He and It Chapter 175: Inquire Here (3)

Chapter 175: Inquire Here (3)

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: GaeaTiamat

A breeze carried a gold ingot-shaped cloud that swayed gently as it flew forward.

As the most favored disciple of the sect, Meng Xiaotang possessed numerous treasures and curious items. Knowing that Liu Fuguang was too weak to ride a sword due to his injuries, she came up with a solution. From her bag of treasures, she took out a mount called the “Fortune Gathering Cloud.” This cloud could gather surrounding clouds as it flew, and over time, the ingot-shaped cloud could expand to the size of a house.

Both she and Liu Fuguang sat on it, and despite Sun Yinian’s usual seriousness, he couldn’t resist joining in the fun. The three of them rode on the whimsical cloud toward their destination.

In the Two-Yin Cave, Sun Yinian was among the outstanding youths of his generation. Wherever he went, he was respectfully addressed as “Senior Brother Sun.” Now, engaging in such a ridiculous activity, he couldn’t help but wonder what acquaintances would say if they saw him like this…

While he pondered, he noticed Liu Fuguang was smiling, mimicking Meng Xiaotang’s posture, then sitting crookedly without a care for his image. Sun Yinian knew that since Liu Fuguang could discern Meng Xiaotang’s cultivation level at a glance, it meant that before his dantian was destroyed, his own realm must have been higher than hers. After feigning death and sleeping for many years, he could still blend in harmoniously with the younger generation, which demonstrated his genuinely kind nature.

“Don’t be so restrained, Yinian,” Liu Fuguang said as he gathered some surrounding clouds into a ball while he smiled at him. “You need to learn to relax. It’s not good to be so tense all the time. Passing through the ‘Gate of Conscience’ is not easy.”

Sun Yinian’s heart skipped a beat.

The “Gate of Conscience” was the stage when one achieved when their Foundation Establishment reached perfection, they were about to break through to Golden Core. It was the most crucial stage before merging with their Golden Core. The trip down the mountain had not only been to protect his junior sister but also to find an opportunity for a breakthrough to allow him to smoothly form his core and officially embark on the path to immortality.

His cultivation base is even higher than mine, Sun Yinian pondered. Then, what realm was he in before? Golden Core, Nascent Soul?

Now, he thought. There’s a new explanation for his refusal to accept my junior sister’s assistance. Someone who could destroy the dantian of a Golden Core expert might be terrifying indeed. That person might not be dead, and they definitely possessed a formidable power that ordinary people couldn’t contend with. In those circumstances, his rejection of my junior sister’s offer was quite reasonable.

“May I ask for your guidance?” Sun Yinian asked respectfully.

“The path of inquiry always involves more harm than good,” Liu Fuguang smiled. “But don’t underestimate the importance of relaxation. It’s one thing to talk about it, but it’s another to put it into practice.” After a pause, he asked, “You haven’t told me yet, what were you coming down the mountain to do?”

Sun Yinian hesitated for a long time. He was unable to be as unrestrained as Meng Xiaotang. He adjusted his posture cautiously before sitting in a less formal manner on the cloud.

“Is there such a thing as an ‘undead’ in the young master’s life?”

“‘Undead.'” Liu Fuguang shook his head. “I haven’t heard of it. What is an undead?”

Sun Yinian sighed softly. “Six thousand years ago, the Ghost Dragon ferried the sun. Since then, the world has been difficult. Each day is more perilous than the last. That dragon carried the light of the sun on its back, and stained Xihe’s ¹ great sun a deep, bottomless black…The sky only saw the dark sun, and gradually every baby born came with natural defects. Those born without ears, nose, mouth, or eyes were considered lucky, but those who lacked internal organs, like spleen, stomach, and bones, were tragic victims.”

Upon hearing the words “Ghost Dragon ferried the sun,” Liu Fuguang’s smile disappeared entirely, and his eyelashes trembled uncontrollably. His originally bloodless face turned even paler, which sent shivers down one’s spine.

He sat in front, with his back to Sun Yinian. At that moment, he turned his face away, so the others naturally couldn’t see his reaction, and they just assumed he was listening intently. 

Sun Yinian continued to speak, “The impact of the dark sun is far more than just physical deformity. The crimson-black sunlight is full of venom. If a person is exposed to it year after year, their mentality will inevitably warp, and they may become cruel and violent. Eventually, even their skin will slowly turn a dark purplish-red color. How can they be taught righteousness like that? Therefore, it is also called the ‘poison of turbid hearts.'”

At that point, Sun Yinian shook his head in concern. “The demons of various worlds are dancing wildly, and it truly resembles the chaos of the end times. Cultivators have means to resist the light of the dark sun, but ordinary people can only endure it. Fortunately, about three or four thousand years ago, the immortals of the upper realm joined forces, and released thick clouds and mist to cover some of the light of the dark sun, which gave us a chance to breathe.”

“…Ghost Dragon?” Liu Fuguang murmured. It felt like a chill was seeping through his bones, piercing his heart and causing unbearable tremors. “You…call him the Ghost Dragon?”

“Yes, that half-ghost, half-god. Neither dead, nor alive…” Meng Xiaotang said. She was about to continue, when she suddenly noticed his condition. “Oh dear, Brother Fuguang, are you feeling very cold? Why are you shaking so violently?”

She hurriedly took out a lynx fur cloak from her bag of treasures and wrapped it around Liu Fuguang to protect him from the biting cold. With the lynx fur cloak in hand, even if they were to venture deep into the snowy mountains, they wouldn’t need to fear. But the chill emanating from Liu Fuguang seemed to originate from his very core, and intensified with external stimulation. Even without drawing nearer, both the senior brother and junior sister could hear the chattering of his teeth.

“It’s…it’s nothing…” Liu Fuguang murmured softly. “It’s just my old ailment. It’s hard to recover from. I’m sorry for burdening you both…”

“Those with damaged dantian are naturally weak in spirit and prone to cold.” Sun Yinian hurriedly retrieved a warming pill, dissolved it in water, and fed it to him slowly. “What are you saying, sir? Are you suggesting that our Twin Grottos can’t accommodate a sick person?”

Although they had just met an hour ago and were originally strangers to each other, fate had brought them together. Meng Xiaotang had ventured down the mountain for the first time, while Sun Yinian was seasoned, yet they both saw Liu Fuguang as an extraordinary individual, and were willing to let down their guard and wholeheartedly care for him.

“Thank you, thank you.” Liu Fuguang’s complexion improved slightly as he sighed with gratitude. “Meeting you both is truly my fortune.”

“You flatter me, sir. It’s nothing at all,” Sun Yinian coughed lightly. In truth, he was almost beaming with pride at the compliment, while Meng Xiaotang, who had even less restraint, bit her lip and fidgeted excitedly like an eager puppy.

To prevent his junior sister from blurting out anything inappropriate due to her excitement, he quickly added, “We were just talking about the turbid hearts realm. Sir, you must have understood the origin of the corpse men. The so-called undead are those with severely damaged bodies who should have died, but after being exposed to the sun for a long time, lose their minds and undergo physical transformations, and thus become terrifying monsters. Most undead lack limbs, yet they move extremely swiftly and possess immense strength. Ordinary people often find it difficult to deal with such abnormalities and can only rely on cultivators to intervene and eliminate them.”

“So, my first mission from the sect was to assist the people of Little Golden River in eradicating undead!” Meng Xiaotang exclaimed loudly. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she was clearly waiting for praise, and almost had “Aren’t I amazing?” written on her forehead.

Sure enough, Liu Fuguang’s expression showed approval as he reached out a slender, snow pale hand and gently touched Meng Xiaotang’s head.

Instantly, Meng Xiaotang’s cheeks flushed red, and she almost emitted a panicked squeak. 

Sun Yinian sensed that Liu Fuguang was experiencing a bout of weakness at the moment, and quickly pulled her to his side, as he said, “Junior sister is young and energetic. Sir, you needn’t pay attention to her.”

“It’s okay,” Liu Fuguang chuckled, his voice hoarse. “Xiao Tang is very lovely.”

As they spoke, the three of them wobbled towards the border of Little Golden River. The clouds and mist in the sky had dissipated, leaving the pale moonlight to shroud the land in deathly silence, as if a solid coat of paint had been brushed over the earth’s mountains and rivers.

Liu Fuguang had intended to stay silent, but when he saw the desolate moon hanging alone in the sky, he couldn’t help but whisper in horror, “The moon…”

Sun Yinian followed the direction of his gaze, and also looked up as he murmured, “If the sun has perished, how can the moon escape, correct? Fortunately, moonlight is harmless, which allows mortal beings to move about at night.”

When he listened to his words, Liu Fuguang simply nodded absently, then fell silent. The sun and moon have already passed, and the Mortal Realm is no longer what it used to be…My feigned death and self-mutilation, in the end they were futile endeavors!

Speaking about anger and hatred was already to speak of frivolous and useless emotions. Even with the warmth of the lynx fur, he couldn’t resist the slightest cold wind that brushed against his dantian, which left him shivering even seated high up. The wind froze his organs, like being subjected to the punishment of icy needles.

He clenched the cloak tightly until his knuckles turned blue, as he recalled distant and hazy memories, and thought of his near-death experience and all the pain he had endured. He felt as if his heart and liver were about to burst. His throat convulsed violently, and he almost regurgitated a mouthful of extremely foul-smelling hot blood.

Liu Fuguang forced himself to suppress the urge to inhale deeply, as his lips trembled. He knew that with his dantian destroyed, he was already on the brink of death. If he were to succumb to great sorrow or anger at that moment, and a mouthful of blood were to spurt out, once the balance was lost, it would be like igniting a line of gunpowder, and there would be no end to the blood. Then, not even a Grand Luo Immortal could save him.

He forcibly swallowed the blood, but his mind remained in turmoil and couldn’t be calmed. His expression gradually shifted from grief and anger to blankness, then from blankness to a bewildered emptiness. As he faced the dying cold silence of the moonlight, he felt as lifeless as ashes; temporarily forgetting all joys of life.

Thousands of years had passed, dynasties had fallen, and loved ones had vanished. I should have long been an untimely dead man, so why did I wake up at this moment? Liu Fuguang thought numbly. Do they want me to seek revenge? How could I ever retaliate against Yan Huan…

No, I can’t call him Yan Huan anymore. He’s now the Sun Ferrying Ghost Dragon, who caused the sun’s curse. Every move he makes affects the vast world illuminated by sunlight. How powerful and majestic that uncontrollable force is! How could I, alone and powerless, seek revenge against him?

In the past, I loved him deeply and often thought in my heart that even if I were to give up the throne and live a life of poverty and wandering with him, I would gladly accept it. Looking back now, what a ridiculous dream! Could a mere pair of ordinary lovers compare to such an immense power?

His emotions were in extreme turmoil, and caused even the passing clouds to ripple with waves of pain. Sun Yinian, startled, cautiously asked, “Sir?”

Meng Xiaotang also asked anxiously, “Brother Fuguang, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Liu Fuguang shook his head. In the moonlight, Meng Xiaotang noticed a dark tint on his lower lip and immediately exclaimed, “Brother Fuguang, you…you’re coughing up blood?”

Sun Yinian was naturally perceptive, otherwise, he wouldn’t have risen to prominence among the younger generation in a prestigious sect like the Heavenly Yin and Yang Sect of the Twin Grottos. Upon a moment’s reflection, he realized that Liu Fuguang must be experiencing some confusion due to the improper timing of his awakening, compounded by the changes in the world and the disorientation they brought, leading to turmoil in his crimson palace ² and a deviation in his mental state.

“We should descend,” he decided decisively. “The astral qi in the high altitude is too heavy. We cannot linger here for long. Let’s find a place to rest down below and let sir rest for the night.”

Meng Xiaotang quickly manipulated her artifact, pressed down on the clouds, and found a spacious road. She transformed her Treasure of Wealth into a small carriage pulled by a white horse, which trotted briskly along the road.

After a long period of adjusting his breath, Liu Fuguang finally regained the strength to speak, after ensuring that he wouldn’t cough up a mouthful of blood as soon as he opened his lips.

“Thank you both for your trouble,” he said in a raspy voice. “My body is indeed a burden…”

“It’s our duty as hosts to take care of guests of the sect. It’s only natural!” Worried that he might decline, Meng Xiaotang hastily interjected, “Besides, you’re from so many years in the past. I’m sure Master Huixin, the head of the academy, would be very eager to see you. It’s not just our decision.”

Sun Yinian added an explanation, “Master Huixin is the leader of the Academy at the Twin Grottos. He’s known for his interest in collecting historical records. If you were to go, he would surely be very pleased.”

As they conversed slowly, the cloud carriage gradually arrived at a village. Meng Xiaotang scanned the area with her divine sense and found it empty, devoid of any people.

“It’s an abandoned village,” she remarked. “It’s been deserted for a long time. There’s a thick layer of dust on all the furniture.”

Sun Yinian commented, “There’s no trace of deathly qi, so Little Golden River must have been troubled by the undead, which forced the residents to relocate.”

Although they were seen as immortals in the eyes of ordinary people, having walked the path of cultivation, they had endured all kinds of hardships and naturally wouldn’t disdain a dilapidated village. Sun Yinian chose a sturdy house, and with his spiritual energy, he cleared away all the impurities and swept the dust away. After he cleaned up, the three of them lay down together.

Sun Yinian originally wanted to add more layers of fur for Liu Fuguang, but Liu Fuguang quickly stopped him and said softly, “We’re away from home, there’s no need to be so particular. Please don’t bother.”

In the darkness, Sun Yinian looked at his eyes, which shone like stars, and felt a warmth in his heart. He nodded silently and followed his advice, and went to rest on the other side.

On the first day, the three of them set off again. It was only then that Liu Fuguang could see the current daylight. The sky was covered in thick clouds, an endless sea of clouds that pressed down on everyone’s heads like a translucent parcel that contained the dark sunlight behind it. They made it almost suffocating to breathe.

“Head this way.” Meng Xiaotang took out a jade slip, infused it with her spiritual energy, activated the map inside and showed it to Liu Fuguang. “This is the target of my training this time. According to the rules, I need to kill three thousand undead for this mission to qualify for my training.”

After a night of recuperation, Liu Fuguang’s mood calmed down a bit. As he looked at Meng Xiaotang, he could already understand why she spoke of killing with such a casual tone. In such chaotic times, when anyone could turn into an undead at any moment, where was the clear boundary for killing?

The cloud carriage, unlike an ordinary horse-drawn carriage, had limitations on speed. Traveling thousands of miles in a day was not a problem. As they approached their destination, Liu Fuguang heard faint noises outside, like the gathering and roaming of a group of wild beasts.

“Ah, that’s the sound of the undead.” Meng Xiaotang pointed with a finger. “Senior brother, I’ll go deal with the enemies. You must watch over Brother Fuguang.”

Sun Yinian nodded. At that moment, his expression was serious. He held a jade slip for recording, as he clearly took on the role of an examiner. He cautioned, “Don’t be rash when facing the enemy. Think of the lessons your sect has taught you. If you find yourself outnumbered, don’t act recklessly. Call for help. Do you understand?”

Meng Xiaotang stuck out her tongue in response, as if to promise. Then, she leaped out of the cloud carriage and drew three small, sparkling swords from her waist. They flew out, ringing as they twirled.

“She’s using flying swords.” The cloud carriage soared higher, and Liu Fuguang brushed aside the cover to watch Meng Xiaotang’s battle. “Being able to wield such weapons shows her talent.”

Sun Yinian smiled wryly. “Sir, if you praise that girl any more, her tail will really be raised to the sky. She’s always been naughty and active, and she likes to multitask. Master decided to teach her how to use this set of Azure Wave Flying Swords.”

Liu Fuguang chuckled silently. As he looked down at the land below, it seemed as if it had been burnt for three days and nights, and left blackened color with no trace of greenery; only endless dead branches. When they swayed in the wind, his expression turned more gloomy, and gradually suppressed his smile.

“Undead come forth and meet your end!” Meng Xiaotang shouted. Her voice was full of spiritual power, like a spring tide, and rolled endlessly through the silent forest.

Attracted by the sound, in an instant, the woods teemed with countless dark, corpse-like monsters. Those undead, even though their bodies were damaged—Liu Fuguang saw some with only one arm and one leg remaining—moved as swiftly as arrows, as they opened their mouths, full of sharp teeth, and charged fiercely at Meng Xiaotang.

The undead had long left the cycle of life and death and could only be considered wandering anomalies in the world. Naturally, they didn’t fear Meng Xiaotang’s cultivation. Meng Xiaotang was dressed in ethereal white clothes, while the undead were dry and blackened, which contrasted sharply. It was like a crazed whirlpool in a black sea, with a central point of bright moonlight.

Meng Xiaotang laughed heartily. The azure waves of the flying swords split three times, each time one sword becoming three, resulting in eighty-one swords. It was as if a silvery mist had dispersed, and surrounded her like an iron bucket, cutting the view of her into scattered pieces. As she stood in the center, she executed myriad hand gestures, and maneuvered the eighty-one flying swords effortlessly.

“Ah!” Sun Yinian exclaimed in surprise as he sat up straight. “When did that girl…refine eighty-one flying swords? Progressing so rapidly?”

Meng Xiaotang smiled, and felt extremely proud and content at that moment.

In a world illuminated by mysterious sun rays, everyone was tainted by the poison of the impure heart. For cultivators, the process of cultivation was also a process of purging that poison. Achieving a flawless, pure state of mind, untainted by even a speck of dirt, was true perfection. However, as long as one was under the influence of the mysterious sun, external contamination was inevitable.

For Meng Xiaotang, the poison of the impure heart manifested as a fiery temperament. She had been irritable since childhood, prone to shouting and raging when things didn’t go her way. To tame that temperament, she endured countless beatings and scoldings. After she was taken to the sect, she spent eight out of ten days contemplating in the bone-chilling ice spring to cleanse the inherent fire poison. Her master even crafted the set of flying swords for her to specifically cultivate her patience and meticulousness.

However, at the moment when the flying swords were unsheathed, Meng Xiaotang’s mind became unexpectedly clear and serene.

—As if she were facing a mirror by a pond, and only seeing a solitary moon reflected quietly in the center.

She became calmer and more meticulous, evenly infusing spiritual energy into the intricate patterns of the artifacts, like operating a set of perfectly synchronized gears, steadily refining the eighty-one azure wave flying swords. At that moment, she was like the solitary moon in the pool, and the sword energy was the water holding up the moon, spreading out evenly lethal ripples, with everything quiet and soundless.

My poison of an impure heart…Could it have been neutralized? she wondered vaguely. But when did it stop affecting me?