Chapter 43: The Demonic Entity’s Tale and the Unsettled Dao Heart

“My knowledge is shallow, little one; I have not heard that name.”

“That name, however, sounds somewhat familiar to me.”

Zì Bùxiàn, who had initially assumed Qíngyǔ would be unaware of Beitu Jun, found himself rather surprised. It was only upon hearing the name Zhongwen Tang that a sudden realization dawned upon him.

“That person was merely a casual calligrapher,” he explained. “They are still alive, but I know not where their wanderings have taken them.”

“Did even they know of these matters?”

“Mortals, by merely traveling further and hearing more widely, can come upon such knowledge.”

The Old Daoist shook his head. While a person named Zhongwen Tang certainly existed in his memory, he had only ever known them as a mere mortal traveler.

“In any case,” Qíngyǔ pressed, “you must explain the matter of Beitu Jun clearly.”

Qíngyǔ nodded in understanding, then glanced to the side where ‘Condemnation’ (TL Note: The name of Qíngyǔ’s sword or magical ability) still glowed, hovering menacingly above the demonic entity’s head. It terrified him so thoroughly that he found himself unable to either flee or stand still.

“I’ll speak, I’ll speak, of course, this little demonic entity will tell all!”

Daoist Feng’s heart was a tangle of bitter, unspeakable emotions. He could only resent himself for appearing at the wrong place at the wrong time.

From beginning to end, he never believed he had done anything wrong, only that his skills were inferior.

Daoist Feng possessed no true name; he was originally a natural-born demonic entity known as ‘Whispers on the Wind’. Born from idle talk and sustained by it, he inherently possessed the ability to stir up discord through human speech.

Originally, a demonic entity like him could have survived without harming anyone. With his innate abilities, and a bit of luck, he might even have secured a position as a Mountain God or Earth God.

Alas, he not only became obsessed with cultivating immortality and seeking the Dao but ultimately strayed onto a crooked path.

“This little demonic entity… obtained this page from ‘Words of Rebuke for the World’ (TL Note: ‘Ze Shi Yan’), which recorded the art of ‘Cuckoo’s Nest’ (TL Note: ‘Jiu Zhan He Chao,’ an idiom meaning to usurp another’s place).”

Daoist Feng summoned forth a plume of black smoke, which gathered and dispersed before finally coalescing into a single, yellowed page of a book.

Qíngyǔ first examined it with her Ink-Wash Vision (TL Note: A magical sight ability), confirming there were no hidden traps, before summoning a gust of wind to bring it closer for a meticulous inspection.

“And with merely this, you conceived the intent to harm others?”

“Naturally not,” he replied, “but alas, the reasons behind it can no longer be disclosed to you, Immortal.”

Qíngyǔ cast a glance at him, then reached out and tucked the ‘Words of Rebuke for the World’ into her sleeve. Zì Bùxiàn, standing nearby, offered no further reaction to this action.

“Was it Beitu Jun?”

Daoist Feng neither answered nor refused, merely bowing his hands in silence. Though he spoke no more words, his unspoken message conveyed a great deal.

“This demonic entity, then, I shall take back to my sect for interrogation.”

Zì Bùxiàn, who had been contemplating for a long while, finally spoke, his voice measured.

“What if we were to kill him?”

Qíngyǔ coldly eyed the demonic entity before her, then unleashed ‘Condemnation’; however, it was blocked by an unseen, ethereal protection, vanishing as if a stone cast into a vast sea.

“Difficult to kill, thus, we must imprison.”

The Old Daoist shook his head, seemingly accustomed to such occurrences. Reaching into his storage pouch, he produced a hemp rope and tightly bound Daoist Feng.

“This is hardly ideal,” Qíngyǔ murmured.

Qíngyǔ had always believed in eradicating evil thoroughly, holding that merits could not offset wrongs. While those who merely strayed could be saved, individuals like Daoist Feng, even if they harbored remorse, were beyond redemption.

“Our cultivation is shallow, you and I,” Zì Bùxiàn said, “and thus, this is beyond our capabilities.”

Zì Bùxiàn, holding the rope, rehung his gourd at his waist and bowed respectfully to Qíngyǔ.

“Beitu Jun has appeared,” he warned, “and the day before yesterday, a celestial star streaked across the sky.

Furthermore, there are many rumors circulating about that ‘Words of Rebuke for the World’ you just acquired. I urge you, fellow Daoist, to pay close attention to these various matters.”

“Thank you… fellow Daoist,” Qíngyǔ responded, after a moment’s pause.

Qíngyǔ deliberated for another moment, ultimately deciding to address him as ‘fellow Daoist’ in return.

Hearing this, the Old Daoist smiled, then bowed respectfully once more to the green-robed maiden. Leading the disheartened Daoist Feng, he dissolved into the rain and departed.

Once again, only the sound of rain drumming against the forest leaves remained.

***

“‘Words of Rebuke for the World’… tsk.”

Qíngyǔ shook her head. The demonic entity hadn’t been completely eliminated, and Zì Bùxiàn had left, but not before emphasizing this fragmented page and the matter of the celestial beings.

Yet, if it weren’t of extreme importance, considering his usual habits, he likely wouldn’t have stressed it so deliberately.

So many troublesome matters. She merely wished to live a peaceful life with her Little Girl.

And, incidentally, she also needed to seek immortality for her.

It was then, with a sudden clarity, that the maiden remembered something she had intended to do earlier but hadn’t gotten around to.

She had actually forgotten to exchange some cultivation resources and insights with that old fellow.

“Tsk, next time, then.”

Shaking her head, she acknowledged that today’s events had, truthfully, unfolded rather hastily, making it inevitable that not everything could be handled perfectly.

A thousand threads of thought, too numerous to articulate, dissolved into a soft sigh.

That the Heavenly Dao had imperfections, and life held regrets, was merely commonplace.

As her thoughts drifted, the wind shifted, and Qíngyǔ lightly and gracefully alighted within the courtyard of Muyun Temple.

Upon seeing her return, the Little Girl quickly pattered over, wrapping her in a hug. She patted and prodded her mother, then twitched her delicate nose, sniffing all around.

“Mama!”

“Don’t just grope about.”

Batting away the girl’s hands, Qíngyǔ chided her playfully. This child, lately, had become increasingly audacious.

“I was just worried Mama got hurt!”

Seeing Qíngyǔ’s slight embarrassment, the Little Girl quickly offered a fawning smile and obediently hugged her again.

“Truly?”

The green-robed maiden cast another suspicious glance at her.

“Truly! Truly!”

The girl immediately straightened her expression, shedding her playful demeanor.

“Such false propriety, who taught you that?”

“You, Mama, taught me!”

With a helpless sigh, Qíngyǔ reached out and lightly flicked her forehead. Shaking her head, she turned and stepped into the temple, ready to attend to other matters.

[Hey, did you see that?! My Mama is so amazing!]

The Little Girl happily rubbed her flicked forehead, boasting to the Immortal Sword within her Sea of Consciousness.

[I saw it.]

‘But I didn’t understand it.’

She hadn’t understood the slightest bit of the ‘Horse Rejection’ (TL Note: ‘Ju Ma Zhi Ju,’ possibly a specific technique or a powerful defensive maneuver) in the rain earlier. She didn’t know where the wind had originated, nor why the person who had revived the demonic entity had dispersed into the wind.

[Hmph hmph, how about it, can you do that?]

[I cannot.]

In truth, if her master’s cultivation were currently comparable to her previous life, achieving such a feat would be effortless for her.

However, with the Little Girl’s current Qi Condensation stage spiritual power, it was definitely impossible. Not to mention Qíngyǔ’s seemingly spirit-less state.

[And to think you’re an Immortal Sword.]

[There is a precedence in seeking the Dao, and specialization in skills, you see.]

The Immortal Sword, rebuffed by the girl once more, could only offer a dry retort, a famous saying she had overheard from Qíngyǔ, before retreating into someone’s Sea of Consciousness to sleep.

If she were to stay any longer, waiting for the child to ask about things like “seeking wind” (TL Note: ‘Qiu Feng,’ possibly a specific magical request or ability), she feared her Dao heart would once again be unsettled.

Inside the temple, everyone else was still waiting in the side room.

The group of surrendered individuals huddled in a corner, hands over their heads. Though seemingly unwatched, they dared not make the slightest move.

“Master Yang.”

The green-robed maiden pushed open the door and entered, sweeping away the water vapor clinging to her with a gust of wind, then bowed in greeting to Yang Qi, who was pacing back and forth.

“Oh, oh, Miss Qíng… is this…”

“The matter is concluded.”

Qíngyǔ nodded. While a few loose ends remained untied, it could certainly be considered settled for the time being.

Upon hearing this, Yang Qi was filled with both emotion and excitement, yet felt little surprise.

“Young Lady, you are truly an Immortal of this world!”

“Master Yang, please do not flatter me so excessively.”

The maiden waved her hand, then cast a spell, gathering all the water vapor from the clothes of those inside and sending it out of the room with the wind.

Another stir rippled through the people indoors, yet none attempted to kneel or cry out praises to an immortal.

“It’s a pity there’s no hot tea,” Qíngyǔ remarked with a smile.

Seeing this, Qíngyǔ smiled, holding the Little Girl’s hand as she began to chat idly with Yang Qi.

“Enjoying the rain with tea, Young Lady, you certainly have a refined taste.”

Song Ming also approached from the side. The profoundly mystical events of today had left the well-informed old official feeling as though he were in a dream.

“Perhaps I should fetch some?” Jí Yào interjected loudly, watching the captives covertly as he heard their conversation.

“Thank you all for your kind intentions,” Qíngyǔ replied with another smile.

She then pointed towards the heavy rain outside.

“The mere sound of rain drumming on tiles and stones,” she stated, “is already quite sufficient to be called a beautiful scene.”