Chapter 135: A Faint Glow of a Lamp

Liu Liu suddenly turned around. He saw a burly man stumbling through the door, muttering excitedly, “I’ve got it, I’ve got it!”

“What do you have? Speak clearly!” Liu Liu looked at the young man before him, his nephew Tuzhuer, who was notorious for his gambling and shady dealings, never walking the righteous path. However, due to their family’s power, no one dared to challenge him. This time, surprisingly, it was this wayward nephew who had discovered the whereabouts of those strangers.

Tuzhuer steadied himself and grinned at Liu Liu, saying, “This time I’ve done something commendable, Uncle Liu. How will you reward me?”

Liu Liu frowned and said, “Don’t get all high and mighty. If you truly did something commendable, of course you’ll be rewarded! Now hurry up and tell me what happened!”

Tuzhuer chuckled nervously, noticing Liu Liu’s impatience, quickly stepping closer to relay his findings.

It turned out that the young man had heard about the search for three strangers who had once stayed in a local inn. He decided to investigate and asked around among his gambling buddies. These gamblers came from various villages and were generally of ill repute, yet they were well-connected and often privy to local gossip.

One of them mentioned a relative in Shijia Village, over ten li away. The relative had recently heard about a strange occurrence: the young master of the Shi estate had been gravely ill, near death, when suddenly some mysterious figures arrived and cured him. The entire Shi family then left with these strangers, supposedly to attain immortality.

Such village rumors were often exaggerated and turned into bizarre tales, usually dismissed as mere gossip. However, while the speaker was oblivious, the listener was intrigued. Tuzhuer immediately thought of Liu Liu’s search for the strangers and became suspicious.

Nonetheless, Tuzhuer was cautious. Knowing such rumors could be unreliable, he took the boy and found an associate from the sect to secretly visit Shijia Village and inquire further from the relative. Coincidentally, the neighbor of that relative supplied vegetables to the Shi estate and described the visitors in detail—four people in total, including an old Daoist and a young man, matching the descriptions Liu Liu had circulated. Tuzhuer was convinced they were the ones the sect leader sought and hurried back to report.

“Where are they? Which city are they in now?” Liu Liu initially showed delight upon hearing Tuzhuer’s news, but his expression gradually darkened as he interrupted the boastful nephew with a cold question.

Tuzhuer shivered, no longer daring to brag, and replied honestly, “They left seven days ago, and no one knows where they went.”

“Don’t know!” Liu Liu suddenly felt a surge of anger burning through his skull. He suppressed his rage and bellowed, “Don’t know where they went and you still claim credit? Now go and find people. Surround Shijia Village. Use whatever means necessary. You must uncover their whereabouts. What are you waiting for? Go!”

The room fell silent again. Liu Liu slumped into his seat, staring blankly at the flickering flame of the solitary lamp, lost in thought. After a long while, he sighed deeply, tapped his head, stood up, picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and only then realized the tea had long gone cold, prompting a frown.

He let out another long sigh, placing the icy teacup back on the table. Liu Liu stood with his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth in the room, yet unable to calm his restless mind. Ever since he had received guidance and begun his mission, the benefits had been undeniable, and he had taken pride in his ability to navigate both sides skillfully. However, this time, he had been pushed into a situation where neither side could be managed. Reflecting on the sect’s brutal methods against disobedient members, Liu Liu felt a bitter taste in his mouth. The cold tea he had just swallowed seemed to churn in his stomach, making him feel nauseated and on the verge of vomiting.

After all, the Fragrant Sect was no longer under his control. Though these years had brought outward splendor, the inner struggles were known only to him. In contrast, his good-for-nothing elder brother spent his days pretending to be a deity, recently even causing trouble in a place near the harbor. Didn’t he realize there were far more powerful forces in the world than their petty games?

Looking at his lonely shadow stretched and swayed by the flickering lamp on the wall, Liu Liu sighed once more. He felt like that shadow—adrift, directionless, and without support.

Wasn’t he, the sect leader, merely a shadow of others, entirely dependent on them? He had originally thought… ah well. If things truly went south, perhaps it was time to consider the secret escape route he had secretly prepared years ago.

Liu Liu, lost in thought, was suddenly startled by a crackling sound from the lamp. He looked up, alarmed to find his shadow on the wall suddenly blurring, gradually expanding and fading until it covered the entire wall, then dissolving into nothingness.

A sudden chill ran through his heart as he realized what was happening. His heart felt gripped tightly, a sharp pain coursing through him, causing his lips to tremble involuntarily. However, years of experience had given him some composure. Without hesitation, he suppressed the urge to flee, forcing himself to remain calm as he turned around. The flame of the oil lamp had somehow grown to a foot long, shining with a brightness rivaling sunlight, yet it emitted a faint, eerie, and chilling aura.

Liu Liu spun around abruptly to see a burly man stumbling through the door, muttering, “Got it, got it!”

“What have you got? Speak clearly!” Liu Liu recognized the man as his nephew, Tu Zhu, who was notorious for his gambling and mischief, always straying from the right path. However, due to the family’s influence, no one dared to cross him. This time, to Liu Liu’s surprise, it was this unreliable nephew who had found the trail of the strangers.

Tu Zhu steadied himself and grinned at Liu Liu, “I’ve done a great deed this time, Uncle Liu. How about rewarding me?”

Liu Liu frowned, “Stop playing games. If you’ve really done something useful, you’ll be rewarded! Now, tell me what happened, quickly!”

Tu Zhu chuckled obsequiously, noticing Liu Liu’s impatience, and quickly leaned in to share his discovery.

It turned out that Tu Zhu had heard about the sect’s search for three strangers who had stayed at a local inn. He decided to ask around among his gambling buddies, who were scattered across several villages and known for their shady dealings but were well-informed about local gossip.

One of them mentioned a relative in Shijia Village, about ten miles away, who had recently spoken of a strange occurrence: the young master of the Shi family, who had been gravely ill, was miraculously cured by a few mysterious visitors. The entire Shi family was then taken away, supposedly to achieve immortality.

Village tales often exaggerate, and this story was no exception, usually dismissed as mere fantasy. However, Tu Zhu, recalling Liu Liu’s urgent search for strangers, found the tale intriguing.

Being cautious, Tu Zhu didn’t take the story at face value. He took the informant and a sect member to Shijia Village to investigate. Coincidentally, the informant’s neighbor was a vegetable supplier to the Shi family, who described four individuals—an old Taoist and some young men—matching the description of the people the sect leader was seeking. Convinced, Tu Zhu rushed back to report.

“Where are they now? Which city?” Liu Liu’s initial joy turned to a frown as he interrupted Tu Zhu’s boasting, asking coldly.

Tu Zhu shivered and replied honestly, “They left seven days ago. No one knows where they went.”

“Don’t know!” Liu Liu’s anger flared. He suppressed his voice and roared, “If you don’t know, what kind of merit are you claiming? Go now, surround Shijia Village. Use any means necessary to find out where those people went! Go!”

The room fell silent again. Liu Liu slumped in his seat, staring at the flickering lamp, lost in thought. After a long while, he sighed deeply, tapped his head, stood up, and picked up the teacup on the table. Taking a sip, he realized the tea had gone cold and frowned.

With another sigh, he placed the cold cup back on the table and stood up, pacing the room. His troubled mind refused to settle. Since he had been guided to start this endeavor, the benefits were undeniable, and he prided himself on his resourcefulness. However, this time, he found himself in a predicament with no easy way out. Recalling the sect’s harsh methods for dealing with disobedience, Liu Liu felt a bitter taste in his mouth. The cold tea he had just swallowed seemed to churn in his stomach, making him nauseous.

After all, the Fragrant Incense Sect was no longer under his sole control. Despite the outward glory, the underlying hardships were known to few. His inept older brother, who reveled in his mystical antics, had recently ventured into dangerous territory. Didn’t he realize that there were forces beyond their petty schemes?

Looking at his lonely shadow stretched long on the wall by the flickering lamp, Liu Liu sighed deeply once more. He felt as lost and directionless as that shadow.

As the sect leader, wasn’t he merely a shadow of others, entirely dependent on them? He had thought… Ah, if things didn’t work out, perhaps it was time to consider the escape route he had secretly prepared years ago…

Lost in thought, Liu Liu was suddenly startled by the sound of the lamp wick crackling. He looked up, alarmed to see his shadow on the wall blurring, expanding, and fading until it disappeared entirely.

A sudden realization struck him, and his heart clenched painfully, his mouth twitching involuntarily. However, years of experience had given him some composure. He suppressed the urge to flee and calmly turned around. The flame on the oil lamp had grown to a foot long, as bright as sunlight, exuding an eerie, cold aura.

“Immortal… is that you?” Liu Liu’s face showed a mix of joy and sorrow as he knelt, bowing deeply, and said in a low voice, “Your servant has failed. The task of building the altar, though seventy percent complete, still has one part unfinished…”

“Of course it’s me. Are you afraid to see me?” The flickering flame emitted an ancient, hollow voice.

“Your servant has been incompetent. Please grant me more time…” Liu Liu pleaded, sweating profusely.

“The altar? Every year you have some excuse… Let’s put that aside for now. What about the cauldron?” The flame dimmed, shrinking back to its normal size, and Liu Liu’s small, lonely figure reappeared.

At the mention of the cauldron, Liu Liu’s mind went blank. He swallowed hard, feeling as if he could hear his own heavy breathing like thunder in his ears, his head buzzing.

“Immortal, the cauldron… I didn’t see it clearly. I’m looking for it, I’m looking for it…” Liu Liu muttered, unsure of what he was saying.

“Looking? Hmph, don’t play dead yet. Tell me everything in detail,” the flickering flame said.

Hearing this, Liu Liu’s mind suddenly cleared: if the immortal needed him to explain the situation, it meant he didn’t know the full story. Therefore, Liu Liu’s life was temporarily safe.

Feeling somewhat relieved, Liu Liu quickly cleared his throat and recounted the entire story of the lost cauldron.

“Shijia Village…” the flame repeated after Liu Liu finished, then snorted, “That place is only ten miles away. How come there’s still no result after all this time? Did your people walk there?”

“Immortal, you are wise,” Liu Liu’s tongue seemed to loosen, “To avoid alarming the villagers, we couldn’t use our usual methods. The two guardians didn’t allow it, and I had to avoid them too, so I didn’t dare to use the techniques you taught me…”

“Hmph!” the flame interrupted Liu Liu again, “In such critical times, what are you thinking? If the cauldron is lost, not just you, but even those two guardians will suffer! Which direction is Shijia Village? Let me see.”

Meanwhile, in Shijia Village, the Fragrant Incense Sect members were in a dilemma. Despite using all possible methods, they still couldn’t find out where the Shi family and the strangers had gone.

“Keep your eyes wide open!” Tu Zhu, standing in the middle of the group, said excitedly, his face glowing under the torchlight, “Dig three feet into the ground if you have to, but find those people!”

Unbeknownst to the bustling crowd in the Shi residence, a small flame appeared in a side room, floating around before suddenly emitting a sound of surprise or confusion, “Huh?”

Then the flame settled in the center of the room, drifting slowly before gradually tilting towards the southeast.

Suddenly, the flame disappeared, and the room returned to its previous dead silence.

Tonight, Mei Qing was spared from receiving the Huayan Sect teachings by Master Ku and sat alone in his room, quietly absorbing the essence of the moon and stars.

Suddenly, a familiar yet unsettling sensation swept through him. Mei Qing opened his eyes abruptly, looking around. The Shi residence was as quiet as ever, with no unusual activity, and no messages from Zhang Thirteen or Master Ku.

Mei Qing gently rubbed his temples, thinking he might be tired from continuous cultivation. However, he couldn’t calm his mind. After a moment of thought, he focused his spirit, extending his consciousness to cover the entire Shi residence.

His consciousness quickly touched several familiar presences—Zhang Thirteen and Master Ku responded briefly, while Bi Zhen inquired about the situation. Learning that Bi Zhen had been meditating without any disturbance, Mei Qing remained silent for a moment, bid her goodnight, then ended his meditation, opened the door, and stepped into the courtyard.

The cold autumn wind cleared his slightly swollen head. His doubts remained, but his gaze involuntarily turned towards the southeast.

The shadows of trees and buildings blocked his view, but something seemed to guide his eyes through the space, capturing the desolate silhouette of the Fishbone Temple’s roof.

“That group of people is in a village forty miles to the southeast, the place where I asked you to build the altar but you haven’t,” the ancient, hollow voice from the flame in the Changchun residence dozens of miles away spoke to Liu Liu, who knelt before an oil lamp, “Go find those two guardians now and figure out a way to bring those people here. Remember, there’s a young man among them who must not be harmed. I will contact you on how to proceed.”

“Of course it’s me. What, are you afraid to see me?” The flickering flame actually produced a voice—aged and hollow.

“I have performed poorly, please grant me more time, Immortal…” Liu Liu’s forehead was drenched in sweat as he pleaded.

“The altar? Over these years, you’ve always had excuses… Let’s set that aside for now. What about that cauldron?” The flame dimmed gradually, shrinking back to its normal size, and Liu Liu’s small, lonely figure once again swayed on the wall.

Hearing the flame inquire about the cauldron, Liu Liu’s heart lurched. His mind went blank, momentarily unsure how to respond. He swallowed hard, feeling his own heavy breathing like thunder in his ears, his mind buzzing with confusion.

“The cauldron… the cauldron… I truly didn’t see it clearly, but I’m searching, searching…” Liu Liu mumbled, barely aware of what he was saying.

“Searching? Hmph, don’t try to feign ignorance. Tell me everything from the beginning.” The flickering flame said.

Upon hearing the flame’s words, a sudden clarity illuminated Liu Liu’s mind: since the other party still needed him to explain the entire situation, it meant they hadn’t fully grasped the details yet. Therefore, they would still rely on him to handle matters, and his life was temporarily safe.

With his life momentarily secure, Liu Liu suddenly felt a surge of energy. He quickly cleared his throat and recounted the entire story of the missing cauldron.

“Shijia Village…” The flame repeated the name after Liu Liu finished speaking, then snorted, “That place is only a dozen li away. After all this time, have you still found nothing? Did your people crawl there?”

“Immortal, please understand,” Liu Liu’s tongue now loosened, “We had to avoid the villagers and couldn’t use our usual magic for fear of causing alarm. The two guardians disapprove of using such methods outside, and I must avoid them, so I dare not use the techniques you taught…”

“Hmph!” The flame interrupted Liu Liu again with a cold snort, “In such unusual times, what are you thinking? If the cauldron is lost, not only you, but even those two so-called guardians will not escape punishment! Which direction is Shijia Village? Let me see for myself.”

Meanwhile, in Shijia Village, the Fragrant Sect members were filled with anxiety. Despite exhausting every method, soft and hard, no one could clarify where the Shi lord’s family and the strangers had gone.

“Open your eyes wide!” Tuzhuer, standing in the center of the group, was brimming with excitement, his pimples glistening under the torchlight, “Dig three feet into the ground if you must, but find them!”

While the commotion continued throughout the Shi estate, no one noticed a small flame drifting into a room of the estate’s side courtyard. It floated around a few times before emitting a sound that was both surprised and puzzled—”Huh?”

Then, the flame stilled in the center of the room, drifting slowly around, its tip gradually pointing toward the southeast.

After a while, the flame suddenly vanished, leaving the dark room in deathly silence once again.

That night, Mei Qing, having received Master Ku’s mercy, was not undergoing the Huayan sect’s teachings. Instead, he sat alone in his room, quietly absorbing the nourishment of moonlight and starlight.

Suddenly, a sensation both familiar and alarming coursed through his entire body. Mei Qing abruptly opened his eyes and looked around. The Shi estate was quiet as usual, with no sign of disturbance. Even Zhang Shisan and Master Ku showed no signs of anything unusual.

Mei Qing gently massaged his temples, thinking perhaps he was just tired from days of cultivation. Yet, his heart remained restless. After a moment’s thought, he gathered his focus, extending his spiritual awareness, which instantly covered the entire Shi estate.

His awareness quickly touched several familiar presences—Zhang Shisan and Master Ku responded instantly. Only Bi Zhen asked what was wrong. Upon learning that Bi Zhen had been meditating all along without incident, Mei Qing hesitated briefly, said goodnight, and ended his meditation. He got up, opened the door, and stepped into the courtyard.

The autumn night breeze cleared his slightly congested mind, but his unease did not lessen. His gaze, seemingly drawn by something, unconsciously turned toward the southeast.

Though blocked by trees and buildings, something seemed to guide his vision through space, catching sight of the desolate silhouette of the Fishbone Temple’s roof.

“That group of people is in a village forty li southeast, the very place where you failed to establish the altar,” Liu Men, kneeling before an oil lamp in a house in Changchun Dian dozens of li away, listened to the flame’s aged and hollow voice, “Now go find the two guardians and figure out how to bring those people here. Remember, one of them is a young man—you must not harm him. I will guide you on what to do next.”