Chapter 113 Regret seems hypocritical.
"This mountain is quite strange, and Doctor Gu said that the immortal herb has a spirit and is extremely cautious, so I'm afraid we can't use our spiritual power."
The young man stood at the foot of the mountain, looking up at the peaks hidden in the mist.
Shen Lixia stopped in her tracks, frowning as she sensed the unusual atmosphere on the mountain. The divine fire had granted her a different perspective, so to her, the place appeared to be shrouded in a dense, watery demonic aura, a dark, impenetrable expanse.
A thought suddenly occurred to her, and she felt a sense of familiarity.
Ordinary people wouldn't be able to grasp this spark of inspiration, but Shen Lixia, being a quick-witted person, soon figured out the source of this sense of familiarity.
This demonic energy seemed to originate from the same source as the one she had sensed in Shanghe, but it was deeper and calmer, rather than as ethereal as a candle flame.
If the demonic energy on another person is a living plague, then this demonic energy is the entity that controls the plague itself, the supreme deity who sent down the plague.
“There’s something on this mountain,” Shen Lixia said. “Can it really grow immortal herbs? It’s more likely to grow ghosts.”
Si Liuhua shook his head. "Legends must have a reason. If the demon itself is the source of the legend, killing it can also eliminate the plague."
The two slowly made their way up the mountain. Since the mountain's summit was not visible, Shen Lixia could only roughly calculate that they would not be able to reach the top until nightfall, assuming they did not sleep and rest and that no unexpected events occurred.
The place was filled with eerie ghostly energy, so dense that divine fire burned continuously within her meridians, driving away any trace of demonic energy or evil thoughts that might try to take advantage of her vulnerability.
She successfully entered the Golden Core Realm in the morning, and another layer of the Divine Fire Shackles was broken.
However, for some reason, I don't remember anything that happened in between.
Thinking of this, Shen Lixia's gaze fell on Si Liuhua. The young man walked quickly, dressed in white with black hair, carrying a sword in his hand. From a distance, he looked somewhat similar to Qiao Yanshen. Although he was gentle, there was always an inexplicable coldness in his bones, which was revealed in a moment of silence or in his quiet eyes.
If it weren't for the occasional glance back at Shen Lixia to make sure she was alright, she would truly resemble a ghost nurtured by this mountain, her white jade mask like a clean skeleton. Yet, while she was considerate when caring for patients, her current attention to Shen Lixia must stem from concern, making her seem less like a completely cold-hearted person.
In these moments, she possessed a kindness that seemed to be cut from the same mold as Si Changxi's, a tenderness that could only come from being immersed in the mortal world for a long time and experiencing all kinds of human warmth and coldness from the bottom of her heart.
It is quite unusual that life and death in this mortal world can be so subtly balanced in one person.
The vegetation on the mountain was exceptionally lush and verdant, its canopy blocking out the sun, thanks to the cool, moist shade. Although it was midday, after walking for a while, the surroundings had already darkened. The damp, chilly mist gradually coalesced into a sea, reminding Shen Lixia of the Great Dream Array. Thinking of the Great Dream Array brought back memories of her previous experiences in Kuizhou—back then, she too had been dealing with these strange phenomena, and now it was the same, as if she were inextricably linked to this place by fate.
She suddenly understood why the divine fire had broken free of its shackles. It wasn't because her cultivation had increased, but because she had used this fire to purify the evil in the world, vanquishing the drought demon and killing those ungrateful parasites. They were the source of the most suffering; no matter what their "reasons" were, they were always devouring the flesh and blood of others, and even their tears were hypocritical.
This was something Shen Lixia was willing to do, a mission bestowed upon her by the divine fire. If Hua Ying in her previous life wanted to use this fire to burn away all the injustices, evil spirits, and suffering in the world, then why would she refuse? This was also something she herself wanted to do.
The problem does not lie with them, but should be attributed to the will of Heaven and the gods!
The boy clenched his fist, lost in thought, when he suddenly bumped into the person in front of him, and involuntarily took a step back, apologizing repeatedly.
She was halfway through her sentence when she suddenly realized something was wrong. Why was Fellow Daoist Wangshu's white robe now replaced with a dark blue coarse linen garment? And her figure had shrunk...
The man turned around and complained, "Fellow Daoist, you're walking carelessly and a ghost knocks on your door in the middle of the night!"
Shen Lixia's eyes flickered with extreme astonishment. She couldn't understand why Simmons had suddenly appeared and was with her in this demon's lair, as if it were an illusion.
phantom......
She realized what was happening and looked around. Sure enough, the fog was so thick that even the grass and trees were blurred, appearing like ghostly figures in the distance.
Simmons was still smiling in front of her, and she couldn't bear to shatter this illusion, so she desperately held back from saying anything. Bickering with this person was a unique kind of fun; when the real Simmons returned, she was determined to have a proper exchange with her.
Before she could respond, "Simmons" continued, "As expected of you, fellow Daoist."
After speaking, she smiled, and then a thick fog rose, causing the ethereal figure to disappear into the white mist before Shen Lixia could reach it. The boy withdrew his hand in a daze, a sharp pain piercing his heart.
This sentence almost made her give up. Even knowing it was an illusion, she couldn't help but want to confirm it again. Because she wanted to talk to her again; they had been apart for so long, half a month or a month felt like a decade or a hundred years. She just wanted to hear that voice again, a voice she thought she would never hear again.
As the fog dissipated, Shen Lixia, already anticipating how this illusion would torment her, closed her eyes and took a few steps back.
But her delusions were faster and more incisive, speaking before she could even block out her hearing: "Li Xia."
Qiao Yanshen's gentle voice rang in her ears, and once she heard it, she no longer wanted to refuse him. Shen Lixia's will was not firm, especially towards the people she cared about; she always had an excessive, almost cowardly, soft heart.
Closing her eyes was difficult enough, but the illusion, like her senior sister, didn't rush to devour her like a ghost. Instead, it stood before her with great restraint, offering no kiss or embrace, remaining proudly silent for a while before gently saying:
I also love you.
That one sentence was enough, because the illusion had read her heart, knowing all her transgressive thoughts, the myriad entanglements and pains, the unrequited love, hate, infatuation, and desires—a bittersweet affliction in her heart. Only this one sentence offered the cure. How wonderful it would be if she could confirm Qiao Yanshen's feelings for her and receive his reciprocation.
But what she wanted wasn't a desperate measure, just as she wouldn't waste her life in illusion. Because what Shen Lixia wanted wasn't just a fleeting moment, but to be by Qiao Yanshen's side every day, every year. A figure in an illusion couldn't bear the weight of another's burning heart; Shen Lixia couldn't say "I love you" to a mere shadow.
For her, expressing love and receiving love are both indispensable, and the former even brings her a better feeling, because Shen Lixia likes to express love to Qiao Yanshen.
The other person will always listen attentively and be considerate.
So she would speak loudly and shout, again and again, and even if she felt uneasy, she would not stop, nor would she turn love into hate.
It's just love, just liking.
Shen Lixia stepped back, and the illusion moved forward, as if it knew her resistance. It stopped talking, but looked at her with tender eyes and called her again, "Junior Sister".
With nowhere to retreat, Shen Lixia made a ruthless decision, drew her sword, turned the blade, and stabbed herself in the abdomen without hesitation!
Just before the sword's edge pierced through, the flowing fire suddenly trembled, buzzing as it deflected, bursting forth with dazzling light that dispelled all the mist.
Then, it transformed into a stream of light and entered Shen Lixia's body. The boy's consciousness cleared for a short while before a chill ran down his back, and he suddenly lost his footing, falling downwards.
She remembered that she couldn't use spiritual power, but if she didn't, even as a cultivator, without the protection of spiritual power, her body alone would definitely not be able to withstand it.
Oh no, if Hua Ying still had any consciousness left, she would curse her as the only Vermilion Bird in the world that could kill itself by falling.
No, she hasn't grown wings yet; that's only natural.
A jumble of thoughts surged up, and with a "snap," her falling body froze in mid-air.
Below lay a bottomless abyss, where mist surged and rocks slid down, leaving no echo for a long time.
Si Liuhua looked calmly at her through her disheveled long hair and said in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist, I've been looking for you for a long time."
Shen Lixia's gaze shifted downwards, and she gripped her wrist tightly with one hand, forcefully pulling her back. The strength of her grip was comparable to that of a dragon's muscles, which seemed completely out of place with Si Liuhua's usual cold and aloof demeanor.
The aroma of herbs wafts out, bittersweet yet with a touch of warmth.
Before she could even thank him, Si Liuhua said "I'm sorry." Just as she was wondering what was going on, she felt the hand that was holding her suddenly tighten and pull her up.
It hurt terribly, as if my entire arm had dislocated, and my shoulder was making soft cracking noises. Shen Lixia rubbed her arm and said to Si Liuhua, "Thank you."
Si Liuhua said, "Just now, a thick fog suddenly appeared, and you disappeared, only to be met with a strange scene. It seems that in addition to taking lives, the demons also have methods to attack people's minds."
She patted her long coat and softened her voice.
"Seeing through people's desires, using others to do her dirty work. I underestimated her; legend has it that this is a skill possessed only by the ancient demon race, controlling others' 'greed'..."
This is unlike other illusions; it evokes the deepest obsessions in a person's heart, attempts to mend them, and weaves a beautiful dream, causing the other person to willingly drown in it. Those born with regrets, even knowing it's an illusion, cannot help but willingly indulge in it.
Shen Lixia remained silent, only nodding quietly.
She had figured it out quickly enough to react before falling, while Si Liuhua seemed to have been trapped by the illusion even later, and it was unclear how long it took her to catch up...
When did she shatter this illusion?
If even the deepest greed is dragged out, and one is forced to confront the deepest obsession, even the most ruthless person would pause for a moment.
What did Si Liuhua see in the illusion?
Shen Lixia couldn't bring herself to ask that question. She had asked Qiao Yanshen last night, and her senior sister said that although she felt the man was strange, she couldn't really see any resemblance between him and Si Changxi. But Shen Lixia truly felt that there was an unusual relationship between the two. Even though she didn't even know if they had met, she felt that it was absurd for her to connect the sect leader of the Taihui Sect thousands of miles away with this rogue cultivator who had just reached the Foundation Establishment stage.
But this premonition was like a thorn, constantly pricking my heart.
That's why she couldn't help but feel a mixture of fear and curiosity towards Si Liuhua.
The other party was completely unaware of this, and simply said, "Let's go, we should be halfway up the mountain by now."
Shen Lixia nodded, and the two continued walking. Although the fog was thick, many figures could still be seen on the mountain, such as rabbits, deer, snakes, insects, tigers, and leopards.
But these animals, especially the wild beasts, merely lingered in the mist, keeping a respectful distance of several feet from them. Could they be exceptionally intelligent, aware of the divine fire within her, and thus dared not attack? Shen Lixia didn't dwell on it, first calming Liu Huo—the sword spirit had expended considerable effort in that attack, and was now cowering listlessly. When Shen Lixia probed with her divine sense, it even roared fiercely:
"Stop stabbing yourself! Do you want me to become a lonely, wild sword?"
"The fellow Daoist next to you will take you back."
"No, she's scary."
"Okay, I'm sorry." Shen Lixia's lips curled slightly. "I also think so."
It's so much fun to tease kids.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, they arrived at an exceptionally cold place. Shen Lixia shivered twice and gritted her teeth as she took another step. The sect uniform was clothing that could be worn in all seasons and had the effect of protecting against the cold and keeping warm, but it couldn't withstand the extreme cold that would be called below zero in modern times. Her hair was frozen solid.
At first, he could bear it, but the closer he got to the source of the cold, the colder it became, and his breath turned to ice. The boy's expression changed, and he suddenly covered his face with his hand, then sneezed.
The sound wasn't loud, but it was extremely noticeable in the deathly silence. Si Liuhua, who was walking ahead using his sword to probe the way, paused and turned around to take off his coat. Shen Lixia waved her hands frantically, repeatedly saying that it wasn't necessary.
A coat won't do much good, so we'd better hurry up and leave. Besides, the other person doesn't look well either; their lips are even a bit white from the cold.
Si Liuhua pondered for a moment, then suddenly took out a jade stone and placed it in Shen Lixia's hand. Warmth spread from it, quickly restoring color to the boy's face.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly, “I’m a little slow.”
"It's nothing, it's just that I've neglected my cultivation."
Shen Lixia gripped the warm jade tightly, knowing that it was a magical artifact that could be used without spiritual power, and since she couldn't return it, she thanked her.
Despite the freezing weather, a soft sound of water reached their ears. Following the sound, they found a stream meandering down from somewhere, flowing among the hard gravel. They walked uphill along the stream, the fog gradually dissipated, their vision cleared, the mountaintop warmed, and stars hung sparsely in the sky above.
So much time has passed.
The white mist gathered in one spot, which was the location of the water source. Slowly walking over, Shen Lixia squatted down and carefully examined the herbs growing nearby. She had expected some kind of crystal-clear lingzhi or plump ginseng, but there was none to be seen. The ground was covered with nothing but weeds, at least to her, someone who knew a little about medicinal herbs.
Si Liuhua squatted down with her, and after a while, he also frowned and said in a low voice, "There is no immortal herb."
Their gazes fell simultaneously on the water, which was tightly shrouded in mist.
Shen Lixia reached out to touch it first. Her fingertips dipped lightly into the water, and a chill instantly rushed up, as if all the eerie coldness on the mountain had been contained here. Her blood froze instantly, but fortunately, she possessed divine fire, which would automatically protect her once it sensed that her life was in danger, and immediately warmed the boy's body again.
"This water is demonic energy." Every inch of the water was filled with a strange feeling, and it was icy cold. Shen Lixia withdrew her hand, and the spring water was stirred up. The mist above suddenly dispersed, revealing what was inside.
It was an embryo-like object, seemingly dead, with a faint bluish tinge between its white jade-like surface and purplish-red veins.
The more Shen Lixia looked at it, the more familiar it seemed. Compared to a human infant, it appeared more like...
A fish that hasn't grown up yet.
It had no scales, only a few bony spurs. The legs weren't underdeveloped; they simply weren't there to begin with. What should have been a tail was instead. Thin membranes connected the bony spurs, presumably in the area around the head, where a few tiny thorns were also present, not yet fully extended...
Memories of the past flashed through her mind, and an absurd thought occurred to her, making her suddenly unable to bring herself to do it.
—Could this be a merfolk cub?
No, in any case, the merfolk's cubs shouldn't be here. It's probably just a smokescreen used by the demons to disguise themselves.
But if that's true, then it, or rather she, is the only mermaid in the world today.
Gazing at this frail yet formidable creature, Shen Lixia hesitated. Although she knew it was most likely a demon in disguise, why had she chosen a merman? At the very least, she should have some connection to mermen...
Just then, I heard the sound of a sword being drawn from its sheath.
-
The indoor lights were lush and bright. Perhaps it was because autumn had finally come down in full force, but a chill swept over him, causing the young man to cough repeatedly.
Shang He added a blanket for her and lit a brazier in the room. After Shang Ying finished her medicine and fell asleep, the young man took the bowl and left, making sure to close the door behind him.
Halfway there, her hands suddenly started trembling uncontrollably, and she lost her grip on the bowl, which shattered on the ground with a "crack".
Shang He knelt down, dizzy and disoriented. He was oblivious to the blood streaming down his face as he pressed his hand against the shards. He couldn't even think straight and could only manage to ask with difficulty, "Wh...what happened?"
Her hand clenched and unclenched, the shards cutting her palms and leaving a pool of blood.
The charm's emotions were transmitted directly to her mind, causing her to lose control of her arm and slam her fist into the ground.
"Let me out! My demonic body is in danger... How did they find me? How could they do this?" The woman's furious voice exploded in my ears like thunder. "I'm so vulnerable! How could they do this—let me out! I'll kill them!"
He pounded his fist on the floor, the dull thuds echoing. Shang He's head was throbbing with pain. In his frantic state, he tried to comfort her: "At least you're still alive—"
"But I've lost most of my cultivation. How am I supposed to keep her alive?"
As she said this, Mei's voice calmed down slightly, and then she fell completely silent.
After a long while, Shang He heard her say, "Never mind, it's already ruined."
She used to speak with a certain air of a fallen tiger who still wanted to rise again, but now she seems to have lost her soul and is completely dejected.
"If you want her to live, either leave the village tomorrow, or some of these people have to die."
She was speaking weakly when she suddenly heard a strange noise coming from somewhere. Shang He naturally heard it too, frowned, hid his bleeding hand behind his back, and gently opened the door.
Upon seeing the scene inside, she felt her blood rush to her head, rendering her speechless; her body reacted even before her mind. Meanwhile, Mei felt the scenery change, the barrier removed, and a sharp pain shot through her hand.
She was no longer merely using Shang He's eyes; at this moment, the boy's body was truly and completely under her control.
A grotesque figure stood before Shang Ying's bed, a short knife held against the sleeping youth's neck. With her demonic body destroyed, Shang Ying's condition rapidly deteriorated; his consciousness wavered, and he couldn't wake up despite the imminent danger.
The sound of pus hitting the ground was utterly disgusting. Mei frowned and said, "Put the knife down."
I don't want to get any of this place dirty.
The expression on the person's face was unclear, but it was heard laughing indistinctly, as if it were saying something about "the way of heaven" and "eliminating harm." Then, its wrist suddenly sank, as if it was about to cut off the blade.
"brute!"
Someone spoke before Mei could, and then a streak of bright red light—so fast that no one could see it clearly—broke through the door and pierced the old village doctor's shoulder with pinpoint accuracy.
Its legs trembled, and it fell to the ground like a wild dog. The short knife flew in mid-air and was caught by the demon and thrown aside.
The blood-red light was originally a long spear, which pierced through its shoulder and then dissipated into dense black mist.
Her gaze was deep and unwavering as she pondered ways to torment the man, then turned to look at the dilapidated door.
The woman in black armor came into view first; she was likely the one who threw the gun. Behind her followed the young man in white whom they had seen earlier, carrying a sword and with a serious expression.
She seemed very unaccustomed to doing such a thing, but she didn't hesitate much. When she saw Shang He, she frowned slightly and sighed, "I'm sorry."
"Sorry about that? She's not human anymore." Chi raised an eyebrow, looking at the gloomy-eyed boy with disgust. "Come on, tell me what kind of thing you are?"
Mei didn't mind her words and stared intently at the woman's face until Chi raised his hand to conjure the spear again before speaking: "Don't fight here, go outside to fight."
She glanced at Shang Ying beside her, then almost pleaded, extended her index finger to her lips and lowered her voice.
"Don't... wake her up."
Although she probably couldn't be woken up, Ke Mei didn't want Shang Ying to see any of the scenes before her, and it would be best if she didn't know the truth either. For this reason, she was willing to play the role of Shang He for several more years, even decades.
It doesn't matter anymore.
Her calls went unanswered; the boy had died the moment he relinquished the bond. Not in a deep sleep, but truly vanished from the world. Only a wisp of his soul, which she had desperately clung to, escaped the contract and entered the cycle of reincarnation.
There was a certain hypocrisy in it, like the fox mourning the death of a rabbit, but once the contract was formed, it actually became something bound by the laws of heaven, and not entirely under the control of the two people.
Qiao Yanshen stopped Chi and nodded to her. Chi snorted coldly and turned to leave.
She didn't step out of the room, but looked at the dying person on the ground—it was barely recognizable as a person, more like a writhing mass of rotten flesh, staring at her hatefully, a series of strange sounds rolling from its throat.
Even without listening closely, Qiao Yanshen knew what it was saying. He picked up a pair of fire tongs, poked at the brazier, and then picked up a piece of red-hot charcoal.
Then, she suddenly forced the charcoal down the other person's throat.
The hissing sound, like boiling water or heavy rain, was strangely pleasant. The man's internal organs were rotting, and he could only let out weak moans, rolling around and crawling erratically on the ground.
"I thought it was something with a powerful mouth." Qiao Yanshen put down the fire tongs and turned to Meidao, "Why don't you eat its soul?"
Mei was speechless and choked with emotion, but in the end, she raised her hand, pinched a wisp of white smoke, and dissolved it with her demonic energy.
She didn't really want to eat, but the young man in front of her looked too creepy, and if she didn't eat, her next meal might be hot coals.
A fire talisman was slapped onto the corpse, burning away all the rotting matter. A moment later, Qiao Yanshen extinguished the still-burning flames, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.
My junior sister's fire is still more convenient.
She glanced at Shang Ying with a complicated expression, then finally turned and walked out. Mei followed silently.
Anyone who didn't know better would think they were going on a picnic instead of about to have a life-or-death battle.
Leaving his dwelling, Chi twirled his spear, demonic energy flowing and condensing into a mask, revealing only a pair of blood-red eyes. Qiao Yanshen gripped Yu Feng tightly, his body radiating a sharp blue light.
Mei, however, continued to stare at Chi, took a deep breath, and asked:
What is your relationship?
"What other kind of relationship could it be?" Chi asked, bewildered. "It's like my head is tied to her belt."
Qiao Yanshen: ...
What nonsense are you talking about?
Mei pursed her lips, suppressing her anger, and her gaze fell on Qiao Yanshen.
She couldn't remember clearly. Even in her dreams, the face of the person in her memory was blurry, like a butterfly. Although she was breathtakingly beautiful when she first saw her, it was difficult to remember the specific patterns or the outline of the wings.
Only her pale blue eyes and her identity are unforgettable.
But the person in front of her had eyes that were not similar in color to hers.
"You betrayed the Lord and became a lackey of an insignificant nobody?" Mei stared into Chi's eyes, enunciating each word clearly.
As soon as she finished speaking, demonic energy surged in her hand, transforming into a long sword. The blade was crimson, exactly the same color as the demon's spear.
"I will tear your demonic body apart, you bastard."
-----------------------
Author's note: The next chapter should be the end. After that, there will be some events that happen within the sect, which will be presented as side stories.
"Demons and monsters" are not their real names, but rather malicious names given to them by others. Both women had their own names, but one forgot them, and the other felt it unnecessary to mention them, because the person who would have valued the meaning of their names was no longer there.
Then Ahe disappeared. Her soul was already getting weaker and weaker, and her final act of surrender was complete possession. As for Mei's feelings, I don't know if I've fully described them. On one hand, she was special and hadn't lost her emotions; on the other hand, because she shared a soul with Shang He, she was also affected by his emotions, and she received a lot of care from Shang Ying, which is why she seemed so humane.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com