Reborn as a Human Cauldron, But I'm the Top - Chapter 70

Chapter 70: Frankness, Miasma

Shen Yirong instantly snapped back to reality.

Song what? The only person surnamed Song she knew was Song Yin.

She froze in place, bewildered, but was immediately pulled behind Shen Shuci.

Shen Shuci’s eyes were full of disapproval and vigilance. “Is the Revered One drunk?”

Song Yin under the moonlight looked extremely composed, as if the person who had just seemed somewhat distraught wasn’t her.

It was the first time Shen Yirong had encountered such a situation. She also genuinely experienced a racing heart, but because the incident was so sudden, she didn’t know how to respond.

Fortunately, Shen Shuci shielded her, giving her a moment to sort out her chaotic emotions.

Watching Song Yin from behind Shen Shuci, the other person’s face was even colder than usual, showing no emotion.

While Shen Yirong was lost in wild thoughts, Song Yin, having regained her body, was also completely stuck.

She hadn’t expected the Heart Demon to be unable to resist the emotional backlash and make such a move.

Seeing Shen Yirong hiding behind Shen Shuci, looking evasive, her eyes darkened slightly.

Lifting her chin, Song Yin regained the pride of the Demon Venerable. “This Venerable is not drunk.”

The implication was that she had been drinking.

Shen Yirong knew how poor the other person’s tolerance for alcohol was. She smiled awkwardly. “So, you had some wine.”

Ignoring the slight sense of disappointment that flashed through her mind, Shen Yirong stepped out from behind Shen Shuci. She reached out to support Song Yin and coaxed softly, “Revered One, let’s go back first.”

Song Yin stood still. She transmitted a message: This Venerable can help you with Mei Xin’s matter. Don’t push yourself.

These words were coherent and organized, unlike something a drunk person would say.

Shen Yirong couldn’t help but stare at Song Yin’s face. She remembered that the last time Song Yin was drunk, she clung to her, crying and making a fuss, not this calm.

Shen Yirong couldn’t resist. “Is the Revered One really drunk?”

Song Yin stiffened completely. Under Shen Yirong’s gaze, she confirmed again that there was no one else nearby.

Then her cold expression began to melt. The next second, she hugged Shen Yirong and started to cry. “Master!”

Shen Yirong was suddenly latched onto by Song Yin. She lost her balance and was pressed onto the grass, but her head was supported by Song Yin’s palm, so she didn’t hit the ground.

However, under the dark moon and high wind, in front of a sleeping palace, this posture was extremely undignified.

Shen Yirong pushed her lightly, but not hard. “Revered One, please get up first.”

Song Yin simply started acting shamelessly. She hugged Shen Yirong tightly, completely restricting her movements. “Master, don’t go. Come with me.”

Song Yin’s body heat completely enveloped Shen Yirong. Even the moonlit night felt warm after this disturbance.

Shen Yirong looked up and saw Shen Shuci’s constipated-like face. She couldn’t help but roar softly, “What are you staring at! Hurry up and help me get her off!”

Shen Shuci awoke as if from a dream.

“Oh, okay.”

Three voices overlapped into one, startling the three people present.

When Shen Shuci turned to look again, two more figures had appeared under the moonlight.

One wore a bamboo hat, her blue eyes glowing in the night. The other was so thin she was skin and bones, and her smile made one think a zombie had arrived.

Shen Yirong, Shen Shuci, Song Yin: “…”

The newcomers were Mei Xin and Chang Yuantan. Mei Xin leaped down from the palace roof, her posture light, then reached out and pulled Song Yin off Shen Yirong.

Shen Yirong was covered in cold sweat watching Senior Sister grab Song Yin by the collar. She quickly scrambled up from the ground and snatched Song Yin back from Senior Sister’s hands.

Her heart had completely sunk. Her eyes darted between Senior Sister and Sect Master Chang. She asked in disbelief, “When did you two…?”

Sect Master Chang’s smile was gentle, and her eyes looked at Shen Yirong’s group as if they were children. “Why has the Sword Venerable come to visit so late at night?”

She looked up at the moon, seeming to understand something. “The moonlight here is quite nice, perfect for a date. I have no intention of disturbing the great Sword Venerable, but at least pick a secluded spot.”

Then she pointed to the shadow of the woods nearby, recommending, “This spot is good. You won’t be seen, and the grass is soft, so you won’t get scratched.”

Wait!

Shen Yirong felt like her face was about to explode. She quickly interrupted Chang Yuantan’s rambling. “Stop. I came to see you.”

Chang Yuantan’s voice was filled with disappointment. “Oh, so you came to see me. Then please, everyone, come inside and sit.”

Shen Yirong breathed a sigh of relief, then suddenly remembered she was still holding Song Yin. She turned and saw Song Yin was asleep.

Passed out, I guess? She hoped Song Yin wouldn’t remember any of this when she woke up. It was too embarrassing.

Song Yin was unconscious, so Shen Yirong had to pick her up.

As she picked her up, Chang Yuantan, who was leading the way, turned around, then showed a look of satisfied relief.

Shen Yirong’s scalp tingled from her gaze. She couldn’t help but ask Shen Shuci: What’s with her expression like she’s shipping us?

Shen Shuci sighed: “She just likes to ship people like that. Don’t mind it.”

The floral scent in the palace intensified at night. The scent drilled into the nostrils, invaded the brain, and even threatened to devour one’s sanity.

Shen Yirong summoned the wind to disperse some of it before she could clearly see the scene in front of her. She stared intently at Chang Yuantan’s back.

She had just experienced a hallucination. The hallucination turned this empty, dark palace into a flower sea under bright sunlight, and Chang Yuantan in front of her became the only crabapple tree in it.

The crabapple tree was tall and robust. A stone table was placed under the tree, and wine was already set on the table.

The tree’s branches and leaves blocked the sun. A gentle breeze swayed the branches, and a peach-pink petal fell into the wine cup.

“We’re here, Sword Venerable, please sit.” Chang Yuantan smiled lightly as she pulled out a stool and made a gesture to invite them to sit.

This was a room they hadn’t visited during the day. A red wood square table was paired with several red wood stools. The edges of the table were carved with figures that looked familiar upon closer inspection.

They had also been seen on the zither earlier, but the posture of these figures had changed.

This time, the woman with the white veil over her eyes was in the center. She seemed to be dancing, but her expression looked very reserved.

Mei Xin sat beside Chang Yuantan, staring at the patterns for a long time.

Seeing that everyone’s focus was the same, Chang Yuantan was very happy. She slowly sat down but immediately began to gasp for breath. The few steps she had just walked seemed to have drained all her strength.

Looking at Chang Yuantan’s appearance, Shen Yirong remembered her past self. “Sect Master, why don’t you rest first?”

Chang Yuantan shook her head. She looked at Shen Yirong and Song Yin, cheerfully saying, “The geomancy of this Great Peace Sect is truly interesting. Little Liu must be furious.”

Clearly, the other party had misunderstood something.

Song Yin was still lying in Shen Yirong’s arms. Shen Yirong quickly explained, “Sect Master, you really misunderstood.”

Chang Yuantan leaned back wearily, the smile on her face tinged with deeper fragility. “No need to explain. I can tell whether it’s Master and Disciple or lovers. I’ve seen too many awkward people.”

With that, Chang Yuantan took out a small box from her spiritual ring. She pushed the box toward Shen Yirong and smiled, “My lifespan is nearing its end. I probably won’t live to see the day you two get together. Consider this an early wedding gift.”

Shen Yirong refused. “There’s really no need.”

Chang Yuantan smiled. “This item can treat the Heart Demon.”

Shen Yirong’s hand, which was pushing it away, stopped. She didn’t trust the person in front of her.

Shen Shuci glanced at the box and transmitted: “Host, take it. She’s not lying.”

Shen Yirong suspiciously transmitted: Really? Are you reliable?

Shen Shuci said awkwardly: “This time, I’m really not wrong. That thing may not necessarily be effective against the Heart Demon, but there won’t be any other problems if you take it.”

Seeing that Shen Yirong still didn’t believe her, Shen Shuci started swearing an oath: “Really! If I’m lying, may I be struck dead by lightning!”

“Lightning can’t kill you at all.”

Hearing the Heavenly Dao’s sarcastic remark, Shen Shuci couldn’t help but retort: “Ah!!! Shut up! Did I ask you? Have you been watching me make a fool of myself this whole time!”

“Not the whole time.”

Shen Shuci was even more furious. She started arguing with the Heavenly Dao.

Shen Yirong naturally couldn’t hear these conversations. Seeing Shen Yirong no longer replying, she hesitated before taking the box.

“Thank you. If there’s anything I can help with, please tell me, Sect Master.”

This was merely a polite formality, but it gave Chang Yuantan an opening. She immediately took advantage of it. “I do have something to ask of you.”

Shen Yirong was caught off guard, but she had to continue: “Please speak, Sect Master.”

Chang Yuantan coughed once, the smile on her face becoming more serious. “After I die, I’d like to ask you to take care of my disciple.”

“You’ve met her. Her name is Yao Jun, and she’s a gentle child.”

Shen Yirong, who was inexplicably entrusted with guardianship, was a bit confused. She looked at Mei Xin, but Mei Xin was still studying the patterns on the table.

Isn’t this person trying to drag Mei Xin in to save herself?

Besides, Shen Yirong’s current cultivation was inferior to Yao Jun’s.

Chang Yuantan didn’t give her a chance to refuse. She started coughing again, trembling as she pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve to cover her mouth.

After a bout of heartbreaking coughing, she withdrew the handkerchief. The pure white cloth was not stained with blood, only a few pink and white crabapple blossoms.

Chang Yuantan calmly wrapped the flowers and tucked them into her sleeve. “Sword Venerable, you didn’t come to see me tonight, did you?”

Shen Yirong felt she was being seen through by the person in front of her. She answered calmly, “Why would the Sect Master think that?”

Chang Yuantan smiled. “Sword Venerable, no need to be nervous. I mean no harm. But aren’t you curious?”

With that, Chang Yuantan pulled up her sleeve. The area that should have been skin had turned into grayish-brown bark. This must be a side effect of the sacrifice.

Pulling down her sleeve, Chang Yuantan coughed twice more, but this time, she no longer smiled after finishing.

“The Sword Venerable must have already noticed that the entire Nine Heavens Sect is a great sacrificial array.”

Shen Yirong’s eyes flickered. She secretly gripped the hilt of the Rain Tracing Sword.

Chang Yuantan seemed not to notice her caution. She sighed, “But the Nine Heavens Sect’s sacrificial array is also one array core. The Western Region is full of countless arrays. They serve as array cores for each other, suppressing the miasma of this land.”

“Cough, cough! The Nine Heavens Sect’s sacrificial array is the core of the entire array network in the Western Region. As the sacrificial offering, I can no longer hold on.”

Shen Yirong only knew it was a sacrificial array. Because she knew its danger, she didn’t delve into its function, allowing her concern to cloud her judgment.

It’s meant to suppress miasma?

Shen Yirong was half-believing, half-doubting. “Are you explaining this to me?”

Chang Yuantan glanced at Mei Xin. She nodded. “Yes. If the sacrifice dies, the great array will stop operating, and miasma will cover the entire Western Region.”

“I originally planned to let the next Saintess serve as the new sacrifice, but Yao Ling refused to be controlled and ran away, and Jun’er is unqualified as a sacrifice.”

Chang Yuantan spoke very easily. She seemed indifferent to her own life, and to the lives of others.

Shen Yirong was very uncomfortable after hearing this. She couldn’t help but cool her expression. “Can’t an item be used instead?”

Chang Yuantan’s expression remained the same. “No.”

“The reason I’ve endured until now and haven’t dared to die is because I can’t let go. Sword Venerable, did you smell the floral scent?”

Shen Yirong nodded.

“That is the miasma. It can destroy a person’s sanity and turn them into a walking corpse. Because of my weakness, this great array can no longer suppress it.”

Shen Yirong was silent. After a moment, she looked directly into Chang Yuantan’s eyes. “What do you want to say?”

“Venerable Mei has agreed to become the new sacrifice. I beg you, for the sake of the Western Region, please do not interfere.”

Mei Xin stopped studying the patterns. She looked at Shen Yirong and said, “Junior Sister, this is my choice.”

Several days passed consecutively, with Shen Yirong locking herself in her room.

Shen Shuci, worried, stood guard at the door daily. Many disciples in the Nine Heavens Sect had received guidance from the Sword Venerable. Some had already become elders, but upon reaching the Sword Venerable’s door, they unconsciously adjusted their clothes and hair.

Shen Shuci was tired of counting how many visitors there had been. She leaned against the door, mechanically saying, “The Sword Venerable is not seeing anyone. Please leave.”

The visitor looked regretfully at the tightly closed door. She took out a spatial bag and placed it beside Shen Shuci. Various colored spatial bags were already piled up there like a small mountain.

The woman bowed to the closed door, then gave a bag filled with spirit stones to Shen Shuci. “Please tell the immortal that Fu Shuyun has never forgotten her kindness.”

Shen Shuci was too lazy to refuse. She nodded perfunctorily, then remembered that Shen Yirong liked spirit stones, so she tossed the bag containing spirit stones onto the pile of bags.

She glanced inside the window with a sigh.

Shen Yirong heard the voice of the person outside the window, but she didn’t get distracted.

The array diagram she took from Chang Yuantan lay on the table. It was covered with numerous marks. She stared at the diagram without blinking.

Suddenly, she crumpled the diagram and threw it aside.

The crumpled paper ball rolled a few times and landed at Song Yin’s feet. Song Yin bent down, picked up the paper ball, and unfolded it. Her crimson pupils scanned the paper a few times, showing confusion.

The Heart Demon truly couldn’t understand. She said with a headache: It’s been several days, even if you felt embarrassed, it’s been several days. Come out quickly.

Song Yin’s voice faintly sounded: Shut up.

The Heart Demon experienced the headache again. Indeed, being human is not as comfortable as being a Heart Demon.

She was already regretful, pleading as if to an ancestor: Seriously, no one would dare to laugh at you. Come out. Your significant other hasn’t closed her eyes for days and nights. If you don’t come out and console her soon, she’ll die suddenly!

This tactic worked. Song Yin, who had been brooding, finally showed some emotion.

Song Yin’s body swayed twice, and her pupils returned to their original color.

Song Yin scanned the diagram in her hand several times, a hint of admiration appearing in her eyes.

She quietly walked behind Shen Yirong. The other party was writing and drawing on a new diagram.

Song Yin originally wanted to tell Shen Yirong to rest, but seeing her focused eyebrows, she stopped her next move.

“Incorrect.” Shen Yirong crumpled the new diagram again and tossed it aside casually, but this time, her hand touched something.

Shen Yirong turned her head and saw Song Yin. She rubbed her temples, looking exhausted. “I apologize. I was too engrossed. I didn’t see the Revered One.”

Song Yin sat down beside her. “Do you need help?”

Shen Yirong’s eyes lit up. Since she decided to modify the array, she hadn’t considered asking anyone for help. Everyone here was a music cultivator, and their skills were too singular.

Shen Yirong looked at Song Yin as if she were a savior. “Yes, yes, yes.”

Spreading out a new diagram, Shen Yirong pointed to the location of the Nine Heavens Sect. “I had Shuci check it. Chang Yuantan’s diagram is correct. The sacrifice can likely be replaced by something else.”

Song Yin looked at Shen Yirong. Although she was haggard right now, she was full of genuine vitality.

This is the true Master.

Song Yin momentarily forgot her purpose for helping and simply stared blankly at Shen Yirong.

Shen Yirong didn’t notice. Her finger moved across the diagram. “The array cores of this section and this section are both mountains, but these two mountains serving as array cores create slight resistance to the array’s operation. If we swap these two mountains, it would be much better.”

After speaking, Shen Yirong bit the end of her brush. She frowned in distress. “But these two locations are too far apart. It’s not easy to achieve a swap.”

“Swapping these two mountains will reduce the drain on the sacrifice, allowing Chang Yuantan to hold on longer. Once we buy time, I can slowly prepare to replace the sacrifice.”

Shen Yirong put down the brush. “This is just my first step assumption, but this first step is very difficult. I’ve been trying to think of alternative solutions, but I haven’t come up with anything yet.”

Shen Yirong, not getting a reply from Song Yin, turned to look. Seeing Song Yin’s blank expression, she couldn’t help but see a vision of Song Yin four hundred years ago.

In a fit of excitement, she instinctively tapped Song Yin’s head and said sternly with a frown, “What are you thinking about?”

Support