《Jia Mo》 CH 1 It was raining. The raindrops slid down the fish scale roof tiles, weaving a dense stitch pattern on the stone brick ground. It¡¯s just dawn and it¡¯s raining again, making everything hazy. The gray and white moon shadow rested on the eaves of other people¡¯s houses, a very dim, incomplete circle that seems like it will disappear with the blink of an eye. Qi Yin woke up to the sound of rain tapping on the roof. He saw rain dripping in from a broken tile and wetting the wooden floor. He sat up and pulled out a wooden basin from under the bed to catch the water. He lived in the attic, and a few tiles were blown away by the wind two days ago, but he hadn¡¯t had a chance to fix them. He murmured to himself as he got dressed, thinking of telling his aunt when they have breakfast later. He could repair the roof himself as long as he had the materials. He climbed down the ladder. Everyone in the house was still sleeping. It was quiet except for the sound of raindrops falling on the gray courtyard. He went to the kitchen to chop wood, light the fire, and make breakfast, which he did every morning. He had no parents and was living with others, so he must be a bit more self-aware. According to his aunt, Qi Yin lost his mother when he was five years old. She was doing laundry by the river when she was dragged away by a water ghost. Qi Yin was playing with water nearby and thought his mother was diving for ducks. He asked his mother to catch fish for him with a smile on his face, but she never resurfaced. He didn¡¯t know his father. His father was said to be a sword immortal from some celestial mountain. His father had a brief romance with his mother and then went back to cultivate immortality with his sword. The only thing he left behind was the eighteen glass beads on Qi Yin¡¯s wrist, each with deep and shallow golden runes, which could ward off evil and keep one safe. The immortal disregarded trivial matters and it wasn¡¯t his father¡¯s fault even if he didn¡¯t marry his mother. From a young age, Qi Yin knew to find excuses for his father who he had never met. He guessed that his father was probably sealing a world-destroying demon and couldn¡¯t come back to take him and his mother to the immortal mountain. He convinced himself that this was true and used this reason to explain why his father didn¡¯t come to pick him up, showing off his precious eighteen glass beads to his runny-nosed neighbors and classmates who played games together and got punished. His aunt also held onto this hope, hoping that one day his father would descend from the sky to take him away, and to repay his aunt¡¯s kindness, he would also take his cousin along. The two brothers would happily cultivate immortality together. However, his father had been gone for eighteen years, and until now there wasn¡¯t even a trace of him. A few years ago, his aunt asked a wandering Taoist to deliver a letter to Wu Fang Mountain, but there was no response. Everyone gradually realized that Qi Yin was an abandoned child, whose mother had died and father didn¡¯t want him. Her aunt¡¯s attitude towards him gradually changed. Before, he slept in the upper room with his cousin under a moonlit window. Now, he can only sleep in the leaky attic. If it weren¡¯t for fear of neighborhood gossip, he would not even be able to finish his education. His aunt kept him purely because it cost money to buy a servant. Two years ago, they had to hire a female servant because there was too much work for Qi Yin alone to handle, and she had been resentful ever since. Qi Yin didn¡¯t have any aspirations. Ever since he realized he was an orphan with no parents, he took on the role of helping out his aunt¡¯s family with great seriousness. He was just an ordinary person with no chance of becoming an immortal and no brains for passing the imperial examinations, living a simple life without much prospect. He kindled the fire with wood and added gelatin and cooked rehmannia root (1) to the medicinal pot before pouring in water. This was the beauty-enhancing soup his aunt drank every morning and night. Although his aunt was getting older, she refused to accept old age. Ironically, the person his aunt hated the most in the house was not Qi Yin but the female servant Xiao Yuan. Xiao Yuan came to the house at the age of thirteen, a thin and weak little girl who looked like a weed by the roadside. After staying in the house for three years, she grew up to become a pretty young woman with rosy lips and white teeth, a snow-white neck, and round shoulders. When she walked, she revealed the three-inch golden lotus buds (2) on her feet. All the men in the house were dazzled by her beauty, except for Qi Yin. ¡°Why are you up so early?¡± Xiao Yuan walked in wearing peony red embroidered shoes. Qi Yin turned his head and saw Xiao Yuan smiling at him. ¡°I¡¯m boiling medicine. Auntie has been getting up early lately¡± Qi Yin scratched his head. The medicinal pot was boiling with a ¡°gudong gudong¡± sound. He went to steam the steamed buns, and as he lowered his head, he saw two butt marks on the coal ash on the stove. The marks were round and plump, indicating that their owner was very curvy. He unconsciously looked towards Xiao Yuan, who was kneading dough. She wore a black jade bracelet on her wrist that fit tightly around her flesh, and the handkerchief couldn¡¯t even be tucked in. Perhaps sensing Qi Yin¡¯s gaze, Xiao Yuan turned her head and looked at him with a teasing smile. Qi Yin awkwardly withdrew his gaze and silently wiped the butt marks clean before putting the steamer into the stove. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m sweating. My hair is sticking to my neck. Can you help me lift it up?¡± Xiao Yuan said. Qi Yin looked over and saw a strand of black hair sticking to her fair neck. Somehow, he thought of the white pork hanging on the meat rack at the market. Qi Yin placed a stack of wet cloths in front of her and said, ¡°Wipe your hands and lift it yourself.¡± Then he went out. Xiao Yuan¡¯s face stiffened, and she threw the dough onto the chopping board. ¡°Hmph, acting so high and mighty! Bastard,¡± she said, intentionally not lowering her voice, and her voice drifted into Qi Yin¡¯s ears. Qi Yin ignored her and stepped out of the threshold. He knew that Xiao Yuan and his aunt¡¯s husband were having an affair. They had slept together during Chinese New Year. The kitchen was located under the attic, and the windows in the attic were not secure. Every time his aunt¡¯s husband snuck in for a bite, the muffled sounds floated up, and Qi Yin would lie there with his eyes open, looking at the ceiling amidst the suppressed sounds of pleasure. However, he didn¡¯t dislike Xiao Yuan because she was scheming, but because he already had someone in his heart. There was a medicine shop across the street, and he liked the female servant there ¨C Feng Xian. Every time he helped his aunt buy medicine, he would go to that pharmacy with its dark counter, shelves of medicine jars with cloud-shaped stoppers, and the faint bitter smell that was especially refreshing. Feng Xian always stood behind the counter, carefully weighing the medicine with a small scale. She had black, shiny hair which was tied up in a rough jade hairpin. Under her bangs were low-hanging eyebrows and eyes that exuded a quiet beauty. He suspected that she liked him too, because she always smiled at him, her charming gaze making his legs feel weak when he left the shop. The strongest evidence was that she gave him an extra amount of rehmannia root last time, and when he said he didn¡¯t need that much, she smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s a gift for you.¡± He had already made up his mind over the years. He saved up some money from his odd jobs and planned to rent a room outside, then find a steady job. In two years, he could save enough money to propose marriage to Feng Xian. Feng Xian¡¯s family was also poor, so the bride price they wanted would not be high. He had confidence in himself. The rain was still falling, but there was already daylight shining through the clouds, radiating a brilliant gold. Qi Yin rinsed his mouth and thought he looked silly, staring at the shimmering water on the slate floor. After laughing, he looked up and saw his cousin Yao Xiao Shan staring at him with a dumb smile on his face. Qi Yin said, ¡± ¡­¡± ¡°I have something to discuss with you,¡± Yao Xiao Shan squatted beside him sneakily and took out a stone egg from his pocket. ¡°My mother has nothing better to do, always checking my room. So, I¡¯ll leave this egg with you, and you keep it safe for me.¡± Yao Xiao Shan was his cousin who had become a scholar at a young age. His aunt loved him dearly and served him with delicacies every day. But recently, he had been acting weird, often sneaking out to the western market, claiming to seek immortals. In fact, for people like them, the opportunity to cultivate immortality was very slim. The four immortal mountains were elusive, and Wutang Town was a remote corner where even demons did not bother to haunt, so there was no chance of meeting sword immortals. However, Qi Yin has always been kind to people, and did not act rude towards him, only saying: ¡°What is this thing? Last time you put a stack of talismans in my room, and they all turned into toads, causing me to catch them all night and be scolded by my aunt.¡± Yao Xiao Shan smirked, ¡°Last time was an accident, an accident.¡± He held the stone egg in front of Qi Yin¡¯s nose and said mysteriously, ¡°This is a Qilin (3) egg. It is said that after incubating for one hundred and eighty years, a baby Qilin will hatch. I bought it for collection. Maybe by the time my son grows up, our family will have a Qilin to guard the house.¡± A Qilin laying eggs? Qi Yin was a bit speechless. ¡°If you don¡¯t help me, I¡¯ll tell my mother that you like Xiao Yuan,¡± Yao Xiao Shan threatened. Qi Yin was startled and almost bit his own tongue. He quickly widened his eyes and said, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Yao Xiao Shan said, ¡°I saw you two exchanging glances earlier, and Xiao Yuan even asked you to help her adjust her hair.¡± ¡°You!¡± Qi Yin was really at a loss and said dejectedly, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll help you hide it. Please don¡¯t spread rumors, it could be dangerous!¡± Only then was Yao Xiao Shan satisfied. He put the stone egg into Qi Yin¡¯s arms and left with great swagger. He and his cousin were really enemies. When they went to a private school, Qi Yin helped him copy the Four Books and Five Classics as punishment. At home, he had to help him take the blame for things. Even if Yao Xiao Shan got into trouble with a local gang, Qi Yin had to go with him and take the beating. But Qi Yin didn¡¯t have much choice. He was a dependent and had to be a servant, his cousin¡¯s younger brother. The stone egg in his hand was cold and he couldn¡¯t tell at all that it was a Qilin egg. The guy probably got cheated again. Qi Yin sighed and put the stone egg in a box and locked it up to prevent it from hatching a toad or something. As soon as he went downstairs, he heard a commotion upstairs, with dishes being smashed and someone crying. Qi Yin heard his aunt¡¯s scolding voice from far away, ¡°You little whore, who are you trying to seduce with that appearance? If you dare to seduce my son and distract him from his studies, I¡¯ll skin you alive! You lowly thing, all you know is how to seduce men!¡± Then he saw Xiao Yuan running out, holding a black lacquered tray and sobbing. ¡°Alright, alright, stop scolding,¡± Uncle said, trying to calm his aunt down. Aunt was still scolding, ¡°Every single one of you is so troublesome! And there¡¯s Qi Yin, what¡¯s the use of his mother following the immortal? He just disappeared on a flying sword, and it was all for nothing! Giving birth to a son who eats for free in my house and is almost 18 years old, but still has no prospects!¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey, why bring up Qi Yin again? Be careful, he might hear you,¡± Uncle warned. Qi Yin stood dumbfounded on the porch for a while before silently walking into the courtyard. The rain was falling incessantly, just as it always did in the south. It wasn¡¯t heavy, but it was dense and never seemed to stop. Grandma had already gotten up and was embroidering on her chair. She was a plain woman who didn¡¯t get close to anyone or meddle in household affairs, only embroidering handkerchiefs every day to make ends meet. Although Qi Yin had no blood relation to her, he called her grandmother along with Yao Xiao Shan. The sound of the scolding from the front yard was faintly audible. Qi Yin didn¡¯t know if Grandma had heard it or not and awkwardly thought about going to the back door to wait. Grandma raised her head and gave Qi Yin a glance, beckoning him over and patting the stool next to her. Qi Yin sat down, and the old lady hunched over and took out a snail shell box, placing it in Qi Yin¡¯s hands. ¡°Grandmother?¡± Qi Yin opened the box, which contained a stack of silver notes. Qi Yin was stunned for a moment and looked at the old woman in confusion. The old lady smiled and looked at him, ¡°I¡¯ve been saving for many years, and there are at least five taels in there. Please use it to buy gold and silver jewelry, prepare a wedding banquet, and it should be enough. Be frugal with your spending, as raising children will cost a lot of money in the future.¡± Qi Yin was still in a daze. ¡°The little Feng Xian from across the street, do you like her?¡± The old lady winked at him. Qi Yin¡¯s face turned red instantly, and he was so flustered that he couldn¡¯t speak clearly. ¡°¡­ How did you know?¡± The old lady lowered her head to embroider, carefully poking a fine silver needle into the fabric. ¡°Every time you rush to buy medicine, this old woman gets curious and took a look last time. Hmm, she looks good and has a big butt. She will find it easy to bear children.¡± Qi Yin¡¯s face was so red that it could drip blood, and he stammered, ¡°She is good-looking and gentle, and seems to be virtuous.¡± The old lady squinted at him, ¡°You haven¡¯t even married her yet, but you¡¯ve already learned to speak up for your future wife.¡± Qi Yin didn¡¯t want to say anything, but the old lady smiled and pushed him, ¡°Alright, hide it well and don¡¯t let your aunt know. Go now.¡± He nodded vigorously and ran back to the front yard, just in time to see a guest arriving at the door, wearing a black hat and a long coat, presumably a courier from the official post. His aunt came out of the upper room, smiling and welcoming the guest. Qi Yin quickly turned and headed for the back door. The old lady pointed to the back door and he understood, stepping across the threshold and closing the door behind him before crouching under the stone lion. He had to wait until his aunt returned. Qi Yin decided to leave and go back to his own room, so as not to be discovered by the old lady. He tightly hugged the small box, which was the size of a book, and even though it was summer and it rained, he felt a bit chilly. However, his heart was warm. He remembered when he was a child, the old lady often took him to the market two miles away to buy vegetables. A little person holding the old lady¡¯s hand, with a basket slung over the elbow, would greet anyone they saw. One time, he accidentally got separated from the old lady and stood under a gate holding the basket, waiting. Fortunately, because he was usually sweet-tongued, the passers-by recognized him and led him home. He smiled at himself in the puddle. It didn¡¯t matter if his aunt didn¡¯t like him. He still had his grandmother and Feng Xian. Suddenly, a shadow covered his head. He looked up and saw a man standing beside him. The man had black hair and was wearing black clothes that were soaked. A fat black cat was squatting on his shoulder with water dripping from its fur. He could only see the man¡¯s side face, which was pale and had long eyelashes that looked like the wings of a moth in the daylight. Taking shelter from the rain? Qi Yin wondered. The black cat turned its head and saw him, then jumped off the man¡¯s shoulder. The black cat was really too fat and looked like a ball of fur when it jumped down. It rubbed against Qi Yin¡¯s feet and let out a soft meow. Qi Yin laughed and stroked its fur. The man also turned his head, and Qi Yin saw his face: handsome features, big and black eyes reflecting the rain and wind, as well as Qi Yin squatting on the ground. ¡°You look unfamiliar. Are you from out of town?¡± Qi Yin asked. The man seemed not used to talking to others, and he looked down at him for a while before nodding. ¡°Are you looking for relatives? Or just passing by?¡± Qi Yin asked again. ¡°My bride is here,¡± the man said in a light and thin voice like a gust of wind. ¡°I came to find her and get married.¡± t¡¯s raining. The raindrops slide down the fish scale roof tiles, weaving a dense stitch pattern on the stone brick ground. It¡¯s just dawn and it¡¯s raining again, making everything hazy. The gray and white moon shadow rests on the eaves of other people¡¯s houses, a very dim, incomplete circle that seems like it will disappear with the blink of an eye. Qi Yin wakes up to the sound of rain tapping on the roof. He sees rain dripping in from a broken tile and wetting the wooden floor. He sits up and pulls out a wooden basin from under the bed to catch the water. He lives in the attic, and a few tiles were blown away by the wind two days ago, but he hasn¡¯t had a chance to fix them. He murmurs to himself as he gets dressed, thinking of telling his aunt when they have breakfast later. He can repair the roof himself as long as he has the materials. He climbs down the ladder. Everyone in the house is still sleeping. It¡¯s quiet except for the sound of raindrops falling on the gray courtyard. He goes to the kitchen to chop wood, light the fire, and make breakfast, which he does every morning. He has no parents and is living with others, so he must be a bit more self-aware. According to his aunt, Qi Yin lost his mother when he was five years old. She was doing laundry by the river when she was dragged away by a water ghost. Qi Yin was playing with water nearby and thought his mother was diving for ducks. He asked his mother to catch fish for him with a smile on his face, but she never resurfaced. He didn¡¯t know his father. His father is said to be a sword immortal from some celestial mountain. His father had a brief romance with his mother and then went back to cultivate immortality with his sword. The only thing he left behind was the eighteen glass beads on Qi Yin¡¯s wrist, each with deep and shallow golden runes, which could ward off evil and keep one safe. The immortal disregarded trivial matters and it wasn¡¯t his father¡¯s fault even if he didn¡¯t marry his mother. From a young age, Qi Yin knew to find excuses for his father who he had never met. He guessed that his father was probably sealing a world-destroying demon and couldn¡¯t come back to take him and his mother to the immortal mountain. He convinced himself that this was true and used this reason to explain why his father didn¡¯t come to pick him up, showing off his precious eighteen glass beads to his runny-nosed neighbors and classmates who played games together and got punished. His aunt also held onto this hope, hoping that one day his father would descend from the sky to take him away, and to repay his aunt¡¯s kindness, he would also take his cousin along. The two brothers would happily cultivate immortality together. However, his father had been gone for eighteen years, and until now there wasn¡¯t even a trace of him. A few years ago, his aunt asked a wandering Taoist to deliver a letter to Wu Fang Mountain, but there was no response. Everyone gradually realized that Qi Yin was an abandoned child, whose mother had died and father didn¡¯t want him. Her aunt¡¯s attitude towards him gradually changed. Before, he slept in the upper room with his cousin under a moonlit window. Now, he can only sleep in the leaky attic. If it weren¡¯t for fear of neighborhood gossip, he would not even be able to finish his education. His aunt kept him purely because it cost money to buy a servant. Two years ago, they had to hire a female servant because there was too much work for Qi Yin alone to handle, and she had been resentful ever since. Qi Yin didn¡¯t have any aspirations. Ever since he realized he was an orphan with no parents, he took on the role of helping out his aunt¡¯s family with great seriousness. He was just an ordinary person with no chance of becoming an immortal and no brains for passing the imperial examinations, living a simple life without much prospect. He kindled the fire with wood and added gelatin and cooked rehmannia root1 to the medicinal pot before pouring in water. This was the beauty-enhancing soup his aunt drank every morning and night. Although his aunt was getting older, she refused to accept old age. Ironically, the person his aunt hated the most in the house was not Qi Yin but the female servant Xiaoyuan. Xiaoyuan came to the house at the age of thirteen, a thin and weak little girl who looked like a weed by the roadside. After staying in the house for three years, she grew up to become a pretty young woman with rosy lips and white teeth, a snow-white neck, and round shoulders. When she walked, she revealed the three-inch golden lotus buds2 on her feet. All the men in the house were dazzled by her beauty, except for Qi Yin. ¡°Why are you up so early?¡± Xiaoyuan walked in wearing peony red embroidered shoes. Qi Yin turned his head and saw Xiaoyuan smiling at him. ¡°I¡¯m boiling medicine. Auntie has been getting up early lately¡± Qi Yin scratched his head. The medicinal pot was boiling with a ¡°gudong gudong¡± sound. He went to steam the steamed buns, and as he lowered his head, he saw two butt marks on the coal ash on the stove. The marks were round and plump, indicating that their owner was very curvy. He unconsciously looked towards Xiaoyuan, who was kneading dough. She wore a black jade bracelet on her wrist that fit tightly around her flesh, and the handkerchief couldn¡¯t even be tucked in. Perhaps sensing Qi Yin¡¯s gaze, Xiaoyuan turned her head and looked at him with a teasing smile. Qi Yin awkwardly withdrew his gaze and silently wiped the butt marks clean before putting the steamer into the stove. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m sweating. My hair is sticking to my neck. Can you help me lift it up?¡± Xiaoyuan said. Qi Yin looked over and saw a strand of black hair sticking to her fair neck. Somehow, he thought of the white pork hanging on the meat rack at the market. Qi Yin placed a stack of wet cloths in front of her and said, ¡°Wipe your hands and lift it yourself.¡± Then he went out. Xiaoyuan¡¯s face stiffened, and she threw the dough onto the chopping board. ¡°Hmph, acting so high and mighty! Bastard,¡± she said, intentionally not lowering her voice, and her voice drifted into Qi Yin¡¯s ears. Qi Yin ignored her and stepped out of the threshold. He knew that Xiaoyuan and his aunt¡¯s husband were having an affair. They had slept together during Chinese New Year. The kitchen was located under the attic, and the windows in the attic were not secure. Every time his aunt¡¯s husband snuck in for a bite, the muffled sounds floated up, and Qi Yin would lie there with his eyes open, looking at the ceiling amidst the suppressed sounds of pleasure. However, he didn¡¯t dislike Xiaoyuan because she was scheming, but because he already had someone in his heart. There was a medicine shop across the street, and he liked the female servant there ¨C Fengxian. Every time he helped his aunt buy medicine, he would go to that pharmacy with its dark counter, shelves of medicine jars with cloud-shaped stoppers, and the faint bitter smell that was especially refreshing. Fengxian always stood behind the counter, carefully weighing the medicine with a small scale. She had black, shiny hair which was tied up in a rough jade hairpin. Under her bangs were low-hanging eyebrows and eyes that exuded a quiet beauty. He suspected that she liked him too, because she always smiled at him, her charming gaze making his legs feel weak when he left the shop. The strongest evidence was that she gave him an extra amount of rehmannia root last time, and when he said he didn¡¯t need that much, she smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s a gift for you.¡± He had already made up his mind over the years. He saved up some money from his odd jobs and planned to rent a room outside, then find a steady job. In two years, he could save enough money to propose marriage to Fengxian. Fengxian¡¯s family was also poor, so the bride price they wanted would not be high. He had confidence in himself. The rain was still falling, but there was already daylight shining through the clouds, radiating a brilliant gold. Qi Yin rinsed his mouth and thought he looked silly, staring at the shimmering water on the slate floor. After laughing, he looked up and saw his cousin Yao Xiaoshan staring at him with a dumb smile on his face. Qi Yin said, ¡± ¡­¡± ¡°I have something to discuss with you,¡± Yao Xiaoshan squatted beside him sneakily and took out a stone egg from his pocket. ¡°My mother has nothing better to do, always checking my room. So, I¡¯ll leave this egg with you, and you keep it safe for me.¡± Yao Xiaoshan was his cousin who had become a scholar at a young age. His aunt loved him dearly and served him with delicacies every day. But recently, he had been acting weird, often sneaking out to the western market, claiming to seek immortals. In fact, for people like them, the opportunity to cultivate immortality was very slim. The four immortal mountains were elusive, and Wutang Town was a remote corner where even demons did not bother to haunt, so there was no chance of meeting sword immortals. However, Qi Yin has always been kind to people, and did not act rude towards him, only saying: ¡°What is this thing? Last time you put a stack of talismans in my room, and they all turned into toads, causing me to catch them all night and be scolded by my aunt.¡± Yao Xiaoshan smirked, ¡°Last time was an accident, an accident.¡± He held the stone egg in front of Qi Yin¡¯s nose and said mysteriously, ¡°This is a Qilin (3) egg. It is said that after incubating for one hundred and eighty years, a baby Qilin will hatch. I bought it for collection. Maybe by the time my son grows up, our family will have a Qilin to guard the house.¡± A Qilin laying eggs? Qi Yin was a bit speechless. ¡°If you don¡¯t help me, I¡¯ll tell my mother that you like Xiaoyuan,¡± Yao Xiaoshan threatened. Qi Yin was startled and almost bit his own tongue. He quickly widened his eyes and said, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Yao Xiaoshan said, ¡°I saw you two exchanging glances earlier, and Xiaoyuan even asked you to help her adjust her hair.¡± ¡°You!¡± Qi Yin was really at a loss and said dejectedly, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll help you hide it. Please don¡¯t spread rumors, it could be dangerous!¡± Only then was Yao Xiaoshan satisfied. He put the stone egg into Qi Yin¡¯s arms and left with great swagger. He and his cousin were really enemies. When they went to a private school, Qi Yin helped him copy the Four Books and Five Classics as punishment. At home, he had to help him take the blame for things. Even if Yao Xiaoshan got into trouble with a local gang, Qi Yin had to go with him and take the beating. But Qi Yin didn¡¯t have much choice. He was a dependent and had to be a servant, his cousin¡¯s younger brother. The stone egg in his hand was cold and he couldn¡¯t tell at all that it was a Qilin egg. The guy probably got cheated again. Qi Yin sighed and put the stone egg in a box and locked it up to prevent it from hatching a toad or something. As soon as he went downstairs, he heard a commotion upstairs, with dishes being smashed and someone crying. Qi Yin heard his aunt¡¯s scolding voice from far away, ¡°You little whore, who are you trying to seduce with that appearance? If you dare to seduce my son and distract him from his studies, I¡¯ll skin you alive! You lowly thing, all you know is how to seduce men!¡± Then he saw Xiao Yuan running out, holding a black lacquered tray and sobbing. ¡°Alright, alright, stop scolding,¡± Uncle said, trying to calm his aunt down. Aunt was still scolding, ¡°Every single one of you is so troublesome! And there¡¯s Qi Yin, what¡¯s the use of his mother following the immortal? He just disappeared on a flying sword, and it was all for nothing! Giving birth to a son who eats for free in my house and is almost 18 years old, but still has no prospects!¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey, why bring up Qi Yin again? Be careful, he might hear you,¡± Uncle warned. Qi Yin stood dumbfounded on the porch for a while before silently walking into the courtyard. The rain was falling incessantly, just as it always did in the south. It wasn¡¯t heavy, but it was dense and never seemed to stop. Grandma had already gotten up and was embroidering on her chair. She was a plain woman who didn¡¯t get close to anyone or meddle in household affairs, only embroidering handkerchiefs every day to make ends meet. Although Qi Yin had no blood relation to her, he called her grandmother along with Yao Xiaoshan. The sound of the scolding from the front yard was faintly audible. Qi Yin didn¡¯t know if Grandma had heard it or not and awkwardly thought about going to the back door to wait. Grandma raised her head and gave Qi Yin a glance, beckoning him over and patting the stool next to her. Qi Yin sat down, and the old lady hunched over and took out a snail shell box, placing it in Qi Yin¡¯s hands. ¡°Grandmother?¡± Qi Yin opened the box, which contained a stack of silver notes. Qi Yin was stunned for a moment and looked at the old woman in confusion. The old lady smiled and looked at him, ¡°I¡¯ve been saving for many years, and there are at least five taels in there. Please use it to buy gold and silver jewelry, prepare a wedding banquet, and it should be enough. Be frugal with your spending, as raising children will cost a lot of money in the future.¡± Qi Yin was still in a daze. ¡°The little Fengxian from across the street, do you like her?¡± The old lady winked at him. Qi Yin¡¯s face turned red instantly, and he was so flustered that he couldn¡¯t speak clearly. ¡°¡­ How did you know?¡± The old lady lowered her head to embroider, carefully poking a fine silver needle into the fabric. ¡°Every time you rush to buy medicine, this old woman gets curious and took a look last time. Hmm, she looks good and has a big butt. She will find it easy to bear children.¡± Qi Yin¡¯s face was so red that it could drip blood, and he stammered, ¡°She is good-looking and gentle, and seems to be virtuous.¡± The old lady squinted at him, ¡°You haven¡¯t even married her yet, but you¡¯ve already learned to speak up for your future wife.¡± Qi Yin didn¡¯t want to say anything, but the old lady smiled and pushed him, ¡°Alright, hide it well and don¡¯t let your aunt know. Go now.¡± He nodded vigorously and ran back to the front yard, just in time to see a guest arriving at the door, wearing a black hat and a long coat, presumably a courier from the official post. His aunt came out of the upper room, smiling and welcoming the guest. Qi Yin quickly turned and headed for the back door. The old lady pointed to the back door and he understood, stepping across the threshold and closing the door behind him before crouching under the stone lion. He had to wait until his aunt returned. Qi Yin decided to leave and go back to his own room, so as not to be discovered by the old lady. He tightly hugged the small box, which was the size of a book, and even though it was summer and it rained, he felt a bit chilly. However, his heart was warm. He remembered when he was a child, the old lady often took him to the market two miles away to buy vegetables. A little person holding the old lady¡¯s hand, with a basket slung over the elbow, would greet anyone they saw. One time, he accidentally got separated from the old lady and stood under a gate holding the basket, waiting. Fortunately, because he was usually sweet-tongued, the passers-by recognized him and led him home. He smiled at himself in the puddle. It didn¡¯t matter if his aunt didn¡¯t like him. He still had his grandmother and Fengxian. Suddenly, a shadow covered his head. He looked up and saw a man standing beside him. The man had black hair and was wearing black clothes that were soaked. A fat black cat was squatting on his shoulder with water dripping from its fur. He could only see the man¡¯s side face, which was pale and had long eyelashes that looked like the wings of a moth in the daylight. Taking shelter from the rain? Qi Yin wondered. The black cat turned its head and saw him, then jumped off the man¡¯s shoulder. The black cat was really too fat and looked like a ball of fur when it jumped down. It rubbed against Qi Yin¡¯s feet and let out a soft meow. Qi Yin laughed and stroked its fur. The man also turned his head, and Qi Yin saw his face: handsome features, big and black eyes reflecting the rain and wind, as well as Qi Yin squatting on the ground. ¡°You look unfamiliar. Are you from out of town?¡± Qi Yin asked. The man seemed not used to talking to others, and he looked down at him for a while before nodding. ¡°Are you looking for relatives? Or just passing by?¡± Qi Yin asked again. ¡°My bride is here,¡± the man said in a light and thin voice like a gust of wind. ¡°I came to find her and get married.¡± 1. Rehmannia Root ¨C also known as Chinese foxglove. The root of the Rehmannia plant is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various health conditions, such as anemia, fever, diabetes, and inflammation. It is also believed to have immune-boosting properties and to help regulate the blood sugar levels in the body. 2. Three-inch golden lotus buds ¨C is a term that is commonly used to refer to the feet of women who have undergone foot binding, a practice that was once popular in China. Foot binding involved tightly wrapping young girls¡¯ feet to prevent them from growing, resulting in deformed feet that were seen as a symbol of beauty and status. 3. Qilin ¨C a mythical creature from Chinese folklore that is often depicted as a hybrid of different animals, including a deer, a dragon, a horse, and a unicorn. The qilin is said to have a gentle and peaceful nature, and it is often considered to be a symbol of good luck, prosperity, and auspiciousness. CH 2 ¡°Congratulations.¡± Qi Yin smiled at him. ¡°Which family is the bride from? I¡¯ll come and drink some wedding wine at your place!¡± ¡°Surname Qi,¡± the man said. ¡°How coincidental, we have the same surname.¡± Qi Yin patted his bottom and stood up. ¡°Are you two childhood sweethearts? Where did you meet her?¡± The man nodded. ¡°In Wu Jiang.¡± It was too coincidental. Qi Yin had also lived in Wu Jiang with his mother before. His aunt had told him that his mother had been chased by some unknown monster and had to move around different places. Later, when they ran out of money, they came to live with his aunt. He still remembered his aunt¡¯s teasing smile when she talked about it. She covered her mouth and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what luck your mother had. She always attracted unsavory things. Look at me, I¡¯ve lived to this age, and I haven¡¯t even seen any immortal masters, let alone strange beasts.¡± ¡°What¡¯s her name? I¡¯ve lived here for a long time and know many people. Maybe I can help you find her,¡± Qi Yin said. ¡°Quan Nu.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Qi Yin didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Quan Nu,¡± the man said again. ¡°My bride¡¯s name is Quan Nu.¡± Dog slave? Qi Yin was speechless. This girl¡¯s name was really unusual. ¡°What does she look like? Does she have any characteristics?¡± Qi Yin asked. ¡°Does she have a mole on her face, or any special preferences?¡± The man thought carefully and said, ¡°Very cute and likes to suck my fingers.¡± ¡°¡­Did she suck them in public?¡± Qi Yin asked warily. The man nodded. Qi Yin didn¡¯t say anything. The man didn¡¯t speak either, maybe he didn¡¯t know what to say. The two of them stared at each other in silence, and fell into a long silence. This was a terrible man. Qi Yin thought. ¡°There aren¡¯t many families with the surname Qi here. There are two families in the West Gate and three in the East Gate. You can ask around, maybe you can find her.¡± Qi Yin scratched his head and said. ¡°Although I don¡¯t know whether to say it or not, I¡¯ll still say it¡­ Don¡¯t tell anyone what you just said about Quan Nu. It¡¯s not good for her reputation.¡± The man was stunned for a moment, seemingly not understanding what was wrong. Qi Yin asked him to wait for a moment, went inside, and came out with an old umbrella. As he handed it to the man, he smiled and said, ¡°I hope you can bring the bride home safely.¡± When Qi Yin smiled, he looked very cute, revealing a set of white teeth and exuding a youthful vigor. The man looked at him for a moment, lowered his head to take the umbrella, and softly said, ¡°Thank you.¡± The black cat jumped onto the stone lion (1) and onto his shoulder. The two of them walked into the drizzling rain, their figure slowly dissipating like a hazy ink mark between the white walls and black tiles at the end of the alley. Qi Yin remembered the black eyes of the man, reflecting the rain and water of Wu Tang Town. Really, appearances can be deceiving. Although he looked honest, he was actually a beast. Qi Yin shook his head. ¡°Tsk, that man has no money. I acted cute for so long and he didn¡¯t even give me a little something to eat.¡± The black cat was annoyed and itching to bite. ¡°I¡¯m hungry, Fu Lan!¡± Fu Lan lowered his head and took out his purse, pouring out three copper coins into his palm. ¡°No more money.¡± ¡°You are even poorer than him!¡± Fu Lan ignored it, looked up at the distance, and saw a tall tower standing at the end of his sight, the tallest Buddhist pagoda in Wu Tang Town. He put away the green bamboo oil paper umbrella and looked at it for a while before disappearing in an instant. People on the street were busy with pushing away the awnings. No one noticed that a man had suddenly disappeared. In the next moment, a blot gradually expanded on the top of the tower, revealing the appearance of a young man. Fu Lan hovered on the top of the tower, opened his umbrella again, and clear raindrops fell along the edge of the umbrella, falling towards the distant and small houses and buildings below. He opened his right hand, and numerous light blue small fish flew out of his palm and merged into the rain. The fish wagged their tails in the wind, and he saw through the eyes of the small fish that the shops on Dong Men Street were opening one by one. The manure carts were ringing bells to collect the sewage from door to door, the farmers were carrying baskets into town to sell vegetables, and a few young children were running around in the rain. There was also the boy he had seen earlier, who was happily putting a box onto his bed, and there was a locked cage under the bed, with a crack extending through the stone egg inside. ¡°How is it?¡± The black cat asked, ¡°Did you find the puppy?¡± He lowered his eyelids and silently shook his head. ¡°It seems that he¡¯s not in this town either.¡± The black cat scratched his nose. Fu Lan fell silent for a moment. He looked down at his palm and thought of the child. The child was both his little bride and his little brother. He liked it when the child called him ¡°Gege (2).¡± It sounded crisp and pleasant. When he lifted his head, he accidentally saw the house where the boy had just come from. Fu Lan said, ¡°There was a demon in that house just now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of our business,¡± the black cat said. ¡°We¡¯re demons too, you fool. Demons are our own kind. Let¡¯s find a place to rest and set off for the next town to find the puppy tonight. He¡¯s already 18 this year, 20 in Chinese lunar years. A mortal must marry by the age of 20, so we must find him as soon as possible.¡± Fu Lan put away his umbrella, leaned back, and his black hair scattered in the wind and rain, as if he was about to fall off a tall tower. However, at the moment he fell, the black figure flashed, like ink rapidly dissipating, and disappeared in the blink of an eye. When Qi Yin went back home, the guest had already left. He was probably only here to deliver some message. He lay on the bed counting his small savings, including the silver notes given by his grandmother, totaling ten taels of silver, enough for him to rent a small tiled house outside and marry Feng Xian. He was not in a hurry, anyway. He was still young. It didn¡¯t matter if he waited a few more years. He was happy, and even this dilapidated attic looked much more pleasing to the eye. The rain gradually stopped. He listened intently to the sound outside, and then realized that it was quiet in the house, which was unusual. His aunt had a loud voice, and quiet moments in the house were rare. Today, he didn¡¯t know what was wrong with her; she unexpectedly became quiet. After a while, Qi Yin got up and dressed to go out to buy groceries. When he was about to leave, his aunt leaned against the door frame and looked at him with a strange look in her eyes. He felt uneasy and hurriedly carried the basket and ran out of the alley. When he got to the alley opening, he realized that he had forgotten his purse and quickly went back to get it. The house was very quiet; only the main room had voices. Qi Yin¡¯s footsteps unconsciously lightened. The main room was closed with the door and window shut. The daylight shone on the diamond-shaped window, casting a few vague silhouettes. Qi Yin counted them and realized that, other than himself and Xiao Yuan, everyone from the Yao family was inside. By some strange impulse, he crouched under the window and listened carefully to the voices inside. ¡°You tell me, where did this child get his lucky break from? His father, who disappeared for eighteen years, actually sent a message to him to go to the immortal mountain to cultivate, and he will send someone to pick him up tomorrow!¡± It was his aunt¡¯s voice, with a very high pitch, almost shaking the sky. Qi Yin was shocked and almost exclaimed, quickly covering his mouth. ¡°I said it wrong, I said it wrong. His father was already killed during the demon-slaying, and it was Wu Fang Immortal Mountain that asked him to go.¡± Uncle sighed and said, ¡°The poor child, his father passed away before he could even see him.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all the same!¡± Auntie was so angry that her teeth itched. ¡°My Xiao Shan is so talented, why hasn¡¯t anyone come to take him? He was beaten to the punch by this stupid boy!¡± Just as his spirits were lifted, they fell again, and Qi Yin stood still. Qi Yin couldn¡¯t explain what he was feeling. It was like sadness, but not quite that. ¡°Father¡± was still a stranger to him. Hearing that a stranger had died, he didn¡¯t have any extra feelings besides saying ¡°oh¡±. It was just that a connection that was barely there suddenly broke, like a very thin kite string that one wouldn¡¯t feel while it was there, but when it was broken, he suddenly felt empty, as if something was missing, and the wind was blowing through. Was he killed while slaying demons? Qi Yin looked down at his toes. But he died a hero. ¡°Mother, I also want to go to the immortal mountain,¡± Yao Xiao Shan said. ¡°Ah, I also want you to go, but they clearly said that they only came to pick up Qi Yin.¡± Auntie sighed again and said, ¡°Mother, what do you think?¡± The room fell silent for a while. Qi Yin heard Grandmother counting her Buddhist beads, one by one, slowly. Finally, Grandmother spoke, ¡°This child Qi Yin looks kind-hearted, but his heart is very hard. He didn¡¯t shed a single tear when his mother died, standing there like nothing happened. When he was a child, he might not have known better, but when he was eight, he killed a chicken for the first time and didn¡¯t even blink. When the family was poor in the early days, he was a burden on us. We wanted to throw him away, but who knew he would be sent back by someone. We raised him for so many years, but he still hasn¡¯t achieved anything. He can¡¯t pass the imperial examination, nor can he earn any money. We originally wanted to give him some silver to let him marry and start a family, to leave and live his own life, but who knew he would have such a fate.¡± The old lady paused and said again, ¡°But it¡¯s not good for you to treat him like this. If he becomes an immortal, he might just forget about us and all we¡¯ve done for him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Auntie exclaimed, ¡°Look at my Xiao Shan. He became a scholar at the age of twenty. Why doesn¡¯t he have this kind of luck?¡± Qi Yin¡¯s heart grew colder. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll give him some silver to let him marry. That¡¯s already more than fair to him,¡± Grandmother said. ¡°Here¡¯s the plan. Yu Niang, put some medicine in his food tonight, and let him sleep until tomorrow. You secretly take his eighteen pieces of glass beads tonight, then lock the door and the window. When the immortal comes tomorrow, you say that Xiao Shan is Qi Yin. Xiao Shan is my real grandson. Only when Xiao Shan goes to the immortal mountain can we have good days. Also, that Xiao Yuan is not a good person to keep at home. Sell her off as soon as possible; out of sight, out of mind.¡± ¡°This has nothing to do with Xiao Yuan¡­¡± Uncle shrank back timidly and spoke up. ¡°Shut up!¡± Auntie happily interrupted, ¡°Our mother has a plan, and that¡¯s how it¡¯s going to be!¡± Qi Yin stopped listening to what they said after that. He left the room, carrying a basket and kicking stones as he walked along the shimmering cobblestone path. The water¡¯s reflections created a blurry image of him. It turned out that the old lady was not unfriendly to people; she simply didn¡¯t like him. When he was a child, he didn¡¯t get lost; it was the old lady who wanted to abandon him. Why else would she insist on going to the market two miles away? It wasn¡¯t because the vegetables were better there; it was because she didn¡¯t want him to find his way back. Her gaze towards him was not indifferent; it was cold. Well, he wasn¡¯t their grandson, so why should they treat him well? In fact, whether he went to the immortal mountain or not didn¡¯t matter to him. He was way past the age of being fascinated by tales of swordsmen slaying demons and monsters. The common people¡¯s lives suited him just fine, and the idea of becoming a celestial being or immortal was far beyond his reach. He couldn¡¯t imagine what it would be like, nor did he feel any envy or anticipation towards it. As for his father, they had never even met. His father never once thought of him while he was alive, so why should he go and mourn him now, wearing mourning clothes and carrying funeral offerings? He looked up, and the sunlight passing over the wall shone on his face, making his eyes slightly sore. What he wanted was very simple: a grandmother who would give him money to get married, and a virtuous wife. That would be enough. Now that his grandmother was gone, he kicked a stone beside his foot, and it rolled and tumbled to the steps of the medicine shop across the street, where he saw Feng Xian standing behind the counter weighing medicinal herbs. Oh well, he still had his future wife. He finally found the strength to smile again. He didn¡¯t want to go home, so he wandered around until the sun was setting. The egg-yolk-colored sunlight crawled over the wall, and the shadow of a Chinese hackberry tree was projected onto it, lonely and weak. Unconsciously, he walked across the street to the opposite side of the medicine shop. With a glance, he saw a familiar figure in black standing next to the bulletin board. A black cat crouched beside him, and a wanted poster was pasted on it. The man was standing there quietly, his face expressionless, neither sad nor happy. From Qi Yin¡¯s perspective, his black silhouette was like an ink bamboo, standing still in the evening sun. Qi Yin walked over and greeted the man. The man turned his head and glanced at him, nodding slightly in response. This person didn¡¯t seem to like to talk, quiet like an ancient mirror. The wanted notice depicted the large head of a pig demon named Fu Lan, with long hair all over, big copper bell-like eyes, and two long fangs protruding from under his nose. The notice had been posted for a long time and had been soaked through by the rain, causing the ink on Fu Lan¡¯s mouth to bleed, resembling a mouthful of blood. Several years ago, there was a power struggle among demons, which greatly damaged their vitality. They retreated to a remote area in southern Sichuan and the area was peaceful for a while. However, a demon named Fu Lan emerged from this group, and last year, he swept away the Nine Domains and killed the previous demon king. Because of him, the demons stopped fighting and recognized him as their leader, creating great momentum. Fu Lan was ambitious and often troubled the human world. Not long ago, news spread that a village near the border with southern Sichuan was massacred. He had a cunning advisor by his side named Yu Sang, who played an important role in Fu Lan¡¯s success in conquering the Nine Domains. Demons looked like that, strange and grotesque. ¡°Fu Lan, stop! Today, I, a sword immortal, will act on behalf of justice and cut off your pig head!¡± A group of children ran past them, and the two looked over. One of the children was holding a dog and the others were pointing wooden swords at him. ¡°Humph, I¡¯m not afraid of you! My advisor Yu Sang will protect me!¡± The child patted his dog and shouted, ¡°Advisor, let¡¯s go!¡± The dog barked loudly at the other children, and everyone dispersed. The black cat: ¡°¡­¡± Qi Yin smiled and said, ¡°Kids like to play this kind of game. I also played Fu Lan when I was a kid.¡± But he was forced to do so by his classmates and ended up getting beaten up by the ¡°sword immortals¡± in the end. The man didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Have you found your wife?¡± Qi Yin asked. He shook his head silently. Qi Yin understood. This kind of pre-arranged marriage was not reliable, as most of them would fall apart. Because once the status of the man and woman was unequal, one side would definitely want to break off the engagement. This guy was alone with a cat and dressed in plain hemp clothes, not like a wealthy man. The woman probably moved to avoid him. Although he was a beast, he was also a pitiful person. Qi Yin felt a sense of sympathy. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad. I think a man¡¯s wife doesn¡¯t need to come from a high-class family. Being virtuous and kind is enough.¡± Qi Yin pointed to the girl in the pharmacy and said, ¡°See that girl over there? Her name is Feng Xian. Her grandparents are farmers, and she has two younger brothers and a sister. Her family is poor, but she¡¯s a good person ¨C very gentle and kind to everyone. I plan to go to her house on an auspicious day and propose, and I¡¯ve already prepared a dowry.¡± Qi Yin patted the man¡¯s shoulder to show comfort. Fu Lan glanced in the direction of the medicine shop and said, ¡°Oh, is that the woman who kissed someone else?¡± Qi Yin was taken aback, lifted his head, and saw Feng Xian dodging her employer¡¯s lips and turning her head to laugh. It was only then that he noticed Feng Xian¡¯s change of dress. Her hair was done up in a woman¡¯s style, with a high bun, and the jade hairpin she used to wear was replaced with a golden hairpin, which dangled and swayed beside her ear. It felt as if something was collapsing silently in his heart, and Qi Yin stood still. Fu Lan remembered this morning when Qi Yin congratulated him and hesitated whether to say something. He was not good at talking and had only made a little progress after learning from the black cat for a long time. ¡°Congratulations,¡± Fu Lan finally said. ¡°I¡¯ll come over to have some wine on your wedding day.¡± 1. Stone Lion ¨C a lion sculpture that is used for various purposes, including as architectural decorations, as guardians of tombs or temples, and as symbols of power and strength. 2. Gege ¨C big brothe CH 3 The two men looked at each other in the setting sun, with the sunlight pouring into the man¡¯s dark eyes, making them shine gold. He still had a calm expression on his face, as if he had just made an ordinary remark like ¡°The weather is good today.¡± Qi Yin was convinced that this guy was not deliberately mocking him. He might have a problem with his brain. ¡°I won¡¯t bring up the marriage anymore,¡± Qi Yin said. Fu Lan looked at him with a puzzled expression. ¡°Don¡¯t you see it?¡± Qi Yin said helplessly. ¡°She just kissed her husband. She¡¯s already married to the owner of the pharmacy.¡± Fu Lan looked towards the medicine shop. The old owner was sitting at the counter, calculating his accounts, tapping his tongue with his index finger and turning the account book page by page. The bony back of his hand was covered with protruding blue veins. This was an old mortal man, whose spirit and soul were gradually declining, and he would soon enter the cycle of rebirth. ¡°Her husband is weak,¡± Fu Lan said calmly. ¡°He can be beaten.¡± Qi Yin was shocked and looked at the man in astonishment. He still gazed at him quietly with his large black eyes, which were even and clear, like a piece of pure glass. Qi Yin suddenly realized that his eyes had never changed. In his eyes, everything, whether it was human, animal, or plant, looked the same, as if everything were indistinguishable. Qi Yin suddenly became very curious about what kind of parents could raise such a¡­silly child. ¡°What does your family do for a living?¡± Qi Yin asked. ¡°Where are your parents? You came to find a wife with your cat alone. Why didn¡¯t your parents come with you?¡± ¡°I have no father, no mother,¡± he answered. Fu Lan showed no emotion, but Qi Yin sensed a deep sorrow in his words. He couldn¡¯t believe that they were strangers, yet he felt such sympathy towards him. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Qi Yin sighed heavily and took Fu Lan¡¯s wrist, putting a purse into his hand. ¡°There are one or two silver coins in here. I saved them myself ¨C not much, but you can use them. Don¡¯t look for that woman anymore. Find a decent way to make a living and take care of yourself and your cat. When you have some savings, it will be easier to find a wife. Don¡¯t worry, men are not afraid of getting old.¡± Fu Lan stared at him blankly. ¡°Life is not easy for anyone. Just grit your teeth and get through it, and don¡¯t go down the wrong path. Got it?¡± Qi Yin finished speaking and patted his shoulder before turning to leave. He looked down at his thin and long shadow under the sunset, a dark and long streak with his shoulders slumped and head hanging, like a homeless ghost. Suddenly, he felt ridiculous. He couldn¡¯t even manage his own life and yet he was trying to comfort others. He had aimlessly wandered around outside all day and hadn¡¯t done anything productive. He didn¡¯t know whether his aunt would scold him for losing money when he got home. Wait, she relied on his status to send Yao Xiao Shan to the immortal mountain, so she would probably be a bit nicer to him. Suddenly, his collar was pulled. He turned around and saw the guy pulling on his lapel. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± he asked. ¡°Are your balls still there?¡± Qi Yin was dumbfounded by the sudden question. Did he look like a eunuch? ¡°Both of them are still there. Why?¡± he sneered. ¡°Quickly get rid of them. They¡¯re dangerous. Be careful,¡± said Fu Lan nonchalantly, cradling a cat in one arm and holding an umbrella in the other. He walked away slowly with his back turned, unaware of Qi Yin¡¯s confusion. Qi Yin was perplexed. He treasured both his balls. Why would he want to get rid of them? And why were they dangerous? Wait a minute, did he mean the stone egg? Qi Yin was horrified and chased after him, but the streets were filled with people coming and going, and the man had disappeared as if he had never been there. When he returned home, he went straight to the attic and pulled out a box from under the bed. The stone egg had developed several cracks and looked like it would break at any moment. Qi Yin was uncertain and dared not touch it. He closed the box tightly and wondered, ¡°Is it a demon egg?¡± His aunt¡¯s voice could be heard from downstairs, screaming and stomping her feet. Her high-pitched voice reverberated throughout the house. He had lived in this noisy environment for thirteen years. He pushed open the window and saw the grandmother sleeping in a drunken stupor on a rocking chair in the backyard. The dim sun crept up her knee, hovering around her withered fingers. He closed the window, shutting out the setting sun. In the gloomy attic, there was only him and the demon egg on the verge of hatching. ¡ª Auntie stood in front of the table, watching Xiao Yuan put dishes on the table one after another, while the old lady sat down, twirling her prayer beads and drooping her eyelids, looking as peaceful as a statue. Auntie couldn¡¯t help but glance towards the direction of the attic. Qi Yin hadn¡¯t come home since noon. Auntie had set a rule at home a long time ago that he must not stay out at night, and if he didn¡¯t come home before the sun went down, he would have to sleep on the street. This child was timid and had never broken the rule before. As she fanned herself with her silk fan, she turned to the door and peeked towards the attic. The doors and windows were still quiet, with no signs of movement. The dishes were ready, and Yao Xiao Shan and Uncle Yi had arrived, leaving only Qi Yin. She became more and more impatient and wanted to go upstairs to check. The old lady slammed her chopsticks on the table and said, ¡°Come back and eat!¡± Auntie hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly walked back. Just as she finished serving the soup for the old lady, the light at the door darkened, and Qi Yin walked in with a small box in his arms. He placed it on the table and said, ¡°Auntie, this is the Qilin egg that my cousin asked me to hide for him. Last time he asked me to hide a talisman for him, and it turned into a bunch of toads. I dare not do it this time, so I will hand it over to you.¡± ¡°Qi Yin, you betrayed me!¡± Yao Xiao Shan shouted. Auntie glared at him fiercely and said, ¡°What did you do in the West Market again? Even if our home is full of gold and silver, it is not enough for you to squander! Later, I will search your room again and throw away all the things you used to deceive people!¡± She took the box and handed it to Xiao Yuan. ¡°Go, put it in my room.¡± Yao Xiao Shan was unhappy and threw down his chopsticks in anger. Xiao Yuan took the box and left, while Qi Yin sat at the table with his head down. Auntie smiled at him, picked up his bowl and served him rice. ¡°Qi Yin, you are a sensible child. Don¡¯t copy your brother¡¯s behavior. Come, eat. Young people have big appetites, so eat more.¡± Seeing Qi Yin start to eat, she felt relieved. The food was laced with a sufficient amount of drug to knock out an ox. Everything was ready, only lacking the eighteen glass beads on Qi Yin¡¯s wrist. Auntie lowered her head, took a sip of the soup, and involuntarily looked at the child sitting in the far corner with his head down, his messy hair covering his eyes. This child looked like his father, not ugly, and could be considered handsome, but he always kept his head down so people couldn¡¯t see his face, acting like someone else¡¯s shadow. His features were deep and sharp, like they were carved with a knife. When he smiled, he was full of vitality, but when he didn¡¯t, he was cold and distant, as if he was far away from others. He had a personality that was not likable, keeping his head down and rarely speaking, which always made people feel uncomfortable. In fact, Auntie had held him when he was just born, wrapped in swaddling clothes, with a wrinkled face that kept crying. She looked at him and felt that he was like his father, but she didn¡¯t know why he seemed to be hiding something behind his eyes. But he shouldn¡¯t have come to her house. He should have been dragged away by the water ghost like his mother. Then her love for him could have continued until now, and every time their mother and son death anniversary came, she would spare no expense in doing the ceremony. She thought she had done right by him, raising him to be so tall and strong. As long as her son went to the immortal mountain, she didn¡¯t mind spending more money to let Qi Yin marry a desirable woman. Achieving immortal status was a blessing that ordinary people dared not dream of. She imagined those immortals standing high up in the clouds, looking down on them like they were mere specks of dust. From now on, her son could also stand that high, with no dust on his feet, and live for thousands of years. Qi Yin finished his meal and returned to his room. She sat at the door, fanning herself with a silk fan, waiting quietly for nightfall. The moon slowly rose, round and full, white and bright, seeming to indicate a reunion for all people. She passed a small pastry to the old lady and quietly went up to the attic. She lifted a corner of the gauze window. The room was pitch-black, and there was a faint shadow on the wooden bed. She pushed open the door and tiptoed in. Qi Yin¡¯s eyes were closed, and in the darkness, his features were peaceful and ignorant of everything. She trembled and stretched out her hand to take off the glass bracelet from his wrist. It was the only thing left by his parents, and suddenly she felt guilty. ¡°Don¡¯t blame me, I¡¯ve done right by you,¡± she said, and tiptoed out of the room, locking the door behind her. She returned to the main room, lying on the couch, looking down at the glass bracelet on her hand, and took a deep breath. It was the first time she had done something like this, and her heart was pounding like a startled rabbit. Her husband smiled and handed her a bowl of beauty soup. ¡°My wife is really something. Thank you for your hard work. Drink up, drink up.¡± She glanced at him askance, gave a cold snort, and felt a sense of self-satisfaction. She lowered her head to drink the soup. In the darkness of the attic, Qi Yin opened his eyes. CH 4 It was late and the watchman passed by, knocking the drum to signal the third watch of the night. The houses were shrouded in darkness, clustered together in a dense mass that seemed impenetrable. Auntie turned over in bed, reaching out to the side and feeling the coldness of the empty space where her husband should have been sleeping. Had he gone to pay his respects to his ancestors? She frowned and waited for a while, suddenly feeling that something was not right. The chamber pot was right next to the bed, so where had he gone to relieve himself? Filled with suspicion, she sat up and pulled back the curtains. The room was not lit, and it was pitch black outside. Looking through the diamond-shaped panes of the lantern-patterned window, she could see nothing but the indistinct shadows of plants and flowers that resembled ghostly figures. The night was very still, occasionally broken by the cries of wild cats that sounded like the cries of newborn babies. She could faintly hear the soft moans of a woman in the distance, too far away to distinguish. She was a little scared, her bare feet touching the ground, the stone floor chilly against her feet. She walked to the window and listened carefully for a while, and the woman¡¯s moans became clearer and more distinct, clearly coming from her own courtyard. Someone was dying; there must be ghosts in the house. She wanted to find her husband and resented him for not being there at this moment. Just as she was getting anxious, an embarrassing thought crossed her mind. The moans were coming from the kitchen, and Xiao Yuan was sleeping in the room next to the kitchen. She couldn¡¯t believe it, but inexplicably pushed the door open and walked towards the kitchen. Her heart pounding, she forgot to put on her shoes and walked barefoot through the shadows, passing around the corridor and stopping at the bottom of Qi Yin¡¯s attic. The moans were getting louder and louder, coming from inside the kitchen. ¡°Can we rest for today? My stomach hurts,¡± she heard her husband pitifully pleading. The moans stopped, and Xiao Yuan hummed, ¡°You¡¯re sick of me, aren¡¯t you? If you dare to leave me, watch me stab you to death and feed you to the demons!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s true. My stomach hurts. Ahh¡­¡± Auntie¡¯s anger rose, and she was about to step forward, but suddenly the tiles above her head moved and made a crackling sound. She was startled. From somewhere came the crying of wild cats, one after another, their cries piercing and reminiscent of wailing infants. She caressed her chest, picked up a bamboo pole leaning against the wall, took a deep breath, and kicked open the door. The two lovers were indeed inside, both half-undressed, with only their two white legs showing. Xiao Yuan was lying on the stove, and when the door opened, the moonlight shone in, illuminating her entire body. She was stunned, her face white as a ghost in the moonlight. Uncle also stared wide-eyed, still lying on Xiao Yuan and forgetting to react. Auntie was so angry that she shouted: ¡°I¡¯ll kill you, adulterous couple!¡± She hit Uncle with a bamboo pole, causing him to run away while holding his head and moaning. Xiao Yuan knelt on the ground and cried, ¡°Madam, have mercy, have mercy! I was forced by the master to do it. I had no choice!¡± But her crying only fueled Auntie¡¯s rage. She turned around and hit Xiao Yuan¡¯s face with the bamboo pole, shouting, ¡°I¡¯ll kill you, you slut! I¡¯ll beat your face to a pulp. See how you seduce people then!¡± Xiao Yuan rolled on the ground, crying loudly. Auntie went to pull out her hairpins and brooches, and tried to strip off her clothes. Xiao Yuan held onto her clothes and yelled, ¡°Master, save me!¡± Uncle stood at the other end of the kitchen, not reacting. Auntie sneered, ¡°Are you still hoping he¡¯ll save you? I¡¯ll strip you naked and sell you to the brothel! Let¡¯s see if he¡¯ll save you then!¡± With a sudden burst of energy, Xiao Yuan kicked Auntie away and crawled towards Uncle, holding onto his legs and crying, ¡°Yao Lang, you said you¡¯d protect me!¡± Auntie was so furious that she picked up the bamboo pole to hit them again. Uncle, who had been standing with his back turned to them, slowly turned his head around. His movements were slow and jerky, like an elderly man with mobility issues. Xiao Yuan was near enough to see clearly. Uncle¡¯s head twisted around, but his body did not move. His neck made a crisp cracking sound, and his head hung down with his eyes fixed on Xiao Yuan, who was still holding onto his legs. Xiao Yuan screamed and crawled back to Auntie. As she was about to scold her, Uncle¡¯s mouth suddenly opened wide. It was so large that it did not look like something a human could do. His facial features were all squished together at the top of his head. At the same time, nine snake-like necks with flat, dry heads stretched out from his gaping mouth, and all nine heads cried out like wailing babies. They were directed towards Auntie and Xiao Yuan, and the cries were filled with a desperate and heartbreaking sadness. The two women were scared out of their wits and screamed in unison, ¡°Ah!¡± The old lady was awakened by their screams and sat up, pulling back the curtains. She knew that wherever there were women, there would be trouble. She had never liked Yu Niang¡¯s temperament and had secretly allowed Xiao Yuan to have an affair with her son. She had been waiting for the day when Xiao Yuan would become pregnant, and Yu Niang would have to accept her into the family, whether she liked it or not. But from the beginning of the year until now, there had been no news of Xiao Yuan¡¯s pregnancy. Seeing the commotion tonight, it was possible that the cat was out of the bag. She sighed and put on her clothes before heading out. As she approached the corner gate, she saw the tree swaying and a figure jumping down. It was Qi Yin. She knew something was wrong because Yu Niang¡¯s medicine dose was not enough, and the child had woken up. Qi Yin did not immediately approach her but stood under the tree, looking at her with fear. She noticed that the child was holding an axe, and drops of blood were trickling down the cold blade. Her mind went blank, and she trembled as she pointed at him. ¡°You¡­you¡­did you kill someone? Yu Niang or my son or grandson?¡± Yes, yes, the boy must have found out that they planned to use Xiao Shan to replace him on the immortal mountain. With a grudge in his heart, he killed someone with the axe. She was furious and exclaimed, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have taken in an ungrateful wretch like you!¡± Qi Yin did not speak, but clenched his teeth and ran towards her with the axe. She was shocked and retreated, shouting, ¡°You want to kill me too? Murderer! Murderer!¡± The axe swung straight towards her face, and she instinctively covered her head. The axe whizzed past her, and she heard something scream in agony. Immediately, she was assaulted by the pungent smell of blood. She opened her eyes in horror and saw nine dry, brown necks lying at her feet, along with the giant body and wings of a strange bird. ¡°This thing has been following you all this time,¡± Qi Yin wiped the blood off his face. The old lady was still in shock and asked, ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Qi Yin shook his head. ¡°You go back to the house, and I¡¯ll check the front yard.¡± After saying that, Qi Yin took the axe and walked towards the front yard. The old lady looked back and saw Xiao Yuan and Auntie rushing towards her with panic on their faces. Behind them, Uncle was chasing after them with nine long necks stretching out of his mouth, but the strange bird seemed to be difficult to control, and Uncle stumbled and twisted his legs. The old lady fainted as soon as she saw him in that state. Qi Yin helped her to the doorstep. Yao Xiao Shan was also awakened by the noise. Rubbing his eyes and slipping on his shoes, he walked to the bottom of the corridor and asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Uncle saw that he couldn¡¯t catch up with Auntie and Xiao Yuan. He turned a corner and walked towards Yao Xiao Shan instead. Auntie quickly shouted, ¡°Xiao Shan, run!¡± Yao Xiao Shan finally saw his father¡¯s appearance and screamed, running away. Uncle twisted his leg and pounced on him, but Yao Xiao Shan ran too fast for him to catch up. He turned to pounce on Xiao Yuan instead. Xiao Yuan screamed and dodged, and Uncle couldn¡¯t catch up either. He twisted around and saw the old lady lying on the ground. He limped over, step by step. Auntie was greatly alarmed and ran over to help the old lady, but she was too heavy for her to drag. Qi Yin picked up an axe and went up. One axe hit Uncle¡¯s head from behind, and half of his head was split open. Blood mixed with yellow and white brain pulp splattered onto Qi Yin¡¯s face. He gritted his teeth and swung the axe down again and again, shattering Uncle¡¯s head and the head of the strange bird. Everyone looked at him in shock, not knowing whether they were afraid of the strange bird or of Qi Yin¡¯s murderous look. After hacking for a long time, both Uncle¡¯s head and the bird¡¯s head turned to mush, like rotten mud. Qi Yin threw away the axe and leaned against the wall to catch his breath. As the shock subsided, Auntie belatedly realized that Uncle was already dead. She sat on the ground, crying out, ¡°What a disaster! What¡¯s going on? How did our family get attacked by a demon? Husband, oh husband!¡± After catching his breath, Qi Yin said, ¡°It was my cousin who bought the egg from the West Market. He thought it was a Qilin egg, but he didn¡¯t expect it to be a demon bird¡¯s egg (1).¡± Auntie wailed and threw herself into Yao Xiao Shan¡¯s arms, hitting him and shouting, ¡°You animal, animal! You killed your father! Look at what you¡¯ve done!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not me, it¡¯s not me! I didn¡¯t know it was a demon egg¡­¡± Yao Xiao Shan cried, looking up and seeing Qi Yin. He yelled, ¡°It¡¯s not me, it¡¯s Qi Yin! He knew it was a demon egg and intentionally gave it to my father. Mother, didn¡¯t you give him medicine? How did he wake up? He knew about it a long time ago.¡± Yao Xiao Shan took the glass beads bracelet from his mother¡¯s wrist and examined it carefully, exclaiming, ¡°It¡¯s true! Mother, this bracelet is fake. He made a fake one when he was studying at school and brought it to sell at the school. He used this thing to deceive you!¡± Auntie turned around, and Qi Yin was standing there looking at them. Auntie pointed at him and said, ¡°So that¡¯s how it is! You¡¯re such a treacherous person. You knew that the immortal was coming to our house, and you set up this plan to kill my whole family! You treacherous person!¡± ¡°I did know that you were going to replace me.¡± Qi Yin¡¯s expression was difficult to read, whether it was sadness or desolation. ¡°But I didn¡¯t harm you. Someone told me that the egg was a monster egg, and I thought my cousin had only one egg, which was the one hidden in my room. When I came back today, the egg had already cracked, and I filled it with arsenic to kill the monster bird. The egg is still in my room. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can see it for yourself.¡± Auntie didn¡¯t believe him and asked Xiao Yuan to go upstairs and check. After a while, Xiao Yuan actually brought down a cracked stone egg. The old lady woke up, hoarsely asking, ¡°What about the box you gave to Yu Niang? What¡¯s inside?¡± Auntie took out the box, opened it in front of everyone, and there was a neatly stacked pile of silver bills and a letter inside. Auntie took out the letter, which had big characters written on the envelope: ¡°Farewell letter.¡± ¡°Xiao Yin, are you leaving?¡± Auntie asked, trembling. ¡°Mm.¡± Qi Yin lowered his eyelashes, standing alone under the moonlight, a lonely black shadow. ¡°My biological father abandoned his wife and children, and I don¡¯t want to become like him. If my cousin wants to go, let him go. But I don¡¯t want to stay here either. I know Auntie was going to drug me, so I coughed up what I had eaten after dinner. Grandmother gave me the silver bills and I didn¡¯t take a single one. The roof of my house is broken, and I was planning to leave tonight. I didn¡¯t expect that when I went up to my room, I would see a monster bird squatting in the courtyard.¡± He turned his head, his eyes catching a glimpse of Uncle¡¯s gruesome corpse on the ground. He had also harbored a vengeful heart, so he had replaced the bowl of beauty soup with an added ingredient, hoping to wake Auntie up in the middle of the night and expose Uncle¡¯s ugly deeds, causing chaos. But he didn¡¯t expect it to end up like this. Everyone fell silent, and Auntie collapsed to the ground, overwhelmed. ¡°One in the front yard, one in the back yard, and one killed by Qi Yin¡¯s arsenic. Xiao Shan, you hid three monster eggs in the house!¡± the old lady cried, covering her face. ¡°What kind of sin have we committed?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry¡­ it was not intentional.¡± Yao Xiao Shan trembled. ¡°And, actually, I bought five of them¡­¡± Everyone was shocked, and Qi Yin asked sharply, ¡°Where are the other two? Where did you hide them?¡± Yao Xiao Shan closed his eyes, tremblingly reached out his hand, and pointed to Qi Yin. Auntie, Xiao Yuan, and the old lady all showed terrified expressions and stepped back. Qi Yin felt his hands and feet go cold. Did the monster bird somehow find its way into his stomach? But that wasn¡¯t possible. The monster bird didn¡¯t come out of his mouth, so how did Yao Xiao Shan know it was in his stomach? ¡°That is¡­¡± He turned his head slowly and faced a wet and withered bird face. The strange bird opened its black beak as if it was going to eat someone, and its baby-like cries roared towards Qi Yin like an avalanche, deafeningly loud. Footnotes 1. Jiutou Niao ¨C a mythological demon in Chinese folklore. It is a ferocious demon bird that preys on human beings. It is said to have nine heads and can breathe fire. Its wings are said to be so large that they can block out the sun, and its feathers are said to be so sharp that they can pierce armor. CH 5 The strange bird emitted a mournful scream, and the sound wave rolled towards Qi Yin, causing everyone to scream in shock. Auntie pulled Yao Xiao Shan and the old lady and ran away, while Xiao Yuan crawled away. The nine long necks of the strange bird and its nine palm-sized, withered heads surrounded Qi Yin, and in the blink of an eye, Qi Yin¡¯s mind went blank. Am I going to die? His eighteen years of miserable life had finally come to an end. However, at this moment, the glass beads on his wrist suddenly began to vibrate, and Qi Yin looked down to see the runes shining on the glass beads like flowing gold. At the same time, the temperature of the glass beads quickly rose, almost burning his wrist. The strange bird let out a sharp cry, and the nine bird beaks simultaneously lunged at Qi Yin. The runes suddenly shook, and they rapidly expanded into an illusion that enveloped Qi Yin. The strange bird bumped its head on the runes and was bounced back with great force, falling upside down into the flower bushes of the corridor. The runes disappeared, and the glass beads suddenly broke into pieces and fell to the ground with a crackle. Qi Yin wanted to pick it up, but when he turned his head, he saw that the strange bird was about to get up again, so he quickly withdrew his hand and ran towards the backyard. There was a back door in the backyard that they could escape from. Qi Yin ran fast and caught up with the old lady and the others after a few steps. Everyone rushed towards the back door, but when they arrived, they were stunned to find that the door was locked with a big padlock, and the key was in Auntie¡¯s bedroom. The crying baby¡¯s voice was getting closer and closer, and everyone looked at each other with panicked faces. This group of people consisted of an old lady and two weak women who couldn¡¯t even walk properly, so even if they wanted to climb over the wall, they wouldn¡¯t make it in time. Qi Yin made a quick decision: ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and hide!¡± Everyone entered the old lady¡¯s room, and Qi Yin gently closed the door and crouched against the wall. It was very dark inside, and the moon had been obscured by dark clouds at some point. As soon as the door was closed, they were plunged into darkness where they couldn¡¯t even see their own hands. The crying sound was getting closer and clearer, until it was only separated by a wall. Everyone¡¯s heart was in their throat as they listened to the crying sound outside the door. Qi Yin was very uneasy. Yao Xiao Shan said that there were two strange birds, one outside and one inside. Where was the other one? Was it in someone¡¯s belly? In his panic, he forgot to pick up the axe, and now he didn¡¯t even have a weapon. Sweat was dripping down his forehead, and everyone else was also terrified of the strange bird outside, crouching silently in the darkness. Only he deliberately leaned closer to the door, so as not to be caught off guard if the bird decided to break in. In the distance, a few more cries were heard, and Qi Yin¡¯s heart trembled. He quietly broke the window screen and looked out, only to see the nine-headed bird and his uncle, whom he had beheaded, coming back to life. The broken head was gradually regenerating. Qi Yin widened his eyes in shock. This strange bird couldn¡¯t be killed! ¡°Killing monsters requires killing the heart.¡± Yao Xiao Shan appeared out of nowhere, startling Qi Yin. ¡°I heard from a Daoist in the West Market that monsters that still have their hearts won¡¯t die.¡± Tears streamed down his face as he said, ¡°Xiao Yin, are we going to die today?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. When the immortal arrives at dawn, we¡¯ll be saved,¡± Qi Yin muttered. A cold hand grabbed his arm in the darkness, and Qi Yin was scared out of his wits. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the old lady. What was going on with this family? Why did they like scaring people? The sound of rustling clothes could be heard, and it turned out that Auntie had also scooted over towards him, with only Xiao Yuan remaining by the floor lamp. The old lady pointed to Xiao Yuan and then rubbed her own belly. It was too dark in the room, and Qi Yin had to look hard for a long time before realizing that Xiao Yuan was clutching her stomach and was now motionless, as if dead. It turned out that the strange bird was inside Xiao Yuan¡¯s stomach! Qi Yin grabbed a nearby stool as a weapon, and everyone stared at Xiao Yuan intently. The cries resumed, pacing back and forth at the door, making their scalps tingle. Xiao Yuan remained still, and the moon had appeared at some point, casting pale moonlight through the window, making the room a little brighter. Suddenly, the old lady tugged at Qi Yin¡¯s sleeve. Qi Yin turned his head in confusion, and under the moonlight, the old lady¡¯s face was pale, like a paper mask. She was trembling and pointing to the shadow on the ground. There were three shadows on the ground, with the old lady on the left, Yao Xiao Shan on the right, and Qi Yin in the middle. Auntie was squatting behind them, and her shadow was overlaid with theirs, making her invisible. What was wrong with this shadow? Qi Yin wondered. Suddenly, nine long, thin shadow tentacles emerged from the top of its head and danced like hair. Qi Yin was chilled from head to toe in an instant. They turned their heads and saw Auntie standing up with nine long necks stretching out of her mouth in a twisted posture. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The old lady and Yao Xiao Shan ran for the door. Qi Yin was closest to Auntie, and Auntie pounced on him. Qi Yin used a stool to block her, but she pushed him out of the door with her suddenly immense strength. Qi Yin¡¯s hands bulged with veins as he tried to block the long neck of the strange bird that was climbing towards him. He looked up and saw a nine-headed bird perched on the eaves, its nine pairs of eyes staring at him viciously. Qi Yin was almost in tears. The bird flapped its wings and pounced straight at him. Suddenly, a cold arc of light appeared, as if a corner of the night had been torn open. The arc of light pierced the body of the strange bird directly, and Qi Yin watched as the bird was torn into pieces, with its stinking blood spilling all over him. Auntie was startled and trembled, and the nine heads of the bird retracted into her mouth as she climbed onto the roof with her hands and feet. Qi Yin was lifted up by a pale hand, and when he turned his head, he saw the man in black who had the fat cat on his shoulder. The fat cat jumped into his arms and spat out a glass bead into his hand, ¡°The Evil-Expelling Glass Bead can suppress breath and ward off demons. We demons recognize people by their breath, and this thing has hidden you. No wonder we couldn¡¯t find you.¡± Seeing the cat talk like a human, Qi Yin almost dropped it. ¡°You, you, you, you¡­¡± Qi Yin was stunned. The nine-headed bird was still screeching, and Auntie and Uncle¡¯s dead bodies chased Yao Xiao Shan and the old lady around the courtyard, but they did not come towards Fu Lan and Qi Yin. The black cat said, ¡°You¡¯re a brave kid, treating the demon egg like a treasure. Jiutou Niao likes to eat human hearts, liver, and intestines, and it just hatched, so it¡¯s hungry. If it weren¡¯t for this old cat and the fool arriving in time, you would have lost your life too. Oh, by the way, where¡¯s your mother? Why don¡¯t we see her?¡± ¡°Help! Help!¡± On the other side, Yao Xiao Shan was about to be caught by his uncle. Qi Yin ignored the nonsense and hurriedly bowed to Fu Lan. ¡°Please help my cousin and grandmother. Qi Yin will be extremely grateful!¡± Fu Lan did not move, only looked at the eaves and said, ¡°Someone is coming.¡± There was a sharp whistle from the roof, as if it would pierce through the head. A bright flash of light arrived in an instant, simultaneously piercing the chest and abdomen of Uncle and Auntie. Blood splattered, and the two fell to the ground like torn sacks, motionless. Sword glare flew in the sky, the dark clouds dispersed, and the moon reappeared in the sky. Two men in white flew down and lightly landed in the courtyard. The man in front took a long bow with folded sleeves, like a white butterfly that had folded its wings. He had a delicate smile on his face and said, ¡°Zhao Ran of Wu Fang Mountain arrived a step too late.¡± The old lady crawled to her feet in tears, crying out, ¡°Immortal, immortal, you finally came!¡± Xiao Yuan crawled out of the house, holding her stomach. Qi Yin saw a puddle of blood under her, realizing that she had a miscarriage. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss, old lady. This humble Daoist saw demonic energy soaring in here, so I hurried over with my sword, but I didn¡¯t expect¡­¡± Zhao Ran looked at the Yao couple on the ground, shook his head and sighed, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to be late.¡± The old lady cried so hard that she couldn¡¯t catch her breath. Zhao Ran turned to Fu Lan and said, ¡°This young friend killed with his claws, seeming to be a member of the demonic path. Does the Yao family¡¯s demon bird have anything to do with you?¡± Qi Yin was still in a daze, but when he heard this, he quickly pulled Fu Lan behind him and said, ¡°It has nothing to do with him. He is my friend who came to save me.¡± Zhao Ran smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s good that it has nothing to do with him. This humble Daoist came to take the orphan of Elder Qi back to the mountain. It¡¯s not good to create trouble.¡± His smile was like a mask, making Qi Yin feel uneasy. He looked at Fu Lan again, but he still had the same indifferent expression, as if he didn¡¯t care about anything. Zhao Ran looked at the old lady again and said, ¡°Old lady, where is Qi Yin? Or has he already died in the demon¡¯s belly?¡± There was silence. The old lady looked at Qi Yin through tears and was about to speak, but Qi Yin asked first, ¡°Forgive my impudence, may I ask this immortal, why did Wu Fang Mountain not ask about Qi Yin for 18 years, but suddenly wants to take him back?¡± Zhao Ran smiled. ¡°You misunderstand, Wu Fang Mountain has never been responsible for monitoring Qi Yin. Those who cultivate the Dao cut off their emotions and desires. Eighteen years ago, when Elder Qi went to Wu Jiang to subdue demons, Qi Yin¡¯s mother did not repay his kindness and instead seduced the elder, leading him away from the right path and into a delusion of desire. Fortunately, the elder eventually realized his mistake, returned to the immortal mountain, and did not lose his decades of cultivation. That woman raised Qi Yin alone, but later he had to bury her bones in the river. It was his mother who reaped what she had sown. What does it have to do with our immortal mountain?¡± ¡°Bury her bones in the river?¡± Fu Lan suddenly spoke up, ¡°Did A Fu die?¡± ¡°A Fu?¡± Zhao Ran said, ¡°If you are referring to Qi Yin¡¯s mother, Meng Fu Niang, she was dragged into the river by water ghosts when Qi Yin was only five years old.¡± Fu Lan fell into a long silence, and Qi Yin remained silent for a while before asking, ¡°Did Elder Qi tell you that Qi Yin¡¯s mother seduced him?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Zhao Ran said, ¡°The elder returned to the sect not long after and confessed his mistake to the whole sect during the morning assembly. He also punished himself by meditating on the Repentance Cliff for eight years to show his regret. To recognize one¡¯s mistake and make amends is the greatest goodness. The path of immortality is long and arduous. The fact that the elder can repent is still something we all respect. Unfortunately, the elder went to Ying He to eliminate water ghosts and was killed. The sect leader sympathized with the elder and also took into account that the mother¡¯s mistake should not affect the child, so he sent me to bring back Qi Yin. If he can inherit the elder¡¯s mantle, it would also be a fortunate event.¡± Qi Yin pointed to Yao Xiao Shan. ¡°He is Qi Yin; take him with you. His dad left him a glass bead that shattered when he was fighting the monster bird. It¡¯s in the front yard.¡± Yao Xiao Shan looked at Qi Yin in shock and stuttered, ¡°C-cousin, d-do you not want me anymore?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you always want to go?¡± Qi Yin turned his head to see the broken corpse on the ground; his eyes darkened, ¡°Don¡¯t let Madam down.¡± He turned around and picked up the cloth bundle that had fallen in the front yard. He made a bow to the Yao family grandmother. ¡°Matriarch, I¡¯m leaving. Take care of yourself.¡± The old lady held his hand and wept. ¡°Can¡¯t you wait until morning before leaving?¡± ¡°Take all the silver notes with you,¡± she said. ¡°Take them all.¡± He shook his head to decline, walked to the door, and suddenly remembered that the door was bolted. He thought of going back to get the key, but Fu Lan flicked his finger, and the lock broke. The door creaked open, revealing the dark alley outside and the heavy night sky. He looked back and saw Yao Xiao Shan and the old woman weeping while holding the corpses. Xiao Yuan stood in the corridor with empty eyes, and Zhao Ran stood next to them with an indifferent expression. ¡°When you become a cultivator, you must sever all worldly ties and emotions,¡± Qi Yin thought to himself. ¡°How could you care about such trivial worldly affairs?¡± The other cultivator held a sword and turned his head to look at him. He had not spoken all this time. He wore a black glove on his right hand and had a strange expression on his face. Qi Yin frowned and turned to leave. Behind him, he heard Zhao Ran¡¯s voice, ¡°Young man, let me give you a word of advice. The path of demons is not the right way. It is better not to associate with them. If you must befriend them, do not indulge in their ways, or you will be doomed forever.¡± Qi Yin did not respond. Fu Lan stopped walking and turned around. ¡°He¡¯s not my friend,¡± he said. ¡°Oh?¡± Zhao Ran raised an eyebrow. ¡°He¡¯s my new bride,¡± Fu Lan said. The cries in the courtyard suddenly stopped. Everyone was silent for a moment. Zhao Ran said, ¡°That¡¯s even worse, young man. Homosexuality is also not the right way. Please think carefully.¡± CH 6 Fu Lan and Qi Yin stood at the entrance of the town, staring at each other. ¡°Brother demon, I¡¯ve already told you ten times. I¡¯m not your bride,¡± Qi Yin said helplessly. ¡°Yes, you are,¡± Fu Lan insisted. ¡°I¡¯m not¡­¡± Fu Lan was very certain. ¡°Yes, you are.¡± ¡°¡­ ¡± They had repeated this ten times, and now it was the thirteenth time. Qi Yin was about to go crazy and instead asked, ¡°Why me?¡± Fu Lan tilted his head and looked at him for a while, and Qi Yin felt goosebumps rise all over his body under his gaze. Just as Qi Yin thought he had nothing to say, Fu Lan suddenly took a step forward and pulled him into his arms. He immediately felt a warmth on his neck as Fu Lan buried his head in it and took a deep breath. Qi Yin exploded with goosebumps all over his body. He pushed Fu Lan away abruptly. He covered his neck and backed away, shouting, ¡°What are you doing!¡± ¡°The scent is right.¡± Fu Lan looked at him. ¡°You are the puppy I¡¯m looking for.¡± ¡°Hey, kid,¡± the black cat said, ¡°we took care of you when you were a child. At that time, this fool was twelve years old, and you were only four years old, following him and calling him big brother every day. Later, when the demon race invaded South Jiang, the old man and this fool left Wu Jiang. Who knew this war would last so many years, and your mother¡­ forget it. Kid, you¡¯re kissing and hugging people for no reason in the human world. Why not come with us? Your big brother is now the co-ruler of demons and monsters, and at least can protect you.¡± ¡°Co-ruler of demons and monsters?¡± Qi Yin asked, ¡°This Mr. Cat, are you by any chance Yu Sang?¡± ¡°Indeed it is I,¡± said Yu Sang. Qi Yin didn¡¯t know what Yu Sang looked like, but Fu Lan¡¯s appearance was clearly drawn on the notice ¨C a pig (1). Qi Yin looked at the pig head on the notice and then at Fu Lan¡¯s white and clean face, and tentatively asked, ¡°Brother, you said you were the emperor of South Jiang. Are you a pig?¡± Fu Lan shook his head. ¡°Where are your personal guards?¡± ¡°Just him.¡± Fu Lan pointed to the black cat. ¡°What about your eunuch attendants?¡± ¡°Just him.¡± ¡°What about your generals and ministers?¡± ¡°Just him.¡± ¡°What about your beautiful concubines?¡± Qi Yin was speechless. ¡°It can¡¯t also be this cat, right!¡± Fu Lan honestly shook his head. ¡°No, it¡¯s you.¡± Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± This human and demon duo really had a mental problem. His aunt said that his mother had been troubled by demons and monsters before. Judging from the time, it was probably these two. But they were not bad, just crazy. The big one fantasized about being the emperor of South Jiang, and the little one fantasized about being the military strategist of South Jiang. He had done the same thing when he was a child, imagining that he was the reincarnation of a great god, preferably the son of Fuxi (2) and Nuwa (3), who had made a mistake in the heavens and was demoted to earth, but he would one day return to the heavens as a god. Later, when he went to school, he found that nine out of ten children thought they were great princes. Qi Yin felt that he was not special enough. One day, he got lost in the wild forest and came across an unknown wild god¡¯s statue. The wild god looked like a white deer, and he held up a mirror and looked at the deer¡¯s face for a long time. He didn¡¯t know how he did it, but he looked more and more similar. Since then, he declared himself the reincarnation of the White Deer God, and maybe there was a goddess in heaven who secretly loved him and followed him to the mortal world, waiting for him to achieve a beautiful marriage. Children are like that. Everyone wants to be born noble and have an extraordinary destiny. Later, he gradually understood that he was just an ordinary mortal. Moreover, he was a bastard, and he might be even lower than ordinary people. Qi Yin shook his head helplessly, patted Fu Lan¡¯s shoulder, and said, ¡°Although you are a demon and you are a demon cat, no matter what it is, you have to be down-to-earth and do things seriously. Brother, I am grateful to you for saving my life just now, so I will give you a few words of advice. Find a livelihood, don¡¯t spend all day thinking about being an emperor, a god, a monster, or a demon. You look so handsome, and when you have some silver in your pocket, you will naturally be able to find a wife. Okay, remember that the world is fast and opportunities limitless. Goodbye, see you again someday.¡± ¡°Hey, Qi Yin!¡± someone shouted behind him. Qi Yin became impatient. Did these two stinky monsters still want him to be the bride? Turning around, he saw that Fu Lan and the black cat were still standing there, and the white-clothed man who didn¡¯t speak at Yao family¡¯s house before was walking towards him with a sword. Qi Yin then realized that the voice just now was not from the black cat or Fu Lan, but from man. It¡¯s a disaster. He responded to this guy¡¯s call, and now this guy knew that he was the real Qi Yin. ¡°I am Yun Zhi.¡± Yun Zhi smiled at him. ¡°I have met Senior Uncle Qi, who looks very similar to you, especially these eyebrows and eyes. It¡¯s like carved from the same mold. You can fool Zhao Ran, that idiot, but you can¡¯t fool me.¡± This sentence was like a burning iron, branding Qi Yin¡¯s heart. He turned his head and happened to face the red-painted pillar of the archway, reflecting his face. His ink-colored eyebrows and black eyes were the same as that man? He felt disgusted. He plastered a nonchalant smile, and said, ¡°Master Yun, there is no need to say more. Anyway, my cousin is going to the immortal mountain in my stead, so let this matter go. Qi Yin bids farewell.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here to persuade you to climb Mount Wu Fang. I just feel disappointed.¡± Yun Zhi smiled and looked at him. ¡°When I was seven, I met Master Qi once. He was proud and upright, standing among the disciples like a crane among chickens, radiating brilliance. I thought his child would be just like him, or at least not far behind. I just didn¡¯t expect his son to be so¡­¡± Yun Zhi paused for a moment, as if trying to find the right word, and finally said, ¡°Pathetic.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qi Yin looked at him and said, ¡°Brother, speak your mind.¡± Yun Zhi smirked and continued, ¡°Zhao Ran spoke ill of your mother and you weren¡¯t even angry. Your mother worked hard to raise you, but I heard she was dragged into the water by a water ghost in the end. Zhao Ran disrespected your mother, but you didn¡¯t even get angry?¡± Qi Yin took a deep breath and was about to say something, but Fu Lan suddenly spoke up, ¡°Are you bullying him?¡± Yun Zhi was stunned and looked at him. Fu Lan said, ¡°If you¡¯re bullying him, I¡¯ll kill you.¡± He said this without any expression, as if he were saying something as ordinary as ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Qi Yin was scared by him and worried that this Dai Ge (4) might really do something out of line, so he quickly pulled him aside and said to Yun Zhi, ¡°Alright, Daoist Yun, you¡¯re right. I¡¯m just so pathetic. You can insult me all you want. I¡¯m just not worthy of being called Master Qi¡¯s son. Is that enough? Let us go now.¡± Yun Zhi looked at him for a moment, bowed, and stepped back. Qi Yin pulled Fu Lan and walked away, and the black cat followed closely behind Fu Lan. Yun Zhi suddenly said, ¡°Qi Yin, if I told you that nowadays, people on Mount Wu Fang make fun of your mother for fun, and any woman who tries to seduce a disciple of Mount Wu Fang beyond her capabilities will be mocked as ¡®Meng Fu Niang¡¯, can you still endure it?¡± Meng Fu Niang was his mother¡¯s name, and he hadn¡¯t heard that name in years. Qi Yin paused for a moment, and slowly turned back. He felt a fire burning inside him, but the more he felt this way, the less he wanted to act. He felt the same way when he overheard his aunt¡¯s family¡¯s conspiracy under the window. Although he was furious at the time and wanted to go in and scold them, he ended up leaving in silence, kicking stones on the stone path. He knew that the people from Wu Fang Mountain looked down on him and his mother. What could he do about it? He was a failure. His father didn¡¯t love his mother and she died young. The girl Qi Yin liked was already married off to someone else. The most he could do was play some tricks, switching the ingredients for his aunt¡¯s beauty soup to make her wake up at night and discover the family¡¯s ugly secrets, causing chaos in the family, and then silently leaving home to protest. That was his biggest retaliation. But he didn¡¯t expect that in the end, his aunt¡¯s family would all be ruined, and all his emotions of joy and anger were for nothing. The dead bodies and blood of the strange birds littered the ground, making him dizzy. He just wanted to find a place to sleep tonight. ¡°You guys are so amazing with your cultivation,¡± Qi Yin said, feeling resigned to his fate, shrugging his shoulders, ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary person. I can¡¯t fly around like you guys. I also wanted to say to that dog Zhao Ran, ¡®Motherfcker, what kind of nonsense is Wu Fang Mountain, fuck off!¡¯ But can I?¡± Qi Yin laughed tastelessly, answering his own question, ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Fu Lan poked him in the back and said, ¡°I can.¡± Impatience and anger finally broke out, and Qi Yin turned his head and cursed, ¡°Shut up, or I¡¯ll hit you first!¡± After saying that, Qi Yin regretted it. Although this Dai Ge was annoying, he had saved his life. Seeing Fu Lan staring at him blankly, Qi Yin felt helpless and sad, taking a deep sigh. ¡°Calm down, calm down.¡± Yun Zhi was not bothered by Qi Yin¡¯s anger at all. He said, ¡°Qi Yin, let me point you in the right direction. As far as I know, you have no family, and even if you want to hide, there¡¯s nowhere to go now. If you don¡¯t want to go to Wu Fang Mountain, there are other places you can go.¡± The black cat bit Qi Yin¡¯s trouser leg. It didn¡¯t have any demonic energy, and there were outsiders around, so it had to pretend to be an ordinary cat and couldn¡¯t speak. It could only signal to Qi Yin that he could follow them to the Southern Border. ¡°I forgot to mention, I¡¯m not from Wu Fang Mountain.¡± Yun Zhi held his sword, his eyes shining brightly, ¡°I¡¯m from Feng Huan Immortal Mountain. We have always had a grudge with Wu Fang Mountain. My master sent me to take you away. Fortunately, Zhao Ran didn¡¯t recognize you, or else we would have had to fight.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Qi Yin was indifferent. ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± ¡°Think about it. When your skills are fully developed, you can fight whoever you want to fight. I¡¯ve never liked that Zhao Ran guy anyway. When the time comes, we can all gang up on him and beat him up in a sack,¡± Yun Zhi said with a smile. Qi Yin walked away without turning his head. ¡°Hey, Qi Yin,¡± Yun Zhi called to him from a distance. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know what kind of path to immortality your father abandoned you and your mother for?¡± Qi Yin stopped in his tracks. Yun Zhi walked up to him and said seriously, ¡°Your mother was taken away by a water ghost when you were only five years old. Qi Yin, if you can cultivate the supreme sword heart and become an unbeatable sword, you will be able to protect your loved ones when faced with difficulties and dangers.¡± Qi Yin sighed and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to be a bachelor.¡± ¡°Get married after you finish your studies.¡± Yun Zhi raised an eyebrow. The black cat continued to bite his pants stubbornly, tearing holes in the fabric. Qi Yin didn¡¯t know how to feel. What was going on now? He had become a treasure that everyone wanted, but he didn¡¯t feel happy at all. He felt heavy-hearted as if a huge stone was weighing him down. Closing his eyes, he seemed to see his mother¡¯s blurred face being dragged into the river by the pale water ghost while he stood on the shore unaware. Then, the bird demon from the Yao family came out of his aunt¡¯s mouth and screeched at him. Without strength, he could only be at the mercy of others. But could a person who was used to being a sparrow really become an eagle soaring in the sky? ¡°If I change my mind later, can I still come down from the mountain?¡± Qi Yin hesitated and asked. ¡°Of course,¡± Yun Zhi said, ¡°I¡¯ll personally escort you with my sword.¡± Since there was nowhere else to go, and there was a place to sleep and eat at that Feng Huan Mountain, Qi Yin made up his mind and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± Yun Zhi was just about to cheer, but he looked down and saw the black cat still tugging at Qi Yin¡¯s pants. Yun Zhi poked it with the sword hilt and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with this cat?¡± Qi Yin turned his head to look at Fu Lan, who was standing next to the red pillar of the archway, like a dark shadow. He remembered that this guy was like him, with no parents, and couldn¡¯t help feeling sad. Maybe if you didn¡¯t have parents, you would want to get married earlier so you could have a warm embrace and cuddle with each other under the quiet and cold eaves. ¡°Puppy, do you want to break off the engagement?¡± Fu Lan looked at him quietly. ¡°¡­¡± Yun Zhi scratched his head. ¡°Uh, Qi Yin, you might want to learn from your dad and abandon it halfway.¡± Qi Yin was helpless. Dai Ge, although you are very pitiful, you are also a man who tears apart monsters with your bare hands. Can you not act like a resentful woman? And Qi Yin was not a puppy! ¡°But¡­¡± Yun raised his chin at Fu Lan. ¡°Demon, I see that you don¡¯t have much demonic energy and haven¡¯t been on the demonic path for long. What Zhao Ran said makes sense. The demonic path is treacherous, so it¡¯s better not to get involved. Do you want to join us and go to Feng Huan Mountain? It¡¯s fine as long as you guys don¡¯t go too far up the mountain and don¡¯t let the masters find out.¡± The black cat had heard of the name Feng Huan Mountain, one of the four immortal peaks, a place that produced stinky Daoists who looked down their nose at others. Demons and Daoists were natural enemies, so how could they sneak into the thief¡¯s den? Just as Qi Yin was starting to get anxious, Fu Lan had already spoken up, ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± The black cat was stunned, turning his head to look at Fu Lan. Fu Lan looked indifferent, as if he didn¡¯t know the danger of this road. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Yun Zhi asked. ¡°Fu Lan.¡± Yun Zhi fell silent for a moment. Then he covered his stomach and burst into laughter, ¡°What was your father thinking? Why did he give you a pig¡¯s name?¡± Black cat: ¡°¡­¡­¡± Fu Lan: ¡°¡­¡­¡± Footnotes 1. Pig demon ¨C similar to Zhu Ba Jie from Journey to the West. 2. Fuxi ¨C a deity born from a divine egg that was laid by a primordial being named N¨¹wa, who is often depicted as his sister and sometimes as his wife. Fuxi and N¨¹wa were said to have ruled the world together as a divine couple, and their descendants became the ancestors of the Chinese people. Fuxi is often depicted as a serpent with a human head, and he is sometimes associated with the practice of divination and the worship of ancestors. 3. N¨¹wa ¨C a deity in Chinese mythology who is traditionally associated with creation, fertility, and the arts of civilization. According to legend, N¨¹wa was responsible for creating human beings out of clay and breathing life into them, and she is sometimes regarded as the mother of all humanity. N¨¹wa is often depicted as a beautiful woman with the body of a serpent. 4. Dai Ge ¨C the literal translation is ¡°Silly Brother.¡± It¡¯s a term of endearment, referring to the fact that Fu Lan seems a bit slow-witted. CH 7 The wind howled in his ears and Qi Yin rubbed his eyes awake. Yun Zhi insisted on riding his sword through the night, afraid that Qi Yin would run away. Later, Qi Yin learned that this guy had no money to stay in an inn. They had been traveling all night, and the sky was already bright. A faint hint of red and golden light appeared at the far east, and the edge of the clouds was dyed golden, like a large embroidered border. However, the wind was strong in the sky, and Qi Yin sneezed several times. Wrapped in his coat, he squinted his eyes and came back to his senses, only to find himself leaning on Fu Lan¡¯s shoulder. He quickly sat up straight. Fu Lan was also holding the black cat, who was snoring. Qi Yin felt embarrassed. Did this guy let him lean on him all night? It was all because Yun Zhi¡¯s sword was too small, and the three big men could only sit shoulder to shoulder. Feeling embarrassed in his heart, but pretending to be indifferent on his face, Qi Yin sat with his sleeves folded, and Fu Lan didn¡¯t speak, just looking at him sideways. He usually had no expression, and his indifferent appearance made Qi Yin unable to figure out what he was thinking. Looking back at the road, all he could see was the vast sea of clouds. Wu Tang Town was already nowhere to be seen. Occasionally, he could glimpse the white waters and mountains of the countryside from the palm-sized gaps, and sometimes he could see a few scattered villages and cities in the mountains and rivers, but they passed by in a flash. People were not even worth mentioning. ¡°Uh.¡± Qi Yin scratched his head and broke the silence first. ¡°Um¡­that¡­¡± Fu Lan turned his head to look at him, his large, black eyes clear and clean, with the light and shadow of the sky and clouds hovering in them. He didn¡¯t look like a demon, not even like a man, but more like a teenager. Qi Yin asked in a low voice, ¡°Have you ever eaten people?¡± Fu Lan shook his head. Qi Yin breathed a sigh of relief. Yun Zhi said next to him, ¡°Those who cultivate the Dao have sharp ears and clear eyes. I can hear everything you say even if you whisper. Don¡¯t worry, the aura of demons who have eaten people is very heavy, but this young man has almost no demonic aura on him, and¡­¡± He glanced at Fu Lan, and Fu Lan also stared at him blankly. ¡°And he doesn¡¯t seem very smart either. He doesn¡¯t even know how to control his sword. He probably hasn¡¯t been on the path of demons for more than three months. Fortunately, the monster you encountered before was just a newly hatched Jiutou Niao, and it couldn¡¯t even walk properly. If it was a monster with some cultivation, ten demons wouldn¡¯t be enough to fill its teeth.¡± Fu Lan said, ¡°I have been on this path for a long time.¡± Yun Zhi showed an interested smile. ¡°As far as I know, demons usually travel in groups. Fu Lan, you don¡¯t have any companions around you. Could it be that you were kicked out for being too stupid?¡± ¡°I have companions. I have a cat.¡± He glanced at Qi Yin, ¡°I used to have Xiao Yin too.¡± The cat woke up at some point and was busy nibbling on the bread in Fu Lan¡¯s hand. This fellow had saved the bread for his black cat. They depended on each other, and since their brains were not very bright, they were quite pitiful. Qi Yin sighed and gave half of the bread to Fu Lan, saying, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be your friend. Just don¡¯t mention marrying me as your bride again. If you don¡¯t understand anything in your studies, just come to me, and I¡¯ll help you.¡± Fu Lan was stunned for a moment before he realized that Qi Yin had once again refused his marriage proposal. He nodded disappointedly and looked down at the rolling sea of clouds below, looking a bit dejected. Qi Yin didn¡¯t pay any more attention to him, and they arrived at the territory of Feng Huan Mountain at noon. It would be a lie to say that he wasn¡¯t looking forward to it. Qi Yin had never dreamed that one day he would really be able to climb the immortal peak like all the legendary sword immortals in the stories, with fluttering clothes and the ability to soar to the heavens and travel the earth. Qi Yin looked down and saw rolling mountain ranges, with clouds lying between them like cotton in a nest. A gust of wind blew by. A group of white cranes flapped their wings and flew over their heads. Qi Yin reached out and took a floating feather. This place was unlike anything he¡¯d ever seen before ¨C it didn¡¯t even look real. Qi Yin had heard many legends about immortal mountains, and there were always people claiming to have come from the four immortal mountains, sitting in teahouses and talking casually, while also tricking the hosts into giving them two pots of hot tea and several plates of fennel beans. The one he had heard the most about was the Hanging Annihilation Peak of Wu Fang Mountain, with four mysterious iron chains in the southeast, northwest, and disappearing into the vast sea of clouds. There was also the Wu Fang Hall in the center of the Annihilation Peak, where disciples of Wu Fang Mountain would meditate and practice swordsmanship in front of the hall every morning and evening. The sound of chanting scriptures and the swords whistling could be heard, and the people at the foot of the mountain would wake up and work to the sound of immortal music every day, and go to bed with a blown-out lamp. The four immortal mountains were Wu Fang, Kun Lun in the west, Zhong Gu in the north, and Feng Huan, which was ranked last, but for the ordinary people, it was still an elevated existence like heaven. Yun Zhi lowered his sword, and Qi Yin saw a long street at the foot of the mountain, with buildings of varying heights on both sides, crowded with people. ¡°That¡¯s Chang Le Fang at the foot of the mountain, where they sell clothes, shoes, hats, and food, and there are also things to play with, but it¡¯ll cost you some silver.¡± Yun Zhi smiled at the two of them. ¡°You¡¯ve just arrived. As a senior brother, I¡¯ll take you to the Si Hai Sheng Ping Brothel to see the world another day.¡± Qi Yin had a feeling that it wasn¡¯t a good place and said, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t cultivators be content with simple living and few desires?¡± Yun Zhi shrugged. ¡°Just don¡¯t let the teachers and elders know.¡± This person was flighty and liked to break the strict rules of the mountain. Qi Yin decided to keep his distance from him in the future to avoid being implicated by him. After flying for a while, they entered the mountain. A long green-stone staircase stretched across the mountain, with a gate standing on it. In front of the mountain, there was a huge stone, on which Qi Yin saw red characters that read: ¡°No swords allowed in the mountain.¡± Yun Zhi didn¡¯t even glance at it and flew straight over the gate. Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± Flying all the way through, Yun Zhi led them through the trees, but there was no Feng Huan Hall or three thousand disciples in sight. Qi Yin gradually had a bad feeling in his heart. They finally saw some buildings. There were several scattered thatched cottages, surrounded by a fence with a small empty space in the middle, where a few small children were practicing swordsmanship. They flew over the roof, and someone poked their head out of the window on the second floor and shouted, ¡°Damn you, Yun Zhi. Zhang has come to collect a debt. You borrowed his clothes for three days, but you haven¡¯t returned them for a month!¡± Yun Zhi didn¡¯t even turn his head. He took off his spotless silk robe, threw it to the person below, and flew away with his sword. His lazy voice drifted through the wind, ¡°Thank Zhang for me!¡± Qi Yin looked at Yun Zhi in shock. He had stripped off his immaculate silk robe and revealed a patched-up bamboo cloth undergarment. Yun Zhi smiled and said, ¡°If I¡¯m going to pick you up and bring you back to the mountain, I have to dress and act like a gentleman.¡± He took out an outer garment from his sleeve, which had been washed so many times that it was hard to tell what color it used to be. Fu Lan was calm, but Qi Yin felt that he was simply expressionless. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll take you to see the sect leader.¡± Yun Zhi led them to a high cliff and landed his sword in front of a thatched hut. Qi Yin hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°Um, what about your hall?¡± Yun Zhi was puzzled and asked back, ¡°What hall?¡± ¡°Like the Wu Fang Hall on Wu Fang Mountain, you should also have a Feng Huan Hall on Feng Huan Mountain, right?¡± Qi Yin gestured, ¡°A white jade stupa, a dome that is as high as three floors, colorful painted beams, and a Qilin relief¡­¡± Yun Zhi said seriously, ¡°Junior Brother, you¡¯re wrong.¡± Qi Yin was stunned for a moment. Yun Zhi said, ¡°Why do we cultivate? It¡¯s naturally to train the body through ascetic practices and the mind through limiting desires. We don¡¯t approve of extravagance and excessive desires like Wu Fang Mountain. It is not our style at Feng Huan Mountain.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ I see.¡± Qi Yin scratched his head in confusion. But it was Yun Zhi who had suggested taking him to have fun at Si Hai Sheng Ping Brothel? ¡°Come, I¡¯ll take you to see the sect leader,¡± Yun Zhi said. Qi Yin became nervous again and hastily put away the coat he had draped over himself, adjusting his appearance under the sunlight. He also helped Fu Lan tidy his hair and straightened his collars. After giving each other a glance and confirming that they both looked presentable, they left the black cat outside to bask in the sun and followed Yun Zhi inside. The thatched cottage was rundown on the outside, but inside it was tidy. A painting hung in the center of the main room, but it had faded over time, making it difficult to discern the details of a dark-haired girl combing her hair by the river. Two bamboo tables were placed below the painting, both with gilt bronze incense burners on top, their lacquer worn and mottled with a smoky filament emerging from within. A disciple came over to bow and said, ¡°The sect leader fell off his sword accidentally and broke his leg the other day. Please wait a moment.¡± ¡°What an incompetent sect leader.¡± Qi Yin was shocked. ¡°Why so careless?¡± Yun Zhi was also surprised and asked with concern, ¡°Is the injury serious? Will it affect his life?¡± ¡°There is no major problem. He used a bone-setting ointment and will hum and moan in bed for a few days, but he will recover as good as new in a short while.¡± Yun Zhi looked disappointed. Qi Yin inadvertently caught his expression and numbly thought, ¡°Is this kid thinking about betraying his master and destroying his sect?¡± After a while, the Feng Huan Mountain sect leader finally arrived. He was slumped in an old rattan wheelchair, pushed by two identical-looking disciples. They came out from behind a golden mountain and green water screen. Those two disciples looked strange with their powdered cheeks, resembling chubby little dolls from a New Year¡¯s painting. But what stunned people even more was the sect leader himself. He was as fat as a newly released pig from the pigsty, with all his meat squeezed into the rattan chair. Qi Yin now understood why he fell off his sword. It was really difficult for him to control his sword like this. A disciple handed him a teacup. The sect leader took the tea, pinched the green porcelain lid, and stirred the tea froth. His fingers were thick and white, resembling pig trotters. He wore a jade finger sleeve on his thumb with finely carved lotus patterns. When he drank half the tea, tea leaves got stuck in his teeth. He broke off a small piece of rattan from under the chair with one hand and picked his teeth with it. While picking, he raised his eyes and looked at Qi Yin and Fu Lan up and down. This scoundrel¡¯s behavior was not at all like that of the leader of a cultivation sect. Qi Yin began to suspect that he had entered a den of swindlers. After picking out the tea leaves, the man threw away the teacup and smiled at Qi Yin, saying, ¡°So you¡¯re Qi Yin, you look quite¡­¡± Here it comes again. Qi Yin knew what the chubby man was going to say next ¨C something like ¡°you look just like your father¡± or ¡°you should inherit your father¡¯s legacy.¡± He had heard it from Zhao Ran and Yun Zhi so many times that his ears now had calluses. But Qi Yin didn¡¯t care. He came here just to find a place to stay and a roof over his head. When he saved enough money, he would leave. ¡°You look quite spirited!¡± Qi Yin was taken aback and looked up. The leader rolled up his sleeves and said with a smile, ¡°Although the two of you have a special identity, once you enter the sect, you are no different from our disciples. But entering the sect is not something you can do just by saying so. I still need to see if you have what it takes.¡± Was this a trial? Qi Yin had heard of it. The first test for entering the Wu Fang Mountain sect was a trial with a thousand people, where they fought in pairs. Only the top hundred could become inner disciples, while the others had to leave. He and Fu Lan were the only ones who came to apprentice here. Did that mean they had to compete against each other? The leader reached out his hand, and his broad palm was presented under Qi Yin and Fu Lan¡¯s eyelids. ¡°If you want to enter, you have to pay first. It costs one guan per year, but if you pay for three years at once, it¡¯s only two and a half guan. Pay one guan at a time. I¡¯ll teach you as long as I live. Since you two came together, I¡¯ll give you a discount. You only need to pay for one person.¡± Qi Yin stood still. Fu Lan took out his purse and poured a couple of silver coins into the leader¡¯s palm. ¡°Good job!¡± The leader gave them a thumbs up. ¡°From today on, you are my disciples. My disciple names are ¡®Yun.¡¯ Your Dao names are ¡®Yun Yin¡¯ and ¡®Yun Lan.¡¯ Yun Zhi, go arrange their lodging. The other elders don¡¯t need to see them unless they¡¯re going out to exterminate demons.¡± Qi Yin still hadn¡¯t come to his senses until he left. Did they just lose those silver coins for good? He looked at Fu Lan in shock. ¡°Why did you pay?¡± ¡°He said we had to,¡± Fu Lan said, confused. ¡°You just paid because he said so?¡± Fu Lan was at a loss. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have paid?¡± ¡°Oh my god, one guan silver coin is enough for both of us to live on for a year, and that silver coin was even the one I gave you!¡± Qi Yin scratched his head. ¡°We must have entered a den of thieves. Feng Huan is a den of thieves!¡± CH 8 As Yun Zhi led them down the slope, he said, ¡°The mountain slope below is the vegetable garden of the Elder of the Precepts. Before you start fasting, you can go to the kitchen there to eat. However, as your senior, I advise you to fast as soon as possible because the vegetable garden only has carrots and greens, and the only meat is the green caterpillars crawling in the field.¡± As soon as the black cat heard that there was nothing to eat, his face turned green. Yun Zhi continued, ¡°The bamboo building in the North Bamboo Forest is the Elder of Medicine¡¯s furnace.¡± Qi Yin¡¯s eyes lit up and he said, ¡°Is the elder good at refining many elixirs and miraculous medicines that can increase your cultivation by leaps and bounds?¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much. His pills can only treat colds and injuries. But his medical skills are not very reliable. A few years ago, a senior brother broke his leg while riding his sword, but he failed to heal the broken leg and instead, he broke the good leg.¡± Qi Yin asked weakly, ¡°Where is that senior brother now?¡± Yun Zhi shrugged and said, ¡°His family took him away, and our master had to compensate them with a good amount of silver.¡± He then lifted his chin towards the south. ¡°If you walk three hundred steps in that direction, you¡¯ll reach the Repentance Cliff. You can meditate there, and the scenery is great, but you can¡¯t go below the cliff. That area is our sect¡¯s forbidden ground. There are ten peaks in the Feng Huan Mountain, and only the northernmost peak is our sect¡¯s residence, while the other nine are all forbidden areas. It¡¯s said that all the demons and monsters captured by our sect since its establishment are locked up inside, and those with a long lifespan can live for several hundred years. Don¡¯t be tempted to go there and play around.¡± ¡°They¡¯re being kept close by. Aren¡¯t you afraid they¡¯ll come out and cause trouble?¡± Qi Yin asked. ¡°It¡¯s guarded by the Heavenly Boundary Array.¡± Yunzhi pointed to the southern sky. ¡°Take a closer look.¡± Qi Yin looked over and saw a row of geese flying over the mountain cliff. There was an almost invisible light shimmering and rippling like a wave. ¡°If you have demon or evil energy on you, you won¡¯t be able to pass through that array. But Junior Brother Fu Lan should be fine. He is a bit stupid, and he has very weak demon energy, almost none,¡± Yunzhi said as he walked down the slope with his hands behind his back. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by our ranking as the last among the Four Immortal Mountains. It is said that in ancient times, we received favor from the Great Goddess Yu, the famous Witch of Mount Jiu Li. The Heavenly Boundary Array was laid down by her and is probably the oldest thing in our mountain.¡± Qi Yin didn¡¯t quite believe it. This thieves¡¯ den was probably established by some fraudulent Daoist who settled here, teaching his disciples to scam people while pretending to pass on immortal techniques and Daoist spells. Yun Zhi sighed. ¡°These past few years have not been good. Spiritual energy is becoming scarce, and our Daoist magic is declining. It is said that there were three thousand immortal gates, but now many sects have closed their doors and ceased to exist. Who knows how many are left? Master said he will take a look at the Feng Shui (1) some other day. If the Feng Shui changes, we might become the largest sect in the mortal realm.¡± Yun Zhi led them to the cluster of tile houses they had passed by while flying on their swords. This was a small village, where mud walls and tile houses were unevenly arranged. In front of the houses were wells, water tanks, and clotheslines. Each senior brother or sister had their own fenced-off area. Looking up, several white dresses were hanging in front of the houses. Qi Yin had sharp eyes and also spotted a few red bellybands and green shorts. In the middle of the tile houses, there was a winding muddy road that stretched towards the mountain steps. Yun Zhi pointed to the last house and said, ¡°That one happens to be vacant. You two can stay there for now. The senior brother who lived there before you left behind some bedding, so you can use that too.¡± ¡°Where did the senior brother go? Why didn¡¯t he stay?¡± Qi Yin asked. ¡°He couldn¡¯t continue learning the Dao, so he went back home to farm,¡± Yun Zhi explained. He leaned over and put his arm around Fu Lan¡¯s shoulder, smiling. ¡°My dear junior brothers, cultivating the Dao is not easy. Since you¡¯ve entered the gate, I will provide you with some convenience.¡± Yun Zhi took out a blue booklet from his sleeve and handed it to Fu Lan. ¡°The Complete Idiot¡¯s Guide to Talisman Magic. I personally compiled it. It contains everything from transformation talismans, fire talismans, to water avoidance spells. Every disciple on Feng Huan Mountain has one. With this talisman magic guide, you¡¯ll definitely succeed in class. As for you, my dear junior brother, I see you only have three copper coins. It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll give it to you as a gift.¡± Fu Lan looked at Qi Yin for guidance, but Qi Yin was speechless. He took out three copper coins from his pouch and gave them to Yun Zhi. Then he pulled Fu Lan into the house and closed the door. ¡°Alright, senior brother. You can go now. We won¡¯t send you off,¡± Qi Yin said. Yunzhi¡¯s head popped up from the window sill again, revealing a mouthful of white teeth as he grinned. ¡°Oh, right. One last reminder. Don¡¯t run around or go into the forest at night.¡± What did he mean? Was this place haunted at night? Before they could ask, Yun Zhi had already run far away. Qi Yin closed the window and realized the room was pitch black. He reopened the window, and saw that the orange sun was setting. The unfamiliar senior brothers and sisters were outside, chattering and laughing while folding their clothes. Perhaps it would rain in the mountains at night, and everyone was busy collecting their clothes. No one had time to get to know them. Yun Zhi didn¡¯t even mention where Qi Yin was staying, making it inconvenient for the others to visit. Fu Lan sat cross-legged in front of the desk, staring at him with a pair of big eyes. The black cat patrolled the room. There were two beds occupying each corner of the wall, a black lacquer long table in the middle, and a standing copper lamp on the side, with no lamp oil, only a lamp stand. A bamboo curtain separated the inside and outside, with an octagonal table and a few curved stools placed in the outside area. There was a vase of withered dry flowers on the table ¨C so dry they were as hard as wire. This was his new home from now on. Qi Yin sat opposite from Fu Lan, feeling a little melancholy. He would never go back to that home in Wu Tang. ¡°Are we married?¡± Fu Lan asked him. ¡°Only couples live in the same room.¡± ¡°We are brothers,¡± Qi Yin said expressionlessly. ¡°Brothers live in the same room, and couples sleep in the same bed.¡± ¡°When can we sleep in the same bed?¡± Fu Lan asked. Qi Yin sighed and said, ¡°Give up that idea, I will not marry you. We are both men, and who knows, I might even be bigger than you when I take off my pants.¡± Fu Lan stared at him blankly, apparently not understanding what he meant. The black cat jumped onto the desk and said earnestly, ¡°Far from it. When you were bowing earlier, this old cat took a glance, and your size is much smaller than that fool¡¯s.¡± Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡­¡± Qi Yin wisely didn¡¯t continue this topic, and instead opened the ¡°Complete Idiot¡¯s Guide to Talismans¡± that Yun Zhi had sold them. Qi Yin didn¡¯t have much hope for that guy, guessing that he was just trying to cheat them out of their money. But the guy had worked hard to bring them here and had shown them around, so they could consider those three copper coins as a fee for his trouble. The book was quite well-organized, with a symbol drawn on each page, labeled with the name and function of the talisman. The farther back it went, the more difficult the symbols became, and at the end, it was completely messy and looked like a ghost drawing, making their heads ache just looking at it. ¡°Do we have to memorize all of this?¡± Qi Yin cried out. ¡°Of course.¡± The black cat put its paw on the page. ¡°Talismans are a way for ordinary people to harness the power of the heavens and the earth to repel evil spirits. In ancient times, the great shamans communicated with the gods through a book, known as the ¡®Forbidden Golden Book¡¯. Now that the Forbidden Golden Book is lost, only a few words and sentences remain, and they have become talismans. If you understand the Forbidden Golden Book, you naturally don¡¯t need to memorize them, but since you don¡¯t, you can only memorize them.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Qi Yin looked down at the ¡°ghost drawing¡± symbols, which were even harder to draw than reading the Four Books and Five Classics (2). ¡°What ¡®Ah¡¯? You still have a lot to learn.¡± The black cat glanced at him. ¡°The drawing of talismans has strict rules, which is to mimic the ceremony of the great shamans summoning the gods. The great shamans danced to summon the gods, and their dance steps and rhythms followed strict procedures, otherwise the gods would not be pleased and would not come. Drawing talismans is the same. Every stroke and every stop must be in place, otherwise you cannot harness the power of the heavens and the earth.¡± ¡°Can you draw one for me to see?¡± Qi Yin asked. The black cat patted Fu Lan¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°You draw.¡± Fu Lan¡¯s fingertips gathered a faint blue glow, and he drew several winding lines in the air. The glow flowed calmly from his fingertips, and a small flying fish swam in the air. The room gradually lit up, and a soft halo enveloped them. The room seemed to be filled with invisible water ripples, and the light shimmered. Qi Yin opened his eyes wide in surprise and asked, ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°My avatar,¡± Fu Lan replied. ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful,¡± Qi Yin said excitedly. ¡°Teach me, Ge.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t learn it, and your spiritual power is not enough,¡± the black cat said. ¡°Fu Lan¡¯s void drawing relies on his spiritual power. You can only use yellow paper and cinnabar to draw symbols.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you draw?¡± Qi Yin asked the black cat. The black cat snorted and said, ¡°My spiritual power has been sealed. I don¡¯t even have any demon energy, let alone spiritual energy to draw symbols.¡± ¡°I will teach you,¡± Fu Lan suddenly said. He walked over to Qi Yin and sat down next to him, his left hand stroking his back, and his right hand holding Qi Yin¡¯s hand. Qi Yin was startled and wanted to break free, but Fu Lan whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± He felt a chilly touch on his back. It was Fu Lan transferring his spiritual power into his body. The cool spiritual power flowed through his meridians and condensed in his fingertips. Fu Lan held his hand and drew the symbols in the air. The glow flickered, and a small fish shimmered with a gentle halo as it swam out of his fingertips. In an instant, Qi Yin¡¯s senses became extremely sharp. He couldn¡¯t tell if he was ¡°seeing¡± things himself, or if it was the fish ¡°seeing¡± things. Every corner of the room was visible to him, from the spider webs in the corners to the cracks in the walls and tiles, and even every hair on the black cat¡¯s body. However, the clearest thing was Fu Lan. This man sat next to him, and his breath completely enveloped him. The cool and clear scent reminded him of the mountains after rain, with wet grass and broken leaves on the ground. He couldn¡¯t help turning his head to look at him. Fu Lan silently tilted his chin slightly upward, and his eyes reflected the faint blue fish. The halo softened his facial features, revealing a unique tenderness. This guy¡­ actually looks quite handsome¡­ Qi Yin suddenly felt that it was nice to have Fu Lan with him, even though he was not very smart and always had ulterior motives. But when they were together, he didn¡¯t feel lonely. They had spent some money to learn the tricks of swindling people in this thief mountain. In the future, they could be two brothers who bluffed and deceived people. He would be responsible for fooling people, and Fu Lan would be the bait. This guy looked honest, so people wouldn¡¯t suspect him. ¡°Dai Ge.¡± Qi Yin pulled his hand out of Fu Lan¡¯s palm and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the story behind our engagement when we were young?¡± Fu Lan: ¡°A Fu said you are my child bride, and we¡¯ll get married when we grow up.¡± Qi Yin was speechless. This was just nonsense. What mother would marry her son off to a demon as a bride, especially when they were all scared enough to move out of town? Qi Yin scratched his head and asked, ¡°Why do you want to marry a mortal as your wife? Don¡¯t you monsters hate mortals?¡± ¡°Well, mortals make empty promises and tell lies.¡± ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t keep my promises either, and I lie too.¡± Fu Lan touched his head, his big, black eyes focused and serious. ¡°But you¡¯re cute.¡± Footnotes 1. Feng Shui ¨C a Chinese philosophical system of arranging objects and buildings in a specific way to create a harmonious flow of energy, or ¡°chi,¡± in a space. It can be used to change the fates of people in a small household, but certainly not revitalise an entire Daoist sect¡¯s former glory, so the sect leader is just saying nonsense here. 2. Four Books and Five Classics ¨C the authoritative book on Confucianism, written by Confucius himself. CH 9 Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and a group of people pushed in, chattering and clamoring. Qi Yin was startled to see that they were all his senior brothers and sisters. The first to enter was a young girl wearing a light green bamboo cloth dress, holding a small black tray with two bowls of soup and two plates of vegetables. The girl put the tray on the table and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m Sang Ruo, your senior sister. Little junior brother, you must not have had dinner yet. Since the Elder of Precepts is not here, just have what we made for now, and return the bowls and chopsticks to us tomorrow morning.¡± Qi Yin thanked her repeatedly. He introduced Fu Lan, and everyone greeted each other. It turned out that the Elder of Precepts, Ye Qing Ming, had eight male disciples, all with the surname Liu, and six female disciples, all with the surname Sang. This small sect, from top to bottom, had only twenty-one people including the fat cat that Fu Lan brought. Adding the disciples serving the sect leader, there were only twenty-six people. A little girl with her hair in two buns squeezed in. She was around eight or nine years old. She clapped her hands, laughing. ¡°Great, I¡¯m not the last to join anymore. I¡¯m your senior sister, Sang Ya. If you don¡¯t understand anything, just ask me.¡± She then saw the black cat and her eyes lit up. ¡°A cat! Can I touch it?¡± Qi Yin was about to warn her to be careful as the cat may scratch her, but when he turned his head, he saw the fat cat already lying in Sang Ruo¡¯s arms, eyes closed, rubbing against her chest. Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°You guys are so amazing.¡± Sang Ruo scratched the black cat¡¯s chin and said, ¡°The sect leader hasn¡¯t accepted any disciples for a long time. Senior Brother Yun Zhi has been his only disciple. I never thought that you would join his group as soon as you arrived.¡± Qi Yin thought with a wooden face that it was probably because they were easy targets, and had handed over one or two silver coins as soon as they arrived. ¡°I heard that you are Master Qi¡¯s son. We took you away, and now Wan Fang Mountain must be furious. Oh, by the way, our sect is relatively poor, so please don¡¯t mind. If your clothes are torn or broken, just come to me or Sang Ya to have them mended. Since you¡¯ve just joined, we¡¯ll be kind to you and only charge two copper coins per piece,¡± Sang Ruo said with a smiling face. Qi Yin laughed dryly and said, ¡°Thanks for your concern, Senior Sister, but I can sew my own clothes. You don¡¯t have to trouble yourselves.¡± Sang Ruo seemed disappointed. ¡°Oh.¡± A group of senior brothers came over to ask Qi Yin about his hometown. When they heard that Qi Yin was from Jiangnan and had come all the way to Cixi, one of them was deeply moved and chatted with him for a long time. Qi Yin didn¡¯t realize until he had chatted for a long time that Fu Lan, who was not good with words, had been silent like a girl all the time. Qi Yin was worried that he couldn¡¯t get along with his fellow senior brothers and sisters, so he turned his head to look for him. Upon closer inspection, he and the black cat were surrounded by a group of women. Sang Ya was sitting directly on his lap, holding his arm and chatting with him. ¡°What did you do before? What does your family do?¡± a senior sister asked. Fu Lan shook his head. ¡°I have no family. I wandered around with the cat.¡± Everyone¡¯s faces showed a look of pity. Sang Ruo sighed and said, ¡°No wonder you have gone astray and become a demonic practitioner without parents. Fortunately, you came to Feng Huan Mountain. Don¡¯t worry, we will take you on the right path in the future. Junior Brother, from now on, you just need to send your clothes, shoes, and socks here, and we will help you mend them for free.¡± They all entered the door together, but why was the treatment so different? Qi Yin looked back at the pillars, where his shadow was reflected in the black paint. His thick eyebrows were still handsome, even though his face was a little tanned. He asked himself why he was not as popular with women as Fu Lan was. He stopped looking at Fu Lan, walked to the threshold, and sat down. Several senior brothers either stood or sat beside him, and they chuckled and said, ¡°Women like pretty boys, especially those who have a cat. Don¡¯t worry; we¡¯ll teach you how to approach girls.¡± A guy named Liu Bai came over and leaned against Qi Yin¡¯s shoulder. He had fair skin, a pair of flirtatious phoenix eyes, and a teardrop mole under his right eye. He leaned his elbow on Qi Yin¡¯s shoulder and spoke excitedly, ¡°You can ignore everything else in our sect¡¯s Daoist arts, but there are two things you must learn. The first is sword control.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Qi Yin was not very interested and was drooping his eyelids. ¡°If you master sword control, you can take a girl out for a ride.¡± Liu Bai wagged his eyebrows. ¡°If you have a top-grade immortal sword and a sword control technique that allows you to travel thousands of miles in a day without dropping a sweat, how could a girl refuse to climb onto your sword?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the second thing?¡± With a wave of his hand, Liu Bai took out a pen and a piece of yellow talisman paper from nowhere and started drawing on it. ¡°Buy Senior Brother Yun¡¯s ¡®Complete Idiot¡¯s Guide to Talisman Magic¡¯,¡± he said. ¡°Flip to Volume 2, Fourth Talisman, the Shapeshifting Talisman. Look!¡± With a flick of his brush, he produced a bunch of bright red wild azaleas, dazzlingly beautiful. ¡°See that? Last time, I gave a bunch of flowers like this to Xiao Hui, the girl from the herb shop at the foot of the mountain, and she was so enchanted by me.¡± ¡°Learned anything?¡± one of the senior brothers laughed. ¡°Yun Zhi was the first to learn how to control a sword and use shapeshifting talismans. He¡¯s held hands with all the senior sisters except that little brat Liang who¡¯s always up to no good.¡± Qi Yin¡¯s heart was as cold as ashes. Nothing was serious here on this thieves¡¯ den. Well, he consoled himself, he was just here to kill time. If he could really learn some flashy magic tricks and cheat a girl into marrying him, then this trip wouldn¡¯t have been in vain. ¡°By the way, where does Senior Brother Yun live?¡± Qi Yin asked. ¡°He led us here earlier, but we didn¡¯t see him again.¡± ¡°Senior Brother doesn¡¯t live with us. He lives with our sect leader,¡± Liubai said. ¡°He always has nightmares at night, and our sect leader worries that he¡¯ll be possessed in his dreams, so he often exorcises his nightmares for him.¡± ¡°Nightmares?¡± Qi Yin was puzzled. Did he kidnap a woman from somewhere and feel guilty, afraid that she would come to him in his dreams for revenge? ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± A group of senior sisters walked ove. Sang Ya carried a black cat and sat down on the doorstep, saying, ¡°Senior Brother is so pitiful. When he was seven years old, he saw his parents swallowed by a snake demon with his own eyes. The snake demon even raised Senior Brother as food and tied a rope around his neck to lead him around. Later, our sect leader happened to pass by and saw him, and that¡¯s how Senior Brother was saved.¡± Qi Yin was stunned. The mischievous smile of Yun Zhi, that little brat, floated before his eyes. He didn¡¯t look like he had suffered such a terrible disaster. ¡°After that, Senior Brother always has nightmares. Our sect leader even called us to take turns to exorcise the nightmares. He said he saw us beat the snake demon in his dreams and Senior Brother wouldn¡¯t be afraid anymore.¡± Suddenly, Qi Yin had a guess in his heart and asked, ¡°What about you guys? Why did you come here to cultivate?¡± ¡°We¡¯re all orphans,¡± Liu Bai said. ¡°I have a heart disease and was abandoned by my parents when I was a child. When our master went down the mountain to collect scrap metal, he found me in a broken basket and carried me up the mountain.¡± ¡°Sang Ya and I were abandoned by our parents because they wanted sons, not daughters.¡± Sang Ruo combed Sang Ya¡¯s hair with her fingers. ¡°Our master spent a lot of money to buy us from slave traders, and then we followed our master to practice cultivation.¡± A strange feeling surged in Qi Yin¡¯s heart. The sun had set, and the last ray of light disappeared. The night slowly fell, and the brilliant Milky Way flowed quietly in the sky. Everyone sat together under the doorstep and looked at the night sky. This is the feeling of home, Qi Yin thought. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Qi Yin suddenly realized something. ¡°Why do me and Dai Ge have to pay to join the sect?¡± ¡°Have you ever shown off your wealth in front of Senior Brother?¡± Sang Ruo covered her mouth and laughed. ¡°Senior Brother is very cunning. He must have talked to the sect leader and divided your money among themselves.¡± Qi Yin: ¡°¡­ I really shouldn¡¯t have expected too much from them.¡± Tomorrow they still had to attend classes, so everyone went back to their rooms to sleep. Sang Ya gave them a few light talismans, and Qi Yin put the talismans on the wall. The room instantly lit up. Fu Lan didn¡¯t seem to need to eat or drink, so he let the black cat and Qi Yin finish the soup and noodles. After a satisfying meal, Qi Yin wanted to go out to relieve himself. He pushed the door and saw the shadows of trees outside. He remembered Yun Zhi¡¯s warning earlier and couldn¡¯t help but feel scared. Could there be a nine-headed bird monster or something in the immortal mountain? But he really needed to pee, so he dragged Fu Lan to accompany him and walked along the dirt road with his hands in his pockets. In front of them, Qi Yin saw two people, one tall and one short, pushing each other in the middle of the road. The man said, ¡°I¡¯ll escort you back to your room, and I¡¯ll leave after you go in.¡± The woman giggled for a while and said, ¡°No, I¡¯ll escort you. You go first.¡± The man said again, ¡°No, I have to escort you.¡± The woman said in a coquettish voice, ¡°Don¡¯t¡­¡± The two of them were blocking the way. The dirt road was too narrow, and Qi Yin and Fu Lan had no way to pass, so they had to wait and watch from a distance. After suffering the chilliness of the night wind for a long time, the man escorted the woman back to her room and went back to the opposite tiled house with his sleeves rolled up. Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± Damn, these two idiots live so close by. Why did they waste so much time just now? They walked around the village but couldn¡¯t find the toilet. Most of the people who practiced cultivation in the immortal mountain abstained from eating and drinking, so there was no such demand. Qi Yin had to pull Fu Lan into the forest. But before they entered, Fu Lan stopped him and said, ¡°There are many people inside.¡± ¡°Ah? Where are the people?¡± Qi Yin looked at the dark forest, and the shadows of the trees seemed to overlap like human figures. Qi Yin suddenly realized that the ¡°people¡± that Fu Lan mentioned may not be real ¡°people.¡± He shuddered and quickly took a few steps back, leaning closely to Fu Lan. CH 10 Qi Yin stuttered, ¡°Can we still leave now?¡± Fu Lan didn¡¯t say anything, listening intently, looking puzzled. ¡°You can hear ¡®them¡¯ talking?¡± Qi Yin asked in a low voice. Fu Lan nodded. ¡°What are ¡®they¡¯ saying?¡± Fu Lan listened for a while and then said, ¡°¡®Senior brother, the moon is so round today. I really like you.''¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qi Yin slapped his forehead, immediately understanding who was inside. This sect would be doomed sooner or later. Qi Yin pulled Fu Lan up the hill to the Repentance Cliff. It was open and unobstructed here, and there shouldn¡¯t be anyone talking about spring love. Qi Yin loosened his waistband and stood at the edge of the cliff to relieve himself. The night wind was cold, the forest was immersed in the hazy night, and the sound of the wind blowing through the trees was like waves, coming in one after another. Immersed in the sound of the heaven and earth, people were insignificant, like tiny insects. Qi Yin spoke to Fu Lan while he was relieving himself, ¡°Dai Ge, I can sew your clothes for you. Don¡¯t give them away recklessly. There are no decent people in this mountain. You don¡¯t want to lose your virginity for nothing.¡± Fu Lan obediently nodded. ¡°Um,¡± Qi Yin thought for a moment and then said, ¡°If you like a girl, tell me, and I¡¯ll help you keep an eye on her.¡± Fu Lan didn¡¯t say anything this time. There was nothing to say. The silence was filled by the sound of the forest. Just as Qi Yin finished relieving himself and was about to put on his pants, Fu Lan suddenly grabbed the back of his collar. This guy had immense strength, and Qi Yin was pulled into his arms. His pants slipped down his legs. Qi Yin thought to himself that this scoundrel might take advantage of him while his pants were off. He hadn¡¯t even figured out how to respond when flames suddenly rose up from below, surging up the cliff face in a pillar of fire, burning Qi Yin¡¯s toes with its scorching heat. The place where Qi Yin had been standing was now nothing but ashes, sticking together in a black mess. Qi Yin clung to Fu Lan, scared out of his wits. If Fu Lan had been a moment late, not only would Qi Yin¡¯s descendants have been in danger, but he himself would have been reduced to ashes. A thunderous roar came from the bottom of the cliff, ¡°You little bunnies from Feng Huan Mountain! You dared to pee on my head, so I¡¯ll burn your birds to teach you a lesson! Don¡¯t think that the name of the Northern Wolf King is just for show!¡± A senior brother ran over with a wooden plaque in his arms, shouting loudly, ¡°Wolf King, calm down. The notice board was blown away by the wind. These newcomers don¡¯t know the rules!¡± He put the wooden plaque on the ground, saw that Qi Yin and Fu Lan were okay, and then ran away in a hurry. Qi Yin fixed his gaze on the plaque, which had a few large characters written in a flamboyant style: ¡°Below is the Wolf King. No peeing is allowed here.¡± Qi Yin was so mad he almost vomited blood. He almost died because of something so stupid! ¡°Get dressed,¡± said Fu Lan, taking a step forward. ¡°He bullied you. I¡¯ll go beat him up.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Qi Yin had just picked up his pants when Fu Lan leaped forward. Qi Yin instinctively reached for his arm, but he was swept away by Fu Lan¡¯s movement and fell straight off the cliff. Fu Lan hesitated for a moment before plunging after Qi Yin. The sound of the wind whistled in Qi Yin¡¯s ears as he was filled with fear, feeling as though his heart was about to jump out of his throat. Suddenly, someone grabbed his waist, hoisted him up, and clumsily pushed his hair out of his face. Fu Lan held him horizontally as they slowly descended. When Qi Yin¡¯s feet finally touched the ground, he let out a sigh of relief. As he leaned against the cliff, he saw a huge white wolf crouched on a large rock on the other side. The wolf was as tall as a three-story building, with golden eyes that burned like lanterns and snow-white fur that looked like surging clouds in the moonlight. Fu Lan and Qi Yin stood in front of it, looking like two clay dolls. Although they were several yards apart, Qi Yin could feel the wolf¡¯s scorching breath, as though it were flames from hell. ¡°Brother, are you still going to hit him?¡± Qi Yin¡¯s voice was trembling. Fu Lan didn¡¯t speak. He met the Wolf King¡¯s sinister gaze. A chilling demonic aura emanated from Fu Lan like a tidal wave. If Qi Yin had cultivated his spiritual awareness, he would have been able to ¡°see¡± the two waves of demonic energy from Fu Lan and the Wolf King violently colliding with each other, creating immense waves at the point of impact. Like two rocks in the center of the tide, they stood firm, while the world around them was swallowed by the tide. Qi Yin suddenly felt as though the wind was picking up, and the sand and stones were swirling around him so strongly that he couldn¡¯t keep his eyes open. Fu Lan reached out and grabbed him with one hand. He clung to Fu Lan like a dead leaf in the tide, and only by clinging to the rock could he avoid being swept away by the waves. The wind gradually died down, and Qi Yin saw the Wolf King crouch down. Little did he know that the Wolf King had just suppressed the urge to taste fresh blood. ¡°Name,¡± said the Wolf King in a low voice. ¡°Fu Lan.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of you,¡± said the Wolf King, standing up from the rock and looking down at Fu Lan and Qi Yin. ¡°You are a great demon from the southern wilderness. I heard you led thirty thousand demon soldiers into battle against the demons in Jiu Gai. Twenty-eight leaders died, and all the demon soldiers were wiped out. Only you managed to fight your way up to Yuan Mountain, kill that old man, Wei Sheng Yuan, and refined his bones into a sword.¡± ¡°Yeah, that was me,¡± said Fu Lan. The Wolf King suddenly chuckled. ¡°But your aura doesn¡¯t seem like a demon or a monster at all. I¡¯ve lived for eight hundred years, and it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve smelled such a unique scent. It really makes me sick.¡± Qi Yin whispered behind Fu Lan, ¡°Dai Ge, how long has it been since you last bathed?¡± Fu Lan: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But.¡± The Wolf King laughed heartily. ¡°The younger generation is formidable. I concede defeat. You two can go.¡± Qi Yin breathed a sigh of relief. He didn¡¯t expect the reputation of the pig demon in the southern territory to be so useful. Before he even had to use any tricks, just revealing their identity was enough to scare the cowardly wolf away. He quickly pulled Fu Lan and tried to climb up the cliff. Suddenly, the timid wolf sniffed and asked, ¡°Hey, you, the small one behind. Come over and let me have a look.¡± Qi Yin immediately froze. He bathed every day. Did this wolf want him as its food? Fu Lan pulled him behind and said, ¡°He¡¯s with me. I don¡¯t allow you to look at him.¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± The Wolf King sneered disdainfully. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m interested? I just smell something familiar from this brat. It¡¯s like¡­like¡­that person surnamed Qi from Wu Fang Mountain. Kid, are you related to that Daoist?¡± The wolf looked fierce, but didn¡¯t seem difficult to get along with. Qi Yin hesitated for a moment, then gave it a bow and said, ¡°I am Qi Yin. The Daoist that the Wolf King mentioned is probably my father. However, he abandoned his wife and child long ago and ignored me, so he can¡¯t really be considered my father.¡± The Wolf King let out a long sigh. ¡°That bastard did indeed have a face of ungratefulness and lack of righteousness. I admired him at first and wanted to befriend him. But after I ate a few mortals, this brat turned against me and had me locked up here with the leader of your Feng Huan Mountain. I¡¯ve been locked up for twenty years without him even bothering to visit me once. My once shiny and smooth fur is now all twisted up.¡± The Wolf King snorted and said, ¡°How has he been doing? He has excellent swordsmanship and qualifications. He should be the elder of Wu Fang Mountain by now.¡± Qi Yin fell silent for a while before saying, ¡°He¡¯s dead. I heard he was killed recently when he went to Ying River to rid it of water ghosts.¡± The Wolf King suddenly fell silent, and his eyes, which were as shiny as molten gold, dimmed slightly. The cold moonlight shone on his face, and every strand of his snow-white fur shimmered with a jade-colored light. Somehow, Qi Yin could sense a hint of sadness from his face. ¡°You two little brats, come take a walk with me.¡± The Wolf King suddenly got off the stone and walked into the woods. The night wind flowed quietly, and the forest flickered with brilliant fireflies. In front of them was a small stream, and the sound of flowing water echoed in the distance. A faint singing voice drifted from far away, as if crossing mountains and waters, and was carried to their ears by the wind. The Wolf King said it was from the mermaids who lived downstream. They sang the same song all day long, and he had been listening for twenty years. ¡°They¡¯re quite pretty, and they wear very little. If you don¡¯t mind that they have fish tails, you might consider them,¡± the Wolf King said. Qi Yin laughed dryly and said, ¡°Thank you for your kind offer, Wolf King, but we¡¯d better focus on our cultivation.¡± Several unknown small monsters crawled out of a pile of fallen leaves and were scared off by the Wolf King. They pretended to be dead and crawled back in. The fireflies on the stream slowly gathered and formed the silhouette of a beautiful young woman, floating in the water. Qi Yin asked what it was, and Fu Lan said, ¡°Firefly demon, man-eater.¡± The singing continued, ethereal like smoke. They walked a little farther and stopped by the stream. The Wolf King lay on the bank of the stream and looked at the moon in the water, saying, ¡°Little brat, don¡¯t blame your old man for being heartless. Men are bound to make such mistakes. I also have many illegitimate children. Who knows where they¡¯re frolicking now. I¡¯ve eaten tens of thousands of mortals. Your dad was a real man, although he had a thin face. He blushed when he saw women bathing. Study hard, don¡¯t disgrace your father.¡± Qi Yin didn¡¯t say anything more, as if he had taken in the Wolf King¡¯s words but also as if he hadn¡¯t. When he didn¡¯t smile, his face was pale, as if he was distant from everyone. The two of them, one human and one wolf, looked at the moon and its reflection in the water, with ripples spreading and fireflies dancing. The world was as quiet as a dream. When the moon was in the middle of the sky, Fu Lan carried Qi Yin back to the Repentance Cliff. The mermaids¡¯ song could no longer be heard, and the surroundings were silent, with a faint moonlight, as if the world was trapped in a thin layer of water. Qi Yin didn¡¯t want to go back to sleep and sat on the cliff to enjoy the breeze. Fu Lan sat with him, the two of them under the night sky, as small and thin as shadows. ¡°You¡¯re sad,¡± Fu Lan said. Qi Yin tugged at the corner of his mouth and joked dryly, ¡°What gave it away, Dai Ge?¡± Fu Lan patted his own shoulder and said, ¡°If you¡¯re feeling sad, you can lean on my shoulder.¡± Qi Yin felt warmed in his heart and smiled, saying, ¡°Thanks. Actually, I¡¯m not that sad, just a bit bored. It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t have a father, but neither do you, nor our senior brothers and sisters. I¡¯ve gotten used to it. I just can¡¯t stand people constantly mentioning him in my ear, as if I had a father. He¡¯s a great hero, I know, slaying demons and monsters, showing great courage and righteousness. I also know that he had aspirations to pursue the path of the great Dao, so it¡¯s understandable that he didn¡¯t come back to find my mother.¡± Fu Lan quietly watched him. ¡°But what does that matter? He¡¯s someone else¡¯s hero, not mine.¡± Qi Yin lowered his head, his disheveled hair covering his eyes. He looked dejected, like a roadside weed. ¡°After all, I don¡¯t even know his name¡­¡± ¡°Qi Shen Wei,¡± Fu Lan suddenly said. Qi Yin was stunned and looked up at him. ¡°A Fu told me. It¡¯s not his title, it¡¯s his real name,¡± Fu Lan said. ¡°Do you really want a father?¡± Qi Yin scratched his head and said, ¡°It¡¯s a lie to say I don¡¯t want one. When I was a kid, my cousin dragged me into fights with other kids, and I would get beaten up badly. I would lie on the ground and secretly wish that my father would come down from the sky and beat up those people until they begged for mercy. But it was always my uncle who came to my rescue. He would only take my cousin away, and I could only rub my knees and follow from behind.¡± ¡°I helped you win today,¡± Fu Lan said. ¡°¡­¡± That was because you scared the Wolf King away by using a pig demon¡¯s name that was the same as yours. Qi Yin was a bit speechless. He didn¡¯t expect Fu Lan to be so thick-skinned. The two of them were silent for a while, and then Qi Yin asked, ¡°Dai Ge, just now the Wolf King said that your aura doesn¡¯t seem like a demon or a monster. What does that mean?¡± Fu Lan looked towards the distant mountains and said, ¡°The cat said that I¡¯m a cat demon because I follow it. Later, A Fu said I¡¯m her child, so I¡¯m human.¡± He lowered his eyes and whispered, ¡°Xiao Yin, I don¡¯t even know what I am.¡± Not a demon, not a monster; isn¡¯t that just a human? Qi Yin scratched his head, turned Fu Lan¡¯s face to him, and said, ¡°You have a nose and eyes, and our male treasure sword. You¡¯re human, Dai Ge. Don¡¯t listen to your cat¡¯s nonsense. Look at how you¡¯ve learned to speak like it.¡± Fu Lan remained silent. ¡°Dai Ge.¡± Qi Yin looked at the moon in the sky and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me about my mother? I was too young when I was with her, so I don¡¯t have much of an impression. My mother¡­what kind of person was she? She must have been really good if my cold-hearted father chose her.¡± ¡°Well.¡± Fu Lan thought of the bright woman and said, ¡°She was very beautiful, even more beautiful than N¨¹wa. Her voice was light, like a gust of wind, flying into the vast night. CH 11 Fu Lan remembered that it was deep autumn that year, with golden-yellow parasol trees and bright red leaves covering the mountains. He was twelve years old that year, and it was his first time traveling north from South Jiang with the black cat, searching for old temples along the way until they arrived at Wu Jiang. The mountains and rivers of Wu Jiang were different from South Jiang; the scenery was exquisite and beautiful, with a shade of green like eye shadow on a woman¡¯s eyelids. The further north they went, the more peaceful it became as the human kingdoms were united and not as numerous and chaotic as the territories of South Jiang, where the demon clans were constantly fighting. Fu Lan found a cave on a hill to rest and stayed there for quite some time. One day, the black cat went out hunting and brought back a little boy in a green robe. The black cat picked up a worn-out pot and placed it on the ground, saying, ¡°I got lucky today. I came across a lost little boy, just right for me to eat. You watch him, I¡¯ll go find some firewood.¡± The little boy was fair-skinned with black, unblinking eyes, staring at Fu Lan. Fu Lan ignored him and closed his eyes to meditate. After a while, he heard the sound of rustling, and the little boy crawled towards him. Fu Lan remained still, and the little boy climbed into his arms. Fu Lan¡¯s lap suddenly felt warm and soft. He smelled milk from the little boy¡¯s body. Then, he felt a wet, soft kiss on his cheek. He opened his eyes, and the little boy in his arms was smiling with his eyes curved, saying, ¡°Immortal big brother, you¡¯re so fragrant and pretty!¡± The black cat later said that puppies were born as rascals from the start, and this was a reasonable statement. Not long after, the black cat returned and set up the firewood, ready to put the pot on top, but when he peered inside, there was a stinky lump of dung. The black cat was so angry that steam was coming out of its seven orifices. ¡°Who did this?¡± The little boy pointed at Fu Lan and said, ¡°It was big brother.¡± ¡°Nonsense,¡± said the black cat. ¡°This fool doesn¡¯t eat or drink. Where would the excrement come from? You did it, and you¡¯re lying!¡± The little boy looked down and pointed to himself, saying, ¡°But I couldn¡¯t hold it in. My mother told me not to poop on the ground.¡± The black cat was clean, so he couldn¡¯t use the pot covered in feces and had to think of other ways to cook. The boy still didn¡¯t realize that he was in danger and was about to become a demon¡¯s food. He poked at Fu Lan¡¯s cheek and asked, ¡°My mother calls me puppy. What is big brother¡¯s name? Is big brother mute? Why aren¡¯t you talking to me?¡± ¡°Because he hates you,¡± said the black cat irritably. ¡°Why does big brother hate me?¡± asked the puppy. ¡°Because you¡¯re human, and we demons all hate humans.¡± ¡°Why do you hate humans?¡± asked the puppy. ¡°Don¡¯t ask me, ask him!¡± The black cat was going crazy. Sometimes even Fu Lan couldn¡¯t understand why the puppy had so many questions. Fu Lan had heard of the puppy¡¯s father, Qi Shen Wei, who was a rare sword genius in the immortal sect. While he was alive, the three thousand immortal sects regarded him as a beacon of humanity, the hope for the inheritance of the Dao. Puppy was his son, but in terms of intelligence, he probably took after his mother. The puppy began to chatter in Fu Lan¡¯s ear, ¡°Who are you guys? Why do you have a monster cat grandpa? Why do you live on the mountain? Why don¡¯t you live in the village with everyone else?¡± ¡°Why doesn¡¯t big brother eat or drink? Won¡¯t big brother get hungry if he doesn¡¯t eat?¡± ¡°Why doesn¡¯t the old man at the village entrance have any hair on his head? Sometimes his head even glows.¡± ¡°Why does the cat grandpa have six nipples, but we only have two?¡± Fu Lan didn¡¯t say anything and silently turned to face the wall, covering his ears with his hands. Puppy was really too noisy. The black cat was originally busy with something, but when he heard the puppy¡¯s last question, he suddenly came to his senses and scolded, ¡°You little rascal, when did you peek at this old man¡¯s body!¡± In the end, Fu Lan sent the puppy down the mountain. The black cat reluctantly agreed. After all, a child like that would be too noisy to use as food. But the biggest reason was that he had been peed on by the puppy, which was the first time in his long life. The brat even shamelessly said, ¡°Fragrant gege has turned into stinky gege.¡± But even the black cat didn¡¯t expect that the child would come back on his own. It could be seen that the puppy really took after his mother in terms of intelligence. The next day, after noon, the puppy came up the mountain with a red string tied to a small hen, panting heavily. No one could have expected that this four-year-old child could find his way, and the hen he dragged behind him was already half dead, with only half a breath left. The black cat was very happy, saying that the puppy was a member of the dark now. He had defected from the human world, becoming the demons¡¯ servant. But it was a nightmare for Fu Lan. The puppy began to pester him, ¡°Big brother, look, I can fart with my mouth.¡± He then pouted his lips and made ¡°pu¡± ¡°pu¡± sounds. Fu Lan: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I can also blow bubbles with my saliva.¡± The puppy pouted and blew out a transparent bubble with his saliva. When it burst, he smiled at Fu Lan. But even though the puppy tried hard to get Fu Lan¡¯s attention, he was ignored due to being annoyingly loud. The puppy then frowned and asked, ¡°Why doesn¡¯t big brother like me? My mother said I¡¯m cute and everyone likes me.¡± Fu Lan remained silent for a while before finally speaking, ¡°She lied to you. You are very noisy and irritating.¡± The puppy cried and went away. On the third day, the puppy brought a bowl of braised pork, which the black cat licked clean. Only after the meal did the puppy start pulling out grass stems by the wall, remaining silent for once. The black cat asked him, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why don¡¯t you play with the fool anymore? You were so clingy with him yesterday.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± The puppy turned his head and refused to speak. The black cat hooked him with its tail before he finally spoke, ¡°Big brother hurt my feelings.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Yesterday, big brother said he doesn¡¯t like me and that I¡¯m loud,¡± the puppy replied. ¡°I waited so long for him to comfort me, but he didn¡¯t come. I will never be friends with him again.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. This old man will be friends with you,¡± the black cat said. ¡°The braised pork you brought today was delicious. Bring it for me again tomorrow.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± The puppy poked the ground with the grass stem. ¡°Brother and mother are both bad. I won¡¯t talk to you anymore. Mother doesn¡¯t care about me, and neither does big brother. I¡¯m angry, but I¡¯m easy to comfort.¡± The puppy then sobbed and went away. Later, Fu Lan learned that A Fu had to work hard and leave early in the morning, returning late at night, so she left the puppy with Auntie Shen, who lived in the village. Auntie Shen did not take care of the puppy well. She played cards in the courtyard all day and locked the puppy in the room alone. The puppy was restless and eventually moved a stool to the windowsill, climbing out to play by himself until sunset, before climbing back in. The black cat was the one who took the puppy away at that time. Feeling upset, the puppy did not go straight home that day. He wandered in the mountains for a long time until he had strayed far from the path. He couldn¡¯t recognize the way and walked aimlessly. The setting sun shone through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled spots of light on his face. The puppy pouted, still muttering, ¡°Stupid brother, stupid mother. Everyone smells bad except for me.¡± Suddenly, a soccer ball rolled up to his feet. The puppy looked up to see a boy with a pale complexion standing in the distance. The boy didn¡¯t say anything, just stared at him intently. The puppy picked up the ball, but when he looked up again, the boy was already standing in front of him. The puppy was startled and fell to the ground, hurting his backside. Someone lifted him up with one hand. It was not the boy, but Fu Lan. ¡°Brother,¡± the puppy murmured. He turned his head to look for the other boy, but he was gone, leaving only a rolling soccer ball on the ground. ¡°You¡¯re a brave kid. Stupidly so,¡± the black cat on Fu Lan¡¯s shoulder said. ¡°Don¡¯t stand there foolishly next time, remember to run. Run to a bright place. Ghosts are afraid of light and won¡¯t chase after you.¡± Fu Lan sent the puppy to the edge of the field, standing under the setting sun, watching him go home. The puppy kept turning back to look at him, a slender figure in a green robe, running crookedly but showing the happiest smile. The black cat poked Fu Lan¡¯s face and said, ¡°Fool, you seem very happy today. Do you like that kid? Shall we kidnap him and make him your servant?¡± Fu Lan shook his head and walked towards the sunset. On the fourth day, he sat cross-legged on a rock. The gray sky revealed a golden light at the end, and the sun slowly rose. He sat outside all day, watching the farmers in the fields below, with their muddy legs entering and leaving the fields. As the sun moved west, he looked up, and the slanting tree branches were reflected on the yellow sky, like fine cracks on porcelain. A light blue flying fish landed on his fingertips, telling him that the puppy didn¡¯t come today. On the street, the shops on both sides were closed. Occasionally muffled dog barks could be heard. Someone coughed loudly and spit phlegm in the house, and shoes were flattened and rubbed on the ground. A Fu finished delivering the last basket of clothes, rubbing her shoulders and walking on the gravel road. She was tired all day, her waist and back were sore. She reached into her pocket to feel her purse, which was full of her day¡¯s wages, making a clanging noise. The street was dark, and the houses cast dark shadows. The fog on the street was getting thicker, and the distant sound of bells was as elusive as a gust of wind. The gravel road was enveloped in moonlight and mist, revealing a dark blue outline. Recently, there had been many cases of missing children near the Wu River, and many people speculated that it was due to mountain ghosts. The Wu River area was surrounded by mountains, and there were often stories of mountain spirits and ghosts in the woods. Some people claimed that when they went to the mountains to chop wood, they saw a short child playing with a ball on the bridge, waving at them. However, when they went over to take a closer look, the child disappeared, and only the sound of a ball hitting the ground remained. Sometimes people also claimed to see a black cat with green eyes, giving off an eerie and ferocious look. As a result, people were now going up to the mountains in groups, afraid to venture out alone. Rumors abound, and even the false ones were taken as truth. A Fu hastened her pace, heading to Auntie Shen¡¯s house to find her puppy. The sound of bells grew closer, and the blue mist gradually revealed a row of people. The one at the front was tall and thin, like a dried bamboo pole. A Fu unconsciously slowed down, and the shadows became clearer. Behind the first figure, there were several short children, with their arms stretched out stiffly. A Fu¡¯s heart jumped, and she quickly stepped aside, hiding in an alleyway. She peeked out in suspicion, and the sound of the bells floated over her head. This time, she could see clearly that it was a Daoist with a withered face, sunken eyes, and two clusters of green ghostly fire flickering in them. He was followed by a group of children, about seven or eight of them, tall and short, walking in a row, hopping and jumping with their eyes closed. The children passed one by one before her eyes, each with a pale face like a paper doll. A Fu¡¯s heart was pounding, and she decided to wait for them to pass before finding someone to save them. The last child jumped over, and A Fu¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed. It was her puppy! She wouldn¡¯t mistake his round face, long and curly eyelashes, and the small bun on his head. A Fu was furious, and she couldn¡¯t believe that someone would dare to touch her son. She pursed her lips and quietly followed them from behind. The Daoist hunched his back and shook the bell, shuffling forward unsteadily. A Fu circled around to another alleyway, and on the other side of the street there was also a small alleyway. It was very dark inside. A Fu held her breath and waited for them to pass one by one. Her puppy was struggling to keep up at the back, and the Daoist did not notice. This gave A Fu a chance. She took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and ran out like a cat. She picked up her puppy and dashed into the opposite alleyway. She did not dare to look back, but just kept running as fast as she could, hoping that the Daoist had not noticed the missing child. After running for a long distance, she finally looked back and saw nothing but darkness and silence, without any pursuit. She ran far away in one breath, not knowing how long she had been running. There were no footsteps chasing her from behind. A Fu turned around to look and saw a pitch-black area with no one around, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She looked down at the puppy, who had regained consciousness but was gasping weakly, calling out ¡°mom.¡± A Fu touched his head and told him not to speak. The puppy rested his head on her shoulder and suddenly pointed upwards, saying, ¡°Mom, someone¡¯s there.¡± A Fu couldn¡¯t have imagined that the Daoist was up there. She stiffly lifted her head and saw a black silhouette hovering above her head. It was too dark to see his face clearly, but she could see that he was hanging there with his sleeves dangling, eyes staring at them coldly. She felt a chill from head to toe and didn¡¯t dare to move, holding her ground against him. A gust of wind blew by, and the shadow¡¯s clothes fluttered, with sleeves flapping against her. A Fu suddenly realized that it wasn¡¯t a person, just clothes hanging up there. It turned out that she had frightened herself. A Fu breathed a sigh of relief and was about to find someone to save the other children when a cold breeze suddenly blew behind her neck, as if someone was standing extremely close behind her. Ding-a-ling-a-ling! She heard the bell sound again, this time behind her. A sharp and thin laughter came to her ear. ¡°Madam, where are you going? Let me give you a ride.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± A Fu screamed and ran away. The puppy was pulled out of her arms by a force and flew into the arms of the Daoist. The old Daoist rubbed the top of the puppy¡¯s head and laughed. ¡°The love between a mother and her child is deep. Since the lady has come to my doorstep, I will gladly accept her offer.¡± The puppy raised his chubby little hands to remove the old Daoist¡¯s square hat, revealing his grayish-green scalp. It was then that A Fu got a good look at his face. It was hardly human, all bones and skull. The puppy was stunned for a moment and then patted the old Daoist¡¯s head and said, ¡°Grandpa is also bald. The cat said that people who are bald were drums in their past lives, and people liked to beat on them.¡± At that moment, A Fu¡¯s face grew even paler. The sound of the puppy patting the old Daoist¡¯s head was not a normal ¡°pop-pop¡± sound, but an empty ¡°thud-thud¡± sound, as if there was nothing inside. ¡°You are a brave child, but your words are not pleasing to the ear.¡± The old Daoist laughed darkly, revealing a mouthful of uneven yellow teeth. ¡°A child¡¯s tongue is tender and perfect for cutting off and making soup for this old man to drink.¡± ¡°Give my son back to me, or I¡¯ll break your bald head!¡± A Fu gritted her teeth. Suddenly, the puppy shouted with a straight face, ¡°Big brother!¡± ¡°You are not very bright, little child.¡± The old Daoist shook his head and sighed. ¡°I could be your grandfather¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, the old Daoist suddenly froze like a puppet. A pale hand reached out from behind him and covered the puppy¡¯s eyes. At the same time, the old Dao¡¯s forehead began to break slowly, like the smooth surface of a ceramic vessel. Countless cracks snaked through it. A set of pale fingers pierced through the middle of his forehead, and then his head split into four or five pieces. Afraid, A Fu stiffened all over. The figure behind the old Daoist gradually revealed itself. It was a boy about twelve years old, with fair skin and big black eyes. A black cat lay on his shoulder, and he hovered in the air. He withdrew his hand and took the puppy from the old Daoist¡¯s arms, holding him in his own. ¡°It was me that my little brother called for,¡± Fu Lan said. Fu Lan handed the puppy to A Fu. Her eyes widened. ¡°You¡­you all¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s you, Fu Lan,¡± a thin, sharp voice suddenly came. Fu Lan looked up and saw the old Daoist standing in the distant mist. The upper half of his head was gone, leaving only a chin hanging on his skinny neck, which opened and closed in a strange way. A Fu snapped out of her daze and shouted, ¡°His head is empty. Try piercing his chest!¡± Fu Lan¡¯s ink-black figure flashed, and he suddenly appeared in front of the old Daoist. His ten fingers pierced through the old Daoist¡¯s chest. A teeth-grinding sound was heard as the old Daoist¡¯s chest was completely broken. ¡°You can¡¯t kill me, Fu Lan.¡± The old Daoist¡¯s skeleton stuck to Fu Lan¡¯s arm, and he smiled crookedly. ¡°You, a mixed breed of unknown origin. You call yourself a demon, but you mingle with mortals. I¡¯ve heard that all demons are ashamed to be with you. You left Southern Territory and came to the mortal world. Even mortals won¡¯t tolerate a mixed breed like you!¡± The black cat smashed his chin with a paw. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business. Go die.¡± The skeleton broke into pieces, and the bone fragments rolled around on the ground. They rolled into the ditch. A Fu ran over and asked, ¡°Is he dead?¡± ¡°No, this isn¡¯t his real body,¡± said the black cat. The puppy struggled out of A Fu¡¯s arms and ran to Fu Lan¡¯s feet. He stood on tiptoe and held Fu Lan¡¯s hand, which had several cuts on it from the bone spurs. The puppy breathed a few times against Fu Lan¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Hurts fly away.¡± The healing ability of a demon was strong. Even if his hand was cut off, it could grow back. The cuts on his hand healed at this moment. The puppy smiled, his eyes curved like a crescent moon, and bright stars hid in his eyes. Fu Lan was stunned for a moment, reached out his hand, and clumsily touched the top of his head. CH 12 After returning each abducted child one by one, A Fu brought the puppy, Fu Lan, and the black cat back home. A Fu¡¯s thatched cottage was at the village entrance. They walked to the end of the gravel road, turned onto a muddy dirt road, and then turned past a dilapidated wall with tall walls and diamond-shaped windows. The houses with tall walls and diamond-shaped windows became increasingly distant, gradually turning into brick and earth houses, and then into thatched huts. Finally, they crossed a field in the dark and came to a solitary little thatched hut at the foot of the eastern hill. There was a black locust tree growing beside the door, and its black leaves cast a dark shadow. That was where A Fu and her son lived. As soon as they entered the door, A Fu knelt down with the puppy and said, ¡°Thank you both for saving us. I have nothing to offer but live chickens and ducks. I hope you will accept them.¡± The black cat licked its lips but couldn¡¯t move even if it wanted to. It got so fat because of the food puppy shared with it every day. When it heard about the live chickens and ducks, the black cat cleared its throat and said, ¡°Oh no, no, no, it was just a small favor to save a little child. But if you insist on showing your gratitude, we won¡¯t refuse. That¡¯s settled then. Boil the chicken and make the duck into salted duck. I have a light taste, so remember to add more onions.¡± ¡°So you are a demon who eats cooked food. What about this young master?¡± ¡°He eats and drinks the northwest wind. Don¡¯t mind him. You just need to take care of me,¡± the black cat replied. The puppy broke free from A Fu¡¯s grasp and pounced on Fu Lan, saying, ¡°Big brother!¡± Fu Lan was startled and pushed his head away. The puppy was persistent and stuck to Fu Lan. Fu Lan pushed him away again, and the puppy twisted his body and dived into his arms. The puppy took out a packet of braised pork from his arms and opened it. He said, ¡°It¡¯s cold. There¡¯s no meat to eat at home today, so I ran all over the village to find two pieces. I was going to give them to you, but I was caught by the strange old man on the way.¡± Fu Lan patted him on the head. A Fu was surprised and said with a smile, ¡°So you are the new friends that the puppy mentioned. Before going to bed, he always talks about how he met a little boy and a cat. He used to talk about playmates he had met, but they turned out to be either mud dolls he had made himself or friends he had imagined. Once, he even took his own shadow as a friend. I thought this time was the same.¡± She reached out and touched the puppy¡¯s little body and said, ¡°This child has been playing alone since he was young. I am too busy to take care of him. Thank you both for accompanying him these past few days. I am deeply grateful.¡± ¡°No problem, no problem.¡± The black cat also smiled. ¡°This old man is very happy to see this cute child.¡± ¡°But, puppy.¡± A Fu turned her head and smiled. ¡°Weren¡¯t you staying at Auntie Shen¡¯s house? How did you meet Brother Cat and Young Master?¡± She smiled with a slightly sinister expression, but at that time Fu Lan was naive and didn¡¯t understand how to read people¡¯s expressions. Fu Lan only found out later that this woman, A Fu, was not to be trifled with, and by then he was already her godson. When they ran out of oil at home, he took the puppy with him to buy soy sauce, and happened to see A Fu fighting in front of someone¡¯s house. It seemed that the female owner had cheated A Fu out of her wages, and accused her of seducing men. A Fu beat the couple until they were disheveled and humiliated, and when she looked up, she saw her two sons standing in the crowd. A Fu straightened her clothes and put two big coins in his palm, patting his head and saying, ¡°Go buy some fruit to eat.¡± When a woman goes crazy, even demons and monsters will keep their distance. That was the lesson Fu Lan learned at that time. However, A Fu didn¡¯t get angry when she found out that the puppy had been taken away by the black cat to become its food, and that he had stolen chicken and braised pork from Auntie Shen¡¯s house. Perhaps because the black cat and Fu Lan were present, she just smiled and kindly told the puppy not to do it again, and that she would apologize to Auntie Shen tomorrow. The puppy knew his mother¡¯s character well, and shook like a sieve. The black cat was surprised that this fearless child was acting like this. A Fu poured two cups of tea, took Fu Lan¡¯s hand, and asked about his background. Fu Lan answered all of her questions: he came from southern Xin Jiang, was picked up by a black cat, who was a cat demon, and had been looking for old temples all the way. He arrived at Wu Jiang a few days ago. Under the lamp light, the woman¡¯s eyes were warm and gentle, and Fu Lan inexplicably felt that she looked like the goddess Nuwa in the temple. As long as he was under the dark eaves of a temple, it was like coming home. Finally, she asked, ¡°You have nowhere to go. Do you want to stay at my house? Auntie Shen doesn¡¯t take good care of the puppy, and I don¡¯t want to bother her anymore. If you help me take care of the puppy, as long as I can eat chicken butts, you will definitely have chicken legs to eat in the future.¡± Only A Fu would dare to ask two demons to take care of her child. She was a bold and reckless woman, and this was not the most outrageous thing she had ever done in her life. The black cat agreed to everything just to get chicken, duck, and pork. Although taking care of the little puppy was actually left to Fu Lan. Fu Lan became the most capable nanny in Wu Jiang. He learned how to make rice porridge, stir-fry vegetables, wrap dumplings, make fruit cakes, and help the puppy wash urine-stained sheets and clothes that were covered in mud and dirt. Sometimes he even had to clean the yard, although the house was not big, with only one thatched house as the main hall. After Fu Lan arrived, A Fu slept in the main bedroom. Fu Lan, the puppy, and the black cat slept in the same room. To save money, the family did not often light a lamp. The main room was dark, with only two dim lamps on the ancestral tablet (1). A dripping red candle was placed on the altar. It wasn¡¯t Fuxi or Nuwa who was enshrined, but A Fu¡¯s man, whose name was written on it, ¡°Daoist Shen Wei Ascends to Immortality.¡± ¡°This is my man.¡± A Fu wiped the plaque carefully with a wet cloth. The dim light reflected on her face, giving her a sinister smile. ¡°When I was pregnant, he went south to the immortal mountain and never returned. I think he has become an immortal. You see, I¡¯ve set up a plaque hoping he will bless us mother and son to be safe and healthy.¡± The black cat felt a little cold and said, ¡°This is not good. In all these years, I¡¯ve never heard of anyone mastering Daoism and becoming immortal. By doing this, aren¡¯t you cursing him to death?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± A Fu smiled, with her eyebrows and eyes curved. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t want to become my man, I¡¯ll just treat him as dead.¡± The black cat: ¡°¡­¡± The family also had trouble sometimes. The puppy was mischievous and once cut the black cat¡¯s whiskers while it was asleep. When the black cat woke up and looked in the mirror, it felt ashamed and refused to come out from under the cabinet. A Fu was furious when she came back and shaved the puppy¡¯s head with a razor. The puppy cried so much that it felt like the sky had fallen. ¡°I have no hair left!¡± ¡°You have no hair, and Lord Cat has no whiskers,¡± A Fu scolded, holding his ears. ¡°What good is it to have you around? You only bring chaos! Tomorrow, I¡¯ll chop off your hands.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you as my mother!¡± The puppy wiped away his tears and rushed into the bedroom. He wrapped his bald head in a blue cloth with floral patterns, packed a small bundle, and pulled Fu Lan¡¯s hand, ready to leave. Fu Lan was at a loss, and A Fu pulled him over. ¡°What are you doing? If you want to leave, then leave. Why are you holding your brother?¡± ¡°My brother is leaving with me!¡± the puppy shouted. A Fu pulled Fu Lan over and scolded, ¡°You¡¯ve gone mad! You go by yourself! The farther away you go, the better! I shouldn¡¯t have given birth to you in the first place!¡± The little puppy had indeed run away from home, and Fu Lan stood there dumbfounded for a while before deciding to follow him. The puppy walked aimlessly with a small bundle on his back, and Fu Lan silently followed him. With a floral cloth wrapped around his head and the bundle on his back, the puppy looked like a mistreated young woman. Later, when the puppy¡¯s stomach growled, Fu Lan took out two copper coins and bought him a steamed bun. The two boys, one big and one small, squatted on the roadside and watched the people passing by. Some passersby threw a few copper coins at their feet when they saw them. At night, the puppy caught a cold and developed a high fever. Fu Lan carried him back home, and the black cat had already come out from under the cabinet, rubbing against the unconscious puppy. A Fu opened the puppy¡¯s bundle and found that there was only his father¡¯s ancestral tablet in it. This little kid had run away from home without taking anything but his father, whom he had never met. That was the first time Fu Lan had seen A Fu cry. A Fu once said that in this lifetime, people travel far and wide, covering thousands of miles, just to meet someone or reunite with someone. A Fu didn¡¯t say who that person was, but the black cat secretly told Fu Lan that it was Qi Shen Wei. Sometimes, A Fu would stand under the eaves lost in thought. Fu Lan later learned that they had knelt and worshipped heaven and earth there and become husband and wife. ¡°Getting married is a promise, Fu Lan,¡± said A Fu, who was drinking under the eaves on a day when the leaves were falling all over the sky like withered butterflies. ¡°Promise to treat your spouse well for the rest of your life and always keep them in your heart.¡± Fu Lan¡¯s heart was always still, like smoke and water, boundless. But at that moment, his heart suddenly stirred, as if he had a longing. ¡°Can I marry puppy?¡± Fu Lan said. ¡°I will treat him well for the rest of my life and always keep him in my heart.¡± He thought for a moment and said, ¡°A Fu, I traveled over many mountains and crossed many rivers from southern Xin Jiang to Wu Jiang, just as you said, to meet him. Is the puppy the person I¡¯m supposed to meet?¡± A Fu was stunned for a long time, looking at this black-haired, black-eyed boy in a daze. His eyes were calm, and every word he spoke was serious. ¡°Okay,¡± A Fu said with a smile, her face flushed from drinking too much. ¡°If you haven¡¯t changed your mind when you grow up, I¡¯ll marry the puppy to you.¡± 1. Ancestral tablet ¨C an object that is used in some cultures to honor and remember deceased ancestors. It is usually a rectangular piece of wood or other material that is inscribed with the names of ancestors or their photographs. CH 13 Later, in the autumn when the village¡¯s wealthy Zhang family was marrying off their daughter, A Fu was called to help with the wedding. Fu Lan washed the clothes that the puppy had wet with urine and went to the edge of the field to collect dried cow dung, which he did every day. Dried cow dung could be used as fuel, and once he collected enough, he wouldn¡¯t have to chop wood. Every noon, Fu Lan brought the puppy and the black cat to collect cow dung. ¡°Hey, little fool!¡± someone shouted at Fu Lan. Fu Lan turned his head and saw a farmer calling him. Some of these farmers called him the Meng family¡¯s eldest son, and some called him a fool because he was very quiet, like a fool who didn¡¯t know how to speak. ¡°Your foster mother is going to get married and won¡¯t need you anymore.¡± The peasant man laughed. After he finished speaking, other men and women also came around to tease him, ¡°Yes, little fool, what about you and your younger brother? Come to my house and be my son, okay?¡± Fu Lan asked in confusion, ¡°Get married?¡± ¡°Of course, didn¡¯t your foster mother go to Zhang¡¯s house to work today?¡± A woman with a tanned face covered her mouth and laughed. ¡°Zhang wants her to be his concubine. Poor child. The puppy is one thing; after all, he¡¯s her own child. She¡¯ll probably take him in and enjoy the benefits together. What about you?¡± Someone laughed. ¡°It¡¯s simple. Just look at how this child does tasks so diligently. He¡¯s kept the puppy fat and healthy. She¡¯ll definitely bring him into the mansion as a servant. Marrying one gets you three. Zhang won¡¯t lose out!¡± The puppy was unusually well-behaved and timidly snuggled up to Fu Lan, looking up at him and reaching out his hand. ¡°Big brother, hold me.¡± Fu Lan picked up his basket and the puppy, the soft body of the child resting against his chest. The puppy buried his head and said, ¡°I miss my mother.¡± The men and women in the field muttered behind them. Some even shouted ¡°little fool¡± with laughter. The idle chatter was like a fire, burning the field. Fu Lan didn¡¯t turn back, and the two walked home, one step at a time. Auntie Shen led A Fu into the Zhang mansion. Today, there was a celebration, and the mansion was adorned with red cloth and lanterns hanging from the beams. Auntie Shen led A Fu in with a joyful face. She was one of the few people in the village that A Fu had befriended. After not taking care of the puppy properly, she came to apologize to A Fu yesterday and said she would make amends by helping her find work. The job was to help the bride dress up, and the work was light but well-paying. The further they walked, the fewer people there were. The courtyard was made of green tiles and white walls, with blue-white stone slabs covering the ground, and damp moss growing out of the cracks. A Fu looked down at her toes, which were like small bamboo shoots, peeking out from under her skirt. Without realizing it, they had already entered the inner courtyard. Auntie Shen pushed open the door to the room and pulled A Fu inside. The old woman had great strength. Her hand that was grasping A Fu¡¯s wrist was rough and powerful, like a pair of pliers. A Fu felt that something was amiss. Auntie Shen had already lifted the beaded curtain, and several maids stood in front of a black lacquered dressing table. The stool was empty, as if waiting for its new bride. A Fu asked Auntie Shen, ¡°Where is the bride?¡± Auntie Shen grinned and said, ¡°The bride is you!¡± A Fu was startled, and several maids rushed forward, pressing down on her shoulders and forcing her to sit in front of the dressing mirror. ¡°Big sister, what are you doing?!¡± A Fu asked. Auntie Shen leaned her head next to A Fu¡¯s face, and the dressing mirror reflected the faces of two women, one old and one young. Auntie Shen stroked A Fu¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Madam, please calm down. I¡¯m only doing this for your own good. Look, Master Zhang¡¯s family is wealthy and one of the richest in Wu Jiang. If you marry him, your future will be bright.¡± A Fu sneered. ¡°Auntie Shen, is this how you treat your friends?¡± Auntie Shen was about to persuade her again when a man in a round-collared jacket pushed aside the curtain and walked in. ¡°Madam, why must you be like this?¡± The man had a fair complexion, slanted eyes, and a charming and handsome appearance. ¡°Instead of being a widow, why not come with me? I have admired you for a long time, and I will treat your child as my own. In the future, your son will be my son, and I will pay for his education and examinations in Beijing.¡± ¡°Yes, yes,¡± Auntie Shen chimed in. ¡°A Fu, don¡¯t be foolish. Your husband, the sword immortal, has long abandoned you. As a woman, you should marry a man.¡± A Fu sneered at Zhang Luo Huai. ¡°You look so unremarkable, but I never expected you to come up with such a vulgar scheme to deceive me into entering your mansion. I spit on you! You should take a look in the mirror and reflect on your despicable behavior. Even if I were to marry a pig, I would never marry you!¡± Zhang Luo Huai made a gesture, and the others rushed forward to press down on her shoulders. However, A Fu was thin but strong. She easily overpowered them, pushing aside the maids and trying to run out. Zhang Luo Huai stepped forward to block her way, using the curtain to shield himself. A Fu grabbed a candlestick to threaten him to move away, but Zhang Luo Huai refused to budge and reached out to grab the candlestick. ¡°Get out of the way!¡± A Fu screamed. In the struggle, A Fu swung the candlestick, hitting Zhang Luo Huai¡¯s face solidly and making his head jerk to the right. The crowd was shocked, and A Fu was frightened too. She was strong, but if she killed someone, she would end up in jail. Seeing that he was standing steadily and seemingly unharmed, A Fu tentatively said, ¡°I will compensate you. Please let me go.¡± Auntie Shen stomped her foot and said, ¡°Look at what you¡¯ve done! How can we fix your victim¡¯s face? Master Zhang, how are you feeling? Shall I call a doctor?¡± Zhang Luo Huai gradually turned his face back, and Auntie Shen and A Fu¡¯s faces changed slowly. His whole face was crooked, with his nose and mouth twisted to the left, the right side of his face sunken in a pit, and his left eye squeezed up to his forehead, forming a seam. He squirmed his mouth that had been punched crooked, and his voice became sharp and thin, ¡°Madam, that hurt me so much.¡± A Fu recognized his voice and suddenly remembered that he was the bald-headed old Daoist! Everyone paled and couldn¡¯t speak, and a few maids behind them screamed and fainted. Auntie Shen held A Fu¡¯s arm tightly and managed not to faint. Zhang Luo Huai noticed their pale faces and glanced at himself in the mirror, seeing his twisted face. His face was so twisted that no expression could be seen, but he said in a slightly deeper voice, ¡°You¡¯ve ruined my face.¡± A Fu said with difficulty, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Auntie Shen trembled and said, ¡°Master Zhang, I have nothing to do with this. I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Zhang Luo Huai extended his five fingers and grabbed Auntie Shen¡¯s face. She immediately froze like a puppet. Her blood and flesh evaporated in an instant. Her face withered quickly, revealing dry bones. A Fu watched as Zhang Luo Huai sucked her flesh and blood dry, leaving only a skeleton behind. He looked at A Fu with his crooked mouth and said coldly, ¡°Fix my face, or you¡¯ll end up like her.¡± A Fu¡¯s heart was pounding, but she still had to force a smile and walk up to him, ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll help you fix it.¡± When she touched his face, it was cold and wet, not like a human face, but like a muddy lump soaked in water, sticky and disgusting. A Fu straightened his nose and moved her fingers to his half-closed eyes. With a sudden determination, she poked her two fingers into his eyes. Zhang Luo Huai screamed. A Fu pushed him away and ran out. A faint ringing sound came from behind her, and suddenly her legs lost their strength. A Fu was surprised to find that she couldn¡¯t move. The soul-capturing bell rang three times, and she stiffly turned around and walked step by step towards Zhang Luo Huai. He stood beside the floor lamp, his face a mess, a blur. A Fu screamed in her heart not to go, but she still couldn¡¯t control herself and walked up to him. ¡°Has Fu Lan ever told you?¡± Zhang Luo Huai leaned in close to her face, just a hand¡¯s span away, and his cold, hissing breath brushed against A Fu¡¯s face. ¡°Demons have elevated senses. Even if they have no eyes, they can still ¡®see¡¯. Be a good girl and stay here, and we¡¯ll be reunited as a family tonight.¡± CH 14 As the sky gradually darkened, the twilight sun crept through the diamond-shaped windows and onto A Fu¡¯s knees. She heard faint sounds of people outside, the loud greetings of aunts and sisters-in-law, children crying, and the shadows of servants and maids passing by with their footsteps. She wanted to cry out for help, but she couldn¡¯t move, not even bending her fingers. In the copper mirror, her reflection was blurry, like a female ghost. There was no one else in the room but her, and the shadows of the dried flowers swayed on the table. It was quiet all around her, but suddenly a small bamboo ball rolled to her feet with a clatter. The ball was old and worn, as if it had been used for a long time, and the edges of the bamboo were frayed. Where did this ball come from? A Fu felt a sense of confusion and turned her eyes to look around. The room was empty, except for her. But the ball was right at her feet; it couldn¡¯t have appeared out of thin air. She couldn¡¯t turn her head and her view was limited, so she could only see the dressing table in front of her and the incense table in front of that. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her and she looked into the copper mirror. As soon as she looked, her heart sank. Half of a blurry face appeared from under the gauze canopy near the bed, staring intently at her reflection in the mirror. The face had vague features and a hazy expression, only its outline was discernible. A Fu felt it was somewhat eerie. After staring for a while, she realized that it was because the face was very low, close to the ground, as if someone was lying on the ground and peeking out from under the gauze to secretly watch her. Even the bravest person would be afraid. A Fu¡¯s back was cold and her heart was pounding. The face remained motionless, and A Fu decided not to look at it anymore. The more she looked, the more scared she became, so she closed her eyes and tried to calm her breathing. She could only hope that Fu Lan would discover something was wrong soon, but she also worried that the monster might have some tricks up its sleeve and was trying to deceive them, hoping to separate Fu Lan and the puppy to eat the puppy, and that was why it had gone to such lengths. As she was lost in thought, a shadow suddenly covered her head, and everything went black before her eyes as if someone was standing in front of her. A Fu felt a chill run through her body. Slowly, she opened her eyes, not daring to look directly ahead. Instead, she lowered her eyelids and saw a pair of small feet standing in front of her. They were like a child¡¯s. A Fu was startled, and slowly lifted her gaze to see a pale-faced child of seven or eight years old, looking at her with black eyes. It turned out that the child was too short and was hiding behind the gauze, showing only his face. A Fu thought there was someone lying behind her. The vague appearance was due to the fact that the bronze mirror had not been polished for a long time. She was scared out of her wits and only then noticed that her own face was also blurry. The child¡¯s face was expressionless, and creepy to look at. Could this be a ghost child? A Fu was scared. The child looked at her for a while and suddenly took A Fu¡¯s arm, rolled up her sleeve, and bit down hard. Blood spilled from the bite, causing A Fu intense pain. However, she could not struggle or speak, and could only endure the pain. She thought this was it, her luck had run out after she had encountered a bald-headed demon and a man-eating ghost child. Footsteps sounded at the door. The child trembled, picked up his ball, and disappeared in an instant. A Fu¡¯s hand fell back on her knee, and the wound on her arm burned. Zhang Luo Huai lifted the pearl curtain and came in, his face back to normal. He did not speak as he sniffed around and then smiled. ¡°Did he come to see you?¡± A Fu ignored him, cold-faced. Zhang Luo Huai rolled up A Fu¡¯s sleeve and saw a row of bite marks on her fair arm. He smiled. ¡°This child is naughty and always running around. His flesh and blood are extremely pure, like your child, so there¡¯s no need to worry. He bit you, but it¡¯s not poisonous.¡± He let go of A Fu¡¯s sleeve and rubbed her head. ¡°Good wife, accept your fate. This old man is now wearing the skin of a mortal, and has shed his demon qi. Fu Lan is just a little boy who can¡¯t sense this old man¡¯s demon qi.¡± A Fu glared at him hatefully. Zhang Luo Huai ignored her and continued to smile. ¡°Alright, alright, the auspicious time has come, and we should get married. You will be my concubine in a legitimate way, and the puppy will be my legitimate son. We will be a family and live well.¡± Fu Lan led the puppy to stand under the stone lions at the entrance of Zhang Mansion, while the black cat lay on the pedestal. People were coming and going on the steps, and villagers from the fields came with their families to drink wedding wine. Fu Lan held the puppy, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his cuffs tied, looking like a timid country boy. The puppy sucked on his fingers and looked up at Fu Lan. ¡°Brother, where did our mother go?¡± The black cat lazily stretched and said, ¡°Fool, we should leave now. A Fu has found a good home after getting married and has a new place to live with the puppy. We should go.¡± Fu Lan looked down and saw the small child snuggled up next to him. The puppy¡¯s clear black eyes were watery with tears. Fu Lan bent down and picked up the puppy, stepping over the threshold. There were more than ten tables set up in the courtyard, and people were already seated. When the villagers saw them, they all covered their mouths and laughed, whispering to each other. An old lady with a fan walked over and pulled Fu Lan to the table. ¡°Fool, why did you bring your little brother here? It doesn¡¯t matter. Since you¡¯re here, take care of your little brother and don¡¯t cause trouble for your godmother.¡± The old lady sitting next to them laughed. ¡°Puppy, does your mother not want you anymore? Come with me instead.¡± The puppy turned his head and leaned against Fu Lan. ¡°Brother, does mother not want me anymore?¡± Fu Lan covered his ears and whispered, ¡°Puppy, don¡¯t listen, don¡¯t look.¡± ¡°Will Brother leave? Will the black cat leave?¡± The child tightly clutched Fu Lan¡¯s clothes. The black cat licked his face with pity and whispered, ¡°Alright, alright, the black cat won¡¯t leave.¡± Suddenly, music started playing, and the courtyard became chaotic with everyone laughing and talking. The groom led the bride out from the corner door, followed by servants and maidservants. The bride wore a golden headpiece with pearls, her eyes lowered. Her cheeks were pink and white, and at first glance, she looked like a goddess in a temple. The puppy¡¯s eyes lit up, and he shouted, ¡°Mother!¡± A Fu was startled and looked up. The puppy jumped out of Fu Lan¡¯s arms and ran towards her clumsily. She wanted to shout, ¡°Don¡¯t come over, go back to Fu Lan¡¯s side!¡± However, she heard the sound of a bronze bell in the noisy crowd, gently ringing out, and she blurted out against her will, ¡°Puppy, come, this is your new father..¡± The puppy was stunned and stood still, looking at the groom. ¡°Father? But didn¡¯t he become a god?¡± ¡°Son,¡± Zhang Luo Huai opened his arms. ¡°Father is here. Come here, Father will hug you.¡± ¡°Father has come down to earth!¡± The puppy¡¯s face broke into a big smile. He took a step forward, but suddenly hesitated and turned back to pull Fu Lan along. ¡°Brother, let¡¯s go to Father together.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Zhang Luo Huai called to him. ¡°Puppy, he is not your brother. He is a mongrel of unknown origin, and the Zhang family does not welcome such people at our door. You will live with your father and mother. As for this mongrel, he can go back to where he came from.¡± The puppy was stunned. Zhang Luo Huai said, ¡°Let him go and come to me on your own.¡± The villagers behind them came forward and pulled Fu Lan back. They whispered, ¡°You fool, go home first. Don¡¯t make trouble here. Your adoptive mother has finally found a good marriage. Don¡¯t ruin it for her.¡± Fu Lan stood still, just lowering his gaze and touching the puppy¡¯s head. The small child stood on the ground, staring blankly at his mother and new father. His mother¡¯s voice came from afar, urging him to come over quickly. All the villagers were urging him to let go of Fu Lan¡¯s clothes. ¡°Go quickly, puppy.¡± ¡°Go quickly, your parents are waiting for you.¡± The puppy hesitated and asked, ¡°Can I only choose one between Father and Brother?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhang Luo Huai smiled. ¡°You can only choose one.¡± The puppy clenched his fists. He suddenly moved, but did not rush towards A Fu and Zhang Luo Huai. Instead, he pounced into Fu Lan¡¯s arms. He tightly hugged Fu Lan¡¯s neck, his long and curled eyelashes fluttering with every blink, shedding tears the size of beans. ¡°I don¡¯t want Father anymore, I want Brother!¡± The puppy cried. ¡°Mother is bad. She wants Father and doesn¡¯t want Brother, so I don¡¯t want her either!¡± Fu Lan quietly held him, the warmth from his small body was like a charcoal fire. This child was naturally bold and smiling. Even when caught by a demon, he dared to knock on the demon¡¯s head as if it was a drum. He rarely cried, naturally carefree and fearless. It turned out that he could be afraid, afraid of losing Fu Lan. The black cat crouched on Fu Lan¡¯s shoulder, leaned over, and rubbed away the puppy¡¯s tears. ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡± Fu Lan tore off a piece of cloth from his chest and tied it over the puppy¡¯s eyes, pressing the puppy¡¯s face against his chest. ¡°Close your eyes. Don¡¯t look, don¡¯t listen.¡± The puppy obediently buried himself in Fu Lan¡¯s chest. Fu Lan stroked the puppy¡¯s head and whispered, ¡°Brother will take you and mother home!¡± As soon as the words fell, his figure disappeared in an instant. Fu Lan appeared behind Zhang Luo Huai, drew out his hand, and with a swipe of his five fingers, Zhang Luo Huai¡¯s body was torn apart. Black blood splattered like a fountain. The black cat leaped onto A Fu¡¯s head, and from somewhere, it took out a talisman and slapped it on her forehead. A Fu shook all over and finally regained her mobility. A Fu moved her limbs with relief, but suddenly felt that something was wrong. The courtyard had become quiet, and there was no sound of birds or insects. It seemed that one could hear the sound of a falling needle. All the villagers stared at them, not because they were frightened by Fu Lan tearing apart Zhang Luo Huai, but because¡­ they had been controlled by the Soul Capturing Bell. Zhang Luo Huai¡¯s shattered limbs wriggled and floated into the air, and then reassembled. His broken face grinned at Fu Lan. ¡°Fu Lan, how did you know it was me?¡± The black cat sneered. ¡°Dead baldy, even with makeup on, you can¡¯t hide the stench of your rotten skin. I knew who you were the moment you told the puppy to call you father!¡± Fu Lan handed the puppy to A Fu, and with a flicker of his figure, he appeared in front of Zhang Luo Huai again and tore his almost assembled limbs into pieces with one swipe. ¡°I said you couldn¡¯t kill me,¡± said Zhang Luo Huai. A copper bell appeared in the palm of his broken right hand. With a light shake, the villagers below suddenly trembled and, like madmen, twisted their hands and feet and rushed towards Fu Lan. The villagers roared and clawed at Fu Lan, and some even climbed up the trees to reach for his feet. Seeing that they could not climb up, the villagers formed a human ladder and pulled Fu Lan down. In the blink of an eye, Fu Lan was swallowed up by the crowd. The black heads of people wriggled like cockroaches, and the villagers followed one after another. In less than a cup of tea¡¯s time, they had piled up into a mountain of people. At the same time, Zhang Luo Huai¡¯s limbs and minced meat converged like a tide, revealing a sinister smile. A Fu hid under the porch, feeling extremely anxious. ¡°Why won¡¯t this old ghost die!?¡± CH 15 Suddenly, A Fu remembered the proud young man who carried a three-foot blade many years ago. He turned his head slightly and said to her, ¡°Demons are cunning and often separate their hearts from their bodies to achieve immortality. Therefore, when killing demons, one must destroy their hearts.¡± ¡°The heart!¡± A Fu pulled the black cat¡¯s tail and turned around to run to the backyard. ¡°Nonsense! Of course, this old man knows that the heart is not in his body, but who knows where he hid his heart!¡± The black cat followed her and shouted, ¡°You weak mortal, this place is dangerous, don¡¯t run around!¡± ¡°I know where the heart is!¡± A Fu said, ¡°There is a mountain spirit who beckons to people on the bridge but disappears when they pass by. I met him today. Zhang Luo Huai said he has pure flesh and blood, and he doesn¡¯t inject poison when he bites people.¡± The black cat was stunned. ¡°Are you saying that the heart is in the mountain spirit¡¯s body?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± A Fu gritted her teeth and ran. ¡°Zhang Luo Huai nurtures the heart with the pure flesh and blood of children. The mountain spirit scares people to let them know that the heart is in his body, but Zhang Luo Huai always finds out.¡± ¡°Why doesn¡¯t the child just say it out loud? Be careful, this might be a trap!¡± A Fu ran through the corridor and a ball rolled to her feet. She stopped and looked up. The child stood under the flower hall, looking at her quietly. A Fu put down the puppy and walked towards the child. She crouched in front of the boy and asked softly, ¡°Did you bite me before to let me move? Is that right?¡± The boy nodded. ¡°You can¡¯t speak?¡± she asked. The boy opened his collar to show A Fu a scar on his neck, which looked like a twisting centipede. Zhang Luo Huai had cut his throat so he could no longer speak. No one knew when he had been forced to leave his parents and hometown, and no one knew the fear and sadness he had experienced among the demons. She imagined him playing ball in the mountains, lonely and desperate, so many people passing him by, but no one able to take him home. He couldn¡¯t speak. He couldn¡¯t even cry, because he was already dead, and the dead don¡¯t cry. A Fu covered her mouth and shed tears. The black cat jumped onto the roof to observe the battle. Zhang Luo Huai manipulated the villagers to bite Fu Lan while he was suspended in mid-air, and the latter was dragged back to the ground and swallowed up by the crowd again. Fu Lan repeatedly broke through the encirclement, only to be dragged back in again. He was covered in blood, but still expressionless, as if he couldn¡¯t feel the pain. The black cat urged, ¡°Don¡¯t waste time, hurry up!¡± The boy took A Fu¡¯s hand and placed it on his chest. His hand was cold, but his chest was hot, as if he was holding a ball of fire that throbbed inside him. He took a golden hairpin from A Fu¡¯s hair and placed it in her palm. His black eyes looked at her quietly, as if giving her a wordless encouragement. There was a barrier around his chest. The black cat jumped down and drew a talisman on the hairpin. The flowing light on the hairpin was so fine and dense that A Fu couldn¡¯t see it clearly. She held the hairpin tightly, while the boy held her hand. The hairpin pierced through the chest with a crisp cracking sound, shattering the glass-like barrier. The sharp tip of the hairpin pierced into the heart. Zhang Luo Huai¡¯s body froze for a moment as he returned to his original form. He stared at them in horror, and the villagers who had been crawling around stopped moving. Fu Lan stood up from the crowd, covered in blood, and drew a line in the air with his index finger. A cold light flashed along the line. It sliced diagonally down, piercing through Zhang Luo Huai¡¯s entire body. He screamed in agony as his body burst into a gushing fountain of blood, splitting neatly in half and falling to the ground. A rusty bell dropped from the sky and landed on his severed limbs. A Fu hugged the boy tightly as he gradually turned into ashes, dissipating into the air. In the light of the sky, the ash glowed like flickering fireflies, and she seemed to see a peaceful smile on the boy¡¯s face. May the wind take him home and let his soul rest in peace. She picked up the ball and asked the puppy to hold it, then led the puppy back to the courtyard. Fu Lan picked up the soul capturing bell and shook it. The villagers who were scattered all over the ground woke up, looking at each other in confusion. ¡°Why am I here? Where is this?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­I can¡¯t remember anything.¡± ¡°A Fu? Oh, right, today is A Fu¡¯s wedding day. Didn¡¯t we come to drink and celebrate?¡± Fu Lan was covered in blood from being torn apart by the villagers, but he still had a calm expression, as if the blood flowing wasn¡¯t his own. A Fu felt heartbroken looking at him. He was just a child, fighting recklessly with his own flesh and blood as his only shield. A Fu wiped his face clean with her sleeve, then held his left hand and the puppy¡¯s right hand as they walked to the center of the messy courtyard. ¡°Listen up, my fellow villagers. From now on, Fu Lan is my son ¨C Meng Fu Niang¡¯s son ¨C and the puppy¡¯s older brother. Our family of four, counting in our cat, will not have a fifth person!¡± She smiled slightly, but her gaze was cold. ¡°If anyone dares to be a matchmaker for me again, or scare my two sons, I will tear their stinky mouth apart!¡± The audience was silent, and the villagers looked at each other in confusion. Fu Lan was a little stunned as he looked up at A Fu. The brilliant sunlight enveloped her face, and her delicate eyebrows and eyes stretched out into a gentle smile. ¡°Son, let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡ª Fu Lan was not sure how A Fu managed to fool the officials, but they came a few times and then disappeared. Later, Fu Lan overheard gossip from the aunts in the courtyard that the officials had dug up a skinned corpse from the Zhang family¡¯s backyard, and the matter was suppressed. Matters involving demons were dealt with in this way during this era. Unless the immortals from the mountains came, they were either ignored or suppressed to avoid rumors and unrest. Fortunately, due to the influence of the soul capturing bell, everyone forgot what happened in the mansion. When someone saw Fu Lan covered in blood, A Fu cried and said that the demon wanted to catch him as food, and the villagers didn¡¯t suspect anything. After all, Fu Lan¡¯s white and tender appearance did look delicious. Fu Lan was covered in bruises and needed several days to recover. On the day he recovered, A Fu had everyone jump over the fire pit to ward off bad luck. She also wrapped a bowl of white rice in red cloth and held it above their heads, then dragged Fu Lan and the black cat to the N¨¹wa Temple to offer incense. Following A Fu¡¯s lead, the puppy imitated and respectfully bowed to the goddess, muttering, ¡°Goddess, my father is bad. Please don¡¯t let him come down to earth. Use thunder to strike his head.¡± As soon as they returned home, it started snowing. Snowflakes fell from the sky like small feathers. Everyone sat under the wide eaves, and the puppy played in Fu Lan¡¯s arms while A Fu held the black cat to warm her hands. The black cat growled, ¡°Cats can be killed, but not humiliated!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have an extra serving of braised pork tonight,¡± A Fu said. ¡°Are your feet cold? I can keep you warm,¡± said the black cat. A Fu laughed uncontrollably. This woman had a beautiful appearance, and her eyes and eyebrows curved when she smiled. Suddenly, the black cat asked, ¡°Wu Fang Mountain is not very far from here. Do you want me and the fool to take you to find him? If he doesn¡¯t recognize you, the two of us will beat him up.¡± A Fu was startled and smiled. ¡°No need. Wu Fang Mountain is suspended in the air, and even if we go, we can¡¯t get up there. Besides, you¡¯re a demon. It wouldn¡¯t be convenient for you to go there.¡± ¡°So you¡¯ll just keep waiting for him like this?¡± ¡°Who told you I¡¯m waiting for him?¡± A Fu pouted. ¡°Come on, you.¡± The black cat looked like he understood everything. ¡°I¡¯m not Fu Lan. How could I not see through it? If you¡¯re not waiting, why bother staying here until now? What¡¯s going on between you and that stinky Daoist?¡± As snow fell softly, A Fu shook her head and sighed heavily. ¡°What else could it be? An immortal came down from the mountain and killed a bunch of demons, and I became a lovestruck girl. In the spring breeze, it was all a dream. I was a stupid girl. He¡¯s a bit like Fu Lan. They both don¡¯t like to talk, like a muffled gourd. I¡¯ve never seen such a handsome man. How does that saying go? A husband so beautiful he eclipses all others. There¡¯s no one else like him in the world. When we just got married, I held his face and said, ¡®Husband, why are you so handsome? This little wife can¡¯t get enough of looking at you during the day and even wants to look at you at night. When I sleep at night, I can¡¯t see you, so I have to go to my dreams to see you. Guess what he said?¡± A Fu gave a slight smile, and before the black cat could respond, she answered her own question, ¡°He said he has no fortunate events in his life, but the only fortunate thing is that his face is to the madam¡¯s liking.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like someone who can¡¯t speak,¡± the black cat said. ¡°A fool wouldn¡¯t be able to say something so sweet and sour, right, fool?¡± Fu Lan was stunned and said, ¡°I can learn.¡± A Fu didn¡¯t say anything, and the world was silent. There was only the sound of snowflakes falling on the corridor. Fu Lan looked up and saw A Fu¡¯s fair profile in the daylight. In her misty eyes, there were emotions he couldn¡¯t understand. It was only many years later that he knew it was deep nostalgia and sorrow. The puppy climbed into her arms and hugged her, saying, ¡°Mother, don¡¯t be sad. We have our big brother and Lord Cat. It doesn¡¯t matter if father doesn¡¯t come down to earth.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± A Fu took a deep breath and hugged Fu Lan and the puppy tightly. ¡°Why bother thinking about him? This old lady still has to earn money to raise her son and feed her cat.¡± She suddenly jumped into the snow barefoot, running like a madwoman. This woman was like that, gentle and graceful on the surface, but in fact, when she went crazy, she didn¡¯t care about anything, and even demons and ghosts were afraid of her. She ran until her hair tie came undone, her black and shiny hair flying among the snowflakes. While running, she put her hand over her mouth and shouted towards the sky, with an imposing manner and an awe-inspiring presence. ¡°Don¡¯t come back, you heartless man! This old lady can live on her own!¡± CH 16 The pebble road made a crunching sound under Fu Lan¡¯s feet as he carried Qi Yin through the fence. There were towering trees overhead, their leaves rustling and fluttering, like pigeons flapping their wings. Fu Lan returned to the house and placed Qi Yin on the bed. With a flick of his finger, the talisman on the wall dimmed slightly, leaving only a warm orange glow. This child fell asleep while listening to the story, so Fu Lan had to carry him back. A hazy halo from the light softened his features. With his eyes closed, he looked exhausted and peaceful. Fu Lan squatted by the bed and looked at Qi Yin. Being separated for nearly thirteen years made it hard for mortals to remember, especially childhood memories. Although Qi Yin used to call him ¡°brother¡± and cry in his arms when he was young, he couldn¡¯t remember any of it now. Fu Lan gazed at him quietly, feeling a bit dejected. Qi Yin seemed to be dreaming of something and furrowed his brows slightly. He murmured softly, ¡°Brother¡­¡± Fu Lan was taken aback. The black cat jumped to Qi Yin¡¯s pillow and said, ¡°Fool, the kid is dreaming about you.¡± Fu Lan pushed Qi Yin¡¯s hair behind his ear and nodded gently. The little pup dreamed of his big brother. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The sound of a clock echoed through the mountains and startled a group of white cranes, causing them to fly away screeching. Qi Yin yawned and got out of bed, washing his face and rinsing his mouth in the yard. They didn¡¯t have a basin or towels, so they had to make do with a wooden bucket, which was also old and had a missing plank. Other houses were empty, and the mud road was quiet on both sides. Some senior brothers forgot to close their doors, and one could vaguely see pots and bowls inside. After a while, Qi Yin remembered they had an early class. He and Fu Lan had just arrived and had to wait two more days before joining everyone in class. Yawning, they walked down the mountain to the vegetable garden for breakfast, with Fu Lan carrying the cat in front. The lazy cat refused to walk when the road was a bit longer and wanted Fu Lan to carry it. Today, it was carried on the left shoulder, and tomorrow it would be on the right. According to this chubby cat, it was to prevent Fu Lan from developing uneven shoulders. After half an hour of walking, they finally arrived at the vegetable garden. It was a square plot with a row of white and tender napa cabbages. It was not the season yet, but they had grown big and white, with dew rolling on their jade-like stems. They could be harvested now. Although it was called a kitchen, there was no one inside, only a stove and a few greasy square tables. It seemed that they had to cook their own food. Fu Lan rolled up his sleeves, picked up a big cabbage, and brought it to the stove. He washed the rice, washed the vegetables, and cut them. It was not difficult. Qi Yin sat on a stool. It was the first time that he didn¡¯t have to cook, just open his mouth and wait for food. He felt a little uncomfortable. He didn¡¯t remember any of the things that Fu Lan talked about last night. He was too young at that time. He didn¡¯t even remember his mother, let alone these two demons. Since he arrived at his aunt¡¯s house, he had never returned to Wu Jiang. He had never seen his old acquaintances, and no one told him about his mother¡¯s situation in Wu Jiang. He had no way to verify whether what Fu Lan said was true or false. Seeing Fu Lan¡¯s expression and tone, he didn¡¯t seem to be lying. But after Fu Lan went back to southern Xin Jiang, his mother moved around and even went to his aunt for shelter. She put the glass beads on Qi Yin to hide his aura, clearly hiding from these two demons. He remembered that his aunt had mentioned something about his mother, mostly making fun of her eccentric behavior. She said that his mother would block the door with a box, a cage, or a table before going to bed every night. She would ask the a Daoist to draw talismans all over the walls, and she would take Qi Yin wherever she went. Qi Yin followed his mother around doing odd jobs. ¡°New here?¡± Suddenly a person came in at the door. He was wearing a light blue Daoist robe with patches all over it. His hair was messy like a weed, his face was dark, and there was a scar on his face that ran from his left eyebrow to his right cheek. If the cut were any deeper, his entire head would be split in half. The person who stayed in the vegetable garden was undoubtedly the Elder of Precepts, Ye Qing Ming. Qi Yin was about to salute, but Qing Ming stopped him and said, ¡°Don¡¯t salute me. I¡¯ll tell you the truth. Wu Fang Mountain just sent me an invitation letter to come and give a lecture a few days ago. If it weren¡¯t for your sect leader hanging outside my door asking for help, I would have left already.¡± He put his hand in his sleeve and sat opposite Qi Yin. ¡°So, when the sect leader is gone, I¡¯ll go to Wu Fang Mountain immediately. I¡¯m not interested in knowing who you are, and you don¡¯t have to call me elder. Just treat me as a passerby.¡± Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± After he finished speaking, he turned to Fu Lan and said, ¡°Pretty boy, make me one too. You can treat it as respecting the elderly.¡± Fu Lan obediently turned around to pick another cabbage. Ye Qing Ming plucked a blade of grass and teased the black cat. ¡°You two boys were tricked, right? Why do you want to cultivate the Daoist way when you can live as ordinary people?¡± ¡°Um, what was that phrase again? ¡®Slaying demons and monsters, holding a sword to uphold justice.''¡± Qi Yin scratched his head, his eyes wandering nervously. Ye Qing Ming laughed and said, ¡°Forget it. Before the Feng Huan Mountain incident, there were ten disciples. Five became swindlers, tricking, deceiving, and kidnapping people in the martial world. Three returned home to engage in business and farming, and one was reduced to begging on the streets for a living.¡± ¡°What about the last one?¡± Qi Yin asked. ¡°He was eaten by a demon during a demon-slaying mission.¡± Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± Ye Qing Ming grabbed Qi Yin¡¯s arm and started massaging it, from the shoulder down to the finger bones. Qi Yin was startled and wondered if this senior was also a cutsleeve (1). He tried to pull his arm away, but Ye Qing Ming was too strong, squeezing his finger bones and causing him to grimace in pain. After massaging for a while, Ye Qing Ming shook his head and said, ¡°Your bone structure is mediocre, and your meridians are narrow. With your condition, it may take you a hundred and eight years to achieve anything in cultivation. But even then, you still need to survive until that age.¡± Qi Yin rubbed his arm and said gloomily, ¡°Were you feeling my bones just now?¡± Ye Qing Ming nodded. ¡°Well, if I¡¯m mediocre, then I¡¯m mediocre. I¡¯ll cultivate for fun, and if it doesn¡¯t work out, I¡¯ll just cheat and swindle people,¡± Qi Yin said lightly. He had never held high hopes for himself and was satisfied as long as he had a roof over his head. It seemed that fate was against him, as his father was said to be a rare swordsmanship genius in Wu Fang Mountain. He could read scriptures at five, master talismans at seven, and fly with his sword at ten. It appeared that his father¡¯s talent had not been passed on to him. Ye Qing Ming peeked into the pot that Fu Lan was cooking, frowned, and said, ¡°Why are you making porridge? We don¡¯t have any kids here.¡± Fu Lan scooped the porridge into a bowl and said, ¡°Yes, we do. Xiao Yin.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Xiao Yin?¡± Qi Yin raised his hand and said, ¡°Me.¡± Ye Qing Ming looked surprised and said, ¡°You¡¯re a strong young man!¡± After finishing breakfast, they had to go to the mountaintop to pay respects to their master. This routine was called ¡°Morning and Evening Meditation,¡± and they had to do it every day. Qi Yin estimated that the other senior brothers ignored this rule, as he had never seen anyone come to pay their respects to Ye Qing Ming. However, since they were new, it was better to follow the rules. When they arrived, the fat man was still asleep, and they waited at the door for a full hour before being allowed in. Sect Leader Qing Shi was still sitting on the wicker chair, his face chubby, with a slight blush on his cheeks, like the big-bellied Buddha in a temple. He took a sip of tea as usual and picked his teeth with a piece of wicker from the back of the chair; the spot where he picked was almost bald. Three identical young Daoist disciples stood beside him, serving him with towels and combs, holding tea bowls and looking like paper dolls from a funeral procession with their red lips and white teeth. Qi Yin felt that the three of them were strange and couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances. Last time he came, there were only two of them, and he thought they were twins, but he didn¡¯t expect them to be triplets. Fu Lan and Qi Yin greeted them. Qing Shi smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯ve come with good intentions. Your senior brothers and sisters haven¡¯t come to greet us in almost three years.¡± He sighed. ¡°Children grow up and don¡¯t listen to their mothers.¡± Qi Yin silently thought, ¡°Master, you are a man.¡± Yun Zhi entered through the side door, holding a broom and a rake. He handed them to Qi Yin and Fu Lan, respectively. Qi Yin looked bewildered holding the broom, wondering if he was supposed to sweep the floor, and Fu Lan was supposed to rake the vegetable garden? ¡°In two days, you will be attending classes with your senior brothers and sisters. These are the tools you need for your sword control class,¡± Qing Shi said. ¡°Um, well¡­¡± Qi Yin was full of doubts and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t we need a sword for sword control? How do we use this thing?¡± ¡°Young apprentice, you are mistaken.¡± Qing Shi sat upright and suddenly showed an unusual seriousness. ¡°The way of the sword lies in cultivating the sword mind and understanding the sword intent. If you have the sword mind and sword intent, then every blade of grass, every tree, every brick, and every stone can become a sword. Why be limited to a mere three feet of ordinary iron?¡± Is it really not because they can¡¯t afford to buy swords? Qi Yin wondered. Qi Yin hesitated for a moment and asked, ¡°Master, how long does it take to learn sword control? Elder Ye Qing Ming said my aptitude is not very good. Will it take me a long time to learn?¡± ¡°Your aptitude is not good?¡± Qing Shi twirled his beard and widened his eyes. ¡°Young apprentice, don¡¯t belittle yourself. You have a rare and exceptional talent for cultivating the sword. Sword control is just the beginning. With your aptitude, you will make progress within a few months.¡± ¡°Really¡­¡± Qi Yin didn¡¯t quite believe it. ¡°Then when can I become a master of the Dao?¡± ¡°Young apprentice, don¡¯t be impatient.¡± Qing Shi took off his hat, revealing his shiny bald head. ¡°When you reach my level, you will be one of the most outstanding figures among the Four Immortal Mountains.¡± ¡°Master is right.¡± Yun Zhi patted Qi Yin¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°A few years ago, I went to a grand meeting of the Four Immortal Mountains and saw that all the elders were bald. It seems that if you want to reach the summit, you must first be bald!¡± ¡°Can I still go back to Wu Tang now?¡± Qi Yin pursed his lips. ¡°Yun Zhi, you said you would send me with your sword before.¡± ¡°Of course you can.¡± Yun Zhi grinned and extended his gloved hand. ¡°The travel expenses are ten taels of silver. No bargaining, please.¡± ¡°Damn it¡­¡± ¡°By the way.¡± Qing Shi waved his hand and a book flew out of the bookshelf and landed in Fu Lan¡¯s arms. ¡°Xiao Lan, as a demon who has turned from evil to good, you are precious. This book, the Dao De Ching (2), is a gift for you. Recite it three times a day; it will be beneficial to your cultivation.¡± Fu Lan thanked him, and they both left. The sun was shining brightly, and Qi Yin stood in the courtyard looking depressed. That fat guy was full of nonsense, and he looked like a swindler. His words were confusing, and he couldn¡¯t tell which ones were true or false. Yun Zhi was just a little liar, so he couldn¡¯t be trusted. He looked down at the broken broom in his arms and felt even more hopeless about his future. Fu Lan had been practicing demon cultivation for so long, and he should be knowledgeable. Qi Yin asked, ¡°Dai Ge, do you think it¡¯s reasonable for our master to ask us to use brooms to practice swordsmanship?¡± Fu Lan nodded. ¡°Well, it seems he wasn¡¯t lying. Everything can be a sword, and that makes sense.¡± Qi Yin scratched his head. ¡°Since he wasn¡¯t lying, then that means I have good aptitude, right?¡± Fu Lan shook his head and said, ¡°Average aptitude.¡± Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± The black cat yawned and spoke up, ¡°That fat guy probably thought you lacked confidence, so he told a little lie to encourage you. Kid, swordsmanship depends a lot on talent. Diligence can only make up for some shortcomings. Do you want to consider practicing demonic cultivation? Just swallow a few demons and eat a few children, and you¡¯ll immediately become powerful. Hahaha.¡± ¡°Stop it, I¡¯ll never practice demonic cultivation.¡± Qi Yin struggled for a while. Although he had a voice in his heart telling him to accept his fate, a small hope emerged. He asked again, ¡°If I eat an elixir that can wash my meridians and bones, can it help me make progress?¡± The black cat shook his head. ¡°Those kinds of elixirs are very expensive. You won¡¯t be able to afford them even if you sold yourself and the fool together.¡± Sighing, Qi Yin realized that it all came down to not having enough money. Footnotes 1. Cutsleeve ¨C a term describing homosexuals in China. During the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE), there was an emperor who fell in love with one of his male advisors named Dong Xian. One day, while Dong Xian was resting his head on the emperor¡¯s sleeve, the emperor had to leave for a meeting but didn¡¯t want to disturb his beloved advisor¡¯s sleep. So, he cut off his own sleeve with a knife to leave Dong Xian undisturbed. 2. Dao De Ching ¨C a classic Chinese text written by Lao Tzu. It discusses various themes such as the nature of the universe, the concept of the Dao (or the Way), the balance of opposites, the role of the individual in society, and the nature of leadership. CH 17 Qing Shi stood by the fence, hands in pockets, watching Qi Yin and Fu Lan¡¯s backs as they walked away. The azaleas were in bloom, and sunlight shone on the red petals as if it wanted to set them on fire. The distant mountains were a pale green, with birds leaving behind white shadows in the sky. The ripples on the Heavenly Boudary Array kept spreading out like waves in the water. Every generation of the Feng Huang Mountain Sect¡¯s head disciple would exhaust their lifetime cultivation and pass it into the Heavenly Boundary Array, so the barrier had not weakened in thousands of years. Instead, it had grown stronger with each generation. This technique was said to have been learned from a great god who fell in the southern frontier many years ago. Because of this background, the declining sect had become somewhat tragic. A gust of wind blew by, shaking the yellow thatched roof and casting mottled shadows that quivered like the sunlight. The sunlight was old, the mountain sect was old, and the mortal world was old. ¡°Senior Brother, why haven¡¯t you died yet?¡± Qing Ming appeared, cross-legged on his sword behind Qing Shi. He held a wine jug in his arms, which he had stolen from Qing Shi¡¯s backyard. As a cultivator, he was not allowed to drink alcohol, but when the upper beam was not straight, the lower beams would be crooked. No one in the entire Feng Huan Mountain Sect adhered to this rule. Qing Shi squinted his eyes and shook his head, his pale cheeks trembling slightly. ¡°Junior Brother, you should be more polite when speaking. You should have asked me how I have been feeling lately.¡± Qing Ming hung by his side, watching Qi Yin and Fu Lan gradually disappear into the distance. ¡°Have you made up your mind? Are you really going to take in that child, Qi Yin?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Qing Shi twirled his beard with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s because of an old friend¡¯s request. Although our Feng Huan Mountain is declining, we can still afford to feed one child.¡± Qing Ming turned his head and glanced at him. ¡°Senior Brother, you overestimate our sect.¡± Qing Shi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Has Qing He, that old guy, returned yet?¡± ¡°He won¡¯t be back for a short time,¡± Qing Shi said. ¡°Qing He wanted to research why demons and monsters have thick hair, while mortals who cultivate have hair that becomes thinner every day. Recently, Wu Fang Mountain has opened the Purple Library for him to browse through all the scriptures.¡± Qing Ming sprayed a mouthful of wine. ¡°Can he really do that?¡± Qing Shi smiled. ¡°Well, well, well,¡± Qing Ming said. ¡°I still have one thing that I don¡¯t understand. It¡¯s fine that you take in Qi Yin, but Fu Lan is neither a demon nor a monster, nor is he human. He¡¯s very strange. Why did you bring him in too?¡± ¡°It¡¯s precisely because he¡¯s none of those three that I want to take him in.¡± Qing Shi slipped his hands into his sleeves, then turned and closed the door with a smile. ¡ª Early in the morning, a red sun hung over the green mountains. The valleys were still dark, shrouded in a hazy fog. The fat cat was sleeping inside, snoring loudly. Qi Yin had been practicing swordsmanship for two months, but he was still in the stage of clumsily flailing around on the ground. Qing Shi had said that ¡°you will see progress in a few months,¡± and he wasn¡¯t lying, because ¡°a few¡± could mean one, two, three, or even millions. In order to master the art of swordplay, Qi Yin went to meditate at the Repentance Cliff every morning. He would place his broom on the cliff and sit cross-legged, focusing his mind and gathering his qi, hoping that the broom would move even a little bit. However, he couldn¡¯t even muster a fart after sitting there for an hour. There are three paths in Daoism: swordsmanship, incantations, and talismans. There were no elders in the mountains specializing in incantations, so the disciples of Feng Huan Mountain didn¡¯t know anything about magic. Talismans were simple; all you needed to do was memorize the symbols and learn how to draw them. Swordsmanship was divided into swordplay and the art of controlling a sword with one¡¯s mind. Swordplay was easy; any 18-year-old could master it with a bit of stance training. It was the art of controlling a sword that was difficult. Without mastering this art, one could not be called a sword immortal. Qi Yin had initially blamed the broom for his inability to master the art of controlling a sword, but in a fit of desperation, he spent a lot of money to buy an iron sword and practiced with it every day, but it still didn¡¯t help. He had spent a lot of silver for nothing, and the blacksmith even said that the sword was a high-quality imitation of a famous sword immortal¡¯s sword, and that almost all of the contemporary Daoists had one. Qi Yin sat on the doorstep, feeling dispirited, with his hands blistering from practicing too hard. The hilt of the iron sword was rough, and the calluses on his hands were rubbed raw. He winced in pain just from clenching his fists slightly. He had heard that there was a kind of medicinal herb on Wu Fang Mountain that could heal wounds with just a touch, but they were poor at Feng Huan Mountain, and the healers were nowhere to be found. If he got injured or sick, he had to endure it himself. Fu Lan was sitting on a four-legged stool, scrubbing clothes. He had tied up his sleeves to his elbows, revealing his fair arms. This guy was slim and pale; the sun couldn¡¯t even tan him, and all the girls in the mountains liked him. A red lacquered board door squeaked open, and a girl in a greenish-blue top emerged. ¡°Lan Gege, you¡¯re up so early washing clothes?¡± Sang Qing stared at Fu Lan dreamily. Fu Lan furrowed his brow and meticulously rolled up his sleeves to wash the clothes. There were too many clothes to wash, and he couldn¡¯t finish them all. He was good to others, and he would do whatever they ask of him. The people in the sect took advantage of that. They made him carry his rake to the vegetable garden one day and sweep the mountain steps the next. Originally, it was just Yun Zhi who asked him to wash two pieces of clothes, but as the clothes piled up more and more, Qi Yin took a closer look and found that there were even stinky socks from Qing Ming mixed into the pile. It turned out that all the dirty clothes of the entire sect were here. Qi Yin couldn¡¯t stand it and carried the clothes back one by one with a basin, letting them wash it themselves. In the end, Fu Lan, the silly goose, thought that Qi Yin was returning the dirty clothes as clean ones and asked for them back one by one because he hadn¡¯t finished washing them. Sang Qing glanced at Qi Yin and snorted. ¡°You are so lazy. Why don¡¯t you help Lan Gege?¡± Qi Yin raised his hands wrapped in bandages. ¡°My hands are injured, I can¡¯t get them wet. Your hands are fine; you help Lan Gege.¡± Sang Qing turned away and ignored Qi Yin, tilting her head to look at Fu Lan. The longer she looked, the more handsome he seemed to become, like a jade with a few strands of hair sticking to his pale face. She got a few drops of water on her hand and splashed it on Fu Lan¡¯s face playfully, smiling. ¡°Lan Gege, take a break.¡± Fu Lan raised his hand to block it. ¡°Will you splash me too?¡± Sang Qing splashed some water on him again. Fu Lan was stunned and asked, ¡°Will you leave after I splash you?¡± Sang Qing pouted. ¡°If I¡¯m happy, I¡¯ll leave. Hmph, do you want me to go so badly?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll splash you,¡± Fu Lan said. Qi Yin suddenly had a bad premonition. Fu Lan picked up a nearby basin of clear water and poured it over Sang Qing. Sang Qing became completely drenched, opening her mouth and spitting out a small water column. Qi Yin was shocked. Fu Lan put down the basin and asked, ¡°Is it all poured out? Are you happy?¡± The yard was quiet for a while. Sang Qing wiped her face and burst into tears. ¡°Fu Lan! Go die!¡± Sang Qing stood up and slapped Fu Lan hard. Fu Lan was stunned, covering half of his face with his hand and staring at her as she ran back into the house. ¡°Brother, you¡¯re so cool.¡± Qi Yin walked up to him, holding his chin and looking at his face. This boy¡¯s face was tender, and there were five finger marks left behind with just one slap. Qi Yin asked him, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Fu Lan frowned and lowered his eyelids in disappointment. ¡°Did I do something wrong?¡± More than just a mistake, it was simply a huge mistake. If he continued like this, he would be single for the rest of his life, Qi Yin thought. But he looked so pitiful, Qi Yin couldn¡¯t bear to say it. ¡°It¡¯s okay, just apologize to her later.¡± Fu Lan sat down to wash his clothes again, supporting the washboard in the basin and pouring water over it. He rubbed the soap suds into his palms. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m too stupid. When I was young in Southern Xin Jiang, no one wanted to be friends with me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true. You have me,¡± Qi Yin said, putting an arm around his shoulder. ¡°And you¡¯re not stupid. Look how skilled you are at controlling that rake. I¡¯ve been practicing with this broom and this rusty sword for two months and I still can¡¯t get it right.¡± He sighed. ¡°The black cat said that mastering these things depends on a sudden realization, which seems pretty mystical to me. I¡¯ll probably grow a beard before I figure out how to control a sword.¡± Fu Lan thought for a moment and said, ¡°I can help you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s dual cultivation,¡± Qi Yin joked. Fu Lan finished washing his clothes, rinsed his hands in clean water, and looked up. Suddenly, the nail rake in the corner of the room began to vibrate, buzzing like a bee. Qi Yin turned to look, and the nail rake suddenly stood up and flew to them. Fu Lan got on the nail rake and held out his hand to him. Qi Yin picked up the broom and stood on it. The nail rake slowly rose, carrying them towards the distant mountains. The rows of tiled houses below grew smaller and smaller, and the people looked like ants. The mountains undulated, and straw houses were scattered like stars among them. Qi Yin saw the vegetable garden on the mountainside, the thatched house of the fat sect leader on the mountaintop, and the Northern Wolf King who lay snoring all day under the Repentance Cliff. They flew higher and higher, white clouds swirling around their waists. A white crane flapped its wings and flew past them, and the wind was like a knife cutting their faces. Qi Yin shouted at him, ¡°Dai Ge, why are we flying so high? Are you taking me on a joyride?¡± ¡°Remember, ¡®Heaven and Earth are one with me, and all things are one with me.¡¯ If all things are in you, then all things can be controlled by you,¡± Fu Lan said, his voice not very loud but clearly audible to Qi Yin, as if he were whispering in his ear. ¡°Oh.¡± Qi Yin hugged the broom tightly. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s begin,¡± Fu Lan said. Suddenly, he pushed Qi Yin from behind and Qi Yin plunged forward into the wind. Qi Yin was startled and turned back incredulously to look at Fu Lan, who stood with his hands behind his back in the wind, looking down at him with an expression of godlike detachment. ¡°Fu Lan¨C¡° Qi Yin reached out to grab him, but he grabbed nothing. His body plummeted rapidly, and the wind blew his clothes like there were countless pigeons nesting in his sleeves. He should never have trusted him. This guy was not only a fool but also crazy! Fu Lan suddenly appeared next to him. The calm young man fell with him, his fair face serene. ¡°Quick, pull me up!¡± Qi Yin exclaimed. ¡°Xiao Yin, focus,¡± Fu Lan replied. ¡°Pull me up!¡± ¡°Focus,¡± Fu Lan said. ¡°Otherwise, we¡¯ll die.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he disappeared as if he were a phantom. Qi Yin continued to fall, with endless mountains below and rivers, lakes, and seas stretching into the distance. He was a tiny speck helplessly falling towards the earth. Qi Yin¡¯s heart was pounding, and he was going insane. There was no sign of Fu Lan, and even the rake was nowhere to be seen. There was only the sky and the earth as far as the eye could see, and the sound of the wind was like a raging tide in his ears. Think fast, think fast. What was the spell again? Qi Yin clung tightly to the broomstick, but he couldn¡¯t remember anything. His heart was beating too fast, and his mind was blank! He was falling faster and faster, and the wind was piercing his throat. His neck veins bulged, and he couldn¡¯t breathe. He felt like he was going to die. Fu Lan, that bastard, was serious! Qi Yin squeezed the broomstick hard, desperately waving it. ¡°Move, move! Move, damn it!¡± The broomstick still didn¡¯t respond. To control a flying broomstick, one had to unite one¡¯s heart and the broomstick, just as one had to unite one¡¯s heart with the sword to control a flying sword. Who knows how long he had been meditating on this stupid bald broomstick for the past two months, yet he still couldn¡¯t feel the broomstick¡¯s inner feelings. This thing didn¡¯t have a heart at all. What was the point of trying to feel anything! The broomstick slipped out of his hand and flew far away, disappearing in an instant. Qi Yin despaired, opening his arms to the wind. The ground was getting closer and closer, and he could almost see the sharp edges of the blue rocks. At that moment, he suddenly remembered many things from the past: the damp beds at the Yao family¡¯s attic, the nine-headed bird exploding out of his aunt¡¯s mouth with teeth and claws, a fierce sword glare descending from the sky in a pitch-black night, the white-clothed sword immortal arriving gracefully¡­ All his memories came fluttering like white butterflies on the wings of the wind. He seemed to see the beautiful woman from many years ago in the heart of Wu Tang River, her face blurred, reaching out to him with a sad smile. What immortality, what slaying of demons. He didn¡¯t want any of that. He just wanted a sword in his hand when disaster struck from the sky! However¡­ it was already too late. The earth opened its arms to him, and the hard rocky ground rushed towards him. No one noticed a faint blue light emanating from the tips of Qi Yin¡¯s fingers, like tiny fireflies. However, his body suddenly stopped, and the light disappeared without a trace. Qi Yin opened his eyes, and before him, the earth was like a dark, mocking face just an inch away. His body slowly descended, his face covered in mud and dust. Qi Yin buried his head in his arms and forced a bitter smile. As expected, he couldn¡¯t handle being pushed to this extent. Fu Lan¡¯s black boots stopped in front of him. Qi Yin slowly climbed up from the ground, grinned crookedly, and said, ¡°I told you, I have no talent. I can¡¯t do it.¡± Fu Lan frowned. ¡°Xiao Yin¡­¡± Qi Yin patted the dust off his body. He stumbled and leaned against a tree. Fu Lan was hovering behind him. Suddenly, Qi Yin turned around and said, ¡°Dai Ge, don¡¯t follow me.¡± Fu Lan was taken aback. ¡°Dai Ge, puppy is puppy, and Qi Yin is Qi Yin. They¡¯re not the same. People change, and it¡¯s been more than ten years. I¡¯ve forgotten everything that happened when I was four.¡± Qi Yin looked at him and said softly, ¡°So, don¡¯t follow me.¡± Fu Lan stared at him, but Qi Yin pulled the corners of his mouth into a smile and left without looking back. CH 18 Qi Yin wandered around outside all day. Whenever he felt depressed, he liked to take a walk, look around, pull out some grass and poke at an ant colony. As he walked, his mood would gradually lighten. When the sun began to set, he arrived at Repentance Cliff. He climbed down the vines, and the Wolf King lay below, basking in the sun. The setting sun shone on his white hair, which billowed like clouds, dyed orange, as if wrapped in rolling fire. Qi Yin let go of the vines and rested his head on the Wolf King¡¯s back. The fur was soft and fluffy, like being wrapped in cotton. He breathed a long sigh of relief, closed his eyes, and rested. ¡°You brat, how come you have time to come and see me today?¡± The Wolf King opened his eyes and squinted. ¡°Is it because you haven¡¯t made any progress in your sword training and you¡¯ve come to complain to me?¡± ¡°Do people die if you don¡¯t poke at their scars?¡± Qi Yin lazily replied. The Wolf King laughed. ¡°No, but they¡¯ll have a lot less fun.¡± ¡°I envy you. You don¡¯t have to do anything, just lie here and bask in the sun every day.¡± Qi Yin sighed. ¡°Envy my ass. Mushrooms are growing on the fur on my back.¡± The Wolf King grunted unkindly. ¡°What do you have to envy? You practice your sword and meditate every day. Are you itching for a woman or some fine wine?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t just sit here meditating and chanting sutras all my life. One day, I will have to leave the mountain and find my own way. I don¡¯t want to become a senior member of a sect after achieving great mastery in the Dao. Instead, I¡¯ll be a wandering Daoist catching small demons and evil spirits, but I haven¡¯t even learned how to control a sword.¡± Qi Yin looked up at the sky and said, ¡°Brother Wolf, humans are different from you demons. We have to buy a house, get married, have children, and support them financially for their education and marriage. It¡¯s not like you demons who can just roam around and set off fireworks wherever you want.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one setting off fireworks everywhere!¡± Qi Yin sighed and said, ¡°Anyway, we have to spend money on everything, but I only have a little bit of silver. If I leave the mountain, I won¡¯t even be able to afford to rent a house. It¡¯s going to be tough!¡± ¡°You humans are so troublesome. The world is so big, why do you have to buy a cage to lock yourself in?¡± The Wolf King shook his head. Qi Yin sighed again and sat cross-legged next to the Wolf King. The sun was high in the sky, burning half of the sky red, and the trees below seemed to be on fire as well. Qi Yin propped up his cheeks and asked, ¡°Brother Wolf, how do demons cultivate? Do you also meditate and enlighten yourself?¡± ¡°That¡¯s your Daoist way, kid.¡± The Wolf King said, ¡°Demons grow stronger by feeding on each other, killing and devouring. Most demons were originally animals after all. The southern demons gather in groups, with each group having its own territory. I often hear about one demon tribe being nearly annihilated by another demon tribe, and their territory burned to barren land. Demons also fight each other endlessly, and when they encounter demons from the Nine Abyss, it becomes a deadly battle.¡± Qi Yin was a little stunned and suddenly thought of Dai Ge. He asked, ¡°What about demons who were originally people? Do they cultivate like you?¡± The Wolf King shook his head. ¡°Those are different. Most of them are Daoists who have gone astray and are not in the south. You Daoists meditate and enlighten yourself, while they drink the blood of humans to enhance their cultivation.¡± ¡°But what if there¡¯s a human who grew up in the south among the demon tribe?¡± The Wolf King straightened his body and stretched lazily. ¡°Human children are naturally weak and defenseless without claws and fangs or parents to protect them. The chance of survival is slim. Not only human children but demons who gather in groups, such as the Jialing River demons, Liangshan birds, and Minshan bugs, all have their own territories. It¡¯s okay to be in their own territory, but if a small demon accidentally enters another¡¯s territory, it¡¯s a matter of life and death.¡± Qi Yin fell silent for a while. Dai Ge had never met his parents, and was probably a child abandoned in the mountains. Qi Yin remembered that Yun Zhi had asked Dai Ge if he had any relatives, but other than Qi Yin, he only mentioned the cat. These two guys had no group or tribe to rely on; they were lonely demons relying on each other for survival. Qi Yin asked, ¡°What if you have no relatives or territory?¡± The Wolf King opened his eyes, a dark golden light flowing within them. ¡°Everywhere is a killing opportunity, every step is a refining purgatory.¡± ¡ª At sunset, Qi Yin returned to the house. The room was empty and dark, with no lights on. The black cat had probably gone to mooch food from Sang Ruo and the others. Sang Ruo and her sister cooked delicious food every day, and the black cat had gotten plump from being fed by them. Fu Lan hadn¡¯t come back either, which was unusual. Besides helping Master Qing Ming rake the vegetable garden, this guy rarely left the house. Every day at sunset, he would light a lamp and read the ¡°Dao De Ching¡± that the sect leader had given him. Qi Yin lit a lamp. The red lacquered bookshelf in front of the window was empty except for a few azalea petals that had fallen on top of it. After a while, the black cat came back and jumped onto the bookshelf to bask in the moonlight. Qi Yin also picked up a book and sat on the edge of the bed to memorize talismans. But he got drowsy halfway through and the talismans started spinning in front of his eyes. He didn¡¯t know how long it had been when he heard the door creak open, as if someone had come in, bringing in moonlight. The black cat opened one eye and asked, ¡°Where did you go, fool? Why did you just come back now?¡± Fu Lan quietly walked into the room and asked in a low voice, ¡°Is Xiao Yin asleep?¡± The black cat raised his chin towards Qi Yin¡¯s direction. The blue and white flower-patterned cotton bed curtain was only half-closed, and Qi Yin¡¯s body was half-tilted inside, his face covered by a book. Fu Lan walked over to help him put away the book, take off his shoes, and put his legs on the bed. The black cat asked, ¡°Where did you go?¡± ¡°I made Xiao Yin angry today, and he didn¡¯t want to see me,¡± Fu Lan whispered. ¡°So you just stayed at the village entrance, waiting until he fell asleep before coming back?¡± Fu Lan nodded. The black cat didn¡¯t know what to say. This guy wasn¡¯t even married yet, how come he was already behaving like a henpecked husband? ¡°What about tomorrow?¡± the black cat asked. ¡°I promised to help Master Qing Ming make noodles. I¡¯ll go to the vegetable garden early tomorrow morning,¡± Fu Lan replied in a soft voice. The black cat sighed deeply and crawled back into his own bed. ¡°You¡¯re the most spineless demon king I¡¯ve ever seen, fool. Just keep your voice down tomorrow morning so you don¡¯t wake me up.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Fu Lan whispered. He turned his head to look at Qi Yin, whose wheat-colored face was hidden in the shadow of the curtain, and whose eyebrows had softened a lot. He was still the same as when he was a child. He liked to clench his fists and place them on the side of his face when he slept, which was a very cute sight. Fu Lan helped him tuck in the blanket and was about to leave, when suddenly his clothes were pulled. He turned his head and met Qi Yin¡¯s eyes. Fu Lan was startled and stood dumbfounded by the bed. Qi Yin slowly sat up and scratched his head, asking, ¡°Why are you always so good to me? I even got mad at you today.¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re my little brother.¡± Fu Lan crouched down with his eyes lowered. ¡°Big brother has to take care of little brother.¡± Little brother¡­ Qi Yin looked at him without saying a word. The black-clothed young man was crouched by his bed, casting his solitary shadow on the ground. Qi Yin did have a brother, a guy named Yao Xiao Shan. But ever since he was little, Yao Xiao Shan either bossed him around or made him take the blame. This was the first time he had heard, ¡°Big brother has to take care of little brother.¡± Sigh, what a single-minded guy. Qi Yin felt a pang in his heart and rubbed his head, his rough hands making a rustling sound as they touched his hair. This idiot. It was him who needed to be taken care of; he was so foolish and silly. Fu Lan paused and lifted his eyes. His big, black pupils reflected a faint glow of symbols, as if they were sprinkled with millions of brilliant gold particles. For some reason, looking into his eyes, Qi Yin suddenly believed what he had said about their past, even without any memories or verification. ¡°Xiao Yin,¡± Fu Lan asked softly, ¡°do you still want to be my little brother?¡± He paused, as if afraid Qi Yin would refuse, and added, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be my bride.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Qi Yin reached out his hand to him and smiled brightly. ¡°Just don¡¯t get annoyed if I ever hold you back. I can be pretty hopeless sometimes.¡± Fu Lan nodded vigorously and took his hand. The warmth of their palms touching each other was like a promise. Curled up in its nest, the black cat half-opened its eyes and looked at the two people holding hands. It hummed contentedly twice, closed its eyes, and started snoring peacefully. The next morning, there was no early class. Qi Yin and Fu Lan squatted under the eaves brushing their teeth slowly. The morning air in the mountains was cool, with a coldness that made their noses tingle. The sky was a bleak white, and the dark shadows of the mountains held a glaring sun, like an ink painting on a literati¡¯s desk. Qi Yin flicked his toothbrush and said, ¡°We should change our toothbrushes. Let¡¯s go down the mountain and buy some today.¡± Fu Lan nodded and handed him a mint leaf. Qi Yin put it in his mouth and chewed on it. Yun Zhi appeared out of nowhere and asked Fu Lan for a mint leaf, saying, ¡°You guys woke up really early.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with waking up early?¡± Qi Yin asked him. ¡°Why are you here so early in the morning?¡± ¡°I thought you guys would be sleeping in and wouldn¡¯t be able to get up in the morning,¡± Yun Zhi said. ¡°I came here to see someone. You¡¯ll know in a bit.¡± ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± Qi Yin was confused before he finally realized and cursed, ¡°Go to hell!¡± ¡°You two aren¡¯t gay?¡± Yun Zhi poked Fu Lan with his elbow. ¡°When we were arranging the housing, I deliberately put you two together.¡± Fu Lan nodded in agreement. Qi Yin pulled Fu Lan over and said, ¡°Get lost and wash your clothes yourself.¡± ¡°Make some room, make some room.¡± Liu Bai suddenly appeared and squeezed himself next to Qi Yin. ¡°Where did you come from?¡± Qi Yin asked. ¡°Your house is close to the village entrance and has a good view. There will be a good show later. Let¡¯s watch it together,¡± Liu Bai said with a grin, patting Qi Yin¡¯s shoulder. What the hell was going on? Just as he was wondering, a figure appeared on the mountain path. She was slim and carried a large bamboo basket on her back. Liu Bai became excited and grabbed Qi Yin¡¯s arm. The woman approached them, bouncing and jumping, and her face was reflected in the sunlight. She was as pale as lotus root, and her eyebrows and eyes seemed to be outlined with ink. They were clear and light, but had an indescribable beauty, like water lilies plucked from the water. As she approached, the sky and the earth seemed to be filled with a faint fragrance, indistinct and hiding in the wind, not clear but tempting. ¡°Who is she?¡± Qi Yin asked. No one answered him because everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on her. When the woman walked away, they finally came to their senses. Qi Yin¡¯s heart started beating belatedly, and he asked again, ¡°Who was the girl just now?¡± ¡°She¡¯s Lan Xian¡¯er from the medicine hall. She has been picking medicinal herbs on the mountain since the day before yesterday,¡± Liu Bai said while winking at him. ¡°What do you think? Is she very pretty, and does she have a fragrant scent?¡± Yun Zhi poked Fu Lan and said, ¡°Is she beautiful? Do you have any desire to be with her?¡± Fu Lan shook his head. ¡°Are you serious? You¡¯re not moved by such a beautiful girl,¡± Liu Bai exclaimed. Qi Yin sighed and said, ¡°He probably doesn¡¯t know the benefits of being in a relationship with a girl.¡± Yun Zhi then taught him, ¡°Junior Brother Dai (1), men and women are different. Men have hard bodies and leg hair, while women are soft and gentle like water. The most obvious difference is their chests. Women¡¯s chests are soft like cotton, while men¡¯s are not as nice to touch.¡± Fu Lan was stunned for a moment, then turned to touch Qi Yin¡¯s chest and commented, ¡°It¡¯s nice to touch.¡± Yun Zhi and Qi Yin were speechless. Footnotes 1. Junior Brother Dai ¨C similar to Dai Ge, it¡¯s a nickname for Fu Lan. The literal translation is ¡°Silly Junior Brother¡± CH 19 In the following days, more and more people gathered outside Qi Yin and Fu Lan¡¯s house, with some senior brothers even perching on the roof to watch. The black cat was especially bold, walking up to Lan Xian¡¯er and hooking her leg with its tail, lifting up the hem of her blue and white floral pants to reveal a pale ankle. Everyone was left stunned. Lan Xian¡¯er smiled lightly, crouched down to stroke the black cat¡¯s back for a while, then looked up to see a group of mischievous youngsters at Qi Yin¡¯s doorstep, covering their mouths and snickering. She brushed her hair back with her slender fingers, turned around, and walked away, going down the mountain. ¡°Damn, it¡¯s better to be a cat,¡± someone said. Lan Xian¡¯er and Sang Ruo became good friends at some point. They would stop by for tea and rest when they passed by the house. Qi Yin dared not approach, only sitting in the courtyard pretending to recite scriptures, his eyes constantly sneaking glances towards Sang Ruo¡¯s house. Through the fence, Lan Xian¡¯er chatted and laughed with a gentle posture, sitting with her legs crossed and knees together, wearing a white cloth blue floral shirt, like a flower floating down from the sky. After sitting for a while, Lan Xian¡¯er left. Qi Yin¡¯s eyes were sharp, and he happened to see her drop a piece of cloth by the fence. While no one was looking, Qi Yin stood up with a start, pulled Fu Lan over, and asked him to bring the cloth over. Fu Lan was washing clothes. He raised his hand, which was covered in soap bubbles, and gestured with his fingertips. The cloth then flew over and stuck to the ground. ¡°Let¡¯s go down the mountain and buy some toothpicks,¡± Qi Yin said. Fu Lan was still dazed and said, ¡°But I haven¡¯t finished washing the clothes yet.¡± ¡°Dai Ge, is washing clothes more important, or is my lifelong matter as your brother more important?¡± Qi Yin turned around and put on a coat, then picked up the fat cat and gave it to Fu Lan. The black cat bared its teeth and said, ¡°This kid likes people with the word ¡®Xian¡¯ in their names. Fool, you should change your name to ¡®Dai Xian.¡¯ This little brat might fall for you.¡± ¡°Lord Cat, don¡¯t talk nonsense. We must walk the right path and not take the crooked path.¡± Qi Yin hooked Fu Lan¡¯s neck and walked out. ¡°Dai Ge, once I settle things on my side, I¡¯ll help you find a good wife!¡± When they reached the foot of the mountain, it was already noon. Despite learning the art of fasting, they still couldn¡¯t avoid hunger and thirst, so they bought toothpicks and two bowls of noodles. Fu Lan didn¡¯t eat anything and let the black cat lick the bowls clean. Qi Yin asked them to wait under the bitter melon tree at the entrance of Chang Le Fang Brothel while he went into the alley to ask about Lan Xian¡¯er¡¯s whereabouts. As he left, he turned back and saw Fu Lan holding the black cat under a withered tree, his shadow stretching out like he had been abandoned, looking lonely and desolate. Qi Yin felt inexplicably guilty, but he had no choice. He couldn¡¯t stay with Fu Lan as a bachelor forever. Scratching his head and hesitating for a while, he finally left. Qi Yin stopped in front of a herbal medicine store in the back alley. A fat shopkeeper was tinkering with an abacus behind the black counter. She said, ¡°Who is Lan Xian¡¯er? Never heard of her. Look for her somewhere else.¡± ¡°Auntie, please think again,¡± Qi Yin pleaded. ¡°I¡¯ve been living here for decades. I know every rat in this alley, and I haven¡¯t heard of anyone called Lan Xian¡¯er,¡± the fat shopkeeper teased him. ¡°But I can¡¯t say for sure about the girls in the brothels. You should focus on cultivating your Dao and chanting sutras. I¡¯ll tell your sect leader if you laze off.¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible. She¡¯s a good girl from a respectable family!¡± Qi Yin insisted. Dejected, he left the shop, still carrying the handkerchief. The sky was overcast, and it looked like it was going to rain. He sat on a stone stool on the side of the street and sighed. Should he wait until tomorrow morning to return it to her when she came up the mountain? But his senior brothers were like wolves waiting to pounce, and it wasn¡¯t appropriate to talk to her alone. As he was about to ask around again, someone suddenly stopped in front of him. She wore a green floral skirt with a white top, and two embroidered flower tips could be seen under her hem. Qi Yin looked up and saw Lan Xian¡¯er¡¯s fair face. He was startled and almost fell off the stool. ¡°Senior Brother Yun Yin, what are you doing here?¡± Lan Xian¡¯er asked, tilting her head and revealing her red lips and white teeth. As she approached, a faint scent of orchid spread out, making Qi Yin feel dazed. Suddenly, he realized something and asked, ¡°How do you know my Dao name?¡± ¡°I asked around.¡± Lan Xian¡¯er tilted her head and smiled. Swaying her waist, she walked into the alley. ¡°Asked around?¡± Qi Yin¡¯s heart beat faster. Why did she need to ask about him? Did she also like him? He suddenly remembered that Lan Xian¡¯er always rested at Sang Ruo¡¯s place, sitting sideways, holding up a small mirror she carried with her to do her hair. The mirror was always facing her face and also facing his fence courtyard. Flames seemed to surge to life in his heart, igniting his face. Qi Yin¡¯s heart was pounding, and Lan Xian¡¯er walked a few steps before turning back, lifting the corner of her eye with a clear and charming look that hooked him playfully. His face was all red. She covered her mouth and giggled a few times, twisted her body, and walked away. Qi Yin followed her into the alley and took out her handkerchief, saying, ¡°Your handkerchief was left behind on the mountain. I came to return it to you.¡± Lan Xian¡¯er stopped in front of two red-painted doors and took the handkerchief from his hand. Her cold fingertips touched his, and a tingling sensation climbed up Qi Yin¡¯s arm. He couldn¡¯t help but shiver. ¡°Come in and have a seat. I have some tea at home. I¡¯ll make a drink for you,¡± Lan Xian¡¯er said, opening the door. ¡°It¡¯s not appropriate, I mean, we¡¯re alone¡­¡± Qi Yin scratched his head, feeling embarrassed. Lan Xian¡¯er stood at the doorstep and beckoned him. ¡°What are you afraid of? You¡¯re a man. Are you afraid that I¡¯ll eat you?¡± As she waved her hand, a faint fragrance of orchids emanated from her sleeve, misty and elusive. Suddenly, a voice in his mind urged him to go in. He stared at the doorstep, just one step away from crossing it, when suddenly a twisting bolt of lightning like a white snake shot out from the sky, followed by a deafening thunder that seemed to roll right over his head. Startled, Qi Yin snapped out of his trance and looked up at the dark and turbulent sky, which seemed to be pressing down on him. Before long, rain poured down in torrents. Qi Yin suddenly remembered that his friend was still waiting for him, and said, ¡°I¡¯m not going in after all. My friend is waiting for me. Goodbye!¡± With that, he turned his head and ran off, hunching his neck to keep the rain out. Just then, the old lady from the medicine store came out to fetch water and saw Qi Yin shouting at a brick wall, muttering to himself. She sighed and thought to herself that young people these days were getting less and less serious. The rain came down so hard that halfway there, Qi Yin could no longer run and had to take shelter under the eaves of someone else¡¯s house. Fu Lan should be able to find shelter on his own, so Qi Yin patiently waited for the rain to stop. The raindrops were as big as beans and pitter-pattered down on the roof, forming dense lines of water. After waiting for a long time, the rain showed no signs of stopping, and Qi Yin couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. He turned around and knocked on a door to borrow an umbrella, then braved the wind and rain to go to the market to find Fu Lan. Just as he arrived at the market, he saw the black-clothed youth standing under a bitter melon tree, completely drenched from the rain, with black hair sticking to his pale face. The black cat was hiding in his arms, and Fu Lan was using his clothes to shield it from the rain. Qi Yin was stunned. The guy was standing there motionless, not taking a single step. He looked up and saw Qi Yin, his gaze penetrating through the layers of rain, appearing hazy. Qi Yin ran over and held the umbrella over his head, shouting, ¡°Are you two crazy? Why didn¡¯t you find shelter?¡± The black cat whimpered, ¡°He didn¡¯t want to!¡± ¡°I was afraid you wouldn¡¯t find me,¡± Fu Lan said. ¡°How could I not find you?¡± Qi Yin was exasperated. ¡°Quick, use the water-avoiding technique and dry your clothes.¡± Fu Lan frowned and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how.¡± ¡°What?¡± Qi Yin was surprised. ¡°I only know killing techniques,¡± Fu Lan said. ¡°No wonder.¡± Qi Yin suddenly remembered that he had never seen Fu Lan use any small spells like light talismans. Fu Lan had learned how to fight and survive in the midst of corpses and bloodshed, but he had not learned how to live. Qi Yin sighed. ¡°Let me borrow some of your spiritual power.¡± Fu Lan gave him spiritual power, and Qi Yin pointed his finger at his chest, drawing a water avoidance spell stroke by stroke. Faint blue light flickered continuously, and the water droplets on Fu Lan¡¯s clothes emerged one by one, evaporating into the air. Fu Lan lowered his head, somewhat dazed. Qi Yin¡¯s strokes were gentle, his fingertips moving on his chest, causing a slight itchiness that felt very comfortable. Fu Lan wanted him to draw it again. Raindrops kept dripping onto the clear round umbrella, pouring out along the edge. Qi Yin held the umbrella, covering Fu Lan as they climbed the mountain. Most of the umbrella was over Fu Lan¡¯s head, and Qi Yin¡¯s coarse cloth shirt was soaked through. Fu Lan carefully fell behind, and the raindrops that drifted over dampened his shoulders. He pulled on Qi Yin¡¯s collar and said, ¡°Your clothes are wet again.¡± ¡°The rain is too heavy, it can¡¯t be helped. I¡¯ll draw the spell for you when we get home,¡± Qi Yin said. Fu Lan looked disappointed, seeming a little upset. ¡°Puppy, did you deliver the handkerchief?¡± The black cat popped its head out from Fu Lan¡¯s arms, in a bad mood. ¡°I delivered it. You know what happened? I hit it off with the young lady. It¡¯s really fate.¡± Qi Yin scratched his head in embarrassment. The rain poured down heavily, and the world was shrouded in hazy water. A reflection of Fu Lan¡¯s figure appeared on moist cobblestone steps. Fu Lan lowered his head, gazing at his blurry reflection and asked, ¡°Xiao Yin, will you marry her?¡± ¡°If she¡¯s willing, I will.¡± Qi Yin imagined their future life: a spacious house with a blue-tiled roof, a gentle woman in a plain cloth floral jacket, and a chubby child in split pants. It would be so nice, he thought sweetly. He didn¡¯t have parents, so he wanted to give his child the best parents in the world. ¡°I¡¯m willing too. Why won¡¯t you marry me?¡± Fu Lan frowned and looked at him. The gentle woman in a plain cloth floral jacket suddenly turned into a solemn young man in black, sitting quietly under the eaves with a nursing baby in his arms. Qi Yin was startled by his own imagination and helplessly said, ¡°Dai Ge, why are you so persistent?¡± ¡°A Fu said we would get married when we grew up.¡± Fu Lan stopped walking and looked at him. ¡°Someone told me that a wife is someone you take care of for a lifetime. I want to take care of Xiao Yin for a lifetime.¡± He lowered his eyes, and his long and dense eyelashes settled on his fair cheeks, making him look exceptionally beautiful. ¡°Washing clothes, hanging blankets, making porridge, stir-frying green vegetables.¡± Qi Yin raised his hand to his forehead and said, ¡°Having a wife is not just like that, Dai Ge. Your wife is the person you like ¨C not the kind of liking between brothers, but the kind between men and women. It¡¯s when you want to see each other when you haven¡¯t met. You want to hold hands, hug, kiss, and your heart feels like it¡¯s going to jump out of your chest. Do you understand, Dai Ge?¡± Fu Lan looked at him with a confused expression. ¡°Just treat me like a brother.¡± Qi Yin patted his shoulder. ¡°Brothers can take care of each other for a lifetime. We can buy a house together¡­ forget it, you can live with me. You¡¯re so silly, it¡¯s better for me to take care of you.¡± The black cat muttered disdainfully, ¡°What¡¯s the difference? Brothers can still sleep together.¡± Qi Yin took out a steamed bun from his pocket and stuffed it into the black cat¡¯s mouth. ¡°I like you not like a brother, right?¡± Fu Lan frowned slightly, looking very puzzled. ¡°Brothers and spouses are not the same.¡± Rain continued to pour down, reflecting their eye-to-eye confrontation on the slate. In that hazy area, Fu Lan¡¯s shadow suddenly took a step forward. His long and powerful hand reached over Qi Yin¡¯s shoulder, and their lips met against a backdrop of glistening rain. Qi Yin¡¯s eyes went wide. Fu Lan¡¯s fair cheek was so close, and he forgot to breathe, forgot to resist, and became a stiff doll. Something was beating in his chest, thump, thump, faster and faster. The rain continued to fall. The raindrops were loud, but Qi Yin still heard his own heartbeat reverberating in his ears. The black cat was also stunned. It squeezed between the two people¡¯s chests, looking up at their overlapping lips, pupils blown wide. Fu Lan let go of Qi Yin and touched his chest in confusion, saying, ¡°Your heart did not jump out of your chest.¡± Qi Yin¡¯s mind went blank for a while before he regained his senses, pointing at Fu Lan with a trembling finger. ¡°You¡­you pervert¡­¡± Morning, he hugged him, afternoon, he kissed him, and at night, he would go to his bed? Qi Yin felt like crying. He couldn¡¯t go on like this! CH 20 ¡°Senior brothers.¡± Qi Yin sat upright with a serious expression. ¡°I have a request.¡± As the sky grew darker, the windows and doors of the tile house were tightly closed. A candle was lit on the lacquered table, and the dim candlelight settled on the faces of the senior brothers, casting them in a mix of golden light and shadow, like still statues in a temple. Yun Zhi was the first to speak, ¡°Junior Brother Hei (1), just speak your mind.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me Junior Brother Hei.¡± Qi Yin pulled Fu Lan, who was kneeling beside him, over to the candlelight and said, ¡°Yun Lan, our fellow disciple, has fallen seriously ill with a disease called ¡®cutsleeve¡¯. He is constantly suffering from the illness, which endangers my safety. I request that you senior brothers come up with a solution.¡± Yun Zhi shook his folding fan, which had ¡°Nonsense¡± written on it. He shook his head and said, ¡°Junior Brother Hei, your words are wrong. Junior Brother Dai¡¯s feelings surpass human relationships and physical laws. He is not afraid of vulgar opinions, and his feelings are pure. If you do not respond to his good intentions but instead you say he¡¯s ill, what is the logic behind it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me Junior Brother Hei!¡± Qi Yin was going crazy. He said, ¡°If you have the guts, you come and live with him in the same room. Otherwise, don¡¯t talk such nonsense.¡± Liu Bai rolled up his sleeves and raised his eyebrows. ¡°What happened? I haven¡¯t seen you like this before. Did Junior Brother Dai do something to you?¡± Qi Yin had a headache. How was he supposed to answer that? Was he going to announce to the world that he had been kissed by Fu Lan, the lustful demon? Where was he going to put his face? He pursed his lips in frustration and was about to say that nothing had happened when Fu Lan spoke up in a dazed voice, ¡°I kissed Xiao Yin.¡± As soon as he said this, Qi Yin almost spat blood. All the senior brothers were stunned by Fu Lan¡¯s confession. Liu Bai asked with a straight face, ¡°Kiss? Do you mean what I think you mean? Mouth to mouth?¡± Fu Lan nodded honestly, then lowered his head in dismay. ¡°Did I do something wrong?¡± It was over, Qi Yin thought dejectedly. He might as well go back to his room and hang himself with a rope. ¡°Junior Brother Dai, a happy marriage requires mutual love. You have pushed Yun Yin to such a point¡­¡± Yun Zhi covered his mouth with his fan and took a deep breath. ¡°Is this a case of forced love?¡± A senior brother in the corner sighed. ¡°This is a shameless act.¡± Another senior brother said sympathetically, ¡°This is the annihilation of human nature.¡± Qi Yin said coldly, ¡°If you can¡¯t come up with a solution, I¡¯ll kiss each one of you.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, everyone shuddered, the thought of being pinned down and kissed by a man making them all nauseous. Liu Bai smiled smugly and placed a box on the table. ¡°These are all my treasures, junior brother. You¡¯re in luck this time.¡± But he didn¡¯t hurry to open the box. Instead, he coaxed and tricked the youngest junior brother, Liu Zhu, to go out and keep watch. Ever since the Elder of Discipline returned to the sect, he would occasionally come and check on them at night. Feng Huan Mountain was not a prestigious sect, and they were not afraid of being kicked out, but they were afraid that the Elder would take away Liu Bai¡¯s treasures for his own collection. Liu Zhu blushed and refused to go, but several senior brothers threatened him, saying that he wouldn¡¯t get any food tomorrow if he didn¡¯t go. Liu Zhu stomped his feet in anger and reluctantly went out, crouching under the eaves to watch. Liu Bai built up the suspense before finally opening the box. The senior brothers crowded around the small circle of candlelight, their eyes fixed on the contents of the box. Liu Bai took out rolls of scrolls and placed them on the table, carefully unrolling them. The scenes depicted were of beautiful mountains and rivers, with pavilions and towers nestled among them, and little figures scattered throughout, their clothes half-loose, their eyes full of meaning, engaged in intimate activities. Everyone let out a long ¡°Oh¡± and playfully pointed at Liu Bai. ¡°You little rascal, hiding such treasures and only bringing them out now.¡± ¡°The best is yet to come,¡± Liu Bai said, hooking his arm around Fu Lan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Watch, Junior Brother.¡± He formed a hand seal with one hand and a golden light flashed across the scroll. The pavilions and towers rose from the paper, and the mountains and rivers sprang to life. Water flowed through the mountains and valleys, making a gentle murmuring sound. The little figures also started to move, and the sound of their voices, as if women were lightly laughing and singing, could be heard. In the center of the scene was a green pool, over which a small bridge arched. A graceful woman danced on the bridge, and every time she turned around, a piece of clothing fell off, until the only thing left was a white veil, which floated away in the wind like a reed flower. One of the senior brothers reached out his hand to touch her, but he didn¡¯t feel anything. A table full of people watched without blinking. Qi Yin was stunned and exclaimed, ¡°I finally understand the benefits of learning immortal techniques.¡± ¡°I spent three years¡¯ worth of silver just to get my hands on this ¡®Peach Blossom Spring Painting,¡¯ and I couldn¡¯t bear to look at it on a daily basis,¡± said Liu Bai, proudly pointing at the dancing girl in the middle. ¡°This is my wife. I named her Xiang Xiang. Isn¡¯t she beautiful?¡± ¡°Junior Brother has such a generous demeanor, even willing to share his wife for everyone to admire,¡± Yun Zhi sincerely praised. ¡°Don¡¯t flatter me, don¡¯t flatter me. It¡¯s all for my junior brothers¡¯ sake.¡± Liu Bai bowed and turned to Fu Lan. ¡°How about it, Junior Brother, do you feel a scorching heat between your legs? Do you have the urge to transform into a wild beast? You probably haven¡¯t seen a woman before. As long as I open your eyes, I guarantee you¡¯ll be cured!¡± Fu Lan shook his head and said, ¡°No.¡± Liu Bai was surprised and said, ¡°Nothing at all? It seems like you¡¯ve completely cut yourself off from women!¡± Yun Zhi tapped his nose with his fan. He suddenly pulled down Qi Yin¡¯s collar, revealing his tanned shoulder and a large portion of his chest. ¡°How about now, Junior Brother?¡± Fu Lan shook his head in confusion. Qi Yin stood up with a start. Fumbling to pull up his shirt, he shouted, ¡°Are you crazy?¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± Yun Zhi closed his fan and tapped his palm, shaking his head. ¡°Junior Brother, it seems like you¡¯re not a cutsleeve after all.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Qi Yin asked suspiciously. Yun Zhi gently uttered two words, ¡°Erectile dysfunction.¡± Fu Lan remained silent. The other disciples were also silent. A senior brother in the corner sighed. ¡°Truly tragic.¡± Another senior brother sympathetically said, ¡°Accept your fate.¡± Qi Yin was angry and shouted, ¡°What the hell, Dai Ge is as strong as three bulls! You¡¯re the one with erectile dysfunction!¡± ¡°Nevermind, nevermind. As long as Junior Brother is not a cutsleeve, it¡¯s all good. Xiang Xiang can also sing, so why don¡¯t we enjoy it together?¡± Liu Bai rubbed his hands together and everyone leaned in closer. The candlelight flickered, and the singing on the scroll was like flowing water, soft and gentle, blending into the dim yellow light and diffusing into the darkness. They were all focused on the painting, but Qi Yin¡¯s mind was elsewhere, inexplicably thinking of the sudden kiss from the afternoon, the vast world, raindrops falling everywhere, and the two of them under a green bamboo umbrella. His ears burned, and his heart thumped. Unable to help himself, he glanced at Fu Lan. The quiet man turned his head to look out the window, gazing at the hazy lights outside through the thin window screen. He knew Fu Lan was lost in thought again. This guy could sit for a long time during his usual meditation, and others might think he was practicing, but in reality, he was lost in thought. No one knew what he thought about, maybe nothing at all. His mind was like a vast expanse of mist and smoke, and his eyes always appeared empty and distant, as if he was detached from the entire world. This guy didn¡¯t have the emotions that an ordinary person should have, like a small dragonfly lying thoughtless on a leaf, or a godly figure overlooking all living beings from the sky. Qi Yin suddenly thought that it would be nice if Fu Lan was a girl. He looked so handsome and had a calm personality. ¡°The Elder of Precepts is at the door,¡± Fu Lan suddenly said. Everyone startled and quickly made a hand gesture. In the blink of an eye, everyone disappeared. There was only a square lacquered table left, with only Qi Yin and Fu Lan sitting there, staring at each other. The door slammed open, and Ye Qing Ming burst in. Liu Zhu, who was dozing off, looked up with a dazed expression. As soon as he saw Ye Qing Ming, he gasped and ran away. Ye Qing Ming lowered his head and looked at the ¡°Peach Blossom Spring Painting¡± on the table, then glanced at the stunned Qi Yin and Fu Lan, shaking his head. ¡°You two are really something, hiding here doing this kind of thing. You, Yun Lan, I thought you were a well-behaved person, but I didn¡¯t expect this¡­it¡¯s disgusting.¡± Fu Lan stared at him blankly. Qi Yin was on the verge of tears. Fu Lan hadn¡¯t run away because he was slow to react, while Qi Yin hadn¡¯t run away because he didn¡¯t know any magical spells except for drawing a few symbols. ¡°I don¡¯t usually pay much attention to you guys, and when I occasionally inspect the doors, it¡¯s just a formality.¡± Ye Qing Ming rolled up the painting scroll and put it into his sleeve. ¡°But rules are rules. I¡¯ll take care of this filthy stuff for you. You two are not allowed to sleep tonight. Go and sweep the mountain steps from top to bottom. Since this is your first offense, I¡¯ll be lenient this time. Don¡¯t make the same mistake again!¡± After he finished speaking, he adjusted his hair tie and disappeared in a flash. Qi Yin was speechless. The mountain steps had nearly a thousand levels. It would be a death sentence to sweep them all! Liu Bai appeared, holding onto the doorpost and crying, ¡°My Xiang Xiang¡­¡± Several senior brothers and sisters successively dispelled the invisibility spell and advised Liu Bai to just give up and save enough money to marry another wife soon. Qi Yin led Fu Lan out of the door with a dejected expression and carried a broom to the mountain steps. Fallen leaves scattered along the path, and a long line of bluestone steps extended towards the endless darkness of the night. Qi Yin stood on top, feeling dizzy and hopeless about his life. Fu Lan had already started sweeping the ground absentmindedly. He was always obedient and easy-going. Qi Yin had no choice but to accept his fate. The mountain wind was freezing, making people shiver. Fu Lan draped a piece of clothing over Qi Yin¡¯s shoulders, then withdrew his hand and picked up the broom again. Fu Lan¡¯s clothes smelled like the mountain, reminding Qi Yin of the desolation of fallen leaves and winter snow. Why was that? Fu Lan was clearly a silly and slow young man, yet he had such a bleak and lonely scent. It was as if¡­ as if he was a withered leaf that drifted thousands of miles without a home. ¡°Hey, Dai Ge,¡± Qi Yin suddenly called out to him. ¡°Hmm?¡± Fu Lan stood at the foot of the steps, looking up. ¡°Is your hometown in southern Xin Jiang? Why did you leave?¡± Fu Lan was taken aback and said, ¡°The demons there don¡¯t like me. The cat asked me to come to the mortal world and take a look at various miracles. There are many people in the mortal world, and there are also some demons. But after coming here, I realized that I¡¯m not very likable.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that. Did you only talk to men?¡± Qi Yin said, ¡°You¡¯re so handsome, of course men won¡¯t like you. You should find a girl.¡± Fu Lan didn¡¯t say anything. Qi Yin hesitated for a moment, scratched his head, and said, ¡°Um¡­ could it be that you really can¡¯t get aroused?¡± ¡°Xiao Yin,¡± Fu Lan said dejectedly, lowering his head, ¡°please don¡¯t talk anymore.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it,¡± Fu Lan said. Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Junior Brother Hei, Junior Brother Dai!¡± Sang Ruo shouted from the top of the steps. Qi Yin helplessly thought, has the whole sect been calling me ¡°Junior Brother Hei¡±? ¡°Since you¡¯re going to sweep the mountain steps, could you please help me find Lan Xian¡¯s lilac ring? She seemed to have lost it on the steps this morning. I looked for it until dusk but couldn¡¯t find it. Could you guys take a look for me?¡± ¡°Sure, leave it to me.¡± Qi Yin made a reassuring gesture. Footnotes 1. Junior Brother Hei ¨C ¡°hei¡± literally translates to ¡°dark / tanned skin.¡± East Asian skin is usually pale unless you work a lot under the sun, like Qi Yin did. CH 21 Fu Lan swept the ground, while Qi Yin grabbed a lamp talisman and searched every step of the 999-level mountain stairs. He didn¡¯t miss any cracks in the stone bricks or tangles of vines and grass. Finally, he found the lilac ring at the bottom of the stairs. It was as big as a fingernail and gleaming gold. Qi Yin wiped it clean, held it in his palm, and suddenly realized that he hadn¡¯t thought of Lan Xian¡¯er since Fu Lan had made a pass at him. He felt that he was very frivolous, as he clearly liked her but hadn¡¯t been thinking of her. Qi Yin muttered to himself, feeling guilty, and carefully put the lilac ring into his purse. Early the next morning, Qi Yin dressed himself up in a presentable manner, even arranging every strand of hair neatly. He waited deliberately on the mountain path. When Lan Xian¡¯er walked towards him, she was still wearing a simple floral shirt with a plain cloth skirt and carrying the fragrance of orchids. Standing next to her, Qi Yin felt light and airy all over his body. ¡°Sang Ruo said that my lilac ring is with you,¡± Lan Xian¡¯er said. ¡°Oh, right,¡± Qi Yin fumbled through his purse and awkwardly handed over the lilac ring, clumsily placing it into her palm with both hands. ¡°Thank you.¡± Lan Xian¡¯er smiled. Her smile was shallow and light, facing the morning sun, as if it was transparent. Qi Yin was stunned, blushed, and muttered that it was unnecessary, walking slowly beside her on the mountain path. The stone path twisted and turned, with tangled weeds planted on both sides. Qi Yin looked back at the two sets of footprints side by side and felt that it was somewhat unreal. ¡°Is that the sect¡¯s forbidden area over there?¡± Lan Xian¡¯er pointed to the opposite mountain range. ¡°Um,¡± Qi Yin said, ¡°that place cannot be visited because there are many powerful demons inside.¡± Lan Xian¡¯er stuck out her tongue and said, ¡°Demons must be very scary, right? I heard they all look ugly, and love to eat people. They are all bad. Fortunately, we have you sword immortals to kill them all, so that we can live a good life.¡± Qi Yin was stunned and thought of Fu Lan, the lazy cat, and the big white wolf who grew mushrooms under the cliff. He scratched his head and said, ¡°You can¡¯t say that.¡± Lan Xian¡¯er was taken aback and turned her head to look at him. ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Monsters are actually similar to people. Some are smart and some are stupid, some are treacherous and some¡­¡± Fu Lan¡¯s silly appearance came to his mind again, and Qi Yin laughed. ¡°Some are just not very clever. Some monsters don¡¯t eat people, just like some people are vegetarians and don¡¯t eat meat. As for whether they are beautiful or ugly, in their eyes, we may not look good either.¡± He smiled at Lan Xian¡¯er. ¡°If you were a pig, you would definitely prefer to be with pigs as cute and chubby as you.¡± Lan Xian¡¯er looked at him for a while. She turned her head and snorted, ¡°You¡¯re the pig.¡± Qi Yin¡¯s face turned red, realizing that he had said something wrong. He quickly said, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I mean, even if you were a pig, you would still be the most beautiful pig.¡± Lan Xian¡¯er: ¡°¡­¡± Qi Yin covered his face, wishing he could cut off his tongue. What was he saying? ¡°You say they¡¯re not bad, but you still imprison them here.¡± Lan Xian¡¯er kicked the stone under her feet. ¡°There is no other way. They eat people, so we can¡¯t just let them eat people, right?¡± Qi Yin said. Lan Xian¡¯er did not speak again, and the two walked silently forward. Qi Yin felt a bit uneasy. He was really bad at talking and didn¡¯t know how to make a girl laugh. But there was no one at home to ask for advice, the fat cat only knew how to eat, and Dai Ge was even more clueless. After walking for a while, Qi Yin pondered how to start a conversation with her. ¡°The fat lady at the herb store said she doesn¡¯t know you. Are you new here?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Are you with your parents?¡± Lan Xian¡¯er shook her head. ¡°My father won the top scholar title and married a rich girl, so he didn¡¯t want me and my mother.¡± Qi Yin was stunned. He wanted to comfort Lan Xian¡¯er, but couldn¡¯t come up with any good words. He became so nervous that he was sweating profusely and finally said, ¡°If you need anything in the future, you can come up to the mountain to find us for help.¡± ¡°My mother killed my father in a fit of anger and was thrown into prison.¡± Lan Xian¡¯er looked up at him. ¡°She¡¯s been locked up for many years, maybe she¡¯s already dead.¡± As she spoke, her expression was calm, as if these bitter memories were weightless. Lan Xian¡¯er lowered her head again and bounced ahead of Qi Yin, picking wildflowers by the roadside and putting them in her hair. Qi Yin didn¡¯t say anything else and silently followed behind her, the faint fragrance of orchids wafting in the air, lingering around his clothes. ¡°Hey, Senior Brother Yun Yin.¡± Lan Xian¡¯er suddenly turned around and walked backward. ¡°Do you like me?¡± Her words sounded like thunder in Qi Yin¡¯s ears. Blood rushed to his face, and he stared at her, unable to say a word. Seeing his reaction, Lan Xian¡¯er covered her mouth and giggled, then asked again, ¡°If I were a demon, would you still like me?¡± Qi Yin actually knew how to answer. Girls liked to ask questions like, ¡°If I became ugly, would you still like me? If I gained weight, would you still like me?¡± They wanted to hear something like, ¡°Even if you were ugly to the point of being terrifying, or fat enough to crush ten elephants, I would still love you as before.¡± But the problem was that Qi Yin didn¡¯t like demons. He liked mortal women who were pretty, gentle, and good at weaving and cooking. Qi Yin struggled for a while, but he couldn¡¯t lie. He finally said in a dejected tone, ¡°No¡­¡± Lan Xian¡¯er said, ¡°I knew it.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s similar to the way I don¡¯t like men,¡± Qi Yin said awkwardly. ¡°I can be friends with demons, I can be brothers with men, but I won¡¯t marry them.¡± Lan Xian¡¯er tilted her head and looked at him for a while, then suddenly laughed, stood on tiptoe, and patted his head. ¡°Senior Brother Yun Yin, you¡¯re a good person. When I asked others the same question before, they all said they would be willing to stay with me even if I eat people without even spitting out their bones.¡± Qi Yin was stunned by her actions. Lan Xian¡¯er took a few steps back, standing with her hands behind her back under the sunlight. Something changed silently, and the girl¡¯s shallow smile seemed to become brighter under the sun. Lan Xian¡¯er tilted her head and smiled. ¡°Thank you for helping me find my lilac ring. It¡¯s very important to me.¡± ¡°It was nothing,¡± Qi Yin said shyly. ¡°Yun Zhi gave it to me, and I really like it. I couldn¡¯t believe I lost it yesterday and was so worried. Luckily you found it for me,¡± Lan Xian¡¯er said, flipping her hair and smiling at him. Qi Yin¡¯s mind couldn¡¯t quite grasp what she meant. Yun Zhi? What did she mean? ¡°Look, Yun Zhi is here to pick me up.¡± Lan Xian¡¯er pointed to the distance. As soon as she spoke, a cold flash of sword glare appeared. Yun Zhi sat on the sword with a smile, touching Lan Xian¡¯er¡¯s head. She hopped onto the sword and put her basket on her lap, waving to Qi Yin. ¡°Senior Brother Yun Yin, thank you for liking me, but I don¡¯t like suntanned guys.¡± Qi Yin was left standing there, dumbfounded. The two of them disappeared down the mountain path. Qi Yin felt like he was back in Wu Tang Town at dusk, seeing Feng Xian in the arms of the old medicine store owner, something in his heart quietly breaking apart. He slumped his shoulders and walked down the road, kicking stones aimlessly like a stray dog. So it was all just a game to her. Lan Xian¡¯er was really mean. Was it really fun for her to toy with him, thinking he was more entertaining than others because he was silly-looking? But he couldn¡¯t blame her. He had been the one to get himself involved. She didn¡¯t force him to go retrieve the lilac ring, nor did she ask him to like her. As he reached the end of the road and lifted his head, he realized he had unknowingly walked back to the tile-roofed house. Fu Lan sat under the eaves, weaving a bamboo basket. The sunlight shone on his fair face, his facial contours soft and hazy in the light. The black cat lay at his feet, basking in the sun with its eyes closed. Qi Yin lowered his head with a despondent expression and moved a stool to sit beside Fu Lan. A bitter taste rose in his throat, and Qi Yin recalled the first time he cooked at Yao family¡¯s house when he was twelve years old. He was only slightly taller than the stove, and the ladle was as long as his arm. He finally managed to cook a plate of food and carefully brought it to the table. His aunt took a piece of meat with her chopsticks, chewed it twice, and spit it out, saying, ¡°What is this terrible food? Are you trying to poison me?¡± He wanted to say that he had done his best, and when he was stirring the pan, he accidentally burned his hand, causing several large blisters that hurt. But he didn¡¯t say anything and lowered his head, rubbing his foot on the ground in silence. It doesn¡¯t matter, he told himself. It doesn¡¯t matter. He said the same thing to himself now. It doesn¡¯t matter. No one likes him. It doesn¡¯t matter. Fu Lan was fully focused on weaving a small bamboo basket, which gradually took shape in his hands. Qi Yin drooped his head and asked, ¡°Dai Ge, you also know how to weave baskets?¡± Fu Lan nodded. ¡°A Fu taught me.¡± Qi Yin was silent for a while and asked, ¡°Dai Ge, do you really like my mother?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Fu Lan said. ¡°I really like her.¡± Qi Yin opened his mouth, wanting to ask why his mother died. He turned his head and looked at this peaceful man weaving a basket with his head down. The bamboo strips intertwined between his pale fingers, and his face showed no emotions. His eyes were clear and calm, like a vast expanse of smoke and water. Qi Yin held a grass stem and asked, ¡°Dai Ge, did my mother provoke any enemies when she lived with you? Or did the demon have any relatives seeking revenge?¡± Fu Lan shook his head in confusion. The black cat yawned and said, ¡°After Zhang Luo Huai died, Wu Jian was very peaceful. Why are you suddenly asking?¡± ¡°Nothing, just asking.¡± Qi Yin suddenly didn¡¯t want to ask anything. He patted Fu Lan¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Ge, if you can¡¯t find a wife, we might as well live together. It¡¯s not bad to be single, and we don¡¯t have to marry someone.¡± Fu Lan was stunned for a moment and nodded vigorously. ¡°Okay.¡± CH 22 ¡°Has anyone seen Senior Yun Zhi?¡± Liu Bai stood outside the fence and shouted, ¡°The sect leader is asking where he went. It¡¯s already past midnight, why hasn¡¯t he come back yet?¡± Fu Lan shook his head and, together with Qi Yin, collected the sheets hanging on the clothesline. Sang Ruo held a large wooden basin and splashed water on the muddy road in front of her house. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen him either.¡± ¡°Is he spending the night outside?¡± Qi Yin took out a toothpick and squatted under the eaves to rinse his mouth, ¡°Isn¡¯t our sect¡¯s rules just for show? The elders don¡¯t care if he comes back or not.¡± ¡°Senior Yun Zhi is different from us. The rules are just for show for us because the sect leader said that we are lucky if we can learn a few sword moves. But Senior Yun Zhi can¡¯t do that,¡± Liu Bai said with a furrowed brow. ¡°Senior Yun Zhi is the future sect leader,¡± Sang Qing said crisply from across the way. ¡°The sect leader is always strict with him. If he doesn¡¯t learn his swordsmanship well, he will have to kneel before the ancestors to be punished. Look at his You Hui Sword (1). Our swords are just rusty scrap metal, but his is a real immortal sword that the sect leader personally forged after selling the family¡¯s pots and pans to buy spiritual ore.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too miserable to have to sell pots and pans to forge a sword,¡± Qi Yin said, spitting out the mouthwash and wiping his face with a towel. ¡°Have you seen him during the day? I saw him this morning when he was taking Lan Xian¡¯er down the mountain. I don¡¯t know if he came back.¡± Everyone said they hadn¡¯t seen him. Liu Bai became anxious and said, ¡°Senior Yun Zhi is really something. The sect leader is still asking about him over there. If he knows that he spent the night outside, I don¡¯t know how he will punish him.¡± Qi Yin thought that it was good for Yun Zhi to kneel in front of the ancestors for a while and stretch his muscles, so as not to always harass the girls. But he scratched his head and said, ¡°Forget it. I probably know where he is. I¡¯ll go get him back. You guys help me stall the sect leader.¡± Fu Lan was already squatting on a nail rake, waiting for Qi Yin. The fat cat jumped into Qi Yin¡¯s arms and climbed up the nail rake with him. The trees flew by as if they were racing, and the wind blew Qi Yin and the cat¡¯s faces. Qi Yin held Fu Lan¡¯s waist tightly, asking him to slow down. Before he could finish speaking, they had already reached the foot of the mountain. The nail rake suddenly stopped, and Qi Yin bumped into Fu Lan¡¯s back. Dizzy and disoriented, he held onto his forehead and walked towards Lan Xian¡¯er¡¯s house with a rake in his hand. A row of red lanterns hung under the eaves on both sides of the street, and a round, yellow moon sat above the walls. Some diamond-shaped windows were lit up with light, with the shadows of people from other houses moving behind them. After walking for a while, he suddenly realized something was wrong. Upon closer inspection, the street didn¡¯t look like Chang Le Lane at all, but more like Wu Tang Town. Qi Yin stood there, stunned and speechless. ¡°This is Wu Tang, isn¡¯t it? Dai Ge, you¡¯ve flown us to Wu Tang with a rake.¡± The street was quiet, and there was no response from anyone. Qi Yin turned around in confusion and found that Fu Lan and the black cat were gone. He was left standing alone on an empty street. After a while of confusion, Qi Yin started to walk back. The street was silent except for the sound of his footsteps. He walked for a long time but couldn¡¯t find the bitter melon tree at the entrance of Chang Le Lane. He felt lost and didn¡¯t know what to do. Unknowingly, he walked to the Yao family¡¯s house. He stood under the dark eaves for a while, but didn¡¯t go in. There was only an old lady left in the Yao family, and he didn¡¯t know what to say. Just as he was turning around, he heard someone call out from behind him, ¡°Xiao Yin, why didn¡¯t you come in?¡± The voice was familiar. Qi Yin turned around and saw his aunt standing under the lantern. ¡°¡­ ¡± He was almost scared out of his wits and stammered, ¡°A-auntie!¡± What the hell? His aunt had risen from the dead! ¡°Child, the whole family was waiting for you to come back for dinner.¡± His aunt walked over and pulled him by the wrist, dragging him into the house. Qi Yin¡¯s hair stood on end, and he didn¡¯t dare to let go of her hand. He followed her into the main room. His uncle and the old lady were sitting at the table, and Xiao Yuan was standing by the side. His aunt pressed him onto the drum stool, and his uncle smiled kindly at him. Qi Yin stared at his uncle¡¯s mouth and remembered the nine shriveled skulls that had popped out of his mouth several months ago. The drum stool was cold, and Qi Yin sat there with chills running down his spine. His aunt picked up the chopsticks and carefully picked out dishes for him one by one. ¡°Are you confused again? You¡¯re a smart kid, but you became all muddle-headed after being hit by a carriage.¡± ¡°Hit by a carriage?¡± ¡°You even forgot about that?¡± Auntie¡¯s face was full of worry as she patted the back of his head. Qi Yin trembled in pain and only then realized that there was a wound on the back of his head. The old lady frowned. ¡°Find a doctor for Xiao Yin again. Xiao Yin, have you forgotten? Three months ago, you went to get medicine for your aunt, didn¡¯t look where you were going, and got hit by a carriage before you even reached the medicine shop. You had a big wound on your head and had to lie down for three months.¡± Uncle also sighed with his hands in his sleeves. Qi Yin stared blankly at the group of people sitting around the table ¨C Auntie, Uncle, the old lady, and Xiao Yuan standing next to them. They were all sitting together neatly under the candlelight, and the fragrance of food lingered in the air. The hustle and bustle of the street outside could be heard clearly, and the moon hung peacefully in the sky, as if the man-eating bird he remembered was just a nightmare. Qi Yin felt that he must be under a spell. He slapped himself hard, and everyone was startled. Auntie widened her eyes and murmured, ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over. This child really hurt his head. Yuan Dao, why don¡¯t you go and get the doctor?¡± ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll go.¡± Uncle hurriedly got up from the table. Qi Yin¡¯s face burned with pain, but the scene in front of him did not change at all. When the doctor arrived and examined Qi Yin, he felt very confused. Had all the experiences of the past few months been a dream? He remembered that Feng Xian got married, but did not remember being hit by a carriage. Looking up at everyone, their faces were covered in the warm light of the lamp, all wearing worried expressions as if they were concerned about his illness. Qi Yin stuttered, ¡°Um, it seems like I had a very long dream.¡± ¡°You dreamed that our family had a strange bird that ate a lot of people, right?¡± Auntie said. ¡°Auntie, you know?¡± Qi Yin was surprised. ¡°Sometimes you talk in your sleep, saying all sorts of nonsense. Your uncle and I would listen to you by your bedside, and it was always about strange birds, strange birds.¡± Auntie pushed him to bed. ¡°Okay, okay, don¡¯t think too much. The more you think, the more foolish you become. Go to bed now, and you¡¯ll be completely better tomorrow morning!¡± Auntie pushed him to the upper room, and Qi Yin felt a little apprehensive. ¡°But I usually sleep in the attic, right?¡± ¡°Who let you sleep in the attic?¡± Auntie complained, giving him a glance. ¡°Your brother went to do business and will be back tomorrow. He sent a message yesterday saying he found some excellent ginseng for you. He guarantees that the medicine will cure your illness.¡± ¡°My brother? Isn¡¯t he at Wu Fang Mountain practicing Daoism?¡± Auntie covered her mouth and smiled. ¡°We¡¯re not that lucky. How come you dreamed that your brother went to practice Daoism? Okay, okay, I¡¯ll borrow your good fortune. When the time comes, the two of you will go together, and our family will have two sword immortals, and even the emperor will come to our house to share our luck.¡± Having seen Auntie¡¯s fierce demeanor, Qi Yin didn¡¯t feel comfortable being treated so kindly. He felt his bones shivering. Auntie walked to the door, about to close it. Qi Yin sat on the bed and suddenly said, ¡°Auntie, I feel like you¡¯re different.¡± ¡°What¡¯s different?¡± Auntie turned her head, her smile warm and gentle. Qi Yin looked at her and suddenly couldn¡¯t speak. Auntie leaned against the door sill, looking at him in confusion. Finally, Qi Yin smiled and said, ¡°You look more beautiful.¡± ¡°Get out of here, sweet talker. Save it for your future wife!¡± Auntie closed the door, walking away. Qi Yin closed the door, sat at the desk, and looked at himself in the mirror, but he couldn¡¯t see the wound on the back of his head. After struggling for a while, he gave up. He sat for a while, listened to the silence outside, and climbed out of the window cautiously. He made his way to the kitchen, where there was a rustling sound. The sound of breathing alternated between a man and a woman. Uncle hadn¡¯t changed his habit of cheating. Qi Yin climbed up to the attic again, opened the door quietly, and found that it was filled with boxes and crates, not like a place where people lived. He went downstairs and sat in the living room for a while. He picked up a tea bowl under the altar of worship, and saw that it was broken at one corner. It was accidentally broken when he was serving tea when he was young. He climbed over the courtyard wall and strolled along the road. The shops had closed their doors, and it was pitch black under the street lamps. Moonlight shone on his face. Auntie¡¯s hand was warm, so she was a living person, ruling out the possibility of her being a zombie. Wu Tang hadn¡¯t changed. The furnishings in the house remained the same. This was really Wu Tang, the small town where he had lived for fifteen years, and the Yao family he had lived with for fifteen years. Qi Yin squatted down against the wall, his mind a mess. No matter how fast Fu Lan rode his rake, it was impossible to reach Wu Tang, which was a thousand miles away, in an instant. What kind of demon magic could turn Chang Le Lane into Wu Tang Town and bring dead people back to life? And these people¡­ he felt that something was strange and not right. Qi Yin stood up and continued walking. The town was small, and he finished walking it in an hour without seeing any trace of Fu Lan and the black cat. He was so tired that he was panting heavily. He climbed back over the wall into his house, where he rested quietly. The next day, Qi Yin¡¯s aunt rushed out in a flurry, saying that his older brother had come back. Qi Yin had a sleepless night and lazily stumbled out the door. Yao Xiao Shan had returned, and he would have to sleep in the same room with him again. Qi Yin would rather sleep in the attic. As he crossed the threshold, a black-clad youth stood on the steps, leading a horse. Qi Yin rubbed his eyes, doubting what he saw. His aunt slapped him and said, ¡°Xiao Yin, you haven¡¯t forgotten about your brother, have you?¡± The youth climbed the steps, and his big, black eyes reflected Qi Yin¡¯s stunned expression. Qi Yin exclaimed, ¡°Fu Lan!?¡± Footnotes 1. You Hui Sword ¨C Yun Zhi¡¯s sword. The literal translation for its name is ¡°Regretful.¡± CH 23 His brother? His brother was clearly Yao Xiao Shan, that fat guy who always got into fights with thugs on the street. The two of them always ended up bruised and battered, but it was always him who was punished by their aunt, kneeling for hours at the courtyard, while that guy would lay in bed whining and moaning in pain. How did he become Fu Lan? Qi Yin watched Fu Lan enter the house as his aunt and uncle took the account book he had brought back to look at it. The youth stood in the house. His cold, pale profile and silent expression indeed belonged to Fu Lan. A black cat walked around Qi Yin¡¯s feet, and his eyes lit up as he picked it up and exclaimed, ¡°Lord Cat.¡± The black cat ignored him and continued to lick its fur. A crash sounded, and a cup of tea hit Fu Lan¡¯s forehead, drenching him. Qi Yin trembled in fear and looked inside the house, seeing his aunt pointing at Fu Lan, her fingers trembling with anger. ¡°It¡¯s your fault! We don¡¯t have much money, and you went out and lost it all! I must have owed you in my past life to have raised such a money-sucking burden. Now, you¡¯re here to collect your debt!¡± The title of a ¡°money-sucking burden¡± used to belong to Qi Yin, but now it seemed to have shifted to his brother. Qi Yin felt embarrassed. ¡°Let it go, let it go. Let¡¯s consider it a lesson learned,¡± Uncle intervened. ¡°A lesson worth 300 taels of silver? That¡¯s like learning with gold!¡± Auntie pointed at Fu Lan¡¯s head and scolded, ¡°If I had known that he was so stupid, I would¡¯ve thrown him to his death when he was born. Look at Qi Yin; he¡¯s so smart and capable. Many matchmakers have come to propose, and all the girls in town want to marry him. But look at you! You¡¯re a perfect match with that beggar girl across the street. You two should get together!¡± Girls in town? Qi Yin couldn¡¯t believe it. In the past, he was a loser who never got any female attention. ¡°I have someone I like,¡± Fu Lan said. ¡°Which girl is that?¡± Auntie asked. ¡°It¡¯s no use liking someone. They won¡¯t marry a fool like you!¡± ¡°I like Xiao Yin,¡± Fu Lan replied. Ah, this was the real Dai Ge. Qi Yin sighed as he crouched under the eaves. With Fu Lan around, Qi Yin felt at ease, and he wasn¡¯t afraid of the raging waves. Auntie was furious. ¡°You¡¯re really a fool! If you were a girl, Xiao Yin is a good person and wouldn¡¯t mind that your brain isn¡¯t very bright. When you marry Xiao Yin, you¡¯ll have someone to rely on for the rest of your life. Why do I have to worry so much about you!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t marry, but I can be married off,¡± Fu Lan said. Auntie was so angry that she almost fainted. ¡°Are you trying to kill me on purpose? Go and kneel there until noon!¡± Uncle helped Auntie back into the house to rest, and Fu Lan knelt properly in the courtyard, his tall and thin figure casting a shadow in the sunlight like an independent ink bamboo. He had always been like this, as if he were isolated from dust and all worldly things when he was alone. Qi Yin peeked out and saw that there was no one in the courtyard. He quietly crept up to Fu Lan¡¯s side, wiped his face, and whispered, ¡°Where did you go last night? I turned around and you were gone. I thought a monster had taken you away because of your looks. What do we do now? Where are we? Do you have any ideas?¡± Fu Lan remained silent. He lowered his head, and pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket, placing it in Qi Yin¡¯s palm. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Plum blossom cake from Jin Ling,¡± Fu Lan said. Qi Yin took a bite. The cake was still warm. It was sweet and sour, just what he liked. While eating, he said, ¡°Actually, I have a suspicion that we are in the same illusion. The people here are all my acquaintances, but it¡¯s strange. My cousin used to be Yao Xiao Shan, but now it¡¯s you. My aunt used to dislike me, but now she treats me like her own son. Except for these, everything in the house is exactly the same as in my memory.¡± He fed some crumbs to the black cat and clapped his hands, saying, ¡°Illusions arise from the mind. I think the key to breaking this illusion is mostly with me. What do you think?¡± Fu Lan looked at him with blank eyes, as if he didn¡¯t know what he was talking about. Suddenly, Qi Yin felt that something was wrong. He and Fu Lan had climbed down the mountain together, but when he turned around, Fu Lan was nowhere to be seen. The plum blossom cake was only available in Jin Ling, and it would take at least an hour to travel by sword from Wu Tang to Jin Ling. Qi Yin felt uneasy and asked, ¡°Brother, you are Fu Lan, right?¡± Fu Lan nodded. Qi Yin breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°That¡¯s good. Where did you go last night?¡± ¡°I just got back home from Jin Ling,¡± Fu Lan said. ¡°Mom sent a message saying you woke up.¡± Mom? He actually called Auntie ¡°mom¡±? ¡°¡­¡± Qi Yin looked at him incredulously. ¡°What¡¯s your name, your full name?¡± ¡°Yao Fu Lan,¡± Fu Lan replied. Oh no. Qi Yin grabbed his face and lamented in his heart. It turned out that this Fu Lan was also fake. The real Fu Lan must have gone somewhere else and was probably trapped in another illusion. Qi Yin quickly picked up the black cat and shook it hard. ¡°Lord Cat, say something. You¡¯re not fake too, right?¡± The black cat meowed and wildly waved its paws in the air. It was a real chubby-faced cat, not a demon. It turned out that he was the only one in this illusion. Qi Yin felt a little disappointed as he looked up at Fu Lan, who was staring at him with a bewildered look. ¡°Forget it.¡± Qi Yin lowered his head. ¡°Brother, come with me.¡± Fu Lan hesitated for a moment. He still had to kneel as a punishment. ¡°I feel more at ease when I see you.¡± Qi Yin pulled his sleeve and said, ¡°Just accompany me, brother.¡± Fu Lan looked down at the fingertip that was touching his sleeve. He nodded and said, ¡°Okay.¡± Sunlight shone down over the wall, and yellowish leaves fell like withered butterflies. Qi Yin stood across the street and looked at Feng Xian. She was still the same as before, with a green and yellow hairpin sticking out of her black hair bun like a flower. Women were like this; they wanted to be strong and dazzling even in the dust. Unlike him, who had accepted his fate and didn¡¯t care if he rolled in the mud. Feng Xian was still unmarried, which was a bit of a surprise. He deliberately wandered around the pharmacy, and Feng Xian pursed her lips and gestured to the back alley. Qi Yin secretly marveled at this illusion; Feng Xian really seemed eager to talk to him. After they left the door and turned into the alley, he asked Fu Lan to stay at the entrance. Feng Xian stood there and greeted him with a pout. ¡°It¡¯s been three months since we last met. I thought you were really dead. They all said you had amnesia. Did you forget about me?¡± Qi Yin felt a little embarrassed and took a few steps back. ¡°I did forget many things. Um, did we have any relationship before? I can¡¯t quite remember.¡± Feng Xian glared at him. ¡°You forgot our vows and pledges? Do you know how long I¡¯ve been waiting for you? The master of the house said he wanted to take me as a concubine, but I refused and waited for you every day and night. I prayed for you in the temple every day. You¡­you¡­¡± Qi Yin was in so much pain from being pinched by her that he couldn¡¯t even scream. This girl looked gentle, but she turned out to be a female demon. Qi Yin pulled back his arms and hurriedly said, ¡°I won¡¯t forget, I won¡¯t forget. Please let go first!¡± Feng Xian bit her lip and said, ¡°If I don¡¯t give you a taste of my tough side, you¡¯ll think I¡¯m easy to bully. I, a young lady in her prime, have given you my whole heart. If our affair were to be exposed, you would have to marry me even if you didn¡¯t want to!¡± Feng Xian gritted her teeth and suddenly untied her belt, pulled her clothes apart, revealing her round and tender breasts. She charged straight into Qi Yin¡¯s embrace. Qi Yin had lived for so many years but had never seen such a scene before, and was immediately stunned. Someone grabbed the back of his collar with great strength, and he was pulled backwards. He fell into the arms of the person behind him. The scent of the mountains after a rain enveloped him. Fu Lan twisted his body and kicked Feng Xian into a pile of bamboo baskets stacked against the wall. Fu Lan grabbed his wrist and turned to flee. The two of them ran to the riverbank, and jumped into a black canopy boat. Qi Yin picked up a bamboo pole and pushed the boat into the water. Turning his head, he could no longer see Feng Xian¡¯s figure. Qi Yin had lingering fears, feeling that the world had gone crazy. Feng Xian was willing to give up even a young lady¡¯s reputation just to marry him. The black canopy boat passed through the archway and swayed forward. The banks were lined with blue-tiled white-walled houses, and laundry women squatted on the steps by the water beating their clothes. Old cowhide paper lanterns were reflected in the clear river water, like watery red suns. Suddenly, something was thrown into Qi Yin¡¯s boat. Qi Yin picked it up and found that it was a net of water chestnuts. He looked up and saw a girl smiling at him. ¡°Qi Yin, I heard you¡¯ve recovered from your illness. Come and pick water chestnuts with me when you have time!¡± Qi Yin scratched his head shyly and replied, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Young Master Qi, look over here!¡± More fruits and vegetables were thrown into the black canopy boat, and the girls on the riverbank waved at him. After only a few steps, the boat was almost full. Qi Yin had never been so popular before and was somewhat overwhelmed. He turned his head and saw Fu Lan standing at the stern of the boat, transparent like a ghost, not saying a word. He grabbed Fu Lan¡¯s neck and shouted to the girls on the shore, ¡°Hey! Sisters, who do you think is more handsome, me or this young gentleman?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s you, Young Master Qi!¡± the girls exclaimed. ¡°With your sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, you¡¯re handsome and charming, just the type we like!¡± Qi Yin pinched Fu Lan¡¯s face with both hands. ¡°Look at this delicate skin, don¡¯t you like it?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t like it!¡± the girls shouted. ¡°We like suntanned guys!¡± Qi Yin was speechless. It used to be that pretty boys were popular, but now the tables had turned and tanned guys were in demand. As the boat entered Wu Jiang River, the girls blushed and watched him go as if they had taken aphrodisiacs. Qi Yin did not feel happy at all, instead, he shuddered with goosebumps. He turned his head and realized he was still pinching Fu Lan¡¯s face. He shook his hand and let go. ¡°I also think you¡¯re quite handsome,¡± Fu Lan whispered. ¡°Dear brother,¡± Qi Yin said helplessly, ¡°even if my face was covered in pockmarks, would you still think I¡¯m handsome?¡± He turned his head and saw Wu Jiang River in front of them, which eventually flowed into the Ying River, the Yang Tze River, and the vast sea. The water was gray and the foam was white. The sky and the river were the same color. In the distance, white walls and black tiles were scattered like pebbles thrown into the mountains. Qi Yin thought of Feng Xian¡¯s infatuation with him and those girls, and said with a slight headache, ¡°Feng Xian has changed. I know she married her master, the old man. Have you seen him? He¡¯s rich and owns five shops on the main street in town. He collects rent every month and makes a fortune. I used to think Feng Xian liked me, but besides saying things like ¡®three packets of medicine for one silver coin,¡¯ she never said anything else to me.¡± Fu Lan looked confused, as if he didn¡¯t understand. Qi Yin smiled and said, ¡°Now that I think about it, Feng Xian probably doesn¡¯t even know my name. Brother, do you know why I know this place is fake? Even though everyone said I was hit by a carriage and lay in bed for three months, and the nine-headed bird monster and immortality were all nonsense in my dreams. But why do I know this is an illusion?¡± ¡°Why?¡± Fu Lan asked. Qi Yin crouched down and brushed the icy river water with his hand. The face of the boy in the water showed clear sadness. ¡°Because here, my aunt likes me, my uncle likes me, my grandmother likes me, and even Feng Xian likes me. Everyone likes me.¡± In the east, there was a creature called the tapir, which had the power to weave dream worlds with a strange fragrance. Sect Leader Qing Shi had taught them about it in the demon-catching class, and Qi Yin had paid close attention and remembered it clearly. Lan Xian¡¯er carried a bewitching fragrance of orchids, and every time he saw her, he felt like he was enchanted. He used to think it was just his weakness for beautiful women, but now he realized that the fragrance had a bit of a sinister nature to it. Together with the surreal dream world, Qi Yin finally understood that the beautiful girl was actually a demon. Only those with spiritual awareness could see demonic aura, and Fu Lan was too naive to realize this, since he was used to seeing things other people couldn¡¯t see. The Daoist priests of Feng Huan Mountain were only half-baked, letting a demon walk around the mountain as if it owned the place. Qi Yin was frustrated, thinking that this was one of the Four Great Immortal Mountains, but it probably couldn¡¯t even compare to a third-rate immortal sect. He remembered what Qing Shi had said: the tapir was not easy to deal with, and those with deep cultivation could weave thousands of acres of dream worlds that made it difficult to distinguish reality from illusion. He lifted his eyes and looked at the vast gray water, stretching endlessly towards the horizon, with no end in sight. But he knew very well that this must be fake, just a dream of his, because everyone here liked him. ¡°Don¡¯t you like it here?¡± Fu Lan asked softly. ¡°I do.¡± Qi Yin shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not stupid. Everyone likes me, why wouldn¡¯t I like it? When I was a kid, I used to think that I was the reincarnation of a great god. I thought that I was the beloved son of Fuxi and Nuwa who came to the mortal world to experience some tribulations, but eventually, all the hardships and difficulties would come to an end, and I would return to the heavens and live a good life. So I would have golden light above my head, tread on auspicious clouds, and fly away into the sky. But this is not the most important thing. The most important thing is that when my aunt and uncle saw me, they realized that I was actually a deity, and they cried and apologized for being unkind to me before, saying that it was unintentional. They promised to hang my picture in the main hall and light three incense sticks every day to worship me. Then I smiled falsely and said it was okay, I never took it to heart. You are still my aunt and uncle, and I wish you a long and prosperous life. And then I ascended to become a deity, leaving behind a beautiful story on earth.¡± ¡°But you didn¡¯t dream of becoming a deity,¡± Fu Lan said. ¡°Yes,¡± Qi Yin sighed deeply, ¡°as I grew up, I suddenly realized, what¡¯s the use of becoming a deity? My aunt and uncle worshipped deities because they wanted something. Who would like to play with mud dolls? I just¡­¡± Qi Yin tucked his sleeve. The wind blowing into his clothes was cold. ¡°I just sometimes, very occasionally, can¡¯t help but think, if I were my aunt and uncle¡¯s son, would they like me then?¡± The river breeze blew quietly, and both of them fell silent. ¡°Xiao Yin,¡± Fu Lan suddenly spoke up, ¡°I am foolish, and there are many things that you think about that I don¡¯t understand. Your aunt and uncle¡¯s love has conditions. They love their son, and if you are not their son, they do not love you. Their love is sometimes limited. They loved you before but not now, or they did not love you before but now they do. But my love has no conditions, no time limit. I love Xiao Yin, no matter who you are, no matter past, present, or future, I love you.¡± Qi Yin was stunned. At that moment, it was as if the sky was breaking and the grey world suddenly became colorful. Fu Lan gazed at him with concentration and seriousness, his black eyes calm and tranquil as always, as if nothing could disturb him. Qi Yin suddenly felt familiar with those eyes, as if in the depths of his memory, in the gentle rain of the south, or in the white snow of the countryside, there was a pair of eyes that had once looked at him like that. For the first time, he couldn¡¯t distinguish whether this was an illusory dream or a tangible reality. He sniffled and held back the stinging in his eyes, then smiled brightly. ¡°Brother, let¡¯s go home.¡± CH 24 At noon, Auntie said that this was the first time the family had a reunion since Qi Yin woke up, and she wanted to prepare a lavish dinner. Auntie chased Xiao Yuan around, giving her various tasks. Qi Yin volunteered to cook. He heated up the oil, saut¨¦ed onion, ginger, and garlic first, then added the meat. Steam rose from the hot pot. A plate of well-cooked meat was taken out of the pot. Auntie praised it endlessly and personally carried the plate to the table. When he was living with the Yao family, he was also responsible for cooking, but Auntie never praised him. Qi Yin sat down, and the family gathered around the table with joy on their faces. Auntie was happy today, and Uncle didn¡¯t get scolded. Qi Yin also laughed, and Uncle poured wine for him. Qi Yin drank cup after cup, and his face turned red. When the last pot of wine was almost empty, Qi Yin poured a cup of wine and stood up unsteadily. ¡°Auntie, this cup is for you.¡± ¡°You child, how much have you had to drink?¡± Auntie grumbled at him. Qi Yin walked up to her. The sunlight shone through the window and onto her face. Her features were beautiful, with a delicate and charming air. She and his mother were sisters, and they must have looked very similar, but usually, she was quick to anger, with fine lines around her eyes. Qi Yin touched her wine glass, his voice hoarse. ¡°Auntie, there¡¯s something I need to confess to you. When we were young, you found a ladybug in your rouge box, and at that time, my cousin happened to have a big box of ladybugs hidden in the house. You thought it was my cousin who put it there, but it wasn¡¯t, it was me. I caught it and blamed my cousin on purpose. You used the rouge powder on, and your face broke out in a rash for half a month. My cousin was also beaten by you and couldn¡¯t get out of bed.¡± Auntie was stunned for a moment and then smiled. ¡°You child, you were mischievous and didn¡¯t know any better when you were young. I let it go. Let bygones be bygones. Why bring up old memories now?¡± Qi Yin lowered his head and looked at the wine glass. His bitter smile was reflected in the clear liquid. They didn¡¯t know that he was actually a small-minded guy. His aunt thought he was obedient and compliant, but no one knew the twists and turns in his heart. ¡°Actually, you have treated me very well. I have food, shelter, and education. My family doesn¡¯t have much money, and I¡¯m not even your son. You are the Yao family¡¯s daughter-in-law, and technically not a part of the Meng family anymore, but you still raised me. I now regret switching your beauty soup. If I hadn¡¯t, at least you wouldn¡¯t have gone to your grave hating Uncle.¡± This string of words left his aunt speechless, and before she could react, Qi Yin hugged her tightly and said in a choked voice, ¡°Auntie, I¡¯m sorry.¡± He then turned to his uncle and filled his glass with wine, downing it in one gulp. It burned his throat like a knife, but Qi Yin composed himself and said, ¡°Uncle, do you remember when you went to the red-light district and were caught by Auntie? She dragged you home by the ear, and you were too embarrassed to leave the house for a month. Everyone in the street saw it, and you lost face.¡± His uncle was embarrassed and confused, and he rubbed Qi Yin¡¯s head. ¡°You child, what are you talking about? Are you crazy?¡± ¡°That time, I told Auntie about it. As soon as you left, I intentionally woke her up when she was napping and mentioned you in front of her. She couldn¡¯t find you and asked me where you went. I said I didn¡¯t know, but I saw you taking a box of powder. Auntie guessed that you might have gone to the red-light district.¡± Qi Yin took a deep breath and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Uncle, I¡¯m sorry. You didn¡¯t really do anything to offend me, and sometimes you even defended me when Auntie scolded me. I just resented that you didn¡¯t love me enough, I¡¯m sorry.¡± His uncle didn¡¯t know what to say, and just stared at him. Qi Yin then turned to his grandmother, who was sitting on a stool, staring at him. She was very old, with a yellowish face that looked like old, dried paper that had been soaked in water and then dried again. She reached out and grabbed Qi Yin¡¯s hand, murmuring, ¡°Xiao Yin¡­¡± ¡°Grandmother.¡± Qi Yin crouched down. A child like him always seemed to rely more on the elderly. Since he was young, he felt that the old lady in the Yao family was the kindest. At least she would take him to the market two li away to buy vegetables, and at least she would give him money to marry a wife, regardless of the purpose or motive. He felt pathetic, seeking warmth from false acting, but he was helpless. Qi Yin said in a hoarse voice, ¡°You, an old person with white hair, had to bury your son and daughter-in-law, and send your grandson to the immortal mountain, leaving yourself alone in Wu Tang. I should have kowtowed to you before leaving.¡± Uncle and Auntie looked at each other. Auntie panicked and twisted her handkerchief. ¡°Is this child crazy? What nonsense is he talking about?¡± ¡°And also, Yao Xiao Shan.¡± Qi Yin looked at Fu Lan, the calm young man sitting in the corner, staring at him. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but my cousin became Fu Lan. I feel sorry for my cousin. We went to school together, and I was there when he fell in love with Miss Zhang, the teacher¡¯s daughter. He stayed home every day writing love poems. One day I cleaned his room and saw his love poems, so I secretly inserted those poems into his essays. When the teacher was grading assignments, he saw them and scolded my cousin in front of the whole class. After that incident, our classmates teased my cousin for a whole year.¡± ¡°Xiao Yin! Stop talking. You¡¯ve gone mad. Let your uncle find a doctor to check on you later. Go rest in your room now.¡± Auntie couldn¡¯t sit still and came to pull Qi Yin. Qi Yin shook his head, broke free from her grip, walked out of the hall, and knelt outside the doorstep. Tears he had been holding back for a long time finally fell. His heart was like a burst dam, and years of resentment and sadness came rushing out at this moment. He hung his head and said, ¡°The old lady is right. I am an untamable wolf cub with a hard and cruel heart. You shouldn¡¯t have taken me in. Because of me, there will never be peace in this family. I am sorry, everyone.¡± Everyone looked at him in silence. Qi Yin bowed his head, making a loud thud each time his head hit the ground, and drops of blood flowed down his forehead. Qi Yin rested his head on the edge of the doorstep and closed his eyes. The wind was quiet, and the sparse shadows of the Chinese sweetgum tree in the courtyard swayed over him. Auntie, Uncle, Yao Xiao Shan¡­one face after another flashed before his eyes. This was the first time he had opened up his heart and faced the pent-up resentment and sadness he had held for years. He was such a bad person. His aunt¡¯s family had never liked him, and he didn¡¯t like them either. He had a thousand ways to make them miserable, carrying out his childish and petty revenge. But he never would have thought that a disaster caused by a demon bird would destroy his aunt¡¯s family and take away what little blood relatives he had left in this world. From now on, Auntie would never hate him again, but she would never be able to like him either. The deceased were gone for good. The grudges and hatred that seemed larger than life to him were now as fleeting as a shadow in the mirror and water in the moon. Like a joke, it was muddled by fate and disappeared in an instant. Looking back, the road behind him was empty and desolate. Suddenly, his past and the enmities of the past ten years in Wu Tang dissipated like smoke. ¡°Auntie, Uncle,¡± Qi Yin whispered softly, ¡°goodbye.¡± In a daze, he seemed to hear someone sigh, like a wisp of smoke dissipating into the wind, brushing against his hair. His aunt, uncle, grandmother, and Xiao Yuan gradually became blurry and disappeared from his sight. They seemed like ghosts sneaking out from the cracks of time, and now that their time was up, they had to go back. Silence enveloped him like a body of water. The cicadas of summer were gone, and the rustling of fallen leaves in the wind had disappeared. The nagging of his aunt and uncle were all gone. All was quiet. In the darkness, he seemed to have fallen into an indescribable time and space. Slowly he stood up and lifted his eyes. Everyone was gone; even Fu Lan had disappeared. The hall in his memory was gone, replaced by a small thatched cottage. He saw a familiar figure sitting on a stool, with a sword in his arms and a black glove on his right hand. ¡°Junior brother, you¡¯re awake?¡± Yun Zhi still had that cunning smile on his face. ¡°Why are you bowing like that? You¡¯re making your senior brother feel embarrassed.¡± Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± Yun Zhi bent down, patted his shoulder and said, ¡°Not bad. You actually managed to come out of the dream on your own.¡± Qi Yin got up from the ground, sat next to him, and remained silent. ¡°Master didn¡¯t tell you how to break the nightmare. How did you manage to get out?¡± Yun Zhi looked at him, and he saw that Qi Yin¡¯s expression seemed to have a meaning that transcended life and death. Yun Zhi was startled and pinched Qi Yin¡¯s face hard. ¡°Are you okay, junior brother? Don¡¯t ascend to heaven right where you are.¡± Qi Yin pushed away his hand and said, ¡°I heard from Sang Ya earlier that our master helped you get rid of nightmares by having them enter your dreams one by one and slay the monsters. Slaying monsters is easy for you, so why did they have to go? I suspect that the way nightmares trap people is through attachment. If you break the attachment, you can break the nightmare. When you were a child, you encountered monsters, and they ate your parents in front of you. Perhaps your attachment was fear. Your senior brothers and sisters are all poor, and only a few have swords. They must have gone in with hoes and rakes to help you fight the monsters. They are your own senior brothers and sisters, and when you see them swing their hoes and slay monsters, you naturally won¡¯t be afraid anymore, and the nightmare will be broken.¡± ¡°Very clever!¡± Yun Zhi gave a thumbs up. ¡°But when talking about someone else¡¯s sad story, at least express some sympathy.¡± This guy had a carefree look and didn¡¯t need sympathy at all. Qi Yin said with a wooden face, ¡°Senior brother, you¡¯re so pitiful. Here¡¯s a hug.¡± Yun Zhi chuckled and crossed his legs. ¡°You¡¯re right, dreams come from the heart, and dreamscapes are reflections of the mind. Tapirs weave dreams; they can weave against your will, and the more you fear, the more they will want to scare you. Or they weave according to your wishes, and they will give you what you want. Once you¡¯re trapped, you can¡¯t get out. So, what did you see?¡± ¡°A few old acquaintances,¡± Qi Yin replied casually. Seeing that he didn¡¯t want to say more, Yun Zhi didn¡¯t ask further. Qi Yin looked around and saw that the dilapidated house had nothing but a short-legged square table and two stools, standing alone on the mud floor. Qi Yin frowned and asked, ¡°Where are we? Have you seen Dai Ge and Lord Cat? They came with me, but we got separated.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t seen them. They¡¯re probably still in Lan Xian¡¯er¡¯s dream, struggling.¡± Yun Zhi shrugged. ¡°This is my dream, the house I lived in when I was a child. My parents were eaten in the courtyard outside. You finally broke out of your dream, only to fall into my dream. Judging from the looks of it, Lan Xian¡¯er doesn¡¯t plan on letting us go.¡± He said this with a bitter tone, but he still had that playful look on his face, and it was unclear if he was pretending or not. Qi Yin felt complicated and asked, ¡°Are you still afraid?¡± ¡°Are you kidding me? Don¡¯t underestimate your senior brother like that,¡± Yun Zhi helplessly said. ¡°Let me tell you, ordinary dreams are like a box; you go in and come out when you wake up. The dreams of a tapir are different. She has locked us in. Your lock is easier to open because the key is hidden within yourself; you just have to find it. Mine, on the other hand, is impossible to open. I don¡¯t have the key.¡± Qi Yin felt puzzled. ¡°What did you do to that girl? Did you force yourself on her? That¡¯s why she¡¯s so hostile towards you.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything. I just escorted her down the mountain. When I turned around, she was gone. Chang Le Lane was also gone. I walked all the way and ended up in this forest and this room.¡± Yun Zhi thought for a moment and said, ¡°Oh, she did ask me a few things about you.¡± He rubbed his chin and smiled. ¡°It seems like she¡¯s interested in you, junior brother.¡± Qi Yin had no interest in relationships with demons, and now that he thought about it, Lan Xian¡¯er¡¯s initial target should have been him, but for some reason, she chose Yun Zhi instead. Qi Yin sighed and said, ¡°I¡¯m going out to take a look.¡± Yun Zhi grabbed him. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qi Yin asked, puzzled. As soon as he finished speaking, there was a sudden knock on the door. The sound was abrupt and startled Qi Yin. ¡°Who¡¯s knocking?¡± Qi Yin asked. No one answered. The knocking sound became more urgent, and suddenly the entire door was pounded on. The door shook violently, and dust fell. It sounded like many people were pounding on the door with all their might. Qi Yin turned to look at Yun Zhi and leaned towards the door, peering through the crack. No one was there. There was nothing outside except for a forest. ¡°Who knows,¡± Yun Zhi lazily replied. ¡°It¡¯s definitely not human.¡± CH 25 If Qi Yin knew what it was, he wouldn¡¯t be so easily scared. After all, he had been chased by strange birds and now lived on Feng Huan Mountain, the thieves¡¯ den. He was now a person who had seen the world. However, if it was something with an appalling appearance, it would be hard not to be frightened. The problem was, there was nothing outside the door. ¡°What do we do now?¡± Qi Yin asked Yun Zhi. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Yun Zhi replied. ¡°Then why are you so calm?¡± The knocking at the door continued, and Qi Yin felt his heart race. He moved his stool away from the door. Yun Zhi waved his hand and symbols appeared on the door. ¡°I drew some talismans on it. They won¡¯t be able to come in. Don¡¯t worry, Junior Brother, we can spend our whole lives in this dream. The only problem is that this place is a bit cramped, and you¡¯ll have to look at your senior brother¡¯s face every day.¡± He then took out a charcoal cage from his sleeve, snapped his fingers, and green flames lit up the black charcoal. He also took some raw meat and skewered it on his sword to roast it. Qi Yin was speechless. ¡°Is that how you treat your sword?¡± ¡°A sword is meant to be used, whether for slaying demons or roasting meat,¡± Yun Zhi replied. ¡°No wonder your sword is called ¡®You Hui¡¯,¡± Qi Yin said. ¡°It must regret being with you.¡± As they spoke, the knocking gradually stopped. Qi Yin stood up and looked through the door crack, but there was nothing outside. He then noticed that there were marks on the ground, as if someone had plowed it with a rake. Could it be that Dai Ge had come with a rake? But it didn¡¯t make sense for him to knock on the door without saying anything. Yun Zhi handed a piece of meat to Qi Yin, but he refused. ¡°If you were to face Lan Xian¡¯er, how much chance do you have of winning?¡± Qi Yin asked. ¡°This lady can weave four dream realms, and even Junior Brother Dai hasn¡¯t come out yet, so she must have some skill,¡± Yun Zhi pondered, rubbing his chin. ¡°But other than weaving dreams, a tapir doesn¡¯t have any other abilities. We can give it a try.¡± The people on Feng Huan Mountain weren¡¯t reliable, and although Yun Zhi could control his sword and had some skill, they couldn¡¯t just wait around forever. Qi Yin felt uneasy, and felt that it would have better if Fu Lan was here instead. ¡°We can¡¯t just sit around and wait for death. Let¡¯s go out and see what¡¯s going on. It doesn¡¯t matter what¡¯s outside, we¡¯ll fight it.¡± Yun Zhi acted decisively, immediately putting out the charcoal fire and retracting his sleeves. Qi Yin took out his own broken iron sword and stood back-to-back with him as they left the house, in case something attacked them from outside. When they reached the stairs, nothing happened. Qi Yin breathed a sigh of relief and looked around with his sword in hand. There was a circle of dilapidated fences outside, with some dog-tail grass and comfrey growing underneath. The ground was muddy, and his boots were covered in mud after just one step. He hadn¡¯t seen clearly through the crack in the door just now, but now he saw that there were plow marks all over the ground, criss-crossing in strange patterns. Turning his head to look at the door again, he saw that it was pitted with holes, as if eaten away by insects. The holes were new, all made by the mysterious thing that had knocked on the door just now. What the hell was going on? Qi Yin was at a loss and couldn¡¯t make sense of it. Could it be that many demons were knocking on the door and then raking the ground with their hoes after they left? Although he didn¡¯t know what kind of demons they were, he was sure that there was something wrong with their mind. As he was squatting and thinking, something suddenly fell on his head with a thud. He was startled, and the thing slipped into his collar, stinging cold against his skin. Qi Yin shuddered, then reached behind his back and pulled out the thing. He took a look and was immediately frightened out of his wits. It was a green and white snake, and he happened to be holding its head, while its tail was coiling around his arm. Qi Yin was startled and threw the snake away, jumping to Yun Zhi¡¯s side. Yun Zhi laughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a snake.¡± He made a sword gesture with his right hand, and the sword slashed through the air, splitting the snake in half. Suddenly, Qi Yin thought of something and asked, ¡°Yun Zhi, what kind of demon ate your parents back then?¡± ¡°A snake demon.¡± Just as Qi Yin was about to speak, things started falling from the sky with a pitter-patter noise as they hit the ground. Qi Yin focused his gaze and saw that they were all snakes, wriggling and twisting on the ground, some even twisted together as if tied in knots. These snakes were of various colors, some green, some white, and some with colorful patterns. Qi Yin was suddenly alarmed and shouted, ¡°It¡¯s raining snakes! Let¡¯s go inside!¡± It was already too late to go inside. They still had a bit of a way to go to reach the house, and the road was now covered in snakes. Yun Zhi urged him to stay calm and once again used a gesture to activate his sword technique. The symbol, with a resounding sound, suddenly transformed into several flying swords. These swords moved through the snake rain like a tidal wave, stirring up the snakes into a frenzy, splattering blood and flesh into a mist. Qi Yin was stunned as he witnessed this sword technique for the first time. This was the Phoenix Still Sword Technique, where the sword followed one¡¯s heart and the sharpness of the blade was unstoppable. However, the snake rain continued to fall endlessly. Snakes fell on the ground far away, convulsing a few times before hissing and spitting venom, and soon they were surrounded by layers of snakes. Yun Zhi flicked his index finger, and his sword technique changed suddenly. The sword lights weaved into a dense giant net, slowly and calmly clearing a space around them and forming a protective barrier. ¡°Just now, the ones knocking on the door must have been these snakes,¡± Qi Yin said. He should have thought of this earlier. No wonder he couldn¡¯t see anything knocking on the door. These snakes must have attached themselves to the door and knocked with their heads. The traces on the muddy ground were clearly snake tracks, but he was too focused on wanting to find Fu Lan. ¡°Let¡¯s rest for a while, and wait until this rain stops before we decide what to do,¡± Yun Zhi said. The snake rain gradually stopped, and Qi Yin suddenly said, ¡°Is there any meat left? Can I have a bite?¡± Yun Zhi handed him a piece of meat. Qi Yin thanked him and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, let¡¯s hold on for a while longer. Before we left, I told master that if I didn¡¯t return by dawn, he should come down the mountain to find us. Judging by the time, he should be coming soon.¡± ¡°You are indeed thoughtful, junior brother. If our master comes, he will definitely be able to save us from this danger.¡± ¡°Hey, look, isn¡¯t that our master?¡± Qi Yin pointed with his sleeve, and sure enough, a chubby figure appeared in the sky, floating down like a lantern. Yun Zhi¡¯s eyes also lit up. His master was usually unreliable and would sleep until late in the morning, even if the world was collapsing. He didn¡¯t expect him to arrive so quickly this time. Qi Yin and Yun Zhi both waved at the figure and shouted loudly, ¡°Master! Master!¡± A black shadow shot out from an oblique direction. A curve of light suddenly appeared, slashing across Qing Shi¡¯s falling figure. Qi Yin and Yun Zhi watched in horror as Qing Shi was cut in half. A monster floated in the air, holding Qing Shi¡¯s broken upper body in its mouth. Its gaze was indifferent as it looked down at the two stunned onlookers. ¡°I knew I didn¡¯t like monsters¡­¡± Qi Yin thought to himself, his face contorted with a complex expression. The monster was a tapir, which resembled a giant mole with black fur all over its body, but with a woman¡¯s face stuck to its head. Its eyes and eyebrows were slender and long, vaguely resembling Lan Xian¡¯er¡¯s face. It was quite terrifying. The tapir opened its mouth and spat out Qing Shi, saying, ¡°Yun Yin, I had already released you. Why did you come looking for death?¡± ¡°I came for my foolish senior brother.¡± Qi Yin scratched his head and said, ¡°Lan Xian¡¯er, you said your mother is imprisoned. That prison is actually Feng Huan Mountain¡¯s Heavenly Boundary Array, right? When will this cycle of revenge end? Why don¡¯t you come down and talk to us? We can help you plead with our master to release your mother. Wouldn¡¯t that be good?¡± ¡°Your master is already dead. What¡¯s the point of begging for mercy?¡± Lan Xian¡¯er sneered, then she stared at Qing Shi¡¯s corpse on the ground. Qing Shi¡¯s body suddenly burst into flames and turned into a burnt piece of pork with a transformation talisman stuck on it. Qi Yin smiled apologetically. ¡°Since we don¡¯t have the key to this dream, we have to lure you, Miss Lan Xian¡¯er, the owner of the lock, out.¡± Yun Zhi sighed with his sleeves rolled up. ¡°What a waste of good meat.¡± ¡°Your plan is quite clever.¡± Lan Xian¡¯er¡¯s eyes were cold. ¡°Since you don¡¯t want to live, then die with Yun Zhi!¡± The tapir suddenly appeared in front of Yun Zhi and Qi Yin, its huge pale female face facing Qi Yin. Qi Yin was startled, leaned back, and almost fell to the ground. The giant mouth on the woman¡¯s face opened, revealing sharp fangs arranged in two rows, top and bottom, capable of biting through steel. With just one bite, it could bisect Qi Yin¡¯s waist! As Lan Xian¡¯er was about to swallow Qi Yin whole, a cold light suddenly interrupted her. Yun Zhi blocked the attack for Qi Yin and thrust his sword into the center of the tapir¡¯s mouth. The woman¡¯s face looked directly at Yun Zhi, her mouth curved into a cold smile. Qi Yin felt a sense of foreboding in his heart. The tapir suddenly charged towards them, allowing You Hui Sword to tear at the corners of her mouth. Her fangs cut into Yun Zhi¡¯s right arm inch by inch. She then shook her head violently, tearing off Yun Zhi¡¯s arm with great force. ¡°Yun Zhi!¡± Qi Yin shouted. Lan Xian¡¯er spat out the arm and said, ¡°This bastard is really tough. He broke my teeth.¡± At the same time, the wound on her mouth slowly healed, and in the blink of an eye, it was as good as new. Yun Zhi retreated, holding his right shoulder. ¡°This woman¡¯s teeth are really sharp.¡± Qi Yin was originally terrified, but seeing that this guy didn¡¯t even shed a drop of blood and could still speak normally, he was stunned and couldn¡¯t speak. But before he could think more, the tapir roared and stamped its hooves, kicking up dust and clearly preparing to charge. Qi Yin was startled, and Yun Zhi handed You Hui Sword to him, saying, ¡°I lost my right arm and can¡¯t hold the sword. It¡¯s up to you now, my brother. Do you still remember our sect¡¯s swordsmanship? Show your prowess and fight her!¡± ¡°What the hell! I¡¯ve never fought in real combat before!¡± Qi Yin shouted. ¡°Remember that we fought and defeated Yao family¡¯s nine-headed bird monster together. This is nothing!¡± Yun Zhi pushed him and said, ¡°Go!¡± How could he do it? Qi Yin clenched the hilt of You Hui Sword, his hands sweaty with nervousness. The tapir stomped on the ground and charged straight towards them. In an instant, dust billowed up, and the fierce black shadow grew closer and closer! Swordsmanship, swordsmanship! What swordsmanship again? Qi Yin breathed rapidly, his mind a mess. He had to stay calm. He closed his eyes, slowed down his breathing, and recalled the dazzling swordsmanship he had seen at Feng Huan Mountain. One by one, the black silhouettes of people wielding swords flashed through his mind, each move as powerful as a tiger. Which move should he use? It seemed like none of them were right! The sound of hooves grew louder and louder, like the beating of war drums that shook the ground. Qi Yin suddenly opened his eyes, and for a moment, it was as if a sharp sword was drawn from its sheath, and a fierce light flashed. Qi Yin stepped forward, but at the same time, slipped on the ground and slid under the tapir¡¯s belly. You Hui Sword pierced through her chest cavity, slashing all the way down to the abdomen. Dark, murky blood splattered all over Qi Yin¡¯s face, making it feel like his face was on fire. ¡°Feng Huan Swordsmanship: Breaking Evil.¡± This was the most ordinary move among Feng Huan sword arts. In immortal swordsmanship, there were always moves like ¡°Killing Evil,¡± ¡°Breaking Illusion,¡± and ¡°Suppressing Demons,¡± which were no different from the commonplace ¡°White Crane Spreads Wings¡± and ¡°Black Tiger Plucks Heart.¡± But precisely because it was ordinary, it was simple, and Qi Yin was familiar with this move. Qi Yin had almost sliced the tapir¡¯s entire body in half. Wiping his face, Qi Yin climbed up from the ground, belatedly feeling afraid. He turned his head to look at Lan Xian¡¯er standing in a pool of blood, not knowing if he had struck her heart. ¡°I underestimated you, Yun Yin.¡± Lan Xian slowly turned her head. ¡°You¡¯re stronger than I imagined.¡± He missed! Her wounds slowly closed, and Qi Yin cried and said, ¡°Miss, can we stop fighting? Let¡¯s sit down and have a good chat. Maybe we can still save your mother.¡± ¡°You idiot, my mother is already dead.¡± Lan Xian¡¯er stared straight at him. ¡°My mother exhausted her life¡¯s cultivation to save my father, greatly reducing her lifespan. She was locked up in the Heavenly Boundary Array for decades and died long ago. Senior Brother Yun Yin, the sect leader imprisoned my mother, and I imprisoned his disciple. It¡¯s only fair. Despite that, I released you once on Feng Huan Mountain, and once in the dream world.¡± The next moment, she suddenly appeared behind Qi Yin, her gloomy voice sounding like it came from hell. ¡°But you insisted on seeking death. Don¡¯t blame me for being heartless!¡± After speaking, Qi Yin was suddenly hit from behind, and at that moment, his back felt like it was struck by thunder, and his entire back was about to split apart. Qi Yin was thrown into the air, and Yun Zhi rushed forward, barely catching him. They both fell to the ground together. Qi Yin¡¯s throat felt sweet, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. After being hit like this, he felt like he had become a pile of scrap metal and couldn¡¯t stand up. He lay on the ground, his mind wandering. If he died, would Fu Lan and Lord Cat have to beg on the streets? One of them had lost an arm, and the other was unable to move. Both of them were disabled, but the tapir did not continue attacking. She suddenly stopped, panting restlessly. Only then did Qi Yin realize that something was wrong. All the snakes on the ground were gone. He struggled to turn his head and found that all the snakes had hidden in the house, trembling in fear. It felt like there was a tremendous pressure overhead, like a huge cloud covering the sky, making the world dark. As if something terrible was about to descend. CH 26 Soon he knew the answer. A black shadow fell from the sky, like a lightning bolt striking the earth. The tapir roared at the shadow, but soon came to a sudden stop because the shadow landed precisely on her head. With a loud bang, the collision felt like an earthquake and created a huge pit in the ground, and dust rose up in a thick fog. After a while, the dust gradually settled, revealing a black-clothed man in the center of the pit. Fu Lan knelt on the tapir¡¯s back, his eyes drooping lazily. ¡°Xiao Yin likes you, so I won¡¯t kill you,¡± Fu Lan said. ¡°Now, tell us about the dream.¡± No¡­ Qi Yin thought weakly. He didn¡¯t like demons. Lan Xian¡¯er paused, looking up at Qi Yin. ¡°Do you still like me?¡± Qi Yin wanted to deny it, but Yun Zhi secretly pinched him and whispered, ¡°Use your beauty to your advantage, junior brother.¡± ¡°¡­ ¡± Qi Yin never even dreamed that he would have to use his beauty as a weapon one day. Fu Lan also looked at him, his eyes calm and quiet like an ancient mirror. For some reason, Qi Yin didn¡¯t want to lie in front of Fu Lan. That idiot would believe anything he said. ¡°I¡­¡± Qi Yin got up and hesitated to speak. Yun Zhi pinched him again. ¡°Beauty, man, plan.¡± If he didn¡¯t say this, the vengeful demon wouldn¡¯t be able to settle down and they might end up fighting again. Qi Yin dejectedly tried to speak, but he couldn¡¯t say anything no matter how hard he tried. Everyone was waiting for his answer, so Qi Yin gave up and said, ¡°I like you.¡± Lan Xian¡¯er stared at him in a daze. ¡°But it¡¯s not the kind of love between a man and a woman!¡± Qi Yin hesitated for a moment and continued, ¡°Miss Lan Xian¡¯er, I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t marry a demon, but maybe we can be friends.¡± Yun Zhi sighed heavily. This time, Lan Xian¡¯er was silent for a long time. She lay there and said softly, ¡°Senior Yun Yin, you¡¯re really stupid. You don¡¯t even know how to lie.¡± Qi Yin hung his head in despair. He wasn¡¯t like this before. He was good at lying and pretending. In the past, he often lowered his head and endured everything in the Yao family. No one knew that he liked to take his revenge on them in petty ways. But today, for some reason, he didn¡¯t want to lie in front of Fu Lan. Lan Xian¡¯er continued, ¡°But you¡¯re really a good person. You know, the dreams I gave to them and the old cat are all nightmares, but the dream I gave to you was a beautiful one. I know you¡¯re a good person. I don¡¯t want to kill you.¡± Lan Xian¡¯er smiled, and she actually looked gentle and kind. ¡°I won¡¯t kill you, Senior Yun Yin. But the fate of these two people, I will decide!¡± The tapir suddenly disappeared. Fu Lan knelt on the ground, raising thick dust. In the next moment, her human form appeared behind Fu Lan. Her five fingers turned into claws, and her pale nails grew more than a foot long, reaching towards Fu Lan¡¯s back. ¡°No!¡± Qi Yin was terrified. Suddenly, a strange heat boiled in his meridians, as if every drop of blood was burning. Something seemed to have changed in the depths of his body and bones. You Hui Sword vibrated like a bee. Without thinking, Qi Yin stepped onto the sword, flew on it, and inserted himself like a gust of wind into the space between Fu Lan and Lan Xian¡¯er. Then, the sharp claws pierced through his chest! At that moment, everything suddenly slowed down. Qi Yin watched in horror as Lan Xian¡¯er¡¯s claws pierced through his chest, and hot blood spurted out, splashing all over Lan Xian¡¯er¡¯s face. Her face, as pale as orchids, became stunned, staring wide-eyed at Qi Yin. Fu Lan turned around and was also stunned. Yun Zhi was also shocked. No one expected Qi Yin to comprehend the sword control technique at this critical moment, let alone that his first action was to throw himself to death! But demons were demons. Ferocity and brutality were written in their blood. Lan Xian¡¯er hesitated only for a moment, then took another step forward. Her sharp claws pierced through Qi Yin¡¯s back and then penetrated Fu Lan¡¯s chest, like piercing through a layer of fragile paper. Both of them were hanging from Lan Xian¡¯er¡¯s arm like a gourd. Blood dripped down like rain, staining the earth red. Severe pain swept through Qi Yin¡¯s entire body, so intense that when he suddenly felt no pain, time seemed to slow down and his mind went blank. Including the incident at the Yao family, this was the second time in his life that he had seen so much blood, and this time it was his own. He had heard that people often saw a revolving lantern before they died, but he didn¡¯t see anything. Instead, he suddenly understood something that he had been puzzled about since the moment he met Fu Lan. He remembered the first time he met this man in front of a door in a small alley in Wu Tang. The gray sky was drizzling, and they were both hiding from the rain. He was crouched down and Fu Lan was standing upright. Their eyes met as if it was their first encounter, but also as if they were reuniting after a long separation. In that moment of life and death, he suddenly understood that he wanted to be with Fu Lan. He didn¡¯t want this silly guy to disappear from his life. After all, he was the only person in the world who liked him. Lan Xian¡¯er withdrew her hand and looked at him with pity. Qi Yin collapsed, and another bloody embrace caught him. In the overwhelming smell of blood, he unexpectedly caught the scent of a mountain after rain, and his heart suddenly calmed down. He lay in that embrace as if he had found his long-lost home. ¡°Xiao Yin.¡± Fu Lan looked at the broken boy in his arms. ¡°I won¡¯t die. Crush my skull, cut off my hands, destroy everything I have, but I won¡¯t die. I¡¯m not a demon, but I¡¯m not human either.¡± Qi Yin couldn¡¯t hear anything anymore. Darkness slowly enveloped him like water, and he felt as if he had fallen into a deep sea. The only source of light above him was Fu Lan¡¯s eyes. It was fine, he thought. He had been walking alone for thirteen years, but now at least he could rest in his brother¡¯s embrace. The battle continued. Yun Zhi suddenly exerted his strength and attacked Lan Xian¡¯er with his sword. This guy who had just said that he couldn¡¯t hold a sword with his right arm cut off, held his sword with his left hand, and the blade was sharp enough to cut through mountains and rivers. Fu Lan lowered his eyelids, and the fine feathers of his eyelashes covered the sadness in his eyes. ¡°Silly Xiao Yin,¡± he whispered. His index finger touched Qi Yin¡¯s forehead. All was quiet. An invisible force unfolded silently. Scattered blood drops seeped into the soil with a buzzing vibration. Bee-like creatures rose from the ground and hovered in mid-air before rushing into Qi Yin¡¯s wounds in a frenzy. A cold spiritual power was injected into his wounds, flowing rapidly through his bones, nine apertures, and six organs along his shattered meridians. The dying boy suddenly trembled and opened his eyes wide, his pupils almost shrinking to the size of needles. It was a terrible feeling as his blood flowed in reverse and rushed through his body at high speed. The pressure on his blood vessels was too great, as if they would burst at any moment. However, an unknown force supported his heart, blood vessels, and bones, enveloping them like layers of strong steel, resisting the high pressure that would otherwise crush his blood vessels. Qi Yin was in so much pain that he almost preferred to die. He held onto Fu Lan¡¯s arm tightly, leaving deep blood marks on it. His originally weak self-healing ability suddenly increased a hundredfold. His weakened heart was forcibly beating again, and the spiritual power extended fine threads to pull his meridians together. His broken ribs were welded together like iron. Yun Zhi turned his head during the fight and widened his eyes in amazement. That was Fu Lan¡¯s power, which was strong enough to reverse life and death! No one knew what kind of magic Fu Lan was using. Yun Zhi had never heard of any magic that could bring people back to life. Even if there was, it would only bring back zombies. But Fu Lan did it. Qi Yin started breathing again, and his heart rate gradually increased, becoming stable. The great master was about to go into battle, so Yun Zhi voluntarily stepped back and held his sword, smiling. ¡°Miss, you¡¯re in big trouble now.¡± The wounds on Fu Lan¡¯s body were healing at a speed invisible to the naked eye. Lan Xian¡¯er was extremely shocked. She suddenly realized that this guy in front of her was not just a simple Daoist from Feng Huan Mountain. She wanted to use her magic, but that man raised his eyes and softly said, ¡°Forbidden.¡± Her body suddenly became heavy, as if she had been burdened with a ton of weight. This terrible man didn¡¯t use any magic or incantation. He simply spoke a word and activated an unknown magic. Her spiritual power instantly became thick like paste and couldn¡¯t be mobilized! But Fu Lan didn¡¯t move. He frowned slightly, as if he was hesitating whether to kill her or not. ¡°Kill her,¡± the black cat appeared from somewhere and said, ¡°this nuisance of a woman, A Fu won¡¯t like her as a daughter-in-law.¡± No one saw Fu Lan move, but a sharp light suddenly pierced through Lan Xian¡¯er¡¯s chest. A red mark gradually expanded, and blood soaked her clothes. No one knew how Fu Lan accurately found her heart. She didn¡¯t even have time to defend herself before she lost. Her spiritual power began to dissipate, like scattered raindrops, evaporating little by little in the air. The dream collapsed, and she fell down. The gray dome shattered inch by inch like glass, revealing the original sky. She suddenly realized that she was not a match for this silent man, and he had gone easy on her not for her sake, but for Qi Yin¡¯s sake. The only reason he had not acted was because Qi Yin liked her. The black cat licked its paw and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been with this idiot for so long, and this is the first time I¡¯ve seen him angry. This tapir demon is quite capable.¡± ¡°Did Junior Brother Dai get angry?¡± Yun Zhi came over at some point and looked at Fu Lan. Fu Lan picked up the unconscious Qi Yin and walked out of the dream without saying a word, which was no different from usual. The black cat was about to speak when it suddenly felt that something was wrong and looked up at Yun Zhi. That guy smiled and shook the black cat¡¯s paw with his remaining left hand. ¡°Nice to meet you, talkative little cat. I¡¯m Yun Zhi. Call me Senior Brother.¡± The black cat pulled back its paw with a wooden face and said, ¡°Get lost, I don¡¯t know you.¡± CH 27 Sunlight shone on the Repentance Cliff, and the cobblestone path was covered with moss. There was a faint smell of decay in the air, as if it had drifted from thousands of years ago, crossing the ages. Qi Yin was wrapped in bandages and slumped on a bald rattan chair. Another injured person, Yun Zhi, lay on the daybed with his upper body bare. He was also a pretty boy with a slender and well-toned body. The only flaw was that he was missing an arm. Qing Shi¡¯s disciples brought out many boxes and cabinets from the room. Four identical disciples pulled open the drawers one by one, some filled with wooden eyeballs, some filled with wooden ears, and others with all the facial features. Qi Yin¡¯s eyes were sharp and he even saw some genitals. He only found out today that this fat man was also proficient in this kind of technique ¨C mechanical surgery. No wonder Qing Shi had more and more disciples with each passing day, and they all looked exactly the same. They were all mechanical dolls with gears inside. A compass was installed on their heads to determine direction, and a spirit stone was placed in their chest to provide power for the whole body. One swept the floor, one served tea, one combed hair, and one sang a little song. Ye Qing Ming whispered, ¡°His arm was gone more than ten years ago. When he was a child, he was tied up and used as food by the snake demon. Some monsters are very vicious, unlike your cat, let alone your silly brother. They kidnap people everywhere and turn them into food. Children¡¯s meat is the most tender and they like it the most. When they are hungry, they eat one person per bite. When they are not hungry, they keep them and slowly remove their arms and legs as appetizers. Your senior brother was very pitiful. The snake demon ate his arm in front of him.¡± Qi Yin remained silent. He still couldn¡¯t believe that his senior brother was actually a disabled person. After all, this guy was so arrogant and always smiled so cheaply. Qi Yin remembered his charming sword dance and the way he tricked Fu Lan into washing his clothes. He looked like a scoundrel, not like he was missing an arm. ¡°But it¡¯s okay. Your master made a wooden arm that is impervious to water and fire, and it is even more useful than a normal arm,¡± said Qing Ming. ¡°It just looks ugly and can¡¯t be disguised as human skin, so your senior brother usually wears a glove.¡± Qing Shi compared a wooden arm with Yun Zhi¡¯s left hand, cut off the extra length, and carved intricate runes on the arm. The runes were like vines, climbing up the wooden arm. It looked strangely beautiful. Qing Shi attached the wooden arm to Yun Zhi¡¯s shoulder and sewed the joint with mulberry bark. Yun Zhi was in pain, his veins bulging. ¡°Master, can¡¯t you give me some anesthetic?¡± Qing Shi smiled. ¡°If you know pain, you will practice your swordsmanship even more diligently. Don¡¯t let the demons break your arm next time and then ask me to clean up the mess for you.¡± After Qing Shi finished the stitching, Yun Zhi clenched his fist, and the symbols on his arm emitted a fine golden light, making his entire arm more flexible. After putting on his clothes, Yun Zhi looked at the sorrowful expression on Qi Yin¡¯s face and said with a smile, ¡°Junior brother, don¡¯t be afraid when you encounter demons in the future. Even if you¡¯re left with only your head, our master can make you a wooden body and save you.¡± With his carefree attitude, no one could tell that he had a disability. Qi Yin began to respect this rogue senior brother and gave him a fist bump. ¡°Never mind. If that really happens, please let me ascend to heaven right where I stand.¡± Qing Ming helped Yun Zhi leave, while Qing Shi sat on a stool and packed up his boxes and baskets. Four disciples helped him, carrying the boxes back to the room one by one. The sun was warm, and the green stone road shimmered with light. The distant mountains were a shade of blue, stretching across the sky and the earth. Qi Yin moved his fingers and asked, ¡°Did you know Lan Xian¡¯er was a demon all along?¡± ¡°To be precise, she¡¯s a half-demon.¡± Qing Shi picked up his things and said slowly, ¡°Her mother fell in love with a scholar, bore a daughter for him, and sacrificed her cultivation to save the scholar¡¯s life when he was severely injured by a demon. Unfortunately, she lost her cultivation and could no longer transform into human form. When the scholar saw her true form, he was terrified and ran away overnight. Later, he became the top scholar in the capital, and this tapir came to the capital and bit him to death when he was riding a horse through the streets. The emperor at the time asked me to capture the demon, so I trapped her in the Heavenly Boundary Array. She died at the foot of the Repentance Cliff ten years ago. Tapirs usually have black fur all over their bodies, but Lan Xian¡¯er has a human face, which was passed down to her from her father¡¯s bloodline.¡± Qi Yin lowered his head, thinking of the girl who looked like a white cotton flower. He kicked the ground with his toe. ¡°I think¡­ this girl is quite pitiful.¡± ¡°All things in nature are humble except for the heavens. Who isn¡¯t pitiful?¡± Qing Shi shook his head with a smile. ¡°This girl entered Chang Le Brothel a month ago and asked about me as soon as she arrived. She had been trying to enter my dreams every night for the past month. Although I¡¯ve gained some weight and lost some hair, I am still the head of a sect. Young people nowadays are too arrogant.¡± ¡°Then why did you let me go find Yun Zhi by myself?¡± ¡°Yun Lan went with you, didn¡¯t he? You see, with him around, even if you have a big hole in your chest, he can fix it for you.¡± Qi Yin was taken aback. ¡°You know that my brother is¡­¡± All along, Qi Yin had thought that Fu Lan was human, but because he had been living among demons for a long time, like a wild man raised in a wolf pack, he could not distinguish his own kind. It wasn¡¯t until Fu Lan had pulled him back from the brink of death that Qi Yin realized that this guy might not be human after all. But, so what if he wasn¡¯t human? Qi Yin propped himself up and said, ¡°Master, although my brother is not human, he is a good kid. He used to live with my mother when he was a child, and she recognized him as her godson. You see, he and I have been here in Feng Huan Mountain for so long, and he has never harmed anyone.¡± ¡°People think that Fu Lan is a pig demon, but that pig demon is just a fake using the name of the demon lord to show off,¡± Qing Shi said with a smile, his hands in his sleeves. ¡°The Abyssal Dragon has been lurking in the Nine Layers for thousands of years. How could it be killed by a pig demon with only a few hundred years of cultivation? I know Fu Lan is not a bloodthirsty and cruel pig demon, but I didn¡¯t expect that he¡¯s someone who only loves doing laundry, cooking, and taking care of his younger brother.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood. My brother is not a demon lord or anything like that. The name is just a coincidence. He¡¯s poor and naive, without even a eunuch or a guard under his command. What kind of demon lord is he? It must be a misunderstanding,¡± Qi Yin said, laughing along. Qing Shi kept his smile. ¡°My disciple, do you really know your brother?¡± ¡°Of course I do! He is honest, sincere to others, respects his elders, cares for his fellow disciples, and is a rare good young man,¡± Qi Yin said, giving him a thumbs up. ¡°I am over forty years old and have read many books, but I have never seen any power that can repair a person¡¯s heart and bring back someone whose intestines are pierced through. Do you not want to know what kind of magic your brother used?¡± Qing Shi asked. ¡°I don¡¯t want to know,¡± Qi Yin answered quickly. ¡°I just know that he is my brother.¡± Qing Shi was momentarily stunned, then shook his head with a bitter smile. ¡°You child¡­never mind, let me tell you a story. In the southern territory, there are many legends about your brother. To talk about him, I have to tell you about a place first. Xiao Yin, have you ever heard of the Ba Mountain Temple?¡± Qi Yin shook his head. ¡°That is a temple located in the heart of Ba Mountain. According to the ¡®Record of Southern Territory¡¯, thousands of years ago, when the great deity walked the earth, the shamans built the temple to worship, sacrifice, communicate with the heavens, and seek guidance. Ba Mountain Temple is the largest temple in the southern territory, dedicated to their great deity, the White Deer. It is a deity that protects demons and monsters. We in the central plains call it an evil god or a wild god. Legend has it that this deity likes to eat the hearts of young children. In the southern territory, they sacrifice living children every full moon. The children are all killed by having their hearts cut out.¡± Qi Yin shivered. ¡°Are you sure this is a deity and not a monster?¡± Qing Shi shook his head and continued, ¡°In the past hundred years, Daoism has been declining, and many techniques have failed one after another. Each Daoists¡¯ lifespan is shorter than the previous generation. Ancient shamans could live for hundreds or even thousands of years, but now even the most prestigious Daoist can only live for a little over a hundred years. Later, some people proposed that Daoism originated from ancient sorcery, and they thought of seeking a way to restore it from the source. So, they thought of Ba Mountain Temple. However, according to the ¡®Record of Southern Territory,¡¯ three thousand years ago, the last great shaman died suddenly, and Ba Mountain was suddenly enveloped in dense fog. Since then, no one has been able to pass through the white fog and reach Ba Mountain Temple.¡± ¡°Fog?¡± ¡°Yes, it is a white fog that can eat people.¡± Qing Shi looked at Qi Yin with deep meaning in his eyes. ¡°Fifty years ago, Wu Fang Mountain gathered a group of cultivators and formed a team of twelve to explore the temple in the Southern Territory. Each of them left a trace of their divine consciousness in Wu Fang Dawn Mirror. Through the mirror, the divine consciousness could connect with their bodies, and the elders of Wu Fang Mountain could learn of their experiences through the mirror. That time, it was led by Elder Zong Lan. The twelve people rushed to Ba Mountain. They entered the dense fog but found that they couldn¡¯t see anything.¡± ¡°Because the fog was too thick? But they were so powerful. Even if they couldn¡¯t see with their eyes, they could use their divine senses?¡± Qi Yin asked. ¡°Just like you thought, once they entered the thick fog, they released their divine senses, but they still couldn¡¯t see anything. Even if they put their palms in front of their eyes, they couldn¡¯t see anything. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that their field of vision was white, they would have thought they were blind. In a panic, they had to use ropes to tie themselves together to prevent getting lost. But fortunately, the mirror could still transmit their voices. Although they couldn¡¯t see anything, it didn¡¯t hinder their communication with Wu Fang Mountain. Since their divine senses couldn¡¯t locate the temple, they had to search on foot. They were afraid of demons in the mountains, so everyone restrained their voices and didn¡¯t light any fires, and they only spoke in low voices occasionally. At night, it was pitch black, and it slowly brightened up in the morning, but still, they couldn¡¯t see anything. They set a direction and headed west, but strange things happened. Every day, one person¡¯s divine consciousness disappeared from the Dawn Mirror. There was only one situation that could make the divine consciousness disappear, which was if the person had already died. Wu Fang Mountain asked them, but they answered that the number of people hadn¡¯t decreased. Elder Zong Lan wanted to confirm that everyone was there, so he made everyone report their number one by one.¡± Qi Yin¡¯s heart was beating fast as he asked, ¡°Are they all there?¡± CH 28 ¡°They are,¡± Qing Shi said. ¡°Wu Fang Mountain speculates that perhaps there is some residual great shaman formation in Ba Mountain, and some people¡¯s divine consciousness are not strong enough and have been isolated. They searched for four days, and the number of disappeared divine consciousness approached half, but they still gained nothing. Once the divine consciousness completely disappears, they can no longer communicate with Wu Fang Mountain. As a precaution, Wu Fang Mountain decided to return. Since there was no need to search, Elder Zong Lan ordered everyone to ride their swords. But they found that even the sword riding spell was ineffective. In that mountain, all spells could not be cast.¡± ¡°Is there a barrier?¡± ¡°Wu Fang Mountain also suspects so, but they searched for a long time and didn¡¯t find a way to break it. Helpless, they had to walk back. Fortunately, there was a sound when the compass pointer rotated, and they judged the direction by touching and the sound of the pointer. The team became increasingly silent, and everyone understood that they had been inside for so long and had encountered strange events one after another, so their mood must be very bad. Every day, in addition to reporting their number, Elder Zong Lan also tried to boost morale by talking during breaks, but he couldn¡¯t encourage everyone. On the last day, only Elder Zong Lan¡¯s divine consciousness remained in the Dawn Mirror. Based on their route, they were already close to the edge of Ba Mountain. However, an accident happened.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Before this, they were all connected by ropes, with distance between them. Daoists do not eat or drink, and most of them are reclusive and independent, not fond of touching others. This was especially true for those from Wu Fang Mountain. So, even after traveling together for more than ten days, they rarely touched each other. It was not until that day when Zong Lan communicated through his divine sense with Dawn Mirror and said that his bag fell to the ground. When he looked down to retrieve it, he accidentally touched his companion next to him. He said that the person¡¯s body was stiff and cold, already dead. Zong Lan tried to talk to him, but his companion either remained silent or answered briefly. Zong Lan finally said that he thought there were no living people around him anymore.¡± Qi Yin was stunned and exclaimed, ¡°What? Are all the people he¡¯s been with dead? How can dead people talk?¡± Qing Shi shook his head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. No one knows what happened to them. Perhaps some monsters have occupied their bodies and are imitating their speech. Perhaps they themselves do not know that they are already dead. Zong Lan felt that the danger was imminent and that he would not live long. He left his last words and cut the rope to continue his journey. Those things did not follow him anymore, but until his divine sense disappeared, the mirror did not see him leave Ba Mountain, and he never returned to Wu Fang Mountain.¡± ¡°Until now, you still don¡¯t know what happened there?¡± Qi Yin asked. Qing Shi shook his head. This matter sounded mysterious. Qi Yin felt that it did not sound true no matter how he listened to it. Looking up at Qing Shi, he still had that calm and composed look. Could he be making up a story to entertain him? Qi Yin asked, ¡°There are too many strange things. That place is white during the day and black at night, and it¡¯s in the mountains with no trees? They walk blindly with their eyes open; won¡¯t they bump into things? When people die, don¡¯t they stink? Can¡¯t they smell it?¡± Qing Shi laughed and said, ¡°The problem lies precisely in this. After Wu Fang recalled that incident, there were many oddities and mysteries. How could they walk unobstructed through the forest in the mountains? How could they not hear the wind blowing down the leaves? How could they not see the pouring rain at night? But at that time, neither the twelve people nor Wu Fang Mountain noticed anything strange, and let them delve deeper into Ba Mountain.¡± Qi Yin listened in a daze and still could not fully accept it. Maybe there was a powerful monster lurking in the shadows there, and it might be the White Deer that ate human livers. It¡¯s just that these Daoists had low cultivation levels and couldn¡¯t beat it, so they made up a bunch of excuses to cover it up. Qi Yin scratched his head and asked, ¡°What does this have to do with my brother?¡± Qing Shi looked at him and said, ¡°The Ba Mountains are mysterious and once you enter, there¡¯s no turning back. For many years, no demons dared to approach it. Therefore, some injured or separated small demons would rest outside of the Ba Mountains. There are few demons and also few natural enemies, so they can get some breathing space. Eighteen years ago, an injured water snake demon settled at the edge of the Ba Mountains, in the white mist. It saw a child walking out of the mist, which was the first time the southern demon clan saw something coming out of the white mist.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qi Yin said, ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me that child was my brother.¡± Qing Shi smiled meaningfully. ¡°Unfortunately, it was him. This is the first legend about Fu Lan. Of course, it¡¯s just a legend, and no one knows if it¡¯s true or false.¡± ¡°Master, you¡¯re overthinking,¡± Qi Yin tried to defend Fu Lan. ¡°This Fu Lan is not the same as that Fu Lan. My brother is a simple and lovely little fool, who just happens to share the same name as the Pig King. As for his breed, there are many strange things in the world that we have not seen before. Maybe my brother is a god, don¡¯t you think?¡± Qing Shi rolled up his sleeves and looked at the green mountains outside the cliff. The reddish sun looked like a dim paper-cutting, hanging in the blue sky. He smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯re right, he¡¯s a good child. I¡¯ve been alive for more than forty years and it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen such a child. Even Yuan Wei doesn¡¯t have such eyes.¡± Hearing Qi Shen Wei¡¯s Dao name, Qi Yin¡¯s movement paused. ¡°The spell that Yun Lan used is probably from the Ba Mountains. To be honest, I¡¯m not curious about what exactly is in the southern region. The world is vast, and how can humans fathom it all? Unfortunately, few people know this truth.¡± Qing Shi turned his head and looked at Qi Yin against the light. ¡°Xiao Yin, there are two kinds of words in this world that are the least trustworthy: legends and rumors. Unfortunately, these are also the words that most people believe. Whether he is Fu Lan or not doesn¡¯t depend on you, but on the world. My disciple, remember that Yun Lan¡¯s identity is known to you and me, and to Feng Huan, but not to outsiders.¡± The sunlight shone on Qing Shi¡¯s plump and pale face. Qi Yin could see a kind and benevolent light in his narrow eyes. Qi Yin remained silent for a while, struggling to stand up with the help of the chair. He bowed respectfully and said, ¡°Disciple will remember.¡± The moon was like a round flower, stuck on the treetops. Qi Yin walked back slowly, holding his wound. Suddenly, he thought of something, turned back, and walked to the back of the thatched cottage. He asked through the small window, ¡°Hey, Yun Zhi.¡± Yun Zhi stuck his head out from inside. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t tell other senior brothers and sisters about my brother and Lord Cat, did you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± Qi Yin nodded and hesitated for a while before asking, ¡°Is my father¡¯s relationship with Master good?¡± Yun Zhi was clearly stunned. He leaned on the window sill and smiled. ¡°Yes, they were good friends. Twenty years ago, they teamed up to slay demons and were known as the ¡®two gentlemen of the immortal mountain¡¯. Unfortunately, time doesn¡¯t spare anyone. Our master has grown fatter and few people know that he was once a handsome man.¡± There was silence. Yun Zhi looked at Qi Yin, who stood in the moonlight with his black hair covering his eyes, unable to tell what expression was on his face. After waiting for a while, Qi Yin smiled. ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± Qi Yin walked away, his thin figure disappearing into the vast darkness along the bluestone steps. Qing Ming leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. ¡°Why did you tell him? What if he runs away?¡± Yun Zhi tapped on the window frame. ¡°He didn¡¯t ask, ¡®What¡¯s the relationship between my father and Master?¡¯, he asked, ¡®Is the relationship between my father and Master good?¡¯ He had already guessed it, so what¡¯s the point of hiding it? Besides¡­¡± Yun Zhi smiled. ¡°I think he cares a lot about Master Qi.¡± ¡°At the end of the year, there will be a Daoist debate in Luo Tian. This little guy was pressured by that little demon, and he had a moment of inspiration. He barely passed the threshold, but he¡¯s still a half-assed disciple.¡± Qing Ming scratched his ear. ¡°Does your master really want him to go to Luo Tian?¡± ¡°Of course he does.¡± Yun Zhi looked out of the window and smiled leisurely. He remembered the look in Qi Yin¡¯s eyes when he rode his sword to save Fu Lan from Lan Xian¡¯er¡¯s attack. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate my little junior brother. Although he looks like a stray dog on ordinary days, once he goes mad, he becomes a mad dog.¡± ¡ª Under the eaves of the tiled house hung a red lantern, a long line of them. Senior brothers and sisters were squatting on the steps, rinsing their mouths and washing their faces. When they saw him, they greeted him loudly. Qi Yin responded one by one and strode along the muddy road back to his and Fu Lan¡¯s little house. He closed the door and put on the latch. Fu Lan pasted a talisman and lit it up, and the room was illuminated with a bright orange glow, like a piece of transparent amber. They were insects in the amber, small and thin. Fu Lan saw Qi Yin come back and carried the medicine box over to help him change the bandage and apply medicine. His spiritual power had restored most of Qi Yin¡¯s injuries, but it couldn¡¯t make them completely heal. There was still a large wound in his chest, as if the shell of his heart had been broken and something could crawl inside. Fu Lan lowered his eyebrows and touched his wound with his slightly cold fingertips, which felt a bit painful. Qi Yin remembered the child who came out of the mist Qing Shi told him about. He scratched his head, and said, ¡°Brother, Master told me something about you.¡± Fu Lan looked up at him. ¡°The words those Daoists said,¡± the black cat sauntered over and jumped onto the bed in one go, ¡°just listen with your left ear and let it out with your right ear. Did he say that the fool loves killing innocent people, being arrogant and domineering, and bullying men and women?¡± ¡°No, he didn¡¯t,¡± Qi Yin said, ¡°he said my brother came from a man-eating place called Ba Mountain Temple.¡± CH 29 Fu Lan nodded. ¡°Do you want to go there? When we go back to Southern Jiang, I¡¯ll take you there to play.¡± This guy looked indifferent, as if Ba Mountain Temple was the neighborhood market and he could just go in with a basket. Qi Yin was somewhat incredulous and asked tentatively, ¡°Really, you come from there? And are you sure¡­ I can go?¡± Fu Lan looked puzzled. ¡°Why not?¡± The two stared at each other, and Qi Yin suddenly felt that this guy was not very reliable. What if he led Qi Yin in and Qi Yin disappeared while they were walking, and this guy didn¡¯t notice for a while? Qi Yin was a bit speechless and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a white mist in Ba Mountain? And it eats people? Fifty years ago, a team of immortals went there to explore and all died there. I¡¯m just a half-baked guy, not even a Daoist. Are you sure I can go in safely?¡± Fu Lan patted Qi Yin¡¯s head. ¡°Xiao Yin is very cute. They will like you.¡± ¡°They?¡± Qi Yin was stunned. ¡°That¡¯s the white mist you mentioned. It can¡¯t really be called mist. Only the fool can see through it.¡± The black cat thought for a while, couldn¡¯t come up with a clear explanation, and finally said, ¡°I can¡¯t explain it clearly. You¡¯ll know when you see it yourself. As long as we follow the fool in, the white mist won¡¯t eat us.¡± Qi Yin didn¡¯t understand. ¡°What are they exactly? Can fog actually eat people? How does it eat them?¡± ¡°Xiao Yin.¡± Fu Lan looked at him calmly. ¡°They were already dead when they entered the white fog.¡± Qi Yin was stunned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Have you ever thought about how to confirm someone¡¯s existence?¡± Fu Lan pointed to his eyes. ¡°If someone exists, they can be seen. So if they are seen, their existence can be confirmed. In the white fog of Ba Mountain, we cannot see each other, nor can we see ourselves. God kills people without killing their hearts or cutting their throats. God erases their existence.¡± He spoke in a mysterious way, and Qi Yin still didn¡¯t understand. According to this, do blind people not exist? What kind of nonsense is this? Qi Yin continued to ask questions, but Fu Lan wasn¡¯t good at explaining things to begin with, and he couldn¡¯t clarify this complicated question. Even the black cat was confused because it was also blinded like the group of Daoist priests, but luckily it was saved by Fu Lan. Qi Yin could only give up and thought that he would have the chance to see for himself in the future. Moonlight moved through the dense flowers, and the black cat said, ¡°Your brother stayed in that place when he was young. He broke through the fog at the age of eight and wandered outside for two years until he met this old man. Apart from your brother, there is no living creature that can move in Ba Mountain, but the scenery is very beautiful. There is an immortal spring behind the temple. When you go there, let the fool take you to soak in the hot springs. There are camellias in the spring, peonies in the summer, and during the full moon, you can hear the sound of a flute in the wind. Legend has it that in ancient times, a great shaman would play the bone flute for the White Deer God every full moon. The shaman disappeared, but the sound of the flute remained in the wind. When you were young and wouldn¡¯t sleep at night, the fool would hum that tune to lull you to sleep.¡± ¡°The White Deer God?¡± Qi Yin asked. ¡°Master said it¡¯s an evil god who loves to eat children¡¯s hearts.¡± The black cat got angry. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about! Eating hearts? How can that fat old man say such things? I heard that your immortal sect not only practices swordsmanship and spells, but also studies the history and origins of the Daoist tradition. The concepts of Feng Huo Qing He (1) and Wu Fang Yuan Yin (2) underline a comprehensive understanding of ancient and modern knowledge, and many works have been written about them. How could you not know that the gods were born from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and don¡¯t eat or drink?¡± Two guys with two different versions. Qi Yin didn¡¯t know who to believe and could only laugh it off: ¡°He said it¡¯s a legend, just a legend.¡± Fu Lan took out a small wooden carving of a deer and placed it in Qi Yin¡¯s palm. The deer stood on his palm, with slender legs and a smooth back like fine porcelain. Its body was carved with intricate and gorgeous patterns, especially its long horns, which were adorned with little floral buds that looked like spring flowers pinned to them. No one who saw such a beautiful deer could believe that it was a man-eating beast. Qi Yin felt very interested and touched it, asking, ¡°Is this the White Deer God?¡± The black cat said, ¡°It is the guardian god of our southern region. Demons in the southern region grow up in the White Deer God¡¯s arms, listening to its stories. It loves children. If a young cub is lost or mistakenly enters another tribe¡¯s territory, it will appear and lead the child back home. A long time ago, there was a war among the demons. Once they heard the sound of the deer¡¯s hooves, they would stop fighting because they were afraid of making the White Deer sad by seeing them fight and bleed. But now, even if the Jade Emperor himself came, the demons would still fight to the death.¡± The black cat licked its lips and continued, ¡°To the southern region, the White Deer is like Fu Xi and Nu Wa to the Central Plains. We couldn¡¯t find you in Wu Jiang before. It was the White Deer God who guided us to Wu Tang.¡± Qi Yin was stunned for a moment, thinking he must have heard wrong. He thought the White Deer God was like Fu Xi and Nu Wa, a god in a legendary story. He didn¡¯t expect that it actually appeared and guided them. How did it guide them? Did it suddenly emerge from a white mist and say to Fu Lan, ¡°Hey, fool, your precious little brother is in Wu Tang. Go find him now!¡± Then it disappeared with a soft sound of hooves. Just as he was wondering about it, Fu Lan took out a cylinder from his Qiankun pouch (3) and shook it at the wooden deer, asking, ¡°White Deer God, can I take Xiao Yin home to see you?¡± A stick fell from the cylinder and a red slip of paper came out, saying ¡°Very auspicious.¡± Fu Lan said, ¡°It said yes.¡± ¡°¡­ ¡± Qi Yin rubbed his forehead. ¡°You asked it where I was by drawing a fortune slip like this?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The black cat stood up and pulled out a stick. ¡°Just like this. We asked where to go to find you. ¡± The black cat put down the stick and pointed in one direction. ¡°The White Deer God said north, and Wu Jiang is to the north. Sure enough, we found you there.¡± ¡°If you throw the stick again, the White Deer God might tell you to go south.¡± ¡°No, the first throw is always accurate. Throwing it again won¡¯t work,¡± the black cat said seriously. ¡°Too silly,¡± thought Qi Yin, but he also felt happy. In the dimly-lit room, Fu Lan held a wooden carving while the black cat shook a container of divination sticks, asking if tomorrow Sang Ruo would give it braised pork belly. Qi Yin sat cross-legged on the bed, feeling warm inside. When he was young and went to the Nuwa Temple, he often heard people making wishes for those they cared about. Sometimes he wondered if there was someone out there making wishes for him. He secretly listened to his aunt¡¯s and uncle¡¯s wishes, but their wishes only involved Yao Xiao Shan, not him. Now Qi Yin knew that a young man and a cat had once sincerely made a wish for him in front of a great god in southern Xin Jiang. This was probably the happiest moment he could remember because he had a brother and a chubby cat. The black cat carried the white deer carving and placed it in his hands. ¡°Child, although you mortals do not believe in the White Deer God, you are this old man¡¯s child, Fu Lan¡¯s brother, and the White Deer God will definitely bless you. This deer was carved by your brother and is now being given to you. It will bless you with safety and a long life.¡± Qi Yin stroked the deer¡¯s texture and smiled. ¡°When I learn how to control a sword, can I go with you guys to southern Xin Jiang?¡± The black cat¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Do you really want to?¡± Fu Lan also stared at him in surprise. ¡°Of course.¡± Qi Yin put his hands behind his head and leaned back. ¡°I haven¡¯t been to southern Xin Jiang yet. Can I go see the sunset over Jia Ling River, the night rain in Wu Xia Gorge, the eternal night sky in Jiu Gai, and the magic dragon bones in the Abyssal Mountains?¡± Drowsiness overcame him, and his voice became as low as a murmur, ¡°Can I see all of them?¡± The orange light made his profile serene and his deep eyebrows and eyes blend in with the light. Somehow, Fu Lan¡¯s emotions were stirred up, and the ripples spread out like waves, then dissipated. The sunsets in the Ba Mountains, the years of night rain in Wu Xia Gorge, and the eternal night sky in Jiu Gai were all flung away by him into the black and gray bones of the magic dragon in the deep valley of the Abyssal Mountains, becoming a mundane part of his ordinary life. But at this moment, he suddenly had a new yearning, to go there again with Xiao Yin. He nodded vigorously and whispered, ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go together.¡± Footnotes 1. Feng Huo Qing He ¨C a famous idiom in Chinese that refers to a peaceful and harmonious scene. The phrase can be translated as ¡°the wind and fire are clear, the river runs tranquil,¡± which implies a state of calm and balance in nature. 2. Wu Fang Yuan Yin ¨C a concept from traditional Chinese philosophy and medicine that suggests that the universe and all things within it can be explained by five elements or phases: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. 3. Qiankun Pouch ¨C a mythical object in Chinese folklore that is said to have the ability to hold anything, regardless of size or weight. CH 30 The bright sun hung high in the sky, its radiance scattering through the mountain forests as the morning bell tolled slowly. Qing Shi picked up a scripture and began reciting it every day. The senior brothers and sisters in the straw hut were all listless and yawning, their heads drooping. It wasn¡¯t their fault that they were all so drowsy; it was just that Qing Shi¡¯s recitation was too hypnotic. Before the time it took to burn a stick of incense had passed, many people had already fallen asleep. Yun Zhi was an exception; that scoundrel was all healed up and bouncing around again, happily drawing mustaches on Sang Ya¡¯s sleeping face with a brush. Qi Yin, who generally didn¡¯t recite scriptures, found morning recitation especially boring. He thought it was a waste of time and would rather do something else. Yesterday, he had finished reading ¡°The Origin of Daoist Sects,¡± and today he was drawing symbols from ¡°A Dummy¡¯s Guide to Talismans.¡± He now had spiritual power and had progressed one level in his cultivation. With spiritual power, he could control his sword and draw symbols in mid-air. Full of confidence, he took out a transformation symbol, held his breath, and concentrated his energy on his fingertips. A faint glow emerged from the symbol, and he suppressed his excitement, carefully drawing each stroke. His spiritual power was abundant at first, but as time passed, it became more and more difficult. The trail gradually became thinner, and his arm began to numb, his meridians drying up like a river. He gritted his teeth and persisted, but soon his meridians began to ache, spreading inch by inch to his fingertips until they felt like they were about to break. ¡°Stinky senior brother! You¡¯re bullying me again!¡± Sang Ya¡¯s scream interrupted Qi Yin¡¯s brushstrokes, and the transformation symbol was only half drawn. The blue light faded away, disappearing without a trace. Qi Yin covered his face, let out a long sigh, and lay down on the table. When he turned his head, he saw Fu Lan sitting on the edge of the straw hut, looking out at the distant mountains as usual. His fair profile was hazy in the light, giving off an indescribable sense of clarity and elegance. Qi Yin stared at Fu Lan for a long time before collecting his thoughts and preparing to draw symbols again. But Qing Shi clapped the gong, interrupting his thoughts. Everyone below squinted their eyes and sat up straight. Qing Shi smiled and said, ¡°You monkeys, how was my hypnosis today?¡± ¡°Very good! Very good!¡± Everyone nodded in agreement. Qing Shi shook his head helplessly. ¡°You little monkeys, if you don¡¯t study hard, you¡¯ll just embarrass yourselves. The opportunity to embarrass yourselves is coming. At the end of the year, Wu Fang Sect will hold a Daoist debate, and anyone with spiritual power can participate. After the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month, you will follow Yun Zhi south on your swords.¡± Daoist debate? Qi Yin jolted and sat up. He had heard of this event. It was a grand event held every five years by the three thousand immortal sects. As the head of the sect, Wu Fang would open a platform every five years and invite the elders and disciples of the immortal sects to come and discuss and learn from each other. In fact, it was a competition, an opportunity for disciples who wanted to make a name for themselves. Qi Shen Wei, that bastard sword immortal, became famous on a Daoist debate decades ago. It was said that he fought from morning until night and stood firm on the stage. His Gui Mie Sword made him famous overnight. Another part was the transmission of scriptures. Wu Fang Mountain claimed to be the first sect of the Daoist school, and they would invite disciples to come and listen to the teachings. Every student¡¯s excellent Daoist theory written during the event would be compiled into a book called ¡°Daoyuan Cuihua¡± and included in Wu Fang¡¯s Purple Library. As a child, Qi Yin used to daydream about himself standing on the stage, fighting invincible opponents and writing a long masterpiece. His ¡°Bla Bla Scripture¡± would become a great work of the Daoist school, just as ¡°Dao De Ching¡± was revered. However, he had grown up and stopped daydreaming. He knew that he had only mediocre skills and did not want to embarrass himself, especially at Wu Fang Mountain. He raised his hand and said, ¡°Master, do we all have to go?¡± Qing Shi looked at him, his eyes full of meaning. ¡°I never force anyone to go. It¡¯s up to you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, junior brother,¡± Yun Zhi came over and patted his shoulder. ¡°With your skills, you¡¯ll just be playing around in the competition. The written part of the debate won¡¯t be difficult. You just need to write a few eight-hundred-word essays.¡± Qi Yin almost spat out blood. ¡°I can¡¯t even speak eight hundred words in my dreams.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a trick to writing, and senior brother will teach you later.¡± Liu Bai winked at him. ¡°Let¡¯s go together and treat it as a sightseeing trip.¡± All the senior brothers urged him, and Qi Yin was so annoyed that he grabbed his head and said, ¡°Let me think about it.¡± After everyone left, Fu Lan slowly packed up his book. Qi Yin sighed and leaned his head on his back, muttering, ¡°Brother, am I really stupid? I¡¯ve been practicing for three months and only have a little bit of spiritual power. Sometimes I can use the sword art, and sometimes I can¡¯t. I¡¯ve only successfully cast a spell once with Lan Xian¡¯er. I can¡¯t even draw a spell properly, and my arm feels like it¡¯s about to break.¡± Fu Lan turned around and patted his head to comfort him. Qi Yin said despondently, ¡°How do you learn this stuff? I wake up early and go to bed late, practicing sword and casting spells. Now even Sang Ya can use her little shovel to scoop cat feces, but I can¡¯t even control a spoon.¡± Fu Lan thought for a moment and said, ¡°Come with me.¡± Qi Yin followed him outside. ¡°Where are we going? Don¡¯t throw me off the rake again.¡± This time Fu Lan didn¡¯t mess around. He took him to Repentance Cliff. Sunlight sprinkled a shimmering light all over the mountains. Fu Lan stood against the wind, and his hair fluttered in the breeze. He turned his head and said to Qi Yin, ¡°Close your eyes.¡± ¡°What?¡± Qi Yin was puzzled. Fu Lan stood behind Qi Yin and covered his eyes with his hands. ¡°Listen carefully¨C¡° Countless light blue flying fish swam out of Fu Lan¡¯s body, passed through Qi Yin¡¯s body, and flew towards the distant sky. Qi Yin was still confused. He didn¡¯t know what Fu Lan was doing. This guy¡¯s hands were usually cool, just like his spiritual power that flowed like a stream, giving people a refreshing feeling. In a daze, Qi Yin smelled the scent of a rain on the mountains from him, and unconsciously leaned back, with his back against Fu Lan¡¯s chest. Qi Yin shuddered and dared not move. ¡°Did you hear it?¡± Fu Lan asked him. He was too close to Qi Yin, and his voice was ringing in his ear. Qi Yin¡¯s ears felt itchy, and his heart was itchy, as if a small feather was gently tickling his heart. Qi Yin blushed and asked, ¡°What did I hear?¡± Fu Lan let go of his hand and stared at him blankly. The small fish floated and circled around them, and the two faced each other. Qi Yin actually saw a little helplessness from this person¡¯s usually expressionless eyes. ¡°Xiao Yin, you¡¯re not focused,¡± Fu Lan said. Qi Yin blushed as if he had been caught in the act, and coughed a few times. ¡°Sorry, let¡¯s do it again.¡± Qi Yin took a deep breath, recited the calming mantra, and cleared his mind. Fu Lan covered his eyes again, and the small fish swam towards the distant mountains. Fu Lan¡¯s spiritual power slowly soaked into him, like soaking in cool water. He heard Fu Lan¡¯s heartbeat against his back. In a trance, his heart seemed to merge with Fu Lan¡¯s heart, and something silently changed. Qi Yin opened his eyes. The high sky was within reach, and the green mountains stretched out below. He suddenly realized that he seemed to be transparent. Birds could fly over him, and the wind could blow through him. He suddenly realized that he had become Fu Lan¡¯s small fish, or in other words, Fu Lan had lent the small fish to him. However, this time was different from the last time in the tile house. They had achieved a closer integration, and all the fish obeyed his commands, flying with him towards the high sky and distant mountains. ¡°Qi Yin, did you hear it?¡± Fu Lan¡¯s voice sounded in his ear. ¡°Mortals often say that there is no sound in the world, but in fact, the world has a heartbeat, and the world has a sound. Listen¨C¡° Fu Lan¡¯s hearing was opened to him. In an instant, the sounds of all things in the world rushed towards him like a tide. The winds and rains gathered in the distance, where dark clouds were forming, and the sound of waves crashing echoed from the nearby forests. Then there was the heartbeat, like a thread that never stopped. At first it was faint, but it grew stronger and stronger, like the beating of a powerful drum. Amidst the chaos of the world and the clamor of all things, it was hard to distinguish whose heartbeat it was ¨C the mountains, the waves, or the vast expanse of sky and earth. The heartbeat was like the thundering sound of a thousand galloping horses, surging tumultuously. He wandered aimlessly in the raging storm, like a tiny mayfly. He was surrounded by the deafening heartbeat, which was layered and chaotic. Amidst the noise, suddenly everything fell silent, and he heard the weak thumping of his own heart. Do you hear it, Qi Yin? That is the vastness of heaven and earth. In a daze, someone seemed to speak to him. He turned abruptly and heard whispers emanating from the vast mountains and rivers, as if they had flown out from the cracks of time after thousands of years. Time was boundless, with no sign of ancient or contemporary figures, and life and death were separated by the vast abyss of the Yellow Springs. It turned out that humans were just like mayflies, passing through the world. Yet, mayflies had a heart, and could also communicate with heaven and earth. He didn¡¯t know how long had passed, as the fish returned to the pool and the clouds dispersed. Qi Yin was still lost in thought, unable to return to reality. ¡°Xiao Yin.¡± Fu Lan poked his face. ¡°Brother,¡± Qi Yin snapped out of his trance and said, ¡°you¡¯re so amazing.¡± ¡°Heaven and earth have a sound, and all things have spirits. When you can hear the heartbeat of a sword, you will be able to control it,¡± Fu Lan said. ¡°Ah?¡± Qi Yin made a face. ¡°That¡¯ll be a long time from now.¡± The two sat down on the cliff and looked at the distant mountains side by side. Qi Yin looked at Fu Lan, who was gazing ahead silently, lost in thought. Qi Yin suddenly realized that perhaps Fu Lan was listening to the heartbeat of heaven and earth just like he had earlier. ¡°Brother.¡± Qi Yin nudged him with his elbow. ¡°Do you think I should go to Wu Fang?¡± Fu Lan turned his head to look at him. ¡°Do you want to go?¡± Qi Yin swung his legs and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m quite conflicted. If I go to Wu Fang, I¡¯ll definitely visit my father¡¯s grave. I don¡¯t know if I want to see him. I really don¡¯t want to see him alive or dead, but sometimes I wake up and feel like I want to¡­¡± Qi Yin scratched his head, frustrated. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°This old man thinks you should go.¡± The black cat appeared out of nowhere and crouched down next to Qi Yin. Qi Yin jumped in surprise. ¡°Where did you come from?¡± ¡°I went for a walk. This mountain is so small, where else can I go?¡± The black cat licked its paw. ¡°If you want to go, then go. It¡¯s just Wu Fang. If you don¡¯t go, you may regret it for the rest of your life. It won¡¯t be easy to go to Wu Fang once we return to southern territory.¡± Qi Yin furrowed his brow in silence. ¡°Go to Qi Shen Wei¡¯s grave and take a piss for revenge,¡± the black cat suggested. ¡°¡­¡± Qi Yin remained silent. Forget it, thinking about it gave him a headache, so he didn¡¯t dwell on it. Qi Yin hooked his arm around Fu Lan¡¯s neck and started chatting about random topics. ¡°Brother, who do you think is more handsome, you or me?¡± ¡°You,¡± Fu Lan replied. ¡°Hehe, you have good taste,¡± Qi Yin said, pleased. He then asked, ¡°Brother, is your current form based on your original form?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°Can you regrow your limbs as long as your heart is untouched?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°What if your precious treasure gets chopped off, can it still regrow?¡± Qi Yin persisted. Fu Lan fell silent. ¡°Can it?¡± Qi Yin persistently asked. ¡°¡­¡± Fu Lan remained silent. CH 31 ¡°I¡¯m not going to Wu Fang,¡± Qi Yin said. He sat on a wicker chair, holding a cup of steaming bitter tea. Ye Qing Ming and Yun Zhi leaned against the door, turning their heads in surprise at Qi Yin¡¯s words. Qing Shi sat at the head of the table, still smiling. This chubby guy had always been like this, smiling with his eyes half-closed, making it hard to guess what he was thinking. Qing Shi said, ¡°I thought you would go, but it seems I miscalculated. May I ask why?¡± Qi Yin shrugged. ¡°Mainly because it would be awkward. My cousin Yao Xiao Shan is pretending to be me to cultivate at Wu Fang. If I went and met him, it would be very awkward. And those people at Wu Fang¡­¡± Qi Yin rubbed his toe on the ground. ¡°Every time they mention Qi Shen Wei, they always bring up my mother in an insulting way. I don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Qing Shi nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Indeed, I didn¡¯t think it through.¡± ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± Yun Zhi came over and hooked his arm around his neck. ¡°Let¡¯s draw a talisman to change your appearance. Even if you go, Yao Xiao Shan won¡¯t recognize you. As for those guys at Wu Fang, if anyone dares to speak ill of your mother, I, your senior brother, will be the first to beat his mother.¡± Qi Yin glanced at him sideways. ¡°Promises are insincere, flattery is false. What are you up to?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Yun Zhi laughed, showing his white teeth. ¡°I have always been concerned about you, as your senior brother.¡± Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± As if he would believe him. ¡°Wu Fang is the number one sect in the world. I thought my disciple would want to see the world, even if he despises Yuan Wei. But now it seems that my disciple is as calm as water, without a ripple. It¡¯s beyond my expectations.¡± Qing Shi shook his head and smiled. ¡°However, my disciple may want to hear me out before making a decision.¡± Qing Shi lifted his sleeve. ¡°Tong Yi, bring the lamp of life.¡± A young boy nodded and went into the inner room. The other boys closed the windows and put down the bamboo curtains. The room suddenly became dark, and Qi Yin didn¡¯t know what they were up to. After a while, the boy came out with a crystal lamp and placed it on the tea table beside Qing Shi. The lamp was strange. Its flame was a blue, like a ghost fire from the underworld. The lamp looked very old. The copper base was covered with a layer of green rust, and the carving was blurry. Qing Shi said, ¡°Do you know whose lamp this is, my disciple?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qi Yin looked at Qing Shi, whose expression was unusually solemn, and suddenly had a guess in his heart. Could it be that guy? Wasn¡¯t he dead? He died when he was fighting against the water ghost. Qi Yin¡¯s lips were a little dry, and he tentatively asked, ¡°Is it my fathe¡¯sr?¡± ¡°It is.¡± ¡°Is he still alive?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Qing Shi shook his head. ¡°The flickering lights means your father is neither alive nor dead, which is an ill omen. Your father and I once ventured into the demon¡¯s lair to slay demons and evil spirits when we were young. The demon¡¯s lair was treacherous, and during the battles, we often lost track of each other. In order to find out about each other¡¯s situation, we both dripped blood into a lamp and lit a lamp of life. Even if we were thousands of miles apart, we would know whether each other was still alive or not.¡± He lowered his head and looked at the lamp. ¡°On the eighth day of the fourth month this year, I was meditating in the mountains when I suddenly saw the lamp flicker. Soon after, news came that Yuan Wei had died. At the same time, something else visited me late at night.¡± ¡°What was it?¡± ¡°A flying paper that burns upon reading,¡± Qing Shi said, ¡°with the words ¡®Don¡¯t let my son enter Wu Fang!''¡± Yun Zhi interjected, ¡°The paper didn¡¯t have a signature, but among Master¡¯s friends who have children, there¡¯s no one else but your father. So Master ordered me to go to Wu Fang overnight, pretending to encounter you on the way, and to take you away halfway. Fortunately, Zhao Ran didn¡¯t recognize you, so I took you away openly and honestly.¡± ¡°Wu Fang said that your father was seriously injured while fighting a water ghost and died without treatment,¡± Ye Qing Ming said, ¡°but your father was a rare sword genius in a century, able to control a thousand flying swords at the same time. Even the Northern Wolf King was defeated by his sword, so how capable could a water ghost be? Besides, your father went to Ying River at the beginning of the year, and news of his death only came out in April. What kind of injury could drag on for four months and make the light flicker? Isn¡¯t this clearly deceiving people?¡± ¡°So you think my father didn¡¯t die due to the water ghost?¡± Qi Yin asked. All three nodded in unison. ¡°What does neither alive nor dead mean?¡± Ye Qing Ming scratched his chin. ¡°We don¡¯t know either. This is the first time we¡¯ve seen the lamp show this color.¡± ¡°In order to investigate this matter,¡± Qing Shi stroked his beard and said, ¡°we sent Qing He to infiltrate Wu Fang in the name of borrowing books from the library and investigate secretly.¡± ¡°Did he find out anything?¡± Qing Shi shook his head. ¡°No. However, he checked the register of disciples who entered without permission and found that five people were missing. And all of these people disappeared on the same day, just before the lights turned dim, on April 5th.¡± ¡°Do you suspect that their disappearance is related to my father?¡± asked Qi Yin. Qing Shi nodded. Qi Yin¡¯s mood was complicated. ¡°Then what¡¯s the use in finding me? Although he and I are father and son, we don¡¯t have any kind of spiritual connection or telepathy. Even if I go, I won¡¯t be able to find him.¡± ¡°You can.¡± Qing Shi patted his shoulder. ¡°Xiao Yin, the only one who can find him in this world is you.¡± He reached out and pulled out a compass from somewhere, but the pointer was rusty and wouldn¡¯t move. Qing Ming pulled Qi Yin¡¯s wrist and cut a finger-long wound in his palm. Qi Yin cried out in pain, ¡°What are you doing!¡± Blood flowed down his fingers, and Qing Shi caught it with the compass. The rust on the compass melted away, and the pointer slowly turned, pointing south. ¡°What is this¡­¡± Qi Yin stared at the compass. ¡°It¡¯s a Blood Compass,¡± said Ye Qing Ming. ¡°If there is fresh blood on the compass within an hour of leaving the body, it will show you the direction of your parents, children, or siblings. It¡¯s commonly used by people to find their relatives. It¡¯s expensive, costing fifty taels of silver for one piece.¡± ¡°How could you afford it?¡± asked Qi Yin. ¡°We didn¡¯t buy it. Your master made it himself,¡± said Ye Qing Ming. ¡°That¡¯s not important. You shouldn¡¯t have any illegitimate children, right? So it must be pointing to¡­¡± Looking in the direction of the pointer, daylight shone through the plain window and cast shadows on the ground. Qi Yin murmured, ¡°Qi Shen Wei.¡± He didn¡¯t feel good about it. He had known earlier that the person he should call father had died, and he felt lost and empty inside. He didn¡¯t feel very sad. But now that he knew that the man might still be alive, he still felt lost and didn¡¯t feel happy. When he was a child, he made excuses for Qi Shen Wei and tried to guess what secret he was hiding. But even if it was a huge secret, he couldn¡¯t forgive Qi Shen Wei for not contacting him for eighteen years. Qi Yin thought, what did it matter that Qi Shen Wei left a child behind when he died? Did he suddenly repent and atone for his sins before he died? He remembered that Zhao Ran had said that Qi Shen Wei had confessed and punished himself in front of their master¡¯s door. What did that mean? Qi Yin thought with his eyes downcast that he and his mother were probably the only stains on Qi Shen Wei¡¯s otherwise pure life, and it was embarrassing and uncomfortable for him. ¡°Xiao Yin¡­¡± Qing Shi took his hand and squinted his bean-sized eyes, with a hint of tears in them. ¡°At the end of the day, it¡¯s still a life. Think about it again?¡± Qi Yin couldn¡¯t bear it in his heart. Ah, this fat man was right. He couldn¡¯t just let that damn sword immortal die without reason. Qi Yin muttered, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go!¡± Before leaving, Qing Shi handed him a long sword. ¡°This is Yuan Wei¡¯s Gui Mei Sword. It¡¯s time for you to take it.¡± It was a three-foot-long light sword. Qi Yin had heard of this ancient spirit sword. It was the one that Qi Shen Wei got inside a big monster¡¯s belly. Since Qi Shen Wei became famous, nine out of ten swords made in the blacksmith shop in Wu Tang Town were named ¡°Gui Mei.¡± Many young men saved up their money to buy one and wear it around their waist as a lifelong symbol, seeing Qi Shen Wei as their role model. Among the children playing in the streets, nine out of ten wooden swords also had ¡°Gui Mei¡± written on them. He had one himself when he was a child, a sword he had carved and written himself, but it was later snatched away by Yao Xiao Shan. He never thought he would have the real one now. Qi Yin took the sword and drew it out of its sheath, but he didn¡¯t see the dazzling light he had imagined. The sword was covered in rust, and it looked like an old person¡¯s face, with spots and stains. Right, he heard that powerful immortal swords had to acknowledge their masters. Gui Mei didn¡¯t lose its rust, probably because it didn¡¯t recognize him. Qi Yin shrugged his shoulders and took the sword, then turned to leave. But as he stepped out of the threshold, he suddenly stopped and turned around to ask, ¡°Did you guys already decide to send me there? What if I don¡¯t want to go?¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll have to knock you out and let Yun Zhi take you to Wu Fang,¡± Qing Shi answered with a smile. Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± They said they wouldn¡¯t force him, didn¡¯t they? Qi Yin descended the mountain steps with his eyes fixed on the ground until he disappeared into the light mist. Yun Zhi crossed his arms and said with a bitter smile, ¡°Gui Mei is an ancient spiritual sword. If it doesn¡¯t recognize its master, the wielder¡¯s arm will be frozen by frost. When I first held the hilt, frost flowers grew all the way up to my elbow. I almost froze to death. But my junior brother Qi Yin, who held the sword firmly, couldn¡¯t remove the rust. Why?¡± Qing Shi replied, ¡°It¡¯s not that Gui Mei doesn¡¯t allow him to remove the rust, but his spiritual power is too weak to do so. After all, he is Yuan Wei¡¯s son. How could Gui Mei not recognize him? Young people still need to practice more.¡± The day before departure, Qi Yin went to the Repentance Cliff. The night was so thick it was like ink that wouldn¡¯t dissolve. He climbed up the cliff and shouted, ¡°Brother Wolf!¡± then leaped off. A white figure rushed toward him from below, and he rested his hand behind his head as he lay down in the soft fur of the Wolf King. ¡°You brat, who do you think I am? A mount?¡± The Wolf King grumbled, ¡°If I didn¡¯t come, you would have turned into meat sauce.¡± ¡°But you did come, didn¡¯t you?¡± Qi Yin lazily looked up at the sky. ¡°Brother Wolf, at the end of the year, there will be a Daoist debate. I have to leave tomorrow.¡± ¡°You? Compete on the Daoist debate? Don¡¯t make me laugh. Although those Daoists of Wu Fang stink and wear sour faces every day, they really have some skills. Except for Yun Zhi, your Feng Huan Sect is not even worth someone else¡¯s shoes. Oh, by the way,¡± the Wolf King said, ¡°tell your brother to go. Your brother is a natural star of death. With him there, those old immortals of Wu Fang will have to give way.¡± ¡°I just want to broaden my horizons. I¡¯ll be back after a quick trip.¡± Qi Yin sat up. ¡°Brother Wolf, I may see my dead father when I go to Wu Fang. I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s alive or dead. Do you have any message you want me to deliver?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The Wolf King was silent for a while, his golden eyes flickering. After a while, Qi Yin heard him say, ¡°It¡¯s been twenty years since I last saw your father. Twenty years ago, I was a young wolf and had just caught a girl. She was so thin and had no flesh on her, but she cooked well. Your father came to fight me at the request of someone else. We fought until the sky was dark and the earth was dark, and I lost the last two moves and got bruises all over my body. But at the critical moment, I saw the girl taking a bath in the mountain stream. I kicked your father into the stream with one foot. Haha, I couldn¡¯t beat him, but the girl could. She beat your father so badly that he was bleeding from his head.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so sly,¡± Qi Yin said helplessly. ¡°What do you mortals say? All is fair in war. Your father had thin skin. If it had been me who fell in, I wouldn¡¯t have panicked. I¡¯d stand up straight and face it. Naked women? How dare they argue with me?¡± The Wolf King snorted. ¡°Where did you fight?¡± Qi Yin asked. ¡°At Wu River.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Qi Yin was stunned, wondering if the girl the Wolf King was talking about was his mother. ¡°After eighteen years of separation, I¡¯ve lived for so long that my life is nearing its end.¡± The Wolf King stood up. The wind rustled through his fur, which billowed like a wave of white grass. ¡°Boy, if you see your father, tell him that when we meet in the Yellow Springs, I will fight him again!¡± CH 32 Qi Yin sat on a bamboo raft, propping his head up and watching the surging clouds recede. Fu Lan sat in front of him with Lord Cat. Behind him were stacked luggage boxes and cages, which were piled up to half his height. Inside were his and his brother¡¯s bedding, pillows, clothes, shoes, and the black cat¡¯s soft cushion. They had too much stuff, and the boxes couldn¡¯t fit it all, so Fu Lan made him carry a pot so that they could cook when they arrived at Wu Fang. Lord Cat had been in Feng Huan Mountain for several months and had become so fat that Fu Lan couldn¡¯t carry it anymore, so he had to make a bamboo basket for it. The two brothers, one carrying a pot and the other a basket, looked like country bumpkins who had just come out of a mountain valley, and were not very smart. Today was December 12th, and they set off on time. Ye Qing Ming led a group of disciples from Feng Huan Mountain to accompany them. Qing Shi stood on the Repentance Cliff and waved goodbye to them, nagging them not to cause trouble when they arrived at Wu Fang Mountain, and not to trample on flowers and plants or damage objects, because Feng Huan Mountain was poor and couldn¡¯t afford to pay for it. They also shouldn¡¯t fight with fellow disciples and anger their masters, because Feng Huan Mountain was of low status and couldn¡¯t afford to offend others. Just before they left, Qing Shi drew a talisman on Qi Yin¡¯s face, embellishing his appearance so that his face, which looked so much like Qi Shen Wei¡¯s, wouldn¡¯t be recognized. At first, Qi Yin was relieved to see the bamboo raft, as they had so many luggage boxes that they couldn¡¯t fit them all in their Qiankun pouch. But an hour ago, he saw several large ships with white sails catching up from behind and sailing towards them. A group of men and women surrounded the stern, pointing and laughing at them in the sea of clouds. ¡°Look, it¡¯s those poor devils from Feng Huan Mountain! What are they sitting on? A bamboo raft? Hahaha!¡± Liu Bai rowed his bamboo raft over and said, ¡°The world is really getting worse. These immortal sects are becoming more and more extravagant, especially those people from Wu Fang Mountain, who wear white clothes and white robes every day. Think about it; how much money does it take just to make a white silk robe?¡± To be honest, if he had the opportunity, Qi Yin would prefer to associate with these vulgar people. Liu Bai continued, ¡°Many beautiful maidens from various sects will come for the Dao conference this time. Do you have any thoughts, junior brother?¡± Fu Lan and Qi Yin both shook their heads obediently. Fu Lan shook his head because he had a monk¡¯s heart. He saw everyone in the world as the same. The only difference between people was whether they were younger brothers or non-younger brothers in his eyes. Qi Yin shook his head because he had suffered too much from emotional distress and had already made up his mind to carry the burden of the world and not get involved in the mortal world. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t rush to refuse,¡± said Liu Bai with a look of understanding. ¡°Let me remind you first. If you want to approach a girl you like, make sure to inquire about her background. Absolutely stay away from Zhong Gu Mountain.¡± ¡°Why?¡± asked Qi Yin. Liu Bai lifted his chin toward Yun Zhi. ¡°It¡¯s all because of our eldest senior brother. Last time during the conference, he seduced Zhong Gu Mountain¡¯s junior sister, took her for a ride on a flying sword and even released sky lanterns at Wu Fang¡¯s Contemplation Cliff. The lanterns were slightly off-target and almost burned down the school. As a result, he was punished with 100 lashes in the disciplinary hall.¡± ¡°Where was he lashed?¡± ¡°On the palm of his right hand,¡± replied Liu Bai. Qi Yin facepalmed. ¡°That little girl was deeply moved,¡± said Liu Bai. ¡°After the conference, when we were heading back to the mountain, she caught up with us and insisted on returning to Feng Huan with us. I told her Feng Huan is poor and the mountain life is harsh. She said she was willing to endure hardships with our eldest senior brother.¡± Qi Yin was speechless. These young lovers nowadays were really disgusting. ¡°Guess what our eldest senior brother said?¡± Liu Bai wiped his face and put on the appearance of a decent gentleman. ¡°He said, ¡®You¡¯ve got it wrong. I¡¯ve always treated you like my little sister.''¡± What a rogue! Qi Yin was impressed and felt a deep sense of admiration. Yun Zhi, that scoundrel, may not be proficient in swordsmanship, but he was definitely a first-rate trickster when it came to deceiving innocent women. Liu Bai rowed away on the bamboo raft, and Qi Yin turned to look at his brother. Fu Lan was gazing at the sea of clouds, clearly not listening. It seemed like nothing in this world could penetrate his heart, neither Qing Shi¡¯s chanting nor Liu Bai¡¯s gossip. Qi Yin poked Fu Lan and asked, ¡°Brother, have you ever thought about your origins?¡± Fu Lan was startled for a moment, then replied, ¡°Yes, I have.¡± ¡°The fool doesn¡¯t remember who left him on Ba Mountain. He has lived in the temple ever since he could remember,¡± said the black cat, nestled in Fu Lan¡¯s arms. ¡°Later, I thought that maybe the fool¡¯s background is related to the temple. When we first came to the southern region, we investigated various divine relics, visited Yun Meng ruins, and also went to Anyang Yin Xu ruins¡­ but we didn¡¯t get much out of it.¡± Those were divine relics from other places, so naturally, they couldn¡¯t find anything. Qi Yin said, ¡°Listen to me. Brother, I think you are the illegitimate child of the White Deer God. Think about it, you grew up in Ba Mountain since you were young, but this place is surrounded by a white fog that eats people, and outsiders can¡¯t even get in. So there is only one possibility ¨C you were born inside. Besides you, who else is in the Ba Mountain Temple? It must be the White Deer God.¡± Fu Lan listened silently. ¡°Maybe the White Deer God descended to earth and fell in love with a handsome scholar. The two of them had a secret relationship and had a child. Mortals grow old, so later when the scholar passed away, the god returned to Ba Mountain alone and gave birth to you. And because of some unknown mishap, your mother couldn¡¯t stay with you, so she had to leave you alone in the temple. You¡¯re not human, not demon, not monster. The Wolf King said your aura is very strange. Of course, you are a demigod, so they have never smelled the aura of a god before.¡± Qi Yin talked a lot and finally said, ¡°Brother, doesn¡¯t it make sense?¡± Fu Lan didn¡¯t even hesitate and shook his head. ¡°No.¡± Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± In the evening, they arrived at Jin Xi Town at the foot of Wu Fang Mountain. This town was not big, with only two long streets. When viewed from above, it looked like a few colorful building blocks falling in the mountain valley. Looking south, Wu Fang¡¯s Mie Du Peak hung in the air. The peaks were in a triangular shape, surrounded by clouds and flying cranes. Vaguely visible on the dome were the shimmering light waves of a barrier. There were chains leading to the ground in all four directions of Mie Du Peak. Liu Bai said that the chains led to four towns in Wu Fang Mountains, which were forbidden areas for demons. Below Mie Du Peak, the surrounding forbidden area was the Ice Sea Abyss, where it was icy all year round, and falling in meant certain death. ¡°They say the Ice Sea Abyss is also called the Sword Tomb,¡± said Liu Bai. ¡°Why? Is it because a sword immortal is buried there?¡± Qi Yin asked. ¡°Not really,¡± Liu Bai replied. ¡°It¡¯s said that Wu Fang¡¯s disciples often accidentally fell into the Ice Sea Abyss while practicing swordsmanship, causing their swords to break and themselves to die. That¡¯s why it¡¯s called the Sword Tomb.¡± Qi Yin shuddered. ¡°You¡¯re kidding me, right?¡± Liu Bai laughed heartily. ¡°Just kidding. You believed me?¡± Qing Ming suggested they rest in Jin Xi Town first and go to Wu Fang the next day. Disciples from various immortal sects had come, making the town particularly lively recently. It was not known who started the trend, but sword immortals must wear white clothes and carry white swords. As soon as they entered the gate, there were white clothes and flashing swords everywhere on the streets. The beggars from Feng Huan Mountain joined the crowd, looking like chickens among a group of cranes. As night fell, red lanterns hung on both sides of the long street, swaying and emitting a soft light under the eaves. The crowd was louder than usual this year. They said Wu Fang Mountain had strict rules, and their disciples abstained from food and drink and had few desires. Jin Xi Town was rarely this lively. Pear trees were planted on the roadside, and there were stalls selling goldfish, clay figurines, candies, and powder. The black cat followed Sang Ruo and the others to mooch food and drinks, while Qi Yin and Fu Lan strolled around together. Qi Yin held a jug of wine in one hand and was pulled by Fu Lan with the other. Fu Lan held on tightly. Qi Yin moved his hand and said, ¡°Brother, don¡¯t hold on so tight.¡± Fu Lan replied, ¡°You¡¯ll get lost.¡± Qi Yin was helpless. Perhaps it was a habit from his childhood. This guy still treated him like a child and wouldn¡¯t let go of his hand in crowded places. Turning his head, he caught sight of a gambling house. A golden sign hung under the lanterns, and two thugs stood at the entrance. Qi Yin had never been to this place before, and he suddenly had a bad idea. ¡°Brother.¡± Qi Yin lifted his chin towards the casino. ¡°We finally came out for a trip. Shall we go to the gambling house and broaden our horizons?¡± Fu Lan looked up at the sign and said, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°A Fu said that we can¡¯t let you go astray. If you go into the gambling house, they¡¯ll ruin your hands. If you go into jail, they¡¯ll ruin your legs, and even your third leg will be ruined.¡± Fu Lan spoke and wrinkled his brows in confusion. ¡°What is the third leg? Don¡¯t mortals only have two legs?¡± Qi Yin was speechless. ¡°If I still want to go in, will you ruin me?¡± Fu Lan was stunned. ¡°This idiot¡­¡± Qi Yin shook his head and laughed. Fu Lan usually didn¡¯t have much expression, occasionally showing a bit of foolishness that looked quite cute. The lights of the night market shone on his face, and Qi Yin couldn¡¯t help but feel his heart skip a beat as he watched him being so silly. Somehow, perhaps because he had drunk a few sips of alcohol, Qi Yin impulsively pinched Fu Lan¡¯s face and said, ¡°Brother, if you keep being so cute, do you believe that I¡¯ll bite you?¡± As soon as he said it, Qi Yin regretted it. The words sounded like he was flirting with him, and it was very inappropriate. Qi Yin blushed, but Fu Lan didn¡¯t react at all and just looked at him silently. ¡°He probably doesn¡¯t understand what I¡¯m saying, right?¡± Qi Yin thought, scratching his head and trying to say something to break the awkwardness. Suddenly, Fu Lan leaned down, and his warm lips approached Qi Yin¡¯s neck, leaving the impression of his hard and wet teeth on it. The world seemed to go silent for a moment, and Qi Yin opened his eyes wide. The white pear blossoms silently fell before his eyes. Qi Yin had been caught off guard and instinctively backed away. ¡°Brother, what are you doing?¡± Fu Lan tilted his head and looked at him with his big, black eyes reflecting the sparkling lights. ¡°Xiao Yin is cute, so I want to bite you.¡± The lights flickered, the crowds flowed by. The two of them silently stared at each other without moving. Fu Lan probably misunderstood Qi Yin¡¯s meaning and thought that he had to bite Qi Yin because he thought he looked cute. Qi Yin was silent for a while, then helplessly touched Fu Lan¡¯s head and said, ¡°Brother, don¡¯t bite me again in the future. If you bite me again, I¡¯ll¡­¡± I¡¯ll fall for you¡­ Qi Yin thought helplessly. Fu Lan looked at him in confusion. Qi Yin sighed and continued, ¡°I¡¯ll be angry.¡± Fu Lan nodded in disappointment and lowered his eyes, seeming a little upset. Suddenly, there was a commotion up ahead, and the crowd boiled over. The sea of people moved to both sides, pushing Qi Yin and Fu Lan back, and they were tightly pressed against a pear tree. Qi Yin didn¡¯t know what was happening and was confused, but he could only hold onto Fu Lan tightly to prevent him from being swept away by the crowd. A cold and desolate sword glare flashed by in the sky, cutting like a knife into Qi Yin¡¯s eyelids. The person on the sword flew too fast, and Qi Yin only saw a fleeting figure dressed in white, cold and sharp like frost on a plum blossom or snow on a mountain. The crowd went crazy. Qi Yin heard someone shout, ¡°Young Daoist Qi!¡± Qi Yin was taken aback. Could it be Yao Xiao Shan? He had gained such a high reputation in such a short time since he joined Wu Fang? Not long after, a prison wagon rolled down the street, and the crowd shouted again, ¡°The pig demon Fu Lan is here! Look, the pig demon Fu Lan is here!¡± ¡°Pig demon Fu Lan?¡± Qi Yin and Fu Lan looked at each other in confusion. Soon they found out the answer. The prison wagon approached, and white-robed men riding on swords guarded both sides of the wagon. Inside the wagon was a burly monster with a human body and a pig¡¯s head. His hair was unkempt, and his coarse fangs protruded from his mouth with traces of blood. The wagon finally arrived in front of Qi Yin, and the pig demon panted heavily. His hawk-like eyes rose under his tangled hair and met Fu Lan below. The pig demon suddenly shook and went crazy, roaring and shaking the wagon. The crowd was startled and retreated in panic. The white-robed men remained calm and quickly used a talisman. Spells inscribed on the wagon flashed, and the pig demon screamed in pain, instantly becoming still. ¡°Brother, do you know that demon?¡± Qi Yin asked, pulling Fu Lan¡¯s sleeve. Fu Lan nodded. ¡°It is Zhu Ming Zang, the chief of the pig demon clan.¡± ¡°Why did he impersonate you?¡± Qi Yin asked. Fu Lan just frowned and didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Then¡­ do we have to save him? After all, he is the chief of your demon clan. Is he considered your subordinate?¡± Qi Yin scratched his head. Fu Lan furrowed his brow. ¡°No, it¡¯s troublesome. Let¡¯s not save him.¡± Qi Yin was stunned by his decisive attitude, but Fu Lan remained as indifferent as plain water. It seemed that it was only natural for him not to take action. Was this guy really the demon lord? Qi Yin still couldn¡¯t believe his brother¡¯s identity. How blind the demons must be to recognize him as their leader. ¡°We finally caught this demon!¡± someone exclaimed with righteous indignation. ¡°This demon led his demon soldiers to burn, kill, rape, and plunder. A few days ago, he went to Liu¡¯s village outside Heng Zhou City and killed the entire village, releasing the captive pigs, causing the price of pork to rise. Now I can¡¯t even afford to eat pork!¡± ¡°Such evil!¡± someone exclaimed in hatred. ¡°Now we can live in peace thanks to Young Daoist Qi. I heard that he set up a sword formation outside Heng Zhou City and captured Fu Lan alive. With the Snow Sword, he can subdue any demon and slay any evil!¡± ¡°Nonsense! Young Daoist Qi has received the true teachings of Elder Yuan Wei. His every move reflects his master¡¯s style. Now, who doesn¡¯t recognize him as a beacon of righteousness in the world, a model for us all!¡± Qi Yin leaned over and asked, ¡°May I ask if this Young Daoist Qi is Elder Yuan Wei¡¯s son, Qi Yin?¡± The man rolled his eyes. ¡°What Qi Yin? How can that waste be compared to Young Daoist Qi?¡± ¡°You¡¯re an ignorant country bumpkin, aren¡¯t you?¡± The man looked Qi Yin up and down for a moment before continuing, ¡°Qi Yin couldn¡¯t handle the rigorous cultivation methods of Wu Fang, so he fled the mountain with his tail between his legs last month.¡± Fled the mountain? Qi Yin widened his eyes in shock. ¡°The Young Daoist Qi we¡¯re talking about is the famous first disciple of Wu Fang, the only direct disciple of Elder Yuan Wei,¡± the man said. ¡°Qi Ling Shu!¡± CH 33 16-21 minutes 15.04.2023 Qi Ling Shu, like Qi Shen Wei before him, was a once-in-a-century genius in the art of swordsmanship. Qi Yin imagined that Wu Fang Mountain must be laughing uncontrollably, as they had now encountered two such rare talents in just one generation. This person could easily be called the second Qi Shen Wei. While others were still drooling and babbling as infants, he could already recite the ¡°Dao De Ching¡± from memory. While others were still clumsily writing characters and drawing symbols, he was already proficient in talismans. And while others were still tripping and falling while walking, he was already soaring through the sky on his sword. He followed Qi Shen Wei every step of the way, and if he hadn¡¯t been Qi Shen Wei¡¯s direct disciple, people would have suspected he was Qi Shen Wei reincarnated. What was even more sad was that among these mediocre talents, including Qi Yin who was barely average, this kind of person looked even more amazing, almost legendary. People like him, immortal swordsmen, could fly instead of walk, high above in the sky, far beyond the reach of mortals. To be able to look up to them was already an extraordinary grace. But there were still some lucky ones who caught a glimpse of him. During the last Wu Fang Daoist competition, he had walked on the white marble platform of Wu Fang¡¯s main hall, dressed in plain white clothes, his figure hazy in the misty snow. He stood at the forefront of Wu Fang¡¯s three thousand disciples, his thin and slender back resembling a person carved from ice and snow. Qi Yin heard some disciples from Western Kun Lun gossiping next to him. ¡°I heard that all girls from the immortal mountains fought for him, arguing over who would bring the lotus rib soup into his secluded room during meditation. Two young girls grabbed and bit each other, tearing each other¡¯s hair like weeds. He saw from afar and only said, ¡®Send them to the disciplinary hall.''¡± ¡°I heard that occasionally, sisters with good relationships would make concessions to each other. One would say, ¡®You be the main wife, and I¡¯ll be the concubine. Let¡¯s call each other sisters.¡¯ The other, blushing, would say, ¡®How can I accept that? You should be the main wife, and I¡¯ll be the concubine.¡¯ They kept making concessions to each other, but in fact, Qi Ling Shu had never seen these two before.¡± Qi Yin didn¡¯t care about this at all. He was used to being mediocre, and he was grateful to anyone who didn¡¯t step on him. He only remembered one thing he heard on the street ¨C Qi Ling Shu was raised by Qi Shen Wei. ¡°Sorry, junior brother, I didn¡¯t mention this to you.¡± Yun Zhi patted Qi Yin¡¯s shoulder in the inn. ¡°Mainly because I was afraid you would feel inferior and not come.¡± Qi Yin glared at him resentfully. ¡°Will I run into him on the mountain?¡± ¡°No, no,¡± Yun Zhi promised. ¡°That kid is busy. He¡¯s always slaying monsters and demons, flying around. He¡¯ll probably just come to compete, and you won¡¯t run into him. Besides, why are you afraid? Don¡¯t you have your brother with you? You¡¯re the darling younger brother of the demon lord. If you don¡¯t like that kid, just ask your brother to take care of him.¡± Fu Lan drew his sword in confusion and asked, ¡°Do we have to fight?¡± Qi Yin sighed and pressed Fu Lan¡¯s broken iron sword back into its scabbard, then pulled him back to their room. The next morning, they flew up to Wu Fang on their swords. Looking down from above, the peak was covered in snow, spread all over the mountain, white as far as the eye could see. Pavilions and temples dotted the mountains. Waterfalls rushed down, and plunged straight into the endless abyss. They couldn¡¯t ride their swords anymore after reaching the gate, and they had to line up to enter the mountain on a narrow mountain path. A few steps ahead was a steep cliff. Qi Yin leaned against the bushes and looked down. Occasionally, a gust of wind swept over the mountain. The foot of the cliff surged and roared, and snow piled up on the treetops. The smoke and snow were hazy, and it was hard to tell if it was a white sea of clouds or clear white snow. A protective array in the sky revolved slowly around the dim North Star. Thin lines of flashing light crossed the dome, shining as brightly as the stars. This was Wu Fang Mountain¡¯s boundary array, which could transform into a killing array when invaded by enemies and kill them before they could even reach Wu Fang Mountain. ¡°This is really an immortal mountain.¡± Qi Yin marveled at the sight. Compared to Wu Fang, Feng Huan Mountain was like a beggar digging his feet on the roadside. One was poor and shabby, and the other was ethereal and transcendental. This place was nothing like Feng Huan, where there were wild grass and weeds everywhere. Surely there were all kinds of spiritual herbs and medicines all over this place. Compared to Wu Fang, Feng Huan Mountain seemed to be full of swindlers. But that wasn¡¯t the point. The point was that the scene in front of him was quite embarrassing. Yesterday it wasn¡¯t very obvious in town, but now that they had climbed the mountain, the ragged beggars and thugs of Feng Huan Mountain stood out even more among the white-robed disciples of various immortal sects. They looked like wild chickens flying into a group of elegant white cranes. Especially Qi Yin, who was carrying a large iron pot on his back, and Fu Lan, who was carrying a basket as long as his body. The senior brothers in front of them had an itch scratcher behind their necks or a broken fan in their collars. They might as well sit down and pick their feet in public. ¡°Look at those fools. What kind of attire is that?¡± The other sects behind them sneered and laughed. ¡°Look at that iron pot. Oh, I know, it¡¯s a turtle shell specially made by Feng Huan. When demons come, they just hide inside, haha!¡± ¡°That basket carrier looks handsome,¡± whispered a girl, ¡°but a little dull. Is he from a mountain village?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know anything. It¡¯s called backwater charm! That¡¯s the specialty of Feng Huan,¡± replied another. Qi Yin was so embarrassed that he wanted to find a hole to crawl into. But he didn¡¯t want to tell Fu Lan to throw away the basket, since they had brought it for the cat. Several young disciples of Wu Fang came to greet and guide them. They were all dressed in white, carrying long swords on their backs. They didn¡¯t laugh at Qi Yin and Fu Lan¡¯s appearance, and instead greeted them respectfully. ¡°Welcome, senior brothers and uncles. Please come this way.¡± Wu Fang had many disciples, and each disciple also had disciples, spanning several generations. Feng Huan didn¡¯t have many disciples, and they were all apprentices of a few old men such as Qing Shi and Qing Ming. Actually, everyone was about the same age, and calling them senior brother or uncle was just a formality. Qi Yin was about to return the gesture, but Fu Lan made a bow beside him and said, ¡°Thank you, nephew.¡± The smiles on the young disciples¡¯ faces froze for a moment. Qi Yin hurriedly pulled Fu Lan behind him and apologized, ¡°My brother doesn¡¯t know any better. Please forgive him.¡± He then turned to Fu Lan and whispered, ¡°You can¡¯t call them nephews. You should call them senior brothers.¡± Fu Lan looked at him perplexedly and pointed to Yun Zhi, who was standing nearby. Qi Yin looked over and saw Zhou Ran, whom he had met at Yao family¡¯s house. Zhou Ran made a long salute, and Yun Zhi just stood there nonchalantly, accepting his bow. When Zhou Ran stood up, Yun Zhi patted his fair face and laughed. ¡°Hey, nephew. It¡¯s been a long time. How have you been?¡± Ye Qing Ming, who had no respect for seniority, was standing next to him picking his teeth. He didn¡¯t bother to control his own disciple¡¯s thuggish behavior, and his own behavior was no better. Zhou Ran smiled and nodded in reply. Yun Zhi walked past him with his hands behind his back, followed by Sang Ruo and Sang Ya. Sang Ya pinched Zhou Ran¡¯s smiling face and crisply called out, ¡°Nephew!¡± A group of people walked past Feng Huan Mountain, and each person called out ¡°nephew¡± to Zhao Ran. The people behind them were gossiping in a flurry. Qi Yin heard someone say ¡°shameless¡± and ¡°disgraceful¡±. Fu Lan didn¡¯t know what was going on and remained silent. Qi Yin had become numb to it all, having failed to learn swordsmanship well at Feng Huan Mountain and having developed a thick skin. His senior brothers and sisters paid no attention, walking through the mountain gate with great arrogance. Qi Yin and Fu Lan passed by Zhao Ran, who greeted them politely, but Qi Yin¡¯s appearance had changed a bit, and he didn¡¯t recognize Fu Lan. Perhaps it had been too long since they last saw each other, and he had forgotten. After some hesitation, Qi Yin bowed to Zhao Ran and said, ¡°This senior brother, I am a recent cultivator and greatly admire Master Yuan Wei. I came here originally to make friends with Young Master Qi Yin, Master Yuan Wei¡¯s son, but I heard he has fled the mountain. Is it true?¡± Zhao Ran¡¯s smile faded slightly, and he nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I apologize for being presumptuous, but can I ask why he fled the mountain?¡± Qi Yin inquired. Zhao Ran¡¯s smile became even more faint, and he gestured inside. ¡°Perhaps he couldn¡¯t bear the hardships of cultivation in the mountains. As senior uncle has just arrived, Zhao Ran will show you the way.¡± This guy was very secretive, and Qi Yin did not want to ask any more questions. He prepared to leave, but Zhao Ran smiled again and said, ¡°Wu Fang Mountain prohibits eating and drinking, so please abide by the precepts.¡± Qi Yin was taken aback and remembered the turtle shell on his back. He laughed and said, ¡°Are you talking about this shell? It¡¯s a special turtle shell made in Feng Huan. When a demon comes, you just have to crawl inside and hide. It¡¯s very useful.¡± Zhao Ran¡¯s smile froze. Qi Yin patted him on the shoulder before following everyone inside. After passing through the Hanging Flowers Gate, the corridors twisted and turned, and snow fell all over the courtyard. They walked for a long time before arriving at their lodgings. When Qi Yin looked up, he saw the words ¡°Empty Valley¡± carved on the eaves. It was a small courtyard where they would be staying at Wu Fang Mountain. There were many people in Wu Fang Mountain. Although they had money, there was still a shortage of housing. In Feng Huan, at least two people could share a room with one bed each, but in Wu Fang, they had to squeeze into a large communal bed. Ye Qing Ming, being of high rank, had his own room, while the men and women each had their own separate rooms. Qi Yin and his fellow senior brothers went into their room to sweep and tidy up the bedding. They divided up the sleeping positions, with Fu Lan sleeping against the wall, and Qi Yin sleeping next to Fu Lan. The reason for this arrangement was that Fu Lan was suspected of being a cutsleeve, and no one except for Qi Yin wanted to sleep with him. Zhao Ran led his disciples to bring clothing, all of which were white silk clothes that were thin and smooth. Everyone thanked them, and Yun Zhi jumped off the bed and hooked his arm around Zhao Ran¡¯s neck, saying, ¡°Nephew, let me ask you something. What happened with that Qi Yin who went back to the mountain with you last time? How did he manage to escape?¡± Qi Yin was taken aback. Yun Zhi turned his head and smiled, making a ¡°no need to thank me¡± gesture. Zhao Ran looked embarrassed. Yun Zhi continued, ¡°Don¡¯t try to deceive me with talks of not being able to bear the hardships of cultivating in the mountains. That young man¡¯s parents are both deceased, and cultivating immortality is the best way out for him. So tell me, what did he do? What¡¯s so bad that a disciple of Wu Fang, which has always been known for its openness and honesty, has to lie to conceal it?¡± ¡°We are honest and straightforward, and can¡¯t stand despicable acts like stealing,¡± a person behind Zhao Ran couldn¡¯t help but speak up. He bowed and said, ¡°I am Zhao Ming, Zhao Ran¡¯s junior brother. Senior, just tell them. It¡¯s not like we haven¡¯t been embarrassed before.¡± Zhao Ran sighed. ¡°Qi Yin stole the clothing of our junior martial uncle while he was bathing.¡± ¡°Junior martial uncle?¡± Everyone from Feng Huan Mountain was stunned, and Yun Zhi said, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Qi Ling Shu?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s him,¡± Zhao Ran confirmed. Qin Yin¡¯s mind went blank. What the hell was going on? He remembered that Yao Xiao Shan liked girls. When did he develop a liking for men? Did he think he was a cowherd and Qi Ling Shu was a weaver (1), stealing his clothes while he was bathing? Zhao Ming was indignant. ¡°That Qin Yin doesn¡¯t even take a look at his own behavior, acting like a pig and still daring to have thoughts about our junior martial uncle! When the matter was exposed, he fled overnight. We went to his dormitory to catch him and take him to the disciplinary hall, but found that he had already left without a trace!¡± Zhao Ran frowned. ¡°Junior brother, don¡¯t be rude.¡± ¡°He deserves it!¡± Zhao Ming said angrily. ¡°I think that guy must have inherited his mother¡¯s fox-like nature. His mother seduced Elder Qi and now her son tried to seduce our junior martial uncle. He¡¯s shameless!¡± Qin Yin didn¡¯t say a word, just remained silent. A pair of warm hands reached out from behind and covered his ears. He heard Fu Lan¡¯s soft voice say, ¡°Don¡¯t listen, Xiao Yin.¡± Zhao Ming had a satisfying talk and suddenly realized that the surroundings were silent. Several senior brothers from Feng Huan Mountain even stopped fidgeting and slowly drew their swords to wipe them. The sword¡¯s blade flipped in their palms, and sword glare flickered on the roof and floor. Zhao Ming felt an invisible sense of killing intent, and turned around uneasily, only to see a black cat squatting on the tea table, its green eyes flickering like ghostly flames as it stared at him maliciously. He didn¡¯t know which sensitive nerve he had touched. This Wild Chicken Mountain (2) was known for producing lunatics and rascals. He had heard from others before that Elder Yuan Wei and the head of Feng Huan Mountain were good friends, but he had taken it as a joke. Zhao Ran felt that Zhao Ming had been out of line with his words and actions, so he apologized and bowed to take his leave with a smile. The door closed tightly behind him, and the senior brothers put away their swords and patted Qi Yin¡¯s shoulder to comfort him. Qi Yin forced a smile and said he was fine, then poured himself a cup of tea. Liu Bai spoke up, ¡°Qi Ling Shu is the top bachelor of Wu Fang Mountain and a handsome young man. Your cousin¡¯s taste in men is quite good.¡± Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± What kind of nonsense ranking was this? Qi Yin was speechless. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Soon, the top bachelor position will be taken by our Junior Brother Dai. Just wait and see. With his looks, he¡¯ll surely defeat Qi Ling Shu!¡± said a senior brother. Qi Yin looked at Fu Lan, who didn¡¯t react much, and asked, ¡°Are you guys really that confident?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Liu Bai winked at him. ¡°Because I¡¯m the one who wrote this ranking.¡± These shameless people were unbelievable. Qi Yin rubbed his forehead. ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Yun Zhi cleared his throat. ¡°Let¡¯s try on the clothes and see if they fit. If not, I¡¯ll have my nephew Zhao Ran and his friends fix them.¡± Everyone got up and changed their clothes. Qi Yin and Fu Lan took off their coarse hemp pants, revealing their red silk undershorts. The bright red color was festive and happy. Yun Zhi noticed and asked in surprise, ¡°Why are you both wearing red undershorts?¡± ¡°We¡¯re both unlucky, so we wear red to change our luck,¡± Qi Yin said. ¡°No,¡± Yun Zhi said, ¡°I mean, why are you both wearing identical undershorts?¡± ¡°We used a piece of cloth to make it.¡± Qi Yin looked at him inexplicably. ¡°Who needs two pieces of cloth to make a pair of shorts?¡± Fu Lan also lifted his clothes and looked at him in a daze. Everyone was silent for a while, then burst into laughter. Yun Zhi laughed so hard that he couldn¡¯t stand up straight. ¡°You two are so open about being cutsleeves. Sorry, I laugh because I respect that!¡± Qi Yin was so angry that he threw down his clothes and ran over to beat him up. The other senior brothers rushed forward and pressed Qi Yin onto the bed. Fu Lan stood there, holding the middle belt of the clothes, not knowing whether to change clothes first or go over to help. They were fighting fiercely, and Qi Yin was screaming while being held down. Fu Lan hesitated for a while, then gave up the idea of helping. They were making noises like a bunch of roosters, and in the midst of the noise, Fu Lan turned his head and looked out the window at the Ling Hua Pavilion, where the Daoist competition would be held. The snow outside was heavy and falling gently, as if the sky and the earth were whispering. Footnotes 1. Cowherd and weaver ¨C a popular Chinese legend that tells the story of two lovers who were separated by the Milky Way and could only meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. The ¡°stealing clothes¡± part of the legend, refers to a specific incident where the Cowherd, named Niulang, stole the clothes of the Weaver Girl, named Zhin¨¹, while she was bathing in a river. Zhin¨¹ was a goddess who weaved beautiful clouds in the sky, but she had descended to the mortal world. According to the legend, Zhin¨¹¡¯s clothes were her means of returning to heaven, and when Niulang took them, she could not go back. 2. Wild Chicken Mountain ¨C the ¡°Feng¡± of Feng Huan means phoenix, so calling them wild chickens is a play on words. CH 34 While they were making a commotion, Ye Qing Ming suddenly pushed open the door, and daylight poured in, shining directly on Qi Yin¡¯s face, who was only wearing shorts and was pressed down. Ye Qing Ming¡¯s scarred face showed bewilderment. ¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡± The senior brothers retreated one after another. ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding, Fourth Martial Uncle. We¡¯re just playing.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t play around without any sense of propriety here. This is not our wild mountain. If you get caught and sent to the disciplinary hall for spanking, don¡¯t blame me for not saving you.¡± Ye Qing Ming raised his chin and said, ¡°Yun Zhi, Yun Lan, and Yun Yin, come out and follow me.¡± Qi Yin quickly put on his clothes and followed Ye Qing Ming out. Under the cloudy sky, Qing Ming said, ¡°Wu Fang caught that pig demon and is interrogating it in the secret chamber. We are invited to listen in. Don¡¯t speak too much. Wu Fang¡¯s gang of old thieves are very cunning. Yun Lan, has that pig demon seen you before? Does it know what you look like?¡± Fu Lan said he knew. Ye Qing Ming whispered, ¡°This is bad.¡± He continued, ¡°If I had known, I would have asked the fattie to help change your appearance. Anyway, let¡¯s go take a look and act accordingly.¡± Qi Yin was puzzled. ¡°Why not just keep the pig demon from seeing us?¡± As they approached the secret chamber, Qi Yin instinctively quieted down and followed Qing Ming inside. It wasn¡¯t until they were inside that he understood why they didn¡¯t have to worry about being seen by the pig demon. The secret chamber was a huge hall, completely dark, and one could not see their own hands in front of their face. Only a beam of pale light shone down onto the center of the hall, where the pig demon sat cross-legged under the light. Both of his hands and feet were shackled by iron chains, and a pair of fierce eyes were visible under his unkempt hair. As they entered, Qi Yin almost stumbled but was caught by Fu Lan. Once he adjusted to the darkness, he saw that the surrounding area was made of pure black marble steps, with deep and shallow symbols carved on each step. Occasionally, a barely perceptible silver light flowed through them, which Qi Yin recognized as symbols that prohibited divine consciousness. The center of the room was the lowest point, with each level increasing in height as it went around. At each level sat a black silhouette. In this way, no matter where one sat, they could see the pig demon at the bottom, but the pig demon could not see them. They sat at the highest level, and gradually, others came and sat down, but they were all sitting far apart, making it difficult to see their faces. Yun Zhi leaned over and pointed to the person sitting alone on the lowest level, with their back facing everyone. ¡°That¡¯s Qi Ling Shu.¡± ¡°How do you know?¡± Qi Yin asked. Yun Zhi shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s just how he is. He likes to be alone wherever he goes. If you want to be cool in the future, you should learn from him.¡± They were too far away, and Qi Yin could only vaguely see his back. He could see his tall and straight spine and the long sword beside him. The scabbard was also hidden in the darkness, occasionally revealing a bleak light. That guy was far away from everyone else, like a lone pine tree standing in the snow. The interrogation began, and an old voice from the high platform in front said, ¡°Fu Lan, do you know what you did wrong?¡± It was a familiar opening line, and Qi Yin found it a bit boring. It was always used in interrogations by the big shots, and the accussed always answered, ¡°What have I done wrong?¡± But this pig demon was different. He lifted his head and said in a cold and sinister tone, ¡°I¡¯ll fck your grandparents, fck your entire family, fck your ancestors for eighteen generations!¡± The pig demon pointed at the shadows on the platform one by one. ¡°I¡¯ll fck you, you, you, and you! And especially you!¡± It was like throwing a firecracker into the hall; everyone was outraged. Some people stood up and shouted, ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense! Your words are foul!¡± Others cursed, ¡°You evil creature! Shameless!¡± Others shouted angrily, ¡°We don¡¯t want you to fck us! If you fck us, we¡¯ll become pigs!¡± The people from Wu Fang were terrible at cursing, which made Qing Ming, Yun Zhi, and Qi Yin unable to hold back their laughter. They were giggling so hard that they didn¡¯t notice the room had gone silent. Everyone in the darkness was staring at them coldly. The three of them quickly covered their mouths. The people on the platform spoke again, ¡°Let me ask you. Did you have anything to do with the slaughter of the entire village of He Li within eight miles outside of Yong Zhou City?¡± ¡°Who are you? Where¡¯s Qi Ling Shu? Is he here? Let him do the questioning!¡± The pig demon sneered. ¡°I am Elder Yuan Yin, one of the twelve elders of Wu Fang Sect. You must answer my questions truthfully!¡± Yuan Yin said sternly. So it was Yuan Yin. Qi Yin had heard of him before. They said he was well-versed in various books and was skilled at annotating and collating ancient texts. He was responsible for most of the annotated versions of ancient scriptures available on the market today. Qi Yin also heard that Yuan Yin taught the course on scriptural studies, which he was planning to take in the future. Yuan Yin was most famous for his Daoist theory, ¡°The Original God.¡± In it, he proposed that there was no such thing as gods and goddesses. He believed that Fu Xi and Nu Wa were nothing more than clay figurines created by ancient people in times of disaster. The so-called shamanic possession was merely a state of frenzy induced by consuming hallucinogenic plants such as poppy, mandrake, and mushroom. Ancient people saw this frenzy as a way to communicate with the spirits. Southern China was indeed rich in poppy, and many people thought Yuan Yin¡¯s theory made sense. After all, for thousands of years, no one had ever seen any real evidence of the existence of the gods and goddesses recorded in ancient texts. Some places claimed that there were great gods that had appeared, but it was all just a hoax. As for ancient ruins like Anyang Yin Xu, there was no trace of any gods ever being active there. As for the Ba Mountain Temple, no one could enter it, so it was not worth discussing. ¡°Okay.¡± The pig demon scratched his ear. ¡°Call me dad and maybe I¡¯ll answer. I love my sons, you know. ¡° ¡°You evil creature!¡± Yuan Yin slammed the table in anger. It was obvious that this pig demon was not going to cooperate, so when was this going to end? Qi Yin was speechless. Yun Zhi whispered to him that Wu Fang always followed the same routine: first they would ask questions, and if they couldn¡¯t get any answers, they would resort to torture. This would demonstrate their virtue as gentlemen, as they wouldn¡¯t mistreat prisoners without a good reason. Qi Yin found it boring and didn¡¯t want to listen anymore, so he wandered over to Fu Lan. Fu Lan was looking down, his bangs covering his eyes. Obviously, he wasn¡¯t listening either. When he was silent, he was like a transparent person in a crowd, as if he didn¡¯t exist in this world. Qi Yin took his hand and wrote in his palm, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Fu Lan was stunned. Qi Yin¡¯s fingers tickled as he wrote on his palm, but he restrained himself from pulling away. He waited for Qi Yin to finish before writing in his palm, ¡°Meditating.¡± Qi Yin wrote again, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Fu Lan wrote back, ¡°Nothing, just daydreaming.¡± Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡­¡± Qi Yin learned his lesson. From now on, when he was daydreaming, he would tell others that he was meditating. ¡°That evil creature. He¡¯s making me so angry!¡± The pig demon was still not cooperating, and Yuan Yin was coughing violently. Everyone sighed, some suggesting to torture him directly. In the midst of the discussion, a figure who sat alone in the lowest seat row suddenly stood up and walked to the opposite side of the pig demon, bowing deeply to Yuan Yin. ¡°Ling Shu is willing to take over the interrogation.¡± Yuan Yin finally breathed a sigh of relief and waved his hand to indicate approval. Qi Ling Shu sat opposite the pig demon. Qi Yin still couldn¡¯t see his face clearly, but he could see a thin shadow. His sleeves hung down to the ground, with a corner exposed in the light, as pure and simple as white snow. In the darkness, he spoke in a cold and chilly voice, ¡°He Li Village outside of Yong Zhou city. The whole village was slaughtered. Was that you?¡± ¡°Yes, it was me.¡± The pig demon finally confessed, laughing coldly. ¡°Was it you who massacred the entire village by the shore of Xiang River?¡± ¡°Yes, it was me.¡± ¡°Was it also you who destroyed the village outside the city of Heng Zhou?¡± ¡°Yes, it was me.¡± ¡°On the ninth day of March this year, two disciples under the tutelage of Elder Bai Jue Ming of Zhong Gu Mountain, Gui Xin and Gui Shan, went missing; on the eleventh day of March, thirty disciples from Zi Zai Sect went missing; on the twenty-first day of March, forty-seven disciples from the Xiao Yao Sect went missing; and on the eighth day of April, five disciples from Wu Fang Mountain went missing. What have you done?¡± Qi Yin was taken aback and instinctively looked at Yun Zhi and Ye Qing Ming. The two of them rarely became serious, but they were now standing with their arms crossed, staring at the ground. The pig demon chuckled. ¡°I kill whoever I see and cut down any Daoist I come across. How would I know who I¡¯ve killed and which family they belonged to? You can¡¯t expect me to kill someone and then check their household registration, and put up a banner saying, ¡®This corpse is named so-and-so and was killed by me, Fu Lan.''¡± ¡°Who else could have done it if not you!?¡± someone stood up and shouted in anger, but was quickly restrained by the people around them. Qi Ling Shu waved his sleeve, and pieces of paper flew out of his wide sleeves and slowly unfolded in front of the pig demon. They were all portraits of Daoists, both male and female, some flying on swords, some reading and writing. Suppressed weeping came from the audience, presumably fellow disciples of the missing Daoists. Qi Ling Shu asked, ¡°Do you recognize any of them?¡± ¡°You all look the same to me. But, Qi Ling Shu, I do remember what you look like very clearly,¡± the pig demon said. Someone couldn¡¯t help but shout loudly, ¡°Why waste so much time talking with him? Just use the ¡®Soul-Reading¡¯ technique to see his memories directly. If he is guilty, the truth will naturally come to light.¡± Qi Yin was startled. He had heard of the Soul-Reading technique before. The practitioner could read the memories of the recipient. However, if one was not careful, the spiritual force would shock the soul, and the recipient would become a fool. This was bad news. That idiot recognized Fu Lan, and the two of them must have met in the southern region. If the Soul-Reading technique was used, Fu Lan would certainly be exposed. More and more people agreed to use the Soul-Reading technique. Qi Yin was terrified and turned to look at Fu Lan, who was motionless with eyelids lowered, as calm as a wooden man. ¡°Brother.¡± Qi Yin poked him. Fu Lan lifted his eyes, his gaze indifferent. He touched Qi Yin¡¯s head and said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± His voice was light and flat, with no ups and downs, like a breeze passing over the treetops. But somehow, Qi Yin¡¯s heart settled down, as if with Fu Lan around, any problem could be solved effortlessly. However, he didn¡¯t know that Fu Lan¡¯s approach had always been the simplest and most direct, and that was killing. Fu Lan lowered his eyes again and adjusted his breathing, his muscles tense like a sword about to be unsheathed. He closed his eyes and listened carefully to the heartbeats of everyone in the secret chamber. He had extremely powerful hearing, and he could capture everyone¡¯s breathing and heartbeat without releasing his divine sense. Under the clamor of cursing voices, each heartbeat was like a small drum, beating vigorously. The most dangerous was the old man on the fifth level, thin and hidden in the deep shadows, his breathing wheezing like an ice snake. Then there was Qi Ling Shu on the lowest level. The young man in white had a steady and calm heartbeat, like a Buddha. Once the Soul-Reading technique was activated, Fu Lan would instantly appear behind the old man in black and crush his heart. Then he would flash in front of Qi Ling Shu and cut off his throat. These two actions would only take two blinks of an eye. Then he would take Qi Yin, find the black cat, and leave Wu Fang. As more and more people agreed to use the Soul-Reading technique, Fu Lan opened his eyes in the dark with a calm killing intent in his jet-black pupils. The secret chamber was noisy, like boiling hot water bubbling, and no one noticed that this quiet and almost invisible man was ten thousand times more dangerous than that pig demon. The killing intent was about to be unleashed. CH 35 ¡°No.¡± A hoarse voice sounded from the fifth row. Fu Lan silently looked over, the killing intent in his eyes slowly dissipating. There sat a stooped figure, and everyone heard him say slowly and deliberately, ¡°This demon is under a curse. If we forcefully read his soul, he will explode and die. This demon has at least two hundred years of cultivation. Once he explodes, we will all be affected.¡± Everyone was shocked. ¡°No wonder he refused to answer. He was planning to take us down with him!¡± ¡°How ruthless!¡± Yuan Yin nodded lightly towards the figure. ¡°We¡¯re safe thanks to Senior Ku Can¡¯s discovery of this scheme. Otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable.¡± ¡°Who is Senior Ku Can?¡± Qi Yin whispered to Yun Zhi. ¡°Why is his Dao name different from others?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not originally from Wu Fang Mountain. He was a wild Daoist from some deserted mountain. He was recruited by Wu Fang at the end of last year and became the Elder of Spells here,¡± Yun Zhi said. ¡°This old man is very powerful. Wu Fang Mountain has twelve elders divided into four upper and eight lower seats. He was immediately appointed as one of the upper seats. He created a set of powerful Ku Can secret spells that are said to be able to move mountains and lift boulders with ease. He teaches the spell classes we take. I asked about him from the people at Wu Fang Mountain. They said his classes are quite easy and he only tests us on small spells like freezing and fire breathing, so there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± On the other side, the pig demon sneered. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that the Wu Fang faction would have another great Daoist. I thought we could set off some fireworks and let everyone enjoy the blood and flesh together.¡± Yuan Yin shook his head. ¡°This wicked beast is incorrigible. It¡¯s too late today. We¡¯ll have to reconsider another day.¡± Without getting any information, the disciples of Wu Fang Mountain came in and took the pig demon away. Everyone dispersed and left the secret chamber. As soon as they came out of the darkness and saw the light, Qi Yin¡¯s eyes were dazzled. He couldn¡¯t help but turn his head and look back at the secret chamber. Several elders of Wu Fang were gathered on the steps, probably discussing how to deal with the pig. Qi Ling Shu was kneeling alone on the side, with a lonely back, his white clothes were touched by the shadows and made him look gray, like a lone goose. They said that Qi Yin was similar to Qi Shen Wei in appearance, while Qi Ling Shu was similar to him from deep in his bones. Qi Yin couldn¡¯t help but wonder if his father, the bastard immortal whom he had never met, looked like this too? Living in seclusion, being alone, his wife and children a burden to him. Only one person could sit on a sword. How could a whole family sit on it? ¡°What¡¯s the deal with the missing people from Wu Fang Mountain? Do they have any connections to Yuan Wei?¡± Ye Qing Ming pondered with his sleeves tucked in. Yun Zhi shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but the blood compass points in the direction of Wu Fang¡¯s vicinity, specifically the Forbidden Forest, which is where Uncle Qi¡¯s tomb is located.¡± ¡°Why did Wu Fang bury my dad in a forbidden forest?¡± Qi Yin asked. Yun Zhi said: ¡°The rules of Wu Fang Mountain are that after death, everyone is buried in the forbidden area, which means they must still suppress demons even after death.¡± Ye Qing Ming rubbed his chin and said, ¡°Could it be that Wu Fang didn¡¯t even know that Yuan Wei was still alive and buried him unknowingly?¡± ¡°Now we have too little information, so anything we say is just speculation,¡± Yun Zhi replied. ¡°Fourth Martial Uncle, leave your spiritual sense in my Master¡¯s Dawn Mirror and ask him to send someone to check if Yao Xiao Shan has returned home to Wu Tang.¡± Qi Yin was startled. ¡°Do you suspect that my cousin is missing too?¡± Yun Zhi shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. I just have some doubts.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ye Qing Ming patted Qi Yin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll go discuss with Qing He and see when we can explore the forbidden area in Wu Fang Mountain. The forbidden area in Wu Fang Mountain is different from Feng Huan. The demons here are not as peaceful as those in our area. We need to plan carefully. But I¡¯m not too worried. Yuan Wei has been neither dead nor alive for so long, so he can wait a little longer.¡± After speaking, he lifted his robes and walked towards the scripture hall, humming ¡°dong-dang-dang¡± with the demeanor of a fool. Qi Yin looked at him with a depressed expression. Could they really rely on this kind of person? One day, he would visit the Elder of Medicine who broke Qing He¡¯s disciple¡¯s leg instead of curing it to see how low Feng Huan¡¯s bottom line really was. The three of them walked side by side back. Yun Zhi patted Fu Lan¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°The competition is tomorrow. We all have to participate. Junior Brother Hei doesn¡¯t need to be reminded, but I¡¯ll remind you. Don¡¯t use your real skills in the match. A few moves are enough. Nowadays, the way of the Dao is declining, and many sects are in chaos. Unlike us, Wu Fang is still proud of their cultivator status.¡± Qi Yin was speechless. This person¡¯s face was really thick. Fu Lan nodded in confusion, but Yun Zhi still worriedly reminded, ¡°After you find out who your opponent is, remember to ask about their background. For example, if it¡¯s a girl, you need to find out if she has a sugar daddy.¡± ¡°A sugar daddy?¡± Fu Lan asked. ¡°They¡¯re very protective of their girls,¡± Yun Zhi said. ¡°If you encounter such a person, don¡¯t fight them. We can¡¯t afford to offend anyone in Wu Fang.¡± Qi Yin was surprised and exclaimed, ¡°Are people still into this kind of thing?¡± ¡°You two can be in a same-sex relationship. Why can¡¯t others have sugar daddies?¡± Yun Zhi said with a smirk. This made Qi Yin angry and he wanted to hit him. Yun Zhi took a step back and walked away slowly while waving his hand. ¡°See you later, junior brother!¡± When they arrived at their lodging, they did not enter. Qi Yin pulled Fu Lan to a secluded spot under a plum blossom tree and asked, ¡°Brother, are you really not going to save that pig demon?¡± Before Fu Lan could answer, a black cat suddenly jumped down from the wall. ¡°That pig cannot be saved,¡± the black cat said. Qi Yin was startled. ¡°Lord Cat, can you please announce yourself before showing up next time?¡± Fu Lan bent down and picked up the cat, who held onto him with its two front paws. ¡°Xiao Yin, do you know why it pretended to be me and caused trouble in the human world?¡± How could he know? Qi Yin thought for a moment, but then remembered the demon¡¯s fearless behavior. ¡°Is it trying to start a war between humans and demons?¡± ¡°You¡¯re halfway correct.¡± The black cat sighed. ¡°To be precise, it wants your brother to take action. Since the Ninth Abyss War, the demon race has declined while humans have prospered. Half of the reason for this is due to the war between two races of demons ¨C yao (1) and (mo). The other half is due to the fool.¡± Fu Lan silently listened, while Qi Yin looked at the black cat¡¯s indifferent expression and asked, ¡°Because my brother ignores politics?¡± The black cat nodded. ¡°There are 28 demon tribes in southern Jiang, some advocating for war while others for peace. The war hawks value the fool¡¯s strong magical powers and urge him to fight against the human world. Zhu Ming Zang is one of them. The peace doves question the fool¡¯s identity as neither demon nor human and prefer to treat your brother as the mascot of southern Jiang. With your brother and the demon sword, the demons can¡¯t fight amongst themselves.¡± ¡°The demon sword?¡± Qi Yin frowned. ¡°A sword that was forged from the bones of a demonic dragon,¡± Fu Lan explained. ¡°I¡¯ve placed it at the entrance of the Ninth Abyss.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a barrier around the demonic sword, so yao and mo can¡¯t fight amongst themselves,¡± the black cat said. No wonder Fu Lan had never drawn his sword before. Qi Yin suddenly realized, ¡°So that pig has been stealing my brother¡¯s identity to wreak havoc everywhere, trying to incite conflict between humans and demons. If the immortal mountain can¡¯t tolerate it anymore and attacks the Southern Territory, my brother will have no choice but to take action.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, so it¡¯s best for it to die here. If it dies, even if the pig demon clan wants revenge, they won¡¯t be able to convince the other factions. At least there will still be peace between the Southern Territory and the human world,¡± the black cat said with a worried tone. ¡°Sigh, bearing the title of the demon lord, we can¡¯t kill demons unless it¡¯s absolutely necessary. Otherwise, we would have killed that trouble-making pig long ago.¡± Qi Yin sighed quietly. He didn¡¯t understand the Southern Territory, but he could guess that being its leader was not easy. He initially thought Fu Lan was just a figurehead, but it turned out there were so many troubles. The key issue was not whether to fight or make peace, but that Fu Lan was not fit to be the leader at all. This fool¡­ Qi Yin looked up at Fu Lan¡¯s dark eyes, thinking of him tying his sleeves to cook, do laundry, and deliver clothes to his fellow disciples. Such a gentle and quiet young man was more suited to be a diligent househusband, Qi Yin¡¯s brother, rather than the ruler of demons or the leader of the Southern Territory. ¡°Can¡¯t you abdicate? Give the position to another powerful demon. After all, they are suspicious and believe in ¡®if it¡¯s not from our race, it must have ill intentions¡¯, right?¡± The black cat was taken aback, its green eyes suddenly becoming deep and quiet, as if shrouded in a layer of gloomy fog. ¡°No,¡± the black cat said softly. ¡°There are no powerful demons with more than 300 years of cultivation left in the Southern Territory. They all died in that twelve-year-long war, their bodies lying in the ink marshes of the Ninth Abyss and the wilderness¡­ never to return home.¡± Fu Lan also lowered his eyes, sharing a memory with the black cat of the most cruel and intense time of their lives. The mo clan invaded the yao clan. Wave after wave of reinforcements were sent to the front lines, but it still took the yao clan two whole years to push the battle lines back to the Ninth Abyss. There were times of truce, but more often there was fighting. The battles lasted too long, and many demons lost their self-healing abilities. They began to eat the bodies of their dead comrades, sucking fresh blood from the soil to speed up their recovery. Fu Lan still remembered the nauseating taste of blood filling his mouth, the rivers of blood that reached his ankles, and the vast, pale bones of demons scattered across the flowing wilderness, piled up at the foot of the pitch-black abyssal mountains. ¡°Xiao Yin,¡± Fu Lan said softly, ¡°war is cruel, and many lives are lost. I hope you live a peaceful life and never experience war.¡± This was the first time Qi Yin saw such sorrow on their faces. Feeling a faint ache in his heart, he asked softly, ¡°Is the mo clan very strong?¡± ¡°Very strong,¡± Fu Lan said slowly. ¡°Their lifespans are longer than both humans and the yao clan. Humans live for decades, yao for centuries, but the lifespan of a mo can reach a thousand years. Some mo possess human bodies, some feed on human brain matter, and others manipulate people¡¯s minds, causing them to kill each other¡­¡± Fu Lan looked up. ¡°Xiao Yin, if one day you encounter a mo and I¡¯m not by your side, the first thing you should do is tell it that you are my brother. If it still wants to kill you¡­¡± ¡°What should I do?¡± Qi Yin asked nervously. Fu Lan stared at him and said, ¡°I will avenge you.¡± In the evening, the results of the lottery for the competition came out. Qi Yin and Fu Lan, both newcomers, were to compete first against other newcomers. Qi Yin was quite calm, as he didn¡¯t even know the sword-controlling technique and would admit defeat after a few moves. As a member of Feng Huan Mountain, he was not afraid of losing face for his sect. Fu Lan had nothing to worry about either; his opponent was named ¡°Xin Xiao Xiao,¡± obviously a girl. He could have a casual exchange with her and might even win her heart with his handsome face. Late at night, it was time to rest. The stars hung low, and the wintersweet outside the moonlit window was in full bloom, casting sparse shadows on the white window gauze. Later, the sound of a zither echoed from somewhere, its melodious and lingering notes like a gentle breeze stirring the waters of a pond. All the disciples went to bed after washing up. It was their first time sleeping in a large shared bed. Qi Yin felt a little uncomfortable lying next to Fu Lan, turning to face Yun Zhi¡¯s direction. Fu Lan also climbed into bed after a while, lying down behind Qi Yin. Their arms touched, and through the thin layer of silk, Qi Yin could feel Fu Lan¡¯s warm skin. After a long while, everyone had fallen asleep, with steady breathing filling the air. Occasionally, there were quiet hums as people dreamt. Qi Yin could also hear Lord Cat snoring, and the lingering sound of the zither outside the window. There was no movement from behind, and Qi Yin slowly turned to face Fu Lan. The moonlight shone through the window, illuminating Fu Lan¡¯s peaceful features, his straight nose, and thin lips. I wonder if those demons are heartbroken to see someone like him become Southern Jiang¡¯s demon lord. According to the black cat, when they returned to Southern Jiang after the war, there was much work to be done but Fu Lan kept disappearing, which made it impossible to push forward any political plans. Later, in order to keep Fu Lan from running away, various tribes offered up demon concubines to fill his harem, and the Ninth Abyss tribe even offered up two witches. The demon concubines and witches must have crystal-clear skin, plump breasts, and long and fair thighs. His brother was really lucky. It was a pity that the peach blossom landed on him in vain. A group of concubines chased after Fu Lan, demanding to have sex with him, but he ran and jumped into the surging Jia Ling River. Qi Yin laughed silently as he propped up his head and lightly tapped Fu Lan¡¯s forehead with his finger, then stroked his nose bridge. ¡°Big idiot,¡± he said. Just as he was about to pull his hand back, Fu Lan opened his eyes, and the two of them were face to face in the clear moonlight. ¡°¡­¡± Qi Yin fell silent for a moment and said, ¡°Brother, you¡¯re pretending to be asleep?¡± ¡°I was sleeping,¡± Fu Lan replied honestly, ¡°but you woke me up.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Qi Yin pretended to be calm as he withdrew his hand. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not safe here. I can¡¯t fall asleep,¡± Fu Lan argued in a low voice. ¡°What¡¯s not safe? Did you notice anything suspicious?¡± Qi Yin asked. Fu Lan shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s just a feeling.¡± Qi Yin didn¡¯t say anything more, and the two of them fell into silence, looking into each other¡¯s eyes. After watching Qi Yin for a while, Fu Lan suddenly closed his eyes and took Qi Yin¡¯s hand, placing it on his own face. ¡°I¡¯m asleep now. You can touch me,¡± he said. Footnotes 1. Yao ¨C generally refers to any kind of demonic or otherworldly creature in Chinese mythology. They are often depicted as animals, such as foxes, snakes, or tigers, that have the ability to transform into human form. They are known for their cunning and trickery, and are often associated with seduction, deception, and mischief. However, not all yao are evil, and some are depicted as benevolent beings who help humans. 2. Mo ¨C refers specifically to evil spirits in Chinese mythology. They are often associated with black magic, possession, and spiritual corruption. Mo are said to have a powerful and malevolent presence that can harm humans, and they are often portrayed as the enemies of gods and humans alike. CH 36 At night, in Wu Fang Hall. Qi Ling Shu was kneeling on a cushion, with his eyes lowered. Starlight fell on his pure white robes, coming from the open dome above. If he raised his head, he could see twenty-eight silver stars and a full moon that revolved around the central axis of the North Star, surrounded by the barrier formation that had been proportionally reduced in size. The intricate silver lines of the formation intersected and rotated slowly around the North Star. This was the center of Wu Fang, where the head and the twelve elders could control the entire Wu Fang formation by injecting spiritual power. In an instant, the barrier formation could be transformed into a killing formation, instantly crushing any external enemies who entered Wu Fang. ¡°Why didn¡¯t we kill Fu Lan?¡± someone angrily asked. Qi Ling Shu remained silent and lowered his gaze. The one speaking was the Elder of Discipline, Yuan Ku, a white-haired old man whose anger made his eyebrows stand out like a fierce lion¡¯s mane. He was known for his violent temper and few dared to provoke him. ¡°Cut off that pig¡¯s head and use his blood to draw Wu Fang¡¯s flag. Southern Jiang demons were all killed in the battle of the Ninth Abyss. If we kill Fu Lan, their demon tribe will be leaderless, and we can attack Southern Jiang. They will naturally surrender, and we will have no more worries in the human world!¡± A man under the full moon opened his eyes from his meditation. He was a tall and thin man with a wide robe and sleeves, and looked to be only in his early thirties, but his actual age must be far older than that. The man smiled and said, ¡°Why be so anxious, junior brother? There has been peace in the human world for a long time, and there is no need to start a war. Besides, if we try to exterminate all the Southern Jiang demons, they will fight to the death when they have nothing left to lose, and we will face a difficult situation. This is not a good solution.¡± Yuan Ku snorted. ¡°If you¡¯re afraid, just say so. Why bother talking so much?¡± ¡°Moreover,¡± the other man sighed, ¡°the Daoist way of the human world is declining. If it weren¡¯t for Senior Ku Can helping Wu Fang to modify the Forbidden Forest Formation, it would have collapsed long ago, and the demons would have fled. How could we sit here peacefully and talk like this if that were the case?¡± ¡°The headmaster is too kind. It¡¯s just a small favor,¡± a hoarse voice came from the corner, belonging to Ku Can. Yuan Ku asked coldly, ¡°So, what do you plan to do with Fu Lan?¡± ¡°Of course, we won¡¯t let it live.¡± The middle-aged man nodded and smiled. ¡°I have a plan. We¡¯ll detain it on the Contemplation Cliff to give the children a good look.¡± Everyone else left, leaving only Qi Ling Shu behind in the hall. The wind was quiet, and the gauze on the windows fluttered like moth wings. The headmaster, Yuan Ji, descended slowly from the high platform, and asked, ¡°You¡¯re going to fight in the competition in a few days?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Qi Ling Shu answered, bowing his head. ¡°Who¡¯s your opponent?¡± ¡°Yun Zhi.¡± ¡°That child? Wasn¡¯t he the one who almost burned down the school during last year¡¯s competition?¡± Yuan Ji shook his head with a smile. The faint beard on his lips moved slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate Qing Shi¡¯s disciples. I heard this child has been following Qing Shi since he was young, and has learned everything about his character, swordsmanship, and even his special skills. Yun Zhi will probably be the next head of Feng Huan Mountain. But Ling Shu, you are the first disciple of Wu Fang. In this competition, you can only win and not lose.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Qi Ling Shu answered. The man patted Qi Ling Shu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Your master¡¯s spirit in the heavens will surely bless you.¡± Qi Ling Shu¡¯s eyes glazed over, and there was a hint of sadness in them. He closed his eyes, and his voice was as clear as jade. ¡°I will not disappoint my master¡¯s high expectations!¡± On the second day, just after sunrise, Qi Yin got up to participate in the competition. At Wu Fang, everyone woke up earlier than roosters, but Feng Huan disciples didn¡¯t take the competition seriously and were still sleeping sweetly in their rooms. Only Qi Yin was unlucky enough to have an early match and had to wake up early. Fu Lan accompanied him to the platform. Qi Yin planned to just go through the motions and wait for Fu Lan to finish his match afterwards before going back to sleep. As expected, Qi Yin was easily defeated before he could even draw his sword, and he fell to the ground in a very ungraceful manner. The others all stepped back to make room for him, and someone laughed and said, ¡°Feng Huan really produces trash. He lost with just one move.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s bet on how many moves the next one will lose in.¡± ¡°I bet two moves.¡± ¡°I bet half a move, haha!¡± Qi Yin was used to losing face, and his thick skin could withstand it, as could the sect¡¯s reputation. Fu Lan didn¡¯t care at all. He didn¡¯t even know what losing face was. After crouching below the platform for a while, it was finally Fu Lan¡¯s turn to go up. Qi Yin reminded him, ¡°Just lose after two moves. Don¡¯t really fight.¡± Fu Lan nodded vigorously and went up with the broken iron sword that Qi Yin had given him. His opponent was a little junior sister from Zhong Gu Mountain, with big eyes and rosy cheeks, looking very cute. She obviously didn¡¯t expect her opponent to be so handsome, and blushed as soon as he got up. She held her sword in a curtsy and whispered in a small voice, like a mosquito, ¡°Xin Xiao Xiao greets senior brother.¡± Fu Lan also returned the greeting and asked, ¡°Do you have a sugar daddy?¡± Qi Yin suddenly had a bad feeling. The little junior sister didn¡¯t understand for a moment. ¡°What?¡­ What sugar daddy?¡± ¡°A father who specializes in doing his daughter,¡± Fu Lan said. As soon as this was said, there was silence both on and off the platform. ¡°You!¡± The little junior sister was so angry and embarrassed that her eyes turned red. ¡°I have no grievances or enmities with you. How can you humiliate me like this! Stinky thief, watch this move!¡± A sword glare suddenly appeared. Xin Xiao Xiao moved her sword and weaved it into a giant net with snow-white sword light covering Fu Lan inside. Fu Lan looked confused. She hadn¡¯t answered his question yet, so why did she start attacking? But then the sword move changed! A sword light broke through several illusory shadows and flew towards Fu Lan. Fu Lan stood still like a wooden puppet in a white robe. ¡°Another waste. I¡¯m going to win again. Remember to pay up,¡± someone laughed below the platform. When the sword light was within three steps of Fu Lan, he drew his sword. The broken iron sword bought from Chang Le Road was unsheathed, and it was obviously a piece of scrap metal. But at this moment, it carried a severe pressure. A dim sword light spilled out of the sheath, and Fu Lan took a step forward. Xin Xiao Xiao¡¯s sword barely missed his face, but Fu Lan didn¡¯t blink. He swung his sword. On the stage, the sword lights stopped and the two stood back to back in the cool breeze, like two reefs in the sea. Everyone looked confused and didn¡¯t know who had won or lost. After a moment, drops of blood began to trickle out from the waist of the young girl, gradually becoming more and more, eventually turning into a fountain. In front of everyone, the girl¡¯s face grew paler and paler, and she finally fell to the ground with weak legs. Turning around, Fu Lan sheathed his sword, and the snow-white blade was stained with a conspicuous red. Qi Yin was dumbfounded. In the silence, someone shouted in panic, ¡°He killed her!¡± Someone yelled, ¡°The sword fight was supposed to be until one of them gave up. Feng Huan¡¯s Yun Lan actually killed someone in public!¡± The sword stage became chaotic, and the head of Wu Fang¡¯s medicinal department, holding a medicine box, struggled to push through the crowd to treat the young girl. Countless people climbed onto the stage and surrounded the unconscious girl three layers deep. Fu Lan stood dazedly by the side of the stage, with people swarming around him, accusing and scolding him like a tidal wave. He was at a loss. Suddenly, someone grabbed his hand. He turned his head and saw Qi Yin¡¯s worried face. ¡°Are you okay, brother?¡± Qi Yin asked him. Fu Lan shook his head, frowning. ¡°Did I cause trouble again?¡± Qi Yin patted his head. ¡°I thought we were going to exchange two moves,¡± Fu Lan whispered. ¡°But she lost after just one move.¡± Qi Yin asked him to wait for a moment and went into the crowd to take a look. After a while, he came back and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Let¡¯s go back and gather some money for medical expenses. We¡¯ll apologize in person another day.¡± Fu Lan hung his head, looking unhappy. ¡°It¡¯s my fault,¡± Qi Yin said, pulling him back. ¡°I didn¡¯t explain the rules clearly enough. It¡¯s okay, let¡¯s solve this properly. Don¡¯t worry, brother, I¡¯ve got you.¡± When they got back and told everyone what had happened, they all sighed and pitied Fu Lan. They gathered some money and sent him to a small courtyard in Zhong Gu Mountain, where he was beaten with sticks. Later, Senior Qing Ming came to apologize in person. Qi Yin led Fu Lan to stand outside the Moon Cave Gate, asking for forgiveness for the whole afternoon, until they were covered in snow and looked like two snowmen, before they were finally forgiven. There was also news from Wu Fang that Yun Lan insulted his fellow disciples in public and went too far, so he was expelled and punished to sweep the snow-covered steps of the mountain three thousand times. Being expelled meant that Fu Lan didn¡¯t have to compete in sword fighting anymore. Qi Yin was not worried at all and was actually happy about it. It was just a bit of a headache to sweep the steps three thousand times, which meant he had to sweep the entire Wu Fang Mountain inside and out. Fu Lan was calm. Besides killing, housework was the job he was best at, so he didn¡¯t find it difficult. At night, Fu Lan obediently took a broom and went out, while Qi Yin went to visit Qing He at the Purple Library. The Purple Library was a tower with nine floors connected by shelves filled with ancient books and inscriptions. Night pearls were embedded on the walls, emitting a faint glow. Qi Yin marveled at this, thinking that even selling just one of these pearls would be enough to support him, his brother, and Lord Cat for a lifetime. The ladder could only reach the tenth shelf, and one would have to fly on a sword to go higher. Qi Yin looked up at the huge bookshelves and sighed, realizing that he didn¡¯t even have the qualification to read the books, as he didn¡¯t know how to fly on a sword. After walking for a while without seeing anyone, Qi Yin randomly picked a book to read. The books here were very old, with yellowed pages and covered in dust. Many of the books were written in strange characters that didn¡¯t look like Chinese. There were also several ancient paintings piled up in the corners. Qi Yin blew off the dust and sat on the ground to look at them. According to the signature on the corner of the painting, the artist was an elder from three generations before the founding of Wu Fang Sect, and the paintings depicted various scenes of Wu Fang Mountain, such as snow falling in an empty courtyard, light shining in the secret chamber, and the sun rising in the Purple Library¡­ Qi Yin kept flipping through the pages until he reached the last painting, which depicted a cliff with an icy sea and a vast sky below. The clouds and sky were all covered in a pale snow color. A black-clad man stood on the cliff, with a black scabbard and a dark silhouette like a lonely bamboo. Qi Yin was taken aback, feeling incredulous. He realized that this was Fu Lan, with his fair face and indifferent gaze. This was too unbelievable; the painting was at least two hundred years old, and his brother was only twenty-six years old. How could he be in the painting? Next CH 37 Qi Yin examined the painting closely, but the ink painting was somewhat abstract, and the face of the man was not very clear. However, the look in his eyes was exactly like Fu Lan¡¯s. The gaze, the posture, the lone wolf temperament that rejected the secular world ¨C everything was exactly the same as Fu Lan¡¯s. Something was not right. Fu Lan left Ba Mountain at the age of eight, picked up a black cat at the age of ten, arrived at Wu Jiang River at the age of twelve, participated in the demon war at the age of thirteen, and only returned to the human world at the age of twenty-six. There was no way he could be in the painting. Qi Yin searched around but found no other paintings of his brother. Just as he was pondering, he heard voices in front of him. Qi Yin raised his head and saw Qing Ming standing surreptitiously behind the bookshelf, whispering to a man with a sneaky expression. They were speaking in hushed tones, probably plotting something that could not be seen by others. Qi Yin instinctively quieted down and eavesdropped on their conversation. ¡°100 taels, no more,¡± the man stated firmly. ¡°Come on. My nephew Yun Zhi is a top disciple of the Feng Huan Sect. Isn¡¯t he worth more than that? No, you have to give me a higher price.¡± Ye Qing Ming shook his head. ¡°Uncle Qing Ming,¡± the man said, ¡°please be kind. My nephew has already put all of his savings into this. We¡¯ll be opening a betting pool tonight at the hour of the pig. You can bet on Senior Ling Shu¡¯s victory and make a big profit too.¡± Ye Qing Ming rubbed his chin stubble and grinned. ¡°My dear nephew, we of the Feng Huan Sect can handle ourselves. Not only can we lose, but we can also lose according to your request. Should we lose after five moves or ten? Should Yun Zhi use the ¡®Dog Chewing Mud¡¯ style or the ¡®Descending Sand and Soaring Goose¡¯ style? Or perhaps the ¡®Old Man Pushing Cart¡¯ style? The ¡®Upside-down Golden Hook¡¯ style¡­ wait, I think I misspoke. Anyway, you can ask for any losing style you want, as long as the money is in hand, we¡¯ll deliver.¡± The man probably didn¡¯t expect Qing Ming¡¯s shamelessness to reach such a level, and he was speechless for a while before saying, ¡°No need for any tricks. Just make sure you lose the match.¡± Ye Qing Ming looked disappointed, but he still put the hundred taels of silver into his sleeve. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s on me. When that fatso boss of mine dies, I¡¯ll come to Wu Fang to freeload. We¡¯ll be colleagues in the future. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t cheat you.¡± The man nodded repeatedly and bid farewell. After he left, Yun Zhi emerged from the shadows, and held out his hand. ¡°Give me 80%. You take 20%.¡± Ye Qing Ming gave him a sideways glance and placed a silver ingot in his palm. ¡°Respect for the teacher is important. 40-60.¡± Yun Zhi leaned against the peach wood bookshelf and smiled casually. ¡°Who¡¯s going to fight, you or me? It¡¯s 20-80, no discussion.¡± Reluctantly, Ye Qing Ming added another silver ingot to his hand. Yun Zhi was satisfied, and with his arms folded, he chuckled. ¡°Junior Brother Hei, are you comfortable in the corner?¡± ¡°You guys are really something,¡± said Qi Yin, who had just walked out. ¡°If someone discovers that you¡¯re cheating in the match, you¡¯ll be publicly denounced. As a top disciple of Feng Huan, you¡¯ll really lose face.¡± ¡°Is face more important than money?¡± Yun Zhi hooked Qi Yin¡¯s neck and laughed. ¡°Of course, face¡­ ¡° Qi Yin thought that the guy had suddenly found his conscience and repented, but he suddenly changed his tone and said, ¡°¡­is not important.¡± Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Ye Qing Ming asked. Qi Yin touched the scroll in his sleeve, but he swallowed his words and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m here to pay my respects to Master Qing He. I didn¡¯t see anyone, so I just looked through some books.¡± At that moment, the faint sound of a guqin (1) drifted in the wind, intermittent, as if the strings were plucked carelessly by someone, yet also like a continuous melody. Ye Qing Ming gestured outside with his chin. ¡°Qing He plays the qin every night. Just follow the sound and you¡¯ll find him.¡± Nodding, Qi Yin followed the sound of the qin. It was snowing heavily outside, and the sound of the qin meandered through the snowflakes like a mournful cry. He stepped onto a high platform outside the tower and saw a slender figure kneeling on the other side, plucking the strings of a qin with fingers that were almost transparent. The melancholy melody swirled between heaven and earth. Qi Yin sat across from the man, and the angle lamp on the corner of the tower swayed in the wind, casting a dim golden light on his face, which had exquisite features like a painting. The man had porcelain-white skin and beautiful eyebrows and eyes. His thin lips seemed chilly from the wind, with a faint red hue. However, when he smiled, there was a touch of sorrow and compassion. He was too beautiful ¨C so beautiful that Qi Yin felt a sense of familiarity. When the man heard the sound, he lifted his eyes. Qi Yin was stunned by his gray, misty eyes that seemed to be covered by a thin layer of fog. He was blind. ¡°Master Meng Qing He,¡± Qi Yin said. Meng Qing He replied warmly. ¡°Yun Yin?¡± Qi Yin was surprised and asked, ¡°How did you know it was me, Master?¡± ¡°Although I¡¯m blind, I have spiritual awareness.¡± Meng Qing He smiled lightly. ¡°Yun Zhi often mentioned a Junior Brother Hei, and judging by your complexion, it must be you.¡± Qi Yin chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Master, you¡¯re so ethereal that you don¡¯t seem like a disciple of Feng Huan Mountain.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Meng Qing He raised his eyebrows. ¡°Do you find it unusual that a beautiful flower can grow in a gutter? Perhaps it¡¯s because I became a Daoist halfway through and didn¡¯t spend all my time with my fellow disciples, so I haven¡¯t acquired the unique habits of our sect.¡± He lowered his gaze and smiled faintly. ¡°You came to see me about your father, didn¡¯t you? The pig demon is still on display at the Contemplation Cliff. Once the disciples of Wu Fang escort him into the Forbidden Forest, you can follow them in, but you may have to wait for some time.¡± Qi Yin hesitated. ¡°I¡¯m just worried that he won¡¯t be able to wait that long, that¡¯s all.¡± Meng Qing He smiled. ¡°The Forbidden Forest of Wu Fang is on the ground, and if you fly there on a sword, you will be quickly discovered. Following the pig demon and entering the forest through the formation opened by Wu Fang¡¯s disciples is the best way.¡± Qing He nodded and asked, ¡°Uncle Qing He, I heard that you have a vast knowledge and are one of the most knowledgeable people in the world of immortals. I want to ask you, do you believe that there really are gods in this world?¡± Meng Qing He replied unexpectedly quickly, ¡°Yes.¡± Qing He asked, ¡°Why?¡± Meng Qing He smiled faintly. ¡°Yun Yin, have you ever heard of the Golden Cursive Script? The inscriptions of various miracles and monuments across the land are embellished with gold paint, hence the name Golden Cursive Script. This kind of writing is different from the writings found in books and scrolls excavated from ancient tombs, and is mostly used for worship. In the old days, people believed that the Golden Cursive Script was the writing of the gods, a divine decree from heaven. Some people believe that the Golden Cursive Script is a kind of secret script, like encrypted messages. To communicate with the gods, ordinary people must use secret scripts. Yuan Yin wrote in ¡®The Origin of the Gods¡¯ that the Golden Cursive Script was created by the ancient great shamans and circulated within their circle to prevent ordinary people from obtaining the right to communicate with gods. The magic contained in it should also be ancient sorcery, not divine magic.¡± Qing He felt a headache listening to this and said, ¡°It all sounds reasonable.¡± Meng Qing He shook his head. ¡°The meaning of the Golden Cursive Script has been lost for a long time, and no one knows what these words really mean. Are they for people to pray to the gods, or are they a divine decree from the heavens to humans? Without exploring their true meaning, people are just speculating, which is ridiculous. Take the White Deer God as an example. If you haven¡¯t entered the Ba Mountain Temple, how do you know what kind of god it is just from hearsay? Too much time has passed, Yun Yin. Perhaps only the original explanation is the most credible. According to the ¡®Record of the Southern Territory,¡¯ the gods kneaded soil and created humans, passed on magic to the shamans, and the shamans passed on magic to humans, and this has been passed down from generation to generation, resulting in the three thousand Daoist magic we have today. Unfortunately, after the Juedi Tiantong disaster, the great gods disappeared, and we can no longer see the gods now.¡± ¡°Juedi Tiantong?¡± Qing He asked. ¡°According to records, after a great war, the Jade Emperor ordered communication between the earth and the heavens to be cut off, and no divine decrees have been received since then. Since then, the gods have not appeared in this world.¡± ¡°What battle was fought? Who fought against whom? It¡¯s not between humans and gods, is it? It sounds serious.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Meng Qing He shook his head. ¡°There are no records of that battle. It¡¯s a mystery. Regarding this, you may want to ask Master Yu Sang. He and Yun Lan once searched for traces of gods and expanded inscriptions. Perhaps he knows more about the Golden Cursive Scripture and ancient legends than we do.¡± ¡°Master Yu Sang?¡± This title was really strange. Qi Yin thought of the fat cat lazily sunbathing with his belly up. He didn¡¯t seem like a master. ¡°Okay.¡± Qi Yin shrugged. ¡°However,¡± Meng Qing He smiled lightly, ¡°I believe in gods not just because of these things.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because¡­¡± Meng Qing He lowered his eyes and caressed the strings with a warm smile. ¡°If there were no gods in this world, wouldn¡¯t it be too boring?¡± Qi Yin stayed and drank tea with Meng Qing He until he was full. Meng Qing He was beautiful like a flower, and had an ethereal quality that raised the standard of the entire Feng Huan Sect. Qi Yin found it incredible that this was the same person that Yun Zhi had said could worsen leg injuries instead of healing them. Seeing no one around, Qi Yin put the painting he had discovered earlier in his pocket and went to find Fu Lan. Snow fell on the blue stone steps. The long rows of marble lanterns on both sides emitted a yellowish light, shrouded in the hazy snow. When he stepped onto the steps, he saw Fu Lan rolling up his sleeves and carefully sweeping the snow. The black cat squatted lazily on the lamp holder, yawning, and white mist came out of his mouth, forming a vague circle. Fu Lan was directionally challenged, and had to bring the black cat along when sweeping snow, otherwise he might not know how to get back to the courtyard. Qi Yin sat down on the steps. ¡°I seem to have found a clue about my brother¡¯s identity.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The black cat bounced over and landed in Qi Yin¡¯s arms. He looked like a fat and fluffy ball, but was actually very light. Qi Yin spread out the scroll in front of them, and the black cat¡¯s round eyes opened wide. Qi Yin asked Fu Lan, ¡°Does this look like you? Could he be your grandfather? You and your grandfather are like two peas in a pod; even your eyes look the same. Is your absent-mindedness a hereditary trait?¡± Fu Lan shook his head in confusion. ¡°I asked Master Qing He about the origin of this painting, and he said the artist was called Murong Chang Shu, a wandering hermit who loved to travel around. He disappeared later, and no one knows where he went.¡± Qi Yin rubbed his chin. ¡°Who knows, his disappearance may be related to your ancestor.¡± Fu Lan looked at the painting, his eyes quiet and thoughtful. After thinking for a while, they still had no clue, and the black cat couldn¡¯t offer any useful opinion. Qi Yin patted his butt and stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s leave it at that. Your ancestor came to Wu Fang, and maybe he left some footprints behind. We¡¯ll look for them again.¡± Footnotes 1. Guqin ¨C a traditional Chinese musical instrument. Often referred to as the ¡°instrument of the sages¡± due to its association with Confucianism and the cultivation of personal morality and virtue. CH 38 On the third day, Yun Zhi and Qi Ling Shu had a sword-fighting match, and Yun Zhi was defeated. Qi Ling Shu rose to the top of the sword-fighting ranking list, and no one could match his blade¡¯s sharpness. Qi Yin watched from afar. His sword light swirled like falling snow on the platform. The man stood silently in the midst of the sword light, dressed in white like frost. Whenever Qi Yin looked at him, he felt complicated and couldn¡¯t describe whether it was envy or something else. Everyone told him that Qi Ling Shu inherited Qi Shen Wei¡¯s mantle. Both his swordsmanship and personality were similar to Qi Shen Wei. He was Qi Shen Wei¡¯s only disciple, and they were like father and son. Qi Yin lowered his head, kicked a pebble at his feet, and saw his own shadow on the marble wall, also dressed in white. Everyone else looked divine, and he looked like a hooligan. Someone next to him praised, ¡°Indeed, he is Elder Qi¡¯s direct disciple. He has such an impressive demeanor and is truly superior to everyone else!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Why isn¡¯t he Elder Qi¡¯s real son? That Qi Yin looks so vulgar and unrefined. Compared to Qi Ling Shu, it¡¯s like heaven and earth!¡± People passed by one after another, and Qi Yin watched the tall figure on the platform from afar. Suddenly, the man on the platform turned his face slightly in his direction. The two almost made eye contact, and Qi Yin felt like he was burned by fire. He hurriedly looked away and walked away with his hands in his pockets. So cowardly, Qi Yin cursed himself as he walked. But he didn¡¯t dare to look back. For some reason, he felt like that cold as snow guy was staring at his back. The snow stopped on the second day, and Wu Fang¡¯s elders taught in the hall. At noon, it was Yuan Yin¡¯s class on Daoism. The disciples of Feng Huan Mountain rushed to the preaching hall with their books in hand, occupying the last row. The disciples of other immortal sects were thirsty for knowledge and sat in the front rows. Qi Yin, who was a rare exception among the ignorant disciples, stood hesitantly in the center for a while before squeezing his way forward. To be honest, he really wanted to learn something. As usual, Fu Lan found the last and furthest window seat, perhaps because it was easier to daydream there. The black cat also came, swaggering over to Fu Lan¡¯s lap, and the girls immediately surrounded him, reaching out to touch the black cat¡¯s smooth and shiny fur. As they touched the cat and got closer to Fu Lan, he sat in the midst of the girls, feeling a bit dazed and unconsciously looking towards Qi Yin. The girls asked in a hushed voice, ¡°Young master, is this your cat?¡± Fu Lan nodded absentmindedly. A pretty boy who owned a cat was always popular with the girls, even if he had just beaten up a cute little junior sister the day before. Handsome people could do no wrong, and if they did, it was someone else¡¯s fault. Soon enough, Qi Yin heard someone explaining on his behalf, ¡°It was those hoodlums from Feng Huang Mountain who taught him that. Our Lan Gege is so innocent. How could he possibly have intended to harm that little junior sister?¡± Even Xin Xiao Xiao blushed and said, ¡°That day, Lan Gege stood outside my room for an entire afternoon, making a snowman to apologize. When I opened the door and saw him like that, I was so frightened.¡± One of the girls playfully pushed her. ¡°Do you think Lan Gege likes you?¡± ¡°Senior sister, don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Qi Yin was speechless. He was the one who had made the snowman. But he was clearly being ignored by everyone, as the girls quickly wove a story of Fu Lan mistakenly injuring a cute little junior sister under the instigation of his evil senior brothers on Feng Huang Mountain, and later realizing his mistake and patiently waiting in front of her door. Fu Lan was surrounded by a group of girls, with the back row seats being occupied by them, forcing Yun Zhi and the others to come to the front row. At the same time, Fu Lan also received the jealous and envious looks of other senior brothers, and many of them secretly made up their minds to also get a fat cat when they returned home this time. Yuan Yin arrived late. He was a frail old man with a mostly bald head and only a few strands of white hair left, tied up in a small bun. His face was wrinkled and creased, and he wore a white cotton robe. In his right hand, he carried a heavy white jade box, which he placed on the black lacquer table with a dull thud. Yuan Yin scanned the room, cleared his throat, and said, ¡°I know you kids fall asleep as soon as you hear a lecture. You¡¯ve read enough scriptures on your own mountain, so I won¡¯t bore you with them and let you come all this way just to sleep. Today, I¡¯ll tell you something you want to hear.¡± Everyone looked at each other in confusion. Yuan Yin raised his finger and knocked on the jade box, asking, ¡°Does anyone recognize this?¡± ¡°An octagonal white jade box,¡± someone said. ¡°What is it used for?¡± ¡°To seal spiritual objects,¡± replied Liu Bai, rushing to answer. ¡°Not bad.¡± Yuan Yin picked up the jade box and walked to the front of the room. ¡°Monkey kids, make way.¡± Everyone made way, and Yuan Yin placed the jade box on a small table in the center of the room. Dozens of pairs of eyes stared intently at the tightly closed box. Yuan Yin drew a complicated symbol, and a green light flashed as the box slowly opened, and milky white mist drifted out. Qi Yin secretly touched the mist and found it warm, like his fingertips. The white mist dissipated, and everyone finally saw what was inside. It was a bloody heart, smooth and shiny, as big as the fists of two adult men. It was still beating, pulsing heavily like a drum. Everyone was stunned, and Yuan Yin signaled his disciples to come closer and take a look. They were so close that Qi Yin could even see the fine wrinkles on the heart¡¯s surface and the thick blood vessels that had been cut off. ¡°This is the heart of a nine-headed bird, also known as the Gugu bird. As you can see, its heart is even bigger than its brain,¡± said Yuan Yin. Qi Yin was shocked beyond words and instinctively turned to look at Fu Lan and the black cat. Fu Lan sat in the center of the spacious seat with a calm expression. The green eyes of the black cat were also emotionless, and it was impossible to tell what he was feeling. ¡°Master, is this¡­is this heart taken from a demon¡¯s body while it was still alive?¡± Qi Yin asked. ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking.¡± Yuan Yin stroked his white beard and smiled. ¡°As a Daoist, one should be compassionate. Why would we dissect demons and take their hearts? But, my child, demons are our natural enemies. If we want to defeat them, we must understand them. This Gugu bird rampaged along the banks of the Xiang River thirty years ago and dissected the chests and abdomens of more than ten children. Child, we and demons are enemies after all.¡± Qi Yin didn¡¯t say anything else, and Yuan Yin continued, ¡°As you can see, although the hearts of different species have slight differences, overall, demon hearts are much larger than ours. You should all know that demons cannot be killed without destroying their hearts. Their life and death depend on their hearts. Their hearts not only give them strong self-healing abilities, but also give them longevity. From our observations, the lifespan of demons can reach up to five hundred years. If a great demon focuses on cultivating, it can even live up to eight hundred years. The longest living demon today is the Northern Wolf King in Feng Huan¡¯s Heavenly Boundary Array.¡± ¡°What about Fu Lan? How long has he been alive?¡± someone asked. Yuan Yin got angry at the mention of him and snorted. ¡°That beast doesn¡¯t eat or drink, and he won¡¯t answer any questions. But according to my estimation, he has at least two hundred years of cultivation.¡± He paused and continued, ¡°The Ninth Abyss mo clan has an even longer lifespan than the yao clan, but they are hard to hunt down. After Fu Lan sealed the Ninth Abyss, they lost their passage to infiltrate Southern Jiang and the human world. That¡¯s why we haven¡¯t obtained any of their hearts yet. But their hearts must be even stronger than the yao clan.¡± Everyone discussed in agreement. Yuan Yin looked at the jade box and sighed. ¡°Perhaps the secret of longevity for mortals lies in the revival of Daoism in the mortal world.¡± ¡°Master.¡± Zhao Ming raised his hand. Qi Yin recognized him after a while as the disciple of Wu Fang Mountain who had told the story of how Yao Xiao Shan got expelled. Yuan Yin nodded to him. Zhao Ming said, ¡°It is said that Nuwa molded mud to create humans. Although we are mortals, we are descendants of the gods. Why is our lifespan so much shorter than demons?¡± Yuan Yin chuckled twice. ¡°Zhao Ming, when you say ¡®it is said,¡¯ may I ask who said it?¡± Zhao Ming was taken aback and said, ¡°Ancient books and classics¡­¡± ¡°Are you a disciple of Ling Xi? Have you read my Daoist theory ¡®The Original God¡¯?¡± Yuan Yin closed the jade box and returned to the hall. ¡°Ancient books and classics were written by ancient mortals. How do you know what they said is true? Old fantasies have become truths passed down for thousands of years. Making a few clay figures and putting them in a temple for a thousand years turns them into miracles. Child, there are no gods in this world.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement. ¡°The Original God¡± was widely circulated, and Zhao Ming felt embarrassed for not studying it well. Yellow sunlight shone through the red window curtains. Yuan Yin looked at the time and said, ¡°Class is over for today. Everyone go back and write a Daoist theory entitled ¡®The Examination of Humans and Demons.¡¯ Submit it tomorrow. Although I know that asking you to write is a waste of paper, learning more is always good.¡± Everyone complained, and Qi Yin was still in a daze. Feng Huang Mountain had never asked them to write Daoist theories before, and he didn¡¯t even know the format. The next class was Ye Ku Can¡¯s spell class at Cang Lang Pavilion. They had to pass through a rockery and two courtyards to get there. Without time to ask, they hastily packed their books. Qi Yin took Fu Lan and the black cat and followed Yun Zhi out. The black cat was indignant. ¡°You mortals are disgusting, cutting out someone¡¯s heart and putting it there. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll eat that heart up.¡± ¡°Lord Cat, don¡¯t mess around,¡± Qi Yin said. ¡°Yun Zhi, can you tell me how to write a Daoist theory? Are there any tricks?¡± Yun Zhi floated ahead on his sword and raised an eyebrow with a smile. ¡°The secret is divided into three points. First, find and extract quotes. Go to the library and find relevant ancient texts such as ¡®The Demon Compendium¡¯ and ¡®Discussion on Demons.¡¯ Write down useful quotes. Second, change the wording. Change the useful quotes into your own words and write them down. Third, sign your name.¡± Yun Zhi shrugged. ¡°All the best.¡± Qi Yin felt like he was going to vomit blood. ¡°Isn¡¯t this just copying?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, that old man thinks our writing is all rubbish and won¡¯t even bother to read it,¡± Yun Zhi said. ¡°Look how calm your brother is.¡± Qi Yin asked Fu Lan, ¡°Brother, do you have any ideas on how to write this? What are you planning to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m bored. I¡¯m not going to write anything,¡± Fu Lan replied. ¡°¡­¡± Qi Yin was speechless. Fu Lan was fearless and did not mind punishment. If he was asked to sweep the floor, he would do so willingly. As for the topic of distinguishing between humans and demons, he looked at the black cat with his two eyes, a nose, and a mouth, speaking and eating like a human. What was the difference? Oh, right, the cat had six nipples, while humans only had two. But if he wrote this down, Yuan Yin might be infuriated. Qi Yin scratched his head. ¡°If the teacher doesn¡¯t read our theories, who will grade them?¡± Yun Zhi smiled. ¡°Qi Ling Shu will.¡± Qi Yin was still in shock when they arrived at Cang Lang Pavilion. Everyone took their seats, and Qi Yin was planning to sit in the front when he saw a man in white sitting there with his back straight like an unyielding pine tree. As soon as he sat down, it was like a glacier had descended, and the temperature dropped by several degrees. Everyone intuitively distanced themselves, leaving a wide empty space around him. However, some girls couldn¡¯t help stealing glances at Qi Ling Shu. They were worried about who they should choose, between Lan Gege and the young master. Qi Yin turned and went back to Fu Lan¡¯s side. ¡°Why is he here? Isn¡¯t he the young master of Wu Fang? Why is he attending this class?¡± Qi Yin whispered. The person in front of them leaned back and said, ¡°This is a class on spells taught by Ye Ku Can. Qi Ling Shu has not learned any secret spells.¡± Ye Ku Can arrived on time and placed a cage with a trapped rabbit on the table before slowly sitting down. He was the only man from Wu Fang who wore black robes. His hood was down, and everyone took a sharp breath of air. His face was dry and shriveled, with yellow skin tightly adhering to his bones, like a dried-up skeleton. His deep eye sockets had eyes like two ghostly flames. If it weren¡¯t broad daylight, Qi Yin would have thought that he was a resurrected corpse from a coffin. Qi Yin whispered, ¡°Why does he look like that?¡± Yun Zhi covered his mouth and whispered, ¡°I heard that it¡¯s because of his ascetic practice. His Revival Spell can only be mastered through extreme hardship. He meditated in an ice cave for thirty years and was roasted in real fire for another thirty years before achieving mastery.¡± Qi Yin was amazed and speechless. It was true that some people were luckier than others. If this old man knew that his brother was unbeatable without enduring freezing and burning, and was also so handsome, would he faint on the spot? ¡°I am your master of spells,¡± said Ye Ku Can, his voice hoarse and frightening like the hiss of a snake. ¡°I know you are eager to learn my Revival spell. But I¡¯m sorry, my secret spell is only taught to my disciples. If you want to practice it, you must first become my disciple.¡± Everyone already had a master, and changing sects was a taboo in the world of cultivation. There was a collective sigh of disappointment. ¡°However.¡± Ye Ku Can smiled slightly, and his wrinkled face seemed like it would crack open. ¡°I can give you a demonstration to satisfy your curiosity.¡± Ye Ku Can opened the iron cage and grabbed the rabbit¡¯s ear with his dry, claw-like hand. He stroked the rabbit¡¯s snowy fur, and the little creature blinked its reddish eyes under his palm. Suddenly, blood splattered, and everyone was shocked. Ye Ku Can had used a dagger to pierce the rabbit¡¯s spine. He withdrew the dagger, and blood gushed out of the wound, pooling on the table. The rabbit fell in a pool of blood, its broken body twitching. Some girls covered their eyes and cried loudly, while others were in a panic. Only Qi Ling Shu remained unmoved. Ye Ku Can lifted his eyes, and the ghostly fire in his deep eye sockets flickered slightly. He spoke slowly and clearly, ¡°Watch carefully, children. This spell is called Revival.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the blood surged and flowed back into the dying rabbit¡¯s body. The rabbit convulsed like a sieve, and Ye Ku Can held it down, his heavy eyelids drooping like a toad. Everyone watched in amazement as the wound grew smaller and smaller until it was the size of a fingertip. Ye Ku Can then wrapped the rabbit in gauze and put it back in the cage. There was a round of applause, but Qi Yin and Yun Zhi were still in shock. This spell was exactly the same as the one that Fu Lan had used on Qi Yin! The blood flowed back, and the wound shrank. Every aspect of the spell was identical. Yun Zhi turned his head to look at Fu Lan, who was silent and expressionless. Sometimes this guy was so quiet that he seemed unfathomable. Yun Zhi felt that he couldn¡¯t quite figure him out. Later, he found out that Fu Lan was just naturally quiet and expressionless. Qi Yin was also shocked. Yun Zhi had said that Ye Ku Can was a hermit from an unknown deep mountain. Could it be that this old man had been to Ba Mountain? ¡ª Deep in the Ice Sea Abyss, Yuan Ji and Yuan Yin descended slowly with folded hands. In fact, this was a huge lake, which for some reason was frozen all year round. According to the ¡°Record of Inner China¡±, the Ice Sea Abyss looked the same thousands of years ago. Yuan Ji looked down, and endless ink blue enveloped him. The Ice Sea Abyss was extremely deep. They had been descending at an almost sword-flying speed for an incense stick¡¯s time, but still had not reached the bottom of the lake. Absolute silence surrounded them, and immense pressure hung over their shoulders. If it weren¡¯t for Yuan Yin by his side, he would almost think that he had already arrived in the land of death. The icy water suddenly felt slightly warm, and their feet finally touched something solid. Looking up, they could vaguely see pale sky shining through the ice and into the boundless ink blue lake. ¡°Junior brother, where is the thing you want me to see?¡± Yuan Yin asked. ¡°It¡¯s right under your feet,¡± Yuan Ji smiled faintly. Yuan Yin was taken aback and suddenly realized that the sensation under his feet was not quite right. If it were the lake bottom, there should be soft mud, but his feet were touching something as hard as iron. He crouched down in suspicion, and touched the hard ¡°ground¡± with his hand. It was as cold and hard as wrought iron, and as smooth as delicate white porcelain. It was a scale. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel like it¡¯s not as cold down here as it is up there?¡± Yuan Ji said. That was right. Yuan Yin flicked his finger. The temperature in the Ice Sea Abyss was extremely low. Without spiritual protection, anyone who fell into the abyss would freeze to death in an instant. According to common sense, the deeper they went, the colder it should be, but the temperature down here was like that of cooled water. Yuan Yin looked at Yuan Ji and released his divine sense. His divine sense enveloped the lake bottom, and he finally saw what was under his feet. A dragon. It was a dragon. Its body covered almost half of the bottom of the ice sea. The twisted body was covered with dense black scales that reflected icy light in the ink blue water. As Yuan Yin turned around, he was met with a long, scorching breath. Bubbles streamed up as his clothes were swept up by the turbulent waves. Yuan Ji lit a light talisman, dispelling the darkness, and saw the monstrous dragon¡¯s face, with its two long horns pointed towards the dark dome, like a spear, vicious and deadly. ¡°This is¡­¡± Yuan Yin muttered, ¡°An Abyssal Dragon.¡± ¡°Not bad,¡± Yuan Ji praised. ¡°Isn¡¯t it beautiful? Apart from the barrier array and Revival, this is the third gift that Elder Ku Can gave to Wu Fang. Its name is Wei Sheng Lan, and it is still young. With five hundred years of cultivation, it is not even half that of its father. Fu Lan killed its father, Wei Sheng Yuan, and before the Ninth Abyss was sealed, it escaped from the southern region and hid in the depths of the southern sea. If it hadn¡¯t been seriously injured, gasping its last breath, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to bring it here.¡± Yuan Yin gazed at its closed eyes and asked, ¡°Did you use a soul-binding spell on it?¡± ¡°Of course. As a precaution, we also used black iron lock to lock its tail,¡± Yuan Ji replied. Yuan Yin trembled as he touched the dragon¡¯s rugged facial bone. This was the first time he had ever seen such a magnificent creature. People often said that mortals were the descendants of Nuwa, the pride of heaven. If they were to see this dragon, they would know that mortals were nothing but tiny ants under the feet of these so-called barbaric demons, as light as dust. ¡°So what means did that pig demon use to kill Wei Sheng Yuan?¡± Yuan Yin asked. Yuan Ji laughed softly. The orange light of the lamp covered his face. His smile looked mocking in the half-light and half-darkness. ¡°Senior brother, do you believe that it was the pig demon who killed Wei Sheng Yuan?¡± Yuan Ji drew his sword from his sleeve, its cold sword light flashing. The sharp tip of the sword was aimed straight at the dragon¡¯s body, and he stabbed it fiercely. Yuan Yin was taken aback and was about to shout ¡°Stop,¡± but he saw the tip of the sword collide with the dragon scale. A clear sound rang out as sparks flew. The black iron-like dragon scale remained unscathed. Yuan Ji sheathed his sword. ¡°Just a fake.¡± Shaking his head, he said, ¡°We should be grateful that we did not encounter the real Fu Lan, who is a demon among demons, a devil among devils, a creature born and bred by nature. People mistakenly believe that the pig demon is Fu Lan, which is good for Wu Fang¡¯s reputation and will help establish Ling Shu¡¯s authority. When he is promoted to the Elder of Swords position, there will be no more obstacles.¡± Yuan Yin nodded and asked, ¡°Your Tides Rising Sword cannot break through the dragon scales. How can we take out its heart?¡± ¡°Take it easy,¡± said Yuan Ji. ¡°Even if we take the heart, what good will it do us if we haven¡¯t found that child surnamed Qi yet? For now, you should draw out its meridian map and explore the flow of its spiritual energy and the distribution of meridians.¡± He raised his hand and floated up slowly. ¡°I will go to seek advice from Senior Ye Ku Can and see if we can learn anything more through divination. Searching for a child surnamed Qi born in the year of Ding You who is still in his prime is like finding a needle in a haystack with only this information¡­¡±. Author¡¯s Note: Leader of Wu Fang: Yuan Ji; Elder of Daoism: Yuan Yin; Elder of Spells: Ye Ku Chan; Elder of Discipline: Yuan Ku; Leader of Feng Huan: Qing Shi (bald and fat); Elder of Medicine: Qing He (blind); Elder of Discipline: Qing Ming (collaborating with Yun Zhi in fake competitions). CH 39 ¡°The theory behind this spell is to infuse spiritual energy to forcefully enhance the recipient¡¯s self-healing ability and repair wounds. Therefore, it can only be used on those who are dying but not yet dead. If the person has already passed away, even this spell would be useless,¡± explained Ye Ku Can. ¡°However, using this spell is not simple. The caster must be familiar with the recipient¡¯s meridians, six organs, and nine apertures. If the spiritual energy flows the wrong way, the recipient¡¯s meridians will be severed. If the spiritual energy is too much, the recipient¡¯s six organs will burst under the pressure. If the spiritual energy is too little, the spell won¡¯t take effect.¡± It¡¯s unexpected that this spell is so complicated. Qi Yin thought his brother was invincible, able to reverse life and death with ease. It seemed that even in the dream world, his brother took a huge risk and walked right up to the gate of death. Qi Yin shuddered at the thought and wrote on the paper, ¡°Brother, this spell is so difficult. Did I almost die because of it?¡± Fu Lan was surprised for a moment and replied with his spiritual awareness, ¡°Is it difficult? I thought it was simple.¡± Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The flow of spiritual power is easy to control. I have entered your body many times and it is not unfamiliar to me.¡± Fu Lan¡¯s voice was gentle. ¡°Xiao Yin, I understand your body as well as I understand my own. There was no room for mistakes.¡± It was then that Qi Yin remembered that Fu Lan had indeed entered his body many times, injecting spiritual power into his eight meridians every time they merged into a fish. He remembered the feeling, as if there was a slow and icy stream flowing through his body, while his soul drifted in the mist. However, he suddenly felt a bit strange. The word ¡°enter¡± sounded too ambiguous, as if they had done something that couldn¡¯t be spoken of. Qi Yin blushed and quickly turned his head to focus on the lesson. ¡°There is only one spell, which I have practiced over ten thousand times. Otherwise, I would not be able to achieve precise control of my spiritual power. Children, diligence is the key to cultivation. No matter which spell you practice, you must study hard and practice diligently,¡± said Ye Ku Can. Suddenly, Fu Lan said, ¡°Xiao Yin, find a way to get him to attack you.¡± ¡°What?¡± Qi Yin thought he had misheard him. Yun Zhi said beside them, ¡°Your brother wants to see if Ye Ku Can¡¯s technique is really the same as his.¡± How the hell were they going to do that? Qi Yin felt a headache coming on. They were about to finish class when Qi Yin raised his hand and shouted, ¡°Teacher, I have a question.¡± Ye Ku Can raised his hand, indicating for him to ask. Qi Yin hesitated before standing up and stammering, ¡°Um, teacher, you just said that the Revival spell is very difficult to use. If one is even slightly careless, the recipient will die. And you also said that you have practiced it over ten thousand times. May I ask, did you practice with small animals like this poor little rabbit every time, like you did today? Doesn¡¯t that mean you have killed more than ten thousand rabbits?¡± Ye Ku Can obviously didn¡¯t expect Qi Yin to ask such a question. He was stunned and silent for a while before saying, ¡°To cultivate spells, there must be sacrifices¡­¡± ¡°Daoists are compassionate,¡± said Qi Yin, putting on a pained expression. ¡°Even though rabbits are small, they are still living beings. How can an elder of Wu Fang like you, with high standards in the Dao, do such inhumane things?¡± The people in the room began to whisper among themselves. A girl nodded and sobbed. ¡°The little rabbits are so cute. How could the elder kill them?¡± ¡°Elder!¡± Qi Yin accused, ¡°I have heard of your creation of secret spells, and I had great admiration for you. But now I realize that you are such a heartless person. Today it was a rabbit. Who knows if tomorrow you will kill cats, and the day after, pigs, cows, dogs, and sheep? Later, you might even use people for your practice. How cruel!¡± Ye Ku Can¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he slammed his hand on the table. ¡°Nonsense!¡± ¡°You are angry!¡± Qi Yin trembled as he pointed at him. ¡°You are angry! If it weren¡¯t for me stepping on your sore spot, why would you be so furious? Could it be¡­you really have killed people?¡± Ye Ku Can clenched his fists tightly, and his eyes, like burning embers, glared at Qi Yin. Qi Yin continued to talk, and the girls in the audience were agitated and frightened. ¡°You impudent child!¡± Ye Ku Can shouted, and sharp ice thorns grew from his withered fingertips. He spread his hands toward Qi Yin, and the air instantly froze. The whole pavilion felt like an ice cave, and dense white smoke condensed with a crackling sound. The ice thorns, each the size of a bowl, flew toward Qi Yin, their sharpness piercing. The cold air rushed toward him, and Qi Yin¡¯s hair stood on end. Without thinking, he crossed his arms over his head and face. At the same time, Fu Lan¡¯s right hand touched Qi Yin¡¯s back, and a cold spiritual power entered Qi Yin¡¯s meridians. He whispered softly, ¡°Block it.¡± A ripple of light suddenly appeared in front of him, and a barrier opened up. All the ice thorns smashed into the barrier, shattered into countless pieces, and fell onto the black lacquer table. Everyone in the pavilion was stunned. The ice shards clinked on the ground, and the air was still cold. Qi Yin, with lingering fear, looked up and met Qi Ling Shu¡¯s gaze. It was the first time he had seen the man¡¯s face clearly as he looked straight into his eyes. He was a man made of ice and snow, and he looked at Qi Yin with cold disgust in his eyes. Qi Yin put down his hands in confusion, but Qi Ling Shu had already turned his head. Clearly realizing that he had overreacted, Ye Ku Can huffed and left with the iron cage in his hand. Qi Yin was almost scared to death and sat back in his seat, clutching his chest. As Ye Ku Can left, the room suddenly became noisy, with some girls shedding tears and saying, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Elder Ku Can to be such a person!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah! If he can¡¯t win an argument, he just hits people. He really scared me just now.¡± Xin Xiao Xiao, who was sitting in the front row, ran over to ask Fu Lan, ¡°Lan Gege, did he scare you? Are you okay?¡± Why didn¡¯t anyone care about him? Qi Yin was speechless. He was the one who got scared the most, okay? This wasn¡¯t a good place to talk, so he couldn¡¯t ask how Fu Lan¡¯s experiment had gone. Qi Yin buried himself in his books, and just as he finished packing them up, he looked up to find Qi Ling Shu standing in front of him. Qi Yin was startled and fell back on his chair. Was this guy here to comfort him? Qi Ling Shu lowered his eyes. His pupils were pale, like lustrous glass beads surrounded by a faint halo. He asked, ¡°You were the one who lost in the first match on the first day of the sword competition?¡± This guy¡¯s face seemed to be carved out of ancient ice and had no expression. Just sitting in front of him, Qi Yin was freezing all over. Fu Lan didn¡¯t know what had happened and just stared at him blankly, holding the black cat. Although it was embarrassing, Qi Yin had to admit it. He scratched his head and said, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You cheated in the competition,¡± Qi Ling Shu said. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Your name will be removed from the list and you will be sent to the disciplinary hall.¡± Several disciples in white immediately stepped forward and took hold of Qi Yin. He was bewildered. ¡°What¡¯s going on? How did I cheat in the competition?¡± Qi Ling Shu did not explain and walked ahead without turning back. Fu Lan was at a loss and could only follow along. However, Yun Zhi could see what had happened at a glance and said with a complex expression, ¡°Just now, you blocked Ye Ku Can¡¯s attack. Your spiritual power is so strong that you wouldn¡¯t have lost to a beginner disciple. That guy thinks you cheated in the competition.¡± Qi Yin almost wanted to spit blood. He was taken all the way to the disciplinary hall, where snow covered the ground, and several stout pine trees stood nearby with needles covered in snow. A large lotus leaf fish tank was placed below the stairs, with symbols painted on the rim to keep the water inside at a constant temperature and prevent it from freezing. Several golden and red small fish swam inside. The man inside timidly walked out, and upon closer look, it was the same guy who made a deal with Qing Ming. Qi Ling Shu asked in a frigid tone, ¡°Junior Brother Ling Zhuo, is this the disciple you bought with the sect¡¯s funds?¡± Ling Zhuo was surprised to see Qi Yin and looked at Yun Zhi, clearly unsure what was going on. Yun Zhi covered his face with his sleeve in silence. It seemed that this idiot had been caught embezzling the sect¡¯s funds, but he hadn¡¯t revealed Qing Ming and Yun Zhi¡¯s involvement. All Qi Ling Shu knew was that he had bought a disciple to participate in the fake competition. Qi Yin felt helpless, but it didn¡¯t matter; he was already at the bottom of the rankings, so it wouldn¡¯t make any difference whether he was punished or not. If he were to be made to sweep the floor, he would just accompany his brother. Fed up with everything, Qi Yin said, ¡°It was me. What do you want to do? I¡¯ll follow along.¡± Yun Zhi secretly blinked at him in gratitude, but Qi Yin glared at him with eyes that screamed ¡°bastard.¡± Qi Ling Shu said, ¡°First offense. Two hours of kneeling.¡± Qi Yin¡¯s vision turned black; did this mean he had to kneel until dusk in this frigid snowy weather? ¡°Ling Zhuo knowingly committed the offense. Expelled from the inner sect,¡± Qi Ling Shu declared. Ling Zhuo walked away dejectedly, and Yun Zhi pleaded, ¡°Junior Martial Uncle, my junior brother has been weak since he was young. Your magnanimity would be much appreciated.¡± Qi Ling Shu coldly looked at him and said, ¡°Add half an hour of kneeling.¡± Qi Yin was speechless. ¡°Junior Martial Uncle, you don¡¯t have to be so heartless!¡± Yun Zhi winked at him. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember when Senior Martial Uncle Qi Shen Wei brought you to Feng Huan when you were young, and you followed me shouting ¡®Big Brother Yun Zhi¡¯? We have a bond since we were kids. Can¡¯t you go easy on him?¡± Qi Ling Shu¡¯s expression changed, and Qi Yin saw him showing emotion on his face for the first time. Qi Ling Shu gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Another half-hour of kneeling!¡± before turning and leaving. ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± Qi Yin cried with a mournful face, kneeling on the snowy ground, his knees freezing and hurting. Yun Zhi crouched in front of him, feeling embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Junior Brother.¡± ¡°¡­Do you have a problem with him?¡± Qi Yin asked in distress. ¡°Ah, I didn¡¯t expect this kid to hold a grudge like this.¡± Yun Zhi rubbed his sleeve and continued, ¡°He likes cleanliness, you know.¡± Qi Ling Shu¡¯s clothes, shoes, and socks were always immaculate. Qi Yin nodded in agreement. ¡°Last time during the competition, a junior sister from Zhong Gu Mountain invited me for a moonlit drinking session. Who would have thought that we would run into Qi Ling Shu, who had just returned from his demon-slaying mission. Being the gentleman that I am, I let the junior sister run away first, and stayed behind to face him. Without saying a word, Qi Ling Shu wanted to take me to the disciplinary hall.¡± ¡°Did you resist?¡± Qi Yin asked. ¡°No.¡± Yun Zhi chuckled with some embarrassment. ¡°I had a bit too much to drink and accidentally vomited on him. In the end, he had to escort me back to my courtyard.¡± This was a major incident, and now Yun Zhi, this fool, wanted him to intercede on his behalf? Qi Yin was so angry that he felt like vomiting blood. ¡°You scoundrel. Do you know what your specialty is?¡± ¡°Is it charming women?¡± Yun Zhi asked. ¡°It¡¯s deceiving your father (1)!¡± Qi Yin roared in anger. Yun Zhi left after being scolded, and in the end, only Fu Lan remained sitting next to him, cross-legged. ¡°Brother, you can go rest now. I don¡¯t need you to accompany me,¡± Qi Yin said. Fu Lan hesitated for a moment, nodded, and then stood up and left. He left too decisively, and Qi Yin was momentarily stunned, staring at his back. How could he just leave like that? The daylight gradually faded, and everything became gray and gloomy again. Little ice crystals fell from the sky, and Qi Yin looked up to see snowflakes gently falling from the center of the sky, the entire gray dome reflecting in his pitch-black eyes. Suddenly, he had the illusion that he was the only person left in the world. Qi Yin couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit resentful. That Fu Lan. He was his beloved little brother, wasn¡¯t he? Hmph. Qi Yin picked up a dry twig and idly poked at the snowflakes on the ground. It was very cold in the snowy field, and his nose was runny after kneeling for a while. Just as he was getting bored, a plump black thing fell into his arms, and a blue floral cotton quilt covered his head. Qi Yin was taken aback. Fu Lan sat down beside him with his legs crossed, his arm wrapped around Qi Yin¡¯s back. He pulled over a corner of the quilt, wrapping the two of them up together. This guy¡­ Qi Yin stared at him in a daze. It turned out that he didn¡¯t leave. He just went back to get the quilt. The warmth made Qi Yin feel comfortable, and the black cat found a nice spot to curl up. Fu Lan rubbed Qi Yin¡¯s hand and blew on it with his mouth. Qi Yin felt content, and moved a bit closer to Fu Lan. Suddenly, he remembered the matter of Ye Ku Can, and asked in a low voice, ¡°How did your experiment go? What kind of technique did that old man use?¡± The black cat sniffed. ¡°That old guy really knows how to flatter himself. Him practicing this spell is so ridiculous that it makes me laugh.¡± ¡°What kind of spell is it?¡± asked Qi Yin. ¡°It¡¯s the spell of the ancient great shamans, called the ¡®Shaman¡¯s Secret Art.¡¯ Fifty years ago, the Daoist priests of Zong Ming were wracking their brains trying to enter the temple to search for this. One spell might be doubtful, but two spells confirm it.¡± The black cat said, ¡°That ¡®Revival Spell¡¯ and ¡®Iceberg Killing Spell¡¯ are definitely Shaman¡¯s Secret Arts. Your brother is born with the talent for this spell, and he is one of a kind, recorded in the temple¡¯s scriptures. We haven¡¯t been back to the temple for a long time. Perhaps Ye Ku Can used some method to enter the temple through the white mist.¡± ¡°This spell is so powerful.¡± Qi Yin was eager to try it. ¡°Can I learn it?¡± ¡°No,¡± said Fu Lan. ¡°Why not?¡± Qi Yin frowned. He couldn¡¯t learn it if it wasn¡¯t powerful, and he couldn¡¯t learn it if it was powerful. ¡°You¡¯ll end up like him, turning into a skeleton,¡± Fu Lan whispered. Qi Yin was taken aback, and the black cat explained, ¡°Shaman¡¯s Secret Arts cannot be learned by ordinary people. They say Ye Ku Can turned into that half-dead, half-alive creature after years of hard practice. He¡¯s lying to you guys. That¡¯s the side effects of practicing the Shaman¡¯s Secret Art.¡± ¡°He¡¯s about to die, Xiao Yin,¡± Fu Lan said softly. This spell was so dangerous. Did the old man know? Qi Yin felt a little sorry for the old man and asked, ¡°Brother, are you a shaman? Why can you practice this thing? What exactly is a shaman? Aren¡¯t they human?¡± ¡°The shaman is a status. In ancient times, those who devoted their lives to the gods and were recognized by them, whether they were human, yao, or mo, could become a shaman. There was a specific ritual to become a shaman, but it is no longer known today, and there is no record of it in Ba Mountain Temple. Yu Ji Xian was the first shaman recorded in ancient books. Shaman magic grants the ability to understand life and death, fortunes and misfortunes. Powerful shamans are the closest existence to the gods in the world.¡± The black cat looked at Fu Lan and said, ¡°Your brother has not experienced the ritual of becoming a shaman, and I cannot determine whether he is a shaman or not.¡± ¡°So the ceremony is important? It¡¯s not just a formality?¡± ¡°No.¡± The black cat shook his head. ¡°The ceremony is a way to inherit power. The great ancient shamans received divine power through the ceremony and communicated with the gods through it. Nowadays, the ceremony has become just a formality, mostly because the key steps have been lost. Drawing symbols and chanting spells are all part of the ceremony. In Ba Mountain, if you enter the temple without performing the bathing and incense-burning ceremony, you will be cursed by the gods.¡± Qi Yin sighed at the fastidiousness of the White Deer God. ¡°What about that old man who trespassed in the temple? Are you going to do anything about it?¡± Fu Lan shook his head. ¡°The white mist allowed him to enter, which means that the gods allowed him to enter.¡± ¡°Never mind him,¡± the black cat said with an air of nonchalance. ¡°He¡¯s going to die soon anyway. Mortals always love to seek death. Let me teach you a lesson, kid. Don¡¯t go where you shouldn¡¯t, don¡¯t practice what you shouldn¡¯t. Being born in this world, it¡¯s your duty to have respect and reverence for your life. If you cross the line, you¡¯ll only bring about your own destruction.¡± ¡ª In the secret chamber, beams of sunlight as thick as a bowl streamed in, falling onto a darkened small table and the shoulders two people sitting across from each other. Dust danced in the sunlight, trembling and swirling like countless tiny ants. Yuan Ji meditated with his eyes closed. On the opposite side, a thin and frail old man in black brushed through strands of gray-white herbs with his fingers and exhaled a puff of smoke. ¡°The class of six hexagrams is over,¡± he said. Yuan Ji opened his eyes. ¡°Is the result the same as before?¡± ¡°Not bad,¡± said Ye Ku Can. ¡°Let¡¯s keep looking. You should let the disciples of the four halls go all out.¡± ¡°I know,¡± said Yuan Ji. ¡°Today, a kid said that I practiced killing to improve my cultivation. Although it¡¯s a wild guess, it was surprisingly accurate,¡± Ye Ku Can said darkly. ¡°You should kill him.¡± ¡°Killing him would be admitting that you do practice killing for cultivation, Elder Ye.¡± Yuan Ji laughed, his smile sharp under the darkened sunlight. ¡°Why don¡¯t you pass on the Shaman¡¯s Secret Art to Ling Shu? He¡¯s a clever child and the most suitable candidate. I remember our agreement was that Wu Fang would provide you with life-prolonging elixirs periodically, and in return, you would teach him everything you know. Yet you¡¯ve been holding back. If that¡¯s the case, I might as well send my disciples to find that person.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t find him,¡± Ye Ku Can said coldly. ¡°Since I was granted Shaman¡¯s Secret Art, that person has disappeared without a trace. Even I can¡¯t find him. As for Qi Ling Shu, he¡¯s just like his master, with eyes that don¡¯t tolerate any dirt. He¡¯s of high moral character. Or to put it bluntly, he¡¯s a piece of crap in a cesspool who can¡¯t think outside the box. He would never practice killing to improve his cultivation.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a genius like Yuan Wei and is the hope of our sect. His techniques must not fall behind.¡± ¡°If you want him to become like me, I¡¯ll go find him now,¡± Ye Ku Can said. Yuan Ji lowered his eyes, a sad expression on his gaunt face. Nowadays, Daoism was declining, and the three thousand sects were falling apart. Even Feng Huan Mountain, which was once flourishing, had become so shabby that none of the disciples could bear to look at it. The ancient scriptures recorded that the great shamans of ancient times could reach the sky and the earth, and could do anything. Even the Daoists of olden times could travel thousands of miles in a day. But now, the techniques were declining rapidly, and not one of the new disciples could cultivate divine consciousness. Could they just let Wu Fang deteriorate into that shabby state like Feng Huan Mountain? If they wanted to restore Daoism, how could there be no sacrifices? He closed his eyes and sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s go tomorrow. At this time, he should be bathing in the springs.¡± Footnotes 1. Deceiving your father ¨C in China, when people get angry, they like to refer to themselves as the other person¡¯s fathe CH 40 At dusk, the punishment finally ended. Fu Lan supported Qi Yin to go to the hot spring. The hot spring of Wu Fang was called Jing Quan, which was the place where Yao Xiao Shan stole Qi Ling Shu¡¯s clothes while using Qi Yin¡¯s identity. After going south, passing through a row of small courtyards and a path covered with snow, they arrived. Lord Cat was afraid of water, so he went back by himself, leaving only Fu Lan and Qi Yin. They could see the milky white mist from afar. When they touched the water with their fingers, it was hot. The hot spring was very big. There were winter plums planted on the banks and rocks inside, allowing people to lean on them. In the middle was a man-made mountain, naturally separating the men and women areas. Unfortunately, there were no eggs, otherwise they could cook and eat them. Qi Yin took off his clothes and jumped into the water excitedly. It was dusk, but there were not many people inside, which made Qi Yin happy. He turned his head to look at Fu Lan, who was taking off his clothes one by one in a refined manner. After taking off his outer robe embroidered with cloud and water patterns, he revealed his plain undershirt. He lowered his eyes and untied his belt. The collar fell down from his shoulder, and those impeccable and tight muscles were slowly unfolding in front of Qi Yin¡¯s eyes, like a secret scroll. There was a moment of blankness in his mind and a handful of fire in his heart, slowly burning up, making him blush. Qi Yin suddenly realized that he couldn¡¯t take a bath with Fu Lan, and he became nervous. He watched as the man walked into the water and stepped closer to him. The water¡¯s vapor enveloped Fu Lan¡¯s tranquil eyes. He was silent, like a quiet gardenia. Qi Yin¡¯s face turned red, and he unconsciously stepped back, his back against the uneven rocks, and the friction made his back muscles sore. Fu Lan frowned when he saw him stepping back. ¡°Xiao Yin?¡± Qi Yin pretended to be calm, dryly up pulling the corners of his mouth, ¡°Uh, brother, don¡¯t come over here for now.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Fu Lan was stunned. What else could it be? Qi Yin felt that his meridians were blocked, and he had the symptoms of qi deviation. His heart was like a boiling pot, thumping and jumping. He was afraid to touch Fu Lan. This hot spring was so warm, and Fu Lan¡¯s hands must be soft and smooth. He remembered those pale hands, which were terrifyingly sharp when they were stained with blood, but when he washed his hands and cooked soup for him, they were soft and tender like a flower petal. The part that was unique to men had a tendency to rise. He was afraid that once Fu Lan approached him, he would become hard. ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m not even human!¡± On one hand, Qi Yin felt like a beast. On the other hand, he felt sorry for Fu Lan. Fu Lan was such an innocent baby who didn¡¯t understand the ways of the world. And yet, he had such dirty thoughts about him! Fu Lan frowned at him for a while, then suddenly walked over and looked like he was about to squat down. If he squatted down, he would be facing Qi Yin¡¯s private area! Qi Yin was startled and hastily moved towards the edge, yelling, ¡°What are you doing!¡± Fu Lan was obviously startled by him and was stunned for a while. ¡°I¡¯ll help you massage your knee.¡± ¡°No, no!¡± Qi Yin moved away from him, found a place to sit down, and stammered, ¡°Brother, men don¡¯t touch each other. You can¡¯t do that.¡± Rejected twice in a row, Fu Lan was a little confused. He remembered their childhood, when he took care of all of the puppy¡¯s needs ¨C brushing his teeth, washing his face, washing his butt, humming lullabies, and taking a bath every other day. The puppy was mischievous and always splashed water in the tub, making him and the cat all wet. Later, Fu Lan learned his lesson and took off his clothes to shower with him. He remembered that at that time, the snow was falling outside, charcoal fire was burning brightly in the room, and he was rubbing the puppy¡¯s back to produce fine white foam. The puppy sat in his arms, blowing bubbles, and laughed, the happiest child in the world. But now, the puppy was sitting far away from him, resisting his approach. Fu Lan lowered his eyes and obediently stayed on one side of the rock. The distance between the two was just enough for an adult man to lie down, and the vapor was steaming between them as they fell into a long silence. Qi Yin felt embarrassed and tried to think of something to say. After thinking for a while, he stuttered, ¡°Um, the weather is really nice today, and the vapor is really thick, haha!¡± After speaking, Qi Yin felt like slapping himself. What kind of nonsense was that? He should have just kept quiet. There was no response from Fu Lan. Qi Yin couldn¡¯t help turning his head to look at him. Fu Lan was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, as silent as a statue, and like a deity who couldn¡¯t be approached. When this man didn¡¯t speak, he always felt like he would disappear from the world in the next moment. Qi Yin suddenly had an impulse to walk towards him, to hold his hand, as if doing so would pull him into the noisy world. ¡°Xiao Yin.¡± Suddenly, Fu Lan spoke up. Qi Yin was startled and said, ¡°Brother?¡± Fu Lan furrowed his brows. ¡°Do you have a heart condition?¡± ¡°What?¡± Qi Yin was confused. ¡°No, why do you ask?¡± Through the misty steam, Fu Lan looked over at him with a hazy gaze. ¡°Sometimes your heart suddenly beats faster. It has happened many times.¡± Qi Yin fell silent. Heblowered his head and said dejectedly, ¡°Brother, that¡¯s not a heart disease.¡± Fu Lan was puzzled for a moment, then suddenly remembered the words Qi Yin taught him on the steps of Feng Huan Mountain ¨C when someone met the person they liked, their heart would beat faster. Fu Lan asked softly, ¡°Do you like someone?¡± Qi Yin¡¯s mind went blank for a moment. This fool suddenly became so clever? He felt like a child who had been caught hiding candy and panicked, trying to think of something to explain. But before he could say anything, Fu Lan asked again in a gentle voice, ¡°The person you like, do they not like you back?¡± Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± In an instant, all romantic thoughts disappeared, and Qi Yin slumped over to sit next to Fu Lan. Seeing Qi Yin approach him, Fu Lan was pleasantly surprised and handed him a gourd ladle to scoop water. Qi Yin poured the water on himself one spoonful at a time and said, ¡°Brother, when you have time, I¡¯ll teach you how to talk properly.¡± Fu Lan obediently nodded. His mouth was indeed too clumsy and he needed to learn. Qi Yin continued, ¡°Also, the list of handsome gentlemen of the immortal mountains will be out soon. These days, don¡¯t hang around in front of Qi Ling Shu.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Fu Lan asked in confusion. Qi Yin let out a heavy sigh. ¡°With your looks and figure, once the list is out, you¡¯ll definitely knock him off his top spot. Moreover, until the list is updated, all the girls will be chasing after you. When the list is updated, the girls who used to chase after him will chase after you instead. He might not like that.¡± He spoke as if he understood it all. ¡°It¡¯s human nature.¡± Fu Lan nodded in confusion. Qi Yin wanted to pat his shoulder but hesitated when he was about to touch his bare shoulder. He awkwardly raised his hand and turned to pretend to look at the scenery. The hot spring was so big, with rugged rocks everywhere. Qi Yin was curious and wandered around touching and looking. When he turned around a large rock, he suddenly saw a blurry figure in front of him through the steam. Could it be¡­? The man turned around, revealing a face as cold as ice and snow with indifferent eyes. Qi Yin felt like he had turned to stone. He wished he could find a place to hide. ¡°What a coincidence, hahaha! Senior Brother, you¡¯re here to bathe too.¡± This guy didn¡¯t need to be announced. His presence was enough to scare people away. No wonder there was no one here at this time. Qi Yin realized too late that it was because of him. ¡°Real name,¡± Qi Ling Shu said coldly. This guy spoke like a hammer, hitting right on the head. Qi Yin didn¡¯t react at first. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Not asking you,¡± Qi Ling Shu said. Qi Yin turned his head and saw Fu Lan, who was as stunned as he was. ¡°This junior brother, you just called him ¡®Xiao Yin¡¯. May I ask what his real name is?¡± Qi Ling Shu asked Fu Lan. Qi Yin was shocked. This guy must be suspicious. How did he guess that he was Qi Yin just from a nickname? Qi Yin felt anxious and nervously laughed. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask me my real name? My name is¡­¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± Qi Ling Shu interrupted him, staring at Fu Lan. ¡°Junior brother, please answer truthfully.¡± Qi Yin panicked. Fu Lan couldn¡¯t lie. He would be exposed! ¡°Puppy,¡± Fu Lan answered calmly. ¡°He is my younger brother, called Puppy.¡± Qi Ling Shu fell silent. Qi Yin breathed a sigh of relief. He secretly gave Fu Lan a thumbs up. ¡°My brother and I came from the countryside, people in the countryside have nicknames, and no proper names.¡± Qi Yin rubbed his hands and smiled. Qi Ling Shu ignored him. The three of them stared at each other in silence. After a while, Qi Ling Shu finally spoke up, ¡°Please turn around.¡± Qi Yin and Fu Lan obediently did so, facing the giant rock wall. There was a rushing sound behind them. Presumably Qi Ling Shu had left the hot spring and was getting dressed. After a while, there was a ¡°thank you¡± from the other side, followed by the sound of footsteps gradually fading away. When they turned back, Qi Ling Shu was nowhere to be seen. The next day, Qi Yin submitted his assignments, which he had stayed up all night to finish, and was punished to kneel. He had no choice but to study hard at night, climbing up and down the Purple Library ancient books. He found a seat, lowered his head, and placed the books on the desk one by one. He then took out pen, ink, paper, and inkstone. Someone sat down beside him, their white clothes draped around their knees, like a cool inch of moonlight. Suddenly, a large area of seats emptied out around him, and the other students fled as if they had seen a ghost. Qi Yin lifted his head slowly and saw Qi Ling Shu¡¯s cold profile. He gathered everyone¡¯s assignments together and began to review them one by one with a red pen, not even sparing a glance at Qi Yin. Qi Yin stiffly collected his books back into his book box, ready to sneak away. Suddenly, a hand pressed down on his shoulder with a strong force. He couldn¡¯t move at all. He turned his head slowly and saw Qi Ling Shu. ¡°Sit here,¡± Qi Ling Shu said without looking up. Yun Zhi who was in the back seat was stunned, staring at Qi Ling Shu and Qi Yin without blinking. He asked Fu Lan, who was still in a daze. ¡°When did the little junior brother offend Qi Ling Shu?¡± Fu Lan shook his head in confusion. Qi Yin tugged at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Senior Martial Uncle, how come you have time to visit?¡± ¡°I am of the same generation as you. You should call me Senior Martial Brother.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± Qi Yin said with difficulty. ¡°I¡¯ll still call you Senior Martial Uncle.¡± Qi Ling Shu was silent for a moment, turning his head to look at him. His eyes seemed to have been covered in snow for ten thousand years, so cold that it couldn¡¯t melt. He spoke slowly and clearly, ¡°Call me Senior Martial Brother.¡± Qi Yin mournfully replied, ¡°Okay, Senior Martial Brother.¡± CH 41 The black cat patted Fu Lan heavily and whispered, ¡°Quickly go sit next to the child.¡± Fu Lan shook his head and said, ¡°It¡¯s too forward.¡± They were sitting at the front, so close to the teacher. He couldn¡¯t fall asleep. The black cat was furious and said, ¡°You fool, do you still want to get married?¡± Fu Lan asked in confusion, ¡°Didn¡¯t Xiao Yin say he didn¡¯t want to get married?¡± The black cat had no words to say. He was still single until now for a reason. He looked at the two people sitting knee to knee in front of him and stared at Fu Lan with his green eyes wide. Fu Lan was stunned for a moment, but finally tidied up his books and went to sit next to Qi Yin obediently. Yuan Yin arrived late and began to recite the scriptures eloquently as an old man would. His voice was slow and steady, and he recited the scriptures like singing a song. It was a tone of voice that was as weak as a dying father or a country in peril. Because of Qi Ling Shu, Qi Yin was nervous at first, but he gradually became unable to bear it and started to fall asleep. His head slowly drooped, and he was about to nod off. Suddenly, a cold hand caught him on his forehead. Qi Yin opened his eyes groggily and saw Qi Ling Shu looking at him. ¡°Listen to the lesson,¡± he said. Qi Yin was instantly frightened out of his wits. He sat up straight, not daring to move. Qi Ling Shu said again, ¡°Wake up the one next to you.¡± He looked over and saw that Fu Lan had already fallen asleep with his head buried in his arms. Qi Yin poked him, and Fu Lan rubbed his eyes and sat up. After staring blankly for a while, he fell asleep again, leaning against Qi Yin¡¯s shoulder. Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± Yuan Yin silently shook his head, knowing that Feng Huan Mountain was well-known for not learning anything during class, like mud that could not stick to the wall. No one could do anything about it. He knocked on the desk, waking up all the sleepy ones. He turned the page while flicking the paper corner and continued reciting his scriptures. Qi Ling Shu had learned all these gibberish scriptures. He didn¡¯t need to listen to the lesson. He instead graded the assignments during class. He finally turned to Qi Yin¡¯s assignment. Qi Yin felt nervous. He really didn¡¯t know how to write this thing. He read books all night, poring through words of wisdom, but when it was his turn, he couldn¡¯t write a single sentence. Finally, after struggling to write something, he looked back and felt that it was just a bunch of nonsense that he had concocted in his mind. Qi Ling Shu held the cinnabar pen tightly, and as he read, his brows furrowed tighter and tighter. When Qi Yin glanced at Qi Ling Shu¡¯s grading sheet, he found that it was already blood-red and messy, simply unbearable to look at. Qi Yin was anxious and thought he might have to rewrite it. Qi Ling Shu had already flipped to the next assignment. The next one was from Fu Lan, and Qi Ling Shu¡¯s brows furrowed deeper. At first, he thought he had flipped the wrong page, so he turned to the next one. Fu Lan¡¯s was the last one, and there was nothing after it. This guy didn¡¯t write a single character in his paper. He just signed his name on it. Qi Yin watched this silently and rubbed his forehead, thinking it would be better not to submit anything at all. Finally, it was the end of class, and there was no class for magic spells today. Qi Yin hurriedly gathered his books and rushed back to the courtyard like a bird out of a cage. He was about to leave with Fu Lan when Qi Ling Shu stopped them and said, ¡°Follow me.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± Qi Yin asked. ¡°The stone room.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Qi Ling Shu pulled out two copybooks and handed them to them. ¡°Rewrite the Daoist theory.¡± Fu Lan was stunned. ¡°Do I have to rewrite it too?¡± ¡°Do you have to watch us write it?¡± Qi Yin said with a bitter face. ¡°We can write it and bring it to you.¡± Qi Ling Shu stood at the door, turned slightly against the light, and his cold gaze fell on Qi Yin, giving him an invisible pressure. He repeated, ¡°Follow. Me. Now.¡± Since Qi Yin was already in trouble, he dared not disobey. Several senior brothers and sisters shook their heads and sighed, not knowing which sensitive spot of Qi Ling Shu¡¯s had been touched by Qi Yin, causing him to target him like this. Before leaving, they patted Qi Yin and Fu Lan on the shoulder, telling them to take care of themselves and come back safely. Fu Lan frowned and asked Qi Yin, ¡°Is he jealous of us?¡± As Qi Ling Shu¡¯s face turned dark, Qi Yin quickly covered Fu Lan¡¯s mouth. ¡°Oh, my ancestors, please don¡¯t speak. With every word you speak, my lifespan gets shortened by ten years!¡± The two followed Qi Ling Shu all the way. Since it was snowing, the sky was still hazy at noon, and the ground was covered with white snowdrifts. The world was dark and gloomy. Qi Ling Shu walked ahead with his snow-capped sword on his back, his tall figure like a thorn standing out in the desolate world, but also appearing more alone. After a long walk, they finally arrived at the ¡°stone room,¡± which was located at the highest point of Contemplation Cliff. It was isolated from everyone else, far away. It was more like a cave than a stone room. The walls were made of thick stone, and they made a loud noise when slapped. It was extremely cold inside, and as soon as they entered, it felt like they were in an ice cave, and their fingertips were trembling. A stone table was standing on the bluestone floor, and a few stone benches were placed beside it. As soon as they sat down, they felt like they were going to freeze into ice cubes. A stone bed was leaning against the wall, and on the other side of the wall, there were several bookshelves, filled with books and scrolls. Qi Yin hesitated as he stepped into what used to be Qi Shen Wei¡¯s residence. Qi Shen Wei grew up in Wu Fang. He practiced, studied, reflected, and taught his disciples here. His notes and philosophical writings were placed on the bookshelf, and Qi Yin picked one up. His characters were clear and powerful, and the strokes were as sharp as a sword, with an indescribable aura. What kind of person was he? Qi Yin wondered. He had longed for his father when he was a child, and he was disgusted by him when he grew up. After eighteen years, he finally came to this man¡¯s world, as if it were destined. Qi Yin slowly exhaled and put the book back, sitting down at the stone table and taking out his brush and ink. Qi Ling Shu silently watched him for a while, then turned to ask Fu Lan, ¡°Why did you hand in a blank sheet of paper?¡± Fu Lan remained silent, not daring to speak the truth. Fu Lan had probably learned his lesson and knew that he would surely be beaten if he told the truth. Qi Yin couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved. He didn¡¯t want to answer, and Qi Ling Shu couldn¡¯t do anything about it. He softened his tone. ¡°In writing, the first step is to raise doubts, then explore the unknown and explain the obscure. To speak with substance, one must have accumulated experience. You have just entered the door and have never exorcised demons before, so you should seek answers from old examples in the library. Yun Yin, you have too many points of argument, none of which were thoroughly examined. They are too general. I suggest you choose a single point and explore it deeply.¡± Qi Yin nodded. ¡°This is a copy of an ancient book that I transcribed myself. If you want to read it thoroughly, it may take some time. I have marked the important points for you to focus on. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.¡± Qi Ling Shu pushed the book in front of them, his words full of concern, ¡°Yun Yin, I won¡¯t pursue the matter of you cheating in the competition, but if you refuse to study the Dao properly, what¡¯s the point of coming to Wu Fang? You should think about your own future.¡± When did this kid become so talkative? Qi Yin was resentful in his heart, but he couldn¡¯t say anything. He scratched his head and weakly said, ¡°Okay.¡± Fu Lan frowned and asked, ¡°Can we not write?¡± Qi Ling Shu looked at him silently, and his eyes seemed to freeze like ice. ¡°¡­ ¡± Fu Lan picked up the brush silently. Time passed bit by bit, and snow stopped falling outside. Sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone on the ground like tiger stripes. Qi Ling Shu sat on the stone bed and meditated, while Qi Yin and Fu Lan stared blankly at the white paper, not knowing what to write. Qi Ling Shu sighed. ¡°There are many differences between humans and demons, such as habits, nine orifices, six viscera, and meridians. How could you not know what to write?¡± Writing about habits seemed easier. Qi Yin confirmed his direction and flipped through the book. After a while, a disciple climbed up the cliff and whispered at the entrance of the cave, ¡°Junior Master, Elder Ku Can is calling for you.¡± Qi Ling Shu got up and left. Watching him go, Qi Yin suddenly collapsed and sighed on the table. When that guy was here, it felt like the air itself was freezing, making people sit upright and not dare to act rashly. Qi Yin hung up his legs, pouted his lips, and held the brush under his nose, flipping through Qi Ling Shu¡¯s copy. This guy¡¯s handwriting was like Qi Shen Wei¡¯s. It was like he learned it directly from Qi Shen Wei. Maybe Qi Shen Wei taught him stroke by stroke by holding his hand. ¡°Xiao Yin.¡± Fu Lan put down his pen. ¡°Do you smell it?¡± ¡°What smell?¡± Qi Yin raised his head in confusion, then suddenly his eyes brightened. ¡°Is that little goody-two-shoes hiding food?¡± Fu Lan shook his head and sat next to Qi Yin, injecting his spiritual power into Qi Yin¡¯s back. The icy spiritual power flowed through his meridians once again, and his five senses instantly became sensitive and sharp. Even the sunlight shining in could be seen in seven colors. Fu Lan released a small fish, and the blue fish swam silently. Qi Yin¡¯s vision gradually changed in tone. Blood. The room was full of blood. In the eyes of the small fish, Qi Yin was horrified to find that the originally spotless walls were covered with dark red stains ¨C on the stone bed, stone table, and even the gaps in the rocks. These bloodstains were cleaned, but they still couldn¡¯t escape the small fish¡¯s eyes. The bloodstains on the stone walls were splattered. There were several bloody handprints on the ground, and there was a long bloodstain dragging in from outside. It was obvious that someone who was seriously injured was dragged in by force. ¡°Five smell. Five people,¡± Fu Lan said. ¡°The five people who disappeared from Wu Fang Mountain died here.¡± ¡°Why¡­¡± Qi Yin couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. ¡°Why did they die here?¡± Fu Lan looked at the bloodstains on the wall and said, ¡°Mortal cultivators practicing Shaman¡¯s Secret Art need to kill people to obtain blood for life extension.¡± Qi Yin was dumbfounded. ¡°Are you saying my father also practiced the secret art?¡± Fu Lan thought about it and shook his head. ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t need so much blood. The blood is splattered everywhere. It¡¯s wasteful.¡± An unnamed fear swept over Qi Yin, creeping up his chest like vines. He felt a headache coming on. What was going on here? Wu Fang Mountain looked proper, but it was strange. Qi Shen Wei was neither alive nor dead. What did that mean? How much did Qi Ling Shu know? Was he at Wu Fang Mountain when Qi Shen Wei died? Could he¡­be trusted? After an hour, Qi Ling Shu returned, and their Daoist theory had been written. Qi Ling Shu checked Qi Yin¡¯s work, frowned for a while, and made several revisions. He forced Qi Yin to pull his hair in frustration before finally letting him pass. He then picked up Fu Lan¡¯s work and glanced at it briefly. A clear expression of shock appeared on his pale face. Qi Yin leaned over to take a look and was also stunned. Nothing had been written on the paper. Fu Lan had only drawn two diagrams. One was a human body, with each of the six internal organs and nine orifices marked and the complete course of the meridians depicted. The complex lines of the meridians were intertwined, with a kind of terrifying beauty. The other was an animal¡¯s meridian diagram, which looked like a cat¡¯s, with the six internal organs and nine orifices marked, the eight extraordinary meridians, and even the flow of spiritual power drawn clearly. ¡°Whose meridian diagram did you draw?¡± Qi Ling Shu asked him. ¡°Xiao Yin¡¯s and a cat¡¯s,¡± Fu Lan replied. ¡°¡­¡± Qi Yin¡¯s mood was indescribable. He couldn¡¯t help but look at the crotch of the human meridian diagram. This scholar, Fu Lan, even drew the meridians in that place! ¡°Why do you know so much about Yun Yin¡¯s body?¡± Qi Ling Shu asked, somewhat hesitantly. ¡°I¡¯ve been inside,¡± Fu Lan said in a flat tone. Qi Ling Shu¡¯s expression became complicated. ¡°Inside?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qi Yin was about to go crazy. He said, ¡°Don¡¯t ask. It¡¯s none of your business!¡± After that, he stuffed the book into his bag and turned to leave the cave. Outside, the wind and smoke were vast, the frost was hazy, and below the cliff was an icy abyss. The white misty water was like a scroll of spread-out rice paper, and the dark-colored mountain range on the edge was like ink stains. ¡°Yun Yin,¡± Qi Ling Shu called out to him from behind. Qi Yin stopped in his tracks and heard his chilly voice, ¡°Love hinders the Dao, and homosexuality is not the right way. You¡­ must take care of yourself.¡± It was the same sentence again. Qi Yin¡¯s eyelids twitched. How did talking about love affect their business at Wu Fang Mountain? An unnamed anger surged up in his heart. He clenched his fists and turned to say something, but stopped when he saw Qi Ling Shu. He stood on the steps, his brows furrowed, while Qi Yin stood below, silently gazing at him through the smoke and snow. Qi Yin took a few deep breaths and said, ¡°Have you noticed that the people of Wu Fang Mountain are always meddling in other people¡¯s affairs? If you want to pursue the Dao, that¡¯s your business. As for me, I¡¯m just an ordinary person who tries to make a living as a Daoist. My brother and I haven¡¯t caused any trouble for you. Thank you for your help today, but from now on, my business has nothing to do with you. I won¡¯t see you again.¡± With that, he walked away. Qi Ling Shu stood still in the same spot, silent for a long time. Behind him, Fu Lan picked up his book box and said, ¡°Are you practicing Ye Ku Can¡¯s secret spell?¡± ¡°Yes, why?¡± Qi Ling Shu asked, turning around. ¡°Don¡¯t practice it. That technique is very dangerous,¡± Fu Lan said flatly. Qi Ling Shu paused for a moment, then looked at him coldly. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You are that person¡¯s disciple. Xiao Yin doesn¡¯t want anything to happen to you.¡± Before Qi Ling Shu could ask anything, Fu Lan turned and headed down the cliff, his thin figure disappearing step by step into the snow-covered steps and the end of the mountain cliff. CH 42 Qi Yin rushed down the cliff and headed straight for the library. Qing He and Yun Zhi were sitting across from each other on a small table. The two rogues, Qing Ming and Yun Zhi, never paid attention to any etiquette, with one slouching and the other leaning. Only Qing He was kneeling on a cushion, slowly making tea. The white porcelain lotus petal tea cup was emitting a faint white smoke, and the man¡¯s fingertips on the cup¡¯s rim looked even more transparent. Fasting included abstinence from food and drink, including tea and water. However, Feng Huan Mountain led the way in breaking the rules. Qi Yin lifted the curtain and ran in, sitting cross-legged opposite Qing He. ¡°There¡¯s something I need to tell you guys.¡± ¡°Just in time, I have something to tell you too.¡± Yun Zhi sat up and put his hand on Qi Yin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Your cousin didn¡¯t go home; he¡¯s missing.¡± ¡°So he¡¯s really missing!¡± Qi Yin was a little panicked. Yao Xiao Shan was the only son of the Yao family, and if anything happened to him, his aunt and uncle would never be able to rest in peace. Besides, there was the old lady in Wu Tang. What should they do? Qi Yin frowned and said, ¡°My brother and I found a lot of blood in the stone room on the cliff. The blood was washed away, but the smell was still there. Five different kinds of blood. It just happened to be five people.¡± He didn¡¯t mention his brother¡¯s little fish technique, which his brother said was the transformation of divine awareness. But that little fish could hear, see, smell, and even perform some spells, far more than what an average Daoist¡¯s divine awareness could do. Besides, it was the witchcraft of Ba Mountain Temple, and it was better for fewer people to know. Qing Ming grabbed a handful of peanuts and chewed them loudly. ¡°Wu Fang is indeed fishy.¡± ¡°From the looks of it, the recent disappearance of the disciples of immortal sects is likely to be related to Wu Fang.¡± Qing He lowered his eyes and pondered. ¡°Tomorrow, the pig demon will be moved, and twenty disciples will be escorting them, all under the hands of the four elders on the upper four peaks. They will open a teleportation formation with a talisman at the Execution Cliff and go directly to the southern Forbidden Forest. You two and Yun Lan should prepare tonight and sneak under the Execution Cliff tomorrow. I will disguise the three of you as Ling Xi, Ling Mu, and Ling Jun, Yuan Yin¡¯s disciples. Find an excuse to join the escort team and sneak into the Forbidden Forest.¡± ¡°If we disappeared inexplicably, will we be suspected?¡± Qi Yin expressed his concern. ¡°No, it¡¯s not unusual for people of Feng Huan Mountain to skip class.¡± Qing Ming waved his hand dismissively. ¡°I will use your names to buy three prostitutes at Wan¡¯e Pavilion in Jin Xi Town to cover for you. Even if they really investigate Wan¡¯e Pavilion, the three of you will probably just be kicked out of the sect.¡± Qi Yin felt depressed. A senior brother taking his junior brothers to consort with prostitutes was a huge scandal. If this news reached that guy Qi Ling Shu¡¯s ears, he would probably look down on him even more. Qing He took out a Qiankun Bag and poured out three silver-inlaid glass mirrors. ¡°Since you don¡¯t have spiritual awareness, we¡¯ll use Dawn Mirrors to communicate. This is a sub-mirror of my Dawn Mirror, which can transmit messages to anywhere in the world. You must carry it with you at all times. I also made some demon-expelling sachets containing wormwood, which demons dislike. They can ensure that you travel through the Forbidden Forest unimpeded. There¡¯s a sword-restraining spell in the Forbidden Forest, so you can only travel on foot. It will take about an hour and a half from the entrance of the Forbidden Forest to Elder Yuan Wei¡¯s tomb, and it will take another half an hour to excavate the tomb and restore the grave. Altogether, it will take three and a half hours. You need to communicate with us every half hour and report your location.¡± Qi Yin curiously flipped the glass mirror over and nodded in agreement. ¡°Your only task this time is to bring Elder Yuan Wei out, dead or alive. Once you find him, return immediately, without delay,¡± Qing He said slowly. ¡°However, don¡¯t be too nervous. The only enemies you may face are demons in the Forbidden Forest and the disciples of Wu Fang who may discover your tracks and pursue you from behind. Both of these enemies are easy to deal with.¡± With his brother by his side, Qi Yin was indeed confident. Qing He lifted his teacup and smiled. ¡°Have a safe journey.¡± ¡ª The snow started to fall again. Under the deep black sky, the snowflakes were as light as white down. Fu Lan was earnestly sweeping the snow. He was an honest man. Wu Fang had said to sweep three thousand steps, so he silently counted and remembered in his heart. He wouldn¡¯t sweep the next step until he couldn¡¯t see any snow or ash on the current step. He liked sweeping the snow because the sound of snow falling was very quiet, as if the heavens and earth were whispering to him, saying things that only gods could understand. The black cat followed him, occasionally rolling around in the snowdrifts. They swept slowly and unconsciously climbed up to the Execution Cliff. Zhu Ming Cang was lying bored in the cage, counting the stars. He wore a large lock around his neck, connected by chains as thick as two arms to two large marble pillars on the cliff. He caught sight of Fu Lan and sat up with a start. ¡°Fu Lan¡­ no, Your Majesty, I knew you would come to rescue me!¡± Without raising his head, Fu Lan continued to silently sweep the snow. The black cat sauntered over, hummed, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so self-absorbed. Who wants to save you, you foolish pig?¡± As soon as Zhu Ming Cang saw the cat, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Fat cat, what did you say!? If you¡¯re not going to save me, then why did you come here?¡± The black cat raised his chin towards Fu Lan. ¡°¡®Don¡¯t you have eyes?¡± ¡°Sweeping snow¡­¡± Zhu Ming Cang was so angry that he almost fainted. ¡°Fu Lan, you are the lord of demons, yet you are sweeping the streets for mortals here! Do you have no shame? At the beginning of April, you jumped into Jia Ling River without a word, and I lost ten pounds trying to find you. But here you are sweeping snow!¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± The black cat sneered. ¡°You were the one who tried to start a war between humans and demons. Don¡¯t use yourself as an excuse.¡± ¡°You damn cat.¡± Zhu Ming Cang also sneered. ¡°I thought you came to Wu Fang with a plan, and I went to great lengths to help you hide your tracks. Those damn Daoist priests gave me the Five Thunder Punishment, and I endured it without speaking a word. And then you guys¡­¡± Zhu Ming Cang looked at Fu Lan, who was sweeping the street like a little servant girl, and he almost exploded with anger. ¡°Fu Lan, have you lost your mind? You ran all the way to Wu Fang just to sweep the streets!¡± Fu Lan continued to ignore him. This was how he had always been, like a stubborn gourd that couldn¡¯t be opened. Zhu Ming Cang was so angry that he was panting. He had always said that those who were not of his kind must have different hearts. Fu Lan was neither a demon nor a human, and was therefore unreliable. But the short-sighted people in the southern region were impressed by his power, and they pushed him to the throne, hoping that he would defend the southern region and put an end to internal conflicts and external invasions. In the end, Fu Lan had slaughtered the Abyssal Dragon, and Zhu Ming Cang had to swallow his pride and follow the crowd. This was the first time in the southern region that they had a common emperor. In the past, each group ruled their own territory, and there were constant disputes. It seemed that they were about to unify the southern region, following the example of human kingdoms, but who knew that this guy, who looked so handsome, was actually a real fool. He still remembered the first imperial court held by the 28 tribal leaders of the southern region. Fu Lan sat on the Dragon Bone Throne as the leaders proposed to establish demon officials and demon servants, as well as to raise a demon army and seize the human realm. The southern region would then enjoy peace and would no longer be afraid of external enemies. However, the narrow-minded and short-sighted rats from Liang Mountain only wanted to rest and live comfortably, unwilling to invade the human realm. The two sides fell into dispute. When Fu Lan was supposed to make a decision, everyone found that he had fallen asleep on the table. He slept and slept, only knowing to sleep day after day. The imperial court lasted for three days, and this fool slept for three days straight. As a result, no major decision was made, and even the alliance was not formed. The various tribes remained as divided as before, each crowning an emperor of their own, only treating Fu Lan as a mud figurine on the kitchen stove. ¡°Fu Lan!¡± Zhu Ming Cang gritted his teeth and said, ¡°As the demon lord, shouldn¡¯t you make the revival of the southern region your lifelong goal?¡± Fu Lan finally reacted, turning around with a calm gaze. ¡°That is not my wish.¡± ¡°What is it then? Is it to have demon concubines and witches in the palace, or to revel in the pleasures of the flesh every night?¡± Fu Lan shook his head gently and looked up at the falling snow. The air was cold, and his nose was red. He remembered many years ago in a small village by Wu River, where he would often sit under the wide eaves with his puppy, wrapped in a big cotton quilt, cuddling the black cat, and waiting for A Fu, who worked in the fields, to come home. It was also snowing heavily back then, covering the world in white. Whenever he thought of his puppy, his gaze would become gentle and warm. He said softly, ¡°My wish is to raise my little brother to be healthy and happy.¡± ¡°Little brother?¡± Zhu Ming Cang looked puzzled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a monster born from a crack in a rock? Where did you get a little brother?¡± The black cat glanced at him askew, and Fu Lan finished sweeping the snow before hugging the broom and heading outside. Zhu Ming Cang saw him leaving and suddenly thought of something. He pounded on the railing and shouted in a low voice, ¡°Hey, you! You travelled around visiting old temples before you came to the southern region, right? Weren¡¯t you looking for a miracle all this time? There¡¯s a miracle under the Ice Sea Abyss. Go and see it! This information should be enough to save the lives of the group of demons in the Forbidden Forest!¡± The snow was still falling, but Fu Lan stopped walking. Zhu Ming Cang had just breathed a sigh of relief when Fu Lan¡¯s expressionless face suddenly appeared in front of him. Zhu Ming Cang was taken aback, and suddenly felt a pain in his neck as Fu Lan tightly gripped him. This man looked thin, but had great strength and he almost couldn¡¯t breathe. Fu Lan looked at him with emotionless black eyes. ¡°Are you lying to me?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare to lie to you when you hold the fate of the demons in the Forbidden Forest,¡± Zhu Ming Cang said as he tightly held Fu Lan¡¯s wrist. ¡°When Ye Ku Can first arrived at Wu Fang, he modified the boundary array. When the array was being changed, there was a gap, and some of my brothers escaped from inside. They told me that the river water flowing out of the Ice Sea Abyss often had stones with strange characters carved on them. Those stones were very similar to those found in Ba Mountain. Fu Lan, haven¡¯t you always wanted to know what kind of creature you are? You just need to go down to the Ice Sea Abyss to take a look. If there is nothing there, you can come back. But if there is something, you¡¯d better find a way to rescue our demon brothers!¡± Fu Lan looked at him for a while and finally said nothing. He picked up the black cat and left. Zhu Ming Cang held his throat and pounded the ground angrily. ¡°One day I will surpass you in cultivation and stuff your silly head into your pants!¡± He imagined what it would be like to take Fu Lan¡¯s head off and put it in his pants, and the anger in his chest subsided somewhat. In the distance, the sound of a quiet guqin could be heard again. Fu Lan stepped up onto the suspended steps and looked down at the vast darkness. ¡°Are you really going?¡± the black cat asked, squatting beside him. ¡°I am,¡± he said. ¡°Aren¡¯t you taking the puppy with you?¡± ¡°Xiao Yin is too weak and will be troublesome,¡± Fu Lan said. ¡°That¡¯s true. The miracle is dangerous and you also have to break through the boundary array.¡± The black cat scratched his nose. ¡°Then write a note for him and say that we will be back soon.¡± Fu Lan took out paper and pen from his Qiankun bag, wrote a note, rolled it up, put it in a bamboo tube, and handed it to the black cat. The black cat took the tube and left, returning after a while. Fu Lan put down the broom, picked up the black cat, and whispered, ¡°We¡¯re going to jump now.¡± His body arched backwards, his ink-like hair scattered like smoke, and he fell into the endless night like a lonely and brilliant shooting star. CH 43 Qi Yin grabbed the note left by Fu Lan and didn¡¯t react for a while. Several senior martial brothers and sisters surrounded the note under the light, carefully cut without any frayed edges. The handwriting was very elegant, with each stroke clear and fluid, in line with his brother¡¯s usual style. However, there were only four words on it ¨C ¡°Will be back soon.¡± After reading it, Liu Bai concluded, ¡°Junior martial brother wasn¡¯t kidnapped. He left this note himself.¡± At first, Qi Yin didn¡¯t understand why there was a random note next to his pillow. It wasn¡¯t until the third watch, when the bell sounded and his brother was still nowhere to be found, that he realized what the note meant. ¡°That bastard¡­¡± Qi Yin grabbed his head, suddenly feeling like a jilted lover. He was so angry that he felt like his head was about to explode. ¡°Why did he leave without a word? He didn¡¯t even say where he was going!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t accuse him wrongly. He clearly left four words.¡± Yun Zhi patted Qi Yin on the back. ¡°He might as well have said that he died outside!¡± Qi Yin said angrily. Where did he go? What¡¯s most infuriating was that he didn¡¯t take Qi Yin with him! Qi Yin was so angry that his chest hurt. He sat there, sulking, thinking about how to punish that bastard when he returned. Should he make him kneel and scrub the washboard? Or should he give him a spanking? After thinking for a while, he felt that neither was appropriate, as it was like a shrew punishing her own man. Just as everyone was about to discuss whether to tell the two senior martial uncles, there was a knock at the door. Sang Ruo opened the door, and it was Zhao Ran standing outside. He bowed to everyone and asked, ¡°Has Senior Martial Uncle Yun Lan returned?¡± Everyone looked at each other. Yun Zhi cleared his throat and said, ¡°Junior martial brother has been sweeping snow every day to finish his punishment early. He is probably still sweeping snow now.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Zhao Ran said with concern. ¡°Please come with me, senior martial uncles. Senior Martial Uncle Yun Lan may have encountered an accident.¡± Everyone was stunned and went to the suspended stairs together. It was already crowded with people. Qi Ling Shu was squatting there examining footprints. There was a broom on the steps, which was often used by Fu Lan. Qi Yin hurriedly squeezed in and asked, ¡°What happened to my brother?¡± Qi Ling Shu fell into a moment of contemplation, then turned to look at him with a serious expression. ¡°Junior Brother Yun Lan¡¯s footprints end here, and there are no return footprints. If I¡¯m not mistaken, he may have accidentally slipped and fell. Judging from the thickness of the snow on the footprints, he fell at least half an hour ago.¡± Qi Yin was stunned for a moment and suddenly understood. Fu Lan was more stable than a rooster¡¯s head on his feet. How could he have slipped? He probably jumped down by himself. Qi Yin leaned over the snow steps and looked down. It was dark and murky down there. It should be the Forbidden Forest below, and tomorrow was the day they would set out to find Qi Shen Wei. What was Fu Lan doing jumping into the Forbidden Forest? Qi Ling Shu pulled him back by the collar. ¡°We can¡¯t delay any longer. Saving people is the top priority. You guys send someone to inform the Sect Leader and the two senior brothers from Feng Huan, and then send someone to come with me to save people.¡± Zhao Ming muttered behind, ¡°Do we still need to save him? Several people fall off this suspended step every year. Every time we go down to look, either we find a pile of broken bones, or they¡¯ve been dragged away by monsters and eaten, and we can¡¯t even find the bones.¡± When he said this, everyone fell silent. Sang Ya didn¡¯t know what was going on and thought Fu Lan was really gone. She burst into tears. Qi Ling Shu turned around and looked at Zhao Ming with cold eyes like winter snow. ¡°As cultivators, we must find them whether dead or alive.¡± He always spoke so bluntly, without caring about anyone¡¯s face. Zhao Ming shivered and didn¡¯t dare to say anything more. Qi Ling Shu took out the Forbidden Forest token and opened the teleportation array. He was the first disciple of Wu Fang, and he was also designated as the future elder of swords, so he was also in charge of a Forbidden Forest token. Brilliant golden light spread on the ground, forming a gorgeous and complex pattern. The onlookers stepped back one after another. Zhao Ming volunteered and stepped into the array. This was a good opportunity to enter the Forbidden Forest, much safer than following the pig monster. Yun Zhi grabbed Qi Yin and pulled him into the array. ¡°Junior Uncle, take me and Yun Yin with you!¡± The golden light flickered. In the blink of an eye, the step was empty. Shao Ruan received Qi Ling Shu¡¯s order and hurried to report to Sect Leader Yuan Ji. Walking halfway, he suddenly met Qing He, who was holding a guqin and walking slowly. Shao Ruan bowed his head and greeted him. Qing He smiled and asked what he was going to do. Shao Ruan answered softly. Qing He sighed and smiled. ¡°I happen to be going to play chess with Sect Leader Yuan Ji. Let me take care of this for you.¡± Shao Ruan hesitated for a moment but still bowed. ¡°Thank you, Senior Uncle.¡± ¡ª In an instant, the world spun around, and his organs were turned upside down. In what felt like a year, he finally landed on solid ground. Qi Yin couldn¡¯t stand up and fell to the ground, retching. Yun Zhi squatted down and lightly patted his back. It took a while for Qi Yin to catch his breath, and he felt slightly better. Xin Xiao Xiao stood there, looking lost and helpless, clutching at the corner of her clothes. ¡°I also want to help find Lan Gege.¡± Qi Ling Shu looked as serious as ice, not blinking as he reopened the talisman and coldly said, ¡°Go back.¡± Xin Xiao Xiao was about to cry, looking around for someone to help her plead her case. Finally, her gaze fell on Qi Yin, but he just made a helpless gesture and said nothing. Qi Ling Shu felt annoyed, not quite understanding why these people always needed him to repeat himself over and over again. He pressed his forehead and patiently repeated, ¡°Go back.¡± Xin Xiao Xiao¡¯s eyes were red, but she didn¡¯t move. She wiped her tears and choked out, ¡°Do you know why nobody dares to approach you?¡± Qi Ling Shu was taken aback. ¡°You¡¯re always like this, never giving anyone a good face even when they mean well. Last time during the Dao conference, my two senior sisters saw you practicing your sword in the early morning and made bone broth for you to help nourish your body. But you¡­ just let them get twenty palm strikes on their hands.¡± Xin Xiao Xiao¡¯s eyes were red. ¡°If you don¡¯t want it, just refuse it. Why do you have to trample on their goodwill like this? Lan Gege would never do that. When I make soup for him, he says thank you and even washes the bowl and returns it.¡± Make soup? Qi Yin was confused. Fu Lan always lived on the bare minimum, not eating or drinking anything. But wait. He suddenly remembered that these past few nights, Fu Lan always brought back soup for him and Lord Cat. Fu Lan had always been good at household chores. He hadn¡¯t thought much about it and assumed it was soup that Lan had made himself. But it turns out this kid had taken the soup that someone else made for him and offered it to others. Fu Lan wasn¡¯t good with people, so he probably hadn¡¯t thought much about it. But if this girl knew that all the bone broth she had painstakingly made for him had gone into someone else¡¯s belly, she would be heartbroken. Qi Yin quietly covered his face, and Yun Zhi guessed what was going on. After all, he had also had a few sips of that soup. He pressed Qi Yin¡¯s shoulder and tried to hold back his laughter. Seeing Yun Zhi¡¯s pained expression, Zhao Ming asked in confusion, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Qi Yin covered his mouth and said, ¡°Nothing. He¡¯s sick. Just needs a beating.¡± Qi Ling Shu stood in the shade of the tree, his pale face stretched tight like a hard piece of marble. He pursed his lips and said nothing. Yun Zhi finally managed to hold back his laughter and opened his mouth, ¡°Junior Sister is mistaken. Who said nobody wants to approach Junior Uncle? I¡¯m quite happy to do so.¡± He smiled and hooked his arm around Qi Ling Shu¡¯s neck, winking at him. ¡°After all, we¡¯ve been close since we were kids, wearing open-crotch pants together, right?¡± Qi Ling Shu: ¡°¡­¡± The appearance of Yun Zhi, who was hugging and leaning on Qi Ling Shu, was truly rude. Qi Ling Shu looked like a helpless girl forced into his arms. Zhao Ming was so angry that his eyes turned black and he said, ¡°You¡­ quickly take your dirty hands off! My junior brother is a refined and elegant cultivator. How could someone like you touch him with your filthy hands?¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± Qi Ling Shu said. Zhao Ming reluctantly closed his mouth and gave Yun Zhi a hateful look. Qi Ling Shu pushed away Yun Zhi¡¯s hand and asked Xin Xiao Xiao in a softer voice, ¡°What is your ranking on the sword competition?¡± Xin Xiao Xiao whispered, ¡°Just the 100th place. I was injured and could have done better.¡± There were at least three hundred disciples participating in the sword competition, so it was a remarkable achievement for this girl to rank in the top 100, especially since she had only recently started training, like Qi Yin. Qi Yin blushed. Qi Ling Shu did not say anything else and collected his talisman, then turned around to lead the way. Xin Xiao Xiao saw him agree to bring her along and finally smiled. Everyone took out their monster-repelling sachets and held their talismans, using their swords to clear the way as they walked deeper into the forest. They hurried along the way, and moonlight flowed silently through the dark forest. The grass was lush and grew as high as a person, with sharp stems and leaves that scraped their faces painfully. There was residual snow on the ground, and the dark soil was very muddy. Qi Ling Shu forbade anyone from speaking, and the forest was so silent that it felt like a stagnant pool, where not even the sound of birds could be heard. In the darkness, it seemed like countless pairs of eyes were watching them. The Forbidden Forest was so different from Feng Huan. Qi Ling Shu remembered that in Feng Huan, the evening breeze was gentle, and a distant mermaid¡¯s song floated softly like a woman¡¯s delicate hand brushing across his cheeks. But now it was pitch black, and the trees and bushes formed a deep shadow that seemed to hide countless sharp claws and fangs. Qi Ling Shu really wanted to know where his brother had gone, and what was in the Forbidden Forest that was attracting him. Why did he leave so suddenly? He knew nothing, and could only wait for that bastard to come back and provide him with some answers. The bitter aroma of wormwood mixed with the smell of decay from the forest wrapped around their noses. They passed by a pale monster corpse, skirted around a saltwater swamp, and finally arrived at Fu Lan¡¯s landing site. There was a large pit about ten yards in diameter, with a ring of bushes and trees that had collapsed all around it. It was definitely Fu Lan¡¯s landing spot. The force of the descent and the impact of spiritual power had destroyed the surrounding vegetation, much like the huge pit he had made in the tapir¡¯s dream. Zhao Ming was dumbfounded. ¡°Yun Lan¡¯s body is really tough¡­¡± Qi Ling Shu remained silent, carefully examining the pit and its surroundings with his talisman. There was a trail of footprints in the pit, which extended from the center all the way to the outside, but then disappeared in the bushes. Zhao Ming murmured, ¡°He fell from such a high place, and he can still walk upright?¡± Ordinary people would have turned into minced meat if they fell like that, only Fu Lan had the divine power to come out unscathed. Seeing that they were about to be exposed, Yun Zhi walked over and said, ¡°How could it be my junior brother? It must be a demon who carried him away. My junior brother has delicate skin and tender flesh, which demons love to eat.¡± Qi Yin also squatted down and pretended to examine the footprints. ¡°That¡¯s right, these are not my brother¡¯s footprints. My brother¡¯s feet are seven point eight inches. This size is wrong.¡± ¡°We need to hurry then,¡± Xin Xiao Xiao said anxiously. ¡°If he¡¯s dragged back to the demon¡¯s lair and eaten, even Nuwa may not be able to save him.¡± The group immediately set off in the direction of the footprints. In the darkness, Yun Zhi walked up to Qi Yin and whispered, ¡°Qi Ling Shu is acting strange.¡± Even without him saying so, Qi Yin had already noticed. Their lies were full of loopholes. According to the depth of these footprints, there was no way that it could have been the weight of Fu Lan and a demon combined, and there were no footprints entering the pit. Others may not have noticed, but Qi Ling Shu had been following Qi Shen Wei to fight demons since he was young. There was no reason for him not to notice, but he remained silent. Qi Yin looked at the white-clothed man ahead of them. His face shrouded in moonlight and shadows, so Qi Yin was unable to discern his expression, but he felt a chilling aura. Things were getting stranger and stranger. Qi Yin furrowed his brows, wondering how much this seemingly innocent man knew. After walking for who knows how long, the eastern sky gradually brightened. The branches and leaves of the thornbush were soaked in light, as if covered with a layer of thin mercury. Faint mist flowed through the forest. Qi Ling Shu kept squatting down to examine the footprints, brushing aside wild grass and stems. There were many horseshoe-shaped footprints of horse demons, half-moon-shaped hoof prints of mules, and drag marks of snakes. Everyone was exhausted. Qi Ling Shu turned around and said, ¡°Rest for half a stick of incense.¡± Only Qi Yin and Yun Zhi knew they had completely gone the wrong way. Qi Ling Shu had been checking the footprints all along, but Fu Lan had been jumping from tree to tree because Qi Yin had discovered Fu Lan¡¯s shoe prints on the branches of several cypress trees an hour ago. Yun Zhi walked over to Qi Ling Shu and suggested, ¡°Perhaps we should go to Elder Qi Shen Wei¡¯s tomb and take a look.¡± Qi Ling Shu looked at him, waiting for him to continue. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen any remains of Yun Lan for so long. If he was eaten by demons, according to their habits, there would be bloodstains, broken limbs, and other remains left behind. This indicates that Yun Lan may have regained consciousness midway and found a way to escape,¡± Yun Zhi said confidently, despite lying. Qi Ling Shu replied nonchalantly, ¡°Go on.¡± Yun Zhi unfolded a map and pointed to a red circle. ¡°The nearest tomb is Elder Qi Shen Wei¡¯s tomb. It¡¯ll take about the time it takes to burn an incense stick to get there. Do you want to go and take a look?¡± Qi Yin was sitting on a tree stump, massaging his legs. Qi Ling Shu was practically an iron man, running so far without even panting. He took out a water bag from his Qiankun bag, drank some water, and wiped his sweat with a handkerchief. The corners of the handkerchief had little blue fish embroidered by his brother, some wagging their tails, some blowing bubbles. Qi Yin touched the little fish and thought of Fu Lan, feeling resentful. Suddenly, a low cry came from behind them. Qi Yin thought something had happened and hurried over. Zhong Ming and the others were gathered by the swamp, with Xin Xiao Xiao covering her nose, looking like she was about to vomit. The stench was too strong, making Qi Yin feel nauseous. Covering his mouth and nose, he approached and saw Qi Ling Shu and Yun Zhi squatting by a corpse. The body was very strange, face down in the mud, with both hands twisted unnaturally behind his back, as if his arms had been twisted backward before he died. What was even more terrifying was the countless holes all over his body, as if he had been pierced by coarse needles all over. Xin Xiao Xiao asked with red eyes, ¡°Is it Lan Gege?¡± Qi Yin comforted her, ¡°Look at the height. It¡¯s much shorter than my brother. It¡¯s definitely not him.¡± Yun Zhi was very brave and poked the holes on the body with a stick. ¡°Could it have been killed by a porcupine spirit?¡± The body was so mutilated that it barely looked human. Qi Yin asked, ¡°Is this a person or a demon?¡± ¡°Why would there be people in the Forbidden Forest? Of course it¡¯s a demon,¡± Zhong Ming said. However¡­ as Qi Yin looked at the corpse, the more he felt like it was a person. If a demon transformed into a human, it should revert back to its original form upon death. Just as he was pondering this, Qi Ling Shu suddenly looked up and shouted, ¡°It¡¯s not dead. Back away!¡± The corpse violently shook and its arms twisted like dough, the joints cracking with a teeth-grinding sound. CH 44 Everyone was startled and quickly backed away. Yun Zhi and a few others stood by Qi Yin¡¯s side. The corpse lifted its head, revealing a pockmarked face resembling a beehive. Its black mouth was wide open, and its contorted face was frozen in a terrifying expression, as if silently screaming in agony. It didn¡¯t bite anyone, but instead twisted its arms to scratch its own back, tearing it apart. Qi Yin¡¯s back tingled with pain just from watching it. Suddenly, the creature turned its face towards the crowd and crawled towards them. Everyone was terrified, but Yun Zhi bravely stepped forward and kicked it into the swamp. The corpse struggled in the swamp, sinking deeper and deeper until it disappeared. Everyone was shaken by the experience. Although they had encountered terrifying demons before, they had never seen anything as repulsive as this. Qi Ling Shu frowned. ¡°There¡¯s something on its back.¡± Qi Yin nodded. He speculated that whatever it was had caused the pockmarks on the corpse¡¯s body. The thing was probably of unknown origin and difficult to deal with, so kicking both it and the corpse into the swamp was the best course of action. After regrouping, they continued on their journey. By the time they reached Qi Shen Wei¡¯s grave, the sun had risen and the barrier in the sky was visible in the sunlight. Unlike Feng Huan¡¯s barrier, it was like a brilliant rainbow, undulating like waves in the sky. The light filtering through the leaves revealed a subtle and exquisite color. The snow on the ground had melted, and they walked through puddles of water. It only took less than an hour before they arrived at Qi Shen Wei¡¯s grave. But as they got closer, they were stunned to see that the grave had been completely destroyed. The white marble tombstone lay broken on the side, and the ground was full of pits and holes. When they looked into the hole, they saw that it was deep and dark, with occasional reflections of light on the water¡¯s surface. On the left was a tomb passage, which probably led to the tomb chamber. A difficult-to-describe rotten odor wafted out, as if something that had been frozen inside the hole for thousands of years was suddenly released. The area seemed to have lower ground level, and it appeared that the melting snow had caused the grave to collapse. Qi Yin peered into the tomb passage and saw that it was pitch black, with no end in sight. It was clear that Wu Fang had gone all out to build such a spacious grave for his father. Qi Ling Shu¡¯s face looked very unpleasant. Qi Yin thought it was because Qi Shen Wei¡¯s grave had been washed away, and he was not happy about it. But as he crouched in front of the cave, he said, ¡°This is not Master¡¯s tomb.¡± ¡°Strange.¡± Yun Zhi lowered his head and flipped through the map. ¡°We haven¡¯t taken the wrong path.¡± Qi Ling Shu said, ¡°Master passed away suddenly, and the tomb was just a shallow pit dug hastily, not even built with bricks or stones.¡± Qi Yin looked down and saw that the cave was at least one person tall. Zhao Ming said doubtfully, ¡°Did Elder Qi¡¯s tomb change on its own?¡± Xin Xiao Xiao also looked around in surprise. The black water reflected everyone¡¯s faces, each looking dark and dead, with an indescribable eerie feeling. ¡°It didn¡¯t change,¡± Yun said. ¡°It¡¯s been washed away by water.¡± He pointed to a protrusion in the cave wall, where clear soil layers and traces of water erosion could be seen. Obviously, the upper part was the tomb where Qi Shen Wei was buried, and the lower part was the tomb they were looking at now. Qi Yin complained, ¡°You Wu Fang people didn¡¯t pay enough attention when picking a grave site. How come you didn¡¯t first check if a predecessor had already taken the spot? Crushing someone¡¯s head like this¡­aren¡¯t you afraid of getting divine punishment?¡± Yun Zhi shrugged, ¡°Maybe they were afraid that Elder Qi would be alone and wanted to find him a companion to chat with.¡± Qi Ling Shu glanced at him. ¡°The flood may have damaged the coffin. I¡¯ll go down and take a look.¡± After speaking, he jumped down. The black water only came up to his ankles. Yun Zhi smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ll accompany you!¡± Just as they were about to jump down, a vague sound suddenly came from deep inside the tomb, carried by a gust of cold wind. The strange sound sounded like a human voice, indistinct and unintelligible. Hearing such a weird sound, everyone looked at each other with a fearful expression, and Qi Ling Shu stood still for a while. But soon everyone figured it out. The water had receded for a long time, and some monster might have entered the tomb. The sound was murmuring, as if repeating something over and over again. Qi Yin listened carefully, but his spiritual power was weak, and his hearing was not as good as the others, so he had a hard time hearing it. Suddenly, Qi Ling Shu¡¯s face turned pale, and his eyes went wide. ¡°It¡¯s Master!¡± As soon as he said this, everyone was stunned. Qi Yin¡¯s fat master had said that his father was half dead. Could it be that he was really still alive? Qi Ling Shu didn¡¯t say another word and rushed into the tomb. Yun Zhi quickly followed, shouting, ¡°Hei, follow us!¡± ¡°Who are you calling Hei!¡± cursed Qi Yin under his breath. With no other choice, he followed and jumped down as well. The tomb passage was very cold, and as soon as they descended, a chilly wind blew against their faces. It made Qi Yin feel as though frost was forming in the seams of his bones. The water was ice-cold, soaking their ankles. Qi Yin struggled to move forward, but that little brat Qi Ling Shu had already disappeared like a rat. They walked together for who knows how long until suddenly the passage opened up. Before them lay a long underground river, with misty darkness on either end, making it impossible to see the source or endpoint. A solitary stone arch bridge was erected to the northwest, leading to a dark hole. Qi Ling Shu held up a lamp talisman at the riverbank, looking down at the dark flowing water. There was an empty peach-wood coffin with a broken lid floating in the center of the river. It was clear what had happened. Qi Shen Wei hadn¡¯t died; he was buried alive. It was probably the flood that had destroyed the tomb and coffin, finally freeing him. Qi Yin breathed a sigh of relief. He knew this Sword Immortal wouldn¡¯t die that easily. ¡°Let¡¯s split up.¡± Qi Ling Shu made a prompt decision. ¡°I¡¯ll go find Master. You guys go up and continue to look for Yun Lan.¡± ¡°No way,¡± Yun Zhi objected. ¡°How could we let you go alone to find your Master?¡± Zhao Ming and Xin Xiao Xiao nodded in agreement. Yun Zhi continued, ¡°My Junior Brother and I will go with you.¡± He gestured at Xin Xiao Xiao. ¡°You two go up.¡± This surprised Zhao Ming. After all, Yun Lan was a disciple of Feng Huan Sect. It should have been their job to their own sect members. However, Qi Ling Shu agreed. ¡°I¡¯ll give you the talisman, and if you don¡¯t find Yun Lan nearby, go straight back to Execution Peak and report to the Elder for discussion.¡± Zhao Ming stuttered, ¡°Junior Uncle, this¡­¡± ¡°Obey my orders,¡± Qi Ling Shu ordered. With Junior Uncle having spoken, Zhao Ming could only nod and accept the talisman, leading Xin Xiao Xiao away with constant backward glances. As they watched them disappear into the depths of the passage, the remaining three followed the riverbank towards the bridge. Yun Zhi laughed as they walked. ¡°Junior Uncle, since we¡¯re going to travel together, let¡¯s be open with each other. I guess your objective was to come here to Elder Qi¡¯s grave in the first place, right?¡± Yun Zhi¡¯s words were correct. All along the way, Qi Ling Shu¡¯s objective had been clear. He was never here to find Fu Lan. However, Qi Ling Shu did not answer, only saying, ¡°You go first.¡± ¡°My Master has one of Elder Qi¡¯s life lamps. It¡¯s still burning, but there¡¯s already news of his death from the Wu Fang Sect. My Master is worried about Elder Qi, so he sent us to investigate,¡± Yun Zhi said. ¡°We also found bloodstains in your room,¡± Qi Yin added. ¡°Oh, by the way, did your Master ever practice the Shaman¡¯s Secret Art?¡± Qi Ling Shu shook his head. ¡°No, my master specialized in swordsmanship, and never delved into the path of spells.¡± ¡°That¡¯s strange¡­ How did those five people die?¡± Qi Yin furrowed his brows and pondered. Qi Ling Shu took out a bamboo tube from his Qiankun bag and handed it to Yun Zhi. ¡°I received the bad news in the Northern Land on April 8th, and returned to Wu Fang when my master had already been laid out and was resting in the Wu Fang Hall. I mourned for him, buried him, and returned to the stone room, only to find this in the crevice of the steps.¡± Yun Zhi opened the bamboo tube, and Qi Yin also leaned over to take a look. They were immediately shocked to see a small piece of pale bone inside. ¡°This is not my master¡¯s finger, but I also know that there must be something fishy about his sudden death.¡± Qi Ling Shu closed his eyes and covered the deep grief in his eyes. ¡°When I left Wu Fang, he was obviously recovering well from his injuries and could walk on his own. On April 8th, however, bad news suddenly came. Since then, I have been secretly investigating, but to no avail, until you came to Wu Fang.¡± ¡°How did you know we were looking for Elder Qi?¡± Yun Zhi asked in confusion. ¡°Yun Lan disappeared. Isn¡¯t that your plan to sneak into the Forbidden Forest?¡± Qi Ling Shu said lightly, ¡°Forgive me for being blunt, but you and Yun Yin are too good at acting. Yun Lan disappeared, and the two of you weren¡¯t the least bit panicked.¡± He looked at Qi Yin and coughed. ¡°Especially you. Your friendship with Yun Lan is deep. You shouldn¡¯t be so calm.¡± Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± What did deep friendship mean? Qi Yin was speechless. Other than occasionally having some improper thoughts about his brother, he was completely innocent. He finally realized that being serious was just an act, and that this guy was also a perverted scoundrel on the inside. Yun Zhi smiled while crossing his arms. ¡°To be honest, you guessed wrong. Yun Lan¡¯s disappearance was not part of our plan. My junior brother is a supernatural being, and we can¡¯t control him.¡± He spoke vaguely, obviously not wanting to say much about Yun Lan¡¯s matter. Qi Ling Shu didn¡¯t ask much either. He just nodded and said, ¡°However, the reason why I am certain of your goal is because you have brought the real Qi Yin.¡± Qi Yin was taken aback and asked in confusion, ¡°How did you find out about me? Um¡­ Was it during the hot spring incident?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if you have noticed¡­¡± Qi Ling Shu paused halfway through and seemed to be weighing his words, as if hesitating whether to say it or not. Qi Yin looked at him in confusion, and he paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°Qi Yin, every time you look at me, your eyes always seem sad. Maybe I¡¯m mistaken, but I always feel like there¡¯s a sense of¡­ abandonment in your eyes.¡± Qi Yin: ¡°¡­¡± An awkward silence fell in the air, and Qi Yin laughed dryly, stuttering, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just because I¡¯m a little envious of you. It¡¯s normal. Anyone would envy you for being so handsome. It¡¯s fine now, I don¡¯t care anymore. Hahaha!¡± ¡°Hei.¡± Yun Zhi looked at him with pity. ¡°You¡¯re laughing uglier than crying.¡± Qi Yin choked and glared at him. Qi Ling Shu said, ¡°I knew about you a long time ago, Qi Yin, since I was very young. They all said that our master had a child outside, and I had wondered why he didn¡¯t go to find you. I still don¡¯t know the answer to that. But I do know that he has been worried about you all this time.¡± Qi Yin remained silent. Was he really worried about him? It wouldn¡¯t have been difficult to find him with a sword and just one night¡¯s journey. Even if he couldn¡¯t acknowledge him as his son, couldn¡¯t he at least come to see how he was doing occasionally and send some money to his aunt? That way, perhaps his life would have been a little better. Qi Yin smiled sardonically, his tone both sarcastic and defensive. ¡°Oh, is that so? How did he worry?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know how knew you were Qi Yin?¡± Qi Ling Shu stopped and whispered, ¡°It was because Yun Lan said that you were called ¡®puppy¡¯. In March, I received an invitation from Zhong Gu Mountain to help them vanquish demons, and before I left, I left a piece of Dawn Mirror in the stone room. On the eighth day of April, as our master was dying, he kept shouting ¡®puppy¡¯ at the mirror.¡± Qi Yin was stunned. ¡°I didn¡¯t understand it at the time, but I realized it when I was in the hot springs that day. He wanted to see you for the last time,¡± Qi Ling Shu said slowly. ¡°And the voice that came from the tomb just now, it was calling ¡®puppy¡¯ again and again.¡± Qi Yin lowered his eyes, feeling as if a pot had been put over his head and he couldn¡¯t express his sadness. What was this all about? He had hated that man for over a decade, and now he suddenly came to tell him that he had his reasons for abandoning his wife and son, and that he still loved him. As if he could be forgiven just because this guy loved him. The past ten years had gone by like flowing water. His mother had passed away, and he had grown up. Did he really expect him to forgive him just because of a word like ¡®puppy¡¯? But the hardness in Qi Yin¡¯s heart seemed to crumble away, leaving behind a small crack. He slowly crouched down, his face reflected in the dark river water. He smiled bitterly at his own reflection. That man¡­ he really loved him. Qi Ling Shu and Yun Zhi stood at the edge, silently watching his back as he hung his head, looking like a lost dog. Qi Ling Shu lowered his eyes, remembering the time when Qi Yin stood at the sword competition platform and watched him from afar. When he turned his head, Qi Yin panicked and pretended nothing had happened. At that time, Qi Yin lowered his head, shrugged his shoulders, put his hands in his sleeves, and walked alone in the crowd, but his back was surprisingly lonely. Every time he saw him, Qi Ling Shu always felt that he had taken his place. Perhaps fate had made a mistake somewhere, and the first disciple of Wu Fang should have been Qi Yin, but another wandering wild child had taken the lead by mistake. Qi Ling Shu silently thought that he owed him. After a while, Qi Yin stood up and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go find him. I want to ask him why he abandoned me and my mother and disappeared. Why he has not contacted me for eighteen years.¡± His deep eyes were surprisingly calm and firm. ¡°It¡¯s been eighteen years. It¡¯s time. Today, I will settle things with him.¡± Qi Ling Shu was about to nod when there was suddenly a shout from behind him, ¡°Junior Uncle!¡± Why hadn¡¯t these two left yet? Qi Yin looked over and saw their panicked faces. Zhao Ming said in fear, ¡°Junior Uncle, the cave entrance is gone.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± Qi Ling Shu frowned. ¡°The entrance is gone!¡± Xin Xiao Xiao exclaimed. ¡°The entrance has disappeared!¡± Qi Ling Shu and Yun Zhi looked at each other, turned back into the tunnel, waded through the water for a while, and finally reached the top. The place where the cave entrance was supposed to be had turned into a rough rock wall. Qi Ling Shu held up a light talisman to carefully examine it. The rock wall was integrated with the surrounding rocks, without any trace of artificial chiseling. It was impossible for anyone else to move a stone to block it while they weren¡¯t paying attention. ¡°This is damn strange.¡± Yun Zhi reached out and touched the rock wall. ¡°Have you tried using the command talisman?¡± Qi Ling Shu asked. ¡°Trying it out,¡± Zhao Ming said uneasily. ¡°It¡¯s no use.¡± Qi Ling Shu tried again, but the talisman couldn¡¯t be activated. Everyone stared at each other in disbelief, and Zhao Ming muttered, ¡°Could it be haunted?¡± Xin Xiao Xiao shuddered and hugged his arms. ¡°Senior Brother, don¡¯t scare me. I¡¯m afraid of ghosts. When I was young, my siblings would tell me ghost stories, and I wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep all night.¡± A strange gust of wind blew over, making people feel chilly and eerie. Qi Yin also felt that this place was a bit sinister. Qi Ling Shu frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t scare yourself. Maybe it¡¯s an illusion.¡± Zhao Ming wanted to break open a way with his sword, but Yun Zhi stopped him and shook his head, saying it was not possible. The rock structure here was intact, and if they tried to break through, the tomb passage might collapse first. Suddenly, Yun Zhi remembered something and quickly took out his Dawn Mirror, polishing it carefully until the vague images of Qing He and Qing Ming appeared inside. Qing He shook his head and smiled. ¡°Yun Zhi, I told you to open the mirror every half hour. It has been more than two hours now, and you finally remember me.¡± ¡°Senior Uncle, you are a grown-up. Don¡¯t bicker with your nephew.¡± Yun Zhi explained the situation, and Qi Ling Shu added some details. Qing He pondered for a moment and asked to see Qi Shen Wei¡¯s coffin. Everyone returned to the underground river bank, and Qing He examined it carefully through the mirror for a while. Suddenly, his tone became heavy. ¡°Children, you cannot stay in this tomb for long. You need to find a way out as soon as possible.¡±