Chapter 41
right hand taking Ruan Li into her arms. Simultaneously remembering to send the man flying with a kick, a serious warning: “Men and women are not to be intimate.”
The system didn’t stop her, instead plainly commenting: “The time is just right, an important plot point from the heroine descending the mountain for experience has already started.”
Luo Qingci naturally understood what the system meant; the second meeting between the male and female leads was about to arrive. The calamity from the Demon Clan as written in the original book, has also begun. Just then, she had noticed that a strand of her consciousness had been destroyed, the image transmitted in that instant alarmed her.
“What ambushed Ruan Li just then seems to be demonic qi,” as she spoke, she pulled out an outfit from her storage space, as well as the mask Cheng Su gave her before.
“Yes.”
Encountering demons? Her brows knit, “System, is A-Li’s group at Three Willow Village right now?” Remembering that an important plot point had started, she was uncontrollably thinking about the events mentioned in the book. This is a romance-brained novel after all, major plot points would unavoidably mention feelings sprouting between the male and female leads. This plot point of common ground officially arising between the male and female leads is certain to ‘“hit on something new”.
“Exactly.”
As soon as she heard this, her movements grew faster, “Then why didn’t you remind me sooner? Such an important plot point and you waited until I was shocked awake to tell me?”
The system’s tone was cool and resigned,1 “Merely a meeting between them and not marriage, why do you look like your wife was snatched?”
Luo Qingci was in the middle of dressing herself and was briefly stunned from hearing this, then with disbelief: “Do you still remember who you are? Is this something you can say?”
The system said nothing, it was also questioning whether its brain was broken. How could it say such things?
She had successfully rendered the system mute, but still mumbled on unstoppably, “This is me being worried that she and the male lead would get involved. What do you mean a wife, I’m also a woman okay? In any case, I watched her birth and raised that little immature dragon until she’s now slender and elegant, on what basis could I allow a man destined to hurt her to get involved with her. This is like a cabbage you raised yourself, finally growing juicy after great difficulty, how could it be snatched by a pig.”
“Also, this plot point isn’t a mere meeting. This damnable dog-blooded plot just had to have a scene of the hero saving a beauty. Who set the rule that when the male lead meets the heroine they must fly out to embrace her? What kind of decent person would hug a lady on their first meeting?” She had quietly secluded herself in recuperation for a year, the moment she woke up she started muttering again, making the system’s head swell.
How could there be such a chatty person in this world? Even the Heartless Path couldn’t seal her mouth, isn’t it ironic that it was even worried that she would cultivate too far and become emotionless and desireless. From the look of things, it’s afraid that even if it’s cultivated to the end she would still be a chatterbox.
The system unwittingly let out a stream of complaints, and then realised after the fact that it had also been turned into a complaint monster, immediately stopping and adding a sentence that instantly stopped Luo Qingci in her tracks.
“According to the system’s analysis, if you don’t head out now the male lead’s ‘hero saving the beauty’ scene will end.”
Luo Qingci stiffened, once her belt was tied, she hurriedly wore her mask, “I’ll head over first.”
Because of Tianyan Sect’s restrictions, if she wanted to avoid the notice of others she must travel through the frigid pool. Luckily, she had snuck out several times and it was already an easy trip on a familiar path. But recalling that her frost poison hadn’t been cured and that she still had to soak in Youtan; she truly felt that she was causing trouble for herself.2
Exiting Youtan and returning to that familiar cave, she couldn’t help but set her eyes on the arrangements within the cave, the gathered dust scattered with a wave of her hand. Having done this, she didn’t linger any longer and concentrated on sensing the signal sent by the paper crane, riding the wind up.
After Ruan Li had killed the clam spirit in Three Willow Village, she and Su Yu returned to shore. Hua Xuwan and Bai Jing rushed to their side.
“Su-shijie, Ruan Li. How are you both? Have you been injured?”
Su Yu hastily glanced at Ruan Li, who shook her head, “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
Hua Xuwan’s face was filled with worry, and recalling what had just happened she couldn’t help but huff: “Ruan Li, why did you send me out just then? If something happened to you, how could I face Huaizhu Jun?”
Ruan Li directed a smile at Hua Xuwan and turned back to glance at the water, “I’m a good swimmer, it’s no problem. And if you weren’t on the shore, I’m afraid that we really would have died at that clam spirit’s hands.”
“Exactly, I saw Ruan Li as the clam spirit and nearly hurt her. Fortunately, Xuwan’s formation jolted me awake in time.” Su Yu recalled that underwater scene just then with lingering fear. Then, thinking of that black qi just then, her expression grew grave, “Just then, did you catch sight of what was inside that clam spirit’s body?”
Hua Xuwan and Bai Jing shook their heads, “I only saw a clump of black qi, it looks terrifying and feels ominous.”
“Shijie, what have you found?” Ruan Li was perfectly clear on what that was, but she couldn’t say it so clearly.
“I recall that Zitan Jun had mentioned that traces of the Demon Clan had recently been found. The terrible strength of that black qi just then, if it wasn’t for the crane blocking it, who knows what would have happened to A-Li. I suspect that the black qi is related to the Demon Clan.”
“Demon, are you saying that it was demonic qi?” Hua Xuwan’s expression changed, and then she furrowed her brow, “Right. Right. Master and Nanming Jun were the ones responsible for investigating the matter of the Quru bird being released back then, and at the time, a spurt of black qi was discovered on the guarding disciple.”
“If it’s demonic qi, then this situation is quite bad,” Su Yu muttered to herself.
Right as she was preparing to say something, Bai Jing suddenly pointed to the riverside and cried out: “Is…is that a person?”
Ruan Li’s sight sharpened and swept over what was behind her, hastily dashing over. The four saw two people lying in the water facedown, wearing white robes and with their hair tied into Daoist buns. From the look of it, they were no longer breathing. Su Yu’s expression was very difficult to watch, she recognised the style of their clothing, they were inner disciples from Kun courtyard. When they pulled the corpses to shore, they found that both of their hearts had also been carved out.
“That clam spirit is utterly vile. Killing it just like that, was too easy on it.” Bai Jing grit her teeth, her heart pained to the utmost. Although she wasn’t familiar with the two, but as disciples of the same hall, they had gone through such difficulties to cultivate, only to die here, and one could only wring their hands in dismay. Ruan Li said nothing, she crouched down to examine their injuries, her brow never loosening.
Su Yu saw how she stared unblinkingly at the corpses, “A-Li, is there a problem?”
Ruan Li whispered: “There’s only one wound.”
“One wound?” Hua Xuwan stared blankly and then examined it herself, “Taking their life with a single strike, directly gouging out their heart?”
With this, Su Yu realised that something was wrong, “Although that clam spirit was powerful, but it could only manage sneak attacks and its cultivation is at most Foundation-Building. The two of them are also at Foundation-Building, with more than a year’s worth of training experience. Accepting the mission to come here, they know there’s problems in the first place, so it shouldn’t reach the point of having their lives taken from a single strike.”
Ruan Li nodded, surveying their surroundings and adding with a grave tone, “It’s not right. A clam spirit wouldn’t be stained by demonic qi out of nowhere, its performance just then didn’t match with having dug out so many hearts either. With its cultivation, it’s impossible for it to kill the two of them so easily. Shijie, we need to stay alert.”
Su Yu and the others all nodded. Only seeing the corpses of two of their fellow disciples in front of them, and thinking of the villagers who had died a tragic death, their hearts found it difficult to bear.
A long while later, Su Yu declared: “So many innocent people tragically met their deaths and even had their hearts torn out. Their resentment is certain to be immensely heavy, we need to retrieve their corpses for them, and then ferry them into the cycle of reincarnation. Otherwise, an evil fiend is certain to be born, and I’m afraid that these villagers won’t be able to rest in peace.”
“I agree.” Hua Xuwan glanced up at the sky—thinking of how there were so many corpses and knowing that it would be a time-consuming task—immediately preparing to burst into action.
The four went from house to house to carry the corpses out, lying on the empty ground, the rows upon rows of corpses were truly a ghastly sight. The ninety-six people in the village had all met a tragic death. Thinking of how they were late by merely one night, and that such a tragic thing happened because of that, their mood was incomparably solemn.
“There’s so many people, I’m afraid we could only cremate them.” Su Yu’s lips went white, the words that she spoke somewhat obscured.
Ruan Li turned away and lowly hummed in reply.
Su Yu gently lifted her skirt tails, sitting down cross-legged. Bai Jing and Hua Xuwan also set their swords down and sat down with her, the three started to soundlessly mouth sutras, dispelling the resentment that these pitiful people had died with. Slowly, a white light emanated from the three’s bodies and enveloped the villagers’ corpses. Ruan Li stood beside them and concentrated on watching their surroundings; then she silently took out the paper crane she had tucked away, staring at the cracks upon it. Her fingers gently petted the crane that had followed her for more than a year, her heart both embittered and sorrowful.
But right now, she had no time to mourn, the matter hadn’t been resolved and the danger was still present. If the clam spirit hadn’t killed them, then there must be another powerful spirit here. The people in the village had been dead for no longer than two shichen, having carved so many hearts out, it couldn’t have left. Besides, the clam spirit had set its illusionary realm as soon as they entered, it seems they’ve already startled it.
“It seems you aren’t completely stupid. Don’t blame me for not warning you, it’s best if you hurry up and leave. The people here are dead, whether that spirit is killed has nothing to do with you either.”
That contemptible voice had come out again. In these years, she had far fewer nightmares in Tianyan Sect, but once she had left, those ceaselessly entangling nightmares started to come thick and fast. Since she was afraid of startling Su Yu and the others, she very rarely slept soundly. She also began to discover that every time her emotions fluctuated too wildly—especially when dark thoughts arose in her heart—it would appear. Ruan Li gave her full attention to remaining guarded against her surroundings, completely ignoring that voice filled with allure and malice.
“Don’t you forget, your revenge hadn’t been taken. What meaning is there to forsake yourself for these people? Do you think they would be grateful to you? Have you been moved by that paper crane, Su Yu and them? If they knew your identity, you can’t tell me that you don’t know exactly how they would treat you.”
Ruan Li found it increasingly repulsive, as that voice ceaselessly reminded her, those unbearably painful scenes from her nightmares once again floated to the forefront of her mind. She stared at Su Yu and the others, her left eye once again scorching, and the light of the spiritual sword in her hand also unstoppably flickering. But this was for only an instant. Very quickly, she harshly shut her eyes and regained her calm, muttering: “The pitiful one is you.”
That voice suddenly shut its mouth, and then burst into rancorous laughter.
“Ruan Li, who do you think I’m doing this for? If I’m pitiful, aren’t you afraid that you are even more pitiful than me?”
Ruan Li didn’t want to argue with her and mouthed the Heart-Cleansing Incantation, calming herself down.
As the three continued their dispelling, the villagers who originally had faces locked in terror gradually eased their fierce expressions. Strand after strand of white light floated up from their bodies, bathing in the gentle light scattered from the three’s sutras.
But right then, Ruan Li detected a strange smell, a north-westerly wind was blowing, and that smell was mixed into the breeze; it was a fishy and repulsive stench that carried a musk, by no means a pleasant smell. She looked to the northwest, at those three willow trees that happened to reside at the northwest bank of the river.
An inexplicable feeling arose, vaguely sensing that those willow trees were very unusual. Willow trees correspond to yin in the first place, before she had felt that something was wrong with those trees, now it’s yin energy felt even more plentiful. With a glance, noting that the others hadn’t finished yet, she couldn’t recklessly take action. Hence, keeping her eyes on the other side this entire time. The wind grew stronger and stronger, carrying the humidity of the river’s waters, chilly and damp; hitting her and sending strands of her hair aflutter. That stench mixed in became even more intense. Su Yu had already noticed the higher winds, glancing at Ruan Li from the corner of her eye.
Getting her message, “Shijie, you should continue. I’m here.”
She mentioned nothing of the oddities surrounding the willow trees, afraid of startling the snake by beating the grass, but she had already readied herself.3
The wind echoed, the willow branches swaying endlessly in the gale—especially that willow tree in the middle with a hole in its trunk—making Ruan Li feel very uncomfortable.
That hole faced mostly towards the entrance of the village, and she could only see a small fraction of it, but she still felt that there was a sightline locked onto her, like the tip of a sword resting at her back. The other three also noticed this, a chill arising on their spines.
The spirits of the villagers, who had initially already been placated, suddenly became agitated again. Clumps of white light endlessly crashed against the formation, one after another, some revealing their faces, roaring and howling. Fierce to the extreme. The pressure on the three grew, they simultaneously lifted their left hands to press against their right and the dispelling spiritual light grew brighter.
“Shijie, it’s useless.” Ruan Li’s throat bobbed a few times, looking at that willow tree, “Their enemy, has arrived.”
Su Yu was shocked, strenuously looking at that willow tree, “What is it?”
As soon as her voice fell, a sound like the wails of an infant emanated from that willow tree.
Normal infant cries incite the tender affection of others, but this sound was indescribably horrific. Within its evil air was malicious intent, with none of the tenderness and innocence of an infant. That cry drew out a scattered image from Ruan Li’s mind, she cried: “It’s the Pao Xiao.”4
The others couldn’t react in time, “Pao Xiao?”
Not giving them the time to comprehend what it was, another wail came forth and at the same time, a black shadow flew directly at them from the hole in the willow tree. It was extremely fast. Ruan Li had only just raised her sword and that shadow was already right before her eyes. Then it heavily clashed against her blade.
The strength of that strike was terrifyingly high. Her right hand immediately went numb, and she couldn’t hold her sword steady. Her body uncontrollably sliding back until she fell to the ground, only then could she straighten back up and stand firm.
Without waiting for her to recover, that shadow shot over again. Ruan Li desperately turned her body to evade it, and at the same time, spun the sword in her hand to stab out once again. The black shadow that rushed in steadily received this blow. In an instant, she had diverted three attacks from that shadow, only then did she barely manage to pull herself back. The crease of her right thumb where her sword was held, dripped with fresh blood. Her fingers relaxed and clenched, subtly tremoring. The blood and air in her chest were also roiling. In the blink of an eye, she had determined: she was no match for it.
“Shijie, that’s a ferocious beast from the uncivilised age. It should have been sealed in the demon realm, I don’t know why it would be here. We aren’t a match for it, you should hurry up and leave.”
Ruan Li was utterly vexed, this was something she should have known of in the first place, yet she was overly repulsed by that voice and had only sporadically seen it in her dreams, to forget such a huge danger. She immediately unleashed all her spiritual power, taking the lead to attack first, wanting to delay the Pao Xiao and allow the others to escape.
Only now did Su Yu realise that Pao Xiao was a ferocious beast she had seen from the Hundred Spirits Register, and her heart immediately went cold, “Xuwan, Bai Jing, alert the sect. Hurry up and go!”
Finishing, she leapt up and struck several consecutive slashes at the Pao Xiao, “A-Li, you’ve forgotten that I’m the shijie. Where’s the logic in a shijie allowing their shimei to guard the rear as they escape? Today, I definitely won’t leave you here alone.”
Eying her, Ruan Li started to speak but paused, and in the next instant her gaze suddenly became fierce, “Good, then we’ll see if we can take this achievement today!”
The Pao Xiao in front of them had already cultivated into a half-human form: a human face and beastly body. Its four limbs were like that of a human’s, its body currently shrouded in black mist and it was bizarrely fast. Though Su Yu’s attacks were ferocious, they basically didn’t reach her opponent. The Pao Xiao fought one on two and still held the advantage. Once Hua Xuwan and Bai Jing had sent the message, they didn’t leave and also leapt forth. With the four’s combined efforts, they fought until the wind and clouds changed colour but still couldn’t find the advantage.
“Xuwan. Bai Jing. Don’t be clouded by emotion, you go first. We aren’t a match for it!”
“Su-shijie, what kind of thing are you saying, we came here together, and the sect leader told us to take care of each other. Besides, Ruan Li saved my life, if you want me to leave, it’s absolutely impossible!”
“Exactly, either we leave together, or we risk it together!” Although Bai Jing was a little young, but her temper wasn’t little at all. One attack of the Reign of Ten-thousand Swords;5 though it wasn’t overly proficient, but for a time it still cast the glint of blades and silhouette of swords, the sword intent falling like hail. Seeing that the Pao Xiao was dazzled by the sword-shadows, Ruan Li’s pupils shrunk. The real eyes of the Pao Xiao were under its armpits, that was its weakness. So in that instant, she purposefully left an opening—her sword rushed forth towards the space revealed at its left shoulder. The Pao Xiao switched directions, suddenly teleporting to her side. Its long arms stretched out, its five digits snatching towards her shoulders like sharp claws.
“A-Li!” Su Yu involuntarily shouted out, under the desperate situation her pupils sharply contracted, and she snapped: “Come forth!”
Luo Qingci had given the bamboo whip to Ruan Li and she in turn immediately gave it to Su Yu. Only, it never acknowledged her and would normally refuse to come out, Su Yu was also very frustrated by it.
But at this critical juncture, she forcibly summoned the bamboo whip. Not waiting for the sword spirit to react, she held the whip with both hands to forfeit all of the spiritual power in her dantian—carving out a slash. The fourth layer of the Nine Incantations of Hunyuan which she had never been able to use, was stubbornly cast out. Ruan Li groaned, her left shoulder had been pierced by the Pao Xiao’s claws. Her right hand twisted, and her sword twirled around once before stabbing straight into its left armpit.
A talisman from Hua Xuwan was tossed out just in time to block the right hand of the Pao Xiao grabbing at Ruan Li’s throat. The dense sword intent from Su Yu also arrived in turn. The Pao Xiao finally sensed danger, transforming into a cloud of black mist. But it was still partially hit by Su Yu. Simultaneously, Ruan Li’s sword also sunk into its left eye. It sharply cried and its spiritual power mixed with demonic qi exploded outwards. Ruan Li groaned as she was sent flying outwards. It was as if the demonic qi on its body had been dispersed; three consecutive strands of demonic qi chased after Ruan Li like the stars chasing after the sun.
“Cease your impudence!”
Right at that moment, a clear and bright male voice flew through the air alongside a strand of sword intent, heading directly for Ruan Li.
Seeing that he was about to take Ruan Li into his embrace, an azure silhouette skipped the queue ahead of him. Her left hand cleanly blocked those three strands of demonic qi, right hand taking Ruan Li into her arms. Simultaneously remembering to send the man flying with a kick, a serious warning: “Men and women shouldn’t be familiar.”
—Translated by Hei
Author’s Comments:
A fat chapter to compensate for the late update.
Chapter 41
right hand taking Ruan Li into her arms. Simultaneously remembering to send the man flying with a kick, a serious warning: “Men and women are not to be intimate.”
The system didn’t stop her, instead plainly commenting: “The time is just right, an important plot point from the heroine descending the mountain for experience has already started.”
Luo Qingci naturally understood what the system meant; the second meeting between the male and female leads was about to arrive. The calamity from the Demon Clan as written in the original book, has also begun. Just then, she had noticed that a strand of her consciousness had been destroyed, the image transmitted in that instant alarmed her.
“What ambushed Ruan Li just then seems to be demonic qi,” as she spoke, she pulled out an outfit from her storage space, as well as the mask Cheng Su gave her before.
“Yes.”
Encountering demons? Her brows knit, “System, is A-Li’s group at Three Willow Village right now?” Remembering that an important plot point had started, she was uncontrollably thinking about the events mentioned in the book. This is a romance-brained novel after all, major plot points would unavoidably mention feelings sprouting between the male and female leads. This plot point of common ground officially arising between the male and female leads is certain to ‘“hit on something new”.
“Exactly.”
As soon as she heard this, her movements grew faster, “Then why didn’t you remind me sooner? Such an important plot point and you waited until I was shocked awake to tell me?”
The system’s tone was cool and resigned,1 “Merely a meeting between them and not marriage, why do you look like your wife was snatched?”
Luo Qingci was in the middle of dressing herself and was briefly stunned from hearing this, then with disbelief: “Do you still remember who you are? Is this something you can say?”
The system said nothing, it was also questioning whether its brain was broken. How could it say such things?
She had successfully rendered the system mute, but still mumbled on unstoppably, “This is me being worried that she and the male lead would get involved. What do you mean a wife, I’m also a woman okay? In any case, I watched her birth and raised that little immature dragon until she’s now slender and elegant, on what basis could I allow a man destined to hurt her to get involved with her. This is like a cabbage you raised yourself, finally growing juicy after great difficulty, how could it be snatched by a pig.”
“Also, this plot point isn’t a mere meeting. This damnable dog-blooded plot just had to have a scene of the hero saving a beauty. Who set the rule that when the male lead meets the heroine they must fly out to embrace her? What kind of decent person would hug a lady on their first meeting?” She had quietly secluded herself in recuperation for a year, the moment she woke up she started muttering again, making the system’s head swell.
How could there be such a chatty person in this world? Even the Heartless Path couldn’t seal her mouth, isn’t it ironic that it was even worried that she would cultivate too far and become emotionless and desireless. From the look of things, it’s afraid that even if it’s cultivated to the end she would still be a chatterbox.
The system unwittingly let out a stream of complaints, and then realised after the fact that it had also been turned into a complaint monster, immediately stopping and adding a sentence that instantly stopped Luo Qingci in her tracks.
“According to the system’s analysis, if you don’t head out now the male lead’s ‘hero saving the beauty’ scene will end.”
Luo Qingci stiffened, once her belt was tied, she hurriedly wore her mask, “I’ll head over first.”
Because of Tianyan Sect’s restrictions, if she wanted to avoid the notice of others she must travel through the frigid pool. Luckily, she had snuck out several times and it was already an easy trip on a familiar path. But recalling that her frost poison hadn’t been cured and that she still had to soak in Youtan; she truly felt that she was causing trouble for herself.2
Exiting Youtan and returning to that familiar cave, she couldn’t help but set her eyes on the arrangements within the cave, the gathered dust scattered with a wave of her hand. Having done this, she didn’t linger any longer and concentrated on sensing the signal sent by the paper crane, riding the wind up.
After Ruan Li had killed the clam spirit in Three Willow Village, she and Su Yu returned to shore. Hua Xuwan and Bai Jing rushed to their side.
“Su-shijie, Ruan Li. How are you both? Have you been injured?”
Su Yu hastily glanced at Ruan Li, who shook her head, “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
Hua Xuwan’s face was filled with worry, and recalling what had just happened she couldn’t help but huff: “Ruan Li, why did you send me out just then? If something happened to you, how could I face Huaizhu Jun?”
Ruan Li directed a smile at Hua Xuwan and turned back to glance at the water, “I’m a good swimmer, it’s no problem. And if you weren’t on the shore, I’m afraid that we really would have died at that clam spirit’s hands.”
“Exactly, I saw Ruan Li as the clam spirit and nearly hurt her. Fortunately, Xuwan’s formation jolted me awake in time.” Su Yu recalled that underwater scene just then with lingering fear. Then, thinking of that black qi just then, her expression grew grave, “Just then, did you catch sight of what was inside that clam spirit’s body?”
Hua Xuwan and Bai Jing shook their heads, “I only saw a clump of black qi, it looks terrifying and feels ominous.”
“Shijie, what have you found?” Ruan Li was perfectly clear on what that was, but she couldn’t say it so clearly.
“I recall that Zitan Jun had mentioned that traces of the Demon Clan had recently been found. The terrible strength of that black qi just then, if it wasn’t for the crane blocking it, who knows what would have happened to A-Li. I suspect that the black qi is related to the Demon Clan.”
“Demon, are you saying that it was demonic qi?” Hua Xuwan’s expression changed, and then she furrowed her brow, “Right. Right. Master and Nanming Jun were the ones responsible for investigating the matter of the Quru bird being released back then, and at the time, a spurt of black qi was discovered on the guarding disciple.”
“If it’s demonic qi, then this situation is quite bad,” Su Yu muttered to herself.
Right as she was preparing to say something, Bai Jing suddenly pointed to the riverside and cried out: “Is…is that a person?”
Ruan Li’s sight sharpened and swept over what was behind her, hastily dashing over. The four saw two people lying in the water facedown, wearing white robes and with their hair tied into Daoist buns. From the look of it, they were no longer breathing. Su Yu’s expression was very difficult to watch, she recognised the style of their clothing, they were inner disciples from Kun courtyard. When they pulled the corpses to shore, they found that both of their hearts had also been carved out.
“That clam spirit is utterly vile. Killing it just like that, was too easy on it.” Bai Jing grit her teeth, her heart pained to the utmost. Although she wasn’t familiar with the two, but as disciples of the same hall, they had gone through such difficulties to cultivate, only to die here, and one could only wring their hands in dismay. Ruan Li said nothing, she crouched down to examine their injuries, her brow never loosening.
Su Yu saw how she stared unblinkingly at the corpses, “A-Li, is there a problem?”
Ruan Li whispered: “There’s only one wound.”
“One wound?” Hua Xuwan stared blankly and then examined it herself, “Taking their life with a single strike, directly gouging out their heart?”
With this, Su Yu realised that something was wrong, “Although that clam spirit was powerful, but it could only manage sneak attacks and its cultivation is at most Foundation-Building. The two of them are also at Foundation-Building, with more than a year’s worth of training experience. Accepting the mission to come here, they know there’s problems in the first place, so it shouldn’t reach the point of having their lives taken from a single strike.”
Ruan Li nodded, surveying their surroundings and adding with a grave tone, “It’s not right. A clam spirit wouldn’t be stained by demonic qi out of nowhere, its performance just then didn’t match with having dug out so many hearts either. With its cultivation, it’s impossible for it to kill the two of them so easily. Shijie, we need to stay alert.”
Su Yu and the others all nodded. Only seeing the corpses of two of their fellow disciples in front of them, and thinking of the villagers who had died a tragic death, their hearts found it difficult to bear.
A long while later, Su Yu declared: “So many innocent people tragically met their deaths and even had their hearts torn out. Their resentment is certain to be immensely heavy, we need to retrieve their corpses for them, and then ferry them into the cycle of reincarnation. Otherwise, an evil fiend is certain to be born, and I’m afraid that these villagers won’t be able to rest in peace.”
“I agree.” Hua Xuwan glanced up at the sky—thinking of how there were so many corpses and knowing that it would be a time-consuming task—immediately preparing to burst into action.
The four went from house to house to carry the corpses out, lying on the empty ground, the rows upon rows of corpses were truly a ghastly sight. The ninety-six people in the village had all met a tragic death. Thinking of how they were late by merely one night, and that such a tragic thing happened because of that, their mood was incomparably solemn.
“There’s so many people, I’m afraid we could only cremate them.” Su Yu’s lips went white, the words that she spoke somewhat obscured.
Ruan Li turned away and lowly hummed in reply.
Su Yu gently lifted her skirt tails, sitting down cross-legged. Bai Jing and Hua Xuwan also set their swords down and sat down with her, the three started to soundlessly mouth sutras, dispelling the resentment that these pitiful people had died with. Slowly, a white light emanated from the three’s bodies and enveloped the villagers’ corpses. Ruan Li stood beside them and concentrated on watching their surroundings; then she silently took out the paper crane she had tucked away, staring at the cracks upon it. Her fingers gently petted the crane that had followed her for more than a year, her heart both embittered and sorrowful.
But right now, she had no time to mourn, the matter hadn’t been resolved and the danger was still present. If the clam spirit hadn’t killed them, then there must be another powerful spirit here. The people in the village had been dead for no longer than two shichen, having carved so many hearts out, it couldn’t have left. Besides, the clam spirit had set its illusionary realm as soon as they entered, it seems they’ve already startled it.
“It seems you aren’t completely stupid. Don’t blame me for not warning you, it’s best if you hurry up and leave. The people here are dead, whether that spirit is killed has nothing to do with you either.”
That contemptible voice had come out again. In these years, she had far fewer nightmares in Tianyan Sect, but once she had left, those ceaselessly entangling nightmares started to come thick and fast. Since she was afraid of startling Su Yu and the others, she very rarely slept soundly. She also began to discover that every time her emotions fluctuated too wildly—especially when dark thoughts arose in her heart—it would appear. Ruan Li gave her full attention to remaining guarded against her surroundings, completely ignoring that voice filled with allure and malice.
“Don’t you forget, your revenge hadn’t been taken. What meaning is there to forsake yourself for these people? Do you think they would be grateful to you? Have you been moved by that paper crane, Su Yu and them? If they knew your identity, you can’t tell me that you don’t know exactly how they would treat you.”
Ruan Li found it increasingly repulsive, as that voice ceaselessly reminded her, those unbearably painful scenes from her nightmares once again floated to the forefront of her mind. She stared at Su Yu and the others, her left eye once again scorching, and the light of the spiritual sword in her hand also unstoppably flickering. But this was for only an instant. Very quickly, she harshly shut her eyes and regained her calm, muttering: “The pitiful one is you.”
That voice suddenly shut its mouth, and then burst into rancorous laughter.
“Ruan Li, who do you think I’m doing this for? If I’m pitiful, aren’t you afraid that you are even more pitiful than me?”
Ruan Li didn’t want to argue with her and mouthed the Heart-Cleansing Incantation, calming herself down.
As the three continued their dispelling, the villagers who originally had faces locked in terror gradually eased their fierce expressions. Strand after strand of white light floated up from their bodies, bathing in the gentle light scattered from the three’s sutras.
But right then, Ruan Li detected a strange smell, a north-westerly wind was blowing, and that smell was mixed into the breeze; it was a fishy and repulsive stench that carried a musk, by no means a pleasant smell. She looked to the northwest, at those three willow trees that happened to reside at the northwest bank of the river.
An inexplicable feeling arose, vaguely sensing that those willow trees were very unusual. Willow trees correspond to yin in the first place, before she had felt that something was wrong with those trees, now it’s yin energy felt even more plentiful. With a glance, noting that the others hadn’t finished yet, she couldn’t recklessly take action. Hence, keeping her eyes on the other side this entire time. The wind grew stronger and stronger, carrying the humidity of the river’s waters, chilly and damp; hitting her and sending strands of her hair aflutter. That stench mixed in became even more intense. Su Yu had already noticed the higher winds, glancing at Ruan Li from the corner of her eye.
Getting her message, “Shijie, you should continue. I’m here.”
She mentioned nothing of the oddities surrounding the willow trees, afraid of startling the snake by beating the grass, but she had already readied herself.3
The wind echoed, the willow branches swaying endlessly in the gale—especially that willow tree in the middle with a hole in its trunk—making Ruan Li feel very uncomfortable.
That hole faced mostly towards the entrance of the village, and she could only see a small fraction of it, but she still felt that there was a sightline locked onto her, like the tip of a sword resting at her back. The other three also noticed this, a chill arising on their spines.
The spirits of the villagers, who had initially already been placated, suddenly became agitated again. Clumps of white light endlessly crashed against the formation, one after another, some revealing their faces, roaring and howling. Fierce to the extreme. The pressure on the three grew, they simultaneously lifted their left hands to press against their right and the dispelling spiritual light grew brighter.
“Shijie, it’s useless.” Ruan Li’s throat bobbed a few times, looking at that willow tree, “Their enemy, has arrived.”
Su Yu was shocked, strenuously looking at that willow tree, “What is it?”
As soon as her voice fell, a sound like the wails of an infant emanated from that willow tree.
Normal infant cries incite the tender affection of others, but this sound was indescribably horrific. Within its evil air was malicious intent, with none of the tenderness and innocence of an infant. That cry drew out a scattered image from Ruan Li’s mind, she cried: “It’s the Pao Xiao.”4
The others couldn’t react in time, “Pao Xiao?”
Not giving them the time to comprehend what it was, another wail came forth and at the same time, a black shadow flew directly at them from the hole in the willow tree. It was extremely fast. Ruan Li had only just raised her sword and that shadow was already right before her eyes. Then it heavily clashed against her blade.
The strength of that strike was terrifyingly high. Her right hand immediately went numb, and she couldn’t hold her sword steady. Her body uncontrollably sliding back until she fell to the ground, only then could she straighten back up and stand firm.
Without waiting for her to recover, that shadow shot over again. Ruan Li desperately turned her body to evade it, and at the same time, spun the sword in her hand to stab out once again. The black shadow that rushed in steadily received this blow. In an instant, she had diverted three attacks from that shadow, only then did she barely manage to pull herself back. The crease of her right thumb where her sword was held, dripped with fresh blood. Her fingers relaxed and clenched, subtly tremoring. The blood and air in her chest were also roiling. In the blink of an eye, she had determined: she was no match for it.
“Shijie, that’s a ferocious beast from the uncivilised age. It should have been sealed in the demon realm, I don’t know why it would be here. We aren’t a match for it, you should hurry up and leave.”
Ruan Li was utterly vexed, this was something she should have known of in the first place, yet she was overly repulsed by that voice and had only sporadically seen it in her dreams, to forget such a huge danger. She immediately unleashed all her spiritual power, taking the lead to attack first, wanting to delay the Pao Xiao and allow the others to escape.
Only now did Su Yu realise that Pao Xiao was a ferocious beast she had seen from the Hundred Spirits Register, and her heart immediately went cold, “Xuwan, Bai Jing, alert the sect. Hurry up and go!”
Finishing, she leapt up and struck several consecutive slashes at the Pao Xiao, “A-Li, you’ve forgotten that I’m the shijie. Where’s the logic in a shijie allowing their shimei to guard the rear as they escape? Today, I definitely won’t leave you here alone.”
Eying her, Ruan Li started to speak but paused, and in the next instant her gaze suddenly became fierce, “Good, then we’ll see if we can take this achievement today!”
The Pao Xiao in front of them had already cultivated into a half-human form: a human face and beastly body. Its four limbs were like that of a human’s, its body currently shrouded in black mist and it was bizarrely fast. Though Su Yu’s attacks were ferocious, they basically didn’t reach her opponent. The Pao Xiao fought one on two and still held the advantage. Once Hua Xuwan and Bai Jing had sent the message, they didn’t leave and also leapt forth. With the four’s combined efforts, they fought until the wind and clouds changed colour but still couldn’t find the advantage.
“Xuwan. Bai Jing. Don’t be clouded by emotion, you go first. We aren’t a match for it!”
“Su-shijie, what kind of thing are you saying, we came here together, and the sect leader told us to take care of each other. Besides, Ruan Li saved my life, if you want me to leave, it’s absolutely impossible!”
“Exactly, either we leave together, or we risk it together!” Although Bai Jing was a little young, but her temper wasn’t little at all. One attack of the Reign of Ten-thousand Swords;5 though it wasn’t overly proficient, but for a time it still cast the glint of blades and silhouette of swords, the sword intent falling like hail. Seeing that the Pao Xiao was dazzled by the sword-shadows, Ruan Li’s pupils shrunk. The real eyes of the Pao Xiao were under its armpits, that was its weakness. So in that instant, she purposefully left an opening—her sword rushed forth towards the space revealed at its left shoulder. The Pao Xiao switched directions, suddenly teleporting to her side. Its long arms stretched out, its five digits snatching towards her shoulders like sharp claws.
“A-Li!” Su Yu involuntarily shouted out, under the desperate situation her pupils sharply contracted, and she snapped: “Come forth!”
Luo Qingci had given the bamboo whip to Ruan Li and she in turn immediately gave it to Su Yu. Only, it never acknowledged her and would normally refuse to come out, Su Yu was also very frustrated by it.
But at this critical juncture, she forcibly summoned the bamboo whip. Not waiting for the sword spirit to react, she held the whip with both hands to forfeit all of the spiritual power in her dantian—carving out a slash. The fourth layer of the Nine Incantations of Hunyuan which she had never been able to use, was stubbornly cast out. Ruan Li groaned, her left shoulder had been pierced by the Pao Xiao’s claws. Her right hand twisted, and her sword twirled around once before stabbing straight into its left armpit.
A talisman from Hua Xuwan was tossed out just in time to block the right hand of the Pao Xiao grabbing at Ruan Li’s throat. The dense sword intent from Su Yu also arrived in turn. The Pao Xiao finally sensed danger, transforming into a cloud of black mist. But it was still partially hit by Su Yu. Simultaneously, Ruan Li’s sword also sunk into its left eye. It sharply cried and its spiritual power mixed with demonic qi exploded outwards. Ruan Li groaned as she was sent flying outwards. It was as if the demonic qi on its body had been dispersed; three consecutive strands of demonic qi chased after Ruan Li like the stars chasing after the sun.
“Cease your impudence!”
Right at that moment, a clear and bright male voice flew through the air alongside a strand of sword intent, heading directly for Ruan Li.
Seeing that he was about to take Ruan Li into his embrace, an azure silhouette skipped the queue ahead of him. Her left hand cleanly blocked those three strands of demonic qi, right hand taking Ruan Li into her arms. Simultaneously remembering to send the man flying with a kick, a serious warning: “Men and women shouldn’t be familiar.”
—Translated by Hei
Author’s Comments:
A fat chapter to compensate for the late update.
