105 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

Chapter 105: The Treasure Pavilion Despite the unbearable pain, Qi Xian Qing would never utter a word of complaint. Yet, Yan Jue felt the waves of pain emanating from where her shoulder was gripped by fingertips. She could tell Qi Xian Qing was truly in agony. Yan Jue felt a sudden pang in her heart. Had she known it would come to this, she thought, she should have knocked Qi Xian Qing unconscious with a single chop. Unaware of Yan Jue's wandering thoughts, Qi Xian Qing only sensed the girl staggering before continuing to carry her along the path. She frowned and murmured softly, "Thank you." Yan Jue ignored her, fully focused on searching for a shelter. After a long walk, as the sky turned completely dark, Yan Jue finally found a cave tucked against the rock face where they could rest. The cave was concealed by lush vines, with the dark entrance barely visible. With the sun already set and darkness enveloping their surroundings, continuing outside could be dangerous. The cave was undoubtedly an excellent refuge. Carrying Qi Xian Qing, Yan Jue leaped with her left foot, landing gracefully inside. Once inside, Yan Jue took a deep breath. The cave was clean, devoid of any beastly stench, and only the scent of moist air lingered. The sound of dripping water was clear and distinct. In the pitch-blackness, Yan Jue placed the Spirit Transformation Pearl on the ground. Its radiant light illuminated the cave, revealing its full interior. The cave was spacious, with uneven dirt-covered walls. Yan Jue touched the wall and found it quite firm. There were a few naturally formed stone beds around. Cold water seeped from above, collecting in a shallow stream within the rock crevices below. This must be a branch of the stream outside, as the water in the rock crevices extended outward. Supporting Qi Xian Qing, Yan Jue stumbled forward a few steps to sit on a stone bed. Qi Xian Qing's leg was still pierced by an arrow, causing her considerable discomfort. She reckoned the arrow was poisoned, gripping the shaft and yanking it out forcefully. "Clang—" The arrow clattered to the ground. Blood splattered, and Qi Xian Qing nearly blacked out from the pain, biting her lip in silence. Yan Jue was startled. She had noticed the arrow in Qi Xian Qing's leg but hesitated to touch it, lacking any medicine to staunch the bleeding. Qi Xian Qing was still as ruthless as ever, even to herself. Qi Xian Qing continued to wince in pain, slowly opening her eyes, her voice hoarse, "I didn't mean to abandon you. The situation was too dangerous—I wanted to face it alone." Yan Jue retorted, "Is this really the time for such words?" Qi Xian Qing felt a sharp pain in her chest and commenced coughing violently, hacking up a thick gob of blood. Even though she had suffered damage to her spiritual core, Qi Xian Qing knew her core had always been stable, which was not a major concern. The real issue lay in the arrow's poison, which was troublesome. The cave grew quiet. Yan Jue placed her palm on Qi Xian Qing's back, attempting to help her channel energy for healing. After a while, Qi Xian Qing's pulse remained weak, showing no signs of improvement. More worrisome was that after the arrow was pulled out, her leg wound continued to bleed and showed signs of festering, indicating poison. Yan Jue grew anxious, retrieving a jade seal from her dimension bag. The jade seal carried healing properties, but Yan Jue's prior study revealed it was meant for mental injuries and barely effective against poisons. Using her faint spiritual sense, Yan Jue activated the seal, causing a faint green light to envelop Qi Xian Qing. Yan Jue then took out several Spirit Gathering Pills from her bag and administered them to Qi Xian Qing, followed by a Spirit Candle Fruit. She used her sleeve blade to peel the fruit, offering Qi Xian Qing a small piece, "Can you eat this?" Qi Xian Qing shook her head and gradually fell into a dazed sleep. Her knee was bandaged simply by Yan Jue, but the blood continued to flow. The strong scent of blood mingled with the unique, faint fragrance of the celestial body. Yan Jue sniffed beside her, feeling a shiver run through her body, as though thousands of ants were crawling over her skin. As a demon, her inner bloodthirsty desire intensified. A voice echoed in her mind. If she devoured Qi Xian Qing, she could reach the sixth or even the seventh realm of divine travel. In the current age, before the rise of saints, the eighth realm was the pinnacle for humans. For demons, the seventh realm was exceedingly rare. Devouring Qi Xian Qing could mean dominating the entire demon clan. Yan Jue couldn't help but swallow. "Gulp..." The sound of swallowing was particularly jarring in the silent cave. Yan Jue quickly covered her mouth, unsure if Qi Xian Qing had heard. … Indeed, Qi Xian Qing heard the gulp. Too weak, she couldn't help but entertain some negative thoughts. In her fading consciousness, Qi Xian Qing silently counted how many demons she had slain in her lifetime. She had killed demons not just for her righteous heart but also to avenge her parents who were slain by tiger demons. Her mind drifted to the two wandering spirits. Her parents had truly passed, transformed into mindless ghosts, unable even to reincarnate without someone to guide them, destined to drift in this world. Thinking of this, Qi Xian Qing tightened her fist, tears sliding down her cheeks. Within this cave, she could feel her life gradually slipping away. She was on the brink of death. The bleeding wound might attract other demons. Too weak to protect herself now, Qi Xian Qing actually preferred being devoured by the fox demon over others. Her celestial body's blood undoubtedly tempted Yan Jue, but would Yan Jue actually consume her? If she died here, who would guide her parents' souls to peace? - As night descended, Yan Jue slowly exited the cave. Filthy all over, she resembled a beggar, her expression terrifyingly grim. She needed to find a place before the night deepened. If the Wan Yao Pavilion existed in every corner of the world, she would certainly find it! To Yan Jue, the Wan Yao Pavilion was omnipotent, and there she would find a solution to detoxify Qi Xian Qing. After wandering for a while, Yan Jue stopped by a large tree and closed her eyes. When she reopened them, a faint golden light flickered within. She concentrated on sensing the demonic energy around her. Strangely, there was none to be found. Sweat dotted Yan Jue's forehead as she cautiously moved forward. At regular intervals, she opened her eyes, carefully observing for any swirling demonic energy in the sky. It was autumn, the dew getting heavier. Yan Jue's ice root made her impervious to the cold, but her legs quivered from over-exhaustion. After traversing countless miles, Yan Jue finally collapsed by a small brook. Earlier, she observed the surrounding terrain while carrying Qi Xian Qing. Although they had drifted far along the stream, the chance of leaving the Fuxian Mountain was slim. In Qingye Town, during her first visit to the Wan Yao Pavilion, she heard tales that demons had hidden the pavilion deep in secluded forests to avoid detection. Thus, it was certain there would be a pavilion around Feidu City. Feidu City was encircled by mountains; the sole mountain was Fuxian Mountain. Gathering her strength, Yan Jue pressed on. The towering forest trees bore thorny vines that dangled from above. Moonlight paved the way overhead, yet Yan Jue inadvertently scratched her skin on the thorny vines during her journey. Blood trickled down her arm, and her robes were badly torn. After much travel, Yan Jue finally reached a clearing where she could view the mountains and stars. She ran there cautiously and looked up at the sky. Her eyes glowed with a deep golden hue in the dark, and she focused all her senses to perceive everything around. Everything seemed to fall silent. Just as Yan Jue was about to lose hope, she finally detected a dense cloud of dark energy nearby. Like a weary traveler spotting water in a desert, a surge of joy filled Yan Jue's heart. The Wan Yao Pavilion was there; all she had to do was reach it. - With the pavilion's location now known, Yan Jue's subsequent efforts were comparatively easier. She removed a gourd from her dimension bag, filled with pills originally meant for Bai Ying. Spirit Gathering Pills also aid in replenishing spiritual power, so Yan Jue consumed them all, meditated briefly, and continued her journey. Under the moonlight, a tattered girl stumbled along the mountain path—disheveled but determined. Soon, Yan Jue reached the spot where she had seen the dark energy swirling. Out of caution, Yan Jue stopped a passing young man: "Hello, is this the Wan Yao Pavilion?" The man stared at her as if she were a curiosity. "Of course. Can't you see the words on the sign over there?" Yan Jue looked up and indeed saw the large characters for "Wan Yao Pavilion" on the sign. This time, the Wan Yao Pavilion was built in a colossal valley. Numerous shops perched on the mountainsides, all sitting high and connected by suspension bridges. Yan Jue climbed up a hanging ladder to finally see the pavilion's entirety. The valley was shrouded in mist, with only red lanterns hanging from the suspension bridge and the lights from the shops serving as the light sources. It was a hazy and dreamlike scene. Yan Jue looked up at the shop in front of her: an artifact store. She shook her head, gripped the suspension bridge, and wobbled to the other end of the valley, gazing at the shop sign: a spirit pet store. Various demons traversed the suspension bridge, appearing quite leisurely. The Wan Yao Pavilion was a shopping place for demons, and those frequenting it were mostly insignificant minor demons. Some demons had taken on humanoid forms but retained beastly heads. Some creatures, like little rabbits and puppies, ran back and forth without transforming at all. The scene was as absurd as ever. Yan Jue wanted to find a clinic. Qi Xian Qing had a wound from an arrow. Judging by Qi Xian Qing's current state, the arrow was likely poisoned. The situation was too complex for Yan Jue to consider just picking up some medicine from a random store to solve it. Yan Jue circled the Wan Yao Pavilion, narrowly avoiding being knocked over by a few rampaging bull spirits, but still couldn't find a clinic. The pavilion didn't have one. Yan Jue stopped, completely consumed by exhaustion, experiencing the deep sense of powerlessness once more. Why was she so anxious? She liked Qi Xian Qing... In the original story, the female and male protagonists would have triumphed all the way to ascension. But now, because of her presence, the plot had changed significantly, and there was no telling what other punishments could befall them if heavenly laws were displeased. She didn’t want Qi Xian Qing to die. She had checked everywhere, and now only one place remained... Yan Jue slowly lifted her head, looking at the elegant nine-story pavilion at the heart of the Wan Yao Pavilion. All the shops here were built into the mountains, small yet exquisite. Only that pavilion stood on flat ground, towering over every shop. It had nine levels, majestic and grand. A refined-looking Mountain Goat Spirit happened to pass by, and Yan Jue hurriedly stopped him: "Excuse me, what does that pavilion sell?" "What does it sell?" The Mountain Goat Spirit seemed shocked. "Is this your first time at Wan Yao Pavilion, not even knowing this?" Yan Jue: "...I don't know." The Mountain Goat Spirit laughed, "This is near the demon realm's Fuxian Mountain, where Wan Yao Pavilion’s headquarters is located." Wan Yao Pavilion headquarters? Yan Jue recalled being told during her first visit to the pavilion that Wan Yao Pavilion was run by a group of Turtle Spirits. It was like a marketplace for demons to trade, with its locations constantly changing and lacking stringent organization. But, Wan Yao Pavilion did have a headquarters. The prestigious Turtle Spirits among the five top demons managed the central operation, which was the pavilion’s headquarters. No wonder this branch was so hard to find, with even formations laid out outside. With a Turtle Spirit in residence, they naturally wouldn't place Wan Yao Pavilion somewhere easily accessible to humans. "This pavilion is called the Pavilion of Myriad Treasures, built by a Turtle Spirit Mistress. The Myriad Treasure Pavilion’s master knows all things in the world, and anyone who pays a price can inquire about any desired message." Yan Jue was startled. Such a pavilion existed... The Mountain Goat Spirit, intrigued, explained further: "The pavilion houses the knowledgeable Turtle Spirit Mistress, though she is quite demanding. To have her answer your questions, you must exchange your most prized possessions." "Items you might find precious wouldn’t pique her interest. The cost of answering questions is so high that few demons can afford it." "Most who go to great lengths to seek the Master of Myriad Treasures are humans." Yan Jue gazed at the exquisite pavilion, silent for a while, then clutched her bag of holding. She climbed down from the suspension bridge, walked across the flat ground, and soon reached the nine-story pavilion. There were no guards in front, and the doors were wide open, as if inviting patrons inside. Dim lights flickered within the pavilion. Yan Jue frowned, standing outside to peer in momentarily. Then she took a few steps forward, and as she stepped onto the stone platform, a golden light flashed before her eyes. Out of nowhere, the stone statue beside the pavilion came to life, transforming into a scarlet Little Mountain Leopard. It leaped right in front of Yan Jue. Covered in fiery red fur, with five tails and a large horn on its head, it leaned in with black eyes, giving Yan Jue a sniff. "Red Fox, demon clan," the Little Mountain Leopard quietly surmised. With a flicker, it reverted to a stone statue at the doorway, falling back into slumber. Yan Jue proceeded straight inside. She had presumed that the pavilion’s master would be a flamboyant, vixen-like woman. Instead, she found a languid Turtle Spirit-type person. On the topmost floor of the pavilion, under the dim candlelight, intricate patterns adorned a massive screen. A verdant incense burner rested in the corner, releasing purple smoke, filling the air with a subtle fragrance. A woman lay quietly on a beauty couch, dressed in a gauzy, embroidered gown, delicate and slim, wearing Western glasses on her nose, sleeping soundly. Yan Jue patiently waited nearby, anxiety gnawing at her. Just as Yan Jue considered using her ice arts to rouse the woman, she finally opened her eyes. The beauty sat up, yawning leisurely, and finally glanced at her, "What’s your question?" Yan Jue sat across, her expression severe, "Where can I find the nearest healing immortal?" She needed a healer capable of curing Qi Xian Qing in one session—not a common healer, but a healing immortal. The Turtle Spirit Mistress merely lifted her eyes, glanced at her indifferently, and yawned again, "What do you have to offer me?" Yan Jue replied, "I have over two thousand top-grade spirit stones here." She considered her question simple enough to justify the value of more than two thousand top-grade spirit stones. The woman adjusted her glasses and shook her head, "We don't accept spirit stones here—only rare treasures." She inquired again, "What rare treasures do you have to offer?" Yan Jue retrieved an item from her bag of holding. It was a jade flask. Yan Jue explained, "This is Yin Spirit Water, immensely rare in this world, not something easily obtained." This was something Yan Jue had found in the demon sovereign's treasure pouch. While immensely valuable to followers of dark arts, it held no use for her. The woman shook her head, "Even so, this item’s value isn't sufficient to answer your question." A brief silence fell over the room. Before entering, Yan Jue had heard about the Pavilion Master’s exacting nature but hadn’t expected such extreme demands! Yan Jue pondered silently for a moment, then took out another item from her bag, "This is a demon core—specifically, a tiger demon core." The woman paused slightly. Resting in Yan Jue's palm was a large, golden demon core, brimming with spiritual energy, its surface radiating great value. The woman frowned subtly, "There are multitudes of tiger demons in this world. What makes this particular core special?" Yan Jue explained, "It's the core from a pair of notorious tigers, a male and female, who wreaked havoc in the western regions as the leaders of western tiger demons." The woman considered, then smiled, "Ah, I’ve heard of those tigers." "But they were formidable, with a yin-infused core. This particular core is a result of their fusion." Yan Jue nodded, "Indeed." The woman commented, "This demon core is indeed worthy of your inquiry; however, its value is extraordinarily high for me." "Despite the worldly treasures you possess, why relinquish something so precious for such an unenlightened inquiry?" Yan Jue furrowed her brows, "Are you implying you know I have other treasures?" Could this Turtle Spirit truly be all-knowing? Indeed, her bag of holding contained other items. Like the Spirit Transformation Pearl and the Sacrificial Bead, as well as the sleeve blade. But Yan Jue believed none of these compared to the rarity of the dual tiger demon core. The Turtle Spirit’s gaze settled on Yan Jue's wounded arm, "The blood of a nine-tailed fox is an incredibly rare material. With it, all ailments can be cured—even extending life for the dying." "As a nine-tailed fox," the Turtle Spirit remarked casually, "I require just one bowl of your blood."