Chapter 432: Yellow Essence

I grabbed Xiao Changsheng's shoulders tightly, overexcitement made me tremble uncontrollably.

"Xiao Changsheng, where did you see this Yellow Essence? Tell uncle quickly, where was it?"

My gaze burned hot as I stared at Xiao Changsheng's youthful face, my breathing quickened and my exhalations grew heavier. At that moment, only one thought kept circling in my mind: Zheng ge is saved, big sister-in-law is finally saved.

Xiao Changsheng scratched his little head, recalling carefully, then his chubby little hand pointed toward the temple's door.

"It's back there on the rear mountain..." Xiao Changsheng counted on his fingers, then gave me a detailed recollection again of where he had seen the Yellow Essence, and the approximate direction.

"Good, you take uncle there now!" Immediately, I shouldered my travel pack, picked up Xiao Changsheng, and ran off in the direction he pointed.

Overly excited, I failed to notice that when I lifted Xiao Changsheng, his eyes showed a complex look—somewhat tactful, somewhat desolate.

………………

"Xiao Changsheng, have we arrived?" I wiped the sweat from my forehead and asked the Xiao Changsheng in my arms.

Holding Xiao Changsheng, we set out from the ruined temple, passed through a long curtain cave, then climbed over many steep, uneven small slopes.

Xiao Changsheng directed me onward; as time passed, I realized the place he spoke of was not just far—it was practically on opposite sides of east and west. By the time we reached the spot he pointed to, I noticed the sky had gradually darkened.

"Uncle, it's just ahead not far!" Xiao Changsheng stretched out two little fingers and pointed to the not‑far‑ahead spot.

Not far ahead was a waterfall, torrential water pouring down from the mountaintop. To keep my travel pack and clothes dry, I could only step carefully, slowly crossing the rocks spaced here and there.

As I crossed a dense thicket, my eyes suddenly brightened, and I realized this place was a hidden paradise.

Yes, it was a hidden paradise; the moment I stepped onto the meadow, a breeze blew toward me, mingling with the fragrance of wild grasses. At that moment I felt as if I were deep in a flower‑filled Peach Blossom Spring. Here, besides all kinds of wild medicinal herbs, there were countless bright, dewy little flowers. Tall, straight sycamore trees, autumn chrysanthemums covering the hills, reeds swaying gracefully—a small spot that seemed to contain all things in the world.

All kinds of flowers and grasses that ought not to grow together thrived here in harmonious coexistence, their combination so natural that there was not a hint of discord.

Yet what was astonishing was that amid this lush green meadow lay a vacant patch; although the surrounding grass was lush and vibrant, full of vigor, there in the center stood a withered plant?

Indeed, it was a withered plant; its leaves resembled reeds but held no vitality—not only were the stems and stalks wilted as if scorched by the sun, even the edge leaves drooped limp. This withered plant stood half my height, utterly out of place among the surroundings.

Yet this plant gave me a strange illusion: the surrounding flora seemed to encircle it, serving it as a king, merely twining around it in humble, wholehearted submission.

"Um… Xiao Changsheng, is this the place you meant?" I scratched my head, asking the Xiao Changsheng beside me in bewilderment. Although there are many wild medicinal herbs here, there's not a trace of Yellow Essence at all!

Could the Yellow Essence be hiding? I thought that, when at the same moment another problem surfaced in my mind.

This place is at least two or three kilometers from that ruined temple; an adult walking would find it tiring, so how could a little child like Xiao Changsheng have such stamina?

Moreover, a child's memory could hardly be that good to memorize this winding nine‑turns‑eighteen‑bends route and reach the destination accurately. Even I doubt I could remember the path after one walk, let alone that Xiao Changsheng encountered the Yellow Essence at night.

In an instant, my hairs stood on end; the breeze blowing toward me seemed to turn into a bone‑chilling wind that made gooseflesh erupt all over my body.

Could it be… that Xiao Changsheng is a monster!

I furtively placed the Huaguang Seal behind me, striving to steady my emotions and show no trace of tension. Then I crouched, fixing both eyes on Xiao Changsheng, and asked solemnly:

"Xiao Changsheng……"

"Mm," Xiao Changsheng turned his head and locked eyes with me.

"Tell uncle, what exactly are you?" My palms were sweating; I was so nervous I felt at a loss, unable to stop thinking: if Xiao Changsheng really were a monster, what should I do, what should I do?

"Uncle……" Xiao Changsheng suddenly split his mouth open, giving me an innocent, beaming smile.

"Mm……" That pure smile dazed me.

"Next time, don't be so foolish?" Xiao Changsheng hooked my nose, and before I could react, he turned and walked away.

"Without a black dog's nose, even on a moonlit night you couldn't find me." As Xiao Changsheng walked away, he suddenly turned, and a bell‑like laugh rang out,

"Uncle, you're a good person!" The departing Xiao Changsheng said earnestly to me.

In my almost dazed stare, Xiao Changsheng's body gradually drifted away, then slowly merged into that withered plant.

"Uncle, hurry up, or the big monkey will come back!" Those were his last words to me before his silhouette vanished.

And after Xiao Changsheng's body merged into the withered plant, the already blackened, withered flora suddenly burst back into vigorous life, its leaves gradually shifting from gray‑black to a lush, dewy green.

And beneath the stem, there was evidently a palm‑sized piece of ginger that resembled a tiny infant; though a medicinal herb, it had taken on a human form—exactly the monster Xiao Changsheng had described to me in the ruined temple.

As I slowly approached that ginger, the familiar warm current flowed through me again. In that moment I finally understood everything.

I understood why I hadn't died after being poisoned; I understood why Xiao Changsheng could see the Mountain Ghost Hand's movements clearly even in pitch‑black night.

It turned out he was the Yellow Essence I had been seeking, he was the spirit of the sentient Yellow Essence. It was he who saved me with his own essence‑blood.

It must be so; otherwise, where would that warm current of connected bloodlines come from?

As I slowly approached him, that feeling grew stronger; at this moment a sense of helplessness welled up in my heart. Though I had come to seize the Yellow Essence, when it stood before my eyes I could not help but reach out to strike.

Xiao Changsheng's appearance and smile lingered before my eyes; that warm current, this inexplicable feeling, still flowed through me.

"Xiao Changsheng……" sobbed I, as my hand neared him, my tears fell uncontrollably.

No one understands how I feel now; I have met a child. The first time I saw him, I actually had the thought of starting a family and career, letting me mistakenly believe my future child would be like him. Recalling his tiger‑headed, tiger‑brained self, his face smeared with pastry crumbs in a sorry state, my heart felt so warm.

When my life hung by a thread, it was again he who used his own essence‑blood to revive me.

Spiritual beings differ from humans; cultivation is not easy, each drop of blood requires ages to replenish. I know he must have expended his essence‑blood to save me, so after returning to his true form he could neither speak nor move even a step.

Perhaps he does not wish to move; he is waiting for me to dig out his root‑core.

But Xiao Changsheng, you make it so I can hardly bring myself to strike. To dig out your heart is no different from digging out my uncle's heart.

I slumped to my knees, eyes blood‑red, tears streaming. Each time I gritted my teeth, drew the small knife, and moved toward Xiao Changsheng, that trembling hand ultimately fell limp.

Dong Yumin and Chen Zheng await my return to save them; as long as I bring back the Yellow Essence's root‑core, I can revive two lives. Yet you make me wonder how I could strike, for this so‑called Yellow Essence is merely an innocent, carefree child.

To save lives, I myself deprived a life. Tell me, is this truly right? How does my act differ from that of beasts?

My knife‑gripping hand already trembled…… that bright blade's flash pierces, and it is my heart that aches.