Chapter 31 Old woman
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As soon as the disciples heard that the dogs had been set loose by him, a mixture of anger and panic surged within them.
The teeth of the dogs grazed against their necks, sending shivers down their spines. On the verge of tears, they cast aside any concerns for their dignity. “Ancestor, please forgive us! We were merely passing by. Please, take control of these dogs quickly!”
Pei Jing: “Passing by? Do you even know what you’ve done? Don’t you like hearing dogs barking? I’ll let you listen to your hearts’ content.”
Consequently, several aggressive dogs started barking loudly.
The disciples hesitated for a moment, immediately regretting their actions. They should have anticipated that Ji Wuyou’s success in entering Shangyang Peak relied on his connections. However, they were deceived by his foolish demeanor and completely overlooked this fact.
It was now too late, and they were consumed by deep regret, bowing their heads in remorse at that very spot.
“We dare not, we dare not! We don’t like listening to dogs bark. Ancestor, please spare us!”
“We were only teasing Ji Wuyou. Look, he’s also laughing happily.”
Pei Jing chuckled, “I can see that you all are quite happy.”
This time, the group couldn’t even cry.
Pei Jing didn’t intend to go to extremes. After all, Ji Wuyou genuinely felt lonely and wanted to be friends with these people. Pei Jing wanted them to treat Ji Wuyou kindly, as their influence on that simple-minded person seemed promising.
“I can spare you, but you must promise me one thing.”
The crowd dared not refuse, overwhelmed with joy, nodding their heads.
“Please, go ahead. We’ll even face mountains of knives and seas of fire for you.”
Pei Jing sneered, “With your guts to call a dog ‘Grandpa,’ you think you have the courage for mountains of knives and seas of fire?” After a moment of contemplation, he continued, “Ji Wuyou is an old acquaintance of mine. I don’t want to harm you today because that boy considers you his friends. I don’t want to make him sad. He is still immature, and I can’t always be there to protect him from being bullied. So, if you wish to leave tonight, promise me that you will serve him as your Ancestor in the future. Do you understand?”
The group felt bitter in their hearts.
If they had known that Ji Wuyou had such a formidable figure supporting him, they wouldn’t have said a single word to him.
Pei Jing raised an eyebrow and smiled, “You won’t agree?”
The dogs barked two more times.
Everyone: “We promise, we promise!”
Pei Jing smiled in satisfaction. “Alright then. I’ll come back to check on you in a while. If any of you dare to deceive me…” The rest of his words hid behind his smile.
As he looked at the people kneeling on the ground, their heads tingled with fear. They weakly smiled and said, “We dare not, we dare not.”
Pei Jing cast a compassionate glance at them. This group of people probably didn’t know that he was saving them. Right now, they were merely frightened by the dogs. But when Ji Wuyou awakened and turned dark, they would truly be left in tatters, completely tortured.
After Pei Jing vanished, the dogs gradually disappeared as well. The group of people grumbled and groaned as they struggled to rise from the ground, brushing off the dust and debris from their bodies. Their hearts were filled with despair.
“We initially thought we had taken in a fool as our companion, but little did we know we had provoked the King of Hell himself.”
“I had the future all planned out, thinking we had everything under control! Who knew that we were the ones being controlled! Disgusting!”
Ji Wuyou could never have imagined that tomorrow he would gain such enthusiastic “friends.”
Right now, he was lost.
On his way back to the cave, he was forcibly given a task to deliver spiritual medicine by a Senior Brother he didn’t recognize. Oblivious to the art of refusal, he foolishly accepted it.
Having left Shangyang Peak, completely unaware of Yunxiao, he arrived at the farthest edge of Yunxiao, Zhongnan Peak.
Zhongnan Peak was located in a remote area, adjacent to a dense forest. At night, the starlight and moonlight appeared dim, enveloping the surroundings in darkness.
The cawing of ravens startled, as they flapped their wings and took flight from the branches, accompanied by fleeting shadows in the forest.
It seemed like someone was in the woods.
Ji Wuyou felt a bit afraid. However, he had promised to fulfill his obligations to others, and he was determined to keep his word.
Swallowing nervously, he held the box close to his chest and ventured deeper into the forest.
“To deliver it to Senior Brother Chang Wu, but where is Senior Brother Chang Wu?”
At this time, cultivators were usually practicing in their own caves, so there were not many people around. He wandered aimlessly, unsure of where to go. No matter which direction he turned in the forest, it all looked the same. He felt a sense of sadness, realizing that he was lost.
The wind blew fiercely, and he was cold and hungry. Unable to continue walking, he decided to sit beneath a tree.
“I’ll wait for daylight before searching. I’m so hungry.”
After saying that, as he leaned back, he heard a faint voice of a woman, “Are you very hungry?”
Ji Wuyou was startled and immediately sat upright, looking around, but he didn’t spot anyone.
The voice was ethereal yet icy, “Are you hungry?”
Ji Wuyou held the box tightly and swallowed nervously. “Who are you?”
The woman chuckled softly. “Who I am is not important. All you need to do is answer me. Are you hungry?”
Ji Wuyou’s face turned pale, and he replied, “N-No, I’m not hungry.”
“Little liar, deceiving others comes with a price, you know. Just honestly tell me, are you hungry? I won’t harm you.”
She claimed she wouldn’t harm him.
Ji Wuyou’s stomach growled twice, and he shyly lowered his head, whispering, “I’m a little hungry.”
The woman seductively enticed, “Poor thing, let me give you something to eat.”
Ji Wuyou: “What is it?”
The woman: “Close your eyes and open your mouth.”
Ji Wuyou believed her and stood beneath the tree, opening his mouth. He vaguely sensed something lightly tapping on his back. After closing his eyes, the world plunged into complete darkness, where every rustle and breeze became clear. Suddenly, a gust of wind brushed past his ear, and he felt something descending directly towards him, carrying a foul and putrid odor, covering his face.
But in an instant, it vanished, followed by the woman’s cries of despair.
Her screams were piercing and sent shivers down one’s spine.
Ji Wuyou was frightened and immediately opened his eyes, ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴇᴇ ᴀ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ’ꜱ ꜱᴇᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ. It had a pale complexion, and its wide eyes emitted a thick malevolence and resentment.
He let out a loud scream and instinctively stepped back, but his back bumped into something.
He turned around and looked upward.
Hanging from a tree was the body of a woman, swaying back and forth in the wind. She wore a white burial gown but had bridal embroidered shoes on her feet. Her neck extended infinitely, reaching down to her waist.
The elongated neck seemed as if it was attempting to swallow him in one gulp.
Ji Wuyou was utterly terrified, his spirit shaken. He covered his eyes and crouched down, crying and chanting, “Don’t eat me, don’t eat me, don’t eat me.”
The female ghost on the ground couldn’t find peace, her eyes glaring with resentment as she gazed at the person behind Ji Wuyou. However, no words escaped her lips, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʀᴀɴꜱꜰᴏʀᴍᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴘᴏᴏʟ ᴏꜰ ʙʟᴏᴏᴅʏ ꜰɪʟᴛʜ.
Ji Wuyou buried his head, seeking refuge within himself, when suddenly he heard footsteps.
The steps were light, as if someone was walking on air.
The newcomer spoke softly, with a gentle tone. “She cannot harm you anymore. There’s no need to be afraid.”
The gentle voice felt like a dream, soothing Ji Wuyou’s tears.
Ji Wuyou turned around and saw an elderly woman who appeared completely different from the voice. The old woman leaned on a cane, hunched over, and had a kind face. When she smiled, her eyes formed slits hidden within wrinkles.
Ji Wuyou sniffled and suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.
The elderly woman said, “Are you in trouble?”
Ji Wuyou remembered the picture books he used to read as a child and asked in a daze, “Are you a fairy?”
The old woman smiled gently and replied, “Yes, I am. I can help you with your troubles, as long as you speak of them.”
Ji Wuyou’s eyes sparkled, wiping away his tears. “Really? I can’t find Senior Brother Chang Wu’s residence, but I need to deliver this box to him today. Can you take me there?”
The old woman replied, “Of course I can.”
Leaning on her cane, she revealed from her deep blue sleeves a pair of well-maintained hands that belonged to a lady. Delicate fingers, quite different from her face.
The old woman had silver strands mixed with her white hair. With a smiling expression and a friendly tone, she emanated an ethereal and distant presence. As if she existed beyond the heavens.
Ji Wuyou followed beside her, like a child, and asked, “Was it you who saved me just now?”
The old woman said, “No, you saved yourself. I’m sorry, I can’t do anything for you.”
Ji Wuyou: “Ah?”
The old woman simply smiled and didn’t answer him directly. “Follow this path, and at the end, you will find a residence that belongs to the Senior Brother you mentioned. Go on, child.”
Ji Wuyou continued walking forward while looking back, puzzled. “Are you from this place? Why do I feel like I’ve seen you before?”
The old woman smiled and replied, “I witnessed your birth, watched you grow up, and will continue to watch over your long journey ahead. Of course, you are familiar with me.”
Ji Wuyou felt like she was deceiving him. “But why don’t I remember?”
“There’s no need to remember. You were unaware of my existence before, and I hope you will remain unaware in the future.”
Ji Wuyou couldn’t understand what she meant but chose not to inquire further. He continued walking forward slowly.
The old woman watched Ji Wuyou leave and remained standing in the same spot. Tilting her head, her eyes hidden within the wrinkles showed no emotion. Ethereal and void, she gazed towards the direction of Shangyang Peak to the north. Standing in the darkness of the mountains and forests, she couldn’t blend into any scene. Untouched by light or dust, she brought a profound impact from the depths of the souls of all the enlightened and unenlightened beings in that area.
Ji Wuyou pondered, “Did I really meet that old lady just now?”
He knocked on the door of the residence.
A voice filled with hostility came from inside, “Who is it?”
Ji Wuyou swallowed nervously and asked, “Is Senior Brother Chang Wu here?”
Behind the door, a world of inferno awaited. ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ᴘᴏᴏʟꜱ, ꜱᴇᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ʟɪᴍʙꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ɢɴᴀᴡᴇᴅ ᴏɴ belonged to a cultivator named Chang Wu. His eyes were a disturbing blood-red. Ji Wuyou sniffed and a creepy smile cracked across Chang Wu’s lips.
He detected an odd scent.
From outside.
It invoked both awe and fear deep inside him but also triggered an insatiable desire.
[The novel is fully translated. If you’re interested, please check out my ko-fi ^^]
Pei Jing returned to the residence and first gave some water to the spirit mouse. It scratched the edges of its cage with its claws, producing a crisp sound. Pei Jing chuckled, “Trying to escape, huh?”
He used his finger to nudge the spirit mouse’s head back in place. “Stay obediently.”
Following the usual routine, Pei Jing went to bother Chu Junyu. This time, Chu Junyu surprisingly didn’t close the door, so Pei Jing naturally walked in.
Pei Jing got straight to the point, “I did a good deed today.”
Chu Junyu sat cross-legged on a stone bed, cultivating. When he heard Pei Jing’s voice, he opened his eyes.
Pei Jing popped a candy into his mouth and casually sat across from Chu Junyu. “I taught a group of ruffians who were bullying Ji Wuyou a lesson. Although I promised not to interfere with Ji Wuyou, I think it’s necessary to address bullying among fellow disciples.”
Chu Junyu remained silent for a long time. His light-colored eyes glanced briefly to the south, profound and distant, emanating an icy aura.
Pei Jing: “Are you even listening to me?”
Chu Junyu withdrew his gaze and said, “Don’t meddle with other people’s business.”
Pei Jing: “…Why is it suddenly considered meddling?”
Chu Junyu: “Ji Wuyou’s affairs are not your concern. Someone is taking good care of him.”
“Who?” Pei Jing became interested. Was Chu Junyu, the local, more knowledgeable about the protagonist than him, who had read the novel?
“Tell me.”
Chu Junyu extended his hand, blocking Pei Jing’s head from approaching, and said, “You don’t want to provoke certain individuals.”
“That’s perfectly normal! As a Qi Gathering Stage disciple, who in the entire Yunxiao can I provoke?”
Chu Junyu glanced at him, a faint cold smile curling his lips. “You can’t provoke anyone, but you can easily offend them.”
Pei Jing was momentarily stunned before understanding his meaning. This brat was actually insulting him again. Annoyed and amused, he said, “No way, you have to explain it clearly to me today! How am I offending people? During the Yinghui Peak competition, can you honestly say I embarrassed myself? Didn’t I leave them speechless with my charm?”
He lunged forward, nearly pinning Chu Junyu against the wall.
Chu Junyu, took a deep breath: “…”
He pushed Pei Jing aside and stepped down from the stone bed.
Clad in pristine white garments, exuding a cold demeanor, he remained silent and promptly ushered Pei Jing out.
As Pei Jing was being escorted away, he kept turning his head back and said repeatedly, “I advise you not to hold any bias against Ji Wuyou, Brother. I have a keen eye for judging people, and that kid is extraordinary.”
Chu Junyu emitted a silent, cold smirk.
After Pei Jing left, the stone door closed. Chu Junyu resumed his seat, his expression turning colder, a glimmer of ice appearing in his eyes.
Facing the candlelight, his fingers brushed against the blade of his sword, and his entire presence underwent an instant transformation, becoming dangerous and insidious.
“Truly befitting of a protagonist, but what purpose do you serve by coming out?”
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