Reborn as a Human Cauldron, But I'm the Top - Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Monster, Genius

Unexpectedly, they had come to this place again. Even without going in, Shen Yirong felt some fear.

Song Yin seemed to have anticipated this. “You wait outside for us to come out.”

Shen Yirong was a little surprised. “Don’t you need me?”

Song Yin: “It’s not that we don’t need you. Just stay here.”

Shen Yirong thought for a moment and decided not to push herself, but she was still worried about Mei Xin and couldn’t help but instruct, “If it doesn’t work, don’t force it.”

Song Yin saw the worry in her eyes. She sneered, but ultimately agreed: “Alright.”

Song Yin grabbed Shen Shuci’s shoulder and pushed her towards the cave behind the waterfall.

Seeing the two about to enter, a sense of panic arose in Shen Yirong’s heart for no reason. She called out to Song Yin, “Revered One.”

Song Yin turned back. “Hmm?”

Hearing Song Yin’s response, Shen Yirong felt much relieved. She smiled. “Be careful in everything.”

This phrase was somewhat redundant. The only thing in this world that could make Song Yin be careful was the heart demon.

Regardless of whether it was polite formality, Master’s concern for her was genuine.

Song Yin turned her head and casually threw a ring behind her.

The ring landed right in Shen Yirong’s palm. When Shen Yirong wanted to ask, the two had already vanished from sight.

Song Yin wouldn’t harm her. Shen Yirong put the ring on her right ring finger. As soon as she put it on, the simple ring disappeared.

Shen Yirong felt nothing when she touched her finger. It was probably some special magical item.

There was a large stone on the riverbank, a little distance from the waterfall. Shen Yirong simply sat on it to wait.

Since she was idle, she couldn’t waste the time. She simply set up a luxurious spiritual energy gathering array. When the spiritual energy reached a certain concentration, she sat in meditation at the center of the array.

As expected, not long after the spiritual energy began to circulate, she heard many random noises.

Shen Yirong decisively stopped. After sighing, she collected the spirit stones on the ground. Just as she was collecting them, the sky suddenly darkened considerably.

Shen Yirong looked up and saw the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion floating above her, blocking the sunlight that should have fallen.

However, this Heavenly Secrets Pavilion was much worse than she remembered. The outer towers had many damages; some were simply ruins, and the island supporting the pavilion underneath also had a very obvious large hole.

Shen Yirong cautiously hid behind a tree and concealed her aura.

Why did the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion come here? Is it because of Shen Shuci?

After a while, many people flew down from above. The way these people landed somewhat resembled the celestial beings in murals.

Because they were quite close, Shen Yirong deliberately slowed her breathing.

They searched for something near the waterfall, occasionally raising their hands to make gestures. After the gestures, the search area would narrow. Finally, they searched until they reached the base of the waterfall.

One of them waded into the river and stood beneath the waterfall. The people from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion all seemed to cover their eyes. This person wore a mask that didn’t leave any room for the eyes. Shen Yirong wondered how they saw anything.

Shen Yirong stared at the person, but she wasn’t nervous. If these people could enter, Song Yin would find a way to deal with them.

Shen Yirong watched the show from behind the tree.

“Venerable Shen.”

Shen Yirong was startled. She looked back but didn’t see anyone. When her gaze moved lower, she saw a person sitting in a wheelchair.

The person was wearing a goose-yellow garment. The fabric had flowing star and moon patterns. Unlike the usual pattern of stars embracing the moon, the pattern on this person’s garment was a dim, crescent moon chasing stars.

Her eyes were covered with white silk, she was blind, and her legs were crippled.

Shen Yirong had heard of this person in her past life: Su Zhao, the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.

The person who treated her in her past life was friends with this person. Shen Yirong had heard snippets of information about her.

Su Zhao lost her daughter early in life and developed a habit of “collecting” children. She would bring orphaned children back to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, raise them, and then let them go when they became adults.

Be that as it may, why did this person refresh so silently behind her, just like Song Yin?

Shen Yirong remained vigilant. “You must have mistaken me for someone else.”

Su Zhao smiled gently. She reached out and performed a quick divination, slowly refuting her. “Heavenly Dao tells me that you are Sword Venerable herself.”

As she spoke, blood started to flow from the corners of Su Zhao’s mouth, indicating backlash from the Heavenly Dao.

That’s dedication.

But smiling while bleeding was truly strange. Shen Shuci didn’t have this problem.

Shen Yirong remained cautious. “Are you here to find the Revered One?”

Su Zhao wiped the blood from her lips. “No, I’m here to find Xiao Ci. Last time she said she wanted to save you, and I couldn’t dissuade her. After her crazy scheme, Xiao Ci disappeared.”

Su Zhao spoke earnestly. After talking for a while, she seemed to remember something. “I apologize. You probably don’t know her. Xiao Ci is my Vice Pavilion Master, slightly shorter than you. When she disappeared, she was wearing purple gauze clothing and had small moles on the tip of her nose and the corner of her lip. That child doesn’t talk much; her usual speech is cold.”

Cold?

Shen Shuci was quite enthusiastic in front of her.

Shen Yirong was somewhat conflicted. She wanted the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion to take the person away, but these people clearly couldn’t defeat Song Yin.

After thinking, Shen Yirong still shook her head. “I haven’t seen her. Can’t the Pavilion Master divine her location?”

Upon hearing this, Su Zhao seemed to realize something. She reached out to divine, and two streams of nosebleed gushed out again. She skillfully and elegantly took out a handkerchief to wipe it away, her face showing a hint of apology. “I apologize. I have gone too far in the art of divining the heavens, so my reaction is a bit slow.”

Shen Yirong couldn’t stand the other party’s overly familiar tone. It seemed this was another acquaintance of the Sword Venerable.

The original owner was truly amazing, encountering people she had influenced everywhere. However, Su Zhao maintained a proper distance from her, which was comforting.

Shen Yirong asked with concern, “Did you find out?”

Su Zhao’s smile remained, as if everything was in her control. “Of course.”

Shen Yirong felt relieved. Shen Shuci seemed to care about her, and she also hoped Shen Shuci could return to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.

Initially, she was worried about her identity being exposed. Now, she was worried about Shen Shuci’s safety.

Shen Yirong couldn’t help but smile. “That’s good.”

“I didn’t find out.”

Shen Yirong’s smile froze on her face.

She realized that this person seemed to like pausing dramatically when she spoke, probably a sequela of her “divining the heavens.”

Su Zhao: “But I have a clue.”

The people from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion outside were looking around the waterfall but couldn’t find the entrance. Shen Yirong watched their situation while chatting with Su Zhao.

Although these people from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion weren’t a threat, Song Yin had a heart demon. Shen Yirong thought about it and still wanted to find a way to transmit a message to Song Yin.

But she wasn’t sure if the distance was too great; her message didn’t get a response.

Shen Yirong simply sat down and patiently chatted with Su Zhao. “If you didn’t divine it, how can you say you have a clue?”

Su Zhao looked down, tracing the sound, but she looked in the wrong place.

Seeing her gaze drift elsewhere, Shen Yirong spoke up. “I’m here, a little to your right.”

The Host turned her head to the right. “I apologize for letting you see me in such a state of discomposure.”

She was already very discomposed when she was bleeding just now.

Shen Yirong felt that the other person was treating her as the Sword Venerable, hence the somewhat reserved feeling.

Being mistaken for the Sword Venerable so often, Shen Yirong had adapted well to this situation. She sighed. “You can relax. Just treat me as an ordinary cultivator.”

Su Zhao smiled gently. “You said that to me before, but Sword Venerable is Sword Venerable.”

Shen Yirong was resigned, but she could use this to gather information. “What did you mean just now? Why do you have a clue if you didn’t divine it?”

Su Zhao looked up at the sky again. “I’ve divined the fate of many people. Only two people’s fates cannot be observed: one is Sword Venerable, and the other is Song Yin. The latter is favored by the heavens. Everything related to her cannot be touched or known.”

Su Zhao concluded. “Therefore, Xiao Ci must be by Song Yin’s side.”

Shen Yirong secretly became vigilant. “So what do you plan to do?”

Su Zhao seemed somewhat helpless. “I can only visit her and beg for forgiveness. The Demon Venerable is highly skilled. That child, Xiao Ci, must have suffered a lot. I mustn’t let her act recklessly next time.”

Su Zhao, who was smiling just now, suddenly looked deeply troubled. “Her constitution is very unique. She has divined the heavens countless times without any damage. I was raising her to be the next Pavilion Master. If she’s gone, the remaining fools in the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion won’t be able to handle things.”

As she spoke, Su Zhao seemed to get angry. She lost her gentle demeanor: “They are the worst batch of disciples I’ve ever taught.”

Before Shen Yirong could complain about how familiar that statement sounded, the sound of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion people arguing stole her attention.

“The divination clearly said she was here, so why can’t we find her?”

“My divination also said she was here.”

“It’s all your fault for losing the Pavilion Master!”

“Why blame me! You told me to push the wheelchair. I had no hands left, so I could only use my legs to push. Who knew the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion would suddenly tilt? I couldn’t stop it!”

“Are you saying it’s my fault? I lost my eyes and can’t see. How would I know you had no hands?”

“Exactly! You have no hands, but you’re not mute. Couldn’t you refuse what Senior Sister asked?”

“You guys! Do you want to fight!”

“Fight, then! Who’s afraid of who!”

The sounds of various spells clashing suddenly became endless.

Shen Yirong was silent. This generation of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion was indeed troubling, so she looked at Su Zhao with admiration.

Amazing. She hasn’t been driven to death yet.

Shen Yirong kindly suggested, “Do you want to go and mediate them?”

“No. Let them worry for a while, so they don’t make the same mistake next time. I want to talk to you a little more. Would I be disturbing you?”

Aren’t we talking right now?

Since she was bored, chatting to pass the time wouldn’t hurt. It was also an opportunity to see if the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion was reliable. If they weren’t, she would have the system switch to another immortal sect.

Shen Yirong was still thinking about Mei Xin. Taking advantage of Song Yin’s absence, she could ask, “I have something I don’t understand. Can the Pavilion Master help me divine it?”

Su Zhao chuckled. “I owe Venerable Shen quite a few favors. Feel free to ask.”

Shen Yirong’s feelings were complex. “No, I will pay.”

Su Zhao’s eyebrow twitched, and the eyes beneath the white silk also opened. “There’s a reward? That truly doesn’t sound like something you would say. You really become generous after leaving the Great Peace Sect.”

Su Zhao suddenly leaned in, as if asking about something illicit. “Is the Venerable dating the Demon Venerable?”

Shen Yirong flinched. She immediately denied it. “No! You’re overthinking it. I’m just… just an undercover agent in the Demon Palace. That’s all.”

Su Zhao showed a hint of disappointment. “Ah? I thought you two had that kind of relationship.”

Why is this person into shipping now?

Everyone she met along the way was against her and Song Yin being together. Now that a supporter had arrived, she felt unaccustomed to it.

Shen Yirong shook off the awkward feeling and started asking about the main business. “Can you divine Mei Xin’s future?”

Su Zhao was stunned for a moment.

“What’s wrong? Can’t I ask about Mei Xin either?”

Su Zhao shook her head. She suddenly pulled off the white silk covering her eyes. Beneath it were a pair of completely lifeless eyes.

The smile on her face suddenly became very slight. “No. Someone found me a long time ago and asked me to divine Venerable Mei’s fate.”

Su Zhao sighed. “Although Mei Xin is not Shen Yirong, she is also observed by the Heavenly Dao. Divining her fate required a great price.”

Su Zhao pointed to her eyes, clearly indicating the price.

Shen Yirong didn’t quite understand. “How much did that person offer you for you to go all in like that?”

“No bargaining chip. I simply was willing to.”

Su Zhao put the white silk back on. “I still clearly remember the prophecy from back then: Obsession gradually forms, the Path of Emotionlessness is destroyed, the soul scatters and fades.”

A chill rose in Shen Yirong’s heart. She couldn’t help but look toward the waterfall.

Su Zhao couldn’t see Shen Yirong’s expression. The events of the past seemed to make her quite emotional. She seemed to have many unresolved questions. “Does Venerable Shen believe in fate? Or do you believe fate can be changed?”

Shen Yirong’s voice trembled slightly. “I don’t believe in fate, but I believe some things cannot be changed.”

Su Zhao sighed with emotion. “But fate changed. That person did it. According to the prophecy, Mei Xin shouldn’t have been able to live until now.”

Shen Yirong breathed a sigh of relief. She asked, “Who was that person?”

“Someone who is very similar to you but also completely different.”

Do all those related to fate like to speak in riddles? Why not just say the name?

“Achoo,” Su Zhao covered her mouth. “Is Venerable Shen cursing me?”

Shen Yirong’s eyes guiltily shifted elsewhere. “No. Who was that person you mentioned? Is it convenient to reveal?”

Su Zhao’s laughter was gentle. “It was Venerable Mei’s Master, the previous Emotionless Dao Venerable, Yun Huiming.”

Shen Yirong felt the name was familiar. Her head started to hurt again, but the sharp pain quickly subsided.

Su Zhao’s voice carried clear nostalgia and warmth. “Hehe, in her era, everyone called her a genius, but I preferred to call her a monster.”

“Of course, there were many monsters in that era. This world was like a cage confining the monsters. The monsters swallowed and tore at each other within it. In the end, fewer than ten remained.”

Su Zhao found the right direction this time. She looked at Shen Yirong.

Although the other party couldn’t see, Shen Yirong felt like she was being intensely stared at.

“Sword Venerable, you were the strongest monster of that era.”

Shen Shuci stood in the sea of flowers. She looked at Song Yin in front and didn’t understand why the other party suddenly stopped moving.

She quietly tried to escape backward. As soon as she moved, she was immobilized.

Song Yin turned around and smiled at her. “Thinking of running?”

Shen Shuci couldn’t break free, so she simply resigned herself. “What’s the point of bringing me along?”

“If I bring you, you can’t run, right?”

Shen Shuci was helpless. She once again raised Song Yin’s danger level. She followed Song Yin forward.

The Heavenly Dao said Song Yin wanted to be her mom. Heh, who would want such a terrifying mom?

With a mom like that, she’d rather hit the factory reset button and become the most ordinary system. That way, she wouldn’t be so angry that she’d shut down.

Shen Shuci grumbled internally but obediently followed along. Mei Xin hadn’t intentionally hidden her tracks. Soon, she felt a familiar chill.

Shen Shuci’s face scrunched up bit by bit. The closer she got to Mei Xin, the grumpier her face became.

Mei Xin stood in the plum forest. Falling petals landed on her bamboo hat. She lowered her head slightly, and the petals on the hat continued to fall. She reached out and caught one.

Sensing someone’s arrival, Mei Xin looked up. “Junior Nephew.”

Song Yin’s fake smile froze for a moment. She endured it.

Junior Nephew is Junior Nephew. It’s not like I haven’t been called that before.

Although she thought this, Song Yin still cooled her expression, but her attitude was still polite, at least she didn’t open her mouth by demanding her life.

“Why is Venerable Mei here?”

Mei Xin answered honestly, “I came to extend the life of the Nine Heavens Sect Master. Can Junior Nephew release the Medical Immortal Valley Master? The Sect Master can’t hold on.”

Song Yin then remembered that she had “invited” the White Jade Hairpin back to the Demon Palace.

Song Yin roughly understood. Mei Xin was probably trying to fly from here to the Southern Territory.

Just like…

When Master was sick in bed, the White Jade Hairpin took care of her. Now, the Nine Heavens Sect Master was the same.

Song Yin felt a little soft-hearted. “Alright. But why didn’t you say so yesterday?”

Mei Xin was confused. “Yesterday?”

Yesterday, Song Yin and Shen Yirong were disguised, so it seemed Mei Xin didn’t recognize them.

Mei Xin looked at Shen Shuci behind them. “Are you here to be my disciple?”

Shen Shuci was furious. “Get lost!”

As soon as she said the two words, Song Yin cast a silencing spell on her. She covered her mouth and made muffled sounds, which sounded quite like the ambulance in Master’s dream.

Mei Xin’s gaze shifted between the two. “Who is she?”

“My daughter.”

Mei Xin didn’t quite understand, but she quickly accepted this setting. She said “Oh” and then frantically rummaged through her spatial ring. After flipping through a pile of useless items, she pulled out a jar of wine.

She walked closer and put the wine into Shen Shuci’s arms. “A meeting gift.”

Shen Shuci was so angry she wanted to smash the jar, but Song Yin took the wine jar away.

“I’ll accept it for her. How did Venerable Mei find this place?”

Mei Xin looked back at the plum forest. “The Nine Heavens Sect Master said that Master left something here.”

Mei Xin didn’t quite understand why Song Yin had become so friendly. She tilted her head in confusion and then asked, “When will Junior Nephew return home?”

Because of her prejudice, Song Yin always had a bad attitude towards Mei Xin. She hadn’t expected the two of them to be able to talk so calmly.

But does the ‘home’ in her mouth refer to the Great Peace Sect?

That place is not home.

Song Yin still held resentment. The Great Peace Sect wasn’t good to her and Master. That place would remind Master of a lot of sad things.

Song Yin held back the volatile Shen Shuci beside her. She suddenly had a question she wanted to ask even more. “Why do you want me to go back?”

Mei Xin flew up into the tree. She took off her bamboo hat and sat on a plum branch. The branch trembled slightly, and another shower of petals fell.

“Master told me that children who finish throwing tantrums always come home.”

“When both of you left, the Great Peace Sect became very desolate.”

“It’s fine if you want to be with Junior Sister Shen. The Sect Master is just being stubborn but is soft-hearted. She has no way to deal with you.”

Song Yin was puzzled. “Aren’t you afraid I will hurt her? I’ve done that once already.”

Mei Xin simply looked into Song Yin’s eyes. “Very similar.”

Song Yin: “Similar?”

Mei Xin looked at the broken sword hanging at her waist. “Similar to Master. She clearly said she hated, but there was no hatred in her eyes. I’ve killed many wicked people. The look in their eyes before death was different from Master’s.”

“Why? I don’t understand.”

Mei Xin didn’t understand. Four hundred years ago, Junior Sister was like this.

Four hundred years later, the Junior Nephew who had become the Demon Venerable was also like this.

Four hundred years ago, she dared not ask because Junior Sister was very fragile, and her answer seemed like it would push the other person toward an irreversible path.

But Song Yin was different.

Mei Xin looked into Song Yin’s eyes and asked, “Why do you say one thing and mean another?”

Song Yin hadn’t expected Mei Xin to turn the tables on her. “No reason.”

After a moment, Song Yin added, “Perhaps there are reasons beyond one’s control.”

Mei Xin didn’t get a satisfactory answer. She drew the broken sword, gently caressing the blade. She didn’t know if she was trying to persuade herself or Song Yin. “Saying one thing and meaning another is bad. It leads to bad endings. I am strong enough to bear it with you.”

At this moment, this person, who lacked the channel for emotions, suddenly gained a touch of humanity.

Song Yin suddenly realized that the intelligence provided by her subordinates was correct: Mei Xin’s cultivation had not progressed at all these years. Her Path of Emotionlessness had long since cracked.

Mei Xin’s voice remained flat. “She made a decision on her own, leaving me alone to ponder bitterly. That’s not fair.”

Song Yin’s thoughts were completely sidetracked. “What do you plan to do?”

Mei Xin sheathed her sword. “Catch her.”

Song Yin: “And then?”

Mei Xin said seriously, “Spank her bottom hard.”

Wh-what a peculiar habit.

Seeing Song Yin stunned, Mei Xin was confused again. “When I did something wrong, Master did the same thing. Is that not right?”

Song Yin didn’t know how to answer. Under Mei Xin’s gaze, her soul suddenly felt a little filthy.

Mei Xin suddenly understood something. “Oh, your Master is different from mine. Junior Sister won’t spank your bottom.”

Song Yin’s ears started to turn red. She suddenly didn’t dare to listen anymore.

No, I’m here to be a matchmaker, not to answer questions and listen to stories.

Let’s put the matter of the bottom aside for now.

Song Yin pushed the idling Shen Shuci forward. “Perhaps I can help you find your Master.”

Mei Xin looked at Shen Shuci. “I have no spirit stones.”

“How about treating it as Venerable owing me a favor?”

Mei Xin seemed a little moved. She thought for a while. “I won’t do anything that goes against the righteous path.”

Song Yin: “…Fine.”

Mei Xin: “Good. If Junior Nephew ever needs anything, I will certainly spare no effort to help.”

The two people who used to clash on sight simultaneously looked at Shen Shuci.

One Song Yin was headache-inducing enough, let alone adding a Mei Xin.

Shen Shuci was angry for one second, and then she resigned herself to fate.

Song Yin removed the silencing spell on her.

Shen Shuci reluctantly made an oath. “Heavenly Dao above, I use my soul as the price, seeking only one person’s whereabouts. I beg for guidance.”

The stone table in the center of the sea of flowers suddenly lit up.

The few people looked over. Golden script began to appear on the table.

“At ■■■”

The next few words were directly covered up. The golden liquid covering the script was still creeping forward, as if two forces were competing.

Before long, even the remaining word was covered.

The breeze plucked at the harp strings, and as the petals flew, the floral scent became more intense.

The sky in this realm suddenly darkened. Dark clouds covered the sun.

A downpour suddenly started. The rain-soaked flowers suddenly began to grow wildly. They became bigger and bigger, squeezing against each other.

Everyone quickly flew into the sky to avoid being crushed by the wildly growing plants.

Where the stamen should have been, mouths grew out, roaring at Song Yin and Shen Shuci in the sky.

They had grown to their limit but still couldn’t reach the delicious flesh and blood flying above.

Suddenly, a vine shot out like an arrow, clearly aiming at the center of Shen Shuci’s forehead.

Shen Shuci’s pupils turned gold. Gold threads in her sleeves wove into a net. The impact of the vine changed the shape of the gold net, but the vine could only move forward and couldn’t pierce the net.

Many gold threads branched out, moving along the vine, wrapping the originally emerald green vine in gold.

The vine screamed and roared. It directly abandoned the wrapped portion. The remaining segment fell downward, and after it fell, more vines shot out.

Shen Shuci’s gold threads also extended from her back.

A deep red slowly rose in Song Yin’s eyes. She grabbed a vine rushing towards her, broke it off, and used it as a whip.

The fierce vines were sliced in two along with the rain curtain.

The rain in the sky intensified. The plants on the ground grew even more wildly. They broke through their limits and continued to grow. A pink rose opened its large mouth, about to swallow Song Yin.

Song Yin sneered. “Heh.”

“Boom!”

Lightning flashed. The world was dyed silver-white.

The wildly growing plants turned into charcoal.

But the rain continued to fall. The plants showed signs of new life. Countless tender shoots broke through the soil and instantly grew to the thickness of a child’s arm.

Song Yin no longer paid attention to these abnormal plants. She summoned her sword and pointed it directly at the rain cloud overhead.

“Get out here.”