Chapter 94 Fake

Since Su Su had made an agreement with Tantai Jin, she told herself that once she saw him again, she must focus completely on finding Gongye Jiwu, as that was more important.

Zang Hai returned with the tortoise shell, and his expression didn’t look good.

The four of them sat in the pear blossom stone pavilion outside the Zhang Mansion, and Zang Hai showed them the result of his divination, “This is the divination I’ve done for Madame Zhang’s unborn child. This part indicates life.”

Su Su looked at the spot on the tortoise shell where Zang Hai was pointing and found obvious cracks on it.

Cracks on the lifeline of life indicated that the baby couldn’t be kept.

Zang Hai put away the tortoise shell and optimistically comforted everyone, “Perhaps it won’t be that bad. My skills aren’t that good, and fate is something that no one can predict with certainty. Initially, it was just me and my Junior Brother here, so the child’s fate looked disastrous¹凶多吉少 (xiōngduōjíshǎo) – everything bodes ill, no positive signs (idiom); inauspicious; everything points to disaster. But now that Junior Sister Li and Junior Sister Yao Guang are here, the baby might be able to survive.”

Tantai Jin took a sip of tea and glanced at Zang Hai.

Zang Hai might not be good at many things, but he was exceptional in divination²出类拔萃 (chū lèi bá cuì) – to excel the common (idiom); surpassing; preeminent; outstanding.

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Fkdnl vbl alpwzv sq bkp ekhkdyvksd kdeknyvle vbyv vbl cycu nswzed’v cl jlrv, vbl rascyckzkvu sq kv eukdt ralxyvwalzu oyp hlau bktb.

Mbl qswa sq vblx bye iwkvl bktb nwzvkhyvksd zlhlzp, yde kq vbkp oypd’v ldswtb……

Mydvyk Kkd nswzed’v blzr cwv rsdela obyv jkde sq elxsd nswze cl bkekdt kd vbl vsod.

“Yyeyxl Hbydt okzz cl tkhkdt ckavb yv ukd vkxl vsdktbv,” Mydvyk Kkd pyke.

Tkp vsdl oyp nlavykd, yde ds sdl eswcvle bkx. Mbl Hbydt Yydpksd bye elxsdkn Ck, cwv vblal olal ds elxsdp. Rv pllxle nyzx yde rlynlqwz. Omnlrv qsa vbl Plhkz Qyvblakdt Gaayu pwaaswdele cu lktbv okzzso vallp kd vbl xswdvykd clbkde obknb Mydvyk Kkd bye xldvksdle, vblal oyp dsvbkdt wdwpwyz kd vbl xydpksd.

Rv qlzv zkjl vbl nyzx clqsal vbl pvsax, obknb xyel lhlausdl lhld xsal ydmkswp.

Zys Qwydt’p lmralppksd oyp tayhl, yde pbl pyke, “Nlv’p plv wr y qsaxyvksd kd vbl elzkhlau assx kd yehydnl yde twyae Yyeyxl Hbydt.”

Su Su felt like something wasn’t right, and a pair of dark eyes flashed in her mind.

She decided to speak up, “I feel like Zhang Yuanbai looks strange.”

“That child?” Zang Hai replied. “Previously, Junior Brother and I found him strange too. We investigated and found that he was just an ordinary child. It’s said that he hasn’t liked to speak since he was born and is antisocial. Recently, his cat went missing, so he’s been searching for it everywhere.”

Su Su was just mentioning it casually. After all, she had interacted with the child herself and couldn’t sense any demonic Qi on him, or anything else wrong with him.

Besides, Madame Zhang was Zhang Yuanbai’s biological mother, and even she didn’t find her son strange, so he should be fine.

“Where’s Landlord Zhang?” Su Su asked, “Madame Zhang is about to give birth, why isn’t he here yet?”

“Oh, he went to attend to his tea leaves business, and it’s said that he’ll return today,” Zang Hai replied.

Sure enough, before it got dark, Landlord Zhang returned travel-worn and weary⁴风尘仆仆 (fēngchén-púpú) – lit. covered in dust (idiom); have endured the hardships of a long journey; be travel-stained; be travel-worn and weary.

He inquired about Madame Zhang’s well-being⁵嘘寒问暖 (xūhán-wènnuǎn) – to enquire solicitously about somebody’s well-being (idiom) and then bowed to Tantai Jin and the others.

Zang Hai exchanged pleasantries with Landlord Zhang while Tantai Jin casually brushed over his shoulder.

He narrowed his eyes, Landlord Zhang was also normal.

Not a single person in the mansion was abnormal.

Noticing his actions, Su Su couldn’t help but observe Landlord Zhang too. He had a Fu Manchu mustache⁶A full, straight mustache extending from under the nose past the corners of the mouth and growing downward past the clean-shaven lips and chin in two tapered “tendrils”, often extending past the jawline.

Might be something like this: , and a clever mouth that was quite eloquent in speech.

Upon seeing him, Madame Zhang’s expression was as gentle as water. It was clear that they were a very loving couple. Although Landlord Zhang was wealthy, he didn’t have any concubines. 

Not long after, Madame Zhang began to experience labor contractions, so the midwife hurriedly prepared to help her deliver.

Landlord Zhang was anxiously pacing back and forth outside the door while Su Su and the others hid in the dark.

“This is my first time waiting for someone to give birth,” Yao Guang said in amazement.

Tantai Jin lowered his eyes and tightly clenched the Time Immemorial Sword in his hand.

He was born differently from ordinary people, as he still had memories from his birth. Before, he didn’t have a String of Affection, so in order to descend into this mundane world, he had killed Imperial Consort Rou without hesitation.

The Emperor of Zhou had hated him because of Imperial Consort Rou’s death, and the palace servants had mistreated him at every opportunity. He never understood what he did wrong, as he had only wanted to live. After all, who decided that some people should be born just to die?

Now that he had the String of Affection, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss.

Shouldn’t it be this way?

Why should he need to die for the woman to live?

He wanted to live. Even if he didn’t have enough food and clothing, even if he was ridiculed, beaten and scolded by others, he still wanted to live.

He looked at the patterns on his sword gloomily. No, I did nothing wrong!

No one in the world loved him. Even if Imperial Consort Rou was still alive, she would’ve eventually despised him. Those who were destined to betray him should all die.

Crouching beside him, Su Su noticed that his breath was slightly erratic.

She suddenly recalled the scenes she had seen in the Nightmare Devil’s dreamland; the birth of the Devil God was followed by a cruel price.

She remembered the kind and gentle Imperial Consort Rou.

And also the trembling baby in swaddling clothes that was hugging a dead rat in order to survive.

Su Su opened her Qiankun pouch and stuffed a piece of wutong wood carved into the shape of a rabbit into each person’s hand.

“Is this…… the wutong wood from Changze Mountain?” Yao Guang asked in surprise.

Su Su nodded, with a smile in her voice, “My dad carved them when I was a child. He casted a spell on them which can calm a person down. We don’t know what kind of demons or devils are lurking in the dark, so it’s better to carry a piece of wutong wood to stay vigilant at all times.”

“Immortal Li is really thoughtful,” Zang Hai praised.

Su Su fiddled around with the rabbit in her palm and smiled at him.

The wooden rabbit in his hand caught Tantai Jin off guard. It was small and exquisite, not even the size of a fingertip, looking silly and extremely obedient.

A white spiritual Qi lingered around the rabbit’s body.

The depressive feelings in his heart gradually dispersed, and he looked at Su Su after a slight pause.

The young girl stared attentively at the delivery room as if nothing had happened.

While everyone held a piece of wutong wood, the cry of a baby loudly echoed.

Tantai Jin carefully put away the wooden rabbit and placed it next to his jade pendant. Sensing something, he looked up and stared at the delivery room, “The yin time has arrived.”

The baby indeed had a three-yin constitution, which was the most susceptible to attracting evil spirits.

They were a great source of nourishment for demons and devils.

The midwife carried the baby out, “Congratulations, Landlord Zhang! Madame has given birth to a little young master.”

Landlord Zhang sighed with relief and was overjoyed. He held the baby and couldn’t stop looking at him, so happy that his mouth was open wide.

Su Su looked at the wrinkled baby in his arms and noticed that the baby was very healthy.

Carrying his child, Landlord Zhang hurriedly went in to accompany his Madame.

“Surprisingly, nothing happened,” Zang Hai said.

Su Su also found it strange. Logically speaking, shouldn’t the demons and devils come to steal the baby?

Tantai Jin looked at the lingering demonic Qi in the mansion and said, “Let’s wait a little longer.”

This wait lasted for a few days.

Landlord Zhang invited everyone to a banquet and tactfully said, “The recent rumors of missing infants in the town may just be excuses made by those who lost their own children. Ninghe Town has always been peaceful, and there are no demons or devils here. Everyone has been worried for my wife, and now that my son has been born safely, if you fellow immortals still have matters to attend to, I’ll definitely reward you generously for your journey.”

Su Su never expected that after waiting for so long, what came was the mansion owner’s wish for them to leave.

 The mansion was safe and sound, and Landlord Zhang looked at them as if looking at swindlers.

Yao Guang was about to say something, but Tantai Jin smiled and said, “Alright, then we won’t trouble you any longer. We’ll take our leave.”

He cupped his fist and saluted, not taking the silver that Landlord Zhang had his servants prepare, and left the mansion.

Su Su and the others followed.

“This is really strange. If there are no demons, then where did this demonic Qi come from?” Zang Hai said.

Yao Guang also asked, “Do we really have to leave?”

The fluttering pear blossoms fell around Tantai Jin’s feet, and he said, “Let’s continue to wait in the dark and see what will happen.”

At dusk, Landlord Zhang left his mansion in a carriage.

“His wife has just given birth. Why is he in such a hurry to do business?” Zang Hai asked.

Su Su gestured an incantation and brushed over her own eyes.

When she looked at the carriage again, she saw a small bundle of swaddling clothes in Landlord Zhang’s box.

“The baby is in the carriage.”

“What? Where is Landlord Zhang taking his son?”

Everyone immediately realized that the demons and devils might be about to appear and silently followed along.

When the carriage was leaving the town, it took a detour and headed towards the mountain at the back of the Zhang mansion.

Yao Guang said, “He wants to go to the Devil Gathering Array surrounded by the eight willow trees.”

How could Landlord Zhang harm his own child?

The sound of horse hooves echoed in the night. The four of them hid behind the rocks, watching Landlord Zhang getting off the carriage while carrying the baby and walking towards the Devil Gathering Array.

In the array, eight willow trees swayed without any gust of wind, emitting an eerie demonic Qi. Waves of ghost cries could also be heard from the willow trees.

“Greetings, Master.” Landlord Zhang knelt down.

A three-headed creature slowly appeared from the willow tree in the center. It moved its three necks and transformed into a feminine man.

“Master, this baby has a three-yin constitution,” Landlord Zhang happily said.

“Oh?” The man took the baby with great interest and examined it for a moment before saying, “Not bad, not bad. When I return to the Devil Domain and offer the devil pill to the Demon Emperor, I surely won’t forget your rewards.”

“Thank you, Master.”

Upon hearing the words “Devil Domain”, “devil pill”, and “Demon Emperor”, the group exchanged glances.

Seeing that the man was about to bring the baby into the willow tree, Tantai Jin raised his hand, and countless golden threads shot out, as frenetic as a waterfall, enveloping the baby in the arms of the three-headed demon.

The extra golden threads were like thunderbolts, carrying a murderous intent as they pierced towards the three-headed creature.

Tantai Jin tugged on the swaddling clothes and handed it to Yao Guang, “Keep it safe.”

Yao Guang hurriedly protected the baby in her arms.

The three-headed demon evaded the golden threads and looked at Su Su and the others with a sinister gaze. In the next moment, it transformed back into its original form and faced them head on.

Su Su realized that this demon was so weak that she didn’t even need to use Chongyu. The fight was effortless for her.

The three-headed demon also quickly realized that the newcomers shouldn’t be taken lightly. It glanced at the baby in Yao Guang’s arms unwillingly before swiftly returning to the willow tree.

“Oh no, he’s trying to escape!” Zang Hai shouted.

The three-headed demon surely had a token to enter the Devil Domain. Thinking of her Senior Brother, Su Su gritted her teeth and followed it into the willow tree.

Tantai Jin frowned and also entered the tree.

“Wait for me, wait for me!” Zang Hai shouted.

Yao Guang held the crying baby in her arms. Worried about the child’s safety, she could only anxiously stay where she was.

*****

The willow tree was like a Teleportation Array. When Tantai Jin entered the tree, he instantly arrived in another cave.

From the cave came the sound of rustling footsteps.

With a twist of his wrist, the Time Immemorial Sword was unsheathed in the air, and hovered beside him before flying out.

He stopped right in front of a young girl.

“Li Su Su?” he frowned.

Su Su walked out from the depths of the cave and breathed a sigh of relief, “Why did you follow me in?”

She walked over to him and looked around, “This seems to be a place where the demon cultivates, we need to be more careful.”

“Mmm.”

“There’s a path inside. He must’ve escaped there.”

The young girl looked back and held his hand, “Don’t get separated.”

Tantai Jin stared at their intertwined hands and walked with her down the dim path in the cave. The stone walls on both sides were lit up, and Su Su looked ahead vigilantly.

“Su Su,” Tantai Jin suddenly called out.

“What is it?” She turned around.

The young man suddenly approached very closely. His face was handsome, and he was shockingly good-looking in such a dark place, but his smile was still so innocent, “Last time, when I said we’ll have nothing to do with each other anymore, I was lying to you.”

Tantai Jin twirled her hair with his finger and whispered tenderly, “How could I let you go? You’ll be the only one I entangle with for eternity, until our bones wither and decay together.

What about you? Do you like me?”

In the dimly lit stone cave, his eyes seemed to carry a serene light as he waited for her answer.

Seeing Su Su hesitate for a long time, Tantai Jin whispered in her ear bewitchingly, “If you make me happy, I’ll give you the Fen⁷焚 (fén) – burnnian⁸念 (niàn) – thought; idea; read aloud Ring.”

At some point, he was playing with a fist-sized golden ring, which transformed into sharp golden threads, then slowly returned to its golden ring form.

So this is called Fennian.

It was an extraordinarily rare binding weapon.

The young girl’s breath paused for a moment, then she smiled softly, “I like you.”

He laughed.

Tantai Jin closed his eyes, as if feeling what it felt like to hear her voice saying she liked him.

After a moment, he opened his eyes, evident disappointment in them.

“As expected, a fake is a fake. You still can’t make me happy. If it were her, even if she was just looking at me like this, I would already be excited.”

He licked his lips, and Fennian transformed into countless fine threads. The young girl in front of him looked at him in fear and was about to charm him, but in the next moment, before she could even speak or scream, she had already been torn apart.

“Hush,” the young man whispered. “Even if she crushed my heart to pieces, it wouldn’t be your turn to please me.”

Tantai Jin lowered his eyes, looking expressionlessly at the person on the ground who’d transformed into a ball of devilish Qi.

So…… that’s what it was. 

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Edited by: Gaze

Translator’s Note: Apologies for the delay in uploading. Just to let you know, I’ve already mentioned my two-week hiatus in our SLT Discord server. If I decide to drop this novel, you can be sure I’ll let you all know. There’s no need to leave a comment asking since it’s been less than a month since my last post.