Having made an agreement with Tantai Jin, Su Su reminded herself that when she saw him again, she must remain focused—finding Gongye Jiewu was the priority.
Cang Hai retrieved the tortoise shell, his expression grim.
The four of them sat in the stone pavilion under the pear tree outside the Zhang residence. Cang Hai showed them the divination results: "This is the hexagram I cast for Madam Zhang’s unborn child. This section governs life."
Su Su looked at the part of the tortoise shell Cang Hai pointed to and noticed clear cracks.
Cracks in the life-governing meridian indicated the infant might not survive.
Cang Hai put away the tortoise shell and optimistically reassured everyone, "Perhaps it’s not as bad as it seems. My skills are lacking—who can truly predict fate? Earlier, with only my junior brother and me here, the child’s chances were slim. But now that Junior Sister Li and Junior Sister Yaoguang have arrived, the infant might survive after all."
Tantai Jin took a sip of tea and glanced at Cang Hai.
While Cang Hai might be lacking in other areas, his talent in divination was exceptional.
Divining for immortals might strain him, requiring vast spiritual power to predict short-term fortunes, but divining for a mortal infant was more than sufficient for him.
If his divination suggested the infant wouldn’t survive, the likelihood of the child dying young was high.
With the four of them possessing considerable cultivation, if even that wasn’t enough, Tantai Jin couldn’t help but ponder: what kind of demon lurked hidden in this town?
Tantai Jin said, "Tonight is a yin day and yin hour. Madam Zhang will give birth."
His tone was firm, and no one questioned it. The Zhang residence had a demonic aura but no visible demons. Everything appeared calm, with no anomalies except for the demon gathering array at the back hill mentioned by Tantai Jin.
It felt like the calm before the storm, making everyone more uneasy.
Yaoguang said gravely, "We’ll set up arrays in the delivery room in advance and guard Madam Zhang."
Su Su felt something was amiss, a pair of pitch-black eyes flashing through her mind.
She decided to voice her concern: "I think Zhang Yuanbai seems strange."
Cang Hai said, "That child? My junior brother and I also found him odd initially, but after investigating, he’s just an ordinary boy. They say he’s been quiet and withdrawn since birth. Recently, his cat went missing, and he’s been searching everywhere for it."
Su Su had only mentioned it in passing. After all, she had interacted with the child—he had no demonic aura or anything unusual.
Besides, Madam Zhang was Zhang Yuanbai’s birth mother. If even she didn’t find her son strange, Zhang Yuanbai was likely fine.
"What about Steward Zhang?" Su Su asked. "Madam Zhang is about to give birth. Why isn’t Steward Zhang here?"
"Oh, he went on a tea business trip. They say he’s returning today," Cang Hai replied.
Sure enough, before nightfall, Steward Zhang returned, covered in dust from his journey.
He fussed over Madam Zhang, then bowed deeply to Tantai Jin and the others in turn.
As Cang Hai exchanged pleasantries with Steward Zhang, Tantai Jin casually brushed his hand over Steward Zhang’s shoulder.
Narrowing his eyes, Tantai Jin found nothing unusual either.
No one in the residence seemed abnormal.
Su Su noticed his action and couldn’t help studying Steward Zhang. He had a thin mustache and was eloquent, skilled in conversation.
When Madam Zhang saw him, her eyes softened with affection, clearly indicating a loving marriage. Despite his wealth, Steward Zhang had taken no concubines.
Soon after, Madam Zhang went into labor, and the midwife hurriedly prepared to assist her.
Steward Zhang paced anxiously outside the door, while Su Su and the others hid in the shadows.Yaoguang said in astonishment, "This is the first time I've ever waited for someone to give birth."
Tantai Jin lowered his eyes, tightening his grip on the Hunyuan Sword in his hand.
He was born different from ordinary people, retaining memories of his own birth. Once devoid of a love thread, he had killed Consort Rou without hesitation to descend into the mortal world.
The emperor of Zhou Kingdom held a grudge against him for Consort Rou's death, and palace servants abused him at every turn. He never understood what he had done wrong—he only wanted to live. Who is born deserving death?
Now that he had a love thread, he couldn't help but feel bewildered.
Should he not have done it?
Why should he die just so that woman could live?
He wanted to live, even if it meant going hungry and cold, even if he was mocked and beaten. He wanted to survive.
No, his gaze darkened as he stared at the patterns on his sword—he was not wrong!
No one in this world loved him. Even if Consort Rou had lived, she would have eventually grown to despise him. Those destined to betray deserved to die.
Su Su crouched beside him, sensing the slight disturbance in his aura.
She suddenly recalled the scenes she had witnessed in the nightmare demon's illusion—the birth of the Demon God came at a cruel cost.
She thought of that gentle and kind Consort Rou.
And the trembling infant in swaddling clothes, clutching a dead mouse, struggling to survive.
Su Su untied her Universe Bag and pressed a piece of phoenix wood carved into a rabbit shape into each person's hand.
Yaoguang exclaimed in surprise, "Is this... phoenix wood from Changze Mountain?"
Su Su nodded, a hint of laughter in her voice. "My father carved these when I was young. To keep me from wandering off, he enchanted them with fairy magic to help calm the mind. We don't know what lurks in the shadows, so carrying this phoenix wood will keep us vigilant at all times."
Cang Hai praised, "Fairy Li is so thoughtful."
Su Su played with the rabbit in her palm and smiled at him.
Tantai Jin found a wooden rabbit suddenly in his hand—small and exquisite, no bigger than a fingertip, with a dazed yet docile appearance.
White Spiritual Energy swirled around the rabbit.
The heavy gloom in his heart gradually dissipated. He looked at Su Su, his reaction delayed.
The girl acted as if nothing had happened, focusing intently on the delivery room.
Just as everyone held a piece of phoenix wood, a baby's loud cry echoed from the other side.
Tantai Jin carefully stored the wooden rabbit alongside his jade pendant. Sensing something, he lifted his gaze to the delivery room. "The Yin hour has arrived."
The child was indeed a Triple Yin body—a constitution most likely to attract Fiends.
To Demonic Beasts, such a child was a great supplement.
The midwife carried the child out. "Congratulations, Steward Zhang, congratulations! Your wife has given birth to a young master."
Steward Zhang breathed a sigh of relief, overjoyed. He held the child, examining it closely, unable to contain his delight.
Su Su saw the wrinkled baby in his arms—the child was healthy.
Steward Zhang hurriedly carried the child inside to accompany his wife.
Cang Hai said, "Nothing happened after all."
Su Su also found it strange. Shouldn't the Demonic Beasts have come to snatch the infant?
Tantai Jin watched the Demonic Aura permeating the residence and said, "Let's wait a little longer."
They waited for several full days.
Steward Zhang hosted a feast for them and said tactfully, "The recent rumors about missing infants in town might just be excuses from families who lost their children. Ninghe Town has always been peaceful since ancient times—how could there be any Demonic Beasts? You've all worried for my wife's sake. Now that my son has been born safely, if you esteemed Taoists have other matters to attend to, I will generously reward you and see you off properly."Su Su never expected that after all their waiting, what they finally received was the master's wish for them to leave.
The manor remained peaceful and undisturbed, with Steward Zhang looking at them as if they were charlatans.
Just as Yaoguang was about to say something, Tantai Jin smiled and said, "Very well, then we won't trouble you further. We'll take our leave now."
He cupped his hands in a salute, declined the silver Steward Zhang had ordered to be brought for them, and strode out of the manor directly.
Su Su and the others followed suit.
Cang Hai remarked, "This is too strange. If there are no Demonic Beasts, then where is this Demonic Aura coming from?"
Yaoguang also said, "Are we really going to leave?"
As pear blossoms drifted down and settled at Tantai Jin's feet, he said, "We'll continue waiting in the shadows to see what happens."
At dusk, Steward Zhang left the manor in a carriage.
"His wife just gave birth, and he's already rushing off to do business?" Cang Hai asked.
Su Su formed a hand seal and passed it over her eyes.
When she looked at the carriage again, she saw a small bundle of swaddling clothes inside Steward Zhang's chest.
"The child is in the carriage."
"What? Where is Steward Zhang taking his son?"
Everyone immediately realized that Demonic Beasts might appear, and they quietly followed.
The carriage took a detour as it left the town, heading along a small path toward the mountain behind the Zhang manor.
Yaoguang said, "He's going to the eight-willow demon gathering array."
How could Steward Zhang harm his own child?
The clip-clop of horse hooves echoed in the night as the group hid behind mountain rocks, watching Steward Zhang carry the child out of the carriage and walk toward the demon gathering array.
Within the demon gathering array, eight willow trees swayed without wind, and sinister Demonic Aura surged forth from the formation. Ghostly Wails emanated from among the willows.
Steward Zhang knelt down. "I welcome my master."
From the central ghost willow, a three-headed monster slowly emerged. It moved its three necks and transformed into an effeminate man.
Steward Zhang said happily, "Master, this infant is a Three Yin Body."
"Oh?" The man took the infant with interest, examined it for a moment, and said, "Good, good. When I return to the Demon Realm and present the refined Demon Core to the Demon Emperor, you will certainly be rewarded."
"Thank you, Master."
Hearing the words "Demon Realm," "Demon Core," and "Demon Emperor," the group exchanged glances.
Just as the man was about to enter the ghost willow with the infant, Tantai Jin raised his hand. Countless golden threads shot out wildly like a waterfall, wrapping around the infant in the three-headed demon's arms.
The excess golden threads, carrying killing intent like thunder, stabbed toward the three-headed monster.
Tantai Jin pulled the swaddling clothes and handed them to Yaoguang. "Hold it carefully."
Yaoguang quickly protected the infant in her arms.
The three-headed demon dodged the golden threads and glared malevolently at Su Su and the others. The next moment, it transformed into its original form and engaged them in battle.
Su Su discovered that this monster was very weak; she didn't even need to summon Chongyu and didn't feel strained.
The three-headed demon quickly realized that none of the newcomers were easy opponents. It cast one last resentful glance at the child in Yaoguang's arms before leaping back into the ghost willow.
Cang Hai exclaimed, "Not good, it's trying to escape!"
The three-headed demon must have a token to the Demon Realm. Thinking of her senior brother, Su Su gritted her teeth and followed into the ghost willow.
Tantai Jin frowned and also entered the ghost willow.
Cang Hai said, "Wait for me, wait for me!"
Yaoguang, holding the crying infant and worried about the child's safety, had no choice but to remain anxiously where she was.
When Tantai Jin entered the ghost willow—which functioned as a teleportation array—he instantly found himself in another cave dwelling.
The sound of light, hurried footsteps came from within the cave.
With a twist of his wrist, the Primordial Chaos Sword unsheathed itself mid-air, hovering at his side as it flew toward a certain direction.He stopped just before the girl.
"Li Susu?" he frowned.
Su Su emerged from the depths of the cave dwelling and let out a soft sigh. "Why did you follow me in?"
She walked to his side and looked around. "This seems to be a place where demons cultivate. We should be careful."
"Mm."
"There's a path inside. He must have escaped through there."
The girl turned back, taking his hand. "Don't get separated."
Tantai Jin stared at their joined hands as he followed her into the dimly lit path within the cave dwelling.
The stone walls on both sides emitted a faint glow. Su Su watched the path ahead warily.
Tantai Jin suddenly spoke. "Su Su."
"What?" She turned back.
The young man suddenly moved very close. His face was elegant and refined, appearing extraordinarily beautiful in the dim light. Yet he smiled with pure innocence. "What I said last time about having no connection between us—that was all a lie."
Tantai Jin twirled her hair around his finger, his voice low and lingering. "How could I ever let you go? I'll only entangle with you through life after life, until our bones wither and we rot together."
"And you? Do you like me?"
His eyes seemed to carry a quiet light in the dim stone chamber as he waited for her answer.
Seeing Su Su remain silent for a long time.
Tantai Jin whispered seductively in her ear, "If I'm happy, I'll give you the Burning Thoughts Circle."
At some point, he had begun playing with a golden circle the size of a fist. The golden circle transformed in his hand, becoming sharp golden threads, then slowly melting back into a circle.
So this was called Burning Thoughts.
A rare binding weapon between heaven and earth.
The girl's breath caught, and she smiled softly at him. "I like you."
He smiled.
Tantai Jin closed his eyes, as if trying to feel what sensation her words of affection would bring.
After a moment, he opened his eyes, disappointment filling them.
"As expected, a counterfeit is just a counterfeit. You still didn't make me happy. If it were her, just looking at me like this would have excited me."
He licked his lips. Burning Thoughts transformed into countless fine threads. The girl before him looked at him in terror. In her panic, her charming eyes narrowed seductively as she leaned closer, but in the next moment—before she could speak, even before she could scream—she was torn to pieces.
"Shh." The young man whispered softly. "Even if she tramples my heart to dust, it's not your place to please me."
Tantai Jin's eyes lowered slightly as he expressionlessly watched the person on the ground transform into a mass of Demonic Energy.
So... that's how it is.
OpenNovel