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墨書 Inktalez
You Were Born a Nobleman, Chapter Eighty-Three: Who is the Real Murderer?
Softy finally lifted her head, seemingly gathering her courage. Her neck and face flushed red from the effort as she gently said to Lang Ye, "Lang Ye, I... Shu Que Wu Pan."
Inside Lang Ye's mind, a little figure was anxiously scratching its head and butt. What should I say? Hurry up and say I’m willing, hurry up and say that regardless of wealth or poverty, I want to be with you.
"Lang Ye, I... let me think about it some more. When you come back, I'll give you an answer."
The little figure in Lang Ye's mind let out a cry and fell to the ground, defeated! From then on, that adorable little one who called him Daddy and Mama was gone. But it didn’t matter; there were thousands of such little figures inside Lang Ye, and he could easily summon dozens.
Kyoko's survival rate was exceptionally high!
"Lang Ye, are you okay?" Softy lightly shook Lang Ye's arm. She felt that at this moment, Lang Ye had completely lost the domineering aura he had just moments ago and had become quite silly.
"I'm fine. No rush; take your time to think. I'll wait for you to come back. By the way, Softy, hold onto this for me." Lang Ye said as he pulled out a box from his pocket. Softy immediately recognized that it contained the pearl flower Lang Ye had personally crafted.
"Don't be too quick to refuse, Softy. This pearl flower was strung together by me stitch by stitch; it absolutely won't be given to anyone else. Now you take it. If you agree to me, wear this flower when I return. If you don't agree, just accept it as my gift to you for your future dowry."
Wolf King's words sounded very grandiose, but the little figure in his heart was dressed in black and had long hair flowing in the wind like a CEO looking down from above: Woman, you dare to marry without my permission!
Softy pondered over the box and eventually nodded.
Lang Ye felt a surge of joy inside; ha-ha, another step closer to winning over this child!
A knock came from outside as Kong Xuan shouted, "Lang Ye, we need to go!"
Damn it, this damn peacock finished being lovey-dovey before me; could it be that he’s not going to work out?
Lang Ye shouted hoarsely, "Wait a minute! Are you going to grow feathers or something?"
Softy apologized as she pushed Lang Ye: "You should leave quickly, don't keep him waiting."
"Ugh, something like this happens just after I step away for a moment. How can I feel at ease? After we leave, have Jumping come over to keep you company. Although she's unreliable, she's perfect for dealing with a shrew."
Softy smiled with her eyes narrowed: "If Jumping hears you calling her a shrew, she'll definitely cause a scene."
"That's exactly it. Only Anfei Fish can tolerate her..." Lang Ye suddenly stopped speaking. Their casual conversation felt just like that of a couple.
With her eyes bright and cheeks flushed, Softy made Lang Ye's heart race. He leaned down and kissed her soft pink lips.
Before Softy could react, Lang Ye had already slipped out the door. He said at the entrance: "Softy, be careful with everything. I'll be back soon."
"Lang Ye..." She wanted to say something, but hesitated, and he was already far away. What was supposed to be an ordinary farewell turned into a nightmare that would haunt her for half her life. If she had known, she wouldn't have held back on that love.
Softy ran barefoot to the door, watching the tall figure gradually fade from view, and longing began to stir in her heart.
Lang Ye remained silent all the way. Kong Xuan tried to tease him a few times but got no response. Frustrated, Kong Xuan kicked him in the back: "What are you sulking for? Pull yourself together."
Lang Ye furrowed his brows tightly and snapped a twig: "Kong Xuan, I just can't shake this feeling of unease. I feel like something bad is going to happen."
"That's because you have someone on your mind. Congratulations, you're becoming more human."
"You’re right. When I'm alone, I can handle anything that comes my way, but now that I care about someone, I have to consider her first. I'm afraid she'll get hurt; it feels like being bound hand and foot."
Kong Xuan looked up at the sky: "Then why not just let it go and spare yourself the trouble?"
"But if I let it go, it would hurt even more, like dying inside. So this is what love is—unforgettable and unshakeable."
Kong Xuan patted his shoulder: "I didn't expect such delicate thoughts beneath your rough exterior. I've misjudged you all these years. Enough lamenting; let's hurry to the temple. We need to grow stronger to protect our women."
In the depths of Peacock Lake within Peacock Mountain lies the passage between the Infinite Demon Realm and the human world.
As Kong Xuan walked through the corridor made of Crystal, the sound of his footsteps echoed, emphasizing the emptiness of the demon realm.
Step by step, he ascended the Jade Stone Steps and stopped at the top. The stone door before him was tightly shut, and the eight golden characters on the Exquisite Ice Plaque still shone brightly: "Vividly Colorful, Resounding in All Directions."
Lang Ye remarked, "These eight characters are written with such soaring vigor that it feels like their energy could pierce through the thick clouds above us. Every time I see these words, I wonder whether your reckless and unyielding nature is a good thing or a bad thing, Kong Xuan."
Kong Xuan forced a smile, "If you like it, then it's good; if you don't, then it's bad."
"Should I like you or not?" Lang Ye leaned his back against Kong Xuan's body, rubbing against him in a rather lewd manner.
Kong Xuan leaned forward and took a few steps before turning back to Lang Ye, who was nearly toppling over. "No matter whether you like it or not, I particularly do not like you."
Lang Ye exaggeratedly swayed his body and clutched his chest, mimicking a woman's dramatic cry, "You heartless bird! Even if I become a ghost, I won't let you go."
Kong Xuan chuckled and stepped forward to place his hand on the stone door. He silently activated a spell, and with a series of grinding sounds, the heavy stone door opened.
"Is it really that simple? Just like that? Breaking Army and Mei Xiao said we couldn't enter; what's going on?" Lang Ye groped around on the door, seemingly unable to believe what was happening.
"Let's not worry about that; let's go in and take a look." Kong Xuan was the first to step inside.
"Wait for me! Why are you in such a hurry?"
Instead of entering the main hall, Kong Xuan headed straight for the large room in the side courtyard. He stood before an empty frame made of ink jade.
The frame was still neatly arranged with precious vases and ornaments just as he had left it. He swept these items aside to reveal a small hidden compartment inside, which contained a beautifully jeweled box. Kong Xuan held it in his hands but furrowed his brow.
"Kong Xuan, is something wrong?"
Kong Xuan glanced at Lang Ye before opening the box, revealing that the pale yellow silk inside was completely empty.
"Damn, it's empty," Lang Ye said, flipping the box over and inspecting it multiple times.
"Stop looking; there's nothing there."
"Could it be that you put it in the wrong place? Let's search again." Lang Ye began rummaging around the screen and the bed.
Kong Xuan felt deflated, standing there in a daze. After a while, he managed to squeeze out a word through clenched teeth: "No need to search; someone took it."
"Took it? Who would be so despicable as to want this? This peacock's ancestral book is just a record of your family's trivial matters; what would anyone else want with it?"
"What do they want? They just don't want me to see it." Kong Xuan suddenly exploded in anger, kicking a frozen crystal stool into pieces.
"Lang Ye, getting angry is one thing, but why take it out on objects? I think you are..." Lang Ye stopped abruptly, his eyes widening as he looked at Kong Xuan. "Could it be that we've been set up? Did we fall for a trap?"
Kong Xuan turned and rushed into the courtyard. The Peacock Feather shot up like an arrow into the thick clouds but seemed to hit an obstacle and fell back to the ground.
Kong Xuan ran over to pick up the Peacock Feather. "A barrier? Did someone set up a barrier after we entered?"
Lang Ye quickly ran to the door and found that the stone door had closed by itself after they entered, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't open it.
Lang Ye transformed into the Wolf Head Spear, thrusting its sharp tip at the stone door. Sparks flew, but the stone door remained unscathed. Lang Ye was still unconvinced, cursing under his breath about whoever was behind this scheme.
"Lang Ye, stop wasting your energy. If someone wants to set a trap, they won't let us break it easily."
"What should we do then?" Lang Ye angrily threw down his spear and kicked against the doorframe.
Kong Xuan didn't respond; he just looked again at the ominous sky above, feeling a draft in his heart. He reached out and thought of Tang Zisu: Please don't let anything happen to you!
But something really happened, and it wasn't Tang Zisu; it was Softy.
After Kong Xuan left, Tang Zisu lost her appetite, her small face looked haggard, and her big eyes lacked their usual sparkle. Softy felt heartbroken seeing her like this. She remembered Tang Zisu mentioning wanting to eat boiled pork slices, so she took a basket and packed some red bean buns to send to Jumping while also buying some meat.
As she walked through a dark alley, Softy was intercepted by her Auntie. Without saying a word, the old woman ordered her relatives to stuff Softy into a sack and carry her away.
Tang Zisu waited at home until it was dark but still didn't see Softy return. Worried, she picked up a lantern and went out searching. In the alley, she found Jumping's basket, with red bean buns scattered all over the place.
Tang Zisu panicked and hurried to the Tofu Shop. Little Fish was reading under the light and quickly asked what was wrong when she saw Tang Zisu burst in.
Tang Zisu gasped for breath: "Softy is missing! She must have been taken by bad people."
Little Fish urged her to sit down and speak slowly. So Tang Zisu recounted what had happened. After listening, Little Fish said, "From what you described, it must be her Auntie's doing. I heard that the Zhang Family has been placing orders at Mijia recently. I thought Mijia only had one young boy left without a daughter; turns out it's Softy."
"The Zhang Family? Which Zhang Family?"
"Which one could it be? The Zhang Dahu family."
"Zhang Dahu? Is he taking a concubine?"
"Not exactly; he's marrying off Zhang Ermao. I heard that Zhang Ermao has been ill for a long time, and some say they want to find someone with Eight Characters of pure yin to bring good fortune."
"That's ridiculous, Little Fish! We need to rescue her."
Little Fish quickly stopped Tang Zisu: "High Priestess, going there like this won't help. Logically speaking, Aunt Mi is Softy's own aunt; it's not unreasonable for her to take charge of such matters. You know she's from a rough background; you'll only humiliate yourself."
"Then what do you suggest I do? I can't just stand by and watch Softy suffer!"
Little Fish comforted her: "Don't rush. Let's think this through carefully and find a way that works for both sides. As the military book says: know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle. We need to uncover the truth about our opponent first."
Tang Zisu suddenly felt unwell after hearing this. Little Fish seemed fine at first, but then started to act strangely, prompting her to think it might be time for medication. She stood up and said, "I'll go find the clan leader. You should take your medicine."
Tang Zisu dashed off like a gust of wind, while Little Fish kept asking, "Why should I take medicine? I'm not sick!"
Those who are ill often claim they are not sick; please do not give up on treatment!
Tang Zisu pushed open the door to the clan leader's home, which was dark inside, with a dim light flickering weakly like a firefly.
"Clan leader, clan leader," Tang Zisu called out, but no one responded. It was then she remembered she had left her lantern in Little Fish's Tofu Shop.
"Clan leader, hey, I'm here. What are you doing at home?" Tang Zisu said as she bent down to push the door open.
A shadow suddenly lunged at her, causing Tang Zisu to fall onto the ground in fright. A fluffy cat with bright green eyes stared at her for a moment before meowing and walking away.
As Tang Zisu tried to sit up, she felt something sticky on her hands. Bringing them close to her nose, she detected a particularly pungent smell that resembled blood.
Realizing this could be serious, she quickly stood up and brought the lantern closer to see better. To her horror, she turned and ran away.
On the ground lay a person covered in blood—it was the clan leader's elderly wife.
Before she could reach the door, a pair of hands grabbed her shoulders. Dongfang Muze said loudly, "High Priestess, I was just about to go find you with the clan leader when I ran into you here. What a coincidence."
Tang Zisu clutched Dongfang Muze's arm and trembled as she said, "Mr. Dongfang, hurry! Someone is dying! The Matriarch is dead."
"What? What did you say?" The clan leader suddenly rushed out from behind Dongfang Muze and barged inside.
Dongfang Muze pulled Tang Zisu along with him.
The oil lamp was lit, revealing the elderly woman lying on the ground like a doll with its stuffing spilled out. Her head was twisted to one side, clearly having suffered a broken neck. Her vacant eyes were wide open in either terror or disbelief at what lay before her.
Tang Zisu tightly grasped Dongfang Muze's arm, her knees weak and almost unable to support her weight. She recalled the gentle smile of the old woman in life, and tears began to flow uncontrollably.
The clan leader had already rushed over, collapsing onto his wife's body, his mournful cries echoing hauntingly in the night.
Dongfang Muze stepped forward to help the clan leader up and settled him into a chair. "Clan Leader, please accept my condolences. There seems to be something unusual; may I investigate the cause of your wife's death?"
The clan leader covered his face with his robe sleeves. "How could this happen? She was sixty-nine this year; why couldn't she pass away peacefully?"
Dongfang Muze raised an oil lamp and carefully examined the body. Suddenly, he opened the deceased's hand and pulled out a small piece of light blue fabric from within.
At that moment, Tang Zisu couldn't think too much; otherwise, she would have shouted at Dongfang Muze, "There is only one truth!"
Dongfang Muze stood up, his gaze sharp as he looked at Tang Zisu. He asked, "High Priestess, what brings you to the clan leader's home?"
Oh no, they were starting an investigation already. Well, as a model citizen of Peacock Valley, Tang Zisu had to support it.
"I came to find the clan leader; Softy is missing, and I asked him to help look for her."
"Did you notice any suspicious people or things?"
"No, it was dark when I entered the house. Oh right, I saw a black cat."
"Oh?" Dongfang Muze raised an eyebrow and brought the piece of fabric closer to Tang Zisu's eyes. "What do you think this is?"
"This... this seems to be from my clothing." Tang Zisu looked at the fabric in confusion, her mind racing.
"It's not just a resemblance; it is indeed from your clothing." Dongfang Muze suddenly reached out and tugged at the hem of Tang Zisu's garment, aligning the fabric with a tear at the bottom. Wow, it matched perfectly.
"High Priestess, I found this piece of fabric in the palm of the clan leader's wife. You saw it just now; how do you explain this?"
"Explain? Why should I explain? You are not Di Renjie, and I am not Li Yuanfang. Are you really going to ask, Yuanfang, what do you think?" Tang Zisu's mind was a bit muddled, but she clearly understood that today's events were quite suspicious.
The clan leader had stopped crying and was staring at the two in front of him with a pair of cloudy old eyes, confused.
Dongfang Muze sneered, "No amount of your nonsense can clear you of the suspicion of murdering the clan leader's wife."
"Dongfang Muze, stop spouting nonsense. How could I kill someone? Why would I want to kill? I..."
Dongfang Muze interrupted Tang Zisu, "Good question. Why would you want to kill? Because you are not a High Priestess at all; you are a monster."
Tang Zisu smiled instead of getting angry. "If you're sick, get treated quickly. What kind of monster am I? A fox spirit? I think you have the problem."
The clan leader couldn't believe it either. He wiped his eyes and said, "Mr. Dongfang, you mustn't be disrespectful to the High Priestess."
Dongfang Muze grabbed Tang Zisu's wrist and said, "Clan leader, you have been deceived. Your priestess died long ago during that great illness. She is a Demon Soul from another world that has taken over the priestess's body. What you call the Divine Maiden is not a woman at all; it is the Demon King Peacock that you have kept suppressed for hundreds of years."
Before Tang Zisu could respond, the clan leader exclaimed in terror, "Mr. Dongfang, what are you talking about? There are deities above us; we will be punished for this. Forgive us, forgive us, Bodhisattva."
A cold smile flashed across Dongfang Muze's lips. "Clan leader, I know it's hard for you to accept this right now, but I'm not speaking recklessly. The last time you invited me here, I felt that the Shrine was shrouded in demonic energy. I left to investigate secretly. This demoness unsealed the Peacock and then took advantage of the situation to infiltrate the Shrine to take revenge for your three hundred years of suppression."
Tang Zisu was almost furious. "You Dongfang Muze! I used to think you had an aura of immortality; who knew it was actually demonic energy? Does your mother know you're slandering people like this?"
"Clan leader, Mr. Dongfang's origins are unclear; I suspect he is the real demon," Tang Zisu retorted fiercely. After all, anyone can talk nonsense.
"Hmph, demoness, you can bite back pretty well. Jumping, tell the clan leader what you know."
"Jumping?" Following Dongfang Muze's gaze, Tang Zisu saw Jumping walking over from the porch.
Jumping wasn't jumping today; she lowered her head and quietly said, "Clan leader, what Mr. Dongfang said is true. I heard them say that Kong Xuan is the Peacock King and that Lang Ye is the Black Wolf King. I initially thought they weren't bad people, but Tang Zisu..." Jumping suddenly raised her head and glared at Tang Zisu angrily. "How could you harm others? The old lady treated you so well and even sewed clothes for you; how could you do such a thing?"
“Jumping, it's not me. Do you really think I have the ability to kill someone?” Tang Zisu couldn't remain calm in front of Jumping; she had always considered her a friend.
“You're pretending. When danger strikes, you're more capable than anyone else. I've seen it before. Tang Zisu, I didn't expect you to be this bad.”
Tang Zisu was about to defend herself when a voice came from the doorframe: “It's not her. Tang Zisu could never be the murderer.”
Tang Zisu's eyes lit up. “Little Fish, do you believe me?”
Little Fish walked in, a fan stylishly tucked behind his neck. He bowed to the clan leader, glanced at Jumping with a complex expression, and then approached the corpse.
“Clan Leader, may I see the body of the elder?”
The clan leader nodded gently. Little Fish squatted down and examined the body carefully like Dongfang Muze had done, then stood up and said, “The elder wasn't killed by Tang Zisu.”
“Is that so? What insight do you have?” Dongfang Muze asked coldly.
“Tang Zisu left my house about half an hour ago. It takes roughly half an hour to get here, and the elder's body has long since cooled and the blood has coagulated. If Tang Zisu had committed murder and you encountered her, how could it be like this?”
Tang Zisu let out a sigh of relief. Little Fish did well; she hadn't expected him to be so clever. It seemed all those years of studying weren't in vain.
“You make a good point, but don't forget that this woman isn't human at all. She could appear here in an instant. Furthermore, she might have killed someone and returned or could be searching for something.”
Little Fish looked directly at Dongfang Muze with clear eyes: “If you can come up with such reasoning, it seems your head has been kicked by a donkey.”
“Little Rascal, how dare you say that about Mr. Dongfang? Apologize!” Jumping defended her idolized Dongfang fiercely.
“Shut up. Zhu Tiao Tiao saying you're a pig is an insult to pigs. You were sold out and still help them count money.”
“I’ll hit you…” Jumping raised her hand as if to strike Little Fish, but she hesitated when faced with Little Fish's cold gaze—sharp, severe, even disdainful.
"Dongfang Muze said, 'Such a reason is certainly valid, because her motive for killing was to find something that could expose her. Jumping, go search and see what she has on her.'
Jumping stood nervously in front of Tang Zisu under Little Fish's gaze. She reached into Tang Zisu's clothing and pulled out an old piece of parchment. The clan leader was taken aback: 'A parchment! You came to steal this!'
Tang Zisu felt like she might vomit blood. 'You, Dongfang Muze, must have read Gu Long's novels; you might even be the ancestor of Lian Cheng Bi from those stories. This is just ridiculous!'
'I didn't take it! I don't know how it got to me, and I don't know why my clothes are in the hands of my grandmother. Dongfang Muze, you are truly something else. We only had a brief encounter at the door, and you've already come to this conclusion. What are you, if not a monster?'
'You certainly know how to argue. The evidence is clear; why won't you admit it? Your accomplices have already left and are probably waiting for you somewhere.'
The two continued to bicker, and Jumping and Little Fish joined in. The clan leader found himself in a dilemma; after all, Tang Zisu had grown up under his watch and was chosen by divine will as a priestess. If he made a mistake, it would be serious.
Though the clan leader was grieving, he was not confused. He said, 'Stop arguing! There is only one way to determine whether Tang Zisu is a monster.'
'What is it?' everyone asked in unison.
'Go to the Bone Refining Platform in Infinite Cave. A true divine servant is not afraid of Buddha's trials; regardless of how deep the water or how fierce the fire, they will endure for three days.'
Tang Zisu still did not understand, while Little Fish turned pale: 'No way! A mortal who entered there was instantly turned to ashes. Clan leader, I think you are losing your mind.'
Dongfang Muze replied, 'If she is truly a priestess, then why fear it? Little Fish, are you trying to cover for her? Are you in cahoots with them?'
Tang Zisu was terrified; were they still good humans? How could they come up with such wicked ideas? Could things get any worse?
Seeing Tang Zisu so frightened, Dongfang Muze became more certain: 'What's wrong? Is the High Priestess scared? If you had revealed the truth earlier about your collusion with that peacock who harms the three realms and endangers the villagers, you could have avoided such torture.'
Tang Zisu was furious: 'You bastard! How dare you say that about my handsome man? It's just going to some Bone Refining Platform! Why should I be afraid of you?'
Tang Zisu raised her small face proudly, very much like a high-class flower: 'What’s there to fear? Let’s go!'"
Little Fish slapped his forehead, questioning his own intelligence. Did he think this was just a trip to the temple to burn incense?
"Alright." Mufang Muze smiled widely, "What are we waiting for? Let's go now."
Little Fish shot a resentful glance at Dongfang Muze, then said to the clan leader, "Leader, let's wait until tomorrow. It's better for the old lady to rest in peace."
"No need. Clan matters take precedence over everything. As the wife of the clan leader, she will understand my intentions. We must leave now, Mr. Dongfang, I will trouble you again."
Dongfang Muze nodded, unfazed by Little Fish's murderous glare. He turned to Tang Zisu and said, "Please, High Priestess."
At that moment, Tang Zisu was still lost in the lingering excitement and was taken aback by Dongfang Muze's actions. "So soon? At least wait for me to grab some food."
Little Fish felt a mix of frustration and concern upon hearing Tang Zisu. "Could it be that she really has the ability to face the Bone Refining Platform?"
The night was deep and cold winds pierced through the air. The stars were sparse in the sky, and the moon formed a shallow crescent. No one spoke as their footsteps echoed heavily on the ground.
Upon reaching the cave entrance, the clan leader's aged voice trembled slightly in the wind: "Tang Zisu, please go inside."
At that moment, the wind chilled Tang Zisu to her core. She scanned everyone present and finally fixed her gaze on Jumping, who had been looking down. "Jumping, I have something to say to you."
Jumping looked up with a flash of panic in her eyes but quickly raised her voice, "What is there to talk about? I did nothing wrong; you are the monster and a murderer."
Suddenly, Little Fish grabbed Jumping's arm and slapped her hard: "Zhu Tiao Tiao, shut your mouth! You will pay for what you have done sooner or later."
Stunned by the slap, Jumping touched her face, feeling the fiery pain that seemed to burrow into her heart like a worm. How dare Anfei Fish hit her? How could Little Rascal hit her for this woman? Wasn't that courting death?
Regaining her composure, Jumping sprang up like a small leopard and tackled Little Fish to the ground. His head hit the dirt, and stars danced before his eyes as Jumping straddled his waist and began to rain down punches. But with each blow she delivered, her discomfort grew; her reddened eyes brimmed with tears from either anger or sorrow.
"Enough!" Tang Zisu called out. Though her voice was not loud, it carried a weight that compelled Jumping to stop, perhaps providing an escape for herself as well.
Tang Zisu pulled Jumping aside, saying, "I need to talk to you."
"Whatever you have to say, just say it here. Why are you hiding?" Jumping shook off Tang Zisu's hand, unwilling to have too much contact with her.
"Jumping, I don't want to explain anything. I'm just here to talk about Softy."
"Softy? What have you done to Softy?"
Tang Zisu felt powerless. She took a deep breath and said, "Softy went missing today. I suspect her Auntie took her home to force her into marriage. You and Little Fish need to help her; she is one of our few friends, and you must find her."
Little Fish also got up from the ground, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He said, "Don't worry, I will definitely find Softy."
"Yeah, Little Fish... never mind, I will be fine." Tang Zisu forced a smile and then stepped inside.
The clan leader exchanged a few words with Dongfang Muze before following her in.
This was the second time Tang Zisu entered this cave. Today, however, there was no grand welcome for her arrival; instead, a chilling cold pierced through to her bones. She hurried a few steps and arrived at the Stone Spring, where the Azure Water Lotus was blooming.
This time, the Azure Water Lotus had green petals that appeared fresh and luminous, spreading out like soft moonlight.
Tang Zisu couldn't help but frown as she reached out to touch the petals, which felt smooth and cool like jade.
The clan leader said, "You already know that this is not the real Azure Water Lotus."
"Why?" Tang Zisu asked, puzzled.
The clan leader's hands, wrinkled and marked with age spots, also brushed against the petals. His voice was rough and desolate like sandpaper: "Long before you appeared near this flower, it was in full bloom. But since you fell ill, the flower has slowly withered. After it died, you recovered and could see again. I had my doubts when I saw you standing in front of me looking even more lovely than before; I couldn't let my mind wander. To stabilize people's hearts, we made a fake flower to fool everyone, but retribution has come."
Tang Zisu wanted to argue that he shouldn't be so superstitious and that she had no connection to the flower's bloom or death. However, as she opened her mouth several times to speak, she realized she couldn't even convince herself.
The clan leader sighed and turned to bow three times to the stone wall painted with the image of Ksitigarbha. The wall folded upward, opening a door.
"Go in. If you really are Tang Zisu, you will surely come out safely." The clan leader turned his back, seemingly unable to watch.
Tang Zisu stood at the doorway, feeling a wave of mixed heat and cold rush toward her. Yes, Tang Zisu was not delusional; it was indeed a sensation that was both hot and cold, causing her to tremble all over.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and go in." The clan leader suddenly shouted, and Tang Zisu felt as if an invisible hand had grasped her waist, dragging her inside.
With a thud, the stone door closed automatically.
A white mist swirled around her, obscuring her vision, but she knew she could not turn back. This time, no one could save her; she had to endure this so-called trial of the Buddha.
It seemed that small flames ignited beneath her feet, licking at her soles like greedy snake tongues. She could hear the sound of her shoes and clothes crackling as they burned.
The fire was so intense that it almost turned her to ash, yet her bones felt icy, as if all her blood had frozen. She felt like an ice sculpture, gradually freezing from the outside in; even her internal organs emitted crisp sounds of ice forming.
So this was the trial of the Buddha—nothing more than a cruel punishment of ice and fire. Tang Zisu thought lightly about it, but her body involuntarily collapsed to the ground, limbs spasming and trembling, like a withered leaf about to be buried in snow.
They say that when one is about to die, many memories come flooding back. Tang Zisu felt she was dying because her mind was particularly active; past events rushed by like a roller coaster in her ears, even including the time she wet herself at three years old. Yet she could grasp nothing, only watching them flow past her like water.
The person she thought of most was Kong Xuan.
When she first met him, his long hair flowed like algae on the surface of a lake; when she saw him again, he wore white robes that fluttered like an immortal. Proud and cunning, noble yet frivolous—perhaps this brief and fantastical life shone brightly because of her connection with him. Perhaps loving him made it impossible for her to give up even in dire circumstances.
Kong Xuan, I love you!
Suddenly, Kong Xuan felt a tightness in his chest as if his heart were being squeezed out. He stumbled slightly and was steadied by Lang Ye. Seeing Kong Xuan's pale lips, Lang Ye hurriedly asked, "Kong Xuan, are you alright?"
Kong Xuan pressed his slender fingers against the ice crystal floor, suppressing the rising nausea in his throat. After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly and deliberately: "Zisu is in trouble."
"Something happened? Damn it, it really is a strategy to lure the tiger away from its mountain, trapping us here while that thing goes after a few women. Who is it, and what do you want?" Lang Ye's roar shook the tall Jade Branch Glass Tree, causing it to tremble.
Kong Xuan suddenly lowered his eyelids, hiding the vibrant light in his eyes and a hint of vulnerability that he rarely showed. He stood up and quickly found a magical artifact inside the house.
Lang Ye looked at the golden sphere in Kong Xuan's hand, which was about the size of a fist, and exclaimed, "Dry Thunder? Kong Xuan, what are you planning to do?"
"Blow this place open?"
"Are you crazy? We don't have any magic power right now. Not to mention whether we can break this barrier, even the backlash from the energy flow would leave us half crippled."
"I can't worry about that right now. Tang Zisu is suffering, and I'm just sitting here waiting for death."
Lang Ye stepped forward and grabbed Kong Xuan's hand. "Bird, listen to me. This isn't how the Peacock King should act. If something happens to you, you won't be able to save her either. Calm down, stay composed."
"If your Softy was also suffering right now, could I stay calm? Lang Ye, don't just stand there and talk without feeling any pain."
Lang Ye suddenly slapped his own head. "Damn it, I almost forgot! If something happens to Tang Zisu, Softy will naturally be affected too. Bird, go ahead. I've got your back; worst case scenario, we'll end up as two piles of meat paste. Who dares to eat his big front teeth?"
Kong Xuan pushed Lang Ye's hand away. "Get lost; you're not that foolish."
Kong Xuan placed the golden sphere in the branches of the Jade Branch Glass Tree and then hid with Lang Ye in the Wine Cellar. Lang Ye smashed a jar of wine open. "Brother, have a drink; let's get pumped!"
"Red Flower Drunk? You drink it yourself." Kong Xuan pushed aside the wine jar and softly began to chant a spell.
Suddenly, a rumble echoed from the ground, causing it to tremble slightly. The wine jars in the Wine Cellar shattered in response, spilling wine everywhere and soaking both of them in it, creating quite an atmosphere reminiscent of a wine pool and meat forest.
Lang Ye rubbed his face with his hand and smacked his lips. "Good wine!"
Kong Xuan said, "Hurry up and get out; I'm afraid you'll drown in there."
Lang Ye shook the droplets of wine from his hair, saying, "Damn, after being dormant for hundreds of years, the power is still this strong. Thunder Lord must have been facing the sky while creating Dry Thunder."
Kong Xuan also felt a bit dizzy and had ringing in his ears. He stood up unsteadily, wrung out the hem of his clothes, and then walked up the steps to go outside.
The once magnificent palace was now in ruins, the crystal flooring shattered into powder, and the Liuli Tree blown to pieces, leaving sparkling leaves scattered everywhere. The remnants of walls were broken and desolate.
Kong Xuan couldn't afford to feel regret; he flew straight up to the wall but was bounced back by an invisible air current as he landed on the top, falling directly to the ground.
Despite such a massive explosion and impact, the barrier remained completely intact; the skill of the one who set it up was unfathomably high.
Sitting dejectedly on the ground, Kong Xuan stared blankly at the rolling black clouds above, his expression dim.
"Damn, it's really sturdy. I'm impressed," Lang Ye kicked the doorframe, causing the stone door to shake before settling back into silence.
For a moment, both sat on the ground in silence.
They lost track of time as they felt increasingly cold and disappointed.
"Ming Wang, Lang Ye, are you in there?"
The voice of Po Jun reached Kong Xuan and Lang Ye through a sound transmission technique. Lang Ye jumped up from the ground, exclaiming, "Po Jun, is that you? We're trapped in a barrier."
"I know. Mei Xiao and I are looking for the entrance to the barrier. The one who set it up is incredibly skilled; it's nearly flawless."
Po Jun's words reminded Kong Xuan. He stood up and began to observe around the vast courtyard. His tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed when he spotted a corner of the wall connected to the entrance.
He straightened up and told Po Jun, "Po Jun, try three feet to the left of the main gate."
Lang Ye exclaimed with joy, "You’re amazing! Did you really find it?"
"Who said I found it?"
"Damn, if you didn't find it, what are you making the Breaker try for? Playing with a tiger?"
"I'm just feeling it. For some reason, the techniques of the person who set up the barrier feel so familiar; I must have known him for a long time."
Lang Ye fell silent upon hearing this. The person behind this series of conspiracies knew their situation all too well, and it would be easy for him to kill them. Yet, he went through the trouble of setting up one trap after another—what was his purpose?
Outside, the voice of the Breaker could be heard: "No way. Although this is the door eye, the opponent's magic power is too high. I can only tear open a small hole; you still can't get out."
Lang Ye panicked: "Damn it, use more strength! Let the little fox help you; it's useless having such a big body."
The Breaker, with his bad temper, immediately exploded: "If you have the ability, come out yourself! Why make Lord Tiger exert himself?"
Kong Xuan kicked Lang Ye in the butt and said, "Stop arguing. 'As fierce as wolves and tigers' describes you two."
"Birdie, if you can't say anything useful, then don't talk nonsense. 'As fierce as wolves and tigers' refers to that vixen outside; no man can resist her."
Just as Lang Ye finished speaking, a tiger's roar echoed: "Awoo! Lang Ye, shut your filthy mouth."
Mei Xiao's soft voice came through: "Alright, everyone stop messing around. Ming Wang, even if we work together, we can't break the barrier. The one who set up this barrier seems very confident, knowing that even if we find the door eye, we will be helpless."
Kong Xuan moved his lips but didn't speak; his expression was unusually grim.
Mei Xiao said, "Ming Wang, there's something I want to say—I'm not sure if I should."
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