Reborn as a Human Cauldron, But I'm the Top - Chapter 80

Chapter 80: Returning to the Palace, The Zoo

At the insistence of the Nine Heavens Sect members, Shen Yirong and her companions stayed for another half month. During this half month, she did not stop cultivating but was still unable to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

For cultivators, intuition is very important. Shen Yirong could feel that if she continued to cultivate further, she would die.

So she stopped cultivating and, in her spare time, went to guide the younger disciples of the Nine Heavens Sect.

The small sword in her mind seemed to grow brighter. Su Yu was dormant, and Shen Shuci’s voice would appear from time to time, but it was always intermittent.

Song Yin had some connection with the people of Central Yue. She asked Ling Minzhi to find someone. The person was found, but they were unwilling to return.

Song Yin had been busy with something mysterious these days.

Shen Yirong, bored, picked a begonia flower and put it in a vase. After tidying up the flower, she heard the rattling sound of a wheelchair behind her.

Su Zhao’s complexion was much better than before. Yao Jun came to see her from time to time, and if there was any inadequacy, the Saintess immediately corrected it.

Even the flowers and water in the vase on the table were changed daily, something the people of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion probably wouldn’t do.

It was already merciful that they hadn’t killed Su Zhao through their games.

“Why do you have time to visit me today?” Su Zhao smiled gently. She was like this most of the time, only losing her composure and cursing loudly when mentioning the people of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion.

Shen Yirong found a spot, sat down without ceremony, and then spoke. “The Deputy Pavilion Master is currently in Central Yue.”

Su Zhao was a little surprised. “Central Yue, huh.”

Shen Yirong still kept the fragment of the All-Encompassing Mirror in her arms. To be honest, her initial impression of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion was poor, but now she was somewhat surprised.

Among a group of strong individuals with diverse personalities, she was the quietest, seemingly wanting to avoid participating in anything.

Shen Yirong had many doubts. “Why did you place the All-Encompassing Mirror in Central Yue?”

Su Zhao didn’t expect her to bring up old scores. Her face was full of bitterness. “Because the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is different from other sects; it doesn’t have much commendable combat power, and that’s dangerous. We placed the All-Encompassing Mirror there knowing there was a Corpse King.”

She added with a hint of envy, “Tai’an’s monsters number three: you, Mei Xin, and Liu Qianfeng. Although the disciples are a bit eccentric, their strength is considerable. Nine Heavens has Chang Yuantan. If she recovers well, she should regain eighty percent of her former strength. The Medical Immortal Valley people’s cultivation is a level lower, but they never lack artifacts and elixirs.”

Shen Yirong listened quietly. She thought of the group of crippled and sick people in the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and understood somewhat.

But there were also many fox clan remains in the Demon Territory, so the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion must have participated in the internal conflict of the fox clan.

It was probably for cooperation, but judging from the results, they lost terribly.

Remembering the pile of white bones, Shen Yirong reminded her, “There seem to be remains of Heavenly Mystery Pavilion disciples in the Demon Territory.”

Su Zhao paused. “Yes, I know. But those were traitors of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. No need to worry about them.”

“Traitors?”

Su Zhao showed some sadness. “Trading with the Heavenly Dao naturally requires a great price. Because of this, the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion’s combat power has always been insufficient. The previous Pavilion Master, my master, secretly provoked conflict between the Red Foxes and White Foxes. After dividing the Fox Clan, she not only gained the trust of the White Fox clan but also acquired many Red Fox servants.”

Recalling the past, Su Zhao gave a self-deprecating laugh. “In the eyes of humans, these demons are beasts, and in that chaotic era, no one cared. But then that person appeared.”

Looking at Su Zhao’s smile, Shen Yirong probably guessed who that person was.

She scratched her head. But her reputation in the Demon Realm didn’t seem very good, did it? So she shouldn’t interfere with everything.

Although Su Zhao couldn’t see Shen Yirong’s embarrassment, it didn’t stop her teasing. “But you weren’t the Sword Venerable back then, so no one listened to you. You even made threats, saying you would teach my master a lesson once you became stronger.”

Why does this sound like a dark history?

Why is the whole world full of dark histories I don’t know about! Shen Yirong could imagine her frustrated and arrogant appearance at that time.

Her toes curled with embarrassment, but she was curious about her past and asked softly, “Then what happened later?”

Su Zhao’s smile faded. “Later, my master paid with her life for it. But those foxes were already in a state of endless hostility. They hated each other, they devoured each other, until only one color remained.”

Shen Yirong felt completely uncomfortable. If that was the case, “Am I your master’s killer?”

Su Zhao didn’t speak.

Shen Yirong broke out in a cold sweat. Just as she was extremely nervous, Su Zhao suddenly smiled again.

“How could that be? You did have that thought at the time, but someone took action first.”

Shen Yirong relaxed. “Who was it?”

Su Zhao maintained the same smile. “It was me.”

Su Zhao reached out, and the begonia flower in the window vase came into her hand. She gently shook it, and the raindrops on the begonia fell, leaving darker streaks on her dress.

Although she couldn’t see Su Zhao’s eyes clearly, Shen Yirong still sensed the sadness.

She liked listening to stories, but she didn’t want to rub salt into others’ wounds.

After saying goodbye to Su Zhao, Shen Yirong went to the small path embraced by begonia trees again. She stood under the tree.

She liked this place, not because of its beauty, but because the shy and awkward person had opened her heart to her here.

“Troublemaker.” Bai Yuzan stepped out from behind a begonia tree.

Shen Yirong was a little nervous. “Valley Master Bai.”

Bai Yuzan said nothing. She stepped forward, pinched Shen Yirong’s wrist, and then let go.

The other party said nothing, so it seemed nothing was wrong.

Shen Yirong suddenly remembered the All-Encompassing Mirror that hadn’t been repaired. She quickly handed over the mirror and the fox bone. “Valley Master, can you help repair it?”

Looking at the mirror in her hand, Bai Yuzan seemed unhappy. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this thing.”

Shen Yirong pretended not to understand. “Ah?”

Bai Yuzan glanced at her. “I will help you fix it. I will send the mirror to the Tai’an Sect when it’s done.”

“Wait.” Shen Yirong was a little anxious.

Bai Yuzan gave her a look. “You don’t expect me to send it to the Demon Palace, do you? I don’t like that place.”

“That disciple of yours, her body is not much different from yours back then. It’s frustrating to look at.”

Shen Yirong was embarrassed. “Alright.”

Bai Yuzan suddenly hugged her arms and rubbed them, openly expressing her frustration. “A bunch of maniacs. Su Zhao is, Chang Yuantan is, and Mei Xin is too.”

Shen Yirong saw a desperate doctor.

How should she comfort her?

Shen Yirong chose her words carefully. “Actually…”

“Shut up. You are the most abominable one among them.”

Shen Yirong, “Huh?”

After venting, Bai Yuzan seemed to feel much better. A smile appeared on her serious face, but her eyes looked like they held many things she wanted to say to her.

In fact, everyone who called her “Sword Venerable” had eyes like that.

Sigh, fate.

Shen Yirong sighed, but she subconsciously worried about Song Yin’s health. “Does the Venerable have a chance to be completely cured?”

Bai Yuzan uncorked the gourd at her waist and took a sip. “You really like her. Why, when you acted that way before? For a while, I even thought you were possessed, but I secretly measured your soul with the lamp, and your soul hadn’t changed.”

Shen Yirong was surprised. “The Soul-Guiding Lamp?”

“Yes. In the chaotic era before, soul possession was common, and the Soul-Guiding Lamp was created because of it. But the Soul-Guiding Lamp can only detect and store souls; it cannot heal. I have seen many possessed cultivators, including Su Zhao’s master.”

Shen Yirong had a strange feeling. Bai Yuzan mentioning these things didn’t seem accidental, but rather intentionally said for her to hear.

The other party continued. “The prophecy given to Su Zhao by the Heavenly Dao was that her closest kin would be separated, and she would lose her master, her closest friend, and finally her daughter.”

Shen Yirong interrupted her. “What do you want to say, Valley Master?”

Bai Yuzan smiled bitterly. “I want you to persuade Shen Shuci. If you have time, go back and see her.”

Shen Yirong looked her up and down, then smiled suddenly. “I understand.”

“One more thing.”

Shen Yirong wondered, “Mm?”

“…It’s okay if you can’t go back to being the Sword Venerable. Just enjoy the freedom you have now.”

Shen Yirong looked at her somewhat worried face and smiled. “You and Sect Master Liu are the same. Do you all see me as very fragile?”

Bai Yuzan was silent. She then suddenly shook her head. “No, we are the fragile ones, actually. It is we who need you. We need you to be happy.”

That was a novel way of putting it.

Don’t be like this. It will make me feel reluctant to leave.

Shen Yirong sighed.

Shen Yirong, oh, Shen Yirong, how many things did you do to make so many people worry about you?

Shen Yirong chatted with her for a long time. The other party deliberately avoided talking about the past related to her.

Until the sun set, Bai Yuzan said goodbye to her. “I’m going back to the Medical Immortal Valley. I will repair the All-Encompassing Mirror as soon as possible.”

Shen Yirong nodded.

With a whoosh, Bai Yuzan’s figure disappeared at the end of the sky.

Shen Yirong looked at the world and sighed. “I wish the modern cultivation world was accessible. I wonder if it’s possible.”

She tried to contact Shen Shuci, but all she got was the static sound.

Is she really okay? Many worries surfaced in Shen Yirong’s mind.

“What are you thinking about?” Song Yin’s voice rang out beside her. The other person sat down next to her.

Song Yin’s arrival made Shen Yirong feel much more at ease. “Can we go to Central Yue?”

“Are you worried about Shen Shuci?”

Shen Yirong sat on the grass, hugging her knees, her eyes full of concern. “Mm, I always feel like something isn’t right.”

Song Yin’s eyes flickered. She comforted her, “Ling Minzhi’s report says she’s fine, but her spirits seem low.”

Shen Yirong became more anxious after hearing this. “Then let’s go bring her back!”

Song Yin shook her head. “We need to return to the Demon Palace first.”

Shen Yirong didn’t quite understand. “Why?”

“That place is very complicated. My current physical condition isn’t convenient. We need to return to the Demon Palace to prepare.”

Shen Yirong realized she had been too hasty. Song Yin was currently injured.

“Is your body still not well? Is that thing still acting up?”

The heart demon rolled its eyes weakly. It couldn’t help but protest: Don’t blame everything on me! She’s faking her illness to deceive you!

A long time had passed, and Song Yin’s body was almost fully recovered, but she found that her “fragile” state seemed to grant her more benefits.

So she was faking it.

Song Yin coughed twice. “It’s nothing.”

Shen Yirong looked at the seemingly weak Song Yin. She stood up, brushed the grass off her clothes, turned her back to Song Yin, and adopted a carrying posture. “Come on, I’ll carry you back.”

Song Yin smiled mischievously. She weakly leaned onto her Master’s back, feeling like she was about to drown in happiness.

She nestled obediently. “I’ve dealt with those cauldrons.”

!

Shen Yirong: “Huh? How did you deal with them?”

“Those who wished to stay were assigned positions based on their abilities. Those who didn’t were allowed to leave. What are you thinking about?”

The last sentence made Shen Yirong feel very guilty. “I was thinking when you’ll get better?”

Song Yin took a deep breath. “That smells like a lie.”

Actually, Song Yin just wanted to smell her, but Shen Yirong was genuinely startled.

But she quickly calmed down. She had told so many lies. If the other person could truly smell them, wouldn’t she be suffocated by the stench?

Shen Yirong laughed. “I also smell the lie you just told.”

Even without seeing her face, Song Yin could sense the other party’s smugness.

Cute.

Shen Yirong carried her for a while, then felt dissatisfied. “Why are you lighter than before? Is your body really okay?”

“It’s fine.”

Song Yin secretly weakened the power of her spell a little.

“Huh? You’re heavy again. Did you do something?”

“No. I’m not that bored.”

Shen Yirong let it go. When she was with Song Yin, she always had many things she wanted to share. If possible, she even wanted to share things about the modern world with her.

“I dreamed of you again. It’s like you live in my dream.”

Song Yin chuckled silently. “You don’t like it?”

“No, I just find it a bit strange.”

After all, the Song Yin in the dream was too much. Not only could she skillfully operate a computer, but her programming skills were also advanced. Shen Yirong watched with her own eyes as the other party created a small video game.

Truly abnormal.

But dreams always contain exaggerations.

Song Yin knew what she meant. She closed her eyes, feeling her Master’s temperature from behind.

But as they walked, Shen Yirong saw Yao Ling ahead.

Yao Ling was already immune to the intimate scene between the two. She crouched down and bowed. “Master Shen, Venerable, the preparations for returning to the Palace are complete.”

Shen Yirong didn’t expect it to be so sudden and hadn’t had time to say goodbye to everyone.

But Yao Ling had already torn open a spatial rift. The cost of using the artifact was too great, and Shen Yirong wasn’t that willful.

She looked back reluctantly, only to see the group standing on the mountain peak, waving to her in the twilight glow.

Liu Qianfeng, Mei Xin, Chang Yuantan, Yao Jun, and Su Zhao.

“Don’t forget us.”

“Come back often.”

Shen Yirong suppressed the tears in her eyes. She wiped her eyes. “The wind is strong.”

But was it really the wind?

Shen Yirong turned her head. She waved back to the crowd, her posture graceful.

Then she walked into the torn spatial rift.

After they entered, Yao Ling put her right foot in, but halfway through, she instinctively turned back.

Yao Jun on the mountain was waving to her. She hummed and ducked inside.

The rift closed, but the people on the mountain did not leave for a long time.

The group gazed at the empty space. Liu Qianfeng pulled Mei Xin. “Come back to the sect with me.”

Mei Xin nodded. She reached out, seemingly feeling the presence of the wind. “Sect Master, I want to drink.”

“Heh, wishful thinking.”

Mei Xin: “You’re biased.”

Liu Qianfeng was no longer gentle. “What did you say!”

The two immediately started fighting at the slightest disagreement, walking out of the Nine Heavens Sect while fighting.

Chang Yuantan watched them, laughing. “Cough, cough. Should I say they truly live up to being from Tai’an?”

Yao Jun reached out and draped a robe over her. “It’s windy here. Let’s go back first.”

Chang Yuantan nodded. “Alright.”

Yao Jun looked at Su Zhao beside her. “Pavilion Master, are you coming along?”

Su Zhao shook her head. “Saintess, you don’t need to worry about me. I can go back myself.”

Chang Yuantan looked at her. “Little Zhao, come visit often.”

The eyes under the veil moved slightly. She responded softly, “Mm.”

Then she laughed into the wind. “I once calculated your fate. The Heavenly Dao said you would sacrifice yourself for your two disciples and turn into a begonia tree.”

“You accepted this fate with a smile.”

“But, you see, fate can be changed. With the Sword Venerable involved in the karma, it always deviates from the original track of the story.”

“Yuantan, I envy you. You are the truly unrestrained person.”

Chang Yuantan looked at her retreating back. “Didn’t you hate me very much?”

Su Zhao shook her head. “You misunderstood. I don’t hate you.”

Chang Yuantan was delighted to hear this and tapped the body of her zither. “See? Except for that person, everyone is back. We can gather often now. The location of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is uncertain, and it’s hard to contact you. You can’t avoid all of us just because you’re avoiding the world, right?”

The gauze ribbon behind Su Zhao’s head fluttered in the wind. She suddenly looked up and chuckled softly. “It always feels less lively without that person. But Liu Qianfeng has become as noisy as Sister Yun.”

“Everyone has changed, becoming unlike themselves.”

Chang Yuantan frowned. “Little Zhao.”

Su Zhao trembled, as if startled awake. “I apologize. I’ve said too many disheartening things. Next time there’s a banquet, call me with a jade token. I will respond.”

Seeing the other party pull herself out of her emotions, Chang Yuantan was relieved. “Good. You must keep your word. Don’t be like a certain someone, whom we can only pour wine in front of her grave for.”

Su Zhao chuckled softly. “Be careful she doesn’t come back and hit you. I’ll watch the show then.”

Chang Yuantan treated it as a joke. “If she could come back, what does getting hit matter?”

Su Zhao looked tired. “Mm. You go first. I want to look a little longer.”

Chang Yuantan saw her fatigue and softly said okay.

Only after the sound of the wheelchair faded away did Su Zhao look up again, gazing at the invisible sky.

Under a similar sky, Shen Yirong returned to the Demon Palace. Her first feeling upon returning was emptiness.

The inner and outer palaces were quite empty. Li Xiu and the Fifth Protector welcomed them, but the Fifth Protector hid behind Li Xiu.

Skipping the usual formalities, Shen Yirong discovered that her living area had changed; she was now living directly with Song Yin.

Shen Yirong remembered this place—it was where Song Yin used to call her to attend to her.

Before pushing the door open, she heard many sounds.

Song Yin stood beside her, seeming eager for her reaction when she opened the door.

Could it be a surprise?

Shen Yirong pushed the door open, and… oh dear.

Many vines hung down from the ceiling, with many monkeys swinging back and forth on them. Her dog was fighting with a fox. Her cat was intently watching the fish in the pond. Above the pond was a hanging branch wall, and cages hanging from the branches contained parrots. There were also many rabbits scurrying everywhere.

Wait? Why are there alpacas too?

Is this a zoo?

Shen Yirong was too stunned to speak. At this moment, the yellow-cheeked little bird in the cage opened the cage door by itself and flew to perch on Shen Yirong’s head.

Hey, little bird, no parking here.

Shen Yirong originally wanted to shoo it away, but she touched it, then compromised.

The little bird pecked its own feather and tucked it into Shen Yirong’s hair.

Shen Yirong was helpless. She asked somewhat worriedly, “Isn’t mixed keeping a bad idea, especially the monkeys?”

Song Yin looked at the monkeys on the vines. “It’s fine. Magic has altered their minds. They won’t harm each other.”

Shen Yirong looked at the fox that had her dog in a chokehold. She quickly rushed over and picked up the dog, but the dog twisted into a pretzel in her arms. As soon as Shen Yirong loosened her grip, the dog scampered happily to the fox and lay down in front of it.

The fox lowered its head and gently nipped its neck.

“Woof~”

Shen Yirong: “…”

What a strange feeling. Is it because I stayed in Song Yin’s room for a long time?

Song Yin observed for a long time. Seeing that Shen Yirong didn’t look very happy, she asked, “Don’t you like it?”

These animals were all things Shen Yirong had discussed with Song Yin before. She hadn’t expected her to remember so clearly.

Although living in a zoo was a bit strange, Shen Yirong was still very happy. “I love it, but why the monkeys?”

“You mentioned it at the waterfall in the Western Border.”

Shen Yirong thought carefully and realized she had, but she had only complained that the environment resembled the Water Curtain Cave.

Hiss! How can this person do these things with a straight face?

Shen Yirong couldn’t help but laugh. “Venerable.”

Song Yin: “Mm?”

Shen Yirong reached out and pinched her cheek. “How can you be so cute?”

Song Yin didn’t expect the word “cute” to be used on her. Those two words really damaged her dignity, as did having her cheek pinched.

She inwardly disapproved, but her body was honest. She bent down to make it easier for her to pinch.

Remembering the method mentioned in the Fox Spirit Cultivation Handbook, Song Yin leaned in closer. “Then, will you like me like this?”

Shen Yirong’s heart skipped a beat. She moved the hand that was pinching her cheek down and pulled the person into her arms. “Of course.”

However, Song Yin seemed overly lenient towards her, causing her to become increasingly lawless, always having mischievous ideas.

Shen Yirong was already very restrained.

Song Yin smiled. The other party’s smile was beautiful. Shen Yirong hoped she could keep smiling like this forever.

“You don’t need to worry about Mei Xin or Shen Shuci. I will handle it. Now, get some good rest. If you have a nightmare, call me. I can hear you.”

Shen Yirong nodded. She pulled Song Yin’s sleeve. “What about me? I want to do something too.”

Song Yin’s gaze shifted upward. She chuckled softly. “Mm, then first pluck the feathers from your head.”

Shen Yirong was stunned. She quickly went to the bronze mirror to look, only to see that many yellow feathers were tucked into her black hair. The yellow-cheeked little bird flapped its wings, seemingly very satisfied with its masterpiece.

Shen Yirong raised her hand to pluck them out, but the bird pecked her.

“Hiss!”

Shen Yirong could use magic, but the little yellow cheek was happily singing on her head. She helplessly held her head with one hand.

“Venerable, look.”

Shen Yirong turned her head. Song Yin was gone.

“Running away so quickly?”

Several rabbits nestled at her feet. Shen Yirong picked up one of the rabbits and held it in her arms. “Little rabbit, what birthday gift would you give your beloved rabbit?”

“What? You don’t know? Bad rabbit.”

“I’ve already thought of the gift.”

“She doesn’t like wind chimes, and she doesn’t like fish or birds. She likes sweet things, the particularly, particularly sweet kind.”

Shen Yirong looked at the captured rabbit. She felt quite ridiculous right now. “Childish idiot.”

But since Song Yin couldn’t hear her anyway, Shen Yirong lifted the rabbit up again.

Song Yin, who had already walked away, touched her ear. The smile on her face hadn’t faded.

Li Xiu, standing behind Song Yin, was so shocked her jaw almost dislocated.

Heavens! The Venerable actually smiled.

Song Yin’s smile disappeared because Shen Shuci was sending her a message.

“Hmph, the Venerable has been very smug lately.”

Song Yin didn’t quibble with her: Can you get out?

“No. There are too many chaotic lines of karma here. If you come in, you will be contaminated. You haven’t told Immortal Master Shen that I’m trapped, have you?”

Song Yin: No. Are you really sure you don’t need my help? Remember to call me if you can’t hold on.

“Tsk! Why are you being so nice to me? Do you really want to be my mother?”

“So annoying! I just slept for a while, and when I opened my eyes, I was trapped here!”

Song Yin asked: What did you do before you slept?

Before sleeping, Shen Shuci was looking for clues in her memory, but she didn’t want to tell Song Yin about this.

“Didn’t do anything.”

Shen Shuci cursed and complained, complaining about the stingy Heavenly Dao one moment, and the chaotic lines of karma the next.

After complaining, she became frantic again: Why! The person I have the deepest connection with should be Immortal Master Shen! Why is the communication blocked when following the karma, but I can contact you through karma, and it’s so stable!

Song Yin ignored her distaste. Then, she hinted meaningfully: If there is absolutely no way, explain the situation clearly. Perhaps I can find you.

Shen Shuci was very rebellious: The Venerable doesn’t need to worry. I can manage.

After saying this, she went silent.

Song Yin shook her head. She returned to her secluded cultivation cave and placed the bronze mirror from the spatial ring on the table.

It was the same memory fragment, and it was blocked in the same way.

Song Yin was not angry. She sat patiently, processing it.

After a while, she tried again, and finally, a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

“It worked.”