Chapter 44: Reduced to Ashes and Smoke

Governor Dong, leaning on his cane with his single arm, walked out of the pavilion and stood trembling outside. Qingyin and Motu remained lazily entwined together, their gazes fixed on Governor Dong with open mockery.

He coughed a few times before rasping, "The two of you, hand over Yin’er."

Qingyin sneered and ignored him. Motu toyed idly with a lock of her hair, his expression growing ever more detached and indifferent, as if this decrepit old man were already dead.

Governor Dong’s face darkened. "You two think only to pity the child and lend a helping hand, but you don’t realize you’ve brought disaster upon yourselves. You disregard me, but do you know who the true immortal master of this ginseng fruit tree is? If anything happens to the tree, the immortal master will not spare you."

Qingyin’s eyes sparkled. "Oh? Who is this immortal master? Tell us, so we may see for ourselves."

Governor Dong refused to answer, a venomous smile twisting his lips. "With just a flick of a finger, he could erase you from existence. There is no old grudge nor new feud between us. Hand over Yin’er and beg the immortal master for mercy, and he will let you go."

Qingyin’s eyes iced over instantly. Her voice was cold: "No old grievance—no new feud, is it?"

Governor Dong felt her hatred pierce him like a blade, and he paused, scrutinizing the woman before him. She seemed familiar, though he couldn’t recall from where.

Qingyin, supported by Motu’s hand, rose and stood at the edge of the pavilion, looking down on Governor Dong with a murderous expression.

Governor Dong sensed something was wrong, though he couldn’t say what. His clouded eyes filled with confusion as he tried to recall all the enemies in his memory—there were too many to count.

He squinted. "Who are you?"

Qingyin replied, "Let me ask you—on the night five years ago when the Zhou family was slaughtered, who was the 'master' who arrived at the scene with you?"

Governor Dong’s body trembled. "So you are—Zhou Qingyin, the missing daughter of the Zhou family."

Hatred blazed in Qingyin’s eyes. "I could have left, letting this monster rot by itself. I stayed only to witness your desperate struggle, and then to take your life with my own hands."

Governor Dong retreated step by step, sneering. "If you destroy the ginseng fruit tree, the master will sense it and come for your lives. Don’t force things to that point."

Seeing him attempting to leave, Qingyin shouted, "Stop! Who is your master, really? What is the treasure you coveted from the Zhou family?" She leapt down to pursue him, but the ground shifted beneath her feet, and before she could withdraw, it was too late.

With a sudden roar, a dark serpent-like creature broke through the earth, hurling Qingyin into the air with immense force. She spun midair, only to be caught at the waist and lowered gently to the ground. Opening her eyes, she saw, as expected, her big cat.

Motu gathered her into his arms, his sleeve shielding her face from the swirling sand. Both fixed their gaze on the creature erupting from the soil—a thing several feet thick, its base rooted underground, its upper end twisting through the air like a giant snake. Its surface was rough and ugly, tapering toward the tip, with no sign of eyes or nose.

The tip of the "giant snake" quivered in midair, then lunged at their position. Motu, holding Qingyin, shifted to dodge. But Qingyin raised her hand and shot an arrow, shattering the tip and releasing a foul mist.

Motu said, "You can only shoot three arrows per hour. Save them; leave these trifles to me."

"But aren’t we forbidden to use magic?" she asked.

A sharp golden gleam flashed in Motu’s eyes. "Such trivial monsters require no magic—just a bit of effort." He set her down, grasped her hand with his left, and picked up a dry branch with his right.

Qingyin eyed his makeshift weapon with worry. Glancing into the distance, she saw Governor Dong had vanished. "Where did that old monster flee? We haven’t finished questioning him." More twisted creatures emerged from the surrounding earth, advancing upon them.

A chill ran through Qingyin. "What are these things?"

Motu answered, "Tree roots. The demon tree’s roots have spread beneath the entire Dong estate. They can emerge from anywhere—be careful. If they entangle you, they’ll drag you underground."

"The tree is the demon, and the roots are Governor Dong’s tentacles," Motu explained.

By now, several roots had reached them. Motu swung the dry branch, slicing through the air with a sharp sound. Its tip unleashed a fierce black wind, severing the demonic roots instantly. The broken roots screeched like dying beasts, writhing grotesquely on the ground.

A root erupted beneath their feet. Motu grabbed Qingyin and leapt, severing it midair before landing atop the pavilion. Qingyin spotted a root winding toward the magnolia tree and, in a panic, shot another arrow, destroying it.

The little pavilion beneath their feet was shattered by the underground roots.

Motu moved her to the magnolia tree, wielding his branch. Any root within fifty feet was instantly cut down.

Soon, the assault of the roots weakened. They retreated underground, screeching as they withdrew. Qingyin asked, "Has the demon tree been defeated?"

Motu sneered. "What use is bluster? It’s a lowly demon—challenging us was its own undoing."

Qingyin gleefully patted his head. "Motu, you’re amazing!"

He shot her a glare, but pride and joy shone in his eyes.

Qingyin looked up at the stars. "Midnight is near. The old monster should perish soon. A pity—we didn’t learn who his master is."

As she sighed, she suddenly felt the branch beneath her grow hot. Motu sensed it too and pulled her from the tree.

Standing below, they watched as flames erupted from the magnolia’s leaves.

Qingyin cried out in horror, "Magnolia!"

The magnolia tree shuddered, then transformed, tossing the baby in its arms toward them. Qingyin hurried to catch him. Startled, Yin’er wailed loudly.

Ignoring his cries, she looked frantically at Magnolia—who stood there, blue flames spreading quickly across her clothes and hair. Magnolia slapped at her body in panic, but it was futile. She rolled on the ground, screaming in agony, unable to extinguish the fire.

Qingyin, afraid to risk the child, cried to Motu, "What’s happening? Save her—save her!"

Motu, disregarding the ban on using magic, formed a spell and summoned a column of water from the lotus pond, pouring it precisely over Magnolia.

Yet the blue flames continued to burn, unaffected by water.

Alarmed, Motu tried several fire-extinguishing spells, but none worked. Desperate, he rushed forward and slapped at the flames, only to find Magnolia’s body scalding hot, though the fire itself had no heat.

"This is an illusion—the real burning is not Magnolia’s body!"

Qingyin watched in terror as Magnolia writhed on the ground, her clothes in tatters, skin cracked and blackened, and cried in despair, "What are you talking about?"

Sweat beaded on Motu’s brow. "It’s the magnolia tree’s true body that’s burning! These flames are only a phantom. Here, no matter what we do, we cannot put them out!"

Qingyin stamped her feet, weeping. "What do we do? What do we do?"

Motu was helpless. Even with magical travel, they couldn’t reach the capital in time to save the tree. He placed his hand over Qingyin’s eyes and sighed, "Don’t look."

She struggled, but he refused to let go. Kneeling toward Magnolia, tears streamed through his fingers.

The blue fire burned ever fiercer. Motu averted his gaze, unable to bear watching the sweet tree spirit who had accompanied them for years turn to ash.

Amidst the flames, Magnolia uttered a final, agonized cry: "Dong—Zhan—chu—"

Motu spoke softly, "Magnolia, we cannot save you. Dong Zhanchu will die—go peacefully, do not carry your hatred into the next life."

Magnolia’s body dissolved into dust and vanished in silence. Qingyin knelt trembling, unable to open her eyes even when Motu removed his hand. He embraced her shoulders, murmuring, "I’m sorry—I couldn’t save her."

"Dong Zhanchu. Dong Zhanchu." She repeated the name, teeth clenched in fury.

"It was him. Governor Dong forced Magnolia to reveal herself, and made Dong Zhanchu use sorcery to burn her tree body in the capital." Supporting Qingyin as she stood, Motu said grimly, "Come, let’s avenge Magnolia."

Beneath their feet, demonic roots stirred, and giant rat spirits surged around them, their bloodshot eyes fixed on the infant in Qingyin’s arms.

Yet not a root nor rat dared approach. Around Motu, golden light flickered, enveloping Qingyin and the child.

It was a protective barrier infused with divine power. One bold rat rushed forward, only to be sliced into pieces by the golden light.

Ignoring the creatures, they headed straight for the clearing in the bamboo grove.

Governor Dong, perched atop a tree, was startled to see Motu summon the divine barrier. From his observations, the divine beast had always avoided using magic—now, with no hesitation, he felt a surge of fear. Seeing Yin’er in Qingyin’s arms, his heart filled with a primal, bloody hunger. Midnight was here; he had to consume the infant’s blood immediately.

The demon tree summoned all its creatures in a relentless wave, with one goal—Governor Dong’s own grandson, Yin’er.

Author’s note: I’m exhausted and don’t love it anymore.

Half-Immortal Seal 44: Ashes to Ashes, updated and complete!