Chapter 93 Co-Existence

It was still midsummer in the mortal realm.

The cicadas were chirping when Su Su and Yao Guang appeared in Ninghe Town.

During the night in Ninghe Town, the sound of a woman crying could be heard. Over the past few days, the demon hunters who passed by all died in this town.

The worst part was that every infant in the town had also gone missing.

Su Su looked at the vermillion gate in front of her, with the plague “Zhang Mansion” hanging above it. She raised her hand and used the ring door knocker¹门环 (ménhuán)

A picture of it: . A servant poked his head out and vigilantly asked, “Who are you looking for?”

Su Su and Yao Guang had disguised themselves as ordinary women. She said, “My Senior Sister and I are demon hunters. We heard that this town isn’t peaceful, and Landlord Zhang’s wife is about to give birth. Perhaps, we can help her.” 

The servant impatiently replied, “If you’re here to swindle a meal off²骗吃骗喝 (piàn chī piàn hē) – get something to eat and drink by cheating us, go to another house, don’t come to our mansion!”

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Mbl vos tkazp zssjle olyj yde pzldela. Xdl bye y nkddycya xszl yp caktbv yp qkal kdclvolld bla casop, obkzl vbl svbla oyp bszekdt y posae vbyv zssjle zkjl kv nswzed’v okvbpvyde y pkdtzl czso. Ebu oswze vblu bwdv elxsdp? Rv’e cl clvvla qsa vblx vs qkde y bwpcyde vs xyaau.

Nydezsae³员外 (uwádoàk) – Gd bsdsayau vkvzl qsa aknb rlsrzl yxsdt vbl rlsrzl, vbswtb dsv dlnlppyakzu yd sqqknkyz. Ohld kq bl kp yd sqqknkyz, kv kp fwpv yd yzvladyvl fsc cswtbv okvb xsdlu; Gzps yv vbl xkdkpvlakyz zlhlz. Ysal kdqs: bvvrp://xkd.dlop/ld/nwzvwal/68c881222lqee7c9y8c08c33631y3n98.bvxz Hbydt oyp vbl olyzvbklpv xyd vbaswtbswv vbl dlktbcsakdt vsodp, ps vblal olal xydu rlsrzl obs nyxl vs nblyv⁴招摇撞骗 (gbāsuás-gbwàdtrkàd) – (keksx) vs ewrl rlsrzl cu ryppkdt sdlplzq sqq yp y olzz-nsddlnvle kdekhkewyz sa y qktwal sq ywvbsakvu; pokdezl yde czwqq; czwqq sdl’p oyu yaswde bkx.

Zys Qwydt ydtakzu pyke, “Yu Kwdksa Fkpvla yde R dsvknle y pvasdt elxsdkn Ck nsxkdt qasx uswa xydpksd. Rq vblal yal ds elxsdp yde elhkzp, vbld uswa xydpksd xktbv byhl clld vyatlvle cu psxlsdl. Mbyv’p obu ol nyxl blal. Gde ulv, usw’al ynnwpkdt wp sq pokdezkdt!”

Mbl plahydv pzyxxle vbl essa okvb y “cydt” kd alprsdpl.

Tsolhla, obld bl vwadle yaswde, bl alyzkgle vbyv vbl uswdt zyeu obs bye jdsnjle sd vbl essa oyp pvydekdt kd qasdv sq vbl saydtl spxydvbwp⁵丹桂 (eād twì)

Rxytl:

vall kd vbl nswavuyae, pxkzkdt yv bkx. “Gv vbl hlau zlypv, nswze usw ts kdqsax vbl xypvla sq vbl bswpl?”

“Z-usw…… Tso eke usw tlv kd?” Tl bye nzlyazu pbwv vbl essa vktbv, cwv vbkp uswdt zyeu ynvwyzzu yrrlyale swv sq vbkd yka. Ohld vbspl “Yypvlap” vbyv Yyeyxl bye ralhkswpzu kdhkvle nswzed’v es vbkp. Mbl plahydv pweeldzu alyzkgle vbyv vbl uswdt zyeu kd qasdv sq bkx bye alyz pjkzzp.

He immediately became respectful, unlike his disdain from before.

“I’ve been blind and ignorant. Immortal, please forgive me.” The servant’s face showed a little hesitation, and he continued, “To be honest, two demon hunters came to the mansion a couple days ago, so we don’t need anymore. As the two immortals are very powerful, Madame regards them as honored guests. She has already instructed me to not let any other demon hunters in to avoid offending these two immortals.”

“I see. Sorry to have bothered you. My Senior Sister and I will take our leave.”

While they were talking, Yao Guang appeared beside Su Su too. Hearing the servant’s words, she was very disappointed. 

“Junior Sister, do we need to leave?”

Su Su nodded.

Yao Guang thought that Landlord Zhang’s mansion was the strangest in the entire town. Besides, with the town’s frequent cases of missing infants, and Madame Zhang about to give birth, keeping watch around⁶蹲守 (dūnshǒu) – to hang around keeping a watch out for something the Zhang Mansion would definitely be very beneficial.

Anxious to save Gongye Jiwu, she was inevitably agitated. The Zhang Mansion was the most likely place for them to find a Devil Domain token.

Su Su thought to herself, it doesn’t matter if we can’t enter the Zhang Mansion. We can still wait around for our chance⁷守株待兔 (shǒuzhū-dàitù) – lit. to guard a tree-stump, waiting for rabbits (idiom); trust to luck; wait for a windfall; to wait idly for opportunities.

Just as the two were about to leave, Su Su heard a sound of movement. When she turned around, she saw a seven or eight-year-old boy falling from the roof.

She hurriedly flew over and managed to catch the child in time.

Several servants below exclaimed in a panic, “Young Master!”

Yao Guang ran over, “Su Su.”

Su Su put the child down. He seemed frightened and didn’t speak. After a while, he looked towards the rooftop, and his dark eyes fixated on a specific spot without moving.

Su Su followed his gaze but saw that there was nothing there. She asked, “What are you looking at?” 

“Cat, my cat,” the boy mumbled.

“Cat?” Yao Guang asked, “Where’s the cat?”

She and Su Su exchanged glances, and both could read each other’s eyes— the Zhang Mansion was indeed strange.

Just then, a group of people hurriedly arrived.

The person in the lead was a gorgeously dressed and richly ornamented⁸穿金戴银 (chuānjīn-dàiyín) – dripping with gold and silver (idiom); richly bedecked married woman with a big belly. Hearing the people outside shouting for Young Master to be careful, she hurriedly came over while holding her belly.

“Fang Sheng, my sweetheart, are you alright?”

Zhang Yuanbai⁹Zhang Yuanbai is Fang Sheng. Fang Sheng might be a courtesy name. nestled in Madame Zhang’s arms, revealing a pair of pitch-black eyes that looked over at Su Su and Yao Guang.

Only then did Madame Zhang notice there were two unfamiliar young ladies in her home, “Who are you?” 

However, Su Su’s gaze fell on the other two people behind Madame Zhang.

Two Daoist priests, whose clothes were embroidered with blue fish patterns.  

The plumper one, with a wine gourd hanging from his waist, was none other than Zang Hai, who didn’t conceal his appearance. Meanwhile, the other unknown young Daoist was handsome and tall, and was looking at her without blinking.

Seeing her look up, the young man was the first to lower his eyes, still wearing the same displeased expression he had on when they last parted.

Su Su instantly recognized who he was.

So it’s true…… enemies are bound to meet on a narrow road¹⁰冤家路窄 (yuānjiā-lùzhǎi) – lit. for enemies, the road is narrow (idiom); fig. rivals inevitably cross paths.

They had actually met Zang Hai and a disguised Tantai Jin in a small town in the mortal realm.

After hearing the whole story, Madame Zhang hurriedly thanked Su Su, “Thank you, immortal, for saving my son, Fang Sheng.”

Seeing Su Su and Yao Guang, Zang Hai happily greeted them, “Junior Sister Li, Junior Sister Yao Guang, what a coincidence.” 

“Indeed,” Yao Guang mumbled.

They even came one step ahead of us.

Madame Zhang smiled and said, “It’s great that you fellow immortals know each other.”

She politely and respectfully asked Su Su and Yao Guang to stay.

From Madame Zhang’s perspective, Tantai Jin and Zang Hai were both capable individuals, so people from fellow sects must also be very powerful. She was about to give birth, so if not for fear of offending Tantai Jin and Zang Hai, the apprehensive Madame Zhang wished to invite a bunch of Daoist priests to stay in the mansion.

Su Su looked at Yao Guang. “Senior Sister, should we stay?”

“Of course,” Yao Guang replied.

Although Su Su was a little uncomfortable seeing Tantai Jin, her current priority was to find her Eldest Senior Brother, so she didn’t object again.

The Zhang Mansion was elegantly built, with a captivating view.

Madame Zhang arranged for Su Su and Yao Guang to stay not far from her courtyard, right next to Tantai Jin and Zang Hai.

Zang Hai whispered to the young man beside him, “Junior Brother, they’re probably here to find a Devil Domain token.”

“Mmm.”

Tantai Jin maintained a cold expression as he caressed a jade pendant at his waist.

“Ninghe Town is weird. We should warn the two junior sisters.” Zang Hai uncapped his wine gourd, gulped two mouthfuls, then wiped his mouth and said, “Junior Brother, should you go and inform them, or should I?”

Tantai Jin’s hand that was stroking the jade pendant paused. After a while, he reminded Zang Hai, “You left your divination tortoise shell¹¹It looks something like this: in the Zhang ancestral hall.”

Zang Hai slapped his head, instantly sobering up from his stupor, “Right, right, right. How could I forget? That tortoise shell can still guide us. Jiumin, go inform the two junior sisters. Senior Brother will be right back.” 

“Mmm,” Tantai Jin said.

After Zang Hai left, Tantai Jin pursed his lips and walked to the door of Su Su’s room.

He raised his hand but lowered it again.

Tantai Jin knew there must have been a purpose for Su Su to nail the Soul Extinguishing Nails into his heart five hundred years ago. Since he was young, he’d had a poor aptitude for cultivation and martial arts, but ever since she’d jumped off the city tower, his body had completely changed¹²脱胎换骨 (tuōtāi-huàngǔ) – to shed one’s mortal body and exchange one’s bones (idiom); born again Daoist; be reborn. Whether the sword techniques of the Xiaoyao Sect, or the domineeringly swift and fierce techniques of the saber, he was able to learn them all.

He had spent many years in the underworld to understand what her mysterious words  of exchanging “divine marrow” for “evil bone” meant.

Yet he also understood that…… her greatest wish was to no longer owe each other and never see each other ever again.

How heartless, he smiled mockingly.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door.

Su Su had noticed his presence ever since he was standing outside. She was initially meditating and had instantly opened her eyes. However, he didn’t knock on her door, so she remained silent.

Just when she thought he was going to leave, there was finally a knock.

Su Su hesitated for a moment, then opened the door and asked him, “What’s the matter?”

The young man’s gaze was cold and indifferent, “Senior Brother asked me to inform you that there’s something strange in Ninghe Town.”

Looking at his cold and stiff face, Su Su replied, “Give my thanks to your Senior Brother.”

She was about to close the door, but the young man pressed his arm against it.

The two stared at each other for a moment, and before the young girl could speak, Tantai Jin slowly said, “Zang Hai and I have been in Ninghe Town for eight days. Half of the infants in this town went missing half a month ago. No one ever found out the reason, and even the families of the infants don’t know how they disappeared.”

Seeing the young girl attentively listening to him, Tantai Jin curled his fingers against the door and continued, “Madame Zhang is going to give birth in the next few days. Zang Hai asked me to tell you that in the mountain behind the mansion, there’s a Devil Gathering Array surrounded by eight willow trees. There’s a high probability that her baby will be born tomorrow night during the yin time¹³It’s calculated using divination and stuff. People who are born during the yin time are more prone to attract supernatural beings..

The Zhang Mansion is filled with demonic Qi, and Madame Zhang has been plagued by nightmares every night. The demons and devils will surely make their move after she gives birth.”

Su Su looked at him and softly said, “Then, help me and my Senior Sister thank Zang Hai.”

He nodded expressionlessly.

Under the warm summer sun, the young man’s shadow was stretched long. This was the first time they spoke so peacefully after five hundred years, and no one mentioned the past. One wanted to save her Senior Brother, while the other was looking for his Master. It was rare for them to have the same objective.

Su Su noticed that at some point he had started wearing white clothes.

The blue fish-patterned belt¹⁴腰封 (yāofēng) – wide belt

Imagine it as something like this:

highlighted the young man’s tall and slender figure. Tantai Jin casually mentioned, seemingly indifferent, “Li Su Su, since we’re all going to the Devil Domain, I……”

Su Su shook her head, “No need.”

Su Su didn’t wait for him to finish his sentence, as she knew what he was about to say. However, she and her Senior Sister had their own paths, just as Tantai Jin and Zang Hai had their own Dao.

Five hundred years…… Tantai Jin might never understand that there were some things that had been buried for so long that they were rooted deep. They had become insurmountable, and couldn’t be ignored.

As soon as Su Su spoke, he looked at her with gritted teeth.

Su Su was about to close the door when the young man abruptly grabbed her arm. At that moment, Tantai Jin had so many questions he wanted to ask— Do you really hate me that much? So much so that even though you know I can help you, you don’t even want to look at me?

But…… but sometimes you actually feel soft-hearted towards me, don’t you?

But just as he was about to ask them aloud, he met the young girl’s determined gaze. It reminded him of long ago, when he had imitated others to understand the interactions between people, little by little.

Their love, hatred, concessions, and choices.

Humans, what a hypocritical species.

Throughout countless days and nights at the Weeping Ghost River, he’d already thought over many times what kind of person she would like, and what kind of words she wouldn’t want to hear, for when they met again. 

So when Su Su saw the young man before her, his cold gaze was so brief that it was almost impossible to catch.

The young man’s long, black eyelashes trembled slightly as he raised his eyes, appearing incredibly neat and pure with his black hair and red lips. He smiled as he spoke, “The past is like smoke. Li Su Su, five hundred years have passed. Do you think that I’ll still remember those grudges? On the path of cultivation, in order to achieve longevity, one must let go of worldly attachments. You want to save people, and so do I. The Demon Emperor’s strength is unfathomable, and the Devil Domain is filled with danger. Zang Hai and I only want to find our Master. You have a top-grade immortal artifact, while my blood can restrain demons and devils, so if you want to come back alive, it would be best if we travel together. Don’t worry, I won’t pester you.”

His attitude was calm, and even his smile showed no hint of deception.

Su Su knew that what Tantai Jin said was true.

She did have the Chongyu Harp, but her current strength was insufficient, so it would backlash on her if she used it. Meanwhile, Tantai Jin was born with the ability to restrain demons and devils with his flesh and blood. Back then, even a branch of the peach tree demon, which had been incredibly powerful after obtaining the World Toppling Flower, withered with just a drop of his blood. 

If they were really going to the Devil Domain, Tantai Jin had a better chance than Su Su and Yao Guang.

But…… has he truly forgotten about Ye Xi Wu?

Five hundred years ago, her voice and expressions, her hatred, her despair……

Su Su looked up and observed him silently. She couldn’t find any trace of madness or obstinacy on his face. The young man stood tall, his narrow eyes carrying a friendly and humble demeanor.

Su Su understood that she already owed Xiao Lin a life because of her arrogance, so no matter what, she couldn’t repeat the same mistakes five hundred years later, and put Gongye Ji in danger.

“Alright, I accept.” Su Su paused for a moment, then continued, “In the future, once we leave the Devil Domain, we’ll have nothing to do with each other anymore.”

The corners of his mouth curved into a faint frown, but he responded, “Of course.”

Su Su nodded, no longer looking at him as she closed the door.

Tantai Jin withdrew his hand and started walking towards his room. After walking a distance away, he bit his lip, pressed down on his aching chest where the Soul Extinguishing Nails were, and let out a light laugh.

The corners of his eyes slightly reddened, and his fingers lightly supported his temple.

How could you truly believe…… that we could have nothing to do with each other?

It’s so painful. If I let you go, who will come to save me?

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The author has something to say:

Zang Hai: Why am I the only one who doesn’t need to put on a disguise? Do you all have a problem with my appearance?

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Edited by: Gaze