Reborn as a Human Cauldron, But I'm the Top - Chapter 35

Chapter 35: A Gift for You: A Good Talent for the Emotionless Dao

 

Song Yin stared intently at those eyes, trying to find a flaw, but the gaze of the person before her held genuine shock.

 

This was not Shen Yirong’s fault; she truly did not know that the usually reserved Senior Sister Mei had done such a thing.

 

Shen Yirong’s first reaction was that it was impossible, but Song Yin should not deign to lie.

 

Being a master in the Great Peace Sect was surprisingly dangerous.

 

When Shen Yirong recovered, Song Yin had already closed her eyes.

 

Outside, the wind and snow raged, and in a moment, snow accumulated on the window frame. This scene evoked nostalgia, except the patient in bed had become Song Yin.

 

She had been too shocked just now to notice, but Song Yin said that her Senior Sister was the same as her.

 

A rebellious villain who committed the unforgivable sin of patricide.

 

She wondered if Song Yin was mocking the world’s evaluation, despising herself, or both.

 

Shen Yirong peeled off the mud seal of the spirit wine on the table. The aroma of the wine filled the entire room, and Shen Yirong felt a touch of nostalgia. She poured a cup and offered it to Song Yin.

 

Song Yin’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, but she still reached out, took the cup, and drank the wine in one gulp.

 

Seeing that she did not resist, Shen Yirong felt a little relieved. After taking the empty wine cup from her hand, Shen Yirong poured another cup. But when she returned to the bedside, Song Yin was already asleep again.

 

Shen Yirong did not expect the other party to be so drowsy. She helplessly poured the wine back into the jar. Seeing Song Yin still leaning against the bed railing, she reached out to straighten her and tuck her in. But when her hand touched the other person’s cheek, she was startled by the heat.

 

“Hiss, she didn’t catch a fever, did she?”

 

As Shen Yirong touched Song Yin’s forehead, Song Yin woke up again.

 

Shen Yirong quickly withdrew her hand, “Venerable One.”

 

Song Yin did not respond to her, only looked at her with those moist eyes, without speaking.

 

Shen Yirong was taken aback by the gaze. She tentatively called out again, “Venerable One?”

 

Song Yin remained silent, but slowly moved her head towards Shen Yirong’s hand, then cautiously rubbed against it. After rubbing, she secretly looked at Shen Yirong’s expression. Seeing that she wasn’t angry, she rubbed again, and finally closed her eyes.

 

Shen Yirong’s breathing paused slightly. The current Song Yin’s cheeks were slightly red and warm. Her breath sprayed onto Shen Yirong’s fingertips, making her feel ticklish, as if being scratched.

 

The other person’s sleeping face was tranquil. It didn’t look like a fever; she was drunk.

 

Shen Yirong hadn’t expected Song Yin’s alcohol tolerance to be so poor; that was just a small cup. Or perhaps the wine brewed by Sect Master Liu was too potent?

 

Shen Yirong didn’t like to drink, but influenced by curiosity, she poured a cup for herself.

 

When the wine first entered her mouth, it felt astringent, with a clear, sweet plum fragrance. After a while, her tongue became numb, and her throat felt like it was on fire.

 

This was only a tiny sip.

 

Shen Yirong quickly put down the wine cup. Now she understood. This was not Song Yin’s fault at all.

 

Giving someone strong liquor when they were sick, Shen Yirong felt her own mind must have been muddled.

 

She poured herself a glass of water, gulped it down, and then the cold wind from the window blew, dispersing some of the alcohol fumes.

 

“Fortunately, I didn’t drink too much.”

 

When she turned around, Song Yin was curled up on the bed. Shen Yirong sat back on the bedside, looking at her face, watching her thick, curled eyelashes flutter gently, like a butterfly trying to fly.

 

Shen Yirong rarely looked at this face so intently. Shame in the past life and fear in this life prevented her from daring to look.

 

She reached out, wanting to touch the other person’s cheek, but withdrew her hand just inches away. In the end, she just watched.

 

As she watched, Shen Yirong still couldn’t resist gently stroking the top of the other person’s head.

 

She brushed away the messy strands of hair on Song Yin’s forehead, which caused Song Yin’s brow to wrinkle slightly.

 

Shen Yirong cupped her face and looked at her, finally getting the chance to trace the features carefully, from the delicate eyes and eyebrows all the way down, finally landing on those rosy lips.

 

Shen Yirong suddenly covered her own mouth. She forced herself not to look but couldn’t help but connect the memory.

 

The memory was vague, but she finally remembered it.

 

She hadn’t expected herself to be so brazen, nor had she expected Song Yin not to resist.

 

Her cheeks slowly burned. Shen Yirong suddenly didn’t dare to look at Song Yin on the bed. She was afraid that if she kept looking, she would truly forget their respective identities and succumb.

 

She patted her own face, took a deep breath, and repeatedly told herself, “I can’t.”

 

Master and disciple are master and disciple. Enemies are enemies.

 

But thinking this, a faint bitterness arose in her heart.

 

Shen Yirong stood up. As she walked to the door, she looked back at Song Yin one last time. She closed the doors and windows tightly, insulating Song Yin from the wind and snow.

 

A thick layer of snow had already accumulated on the ground. Shen Yirong bent down, grabbed a handful of snow, formed a ball, and threw it out.

 

The thrown snowball was caught by a bluish-black mass of energy. Shen Yirong was surprised, “Sorry.”

 

Ling Minzhi, “Immortal Master Shen, the Grand Ruler requests your presence.”

 

Shen Yirong was rarely paid attention to by the Grand Ruler, so she was a little surprised, but there were few things in this mirror world that could threaten her. She nodded, “Alright.”

 

Following Ling Minzhi out of the General’s Residence, the street was filled with energy masses of various colors, which were emitting human voices.

 

“General Ling!”

 

“Hello, General Ling!”

 

Shen Yirong listened to these respectful greetings all the way, feeling inexplicably uneasy in her heart.

 

She walked through the dilapidated palace gates of the Imperial Palace, past the ruins, and finally followed Ling Minzhi down an underground entrance.

 

Ling Minzhi carried a lantern. The flickering candlelight illuminated the dim underground tunnel.

 

However, in Shen Yirong’s eyes, a bluish-black ghost fire was holding a lantern and leading her, which was actually quite frightening.

 

The tunnel was narrow. She felt the wall and went down step by step, finally reaching the end of the annoying stairs. Then, at the desk in the secret room, she saw Lu Ci’s white energy mass.

 

The white energy mass was very unique, with thin golden threads inside. However, they were too thin, and the fine threads disappeared when Lu Ci moved.

 

She observed intently until Lu Ci’s voice sounded, and she withdrew her gaze.

 

“Immortal Master Shen, please sit.”

 

Shen Yirong sat down a little away from the desk. The crackling sound in her ears started again. Shen Yirong raised her hand to cover her ears.

 

“What is wrong, Immortal Master?”

 

Lu Ci’s voice was very calm.

 

Shen Yirong shook her head, “Nothing. Why did the Grand Ruler summon me?”

 

Lu Ci closed the book in her hand. The bronze mirror was placed beside her, facing Shen Yirong’s face, but the reflection in the mirror was blurry.

 

Lu Ci couldn’t quite explain it either. Some inexplicable memories had appeared in her mind. In the memories, many people called her Sword Venerable.

 

If not for Ling Minzhi’s reminders by her side, she might have forgotten who she was.

 

Lu Ci looked up at the person in front of her. Although it wasn’t the first time they met, a strong sense of intimacy welled up in her heart this time, as if she had known this person for a very, very long time.

 

Feeling that her thoughts were somewhat abnormal, Lu Ci held her head and lightly commanded, “Retreat!”

 

Shen Yirong was startled. She thought the Grand Ruler was telling her to retreat, but when she looked again, she saw the golden threads inside the white energy mass slowly contract, finally retreating into a thumb-sized ball of thread, dormant.

 

Lu Ci’s breathing became noticeably heavy. Seeing Shen Yirong look at her, she said, “Apologies, I was rude.”

 

Shen Yirong stared at the small ball of gold, “Is the Grand Ruler encountering some difficulty?”

 

Lu Ci denied it, “No, I just have something I wish to ask Immortal Master. Yingzhi mentioned that Immortal Master is from the future, hundreds of years from now.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Lu Ci’s tightly locked brows relaxed, “Then, does Immortal Master recognize a person named Shen Cici?”

 

Shen Yirong pondered. She remembered Song Yin telling her that the disaster here was eventually resolved by the Grand Ruler of Central Yue, and that Grand Ruler later embarked on the path of immortality and became Fairy Cici of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

 

Shen Yirong truthfully informed her.

 

However, after she finished speaking, the golden threads in the white energy mass began to extend. She heard Lu Ci’s painfully suppressed voice.

 

Shen Yirong suddenly thought of body snatching. Her pupils contracted. She stepped forward and seized the hand resting on the white energy mass’s wrist. Her spiritual power circulated through the other party’s body, but she only sensed Lu Ci’s soul.

 

Upon sensing Shen Yirong’s spiritual power, the golden threads became even more excited, even wrapping around her along with the spiritual power.

 

Shen Yirong quickly withdrew her spiritual power. She frowned and asked, “Are you Shen Cici?”

 

Ling Minzhi’s voice also became panicked, “Grand Ruler!”

 

Golden threads surged in Lu Ci’s eyes. She tightly gripped the corner of the desk, wanting to retain her sanity, but she still couldn’t control herself from looking at Shen Yirong and forcing a mechanical, stiff smile.

 

Shen Yirong was stunned. She always felt that the golden threads seemed to be greeting her.

 

A sense of crisis arose instantly. Shen Yirong retreated to the right, and a thin thread flew past her eyes.

 

After Shen Yirong left, Song Yin’s sleep became restless. She dreamed of her days in the Great Peace Sect.

 

Her Master demonstrated sword techniques in front of her. After demonstrating once, she handed the sword to Song Yin and watched from the side.

 

Song Yin performed the sword moves her Master taught without missing a single stance. Apart from insufficient strength, everything else was impeccable.

 

Eager for praise, she looked at her Master excitedly, only to see thin golden threads constantly flowing from the other person’s eyes, yet her Master was completely oblivious.

 

Her Master’s pupils had also turned golden, and the look in her eyes changed from gentle to intense disgust.

 

“Wicked creature!”

 

The long sword in her hand trembled uncontrollably, finally resting on her neck.

 

After a moment of pain, Song Yin woke up, gasping for breath.

 

She hadn’t fully sobered up from the drunkenness yet. She held her forehead and looked around.

 

There was no sign of Shen Yirong in the room. A bad feeling surfaced in Song Yin’s heart.

 

She spread her divine sense to search for Shen Yirong’s traces, finally finding the other party beneath the ruins of the Imperial Palace.

 

Through her divine sense, she saw thin golden threads extending from Lu Ci’s body, wrapping around Shen Yirong’s ankle.

 

Song Yin felt immense rage. She raised her hand and squeezed the void. The golden threads wrapped around Shen Yirong were violently torn apart.

 

The golden threads were clearly terrified of Song Yin. They slowly retracted into Lu Ci’s body.

 

Shen Yirong had been panicking. She had tried to cut the golden threads with her sword earlier, but they would simply re-entangle after being cut.

 

After the golden threads retreated, she was still a little dazed, but she quickly fell into a jasmine-scented embrace.

 

Shen Yirong looked up at Song Yin. The other party seemed quite angry.

 

Shen Yirong’s face was slightly pale, badly frightened.

 

She wasn’t that timid, actually, but for some reason, she was very afraid of those threads. When the golden threads wrapped around her ankle, she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

 

Seeing her like this, Song Yin suddenly couldn’t bring herself to be angry.

 

“It’s alright. Don’t be afraid.”

 

Song Yin’s awkward tenderness made Shen Yirong feel a sense of security. So, she gripped Song Yin’s clothes tightly, like a drowning person clutching a piece of floating wood.

 

Song Yin’s eyes turned cold. She looked over. Both the bronze mirror and Lu Ci’s body had golden threads attached to them.

 

Song Yin had seen those golden threads more than four hundred years ago. They were not very threatening, could be split into many parts, couldn’t be killed or contained, and their power was only strong enough to snatch mortal bodies.

 

So, Song Yin hadn’t bothered with them, but now it seemed like a mistake.

 

Lu Ci regained her consciousness, dripping with cold sweat.

 

Song Yin’s gaze was too dangerous. Ling Minzhi shielded Lu Ci in front of her.

 

Song Yin ignored them. With a lift of her hand and a slice of her sword, the desk, along with the bronze mirror, was cleanly split into two halves.

 

Golden threads seeped out from the cross-section of the bronze mirror and continuously drilled back into it. But soon, the threads inside the bronze mirror stopped moving. They slowly withered and blackened, finally dissipating.

 

Song Yin’s chilling voice echoed in the room, “Shen Cici, this is my warning.”

 

The remaining threads inside Lu Ci’s body shrank into a tiny ball, looking much more obedient.

 

Song Yin embraced Shen Yirong and left. The further away they were from the golden threads, the calmer Shen Yirong’s heart became.

 

But after calming down, she felt a little embarrassed. She released Song Yin’s clothes, “Venerable One, I apologize.”

 

Shen Yirong saw that Song Yin’s expression was still not good, and she felt even more uneasy.

 

“You are not allowed to leave my sight from now on.”

 

Shen Yirong knew the other party was doing it for her own good, so she nodded vigorously, but she was also a little curious.

 

“Are those golden threads Shen Cici? What exactly is that thing?”

 

Song Yin, trying hard to listen through her drunkenness, said, “I don’t know.”

 

Shen Yirong couldn’t help but smile, “There are things the Venerable One doesn’t know.”

 

Song Yin just looked at Shen Yirong’s face, “Why are you so afraid of it?”

 

Shen Yirong didn’t understand either. She felt that the golden threads held no malice, but she was instinctively afraid, afraid enough to want to escape immediately and hide far away.

 

“How much of the Venerable One’s spiritual power has recovered?”

 

Song Yin frowned, “Less than ten percent. That jar of wine wasn’t enough.”

 

Seeing the self-reproach and worry in Shen Yirong’s face, Song Yin felt a little soft, “Don’t worry too much. This Venerable One will not be defeated by a mere mirror.”

 

That’s right, she is the protagonist.

 

The anxiety in Shen Yirong’s heart slowly disappeared. She snuggled into Song Yin’s embrace, lightly inhaling the other party’s scent.

 

Song Yin did not return to the General’s Residence. Mei Xin and You Runing were there, and now Shen Cici was added to the mix. Just thinking about it made her heart feel a surge of malevolence.

 

Even though this was a false world, she wanted to be as far away from those people as possible. Finally, she stopped at the border of Moon Creek Kingdom.

 

Due to the spatial disorder, the place was quite desolate.

 

Song Yin found a cave and, like in the previous life, hid there with the person.

 

She placed Shen Yirong on the ground and lit a bonfire in the cave. The flames danced in Song Yin’s eyes but failed to dispel the gloom on her face.

 

Shen Yirong felt that her mood was poor right now, so she moved slightly away.

 

But Song Yin happened to see this, “Are you avoiding me?”

 

Only then did Shen Yirong realize that Song Yin’s speech was slightly slurred. It seemed she hadn’t sobered up yet.

 

Just as she was about to find an excuse to argue, she saw Song Yin take out the wine jar from her spiritual ring.

 

Under Shen Yirong’s shocked gaze, Song Yin put the jar to her lips and began to gulp down the wine, so fast that Shen Yirong couldn’t stop her in time.

 

The jar of wine was quickly emptied.

 

This time, Song Yin suppressed the drunkenness with her spiritual power and didn’t immediately pass out, but the usually cold and majestic person became very unreasonable.

 

And a little clingy?

 

She hugged Shen Yirong’s neck and whispered repeatedly, “Why do so many people like you?”

 

“Mei Xin, and You Runing, and now even this Shen Cici.”

 

Her breath intertwined on Shen Yirong’s neck. Shen Yirong felt like she was getting drunk too, but she soon realized that Song Yin was getting restless, so she blushed and grabbed the other person’s hand.

 

“Why are you rejecting me? Am I not as good as them?”

 

Song Yin’s eyes were blurry. Looking closely, one could see a hint of grievance in them.

 

Shen Yirong couldn’t bear this look. She weakly reminded her, “Venerable One, you are drunk.”

 

“I’m not drunk, I’m perfectly sober!”

 

Shen Yirong helplessly looked at the “octopus” on her. And she says she’s not drunk.

 

Mei Xin was one thing, but she had no impression of You Runing or Shen Cici at all.

 

Moreover, she was quite afraid of this thing called Shen Cici, afraid enough to want to quickly escape from here.

 

Shen Yirong was lost in thought. Her hand was suddenly seized by Song Yin, and then she touched something soft.

 

Shen Yirong recoiled as if shocked by electricity. She blushed, “Venerable One, wake up.”

 

She quickly grabbed Song Yin’s other hand.

 

The previously restless Song Yin suddenly became docile when grasped, only looking at her with a pair of moist eyes.

 

A certain speculation in Shen Yirong’s heart surfaced again. She recovered from her embarrassment and panic, tentatively commanding, “Sit properly.”

 

Song Yin didn’t move.

 

Shen Yirong adopted the severe demeanor of her past life, “Sit properly!”

 

Song Yin indeed released her hand and sat down close to her.

 

Shen Yirong was genuinely shocked. According to the information given by the system, Song Yin in the later stages was supposed to be noble, powerful, cold, glamorous, loved by everyone, and have a thousand concubines.

 

How did she end up like this?

 

Shen Yirong felt a headache coming on, but at least Song Yin had “calmed down.”

 

But her happiness was clearly premature. Song Yin suddenly lunged forward and tackled her to the ground, calling her repeatedly, the tone lingering and intimate.

 

“Master~”

 

Shen Yirong was stunned by the call. A strong sense of immorality arose from the bottom of her heart.

 

She originally wanted to summon wind to restrain Song Yin, but her cultivation had only recently increased, and she might accidentally injure her.

 

Her heart thumped violently. Shen Yirong felt her mind had been turned into mush by that single “Master.” Where could Song Yin be injured by her?

 

Her gaze searched the cave. Shen Yirong found some withered vines hanging at the entrance.

 

Although she didn’t know if they would be useful, she had nothing else handy. She summoned the wind to cut the vines, then used them to tie up Song Yin’s hands and feet.

 

Song Yin’s breathing above her head seemed to become more rapid.

 

Shen Yirong: “…”

 

“Master.”

 

Shen Yirong couldn’t take it anymore. She simply covered the other person’s mouth, stopping those sounds that made her blush.

 

Could this wine have some kind of side effect?

 

This was too stimulating for Shen Yirong. She hoped Song Yin wouldn’t go on a killing spree when she woke up.

 

Out of a sense of caution, Shen Yirong still checked Song Yin’s body. Song Yin’s body was full of spiritual power, and no strange toxins were found.

 

So, the other party was purely drunk.

 

Song Yin gets like this when she’s drunk?

 

Shen Yirong’s frantic heartbeat gradually calmed down, but she sank into another kind of dejection.

 

Why would she call her Master at a time like this?

 

Shen Yirong started overthinking. She didn’t believe Song Yin had recognized her, after all, her past life’s personality was entirely a facade, completely different from her current appearance.

 

The proud Sword Venerable could not possibly be this weak and pitiful furnace. Song Yin should understand this principle very well.

 

But she couldn’t help but wonder, What if Song Yin really did recognize her?

 

Shen Yirong suddenly didn’t dare to think about it anymore. Her mind was a mess.

 

Shen Yirong, stop thinking. That’s just Song Yin’s possessiveness over her belongings and a bit of abnormal fun.

 

Besides, the other party drank wine and her mind isn’t clear, so it can’t be taken seriously.

 

Shen Yirong silently recited the Heart Cleansing Incantation a few times. After clearing the distracting thoughts in her heart, she let out a sigh.

 

Song Yin was quiet now. Shen Yirong looked back and saw that the other party had closed her eyes and was sound asleep.

 

Shen Yirong removed her hand. Shen Yirong squatted beside her, looking at Song Yin’s face. As she watched, a subtle sense of sadness arose in her heart.

 

The sound of the wind seemed a little different, as if someone had arrived.

 

Shen Yirong quickly took off her outer robe and covered Song Yin.

 

She shouted alertly, “Who is it!”

 

Shen Yirong saw a corner of a Great Peace Daoist robe. Above it was Senior Sister Mei’s expressionless face.

 

Although the person who came was Mei Xin, Shen Yirong did not relax her vigilance. She moved her body and slowly shielded Song Yin.

 

“Venerable Mei, why are you here?”

 

Mei Xin, “I sensed Song Yin using her power.”

 

Mei Xin’s gaze passed over Shen Yirong and landed on Song Yin behind her, “Is she the one who needs spiritual replenishment?”

 

Unexpectedly, her lie was exposed so quickly. Shen Yirong smiled awkwardly.

 

Mei Xin frowned, “No, too much. It hurts the body.”

 

Don’t say such embarrassing things so seriously with a cold face!

 

Shen Yirong endured and endured, but finally couldn’t help but explain, “Senior Sister, it’s not what you think.”

 

“Oh.”

 

What did that ‘Oh’ mean?

 

Mei Xin tried to bypass Shen Yirong, but was blocked by Shen Yirong again.

 

“I won’t kill her.”

 

After a moment, she heard Mei Xin say, “You like her?”

 

Shen Yirong shuddered, but her current persona was supposed to be deeply in love with Song Yin. Yet, for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

 

“It’s nothing for Master to like her disciple.”

 

Shen Yirong was truly shocked. Why hadn’t she noticed how progressive her Senior Sister’s thinking was before?

 

Seeing her nervous, Mei Xin didn’t make any further moves, “The Sect Master contacted me. The major powers in the cultivation world know the Demon Venerable is trapped and are rushing here.”

 

Shen Yirong’s heart sank, “Who are they?”

 

“Yao Jun, the Saintess of Nine Heavens, Bai Yuzan, the Valley Master of Medicine Immortal Valley, Shen Cici of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, and Qing Li of the Demon Realm. The Demonic Palace has also received the news.”

 

A true Demon Venerable treatment. Everyone from all corners of the world was coming.

 

Yet, the Demon Venerable in question was currently in a drunken stupor, flirting with her weak, pitiful, and helpless Master.

 

“Are you worried about her?”

 

Shen Yirong looked at Mei Xin suspiciously, “Does the Venerable truly practice the Emotionless Dao?”

 

Why did every sentence hit the mark?

 

“You don’t need to worry. Even with me, they can’t defeat the Demon Venerable.”

 

You don’t have to be so honest…

 

So, were they rushing here just to get beaten up?

 

And there were familiar faces among those seeking a beating.

 

Shen Yirong’s mouth twitched. However, this did make her relax a bit.

 

Finally, she could get out of this broken mirror. She only wanted to take on some commissions to earn spirit stones in the first place! How did it escalate into this multi-sided brawl?

 

And she hadn’t even earned any spirit stones.

 

Shen Yirong pondered her troubles for a moment. Then she asked, “Does the Venerable know about Shen Cici?”

 

Mei Xin thought for a moment, “She is not like a person. She has no emotions or soul.”

 

“A good talent for the Emotionless Dao.”

 

Shen Yirong suppressed the urge to complain.

 

Mei Xin looked at the sleeping Song Yin again. She pulled out a bundle of rope from her spiritual ring and handed it to Shen Yirong.

 

“A gift for you.”

 

Shen Yirong saw that the rope had spiritual energy, which immediately told her it wasn’t her Senior Sister’s item.

 

Shen Yirong took it blankly, “This is?”

 

“You Runing gave it to me. She said to tie you up and take you away while it’s chaotic.”

 

“If you don’t want it, forget it.”

 

Shen Yirong was silent, looking at the Senior Sister who so decisively sold out her teammate.

 

If you don’t want it, then don’t want it. Why give the rope to me?

 

Seeing her confusion, Mei Xin took the rope back, “I’ll teach you.”

 

“I have experience tying people up.”