Guide to the Rebirth of the Evil Woman in the Immortal Realm - Chapter 43

Shen Fuxin woke on the crisp morning that autumn arrived in Taiyin.

She stretched lazily and stepped off the bed. The autumn air held a slight chill. Pushing the door open, she saw that the pomegranate tree in their rented courtyard was heavy with red fruit, perfect for picking.

Shen Fuxin was not the only one with this idea. Ji Ting stood beneath the tree, batting at the pomegranates with a stick like a mortal child. Clearly not greedy, she knocked down only two, holding them in her hands while looking them over.

“Give me one,” Shen Fuxin said.

Ji Ting’s eyes crinkled. She tossed the redder one to Shen Fuxin. “I intended to give this to you anyway. How does the final stage of the Dust Shedding Realm feel?”

“It is alright,” Shen Fuxin replied. “The feeling of the sword moving with my will is quite good.”

After the final stage of Dust Shedding, the next level was Heart Inquiry.

Aside from her internal sword core becoming increasingly round and sturdy, she had one very direct new perception: Shen Fuxin could now see the physical manifestation of spiritual energy.

She did not plan to inform Ji Ting of this. She lowered her head and began peeling her pomegranate. Ji Ting did not press her. The two ate in silence under the tree until the door opened again and someone else walked into the courtyard.

It was Shen Sha. Shen Fuxin squinted, seeing that she too had just awakened from meditation, her face still carrying a trace of daze.

Shen Sha’s red hair was darker in hue and her skin glowed brighter, like a sleek, powerful tigress in her prime. Previously, Shen Sha had always carried an unconscious air of fatigue, likely because her body struggled to support her powerful soul. Now that she had grown spiritual meridians, she could finally strengthen her physical form through cultivation, and she looked much better for it.

Shen Fuxin’s gaze fixed on Shen Sha. She blinked, then looked back at the lazily unenthusiastic Ji Ting.

Since she could now see spiritual energy, she had begun to see the cultivation levels and spiritual power of others.

By mortal standards, Shen Sha was now at the early stage of Foundation Building. Shen Fuxin lowered her eyes. Strangely, no matter how she looked, she could not see through Ji Ting’s cultivation at all. Had Ji Ting already reached the final stage of the God Inquiry Realm, only a step away from godhood?

As a subordinate of Wu Zhen, it was normal for her cultivation to be high. Shen Fuxin watched as Ji Ting knocked down another pomegranate and tossed it to Shen Sha. The three stood side by side under the tree, eating in a silence where no one spoke.

After a few bites, Shen Sha realized she had not yet shared her status. “I can begin cultivating now.”

Shen Fuxin and Ji Ting spoke in unison, “I know.”

Shen Sha stared at them with wide eyes. Shen Fuxin glanced at Ji Ting, but Ji Ting’s eyes darted everywhere except toward her.

What was wrong with these two now? Shen Sha finished her pomegranate in a few bites and decided to ignore them, heading off to wash her hands. Lately, Ji Ting felt an indescribable awkwardness whenever she faced Shen Fuxin, especially since she was still hiding her true identity.

Ji Ting did not intend to tell Shen Fuxin that she was actually Wu Zhen.

A blood feud stood between her and the Divine Realm, and Shen Fuxin was an innocent outsider who had been dragged into it. Moreover, if Shen Fuxin’s mother really was a deity from the Divine Realm, and if that mother had played a part in stabbing her back then, how would that debt be settled? How could she face Shen Fuxin?

Until these matters were resolved, Ji Ting decided to keep Shen Fuxin far away from them.

Though it was selfish to make decisions for another, Ji Ting clung tightly to that selfishness. In her hazy memories, she recalled seeing countless deaths throughout her life, hardening from a vibrant youth on horseback into an unfeeling God of War. After so many years, her blood had likely run cold and the light in her eyes had dimmed.

But having come this far, her heart had changed.

At the very least, she did not want to see Shen Fuxin implicated or killed because of her.

Ji Ting stood under the tree, lost in thought, her mind revolving entirely around the name Shen Fuxin, failing to notice the woman herself walking up to her. Shen Fuxin scanned her with a cold, sharp look, maintaining her usual prickly attitude. “Someone is knocking at the gate.”

Her internal thoughts interrupted, Ji Ting went to open the door.

The visitors were the personal guards of Chu Huaijing. Seeing Ji Ting, they respectfully stepped back and bowed. “Greetings, Immortal. Today is the day of the Divine Sacrifice. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has sent us to invite the Immortals to witness the ceremony outside the palace.”

A carriage was already prepared. Shen Fuxin looked out from beside Ji Ting. Its prestige was no less than the one used by the Third Prince to bring them to the palace. Likely considering Shen Sha’s large frame, this carriage was exceptionally large, custom built specifically to welcome them.

“What sort of day is the Divine Sacrifice?” Shen Fuxin asked. “Is there anything worth seeing?”

“To answer the Immortal, the Divine Sacrifice is Taiyin’s decennial festival. Not only the citizens of the capital, but many from the provinces come to witness it,” the guard said with a lowered head. “Her Majesty and the Highnesses will appear outside the palace to spend the day with the people.”

It sounded quite lively.

Shen Fuxin declined the carriage. Taking her silver, she began to walk out. Shen Sha watched the others follow, long accustomed to this. She had realized one thing during these days: Ji Ting would always indulge her.

Seeing the Crown Prince’s guards look troubled, Shen Sha said kindly, “When you return to report, tell your Highness that the Immortals wish to experience the flavors of the mortal world.”

The guards left to report, leaving the three to weave through the streets of the Taiyin capital. Shen Fuxin did not lack money and disdained being a miser. She handed a portion of silver to Shen Sha. “Take this and use it.”

Shen Sha hesitated, watching Shen Fuxin and Ji Ting wander through the alleys ahead, looking at everything as if it were brand new.

Shen Fuxin looked around, buying a bit of everything and tucking it into her storage bag. Previously, she never had the chance to choose things for herself. Now that she did, she spent money with a sense of compensatory vengeance. Regardless, the things she wanted were not expensive. They were small trinkets from street artisans, such as cloth cats and painted ceramic dogs. She bought them in front while Ji Ting packed them away behind her, acting as a dutiful assistant.

Shen Sha watched them stop once more at a small stall. It was a sugar painting stall.

The old woman painting the sugar was highly skilled and wore a bright smile. Her stall was fully stocked with various goddess figures, as well as little rabbits and chicks. Shen Fuxin saw them and did not want to leave. Seeing her hesitation, the woman smiled broadly. “What kind would you like?”

Shen Fuxin and Ji Ting stood side by side at the stall. Shen Fuxin looked at Ji Ting, who shook her head, unable to think of anything. Shen Fuxin then said, “Anything is fine, whatever you like.”

The woman smiled as she looked them over and began to paint. With practiced ease, she quickly finished two and handed one to each. “How are they? Do they look like you?”

They did look like them.

Ji Ting looked at the sugar painting. The old woman had painted the two of them, capturing their features, expressions, and clothing in a few vivid strokes. Anyone could tell who they were. As Ji Ting took her own likeness from the woman, Shen Fuxin snatched it away.

Shen Fuxin grabbed the sugar Ji Ting and shoved her own likeness into Ji Ting’s hand. “Trade with me.”

Beside them, Shen Sha’s expression was complicated. These two usually pretended to be distant, but were they not even going to try to hide it now?

Ji Ting looked at the tiny sugar Fuxin in her hand, feeling hesitant. She did not know if she should bite it or lick it. If it were the latter, she had no doubt Fuxin would stab her in the back with a sword.

Shen Fuxin took a bite, decapitating the sugar painting of Little Ting. The sugar made a crisp cracking sound between her teeth.

Seeing Ji Ting holding it without eating, she urged, “Eat it. Why are you not eating?”

Shen Sha could not bear to watch them anymore and turned away to buy a new sugar painting for herself. Ji Ting was flustered by the pressure and feared overthinking things. After a moment, she managed to say, “Why did you trade with me?”

“Eating oneself is far too cruel,” Shen Fuxin said as she chewed on the sugar Little Ting. “But there is no need to show you such pity.”

Indeed, Fuxin was still Fuxin. While Shen Fuxin turned to look at Shen Sha’s sugar painting, Ji Ting turned her back. With a flash, the sugar painting in her hand was silently put away.

Shen Sha turned back holding a sugar painting of a precious saber, only to find Ji Ting’s hands empty.

“You ate it that fast?” she asked, confused. “Is it really that delicious?”

Ji Ting nodded repeatedly. No matter the reason for hiding the sugar Fuxin, she could not let them find out.

The three continued side by side through the bustling capital. The decennial Divine Sacrifice was indeed vibrant. There were even foreign merchants leading horses, their golden hair like the sun and chestnut hair like oak trees, drawing frequent gazes from the Taiyin citizens.

The Divine Sacrifice took place at the Taiyin Goddess Altar. This altar, renovated countless times, had witnessed the coronation of numerous emperors and thousands of sacrifices. The current Emperor of Taiyin was resting in the hall behind the altar, her three children standing before her, each holding a divine statue.

They wore flowers on their heads but were dressed in the battle armor that made Taiyin invincible.

Empress Ruwen wore bright yellow imperial robes. This vivid color did not make her look frivolous. Instead, she appeared more solemn and majestic. She patted Chu Huaijing’s shoulder, touched the top of Chu Huaizhuang’s head, and gently embraced the youngest, Chu Huailing, before stepping back.

She said, “Let it begin.”

The moment the Empress’s voice fell, numerous palace attendants atop the Goddess Altar began scattering lilac petals, symbolizing purity. Beneath the rain of flowers, several people pulled the golden cloth covering the several meter tall Taiyin Moon Goddess, revealing the newly restored statue to the world.

Below the altar, the masses cheered. In this atmosphere, Empress Ruwen emerged from the hall and ascended to the peak of the altar, followed by her three children. Chu Huaijing held river water, Chu Huaizhuang held feminine scriptures, and Chu Huailing held a precious sword.

Empress Ruwen poured the Taiyin water from a pure vial down the altar, covered her eyes with a cloth inscribed with feminine script, and raised the God of War sword high.

Empress Ruwen said, “Heaven bless Taiyin.”

The voices of the people rose in a shout that nearly pierced the heavens. “Heaven bless Taiyin!”

Shen Fuxin and the others stood nearby in a prime spot that was not too crowded. Because of this, Shen Fuxin could see everything on the altar clearly. At the same time, she saw Chu Tian standing lonely among the royal relatives.

He looked somewhat off.

Compared to the brief glimpse she had of him before, Chu Tian looked thinner and weaker. His head hung low, as if an invisible thread were tied around his neck, hanging him like a ghost from a beam. From Shen Fuxin’s angle, she could only see Chu Tian’s profile. Was his face not a bit too pale?

But this place was open air. Where was the beam for him to hang from?

Shen Fuxin stared at him for several moments, her eyes suddenly widening.

She asked, “That thread on Chu Tian’s neck, what is it?”