Chapter 47: Rebirth (I) “Yes and no. I am still for her…
Lian Qiang had only heard of Huangquan before, but had never set foot there in person.
Legend has it that Huangquan is the place where the soul returns after death, and living beings are forbidden to set foot there. After the death of a demon cultivator, his soul returns to heaven and earth, and he cannot be reincarnated. Naturally, his soul cannot enter Huangquan. While alive, no one would be willing to go deep there.
The boundary between the human world and the underworld is a single massive rock. Countless souls, in groups of two or three, skirt it, heading deeper into the underworld.
Lian Qiang was about to imitate them and walk around them, but was stopped by a voice: "This is... a pair of enemies."
After following the sound for a long time, Lian Qiang finally realized that it was the huge rock that was making the sound.
The world is so vast that nothing is impossible. A stone talking isn't surprising, but what's surprising is what it says. Lian Qiang raised an eyebrow and said bluntly, "You're wrong."
"Oh? What's wrong with that?" The boulder's tone seemed a touch of surprise. "Since ancient times, men and women who came here together have been partners. And you're still alive, so you're not a couple of enemies. Could it be that you're a couple who came here to commit suicide together?"
"Aside from being partners, is there no other relationship between men and women?" Lian Qiang asked, imitating its tone. Jushi laughed gravely upon hearing this: "Haha! Not really, not really. But ask yourself, is your relationship still innocent?"
Lian Qiang spoke again, but this time her tone was less certain: "...I am innocent."
"Our relationship has nothing to do with this trip," Chi Xingji said, easing the awkward atmosphere. "Excuse me, Senior, where does the Netherworld Spirit Tree grow?"
The boulder remained silent for a long time before speaking again, but with a hint of seriousness in its tone: "People from the Immortal Realm, why are you here? It's rather unusual for you to be traveling together, one immortal and one demon. Neither immortals nor demons are under the jurisdiction of Huang Quan. But young people, I can't control you. But do you think you can come to Huang Quan whenever you want?"
"What do you mean, senior?" Chi Xingji answered after pondering.
"Only humans, and only the dead, can enter the Yellow Springs. You are neither human nor dead, so why should you enter my Yellow Springs?" The boulder snorted coldly, "If you don't want to abide by my rules, no matter who comes here, you won't be allowed to do so!"
Its tone was cold and hard, so Chi Xingji softened his attitude in an attempt to impress it: "I hope you will be lenient and understanding, we really have something important to do."
"Reincarnation is the most important matter in the universe. Your affairs are not as important as this one. Go back quickly and don't make yourself miserable!" The boulder's attitude was very firm. Lian Qiang's heart was wavering, and she glanced at Chi Xingji's face, but he was determined as always.
Chi Xingji bowed again and said in a resounding voice, "We do need a Netherworld Spirit Tree. If you can point me in the right direction, I'm willing to give everything I have in exchange!"
Lian Qiang had never seen Chi Xingji grovel so servilely in front of a stranger, even for her, for that elusive possibility. Her nose felt sore, and she wanted to pull him up, to tell him he didn't have to do this for her, but the boulder spoke instead, "I seem to have seen you before."
This "you" must be referring to Chi Xingji. He stood up straight and looked straight at the boulder: "Yes, if I'm not mistaken, I should have been here once a hundred years ago, but I have no memory of it."
"Ordinary people keep their distance from Huangquan, but you've come twice. In just a hundred years, you've been able to ascend from mortal to immortal, which is quite formidable," the boulder sneered. "I remember you said back then that you came for your wife. So, are you coming for her again this time?"
As it asked the question, Lian Qiang's heart seemed to be hanging high. She did not turn her head to see his expression, but waited stubbornly for Chi Xingji's answer——
"Yes and no. I still came for her, but she is no longer my wife." He said in a deep voice. Lian Qiang couldn't help herself after all. She glanced at Chi Xingji and saw that his brows were full of peace. He was just stating the facts without any complaints.
Her heart sank to the ground. Lian Qiang couldn't help but wonder what Chi Xingji would have looked like if he had stood here a hundred years ago.
Did he say in a matter-of-fact tone that he came to save his wife?
"Oh? That's quite interesting. You two actually went from being husband and wife to... Never mind. I don't want to know about your past separation. Boy, do you still remember my name?"
How could Chi Xingji, who had lost his memory, know this? He bowed his head and said humbly, "If my guess is correct, you must have passed away."
The boulder acquiesced to his answer: "I record the past of everyone in the world, and can even glimpse their present, but I never know their future. I control life and death, but that's all. I have no right to judge their past merits and demerits."
Suspicious after hearing this, Lian Qiang couldn't help but ask, "Then who should judge the merits and demerits of the past?"
She was met with a few loud laughs at first, and then the stone replied, "It was them!"
After that, the entrance that was originally shrouded in fog gradually became clear - it was a boundless river, and on the other side of the river, there was a golden forest, which was an especially vivid existence in this lifeless place where ghosts gathered.
"That is..." Lian Qiang murmured. She had been facing it every day and had already had some guesses in her mind.
"A soul seeking reincarnation must personally wade through the Yellow Springs, reach the other side, pluck a Netherworld Spirit Leaf engraved with its name, and hold it under its tongue. Only then can it descend the cliff and be reborn," the boulder narrated. "Sounds easy, doesn't it?"
"...Since the senior has asked this, it may not be that simple." Chi Xingji answered cautiously.
"Haha! Of course! To souls, the water of the Yellow Spring is as heavy as a thousand pounds. They can see all the people they knew in the past on the surface of the water, whether dead or alive... At the same time, the water of the Yellow Spring will wash away all the sins they have ever committed.
"Among them, some sinned so deeply that every step they took across the river felt like being burned in a blazing fire. Or perhaps, some were so obsessed with old ties that they couldn't help but yearn for their loved ones and refused to leave—thus, countless people voluntarily drowned themselves in the underworld.
"When they reach the other side, they have to search for their names among the tens of thousands of leaves. Many ghosts are impatient and don't have the patience. When they can't find their names, they turn around and jump into the underworld to end their lives.
"Finding the spirit leaf is only two-thirds of the process. When they truly stand on the edge of the hundred-foot-high reincarnation cliff, even ghosts will feel fear. They have clearly earned the qualification to reincarnate through hard training, but when they see the abyss beneath their feet and think of the birth, old age, sickness and death they will experience in life, they will waver.
"—After going through so much hardship, only to suffer even more, is it really worth it?
"But even if they gave up at the very last moment, who can say they were wrong? This world is full of suffering! Giving up early is also a kind of clarity and enlightenment!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the fog gathered again, obscuring their vision and the uncertain future.
Lian Qiang was immersed in the truth told by the Rebirth Stone for a long time. She couldn't help but think of her family. Could they be one of the people who gave up halfway as described in the Stone?
Unable to cross the river, unable to find Ye, unable to make up his mind to jump... forever drowning in the Yellow Springs water, never free... Just thinking about it made Lian Qiang shudder. She didn't want to see them fall into such a situation. Even thinking about it filled her with endless fear.
Compared to these, death seems nothing.
Noticing her change of mood, Wangshengshi sneered, "What? Are you scared now? If you're thinking of backing out, you'd better give up the idea as soon as possible and go back!"
"...Senior, you have said so much, it must not be just a casual remark. Please tell me what you want us to do." Compared to Lian Qiang, Chi Xingji, who was not bound by past memories, was much calmer.
"Of course, I don't intend to waste my breath. I can protect the living as they enter the underworld. Since you want the Netherworld Spiritual Leaf, go get it yourselves." The boulder seemed to relent. Chi Xingji, however, was still wary of its meaning. "Senior, are you saying that you agree to let us go, but you only want us to go through the steps you described?"
"That's right. You don't have to go all the way. Whether you can obtain the Spiritual Leaf depends entirely on your abilities," Wangsheng Stone said, his voice filled with the certainty that they would agree. "I don't ask for much. You've already become an Immortal Lord. If there's anything I need your attention for in the future, I'll naturally tell you."
Lian Qiang came back to her senses and unconsciously revealed a hint of disdain: "So what the senior said before, that it's not acceptable, was only directed at some people."
"I'm in a good mood today and can forgive your disrespect. Just don't show me that expression again." The boulder said arrogantly. Chi Xingji took a step towards Lian Qiang calmly and blocked her behind him.
Lian Qiang pursed her lips, only to realize that she was being reckless and that Chi Xingji had to bear the consequences for her.
When she came here, she was still convinced that she would not regret it, but now, she has changed her mind and is starting over again.
"Also, there is something else I need to explain to you."
"Senior, please speak."
"I don't know what you're going to do with the spirit leaf, but I can probably guess. But if you take the spirit leaf and leave here, you'll lose your last chance of reincarnation." The Rebirth Stone said solemnly, "You need to figure out the pros and cons for yourselves."
Chi Xingji turned his gaze to Lian Qiang. Although he put in a lot of effort, if she didn't want to, he would turn around and leave without saying a word.
"It's just that I can't be reincarnated," Lian Qiang smiled. "Isn't it the same now? It's better than just lingering on like this."
Seeing that her attitude was clear, Chi Xingji turned to Wang Sheng and said, "I still have a little confusion, please explain it to me, Senior."
"Ask me."
"Since the senior said that every spiritual leaf has its own name, if we pick other people's spiritual leaves at will and destroy their possibility of reincarnation, isn't it a sin? But as the senior said, we are not under the jurisdiction of Huangquan, so our spiritual leaves..." Chi Xingji stopped there and waited quietly for the answer from the Stone of Rebirth.
The Rebirth Stone smiled again. "I thought you were going to ask something. You have spiritual leaves. From the moment you are born, your leaves begin to grow. You are not human now, but you were once human. This sounds really funny, but it is true. If you have no other questions, you should be on your way."
After saying this, the Rebirth Stone fell silent, treating itself like an ordinary stone, clearly unwilling to answer. Chi Xingji bowed again, then pulled Lian Qiang along, and like the ghosts, walked into the mist.
There were ghosts wandering around everywhere, not a single living thing. At least there were some plants in the demonic world. Walking through it, Lian Qiang couldn't help but feel restrained due to her timidity.
Chi Xingji seemed to sense her timidity and held her hand tightly, not letting go. This served both as a boost of courage and a guide.
Lian Qiang noticed that his movements were very measured. He only placed his hand lightly on her wrist, not to mention there was a layer of sleeve between them. Lian Qiang did not look away, but kept her eyes on their clasped hands.
——If you do this, you will be able to draw unlimited courage.
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The author has something to say: 520, I will write for my CP until the early morning... I will try to update again during the day...
I don't really like the title of this copy, so I'll keep it for now and think about whether there's a better one to replace it with later.
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