Chapter 6: Half a Life of Purity

                    

The Breath of Gods and Demons grew anxious. Tianquzi had refined Xu O’s body in every possible way to become a spiritual fetus, yet he placed it into the belly of an ordinary woman in a remote town.

Although the Breath of Gods and Demons took the initiative to watch over it, if Tianquzi harbored any impure thoughts, the contract of master and servant would bind it. At most, it could press his hands and feet, but nothing more.

This old man had paid such a high price—he had even cut out his heart and moon marrow. What was he planning? Did he intend to cultivate her in secret, hide the puppet leader in a cave or cellar, bind her to a jade bed, and torment her with whips and candles…?

The more it thought, the more uneasy it became.

Fortunately, Tianquzi began a long retreat.

The heart protector is the final safeguard for all monks. To cut it apart alive would inevitably damage his foundation. Coupled with the wounds from the Seven Sages Ruler, even if he wished to endure, he could do nothing.

It was common for a courtyard head to retreat. The affairs of the Yin-Yang Courtyard were managed by elders and direct disciples, and order was maintained.

Yet the world outside shifted. The greatest change was within the demon puppet clan. Beneath Painting City, Ying Chi had returned in vain, losing 25,000 soldiers, while Xu O had created a spiritual vein at the cost of her life.

Such shame—how could he swallow it? And with the puppet clan bereft of her, what remained worth his loyalty?

In rage, the demons scoured the land for scattered puppets, offering high rewards. The Immortal Sect, unwilling to yield, also began secretly buying puppets. Tempted by profit, puppets became walking treasures, while Painting City was powerless to protect them.

On this day, the high priest of Painting City, Tai Shi Changling, came again to the Nine Abyss Immortal Sect. His clan was dissatisfied with the growing “enslavement,” but the Priest’s Temple had no solution. Of the four puppet lords, Greed had died in battle, leaving Thought, Anger, and Infatuation to command the troops. All three despised the temple, leaving Changling unable to lead.

He was unwilling to establish a new puppet leader, so he sought favor with Nine Abyss. If the sect restrained its disciples from buying and selling puppets—even superficially—he could offer his people an explanation. The temple might recover some popularity.

Unexpectedly, none of the Nine Veins Palm Courtyard heads came to meet him.

The reason given: illness.

At the Yin-Yang Courtyard, Zai Shuanggui and Xi Yunjie greeted him.

Changling asked awkwardly: “Is the Yin-Yang Courtyard’s Xi Zhangyuan also ill?”

Zai Shuanggui coughed lightly. Xi Yunjie replied with feigned innocence: “Our head is unlike the others. Forgive us, High Priest. The tutor is truly sick.”

Changling’s anger flared, his liver aching. Zai Shuanggui glared at Yunjie, then smiled and invited Changling to the Mirage Tower.

There, only elders remained. Clearly, the sect’s highest authorities were concerned about the puppet leader’s betrayal and the warriors of the Priest’s Temple.

Changling’s face flushed, but the thirty-six elders remained cordial, covering for their willful courtyard head. He felt somewhat reassured and offered three puppets as gifts.

Unexpectedly, Zai Shuanggui declined.

Changling was baffled. Xu O had once gifted a girl, and Nine Abyss had accepted without hesitation.

Seeing his expression, Zai Shuanggui felt relieved. He preferred dealing with such men—their vision was far inferior to the puppet leader’s.

Indeed, Changling’s proposal of “mutual benefit” was brushed aside. The elders were warm, but spoke nothing of aiding Painting City.

That night, Wood Courtyard head Mu Kuangyang asked her master, Elder Fu Chunfeng: “Why not accept the puppets? They’re worth so much now.”

Fu Chunfeng, seated a full zhang away, replied: “Nine Abyss is the dragon head of the Immortal Sect. Puppets are deeply tied to demons. Even if we use them to continue bloodlines, it must be done secretly. The children born would only be disciples, lest tongues wag. Puppets may be rare and costly, but they remain commodities. Such gifts are dispensable to Nine Abyss.”

Mu Kuangyang nodded. “Then why show favor to Painting City?”

Fu Chunfeng explained patiently: “Tianquzi opposed aiding Painting City until he proposed relocating puppets from the Demon Holy Domain, with Nine Abyss arranging their settlement. He foresaw the consequences. Only by submitting to Nine Abyss, changing their clan name, erasing their demonic ties, could they be absorbed legitimately.”

Mu Kuangyang slapped his shoulder from afar. He winced in pain, half his body numb. She laughed loudly: “Master, you are truly farsighted!”

Fu Chunfeng silently activated the sect’s protective array, summoning the Medical Courtyard head…

Fu Chunfeng and Zai Shuanggui were opposites. If Tianquzi was Zai Shuanggui’s fortune, Mu Kuangyang was Fu Chunfeng’s torment.

Originally, he had not cared for her—a female disciple with decent talent. But during a trial, her weapon degraded his own, humiliating him. That trial became his lifelong shame.

Nine Abyss chose to cultivate her heavily. As her master, Fu Chunfeng was forced to remain by her side.

Before puppets emerged, female cultivators were highly sought. Only Mu Kuangyang was ignored.

A notorious seductress, after countless failed pursuits, she finally set her sights on him. Others could flee her advances, but Fu Chunfeng could not escape.

Three hundred years later, she had ground a fierce blade master into a calm elder. Sometimes he wondered—had he taught her, or had she tempered him?

Mu Kuangyang released his shoulder and asked suddenly: “Master, why did Tianquzi use forbidden arts?”

Fu Chunfeng had pondered this. “He is not reckless. There must be reason. Likely tied to Xu O.”

“Perhaps the Soul-Gathering Art?” she asked.

He nodded. “Not certain, but likely.”

She frowned. “He always despised puppets. Why save one?”

Fu Chunfeng replied: “Xu O was close to his disciple Xi Yunjie. Yunjie’s talent is rare. Tianquzi planning for him is not strange. And if puppets fall under his control, his path forward will face less resistance.”

“Path forward?” she asked.

Fu Chunfeng glanced at her careless demeanor and said no more. He rubbed his shoulder—this was surely an injury.

When Tianquzi’s external wounds healed, he briefly emerged from retreat.

Yu Lanzhao, Mu Kuangyang, and Buddhi joined to heal him. For a cultivator of his level, stagnation was most dangerous.

Yu Lanzhao and Buddhi worked earnestly. Mu Kuangyang, however, touched his back indiscriminately. Tianquzi struggled, clutching his robe. “Head Mu, please restrain yourself.”

Zai Shuanggui glared at her. She shrugged. “It’s been so long since I touched a man. I feel my gender fading! We’re close friends—let me touch a little!”

Tianquzi, already disliking contact, was mortified. Yu Lanzhao covered her face, sighing: “Tianquzi, today’s grace, you must remember deeply.”

She sat beside Mu Kuangyang, resigned.

Mu Kuangyang shifted her attention, leaving Buddhi in awe.

Zai Shuanggui was helpless. Tianquzi’s cultivation was too important to risk. Mu Kuangyang’s unruly nature matched her strength. Without alternatives, she was tolerated.

At last, the three stabilized his meridians. Yu Lanzhao helped Buddhi rise, saying sincerely: “Mu Kuangyang, I don’t know how Elder Fu endures you.”

She thought, then said: “Perhaps because he’s older than you.”

Even Zai Shuanggui glanced at Yu Lanzhao’s lower half. Yu Lanzhao flushed red, pointing angrily. “You… you…”

In Nine Abyss, the righteous sect, how could a head behave so crudely? Zai Shuanggui, as elder, could bear no more. “Kuangyang! Enough!”

She replied: “He is older. He’s over sixteen hundred years old.”

Everyone fell silent.

For the first time, Tianquzi wished to flee Bitter Bamboo Forest. But he soon returned to retreat.

Zai Shuanggui dismissed the others, then asked: “The puppet clan faces crisis. What do you think?”

Tianquzi answered simply: “Leave them be.”

Zai Shuanggui was not surprised. Tianquzi had always disliked the demon puppets. Xu O before, and now Tai Shi Changling—none of them could earn his favor.

He said quietly: “I know you dislike them. But the Yin-Yang Courtyard has not produced a truly gifted disciple in ten years.”

Tianquzi asked directly: “Does Master have a plan?”

Zai Shuanggui leaned closer. “Most puppets are now sold in secret. With Nine Abyss’s strength, acquiring a few pure-blooded ones would not be difficult. As head of the courtyard, should you not contribute a little for the sect’s future?”

Tianquzi froze, then understood. His gaze lowered, and he whispered a single word: “No.”

He rarely refused outright. But when he did, persuasion was futile.

Zai Shuanggui pressed on. “Even if your master asks you, will you not agree?”

Tianquzi’s face flushed red. “The sect is not mine alone. Why press me so hard? The Yin-Yang Courtyard has thousands of disciples. And Master, you are still in your prime…”

Before he finished, Zai Shuanggui leapt up, furious. “Wretch! Would you leave me, an old man, to such shame?” His anger faltered into laughter. He wanted to rebuke further, but seeing Tianquzi’s fleeting embarrassment, his heart softened.

He lowered his voice. “Why cling so tightly? Do you have someone in your heart?”

Someone in his heart? Tianquzi’s eyes dropped, silent for a long time.

Zai Shuanggui sighed. “If you refuse, I won’t force you. But there is another way.”

Tianquzi looked up.

Zai Shuanggui explained: “A puppet fetus need not be conceived through union. If you allow me to take some of your vital essence…”

Tianquzi removed his jade insignia and presented it with both hands. Zai Shuanggui fell silent. After a long pause, he asked softly: “Is it truly so serious?”

Tianquzi nodded gravely.

Zai Shuanggui left. Tianquzi escorted him to the edge of the Bitter Bamboo Forest, then revoked his access.

Alone, he returned to his chamber. He would begin his second retreat.

That person—what did she look like now? He told himself not to worry. With the Breath of Gods and Demons guarding her, in that remote mountain village she would be safe. The land was poor in spiritual energy; demons would never notice. He had even arranged for old allies to watch over her in secret.

Yet he could not stop thinking. The Seven Sages Ruler had left three hundred scars upon his body, each strike to bone and marrow, yet none had awakened him.

She had taken root in his barren memory, entwining him endlessly. He had no defense.

He had lived high above the clouds, with sun, moon, and stars offered to him freely. Family nurtured him, the sect relied on him, disciples revered and feared him.

He was long accustomed to being pursued, never needing to ask, never fearing refusal.

So when he spoke, he erred. His burning affection was forced into the cold shell of a sect master.

Inside, only a fragile softness remained. The more he thought of her, the more unbearable it became.

He sighed softly. The dark chamber echoed his sigh. No zither, no sword—only a piece of amber in his arms, its mulberry leaf eternally green.

He needed fifteen years to consolidate his cultivation. For an immortal, fifteen years was not long.

In the past, he had retreated countless times, thirty to fifty years at a stretch. But now, injured, stagnant, time seemed frozen.

Longing was poison. He drank it willingly, and found joy in the pain.

There were few memories to savor. He could not even speak of Xu O. But when he recalled the mulberry forest, the surprise melted his heart.

He had never been moved before. He did not know how to sever love. Because of this love, frost spread across his path, and the arc of his destiny bent into shadow.

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