Chapter 46: The Abyss of Bones
This "Master Jiang" is definitely suspicious!
Li Qingfeng felt his hair stand on end under the boy’s intense gaze, and, belatedly, he realized how absurd it was. He muttered a curse at himself—how could a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator be frightened by a mere mortal? How cowardly.
Song Yan and Li Qingfeng both turned to look at Qin Ying.
Yet she remained seated, silent, holding Gu Qingqing’s life token in her hand.
Why wasn’t Senior Sister Qin seeking out Master Jiang? If she delayed any longer, who could guarantee nothing bad would happen to Junior Sister Gu…
Song Yan grew anxious, and Li Qingfeng shared his doubt. He sent a voice transmission: “Senior Brother Song, do you think Senior Sister Qin is testing us?”
“If she were to act, we probably wouldn’t have anything to do here.”
“…”
Song Yan found this inexplicable, but he had to admit his chubby junior’s words weren’t without reason.
“Senior Brother Song, with Senior Sister here overseeing things, nothing serious should happen. Let’s go look around for clues.”
Song Yan paused in thought, then replied via voice transmission, “Alright, you stay close by; I’ll check the rest of the village.”
Li Qingfeng stood up and turned to the boy. “Brother, after drinking your tea, my stomach’s been aching. Must be all the greasy food I’ve had lately.”
He purposely lowered his voice, not wanting to sully Senior Sister’s ears. “Uh… where’s the latrine?”
The boy looked at him with suspicion—he hadn’t seen any of the three actually drink the tea, but perhaps he just missed it. “I’ll show you.”
The boy led Li Qingfeng away. Song Yan reported to his senior sister, “Senior Sister, I’m going to take a walk through the village.”
“…”
Qin Ying nodded, then added, “Be back before the banquet begins.”
“…Alright.”
It was already dusk. As Song Yan left the Jiang household, the village seemed deserted and quiet, with only a few people emerging from their homes and walking toward the Jiangs—presumably to attend the evening festivities.
To the right of the Jiang family’s gate was an ancient well; eastward along the small path leading from the well stood an archway and a low wall.
Laughter and play echoed from that direction. Song Yan stepped through the arch into a courtyard where five children, wild as unbridled colts, chased and played, rushing past him.
A little boy, somehow separated from the group, hurried after them.
“Ouch!”
He tripped and was about to fall right beside Song Yan.
“Careful.”
Song Yan caught him; the child’s little hand was icy cold.
“Ah… thank you, big brother.”
“You’re welcome,” Song Yan nodded. “Go on, play.”
Such vitality.
These children seemed entirely normal…
Song Yan pondered.
Now, it was almost certain that the so-called “Master Jiang” was the root of all this evil.
But—
“How did this Master Jiang turn Peach Blossom Hollow into a land of the dead?”
Could it be... a trapping formation?
No, if it relied on a formation, it would already be operating, and he hadn’t sensed any spiritual energy fluctuations indicative of one.
Was it… coercion or bribery?
That didn’t fit, either. Song Yan could tell that all the villagers, young and old, remained here of their own accord. And what about the outsiders? The cultivator from Jiangyun Prefecture and Junior Sister Qingqing—where had they gone?
…
Some sinister spell, perhaps?
That didn’t seem right, either. Otherwise, when the three of them entered the village, wouldn’t someone have come forth to curse or hex them?
Unless—
Suddenly, all expression vanished from Song Yan’s face.
What was that?
In a nearby flowerbed, a flash of white caught his eye—something strangely familiar.
He walked over and stared, dumbfounded.
A paper effigy?
…
Song Yan glanced back—the group of children now numbered only four.
…
Unless—
The three of them were the last to arrive.
…
The sun quickly sank, almost vanishing beyond the horizon.
“Pingping, on this joyous day, why aren’t you at the Jiangs’ banquet? Why are you cooking rice here…”
The village chief, leaning on his cane, strolled toward the Jiang residence from beneath the ancient banyan tree at the village entrance. He paused by a simple house along the way.
“Chief, you go ahead. Doggie and I… we’re not fit for such fine things… not so fortunate.”
Chen Jiping was an outsider, and fate had dealt her a cruel hand. No sooner had she married in than her husband died.
The village chief sighed and went on his way.
…
Suddenly, a sharp ringing pierced Chen Jiping’s ears.
Her hunched figure abruptly straightened; her eyes lost all light.
Like a puppet, her limbs stiffly carried her outside, shoulders and neck twitching intermittently, her facial muscles oddly contorted.
She walked toward Xianglu Peak.
Atop Xianglu Peak stood a modest Daoist temple—the secluded cultivation place of the “Immortal” Jiang Xiao.
In front of the temple lay a large bluestone, upon which reclined a voluptuous woman.
Night had fallen, and the air was cold.
Yet she wore only a thin piece of silk, nothing else.
She stretched lazily, yawning, casting a casual glance at the puppet-like figure approaching the temple, then lost interest.
Her long, pale legs idly crossed and uncrossed.
At that moment, Jiang Xiao—Master Jiang—emerged from the temple.
He watched Chen Jiping draw near, his gaze roaming over her plump figure as if she were nothing more than a toy.
“Why keep her alone?”
Bai Yulu asked offhandedly, though her voice was tinged with something strange.
“She may not have a spiritual root, but for some reason, her progress with the Blood Refining Manual is astonishingly fast.”
“Far outpaces the other pigs in the village.”
Jiang Xiao stroked Chen Jiping’s face, unfastening his own sash.
“Doesn’t matter if there’s one more or less.”
He tilted his head back, intoxicated. “Let her be. She’ll make another useful hand for us.”
“For us?” Bai Yulu sneered. “I have no need for helpers.”
Jiang Xiao laughed to himself.
Of course she didn’t need them. As a mid-stage first-tier demon beast, she dared to speak so brazenly in front of him for only one reason—
Behind her stood one of the two greatest demon clans of the Chu Kingdom:
The Bone Abyss.
“You’ve maintained this Blood Refining Array for three years, and now, after luring in just one Foundation Establishment cultivator, you’re ready to act?”
“With the immortal sword your master bestowed, you might well handle that Foundation Establishment one on your own.”
“The other two are only mid-stage Qi Refining. Aren’t you being a bit too timid…”
Jiang Xiao didn’t even open his eyes. “There’s no need for reckless ambition. Luring too many Foundation Establishment cultivators risks disaster. Now is just right.”
“That Qin Ying is an inner disciple of Dongyuan Sect, likely to become a true disciple soon. Using her for this is hardly a waste… Tsk…”
He frowned, clearly dissatisfied.
“There won’t be too much commotion. We have all the time we need…”
With a kick, Jiang Xiao sent the puppet-like Chen Jiping sprawling aside, then approached Bai Yulu. “All the time in the world.”
He licked his dry lips, bent down, and caressed Bai Yulu’s bare ankle, his hand slowly wandering upward.
A pink mist gathered in Bai Yulu’s eyes, making her look all the more seductive and enchanting.
“At times like this, you’re quite bold,” she remarked.
The silk slipped to the floor.
…