Jianghu Demolition Squad

Between Buddha and Demon (Part Fourteen)

Mo Wen found solace in Bai Sang’s words, yet she remained terrified of her own power. She never overly explored the uniqueness of her body, fearing that probing too deep might trigger a taboo from which there was no return.

Back at the Tomb of King Cheng, when she used her blood to control the Gu, she inexplicably found herself psychically connected to them, guiding them naturally.

But controlling the Gu within a human body was different from handling ordinary Gu insects. The Gu inside a human is greedier, always seeking to take something from its host. If she couldn’t control the Gu, then the Gu would control her.

When Mo Wen obtained that scroll, it described methods for expelling Gu, but it was actually a technique for manipulating living Gu.

Initially, when she found that half of the parchment, she held onto a sliver of hope. But when she saw that the actual method was no different from what she had done unconsciously years ago, it felt like standing at the edge of a cliff with a rotting bridge as the only way across. Either she would step onto it and fall into the abyss, or remain stuck where she was.

This realization nearly broke her.

So, when Qing Jiu suffered another Gu attack and fell unconscious, Mo Wen couldn’t delay any longer. Facing the inevitable, she prepared the medicinal herbs and surgical tools, entering Qing Jiu’s room with a resolve as if she were heading to her own death.

Everything had to go perfectly. Bai Sang and Yu’er stayed inside the room to monitor, while others kept watch outside, including Xin Chou who peered in from over the wall.

Qing Jiu lay on the bed, weakened by the Gu attack. Mo Wen approached her bedside, and Qing Jiu patted her hand resting by the bed.

In the past, she despised fate, claiming that everything in this world was predetermined was nonsense. What had the Lin family done to deserve such a catastrophic fate?

But now, she had no choice but to say to Mo Wen, “Do what you can, and leave the rest to fate.”

Mo Wen’s face was expressionless, her gaze fixed on Qing Jiu, her demeanor unusually serious. Qing Jiu, pale and weak, offered a faint smile. “My fate has never been good. If I die here, it’s not your fault.”

Qing Jiu turned her head and glanced at Yu’er beside her.

It was finally her turn. Fate had a way of toying with people. She had spent years cursing her own survival, forced to witness the deaths of her loved ones. Now, it seemed fate had finally heard her pleas, ready to claim her life, and she found herself clinging to this world, reluctant to let go.

She really didn’t want to go.

Yu’er’s eyes met hers, filled with unspoken words. She couldn’t bring herself to say, “Mo Wen will definitely save you.” She had rarely seen Mo Wen so close to breaking. Everyone had their own sorrows, turning into scars that bled when touched.

She didn’t want to add to Mo Wen’s pressure, knowing she was already overwhelmed with fear.

Mo Wen had already begun, inserting silver needles into Qing Jiu’s acupoints. She said, “You’re underestimating me again. I will save you.”

As another needle was inserted, Qing Jiu drifted into a heavy drowsiness, her hearing growing faint.

“You might sleep for a while,” Mo Wen murmured, “By the time you wake up, Yan Li and the others should be back, and all troubles would have passed… go to Yangzhou… listen… you… buried the wine…”

Her voice grew fainter until her consciousness sunk into darkness, feeling nothing.

Mo Wen administered two needles that put Qing Jiu into a state of suspended animation, then loosened her sash. With only her undergarments on, Qing Jiu’s chest was exposed, revealing a scar that looked like a worm nestled on her skin. Yu’er caught sight of the scar, and her heart clenched. No matter how many times she saw it, it pained her, feeling how close death had been.

Mo Wen said, “Yu’er, give me Si Ming.”

Yu’er untied Si Ming and handed it to her. Mo Wen took it, heated the blade in the fire until it was hot, then waited for it to cool. With a swift and decisive motion, she sliced across Qing Jiu’s chest.

The divine blade was sharp, slicing through Qing Jiu’s skin as if through butter, creating a long, thin wound across her chest, from which blood immediately surged.

Mo Wen stood up, taking a deep breath, and removed her forehead ribbon. She used Si Ming to make a small cut on her own palm, then picked up a silver needle, dipped it in her blood, and inserted it next to Qing Jiu’s wound. Eleven more needles followed, forming a precise pattern around the gash.

After completing the procedure, Mo Wen knelt by the bed, resting one hand on Qing Jiu’s wrist, and closed her eyes.

Mo Wen’s lips moved silently, uttering words that could not be heard. A small bead of blood formed at the top of each needle, trickling down into Qing Jiu’s body.

Yu’er watched, her breath catching in her throat. Qing Jiu’s blood flowed freely from the wound on her chest, a thin but steady stream.

Mo Wen remained motionless, her face unreadable, giving no indication of how long this process would take. If it went on for an hour or two, Qing Jiu would bleed to death. Even a few minutes could weaken her significantly.

Yu’er’s heart ached for Qing Jiu, wondering how they would ever replenish the lost blood.

After a short while, Mo Wen’s breathing grew rapid, and the veins in her neck turned blood-red, appearing as if they had a life of their own, crawling towards her face.

Bai Sang’s face changed, and she closed her eyes with sorrow, but decisively drew Mo Wen’s dagger, Yan Shou.

Yu’er saw this and understood immediately, overwhelmed with grief, feeling as if she had died herself, her heart sinking into hell, suffering unbearable torment.

Tears welled up in her eyes, overflowing as her gaze fell upon Qing Jiu’s still form on the bed.

Her mind went blank, overwhelmed by sorrow.

Qing Jiu, my lifetime’s worth of tears are shed for you, yet you’re still leaving me.

Suddenly, Mo Wen pulled her hand away, the abrupt motion causing her to fall back, landing on the floor. As she struggled to sit up, the markings on her forehead glowed a vibrant crimson, her eyes mirroring the color, unnaturally bright.

“I did it! I did it!” she cried, her voice trembling with excitement. “The Gu is dead!”

She was overtaken with excitement, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Mo Wen looked at Bai Sang and declared, “Shishu, I didn’t lose control, I am still me!”

Mo Wen tried to stand twice and fell back each time, as if she didn’t know how to use her limbs, but she remained ecstatic, “Yu’er, I saved her, she’s okay, she’ll be okay from now on!”

Yu’er was stunned for a moment, then overwhelmed by the sudden shift from despair to bliss, her heart ached from the abrupt change.

Bai Sang exhaled in relief, putting away Yan Shou, intending to help Mo Wen up and then to stitch up Qing Jiu’s wound.

As Bai Sang crouched beside her, Mo Wen’s expression suddenly shifted to one of terror. She covered her ears, murmuring, “Stop it! Make it stop!”

Mo Wen, usually not one to sweat, was now drenched in it.

Bai Sang couldn’t help but cry out, “Qingyan!”

Mo Wen’s eyes suddenly turned violent, and she yelled outside, “Make it stop!”

Outside, Hua Lian anxiously pressed against the door, asking, “What’s wrong, Mo Wen? What do you want to stop?”

Bai Sang held Mo Wen in her arms as she restlessly squirmed, burying her head in Bai Sang’s chest.

Yuer’s ears twitched, and she said, “It’s the sound of insects!”

Bai Sang said, “There are many insect and animals in Xuhuai Valley, but the surrounding plants repel them, preventing them from approaching the residences. Besides, it’s already winter; how could there still be insect sounds?”

Hua Lian, from outside, confirmed, “There really is the sound of insects.” He listened intently, detecting noise from a distance.

Yu’er’s face suddenly turned pale, “Wu Chang?!” The insect sounds she recalled from the Mingjian Manor were exactly like this.

Upon hearing this name, Bai Sang’s heart sank. Mo Wen, in her confusion, gripped Bai Sang’s waist fiercely, her strength so intense it seemed she might snap Bai Sang in half.

Bai Sang groaned in pain. Seeing Mo Wen change, Yu’er didn’t stop to ponder why these insect sounds were occurring here; she swiftly moved behind Mo Wen, spun her sword sheath, and struck the back of Mo Wen’s neck.

However, Mo Wen’s acupoints were unlike those of ordinary people. The strike did not render her unconscious; instead, it loosened her grip on Bai Sang, and she turned and struck out a palm strike at Yu’er.

Caught off guard, Yuer was pushed back a step by the force of the blow.

With Bai Sang free, she took advantage of Mo Wen’s distraction and quickly inserted a silver needle behind Mo Wen’s ear.

Familiar with Mo Wen’s unusual acupoints, Bai Sang’s needle made Mo Wen immediately go limp and faint in her arms.

Drenched in cold sweat and gasping for breath, Bai Sang struggled to her feet to stitch Qing Jiu’s wound.

Meanwhile, outside, there was a sudden outcry and frantic footsteps.

Yu’er frowned and called out, “Hua Lian, what’s happening?”

Several elders, along with Zelan, Zizhi, and some young disciples, rushed into the courtyard, exclaiming, “Valley Master, something terrible has happened!”

Inside, Bai Sang was focused, undisturbed by the commotion outside. She swiftly sitched Qing Jiu’s wound, applied medicine, bandaged it, and removed the needle.

Hua Lian responded, “Elders, please don’t worry. Valley Master Bai is treating someone right now and cannot be disturbed. If there’s something urgent, let us know and we can discuss it together. If you don’t mind, discuss it with us.”

One elder, nearly out of breath, exclaimed, “There’s no time to wait! Wu Chang and his damned creatures have crossed the lake to attack our Xuhuai Valley. Brave wulin heroes, please, for the sake of our valley’s dedication to saving lives and doing good, protect the Valley Master and these young disciples and help them escape through the back mountain. We will be forever grateful and will repay you in the next life!”

Hua Lian said, “There’s no need to talk about abandoning the valley and fleeing. Don’t worry, we’ll help you drive those bastards away!”

The elder waved his hands, gasping for air, “Those bastards are using walking corpses, they’re fierce and unstoppable. They’ve already injured several of our disciples. We don’t have many disciples who can fight. Those creatures are immune to medicine and poison. Even with a few heroes, it’s hard to fight off so many.”

Hua Lian was astonished, “Walking corpses again? These things can be burned with fire.”

Zizhi added, “No, Wuchang must have used some new method. Now those things aren’t afraid of fire anymore.”

The elder urgently spoke, “This is not the time for idle talk. Hurry and leave before they get here. You need to go quickly. Wu Chang is ruthless and doesn’t care about lives. Our valley is doomed if they’ve targeted us. We only ask you to save a lineage for Xuhuai Valley.”

The door swung open, and Bai Sang stepped out, her expression composed, “Everyone, please take these young disciples and escape through the back of the valley.”

Yu’er emerged, cradling Qing Jiu in her arms, and called out, “Xin Chou.”

Xin Chou responded, “Chou is here, Chou ishere.”

Yu’er handed Qing Jiu to him; he extended both palms together to catch her. Then, Hua Lian brought out Mo Wen, questioning, “Why is Mo Wen unconscious?”

“It must be the effect of Wu Chang’s insect sounds!”

“How could that be? She was fine back at the Mingjian Manor. Damn that Wu Chang!” Hua Lian cursed angrily, breaking her usual restraint. The more she swore, the more fluently the curses flowed.

Hua Lian also handed Mo Wen to Xin Chou, whose broad palms and thick arms could hold both of them comfortably.

Yu’er instructed, “Take good care of them.”

Xin Chou nodded firmly, “Yes!”

Bai Sang said, “Elder Huang, these young disciples don’t know the way through the back of the valley. You lead them.”

Elder Huang replied, “But Valley Master, you know the way. I’m old and weak; I’ll only slow them down.”

Bai Sang asserted, “As the Valley Master of Xuhuai Valley, I can’t abandon my disciples and escape alone.”

The elders were dismayed, saying, “Wu Chang is mad! He’s ambushed our valley, and who knows what evil plans he has? We can’t stop him. If you fall into their hands, they’ll show no mercy, and our entire valley will be doomed!”

Yu’er felt uneasy inside. The timing of Wu Chang’s ambush was too coincidental; he had been concealing his tracks but suddenly appeared to attack Xuhuai Valley, clearly well-prepared.

A scream echoed from a distance, and Xin Chou announced, “Master, they’re coming.”

The group exited through the courtyard gate and saw two disciples fending off a dark purple-skinned walking corpse that roared, seemingly as a threat, displaying more humanity than the creatures encountered at Mingjian Manor.

Yu’er directed, “Xin Chou, go now!”

Bai Sang also ordered, “Zelan, Zizhi, take the disciples and leave!”

“Master…” The disciples hesitated, unwilling to leave.

Bai Sang commanded, “Obey!”

“Yes…” they responded.