Chapter 48: Hui Siye

The rustling sounds behind him made Chen Shicheng's teeth ache slightly.

At the same time his heart rose up to his throat, and his brain involuntarily flashed countless terrifying scenes from horror movies.

This situation absolutely cannot be turned back!

He swallowed, then used Eight‑Step Chase Cicada to launch himself forward, intent on fleeing without looking back.

"Hey, little friend, why bother?"

But before his second foot touched the ground, the hoary voice sounded again in his ear, followed by a flash of multicolored light, and the heavens and space shifted.

When he finally came to his senses, his body was still in the same posture, now standing directly in front of the small shrine, its interior scene displayed clearly before him.

A statue of a mouse dressed in human clothes stood upright in the middle of the shrine, but it was incomplete; its neck had been severed by something, and the head lay on the ground.

The clay head was lifelike, angled directly at him, its faint smile giving off a chilling feeling.

Maintaining the running posture, Silence for a moment, Chen Shicheng nonchalantly lowered his legs, clasped his fists, and said with a smile, "It seems the senior is Hui Siye; what business brings you to seek help from a fifth‑level novice like me?"

As he spoke, he covertly used Eye of Bai Ze to appraise the statue before him.

【Lv.??? Hui Siye, Qi:???, Divine:???, Skill:???】

As expected, nothing surprising.

The small shrine before him enshrines Hui Siye! It seems he was already marked back when he was in Iron‑Forging Town; whether it was that old woman sending him here or La Tiao acting strangely, both were means to draw him in.

Only, why him? That old woman, though a bit aged, could have sent anyone; it wasn't difficult to come here, even the worst could have chosen another.

If that unknown‑level mouse were targeting a player, there are Yu Wei and Shuigu Tang in the town, so it could never have chosen a novice like him; what on his person makes him worth its scheming?

Chen Shicheng's thoughts rushed, his CUP nearly dry and smoking, and he hadn't expected Hui Siye's reasoning.

Nevertheless he wasn't worried; at worst he'd face a battle—I'm a player, who am I afraid of.

After reaching level five, his Lifespan had reached 120 years; dying once meant nothing to him.

If needed, when his level rises he'll return for revenge, making that rat learn what "mountain‑slashing, temple‑breaking" is, and what the Fourth Heavenly Calamity is! With that thought, his expression relaxed, and he calmly observed the shrine's statue, awaiting Hui Siye's explanation.

"."

Silence for a moment, the hoary voice sounded again, "What I seek is not difficult, but only those who have returned can accomplish it, which is why I specifically summoned the little friend."

"Those who have returned?"

It seems to be a special term for players, yet the question remains—why him?

Chen Shicheng asked with some doubt, "If it must be a player who has returned, there are surely others in Iron‑Forging Town, some of higher level—why me?"

"Because your blade Dao realm is the highest among all," Hui Siye said plainly, without mystifying.

"Blade Dao realm?" Chen Shicheng was taken aback; he had considered every reason, never expecting this to be the cause.

He snapped his fingers; a tiny blade aura shot out, carving a fissure in the ground, "Are you saying that all things can become blades, or that this blade aura is just a bit stronger than blade qi?"

"Both, and never underestimate the blade aura; it is far more important than you imagine."

Hui Siye's answer left Chen Shicheng puzzled; a blade aura seemed just a minor thing—its consumption nearly matched blade qi, and its power was modest.

Although it can slay wild beasts one‑blade‑one‑kill, against Yu Wei's unknown defensive gear it can't even breach defense—so how is it so much more important?

Nevertheless, since Hui Siye says so, perhaps his low level prevents him from grasping the blade aura's specifics; once his level rises, the aura might unleash its true power.

"Since the conversation has come this far, refusing to help you would make me seem ungrateful; first tell me what you need, and after this long talk you should reveal yourself—half‑hidden, half‑exposed isn't the attitude of someone asking for help."

Keeping that crucial information in mind, Chen Shicheng suppressed his upward smile while trying to seize the initiative.

Blade Dao cultivation.

Player.

The two special conditions locked Hui Siye's request onto him; no one else can help right now.

Before realizing Hui Siye wasn't dead, he felt a bit disappointed, thinking his trip might have been in vain; now the situation is somewhat subtle.

If he's the only one who can help, not squeezing some profit out of this would be a waste of the money spent on renting a mount.

"It is I, the old one, who have been negligent."

As Hui Siye's words faded, a semi‑transparent figure slowly emerged from the headless statue, strands of white mist swirling around it, giving an ethereal impression, while a faint sandalwood scent spread beneath the great tree.

However, regarding the size of this figure, Chen Shicheng had assumed Hui Siye's form matched the statue, but upon seeing it, he found Hui Siye was almost identical to the little mouse La Tiao had been chasing.

If one ignores the surrounding white mist and translucent silhouette, Hui Siye is essentially a small white mouse standing and walking.

"Pfft."

The hoary voice contrasted sharply with the tiny body, making Chen Shicheng burst into laughter; after finally recalling all the sorrows of his life, he then solemnly looked at the floating Hui Siye and said,

"Sorry, I just thought of something amusing. Now, tell me—how can I help you?"

Hui Siye knew his size was embarrassing, yet he hadn't expected Chen Shicheng to actually laugh out loud in person.

Suppressing the urge to roll his eyes, he settled at the shrine's entrance, curling his two tiny legs, "You saw it too; my situation is dire—I can basically say I'm already dead."

"Wait!" Chen Shicheng interrupted, "Aren't you alive and well?"

"My mortal body has perished; my nascent soul survives only thanks to the power of incense offerings. When those offerings are exhausted, I will truly die," Hui Siye said mournfully, gazing at the surrounding mist.

(End of Chapter)