Chapter 74: Grave Relocation 7; Jiangshi Blood
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
After Ji Jiang finished speaking, she returned to the tomb chamber. She was able to leave the tomb chamber because she had been resurrected. Kui Xuan, being the core of the formation, could not leave the tomb chamber. Therefore, if she wanted to go to Bijiashan, she would have to move the entire Thirty-Six Killing Array along with her.
Kui Xuan stood at the entrance of the tomb, waving at them. Her small face was full of a sweet smile, while the tomb door slowly descended.
Kou Xuanling placed her hand on Chen Yang’s shoulder and said, “From the elderly three-thousand-year-olds to kids and witchcraft dolls, everyone likes you. Your popularity is off the charts.”
Chen Yang glanced at Kou Xuanling, then shifted his gaze to Lu Xiuzhi. Lu Xiuzhi, looking seemingly nonchalant, pulled down the hand Kou Xuanling had placed on his shoulder. Chen Yang silently chuckled a few times.
The three of them left the tomb chamber’s entrance and discovered that it was built on a mountaintop. It turned out that what they had thought was flat ground earlier was actually steep and uneven. As they descended halfway down the mountain, they saw many lights. Upon getting closer, they realized it was the Kou family and the townspeople.
The Kou family noticed that the three were missing and deduced that Kou Xuanling, the one who had slipped through their grasp, had sneaked into Tiewei Mountain with the other two. When Father Kou saw Kou Xuanling, he was initially happy but quickly darkened his expression. “Go home. Notify everyone else that they’ve been found and tell them to rest.”
In front of so many people, Father Kou didn’t show Kou Xuanling a bad attitude. But as soon as they got home and the door was shut, Kou Xuanling found his ear twisted as he was scolded. “Kou Xuanling, you’re something else! That ancient tomb your uncle and I wouldn’t even dare to enter, and you had the guts to charge right in?”
Kou Xuanling felt about seventy percent pain but exaggerated it, twisting his face dramatically to look like he was in agony. He even stole a glance at Lu Xiuzhi, signaling him not to worry and to stay out of it. I can handle this myself! Kou Xuanling wailed, “Dad, Dad, don’t twist so hard… Why are you copying Mom with this?”
Father Kou darkened his face further. “Because I’ve realized that beating you doesn’t work. I might as well learn from your mom and twist your ear off. Maybe then you’ll actually listen to me in the future!”
Uncle Kou added, “After he’s done twisting your ear, it’s my turn to give you a beating.”
“No, no—” Kou Xuanling quickly resorted to cracking jokes and begging for mercy. After coaxing Father Kou and the other Kou family elders for a long time and calming their tempers, he finally managed to get them to move past their anger. He then explained everything that had happened in the ancient tomb, successfully bringing the matter to a temporary close.
As soon as Father Kou let go of Kou Xuanling, Lu Xiuzhi gently pulled him over and carefully massaged his ear. Kou Father sighed, “At least there’s still a trace of a pure heart in you. What you’ve been through is pitiful, but not bringing the flying jiangshi out was the right decision. At least you didn’t lose your sense of judgment.”
Kou Xuanling asked, “Is there really no way to bring Kui Xuan out of the ancient tomb?”
Father Kou hesitated before replying, “It’s not impossible, just extremely troublesome. Jiangshi have impenetrable bodies, especially at the flying jiangshi level—ordinary magical tools can’t harm them. However, if someone with ill intent were to use a peachwood stake made from the peach tree of a thousand-year-old temple or Taoist monastery, they could pierce the heart and extract its blood. Peachwood dispels evil, and wood from a millennia-old peach tree is even more effective, carrying its own spiritual energy.”
Chen Yang suddenly asked, “What is the method?”
Father Kou shook his head. “It’s very troublesome.”
Chen Yang pressed, “Tell me.”
Hearing this, Father Kou’s expression grew serious. “Are you planning to bring that Feijiangshi out of the ancient tomb? I’m starting to suspect that she’s using the appearance of a child to deceive you. After all, her outer shell may look like a child, but inside she’s a monster that has lived for over two thousand years. She’s been longing to leave the tomb for millennia. Fooling inexperienced people like you wouldn’t be difficult for her.”
Chen Yang shook his head and, after a moment of contemplation, said, “As of now, I’m still resolute. I won’t bring Kui Xuan out of the tomb. I understand the dangers of doing so and know I can’t bear that responsibility. It’s just—”
Ji Jiang’s words had shaken his resolve, planting seeds of doubt. He faintly realized that if he uncovered certain parts of the truth Ji Jiang had mentioned, he might indeed end up bringing Kui Xuan out of the tomb.
If he brought Kui Xuan out of the tomb, she would become his responsibility.
Father Kou shook his head. “Then I can’t tell you. Your attitude tells me that you’re still wavering.” He was firm, as Kui Xuan’s danger and the lives of ordinary people outweighed any sympathy he might feel for her.
Chen Yang understood and didn’t press further. If he were truly determined to bring Kui Xuan out of the tomb, he knew that he would eventually uncover what he wanted to know.
Father Kou glanced at his son again and noticed that Lu Xiuzhi was sitting very close to him, gently massaging his ear and murmuring comforting words. His own son, on the other hand, acted spoiled and complained as if he were basking in the affection. The atmosphere between the two of them was so intimate that it felt somewhat excessive.
Father Kou frowned and pulled Uncle Kou aside, asking suspiciously, “Are you sure there’s nothing going on between them?”
Uncle Kou waved his hand dismissively. “There’s no problem.” He then gave Father Kou a disdainful look, clearly unimpressed. “Only someone indecent would see indecency.”
Father Kou suddenly had the urge to strike down his elder brother. Before he could act, Uncle Kou grabbed his ear and said, “Back then, when Mom twisted your ear, and later when your wife did it, I was always the one who comforted you when you felt wronged. Little brother, you need to refine those dirty thoughts of yours and strive to be as pure as I am.”
Father Kou pried Uncle Kou’s hand off with an expression of utter indifference.
Chen Yang returned to his room and sat in a daze for a long time. He had never known that Grandpa Wu was actually a City God—the City God of Pingcheng, which wasn’t far from the Imperial Capital. Even after Grandpa Wu passed away, they had still communicated occasionally. Chen Yang had some understanding of the situation. Grandpa Wu would sometimes appear in his dreams, often saying words of concern, but he rarely spoke about himself.
Whenever Chen Yang asked about it, Grandpa Wu would always change the subject. Over time, Chen Yang stopped asking. Now, thinking about Ji Jiang’s words, he sent a message to Dushuo, asking for the name of the City God of Pingcheng.
When Du Shuo saw the message, he had a rough guess in his heart and calmly replied, “Wu Kui.”
So it really was Grandpa Wu. Chen Yang directly asked: [Why didn’t you tell me before?]
Du Shuo replied with a question: [What happened?]
Chen Yang then recounted what had happened in the ancient tomb with Kui Xuan and Ji Jiang. For a long time, Du Shuo didn’t respond. Just as Chen Yang was typing another message to send, he suddenly had a feeling and looked up.
He saw Du Shuo pushing the door open and walking in. Chen Yang stood up, walked over, and wrapped his arms around Du Shuo’s waist, burying his face in Du Shuo’s chest without saying a word. It was as if he had faced grievances outside and now, upon seeing the person he was closest to, couldn’t help but lean on him for comfort.
Du Shuo seemed to enjoy Chen Yang’s reliance, pulling him closer while gently squeezing his neck, smoothing his hair, patting his back, and finally lifting him like a child and sitting down with him in his arms. The atmosphere was quiet and warm. After a long while, Du Shuo broke the silence. “If it’s Kui Xuan, then it might explain a doubt I’ve had.”
Chen Yang looked up. “Hmm? What doubt?”
Du Shuo kissed Chen Yang’s cheek, then said coldly, “City God of Pingcheng, come at once.”
The lights in the room flickered a few times, suddenly went out, and then, in the blink of an eye, came back on. Chen Yang blinked and saw Grandpa Wu, dressed in an old-style Zhongshan suit, standing there.
Wu Kui had passed away in his seventies, with a head full of white hair and a flowing beard. In his Zhongshan suit, he looked the part of a reclusive sage—one who could easily fool others with his appearance. He kept a magnificent beard, though he was always annoyed at having to maintain it. During summer, he often complained about wanting to shave it all off but never did, claiming the beard made it easier to deceive people. He often said his work was nothing more than trickery.
Chen Yang stepped out of Dushuo’s embrace, stood up, and felt his nose sting. He was at a loss, staring at Wu Kui with teary eyes. “Grandpa Wu…”
Wu Kui immediately looked distressed, spreading his arms to hug Chen Yang while exclaiming, “Yang Yang, I’ve missed you so much! Oh? You’ve gained weight, gotten taller. Your face has matured—so handsome. I always said that when Yang Yang grew up, he’d definitely be… what’s the word… a beautiful young man!”
Du Shuo tapped his index finger lightly on the table, producing a soft “knock-knock” sound. Wu Kui glanced at Du Shuo, coughed twice, then released Chen Yang. He clasped his hands respectfully and said, “Wu Kui, City God of Pingcheng, greets the Emperor.”
Du Shuo extended his hand, palm up, toward Chen Yang. Chen Yang obediently placed his hand in Du Shuo’s, allowing himself to be led to sit by his side. Du Shuo nodded toward Wu Kui. “Sit.” Then, he leaned close to Chen Yang’s ear and said softly, “Ask.”
Chen Yang came back to his senses and told Wu Kui about the events in the ancient tomb involving Kui Xuan, Ji Jiang, and the others. Wu Kui didn’t seem overly surprised, as if he had expected it. “I knew there would come a day when you’d ask me about this, and I also knew that one day you would meet Kui Xuan. This is an inescapable trajectory of fate, the cause-and-effect bond between you and Kui Xuan.”
Chen Yang was puzzled. “What’s going on? Kui Xuan said she knew me from a long time ago.”
Wu Kui said, “Ji Jiang told you that Kui Xuan’s fate is unique, and only someone with an equally peculiar fate can take her out of the tomb, right?” Chen Yang nodded, and Wu Kui continued, “You possess the Zhi Yin fate, which naturally attracts things steeped in heavy yin energy. As the core of the Thirty-Six Killing Gates Formation, Kui Xuan is in immense pain. This formation has caused countless deaths, and the karmic backlash from all those lives is returned to Kui Xuan. Every night, she endures the torment of that backlash, a pain akin to being roasted alive over flames. But you can make her feel cool and shield her from that fiery torment.”
Chen Yang was stunned, unable to imagine how Kui Xuan’s small body could withstand such excruciating agony. It was no different from being trapped in hell. And yet, the Thirty-Six Killing Gates Formation had become impossible to dismantle. All the sins from those who died because of the formation were counted against Kui Xuan, who, as the core, had to endure the pain of being burned by fire endlessly and without reprieve.
Chen Yang felt his heart being tightly gripped, leaving him nearly breathless.
In truth, Kui Xuan was the most innocent of all. She had done nothing wrong and was merely imprisoned in the tomb for over two thousand years by selfish people seeking vengeance for their own desires. The person who killed her was her own father, and yet she bore the weight of all the sins that should never have been hers to carry.
No wonder Ji Jiang, though a royal princess who had been executed by beheading, willingly chose to remain bound in the ancient tomb for over two thousand years as Kui Xuan’s retainer. She must have been heartbroken for Kui Xuan, hoping that Kui Xuan could one day leave the tomb. Perhaps when Ji Jiang was deceived by Wu Lingjiu, it wasn’t that she didn’t see Wu Lingjiu’s malicious intent. It was simply that, compared to the chance of Kui Xuan leaving the tomb and returning to the mortal world, everything else seemed insignificant.
Wu Kui said, “I once accidentally fell into the ancient tomb. Inside, there was a tomb door that could be opened from the inside at a specific time. At that time, Kui Xuan opened the door and stood at the entrance, looking at the moon. I could tell her identity, and at first, I was cautious, but she didn’t harm me.”
At that time, Wu Kui was still young and inexperienced in his witchcraft, far less powerful than he later became. He was both cowardly and fearful, observing Kui Xuan for a while. When he realized she had no intention of harming him, he secretly tried to climb out. However, he was a moment too late, and the tomb door closed. Wu Kui immediately collapsed in distress, crying out in despair. Kui Xuan, who had been about to step outside, stopped, looking at him curiously.
She asked, “Are you crying?”
Wu Kui, feeling hopeless, complained and angrily lost his composure. Kui Xuan calmly watched him, her pair of heterochromatic eyes particularly beautiful. She brought him into the inner chamber of the tomb, not letting him leave. “It’s safe here. Next month, the tomb door will open again. You can leave then.”
Wu Kui spent a month with Kui Xuan, learning everything he needed to know, both the things he should and shouldn’t know. He also felt sympathy for her. When Kui Xuan was weak and in pain, he held her and broke down in tears. The tiny Kui Xuan comforted him in return, saying that she had actually gotten used to it and wasn’t afraid of the pain.
Ji Jiang was not as open and untroubled as Kui Xuan; she would use everything at her disposal, including Wu Kui’s kindness and his sympathy for Kui Xuan. She told Wu Kui how to bring Kui Xuan out of the tomb and how to help her avoid enduring that pain. Wu Kui made the decision to help Kui Xuan, and when Kui Xuan discovered that he was a descendant of the Wu clan, and in a way, her descendant, she was pleased.
So, Kui Xuan taught Wu Kui the long-lost ghostly witchcraft, teaching him for two or three years. In Wu Kui’s heart, Kui Xuan could even be considered his master, though she never acknowledged it.
“Ji Jiang had been looking for someone with an extremely yin constitution. She knew about you the moment you were born. Every year, she would visit you and tell Kui Xuan about you. You were Kui Xuan’s hope, so she would inevitably develop a fondness for you. She watched you grow and slowly become the person she had longed for. She didn’t want you to bear such a huge burden… In fact, you were able to grow up safely partly because of your family, and partly because every year, Kui Xuan entrusted Ji Jiang to give you a talisman to ward off evil.”
Chen Yang thought back to his childhood, when his parents would always change his talisman each year to ensure his safety and good health. His throat tightened, and he asked, “Those… were they from Kui Xuan?”
Du Shuo held him, offering silent comfort.
Wu Kui nodded, “Yes. Those items were originally excellent talismans to ward off evil, but after being kept in the tomb for so many years, they were eroded by the yin energy, causing their powers to fade. That’s why they had to be replaced every year, but even then, they couldn’t fully protect you.”
“It’s already… good enough,” Chen Yang said, his nose tinged with sorrow, and his eyes began to burn with emotion.
“After Kui Xuan sent me out of the tomb, she forbade me from ever returning. I wandered around, helping people and treating illnesses. When I met you, it was by chance. Perhaps because of old age, I became more soft-hearted, and I hesitated for a long time about whether I should advise you to bring Kui Xuan out. If you brought her out, she would become your responsibility, but at the same time, she could also protect you. Then, I would feel at ease. Later, when I met Ji Jiang, I realized that you and Kui Xuan were already bound by fate.” Wu Kui reached out to touch Chen Yang’s shoulder and glanced at Du Shuo. The latter lowered his gaze in silent agreement, and Wu Kui, reassured, patted Chen Yang’s shoulder. “Yang Yang, don’t be too upset, and don’t feel guilty because of this. It’s the karma between you and her.”
Chen Yang looked up, “You didn’t tell me for all these years that you were the City God of Pingcheng because you were afraid I would go to Pingcheng? How did I end up binding myself to the Emperor of Fengdu in a Ghost Marriage? Don’t speak yet,” he warned Du Shuo in advance, stopping him from explaining.
Du Shuo opened his mouth, but seeing the look in Chen Yang’s eyes, he awkwardly closed it again.
Wu Kui stroked his beard more frequently, obviously very happy. He said, “When I tied the yin marriage, I wanted to find a big backer for you. Who can be bigger than the Fengdu Emperor in the underworld?”
Wu Kui’s frequency of stroking his beard increased, clearly pleased. He said, “When you entered the Ghost Marriage, I wanted to find you a powerful protector. Who in the Yin realm is greater than the King of Fengdu?”
“Stop lying to me!” Chen Yang shot Wu Kui a glare, feeling that his grandfather was no longer reliable. He then turned to Du Shuo and said, “You explain.” He didn’t believe that the Emperor of Fengdu, a mighty figure, would care about such a trivial Ghost Marriage. If he didn’t want to get married, who could force him? Not only could no one force him, but they might also provoke his anger. When their engagement was first arranged, Du Shuo didn’t necessarily like him either.
Du Shuo scratched his nose, and under Chen Yang’s cold gaze, he withdrew his hand and said, “At that time, I was first curious about your Yin-Yang fate. Seven hundred years ago, Wu Lingjiu turned a hundred thousand people into jiangshis… although he failed, the hundred thousand vengeful spirits refused to enter the underworld for reincarnation. Even the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva couldn’t help, and this matter shocked the entire Yin realm and the Emperor of Fengdu. As a result, those with Yin-Yang fates were redefined. At that time, the Yin realm made every effort to prevent anyone with a Yin-Yang fate from growing up, but unfortunately, they couldn’t avoid the will of heaven.”
He paused for a moment and continued, “Later, I saw that there was jiangshi blood in your heart.”
What Du Shuo didn’t mention was that when he first saw Chen Yang, he had considered killing him right then. The timing of reincarnation was dictated by the will of heaven, and even he couldn’t change it. As a result, those born with Yin-Yang fates were often killed to prevent them from becoming a disaster to the human world. To be blunt, people with such fates rarely lived to adulthood.
But when Du Shuo saw that there was still zombie blood in Chen Yang’s heart, and that the blood was absorbing the Yin energy around him, protecting him, his curiosity got the better of him, and he didn’t act. With a single change in thought, he ultimately fell into it.
Chen Yang’s expression changed. “Jiangshi blood?”
Wu Kui’s hand moved faster over his beard. He would always do this when he was either nervous or happy, and his emotional changes were clearly reflected in how frequently he touched his beard. After spending years with him, Chen Yang naturally understood, “Grandfather Wu, tell me quickly!”
“Aiya! It’s exactly what you think!” Wu Kui, feeling guilty, turned his back to avoid looking at Chen Yang. “Otherwise, how could you have managed to marry the Great Emperor in the Ghost Marriage? People with Yin-Yang fates, as they grow older, their Yin energy increases, not decreases. You don’t know how thick the Yin energy around you was back then. When I looked at you, I couldn’t even see your figure. There was a three-meter radius of dense Yin fog around you, and the fog kept spreading, pushing like ocean waves, attracting evil spirits and ghosts. Jiangshi blood is the most Yin and toxic thing, and jiangshis are outside the Six Realms, which makes evil spirits fear them. If the jiangshi blood is placed on your chest, those things will be scared away. Even if stronger evil spirits see through the disguise, they would still be cautious.”
Wu Kui rambled on, “You don’t know, jiangshi blood is really useful. Kui Xuan is a genius. She even invented new witchcraft to take the blood from your heart and place it in your chest without harming you…”
Chen Yang interrupted him, “Does it harm Kui Xuan?”
“Not much. There’s no real harm, truly.” Wu Kui slowly turned his head to glance at Chen Yang. The latter silently stared back at him, his eyes steady, like a young boy of fourteen or fifteen who had suffered from the torment of evil spirits and lost his loved ones. His gaze was stubborn, determined, optimistic, and full of hope.
Wu Kui felt both bittersweet and relieved. Chen Yang had survived, living a healthy and happy life, with family, loved ones, and friends—just like any ordinary person. He sighed and softly said, “The only thing is, when the heart blood is taken out, it’s very painful.”
After Wu Kui passed away, his exceptional deeds during his life earned him the title of City God. He requested to be transferred to Pingcheng. His duties included protecting the city, eliminating evil, monitoring the people’s well-being, and judging life and death. These were the responsibilities and powers of a City God. Yet, he couldn’t even manage to get Kui Xuan out of the ancient tomb.
Chen Yang stood frozen, holding his chest as he asked, “Is it still there?”
Wu Kui knew what he was asking, but didn’t answer. Instead, he looked at Du Shuo. Du Shuo spoke, “It’s no longer there.”
“Why?”
Du Shuo replied, “Jiangshi blood is highly toxic and extremely Yin. If it’s left too long, it could turn you into a jiangshi as well. So I took it out,” he continued, “Then I placed my own heart blood inside. The blood of a god is strong enough to ensure that you will never be targeted by evil spirits.”
Chen Yang fell silent.
Du Shuo and Wu Kui quietly maintained the silence, allowing Chen Yang the time to gather his thoughts in the quiet.
For Chen Yang, Kui Xuan was a little girl he had just met, someone who made his heart ache. But he realized that it wasn’t just a recent acquaintance—they were deeply entangled in fate. So deep that he had to bear this responsibility and repay the karmic debt.
After a long pause, Chen Yang asked, “I want to take Kui Xuan out of the ancient tomb.”
Since it was his karma, he had to repay it.
Du Shuo smiled gently, his expression soft. “The danger with Kui Xuan lies in the jiangshi blood. If we take the jiangshi blood out and replace it with regular blood, it will be fine. It won’t hurt, but it will lower her magical powers. She will need to change her blood every six months.”
The jiangshi blood wasn’t like normal blood; it was contained only in the heart, so the jiangshi blood was essentially the heart’s blood.
Chen Yang grabbed Du Shuo’s sleeve, his voice full of gratitude as he softly said, “Thank you.”
Du Shuo gently held the back of Chen Yang’s neck, his eyes full of tenderness.
Wu Kui quietly left, and when Chen Yang wasn’t looking, he spoke to Du Shuo, “I thought you wouldn’t agree.”
Du Shuo stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the night sky. “She saved Yang Yang, and I am grateful to her. Besides, if we don’t repay this, their karma will never be resolved.”
Wu Kui’s expression was a bit strange. He had always thought that in the relationship between Du Shuo and Chen Yang, Du Shuo was the dominant one, and that Chen Yang depended on him. Du Shuo noticed his thoughts and said, “Yang Yang depends on me, but he never relies on me.”
Wu Kui smiled silently, then bowed to him with his hands clasped and disappeared.
The next day, Chen Yang explained the situation to the Kou family. After all, the Kou family had been guarding the ancient tomb for many years, so it was necessary to inform them. The elders of the Kou family were deeply moved after hearing the story, especially after learning that the potential danger of the jiangshi blood could be resolved. Their sympathy overwhelmed them, and all the opposition they had shown earlier in the morning was gone. Uncle Kou even cried so hard that he could hardly speak, holding his brothers and seeking comfort.
The brothers patiently endured as Uncle Kou wiped his snot and tears on their clothes. When they saw how emotionally fragile he was—more so than a young girl—they threatened him, “I’ll call your sister-in-law!” Scared, Uncle Kou hiccupped and quickly tried to deny that he had been crying.
When entering the tomb room, there were four people: Chen Yang, Du Shuo, Kou Xuanling, and Lu Xiuzhi. Du Shuo and Lu Xiuzhi nodded to each other when they met. At first, their attitudes were quite cold. However, Du Shuo noticed that Lu Xiuzhi was willing to act weak just to deceive the straightforward Kou, and Lu Xiuzhi saw Du Shuo occasionally show signs of fatigue, only to quickly recover and become energetic after Chen Yang expressed concern. This made them develop a slight mutual understanding, and they exchanged more words.
When Kui Xuan saw Chen Yang, her eyes sparkled, and she clearly showed a happy smile. But when she saw Du Shuo, she became wary. After realizing his relationship with Chen Yang, she seemed a little gloomy. “If I had saved Chen Xiaoyang earlier, he wouldn’t have had to suffer.”
Chen Yang smiled and said, “I didn’t suffer.”
Kui Xuan asked, “Really?”
“Mm,” Chen Yang nodded.
“Okay then.” Kui Xuan took Chen Yang’s hand and tried to give him a treasure, saying, “Jiang said that outside, you need currency. I can give you a lot of gold and silver.”
“No need,” Chen Yang stopped Kui Xuan and told her about the plan to change the jiangshi blood, asking if she was willing.
Kui Xuan asked softly and with confusion, “Can I leave?”
Chen Yang nodded firmly, “Yes. Kui Xuan can leave the tomb, go outside, see more people, play many games, and eat lots of delicious food.”
Kui Xuan shook her head, “Just being able to leave is enough.” She hugged Chen Yang’s arm. “Meeting Chen Xiaoyang is already enough.”
She had always had very little, and even if she wanted something, she didn’t know what to ask for. Because she didn’t know what was outside, whenever she did find something she wanted, getting it made her feel completely satisfied.
Such an obedient child—who wouldn’t cherish her?
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