Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 57: Good and Evil

That night, it turned out that Shi Jingzhi’s words were correct. Yan Budu had just returned to the cave when he started vomiting blood non-stop, as if he wanted to empty his entire body of blood. In his unstable condition, not to mention the opposing force of Kongshi, Yan Budu probably couldn’t even defeat Lord Bai at the moment.

Kongshi helplessly fetched bowl after bowl of hot water and used warm water to wipe away the blood.

The linen cloth emitted faint white steam as it gradually wiped away the dark red blood stains, revealing the image of a person within the bloodstains. The blood seeped into the crevices of the fabric, then dispersed into the water, turning the clear water in the bowl a pale crimson.

The monk clenched his fingers. The warm water slid over his slender and powerful hands, falling back into the bowl with a crisp sound.

Yan Budu had a lifeless expression and spoke arrogantly. “…Venerable, there’s no need for you to bother about me. I’ll just die here on my own. You can drag the corpse back and report your completion.”

Kongshi continued to wring the blood-stained cloth as if he hadn’t heard.

While Kongshi was busy wiping away the blood again, Yan Budu propped himself up and used his strength to imprison Kongshi beneath him.

Yan Budu’s clothes had been stained with too much fresh blood earlier, so he had to take them off, revealing porcelain-white skin. His breath was scorching, turning into white vapor as it left his mouth, carrying a faint trace of blood. His long hair was stuck to his body with sweat, as if it bore some kind of curse with dark patterns.

He lightly tapped the iron bowl with his toes and covered himself with the fox fur, then draped the monk’s robe over it. The cave fell into silence, and the flickering firelight cast an orange halo that flowed and undulated along their figures.

Yan Budu separated his damp hair and deliberately propped himself up with his injured arm. The pain combined with his illness caused his whole body to tremble slightly, and blood began to seep from the wound on his severed arm. Perhaps due to his extreme weakness, Kongshi didn’t use as much force to incapacitate him as before.

“Venerable, you truly have a kind heart. An eminent monk is indeed an eminent monk.”

Yan Budu’s voice grew softer and sounded like honey mixed with blood. He traced his fingertips over Kongshi’s face, leaving several streaks of blood between his brows and eyes.

“It is fate and illness that have come to kill me. Venerable, you haven’t violated the precepts by helping me…”

Finally, he no longer made an effort to support his body but allowed himself to fall onto Kongshi’s chest. With fiery red eyes and black hair like a prison, the two of them, one on top of the other, were extremely close.

Close enough for their breaths to intertwine endlessly, with no other objects in their field of vision.

Seeing that the other’s gaze remained unchanged, Yan Budu sneered softly. He deliberately moved slightly and licked and bit the edge of Kongshi’s ear.

“So, why did Venerable help me?”

The words “help me” slipped out of his lips, each word lingering and filled with tenderness.

Days of deliberate restraint came to an end at this moment.

Yan Budu’s true nature was fully exposed. Even if it was only his state of mind, his eerie and sticky aura made people extremely uncomfortable. Tainted with the color of disease and harboring wicked thoughts as deep as the abyss, this person’s smile was both beautiful and resembled a demon living in the human world.

Kongshi moved the damp cloth skillfully, ignoring the current situation. “Please raise your arm. There’s still some blood to wipe over there.”

Yan Budu: “…”

The profound power of the Venerable shattered the lascivious atmosphere with this one sentence.

One person desired warmth under the red canopy in a romantic setting, while the other remained motionless as if wiping a lifeless object. The monk truly seemed like a stone. Not to mention any physical response, Kongshi’s face didn’t even blush.

Yan Budu immediately lost interest. He rolled to the side, laying in a lifeless “大*” character, allowing the monk to manipulate him. Kongshi cleaned up Yan Budu, applying a cold cloth to his forehead. Then, he prepared some easily digestible soft vegetable soup and fed it to Yan Budu little by little.

*Big/large/heavy.

The strong wind roared, and snowflakes danced. The chessboard lay quietly a few steps away, with the remnants of the previous game’s final moves still visible.

Yan Budu had never had any issues with himself. He slowly swallowed the soup while his gaze wandered over Kongshi’s body, and then he revealed a smile that seemed to guarantee his victory. “Kongshi, oh, Kongshi, you really are…”

He didn’t finish his sentence but continued to gaze meaningfully at the monk.

Kongshi remained calm. His profound features were immersed in light and shadow, devoid of any sharpness. He always seemed to have that gentle and carefree expression, unhurried and composed.

No joy, no sorrow.

The two remained silent for a while.

Shi Jingzhi frowned. “At this rate, Venerable Kongshi’s condition isn’t good.”

“Kongshi’s martial arts are inherently effective against Yan Budu. With Yan Budu’s injured arm and weakened spirit, he doesn’t have full confidence, so he won’t easily make a move.”

“It’s not a matter of confidence, but a matter of winning or losing.”

Shi Jingzhi paused, glanced at Yin Ci, and cautiously continued, “If Yan Budu were to attack and kill Kongshi without any tricks, he wouldn’t be considered to have won against the Venerable.”

Yin Ci showed some interest. “Go on.”

Shi Jingzhi became more energized. “He learned the Nightmare Breaking Technique just to regain control of the situation. For people like Yan Budu, losing the initiative is more unbearable than death. And to win against someone like Kongshi, killing him is useless; destruction is the true victory.”

Yin Ci smiled, somewhat cryptically. “Are you speaking from experience?”

“Does your Master seem like… cough, a dark-minded person.”

When this person felt guilty, he really enjoyed referring to himself as “Master”.

“I’m not Kongshi, and I have no Buddha in my heart. I have seen people who are even crazier than you. There’s no need to be so cautious… Didn’t I already say it? I prefer someone like you.”

As soon as these words came out, Shi Jingzhi seemed to have been caught off guard. He quickly averted his gaze, focusing intensely on Yan Budu’s smoking pipe pendant.

Yin Ci shook his head, smiling.

It turned out that Shi Jingzhi and Yan Budu truly shared a deep connection.

Under Kongshi’s care, Yan Budu weathered this ordeal. He didn’t rush to kill Kongshi but instead acted as if nothing had happened, engaging in casual conversations and playing chess together.

Yin Ci could tell that Yan Budu had changed his strategy.

For several days, they maintained a harmonious atmosphere. Yan Budu knew deep down that as long as they avoided discussions of morality and righteousness, they could always find common ground. From mathematics and music theory to astronomy and history, they never ran out of topics to discuss day after day.

Yan Budu was like an experienced hunter, patiently biding his time with his prey.

He no longer mentioned the despicable things he had done, and he balanced his actions, presenting himself as a debauched gentleman. When he was in the mood, he occasionally made flirtatious moves or teasing remarks toward Kongshi. However, all of these gestures stopped just at the point where Kongshi wouldn’t shy away.

A brush of fingertips, a sweep of hair. His words were charming but not vulgar, his touches were ambiguous but not explicit; everything was just right.

Strangely enough, unlike before, Yan Budu wasn’t deliberately putting on a show. He no longer avoided the cruel and violent aspects of his character, shedding layers of masks and freely expressing his true nature, enjoying his time with Kongshi as he pleased.

True to Yan Budu’s expectations, Kongshi remained unruffled, unperturbed by the rain and wind.

And so, over a dozen days passed, nearing a month since their confinement.

The coldest moments had already passed, and the snow outside the cave had lessened considerably. Yan Budu’s injured arm was finally approaching full recovery.

Their daily routines became regular.

In the morning, Kongshi went out to dispel the illusion and open a path, while Yan Budu took on the task of foraging and would bring back vegetables, meat, and eggs. One vegetarian and one meat-eater, yet their ways never clashed.

After finishing lunch, they played chess. A game would take several hours, and the two would engage in lively conversations, discussing a wide range of topics. The two masters were knowledgeable and talented, and the cold atmosphere of the previous days of silence was no longer present.

At sunset, the chess game would always end in a draw. Kongshi would begin reciting sutras, while Yan Budu silently practiced his internal cultivation to heal his injuries. Occasionally, when he couldn’t hold it anymore, he would vomit some blood, and Kongshi would help him wash his clothes, clean his body, and adjust his inner force.

During these moments, Yan Budu would always take advantage of the situation* until the monk furrowed his brows.

*Wipe oil/eat tofu/mopping water. Term used to describe taking advantage of others in public.

Compared to the initial confrontation filled with hostility and madness, it now seemed like a fantasy. Simply looking at these days, they resembled friends who had accumulated years of understanding, rather than mortal enemies.

Compared to the beginning, Yan Budu seemed much more relaxed, whether it was acting or genuine. Kongshi’s expression remained unchanged, as gentle as ever.

But the observing master and disciple understood that this was merely a brief period of peace after the two of them stumbled upon the ancient formation.

Once the remnants of the formation outside the mountain were resolved, severe cold and snowstorms would no longer be able to confine masters like Yan Budu and Kongshi. They would leave this narrow cave and enter an endless state of life and death—either Kongshi would die here, or Yan Budu would be captured by Kongshi and taken to the Jianchen Temple, never to see daylight again.

They couldn’t stay here forever.

…How exactly did Yan Budu plan to “destroy Kongshi”?

To deceive Kongshi through days of familiarity, to stir emotions in the monk? Or was he going to pretend to repent and then strike from behind?

Yan Budu had lived an extremely cruel and violent life, with no satisfying opponent or trusted friend. If he were to spend his final years like this, it might even be considered the best way to die. Did he truly still want to “destroy Kongshi”?

Yan Budu was a person who had always been unrestrained, without any taboos, and acted recklessly. He couldn’t be judged by ordinary standards. At this point, the master and disciple were no longer certain.

Until a change occurred.

On that day, as usual, they were playing chess when they suddenly discussed “death”.

“I’m unwilling to die like this. Kongshi, have you ever heard of the ‘Shirou’? By consuming it, one can achieve immortality and eternal youth.”

“Amitabha. Such practices are not encouraged in Buddhism.”

“I guessed as much. A sect that amuses itself with the heavy sand hoop couldn’t possibly seek immortality.”

“Has Patron found the Shirou?”

“If I had, would I still be here?”

Kongshi slowly placed a chess piece down. “Then what about after Patron achieves immortality?”

“…Why are you suddenly asking about this?”

“Patron is now superior to ordinary people, having experienced all the wealth and luxury of the human world and seeing all beings as no more than pigs and dogs. So, once Patron ascends to immortality, what kind of thoughts and way of life does Patron plan to have?”

Yan Budu’s breath hitched.

“Wealth beyond measure, infamy renowned. The masses are dull, and there’s no one by your side. If Patron becomes an immortal, it will only prolong this situation. Forgive this humble monk for failing to see the difference.”

“Immortals are different from ordinary mortals. How can there be no difference?”

“Then, will Patron abandon worldly desires and sever the seven emotions and six desires?” Kongshi unusually laughed. “Is Patron willing to do so?”

Yan Budu’s face also darkened unusually. “Who was the one who said he would save me? Kongshi, what do you mean by this?”

“Amitabha. This humble monk is curious.”

“You’re curious too? That’s rare.”

“The remnants of the formation outside the mountain have been resolved by about eighty to ninety percent, and the mountain path has appeared. Perhaps by tomorrow, we won’t have the chance to converse anymore. This humble monk just wants to seek clarity while we still have this opportunity, that’s all.”

The final game?

So this was their final game.

A month of ease and tranquility ultimately turned out to be a fleeting illusion. Just like the ever-changing chessboard every day, the outcome never changed.

Yan Budu’s expression slightly changed, shifting from melancholy to a faint arrogance, which then transformed into pity tinged with a sense of charity.

In the span of a stick of incense, he slowly tightened his grip on the chess piece and spoke casually, “Once I become an immortal, the first thing I’ll do is take my time. I’ll do whatever I want, no longer worrying about all those nonsense matters and dealing with two-faced people who speak with forked tongues.”

“After all, mortals in this world are just a few masks and a few types of reactions. I’ve grown tired of killing people, so why not catch an interesting immortal to pass the time with me? The heavenly realm is so vast; there must be someone I can’t see through, right? Then I’ll truly be carefree…”

…Just like this very moment.

Yan Budu slightly widened his eyes.

Kongshi saw him stop midway through his words, unable to continue, and simply reminded him in a gentle voice. “Patron, it’s your turn to make a move.”

Click.

The stone chess piece slipped from Yan Budu’s trembling fingers and fell to the ground.

In the next moment, Yan Budu spewed out a mouthful of black blood. He collapsed to the ground, curling up into a ball.

That chess piece soaked in the dark pool of blood was three shades darker than the rest.

Yan Budu’s alluring face contorted completely. Through his disheveled hair, he stared at Kongshi with eyes filled with disbelief and bitter resentment. He convulsed in pain, and filthy blood kept flowing from the corners of his mouth.

Kongshi stood up. “Patron, let me help you to another place—”

“Get lost!” Yan Budu wailed, his nails digging tightly into the ground, mangling his flesh. “Damn you, do you know…”

Before he could squeeze out a few more words, more black blood sprayed out.

Yan Budu trembled violently, almost unable to speak properly. Judging from this condition, it was even more severe than all the previous episodes combined.

The days of their mutual understanding and peace shattered into pieces. Yan Budu showed a panicked expression for the first time. His negative emotions seemed out of control—fear, sorrow, and hatred all mingled together, splattering in every direction along with the black blood.

“How could I… How could I have this intention only now…”

Unlike the previous episodes, countless small, bluish-black blood vessels appeared all over Yan Budu’s body. They intertwined with each other, delicate and intricate, against his fair skin, resembling the fine cracks of porcelain.

Beautiful yet terrifying.

Yan Budu was still playing chess normally a moment ago, but now he was burning with a high fever, and his whole head emitted heat in the freezing cold. His condition was bizarre, as if possessed by a demon, yet there were no signs of his inner force being in chaos. Just as Kongshi was helping him up, Yan Budu let out a miserable scream. His inner force exploded recklessly, forcing Kongshi to retreat.

Kongshi finally showed a different expression. “Patron, what is…?”

“Congratulations, monk, congratulations.” Yan Budu’s tone turned eerie and sarcastic. “No matter what happens this time, you’ll have to carry a dead person out of this mountain. How convenient, cough, it is.”

“Last day, isn’t it…? Tomorrow, you and I will be opponents again, so you won’t have to… you won’t have to lay a finger on me.”

Yan Budu’s eyes were bloodshot, and his red pupils resembled flames from the depths of hell, revealing a hint of desperate madness.

“I should have… should have killed you long ago… but it’s a pity that someone like you won’t accompany me… accompany me to hell…”

After uttering those fierce words, he seemed to have emptied himself. Then, Yan Budu despairingly clawed at the ground with his nails. His voice was so low that it couldn’t be heard. Kongshi approached and barely made out a few muffled “why” and “on what grounds”.

Kongshi let out a soft sigh.

The monk pried open Yan Budu’s hands and carefully bandaged his wounds. He wiped away the blood from his mouth and nose with gentle movements as always.

But in the end, disregarding Yan Budu’s struggles, Kongshi forcibly took his pulse.

“A few days ago, this humble monk saw some good medicine. If it can be collected in time, it should be able to keep you alive.”

“Pointless…”

“Today is today, tomorrow is tomorrow. A patient is a patient, and an opponent is an opponent.” Kongshi lowered his gaze. His voice was clear and unobstructed. “It would be best if you didn’t move recklessly and wait for my return.”

In the midst of intense pain, Yan Budu suddenly revealed a smile stained with blood.

“Venerable is so attentive—could it be that you’ve taken a liking to me… If you don’t mind these threads of blood, I can play with you, Venerable… Even in death, it’s still a romantic affair*…”

*To die under the peony. It’s a saying historically used by men to express their admiration for women (like it’s romantic to die under such a beauty (the peony)).

“If a few words from Patron were enough for this humble monk to be drawn to the mortal world, then this humble monk would have been troubled long ago.”

After speaking, the tattered monk’s robe fluttered through the air. Kongshi carried the stone sword on his back, standing tall and resolute, stepping into the wind and snow without hesitation.

Yan Budu leaned against the stone wall, watching Kongshi’s figure with a gaze too complex to put into words.

Before long, his strength finally gave out, and he fell into a deep slumber.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 56: Chess Game

Yan Budu, having been acupointed, couldn’t move anymore, so he simply closed his eyes and dozed off. Kongshi continued chanting scriptures for an hour before falling asleep while still seated.

The storm outside had calmed down slightly, and the cave fell into silence with only the crackling sound of the flames.

Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci, immersed in their own state of mind, didn’t truly feel sleepy. The two main characters in the memories fell into silence, once again having nothing to do.

After a while of silence, Shi Jingzhi stood up on his own, ran over to Yan Budu, and tried to snatch Yan Budu’s red jade smoking pipe like pulling a radish. However, the smoking pipe seemed to be stuck in the air, and he couldn’t even move the tassel.

“In this state of mind, everything can be touched, but the state cannot be changed.” Yin Ci looked at Shi Jingzhi’s frustrated expression and added considerately.

“Ah, I saw that the smoking pipe had a soft fish demon eye attached to it and wanted to take a closer look.”

“No wonder the scenery here is so complete.” Yin Ci smiled.

A soft fish demon eye… This fox’s eyes were still as sharp as ever.

Soft fish demons were rare, and their fish skin could be made into “character cloths” to transmit information. The pair of fish eyes were interconnected, allowing storage and transmission of scenes. However, the process was extremely complicated and tedious, and only someone like Yan Budu, with extravagant desires, would use it as a pendant on a smoking pipe.

It seemed that Yan Budu used the demon eyes to record the surrounding scenes at all times. Whether for analyzing enemies or reminiscing about amorous encounters, he could retrieve the images afterwards, making it very convenient.

If Kongshi had given in to Yan Budu just now, with Yan Budu’s arrogant attitude, once they left this place, he would have immediately sent the footage to the entire Jianchen Temple for appreciation.

Shi Jingzhi seemed to have thought of the same thing, and his face wrinkled slowly.

He tried to pulse Yan Budu, but images were just images, and he couldn’t make out anything. Yin Ci watched as his master paced restlessly for a while before obediently returning back to his side.

“This is just a state of mind. How can even temperature sensations be restored.” Shi Jingzhi sat down cross-legged beside Yin Ci. “A’Ci, do you want to take a nap? Even if your body isn’t tired, it can help pass the time.”

Yin Ci shook his head. “If you want to sleep, then sleep.”

Shi Jingzhi didn’t move, he just gazed at Yin Ci by the flickering firelight.

As if he wanted to engrave him in his heart with his eyes.

“From the first encounter with the Chigou Sect assassin, to the Ghost Tomb, Yuanxian Village, and now… A’Ci, you seem to fear nothing and know everything.”

Yin Ci regarded it as another attempt to probe him. “What about it?”

“It’s really good to have you by my side. I feel very at ease. If I had fallen into this place alone, I would definitely be completely lost and scared to death.” Shi Jingzhi didn’t ask any further and just expressed his feelings.

He no longer referred to himself as “Master*”, and his tone was calm and sincere.

*Clarity: Previously, Shi Jingzhi would refer to himself as Weishi or Shifu (depending on context) but is no longer using those titles.

Yin Ci silently looked back at him.

Shi Jingzhi rubbed his hands together and smiled. “At first, I thought you were just an ordinary villager, and then I thought you were a skilled person with a hidden identity…”

“Now what?”

“A’Ci has a decent appearance and a temperament that suits him perfectly… Are you an immortal who has come to accompany me on my final journey?”

Shi Jingzhi didn’t look at Yin Ci, but instead gazed at the snowstorm outside the cave. The flames cast an orange glow on the rocky walls. They were immersed in a long-gone era, completely detached from the mortal world, with only the two of them in boundless solitude.

In a place like this, neither gods nor Buddhas could be seen. It felt like they could say anything, and all desires could be understood.

Yin Ci: “Shizun, you are just physically weak, and your mind has become confused.”

“But I have never felt so at peace.”

“Aren’t you afraid that I have ulterior motives?”

Shi Jingzhi laughed heartily, which was an uncommon sight. “The Buddha Heart Formation has awakened me. Besides my own life, I have nothing else to offer. What can you possibly gain from me?”

Yin Ci fell silent.

Looking at the smiling face of this person, he had a fleeting thought of wanting to escape. There was more than one person in the world who could use yang fire, and there were others who sought the Shirou, not just Shi Jingzhi.

He wasn’t bound to him.

It was the opposite of Shi Jingzhi. As time passed, Yin Ci felt as if he had drawn the worst lot. There was a moment when he suddenly understood the helplessness of Yan Budu when faced with Kongshi.

If Shi Jingzhi were an ordinary person, he could have observed coldly, using him mercilessly until the end. But Shi Jingzhi wasn’t an ordinary person.

How many years of waiting was his remaining year of life worth? How long could his sanity hold on for that fleeting glimpse of radiance under the setting sun?

Would he give up using this person for the sake of that tiny warmth of vitality?

…It truly gave him a headache.

Yin Ci reached out his hand and gently placed it on Shi Jingzhi’s head. The latter trembled, almost blurting out “no sense of propriety”, but managed to hold it in at the last moment.

In his state of mind, this person was also warm and tender. Yin Ci couldn’t help but lower his gaze—Shi Jingzhi hadn’t realized until now, when they were so close, who was borrowing whose body heat.

‘Very well,’ Yin Ci thought. ‘Let’s take it one step at a time. There’s still a long road ahead.’

However, before he made a final decision, if this person wanted to sincerely exchange hearts, he would give a few points in return. It wasn’t impossible.

“Nothing at all? Shizun, that’s not true.” Yin Ci breathed a sigh of relief, and his tone became relaxed but not frivolous. “This disciple can still gain something from you.”

Shi Jingzhi choked for a moment and playfully tapped the back of Yin Ci’s head. “Have you been possessed by Yan Budu? Nonsense is pouring out of your mouth.”

In the next moment, both of them burst into laughter. Shi Jingzhi lay down again, resting his head on Yin Ci’s leg, and his long hair flowed like running water, spreading across the ground. This time, he didn’t fall asleep. His amber eyes remained clear and transparent. “Since we can’t sleep, let’s chat. Last time, I told you so many stories. This time, it’s your turn, A’Ci… As a knowledgeable disciple, you must have many tales.”

As he said the latter half, he adopted a playful tone, unable to contain the laughter in his voice.

Yin Ci narrowed his eyes at him. “Shizun, I am particularly good at ghost stories. The atmosphere is perfect right now. Do you want me to tell you a few to pass the time?”

Shi Jingzhi: “…”

Shi Jingzhi: “Dear disciple, spare me, please.”

As a result, Yin Ci still couldn’t manage to tell ghost stories to Shi Jingzhi. They chatted, sometimes with purpose and sometimes aimlessly, and they comfortably passed the night without any guard.

Morning arrived, and the blizzard continued. The second day began with Yan Budu’s cordial greeting—

“Venerable, I really love this face of yours. I really want to find an excuse to peel it off and put it in my immortal tomb.”

Kongshi was carefully slicing mushrooms. “Your praise is excessive, Patron.”

After cooking mushroom and vegetable porridge, Kongshi removed Yan Budu’s acupoint restraint and pushed the first bowl of porridge toward him.

Yan Budu picked up the bowl of porridge, smiling like a poisonous flower. “Speaking of bald-headed monks, I’ve killed nearly a hundred of them. Some ‘eminent monks’ would weep bitterly on their deathbeds and even be willing to lick the soles of my boots, just to beg for their lives. Kongshi, those monks who died so tragically would be so disappointed if they saw how you behave.”

Kongshi smiled kindly, without a trace of anger in his eyes. “Patron, is one bowl not enough?”

Yan Budu: “…” He silently pushed the empty bowl back, starting to suspect that this monk had a problem with his ears.w

However, he never gave up easily. After finishing the meal, Yan Budu once again provoked Kongshi. He roasted his damp boots and pressed his bare feet against the monk’s chest. “Bald donkey, stop chanting scriptures and play chess with me.”

Kongshi raised his eyes.

Yan Budu twirled his red jade smoking pipe, dispersing his true qi. He carved a chessboard on the hard rock, then enveloped his true qi around scattered gravel, rolling them around randomly. When they stopped, they had formed perfectly round game pieces.

With a flick of his sleeve, Yan Budu brought the stone chessboard to the center of them, and the stone pieces were divided into two piles. Yan Budu made a cut on his injured arm, and fresh blood flowed out, staining his nearby pieces a dark red.

Dark red against ash gray—a clear contrast between white and black.

Yan Budu licked his wound and lightly kicked Kongshi. “Everything is ready. Let’s play chess.”

Kongshi grasped Yan Budu’s ankle and pushed his leg away. “Very well.”

Yan Budu’s smile became even brighter. “Since we’re discussing victory and defeat, why not make a little wager? How about this, after each game, the loser cuts off a finger. Plain porridge makes one’s mouth taste bland, but adding some meat wouldn’t be bad.”

With this proposal, there was no room for negotiation. Kongshi sighed and ignored him.

Seeing the excitement, Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci joined them and took their seats in front of the chessboard. Little did they know that within half an hour, this game of chess would turn into a game where one person tormented three others.

It was because Kongshi made his moves extremely slowly. It was so slow that, in comparison, even his chanting of scriptures seemed passionate and thrilling.

Yan Budu himself initiated the game, so even if he had to grit his teeth, he had to finish it. In order to undermine Kongshi’s authority, even if he felt drowsy, Yan Budu still forced himself to stay alert and kept talking.

“Venerable, your moves are grand and powerful, with the strength of a thousand catties. But why is the chessboard sticky and full of greed for life and fear of death, reminding me of the time I dueled with Su Zhi?”

Yin Ci: “…”

A hundred years ago, although they were evenly matched, he really didn’t want to let go and fight Yan Budu. It wasn’t that he feared for his own life—it was because if Yan Budu discovered his immortality, it would bring about endless troubles.

However, with Shi Jingzhi listening on the side, even if he was completely clueless, Yin Ci felt a subtle sense of embarrassment.

Fortunately, Kongshi saw through the situation. “Perhaps Patriarch Su simply doesn’t want to deal with you and is showing you the way out.”

Yan Budu: “How do you know?”

Kongshi smiled gently. “Empathy, treating others as oneself.”

“Indeed, in that case, I will say a little more.” Yan Budu sneered, but before he could continue, he coughed up another mouthful of blood.

Kongshi, holding the chess piece, paused in mid-air. “Would the Patron like me to diagnose your condition?”

“No need. I have seen all the famous doctors in the world. Since childhood, I have had strange illnesses that no one can cure… Except for the horrifying blood vomiting, nothing else matters.”

Yan Budu’s face turned pale, his lips stained with blood, and his appearance was extremely enchanting, causing people to involuntarily avert their gaze.

However, Kongshi fixedly stared at him, as if looking at a wounded deer or an elderly person coughing up blood.

“Amitabha.” After a while, Kongshi shifted his gaze away and made another move.

Yan Budu wiped away the fresh blood and laughed. “Compared to my own illness, you should be more concerned about something else—your intention to bring me back to the Jianchen Temple and keep me imprisoned for a lifetime. Unfortunately, in case I fail to achieve immortality, my life is already coming to an end. It’s a pity that you are trapped in the wind and snow, mired in the mud, all for nothing.”

“Even if Patron can only live for one more day in the dungeon, the victims can witness Patron’s fate with their own eyes, and the rest of your life won’t be tormented by inner demons.” Kongshi joined his palms together.

“Victims? Monk, do you know why I spent ten years building the Ghost Tomb, yet the righteous path only recently started to besiege my sect?”

Yan Budu’s smile grew increasingly intense.

“It all started with ten taels of silver. I discovered that with just ten taels of silver, I could buy a person’s life—some were willing to sell their family members to me, some were willing to sell themselves for the sake of their families, and there were even those who wailed and fought for the dead, but once they received the silver, they fell silent. Later, the prices varied for different people, but the willingness to fight and endure remained the same.”

“The closure of the Ghost Tomb involved too many people, with a lot of troublemakers. You all barely managed to come up with the label of ‘tyrannical and ruthless’ to settle old scores.”

Kongshi remained silent.

“People are born with inherent differences in quality; it’s fate. Most people in the world are as foolish as pigs and as simple-minded as dogs. The lives of animals are cheap, so if I want to kill them, I kill them. It’s just following the will of heaven.”

Kongshi raised his eyes. “Inherent differences in quality? Children are naive, the elderly are confused, yet they live longer than you, Patron. Why do you only mention one aspect and not the other?”

The monk’s tone was gentle, as always.

“Furthermore, sheep eat grass, and tigers eat sheep. When a fierce tiger meets its end, its corpse is devoured by the grass. The cycle of karma is the way of heaven. Patron, you are also among sentient beings. There is no need to belittle them so lightly.”

Yan Budu raised an eyebrow. “It’s only natural for tigers to eat sheep, so what crime have I committed by killing children and women?”

The monk’s eyelids remained motionless. “If Patron deems yourself innocent, then you are innocent.”

“I thought I was going crazy, but you, baldy, are even crazier than me.”

“The burden of guilt is in the mind of Buddha; one can only reflect on oneself. However, regardless of Patron’s thoughts, being able to play against me here has its causes and consequences, and the retribution isn’t pleasant.”

Kongshi pointed to his giant sword and smiled even more calmly.

“Patron sees sentient beings as pigs and dogs. From what I see, Patron is no different from pigs and dogs, and can hardly be considered worse than them.”

Yan Budu: “……”

Suddenly, Shi Jingzhi flinched, and Yin Ci turned his head. “What’s wrong?”

“A’Ci, Venerable Kongshi isn’t just making empty remarks. He truly believes in what he said.”

Yin Ci furrowed his brow—if Shi Jingzhi could see it, then Yan Budu would definitely see it as well. In a sense, the compassion of sentient beings was also a form of ruthlessness.

Yan Budu’s plan to disrupt the monk’s chess game with his menacing aura seemed to be falling flat.

As expected, Kongshi calmly placed a chess piece on the board. “The cycle of three calamities. Will Patron give up the struggle of the calamities*?”

*Clarity: There’s a double meaning here. Note while it’s translated as chess, they are actually playing Go. In the case of a three calamities, it is referring to a triple ko where it’s basically a draw. Theoretically, when a situation like this happens, the game can continue forever, endlessly in a cycle. Applying this to Buddhism, it refers to the three calamities sentient beings undergo through their existence (basically the cycle of life). You can read more about it in my Kinky Thoughts. || In this context, Kongshi has set the board to be a draw, creating a triple ko, and asking Yan Budu, are you giving up (both in the game and spiritually as applied to Buddhist theory).

Yan Budu remained silent, neither uttering a word nor showing any signs of anger, as if he were calculating something.

Seeing that the opponent didn’t respond, Kongshi stopped playing. “Then let’s call it a draw. We’ll play again another day.”

Finally, Yan Budu slowly lifted his head, and his pair of crimson eyes seemed to ignite. He stared fixedly at Kongshi, and a twisted smile gradually appeared on his face.

“Interesting. I must defeat you once. Monk, I have decided to claim your head.”

Kongshi replied politely, “This humble monk needs to keep his head for chanting scriptures. I apologize for not being able to offer it to you.”

After that, Yan Budu refrained from making any comments about the past. For some reason, the Demonic Lord intentionally restrained himself, and from the way he treated Kongshi, he even seemed somewhat normal.

In the following days, whenever they had free time, the two of them would play chess while discussing the situation of the martial arts world and analyzing various techniques. Surprisingly, their conversations flowed smoothly and harmoniously.

However, in every game during those few days, the monk’s chess speed was as slow as a snail, yet he managed to create various extraordinary situations. They played strange and peculiar tactics, and neither of them held back.

But Yan Budu didn’t show any signs of frustration; instead, he appeared to be quite enjoying himself.

As time passed, Yan Budu’s injured arm gradually recovered. One night, he proposed an idea that invigorated the spirits of the Kushan Sect master and disciple. “Kongshi, I’ll accompany you outside tonight. I need to get some meat. I’ve been eating porridge for so long, and my wounds are healing too slowly.”

“Your injuries haven’t fully healed, Patron.”

“No choice then. Since you won’t cut off your arm to feed me,” Yan Budu joked.

“Patron, offering oneself to feed a tiger is only done for a female tiger with cubs*. We, as Buddhist monks, don’t feed tigers at will.”

*It comes from a story in the Sutra of the Wise and the Fool which you can read in my Kinky Thoughts. In this context, he’s saying one doesn’t offer to sacrifice oneself (feed a tiger) unless there’s a proper justification (female tiger with cubs). The TLDR of the story is: A prince saw a tigress who was starving to the point of death and had cubs. He decided to sacrifice himself in order to feed her and her cubs. 

“So I can only hunt for food myself. It’s truly lamentable.”

When they were about to leave, Shi Jingzhi’s whole being was radiant. However, after he pulled Yin Ci along and followed, his enthusiasm couldn’t withstand the cold for more than the time it took to burn three incense sticks. Outside the cave was even colder than inside. Although the snow had stopped, everything was still covered in a vast expanse of white, lacking magnificent scenery. The wind carried snowflakes that slapped against their faces, and Shi Jingzhi was immediately chilled to the bone.

“Yan Budu is really… Last time, I made a mistake while cultivating my kung fu and suffered inner force obstruction. When the cold wind blew, I coughed up blood and couldn’t sleep.”

Shi Jingzhi shrank his neck, feeling a sense of sorrow.

“He wants to eat meat, I understand, but is he really in such a hurry?” Yin Ci tightly grasped Shi Jingzhi’s wrist, but his gaze never left Yan Budu.

Shi Jingzhi suddenly realized and immediately took in a breath of cold air.

Yan Budu wasn’t just playing chess in the cave; his real-life chess game had also begun. Wrapped in a fox fur coat, he stared intently at Kongshi, who was using the Nightmare Breaking Technique to break through the illusions. Even though the cold wind was cutting, he didn’t even blink his eyes.

Yan Budu was secretly learning the Nightmare Breaking Technique.

It was too similar. Yin Ci looked at Shi Jingzhi beside him, who was completely focused and absorbed in the Nightmare Breaking Technique. Their expressions were so alike, reminiscent of the time when Shi Jingzhi secretly learned the Green Maiden Sword Technique beneath the Ghost Tomb.

…It was truly uncanny.

Whether it was the symptoms, aptitude, or the resentment towards all living beings, they were strikingly similar, almost too coincidental. Yin Ci had walked the world for hundreds of years without experiencing reincarnation. So there’s only one possibility.

In this world, there was something he had yet to discover.

Yan Budu and Shi Jingzhi undoubtedly belong to some kind of similar existence.

Kongshi formed an invisible formation, using true qi instead of a copper hammer and iron bowl to activate the formation. Even though the blizzard was obscuring their surroundings, the monk swiftly turned. Even though the inner force movements were extremely complex, his coordinated hand movements were incredibly exquisite. After a dazzling display of the Nightmare Breaking Technique that left people dazzled, Yan Budu’s mouth slowly curled into a smile.

He had learned it.

And the sole reason Yan Budu kept Kongshi around was for the Nightmare Breaking Technique.

To him, Kongshi was no longer useful.

---

The author has something to say:

Surprise! The leader of the Ling Sect actually carries a camera with him.

…But without a camera, we would have to switch to a first-person perspective. In fact, when I imagined Shi Jingzhi’s annoyed face, I had images of a subway, a fox, and a smartphone in my mind.jpg

————————————

Demonic Lord Yin: The fox has softened, and my heart has softened too. Well, let’s avoid it for a while (?

Fox Shi: The plan is a go (×

---

Kinky Thoughts:

In Buddhist philosophy, the three cycles of calamities refer to the belief that sentient beings are bound to undergo three major calamities or sufferings throughout their existence. These three calamities are birth, aging, and death.

1. The first calamity is birth, which represents the suffering and struggles associated with entering into the cycle of existence and being subject to various worldly afflictions.
2. The second calamity is aging, symbolizing the physical and mental deterioration that occurs as beings grow older. It encompasses the gradual decay of the body, the decline of faculties, and the experience of suffering and limitations that come with aging.
3. The third calamity is death, representing the finality and inevitability of mortality. It signifies the end of an individual’s current existence and the subsequent transition to another state, be it rebirth or liberation.

The concept of the “cycle of three calamities” reflects the Buddhist understanding of life’s inherent sufferings and the impermanence of existence. It highlights the fundamental truths of impermanence, suffering, and the need to seek liberation from the cycle of birth and death through spiritual practice and enlightenment.

What Kongshi did (quite brilliantly) was set up the game as a triple ko to show Yan Budu this figuratively and literally (in the game).

————

The story of feeding a tiger from The Sutra of the Wise and the Fool.

In the Buddhist scriptures, it is said that there were three princes in the king’s chariot of the Kingdom of Bo Deng in India. One day, they went hunting together in the mountains and saw a mother tiger with several hungry tiger cubs. The mother tiger was so famished that she wanted to eat the tiger cubs. The third prince, Sariputra, saw this and sent away his two elder brothers. He went to the mountain and laid down in front of the mother tiger, but the hungry tiger had no strength to eat him.

Sariputra then climbed up a hill, injured his body with a sharp stick, and jumped off a cliff, allowing the mother tiger to drink his blood. After drinking the blood, the mother tiger regained her strength and, along with her cubs, ate up all the flesh from Sariputra’s body.

The two elder brothers couldn’t find their younger brother and searched along the way until they finally found Sariputra’s remains. They quickly returned to the palace to inform the king. The king and the queen rushed to the mountains, embraced Sariputra’s remains, and wept bitterly.

They then gathered the remains and built a stupa for worship. Sariputra, who willingly sacrificed his own physical body to save the life of the tiger, is the previous incarnation of the Buddha Shakyamuni.

Depictions of such acts of enduring humiliation, self-sacrifice, and various virtuous deeds from the previous lives of Shakyamuni Buddha are known as Jataka tales.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 55: Kongshi

After Yan Budu finished speaking, a young monk walked out of the wind and snow and stepped into the cave.

The monk carried a large sword with a grayish-green color on his back. The sword was not yet unsheathed and seemed to be sharpened by the sparks of a furnace. He was tall, but not bulky. Standing in the wind and snow, he appeared like a solitary peak that had stood there since ancient times.

Upon closer inspection, the monk had a handsome and resolute appearance, with deep facial features. There was a prominent scar on his right cheek, but his demeanor didn’t possess any aggressiveness.

Monk Kongshi*.

*Empty stone.

Yin Ci recognized this person. A hundred years ago, he used the pseudonym “Su Zhi” and, together with Yan Budu, Kongshi, and Qu Tinglei, they were known as the “Four Greats of the Martial World”. Except for Qu Tinglei, who was over fifty, the other three appeared to be under the age of forty.

They were formidable and full of youthful spirit. They could be considered the pinnacle of the martial world since the founding of the nation.

However, the good times didn’t last long. Yan Budu stirred up a bloody storm while constructing the Ghost Tomb, causing chaos throughout half the country and defeating countless masters on his own. The Jianchen Temple, which had always remained detached from the world, eventually intervened and dispatched Kongshi to capture Yan Budu.

The monks intended to capture Yan Budu and imprison him in the dungeon of the Jianchen Temple, followed by a public trial, thus condemning him to lifelong imprisonment.

Yin Ci remembered the aftermath of this story.

The monks never gave up until death, but Yan Budu wasn’t captured and taken to the Jianchen Temple. Presumably, he killed Kongshi. Afterward, Yan Budu disappeared, leaving only Qu Tinglei and himself among the Four Greats of the Martial World.

The two young masters were like shooting stars in the dark night, shining brightly but falling quickly.

When Yin Ci was still “Su Zhi”, his actions were chaotic, encompassing both good and evil, but he knew where to stop, which earned him the approval of the righteous path. He had never fought Monk Kongshi and knew nothing about him. Naturally, he couldn’t guess the secret of his past—no one knew how Kongshi died or where he died. Even to this day, the Jianchen Temple was still searching for the remains of this young venerable.

Could this be the answer?

Yin Ci couldn’t help but sit up straight, but unfortunately, he had a limp body leaning on him, which added some difficulty to this movement.

Monk Kongshi’s clothes were tattered and full of sword marks, but his aura was serene. Compared to the disheveled Yan Budu, he seemed more like someone who came to enjoy the snowy scenery.

He sat opposite Yan Budu, adjusted his clothes, and began silently chanting scriptures.

This one chant lasted for most of the day.

Shi Jingzhi couldn’t hold on any longer. He curled up, resting his head on Yin Ci’s thigh, sleeping soundly. Yin Ci continued to meditate, playing with Shi Jingzhi’s hair in one hand while watching the seemingly frozen scene in front of him.

After sleeping for a few hours, Shi Jingzhi finally woke up. He pulled his hair out of Yin Ci’s grasp and rubbed his eyes. “How is it?”

Yin Ci: “They haven’t said a word since then.”

Shi Jingzhi: “…How long has it been? Yan Qing and the others have pretty good memories. They quickly patched together the illusion of their inner demons. Are we supposed to stay here for as long as it takes for him to remember? A’Ci, we have no food or drink here—”

Yin Ci felt that his own master became several times chattier after developing his inner demon. It was a good thing that Shi Jingzhi was willing to rely on him, but this person hadn’t figured out the extent of relying on others. He seemed to want to pour out everything on his mind.

Though with such an energetic person making a fuss by his side, Yin Ci couldn’t find himself annoyed no matter what.

He patted Shi Jingzhi’s arm. “Don’t worry. Since Yan Budu wants to leave a message, he wouldn’t kill the messenger… You might as well close your eyes and feel the state of your body.”

Following his words, Shi Jingzhi closed his eyes but immediately became agitated. “I slept for so long, why haven’t I regained any energy?”

“As I thought.”

Yin Ci smiled. “Yan Budu hasn’t become strong enough to create his own small world. This place should be purely a ‘state of mind’. Everything that’s happening right now is only within our consciousness. The formation has accelerated the speed of our thoughts. ‘One day’ here is just a blink of an eye outside.”

In the real world, only an instant had passed, so Shi Jingzhi’s body couldn’t naturally recover.

However, there were advantages. Even if Yan Budu’s memories spanned a whole year, in reality, only an hour would pass. They wouldn’t die of hunger or thirst, nor did they need to worry about cleanliness.

…But someone might die of boredom.

Shi Jingzhi was always restless, never able to sit still. Now being trapped in a narrow cave, he visibly wilted.

Yin Ci thought of something amusing. “It’s fine. Even if they are trapped for an entire winter, it’s only three months.”

He paused and leaned closer to Shi Jingzhi’s ear. “This time was stolen from heaven. Shizun, you don’t need to worry about illness. You might as well enjoy it… I’m here to accompany you, right?”

After their previous encounter in Yuanxian Village, Shi Jingzhi inexplicably became more composed and less playful. Now, after going through the Buddha Heart Formation, he showed a glimpse of his true self and became playful again. Yin Ci watched as a hint of blush appeared on Shi Jingzhi’s ears, feeling quite satisfied.

Shi Jingzhi seemed like he wanted to move away, yet he was reluctant to leave the warmth beside him. He could only turn his face with a stern expression, pretending that nothing had happened.

The cave was dim and cold, oppressing them like a coffin. The sound of howling winds pierced through, making the atmosphere particularly heavy. If one were trapped alone in this dull and suffocating environment, they might go insane before starving to death.

“We were too busy fighting before, so we didn’t have time to talk. Now, let’s call it a temporary truce. Why is it so quiet?”

Perhaps feeling bored as well, Yan Budu spoke again.

“The bald donkeys at the Jianchen Temple are all about saving all sentient beings. When they see me, they can’t wait to spit on me. But why is it that in front of me, Venerable, you suddenly become so tight-lipped?”

Monk Kongshi glanced at him calmly but didn’t respond.

Yan Budu’s excitement grew even higher. “Oh? Could it be that Venerable belongs to another category—self-proclaimed purity, currently free from worldly troubles, afraid of being tainted by the wicked deeds of someone like me and soiled with righteousness?”

Yin Ci remained silent. Yan Budu not only spat blood like Shi Jingzhi but also became even more talkative.

Monk Kongshi ceased his silent chanting and cleared his throat, finally speaking.

The monk’s voice was as gentle as a spring breeze after rain, soothing to the ear. “Patron, I remember that you are twenty-nine this year.”

“Yes.”

“Since you established the demonic sect at the age of seventeen until now, I don’t know how much bloodshed and countless sins you have caused.”

“And so what?”

“Patron, to establish a demonic sect with your own strength and resist the righteous path with the power of your sect for nearly two years, it shows remarkable intelligence.”

Yan Budu narrowed his crimson eyes. He was used to hearing his followers flatter him, but it was the first time a monk had flattered him. He almost became alert. “So?”

“Therefore, Patron, after immersing yourself in darkness and evil for twelve years and reaching such a young age, seemingly without any problems in your mind, you must have heard everything that needs to be heard and thought about everything that needs to be thought about.”

Monk Kongshi smiled gently.

“If a few words from this humble monk could make you achieve great enlightenment, then I wouldn’t need to be here. I would have already become a Buddha.”

It was the first time Yan Budu saw such an unprofessional eminent monk that it left him momentarily confused. “You—”

Monk Kongshi showed a friendly smile. “Amitabha.”

His words were quite impolite, yet his tone and manner were surprisingly gentle, without a hint of contempt or anger.

Yin Ci: “…”

Shi Jingzhi: “…The Jianchen Temple emphasizes renouncing greed, hatred, and ignorance. But I feel like this Venerable needs to renounce a bit of his snide remarks.”

Yan Budu was caught off guard by the mild-mannered Amitabha, and when he saw the serene expression on the monk’s face, as if saying, “You think you’re so great, but you’re not as good as a stone,” he couldn’t help but feel a surge of nameless anger and spat out blood again.

Kongshi sighed and pulled out a piece of cloth, handing it over with both hands.

Yan Budu chuckled lightly, not changing his sarcastic tone. “You just broke my arm, and now you’re showing false compassion?”

Kongshi spoke earnestly, “But Patron, you have already bandaged your arm yourself. In that case, if you truly care, shall I wrap another layer for you?”

He used a negotiating tone.

Yan Budu: “…”

This monk seemed to practice Yin-Yang Zen*. Every word sounded gentle, making it impossible to find fault, and there was nothing wrong with his tone. But combined, they sounded sarcastic.

*Meditation practice that integrates the concepts of yin and yang. It emphasizes cultivating a balance between opposing forces both within oneself and the external world, aiming to harmonize and transcend dualistic concepts by realizing the interdependence of interconnectedness of all things.

Yin Ci could see what Yan Budu was thinking.

If this were a monk with a troubled expression who cared deeply about the welfare of sentient beings or a vengeful Arhat*, Yan Budu would be better off. Those two types of people were easy to see through, but the monk in front of him was shrouded in clouds and mist. Yan Budu couldn’t see him clearly at all.

*One who has gained insight into the true nature of existence and has achieved Nirvana and liberated from the endless cycle of rebirth.

Seeing Yan Budu silently accept the cloth, Kongshi maintained a Buddha-like expression and resumed his meditation.

If they didn’t know about the sins committed by Yan Budu, the master and disciple would have almost started to sympathize with him. Shi Jingzhi leaned back against Yin Ci, realizing that in comparison, his disciple was gentle and amiable.

Outside the cave, it gradually darkened, and the wind and snow showed no signs of stopping. Kongshi opened his bag, took out an iron bowl and rice, and melted some snow water, skillfully cooking white porridge.

Yan Budu: “…After fighting with each other for five days and nights, traveling thousands of miles in the mountains, do you still have the leisure to carry rice?”

Kongshi replied leisurely, “People still need to eat.”

He cooked the porridge, let it cool for a moment, and pushed it toward Yan Budu. “Patron, please have it first.”

Yan Budu didn’t hesitate and quickly poured the porridge into his stomach. He regained some strength, and a bit of killing intent dispersed. “Baldy, do you know what I’m thinking?”

The monk continued to cook porridge, his tone light. “Patron is thinking that you’ll find an opportunity to kill this humble monk later. That way, with rice and human flesh, you can sustain yourself longer.”

“Then, would Venerable care to offer himself as tiger food?”

Kongshi blew on the porridge. “No.”

Yan Budu sneered and moved his red jade smoking pipe. With a sharp sword aura, he decisively slashed towards Kongshi. The latter casually deflected it with his stone sword, leaving a deep crack in the ground.

“Ah… Opposing techniques are truly bothersome.” Yan Budu leaned against the rock wall, sighing deeply.

“Patron, it’s better to stop. If you were to kill me, I’m certain you wouldn’t be able to leave.”

“And why is that? Once the storm stops, there is nothing to fear.”

The monk continued to blow on the porridge. “The premise is that Patron knows how to descend the mountain. I’ve seen traces of ancient formations around, and this mountain has been disturbed by formations, leaving illusions everywhere. To proceed normally, you must break through the illusions with an exorcism spell.”

Yan Budu was taken aback but not entirely surprised. “Zongwu Mountain is quite vast and often has strange occurrences. Perhaps some immortal practiced here and left behind some trouble.”

After finishing his words, his killing intent also dissipated.

Monks didn’t tell lies. For well-known eminent monks like Monk Kongshi from the Jianchen Temple, he wouldn’t lie just to save his life.

Yan Budu quickly adjusted his emotions. When he spoke again, his tone returned to laziness, as if he wasn’t the one who had just made a move. “What about food? This bit of rice won’t be enough for the two of us.”

Kongshi remained serene. “This mountain isn’t barren. On the way here, I saw many wild vegetables and mushrooms that can be eaten. Patron will certainly not starve.”

“No meat. Monks are really troublesome.” Yan Budu glanced discontentedly at his severed arm and reluctantly accepted his fate.

After finishing their meal, the monk put on his bamboo hat and stepped into the snow. He returned when the night was pitch black, and his backpack was indeed filled with wild vegetables and tender mushrooms.

However, Kongshi was covered in snow. When he approached the fire pit in the cave, the snow melted into water, making the cloth damp against his skin. Kongshi took off his outer garment and used tree branches to prop it open, drying it by the fire.

Yan Budu dried his tobacco pouch by the fire and took a pinch of tobacco, slowly smoking.

The monk was facing away from him, illuminated by the flickering firelight and surrounded by white smoke. His sturdy back was exposed, emitting a slight sheen.

Perhaps truly bored, Yan Budu let his long hair down and blew smoke bit by bit. “What a pity, what a pity. Among the Four Greats, apart from that old man Qu Tinglei, Su Zhi and you can both be considered beauties, and each one is difficult to handle.”

Kongshi: “Patron’s definition of ‘beauties’ is quite broad.”

Yan Budu laughed heartily. “Venerable, your features are handsome, and your figure is excellent. There’s no need for self-deprecation. As for Su Zhi, he usually wears a mask, which is true, but I have heard interesting rumors about him. Furthermore, beauty lies in the bones, not the skin. I’ve seen so many beauties, and I never make mistakes.”

Kongshi: “Oh.”

Yan Budu: “But I love beautiful people, even if they’re dead. I wonder what kind of demon possessed Su Zhi; his eyes are dead, and he is completely rotten on the inside. Such a person is the most uninteresting, wasting that good bone structure.”

Yin Ci: “…”

It felt quite refreshing to overhear others speak ill of oneself behind one’s back. However, Yan Budu’s words might not qualify as “speaking ill”; they were more like facts.

As expected of a genius, Yan Budu’s insight into people was remarkably sharp.

However, at this point, Yin Ci couldn’t help but have some strange thoughts. Yan Budu’s skill in reading people was somewhat similar to Shi Jingzhi’s, only more refined and mature than Shi Jingzhi.

Could it be a coincidence?

On the other side, Yan Budu and Kongshi continued their conversation.

Kongshi clearly had little interest in the conversation. He focused on wiping his body—ordinary people didn’t possess the abnormal inner force of Shi Jingzhi, so maintaining body temperature was already the limit. The more moist the body, the faster the heat dissipated, resulting in a waste of true qi.

However, as the topic became more and more inappropriate, Kongshi turned his head and glanced at Yan Budu.

Encouraged by this, Yan Budu became more spirited in his speech. “Talking about him makes me angry. That kid intentionally picked the Chigou Sect, a third-rate sect, and turned it into the ruler of the North. If he hadn’t taken over the north, our sect wouldn’t have been so ruthlessly defeated. Haa, he had to cause trouble for me at such a crucial moment.”

He was halfway through his words when he felt aggrieved again. “If it weren’t for that Su Zhi, I would be lying in silk sheets right now, with a fragrant and tender beauty in my arms.”

Kongshi treated Yan Budu as murmuring air and remained seated in meditation with his upper body exposed.

Little did he know that Yan Budu silently converged his true qi and approached. Without a trace of killing intent, he pressed himself against Kongshi’s back. His arm crossed over Kongshi’s shoulder and reached towards his chest.

“Compared to that Su Zhi, Venerable is different… In Venerable’s eyes, there is vitality—very captivating.”

Yan Budu deliberately slowed his speech, and his voice was as smooth as silk, filled with a hint of laughter.

Silky hair, swirling smoke, both mingling with warm breath, were gently brushed over Kongshi’s bare skin.

“I must say, Venerable, we have a connection. Life is unpredictable; who knows if we will both die here… Since we have spare time, why don’t I teach you some other forms of entertainment, as a token of gratitude for the meal?”

Unfortunately, Yan Budu’s attempts at seduction were in vain, as the monk remained unresponsive. Kongshi turned his head to the side, looking at Yan Budu as if observing a wolf chasing its own tail.

In a swift motion, Kongshi seized Yan Budu’s severed arm. Taking advantage of Yan Budu’s pain, he instantly activated several acupoints, then moved Yan Budu back to his original position. He even kindly covered Yan Budu with a coat.

After completing these actions, the monk resumed his seated position, his expression earnest. “Patron, our temple excels in close combat techniques. You should remember that.”

“Once we leave here, I will definitely kill you.”

Kongshi continued in a friendly tone, teasing him. “Oh, really? So, Patron, you didn’t plan on killing me before?”

Rarely encountering an eminent monk with both good looks and martial skills, it was a pity that Yan Budu’s desire for conquest was quickly extinguished.

Such a decent monk—how did he end up having such a sharp tongue?

Yan Budu’s expression fluctuated, unsure of what to say. “…Forget it. Continue with your scriptures.”

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The author has something to say:

Yan Budu isn’t a normal demonic lord, but unfortunately, the eminent monk isn’t a normal eminent monk either (?

Fox Shi: I’m in trouble now → But I’m gaining time → No food or drink → But A’Ci is here. For a moment, he couldn’t tell if he was winning or losing (?

Demonic Lord Yin: ?

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 54: Blizzard

When Yin Ci released his grip, the pile of thorns grew back vigorously.

Yin Ci: “…”

Shi Jingzhi’s eyes were still red, and he struggled to appear calm. Unfortunately, the Buddha Heart Formation showed no mercy and gave him no face. Shi Jingzhi’s state of mind fluctuated like a withered willow in the wind, experiencing ups and downs. His inner demon followed suit, changing in a rather straightforward manner.

Yin Ci suddenly felt that the thorns on the ground weren’t the thorns of his inner demons, but Shi Jingzhi’s fox tail.

Demonic Lord Yin, who was usually carefree, chuckled when this thought flashed through his mind. Shi Jingzhi remained thunderstruck, his fragile expression not yet fading as it transformed into a shocked “How could you do this?”

“Do you care about me that much?” Yin Ci laughed.

Shi Jingzhi tried to muster a mixture of sorrow and heroism but encountered Yin Ci, who remained unmoved like a rock. In an instant, his emotions became feeble. He irritably withdrew his hand into his sleeve, transforming his earnest indignation into frustration.

After struggling for a moment and forcing the color back into his face, Shi Jingzhi managed to ask, “A’Ci, what do you really think about my inner demon?”

He wanted to open up proactively. Shi Jingzhi restrained the panic in his heart, silently meditating.

Yin Ci maintained his indifferent demeanor as always, but this time, he didn’t make any jokes. He answered quite seriously. “It’s growing well—full of vitality, making others envious.”

Shi Jingzhi: “…” Is it really too late to find another disciple now?

Seeing Shi Jingzhi’s uncertain expression, Yin Ci couldn’t help but suppress his laughter. “What else can I think? Love and hate are intense emotions, and it’s better to resolve them than suppress them. It’s a good thing to be able to understand.”

Shi Jingzhi and his inner demon breathed a sigh of relief, and the chaotic thorns on the ground finally settled down.

However, Yin Ci wasn’t finished yet. He added with a smile, “But Shizun’s true nature is even more adorable than I expected.”

Shi Jingzhi’s heart, which had just settled down, suddenly jumped back into his throat. After a moment, he stammered, “What nonsense are you talking about? Finding the demon lords is more important.”

But he did take his hand out of his sleeve again.

Yin Ci finished laughing and spoke seriously. “Just now, the Su and Yan duo led the demon lords, and I pursued the demonic qi to the edge of the cliff. However, I couldn’t locate their positions, which is suspicious. Your inner demon is external to your body, and it’s spread everywhere like a spider’s web. It happens to be useful in this situation.”

Shi Jingzhi caught on immediately. “Let’s go. Take me to the edge of the cliff.”

Shi Jingzhi’s inner demon was somewhat similar to Lord Bai. It wasn’t directly connected to him and didn’t affect his actions. However, the thorns were scattered all over, densely packed, and occasionally surging, making the path particularly difficult to traverse. Shi Jingzhi originally wanted to carry Lord Bai along, but the goose demon stayed by the unconscious Su Si’s side and refused to budge no matter what he said.

So he had to give up and proceed towards the edge of the cliff with Yin Ci.

The inner demon’s illusion shattered, but the blue sky remained unchanged. Mist rolled at the edge of the cliff, and the spiritual qi of Huilian Mountain floated in the air, exuding a majestic and unchanging presence.

Yin Ci stood at the edge of the cliff, furrowing his brow as he sensed the surroundings for a while. Then, he pointed in a certain direction outside the cliff and said, “The strongest demonic qi is concentrated over there, but it’s scattered and elusive.”

Shi Jingzhi understood. If it were him, he wouldn’t act recklessly by probing. Without a foothold in the void, a wrong judgment could lead to an attack by the demon lords in mid-air, resulting in an irreparable disaster.

“I’ll do it. I’ll expand the thorns to cover the nearby area.”

Yin Ci shook his head. “You’ve just developed your inner demon, and your emotions are unstable. It’s best not to exert too much effort. With my own inner demon as support, you only need to find their approximate locations.”

Yin Ci’s tone carried a natural sense of tolerance. In the past, Shi Jingzhi would inevitably question and analyze such statements. But now, he refrained from deep thought and accepted it wholeheartedly, finding it quite useful.

Shi Jingzhi took a few deep breaths. Despite his fatigue and headache, he extended over a dozen thorny branches of his inner demon towards the empty space outside the cliff. The sensation of the external body was no different from his actual body, and as soon as the thorns shot out, Shi Jingzhi felt a surge of demonic qi brushing against them.

“A’Ci, move forward thirty-five steps and left twelve steps!”

Yin Ci stopped at the edge of the cliff, and then he leaped towards the empty space outside the cliff. The Hanging Shadow Sword danced, resembling a storm, encompassing a radius of five steps. Soon, a cry of pain echoed within the gusts of the sword wind. Two demons gradually revealed themselves.

Outside the cliff, there was only empty space, without even a crooked-neck tree to lean on. Yin Ci couldn’t stay suspended in mid-air, so before the demons fully manifested, he used the shadow chains behind him to swing back.

The black fire in the headlamp didn’t flicker even a bit.

With the demon lords exposed due to the injury, the two of them could finally see their appearance.

Undoubtedly, they were the mountain guardians of Huilian. Though, including the Lord of Greed, not a single one resembled a fierce beast. On the outer side of the cliff, there was a floating and moving invisible stone platform with a bull demon and a monkey demon standing on it.

The bull demon seemed both real and illusory, appearing like a faint shadow at first glance, somewhat resembling the shadow hand on Yin Ci’s body. However, upon closer inspection, one could only see a small portion of its body that garnered attention, while the rest outside the line of sight dissipated like mist. Trying to forcibly observe would only lead to headaches and restlessness.

In short, its true form was elusive. It was likely that the demonic qi of the two demons had fragmented and become unpredictable, most likely due to this particular demon’s characteristics.

Blinded by anger and oblivious to the bigger picture, it was probably the Lord of Hatred.

The Lord of Ignorance was easier to recognize—sitting on the back of the bull demon, it had two faces growing from its left and right sides, but its four eyes were misplaced and still located on the front of its head. It stared coldly in their direction, and both of its mouths grinned, emitting low squeaks and chirps.

As soon as their traces were exposed, the two demons turned their heads and fled, disappearing into the air. This time, they didn’t use any concealment techniques—they didn’t entirely vanish but rather concealed themselves from head to toe, as if running into an invisible doorway.

Yin Ci and Shi Jingzhi exchanged glances.

Immediately, Yin Ci hugged Shi Jingzhi and leaped swiftly onto the invisible stone platform. The blood of the Demon Lords was still dripping on the platform, and upon closer inspection, it appeared as if a few drops of blood were moving freely, which was a strange sight indeed.

The floating stone platform fluttered in various directions, but Yin Ci had already memorized the location of the doorway. He tugged at the chain of shadows and looked at Shi Jingzhi. “Shizun, are you ready? If you need to rest, we can wait a little longer.”

Shi Jingzhi stared fixedly at the spot where the two demons disappeared and answered without hesitation. “Follow.”

Yin Ci snorted and leaped into the air once again.

His qinggong was much more solid than Shi Jingzhi’s. Even if the stone platform floated far away, he easily leaped into the invisible “doorway”.

Shi Jingzhi instinctively tightened his grip, and the two of them plunged into the void.

In just an instant, the daylight and mountains disappeared from view, and they fell into a cold shadow. Then, they landed solidly on the ground somewhere.

Within the darkness of the doorway, there was a secluded space. Yin Ci released his hold on Shi Jingzhi and felt around, only touching cold and rough rocks.

Beneath their feet was frozen soil, and the entrance had become a dark gray giant rock wall. It felt as if they hadn’t jumped into the empty space at the edge of the cliff, but rather fell into a narrow cave.

The cave was silent, with only a faint light coming through the distant opening. The formation here was different from the Buddha Heart Formation, and it seemed that the Lord of Hatred and Lord of Ignorance wouldn’t be trapped here; they had likely escaped long ago.

Shi Jingzhi rushed towards the cave entrance. Outside the cave, there was an expanse of vastness, with fierce winds and snow that enveloped the entire world in a white blur. He cautiously reached out his hand to touch the wind and snow outside the cave, but he only encountered emptiness.

It was the boundary of the formation.

Shi Jingzhi turned back and looked at Yin Ci behind him. The thorns that had been wrapped around his waist before were gone, and the shadow hand on Yin Ci’s body was nowhere to be seen.

He took a deep breath and decisively shared his discovery. “The inner demons have vanished. It seems we’re not inside the Buddha Heart Formation anymore. From the looks of it, someone has solidified a small formation here, and the two formations are incompatible.”

Yin Ci looked at Shi Jingzhi with some surprise and continued the conversation. “Indeed. The scale of a small formation should be the work of an individual… To be crazy enough to tamper with the Buddha Heart Formation—we only know one person capable of that.”

Shi Jingzhi leaned against the cave wall with a worried expression. “Did he have to draw spiritual qi from the Buddha Heart Formation? Couldn’t Yan Budu have left a message without resorting to that?”

“It means he wanted to convey multiple clues, which is a good thing.” Yin Ci sat down in place and stretched lazily.

The moment they stepped in, the small formation was activated. Although the formation was created by Yan Budu, it was rare that there was no trace of hostility. It was mostly safe.

Despite being an illusion, the coldness within the formation remained. It seemed to be preserving the integrity of the formation. Shi Jingzhi had lost his inner demon, but his inner force was still suppressed by the small formation. He stood there, exhaling white vapor for a while, before finally giving in and leaning towards Yin Ci.

“May I lean on you for a while? I feel a bit cold,” he politely asked.

Yin Ci looked at him, finding his act quite convincing, and promptly made some space. “No need to be so polite. Come here.”

Shi Jingzhi, exhausted from the recent development of his inner demon, leaned on Yin Ci for a while, carefully adjusting his posture, half-hanging on Yin Ci’s body. His fatigue intensified, and he became drowsy.

Yin Ci hugged him, guiding him to adjust his breathing while keeping his eyes fixed on the entrance of the cave.

Yan Budu wouldn’t be so cruel as to let them freeze to death after playing around like this.

As expected, not long after, a figure stumbled into the cave.

The person wore dark red armor, and his white fox fur was stained with blood and snow. With one arm hanging limply, he was obviously severely injured. From a distance, the red jade smoking pipe at his waist was infuriatingly familiar.

Yin Ci quickly nudged the half-asleep fox. “He’s here.”

In the short time it took to burn two sticks of incense, Shi Jingzhi’s face was buried on Yin Ci’s shoulder as fragments of dreams scattered about. Now suddenly awakened, he was momentarily dazed and almost jumped up entirely. “What? Who’s here?”

His voice wasn’t low, but Yan Budu seemed as if he hadn’t heard it.

Squinting his crimson eyes, Yan Budu tore open his clothes and skillfully tended to his wounds. After setting the broken bones, he leaned against the rock wall and let out a long breath.

At that moment, he had tied his hair into a high ponytail, and the disheveled strands touched his pale skin, exuding a hint of charm. However, this charm, when applied to Yan Budu, carried an additional sense of dangerous intentions.

Yan Budu didn’t stay calm for long. After a while, his eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he covered his mouth, unexpectedly spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci: “…” This scene looked strangely familiar.

After vomiting out the blood, Yan Budu remained expressionless. He didn’t show any surprise and simply wiped away the fresh blood with a snowball he held in his hand. Then he wrapped himself in the fox fur and attempted to rest his eyes—yet every time he rested for a moment, he would turn his head and spit out a few more mouthfuls of blood.

Yin Ci’s expression turned strange. “Does he have this condition? I’ve never heard of it.”

Shi Jingzhi also held his breath and focused. “I haven’t come across any records either. It’s possible that the Ling Sect values strength above all and doesn’t want to admit that their own Hierarch can also fall ill… Or perhaps he has been enduring it in front of others. If it were me, I could endure it when necessary too.”

Yan Budu continued to sleep and vomit, vomiting and waking up, barely regaining some color in his face. Seemingly tired of sleeping, he weakly turned his head and looked towards the snowstorm outside the cave.

After observing for a while, Shi Jingzhi started to peck at imaginary grains again. Unexpectedly, it wasn’t Yin Ci who woke him up this time, but Yan Budu.

“Now that you’re here, you might as well come in and sit.”

Yan Budu’s voice was languid, filled with a strong sense of hostility, without a hint of weakness. He turned his head and greeted the outside of the cave.

“…I mean, Venerable Kongshi, with the situation outside like this, do you still want to immediately capture me and bring me out of the mountain?”

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The author has something to say:

Yan Budu pulled a power cord from the monks’ formation, stealing electricity to power a video recorder (×

Fox Shi: What should we do? It’s so dangerous to enter the mortal world, and it’s so difficult to open up one’s heart.

Demonic Lord Yin: How cute (?

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 53: White Thorns

Shi Jingzhi suddenly felt a bit sad.

As he wandered through the world, Shi Jingzhi rarely empathized with others. Other people’s joys and sorrows felt like they were behind a veil, coming and going, and he couldn’t see them clearly. His heart was unaware of spring, and he always rushed through life, only seeing the superficial desires of people, unable to perceive their joys, anger, and sorrows.

However, in this moment, his shell was stripped away by the scene before him, causing him some genuine pain.

If the roles were reversed, would he be left behind? What about Yin Ci?

Were worldly attachments such painful things?

Su Si in the illusion of the inner demon cried in such agony, and Shi Jingzhi didn’t know if he cried for his parents’ deception or if he faintly sensed what he had truly given up.

“He never told me… He could have hidden me away back then. Why couldn’t he leave with Taiheng?” Yan Qing’s voice trembled, and his face lacked any trace of color.

Shi Jingzhi remained silent for a long time. “Even if he left with Taiheng a few days later, would you survive? …Is he willing to abandon his only playmate but not his only relative?”

In the world, there was only one person who stumbled after the carriage, telling him that it wasn’t a good place, and he shouldn’t go.

In just one sunrise and sunset, Su Si gained another relative, leaving only this one remaining relative.

The black snake hovered in mid-air with its head slightly lowered. Its killing intent weakened, and its state seemed somewhat trance-like.

Yan Qing made an effort to move in its direction and spoke with a bitter tone. “But I would rather die than become his inner demon.”

Shi Jingzhi waved his flag and blocked Yan Qing. This time, he didn’t deliberately show any gestures, but his every move exuded a leader’s aura. “Now that we have finally stabilized, don’t move for now… His inner demon might not be you.”

The two inner demons entangled, and the scene changed once again.

Su Si had grown taller, and Yan Qing’s cheeks had filled out, giving him a healthy and refreshing look. Both of them wore simple yet clean clothes, seemingly not in the village. It was dim all around, clearly night.

[Uncle Tan praised my skills today.] Su Si rolled up his sleeves, showing off his slender arms. [He said that when I grow up a bit more, he will officially take me as his apprentice. But I don’t want to learn how to butcher pigs. When I become one the Greats in the future, everyone will have pride on their faces.]

Yan Qing had a childish face, but there seemed to be wrinkles forming between his eyebrows. [First, take off your outer garment, and I’ll soak it with today’s clothes. Later, Grandma Tan will want to sleep, and I have to go wash her feet and change her clothes… Uncle Tan took us in only half a year ago, kindly letting us stay at his house. You should still restrain yourself.]

Su Si chuckled. [You don’t understand. I am a great talent who can enter Taiheng.]

[They say the earlier you start martial arts training, the better. If you really want to go, we can head to Yidu tomorrow and take a look at Taiheng.] Yan Qing hesitated for a moment before replying earnestly.

[They are hunting down Yan family members everywhere. If you really enter Taiheng, won’t you have to pretend to be blind every day? Besides, what if you can’t get in? I can’t just leave you outside. We’re still young now, a few more years won’t matter—at least until you’re old enough to take care of yourself.]

They were the same age, but Yan Qing had suffered from malnutrition for a long time. Compared to Su Si, he still looked like a six- or seven-year-old child. When Su Si hit a sore spot, Yan Qing became so angry that he burst out. [I’ll be eleven next month! When I grow up, I’ll definitely be taller than you.]

He thought for a moment and found an excellent way to retaliate. [A’Si, did you memorize today’s lesson? If you want to become one the Greats in the future, you can’t be illiterate.]

Su Si immediately whined. [Hey, little brat, you’re so young, how can you sound like an old Confucian scholar?]

Shi Jingzhi instantly realized—eleven years old; that meant it was ten years ago.

According to Yan Qing, after Yan Qing’s father died, the two of them made a pact to escape from the village. At this moment, it was the year when they relied on each other for a few years before they completely lost contact.

Seeing Yan Qing with a serious face taking out a book, Su Si’s head spun. He glanced around and held onto his coat tightly. [I have to go out tonight. There’s a market on the north side of the town, and it’s bustling.]

Yan Qing’s expression changed. [You promised me this morning that you wouldn’t go out tonight.]

[Those apricot pits you play with? San Zi, usually it’s fine, but tonight is important, so don’t worry about whether it’s auspicious or not.]

Su Si played with his money pouch, intentionally making the copper coins inside jingle. [There are many cheap things at the market. I’ll buy you some candy.]

[Don’t go or take me with you.]

[If you leave, who will take care of Grandma Tan? If she’s unhappy, Uncle Tan will get angry, and we won’t have any good things to eat.]

After a series of threats and temptations, Yan Qing still didn’t buy it, tightly gripping Su Si’s clothes. [You promised me not to go out. I have a bad feeling, really.]

[If I had known, I wouldn’t have let you pretend to be blind and play outside. I’ll definitely give that old monk who taught you fortune-telling a beating when I see him.] Su Si gritted his teeth. [Alright, alright, it’s just a few apricot pits—a little trick to fool people. Look how scared you are.]

Su Si carefully pried open Yan Qing’s fingers. [I’ll be back soon. It’s almost the Lunar New Year, and everything nearby is expensive. It’s rare to catch the market…]

Yan Qing pursed his lips, and the two of them stood in a stalemate for a while.

At that time, Su Si was a head taller than Yan Qing, and Yan Qing felt the pressure of his gaze. Under Su Si’s relaxed gaze, Yan Qing’s expression shifted from determination to hesitation and finally to a lack of confidence, as if he were wondering if he was being unreasonable.

Su Si rubbed his head forcefully, seizing the opportunity. [Stop being difficult. Be good, or else I’ll get angry.]

Yan Qing wrinkled his face and finally hesitantly let go. [Then, then come back earlier.]

After Su Si left, Yan Qing stared blankly at his own hand, slowly biting his lip.

He quickly attended to the elderly woman, helping her wash and get ready for sleep. Then he sat on the doorstep, anxiously waiting for Su Si to come back. The night gradually grew darker, but Yan Qing didn’t move from the doorstep. He stared intently at the entrance gate, tightly clutching the apricot pits, his thin fist turning pale.

At that moment, the adult version of Yan Qing by Shi Jingzhi’s side trembled, and the eyeballs in the shackles of flesh rolled wildly. Shi Jingzhi furrowed his brow slightly, as if realizing something.

That day, Su Si never returned.

Yan Qing tearfully waited through the night, waiting until morning. He searched repeatedly near the town, but he found nothing. Afraid that Su Si couldn’t find him, he obediently returned to the Tan family and waited.

Unfortunately, without Su Si, the naturally powerful helper, Butcher Tan didn’t want to keep a “blind” servant boy all by himself. Not long after, Yan Qing was kicked out of the house.

He stood there, holding his belongings, lost in thought for a long time. Finally, he turned around and walked alone towards the direction of Taiheng.

On the other side, Su Si’s inner demon filled in the missing pieces of Yan Qing’s memory—

That night, Su Si took out the majority of his savings and bought a crude longevity lock at the market. He specifically asked the merchant to wrap it in red paper and carefully put it in his pocket.

However, before he had taken a few steps, the carts and donkeys jumbled together, and the merchants clung to their goods, pushing and trampling each other. People screamed loudly, and the firelight reddened the night.

The Chigou Sect and the Ling Sect clashed nearby. Their members fought without respite, and the conflict spread all the way to the market.

After gaining the upper hand, the Chigou Sect eliminated the Ling Sect completely. While cleaning up the battlefield, one of them noticed the dazed Su Si amidst the pile of corpses. He lifted Su Si up and said, “This kid has a good face and a strong build. He’s good material for killing.”

Su Si, with his rough clothes and having rolled in the mud and blood, clearly wasn’t from a wealthy family, making him an easy target.

As he was lifted up, Su Si regained consciousness and immediately struggled with all his might. Unfortunately, the Chigou Sect wasn’t like the Taiheng Sect, and they didn’t bother with reasoning. With one slap, when Su Si opened his eyes again, he had already been taken far away, not knowing how many miles.

The surroundings grew increasingly dark, gradually losing its coherence. Horrible scenes emerged, with countless faces mocking or in agony. Colors merged into a bloody mess, and various things twisted together, forming a giant elderly face.

The elderly person looked down from above with an oppressive feeling that was suffocating.

The black snake hung its head, curling up into a ball.

Shi Jingzhi recognized that face. It was the face of Matron Wuxue. Within this uncontrollable inner demon, Matron Wuxue’s voice remained hoarse and unpleasant. [I have never been wrong about people. With your disposition, you are destined to join our Divine Sect. If you want to run, go ahead. Escaping will be considered your ability…]

The distorted inner demon scene became even more twisted, nearly reaching the point of collapse. The images constantly shifted, becoming increasingly difficult to discern—

Su Si really did escape. He trained diligently, breaking through guards time and time again, fleeing to the darkest and filthiest corners of the martial world.

But as the leading demonic sect, the Chigou Sect wasn’t to be trifled with. For every inch the righteous path rises, the demonic path follows suit*. Su Si could only evade capture for two or three months at a time before being captured again. But Matron Wuxue didn’t mind his defiance; to her, it seemed like an effective training method.

*(魔高一尺，道高一丈) It’s a proverb that means that as goodness and righteousness become stronger, evil and corruption also grow in response.

Caught, then escaped. Escaped, then caught. Su Si had been on the run for ten years, without respite.

[For so many years, haven’t you seen enough of the filthy corners of the martial world? Your foolish friend and that so-called dream of Taiheng are about to become your obsessions… Well, if you give up so easily, you don’t deserve that position…]

[Kid, you were personally chosen by me as our young Patriarch. One day, you will willingly return…]

Hearing these words, Yan Qing stood frozen in place. His inner demon was completely suppressed, while the darkness from Su Si’s side surged overwhelmingly.

On the brink of collapse within the inner demon scene, Matron Wuxue’s voice grew louder, resembling thunder above and mountains crumbling.

[In this world, there is no such thing as karmic retribution. Ultimately, good is not rewarded, and evil is not punished. Look up three feet, and you won’t find gods or spirits. Act wantonly, as you should. You should understand this better than anyone else…]

Scars were left on the human heart. In the wickedness of the world, once one experienced it firsthand, the shattered innocence and expectations could never be pieced back together.

Ten years was enough to grind a person into dust.

And in the orthodox martial world, it mostly relied on pure-hearted dedication, with an unwavering sincerity that showed no cracks. No matter how young Su Si was, he had witnessed too much malice, and uncontrollable darkness and suspicion were ingrained in his bones. He was destined to have no connection with Taiheng again.

The black snake let out a long hiss as tears of blood streamed down its scales. It suddenly went mad and slammed into the rocks, as if trying to scrape off its own scales. Unfortunately, after the frenzy, the scales remained firmly attached, and it only gained several bloody wounds.

Shi Jingzhi no longer protected Yan Qing. He looked at the gigantic face formed by countless images with a blank expression.

Bound by resentment, with no master to direct it, it devoured its own heart.

What exactly did Su Si’s “ignorance” mean? Was it an inability to distinguish between good and evil, or was it a fading of hot blood, yet still unwilling to let go of the delusion of “clear justice”, unwilling to sink into the path of evil?

Yan Qing grabbed the soil on the mountaintop with both hands. The mountaintop was littered with sharp stones, causing his ten fingers to bleed, tears streaming down his face.

The shackles of flesh finally stopped attacking Su Si. They entangled together, turning their murderous intent towards their master.

Above them were withered faces cast from the wickedness of the world, while all around them was a network of flesh shackles adorned with crimson ghostly eyes, resembling a scene from hell. Blood and tears flowed on the ground, creating a chaotic mess. Amidst the shattered cracks of the disintegrating inner demon scene, a faint hint of blue sky still shone through.

Pure and transparent, yet utterly ruthless.

Shi Jingzhi leaned on the flagpole, feeling a sudden suffocation.

“You are not his inner demon. He resents the distant heavenly mandate*.”

*Clarity: Basically, he resents fate/destiny. 

Shi Jingzhi murmured without looking at Yan Qing.

In this treacherous world, Yan Qing wasn’t Su Si’s inner demon. He was more like his last trace of innocence.

“Yan Qing, you are the opposite… What angers you is not the injustice of the heavens, but your own powerlessness.”

From the beginning until now, even though he had been involved in every twist of fate with Su Si, he couldn’t salvage anything. Ten years had passed, the world had changed, but it still retained its former appearance.

The ghost eyes of the Yan family were still detestable, and Yan Qing himself was still a rat crossing the street, barely surviving in the guise of being blind. He had entered Taiheng, the most just place in the world, but life was still an uphill battle, exhausting all his efforts in superficially embellishing peace.

His anger had ignited over a decade ago and had never extinguished. Year after year, the resentment turned inward, becoming an entrenched illness.

Upon hearing Shi Jingzhi’s words, Yan Qing wiped away his tears haphazardly and suddenly burst into laughter.

Treading on his own inner demon, he stood up unsteadily, as if losing his sense of pain. Red eyes burst open one after another under his feet, making a squelching sound like thick blood.

Yan Qing approached the severely injured black snake and gently embraced it.

The flesh shackles surrounded them from all sides, binding them together, rendering them immobile.

“In the end, birds of a feather flock together.” Yan Qing closed his eyes and embraced the snake’s body. “You and I are the same, resigned to our fate long ago, yet still unwilling… A’Si, from now on, I will accompany you.”

They were both still alive. Even if it meant struggling hopelessly, they didn’t need to continue alone.

The scales of the black snake finally loosened a bit, shedding its black scales to reveal Su Si’s bloodied upper body. The flesh shackles remained still, not retracting, but no longer attacking indiscriminately.

Shi Jingzhi sighed and slowly lowered the flagpole in his hand.

He approached the two individuals, both on the verge of death, and looked at Su Si, covered in blood, with his eyes half-closed. “Su Si, can you still hear me?”

Su Si raised his eyes and weakly nodded.

Shi Jingzhi’s face showed no expression. “Then let me ask you, if you could go back to the beginning, to the moment you first met Shi Zhongyu, would you go with her?”

Su Si hesitated for a moment, then revealed a weary smile that bordered on emptiness.

He shook his head ever so slightly, without any hesitation.

Shi Jingzhi stood in silence for a moment, then bowed respectfully to the two before him.

“Thank you both for enlightening me.”

Yin Ci, who was observing from a distance, sensed that something was amiss and approached with a swift turn. “The Lord of Hatred and the Lord of Ignorance haven’t shown themselves yet. Why did you awaken them?”

Once the inner demons were dispelled, hatred and ignorance would also vanish. Without a target, the demon lords would depart on their own. The clue left by Yan Budu would also come to naught.

“Because we no longer need them.” Shi Jingzhi turned his back to Yin Ci. His voice was somewhat stiff, as if suppressing his emotions. “They were already heavily injured. It’s better for them to rest in advance.”

Yin Ci watched that figure and keenly sensed that something was amiss. “What’s wrong with you?”

“A’Ci, I won’t ask about your inner demon. I just want to ask you one thing—why weren’t you surprised by the fact that ‘I have no inner demon’?”

Shi Jingzhi’s voice trembled slightly.

“You already saw through my situation, didn’t you?”

Before, he had thought Yin Ci was indifferent. But now it seemed that he himself was severed from the world, observing from a distance. Wasn’t he the same?

Shi Jingzhi felt a faint pain in his chest.

The inner demons had transformed, fueled by the power of the heart. Yan Qing and Su Si were already at their limits, and with their emotional knots pierced, the inner demon scene instantly collapsed. The murky fragments floated and swayed like a dark snowfall.

The Lords of Hatred and Ignorance carried Yan Budu’s spell, destabilizing people’s mental states. It was indeed a deadly path full of malice, but it could also be an opportunity for enlightenment.

In the recent inner demon scene, the cries of a child were piercing, and the despair of parting ran deep. Yet, Shi Jingzhi inexplicably felt a trace of envy.

In an instant, various scenes from his life flashed through his mind.

From the confusion, the desire to please and guard, to the swirling red leaves like butterflies in a hazy state, and the entwined hair under the starry sky, ending with the joy and indulgence on the Buddha’s head.

In the vivid whirlpool, only Shi Jingzhi stood alone in the center. His memories of the “other” were blurred.

Indeed, he wanted a disciple to experience the bonds of worldly attachments.

It could be anyone as a disciple.

As long as the purpose was achieved, he could give his care, reliance, and worries to them.

He stood high above, desiring only a taste of that slight sweetness and stopping at a surface level. Unfortunately, worldly attachments were still worldly attachments. If he was unwilling to personally stir up dust, then what was the point of worldly attachments?

After entering the formation, Shi Jingzhi had a vague sense of awareness.

His accumulated thoughts, their origins unknown, their outlets unseen, and never revealed to others. Over time, he himself couldn’t distinguish those suppressed emotions, simply regarding them all as “despair”.

In the midst of anguish and confusion, his original aspirations seemed distant and intangible. Naturally, there would be no mundane obstacles.

Yin Ci’s lack of surprise was because he saw through his true nature, right? What did Yin Ci think of such a “Master”? …Not knowing the thoughts of the other person was indeed unsettling.

The previous intimacy and apprehension were now all washed away, leaving behind an indescribable emptiness. The Lord of Greed brushed away the clouds that covered his eyes, seeking to dissipate them, revealing only an empty and suspended true self.

Perhaps it was time to take the first step.

Continuing to be alone and detached, he couldn’t give birth to an inner demon, nor could he touch deep emotions.

Shi Jingzhi turned around, looking at Yin Ci with a smile on his face as his eyes gradually turned red.

“A’Ci, you continue to search for the Lords of Hatred and Ignorance,” he said softly. “With me here now, they won’t leave.”

Yin Ci didn’t move.

Shi Jingzhi didn’t need to explain further. At the moment his words fell, countless pale thorns shot out from under his feet, spreading frantically.

The “Purifying Words” instructed him to ask the heavens and himself, not the world. Yet now, he wanted to blame the heavens and be angry at himself, intertwining love, hatred, anger, and foolishness, projecting them onto the world.

The thorns stretched out in despair, carrying the attachment of unwillingness to depart and a determination to resort to any means necessary. They entangled the mountains, the swaying “bare branches,” and the giant headlights, as if to devour everything. In an instant, the thorns climbed the distant mountains, covering the sky and the earth with their sharp tips pointing straight to the firmament.

In this moment, Shi Jingzhi’s long-standing defenses collapsed. In front of Yin Ci, he personally smashed his heart into the mortal world, leaving behind a ground filled with ordinary grievances, unwillingness, and liberation.

Like mountains covered in snow.

Unstable in his state of mind, hatred and ignorance erupted, and an inner demon was born.

Shi Jingzhi tightly grasped the thorny inner demon. The thorns cut into his palm, causing black-red blood to slowly drip.

“Go and find them quickly,” Shi Jingzhi repeated.

His complexion was pale, and his smile was unsightly. His voice trembled, with a hint of indistinct sobbing.

Yin Ci still didn’t leave.

For some reason, compared to the fleeting glimpse when he was dealing with the Lord of Greed, Shi Jingzhi’s current state, though miserable, appeared more alive—alive enough for Yin Ci to be unable to abandon him.

Yin Ci carefully crossed through the thorns, just like when his eyes were still blind, and firmly grasped Shi Jingzhi’s wrist.

“Shizun, you’ve only given birth to an inner demon; not be consumed by it.”

His actions were resolute, and his voice was calm.

“If we’re going to find them, let’s go together.”

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Kinky Thoughts:

Ah I cried… I can’t express how disappointed I am that Su Si and Yan Qing aren’t a CP. I mean common!!!

Just a note on the three Lords. Nian Zhong is (most likely) basing them on the three poisons of Buddhism (which is actually quite apt given that they are in the Buddha Heart Formation). They are:

1. Greed or Attachment: Refers to an excessive desire for material possessions, sensual pleasures, and personal gain. It involves an insatiable craving and attachment to worldly things, leading to dissatisfaction, clinging, and suffering. Greed is seen as a distortion of perception that prevents individuals from recognizing the impermanent and interconnected nature of reality.
2. Hatred or Aversion: Encompasses various negative emotions such as anger, aversion, ill-will, and resentment. It arises when we encounter situations or individuals that we perceive as unpleasant, threatening, or incompatible with our desires. Hatred causes suffering not only to others but also to oneself, as it generates internal turmoil and disrupts peace of mind.
3. Ignorance or Delusion: Is the fundamental root of the other two poisons. It refers to a lack of understanding of the true nature of reality, including the impermanence of all phenomena, the interconnectedness of life, and the absence of inherent selfhood. Ignorance leads to confusion, wrong perceptions, and mistaken views, perpetuating the cycle of suffering and preventing the attainment of enlightenment.

So while Yan Qing is actually affected by Anger (嗔), I’ve decided to translate it as Hatred following the 3 poisons (as anger is a subset of Hatred). 

Think of Greed, Hatred, and Ignorance on a more conceptual or spiritual meaning than the actual definition when applying it to what’s happening in this novel. Hope that makes sense.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 52: Hatred and Ignorance

Everything happened in an instant.

When the monster resembling the Lord of Hatred attacked, the group was walking on a cliff-side trail. The sudden change erupted in close proximity, leaving them with no room to retreat.

The air was filled with the distinct fragrance of pine trees. The dark green pine forest contrasted with the gray stone of the mountaintop, immersed in milky-white mist. On the other side, thin mist rolled beneath the cliff, blurring the view of the mountain below into a hazy blue.

What should have been a soothing and relaxing scene had now become incredibly treacherous.

Yin Ci was the first to react, feeling the “ropes” that bound him. The ropes were slippery to the touch, resembling bloody tendons, with eyeballs still wriggling on them, struggling in his palm.

It was Yan Qing who had been affected.

Yan Qing stood at the end of the group, staring blankly at his hands. His eyeball shackles squirmed wildly and shot in all directions, instantly binding everyone tightly.

Demonic qi surged from all directions, but there was no sign of the monster.

Yin Ci coldly snorted and directly broke the flesh shackles on his body. Yan Qing let out a scream, half-kneeling on the ground. A deep wound, exposing bone, appeared on his arm. His grayish-black clothes were soaked with blood, approaching a pitch-black color.

Shi Jingzhi was horrified. “A’Ci?”

“It’s better that Yan Qing got injured than the entire party getting wiped out. That goose demon didn’t give any warnings, so it probably won’t kill anyone.” Yin Ci didn’t hesitate. With a palm strike, he also broke the flesh shackles on Shi Jingzhi’s body.

This time, Yan Qing didn’t even have the strength to scream in pain. The torment inflicted by his inner demon affected him directly. He hunched over and completely sat on the trail as more blood poured out.

Shi Jingzhi: “…” He couldn’t help but feel that his disciple was getting further and further away from the word “honest”, proving Su Si’s argument that “the Kushan Sect isn’t a good group.”

However, while Yin Ci’s methods were cruel, they were also reasonable.

Shi Jingzhi threw the medicine box and decided to make up for the lost opportunity. Unexpectedly, as he approached Yan Qing, several flesh shackles shot out, causing Shi Jingzhi to stumble and nearly fall off the cliff.

Yan Qing, like a spider gone out of control, unleashed the flesh shackles like a spiderweb, attempting to bind everything around him.

“The inner demon transformed. Something’s not right!” Shi Jingzhi swallowed a mouthful of saliva and pressed himself against the rock wall. “The monk’s goal is to drive people away, but this seems… This seems like…” like an attempt to kill and silence them.

Yin Ci didn’t have time to chat with his master. The gap in experience was exposed at this moment—Yin Ci couldn’t fit through the trail with the human headlamp, so he had to climb along the cliff top above the trail. Taking advantage of his inner demon, he climbed up the shadowy rocks, grabbed a few flesh shackles, and pulled Yan Qing up to the cliff top. Lord Bai, seeing the situation wasn’t good, bit onto Yin Ci’s clothes and used the momentum to climb up as well.

Leaving the narrow environment of the trail, the trouble caused by the flesh shackles was instantly reduced by half. Shi Jingzhi stepped onto the rocks and climbed up to the cliff top. Just as he was about to catch his breath, his heart tensed up again.

Su Si hadn’t come up with them.

And until now, Su Si had been too quiet.

Even if the two of them were having a conflict, Su Si wouldn’t be so cold-blooded as to show no reaction when Yan Qing lost control. Shi Jingzhi skillfully dodged several flesh shackles and leaned over the edge of the cliff, trying to find any trace of Su Si.

A gust of black wind rose into the sky, and if Shi Jingzhi hadn’t reacted quickly enough, his head would have been bitten off by that black wind.

A giant snake climbed up to the cliff top. Its pitch-black snake pupils were devoid of emotions, and its snake tongue was a dim black color. The black snake scales were smooth, and the flesh shackles couldn’t bind it; instead, it broke a few of them.

It slithered forward, hissing, exuding complete hostility.

Shi Jingzhi took a breath. “Su Si?”

That snake tail undoubtedly belonged to Su Si. However, at this moment, this person had been completely consumed by his inner demon, devoid of rationality.

Another transformation of an inner demon.

Shi Jingzhi anxiously looked towards Yin Ci, relieved that the headlamp wasn’t moving and didn’t show any tendency to turn into a monster. When he spoke again, Shi Jingzhi’s words were filled with bitterness. “A’Ci, didn’t you say they were just having a quarrel?”

Now it seemed that quarrel had reached the level of long-standing resentment. Shi Jingzhi swung the “Medicine Cures Illness” flag, trying his best to resist the snake’s bite, but he didn’t dare to use too much force, afraid of accidentally killing someone.

Yin Ci shook off Lord Bai and leaped up lightly. He caught his own master off guard, and the two of them leaped onto the headlamp, leaving the transformed Yan Qing and Su Si behind.

“It’s not just a problem between the two of them.” After confirming that he had saved the fox, Yin Ci spoke again. “Close your eyes and sense the demonic qi.”

Shi Jingzhi, who had just been searching for people and dodging attacks, broke out in a sweat. Now that he was brought away from the battlefield by Yin Ci, he finally calmed down.

He tightly grasped Yin Ci’s wrist and closed his eyes slowly.

Seeing everyone affected and the mountain guardian no longer suppressing its aura, the demonic qi around them surged. Compared to that, the hostility of the Greed Butterflies seemed gentle to the point of being negligible. Upon closer inspection, the demonic qi was divided into two forces, with similar intensities. They exuded boundless malice and madness, yet they scattered and drifted, impossible to locate.

“This is…”

“Based on the intensity, both the Lord of Hatred and the Lord of Ignorance have come,” Yin Ci whispered. “What’s Su Si’s condition?”

“He’s been swallowed by his inner demon and turned into a snake. A’Ci, The Lords of Greed, Hatred, and Ignorance are all powerful demons. They each occupy their own territory and shouldn’t have met. This definitely isn’t the work of the monks. Otherwise, we…”

Seeing Shi Jingzhi stop halfway through his sentence, Yin Ci smirked. “Shizun, did you finally figure it out?”

Shi Jingzhi sighed. “Yan Budu.”

They had encountered that madness and malice countless times in the Ghost Tomb.

The Buddha Heart Formation wasn’t often activated, but the mountain guardians were always present. Yan Budu only instructed them to visit the Jianchen Temple, but he didn’t mention that the clue was inside the temple.

Thinking about it, the eminent monks of the Jianchen Temple weren’t just decorations. Even if Yan Budu was strong, he wouldn’t be able to leave a clue that could last for a hundred years in the temple. However, the monks weren’t tainted by greed, hatred, or ignorance, so they couldn’t see the mountain guardians. Even if they managed to see it reluctantly, it would never attract more than one at a time.

Yan Budu played his hand well by hiding the clue connected to the mountain guardians.

…But was this really a clue?

The Lord of Hatred and Lord of Ignorance had been dealt with by Yan Budu, which greatly unsettled everyone’s state of mind and caused their inner demons to transform. Now it seemed more like a trap leading people to a dead end.

Shi Jingzhi’s gaze stopped at the edge of the cliff. Yan Qing knelt on the bare cliff top while blood flowed from his body. Su Si, who had transformed into a black snake, slowly approached, not hiding his killing intent.

Shi Jingzhi was about to go down and rescue him but was stopped by Yin Ci.

“A’Ci, let go. They are members of the Kushan Sect after all—”

“Hatred begets rage, rage blinds the eyes, calamity befalls the innocent. Ignorance begets resentment, resentment engulfs the mind, devouring the self. In that case, Yan Qing has fallen into hatred, and Su Si has fallen into ignorance.”

Yin Ci’s voice remained steady, cold and unchanged.

“Even if Yan Budu made a move, it won’t change the nature of the mountain guardians. If these two can resist the transformation of their inner demons, the Lord of Hatred and Lord of Ignorance won’t be able to force them to their deaths.”

“But they don’t seem like they can resist.”

The two servants were affected, while one disciple was blinded. Seeing the sect on the verge of collapsing before his eyes, Shi Jingzhi was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

“Regardless of whether it was the mountain guardians or Yan Budu who meddled, their inner demons are more easily influenced now. If we continue to just watch like this… A’Ci?!”

Yin Ci suddenly embraced Shi Jingzhi, his five fingers running through the cool black hair, burying his nose in his master’s shoulder, and taking a deep breath.

It’s all over. The entire sect has gone mad. Shi Jingzhi stood stiffly in place as a wave of grief rose from the depths of his heart—his elder brother actually dared to complain that he was abnormal. Compared to these few, he was incredibly normal to an alarming degree.

“Don’t move. With the inner demons easily influenced now, they probably don’t discriminate in choosing their targets. This might actually be of use to me.” Yin Ci’s voice remained steady.

The situation was perilous. Shi Jingzhi’s breathing quickened slightly, and his body temperature rose even more compared to before. Yin Ci tightened his grip on the strands of hair in his hand, trying to recall that moment in front of the nest of the Greed Butterflies.

That moment when the rosy light broke through the darkness and made him forget the pain of the dark prison.

Shi Jingzhi was young, yet he could still train his mind with the Greed Butterflies and control the demonic lord. He was familiar with various techniques and had the assistance of current spells. If he couldn’t accomplish it, wouldn’t that be laughable?

A surge of enthusiasm exploded from his chest. When Yin Ci lifted his eyes again, his gaze was as cold as frost.

“The techniques of the two demons are powerful and cannot be controlled remotely. They deliberately scattered their demonic qi, probably because they didn’t want to be discovered—they must be hiding nearby. We just need to capture them.”

Shi Jingzhi immediately shook. “Your eyes?”

“Under the influence of the spell, the inner demons are more easily aggravated, but they are also easier to calm down.” Yin Ci released Shi Jingzhi and firmly fixed his current state of mind. “You and I will work together. You will protect the lives of those two, and I will search for the demon lords. How about it?”

Before Shi Jingzhi could answer, Yin Ci smiled lightly. “So this is what my inner demon looks like… No wonder Shizun knew something was wrong at first sight.”

Facing the formidable inner demon like a mountain, Yin Ci appeared unsurprised.

Shi Jingzhi had a thousand questions to ask, but the situation under the headlamp wasn’t good. If they continued to chat, Su Si would swallow Yan Qing for lunch.

He had no choice but to quickly nod and jump down.

Yan Qing was still kneeling in the same spot, with flesh shackles forming a dense web around the eyeballs. He seemed to still have consciousness and was trying to struggle to stand up. Unfortunately, he had no control over the flesh shackles, and the flesh web was like ten fingers connected to one heart. Whenever Yan Qing moved slightly, he would step on his own body, causing him excruciating pain.

Su Si, on the other hand, had completely lost his humanity. The black snake’s mouth opened wide, its sharp fangs tearing at the eyeballs, causing the murky fluid in the eyeballs to splatter with blood, worsening Yan Qing’s condition.

With Yin Ci’s assistance, Shi Jingzhi felt somewhat relieved. Using the force of his descent, he avoided dozens of entangling flesh shackles and struck the snake’s head directly. The black snake let out a painful hiss and fiercely bit back.

“Sect Master, don’t kill him!” Yan Qing desperately shouted.

“I won’t kill him. I won’t. You focus on yourself and stop throwing flesh shackles everywhere!” Shi Jingzhi dodged the black snake and spoke rapidly. “I say, you are so young yet have a broad-minded perspective. Where did you get such a grandiose spirit?”

“I…”

“You attracted the Lord of Hatred, and your brother attracted the Lord of Ignorance, which led to your current state. If you really can’t move, why not say a few comforting words to Su Si first; soothe him back into human form, and then talk—”

Yan Qing’s spirits lifted. “Will that really work?”

Shi Jingzhi: “It’s how it’s done in plays. There’s no harm in trying.”

Yan Qing’s eyes immediately dimmed, and the black snake took the opportunity to bite and crush dozens of eyeballs. In pain, the onslaught of the flesh shackles became even more frenzied, almost binding Shi Jingzhi. The inner demons of the two intensified, and the surrounding pine forests slowly shattered, making the scenery more distorted.

Shi Jingzhi: “…”

He stumbled and ran to Yin Ci’s side, back to back for defense. “Yan Qing is badly injured. Just maintaining consciousness is difficult for him. Su Si’s snake skin is extremely thick. I can’t knock him out. If I have to attack, it can only be a lethal strike.”

“Mm.” Yin Ci didn’t initiate an attack. Though he was at the center of the battle, he moved gracefully like a falling leaf, devoid of any hint of chaos. “Don’t be impatient. Let’s observe our surroundings.”

In the distorted landscape, the pine forest and the cliff disappeared together. The serene landscape transformed into an extremely ordinary, desolate mountain scene.

Shi Jingzhi: “Could this also be…”

“The two are deadlocked, and their inner demons are further transforming. The speed of their transformation is so fast, probably due to the influence of the Buddha Heart Formation. As I said, ultimately, they must resolve their inner demons themselves. You don’t need to end the battle; just force them to regain clarity.”

“I can only make them hold on for a few more hours. People all have their limits. If this situation is not resolved—”

Yin Ci answered nonchalantly, “If the cause of their inner demons is right in front of their eyes and they still can’t distinguish the importance, then we don’t need these servants. To find Yan Budu’s clue, we have to capture the Lord of Hatred and Lord of Ignorance alive.”

Shi Jingzhi’s actions froze.

He looked at Yin Ci with a hint of confusion. When his sight was restored earlier, that touch of warmth from Yin Ci didn’t seem false, and now his indifference also seemed genuine. This person seemed to have sealed himself in a thick cocoon, observing everything from a distance and making judgments based solely on reason.

As a master, was he also confined within this cold “reason”?

But this thought only lasted for a moment.

Yin Ci was right. Neither he nor Yin Ci could attract the Lord of Hatred and the Lord of Ignorance. Whether it was finding clues or saving lives, Yan Qing and Su Si had to stay alive.

Shi Jingzhi stopped by Yan Qing’s side, swiftly wielding the “Medicine Cures Illness” flag, creating a fierce whirlwind. Although he couldn’t change the course of the battle, the flesh shackles couldn’t approach his body. Shi Jingzhi rummaged through the medicine box, pouring and stuffing medicine into Yan Qing’s mouth, temporarily stopping the gushing blood.

After a while, the scenery on the mountaintop finally stabilized.

Shi Jingzhi recognized the familiar surroundings. It was a desolate mountain near Xizhuang.

Amongst the chaotic flesh shackles and the giant snake, two children appeared. One was delicate and lovely, with a tear mole at the corner of their eye. The other looked like a mummified corpse dug out from a grave, thin to the bone, with only a pair of red eyes retaining a glimmer of light.

It was Su Si and Yan Qing.

The giant snake and the flesh shackles both stopped in mid-air.

The young Su Si cooked and shredded fish, feeding it bit by bit to Yan Qing. The latter seemed like a starved ghost, eating rapidly as if trying to choke himself to death. It was winter, yet Yan Qing’s arms were exposed, covered in various bite marks and bruises.

[He didn’t give you any food? I told you. Hide the meat I gave you. Don’t give it to him.] Su Si complained while feeding Yan Qing. [You should let him starve.]

[…That’s my father. I only have my father.] Yan Qing stopped eating and said sullenly.

Su Si gnashed his teeth. Judging by his expression, he really wanted to say, “Your father is not a good person.” However, judging by the scene, this conversation had likely happened between them before. Uttering those words would probably not lead to any good outcome.

[When I leave, won’t you starve?] Su Si sighed and fed Yan Qing a bit more fish. [The food he gave you isn’t even enough to feed a cat.]

Yan Qing immediately stopped eating. He was so thin that his eye sockets appeared sunken, and his pair of red eyes looked particularly frightening. [You’re leaving?]

[I overheard it. A few days ago, someone from the village came and offered to buy me for one or two silver coins, saying they would take me to the city for a good life.]

Su Si sat on a rock, swinging his legs.

[I knew it. My parents still care about me. I eat a lot, and I can find food on my own. It’s normal for them not to care about me. You see, now that there’s a good opportunity, they still remember me and haven’t sent my brothers away.]

Yan Qing loosened his claw-like hand and furrowed his brows like a little adult. [Go to the city for a good life?]

[Yeah, something about the Nanfeng or Beifeng Pavilion. My father told me this morning that as long as I go with them, I’ll have a full meal every day.]

Yan Qing vigorously shook his head. [Don’t go. I heard from Mr. Bai that it’s—it’s not a good place.]

Su Si was stunned for a moment, showing a trace of anger. [Don’t talk nonsense. You must have misheard! Can my father deceive me?]

[I can read! I’ve also seen it before. It’s a job of the lowest class, and it will invite criticism…]

[Then tell me, what is the lowest class, and how does it invite criticism?]

Yan Qing saw his friend getting angry and became anxious, his face turning red. [I-I don’t know, but it’s not good. Books don’t lie.]

[My parents wouldn’t deceive me!] Su Si raised his voice. [You just don’t want me to go, right?]

Yan Qing grabbed Su Si’s clothes and shook his head vigorously, but he didn’t know how to refute him. Seeing Yan Qing about to cry, Su Si calmed down on his own. [When I have a good life, I will definitely come back to see you.]

[Don’t go. I beg you.]

[They’ve already given the money… Listen, I dried a lot of meat on the mountain, enough for you to eat for a year or six months. Eat it secretly. Don’t foolishly give it to your father.]

[I’m begging you.] Yan Qing repeated incessantly.

The two children’s figures suddenly disappeared.

In the next instant, the mountaintop remained the same, but the people had changed—Yan Qing packed a small bundle and followed Su Si firmly, showing signs of transforming into a human-shaped shackle. Su Si, on the other hand, changed into new clothes and walked towards the outskirts with a fat, middle-aged man.

When he saw Yan Qing, he couldn’t help but laugh and cry. [Don’t follow me. If your father finds out you skipped work, he’ll beat you when you go back.]

[I don’t care.] With a middle-aged man watching from the side, Yan Qing closed his eyes cautiously. [If you don’t stay, I’ll follow you until you agree to stay.]

[Don’t make a fuss. We’re going to take a carriage later.]

[I don’t care.]

Yan Qing straightened his small, upright back as if he had gathered all his courage, speaking slowly and deliberately.

[The place you’re going is not a good place. I’m not lying.]

The middle-aged man pulled Su Si and didn’t pay it any mind. [Alright, let’s go. Whatever he does, let him be.]

The small carriage was piled high with mountain goods. Su Si squatted among a pile of dried herbs, looking out towards the outside of the carriage. Yan Qing truly followed behind, stumbling and never stopping. After watching for a while, Su Si seemed unable to bear it and let down the curtain.

“I remember.” Yan Qing sighed beside Shi Jingzhi. “In the end, I couldn’t keep up with him. I can only follow from afar.”

“You followed all the way?” Shi Jingzhi sighed.

“Not exactly.” Yan Qing closed his eyes, and the flesh restraints around him calmed down slightly.

The conflicting scenes eventually favored the inner demon on Su Si’s side. In the next scene, only the young Su Si and the middle-aged man’s corpse remained.

That middle-aged man didn’t successfully bring him out of the mountain.

[You despicable person, how dare you offend Taiheng.] Shi Zhongyu stood with her sword hanging down as blood dripped from its tip. She looked much younger than she was in the Ghost Tomb, still appearing as a young girl. A female disciple, around fourteen or fifteen years old, hid behind her, tears still streaking on her face.

After comforting the female disciple, Shi Zhongyu turned to the frightened Su Si and her tone softened. [Do you know where he was planning to take you?]

Su Si stammered. [H-He… He told my parents he would take me to the Nanfeng Pavilion, where I would eat well.]

Shi Zhongyu patted his head, and her tone showed a hint of reluctance. [Poor child, that’s not a good place.]

Upon hearing this, Su Si’s eyes immediately reddened. He was at a loss but clenched his lips, stubbornly refusing to cry.

In the heart of a child, parents were everything. Yan Qing, who had been beaten until he was barely alive, still dared to hold onto a glimmer of hope. How many children were willing to face the collapse of heaven and earth head-on?

Seeing that he was sensible, Shi Zhongyu’s tone became even gentler. [Your physique is not bad, and your appearance seems to indicate talent. I happen to need a young attendant for my sword. Would you like to accompany me and join Taiheng?]

As the leader of the righteous path, even if it was as secluded as Xizhuang, they still knew about the Taiheng Sect.

Su Si was only seven or eight years old and hadn’t experienced such ups and downs. He stared blankly at the white-clad horses of the Taiheng Sect for a while, his soul seemingly absent. [Is it true? Can I have enough to eat if I join Taiheng?]

Shi Zhongyu chuckled. [Naturally.]

Su Si looked at the blood on Shi Zhongyu’s sword, gathered all his strength, and choked out a question, [C-Can I become one the Greats like Big Sister?]

[As long as you want to.]

Su Si’s three souls and seven spirits finally returned. He wiped his face haphazardly and gained some determination in his eyes. [Uh, yeah. I think I can help Big Sister now! The mountain road is difficult, but I know this place better than anyone else… Big Sister, why did the prestigious Taiheng Sect come to this desolate mountain?]

[To hunt down evil people.] Shi Zhongyu squatted down and draped a warm cloak over him. [Do you have any red-eyed people in your village? They’re not human; they are demons that must be eliminated.]

Although wrapped in a cloak, Su Si became even more stiff. He struggled to maintain a faint smile and put on an obedient look.

[…No.] He sniffled. [I know everyone in the village, and there are no red-eyed people.]

Su Si’s expression twisted. He was just a young boy, and Shi Zhongyu thought it was due to his recent realization of being abandoned by his parents and not being able to control his emotions. She didn’t suspect anything. [I’ll inform my master later and register your name. When we reach the Zhuangzi, I’ll also greet your parents.]

[I…]

[What is it?]

[Big Sister, I can’t go with you.] Su Si’s tone was calm, but tears kept flowing. [I have to take care of my little brother. If I’m not there to watch over him, he’ll starve to death.]

Shi Zhongyu was surprised. [You…]

[I’m going back first.] Su Si stood up.

[You can come with us—]

[No, he’s worried about me. He’s definitely still running on the mountain path.] Su Si said with a trembling voice. [When I grow up and settle him down, I will definitely go to Taiheng and become one of the Greats.]

Shi Zhongyu shook her head. [I understand you’re frightened. Follow me back to the camp for now, and tomorrow I’ll take you back on horseback, so you can return more easily… Wait, why are you running?]

Su Si threw off the warm cloak and rushed into the nearby bushes. The terrain was strange, and with just one run, he left Shi Zhongyu far behind. She had to take care of her junior sister*, so she couldn’t catch up.

*[Shimei] (师妹). Term used to refer to a girl younger than you within the same sect.

Yan Qing had been crawling and scrambling in the mountains for a day and a half, covered in bruises from falls. Just as he propped himself up with a branch, planning to continue forward, Su Si ran back.

[Taiheng is coming to arrest you. I came back using a shortcut and bought some time.]

As soon as he saw Yang Qing, he spoke hoarsely.

[Hide first. I’ll go back and inform the people in the village. They’re afraid of a bad reputation, so they’ll definitely help hide your father… Your father doesn’t have the ghost eyes, so he can hide well. Y-You must hide well.]

Yan Qing’s mind was still focused on helping Su Si escape the ordeal, and this sudden speech left him bewildered. However, seeing that Su Si had returned on his own, he simply hugged him and obediently went into hiding as instructed.

In a place where Su Si couldn’t see, his eyes were red the whole time. When Yan Qing was hidden and there was no one around, Su Si finally let out a sob and cried uncontrollably in the darkness.

In the end, he couldn’t let go of his only friend.

Perhaps the children back then couldn’t perceive it, but as they grew into adults, they became acutely aware—this matter became their inner demon, almost naturally so.

There was a moment when Shi Jingzhi couldn’t bear to turn his head and look at Yan Qing’s expression beside him.

If on that day Su Si had followed Shi Zhongyu, his suffering would have ended forever. With his innate talent as a guarantee, after more than a decade, Su Si’s position in Taiheng would undoubtedly be high.

However, on that day, he turned around and let go of the only thread of hope in his life, rushing towards an endless darkness in the future.

From then on, donning white clothes and wielding a sword, freely roaming the rivers and lakes, became an unattainable dream.

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Kinky Thoughts:

Ah, I really love Su Si and Yan Qing…

This chapter is heartbreaking in more ways than one… Because they’re actually not a CP…

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 51: Tension

After Sect Master Shi had a satisfying meal of red bean cakes, he suddenly felt uncomfortable sitting down as nails began to grow underneath his butt.

With improved cultivation and accompanied by his beloved disciple, Shi Jingzhi couldn’t waste such joyful moments. Since leaving the palace, he had never been this content—

Only the Kushan Sect knew about Yan Budu’s letter left in Yuanxian Village. Even the enigmatic figure in his memories now had a clue called “Purifying Words”. Several clues were lined up, waiting for him to unravel them one by one.

Shi Jingzhi had always been tirelessly pursuing leads all by himself. When had he ever been so prosperous?

So he boldly declared, “A’Ci, you’ve been sitting for quite a while. Let’s go. I’ll take you to relax.”

Yin Ci no longer pretended to be obedient. He stood up casually and said, “Sure.”

Shi Jingzhi grabbed Yin Ci’s hand. “Let’s go find Yan Qing and Su Si. It’s been too long.”

The two walked through the woods like beautiful characters from a painting coming to life. Unfortunately, the figures in the painting couldn’t drag along such a formidable inner demon. The human headlamp moved slowly, turning the painting of “Two Immortals Roaming the Forest” into “Two Ants Walking a Dog”.

Not far into their walk, the dog got stuck.

The human headlamp’s numerous shadow hands on its base couldn’t pass through the narrow passage. Moreover, the mountaintop was uneven, with peculiar peaks and stones. The inner demon carelessly got wedged into a small valley, unable to move forward. The valley was filled with mist, obscuring the headlamp’s light and creating the illusion of a third mountain magically emerging.

Shi Jingzhi sighed dejectedly. “The misty scenery here is quite nice. Forget it. Let’s go back the same way.”

Yin Ci then pressed a finger to Shi Jingzhi’s lips. “Shh.”

The warmth from his fingertip made Shi Jingzhi freeze in place.

He soon heard voices—Yan Qing and Su Si were on the other side of the thin fog, discussing something. He vaguely caught words like “Sect Leader” and “Kushan Sect”, igniting Shi Jingzhi’s curiosity.

After spending a long time, the two servants managed to catch a sturdy deer. Afraid of defiling the pure pond of Buddha’s head, they had to dismantle it on the spot. Oblivious to the headlamp as the mist covered their view, they didn’t notice it at all.

Su Si’s meat-cutting skills were incredibly sharp, even faster than Yin Ci’s. While separating the meat, he didn’t stop talking.

“San Zi, we still have time to descend the mountain.”

Unlike their previous teasing, Su Si’s tone was serious this time.

“Their aura is not much different from the true masters I’ve encountered. We didn’t help them much when they were attacked by Greed. Do you really want to risk your life just to carry their luggage?”

Yan Qing silently wiped the meat with snow.

“If you don’t want to leave the Kushan Sect, it’s fine for us to wait outside the mountain. They’re searching for clues on the mountain, and they might not want outsiders to know too much…”

“I understand. There’s no need to say more.”

Su Si paused cutting the meat. “What’s wrong?”

“A’Si, how about this? I’ll consult with the sect master later and send you down the mountain first. The reason you’re with the Kushan Sect now is partly because of me, right?”

Yan Qing remained as gentle as ever.

“Your inner demon is inconvenient, and I don’t want to burden you. When you get out of the mountain, you can have a good rest and just wait for us.”

Su Si completely stopped, and his expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

Seeing Su Si frown, Yan Qing quickly added, “A’Si, I’m not rejecting you. Greed, hatred, and ignorance—I want to accompany the sect master on this.”

“But based on what you said earlier, you didn’t even want to explore the Ghost Tomb, even with Taiheng protecting you.”

“The Buddha Heart Formation is completely different from the Ghost Tomb; it doesn’t have that much malice.”

“You’re not a monk. You think there’s no risk just because there’s no malice? If there’s really no risk, can you stop those demonic sects? Speaking of malice, this time they’re searching for Yan Budu’s clue, and those two deliberately let you, his descendant, follow. Who knows what plans they have.”

Seeing Su Si bristle with anger, Yan Qing wisely changed the subject and stopped talking about himself. “The Jianchen Temple has a reputation for being both upright and compassionate. Those two have matters to discuss and wouldn’t do anything excessive under the monks’ noses… Moreover, even if they’re following Yan Budu’s clues, what they seek is also the Shirou. Every sect is the same in this regard.”

Su Si sneered. “Seeking the Shirou for longevity? Let me tell you, those who are seeking it are out of their minds.”

“What do you mean?”

“Those who openly seek longevity are either the emperor or people like Yan Budu, who are wealthy and treat others as commodities. They find life too difficult and always complain. Even commoners who seek longevity also hope for a heavenly life alongside it. San Zi, ask yourself. Do you really want to live forever like that?”

Yan Qing was taken aback and slowly shook his head.

“So, if they can’t understand why they’re risking their lives for the Shirou, then that’s just foolish. If they understand and still risk their lives, then they’re like ghosts. No matter how you look at Sect Master Shi, they belong to the latter category, right?”

“His health seems to be poor. Maybe he just wants to cure his illness.”

“Who knows?”

Yan Qing gave up on further discussion. Su Si no longer pretended to have his previous childish demeanor and revealed a sharper nature. His words, combining stick and carrot, made everyone appear suspicious, like a cub with its leg caught in a trap.

“Let’s go back for now. We’ve been out for quite a while.” Yan Qing changed the topic once again.

Unexpectedly, Su Si didn’t let himself be led astray. “Let’s clarify things first.”

“What things?”

“Should we leave the mountain early?”

Yan Qing pondered for a moment and spoke firmly. “I’m not leaving. I want to gain experience. Otherwise, the next time we encounter danger, I’ll just hold you back.”

“I don’t mind you holding me back. You shouldn’t have gotten involved in this in the first place.”

“I trust my own judgment. A’Si, you’re not always right either.”

Su Si stood still for a few seconds, and his face turned pale.

Yan Qing instantly realized his mistake. “I didn’t mean that time…”

“Let’s go.”

“A’Si!”

Su Si’s voice sounded dry. “It’s fine. Since you’ve made up your mind, let’s go back.”

Not far away, Yin Ci’s head was throbbing. He couldn’t help but feel that, compared to these two immature youngsters, Sect Leader Shi was much more composed.

Even the composed Sect Leader Shi didn’t go over to greet them rashly. He stood in place for a while, then chose to take Yin Ci with him as they silently withdrew.

Half an hour later, when faced with two conflicted servants, Shi Jingzhi remained composed, observing his breath and thoughts with a serene expression on his face, pretending to know nothing.

Yin Ci finally understood the character of this person. Whenever he encountered unfamiliar people, Shi Jingzhi would spin one set of words after another. But when it came to the people around him, he couldn’t bring himself to be stern and was more cautious than anyone else.

Sure enough, seeing Su Si and Yan Qing silent for a long time, Shi Jingzhi roasted the deer meat while leisurely approaching Yin Ci. “A’Ci, those two…”

Yin Ci: “…Don’t worry about them.”

These two youngsters were still just immature, awkward in expressing their emotions. It was fine to let them be awkward. Shi Jingzhi himself didn’t feel quite right at the moment, so interfering would only make things more complicated.

Unexpectedly, Fox Shi pondered for a while and spoke more seriously. “Yan Qing has a positive attitude, which is a good thing. When you have the chance, teach him a few moves regarding the use of inner force. You can convey it on my behalf.”

“You can do it yourself.” With no one around, Yin Ci couldn’t be bothered to even call him “Shizun”.

Shi Jingzhi’s tone suddenly turned stern. “A’Ci, I said I would only take you as my disciple, so I will only take you. If I start teaching Yan Qing too, wouldn’t that break the rules?”

With that said, he tore the roasted deer meat in half, giving one portion to Yin Ci. The deer meat was cooked ordinary and was nothing special compared to previous meals.

However, the temperature was just right, which made Yin Ci think that his cheap master had paid attention to it.

Yin Ci chewed the meat and couldn’t help but soften his tone as he remembered the fleeting glance from earlier in the day. “Well, it’s not impossible. We’ll do it when we have the chance.”

Shi Jingzhi’s smile was full of gratitude. “Thank you.”

After saying that, he didn’t leave. He remained sitting next to Yin Ci, leaning against him. In the past, he would restrain his reliance on his disciple due to their master-disciple relationship. But now, without any concerns, he relaxed openly, like a tired bird finding its first branch.

Yin Ci took another bite of meat, hiding a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. The person beside him was warm, occasionally shifting, like a wild animal that wanted to get closer but couldn’t find a way.

This journey was even more interesting than he had anticipated.

“Greed, hatred, and ignorance are nothing to fear.” Shi Jingzhi leaned against Yin Ci and spoke with a voice carrying a hint of drowsiness. “Hatred leads to impulsiveness, and ignorance leads to an inability to distinguish good from evil. A’Ci, you are indifferent, and Yan Qing is honest. Su Si might fall to ‘ignorance’, so let’s help him when the time comes. Perhaps then he won’t keep wanting to run away every now and then…”

After saying that, he suddenly awakened, alarmed. “A’Ci, do you think these two quarreling kids might attract the Lord of Hatred?”

“No, there are four of us in total, and Greed is only attached to you with your ‘object obsession’. Ordinary people’s emotions, such as joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, aren’t strong enough to disturb the monsters. To attract the Lord of Hatred, there needs to be years of accumulated resentment.”

As Yin Ci spoke, he suddenly felt regretful—if time could go back two hundred years, he would at least be able to lure out the Lord of Hatred and see its appearance.

Unfortunately, now all his love and hatred were buried under thick ashes, unable to stir up even the slightest ripple.

“Very well, very well. It seems the descent from the mountain will be easier.” Shi Jingzhi breathed a sigh of relief after Yin Ci’s explanation.

It turned out that while Shi Jingzhi was adept at understanding people’s desires, he wasn’t very skilled at judging other emotions.

The next day, the four finally crossed the outermost range of mountains and headed towards the middle-level peak. Su Si and Yan Qing still maintained a faint standoff—although they hadn’t fallen out completely, they were extremely polite to each other, lacking the closeness they once had.

Su Si had always been intense in his emotions and had a somewhat dark side, but his temperament came and went quickly. In the past, Yan Qing would have gone up to coax his brother. However, this time, Yan Qing remained silent with a tense face, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Perhaps it was because he was certain that he couldn’t fall into hatred, and with the Lord of Greed behind them, Shi Jingzhi no longer had his hesitating demeanor. The group from the Kushan Sect moved quickly, reaching the mountaintop in less than half a day. It seemed they were about to pass through this trial without any major difficulties—

But the Lord of Hatred arrived.

Unlike the boisterous Lord of Greed, its presence couldn’t be seen even after the group was bound in place.

---

The author has something to say:

Upon careful thought, the three Lords of Greed, Hatred, and Ignorance might not be the guardians of the mountains but are more like skinning knives.

Under the skinning knife, no one can escape (?

Although San Zi may night not be considered on onion _(:з」∠)

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 50: In an Instant

The Greedy Butterflies dispersed, and Shi Jingzhi managed to remain standing.

He stubbornly supported his spine, still with a few Greed Butterflies perched on his head. Sensing his precarious state, Yin Ci furrowed his brow and tightened his embrace.

There was more than one mountain in the Huilian Mountain Range. The Jianchen Temple was nestled among the three slightly lower peaks surrounding the main peak of Huilian Mountain. Because of the layered structure of three outer layers, the mountain range was named Huilian*.

*Clarity: [Hui] (回) means circles, return, revolve, among other meanings, while [lian] ( 莲) means lotus. Basically, the mountain range has three lower peaks that surrounds (revolves/circle around) the main peak making it look like a lotus, giving the mountain its name.

The group was climbing the outermost and lowest peak, clearly guarded by the Greed Butterflies. Shi Jingzhi’s condition had finally stabilized, and they should leave this area immediately to prevent another attack.

Su Si and Yan Qing were still able to move, and if they mustered their strength and hurried, they might be able to escape before sunset.

Yin Ci made a prompt decision. “I’ll carry you on my back, and we’ll leave first.”

But Shi Jingzhi didn’t budge.

“No need. It’s fine here. Let’s rest here.”

Shi Jingzhi’s voice was unusually calm. He tried to stand straight and gently squeezed Yin Ci’s hand as if to reassure him. “Besides, if I collapse like this, who will lead you?”

Rest here? In front of the Greed Butterflies’ nest?

Yin Ci chuckled. “Shizun, a person’s state of mind is not constant. Your qi was desolate just now, and you don’t seem like someone who has shattered their own vows. Your condition is also unstable. If you get lost in your thoughts again, the Greed Butterflies will build their nest on your head… With this cycle repeating, we won’t be able to leave.”

Shi Jingzhi’s myriad of desires were only temporarily soothed and calmed, not disappeared completely. Moreover, this time his tranquility technique had borrowed external assistance, so it was impossible to maintain it for long.

Shi Jingzhi didn’t immediately respond.

He first released his embrace, took a step back, and gently placed his hand on Yin Ci’s face, as if trying to use touch to replace sight. “Are you not injured? I remember hitting you several times.”

“I managed to evade most of the attacks and didn’t suffer serious injuries. Shizun, your consciousness was blurred. Perhaps you remembered incorrectly.” Was this person trying to change the subject? Yin Ci’s face couldn’t help but darken.

Shi Jingzhi furrowed his brow and looked at his disciple up and down. Yin Ci’s clothes had several damaged areas, but there were no obvious wounds or bloodstains on his body.

After a moment of silence, Shi Jingzhi changed the topic. “…A’Ci, that technique is quite useful. Where did you learn it?”

“That technique is called ‘Purifying Words*’, an adaptation of the Buddhist scriptures. It can be considered a somewhat esoteric technique for calming the mind. It was taught by my family, and it may have been passed down outside as well.”

*[Wu Chen Yan] (无尘言) Lit. means words without dust. It suggests that the words spoken are free from mundane or worldly contamination, making them untainted by worldly desires, attachments, or impurities.

This was indeed not a lie.

The adaptation was true, and its circulation was also true. In order to counter the state of losing control, Yin Ci tried many mental techniques, among which “Purifying Words” was particularly effective.

However, the version he used for Shi Jingzhi was his personal adaptation—back then, to teach the Little Mute, Yin Ci modified the originally stern and imposing mental technique to make it gentler and more soothing, specifically targeting the conflicting desires.

“Purifying Words” didn’t bring any benefits to martial arts practice, and there were countless calming techniques in the world. It wasn’t a cure-all. It had been passed down in an ordinary and vague manner for hundreds of years, giving rise to numerous versions, making its origin difficult to trace.

Indeed, Shi Jingzhi didn’t pursue further questions. He just planted the “Medicine Cures Illness” flag into the ground, as if he intended to set up camp right there. “My state wasn’t good earlier, and I didn’t memorize all the acupoints. A’Ci, please teach me the method again in detail.”

Yin Ci: “…”

Yin Ci: “Shizun, let’s find another place to learn. It’s not urgent.”

Shi Jingzhi remained silent for a long time, then sighed lightly. “To be honest, I have been running away all along.”

“What do you mean?”

“Since I became conscious, I have been running away. It doesn’t matter how unsightly I look; I take one step forward at a time, simply seeking to get by… Now that A’Ci is by my side, I feel at ease. Suddenly, I think it wouldn’t be bad to walk forward righteously.”

Shi Jingzhi’s voice was close, weak in tone, but with a hint of a smile.

“I have lost control in the Ghost Tomb before, and I have lost control in the forbidden area as well. Perhaps I could get through with a momentary burst of power, but as you know, A’Ci, relying solely on undisciplined brute force, I would definitely be no match for true masters.”

“I don’t want to run away anymore. All desires in the world are thoughts in my mind, and I must fully control them. Now it seems that there is nothing more effective than using the Greed Butterflies for training.”

“A’Ci, teach me, okay?”

Yin Ci didn’t know what to say for a moment.

The reason why Greedy Butterflies were difficult to deal with lay in their nature of pursuing hope and indulging in pleasure. The more realistic the dreams, the more desperate one became upon waking up. If it was repeated over and over again, the contrast would be enough to drive a person insane.

Not to mention that Shi Jingzhi had “object addiction”. Even ordinary people sought solace in alcohol, pursuing momentary illusions and release. Even Yin Ci himself was eager to move forward and escape from the darkness before him.

Yet this person firmly held his hand and said with a smile that he wanted to stay.

To face the deepest fear and despair, to shape the heart with thousands of arrows piercing through.

“Rest for a moment and listen to the opinions of Yan Qing and Su Si.”

Perhaps it was disagreement, or perhaps it was out of sympathy. Yin Ci instinctively avoided this topic.

Indeed, not long after Shi Jingzhi sat down, the Greed Butterflies showed signs of approaching again. Yan Qing was on guard against them, heating the flatbread from his backpack and brewing tea with snow water. The four of them managed to have a meal together.

Yan Qing and Su Si were unusually quiet. Yin Ci couldn’t see the expressions of these two servants, but the solemn atmosphere permeated through the darkness, chilling the air, even making the food feel colder.

“Has Sect Master Shi ever had contact with the Immortal Sect?” Su Si finally asked with a heavy heart, halfway through biting the flatbread.

Shi Jingzhi was somewhat surprised. “The Immortal Sect? Are you referring to the Mishan Sect?”

The Mishan Sect was the only “Immortal Sect” recognized by the martial world. While the people of this sect may dress elegantly, their association with “ascending to immortality” wasn’t significant. Compared to other sects, the Mishan Sect excelled in exorcizing demons, creating formations, and crafting weapons. Among them, there were also masters who had tasted immortal wine. Over time, people started calling them the “Immortal Sect”.

Most of the extraordinary formation techniques circulating in the martial world were created by the Mishan Sect, and the remaining few were adaptations from the Mishan Sect’s techniques. This path was profound, and it took ten to twenty years to achieve any accomplishment. There was a saying that you can’t have both the fish and the bear paw*. Martial artists worshiped strength and were unwilling to waste time on such things.

*(鱼与熊掌不可兼得) Idiom referring to you can’t be greedy when faced with two desirable but mutually exclusive options. You have to make a choice between the two and can’t have both. (AKA you can’t have your cake and eat it too). 

As a result, the Mishan Sect became a distinct faction, clearly separated from other martial sects, truly deserving the title of the “Immortal Sect”.

However, the Mishan Sect was located in the far north of Great Yun, in an extremely remote location. Its disciples liked to feign profundity and appear mysterious, so ordinary people rarely encountered them.

Shi Jingzhi racked his brains but couldn’t figure out when he had any dealings with the people from the Immortal Sect. The only one who remained elusive in his memory was that person in black.

After the dispersal of the Greed Butterflies, Shi Jingzhi kept trying to recall. However, memories were like shifting sands, uncontrollably slipping through his fingers and sinking into darkness.

Yin Ci wasn’t wrong; he hadn’t overcome his own desires.

He still couldn’t remember the person’s face or their voice. But he knew how that person smiled at him and how gentle their gaze was. That vague figure was hidden deep in his memories, casting a faint shadow over his true self, making it impossible for him to see through it.

Could that person be from the Immortal Sect? Was it that person who tampered with his memories?

With all his thoughts, Shi Jingzhi continued to conceal them, smiling as he replied, “I have never seen anyone from the Mishan Sect. Why are you suddenly asking about this?”

“When Sect Master used your techniques earlier, there was a heavenly and earthly qi. I thought it might be some kind of technique and couldn’t help but think of the Immortal Sect… I was overthinking.” Su Si followed with a forced smile.

“Uh.” Shi Jingzhi didn’t pursue further. “If you two are uncomfortable staying here, go around and explore the surroundings. Remember to bring back some meat and use the dried rations sparingly from the bag.”

Su Si was taken aback. “Aren’t we leaving?”

Shi Jingzhi: “You two don’t attract the Greed Butterflies much, so there shouldn’t be any issues. I can’t swallow this anger, so I intend to have another confrontation with them.”

Su Si choked on the spot. After a while, he lowered his voice and leaned closer, saying, “San Zi, this Kushan Sect…”

Yan Qing: “…Let’s not talk about it. I understand.”

He stood up and casually lifted Su Si. “Sect Master, I’m going hunting with A’Si.”

Shi Jingzhi nodded approvingly, and several dozen more Greed Butterflies landed on his head, resembling a hat adorned with the radiance of spring.

The sunlight was radiant, and the mountain breeze was pure as snow. The pond water was clear, and the koi fish leisurely swam.

Only two people remained in front of the pond.

Seeing that Shi Jingzhi had made up his mind not to leave, Yin Ci sighed. “Aren’t you going to ask Su Si?”

Shi Jingzhi confidently replied, “I know he definitely saw something just now. What if I press him too hard and he runs away? Su Si knows what’s important. When the time comes, he will speak for himself.”

“You didn’t ask me because of that too?” Even with the name of a descendant of the Su family supporting him, during their previous battle, his imposing demeanor, unlike that of an ordinary young man, was enough for Shi Jingzhi to sense something was amiss.

“A’Ci is different.”

Shi Jingzhi’s smile grew stronger.

“Even if you are the King Yan of the underworld, accompanying me until now, I have no regrets. Since there are no regrets, why bother getting to the bottom of it?”

Yin Ci tightened his fingers, holding back all the considerations and probes.

Shi Jingzhi had changed.

Compared to the scattered state when they first met, Yin Ci vaguely sensed the contours of a person. ‘It’s such a pity,’ he thought. With his eyes shrouded in darkness, he couldn’t see Shi Jingzhi’s eyes.

“Alright, I’ll teach you the ‘Purifying Words’. This time, I won’t help you. You can only rely on partial acupoints, achieving half the result with twice the effort. Have you made up your mind?”

“Mm.”

……

The sunlight slowly crawled across their bodies, and Yin Ci could discern the passage of time. Besides that, he could only hear the rustling of clothes, the footsteps on water and stone, and the faint trembling of butterfly wings. Shi Jingzhi was using all his qinggong and inner force to confront the swarm of Greed Butterflies.

This time, he wouldn’t intervene, Yin Ci thought. Since Shi Jingzhi was willing to endure hardships, he had to learn to bear the consequences.

Yin Ci sat on a stone platform with Shi Jingzhi’s flag placed beside him. The flagpole felt smooth and warm to the touch under the sunlight. On the other side, there was a teapot and sweet cakes, and Shi Jingzhi even prepared a cushion for him. Flames flickered nearby, and he didn’t feel the least bit cold.

These items seemed to form a peculiar little formation. The scent of incense lingered around him, and even the darkness in front of him no longer felt heavy.

Unfortunately, it was too far away, and Yin Ci couldn’t sense the subtle air currents or know the progress of the battle.

How is his cheap master doing? Has his mind been broken by the ever-changing desires, or is he still struggling?

How wonderful it would be to catch just a glimpse.

Finally, the surrounding temperature gradually dropped, and the distinctive chill of the night spread across the ground. From noon until sunset, several hours passed slowly. At this moment, the evening glow of the setting sun should have bathed the mountains and fields.

The sound of clothes rustling ceased, and for the first time in those several hours, Shi Jingzhi stopped moving.

Yin Ci twitched in place, instinctively trying to stand up. However, the accumulated coldness of centuries held him in place, anchoring him to the spot.

“Shizun?” After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke up.

…He really wanted to catch a glimpse.

In just an instant, he cast aside the suffocation brought by the darkness. The Greed Butterflies perched on Yin Ci’s hair fluttered their wings.

Before Shi Jingzhi could respond, the Buddha Heart Formation provided him with an answer. For some reason, in that fleeting moment, the darkness before Yin Ci’s eyes suddenly dissipated.

Sure enough, the sun was setting in the west, casting its radiant glow everywhere.

The small pond reflected the evening sky, resembling molten gold. The Buddha’s head in the center of the pond had slightly closed eyes, exuding a tranquil and compassionate aura. The pure white stone statue had been tinged with a deep blue by the night, adorned with a golden-red border, adding a touch of solemnity out of thin air.

Shi Jingzhi was standing atop the Buddha’s head.

This time, his head wasn’t covered by Greed Butterflies.

All the butterflies flew in the air, forming a few clusters of thin clouds around Shi Jingzhi, obediently flowing with his movements. The evening sun was vibrant, and the evening glow was brilliant. The swarm of butterflies danced in this beautiful world, resembling sparks flying in flames.

Like scattered red leaves in deep autumn.

Hearing Yin Ci’s call, Shi Jingzhi turned his head. A radiant smile graced his face as his long hair swayed in the breeze, the tips tousled by a dozen fluttering butterflies. His gray-white clothes were covered in the red glow, turning into a warm and cozy shade of red.

Yin Ci finally saw the other person’s eyes clearly. They were filled with joy and contentment, free from any shadows, brimming with vitality.

Just like this noisy world, burning and crashing into his vision.

Yin Ci didn’t know how long this brightness would last. He should have looked around—at least turned around to see what kind of inner demon was behind him.

But Yin Ci couldn’t turn back. His throat felt slightly sore, and his gaze was fixed firmly on the other person.

‘So, this is how it is,’ he thought.

At the moment his heart was set free, everything in front of him was once again enveloped in darkness. Yin Ci lowered his eyes, unable to see the terrifying inner demon as big as a mountain behind him.

Shi Jingzhi remained completely unaware.

He had been floating in despair and pain for most of the day, but he finally learned to gather his desires and firmly hold onto that madness. Although they would still cause him immense suffering and sleepless nights, they could no longer take away his mental state.

The turbid sea of desires sank to the bottom, peacefully resting in the clear waters of his mind. They rose and fell with his thoughts, and the Greed Butterflies had no power over him.

Considering it was a small progress, Shi Jingzhi was quite satisfied. Upon hearing his disciple’s call, he turned his head with a smile, stepping lightly on the gentle breeze, and quickly appeared in front of Yin Ci.

“A’Ci, you’ve made a great achievement. That mantra is truly effective. I can finally get rid of those butterflies! I thought it would take two or three days.” He patted Yin Ci’s shoulder, feeling content. “We’ll rest here for one more night and then continue our journey.”

Yin Ci remained silent.

“A’Ci?”

“…It’s nothing. Congratulations, Shizun.”

Yin Ci displayed a smile—a smile that hadn’t been calculated but came completely from his heart.

Perhaps he truly was an evil entity from the abyss, but he would never become King Yan that sought lives.

He wanted this person to live a good life.

This time, it was Shi Jingzhi who stood frozen in place. He looked at this unfamiliar smile, and the overwhelming qi that had shaken the heavens and earth vanished in an instant. A slight uneasiness began to grow in his chest.

Shi Jingzhi cleared his throat and turned around. “I’ll heat up a few red bean cakes… A’Ci, how many do you want?”

At the same time, in Yidu.

The Imperial Preceptor, Jiang Youyue, was practicing calligraphy when suddenly there was a light tapping sound behind him. He paused and looked up, only to see a bonsai on the shrine trembling slightly, blooming a few tiny flowers.

“Interesting.”

His finger traced over the flower buds.

“Even though ‘desire’ has been sealed, it still wants to break free, huh? …Master, you truly didn’t misjudge him. That kid surname Shi is bound to have great potential.”

“He has only recently left the palace yet already made such progress. His little disciple is probably not unrelated to this.”

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The author has something to say:

The fox really has a growth system ☆-∑(>ω0)b

Considering his growth environment, it’s unreasonable for him to be able to suppress the 300-year-old Demonic Lord Yin right from the start…

Demonic Lord Yin: With so many versions of “Purifying Words”, you can just make it up.

Fox Shi: Understood. It’s so precise, you can’t escape from this matter.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 49: Tyrant

In an instant, Yin Ci considered many backup plans.

For example, first taking everyone to escape, then asking someone else to lead him to the Jianchen Temple. As long as he provided enough reward, finding an ignorant and innocent child who didn’t understand greed, hatred, and ignorance or an old person with weak desires shouldn’t be difficult.

However, the thought of getting close to a stranger made Yin Ci uncomfortable all over. On the other hand, if the monks saw that his sect leader was trapped outside the mountain, they would most likely become suspicious of anyone from the Kushan Sect. They were all eminent monks with observant eyes, so it wouldn’t be easy for him to ask freely while pretending to be a disciple.

Yin Ci lowered his eyes.

If he thought about it to the extreme, this matter wasn’t entirely without a solution. But he instinctively resisted further contemplation. Having lived for so long, Yin Ci no longer deceived himself.

…He didn’t want to give up on Shi Jingzhi.

Shi Jingzhi’s hand trembled, as if wrapped in the cold wind of the previous night. Even if he had attacked while deeply dreaming, Shi Jingzhi still held his other hand vaguely, as if searching for his disciple’s hand.

I won’t let you down.

Very well.

Yin Ci released Shi Jingzhi, and the empty darkness once again engulfed him. This time, he didn’t panic; instead, a smile appeared on his face. All the worries were gone, and he would cut through the tangled mess with a sharp blade.

If Yan Qing and Su Si dared to leak any information, he would kill them. At least for today, he wouldn’t give up on Shi Jingzhi.

He was offered a wooden peach and would repay with precious jade*. Time stretched on, and he almost forgot this feeling.

*This line comes from a famous Chinese poem “Papaya” from the Book of Songs by Wei Fang. The idea conveyed is of reciprocation and the appreciation of generosity. In this case, Yin Ci was offered a humble gift (Shi Jingzhi’s affection of sorts) and would repay in extravagance (revealing part of his true power to save Shi Jingzhi’s life).

Yin Ci tightly grasped the Hanging Shadow Sword but didn’t draw it. He slowly unleashed his qi, and the heavy bloodthirst instantly enveloped the entire scene, causing even the Greedy Butterflies in the air to pause for a moment.

The qi was mixed but clear. Under the overwhelming bloodlust, Yan Qing and Su Si didn’t dare to move. Shi Jingzhi, who was stumbling down the mountain, halted his steps and turned around.

A familiar sense of oppression emanated from Shi Jingzhi, meeting Yin Ci’s killing intent head-on. Compared to the time in Yuanxian Village, there was a hint of childlike grievance in this aura.

The two forces clashed, shaking the earth, rippling the scales on the lake’s surface, and startling countless birds in the forest.

“Shi Jingzhi, I don’t like disturbing peaceful dreams. I’m only taking you up the mountain, so endure it for now.”

When they came out of the Ghost Tomb, Shi Jingzhi had bought him a scabbard made of ambergris wood. Ambergris wood carried a faint, soothing fragrance that could calm the mind. Yin Ci knew that the fox had a sharp nose, and this scabbard probably acted as an invisible rope, serving as a marker to find his disciple.

Using it at this moment turned out to be a fortuitous move.

The scabbard swiftly scraped against the ground, colliding with rocks, creating sparks. The precious ambergris wood ignited, emitting a thick aroma. Shi Jingzhi’s movement paused, and Yin Ci soared up with the wind.

Yin Ci lightly tapped Shi Jingzhi’s shoulder with the scabbard, hitting three vital acupoints: qinghui, renshen, and yijing*.

*Clarity: As far as I can tell, these are not actual acupoints and are just made up by the author.

“Converge your desires and calm your mind! Let your true qi flow slowly!” Yin Ci sternly commanded, with a tone full of authority as someone in a superior position.

This was one of the Buddhist martial arts techniques derived from staff training. This method could eliminate distractions, guide one’s true nature, and help individuals face their own hearts directly, removing worldly influences and diminishing desires. Shi Jingzhi, being exceptionally talented and not burdened by inner demons, would naturally find ways to restrain his desires.

That was what Yin Ci originally thought.

As the saying goes, even the wisest can make mistakes. Shi Jingzhi indeed revealed his true nature.

However, this nature was like a collapsing mountain and a boiling sea.

The madness beneath the Ghost Tomb that day suddenly magnified a thousandfold. Shi Jingzhi’s momentum surged, nearly devouring Yin Ci’s robust qi.

The force felt like a roaring mountain and a raging tsunami, and a premonition of destruction swept over Yin Ci’s spine like a needle. After a moment of shock, Yin Ci not only didn’t retreat, but his cold blood slowly ignited.

Shi Jingzhi stood still in place with his hands hanging unnaturally. His cotton outer garment had long been blown away by the wind, leaving only a thin gray robe. Now, his robe fluttered in the wind with his ink-black hair, while the butterflies on his head remained eerily motionless.

No fear, no restraint.

The previous trembling Shi Jingzhi seemed like a mere shell. Now, that shell had completely shattered, revealing an overwhelming torrent inside.

Yin Ci had witnessed this madness before.

In the history of Great Yun, there was a notorious tyrant who ruled for only a year. In a short span of a dozen months, that person plunged the world into war, causing the people to suffer. Yin Ci had seen that person riding in a golden chariot. Its golden wheels crushed decaying corpses and scorched the land, grinding countless pleading and cursing hands beneath the rumbling of the wheels.

The tyrant laughed heartily, wearing his yellow robe in the wind.

That young emperor, whose appearance was as divine as an immortal, had lost his sanity and fallen into madness. That madness was like a sticky vortex, engulfing all living beings around him and crushing any resistance.

At that time, Yin Ci descended from the sky and stopped in front of the golden chariot, slashing the tyrant’s throat with his sword. Blood splattered on the golden relief, and as the person died, their face still bore a mad smile, disdainful of the heavens and the earth.

In terms of strength, the tyrant was far inferior to Shi Jingzhi, but their madness was equally terrifying.

However, at this moment, Shi Jingzhi’s madness had no origin and no target; it simply lingered in the air. Yin Ci faced the catastrophic momentum head-on, tearing open a path with his own strength and advancing once again.

He could still continue.

This set of techniques emphasized calming the mind. It was harmless to others, and yet the Greed Butterflies had already shown a negative response. Now that things had come to this point, it would be a waste to give up halfway. It was better to wait until the smoke and dust settled, until the snow melted away, and see what his master would be like.

The scent of the scabbard became stronger as it struck several major acupoints on Shi Jingzhi’s waist, thighs, and the back of his neck. Shi Jingzhi, like a skillfully reacting puppet, adhered smoothly, as if it were an integral part of him. Yin Ci’s strikes broke several of his ribs in succession, leaving behind extensive bruising.

Amidst intense pain, Yin Ci’s voice didn’t tremble. “All gods become one, winds calm, rain stills.”

Shi Jingzhi’s momentum grew even stronger, but his aura was like a fire without a source, burning and dispersing in an even more peculiar manner. His hands seemed guided by a divine will, and although he had lost his inner force, each move seemed to resonate with the heavens and the earth.

Relying on the flow of energy, Yin Ci narrowly evaded, with the wind blades causing a few lacerations on his side.

Perhaps due to the inability to see, there was a fleeting moment where Shi Jingzhi seemed to merge with the heavens and the earth.

Yin Ci didn’t cease his movements. If confronting the opponent head-on was futile, then he would use softness to overcome hardness. He tried to soften his actions, transforming the sharp hostility into a gentle drizzle, so as not to further agitate the irrational Shi Jingzhi.

“Ask the heavens, ask oneself, but don’t ask the world.”

The scented scabbard struck again. This time, targeting the upper arm, chest, forehead, and lower back. The movements became increasingly gentle, akin to the touch between lovers.

Shi Jingzhi attacked while retreating, as if something within him struggled and resisted the process of “clearing the mind”. Unfortunately, Yin Ci’s headlamp presence was like a mountain, leaving Shi Jingzhi with no room to retreat. As soon as he collided with that immense inner demon, he was bound in place by countless shadowy hands.

“Sweep away the dust and let the myriad of thoughts be calm.”

With the completion of Yin Ci’s response, Shi Jingzhi’s momentum instantly froze.

The dancing butterflies fluttered away from his head, revealing a teary eye. Yin Ci couldn’t see this sight, but the overwhelming sorrow and confusion replaced the oppressive aura, dispersing with the scattering butterflies, pricking his skin like needles.

Shi Jingzhi finally broke free.

However, desires gathered and dreams shattered. The intensity of his longing was matched by the weight of despair.

And Yin Ci was most familiar with this despair. Withdrawing the scabbard, he unilaterally altered the final step of the technique—

Instead of issuing a forceful command, Yin Ci grabbed Shi Jingzhi’s hand and pulled him directly into his embrace.

“Shh.” He coaxed like one would comfort a child. “Don’t think about anything. It’s all over.”

Shi Jingzhi closed his eyes, and the waves of emotions finally receded, leaving behind a heart full of ruins.

Initially hindered in his steps, Shi Jingzhi felt angry—countless desires wrapped around him like cocoons. All fears and anxieties were shut out, and he didn’t want to move at all, only wanting to continue forward in that ease.

He had never felt so at peace since birth.

Why disturb him?

Wasn’t he deserving of this moment of tranquility?

“Converge your desires, calm your mind. Let true qi flow slowly. All gods become one, winds calm, rain stills.”

Someone unknown employed a demonic technique, gradually peeling away layer after layer of his desires. In that fleeting moment, Shi Jingzhi wished to destroy the heavens and the earth, to kill every living creature that took breath, just to have a moment of quiet around him.

…But why could he hear these things?

The familiar headache resurfaced, and within the colorful illusions, a red leaf drifted slowly.

Compared to the overly vibrant colors, that red leaf appeared dull. It was like a sharp blade, slicing through his heart.

[Little brat, coming to a place like this. Are you seeking death?]

Shi Jingzhi saw a person dressed in black—a figure with disheveled ink-black hair and half-unfastened black clothing. Leaning against a giant tiger demon, he appeared relaxed, reclining with several empty wine jars strewn haphazardly. The tiger demon had its six eyes closed, peacefully napping on the ground. The person and the tiger leaned against a massive maple tree, surrounded by scattered white bones stained with fresh blood.

It was deep autumn, and the ground was covered in red leaves. Bathed in the lingering rays of the setting sun, the entire world seemed to radiate.

In his memories, Shi Jingzhi couldn’t clearly see the person’s face, but he remembered the scent of blood-soaked alcohol emanating from him.

Just the recollection of this scene caused his head to ache unbearably.

It felt as if countless voices were questioning him. What do you seek in life? If you seek to live, what is it that you seek in the remaining years?

This person intruded into his mind without reason, undoubtedly connected in countless ways to his “wish”. Shi Jingzhi thought dazedly as his ears were filled with the vibrations of fluttering butterfly wings.

…No, wasn’t what he wanted was to “live”? Where did all these messy thoughts come from?

[Converge your desires, calm your mind. Let true qi flow slowly. All gods become one, winds calm, rain stills… Kid, don’t think about it too much. Just focus on this mantra. Don’t keep nibbling on your fingers. If you’re left with all sorts of scars, the girls won’t like you in the future.]

In the next fragmented scene, he was embraced by that person. The person’s voice merged into a jumble, but it undeniably carried a hint of laughter.

However, he only remembered the warmth of the person’s chest and busied himself catching the red leaves before him, with the words entering one ear and leaving the other.

Perhaps that was the most at ease moment in his life.

But did such a moment truly exist? Why had he never remembered it before?

As various desires were slowly extracted, Shi Jingzhi felt as if he stood exposed in the frigid, snowy landscape, gradually becoming panicked. His headache worsened, seemingly determined to prevent him from seeing what remained—

His most persistent and profound true self.

In his memories, the person extended their arm, catching a red leaf floating in the air and handing it to him.

[Stop grabbing aimlessly. Take it.]

There was no hunger in his stomach, and all he saw was a brilliant golden red. The young him was held tenderly in someone’s arms, seemingly seeing the world clearly for the first time.

The red leaves fluttered like butterflies, and the stream sparkled with golden light. There were no curious or hostile eyes around; only a warm breeze and an endless sense of security from behind. That person gazed at him with utmost sincerity, eyes filled with laughter. Shi Jingzhi played with the red leaf for a while, then released it, watching it soar with the wind, resembling a cluster of burning flames.

It was as if, in that moment, he was truly born into the world.

Only at that moment, it seemed like he didn’t want anything anymore… For over twenty years, was his sole desire really just to “live”?

[Ask the heavens, ask oneself, but don’t ask the world. Sweep away the dust and let the myriad of thoughts be calm. Remember it well, Little Mute. If you bite your fingers again, I’ll hit you every time I see it.]

At that time, he still couldn’t escape from his abnormal desires. Whenever he unconsciously bit his fingers or suppressed his desires, that person would lift him up, pull his hand out of his mouth, and repeat the mantra… Although the person had made many threats, they had never truly hit him.

How could he have forgotten?

“Ask the heavens, ask oneself, but don’t ask the world. Sweep away the dust and let the myriad of thoughts be calm.”

The outside voices became clearer.

Yes, this splendid dream was ultimately just a dream. Stepping out of the cocoon of desires, he still had to face the nearing end of his life and the suffocating reality.

But he had no choice but to move forward. He didn’t have time to escape anymore.

Shi Jingzhi sobbed and finally broke free from that gentle dream. His head throbbed, and his heart felt like it was going to burst. Just as he was about to collapse, he fell into a warm embrace.

The blurry memories seemed to find a fulcrum and abruptly pierced into reality.

“…A’Ci.” He instinctively clung tightly to the person in his arms.

Where did you learn your mantra? Who are you, really?

And who am I?

Shi Jingzhi had a thousand words to ask, but the intense pain in his head almost drove him crazy. So he could only hold onto his disciple tightly, like a drowning person clinging to the last piece of driftwood, gasping for breath.

Truly, all thoughts were in despair, with only a flickering flame of his true intentions remaining.

Shi Jingzhi had a few remaining butterflies scattered over his head, but there were hardly any left. Looking at the mess on the ground, Shi Jingzhi was left with an emptiness akin to being drained. He struggled to lift his eyes and looked at Yin Ci’s face.

That face remained calm and undisturbed, the ink-black pupils still without focus, but there was a hint of concealed concern.

Unlike before, a Greed Butterfly landed on the tip of Yin Ci’s hair and quietly folded its wings.

Not far away.

“Is… Is everything alright now?” Yan Qing, who hadn’t been affected much by the Greed Butterflies, felt a bit dizzy and disoriented. However, when faced with the extraordinary pressure emanating from the disciple of the Kushan Sect, he immediately snapped out of it.

Under the oppressive forces, Yan Qing’s whole body turned cold, and his knees went weak like melting sugar. He couldn’t even stand properly.

As for Shi Jingzhi, that could be expected, but Yin Ci had just turned twenty, right? Had he spent too much time in the Taiheng Sect, leading to unnecessary misunderstandings about the martial world?

Normally, at a time like this, Su Si would be bouncing around, telling him they couldn’t stay in the Kushan Sect. After going through all of this, Yan Qing missed his friend’s noisy presence a bit. At least it could bring him some sense of reality.

However, Su Si’s face was solemn, his brow furrowed.

His condition wasn’t much better than Yan Qing’s. He was half-kneeling on the ground, in a slightly more dignified posture. Su Si didn’t rush to persuade Yan Qing. Instead, his gaze was fixed on Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci, murmuring to himself.

“Why…” He looked at the shaky light behind Shi Jingzhi with an expression that had never been so serious before. “Why is there an Immortal Sect ban on Sect Master Shi?”

“A’Si, what are you talking about?”

“…It’s nothing. Maybe I saw it wrong.”

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Kinky Thoughts:

I love this chapter.

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Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 48: Greed Butterflies

The next day, Su Si was finally able to stand up using his snake tail. After adapting to sliding with his tail, he was actually faster than the others.

However, his footwork and qinggong weren’t yet fully developed. Su Si tightly held the butcher’s cleaver, sighing all morning. If it weren’t for Yan Qing’s stubbornness reaching an exasperating level, Su Si would have seriously considered discussing with him and retreating outside the formation to wait for the others.

“San Zi, why don’t you cast a divination?” After finishing the breakfast of bland bird, Su Si made one final attempt.

“Why?”

“Just to see whether today will be fortunate or unfortunate. After all, the guardian mountain demons aren’t like ordinary monsters. If we can determine it’s auspicious, we can walk more confidently.”

On the contrary, if they received an ominous omen, he would have a reason to pull Yan Qing back.

“I can’t predict with such precision, and whether it’s a blessing or a disaster, a disaster can’t be avoided.” Yan Qing shook his head. “Everyone’s inner demons haven’t shown any anomalies, so there’s no need…”

Shi Jingzhi enthusiastically approached. “It’s still good to cast a divination. The one we did at the Ghost Tomb last time was quite accurate, right? …Or is it that you’re worried divinations will shorten your lifespan?”

“It won’t shorten my lifespan.”

Since the sect master had spoken, Yan Qing took out a small packet of apricot pits from his chest. Six apricot pits were wrapped in green cloth, similar in size and shape, with one side coated in cinnabar and the other in black ink, emitting a shimmering light.

Yan Qing then pricked his finger, drew a circle on a stone slab with his blood, and without going through the usual shaking of the head, he straightforwardly threw the apricot pits into the circle.

The apricot pits rolled on the stone slab and soon came to a stop. The six apricot pits stood upright, with no distinction between red and black, with the black side of all facing Shi Jingzhi.

Shi Jingzhi: “…Yan Qing, are these apricot pits defective?”

Yan Qing tapped the stone slab, but the apricot pits seemed to have grown brains. They were using their pointed tips to maintain balance; none of them falling down.

“It’s the same as what was divined when entering the Ghost Tomb.”

The six apricot pits stood quietly, accompanied by the giant human headlamp not far away. There seemed to be a hint of the scent of decay from a tomb in the wind. The cold wind was blocked by the headlamp, with only a faint breeze passing through the eye sockets of the head, causing the cotton cloth wrapped around the apricot pits to flutter.

But the apricot pits remained still, not even rotating.

Shi Jingzhi: “…”

He felt a chill rise up his body, and it took a while to shake off the standing goosebumps. It was said that those who brought trouble upon themselves couldn’t live peacefully. Just by standing upright, who would have thought that even the apricot pits would show him an unfavorable expression?

Having seen the six black faces of the apricot pits, Shi Jingzhi lost interest. The journey had to continue since the divination was similar and the Ghost Tomb was safe enough. He handed the hemostatic ointment to Yan Qing and went to pester his disciples, avoiding reality.

Not coming across any definite ominous omens, Su Si abandoned the thought of persuading Yan Qing to retreat from the mountain. He listlessly picked up Lord Bai and prepared to follow the group further up the mountain.

Today was another sunny day, with a clear blue sky.

It seemed that the Jianchen Temple had well maintained Huilian Mountain. The roadside snow was untainted by dust, and the headless stone statues were becoming increasingly hidden. The ice spring flowed smoothly over the rocks, and the withered vines were arranged in an elegant manner. Just looking at the surroundings, there seemed to be a touch of zen in the scenery.

A little further away, the grayish-red “bare branches” swayed unsteadily. They didn’t seem to have a physical form and didn’t exhibit any aggressive behavior. Yan Qing’s eyeball shackles were hidden by his sleeve, and Su Si’s snake tail was unremarkable. Aside from the giant human headlamp behind them, everyone had basically adapted to the presence of their inner demons.

It seemed like there wasn’t much danger after all.

Su Si tensed his nerves for a while and then looked at the master and disciple of the Kushan Sect who were walking ahead.

‘How strange,’ he thought. Overnight, the impression Yin Ci gave him seemed to have changed.

Before, Su Si was more wary of this eldest disciple with an unclear background than the sect master of the Kushan Sect. Although Yin Ci was gentle and low-key, lacking the high-profile presence unlike the sect master, he gave Su Si an inexplicable sense of danger. Su Si had carefully pondered but found no flaws in Yin Ci. With just a vague intuition, he had no reason to persuade Yan Qing to leave.

And now, that feeling had become more pronounced.

Although Yin Ci was being led by Shi Jingzhi, it was as if a layer of veil had been peeled away, revealing a formidable presence. That aura enveloped Shi Jingzhi by his side, emanating a strong sense of “keep away from strangers”.

While the sect master’s actions seemed normal, Su Si couldn’t tell if he truly hadn’t noticed or if he had noticed but pretended not to.

…What kind of dangerous sect had his friend joined? Should they just find an excuse to stay at the Jianchen Temple and become monks?

Lost in his thoughts, Su Si almost bumped into Yan Qing in front. The snake tail on the steps was already unsteady, and if Yan Qing hadn’t caught him in time, he would have slipped and fallen.

Yan Qing didn’t stop randomly—there was a change in the appearance of the mountain road before everyone’s eyes.

The accumulated snow and weeds disappeared, and there was no dust or cracks on the stone steps. The wind suddenly stopped without warning, and the atmosphere became inexplicably heavy. A strong sense of being watched descended from the sky, prickling their backs. It felt as if they weren’t on a path to a temple but being observed from above by Buddha himself, as if this road led not to a Buddhist temple but to Sukhavati*.

*(西天) Also known as Western Paradise/Heaven, it’s an ancient Chinese Buddhist term used to refer to ancient India. In this case it’s referring to basically a paradise.

Sect Master Shi’s smile gradually disappeared as he looked at the suddenly transformed stone steps. He lingered at the stone platform for the time it took to finish a cup of tea until Lord Bai took the lead before he started moving again.

However, after walking for another two hours, the surroundings showed no signs of repetition, yet their position remained unchanged as they continued to wander on the mountainside.

No enemy attacked them; it was just the bitter cold and freezing ground. This endless feeling was maddening enough.

Shi Jingzhi shivered and said, “Do even the Buddhist monks conjure up ghostly illusions? A’Ci, have you sensed anything?”

Yin Ci shook his head. “No, we are indeed progressing and not going around in circles.”

In the past, when Yin Ci was extremely bored, he had wandered around Huilian Mountain several times. Perhaps due to the absence of greed, hatred, and ignorance, Yin Ci had never encountered the three demon lords.

Just from this, it was evident that their ability to conceal their presence was extremely advanced. The legend of the Mountain Guardians had been passed down for five to six hundred years, and whether or not there were generational changes, it wasn’t surprising that they possessed some strange abilities.

Not getting an answer, Shi Jingzhi had no choice but to forge ahead.

Finally, the group reached the end of the path. As soon as the four of them stepped onto the end stone platform, the path beneath their feet vanished.

They were led to a pond.

The pond wasn’t large and was surrounded by snow. The bottom of the pond was made of blue stone, and the water was clear and serene, as if nothing existed. Several colorful koi fish leisurely swam within it, creating a tranquil scene.

In the center of the pond, there lay a Buddha head as tall as a man lying at an angle.

The Buddha head had been weathered by wind and rain, so its features were blurred, but its serene expression was still apparent. Its neck was diagonally inserted into the pond, with the water barely touching one side of its cheek, turning the white stone into a bluish-gray hue. At first glance, it seemed as if it was peacefully resting on the water’s surface.

However, the most eye-catching aspect wasn’t the Buddha head itself, but rather what was on the Buddha head.

The eyes of the Buddha statue weren’t visible to the onlookers—countless butterflies gathered on top of the Buddha’s eyes, forming clusters. From a distance, it appeared as if those large eyes were filled with colorful bouquets.

As the four of them approached, the outer layer of the “bouquets” suddenly burst open, and brilliant butterfly wings fluttered in the sunlight, blocking out the sky.

Shi Jingzhi stood still.

He had never seen such beautiful butterflies before, and he didn’t know how to describe their colors. Under the radiant light, the colors of their wings kept changing, captivating his gaze. Sensing the presence of the group, they flew over lightly, creating a gentle breeze.

It was as if they were the very concept of “beauty” itself.

Time seemed to slow down abruptly, and Shi Jingzhi’s mind felt like it was immersed in cotton. His limbs gradually lost sensation, and he felt as if he was soaked in a pool of warm water. A deeply satisfying sense of drowsiness rose from his belly, accompanied by a heavy feeling of peace.

Perhaps he was dreaming, he thought. What did he just see?

And why had he come here?

Forget it. None of that mattered. All that remained in Shi Jingzhi’s vision were the ever-changing colors, enveloped by this colorful breeze. A strong premonition surged from the depths of his heart—a lifetime of desires was about to be fulfilled. This enchanting wind propelled him toward the ultimate paradise he had sought throughout his life.

The feeling of liberation was too marvelous, and he couldn’t think of anything else for the moment.

Filled with infinite longing, Shi Jingzhi stepped forward without hesitation. However, as soon as he took a few steps, he couldn’t continue. Something was weighing him down, keeping him rooted in place, causing extreme frustration.

An unnamed anger instantly surged, and Shi Jingzhi raised his hand and struck in that direction.

Although the palm strike had no inner force, the force behind it was just as strong. Yin Ci raised his hand and effortlessly caught it. Nevertheless, his fingers were slightly shaken by the impact.

Yin Ci couldn’t see the surrounding situation, but he could guess that things weren’t looking good.

He had no idea about Su Si and Yan Qing, but Shi Jingzhi was undoubtedly affected. Shi Jingzhi’s aura had changed significantly, and the airflow around his head was exceptionally strange. Yin Ci reached out his hands and felt Shi Jingzhi’s face, which felt thin and smooth in his hands.

It felt like butterfly wings.

Countless butterflies seemed to be wrapping around Shi Jingzhi’s face, encasing his head in multiple layers. Although it wasn’t airtight, it was enough to turn Shi Jingzhi into a blind man, unable to see.

Unfortunately, Shi Jingzhi offered no resistance, as if he didn’t notice the butterflies at all. His strike had failed, and he knelt softly on the ground. The number of butterflies enveloping his head grew, and Shi Jingzhi’s head became two to three times larger, making a rustling sound that was uncomfortable to hear.

“Brother Yin, Yan Qing and I… We’re fine…” Su Si’s voice was indistinct.

Yan Qing also managed to speak. “Sect Master Shi, I beg you… His condition is particularly severe…”

Shi Jingzhi paid no attention to their words. After swaying in place for a while, he stood up unsteadily and headed straight downhill. His steps carried a resolute momentum, almost causing Yin Ci to stumble.

There was no wind in the surroundings, and the sound of the fluttering butterflies was extremely faint, like falling flower petals. Yin Ci firmly held onto Shi Jingzhi’s waist while holding his breath, mentally visualizing the dance of the butterfly swarm.

As if intoxicated or enchanted, the butterflies danced in a peculiar manner. Although he couldn’t see their appearance, Yin Ci recognized them—

These butterfly demons had been recorded in ancient books but rarely encountered. Some called them “Daydreamers” others called them “Joyful Yellow Millet*.” They weren’t inherently malevolent but extremely rare and difficult to deal with. As soon as Yin Ci recognized them, his heart sank.

*In Chinese folklore, [huang liang] (黄粱) is a magical food that is made from yellow millet. It is said that if you eat it, you will have extraordinary dreams and illusions, as if living in a fantasy world, thus it’s often used metaphorically to refer to something as illusory, dreamlike, or unreal.

In Huilian Mountain, they were likely called “Greed Butterflies.”

These demons usually appeared in groups, and the patterns on their wings naturally formed intricate formations. To protect their nests, they would paralyze their enemies in groups, using their desires as bait to lure them away. Once they left, the confused enemies would have no recollection and would naturally not seek out their nests again.

The butterfly demons on Hualian Mountain had clearly been trained. The monks used human formations to lure those consumed by overwhelming desires right into their sight. Then, the butterflies would swarm out, kicking the enemies out of the mountain, seamlessly coordinating their attacks. This was a perfect match.

If they rashly attacked the butterfly demons, the demons were likely to use the confused individuals as human shields. Even if Yin Ci managed to bind all three of them and continue dragging them up the mountain, the butterfly demons wouldn’t easily disperse.

On the other hand, if they were deceived by the “Greed Butterflies” for too long, their consciousness may suffer damage, making it difficult to distinguish reality from illusion.

There was only one way to dispel the Greed Butterflies.

These creatures were drawn by human desires and could only be driven away by overcoming those desires. The deceived individuals must have their own awakening and completely suppress their desires.

Yan Qing and Su Si were still young and had fewer attachments. They still possess their sanity and could free themselves. But looking at the condition of Shi Jingzhi, conservatively estimating, most of the Greed Butterflies had come to revel in his desires. Yin Ci had also witnessed Shi Jingzhi’s almost insane obsession. Even on ordinary days, Shi Jingzhi was greedy and loved money. If they waited for him to have his own enlightenment, it would be harder than reaching the heavens.

If he himself didn’t succumb to greed, hatred, or ignorance, it would be better to send his master down the mountain and continue alone…

No, with the interference of the Buddha Heart Formation, he couldn’t proceed alone. Such crucial clues couldn’t be entrusted to Su Si and Yan Qing, two outsiders. Yin Ci sighed inwardly and closed his eyes.

Was the journey to Huilian Mountain destined to fail so easily?

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The author has something to say:

Yin Ci: Patting his master’s head; feels a thick layer of live butterflies.

Yin Ci: ……………………For the first time, I realize the benefits of not being able to see things (×

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