Sending the Divine - Chapter 163: Lights
In the winter night, on Kushan.
Outside the inn, goose-feather snow was falling heavily. Inside, there was the bubbling sound of aged tea boiling. The front hall was dimly lit, but the charcoal fire gleamed heartwarmingly. Auntie Li sliced some steam buns and toasted them over the fire. The crispy buns, coupled with the newly bought spicy sauce, was quite satisfying.
Auntie Li’s life was decent. Several years ago, the war with Luojiu had little impact on her. This area was one of the most desolate in the Kushan region—a place so remote that even birds didn’t defecate there. Even bandits couldn’t bear to stay, and marauding bands seldom ventured there. From calm to chaos and back to tranquility, Auntie Li’s life remained largely unchanged.
The town on the other side of the mountain was wealthy, and its people knew when to flee from wars. However, the folks on her side were extremely poor; they were so apathetic that they wouldn’t even bother relocating. They could still buy food, not to mention that Auntie Li grew her own vegetables and grains and raised a few chickens. Even if everyone else fled from the mountain, she could still scrape by selling some mountain products.
Her children rarely came to visit, leaving the elderly woman to pass her days without much incident.
If there was one regret, Auntie Li did have it—
It was a pity that Yin Ci had followed the fox spirit and left. The other hunters seemed inexperienced. The game they brought back, like pheasants and rabbits, were old, weak, sick, or disabled, making them unpalatable. Just after the 15th day of the lunar new year, she had wanted to treat herself to some meat. But the meat she received was so tough and bony that it left her appetite wanting. Thinking of Yin Ci’s culinary skills, she felt the toasted buns were a bit bland.
Alas, that brat Yin Ci had no relatives. He left with the fox spirit years ago and hadn’t sent any messages since. She wondered if he had been eaten by that fox spirit.
Should she have stopped him back then? Fox spirits were known to be malicious; she had read stories of them consuming humans without leaving even bones.
The more she thought about it, the more probable it seemed. She even lost her appetite for her buns, which were slathered with bright red spicy sauce. Each bite was so crunchy it seemed like she was chewing on bloody bones.
The next time she saw a fox, she was determined to drug it and sell its fur for gold. Last time… she had been enchanted by the fox spirit’s appearance and let her guard down.
As Auntie Li was lost in thought, the front hall door creaked open.
Two figures entered side by side, the flickering firelight revealing their faces. Auntie Li gasped and stood up abruptly. “Fox… fox spirit… fox demon!”
Wasn’t the one holding the “Medicine Cures Illness” flag the fox demon from years ago? After all these years, his complexion looked rosy and his hair was shiny, probably from consuming humans. With few young and strong men left on Kushan, this demon probably needed more than one to satiate his hunger, and now he brought a companion for a feast!
His companion also looked otherworldly. Both of them carried lanterns, and she had no idea what nefarious plans they had.
Auntie Li straightened up and grabbed an iron rod, but then hesitated. If she damaged their appearances with the stick, would their furs still sell well? Coveting the high-quality fur in her dreams, she stared blankly with the iron rod in hand.
Shi Jingzhi: “……”
Shi Jingzhi: “You still remember me.”
Auntie Li eyed Shi Jingzhi’s waist, looking for a fox tail. “I certainly do not.”
This old woman looked at them with a strange gaze, but Sect Master Shi wasn’t keen on investigating. He carefully moved aside and hid the lantern he held to a safer place.
This was the precious lantern they had bought in Yidu. Zizhu personally picked it out for him. Shi Jingzhi treated it with care, carrying it all the way through the snowstorm. It would be quite the spectacle if it were broken by the old woman’s rod; he wouldn’t know where to cry.
Yin Ci, having watched enough drama, deliberately cleared his throat and began in the voice of “Hunter Yin Ci”. “Auntie, it’s me.”
Auntie Li’s brows furrowed, her eyes widened, and her voice became several times sharper. “Oh, so it’s you, the beast that ate my boy, even imitating his voice now! Take this!”
Her stick thrust was incredibly swift. Yin Ci was taken by surprise but dodged gracefully.
Auntie Li exclaimed, “Why are you dodging? Surely a fox spirit; that little brat never had such skills!”
Yin Ci: “…” Even though he had mortal eyes now, the end of that iron rod was red-hot, so of course he had to dodge! Seeing the old woman’s face turn red with anger, he stepped forward, snatched the rod from her, and stuffed a small golden bead into her hand. The whole move was fluid and seamless.
Auntie Li looked as if she’d been stunned, freezing on the spot. Once she came to her senses, she tucked the golden bead into her bosom, and her tone became somewhat more refined. “Are you two here for a meal or to stay?”
It was as if she didn’t recognize the iron rod on the ground.
Shi Jingzhi was impressed and almost applauded on the spot. Yin Ci, both amused and frustrated, called out again, “Auntie, it’s really me.”
Having received the gold, Auntie Li couldn’t get angry anymore. She looked Yin Ci up and down, still appearing distrustful. Without hesitation, Yin Ci started cooking chicken soup, even finding the old woman’s secret sauce. The process was smooth and skilled.
Once the golden chicken soup was served, Auntie Li’s doubts were finally cleared. “Little brat, why do you look so different now? Even your eyes are not the same!”
The reasons were complex and not easy to explain in one sentence. Before Yin Ci could answer, Shi Jingzhi interjected, “I accepted him as my disciple and have been guiding him in his cultivation. I have transformed him, a process called ‘rebirth from the bones’.”
Sect Master Shi’s eyes sparkled with sincerity. The old lady had always been susceptible to such stories and was immediately in awe.
Yin Ci whispered, “…Are you addicted to playing a fox spirit?”
Shi Jing protested, “Which part of what I said was false?”
After some thought, Yin Ci couldn’t refute.
Auntie Li suddenly understood. Fox spirits were, after all, known for their cultivation. As long as Yin Ci was alive, it was fine. She quickly drank the soup, her anger dissipating. “Very well, very well. I’ll prepare two of our best rooms for you. Little brat, do you still want a bath?”
“Just one room,” Shi Jingzhi said casually, “and the biggest bathtub.”
Auntie Li’s spoon paused, suspicion returning to her eyes.
Shi Jingzhi: “That’s how we immortals are. When we take a disciple, it’s like choosing a life partner. We’re already intimate, so it’s only natural for me and my partner to share a room.”
Auntie Li choked on her soup with a gasp.
The old woman coughed for a while, instinctively wanting to voice her objections. But then she thought about how this fox spirit had performed magic and trained Yin Ci, and indeed, Yin Ci seemed much more spirited and lively, so she found it hard to voice her concerns. The old lady hesitated for a moment, slowly finished her chicken soup, and then let out a heavy sigh.
“I don’t understand the younger generation. As long as you treat him well, there’s nothing I can say.”
To her, it seemed that the fox spirit must have seen something special in Yin Ci. Why else would it have abducted an ordinary hunter on a snowy day?
Auntie Li’s children rarely visited, and now that Yin Ci had returned, he was… taken by a demon. Her heart ached, and she suddenly set down her bowl, rummaging in the cash drawer.
Amidst the puzzled glances of the two, she pulled out an old book. She carefully held it and, with a sigh, handed it to Yin Ci. “We’ve shared a fate. This is a cultivation secret manual my son bought at a great price. You take it.”
Upon seeing the title on the cover, Yin Ci’s eyelids twitched.
…In this era, which clueless “immortal” would directly use “Cultivation Secrets” as a book title? Especially when the character “籍” was mistakenly written as “藉”*. The old woman’s son probably bought some random book, thinking his illiterate mother wouldn’t notice, trying to fool her.
*Clarity: The book title is supposed to be “修仙秘籍” but the 籍 was miswritten as 藉, so rather than “Cultivation Secrets” it’s more like “Cultivating Secret Loans”.
However, although Auntie Li was often described as aggressive and greedy, she was fundamentally a kind-hearted person. In a world where people come and go, age-wise, she was considered younger than Yin Ci. In terms of affection, she might be the closest thing to family he had. Whether it was out of loneliness or her genuine nature, she had always taken care of “Hunter Yin Ci” without holding back.
Yin Ci took the old book with both hands, deliberately making his expression serious. “Thank you, Auntie.”
Seeing the once aloof young man show some warmth, Auntie Li felt deeply gratified. She cheerfully prepared water and a room, refraining from intervening in their affairs. As for the book, Yin Ci temporarily handed it to Shi Jingzhi for safekeeping and continued his work in the kitchen. Shi Jingzhi, who loved collecting trinkets, always carried various bundles and was reluctant to throw anything away.
Late at night.
After eating simple meals of steamed buns and cabbage for nearly a month, Auntie Li now had Yin Ci cook for her, and he made a splendid feast. The elderly lady ate absent-mindedly and, without much movement, went to her inner room to sleep. Shi Jingzhi, however, took Yin Ci to the bathtub, and both of them enjoyed their time immersed in the warm water.
Yin Ci wasn’t sure if he was seeing things, but amidst the steam, he felt Shi Jingzhi’s complexion seemed a bit redder than usual.
“Is the water too hot?” Yin Ci asked with concern. “You don’t have to bear with it; I can use my inner force to cool it down a bit.”
Playing with the water, Shi Jingzhi’s gaze was a bit distant. “Have you read that book?”
Yin Ci: “I gave it to you right away. Afterwards, my hands were oily and bloody; I couldn’t even touch it. Why, is there something wrong with the book?”
Could it be that it was actually a manual full of techniques?
“Well, it’s not exactly problematic. It mentions methods of dual cultivation, quite… ahem, sensual and practical. I think it’s feasible. Would you be willing to try it with me?”
‘…Ah, so that’s why Auntie Li’s son was lying. It’s just a vulgar novel,’ Yin Ci thought expressionless, then pinched Shi Jingzhi’s earlobe. The latter was already reddened from the heat and now resembled a crab in a pot.
“It’s settled then. I won’t read it.” Yin Ci moved closer, whispering in his ear, “As your disciple, I don’t want to read words. Since you’ve taken me as your disciple, you should teach me in person, in detail.”
His fingertips slowly slid down, with droplets of water tracing paths on the skin, merging and separating.
“Speaking of which, I am a disciple taken in by a fox spirit. How can a disciple not listen to what his Shizun says? No matter what you teach, I will accept it wholeheartedly—”
Steam floated around, the light from the flames flickering. The orange glow illuminated the fair skin, with droplets of water adding a hint of intimacy.
The two had been intimate for several years, and Yin Ci had long become accustomed to the Child of Desire’s strength. He was originally very laid-back and would occasionally tease in return, amusedly watching the other lose control and pant heavily. Unexpectedly, this “Cultivation Secrets” was written by an unknown author, and its methods were somewhat unconventional. At first, he nonchalantly embraced Shi Jingzhi, but after half an hour, Yin Ci had to use both hands to hold onto the edge of the tub just to keep some clarity in his mind.
The other’s heated breath hit his back, leaving him feeling as though his brain was melting into syrup. The water not only didn’t cool down but seemed to get hotter, with the sound of splashing ever-present, causing a warm and ticklish sensation.
It seemed another passionate night was on the horizon.
Outside the window, the north wind howled, and snow was continuously falling, covering the mountain road completely. A deer stepped on the snow crust, passing behind the inn. Only one window in the inn remained lit, standing out starkly in the dark, snowy night.
Peeping through the window gap, two ornate lamps were placed closely in front of the window, burning brightly.
The author has something to say:
End of the main text~
Up next, there will be extra chapters, but they will not necessarily be updated daily. During this period, there might be text revisions and corrections; please ignore the “modifications made” note.
I feel that this word count is quite comfortable, and in the future, I might stick to the 600k-800k range! I hope this isn’t just wishful thinking.
I had an unstable update schedule towards the end of this novel because I was busy with interviews. I deeply apologize OTZ and thank you all for your understanding!
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I have completed works in the Western Fantasy genre titled “Stray“, the Post-apocalyptic genre titled “Happy Doomsday“, and the Wasteland genre titled “Access Denied“. You can check them out in the author’s column XD.
While you’re there, please also hit the [Favorite this Author] button!
The next book “Evil As Humans” is tentatively set to start this year. The exact start date will depend on my work situation _(:з」∠)
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As is customary, a preview of the upcoming story:
Three paths once lay before Yin Ren:
A force presented a blood sacrifice, asking him for his evil qi.
An organization administered a spiritual contract, asking him to walk the path of righteousness.
An enthusiastic person called the police on the spot, saying he was carrying a controlled knife and cordially invited him to the police station.
The Thousand-Year-Old Great Evil Mr. Yin: Thank you for your invitation. People just broke the seal to the world and all I want to do is to lie down. I choose option three.
Wasn’t it just acting dumb and pretending to be pitiful? This he could do.
The people who maintain peace of the world vs The Ghost King who just wants to be a salted fish.
Let the game of hide and seek commence…
Atheist Gong × Strongest Evil Spirit Shou
It’s a fun (?) adventure with a slight supernatural pseudo-detective story, where an atheist bumps into a supreme evil.
Kinky Thoughts:
With this, we’ve reached the end of this novel, with a few extras remaining. I hope you enjoyed it. Having read all of Nian Zhong’s work (to date), I would have ranked this equal to Stray (though with my bias of reading Stray first, it still stands as my #1 favorite). The writing was very reminiscent of Stray.
I really did like this novel quite a bit, and had I read it first, I probably would have liked it more than Stray. Nevertheless, I do love all of Nian Zhong’s works. You can check out all her novels that I’ve done by going to the projects page.
If you enjoyed it, please consider supporting the author by buying the raws. You can use Google Chrome with their auto translate and this guide on how to buy novels on jjwxc. Remember, only with your (financial) support can artists continue to produce more great works.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone for your comments, encouragement, help with my translations, and ko-fi donations. It in part fuels my motivation to release so frequently and try to finish this novel as soon as possible.