Chapter 74
Su Zui and the man had been staying in a small inn for over half a month.
Humans are social creatures, and being confined to a closed space for so long without any entertainment can make most people feel bored.
However, Su Zui didn’t mind. He naturally had a calm disposition, and besides, time flowed differently in the world of cultivation. After spending days in seclusion, healing injuries, and practicing talisman drawing, time seemed to slip away in the blink of an eye.
The man remained in a nearby spot, mostly with his eyes closed. Occasionally, he would open them, and his dark, intense gaze would quietly assess Su Zui.
Ever since the day the man declared Su Zui as his Tao companion, they hadn’t exchanged a single word.
Su Zui secretly worried about the man. Although there were no obvious wounds on his body, the terrifying black marks covering him hinted at an internal condition that wasn’t favorable.
While the system’s store offered restorative elixirs, the power limits in this world were exceptionally high. Moreover, the man stood at the pinnacle of strength. Even the most expensive elixirs would have limited effects on him.
Furthermore, the man’s cultivation level far surpassed Su Zui’s. When he was awake, there was no way Su Zui could secretly administer anything to him.
For now, observation was the only option.
Despite the lack of communication, the two of them coexisted in an inexplicably harmonious manner within the confines of their room.
Soon, an unexpected event occurred.
In the early hours of the morning, Su Zui opened his eyes and met a pair of familiar black irises.
Dark and intense, the pupils held a bright crimson glimmer right in the center, just like the ones Su Zui had seen amidst the flames of the illusion array that day.
Su Zui’s intuition flared: “You…”
Before he could utter another word, a sharp pain shot through his shoulder, causing him to grunt.
Like a loyal dog, Su Zui couldn’t help but curse inwardly.
Yet, he didn’t struggle. Although his cultivation base hadn’t fully matured, his blood already carried a rich concentration of spiritual energy.
He noticed that this energy seemed to help suppress the dark marks on the man’s body.
After each blood exchange, the black scars on the man’s skin would fade a little.
Regarding the man’s identity, Su Zui had already formed a basic understanding and didn’t mind.
The blood loss quickly ceased, but Su Zui waited for a long while, yet the man didn’t stir. He only felt the increasingly shallow breath against his shoulder.
Something felt off. Su Zui whispered, “Get up.”
Still no response.
With a gentle nudge, the man slumped sideways.
A pale face came into view.
It was very close, the tip of the nose brushing against Su Zui’s cheek, leaving him momentarily stunned.
Then it dawned on him: Somehow, the man had slipped into unconsciousness.
He carefully laid the man down and covered him with a soft blanket.
The man, usually cold and domineering when awake, now appeared unexpectedly vulnerable in deep slumber.
Su Zui observed for a while, his gaze fixated on the dark marks on the man’s body.
These marks would occasionally fade or become more pronounced, sometimes even wriggling across his skin as if coming to life—strange and eerie.
It was as though two incompatible forces were tearing at him from within, locked in a silent struggle.
When Su Zui touched him, he felt only icy coldness. The man’s breath was barely discernible, and nestled in the soft bedding, his long black hair spilled onto the pristine white sheets. He exuded no warmth whatsoever.
Despite knowing that the man wasn’t human, Su Zui still felt uncomfortable, his brow furrowing.
Even after administering two bottles of the highest-grade restorative elixir, he remained uneasy.
Watching the man show no reaction after consuming the elixir, Su Zui grew impatient. “Are there any more effective items?”
System 555 sounded distressed. “Host, there are, but you can’t afford them… Your current experience balance is less than five thousand.”
Pausing, its flat electronic voice couldn’t help but emit a resigned “sigh.”
This spendthrift host of theirs!
Previously, System 555 had eagerly hoped for Su Zui to embark on a side quest. Now that he had, it left the system dumbfounded.
Completing a side quest yielded a mere ten thousand experience points, yet Su Zui had already spent nearly twenty thousand on just two bottles of the highest-grade elixir.
In and out, he not only failed to profit but also ended up owing ten thousand!
A losing deal, a blood deficit.
After performing the simplest addition and subtraction, System 555 was left with a screen full of meaningless code: “…”
If time could rewind, it vowed to remain as quiet as a chicken and never mention side quests in front of Su Zui again!
Su Zui: “…”
For some reason, he detected a strong sense of resentment in the system’s electronic voice.
Honestly, he felt like sighing too.
The saying that love makes people poor is true.
________________________
A few more days passed, and Su Zui was in the middle of drawing symbols when a faint sense of crisis enveloped him.
His hand trembled, causing the cinnabar to slash diagonally across the yellow paper. The accumulated spiritual energy dissipated, rendering the high-level talisman useless.
If anyone witnessed this scene, they might have a heart attack on the spot. After all, even renowned masters would need several days to recover before attempting another high-level talisman.
Su Zui didn’t pay much attention to it. He had been bored and had already drawn hundreds of talismans in the past few days, so wasting one wasn’t a big deal.
What concerned him was the fleeting feeling of danger he had just experienced.
While fortune-telling didn’t apply to oneself, those in the mystical world still had premonitions when danger loomed.
The higher the cultivation, the purer the spiritual energy, the more accurate the premonition.
He glanced at the still unconscious man.
The black patterns on his body had faded by half, but they were still distinct. The internal struggle would likely continue for a considerable time.
Anyone with common sense knew that now was not the time to interrupt.
“System,” Su Zui tossed the discarded talisman into the wastebasket and instructed, “Get me the best self-defense item.”
Pausing, he added with resignation, "One that I can afford."
Disaster was imminent, and he wasn’t sure if it would endanger those around him. He couldn’t stay here any longer.
After a quick preparation, Su Zui exerted considerable effort to create an opening in the barrier set by the man.
Before leaving, he glanced back. The man still slept peacefully, but there was a hint of life in his features that hadn’t been there during his unconscious state.
Su Zui stepped out.
His hurried departure prevented him from noticing that, after he left, the man’s eyelids twitched slightly, as if he might wake up any moment.
Yet, after a prolonged struggle, he remained silent.
________________________
Once outside the barrier, the sense of impending danger intensified.
The hotel receptionist, witnessing Su Zui finally leave, wore a perplexed expression.
She had a vivid memory of this slightly thin young man. His striking good looks aside, what baffled her was that he had stayed here for over half a month, yet she’d only seen him come down once—an inexplicable mystery.
She even wondered if something untoward had happened inside.
However, every time she knocked on his door, there was always a response.
Su Zui paid for two more months and instructed, “Keep the room, but don’t enter.”
The receptionist stared at his retreating figure, her eyes suddenly wide with fear.
Wait a minute, wasn’t this handsome guy accompanied by someone else?
Now that everyone was gone, why rent an empty room?
Could it be… that something illicit was hidden inside?
With a soft thud, the receptionist dropped her folder on the desk.
Her mind raced through countless forbidden words.
She felt utterly helpless. Was their small hotel destined for a legal showdown?
Little did she know that Su Zui hadn’t stashed anything illegal in the room—just a bird he’d acquired through questionable means.
________________________
Unaware of the emotional rollercoaster he’d put the receptionist through, Su Zui distanced himself. As night fell, he settled in a deserted suburban area.
The darkness was thick.
But thicker still was the malevolence in the air.
By the time the clock struck half past eleven, those entities finally caught up with him.
The malevolence condensed within the room, eventually taking on a graceful female form.
Her face was exquisite, her figure alluring. As she materialized, an ambiguous scent hung in the air, like a subtle hook, enticing anyone who breathed it in.
When one’s resolve is not firm enough, a mere glance can lead to bewilderment.
Su Zui raised his eyes and scrutinized her. He recognized this woman — or rather, this female ghost.
A Rakshasa.
In Buddhist scriptures, Rakshasas are malevolent flesh-eating spirits. While male Rakshasas are hideous, the female ones are exceptionally beautiful and have the power to ensnare human souls while they are still alive.
In terms of strength, male Rakshasas are weaker, while the females are stronger, often correlating with their appearance.
This particular Rakshasa was stunningly beautiful, making her a formidable adversary.
Su Zui was somewhat surprised.
Rakshasas dwell in the depths of hell and haven’t appeared in the mortal realm for over a century.
Yet here she was, targeting him—a mere fledgling.
The Rakshasa observed Su Zui’s clear gaze, detecting no trace of susceptibility. She couldn’t help but be astonished.
“Little one,” she approached, her voice carrying a seductive rhythm, “your mental fortitude is impressive.”
Su Zui quickly stepped back, disdainfully flicking his sleeve as if afraid of any lingering scent from her.
It was as though he didn’t see a beautiful woman before him but rather a piece of rotting meat.
The Rakshasa seethed internally.
Despite being a feared demon, her exquisite beauty had always been advantageous when dealing with men.
Countless admirers had fallen at her feet, but this man, who seemed immune to her allure, was utterly vexing.
Either he was impervious or simply had no interest in women!
The Rakshasa mentally cursed.
If it weren’t for the irresistible conditions set by someone else, this blind fool wouldn’t even be worthy of standing before her!
Narrowing her eyes, she emanated an aura of anger.
The air thickened, shadows intensified, and moonlight vanished completely.
The Rakshasa’s form twisted, and she materialized as smoke behind Su Zui. Her delicate hand extended toward his neck.
With just a fraction of her strength, she could easily snap a human’s neck.
What a hassle! She needed that elusive spirit bone, but she couldn’t simply devour him. The Rakshasa’s impatience grew.
And as for the location… well, she’d have to tear him apart bit by bit to find it.
However, when she thought of the pure celestial evil energy, the Rakshasa couldn’t help but lick her lips.
She regained some patience.
She had assumed that this seemingly powerless human would be easy to deal with just by watching. The fact that she was willing to personally confront him was already giving him face. However, strangely enough, before she could even touch the young man, he disappeared from her sight faster than she could react.
Her sharp nails only managed to sever the red thread around Su Zui’s neck.
The pristine Phoenix Spirit Jade fell to the ground with a crisp sound. Even in the deep darkness, it emitted a faint glow.
The Rakshasa furrowed her brow. For some reason, she found the object displeasing.
Before she could ponder why it bothered her, something suddenly struck her.
Then came a resounding “boom.” Hundreds of high-level talismans simultaneously detonated. Even a malevolent Rakshasa like her couldn’t escape unscathed; her arm was blown off.
Rakshasas valued their beauty, and scars and disfigurement were intolerable to them.
With one arm missing, the Rakshasa screamed, her eyes bloodshot. Her nails elongated by several inches, and she disregarded her prohibition against consuming humans, lunging at Su Zui with murderous intent.
“Human, you seek death—”
But what awaited her was a fresh barrage of talisman explosions.
________________________
Moonlight returned.
In the end, the Rakshasa’s body exploded like fireworks on the horizon. Only half of her remained, tightly bound by overlapping talismans. She gasped for breath, her form grotesque.
She wasn’t human; her injuries didn’t cause bleeding. Instead, there were only dark voids where her limbs used to be. Yet, the scene was horrifying enough.
Su Zui wiped the blood that had slid down his fingers.
Bathed in moonlight, the young man stood above her, looking down at the beautiful woman on the ground — now resembling a dismembered doll. His tone was icy: “Who sent you?”
The Rakshasa wasn’t a minor character; he had paid a price to defeat her like this.
If not for his recent recovery and the numerous protective talismans he had drawn, he might have met his end.
The Rakshasa’s remaining half-face stared at him greedily, unable to hide her desire.
She had caught a whiff of it — the irresistible scent emanating from this man’s body!
It was like a bud on the verge of blooming, petals tightly coiled at the top, about to burst forth completely.
It made one want to break him before he fully opened.
Was this the legendary Spirit Bone? No wonder the human was willing to offer such precious celestial evil energy as payment.
If I could devour him… If I could, it wouldn’t be any different from that malevolent force of the heavens and earth!
The Rakshasa’s mind was clouded by hunger, and all she could think about was how to consume the person in front of her. Her eyes darted around, calculating.
Seeing her lack of response, Su Zui’s eyes flashed with coldness. He bent down, using the sharp knife-like artifact in his hand to cut off another piece of her already diminished body.
The Rakshasa once more. As her consciousness returned from the haze induced by the spiritual bones’ aura, fear took over.
Was this still a human? Or had she encountered a monster?
She knew that among humans, there were those who possessed extraordinary strength, but usually, they were ancient beings who had cultivated for hundreds of years.
Yet here stood a young man with clear aptitude, barely in his teens. Even if he had been practicing since birth, it would only be a matter of a decade or so.
In a moment of hesitation, the body created by Yin qi was sliced apart once again.
“I don’t know his name…” She shivered, gritting her teeth. “But he’s also a human, roughly your age. His aptitude isn’t as good as yours, but he wields the malevolent force of the heavens and earth. He wants to exchange it for one of your bones.”
Su Zui’s expression remained unchanged as he softly uttered a name: “Meng Qingzhi.”
Not surprising; he had suspected Meng Qingzhi from the beginning. After all, he didn’t have many enemies, and his recent actions in the Xuanmen had left a favorable impression. Among those who might hold a grudge, Meng Qingzhi was the most likely candidate.
The emergence of the malevolent force of the heavens and earth further confirmed that Meng Qingzhi was the one scheming behind the scenes.
Meng Qingzhi had battled the possessed Xuanwu, and during their escape, he might have secretly absorbed some of the malevolent force.
The protagonist’s aura clung stubbornly to Meng Qingzhi, much like an unyielding cockroach. Despite his disheveled appearance, Su Zui believed he could still find a way to deal with him.
The Rakshasa, bound by talismans, pleaded in a coquettish tone, “Young sir, I know I’ve done wrong. I won’t trouble you anymore. Please, let me go.”
Her expression softened, and she used her fading beauty as a weapon, forgetting that her face was now only half intact—a sight more horrifying than alluring.
A beautiful woman’s coquettishness was charming, but a half-beautiful woman’s coquettishness turned the scene into a horror movie.
Unexpectedly, Su Zui smiled at her. Compared to his ruthless actions, this smile seemed gentle.
He whispered, “Alright, I’ll let you go.”
The Rakshasa’s delight was evident; she practically melted like water. But just as she was about to speak, Su Zui suddenly imposed a restriction on her body.
Her unspoken whimper turned into a ghostly, piercing scream.
Su Zui imposed a restriction deep within her body until he finally stopped.
He lifted his hand and removed all the talismans on her body. His face still held a faint smile, but his words were like those of a demon: “I’ve placed a restriction. Within half a month, either you kill the person who made the promise to you, or… self-destruct.”
The Rakshasa stood there, dumbfounded. She looked at Su Zui’s smiling face, feeling utterly incredulous.
Was she dealing with a fierce ghost, or was this person the fierce one?
How could he be so ruthless!
But with her life in someone else’s hands, she dared not say anything. She swiftly transformed into a wisp of Yin qi and fled.
That person… the one named Meng Qingzhi, had actually set her up like this. He made her believe that killing him would be an easy task, especially since he claimed to be severely injured.
She definitely wanted to devour him!
Although that person’s aptitude was slightly inferior to this Su Zui, he was still worth consuming.
Su Zui watched the Rakshasa’s angry figure disappear. He disdainfully tossed aside the weapon he had used to cut her. There was an indescribable odor emanating from her, and he found it repulsive.
His gaze fell on the Phoenix Spirit Jade lying on the ground. Pausing for a moment, he bent down, brushed off the dirt, and held it loosely in his hand, absentmindedly caressing it.
This jade had also been through many trials; it either cracked or shattered.
But this time, it remained intact.
He understood why.
After all, Meng Qingzhi was the protagonist. He didn’t expect a mere Rakshasa to kill Meng Qingzhi, especially one who was already severely injured.
However, tormenting him for a while wouldn’t be difficult.
For the next half month, he’d let that female ghost and Meng Qingzhi torture each other. Meanwhile, he needed to check on the man. Although he had instructed the inn staff not to disturb him, he still worried about leaving the man alone.
Suddenly, he sensed something and stiffened. Turning around, he saw a dark cloud drifting by. The moonlight briefly vanished, only to reappear when it was exactly midnight.
Accompanying the moonlight was a tall figure.
The man was still wearing the clothes Su Zui had bought for him. The black marks on his body had disappeared, and his skin appeared unnaturally pale under the moonlight.
His eyes, like a cold abyss, stared deeply at Su Zui.
Su Zui’s grip on the Phoenix Spirit Jade tightened.
The man’s gaze met his, devoid of the previous confusion.
Instead, it was clear and composed, carrying a hint of aloofness and coldness, reminiscent of the fleeting glance Su Zui had seen at the airport.
He thought that the man’s memories must have returned.
After all, the amnesia trope was only a cliché in fictional stories.
As a divine beast, once he healed, everything would return to normal.
Su Zui felt a rare headache. He didn’t know how to explain.
After the man lost his memory, Su Zui instinctively treated him as a lover, an entirely involuntary reaction.
But his attitude was off; they weren’t that close.
He wondered what the man would think.
From a not-so-close distance, Phoenix’s gaze remained fixed on Su Zui, as if pinned to him.
Perhaps in the eyes of other spirit beasts, the spiritual bone aura on Su Zui had vanished as he matured.
But in the man’s eyes, that aura hadn’t disappeared; instead, it became even more alluring.
Like a newly bloomed flower, its petals still veiled in mist, perpetually inviting others to taste.
Moreover… Su Zui had been continuously touching his soul.
Every strand of sensation from the soul honestly transmitted to the original body. Phoenix felt dizzy and intoxicated, wanting to revert to its true form, tail raised, seeking companionship.
Recalling the nonsense he had spouted when he lost his memory, a bitter taste welled up in his chest. But he couldn’t help but think… wouldn’t it be wonderful if Su Zui were truly his Tao companion?
Now that he was an adult and his roots had grown, they could… cultivate together.
Just as he was about to say something, he heard the youth speak hesitantly, “Qing Luan, have your memories returned?”
Phoenix: "...?"
Phoenix: "…………??"
Who is Qingluan?
I'll kill him!
________________________
Author's Note:
Phoenix: The wind is so strong, I’m so green. Qing Luan, come out and get beaten!
Qing Luan:? ? ?
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Thanks for the update!! 🤣🤣🤣
ReplyDeleteHahaha i can't 🤣🤣🤣
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chapter 😘