Reborn as a Human Cauldron, But I'm the Top - Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Disappearance, Death, and Resentment

The dream and reality were difficult to distinguish, so much so that Shen Yirong stared at Song Yin in her arms for a long time after waking up.

She had seen Song Yin in her dream again. The Song Yin in the dream was completely familiar with her life in reality, and would pull open the curtains for her when the sunlight was just right.

As the sun shone through the window, Song Yin’s figure seemed to melt in front of it.

Song Yin let go of the curtain, turned her head, and pressed a morning kiss on her forehead, which she did not refuse, as if such an action was completely ordinary.

Song Yin accompanied her to work, listened to her excited sharing, and also listened to her anxious complaints.

The subway in the morning was always crowded. The carriage stopped and started, and the broadcast announced station after station.

Although the crowd was surging, it was quiet, with only the two of them feeling like they were together.

Song Yin was quiet when she slept. Shen Yirong suddenly felt a sense of attachment.

The time for separation had not yet come, but she involuntarily felt panic.

Shen Yirong sighed helplessly. Song Yin in her arms opened her eyes because of it.

These eyes were becoming more and more like the old Song Yin.

Song Yin was very tired. “It’s still early. Don’t you want to sleep a little longer?”

Shen Yirong shook her head.

Yao Ling’s voice came from outside the door. “Venerable, Bai Yuzan has also arrived.”

Shen Yirong immediately became energetic. She pulled Song Yin up abruptly, only to find that the other person was incredibly weak, nearly stumbling as soon as she got out of bed.

Shen Yirong pulled her into her arms. After taking her pulse, she was shocked. “What’s going on?”

Song Yin chuckled. She seemed very happy. “Just a backlash from the heart demon.”

When she heard ‘heart demon,’ Shen Yirong couldn’t help but feel distressed. She wanted to carry the person on her back, but Song Yin struggled on her back.

“Put me down. I can manage.”

“How can you manage when your legs are so weak! Don’t push yourself!”

Song Yin still resisted. “I am a Demon Venerable, after all. Being carried out would ruin my dignity.”

They were locked in a stalemate inside, and Yao Ling outside was sweating profusely from listening.

She knew her Venerable liked this person who closely resembled the Sword Venerable, but she hadn’t expected this person to be so presumptuous in front of the Venerable. And… the Venerable’s legs were weak?

Yao Ling’s brain was overwhelmed into mush by the excessive information. Originally, she had some slight disregard for this person who suddenly became her master, but now she felt extremely fortunate.

Fortunate that she hadn’t done anything disrespectful.

“Creak~”

A sound of the door opening. Shen Yirong walked out carrying a black-faced Song Yin on her back. It was clear who had won.

Yao Ling was even more apprehensive, and her demeanor became more cautious. “Master Shen, Venerable, the leaders of the three largest sects in the West, North, and East, and the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion are in the Star-Gazing Hall.”

This was truly rare, considering the Demon Palace Master was also present.

“Thank you, Third Protector, for leading the way.” Shen Yirong’s expression was humble.

Yao Ling gave an awkward smile. “No trouble, no trouble.”

The other party’s slightly fearful attitude made Shen Yirong take another look.

Yao Ling wore quite a few accessories on her back, focused on being exquisite from all angles, completely different from her sister’s fresh and elegant style.

There was still some distance to the Star-Gazing Hall. Shen Yirong followed behind Yao Ling. She had intended to convey Yao Jun’s words, but since the sisters were so close, it would be better for them to speak clearly face-to-face.

However, this arrangement is quite clever.

Shen Yirong smiled and transmitted a message to the person on her back: The Venerable cares about her subordinates very much.

Song Yin was still worried about her dignity. Suddenly hearing such a random remark, although completely confused, she treated it as a point in her favor and tacitly agreed.

Seeing Song Yin not respond, Shen Yirong thought the other party was shy.

She chuckled: Sending Yao Ling will allow the sisters to talk properly.

Song Yin fell silent. She sent Yao Ling only because she was formerly from the Nine Heavens Sect. Liu Qianfeng wouldn’t strike her dead out of respect for Chang Yuantan. If she had sent another Protector, they might have been instantly flattened.

Seeing Shen Yirong’s happy look, Song Yin’s many words were reduced to just one sentence.

“Hmph.”

Shen Yirong jostled Song Yin upward slightly, mentally calling Song Yin tsundere.

Shaking her head helplessly, since Song Yin didn’t engage, she started talking to Yao Ling.

“Does the Third Protector want to see the Saintess?”

Yao Ling’s pace suddenly slowed. She sneered disdainfully. “Just an enemy. Why should I see her?”

Shen Yirong felt there was some misunderstanding between the two. “Last night, the Saintess came to find us.”

Though she claimed not to care, ripples still appeared in Yao Ling’s eyes. The clanging sound of her accessories gradually faded, and Yao Ling also slowed down.

She suddenly quieted down. After a while, she asked softly, “What did she want to say?”

“She asked the Venerable to let you return.”

Although she was the Third Protector of the Demon Palace, Yao Ling had not become a demon cultivator, but she was still a traitor.

Yao Ling mocked, “Naïve. Even if I truly put aside past grievances, what would I be when I return to the Nine Heavens Sect? The Saintess’s sister? Or a traitor? The answer is clearly the latter.”

Surveying the long-unseen scenery, Yao Ling answered very calmly, “I can’t go back. Now we serve different masters. Some things are unnecessary.”

Suddenly, a light rain began to fall from the sky. Raindrops tapped on the leaves, quietly playing a melody belonging to heaven and earth.

The Nine Heavens Sect was always lively, but the people there were always quiet.

The Demon Palace was the opposite. The environment of the Demon Palace was desolate, but the people inside were one more noisy than the next.

In the Demon Palace, she could laugh out loud and take strides as big as she wanted. She felt very free.

But whenever she indulged in this freedom, she always thought of that face identical to hers.

She always wondered, Is that person doing well? Is she suffocated by the sect rules? Is anyone bullying her?

Yao Ling felt that she was so useless. That day, when she dragged her sister to escape, she was pursued by her Master.

She became the abandoned choice.

Yao Ling chuckled softly. She stopped talking, silently leading them toward the Star-Gazing Hall.

In front of the magnificent palace, a white-robed immortal wearing a veil bowed to the group.

Yao Ling’s figure stiffened, and she actually forgot what she was supposed to say next.

Yao Jun approached, holding a pipa. “The Sect Master is waiting for both Seniors in the inner room.”

Shen Yirong glanced at the two sisters. She readily said, “Alright, we can go in by ourselves.”

With that, Shen Yirong walked in, carrying Song Yin on her back. Chang Yuantan’s location was easy to find; the strongest floral scent indicated her presence.

This time, they weren’t in that narrow, dark room, but the walk was still too long.

Sunlight filtered through the window paper. Shen Yirong carried Song Yin, passing one window after another.

She couldn’t help but sigh.

“You want them to reconcile?” Song Yin asked.

Shen Yirong laughed. “That thought is a bit naïve.”

Perhaps because she had only met good people along this journey, Shen Yirong hadn’t witnessed any bloodshed or conflict.

The immortal sects were outwardly harmonious, with no wars breaking out. It was peaceful, like a fairy tale world.

So Shen Yirong always hoped that there would be fewer regrets in this world, and that everyone could have a good ending.

But such a hope was difficult to achieve even in the present world. Happiness was always relative.

After Song Yin confessed her feelings, Shen Yirong’s guard against her lessened significantly, allowing her to speak many thoughts in her heart freely.

Song Yin was a good listener, willing to hear her impractical ideas.

“Song Yin.”

“Mm.”

“I hope this world is beautiful, and no one gets hurt.”

Song Yin frowned. She said helplessly, “Kindness will be mocked.”

“Then, will you mock me?”

Song Yin shook her head. There were some things she didn’t want to admit, but her Master needed her honesty. She answered seriously, “No. I just don’t want you to be wronged.”

Song Yin’s voice grew heavier. “I also don’t want you to have to make a choice.”

Shen Yirong’s ears flushed. She buried her head and continued walking forward, trying to divert the topic. “After the array is changed today, Sect Master Chang and Yao Jun won’t have to die.”

Song Yin was not interested in this. She exerted so much effort only because her Master wanted to do these things, wanted to save these people.

Anyone her Master wanted to live must live. Even if they truly died, she would find a way to bring them back.

Furthermore, in the places Shen Yirong couldn’t see, Song Yin’s expression grew more and more sinister.

Shen Yirong only felt a tingling sensation on the back of her neck. Before she could ponder it, they arrived in front of the room with the strongest floral scent.

Pushing the door open with one hand, several pairs of eyes shot toward them like searchlights.

Liu Qianfeng, who had rested for a night, still looked unwell. Her expression grew even fouler when she saw Shen Yirong carrying Song Yin, so she simply closed her eyes.

Chang Yuantan’s lignification had spread to her face. With half her face turned to wood, she looked delighted, as if she was getting a front-row seat to a juicy drama. She greeted them warmly, “We’ve been waiting for you both for a long time. Please sit down casually.”

Shen Yirong first set Song Yin down. After she did, someone grabbed her wrist, and a gentle spiritual energy flowed inside her body.

Shen Yirong turned her head to see Bai Yuzan, dressed in sackcloth and carrying a gourd at her waist, from the Medical Immortal Valley.

But she didn’t have any health issues. “I’m fine. Please take the Venerable’s pulse, Valley Master Bai.”

Bai Yuzan didn’t answer. She felt Shen Yirong’s pulse, but her eyebrows furrowed deeper and deeper.

Shen Yirong immediately felt a shiver from head to toe. She stammered, “I-Is there any problem?”

Bai Yuzan’s appearance was inherently serious. When she didn’t smile, she was even scarier, looking as if she was about to say, “No cure, take her away.”

While Shen Yirong was lost in wild thoughts, Bai Yuzan finally spoke. “Nothing much. I’ve just never seen such a lazy cultivator.”

…

Shen Yirong was momentarily speechless.

But after examining her, Bai Yuzan reached out to take Song Yin’s pulse. This time, her eyebrows furrowed even tighter. “Does the Venerable treat her body as disposable? Her spiritual meridian is so fragile, yet she forcefully activated an artifact.”

The remark was very blunt. Shen Yirong stood nervously to the side.

Song Yin withdrew her hand. “If you’re unwilling to treat me, there are plenty of others who are.”

“Who said I wouldn’t treat you? Your situation is complex. Taking pills alone is not enough. It requires a series of follow-up treatments.”

“As for the price,” Bai Yuzan held out six fingers. “Six million high-grade spirit stones.”

At this statement, both the nervous Shen Yirong and the grim-faced Liu Qianfeng lost their composure.

Song Yin frowned. “Are you trying to rip off this Venerable?”

Shen Yirong nodded like a pounding mortar. Five million high-grade spirit stones? How many people’s lifetime savings is that?

It seems Song Yin isn’t that much of a spendthrift after all.

“Is this Venerable’s injury only worth six million? Are you holding a grudge because I imprisoned you? Are you retaliating against this Venerable with inferior medicine?”

Shen Yirong: “…”

Her understanding of the word ‘extravagant’ might still be insufficient.

Bai Yuzan was slightly speechless. “The Venerable’s suspicion seems a bit heavy. Your injury is only worth that price.”

Seeing that the two seemed about to argue, and everyone in the room was watching the show, Shen Yirong reluctantly stepped forward to change the subject. She looked around and noticed one person was missing.

She couldn’t help but ask, “Where is Venerable Mei?”

Chang Yuantan coughed twice. Shen Yirong seemed to hear the rustling of branches. Upon closer inspection, a few pink begonia flowers sprouted behind her. The begonias swayed slightly with her cough.

Genuine panic flashed in Liu Qianfeng’s eyes. She crouched in front of Chang Yuantan, then turned to look at Bai Yuzan. “Little Bai, can she still come back in this state?”

Bai Yuzan shook her head. “No.”

Liu Qianfeng immediately became disheartened. “Didn’t you say before that you would find a way?”

Perhaps feeling her words were harsh, Liu Qianfeng apologized, “Sorry, I was too anxious.”

Bai Yuzan didn’t blame her. She turned her head and glanced at Shen Yirong. “She can discard her current body.”

Everyone present except Song Yin changed their expressions.

Su Zhao, who had been sitting quietly to the side, calculated with her fingers. “Perhaps not. If I recall correctly, the Medical Immortal Valley has an artifact called the Soul-Guiding Lamp, which has the effect of gathering and observing souls. The Sect Master’s soul can temporarily reside in the lamp, and then we can ask the Medical Immortal Valley to forge an artifact capable of housing and operating the soul.”

Shen Yirong, listening nearby, felt a moment of panic. She looked at Song Yin, who didn’t seem interested.

Seeing this, Shen Yirong felt relieved.

Her little movements went unnoticed by the people present, who were still discussing Chang Yuantan’s illness.

Bai Yuzan didn’t deny Su Zhao. “That is correct. The Pavilion Master’s divination is still as accurate.”

Su Zhao wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.

Liu Qianfeng said with distress, “You should calculate less about things that will naturally happen. Your body can only take so much.”

Su Zhao looked over at the sound of Liu Qianfeng’s voice. She chuckled softly. “Among those monsters back then, your body was the best. As expected of a body cultivator.”

Liu Qianfeng disliked the term “monster.” She retorted, “You’re one of the monsters too.”

Su Zhao wasn’t bothered by the sarcasm. She laughed merrily, “Indeed. The monsters of yesteryear are gathered here again, only missing Sister Yun.”

Looking at how familiar this group was, Shen Yirong couldn’t help but sit on the same stool as Song Yin. She quietly transmitted a message to Song Yin: It seems like they can chat for a long time?

Song Yin: Bored? If you’re bored, you can ask me anything you’re interested in.

Shen Yirong shook her head: I just feel that their relationship is truly good.

Song Yin: The Demon Palace also has lively scenes like this.

This person started talking about the Demon Palace after only two sentences. Although her expression was still cold, it gave a feeling of lacking security.

In the midst of the lively discussion, Shen Yirong simply held Song Yin’s hand to comfort her.

“In short, none of you should treat your bodies as unimportant! And you!”

Liu Qianfeng pointed her finger at Shen Yirong. Seeing the two in such intimate harmony, she couldn’t help but let out a tsk.

Unwilling to see the intimacy between them any longer, she forcefully sat back down in her seat. “Enough with the digressions. How should those two mountains be moved?”

The topic finally returned to the main point. Shen Yirong chuckled softly. “If this mountain is exchanged with the one on the west side, the array can be improved, and there will be no need for sacrifices.”

As she spoke, Shen Yirong frowned again. “Actually, the array can also be modified, but it would be very troublesome. In comparison, this method is easier.”

Liu Qianfeng looked at the mountain towering into the clouds. She looked for a moment. “Are there any other requirements?”

Shen Yirong smiled. “No. It’s just that these two mountains are quite far apart, and I don’t know how to handle that.”

Yao Ling glanced at Song Yin. After receiving her permission, she said, “The Demon Palace has an artifact that can handle this.”

Yao Jun’s eyes moved. She secretly glanced at her sister. Seeing that her sister ignored her, she looked away.

The scene before her somewhat subverted her understanding.

If she hadn’t been mentally prepared, she would definitely think she was dreaming.

The head of the demon cultivators was putting forth so much effort to help a spiritual cultivation sect, when not so many years ago, her Master and the Demon Venerable had actually fought, and it was a fierce one.

Song Yin quietly watched Shen Yirong, who was full of youthful spirit in front of the crowd.

She was somewhat distracted.

So this is what Master was like. She clenched her fists.

A fake system? If it weren’t for that fake system, the way Master treated her should be like she treated little Song.

In an instant, the hatred in Song Yin’s heart multiplied. Although her Master had asked Shen Shuci to investigate, she was still not entirely reassured about this matter.

She still had Shen Shuci’s memory. If she could decipher it, she could investigate herself.

Hiss! I still need to enter the dream a few more times to further my studies.

Shen Yirong didn’t know that she had few secrets left. She was still distressed at the foot of the mountain. “The Venerable said that only the Sect Master can do this.”

Liu Qianfeng was a little surprised, but still put on a straight face. “Hmph. You move back to a safe place first.”

Shen Yirong stepped back a few steps, which happened to put her right next to Chang Yuantan.

Chang Yuantan was also in a wheelchair, like Su Zhao. In just a few days, her feet had already turned to wood, and branches had grown out of her back, preventing her from leaning back.

This Sect Master, whom she had only met a few times, always carried an optimism that transcended life and death.

Even in this condition, she was still happily watching Shen Yirong and Song Yin.

In front, Yao Ling conjured an artifact. It was a golden ring with swirling spiral patterns on it.

Then, Yao Ling stuffed spirit stones into the artifact. In the blink of an eye, one spatial ring of spirit stones was empty.

She calmly took out another one, pouring out the spirit stones until it was empty too, like pouring beans.

Shen Yirong felt a pang of heartache watching. This artifact actually requires so many spirit stones for one activation.

Song Yin thoughtfully covered her eyes, but Shen Yirong firmly pulled her hand away. “It’s fine, I can handle it.”

Seeing her insistence, Song Yin no longer persisted.

She suddenly noticed someone was looking at her. She turned her head and saw it was Chang Yuantan.

Song Yin’s eyes were cold. Just as she was thinking about how to teach this person a lesson, the other party took out a red pouch from her spatial ring.

“This is for the Venerable. Consider it my wedding gift in advance. A small token of esteem!”

Song Yin was won over. It was rare for her to encounter someone who wasn’t prejudiced against her and her Master being together. Mei Xin counted as one, of course.

So at this moment, she found Chang Yuantan incredibly pleasing to the eye.

However, Mei Xin had come first, so in terms of pleasingness, Mei Xin was first, Chang Yuantan second, and Liu Qianfeng was last.

Song Yin’s expression softened slightly. She reached out and took the red spatial bag, noticing embroidery on the back. She flipped it over to look.

Two fish-pigs curled into a circle.

Such a familiar pattern.

Song Yin’s eyes gradually lit up. “This is?”

Chang Yuantan smiled. “The Sword Venerable embroidered this herself back then. Today, I present it to the Venerable.”

Song Yin was stunned. She felt that the other party had grasped her preferences, and this feeling was very uncomfortable.

Heh, what a cunning old woman.

As they talked, a sudden “rumble” sounded. The wild beasts and birds on the mountain began to flee frantically.

After a cloud of dust settled, the scene before them gradually became clear.

The mountain had been lifted.

Shen Yirong’s pupils trembled. She couldn’t focus on the conversation between the two people beside her. Her mind was filled with the image of the mountain flying.

So terrifying. Getting punched by Sect Master Liu would probably turn me into a meteor.

Shen Yirong quietly covered her own backside.

Song Yin looked at the sight with indifference. She turned her attention back to Chang Yuantan. “Hmph. Are you trying to curry favor with this Venerable? Paving the way for your disciple?”

Amidst the rumbling, Chang Yuantan pretended not to hear. She answered vaguely, “Huh? Venerable, are you asking about this spatial bag? The Sword Venerable only embroidered six of these bags back then, and each pattern is different.”

Song Yin’s ears perked up instantly.

Different?

Song Yin’s heart itched. “Where are the remaining ones?”

Chang Yuantan thought carefully. She wrote down the names of the people who received the spatial bags back then and handed the list to Song Yin.

Song Yin took the paper, memorized the names, and then burned the paper.

Chang Yuantan had now been promoted to the number one spot on the “Pleasing to the Eye” list.

Song Yin, rarely taking the initiative, said, “In the future, I will be lenient.”

Chang Yuantan only smiled. She looked at Yao Jun in the crowd, whose eyes were wide with shock at Liu Qianfeng’s actions, and her eyes softened.

She looked at Shen Yirong again and sighed. “I did have selfish motives in giving this gift, but Venerable, I sincerely hope the Sword Venerable can be happy.”

Song Yin did not answer.

As the Demon Venerable, she was powerful and arrogant, and did not need to explain her thoughts and actions to anyone.

She scoffed, “My love will only be more than all of yours.”

Chang Yuantan did not argue. She just looked in the direction of the Nine Heavens Sect.

Many people within the Nine Heavens Sect also heard the commotion, including Su Zhao.

She smiled brightly. “Qianfeng has become even more formidable.”

She muttered to herself, “This time, we should be able to save her. Sure enough, the Sword Venerable always brings miracles.”

Su Zhao habitually started calculating the future with her fingers.

A moment later, her smiling expression vanished completely. “Not good!”

Su Zhao was sweating with urgency. She quickly rushed down the mountain. On the way, she encountered Mei Xin, who was playing with the wind.

She quickly shouted, “Venerable Mei, help me!”

Mei Xin gave up playing with the wind. She pushed her wheelchair down the mountain and finally followed Su Zhao’s instructions to Shen Shuci’s room.

Disregarding all propriety, Su Zhao and Mei Xin broke down the door.

“Deputy Pavilion Master! Shuci!”

No one answered.

Mei Xin spread her spiritual consciousness. It enveloped the entire Nine Heavens Sect. After a moment, she opened her eyes again.

She shook her head doubtfully. “Nothing. She’s disappeared.”

Su Zhao’s face instantly turned pale. She called out again, unwilling to give up.

“Shuci! Are you there? Don’t scare me!”

Su Zhao couldn’t see, so calling out like this was pitiful.

Remembering that this person had some friendship with her Master, Mei Xin decided to help. Besides, the person who disappeared was her Junior Sister’s daughter.

It was then that she noticed a trace of a curse aura on the side of the desk.

She frowned and stepped forward.

There was indeed a trace of death and resentment on the desk.

And it was very familiar.