Chapter 11: The Epitaph’s Prophecy and a Drunken Awakening

The dungeon’s silence cast a pall over Su Qin’s thoughts.

If one were to ask him what the most precious treasures of the Silver Splendor Hall were, he would readily list four.

First was the Tusk Treasure Chest, a panacea-like treasure capable of dissolving magical artifacts into spiritual essence, serving as a top-tier aid for alchemy, artifact refining, and body tempering alike.

This was a treasure Su Qin acquired before his demonic transformation, and coupled with his dual wood and fire spiritual roots, it made him highly likely to become a grandmaster of artifact refining, alchemy, and more.

His disciples… he would tentatively count them as the second.

The third was the Abyssal Spring, an exceptional cultivation ground for clearing away impurities, tempering magical artifacts, dispelling all poisons, and acting as an absolute healing treasure.

The Jade Warming Bed was too weak in its effects to be counted among them.

The fourth, however, was an existence even more precious than the preceding ones, something Su Qin had obtained upon his awakening.

Beneath the third level, a long, dark passage led to the Abyssal Spring. Su Qin felt a tremor of nervousness. He raised his hand, and a jet-black stone emerged from the earth.

Adorned with delicate golden calligraphy, it chronicled Su Qin’s life.

This was his epitaph.

At the very end of the inscription, the words ‘Died in Slaughtering Immortal Valley’ were starkly etched.

He had first seen this object on the very night of his awakening. Deeming it inauspicious at the time, he had used his Blood Saber to erase the final few words, only for them to mysteriously reappear moments later.

Su Qin had attempted to add a few words to it, changing it to ‘Died in Slaughtering Immortal Valley amidst chaotic armies, rising up with power that shook mountains and rivers.’

Yet, after inscribing them, they would vanish within a minute.

The soil of the Abyssal Spring was known to dissolve bone and erode metal. Despite this, the object had remained buried within it for so long without a hint of damage.

‘It seems to be a magical artifact tied to karma, at least a Houtian (TL Note: Post-natal; referring to artifacts crafted by mortals or after the creation of the world) artifact.’

Such items existed in games as well, but it was rare to find an artifact in the form of an epitaph, one that directly prophesied death.

It was utterly useless there. In games, it held no value, as guides and walkthroughs were abundant online, and one could simply restart. Predicting one’s death held no meaning whatsoever.

In the true world of cultivation, however, it was a different story. It now proved at least one thing.

Namely, that none of his actions thus far had managed to alter his fate of perishing in Slaughtering Immortal Valley.

In other words, his path was wrong.

His efforts to repair his body these past few days had seemingly made little impact on his destiny.

‘Will I truly die?’

Su Qin shook his head.

Nothing in this world was absolute. Everything was a matter of probability.

He realized that he should no longer focus on cultivation or further body repair. Instead, he needed to adjust his direction.

Turning, he reburied the epitaph in the earth. A thoughtful expression settled on his face. With a sigh, he returned to his workshop.

After sunset, he decisively abandoned his cultivation plans. A drink would come first.

He truly couldn’t think of anything else to do. He might as well indulge himself for a while.

Su Qin went to the market at the foot of the mountain to buy some wine and dishes, then returned to his mountain dwelling.

“Welcome home.”

Qi Shuyue, her face wreathed in smiles, greeted him at the door.

“How did you know I was coming?” Su Qin asked, a look of surprise on his face.

“Hehe, I’ve been waiting for you all along, so I could come out and greet you the moment you arrived.”

Su Qin’s expression grew somewhat complex, as he couldn’t help but recall his time on Blue Star.

“You little rascal.”

He was reminded of the kitten he had raised in his previous life. Even though it was a cat, it would greet him like a puppy every day when he came home.

“Oh no, Mr. Devil, if you’re thinking of other things while you’re with me, I’ll be unhappy. First, a penalty drink for you.”

Gazing at the full cup of wine offered to him, Su Qin accepted it without hesitation.

After all, he faced a near-certain death in a few days. With such a beauty accompanying him in drink, why not indulge to his heart’s content?

The result was predictable: he got roaring drunk.

He soon found himself drinking straight from the jar, his cheeks flushed crimson, his eyes glazed and unfocused.

Su Qin hiccuped, wondering who he was and where he might be.

Qi Shuyue continued to urge him on, offering more wine.

Her delicate hands held a golden goblet, and as she moved, her tender, rosy wrists were inadvertently revealed, along with her plump, jade-like thighs, making it difficult for Su Qin to distinguish reality from illusion.

Just then, Su Qin collapsed face-first onto the table. A mischievous smirk played on Qi Shuyue’s lips, her eyes curving into crescents.

‘He finally passed out.’

Qi Shuyue caressed Su Qin’s peaceful face, then dragged him onto the bed. Taking a deep breath, she admitted to herself that it was her first time in such close proximity to a man. Immediately, a playful impulse surged within her.

‘What a miserable life it had been before, filled with suffocating expectations and strictures, the hypocrisy of almost everyone around the Saintess, and countless gazes of unknown intent.’

She had been on the verge of collapse. Yet, due to the orthodox sect’s prohibitions, surrounded by hypocrites, she had been forced to take matters into her own hands.

How could a toy compare to the real thing?

Qi Shuyue somewhat roughly stripped Su Qin of his clothes. As she gazed at the sight before her, the madness in her eyes reached its peak, accompanied by a dizzying sensation.

‘This kind of marvel, how could I ever yield it to another?’

‘What was that saying again?’ she mused. ‘Raw rice cooked into a meal.’ ‘That’s right! First, steam the rice!’

Then, she loosened her own clothes and sash, extinguished the candle, and closed the window.

This body truly suited her perfectly. Whenever her own body grew overheated, his coolness would absorb her excess warmth, providing her with a dual stimulation of ice and fire.

A restful night followed, needing no further elaboration.

***

The next morning, Su Qin awoke with a throbbing headache.

‘I was careless. My Blood Demon Spirit Body is immune to all poisons, yet it seems to have no special effect against alcohol. It appears the inventor of the Blood Demon Spirit Body was quite the drunkard.’

His eyes ached intensely. Su Qin practically forced them open, but it proved difficult, as if something was pressing down on them.

‘What is this? I can barely breathe.’

His face felt tightly enveloped by something soft and cotton-like, without a single gap. A faint, sweet fragrance wafted into his nostrils, and he couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

“Oh-ho-hoo~”

The utterly charming gasp instantly jolted Su Qin awake. He broke out in a cold sweat.

“Who? Qi, Qi Shuyue?”

Su Qin instinctively tried to push the other person away. Qi Shuyue, who had already been awake, naturally knew what he intended.

“It’s already bright outside. If you move carelessly, you might die, you know.”

Su Qin’s movements froze. He was clearly afraid. However, Qi Shuyue was clearly excited by the thrill.

Ignoring Su Qin’s protests, she used her delicate foot to kick off the blanket. Then, she kicked open the window. A sliver of morning sunlight streamed in, landing directly on her ‘plateau’.

“Don’t, don’t move around, sweetie. Let Mommy cover you,” Qi Shuyue said, her face alight with a mischievous grin.

“Don’t talk, just eat quickly.”

Su Qin, filled with shame and indignation, bit his lip in frustration.

He regretted it. He shouldn’t have drunk so much; now he was utterly passive.

The sunlight grew stronger, and Qi Shuyue could no longer perfectly shield Su Qin.

“You… quickly close the window, and let me go,” Su Qin pleaded, a hint of desperation in his voice.

“Oh? Is Mr. Devil trying to escape?”

Qi Shuyue hugged him even tighter, denying him any chance to resist.

“About last night, I drank too much, I’m sorry…”

“So you intend to pretend nothing happened?” Qi Shuyue’s tone instantly dropped.

“No, no, no, I’m not…”

Su Qin stammered, momentarily at a loss for words.

“I really was too drunk to remember anything, but I won’t pretend nothing happened.”

Qi Shuyue felt Su Qin’s panic against her chest, and with a satisfied pat to her own belly, she spoke.

“I truly didn’t expect that you, the notorious Libertine Devil, would still retain your primordial yang at this age.”

Immediately, her voice grew even more seductive.

“Tell me, how did all those rumors about you come about? How did you get branded as the Libertine Devil?”

Su Qin fell silent, only managing to squeeze out a single sentence after a long pause:

“I don’t want to answer.”