”. Just as the sect leader was lost in thought, her patience was nearly exhausted. “What do we do next? Should we…”

“Nobody move.” Yin Ci suddenly spoke up.

Finally, he moved his sword away from Yu Zikuan’s neck. The Hanging Shadow Sword swept through the night, cutting off the closest line of the formation. Yin Ci then half crouched down, his fingertips touching the wriggling gelatin.

Yin Ci frowned. “Is this formation still active?”

Yu Zikuan had been fully under their control and hadn’t made any suspicious moves. However, the formation’s qi had only paused momentarily, and in the time everyone was distracted, it once again began to stir.

Shen Zhu suddenly lost interest in speculating about the origins of the formation. She quickly ran to the edge of the formation, closed her eyes, and carefully felt it. “This is really… What’s going on?”

Things had gotten so out of hand that Yu Zikuan didn’t bother being cautious around the strange people in front of him anymore. He immediately rushed to the location where the demon corpses were buried, dragging them out one by one and attempting to extinguish the formation by breaking the materials.

It was futile.

Even when the demon corpses were removed, the formation continued to operate on its own. The flickering brilliance dimmed slightly, but there was no sign of it being extinguished. Yin Ci’s brow furrowed tighter. “This is…”

“It’s a remote control formation,” Shi Jingzhi muttered. “I read about it in Senior Chen’s records—if a battle formation is too dangerous or the casting process is too complicated, the casters will set up an auxiliary formation in a safe location and activate it from a distance. This method consumes extra materials and manpower, but it does exist.”

Given the preparations on the other side, Yu Zikuan looked more like a puppet used to draw the formation.

Not many people in the world recognized the “Invitation to God Formation”. If the people in the martial world found Yu Zikuan’s corpse, they would at most attribute the attack to “crazy revenge” and then investigate his non-existent “allies” on the mountain.

Who would have expected that such a small battle formation could kill so many people on the mountain? Once everyone was dead, the mastermind could cleanly remove themselves, leaving no trace.

As one wave subsided, another arose. The night was shrouded in demonic fog, and chaos reigned all around. Even the sound of insects couldn’t be heard. A vague sense of oppression came from all directions, and the formation under their feet emitted a subtle killing intent. The scene in front of them resembled the Yellow Springs* of hell. Even when standing still, their hearts felt as if they were being pounded by a mortar, stirring up panic.

*A river in hell that divides the living realm from the dead. Souls cross it to reach the afterlife.

People could struggle to overcome the current evil demons in front of them, but how could they contend with the might of heaven and earth?

“Let’s run.” Su Si croaked. “This thing won’t stop. Staying here will only lead to our deaths in vain.”

Yan Qing grabbed his hair. “Indeed, we should leave, but is there a way to spread the message?”

Shen Zhu shook her head. “Even if we tell the truth, no one will believe us. There are many small sects around, and they won’t easily trust our words. Besides, the Kushan Sect has a bad reputation, and Warrior Yu has been presumed dead for years. Young Patriarch Yan has little credibility. Forgive my frankness, but even if we tell the truth, it will only be considered a conspiracy.”

The fourteen Buddha bead treasure maps were already a game of competition among major sects. After finally having a chance, everyone was working day and night, enduring the demonic mist, to search for clues. If suddenly someone claimed this place was dangerous, only fools would believe it.

Kongshi’s grave wouldn’t disappear overnight; there was still time. However, if they stay longer, they might end up being buried with Venerable Kongshi and Yan Budu.

Yin Ci put away his sword and looked at the group.

Su Si and Shen Zhu were ready to pack up and escape. Yan Qing remained silent and didn’t immediately object, but knowing his character, he was probably considering how to save more people along the way.

As for Shi Jingzhi… He was lost in thought for a while, but a mysterious smile gradually appeared on his face. It was hard to figure out what he was thinking. If it had been before, he would have run faster than anyone else in this dangerous situation.

Yin Ci looked curiously at Shi Jingzhi and didn’t speak immediately.

To be honest, Yin Ci didn’t really want to leave at this point. With this whole commotion caused by the Invitation to God Formation, the situation here was bound to be chaotic in the near future, and they would waste a lot of time—despite having Lord Bai in their hands, Kongshi’s grave was still carefully hidden by Yan Budu, so it wouldn’t be easy to find.

Shi Jingzhi couldn’t afford to wait, so they couldn’t continue to be passive.

The Invitation to God Formation was a novel thing. It was like using a bull’s knife to kill a chicken*; this method might be able to deal with a large number of mortals, but for him, it couldn’t reach the level of destroying an “immortal body”. From the activation of the formation to the dissipation of its residual power, it would probably take three to five days. During this time, when no one was on the mountains, he could go ahead and find…

*(杀鸡焉用牛刀) Metaphor referring to applying excessive or disproportionate force or effort to deal with a small or simple problem (AKA using a sledgehammer to crack a nut).

As he was thinking about this, he suddenly felt warmth on his fingers. Shi Jingzhi calmly moved closer and lightly pinched Yin Ci’s finger.

“Thinking of solving this on your own again?” Shi Jingzhi asked in a low voice. “Before, you said it was ‘for me’, but now you want to separate?”

Yin Ci helplessly said, “I mentioned cooperation before, and I won’t hide it from you. I was just planning to discuss with you—I’ll take advantage of the formation’s activation and go up the mountain immediately to seize the initiative. You can continue searching for information about the grave on the outside while we communicate using the sparrow demons.”

The various sects had been searching for the grave for some time, and they hadn’t gathered a lot of information. Once they fell into chaos, relevant information would be easier to obtain. By cooperating in this way, their efficiency wouldn’t be low.

He really couldn’t hold the Sword of Compassion himself, but by confirming the location first, they could save time coming later. The only cost that Kushan Sect had to bear was himself enduring some hardship, which was a pretty good deal.

Shi Jingzhi narrowed his eyes at Yin Ci for a while, and the faint smile on his face faded away. He sighed lightly and looked a bit unhappy.

Yin Ci didn’t understand.

Using the resources at hand was the safest and most advantageous approach, and it could be considered a “fair cooperation”. He didn’t know which nerve of Shi Jingzhi he pricked, which made his whole face fall.

Weren’t they getting along just fine earlier? Moreover, Shi Jingzhi had always been clear-headed. This kind of simple advantage and disadvantage, he should be able to grasp it clearly.

Who knew that Shi Jingzhi would turn around and leave, leaving him a clearly rejected back.

Yin Ci said helplessly, “Alright, Shizun, the situation is urgent. Can we just—”

“I have my own plan.” Shi Jingzhi turned his head slightly and glanced at Yin Ci. “My beloved disciple is fearless and isn’t afraid of anything, even me. I’m sure he won’t be afraid of my plan either.”

…He’s actually angry now, and he’s even more secretive about it. Yin Ci could tell from Shi Jingzhi’s tone that he was somewhat unhappy.

Without waiting for him to come up with a way to ease the atmosphere, Shi Jingzhi walked away a few steps and stopped in front of Yu Zikuan.

When their eyes met, Yu Zikuan let out a sigh from his languid face. “It was my carelessness that led us to this disaster. I will go to Taiheng to reason with them and try to save as many people as possible. You all have awakened me under such coincidental circumstances, and it is a kind act. It’s best for everyone to leave this place as soon as possible.”

Yan Zheng remained silent, and his expression kept changing. “With such a strong formation, the people outside the Grand Pavilion probably won’t survive… Since things have come to this point, I’ll go back and stabilize them. Since the martial world will be in chaos sooner or later, having fewer members of the Ling Sect wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

In his words, it seemed like he had no intention of escaping.

After pondering for a moment, Shi Jingzhi touched the Medicine Cures Illness flag. Then he slightly released some pressure, causing the surrounding mist to disperse along with the force. For a moment, the malevolent qi of the Invitation to God Formation was suppressed.

“Shen Zhu, you understand the Invitation to God Formation. If you try your best to obstruct the activation of the formation, how long can you delay it?”

“Huh?” Shen Zhu was momentarily confused.

Whether the formation was activated sooner or later, did it make a difference? Though she had thoughts, she answered truthfully, “To fully activate the formation, they need to complete the ritual chants, which would take around three to four hours of work… If I cause some disturbances here, I can delay it for up to five hours.”

Regardless of whether it was activated earlier or later, they would only be able to delay it for half a day at most. With so few people available at the moment, what could they achieve in half a day? Moreover, Shen Zhu understood the personality of this man. Shi Jingzhi wasn’t the type to suddenly develop a sense of kindness and salvation for all living beings.

What exactly was this person planning to do?

“Since no one believes the truth when spoken, lying is also a way.”

Still with his back turned to Yin Ci, Shi Jingzhi raised his voice a little, showing a calm and compelling tone.

“Shen Zhu, you stay here and try to destroy the formation, buying us some time. Yan Qing, you go with Yan Zheng to the vicinity of the Grand Pavilion and, on the way, retrieve your sword. After taking the sword, meet up with me when you leave the mountain… Su Si, you wait near the Chigou Sect’s camp. With your abilities, you can disseminate false information, right?”

“I can do it…”

“Senior Yu is excellent at archery. Please help us by sending some false information to the Taiheng Sect. Then use your archery to spread the message to the smaller sects. Those small sects have no independent judgment. If they see that the Grand Pavilion and the Taiheng Sect are deciding to leave, they won’t stay here any longer.”

After finishing his instructions, Shi Jingzhi walked back to his disciple’s side in a slow and leisurely manner.

“Due to the mist covering the mountain, not many people will venture deep inside. Just talking about leaving, half a day should be enough. As for you, A’Ci…”

Yin Ci guessed this person’s plan and felt a mixture of emotions. “I’ll stay by your side.”

Facing Shi Jingzhi’s plan, it seemed that he only had this one choice. He could no longer enter the mountain with the Invitation to God Formation blocking everyone’s way. Shi Jingzhi finally expressed satisfaction and smiled again.

“What are you all talking about? What message are you spreading?” Su Si finally couldn’t hold back anymore.

Shi Jingzhi inserted the flag into the formation, and the sect leader’s token on the flagpole swayed gently.

“It’s simple. You and Senior Yu act quickly; try your best to tell everyone—’The Kushan Sect has found the key to the Shirou and is preparing to leave.'”

Su Si: “…”

Su Si: “Sect Master, are you trying to get yourself killed?”

At this moment, they were wanted by the major orthodox sects due to the massacre at the Jianchen Temple. The demonic sects might not care about the well-being of the orthodox sects, but they would undoubtedly covet the clue to the Shirou. By spreading this message, Shi Jingzhi was practically teasing both sides and committing suicide in a rather creative way.

To save others but lose one’s own life, was it worth it? Or were the master and disciple planning to take advantage of everyone’s inattention and quietly become monks at the Jianchen Temple?

But when it came to other motives, Su Si really couldn’t figure out any intentions beyond “saving people”.

This was the first time that Yu Zikuan took a serious look at Shi Jingzhi. “Shi Jingzhi of the Kushan Sect? …Sect Master Shi, you truly understand righteousness. I admire you. You’re truly different from the rumors.”

Not only was he different from the rumors, but the Kushan Sect was also wildly different from the rumors. However, Yan Qing saw that he could save people without saying a word and immediately nodded in agreement. Su Si thought it over and felt that there was still a chance to escape, so he reluctantly agreed as well.

Time was limited, and people didn’t continue to question. They quickly dispersed into the night. Soon, the place was empty except for Shen Zhu, who was fully focused on obstructing the formation, and the master and disciple of the Kushan Sect.

Shi Jingzhi leaned on his precious flag and walked calmly outside the formation, as if the crazy idea just now wasn’t his own. Yin Ci took two steps forward and stood by his left side.

“I can guess your purpose in ‘saving people’, but this method also carries risks.”

Yin Ci was still calculating the details of the plan.

“The major orthodox sects haven’t sent any formidable masters, but Chai Xin has already suspected Yan Zheng. Yan Zheng might not be able to control the elders of the Ling Sect. If too many people from the Ling Sect come out…”

“How does A’Ci understand the meaning of ‘treasure*’?” Shi Jingzhi interrupted Yin Ci’s words and asked a non sequitur question.

*(珍重) As in referring to something precious (to be treasured/cherished).

“What?” Yin Ci’s thoughts were almost thrown off track by this person’s erratic thinking.

By the Invitation to God Formation, the mist continued to churn restlessly. Compared to the previous oppression, the mist now appeared even more entangled and inscrutable. Shi Jingzhi stopped in his tracks and turned to face Yin Ci. In the night mist, those amber-colored eyes remained razor-sharp.

“The giver is extremely powerful and willing to give everything for someone. This kind of ‘treasure’ is indeed touching. If I were an ordinary person, I might also stop here. Accepting goodwill peacefully is much easier… However, if there are other desires, it may seem like I don’t understand the situation.”

Shi Jingzhi caught a strand of Yin Ci’s long hair, and his expression was no longer as restrained as before, but rather unusually calm.

“Unfortunately, I happen to be the greediest person in the world. One person shielding another behind them cannot be considered ‘cooperation’. Now that I have the opportunity, I will show you what my ‘treasure’ truly means.”

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 96: Conjecture

As the spy was engulfed by the demon’s corpse, Jiang Youyue remained unfazed. This person was a servant sent by the Rong Palace. Jiang Youyue had discreetly followed the clues to the edges of the Chigou Sect, but even he couldn’t find concrete evidence to implicate them.

However, he never needed evidence to kill someone.

The reason he had kept the spy until now was that he didn’t mind these flies gathering some irrelevant information. Jiang Youyue knew well that there was more than one spy in the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence. Apart from the unruly major sects of the martial world, the young emperor also remained vigilant towards him. If the servants disappeared too quickly and frequently, he might be caught by the emperor, delaying important matters.

Not to mention that some of those spies could very well belong to the emperor himself.

Three hundred years had passed, and people seemed to forget the position of the Imperial Preceptor’s office during the founding era.

The first Imperial Preceptor accompanied the founding emperor on numerous military campaigns, achieving great merit. It was rumored that he had never made a mistake, his judgments were accurate as if he had divine insight, and he could even control the winds and rains on the battlefield, hailed by the common folk as the incarnation of the stars. The emperor of that time heavily relied on the Imperial Preceptor, seeking his counsel on all matters, big and small. After the Imperial Preceptor sacrificed himself for the heavens, the Imperial Preceptor’s Office became a true sacred shrine in the eyes of the people, inviolable.

From that time on, the position of “Imperial Preceptor”, which should have been just a title, gained real power. Everyone respected and obeyed—after all, the Imperial Preceptor must be the spiritual heir of a Saint, and a Saint was a god bestowed upon the world by heaven—how could they have ulterior motives?

However, the good times didn’t last. As Great Yun grew stronger and prospered, the need for divination diminished. Talented individuals emerged from all corners of the nation, and the Imperial Preceptor’s lineage, aside from divination and managing the celestial shrine, had little significant impact. Yet, the public’s belief in the Imperial Preceptor’s ability to communicate with the divine remained steadfast, and they continued to attribute the prosperity of the nation to the Imperial Preceptor’s Office.

With them so close to the bed, how could others sleep soundly. The successive emperors gradually disassociated the Imperial Preceptor’s lineage from the “Imperial Celestial”. Each emperor was wary of any trouble caused by the Imperial Preceptor’s lineage, but the Imperial Preceptors themselves remained low-key and honest, as if they had accepted their fate.

Now, even people from the martial world dare to audaciously infiltrate the Imperial Preceptor’s Office.

…Perhaps, with their mortal bodies, they could only see money, power, and longevity, engaging in these petty struggles. They couldn’t comprehend the ambitions of an eminent person. After enjoying peace and stability for too long, people’s vision would inevitably narrow.

Jiang Youyue thought nonchalantly as he passed through the hall with the formation and continued deeper underground.

The stone passage grew narrower and darker, and the fragrance in the air became increasingly intense. The brilliance of the magical tools swept past Jiang Youyue one after another, emitting a soft humming sound, smoothly creating a path for him. At the end of the path was a small door, shrouded in thick darkness, resembling the entrance to a tomb.

Jiang Youyue lifted the lamp by the door and knocked three times in an orderly manner. The door slowly opened a crack, revealing a murky eye that gleamed with an unpleasant green light.

Seemingly confirming Jiang Youyue’s identity, the creature moved aside, making way. Jiang Youyue took a deep breath, not knowing how many times he had stepped into this room.

The light from the lamp illuminated the stone chamber.

The thing who opened the door wasn’t tall, extremely slender, and had a figure that resembled an overly emaciated young man. It wore luxurious white clothing that exuded a shimmering blue glow, as if it were a living jade sculpture. Upon closer inspection, the thing had all its limbs and facial features intact, but they appeared shallow and faint, almost as if they were stickily connected together. Its chest didn’t show any signs of movement; there was no sign of breathing.

After opening the door, it quietly sat back down by the side of the door, motionless. Jiang Youyue paid no attention to it and raised the lamp a bit higher, examining the four walls of the stone chamber.

Hundreds of headless corpses wrapped in white blood-stained cloth hung densely on the walls. A blue-green liquid flowed continuously, evenly pouring over each body, emitting a barely audible gurgling sound. Each corpse had a small wooden sign hanging from it, on which short numbers were carved. The bodies were still intact and moist, but many of the wooden signs had already started to show signs of decay.

Jiang Youyue took down the most decayed wooden sign. The characters were filled with cinnabar, neatly written as “Two thousand six hundred and ninety-eight”.

Immortal bodies were undying, but wooden signs would eventually decay. Jiang Youyue took a new wooden sign from the shelf and used his true qi to carve the characters again, hanging it back on the immortal body. Throughout the whole process, his expression was even gentle.

After the Saint sacrificed himself to the heavens, he left behind the position of “Imperial Preceptor”—not an idle or comfortable position. He sacrificed himself to end the natural disasters of that time. He left behind numerous immortal arts and spells that seemed more like divine miracles than earthly techniques. He established the “Immortal Assembly”, recruiting talents and building celestial shrines in various places. These deeds became part of legends and have been passed down to this day.

…However, only the successive Imperial Preceptors knew that the Saint had left behind a room full of immortal bodies.

Three thousand of these immortal bodies existed, but their origins were unclear. They were the highest-grade materials for performing spells in the world. The Immortal Assembly never used them in their practices, strictly adhering to the Saint’s last instructions, only employing them for the “Hundred-Year Project”.

Using some of the immortal bodies to prolong his master’s life could still be considered part of the Hundred-Year Project, Jiang Youyue thought as he pointed at one wooden sign after another with his fingertips. After all, Great Yun desired an heir, and only his master managed to raise a “suitable” candidate in Shi Jingzhi. Therefore, letting his master witness the completion of the Hundred-Year Project could also be seen as fulfilling destiny, from beginning to end.

Not to mention that the grand plan was already approaching completion, just like the “Invitation to God”. Although it hadn’t been formally concluded, nothing could ruin it now.

Jiang Youyue carefully inspected the condition of the immortal bodies one by one, respectfully paid his respects to the headless corpses in the room and closed the heavy stone door.

The atmosphere on Zongwu Mountain wasn’t as peaceful anymore.

Yu Zikuan’s explanation was surprisingly simple—he had merely befriended a member of the Mishan Sect, with whom he often conducted trade with when he was in Taiheng. Through this contact, he obtained the battle formation. Throughout the entire transaction, Yu Zikuan had been using the identity of a “Taiheng Elder”. In theory, the Mishan Sect members shouldn’t know his true purpose.

Furthermore, their plan was formally established only after hearing about the “Shirou clues” on Zongwu Mountain, and there were no suspicions of long-term planning leading to leaks. So, Yan Zheng’s gathering the elders from various branches and ordering the activation of the Fog Tomb Formation came first, while Yu Zikuan secretly set up the battle formation later, which seemed to proceed logically.

This plan, which only they knew about, was beyond anyone’s imagination that such a deadly twist would occur. Regardless, looking at the current situation, it was impossible to continue using the unfortunate “Invitation to God Formation.”

What was peculiar was that upon realizing this, Yan Zheng’s expression was even uglier than Yu Zikuan’s. “Even if it targeted only the Ling Sect, indiscriminate killing on Zongwu Mountain, how does that benefit the person who orchestrated this?”

Yin Ci: “…” For the Ling Sect’s Patriarch to casually say, “Even if it targeted only the Ling Sect”, it made him feel somewhat sorry for Yan Budu, his once formidable opponent.

However, Yan Zheng did point out the most puzzling aspect—if they hadn’t encountered Yu Zikuan, many sects would have lost a large number of people. In this case, not to mention framing and entrapment, they wouldn’t even find the mastermind behind it all. It would lead to smaller sects fearing for their lives, larger sects suspecting each other, and the remnants of the Ling Sect causing trouble everywhere, further disrupting the already chaotic martial world.

To say that this was for not wanting people to find the “Shirou” clues, this approach was also problematic. The “Invitation to God Formation” couldn’t be permanently activated, and once this group of people died, those who should come looking for the clues would still come.

…Why would someone undertake such a laborious and thankless task?

Yin Ci was deep in thought, unaware that the Sect Master had discreetly glanced at him with increasingly serious eyes. After a moment of contemplation, Shi Jingzhi pulled Shen Zhu aside.

“Have you seen the scene when the ‘Invitation to God Formation’ is activated?” Shi Jingzhi asked in a low voice.

“Yes.” Shen Zhu lowered her eyes and said, “The Immortal Assembly once set up this formation in my hometown. When the formation was activated, the surroundings seemed to be engulfed in invisible flames, and I watched everyone gradually ‘burn dry’… The entire town was destroyed in an instant, but I managed to stand at the edge of the formation’s effect and survived.”

“No survivors in the formation? None at all?”

“No one survived, but the plants and animals were unharmed. The Immortal Assembly only searched around the perimeter and killed potential witnesses. I was young at the time and pretended to be ignorant, which allowed me to escape unscathed.”

“Mm, this formation’s residual power is dangerous. It seems to be a certain death formation.” Shi Jingzhi then glanced at Yin Ci from a distance.

“Your Highness?” This question seemed to have a subtle deviation from the current situation.

“Nothing, just curious.”

Shi Jingzhi’s tone was light, but the fog in his mind was even heavier than the Fog Tomb Formation. Throughout his journey, he truly experienced going through mountains of knives and seas of fire. If he hadn’t encountered Yin Ci back then, leaving aside starving to death on Kushan at the age of three, even if only considering the most recent events, he would have already been sliced to pieces by the Ghost Tomb mechanism. Encountering the Goddess, battling Zheng Fengdao, and even the recent lifting of the ban—all of these events could have led to his death.

Now, on Zongwu Mountain, if the “Invitation to God Formation” was indeed as dangerous as Shen Zhu described. Even with Yin Ci by his side, he would undoubtedly perish. All the life-threatening situations he had faced so far couldn’t be avoided with just help from outsiders.

The “Hundred-Year Project” had been ongoing for at least two hundred years, with the Children of Desire as an important part of it. The Imperial Preceptor had actually allowed him to wander around freely, relying on “coincidences” to stay alive. Even when he could foresee that he would be in danger, he remained indifferent and did nothing… Wasn’t this such a wasteful plan to discard so many Children of Desire each generation? How could a plan that had lasted for hundreds of years have so many loopholes?

Shi Jingzhi touched his chest and felt the safety charm given to him by Yin Ci. Beside the talisman, his heart was beating strongly beneath the not-so-thick outer garment.

At this moment, he wasn’t concerned about why this formation appeared here or who would benefit from it. A nearly absurd idea flashed through his mind.

If it were in the past, Shi Jingzhi would undoubtedly laugh out loud at such a crazy guess. However, with Yin Ci by his side, he couldn’t find it in himself to laugh anymore.

…For some unknown reason, it seemed that the Imperial Preceptor’s lineage was convinced that he “would not die accidentally”.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 95: Invitation To God

The scene at present was absurd, and Shen Zhu wished she had a small booklet to record this unforgettable moment.

Taiheng’s Yu Zikuan mixing with the Ling Sect’s Patriarch? If news of this got out, it would surely make people in the martial world laugh out loud.

The Taiheng Sect and the Ling Sect were incompatible, especially those who harbored deep hatred like Yu Zikuan. It wasn’t that Yu Zikuan was particularly righteous; most of his hatred stemmed from a pure blood feud. Yu Zikuan had a young son who was brutally killed by the Ling Sect’s Lu Fengxi, who used his skull as material for a cudgel. His wife was also killed while trying to desperately protect their son.

The deaths of his wife and son were tragic, and Yu Zikuan swore to eradicate the Ling Sect from that day on.

However, his desire for revenge led to extremely cruel methods, breaking the rules of Taiheng. Eventually, Taiheng had no choice but to remove him from his position as an elder and assign him to less visible tasks.

Yu Zikuan accepted this arrangement willingly.

His final mission was to go to Zongwu Mountain and assassinate the newly appointed Ling Sect Patriarch, Yan Zheng. However, several months had passed, and Yan Zheng was unharmed, while Lu Fengxi was left unscathed. There was no news from Yu Zikuan. Taiheng had asked the Yueshui Pavilion for help in finding him and they searched for years for any signs of him, to no avail.

Taiheng had no choice but to conclude that this formidable master was dead and remove him from the sect.

Little did they know that Yu Zikuan was not only alive but also living in an unimaginable way. Nonetheless, since he set up a large-scale battle formation against the Ling Sect, Yu Zikuan’s head was at least still functioning.

Shen Zhu habitually thought about it, barely resisting the urge to take out her notebook to jot it down. When she calmed down, a strong sense of incongruity rushed into her mind—Yu Zikuan was alive and well. His plan to use the battle formation to exterminate the Ling Sect was feasible. But why was Yan Zheng here?!

Patriarch Yan, the Patriarch of the Ling Sect, stood alone in front of Yu Zikuan, and he looked as if he had been beaten.

Stiffly turning her head, Shen Zhu saw Sect Master Shi wearing a perfectly appropriate smile, looking genuinely innocent.

…Getting the Mist-Evading Pill, she could understand. The Kushan Sect master and disciple were indeed powerful enough to cause some trouble for Yan Zheng. But to also kidnap Yan Zheng was beyond her imagination.

This kind of behavior would even warrant an official report in a respectable orthodox sect.

The air seemed to freeze, and the scene fell silent for a moment.

“The plans you two had discussed, Patriarch Yan told me on the way.” Shi Jingzhi broke the silence. He casually folded his hands behind his back, his tone nonchalant.

Shen Zhu glanced at the breathless Yan Zheng, suspecting Patriarch Yan was worried the battle formation hadn’t been activated on time. He collided with the Kushan Sect’s group of people who could punch the Jianchen Temple and kick the Mishan Sect. Unable to fight or escape, Yan Zheng could only reveal the truth.

She almost started to sympathize with him.

“Patriarch Yan gathered the important figures of the Ling Sect in one place while you launched a large-scale battle formation attack on the Grand Pavilion. If my people hadn’t just bumped into you, the formation should have been activated, right?” Shi Jingzhi continued.

“Major sects can use magic tools to disperse the fog, while smaller sects have to rely on the Mist-Evading Pill. You were worried that innocent people might be mixed into the Grand Pavilion, so you used arrows to drive them away.”

Yu Zikuan had the Hanging Shadow Sword stuck to his neck but remained calm and composed. “Yes, I remember you, kid… Since you are not a member of the Ling Sect, how about letting us go and allowing me to continue with my business? Without interference from the Ling Sect, it should be easier for you to find what you are looking for, right?”

Compared to exposing himself and Yan Zheng, it seemed that Yu Zikuan was more concerned about the battle formation not activating.

“Just now, that girl talked so convincingly, and I almost believed her. Now that I think about it, the battle formation isn’t something that can be conjured out of thin air. Dealing with a mere hundred-jin demon corpse, how could the activation of the spell cover half of Zongwu Mountain… Hey, what’s the extent of the range of this battle formation? Now you can give me a definite answer.”

Hearing the words “cover half of Zongwu Mountain”, the three newcomers were stunned, and all looked at Shen Zhu.

The battle formation covers half of Zongwu Mountain?

Yu Zikuan lowered his head, looking at the formation on the ground. From this angle, he could only see a corner of the formation. This formation was unusual and much more complex than an ordinary battle formation. It wasn’t easy for him to understand its structure in such a short time. But just from the size of the formation, it was absurd to think that it covered half of Zongwu Mountain.

The size of the pot must match the size of the lid. As Yu Zikuan said, a formation couldn’t come out of nowhere. Shi Jingzhi could quickly set up a formation to deal with the Arcane Arts because there were numerous demon corpses nearby and the Arcane Arts itself wasn’t large. In the end, it depended on favorable conditions.

Shen Zhu wasn’t one to hold back her feelings and probably exaggerated to create an intimidating atmosphere.

However, Shen Zhu didn’t smile as easily as she usually did, stepping forward to mediate. She put away the relaxed expression on her face and approached Yu Zikuan, crouching down slowly.

“Warrior Yu, there really exists an unusual formation that can be conjured out of thin air.”

Her eyes locked onto Yu Zikuan’s, and her tone became somewhat uncomfortably stiff. The slight relaxation she had shown before had vanished like morning dew under the night breeze. When she spoke, she deliberately raised her voice, clearly not just speaking for Yu Zikuan to hear.

The formation quietly twinkled with faint light beneath their feet, as if breathing. The night was extremely dark, shrouded by the surrounding demonic mist, making them feel as though they were trapped in a giant cocoon with no way out.

“It needs to be drawn on the ground, precise and without mistakes, and must not be damaged during activation. Even if you’re not from the Mishan Sect, you should know this,” she said, moving her injured shoulder. Her gaze swept over the Kushan Sect’s members. “Watch closely. If my judgment is correct…”

She extended her hand and stabbed at the lines of the formation on the ground. Those lines were formed from a sticky substance mixed with blood, partially solidified, and lying on the soil. Shen Zhu acted decisively, breaking the stiff soil into pieces, scattering it all around. The mud and sticky substance mixed together, and the lines of the formation were completely destroyed. If it were an ordinary formation, this part of the formation would surely be affected, and more severely, the entire formation would collapse.

…It should be like that in normal circumstances.

However, the sticky substance seemed to have a life of its own. It drilled out of the broken soil, gradually reforming the original lines, then gently adhered to the uneven pits. In just a breath, the formation restored itself and started to flicker slightly.

Like an imprint engraved into the earth.

Yu Zikuan’s solid confidence finally wavered, and he frowned, looking at the formation with displeasure.

On the side, Yin Ci moved his sword slightly and shifted his gaze away.

In hundreds of years, he had never seen such a bizarre formation. Yin Ci suddenly felt that he had sought death all the way, and he might have gone completely in the wrong direction. If he had approached Shi Jingzhi for help instead, he might have found something that could have killed him.

“This formation is not an ordinary battle formation; it is the ‘Invitation to God* Formation’ of the Immortal Assembly. To this day, I am still unclear about its power source, but as for its range, half of Zongwu Mountain is a conservative estimate.”

*(请神) A ceremony that basically summons gods, buddhas, immortals (ect.) for blessings and/or misfortunes.

Shen Zhu’s face darkened as she wiped the wet mud from her fingertips.

“The Invitation to God Formation wasn’t created by the Mishan Sect and is only circulated among the upper echelons of the Immortal Assembly. It shouldn’t have fallen into the hands of unrelated individuals. Once this thing is formed, destroying the formation is more troublesome than setting it up. Yu Zikuan, where did you get this from?”

Shi Jingzhi also stepped forward two steps. “Senior Yu, the situation is now in our favor, and my friend wouldn’t lie about this. This matter has far-reaching implications; please clarify it for us.”

Looking at Shi Jingzhi’s gradually serious expression, Yin Ci sighed inwardly.

What caused the internal strife in the Ling Sect and whether the Grand Pavilion would be blown away by the battle formation had nothing to do with the Kushan Sect’s objectives. They could find Kongshi’s grave with the Mist-Evading Pill obtained from Yan Zheng and leave this dangerous place as soon as possible. Shi Jingzhi abducted Yan Zheng to inquire about information, but whether it added fuel to the chaos in the Ling Sect or not, Yin Ci didn’t care much.

If Yan Zheng behaved honestly, he could stay; if not, he would be killed. Either way, the Ling Sect wouldn’t have a peaceful time ahead. Yu Zikuan’s formation didn’t matter much; they were supposed to stay out of this mess.

…Now it seemed that the conspiracy vortex on Zongwu Mountain was even more troublesome than they had expected.

This night, it wasn’t just the Kushan Sect that couldn’t sleep in peace.

Although spring had arrived, the nights were still chilly. In the quiet of the night, only the Celestial Shrine in the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence was still lit. The spy from the Chigou Sect stealthily approached the Celestial Shrine and swallowed a Breath-Halting Pill.

Having received Matron Wuxue’s orders, the spy had been undercover in the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence for some time. Judging from his daily activities, Jiang Youyue could be considered a truly virtuous man—despite the Emperor’s dislike for the Imperial Preceptor’s lineage, Jiang Youyue still earnestly advised him. He spent his time studying water management and agriculture, never attending banquets or indulging in any suspicious activities. Jiang Youyue treated his subordinates fairly well, not particularly approachable but never causing any trouble for anyone.

If not for the serious wording in the orders from above, the spy would have thought this was a retirement place arranged by the Chigou Sect.

Unfortunately, Matron Wuxue hadn’t made a mistake in judging Jiang Youyue’s character.

Lord Jiang was good in every aspect, except for the fact that he frequently visited the Celestial Shrine in the middle of the night. While it wasn’t unusual for the Imperial Preceptor to meditate in the Celestial Shrine from time to time, over time the spy found some clues—

Behind the small Celestial Shrine, there was a hidden passage. The entrance to the passage was extremely discreet, right next to the shrine. If not for the Chigou Sect’s expertise in underground mechanisms, the spy might have missed it.

Now that he had the information, he should withdraw. However, the spy felt a bit reluctant to leave the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence.

As he sighed silently, he used a magical tool to conceal his presence and followed Jiang Youyue quietly. The Imperial Preceptor seemed completely unaware, carefully turning a mechanism and stepping down the long stone steps, heading deeper underground.

The air carried a strange smell of grass and plant juices, causing the spy to wrinkle his nose, barely suppressing a sneeze.

At the end of the stone steps was a spacious hall, intricately carved with a complex formation on the floor. In the center of the formation lay a gory demon’s corpse, surrounded by twelve black-clad individuals wearing skyward-facing masks, all kneeling neatly. The formation emitted a dim light, and the black-clad individuals kept their foreheads to the ground, remaining silent.

“What’s going on?” Jiang Youyue said calmly.

“My Lord, something strange has happened to the Invitation to God Formation on Zongwu Mountain.” The leader of the black-clad people raised their head. “After Yu Zikuan completed the formation, we were supposed to recite the incantations and formally summon the gods. However, we were not fully prepared here, and someone on the other side recited the incantations ahead of time.”

Jiang Youyue glanced at the formation in the center of the hall, and his tone remained calm. “So what?”

The black-clad person was taken aback. “There might be a traitor within the Immortal Assembly. My Lord, you…”

“Even if the other side wants to sabotage the formation, can’t the twelve of you handle a potential ‘traitor’?”

Jiang Youyue sighed, speaking as if he was teaching a young child.

“Now that the Invitation to God Formation has been successfully completed, it will inevitably activate. No matter what tricks they may attempt, it’s like an insect trying to stop a carriage… As for the suspicious person, once the summoning is over, investigate the survivors on Zongwu Mountain, and you’ll find out.”

“This Servant understands.”

Jiang Youyue glanced again at the formation on the ground. “Given that you’re controlling it remotely and suffering significant losses, I’ll give you another six hours. Before tomorrow’s sunset, not a single person on Zongwu Mountain should be left alive.”

The spy almost lost his breath. The Chigou Sect still had a large number of people stationed on Zongwu Mountain. He needed to get out quickly to report…

Before he could finish his thoughts, something gripped the spy’s neck. In the next instant, he found himself thrown into the formation, mixed with the foul-smelling demon’s corpse.

“In the end, variables can be found everywhere; there’s no need for you to be so nervous. Master often says that there are no absolutely perfect plans in this world.”

Jiang Youyue looked down at the terrified spy, revealing a gentle smile. The formation roared, and the demon’s corpse slowly dissolved, causing the surrounding air to turn icy cold.

“…After all, mortals cannot touch the divine realm. It’s best to correct the errors and eliminate the evil in a timely manner.” Jiang Youyue shook his head, retracting his gaze, and his tone became somewhat gentler.

Those were the last words the spy heard in the mortal world.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 94: Kidnapping

Time rolled back to a few hours ago.

Some elders couldn’t bear the fatigue of traveling by carriage and horse, so they returned to their rooms early to rest. Others chose to drink and revel or boast about themselves. Chai Xin was skilled at inciting emotions, but he never joined in these festivities. The man he brought out, Yan Zheng, also didn’t indulge in drinking and soon left the hall.

The young Patriarch went up two floors and leaned against the railing, looking down at the misty peaks under the moonlight. Without calling for servants, he brought a pot of wine from the hall and silently poured and drank it himself.

Above Yan Zheng’s head loomed two pairs of eyes.

Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci had finished discussing official business and immediately followed the young Patriarch. The Ling Sect had many demons and monsters, and dealing with them was troublesome. It would be best to steal the Fog-Evading Pill—not just for their subordinates but also as a precaution. There was bound to be a bottle carried by the Patriarch.

All they needed to do was choose the right moment to steal it without alerting the Ling Sect. The present was a perfect opportunity.

Shi Jingzhi rubbed his hands together and gestured with his mouth. [Race and see who can steal it first?]

Yin Ci gave him a sideways glance, feeling that Sect Master Shi had developed an inexplicable addiction to gambling. He couldn’t understand why this petty theft interested him, nor what he wanted to win. [Don’t make a fuss. The sooner we get it, the sooner we leave.]

Below them, Yan Zheng seemed like a drinking puppet, raising a cup to his lips rhythmically. Shi Jingzhi looked left and right, thinking about making a move, when a figure dashed out from inside the building and approached Yan Zheng.

That person was also dressed as an elder, with a small nose and eyes squeezed together uncomfortably, making his face look peculiar. His body was tall and strong, which further accentuated the oddity. He stopped in front of Yan Zheng and respectfully bowed. “Patriarch.”

Yan Zheng paused in his wine pouring and rubbed his forehead. “Elder Bao Zu.”

“It is I, your subordinate. May I inquire, Patriarch…?”

“Just now, you were planning to take more than ten people out. Let me see… You want to attack other sects at night and hang their heads along the mountain road?”

The words were said so casually that Elder Bao didn’t immediately grasp their meaning. He laughed and said, “Zongwu Mountain is our Divine Sect’s territory. Why not take a cue from common farmers and hang a few more corpses to suppress those thieving birds! With our superior numbers, we can kill anyone who comes.”

“Hmm.” Yan Zheng toyed with the wine cup in his hand. “But it seems to me that the ones outside are all useless. There’s no need to waste effort on them. Elder Bao, you’d better rest first, and tomorrow focus on getting the Shirou.”

Elder Bao felt a little awkward at the response, blinking his small eyes. “Patriarch, my subordinates are not like those fake women from Boshui. They are all strong men who have tasted human flesh. They can finish the job by midnight. This time, I brought a hundred pieces of fine human skin and can make a human-skin carriage for Patriarch—”

Yan Zheng half-closed his eyes, his face dim and unclear. “A human-skin carriage. I have some impression of it.”

“Exactly! I’ve made several of them, and this time, I’ll make the best one for Patriarch. I ask Patriarch for permission for tonight’s plan.”

A hint of delight showed on Elder Bao’s face. He knew that, as a prestigious figure, the Patriarch wouldn’t call him over just to exchange pleasantries.

Shafu was the territory of the Chigou Sect. Ever since Bao Zu became the Elder of Shafu, he had accumulated a lot of grievances. He specialized in robbing and killing the merchant caravans passing through Shafu. However, whether it was just robbing or killing, Elder Bao was undoubtedly a talented expert in conducting evil deeds. The local authorities were oppressed to the point of being extremely miserable, and many vicious desert bandits took advantage of the situation and joined, boosting the momentum of the Shafu branch.

The yellow sands of the northwest were stained with blood, and human skin flags were everywhere, giving a resounding boost to the Ling Sect’s reputation. He had worked hard for a long time, and he was more than worthy of the position of an Elder of the main branch than anyone else.

Now, the atmosphere within the sect was sluggish, and Elder Bao had many ideas for revitalization. As long as he had an opportunity, he could demonstrate his abilities, perhaps even become the right-hand man of the young Patriarch. In a few years, when that old bastard, Chai Xin, finally died…

Before Elder Bao’s daydream could fully form, he suddenly felt a chill around his neck.

Yan Zheng had made a move. The Death Whip wrapped around Elder Bao’s throat, releasing a bitter, nauseating curse into the air. With one hand gripping the whip, Yan Zheng spoke in a tone as cold as death. “I advised you to rest obediently, but it seems you don’t understand. For defying the orders of the Patriarch… you shall be punished.”

This move was clean and precise—exceptionally accurate. Before Bao Zu fell to the ground, he had already taken his last breath. Yan Zheng put away the Death Whip, not bothering to look at the corpse on the ground and continued to enjoy the scenery while drinking.

The ease on Shi Jingzhi’s face faded a bit, and Yin Ci remained silent.

Something was peculiar.

The Shafu branch of the Ling Sect had gained some fame recently and was developing rapidly. Bao Zu had precisely the type of talent the Ling Sect needed for its evil activities, so he should have received some rewards. However, in less than the time it took to finish a cup of tea, Elder Bao hadn’t received any rewards but had lost his life so carelessly. Even if the demonic cultivators of the Ling Sect liked to act recklessly, the young Patriarch was being overly audacious.

After finishing a cup of wine, Yan Zheng’s eerie eyes opened. “Stop staring and come out.”

Shi Jingzhi’s breath trembled, almost giving them away. Fortunately, Yin Ci quickly covered his mouth and nose, and the two managed to hide their presence.

At the next moment, footsteps approached. Chai Xin dashed out from the staircase, holding a half-dead servant in his hands. He shook his head, sighing, “I’m getting old. I just brought along a useless person who couldn’t even hide his breath properly.”

Chai Xin threw the servant into Bao Zu’s pool of blood. The servant was in tears, almost wetting his pants. Yan Zheng remained expressionless but seemed slightly tense.

“Good disciple, you’d better explain to your master. It’s fine if you didn’t want Elder Bao to go out, but why did you send someone to inform Huo Changying to wait outside?”

Shi Jingzhi’s eyebrows twitched, and he exhaled a breath into Yin Ci’s palm.

Yan Zheng’s expression remained unchanged. “It’s all dirty matters. Speaking of it would soil Master’s ears… Master must be feeling sorry for Bao Zu, and I’m just making it up to him. Who made the night so perfect? Yet this person kept annoying me, which made me irritated.”

Chai Xin didn’t let him get away with avoiding the topic. “Tell me more. I happen to like dirty matters.”

“In the Grand Pavilion, fighting isn’t allowed by the rules of the Hierarch. Elder Kong seems to have taken a liking to those two men, so he hopes This Seat can make some accommodations. Since Master doesn’t get along with Elder Kong, I was afraid if I refuse, he would cause trouble for Master… It’s just a minor effort. Huo Changying isn’t a significant figure.”

Chai Xin replied with a half-smile, “Oh, using that cut-sleeve* Kong as a pretext, not bad.”

*(断袖). Ancient Chinese term used to refer to homosexuals. The story tells of the love between Emperor Ai of the Han Dynasty and Dong Xian. Seeing Dong Xian sleeping on his robe and afraid of waking him up, Emperor Ai cut part of his sleeve so as not to disturb his lover; thus, this term has become the reference.

“What does Master mean?”

“A’Zheng, when you killed someone earlier, I chalked it up to your ignorance. But this time, you suggested calling back the various elders to help me find the Shirou; it seems my disciple has grown up… However, why does it feel a bit off today? How about this, you say the night is perfect, so won’t my beloved disciple accompany me for a stroll outside to have a heart-to-heart talk?”

Yan Zheng’s breath finally faltered for a moment, and he took a step back. “This Disciple… This Disciple will prepare for a moment. Master, please wait here.”

‘Too naïve,’ Yin Ci sighed lightly in his heart. Yan Zheng was still too young and couldn’t outplay Chai Xin, a crafty old fox. By now, even they had realized that something suspicious was happening here—regardless of Yan Zheng’s intentions, something was bound to happen at the Grand Pavilion tonight, and time was running short.

The Fog-Evading Pill could wait; it was better to stay away from this place of right and wrong.

Yin Ci pinched Shi Jingzhi’s wrist, hinting that they should leave. Shen Zhu was outside, and Su Si and Yan Qing hadn’t returned yet. They only needed to leave this place and intercept their subordinates along the way.

However, it seemed that Shi Jingzhi had other ideas.

He gazed deeply at Yan Zheng for a moment, then looked at the intimidating Chai Xin, and finally turned back to Yan Zheng, as if weighing two well-cooked fat fish. Finally, full of anticipation, he turned to Yin Ci. [A’Ci, the situation in Ling Sect is quite interesting. Why don’t we kidnap someone?]

Yin Ci: “…”

From the radiant look in Shi Jingzhi’s eyes, he seemed to be talking about something much more exciting than kidnapping the Ling Sect Patriarch—it was more like “let’s grab some delicious food”.

…It was really hard to say no.

Upon seeing Yin Ci didn’t immediately refuse, Shi Jingzhi cheerfully made his move. He leaped down from the upper level and effortlessly grabbed Yan Zheng, who was stiff by the railing. As soon as they landed, Shi Jingzhi released his qi without any restraint and then quickly ran away.

Chai Xin was stunned for a moment by the display of qi, but soon he became furious and attempted to pursue them using qinggong. However, as soon as he moved, he was halted by an extremely peculiar sword wind, preventing him from advancing even a step.

The opponent’s identity was unclear, and his strength was profound, leaving Elder Chai uncertain. In this short moment, the other party vanished into the night fog and quickly disappeared without a trace.

Since the opponent couldn’t be clearly seen, there was no way to chase them down. Elder Chai could only curse in place for a few moments before leaving the Grand Pavilion in a hurry.

Soon after, on Zongwu Mountain.

“You lunatic! Do you want to kill half of Zongwu Mountain?!”

The masked person glanced at Shen Zhu indifferently. “Even the Yueshui Pavilion can make mistakes sometimes.”

Yan Qing and Su Si remained silent. Shen Zhu hadn’t been with the Kushan Sect for long, so they didn’t know her well. They only knew she was an old acquaintance of Shi Jingzhi and had come along to investigate some information—Investigate? It seemed to have nothing to do with fighting. Moreover, Shen Zhu had the identity of a Yueshui Pavilion disciple; she was just an outsider and wouldn’t be burdened by the infamous reputation of the Kushan Sect. Along the way, Shen Zhu indeed seemed completely relaxed, as if she had everything under control.

People who usually remained calm were even more terrifying when they suddenly erupted.

Now, Shen Zhu was breathing heavily and staring fixedly at the masked person. Her makeup was smudged by cold sweat. “You made this battle formation yourself. Don’t you know its effect?”

“I don’t know who you are in the Yueshui Pavilion, but it seems that the art of magic is a strong point of the Mishan Sect. You, on the other hand, are not proficient in the art and only have superficial knowledge. Yet, you’re making a fuss over nothing. Or is it that you want to meddle in this matter with such a lame excuse?”

The masked person casually dug into his ear with their little finger and continued arranging the formation.

“This humble woman isn’t talented and belongs to the Yueshui Pavilion’s Heaven Department. I usually rush around and indeed have limited knowledge of magical arts.”

Shen Zhu’s speech was deliberate, and she gnashed her teeth.

“…But if your loved one were killed before your eyes, would you forget the magic that killed them?”

The masked person’s movements paused for a moment, not answering, but there was a hint of inexplicable anger in their aura.

Shen Zhu, infuriated, smiled sarcastically. Her usual composure returned, and she said, “I don’t know where you got this thing from, but once it’s activated, not only the Ling Sect… but also nearby Taiheng and Chigou Sects, even the two of us, will die under the formation. Yet, you, despite your age, were deceived and even helped count the money after being sold out, wasting all your martial arts.”

As she spoke, she secretly untied the ropes of Su Si and Yan Qing. At that moment, even the two members of the Kushan Sect were unsure if what Shen Zhu said was true or just a bluff with clever acting.

After all, Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci were still inside the Ling Sect’s Grand Pavilion.

However, Zongwu Mountain was a chaotic place, and the Yueshui Pavilion’s qinggong could also be faked. The masked person wouldn’t immediately accept what she said.

Indeed, the masked person snorted coldly. “Proof?”

“You need to use blood to make ink and mix it with powdered demon bones to draw the formation. One or two ounces of blood with three qian of bones. Before the formation is complete, you need to sacrifice a hundred jin of fresh demon corpses, cut open its belly, and stuff it with wooden symbols, then bury it under the formation eye—did I get anything wrong? If you release me, I have a way to prove it.”

The masked person pondered for a while. “You have some courage, little girl. Let’s do this. I’ll give you the time it takes for one incense stick to burn. If you can prove that the formation is faulty within that time, I will stop. If you can’t prove it, I’ll break your legs and throw you down the mountain first.”

Yan Qing’s palms were sweaty. Shen Zhu’s words seemed half true and half false, and she didn’t look like a master of magical arts. How could she test the power of a large-scale battle formation without any tools? He anxiously took a deep breath and began to struggle quietly by using his inner force to impact his acupoints.

Ten steps away, the masked person casually picked up a stone and broke the rope on Shen Zhu’s body. He cautiously dragged her to the edge of the formation before starting to release the acupoints.

Unbeknownst to him, as soon as Shen Zhu’s acupoints were loosened, she immediately brought the bird whistle to her mouth and blew a sharp and thin sound.

The night was thick, and the whistle sound wasn’t sharp enough. However, this whistle wasn’t blown for people—it was a signal. Several sparrows came flying through the air, forcefully hitting Yan Qing and Su Si’s acupoints, causing them to fall to the ground in a daze.

Yan Qing was originally impatient, so he released his acupoints even faster than Su Si. He leaped out, grabbed Shen Zhu by her collar, and pulled her away from the masked person. Meanwhile, Su Si kicked a stone and threw it at the person’s side.

Everything happened in an instant that Yan Qing’s head was buzzing, nearly blanking out. He slung the injured Shen Zhu over his shoulder, determined to escape with Su Si. However, the masked person was undeniably powerful, and whether they could escape was still a question…

“Miss Shen?”

Shen Zhu didn’t seem focused on escaping. She immediately broke free from Yan Qing’s arms and half-knelt on the ground. She swiftly pulled out the hairpin from her head and slashed her palm. Fresh blood gushed out, appearing black in the darkness.

With blood on the hairpin, Shen Zhu raised her hand and threw it into the formation. As soon as the hairpin landed, she went from half-kneeling to kneeling on both knees and began quietly reciting an incantation. The incantation’s tone fluctuated, and its content was fragmented and incomprehensible. At first listen, it seemed like the ramblings of a madman, sending shivers down one’s spine.

The hairpin entered the ground without making a sound, and the incantation’s volume wasn’t particularly loud. The masked person assumed that Shen Zhu was weakened and didn’t notice anything amiss. He easily evaded Su Si’s stone and sighed. “Haven’t you learned your lesson yet? You can’t escape… Huh?”

Shen Zhu uttered the last syllable, and a chilling aura emanated from the formation. The runic symbols within the formation brightened up considerably, flickering somewhat unstably, but the formation was not entirely activated.

Even so, Su Si immediately retreated several steps and felt as if his hair were standing up.

A freezing sensation, close to emptiness, spread from the soles of his feet. Su Si was familiar with this feeling—he had experienced something similar when seriously ill or losing too much blood. It was like “life” itself was ebbing away. The surrounding air seemed to be soaked in corpse oil, becoming foul and sticky, choking one’s chest with pain. Despite the open space around them, in a daze, Su Si felt as if he were surrounded by a crowded pile of corpses, or a fly trapped in resin.

In that split second, the fear of death overwhelmed his heart and lungs, leaving him unable to put up any resistance.

The masked person approached the center of the formation, but he didn’t manage to stand firmly and directly knelt on one knee. Yan Qing and Su Si escaped a certain distance but were still staggering on the spot.

“Now is the time to run!” Shen Zhu shouted.

However, Su Si narrowed his eyes and tightly gripped his butcher knife. His gaze contained a trace of cruelty. “The night is long, and we have the advantage now. Why don’t we capture this person—”

Suddenly, the snap of a whip sounded.

Compared to ordinary people, Su Si was more sensitive to murderous intent, and he instinctively sidestepped. He glanced toward the direction of the attack. The whip was barbed and left a charred pit on the ground after missing its target.

A young man retrieved the whip and landed near the formation; his blood-red eyes glinted faintly in the night. He had his back turned to the masked person, and his gaze was fixed on Su Si, clearly assuming a protective stance.

Seeing the man’s face, Su Si’s scalp tingled—he seemed to be unable to escape the enmity between the Ling and the Chigou Sect.

It was none other than the Ling Sect’s Patriarch, Yan Zheng. They had met not long ago in the main hall. However, Yan Zheng’s ceremonial red robe was tattered, and his long hair was somewhat disheveled, appearing as though he had just been through a fierce battle.

Yan Zheng frowned. “You are the one from the main hall just now…”

“How about that? I wasn’t wrong, right?” A smiling voice interrupted the two, and two figures followed closely behind Yan Zheng. “My subordinates are all formidable. If Patriarch didn’t bring us here, your friend would probably be in a dire situation.”

The members of the Kushan Sect finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Their Sect Master and “Senior Brother” had arrived. Although Sect Master Shi was quite unpredictable, and Yin Ci was a heartless shopkeeper, their combined strength was still considerable. Just their presence not far away was enough to put everyone’s minds at ease.

Yin Ci couldn’t be bothered to comfort the others; he went straight past Yan Zheng and stopped in front of the masked person. With a sweep of his Hanging Shadow Sword, the fragile mask made a “crack” sound and shattered into pieces, revealing the face hidden behind it.

All things considered, the masked person had a decent appearance.

Judging from his features, he was indeed under fifty years old. His face was handsome, slightly thin, and had a hint of melancholy when not smiling. Unfortunately, he clearly didn’t pay much attention to his appearance, and the stubble on his chin was unkempt, turning his good looks into a state of disarray.

Yin Ci couldn’t help but make a sound of surprise. This person’s profound and exceptional strength confirmed that he wasn’t an ordinary nobody. Even Su Si, who least liked getting involved in martial world conflicts, probably recognized this person. However…

“I was wondering why you wore a mask.” Shen Zhu licked the wound in her palm and raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t this Yu Zikuan, Warrior Yu from Taiheng? It was said that you have been dead for five or six years. When did you start playing dead?”

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 93: Kill Formation

Inside the Grand Pavilion, the firelight flickered, while outside, the cold wind blew in dust. The mist in the Zongwu Mountains refused to disperse. The brightly lit Grand Pavilion was squeezed into the valley, as if it were a mirage floating from somewhere. The stench of corpses and the fragrance of wine from inside the building were dispersed by the wind, which made Su Si’s tense heart finally relaxed a bit.

Shi Jingzhi, the fake elder, was eye catching, so fortunately, no one paid attention to the servants. He and Yan Qing could still have the chance to go out for some fresh air. However, apart from taking a breath of fresh air, they had more important things to do—Shen Zhu was outside the Grand Pavilion investigating the surrounding area, and they needed to exchange information with her to avoid exposing their plans and ending up with no escape route.

According to the agreement, Shen Zhu should be waiting near the entrance of the valley after completing her investigation. However, after passing the red lantern at the entrance, there was no sign or signal nearby, not even a single sparrow feather.

With no other choice, the two had to wait where they were.

Su Si leaned against the stone wall and looked at the desolate Zongwu Mountain, exhaling a breath heavily. “They say that the Chigou Sect is the number one demonic sect, and the Ling Sect is the second. The two are like water and fire. But just now, I felt that the Chigou Sect seemed a bit innocent.”

The Ling Sect was lax and only consumed Yan Budu’s fortune. Their strength was vast, and their ambition couldn’t be exhausted in a short time. The Chigou Sect, on the other hand, lost its persistence, but it strictly governed the sect and ambitiously sought to rise. The two could be considered evenly matched in the martial world, but the Ling Sect took the principle of “having no shame” to the extreme, unlike the Chigou Sect, which managed to maintain a reputation in both righteous and evil.

Su Si had only regarded Matron Wuxue as badmouthing their opponents, but now he thought back to her words and found that she wasn’t entirely wrong.

Yan Qing absentmindedly made a sound, seeming a bit distracted.

“What are you thinking, San Zi? Feeling overwhelmed suddenly from meeting your relative?”

That Yan Zheng also had a pair of ghost eyes and didn’t look too old—perhaps only a year or two older than them. It wasn’t strange that Yan Qing was momentarily dazed; apart from his biological father, he had never seen any other “relatives” before.

Little did he know that when Yan Qing spoke again, the topic would jump to something tens of thousands of li away. “Don’t you think he looks a bit like Senior Yin?”

“Huh?”

“His gaze.” Yan Qing was used to his ghost eyes and was uninterested in other people’s expressions. He was more concerned about what was behind their eyes. “When I first met Senior Yin, he also gave me that feeling—I can’t describe it, but he seemed indifferent to everything, as if he had no interest in anything.”

Su Si thought about it for a while and found it to be true. The danger level of the Kushan Sect and the Ling Sect was equally high, but Sect Master Shi didn’t miss any of the seven emotions and six desires. He could still see through people’s intentions. Yin Ci seemed more like a pool of ink, and nobody knew what was hidden underneath. If he had to say what he feared the most, Su Si was even more afraid of Yin Ci.

However, recently, their Senior Yin seemed to have experienced some kind of stimulation and had lost that gloom, gaining a bit of liveliness. When Yan Qing mentioned it specifically, Su Si could finally match the memory.

…But this Yan Zheng, was he really indifferent?

During his time in the Chigou Sect, Su Si had learned a bit about Yan Zheng—Yan Zheng’s parents were killed by Taiheng, and when he was around fourteen or fifteen, he was brought back to the Ling Sect by Chai Xin. He had above-average talent but rarely appeared in front of others, always obediently manipulated by Chai Xin.

But Yan Zheng was willing to be the Patriarch, which definitely meant he had his own purpose. After all, the strength of a demonic sect was paramount, and being a puppet Patriarch wasn’t an easy role. Chai Xin wouldn’t force him into that position. If Yan Zheng really had no ambitions, he could have casually taken up the position of an elder, enjoying life without causing any trouble.

The current situation, no matter how he looked at it, seemed to be collusion between two parties, right?

Su Si had no favorable impression of the Ling Sect, and he wouldn’t mince his words. “Indifferent to everything, but he still caused trouble for us earlier? Now, they’ve called back members from all over, and it’s obvious that they are still up to their thieving ways and can’t wait any longer.”

Yan Qing, with a good temper, said, “Hmm, maybe I misjudged him. I just…”

He suddenly stopped, holding up the Sword of Compassion wrapped in cloth. Su Si immediately guarded Yan Qing’s back, and the butcher knife glinted with a cold light in the night.

There was hostility.

The hostility flashed past, thin as a strand of hair, but it was enough to make the hairs on the backs of their necks stand on end.

The hostility undoubtedly targeted them, and although it lacked murderous intent, its imposing presence was enough to be shocking. If it were the Ling Sect’s demonic cultivators who had discovered their identity, they wouldn’t have played such a roundabout game. The problem was that apart from major sects like the Ling Sect, Taiheng, and the Chigou Sect, there were also quite a few smaller sects and lone cultivators trying their luck in the vicinity. They were newcomers here and didn’t know which powerful figure they might have disturbed.

Did the other side mistake them for Ling Sect’s lackeys, or did they find out that they were from the Kushan Sect?

Su Si was experienced in escape. When he didn’t see anyone, he grabbed Yan Qing. “Things are not good. Let’s head back to the Grand Pavilion first.”

As he was about to take a step, an arrow shot towards them with a piercing sound. This time, the hostility was filled with murderous intent, like a warning—if they dared to go back, they would be immediately pinned to the stone steps.

At the same time, a strong hostility emerged near the Grand Pavilion, presenting a perfect encirclement. Now they were completely trapped, unable to advance or retreat. Su Si hadn’t fully recovered from his surprise when he saw a figure stumbling towards them—

It was Shen Zhu.

Shen Zhu’s face looked grim, with an arrow stuck in her shoulder. She gasped for breath as she grabbed Yan Qing and quickly hid behind him, as if she had found a lifesaving straw. “Good Brother, help Sister block them!”

Before Yan Qing could react, Su Si twisted his waist, using the butcher knife to slice through another arrow that was shot towards them.

The disciples of the Yueshui Pavilion were adept at investigating and exploring, and their qinggong was passable. Based on Shen Zhu’s reaction, it was difficult to judge the opponent’s level. Who knew what Shen Zhu had encountered outside while scouting, which made her this anxious.

However, considering the current situation, the opponent seemed more intent on preventing them from escaping back to the Ling Sect than outright killing them. And they happened not to be members of the Ling Sect, which meant there might still be room for negotiation. The three of them exchanged glances and, together, activated their qinggong, rushing into a secluded corner shrouded in thick fog.

Once they were far away from the grand pavilion, Shen Zhu pulled out the arrow with a grimace. “I say, this warrior, since I saw you just now, why not reveal yourself openly?”

The moonlight illuminated the light mist, and the valley was silent.

Shen Zhu’s face was pale as paper, but there was no trace of weakness in her demeanor. She finally managed to steady her breathing and raised her voice. “We’ve had a few exchanges just now, can’t you see? If we were members of the Ling Sect, we would have rushed back to the Grand Pavilion without hesitation.”

“Yeah, if you were from the Ling Sect, you would have been shot dead by me at the entrance just now.”

A deep voice converged into a line and was transmitted to them.

“That footwork just now… disciples from the Yueshui Pavilion? You better mind your own business. Stay with me for an hour or two, and I won’t hurt you.”

Su Si snorted and immediately changed his voice to that of a young girl, saying crisply, “It’s bad enough to bully a defenseless girl. And now you want me to accompany you for an hour or two at this late hour? Shameless!”

With this sudden change, the person opposite was caught off guard and released a breath. Su Si seized this momentary pause and swiftly closed the distance, rushing towards the source of the breath. He struck without mercy. The butcher knife’s cold light flashed as he aimed for the person’s throat, but the attack was halted by two fingers in mid-air.

The person easily intercepted the strike with just their strength.

The person wore a mask, carried a longbow on their back, and had dirty animal skin finger guards on their hands. Seeing that his attack failed, Su Si tried to retreat, only to find that the butcher knife was firmly clamped by the person’s fingers. Su Si had never suffered such a setback. He immediately changed his tactics, using his fingers to aim for the eye holes of the person’s mask—

But he hit empty space.

The person exclaimed and took half a step back, easily avoiding Su Si’s attack. “Not bad, kid. Quite sneaky. You were the one pretending to be a woman just now, weren’t you? No wonder a little girl suddenly appeared out of nowhere.”

There was no tension in the person’s words, but instead a hint of admiration. Su Si had thought that being in close combat would give him an advantage, but unexpectedly, he hadn’t even touched the person. Despite not being young anymore and having a significant wound on their waist, the person still wielded their bow like a sword, putting up a good fight without revealing any weakness.

“Your approach doesn’t seem like that of the Yueshui Pavilion. Let me think… Could you be from the Chigou’s Red Scorpion Foot?”

The masked person saw through Su Si’s background with just a few words, his voice carrying a deeper sense of amusement.

With Shen Zhu’s safety confirmed, Yan Qing joined the battle with his sword. Several moves of the Jade Chime swordsmanship were executed, and the masked person seemed pleasantly surprised. The butcher knife and the swings of the sword were powerful, yet the masked person was able to hold his ground against the two of them without showing any weakness.

This battle felt like a quagmire; the more they fought, the deeper they seemed to sink. The masked person probably used only about twenty to thirty percent of his strength initially, seemingly probing for their abilities. Several incense sticks had passed, and far from showing fatigue, the masked person became even more stable, instilling fear in the hearts of the two.

However, they still didn’t know his intentions.

Faced with this unexpectedly powerful opponent, Su Si couldn’t help but feel anxious. “Shen Zhu, who is this person?”

Shen Zhu clicked her tongue. “This person is using the Fog Tomb Formation to hide and is preparing a large-scale formation nearby. I sensed some subtle fluctuations in qi and followed them, coincidentally discovering him drawing the formation… It’s my fault; I wasn’t swift enough in retreating, and he noticed us.”

Su Si smiled wryly. Although Shen Zhu blamed herself, they both knew that this person’s strength was beyond measure. Even if it were Su Si, trained as an assassin, he might not be able to escape unscathed. Shen Zhu was originally here to scout the surroundings and happened to run into him.

To avoid any accidents, she even brought along Lord Bai, but who knew if the goose was lazing around somewhere.

Creating and activating a large-scale formation wasn’t a simple task, and it took time. The masked person was probably worried about Shen Zhu leaking information, so he chased her here, taking the opportunity to deal with the three of them as well.

Yan Qing closed his eyes, gradually calming himself down. He used his large sword to block the masked person’s longbow and said straightforwardly, “Senior, your gentle approach doesn’t seem like that of someone from a demonic sect. We can swear here that we won’t reveal your secret.”

“Young man, you’re not bad, but unfortunately, I’m not from any reputable sect, so I don’t believe in oaths.” The masked person sighed. “But if I swear not to kill you, will you come with me?”

He asked but didn’t intend to wait for an answer.

A wave of imposing momentum surged, not expanding but echoing in the confined space. This time, the masked person didn’t hold back; Su Si immediately spat out blood and was pushed back several steps. Yan Qing’s large sword hummed and vibrated, making his hands numb. He wanted to counterattack, but Shen Zhu held his sleeve.

She let out a light hum with a calm expression. “Alright, we are no match for this person. Engaging in a direct fight might alarm the Ling Sect. It’s better to follow him for now. He hasn’t harmed me so far, and his words might carry some weight. Since we’ve encountered him, let’s treat it as fate.”

Su Si: “…It’s all because you lured him here!”

Shen Zhu smiled openly. “What comes around goes around. As long as we survive, we won’t worry about not having a chance.”

With half a warning in her words, Yan Qing sighed and quietly released his grip on the Sword of Compassion, hiding it in an inconspicuous crack between the stones.

Not long after, the three members of the Kushan Sect were strung together and brought into the Fog Tomb Formation.

The location of the person’s formation wasn’t far away, amidst a rugged and strange rock formation, making it extremely difficult to find. The masked person sealed the three of their acupoints and firmly tied them to the side of a giant stalagmite. He then used blood and ink to meticulously draw runes, fully focused on the task.

Su Si was bored to the extreme, so he lowered his voice and asked, “What about my goose?”

Shen Zhu moved her injured shoulder and replied, “I let it go in time; it’s fine.”

Although the three of them could speak, the masked person wasn’t far away, so they couldn’t have a proper conversation. They could only watch the complex formation emit flickering, dim light with anticipation.

Fearing they might escape, the masked person refused to even tie them far from the mist’s edge. He specifically took out a Fog-Evading Pill and fed them some crushed powder to prevent them from being affected by the Fog Tomb Formation.

The Fog-Evading Pills that the Kushan master and disciple hadn’t acquired yet were now tasted by their subordinates.

Su Si suffered a small loss, but he wasn’t too anxious. The masked person didn’t seem to have any intention to kill them. If their lives were in danger during this trip, Lord Bai would surely come to find them. Although he didn’t know what the masked person was planning, the formation didn’t seem to target the Kushan Sect specifically. In any case, since they had nothing better to do, he couldn’t help but closely observe the situation.

The formation looked like it took at least seven days to be almost complete. Its power had begun to manifest; the green grass nearby withered and turned black with the slightest touch, crumbling into powder. There were numerous dead insects on the ground, lying on their backs with only empty shells left. The air inside the formation was thick with murderous intent, making it difficult to breathe.

Su Si felt that something was off and furrowed his brow slowly. “This is… a battle formation?”

At this time, most sects were resting in their own territories. The majority of the foreign sects were scattered, and there weren’t many masters present who could deal with a large-scale battle formation.

Yan Qing quickly reacted, and his face turned a bit pale. “The Ling Sect’s Grand Pavilion?”

The Ling Sect was usually disorganized, with its elders wandering around. But now, after the clues about Zongwu Mountain were revealed, not only were all the elders gathered at the main branch, but most of the side branches were also congregated in the Grand Pavilion. If they were attacked right now, half of the Ling Sect’s members would be destroyed in an instant.

Setting up a battle formation wasn’t an easy task, as the fluctuations in the formation’s qi were easily detectable in normal places. However, this was Zongwu Mountain, where many ancient formations remained, constantly humming in chorus. Now, the Ling Sect had set up the Fog Tomb Formation, covering everything with mist, even hiding the unnatural signs, making guarding the formation unnecessary.

If this was indeed a battle formation targeting the Ling Sect’s Grand Pavilion, Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci might still be inside there.

Yan Qing was extremely anxious, wishing to break free from the acupoint restraints right away. He gritted his teeth and tried to lower his voice as much as possible. “Shen Zhu, can your sparrow… Shen Zhu?”

Shen Zhu didn’t respond.

She stared fixedly at one corner of the formation, as if her soul had been drawn out of her body. After a long time, she managed to speak, her voice filled with incredulous shock.

“This is not an ordinary battle formation; I recognize this type of formation.”

She then shouted at the masked person with a shrill and deeply resentful voice.

“You lunatic! Do you want to kill half of Zongwu Mountain?!”

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The author has something to say:

Lord Bai: What do you mean by “lazy”? I took her there, didn’t I? I took her there, didn’t I?

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 92: Protection

There was an unexpected sincerity in the original play act between master and disciple, which didn’t seem that distracting. Who would have thought that this place would be as chaotic as a market, yet Yan Zheng could still pick them out at a glance.

On the other hand, compared to the ragged and strange “monkeys” around them, the two of them were a bit eye-catching.

Shi Jingzhi took advantage of his “drunkenness” and shed the sentimental look, reverting back to the appearance of a seasoned old trickster. He took a deep breath and put on a flattering smile, playing his role perfectly. “Patriarch, I am Huo Changying, one of the elders of the Boshui branch. I am fortunate to be summoned by the Patriarch to come and assist with whatever you need, be it strength or just a single gesture.”

After speaking, he even imitated Huo Changying’s mischievous smile perfectly. The awkwardness from before disappeared, and even Yin Ci couldn’t help but admire the performance.

The real Huo Changying’s manner was pretentious, able to deceive others as easily as squeezing pig fat to produce three jin of lard*. Shi Jingzhi wasn’t as skilled in that regard, but he could imitate perfectly without adding much effort, which was enough to impress Yan Zheng.

*Metaphor referring to something done with enough time and effort can yield significant results or benefits, just like the process of simmering pork fat can obtain lard, which takes time but eventually produces a substantial amount of valuable product.

Seeing this reaction, Yan Zheng’s eyelids twitched. He looked at Shi Jingzhi with suspicion, doubting his own judgment. He hesitated for a while, and before he could speak, another person took action–the elder who had been observing Shi Jingzhi before suddenly stood up and flicked his sleeves. A sinister qi swept across the entire hall, causing everyone to become even more silent.

This person was elderly with grizzled hair. One of his eyes was covered with a black patch, and he had a long face that was wrinkled like a pickled radish. When this person released his qi, Yan Zheng instinctively shut his mouth and quietly froze in place.

From the difference in status alone, this person was the Patriarch of the Ling Sect.

Seizing this opportunity, Shi Jingzhi quickly sat back down. He hugged Yin Ci, as if embracing a human-shaped reassurance pill, and relaxed again. Yin Ci quietly assessed the one-eyed old man, who resembled a pickled radish, considering the current situation.

This person’s name was Chai Xin, the previous Patriarch of the Ling Sect. Chai Xin’s appearance was unremarkable, but his martial skills were indeed outstanding, ranking among the top five in the martial world. After Yan Zheng appeared, Chai Xin readily “stepped down” and became an elder.

Chai Xin’s action wasn’t driven by any sense of loyalty or righteousness, as the Ling Sect’s members hardly shared that sentiment.

It was simply because the martial world still existed, and villains were constantly emerging. Yan Zheng could be considered the pinnacle of those villains, and his Ling Sect was more of a symbol of faith than a sect. As long as the Ling Sect remained, the lunatics had a backbone to rally around. Now that the Ling Sect had a new Patriarch with ghost eyes, it solidified the lunatic’s “faith” even further.

Yan Zheng was more like a living summoning banner for evil spirits rather than a living person. The position of the Patriarch attracted constant assassination attempts from righteous sects. Chai Xin tightly controlled Yan Zheng in his hands, and life as an elder was probably more comfortable than when he was the Patriarch.

Just like now, Yan Zheng was put on display as a signboard while Chai Xin spoke first.

Listening to Chai Xin’s tone, one could easily mistake him for the true Patriarch. “This Old One has received news that the fat donkey from the Jianchen Temple has become roasted donkey meat, and the old turtle from the Taiheng Sect has also met his end. Now that the Holy Hierarch’s bloodline has appeared and the Shirou clue is also on Zongwu Mountain, it is a perfect opportunity with favorable timing, geographical advantage, and the unity of the people to restore our Divine Sect to its former glory!”

The people below cheered uproariously, their shouts of “Long live our Divine Sect” ringing in everyone’s ears. Shi Jingzhi also followed with a couple of shouts, looking the part.

Chai Xin raised his hands to quiet the crowd and then changed the topic. “Even though this Old One cannot let go of the Taiheng matter, relying on the sect’s size and power alone to stir up trouble on Zongwu Mountain is excessive. Some of the reckless small sects have also received the news and are coming to try their luck. You all should go and clean up those ignorant little things, behead a few, and claim your rewards.”

Shi Jingzhi grumbled, “Just to deal with some lackeys, do we really need to call back the elites from all over?”

Yin Ci understood his doubt.

Huo Changying might not count as a serious elite, so it was questionable to mobilize them just to deal with external enemies. The members of the Ling Sect weren’t as obedient as those from other sects. Besides the newly appointed Elder Huo, who was still a greenhorn, the other elders with some personality probably wouldn’t be willing to move if they were merely ordered to do so.

As if he had heard something, Chai Xin continued after a while, “As for the ‘Shirou’, this Old One also investigated it back at Huilian Mountain. Unfortunately, the Sword of Compassion was taken by the sneaky thieves from the Kushan Sect. Luckily, the Holy Hierarch favored us and hid the good stuff in our backyard. Let those fools fight over the map! The Holy Hierarch must have other arrangements—”

The cheers from the crowd below grew even louder, and the table nearby was jolted, nearly spilling drinks on the master and disciple.

Seizing the momentum, Chai Xin pushed the atmosphere in the hall to its peak. “I mentioned it earlier, and I’ll say it again—whoever finds the item left by the Holy Hierarch related to the ‘Shirou’ can take half of it!”

‘Seems like he’s talking about something genuine,’ Yin Ci thought. Even if Elder Chai really managed to encounter the Sword of Compassion, he would probably lose ten years of his life from getting beaten up by the sword on the spot. Yin Ci turned his head and looked at Yan Zheng, who was still expressionless. When he heard the word ‘Shirou’, he didn’t even lift his eyelids.

Interesting. Back when they fought Zheng Fengdao, the man was all about being “interested in the Buddha beads”, and he even got the Corpse Recovery Group, a direct subordinate of the Patriarch. Now it seemed like he’s interested in something entirely different.

Since the ‘Shirou’ was involved, it wasn’t surprising that the elders from all over were willing to rush over. They could earn some credit to stay at the main branch, and they could also try their luck with the legendary elixir of immortality, so why wouldn’t they do it?

A slight movement from Shi Jingzhi interrupted Yin Ci’s thoughts.

He had a joyful expression on his face, but his eyebrows were slightly furrowed. Taking advantage of the chaotic atmosphere around them, he pressed his lips against Yin Ci’s cheek and stopped by his ear, whispering, “A’Ci, do you have any plans later? I want to talk to you about something.”

Unsure if it was to get back at him for the earlier teasing, Shi Jingzhi’s breath was warm and gentle. His words brushed against Yin Ci’s ear like heated silk. Yin Ci glanced at the self-taught brat and smiled faintly. “You already have me, there’s no need to be so polite.”

As expected, the aura of Sect Master Shi wavered for a moment.

At this late hour, Elder Chai’s passionate persuasion finally came to an end, and he went to rest. The members of the Ling Sect weren’t in a hurry either; they continued to drink and revel, making the scene unbearable to watch. Shi Jingzhi forced himself to play the role of an experienced disciple for a while, then, using the excuse of “the spring nights are short-lived*”, he dragged Yin Ci out of the hall.

*(春宵苦短) Idiom referring to the fleeting nature of enjoyable or romantic moments. It conveys the idea that pleasant experiences, especially those of love or romance, are often brief and pass by quickly, leaving a sense of bitterness or regret due to their transience.

Although Elder Chai had left, Yan Zheng remained seated in his original spot. Yin Ci was extremely careful not to meet his gaze. Yan Zheng’s eyes seemed to wander, intentionally or unintentionally, and it was unclear what he was planning.

It was only after they left the hall that the feeling of being pricked by thorns disappeared completely.

Inside the Grand Pavilion of the Ling Sect, there were many guest rooms, most of which were occupied haphazardly, and the accumulated dust in the vacant rooms was almost three feet thick. After sending the two servants to meet with Shen Zhu, Shi Jingzhi reluctantly leaned against the wall—it wasn’t that he didn’t want to lie down, but he suspected that the bed used by the Human Shaped Coffin in the Ghost Tomb was cleaner than this place.

Yin Ci, on the other hand, shed that facade of bonelessness. He crossed his arms and looked at Shi Jingzhi, who was deep in thought.

Shi Jingzhi wasn’t a timid person. If it were an ordinary discussion, he wouldn’t have sought out a secluded place. The last time he wore such a serious expression was when they discussed the matter of the “Children of Desire”.

Thinking of the matter of the “Children of Desire”, Yin Ci’s heart sank even further.

In the past, the old Yin Ci would have been delighted to encounter a new “pleasure”, not knowing how thrilled he would be. But now, this trouble had to fall on Shi Jingzhi, and Yin Ci couldn’t help but wish that Shi Jingzhi was just a poor fellow with some strange illness, so that no force would be interested in him.

The current problem was clear enough—the “Children of Desire”, destined for a short life due to their excessive desires, was deliberately created as part of the so-called “Hundred-Year Project”. Perhaps every generation of the Imperial Preceptor was aware of it.

However, this puzzle was far too secretive, and even Yin Ci had never come into contact with it. If Shi Jingzhi had dutifully pursued survival, they shouldn’t have touched this layer. The origin of the formation in the blood of the Children of Desire, and for whom the Hundred-Year Project was established, were things that couldn’t be clarified in a short time. Not to mention clues like the flesh idol; Shi Jingzhi himself couldn’t understand his own illness.

The life of Sect Master Shi was hanging by a thread, and he could only investigate while trying to stay alive. He didn’t dare alert the enemy too early. Currently, their main goal was still the Shirou, and they had already reached a consensus on this matter.

Thinking about this, Yin Ci leaned against the door and asked, “What did you want to say just now?”

“Elder Chai’s attitude is too proactive. According to him, he’s very certain that there are clues at Lonshi’s grave—not speculation, but something he has found from another source. It seems that Yan Budu didn’t just hide the clues in Yuanxian Village; there might be hints in other places as well.”

Shi Jingzhi stared at the dimly lit guest room and spoke slowly.

“Yan Budu set up the Shirou not to pass it down properly. Previously, when I thought he created a ‘key’, it was just a prank for the final moment. Even if no one found the key, or even if the Shirou didn’t exist at all, it would still fit his style… But now, looking at his design, it seems like he’s afraid people won’t discover it.”

Yin Ci smoothly continued, “If Yan Budu wanted to play with the martial world, he doesn’t need to complicate things by setting up ‘a competition for the Shirou’ like this.”

Just dealing with the fourteen treasure map Buddha beads was enough trouble, and snatching a specific key was just the same as going around in circles.

Given Yan Budu’s level of madness, there was nothing surprising about whatever he did. But now that they knew about the conspiracy of the Children of Desire, and with Shi Jingzhi bringing it up, Yin Ci also detected a hint of something unnatural.

“Exactly.” Shi Jingzhi nodded, sounding more concerned. “The Queen of Milan even revealed the secret of the ‘Hundred-Year Project’ before she died. Yan Budu had actually interacted with immortals, yet he left behind nothing but a farce and chose to die straightforwardly?”

“Are we really looking for the ‘key’, and not something else? Is the ‘Shirou’ we’re searching for really just an elixir of immortality?”

Hearing this, Yin Ci didn’t know how to respond.

Shi Jingzhi’s life was dwindling day by day. If they traced the clues of the Shirou to the end and discovered something else hidden in this matter, it would be too cruel. Yin Ci had thought about this possibility before and had privately considered other ways to save Shi Jingzhi. However, he had kept silent and never brought up this topic.

Because that was almost the only lifeline left for Shi Jingzhi.

The desire of the Children of Desire was boundless. He had gone crazy even when something as simple as a “disciple” went missing, not to mention his own life. Just being cautious about the Shirou consumed a considerable amount of Shi Jingzhi’s courage.

As if sensing Yin Ci’s concerns, Shi Jingzhi smiled and said, “It’s nothing. A’Ci, let’s treat this as a sand table. If one is too focused on a single leaf, they might miss the grandeur of the entire Mount Tai.”

A single leaf could obscure the entire Mount Tai, but that single leaf is your own life.

What desires has this person locked onto? Saying he has no worries or fears, can he truly be without worries or fears?

Yin Ci let out a sigh and changed the topic. “Daydreaming is useless; let’s unlock the spell on the Sword of Compassion as soon as possible and find the ‘key’ first.”

“That’s actually what I wanted to say as my second point. Thanks to Senior Chen’s guidance, I’ve already unlocked it on the way here. Yan Budu focuses solely on martial arts, so his spellcasting skills aren’t that difficult to crack—covering the Sword of Compassion with human blood reveals the newly added inscription.”

“Why are you only saying this now?” Yin Ci’s voice deepened a bit.

Because of his immortal body, Yin Ci wasn’t afraid of the Fog Tomb Formation. As long as he knew the location, he could retrieve the “key” himself. They didn’t need to go through the trouble of pretending to be members of the Ling Sect—he didn’t want the concern that Shi Jingzhi exchanged for his own lifespan, nor did he need it.

“Because it has nothing to do with Venerable Kongshi’s gravesite; it seems to have another purpose. Previously, when we obtained the stone sword, we thought it could help find the location, but that was just an assumption.”

There was more than one clue pointing towards the Jianchen Temple, yet the Sword of Compassion was taken by the Kushan Sect. Now it was a mess; the whole martial world was convinced that there were crucial clues there, and they were all rushing to find the grave of Venerable Kongshi, afraid of others getting there first.

Yan Budu could still play with everyone in the martial world even after being dead for a hundred years, which made Shi Jingzhi sigh.

“Besides the spell carved by Venerable Kongshi, there’s only one newly added inscription on the sword. You’ve seen that inscription before; do you remember the white jade hairpin I snatched and gave to you? …It’s just a simple protection spell, nothing else.”

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The author has something to say:

Yan Budu: How could I really play an escape room with everyone? (?

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 91: Yan Zheng

Zongwu Mountain had few sunny days, and it happened to be cloudier with the arrival of spring. Three people stood at the border of Zongwu Mountain, not far from where the mist rose up to the sky, mingling with the overcast clouds. The mist covered the entire mountain range, as if a corner of the sky had collapsed, burying the whole area in a torrent of dark clouds.

With the arrival of spring, there were some green shoots beneath the withered grass. However, the sparse patches of green were enveloped in an eerie aura, appearing feeble and lifeless, devoid of any vitality.

The archer quickly applied pressure to several acupoints, expertly stopping the bleeding. His gaze swept over at Yin Ci, still maintaining a high-and-mighty tone. “How interesting.”

Yin Ci was about to draw his Hanging Shadow Sword, but the archer smiled meaningfully at the two of them. He took a few deep breaths, fixed his longbow on his back, and then started running backward—his actions were odd, and he moved with an air of righteousness, making it hard to tell if he was escaping or preparing to perform some special technique.

The pair of master and disciple from the Kushan Sect waited vigilantly, watching the archer recede into the mist, until he disappeared.

Oh, it turns out he was trying to escape.

The disciples of Taiheng were usually known for their unyielding nature, but this was the first time they had seen someone escape with such an aura of charging forward. Sect Master Shi didn’t have time to grab his flagpole, and his hand remained suspended in the air, his action and expression freezing together. The wound on his head was still throbbing faintly, and Shi Jingzhi suddenly felt he had been wronged by the arrow.

He was met with a harsh response, only to be told to “Scram”, without even a chance to retaliate. Shi Jingzhi pondered for a moment but couldn’t figure out which master from Taiheng could be like this—even if the person was from Taiheng, he would be an outcast, unknown and unremarkable.

Yin Ci was at a loss as well. The archer’s actions were puzzling, and his unconscious reaction was hard to fake. The archer was indeed using Taiheng’s footwork, and his skill level was quite profound. However, the Fog Tomb Formation of Zongwu Mountain was designed to prevent outsiders from entering, especially guarding against righteous sects like Taiheng, yet the archer had brazenly slipped in.

But it was strange.

Yin Ci once attempted the “Fog Tomb Formation”, and its effect was peculiar. When entering the formation, it was like entering a tomb. Living people who entered the formation would have normal heartbeats and breathing and could still eat and drink. However, their flesh would start to rot methodically, much like a freshly deceased corpse. Before long, they would swell and emit a foul stench. If they didn’t leave in time, not to mention preserve their martial arts skills, just the agony of living with decaying flesh would be unbearable.

Unfortunately, Yin Ci was a monster that could revive from even a few remaining scraps. The Fog Tomb Formation rotted his flesh but left his bones intact, turning him into a living skeleton within the formation. His consciousness remained, but he had no choice but to give up on it.

Only the Ling Sect could devise such a sinister formation. The Fog Tomb Formation had countless variations, resembling a venomous concoction. To remain unscathed, one would need to consume a special “antidote” specifically crafted for countering this formation. Strictly speaking, this honor wasn’t bestowed upon ordinary disciples of the Ling Sect.

So what was going on with that archer?

Seemingly attracted by the commotion here, several figures approached not far away. Shi Jingzhi swiftly thawed from his frozen state and pulled Yin Ci. The two of them lightly jumped to the top of a nearby peak, holding their breaths in unison.

The newcomers were not disciples of the Taiheng Sect but rather several from the Ling Sect.

The one leading them wasn’t yet thirty years old and had delicate features, but his face was caked with thick powder, concealing the redness and swelling. His originally attractive features were marred by the red and white powder, making him not only unattractive but also exuding a touch of eerie weirdness.

However, his clothes were exceptionally luxurious and in the style of the Ling sect, indicating he was an elder from the outer branch.

“Strange, a moment ago, there were several figures here,” the man said in a fake, languid tone. As he spoke, he casually flicked his fingers, as if trying to evoke some immortal-like atmosphere. “… Have they escaped? I had wanted to bring a gift for the Patriarch to see, but alas.”

Beside him was a white-clad young man with a numb, emotionless expression. “Elder Huo, this place is dangerous. It’s better to ask the Patriarch for the ‘Fog Evading Pill’.”

The young man’s words were monotonous, as if reciting a book. But Elder Huo’s expression immediately softened, looking pleased. “What Xi’er said is true. It’s cold here. Let’s go… Ah, if it weren’t for the Patriarch’s orders, we could be taking a boat to enjoy the flowers in Boshui.”

“Elder Huo has just been promoted as an elder, and he received a summons from the Patriarch. This is an auspicious sign of being favored,” the white-clad young man continued, flattering him expressionlessly.

Someone from the Boshui branch? Yin Ci raised a brow.

Boshui was located at the southernmost point of Great Yun, a rather insignificant place. Even though they were stronger than the Chigou Sect, they wouldn’t bother assigning someone with little skill to Boshui. Not to mention that the Ling Sect was now in decline and all the formidable masters were at the main branch. This “Elder Huo” might hold the title of an elder in a branch, but his combat strength was inferior to Yan Qing’s.

However, with this level of strength, dealing with ordinary Taiheng disciples would be more than enough.

Yin Ci withdrew his gaze and made a judgment. He realized that it was unnecessary for Taiheng to send top masters to investigate Zongwu Mountain through the mist. Those exceptional individuals of the Ling Sect wouldn’t bother with small fries like them. Instead, they would let these mediocre individuals come and sacrifice themselves, making use of their uselessness. This “Elder Huo” seemed even more pitiful, as he had just taken up the new position and was probably being used as a scapegoat as the newly appointed elder.

Suddenly, Yin Ci had an idea that wasn’t quite ethical. He turned his head slowly and looked at Shi Jingzhi beside him, detecting a similar aura of mischief from him.

“A’Ci, how about we…”

“Not a bad idea.”

Before he could finish his sentence, Shi Jingzhi flicked a few pebbles. Elder Huo’s eyes rolled back, and he fell to the ground. The rest of the Ling Sect disciples also collapsed in various positions, except for the white-clad young man who was still standing. He didn’t possess any martial skills and displayed no coquettish behavior. He seemed like either a recently initiated male companion or a commoner abducted for some purpose.

The young man looked at the elder Huo with rolled-back eyes, but instead of fear, he showed relief. After hesitating for a while, he nervously kicked Elder Huo and then bowed haphazardly to those around him, saying, “Are you heroes from Taiheng?”

Shi Jingzhi appeared, clearing his throat and speaking with a righteous tone. “Indeed, we are.”

The young man kneeled down on one knee, knocking his head loudly on the ground. The white clothes on his body instantly became dirtied with mud. “I was just an ordinary scholar in Boshui. I don’t know how I offended this scoundrel. He harassed men and women in Boshui, acting arrogantly. My older sister was killed by this beast, and my younger siblings are still young. Pressured by the tyranny of the demonic sect, I…”

“Enough, it’s okay,” Shi Jingzhi waved his hand, rudely interrupting the man’s lament. “When you came here, did you see any other Ling Sect members?”

“No, we just arrived at the border of Zongwu Mountain, and we hadn’t had a chance to climb up. That scoundrel said he felt battle intent and wanted to capture two Taiheng disciples to gain some reputation.”

Shi Jingzhi: “……” Elder Huo’s face was so shiny that he could be used for palace lighting.

He pretended to sigh. “The demonic sect is too tyrannical! The situation here is chaotic, and your all-white attire is too conspicuous. I fear you might get involved in conflicts. I have some silver, so Young Master* should change into coarse old clothes and leave as soon as possible.”

*[Gong zi] (公子) Term addressed to a young master of a high official.

The young man believed him without suspicion. He hurriedly changed into shabby clothes and took the half-string of coins, expressing his thousand thanks before departing. Shi Jingzhi was satisfied and picked up the white clothes, proceeding to deal with Elder Huo’s poorly worn robe.

The demonic sect disapproved of interpersonal relationships, so Elder Huo didn’t bring much luggage. Besides a yin wooden plaque with his name and proof of his elder status and a longsword tied with a bright red ribbon, he only carried a small amount of silver.

This couldn’t be more perfect.

After all, the Kushan Sect wasn’t considered a righteous sect. Right after the young man left, Sect Master Shi immediately skipped the step of exorcizing the evil spirits—the two simply killed Elder Huo and his confidantes, then burned their bodies to ashes with yang fire…

That night, “Huo Changying” of the Boshui branch continued to embrace the white-clad young man, accompanied by a few attendants, cheerfully entered the Ling Sect’s gate.

Shi Jingzhi smiled on the surface, but his heart was bitter.

Sect Master Shi was quite confident in his plan. After all, his high-level disciple had once been the Patriarch of the Chigou Sect and had more experience dealing with members of the demonic sect. As for himself, he hadn’t had much contact with the secular world, so he didn’t have much confidence in acting well, but pretending to be an innocent scholar wasn’t a problem.

The Ling Sect had many masters, and disguising themselves came with risks. Fortunately, Huo Changying was still young and came with a male companion, so their appearances could barely be justified.

Unexpectedly, the opinions of the Kushan Sect members were somewhat unanimous—the eldest disciple looked as clear as a flying immortal, while the sect leader, in terms of temperament and appearance, was clearly more like a “demon”. If they distributed the roles like this, it might arouse suspicion. For some reason, even Yin Ci didn’t stand by his side and remained suspiciously silent.

Sect Master Shi struggled for a while, but he had no choice but to wear Elder Huo’s clothes, put his arm around Yin Ci’s shoulder, and try to play the role of a registered disciple. Shen Zhu applied some light makeup on them, making their appearances look more ordinary and less eye-catching.

The mist on Zongwu Mountain never dispersed throughout the year. Even without the Fog Tomb Formation, the milky white mist would still flow everywhere. The main altar of the Ling Sect wasn’t difficult to find, standing ominously in a valley of Zongwu Mountain. At the entrance of the valley hung two dark red lanterns, as if afraid that others might not notice them.

Shi Jingzhi’s face forced a smile, but he couldn’t help feeling anxious. Huo Changying’s abilities were really not that impressive, and even if Taiheng wouldn’t stoop to killing or pretending to be someone else, the Chigou Sect would be capable of such things. He couldn’t believe that the Ling Sect didn’t have any defenses. It wasn’t like he hadn’t speculated, but taking shortcuts was tempting. At this point, they could only counter whatever came their way and see how far they could go.

The decline of the Ling Sect could be seen from its appearance alone. Two red lanterns swayed, adorned with numerous desolate tears. The stone steps of the valley were also filthy, as if they hadn’t been cleaned for many years. The main branch of the Ling Sect was originally a majestic vermilion wooden tower, exuding a grand aura. But now, the vermilion paint was mottled and dark, spiderwebs drifted about, giving off a creepy atmosphere.

Along the way, the group didn’t encounter a single fellow traveler. If it weren’t for the lights in the building and the shadows moving inside, Shi Jingzhi would almost think they had fallen for an empty city trick.

At the entrance of the main hall, there sat a lifeless old slave. As the group approached, he turned his lifeless eyes and sang in a singsong manner, “Welcome, welcome…”

Even the entrance of a Ghost Tomb in the mortal realm was livelier than this place, causing Sect Master Shi to shudder involuntarily. Yin Ci, on the other hand, kept his head down, frowning in silence.

Something was definitely amiss with the Ling Sect.

When Yan Budu was still alive, there were even more lunatics in the Ling Sect. However, Yan Budu was skilled, and he had tamed those weird individuals. The vermilion tower of Ling Sect used to be imposing, and the stone steps were polished to a shine by the constant flow of people. There was always a hint of a faint bloody smell in the air. Even the most arrogant ruffians had to lower their heads in front of the two red lanterns and climb the steps politely, offering their respects.

Otherwise, within five steps, they would see their own blood splattered on the spot.

Even if the Ling Sect was declining, if the inherent arrogance remained, it wouldn’t have become so casual. The current Ling Sect was more like some third-rate bandit stronghold than the past demonic sect. Although this comparison seemed strange, the thought flashed through Yin Ci’s mind for an instant.

The Ling Sect had lost its divine presence.

It didn’t disintegrate due to self-destruction or inaction leading to decay. Yan Budu had only been dead for about a hundred years, and a dead camel was still bigger than a horse. Destroying a sect’s soul wasn’t something that could be accomplished in a moment—it must have been intentionally done by someone.

Not to mention verifying their identities, the old slave guided them in without even glancing at their identity tokens. He just took a look at Shi Jingzhi’s “doesn’t look like a good person” face, snorted, and let them in.

The first few floors in front of the vermilion tower were in a mess, with some food and wine already spoiled. Corpse fragments were mixed with gold and silver, jade stones stuck in white bones, and pearl strings soaked in corpse water. Corpse insects crawled everywhere, and flying insects buzzed around. When they reached the top of the vermilion tower, the scene became even more absurd—valuable tables and chairs were overturned, and wine and water were splashed everywhere. A group of weird people dressed in flashy attire, pretending to wear the Ling Sect’s robes, were making a commotion like a bunch of monkeys. Several elders sat in the main seats, drinking and having fun, ignoring the mess in front of them.

Compared to them, Shi Jingzhi and his pretend disciple looked normal and harmless. No one paid them any attention or questioned them. Instead of venting their hatred that couldn’t be fulfilled, Yin Ci felt that these people in front of him were more like revelers during chaos.

Only four people from the Kushan Sect came up—Shen Zhu was good at investigations but not very skilled in martial arts, so she stayed outside to provide support. Yan Qing and Su Si had indeed come, with Su Si still retaining some of the instincts from the Chigou Sect, immediately clutching his butcher knife warily. Yan Qing slightly opened his eyes, looking at the dilapidated place left by his old ancestor, unable to conceal his disgust.

The master and disciple found an empty seat and sat down casually. The gaze of those around them occasionally swept over them. Shi Jingzhi sat up straight, as if his claws were sewn into Yin Ci’s shoulder, and he didn’t dare to move.

If it were anyone else, Shi Jingzhi would have just played along. Even if he wasn’t proficient, with his abilities, he could deceive these wicked individuals. But he was completely helpless with Yin Ci—he had just gotten used to being intimate verbally, and he couldn’t do anything intimate in front of so many people. Not to mention flirting, Shi Jingzhi’s hand had only tried to slide down a little, and his neck had already turned red.

Yin Ci could only helplessly lean towards Shi Jingzhi from time to time, so that the two of them wouldn’t end up sitting there like two monks meditating.

Demonic Lord Yin sighed inwardly. If he had known that this person’s face was so thin, he might have chosen another role for him, which might not have attracted so much attention. Shi Jingzhi sat with great dignity, looking just like a secular disciple from the Jianchen Temple. One of the elders had already looked at them with suspicion.

Where were the physical cravings? Where was the abyss of desire?

Shi Jingzhi also realized that this approach could be detrimental. He took a deep breath, mustered up the courage, and wrapped his arm around Yin Ci’s waist. He grabbed a cup of wine, his expression contorted looking somewhat sinister, and said, “Here, let’s have a d-drink…”

But midway through his sentence, Shi Jingzhi couldn’t help but start scrutinizing Yin Ci, and in the process, he choked on his own saliva, nearly coughing aloud.

If it weren’t for the crowd around them, Yin Ci would have almost let out a laugh. He put one hand on Shi Jingzhi’s face and teased, “Little Mute, going mute again?”

This hit a nerve with Shi Jingzhi. He gulped down the cup of wine and grumbled, “Just a momentary lapse.”

Yin Ci couldn’t help but tease him softly. “It’s my oversight. I should have known earlier and told you how adorable you are when you kiss the corner of my mouth.”

Then he leaned closer to Shi Jingzhi’s ear and blew softly. “Nevermind, kids will be kids. This time, I’ll teach you a lesson that’s not like…”

Before he could finish his sentence, his waist was suddenly held tightly. A pair of lips carrying the scent of wine pressed against his, stopping the rest of Yin Ci’s words. Shi Jingzhi kissed him decisively and firmly, though it was a brief and affectionate kiss.

“Not a ‘kid’.” Shi Jingzhi’s voice sounded surprisingly calm. “This place is full of lunatics and alcohol stench. It’s not where you should be. What’s wrong with me valuing you and not wanting you around such frivolous people?”

This sincere confession caught Yin Ci off guard, and the playful words he was about to utter got stuck in his throat, leaving him choked instead.

Fortunately, at this moment, the chaotic hall suddenly fell silent.

The members of the Ling Sect turned their gaze to the empty main seat—a young man walked out from the inner chamber, adjusted his sleeves, and sat down at the table. He was quite handsome, bearing a slight resemblance to Yan Qing. His crimson eyes swept across the messy hall with no visible emotions.

Yan Qing, standing behind the master and disciple, straightened his back and tightened his lips.

That was the Ling Sect’s current Patriarch, Yan Zheng.

This man wasn’t particularly famous and rarely appeared in the martial world. Yin Ci had thought of him as a puppet manipulated by the Ling Sect’s elders, but now that he saw him, this puppet had commendable strength and no sign of weakness in his demeanor.

However, his eyes were unfathomably dark, devoid of any vitality, and seemed somewhat familiar.

Yan Zheng scanned everyone with his eyes, and his gaze stopped on Shi Jingzhi, who was wearing elder robes. After scrutinizing him for a while, Yan Zheng straightforwardly asked—

“Who are you?”

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 90: An Arrow

The news of the Jianchen Temple quickly spread, and the Kushan Sect became the focus of attention in the martial world.

Once again, Chen Qianfan’s magical artifact saved everyone’s lives. There were still many monster corpses left on the wooden boat, serving as “fuel”. Although the speed couldn’t compare to the Arrow Horses, it only took them seven days to rush back to Zongwu Mountain.

Who could have imagined that the Kushan Sect could escape so quickly? The defense in the southern part of the Central Plains wasn’t yet complete, and the possibility of being exposed was smaller.

Times were tough for Sect Master Shi, as he had to hide his precious treasured flag. Besides this, he acted abnormally well-behaved along the way. Whenever the boat stopped, he practiced martial arts diligently. When the boat moved again, Shi Jingzhi would study Chen Qianfan’s record book—the Living Puppet Curse wasn’t a true empowerment technique; once the spell was closed, Chen Qianfan’s experiences and knowledge would flow away like water. Fortunately, Shi Jingzhi had a photographic memory, so although he couldn’t retain the other’s full strength, retaining thirty to forty percent was still possible.

However, the words “retain strength” still required Shi Jingzhi to strike while the iron was hot, working tirelessly day and night.

Seeing Shi Jingzhi in this state, Yin Ci felt somewhat relieved. Shi Jingzhi hadn’t been disturbed by the slight emotional turmoil from that day. So, no matter how he planned to deal with those feelings, Yin Ci only needed to remain by his side and act accordingly.

Even if Shi Jingzhi emphasized “cooperation”, Yin Ci was ultimately once his guide, and emotionally he had the upper hand. If he were to act for his own desires and recklessly guide the other’s emotions at a critical moment, it would be no different from “using” him.

And in this world, Shi Jingzhi was the one person he didn’t want to use again.

With his decision made, Yin Ci’s actions remained unchanged. The two remained close, with occasional flirtatious teasing. That subtle heartbeat was spread out, and as time went by, not only Shi Jingzhi but even Yin Ci himself almost believed the illusion he had created.

It was as if that day, under the festive lanterns, Shi Jingzhi was just joking, not flirting. And he was just startled, not moved.

It was better this way. After wandering the world for a hundred years, he feared he was the most detached and unambitious person in the world. Even if he returned to the world, his heart would be covered with a thick layer of mud, unable to produce vivid emotions of love or hatred. However, that trace of affectionate longing could still cast a bright glow in his heart, which was already a pleasant surprise.

However, when they arrived near Zongwu Mountain, Shi Jingzhi quietly approached Yin Ci again.

The group chose to walk in desolate and remote areas. Now that they were returning to the “human world”, Shen Zhu took the lead to investigate the situation. Yan Qing continued to spar with Su Si, putting up a brave front, and they could fight equally well. Since the battle against the Arcane Arts, this descendant of the Yan Clan had become even quieter. Yin Ci could sense that the person had some unresolved issues, but Yan Qing was straightforward, unable to hide anything, and he was left to his own devices.

After all, he was more concerned about another person.

Yin Ci flipped the rabbit on the grill and glanced at the “other person” who had approached. Shi Jingzhi was covered in sweat from martial arts practice, and before he even arrived, the rumbling sound from his stomach preceded him.

However, Sect Master Shi’s top priority wasn’t to ask for food. When no one else was around, he asked a question with a heavy tone—

“A’Ci, how many years have you actually lived?”

Yin Ci handed him a grilled rabbit leg. “About three hundred years. I can’t remember exactly. Why do you ask?”

Shi Jingzhi didn’t mind the heat and took a bite of the rabbit meat, which was crispy and juicy. He vaguely sighed in relief. “So, you’re still quite young.”

The question was vague, and the answer was inexplicable. Yin Ci looked at Shi Jingzhi with confusion, feeling that this person had a big problem with defining “young”. “Are you teasing me, brat?”

“I was just thinking, what would you do if you had lived for thousands of years—even Senior Chen hadn’t investigated anything that long ago. More than three hundred years ago, Great Yun was established, so there should be many records.”

It turned out this person hadn’t learned how to prioritize matters. Yin Ci couldn’t laugh or cry. “Regarding the immortal body, we can discuss it together after you live past the Winter Solstice this year. It’s not too late.”

Shi Jingzhi sounded a little dissatisfied. “I want to know about you. It has nothing to do with the immortal body.”

“Don’t waste time. For now, let’s focus on the meat.” Yin Ci paused in his action of grilling meat, then picked up another piece of meat with the tip of his knife.

“Before the ban was lifted, I spent nine hours a day struggling to survive, two hours resting, and one hour being afraid. Now, I still spend nine hours struggling to survive, two hours resting… and the remaining one hour thinking about you. How can that be considered a waste?”

While taking a bite of meat, Shi Jingzhi leaned against Yin Ci.

The sect leader’s movements were too big, and Yin Ci quickly put away the knife, fearing the brat might accidentally hurt himself. The person’s words softened Yin Ci’s heart, but immediately he thought to himself that he seemed to have gone a little overboard recently with teasing and joking. This kid’s thick skin was growing, and he had thoroughly mastered the art of give-and-take.

As the flame licked the raw meat, the dark red flesh gradually turned a powdery white, and the bloody smell transformed into an enticing aroma.

Seeming to sense Yin Ci’s wavering, Shi Jingzhi became serious again. “When everyone was on the wooden boat a few days ago, we couldn’t talk freely. So, I deliberately spent ten hours a day to extend my life. Now, I have saved up quite a bit of time to spend with you. People need rest after all. A’Ci, let’s have some more meat.”

Sect Master Shi’s words were quite skillful, mixing sweet talk with an unchanged demand for more meat. Yin Ci couldn’t think of a proper comeback, so he sliced off a piece of meat for Shi Jingzhi and fed it to him with the tip of the knife.

However, when the sect leader happily swallowed the rabbit meat, he almost choked on it—

With a light sound, a miserable scream followed.

An arrow, seemingly coming from nowhere, swayed and landed on the top of Shi Jingzhi’s head. It didn’t stabilize and slowly fell to the ground. Shi Jingzhi was caught off guard, with the half-chewed rabbit meat still in his mouth. A thin stream of blood flowed down from the top of his head.

There was a piece of paper attached to that unlucky arrow.

Sect Master Shi wiped away the tears of choking and unfolded the paper, revealing a single word written with a skilled hand—”Scram”. It made him taste the feeling of “scolding from the heavens while sitting at home^*.”

 ^*Idiom referring to when someone is minding their own business (at home) or not doing anything wrong and suddenly receives unwanted criticism or scolding from someone else (as if it came from the heavens), for no apparent reason. It describes an unexpected or underserved attack or reproach.

The hard-earned affection was shattered. Yin Ci’s face turned ugly. “A master.”

This arrow was undoubtedly accurate, but it carried no killing intent or true qi. It came with great momentum but couldn’t even kill one of Shen Zhu’s sparrows, so neither of them detected it, which allowed it to land on the sect leader’s head.

Compared to the arrow’s momentum, the concept of “an arrow from the sky*” itself was frightening.

*Idiom referring to misfortune or calamity that befalls someone, seemingly coming out of nowhere and striking like an arrow from the sky (AKA a bolt from the blue).

Under Zongwu Mountain, the wilderness stretched out. There was not a single human shadow around except for their own group. Yin Ci couldn’t sense the slightest sign of human presence, and he had no idea from how far away this arrow had been shot. With his experience, he could only find a relatively accurate direction.

The arrow came from Zongwu Mountain.

Yin Ci and Shi Jingzhi exchanged glances, and the relaxed atmosphere from earlier instantly dissipated.

After the news of the tragic incident at the Jianchen Temple spread, everyone in the martial world knew that the Kushan Sect had found a clue there. Naturally, the other major sects wouldn’t give up easily. Compared to the insignificant Kushan Sect, they could still play the numbers game by gathering a large group of people. Since the Jianchen Temple was related to Kongshi, and Kongshi’s whereabouts were lost in Zongwu Mountain, they had no choice but to search there.

Unfortunately, Zongwu Mountain wasn’t truly an unowned place.

The main branch of the Ling Sect was located on the southern side of Zongwu Mountain—guarding the territory were the remnants of a formation left behind. Although the Ling Sect didn’t manage to grab many Buddhist beads, they were always happy to cause trouble for the people of the martial world. Now, with the advantage of the situation, they took the opportunity to hinder others, as if announcing, “If we can’t find it, no one can.”

According to Shen Zhu, as soon as the news of the Jianchen Temple was received, the Ling Sect promptly activated the “Fog Tomb Formation”. The mist was so dense that it covered all the mountains near the Ling Sect. Back in the day, Yan Budu and Kongshi had fought near the Ling Sect’s main branch. Regardless of where Kongshi died, he would undoubtedly remain within the fog’s coverage.

Other sects would naturally not give up either, especially Taiheng, which possessed the most treasure maps. The Taiheng disciples were constantly clashing with the Ling Sect, and the Chigou Sect was adding fuel to the fire, making the area around Zongwu Mountain quite lively.

The only unknown was who owned this highly insulting arrow.

Shi Jingzhi, who had just filled his stomach, angrily picked up the arrow. He wiped away his blood and said with a sinister smile, “These days, I’ve been studying techniques, and I haven’t used any yet. It’s perfect; I don’t even need to search for materials. A’Ci, come on, let’s take a walk after dinner.”

Using his fresh blood as material, Shi Jingzhi drew a virtual formation above the arrow. The arrow swayed and floated, emitting a thin layer of blood-red light. After a while, it finally stabilized, turned its head, and rushed towards Zongwu Mountain, leaving behind a dazzling trail of red light.

The master and disciple soared through the air, using their qinggong to closely follow the arrow.

This chase unexpectedly covered a distance of six to seven li. Shi Jingzhi’s new tracking technique was quite useful. The arrow seemed like a dizzy hunting hound, rushing mercilessly towards its master—

With a sigh, a large hand grabbed the arrow and easily broke it into two pieces.

“This is not a place for small sects like yours to come. Even if you know some techniques, it won’t work.”

It was quite a coincidence that the culprit also wore a mask. He was tall and sturdy, with a deep voice, and his clothes were simple and ordinary, making him seem like a lone ranger without any sect or faction. However, just from his imposing aura, this person was likely in his forties, not yet fifty, and his martial arts were superior to Shi Zhongyu’s.

Based on the control of that arrow just now, this person’s level might even be higher than the current Shi Jingzhi.

“The situation in Zongwu Mountain is tense. You guys trying to rely on luck like this, I don’t know how many I’ve already driven away. The struggle between major sects is not for you little ones to get involved in. Otherwise, you might end up getting hurt, and your lives will be over.”

Although caught red-handed, the archer’s tone was still impolite, and he didn’t seem to be in a good mood.

Shi Jingzhi wiped the blood off his head and didn’t answer directly, asking, “May I ask your Greatness’ name?”

“Nameless, without a surname, no sect, no faction. Alright, hurry up and leave. If I see you again, I will…”

Before the person finished speaking, Yin Ci thrust his sword forward. His attack wasn’t intended to kill, but it was fast and carried enough momentum to draw blood. The distance between the two wasn’t far, and the archer’s expression changed suddenly. He dodged to the side, barely avoiding the attack, but ended up with a shallow wound on his abdomen.

“You brat…”

“That’s enough, Shizun. I don’t know his name, but his sect is quite obvious.”

Yin Ci deftly sheathed the Hanging Shadow Sword and stared straight at the archer.

“A few moments ago, he used Taiheng’s footwork.”

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 89: Against the Sun

That night, Shi Jingzhi could hardly fall asleep.

Twin Rivers was dry and cold, and the inn was old. As soon as the door was closed, the windows rattled in the cold wind. The smell of dry straw and mud filled Shi Jingzhi’s nose, and the old blanket on his body felt heavy. He straightened his body, feeling as if he was about to be buried in the ground.

Yin Ci was lying quietly with his back to Shi Jingzhi, breathing evenly. The scene was no different from the previous days, but Shi Jingzhi felt as if there was a hot iron pressed against his body, making him uncomfortable no matter how he lay. With the bed given to the sick, the room was too small. Even if Shi Jingzhi slept upright, they couldn’t avoid touching each other. Yin Ci’s long hair seemed like a nuisance, but Shi Jingzhi didn’t dare touch it, wishing he could tie it up quietly.

Shi Zhongyu had left, and Shen Zhu was sleeping in the next room. The four members of the Kushan Sect were crammed into one room, so it made Shi Jingzhi feel guilty if he were to move out alone. He had thought everything was ready and just needed the right opportunity, but now that the opportunity had come, he had created a storm of troubles.

Sect Master Shi tossed and turned like a pancake, with half of his mind on the business at hand and the other half wandering. He wondered what the great Hundred-Year Project of the Imperial Preceptor was, and then he thought about what Yin Ci had experienced before he rescued him as the Little Mute.

Thinking about this, Shi Jingzhi didn’t even want to continue the cooperation. He just wanted Yin Ci to stand behind him safely, returning to the mysterious hermit he had always been, never to touch blood again. When he was three years old, it was fine, but now, when he thought of the madness of Yin Ci in the maple forest, Shi Jingzhi no longer thought of him as a formidable immortal but felt a heartache instead.

Shi Jingzhi’s emotions were more intense than ordinary people. After several hours, he still felt a tingling heat behind his head. He stared at the slight movements of Yin Ci’s body and felt an unnamed depression—

Seeing his embarrassing state, Yin Ci didn’t react at all, and Shi Jingzhi couldn’t help but suppress his emotions. Otherwise, he might turn into a pancake in the middle of the night.

Although he was good at suppressing desires, he wasn’t good at handling admiration.

In the end, Shi Jingzhi couldn’t bear it any longer, got up, and went to the courtyard to admire the moon. The moon was hidden by dark clouds, so he admired the clouds instead, which was fine.

The population of Twin Rivers wasn’t dense, and there were no idle people wandering around at midnight. The courtyard was as quiet as Shi Jingzhi had expected.

As soon as he calmed down, he ran into Shen Zhu in the courtyard.

The sparrow demons attracted attention during the day, so she had to take care of them at night. Shen Zhu was busy feeding those lively sparrows. At night, the sparrows were drowsy and ate sleepily, staggering around as if the millet was soaked in wine before she fed them.

Seeing Shi Jingzhi come out, Shen Zhu nodded to him and said casually, “My Lord.”

Shi Jingzhi greeted her weakly, “Shen Zhu.”

Shen Zhu wasn’t Shi Jingzhi’s die-hard loyalist, and although there was still a difference in status, her attitude toward Shi Jingzhi wasn’t the usual “loyalty”. No one else was around, and her attitude was quite casual. “Regarding Yin Ci, I couldn’t find the truth. Please forgive me… He conceals his past very skillfully. If you can, could you tell me about his origins?”

She seemed to have a magical ability to always bring up sensitive topics.

Shi Jingzhi snorted ambiguously. “That’s his private matter, and I’m not going to say… Anyway, don’t mind. It’s not a matter of your abilities.”

Yin Ci was an old slicker who had lived for hundreds of years, while Shen Zhu was in her twenties. If she could easily find out about Yin Ci’s background, Yin Ci would have been captured by the Immortal Assembly as a rare and strange beast long ago.

Indeed, Shen Zhu didn’t really care about Yin Ci. She casually sprinkled some millet into the mud, saying, “It’s a pity. I delayed a few days specifically, but I missed the chance to meet Senior Chen.”

“I’ve heard some clues about the things you want to know,” Shi Jingzhi said. “The phenomenon you discovered, Senior Chen also noticed, and he called it ‘Heaven’s Displeasure’.”

Shen Zhu let out a cold snort, showing disgust at those two words. She lowered her gaze and said, “My Lord, you are considerate.”

Shi Jingzhi looked at her for a while, appearing a bit downcast, then he forced himself to perk up and asked, “Miss Shen has been investigating the Immortal Assembly for a long time. Have you found any information related to the ‘Hundred-Year Project’ or the ‘Children of Desire’?”

“I haven’t, but on this trip to the Ling Sect, I have other matters to investigate. Since your disciple already knows…”

“Since I know what?”

A gentle voice interrupted them.

Shi Jingzhi looked at her for a while, feeling somewhat guilty for no reason. He had never realized that being alive could be so thrilling and exciting. He felt a small explosion within himself, and the hairs on his arms stood up. “A’Ci, you’re awake?”

Yin Ci’s gaze flickered, and he firmly ignored the question. Leaning against the door panel, he asked directly, “What’s the ‘Hundred-Year Project,’ and what are the ‘Children of Desire’? We’ve been cooperating now, but you haven’t told me about them.”

Judging from his tone, Yin Ci seemed to have returned to his casual and carefree demeanor. If he didn’t stare at Shen Zhu so cautiously, he would look even more like his old self.

Shi Jingzhi understood his hidden meaning and quickly spoke. “Miss Shen and I share the same interests, so she can be trusted.”

Then he heaved a sigh and gave a brief introduction to his subordinate.

Shen Zhu had deep-seated animosity towards the Immortal Assembly, but when Shi Jingzhi approached her, it had nothing to do with her personal feelings. He saw a strong determination in her—a reliable assistant with a clear purpose was much better than a foolish person obsessed with fame and fortune.

Similar to the Taiheng Sect, the Yueshui Pavilion had backing from the imperial court, and its branch halls were spread throughout Great Yun.

It was divided into three departments: Heaven, Earth, and Humanity, and it didn’t solely focus on collecting information in the martial world. The “Humanity Department” was responsible for investigating martial arts anecdotes and folk stories, as well as observing public sentiment. They were also willing to take on investigative tasks for others. The “Earth Department” collected agricultural and weaving techniques and searched for new crops, livestock, and even mineral deposits. The “Heaven Department” had the fewest members, and they were all dreamers and eccentrics. Regardless of whether unsolved mysteries had any practical significance, they would explore them.

Although the “Heaven Department” occasionally made earth-shattering discoveries, ninety percent of its members usually achieved nothing in their lifetimes. They had to travel to the most dangerous places, enduring hardships that ordinary people wouldn’t bear. In addition to having the highest authority to access information in the Yueshui Pavilion, the “Heaven Department” was the most thankless department, and its entrance requirements were extremely high.

Shen Zhu was one of the members of the “Heaven Department”. Being able to enter the lofty “Heaven Department” as a woman meant she had an extraordinary dedication that might even get her a painful beating from the Sword of Compassion.

Yin Ci mumbled, “Interesting.”

Along the way, he hadn’t seen such a fuel-efficient lamp* around the Kushan Sect.

*Metaphor referring to someone who’s easy to deal with.

Shen Zhu was quick-witted. Seeing that Yin Ci didn’t react like an ordinary person would, she changed her tone, dropping the nonchalant attitude she had when they first met and becoming more sincere. “I’ve been investigating the Immortal Assembly for a long time, and I inevitably followed some suspicious clues. When the Sect Master wants to find the method of immortality, we split into two groups. I provide him with stories around immorality, and he gives me tales of immortals and Buddhas. We each get what we need.”

Yin Ci understood.

Shi Jingzhi didn’t intend to hide anything anymore. He wanted to share all the information with Yin Ci. Investigating the flesh idol just happened to overlap subtly with what Shen Zhu was looking into. Perhaps they could find some useful clues. After all, in the eyes of mortals, the members of the Immortal Assembly were no different from half-immortals, and they were closely related to legends of immortals.

The Immortal Assembly was both an event held every ten years in Yidu and the managing organization of imperial shrines across various regions. On the surface, every ten years, it would invite a group of talented people or supernatural beings to join, offer immortal wine to win their hearts, and hold fake ceremonies and festivals. In recent decades, the Imperial Preceptor line had lost the emperor’s favor, and the Immortal Assembly no longer held grand ceremonies, reflecting their current lowly status*.

*Behave oneself by tucking one’s tail between one’s legs (夹紧尾巴做人) Idiom referring to being timid or submissive, often in the face of authority or adversity, often to avoid attracting attention or causing trouble.

Thus, Yin Ci had little interest and didn’t continue the investigation. As the leader of the Immortal Assembly, the Imperial Preceptor was still a mortal with a limited lifespan, and dying was inevitable and useless to him. Now, with the Goddess of Yuanxian Village in front and the flesh idol of the Imperial Celestial behind, with such huge secrets hidden in the Immortal Assembly, he needed to pick up this matter and investigate it thoroughly.

Shen Zhu wasn’t as simple as she seemed, so it was difficult to keep an eye on her. Yin Ci pondered for a moment and said, “The time and place are not suitable. Since the young lady wants to act with us, let’s find a quiet place, and you can explain everything in detail.”

…After speaking, Yin Ci felt a little uneasy in his heart.

In the past, he wouldn’t have cared if it was Shen Zhu or Shen Mo. Shi Jingzhi had chosen his own people, and Yin Ci couldn’t be bothered. If there were problems, he could just take Shi Jingzhi away. But now, he had developed an intense suspicion and was almost tempted to investigate Shen Zhu’s ancestry for three generations.

Shi Jingzhi couldn’t resist his feelings for the young bird, and his desires were not like those of an ordinary person. Yin Ci thought it was just a temporary infatuation. Shi Jingzhi was only three years old when his addiction was set, so it was impossible for his original desire to have anything to do with romance. Now that there were life and death matters at hand, after this momentary infatuation passed, Shi Jingzhi would come to his senses.

So Yin Ci considered his own problem more complicated. He had always been a clever moth, seeking warmth without getting burned. But now, his wings had accidentally caught fire, and the smoke was making him a little dizzy.

However, he couldn’t just let it go.

Yin Ci had indeed been the leader of a demonic sect, but he still cared about his reputation. So he put on an air of composure and said, “We might have to hurry on our journey next, so it’s best to rest for now.”

“So, was it me who woke you up, A’Ci?” Shi Jingzhi’s eyes wandered on his face, asking with persistence and caution.

Yin Ci: “…” After discussing so many serious matters, this kid hadn’t forgotten about the neglected topic.

Yin Ci glanced at Shen Zhu beside him and said with a smile, “You couldn’t sleep, with all that tossing and turning. Does Shizun want to hear about it?”

Shi Jingzhi stood still, tongue-tied, and his whole face turned red, as if he had been steamed by the night.

“It’s just some trivial matter. Don’t take it to heart, Shizun.” Yin Ci added with a smile.

Since Shi Jingzhi had already made up his mind not to treat him as his son, there was no reason not to tease him. If he tried to cover it up, it would be more troublesome in the future. Shi Jingzhi’s control had just broken, and his emotions were unstable. By openly addressing the issue, the subtle feelings would naturally dissipate.

Having convinced himself of this, Yin Ci turned around leisurely, leaving Sect Master Shi with an innocent back.

Near Yidu.

Shi Zhongyu returned with injuries, almost exhausting the Arrow Horse by the time she arrived at the headquarters of the Taiheng Sect. When she returned, it was still dark.

The room of the sect leader was brightly lit, and Sect Master Qi was still lying sick in bed, his pale face now tinged with a deathly gray. He had a high fever, and his once robust body had shrunk to a mere skeleton.

Jin Lan held a bowl of life and death soup, and his eyes were swollen like peaches. He took on the most troublesome task, insisting on feeding the old man once every two hours, cleaning up his excrement and urine, and turning him over. The room was filled with the fragrance of refreshing incense, but it couldn’t overpower the foul smell of the dying patient.

Shi Zhongyu didn’t rest. She pursed her lips, looking at the empty room of the sect leader. After a moment, she briefly gave some instructions to Jin Lan and activated the disaster warding talisman with a breath.

A surging heat swept over her, and she felt as if she had fallen into a furnace. Half of the life and death soup went down her throat.

When she woke up again, it was already broad daylight, but she didn’t know how many days had passed. Shi Zhongyu raised her body in a daze, only to find herself not in her bedroom but in the main hall of the Taiheng Sect—the hall was spacious, elegantly decorated, and solemn. She had seen it countless times and was very familiar with it.

Now she was half-sitting in the center of the hall, her body covered in sweat, and the high fever had made her thoughts hazy.

Was it a dream? This situation would usually lead to disciplinary measures.

Shi Zhongyu looked around in confusion and saw familiar faces. The elders of Taiheng were all grave, and the young disciples stood with their heads down. Only Qu Duanyun looked at her, his gaze complex, with a faint trace of regret.

Only then did Shi Zhongyu raise her head. On the seat of the sect leader sat the emaciated Qu Xundao. He held the ugly looking disaster warding talisman in one hand, looking bitter and exhausted.

“Ridiculous.” The hall was silent for a moment before Qu Xundao sighed clearly.

The intense fever failed to cover the coldness behind Shi Zhongyu. She had thought of many possibilities, but none of them included such a serious punishment. Her wounds were still throbbing, and the strong smell of ointment was pungent, not like good medicine—she clearly didn’t receive the treatment she deserved.

“Regarding the catastrophe at the Jianchen Temple, I heard about it. The Kushan Sect is responsible for monopolizing the Shirou clues and causing the deaths of two eminent monks, Venerable Juefei and Venerable Juehui, leading to the sealing of the Jianchen Temple until now… Yesterday, an urgent secret letter arrived from the Mishan Sect, saying that you, in collaboration with the Kushan Sect, destroyed the Arcane Arts of the Mishan Sect. Not only that, you allowed the Kushan Sect to steal the core secrets of the artifact and killed Chen Qianfan and Wei Chun to silence them. Zhongyu, is this true?”

Shi Zhongyu opened her mouth but couldn’t speak. A servant nearby handed her half a cup of cold tea, and she strained her smoky throat to say, “…I don’t know who lifted the restriction on that Arcane Arts, but it suddenly attacked us. I had to fight back. As for Senior Chen and Granny Wei… are they dead? I have no knowledge of it!”

She endured the dizziness and continued firmly, “When Sect Master Shi went to seek medical treatment this time, he had no intention of obtaining the Arcane Arts. He got along very well with Senior Chen and is a person who knows gratitude and righteousness… He even willingly exchanged the map rubbings with me—he wouldn’t harm someone’s life over just a clue.”

“But did you see what happened in the end?” Qu Xundao smiled bitterly.

“This Disciple…” Shi Zhongyu was momentarily speechless. After the fierce battle over the Arcane Arts, she had almost lost consciousness and didn’t retain many memories. When she woke up, she was in Twin Rivers, and she didn’t know the whereabouts of Chen Qianfan and Wei Chun.

“The Mishan Sect also lost an elder who rushed to help, and I believe it wasn’t you who killed him. Recently, only you and the Kushan Sect visited us. Zhongyu, if you say you were deceived by the Kushan Sect, I can still protect you…”

For some reason, while saying this, Qu Xundao’s eyes held a trace of inexplicable sadness.

Shi Zhongyu supported her sore body and said slowly, “Master taught me that I should see things with my own eyes and think for myself. Before entering the Mishan Sect, Shi Jingzhi had a chance to leave me behind. If he had ulterior motives, he wouldn’t have done that.”

The Arcane Arts’ restrictions required a skilled person to unlock, Shi Zhongyu thought hazily. Chen Qianfan happened to be such a person. To pin the activation of the Arcane Arts on the Kushan Sect’s leader, she needed to say, “I discovered Shi Jingzhi’s sinister intentions, so Chen Qianfan activated the Arcane Arts to kill him.”

But she didn’t witness such a thing. She was an eyewitness—the only eyewitness not in the Kushan Sect. If she lied here to protect herself, the Kushan Sect would undoubtedly be blamed.

“I was not deceived by evildoers. The situation is not clear, and there is no evidence of guilt. I won’t fabricate lies.”

Qu Xundao fell silent for a long time. He had no expression, his breath weakened, and he seemed to have aged ten years and yet found some kind of relief.

“I am seriously ill, not due to demons or evil plots, but because my time has come. The sect is going through a turbulent period, yet you led people to forcefully extend my life, consuming a great deal of manpower and resources. You personally protected me from disasters, showing deep affection and loyalty, but in doing so, you went astray and allied with evil, causing the Taiheng Sect to lose its true essence.”

Qu Xundao’s dry eyes stared at Shi Zhongyu. “Zhongyu, do you have anything to say?”

Shi Zhongyu supported her weak body and half-knelt on the ground, keeping her back straight.

“This Disciple has no regrets.”

Qu Xundao glanced around; some disciples showed anger or sadness, but none dared to speak up. He sighed and continued, “As the Sect Master, considering your initial intention to protect your master, I will temporarily expel you from Taiheng, but your name will remain. If you want to step foot in this sect again, think it through carefully.”

Shi Zhongyu maintained her half-kneeling posture, resolutely keeping silent.

“As an ordinary person, it’s true that I owe you for being able to live a few more days. In my room, there’s a potted orchid; take it with you—oh, remember to change the pot. The pot belongs to Taiheng.”

As he spoke, Qu Xundao’s voice became increasingly soft, revealing a sense of loss or contemplation.

“Master…”

“Go quickly,” Qu Xundao said calmly. “I’m a dying man, and I can’t let my disciple waste her life without knowing what’s good for her. The storms have been relentless lately, and you’ve been burdened by my illness. Remember to wear more clothes.”

With Jin Lan’s support, Shi Zhongyu was led away from the main hall. As soon as she stepped on the first step of the stairs, the heat on her body suddenly disappeared. Shi Zhongyu stood still, feeling extremely hot just moments ago, but now she was extremely cold. The exhaustion, pain, and worries of the past few days all turned into a ridiculous pile of ashes. For the first time, she couldn’t straighten her back, and her whole body felt like it was drained, filled instead with the icy wind from the northern glaciers.

Once the disaster warding talisman was activated, it wouldn’t be easily destroyed. With the disaster warding effect gone, there was only one possibility left.

Qu Xundao chose to sever his own meridians and die.

Half an hour later, outside the gates of the Taiheng Sect.

“Senior Sister, don’t… don’t be too sad. The Sect Master didn’t completely expel you from Taiheng. Once this chaotic situation settles, you will definitely be able to come back.” Jin Lan sniffled and handed her the potted orchid—the only thing she could take away according to Qu Xundao’s instructions. With the recent loss of the Sect Master, there were countless affairs to handle within Taiheng, and except for Jin Lan, no one came to see her off.

Shi Zhongyu stretched out her hands, carefully inserted them into the flower pot, and took out the orchid along with the soil.

“I…” She was about to speak, but suddenly her heart skipped a beat.

At the bottom of the pot, she felt something hard and cold.

After pondering for a moment, Shi Zhongyu said, “Jin Lan, take the pot back for now. There’s a lot of internal affairs in the sect at the moment; don’t worry about me… I won’t be leaving far for now. We can meet again another day.”

Jin Lan walked away, looking back three times. His swollen eyes were getting worse, and there was no one around. Shi Zhongyu wrapped up the orchid and soil carefully, then quietly wiped off the cold and hard object with her sleeve—

In that instant of recognizing the object, her eyes welled up, and she almost bit her lips till they bled.

It was the Taiheng Yang Reversal* Token.

*See Kinky Thoughts.

The Taiheng Sect Master always carried the Yang Token, and the Yang Reversal Token was managed by the person next in line to the sect leader. The one who held the Yang Reversal Token could use it to command the Taiheng disciples when the sect leader acted immorally, to correct their actions, or…

Simply depose the Sect Master.

Qu Xundao had been in charge of the Taiheng Sect for decades, highly respected and esteemed. Out of respect, the holder of the token had long since returned it, leaving Qu Xundao as the sole custodian. The Taiheng Sect had been too stable for too long, and they had almost forgotten that such a thing existed.

The Sect Master… No, her master was insightful, she thought. Qu Xundao might have already seen through something, but he was extremely weak, surrounded by numerous people, and lacked the opportunity and time.

Seeing that the Jianchen Temple had been sealed for a long time and something strange had happened at the Mishan Sect, the Taiheng Sect had no choice but to change its sect leader at this moment.

A storm was brewing, and the long-lasting peace in the martial world of Great Yun for the past hundred years might not be maintained for much longer.

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The author has something to say:

…I have to say that it seems like a lot of people died in this novel (… I didn’t mean it!

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Kinky Thoughts:

In regard to cultivation and Chinese medicine, the title of this chapter refers to a state of the body where the yang energy (qi) is out of balance, usually characterized by symptoms of chills, cold limbs, or a lack of energy.

In the same tune, it is also referencing the (yang reversal) token Shi Zhongyu received, which is basically a reversal of yang (the sun) qi. In the context of this chapter, the Sect Master of Taiheng wore the yang token, so the name given to the yang reversal token is quite apt.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 88: Lanterns

Shi Jingzhi fell silent for a moment. He looked at Yin Ci with a confused expression, as if he hadn’t realized who the term “Your Highness” was referring to.

Then, he slightly widened his eyes.

Although it was still within fifteen days of the new year, several days had passed since New Year’s Eve, and there were no traces of fireworks in the sky. Yet, Yin Ci saw the man’s eyes gradually light up, as if he had captured a light that others couldn’t see.

Yin Ci patiently waited.

Twenty-four years had passed, and when they first met, they both had their own motives, almost competing to see who could take advantage of the other more—every move and thought were like a chess game, and their minds clashed like flashes of blades and shadows. Seeing their moves being countered and their tricks dismantled, it gave them an exhilarating feeling.

Now, they needed to consider each other, and even a simple probe required careful consideration.

“This matter is my private affair and has nothing to do with you.”

Shi Jingzhi finally opened his mouth, with a hint of warning in his tone.

“Royal secrets involve many people, and the Imperial Preceptor is focused on the way of the Immortal Path. The struggle for the Shirou alone is enough to create chaos in half the martial world. You have already taken risks for me. If your immortal body is exposed, it will only bring endless troubles.”

Yin Ci smiled. “When I posed as Su Zhi and competed secretly with Yan Budu, it was just one of many ‘troubles’. Your matter is nothing, and I won’t hesitate to do what’s needed.”

“And what about it?” Facing the man who was once his “immortal” idol, Shi Jingzhi showed no signs of excitement in his tone.

“What about what?”

“You may be immortal, but you’re not without emotions. Immortal beings can lose control and fall before their inner demons,” Shi Jingzhi said calmly. “If you think you owe me a favor or want to protect your Little Mute from back then, there’s no need to go to such lengths. Twenty-four years ago, you saved my life, and I protected your clarity of mind. We owe each other nothing.”

Yin Ci frowned; this was not the development he had expected.

Instead of taking the opportunity to move closer, Shi Jingzhi seemed to be unraveling and clarifying their past one by one with his words.

“To you, I may be just a brief encounter, fortunate to receive your mercy. You treated me carefully, forbidding me from hurting myself. But two days ago, you injured yourself deeply to save me. I am grateful… but even if you don’t see yourself as a human, I can no longer see you as an immortal either.”

Just like many years ago, Shi Jingzhi reached out and tidied up Yin Ci’s hair.

As a helping hand, was there a difference between a human and an immortal?

Since he desired to live so desperately, why not just accept help openly? Yin Ci didn’t understand Shi Jingzhi’s persistence.

But it seemed like Shi Jingzhi saw through his confusion. He stood up on the roof, smiling warmly. “I do want to live, and now that the enemy has appeared, I will give it my all. As for you, you will see what happens in the end.”

“When you think of me a hundred years from now, I don’t want words like ‘regret’ or ‘pain’ to be associated with it. You promised me a long life with no worries. Now that I am already without worries, you don’t need to dwell on the first part—if I were to fail, it would be because of my own actions.”

It has nothing to do with you, so you don’t need to blame yourself.

The night breeze was light, and Shi Jingzhi’s sleeves were gently blown. He looked at Yin Ci from top to bottom with a gentle gaze while the moonlight behind him glowed like a shimmering river.

“…Besides, if you insist on being an all-powerful immortal, with my heavy desire for life, I will inevitably resent you when I am dying. I detest such a way of dying.”

So, that’s it.

The maple forest in front of Yin Ci faded away, and the image of the smiling child slowly blurred. Shi Jingzhi dispelled the lingering illusions of the past and opened up honestly to him.

“Then, I won’t be your ‘immortal’,” Yin Ci said with a smile.

“Not as a disciple, not as an elder, not as an immortal, and not just for you alone—I will continue to investigate the matter of the flesh idol. I will follow your lead, and I can always find more clues.”

With a long sigh, Yin Ci also stood up and extended a hand. “Your Highness, are you willing to join forces with me?”

In an instant, Shi Jingzhi’s gaze softened.

He exhaled lightly, closed his eyes for a moment, and then smiled as he took the proffered hand. “I have a slight heart ailment, but I can manage. As we travel the rivers and lakes together, I hope you’ll bear with me a bit more.”

…It was a radiant smile that Yin Ci had never seen before.

For some reason, before that smile, Yin Ci felt a little inexplicably guilty—he had already activated the disaster warding talisman to protect Shi Jingzhi, and they had just become fair partners in their cooperation, so it probably didn’t violate any oaths.

Fortunately, Yin Ci wasn’t one to fret over trivial matters. He quickly suppressed his thoughts and considered this as the last memory of his “immortal” life, regardless of whether Shi Jingzhi could break through his facade.

“But this decision is not a small one. You can think it over for a while,” Shi Jingzhi said, unaware of his disciple’s thoughts. He pondered for a moment and then pointed to a street nearby, still brightly lit.

“How about this? Before we go back, let’s walk together down that street. If your thoughts haven’t changed by the end of it, I will accept without any regrets.”

Shi Jingzhi’s tone became much lighter, filled with anticipation and joy.

The Lantern Festival had not arrived yet, so Twin Rivers hadn’t held their festival. However, many shops were prepared in advance with lanterns at their doorways. The street was sparsely populated, but the warm lights were still on, and some business owners were resting at their doors, enjoying the festive atmosphere.

The master and disciple wore wooden Nuo masks and strolled leisurely side by side. Although the surroundings were simple, with shabby houses and dim firelight, they seemed to have stepped out of the bustling gathering into a carefree world.

Shi Jingzhi walked steadily, each step firm and full of strength. Yin Ci suddenly speculated that instead of leaving him time to regret, Shi Jingzhi seemed to be giving himself a chance to stabilize his emotions.

It was quite amusing.

Before this thought could fully form, Yin Ci stopped by himself. They had just agreed to cooperate, so why play tricks? It could be troublesome if Shi Jingzhi misunderstood his intentions.

However, old habits die hard, especially when it comes to teasing people. Yin Ci had to find another way and began recalling the innocent face of the Little Mute. But as he spaced out, he froze in place.

Shi Jingzhi suddenly turned his head, his face full of suspicion.

Yin Ci: “It has nothing to do with what happened earlier. I was just thinking… our relationship is quite deep, and I won’t play tricks on you anymore.”

“I thought A’Ci wouldn’t mind those trivial matters, but I didn’t expect you to be so concerned.”

Yin Ci clicked his tongue and dismissed the topic with a bit of resentment. “I can’t say I’m overly concerned; I just think about it occasionally.”

Shi Jingzhi didn’t know how to respond. Yin Ci acted nonchalant, but his face carried an undertone of “I used to hold you in my arms when you were young” and “elders should act like elders”.

This person was still bothered by those joking matters, indicating that his elder’s heart was still alive. Yin Ci had to erase the shadows of the past completely. Wasn’t that simple? At this moment, they knew each other well enough, so it was better to be open and frank, and this page could be turned.

With the Nuo mask hiding his expression, Shi Jingzhi mustered the courage to take the initiative and plan a counterplay.

At the end of the street, half was filled with flower lanterns and the other half with withered trees.

The wooden Nuo mask was rough and peeling off the oil paint, making half of the face beneath it look even more elegant and ethereal.

Yin Ci’s steps were steady. With his hair unbound, under the dim yellow light, his long hair gently swayed, exuding a soft radiance like still water. His complexion was pale, and his lips were slightly pale, with no visible flaws on his face, as if he were far removed from the bloody dust of the world.

However, he knew more about the taste of blood and gore than anyone else.

Shi Jingzhi had never scrutinized Yin Ci so carefully. He seemed even more attractive than Shi Jingzhi remembered. He had thought teasing him would be easy, but now that he took a closer look, he wasn’t sure how to proceed.

The boldness he had mustered seemed to melt away like sticky syrup. He hesitated for a moment and decided to escape the situation by giving Yin Ci a light kiss on the cheek… After all, when he fed Yin Ci the medicine in the Ghost Tomb, it wasn’t that difficult.

His gaze was fixed on Yin Ci’s pale lips; he felt as if he had swallowed a live rabbit, as his heart was beating wildly.

…Forget it, this matter had to be settled, and there was no reason to diminish his own imposing aura while bolstering the other’s pride. Shi Jingzhi adjusted his Nuo mask slightly, ignoring his inner turmoil, and launched a sudden attack.

He slightly turned his body and kissed the corner of Yin Ci’s lips before quickly pulling back.

He had originally intended to imitate his past self and kiss Yin Ci’s lips, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. It was just a light kiss, but he could feel sweat forming on his neck, and an inexplicable sweetness overwhelmed him.

It was as if it was the first time they had been this close.

Shi Jingzhi hurriedly suppressed his racing heart. He continued to walk as if he had a clear mind and casually said, “In this way, we’re even, and you don’t need to…”

Wait a minute, something’s not right. Shi Jingzhi suddenly had a feeling, and he turned his head to find that Yin Ci was no longer beside him.

Yin Ci stood there, somewhat dazed, without taking another step forward.

Behind him, a rough flower lantern was wrapped around a withered tree; its flame flickering, casting a hazy warm red light. Yin Ci was indeed wearing an ugly Nuo mask covering half his face, but the surprised expression on his face couldn’t be concealed.

It was as if Yin Ci had never expected such a scene. There was no sign of anger on his face; only shock as he looked at Shi Jingzhi, as if he had discovered a demon that was more extravagant than any Arcane Arts.

Shi Jingzhi had no choice but to stop in his tracks.

His mind was filled with all sorts of weird thoughts, and he almost couldn’t focus on the road. He suddenly thought that this person was the epitome of being overly sensitive, just like an official who forbids the common people from lighting lamps to prevent fires. At the same time, he realized that they seemed to have completely missed the opportunity to “dispel the awkwardness” and brought the awkwardness to a whole new level.

Amidst this jumble of thoughts, there was one fixed idea. In front of Yin Ci, he seemed to have completely forgotten how to act and play along.

On second thought, although Shi Jingzhi couldn’t control his own heartbeat, he wasn’t unfamiliar with romantic matters. After all, facing an immortal body, he should be more than capable of handling the situation with ease.

Shi Jingzhi looked at Yin Ci, and contrary to his usual self, he was openly showing his weakness—Great master, what’s wrong with you? Quickly resolve this issue.

However, Yin Ci didn’t respond.

If we were to measure the extent of heartache, Yin Ci was no less affected than Shi Jingzhi.

In their previous conversation, Shi Jingzhi wanted nothing more than to send him tens of thousands of miles away, feeling the urge to dig out his heart and lungs, and tally up the accounts of emotions. Just as Yin Ci had reluctantly placed this man in the category of “another powerful individual”, he was caught off guard by a sudden reversal, as if being struck by a boomerang.

Upon realizing this, his feet stopped on their own. Indeed, this trick was effective, Yin Ci thought. He no longer had time to think about the Little Mute.

However, he didn’t know if he had become too worldly or what, but for a moment, he felt ashamed of his own heart palpitations—the young boy’s innocent face appeared in his mind, along with recent memories of various moments. His emotions were left unattended and were shattered by this kiss, turning into a subtle tenderness.

The words “disrespect towards the elderly” shone even more brightly in his mind, filled with a strong sense of reproach.

Fortunately, it was just a momentary lapse, and he still had a chance to redeem himself.

Yin Ci looked up and met the bewildered eyes of Shi Jingzhi. Both of them were at a loss for what to do, as if they were about to accuse each other of not being able to successfully pretend to be clueless.

The two wooden chickens stood there at the street corner, letting the night breeze blow around them.

Regardless, they eventually finished walking down that street. Yin Ci thought, even if the process and the expected outcome were different, the result was the same—

At the very end, he could no longer play the role of this person’s “immortal”.

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The author has something to say:

It’s getting twisted, it’s getting twisted.jpg

Cooperation is impossible, you are destined to be entangled indefinitely√

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