Wanxi Rebirth - Chapter 64

As one of the current “pillars” of the Qin family, Lan Kongming had experienced many storms in her life.

Yet, even so, upon seeing all the hidden past her daughter had endured,a she was first stunned for a long moment. Then, as she gradually recovered, she suddenly hugged Qin Suoliu’s soul and broke into uncontrollable tears.

Qin Suoliu held her tightly as well, tears silently streaming down her face.

Yue Tingxi deliberately stepped aside. Watching the mother and daughter embrace and cry, she couldn’t help but recall her own first return to the mountains after being reborn—a time when she too had cried in the arms of the Qingyu Mountain people.

All the pain from past, undeserved calamities had been suppressed for far too long in their hearts.

She and Xie Zhi quietly remained like two statues, not disturbing them, until the mother and daughter finally composed themselves and turned to look at them.

“Regarding the Ghost Domain Secret Realm, the Forbidden Library only has partial records. Deep within it is a ghost city called ‘Withered Bones Blooming Flowers,’ which seems to be the territory of the ghost cultivator who gave the Communion Master the causal token. All information related to it is with me,” Lan Kongming said proactively.

“However, to completely break the city’s barrier, we might need ‘Few Cold Crisps’ from the Yuqiong Sect as a guide,” she paused. “Currently, it’s the growth period for these Few Cold Crisps in the Ice River Snow Valley, but since Suoliu recently eliminated their three elders, direct negotiation would likely require compensation in spirit stones and supplies. It might be necessary to rely on the World Consciousness Envoy to enter quietly.”

“That’s not difficult,” Qin Suoliu replied. “The intruder who took over Lan Chaoyao has already brought out a few Cold Crisps from Ice River Snow Valley—this was at Lan Fengqing’s request. I’ll contact Fengqing for the fairy herbs; if he refuses, we can always take them by force when the Ghost Domain Secret Realm opens.”

“But I roughly understand Lan Chaoyao’s life gate and weaknesses. Even if he was taken over, his soul is still limited by his body, which might help somewhat,” Lan Kongming nodded without hesitation.

Yue Tingxi increasingly thought, “Truly a mother and daughter pair.” Though the Qin family emphasized “gentlemanly conduct,” they were flexible when it came to special circumstances.

After seeing Qin Suoliu’s past hardships, Lan Kongming, who had feared her daughter might face a tragic fate entering the Ghost Domain Secret Realm, fully understood her daughter’s determination and strength. Thus, when discussing subsequent plans, she could finally release the chains of “worry.”

Having stayed in the Qin residence for some time, Yue Tingxi knew this mother was straightforward in nature. Seeing this, she exhaled deeply, feeling her own tension gradually ease.

There was only one thing she needed to confirm:
“Would it be better for Suoliu and me to continue being ‘trapped in the Forbidden Library’ so the intruder would lower his guard?”

“If you think that’s more convenient for your operation, I’ll promptly announce your closed seclusion upon returning,” Lan Kongming said, now treating Yue Tingxi as part of the family. “During this time, you’ll need to use false identities.”

“That’s fine,” Yue Tingxi smiled. “We’ve used fake identities before in the Xuanshui Secret Realm. Several sets of disguises are ready.” She then mentioned another matter on her mind:
“You brought Luo Yansha here intentionally, right? So she could stay at Xi Mountain safely?”

She had heard Xie Zhi mention it before. Initially, she thought it was just the eldest lady’s strategy, but now everything was clear. Lan Kongming’s cooperation was straightforward, so Yue Tingxi allowed herself to consider this possibility.

“Exactly. If anything happens at the Qin residence again, we might not be able to protect her. She’s a newcomer—no need to risk her life alongside the Qin family,” Lan Kongming explained.

This warmed Yue Tingxi’s heart. Regardless of the mother’s original intentions, now that she spoke so, Yue Tingxi could trust her words for the sake of the eldest lady and Sha Sha.

Thinking that mother and daughter might still have private matters to discuss—like the eldest lady’s missions in the human realm—Yue Tingxi decided to step out with Xie Zhi.

“You two chat. I’ll go prepare my matters,” she said, giving Xie Zhi a signal. The latter smiled and led her soul away from the sea of consciousness.

Once they had left the cave, Lan Kongming continued:
“Earlier, I couldn’t fully understand your thoughts. Now I’ll ask—have you truly decided to become partners with her?”

“Yes, but I don’t want a wedding,” Qin Suoliu replied. “Tingxi was once controlled by an intruder for five years, forced to act and speak against her will. I want her to remain free. If you and the Qingyu Mountain people agree, we’ll follow Xi Mountain’s customs and conduct a simple ceremony before heaven and masters.”

“But she previously treated you with responsibility, not affection. After your dual cultivation, she ‘ought’ to feel obligated to you,” Lan Kongming said.

“Now, it seems not,” Qin Suoliu lowered her eyes softly.

“I’m only reminding you. Trust your feelings. But if you ever suffer under her hand, tell me,” Lan Kongming said, gently patting her head.

The snake demon guest had previously helped Suoliu, and in the past, Suoliu had saved her life. Although the Qin family disliked owing favors, as a mother, she worried her daughter might sacrifice herself.

She added: “Tingxi is a good person. I have no resentment toward her. But she’s pure and steadfast. Once she commits to someone, she stays for life. If you abandon her, it’s a betrayal.”

Now, with their souls in Suoliu’s consciousness, she already understood her mother’s intentions.

Yet she didn’t reveal everything, simply nodding and hugging her mother again.

“I’ll leave you a gray moth too,” she murmured, nuzzling into her mother’s shoulder. “I miss you. Being able to hear your voice through it sometimes would be wonderful.”

“Your soul realm construct with the eldest lady is impressive,” Xie Zhi casually remarked on the way to the Bashe Seal Site. “In seven days, your control over your soul and related spells has become quite skilled.”

“That’s great!” Yue Tingxi was genuinely thrilled.

“The bad news is, since your progress is so fast, I might have you try soul possession earlier,” Xie Zhi looked at her. “Are you ready?”

Yue Tingxi hadn’t expected her casual excuse for leaving to come true. But since Xie Zhi seemed confident, she nodded. “Okay, but should we wait for today? I promised the eldest lady she could experience becoming my snake body once more.”

Even without explaining why, Xie Zhi guessed, teasing: “Being a snake demon, you can get creative with her.”

Yue Tingxi: ?

She didn’t respond, silently following Xie Zhi deeper into the mountains.

After a few steps, Xie Zhi asked:
“What do you think is the hardest part of possessing a person or demon?”

Yue Tingxi thought seriously and answered:
“You must be firmer in some way than the target, overriding their will.”

“And what is the intruder’s will?” Xie Zhi asked about Lan Chaoyao. “Why was the original Lan Chaoyao suppressed?”

Yue Tingxi didn’t know much, only recalling saving him twenty years ago as a child. He was kind and polite, and the mountain demons weren’t afraid of him.

From Lan Fengqing’s words, she guessed the original Lan Chaoyao had a steadfast, righteous heart and wouldn’t be possessed so easily.

“…Regardless of the intruder’s will, it’s probably not the real reason the possession succeeded,” she cautiously revised her judgment.

“That’s true,” Xie Zhi said calmly. “Generally, possession has three methods: devour, exile, or seal. Which is used depends on the original’s strength.”

“And the intruder’s case?” Yue Tingxi asked.

“None of these. Special circumstances. Still, his soul is already irreparably corrupted. You needn’t hesitate in destroying him—consider it restoring peace to the original,” Xie Zhi said.

Yue Tingxi thought: …What riddles is this magical device speaking?

“Don’t worry. I’ll personally kill him. Last time in the human realm, he caused disasters in Xi Mountain. I won’t forgive him,” she said sternly.

Xie Zhi stopped talking, turning to the Bashe:
“What’s hardest about possessing a sealed Bashe?”

“How to exile her consciousness,” Yue Tingxi answered without hesitation. Previously, Suoliu had devoured Tu Shan Jinglan, but only suppressed her consciousness, which subtly influenced her. She’d learned from that. “I only need Bashe’s body, either remove her soul or absorb it entirely.”

“Good idea, but not easy,” Xie Zhi said, stopping. “Let’s see the demon first.”

Yue Tingxi noticed the ground suddenly tremble.

“…Are we at the bottom?” She sniffed the damp air.

“Don’t look at me. Look at her,” Xie Zhi said, pointing.

Yue Tingxi looked up.

A massive eye, blood-red, appeared before her—like a hill in size.

Even as a snake demon, she was stunned by its scale.

“What’s her state now?” she asked, sensing Bashe’s aura.

“Back when I nearly killed her, periodic reinforcements kept her half-dead. With Xi Mountain’s current guardians, she remains barely alive,” Xie Zhi explained.

“Why not just kill her? Demons are disasters anyway,” Yue Tingxi asked.

“You’ve seen the souls Suoliu devoured—immense power. Such a demon without a container would release uncontrollable energy, destroying everything. Sealing lets it slowly disperse into the mountain’s spiritual veins, returning to the world’s cycle,” Xie Zhi said.

“She once tried to self-destruct her core to reset the world, but the World Consciousness intervened, taking her core. Yet she had a backup—a child made from years of resentment within the core.”

“Though a demonic infant, it’s a new life by the world’s rules. The World Consciousness cannot destroy it, only slowly purify it over time, eventually placing it into a spiritual mountain to cultivate,” Xie Zhi said, looking at Yue Tingxi.

“The reason for sealing Bashe in Xi Mountain? Cause and effect, and among the eight great demon mountains, the only guardian the World Consciousness trusts completely is Qingyu Mountain, which hates Bashe.”

Yue Tingxi was silent. She recalled Qingyu Mountain raising her from a helpless, snake-like child.

She remembered Qingyu Mountain’s care, gifts for birthdays, and secretly treasured magical items hidden in a jade ring.

“Does Qingyu Mountain know?” she whispered. Does she know the child she raised is Bashe’s demonic infant?

“Don’t worry. I only tell you because you’ve decided to possess Bashe. Your skill and mindset meet the criteria. I tell you so Bashe can’t manipulate you then. What you do with this knowledge is your choice,” Xie Zhi said honestly.

“I recognize only Qingyu Mountain as my mother,” Yue Tingxi said coldly. “A demon bringing disaster cannot deserve that title!”

Just as Qin Suoliu could never see Shuo Han Hua as a child, Yue Tingxi could never see Bashe as her mother.

At that moment, the ground shook violently.

“Oh, awake suddenly? Perhaps sensing your disgust, wanting to justify herself?” Xie Zhi teased, opening golden light from her hand into Bashe’s blood-red eye.

Within moments, the eye dimmed.

“Only the guardian, the sealer, and your core can unlock Bashe’s seal,” Xie Zhi said. “She’s asleep. Tour’s over, I’ll take you up.”

Yue Tingxi did not object, though she wished to ask Bashe why she acted that way.

Where does this world’s filth lie? Why must it be reset through destruction? As a strong person wanting to change the world, shouldn’t one guide the lost instead? Even when eliminating malignancies, only the wicked should be punished.

Once on the surface, Qingyu Mountain arrived angrily.

“Why did you take her down there?!”

“To see Bashe.”

“Why didn’t you bring me?!”

“I can protect her.”

“You think you’re her guardian?!” Qingyu Mountain punched the cliff next to Xie Zhi, but seeing Yue Tingxi’s hesitant expression, her anger softened, and she quickly grabbed her and left via instant movement.

Yue Tingxi remained quiet, letting Qingyu Mountain lead her.

“Did you see Bashe?” Qingyu Mountain asked after a while.

“Yes.”

“Scared?”

“She’s just a bit bigger,” Yue Tingxi said. “If I had her age and cultivation, I’d be similar.”

Qingyu Mountain chuckled.

“You’ll use your power to restore someone to normal. Bashe, however, swallowed ten cities’ people and demons, considering countless lives only as spiritual energy, life and death meaningless. You must continually deny this if you wish to suppress her,” she advised.

“I understand, ancestor,” Yue Tingxi said seriously, then spoke to distract her attention along the way. Qingyu Mountain, pretending to complain, listened intently.

After calming Qingyu Mountain, Yue Tingxi returned to her residence. Luo Yanzha, Chan Ying, and Bi Fang were there, but Lan Kongming was absent—perhaps she had gone down the mountain.

“You’re just in time. We’re discussing how to safely bring Luo Yansha and Bi Fang to the Ghost Domain Secret Realm,” Chan Ying said. “I said Sha Sha wants to contribute!”

Luo Yansha smiled shyly. “Chan Ying said there are ice-spirit-rooted demons and many spiritual springs here. Two years is enough to reach Nascent Soul.”

Yue Tingxi didn’t believe it. She knew Sha Sha’s innate talent limited cultivation speed. Unless a complete marrow cleansing and root adjustment was done, only then could she break through Nascent Soul in two years.

She looked at Chan Ying, asking via transmission:
“Did you get a pill for marrow cleansing? Or… are you planning to cultivate with her?”

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