Reborn as a Human Cauldron, But I'm the Top - Chapter 83

Chapter 83: Shen Yi, Shen Shisan

Medical Immortal Valley.

In the furnace, the fragments of the All-Encompassing Mirror and the piece of fox bone slowly fused together. Flames licked at the mirror body, and the previously dull mirror gradually began to shine.

The forging room was red with fire. Bai Yuzan, dressed in plain hemp clothes, sat by the flames. Firelight danced in her deep-set eyes.

Two protectors stood outside the door. Seeing how much Bai Yuzan valued the item in the furnace, they couldn’t help but whisper.

“Didn’t Pavilion Master Su and Valley Master have a falling out? Why is the Valley Master repairing her All-Encompassing Mirror?”

“Who knows? She seems to have stopped avoiding the world. She even went to the Nine Heavens Sect to help out recently.”

“I have a feeling things aren’t peaceful lately. Should I also go to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion for a divination?”

“Forget it. Except for their two Pavilion Masters, most of the divinations from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion are inaccurate. Do you have too many spirit stones?”

Although their voices were already quite low, Bai Yuzan was still affected. She slowly turned her head.

“Shh, quiet.”

The two people outside immediately stood at attention and replied in unison, “Yes!”

A person arrived from a distance, carrying a scarlet gourd at their waist. She stood outside the door and bent down to report, “Valley Master, the Soul-Guiding Lamp is now in the Demon Venerable’s hands. The Sword Venerable’s identity has been exposed and she is currently being held by the Demon Venerable. The Demon Palace is tightly guarded, and nothing else can be determined.”

Bai Yuzan’s eyes flickered. “Understood. You may leave.”

“Yes.”

After the person left, Bai Yuzan sighed softly.

A soft sound came from inside the furnace. The spiritual power fluctuations from the formation of a Heaven-grade artifact spread far. The flames were absorbed by the mirror and slowly weakened.

Bai Yuzan flicked her sleeve, and the All-Encompassing Mirror, still radiating residual heat, landed in her palm. The mirror was initially chaotic, then slowly clarified, reflecting the Medical Immortal Valley of a long time ago.

A little girl wearing a star-and-moon robe was collecting herbs in the eastern medicine garden. She struggled to pull out a plant, and when the herb came out, she fell squarely on her bottom.

Bai Yuzan smiled at the disheveled child in the mirror, but her eyes gradually filled with bitterness.

Putting the All-Encompassing Mirror into her sleeve, Bai Yuzan turned to walk out. She turned to the protector who followed her and said, “Don’t follow me.”

“Yes.”

Bai Yuzan came to her seclusion cave. She picked up a hoe and tidied the patch of land in front of the door. When the tidying was nearly done, she wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked up at the sun.

She took out a square jade tablet from her spatial ring. After pressing the button on one side of the jade tablet, it lit up. This cell phone-like object started vibrating incessantly once it fully booted up, beeping non-stop.

Bai Yuzan leaned one side of her body on the hoe, skillfully holding the jade tablet with the other hand.

Having not opened it for a long time, she found herself added to a group chat named “Sword Venerable Rescue Roster.”

Many acquaintances in the group chat were righteously discussing, and the messages were scrolling quickly.

“Valley Master Bai is online!”

“You came just in time. What’s going on with your Medical Immortal Valley! That Soul-Guiding Lamp is going to kill the Sword Venerable!”

“Exactly! How could such a major immortal sect allow a scoundrel to steal an artifact? It’s shameful!”

“That’s enough, what’s the use of arguing? Our opponent this time is the fiend Song Yin. If you have the energy to argue, why not think of a way to rescue her?”

“Yes, Sect Master Liu of Tai’an has already departed.”

“Hiss! Is her head filled with nothing but muscle? What a brute.”

“Why isn’t Valley Master Bai saying anything?”

Bai Yuzan looked at the cluster of buttons. Having not used it for a long time, she struggled to type out the single word “You,” and accidentally sent it.

In an instant, the word “You” was pushed off the screen.

Her expression was blank for a moment, but she reluctantly continued typing.

“Forget it, forget her. We don’t know what she’s been tinkering with all these years. We didn’t even see her saddened when the Sword Venerable died. She’s cold-blooded as hell.”

“Ai! Aren’t you afraid Valley Master Bai will see you talking about this here?”

“Let her see it! I’m not afraid of her! If she dares, let her come and fight me!”

Bai Yuzan, who was painstakingly typing, silently noted down this person’s name. She finally managed to type a complete sentence.

Bai Yuzan: How are you planning to rescue her?

“We plan to attack head-on to draw the Demon Palace’s attention, then let those skilled in stealth enter the Demon Palace and rescue her.”

“Yes, You Yuning provided us with a relatively detailed blueprint of the Demon Palace interior. She once infiltrated the Demon Palace as a cauldron. The blueprint should be trustworthy.”

“Everyone has already set off and will gather near the Central Yue Kingdom on the border of the Southern Border.”

Bai Yuzan: Hmm, alright.

Bai Yuzan was about to close the jade tablet when she saw someone asking her a question.

“Valley Master Bai, were you researching a new pill during your seclusion all these years?”

Bai Yuzan merely glanced at it before putting the jade tablet back into her spatial ring.

The previously intense sunlight was completely blocked. Bai Yuzan looked at the medicine garden covered in shadow. She looked up and saw the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion flying overhead.

Su Zhao stood at the edge of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, smiling at her. “Care to come up and sit?”

Bai Yuzan smiled. “Okay.”

The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion was severely damaged, and many parts were still being repaired, but the repairers were also from within the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, so the progress was slow.

As if sensing Bai Yuzan’s exasperation, Su Zhao said helplessly, “That rebellious apprentice of Yuan Tan doesn’t resemble someone from the Nine Heavens Sect at all. She crashes the flying boat without any regard for cost.”

“Do you need my help with the repairs?” Bai Yuzan asked seriously.

“No need. It’s not important.” Su Zhao’s voice was calm, like stagnant water.

The two walked to the inner area, which was the center of the entire Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. At the center was an artificial lake that was perfectly round, and the water resembled silver moonlight.

In Bai Yuzan’s memory, a little girl in a star-and-moon robe would be playing by the lake. When she saw Bai Yuzan, she would turn and smile sweetly.

Bai Yuzan pushed Su Zhao, unable to stop herself from looking at the other party’s expression. Seeing her look normal, she asked, “What made you decide to look for me?”

Su Zhao chuckled lightly. “I wanted to apologize to you. Blaming you for Wan Xing’s death—it was me placing impossible expectations on you.”

Bai Yuzan was somewhat surprised. “Those are old matters. Besides, you lent me the All-Encompassing Mirror when I asked. You didn’t hate me.”

“Then where is the All-Encompassing Mirror?” Su Zhao’s tone was playful.

Bai Yuzan gave a bitter smile. “It’s with me. Do you want to take it back?”

“No need. There’s more than one All-Encompassing Mirror. If she wanted to take it, she could.”

Su Zhao spoke lightly, as if this Heaven-grade artifact was insignificant in her eyes, which somewhat surprised Bai Yuzan.

However, matters related to the All-Encompassing Mirror were ultimately the affairs of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, so Bai Yuzan didn’t want to ask too much. She changed the topic. “The Sword Venerable has been captured.”

Su Zhao sighed and shook her head. “A terrible fate.”

It truly was a terrible fate. Bai Yuzan remembered the child who used to climb trees to collect dew for her Master. Four hundred years later, the gentle child became the Demon Venerable she was now.

Su Zhao asked in confusion, “I don’t know why she chose to be reborn next to Song Yin. It’s probably more peril than fortune now.”

Bai Yuzan’s eyes flickered. “Perhaps she holds different feelings for Song Yin. Any news about Vice Pavilion Master Shen?”

Su Zhao shook her head. “Children grow up and eventually don’t miss home.”

Bai Yuzan was afraid of touching on her sorrowful topic. “Since you’ve come, stay for a while. I’ll have my apprentice look after your health.”

Su Zhao understood the implication. “Are you also going to the Southern Border?”

“Mm. I can’t just stand by. But once this ruckus starts, the peace of the cultivation world will be completely gone.”

Su Zhao chuckled after hearing this. “It seems it will be lively later on. Fine, I’ll impose on you for a few days, and I’ll also keep an eye out for you, lest you lose anything else.”

Bai Yuzan didn’t mind Su Zhao’s teasing. After a casual chat, she arranged for people to repair the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. Su Zhao couldn’t persuade her otherwise, so she let her be.

Bai Yuzan arranged a room for Su Zhao and then took her pulse. “Your health is truly… Does it still hurt during winter?”

Su Zhao felt weak all over. She lay powerlessly on the bed. “The same as always. Sometimes I wish I could discard this useless body.”

Su Zhao smiled bitterly. “But you know, I hate possession the most. I didn’t expect the Sword Venerable to…”

She was so engrossed in speaking that she didn’t notice Bai Yuzan’s evasive eyes by the bed.

Bai Yuzan withdrew her hand. “Alright, stop thinking about it. Get some good rest. I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll leave first.”

“Okay.”

Su Zhao closed her eyes only after watching her leave the room. The incense in the room had a sleep-inducing effect, and she slowly drifted off.

Bai Yuzan walked back to her seclusion cave. She opened the bamboo door, placed the meditation cushion in the center of the room, and sat down.

She closed her eyes and silently recited something. The next instant, she vanished from the room.

When she opened her eyes again, she was in an ice chamber. The chamber contained many ice coffin-like objects. In front of these objects was a table covered with various carving tools.

There were some colored stones on the table.

Bai Yuzan let out a light breath. She walked up to the ice coffins and carefully removed the frost from the lids. A familiar face lay in the coffin.

She moved to the next coffin. After cleaning off the frost, the face was almost the same.

After all the frost was cleared, Bai Yuzan sat back down at the table. She meticulously polished the stones on the table until they were smooth, then took out a small gourd from her spatial ring.

Unplugging the gourd, Bai Yuzan poured a drop of the liquid inside onto the stone.

The scarlet liquid seeped into the stone, constructing the blood vessels and meridians of a person. Bai Yuzan placed her hand on the top of the stone, allowing it to absorb her spiritual power.

An hour later, Bai Yuzan’s face was very pale, but the stone in her hand had transformed into a woman in plain clothes with her eyes closed.

Bai Yuzan looked at the woman’s face, extremely frustrated. “Why can’t it be exactly 100% the same?”

“Are there too many impurities?”

Bai Yuzan held her head and sighed deeply. “A body created this way won’t last too long.”

Thinking of the current chaotic situation, the usually well-mannered Bai Yuzan couldn’t help but curse, “I don’t know who was summoning souls randomly and brought her to the Demon Palace. Now things are such a mess.”

Bai Yuzan picked up the gourd at her waist and took a sip. After her spiritual power replenished, she used spiritual power to write ‘Shen Shisan’ on the plain-clothed woman’s palm.

After putting Shen Shisan away, Bai Yuzan remembered the actual Sword Venerable trapped in the Demon Palace.

She frowned deeply. “I should bring more artifacts. I hope she’ll be alright.”

And indeed, the Sword Venerable, who was worrying so many people, was in crisis. She was held by Song Yin, completely unable to move, and her ears were filled with the phrase, “Let’s cultivate together.”

Shen Yirong was completely frozen. Last time, she wanted to save Song Yin, but this time was different.

She reservedly pushed her away. “No. We are Master and disciple.”

Song Yin was not provoked. Instead, she chuckled near her ear. “But Master has already cultivated with my soul. My soul is full of your scent.”

Something is wrong! Something is extremely wrong!

She had done it before, and the previous Song Yin was nowhere near this…

This open.

Shen Yirong felt like her head was about to explode. “Song Yin, calm down.”

Song Yin’s body temperature was still rising, and her face was pressed against the side of Shen Yirong’s neck.

Shen Yirong was startled by the heat, but this was immediately followed by anger. She struggled to pull one hand out of the other’s embrace and reached for the other’s wrist.

The result was as she had anticipated.

Shen Yirong gritted her teeth. “Who did this to you!”

Song Yin’s eyes brightened even more. “Master is concerned about me. Your disciple is so happy.”

After saying that, she rubbed her burning face against Shen Yirong’s neck.

Song Yin was as hot as charcoal, but Shen Yirong felt like a piece of roasted meat sizzling over a fire, about to become fragrant and be eaten.

She struggled to pull out her other hand. She cupped Song Yin’s head with both hands, trying to say something to bring the other party back to sobriety.

But the moment Shen Yirong looked into her eyes, she was mesmerized by her smile.

“Master.”

Shen Yirong didn’t need a mirror to know her ears must be very red right now. She suddenly realized she was completely helpless against Song Yin and could only plead, “Don’t call me that.”

Song Yin’s muddled brain began to quickly process the situation. She pointed a finger at her own lips. After careful thought, she seemed to come up with a better idea.

She changed her posture. Her hands, which were tightly wrapped around her waist, gradually climbed up and clasped Shen Yirong’s neck. She seemed to enjoy this position and laughed, “Wife.”

Shen Yirong heard the chaotic beating of her own heart. How did ‘wife’ come out?

“Wife.”

Shen Yirong felt that her heart no longer belonged to her. If it kept beating like this, would she get some kind of heart disease?

Shen Yirong gave up. “Stop calling me that. You… You should still call me Master.”

A smile appeared in Song Yin’s eyes. She started to unbutton the few clothes she had on.

Shen Yirong frantically grabbed her hands. Because her movements were too rushed, her grip was tight. She was about to let go when she heard Song Yin let out a soft moan.

Shen Yirong: “…”

Having run out of options, Shen Yirong could only coax her like a child. “Can you calm down first? Let’s figure out how to neutralize the drug.”

“Dual cultivation can.”

Shen Yirong felt helpless. “You’re not sober right now. When you’re sober, we can talk.”

Song Yin’s smile slowly faded upon hearing this. She pulled hard, forcing Shen Yirong’s forehead to touch hers. As their eyes met, Song Yin’s anger and unwillingness were so obvious.

Shen Yirong dared not take any further action.

“Master, I am very sober.”

“I am very sober,” Song Yin repeated.

The distance was too close, their heartbeats synchronized. Their destinies were strangely intertwined like this.

Time and time again.

Shen Yirong suddenly wanted to escape, but in the end, she looked straight into Song Yin’s eyes.

Yes. A person like Song Yin could sternly control her actions in previous times. If she didn’t want to, no one could force her.

Song Yin liked her, not Shen Yi. She had liked Shen Yirong from the very beginning.

“Master, I know far more than you imagine.”

“When I suffered a cultivation deviation, you dragged your sick body to save me, and on the snowy mountain, I once sensed your aura.”

Song Yin scoffed softly. “You followed me until I descended the mountain and then disappeared.”

Song Yin watched the surprise in Shen Yirong’s eyes with satisfaction. “But I went back to the snowy mountain and picked the Nine Souls Snow Lotus.”

“I didn’t understand why your attitude was so volatile then, but now I do.”

“Master, I believe I understand you well enough now. I know you feel you are a sinner, and therefore unworthy.”

“But I am also a sinner. I killed my Master, betrayed my sect, and joined the demonic path. People in the cultivation world gnash their teeth when they speak of me.”

“Master, I can no longer turn back on the path of loving you. If you also like me, please face my love, okay?”

Towards the end, Song Yin sounded slightly tearful.

A Demon Venerable would not cry, but Song Yin would.

Shen Yirong suddenly realized how wrong she had been. Perhaps four hundred years really changed very little.

Excuses like ‘Master and disciple should not be like this’ were just excuses. As Song Yin said, she just felt unworthy.

So, she reached out and wiped the tears from Song Yin’s eyes. “Okay.”

Song Yin looked at her gently smiling Master. She had seen this smile in the All-Encompassing Mirror, but the one who received that smile was not her, but the simulated past version of herself in the All-Encompassing Mirror.

If the system hadn’t intervened, perhaps this would have been their way of getting along.

Song Yin suddenly kissed Shen Yirong on the lips.

This time, Shen Yirong did not refuse.

Clothes scattered on the floor, and outside the cave, the wind howled and the rain poured.

Shen Yirong couldn’t see, Shen Yirong couldn’t hear. Her eyes held only Song Yin.

Her ears heard only Song Yin’s voice. The other party was not as restrained as before, so this time Shen Yirong heard it very clearly.

“Master.”

Over and over, until dawn.

In the discussion hall, several protectors gathered to deliberate.

Qi Wu’s brows were tightly knitted. She hadn’t seen such a major problem since Song Yin became the Demon Venerable.

She pushed a jade slip containing intelligence to the center of the table. “The three realms of the cultivation world and the demon realm are all showing activity. Apart from the rulers of a few borders, the elders who rarely leave their sects are all heading towards the Southern Border.”

The Second Protector opened her eyes, glanced at it, and also felt a headache. “These people… I didn’t see them showing off like this when the Sword Venerable died last time.”

Qi Wu also found it strange. “Let’s ignore that for now. The first thing to consider is how to meet the enemy. This group of people cannot be underestimated.”

The Second Protector recalled the barrier shattered by the gale. “Not only that, but the Sword Venerable herself is trouble. Her soul is still very powerful, but her current body restricts her. If she recovers, that will be the biggest problem.”

The Fourth Protector chewed her finger. “Hehe, can we have a big fight now?”

Qi Wu was already used to the other party’s madness, but she wasn’t used to Yao Ling’s silence.

Qi Wu couldn’t help but call her name. “Yao Ling, what are your thoughts?”

Yao Ling, who was spaced out, snapped back to attention. “Oh, what? Pure Serenity Mountain?”

Seeing Yao Ling’s out-of-it state, Qi Wu’s already stressed head hurt even more. She said helplessly, “We’ll talk about Pure Serenity Mountain later.”

Yao Ling nodded. Her mind was a mess, and she couldn’t think straight right now.

But she couldn’t stand Qi Wu’s worried look, so she raised an eyebrow. “Cheer up. You’re like this before it’s even started. What will happen when they actually arrive? Be optimistic.”

As soon as she said that, Qi Wu knew she hadn’t even looked at the jade slip content.

Qi Wu rubbed her temple. “Yao Jun is among those coming.”

Yao Ling instantly stood up, seemingly energized. “Leave Yao Jun to me.”

The Second Protector flicked her tail, leaning her head on her hand and smiling. “Why is your head full of your sister? Are you afraid we’ll kill her?”

Yao Ling jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “What do you know, you squinty-eyed fool!”

Qi Wu really didn’t want any more fighting. Her anxiety only lasted for a moment. Thinking that the Venerable was still around, her mood slowly calmed down.

Qi Wu looked at Li Xiu on the side. “Protector Li, don’t you have anything to say?”

Li Xiu shook her head.

Seeing no one speak up, Qi Wu repeated the plan she had prepared earlier. After the arrangements were made, the group dispersed.

Li Xiu resided in the Outer Palace. People constantly bowed to her along the way. She simply concealed her figure.

The people of the Outer Palace were gathering in small groups, all discussing the Sword Venerable.

Li Xiu’s sword techniques had been personally guided by the Sword Venerable. She had planned to quickly return to work, but involuntarily stopped.

“Hmph, I’ve disliked her for a long time. Because of her, Young Master Xu Lang and Protector Xu were driven out.”

“Exactly. Life was so much easier when we were subordinates of Young Master Xu. Now I have to take on commissions to earn spirit stones.”

“Hehehe, the Venerable’s methods are not to be underestimated. I wonder which body parts that fellow will be missing.”

“That person named Li was also promoted because she took care of Shen Yirong. Now, tsk tsk tsk, she’s going to fall hard.”

“Are you crazy? Aren’t you afraid that two-faced person will hear you?”

Li Xiu sneered. She secretly noted down the names of these people. After a moment of silence, she turned and walked towards the Venerable’s cave.

She was still a bit nervous, but the Sword Venerable had, after all, shown her the kindness of teaching. Putting everything else aside, if the person really died, she would find a proper place to bury her.

Thinking of the potential punishment, Li Xiu’s body trembled involuntarily. She kept encouraging herself and finally arrived at her destination.

Her legs were weak, and she leaned against a nearby tree, taking several deep breaths.

She mustered her courage and stepped forward, but the cave door opened by itself.

When she saw Shen Yirong fly out, completely unharmed and full of rage, Li Xiu couldn’t help but rub her eyes.

When she opened them again, the Venerable also flew out of the cave.

Her brain stalled for a moment, and Li Xiu immediately followed.

Shen Yirong only felt angry. This person had too much energy and kept messing around endlessly.

That wasn’t the main point, though. The main point was that the drug on Song Yin was deliberate. She said it was to ‘build up courage.’

Is she sick?! But the other party’s courage did seem to have increased significantly.

Shen Yirong realized her thoughts were being led astray by Song Yin. She quickly corrected herself and continued to be angry.

She flew all the way from the Inner Palace to the Outer Palace, but she still couldn’t escape Song Yin’s clutches.

Shen Yirong tried to pull her hand free, but failed.

Song Yin bent down to rub her hand for her.

Shen Yirong felt irritated just looking at her, so she kicked her foot out.

Song Yin’s eyes lit up. She extended her other leg, looking at Shen Yirong.

Shen Yirong: “…”

Under Song Yin’s intense gaze, Shen Yirong reluctantly kicked her other leg.

Shen Yirong’s anger subsided slightly. She sighed helplessly. “Song Yin.”

“Mm?”

Shen Yirong looked at Song Yin, who was earnestly rubbing her hand, and sighed softly. “I seem to be helpless against you.”

Song Yin smiled. “Me too.”

Song Yin glanced at the surrounding people. Her eyes turned cold, and those people didn’t dare to look anymore.

Song Yin took Shen Yirong’s hand and left, leaving behind a group of dumbfounded onlookers.

Those who came to see a joke were now the biggest joke themselves.

Li Xiu chuckled softly, watching their retreating backs.

Turning her head, she spotted the few people who had been gossiping earlier.

Her smile deepened.

She walked up to them, the dimples in her cheeks becoming more pronounced. “Hello there.”