Chapter 18
Edited by renderedreversed
Chapter 18
“Dida” was the sound of the water in the stone cave .
“Where is this…” I kept sobbing while sitting on a rock . Zihui squatted in front of me and gave me a towel .
“You can say that it’s my home . A Xiang, don’t cry anymore . ”
I took the towel and wiped my face, choking while I said: “Although I’m stupid, I still remember that father and mother were very good to me . Shifu, Shifu was obviously also very good to me…but why did he kill my parents? Why did he lie to me?”
Zihui was silent for a moment before he said: “A Xiang, you can’t return to Shengling Sect anymore . What are you going to do next?”
“I…haven’t thought about it yet . ” I shook my head: “I hit Shifu . Shifu wouldn’t want me anymore . I also don’t want to go back to Shengling Sect . Home…I also can’t go back home . I…don’t know . ”
Zihui grabbed my hand and quietly looked at me . In the darkness of his eyes, I saw a hint of purple fly across .
“From now on, a Xiang, let’s live together, alright?”
He stretched out his hand and touched my face . I, for some inexplicable reason, felt that this wasn’t right . I wanted to hide, but his hand left as quickly as it had come .
“You can be my wife . I’ll treat you better than your Shifu . I won’t lie to you and I won’t abandon you . ”
I looked at him for a moment: “But, Shifu still hasn’t agreed…”
Zihui was stunned for a moment and then said with a laugh: “Shifu? Silly girl, he slaughtered your whole family . You really still see him as your Shifu?”
The tears fell again: “I can’t see him as Shifu anymore?”
After all, Shifu was really good to me .
“Right, you can no longer have the bond of disciple and master after this blood feud . ”
Zihui held my hand tightly . Like an irresistible temptation, he said: “I’ll marry you and take care of you in the place of your Shifu . Are you willing?”
I looked at how my tears fell onto his hand . Then, I nodded . Zihui laughed, stood up, and touched my head .
“A Xiang, this is nice . In my family, there’s a tradition that whoever marries into my family will need to drink a bowl of this medicine . It makes the body more fit to live with me . A Xiang, do you want to drink it?”
I nodded mechanically . Zihui left my sight . Soon he came back holding a bowl of red medicine . I didn’t have any suspicion and swallowed it . A fishy, sweet and warm feeling, like drinking a mouthful of blood, enveloped me . My chest felt stuffy .
Zihui patted my head with a face full of happiness . He pointed at the stone bed and said: “These two days must have tired you out . Go take a rest . ”
In fact, I didn’t want to sleep . But, I didn’t know why that after listening to his words, my feet moved on their own toward the bed and I obediently laid myself down . I closed my eyes . My world turned dark . My brain was filled of Shengling Sect and Fengxueshan Manor and, and Shifu’s face: one moment laughing and in the next, angry…
I thought that I would never see that kind of Shifu anymore . After becoming Zihui’s bride, I would settle down in this stone cave .
I didn’t want to step out of this cave . I always thought that there were monsters outside who wanted to eat me . I became truly lazy . Here, no one let me do the laundry or make the bed . Nobody liked to let me fan him and turn the page of his books .
Zihui was often absent . I sat all day long on the stone bed and didn’t know what time or day it was . I lived with nature, but I didn’t think that these days were relaxed . They were like a block of stone, pressing down on my heart and making it hard to breathe .
Today, Zihui came back . I was complaining about the bad air in this cave, air that made a person’s heart feel stuffy . Zihui smiled distractedly and said: “Excuse me, I lack a heart . I don’t know what a stuffy heart feels like . ”
“Heart?”
I didn’t understand .
“But everyone has one ah . It’s here . ”
I pointed at my heart . This is also one of those things Shifu taught me . Thinking about it made me feel melancholic .
“En, I know,” Zihui was still smiling . He seems like in trance . “I’ve also had one, but I didn’t cherish it and gave it to someone else . ”
“Can you give a heart to others?”
“Ordinary people can’t, but it’s possible for demons and gods . ”
Zihui’s lips straightened . It was a sensual sight with some coldness .
“The heart can be made into an excellent elixir . ”
I was shocked: “Someone else made an elixir with your heart?”
Zihui was silent for a while before he coldly laughed: “No; I pulled it out myself, made an elixir out of it, and gave it to someone else . ”
He said it so lightly . I curiously approached him and poked is chest .
“In here it’s empty? Does it hurt? Does it feel cold?”
After waiting for a long time, and still Zihui didn’t answer, I lifted my head to look at him . He was staring at me . Only after waiting a really long time this time did he touch my head and say with a wry smile: “Silly girl . ”
Suddenly, Zihui rolled his eyes . His smile changed . It was like that day before . He took me to the bed and sat down, then he patted my head lightly with his hand and said: “Rest . ”
He only said this one word, but that one word turned my vision black and I lost all five of my senses .
I didn’t know how much time had passed, but strangely enough, my eyes could somehow see again . I was still in this cave . I was still sitting on the stone bed, and Zihui was standing next to me . There was one more man in front . Seeing him, I shivered . Intuitively, I wanted to run to him…but for some reason, I couldn’t move even the slightest bit if I wanted to . I was afraid and wanted to speak, but even my lips wouldn’t open . My body was like a corpse .
“I waited a long time for Celestial Star Chu Kong . ”
“What have you done to her . ” Shifu stared at me, frowning .
“Celestial star, don’t worry . I temporarily closed her five senses . She’s fine; she just can’t feel the outside world . ”
“Talk straight . ”
Shifu’s eyes turned away from me and he coldly said: “You used so many efforts to seduce my stupid disciple . In the end, what do you want?”
“The heart of a demigod . ”
I was startled . Zihui, he…he wanted Shifu’s heart!
“Oh, the little demon’s ambition is not small . ”
Shifu’s gaze faintly swept over me .
“Why are you so sure that I’ll give it to you?”
“I’m not sure; I was just playing with luck . I guessed that coming to the human world is just another experience to the gods . To Celestial Star Chu Kong’s eyes, this lifetime is only a road to another beginning . Your body of this lifetime is only a temporary shell . Immortals are always cold toward life and death, but Celestial Star treat this silly girl like she was something very special . So, I made a bet . Since I only have one month left to live, I’m not afraid of offending you . Sure enough, even with how a Xiang treated you, you still helplessly chased after us . ”
Shifu’s eyes squinted slightly . His hand tightened around his whip .
“Oh, do you really think that I value this stupid disciple? You desire to kill her, then kill her . You desire to eat her, then eat her . I’ve come because I want to destroy you, an outrageous stone demon . You dare to calculate against xiaoye! Even if I scattered your soul, it wouldn’t be enough to compensate me . ”
I couldn’t explain why, but somehow, my mind was at peace . It didn’t last long before I was struck by an overwhelming chill . It felt as if a snake was wrapped around me . I was at loss, but then Zihui smiled: “My power isn’t a match for the magical powers of a celestial star . If Celestial Star wants to kill me, then kill me . I’m helpless . It’s just that I and a Xiang have already married . My blood flows in her blood . She and I are connected, possessing the same soul . Our life and death are bound to each other . If Celestial Star doesn’t care about this stupid disciple, then you can scatter both of our souls . ”
“Married, soul connected… You…”
Shifu gritted his teeth . The hand holding the whip began to tremble .
I felt Zihui’s hand from behind . He grabbed my shoulder and sat down beside me . Then, he said: “Celestial Star, see, do you want to settle our grudges today, or do you want to see me and a Xiang’s soul cease to exist in a month? Never to be reincarnated again . Will that lessen the resentment of Celestial Star?”
Shifu turned silent . His eyes were quietly cold, the color dark as the night . Suddenly, he waved and fiercely smacked Zihui’s face . I felt an inexplicable pain; my face burned with it . My cheek became sticky with blood .
“This whip, Celestial Star didn’t use his full force . If Celestial Star doesn’t believe me, you can kill me and test it: see if we both die,” Zihui said laughingly .
“I’m a clean stone demon and can’t do sinister things . No matter if it’s becoming my wife or giving me a heart, it must be done willingly . If even the slightest force is used, the effectiveness will be gone and it’ll cause great harm . The heart of a demigod can help me get back the power I lost . I can change back to an immortal demon . A Xiang can also live on for a long time . To save or to kill is all in Celestial Star’s hand . ”
I stared at Shifu . My heart was bursting in horror . Suddenly, Shifu smiled and my breath stifled . I heard him say: “Very well . This way, xiaoye will settle it with you . ”
Shifu pulled out a knife like the one the cook used, a ten-inch-long knife . Then, he stabbed the knife into his own chest . Shifu’s complexion turned white . As if he didn’t feel any pain, he guided the knife down his chest . I could hear the sound of flesh tearing apart .
I was so scared that I nearly went mad . The hand on my shoulder stiffened slightly . It seemed like Zihui also didn’t expect this .
Shifu said with a carefree voice: “Stone demon, do you think that I, xiaoye fell into your trap?”
His wrist turned . His complexion whitened a little more, but his expression didn’t change . Perspiration dotted his forehead .
“It’s only because your luck is good and happened to encounter one of xiaoye’s weak days . If you let me run into you in the future… I’ll let you experience a life more painful than death . ”
But future… What future?
My mind felt like an earthquake had just ran through it . I struggled to shout out loud, but I couldn’t move at all .
Shifu twisted the knife . His clothes were immediately soaked in blood . I could hear the beating of his heart in his chest, just like the times my nightmares had brought me to Shifu’s bed . He would say: “I’m here; no one will dare to bully you . ”
At that time, I could hear his warm, calm voice while I was lying in his arms . It cut through all my uneasiness .
Shifu…
Shifu turned around and bent over a little . I heard a sound that couldn’t be smothered; red splatters of blood dripped onto the ground . Shifu tossed the red thing up and caught it in his hand, just like tossing a worthless stone .
“Here…well, this is xiaoye’s reward for you . ”
The hand on my shoulder left . My eyes couldn’t move; I could only stare blankly at Shifu . Shifu was also staring at me . He was white as a sheet . Gently, he moved his lips: “You’re not allowed to tell her about today . You’re not allowed to tell her about me . This girl is extremely stupid . If you lie to her for a few times, she’ll forget . ”
Shifu…I won’t .
“For a silly girl, you would give up a life, and now you don’t want her to remember your good deed . Don’t you feel taken advantage of?”
“Humph…none of your business, just…”
Shifu grabbed his chest and coldly laughed: “If you don’t let her live a long and good life, I have many opportunities to make you suffer . ”
After those words, he turned away . Leaning against the cave, straightening his spine…it was difficult, but his posture was relaxed as he walked away .
The cavern of my chest also seemed to have been emptied . I couldn’t think of anything . I only felt like I should stay at Shifu’s side . No matter what was done, no matter how deep our blood feud was, I should be by his side like before: turning the pages of his book, fanning him, making his bed, and doing laundry .
I didn’t know how long it had been since Shifu left . My head felt warm . Zihui was patting my head and said the word “free” . I felt loose, almost like someone had inflated my bones . My whole body felt soft, and trembling, it came back to life . I looked at the pool of blood on the floor . My nose felt sour, tears fell .
“A Xiang?”
Zihui was a little surprised .
“You actually…”
He nodded like he understood .
“You were with him for so long . You must’ve learn some tricks . No wonder you could break the seal . ”
Zihui stretched his hand and pulled me up .
“Don’t be too persistent about this life . Your Shifu is not a normal person…”
I shoved him and grabbed his hand, biting down as hard as I could on it . I really wanted to crush his bones .
“Give Shifu his heart back! Give it back to him!”
I kept repeating those words . My mouth tasted Zihui’s blood and my own tears .
Zihui didn’t push me away . He only gently said: “He shouldn’t be able to go far . After a while, we can go together and bury him . ”
His warm blood rolled down my throat . This lazy body of mine from these past days suddenly relaxed .
Shifu, Shifu…I can’t figure out Zihui . What demigod’s heart, what blood feud . I only knew that Shifu must be very sad now . He was alone with an empty chest . So much blood had been shed, and nobody was taking care of him .
I no longer cared about Zihui and stood up . I ran out of the cave .
Having not moved for many days, I felt a little dizzy . Only when I came out of the cave did I see that the area was actually a stone hill surrounded by cliffs . There only path was to the top of the hill . On the road going up was bright red blood . I followed the blood trail and called out: “Shifu, Shifu . ”
Desolate wind was blowing . I turned around a corner and climbed on top of the hill . Shifu was lying there, his blood having dripped all over the floor . I felt my heart tighten, and it did not open again . My throat seemed to be blocked and I couldn’t make the slightest sound . I knelt in front of him and whimpered: “Shifu… . ”
I picked up his head . My fingertips felt how cold he was . He was so powerful, just like a hero who could conquer everything . Why was he so pale and frail now?
Shifu’s closed eyes suddenly moved and opened . In his eyes flashed a panic I didn’t understand . Then, he sighed and his lips moved: “Stupid…”
“I’m stupid!”
I busily kept saying: “All of this was because of me…because of me . ”
“Stupid disciple, your snot’s dripping on my face… Dirty and ugly . ”
Shifu’s hand rose halfway, but he didn’t have any energy left and put it down . I held his hand, buried my head against it, and cried . Shifu sighed: “Ten years ago, slaughtering Yang family was not my intention . But the lives of more than thirty people have indeed been buried by Shengling Sect’s hands . If you want to blame me, then blame me . ”
“I don’t blame you . ”
I shook my head .
“I don’t blame you . I’ll go back with Shifu to Fengxueshan Manor . I’ll also fan and turn the pages of your book for you . Also, I’ll massage your leg and back for you! I…I’ll never want a husband again . I only want Shifu . Let’s go back . Let’s go back together . ”
“Interesting . ”
Shifu looked relaxed as if he could see through the sky . His voice was weak and small: “I didn’t fall into the demon’s trap and I also didn’t lose to you…”
Shifu gritted his teeth hard .
“I just didn’t win against destiny . ”
“Can’t win… Forget it . You saved me, I saved you . Previous lifetime…this lifetime, we…”
Shifu was really tired and he slowly closed his eyes .
“Are even . ”
“Let’s go back, let’s go back…”
Beside those words, I couldn’t say anything else . The wind whistled around us . Not only Shifu’s, but it seemed that my own heart had also been cut out . It felt really empty .
“A Xiang . ”
I didn’t know how long I sat there, holding Shifu . Suddenly I heard a loud call . It’s Zihui . He stood two steps away from me and whispered: “I’ll follow his wishes . In the future, I’ll take care of you in your Shifu’s stead . I’ll treat you the same as he treated you . Don’t be so sad anymore . ”
I looked at him in trance . I touched Shifu’s empty chest . Confused, I thought: Shifu isn’t a good man, but he was good to me . In this world, no one can compare . There’s no one who can be my Shifu anymore . There’s no one to hold my hand and take me back to Fengxueshan Manor anymore . I can’t go back anymore…
I tightly held onto Shifu’s body and took few steps back . The mountain’s wind whistled in my ears . The sky was getting further away from me . Everything was so blurry; only Shifu’s cold body was still beside me . I would wait for him; I would always wait for him . I would wait until one day in the future, on a sunny afternoon, through the curls of smoky incense, I could hear him softly call to me again: “Xiao Xiang Zi, come here . ”
I closed my eyes . The world was silent .
The soul collectors put a shackles on me . Step by step, I walked on the road to the Netherworld . With every step, more memories came back . Heaven, the Netherworld, Yue Lao Temple, the bridge, Soup of Oblivion…
Heheheh he he…
Chu Kong, you’ve really done it now! You’ve really done it now!
Comments:
Can’t believe that I actually cried while translating .
This is the end of the second lifetime . From here on they know about their feelings and we won’t be having those frustrating moments anymore . After this lifetime, they’ll be animals in the third lifetime . The fourth lifetime is the lifetime where XXZ finally admits that she likes Chu Kong .
Actually, I don’t blame Zihui . He needed to choose between life or death . He knows that Chu Kong won’t really die, so he asked for Chu Kong’s heart . I probably would’ve done the same if I was him . It won’t hurt Chu Kong and it’ll save him .
For those who are wondering about the murdering of the Yang family; Chu Kong didn’t murder them . He wasn’t there . When he arrived, they’ve already been murdered by Shengling Sect .
The scene where Zihui was surprised because XXZ broke the seal . The seal that she broke is the seal that sealed her memories away not the seal that closed her five senses .
The scene about XXZ taking a few steps back, meant that she jumped off the cliff with Chu Kong’s body .
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