Artifact Chapter 54: Who’s There?

Chapter 54: Who’s There?

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

Lu Ming followed the instructions of Purple Furnace, heading southwest at a fast pace. As the mist above Purple Furnace gradually faded, Lu Ming’s heart raced with excitement. The thinner the mist became, the closer they were getting to the place where Fu Shu was.

Lu Ming ran day and night for over ten days, until he gradually approached a place called Xizhen. The mist that had been rising from Purple Furnace for so long finally began to thin, eventually disappearing completely.

Fu Shu must be in Xizhen! Lu Ming suppressed his anxiousness and walked quickly toward the town.

Xizhen was small, but the climate was mild, the mountains were clear, and the scenery was picturesque, resembling a paradise. The people here seemed peaceful, and when they saw Lu Ming, a stranger suddenly appearing, they were curious but kept their distance, not daring to approach.

At that moment, a middle-aged man in coarse cloth clothes approached and asked, “This young man looks unfamiliar. You must not be from Xizhen, right?”

Lu Ming paused, smiling slightly, and replied, “Hello, I am not from Xizhen. I’m passing through to look for a relative.”

The middle-aged man nodded and smiled, “Oh? Who is it that you’re looking for?”

Lu Ming answered gently, “I’m looking for my sister. May I ask what your name is, brother?”

The man replied kindly, “I’m a guard here in Xizhen, my surname is Lin. There isn’t a family in this town that I don’t know. Tell me your sister’s name, and maybe I’ve heard of her.”

A flicker of hope surged in Lu Ming’s heart, and he quickly replied, “Brother Lin, my sister’s name is Fu Shu. She’s just turned 26.”

“Fu Shu…” Brother Lin repeated the name, then frowned, “But there’s no one by that name in Xizhen.”

A wave of disappointment swept over Lu Ming, but he quickly remembered that Zi Lu would never lie. He spoke again, “Brother Lin, to be honest, twelve years ago, Fu Shu and I were pursued by enemies. Fu Shu was kidnapped by the villains, and we’ve never seen each other since. I only know she’s still alive, but I’ve been unable to track her down. Now, following the clues, I’ve come here. If she managed to escape, she must have changed her name. Could you please think carefully—was there a beautiful woman who came here years ago?”

Brother Lin, understanding how hard Lu Ming’s search had been, felt sympathy for him. He looked at Lu Ming, pale and travel-worn, clearly having rushed here as soon as he found a lead. He reached out to him and said, “Don’t be in such a hurry. Come to my house for a cup of tea first. I’ll ask the old folks in the town and see if they remember anything. How about that?”

Lu Ming expressed his gratitude and followed Brother Lin to his home.

The people of Xizhen were very simple and hadn’t seen many strangers over the years. Now that a handsome, young man had appeared, they gathered to watch. Lu Ming politely turned down a few elderly women who wanted to matchmake him, smiling inwardly at how warm-hearted the townspeople were. While he was distracted by the attention, Brother Lin invited a few elderly residents over to discuss the situation.

One elderly man, over sixty, pondered for a moment, sipped his tea, and said, “I do remember a group of refugees coming to Xizhen over ten years ago, but I didn’t pay much attention to any beautiful young women among them.”

Another elderly man, who had been quiet, suddenly exclaimed, “Come to think of it, I do remember a beautiful young woman among the refugees.”

Brother Lin eagerly asked, “Old Zhao, who is she?”

The man called Old Zhao stroked his white beard and replied solemnly, “About ten years ago, a man came to Xizhen with a young woman. But the woman seemed seriously ill and stayed in her room all the time, never seen by anyone. The man often went out to gather herbs, trying to heal her.”

Brother Lin furrowed his brow. “You must be talking about the madwoman, right?”

Old Zhao nodded and continued, “Most people in the town never saw the woman’s face. I only saw her once because I know a little medicine. The man invited me inside to examine her. The young woman was beautiful, but sadly, she was severely ill and bedridden. After two years, she suddenly went mad, running out and hurting people when the man wasn’t around. Unable to deal with her, the man took her to the mountains behind the town.”

Lu Ming felt a sharp pang in his heart. If this madwoman was really Fu Shu, what had she gone through? How had she fallen so ill and then gone mad? Could it have been because of Xu Chouyan’s actions? And who was the man Old Zhao had mentioned? It seemed like he had been protecting Fu Shu all these years.

A torrent of questions hit Lu Ming, and he couldn’t wait another second. He quickly stood up and said to Brother Lin, “Where is the back mountain of Xizhen? Please, show me the way. I have to find her now.”

Brother Lin hesitated. “It’s not that I don’t want to help you, but the back mountains are full of strange beasts, and it’s dangerous. It’s already late. Why don’t you rest for the night? We can go together tomorrow morning.”

At this suggestion, several of the town’s young men agreed to accompany Lu Ming the next day.

Lu Ming appreciated their kindness, but after coming this far, he couldn’t stop now. Purple Furnace could only be used once, and once it went out, it couldn’t be relit. If he lost the trail of Fu Shu here, there would be no guarantee he could find her again in the vast sea of people.

He clasped his hands in gratitude and said, “Thank you all for your kindness. I can’t wait any longer. I must have caused quite a stir by suddenly arriving in Xizhen. I fear that Fu Shu… that she might not recognize me and, thinking I’m her enemy, might flee with the man protecting her. I need to find her in the mountains now.”

Brother Lin thought for a moment, then said, “You’re right. Alright, I’ll go with you. It’s safer to have someone with you in case something happens.”

Several young men also volunteered to accompany Lu Ming to the back mountains in search of Fu Shu.

Lu Ming felt a warm current flow through him and nodded. As they walked, he secretly cast a protective spell on everyone, ensuring they wouldn’t be harmed by any wild beasts.

They reached the back mountain of Xizhen, climbing up a narrow path. The woods around them were dense, and the sun was setting, casting the area into deepening darkness. Lu Ming took out a talisman from his space ring, muttered a few incantations, and the talisman flew into the air, igniting with a snap, lighting up the surroundings.

Brother Lin looked at him in surprise and said, “You know how to perform such magic? Are you a cultivator?”

Lu Ming nodded, smiling faintly. “I know a little.”

Brother Lin was excited. “Then you must know Master He Qingci?”

Lu Ming froze, becoming cautious. “You know He Qingci?”

Brother Lin nodded, his expression respectful. “Who in the cultivation world doesn’t know Master He’s name? He’s a noble and kind man. Everyone admires him. If I ever had the chance to meet him, it would be worth it.”

Another young man joined in. “What Brother Lin said is true. Even though Xizhen is somewhat isolated, everyone here knows Master He.”

Lu Ming scratched his head awkwardly. Although he had done good deeds in every place, most of it was for completing his Dominance Points task. He had built some fame for the real He Qingci, but hearing this now still made him feel uneasy. He smiled awkwardly and said, “I’ve heard of him.”

The group understood he had never met He Qingci and sighed in disappointment. Brother Lin, not giving up, said, “If you ever meet Master He, make sure to let us know.”

Lu Ming nodded awkwardly, quickly changing the subject. “Is there just this one path from the top of the mountain to the foot?”

Brother Lin nodded. “The back mountain is surrounded by deep cliffs on three sides. Only this path leads to the town. If the madwoman… if your sister and the man are trying to leave, they must pass through the town gate.”

Lu Ming relaxed, quickening his pace.

By the time they reached the middle of the mountain, everyone except Lu Ming was out of breath. Brother Lin stopped, panting heavily. “You have great stamina, young man. We can’t keep going without a rest.”

Lu Ming nodded kindly. “Let’s take a break before continuing.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, everyone sat down, gasping for air. Lu Ming was about to sit when a sharp flow of energy suddenly surged from ahead.

The air was filled with a murderous intent that struck with an almost inevitable force, reaching the group in the blink of an eye. Brother Lin, who was leading, was the first to be hit by the energy. He groaned in pain, his face turning pale, and before he could call out, he collapsed to the ground.

The others’ expressions changed drastically. Before they could escape, the second wave of energy came, even fiercer than the first, as the atmosphere crackled with an overwhelming presence that made it feel as if they were about to be crushed.

Just as the situation was becoming dire, a cold, sharp voice rang out through the dense forest, breaking the silence.

Lu Ming quickly pulled a talisman from his space ring and threw it into the air with force. Instantly, a massive barrier of golden light surrounded the group, protecting them completely.

Lu Ming spoke in a low voice, “Who’s there?”

The figure didn’t respond, only letting out a cold laugh that echoed through the darkness, sending a chilling aura that made everyone present shudder uncontrollably.

After a long pause, the person finally spoke, their voice hoarse and deep, tinged with disdain, “I didn’t expect to run into a filthy Taoist priest here.”

 

 

 

 

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