AMHA - Chapter 7

Chapter 7 - Then, I Will Kill Them

"—When will your Daojun come?"

In the front hall, Wu Xie of Lingshan, who had been waiting for half an hour, looked gloomy.

However, the eldest disciple Zong Fei who was on duty in the main hall still said the same thing:

"Daojun will be arriving soon, Wu Xie please be patient."

Wu Xie snorted coldly from his nose.

"After your Daoist Lord returned from the human world, his arrogance became even bigger."

Their Lingshan Clan was independent of the sects of the cultivating world and was the agent of the Gods in the human world.

In the cultivation world, from the seven major sects to the small sects that stand like clouds, when they see the Witches of the Lingshan Clan coming to visit, who would not be frightened and treat them as honored guests?

The former Kunwu Immortal Land respected them, but this generation’s Daoist Tianshu...

"After returning from the tribulation, Daoist Tianshu has made great progress in cultivation and the Kunwu Immortal Land is at its peak."

The woman who spoke wore a high bun and a gauze veil fell down, just covering her small and beautiful nose, revealing slightly raised red lips.

"Ascension to immortality is just around the corner. Seeing that he longer needs Lingshan's help, he naturally has the confidence not to please Lingshan."

Her eyes looked at the austere and elegant hall through the gauze.

Then the eyes turned again and fell onto the only bright color in the palace.

A branch of palace pink plum blossoms inserted into a white porcelain vase.

Looking at this soft color that did not belong to the cold hall, her mind moved slightly and she reached out to touch it—

A burst of powerful spiritual power suddenly hit her, forcing her to take back her hand.

"Wu Xie, and...Lingshan Wu Nu." {“Wu” refers to Magic/Witchcraft so Wu Nu is literally “Witch Girl”. Wu Xie is another title and is a man in this case. According to my research, Lingshan or Spirit Mountain is a place mentioned in the Chinese classic literature “Classic of Mountains and Rivers” and in this text there are “10 Witches of Lingshan” whose titles all start with “Wu”}.

The hem of clothes embroidered with silver flowing patterns passed by her. Daoist Tianshu took a seat at the top of the hall and said with a faint smile:

"Apologies for making you wait."

Lingshan Wu Nu could still feel a faint burning sensation from the spiritual power which had hit the back of her hand. She did not speak but Wu Xie had a smile on his face and said quickly:

"If anything, it’s us who should apologize for not coming to attend the banquet at the Immortal Terrace and sending our congratulations. I hope…”

"I wonder what Lingshan’s purpose is in coming here?"

A voice as gentle as the breeze and the bright moon interrupted Wu Xie's endless polite words.

Wu Xie felt slightly embarrassed.

This Daoist Lord really has the same Guanyin {Boddhisattva of Mercy} face and ice heart heart as always.

Lingshan Wu Nu replied:

"Master Wu Xian received an oracle yesterday. This oracle is related to the fate of Kunwu Immortal Land. We traveled all night just to help the Daoist Lord avoid disaster and gain blessing."

The woman's voice was like jade beads rolling down. Her words are articulate and gentle and it is clear and moving to the ears.

Daojun Tianshu smiled as usual: "No need."

Lingshan Wu Nu and Wu Xie couldn't hide the strange expressions on their faces.

Wu Xie thought he didn't know the details and immediately added:

"This is not an ordinary oracle. According to my divination, Daojun will die at the hands of a man and a woman in the future. In the dream, even Kunwu Immortal Land..."

"The way of heaven is constant. If this is my destiny, then there is no point in avoiding it."

His tone was calm, as if he was not talking about his own life or death.

Lingshan Wu Nu looked at him steadily, her eyes getting darker.

The Lingshan Clan was proficient at divination. She had seen countless cultivators, who although they appeared to be shining bright and graceful on the outside, bending their knees to please Lingshan in order to predict their own fate.

Those people paid so much attention to their mediocre life, but this first person who is the cultivation world and who was only one step away from ascension was so unmoved when he heard that he would die an unexpected death in the future.

Really... its hard not to feel a little nervous.

Thinking of Lingshan's instructions to her before leaving, she lowered her eyes and her voice became softer:

"Even if Daojun can see through it clearly, Daojun's life does not belong to Daojun alone. Your life and death is also related to the rise and fall of the entire Kunwu Immortal Land and all those ignorant disciples who don’t know what has befallen them. Several Kunwu elders have already acquiesced, are you going to refuse Lingshan’s help?”

The hall was silent.

Several close disciples who were standing in the hall lowered their heads, staring hard at their noses and not daring to look up.

After a long time, the Daoist Lord asked with a smile:

"What is Lingshan's purpose in helping me?"

Wu Xie secretly smacked his tongue. This Daojun spoke too straightforwardly.

The corners of Lingshan Wu Nu's lips were curved and she raised her eyes from bottom to top. Even though her true appearance couldn’t be seen through the gauze, it could still be seen that she was an unparalleled beauty.

"I heard that when Daojun entered the human world to go through the tribulation, he had a marriage with a mortal woman?"

Wu Xie subconsciously looked at the Daojun's face.

The elegant immortal in snow-clad clothes smiled lightly when he heard this sentence. Although his eyes under the snowy eyelashes still had a little smile, they were as frozen as ice and astonishingly cold.

Lingshan Wu Nu was probably blindfolded by the gauze and could not see clearly, but she still said:

"Since there has been a marriage, the past of guarding Yuanyang and staying away from women should be no longer relevant right? In this case, Lingshan finds the courage to propose a marriage contract with Kunwu Immortal Land..." {Yuanyang I think refers to like a pure yang spirit; ie. cultivation speak for a man's virginity LOL.}

"I will go and investigate the matter of the oracle in person. Wu Nu and Wu Xie can stay in Kunwu during this period."

Daojun Tianshu spoke gently and stood up from his seat.

"As for the marriage contract——"

Lingshan Wu Nu raised her eyes and smiled, seeming to have some confidence in her heart.

"I'm sorry, but regarding the marriage of the Elders of Kunwu, the Wu Nu should ask their opinions personally.”

Lingshan Wu Nu's face instantly turned pale.

Who would form a contract with those old men from Kunwu!

He actually... actually insulted her like this...

Wu Xie had no time to comfort the Lingshan Wu Nu standing behind him. Seeing Daoist Tianshu getting up to leave, Wu Xie hurriedly said:

"Daojun! Although the oracle did not specify the identity of those two people, the hexagram shows that they should be at Xiaojianguan in Xizhou. The opinion of Kunwu's elders is that if those two people are really malicious towards Kunwu Immortal Land then, for the sake of Kunwu and for the sake of Daojun himself, I ask that the Daojun not to hesitate or show mercy when it is time to kill."

Daojun Tianshu stopped.

For Kunwu Immortal Land and… for himself.

However, as a mere container which carries the expectations and endless responsibilities of others, where does the ‘himself’ come from?

The hem of his clothes embroidered with flowing water patterns rose and fell with his steps.

After a long time, a sound like the rustling of falling snow floated from the void.

"—Then, I will kill them."

*

Zhaozhao slept in Yunlu Immortal Manor for three whole days.

She had not slept peacefully in the past three days because she had eaten a bunch of pills randomly. Although she was building foundation as quickly as possible, her body could not adapt to the sudden influx of spiritual power.

If there wasn't a powerful practitioner of Shennong Dao nearby to protect and regulate her, it would even damage the meridians and hinder her cultivation.

"Woke up?"

Seeing the girl slowly opening her eyes, Daoist Mingjuet raised his hand and pulled out the silver needle inserted into the acupuncture point on her body.

"How do you feel now?"

How do I feel?

Zhaozhao blinked numbly.

In the courtyard outside the window, a demon was tied with fairy rope like a dumpling and was hanging from a tree. Due to his injury, his original shape’s dog ears and tail were exposed. Two children squatted underneath and pulled the tail curiously.

"Where does the tail come from..."

The little girl was very curious and walked around the dog demon.

"Take off his pants and take a look?"

The little boy's cheeks were red and he stammered: "No, it's not good..."

"What's wrong? Don't you want to strip him? If you don't, I will strip your pants instead!"

"!!!"

Li Feng, hanging on the tree, struggled violently:

"Damn children, stay away from me! Jue Mingzi! Come out! Demons can be killed but not humiliated!"

When Daoist Mingjue heard this commotion, he also raised his head and glanced outside. He smiled and said to Zhaozhao:

"The demon race is indeed stupid. This dog demon originally came to my sect to look for medicine but, because he thought us cultivators would not give medicine to the demon race, he kidnapped these two children and wanted to use them to threaten me into giving him medicine. Unexpectedly you messed up his plan and led to his capture.”

Suddenly thinking of something, Daoist Mingjue looked at Zhaozhao again.

"It's rare to catch a demon with good cultivation. Do you want to follow the trend and form a demon familiar contract with him? He has asked me for a favor because of his family's serious illness. Maybe he will agree."

Zhaozhao tilted his head: "What is the demon familiar contract?"

"Those who are strong in cultivation are respected. Demons can eat people but humans can also use demons as servants. Often cultivators with strong cultivation will take the defeated demons as their own and sign a demon familiar contract. Then the demon will be bound by words and magic and obey their instructions.”

Zhaozhao nodded in understanding.

"... Let's talk about it later. I'm a little confused now, so I have to take some time to think about it."

Zhaozhao looked out the window at the two children who were still chasing after the dog demon's pants to see its tail, and let out a long sigh.

No matter how she looked at it, these were just two innocent and cute children.

The female cultivator in the dream who could confront Daoist Tianshu with one swordstrike, and the Holy Son of the Demon Realm who responded to every call, didn’t seem connected to them at all.

And-

The female cultivator Yao Ling in the dream said that Lord Tianshu once slaughtered her entire family.

What does this sentence mean?

Daoist Mingjue put away the silver needle and looked up. He saw the beautiful girl looking at him with a strange look.

What can he say about the look in her eyes? It's so cold.

Master Mingjue: "Little girl, do you have anything you want to ask?"

Zhaozhao stared at him solemnly:

"Do you have some hidden identity?"

"...cough cough cough cough!"

Daoist Mingjue choked on his own saliva and coughed several times.

"Did the little girl believe that dog demon's nonsense? Who is Jue Mingzi? I practice Shennong Dao and only know about medicine.  You'd better rest. I'll go see those two children first..."

Zhaozhao didn’t know if it was her misunderstanding, but she felt that Daoist Mingjue was a little embarrassed when he left.

When he stepped out the door, he turned back to Zhaozhao and said:

"You should also send a message to your relatives and friends at home. They should be worried as you’ve been asleep for quite a few days."

Zhaozhao was a little stunned.

Yes.

It had been more than half a month since she left Yunmeng Lake. When she was at the inn, she sent a letter home, saying that she would find Xie Lanshu soon.

Her family must have been anticipating contact for a few days now.

Thinking of this, Zhaozhao took out her mustard bag and rummaged through it again. She found a mirror that she specifically asked Shi Lanyan for.

This mirror is called the Acacia Mirror.

Driven by spiritual power, the cultivator can connect to the mirrors used by another cultivator and the two mirrors can communicate with each other.

Fortunately, there was a mantra engraved on the back of the mirror. Zhaozhao mobilized the little spiritual power in her body with some unfamiliarity, injected it into the mirror, closed her eyes and recited the mantra silently.

The appearance of the Xie family's maid soon appeared in the mirror.

Zhaozhao's eyes lit up and just as she was about to say hello, she saw the maid running out, screaming as if she had seen a ghost.

A bit unexpected, but also expected.

In fact, before Zhaozhao left, she had told her family that there were people who cultivated immortality in this world. But when they saw the her that was thousands of miles away in the mirror, her family was really confused for a while and almost thought their house was haunted.

"...Zhaozhao? Is it really Zhaozhao?"

The uncle and aunt, holding mahogany swords and cinnabar talismans, poked their heads out from behind the seven or eight servants and maids, and asked this dubiously.

When Zhaozhao saw her uncle and aunt like this, she wanted to laugh again but her eyes were filled with tears.

"It's me."

"Uncle and aunt, don't be afraid, I am Zhaozhao."

It took the two of them a while to recover from the shock of seeing magic and finally they had the courage to approach the dressing table.

"Zhaozhao, where are you? We haven't received any letters from you these days and it makes us very anxious. This is your first time traveling alone and you didn’t take anyone with you when you went out..."

"It's spring time now. If I take someone away, won't there be fewer people working at home?"

Zhaozhao smiled sweetly.

"Don't worry, I'm safe here now. Everyone here practices Daoism and immortality, everyone can fly, and there are many cultivators who have lived for hundreds of years..."

The uncle and aunt listened with rapt attention, and even the servants and maids whispered to each other that the Second Young Lady was going to become a God.

Uncle Xie's face glowed brightly and he said:

"Okay, okay, then you stay over there and practice hard. If our Yunmeng Lake’s Xie family has an immortal, it will truly be a glory to our ancestors!"

Aunt Xie hesitated to speak.

"Then...that Lanshu, have you found him?"

The room was silent for a moment.

"...Of course I found him!"

Zhaozhao suddenly raised a big smile, without any gloom at all.

"Aunt, you don't even know, it turns out that Lanshu is actually a very powerful cultivator. He has a very  beautiful fairy palace with thousands of disciples. They all speak to him respectfully. He is more majestic than the Emperor on earth."

Auntie Xie didn’t doubt her and said in joyful surprise: 

"I said that when I first met him, that this child was different from ordinary people. Sure enough... where did Lanshu go? Is he with you? That child left suddenly. We thought he had regained his memory and disliked us. Since Yunmeng Lake is such a small place.”

Zhaozhao felt her throat was sore and almost couldn't help but shed tears.

But soon she blinked and the brilliance in her eyes flowed. She whispered:

"How could he think that?"

"He's just a little busy, so he can't come to see you."

The uncle smiled and waved his hand:

"It's okay, it's okay. What is there here to see here? As long as he can stay with you, you don't have to worry about us over here. Your cousin is here to help us."

Auntie patted him and said disapprovingly:

"You can't disappear completely. It's okay if you're too busy normally but just come back and take a look during the holidays."

After a pause, tears filled Auntie's eyes.

"Zhaozhao, you have to live well with Lanshu over there. If he bullies you, come home and your aunt will take care of you."

For a moment, Zhaozhao really wanted to cry and tell all her sadness and grievances to her family.

But.

She can't.

The mountains are high and the rivers are far away. She can't go home now. She can't let them worry.

So she just smiled and said:

"Don't worry, Aunt. It's not like you don't know Lanshu. In this world, apart from uncle and aunt, he is the best person to me."

Zhaozhao thought this and she wasn’t lying either. 

Xie Lanshu was indeed the person who treated her the best in the world besides her uncle and aunt.

As for the person who lived high up in the Thirty-Third Palace Lihentian, he was never Xie Lanshu.

*

The author has something to say:

Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated the nutrient solution between 2023-07-17 10:04:16~2023-07-18 12:15:39~

Thanks to the little angels who irrigate the nutrient solution: 10 bottles of Xingxingxingxing; 3 bottles of Juzhi; 2 bottles of Lianlian; 1 bottle of Dodder;

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!

*

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