Chapter 74: Calamity and Catastrophe: A Hopeless Situation; Boundary Fire Burns Even the Ashes…?

Chapter 74: Calamity and Catastrophe: A Hopeless Situation; Boundary Fire Burns Even the Ashes...?

On the way back to the Twelfth Heaven, He Yingkong’s fair earlobes occasionally felt a persistent, phantom heat.

As a Diviner, he knew this meant someone was speaking of him behind his back—for the causal threads to be stirred to this extent, the speaker’s cultivation must be exceptionally high.

And the news from Goddess Yuetong’s side also left him slightly uneasy.

As he pondered, his feet had already stepped onto the Stairway to Heaven.

It was a ten-thousand-zhang-long staircase, gleaming like white jade, leading to the Celestial Palace atop the divine peak. Paved with cloud-jade, each step caused ripples of mist to spread in circles across the jade steps.

He looked up toward the top of the jade staircase. The clusters of palaces, varying in height and nestled deep within the clouds, embraced by golden light, were the divine palaces of the Divine Court Seven Sages.

The magnificent and sacred collection of palaces appeared to float in mid-air, but that was not the case.

Beneath the palaces and the long staircase lay the Divine Mountain.

The Divine Court used a massive illusion spell to conceal the mountain itself, transforming the divine palaces into true celestial abodes, so that mortals below would worship.

The closest to the mountain’s base was the Purple Light Star Palace.

Upon seeing the two Sages, the attendants before the palace bowed in unison: “Emperor Wugu, Purple Light Star Lord.”

Purple Light Star Lord was precisely the Sage title of He Yingkong.

Emperor Wugu swept his wide sleeves with a heavy motion: “Where is Yuetong?!”

An attendant replied: “The Little Goddess remains by the Immortal-Slaying Thunder Pool, refusing to come down no matter how we plead.”

Emperor Wugu shot a cold glare and rebuked He Yingkong: “Look at the fine mess you’ve made!”

He Yingkong’s expression was sincere and anxious: “Saving my wife comes first! As long as she is safe, Father-in-law may beat or kill me; I will not utter a single word of protest.”

The two hurriedly lifted the hems of their robes, sweeping past layer upon layer of palace halls, heading toward that Immortal-Slaying Thunder Pool.

“BOOM! RUMBLE!”

Thunder dragons roamed across the sky.

A pitch-black dragon-binding pillar pierced straight into the firmament, connecting to the dense, thunderous clouds. Sparks occasionally skittered across this black iron giant, spreading a chilling, oppressive aura.

The thunder pillar attracted layer upon layer of heavenly lightning, densely gathering into a pool. The pool brimmed with thunder and lightning, its power immense. Even a distant glance made one’s scalp tingle and shivers run down the spine.

Those who died by heavenly lightning would have both body and soul annihilated, never to be reborn.

By the edge of the thunder pool stood a figure in resplendent attire. No matter how much the surrounding attendants pleaded until their lips were worn out, she refused to leave that perilous spot.

It was Goddess Yuetong.

Seeing this, Emperor Wugu instantly flew into a rage: “How dare you!”

Goddess Yuetong trembled, turning back while leaning on the railing: “Father…”

Emperor Wugu raised his hand as if to strike: “Get down from there this instant!”

He Yingkong hurried forward to intervene: “Father-in-law! Father-in-law! Please, do not trouble A’Tong. The fault is all mine, every last bit of it!”

His appearance of deep affection and silent endurance infuriated Emperor Wugu, who lifted a foot and kicked out: “Scram!”

He Yingkong did not dodge.

The moment the kick landed on his abdomen, Emperor Wugu knew things were about to go badly.

Sure enough, He Yingkong let out a muffled groan, his body flying backward and crashing heavily against the white jade railing, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

The Goddess Yuetong, who moments ago had been determined to die and could not be dissuaded, instantly flew over.

She shielded He Yingkong, shouting at Emperor Wugu: “Father, what are you doing?!”

Emperor Wugu: “…”

He shot a cold glance, seeing that Pretty Boy with a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth, eyes reddened, putting on a fragile, broken appearance, yet “pretending to be strong,” staggering to his feet and pushing Yuetong behind him.

“Don’t be afraid, my lady. I’m fine.”

The two pulled and tugged at each other, like a pair of star-crossed lovers resisting a cruel father trying to break them apart.

Emperor Wugu was so angry he laughed.

“Ungrateful daughter! Have you forgotten why you were trying to kill yourself in the first place?!”

Goddess Yuetong was as if struck by lightning. Her hands, resting on He Yingkong’s forearm, snatched back. Covering her face, she tried to run back toward the thunder pool: “I might as well die!”

He Yingkong immediately seized her wrist, calling out to her mournfully: “A’Tong! What exactly have I done wrong that you must torment my heart like this?!”

He pulled her back forcefully, crashing her into his embrace.

Goddess Yuetong, unable to break free, sobbed uncontrollably: “I know everything about your past! Qin Qianzhu is you! I know everything about you and that ugly woman!”

He Yingkong’s figure stiffened slightly.

Suppressing the tremor in his pupils, he lowered his head to gently kiss her hair, coaxing softly: “It’s my fault, all my fault about the avatar. A’Tong, you must not act impulsively. You’re scaring me like this. Listen to how fast my heart is beating. It beats for you. Can you hear it?”

Emperor Wugu was thoroughly disgusted.

Goddess Yuetong struggled, pushing hard against He Yingkong: “Say it, say it! That woman is dead—do you hate me to death? Do you want to kill me? You don’t need to bother; I’ll just die myself!”

He Yingkong smiled bitterly, blood on his lips: “A’Tong! What foolish words are you saying? If you die, I will not live on alone.”

“Hah!” Emperor Wugu laughed in extreme anger. “What a waste raising you, you ungrateful daughter! Fine, go ahead and die. Once you’re dead, I’ll send him down to accompany you!”

Goddess Yuetong stamped her foot: “Father! How can you be like this?!”

He Yingkong coughed a few times, sighing weakly: “Who has been speaking ill of me before my lady again? My lady, have them come, come before me, and confront me directly. I fear no confrontation with anyone. My lady, even now, don’t you understand? You are my life.”

His fingertips dug into his palms, a cold killing intent surging in his blood.

She eyed him suspiciously: “Do you truly mean that?”

He smiled bitterly: “Truly!”

“Then…” Goddess Yuetong lifted her snow-white chin, speaking coyly, “then I want you to swear, before Father, that you love only me, that you have no one else in your heart!”

He Yingkong rubbed his nose: “I swear I love only you.”

She grabbed his lapels, shaking him: “You must also swear that you will never kill me, nor kill my father! Do you dare swear?!”

He Yingkong’s expression turned stunned. He smiled bitterly and looked toward Emperor Wugu: “Is this a matter of whether I dare… My lady, you truly leave me no way out. If Father-in-law unleashes his thunderous wrath, it would be enough to send me through ten cycles of reincarnation.”

Goddess Yuetong: "You must swear it!"

Emperor Wugu had finally had enough.

He had many concubines, but only this one daughter. He gave her stars when she asked for the moon, spoiled her rotten, raising her to be utterly naive and willful.

Before, when she doted on him with childish affection, it was foolish but endearing.

Now, seeing her coquettishly play the fool for this Pretty Boy, Emperor Wugu finally felt regret.

"Idiot!"

He flicked his sleeve and left.

He Yingkong's eyes flickered. He suddenly bent down, swept Goddess Yuetong up in his arms despite her struggles, and strode back towards the divine palace.

"I'll give it to you ten thousand times over when we get back."

Once he found out who had been gossiping, he would definitely pull out their tongue!

Elsewhere.

Emperor Wugu summoned the spy he had placed in the Violet Light Hall.

"What exactly happened with Yuetong?"

The spy bowed his head. "Reporting, Your Majesty. This subordinate heard the Little Goddess talking to herself. It seems there is some secret regarding He Yingkong's bloodline."

Emperor Wugu's thick brows furrowed tightly. "What secret?"

The spy shook his head. "This subordinate tried to probe indirectly with a few questions, but the Little Goddess wouldn't say. Later, on a whim, she had someone fetch portraits of He Yingkong's incarnation and his concubine. After that, she made a huge scene at the Thunder Pool."

The spy chose his words cleverly.

A huge scene—meaning there wasn't the slightest real intention to seek death.

"A jealous tantrum?" Emperor Wugu's frown deepened. "That incarnation is already dead, what's there to make a fuss about now!"

Back then, he only thought his innocent, naive daughter was utterly adorable and couldn't bear to let her grow up. It wasn't until she was easily deceived by a man that he realized his regret.

After a moment of contemplation, he lifted his chin. "Investigate further into the matter of the He Ying bloodline."

"Yes!"

After the subordinate left, Emperor Wugu raised his eyes, gazing towards the distant Thirteenth Heaven.

The highest peak of the Divine Mountain was where the Upper Three Sages resided.

In recent years, those three had become increasingly mysterious in their actions.

The news of Little Yuqing's betrayal had been submitted, but there was no response. They were probably solely focused on the matter of opening the Portal.

Lingshan.

Lesser Shangqing sighed repeatedly. "My mother always pursued perfection in everything she did, sigh! Who would have thought that after several thousand years, we'd have to open her tomb, sigh!"

Fu Yu looked up at the stone stele before the mountain.

—Venerable Wuyang's Tomb.

Venerable Wuyang was truly a perfect person. She was fair in her dealings, and her personal virtue was flawless. There was no title of 'Sage' back then, but in the eyes of many, she was the elder who came closest to that designation.

When mentioning Venerable Wuyang, even those who liked to nitpick couldn't fabricate many faults.

"Senior," Fu Yu sighed. "Breaking ground damages the tomb's integrity. But not breaking ground leaves the truth buried and unclear, preventing Venerable Wuyang's lingering thoughts from finding peace—we must choose the lesser of two evils, sigh!"

Unconsciously, she had been influenced by this one's speech patterns.

The Foxtail Grass Spirit couldn't help but pull Wu He aside, heads together, whispering, "If Double Heaven and Perfected Person Suwen were to talk, I wonder who could outlast whom!"

Wu He: "Pfft."

One with the 'er-er-er', the other with the 'ai-ai-ai'.

Over there, Lesser Shangqing let out an even longer sigh: "Sigh! But what if, after the tomb is opened, we still don't find the truth? Wouldn't that be suffering both harms, adding insult to injury... sigh!"

Fu Yu: "..."

Wasn't this the perfect excuse for failure? Later, he could just blame his own jinx.

As they spoke, Lesser Shangqing had already rolled up his wide sleeves and gestured with his hand.

A wave of pressure swept through, and the layers of topsoil parted, revealing a massive bluestone sealing door.

A dull, rumbling sound of mechanisms echoed, sealing light flashed and faded, and the tomb-sealing stone slowly rose like a drawbridge.

The group entered the tomb.

Walking through the cold, empty tomb passage, Lesser Shangqing couldn't help but sigh again. "She died by that person's sword. On the day of her burial, few dared to come."

Fu Yu: "Actually, Jun Bu Du wouldn't have done anything to those attending the funeral."

Lesser Shangqing nodded. "Yes, sigh!"

Fu Yu: "Sigh."

Fu Yu didn't know why Jun Bu Du had killed Venerable Wuyang.

She hadn't asked.

Back then, the Heavenly Dao was collapsing more and more severely. The weariness in his eyes pained her.

By his side, she also just wanted to be quietly present.

The two of them would bask in the sun together, drink tea, and sleep innocently. 🙂

As they went deeper, there was occasionally wind.

The wind seemed a deep green, carrying a scent of decay and dryness.

Lesser Shangqing walked ahead to clear the path.

Fu Yu's spiritual senses stirred. "This place holds karma related to me."

The Foxtail Grass Spirit nodded excitedly. "We've found the right place! Karma! Ashes!"

One massive tomb door after another rumbled open.

A Paper Effigy Boy hopped and skipped, sniffing left and right. "Eek, it smells of resentment."

With a soft *swish*, it shot along the tomb wall and darted forward, vanishing into the depths of the mausoleum.

Fu Yu: "..."

She had just made it up casually—surely this creature couldn’t actually conjure a realm of rules in someone else’s tomb, could it?

After two more turns in the tomb passages, the view suddenly opened up.

Layers of stone steps, shaped like a pagoda, surrounded a gold-and-wood coffin at the center of the hall.

Lesser Shangqing had already lit three sticks of incense.

Fu Yu cast a discreet glance around but couldn’t sense her own ashes.

With an air of calm, she turned to Lesser Shangqing. "If we had a personal object as a medium, it would be much easier to uncover the truth of the past—" she mentioned casually, "I recall you said earlier that there’s a handful of Jun Bu Du’s wife’s ashes in the tomb?"

Lesser Shangqing: "Right there... huh?"

The spot he pointed to was empty.

"How did they disappear? Ugh!"

As he looked around, the Paper Effigy Boy’s playful voice suddenly drifted from deeper within the tomb: "Ashes! Resentment! Resentment! Ashes!"

The familiar sound of clapping hands followed.

"Return to the past, uncover the truth—secret realm, open!"

Fu Yu: "???"

It actually opened?!

Lesser Shangqing's face fell into a frown. "Not again, sigh!"

Bao Hai’s bizarre experience had nearly given even him, a Demi-god, a real scare.

Fu Yu comforted him, "It’s fine, this time there shouldn’t be any life-threatening danger... oh no."

The tomb hall vanished.

Fu Yu stood under the scorching sun, facing a familiar street.

Her pupils contracted inch by inch.

Before her was the Old Charlatan’s mouth, spewing saliva as she cursed and ranted.

Behind the Old Charlatan, Boundary Fire descended without warning. The street scene, like an ink painting on rice paper, was rapidly scorched through, leaving a gaping hole.

"Run. Run fast."

Fu Yu swept her gaze over her surroundings and quickly locked onto several familiar figures in the crowd.

She had no time to dwell on why the lingering consciousness in Venerable Wuyang’s tomb contained her own past. Seeing the Boundary Fire about to burn through the area, she boldly grabbed the Old Charlatan’s thin, bony elbow and called out loudly to the nearby companions.

"Quick, follow me!"

From the crowd, a vendor who looked like Bao Hai, a scarecrow brought into the city for sale, a listless pharmacy assistant, and a dull-witted spoiled young master heard her, spotted Fu Yu, and quickly gathered around.

"Squeak—squeak squeak!"

A monkey from the monkey show troupe leaped out, landing on Fu Yu’s shoulder and nearly flattening her.

She snapped, "You’re a full-grown monkey now! And I’m just a four-year-old human!"

The scarecrow clumsily grabbed the monkey’s ear, and they began brawling with loud thuds.

"Sigh, what’s going on? Sigh!" Lesser Shangqing looked utterly bewildered. "My mother’s lingering thoughts... why is it a mortal city?"

Fu Yu: "Run first."

She broke into a sprint but was jerked to a stop.

Looking back, she realized she hadn’t been able to drag the Old Charlatan along—her own reactions were now a hundred times faster than before, making the Old Charlatan seem slow and clumsy in comparison.

Fu Yu averted her gaze. "Bring her along, run."

She could have waited for the Old Charlatan to carry her.

In the past, it was the Old Charlatan who had carried her out of this city engulfed in Boundary Fire. Fu Yu had clung to her back, fulfilling a small childhood dream—her mother carrying her to watch the monkey show.

But the present-day Fu Yu couldn’t bear the embarrassment.

She waved her hand, signaling her companions to gather around. They crowded together, helping the mother and daughter escape the burning city.

The Old Charlatan had never experienced being helped by others.

Outside the city, she still appeared dazed and vacant, even forgetting to curse at Fu Yu.

The Foxtail Grass Spirit swayed happily, playing with its new scarecrow body. "Master, master, what’s happening?"

Fu Yu fell silent for a moment, then shook her head. "Let’s wait and see."

The group fled along the yellow-earth official road toward nearby cities.

Just as in Fu Yu’s memory, shortly after settling in another city, the Boundary Fire arrived again.

During the escape, the Old Charlatan hastily used her sleeve to snatch some braised pork head from a roadside stall.

Fu Yu: "..."

Once outside the city, the scarecrow couldn’t resist using its horizontally aligned arms to knock on Wu He and Li Xueke’s heads.

It whispered, "You two, slow down!"

Wu He glared. "Why?"

The scarecrow gestured with its triangular chin toward the front.

Under the setting sun, little Fu Yu clenched her jaw, silent. She walked half a step behind the tall, thin, hunchbacked woman. Their shadows—one long, one short—occasionally touched on the ground.

Wu He nodded silently.

Li Xueke sighed with emotion. "For those separated by life and death, meeting here and walking together for a while is a kind of comfort."

"No," the scarecrow blurted out bluntly, "what I mean is, we’d better stay away from our master. Haven’t you noticed? The fire keeps chasing and burning wherever she goes."

The two were puzzled. "And then?"

The scarecrow swayed unsteadily. "Ashes! Burning ashes! If we burn the master, won’t we get ashes?"

The two of them said: "...Please shut your jinxing mouth!"

Fu Yu suddenly turned around.

She was only four years old here; if she jumped, she might reach this jinx's knee.

She furrowed her tiny brows: "What did you say, say it again."

Wu He and Li Xueke quickly stepped aside.

The straw-stuffed figure, now isolated and helpless: "...Heh, I said find the ashes, find the ashes."

Fu Yu: "The sentence before that."

There was no need for the Foxtail Grass Spirit to repeat it; she had already narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, lost in the realization.

"Yes. The Boundary Fire has been chasing and burning us all along."