After obtaining Su Si’s consent, the group brought Auntie Liu back to their lodging.
Yin Ci cooked a bowl of porridge and had Yan Qing feed it to Auntie Liu little by little. Auntie Liu made a few raspy sounds in her throat. A glimmer of light returned to her eyes, and her eye sockets became moist again. Her face had few wrinkles, but she appeared like a flower wilting after being away from water for a few days, emitting a strange sense of withering.
“No, the bleeding won’t stop. Yan Qing, get some hot water and prepare needle and thread.” Shi Jingzhi gritted his teeth.
Although it had been bandaged, the small wound continued to ooze blood slowly, staining the cloth a dark red. Shi Jingzhi heated the needle, sewed up the wound with a thread, and carefully wiped the sutured area with pure alcohol—while the bleeding had stopped, another kind of liquid slowly seeped out.
The liquid resembled diluted blood, with a faint green glow on the surface. It was translucent and contained many fine, filamentous impurities. Those filaments seemed to possess life as they slowly crawled, reopening the sutured wound, and the blood began to flow again.
It was as if something was trying to break free from her veins.
Yin Ci had seen people who naturally bled uncontrollably, but Auntie Liu’s symptoms were completely different from theirs, exuding an eerie aura.
Shi Jingzhi was still trying to clean up those filaments, but they were endless and couldn’t be completely removed no matter what he did.
His hand gradually began to tremble.
Seeing the blood flowing again, Auntie Liu wasn’t surprised; instead, a hint of sorrow appeared on her face.
“That’s enough. This is the ‘three-day wound’. It’s useless,” she said. “Thank you all. It’s better this way… Anyway, there’s no one left in my family.”
Yan Qing walked to the bedside and tried to console her. “You just asked the Goddess for the miraculous elixir. It seems that this ‘three-day wound’ is not necessarily fatal.”
“Ah, the Great Goddess does have a miraculous elixir. That medicine can resurrect the dead and turn flesh into bones, but it’s only given to children and women in childbirth. Ordinary people can’t use it.” Auntie Liu smiled bitterly as her lips turned paler. “It was my impulsiveness. Lao Liu and I are both sixty years old, so it’s normal for the Goddess not to give it to us… I just miss Lao Liu.”
Yan Qing was startled. “Sixty?”
Auntie Liu looked no older than forty and still retained her charm. Seeing Yan Qing’s reaction, she wasn’t surprised. “I’ve heard that people outside age quickly. It seems to be true.”
Then she pushed the soup bowl away wearily. “I appreciate your kindness, but please send me back. If I die here, the house will also be tainted with bad luck.”
Su Si raised an eyebrow. “You just stay here. I’m not afraid of bad luck. What kind of person would I be if I let an old person go back and die alone?”
Auntie Liu smiled wearily and tightly held Yan Qing’s hand.
Yan Qing was a bit nervous but didn’t retract his hand. “Is it true that if someone stays in the village, they will die from the ‘three-day wound’?”
“Don’t worry for now. After the village initiation ceremony, you will become like this… Lao Liu came to the village several decades ago, and he told me…”
Yan Qing: “We won’t participate in the initiation ceremony.”
“If you don’t participate in the initiation ceremony, you will never be able to leave the village. Actually, the ceremony is quite good… As long as you don’t suffer a major injury, you’ll live a life free of illness and calamity and age slowly.” Auntie Liu exhaled slowly. “Child, don’t be disgusted. Let me hold your hand for a little longer… When Lao Liu was young, his hands were this big and so warm…”
She held onto Yan Qing’s hand like so, slowly closing her eyes, with a few tears streaming down her cheeks.
Shi Jingzhi collected his tools expressionlessly and suddenly stood up, walking towards the door. This fox might have discovered something, and Yin Ci hesitated for a moment before following him.
Outside the door, the night was deep, and the stars filled the sky.
Shi Jingzhi looked up at the sky, not saying a word. Yin Ci took a few steps forward and tapped his master’s back. “Shizun, what’s wrong?”
“When people died in the Ghost Tomb, it was only a moment with a fitting end,” Shi Jingzhi whispered, “But Auntie Liu doesn’t have to die. It’s just a minor wound… but I can’t find a solution, and I don’t even know the reason.”
It turned out their pulse was similar and so was their despair. Shi Jingzhi felt grief similar to Auntie Liu*.
*The fox is sad at the death of a hare (兔死狐悲) Idiom referring to feeling sorrow or sympathy for others who are in a similar situation or facing a similar fate.
Yin Ci had just discovered a new way of dying and happened to be in the right mood, so he couldn’t help but offer a few words of comfort. “At least Shizun has found a new clue. And the miraculous elixir does exist; it can cure Auntie Liu, so it must be able to cure Shizun too.”
Shi Jingzhi turned his head and looked at Yin Ci intently. Suddenly, he extended his arms and tightly embraced his disciple.
“Shizun?”
“A’Ci, let me hold you for a moment.” Shi Jingzhi lowered his head and held Yin Ci tightly.
Shi Jingzhi’s body temperature was slightly higher, and the warmth permeated through the thin fabric, giving the sensation of being invaded. But Yin Ci had always liked warm things, so he closed his eyes and allowed Shi Jingzhi to embrace him.
It was fine for the younger generation to act spoiled; there was no harm in it.
The other’s breath was somewhat hurried; perhaps they had once again encountered an incomprehensible dead end, and despair surged up again. Yin Ci remained motionless, with his hands hanging by his sides. He didn’t hug Shi Jingzhi back, but he didn’t break free either.
After holding Yin Ci for quite a while, Shi Jingzhi finally let out a breath. “I feel better now. Thank you.”
He didn’t say anything more, turned around, and walked a few steps towards the door before stopping and waiting for Yin Ci to catch up. Yin Ci watched his master’s figure and suddenly felt that this person was somewhat pitiful.
Seeing someone else being embraced, Shi Jingzhi seemed to be attracted by that emotional connection and had to experience it firsthand.
He often had moments of panic, indicating that he might not be naturally timid. That day in the Ghost Tomb, his emotions were like a turbulent sea, rushing forth relentlessly. His master seemed to be unable to handle his own emotions. Like a little beast abandoned by its pack, there was no one to teach him.
But he happened to be extremely knowledgeable and had formidable inner force.
The longer they spent together, the more Yin Ci found it difficult to fathom his master’s background. But today, when he remembered the mute boy, he felt a bit more tolerant towards Shi Jingzhi.
Although this fox was cunning in a thousand ways, what was the point of competing with a dying person?
The night passed uneventfully.
Su Si slept in bed, sprawled in all directions. Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci squeezed together, wrapped in a blanket. Auntie Liu held Yan Qing’s hand, and Yan Qing couldn’t bring himself to let go of her. He sat by the bed the whole night.
With the sunrise and the crowing of the rooster, everyone felt refreshed. However, Yan Qing’s face was pale and dark. He was nodding off at the edge of the bed, on the verge of slipping off the chair.
Auntie Liu lay quietly in bed. Her face was pale, and her chest rose and fell slowly, as if she was deeply asleep.
“She… She’s fine,” Yan Qing explained to the empty air in a daze. “Her hand is still warm. She’s fine.”
Su Si angrily pried his fingers apart. “Are you an idiot? Didn’t you think of calling for a replacement when you felt tired? Go to sleep now!”
Yan Qing stumbled to his feet and flopped onto Su Si’s bed, falling asleep in that position. Shi Jingzhi cleaned himself up and went to check Auntie Liu’s pulse.
Yin Ci didn’t bother with them and started a fire to cook rice porridge.
As the window opened, the air carried flower petals and grass fragments, gently pouring in with the sunlight. The morning in Yuanxian Village was particularly pleasant. The eerie aspects were somewhat blurred, giving a sense of peace and tranquility.
Breakfast was prepared, and Shi Jingzhi filled an extra bowl of porridge and set it aside by Auntie Liu’s bed.
The tranquility persisted until everyone finished breakfast.
Suddenly, voices came from outside the window. Yin Ci was the first to lean out and take a look.
There were five or six people gathered at the door of Su Si’s home. One person carried a roll of green grass mat on his shoulder, while another held a small white porcelain bottle with a jade-carved twig inside.
Lord Bai didn’t make a fuss; it was lying in its nest with its head tucked under its wing, still sound asleep. Su Si glanced at it, set down his bowl of porridge, and opened the door with relief.
The leader of the group was a young man. “Sorry to disturb you. We’ve come to collect the body.”
Su Si furrowed his brows. “What body? Auntie Liu is perfectly fine.”
The man smiled and shook his head. “You’re all outsiders, so perhaps you don’t understand.”
With that, he confidently entered the house and approached Auntie Liu. He lifted her eyelids.
“Here, see for yourselves.”
This time, not only Shi Jingzhi but even Su Si took a step back. Only Yin Ci secretly moved closer to get a clear look.
Countless strands of light green thread emerged from Auntie Liu’s pupils. These threads were strikingly similar to the ones flowing out of her wound yesterday. They squeezed within her eyeballs, tearing her pupils into fragmented pieces and sealing them tightly. Her eyes were in complete disarray, looking nothing like those of a living person.
But she still had breath, a heartbeat, and body temperature.
“People from Yuanxian Village ascend to immortality like this,” the leader of the group said calmly. “Since she won’t wake up, let us take her away.”
As he reached out his hand, Shi Jingzhi stopped him. “Wait a moment! Let me try again.”
He took a silver needle and pierced several major acupoints on Auntie Liu’s body. Even if Auntie Liu remained unconscious, her body should have shown some reaction. However, Auntie Liu continued to lie motionless, resembling a wooden sculpture that could breathe.
“Is that enough? If you want to try other methods, I won’t stop you… but everything you can think of, we’ve already tried. Who hasn’t had a family member ascend to immortality? Who doesn’t want their loved ones to stay a few more years?”
Shi Jingzhi didn’t move away; he stood in front of Auntie Liu. “But she is still alive.”
His voice was somewhat soft, and it was unclear whom he was trying to convince.
“Auntie Liu is considered half of our family—not some spectacle for you to see. If the body remains here, the Goddess will surely be angry, and you all may suffer.” The man’s tone grew heavier.
Su Si immediately stepped back, Yin Ci remained silent, and Yan Qing continued to sleep on the bed, weakly gripping his hand.
After a while, Shi Jingzhi finally moved aside and turned his back.
Seeing that he no longer resisted, the villagers unfolded the grass mat and carefully wrapped Auntie Liu in it, carrying her on their shoulders.
“We have one more thing to do on this trip. First, wake up the person on the bed. Yes, you three, come a little closer—according to the Goddess’ orders, you need to test your immortal potential.”
The atmosphere had been tense before, so the man deliberately softened his tone when saying this.
Under the eaves, they had to lower their heads. The situation was unique, and no one wanted to antagonize the Goddess now. Shi Jingzhi took advantage of the situation, forced a smile, and approached as requested.
Yan Qing was also pulled off the bed by Su Si, dazedly joining them. Only Yin Ci calmly returned to his seat, continuing to drink his porridge, completely ignored.
The man took the white porcelain bottle and extracted a few drops of liquid that resembled water onto the backs of the three individuals’ hands.
As soon as the droplets touched Shi Jingzhi’s hand, they instantly turned bright emerald green. The droplets on Su Si’s hand also changed color, revealing a pale green hue. However, the droplets on Yan Qing’s hand were different—his turned into a murky grayish-yellow.
“Indeed, it’s not easy to find hospitable guests. It’s rare for two of you to come at once. Brother, it’s a pity. Like the young man over there, you have no immortal potential.”
The man sighed at Yan Qing, shaking his head regretfully.
“To be honest, people without immortal potential are usually not allowed to stay in the village. If you want to stay, you’ll have to marry a woman from the village. But with your looks, brother, it shouldn’t be difficult for you to stay.”
He once again dismissively ignored Yin Ci.
Facing Shi Jingzhi and Su Si, especially Shi Jingzhi, the man’s smile became brighter. “As for you two. You are our compatriots by nature. Take the time to explore the village first. When the full moon arrives, the Goddess will conduct the ceremony to officially welcome you into the village.”
“Can my disciple be tested as well?” Shi Jingzhi negotiated. “It wouldn’t be fair to skip him like this, would it?”
“There’s no need to test him. Anyone with immortal potential is undoubtedly attractive.”
Shi Jingzhi’s smile froze on his face. “Does A’Ci have to get married in order to stay… What if he and Yan Qing can’t find someone to marry?”
The man pondered for a moment and replied vaguely, “The Great Goddess will handle it.”
“Brother Qing and I are married,” a crisp female voice suddenly spoke up.
Su Si hugged Yan Qing’s arm and spoke in a playful tone, mimicking a female voice. “Anyway, I have entered the village so does this count?”
Yin Ci: “…”
Shi Jingzhi: “???”
All the melancholy on his face was suddenly blown away, replaced by astonishment.
Even the villagers were startled. “You…”
“I was originally a girl, but it’s inconvenient to travel alone, so I disguised myself as a boy. I didn’t dare to reveal my identity when I was suddenly brought to the village… Now that my lover is here and you haven’t given me any trouble, I have nothing to worry about.”
Su Si was originally delicate in appearance and not particularly tall. Now he deliberately hunched his body, making himself appear even shorter. Strangely, his demeanor and voice were incredibly natural, without any sense of awkwardness. He looked like a tall and slender girl dressed as a boy.
Villager: “Well… that shouldn’t be a problem. Miss, we apologize for any offense before. Ahem, now there’s only the other young man left. Time is limited, so you should think of a solution quickly.”
Yin Ci turned his head slowly and looked at Shi Jingzhi.
Shi Jingzhi immediately shook his head vigorously, like a tambourine. No, no, he really couldn’t do this. He had a much larger build than Su Si and lacked any feminine features. He couldn’t fool anyone.
Yin Ci found Shi Jingzhi’s panicked appearance amusing.
He had no intention of pursuing the village women just to “avoid being dealt with”. On the contrary, he wanted to be captured by the Great Goddess as soon as possible and experience her abilities. However, such thoughts were too extraordinary and couldn’t be revealed to others.
Yan Qing, who already had insufficient sleep and was startled by Su Si’s revelation, remained dumbfounded in place. Even when the villagers left he couldn’t come back to his senses for a long time. “A’Si, are you really a girl?”
“San Zi, are you an idiot?” Su Si reverted to his normal voice. Then, in a granny’s tone, he continued, “If I speak like this, will you think of me as your grandma? It’s one thing if others get fooled, but you still believe it?”
“But your actions just now—”
Su Si stretched his muscles, and his gaze turned cold. “I’ve scraped by in the lowest levels of the martial world, performing ventriloquism and singing. Let’s not dwell on that. San Zi, this is just a temporary measure. Escaping as soon as possible is the main priority… Look at Auntie Liu’s condition. Something is increasingly wrong with this place.”
Yan Qing’s expression changed completely. “Auntie Liu’s condition? What condition? I was just about to ask, where is Auntie Liu?”
Su Si looked troubled, and Yin Ci stepped forward. “Let me explain.”
Not far away, the porridge left by Shi Jingzhi for Auntie Liu was still at the bedside. It gradually cooled down until it was completely cold.
……
At the same time, in the center of the village.
The Goddess sat in her room, holding the pen with her fair fingers, and started to write a letter on the “word cloth” in front of her. She didn’t address it to anyone by name, only writing the characters “To the Esteemed.”
[From Zongwu Mountain’s Yuanxian Village. One person born this month, two newly acquired individuals with immortal potential, excluding two elderly individuals. The number of villagers has increased by one, but it has not exceeded the predetermined limit.]
The Goddess wrote slowly, holding her breath and concentrating, afraid of making the slightest mistake. After writing a few characters, she would stop, wiping the sweat off her forehead.
[If this continues, the idol will be completed within the year.]
The author has something to say:
“Word cloth” was mentioned in Chapter 4. They are fish demon skins that can transmit information in real-time~
Comrade Yan Qing doesn’t have immortal potential. How pitiful. He’s handsome, unaffected by [spoiler noise], thanks to his hereditary handsomeness √
Actually, if we peel off the ghostskin of Demonic Lord Yin and test it, there might be some surprises! The villagers—
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