Poison of the Human Panacea
Chapter 12
Next day, in the early morning[1].
Bai Tan had just entered the formless forest after taking the secret path behind the cave when a chilly wind started blowing suddenly in the forest, the clouds covered the moon and the shadows casted by the trees blended into the darkness. Ji Du entered respectfully and between the dimly lit lanterns, he saw that the youth was not dressed imposingly as he was previously. His hair was untied and only had a thin silk robe on. He looked so slender and weak that it seemed as though a gust of wind could blow him away. Such a weak looking beauty yet he was a fierce deity-like character who had killed many, ai[2].
"The moon is bright, why light a fire?" Bai Tan gathered a ball of snow between his fingers and put the flame out.
"Sect Leader, the weather is cold, do not fall sick." Yin Tuo brought a red fox outer coat in time and put it on him.
The red fox"s fur was like a ball of burning flame and it added some color to the youth"s face in the night. Ji du could not help taking a few more looks before his line of sight drifted towards the room where a figure was sitting silently inside. He was not able to get a clear look at the appearance and only met the pair of extremely indifferent blue eyes. The pair of eyes were so indifferent they could be ice. It was like a blind person"s, without any emotion, yet, it made him shiver in fear. The type of fear was like, was like when he was facing Shizun……
The spirit possessing that person, could it…… could it be?
No, Shizun"s soul was still stuck in the Formless Realm and he was going to put an end to the possible troubles forever.
Ji Du shook his head, moved his sight away, gripped onto the Hua She Whip[3] around his waist and caught up with Bai Tan while Li Wuzhang followed closely behind him. The three people walked in a line and together, entered the Formless Realm.
The trees" shadows swayed and the wind sounded like the cries of ghost, making it seem as though there were countless wandering spirits pa.s.sing through the forest.
Bai Tan looked towards the person who was in an eternal sleep in the icy pond and his heart tightened like it would every time he saw him, as though it was grabbed by a formless hand of a ghost. However, a sarcastic and cruel smile was pasted on his face, "Ji Du, let me* see your ability. This is a dead person, how will you make him help me cultivate?"
"The Sect Leader"s orders, I do not dare to disobey. Shizun, your disciple shall disturb you, it may be offending, please do not get angry." Ji Du bowed, clasped towards him with his hands and while facing the icy pond, got down on his knees and kowtowed before jumping into the pond. He actually bent his body and reached his hand over to scoop up the person who was in an eternal sleep.
Bai Tan"s expression changed a little but remained still with his hands behind his back.
Ji Du dragged the corpse that was as stiff as an ice carving up onto sh.o.r.e and retrieved a lotus lamp from his robes. After he placed it behind Wu Yanfu"s body and lit it up, he used the silver nail cover on his right hand to pierce the top of his skull.
The formidable grandmaster of a generation was unconscious and unfeeling, not making a sound or taking a breath. His hair was grabbed by another person, tilting his head upwards, as though he was the sacrifice that was free for others to cut up and dissect on the altar the other day. It was extremely pitiful.
A hand suddenly grabbed onto Ji Du"s arm and Bai Tan asked lightly, "What are you doing?"
"Splitting his skull. Only then can the soul be summoned."
"Oh? Then, after the soul emerges, to what item do you plan to bind it to?"
Ji Du pointed at the lotus lantern, "This is it. The Sect Leader only needs to light this lantern during each cultivation in the future and when the fuel has depleted and the lantern extinguishes, the Sect Leader would have succeeded in the cultivation."
Even if it is not successful, when the lantern extinguishes and Wu Yanfu"s soul perish, Bai Tan cannot blame him.
However, Bai Tan"s eyes turned as he tried to search for a certain scroll of secret scripture from Cang Jing Ge that he had seen in a hurry. A thought rose in his mind and he stretched his fingers out, taking both Shiyue and Pori into his palm. He put the two comparable weapons against each other, caressing them in detail, stubbornly trying to choose a better one.
"The Sect Leader is wise." Ji Du"s face was grey with failure as he knew what he was thinking and could only go along with it, "Which weapon does the Sect Leader intend on making the soul container for Concubine Ying?"
Bai Tan looked again and again and after some time, let out a humph from his nose, "He had wanted the ax so much when he was alive, let"s go with his wish." Before stabbing it harshly into the ground.
His movement was vicious and cruel, shocking Ji Du as well.
Who knew that when Pori had just entered the ground, a few cracks started radiating outwards, the surrounding snowy ground let out scary sounds similar to that of an earthquake and a wave of heat current leaked out subtly from within those cracks, as though there was lava seeping through. Bai Tan"s face showed the expression of unwillingness, "It really is a good weapon. Using it to seal his soul is really such a pity."
However, Ji Du thought that as long as it is able to seal Wu Yanfu"s soul and cut all alternate routes, it was all worth it. One needs to know that as a grandmaster, Wu Yanfu"s skills were on another level and he had been able to separate his soul from his body back when he was still cultivating and even if he was dead and was buried in the Formless Realm, as long as it was during the annual "Xiong Xing Zhao Yue[4]", he could still revive. At the moment, it was a month away from then and he still had the chance.
If Wu Yanfu were to be revived, he would definitely eliminate him.
"The Sect Leader does not know, a weapon like this, even if it was made into a container for a soul, not only would it not reduce its fearsomeness, it would instead be like adding wings to a tiger[5]. If it contained the fierce soul who held resentments before death, it would be even more powerful. Consecrating it after burying and sealing it in soil for 49 days, it would become a lethal weapon that is irreproducible in this world."
Bai Tan"s heart was itching from listening to him and wanted to immediately go down the mountain to show off his might, "I* have not heard of such a saying but am very interested in trying it. As for making a hole on his skull, it is up to you."
Li Wuzhang could not keep silent anymore, "Sect Leader, this, this is desecrating shizun, a dead person, it is inappropriate."
Bai Tan shot a look at him as he quirked an eyebrow arrogantly, "Desecrating? I* have yet to rape his corpse!"
Wu Yanfu was alone in the room, meditating in the formation when he was shocked to hear such words and furrowed his brows.
What was the little kid doing?
Wu Yanfu moved to the window and opened the window, creating a small gap. Looking out, he saw that his body was actually dragged out of the icy pond and his three obedient disciples were surrounding him. Ji Du was doing something to his head while Li Wuzhang did not intercept and Bai Tan looked as though he was watching an interesting show.
Doing whatever they liked without a care, their guts were large enough to wrap the skies.
The demonic vines strangled the wooden frame, eliciting crackling sounds from it.
With a dull crack of a bone breaking, the silver nail cover sunk three inches into the skull and when it was pulled out, a gush of black colored blood spurted out from the small hole. Ji Du straightened the corpse and laid it out flat on the ground, placing the lotus lantern above his head. In a short moment, the bean-like flame started flickering.
Bai Tan gripped Shiyue in his hand as sweat oozed from his palm.
"May the Sect Leader please sit on Shizun"s body." Ji Du looked towards him and asked in a low voice.
"Ah?" Bai Tan"s expression changed slightly, was he really supposed to rape the corpse?
"The Sect Leader needs to practice the first five levels of the Sky of Six Desires on the Concubine Ying. Only then can the soul be brought under control. Your subordinate and Wuzhang are here and can protect the Sect Leader during the cultivation. Sect Leader, need not worry."
Bai Tan took a look at Li Wuzhang, the other was also looking at him and was shaking his head. He was a little hesitant. Naturally, he understood that there were risks in doing so but if he could not make the breakthrough in the Sky of Six Desires, he would be plagued by the demonic thoughts for the rest of his life, unable to absorb the blood relic, unable to improve his skills and as a Sect Leader, he would be unable to gain the approval of others.
Thinking as such, he made the decision and sat cross legged on Wu Yanfu"s body, around the waist but did not dare to look, touching the ice-cold body already made his hair stand on their end. He stared at Ji Du with a pair of eyes that saw death as the ending.
"Why is the Sect Leader just staring at this subordinate?" Ji Du looked at his face that was turning green and could not help thinking that it was funny.
Bai Tan gritted his teeth and made a seal with his hands but saw him lifting Wu Yanfu"s rigid arms before placing it on his own shoulders. The feeling of the long bony fingers attacked him from the front and he almost jumped up immediately.
"Sect Leader, do you not know that double cultivation requires the pract.i.tioner to be naked?" Ji Du asked again.
Bai Tan"s lips twitched, he had forgotten about it.
He had already formed the hand seal and it was not to be moved easily so he ordered in a malicious voice and tone, "You do it."
Ji Du was stunned but regained his smile, "Please excuse me, Sect Leader."
He reached over as he spoke and undid the red fox outer coat as well as pulled on the collar of the silk robes inside. His fingers accidentally came in contact with a patch of skin on the chest that was as smooth as fine cloth and saw that the youth had his eyes closed and was not speaking. He was obviously a demon seducing the ma.s.ses, yet he had the expression of a cool arrogance with no desires. However, the more he acted in that manner, the more it tempted others to touch him, even if they had no rights to. Even he, who had gone through all flower cl.u.s.ters and had already treated the thousands of beauties as gra.s.s and wood, could not stop the tightening of his abdomen at that moment.
When the silk robe slid off his shoulders and pooled around his waist, Ji Du closed his eyes unconsciously.
He mocked himself in his head, he had only heard of "too awful too look at" but did not know that there was such a thing as "too beautiful to look at".
Shizun, your disciple really do not know how you were able to cultivate while facing this little demon. However, looking at your current miserable state, this disciple really must thank you for setting an example for this disciple.
With trembling hands, he reached over to Bai Tan"s waist to remove the belt and heard the rustling of clothes, tempting even the whip around his waist, causing it to move.
Bai Tan was trying his best to bear the sense of shame, flipping his hands and regulated his breath. Zhenqi gathered in his DanTian from his limbs and bones before slowly moving towards the arteries and nerves.
If it must be said, asking him to learn this orthodox skill that requires double cultivation, to him, was no different from learning the Arts of Enchantment. He hated and rejected the idea from the bottom of his heart. It made him feel ashamed of himself, but he had been forced to take the route of no return by the old devil and he did not have the room to turn around.
Life was never in the hands of others. He did not blame the heaven or others and persisted on the journey against the current.
Ji Du opened his eyes and was staring at center of the lotus lantern. True enough, the flame had turned into a faint blue ghost flame.
However, the flame was not strong, instead it was very weak. There was only a wisp trying hard to survive.
What was happening? Why was Shizun"s soul in this state? Ji Du was wondering and activated the Soul Guiding Curse.
In the lotus lantern, there was only one wisp of remnant flame, about to extinguish but not extinguished yet.
"What is the matter?" Bai Tan blinked his eyes in a daze, took a breath and calmed himself down.
"Your subordinate is useless, may the Sect Leader please forgive me." Ji Du got down on his knees and bowed. He looked up with a pale face, "Shizun"s soul, for some reason, has scattered. There is only a remnant soul remaining and it cannot be made into a Concubine Ying."
Bai Tan was stunned but rapidly pulled his robes up and stood up. With a raise of his hand, he gave him a slap, "How is it that there is only a remnant soul left? You dare to lie to me*?"
"Your subordinate…… your subordinate does not know." Blood was oozing from the corner of his mouth from the hit, but he knew that this little Sect Leader"s personality was volatile. So, he was angry but did not dare to say, "Maybe Shizun"s soul scattered when he died……"
"Oh?" Bai Tan stared at the wisp of dying flame and his eyes darkened, "Are you saying that it was because his practice went awry or because I was too cruel?"
Just as he finished his sentence, the flame went out with a poof and following it, Wu Yanfu"s corpse started burning with a whoosh. The flame spread and in the next moment engulfed the entire body, burning the body to crisp.
Bai Tan was stunned and unconsciously took a step forward but was blocked by Ji Du, "Sect Leader, this is the h.e.l.l fire from purgatory. It must not be touched. From here on, Shizun"s soul will cease to exist, just let him go."
"Who said that I wanted to put the fire out? I dislike how it is burning like this, it is an eyesore!" The rims of Bai Tan"s eyes turned red and he clenched his teeth. Seeing the fire grew larger and that in the blink of an eye, there was only a pile of burnt bones left on the ground, he actually struck a palm towards it, turning the cremated corpse into fine powder and with the swing of his wide sleeve, he scattered it into the air.
Some of the ashes fell back down but a gust of wind blew and not a single speck could be seen anymore.
Wu Yanfu closed his eyes as immense pain filled his chest, like the day when he was stabbed in the heart by the pointed end of the candle holder.
Breaking his bone and scattering the ashes for real. Good, very good.
Bai Tan could not see that the gust of wind had brought the ashes together, forming a shadow that floated out of the Formless Realm and straight towards the stone room but Ji Du could see it clearly and the fear in his heart grew.
At that exact moment, a gust of chilly wind blew into the room through the small opening and entered Wu Yanfu"s bone marrow. The remaining soul had returned to the body and the lost memories flooded his mind suddenly, making him open his eyes harshly.
So–your shizun had gone that far…… for you.
Wu Yanfu retracted his hand, turned around and leaned against the bed, his fingers almost clawed into his chest. The demonic vines on him were coiling and tightening around him, shredding his robes inch by inch, like numerous shedding snakes.
In the silence, he stared at the pair of horrifying scars on "his" hands where nerves were and his handsome face was slightly distorted. He then laughed silently. Really was his obstacle. Obstacle!
He must never let it happen again……
He must break this obstacle of love and desire and complete the cultivation in the Sky of Six Desires. Once successful, he would kill him, out of sight, out of mind.
That was what he was thinking but his mind was filled with the youth"s voice, images and his smiles.
Shizun…… Shizun…… Shizun……
What does it feel like to love someone? Will you love someone too?
The mistake that your teacher made was the last mistake anyone should make. Wu Yanfu laughed hoa.r.s.ely and in the quiet night, it sounded like the pants of a confined beast, sad and violent.
……
"Sect Leader?" Seeing that Bai Tan was in a daze after scattering the ash, Ji Du called out to him a few times.
It was only then that Bai Tan reacted, as though he just woke up from a dream. He clenched his hand into a fist and gritted his teeth as he muttered, "Do not tell me that without a Concubine Ming, I* can"t practice the Sky of Six Desires?"
"That is not necessary the case. Sect Leader, you have learned the Arts of Enchantment, making yourself the Concubine Ming is also possible-"
"What are you saying?" Bai Tan immediately felt that he had received an extremely shameful insult and the murderous intent in him skyrocketed. It frightened Ji Du, making him take a step back before kowtowing before him.
"May the Sect Leader be appeased. This subordinate, your subordinate had also snuck into Cang Jing Ge a few years ago and had seen the scriptures related to the cultivation of the Arts of Enchantment. Not sure if the Sect Leader had seen the last part of the scriptures for the Sky of Six Desires, Xing Yu Jing[6] that is hidden in the box of the last volume. It spoke of how Concubine Ming who had learned the Arts of Enchantment counterattacked the Vajra and practiced the Sky of Six Desires. It actually also uses the way of taking in the lacking part only that it is used in the reverse manner."
Bai Tan was extremely good at understanding martial arts and immediately understood what it meant but also felt a shame that was difficult to bear. However, this person made it sound like it was true and it did not seem like a hoax. Hence, it was hard for him to act up and could only turn to go to Cang Jing Ge.
Translator"s Notes:
[1] More accurately, it means from 12am to 2am.
[2] Sound of a sigh.
[3] Hua She means to turn/transform into a snake.
[4] Directly translates to "baneful star shines on the moon". It is probably a type of astrological phenomenon.
[5] A Chinese saying that means that an advantage or great help is added to something that was already very good.
[6] It means "Acting on Desire Scripture". *The “I” or "me" makes a reference to his position or suggests a high rank.
Chapter 13