90 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

Chapter 90: The Merman Night had fallen deeply over the village. The villagers here were all ordinary humans, so Yan Jue wasn’t initially afraid. However, she had seen a mysterious figure clad in black at the village chief’s house earlier. Judging by the look of that mysterious person, they were likely a rogue cultivator or someone from a minor cultivation sect beyond the main six. Because the person wore a stealthy cloak, Yan Jue couldn’t discern their true strength. Thus, she couldn’t afford to lower her guard. Both she and Qi Xianqing donned cloaks that allowed them to blend seamlessly with the night. Taking advantage of the darkness, they quickly arrived at the most secluded courtyard in the village. They chose this place because it was the least likely spot to be noticed. Qi Xianqing glanced upwards, “There’s an array.” Yan Jue was puzzled, “But if it’s an array, shouldn’t there be some kind of glow?” “Like green lights for lower-level arrays, blue for mid-level...” Qi Xianqing had explained this to her before. Qi Xianqing replied, “This is a high-level illusion array, quite different from regular ones. Only those who have reached the fifth realm can set such an array, and it doesn't block entry. Instead, it traps intruders in illusions.” The world was vast, and there was so much Yan Jue hadn’t heard of. Yan Jue studied the array for a while, “I’ll go in…” Before she could finish, Qi Xianqing interjected, “Let me go in.” Yan Jue frowned slightly, “It’s too dangerous.” They had come together, and to let Qi Xianqing take the risk inside while she stayed outside felt wrong to her. Qi Xianqing contemplated, “Indeed, this type of array is risky. That’s why I’ll send a doppelgänger.” Yan Jue was taken aback, “Doppelgänger? You can do that?” A doppelgänger technique involved splitting one’s consciousness to control the duplicate. It was a difficult skill to master, often taking cultivators centuries to perfect one indistinguishable from the original. When did Qi Xianqing learn to do this? From his storage, Qi Xianqing retrieved a puppet. The puppet was made of wood, with distorted features on its face and the word “substitute” crookedly written on its torso. Yan Jue was momentarily stunned but immediately recognized it. This puppet was an artifact they had retrieved from the Demonic Lord's treasure trove. They hadn’t known its use at the time, but now Qi Xianqing had figured it out. Qi Xianqing explained, “I consulted with my mentor. This puppet is called a doppelgänger puppet. Infusing it with one’s spirit allows it to act in the cultivator’s stead, useful for executing tasks.” So, this puppet functioned as a stand-in for a cultivator’s doppelgänger. Qi Xianqing continued, “But there is a challenge involved.” Yan Jue questioned, “What challenge?” Qi Xianqing coolly stated, “Infusing one's spirit into the puppet renders the original body immobile, making it difficult to react if danger arises.” He proposed, “I’ll use the doppelgänger, but my real body will stay here.” “Can you, at that time, watch over me?” In the silent night, Qi Xianqing’s voice was soft yet firm, resonating deep in Yan Jue’s ears. Yan Jue felt her ears heat up and quickly raised her hand to rub them, “Mhm.” “Rest assured, Senior Sister.” Yan Jue promised, “I’ll guard your body here.” After she spoke, she couldn’t help but pause. She was a fox demon, after all. Why, when facing an ethereal being, didn’t she just devour him? With Qi Xianqing’s body here, it was like a sheep being guarded by a wolf. Qi Xianqing gave Yan Jue a profound look before submerging his consciousness into the puppet. The puppet, initially small and odd, gradually expanded, shimmering with spiritual light until it took on Qi Xianqing’s appearance. With a slight nod to Yan Jue, the puppet leapt gracefully onto the wall. Qi Xianqing’s real body remained seated. Yan Jue sat before it, drawing her celestial sword out of its new sheath and vigilantly surveying her surroundings. - Effortlessly, Qi Xianqing leapt onto the wall and was immediately faced with a narrow pond. Yet another pond. Earlier today, Yan Jue had noticed a pond in the backyard of another house. In this seaside fishing village, every backyard had a pond — suspiciously so. Qi Xianqing understood that something was likely hidden within these ponds, obscured by the array. With a grave demeanor, he dove in. As he breached the backyard, an almost imperceptible ripple of array magic stirred the sky. A splash ensued. Instinctively, Qi Xianqing shut his eyes. Suddenly, a blue luminescence flooded her vision, accompanied by the sound of plunging into water. A moment later, he found himself submerged in cool ocean water. This particular illusion was simulating the sea. Qi Xianqing floated in the water, eyes gradually adjusting; salty seawater stung his eyes. Holding his breath with the Water Repelling Technique, he opened his eyes again. Before him stood a resplendent underwater palace. Ancient and solemn, the palace streets extended like a constellation, sprawling in every direction. Under dim lighting, it appeared extraordinarily grand. Yet, the palace was submerged, with swarms of fish weaving through its structure, void of any human presence. The fish, myriad in species and vibrant in color, were akin to a rainbow. Several mermen sharks swam among them; one seemed drawn to Qi Xianqing’s scent, lashing its tail as it rushed toward him. The black, bead-like eyes of the mermen shark were menacing under the light, its interlocking teeth horrifying. Its massive tail thrashed wildly, slicing through the water like a sword. Qi Xianqing’s doppelgänger carried no celestial sword, unable to tackle the mermen shark head-on. But he remained calm. He knew that panic was the worst approach in an illusion array. Thus, as the shark charged, Qi Xianqing leapt onto its back, brandishing a jagged stone from his sleeve. This was an unexpected, effective tool given by Yan Jue. The “Seven Glimmer Stone,” a rare artifact, glowed brilliantly in the air. Qi Xianqing hurled it towards the gate of the eastern array. Suddenly, he sensed something and his pupils contracted. His real body seemed to be lifted. What was Yan Jue doing? ... While Qi Xianqing’s spirit was away, he maintained a meditative posture. Yan Jue had been guarding him, but then footsteps approached. A man in a shirt, dragging a fishing net, came from that direction. Their position against the wall was rather concealed, but the man, circling the courtyard wall, would eventually spot them! Glancing at Qi Xianqing, Yan Jue hesitated briefly, then quickly wrapped her arms around the girl’s soft waist, lifting and darting to another corner to avoid the man. Qi Xianqing’s real body had been sitting in meditation, but now collapsed limply into Yan Jue’s arms. Yan Jue cautiously cradled his head as they reached a more concealed spot and sat down. ... Qi Xianqing called forth the Seven Glimmer Stone, catching it mid-air. Vaulting again, he hurled the stone sharply towards the eastern gate of the array, shattering the water. The illusion array around him began cracking. Even cultivators need to breathe. Yet submerged in this simulated ocean, Qi Xianqing grew faint, and his reserves of spiritual energy were nearly depleted. Sensing his weakness, the two sharks closed in, eager to claim him. As the sharp teeth almost pierced his arm, Qi Xianqing suddenly opened his eyes, sprung onto the shark's head, flipped over its back, and seized its tail, flinging it skyward! The illusionary shark hadn’t anticipated this, landing in the distant blue. In an instant, the world around fractured and crumbled! The array began to collapse. All fell silent. Qi Xianqing steadied his breath, watching the ocean diminish. Before him lay only a courtyard, its center a narrow, murky pond, tinged with patches of moss. The illusion skewed reality as he had been battling nonexistent foes in the water. Had anyone looked from outside, it would have been a bizarre sight. Concerned for his true body, Qi Xianqing’s spirit quickly rejoined with it. Upon returning to his body, Qi Xianqing opened his eyes cautiously, only to find Yan Jue sitting in front of him, intently watching the surroundings. She wore a pleated skirt in shades of green and blue, holding her celestial sword with a solemn expression. Typically, when a cultivator uses the doppelgänger technique, they choose a secluded environment due to the vulnerability it presents when the spirit leaves the body. Fortunately, Yan Jue wasn't the sort to take advantage of such a situation. Qi Xianqing observed her white-necked profile for a moment before reaching out to gently tap her shoulder. Startled by the sudden sound, Yan Jue quickly turned her head, meeting Qi Xianqing's clear gaze. Yan Jue asked, “Was everything successful?” Qi Xianqing replied, “Successful.” He glanced at her once more before standing up, “Let’s go and take a look inside.” The two of them then moved above the courtyard. Peering inside, Yan Jue saw a figure seated in the small pond within the courtyard. She paused in surprise. The figure was a breathtaking beauty, with golden hair cascading over her shoulders and skin as fair as jade. This woman possessed strikingly different features from the typical Han Chinese—deep and captivating—a true beauty. Perhaps due to the array being lifted, the woman swam back and forth in the pond, her face etched with terror and panic. Qi Xianqing gathered the puppet and leapt down into the courtyard. As they approached, Yan Jue got a clearer view of the being in the pond. The woman was stunningly beautiful, but she was not human. Her lower half was an enormous fish tail, rhythmically swaying back and forth. A merman!