Chapter 59 Mortal Bones Bind Gods and Defy Fate (Part 2) What exactly are you referring to...?
However, the man in the black cloak didn't take it. He didn't even glance down at it.
Feeling the icy gaze that seemed to have a physical presence, Feng Zhizhao remained unmoved. She turned around and brought over a bowl of clear soup from the table. "This is the 'Success Soup' personally prepared by Xi Shi, the Green Bean Soup Beauty of the East Market. If you want to... ascend to the ranks of immortals as soon as possible, you must drink it."
She then placed the soup bowl at his feet.
The man in the black cloak remained unmoved.
I don't want food or drink.
She raised an eyebrow, and with a clang, drew a fine sword from beside the bed frame. "You all need a suitable weapon for taking lives, right? This one of mine..."
“State your intentions directly.”
The man in the black cloak finally spoke, interrupting her.
His voice was like ice spring striking jade, extremely clear and cold, untouched by any worldly concerns.
Feng Zhi Zhaoyin stroked the cold hilt of the sword, no longer beating around the bush, "I need you to save my sister."
The man in the black cloak said, “The birth and death of all things have their own principles. The living move towards death, and the dead return to stillness. This is the constant order of heaven and earth, the orbit of truth. The truth of all things cannot be transgressed.”
“I don’t want to listen to these grand principles.” Feng Zhizhao shook her head. “I just want her to live and get better.”
The man in the black cloak replied, "To forcibly reverse it is to defy the truth. Actions contrary to reason are unacceptable."
His voice was flat and emotionless, carrying an unquestionable dogmatism.
Feng Zhizhao's face darkened, and she suddenly raised her arm, pointing the sword tip directly at the god in the formation. She said coldly, "I'm only showing you some respect because I'm kind and hospitable. As the old saying goes, courtesy comes before force. Since you don't appreciate it, I'll be direct. I'm not begging you, nor am I asking you; I'm ordering you."
"I didn't bring you here to listen to your lectures."
Pointing a sword at him, the man in the black cloak remained silent for a moment, then slightly tilted his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the wall to fall on the next room. "Is that your sister lying there?"
Feng Zhizhao suppressed her anger and said, "Yes."
“The missing organs in her body are key to maintaining her life. If they can be found and restored to their original positions, I can help her stabilize her remaining vitality and allow it to flow again.”
Remembering the organs soaking in an unknown liquid in the stone chamber, Feng Zhizhao paused, tightened her grip on the sword, and said in a deep voice, "Her organs were taken by the Feng Zhi family. To get them back... is as difficult as climbing to heaven, tantamount to walking into a trap."
The deep, unfathomable shadow of the hat brim turned toward her.
"Qiangquan Fengzhi Clan?"
"yes."
“Three days from now, I will summon ‘Polar Night’ to descend upon the area within ten miles of Feng Zhi’s house, lasting for a full day and night. ‘Twilight’ will also appear to assist you and buy you an opportunity.”
"That's too much trouble." She didn't even raise her sword. "You go directly."
He shook his head, “Truth prevails, and boundaries are clear. Forcibly reversing life and death is already an exception; I cannot take someone else’s fate for me. All I can do is open a window for you. Ultimately, you must walk your own path.”
Feng Zhizhao's eyes flickered several times, knowing that this was her only chance.
She slowly lowered her sword. "Alright."
The man in the black cloak stared at her silently, maintaining his imposing presence, and she returned his gaze without flinching.
He suddenly raised his chin very slightly. The movement, for some reason, was somewhat intriguing, but he said, "Now that it's settled, let's dismantle this formation."
“Words are law, heavier than mountains and seas. I believe you today, but if you dare to lie to me… I can arrest you once, and I can arrest you a second time.” Feng Zhi Zhaoyin stared at him, threatening him. Seeing that he was unmoved, as if she had punched cotton, she finally twisted her wrist and scraped the edge of the magic circle with the blade of her sword.
The moment the bloodstain was scraped away, a silent ripple spread through the space around the black cloak, and in the next instant, it vanished without a trace.
Although the process of returning to Feng Zhi's house to steal organs was not without its twists and turns, it went more smoothly than expected.
Perhaps because Feng Zhishan was certain she wouldn't walk right into their trap, the guards at the ancestral hall's forbidden area weren't increased much. Relying on her deep memory of the place, she disguised herself and blended into the patrol team, quietly sneaking into that secluded stone chamber.
Inside the stone chamber, specially made vessels were neatly arranged, containing the younger sister's organs. They were soaking in an unknown liquid, seemingly undergoing some kind of eerie nurturing.
Ten pieces in total. Feng Zhizhao felt a metallic sweetness rise to her throat, causing unbearable pain. If she hadn't been carrying the Qiankun Bag, it would have been difficult to safely remove these organs.
The scene chilled her to the bone and filled her with doubt. Everything in the stone chamber was as usual, as if Feng Zhishanyi didn't care about their escape at all, as if she was confident that they would eventually return to their cage.
An unexpected incident occurred during the evacuation. The outer perimeter was alerted. Flames suddenly blazed, and shadowy figures appeared, while shouts and the sound of blades cutting through the air drew closer from behind.
Feng Zhizhaoyin darted swiftly through the familiar pavilions and corridors, a cold crossbow bolt grazing her shoulder, leaving a burning pain. In the most critical moment, she looked up at the sky—the appointed time had arrived, yet the outside world remained brightly lit, showing no sign of darkness descending.
A chilling mockery swept through my mind. Indeed, how could one so easily trust the promises of the gods?
Just when she was about to give up hope and prepare for a desperate fight, a sudden change occurred.
It was as if an invisible giant hand had suddenly pulled down the curtain of the sky.
Without warning, without gradual change, an intense darkness, so dense it swallowed all light, suddenly enveloped the area within a ten-mile radius, centered on the Feng Zhi family ancestral hall. It was no ordinary night, but absolute darkness; even sound seemed to be absorbed and silenced by this extreme darkness.
The pursuers were thrown into chaos, their shouts and hurried footsteps clashing in the darkness.
"Over there!" someone suddenly shouted, and all the pursuers were drawn away by the commotion in the opposite direction.
Feng Zhizhao dared not delay. Under the cover of perfect darkness, she quietly left the area of Feng Zhi's house, following the escape route she had planned in advance.
We sped back to Beijing without daring to stop for even a moment.
The mental strain of the past few days, the long journey, coupled with blood loss and physical exhaustion, caused her to suddenly feel a wave of relief the moment she stepped into the familiar room and saw her sister on the bed. An overwhelming wave of weakness and dizziness washed over her, and her limbs screamed in pain and soreness.
But she mustered her strength and used her blood to activate the spell array for killing Zuan.
As soon as the man in the black cloak appeared, he said, "You don't look too good."
“I won’t trouble you. These are my sister’s organs.” Feng Zhizhaoyin endured the darkening of her vision and took out ten jade artifacts one by one from the cloth bag, placing them beside Feng Zhizhaoxue. “Now, fulfill your promise and save her.”
Before she could finish speaking, she could no longer hold on. Her vision suddenly went black, and her body staggered uncontrollably as she slid down onto the cold bed, supporting herself on the edge.
However, before she fainted, she didn't forget to threaten, "Do what you're supposed to do. If you dare to go back on your word, I'll trap you in this formation for life. I'll make your fellow Grim Reapers laugh at you."
"……grim Reaper?"
Before losing consciousness completely, she seemed to hear the black-cloaked figure repeat, with a hint of doubt, as if the title was unfamiliar to him. But only one last thought flashed through her chaotic mind: Oh no, I forgot to deactivate the formation…
When she woke up again, she was still lying on the cold ground.
The black cloak was gone.
Feng Zhizhaoyin was immediately startled and broke out in a cold sweat. She sat up abruptly, but when she saw the empty dishes beside the bed and her sister's noticeably rosier complexion, she breathed a sigh of relief.
It seems he ultimately kept his promise.
She looked at the formation and noticed that a peach wood core at the edge of the formation had fallen over. She guessed that it must have been accidentally kicked over when she fainted, which inadvertently broke the imprisoning formation, allowing the other party to escape.
Just as she was about to get up, a clear and extremely cold voice suddenly rang out from behind her, "What kind of courage do you have to dare to detain me?"
Feng Zhizhao's heart skipped a beat. She turned her head abruptly and saw that the black cloak was standing quietly in the darkest corner of the room. Its aura blended into the darkness, and it would be difficult to detect it if it did not make a sound.
She straightened up, clutching her throbbing shoulder, took a few steps forward, clasped her hands together, and bowed deeply to him solemnly. "I'm sorry, I owe her so much. I had no other choice but to do this. This offense is entirely my fault. Please forgive me."
The man in the black cloak remained silent for a moment, then said, "While you were unconscious, I considered a thousand punishments. This is just a warning. If there is a next time, I will kill you."
Feng Zhizhao immediately looked up, her gaze clear and firm. "All I ask for is for Xue to be well. As long as she recovers, I swear that I will never again disturb Your Excellency in any way in this lifetime."
In other words, if Feng Zhizhaoxue doesn't recover, it's hard to guarantee there won't be a next time.
The man in the black cloak, having discerned the unspoken meaning, remained silent for a long while before finally saying softly, "Her body will recover." He then turned and walked towards the now-defunct traces of the magic array.
Before leaving, he seemed to suddenly remember something, paused slightly, turned his head and left one last sentence, "By the way, the amber pastry tasted alright, but it was a bit hard."
He had disappeared as soon as he finished speaking.
Feng Zhizhao stood there stunned for a long time before realizing that the oil paper package that had been on the table for three days was empty. Not a single one of the six amber pastries was left for her.
For some reason, she felt like laughing and muttered to herself, "Since you accepted my offering, it can't be considered that I owe you anything; it can only be considered a miracle."
Time flies like water, and half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.
Feng Zhizhaoxue's health improved day by day at a visible speed; her pale cheeks regained color, and her eyes gradually regained their luster.
The once sickly and emaciated girl can now get out of bed on her own. Although her steps are still slow, she moves without any hindrance. She can even follow Feng Zhizhaoyin, change into neat men's clothing, bind her chest with strips of cloth, tie her black hair up high, and dress up as a handsome young man, mingling among the common people or riding horses in the outskirts of the capital, feeling the long-lost freedom and joy.
It was during this period of carefree and unrestrained living that I finally found them.
He appeared abruptly outside the gate of their temporary courtyard, looking travel-worn and somewhat haggard. His once clear and bright eyes seemed to have accumulated many inexplicable things, and his gaze was no longer as pure and open as before. Even his once almost foolish cheerfulness had become much more restrained, and he had become much more silent.
Feng Zhizhao looked at him, not asking where he had been for the past six months, why he had suddenly disappeared, or what he had experienced. She simply felt that having a skilled and well-known "bodyguard" by her side seemed like a good idea. So she acquiesced to his staying.
She could occasionally sense a change in him. He would stand silently in a corner, his eyes deep and unfathomable, carrying a complex and hidden pain she couldn't understand. But whenever he was with Feng Zhizhaoxue, that faint melancholy about him would quietly dissipate. He would patiently accompany Zhaoxue on slow walks in the courtyard, silently offering her a cushion when she frowned and rubbed her sore knees, and even magically producing a small packet of candied fruit from his pocket when she was worrying over her medicine bowl.
Only at times like these could Feng Zhi Zhaoyin catch a glimpse of the bright young man from the corner of his mouth when he occasionally raised it.
This serpent... could it be that it has fallen in love and is now eyeing her younger sister?
Feng Zhi Zhaoyin didn't consider herself a rigid or pedantic person, but... a spirit snake and a human? It just felt a bit strange. On second thought, perhaps it was because both of them were inexperienced and had too little worldly experience.
To prevent these two naive and inexperienced individuals from developing feelings for each other in a daze, Feng Zhi Zhaoyin immediately made a decision—since they are both fledglings who have never seen the world, why not take them to see what the human world is really like?
The first place we visited was Xiangweng Mountain.
Since her younger sister recovered from her illness, the desolate plateau and its unsolved mysteries weighed heavily on Feng Zhizhao's heart. Having decided to travel, it naturally became the first place she wanted to return to.
The wind on the plateau was still biting, whipping up sand and gravel as it swept across the withered meadows.
At the foot of the mountain, the village of Along appeared even more dilapidated and lifeless than it had been six months ago. The strange "wilt disease" had not only failed to improve but had intensified. Everywhere in the village, one could see haggard villagers leaning against doorframes or slumped against walls, each one emaciated with sunken eyes, only the faint rise and fall of their chests proving that they were still alive.
“The situation is getting worse,” Feng Zhizhaoyin muttered, frowning. When she left, most villagers were still able to maintain basic work, but now the scene before her eyes seemed as if some force was rapidly draining everyone’s vitality.
She found the old village chief. His cloudy eyes held only numb fear. "It's no use... the sacrifices are useless... the ancestors are getting hungrier and hungrier; no amount of offerings can satisfy them..."
Feng Zhi Zhaoyin inquired carefully about the details of the sacrificial ceremony. Compared to half a year ago, the ceremony had evolved from the initial offerings of three sacrificial animals, five grains, incense, candles, and paper horses to the frequent sprinkling of thick medicinal juices mixed with the blood of live animals and even unknown herbs; and the little bit of vitality that the villagers could regain after participating in the ceremony was also becoming shorter and shorter.
“It’s not our ancestors, it’s something else,” Sheng Sheng asserted, sniffing the air.
Feng Zhizhao nodded; she never believed in the "ancestors asking for food" theory.
That night, the three sneaked into the eerie and ancient ancestral hall at the end of the village.
The ancestral hall was dimly lit by candles and filled with the strong smell of incense and the pungent odor of wild animals.
"Sister, something strange is down there." Sheng Sheng suddenly lowered her body, her earlobe almost touching the ground.
Feng Zhizhao squatted down and placed her palm on the mud brick. A cold, sticky sensation immediately spread through her skin, faintly drawing in, as if trying to steal the warmth and vitality from her palm.
“There must be some evil creature absorbing their life essence down there. The so-called sacrifice is more like feeding it, strengthening its connection with this land and these villagers.”
She stood up and glanced around the dark and simple interior of the ancestral hall.
"We need to find a way in and drag that bloodsucking thing out."
Sheng Sheng's nostrils flared as he followed the source of the foul stench and quickly discovered a narrow, deliberately concealed hole under a pile of clutter in the corner behind the offering table. As soon as he removed the covering, an even stronger, putrid gust of wind rushed out of the hole.
Feng Zhizhao frowned. This scent... it's a bit like a fox, but it's mixed and impure, with a hint of evil.
Feng Zhizhaoxue stayed outside to keep watch. The two of them leaped into the cave one after the other. They had only fallen a few feet when their feet touched the slippery ground.
By the light of the tinderbox, the sight before her eyes shocked Feng Zhizhaoyin—this was no underground ancestral hall! It was clearly a hollowed-out cave!
Deep inside the cave, a huge white shadow lay on top of piles of white bones.
It was a fox that was entirely white.
But behind it swayed nine bushy, long tails. At the tip of each tail gleamed a faint, ominous, blood-red light. Even more terrifying, those red lights connected with countless thin, thread-like blood-red rays hanging from the cave ceiling—those red lines pierced through the soil, clearly pointing towards the entire village above!
Startled, the nine-tailed fox raised its large and elegant head, its long, narrow fox eyes lazily opening, its pupils a pure, bottomless gold. It neither panicked nor attacked, but instead spoke in human language, its voice possessing a seductive, husky magnetism, "I wondered which celestial official had arrived; it turns out you've brought an even more delicious feast of blood."
Feng Zhizhao instantly understood—the “withering disease” that plagued the entire Along Village was actually a massive evil formation set up by this nine-tailed fox, feeding on the blood and qi of the entire village!
Without her command, a threatening growl burst from Sheng Sheng's throat, and his eerie green demonic power surged. His body lengthened in the spiritual light, instantly transforming into a giant python with menacing scales, which pounced straight at the nine-tailed fox.
However, the gap in strength was as vast as an insurmountable chasm.
The nine-tailed fox didn't even get up; it simply raised one of its front paws and waved it lightly in the air.
An invisible yet immense force, as powerful as a mountain, crashed into the living snake's body!
The enormous snake's body was instantly thrown away, sending countless fragments of stone and dust flying. It tumbled and rolled to the ground in a sorry state, transforming back into human form, blood spilling from its mouth, its clothes torn at the chest, revealing horrific claw marks that tore its skin open.
The nine-tailed fox retracted its claws, elegantly licking non-existent dust from its claw tips. A hint of mockery lingered in its golden pupils, as if it had merely swatted away an annoying mosquito.
"Overestimating one's abilities."
Upon seeing this, Feng Zhi Zhaoyin didn't say a word, grabbed Sheng Sheng by the collar, and quickly retreated.
The nine-tailed fox didn't give chase, lazily returning to its original spot, as if confident that they couldn't cause any trouble.
He was severely injured by a casual blow from the nine-tailed fox. Although the injuries were mostly superficial, the deep claw marks that revealed bone and the demonic power that was almost completely crushed undoubtedly hurt his dignity even more.
Especially in front of Feng Zhizhao, he gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand, his eyes burning with humiliation and resentment, repeatedly growling, "I was careless," and "I must go back and get my revenge."
“You’re no match for him.” Feng Zhi Zhaoyin pressed him down. “Rest first, we’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
Then, watching Feng Zhizhaoxue help Shengsheng into the house, she turned and left.
They stayed at the old village chief's house. The village chief's only son was also tormented by that strange wilt disease, becoming emaciated and nearing the end of his life.
The night was deep and still, the chill of the plateau penetrating every crevice. Above the inky blue sky, the Milky Way was scattered, brilliant yet cold, silently overlooking this desolate land devoured by evil.
Under the dim starlight, Feng Zhi Zhaoyin quietly made her way to the rocky hill outside the village.
The terrain here was slightly higher, avoiding the view of the village. Strange rocks stood all around, silently guarding this ominous place. She stopped, took a deep breath of the cold air, and suppressed the unease in her heart.
She took out the spiritual objects and the "Death-Slaying Manual" that she always kept in her bag. She cut her palm to let the blood flow. She drew a formation on the ground with a brush. She nailed on a peach wood core, and then began to chant the difficult incantation.
Before detaining the "Grim Reaper" again, Feng Zhizhaoyin did not forget his previous warning—if there is a next time, I will kill you.
Therefore, as soon as that black figure, shrouded in boundless deathly silence, descended, she slid to her knees, looked up, and spoke with heartfelt sincerity:
"Lord Death! I suddenly remembered that we met once before! In a dilapidated temple, do you remember? At first glance, I was struck by your awe-inspiring presence and extraordinary demeanor, which left an unforgettable impression. I tossed and turned all night, and afterwards, I couldn't eat or drink for days! Today, I can't help but feel moved and I'm taking the liberty of asking you... do you remember me?"
Although it's uncertain whether this black cloak is the same one as the other, what she said is true: she did suffer from insomnia that night in the ruined temple due to fear and anxiety. It's also true that she lost her appetite afterwards—fearing he would settle scores with her later.
Her blunt and heartfelt words seemed to leave the man in the black cloak stunned.
So much so that it took him a long time to say, "twice."
Feng Zhizhao was taken aback. "What?"
"And another time. You were there too, in Xiaowangzhuang."
"..."
It really was him?
Feng Zhizhao's mind raced, and she readily agreed, "I remember! Your swift and decisive actions back then eliminated harm for the people and cleansed away evil spirits, truly embodying righteousness! That's why I've always felt that although you hold the power of life and death, you are compassionate and a benevolent deity who upholds justice and is certainly willing to help those in distress!"
She paused, then raised her clear eyes, her tone becoming increasingly sincere, "Therefore, I dare to make this request today because there is a matter of vital importance concerning the survival of hundreds of lives. Only by relying on your extraordinary abilities can we hope to turn the tide. Your divine power is unparalleled, and your insight into the netherworld is boundless; such merits are immeasurable..."
“Speak frankly.” The man in the black cloak interrupted her, his tone still cold, yet somehow giving the impression that he had a headache.
Feng Zhi Zhaoyin then briefly recounted the ordeal of Along Village and earnestly said, "I implore you, sir, to take action and eliminate that harmful monster."
The man in the black cloak paused for a moment, then countered with, "What if I say no?"
Feng Zhizhao was slightly taken aback, but then calmly said, "I believe that with your benevolence, Your Excellency would never sit idly by and watch these hundreds of innocent lives be slaughtered."
"Oh?" Gazing at her composed demeanor, the man in the black cloak said, "I thought you would draw your sword immediately like last time. Is it because these people's lives are less important than your sister that you're being so polite?"
That was a sharp question. Feng Zhizhao shook her head. "If that were the case, I wouldn't have risked offending you and losing my life to come and beg you."
She addressed everyone as "Sir" and "you" with utmost respect, yet there was not a trace of humility in her eyes or brows.
“But you just said that you couldn’t control yourself, so you used this method of detention to ‘invite’ me here.”
The man in the black cloak slowly raised his hand, the dark chains on his wrists turning silently. He made no other movements, only pulling down the cloak that covered his face.
Of all the things you've said, which one is true?
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