Chapter Text
After dying with so much regret and pent-up annoyance, Shen Qingqiu swore he would get his best shot in his second body. The next time he met Luo Binghe, he would say more words to compensate for the failure of the first meeting after that fated push.
When Shen Qingqiu opened his eyes next, he saw the ground…. hundreds of li away from his feet.
The realization of being so far from the ground made Shen Qingqiu become alarmingly sober in a second. For a split millisecond, he was absolutely pissed at whoever was doing this kind of prank and taking his Sun and Moon Dew Flower Body for a trip to the sky, but then he realized he was being held by his arms in vice-grips.
This second realization dumbfounded him and he gazed at the people, or rather beings, that held him tightly by his arms.
One was dressed in black official outfit, his complexion was gloomy. The other one was dressed in a complete opposite color, white, and his complexion was brighter. However, both supported the same expressionless faces.
“Wait, Black Impermanence? White Impermanence?” The realization of meeting the underworld officials absolutely dumbfounded Shen Qingqiu. Why was he being escorted by these guys? “There must be a mistake.”
“Cease your resistance, mortal,” Black Impermanence said.
“Your time has ended and you will attend your judgment,” White Impermanence said.
“No, there must be a mistake. What are you two doing?” Shen Qingqiu questioned in annoyance. “I don’t deal with the underworld.” In fact, unlike most souls, he wasn’t even tied to it.
“Cease your meaningless struggle,” Black Impermanence said sternly.
Shen Qingqiu shook his head, feeling exasperated, “I’m born in between realms, I don’t have a lifespan,” Shen Qingqiu explained. “If you don’t believe just look at my soul book.”
Both Impermanence stopped, gazed at each other with weird looks, and then gazed at Shen Qingqiu who was in between them.
“Hold.” White Impermanence let him go and touched Shen Qingqiu’s chest. Under his touch, a purple glow emitted from Shen Qingqiu’s chest, and a white book appeared, his face turned a bit ugly seeing the color and he opened the book.
Shen Qingqiu pointed at the content of his meager soul book. “See, I’m never supposed to be escorted to the underworld.”
After reading through the book, White Impermanence nodded reluctantly. “He’s not supposed to die.”
Black Impermanence looked at the book and let go of Shen Qingqiu’s arm. He inhaled in realization. “You’re one of those traversers.” Bitterness seeped from his tone.
Traversers. Another word to describe Shen Qingqiu’s existence. Shen Qingqiu nodded. “Yes, there’s no possibility I’m supposed to be judged.” Traversers were exception from the Rule of The Underworld.
They didn’t die within the definition of what the underworld and rule of heaven deemed as ‘dead.’
Born from nature and space themselves, they were outside the law of the time, they belonged to nowhere and answered to no one in general, they only needed to abide by the rules of the world they were staying. They would just keep living endlessly, changing lives, worlds, skins, until their mind finally couldn’t take it and they self-implode. That was the only ending to traversers.
Speaking from a certain perspective, their existence was already a punishment by itself, so the underworld didn’t have any claim upon traversers’ souls.
Many creatures looked at traversers in envy, others would look at them in pity. After all, there should always be order to existence. If there was no order, then there was no meaning. If there was a start, there should be an end. But traversers’ lives came to a start without any definite end, which made it meaningless to some beings.
Usually by several hundred lives, any traverser would be worn down by their own memories, understand their existence was merely nothing but a never-ending dream and nightmare, and finally die with a broken heart, unless they could find a soul shop and purchase a memory-wiping pill to ruthlessly cut off all their past memory and start a new.
But Shen Qingqiu was a young soul. He was just starting to get his experience and was still living full of hope, he didn’t care about any of this or rather he had yet to be weighed down by his meaning of existence… or be concerned if he even had one in the first place.
White Impermanence furiously looked at his list. “I don’t understand why your name is here then.” He pointed at a smudge writing of Shen Qingqiu’s name.
“I have no idea, either. I am Shen Jiu and Shen Qingqiu,” Shen Qingqiu read his name on the list deadpannedly. “The original soul of this body had died peacefully in his sleep as an infant, it goes directly to the pure samsara since it hasn’t even formed complete consciousness yet. He wasn’t even named yet. By the law of heaven, I am Shen Jiu and Shen Qingqiu. Maybe it’s just the same name?” He briefly recalled his early life as Shen Jiu. Different from other worlds, in this specific world, Shen Qingqiu inhabits an infant instead of an established person, which was why he was really attached to this identity and decided on it to be his soul identity too.
“Such a waste of time,” Black Impermanence looked at Shen Qingqiu darkly with deep disappointment as if he was not satisfied that he couldn’t drag Shen Qingqiu to be judged by King Yan.
Shen Qingqiu was successfully annoyed at his tone. “Even if I am not a traverser, you are already capturing wrong. I already made an appointment to be resurrected with Sun and Moon Dew Flower.”
White Impermanence gazed seriously at his soul book again and nodded at Black Impermanence. “Correct. He already has an appointment to be resurrected. His soul is bound.” It wasn’t rare for this to happen. Many people avoided death by binding their souls to something. “It should be a spiritual herb this time.” White Impermanence scrutinized.
“Yes.” Shen Qingqiu nodded. “So you’re double wrong.”
“Damn…” Black Impermanence turned to his partner solemnly. “We’re double liable to get sued if that’s the case.”
White Impermanence’s face turned ugly and he cursed under his breath. “Those useless stupid paper-pushers.”
“Now, now.” Black Impermanence smiled helplessly at his partner’s apparent outrage. “At most we’ll spend half of our saving.”
“No! This is a very serious problem! Traversers are not allowed in the Underworld, you know that. Not to mention this one is even bound with a spirit herb of life. If we bring this man in, King Yan will be furious!” White Impermanence scolded. “Don’t forget the last time a traverser was mistakenly brought in, he pulled a Monkey King act, and several books of death were burned off. We got our salary cut for four centuries, we aren’t even the fools who brought that in.”
“Amazing.” Shen Qingqiu’s eyes widened with fascination. “Tell me more.” Anybody in every world; villains, heroes, anti-heroes, or anti-villains, all admired Monkey King. It was everyone’s dream to even do one of the great things Monkey King did. Shen Qingqiu would need to note that senior’s name. If they met in between realms, Shen Qingqiu would need to give him the most ceremonious greeting and ask for a soulgraph.
“Something like a shame of the underworld can’t just be told to anybody, you know,” Black Impermanence deadpanned. “If you want to hear more about it, you can go to the edge of Peach Blossom grand realm once you get out of this realm.” He added in a whispering tone with a nudge.
White Impermanence sighed and he returned the soul book to Shen Qingqiu which naturally merged back into Shen Qingqiu’s spirit body. “This time is our mistake, my apologies for the mental trauma caused by this,” he apologized. “Please don’t sue us,” he added as an afterthought.
“It’s okay.” Shen Qingqiu nodded compassionately. “Bureaucracy is complicated.” He was also an official once in a world without immortality and centered around imperial rules… it was only for a year but it was difficult. He understood the two underworld officials’ difficulty.
“You said it,” Black Impermanence said with a firm nod. “You can return to your spirit herb of life now, sorry for the inconvenience.” Both officials bowed down to express their apologies and Shen Qingqiu was not a narrow-minded soul after all so he just nodded.
“How do I get to my new body?” Shen Qingqiu said. “I’m supposed to be transported there automatically.”
“Oh… You might want to do it manually then,” Black Impermanence said.
“We are very sorry,” White Impermanence said sheepishly.
“...Okay.”
The two sides parted away and Shen Qingqiu had to travel to get to his Sun and Moon Dew Flower. Although the extra step annoyed him for a bit, he ended up getting distracted by the scenery and wondering how long since he died.
While flying, Shen Qingqiu suddenly had a bad idea.
What if he travels as a spirit body first to spy on the situations of the living?
This idea would never have occurred to Shen Qingqiu if he was on higher planes, but this world currently was still in a fairly early stage of development, none even able to break the void yet. Even Tianlang-Jun, the current strongest, could only break a fraction of the void. The only thing that could break the void properly in this world was Xin Mo sword.
Shen Qingqiu mulled and thought that it was a good idea. This world didn’t have someone that could break a small void of space, let alone the void itself, nor there were any old monsters that could see and grab souls at will. Shen Qingqiu was completely safe here.
Roaming around in soul body would be very easy here.
Shen Qingqiu stopped and smiled. “Yes, that’s a solid plan.”
Shen Qingqiu sharply turned around and took off in another direction.
Shen Qingqiu’s first stop was Cang Qiong Mountain Sect, just to make sure it was still there.
He first floated to Qiong Ding Peak and was pleasantly surprised Yue Qingyuan was in his study. When he moved close, Xuan Su flared a bit and Shen Qingqiu narrowed his eyes at the sword. He almost couldn’t believe it, Xuan Su had a soul.
In his soul body, he could see things he normally couldn’t see inside his fleshly body. Just now he saw several lost souls wandering on the path he took to come here. He didn’t know Xuan Su had a soul power at all, at most it was a really strong ancient sword that Yue Qingyuan tamed from Wan Jian Peak.
‘Why did it seem like it is tightly clinging onto Yue Qingyuan, their aura is nearly one.’
Shen Qingqiu frowned but then he saw a sketch on Yue Qingyuan’s desk. It was a rough sketch of a snake monster, Shen Qingqiu had no doubt that was Zhuzhi-Lang. Both Qi Qingqi and Liu Qingge most likely reported back to him and he was investigating why Shen Qingqiu was with Zhuzhi-Lang. It wasn’t how he wanted to reveal himself to be a bad person partnering with other villains but he couldn’t quite complain.
Who told him to have a pig teammate like Zhuzhi-Lang?
Yue Qingyuan sighed heavily. He hid his expression with his palm and his visible lips pursed tightly. “Xiao Jiu…” he weakly whispered.
Shen Qingqiu’s eyes dropped down and he turned away.
He phased out of Yue Qingyuan’s study and flew to Qing Jing Peak just to make sure Luo Binghe hadn’t touched any of his childhood bullies yet. Yet all he could find was Qing Jing Peak operating as usual. There was no tension, so everything should be accounted for.
Ning Yingying passed by and Shen Qingqiu’s eyes followed her right to the front of the girls’ dorm. She paused and looked at the tore a sheet out of a paper calendar and put the sheet of paper into a box that was signed. ‘Days since Shizun left.’
The girl only briefly lingered with a sigh and then resumed doing whatever she was doing.
Shen Qingqiu went over and looked at the calendar. It should have been a week since he died. His flowers already bloomed a year earlier, the normal lifespan of Sun and Moon Dew Flower without a soul in it was actually two years at most, the older it got, the longer soul acceptance would take. Take Tianlang-Jun, he could assimilate with his new body in a week.
Shen Qingqiu had taken a measure to make sure the flower kept on blooming, but at this point he would take about a month of more to assimilate. It was still good enough. He could spy on Luo Binghe first and thwart some of his plans to be against him.
Shen Qingqiu left Qing Jing Peak and flew towards Huan Hua Palace, it took him about a day with his speed. He phased through several walls before pausing. Is it safe to spy on Luo Binghe…?
What if he’s currently having sex with his future wives…?
Shen Qingqiu was not clear about Luo Binghe’s exploit, but he knew a man didn’t have a giant harem by being celibate. No matter how evil Shen Qingqiu aimed to be, peeping at the son of fate’s sexual exploit had never been and never would be on his list of crime goals. Even if he is to be forced to take the path of a lecherous villain, peeping was too much. He didn’t have such a hobby. That was a new level of disgusting. He was born with good and delicate looks meant for aloof evilness, not low-class crime.
Out of heavy consideration of Luo Binghe’s privacy and possible bed rendezvous, Shen Qingqiu stopped phasing the walls and instead wandered down the hallways. It would be great if only he could encounter a damning point about the son of fate.
Or should he kidnap Xiao Gongzhu? Now he could learn the layout of Huan Hua Palace, kidnapping that stupid arrogant girl would need practically no effort. But Shen Qingqiu wondered if kidnapping that stupid girl would lower his rank of elegance. After all, it would be preferable to kidnap a dignified prisoner rather than a noisy one. Shen Qingqiu worked hard to be a dignified prisoner in his previous life so the son of fate, Luo Binghe, wouldn’t look cheap for keeping him alive. Shen Qingqiu would like a similar temperament to the prisoner he would want to kidnap. Xiao Gongzhu didn’t fit this criteria.
Xiao Gongzhu was beautiful, indeed. But she was noisy, stupid, not elegant, not graceful, not dignified, not compatible with Shen Qingqiu’s current temperament. Kidnapping her would only taint Shen Qingqiu’s record.
Should kidnapping be put on the agenda at all? Maybe he could ask Zhuzhi-Lang to kidnap people later. This way, he could push for things to happen but all the dirty water would be dunked on Zhuzhi-Lang. He would only need to enjoy the role of mastermind with Zhuzhi-Lang as the foolish lackey. That could work.
Would Tianlang-Jun be okay for Shen Qingqiu to steal his foolish lackey? But that was his nephew… Moreover, it wasn’t good for Zhuzhi-Lang to be devoted to two people. One mountain can’t harbor two tigers, likewise, one Zhuzhi-Lang shouldn’t be occupied by two master villains.
...Should he get himself his own personal stupid lackey? But where else he could find a stupid lackey as strong, as simple, and as loyal as Zhuzhi-Lang? Even Ming Fan back in Qing Jing Peak had his own thoughts, if not he wouldn’t have taken the liberty to give Luo Binghe a faulty cultivation manual and compete with Shen Qingqiu. Zhuzhi-Lang was already such a perfect lackey with a whole loyalty and no thoughts of obeying orders.
“I should have cultivated my own force in the last three years…” Shen Qingqiu murmured with a little regret. Unfortunately, he had been too fixated on locating as many natural disasters as possible from his past memory so he could stand by and brush up his presence to reap the blame. Not to mention whenever he needed anything, he just needed to order Zhuzhi-Lang to do it so he never got any natural push to cultivate his own underling outside.
But then again, Luo Binghe cultivated his own force. Tianlang-Jun also had his own force. It would be a bit unbalanced for Shen Qingqiu to also have his force, not to mention the resources it would take to cultivate it from scratch. After all, Shen Qingqiu had only lived for less than twenty lifetimes, with the exception of his lifetime as Shen Jiu, each one only had a lifespan of barely above three months on average, he didn’t really have experience in gathering a force. He was usually within the force as a small fry.
Shen Qingqiu weighed pros and cons before settling that being a solo villain without a force behind him would distinguish him from Tianlang-Jun. It also cultivated the feeling of mystery, solitude, and independence. More tasteful this way.
“Da-shixiong, are you really going to just accept this lying down?!”
Shen Qingqiu paused and looked over.
In the isolated hallway, a group of disciples in Huan Hua Palace’s fancy uniform. Nearly all of them were males and they all supported an expression of indignation and unwillingness. All of them faced the handsome young man in front of them, a face that was familiar to Shen Qingqiu which made him quickly place a name. Gongyi Xiao, the First Disciple of Huan Hua Palace, Luo Binghe’s foil. A stepping stone meant for a quick tragic stupid ending.
Gongyi Xiao was also Xiao Gongzhu’s first love. Of course, the son of fate’s wife’s crush was an even more insignificant existence than him, the Scum Villain. Shen Qingqiu sometimes almost pitied him, truly by fate Gongyi Xiao was born with a face that resembled Su Xiyan somewhat which attracted that old bag of fart’s attention. But Shen Qingqiu was not really interested in him because Gongyi Xiao was every anti-thesis of a villain.
Too nice, too righteous, too fair, too soft-hearted, too kind-hearted, stupidly sincere, stupidly loyal, and every inch good cultivator by the book. He reminded Shen Qingqiu of Yue Qingyuan, but at least Yue Qingyuan got the position of Sect Head. Gongyi Xiao was every inch a definition of ‘No good deed goes unpunished.’
“Da-shixiong, that man Luo Binghe has gotten more and more audacious.”
“That’s right, I don’t understand what the Palace Master sees in him at all.”
“If this continues, your position will be in danger.”
Shen Qingqiu nodded silently. “Listen to your shidi, you’ll be sent to the border and die pathetically there without the chance to even come back.” He patted his chest. “Be a villain, take what you think is your right, at least that is climactic.”
“Shixiong, that man is out of control. The Palace Master is also excessively biased. He may take your place.”
Gongyi Xiao listened to his worried martial juniors with a neutral face. He smiled. “I understand you all may be unwilling. But to my knowledge, I don’t think Shifu is biased. Luo Binghe is indeed very talented.” He folded his hands.
“Da-shixiong, how could you say that?!” The young men in front of Gongyi Xiao were indignant for him in his place.
“You’re our only Da-shixiong, you helped us and fulfilled your duty. What is Luo Binghe? He just a wild man that came out of nowhere!”
“That’s right, he was Qing Jing Peak’s disciple but he shamelessly stayed in our place.”
“Qing Jing Peak must have kicked him out in secret, that man has a flaw. Do we want a disciple unwanted by Qing Jing Peak to lead us, Huan Hua Palace’s new generation?”
Shen Qingqiu blinked and glared at the person who said the last line. “Little bastard, do you think my Qing Jing Peak is lesser than Huan Hua Palace?” Shen Qingqiu might have neglected the development of Qing Jing Peak ever since he became Peak Lord, but that didn’t mean Qing Jing Peak’s reputation was not there. He couldn’t accept his impressive background being despised, this was his capital as a villain!
Good thing Luo Binghe will take over Huan Hua Palace in the future. That would indirectly prove Qing Jing Peak was better. Hm, he would have to loudly declare Luo Binghe as unwanted by Qing Jing Peak next time so it could boost his prestige. Even if Qing Jing Peak was gonna destroyed to the ground in the future, some would still likely bring up the fact Luo Binghe was rejected by Qing Jing Peak and spread out that Luo Binghe was illiterate. It would anger Luo Binghe and deepen Shen Qingqiu’s position as the number one source of humiliation in Luo Binghe’s heart.
Leaving a lasting annoying impression on the son of fate was Shen Qingqiu’s deepest goal. It would be great if Luo Binghe would come and desecrate Shen Qingqiu’s grave long after Shen Qingqiu’s death, that would be like a medal to Shen Qingqiu.
While Shen Qingqiu was daydreaming about the day his grave would be desecrated by the son of fate, Gongyi Xiao turned away from his group of shidi.
“Enough, we shouldn’t talk about this anymore.” Gongyi Xiao raised his hand firmly to stop any more protests. “What I have now is what I have achieved. If one day Shifu would dislike me in this position, then I will just keep proving myself and do my best.”
Gongyi Xiao walked away with his back straight, unbothered, and remained like a tall straight bamboo. Shen Qingqiu tossed a glance at him, disdainful.
“What do you have to prove to people who dislike you?” Shen Qingqiu crossed his arms. “If the old fart still likes you at all you won’t need to prove anything.” That was Shen Qingqiu’s extreme ideal. Back in his first life as Shen Qingqiu, the moment Yue Qingyuan showed doubt about Liu Qingge’s death was the moment Shen Qingqiu decided he should add Liu Qingge’s death to his list of crimes and started acting like he was guilty but covering it up. Much easier that way and very profitable. He was here not to be a misunderstood little flower, he wanted to be a villain, and he wouldn’t bother correcting a misunderstanding that made him look bad.
“What should we do?” The left-behind insignificant people looked at each other, distressed.
“Da-shixiong is too lax.”
“Da-shixiong is righteous, but the bad thing is that Luo Binghe is not at all.”
“What to do then? Although Da-shixiong is strong and talented, he can’t compare to that scheming bastard at all. He already made Xiao Gongzhu fall for him and even the Qin Sisters are smitten.”
The more they fussed, the more unwilling they became. Shen Qingqiu lingered by because according to the rules of cliché, this should be where they would try to cook up a plan to trip Luo Binghe and then failed. Shen Qingqiu was a learned scholar, he wasn’t about to pass up a chance to observe and learn.
After all, in another world and life, he could be them. Unfortunately for them, Gongyi Xiao was not a good role model to follow because he would turn evil, such a waste.
“According to sense, these idiots would make trouble with Luo Binghe. Luo Binghe would side-step the trouble, expose them, and the Old Palace Master would be furious, then Gongyi Xiao would be blamed even though he never ordered them anything.” Shen Qingqiu analyzed intellectually. “Then Gongyi Xiao will legitimately fall from grace. A very classic case of suffering from having pig teammates.”
Shen Qingqiu patted himself on the back for being able to extract the essence of what might happen. This kind of thing usually happened the most in the imperial harem setting. Shen Qingqiu was once a eunuch for a consort in one of his previous lives, unfortunately he only lived for two weeks there before being executed by the emperor to appease another favoured consort. That was not a good life at all, Shen Qingqiu had no experience nor interest in the rear court. Oh how he wished he got the life of the emperor’s eunuch instead.
When Shen Qingqiu was lost in memory of the rear palace’s fighting, he looked up and saw the person he wanted to see the most. Luo Binghe looked effortlessly dignified as he should.
The group of boys also Luo Binghe and none of them could hide the obvious hostility and disdain on their face. Shen Qingqiu wished he had a mirror, just to make sure his disdainful expression was not as cheap-looking as theirs. Of course, Shen Qingqiu had trained his condescending expression for decades before Luo Binghe even appeared but now he was feeling a bit self-conscious because the White Lotus Halo was now a variable.
Luo Binghe ignored the hostile young masters and walked through them as if they were not even there, Shen Qingqiu felt a pang of pain for them. Being hated by the son of fate was fine, but being ignored was a very low point. True to Shen Qingqiu’s expectation, the usually coddled young masters seethed when they saw this.
“Why are you still here? Don’t you have your own sect?” One said with a snap. “Go back to Qing Jing Peak and stop leeching off of Huan Hua Palace.” His face twisted with hate.
Luo Binghe stopped dignifiedly and turned his head slightly, giving them a side-eye. “If you have the ability, make me.” He narrowed his eyes sarcastically. “If you can’t, then I may not be the one leeching.”
“You-!” The guy pointed at Luo Binghe with red-purple face.
“A word of advice,” Luo Binghe said slowly. “Don’t lose your head.”
They all stiffened and gritted their teeth, speechless. Luo Binghe didn’t even deign them with another look and just resumed walking without minding them behind his back. His footsteps resounded coldly in the hallway, leaving no one absolutely no doubt that he was the winner in the verbal confrontation.
Unknown to Luo Binghe, he was now being followed by Shen Qingqiu. Now Shen Qingqiu got a closer look of Luo Binghe after three years he had to admit puberty hit harder in the Abyss. Luo Binghe was no longer a boy when he pushed him off but he was still so different after Abyss. The horror of that place must be beyond unimaginable for a teenager, but as expected the son of fate survived it.
“Since when he’s so clever at arguing?” Shen Qingqiu pondered. Luo Binghe was always good at being sarcastic, no doubt. Shen Qingqiu would hear one or two sarcastic remarks whenever Luo Binghe made a prison visit back in his Shen Qingqiu’s first try here. But it was nowhere as elite as earlier. The balance of advice, warning, and threat in his last sentence to those young masters was masterful, Shen Qingqiu could write an essay on how tasteful that was and should be used by anyone who wanted to be pretentious in such a situation. “Well, he did pick up more books than previously…” he murmured to himself.
Troublesome. He wanted Luo Binghe to be literate enough to understand he was insulted but not too literate that he might be immune to Shen Qingqiu’s insults later on. No, Shen Qingqiu couldn’t be distracted. Regardless if Luo Binghe was too literate or not, he still needed to accuse him of being illiterate.
“Luo-gege!”
Not knowing about the ghost’s petty evil plan, Luo Binghe kept on going and greeted the two beautiful sisters who came forward to him. Shen Qingqiu stopped a few steps away, gazing at them coldly.
“Luo-gege, you’re so mean. You just came back and you wanted to go again? You don’t want to come with Wanrong?” Qin Wanrong acted coquettish and complained to Luo Binghe.
“Wanrong is out of line, Luo Binghe,” Qin Wanyue said demurely. In contrast to her vivacious little sister, she was like a late-night summer breeze, when she spoke you can’t help but to feel moved. Her delicate eyes were watery and gentle, inviting a surge of protectiveness from any man. “But you do need to balance up rest more, Luo Binghe. Why don’t you stay in the sect for a while? There will be an auction at the Linglong Auction House nearby.”
Luo Binghe tilted his head with interest after hearing that. “Will there be something interesting at the auction?”
Qin Wanrong latched to Luo Binghe’s question. “Of course! There are always many rare things sold at the auction house. I heard there will be a high-tier fourth grade pill sold!”
Shen Qingqiu perked up. “High-tier fourth grade? Even Mu Qingfang couldn’t make that.” That means it’s indeed rare! This world was generally new and only in its starting stage, the highest cultivation never surpassed Spirit Severing Stage on good days. To go beyond that, they should ascend to a higher plane because this plane of existence had yet to develop that far. There hadn’t even been any major war between the righteous path and demon yet, only skirmishes and small fights, it had the potential to break through if only two decades ago Tianlang-Jun succeeded in starting a war with the righteous path. Unfortunately, Tianlang-Jun was captured before that war even occurred so it halted history in making which stalled the world’s development.
Only through suffering would the world grow. Without destruction, there wouldn’t be prosperity. Without death, there wouldn’t be rebirth. Only through desperation humans would unlock their fullest potential.
Currently so far, pills were divided by grades and each grades have three tiers. Mu Qingfang was a cultivator in Core-Formation stage, he was very talented in alchemy and logically could make high-tier Third Grade pills. However, Mu Qingfang was a rare talent, he could even make low-tier Fourth grade pill in his current level of cultivation, cementing him as a true genius in the way of alchemy. Give him more time and he could make mid-tier fourth grade pill. However, high-tier fourth grade was outside his capability right now, so a pill of that level was indeed rare! It could only be made by an old master in Nascent Soul Stage. By this world’s standard, it was a very rare good!
Shen Qingqiu gazed deeply at Luo Binghe trying hard to see through him to assess the Dream Demon in his mindscape. “It has bothered me before. But what stage was that lingering ghost in before it become like this…? Spirit Severing Stage? Like the old Sect Head, probably?” he pondered.
The existence of Dream Demon was only something he was made aware of when he was imprisoned in Water Prison previously, and that was only because Luo Binghe used dream power to torment Shen Qingqiu mentally. The demon talked briefly to him with detest and Shen Qingqiu thought he sounded too ominous to be likable for Shen Qingqiu who was trying his best to be a villain.
Nothing much happened after that, they only met once in Shen Qingqiu’s dream but Shen Qingqiu didn’t care much about that bastard. He could manipulate Shen Qingqiu’s dream but he could never touch the true depth of Shen Qingqiu’s mindscape as a traverser. If the nightmare became too much, Shen Qingqiu silently slipped into the protected space in his mind and waited till it passed while daydreaming about succeeding in his previous lives. There was no side effect to doing that aside from Shen Qingqiu losing control of his body entirely for a period of time as if it was a puppet with its strings cut.
Shen Qingqiu stalked Luo Binghe and was not surprised that he decided to stay around till the auction opened. Naturally, to scheme ahead, Shen Qingqiu also wanted to follow him to the auction to see what would he buy. It would be a badge of honor to counter something the son of fate bought with his hard-earned money.
Luo Binghe bade goodbye to the Qin sisters and gently rejected Qin Wanrong’s invitation to go out to a restaurant in the town. Shen Qingqiu followed Luo Binghe to his room and paused when he glimpsed the room.
“That old fart absolutely knows he’s Su Xiyan’s son.” Shen Qingqiu’s eyes twitched. A guest wouldn’t get this big room to himself. It might not look too impressive but it got everything one could need. No matter how honored the guest could be- no! Shen Qingqiu remembered he visited Huan Hua Palace once in the past and his room was not this fancy.
Shen Qingqiu floated around the room, for the first time forgetting Luo Binghe. He then floated to the window and popped his head through the closed window, he stared straight at Old Palace Master’s room’s window. It was subtle but it was directly within his line of sight. He imagined it would be as easy for Old Palace Master to look over to. Shen Qingqiu pulled back inside and felt like something lodged in his throat that he could neither swallow nor vomit.
Shen Qingqiu frowned and looked back at Luo Binghe who was sitting cross-legged and meditating. Seeing that Luo Binghe had no movement, Shen Qingqiu flew through the closed window and to the Old Palace Master’s room.
Luo Binghe kept his eyes closed for a while, absorbing the silence in the room and finally opened his eyes, his dark eyes shifted to his window and narrowed at the gap for ventilation above the window. His eyes directly stared at the Old Palace Master’s room suspiciously before he shut them again.
Shen Qingqiu phased into the Old Palace Master’s room and upon seeing the room, Shen Qingqiu sneered disdainfully. Gaudy.
Shen Qingqiu moved his hand and remembered he didn’t have his paper fan so he settled flicking a strand of his hair behind his shoulder. He took a stroll casually around the room. The room was deceptively innocent, nearly there was nothing to see except for the rare books and manuals in the corner. Shen Qingqiu sniffed the incense by the window and knocked it off. Wasn’t it wonderful that ghosts can interact with incense?
“I have nothing to do…” Shen Qingqiu smiled. “Might as well study my enemies.”
Somewhere in a quiet valley, there was a ruin of charred remains of a house. Untouched by any possible disturbance from nature. Not far from the site, there was a plant bed that was reserved for one single flower that swayed playfully with the wind that the charred remains were denied to have.
“He’s still not here yet?” From the sky, Tianlang-Jun landed on the ground effortlessly with arms crossed. His enchanting demonic eyes observed the playfully swaying flower on the flower bed while asking the man in a dirty white robe kneeling by it.
“No…” Zhuzhi-Lang answered quietly, his brows furrowed with distress.
Tianlang-Jun stepped closer and leaned down. “The circulation of qi is very good, the flower’s vitality is great. But there’s no spirit fluctuation at all.” He reached down and poked the white and gold petals.
“I don’t understand what’s wrong…” Zhuzhi-Lang expressed. He had done many things to promote the vitality of the flower, he aired the flower, get it morning sunlight, and loosened the soil.
Tianlang-Jun straightened up and crossed his arms back, tilting his head. “It’s almost like his soul didn’t reach here.” His comment frightened Zhuzhi-Lang. “Maybe it got transferred to another flower? He got three flowers waiting, right?”
Zhuzhi-Lang nodded. He knew Shen Qingqiu transported the other two somewhere but he let it be because this valley’s spiritual energy was indeed getting a bit too thin for all three flowers to survive for long together. He didn’t dare to ask where he transported them to, since Shen Qingqiu hated personal questions. “But this is the first flower…” Zhuzhi-Lang would know, he helped care for them. He made sure to mark which one Shen Qingqiu imprinted first, second, and last.
Tianlang-Jun frowned. “Perhaps the flower is overripe then. He will need more time to integrate.” He sighed and uncrossed his arms. “Wait for another month. Either way, these flowers are already enhanced with so many heavenly and earthly treasures, they would still be blooming for another decade.”
Tianlang-Jun only needed one week because the moment his Sun and Moon Dew Flower bloomed, he killed himself and transferred his soul over immediately. Added with his strength, it didn’t take long to assimilate and forge a new body. But the longer the Sun and Moon Dew Flower bloomed, the longer it would assimilate with the soul, some might even take years to be revived.
Zhuzhi-Lang nodded and wrung a wet kerchief to drop spirit water on the soil. His worry was still there. It had been two months since Shen Qingqiu died.
“Relax, Zhuzhi,” Tianlang-Jun said. “Peak Lord Shen is a man of fortune. What’s the saying again? Good people don’t die- no, bad things won’t happen to good people.”
“Yes.” Zhuzhi-Lang nodded meekly.
“Even if he failed to resurrect through the flower, we still have his body,” Tianlang-Jun grinned widely. “We can find a way to resurrect him, the mausoleum is full of forbidden techniques.”
His voice rang almost too delightfully in the clearing.
“Besides.” Tianlang-Jun raised his head, gazing at the darkening blue sky. “He said he wanted to say something to me regarding our three-year agreement. I wonder what he wanted to say.”
“I must tell Tianlang-Jun to start immediately after I’m back.” Shen Qingqiu murmured to himself. His gaze flicked to Luo Binghe and he got annoyed. “Aren’t you going to buy something? Are you poor?!”
He had been following Luo Binghe through four auctions already and the little beast barely even tried to buy anything. Shen Qingqiu didn’t know whether to blame Luo Binghe for being stingy or blame the auction house for not having a mysterious powerful artifact. He was very certain Luo Binghe was not actually poor, Shen Qingqiu heard the boy had dug up some of Tianlang-Jun’s savings in the demon world. Where did Shen Qingqiu hear that? Naturally from eavesdropping Zhuzhi-Lang’s conversation with his spies.
On top of some gold and spirit stone reserves Tianlang-Jun kept in that one place, he also had more wealth from saving wealthy people by chance. None of the girls smitten over Luo Binghe in Huan Hua Palace was by any means poor, they were all rich and had rich backgrounds. The Qin sisters were even related to the owner of the first auction house Shen Qingqiu stalked Luo Binghe too.
“This is the last auction, after that, I’m resurrecting…” Shen Qingqiu gritted his teeth. It had been two whole months since he lingered around Luo Binghe and Huan Hua Palace. He got to see some interesting things but not enough to make him want to keep being a ghost rather than perfecting his mechanism to be a true villain. Not to mention he had some bones to pick with a few elders of Huan Hua Palace.
On the auction stage, an ancient formation scroll was sold at a high price and another item was delivered on the stage. “Now, this next item is very unique. It’s found in the ancient site of the infamous Five Ghosthead Sect. Behold!”
The item was a black banner with silver frame holding it up, but on a closer look it wasn’t silver at all but Cold Silver, gleaming with a black sheen. The black fabric of the banner held symbol that resembled of spider lily in red thread. Its color was so dark that it made its surroundings gloomy and there was an undeniable aura around it that made people lean forward with interest.
“It is said that Five Ghosthead Sect was a sect that dealt with ghosts the most. This banner was once used by an elder of Five Ghosthead Sect to ward evil ghosts. The price will start from fifty thousand spirit stones!”
Luo Binghe’s eyes flicked with disinterest but a soft fragrant hand tugged on his sleeve, he looked down at Xiao Gongzhu who pointed at the banner with bright eyes. “Luo-gege, we should buy this banner!” she looked at him with excitement and relief. “Lately the sect is so restless, some things keep falling off. It never happened before.” She shivered.
Luo Binghe shook his head gently. “I don’t think that’s ghost problem. It will be detectable then. What ghost dared to mess with Huan Hua Palace? Are you sure it’s not a wild animal?”
Xiao Gongzhu pouted. “No, it must be dirty things from outside. I don’t know how it goes past our protective measures against resentful ghosts.” She shook her head. “But Five Ghosthead Sect is so good in the art of ghost. This banner will be useful.” She raised her sign to bid.
Shen Qingqiu snorted. “Young lady you’re wasting your money.” They were lucky he was just a spirit body. Once he resurrected, he would really hit those elders hard and use his identity as a bigger villain to snuff out those crooks.
He floated there while crossing his arms. These two months had been a complete waste of time. Shen Qingqiu couldn’t get a read of Luo Binghe at all. Somehow Luo Binghe was less expressive and open about his intentions on a day-to-day basis than when he tortured Shen Qingqiu in Water Prison back in his previous life.
“Xiao Gongzhu,” Gongyi Xiao couldn’t hold himself from speaking up when Xiao Gongzhu’s bid for the banner became ridiculous. “We’re here for something else.”
Xiao Gongzhu jumped a bit, not expecting to be stopped. She gazed at Gongyi Xiao, but eventually glanced at Luo Binghe. It was hard to know what flashed in her mind but she scowled and shook her head. “I have money, Da-shixiong.”
“I know you do. But—”
“Ah, Da-shixiong, you’re not fun at all. You never let me do anything. I’m purchasing this to help with the mysterious occurrence in the palace recently, not for my own gain.” Xiao Gongzhu seemed disappointed that Gongyi Xiao couldn’t see her thoughtfulness. “It’s time for me to decide on my own. You can’t keep controlling me.”
Gongyi Xiao frowned but had to relent. Shen Qingqiu tossed a glance at him and shook his head. Gongyi Xiao was slowly getting out of favor. The Old Palace Master still showed superficial favor, after all Gongyi Xiao was the First Disciple he had cultivated painstakingly after leaving the position empty for so long. But Xiao Gongzhu’s heart as a young lady was easily swayed, her favor for Gongyi Xiao had slowly dwindled and transferred to Luo Binghe who was more indulgent and mysterious.
Watching a love triangle was not what Shen Qingqiu signed up for. Moreover, it wasn’t really a love triangle but old and new for Xiao Gongzhu, but neither the old nor the new actually had deep feelings for her.
Xiao Gongzhu bought the completely useless ghost-warding banner just before the main reason they were here being auctioned. When the auctioneer revealed the item, it instantly cast away all the gloominess from the ghost banner earlier. An intricate snowflake-patterned shield appeared under everyone’s eyes, it gave off a cold feeling yet the material it was made from managed to steal nearly everyone’s breath away.
It was an exquisite craftsmanship, a work of art, yet it also exuded a mighty air. It bore the name Snow Goddess’ Tears. An exquisite shield that was both strong and flexible. It was a treasure worth owning and researching. Predictably, the competition was very tight.
Huan Hua Palace barely managed to get the last bid of the price before silence reigned.
“Going once… going twice… Alright.”
“Two hundred thousand.”
When the auctioneer was about to slam his hammer, a cold beautiful voice resounded causing everyone to be awestruck. Xiao Gongzhu stiffened, her well-decorated nails dug into her palms and she glared angrily at another VIP spot. Luo Binghe also turned his head to see a young lady in graceful blue dress, her hand was raised with her sign, her sleeve was pooling around her elbow, revealing a dazzling wrist that made many young males’ hearts skip a beat.
She gracefully lowered her hand after she said her bid and silence once again reigned. More than thirty thousand over Huan Hua Palace’s last bid. Gongyi Xiao exhaled.
“We don’t have enough.” Gongyi Xiao closed his eyes and turned away. He said it as a matter of fact. They really didn’t have that much left, but Xiao Gongzhu felt that he was blaming her for her previous purchase.
Clenching her hands, Xiao Gongzhu refused to give up. “No. We have more spirit stones back at home.”
Gongyi Xiao jolted, having a bad feeling. “Xiao Gong—”
“Two hundred thousand and ten!” Xiao Gongzhu shouted before Gongyi Xiao could finish.
Everyone in the auction house immediately broke into silent discussion and Gongyi Xiao snatched the bidding sign from Xiao Gongzhu with a look of disbelief.
“What are you doing? We don’t have that much left.” Gongyi Xiao sweated. Even if he added his own personal money, it wouldn’t reach that much. “This auction house has the rule to pay immediately.”
Xiao Gongzhu pouted angrily. “What’s the difference in immediately or a little delay? We’re from Huan Hua Palace, we’re not going anywhere. Everyone knows Huan Hua Palace is the richest,” She said confidently.
“Xiao Gongzhu,” Gongyi Xiao inhaled deeply, distressed at the mess his shimei made.
“Two hundred and twenty.”
Just when Gongyi Xiao was going to humble himself and ask to retract the bid, the other side already bid over them again. Xiao Gongzhu gritted her teeth and was about to shout again but Gongyi Xiao pulled her down and she couldn’t bid without the bidding sign anyway. “Behave,” Gongyi Xiao said sternly.
Xiao Gongzhu stared agape at him. “Da-shixiong, you’re so mean to me!” the girl threw a tantrum.
Gongyi Xiao kept the bidding sign and ignored Xiao Gongzhu’s fuss, already used to it. Usually, when Xiao Gongzhu didn’t get her way with him, she would become quiet quickly and that applied here too. Xiao Gongzhu then glared at the other VIP guest. “Who’s that pretentious wench? Can she even afford it?”
Many people furtively glanced at the VIP box with a graceful lady in blue. Although she did nothing but bidding, her voice captured many people’s attention, and not to mention the veil on her face invoked deep interest in many people present. When too many spiritual senses swiped over, the man beside her flicked his sword to unsheathe partly before sheathing it again with a loud clang. The sword sound spread out, pushing back any furtive swipe and everyone immediately looked away with sweats.
Shen Qingqiu floated to the lady in blue and clicked his tongue. “I knew it. Liu Qingge.” Shen Qingqiu gazed at the handsome swordsman beside the lady who lowered his sword. Shen Qingqiu turned and scrutinized the girl. “Liu Mingyan…?” he murmured doubtfully.
He didn’t recognize the girl because she was wearing blue. From his memory, Liu Mingyan was just like her brother, always wearing white, even if she had color on her outfit, it would be faded pink, closer to white than any other color, she even refused to wear Xian Shu Peak’s uniforms on many occasion, opting the faded pink that was closer to white if she had to wear colored outfit. But right now she was wearing vibrant blue, showing off her grace. This was rare.
He then glanced at Liu Qingge and began to doubt. “Is it because he didn’t die…?” After all, white was the color of mourning. Maybe Liu Mingyan didn’t actually like white as he thought, but she was just in mourning for years and years in her previous life because of her brother’s death.
As everyone said, a woman in mourning looked three points more beautiful. Or perhaps Shen Qingqiu was too used to seeing Liu Mingyan in white so he felt that Liu Mingyan was more suitable in white. It also contrasted nicely with Luo Binghe’s usual black outfit.
Liu Mingyan predictably won the bid and she set down the bidding sign gently. There were still more items to be auctioned but the shield was its main attraction. It was clear neither of the Liu siblings had any interest in staying after getting what they came here for unlike some. Liu Qingge stood up first and walked away, and Liu Mingyan followed him obediently.
“It is fortunate that we can outbid people from Huan Hua Palace,” Liu Mingyan said. Her tone was void of her cold and dignified intonation from earlier and instead sounded softer and more childlike.
“Hm.” Liu Qingge nodded, unconcerned. Even if they failed to get what they wanted, he could look for a better one for Liu Mingyan.
“Does brother not bring extra spirit stone? I heard they sold some artifacts around the end.”
“No need.” Liu Qingge placed his palm on the hilt of Cheng Luan. His sword was the only thing he needed to win battles.
Shen Qingqiu crossed his arms as the pair of siblings left, he looked back at the stage and felt disappointed. “Time to go back.”
Shen Qingqiu’s spirit body flashed and disappeared through the ceiling, leaving the empty VIP box. But not a second later, Liu Qingge returned, a bit frazzled. He looked through the long chair he was sitting before and finally found what he was looking for.
An innocent but unique jade bottle, instead of the normal way of pulling the lid off, this one’s lid needed to be screwed first before being pulled open. Liu Qingge picked it up and rubbed the surface of the jade bottle. He already had a hard time getting this back from Mu Qingfang, if he lost it so soon then he might as well jump to a horde of beasts.
Liu Mingyan soon popped her head back into the VIP box, blinking in curiosity. “Brother…?”
“It’s fine.” Liu Qingge stuffed the jade bottle back inside his sleeve and walked back out.
Liu Mingyan followed him again. “What’s in that jade bottle? Medicine? Is brother sick?”
Liu Qingge shook his head. “A reminder,” He said vaguely. A reminder to not judge the book by its cover since two people he showed hostility on two different occasions were actually his lost shixiong. “Also evidence.”
Liu Mingyan tilted her head slowing down slightly. “…Evidence of what?”
Liu Qingge didn’t stop walking.
Liu Mingyan pouted under her veil. Why was her brother always so curt and vague? Can’t he be clear for once? She could only lift her foot and started chasing after her brother.
Just as the two siblings left, the auctioneer brought the next item to the stage.
“This is another ancient artifact from the ruins of dragon. It has a mysterious effect of forcing the wearer to tell the truth when asked, a very useful interrogation tool! It is too bad that it had lost three of its jewels but it’s still completely usable and has been verified!”
Luo Binghe’s dark eyes gleamed when he saw the collar, he didn’t need the voice in his mind to speak up to raise his bidding sign.
Three months later in the Falling Mist Valley…
Countless papers were scattered on the ground with blank ink ominously tainting them. In the middle of the scattered papers was a young man in a loose washed-out white robe, holding a brush tight and straight, however, the tremor on the tip of the brush betrayed the young man’s stiff posture.
The young man moved the brush, creating stroke after stroke carefully before he finally could write down the character ‘Shen’. He gazed at the word he just wrote down and the example in the practice book, comparing it stroke by stroke when suddenly the air changed and a vortex of qi gathered.
The usually leisurely Sun and Moon Dew Flower suddenly swayed vigorously. Zhuzhi-Lang threw aside the brush in his grip and ran to the flower bed. His fingers flexed and closed a hundred miles of space around him to cover the sudden vortex of qi. His golden eyes gleamed with delight and relief when he saw the vortex was vigorous and slowly got absorbed into the flower. The flower lost some of its exuberance and the ground moved a little.
Finally, a hand broke to the surface and the beautiful flower, that Zhuzhi-Lang had guarded for day and night, got absorbed quietly. Zhuzhi-Lang grabbed the hand and pulled the entire person out of the ground.
Shen Qingqiu stood steadily and carelessly flicked off the dirt on his shoulder before using a cleaning spell efficiently without even blinking, not losing an ounce of composure. “How long have I been out?” he asked calmly and he frowned when a paper fluttered his way due to the earlier qi vortex. He caught it and saw the ugliest try to write a word then recognized it as Zhuzhi-Lang’s creation.
“Almost half a year…” Zhuzhi-Lang answered, his eyes carefully tracing Shen Qingqiu’s handsome and graceful features furtively.
Shen Qingqiu frowned. He lost consciousness when he came to claim his first Sun and Moon Dew Flower body. His prediction was one month to assimilate but it was actually three months. He touched his chin thoughtfully before turning to Zhuzhi-Lang.
“Bring me to Tianlang-Jun.”