Chapter 157: Invitation to a funeral
This night, when darkness encircles the ‘School of Taoism’, a mysterious tint enshrouds the building. All the disciples have already departed, but a small room within is still illuminated by a faint light.
A small lamp sits on the desk, weak candlelight casting warm rays of light over the interior of the room. A pale hand grips a calligraphy brush, ink-stained bristles flowing smoothly over the talisman paper.
No one knows when, but a set of light footsteps ring out in the silent corridor. Suddenly, a pair of demonic red eyes peers in through the small gap of the ajar door. A split-second later, the door is slowly pushed open, revealing a brightly smiling youngster standing in the doorway.
"Junior Martial Uncle, I heard that you have spent the last few days within this school, ceaselessly drawing talismans." Xu Mingyi smiles and steps into the room with a bounce in his step, an inquisitive light in his eyes. "Junior Martial Uncle, what kind of charms are you drawing?"
"It's only a simple evil repelling charm." Huo Zaiyuan doesn't prevent Xu Mingyi from taking a seat next to him, picking up a completed charm between two fingers.
"Wow, it's so beautiful! Junior Martial Uncle, may I study it more closely?" A worshipping light shines in his eyes as Xu Mingyi asks with eager anticipation.
"Of course, you may. Go ahead." The corners of Huo Zaiyuan's mouth curls upwards, generously permitting him to take the talisman.
A dazzling smile breaks out on Xu Mingyi's face as he takes the paper, sneakily stealing a glance at Huo Zaiyuan who has started to work on another charm.
Seeing the wholly focused look, a crafty smirk flashes across Xu Mingyi's lips. With a flick of his fingers, the scarlet ink on the talisman pinched between his fingers suddenly darkens to deep, coal-black before reverting back to its original colour.
"Junior Martial Uncle, I have finished studying it. Here, returning it to you!" Angelic smile back in place, Xu Mingyi hands the talisman over.
Brush completing the final stroke, Huo Zaiyuan looks up, stretching a hand out to take the evil repelling charm.
"It's already late. You should go back and rest. Sleeping too late at night will not be good for your body." Covering the cinnabar jar, Huo Zaiyuan sets the calligraphy brush back in its rack.
"Un, it's time I went to bed." Charming pink lips curling into an enticing smile, Xu Mingyi's fingers twitch, black energy seeping from his fingertips. "However, I will not spend tonight alone. Junior Martial Uncle, how about accompanying me?"
As the last words fall from his mouth, Xu Mingyi's hand darts out, a black talisman shooting towards Huo Zaiyuan. The target evades swiftly, causing the black talisman to miss and explode into a cloud of black mist.
A snap of his fingers and a yellow talisman appears between Huo Zaiyuan's fingers. But he doesn't move to attack, merely staring at Xu Mingyi with a face full of cautiousness.
"You've finally revealed your fox tail," Huo Zaiyuan comments lightly.
The bright smile on his face doesn't waver. If one disregards the withered left hand that looks like it belongs on a mummified corpse, one will think Xu Mingyi is just another ordinary human.
"Tsk, tsk. So it seems that Junior Marital Uncle is already suspicious of me early on. Don't tell me my act as a zealous priest has flaws?"
"The Junior Martial Uncle of a demon, I am afraid I am not worthy of being addressed as such!"
"Is that so? Since that's the case, then how about being called fuel to increase my strength? You, this Taoist priest with a high-level cultivation!" Pupils blown wide, demonic energy flashes through his eyes as Xu Mingyi raises his withered hand and charges towards Huo Zaiyuan.
Without a trace of panic in his body language, Huo Zaiyuan condenses his inner spiritual power and sents a stream into the talisman between his fingers. With a 'ping', the yellow paper streaks forward to meet the attack.
The moment the talisman leaves his fingers and emits pure spiritual energy, several streams of black light speeds towards Huo Zaiyuan. Abruptly, he feels a burst of pain explode around his neck and torso, causing him to collapse heavily to the floor.
"Haha…fool! That talisman in your hand contains my demonic energy. When pure and evil energy meets, a negative reaction will occur. Once your cultivation self-destructs, you will become a sitting duck!" Xu Mingyi sneers as he leisurely approaches Huo Zaiyuan who is currently bound by ropes of black mist. Lifting a foot, he brings it down viciously on the motionless body.
"Urgh…" Groaning in pain, Huo Zaiyuan frowns before glaring fiercely up at the smug sorcerer. "What is your purpose for doing this?"
"Purpose…of course, it is to increase my strength ah. Hmph…Tian Jizi, that old coot. He made me waste so much time fawning over him only for him to accept you as his disciple…" Saying this, he stomps down on Huo Zaiyuan again. "However, I don't need that title anymore as I have gained Lord Master's[1] mercy. It was He who bestowed upon me this formidable power, enabling me to control undead… Hehehe…it was also thanks to Him that I realise you possess such remarkable spiritual power. A spiritually rich body…" Crouching down slowly, he moves his face closer to Huo Zaiyuan's. "Before, you mysteriously vanished for a year. I thought something must have happened to you. Imagine my surprise when you appeared again, and your power increased even more. Did you know how excited I was? But…whenever I see you interacting with Long Zhanye, I was so worried that stupid man will foolishly taint your body in a moment of lust, ruining everything you have worked so hard for. Fortunately, he has been gone from the safe zone for two days now, and you…you locked yourself in this small room, drawing talisman day and night. Therefore, I decided to seize my chance. Tonight, I will let you drown in ecstasy…"
The mummified hand stretches towards Huo Zaiyuan, razor-sharp fingernails easily slicing through his shirt and buttons.
"Is that so?" A corner of Huo Zaiyuan's mouth curls up.
"You can still laugh at a time like this…" Damn! It's a trap!
No matter how fast Xu MIngyi's reaction is, the silver streak of light is much swifter, amputating the withered hand in one stroke.
"Arghh - !!" A howl of agony rips out of his throat as ink-black blood flows from the stump his left forearm has become.
The black mist ropes around his body loosen and Huo Zaiyuan makes quick work of it. In a matter of a few seconds, he stands a few meters away from Xu Mingyi, free of binds.
"Tsk, tsk, you pathetic person who sold your soul to the devil ah. Today's invitation to a funeral[2] was specifically crafted for you. Savour it thoroughly!" Six talismans fly out as soon as Huo Zaiyuan finishes speaking, sticking onto the closed door of the room in an array pattern. The lamp placed on the desk slowly levitates and float upwards, giving off a brilliant, silvery light.
"Argh - you - what kind of array is this! You filthy cur! I will kill you!" Xu Mingyi's face twists into a malicious expression. His once flawless, fair skin turns greyish-green, withering at a rapid pace. Dark eyes bleed into a demonic scarlet, teeth becoming shark-like. At the end of it, a monster stands in the place of the angelic-looking youth.
"An evolved zombie?" Huo Zaiyuan regards the creature, unfazed. Waving his left hand, a silver jian appears.
"Human…I'm a human…as long as I can obtain your spiritual power, I will be the first advanced form of humankind! Huo Zaiyuan…hurry up and die!!" With a low, vindictive snarl, Xu Mingyi opens his jaws wide to bear his teeth and pounces towards Huo Zaiyuan.
Resolutely standing his ground, Huo Zaiyuan lifts Liu Ying and stabs forward, pure power humming through the length of the silver blade.
~~~
"Zombies that are able to look like humans for a certain period of time is not an inconceivable thought," Long Haotian notes as he stares at the headless, mummy-like corpse, eyebrows drawn together. Flicking his wrist, the white cloth settles back over the body and he can't help sighing. "This matter is becoming increasingly strange."
"This is not the case of zombies looking more human-like. Rather, it is the evil[3] energy hiding within Xu Mingyi that enables him to absorb people's life force through sexual intercourse. This also allows him to maintain human form," Tian Jizi corrects from the side. "This child has always been rather outstanding from a young age, which is why I permitted Hua Yi (Tian Jizi's first disciple) to instruct him carefully. Little did I expect this child will walk down the wrong path…and ultimately become a demonic being's puppet."
"If it wasn't for 'him' discovering the battalion commander's nephew, as well as the fact that a few ‘School of Taoism's’ disciples became rather odd, this Xu Mingyi would have become the harbinger of a large disaster," Huo Zaiyuan speaks up. "I first met Xu Mingyi in E’s safe zone. At that time, I didn't feel anything off, but when I met him for the second time in A City, I instinctively felt like rejecting his presence as soon as he approached. If he wasn't yet a puppet in E City, that means his power became larger after he entered A City."
"What he means by a spiritually rich body is a body with spiritual power flowing through one's meridians. Like everything else, it has both advantages and drawbacks. Little Yuan, you must be more careful in the future." Tian Jizi gazes worriedly at the disciple he takes the most pride in.
Although he has not yet imparted a lot of knowledge regarding the Taoist Arts to this child, based on innate talent and skills alone, he has complete confidence in Huo Zaiyuan.
"I understand. Master, you too have to take good care of your body. These days, grandfather has quite a bit of spare time on his hands and misses your company. Why not take some time to relax and accompany him for tea?" Huo Zaiyuan grins softly at the Head priest.
"All right, this Elder knows. From here on, it's your turn to step up."
"Understood."
This time, their carefully-crafted plan allowed them to eliminate Xu Mingyi. That mysterious demonic being behind the scenes would surely realise sooner or later. Therefore, what will come next is…
Footnotes:
[1] It’s like "Master-sama" but since I’m always translated it to “Lord”, I’ll do the same here.
[2] A plan/trap crafted in a way that deceives a criminal or suspect to confess their sins with their own mouth. It actually translates to “inviting one into a boiling pot” but I reckon “funeral” sounds better.
[3] Just thought to explain why I use "evil" and "demonic" instead of simply sticking to one. This is because I do distinguish between "邪" and "魔", the former I translate as "evil" and the latter "demonic". I don't know if the author means for them both to be the same, but I would rather not make assumptions just yet. Hence, I use both of them according to what the author writes in the raws.