The master and disciple woke up Yan Qing and Su Si, then walked out of the ruins. As soon as the four of them appeared, they were surrounded by the villagers, making it impossible to move.
In order to verify the authenticity of the twin roots, someone took out their blood bottle and tried to test it with wine. As soon as the wine entered the blood bottle, the person fell down with a thud, emitting a strong smell of alcohol.
With the living example as evidence, as well as Mian Jie and Yin Deng as witnesses, Shi Jingzhi patiently and earnestly calmed the villagers for most of the night, finally soothing their hearts.
The commotion subsided as the sun rose.
The fox was anxious to get away, so he came up with a distraction by pushing Yan Qing to draw the villagers’ attention to “Yan Qing saving all the blood bottles”. Poor Yan Qing, who had been cautious for many years, had never seen such a situation before. He was instantly regarded as a blushing oaf by the villagers, with his face almost the same color as his eyes.
The people of Yuanxian Village were unaware of Yan Budu’s notoriety and were deceived by Shi Jingzhi, launching an exceptionally fierce attack. Yan Qing couldn’t resist and had to use Su Si as a shield. Su Si, who was used to the ways of the market, immediately got into character and started deceiving people with gusto.
While the villagers were distracted by the two servants, Shi Jingzhi took the opportunity to escape, leaving in a hurry.
The two of them headed straight for the demon tree in the forbidden area.
They didn’t find any information about Yan Budu in the Goddess’ bedroom. According to the records, Yan Budu was “hated by the villagers for deliberately destroying the demon tree”, but the demon tree was still there, which was the only remaining clue.
With no one watching, Shi Jingzhi dropped his pretense of being an immortal. He rolled up his sleeves and climbed up the tree haphazardly. Yin Ci couldn’t stand it anymore, and with a light step, he jumped onto the demon tree and lifted his monkey-like master to a higher place.
Shi Jingzhi couldn’t hide the envy in his eyes and said, “A’Ci, your qinggong is impressive. Teach me.”
Yin Ci didn’t want this person to die easily, so he had a few thoughts of teaching him. However, whether Shi Jingzhi was willing or not was another matter. But before he had a chance to speak, Shi Jingzhi brought it up himself.
Yin Ci smiled and said, “Shizun, should you call me Shizun instead?”
Shi Jingzhi raised an eyebrow and said confidently, “They say a master imparts knowledge and solves doubts. Even if I’m not good at imparting knowledge, I can still solve doubts. Besides, there’s a saying, ‘do not be ashamed to ask for advice’…”
Yin Ci felt the urge to kick the fox off the tree, but he restrained himself.
“Imparting knowledge and solving doubts?” He couldn’t hide the teasing tone in his voice.
Shi Jingzhi looked at him, and that not-so-serious look gradually disappeared. “Yes, imparting knowledge and solving doubts.”
Yin Ci also stopped smiling.
Seeing Shi Jingzhi’s expression, he thought of the phrase “I won’t let you down” again.
Under the Ghost Tomb, Shi Jingzhi had also said, “I won’t let you down.” At that time, Yin Ci felt that this person was sincere but baseless, extremely suspicious, and his words seemed like he was saying them to himself.
As the gust of wind subsided, there was a slight fading of emotion in Shi Jingzhi’s words, making it sound more like a promise.
The demon tree was wide, and the two of them stood steady. The scent of the forbidden area mixed with the fresh aroma of the tree leaves, vaguely reminiscent of the fragrance of incense burning in a shrine.
When Yin Ci spoke again, all traces of jest disappeared, and genuine curiosity arose within him. “Shizun, do you think I have some doubts that require an outsider to resolve?”
“As a master, I am skilled at reading people. The seven emotions and six desires of mortals* are written on their faces, with three parts manifested in their actions. I took in Yan Qing because of his pure and modest heart. I kept Su Si… Although he vacillates between good and evil, he holds on to emotions and righteousness.”
*Generally, the seven emotions are: Joy, Anger, Sorrow, Fear, Love, Hate, Desire. The six desires are: Desire for wealth and possessions, sex and pleasure, fame and recognition, food and drink, sleep and rest, survival and self-preservation. These emotions and desires are considered inherent aspects of human nature and are seen as influential forces that impact one’s thoughts, actions, and relationships.
Shi Jingzhi took a few steps forward, genuinely revealing some qualities of a master.
“A’Ci, I still believe you are an upright person, but why do you not desire anything?”
Yin Ci’s heart tightened slightly, not because of Shi Jingzhi’s imposing “inhuman” demeanor, but because of the earnest tone. In just a few words, it struck a chord and evoked a sense of pain.
A hundred years had passed, filled with changing tides and unresolved love and hate. Besides the desire to die, he couldn’t think of any other wishes.
“Perhaps I am just bored. I envy you, Shizun—always finding amusement by saying you can’t be saved.”
Yin Ci said this in a sarcastic tone, but Shi Jingzhi laughed. Once again, he assumed the demeanor of a wise person and embraced a higher branch, beckoning to Yin Ci with his finger. “A’Ci, come up.”
Yin Ci: “……” For the first time, he realized that his cheap master had an uncanny ability to render him speechless.
This person not only possessed exceptional talent but also an inexplicable degree of uniqueness. The branches were narrow and crowded, and if he went up, the two of them would resemble monkeys hanging from the tree branches. Was Shi Jingzhi’s peculiar behavior finally affecting his sanity?
“Come up.” Shi Jingzhi beckoned again.
“No.”
“This is an order from your Master.”
Yin Ci took a deep breath and reluctantly climbed up the branch. Unlike Shi Jingzhi, who clung to the tree like a sloth, he stood lightly on the branch, resembling a flying bird.
The branch wasn’t thick, and it bent dangerously under the weight of two adult men.
“Enough. What’s the next order?” Yin Ci poked at Shi Jingzhi, who was clinging to the branch.
Shi Jingzhi raised an eyebrow. “If A’Ci leaves Yuanxian Village, will you never come back? Even if you do, you won’t come to this specific location.”
“What if I do?”
“If I hadn’t called you up here, ‘this place’ would have been a place you would never reach in your lifetime. Even if you live for a hundred years, it would still be the case.”
Shi Jingzhi carefully adjusted his position and sat on the branch, swaying back and forth.
“Isn’t it interesting? Most people take such small corners for granted, even if they are within arm’s reach. But no matter how ordinary the scenery is here, it can still be considered one-of-a-kind in the world.”
The morning sun rose, casting a golden glow that spread everywhere. Shi Jingzhi gazed at the rising sun, with a joyful expression that was beyond words.
For some reason, Yin Ci’s hostility suddenly dissipated. He stared at Shi Jingzhi, feeling a tinge of bittersweet longing in his heart.
Some people possessed such talent that even when submerged in the depths of despair, they could dig out unrealistic hopes. Yin Ci almost resented this innocence, yet he also wanted to embrace it, preventing it from falling into the mud too soon.
As if by doing so, he could borrow a glimmer of that light and not endure a painful difficult existence.
Yin Ci stood silently for a while, then sat down next to Shi Jingzhi.
Shi Jingzhi’s tone became more cheerful. “They say Yan Budu acquired the ‘Shirou’ before his disappearance, and he happened to have been here. With the miraculous healing medicine and tales of immortals associated with this place, how can it not be related to the Shirou?”
Yin Ci simply looked at him. “Mm.”
“And since I arrived here, I haven’t coughed up any blood, and my pulse is similar to the locals’. This strange illness of mine must undoubtedly be connected to this place of immortals. Ancient arrays, the purpose of the flesh idols, traces of real immortals. There are so many puzzles to solve. If you continue to follow me, I guarantee you won’t be bored… Perhaps, as we travel, you might discover what you truly desire.”
“Mm.”
In reality, he desired Shi Jingzhi’s golden fire, but it required Shi Jingzhi’s cooperation, and he couldn’t rush into it hastily.
Unaware of his disciple’s thoughts, Shi Jingzhi continued on his own, “So, does this count as resolving your… oh!”
His balance was unstable, and in the end, his backside slipped, nearly causing him to fall from the tree branch. Yin Ci instinctively caught his master, sighing. “Let’s consider it a partial resolution, a one or two percent resolution.”
“A’Ci, don’t move.”
“Why?”
“Lend me the Hanging Shadow Sword.”
Fox Shi swayed in mid-air, pointing the sword at the tree bark. Twisted and cracked bark was shaved away, revealing a row of bold characters—
[Saw this? If you did, go find the bald donkeys.]
Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci: “…”
Shi Jingzhi said, somewhat impatiently, “It’s Yan Budu’s handwriting, just like the one in the Ghost Tomb.” He lacked elegance in his tone.
Yin Ci: “Jianchen Temple is to the west of Yongsheng. It’s not strange to pass by here if you’re traveling directly from Lingjiao.”
With the emergence of a new clue, Yin Ci’s faint melancholy vanished without a trace, and his tone grew firm again.
Shi Jingzhi had an epiphany. “If there’s any sect least interested in the Shirou, it would be the Jianchen Temple. Yet, he hid the clue there. Yan Budu’s really… tsk.”
Immediately, he became spirited. “I have something to do at Jianchen Temple, so it’s killing two birds with one stone. After a short rest, we’ll hit the road.”
The two finally descended from the tree and landed in front of the tree gate. The residual golden glow of the sun still lingered, and a burnt smell wafted from within the tree gate. Shi Jingzhi turned around and, inexplicably, said, “Bai Wei didn’t have to die.”
Yin Ci halted his steps.
“He clearly said he wouldn’t give up his life, but in the end, he threw himself into the flesh statue. Even if he did it to protect Yin Deng, when he made that initial decision, he probably didn’t know how long he could hold on.”
“Perhaps he just couldn’t bear to see his loved one suffer and didn’t know what else to do,” Yin Ci replied smoothly.
He had witnessed this kind of situation too many times. However, Shi Jingzhi’s circumstances were unique, and Yin Ci didn’t expect his master to understand it fully.
Sure enough, Shi Jingzhi shook his head. “If I were him, I would never act so rashly.”
With that, he no longer glanced at the forbidden area and turned to walk away. Yin Ci, however, still stared at the tree gate, not immediately following.
He thought of that eerie dream again.
Perhaps the fragmented and agonizing pain was unconsciously emitted by the flesh idol. After that intense fire, did those weeping voices cease?
And in the dream, what was that thing he had become, losing his human face?
Shi Jingzhi was right. The further they traveled on this path, the darker and more mysterious it became. It was definitely not going to be boring.
A few more days passed, and the people of Yuanxian Village silently packed their belongings and marched in a grand procession towards the small bridge at the entrance. They each carried their blood bottles, carefully sealed and treasured, hanging from their chests.
Yin Deng’s arm remained injured, but she held the dog demon with her other hand and walked, constantly looking back.
“Why do we have to move?”
“The Immortal said we must leave this place early and establish relations with people outside the mountains. That way, even if bad people come for revenge, they won’t dare to do it so blatantly.” Mian Jie squatted down and whispered to comfort her.
“But Sister only left for three days and died outside.” Yin Deng couldn’t comprehend complicated matters. Equating “ascending to immortality” with “death” alone took all of her energy.
“It’s okay. You’ll be accompanied by mom and dad.”
“Can I still see Sister?”
Yin Deng raised her head, her eyes swollen like peaches.
“I dreamt of her yesterday. She waved at me. Does that mean I won’t see her again?”
Mian Jie didn’t answer. She lifted the little girl onto the dog’s back and gently patted her head.
“Let’s go,” she said, “Xizhuang is close to Yuanxian Village. We’ll move there, and if A’Lu wants to see you, she won’t have trouble finding you.”
“Un!”
The four members of the Kushan Sect stood at the forefront, with Su Si still carrying Lord Bai, who had lost quite a few feathers. Despite the keen intuition of the goose demon, it had suffered greatly under the wind blades—countless goose feathers were mangled.
In the end, they departed.
The warm breeze and blooming flowers were left behind as the people performed their ancestral rituals, silently entering the bridge cave and emerging from the divine shrine. The mountain was desolate, with snowflakes gently falling, resembling the scene when they had arrived.
As soon as the four members of the Kushan Sect left the divine shrine, Yan Qing seemed to be concerned, occasionally looking back and almost getting strangled by Su Si. The master and disciple endured the cold, not wearing their robes and instead relying on their white garments, emitting an ethereal aura.
Once out of sight of the crowd, Shi Jingzhi felt better, but Yin Ci’s lips had turned blue.
Shi Jingzhi wrapped his disciple in a cotton robe and exhaled a large puff of white vapor. “Damn it, I forgot it’s winter outside.”
“Just now, I saw a man and a woman waving at us near the forest.” Yan Qing rubbed his reddened nose. “Didn’t everyone from Yuanxian Village leave?”
Su Si shrugged nonchalantly. “You must have mistaken something.”
“…Maybe.”
“Shh, don’t talk about these strange and chaotic things.” Shi Jingzhi couldn’t sit still any longer. “Anyway, let’s descend the mountain first. I need to find something to store the elixir. It’s freezing cold that even the jade vials will crack.”
He took out a piece of emerald-colored elixir from his chest and carefully examined it—
Immediately, he let out a wail of despair.
The verdant liquid inside the jade turned murky and muddy, transforming the emerald into a lump of mud. Shi Jingzhi was furious, spewing out a mouthful of blood.
The illusion was shattered, and everything returned to normal.
Yin Ci sympathetically patted his master’s back, attempting to comfort him. But it wasn’t just his master who was as usual—
In the distance, a signal flare from the Ling Sect suddenly shot up, exploding into a crimson mist.
Shi Jingzhi wiped the blood from his mouth and said in a bitter voice, “…Yan Qing, your family has arrived.”
The people from the Ling Sect truly had sharp eyes. It seemed that Zheng Fengdao had made up his mind to use them as bedposts. And now, with the addition of Su Si, they could serve as all four corners of the bed.
Well, they could only run away.
Yin Ci picked up his master while Su Si held onto Yan Qing. The two who were better at qinggong rose on the snow, skillfully running for their lives—
At least the Jianchen Temple was a safe destination. Hopefully, Yan Budu had truly hidden a clue there, rather than using his inexplicable attachment to monks to deceive them.
The author has something to say:
Yan Budu, everyone has discovered your monk complex. What should we do about it?
…And upon careful consideration, it seems that cats are indeed less resistant to the cold than foxes (?
