Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Ace
Chapter:
Chapter Title: Escape Through the Caves and Secrets Revealed
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The Evil Bodhisattva was furious beyond measure. It slapped its head back on and charged after them in huge strides, shaking the earth and mountains.
Its speed was incredibly fast. A single step of its equaled twenty steps from Chen Shi and the others. Though Chen Shi and company activated their Galloping Horse Talismans, a straight-line chase would mean they absolutely couldn't outrun it.
However, this was Qianyang Mountain, with its ever-shifting terrain—steep cliffs everywhere, deep ravines, dense forests. The Evil Bodhisattva might run fast, but Chen Shi and the others shook it off time and again by exploiting the landscape.
Yet it was truly formidable, repeatedly tracking down Chen Shi and the others before charging after them anew.
Just as their Galloping Horse Talismans neared exhaustion, Chen Shi—carrying Jin Hongying—ducked into a cave. Blackie Pot and Li Tianqing rushed in right behind. Ahead, Chen Shi twisted left and right through the cave with expert familiarity; this clearly wasn't his first time in it.
The cave twisted like a labyrinth, filling Li Tianqing and Jin Hongying with dread. If they had plunged in blindly without a guide like Chen Shi, they might wander till death without finding the exit.
"Chen Shi must've been a total hellion as a kid, crawling into dangerous holes like this. If he were my brother, I'd tan his hide raw!" Jin Hongying thought.
Glowing moss clung to the cave walls—quite the oddity. Once their eyes adjusted to the gloom, they could just make out their surroundings.
The interior was dim and damp, but the air flowed freely. Multiple entrances must link this tunnel to the outside, keeping it breathable.
Unable to find their trail, the Evil Bodhisattva screeched a piercing, bird-like cry of rage. No one could make sense of its words.
"Follow me."
Chen Shi set down Jin Hongying and cinched the book box tighter on his back. He whispered:
They pressed on through the cave, trailing Chen Shi ever deeper.
Jin Hongying and Li Tianqing gauged the distance—they must be inside the mountain's belly now. Further on, and they'd likely tunnel clean through it.
Suddenly, a sheer precipice yawned inside the mountain. Jin Hongying slipped and nearly plummeted, but Chen Shi grabbed her arm in time.
A few rocks crumbled underfoot into the chasm. A full breath passed before the impact echoed from below.
An inner-mountain cliff like this had a path chiseled along the wall—no small engineering marvel, though barely two feet wide. It left them awestruck.
The three humans and one dog pressed flat to the cliff, edging sideways step by step. Halfway across, Li Tianqing spotted massive bones on the facing wall, phosphorescent and thick yet elongated, crawling up from the abyss below.
Too distant to approach, they couldn't tell if true bones or stalactites.
"Qianyang Mountain's full of freaky stuff."
The two mused inwardly.
Without Chen Shi guiding them, they'd never witness such wonders in a lifetime.
They rounded the cliff path to the far side. Another cave mouth ended the trail. They followed Chen Shi onward, distance lost to time, until light bloomed ahead. They stepped into it, blinking till outdoor glare sharpened.
Here lay a tranquil valley, streams pooling into a tarn.
Chen Shi dropped the book box. Inside: his stockpiled spirit meat, some ten pounds remaining.
Besides meat: a small pot, a dog-blood knife, a ladle.
Starved near collapse, the trio and hound. Chen Shi sliced meat for Blackie Pot first, stacked stones for a crude stove—ready to cook and refuel right there.
Nearby trees stood porcelainized; only decayed deadwood resisted, untouched by the domain.
Li Tianqing picked a fresh-fallen old tree, cleaved it with Six Yin Jade Wheel for a cutting board.
Chen Shi diced meat; Li Tianqing chopped fuel with the wheel. Boy teamwork on dinner—while Jin Hongying lounged idle.
Spotting the nearby pool, she eyed her grimy self, lifted an arm, sniffed her pit, grimaced in disgust.
She headed for the water, calling afar:
"I'm bathing. No peeking, you little devils! Peek and I'll pop your eyes!"
Chen Shi and Li Tianqing chorused assent. Poolside rustles followed—clothes shedding.
Compelled by impulse, they stole a glance: a pale, voluptuous back to them, elegant curves, legs slim and straight as chopsticks.
Arms rose to coil her hair; sensing something, she snapped around. Chen Shi diced; Li Tianqing chopped—no eyes on her.
She turned back; boys peeked anew. Too late—Jin Hongying submerged.
"Peeked where you shouldn't? Hope styro grows!" she teased from the water.
"Nothing worth seeing."
Chen Shi sliced with focus, scoffing.
Li Tianqing hauled chopped wood, equally dismissive:
"Nothing special. Seen it before. Age eight, spied cousin bathing!"
Chen Shi:
"Yep. Passed Widow Wang's once—her yard-bathing, all pale and nude. Invited me in; didn't bite!"
From his box, Li Tianqing fetched a fire talisman, kindled flames:
"Sister Hongying bans looks—who wants? Mine's open season."
From baths to bodies, boys swapped lore, debating unknowns with grave solemnity.
Mid fervor, hands struck—one per ear, hoisting.
Jin Hongying—bathed, dressed—loomed behind, ear-twisting, raging:
"Little pervs, hairless yet horny!"
Pain-yelps; she released.
Hair dripping, she tilted to comb black tresses smooth.
Post-woman-talk, Chen Shi-Li Tianqing bonded tighter—
Boys click with boys, sure enough.
Dinner done, Li Tianqing carved three chopstick sets from the wheel. Trio dined.
Jin Hongying sighed, brows knit:
"Damn Zhao clan! Zhao Yanlong's mess, and Zhao Tianbao—new Xinxiang Patrol Governor—sends no fixers. Whole nest deserves beheading!"
Chen Shi stirred, probed:
"Zhao family loosed the Evil Bodhisattva?"
Nod.
"Who else? Raced there at emergence—saw three Zhao aces pulped. Zhao grip on Xinxiang targets Tomb of the True King."
Li Tianqing:
"Guessed Zhao raided Kiln Works for tomb leads, birthed Evil Bodhisattva. Other loot? Not this swarm."
Glare, cold laugh:
"Li kin no saints. Quanzhou distant—why plant Li Kefa as Water Buffalo magistrate sans tomb lure? Grandsons probe not just his death, eh?"
Li Tianqing owned:
"Grandpa 'n' me scout tomb site—for reports."
"You Lis: slyer, maturer than Zhao. Zhao? Your groomed goat."
Puzzled stare.
Li power dwarfs Zhao. Pre-rise claim on Xinxiang? Strength lack? Nah. Fear: solo hold draws ancient peers' envy. Tomb wheres, perils unknown. Breach? Carnage, vitality sapped.
Meat-speared, Jin Hongying:
"Hence: door-wedge, scout. Zhao fits. Rise by your sufferance—swell 'em to tomb-lust. Zhao bleeds; Li unscratched. Bliss!"
Chen Shi:
"Sister Hongying, clans that devious?"
"Devously so."
Earnest:
"Enduring clans endure reasons. Slight none. Exploited Xinxiang Zhao? Leverage chance to root. Once minor; now lords, booming, heroes sprout. No loss."
Chen Shi pondered:
"Zhao births Evil Bodhisattva, slays masses—court skips no trial?"
Laugh:
"Court? Ming Cabinet? Bet Zhao backstopped. Li tests via Zhao; Zhao hugs bigger kin. Overthink less, bro—maybe spin to 'loyal martyrs'!"
Stunned pause:
"Great Ming's royal law?"
Meat crammed mouthwards, laugh:
"King's law—for peasant asses! Lord-minding? Chow down, march!"
Meal packed, trio rolled. Rare-trod path valley-out, long trek: Mirror Lake Manor neared.
Manor sans: Young Master Xiao's palanquin parked, Li Jindou sprawled—life uncertain?
Li Tianqing dashed, nostril-checked, sighed relief.
Li Jindou roused, spied live grandson: shock-joy, then wrath-boil, bellow:
"Scamp dares face gran'pa!"
Li Tianqing baffled—monk sans-cue—hastened:
"Grandpa, I—"
"Grandpa me! You gran'pa, I'm grandson!" Li Jindou spat, livid.
Jin Hongying manor-bound; Chen Shi blocked, headshake:
"Outsiders barred. Max two inside anytime. Danger else."
Manor rules spelled:
"Not manorfolk; headcount unknown. No rash entry."
Prior visit hinted stranger-strike; rules fuzzy. Sneer:
"Young Master Xiao, haul ass out, granny!"
Coffin layers parted; moment: Young Master Xiao emerged. Southwest coffin cracked—Granny Sha stepped forth.
Chen Shi blinked, grasped:
"Granny Sha: founding builder too! Weirder... Grandpa, Granny Sha, Young Master Xiao—linkless seeming, yet bonded oddly... Grandpa's weird crew!"
Emerging duo: wan-faced.
"Farther talk—no wake sleepers. Handle roused? None," Granny Sha warned.
Chill rippled; gaze to other coffins.
Who slumbered therein?
Live-dead? Eternal doze why?
Lakeside: bone-chill bit; Blackie Pot sneezed-shook.
Chen Shi eyed quartet: old, frail, ill, lame—full set. Sigh escaped. Granny Sha: old; Jin Hongying: frail; Young Master Xiao: ill; Li Jindou legs-porcelain: lame. Such "experts" vs. Evil Bodhisattva?