Chapter 60: Ten Deaths and One Life
"Oh, look at you, so listless. What's wrong, young lady? Are you sick too? Would you like this old man to take a look at you?"
In the bright attic, Old Man Chong, with his white hair and childlike face full of schadenfreude, held a bowl of black medicine that smelled strange. He was barefoot and clearly did not look like a proper doctor.
Song Jin sat on the wooden box, lifted her eyelids, and said with a half-smile, "I see your hair is a bit messy, do you want me to fix it for you?"
Immediately, some painful memories flooded the old man's mind. He instinctively covered his sparse white hair and took a few steps back, distancing himself from Song Jin, lest he lose his newly grown hair as well.
Over the past few days, his initial fear of Song Jin had subsided, and he spoke much more casually. He couldn't help but mutter, "You unreasonable little brat, this old man really owes you something."
Song Jin accepted his complaint with a clear conscience, shrugging: "There's no need to talk about something so obvious."
She never claimed to be a reasonable person.
"This shamelessness!" Old Chong thought, a lump forming in his throat. He glared at the little girl, a spitting image of Song Shang, and, carrying the poison-like medicine, walked step by step towards the small couch, looking as if she were about to administer poison.
Song Jin shouted, "In war, envoys are not to be killed. If you have a problem, come at me, don't involve my mother!"
Old Man Chong slammed down the medicine bowl, looking at the person sitting upright on the small couch with exasperation, "You should also discipline your child! How can a mother have no authority at all?"
Niu Tielan sat on a small couch, dressed in an extremely simple white robe with only a wooden hairpin in her hair. She looked as simple as a Taoist nun in a temple, yet she somehow exuded a sense of leisurely elegance.
Niu Tielan usually turns a blind eye to her daughter's behavior because
"She's very obedient now."
She succinctly explained this matter, which sounded terrible but was the truth.
Song Jin sat there obediently, neither striking a blow, nor swearing, nor making any threatening gestures. At most, her tone was a bit harsh, and her words were a bit too 'realistic'...
There's no need to worry about it; it's normal for kids to have a temper.
Niu Tielan spoke with remarkable composure, a composure that sent a shiver down Chong Lao's spine.
It was his fault. He shouldn't have placed his hopes on her, his mother. If a mother were truly willing to be ruthless and discipline her, she wouldn't have raised such a disrespectful, unreasonable, and arrogant child.
However, compared to their first meeting, Song Jin was indeed 'obedient and polite' now, and Old Chong couldn't refute it. He could only hold his breath and go over to take Niu Tielan's pulse, then asked her about some changes in her daily life over the past few days, and he had a good idea of what was going on.
"Your physical condition is much better than I expected. But if it weren't, you wouldn't have lasted this long. You're very capable; no wonder that person took a liking to you."
Under Niu Tielan's puzzled gaze, he swallowed his words and changed his tune, saying, "The person who can raise such a brat."
Mother and daughter: ...
The old insect, having turned the tables on his opponent, smiled smugly and said, "Drink this medicine first, then drink it eight more times, once every three days. Twenty-four days later, when the moon is full, I will use the Moon Shadow Insect as a catalyst to begin your path as a Gu Maiden. If you succeed, you will be fearless of any disease or injury. Even if your head is severed, as long as it can be reattached within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, you will be safe and sound."
The mother and daughter were stunned.
Song Jin reached out and pressed her agape jaw, saying incredulously, "Are you kidding me?"
Old Insect had been waiting to see their surprised expressions for so long, and now that he had, he smiled with satisfaction, radiating a deep sense of pride.
"That's how our Gu clan is. Otherwise, do you think the Gu clan has rarely ventured out over the years? As for your mother, if possible, it would be best to return to the Holy Land. There, the ancient clans have thousands of years of insect protection, which would make treatment twice as effective. Unfortunately, it's already destroyed, and your mother doesn't have the time anymore."
Song Jin still didn't believe it: "According to you, once you become a Gu woman, you won't die?"
The old insect shook his head: "Of course not. Gu women are more afraid of fire and heat than ordinary people. Burning is the most harmful way to attack them. As for other poisons, diseases, cold, external and internal injuries, as long as there is still a breath of life, Gu women can heal them. Every Gu woman is like this."
Song Jin swallowed hard: "Wouldn't everyone want such a miraculous physique?"
"How do you think the Gu Clan was overthrown? Why do you think so few people know about the Gu Clan for thousands of years? Why do so many nobles not seek immortality?" The old insect's smile gradually faded, and he spoke with extreme seriousness and cruelty.
"Because among those who practice Gu, only one in ten thousand survives, and even that one cannot succeed without the favor of Heaven. Those who practice Gu must endure piercing pain daily, suffering the corrosive effects of countless Gu. The slightest mishap will result in a gruesome death, and their remains cannot be recovered unless absolutely necessary. But you have no choice. The next twenty-four days will be your last period of freedom. After you begin practicing Gu, your clothing, food, shelter, and even your travels must all be at my command, without the slightest error."
...
The mother and daughter stepped out of the attic, the narrow wooden staircase creaking and masking their silence, all the way down to the courtyard.
Niu Tielan stopped in her tracks. She lowered her head, her brow furrowed, her expression hesitant. She forced a smile, as if trying to say something.
Song Jin hopped and spun around, placing her hands on her shoulders. Her phoenix eyes shone like the sun in the sky, filled with excitement and joy.
"Your Majesty, did you hear that? From now on, you will be like the stone in the mountain, indestructible, unbreakable, and undrowsy. May you live a long and peaceful life, year after year..."
But before that, there were a million ways she might not be able to hold on, and a million other bizarre ways she might die.
Niu Tielan doesn't believe she has any divine favor. If she were truly so lucky, her first half of life wouldn't have been so tumultuous: losing her family in childhood, being arrested as a teenager, finally gaining freedom only to witness the death of her beloved, then losing her health, and now, with a glimmer of hope, the treatment is proving incredibly difficult.
She has never been lucky in her life; everything she has is the result of her own hard work and perseverance.
Surviving the massacre of her entire family, escaping from the hellish girls' kindergarten, painstakingly finding a way to assume a false identity, establishing a female household, raising her children, and building up her family fortune...
She walked every step of the way on her own.
Niu Tielan's tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and her anxiety and hesitation dissipated. She slightly raised the corners of her mouth and chuckled, "Yes, your mother will be 'immortal' from now on. If you dare disobey me, I'll really break your legs."
Song Jin hugged her arm and smiled, "Mother, what are you saying? When have I ever not listened to you?"
Niu Tielan scoffed, "Don't nitpick my words."
Song Jin smiled and took her arm, leading her outside: "No way, come on, let's go for a walk. The feng shui of this capital is quite good. Our lives have been getting better every day since we came here."
Her mother's health had been resolved, and she even possessed a powerful healing constitution—Song Jin didn't really doubt it. After all, the internal energy here was her supernatural ability from her previous life, and the claim that the Gu woman's body possessed powerful healing abilities sounded very reasonable.
As for herself, now that she holds the title of princess, she can practically walk sideways in the capital.
This Sanqing Temple does have something.
Song Jin smiled and said, "Mother, shall we go and visit the Taoist Academy?"
Not far from the Beast Taming Hall are the Dao Academy and the Martial Arts Academy, where many "prodigies" have emerged. It's said that they recruit both men and women, which should be quite interesting.
Niu Tielan smiled and nodded.
No one can say for sure what will happen next, but at least she can enjoy the next twenty-four days.
They walked outside.
There were many people coming and going along the way, some walking dogs, some holding cats, and some even carrying gray rats and birdcages.
Niu Tielan's gaze swept over them, and even after she left the Beast Hall, she didn't see that familiar face. She didn't know whether to feel regret or relief.
The scene of their last meeting flashed through her mind again.
Golden bell flowers bloom
Golden Bell
Ruan Jinling, her original name
Niu Tielan sat on the back of the oxcart, watching the pedestrians recede down the street. His gaze fell on the scattered osmanthus blossoms. The osmanthus flowers were golden and fragrant, beautiful to look at, and also useful for making incense, brewing wine, medicine, and food.
There are also lilacs, magnolias, gardenias, peonies, chrysanthemums...
She could name dozens of uses for each one.
It wasn't because she was exceptionally talented, but because years of relentless dedication had ingrained it into her very being. It was something she used to despise, yet it had become the foundation of her success over the years.
Niu Tielan recalled her near-death escape that year. At the time, she didn't think much of it, but now she realized it was all intentional. Otherwise, how could she have escaped so easily, and run into that person as soon as she got out?
However, she was so overwhelmed with joy at the time that she didn't think about any of those things.
It wasn't until that person had an accident and her body inexplicably weakened that she realized she hadn't actually escaped in the first place; she had simply moved from a small garden to a larger one.
Her immediate thought was that she had to run, run as far as possible, even if it meant dying out there. She disguised herself, hired men, and left, crossing most of Dayan to reach Qingjun Prefecture. On the way, she encountered the Song family couple who had been killed by bandits.
Looking at the 'Niu Tielan' who resembled her, she conceived the idea of taking over the family's place, and she succeeded. After a simple disguise, she assumed the identity of 'Niu Tielan' and entered the Song family. She rarely left the small courtyard, and was 'driven out' once the child could walk.
From that time on, Ruan Jinling ceased to exist; only the widow Niu Tielan remained.
Even though her shell has been almost completely broken, she doesn't intend to make any changes. She likes this name, and she likes the free person she is now—able to get angry, to curse, to shout; able to play cards, to dig, to climb trees—it's the life she's dreamed of a million times.
Ruan Jinling was once nothing more than a pitiful woman in that chaotic world who had nothing but beauty.
Now, Niu Tielan is a widow who has lost her husband but is happy and content. She feels quite good about herself, except for some jumbled mysteries looming before her, making her unsure whether she should delve into them.
"turn"
A clear, loud shout rang out
Niu Tielan's jumbled thoughts came to a halt. Turning her head again, the large girl beside her vanished, and in the blink of an eye, she was ten meters ahead, pinning down the about-to-overturn carriage, catching the falling sacks, and throwing them back.
"You've overturned it! Master, please be careful. Don't load so much stuff next time, and make sure the rope is securely fastened."
The driver watched helplessly as the overturned carriage swerved back to its original position. His heart pounded wildly. He wiped the sweat from his brow, jumped off the oxcart, and upon seeing Song Jin again, his heart nearly leaped out of his chest, and his voice trembled.
"Oh dear, you're just a little girl? It's fine if something falls; what if it hits you? Are you alright?"
Song Jin rested her elbow on the car, beaming, "Don't be afraid, I'm very strong. Master, you should worry about yourself, your hand..."
The coachman finally had a chance to look at himself. He hissed, "I must have pulled on it earlier. It's nothing serious. I'll take the things over and then go check on it. Thank you, young lady."
Song Jin glanced at it twice: "How about I take a look at you? I studied medicine for a few years."
The carriage driver looked at Song Jin's appearance and clothes, and couldn't see what a female doctor she was looking for. But considering the help she had just given him, he paused for a moment and nodded, "Then I'll trouble you, young lady."
Song Jin went over and took the coachman's hand. His hands were bulging with muscles and veins, clearly the result of years of using his hands. His elbows were slightly twisted. She gently pressed on them, and amidst the coachman's hiss, she pulled on both hands with a sharp crack.
The coachman was stunned for a moment, then looked down at his hands, then at Song Jin, then back at his hands, and exclaimed in surprise, "It's done? It's done?"
Song Jin smiled and released the person, raising an eyebrow: "Is your cooking alright?"
The carriage driver gave her a thumbs up: "This is it. Miss, you wouldn't happen to be a student at a martial arts academy, would you?"
"No, but I heard that the Martial Arts Academy and the Dao Academy are right next to each other. My mother and I were just about to go check it out. Wait, where's my mother? Mother, Mother!"
As Song Jin spoke, she turned her head, only to find Niu Tielan no longer in the carriage behind her. Her eyes widened instantly, and she instinctively looked around, only to see a thousand figures appear out of nowhere. She breathed a sigh of relief, a hint of resentment in her voice.
"Mom, why are you running around like this?"
"You can say that to yourself," Niu Tielan said, glancing at her with a handful of millet in his hand. He put the millet back into the burlap sack and said to the oxcart driver, "The sack is torn; tie it up."
The oxcart driver paused for a moment, a blush creeping onto his dark face. He nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes, madam, let me see, let me see."
Song Jin pouted, pulled her mother back two steps, and said, "Let's go, Mother, it's not far from here, let's walk over."
Niu Tielan nodded.
The chef quickly said, "Oh, young lady, madam, wait a minute, wait a minute. Are you going to the Taoist Academy? I work in the kitchen over there, I'll take you there."
Song Jin narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at the burly, dark-skinned middle-aged man in front of her, and her lips moved slightly.
Niu Tielan pulled her hair back, nodded to the person, and said, "Then we'll have to trouble you, Master. We've only been in the capital for a few days, and this is our first time here."
The driver re-tied the carriage and walked to the roadside to drive it, his face flushed and dark: "You don't sound like it to me. You're from Qingjun Prefecture, aren't you?"
Niu Tielan: "You can tell from the sound?"
The coachman chuckled, "Yes, the most ambitious kid in the academy is from Qingjun Prefecture. His accent sounds a bit like mine. Are you coming to the capital?"
Niu Tielan asked succinctly: "Is the doctor from the capital?"
Master: "Yes, my family has been here for three generations. We used to run a restaurant, but that dog of an emperor in the previous dynasty was inhuman, and alas, the family business couldn't keep going. So, for the past few years, I've been helping out in the kitchen at the Taoist temple. Today, Old Yang, who used to haul things, is sick, so I'm here to fill in for him."
Song Jin curled her lip: "No wonder it crashed."
The master said awkwardly, "It's a good thing you're here, girl. Otherwise, if the grain had been lost, everyone would have gone hungry for dinner. You guys wanted to go to the academy to watch the martial arts competition, right? I'll take you inside in a bit, but it'll be crowded and hard to squeeze in today."
Song Jin raised an eyebrow: "Martial arts competition? Your Dao Academy does this too? I thought only the Martial Academy had it."
The master chuckled, "You're not wrong. It's a martial arts competition between our Taoist Academy and Martial Arts Academy. We've been doing it for several years now, with a small competition on the 16th of each month and a big competition at the New Year. The small competitions are held inside the academy, and the big competition is outside. Whether you have money or not, you can support us by showing your support. There are also bookmakers betting on the outcome. It's quite a lively event. You must come and watch!"
Song Jin became interested: "You can do that? This dean has quite a knack for making money!"
No wonder these colleges are so prosperous; besides being religious, they also know how to make money.
They used to set up fortune-telling and feng shui stalls, perform talent shows, and now they're even setting up a fighting arena.
The master craftsman wasn't angry at all, and laughed heartily: "Everyone's just watching the fun, and we're just making a living too."
As Song Jin spoke, she couldn't help but clench her hands. Just as she was about to speak, Niu Tielan gave her a look, and she immediately lowered her head, muttering, "I haven't even said anything yet."
Judging from her posture, you can tell what she wants to do without her saying a word.
Niu Tielan glanced at him: "Don't even think about it."
Song Jin pouted: "If you don't want to, you don't have to."
The moment her eyes darted around, Niu Tielan knew what she was up to, but there was no point in saying anything more; he'd just have to keep a close eye on her. It didn't matter before she was a wild girl, but now she was a princess, so he had to be careful.
Besides, Niu Tielan didn't initiate the conversation just now to create an opportunity for Song Jin. She paused, turned her head, and asked her master, who had been secretly glancing at her.
"Since you're a local from the capital, you should know about the golden bell flowers of Jinling Mountain, right?"
Song Jin, who had been muttering to herself, suddenly looked up, her expression becoming wary.
What is Jinling?
The master didn't think too much about it. Seeing Niu Tielan speak, he answered without reservation, saying enthusiastically, "I know, the golden bell flowers are so beautiful. When they bloom, the whole mountain looks like a golden mountain, it's incredibly beautiful. When the wind blows, it makes a tinkling sound, it's magical."
Niu Tielan said softly, "Really? Golden Bell? I've never heard of this flower before. Is it native to the capital?"
The master smiled and said, "No, we've never heard of that before. Fifteen years ago, the mountain suddenly became covered with golden bell trees. They were incredibly beautiful when they bloomed. These days are the best time to see them. Madam, you and your daughter must go and see them."
Niu Tielan seemed thoughtful, and said softly, "We should go and take a look."
...
As they spoke, they arrived at the entrance of the Dao Academy, or rather, the entrance of the Martial Arts Academy.
The two main gates face each other, and they are currently open. Taoist priests in blue robes and martial artists in black uniforms are coming and going.
The Taoist priest was slender and possessed inner strength; the martial artist was burly and powerful.
One side emphasizes using softness to overcome hardness, while the other uses brute force to overcome all forces.
Because the Taoist Academy won last month, the Taoist Academy will also collect the viewing fees for the competition held there this month.
The driver led them around to the back door: "If we go in this way, we don't need to pay. After we put our things away, I'll take you inside to see what's happening. It hasn't started yet."
Niu Tielan: "Thank you for your trouble, Master."
The master smiled and said, "No trouble at all, no trouble at all. We are very grateful to you, Madam, for today's visit."
Song Jin squinted: "Thanks to me, right?"
The chef touched his nose sheepishly: "Miss and Madam, you're the same, haha, don't mind."
Song Jin was displeased, glancing at the high wall to one side, pondering the possibility of flying her mother inside.
Niu Tielan grabbed her arm and followed the oxcart driver inside.
Song Jin muttered, "We don't need those two coins."
Niu Tielan glanced at her and said, "Then you pay the money yourself and go in."
"..."
That's impossible. Seeing that this master has 'ulterior motives,' how could she allow her own mother to have any contact with him alone? She must keep a close watch on him, ensuring he doesn't even have a chance to speak.
She made it too obvious, and the master, realizing his infatuation, awkwardly said, "I didn't mean anything by it, don't worry, young lady."
Song Jin chuckled and muttered, "They're practically glued to my mother's head, do you think I'd believe that?"
Niu Tielan was already exceptionally beautiful, but her previous frail health due to illness had somewhat diminished her beauty. Now, after taking that strange medicine, her complexion was rosy, her skin as white as snow, and she possessed a refined and elegant beauty, graceful and slender. She was a stunning beauty who stood out in a crowd, making it hard to look away.
Unlike Song Jin, who, despite her beauty, had a strong personality that overshadowed her looks, making her rebellious nature more noticeable.
The master's gaze darted around, and seeing Niu Tielan's nonchalant expression, he became even more embarrassed, touching his nose: "A fair maiden is sought after by gentlemen, but I am not a gentleman, and I know my place, so you don't need to worry, young lady."
Judging from the mother and daughter's appearance and demeanor, he knew they were just easygoing by nature, and their identities were not simple.
Song Jin scoffed: "You're quite something."
Niu Tielan warned: "Song Jin"
Song Jin shut her mouth
Niu Tielan spoke again: "Master, please don't be offended. This child and I have depended on each other since childhood. He's spoiled and acts like this towards everyone. Please don't take it to heart."
The master was even more embarrassed: "I was offended, please don't blame me, Madam."
Niu Tielan was already used to these stares; as long as they weren't malicious, it didn't bother her. She shook her head: "It's nothing."
Because of this, the master wasn't in a hurry to deliver the grain. He pulled the oxcart into the Taoist temple and led the mother and daughter towards the martial arts arena, which was a large courtyard already crowded with people.
Ten coins per person, that adds up to several taels for so many people.
The driver, who seemed to have considerable influence, led them through a secluded path, and along the way, people greeted him.
Master Ma
"Brother Ma is back."
...
As for Song Jin and her daughter Niu Tielan, although they were very eye-catching, the two women still managed to maintain some decorum despite the excitement of the crowd, refraining from screaming—lest they be kicked out.
Song Jin's gaze swept across the crowd, and she immediately spotted a large number of women—at least a third—most of whom were accompanied by men, presumably friends or family.
Most of them are ordinary men and women, but there are also quite a few rich young men and women.
Judging from the looks of it, this competition must be quite famous in the capital, otherwise so many people wouldn't come here specifically for it.
Master Ma replied, "Actually, there aren't usually this many people. This time it's because the young master of Jin Yu Ge bet five hundred taels of silver, which is why the newly arrived Daoist Mao Ze made his first appearance, making it exceptionally lively."
A sense of foreboding washed over Song Jin: "What spear?"
Master Ma led them to the innermost part, where a group of Taoist students stood in twos and threes, their eyes gleaming with desire for the five hundred taels of silver.
They will definitely win this competition.
The warriors were all tall and muscular, each with arms and legs the size of three men, standing there like a wall. They were shirtless, with dark skin and well-developed muscles; from a distance, they exuded a powerful aura that was very eye-catching.
But the Taoist priest on the other side was far more eye-catching.
He was tall and slender, dressed in a light blue Taoist robe, completely covered from head to toe, revealing only his long neck and well-defined wrists. He stood there upright, his phoenix eyes slightly raised, his head slightly bowed, and the character "Tao" seemed to be etched on his forehead.
Upright and self-disciplined, honest and incorruptible, with outstanding spirit and talent.
At the same instant, an alarm sounded in Song Jin's mind, and she pulled Niu Tielan to turn around.
Unfortunately, the mother and daughter's attire was too eye-catching, and Song Jin, dressed in red, immediately drew everyone's attention as soon as she entered the crowd.
The man who had been so upright and self-disciplined just moments before looked over quietly, his deep phoenix eyes meeting his gaze. A slight smile curved his lips, and they moved slightly.
The surrounding area was noisy, and he was speaking in a low voice; one shouldn't have been able to hear him.
But what Niu Tielan heard was his usual soft, gentle, lingering, and ambiguous voice.
"Madam has arrived."
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