Grandmaster Guangzhi never expected Kongming to be so ruthless as to commit patricide, and he barely managed to block his palm strike. He had intended to show mercy, but Kongming’s attacks were vicious and aimed to kill. He was even more shocked by the sheer strength of Kongming’s demonic power!
Seizing the opportunity, Kongming cast a Barrier, cutting off Grandmaster Guangzhi’s escape.
“Master, allow your disciple to reunite you with our eldest senior brother—” Kongming curled his lips into a smirk, spread his arms, and summoned his Demon Soul, lunging at Guangzhi with overwhelming force.
At the critical moment, Grandmaster Guangzhi destroyed his own Source Spirit, using his Three Souls and Seven Spirits to enact the Buddhist secret technique “Drawing a Circle on the Ground as a Prison,” sealing Kongming within the painting! He then transformed his physical body into Bodhi Beads, entering the painting alongside Kongming to suppress him.
Afterward, the Bodhi Beads radiated a golden light, activating the Magic Array and causing the entire courtyard to vanish into the Formation.
“So this is Kongming’s origin,” Lin Yao remarked. She then asked, “But Grandmaster, who is that man in black? Why is he searching for this painting that seals Kongming?”
Grandmaster Guangzhi shook his head. “This humble monk knows nothing of the man in black’s origins. Over the past century, Kongming, trapped within the painting, had his heart corroded by the backlash of his demonic power, weakening his strength. Meanwhile, the Bodhi nurtured his spirit. That day, the man in black unrolled the painting and broke the seal, allowing Kongming to escape. The two fought fiercely over the Bodhi Beads, but in the struggle, the beads accidentally fell to the ground. Once the Bodhi Beads touch the earth, they take root. In the end, neither of them obtained them. Afterward, the man in black set up another Formation, isolating this courtyard from the outside world like a Barrier. Thus, I know nothing of what happened afterward.”
“It seems that demon is truly deranged.”
“Extremely so,” Yan Wuyou commented, leaning back with his hands supporting him. “He likely had no knowledge of Kongming’s existence initially. Perhaps when the Magic Array activated and the courtyard vanished in a golden light, the legend of the Grandmaster’s transformation into a Relic hidden within these mountains began to spread…”
Lin Yao nodded. “So, to cultivate his spirit, the demon used the Treasure Map to lead Third Young Master Yuan and the others here. He went to great lengths to unravel the Formation, seeking the Grandmaster’s Bodhi Beads. Unknowingly, he released Kongming. Kongming, with his damaged Demon Heart, also needed the Bodhi Beads, leading to their fierce confrontation. In the end, the beads took root, and neither could claim them. Since the two later joined forces, they must share a common goal. It must be Tao Tao!”
However, Yan Wuyou’s gaze suddenly turned cold. “No, their first target was Wuxin.”
The man in black couldn’t enter the Jade Capital Pavilion, so he sought out the unsuspecting Bai Shaoyan and had him deliver the painting to Wuxin. He then used Kongming’s escape from the painting to seize Wuxin’s heart. After succeeding, he slipped away unnoticed, leaving behind only the painting—now missing Kongming—at the scene.
If Bai Shaoyan hadn’t seen the painting beforehand, no one would have noticed that a figure was missing from it!
But why did the man in black claim that Wuxin’s heart originally belonged to him? Hmph, evil will never prevail over good. The truth will eventually come to light. Man in black, Kongming, just you wait!
Yan Wuyou snapped out of his thoughts, sitting upright as he addressed Grandmaster Guangzhi. “Grandmaster, do you have any unfinished wishes?”
Grandmaster Guangzhi shook his head calmly. “As a monastic, I have long severed ties with the mortal world. My six senses are purified, and I am free from desire.”
“In that case, this junior shall assist you in attaining liberation.”
“I am in your debt, young friend.”
Yan Wuyou pressed his palms together, murmuring incantations under his breath. In no time, Grandmaster Guangzhi transformed into specks of golden light, gradually dissipating until he vanished entirely. Then, the entire courtyard and the bodhi tree dissolved into grains of sand and disappeared, as if they had been nothing but a fleeting dream.
With the two Magic Arrays gone, the forest hung with desiccated corpses was revealed before the three of them.
Lin Yao gazed coldly at the bodies and said, “It seems we were all mistaken. The Fetus-eating Primal Infant Gu wasn’t the work of that Demon, but rather Kongming, who saw Li Niang—a woman dead with her unborn child—and repeated his old trick to cultivate demonic arts. That’s why he had been dwelling within the black-robed man, sharing the nourishment from the child Gu.”
Yan Wuyou nodded firmly and declared, “Whether it’s the black-robed Demon or the demonic monk Kongming, they will face retribution one day. Let’s go, we should head back to the inn first.”
“The mage speaks wisely, but these corpses deserve a proper burial. Shouldn’t we report this to the authorities?”
“Naturally. Someone will handle reporting it for us, don’t worry,” Yan Wuyou replied.
The three took one last look at the forest, feeling no sense of relief. Greed breeds delusion, delusion creates karma. The cycle of cause and effect ensures that retribution is inevitable. Who knows how many more innocent lives were being harmed in places beyond their sight.
On the way back, Lin Yao turned to Wang Chuan and asked, “Young Master Wang, are you in Hexi to visit family?”
Wang Chuan looked somewhat embarrassed and stammered, “Not exactly. I just, well, had a bit of a disagreement with my family…”
Lin Yao thought to herself: So he’s run away from home.
She had no intention of pressing further, but Wang Chuan picked up the thread himself: “I met a group of quite chivalrous people at a tavern. They called themselves wandering knights and told many novel and fascinating stories that filled me with admiration. So I joined them on their journey and ended up here.”
“Then I wish you a safe and smooth journey, Young Master Wang.”
Upon returning to the inn, they each retired to their rooms to rest. Yan Wuyou opened the window and blew a series of rhythmic whistles. Before long, a sparrowhawk landed on the windowsill. It was a beautiful bird, with glossy reddish-brown feathers, elegant horizontal bars on its belly, a compact yet graceful build, and a pair of shrewd, somewhat haughty eyes.
This was Yan Wuyou’s sparrowhawk, named Feifei—so intelligent it seemed almost supernatural! It was extremely attached to him, following him wherever he went. When not summoned, it roamed freely within a hundred-li radius, always ready for its master’s “favor.”
Yan Wuyou slipped a small note into a tiny bamboo tube, tied it to Feifei’s leg, then gently stroked its feathers and whispered, “Go on.”
The next day, as soon as Yan Wuyou opened his door, he nearly collided with a head poking in!
“What are you doing, Brother Wang? I almost punched you in the face!”
Wang Chuan quickly slipped into the room and said in a hushed voice, “Brother Yan, I’ve really run into trouble…”
Leaning against the doorframe, Yan Wuyou wore an expression of having seen it all along: “Swindled?”
Wang Chuan’s jaw dropped slightly in surprise, and he replied sheepishly, “So you already knew, Brother. It’s my fault for being inexperienced and not recognizing the deceit in people’s hearts. I never suspected those wandering knights were frauds! This morning, I went to look for them and found their rooms empty. When I returned to my room, my luggage and valuables were gone. They must have sneaked in last night after I was lured away by the Demon and cleaned me out!”
“Brother Wang’s eyes reveal a clear simplicity. Learning from mistakes is a good thing.”
“I’m currently penniless, so…”
Yan Wuyou spread his hands: “What a coincidence, I’m also penniless.”
“Ah? What should we do then?”
Yan Wuyou patted Wang Chuan’s shoulder and smiled slightly: “No problem, my junior sister is quite wealthy!”
Upon hearing this, Wang Chuan was initially overjoyed, his smile reaching the corners of his eyes as he raised the corners of his mouth. Then he suddenly felt deeply ashamed, biting his lower lip while slightly lowering his gaze and furrowing his brows. Finally, he accepted the situation calmly, pressing his lips together and nodding.
Lin Yao opened her door and was startled to see Yan Wuyou and Wang Chuan standing on either side of her doorway.
“Senior brother, Young Master Wang, are you waiting for me?
The two nodded in tacit understanding.
“Have you eaten?The two shook their heads in tacit understanding.
“Then let’s go together.”
They nodded vigorously and obediently followed Lin Yao downstairs.
Yan Wuyou buried himself in eating, while Wang Chuan desperately tried to catch his eye.
“Young Master Wang, are your eyes uncomfortable?”
“No, no, it’s just that, just that…”
Yan Wuyou put down his chopsticks: “Those people took his money and ran off, abandoning him. Brother Wang is currently penniless, junior sister, what do you think…”
“Are you still running away from home?” Lin Yao asked with some amusement.
Wang Chuan lowered his gaze, like a student who had done something wrong: “With no money left, naturally I have to return home.”
“Then come back with us.” Lin Yao said as she took out her purse and counted the coins inside. “This money should be enough for us for a while, but we might be somewhat short after reaching Qiucheng. To be safe, we’d better earn some money in Qiucheng.”
Wang Chuan breathed a sigh of relief. This misfortune had turned out to be a blessing – he could travel with the fairy-like maiden!
So he nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice.
Before sunset, the three arrived in Qiucheng and sat down at a tea stall.
“Brother, may I ask you something. Where could we find work if we want to earn some quick money?” Wang Chuan stopped the waiter.
The waiter looked the three over and flattered: “Young master, you must be joking? With your delicate skin and tender flesh, what work could you do?”
“To be honest, we encountered some thieves who stole our money pouch.”
“Is that so…” The waiter said while secretly glancing at Lin Yao, his eyes shifting: “If you know how to play instruments or dance gracefully, the Manchun Pavilion in the city would be a good place.”
“Manchun Pavilion?”
“Don’t tell me you two young masters have never been to such establishments.” The waiter smiled awkwardly. “It’s nothing major, just a place to listen to music for entertainment. Listening to music at Manchun Pavilion is quite expensive, so the pay is generous.”
Finally, the waiter lowered his voice and gestured: “Quick money, and lots of it.” After speaking, the waiter went to attend to other customers.
The three all rested their chins in their hands, looking at each other.
“I’m afraid I’m not skilled at dancing gracefully.”
Wang Chuan flushed red with anxiety: “How could we let Third Miss Shen go to a place like Manchun Pavilion! I would rather beg than let Miss Shen put herself in danger.”
Yan Wuyou scratched the hair at the back of his neck, thinking to himself: Begging is also a skilled trade with fierce competition! With your slight build, you’d be chased away by other beggars before you even reached anyone’s door.
Lin Yao was somewhat moved. Looking at Wang Chuan’s serious, flushed face, she smiled gently: “There’s no need to be so miserable. Senior brother is skilled at the qin, what about you, Young Master Wang?”
Wang Chuan was quite modest: “I can play the flute, but I wouldn’t call myself proficient.”
“Perfect! You can perform a duet with your senior brother then. It’s settled!”
Settled? Yan Wuyou looked utterly bewildered: Aren’t you going to ask for my opinion?