Chapter 52

The heads of the major sects in the Zhong Zhou gathered in the solemn and anciently decorated hall. At this moment, however, the mournful tune of an erhu echoed throughout, filled with a tragic and desolate atmosphere, reminiscent of a lonely moon hanging over a vast desert, with the wind and sand stirring as the ancient city lets out a soft sigh.

Amidst the erhu’s melody, a distant and ancient voice began to speak, telling the tale of the rise and fall of the Lanju Realm, the desperate struggle of its cultivators, the final sacrifice, and how the spirits, unable to dissipate due to being trapped in a binding formation, became muddled with resentment, leaving behind only a single, unwavering obsession in their minds:

Stop the sacrifice.

“I’ve walked through the entire ancient city,” Lin Du suddenly spoke up. “Aside from the life-sacrificing ritual, there’s also a formation designed to gather yin energy and nurture resentment. From the start, those people had prepared for two possibilities.”

“A resentful spirit taking over a body,” the city lord added. “They once said that if the Lanju Realm was destined to collapse into a small world, becoming a playground for future generations to exploit, then those who came later would have to pay the price.”

“This was originally our home. Why should it become a secret realm that you plunder for resources and then discard?”

“If you enter, then you must be prepared to have your bodies taken over by them.”

“I just didn’t expect them to cultivate the red willow.”

Among willow trees, the red willow that grows in the desert is the fiercest.

“I’ve given Lin Du the complete list of names. I know my fate is sealed. The past cannot be undone, but the future is still within your grasp. I hope you will not follow in our footsteps.”

With a final sigh, the voice dissipated into the air, and the music gradually reached its conclusion, leaving the room in silence.

A remnant thought is not the same as a remnant soul; while a remnant soul can have more complex and powerful emotions, a remnant thought simply clings stubbornly to the most deeply rooted obsession from before death.

Yuan Ye raised his hand to wipe his eyes.

Feng Chao glanced at him. “You’re still a child—why are you crying?”

Yuan Ye was too embarrassed to admit that he had just yawned and was feeling sleepy, so he shook his head.

“But this city lord never actually saw the willows devouring people, did he?”

“Oh, as for that, there is some indirect evidence,” Lin Du said as she tossed a pile of bones into the center of the hall.

All the elders collectively held their heads in exasperation. Lin Du’s reputation was well-deserved—she really did pick up anything!

“And one more thing. After the four of us from the Supreme Sect returned, we were attacked by a group of people in white robes. The leader’s technique was unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and his cultivation had already reached the Qian Yuan stage, yet he was not listed on the Chongxiao Rankings.”

Feng Chao paused and said, “If these people have formed an organization and infiltrated various sects, they could use many methods to cover up their consumption of human blood and essence.”

For example, it’s not uncommon for a disciple to die on a training journey.

“Why were they in such a hurry to ambush my disciples as soon as they returned? If you calculate the timing, maybe there really was something monitoring them from within.”

The sect leaders all fell silent.

If that’s the case, these people have hidden themselves very well.

But among all the evidence presented, nothing is more telling than the ambush on the Supreme Sect.

No one from Zhong Zhou, or even from the Dongming Realm, would dare to try and ambush the Supreme Sect.

Only someone from outside would think that having numbers and good equipment would be enough to successfully ambush Supreme Sect disciples.

And let’s not forget that Immortal Lord Yan Ye and the previous sect leader haven’t even ascended yet.

The disciples scattered outside, training and gathering resources, form the Supreme Sect’s largest intelligence network. If they encounter someone on the sect’s wanted list, they are to execute them on the spot, regardless of the reason.

“So, it seems clear that something not of this world has infiltrated.”

“Then, should we find those involved from back then and conduct a soul-searching?”

The conversation that followed was beyond the level of Lin Du and Yuan Ye, so they were escorted to a separate table with the younger disciples from other sects to enjoy some tea and snacks.

Lin Du absentmindedly nibbled on an osmanthus Heart Sutra while pretending to read a scripture. Yuan Ye, noticing his Junior Sister’s seriousness and feeling a bit guilty under the watchful eyes of the other sect elders, pulled out a book of his own.

An elder glanced over and couldn’t help but be impressed. As expected of the top sect in Zhong Zhou.

Yuan Ye accidentally caught a glimpse of his Junior Sister’s book and suddenly noticed something odd about it.

Whose scripture is that thick? And why does it have two layers of spines?

Finally, when the elders got up to chat outside, Yuan Ye leaned in to take a closer look.

“Junior Sister, what are you reading?”

He squinted and saw the Taoist Name in large characters:

“After Being Raised by the Younger Wolf Dog.”

Yuan Ye was silent for a moment. “Junior Sister… what is this?”

This was a sample of a new storybook written by the bookstore owner. Lin Du swallowed the last bite of her Heart Sutra and washed it down with some tea. “Do you want to read it?”

Yuan Ye nodded.

“I’ll give it to you. It’s a new book by Miao Bi Ke. I only gave your Second Senior Sister one copy, and this is the second.”

“Senior Sister Tian Wu has a taste for this kind of story?” Yuan Ye’s eyes widened. “She doesn’t seem like the type to enjoy these kinds of books.”

“Oh, I told her that after reading it, she could burn it as firewood if she wanted.”

Although she couldn’t spoil the plot, Lin Du could easily write a hundred stories based on the original storyline. This second copy was specifically written for her junior nephew. As long as they read it, it might make them more cautious.

Although these stories are somewhat melodramatic and filled with thunderous plot twists, they are undeniably captivating.

Judging by the monthly royalties, Lin Du knew these storybooks were selling quite well.

Yuan Ye started reading, and as he read, his grin gradually faded, replaced by teary eyes as he looked at his Junior Sister.

“I thought the Taoist Name suggested a love story about keeping a beauty hidden away, but then it turned into something where people are being eaten. This is terrifying.”

“Exactly. Raising something, only to eat it once it’s fattened up,” Lin Du said, spreading her hands. “Just like how we raise pigs and geese.”

Literally eaten, in the physical sense.

Yuan Ye scratched his head. So this is what raising someone really means? I thought it was going to be a lighthearted story, but you’re revealing the dark side of human nature?

“So, in this story, the little wolf demon really never loved the little grass demon? It was all just to nurture her, so she could give birth to a spirit fetus, purify its medicinal effects, and then feed it to his clan?”

Lin Du responded, “From the beginning, that was the goal, and in the end, he did it. If you’re asking if there was any love…”

She chuckled, “Even if there was, it wouldn’t have stopped him from eating her.”

Yuan Ye fell silent. “But the little wolf demon taught the cold little grass demon what it means to smile, to feel warmth, to understand emotions, and in the end, he didn’t even know what those things were, did he?”

Lin Du felt that Yuan Ye was finally starting to understand. No wonder in the original storyline, he was just an insignificant character, barely mentioned at all.

The author of the original story didn’t bother with normal characters.

Feeling touched, Lin Du patted Yuan Ye on the shoulder. A wise person, indeed.

Perhaps her expression was too emotional, because Yuan Ye felt a bit uneasy. Just as he was about to speak, the door suddenly opened again.

Lin Du calmly turned a page in her scripture, while Yuan Ye scrambled to hide the storybook inside his Heart Sutra (Record of Laws and Calendars).

Feng Chao, who had come to fetch them, immediately noticed the book that had fallen to the floor.

“After Being Raised by the Younger Wolf Dog.”

Yuan Ye dropped to the ground, trying to cover the book with his body. “Ah, the Sect Master is here! Junior Master, let’s go!”

“…There’s no need for such a grand gesture.” Feng Chao helped him up and smoothly slipped the book into her sleeve with her spiritual power.

“Oh, Lin Du.”

Lin Du calmly closed her scripture. “Yes, Senior Sister?”

“Do you like reading scriptures upside down? Why are you flipping pages from the right side?”

Lin Du’s hand trembled slightly as she held the scripture.

She had been careless.

In the cultivation world, books are written and arranged like ancient texts, with the left representing yang, the right representing yin, the top as yang, and the bottom as yin. Pages are turned from left to right, the opposite of modern practice.

Since she wasn’t really reading, she had unconsciously retained her modern habit and started turning pages from right to left.

Feng Chao smiled at the two pretending-to-be-studious children. “Not only are you not reading properly, but you’ve also learned to fool yourselves.”

She adjusted her sleeves, lifted her chin slightly, and smiled with a hint of pressure. “It just so happens that the tools for the sect’s winter farming need repairs. You two, one a formation master and the other studying the works of Lu Ban Books, can take care of this within the month. I’ll personally check the results.”

Lin Du and Yuan Ye exchanged a glance, then silently lowered their heads in agreement.