Chapter 147: with translation of chapter title

The Classic of Mountains and Seas contains records of Qiongqi, but the accounts differ.

In the Classic of the Western Mountains, Qiongqi is described as looking like an ox, with bristles like a hedgehog, and it eats humans.

Meanwhile, the Classic of the Regions Within the North Seas describes Qiongqi as a winged tiger, likewise a man-eater.

No matter how it changes, there are two points that never change.

First, Qiongqi is one of the four ancient ferocious beasts; second, it likes to eat humans.

Of course, this mountain is not the actual Qiongqi; it merely represents a certain feng shui pattern.

no.

What's more terrifying is that this mountain faces that prison, lying prone; the prison holds only death-row inmates, and the execution ground lies directly beneath Qiongqi's head.

no.

The prison was built there—was it merely coincidental, or did someone deliberately arrange it?

If it's the latter, how terrifying must the person who set up the formation be!

I pinched the space between my brows hard, striving to steady my flustered emotions.

A large hand covered my back; Liu Junyan patted my back and said, "Xiao Jiu, the situation is far less dangerous than you imagine—this feng shui pattern has existed for at least several hundred years; aren't there still living beings on and beneath the mountain? That shows it can be controlled."

"It might have been controllable before, but not necessarily now." I said, "Guo Zhen received the betrothal gift, which is a kind of sacrifice. This shows that the death-row inmates in the prison can no longer satisfy its appetite. What's more frightening is that I can't now confirm whether Guo Zhen is the first; if not, then when did this kind of sacrifice first begin?"

At least, the black mist suddenly appeared tonight, bewildering both me and Li Qingying; that is evidence that it wants us both to go as sacrifices as well.

Thinking of this, I asked, "Have you investigated that temple? What is the background of the ascetic monk there? How many years has he practiced in the temple? Are there any other monks in the temple?"

A series of questions surged up, and my whole body was tense.

"Hey, little sis, stop a moment." Hui Moqiong hurriedly interrupted me, saying, "Don't push yourself too tight, or you'll run into trouble. Relax—even if the sky falls, you still have your husband holding it up."

But my mind is in chaos, with countless problems constantly churning in my thoughts.

It seems that ever since the character "slave" appeared on my cheek, my emotions have easily hovered on the brink of collapse.

I am especially prone to nervousness and fear.

Fortunately, whenever this happens, Yu Nian's words promptly appear in my mind: "Xiao Jiu, only by saving oneself can one reach the other shore."

Only by saving oneself…… only by saving oneself……

The further we go, the more mysteries pile up; I know nothing, so how can I achieve self-salvation?

"Xiao Jiu, stay calm."

Liu Junyan waved his hand; Hui Moqiong immediately understood, took up the parchment, and led Li Qingying away.

Liu Junyan embraced me, holding me tightly in his arms: "Don't be afraid, Xiao Jiu; I've got everything."

"But why did you show up there again tonight?" I asked again, "Where did the parchment come from? And how did you find your way there?"

Liu Junyan's body stiffened slightly.

I pressed him aggressively: "Qiongqi is one of the four ancient ferocious beasts, while our pawnshop resembles a pi xie that only takes in and never lets out, belonging to the divine beasts. Liu Junyan, tell me, is there some connection between the two?"

I feel like I'm going crazy.

I wish my brain weren't so sharp right now; couldn't I think a little less?

But I can't control myself.

As my emotions grew increasingly unstable, a sudden piercing pain shot from below my right cheek; I clutched my cheek and cried out.

Liu Junyan hurriedly held me onto the sofa, letting me lean against his chest.

He held me, his large hand gently covering that character on my cheek, channeling true qi to suppress it, while softly soothing: "Xiao Jiu, after the door of the west room opened, my situation became much like yours—many things I had never encountered before keep popping into my mind unbidden, leaving me bewildered and uneasy, compelling me to inquire and investigate."

"The more I investigate, the more problems I uncover, and my inner bewilderment and anxiety grow worse; only by sitting in quiet meditation can I regain calm."

I stared at him blankly.

It turns out he meditates in the west room whenever he has time; that's the reason.

I had thought this was also a method of cultivation.

No, this itself is a cultivation method; perhaps I can try it too.

"You're very smart; the more probing questions you have, the more naturally you'll fear." Liu Junyan continued, "But I'm not afraid—I just have a strong feeling that this path, I have walked before; I was originally a person of this road, and no matter the thousands of difficulties and obstacles, I must continue onward along it."

Liu Junyan's tone was very steady, and his chest also gave a sense of security.

I nestled in his embrace, smelling the faint sandalwood scent on his body, listening as he analyzed his inner self for me; my emotions also inexplicably settled down.

"I know what you were just afraid of." Liu Junyan looked at me and said, "A pawnshop shaped like a pi xie already tosses you into unrest; adding a Qiongqi, still an ancient ferocious beast, who wouldn't be afraid?"

I nodded straight away; at this moment, I only felt the pent-up qi in my chest finally exhaled.

Liu Junyan understands me.

But his next words immediately made me tense again; he said, "Xiao Jiu, if I tell you that I suspect this vast feng shui pattern is not limited to Wufu Town and Xu Cheng, but may also extend to Huicheng and an even greater expanse beyond, are you afraid?"

I was stunned.

If I tell you again, the place we are in, this Dang Pu, might be the Zhènyǎn in this vast feng shui pattern, a needle stuck into this extremely inauspicious feng shui pattern—are you afraid?

I could no longer speak.

Liu Junyan lowered her head and kissed my forehead, and I instinctively closed my eyes.

After closing my eyes, I could only feel Liu Junyan's faintly cool breath, as if the whole world had stilled at that moment.

A thought flashed through my mind: how wonderful it would be if time could freeze forever at this moment.

A cool thing was placed around my neck; I opened my eyes to see it was a Golden Copper Coins, fixed with a red cord, placed around my neck.

Golden Copper Coins……this is a magical implement Liu Junyan only possessed after trading with the Copper Coin Person.

I have seen Liu Junyan use the Copper Coin Formation to press down that black coffin, sealing the Yin soldiers in the Pearl Coil River.

I also saw, when Bai Xian'er died, forced into her corpse, forcibly repelling Bai Xian's Copper Coin Formation.

And now, Liu Junyan placed a Golden Copper Coins around my neck.

"Xiao Jiu, wear it, feel it." Liu Junyan said solemnly, "With it, it is as if I am always by your side; it can accompany you, and perhaps one day it could also become a weapon in your hand."