Chapter 42: Human Hearts, Jiao Souls

Everyone turned back, only to see He Bi miserably sprawled on the shore, as if he had exhausted all his strength; his moon-white Daoist robe, which should have borne an immortal's grace, was now completely soaked in mud, clinging tightly to his body, making his steps difficult.

He Bi's face was pallid, his lips bloodless, his eyelids swollen; at a glance one could tell he had been soaking in the water for a long time, and he was still trembling slightly, unable to pluck off even the few strands of waterweed hanging from his head.

This miserable sight truly aroused pity; he looked at Wei Yuzhu, tears streaming before he could speak: "Senior Sister, save me, our fellow disciples...."

"What happened?! Tied up?!" Wei Yuzhu drew her Elixir-Containing Sword and placed it across Yun Tingliao's neck, "Was it you? Speak!"

Yun Tingliao frowned, his peach-blossom eyes dubiously scanning Wei Yuzhu: "Are you alright? I've been with you all night; what else could I have done...."

"Not seen all night, Senior Sister actually found another such handsome dao companion! She completely disregards their lives! Humph! She's utterly unworthy to be their senior sister! He Bi felt chilled, his trembling worsening: "Senior Sister… first, please help me… okay?"

"Yes yes yes! He Bi still had half his body soaking in the lake! Wei Yuzhu and Shi Ran hurried to help him up; He Bi took a breath and gazed wistfully at Wei Yuzhu: "Senior Sister, do you know what sort of storm we endured while you were out enjoying yourself last night....

"Smack!" Wei Yuzhu slapped He Bi hard across the face: "Only a ghost would go carousing! If you can't speak plainly, I'll keep slapping until you do!"

"Damn it, that hurts! He Bi and Yun Tingliao furtively touched their cheeks; He Bi dared not spout nonsense any longer, lamenting: "Since Senior Sister forbids me to speak, I won't—just pity those fellow disciples!"

"What happened to them?" Wei Yuzhu's tears instantly welled up: "What should we do? They all followed me out for training, yet now I can't bring them all back intact; I let down my master, my uncle, and the elder who entrusted this to me—but rest assured, I will surely avenge them!"

Wei Yuzhu rattled on nonstop; He Bi couldn't get a word in, jumping about anxiously as he saw her growing angrier, about to strike Yun Tingliao—Shi Ran grabbed her hand, crying, "Senior Sister, first let He Bi Senior Brother finish speaking! Then act, it's not too late!"

He Bi: "Yes yes yes, I mean the fellow disciples were locked up by the villagers—it has nothing to do with this person, uh, this Yaojiefu's affair!"

As it turned out, they were also just lucky—Yun Tinghan had been scouting the area for beautiful women to detoxify her third brother, when she happened upon two sects training here; on the Cloud Boat there were three female cultivators, each a top-notch beauty, and she immediately harbored wicked thoughts.

But she was only interested in beautiful women, so she did nothing to the unconscious He Bi; instead, fearing that minor sprites might harm him, she scattered a circle of sprite powder around him to keep any careless sprites from bumping into him.

After He Bi woke from his nap, he couldn't find Shi Ran and assumed she had run off to play, heading back to the camp first. He didn't think much of it, hunted two small flower sprites and leisurely walked back, coincidentally meeting Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue along the way, serving as a super-bright kerosene lamp.

The three decided to return to the Cloud Boat's encampment to wait, but unexpectedly ran into a village woman.

Although she was a village woman, likely nourished by the spiritual aura of Flood Dragon Lake Village, she had delicate skin, red lips and white teeth.

Especially, each brow bore a cinnabar mole, adding a touch of color to her otherwise ordinary face.

The woman called herself Wu Li Shi, saying her household had recently been haunted; at night she often heard bowls and plates moving, and when she got up she kept seeing white shadows drift past, frightening her son so much that he remains bedridden, and she wanted them to stay awhile and have a look at her home.

Wu Li Shi spoke politely, the reward was generous, and the three saw no reason to refuse, so they followed her back to her house.

After checking the house and finding nothing amiss, the three prepared to leave; Wu Li Shi's son brought out tea and snacks, saying it was his thanks, homemade, too kind to refuse; the three exchanged glances and drained their bowls of tea.

Then, they knew nothing more.

When they awoke again, He Bi discovered that their fellow disciples had also appeared, all present; like him, they were bound tight with white rope, unable to break free.

"What place is this!" Mei Ruoxue beside him woke up dazed, lifted her head and jumped in fright; Gu Yusheng, ever attentive to her reaction, replied upon hearing her, "This… probably a tomb?"

Though called a tomb, this place more resembled an altar; at the center's highest point stood a coffin, surrounded by large and small candle stands—though the stands held no candles, they bore bowl-sized depressions like pearls. Everywhere exuded an unspeakable eeriness.

The walls had no windows, yet were covered in fresh green moss; the ceiling was arched, though lacking moss, it dripped steadily, drop by drop.

"An altar, candle stands—this looks like a formation!" Xiao Muru said, but he couldn't at once recall what formation it was.

Several tried to gather spiritual power and summon their spirit swords, but to no avail; they could hardly break free of the ropes binding them: "Strange, this isn't an Immortal-Binding Lock, yet it's so sturdy."

"Not only that!" Mei Ruoxue said: "What kind of bewitching drug could fell cultivators? It's utterly unimaginable."

"Don't waste your effort!" A faint, illusory female figure suddenly appeared beside the coffin, startling everyone: "The bonds holding you are my sinews; the tea you drank is powder made from my fingernails; you lot! You've fallen for the Way, yet you're cultivators with not a shred of vigilance!"

Her appearance startled everyone; Gu Yusheng ventured: "May I dare ask, senior?"

The woman gave a miserable smile: "I am Min Nan, a jiao demon; what you see now is merely a wisp of my unwilling soul."

"But jiao demons live in the sea, don't they? How could one appear in this little lake?" The crowd was about to ask further when Min Nan suddenly said, "They're coming!" and her visage faded away without a trace.

Who are they? Able to make that woman terrified to this extent!

The heavy stone door slowly opened; soon they realized it was the villagers of Flood Dragon Lake Village, who, seeing they had awakened, were first startled: "How did you wake up?!"

They turned toward Wu Li Shi behind them; she spat, declaring righteously: "The jiao powder is running low, and besides, you lot aren't ordinary folk—naturally we need to use more!!"

Having spoken, she clapped her hands and pointed at Mei Ruoxue: "Big Brother, this woman's looks suit my taste; can we swap her for a while?"

The man she called Big Brother waved his hand: "Of course; this time you've made merit—pick whoever you want, and they're yours."

Though Mei Ruoxue couldn't understand their further words, she knew it boded ill: "May I ask, have you seen my master? He's not to be provoked—I advise you to stop now, or else…"

"Master!" the big brother gave a strange smile: "Sounds formidable—I'll take him!"