Chapter 60 Mortal Bones Binding Gods, Defying Fate (Part 3): Resisting force, not gentleness. ...
His voice was clear and crisp, like an icy spring flowing over cold stones, each word carrying immense weight.
Feng Zhizhao's breath hitched, not because of his reproach, but because of the true face beneath the brim of his hat.
It wasn't the grim skeleton or inhuman figure I had imagined, but a face so beautiful it was almost unreal.
Her long, ink-black hair was loosely tied back with a simple jade hairpin, and a natural widow's peak adorned her forehead, making her face appear even more exquisite. Her skin was pale and cool, and her eyes were slightly upturned at the corners, giving her an innately expressive face. Yet her pupils were like icy springs deep within snow-capped mountains, clear, cold, and unfathomable, revealing neither depth nor emotion.
At this moment, those eyes looked at her calmly and without emotion, yet they possessed a captivating power.
Feng Zhi Zhaoyin had lived for more than ten years and considered herself to have seen many outstanding young men, but never had anyone been able to blend such almost eerie beauty and aloofness so perfectly, leaving people mesmerized.
She stood there, speechless for a moment, until the invisible pressure almost overwhelmed her, before she suddenly came to her senses and remembered his question.
“It’s all true.” Feng Zhizhaoyin steadied herself and said seriously, “The human heart is complex and can hold many thoughts at the same time without contradictions.”
The man in the black cloak observed her silently for a moment, then uttered a four-word comment: "eloquent and flattering."
Just as Feng Zhizhao was about to speak again, he changed the subject, "Lead the way."
Her voice remained unreadable, yet it filled Feng Zhizhao with joy. But this joy was short-lived, quickly replaced by a pressing practical issue.
She glanced at the still-present death-bringing banners on the ground, then looked up at him standing in the formation, a rare hint of embarrassment on her face. "My lord, how should this formation be... uh, please come out?"
She had initially only thought of taking a desperate gamble to bring the person here, even if it meant certain death. Only after her sister was out of danger did she belatedly realize the importance of her life. After all, if the gods wanted to settle scores, finding her would be as easy as turning their hands. Because of this, she was indeed living in constant fear, terrified that she would open her eyes to find that deadly figure.
The problem now is even more complicated – this detained “Grim Reaper” needs to come out on her own, and we also need to help her fight.
The man in the black cloak remained silent for a moment.
After a long pause, he finally spoke, “Southeast corner, off-position, bloodstain three inches in reverse.” As he finished speaking, his cold, lonely eyes lowered slightly, his long eyelashes casting a shadow beneath them, as if concealing some indescribable expression.
Feng Zhi Zhaoyin did as she was told.
The next moment, the array's faint light dimmed slightly. The man in the black cloak calmly stepped out of the array's core, his movements as natural as if he had simply taken a casual step.
However, the moment his foot landed, Feng Zhizhaoyin seemed to hear a very light, almost inaudible sigh, or perhaps it was just an illusion caused by the night breeze.
She couldn't help but turn her head to look, only to see him raise his hand and quickly rub his temple. Although his expression remained calm and indifferent, he inexplicably exuded a sense of helplessness, wondering "Why am I here dealing with this kind of thing?"
It was this overly humane little gesture that made Feng Zhizhaoyin's heart suddenly stir, and she realized that this "Grim Reaper" whom she had detained three times was probably only recently in office.
No wonder he acts with a somewhat rigid and naive approach to life, yet surprisingly leaves room for maneuver while adhering to principles, and can even be described as easy to talk to.
To confirm her suspicions, Feng Zhi Zhaoyin secretly observed him the whole way.
Upon re-entering the cave filled with demonic energy, the nine-tailed fox still lazily perched atop the white bones. Seeing the two who had returned, especially noticing the black cloak beside Feng Zhizhaoyin, its narrow golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"Oh? You even found some help?" Its tone was still seductive and hoarse, but the crimson light at the tip of its tail shone a little brighter. "This aura... it's so familiar, it brings back memories..." It licked its lips and looked at the black cloak with burning eyes.
The man in the black cloak calmly said, "It's you. Three cycles of sixty years ago, you stole the essence of living beings, narrowly escaped divine punishment in the Southern Frontier, and fled the judgment of the Hall of Truth. We showed you leniency back then, but you've gone even further, committing this act that defies the laws of nature."
The nine-tailed fox seemed to have heard something utterly ridiculous, and let out a mocking laugh. "The law of the jungle prevails in this world! They are weak, so they are destined to become my resources! What are you, the Hall of Truth, to prey on me?"
"Stubborn to the end." The voice in the black cloak turned cold.
"Playing tricks!" The nine-tailed fox shrieked sharply, its demonic power surging, and its nine long tails rose into the air like giant pythons, sweeping outwards with devastating force!
"boom--!!!"
The entire cave trembled violently. The rock walls at the top could not withstand the pressure and cracked open with countless spiderweb-like fissures. Millstone-sized boulders mixed with dust rained down! The white bones on the ground instantly turned into dust. The demonic wind surged, forcing Feng Zhi Zhaoyin to retreat repeatedly, almost unable to open her eyes.
However, the black cloak at the center of the storm remained unmoved.
A holy radiance surged forth from the darkness, and a colossal Dharma image materialized behind him, seemingly containing the supreme pressure of order.
The most striking feature is the outstretched wings behind the Buddha image, which are sacred, majestic, and inviolable.
The moment that Dharma form appeared, the nine-tailed fox's fur stood on end, and for the first time, fear appeared in its golden eyes. "The Wings of Annihilation? You are Dawei Jiali?"
Before the words were even finished, a holy light flooded the cave like a tidal wave. The nine-tailed fox let out a shrill scream, and the demonic power gathered around her vanished like smoke in the light. Her massive body was pressed into the ground by an invisible force, rendering her unable to move.
The light faded, and the Dharma image vanished. Kui Li remained standing still, his black robes silent, as if the scene that had just shaken the heavens and earth was nothing but an illusion.
He looked down at the dying nine-tailed fox on the ground and said, "After a thousand years of cultivation, you have naturally formed nine tails, a creation of heaven and earth. However, you did not follow the righteous path, but instead used evil arts to steal the essence of living beings, destroying your own foundation. Considering the difficulty of your cultivation, come with me back to the Hall of Truth to receive the precepts and cultivate in seclusion. If you can repent and reform, you may one day be able to regain the Great Dao."
The nine-tailed fox curled up on the ground, silent for a long time, its violent aura gradually subsiding. It finally raised its head, gave him a deep look, bent its forelegs slightly, and lowered its proud head. "I...will obey the Holy Son's teachings."
Feng Zhi Zhaoyin peeked out from behind the rock, only to find that the nine-tailed fox had transformed into a stunningly beautiful woman lying prostrate on the ground. Her figure was graceful, her face captivating, and her eyes possessed a natural charm. A small beauty mark at the corner of her eye added to her slightly pale complexion, making her appear even more pitiful.
The man in the black cloak said to Feng Zhizhao, "This matter is settled."
She snapped out of her daze and replied knowingly, "This way, sir."
However, the magnificent commotion caused by the holy light soaring into the sky and dispelling the demonic clouds had clearly alarmed the entire village.
When Feng Zhizhao went out, she was caught off guard by a large group of kneeling villagers. They were all gathered in the open space in front of the ancestral hall, bowing in the direction of the collapsed cave.
When those people saw her, they recalled the miraculous scene that had just unfolded, and they all bowed their heads to the ground, shouting excitedly:
"It's a goddess! It's a goddess who has saved us!"
"Thank you, Goddess!"
Feng Zhi Zhaoyin was startled by the scene and quickly retreated back into the cave, saying to the two people behind her, "There are people outside, let's take another route."
The path leading to the rocky hill was secluded and deserted. Feng Zhizhao walked ahead, but her mind was entirely focused on what was behind her.
She couldn't help but steal a glance back, her gaze sweeping past the aloof, dark figure beside her, then landing a few steps away on the silent, white-clad beauty with lowered eyes. This strange pairing involuntarily reminded her of those folk tales about aloof immortals and stunningly beautiful enchantresses locked in endless entanglements…
She quickly stopped this increasingly absurd association.
Sure enough, once people are well-fed and comfortable, they start having all sorts of random and irrelevant thoughts.
But then she suddenly remembered that the nine-tailed fox had cried out a name in terror in the cave earlier? And something about a palace, something about a holy son? It didn't sound like the title of the Grim Reaper.
Feng Zhizhao couldn't hide her feelings, and once she had a question, she asked directly, "Hey, sir, what did she just call you?"
The man in the black cloak paused, but ignored him.
Feng Zhizhao turned to look at the nine-tailed fox, "You two know each other?"
"No." The nine-tailed fox denied it reflexively.
Seeing her fear, as if she were afraid of being involved with the person beside her, Feng Zhizhaoyin could understand, but still pressed for an answer, "What did you call him just now? What did you mean by 'separation'?"
The nine-tailed fox raised her eyes and looked at her with a hint of admiration, then quickly glanced at the black cloak, keeping her lips tightly closed and refusing to answer.
Seeing this, Feng Zhizhaoyin turned to the figure in black robes, her tone laced with a hint of cunning, "Then I'll call you Lord A-Li from now on? Does that sound more intimate?"
The man in the black cloak replied, "I still admire your previous arrogant and defiant attitude, when you drew your sword against me."
Unsure whether the words were praise or criticism, Feng Zhizhaoyin said confidently, "If I had known it was you, Lord Ali, I wouldn't have acted that way. My sincerity towards you is as clear as day!"
However, the man in the black cloak suddenly quickened his pace, his black robe billowing in the night wind, clearly unwilling to listen to her offhand musings.
Seeing this, she pursed her lips and stopped trying to win him over.
She had no ulterior motives towards this non-human creature; she simply wanted to establish a good relationship with him because of his extraordinary abilities, so that it would be easier to talk to him if she encountered any troublesome matters in the future.
But a god is a god, and he looks down on everyone.
Since that's the case, let's keep it simple and straightforward next time.
Just then, the man in the black cloak didn't stop walking and led the nine-tailed fox straight toward the formation, about to leave.
"Wait." Feng Zhizhao called out to him, then took out a carefully wrapped package of oil paper from her cloth bag. "This place is barren and there's nothing special here, but this dried yak meat is delicious. Take it back and try it."
The man in the black cloak turned his head to the side, his pair of emotionless, desireless peach blossom eyes glancing at her.
Feng Zhizhao's eyes flickered, and a smile she thought was very kind bloomed on her lips. She was beautiful, with bright and lively eyes. Her smile was a mix of sincerity and cunning, making it hard for anyone to refuse her even though they knew she might have ulterior motives.
She handed the oil paper package forward and kicked over a piece of peach wood core.
The man in the black cloak lowered his eyes and glanced at the simple oil paper package. Finally, he reached out and took it, then, along with the nine-tailed fox, disappeared into the formation.
Seeing this, Feng Zhizhao breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest.
Very well, the saying "he who eats another's food is bound to do his bidding" applies everywhere, and he indeed didn't mention killing her again.
The following morning, when Feng Zhizhaoyin, Shengsheng, and Zhaoxue were preparing to leave, almost the entire village flocked to the village chief's house.
The villagers no longer knelt in fear as they had the night before, but the gratitude and reverence in their eyes remained undiminished. They eagerly offered their best possessions: freshly ground barley flour, dried beef and mutton, richly colored ghee... and even woolen blankets that the women had worked through the night to make.
"Goddess, you must accept this!"
"This is a small token of our appreciation. Thank you and the great deity for saving our entire village!"
"Eat on the road, use on the road..."
Feng Zhi and Zhao Yin waved their hands repeatedly to refuse, and Zhao Xue also explained gently that it was inconvenient to carry things on the long journey. Sheng Sheng was even more flustered, trying to fend off those enthusiastic hands. After much persuasion and negotiation, she finally managed to escape.
After they left, the villagers of Alon gathered again in the open space in front of the ancestral hall. Although the ancestral hall was mostly destroyed, it did not diminish the excitement on everyone's faces.
A respected old man, leaning on his cane, spoke in a loud voice, “The goddess and the deity behind her saved us. How can we not repay such a great kindness? I propose that we build a temple for the goddess on that rocky hill, and offer incense to express our gratitude and pray for eternal peace for our village!”
"Yes! Build a temple!"
"Sculpt a golden statue for the goddess!"
"We'll contribute money and effort!"
This proposal immediately received enthusiastic support from all the villagers. Finally, the old village chief made the final decision: "Since the goddess has come to relieve the predicament of Xiangweng Mountain, let it be named after the mountain, 'Xiangweng Temple.' May this temple, like Xiangweng Mountain, protect our village of Along for generations to come!"
"Xiang Ong Temple!"
"Xiang Ong Temple!"
The deep, devout shouts echoed through the valley for a long time, and a temple born of gratitude was named in the morning light of the plateau.
After bidding farewell to Along Village, Feng Zhizhao and her companions headed south, arriving at a water town called "Luoyanze". This place is crisscrossed by rivers and should be bustling with boats, but there were few boats moored on the shore. Many fishermen looked worried, pointing at the vast expanse of the lake and talking in hushed tones.
Upon inquiring, they learned that a strange phenomenon had been occurring in Luoyan Marsh for the past month. Every full moon night, a mournful and lingering song would drift from the depths of the lake, like a sobbing lament, as if a woman were weeping. At first, the fishermen thought it was just their imagination, but later, every fisherman who went out on a full moon night returned in a daze, fell ill for several days, and muttered incoherently, "The Dragon Maiden summoned me."
Local elders say that the "Dragon Girl" sleeping at the bottom of the swamp has awakened, and that only by sacrificing young boys and girls can her anger be appeased and peace be maintained. Several villages, unable to bear the pressure, have begun secretly drawing lots to decide who will be the sacrifices, causing widespread panic.
After hearing the reason, Feng Zhizhao looked at the gloomy village, and her first thought was—
Why bother with readily available experts when you can just throw yourself into it? Why force yourself to endure hardship when there's no real expertise?
They immediately found a secluded spot and, with practiced ease, set up the execution trap.
As the array lit up, the familiar figure appeared. Feng Zhizhaoyin immediately made a three-inch incision in reverse on the bloodstain left by the missing person, her movements so fast they were almost fawning. She was already chanting, "There is a vengeful spirit haunting this place, which may harm the lives of innocent children. The adults are speaking the truth, and they are certainly fair and just. They cannot bear to see such a tragedy happen!"
She stood silently in the center of the formation, her hood slightly raised, her cold gaze sweeping across the vast, misty lake before finally settling on her innocent face. After a long silence, she said, "I am not a servant to clear away your troubles."
“Of course not!” Feng Zhizhao said softly, “It’s just that, apart from this clumsy method, I really don’t know how else to ask for your help. The situation is urgent, and we can’t just stand by and watch those children suffer…”
The man in the black cloak replied calmly, "This is not within my scope of responsibility."
Seeing that he was unmoved by reason, Feng Zhizhaoyin's feigned patience quickly ran out.
She raised an eyebrow, all her previous gentle words vanishing, and said sternly, "Let me put it this way, you have to take care of this matter whether you want to or not. If you insist on refusing, then you can stay in this mess for the rest of your life and let your colleagues laugh at you."
The air suddenly froze.
Just when Feng Zhi Zhaoyin thought a more intense confrontation was about to unfold, he suddenly said, "You look much more pleasing to the eye now than when you were pretending to be docile."
He paused, then continued, "I just sensed that the spirit deep within this lake is a bound spirit formed from the obsession of a woman who drowned a hundred years ago. Such spirits have their own karma and destiny; forcibly interfering might invite divine punishment."
Feng Zhizhaoyin understood; it turned out he only responded to force. That made things easier; she could just be herself.
She immediately said, "All I know is that I can't just stand by and watch those living children go to their deaths. If you won't help, I'll go myself. But if anything happens to me, you'll be held responsible!"
The man in the black cloak remained silent for a moment before finally speaking again. His voice was devoid of emotion, yet it was no longer a refusal. "Her obsession has manifested as a spirit, trapping her for a hundred years. Her resentment can be resolved, and her soul can be saved. If you can resolve the obsession in her heart and help her let go of the past, this matter will naturally be resolved."
After the "Dragon Girl" problem that had plagued Luoyanze for many days was resolved, Feng Zhizhaoyin seemed to have unlocked her full potential.
During her subsequent travels, whenever she encountered something difficult or troublesome, or something she felt was time-consuming and laborious, her first thought was to find a secluded place and, familiar with the area, set up a trap.
At first, whenever the black cloak appeared, she always carried a silent and chilling pressure, but she was also sensible and could always find some legitimate reasons that were "related to the survival of living beings" or "against the fairness of the natural order," coupled with her words that were three parts sincerity and seven parts cunning.
After several such incidents, he seemed to have tacitly accepted these unpredictable "botherings." Although he remained sparing with words, he never hesitated to take action.
Feng Zhi Zhaoyin gradually figured it out. Before he finished and left, she would always take something out and slip it to him. Sometimes it was a local specialty pastry bought in a town she passed by, sometimes it was a fresh wild fruit picked from the mountains, and sometimes it was just a pot of coarse tea that she thought was acceptable.
The man in the black cloak would only pause slightly, his gaze lingering for a moment on the inconspicuous object; sometimes he would take it, sometimes he would ignore it. Over time, this became an unspoken rule.
One day, after dealing with the wandering spirits spawning in an ancient tomb, Feng Zhi Zhaoyin handed him a bag of steaming roasted chestnuts. Looking at his profile hidden in the shadow of his hat, she finally couldn't help but ask curiously, "I mean, I can't keep calling you 'Sir,' 'you,' or 'hey,' can I? Do you even have a name?"
At that moment, Dawei Jiali was reaching out to take the bag of chestnuts when he heard her words and paused slightly. He didn't look at her, but silently tucked the warm, smoky chestnuts into his black robe.
Just when Feng Zhi Zhaoyin thought she would still not get an answer this time, he suddenly spoke, his voice as soft as snow falling on a silent stone, "Dawei Jiali."
Feng Zhizhao was taken aback and asked, "Which words?"
He casually broke off a dry twig, bent down, and drew four characters in the mud at her feet. The dampness of the soil accentuated the strong, bold strokes, giving the characters a cold, solemn air.
Feng Zhi Zhaoyin lowered her eyes and looked down, then her eyebrows curved into a smile, "So your name is Wei Li?"
“It is Dawei, Jiali,” he straightened up and corrected.
"That's too much of a tongue twister." Feng Zhizhao waved her hand dismissively, a hint of slyness in her smile. "Do you prefer to be called Kui Li, or A Li?"
Dawei Jiali stared at her for a moment, then said nothing and turned to disappear into the magic circle.
Later, Feng Zhi Zhaoyin grew bolder day by day. After discovering that Dawei Jiali was cold on the outside but soft on the inside, her initial slight awe was long gone. Whenever she needed to ask him for help, she called out "Weili" more and more naturally and confidently.
Occasionally, when she addressed him that way, the brim of his hat would tilt almost imperceptibly towards her. Although she couldn't see his expression, the momentary silence always made her feel that he might have slightly furrowed his brow.
It's certainly inappropriate to abbreviate the surname and given name together, but so what?
Feng Zhi Zhaoyin secretly felt that calling him that made him seem less unattainable.
And so, with the occasional troublesome request from a certain Lord Kui Li, the three of them traveled together, traversing mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas, living a carefree and happy life.
Half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.
At that time, they were traveling to a place called "Qiyun Town" in Jiangnan. It was late spring, and the town was shrouded in a misty rain. White walls and black tiles, small bridges and flowing water, and stone-paved roads were washed shiny by the rain. They rented a small courtyard by the river. In the corner of the courtyard, a late peach tree was in full bloom, and the pink and white petals were knocked down by the rain and spread out on the ground.
Feng Zhizhao planned to book a table at the best restaurant in town the next day and also pick out a decent birthday gift for her younger sister. She happily went out and searched carefully through the streets.
But when she returned with the chosen gift, the courtyard was empty. Feng Zhizhaoxue was gone, and Shengsheng was gone too.
On the stone table, a plain piece of paper, slightly damp from the rain, was weighed down by a raw fish scale. On it, a few words were hastily written in ink:
“People from Feng Zhi’s family came and A Xue was taken away.”
Feng Zhi Zhaoyin felt a chill run from the soles of her feet straight up to the top of her head.
Feng Zhijia… this name, like a nightmare, had long been deliberately sealed away in the darkest corner of her memory. She almost thought that those dark years were long gone. They had lived in anonymity for only half a year, a precious period of peace, which gave her the illusion that she could break free from fate.
Panic grew like wildfire. Without the slightest hesitation, Feng Zhi Zhaoyin didn't even have time to pack her belongings. She grabbed the cloth bag she never parted with and set off day and night, rushing madly towards the Shu region.
However, the journey is simply too long.
When Feng Zhizhaoyin, covered in dust and lingering fatigue, staggered into the territory of Qiangquan, three full days had passed since the two sisters' eighteenth birthdays.
At the roadside tea stalls and inns where people were resting, everyone was whispering and discussing the same thing—
The Feng family produced a "Yin God".
Rumors, detailed and seemingly credible, claimed that the Feng Zhi family had secretly cultivated a "Yin God" capable of truly communicating with the netherworld and wielding authority over the underworld, who would soon be making a pilgrimage in the mortal realm. All factions were alarmed; some were in awe, some were terrified, and others were eager to curry favor with them.
"Have you heard? This time, the Feng family... is really going to soar to new heights!"
"They say that the spirit of the underworld is ordained by Heaven and can bring blessings to the region..."
"Tsk, who knows how it came about, it just feels weird..."
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