Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 37: Homologous

When the tree roots attacked, Yin Ci was actually able to avoid them.

However, Yin Deng couldn’t. The little girl was still unconscious on the withered lout leaf and was particularly eye-catching with her red dress. The Goddess wanted to choose someone to kill as a warning to others, but it didn’t matter much who she killed.

And he wasn’t so easily killed. Even if he was burned down to a fragment of bone, Yin Ci could still return from the remnants. He had sought death enough times to accumulate a certain cold intuition.

The shallow pond wasn’t deep enough to kill him or trap him. It was better to go along with it and incidentally provoke that fox.

The tree roots pierced through Yin Ci’s chest, pinning him to the bottom of the pool. The liquid was different from the lake in the Ghost Tomb; it was sticky to the touch, but it didn’t corrode his body.

However, it still brought pain.

As soon as he was soaked in that liquid, he came into contact with living flesh pulp and became stuck to it. The process was far more painful than Yin Ci had imagined, as if his whole body was being twisted into minced meat.

Not only did the pain surge, but intrusive thoughts invaded as well.

These thoughts were scattered, more akin to animal instincts than human emotions. Interestingly, Yin Ci was familiar with this state—when people experienced unbearable suffering, their thoughts often shattered, leaving only some instincts.

The white-clothed monsters emerged from the flesh pulp, so it was no wonder they showed no reaction to pain.

However, amidst the chaotic wailing, there was a hint of clarity. Through the connected living flesh, some images flooded into Yin Ci’s mind.

Through countless eyes, “he” saw Bai Wei falling down.

The Goddess didn’t take the honest and weak Bai Wei seriously; she brought him down to the bottom and threw him from a higher place. It ensured he wouldn’t die from the fall and rendered him immobile. Her approach was similar to Yin Ci’s guess—people from Xizhuang were thrown to the outskirts and molded into draft models. The people from Yuanxian Village were more precious; they were put into stone lotus pods, waiting to be sculpted into the true idol.

Fortunately, Bai Wei was resourceful. Before falling into the water, he threw out a climbing tool that hooked onto the withered lotus leaf. His body plunged into the water but stopped just before sinking into the flesh pulp, barely preserving his bodily integrity.

The Goddess headed straight for the central stone platform and picked up the jade scraping tool, meticulously carving the flesh idol.

An hour later, the Goddess left. Bai Wei didn’t immediately escape; he stumbled and climbed up to the middle of the stone platform, staring blankly at the flesh idol for a long time, shedding tears for a while.

…Well, after Bai Wei fell and touched the flesh pulp, experiencing those emotions, he probably could guess a thing or two.

In the end, Bai Wei didn’t leave.

He chose a draft model closest to the idol and slowly embraced it. The draft model slowly engulfed him, swelling up, and the expression of sorrow on his face contorted.

[She’s still alive. She can’t leave. I can’t just leave her alone…]

It was only when this train of thought reached him that Yin Ci completely snapped out of it.

The current situation was troublesome. Half of his body was immersed in the flesh pulp, and while his clothes weren’t corroded, his ghostskin robe, being similar in composition to human skin, had long since been torn to pieces. With more fusion, the surging thoughts became somewhat clearer. Bai Wei in the flesh pulp undoubtedly sensed him, but he was still dazed and unaware of Yin Ci’s specific condition.

[These living flesh are interconnected. Despite being in this state, I can still convey some thoughts… Are you still there? If we cut off the fused parts, you can escape… I’ll help you, but you have to get out…]

A dazzling golden light shimmered on the water, and ashes scattered onto the surface. Yin Ci widened his eyes.

Escape?

He couldn’t escape.

Sword qi surged, cutting through his chaotic body. As his body separated from the flesh pulp, those ethereal thoughts drifted away as well. In the moment of the declining golden fire, Yin Ci tightly grasped the Hanging Shadow Sword and leaped up.

Since he had come, he would go as well.

Shi Jingzhi’s life was far more substantial than this thin layer of window paper.

Emerging from the water, Yin Ci immediately saw Shi Jingzhi in the center of the stone platform. His master stood tall and straight among the ashes falling like snowflakes, descending from the sky. The man exuded a suffocating pressure, as if he were a thorn stuck between heaven and earth.

However, this thorn was fragile and on the verge of breaking.

So Yin Ci naturally stepped forward, embracing the man and sweeping away the attacking tree roots with a single sword strike. Shi Jingzhi was slightly taller than him, but at this moment, his legs gave way, unable to block Yin Ci’s line of sight.

The Goddess formed a tree root platform in mid-air, gasping for breath.

“It’s a pity about my ghostskin robe.”

Having lost a large amount of blood, Yin Ci felt ice-cold all over. Shi Jingzhi leaned against his damp chest, and waves of comforting warmth spread through his body. Yin Ci blissfully narrowed his eyes, and the sword qi became even colder.

“Shizun, since I brought you in, I will definitely send you out… Don’t be angry about this matter, okay?”

Shi Jingzhi’s shocked and exhausted expressions mixed together, and his face paled to the point of fright. He tightly grasped Yin Ci’s wrist, but his voice was too hoarse to be heard clearly, so Yin Ci could only discern his lip movements.

“…A’Ci?”

Yin Ci smiled. “This unfilial disciple arrived late. Shizun is tired, so how about I go and slay that Goddess, to ease Shizun’s boredom?”

He didn’t wait for Shi Jingzhi’s response and simply gently placed him down. Immediately after, Yin Ci stepped on the stone platform and dashed towards the Goddess.

The rivers and seas surged when the deadly blade was unsheathed. The sharpness that had been concealed in the past now emerged with a hint of the power to slay gods and annihilate demons.

The Goddess was horrified. If Shi Jingzhi was still an immature beast, this incoming attack was a genuine god of death. She had witnessed so many immortal potential, yet she had made a mistake with this person.

This person’s appearance was cold like jade, with a fierce and evil aura like a ghost. No matter how she looked at it, they weren’t inferior to the person below.

She hastily summoned tree roots, attempting to use the same trick again to restrain her enemy. Unexpectedly, this time the roots didn’t obey her command and remained still, and the surrounding insect eggs ceased their attacks, revealing a vague hesitation.

For some reason, she could only rely on herself.

The Goddess gritted her teeth and said, “Who are you exactly?”

Before she could finish her sentence, a pitch-black sword tip emerged from her chest. The person completely disregarded her and appeared behind her in an instant, swiftly sending out a strike.

She looked in shock at the wound on her chest. In the next moment, deep cuts appeared on her limbs and joints. The ink-colored sword blades fluttered like butterflies, finally gently stopping at her neck, still carrying her own warmth of blood.

The Goddess sat paralyzed on the platform of tree roots, unable to move even a bit. This person was undoubtedly a seasoned killer, with no unnecessary movements. They were sparing with their words, cutting off all her thoughts from the beginning and leaving her with only a tongue.

The Goddess regretted a bit—this person’s moves showed no inner force, so if she had kept the defensive root coiled around her, she wouldn’t have ended up in such a miserable state. She had been too quick to let down her guard the moment Shi Jingzhi faltered.

Unfortunately, there was no remedy for regret in the world.

Yin Ci stood quietly in front of her with his sword intent as sharp as iron, without a trace of tenderness or reverence for precious things.

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill you just yet. This place is truly interesting, and I have some questions.” Yin Ci’s voice was gentle, but this gentleness, paired with the chilling intent to kill, was particularly terrifying. “Do not answer with falsehoods, do not seal your lips. I know better than anyone in this world how to hurt someone the most.”

As he spoke the latter half of the sentence, within that immensely chilling oppressive feeling, there was a faint sense of desperate self-destruction, as if a jade and stone were both incinerated. The Goddess suddenly felt a bit bewildered—how could someone so filled with sorrow and oppression still be alive?

The Goddess hesitated for a moment, and the sword tip pierced the acupoint in her neck, causing intense pain to surge forth.

Yin Ci: “What is this flesh idol? And what is the giant tree statue?”

The Goddess’s expression changed for a moment, and she laughed, speaking to herself. “Very well. Your talent is exceptional. Combined with the one below, there’s no need to gather materials for the statue anymore.”

“Not the answer I seek.” Yin Ci sighed, and the sword tip moved slightly, revealing another patch of flesh and blood.

The Goddess swallowed a string of screams and looked at him with a sinister gaze. “As an immortal, you naturally endure pain. Boy, disrespecting ghosts and gods will bring you retribution.”

“Retribution? I’ve long since faced retribution… Come, answer again. My little master needs a moment of rest, and we have plenty of time.”

The Goddess smiled, revealing teeth stained with blood. “Is that so?”

This time, she didn’t attack Yin Ci with tree roots. The roots suddenly surged forward, directly striking her own body. The goddess was thrown back several yards and fell onto the flesh idol behind her.

The Goddess didn’t fully merge with the flesh idol like Bai Wei. She only sacrificed half of her body, from the waist down, turning it into flesh pulp and filling the empty skeleton of the statue.

The skeleton was completely concealed, and the flesh statue sat dignified, with half a living person attached to its side. The goddess had translucent white skin, contrasting with the dark red giant statue, resembling a bud on a withered branch.

However, her condition wasn’t quite right.

The Goddess’s face was distorted, her long hair in disarray, and her gaze vacant. Her clothing had been burned by fire and soaked with fresh blood, clinging tightly to her body like decaying skin.

She hung her arms down and spoke hoarsely. “A mere mortal dares to provoke a true immortal. You cannot escape…”

“You’re still able to speak. That’s good.”

As the sword rose and fell, along with half of the statue’s head, the goddess had one of her arms instantly severed. The head and arm rolled down the tree root platform, crashing towards the bottom of the forbidden area.

Hopefully, his cheap master wouldn’t see it, so as not to scare him half to death again.

Yin Ci smiled, swinging his sword, preparing to disable the enemy once more. But in the next instant, his smile froze on his face.

The statue was recovering.

Whether it was the goddess’s arm or the missing half of the head, countless blood-red fine roots extended from their cut surfaces, slowly gathering and gradually restoring their original form.

No one was more familiar with this scene than Yin Ci. Compared to Yin Ci himself, the statue’s recovery was slow and clumsy, but the method of recovery was undoubtedly the same.

In an instant, a certain fear gripped him.

The Bone Sweeping Sword technique rose, and flesh and blood flew.

The Goddess was unafraid of pain, so Yin Ci no longer held back. He crazily slashed at the statue, as if wanting to shatter another version of himself. Severed limbs tumbled and fell, seemingly endless.

The Goddess smiled with a blend of gentleness and bitterness.

She stretched out her hands and repeatedly chewed on Yin Ci’s words. “We have plenty of time.”

She merged with the statue once again, and the root system finally awakened. They gathered with the Goddess’s movements, ready to strike. Yin Ci’s sword gradually slowed down until it stopped.

The Goddess treated his despair as a given. “Giving up is indeed easier. I’ll consume you first and then go find your master…”

A golden flame shot through the air, directly hitting the front of the goddess’s chest.

At some point, Shi Jingzhi regained his strength and gathered the courage to climb up to the high platform.

He clung to the edge of the platform, proudly planting his flag as if demanding an explanation from his disciple. However, when he saw the merged statue so close at hand, Shi Jingzhi’s face turned pale, and he slowly disappeared from the edge of the platform.

“Apologies,” he said sincerely, about to climb back down.

Yin Ci sighed, hooked his sword tip, and brought him up, saying, “Shizun, you came at the right time. I was just thinking of going down to find you.”

Shi Jingzhi glanced over the recovering statue with the scattered chunks of flesh and stopped at his disciple’s unfamiliar face. He made several gulping sounds in his throat, managing to squeeze out a desperate “no”.

Yin Ci embraced his master’s waist once again and held his wrist. “Shizun, take the sword.”

Their body temperatures overlapped, and Shi Jingzhi calmed down slightly, finally speaking in human language once more. “A’Ci, what the hell…”

“The flesh idol has a mechanism on it. It can regenerate, but the speed isn’t very fast. If we timely burn it with yang fire, perhaps we can break its regeneration technique.”

Yin Ci’s voice was calm, as if this matter had nothing to do with him from head to toe. Shi Jingzhi’s movements stiffened slightly, uncertain if he had fully comprehended.

Upon hearing these words, a hint of nervousness flashed across the Goddess’s face. Yin Ci lowered his gaze, feeling a little joy in his heart.

Seeing that it was recovering with difficulty, he wagered that the statue wasn’t yet complete and couldn’t achieve perfect regeneration. As for what kind of destruction would be most effective against “regeneration”, he probably understood it better than the Goddess herself.

Compared to leaving her and forcing her to confess, Yin Ci had found something more valuable—an explicit direction.

He had almost unlimited time and wasn’t worried about not finding any clues. In contrast, he now cared more about another matter.

Could the unfinished flesh idol really be destroyed?

“Shizun, I’ll wield the sword, and you’ll ignite the fire.”

Yin Ci was very close. The warm breath brushed against Shi Jingzhi’s ear, slid down his neck, and carried a hint of temptation.

“Come, let’s completely destroy this place.”

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 36: Fire of Retribution

The roots of the tree formed a towering statue that looked down upon them. Shi Jingzhi had a strange illusion at that moment—they resembled crickets trapped in a jar, being observed from the outside.

Fortunately, none of the statues, regardless of which deity they represented, showed any signs of movement. Shi Jingzhi trembled in place for a while and gradually resigned himself to the situation.

He might as well see it to the end*. He took a few steps and reached for the lantern.

*(一不做二不休) Idiom referring to being determined and resolute in pursuing a course of action without hesitation or compromise (AKA to be in for a penny, in for a pound).

The scene before them was horrifying, and the young girl’s legs went weak from fear. Finally encountering a living person, she immediately clung tightly to Shi Jingzhi’s thigh, crying so hard that she almost fainted.

Since seeing the root statue, Yin Ci had been frozen in place. It was only when he heard the terrified cries of the young girl that he managed to regain his composure.

“That Great Goddess is a liar,” Yin Deng cried hoarsely. “Sister is here, and brother is here too. They never ascended to immortality.”

Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci exchanged glances.

Shi Jingzhi: “Don’t cry… Yin Deng, how did you come down? Do you remember?”

“I… I dreamt that my sister was crying, and I wanted to comfort her. But it seemed like she couldn’t see me, so I wanted to get closer, even closer.”

Summoning up her courage, Yin Deng lifted her head slightly and pointed to the stone platform closest to the statue.

“When I fell, I woke up. Brother saved me. He’s here…”

Previously captivated by the giant root statue, the two finally noticed the stone platforms around them.

Each small platform still had a flesh idol standing on it.

They all faced the central stone platform, resembling a hundred birds facing a phoenix. Compared to the one in the middle, they were much smaller and less exquisite. The small statues were also supported by human bones, but they were crudely made, with many distorted and deformed details, almost like…

“Trial versions,” Yin Ci whispered softly. “They are the draft of an idol.”

The situation became much clearer now—someone had built flesh idols at the bottom of this forbidden area, and they had put in a lot of effort. These statues were based on the giant root statue, and countless idols were made during the production process to ensure a flawless final product.

Thick white cloth was piled under the trial versions, and several chains were coiled around them. No wonder Su Si said the “white-clothed monsters” had their internal organs exposed; they were originally made of living flesh. The deformed flesh statues weren’t presentable, so they were wrapped in white cloth and tightly bound with ropes.

After being used as draft models, they could also serve as puppets. This “immortal” scheme was well thought out.

Considering that the residents of Yuanxian Village were completely unaware of all this, there was only one person who could have done such a thing—

In this situation, undoubtedly, it was the work of the Goddess.

But why did she create such monstrous images? What was the purpose of the flesh statues? The giant root statue was covered in climbing vines and seemed to have a history of hundreds of years, but where did it come from?

Yin Ci had wandered the mortal realm for over three hundred years, and instead of everything becoming clear, it only grew darker. Apart from monsters and Monster Material, he seemed to know nothing about the “other side” of the world.

The current scene was more absurd than his nightmare.

Thinking of the nightmare, Yin Ci couldn’t help but touch his face. This time, his facial features were intact, and there were no strange roots on his face. The familiar sensation of the ghostskin robe came through his fingers.

Shi Jingzhi remained silent for a long time. Finally, he squeezed out a bit of composure from the depths of his bones, half-squatted down, and placed his hands on Yin Deng’s shoulders.

“Yin Deng, you just said, ‘Sister is here, and brother is here’… Can you communicate with them?”

Yin Deng vigorously shook her head, wiping away the tears on her face. “They can’t—they can’t speak. But I just know.”

She pointed to the flesh idol on the central stone platform and then pointed to a draft model not far away. “That’s sister, and that’s brother. I can feel that they are here.”

Perhaps this was what people referred to when they said that human children had spiritual senses that weren’t completely closed. It was unclear how this child could recognize the statues, as all of them were bloody and indistinguishable.

Yin Ci quickly calculated in his mind.

As long as they brought Yin Deng up and exposed one of the white-clothed monsters in public, the villagers would undoubtedly notice something was wrong—then they could ignite the situation, and at least someone would willingly help them get out.

That was also one way.

…But the problem they had to worry about at the moment wasn’t that.

The Goddess knew the secrets beneath the forbidden area, yet she still allowed them to enter. It might not be so easy to leave if they wanted to.

Shi Jingzhi was evidently considering similar matters. He paced in circles, trying his best to ignore the flesh statues around them.

“A’Ci, let me carry you on my back, and you hold onto Yin Deng. Let’s try climbing back up… and see…” His eyes caught something in the corner, and he froze in place. The latter half of his sentence trembled more and more as he spoke, eventually ending in a groan.

Following Shi Jingzhi’s gaze, Yin Deng let out an inhuman scream and fainted in fright—

The giant root statue slowly moved—no, it wasn’t the statue itself, but a massive worm monster emerging from within the roots. The giant worm twisted and slid around the statue, causing a cascade of soil and stones. After a moment, it settled in place, with its head hanging down towards the group. At first glance, it looked like rotten intestines coiled around the giant root statue.

Who the hell knew which rule they had broken to disturb this thing.

Being closer, the master and disciple had no choice but got a clearer view.

The body of the giant worm was reddish-brown, with a rough and tough outer skin that resembled old tree bark. It had three pitch-black holes on its head, devoid of eyeballs. The gaps between the holes were split into three segments, resembling the divisions of a human head. Within the gaps, uneven and densely packed yellowish teeth grew, resembling human teeth. Muddy yellow saliva mixed with soil dripped down steadily.

The giant worm coiled around the tunnel, sealing off the rock wall tightly. The long, hand-like objects were scraped off, allowing them to finally see their true nature.

They were worm eggs.

The insect eggs were about half the size of a person, with hard spindle-shaped shells. One end could easily penetrate the soil and rocks, while the other end was connected to long, arm-like structures that allowed them to crawl freely. They numbered in the thousands and were quietly embedded behind the root deity statue. Now, swept away by the giant worm, the insect eggs fell continuously into the water.

The insect eggs seemed uninterested in the flesh in the pool. They surged in groups, piercing into the thick skin of the giant worm, and the deformed hands flailed about randomly.

Unfortunately, this heartwarming reunion of parent and child didn’t touch Shi Jingzhi. Fox Shi’s eyes darted around, as if he wished to end it all right there.

In comparison, the white-clothed monsters seemed quite pleasant.

But it was too late; they had long lost their way out.

Shi Jingzhi attempted to use his yang fire to cover the flag, but he himself felt like a damp matchstick, unable to produce a single spark. The giant worm opened its mouth full of teeth, and Shi Jingzhi looked like he was about to vomit again.

Yin Ci was helpless. “Shizun!”

Hearing his disciple’s cry, Shi Jingzhi regained some clarity. He gritted his teeth, wrapped the unconscious Yin Deng and the Hanging Shadow Sword together, and handed them to Yin Ci. “Since you don’t have inner force, take good care of her and hide!”

This was indeed a reasonable plan.

Faced with such a huge monster, the lack of inner force could be fatal. Shi Jingzhi could still rely on brute force to fight it, but until they discovered the giant worm’s weakness, Yin Ci could only make superficial attacks on it.

Yin Ci held Yin Deng in one arm and wielded his sword in the other, quickly jumping off the stone platform.

Shi Jingzhi, on the other hand, awkwardly leaped up and barely clung to the surface of the giant worm. In the next instant, countless insect eggs reached out towards him, visibly exploding.

The yang fire blazed, instantly igniting the long arms of the insect eggs. With a series of popping sounds, they emitted an indescribable stench. The giant worm was burned by the yang fire and struggled against the cave wall.

Shi Jingzhi inserted his flag into its thick skin, barely stabilizing himself. Yin Ci took advantage of the geography and hid beneath a withered lotus leaf in the corner, ensuring that Yin Deng wouldn’t be affected by the giant worm.

The insect eggs suffered heavy casualties, but the giant worm only sustained minor injuries. Shi Jingzhi pitifully poked at the worm’s body, resembling an ant trying to bite an elephant to death. The giant worm grew annoyed by this persistent ant. Seeing that scraping against the rock wall was ineffective, it began to curl its body and vigorously strike the wall, intending to crush the bothersome ant.

The entire forbidden area shook and rumbled as it struck, causing more intact insect eggs to fall, nearly pushing Yin Ci into the water.

It was a pity.

If Shi Jingzhi’s external martial arts were sufficient or if he could control his power with ease, this giant worm wouldn’t be his opponent. However, Shi Jingzhi had limited combat experience and was still at the stage of begging for food while holding a golden bowl*, completely unaware of how to wield his strength.

*Metaphor for having good conditions but not making good use of them and doing nothing.

After contemplating for a long time, Yin Ci couldn’t find the weakness of the worm monster either. One had the will but not the power, while the other had the power but not the will—they would only be consumed by this creature.

Yin Deng’s injuries were peculiar, and she was an important witness. She absolutely must not die down there.

In order to ensure that everyone survived, there was only one path left to take—Yin Ci had to provoke this fox.

From Yin Ci’s observation, Shi Jingzhi was most afraid of two things. First, being unable to survive, and second, losing his disciple. Currently, his fear of death was having the opposite effect, causing Shi Jingzhi to hesitate and not take action.

He needed to administer a strong stimulus to ignite that madness once again.

Just at that moment, Shi Jingzhi couldn’t hold on any longer and crashed onto the stone platform. He fell heavily and immediately coughed up a mouthful of blood. The giant worm had no intention of letting him struggle for his life, and it was about to crush him.

Yin Ci placed Yin Deng on a withered lotus leaf and rushed towards the stone platform. He held onto Shi Jingzhi, tiptoed, and both of them hung onto the stalk of an outer lotus leaf, barely stabilizing their bodies.

The giant worm brushed past the master and disciple, crashing into the stone platform where Shi Jingzhi had originally been, shattering the pillars. The broken stones shot into the shallow pool, and blood mixed with dust floated up. The draft model idol that originally stood on the stone platform was crushed into flesh and mud by the creature. It slipped back into the pool miserably, leaving a trail of blood, making the shallow pool even murkier.

“A’Ci?” Shi Jingzhi hadn’t come to his senses yet.

“Shizun, look, that thing only dares to attack the white-clothed monsters and doesn’t dare to touch the central flesh idol.” Time was of the essence, so Yin Ci got straight to the point. “Remember where you landed earlier.”

Shi Jingzhi deeply glanced at him and didn’t dawdle any longer. He grabbed the flag again and rushed out.

With a foothold, his attacks gradually became more systematic. The giant worm had been harassed by Shi Jingzhi for a long time, sustaining more and more burns on its body. It couldn’t bear it any longer, and it was growing more and more restless. Yin Ci took Yin Deng farther away and intentionally moved closer to the center of the battlefield. He made up his mind to act as a lively fish in the pond, waiting to be affected by Shi Jingzhi’s actions.

In the end, Yin Ci was indeed drawn into the battle, but it didn’t go exactly as he had planned—

Shi Jingzhi’s battle was reaching its climax. With one final blow, he could kill this worm monster.

The creature, fed up with Shi Jingzhi’s constant harassment, sustained more and more injuries. It couldn’t bear it any longer and was about to unleash a devastating strike, but suddenly, it froze in midair. After a moment, it curled up into a ring and rigidly crashed down, narrowly avoiding hitting the central stone lotus blossom in the forbidden area.

“I wondered why it was shaking so violently. It’s quite impressive that you survived for so long under the protection of the root burrower.” A cold voice resounded.

Just before the worm monster went berserk, the Goddess descended from the sky.

The insect eggs intertwined with each other, forming a net of hands that held her in mid-air. She glanced at the chaotic bottom of the forbidden place and raised her hand, releasing a spell. A tree root shot out from the stone wall, poking a large hole in the giant worm’s body.

“These foolish creatures truly lack intelligence. They almost ruined my plans.”

The giant worm screamed in pain and didn’t dare to move. The insect eggs seemed to have received some instruction. They swarmed together, intertwining their arms and hoisting the central flesh idol in mid-air, suspending it in a safe position.

Shi Jingzhi had been locked in a battle with the giant worm for a long time and had reached the end of his strength. He gasped for breath as the yang fire on his flag flickered, ultimately failing to stop those arms.

With the flesh idol gone, only a pool of living flesh remained by Shi Jingzhi’s side. Without any vulnerabilities, the Goddess’s killing intent spread like a tidal wave.

Fortunately, compared to the giant worm, the Goddess looked completely normal, and Shi Jingzhi’s courage returned somewhat. He glanced at Yin Ci’s hiding place and provocatively said, “So you decided to come down after all. Why bother? If you had come earlier to save Yin Deng, everything would have been fine.”

The Goddess sneered. “You little brat certainly have a sharp tongue. At the brink of death, you still want to protect others?”

Another tree root sinisterly pierced out, directly aiming for Shi Jingzhi. Just as he was about to adopt a defensive stance, the root suddenly changed its trajectory, accelerating abruptly and crashing into the edge where Yin Ci was hiding, forcefully pushing him into the depths of the pool and burying him in the flesh mud.

Bubbles emerged from the murky pool bottom, releasing a burst of blood, and then everything fell silent. The water surface quickly returned to calm, but Yin Ci didn’t resurface. He couldn’t struggle, not even a little.

Shi Jingzhi hadn’t anticipated that she would target his disciple. His entire being froze like ice.

The sound of water had long ceased, the giant worm no longer screamed, and there was silence all around. Shi Jingzhi felt somewhat lost. This moment was too abrupt, too fast for him to react or even confirm what had happened.

He tightly grasped the flag in his hand—although he had burned the giant worm all over, just a little more effort and they would have won. Then he could have dragged Yin Ci back to the ground, scolded him thoroughly, or perhaps even given him a beating. After dealing with this disobedient disciple, the Kushan Sect could find another way out…

They were so close to victory.

But the appearance of the Goddess completely shattered Shi Jingzhi’s joy. It was like climbing to the mountaintop in a blizzard, exhausting all his strength, only to be pushed down into the abyss by a single step.

Shi Jingzhi felt chills all over his body.

If only the Goddess had arrived a step earlier, he wouldn’t have entertained such unrealistic illusions. If she had arrived a step later, they would have already escaped from the giant worm and could have found another path. Why? Why did she have to come at this very moment?

Why did she have to casually destroy his things in front of him?

That uncontrollable emotion surged once again. Resentment, grievance, fear, and hatred mixed together, and Shi Jingzhi was too exhausted and too heartbroken. This time, he let go of the reins and no longer tried to control it.

Finally, the desire for survival ignited madness, intertwining together. A strong aura of malevolence burst forth from the depths of his weary bones.

The golden flames turned into spears, soaring into the sky.

The web of hands instantly turned to ashes. The Goddess was caught off guard, narrowly avoiding being consumed by the sea of flames. A thin root promptly caught her, saving her from being directly scorched by the flames.

Shi Jingzhi stood on the central stone platform with a blank expression and disheveled hair. The unparalleled oppressive sensation erupted once again, like a young dragon venturing into the sea or a young tiger roaring in the mountains. The draft model idols on the stone platform were pushed by the wind and fell into the water, creating numerous dazzling water splashes.

Fortunately, Shi Jingzhi remembered Yin Deng, and the whirlwind around him scattered but didn’t harm the edges.

It was said that one force could suppress ten*. Shi Jingzhi didn’t use any spells or martial arts techniques. With this almost terrifying strength alone, he indiscriminately destroyed everything above the forbidden area.

*Metaphor referring to a single individual’s power or ability is so exceptional that they can easily overcome or dominate a group of ten opponents.

The flames burned fiercer and fiercer.

The forbidden area was narrow, and the golden flames were at their peak. The Goddess struggled to evade, looking quite miserable. The heat in the air was terrifying, making it impossible to breathe normally. Her hair ends were charred, and her ethereal sleeves and skirt turned into ashes. However, with the flesh idol by her side, she didn’t dare to abandon it and escape. Instead, she futilely erected layer after layer of barriers, attempting to gain a moment of respite.

Finally, the golden flames reached the upper half of the goddess’s body. Just when she had no retreat, she opened her mouth and shouted loudly, seemingly calling for help from someone invisible. However, Shi Jingzhi’s senses were in chaos, and he couldn’t catch a single word.

All he saw was more tree roots curling over, separating the Goddess from the flames. Strangely enough, the golden flames also struck those roots, but the roots remained unscathed.

The giant worm wasn’t as fortunate. It couldn’t withstand the overwhelming golden flames. Its surface turned charred black and cracked, half-roasted while still alive.

Unfortunately, no matter how extraordinary Shi Jingzhi’s talent was, he was ultimately a mortal with a physical body. The uncontrolled yang fire had burned for a long time and gradually weakened.

But the Goddess didn’t fall.

“I underestimated you.”

Confirming that the flesh idol beside her was also protected by roots and unharmed, the Goddess disregarded her own damaged body and let out a sigh of relief. At this moment, half of her body was swollen with a dark red color, devoid of any divine aura and instead resembling an evil spirit that had infiltrated the mortal realm.

“…Humans are not gods, and their energy is limited. Even if you can still stand after using that move just now, it’s worth praising.”

Shi Jingzhi held the “Medicine Cures Illness” flag, but he couldn’t move an inch. His face was as pale as gold, sweat was pouring down, and his lips were devoid of color.

She wasn’t wrong. This time, he had almost depleted all his energy, and even breathing became extremely difficult.

However, despite suffering such a great loss, the Goddess didn’t show any resentment on her face. Instead, a hint of strange joy appeared. “Although you’ve turned this place upside down, you have quite a strong connection to the divine. Can’t you handle that pool of materials by yourself?”

Shi Jingzhi stared at her with anger, unable to muster the strength to speak. He could only exert his last bit of strength, straighten his posture, and force himself to stand.

The Goddess didn’t expect him to answer. She snorted coldly, lifted her right hand, and several tree roots surged towards them like living creatures. It seemed that they were about to entangle around him—

Ding.

The tree roots collided with a sword blade, producing a somewhat crisp sound.

An arm hooked around Shi Jingzhi’s waist, pulling him backward. The black blade flashed once again, sweeping away a malicious tree root. Shi Jingzhi slowly turned his head and saw a face that was both unfamiliar and familiar.

As cold as snow, peerlessly beautiful.

Underneath the Ghost Tomb, they had met once before.

Shi Jingzhi understood. The person in white was neither an “enemy” nor a “senior” he had caught a glimpse of. At this moment, the person used a voice that he was familiar with, but the warmth in the voice had vanished, leaving only ruthlessness and arrogance.

“It’s a pity about my ghostskin robe.”

The person whispered in his ear.

“Shizun, since I brought you in, I will definitely send you out… Don’t be angry about this matter, okay?”

---

The author has something to say:

Demonic Lord Yin: As long as I have the initiative, this layer of my little vest is not considered to be taken off*! (?

*Clarity: It’s an online term referring to “stripping the vest”. When someone has more than 2 IDs on a registered forum, the most commonly used or well-known ID is called the main ID, while the other IDs are called vest IDs. || In this case, Yin Ci has revealed his true form to Shi Jingzhi, but he’s not revealing his true identity so it’s not considered “stripping the vest”.

Fox Shi: ?????

Fox Shi: (Takes out a little notebook and starts recording the number of lessons owed by the disciple)

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 35: The Idol

At present, the master wasn’t going mad, and the disciple wasn’t drowning either. Shi Jingzhi suppressed his anger, refraining from even grabbing Yin Ci’s hand as they walked into the pitch-black forbidden area.

Yin Ci remained vigilant, sensing the trembling in Shi Jingzhi’s footsteps, but he felt that the level of caution was somewhat exaggerated.

Now, he didn’t care about inquiring into the origins of his cheap master; he was more interested in knowing what kind of being his cheap master was.

The two of them remained in this tense atmosphere, each standing a step apart, neither uttering a word.

The forbidden area at night had no trace of light and was even darker than the Ghost Tomb. The stone steps under their feet were covered in moss and were incredibly slippery. Yin Ci had obtained a lantern from the villagers and walked cautiously. It was difficult to imagine how a child could walk with closed eyes in such a place.

When performing a play, one must act the part convincingly. Yin Ci would take a step and then pause, shining the light on each stone chamber on the cave wall.

The small chambers were almost empty, with at most some remnants of clothing or gold and silver jewelry. Not to mention corpses, they couldn’t even find a single bone.

Last time, there were too many people during the funeral, and they couldn’t observe carefully. But now, upon closer inspection, even the Paper Figurine Street was infested with bugs and rodents, yet the forbidden area was devoid of even half of a creature.

It was unclear whether it had a connection to the outside world or if spells didn’t work here, but the entire deep pit was cold and silent, like newly formed thin ice on the water’s surface, with the air frozen solid.

There was no trace of light anywhere.

The two of them wandered around, walking until they reached the end of the stone steps. The end of the steps was particularly cold, with a thin layer of ice forming on the surface of the stone, making it even more difficult to walk.

Yin Ci specifically glanced at Auntie Liu’s stone chamber, and indeed, it was empty. Only a few pieces of clothing were haphazardly mixed together, exuding a hint of sorrowful coldness.

“Neither Yin Deng nor Bai Wei are up here.” Shi Jingzhi cleared his throat. “The situation downstairs is strange. You should follow me back… Huh?!”

Suddenly, the last few stone slabs sank downward, disappearing into thin air. A cold sensation came from behind the two, and their feet were suspended in mid-air as they fell straight down.

Yin Ci leaned closer to the rock wall, grabbing Shi Jingzhi’s wrist with one hand and reaching for the edge of a stone chamber with the other.

He didn’t care about himself, but if Shi Jingzhi were to fall, he would become a lump of fox meat. Yin Ci might be seeking death, but he hadn’t planned on dragging another companion along on the journey to the underworld.

Besides, he might not necessarily die.

Yin Ci firmly held onto the stone platform, gradually regaining his strength, when he suddenly felt an unfamiliar sensation on the back of his hand.

Something was caressing his hand.

Yin Ci raised his head abruptly, squinting his eyes. The lantern had fallen not far above, and there was still a flicker of fire, allowing him to vaguely make out the situation—

A hand reached out from within the stone chamber.

…They had just checked a moment ago, and all the stone chambers were empty.

But that hand did exist. It was extremely withered, resembling a dried corpse, and its shape was quite peculiar, with fingers longer than those of an ordinary person.

The touch of the hand was icy cold and dry, without a hint of warmth.

The hand stretched out from the depths of the stone chamber, resembling the delicate legs of a spider. It bent at an angle that didn’t conform to human structure, gently prying open Yin Ci’s fingers.

Yin Ci remained silent as he slid down quietly. He feared that if Shi Jingzhi saw this thing, he would be frightened out of his wits, and saving him would be even more troublesome.

Shi Jingzhi simply assumed that Yin Ci couldn’t bear his weight. Taking advantage of the situation, he adjusted his posture and thrust the flag forward. The clear silver bamboo pole lit by the yang fire was inserted into the stone wall like a block of tofu.

The two of them descended for a while, awkwardly suspended in mid-air. They had an intimate encounter with the white-robed creature hanging on the wall. As they drew closer, the stench of blood and flesh became even more pronounced. The white-robed creature remained motionless, yet possessed a warmth reminiscent of a living person, making them extremely uncomfortable.

Shi Jingzhi’s expression fluctuated, seemingly wanting to let go and be done with it.

On the other hand, Yin Ci firmly held onto the chain, suspending himself together with the white-robed creature.

“Shizun, what should we do?”

With the situation urgent, Shi Jingzhi no longer held a grudge against his disciple. After steadying his emotions for a moment, his whole body burst into yang fire, illuminating the area above them.

His original intention seemed to be to illuminate the surroundings, figure out how far they had slipped, and calculate the distance to climb back. However, as soon as he shed light on the situation, Shi Jingzhi saw it too clearly.

Numerous long and slender hands extended from various stone chambers, forming a web above them, clearly indicating that they were not meant to ascend.

Now things were even worse. Shi Jingzhi, who was unprepared, trembled all over. He slid down a section of the bamboo pole, almost falling straight down. Yin Ci grabbed him and said with great seriousness, “Since we can’t go up for the time being, we might as well go down and take a look.”

Shi Jingzhi gulped and swallowed his saliva. “A’Ci, are you serious?”

The forbidden area was within reach, and Yin Ci couldn’t be bothered to act or beat around the bush. He got straight to the point. “The Goddess has become wary of both of us. Even if we manage to escape now, it will be difficult to obtain any other information. Shizun, since we’ve come…”

Shi Jingzhi couldn’t decide whether the terrifying aspect was the hand web above or his disciple saying “since we’ve come” in the face of this situation.

However, what Yin Ci said was indeed reasonable. If they didn’t enter the tiger’s den, how could they catch the tiger’s cub? Shi Jingzhi didn’t want to spend the rest of his life in Yuanxian Village. He looked up at the hand web and took a deep breath. “Lend me the Hanging Shadow Sword.”

The two of them awkwardly switched positions in midair. Shi Jingzhi held the “Medicine Cures Illness” flag in one hand and the Hanging Shadow Sword in the other, alternating between inserting them into the rock wall, steadily descending. Yin Ci embraced his master’s neck, keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings.

The further down they went, the more white-robed creatures there were. They hung silently at the ends of iron chains, varying in size from dozens to hundreds. As they delved deeper, the stench of rotting flesh grew stronger, making them nauseous.

It was unknown whether Fox Shi’s nose could withstand it.

After climbing down for an unknown length of time, the two of them finally caught sight of a faint glimmer.

They had reached the bottom of this bottomless forbidden area. From a distance, they could see countless peculiar-shaped objects at the bottom of the pit, resembling enormous withered lotus leaves. A jade-green liquid flowed out from an unknown source, winding its way down and forming a thin layer of water at the bottom of the forbidden area, reflecting a soft shimmering blue light.

The bottom of the water was covered in dark-colored silt, seemingly mixed with something, but from their distance, the two couldn’t make out the details.

In the center of the shallow pond, surrounded by these numerous “lotus leaves” stood a deformed “lotus pod” made of stone.

Its convex and concave shape was opposite to that of an ordinary lotus pod. It resembled an empty bowl, filled with a luminous green liquid. Several cylindrical stone platforms stood within the bowl with their tops protruding above the liquid surface, varying in size. From top to bottom, they vaguely resembled dark “lotus seeds”.

Occasionally, liquid overflowed from the edge of the stone lotus seed. It flowed intermittently, cascading into the water below, creating a gurgling sound like a waterfall.

This was the only lively scene in the pit. Everything else was desolate and stagnant, enveloped in a peculiar sense of tranquility.

Having witnessed the man-eating lake in the Ghost Tomb’s second level, Shi Jingzhi didn’t want to touch any unknown liquid. Leaning on the flagpole for leverage, he pushed himself up the wall, rushing towards the outermost stone platform of the “lotus pod”. Compared to their first encounter, Shi Jingzhi’s movements were more coordinated this time. He even found the time to change his posture, holding Yin Ci horizontally in his arms.

However, his landing wasn’t ideal.

It took more than a day to freeze three feet of ice*. Despite diligently practicing his external martial arts for a few days, Shi Jingzhi still lacked proficiency. If it weren’t for his disciple acting as a cushion below, Shi Jingzhi would have nearly stopped abruptly with his face.

*(冰冻三尺非一日之寒) Proverb that emphasizes the idea that significant achievements or profound change require time, effort, and perseverance (AKA Rome was not built in a day).

The two of them barely stopped at the edge of the stone platform, with less than a yard of space. They narrowly avoided rolling down.

Yin Ci, cushioned by his master’s flesh, couldn’t move and was firmly squashed. Rarely, golden stars flashed before his eyes, and for a moment, he didn’t want to say anything.

Shi Jingzhi, who almost flattened his disciple like a dumpling wrapper, felt embarrassed as he climbed up. “A’Ci, just now… urgh!”

He didn’t finish his sentence as his complexion changed, and he turned his head to vomit.

Yin Ci quickly got up and saw the reason behind Shi Jingzhi’s vomiting—

There were people.

Underneath the translucent liquid resembling jade, numerous people lay. Dozens of individuals were in the lotus stone bowls, while there were hundreds more in the shallow ponds surrounding them.

Well, perhaps “lay” wasn’t quite accurate. Those people no longer resembled humans. They were naked, as if molded from the softest colored wax and slowly melted, their bodies turning into a viscous paste. Their flesh sank underwater, with dark red muscles protruding outward, mingling with their internal organs, forming a strange and grotesque red mud.

Yet they were still alive.

Many eyeballs hadn’t completely melted and were slowly rotating within the gaps between bones. Twisted hearts floated above their flesh, beating laboriously. Blood flowed extremely slowly through the deformed skin.

Yin Ci didn’t know if these people still had any consciousness, and he hoped they didn’t.

This wasn’t the kind of death he sought.

Shi Jingzhi vomited for a long time before finally recovering his composure. Under the pale light, his complexion wasn’t much different from that of a dead person.

“I smell Auntie Liu.” Shi Jingzhi trembled. “I’ve given her medicine before, so I remember its scent.”

At this moment, Yin Ci didn’t have the mindset to tease him. Shi Jingzhi was only twenty-seven years old, not some mentally twisted lunatic. Seeing such a scene suddenly was naturally overwhelming.

Even someone as knowledgeable as Yin Ci was momentarily horrified.

The Ghost Tomb was strange, but all those peculiarities were still within the realm of “humanly desires”. However, what lay before their eyes was different. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn’t made by human hands.

Yin Ci silently approached and let Shi Jingzhi bury his face in his shoulder. It seemed as if Shi Jingzhi had found a lifeline as he held onto his disciple tightly, taking deep breaths for quite a while before barely calming down.

Knowing the true nature of the red mud in the shallow pond made the stench in the air particularly nauseating.

“Shh.” Yin Ci patted his back. “I have a strong destiny, capable of overcoming evil spirits. Remember, Shizun?”

“I remember.” Shi Jingzhi wiped the corner of his mouth and weakly smiled. “Now I understand what happened to the acacia bean. Bai Wei… he might be here.”

Neither alive nor dead, the acacia bean couldn’t turn to ashes and couldn’t maintain its original form.

As if hearing their conversation, a small sob suddenly emanated from the chaotic shadows. Shi Jingzhi stiffened, unsure, and raised his voice slightly, “Yin Deng?”

The sob immediately turned into a mournful wail, and now both of them heard it clearly. It was indeed the voice of a young girl. The voice came from the central stone platform, not too far from where they stood.

The master and disciple were standing on a small stone platform at the edge. Shi Jingzhi staggered to his feet and began moving toward the center of the stone lotus.

The fluorescence was weak, and at such a short distance, shadows could easily engulf the appearance of things. From this perspective, there were figures standing on the other stone platforms. Those things remained motionless, standing at about nine feet tall, certainly not the size of a little girl.

If they wanted to reach the central stone platform, the two of them couldn’t avoid them.

The master and disciple seemed to reach a silent agreement and refrained from acting rashly. Shi Jingzhi didn’t dare ignite his yang fire, afraid of alarming them. Both of them held their breath and carefully avoided each eerie silhouette, relying solely on the faint fluorescence as they stealthily made their way towards the center of the stone platform.

Upon reaching the central stone platform and confirming the silence around them, Shi Jingzhi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Located in the center of the pit, where the fluorescence was slightly brighter, they finally got a clear view of the central stone platform.

Standing on the platform was an unfinished towering statue of a deity, and Yin Deng was sobbing at its feet. She curled up into a dark red bundle, motionless, like a fallen fruit for offerings.

Not to mention the young Yin Deng, even Shi Jingzhi hesitated to move after getting a clear look at the deity.

The deity was approximately thirteen feet tall—quite massive—and of a common size seen during the Yun Dynasty. They even recognized the appearance of the statue, which was also very common—it depicted the national deity of Great Yun’s state religion, the Imperial Celestial.

However, it wasn’t an ordinary clay statue.

Its framework wasn’t made of iron or wood but of genuine human bones.

Countless human bones were used in its construction, forming a delicate and symmetrical structure. Rows of arm bones, bundles of leg bones, neatly assembled pelvic bones, and interwoven rib bones. Different-sized skulls were strung together, stacked in an orderly manner. Even human teeth became part of the sculpting props, densely embedded together.

The bone surface was covered in flesh membranes, with blood vessels and tendons inseparable, tightly binding the skeletal structure of the deity. Viscous flesh paste was layered on top, compressed, and molded into the divine body and garments. To ensure the flesh remained intact, tiny light green fibers were mixed into the flesh paste, identical to those emanating from Yin Deng’s eyes.

Within the intricately constructed skeleton, a large mass of hearts was intertwined, beating lightly and slowly. Some deformed eyes could be seen within the flesh paste, their gazes scattered as if lost in a dream.

…A living flesh idol.

Currently, only half of its flesh body had been sculpted, with one side vivid and the other skeletal. The finer details weren’t deeply carved, indicating that it was clearly an unfinished work. Its head had not been sculpted with distinct features; only a rough structure was outlined, with the flesh paste loosely stretched over it, and delicate blood vessels clearly visible.

The deity slightly bowed its head with its movements exuding a bone-chilling sense of compassion, similar to the Goddess.

Yin Deng lay at the foot of this colossal entity with her left arm deformed from some impact, with traces of the flesh paste’s texture showing through.

Shi Jingzhi took two steps forward, attempting to hold her. Suddenly, a green light flashed, and he unknowingly activated some kind of spell, instantly flooding the entire underground space with light. Bright beams came from all directions, dazzling their eyes.

All shadows disappeared into nothingness, and the complete view of the underground space appeared before them.

Yin Ci didn’t have a chance to observe the details around them. Previously, the darkness was dense, and they could only see where the fluorescence illuminated. Now that everything had taken form, it added the final straw to everyone’s nerves, pushing them to the brink of collapse.

After the flesh idol, a truly colossal idol was revealed.

The statue was embedded in the cave wall, with only its massive head and part of the upper body exposed. If it weren’t for the fact that half of the head was embedded in the wall, this statue could completely block the pit.

It was undoubtedly not formed by human hands—this statue was composed of countless intertwined tree roots, showing no trace of deliberate intervention.

The deity slightly leaned forward, as if observing the people, and the bright light illuminated its facial features formed by the intertwined roots.

The Imperial Celestial had a face that appeared somewhat androgynous, with a beautiful and plump appearance. However, unlike the statues worshiped in temples, there was no trace of compassion between its eyebrows; only boundless indifference. The slender arms hung at the edge of the statue, twisted and contorted like dying ghost spiders.

Shi Jingzhi supported himself with the flagpole as he stared in disbelief. His whole body seemed about to collapse, but he managed to stand firm, avoiding sitting on the ground.

His face turned pale, and he murmured, “We came too early. We should have let Yan Qing divinate first. At the very least, we should have brought that goose along.”

Yin Ci remained silent.

He stood directly in front of the flesh deity. From this angle, the two statues complemented each other, creating an extremely eerie beauty.

In front, scattered bones and flesh; behind, countless plants and trees. The scene was no different from the myriad of creatures in the world.

For some unknown reason, a subtle sense of familiarity arose in Yin Ci’s heart. This place was clearly not his place of burial, yet it felt like some kind of destiny.

How absurd.

---

The author has something to say:

Shi Jingzhi: If I am guilty, the law should punish me instead of taking me on a tour of the underworld attractions _(;з」∠)_

Yin Ci: This master worship is too lively, but it’s lively in the wrong direction _(;з」∠)_ 

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 34: Heaven and Earth Are Impartial

Su Si had just escorted Yin Deng back home last night and became the focus of Mian Jie’s inquiry. She grabbed his shoulders and shook him, but he didn’t forget to change his voice to a girl’s. “Yin Deng is missing again?”

“I asked her during the day, and she only said she dreamed of A’Lu last night, and A’Lu was crying sadly.”

The more she spoke, the more choked up she became. “I thought the child was emotionally affected by the dream, but then she disappeared again after just falling asleep tonight… Her father and I locked the door specially… Are you sure you haven’t seen her?”

Su Si shook his head.

Mian Jie’s face was exhausted, and her hair was in disarray from being grabbed. She stood still for a while and gritted her teeth. “Her father went to ask people around, and I… I’m going to ask the Great Goddess. In case Yin Deng ran outside the village boundaries but went the wrong way…”

Her voice became more and more trembling, scared by her own imagination.

Yan Qing put on his coat. “Don’t jump to conclusions. We will also help you look for her. Yin Deng has small steps, so she can’t run too far.”

With the chaos outside, pretending to have somnambulism tonight was out of the question. Yin Ci slowly got out of bed and let out a resigned sigh.

Shi Jingzhi had already dressed neatly in the sect’s attire and lifted the “Medicine Cures Illness” flag. “A’Ci, we will also go and look for her.”

The villagers searched for a long time. The good news was that there were no fresh footprints or traces outside the village. However, the bad news was that there were no traces of Yin Deng inside the village either.

The Goddess was finally invited, still in her graceful appearance, with her hair neatly arranged. After hearing the villagers’ account, her face showed some sorrow. “She may have entered the forbidden area.”

“But isn’t A’Huo guarding outside the forbidden area?” Mian Jie knelt on the ground and responded with a somewhat mournful voice. “She’s just a child. How could she have bypassed the dog demon? And there are people in white robes guarding inside the forbidden area. There should have been some movement…”

The Goddess’s expression was slightly displeased. “This matter is suspicious and needs to be thoroughly investigated.”

“I want to go in.” Mian Jie’s eyes were red. “Great Goddess, let me go in and find her.”

“A’Mian, you understand the rules. That’s not a place for those who haven’t ascended to immortality, so the villagers are not allowed to enter the forbidden area. If you displease the divine spirits in the forbidden area, there will be only a dead end. Although Yin Deng is young, breaking the rules is breaking the rules, and I cannot help you.”

Mian Jie let out a bitter laugh. “Then I will ascend to immortality right now, and you can immediately prepare my funeral. Yin Deng is still young, and she has just gone missing recently, so she must still be alive. Please help me find her, I beg you to help me find her…”

After speaking, she rushed towards a nearby tree trunk, seemingly intending to take her own life in public.

Yin Ci acted quickly, grabbing her, and suddenly had an idea in his mind.

“Great Goddess, a few days ago, I had a conversation with Bai Wei, and he mentioned that he wanted to enter the forbidden area to accumulate immortal potential.”

The Goddess finally turned her gaze toward him. “What about it?”

“Bai Wei has no immortal potential, just like me. But he was able to enter the forbidden area with you, and I heard that he didn’t bring anyone who had already ‘ascended to immortality’… May I ask, Great Goddess, how long was he able to act normally after entering the forbidden area?”

Shi Jingzhi sensed the hidden meaning behind Yin Ci’s words and exploded. “A’Ci, let’s go back and discuss this!”

“Shizun, time waits for no one,” Yin Ci firmly expressed. “Great Goddess, if  ‘that’s not a place for those who haven’t ascended to immortality, so the villagers are not allowed to enter the forbidden area’, what about people from outside the village? Since the immortals haven’t bestowed their protection upon me, they shouldn’t have the authority to punish me either, right?”

Shi Jingzhi was about to be driven crazy by his disciple—what bullshit are you spouting?! Common sense would tell you that people would give face to their own family. If a stranger trespassed on their territory, they would be kicked out as far as possible.

But unexpectedly, after contemplating for a while, the Goddess actually agreed with that heap of bullshit. “Immortal potentials are weak and insignificant, as insignificant as ants, and indeed, they would not immediately alarm the celestials. If you act quickly enough, you might have a chance to try.”

Yin Ci nodded happily, seeing the Great Goddess in a slightly better light for the first time.

Shi Jingzhi wasn’t a rare saint, and he didn’t believe that Yin Deng’s life was worth more than his own disciple’s. He shouted hoarsely with a tone filled with intimidation, “As your master, I forbid it!”

On the other side, Mian Jie had already collapsed on the ground. On one hand, she hoped that Yin Ci would bring her daughter back, but on the other hand, she felt the same panic as Shi Jingzhi. Countless emotions choked her throat, and she couldn’t utter a word. Yin Deng’s father, after searching the surroundings, finally arrived. He held his wife and daughter in his arms, muttering as if praying.

Yin Deng’s younger sister hung onto her father’s chest. She seemed to sense something and wailed loudly, struggling desperately as her cries pierced the sky.

The atmosphere froze for a moment.

Shi Jingzhi felt numbness in his limbs. His rationality told him that if he stopped Yin Ci now, it would only make the actions of the Kushan Sect in the village more difficult. But with the strange phenomenon involving Bai Wei and the subtle attitude of the Great Goddess, Yin Ci’s journey this time seemed more perilous than auspicious.

And deep within his heart, that unnamed emotion erupted again, like a curse that couldn’t be shaken off.

Like it had for the past twenty years, it burrowed into the depths of his mind and whispered softly to him—everyone is suffering, longing for the unattainable, jealous of what they once had. Even ordinary people experience gains and losses, but everything for you goes against your wishes, leaving you unable to obtain what you seek.

Aren’t you resentful?

Look, the panicked and pitiful family of Yin Deng is staring at Yin Ci as if it’s only natural for him to bring their daughter back. They must consider it a given that “their daughter will live until tomorrow”, which is why they cannot accept reality. How arrogant.

For the sake of this “given”, they even want to gamble with Yin Ci’s life.

Yin Ci was clearly his disciple, his possession, his “karmic bond”. How dare they?

This emotion, like a hunger from seven days of fasting, ignited a cold fire within him in his chest. He had to tear something apart, seize something, to extinguish it.

Shi Jingzhi had once thought it was an inner demon*, appearing too early. When he was just coming of age, it was already accompanying him. A young child wouldn’t even understand earthly desires, so how could it give rise to such a complex whirlpool of desires?

*In terms of cultivation, they are negative emotions and mental barriers that hinders one’s training and cultivation.

Fortunately, no matter what this impulse was, Shi Jingzhi was extremely familiar with it. He knew well how to control this ferocious beast, not letting it harm others when it was unleashed.

For example, he could crush this intense desire and transform it into anger.

Perhaps Shi Jingzhi had been silent for too long, and the gazes of the many villagers all concentrated on him. The rise and fall of Shi Jingzhi’s chest gradually intensified, and anger ignited in his eyes. Wearing that not very magnificent sect master’s robe, he slowly exuded a silent aura of oppression, a sense of pressure stronger than even that of the Goddess.

Yin Ci instantly dispelled his pleasant mood.

Shi Jingzhi usually had an appearance as if he would be scared to death with just a slight carelessness. Even though Yin Ci knew that this person’s origins were mysterious, he didn’t pay much attention to him, treating him as if he had raised a clingy big fox. And when things got out of control in the Ghost Tomb, he simply thought his master had some personality issues, naturally carrying a bit of madness.

It made the game more exciting, and Yin Ci had no complaints.

…Until this moment.

Speaking of which, this was the first time Yin Ci had seen Shi Jingzhi calmly release pressure.

Yin Ci slightly arched his back, showing some genuine vigilance. He had seen true powerhouses before, and Shi Jingzhi didn’t rank among them. But when a person was serious, the aura they emitted could reveal many things stemming from their nature.

The same level of oppressive feeling, as seen in the Jianchen Temple, was mostly heavy and profound, while in the Taiheng Sect, it was mostly righteous and clear. As for the demonic sects, it was either chillingly cold or twisted and viscous. Yin Ci had fought with Yan Budu several times back then, but even Yan Budu’s oppressive aura couldn’t escape the norm.

But Shi Jingzhi was different.

Yin Ci had never experienced this kind of pressure from him. It was almost empty, to the point of being somewhat pure—without malice, somewhat naive, but undoubtedly carrying an aura that could tear everything apart and crush all things into mud.

“The heavens and earth are impartial*” were the words that suddenly collided in Yin Ci’s mind.

*This comes from the fifth chapter of Laozi’s <Tao Te Ching>, which is a philosophical idea that nature, fate, or the forces of the universe don’t possess human-like qualities of kindness, compassion, or moral judgment. Instead, they operate on their own laws and principles, without consideration for individual human desires or concerns.

Facing this conveniently obtained cheap master, he felt a similar sensation to “dread” for the first time.

Shi Jingzhi’s expression changed constantly, and he stood in place for a while before turning and walking towards the Goddess.

Ordinary villagers could mostly discern the strength of a person’s aura, but the Goddess evidently noticed something extraordinary about this person. She didn’t even bother to display a sympathetic expression and had a hint of caution in her eyes.

Shi Jingzhi stood before her. “You can go into the forbidden area alone.”

“…Yes.”

“If the immortal potential is weak and insignificant as ants, then if the immortal potential is strong enough, can they stand on equal footing?”

The expression on the Goddess’ face turned ugly. “How could a mortal compare to a true immortal? But indeed, the immortals would regard you as my subordinate and wouldn’t act recklessly.”

Shi Jingzhi obtained the answer he wanted. “Then I will go in with my disciple, and you tell that dog demon to step aside. I’ll go and explain a few things to my people first, and I’ll be back soon.”

He grabbed the back collar of Yin Ci’s clothes and dragged him towards Yan Qing and Su Si. The two of them had just regained their senses, and the way they looked at Shi Jingzhi was as if they were looking at an upside-down walking bear.

“With such a big commotion, if A’Ci and I go down, the Goddess will definitely observe from the outside,” Shi Jingzhi said concisely. “You take this opportunity to find the Goddess’s residence and look for clues.”

Yan Qing was taken aback. “But we…”

Shi Jingzhi couldn’t be bothered to explain and continued, “This is a chance that has fallen into our laps. Whatever you can find out, find it. Got it? Even if you can only see the door frame, remember the patterns on it.”

Then he tugged on Yin Ci again and gritted his teeth. “When this matter is over, I’ll show you what I can do.”

This fox was truly infuriated. He had even learned to make fierce threats.

Wasn’t he afraid of death? He should have stayed outside. Yin Ci couldn’t make sense of the urgency in Shi Jingzhi’s mind. This person’s logic was as if it were taught by dogs.

It was a twist of fate. He had initially wanted to grab a simple-minded scapegoat. Who would have known that this scapegoat would transform into a wooden collar around his neck? Yin Ci felt somewhat uncomfortable about it.

Shi Jingzhi showed no mercy. His gaze was solemn. “I’ll ask you again, are you really going?”

“Yes.” Yin Ci had lived for over three hundred years and was bored to the point of growing moss. He couldn’t let a death puzzle slip by right under his nose.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Shizun, you don’t have to come.”

“You still remember that I’m your master? If Mian Jie can sacrifice herself for Yin Deng, am I weaker than a fragile woman?”

Yin Ci let out a hoarse sound and didn’t retort. In his words, there seemed to be an inclination towards treating Shi Jingzhi as a teacher who would be a lifetime father. He decided to change the topic and act dumb. “We have been inside before. Without the Goddess interfering this time, we might even come across Bai Wei.”

Shi Jingzhi replied with a snort.

Yin Ci obediently closed his mouth.

The black dog was sent aside. Inside the tree gate, it was pitch black, like a toothless giant mouth.

Yin Ci couldn’t help but speak again. “Shizun, have you really thought it through? You still have a way to turn back now…”

Shi Jingzhi: “Hmph.”

He was truly angry this time.

…Well, he would take it step by step and adapt to the situation.

At the same time, in Yidu.

Prince Xu Jingming of Rong returned to the capital but didn’t immediately present the Buddhist beads. Shi Jingzhi saw through his intentions—he was missing too many Buddhist beads, and he felt embarrassed to bring them before the Emperor to seek credit.

So he temporarily entrusted the map to the Imperial Preceptor for safekeeping.

Although the Emperor didn’t favor the lineage of the Imperial Preceptor, there had been no mistakes from two consecutive generations of Imperial Preceptors. The previous Imperial Preceptor was an elder of three dynasties, while the current one was the favored disciple chosen by the previous generation, carrying the spirit of a sage.

The Imperial Preceptor, Jiang Youyue, had a refined and ethereal appearance, appearing to be around thirty, but he was actually over sixty. He calmly accepted the Buddhist beads without any waves on his face.

Xu Jingming lowered his head. “That troublemaker took on a disciple and is also pursuing Yan Budu’s legacy. We need to seize the treasure first, not only for the Emperor but also to eliminate the troubles for Great Yun.”

Jiang Youyue said gently, “Him taking on a disciple may not necessarily be a bad thing.”

“Not necessarily a bad thing? He is a national calamity. It’s not so easy for him to settle down. He only has a year left to live, yet he still has thoughts of establishing his own sect. He most likely harbors ill intentions.”

Jiang Youyue smiled. “This child has a strong attachment and desires. The more attachments one has, the more shackles one carries. Everything has two sides, so do not make hasty judgments.”

“The current Emperor… No, Elder Brother has already been deceived by him. Are you also being deceived by him?”

Jiang Youyue didn’t answer. With a smile at the corner of his mouth, he continued reading his book.

Xu Jingming couldn’t catch his breath, feeling that he had exhausted himself for Great Yun. These people all thought they held absolute power and were carefree, completely unaware of the terror that Shi Jingzhi possessed.

As the saying went, “A three-year-old can observe an elder*.” If they had compared him with his monstrous older brother using this saying, they wouldn’t have taken him so lightly.

*Idiom that refers to even at a young age, a person can discern the character, behavior, and qualities of someone older or more experienced. It suggests that one’s ability to judge and perceive the true nature of others can develop early in life.

But thinking about it, Xu Jingming sneered to himself. They must not have carefully observed that monster.

As the youngest son of the former emperor, Xu Jingming was destined for an idle life from the moment he was born. His older brothers were all busy with their own affairs, while he, weak and sickly, declared himself the rival of the demon incarnate. Apart from carrying books on his back, Xu Jingming spent the rest of his time engaging in various vices and being idle.

He had always been extremely curious about Shi Jingzhi.

To him, Shi Jingzhi was like a colorful venomous spider. Xu Jingming was terrified to death but couldn’t help but be drawn to it for something new.

Shi Jingzhi was raised by his father in the deep palace and was bound by numerous restrictions. Xu Jingming couldn’t recall much from his early years, but two restrictions stood out in his memory—

Everyone around Shi Jingzhi, regardless of their position, had to be changed every month without repetition. His meals couldn’t be too poor, but also couldn’t be too good. Regardless of Shi Jingzhi’s preferences, the taste had to be changed every day.

Xu Jingming knew all of this because of a serving maid he liked who went on duty with Shi Jingzhi for a month. When the maid returned, she was nervous, and when asked what had happened, she refused to speak.

The palace had limited manpower, and the people around Shi Jingzhi had to be constantly changed. There weren’t many people assigned to his residence. Taking advantage of his audacity, Xu Jingming personally sneaked in to investigate.

He specifically had the maid cover for him, afraid of being discovered by Shi Jingzhi.

How old was Shi Jingzhi back then? Seven or eight?

He sat upright at the stone table, eating his meal in an orderly manner. The dishes were simple and plain, and Shi Jingzhi only sampled each dish lightly without showing any abnormality.

Until the maid removed the dishes and brought out the desserts.

The desserts were a new creation from the imperial kitchen. They weren’t particularly precious, but they exuded a delightful fragrance and were crispy and delicious. Even Xu Jingming had several plates. Shi Jingzhi stared fixedly at the unfamiliar desserts and suddenly dismissed the maid.

At first, Shi Jingzhi didn’t touch them.

He just stared at them intently, as if they were the most enticing things in the world. After an hour of wandering, Xu Jingming returned, only to find Shi Jingzhi unmoved, still locked in a stare with the desserts. His gaze was filled with a crazed desire, as if he were a starving beggar watching a feast.

He had just finished his meal, so it was unlikely for him to exhibit such behavior. Could it be that he had gone mad?

Or perhaps the desserts were delicacies beyond compare, and Xu Jingming’s taste buds were dull, unable to perceive their quality?

As Xu Jingming pondered, Shi Jingzhi finally made a move. He grabbed a handful of desserts and greedily stuffed them into his mouth like a starving ghost. He ate so voraciously that he nearly bit off half of his finger, his hands dripping with blood.

In an instant, the plate that was once full of desserts was left with only one piece.

Shi Jingzhi suddenly stopped, his face stiffening for a moment as he took out a short bamboo rod.

It was an instrument of punishment used in the palace, inscribed with spells. It caused excruciating pain but left no lasting injuries.

Xu Jingming watched as he raised the bamboo rod and mercilessly struck his own arm. In the next moment, Shi Jingzhi writhed in pain and fell from his seat, curling up on the ground.

Xu Jingming, who would have a serving maid blow on him for a mere bump, had never seen such a scene. He was immediately frightened. With hair standing on end, he ran away.

It wasn’t because he had nothing to eat or was unable to satisfy his hunger, so why act so violently? Elder Brother was right; Shi Jingzhi was born with a problem.

A few days later, to confirm that what he had seen was not an illusion, Xu Jingming sneaked back to take a look. It had just rained, and Shi Jingzhi’s whereabouts were unknown, but the piece of dessert remained untouched. Soaked in the rain, it had turned into a moldy residue.

Several months later, a banquet was held in the palace. Shi Jingzhi sat obediently in the corner, eating and drinking with grace and courtesy. No matter what kind of pastries were served, he only took a few bites, barely even looking at them, showing even more restraint than the other princes.

The wild desire and madness that had been witnessed that day seemed to have been nothing but an illusion.

What a deceiver.

Shi Jingzhi had deceived everyone for over twenty years, finally convincing the emperor, his elder brother, to let the “troublesome one who behaved no differently from an ordinary person” return to his domain like a tiger released into the mountains.

The more Xu Jingming recalled, the angrier he became. He rose from his seat with a heavy heart, bowed to Jiang Youyue, and prepared to leave.

However, just as he turned his back, Jiang Youyue spoke again in his usual calm tone.

“Your Highness, there is no need to be resentful. I am well aware… His act of taking on disciples may not be a bad thing for you and me. But for the young person who becomes his ‘disciple’, it is like inviting disaster upon themselves.”

Jiang Youyue closed his book, sighed, and closed his eyes.

“An endless abyss gathering of myriad mundane desires in one person—how can an ordinary person withstand it? In the end, it is close yet unattainable, and escaping is also impossible.”

“I wonder if it will be the ‘master’ who falls into madness first or the ‘disciple’ who will drown in it.”

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The author has something to say:

Yin Ci: Thank you for the invitation, but I am not an ordinary person.

However, it is true that Demonic Lord Yin has brought himself a lot of trouble. Fox Shi may be sweet, but he is neither foolish nor innocent (?

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 33: Nightmare

Bai Wei’s “accumulation of immortal potential” began in the late night.

Most people regarded the Goddess with awe and were indifferent to the people of Xizhuang. The only ones who came to see him off were Yin Deng and Mian Jie. Yin Deng’s father stayed at home, taking care of their youngest daughter, who couldn’t speak yet.

According to the words of Yuanxian Village, they were Bai Wei’s final “destined encounter”.

The Goddess stood at the entrance of the tree gate, with two white-robed monsters standing on either side. A huge demonic tree cast a massive shadow behind her, and its twisted branches scattered in all directions, resembling the gates of the underworld.

She reached out her hand towards Bai We with a face still filled with compassion. “Have you made up your mind?”

Bai Wei pursed his lips and turned his head to look at the two women behind him, trying to find a glimpse of A’Lu’s shadow on their faces.

“Don’t go.” Mian Jie slowly shook her head. “I know my daughter. A’Lu will be heartbroken.”

Yin Deng looked at her mother in confusion. “Isn’t ascending to immortality a good thing? Brother is going down to accumulate immortal potential, and when he accumulates enough, he’ll be able to see sister again.”

Mian Jie tightened her hand on Yin Deng’s back. “Yin Deng, do you miss A’Lu?”

“Of course I do. I miss her every day.”

“Mom misses her too… Mom would rather have you both stay by her side than enjoy the blessings of ascending to immortality.”

“The Goddess said that we will all ascend to immortality sooner or later, and then we can meet again.”

The little girl proudly lifted her head. “When that time comes, I’ll tell Sister that I missed her for so long! I still want her to help me tie my hair.”

The Goddess remained silent with her face displaying a gentle smile.

Mian Jie frowned slightly, showing a hint of sorrow. She stopped speaking and simply held her daughter tightly.

Bai Wei shook off his long robe and knelt in front of Mian Jie, solemnly kowtowing. “When I married A’Lu, we only paid respect to heaven and earth. We couldn’t pay respects to our parents… It’s time to make up for it now. Mother, please accept my bow.”

After saying that, he stood up and walked towards the tree gate without looking back.

“I really like this brother,” Yin Deng whispered. “Mom, I also want to see Sister. Can I go with Brother?”

“Yin Deng, let’s go home.” Mian Jie didn’t answer. She simply chewed on that one sentence with anguish. “Let’s go home.”

They said to ascend to immortality, one must undergo bitter cultivation on earth and be bestowed by the heavens. Once someone left the mortal world, they would never return. Who could distinguish between truth and falsehood?

The world only saw life and death as vast and boundless.

It was only after the Goddess entered the forbidden area that the four members of the Kushan Sect quietly approached. Shi Jingzhi remained quiet for a long time before finally exhaling slowly. “This ascension to immortality sounds more and more ominous. It’s amazing that the people of Yuanxian Village can bear it.”

“They have no choice.” Yin Ci stood beside him. “For anyone who has sent away several loved ones with their own hands, who would dare assert that ascending to immortality isn’t a good thing?”

“Now it all depends on Bai Wei. I hope he can hold on and find his wife,” Shi Jingzhi muttered. “A’Lu must not disappear like Lao Liu…”

“Yes.”

Yin Ci stared at the tree gate not far away, itching to move. Unfortunately, Fox Shi’s claws were once again hooked onto his belt, making it difficult for him to even move away.

They patiently waited, transforming into two night cats lurking under the eaves. The acacia bean in Shi Jingzhi’s hand remained quiet, indicating that Bai Wei should be fine, but the Goddess hadn’t come out either.

Strange, does the “accumulation of immortal potential” ceremony take this long? Or were they overthinking it and the Goddess, being inherently good-natured, was truly in a small world beneath the forbidden area?

An hour later, the Goddess finally walked out of the forbidden area with a calm and gentle smile seemingly etched on her face. Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci couldn’t discern her emotions at that moment.

The bean remained quiet, showing no signs of change.

Shi Jingzhi’s spirit shook. He stretched his legs to relieve the numbness, and a small cluster of yang fire ignited at his fingertips. He gently roasted the bean, which was extremely hot. If Bai Wei was still alive, he would definitely receive the signal.

The sky finally darkened until one couldn’t see their own fingers stretched out in front of them. The demonic tree in the forbidden area rustled.

The black dog demon yawned and lay steadily at the entrance, like a pool of black ink. The moon slowly moved, and time approached the late hours of the night. Yin Ci rested his head on his master’s shoulder, peacefully dozing off.

Meanwhile, Shi Jingzhi spread his palm and stared intently at the acacia bean in his hand, as if he could ignite it through sheer gaze.

Time had never been so torturous.

After about two more hours, Yan Qing hesitantly spoke up, “Sect Master, about this bean…”

“The bean is definitely fine. We agreed to wait, so we’ll continue waiting. It’s still some time before dawn, and no one will… Hm?”

In this world, things often came when you feared them.

A small red figure approached the tree gate, stumbling as if she were a corpse in a funeral procession. The black dog demon perked up its ears, showing hesitant hostility and revealing its sharp teeth.

Yin Ci was startled by the hostility and instantly opened his eyes. “Is that Yin Deng?”

However, Su Si’s reaction was faster than everyone else’s.

While Yan Qing’s legs went numb from squatting and he hadn’t yet regained his senses, Su Si leaped down from his hiding spot. He flashed in front of the black dog demon and swiftly pulled Yin Deng back, displaying agile and beautiful footwork.

After landing while holding the little girl, Su Si’s face gradually showed a hint of regret.

“This little girl is sleepwalking.” He placed Yin Deng down and acted as if nothing had happened. “There’s nothing wrong. Just don’t wake her up. How about this, I’ll leave for a while and take her back to Mian Jie.”

Yan Qing stared fixedly at him with a complex gaze.

“…No objections? Alright then. You guys go about your business. I’ll go first.”

Su Si carried the little girl on his back and ran off without looking back, lacking the light and graceful demeanor he had before. Yan Qing’s expression darkened slightly as he continued to watch them until Su Si’s figure disappeared into the night.

However, Shi Jingzhi wasn’t surprised by it. Yin Ci also remained silent on the matter, pretending not to understand anything.

Aside from occasional slips and exaggerations, Su Si’s acting skills were passable. However, Su Si had overlooked a major premise—if he really was a “butcher” like he claimed to be, no matter how knowledgeable and well-traveled he was, he wouldn’t be able to stay in Yuanxian Village peacefully for half a month.

He had seen the white-robed monsters early on and lived here alone, bound and restricted in his daily life. Even though Su Si was considered audacious among ordinary people, this environment was enough to make him feel somewhat fearful.

However, despite Su Si’s blustering behavior, he didn’t show any signs of fear in his actions and gestures.

This kid must have some tricks up his sleeve. During the ten years he was separated from Yan Qing, it couldn’t have been as simple as he claimed.

…Unfortunately, young people were still young after all, and Su Si’s experience wasn’t enough to sustain this act. Not to mention Yin Ci, a three-hundred-year-old monster, Su Si probably couldn’t even deceive the slightly older Shi Jingzhi.

However, as fellow wanderers of the world, neither the master nor disciple were foolish enough to stir up internal conflict during this sensitive period.

Since Su Si was willing to act, they were happy to go along with it. They were all accustomed to acting anyway, and at least Su Si’s cherished treatment of Yan Qing was genuine, so it wouldn’t hinder their progress.

There was already a layer of paper between them as master and disciple. Even if the four members of the Kushan Sect were wrapped up like paper lanterns, it didn’t seem to matter much.

With this in mind, Yin Ci couldn’t help but glance at Shi Jingzhi.

With his cheap master as a convenient shield, and if he included himself reluctantly, the Kushan Sect had a total of four people, three of whom had undisclosed backgrounds. Only Yan Qing’s identity was known, but given his identity, it was more reassuring to have that background undisclosed.

He wondered if Sect Master Shi had consulted anyone about his fortune-telling; his fate certainly posed a big problem.

Just as dawn approached and their plan was about to fall apart, Shi Jingzhi was startled.

Yin Ci shook off the resurgent sleepiness and asked, “Is something wrong with Brother Bai?”

“…I don’t know,” Shi Jingzhi’s tone was complicated as he opened his palm, revealing the acacia bean.

The acacia bean hadn’t turned to ashes. It remained a reddish color, but it was no longer plump like before; it had shriveled into a small, half-dead lump. Not even Shi Jingzhi or Yin Ci recognized this kind of response.

Shi Jingzhi still didn’t give up hope, but he waited until the east began to lighten. Bai Wei hadn’t returned, and neither did Su Si.

If they waited any longer, the villagers would start their activities.

The three members of the Kushan Sect squatted on the eaves for an entire night. No matter how skilled they were, they still needed proper blood circulation. Yin Ci’s legs and feet were a bit numb, and at this moment, they only needed a bamboo pole to push them all down.

Shi Jingzhi didn’t want to be seen as a suspicious figure. He took the lead and retreated, sighing as he rolled off the eaves with a somewhat awkward movement resembling a slippery dumpling.

The three of them returned to their residence dejectedly, and Su Si was waiting inside, having prepared breakfast for them.

Seeing only three figures, he blinked in surprise. “Is Bai Wei dead?”

“I don’t know.” Shi Jingzhi repeated dejectedly and threw the shriveled acacia bean onto the table.

Su Si pursed his lips and changed the subject. “Last night, I took Ying Deng home, and Mian Jie accompanied me all the way. I didn’t dare return to the forbidden area. Look, all the food on the table was brought by her… I just said Ying Deng wandered around the village, and I happened to be awake, so I sent her back home.”

He avoided mentioning last night’s issue with his agility. It seemed he had made up his mind to gloss over it.

Yan Qing didn’t inquire further. “Sect Master, what do we do next?”

“At the very least, Bai Wei proved one thing. The area beneath the forbidden area is not simple—it’s even worse than we imagined. Until we figure out the truth, no one should act on their own.”

Shi Jingzhi rubbed his tired legs and showed signs of exhaustion.

Yin Ci understood what he meant.

The Goddess herself might not be particularly powerful, but her strength lay in the unknown. To enter or exit this place, they had to pass through a maze of spells. If they went astray, even the strongest person could be lost forever.

Yin Ci himself wouldn’t be lost forever. He could waste time and wander around until he found a way out. But the process would be boring, and he would miss out on the outside’s competition for the Shirou. No matter how he thought about it, it wasn’t worth it.

Suddenly, it seemed that they were at a dead end. They could only obediently wait for the village entrance ceremony and then rush in, hoping to find a way to survive.

How troublesome.

It would be better to play a little trick tonight, let his cheap master sleep soundly while he ventured into the forbidden area and took a leap off the cliff. The area at the bottom of the forbidden area wasn’t large, and even if there were mazes, they wouldn’t be too complex. It wouldn’t delay much time.

Inspired by Yin Deng, Yin Ci decided to pretend to have a sleepwalking episode tonight. After all, with Yin Deng’s nocturnal wandering as a precedent, even if he rambled on afterwards, it wouldn’t seem too out of place.

Since he had made up his mind, Yin Ci obediently climbed onto the bed and began to catch up on sleep. After all, he had stayed up all night last night, and tonight he would be sleepless again. He couldn’t afford to be drowsy in the forbidden area.

After finishing breakfast, Yin Ci didn’t bother his exhausted master any further. He yawned endlessly and climbed onto the bed, covering himself with the blanket and falling asleep.

Unexpectedly, he actually had a dream.

Yin Ci hadn’t dreamt in nearly a hundred years and almost couldn’t distinguish between the dream and reality, thinking that he had fallen under some kind of spell again. He stood silently in the dream for a long time, realizing that his thoughts were drifting and everything around him was hazy, gradually regaining his senses.

Perhaps it was true that one’s thoughts during the day would manifest in dreams at night. Yin Ci dreamt of the great demonic tree in the forbidden area.

The demonic tree had shed all its leaves, withered and blackened, standing on a vast snowy plain. The nearby houses had vanished, leaving only a scattered heap of bones where the guard dog demon once stood.

In the dream, Yin Ci wasn’t wearing his ghostskin robe. He was dressed in white attire from the Ghost Tomb, barefoot, stepping on the snow, yet he didn’t feel the slightest chill.

It seemed that he really yearned for this forbidden area, even in a literal sense, in his dreams. Yin Ci self-mockingly thought to himself as he stepped on the dog demon’s pale bones and decisively entered the tree gate.

Inside the demonic tree, there was no longer a vast, deep well; the dark tree hollow had transformed into a clean and spacious hall.

Yin Ci couldn’t help but slow his pace.

The hall was ordinary in decoration, and the pale spiraling soul-calling coils swayed gently. In the center of the hall lay a huge and peerless coffin, with the coffin lid pushed aside, covered in unknown vines.

There was no corpse inside the coffin, only a shattered idol.

The idol was made of clay and meticulously painted with bright colors. Now it was brutally shattered into hundreds of pieces, with no blood on the broken surfaces, yet emanating an indescribable sense of bloodiness.

One of the pieces was a fragment of the head, with a vivid giant eye remaining on it, staring directly at Yin Ci.

The coffin was filled with shattered idols, and on top of the broken idols, there was a person.

The woman had disheveled long hair, wearing a crimson dress, and had a swollen belly. She knelt on the fragments of the idols with her hands covering her face, crying in extreme sadness.

As Yin Ci listened attentively, he felt a throbbing headache. There was only this one woman in the hall, but her cries seemed to come from millions of people—the voices of men, women, and children mixed together, emanated from her mouth.

It seemed as though countless invisible hands grabbed Yin Ci, forcing him to walk towards the direction of the coffin.

In the dream, Yin Ci couldn’t use martial arts, so he could only be dragged along by those hands, pulled in front of the woman. Sensing something, the woman slowly stopped her tears and lifted her head.

She was very young, with facial features somewhat resembling Mian Jie, but with an additional touch of youthfulness unique to young people.

However, her eyes weren’t quite right.

Her eye sockets were red, and her pair of eyeballs kept turning—the woman’s eyes were densely packed with countless pupils, leaving no trace of white. They varied in depth, eagerly jostling for space, as if bubbles rising on the surface of boiling water.

As if countless people’s pupils were squeezed together, seen through a pair of eyes.

“Not you!” After recognizing Yin Ci, she let out a scream of extreme fear, trembling like a sieve. “Not you. Stay away!”

It was the first time Yin Ci had been humiliated with this face. He instinctively touched his own face but couldn’t feel any features.

His face disappeared, replaced by countless root-like entities that filled his visage. They stretched forward in a chaotic manner, with a rough and icy-cold texture. For some reason, although he retained his vision, he couldn’t see these nearby foreign objects.

“Don’t come closer. Don’t come closer!” The woman seemed to be under immense pressure as she cried out, covering her head. The shattered idols beneath her emitted a soft cracking sound and broke apart further.

She grabbed the pieces of the deity statues and recklessly threw them at Yin Ci.

“Stay away from us!” She shouted with a myriad of voices. “Get out of here!”

Yin Ci wanted to explain, but the stone fragment hit his forehead directly, causing an incredibly real sensation of pain. Yin Ci jolted awake with his back covered in a thin layer of sweat.

Truly a strange dream.

Shi Jingzhi heard the noise and came over to check; he was visibly startled by Yin Ci’s appearance.

“A’Ci, you…” Shi Jingzhi handed him a warm towel, hesitating in his words. “You usually sleep soundly, so how did you end up bumping your head like this today?”

Yin Ci slowly touched his forehead and let out a sigh. The stone fragment from the dream had indeed left a bruise, but fortunately, he recovered quickly enough that Shi Jingzhi didn’t grow suspicious.

“I had a nightmare,” he answered softly.

Regardless of what secrets the forbidden area held, tonight he was determined to uncover them completely.

For the rest of the day, Yin Ci stuck closely to Shi Jingzhi’s side, never leaving even an inch. He was obedient to the point of being alarming. Despite Shi Jingzhi’s extreme nervousness, he gradually became less vigilant in comforting him.

Unfortunately, Yin Ci’s plan to jump off the cliff hadn’t been put into action yet, as a new complication unexpectedly arose.

Not long after nightfall, there was suddenly a commotion outside. Mian Jie knocked urgently on their door with her face streaked with tears.

“Yin Deng is missing. Have you seen her?”

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 32: Fables

Bai Wei had been hungry for an unknown period of time, speaking incoherently as if he hadn’t had a proper rest in a long time. Shi Jingzhi didn’t rush to ask him questions but instead let him sleep for a while.

Out of old acquaintanceship, Yan Qing tidied up the courtyard and the house, making it finally look like a place where people lived.

Perhaps not having seen his own kind for many days, Bai Wei slept deeply when he finally got the chance to rest. It wasn’t until the sun was setting that he woke up again. This time he had some appetite and managed to eat a little.

After eating and sleeping well, Bai Wei still looked like a skeleton, but the light in his eyes was brighter. Yin Ci recognized that it wasn’t the radiance of survival. When a person was overwhelmed by despair and only clung to a single thread of obsession, their gaze became like this.

“This matter started from a year ago.”

Bai Wei was skilled at storytelling, but when it came to his own story, his tone became dry.

“My father fell ill, so I went up the mountain to find medicine. That’s when I encountered A’Lu… She was playing in the forest, and I had never seen such a beautiful girl before. I thought I had encountered a mountain spirit.”

As one of the few literate people in the village, Bai Wei had a sense of arrogance deep down and some unrealistic romantic feelings in his heart. When he saw that extraordinary girl, he didn’t run away but instead approached her.

After chatting for a while, Bai Wei could see the girl’s personality. A’Lu was sensitive and pure-hearted, with a charm that was lacking in the village girls.

Bai Wei himself was good-looking and skilled in storytelling, and he also had a sense of reason. The two of them, with their talents and appearance, developed an affection for each other after a long period of secret meetings. They eventually became a couple, just like in those fantasy novels.

But this union wasn’t easy.

Even after becoming a couple, Bai Wei still didn’t know where A’Lu came from. A’Lu remained evasive about it and only urged Bai Wei to go with her. However, Bai Wei’s elderly father was still alive and deeply attached to Xizhuang. He was unwilling to die as a guest elsewhere and strongly opposed it.

Just by insisting on marrying A’Lu, whose origins were unclear, Bai Wei had already greatly offended his father. He didn’t dare say a word against his father’s wishes.

“So we made a promise to endure for a while. Once my father passes away, I will go with her.”

Bai Wei said this, revealing a smile that seemed like crying.

Yan Qing was somewhat puzzled. “Leaving aside the fact that women usually marry into their husband’s family, if you’re willing to go with her, just wait a few years, then how…”

How could there be such a big event that made the village disappear…

“You still don’t know, do you? Well, of course the Goddess won’t tell you now. Those who become members of Yuanxian Village can indeed learn the means to come and go freely. But if you leave Yuanxian Village for more than three days, you will… you will lose consciousness and fall into a coma.”

He insisted on not using terms like “death” or “ascending to immortality.”

“Since my father didn’t want to leave Xizhuang, A’Lu could only stay at home for two days and then disappear into the mountains for a day. That’s how we managed to get by. When she was doing well, she would occasionally bring back some gold and jade from the mountains to support the family. I didn’t want to burden her, so I worked hard and saved up, fearing that in the future, when I follow A’Lu to the ‘immortal realm’, others will look down on her.”

“For the people of Xizhuang, I told them she was a maiden* who had descended to the mortal realm. Humans and gods shouldn’t be together, so she has to return to the heavens every other day.”

*Fairy, Fairy Maiden, Female Celestial/Immortal (仙女)

Even Yan Qing didn’t inquire further this time.

He and Su Si were born in Xizhuang, so they knew the nature of the villagers very well. The people of Xizhuang weren’t heinous criminals; they were just ordinary poor people—with both commendable simplicity and the matching viciousness that came from being born in ignorance.

According to Bai Wei’s account, the reality wasn’t far off from their speculations.

The young men in the village were the first to develop twisted ideas.

Bai Wei had a decent appearance and could read, making him already an exception in the village. Now that he had married a wife who seemed like a celestial being, and they were getting along so well and their household was visibly improving, it made others jealous.

Yet the guy surname Bai wasn’t lazy; on the contrary, he even worked harder, truly not knowing how to appreciate his good fortune.

Since Bai Wei was able to find a celestial wife on the mountain, it was only natural that they could as well. Bai Wei was just a bit bolder and luckier. As for women, they had long hair but shortsightedness. As long as they could be found, they could surely be married.

With such foolish thoughts in mind, they began secretly tracking A’Lu.

A’Lu would return to the immortal realm every other day, and she wouldn’t be the only maiden in the immortal realm. As long as they found the way to the immortal realm, what was there to worry about not being able to find a maiden wife?

At first, A’Lu was very cautious. When she entered the forest, she would ride on a black dog demon. The black dog demon ran incredibly fast and never left any opportunity for people to follow. Later, when A’Lu became pregnant and her belly grew bigger every day, she had to switch to riding a sturdy red leopard.

With a pregnant woman on its back, the red leopard dared not run too fast. Finally, one day, two hunters secretly followed A’Lu all the way until the end.

A day later, A’Lu returned to Xizhuang unknowingly, but the two hunters never came back and disappeared completely.

The families in Xizhuang couldn’t just let it go after losing their sons. They rallied their relatives and gathered in front of Bai Wei’s house, demanding an explanation from A’Lu.

“What maiden? I think she’s just a mountain spirit who deceived my son and ate him!”

“That’s right! Being pregnant, she definitely couldn’t resist eating people.”

“She’s going back into the mountains in a couple of days so she can reveal her true form. Let’s stop her here and see what kind of creature his wife really is—”

People squatted in front of the Bai’s residence, tightly gripping hoes and hatchets. A’Lu could probably guess what had happened, but she was afraid of incurring the wrath of the gods upon her parents and family, so how could she reveal the location of the “immortal realm”.

She could only cry.

Bai Wei knelt outside, his voice hoarse, repeatedly reasoning with the villagers.

A’Lu really didn’t know what had happened, and she really had to go back. His elderly father at home was also in critical condition and needed to see a doctor…

Please, I beg you.

“I gave them all the money I saved over the years, not knowing how many times I knocked my head. I only ask them to let A’Lu go back to the mountains and allow the doctor to come in and treat my father. What does it have to do with me… But even after they took the money, they still demanded that A’Lu be handed over.”

“Those people kept blocking the way outside. A’Lu, who is pregnant, dared not leave the house. The village doctor was afraid of trouble and refused to come in.”

“In the end, my father passed away, and she fell asleep.”

Bai Wei clenched his fists tightly.

After that, things were quite simple.

The Goddess of Yuanxian Village arrived in the village with two children and a cart full of gold. She announced that she had come to retrieve the “sleeping” A’Lu, and the villagers of Xizhuang won.

They had discovered the immortal realm, and they all qualified to ascend to immortality. The hunters who had disappeared earlier were also in the immortal realm, waiting for them.

She distributed gold to the people and spoke in a gentle tone. “I am busy, and time is limited. You don’t need to bring anything, just follow me.”

It was unclear if she used some kind of magic, but the words of the Goddess were terrifyingly convincing.

They no longer questioned if they had offended a divine being in the first place, as the divine being was now rewarding them. After all, there were plenty of such strange fables. Perhaps the immortal realm had its own rules, and they were just fortunate.

In less than half a day, there was no one left in the village. To please the divine being before them, the villagers didn’t take anything, fearing they wouldn’t make it in time to ascend to immortality.

Only Bai Wei didn’t desire the immortal realm.

He silently buried his father and then stood guard by his “sleeping” wife, feeling at a loss. She still had breath and warmth. Perhaps there was still time, and when they returned home, she would wake up, right?

On that day, the villagers of Xizhuang all arrived at Yuanxian Village. The Goddess had instructed in advance that every household in Yuanxian Village should stay indoors and let her lead the villagers into the forbidden area.

The villagers of Xizhuang, upon seeing this paradise-like place, didn’t suspect anything and obediently entered through the tree gate.

They never came out again.

Bai Wei remained by his wife’s side, unwilling to leave. Although they had returned to her hometown, she still slept soundly. A little girl ran to her side, pouting and shaking A’Lu.

“Sister, sister! Why did you ascend to immortality so early? Didn’t we agree to wait until I grow up?”

“Guide her back.” Mian Jie wiped her eyes and forced a smile. “Child… Your name is Bai Wei, right? Let go now. A’Lu is gone.”

“My daughter has already left.”

……

“It’s strange, isn’t it?” Bai Wei nervously stared at the four of them. “She clearly still had a heartbeat, so how could she be dead? On the first day, I wanted to go to the forbidden area to find her, but Mian Jie—no, mother—refused to let me go and kept stopping me. Now that the deadline given by the Goddess is approaching, even if she wants to stop me, she won’t be able to.”

“If she’s alive, what will you do then?” Shi Jingzhi asked calmly and flatly.

He wasn’t immersed in the tragedy like Yan Qing, nor was he silent like Yin Ci and Su Si. As soon as Bai Wei finished speaking, Shi Jingzhi smoothly continued.

Yin Ci was somewhat surprised. He had expected that with Shi Jingzhi’s sensitive nature, there would be no shortage of tears and runny nose at this moment. Who would have thought that Shi Jingzhi was incredibly calm, almost to the point of being ruthless.

Bai Wei hadn’t expected Shi Jingzhi’s reaction either, and for a moment, he couldn’t respond. “Wh-What?”

“You’re behaving like someone who can’t find a way to survive and can’t seek death, clamoring to accumulate immortal potential. Even if the Goddess sends you to some mysterious place, just being able to see the forbidden area will be enough… Whether or not you can see your wife, even if she remains asleep all alone. Are you implying that making one trip will fulfill your wish?”

Bai Wei: “I…”

“Actually, you also believe that she’s dead, don’t you?” Shi Jingzhi said expressionlessly.

He did have an unrealistically handsome appearance, and when he didn’t show any expression on his face, it gave off a sense of terror like something “otherworldly.”

As if it was some kind of evil wearing beautifully crafted human skin.

Bai Wei stared intently into Shi Jingzhi’s eyes and couldn’t help but take a half step back.

“What else can I do?” His voice was hoarse. “I have no other options.”

“I don’t understand. You’re reckless enough to gamble with your life, but too weak to let go and fight again.”

“It’s easy for you to say! If it were you—”

“If it were me, the first thing I would do is figure out why the Goddess appeared only after A’Lu’s ‘death’. If she cares so much for her subjects, to the extent of being willing to destroy the entire Xizhuang village, why didn’t she take action earlier? The Goddess had captured the Xizhuang people who came to spy on her before, and when A’Lu didn’t return on time, wouldn’t she have guessed A’Lu’s situation?”

Bai Wei was stunned on the spot. He had indeed never considered this question.

The Goddess had been in power in the village for over fifty years, with the appearance of a young woman and the presence of a mountain itself. It was difficult for people to harbor doubts when standing in front of such a figure.

“The Goddess… she might have other reasons…” Bai Wei said as if in a daze.

Shi Jingzhi pressed on, step by step. “Do you really want to see your wife or not?”

Bai Wei’s scattered gaze finally gradually cleared, and he stared at Shi Jingzhi for a moment before performing a deep bow. “I have learned my lesson.”

“That’s right.”

Shi Jingzhi seemed quite satisfied. He patted Bai Wei’s shoulder, and there was a hint of a sinister aura in his tone. “If my loved one is taken away, even if the other side is truly a god, I will do everything in my power to teach them a lesson.”

Yin Ci furrowed his brow slightly.

Shi Jingzhi wasn’t making empty boasts. That hint of madness quietly emerged between his words, only to be forcefully suppressed by his cheap master.

“Please help me,” Bai Wei said, gulping down the hotcakes. “Help me find out what happened to A’Lu—help me find her body… I want to live. If she’s alive, I’ll rescue her. If she’s dead, I’ll give her a proper burial and offer daily worship.”

“In exchange, I, Bai Wei, will be your servant and do whatever you command.”

Su Si also dropped his carefree appearance. He frowned, “If you want to find your wife, you’ll have to spend a considerable amount of time in the forbidden area, right? We only stayed inside for how long when we infiltrated the funeral procession? Half an hour? One hour? Is that enough time to search for someone?”

Shi Jingzhi smiled faintly. “Brother Bai still wants to ‘accumulate immortal potential’, but doesn’t actually accumulate it.”

Bai Wei was a bit confused, choking on the hotcakes in his mouth. “What do you mean?”

“There are three possibilities beneath the forbidden area. One is as Mian Jie said, there’s another small world inside. The second possibility is that the people of Xizhuang are all imprisoned at the bottom of the forbidden area… To be honest, neither possibility is very likely. Xizhuang’s environment is already harsh, and the former is just adding unnecessary details. If the latter is true, someone would have to deliver food to the forbidden area.”

Shi Jingzhi stroked his chin.

“The third possibility is that the so-called ‘accumulation of immortal potential’ actually means dying beneath the forbidden area. The Goddess, with her appearance, doesn’t seem like someone who would do it herself. Most likely, she would let the white-robed monsters do it for her or simply throw people to their deaths.”

Bai Wei: “…” Just a moment ago, this person was encouraging him, and now he was asking him to go die?

“It would be troublesome if traces were discovered during the funeral procession in Xizhuang. Even if she were to take action, she wouldn’t do it above the forbidden area. At this point, Bai Wei needs our help.”

Shi Jingzhi turned to Bai Wei.

“We will provide you with the tools to climb the rock walls. If she tries to throw you to your death or let the white-robed monsters take you down to kill you, you have to escape halfway and hang on the rock wall for a while. Once you receive our signal, you can climb back up and search for your wife’s stone chamber.”

“If she personally takes you to the very bottom of the forbidden area, you have to plead with her and try to get her to leave first, while you ‘fend for yourself’. Once she’s out of the forbidden area, you can climb up the rocks to find her… When you come up, we’ll be waiting at the exit. Then you can lay low for a while, and we’ll find an opportunity to escape together.”

“So you’re saying I won’t be in any danger?”

“No.” Shi Jingzhi raised an eyebrow. “In case you don’t escape in time or if the situation exceeds expectations, you might end up with blood splattered on the spot. But with our help, you at least have a fifty percent chance of surviving and slowly finding your wife.”

Bai Wei remained silent for a moment.

Then he took a deep breath and said calmly, “By helping me, what do you gain?”

“I’m curious about the situation in Yuanxian Village and want to understand it. As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you won’t be defeated in a hundred battles*.”

*Quote from The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Full quote is: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Yan Qing nodded in agreement, while Su Si looked elsewhere, lost in thought. When he noticed Yin Ci’s gaze, he suddenly snapped back and put on a carefree smile.

For the remaining time, everyone busied themselves with preparing the tools.

To avoid arousing suspicion from the Goddess, Bai Wei couldn’t bring too many things. Shi Jingzhi gave him a small bottle of pills to enhance his strength and stimulated several acupoints to ensure Bai Wei’s joints remained flexible and he wouldn’t accidentally harm himself.

Finally, Shi Jingzhi dug out a small bottle from the bottom of the medicine kit and poured out two withered little things—

“These are acacia beans, born from demonic plants, usually used to perceive the condition of patients. Soak them in your blood, and each of us will take one.”

Shi Jingzhi explained to Bai Wei.

“The two beans are connected. If we burn this one with fire, your bean will heat up as well. At that time, it will serve as a signal, and you will know that the Goddess has indeed left. If you die down there, the beans on this side will turn to dust, and we’ll know something happened to you and won’t wait outside any longer.”

Bai Wei solemnly took the beans. “I understand. Sect Master Shi, I will certainly not casually abandon my life.”

Afterward, Bai Wei rested for two more days and practiced using the iron claws to hook onto the rock walls. After eating Yin Ci’s specially made meals for two days, his cheeks finally regained fullness and no longer looked skeletal.

The madness in his eyes lost its sharpness and transformed into unwavering determination.

Yin Ci was somewhat envious of Bai Wei. If it weren’t for Shi Jingzhi keeping a close eye on him, he would have loved to go down and take a look himself.

Unfortunately, Yuanxian Village was extremely peculiar, and Shi Jingzhi was on high alert. He could even count how many times Yin Ci turned over in bed at night. Even when Yin Ci claimed to use the bathroom, Shi Jingzhi would sit up vigilantly, afraid that his disciple would be captured by some unknown monster.

Yin Ci couldn’t help but feel amused and exasperated.

The road to finding the Shirou was long and arduous, and Shi Jingzhi was still necessary as a shield. He couldn’t reveal his identity yet. Yin Ci had to obediently stay by Shi Jingzhi’s side and play the role of a normal person with a strong desire to survive.

If the heavens granted him a reasonable excuse to venture into the forbidden area, he would be the first to go.

But Yin Ci didn’t expect the opportunity to come so soon.

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The author has something to say:

Demonic Lord Yin, if you think a fox is really a soft fox, you’ll eventually be exposed.

Oh, it’s destined to be exposed, well, that’s fine (…

Yin Ci: Constantly testing the boundaries of self-destruction.jpg

Shi Jingzhi: No, you don’t want to.jpg

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 31: The Forbidden Area

After listening to Auntie Liu’s strange phenomenon, Yan Qing remained silent for a long time.

Being in his early twenties, he wasn’t good at expressing his emotions. Yin Ci could sense his thoughts—this place was worse than the Ghost Tomb. At least in the Ghost Tomb, the killing intent and malice were openly displayed. Yuanxian Village, on the other hand, appeared beautiful like a splendid flower, but buried beneath were deformed corpses with half-rotten hands protruding.

Yan Qing struggled within himself for a while but couldn’t come up with a solution. Subconsciously, he looked towards Shi Jingzhi.

Finally, Shi Jingzhi remembered his responsibility as sect leader. With a deeply troubled expression on his face, he hesitated for a moment before suggesting an idea that wasn’t really a solution. “The village entrance ceremony takes place during the full moon, and there is still some time before that. It’s not realistic to find someone to guide us out, so why not search for the villagers of Xizhuang? Perhaps someone has stayed behind in Yuanxian Village…”

Su Si: “That’s right. We can also help Brother Yin with matchmaking. We shouldn’t fear the worst-case scenario.”

Shi Jingzhi’s fox tail was stepped on again. “No, that’s my disciple! I mean, we can’t waste time on such matters. It’s better to concentrate on finding clues. I promise to take you all out of here.”

Yin Ci patted his master’s arm and muttered, “Yes, yes, of course, good, good,” while his thoughts wandered off.

When the villagers visited earlier, Yin Ci confirmed one thing.

“People with immortal potential” were likely monster material, which made sense as they were screened based on their appearance. According to this reasoning, it was highly probable that the villagers were also monster material.

The problem was, could they really gather so many monster materials out of millions of people? On the other hand, Yin Ci had encountered many monster materials, and normal monster materials didn’t have random restrictions like “a fatal injury within three days” and also aged slower than ordinary people.

He couldn’t figure out the reason for the existence of Yuanxian Village.

There were no apparent abnormalities outside; the answers were likely inside the forbidden area, which included a fresh death technique he had been longing for.

As if they were on the same wavelength, Shi Jingzhi paced around the room, and his eyes suddenly brightened. “Let’s not look for someone today. Instead, we’ll join the funeral procession.”

Yan Qing was startled. “Funeral procession? For whom?”

“Auntie Liu passed away here, and we’re somewhat connected. It seems the villagers have some favorable opinions of me. I’ll go and plead with them. After all, we are considered half-villagers, and we have our reasons. Can they really stop us?”

The more he spoke, the more feasible it sounded. “The villagers will keep the body in the forbidden area. We can openly and honestly follow them inside to have a good look.”

Yin Ci felt extremely pleased. His master was indeed useful.

He immediately cast an admiring gaze, making sure Fox Shi’s fur was in order.

To prove their amiable intentions, before setting off, Shi Jingzhi took the time to dress up, only lacking a couple of flowers to stick in his hair. Su Si and Yan Qing stood on either side, with the alluring fox squeezed in front to attract attention, while the inconspicuous Yin Ci stayed at the back. In this manner, the four of them arrived at the central area of the village.

Along the way, Shi Jingzhi had flowers thrown at him by the men and women of Yuanxian Village, and he narrowly avoided getting hit on the head by fresh fruits. He dodged and smiled, trying to maintain his composure, but it was truly an arduous task.

Yin Ci, on the other hand, bit into a fruit and continued to leisurely observe their surroundings.

Today was another sunny day, with flowers blooming profusely and a gentle spring breeze. There was no difference from yesterday. The funeral procession was easy to find, as everyone was dressed in bright red attire, visible from eight hundred lis away.

Relying on his handsome face, Shi Jingzhi managed to exude a hint of celestial aura, surpassing even the Goddess. The villagers had no resistance to this celestial aura, and Shi Jingzhi was extremely skilled at fooling people. After some back and forth, he managed to convince the leader.

“You accompanied Auntie Liu on her journey, and that’s fate,” the leader mumbled in a daze. “I’ll have someone prepare clothes for you. Hurry up and change.”

Shi Jingzhi’s smile became even more sincere. “Thank you, big brother. We’ll be right back.”

Su Si, who had become the talk of the town for revealing himself to be a “woman”, received a bright red robe, making his complexion slightly bitter. In the end, he still changed into it and tidied up his hair.

The other three were much quicker.

While waiting for Su Si, Shi Jingzhi glanced at his disciple and suddenly felt that the discrimination in Yuanxian Village was unreasonable.

The funeral procession attire was very revealing, and anyone could see Yin Ci’s excellent figure. His body was neither bloated nor skinny, with long and well-built limbs. His beautiful silhouette tapered into a narrow waist, as if carved from the most delicate mold.

His temperament was also good.

Even though his disciple was wearing a red robe, he seemed to be in a frigid abyss. This calmness, even if baseless, always put Shi Jingzhi at ease.

Shi Jingzhi thought he truly lived up to his expectations as the disciple he had chosen. He didn’t find a single fault with him, so how could other cats and dogs have the right to look down on him?

Su Si tied up his hair in a convenient and stylish bun, and the group once again blended into the funeral procession.

In the middle of the procession, they saw Auntie Liu again.

Auntie Liu’s eyes were tightly closed, and the corners of her mouth seemed to have been smeared with something, forming a strange smile. She was dressed in a brand-new red silk dress, with her limbs bound by branches controlled by others, making her stagger along with the procession.

Her chest still rose and fell, and her joints weren’t stiff. At first glance, Auntie Liu was just a living person with slightly unsteady steps.

The sound of joyful music filled the air, but it was unclear whether she could hear it or not.

Red paper fluttered in the sky, making her look like a peculiar bride. Shi Jingzhi slowly approached Auntie Liu and discreetly touched her arm. Auntie Liu still had body temperature, but her flesh felt soft and spongy, as if there was a large handful of cotton wrapped underneath her skin.

Yet, she didn’t have the appearance of rotting or swelling.

Shi Jingzhi frowned and then pinched Yin Ci’s arm to compare, making sure it wasn’t his imagination.

Things were becoming increasingly strange.

However, the loud suona music was causing pain in their eardrums, and Shi Jingzhi couldn’t communicate with his disciple, so he could only continue forward with the team.

The forbidden area was located in the center of the village, with a large tree serving as the entrance. The children of the village gathered around the tree, curiously watching the funeral procession.

The tree had likely been growing for many years and had possibly become a demon. It wasn’t particularly tall, but its trunk was extremely thick, requiring thirty people to wrap their arms around it. Near the tree roots, there was a gate-like structure, and the familiar black dog demon was sleeping at the entrance. When the procession approached, it growled a few times and moved aside.

Walking through the tree gate, they could immediately see a massive pit.

The pit was wide, almost the size of a whole house. It was terrifyingly deep, and its bottom couldn’t be seen at a glance. Stone steps spiraled downwards along the edge of the pit, covered in moss, with decaying ropes swaying at the edges, making it look rather unsafe.

The funeral procession stumbled down the path.

The suona music echoed in the stone walls, and one after another, figures in red merged into the shadows. Auntie Liu’s warm corpse was surrounded by everyone as they moved forward. As the procession delved deeper, the decaying ropes swayed, emanating an indescribable strange odor from the depths of the pit.

The warm atmosphere of Yuanxian Village was completely gone, leaving only boundless eerie strangeness.

After descending to a certain depth, Shi Jingzhi’s footsteps began to hesitate.

The funeral procession carried torches with their flames flickering unsteadily, making it difficult to observe. But through occasional glimpses, Shi Jingzhi could roughly piece together the scene in his mind.

Numerous white-clad monsters hung on the walls of the pit, resembling numerous large cocoons stuck to the stone. The chains suspending them swayed gently, as if keeping time with mournful melodies. The smell of moisture grew stronger, mingled with the scent of fresh raw meat and a faint hint of excrement.

The stone steps were completely engulfed in shadows, but the touch became increasingly sticky. Something unknown had adhered to them, and with each step, a sweet and bloody liquid-like substance would be splashed up.

The inner walls of the pit were carved with rows of neat small rooms. These stone chambers were exquisitely crafted, appearing ancient, as if the work of a thousand years ago.

Suddenly, Shi Jingzhi had a bizarre thought. This place didn’t resemble a graveyard; it was more like a twisted prison.

The group stopped at a certain level of the pit.

It wasn’t a deliberate choice; the stone steps simply ended there, and below was an abyss with no end in sight.

“Let’s leave her here, by Lao Liu’s side,” someone whispered.

People carefully maneuvered on the narrow stone steps, making way for Auntie Liu. Two villagers supported her and took her to a single small room, helping her lie down comfortably. There were several pieces of men’s clothing scattered around her, damp and almost blending with the dark-colored stone slabs.

“Shouldn’t she be buried together with Uncle Liu?” Shi Jingzhi asked in a low voice.

“Uncle Liu has already ascended to become an immortal. This is his small chamber. Look, his clothes are still here,” someone nearby explained in a low voice.

Yin Ci shifted his position slightly.

In just one night, the body disappeared?

Yin Ci scanned the narrow stone chamber but didn’t find anything unusual, so he quietly took a couple of steps back and looked at the bottomless pit. A gust of wind blew from below, and the indescribable smell became even stronger.

The walls of the pit were uneven. Even if he jumped down, he could still climb up… So he should just pretend to slip and…

Snap.

Shi Jingzhi had quietly approached and grabbed his wrist. “A’Ci, it’s very dark here. Don’t wander around. Be careful not to fall.”

Yin Ci: “…Yes.”

Shi Jingzhi held his wrist tightly and continued to ask, “Can everyone become an immortal so quickly?”

“Some are faster, some are slower. It’s hard to say for sure. Not many people ascend consecutively, and usually, nobody comes down either.”

“What about the people from Xizhuang Village?” Yin Ci followed up.

As soon as he asked the question, almost everyone turned their heads to look at him with obscured and unclear gazes.

“A’Ci!”

“Shizun, it’s okay. They won’t do anything to you. Fellow villagers, I mean no harm. I’m just curious. Given this situation, how would I be ‘handled’?”

“The Great Goddess said that those people gather immortal potential in the pit below.” The voice of Yin Deng’s mother, Mian Jie, came through. “There’s a small world down there. Just as you enter here from the shrine, they go over there from the well.”

Shi Jingzhi tightened his grip on Yin Ci’s wrist.

“The Great Goddess is merciful. Even when faced with sinners…” Mian Jie wanted to continue.

“Mian Jie, you’ve said enough. Talking too much about matters of the immortals may invoke taboos,” the leader of the villagers interrupted her. “This brother may not necessarily need to gather immortal potential. Who knows, there might be a girl who takes a liking to him.”

His words became more and more hesitant, and towards the end, it sounded like he didn’t even believe it himself.

Shi Jingzhi snorted coldly, and a trace of anger overshadowed his fear.

“A’Ci, let’s go back.”

Mian Jie’s heart softened. She hurriedly approached them, taking three quick steps, and whispered, “My daughter brought you in, so you can be considered someone fated with our family. There’s one more person in the village who needs to find a marital partner, and you can go with him. That way, you won’t feel too anxious.”

Yin Ci suddenly halted his steps. “One more person?”

The dim light flickered, and he could still see the hesitation on Mian Jie’s face.

“…Yes, one more person. His name is Bai Wei, originally from Xizhuang Village. He hasn’t left his house for the past half month. If he can’t find a spouse, he won’t be able to continue living in the village.”

Shi Jingzhi remained cautious. “Sister, from what you’re saying, gathering ‘immortal potential’ down there doesn’t sound like a good thing.”

Mian Jie opened her mouth but ended up dryly uttering, “Yuanxian Village is better than down below, that’s for sure. Bai Wei also has some fate with us, haa…”

She let out a soft sigh and squeezed her way to the front of the group, evidently not intending to continue speaking with them.

Shi Jingzhi was about to catch up, but Yan Qing tapped his arm and lowered his voice, “Sect Master, I know Bai Wei. Let’s go back first and talk.”

Once they left the damp giant well and stepped back into the sunlight, there was a certain delight in returning from the realm of immortals to the mortal world. Unfortunately, no one was willing to waste time pondering it. Although they didn’t make any major discoveries in the forbidden area, they had obtained a surviving member from Xizhuang Village without much effort.

The three of them didn’t even return to their lodging. Only Su Si hurried back to change into men’s clothing and dragged Lord Bai out.

When Su Si rejoined the group, there was a goose feather stuck to his head, and Lord Bai was twisting in his arm vigorously. Su Si acted as if he had no sense of pain, taking out fresh cabbage leaves that he had prepared in advance. “Lord Bai, find someone.”

Only then did Lord Bai let go and give him a sour, master-like gaze, seriously scrutinizing Su Si.

“Help me find someone,” Su Si coaxed it carefully. “Help us find Bai Wei, okay? After all, he’s somewhat related to you*.”

*Clarity: They both have the same name/surname (same character) white [bai] (白).

Yin Ci doubted if the goose understood human speech—it gobbled up the cabbage with a crunch and continued to twist Su Si’s leg as if torturing him. It finally let go when Su Si winced in pain and walked away, huffing.

“Follow it!” Su Si made a quick decision.

Lord Bai led the group, swaying and tottering for nearly half an hour, until they reached the southwest corner of the village. They were just a stone’s throw away from their destination—only a few scattered houses remained there. Lord Bai then turned around, diving into a nearby pond.

“There aren’t many houses, so let’s search one by one,” Su Si seemed accustomed to such treatment. “It’s just…”

He nervously glanced at the goose’s backside and lowered his voice. “It’s just a goose, so it doesn’t have much of a brain.”

“Bai Wei is Teacher’s son. I used to work at his father’s school. He’s about four or five years older than me, and he’s a decent person. At least, he didn’t avoid me because of my ghost eyes,” Yan Qing said while searching for the person and addressing the group. “He has a handsome appearance and is good at telling stories. The village girls really like him.”

He didn’t even mind the inauspiciousness of his ghost eyes, and he had Yan Qing deliver small gifts on their behalf when he worked at the school. Yan Qing earned some leftovers as a messenger fee, which also improved his impression of Bai Wei.

However, when they pushed open Bai Wei’s door, they didn’t see a charming and talented scholar; instead, they saw a living skeleton.

Bai Wei’s courtyard was a mess, with shredded paper scattered everywhere. The owner of the courtyard sat there blankly, covered in dust, with only his two eyes remaining clean on his face. With such a countenance, it was already a success if he didn’t scare people to tears, let alone win the affection of young girls.

At first glance, Yan Qing didn’t dare recognize him, but Bai Wei was the first to do so. There was no other reason—Yan Qing’s red eyes were a distinctive feature.

“The boy from the Yan family.” Bai Wei’s lips quivered. “…You’re not dead, huh?”

Afterward, he withdrew his gaze and muttered to himself. “When a person isn’t well, hallucinations start to appear…”

Su Si hesitantly said, “Bai Wei, is it really you?”

Bai Wei carefully scrutinized Su Si for a while, and his gaze stopped at his teardrop mole. “The ‘Cuckoo Calamity’ of the Su family. It seems my eyes are playing tricks on me… And you—are you here to take me to the realm of immortals? Can a fox spirit do that?”

Shi Jingzhi: “…”

Shi Jingzhi: “I’m sorry, I am human.”

He immediately approached, checked Bai Wei’s pulse, and opened his medicine box. “This person is very weak and hasn’t eaten or drunk for a long time. Here, open your mouth. Have some honey.”

Bai Wei shook his head and turned his face away. “I have no appetite.”

Shi Jingzhi: “Oh.”

Decisively, he stimulated Bai Wei’s acupoints and poured the bottle of honey into his mouth, then gave him a bowl of water.

“If you’re determined to die, I won’t stop you. But we just arrived here and still want to leave… From the looks of it, you seem to know something. If you’re willing to help, I can make your death more comfortable.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Wei suddenly tensed his body, grabbed Shi Jingzhi’s collar, and burst forth with terrifying strength. “I don’t want to die! Who said I want to die? I just want to save A’Lu and our child. At least see them one more time, I…”

He struggled to catch his breath, as if this thought pained him. “I…”

“Take your time.” Yan Qing reassured him. “Don’t rush. There are no villagers here.”

Yin Ci silently revealed a false face to prove that Yan Qing’s words were true.

Bai Wei struggled to get up, broke off a piece of dry cake from the table, and forced himself to swallow it. He looked at the four of them with determination. “Xizhuang… Are all the people from Xizhuang gone?”

“They brought it upon themselves, brought it upon themselves! …But am I not also to blame? If it weren’t for me, everyone could have lived well.”

He laughed with laughter that sounded like cries, and his gaze was filled with a dangerous madness.

“You’ve come at the right time. I was planning to seek the Goddess tomorrow and ask her to send me to ‘save my immortal potential’.”

---

The author has something to say:

Fox Shi: ? Why does everyone think my disciple can’t find a partner? Alright, I’ll marry them.

Demonic Lord Yin: ?

Demonic Lord Yin, the face can be hidden, but the body can’t. What a pity, what a pity (?)

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 30: Immortal Potential

After obtaining Su Si’s consent, the group brought Auntie Liu back to their lodging.

Yin Ci cooked a bowl of porridge and had Yan Qing feed it to Auntie Liu little by little. Auntie Liu made a few raspy sounds in her throat. A glimmer of light returned to her eyes, and her eye sockets became moist again. Her face had few wrinkles, but she appeared like a flower wilting after being away from water for a few days, emitting a strange sense of withering.

“No, the bleeding won’t stop. Yan Qing, get some hot water and prepare needle and thread.” Shi Jingzhi gritted his teeth.

Although it had been bandaged, the small wound continued to ooze blood slowly, staining the cloth a dark red. Shi Jingzhi heated the needle, sewed up the wound with a thread, and carefully wiped the sutured area with pure alcohol—while the bleeding had stopped, another kind of liquid slowly seeped out.

The liquid resembled diluted blood, with a faint green glow on the surface. It was translucent and contained many fine, filamentous impurities. Those filaments seemed to possess life as they slowly crawled, reopening the sutured wound, and the blood began to flow again.

It was as if something was trying to break free from her veins.

Yin Ci had seen people who naturally bled uncontrollably, but Auntie Liu’s symptoms were completely different from theirs, exuding an eerie aura.

Shi Jingzhi was still trying to clean up those filaments, but they were endless and couldn’t be completely removed no matter what he did.

His hand gradually began to tremble.

Seeing the blood flowing again, Auntie Liu wasn’t surprised; instead, a hint of sorrow appeared on her face.

“That’s enough. This is the ‘three-day wound’. It’s useless,” she said. “Thank you all. It’s better this way… Anyway, there’s no one left in my family.”

Yan Qing walked to the bedside and tried to console her. “You just asked the Goddess for the miraculous elixir. It seems that this ‘three-day wound’ is not necessarily fatal.”

“Ah, the Great Goddess does have a miraculous elixir. That medicine can resurrect the dead and turn flesh into bones, but it’s only given to children and women in childbirth. Ordinary people can’t use it.” Auntie Liu smiled bitterly as her lips turned paler. “It was my impulsiveness. Lao Liu and I are both sixty years old, so it’s normal for the Goddess not to give it to us… I just miss Lao Liu.”

Yan Qing was startled. “Sixty?”

Auntie Liu looked no older than forty and still retained her charm. Seeing Yan Qing’s reaction, she wasn’t surprised. “I’ve heard that people outside age quickly. It seems to be true.”

Then she pushed the soup bowl away wearily. “I appreciate your kindness, but please send me back. If I die here, the house will also be tainted with bad luck.”

Su Si raised an eyebrow. “You just stay here. I’m not afraid of bad luck. What kind of person would I be if I let an old person go back and die alone?”

Auntie Liu smiled wearily and tightly held Yan Qing’s hand.

Yan Qing was a bit nervous but didn’t retract his hand. “Is it true that if someone stays in the village, they will die from the ‘three-day wound’?”

“Don’t worry for now. After the village initiation ceremony, you will become like this… Lao Liu came to the village several decades ago, and he told me…”

Yan Qing: “We won’t participate in the initiation ceremony.”

“If you don’t participate in the initiation ceremony, you will never be able to leave the village. Actually, the ceremony is quite good… As long as you don’t suffer a major injury, you’ll live a life free of illness and calamity and age slowly.” Auntie Liu exhaled slowly. “Child, don’t be disgusted. Let me hold your hand for a little longer… When Lao Liu was young, his hands were this big and so warm…”

She held onto Yan Qing’s hand like so, slowly closing her eyes, with a few tears streaming down her cheeks.

Shi Jingzhi collected his tools expressionlessly and suddenly stood up, walking towards the door. This fox might have discovered something, and Yin Ci hesitated for a moment before following him.

Outside the door, the night was deep, and the stars filled the sky.

Shi Jingzhi looked up at the sky, not saying a word. Yin Ci took a few steps forward and tapped his master’s back. “Shizun, what’s wrong?”

“When people died in the Ghost Tomb, it was only a moment with a fitting end,” Shi Jingzhi whispered, “But Auntie Liu doesn’t have to die. It’s just a minor wound… but I can’t find a solution, and I don’t even know the reason.”

It turned out their pulse was similar and so was their despair. Shi Jingzhi felt grief similar to Auntie Liu*.

*The fox is sad at the death of a hare (兔死狐悲) Idiom referring to feeling sorrow or sympathy for others who are in a similar situation or facing a similar fate.

Yin Ci had just discovered a new way of dying and happened to be in the right mood, so he couldn’t help but offer a few words of comfort. “At least Shizun has found a new clue. And the miraculous elixir does exist; it can cure Auntie Liu, so it must be able to cure Shizun too.”

Shi Jingzhi turned his head and looked at Yin Ci intently. Suddenly, he extended his arms and tightly embraced his disciple.

“Shizun?”

“A’Ci, let me hold you for a moment.” Shi Jingzhi lowered his head and held Yin Ci tightly.

Shi Jingzhi’s body temperature was slightly higher, and the warmth permeated through the thin fabric, giving the sensation of being invaded. But Yin Ci had always liked warm things, so he closed his eyes and allowed Shi Jingzhi to embrace him.

It was fine for the younger generation to act spoiled; there was no harm in it.

The other’s breath was somewhat hurried; perhaps they had once again encountered an incomprehensible dead end, and despair surged up again. Yin Ci remained motionless, with his hands hanging by his sides. He didn’t hug Shi Jingzhi back, but he didn’t break free either.

After holding Yin Ci for quite a while, Shi Jingzhi finally let out a breath. “I feel better now. Thank you.”

He didn’t say anything more, turned around, and walked a few steps towards the door before stopping and waiting for Yin Ci to catch up. Yin Ci watched his master’s figure and suddenly felt that this person was somewhat pitiful.

Seeing someone else being embraced, Shi Jingzhi seemed to be attracted by that emotional connection and had to experience it firsthand.

He often had moments of panic, indicating that he might not be naturally timid. That day in the Ghost Tomb, his emotions were like a turbulent sea, rushing forth relentlessly. His master seemed to be unable to handle his own emotions. Like a little beast abandoned by its pack, there was no one to teach him.

But he happened to be extremely knowledgeable and had formidable inner force.

The longer they spent together, the more Yin Ci found it difficult to fathom his master’s background. But today, when he remembered the mute boy, he felt a bit more tolerant towards Shi Jingzhi.

Although this fox was cunning in a thousand ways, what was the point of competing with a dying person?

The night passed uneventfully.

Su Si slept in bed, sprawled in all directions. Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci squeezed together, wrapped in a blanket. Auntie Liu held Yan Qing’s hand, and Yan Qing couldn’t bring himself to let go of her. He sat by the bed the whole night.

With the sunrise and the crowing of the rooster, everyone felt refreshed. However, Yan Qing’s face was pale and dark. He was nodding off at the edge of the bed, on the verge of slipping off the chair.

Auntie Liu lay quietly in bed. Her face was pale, and her chest rose and fell slowly, as if she was deeply asleep.

“She… She’s fine,” Yan Qing explained to the empty air in a daze. “Her hand is still warm. She’s fine.”

Su Si angrily pried his fingers apart. “Are you an idiot? Didn’t you think of calling for a replacement when you felt tired? Go to sleep now!”

Yan Qing stumbled to his feet and flopped onto Su Si’s bed, falling asleep in that position. Shi Jingzhi cleaned himself up and went to check Auntie Liu’s pulse.

Yin Ci didn’t bother with them and started a fire to cook rice porridge.

As the window opened, the air carried flower petals and grass fragments, gently pouring in with the sunlight. The morning in Yuanxian Village was particularly pleasant. The eerie aspects were somewhat blurred, giving a sense of peace and tranquility.

Breakfast was prepared, and Shi Jingzhi filled an extra bowl of porridge and set it aside by Auntie Liu’s bed.

The tranquility persisted until everyone finished breakfast.

Suddenly, voices came from outside the window. Yin Ci was the first to lean out and take a look.

There were five or six people gathered at the door of Su Si’s home. One person carried a roll of green grass mat on his shoulder, while another held a small white porcelain bottle with a jade-carved twig inside.

Lord Bai didn’t make a fuss; it was lying in its nest with its head tucked under its wing, still sound asleep. Su Si glanced at it, set down his bowl of porridge, and opened the door with relief.

The leader of the group was a young man. “Sorry to disturb you. We’ve come to collect the body.”

Su Si furrowed his brows. “What body? Auntie Liu is perfectly fine.”

The man smiled and shook his head. “You’re all outsiders, so perhaps you don’t understand.”

With that, he confidently entered the house and approached Auntie Liu. He lifted her eyelids.

“Here, see for yourselves.”

This time, not only Shi Jingzhi but even Su Si took a step back. Only Yin Ci secretly moved closer to get a clear look.

Countless strands of light green thread emerged from Auntie Liu’s pupils. These threads were strikingly similar to the ones flowing out of her wound yesterday. They squeezed within her eyeballs, tearing her pupils into fragmented pieces and sealing them tightly. Her eyes were in complete disarray, looking nothing like those of a living person.

But she still had breath, a heartbeat, and body temperature.

“People from Yuanxian Village ascend to immortality like this,” the leader of the group said calmly. “Since she won’t wake up, let us take her away.”

As he reached out his hand, Shi Jingzhi stopped him. “Wait a moment! Let me try again.”

He took a silver needle and pierced several major acupoints on Auntie Liu’s body. Even if Auntie Liu remained unconscious, her body should have shown some reaction. However, Auntie Liu continued to lie motionless, resembling a wooden sculpture that could breathe.

“Is that enough? If you want to try other methods, I won’t stop you… but everything you can think of, we’ve already tried. Who hasn’t had a family member ascend to immortality? Who doesn’t want their loved ones to stay a few more years?”

Shi Jingzhi didn’t move away; he stood in front of Auntie Liu. “But she is still alive.”

His voice was somewhat soft, and it was unclear whom he was trying to convince.

“Auntie Liu is considered half of our family—not some spectacle for you to see. If the body remains here, the Goddess will surely be angry, and you all may suffer.” The man’s tone grew heavier.

Su Si immediately stepped back, Yin Ci remained silent, and Yan Qing continued to sleep on the bed, weakly gripping his hand.

After a while, Shi Jingzhi finally moved aside and turned his back.

Seeing that he no longer resisted, the villagers unfolded the grass mat and carefully wrapped Auntie Liu in it, carrying her on their shoulders.

“We have one more thing to do on this trip. First, wake up the person on the bed. Yes, you three, come a little closer—according to the Goddess’ orders, you need to test your immortal potential.”

The atmosphere had been tense before, so the man deliberately softened his tone when saying this.

Under the eaves, they had to lower their heads. The situation was unique, and no one wanted to antagonize the Goddess now. Shi Jingzhi took advantage of the situation, forced a smile, and approached as requested.

Yan Qing was also pulled off the bed by Su Si, dazedly joining them. Only Yin Ci calmly returned to his seat, continuing to drink his porridge, completely ignored.

The man took the white porcelain bottle and extracted a few drops of liquid that resembled water onto the backs of the three individuals’ hands.

As soon as the droplets touched Shi Jingzhi’s hand, they instantly turned bright emerald green. The droplets on Su Si’s hand also changed color, revealing a pale green hue. However, the droplets on Yan Qing’s hand were different—his turned into a murky grayish-yellow.

“Indeed, it’s not easy to find hospitable guests. It’s rare for two of you to come at once. Brother, it’s a pity. Like the young man over there, you have no immortal potential.”

The man sighed at Yan Qing, shaking his head regretfully.

“To be honest, people without immortal potential are usually not allowed to stay in the village. If you want to stay, you’ll have to marry a woman from the village. But with your looks, brother, it shouldn’t be difficult for you to stay.”

He once again dismissively ignored Yin Ci.

Facing Shi Jingzhi and Su Si, especially Shi Jingzhi, the man’s smile became brighter. “As for you two. You are our compatriots by nature. Take the time to explore the village first. When the full moon arrives, the Goddess will conduct the ceremony to officially welcome you into the village.”

“Can my disciple be tested as well?” Shi Jingzhi negotiated. “It wouldn’t be fair to skip him like this, would it?”

“There’s no need to test him. Anyone with immortal potential is undoubtedly attractive.”

Shi Jingzhi’s smile froze on his face. “Does A’Ci have to get married in order to stay… What if he and Yan Qing can’t find someone to marry?”

The man pondered for a moment and replied vaguely, “The Great Goddess will handle it.”

“Brother Qing and I are married,” a crisp female voice suddenly spoke up.

Su Si hugged Yan Qing’s arm and spoke in a playful tone, mimicking a female voice. “Anyway, I have entered the village so does this count?”

Yin Ci: “…”

Shi Jingzhi: “???”

All the melancholy on his face was suddenly blown away, replaced by astonishment.

Even the villagers were startled. “You…”

“I was originally a girl, but it’s inconvenient to travel alone, so I disguised myself as a boy. I didn’t dare to reveal my identity when I was suddenly brought to the village… Now that my lover is here and you haven’t given me any trouble, I have nothing to worry about.”

Su Si was originally delicate in appearance and not particularly tall. Now he deliberately hunched his body, making himself appear even shorter. Strangely, his demeanor and voice were incredibly natural, without any sense of awkwardness. He looked like a tall and slender girl dressed as a boy.

Villager: “Well… that shouldn’t be a problem. Miss, we apologize for any offense before. Ahem, now there’s only the other young man left. Time is limited, so you should think of a solution quickly.”

Yin Ci turned his head slowly and looked at Shi Jingzhi.

Shi Jingzhi immediately shook his head vigorously, like a tambourine. No, no, he really couldn’t do this. He had a much larger build than Su Si and lacked any feminine features. He couldn’t fool anyone.

Yin Ci found Shi Jingzhi’s panicked appearance amusing.

He had no intention of pursuing the village women just to “avoid being dealt with”. On the contrary, he wanted to be captured by the Great Goddess as soon as possible and experience her abilities. However, such thoughts were too extraordinary and couldn’t be revealed to others.

Yan Qing, who already had insufficient sleep and was startled by Su Si’s revelation, remained dumbfounded in place. Even when the villagers left he couldn’t come back to his senses for a long time. “A’Si, are you really a girl?”

“San Zi, are you an idiot?” Su Si reverted to his normal voice. Then, in a granny’s tone, he continued, “If I speak like this, will you think of me as your grandma? It’s one thing if others get fooled, but you still believe it?”

“But your actions just now—”

Su Si stretched his muscles, and his gaze turned cold. “I’ve scraped by in the lowest levels of the martial world, performing ventriloquism and singing. Let’s not dwell on that. San Zi, this is just a temporary measure. Escaping as soon as possible is the main priority… Look at Auntie Liu’s condition. Something is increasingly wrong with this place.”

Yan Qing’s expression changed completely. “Auntie Liu’s condition? What condition? I was just about to ask, where is Auntie Liu?”

Su Si looked troubled, and Yin Ci stepped forward. “Let me explain.”

Not far away, the porridge left by Shi Jingzhi for Auntie Liu was still at the bedside. It gradually cooled down until it was completely cold.

……

At the same time, in the center of the village.

The Goddess sat in her room, holding the pen with her fair fingers, and started to write a letter on the “word cloth” in front of her. She didn’t address it to anyone by name, only writing the characters “To the Esteemed.”

[From Zongwu Mountain’s Yuanxian Village. One person born this month, two newly acquired individuals with immortal potential, excluding two elderly individuals. The number of villagers has increased by one, but it has not exceeded the predetermined limit.]

The Goddess wrote slowly, holding her breath and concentrating, afraid of making the slightest mistake. After writing a few characters, she would stop, wiping the sweat off her forehead.

[If this continues, the idol will be completed within the year.]

---

The author has something to say:

“Word cloth” was mentioned in Chapter 4. They are fish demon skins that can transmit information in real-time~

Comrade Yan Qing doesn’t have immortal potential. How pitiful. He’s handsome, unaffected by [spoiler noise], thanks to his hereditary handsomeness √

Actually, if we peel off the ghostskin of Demonic Lord Yin and test it, there might be some surprises! The villagers—

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 29: The Goddess

Su Si had a way of dealing with villagers. He showed no surprise or fear, always smiling and amusing Yin Deng.

After collecting their clothes and closing the door, Su Si’s expression turned serious. “It seems they really like Sect Master Shi. I’ve been in this village for almost half a month and haven’t heard anyone mention it.”

Shi Jingzhi frowned. “I’ve never heard of such a symptom. Brother Su, have you encountered any other strange things during your time here?”

“Believe me, this is definitely not a good place.” Su Si played with the cleaver absentmindedly. “The weather, the temperature, the humidity of the wind—nothing has changed in half a month. What’s even more terrifying is that they haven’t asked me to do anything.”

Upon hearing this, Yan Qing’s expression became increasingly puzzled.

Su Si casually tossed the cleaver onto the table and reached out to pull Yan Qing’s face. “San Zi, we lived together for two years, and I should have taken you out more often. In this world, there’s no pie in the sky that’s force-fed to you; only cases of forcibly taking you as a wife, not as a father.”

Shi Jingzhi intervened to ease the tension. “Forcing someone to come but not allowing them to leave, without any ulterior motives, can only mean they want to harm you.”

Yan Qing suddenly realized.

“The Taiheng Sect has a clean and upright reputation, but I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing. It seems the children have all turned foolish.” Su Si let go of Yan Qing’s face with an expression filled with concern.

With limited information in their hands, the group couldn’t plan ahead. After chatting for a while, it was time for lunch. Shi Jingzhi had an impressive record, so Yin Ci had prepared a table full of fish.

Su Si didn’t touch his chopsticks. “San Zi, can you still return to Taiheng? According to what you said, Senior Shi doesn’t seem angry with you. How about changing your identity… You two, I’m not saying that the Kushan Sect isn’t good. But as you can see, my brother here is just a piece of wood and can’t withstand any storms.”

Yan Qing lowered his eyes. “I’m afraid I can’t go back.”

Su Si shook his head and wiggled it. “Forget it, forget it. If you can’t go back, then you can’t. When I become a great hero, I’ll protect you. How about this, once we leave this place, you can come with me…”

Seeing the master and disciple start eating, Su Si finally picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

“I’ll go with you.” After swallowing the fish, Su Si spoke seriously. “Being realistic is important, even for a great hero. Sect Master Shi, does your Kushan Sect still need people?”

Shi Jingzhi: “…”

Shi Jingzhi: “To be honest, I’m out of money.”

“Forget about money. Let’s not worry about that. I still have some silver on hand, and that’s enough for meals.” Su Si was enthusiastic.

Yin Ci glanced at Lord Bai and suddenly interjected, “Brother Su, what can you do?”

“Ah?”

“Since Shizun isn’t taking on disciples, then you can only be a servant. Yan Qing is good at miscellaneous tasks, while I handle hunting and cooking. So, what does Brother Su plan to do?”

Su Si scratched his head for a moment. “How about I lend you Lord Bai?” he suggested.

‘Now it’s in my hands,’ thought Yin Ci. ‘If that goose demon really has extraordinary intuition, it can be used when searching for the Shirou.’

He thought to himself and glanced at Shi Jingzhi, only to find his master looking at him with an affectionate gaze that gave him goosebumps.

Yin Ci nearly choked on the fish soup.

“A’Ci, eat slowly.” Shi Jingzhi patted his back.

Despite his fears, Shi Jingzhi still held more fondness than caution for his disciple.

Before entering the Ghost Tomb, he had entrusted Shen Zhu to thoroughly investigate everyone. Along the way, while he was fearful, he had secretly observed each person. If someone had assumed another’s identity, he should have noticed. But he didn’t.

He had also fought against that person in white. Judging from their bone structure, the white-clad person was only around twenty years old. After reaching the third level, with only a few dozen people remaining, the range became even smaller. Yet, he still couldn’t find them.

And the one whose background he couldn’t uncover was none other than Yin Ci. He had tried probing multiple times, but Yin Ci remained unmoved like a mountain, making it impossible for Shi Jingzhi to come to a definite conclusion.

So, he resorted to a compromise—he would place a layer of window paper between the two of them and put the matter on the back burner. By saying “I don’t care about private matters”, regardless of whether Yin Ci was the person in white or not, it wouldn’t harm their relationship.

Apart from these things, Yin Ci was a perfect disciple—thoughtful, sensible, and skilled in cooking. If an ordinary person were caught up in these extraordinary events, they would inevitably harbor resentment and grievances. However, Yin Ci not only had no complaints but also raised objections to Su Si’s desire to join them.

Shi Jingzhi inexplicably remembered the cat he had secretly raised in his childhood.

That cat had an extremely strong sense of territory and was keen on hissing at everything unfamiliar. Other than that, it was good to pet. The current situation seemed to be black and white, as if it wasn’t that important.

Lost in his thoughts, Shi Jingzhi burned his tongue with a fish ball. Before he could say anything, Yin Ci handed him a cup of cold water.

If their encounter at Kushan was truly fate, then this time fate was rather gentle to him.

After satisfying their hunger and thirst, Shi Jingzhi took out the clear silver bamboo pole and compared it to the coarse hemp cloth, sighing.

Su Si was eager to prove his worth. Even before he finished swallowing the fish in his mouth, he became more talkative. “Sect Master Shi, what are you worried about?”

“The previous flag is damaged, and I want to make a new one. Going to the banquet at night with just a bamboo pole will only raise suspicions,” Shi Jingzhi explained while smearing some soot from the stove and skillfully drawing the bold and vigorous characters: “Medicine Cures Illness”.

“Surely there must be an embroidery expert in this village. But I’m not at ease with taking things out. Bringing in an outsider would also be inconvenient for conversation. Brother Su, do you have any ideas?”

“I have needles and thread… but San Zi can at most do some patchwork, not embroidery. How about Sect Master bring a kitchen knife and keep it in your pocket?”

Wouldn’t that make it even more suspicious? Shi Jingzhi firmly shook his head.

After finishing his fish soup with a loud gulp, Su Si let out a big burp. “Well, then I have no solution. There are only four grown men here. Who would have the idle time to learn embroidery?”

Yin Ci replied expressionlessly, “I can.”

Su Si: “…You can both cook and do embroidery. Brother, are you really his disciple and not his wife?”

Yin Ci couldn’t be bothered with arguing with the younger generation. “I happen to know a little bit.”

It wasn’t that he enjoyed it; he was simply bored and had tried all kinds of crafts to pass the time. Even if Shi Jingzhi wanted a sugar painting right now, he could easily create a zodiac animal on the spot.

Ignoring his astonished master, Yin Ci directly took the bamboo pole and fabric and skillfully started sewing the flag. In no time, the flag took shape, even more exquisite than the previous one.

Shi Jingzhi was deeply moved. “A’Ci, if you were a girl, with this skill alone, you would definitely marry well.”

Yin Ci coldly raised his eyes. “Shizun, what characters do you want to embroider on this flag? Let me think… ‘Medicine Cures Illness’, right?”

Shi Jingzhi suddenly fell silent, not daring to say another word.

In less than half an hour, the flag was embroidered. Yin Ci’s stitches were delicate and neat, the characters on the flag were clear and full, and the fabric was well stretched. Shi Jingzhi hung his jade pendant on it and vigorously rubbed his face against the flag, clearly delighted.

Su Si looked at Yan Qing. “San Zi, I thought you enjoyed doing housework, but there are people in this world even crazier than you… You can’t admit defeat!”

Yan Qing: “???”

While the three of them were busy with their own discussions, Yin Ci secretly approached Lord Bai, attempting to touch it. If this goose demon’s intuition was truly remarkable, perhaps it could help him find a dead end. Although he despised this creature, it was necessary to build a good relationship.

But to his surprise, Lord Bai widened its round black eyes, and the two flesh antennae on its head slowly stood upright. It opened its mouth at Yin Ci, revealing rows of fine teeth.

Yin Ci continued to reach out—he had tamed countless demons, so how could he be afraid of this creature?

As it turned out, it dared indeed.

Lord Bai slowly bit down on Yin Ci’s hand and twisted it forcefully. It stared at him defiantly, as if issuing a warning. Helplessly, Yin Ci had to pry open its beak and retract his hand.

Fine, there’s always tomorrow.

Nightfall arrived quickly.

The four of them changed into ordinary attire from the village and headed to the banquet with Yin Deng. Considering the situation, Lord Bai would easily be mistaken for an extra dish, so they had to leave it behind to guard the house.

The banquet was set up in an open space on the side of the village, with round tables arranged. The four of them joined the Yin family at one table, and the table was filled with abundant dishes. Laughter and joy surrounded them. If they hadn’t just found out that someone had died, this scene wouldn’t be much different from a countryside wedding feast.

Having eaten a lot for lunch, the four of them didn’t have much appetite now and barely touched their chopsticks.

Yin Deng thought they were being reserved. She put down the spoon she was using to feed her younger sister and smiled at Shi Jingzhi. “Big brother, from now on, the whole village is one big family. Don’t feel like outsiders.”

“Yes, half of this banquet is for you. It’s been a long time since we had new guests in the village, so everyone is very happy,” Yin Deng’s mother added in a gentle voice. “Tonight, the Goddess will make an appearance. It’s a big event.”

Shi Jingzhi: “The Goddess?”

“The village immortal!” Yin Deng cheerfully said. “Mom said that the Goddess has been here for over fifty years but usually doesn’t show herself. However, if a child is born in the village or new people arrive, she comes out to greet them.”

Yin Ci happily sucked on the tip of his chopsticks. Everyone at the banquet treated him as if he were invisible. He felt more at ease than the attention-grabbing Shi Jingzhi and could freely look around.

As scheduled, the Goddess made her appearance after the banquet.

The Goddess was exquisitely beautiful, appearing to be less than thirty years old. She wore a casually styled light green dress and her black hair loosely tied in a bun, with a jade hairpin inserted that swayed with her steps.

She walked through the lively banquet, and the surrounding festive atmosphere instantly dissipated by half. The villagers dared not touch the Goddess and their eyes were filled with reverence and infatuation.

…An immortal?

Yin Ci didn’t sense anything particularly special about her.

The Goddess stopped in front of Shi Jingzhi and carefully examined him, showing a satisfied expression. But before she could speak, a woman rushed over from the side.

The woman hurriedly knelt down, holding the hem of the Goddess’s clothes, and stammered, “Great Goddess, could you make an exception and let Lao Liu come back to accompany me for two more years? I know ascending to immortality is a good thing, but, but…”

“Auntie Liu, what are you doing?!” Yin Deng’s father lowly scolded. “The elixir is not meant for ordinary people. Have you forgotten the rules?”

Auntie Liu looked like she was in her middle years, but there was still a youthful lament in her eyes. “Lao Liu left too early. I suddenly said at noon that I wanted to drink broth, and he went to cut…”

Yin Deng couldn’t understand the underlying sadness in the conversation. “But that was Uncle Liu’s own carelessness, and besides, ascending to immortality isn’t a bad thing.”

Auntie Liu just continued crying.

The Goddess wasn’t angered; she gently helped Auntie Liu up. “Parting from life and death is always hard to get used to. It’s normal if you’re not accustomed. The banquet is too noisy; you should go home and rest for a while.”

The Goddess had a gentle and compassionate appearance, exuding a somewhat merciful Bodhisattva-like temperament. As Auntie Liu looked at her face, her tears gradually stopped, and she nodded absentmindedly.

She got up, bowed to the Goddess, and staggered back. But just halfway, she suddenly fell to the ground and cut her palm deeply.

Shi Jingzhi instinctively reached for the medicine box.

“No need to bother. She’s also ascending to immortality,” Yin Deng exclaimed loudly.

Auntie Liu cowered on the ground, sitting there as if she hadn’t reacted. A large amount of blood gushed from her palm, seeping into the ground.

Shi Jingzhi still paid no attention and stood up to go over and bandage her. Auntie Liu was like an unconscious puppet, motionless, allowing Shi Jingzhi to clean the wound and apply ointment.

“Auntie Liu, go home and get ready. You don’t have much time left…” someone nearby said to her.

“She’ll come with us, and I’ll treat her,” Shi Jingzhi interrupted. “This injury isn’t a big deal; it shouldn’t be fatal.”

The Goddess watched with interest. “Very well, everyone needs to adapt, so let him go. In a few days, he will surely come to find me.”

Yin Ci stared fixedly at the Goddess, sensing something vaguely.

In that brief moment, he felt the aura of magic from the Goddess. The incident with Auntie Liu just now wasn’t an accidental fall; it was intentional by the Goddess.

Shi Jingzhi’s behavior also surprised him.

Although his master couldn’t be considered evil, his kindness wasn’t so overflowing. Shi Jingzhi had already reached his limit by tending to Auntie Liu’s wound, so it didn’t make sense to bring her along. However, this convenience worked in Yin Ci’s favor. If he could discover the secret of the villagers’ easy deaths, he might be able to conduct some experiments on himself.

Shi Jingzhi said, “Yan Qing, carry Auntie Liu on your back. We’re leaving.”

“Shizun, why do we have to take her back?”

Shi Jingzhi glanced at Yin Ci with burning eyes and whispered, “You know that my health isn’t good.”

“Yes.”

“Auntie Liu’s pulse is three parts similar to mine.”

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The author has something to say:

Yin Ci: He’s a fox. Happy, pet him and touch him.

Shi Jingzhi: He’s a cat. Happy, pet him and touch him.

Some time later.

Yin Ci: Change back!

Shi Jingzhi: You change back first!

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Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 28: Ascension of the Dead

The goose demon, Lord Bai, spun in place and let out two loud honks. It straightened its chest and raised its head. Its bean-like eyes shone with severity as it scanned the master and disciple of the Kushan Sect.

If looks could kill, Yin Ci felt like he had been insulted and cursed for eighteen generations. Shi Jingzhi, who was standing beside him, took a step back, his mood not much better.

Su Si hurriedly pulled out a basin of vegetable leaves, and only then did Lord Bai divert its gaze and start pecking at the food.

“Lord Bai is a goose I found near Yongsheng. It kept following me, so I took care of it casually—it has a keen intuition. As long as I follow its lead, my life is always preserved.”

Yin Ci looked at Su Si stroking the big goose and felt a little complicated.

Here they were, a healer, a diviner, a cook, and a vegetable seller, all gathered. Tomorrow, they would dominate the street corner.

Lord Bai seemed to realize that it had been categorized as “vegetable”, and its sharp gaze swept over. Its gaze wasn’t only focused on Yin Ci. It seemed Shi Jingzhi was also considering something similar.

For the first time, the master and disciple of the Kushan Sect stood united, facing the goose in a silent standoff.

Taking advantage of the situation, Su Si moved Lord Bai’s food bowl, took off the mountain ghost coin from its neck, and casually threw it to Yan Qing.

Yan Qing caught it steadily. “If you wanted to remind me that you came, leaving something behind would have been enough. Why bother taking it away?”

“This thing wards off evil spirits. Besides, if I happen to die nearby, you might be able to identify my remains with it and help bury me.”

Yan Qing frowned when he heard this. “Why say something so unlucky?”

Su Si grimaced, and his eyes faintly drifted towards the master and disciple, showing a bit of concern.

Having walked the lower levels of the martial world for a long time, gullibility was most taboo. Trusting others lightly was the last thing Su Si would do. Yin Ci happened to want to leave the room and observe the situation outside.

Shi Jingzhi acted even faster. He coughed twice. “Since there won’t be any immediate danger, I’ll take A’Ci for a stroll nearby. There’s a river not far from here. Can we catch fish there?”

‘Not good,’ Yin Ci thought. It seemed like his master had some unresolved issues with fish.

Su Si happily said, “Of course, it’s a good idea. We can cook some fish later. How about taking Lord Bai with you?”

Both of them shook their heads resolutely.

“Alright then, it’s not far anyway. Just don’t provoke the villagers.” Su Si scratched his head. “The fishing net is behind the door, so help yourselves.”

Su Si’s residence was on the outskirts of the village, near the river. There weren’t many passersby nearby, making it very peaceful. The river water was clear, revealing the riverbed. The fish in the river had plump bodies, leisurely twisting and sucking the tiny flower petals on the water’s surface.

Shi Jingzhi paid no attention to the fishing net. He took off his shoes and socks, tied up his clothes, and took out his bamboo pole as he walked towards the river. The river flowed slowly, barely reaching his knees.

Yin Ci dragged the fishing net and found a stone by the river to use as a seat.

Looking at the scenery in front of him, it was nothing more than a paradise. However, he had noticed all the way here that there was no shrine or medicinal garden. He didn’t know where the immortals mentioned by Yin Deng lived, or where the elixir came from.

As he was thinking, Shi Jingzhi suddenly inserted the bamboo pole into the water and lifted a fish out. The fish’s tail flicked in the air, splashing numerous sparkling water droplets, with a few landing on Yin Ci’s face.

The fish here lived a comfortable life, with their bellies full and their minds at ease. They were only familiar with gentle nets and had never tasted such bitterness. The fat fish, lifted out of the water, was filled with anger, and its tails floundered like steel whips.

Shi Jingzhi closed his eyes.

He carefully stepped in the water, gracefully evading the fish’s tail. Shi Jingzhi’s movements were extremely restrained, like a gentle breeze, not causing a single splash or disturbing the fish in the water.

Yin Ci raised an eyebrow.

His master not only avoided the fish’s tail but even attempted to dodge the water droplets. It was his first attempt, so Shi Jingzhi’s shoulder was still splashed.

Taking advantage of his master’s distraction, Yin Ci lightly tapped the fish with the bamboo pole, causing it to hover in the air. Only when it stopped struggling did Shi Jingzhi stop practicing and toss the fish to Yin Ci on the shore.

Then another fish came, repeating the process.

Yin Ci quickly understood the technique. Shi Jingzhi had stolen various martial arts before and was now blending and modifying them to create something unique to himself.

To keep both his mind and body focused at the same time was undoubtedly a mentally and physically exhausting task. However, his master seemed tireless, practicing for a whole hour. With each movement, he displayed a hint of a daring and desperate feeling.

Surrounded by beautiful scenery and accompanied by Shi Jingzhi’s handsome face, the scene was pleasing to the eye. Unfortunately, Demon Lord Yin’s nature was not cooperative. As the warm breeze blew, he gradually became drowsy. Countless thoughts became muddled and mixed together.

What was Shi Jingzhi desperately trying to achieve? Did he know that his days were numbered? …This man was deep in his thoughts, so perhaps he knew.

His lively master, jumping around and counting the remaining days, was, in a sense, more tormenting than lingering on a sickbed. Yin Ci had witnessed countless talented individuals, unable to fight for their lives, succumbed to despair and madness.

Throughout their journey, this man had remained composed, fearing death. He didn’t seem like someone who had seen through worldly matters, so how could he maintain his sanity?

Yin Ci yawned and hugged the fishing net tightly. Dozens of fat fish were struggling for breath in the net, but there wasn’t much fishy smell. He squinted, basking in the sunlight, feeling light and ethereal, wishing he could lie down on the spot.

Shi Jingzhi was still practicing diligently in the river.

Forget it. It had nothing to do with him. After all, Shi Jingzhi had said when they left the Ghost Tomb that he wouldn’t pry into his personal matters anymore.

Master and disciple were separated by a seemingly nonexistent paper window*, and neither of them would break through it. They would make do with what they had. Shi Jingzhi understood when to advance and retreat, so he probably wouldn’t provoke anyone voluntarily…

*Metaphorically refers to a thin layer that can be poked/pierced through, describing information or secrets that are not well kept or guarded and can be easily exposed.

“Feeling tired?”

Shi Jingzhi appeared out of nowhere, placing a hand on Yin Ci’s forehead and getting extremely close to his face.

His master’s hand was soaked in water which made it slightly cool. Yin Ci lifted his eyelids. “I’m fine.”

“If you’re tired, go to sleep. Master will take care of you.”

Shi Jingzhi smiled again—a smile that wasn’t condescending or deliberately pleasing, but pure and sincere.

Yin Ci felt as if he had been stung by a bee. He instantly became slightly more alert, but a dark restlessness emerged in his heart. Here it was again, that inexplicable sincerity.

He didn’t dislike sincere people, but this smile alone seemed to pierce through him.

Seeing his disciple furrowing his brows, Shi Jingzhi thought it was because Yin Ci was dissatisfied with waiting for so long. He moved his palm upward, taking the opportunity to tidy up Yin Ci’s hair. The gentle spring breeze rustled through, and Yin Ci, half asleep and half awake, had a few wildflower petals stuck in his hair.

That hand gently caressed the top of Yin Ci’s head, naturally sliding down his face, tucking away a few stray hairs behind his ear.

Yin Ci trembled as if struck by lightning, grabbing hold of that wrist.

Fingers brushing through his hair, accompanied by the beautiful scenery beside them, and that sincere smile. He had seen this scene before and suddenly understood the source of his restlessness.

Shi Jingzhi, chasing after a fleeting hope like a bubble with what little life he had left, was no different from himself. However, he had been trapped in a state of unable-to-die for too long, unable to even taste the flavor of hope, only wandering like a walking corpse.

No one could escape from collapse, as long as they had a heart.

Over twenty years ago, at Kushan, Yin Ci was on the verge of losing himself to madness. He had taken refuge in the Juyi Valley, filled with monsters, yet still encountered an outsider—a two- or three-year-old mute child that somehow managed to sneak in.

If it weren’t for that child, Yin Ci would have undoubtedly lost his humanity long ago and turned into a monstrous killer.

Even the mute child would smile with such sincerity. It made sense since an ignorant child wouldn’t know any other way to smile.

But that child would also reach out and slowly touch his hair, from the top of his head to his cheeks, gathering the unruly strands behind his ear.

It was exactly the same.

Yin Ci took care of the mute child for a while, even considering taking the child with him. Although the goodwill of a child couldn’t last, and flowers would always wither, he was better at bidding farewell than anyone else in the world.

But in the end, he couldn’t take the mute child with him.

The mute child died. It was as if it was a slightly bloody twist of fate, forcing him to remain conscious in this world.

The Juyi Valley back then was just as beautiful as a dream.

The familiar scene reappeared, and Yin Ci was once again stung by the fangs of “fate”. He held onto Shi Jingzhi’s wrist tightly, while his mind was muddled as he thought, ‘Yes, this person won’t live much longer either.’

Shi Jingzhi winced in pain. “A’Ci?”

“It’s nothing. I’m just a bit dizzy from being tired.” Yin Ci gradually loosened his grip.

‘If the mute child were still alive, they would be around this age by now,’ he thought absentmindedly.

Ever since Shi Jingzhi made the “unfulfilled” promise, Yin Ci had been waiting for him to betray it. But what would he do if Shi Jingzhi never broke that promise, even until his death?

Now that they were separated by just a layer of paper window, Yin Ci was no longer inclined to continue playing the obedient disciple. Should he give his master a timely “surprise” as a reward?

However, he didn’t have much time to ponder, as a commotion suddenly broke out not far away. A group of villagers blew suonas*, scattering red paper strips in the air, and marched towards the village in a grand procession.

*A traditional double-reeded Chinese musical instrument. It had a distinctively loud and high-pitched sound, and was used frequently in Chinese traditional music ensembles, particularly in those that perform outdoors.

Shi Jingzhi immediately became alert. He lowered his head, lifted the net full of fish, and dragged Yin Ci back into the house.

Upon entering the house, both master and disciple almost thought they had walked into the wrong place.

The floor was covered in neatly folded clothes, some of which had already been washed and were hanging by the window. The table was wiped clean, and the Kushan Sect’s luggage had been organized. Sausages and preserved meat were placed in a basket near the stove.

“No fish allowed inside.” Fortunately, Yan Qing appeared in time, holding a broom as he spoke with a tone carrying a hint of authority. “Otherwise, the house will have a smell that’s hard to get rid of.”

Truly a servant trained by the Taiheng Sect, overly dedicated.

Su Si, on the other hand, was slumped lazily in a chair, with the large goose slumped on top of him. The two of them had turned into interior decorations. Su Si seemed to be in a good mood, apparently having a pleasant chat with Yan Qing.

Seeing the master and disciple return, Su Si straightened up and twirled the meat cleaver in his hand. “You’re guests, so I’ll take care of the fish alone. San Zi told me that Brother Yin is a good cook, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

Shi Jingzhi’s expression wasn’t particularly relaxed. “I saw a group of villagers in red outside, but I didn’t see any sedan chairs. What are they doing?”

“Oh, that’s a funeral procession.” Su Si patted Lord Bai a few times. “I’ve only heard people talk about it. This is the first time I’ve encountered it myself.”

“…They dress so festively for a funeral?” Shi Jingzhi furrowed his brows.

“There are many strange things about this village. Take the funerals, for example—when someone dies, the villagers dress and adorn the corpse, then use wooden sticks to prop up the limbs. Then they mix the deceased among the procession and send them off in a grand procession to the forbidden area, allowing the dead to ‘ascend to immortality’.”

Su Si laughed coldly. With his beautiful appearance and the tear mole accentuating it, he seemed somewhat frivolous.

“I was just telling San Zi. Xizhuang has hundreds of people, but I’ve wandered all over this place and haven’t seen anyone from Xizhuang, nor have I found any graves or corpses. If the people of Xizhuang are truly alive, they can only be in the ‘forbidden area’. I’m new here, so I don’t have the qualifications to approach that place. You guys…”

Lord Bai suddenly stretched its neck and let out a loud “honk”, causing Su Si to immediately shut his mouth.

After a moment, there was a knocking sound at the door. Su Si glanced at them and rolled his eyes, then swiftly opened the door.

Yin Deng stood outside, her big eyes spinning around.

“Mom asked me to bring you some outer garments. Uncle Liu has ascended to immortality today, and there will be a banquet tonight. Remember to come.”

Su Si quickly adjusted his expression and smiled warmly. “Uncle Liu has ascended to immortality?”

“Yes. Dad said he was cutting meat at home yesterday and injured his finger.” Yin Deng shook her head like an adult. “He left too early, and Auntie Liu is reluctant to part with him. But there are new guests in the village, so it doesn’t matter.”

Shi Jingzhi was shocked. “…Just from injuring his finger and he’s gone?”

“What do you mean gone? He ascended into an immortal!” Yin Deng tilted her nose.

Shi Jingzhi looked dazed, and Yin Ci somewhat understood his feelings—this girl was talking about a miraculous elixir that could cure all ailments, but if dying counted as ascending to immortality, that elixir might as well be made of paper ashes.

“Is it really just an injured finger?” Shi Jingzhi confirmed again.

Yin Deng had some patience for Shi Jingzhi. “Well, big brother, you’re not considered one of the villagers, so it’s normal that you don’t know.”

“The villagers don’t get sick. But if they suffer an external injury that doesn’t heal within three days, they will ascend to immortality.”

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The author has something to say:

Time for Fox Shi to avenge his shame! 1 Shi = dozens of fish, congratulations!

Demonic Lord Yin: Probing the window paper’s edge repeatedly.jpg

————

I see that there are many friends discussing “side CP” in the comments, so let me explain a bit.

Personally, my habit is that if there are clear and complete romantic storylines for the main supporting characters in the text, I will indicate the side couples in the synopsis.

This novel doesn’t have any indication, similar to the previous two books. Yan Qing and Su Si are both traditional growth-type characters. The main focus of their storyline is on personal growth, and there won’t be a romantic storyline in the main text. If there is any romantic development, it will be in the extra chapters. Of course, you are welcome to freely imagine (wink).

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Kinky Thoughts:

I would just say… keep this author note in mind for later…

Don’t expect anything from Su Si and Yan Qing…

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