Chapter 43: The Path to Immortality

Fang Ai had transformed into a shadowy wraith.

“She has become a malignant curse,” the old Daoist said. “As long as she approaches her enemy under the cover of night, she can attach herself to him. A talking face will appear on his back. If she wishes to claim his life, she need only direct her resentment into his heart and veins. Of course, before taking his life, she may act as a vengeful ghost, frightening him out of his wits and venting her anger. Once a life is claimed, she can leave his body, become a curse once more, and seek out her next target, continuing until all her enemies are dead. Once her vengeance is complete, the curse will dissolve, and when her great revenge is accomplished, she too will be reduced to ashes.”

The smoky figure nodded slowly.

The old Daoist continued, “When your revenge is complete, someone will come to collect payment. That’s all. Go now.”

The black smoke spun and swiftly darted toward the magistrate’s office in Jiao Prefecture.

As a curse, Fang Ai had originally intended to storm directly into the Dong residence and possess Dong Zhanchu to take his life. Unexpectedly, as soon as she drifted to the top of the Dong estate’s wall, she was nearly obliterated by the protective spell barrier set there. Only then did she realize that the Dong residence was surrounded by such wards; as a human she had never noticed, but now that she was a supernatural being, there was no way she could break in. Dong Zhanchu, unless he had business outside, might not leave the house even once a year. The magistrate, too, barely ever stepped outside, as the official office was at the front and the private residence at the back. When would she ever have the chance to possess them?

There was nothing she could do but wait in bitter patience.

By day, she shrank into a crack in the wall across the street to avoid the sunlight; by night, she circled the Dong residence endlessly, never finding an opportunity. As the fateful fifteenth day of the seventh month drew nearer, her anxiety grew ever more acute, yet she was helpless.

One night, a fire broke out in the Dong residence. As she watched from outside the wall, she saw a dark figure leap from the top and quickly hurry away. It did not look human. Her curiosity piqued, she followed.

She followed all the way to a small courtyard in Youdu, the capital. That little courtyard was also surrounded by strange protective wards. Shrouded in black mist, she clung to the wall and stole a glance inside.

*

Upon hearing this, Qingyin suddenly understood. “Oh, I remember now! So those black handprints were left by her!”

Before she and Mo Tu had set out for the capital, she had found two black handprints on the wall of the small courtyard. At the time, she’d thought the prints were slender, like a woman’s hands. She never expected that they were actually Fang Ai’s, the one she had been searching for so desperately. Such a strange and fateful coincidence—it was truly heartbreaking.

The face on Dong Zhanchu’s back spoke: “It was I who left them. That night, I eavesdropped on your conversation and learned that Miss Qingtan was still alive, and that you had stolen the sect’s records to investigate the massacre of the Zhou family. I was deeply shocked. Fang Ai, blinded by selfishness, was concerned only with saving her father, and in helping evil, caused the deaths of over a hundred members of the Zhou family. How could such a sin ever be atoned for? After overhearing from the wall, I wished only to lure the murderers—Dong father and son—before the young lady.”

Qingyin’s eyes brimmed with tears. She gritted her teeth and said, “Fang Ai, I could kill you a thousand times and it would not be enough.”

The grotesque face sobbed, “Even if you flayed me alive, it would not be enough to atone.”

Qingyin closed her eyes. “The suffering you now endure is hardly less than being flayed alive. Fang Ai, you brought Dong Zhanchu before me for your own reasons, didn’t you?”

The strange face replied, “Yes, I did. After Dong Zhanchu tried to strangle me in the wilderness, I realized—no matter how sweet his words, I could never again entrust Yin’er’s life to someone so weak. Now, I see I was right. He did once wish to save Yin’er, but in the end, he valued his own life far more.

“That night, spying from the courtyard, I saw that you had treasures from the immortal realm at your side, and I dared to hope that you might be able to save Yin’er’s life. ...Do with Fang Ai as you please, just please, save Yin’er.”

Qingyin sighed. “In your state, what punishment could I possibly inflict upon you? Yin’er is innocent. I will do all I can.”

Upon hearing this, the strange face wept uncontrollably. “But after this revenge, Fang Ai’s soul will be destroyed, and she will not reincarnate. If there is a next life, Fang Ai would be your servant for eternity, and still not make amends.”

Qingyin waved her hand with her eyes closed. “Enough. You were used. I won’t speak of it again.” She sighed deeply. Then she asked, “But how did you finally manage to possess Dong Zhanchu?”

The strange face said, “After returning from the capital to Jiao Prefecture, I discovered at last that there was a river not far from the Dong residence, with a canal leading directly into their grounds. I entered the water, let the current carry me into the estate, and from underground, entered the well.

“When Dong Zhanchu made tea with the well water, I hid in the tea and entered his body, attaching myself to him. That’s how this monstrous face formed on his back. Once I became a face, I could speak, and under the pretense of saving Yin’er, I led him step by step to the ‘Half-Immortal’ in the capital, bringing him to you.”

“So that’s how it was.” Qingyin had always suspected there was some connection between Fang Ai and Dong Zhanchu, but had no idea the entanglement of love and hate ran so deep.

Everything that had come before, and all that had followed, seemed both coincidence and fate. Destiny’s workings are truly mysterious. Fang Ai was actually a spy sent by the Dong family into her own household, scheming to seize the treasure hidden in the secret room. The treasure must have been stolen already—where was it now? Was it hidden within the Dong residence? That so-called treasure had brought about the destruction of her entire family; it was no treasure, but a curse. What could possibly be so valuable that the killer would slaughter every member of the Zhou family to obtain it?

Her thoughts were in turmoil, her emotions surging, and she sat in a daze, fingertips turning cold.

Mo Tu had listened in silence the entire time, his gaze resting on her pale face, a look of silent tenderness in his eyes. He clasped her hand in his, warming her fingers, and suddenly spoke: “Now all is clear. Fang Ai, you must not reveal the true identity of our young lady. We still need to use the Dong father and son to uncover the identity of their ‘master.’ For now, we must spare his life until the truth is known, and then deal with him as we see fit.”

Fang Ai assented; she closed her eyes as if falling asleep.

Mo Tu flicked his finger from a distance at Dong Zhanchu’s head. Dong Zhanchu’s body shuddered, and he gasped as if waking from a dream. He spun around in confusion, looked at Qingyin and Mo Tu, and cried out in panic, “What’s on my back?”

The two of them stared at him coldly, offering no answer.

Under such a gaze, Dong Zhanchu felt his blood run cold. He dared not ask further, but turned and fled in haste. Back in his own room, he fetched a bronze mirror, set it upright on the table, and turned his back to it, craning his neck to look.

When he saw that monstrous face on his back, it was as if he had been struck by lightning. He froze, mouth agape, unable to utter a sound, unable to move. Not until the grotesque face opened its eyes and gave him a terrifying smile did he scream, bolting out the door, desperate to escape the thing on his back. As he ran, it struck him in despair that the face was attached to him—no matter how fast he ran, it was useless.

Yet he could not help but flee in blind panic, his mind on the verge of collapse.

He ran all the way to the demon tree, pounding on the trunk and shouting, “Father, Father, save me!”

The magistrate’s figure slowly seeped from the tree trunk, his face like a withered corpse. In a hoarse voice, he asked, “Have you found Yin’er?”

Dong Zhanchu was too distraught to speak of Yin’er. He sobbed, “Father, look at my back—what’s happened to me?” As he spoke, he turned around. The magistrate’s gaze landed on his back, his face full of horror. “A malignant curse...”

Dong Zhanchu stammered, “What is a malignant curse? How can it be removed?”

A gleam flashed in the magistrate’s eyes. “This curse is the manifestation of Fang Ai’s resentment. It’s a petty, troublesome thing—just tricks and frightening words, nothing truly harmful, not a great threat. Right now, all my power is being used to sustain your body; I don’t have the energy to remove the curse. Once we find Yin’er and the demon fruit tree recovers its strength, removing it will be easy. For now, just ignore her. Whatever she says, pretend not to hear, and she’ll be powerless against you.”

Hearing his father’s words, Dong Zhanchu’s heart settled. “I just went to see the immortal, but didn’t see Yin’er.”

The magistrate said, “Yin’er must have been hidden away. She has spirit beasts at her side; we cannot face her head-on. We can only force her to hand Yin’er over. Let us proceed as we planned.”

He took his leave to search for Yin’er. The magistrate watched his son’s retreating form with lifeless eyes. He saw the face on his son’s back open its eyes and give him a vicious, knowing smile.

Fang Ai had clearly seen through his intentions. How could a malignant curse not be deadly? This art was meant to claim lives. But with the demon tree wounded, he could not stray far from it, and still needed Dong Zhanchu to run about finding Yin’er.

As for whether Dong Zhanchu could survive the curse... he could not be bothered with that now.

Better to save his own skin before worrying about anything else.

As Dong Zhanchu walked a few dozen paces away, his figure flickered and vanished into thin air. The magistrate’s lips curled into a sinister smile.

*

Qingyin stood beneath the magnolia tree by the pavilion and asked softly, “Magnolia, you saw everything, didn’t you?”

The leaves of the magnolia were utterly still, not a whisper of sound.

Qingyin sighed. “If you don’t wish to speak, so be it. We must keep up the pretense and protect Yin’er. After midnight, when all is settled, you may reveal yourself again.”

The day passed quietly. Dusk fell. Qingyin nestled lazily in Mo Tu’s arms, but her eyes held a lingering unease as she glanced around. Mo Tu, too, seemed relaxed, but his pointed ears stood alert, missing no sound or movement. Suddenly, his ears twitched, and his gaze swept to the end of the corridor.

A hunched figure was staggering toward them, shuffling with trembling steps.

Author’s note: There have been many work events lately, I’m exhausted, and updates have slowed. Please forgive me, and don’t abandon me! /(tot)/~~

Half-Immortal Seal 43 – Complete!