Chapter 275
Chapter 275
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 275
Chapter Title: Chapter 275 Subdue them
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Granny Sha shook her head. "Unless you can mobilize a dozen or so Great Vehicle Realm experts, you might have a shot at fighting him. Little Ten, just drop that idea."
Chen Shi laughed. "Don't worry about this. Focus on recovering. I'll handle it myself."
Even if Granny Sha and the others wanted to worry, they were powerless to do anything. They knew he always had his own plans, so they didn't press further.
Blackie Pot moved faster in the netherworld than in the mortal realm, delivering them to Gaoshan County by the latter half of the night. However, while Chen Shi could activate the Nether Spring游龙 Sword to send them into the netherworld, he didn't know how to use it to return to the mortal realm.
Granny Sha borrowed the游龙 Sword and examined it. "This thing is formed from dragon qi in the mortal realm's mountains, nurtured for thousands of years. But someone disrupted its formation, staining it with Yellow Spring qi. Entering the mortal realm is simple, though—activate the treasure and infuse it with yang qi."
She channeled her own pure yang qi to activate the游龙 Sword. The sharp blade soared into the air, slicing open the boundary between yin and yang. On the other side lay a quiet street, with the clack-clack of a watchman's clapper echoing through the night—a night watchman beating his wooden clapper.
From the sound, it was already the fourth watch.
The group stepped out of the netherworld onto that mortal street.
Suddenly, a metallic clang rang out. Everyone turned toward the noise and saw the watchman drop his clapper to the ground. He stared at them in terror, then turned and bolted, as if he'd seen a ghost.
Granny Sha returned the Nether Spring游龙 Sword to Chen Shi. "You've only activated this sword—you haven't refined it yet. Use yin and yang qi to temper it repeatedly, and it'll unleash its full power. Yin qi lets it traverse the netherworld; yang qi lets it traverse the mortal realm."
Chen Shi said in surprise, "I thought it needed moonlight to open the netherworld."
He escorted Granny Sha and the others to the Red Mountain Hall sub-branch, then dragged Qingyang's corpse from the wooden cart. He climbed onto the roof and laid it out under the moonlight to dry.
Before long, Qingyang came back to life. He reattached his broken bones and jumped down from the roof. But his injuries were too severe—the jolt shattered his nascent soul again, and he died once more.
Chen Shi hauled him back up to the roof for more sunning.
Qingyang revived again and became much more obedient, meekly basking on the roof.
Chen Shi picked some spirit herbs from the small temple and gave them to the three. Their complexions improved somewhat.
Only then did Chen Shi relax. He bid farewell to Zhuge Jian, then departed Gaoshan County with Blackie Pot and the wooden cart, heading for Xijing.
By the time daylight broke and they reached Xijing, roll call was long over. Chen Shi hesitated and glanced toward the Guangji Granary, thinking, "I still need to deal with Zhong Kui. Can't check out who they're planning to ambush."
Full of regret, he skipped the granary and went straight to the Xixiang Guild Hall.
Three or four li from the Guangji Granary, a few shepherds tended their flocks—all ewes heavy with lamb. Nearby, several pregnant cows grazed the same way, scattered across a dozen or so mu of grassland.
Under a tea stall, two or three pregnant women sat with hands on their lower backs, munching on matcha cakes and sipping sweetened water, chatting amiably. But their eyes occasionally scanned the surroundings.
On the road, woodcutters shouldered their loads. Sedan bearers rested under a tree, with a plump woman inside the sedan, fanning herself with a floral handkerchief. She shook it while berating the bearers and urging them onward.
The scene was pastoral, save for the plump woman, who looked like the matron of some high official out for a spring outing—rather out of place.
"He should be here soon."
The shepherds peered down the post road, confusion on their faces.
"Appointed Granary Commissioner just days ago, and already skipping roll call? What a spoiled brat, treating the Great Ming laws like nothing!" one shepherd grumbled.
The old tea seller approached the pregnant women and whispered, "Can you hold out?"
One woman braced her waist against the table, gritting her teeth. "Yes! For Young Master's great cause, the babies can come a few days late—we'll take that bastard down!"
"Oof! He kicked me!" another woman said.
"Not good! I think I'm giving birth!" the third cried.
"Hold on! Hold on! We have to get Chen Shi, that kid!" the others encouraged her.
The woman couldn't hold out and was carried off to deliver.
The plump woman in the sedan was Shen Hongniang, hall master of the Red Matchmaker Society. Her belly was big not from pregnancy, but sheer fatness.
The bearers' trembling legs weren't entirely fake—they truly struggled under her weight.
The Red Matchmaker Society spanned fifty provinces. Though a low-class trade, it was highly profitable.
Xijing was prime territory, packed with nobles whose desires ran wild amid the lights, wine, and rampant luxuries. It spawned all sorts of bizarre fetishes, and officials often indulged in affairs needing a matchmaker's discreet touch.
Shen Hongniang ran that business in Xijing.
She held secrets on countless officials and notables, which kept her alive this long.
Those secrets protected her life but could also end it, so she'd thrown in with Young Master, earning his favor—and survival.
Today's ambush on Chen Shi was her way of repaying that debt.
More cattle and sheep went into labor, but Chen Shi still hadn't shown.
Shen Hongniang's face grew hard. Clutching her floral handkerchief, she gritted her teeth. "This is how the Great Ming falls! Granary Commissioner on day four, already slacking off, skipping duty! Skip today, and tomorrow he'll empty the granary!"
A bearer ventured cautiously, "Still waiting?"
"Wait!" Shen Hongniang snapped through clenched teeth.
They waited till afternoon, everyone starving, but still no Chen Shi.
More livestock gave birth and were led away by the shepherds. Only two pregnant women held out. "What if Chen Shi just skips work altogether?" someone muttered.
Shen Hongniang laughed bitterly in fury. "We've been waiting since the third watch, till the sun's about to set—and still no sign! Is the Guangji Granary even his rice bowl anymore? What are the Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Justice doing? What about the Eastern Depot? Letting this scourge run wild?"
"Hall Master, what now?" a bearer asked.
Shen Hongniang's tone was iron. "Pull back! Rest up! Third watch sharp tomorrow!" Everyone exchanged bitter looks.
The bearers hoisted the sedan and headed for Xijing.
Shen Hongniang's eyes gleamed coldly. "You can skip today, but tomorrow too? This is your post, after all!"
Chen Shi sat in the wooden cart as it rumbled away from Xijing toward Death Valley in Du County.
Blackie Pot raced ahead, Nuannuan riding on his back, giggling nonstop.
This trip to the Xixiang Guild Hall was just to tell Hu Feifei he was taking Nuannuan out. She'd wanted to come along, but he talked her out of it.
Over the past day and night, Chen Shi hadn't closed his eyes for a wink. He'd dashed from Xijing to Death Valley, then the netherworld to Gaoshan County, back to Xijing, and now again to Death Valley. In the cart, drowsiness overtook him.
Suddenly, Chen Shi snapped awake and scanned around. "The spot where we found the relic should be nearby!"
This was East Mountain, one of the three encircling Xijing. The cart wound through the post road amid soaring peaks, but no sign of that colossal black iron pillar. Chen Shi stopped, activated the游龙 Sword with pure yin qi, and cleaved yin from yang. He poked his head into the netherworld.
His head appeared in the netherworld sky, peering about. Turning, he spotted the enormous pillar. He withdrew and looked behind in the mortal realm—nothing.
"Strange, truly strange!"
He tested a few more times—same result.
"There's a massive pillar here in the netherworld, none in the mortal realm. Did the relic era have a netherworld too?" No time for deep study, he pressed on.
By Du County, Nuannuan was out cold in the cart. Chen Shi didn't head straight for Death Valley but booked rooms at an inn in the county seat, tucking the little girl into bed.
Nuannuan woke the moment she hit the sheets, her big dark eyes fixed on him. "Big Brother, Nuannuan's hungry," she whispered.
Chen Shi scooped her up and took her downstairs to the night market for food. Blackie Pot and the cart trailed, snagging their fill too.
Next day, Nuannuan slept till late morning. Chen Shi let her be and headed outside the city early, finding a secluded spot to cultivate the Xiaolang Emperor Canon for half a shichen before returning. He bought black dog blood and cinnabar, then redrew the talismans on the wooden cart and parasol.
Nuannuan woke; Chen Shi fed her, then she romped with Blackie Pot a bit before they set off for Death Valley.
Dusk fell—you shi, when private schools let out. In Wangyou Town of Death Valley, children burst from the schoolhouse, running wild.
Tutor Yong Nan chased after. "Don't run too fast—you'll fall! It's getting dark; stay in town!" Ugly and towering as he was, his nature was gentle; he treated the kids well.
Once the students dispersed, Yong Nan locked up. Outside waited an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old girl, twin braids gleaming black over her chest. She smiled. "Bro, guests at home—waiting for you!"
"Guests?"
Yong Nan followed his sister Yong Xiner home, puzzled.
Nineteen and twins, she was fair and lovely; he was hideous.
Suitors had trampled their threshold after she grew up, but many wanted her as a concubine for rich houses. Furious, he'd beaten the matchmakers off—and offended someone. No more came after.
Someone said he'd chased off Red Matchmaker Society women; now his sister couldn't marry.
Thus, at nineteen, no proposals.
Lately, a Zhuge Jian had come—handsome, if a bit old.
Following her home, Yong Nan saw a wooden cart parked outside, a black dog sitting upfront, grinning at him. He raised his wild brows.
Inside, a youth held a little girl's hand, chatting with his parents in the yard. Spotting him, the youth stood with the girl. "Brother Yong Nan, you chased me hard last night." Yong Nan's gaze fell on the girl—his face changed.
Just then, two suns in the sky slowly merged. The True God's eyes wept blazing divine fire, spreading across tens of thousands of li into a high-altitude fire sea like crimson clouds. The god beyond the heavens fully opened the eye on his brow, becoming a bright moon in the firmament.
Moonlight bathed the earth.
In the same instant, darkness deepened around them. Wangyou Town vanished; ghostfire dotted the landscape—they were in the netherworld! Black and White Impermanence towered behind Nuannuan and Chen Shi as thousand-zhang ghost gods.
Blackie Pot became a giant hound wreathed in hellfire, at Yong Nan's back.
Yong Nan transformed into an even taller red-robed ghost god, aura deep with demonic qi and vast, extraordinary power. He didn't strike but stared shocked at Nuannuan's rear.
In the netherworld sky behind Nuannuan hung a crescent moon.
A crescent utterly unlike the one from the god beyond heaven's brow! Zhong Kui stared, soul shaken.
"Student Zhong Kui pays respects to the Lord of Azure Heavens!" He dropped to one knee and bowed.
Nuannuan lifted her head to the colossal ghost god, solemn. "This office is still a child's body—no need for excessive ceremony!"
Her heart fluttered a bit. Chen Shi had taught her the line; she'd practiced stumblingly all the way. Fail to learn it, no evening outings.
Zhong Kui rose. "This place isn't safe—ghost gods may appear. If they find the Lord of Azure Heavens' whereabouts, we're done for! Let's talk outside."
His sleeve swept; the trio and hound reappeared in the Yong courtyard. Black and White Impermanence vanished.
Moments later, Chen Shi and Zhong Kui stood on the town's stone bridge, water gurgling below. Nuannuan rode Blackie Pot, darting about.
Chen Shi recounted finding Nuannuan. "I heard the netherworld's in turmoil, ghost gods hunting the Lord of Azure Heavens' location. Worried for his safety, I came boldly—please, emerge and lend aid."
Zhong Kui said, "For the Lord of Azure Heavens' safety—duty without question!"
Chen Shi asked, "Who is Tie Chi? Another netherworld bailiff?"
"He's Ox-Head Raksha, a netherworld marshal. We faced pursuit and ambush together, forced to reincarnate here."
Zhong Kui continued, "We didn't speak at birth; even spanked till blooming, we clung to our last breath and remembered who we are. But bound by flesh, by day I'm Yong Nan at Nascent Soul Realm. Only nights reveal my true form. Same for Tie Chi."
"That'll do."
Chen Shi beamed. "One more thing—need your help, brother."
"What is it? Speak freely."
The next night, dusk fell and lamps lit Xijing's bustle.
Boatmen and maids docked their pleasure barge at the Qushang River pier, hailing guests. Chen Shi arrived with a leopard-headed, ring-eyed burly man in red. "We beat the father and daughter till they agree to save my mom?"
The boat maid sensed trouble, shooting her old man a look to scram. He was still baffled.
She grabbed his hand to flee—but thud! An iron-tower brute leaped from shore to deck, blocking escape. His muscles bulged grotesquely, scalp ridged like budding horns.
The boat maid paled.
Chen Shi smiled. "Beat them till they agree to save my mom. Trouble you two." Zhong Kui advanced on the pair.