Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 17: Zhuazhou

At that time, Xu Jingming firmly believed in the crown prince’s words.

It wasn’t blind faith. Children were naturally sensitive to dangerous creatures. Every time Xu Jingming approached Shi Jingzhi, he could feel that strong aversion.

The previous Imperial Preceptor said that his destiny was weak. His mother feared he would die young, so she sent him to the Imperial Preceptor’s side every few days, claiming it was for “warding off evil spirits”. Because of this, Xu Jingming often overheard various conversations.

Such as the dialogue between his Emperor Father* and the Imperial Preceptor.

*[Fu wang] (父王) It is a term of address used by the emperor’s children, which literally means “father king”.

Regarding his terrifying older brother, the previous Imperial Preceptor once said such things—

[Your Majesty, if this child is not eliminated, he will become a disaster that topples the nation.]

Looking at the result, his Emperor Father didn’t heed the advice. Shi Jingzhi had a stroke of luck and managed to survive until today. When his eldest brother, Xu Jingxing, ascended the throne, given how much he disliked the influence held by the Imperial Preceptor, he naturally wouldn’t obey the Imperial Preceptor’s commands.

Xu Jingming prided himself on being a cautious person. After being crowned “Prince”, Xu Jingming sought out experts from all over the world to analyze Shi Jingzhi’s destiny. Those experts were genuine, and their answers were similar—this person was a great calamity, and if left unchecked, disasters would occur.

Great Yun had been prosperous for many years, with the people living in abundance. Xu Jingming lived comfortably and happily, having no desire to experience a chaotic era. The words of the Imperial Preceptor became a thorn in his side, occasionally causing him pain and preventing him from sleeping peacefully.

It would be best if Shi Jingzhi died.

However, the Emperor seemed to have his own considerations. Shi Jingzhi didn’t have the imperial surname, no fiefdom, and not even a royal palace, but he still had his life. If Xu Jingming were to take action openly, he would likely anger the Emperor.

But if Shi Jingzhi died in the Ghost Tomb, no one could find fault with it.

“Kill him.” Xu Jingming snapped his fan shut.

Shi Jingzhi gasped for breath and hoarsely said, “Are you giving up the Buddhist bead?”

Xu Jingming replied, “I came to the Ghost Tomb, firstly to search for treasures, and secondly to find an opportunity to eliminate you, a great evil. Even if I only kill you, this trip will still be worthwhile—our encounter here is fate.”

“As for the Buddhist beads, even if your explanations sound reasonable, it’s still just speculation. Am I foolish enough to believe your words? Moreover, even if the map of the Buddhist beads is incomplete, it doesn’t mean the items cannot be found.”

Shi Jingzhi fell silent and gradually showed a hint of sadness.

Xu Jingming sneered. “Stop pretending that we have brotherly love*. You—”

*(兄友弟恭) Idiom referring to the love and respect between brothers.

“It’s not like that,” Shi Jingzhi said sorrowfully. “You know about the Blood-Making Rope, and you recognize the Suffering From Parting. Just purchasing this information from the demonic sects has cost you thousands of silver taels, and you even took risks and entered the tomb yourself… In the end, even if the Buddhist beads aren’t complete, you only want my life.”

As they spoke, his sadness grew deeper. “Why didn’t you say it earlier? Even if we split the money in half, I would have been willing to meet you alone and let you kill me. Xiao Qi, even though you’ve had a mental deficiency for quite some time, this is just too…”

Xu Jingming became furious, and his hand holding the fan trembled. “What are you waiting for? Kill him now!”

The four masters rushed forward.

Only outstanding candidates with a clean background, carefully cultivated by major sects, had the privilege of becoming royal guards. Even if they were the leftovers unpicked by the Emperor, their strength was still formidable.

Shi Jingzhi stood up and stretched his legs. “What a pity. I was planning to rest a little longer.”

He kicked half of the flagpole on the ground with his toe, and as the flag rolled up, it became a longsword in his hand. The wooden pole was adorned with golden fire, shining brightly and somewhat dazzling. The flagpole cut through the air, leaving a trail of light in the darkness.

Shi Jingzhi stopped smiling, and the oppressive feeling around him intensified. One of the masters approached but was struck by the fiery sword wind. Although he managed to dodge the sword qi in time, his clothes were grazed by a spark.

Yang fire wasn’t an ordinary flame and was difficult to extinguish. When the man’s attention was divided, Shi Jingzhi swiftly moved behind him, cutting him in half at the waist. He then grabbed the upper body of the man and turned, blocking the simultaneous attack of three swords.

While the others were disarmed, Shi Jingzhi used a new footwork technique, twisting and collecting the corpse neatly, throwing it into a sacrificial pit along with the sword.

“Xiao Qi, if you had sent them along with the Chigou Sect to chase me, I would definitely be dead by now.”

Then, he dodged a kick by bending his waist and swiftly struck, shattering another person’s skull.

“When I left Yidu, there were at least five thousand people in the martial world who could kill me. To this day, there should be no more than a thousand left. But among these thousand, there are none by your side.”

“Truly evil.” Xu Jingming spat. “You deliberately acted disgracefully along the way just to hide your true strength…”

“I was genuinely scared. Why would I pretend?”

Shi Jingzhi’s tone remained calm.

He grabbed the fronts of the remaining two people’s robes and slammed them forcefully into each other. Then, he singled out the one with a wide face and flattened his head with a palm strike.

“Of course, you can certainly feign composure and conceal your true nature. With time, when we meet again, those people will have a higher opinion of you… But I don’t have time. Unable to discern between truth and falsehood, you are inferior to my little disciple.”

Xu Jingming looked at the blood-soaked Shi Jingzhi and struggled to maintain his composure. “You yourself are a monster, so why are you afraid of ghosts?”

“You wouldn’t understand.” Shi Jingzhi didn’t kill the last person, allowing him to lie unconscious on the ground. “Since creatures like me exist, there might as well be vengeful spirits. I can kill humans and monsters, but if I encounter ghosts…”

He took a few steps forward and used his bloody hand to press heavily on Xu Jingming’s crown.

For a moment, Xu Jingming thought his brain would splatter everywhere. His knees gave out, and he sat on the ground, paralyzed.

Shi Jingzhi lowered his gaze but smiled again. “…If you encounter a ghost, you will experience this kind of ‘fear’.”

Then he took a step back. “Rest assured. If you die here, Eldest Brother will come after me. Look, I’ve left you with a bodyguard.”

It took Xu Jingming a while to regain his senses, and he clenched his teeth. “Aren’t you going to steal my Buddhist bead?”

“If I steal it now, how can I explain it to my disciple? Remember, you need to play along with me later, or else…”

Xu Jingming swallowed his saliva. “Or else?”

“I haven’t figured that out yet, but you can find out for yourself.” Shi Jingzhi waved his hand casually, breaking Xu Jingming’s sedan chair into several pieces and throwing it into the sacrificial pit.

Shi Jingzhi did it on purpose. He was absolutely deliberate. Xu Jingming looked painfully at the wreckage of the sedan chair—there were enough corpses on the ground, yet Shi Jingzhi insisted on destroying his sedan chair.

Losing the argument, Xu Jingming’s anger flared up. “Eldest Brother has shown you mercy by allowing you to leave the palace since he thought you were running out of time. I know you’ve established a sect, but if you dare to secretly train private troops…”

“I’m not that free. There are various bonds in the world that you still have time to experience, but I only have one year left.”

Shi Jingzhi looked at the slowly descending stone pillar, while keeping his tone flat.

“As for family affection, I don’t expect it from you. And as for longing, even if I were lucky enough to meet my destined person, I couldn’t afford to treat them seriously while struggling to survive. Friendship is also good, but deep relationships require time to cultivate… and I don’t have time.”

“People say that once you become someone’s teacher, you become like a father to them for a lifetime. Taking on a disciple is a good idea. However, children have short memories and fragile lives, making it difficult for them to accompany me into dangerous places. But now, this is just perfect. Even if I die a year from now, he will remember me for a lifetime.”

Xu Jingming was stunned for a moment and then reluctantly said, “If he’s willing to accompany you to the Ghost Tomb, he’s either incredibly foolish or has ulterior motives.”

Shi Jingzhi approached him, squatting down in front of him with a trace of blood still on his face. “So what?”

“What?”

“Xiao Qi, do you know about the ‘Zhuazhou*’ tradition? When a child reaches one year old, they randomly grab something, and people believe it’s their destiny. I did something similar.”

*Zhuazhou is a Chinese ritual held at a child’s first birthday party, when the child is 1 year, i.e. typically twelve months since birth (although variable reckonings as to what constitutes a year of age for entitlement for zhuazhou exist), old. The parents put various objects before the child, often objects that symbolize career choices or personality traits. The child’s choice is used to forecast its future.

“I went to a desolate place and randomly picked someone as my disciple. Whether he’s good or evil, as long as he hasn’t already taken on a master, I will sincerely be his master… Isn’t that also destiny?”

Xu Jingming was shocked by his nonchalant tone. “But if he wants to cause trouble…”

Shi Jingzhi avoided answering, continuing with a smile, “You can reassure Eldest Brother that I will only take in this one disciple. I can’t handle more. Your bodyguard will wake up in a while; I’ll leave first.”

With that said, Shi Jingzhi climbed onto the stone pillar and prepared to leave.

Xu Jingming suffered losses on all fronts*; even his words were turned into a joke by Shi Jingzhi, and his chest felt stifled. He composed himself and continued with a sharp tongue.

*Losing both wife and army (喪妻喪軍). Idiom referring to a person who suffered multiple major losses or setbacks.

“Sincerely be his master… Sincerely? How much sincerity can a monster like you have?”

Shi Jingzhi paused for a moment. “I don’t know either, so I also want to see.”

His figure quickly disappeared at the entrance of the cave.

Xu Jingming wiped his sweat and looked around at the bloody scene, feeling anxious once again. With the prophecy of the “disaster that topples the nation” hanging over his head, and with the clear intention of treating his disciple kindly…

That person, Yin Ci, better be an ordinary person with integrity.

At this moment, Demonic Lord Yin, the “ordinary person”, was familiarizing himself with the surroundings at the exit, waiting for his ghostskin robe to dry.

There were four exits from the “Suffering From Parting”, leading to a wide hall. Inside the hall stood two rows of sturdy stone pillars, adorned with symmetrical giant stone sculptures, finally resembling a proper tomb.

However, he hadn’t noticed Yan Qing and didn’t know where that unlucky guy had been thrown by his ancestor.

A rumbling sound echoed, and the ground trembled slightly. Hearing more pillars descend, Yin Ci held his breath and quickly hid behind a pillar.

He had extracted some smoke bombs from Elder Lu’s fragments. If it wasn’t Shi Jingzhi who arrived, he could play some tricks, disappearing mysteriously, and create evidence of the existence of a “mysterious master”.

As a precaution, Yin Ci had previously walked around inside the hall, deliberately spreading bloodstains everywhere. Even if it was Shi Jingzhi who came, that fox wouldn’t be able to sniff out his location.

Unexpectedly, that person came running straight towards his hiding spot.

It would be too late to retreat to the room now. However, this was only the second person to emerge, so it shouldn’t be his naive master. Unfortunately, things didn’t always go as planned, and Demonic Lord Yin’s luck had never been good…

With a cold expression, Shi Jingzhi flashed in front of Yin Ci, pointing the broken half of a flagpole directly at his throat.

“W-W-W-What are you?”

His gaze swept over Yin Ci’s white clothes, making sure that Yin Ci was still catching his breath before he sternly asked his question.

“What… What did you do to my disciple? He’s in his early twenties and has no martial arts skills.”

Yin Ci raised an eyebrow slightly—since Shi Jingzhi was so sure that he met his ‘mountain disciple’, this kid must have done something.

Why not take this opportunity to test his words? Looking at the furious Shi Jingzhi, Yin Ci suddenly felt a playful impulse.

“Your disciple?”

Yin Ci deliberately feigned confusion, then burst into laughter.

“…Hmm, most likely I killed him.”

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The author has something to say:

Fox Shi, Demonic Lord Yin: three-in-one—best friend (?) + true love + disciple—isn’t it surprising?

When a beauty faces another beauty, seduction is ineffective. After all, they have both looked in the mirror!

Yan Qing: Boss, stop flirting and come to rescue me. I’m facing a life-threatening crisis during the probation period——0(:3 )～ (;3_ヽ)_

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 16: An Old Acquaintance

Yin Ci felt a wave of dizziness.

In his sight, the ground rose up, the ceiling pressed down, and walls squeezed in from all directions. Boundless fear seeped out from deep within his memory. His hair stood on end, and his blood froze. All senses were momentarily obscured, leaving only the heavy scent of blood in his mouth and nose.

The flickering flames gradually receded, and everything twisted into darkness. Just like back then…

“Not a bad move.” Yin Ci raised his eyes.

Even though Lu Fengxi had wandered the world for decades, taking countless lives, when he saw those eyes, he couldn’t help but shudder.

His opponent not only didn’t fall, but his killing intent had intensified. Those eyes—no longer the eyes of an evil spirit; at least an evil spirit was once human. The entity standing across from him now resembled a pure creature born in darkness.

Lu Fengxi widened his eyes in horror as he looked at his opponent. He wanted to say something, but he realized he had lost his lips, tongue, and teeth.

That person stood amidst a splatter of blood with a cold and resolute face filled with malice and eyes emptier than the sacrificial pit. His icy gaze passed through Lu Fengxi and lingered in the void.

In the next moment, Elder Lu couldn’t see anything.

……

Yin Ci slapped himself in the pool of blood, regaining some clarity. Unfortunately, it was too late—Lu Fengxi had been completely torn to shreds, and it would be difficult to even throw him into the sacrificial pit, let alone bury him.

Fortunately, he retained a shred of sanity, keeping in mind Shi Jingzhi’s fox nose, so he didn’t splatter too much blood on himself.

“Sound of Terror—the name is quite apt.”

Using the technique of sound to provoke fear in people, he had never seen such a fresh move. It seemed that during his absence from the martial world, the Ling Sect had come up with some strange things.

Yin Ci picked up the staff from the flesh and blood, finally understanding its material—it was pieced together with human bones. Judging by its softness and hardness, it was likely made from processed children’s bones.

The Ling Sect remained the same over the centuries.

Yin Ci sneered, dismantling the lantern. After spending some time, he crushed the staff into pieces and carefully burned it to ashes.

Then, he picked up the three Ling Sect disciples and pulled out a knife. One by one, he threw them into the sacrificial pit, causing the stone pillar to rumble and descend a large section.

Only two people’s weight remained.

Yin Ci approached the unconscious monk from Jianchen Temple and adjusted the monk into a more natural lying position. He also checked the dryness of the ghostskin robe and hung it in a more ventilated area.

After completing all of this, Yin Ci sat on the edge of the sacrificial pit, gazing into the bottomless pit. He contemplated for a while, folding up the hem of his white robe, revealing his bare legs. The pale skin brushed against the rough edge of the stone, leaving behind faint red marks.

In a flash of cold light, his hand rose, and the knife fell.

Yin Ci severed his left leg, which plunged into the deep pit. Before long, something resembling blood-soaked tree roots emerged from the severed area. They coiled together, tightly wrapping around each other, forming new bone and flesh until a new left leg was regenerated.

Yin Ci remained expressionless, raising his hand for another slash. His newly regenerated left leg was once again severed, and a large amount of fresh blood sprayed along the edge of the pit. Flesh and blood tumbled and rolled, creating a disturbing muffled sound as they hit the stone walls.

This repetition occurred over a dozen times until, finally, the stone pillar began to tremble and descended completely.

Everything was ready. Next, all Yin Ci needed to do was put on the ghostskin robe, bring the monk out, and weave a convincing lie—they had encountered a powerful individual with an unknown identity. This person had knocked out the monk and himself, somehow caused the stone pillar to descend, and then disappeared without a trace.

The monk was hit by a palm strike that caused confusion and blurred memories. At most, he could vaguely recall the general situation but couldn’t provide many details.

But before that, Yin Ci had to quickly retrieve the treasure at the top of the pillar.

Yin Ci leaped onto the stone pillar and, as expected, found a Buddhist bead on the top. However, there was a strange dust around the bead, as if something had been placed there for a while and then swapped out with the Buddhist bead.

Considering that there weren’t many monsters in the Ascension Hall, the eerie conditions of the Ghost Tomb became even more peculiar.

…He didn’t know if his cheap master would survive this ordeal.

A short while ago, in another chamber.

Shi Jingzhi’s hand slapped against the stone surface with a crisp and resounding sound. He groaned and moaned for a while before breaking free from the effects of the anesthetic. When the fire ignited, he was still sitting on the ground, rubbing his legs.

The flag “Medicine Cures Illness” was too long, so a section was poked out from the liquid sphere, which was dissolved by the lake water, leaving behind only “Cures Illness”. Shi Jingzhi stood up, leaning on the flagpole, and took a few deep breaths with a pained expression.

In the center of the room stood a stone pillar inscribed with “Suffering From Parting”, which he recognized. A few steps away, the people from the Rong Palace stood quietly. The sedan chair had returned to its original state.

In addition to the person inside the sedan and the four skilled guards from the Rong Palace, two solitary individuals had regained consciousness and were looking around.

Including himself, there were a total of eight people in the room. The “Suffering From Parting” required the weight of about five people, if they included…

Before he could finish his thoughts, the guards from the Rong Palace suddenly pounced, throwing the two solitary individuals into the sacrificial pit. After a moment of silence, sounds of agonizing screams, unlike human voices, emanated from below the sacrificial pit.

The stone pillar trembled and descended a notch.

The four guards turned around and looked at Shi Jingzhi, preparing to take action—

“Hold on, let me have a word with him first.” Finally, the person inside the sedan spoke. From the sound of his voice, it was a young man.

He lifted the curtain with a folding fan and walked out, revealing his face. His features were quite handsome, making him resemble a charming young man.

Tapping his palm with the folding fan, he sarcastically remarked, “What’s this? Changed to another wooden mask again?”

“Every time I come across a market, I buy one as a souvenir.” Shi Jingzhi readily took off the Nuo mask.

The person inside the sedan was above average in appearance, but compared to Shi Jingzhi, he instantly became a supporting character, like a green leaf next to a blooming red flower, especially one with spots.

Seemingly aware of this, the person unfolded the folding fan, covering almost half of his face. On the fan, the word “Tranquility*” was written in skilled calligraphy, indicating the work of a renowned calligrapher.

*In terms of being calm and composed.

He stared at Shi Jingzhi for a moment. “Do you have anything else to say?”

“Yes,” Shi Jingzhi said with a grin. “Since you dared to come in person, that sedan must be quite valuable, right? I’ve been short on money lately. Can I borrow some…”

“Nonsense.” The person displayed a hint of anger. “I’m asking you, since you’re about to die here. Do you have anything else to say?”

Shi Jingzhi sighed. “You’ve been following me since the Paper Figure Street, and you’re still so impatient.”

“If you hadn’t been lucky enough to accompany Shi Zhongyu and coincidentally travel together, you wouldn’t have even made it into the Ascension Hall,” the man sneered.

“We’re already talking about the Ascension Hall? Haven’t you noticed that something is off?”

“What do you mean?”

“The Ascension Hall… No, the Ghost Tomb is too mild. It’s not Yan Budu’s style.”

The person looked at the stone pillar in silence. “You call this ‘mild’?”

“The first level is originally not difficult, so it retains a relatively intact design. As for the second level, the Ascension Hall is too spacious. If they only wanted to set up the Corpse Explosion Bone Curse and the sinking liquid spheres, there would be no need to build such a finely crafted maze.”

The man furrowed his brow. “…Continue.”

“Most importantly, the Corpse Explosion Bone Curse can reduce the number of people, and so can the “Suffering From Parting”. There’s only a layer of liquid mass in between, lacking a sense of aesthetics.”

Shi Jingzhi sat down on the ground, resting his chin on his hand. “The leader of the Ling Sect considers the tomb a sacred place. Even if he wants to design a trap for conflicts, this is completely turning things upside down—the Ghost Tomb should be filled with slaughter mechanisms rather than an ambiguous guiding game.”

The man in the sedan chair: “…This is the first time I’ve heard someone complain about a lack of mechanisms.”

“If it were up to me, I would hide a large number of monsters and spells in the maze, dispersing the intruders and slowly killing them. When the survivors are reduced to a fixed number, then the heavens and earth would be overturned, and the liquid sphere would appear randomly, purely as a matter of luck.”

“Each room would be paired with two people, adjusting the weight requirement of the ‘Suffering From Parting’ to about one and a half persons. If they wanted to escape, they would definitely have to leave behind some limbs. Once the first person exits a room, all the other rooms would be sealed—only the final survivor would be allowed to enter the third level. Empty-handed and most likely missing limbs, they would have no choice but to die in despair at the destination.”

Having finished, Shi Jingzhi smiled even brighter. “Isn’t this more like a ‘Ghost Tomb’?”

The person inside the sedan sneered. “Whether it resembles a ghost tomb or not, I’m quite clear that you and that Yan person are of the same kind.”

“Don’t be impatient. I haven’t finished yet.” Shi Jingzhi raised his hand to signal.

With disheveled clothing and casual movements and a pair of phoenix-like eyes filled with a playful smile, he resembled a legendary evil immortal from folklore. Unlike before, the gentle aura that surrounded Shi Jingzhi dissipated completely, leaving only an imposing pressure.

“Yan Budu, a man of the times, is not more naive than me. I dare to guess that Yan Budu placed the Buddhist beads in the Ghost Tomb after its construction. To ensure that enough masters survived, he exterminated the monsters in the Ascension Hall and altered all the rules of the arts. This ensures that people can fight over the Buddhist beads without the entire force being wiped out.”

Feeling the strong momentum from the opposite side, the person inside the sedan became somewhat impatient. “So what? Ultimately, he wants the Buddhist beads to flow out of the Ghost Tomb and cause chaos?”

“That’s right, he used the Ghost Tomb as a stepping stone—meaning that the tomb is no longer important to him.”

The man abruptly held his breath. “Are you saying…”

“Yan Budu isn’t in the tomb. Assuming the Shirou truly exists, the Buddhist beads are highly likely to be a clue.”

Shi Jingzhi extended his index finger and tapped his lower lip.

“My Buddhist bead is not on me. I can guarantee that if I die, you will never obtain it.”

“To acquire information about the Ghost Tomb, you must have spent quite a sum of money on the demonic sects. Why? Are you planning to collect the Buddhist beads personally to please Eldest Brother*? …Can you even gift something that’s not a complete set?”

*[Dage] (大哥).

“Insolent! You dare call him ‘Eldest Brother’?” The man’s face turned pale.

“We are blood relatives. Why can’t I call him that? If I call him that to his face, he has to respond.”

Shi Jingzhi said casually.

“It’s strange. Clearly, it’s you who don’t know etiquette. After all, I am your older brother, Xiao Qi¹. Oh, you prefer a more serious title… How about calling me ‘gege²‘ and see how it sounds, Your Royal Highness of Rong?”

¹Little Seven. This indicates most likely he’s the 7^th son in the family hierarchy.
²Older brother (哥哥). || Note: [Gege] is often a more informal way to address someone than [xiong] (兄), which is often considered a more formal and respectful term (compared to gege). In this context, considering his status (and apparently his disdain for Shi Jingzhi), for Xiao Qi to address him as [xiong] (more respectfully), it would be kind of like a slap in the face. Though I doubt he would want to call him [gege] either.

The person in the sedan—Prince Xu Jingming of Rong*, from the Rong Imperial Palace—choked hard, and his gaze was mixed with vigilance and disgust, without a hint of appreciation.

*Clarity: Xu Jingming is his name, while Rong is more like his title (most likely bestowed on him by the emperor).

Shi Jingzhi ignored his attitude and smiled at him.

Xu Jingming took two steps back on the spot, and a familiar memory flooded into his mind once again.

At that time, he was still young and shouldn’t have remembered much. But the day he first met this “older brother*”, Xu Jingming remembered it very clearly.

*[Xiong zhang] (兄长). Also a term for older brother, but carries more respect than just [Xiong] (兄).

On that day, the crown prince* led him, standing far away outside the garden. Inside the garden, Shi Jingzhi sat in the pavilion, gazing at the lake absentmindedly. After a while, as if sensing their presence, Shi Jingzhi turned his head, his face showing an inexplicable calmness that didn’t match a child’s.

*[Taizi] (太子).

Back then, Shi Jingzhi wasn’t much older, and his face was surprisingly delicate—so delicate that it didn’t seem real. At first glance, he stood out from his surroundings, as if he had been stripped away.

“Ge…ge…?” The young Xu Jingming pointed to the pavilion.

“Jingming, he’s not your ‘gege’.”

The crown prince lowered his head and calmly responded.

“He’s a monster.”

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The author has something to say:

Shi Jingzhi: I’ll take off a layer of disguise here.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 15: Trapped Beast

The gigantic fish bone in the center of the lake rotated with the ice, once protruding from the water, now presenting a submerged appearance.

They had stayed in the Ascension Hall for a full six or seven hours. Most of their energy was depleted, and with few monsters along the way, they couldn’t immediately enter a state of tension.

Trapped within the space enclosed by the ice and the serpent bones, there was nowhere to escape. They could only watch the world spin before their eyes.

The coldness around them grew heavier, causing their joints to stiffen, and the visible breaths turned increasingly misty.

Yin Ci wasn’t particularly nervous. Even if everyone died here, he could retrieve the Buddhist beads. But if he was the only one left, the path ahead would be difficult—no one knew if there were any mechanisms that required multiple people to trigger.

If things went wrong and he was trapped at the bottom of the Ghost Tomb for a long time, he wouldn’t be able to endure it.

He needed to find a way to save everyone.

“Shizun, put me down. I can step on the serpent bones.”

Shi Jingzhi squatted down, stroking the white bones a few times. “Hmm, okay… A’Ci, don’t wander around. I’ll figure something out.”

At this moment, the Ascension Hall had rotated halfway, and the lake water surged in large quantities through the gaps in the ice, reaching the same level as the serpent bones. If it continued to rotate for a moment longer, everyone would be forcefully submerged into the water.

The sensation of the world overturning was particularly suffocating, with the air slowly slipping away, driving one almost insane.

Shi Zhongyu remained calm and attempted to break the ice beside her, where there was no water. Meanwhile, Shi Jingzhi ignited his golden fire, bombarding the serpent bones beside him. Yan Qing was quite self-aware—he held onto their luggage and waited obediently, occasionally shifting positions to make room, adopting an appearance as if resigned to fate.

However, he was the first to encounter trouble.

Yan Qing stepped on a piece of serpent bone and lost his balance. He passed right through that bone and, with a splash, fell into the water, sinking into the depths of the lake in front of everyone. Unlike the previous sacrifices, his body wasn’t corroded.

However, the turbulence in the lake water made it too murky, and people couldn’t see where he sank.

“Don’t move. It’s an illusion.” Shi Jingzhi reached out and touched the “serpent bone”, easily passing his finger through the illusion.

People were focused on the maze itself and wouldn’t pay attention to whether the serpent bone was missing a piece—let alone notice such a delicate illusion.

Everyone immediately stopped their movements. Shi Zhongyu unleashed a flurry of sword strikes, breaking the illusion, and the serpent bones slowly vanished, revealing a gap large enough for one person to pass through. Shi Jingzhi dropped a piece of jerky down, which instantly dissolved, no different from before.

As the lake water was about to engulf them, Shi Zhongyu anxiously said, “It must be Yan Qing’s bloodline that triggered something. Did anyone see clearly just now?”

Yin Ci raised his hand. “The direction of the sediment is wrong.”

Masters could perceive even the slightest details, and almost simultaneously, everyone looked down at the lake water beneath their feet.

Green water covered the white sand, and their flow appeared somewhat turbid, interspersed with liquid clusters—they were soft and transparent, sharing the same green color as the lake water. At first glance, they were extremely difficult to notice, resembling glass beads in the water.

The liquid blob had a cocoon-like shape, just big enough to fit one person.

Shi Jingzhi took a breath. “These things are floating around… It seems they only actively transport the descendants of the Yan family.”

Given the situation, they had to jump out of the hole in the serpent bones and precisely land in the liquid spheres. If they missed or deviated, the consequences ranged from missing limbs to losing their lives on the spot.

There weren’t many people from the Taiheng Sect, and they were all trusted followers of Shi Zhongyu. They nodded to her and one by one jumped down. The liquid spheres enveloped them and quickly sank into the lake.

However, the liquid spheres moved swiftly, and the thought of not having another chance if they made a mistake weighed heavily on their minds. What could have been accomplished earlier was now seemingly impossible. When it was Jin Lan’s turn, his face turned pale. He shuffled his feet against the ice surface, unable to move forward.

Seizing the opportunity, Shi Zhongyu gave him a push. Jin Lan took a sharp breath and successfully retracted his body, only leaving a corner of his clothing exposed.

The fabric was immediately swallowed by the lake water.

Next were the people from the Rong Palace.

The person inside the sedan didn’t step out. The sedan folded itself into a barrel shape, sealing the person tightly inside. The experts from the Rong Palace simply threw the sedan down the gap, disregarding the liquid spheres, but the sedan didn’t shatter.

Shi Zhongyu coldly watched as those from the Rong Palace departed before jumping into the lake herself. At this moment, only Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci remained on the serpent bones, and the ice surface was about to close completely.

“A’Ci, come. Let me help you find the right timing.” Shi Jingzhi took a deep breath.

Yin Ci shook his head. “No.”

“Don’t be afraid.”

“These pits seem more like traps. If Shizun’s guess is correct, the liquid spheres are attracted by the Buddhist beads.” Yin Ci quickly explained. “I can jump by myself, but if the Buddhist beads aren’t here, the liquid spheres might disappear.”

They had two choices. Either Shi Jingzhi retrieved the Buddhist bead and went first, or Shi Jingzhi went first, and he would jump afterwards.

Since they only had one Buddhist bead, it was considered precious. Yin Ci had just prepared to remove the Buddhist bead to return it—

Shi Jingzhi interjected. “Are you sure you can jump?”

Yin Ci froze in his movements. “What?”

“I’m asking you, are you sure you won’t jump wrong?” Shi Jingzhi tiptoed, afraid that the soles of his shoes would be corroded.

“I’m sure, but…”

Shi Jingzhi interrupted with a smile, “Then I’ll go first. Don’t worry, since you have the Buddhist bead, I will definitely come find you.”

With that, he jumped decisively into the water and quickly sank.

…This guy’s logic is truly strange. Can’t he clearly distinguish what’s more important between an ordinary disciple who’s half-baked and a Buddhist bead that’s a life-saving clue?

Yin Ci fell silent for a moment and eventually jumped into the lake.

In the next instant, the ice surface completely flipped over, and the lake water surged in. The serpent bones, previously submerged beneath the lake surface, emerged on the ice, forming a new maze.

The descent didn’t take long. However, the material of the liquid sphere caused Yin Ci’s ghostskin robe to wrinkle and rendered it temporarily unusable.

The sound of rocks rubbing against each other echoed from above. Yin Ci adjusted his posture, landing silently. He then took off his sect attire and ghostskin robe. Suppressing his aura, he blended into the darkness, surveying the room in front of him.

The room was neither large nor small, unlike a burial chamber. In the center of the room stood a pillar-like device that extended to the ceiling, and at the base of the pillar was a bottomless pit. On the other end of the room lay four members of the Ling Sect and a monk from Jianchen Temple.

Yin Ci licked his fingertips with his tongue—indeed, the liquid spheres were laced with an anesthetic as his tongue instantly felt numb.

Taking a sweeping glance, Yin Ci roughly guessed Yan Budu’s intentions. He leaped lightly and hid behind a ghost-faced sculpture, intending to observe the situation quietly.

Before long, the unconscious people gradually regained consciousness. As if timed perfectly, a fire ignited in the room. The stone pillar was illuminated by the fire, and a line of text slowly became visible.

The members of the Ling Sect stepped forward first.

“Elder* Lu, it says, ‘Dispelling a Thousand Gold, Ascending to Heaven in Five Steps’… What does it mean?”

*[Zhang lao] (长老) Normally used to address an elder/senior of a religious organization.

Lu Fengxi, one of the elders of the Ling Sect, had a sickly crooked donkey-like face. He was known for his sinister and despicable actions, which Yin Ci had heard of. However, his martial arts skills were commendable, and currently, he could fight against two and a half Shi Jingzhi.

Elder Lu took the lantern and carefully inspected the pillar. “According to our records, this object is called the ‘Suffering From Parting’. There is a precious treasure placed at the top of the pillar. We need to throw a heavy object into the sacrificial pit for the pillar to descend.”

He took back the lantern and chuckled dryly. “A heavy object, at least the weight of five men.”

Everyone was taken aback.

The monk from Jianchen Temple spoke. “Can we break the stone sculpture and use the stones as a substitute?”

Lu Fengxi sneered. “Not to mention the stone sculpture; even the walls are made of muyan stone, which is invulnerable. The path we came from has also been sealed off by stone slabs, so we can’t return the same way.”

The monk fell silent and leaned against the wall, silently reciting scriptures. Lu Fengxi paced around the room, and his expression started growing colder. “I haven’t found any other exits.”

“Is—Is the Divine Hierarch* planning to trap us here and let us die?”

*[Jiaozhu] (教主) Founder of a religion (in this case, the sect).

Everyone relied on the liquid spheres to come to this place, so they must not have brought much luggage. However, there were only five people in the room. If no one brought anything, no one would be able to lower the pillar.

Did Yan Budu miscalculate?

Lu Fengxi clicked his tongue. “Since the pillar can descend, there must be an exit at the top. It seems that this ‘Suffering From Parting’ is crucial.”

Pausing for a moment, he raised his staff and continued, “The Divine Hierarch never makes mistakes. There must be someone hidden in the room… Who dares to play tricks in front of me?”

With a chuckle, Yin Ci descended barefoot.

He took off his ghostskin robe and didn’t put on shoes. He was dressed in a white undergarment from head to toe, resembling a ghostly figure. With his long, ink-black hair flowing down, his face revealed a captivating allure, turning even a ghost into a charming specter. In this eerie tomb, he exuded an atmosphere that was both ethereal and alluring, like wisps of smoke around a warm jade.

The five people on the opposite side fell into silence—this person definitely concealed his identity. Otherwise, no one would forget that face.

Seeing that he was unarmed, Lu Fengxi relaxed a bit and asked, “Who are you?”

Yin Ci smiled and replied, “A dead man.”

Unfortunately, this person wasn’t like his cheap master. Lu Fengxi showed no fear and charged forward with his staff, shouting, “I’ll take you out first!”

The other disciples of the Ling Sect were still in a daze. “Wait, Elder. With such an appearance, he might be an immortal…”

Lu Fengxi was furious. “Immortal, my ass! Look at his eyes. He’s more like an evil spirit!”

“A pity.” Yin Ci easily evaded the attack. “If you had a little less killing intent, maybe I would be willing to use some immortal techniques to save you all.”

“You don’t even dare to reveal your name—what kind of immortal are you?” Lu Fengxi shouted angrily.

Yin Ci chuckled but remained silent. He quickly moved his feet and positioned himself next to the monk from Jianchen Temple. Before the monk could react, Yin Ci struck his forehead with a palm and pressed several acupoints.

The monk immediately slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Three disciples of the Ling Sect immediately surrounded the monk, attempting to throw him into the sacrificial pit. Yin Ci curled his lips, and with a sweep of his palm, the three disciples crashed into the wall, spewing out blood.

Lu Fengxi grinned wickedly. “Well done! I’ll throw them in together later!”

Although Elder Lu smiled, he knew he was no match for Yin Ci. His offensive gradually turned into a defensive stance as he darted around the room. Yin Ci effortlessly got rid of the cumbersome encumbrance and chased after him, emitting a strong killing intent.

Unfortunately, Lu Fengxi’s escape was too cunning, turning the scene into a cat and mouse game.

Strangely, Lu Fengxi’s martial arts were extremely mediocre, quite different from the rumors. Yin Ci furrowed his brow and became more cautious in his attacks.

Lu Fengxi had previously killed top-notch masters like Snow Spear Cui Wen and the Old Broken Mountain Feng Yishan. He must have concealed some killer moves. Despite being battered and injured by Yin Ci, he showed no intention of retaliating.

His weapon was coated with poison, but the toxicity wasn’t high. It was just that the material of the weapon was somewhat rare. The only problem was that the firelight was dim, and the staff was covered in blood, making it difficult for Yin Ci to see clearly for a while.

Lu Fengxi escaped panting for breath, as if he had truly reached a dead end, while Yin Ci became even more cautious, only using palm winds to attack, always maintaining a distance.

He couldn’t die, but he also didn’t want to be thrown into the sacrificial pit after being hit. Once it reached enough weight, the sacrificial pit might be sealed by the muyan stone, trapping him deep in the tomb.

Just the thought of it made Yin Ci’s internal organs feel a chill.

Seeing that the other party didn’t want to get close, Lu Fengxi grinned, revealing his rotten black and yellow teeth. He split the blood-soaked staff into two pieces and suddenly struck out without warning. “Fall!”

Yin Ci could withstand the poison but couldn’t defend against the curse that entered his mind. Using blood to perform sacrificial rituals was originally an evil art. Upon hearing this malicious sound, he stopped his actions.

Elder Lu continued to strike vigorously with a pleased expression on his face. “Even if you’re a great immortal, as long as you have ears, you’ll fall under the terror of my sound. Kid, keeping your distance won’t help. Dying instantly is more merciful than suffering.”

As he said this, Lu Fengxi’s face turned dark green, and blood started flowing from his seven orifices. This move obviously harmed the enemy while also hurting himself.

“With this move, cough, I’ve never spared anyone. Fall for me—”

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The author has something to say:

Yin Ci: Shizun’s = unit of combat power (?

Lu Fengxi is roughly equal to 2.5 on the power scale √

Shi Jingzhi: This evil disciple! (T^T)

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 14: Ghost Eyes

Yan Qing planted his sword tip on the ground, standing upright. His facial features were handsome and refined, but coupled with a pair of blood-colored irises, he looked like an evildoer no matter how they looked at him. Jin Lan stood there in a daze; face filled with disbelief.

The most famous characteristic of Yan Budu back then was his pair of deep red “ghost eyes”. Even among the descendants of the Yan family, not everyone possessed them. It was the ironclad proof of the Yan bloodline.

Yan Qing turned his crimson gaze towards Jin Lan and said, “Ten years ago, you brought me into the Taiheng Sect. Today, I have repaid the debt of gratitude for that act.”

Jin Lan opened his mouth, and his expression was still somewhat blank. “You were only eleven years old that year. How could… You deliberately infiltrated the Taiheng Sect; is it for revenge?”

Worried that Yin Ci might miss out on the big show, Shi Jingzhi explained in a whisper, “Yan Budu was excessively debauched and had many offsprings. During the two years when the righteous martial world besieged the Ling Sect, almost all of the descendants of the Yan family were wiped out. The Taiheng Sect was at the forefront. Ah, we’ve stumbled upon a scene of revenge! Ten years of biding one’s time and enduring setbacks, tsk tsk…”

Yan Qing looked helpless. “Do I look like someone seeking revenge to you?”

Shi Zhongyu didn’t lower her sword. “If you don’t seek revenge, then why did you lurk in my sect for ten years and even secretly learn martial arts?”

“With these ‘ghost eyes’, I can only pretend to be blind. It’s not easy for a blind person to find a job. The Taiheng Sect is a prestigious orthodox sect, with high monthly wages for servants and free food and lodging.”

Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci: “…” This young man is too honest, without a trace of Yan Budu’s wickedness.

Shi Zhongyu’s grip on her sword loosened. “Regarding the matter of secretly learning our techniques—”

“It was wrong of me to learn it secretly, but I just didn’t want to be in this kind of situation.” Yan Qing felt embarrassed. “Senior Shi understands righteousness deeply, and I wanted a chance to be able to explain. If I were to encounter any seniors who are hostile to evil, I would need some confidence to escape.”

An eerie silence fell over the scene.

“Why don’t you become a monk at Jianchen Temple? It’s not a bad choice.” Jin Lan muttered. “Specifically picking the Taiheng Sect, it’s hard to believe you have no ulterior motives…”

“I am indeed quite curious. As the saying goes, ‘Misfortune does not befall one’s wife and children¹.’ The Taiheng Sect advocates the doctrine of the golden mean², and in theory, they wouldn’t do something to such an overkill. During these ten years, I tried to investigate the truth but couldn’t find anything…”

¹Idiom implying that even in times of misfortune or danger, one’s family members remain safe and unaffected, and the one at fault takes sole responsibility for their action. || In this context, it means he’s not out to seek revenge against everyone at the Taiheng Sect just because they are simply in the sect and had no involvement with the massacre.
²Middle of the road.

Jin Lan held his breath.

Yan Qing continued, “So I gave up and decided that saving money was more important.”

The members of the Taiheng Sect: “……”

Not far away, the red threads seemed to come alive again, binding the scattered bones together. Just as Yin Ci was about to speak up to warn them, Shi Jingzhi swiftly rushed over.

He covered his shoes with golden fire, firmly stepping on the bones while his eyes remained fixed on the Taiheng Sect.

Yin Ci: “…Shizun, do you really want to watch the show that badly?”

This was the Corpse Explosion Bone Curse, and it was extremely fast. Once it touched flesh and blood, it would explode the entire human body. Unfortunately, it didn’t have a chance to demonstrate, as Shi Jingzhi forcefully crushed it on the ground.

Yin Ci reasonably suspected that surname Shi was afraid that this spectacle would be interrupted by the Bone Curse.

Shi Jingzhi focused intently. “Shh!”

Shi Zhongyu glanced silently in his direction and softly said, “The Taiheng Sect’s hunting order hasn’t been canceled. According to the sect’s rules, anyone from the Yan family is to be killed on sight. Those who steal martial arts shall have their arms severed.”

Yan Qing pursed his lips.

Shi Zhongyu nodded slightly at him and deliberately raised his voice. “We’re now inside the Ghost Tomb and shouldn’t discuss our positions but instead work together. These past few days, you have helped us obtain many treasures, offsetting your previous actions… On behalf of the sect, I hereby expel Yan Qing from Taiheng.”

After saying that, she walked up to Shen Zhu. “Miss Shen, although Yan Qing is a descendent of the Yan family, I can assure you that he has nothing to do with the Ghost Tomb. Please refrain from reporting to the Yueshui Pavilion.”

If this information were to be leaked, aside from those seeking the secrets of the Ghost Tomb, even the remaining enemies of Yan Budu alone would be enough to kill Yan Qing several times over.

Shen Zhu smiled. “It is said that the Green Maiden way is stubborn and rigid, but it seems everyone has been mistaken. Isn’t it too lenient to just ‘expel him from Taiheng’ when it concerns a demonic bloodline?”

Shi Zhongyu responded sincerely, “My sect’s pursuit of the Yan descendants a hundred years ago is nothing to be proud of. Yan Qing entered Taiheng when he was only eleven years old and grew up in the sect without causing any trouble. The servants accompanying us on this trip were randomly selected, and initially, he was unwilling to come…”

At this point, Shi Zhongyu hesitated slightly. Shen Zhu tapped her lips with the tip of her pen. “Continue. I’m still listening.”

Shi Zhongyu: “Um, Yan Qing only learned the basic techniques of a junior disciple, and his skill level is very poor. He has helped me greatly this time, and it’s not righteous to force him into a dead end like this.”

Yan Qing: “…”

Shi Jingzhi: “Oh, I guess that’s where he learned his honesty from.”

Yin Ci rested his chin on his master’s shoulder and lazily nodded, feeling sleepy again.

Shen Zhu rolled her eyes and tore off a page of her notes, crumpling it casually. “Yan Qing’s identity as a younger brother* is not significant, and this news isn’t worth much. If I encounter any difficulties in the future, please keep in mind today’s event, Senior Shi.”

*[Didi] (弟弟).

She casually pointed to the sedan chair in the distance. “But what of them from the Rong Palace…?”

“Don’t worry, they won’t be interested,” Shi Zhongyu said indifferently.

Shi Zhongyu walked toward Shi Jingzhi, who was diligently crushing the bones, gesturing for him to step aside. Just as those bones were struggling to piece themselves back together, Shi Zhongyu swung her sword a few times at their vital points, and they ceased to move.

Seizing the opportunity while everyone was at a distance, Shi Zhongyu whispered, “Yan Qing, you are dexterous, with keen hearing. You will definitely be able to assist Sect Master Shi.”

Shi Jingzhi understood and gladly offered another favor. “Rest assured, Miss Shi.”

With the Buddhist bead obtained, the group resumed their journey. Yan Qing followed at the back of the team, feeling a bit lost. Jin Lan hesitated for a while and finally stamped his foot, handing his own baggage to Yan Qing.

“There’s some drinking water inside, consider it a token of gratitude for earlier. You don’t need to return the sword to me. Keep it for self-defense,” he said stiffly. “Yan Qing, take care of yourself.”

Yan Qing accepted the baggage in silence.

Seizing the opportunity, Shi Jingzhi ran over with Yin Ci on his back and said in a gentle voice, “Brother* Yan, do you want to join the Kushan Sect?”

*[Xiong] (兄) Big brother.

Yan Qing turned his head, somewhat surprised. “Sect Master Shi, don’t you mind my identity?”

“I don’t mind at all, the Kushan Sect is in need of manpower.” Shi Jingzhi smiled warmer. “It’s just me and my discipline. We still haven’t recruited any servants. I’ll provide a monthly allowance of five hundred wen, including room and board. Are you willing?”

A trace of pain appeared on Yan Qing’s face: “……”

‘It seems his monthly allowance has decreased a lot,’ Yin Ci thought. But this kid was quite aware of the situation without honestly mentioning it.

“Okay.” After a while, Yan Qing said sorrowfully, “Fi—Five hundred wen is enough. Thank you, Sect Master Shi, for your hospitality.”

“No need to be downcast. The food at my sect is definitely tastier than that of the Taiheng Sect. Oh, and change into a set of our sect’s attire and put on a mask… The mask is in A’Ci’s bag. You can carry it for him.”

When it was just the two of them, Yin Ci carried the luggage while Shi Jingzhi carried Yin Ci on his back, making the burden quite heavy. When Yan Qing joined, Yin Ci originally thought he would make Yan Qing carry him, but Shi Jingzhi only handed over the luggage.

Following the instructions, Yan Qing put on the sect’s attire and took out another rough Nuo mask, obediently wearing it on his face—there were only two small holes carved for the eyes, perfectly concealing his red irises.

The Kushan Sect now had another masked individual, looking even stranger.

As the only member dressed normally, Yin Ci cleared his throat lightly. “Since we are now family, let’s speak openly. Brother Yan, why were you unwilling to enter the tomb initially?”

Yin Ci now understood the matter with the Faceless Monk—Yan Budu had given special treatment, and his descendants didn’t need to possess high-level martial arts to perceive the clues. But on the flip side, if this bloodline attracted something unpleasant…

Yan Qing: “The divination result wasn’t good.”

Yin Ci was momentarily speechless. This person wasn’t just beyond practical, he was excessively practical.

Yan Qing explained voluntarily. “I have learned a bit of divination, occasionally trying to predict good and bad fortune. Before setting off, I cast a divination*, and the result was truly bizarre.”

*Hexagram.

Shi Jingzhi’s spirit was stirred. “I’ve also read many books on divination. Come, tell us about your results.”

Yan Qing: “I use apricot stones for divination, one side coated with cinnabar and the other with ink. The outcome is determined by the number of red and black sides. The previous time, all the apricot stones stood upright.”

Shi Jingzhi didn’t catch the allusion and could only express his true feelings. “…Indeed, it’s frightening.”

Yan Qing lowered his head. “The Taiheng Sect’s fortune is auspicious, except in my case. That’s why I faked an accident to withdraw but ended up encountering the two of you… Perhaps this is fate.”

Seeing Shi Jingzhi starting to become suspicious again, Yin Ci calmly interjected, “Brother Yan, no need to worry. Our Sect Master is a traveling healer. I can cook, and you can play the role of a blind fortune teller. If things really become unbearable, we can set up a stall at the street corner together.”

Shi Jingzhi immediately reacted as if his tail had been stepped on. “Nonsense! I can support the two of you!”

Yin Ci chuckled softly, tightening his embrace around Shi Jingzhi’s neck. His cheap master was warm, and there was a faint medicinal scent about him. Perhaps it was from years of consuming medicine, seeping into his being.

Although this person was peculiar and kept some things hidden, his emotions were genuine in every aspect.

Yin Ci didn’t dislike this kind of person.

If the Buddhist beads had no relation to the Shirou, then everything was like fetching water with a bamboo basket*. He might be able to find a way to let this person live a few more years and add some variety to his own dull life.

*Idiom used to describe a futile or fruitless effort, similar to attempting to carry water with a bamboo basket, which would only result in all the water leaking out.

After all, watching fallen flowers turn into mud was always better than watching filth breed maggots.

After walking through the serpent bone maze for several more hours, the group stopped to rest.

Yan Qing rearranged the luggage, then sat down properly, savoring the ham and glutinous rice cake. The anguish on his face from the salary cut eased slightly.

The surroundings were as bright as day, the scenery magnificent, and the presence of monsters abnormally scarce. Shi Jingzhi used his inner force to heat up a pot of tea and sat down with Yin Ci still on his back, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

Yin Ci had a faint sense that something was off.

The Blood Rope had a time limit, and it could only catch up to someone by killing and extracting their blood. Even so, this level was too straightforward, not even resembling a proper challenge. It was less intimidating than the Paper Figures Street. Yin Ci bit into the jerky given by his master and spoke in a muffled voice, “Shizun?”

“Hmm?”

“Is this level too easy? There aren’t many monsters, and the prayer beads can be abandoned so easily. Is Yan Budu really that accommodating?”

Shi Jingzhi sighed. “Ah, I can’t figure it out either. With his design, every step should be a deadly trap, but the Ascension Hall is quite sloppy. If I were Yan Budu… at the very least, I would wait until the Buddhist beads on this level are collected and focus on attacking those without beads—those people are either lacking in ability or desire, so they’re not easily manipulated.”

As soon as the words fell, the ice surface rumbled and began to slowly tilt.

Yin Ci: “…” Speak of the devil. That person surname Shi has to be a descendant of Yan Budu.

In the next moment, everyone stood up.

Not only was the ice surface tilting, but the entire Ascension Hall began to rotate. In no time, this level would flip upside down.

The survivors would be trapped beneath the ice, destined to plunge into the flesh-devouring lake.

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The author has something to say:

Comrade Yan Qing, wanting to avoid overtime, took sick leave but failed to escape, being forced to go on a business trip. In the end, he was laid off when the project was nearing completion, not only losing the bonus but also his salary…

It’s a tragedy, a real tragedy.

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Kinky Thoughts:

I debated back and forth between keeping the form of addresses in pinyin or translating them, and ultimately decided to translate them while making a footnote on their pinyin term.

I find that leaving too many terms untranslated would make it confusing and convoluted, especially for readers who are not familiar with the xianxia/wuxia setting (me included, and I have read my fair share of works). Though I have decided to keep the more known form like Shizun, as that’s a pretty common term that most people know.

I may change my mind later down the line if I find the localization too jarring and awkward and will make fixes accordingly.

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 13: Bloodline

Shi Jingzhi’s fingers were cold, and his palms slightly damp. This wasn’t acting; he was genuinely afraid. Yin Ci couldn’t be bothered with etiquette anymore and tightened his grip.

It was such a rare opportunity for a top-notch thrill that he couldn’t let it slip away easily.

When Yin Ci didn’t let go of his hand, Shi Jingzhi breathed a sigh of relief and muttered a barely audible “thank you”.

A strange thought suddenly occurred to Yin Ci—when Shi Jingzhi first learned that Yin Ci was willing to explore the tomb, he was so happy. Could it be that he was actually scared of ghosts and didn’t want to explore alone?

Fear could easily affect performance, so he needed some reassurance.

“Shizun.”

“Yes?”

“There are no ghosts in this world.”

Shi Jingzhi thought of it as the ramblings of a young one. He turned to the side and patted Yin Ci’s head with his other hand. “Master understands.”

Yin Ci continued to comfort him. “Someone once said that I have an incredibly strong fate and specialize in dealing with evil spirits. Even if a ghost appears, I can protect you.”

Shi Jingzhi turned his face, giving him a complicated look. “Specializing in dealing with evil spirits, huh? That’s great.”

After saying this, Shi Jingzhi strangely calmed down, and even his pulse became steadier. Yin Ci was quite satisfied.

Inside the hall, there were arrays set up. It didn’t feel like descending; it felt more like moving forward in a dark tunnel. The Chigou Sect led the way, walking and exploring, advancing slowly in the darkness.

“A’Ci.” Shi Jingzhi suddenly exerted more strength in his hand. “Walk slower.”

After speaking, Shi Jingzhi quietly turned around, put something around Yin Ci’s neck, and adjusted his collar. The movements were astonishingly swift that onlookers would only think he was tidying up his disciple’s clothes.

Yin Ci lowered his head and saw a round shadow inside his collar—Shi Jingzhi had threaded the Buddhist bead with a sturdy thread and hidden it on him.

Yin Ci was almost confused by the intermittent vigilance of this person. What was he thinking to entrust him with such a thing?

“Wear it properly.” Shi Jingzhi pulled back his hand, and there was a bit of warmth in it.

“Shizun, aren’t you afraid I’ll run away?”

Shi Jingzhi replied without hesitation, “If you really run away, no matter where you go, I will catch you.”

Yin Ci: “…” Forget it. Let him dream for now.

At the end of the tunnel, there was a faint blue light. When they reached their destination, everyone stopped in their tracks.

The scene before them was like an illusion.

However, as soon as Yin Ci saw the scene clearly, he pushed Shi Jingzhi to the ground, and both of them fell. Before Shi Jingzhi could ask why, blood from the person beside them splattered across his face.

Just as everyone reached the end of the tunnel and was stunned by the sight of the second layer, several steel wires came from behind like a gust of wind.

The major sects had abundant experience in battle and didn’t lose many people. However, the rest weren’t so lucky—many had been cut into segments by the steel wires, leaving blood and entrails covering the ground.

The group, which had nearly three hundred people, now had less than a hundred remaining, excluding the injured who stayed on the first level.

“It’s… It’s truly vicious. Brother Yin, you have quick reflexes.” Jin Lan’s reaction was a bit slow, and he ducked a bit late, losing a good amount of hair from the back of his head.

“Intuition. Being targeted by mountain beasts from behind feels similar to what just happened,” Yin Ci mysteriously explained.

As he had expected, Shi Jingzhi’s external martial arts were mediocre, and his muscle reflexes hadn’t been trained well. He had come close to becoming a soul under the wires. His cheap master sat on the ground, still in a dazed state.

Yin Ci squatted down, poking his numb face. “Shizun, look, I told you I have a strong fate.”

Shi Jingzhi slowly extended both hands and tightly held Yin Ci’s hand. “Good disciple, there is nothing I can do to repay you but to use my body and… Uh, slave like a horse*.”

*(做牛做马) Idiom referring to working hard or toil diligently to the point of servitude or self-sacrifice.

Yin Ci hinted, “You can increase my monthly allowance.”

Shi Jing immediately became serious. “That matter is a separate issue.”

Most of the people had experienced hardships in the martial world and wouldn’t panic because of corpses. Only the Changle Sect had suffered near-total annihilation, and their thin leader was still crying and sobbing. The others quickly regrouped and observed the scene inside the “Ascension Hall”.

Yan Budu had chosen his timing quite well; the scene inside the hall was indeed awe-inspiring, causing people to forget their actions.

Unlike the Paper Figures Street, the Ascension Hall was filled with a cold light, standing on the lake. There was no solid ground; only an ice surface with neat patterns. Underneath the ice, a liquid shimmered with a faint blue fluorescence that was crystal clear.

So clear they could vividly see it—the lake bottom was adorned with various corals and landscapes, all constructed from translucent white bones, including human bones. Bone fish swam leisurely under the influence of the arrays.

The surroundings were brightly lit, as if it were daylight. Beautiful green lights enveloped various bones as if all signs of life were sealed within the ice. Compared to a palace, it felt more like a courtyard of bones.

The view at the center of the lake was particularly magnificent. A giant fishbone was located at the spatial center, unrivaled in size. The fish’s head leaned forward, with half of its body frozen in ice and the tail naturally connected to a serpent’s bone. The serpent’s bone covered the entire second level, with rib ends embedded in the ice surface, creating countless passages.

Carp leaping over the dragon gate symbolized auspiciousness, but the atmosphere was extremely eerie.

Shi Jingzhi: “… Did Yan Budu misunderstand the meaning of ‘ascension’? Has this carp only transformed halfway and gotten stuck at the Dragon Gate*?”

*Clarity: The Dragon Gate holds transformative and auspicious opportunity or challenge that can lead to great success, advancement, or a higher level of existence (ascension). According to legend, carp that can swim upstream and successfully leap over the Dragon Gate transform into dragons. This symbolizes overcoming obstacles, perseverance, and achieving greatness. || In this context, it would mean immortal ascension.

Yin Ci wiped his face. It seemed this kid hadn’t been scared out of his wits and had recovered quite quickly.

The attention of everyone wasn’t focused on the half-transformed carp fish. In front of them was a dazzling maze of bones, with no hints or information to guide them. They couldn’t even form teams. If they wanted a large group to explore together, it would take an eternity.

“Stop searching. There won’t be any hints. Yan Budu made this to prevent intruders; it’s not meant for entertainment,” Matron Wuxue said indifferently. “Given the current situation, we can only go our separate ways.”

She tapped her cane on the ice surface and led the Chigou Sect into the maze.

A lone ranger seemed eager to follow the Chigou Sect, hastily rushing after them. However, as soon as he stepped onto the ice surface, it suddenly collapsed, and he fell into the lake in an instant.

He was enveloped in pearl-like bubbles. After the bubbles dispersed, his clothes, weapons, and flesh were all dissolved, leaving behind only a set of pristine white bones and a complete network of blood vessels that made people uneasy.

The intricate dark red network of blood vessels hung in the air for a moment after detaching from the skeletal frame. Eventually, it sank to the bottom of the lake, gradually losing color and crumbling into fine sand.

The leader of the Changle Sect was on the verge of collapse. He attempted to retrace his steps, only to find a solid wall behind him and the tunnel had disappeared.

“The Chigou Sect used inner force beneath their feet.” Shi Zhongyu recalled for a moment, then raised her voice. “Everyone, gather your true qi at the soles of your feet at all times and don’t slack off.”

She led by example, stepping onto the previously collapsed ice surface, which remained intact.

After contemplating for a moment, Shi Jingzhi crouched down. “A’Ci, come up. Master will carry you.”

Yin Ci politely declined, “Shizun, it’s really…”

“It’s fine. I can’t just leave you here.” Shi Jing didn’t hesitate. “We’re following the Taiheng Sect, so it won’t be that dangerous.”

Shi Jing was slightly taller than Yin Ci, and with ample inner force, carrying him wasn’t much of a burden. Yin Ci hooked his arms around Shi Jing’s neck and nestled quietly. Although his hands and feet were cold from fear, the temperature of Shi Jingzhi’s body was warm, making him quite comfortable.

Yin Ci’s emotions involuntarily relaxed a bit, and he began to look around again.

Previously, with the fireworks on the Paper Figures Street, he hadn’t paid much attention. But now, upon closer inspection, he noticed that the people from the Rong Palace had brought a sedan chair inside, seemingly somehow managing to evade the steel wires.

The sedan chair was adorned with expensive talismans and was carried by several masters, steadily advancing.

At every major intersection, both the Taiheng Sect and Rong Palace would send a few people in different directions. After walking for two to three hours, Shi Zhongyu’s group was left with less than ten people.

Among them were the Changle Sect, the Kushan Sect, and Shen Zhu from the Yueshui Pavilion.

The sedan chair from the Rong Palace followed behind at a steady pace. Shi Zhongyu’s gaze flashed with a hint of disgust. She maintained a steady breath and whispered to Yan Qing, “Is that sound still there?”

“Yes, it’s a regular clicking sound. We’re getting closer,” Yan Qing honestly replied.

Yin Ci didn’t perceive the danger. Feeling the warmth from Shi Jingzhi’s back, he nearly fell asleep amidst the swaying. In a daze, a dense yin qi swept over, and Yin Ci’s consciousness suddenly became clear.

Not long after, Shi Jingzhi also stopped in his tracks.

The serpent bone maze revealed an “end”. There was no exit at the end, only a transparent ice well.

The well was built on top of the ice surface, and dangerous green liquid rippled within it. Directly beneath the well, deep within the lake, sat a skeleton.

The skeleton was entangled with red threads, with its bones intact. It sat cross-legged, counting prayer beads in its hand with its hollow eye sockets gazing upward.

The prayer beads were also carved from white bones, totaling fourteen in number, with only one of them being dark in color—the wooden Buddhist bead was mixed among them looking undamaged. However, the entire skeleton sank beneath the lake’s surface, a distance away from the ice.

Shi Zhongyu attempted to cover her spirit weapon with yin fire, but as soon as the spirit weapon touched the water, it dissolved instantly. The people from the Rong Palace also tried for a while but couldn’t find any tools that could be submerged in water.

Yin Ci coldly observed, already knowing how to retrieve it—the Buddhist bead from the Ascension Hall was probably beyond their reach. This mechanism was completely different from the Paper Figures Street, filled with pure malice.

After pondering for a while, Shi Jingzhi turned his head. “Let’s not go for this Buddhist bead. Let’s find a place to rest.”

At the same time, Shi Zhongyu furrowed her brow and slowly shook her head. “Mm, let’s find the exit first.”

One of the masters from the Rong Palace opened the curtain of the sedan chair and reported to the person inside. Shortly after, one of them approached the Taiheng Sect. Shi Zhongyu thought the person was coming to talk, and she took a step forward—

That person grabbed the leader of the Changle Sect and snapped his neck. He placed the thin leader, who refused to close his eyes even in death, at the edge of the well, and used a blade to cut open his neck.

Immediately, blood fell into the lake, forming a twisted blood rope in the water.

The length was still not enough, so the person reached out to grab Yan Qing. Shi Zhongyu drew her sword, and yin fire brushed against the blade. “How dare you!”

Taking advantage of Shi Zhongyu’s distraction, another person replicated the same action and killed the remaining disciple of the Changle Sect.

Another corpse was added, and more blood fell onto the blood rope.

Shi Zhongyu’s face turned incredibly grim. “You won’t get away with this—”

Unexpectedly, one of them assessed the length of the rope and swiftly committed suicide by cutting their own throat at the edge of the well. Finally, the blood rope reached the prayer beads, solidifying with the bead string. At the same time, the initially formed blood rope began to crumble.

The other person grabbed the blood rope and started to retract it. The blood rope, stained with lake water, quickly corroded his hand into a bloody mess. However, without uttering a word, he continued pulling the blood rope.

The Buddhist bead was quickly retrieved, lifted up by the almost bone-only hand of the person, and sent into the sedan chair.

As soon as the blood rope touched the air, it rapidly transformed into sticky blood clots, scattering in a messy mix of black and red on the ground. Yin Ci narrowed his eyes, suddenly having an unpleasant premonition.

“Those from the Rong Palace are truly despicable. Senior Shi seems very angry. Shizun, let’s move a bit further away…”

Before he could finish his sentence, the ice surface began to tremble. The red threads on the skeleton changed their binding method, tying the bones into an insect-like structure. It suddenly moved, crawling out of the well and pouncing towards Jin Lan, who was closest.

Despite drawing her sword, Shi Zhongyu was still too far away. Jin Lan, with his back to the skeleton, didn’t react in time, and the tragedy seemed inevitable—

“Ding.”

The hard bone collided with a longsword.

Yan Qing accurately unsheathed Jin Lan’s sword, blocking the attack. He gritted his teeth as a flurry of sword techniques erupting as he flung the skeleton away.

Yin Ci couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. This kid’s skill level wasn’t great, but his movements were quite delicate. It was evident that he had put in a lot of effort in training and had potential.

There was only one problem—that was the orthodox sword technique of the Taiheng Sect, impossible to pass down to servants. A blind man couldn’t learn such precise moves.

“Yan Qing, explain!” Shi Zhongyu shouted while her Green Maiden Sword Technique slashed at the skeleton.

Without receiving an answer, she casually waved her sword, aiming the tip at Yan Qing’s black cloth eye patch. Yan Qing sighed, opening his eyes.

His eyes were perfectly intact, clear and lucid. However, the color of his irises wasn’t like that of an ordinary person; it was a deep crimson, like blood.

Shi Zhongyu’s face quickly paled.

“…Are you a descendant of Yan Budu?”

“Yes.”

---

The author has something to say:

The blind man is not blind√

Shi Jingzhi: Xiao Yin, thank you for your contributions to the company.

Yin Ci: Give me a raise.

Shi Jingzhi: I will hang your photo on the wall of honor.

Yin Ci: Give me a raise.

Shi Jingzhi: (eyes wandering)

…You’re heartless! Boss Shi!

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 12: Ascension Hall

At sunrise, three rooster crowing sounds came from the room of the Chigou Sect.

Shi Zhongyu, open and upright, clarified the events of the previous night in front of everyone. The Chigou Sect gained nothing, but surprisingly remained calm. Matron Wuxue made only one request—

“Kid with the surname Shi, bring the Buddhist bead here.”

There was a saying that each profession has its own specialization. When it came to the things in tombs, no sect was as knowledgeable as the Yueshui Pavilion, and the Yueshui Pavilion wasn’t as knowledgeable as the Chigou Sect. Shi Jingzhi didn’t hesitate in the slightest and promptly presented the Buddhist bead.

Matron Wuxue didn’t immediately accept it, but instead looked at Shi Jingzhi and asked, “Why aren’t you no longer afraid of me?”

Shi Jingzhi: “If this thing catches Matron’s eye, it must be extraordinary. Regarding the incident with the jade bead, I have caused some offense. If Matron is interested, feel free to take it as compensation from our sect.”

He smiled faintly and performed a salute in front of everyone. “This junior has only one request. If there is a secret within this item, please let me know.”

“That little brat Chen Quna always loves to stir up trouble. If you’ve killed him, then it’s done. This matter won’t be related to the Kushan Sect. Sect Master Shi can rest assured.”

Matron Wuxue replied indifferently. Her sharp nails pinched the wooden bead, and then she tossed it back to Shi Jingzhi. “My Divine Chigou Sect holds the upper hand here, so how could we publicly snatch something from a junior? This thing does indeed have a secret, and there’s no harm in speaking it out.”

The gaze of everyone returned to the Buddhist bead.

No matter how anyone looked at it, the bead seemed unremarkable, as if it had been dug out from a pile of old items, without any special features. Matron Wuxue signaled to her subordinates, and a Chigou disciple brought a small jar of glutinous rice wine. The old woman held the jar in her hand, and within moments, the wine began to boil.

Once the wine had boiled for a moment, Matron Wuxue directly threw the Buddhist bead into it.

In the next instant, the jar exploded with a bang, revealing a strangely shaped hollow wooden carving. The carving was small and exquisitely crafted, with intricate details resembling strands of hair.

Shi Jingzhi exclaimed, “A map engraving.”

Matron Wuxue: “Just a fragment of an engraving. This bead bears the style of the Jianchen Temple; a string of fourteen beads.”

She splashed some cold water onto the engraving, and it quickly contracted, turning into a smooth Buddhist bead. Matron Wuxue flicked the bead, and Shi Jingzhi raised his hand, catching it steadily.

“Good boy.” The old lady chuckled sullenly. “If you want to play tricks on your seniors, you’d better weigh your own capabilities first. But I like clever little brats who can read people well, so I’ll spare your life this time.”

Seemingly not understanding, Shi Jingzhi retrieved the Buddhist bead and smiled as usual. “Thank you, Matron. This junior has been taught well.”

After the morning gathering, each sect needed to have separate discussions. They agreed to depart one hour later. The disciples of the Kushan Sect returned to their room. The old lady stood there for a moment and snorted, “I underestimated him.”

Confused, her subordinate asked, “Matriarch, what’s the matter with that guy surnamed Shi?”

“That surname Shi dared to steal a jade bead from our divine sect. I thought he was just a reckless fellow. But now it seems he’s quite a decent opponent. That kid knew from the beginning that there was more than one Buddhist bead. He had a good grasp of our sect’s intelligence and didn’t hesitate to snatch the treasure in front of everyone.”

Leaning on her cane, the old lady’s voice was hoarse.

“He pretended to be harmless all the way and even took the opportunity to apologize when so many eyes were watching. This old one had no choice but to promise ‘not to target the Kushan Sect’. That kid is very cunning. Truly cunning.”

The subordinate’s blood pressure rose. “How about we—”

“No, look at Shi Zhongyu’s attitude. That surname Shi probably earned some favor. The fools of the Taiheng Sect are most likely being led by the nose. Besides, publicly promising something and then going back on it would violate the rules set by Elder Su.”

“But should we let him go like this…”

“In the end, you might not be his match. I used about half of my strength to pop that bead out.” The old lady touched her fingertips. “Keep an eye on that kid, but don’t provoke him.”

The subordinate’s expression became serious. “Yes!”

Meanwhile, in the room of the Kushan Sect.

“For the next two days, we’ll stay here and not go anywhere.” Shi Jingzhi sat on the edge of the bed. “After all, each sect intends to keep their people here, so it won’t be deserted…”

“Aren’t we going to look for the Buddhist beads, Shizun?”

Shi Jingzhi took off his Nuo mask and smiled. “We just obtained one. Searching for more would make us look greedy, unlike the Taiheng and Chigou Sects.”

Knowing what he meant, Yin Ci asked, “We only have one bead, but didn’t the Matron say there were fourteen beads?”

“Don’t forget, Yan Budu intentionally led us to discover this bead. He wanted us to find out that there are fourteen beads, hoping to create conflicts and competition among us. After all, everyone can see the treasures in the tomb and roughly estimate their value. In this way, everyone has their own calculations, but it can still be a forced cooperation. But this wooden Buddhist bead…”

“No one knows what’s hidden in the Buddhist bead engraving, so it’s difficult to simply give up,” Yin Ci interjected.

“Exactly.” Shi Jingzhi stretched lazily. “So, these beads are just sweet bait; at most there’s only one or two. The remaining beads will be hidden deeper and guarded more tightly.”

At this point, he glanced coldly at Yin Ci. “When the time comes, relying solely on ‘good luck’ won’t be enough. Take these two days to rest and recover. Understood?”

Yin Ci smiled bitterly and nodded in agreement.

Everything went smoothly. Shi Jingzhi voluntarily picked up the Buddhist bead while he was still calculating how to get his hands on it. Later, Matron Wuxue publicly revealed the secret, so he didn’t need to imply anything.

As for the other function of the Buddhist bead, it wouldn’t be long before the Jianchen Temple made it public.

The only drawback was that Shi Jingzhi was sticking around all the time, and Yin Ci couldn’t confirm the identity of the person who had followed them last night.

Yin Ci raised his eyes with interest and observed his master, who was getting ready to go back to sleep.

Shi Jingzhi was by no means a simple “martial arts genius”.

First, there was the smell of blood, and then the golden hairpin. Yin Ci hadn’t experienced this peculiar sense of oppression for a long time. Before he got tired of the new excitement, it would be a bit of a pity if this person died.

“Sect Master Shi?” There was suddenly a knock at the door.

Shi Jingzhi emerged from the bed and put on his Nuo mask. “Yes, who is it?”

“It’s Yan Qing.”

“Please come in. A’Ci, is there any rice cake left? Bring it out for our guest—”

Yan Qing, the blind man, entered the room cautiously. “I’ve come to apologize to both of you.”

“Oh?”

Yan Qing pursed his lips. “That day, I intentionally bumped into Brother Yin… I didn’t want to enter the tomb, so I purposely twisted my ankle. I’m really sorry for causing trouble to both of you.”

“I thought it was something else. I don’t mind at all. A’Ci, look—”

“It’s fine.” Yin Ci shook his head.

Yan Qing visibly breathed a sigh of relief. He seemed determined and took out two strings of money. “Could you help me take a look at Jin Lan’s injury? His status in the sect isn’t high, so he can’t see a good doctor. If Sect Master Shi can cure him, this money might not be enough, but I…”

Shi Jingzhi cleared his throat. “Jin Lan is your friend? He doesn’t seem very nice to you.”

“We’re not friends.” Yan Qing immediately denied. “When I was young, I tried to become a servant in the Taiheng Sect. Jin Lan didn’t mind that I was blind and let me in. Although he has a bit of a temper, his nature isn’t bad, and…”

His expression turned somewhat grim. “Yesterday, when I said I heard strange noises, only he believed me and was willing to report it to Senior Shi. It was me who involved him.”

Shi Jingzhi readily agreed. “I see. This money is enough. After we finish this cake, I’ll go and take a look at him.”

Jin Lan had average talent, but his meridians were intact, which restored a bit of confidence in Shi Jingzhi. In the remaining time, he kept trying different methods to treat Yin Ci’s “heart failure symptoms”.

Two days later, the scheduled meeting day arrived.

The Chigou Sect found a new Buddhist bead, and the others also obtained many treasures. With their wounds and spoils of war, they set off on the road they came from. While the wounded were being transferred, Yin Ci pulled out the short hairpin from his heart and threw it into a stained, discarded cloth.

The meeting point was at a crossroads, and the other group arrived on time as well. Both groups had similar circumstances, with a few casualties but no fundamental damage to their vitality.

Jin Lan whispered, “The Ling Sect hasn’t lost a single person. Yan Budu must have given them a backdoor.”

After receiving treatment, Jin Lan’s relationship with the master and disciple became closer. Yan Qing remained the same, silently following behind.

A monk walked over from the opposite side, opening his palm. “Have any of you seen this item?”

In the palm of his hand lay a Buddhist bead.

“That’s Monk Juehui,” Jin Lan eagerly explained. “The head of the Jianchen Monastery. He’s very powerful.”

Monk Juehui appeared to be around forty years old, with a simple and austere appearance, resembling an oppressed old farmer. He walked unsteadily, but his voice was exceptionally solid. “This Buddhist bead has been infused with our temple’s Nightmare Breaking Technique, but the formation is only one-third complete. I believe that there are three beads in this layer, and only by finding them all can we activate the spell and find a way out.”

Matron Wuxue sneered. “That bastard leader of the Ling Sect is truly something, using the Buddhist beads as a key and not allowing others to possess them… By the way, how did Yan Budu manage to learn the Nightmare Breaking Technique when you guarded it so strictly?”

Monk Juehui didn’t answer. Matron Wuxue snorted coldly and threw the Buddhist bead back. “Forget it. Keep it.”

Monk Juehui joined his hands together, bowed, and then turned to the Taiheng Sect.

The members of the Taiheng Sect looked at each other: “…” Sorry, we really don’t have any.

Shi Jingzhi cleared his throat. “Grandmaster, the third bead is with me.”

With the three beads gathered, Monk Juehui placed them in an iron bowl and struck the edge of the bowl with a copper hammer. An annoying low sound hovered in the air, as if a tongue licked across everyone. The fork in the road slowly separated, revealing a new path.

This new path was adorned with colorful decorations and bustling with activity. Paper figures on the street had their backs turned to the crowd and faced in the same direction. The silence vanished, replaced by the sound of music and the voices of performers.

On the other side, near the tomb entrance, it remained silent without any food or water supply, and there was no sign of reinforcements.

The Nightmare Breaking Technique succeeded, and Monk Juehui returned the Buddhist beads, quietly reciting a Buddhist mantra.

“I will leave some people to deal with the tomb entrance.” Matron Wuxue broke the silence. “Why don’t we maintain our groups and continue forward? Those from Taiheng, are you coming or not?”

Shi Zhongyu nodded calmly.

Shi Jingzhi shook with excitement.

Yin Ci had become accustomed to his master’s frequent excitement. He held onto Shi Jingzhi’s wrist. “Shizun, don’t worry, I’ll go with you.”

“A sudden gust of cold wind blew, and I’m feeling a bit cold,” Shi Jingzhi said stubbornly. “Now that we have the Buddhist beads, we must continue.”

Everyone had similar thoughts. Each sect placed their wounded and spoils of war near the tomb entrance and prepared for battle.

“The Jinyu Group has surveyed the surroundings. The Ghost Tomb is in the shape of an inverted triangle, divided into three layers. This is the first layer, and the space gets smaller as you go deeper. Even if we only have four days of rations left, we can ration it and make it last.”

Jin Lan spoke with a serious expression with his hands behind his back.

“Senior Sister said before that she would only guarantee you the first floor. Now, we have a life-long friendship, so we’ll go through the second layer together.”

Yin Ci wasn’t surprised—though Shi Zhongyu was a bit straightforward, she was rational and wasn’t foolish. Shi Jingzhi had great strength and knew when to advance and retreat, making him an excellent ally. The Kushan Sect wouldn’t refuse the shelter of a major sect, creating a perfect mutually beneficial arrangement.

Looking at it this way, last night’s impressive display of skill might have been part of Shi Jingzhi’s plan. Going deeper into speculation, it was possible that he had already noticed the Threads of Worries, but in order to learn the Green Maiden Sword technique, he only spoke up after entering the shop.

His tremulous master always managed to reveal new surprises.

At that moment, Shi Jingzhi suddenly reached out and grabbed Yin Ci’s hand, saying, “A’Ci, if I really die here, you must witness everything until the end.”

“How could that happen?” Yin Ci smiled. “Didn’t Shizun say that I would survive great calamities and share in our future blessings?”

Shi Jingzhi didn’t respond and kept gazing towards the end of the path.

The melodic singing was mournful and haunting, and the flames illuminated the vibrant silks. The group moved forward with slight sways, carefully avoiding the paper figures. Due to their uniform direction, it was difficult to distinguish between living people and paper figures when viewed from behind.

At the end of the street stood a building. One by one, people entered through its grand gate, as if being swallowed by it.

A plaque hung on the gate with two powerful and vivid characters: “Ascension Hall”, shining like blood.

---

The author has something to say:

Shi Jingzhi: I’m scared to continue going deeper, but I’ll keep going to survive. (Fragmented thoughts and statements.jpg)

Yin Ci: If we consider that I’ve survived a great calamity, that’ll mean we’ll have so many blessings to enjoy.

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 11: Gold and Wood

The group took a rest on the first floor and inspected each coffin, only to find piles of ball-shaped human bones stuffed inside. Jin Lan’s face turned pale as gold, and he vomited for a while before recovering.

Jin Lan had an old leg injury, and when stimulated by the Threads of Worries, he walked with a limp. Yan Qing suggested carrying him, but Jin Lan refused.

“This is the servant’s job indeed, but there are hidden dangers in the tomb. You should take care of yourself first.” Jin Lan shook his head. “I can manage on my own.”

Yan Qing responded with a muffled hum and suddenly hitched his breath. “There’s a sound upstairs.”

Yin Ci listened carefully and indeed heard faint scratching sounds, as if someone was scratching the wooden planks with their nails. Shi Jingzhi glanced at the blood essence beads and then discreetly shook them.

“I didn’t take the poison earlier, and I feel fine. I’ll go up and look.” Yin Ci practically wrote “I’m so courageous” all over his face.

Shi Jingzhi: “You didn’t take it?”

Yin Ci looked apologetic. “I was caught off guard by those strange monsters we encountered earlier and didn’t react in time.” If he had taken the poison and then showed no symptoms of poisoning, it would only lead to trouble.

Shi Jingzhi pursed his lips and remained silent for a moment. “I’ll accompany you upstairs. Please take care of things downstairs, Miss Shi.”

Yin Ci looked at him, somewhat surprised.

Upstairs was quite empty, with a beautifully crafted red coffin lying in the center of the room. The stench grew stronger, and there was a strange sweetness mixed in.

Yin Ci recognized this sweet stench—it was the Qinyuan Poison hidden inside the coffin.

This design was particularly ruthless. The scent of Qinyuan Poison was faint and easily masked by the putrid smell of corpses, making it difficult to detect. To deal with the Threads of Worries, experts like Shi Zhongyu would consume poison to protect themselves. Even if they took the antidote, the effects of the poison wouldn’t immediately disappear. If they were then exposed to a potent dose, not even the gods could save them.

Qinyuan Poison was extremely rare, and Yin Ci had only managed to obtain a small vial of it. Even with Shi Jingzhi’s heightened senses, it would be impossible for him to identify an unfamiliar toxin.

If he fell victim to it, his Xiao Shizun would undoubtedly die.

Shi Jingzhi seemed to also realize the danger, coughing lightly. “In such situations, there are usually mechanisms inside the coffin lid, commonly using poison and curses. This coffin looks unusual, so we should…”

Yin Ci turned his back to him, pretending to be impatient. “I’ve already opened many coffins downstairs, so I’m quite skilled at it.”

Before Shi Jingzhi could say anything else, Yin Ci took a few steps forward and lifted the coffin lid.

With a crisp sound, a thin, transparent barrier rose around the coffin. Shi Jingzhi wanted to chase after Yin Ci but ended up colliding heavily with the barrier, emitting a muffled sound.

Yin Ci acted as if he didn’t hear anything. He moved the coffin lid aside and was indeed sprayed in the face with Qinyuan poison powder.

It didn’t disappoint as the world’s most potent poison, with a stimulating flavor that even had a slight intoxicating effect. Yin Ci smacked his lips and pressed down on something inside the coffin.

The figure inside the coffin was dressed in fine silk, with beautiful and radiant eyes, portraying the appearance of a young girl. However, as the former leader of the Chigou Sect, Yin Ci recognized its true nature with just one glance—

A finely crafted corpse puppet.

It wasn’t a monster, but a creation made from fresh corpses with a lifelike texture resembling a living person, often accompanied by an enchantment. Yin Ci swiftly and precisely immobilized its core mechanism with his hands. It couldn’t move even a fraction, only able to assume a tearful expression that tugged at one’s heartstrings.

Demonic Lord Yin’s heart remained as hard as iron with unwavering eyes.

Not to mention letting go; even if he eased up a bit, this thing could spring up and tear him apart. Although Yin Ci himself didn’t mind, there was still Shi Jingzhi observing behind him, and witnessing shredded flesh turning into a living person would be too stimulating.

Seeing Yin Ci’s lack of reaction, the enchantment activated once again. The corpse puppet instantly transformed into a handsome man, wearing a vulnerable expression.

Yin Ci: “…?” This craftsman had considered everything.

Unfortunately, his appearance wasn’t as good as his cheap master’s. Yin Ci remained unmoved, continuing to exert force. The corpse puppet struggled in vain, changing its face once again.

Yin Ci was very familiar with that face.

The enchantment directly affected the mind, transforming into Yin Ci’s true appearance inside his mind—a person in the coffin with long ink-black hair, pale complexion, intense chest movements, and a pained and desperate expression. It looked up with a pleading gaze, evoking a strange sense of fragmentation.

Yin Ci smiled instead, moving his lips silently as he spoke to the corpse puppet.

“This is truly a wish come true.”

Having said that, Yin Ci increased the pressure once again. He exerted so much force that the bones in his hand emitted a sound of strain, and the core mechanism even developed a crack in his grip.

The illusion suddenly dissipated, revealing the true form of the corpse puppet. A female corpse lay quietly in the coffin with eyes tightly closed. Her nose was almost completely decayed, and her face corroded by a venereal disease, resembling a demonic creature.

Yin Ci coldly released his grip, and his injured bones almost instantly returned to their original state. He didn’t turn around but continued to lean against the coffin, taking out a hairpin from the female corpse.

Carefully, he pushed aside his outer garment and pierced his chest, inserting the hairpin directly into his heart. His wounds healed quickly, but the foreign object wasn’t so easily removed. His heart struggled to beat, and despite wearing the ghostskin robe, Yin Ci’s face remained deathly pale.

After making the preparations, Yin Ci finally spat out a mouthful of blood, thoroughly concealing the bloodstains on his chest.

He didn’t move, lying motionless with his back to Shi Jingzhi. From Shi Jingzhi’s perspective, Yin Ci had merely moved away from the coffin, stood still for a moment, and then collapsed weakly.

At that moment, the sound of the barrier shattering finally resounded.

Accompanied by the flag ignited with golden flames, Shi Jingzhi rushed forward, gasping for breath. The barrier was incredibly strong, evidently requiring a great deal of his strength.

Upon seeing Yin Ci, who was covered in blood, Shi Jingzhi’s eyes flickered with displeasure.

“Don’t touch the coffin. It’s poisonous,” Yin Ci said weakly while supporting himself on Shi Jingzhi’s shoulder.

“No kidding. I just said that earlier!”

Shi Jingzhi grabbed Yin Ci’s wrist and clenched his teeth as he examined his pulse. “Signs of heart failure… Damn it, didn’t I tell you to wait a moment?”

“The Taiheng Sect has its own big plans, but there are only two of us. If there really are treasures here, I’m afraid they…”

“The Taiheng Sect is not a bandit gang.” Shi Jingzhi’s face hardened as he rummaged through the medicine box and produced a glass bottle. “Drink it quickly! If you had taken poison earlier, you might not even be alive now.”

Shi Jingzhi gently placed Yin Ci down and then hurriedly prepared the medicine. Yin Ci obediently swallowed the medicine with a face filled with an expression of “I’m really sorry. I messed up.”

Shi Jingzhi clenched and loosened his fist, ultimately refraining from beating up the patient.

‘How interesting,’ Yin Ci thought, ignoring the intense pain in his chest. He found this quite intriguing. That anger didn’t seem feigned; Shi Jingzhi was genuinely angry. It seemed that this person’s “utilization” of himself wasn’t limited to mere appearances.

Could it be that Shi Jingzhi truly considered him his disciple? That would be too ridiculous.

The noise from the shattering barrier was significant, and the four people downstairs arrived late. Upon seeing the scene before them, Shi Zhongyu was slightly startled and then sighed. “Sect Master Shi.”

“No need to be polite. I picked up this disciple from the mountains, and his mind is still filled with dirt.” Shi Jingzhi’s face grew serious, and his tone sank like water. “There’s poison in the coffin, and the thing inside seems to be a corpse puppet. Please, Miss Shi, examine it.”

Shi Zhongyu made her sword bloom* from a distance, causing the coffin to instantly shatter, and the wooden boards fell in all directions. Jewels and treasures scattered all over the ground, but no one bothered to pick them up.

*Sword flower. It’s a sword technique where you spin the sword so fast that it looks as if it’s a flower.

“It is indeed a corpse puppet. Its core mechanism seems to have malfunctioned. Your disciple is quite lucky.” The core mechanism was incredibly sturdy and almost impossible to destroy with bare hands. Shi Zhongyu momentarily had no doubts about it.

“He was poisoned in a peculiar manner. It’s the first time I’ve seen this kind of heart failure symptom. However, the situation has stabilized.” Shi Jingzhi fed Yin Ci some more medicine and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“There’s something off about the sound.” Yan Qing suddenly spoke up, pointing to the corpse puppet. “There’s a sound of friction and movement inside.”

Shi Jingzhi and Shi Zhongyu exchanged glances, and the latter covered her hands with silk as she carefully dismantled the corpse puppet.

Shi Zhongyu opened the eyelids of the corpse puppet and found two hollow wax eyes. She then pulled Yan Qing over and had him listen closely, before extracting a black short sword from the spine of the corpse.

While pretending to be uninterested, Yin Ci cast a sideways glance.

Shi Zhongyu opened the wax pellets, and two round beads rolled out. The left eye shimmered with a dazzling golden light, while the right eye was dull gray with a texture like wood.

“Let me see… one golden bead, one wooden Buddhist bead, the Hanging Shadow Sword, several precious gemstones.”

Shen Zhu chewed on the tip of her pen. “How do you two masters plan to divide them?”

Shi Zhongyu let out a sigh of relief. “The Kushan Sect has saved my life. Sect Master Shi, please choose first.”

Yin Ci’s gaze circled around the wooden Buddhist bead and then turned to Shi Jingzhi. After a moment of contemplation, Shi Jingzhi answered decisively, “I want the wooden Buddhist bead and the Hanging Shadow Sword.”

Shen Zhu raised an eyebrow. “Really? Knowing Yan Budu’s nature, he might have purposely given us a worthless Buddhist bead. And although the Hanging Shadow Sword was crafted by a renowned master, it is more of a collectible than a divine weapon. The combined value of the two is still inferior to a single fragment of the unchanging gold.”

“It can be considered a gesture of gratitude for saving my life, since I have already learned some martial arts from Miss Shi. There’s no need to mention it again.”

Shi Jingzhi stuffed another pill into Yin Ci’s mouth, signaling him to remain quiet.

“The unchanging gold can forge divine weapons, making it invaluable. But for our small sect, even possessing a decent weapon is difficult, let alone affording to forge with the unchanging gold.”

Yin Ci looked approvingly.

Although the unchanging gold could fetch a high price, its value was limited to them. It would be better to take advantage of the situation and transfer it to the Taiheng Sect, earning some good favors.

Taking the worthless Hanging Shadow Sword and an uncertain Buddhist bead seemed just right. Shi Zhongyu would find it difficult to oppose this decision.

…Moreover, it appeared that only this Buddhist bead was related to the Shirou. Shi Jingzhi was usually chaotic, but he was surprisingly calm in critical moments.

Indeed, Shi Zhongyu nodded with a trace of admiration on her face. “Thank you, Sect Master Shi. It would be best if you also take some lightweight jewelry for easier travel after leaving the tomb.”

Shi Jingzhi nodded. Yin Ci was still lying on the ground, and he had no intention of moving far away. He simply kept an eye on him at his feet.

In the light, a short hairpin sparkled with a golden glow. Its design was almost identical to the one in Yin Ci’s heart. Shi Jingzhi’s gaze focused, and he picked it up. He played with the hairpin distractedly, lost in thought.

“That’s it,” Shi Jingzhi said absentmindedly after a while.

He then sat down beside Yin Ci, tucking the hairpin into his pocket. “A’Ci, if something like today happens again, I will expel you from the sect. Considering it’s your first offense, I will only cut your monthly allowance in half for six months.”

Yin Ci: “……” My friend, it seems like you can live for one year at most.

After Shi Jingzhi finished speaking, he placed the short sword next to Yin Ci. “As for this… You have become my disciple, and I haven’t given you a proper gift yet. Since you like swords, take it.”

Yin Ci weakly smiled. “Shizun, you’re giving me both the carrot and the stick together?”

“It’s all because you have great fortune. Since you have survived a great disaster, we can share the good fortune together.”

Shi Jingzhi forced a smile. “… After all, considering your heart failure, you should have died a long time ago.”

---

The author has something to say:

Corpse Puppet: You see, you’re going to die, you’re going to die, and this is your face when you die!

Yin Ci: ? Such a good thing exist?

Shi Jingzhi: …Salary cut. 50% salary cut!

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 10: Threads of Worries

Before Shen Zhu arrived, her voice preceded her. “In principle, one disciple from the Yueshui Pavilion should accompany ten people. Since there are only five of you, I alone will be enough. Having more will only add to the confusion.”

Jin Lan exclaimed in surprise, “When did you arrive?”

“From the time when Sect Master Shi started bouncing around.” Shen Zhu smiled brightly.

She didn’t embarrass Shi Jingzhi further and continued, “I recognize this technique. It’s called ‘sticky shadow’, a guiding technique. However, creating an image for guidance is too extravagant and not intuitive enough. As a result, it has been lost for a long time. I didn’t expect to see it here… Sect Master Shi, please step back ten paces. Don’t worry. It’s just a phantom image, and it can’t harm anyone.”

Shi Jingzhi obediently took ten steps back. The phantom initially followed suit but stopped halfway, no longer following him.

“This is the effect of going the wrong way. Sect Master Shi, please move forward twenty steps and head towards the fork in the road.”

Shi Jingzhi complied, and the phantom walked ahead of him, choosing a path at the fork.

Shen Zhu: “You see, this is how it leads.”

Jin Lan: “…It’s really troublesome. No wonder the technique has been lost. Isn’t a compass good enough? Who has nothing better to do than create something like this?”

Yin Ci calmly remarked, “Perhaps a hermit?”

Yan Qing remained silent for a moment and reluctantly asked, “Can I not go? I don’t want the treasure.”

“No.” Shi Zhongyu shook her head. “Just now, you were the first to notice the footsteps, and I need your ears. When we return to the sect, I will report this matter to the sect leader and request recognition for your contribution.”

Yan Qing reluctantly agreed, and Yin Ci glanced at him a few times.

With a single collision, he knew that this blind man had mediocre martial arts skills, even inferior to Jin Lan’s. And those who could see the sticky shadow technique also had mediocre martial arts skills. Explaining it solely based on their keen ears wouldn’t hold up.

Could it be that the technique had other selection criteria?

Coming to explore the Ghost Tomb was indeed the right decision. Interesting events were truly unfolding one after another.

Yin Ci smiled and poked the blind man. “Brother Yan, you have Senior Sister Shi protecting you, but I can only follow my Shizun. Look, I dare to go, seeking fortune in dangerous situations.”

Shi Jingzhi: “…Good disciple, there’s no need to be so frank.”

Jin Lan was trembling like a sieve but didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of his Senior Sister. So, the three members of the Taiheng Sect, the two members of the Kushan Sect, and Shen Zhu, forming a group of six, set off discreetly.

Shi Zhongyu consciously took on the role of team leader. “We are few in number, so our focus is on exploration. If conflicts arise, don’t get entangled.”

Yin Ci wasn’t surprised. Shi Zhongyu was the senior disciple of the Taiheng Sect, well-known and highly regarded in the martial world. In terms of overall strength, Shi Jingzhi was no match for her.

The faceless monk quietly moved forward, leading them away from the brothel and into the narrow alleyways. Unfortunately, even with their caution, Yin Ci still noticed a trailing presence.

An aura followed closely behind, neither too near nor too far, accompanying them all the way to their destination—

The faceless monk stopped in front of a coffin shop. It turned around, clasped its hands together, and dissipated like thin smoke. The shop had two levels, a typical and inconspicuous establishment within the dim alley.

Shi Zhongyu rolled up her sleeves, making sure the others could see the blood essence bead bracelet. The beads were pure white like snow before but had turned dark red as if they were dripping with blood.

She brandished her sword and said, “There are monsters nearby, so be cautious.”

The other five instantly took cover behind her, forming a neat and orderly line, resembling a row of chickens.

Old Hen Shi Zhongyu: “……”

She pricked her finger and smeared a few drops of blood on a pebble before flicking it towards the shop’s entrance. The pebbles fell silently, without making any noise. Shi Zhongyu looked at Yan Qing, who shook his head.

“It seems that the monsters are not the type to attack proactively,” she sighed.

Shi Zhongyu put away the blood essence beads bracelet, held a sword in her right hand, and switched to a bronze dagger in her left hand. When she stepped into the coffin shop, her white clothes cast a pale-yellow hue, but her fierce aura remained undiminished.

The “chickens” followed behind her quietly, maintaining a distance of about five steps.

Inside the coffin shop, there was nothing particularly special. The shopkeeper, made of paper, was leisurely reading a book. There were no customers, and only lacquered coffins lined up. The air carried a faint smell of blood, and the blood essence beads grew increasingly red, on the verge of turning pitch black.

Suddenly, Shi Jingzhi stopped in his tracks. Despite wearing the Nuo mask, his demeanor and aura were completely different from before, even causing Shi Zhongyu to give a sideways glance.

“Nobody move.” His tone lacked the previous ease. “Miss Shi, the monster is the ‘Three Thousand Threads of Worries’.”

Shi Zhongyu immediately became serious. She tossed the bronze dagger to Jin Lan and said, “Cut a circle around our feet and quickly go back to report!”

Shi Jingzhi shook his head. “It’s too late. This group is quite numerous, and I’m afraid we’ve already fallen into their trap outside the shop.”

Jin Lan and Yan Qing were bewildered by their cryptic conversation and looked at the empty coffin shop, expressing their confusion. Yin Ci lowered his head, hiding his face in the shadows, remaining silent.

“‘Threads of Worries’ is a type… Well, whether it’s an insect or a vine, there’s no definitive conclusion. In any case, it’s a kind of creature that is as thin as spider silk, weightless, and invisible to the naked eye. When they gather in the thousands, they form the ‘Three Thousand Threads of Worries’.”

Shen Zhu explained smoothly, still composed. “They start climbing up from the feet. When they pass the waist and abdomen, it causes a slight itch, and it only becomes noticeably uncomfortable after they reach the neck. Unfortunately, by the time that happens… Well, we’ve only just entered, so there must be a solution.”

Jin Lan and Yan Qing were only in their twenties, and this change of topic frightened them. “You mentioned it, but what happens when they reach that point…?”

‘The Threads of Worries would knead a person into a half-dead lump of flesh, feeding on them with tomb-dwelling insects and rodents, slowly devouring them,’ Yin Ci added in his mind.

Actually, there was no problem if it directly ate insects and rodents. Yin Ci had seen the Threads of Worries mold live rats into lumps of meat. It was just that human bodies were larger and possessed more vitality, making them particularly appetizing.

The group of Threads of Worries was so numerous that their appetite seemed insatiable. No wonder Yan Budu kept them in the coffin shop, where the coffins were undoubtedly filled with “feed”.

Ever since becoming immortal, Yin Ci gradually gained the ability to see various invisible creatures. At this moment, countless fine threads flowed before him like a stream. Flowing down from the second floor, they climbed the walls and covered the coffins, forming a large puddle outside the shop. The items in the room were covered in silver-white threads, as if struck by a snowstorm.

Silently, they bypassed his feet, whether out of fear or disdain, refusing to touch him even slightly.

Yin Ci glanced at the other five. The Threads of Worries had climbed on the ankles of the three from Taiheng Sect and Shen Zhu. On the other hand, the Threads of Worries had already reached Shi Jingzhi’s knees, as if he had donned a pair of white fur leg guards.

Yin Ci: “…” Why? Have they identified him as tender and tasty with delicate skin?

But that didn’t stop him from continuing to watch the spectacle. After all, he was just a “weak mountain dweller”. When the situation became critical, he would find a way to help Shi Jingzhi.

Shi Zhongyu reacted quickly. She drew a blood circle in her palm, splattering blood around her. Taking advantage of the distraction caused by the Threads of Worries, she took out several pills and threw them to the others.

“These are poison pills. Take them quickly,” Shi Zhongyu whispered, then threw five white pills. “The white ones are antidotes. Take them after escaping.”

Shen Zhu gulped down the poison pills. “Not bad, not bad. Mixing poison in the blood slows down the erosion speed of these things… Sect Master Shi, you seem to be quite familiar with Threads of Worries. Have you dealt with this thing before?”

“I’ve read about it in books. It can be resolved by setting fire to burn it.”

Everyone fell into silence—this was a street full of paper figures. Even touching a paper figure required first chilling oneself. If they were to set fire on the spot, all the firefly spiders within a radius of two li would come rushing for the feast.

Shi Jingzhi seemed to have thought of something and became playful again. “Yan Budu is quite interesting, using a monk to lead us to slay the Three Thousand Threads of Worries. Is he trying to get us all to become monks?”

Yin Ci: “… Shizun, please be quiet. If we don’t escape soon, we’ll have a collective funeral.”

Shi Zhongyu had no interest in listening to Shi Jingzhi’s nonsense. A faint green light flashed on her sword, emanating a subtle heat. Yin Ci watched as her sword danced like the wind, cutting through all the surrounding Threads of Worries.

Shi Zhongyu used the Green Maiden Sword technique that embodied yin and yang. Her sword emitted a green shade of yin fire. The sect leader of Taiheng Sect specifically chose her to lead the team, most likely because of this skill.

Shi Jingzhi fell silent and stared at her swordsmanship without blinking.

Yin fire belonged to yin and was highly effective against living creatures but less effective against evil beings. Shi Zhongyu had taken the poison and was specifically targeted by the Threads of Worries, causing her complexion to gradually turn pale.

Meanwhile, Jin Lan used the bronze dagger to make random slashes beneath everyone’s feet, attempting to lead them on an escape. However, before they even reached the door, their feet felt as if stuck in a quagmire, firmly entangled by the Threads of Worries.

Seeing the dire situation, Shi Zhongyu decided to abandon defense and instead clear the path for the other five.

Jin Lan’s eyes instantly turned red. “Senior Sister…”

Unexpectedly, just as the Green Maiden Sword technique was swung halfway, a flagpole appeared out of nowhere. Shi Jingzhi’s voice carried a smile. “Miss Shi, life is precious. Don’t always think about sacrificing yourself heroically.”

The words “Medicine Cures Illness” appeared on the flag, and a layer of golden fire emerged. The golden fire was dazzling and radiant, yet the flag itself remained unscathed.

“I have no intention of stealing the skills of my peers. It’s just an urgent situation, so please bear with me. Thank you for your guidance.”

Shi Zhongyu: “…You’re welcome?”

Shi Jingzhi received the affirmation and then inverted the flag with his hand… and began sweeping the ground with it.

He did something to the Green Maiden Sword technique, transforming the yin fire into yang fire. The yang fire adhered closely to the flag, never dispersing. The flag was much broader than the sword’s blade, resulting in an excellent effect. The Threads of Worries immediately lost interest and scattered, fleeing in all directions.

Shi Zhongyu stood bewildered in place, only turning her head after a while and speaking to Jin Lan. “Remember to bring a dust cloth next time we exorcize demons.”

After saying that, she fell into deeper perplexity—converting vitality into fire and using fire to cover objects was her unique skill. How could it be so easily learned?

Yin Ci watched with amusement as the Threads of Worries formed a heap, trembling and squeezing into the corner, resembling a pile of snow that had been swept up.

…It seemed that this time, he didn’t need to intervene.

While Shi Jingzhi was busy sweeping the shop, the others simply sat on the ground and consumed the antidote. Jin Lan and Yan Qing had the weakest martial arts foundation and were still affected by the Threads of Worries, making it difficult for them to walk for a while.

By the time Shi Jingzhi finished cleaning, the large mass of Threads of Worries had already crawled out of the coffin shop, rolling away in sadness.

Shi Zhongyu’s blood essence beads had turned white again, but the awkward atmosphere remained unchanged. Shen Zhu said she wanted to take samples and make records, then disappeared to an unknown location. With one person missing, the atmosphere became somewhat colder.

Jin Lan attempted to liven up the mood. “Thanks to Senior Sister and Sect Master Shi, we managed to drive away the monster with great difficulty. Now we can freely search. With so many coffins in the shop, there must be a lot of treasures hidden.”

“Jin Lan, be cautious with your words.” Shi Zhongyu finally snapped out of her thoughts. “The absence of monsters doesn’t mean there are no trap mechanisms.”

Meanwhile, Shi Jingzhi put away the flag and opened his medicine box. “The poison and monster’s attack surely depleted our vitality. Come, everyone, take some medicine.”

Having witnessed Shi Jingzhi’s strength, Shi Zhongyu spoke with a hint of respect. “May I ask, Sect Master Shi, what is this?”

Shi Jingzhi replied, “It’s a specialty of the Kushan Sect called the Power Pill.”

Shi Zhongyu: “…”

Shi Zhongyu sighed and patted her own face, regaining some composure. “Thank you, Sect Master Shi, for your assistance just now…”

“It’s a family imitation technique that’s difficult to explain. It worked out by chance. Don’t dwell on it, Miss Shi.” Shi Jingzhi stood up. “You all go ahead and take the medicine! I’ll go out and investigate. The Threads of Worries might still be around.”

Yin Ci chewed on the pill and looked meaningfully towards the main entrance.

Outside the coffin shop.

[Apologies, I haven’t found the right opportunity since I received the demon sparrow’s message.] Shen Zhu put on a more serious expression and communicated through lip-reading. [Yin Ci indeed has a grandfather who was well-read, and his father sold fur in town for a while. However, I haven’t found much information about Yin Ci himself.]

Shi Jingzhi gazed quietly at her.

Shen Zhu frowned. [It’s not surprising there is little record since Yin Ci’s family lives deep in the mountains. It’s not a flaw but…]

[You’ve done well.]

Shi Jingzhi replied in the same manner.

[Rest assured. I have my own measures.]

---

The author has something to say:

Demonic Lord Yin: Enjoyed the show, though it’s not convenient to applaud.

Master Shi, the real sweeping monk. (×

---

Kinky Thoughts:

In terms of whether something is a demon or monster, I’ve decided to translate it within context and what just flows better. Generally, there is a difference though. The Threads of Worries are a type of [yao] (妖) which could be considered a monster or demon. Different from “devils/fiends” [mo] (魔) which could also be considered demons as well.

The difference lies in that [yao] generally isn’t inherently evil, while when westerners think of “demon” it’s always within an evil context. Likewise, [mo] are demons that are inherently evil.

This nice glossary breaks it down in more detail.

On another note, in terms of cultivation, yin and yang represent the duality of the universe and are opposite forces.

Yin is commonly associated with feminine energy (cold, darkness, ice), while Yang is commonly associated with masculine energy (light, fire, heat).

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

---

Chapter 9: The Faceless Monk

The pill in Yin Ci’s throat was incredibly spicy, and it dissolved rapidly. He bent over, coughing violently. The fiery sensation coursed through his throat, spreading heat throughout his body. Sweat instantly broke out on his back.

“You’re alive, you’re alive,” Shi Jingzhi exclaimed with lingering fear. “A’Ci, you almost scared me to death. I thought you couldn’t handle the cold. Here, take two more!”

Yin Ci pushed away Shi Jingzhi’s hands and said softly, “Thank you, Shizun. One is enough for me.”

Seeing his disciple’s sarcastic spirit returning, Shi Jingzhi shifted his attention back to the paper figures—the three attendants who had transformed into paper figures perfectly fit in with their surroundings, resembling new additions to the brothel.

Matron Wuxue took out a long needle and prodded and stirred the paper figures. When she withdrew the needle, it shone with a bright blue light, with some clumps of silvery thread sticking to it.

Matron Wuxue sighed and said, “This creature is called a firefly spider. Its eggs are like cotton fibers, dispersing upon encountering warmth. The eggs hatch inside a living organism, consuming all the flesh and bones. They then use the web to form a living outer shell, luring other prey to touch it… This is an extremely rare monster, but Yan Budu actually used it to create these ‘paper figures’.”

With these words, even the slowest among them understood—the seemingly joyful male and female paper figures surrounding them weren’t the work of skilled craftsmen but were originally living beings transformed into paper.

“Matron, is there any way to deal with these paper figures?” The leader of the Changle Sect wiped his sweat and asked.

“Don’t touch them, and don’t knock them over. Just use external objects to move them aside.” Matron Wuxue waved her cane again. “Now disperse and quickly choose rooms to clean. It’s getting dark, so stay inside your rooms.”

As soon as he heard that it was getting dark, the pale-faced leader of the Changle Sect said, “Matron, this…”

Matron Wuxue ignored him and turned to leave.

“We of the Divine Chigou Sect didn’t come to be servants.” One of the disciples sneered. “At night in a big tomb, who knows what might come out. If you’re really afraid, why not go seek help from those noble orthodox sects over there? They love being taken advantage of.”

The accommodating Taiheng Sect had taken charge of the main hall for tea gatherings. They moved the paper figures to a corner, shielding them with screens, and thirty people slept on the floor together. The Chigou Sect, on the other hand, seized the best rooms, sprinkled medicinal powder outside the rooms, and set up a pile of peculiar and strange objects before tightly closing the doors, out of sight.

The rest could only choose rooms nearby. Shi Jingzhi, quick-witted, managed to grab the room closest to the Taiheng Sect.

“Aren’t you going to sleep on the floor with the Taiheng Sect?” Yin Ci asked curiously.

“The big window outside faces directly into the courtyard, and the courtyard is filled with… cough.” Shi Jingzhi’s face turned pale as he pushed the door open. “Look, the Chigou Sect has entered their room. Having a door is definitely better than not having one.”

The door creaked open, revealing an interior bathed in flickering firelight, with an even stronger scent of cosmetics. Amidst the vibrant silken curtains, two paper figures with disheveled hair were intertwined in a passionate embrace.

Shi Jingzhi was horrified by the eerie scene in the underworld, causing his hair to stand on end. He slowly stepped back and closed the door.

“Yan Budu must be crazy.” He gritted his teeth. “Let’s go, A’Ci. We’ll sleep on the floor.”

Yin Ci chuckled and glanced at him. He snatched the flag, and entered the room again. He used the flagpole to push the paper figure under the bed, then unfolded the bedding and spread out the mandarin ducks playing in the water blanket.

Finally, he pulled out the face of a filial disciple. “Shizun, please.”

Two paper figures nestled under the bed, with a white paper arm slanting out. Shi Jingzhi almost trembled in fear, barely holding back his trembling figure. “Maybe not.”

Yin Ci threw the flagpole back with an innocent look on his face. “Shizun, you’re capable of killing people, yet you fear dead bodies?”

“Listen carefully; blood and vengeful spirits are two different things. I don’t fear blood, only ghosts.” Shi Jingzhi gripped the flagpole with two fingers and had a look of painful reluctance, as if saying, “I don’t want this flag anymore.”

Yin Ci barely suppressed a laugh as he tucked the arm back under the bed. He lay down on the bed first and said, “Don’t be afraid. Let me suppress the yin qi.”

After all, he was a three-hundred-year-old undead. Even if there were vengeful spirits in this tomb, they would have to address him as Senior.

Unfortunately, Shi Jingzhi was completely unaware of this. Seeing his disciple so enthusiastic, he had no choice but to feign calmness and climb onto the bed in unison. With a veil separating them, he looked around and felt as if he were in Qizhou, thinking it was all just a nightmare.

However, the irritating silence reminded him time and time again that he was still immersed in this nightmare.

Shi Jingzhi wished he could bury his head in the covers, but he was afraid of embarrassing himself in front of his disciple. So he kept his body stiff, looking more like a dead person than an actual dead person.

“A’Ci…”

Yin Ci interrupted him. “This won’t do. How about Shizun sleeps first, and I’ll keep watch for the first half of the night. We can switch off in the second half.”

“We’re on the same page.” Shi Jingzhi pulled the blanket and bravely added, “If anything happens, wake me up immediately.”

Though he said that, Shi Jingzhi couldn’t immediately fall asleep. He gradually relaxed his limbs and suddenly laughed lightly.

Yin Ci’s heart shook—could it be that he had pushed Shi Jingzhi too far and scared him mad?

“It’s nice to have a disciple.” Shi Jingzhi’s voice sounded tired. “They say that being a teacher is like being a father for life*. The ancients have not deceived me. We’ve only known each other for a few days, and yet you’re willing to follow me even to a place like this.”

*Saying that conveys the idea that the role of a teacher is akin to a parent or father figure, emphasizing the long-lasting impact and responsibility that a teacher holds over their students.

Yin Ci couldn’t quite figure out if Shi Jingzhi was moved by his son’s filial piety or lamenting his disciple’s naivety.

He felt like he should say something, but it seemed a bit too late to broaden his horizons now. Any normal person wouldn’t willingly open their eyes to such twisted perspectives.

So he spoke sincerely. “I’ve said it before. I have nowhere else to go.”

“I was the same before,” Shi Jingzhi muttered, “but now it’s different… Now we have the Kushan Sect.”

The second half of his sentence was unclear, and when Yin Ci looked again, Shi Jingzhi had already fallen asleep. Yin Ci reached out and ran his fingertips over the features of the paper mask. The mask was roughly made, with unfinished wooden thorns on the edges.

Taking on a human face, concealing a divine one*.

*Author is referencing (摘下面具是人，戴上面具是神). It refers to the act of removing one’s mask, which represents revealing one’s true human identity and authenticity. It implies being genuine, sincere, and true to oneself. On the other hand, putting on a mask represents assuming a different persona or adopting a role, symbolizing the ability to transcend one’s own limitations and embody something greater or divine.

Perhaps the distorted features of this Nuo mask were too distorted, and the association with gods and ghosts had caused him to have some illusions—Shi Jingzhi’s despair in the first half of the sentence was comparable to his own.

Forget it, too many thoughts about gods and ghosts. Yin Ci flipped out Shi Jingzhi’s white cloth and unethically covered it over the Nuo mask.

Before he could adjust the cloth, the sound of footsteps came from outside.

The rustling was light and even, gradually approaching. It sounded like the footsteps of straw sandals on the ground. However, there were over a hundred people on their side, and none of them wore straw sandals.

Yin Ci’s spirit shook, shaking Shi Jingzhi vigorously. “Shizun, something you sensed is here.”

Shi Jingzhi stiffened at the words, covered his head with the blanket, and slowly curled up into a ball. Yin Ci heartlessly lifted the blanket, trying to act nervous. “Listen, is that the sound of footsteps outside?”

Shi Jingzhi, with keen hearing, replied, “Yes, definitely.”

The master and disciple held their breath and listened carefully. The sound of straw sandals stopped briefly at their door and then continued walking away.

“Maybe someone from the Taiheng Sect got up to relieve themselves,” Shi Jingzhi whispered.

Yin Ci: “They specifically went to the outhouse? In this ghostly place?”

Shi Jingzhi: “……” Well, according to Yan Budu’s madness, there would most likely be paper figures in the restroom.

Before they could finish their conversation, the sound of rustling straw sandals echoed once again. This time, it returned and stopped at their door. Whether it was an illusion or not, the paper figures under the bed seemed to move a few times. Now, Shi Jingzhi pulled Yin Ci towards him and shrank into a corner.

Wrapped in a quilt, the two of them looked like a newlywed couple being raided by bandits on their wedding night.

Yin Ci struggled to push aside the blanket. “Let me go and take a look. There is a lot of killing and heavy negative energy in our mountain village. Maybe I can suppress it.”

Yin Ci didn’t believe in ghosts—in his hundreds of years of existence, he had traveled far and wide. He hadn’t seen vengeful spirits, but he had encountered many people pretending to be gods and ghosts. Now that he had witnessed this new phenomenon in the tomb, his long-lost curiosity had been piqued.

But as soon as he stood up, the sound of the straw sandals moved farther away. The person seemed to be pacing back and forth in the corridor, occasionally stopping. Strangely, whether it was the small sects around or the Taiheng Sect sleeping in the hall, it seemed that not many people had noticed this anomaly.

Yin Ci opened the door, causing the wooden door to creak sharply. He looked to the left first and noticed three more people at the end of the corridor.

Shi Zhongyu stood in the front with her sword drawn. Jin Lan and the blind Yan Qing followed behind her with pale faces. Before Yin Ci could speak, Shi Zhongyu spoke first. “Can you hear it too?”

Yin Ci: “Shizun heard clear footsteps, but I could only hear a little.”

When Shi Jingzhi saw Yin Ci and the mysterious figure talking, he finally gathered up the courage to approach them.

Shi Zhongyu bowed her head respectfully, stretched out her hand, and pointed. “Can you see it?”

Yin Ci followed her fingers and looked to the right.

A monk stood at the end of the corridor, holding a crudely made bark lamp. He was over eight feet tall, wearing straw-soled monk shoes and a tattered robe. His face had no facial features, as if there was a boiled egg on top of his shoulders.

The monk stopped moving and turned his blank face towards them, as if observing them.

Shi Jingzhi’s confusion overcame his fear. “Why is there a monk in a brothel? This isn’t right.”

The three members of the Taiheng Sect: “……”

Yin Ci admired his master’s ability to focus on the important points.

Fortunately, there was someone more frightened than Shi Jingzhi. Jin Lan trembled for a while and struggled to explain, “Yan Qing has keen ears and claims to have heard strange sounds. I couldn’t hear anything, so I went to find Elder Sister… and it turns out she can hear it too.”

After speaking, he pointed shakily across the corridor. “Senior Sister* and Sect Master Shi both say there’s a monk there, but I can’t see anything…”

*[Shijie] (师姐) Term used specifically use to address an older/higher rank female member of one’s sect. Lit. Senior Martial Sister/Teacher Elder Sister.

Yin Ci took the opportunity to lie. “I can only see a faint shadow… Judging by everyone’s reactions, most people probably can’t see it.”

Shi Jingzhi glanced at his disciple and sighed softly. He took two steps forward, holding a flag, and saluted the faceless monk. “Master, the sea of Buddhism is boundless, and you will see the shore when you look back.*”

*It’s a saying in Buddhism that conveys the idea that the teachings and wisdom of Buddhism are vast and limitless, and the path to enlightenment lies in realizing that one’s true nature is already within oneself. By “turning back,” it refers to the act of looking inward and realizing one’s inherent Buddha nature. In other words, one can find enlightenment by seeking within oneself rather than searching externally. It encourages practitioners to understand that the ultimate goal is already present and can be realized through self-awareness and self-discovery. 

Yin Ci once again admired him in earnest—what on earth was he saying? If that were a real monk, even refraining from violence would be a display of self-control.

The faceless monk either didn’t understand or didn’t hear, as it didn’t react aggressively. But when Shi Jingzhi took two steps forward, it took two steps back, maintaining a fixed distance.

Shi Jingzhi found the monk’s retreat strange, and his scalp tingled, so he took two steps back. Little did he expect the faceless monk to make the same move, advancing two steps towards him.

Shi Jingzhi: “…”

He jumped up and down on the spot, moving back and forth and left and right, but the monk mirrored his every move perfectly, as if it were a reflection in a mirror, and their distance remained the same.

The onlookers watched the two of them engage in this bizarre dance, and the atmosphere of terror dissipated. Shi Zhongyu cleared her throat and said, “Sect Master Shi, stop. Just stop for a moment.”

Only then did Shi Jingzhi stop, gasping for breath and spitting out a mouthful of blood, whether from exhaustion or fright. The blind Yan Qing looked bewildered, while Yin Ci struggled to suppress his laughter.

Only Jin Lan nervously asked, “Elder Sister, so he wasn’t possessed after all?”

Shi Zhongyu shook her head and rolled up her sleeve, revealing a string of translucent white prayer beads.

“This is one of our sect’s treasures. If there is any evil presence within three zhang*, the blood essence bead will immediately turn from white to red. Right now, it has no reaction, so it’s neither a ghost nor a demon.”

*Each zhang is about 3 ⅓ meters.

Yin Ci deliberately guided the conversation. “Hmm, not a ghost or a demon, so it must be an illusion?”

Shi Zhongyu affirmed, “Exactly. It’s a spell set up by a person. It’s highly likely that it has targeted Sect Master Shi in particular.”

Shi Jingzhi let out a relieved breath. “As long as it’s not a vengeful ghost and just an illusion…”

Shi Zhongyu added, “…But this spell is complex, and I can’t see through it. If it’s a curse or something similar, it could still pose a life-threatening danger. Sect Master Shi must be careful.”

Shi Jingzhi silently swallowed back his breath.

“Yan Budu wouldn’t be so kind as to set up a spell just for fun.” Yan Qing, who had remained silent for a long time, suddenly spoke. “Could this be bait, deliberately luring the prey elsewhere?”

Yin Ci deliberately took over the conversation. “If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better to use a normal appearance as bait? A monk strolling in a brothel looks suspicious.”

Shi Jingzhi grunted and gradually calmed down. “Let’s go and take a look.”

Rarely seeing him so serious, Yin Ci raised an eyebrow.

“It’s hard to say if there’s really a hidden motive. Yan Budu is extremely picky and detests monks the most. Given how he had restored this brothel to this point, if he wanted to use it to carry out killings, he would send a beautiful woman.”

He even revealed a smile.

“Since we’re already being targeted, it’s boring to just passively wait for death. A’Ci, go and wake up the person from the Yueshui Pavilion. We’re leaving now.”

After speaking, Shi Jingzhi placed a hand on his disciple’s shoulder, his lips almost touching Yin Ci’s ear—

“If I were Yan Budu, I would deliberately expose some treasures. ‘Two peaches to kill three warriors’—wouldn’t that be delightful? …If that’s the case, given Yan Budu’s malice, it wouldn’t be surprising to use a monk as a guide.”

*Idiom that comes from a historical story referring to a clever tactic of strategy that yields unexpected and significant results (AKA killing two birds with one stone). || You can read about the story in my Kinky Thoughts.

“When everyone is fighting to the death, they will surely think—’If only we hadn’t seen that detestable monk, how great would it be.'”

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The author has something to say:

The beginning refers to a unique divine medicine of the Kushan Sect, the Chongqing Extra Spicy Hotpot Base Powder Pill (×

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Kinky Thoughts:

The idiom of two peaches to kill three warriors comes from a story during the Spring and Autumn Period. Gongsun Jie, Tian Kaijiang, and Gu Yezi were courtiers of King Jing of Qi. While they were brave, they were also arrogant.

One day, Xianguo Yanzi passed them, walking humbly, but these three people didn’t stand up to show their respect.

He voiced his complaint to King Jing about how they don’t respect the court and the monarch. He then suggested to the king to send them two peaches as a reward based on their merit.

When the peaches arrived, Gongsun Jie and Tian Kaijiang boasted their achievements and took away one peach each. Seeing this, Gu Yezi refused to accept it and, after stating his achievements, drew his sword at them. Seeing this, Gongsun Jie and Tian Kaijiang felt ashamed, and they both handed over their peaches and committed suicide. When Gu Yezi saw them commit suicide, he also felt ashamed. Not wanting to be the only one left, he too committed suicide.

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Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 8: Paper Figures Street

The Ghost Tomb belongs to the first leader of the Ling Sect, Yan Budu.

Yan Budu was born into the wealthy Yan family and grew up in extravagant luxury as the youngest son. He possessed exceptional intelligence and once brought the Yan family to its pinnacle, earning him the reputation of a genius.

He believed himself to be a prodigy destined to become an immortal. At the age of seventeen, he ceased business ventures and used a large sum of money to establish the Ling Sect. He collected rare treasures from all over the world to build his own tomb. He even proclaimed that if he achieved immortality, the tomb would remain empty, but if he died, he wanted to be buried in the most luxurious tomb.

Ten years later, the Ghost Tomb was completed. Due to the massacre of countless craftsmen involved in its construction, the Ling Sect was targeted for retaliation by the righteous martial arts sects.

Yan Budu was indeed a rare genius of his time. He led the Ling Sect in stubborn resistance for a full two years, slaying numerous enemies with his sword. Against all odds, he managed to survive. However, just when the Ling Sect was starting to recover, Yan Budu mysteriously disappeared.

Yan Budu would never vanish without a trace. After a year had passed, the members of the Ling Sect concluded that the Ghost Tomb had been sealed and Yan Budu had been secretly buried by his most trusted followers.

And so, the legend of the Ghost Tomb began, passed down for a hundred years.

…While the Central Plains were in chaos caused by Yan Budu, Yin Ci was in the borderlands, searching for clues about “immortals”, completely missing out on the grand spectacle. Several years later, he assumed the identity of Su Zhi and led the Chigou Sect in an attempt to find the Ghost Tomb. However, the opportunity didn’t present itself, and he failed to locate it.

Back then, the notion of using the Shirou wasn’t as mystical, so Yin Ci didn’t bother to pursue it. After all, given a hundred or so years, future generations would find it for him.

And now, the descendants stood at the entrance of the Ghost Tomb, hesitating to take the first step. In the end, it was the monks of the Jianchen Temple who led the way, igniting their lanterns and dispersing the darkness with their dim yellow light.

However, what appeared before them wasn’t the burial chamber but the entrance to a street.

As they stepped inside, ghostly flames ignited once again, illuminating the entire street with bright lights. The ground was paved with smooth blue stone bricks, devoid of any bloody footprints and with little dust.

The play of light and shadow filled the street, bustling with a market-like atmosphere. Fragrances, elegant attire, and splendid lights filled every corner. The long street seemed endless, like a vibrant scene resembling a busy marketplace.

The top of the tomb was coated with an unknown substance, appearing black and reflecting no light, making it difficult to gauge the distance. Numerous small pearls of light simulated a starry sky, while the moon exuded a jade-like color, incredibly lifelike. The shops on either side of the street were not much different from those in the mortal world. The bricks and stones were genuine, but the pedestrians and goods on the stalls were all made of paper, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Just then, a grating sound that made one’s teeth ache rang out.

The steel support at the entrance was unexpectedly crushed by the tomb gate. Two heavy stone doors closed on their own, sealing the people inside the tomb. It happened so suddenly that those who were initially standing at the entrance, unable to move, were now scrambling and crawling to escape the tomb, narrowly avoiding being crushed into pulp.

In just a moment, a piercing scream emanated from outside the tomb gate, followed by silence.

Ahead was an endless dark street, while behind them was a dead-end emanating a bloody stench. The smell of a trap instantly intensified, causing everyone to fall silent.

After a while, Shi Jingzhi slowly raised the silver bell, and even Yin Ci shivered in response.

“That door was probably made using monsters,” Shen Zhu emerged from behind a paper figurine, sounding relaxed. “There must be monsters lurking in the tomb passage… We were lured in here, but it’s unclear whether it was for treasure hunting or to feed the monsters.”

She took two steps forward, and the light from her lantern cast shadows on the paper figures, making their expressions appear animated, further heightening the eerie atmosphere.

“Do not panic; both the Jinyu Group and members of various sects are waiting outside. If the tomb door can be opened once, it can be opened a second time. Even if it can’t be opened, my sect has enough food and water to sustain everyone for seven days. Within these seven days, we will surely find a solution.”

The “senior sister” from the Taiheng Sect stepped forward and spoke. Her voice was still low and pleasant to the ear.

“Little girl, you speak well. My Divine Chigou Sect hasn’t spoken yet,” an old voice rang out.

“Matron Wuxue*,” the senior sister from the Taiheng Sect—Shi Zhongyu’s complexion changed, then immediately paid her respects. “I didn’t expect the Sect Master of the Chigou Sect to personally be here. I apologize for my rudeness.”

*Literally means Dark Blood.

Matron Wuxue chuckled pointedly. “How could I miss such a grand tomb? I can’t guarantee anything else, but there must be an exit.”

The combination of good and evil sung in harmony gradually calmed everyone down.

“That’s true. The old leader of the Chigou Sect is here. If we can’t find a way out, no one in this world can save us,” Shi Jingzhi murmured to Yin Ci.

Yin Ci’s attention, however, wasn’t focused on this matter. He observed the paper figures around him and remarked, “Shizun, the hair on the paper figures seems to be real human hair.”

Shi Jingzhi: “…”

Shi Jingzhi: “Good disciple, Master doesn’t want to know.”

Yin Ci: “Alright, Shizun. Speaking of which, I’m a bit curious… Legend has it that thousands of craftsmen were sealed alive in the Ghost Tomb, but where are their remains? Where did they go?”

Shi Jingzhi felt helpless and on the verge of tears. “A’Ci, do you hate me?”

Yin Ci stifled a cheerful laugh and shook his head sincerely.

“I see that the dark street splits into two paths. Why don’t we divide our forces and reconvene here in three days?” Matron Wuxue spoke again; her voice sounded hoarse. “Each group should consist of about a hundred people, which is just right. More people would be difficult to maneuver, while fewer people would invite trouble.”

The Jinyu Group hid 108 jade beads. After fierce competition, there were 12 sects and 39 independents who qualified. Including the inclusion of the Kushan Sect, which didn’t meet the upper limits of the quota, there were fewer than 300 people descending into the tomb. The dark street was filled with paper figures, with over 200 people crowded together, making movement inconvenient.

After finishing speaking, Matron Wuxue didn’t listen to others’ opinions and directly took out a small clay jar. “For the sake of fairness, children, come forward.”

The Chigou Sect, known for their unorthodox methods and tomb raiding, had no one nitpicking. Representatives from each sect stepped forward and reached into the clay jar.

The first one to reach in was Shi Zhongyu from the Taiheng Sect. She frowned and withdrew her hand, finding a chess piece-sized white dot on the back of her hand. Those who followed also had dots on the back of their hands, either black or white.

Matron Wuxue smiled and said, “There are two snakes in the jar. Just one bite will discern the essence of Yin and Yang. Descending into the tomb also requires the harmony of Yin and Yang; otherwise, it will attract some filthy things… These snakes have their venom removed, so there’s no need to worry. What about that kid over there? Aren’t you going to try?”

She glanced at Shi Jingzhi with her cloudy, old eyes and smirked.

Shi Jingzhi instantly stood upright and said, “You’re too kind, but I had already agreed with the Taiheng Sect earlier to accompany them on this journey. Besides, whether we get bitten or not doesn’t make much difference. As they say, those who deal with big matters shouldn’t fuss over trivialities. Since you’re generous, there’s no need to worry.”

Yin Ci was amazed to find that his master, despite coughing up blood, could still speak at length without a pause.

Matron Wuxue chuckled a few more times and shifted her gaze away. With her corpse-like fingers, she pointed and matched black and white together in harmony. In no time, she divided the people into two groups.

The Jianchen Temple and Ling Sect went one way, while the Taiheng Sect and Chigou Sect went together. The rest followed the larger groups. Only the people from the Rong Palace couldn’t determine their Yin-Yang status. Matron Wuxue didn’t insist and waved her hand, including them in her own team.

“A’Ci, you were lucky to have bumped into the Taiheng Sect earlier.” Shi Jingzhi patted his chest. “With the Taiheng Sect, the Chigou Sect probably won’t openly cause trouble…”

“Sect Master Shi, how did you offend the Chigou Sect?” Jin Lan curiously asked.

“I stole a jade bead from them… Haa, don’t mention it. That old woman keeps glaring at me.” Shi Jingzhi turned his head, pretending that Marron Wuxue didn’t exist.

Yin Ci no longer teased Shi Jingzhi and observed more attentively.

Yan Budu was a madman. The setting inside the tomb couldn’t be deduced with common sense. Although this was only the first layer, there might still be clues related to the Shirou.

The dark street had split into two paths, and they took the left one. Looking up, the street was still filled with paper figures, creating an eerie “festive” scene.

This path resembled a brothel street, with lanterns emitting warm-colored lights and a pungent smell of decaying cosmetics piercing the nostrils. Regardless of gender, the paper figures were all dressed up and adorned, with disheveled black hair and lifelike gestures and movements.

However, there was an absolute absence of any human sounds, and the silence was suffocating.

“Let’s find a house first to clean up and spend the night.” Matron Wuxue pointed to the most luxurious brothel. “That one will do. At least it’s livable, and who knows, it might even hide some treasures.”

Yin Ci silently nodded. No one knew where the path to the next level was or when the tomb door would open. It was better to establish a base first to ensure that people’s spirits wouldn’t scatter.

However, this dark street was surprisingly exquisite. The lights outside the brothel were magnificent, and the interior was no less so. The paper dishes on the banquet table were incredibly realistic, with people playing musical instruments and engaging in lively conversations. Each table was unique, without any repetition.

It felt too close to the mortal world, yet the chill only intensified.

“Don’t touch anything with your bare hands. If you must touch, use your cold inner force to freeze your fingers, without a trace of body heat. The underground is filled with yin fires, so be cautious when using ordinary sources of fire…” Upon receiving a signal from Matron Wuxue, several Chigou Sect disciples stepped forward to take command.

Shi Jingzhi exclaimed, “The Chigou Sect Master has quite the generosity, even knowing to help others first.”

“It’s not about selling favors, but raising cannon fodder,” Yin Ci casually remarked, then quickly added, “My grandfather used to say that there is nothing good in the demonic sect.”

“A’Ci, I’ve been meaning to ask you about your grandfather—”

Before Shi Jingzhi could finish his question, trouble arose from the side of the Changle Sect. The street of paper figures was too eerie, and the attendants accompanying the leader of the Changle Sect collapsed—one young man, only seventeen or eighteen years old, stumbled and instinctively grabbed hold of a nearby paper figure.

Matron Wuxue let out a long sigh. “Everyone, step back.”

With that, she swung her cane, striking it in front of several Taiheng Sect disciples. “No need to approach. If there are no traps, he will naturally be fine. If something suspicious happens, it’s too late to save him now.”

The young man’s legs went weak, and he sat motionless for a long time. Only then did he stand up, supporting himself on the table, seemingly unaffected. Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, the touched paper figure suddenly moved.

It twisted in an awkward and stiff manner, and its smiling face became more pronounced. In the next instant, the paper figure’s mouth opened slightly, and it spontaneously ignited without any wind. Cyan flames licked the paper, producing wisps of milky-white smoke.

The faces of the Chigou Sect disciples turned pale. “Turn your inner force cold, quickly!”

In the next moment, Yin Ci realized he was being tightly hugged by Shi Jingzhi, with his head pressed into his chest. Cold true qi surged into every corner of his body, and soon it disappeared without a trace. Despite their close physical contact, they felt as cold as ice.

“A’Ci, hold your breath.” Shi Jingzhi gritted his teeth.

The others also activated their cold inner force, holding their breath and focusing their minds. The white smoke bypassed them and headed straight for the three Changle Sect attendants, who possessed no martial arts.

Everything happened in an instant. The attendants had no time to react before inhaling the white smoke.

They trembled for a moment, barely able to struggle. Accompanied by a rustling sound, small holes appeared on their skin, then slowly closed. They remained still, allowing the holes on their bodies to expand and shrink in a rhythmic pattern.

Shi Jingzhi seemed to realize something, and his breathing suddenly became short. Yin Ci made a decisive move and covered Shi Jingzhi’s mouth and nose with his hand. The two of them pressed tightly together, not uttering a word.

In the span of a cup of tea, the rustling sound ceased, and everything returned to silence.

Matron Wuxue let out a sigh and tapped her cane on the floor. The group finally resumed breathing and started to move.

The leader of the Changle Sect trembled and turned his head to look at the three attendants. As he looked, the old man let out a scream, causing his feet to slip nearly falling into the same fate as the attendants.

“Interesting,” Shen Zhu murmured softly.

Approaching for a closer look, they saw that the three individuals now had smiles on their faces, frozen in natural poses, with their skin having the same texture as the paper figures… or rather, right before everyone’s eyes, the three living people swiftly transformed into “paper figures”.

Yin Ci recognized what it was.

A moment ago, the holes on their skin had not yet closed. They continued to expand while being patched up by similar-colored “fabric”, creating an illusion of fluctuating hole sizes.

Their bones, organs, and flesh were all consumed by “that thing”, leaving behind only a vivid false shell.

Surname Shi had keen senses, so he probably noticed something amiss just now. However…

Before Yin Ci could finish his thought, Shi Jingzhi lifted his chin. His cheap master forcibly opened his mouth and stuffed a pill the size of a lychee into it, then delivered a firm palm strike to his chest. Yin Ci couldn’t resist openly, and almost choked to tears.

…A miscalculation. He had momentarily lost focus and seemed to have forgotten to resume breathing.

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The author has something to say:

Hug ← pretending to play dead together

Chin lift ← immediately stuffed with a disgustingly bitter pill

Shi Jingzhi: ?! My disciple is about to die ———— (pupils quaking)

Yin Ci: ? I forgot to breathe—a minor detail.

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