225 - Mistress, I Was Wrong

Chapter 225: Longevity "It's beautiful, absolutely stunning. As long as you like it," Dongfang Minghui said, ingratiatingly diverting the sharp tip of the blade away from herself. She had no desire to engage too deeply with this lunatic who resembled Lien. Lien, satisfied with the response, went back to carving those peculiar and intricate patterns. Although they appeared simple, the carving required meticulous attention, like separating a fine silk thread. One wrong stroke, and the entire design would look both ugly and strange. To capture the true elegance of these patterns on the bow would be a significant undertaking. She moved closer to Little Fatty, who was idly holding a small sprout, idly poking the bud and mumbling something incomprehensible. "Little Fatty, do you think there's anything strange about this place?" "Ah." Little Fatty lifted the Tianyin Helmet to eye level, allowing them to perceive it closely. The helmet was ancient, adorned with numerous patterns. She patted it and lightly tapped the wall. Surprisingly, a faint echo returned from the wall, too soft to catch without close listening. After tuning his ear to the sounds, Little Fatty spoke to Dongfang Minghui. She glanced back at Little Fatty and saw her black, shiny eyes staring back. Little Fatty even graciously extended the small sprout closer to Dongfang Minghui. "Little Sprout." The Little Sprout shook its head, seemingly full of vigor. Dongfang Minghui took the sprout into her hands, feeling its weight, as the Tianyin Helmet spun around her palm, its textured surface brushing against her skin. She examined it for a while. "The Tianyin Helmet has ancient patterns I never noticed before." "Ah." Indeed. Little Fatty tapped against the wall again, and the returning sound grew clearer. Dongfang Minghui couldn't bring herself to look at the patterns on the wall. They were peculiarly ominous; staring too long made your vision blur and your mind susceptible to enchantment. Helplessly, she said, "Little Fatty, they all seem to be dreaming. Is there any way to wake them?" Little Fatty tilted her head, contemplating the group. She approached Toothless and blew a puff of flame, which singed Toothless's black locks and instantly angered her. "Little Fatty!" Toothless retaliated with a flicker of flame, which Little Fatty narrowly dodged. However, the flame seemed to have a mind of its own and pursued her again. In desperation, Little Fatty hauled Xiao Miao in front of herself. "Ouch." Xiao Miao, ever fearful of Toothless's golden-red fire, darted about in a panic, accidentally bumping into others. As they all fell into a heap, the approaching fire's heat seemed to clear their bewildered gazes. With Qian Yiling’s help, Zhi Lan stood up, bewildered, "Why was I sitting on the ground?" Qian Ziyan surveyed the group, then took a harp from the iron box and played an intense melody, reminiscent of flowing water and towering mountains. The waves of sound swept toward the walls. Soon, echoes as vast as an ocean's waves assaulted everyone's eardrums with a strong hum. Dongfang Minghui covered her ears, hoping that the music orchestrated by her uncle would awaken all those confused by the patterns. Noticing Qian Wanyu's odd expression as she intently studied the patterns, she wondered aloud, "Could Seventh Sister have been affected too?" Rushing over, she tugged on Qian Wanyu's sleeve, "Seventh Sister, snap out of it." Frowning, Qian Wanyu was about to speak when the cacophony of music abruptly halted. Qian Ziyan stood, returning the harp to its iron box, then released some of his spiritual energy. "Is everyone awake now?" The group exchanged glances, bewildered—especially Zhi Lan and Mu Sheng, who appeared entirely clueless about what had transpired. Lien looked at the bow in his hands with a grimace; it was covered in his previous 'scribbles.' He seemed unwilling to believe it was his doing, but the bow in one hand and the carving knife in the other left no room for denial. "Uncle, what—what happened here?" Mu Sheng held a broken vine tendril from his bonded partner, Little Green, feeling guilty. "How did I end up like this?" He had plastered Little Green's vine tendrils against the wall, seemingly trying to stain it with sap—a disturbing notion. Little Green extended a tendril, gently curling around Mu Sheng’s pinky as if comforting him. "Everyone, don't look at the patterns on the walls. They're exceptionally peculiar. Staring at them too long could enchant your eyes and your consciousness," Dongfang Minghui said, recalling with a shudder how she'd almost acted absurdly had Little Color not been raging in her mind. "Indeed, the patterns are significant. To avoid being ensnared again, let's keep away from the walls and avoid curiosity about the carvings." "Understood." Qian Wanyu’s cool gaze swept the group, ensuring everyone was accounted for, including the elders' robed companions, though it couldn't discern if they were truly alert. "Since we're all here, let's continue forward and avoid looking around." Qing Mo continued in the soul sea, "These ancient patterns come in various types. The vine-like patterns extend far, symbolizing longevity, while the leaves on the vines imply rebirth—likely tied to eternal life." "So, the patterns signify immortality?" Qian Wanyu pondered quietly, waiting for Qing Mo to finish his interpretation. "They resemble the drawings in your family's mountain cave, where you once retrieved a life-extending pill. Maybe this time, you'll find treasures as valuable as a Life Continuation Pill." Frowning, Qian Wanyu pushed forward, uninterested in discussing treasures with Qing Mo. It was not the time for treasure hunting. Something felt overlooked to her. "If there are echoes in the corridor, there might be an exit ahead." Qing Mo countered, "Echoes don't only come from exits; they could result from the passage's twists or other reasons. Have you noticed anything unusual?" Qian Wanyu hesitated, "I've been thinking, maybe what Ninth Sister said earlier was right." "What did she say?" "Why would symbolic patterns be carved here, risking erasure over time by erosion? Moreover, how does an ordinary wall produce echoes?" "Uh-oh," Qing Mo shouted loudly. Qian Wanyu stopped abruptly, realization sinking in. They had walked for hours, exhausted, and those at the rear were lagging behind. But seeing Qian Wanyu stop, Qian Yiling inquired, "Yuer, should we pause for a break?" Wanting to speak privately, Qian Yiling seized the opportunity. Qian Wanyu glanced over, "Let's rest here for the time of two incense sticks. Avoid touching anything if possible." After speaking, she attempted to hand a moonstone to the wall, with Qian Yiling advising quietly, "The wall is peculiar. Why continue?" Crunch— Lowering her gaze, Qian Wanyu saw something by her feet. Crouching to inspect, she realized it was the moonstone that had shattered against the wall hours ago. She had abandoned the fragments, bewildered by the event. "What are you looking at, Yuer?" Qian Yiling was angled away and could only see a dark lump in her daughter's hand. Qian Wanyu was astonished. After several hours, they had returned to their starting point?! "Mother, is something wrong?" "Haven't you noticed this place is eerily unchanged, as if we've wandered into a maze?" Surprised her mother realized this under such circumstances, Qian Wanyu clutched the moonstone. "Your suggestion might work—we could use the True Eye." Qian Yiling, having heard about the True Eye from her brother during the Ice Lotus Mountain incident, deemed its authenticity trivial, knowing who possessed it made the difference. "Yes." "Alright, let's borrow it briefly." Clearing her throat, Qian Wanyu drew everyone's focus, "There's something important to discuss." Seated with Toothless, Dongfang Minghui felt warmth emanating from them, making the passage seem stifling. She looked at Qian Wanyu curiously, "Seventh Sister, go ahead." "I just cautioned everyone not to look at the patterns on the walls, but I must inform you now that after several hours of walking, we have returned to our starting point." Qian Wanyu called Toothless over. "Could you lend me a small flame?" Toothless snorted, conjuring a small flame that illuminated the fragmented moonstone in Qian Wanyu's palm for everyone to see. "This was a moonstone I planned to embed in the wall a few hours ago. After it shattered, I casually tossed it at my feet," Qian Wanyu explained, making sure the elder saw clearly the shattered stone at his feet. Everyone fell into a silence, unsure what to say. "Seventh Sister, are you suggesting we've been walking in circles this whole time?" Dongfang Minghui was incredulous. The path always seemed straight, without a single turn. Yet given recent events, it was possible they were caught in an illusion, ensnared by trickery. "Wanyu, are we trapped in some formation?" Mu Sheng speculated boldly. Qian Wanyu didn't answer immediately, instead turning to the elder. "Do you have a different perspective, sir?" The elder stood up, acknowledging candidly, "Miss Qian, are you asking to use the True Eye?" "If you can find a way out, whether we use the True Eye or not is your decision," Qian Wanyu made her intentions clear: she hadn't considered using it. While peculiar, the place showed no signs of a formation. Her mother had always wanted to see the True Eye personally, though. The elder, with his retinue, confidently walked ahead, likely to verify Qian Wanyu's assertion. "They're—" "Don't worry, Mother. They'll return." Lien looked forlornly at his precious bow, the inscriptions on it now obscured by the patterns, rendering it unsightly. Torn between dislike and attachment, he knelt next to Dongfang Minghui, "Sorceress, is there a way to restore my bow to its original state?" Dongfang Minghui hesitated, comparing the enigmatic Lien from before with the honest person before her. "Let me take a look." The bow was forged from fine iron, and the patterns seemed to have merged into the metal. Removing them with a concoction would be difficult. "I'll keep an eye out for an elixir capable of removing the marks. But, Lien, you must brace yourself." Lien seemed to understand her implication. Uncertain how to comfort him, Dongfang Minghui awkwardly remarked, "The patterns do have a certain beauty." Mu Sheng: "..." Lien still regarded the bow, tracing the patterns, which she recognized as resembling the language of the beast tribes. Seeing Lien's near-violent frustration, Dongfang Minghui was at a loss for words. Qian Ziyan sat nearby, holding a wood carving adorned on the back with those patterns, though fortunately the front remained intact. His ears twitched as he reminded everyone, "They're coming back." Qian Wanyu tapped along the wall in a rhythm, listening to the faint echoes that came back, reaching a disturbing conclusion. "This isn't just a wall; it's a kind of metallic ore." "Could you try using metal-element spiritual energy to affect it?" "Wait." "So soon, sir? Did you find the exit in just half an hour?" The elder had returned, his robes and hat askew, breathless and in poor condition. He’d indeed sought the exit, but found not a hint of it. "You said it's a formation. On what grounds?" Qian Wanyu shrugged lightly. "No evidence, merely speculation. Proving it requires your expertise, sir." Despite his initial anger, her words soothed him, for they left the decision in his hands, which he found agreeable. "Very well, let me see what's causing this mischief." After a short rest, the old man distanced himself, retrieving the True Eye from his spatial storage. Floating it in the air, he unleashed his dark-element spiritual energy, causing the eye to slowly open. Through sidelong glances, Qian Wanyu watched her mother rise, trembling with emotion, barely held by Zhi Lan. Seeing her so moved brought a frown to Qian Wanyu's face. "Could this eye have been taken from my unseen father?" The thought startled her. "This—" Qing Mo hesitated, knowing any response might be incorrect, for the True Eye's creation required it to be extracted from a living person’s eye. Her mother's fixation seemed a clear indicator. "You should ask your mother, instead of overthinking." "Alright." But in the seconds she'd been distracted, the True Eye returned to the elder's hand, who looked alarmed. "The True Eye showed no reaction. If it's not detecting a powerful formation, then there isn't one here." Qian Wanyu naturally leaned towards thinking there wasn't one. She quietly suggested, "In that case, sir, perhaps you should rest." The elder bristled, "If there's no solution, are we trapped here forever?" Qian Wanyu ignored his outburst, staying close to Toothless. "Could you brighten this area? I need to see exactly what we're dealing with." "A minor task." Toothless immediately released fire-element spiritual energy, forming over ten fist-sized fireballs around them. Caught off guard, Qian Wanyu narrowly avoided being scorched. Dongfang Minghui observed from afar as the fires lit up their surroundings, looking eerily like ghostly flames. With a mere flick, Toothless sent each floating flame upwards, brightening the area considerably. "Could the flames be made larger?" Toothless shook her head. "Since entering this passage, my fireballs feel suppressed. They're uncontrollable in size, this is the best I can manage." Qian Wanyu nodded thoughtfully, but before she could speak, the ten floating fireballs suddenly flared intensely. At the same time, the ground quaked again. "What's happening!" "Seventh Sister, is this a cave-in?" Dongfang Minghui struggled to maintain her balance, yet still tilted dangerously to one side. "Ah—" Little Fatty grabbed her, standing still as if roots held him fast, face strained from the effort. The others, following suit, grabbed onto someone nearby, ensuring stability. Several of the elder's people released dark-element spiritual energy, attempting to cluster together, but instead they collectively crashed towards a wall. Qian Wanyu clung to Toothless, using spiritual awareness to see clearly that the fireballs had merged and flown to the top, striking something that caused the ground to quake as though they’d stumbled into a volcano. Another shake, a loud crash, and the ground beneath them settled once more. The group exchanged glances, only daring to move after several moments. "Seventh Sister, could it be another avalanche?" "Very possible." "Yuer." Qian Wanyu looked up, surprised to find the ceiling of what they thought a narrow corridor was several meters high, square, with a perfectly fitted fire suspended. It seemed purposefully constructed. Releasing a thread of metal-element spiritual energy to test the walls, a stronger force instantly repelled it back, causing her to stagger and blood to well at her lips. "Seventh Sister." "I'm fine." Toothless stood stunned, disbelieving. "What is this thing, to injure you?" Indignantly, she declared, "I'll try it myself." Qian Wanyu didn't stop her, still puzzled why such a tentative probe had led to minimal echo. Fortunately, she had released only a small amount of energy, or she might have been heavily struck. Toothless attempted as well, but any fire released was absorbed by the wall, her efforts like punching into cotton—eliciting no response. Her expression darkened, muttering, "What a strange thing." "Stop trying," Qing Mo advised, anxious. "Focus on how to escape. Try retreating to the cave mouth we entered through." "Why?" "My suspicion is this isn't just a passage, but a relic—an ancient weapon." Qian Wanyu's eyes twitched slightly, as she surveyed what could potentially accommodate more than a dozen people in such a huge 'weapon.' She couldn't recall anything of this size in her memories, but the fact that Qing Mo mentioned it indicated a level of severity she couldn't ignore. The elder was tensely pacing back and forth, especially wary of the flame hanging high above them like a scorching miniature sun, continuously roasting the group below. "What do we do now, move forward or retreat?" "Come with me, Ninth Sister," Qian Wanyu called out. Dongfang Minghui hurriedly followed, "Seventh Sister, do you have a plan?" The elder cast a suspicious glance at them, watching as the two headed forward. Thanks to the brilliant fireballs overhead, the area was clearly illuminated, allowing everyone to see them clearly. Intertwining their fingers, the two communicated within their soul sea. Dongfang Minghui used Qian Wanyu’s height to shield them from the others' view as Little Color slipped down to the corner. In less than the time of half an incense stick, Little Color returned to the soul sea in a panic. "Bad news, there's no sign of the original entrance, it's like it disappeared completely." A chill ran down both their spines, and Dongfang Minghui's face paled with anxiety, "Did you check the wrong direction?" "Wrong direction? I checked all around—there's no entrance anymore," Little Color defended hastily. "Don't panic," Qian Wanyu whispered. The two returned calmly, and Qian Wanyu pointed to the fireball glowing like a miniature sun, "Toothless, why did your fireballs merge on their own?" For some reason, whether it was the environment or the light, Dongfang Minghui noticed an unusual expression of embarrassment cross Toothless's face. Grinding her teeth, Toothless leaped and attempted to touch the flame. However, as she got closer, an intense glow separated her from the fireball. Misjudging the situation, she plummeted back down. "Toothless!" Qian Wanyu pushed Dongfang Minghui aside, wrapping her hands in spiritual energy to catch Toothless safely. Coughing up blood, Toothless stubbornly brushed her off. "This is absurd. They were mine, how could I not take them back?" "The Longevity Cauldron." "What?" Qing Mo sighed in defeat, "If this scene resembles anything, it's likely the Longevity Cauldron—a perfectly square space with internal longevity patterns that activate with fire. I recall hearing about it; a powerful spiritual artifact lost for centuries with the last spirit emperor." "Impossible." Once again, Toothless was repelled downward by the invisible pressure from above. Qian Wanyu whipped out her water and thunder whip to stabilize Toothless’s landing. "Now's not the time to be reckless." "I—" "We don’t yet know if we can even get out of here alive, so save your spiritual energy for when we really need it." Seeing Toothless's ashen appearance, Dongfang Minghui felt a pang of sympathy but agreed with Seventh Sister. "Toothless, if it's your fire, you’ll reclaim it eventually. Be patient for now." Toothless narrowed her eyes at the shimmering fire above, hoping to pierce a hole through it just by staring. "Yuer, what's going on?" Qian Wanyu glanced at Qian Yiling and then at Qian Ziyan, her expression grave as she spoke slowly, "This might actually be the Longevity Cauldron. Have you ever heard of it, Mother, Uncle?" "Impossible!" The elder suddenly shouted, startling everyone. "Why impossible?" Dongfang Minghui snapped. She disliked the elder interrupting when Qian Wanyu was speaking. "If you knew how to leave, you wouldn’t still be here." "Ninth Sister," Qian Wanyu shook her head gently. "Sir, if you have knowledge of the Longevity Cauldron, please enlighten us." "I—" The elder reconsidered, realizing his reaction was too extreme. That a legendary evil-capturing cauldron might appear here was far-fetched. "I've heard of the Longevity Cauldron," Qian Ziyan admitted. In his youth, he loved tales of supreme spiritual saints and spirit emperors. On the Seven Color Continent, spiritual saints were rare, let alone spirit emperors—practically nonexistent, like a mythical unicorn. The Longevity Cauldron was said to be in the grasp of a great being with one foot in the realm of the spirit emperor and another still in the spiritual saint. Legend held that this cauldron could subdue the surrounding regions and concoct elixirs of immortality. "But whether it's true, no one knows." Silence settled over them. If true, the entire continent would be thrown into chaos. Something like a longevity pill would surely spark endless conflict, much like the life-extending pill had. "Brother, why have I never heard you mention this?" "Because I never believed it. Why speak of things without evidence?" Qian Ziyan understood she was referring to Father. If such a longevity pill existed, they would have tried any method to save their father. Alas, the Longevity Cauldron was something talked about only by storytellers, and not believed. "Wanyu, what made you think this might be the Longevity Cauldron?" "In my family’s homeland, I once saw a similar longevity symbol. That’s why I think the patterns symbolize longevity, with vines stretching endlessly and green leaves symbolizing rebirth. These vines have another name recorded in ancient texts—the Ten Thousand Longevity Vines." Hearing those words, Dongfang Minghui looked at Seventh Sister in astonishment. "Little Color, is this truly the Ten Thousand Longevity Vine?" "I—I don't know. It's not alive," Little Color admitted, spooked by the flames above, unable to focus on the walls’ vines. "There are countless magical plants in the world. How could I remember them all?" Relieved, Dongfang Minghui recalled her own unresolved origins. "Seventh Sister, do the Ten Thousand Longevity Vines mean anything special?" "They align with previous meanings—longevity, eternal life." Qian Wanyu understood her thoughts but had no time to console. "Everyone, please look above. What does this fireball resemble?" Toothless grumbled, "What else?" "The top resembles a proud phoenix head. Its fiery glow surrounds like outspread wings," Qian Wanyu pointed out, viewing from an angle, appearing like a phoenix undergoing rebirth. Qian Wanyu sighed, reluctant to believe but convinced by Qing Mo's step-by-step explanation. Dongfang Minghui let out a cold laugh. Ten Thousand Longevity, eternal life—what irony. The tribe that bore this name foresaw their future—once mighty, reduced to a few, save for a traitor in exile. Mu Sheng gazed at the red light scattered around them, feeling like he was being roasted. "Am I the only one noticing the temperature is rising?" Having just emerged from a frigid icy landscape, their bodies resisted the cold, yearning for warmth. But as the temperature rose gradually, wooden element spiritualists found it unbearable as their bonded plants signaled distress—dehydration. Little Fatty rushed to Dongfang Minghui, pulling her to touch the small sprout while holding the Tianyin Helmet ah-ah-ing anxiously. Though Dongfang Minghui didn’t keenly feel it yet, holding the Tianyin Helmet enabled her to detect the heat emanating from it. "Little Fatty, let me take care of the small sprout for now. You shouldn't hold it any longer." "Ah." Okay. She borrowed a porcelain bottle of spiritual liquid from Seventh Sister, noticing the obsidian soil's dampness—water wasn't the issue. "Little sprout, you brought this upon yourself. I advised replanting, or entering my space, but you resisted." Little Fatty worriedly flailed, misunderstanding that Dongfang Minghui was giving up on them. "Little Fatty, the sprout is being scorched by the heat and can't take it. There's no immediate remedy," Dongfang Minghui explained. There was no ice-element spiritualist among them, though she surmised some of the elder's entourage might be. She hesitated to entrust the small sprout to those people. Little Fatty thoughtfully considered her words, but without ideas, he tugged Qian Wanyu's sleeve. Qian Wanyu looked at the small sprout, then at the wood spiritualists like Mu Sheng struggling with the heat, patting Little Fatty’s head. "Let me think." "What else can we do? Are we just waiting here to die?" The elder roared in dissatisfaction, suddenly turning his frustration onto Dongfang Minghui, catching everyone, deep in thought amidst the oppressive heat, by surprise. "Watch out!" Little Color was engulfed by a thick black mist, and the Tianyin Helmet flew up, striking that elder squarely on the forehead, splitting his skin and leaving him bloodied. The helmet spun a few times and nearly rolled toward the wall. Little Fatty reached out with long arms, recovering the helmet back into her hands. "Little Color," Dongfang Minghui quickly supported her friend. The black mist followed Little Color's vine tendrils, swiftly creeping up toward Dongfang Minghui and making its way to her brain, before a pair of hands intervened and shielded her from the encroaching dark fog. The mist was relentless, clawing its way into Qian Wanyu's palms. "Seventh Sister." "Yuer." The elder burst into mad laughter, his eyes wide and unhinged like a dead fish's. "If we're going to die, let's all die together." Qian Wanyu gave him a cold glance, swiftly pulling out three large porcelain bottles, handing one to each person. Little Color drank from it, and only once the black mist receded did she weakly retreat into the soul sea. Watching the mist gradually dissipate, the elder looked as if someone had throttled him, like a wild duck stunned for a moment before he howled again in disbelief, "Impossible! How can you not fear the black threads?!" "Mother, guard me," Qian Wanyu instructed. After consuming the antidote, she unleashed her spiritual energy to counteract the large influx of black mist that had invaded her body, absorbing it entirely. Qian Ziyan unlatched the iron box from his back, took out his harp, and with a gentle strum, sent a fierce wind elemental force sweeping towards them, creating a clear divide. "Were you so quick to act because you believed those rumors?" "Rumors?" Dongfang Minghui was clueless about the Longevity Cauldron. "It's said that this Longevity Cauldron can incinerate all dark entities, including those black threads," Qian Ziyan's words struck deep, not just into the hearts of those around them but also into Dongfang Minghui's chest. She opened her mouth, anxious over the thought that if the cauldron truly burned all, Seventh Sister, with her own dark-element spiritual energy, could be— She dared not finish the thought. "Nonsense, I'll have you all accompany me in death!" the elder roared in defiance. "Weren't you going to the dragon lands?" Dongfang Minghui reminded quietly, momentarily pulling the elder back to his senses, though only for a fleeting moment. Evidently, the elder had resigned to the belief that they were inside the Longevity Cauldron itself. As for why such a treasure was submerged within the Ice Lotus Mountain, no one seemed inclined to investigate further. Despair drove all his anger onto Dongfang Minghui, and a fierce battle erupted on the spot. Dongfang Minghui found herself at a loss; Little Color had nearly sacrificed herself to block the elder's sneak attack. Left with few tricks or weapons within this cauldron-like enclosure, she felt trapped. "Sorceress," Lien called, shooting arrows in rapid succession at the opposing group. Some pierced robes, pinning the victims against the walls with ghastly wails as they were reduced to pools of blood. The walls, at some point, had turned iron-red, like they’d been seared by infernal flames. Dongfang Minghui felt her heart nearly stop in terror, watching in desperation like an ant on a hot pan. "What do we do, what do we do, so it’s true—this really burns everything." Seeing this, the elder dodged Lien’s arrows. "Let's go." "And go where?" Qian Wanyu snapped her eyes open, lashing her water and thunder whip around. "This isn't somewhere you can just leave, especially after I've been annoyed by you for so long." Qian Yiling was anxious beyond words. Back then, traces of death energy within her remained when she became pregnant. She suspected that was when the death energy transferred into her unborn child, awakening Yuer's dark-element spiritual powers. "Eldest Brother, what do we do now?" "We'll just have to wait and see." Qian Ziyan had framed those remarks to intimidate the elder and his group. Unexpectedly, the situation had spiraled, and now the flames threatened them. He noticed, with a sidelong glance, Toothless attempting to scale the walls to retrieve the flame. "She's touching the wall without harm—could it possibly be true?" Longevity Cauldron, burning all things dark.