Chapter 459: It's fine, I can bend and stretch

Bái Sōnglán's proposal is too bold.

Besides, if we do this, will Yu Nian really become a new patchwork monster?

Well, I can't deny it—Yu Nian actually is one now.

"She's different from others." Bái Sōnglán explained, "Like Second Master Liu and his ilk, they were forcibly stitched together, but Yu Nian isn't—she has the ability to actively merge. If she ultimately can't merge, she can't return to a normal life, and I accept that."

I can't make a decision for Yu Nian right away.

It would be great if we could ask for her opinion, but unfortunately her ears have deteriorated and she can't hear.

Just as I was hesitating, a commotion suddenly came from outside.

Li Qingying rushed over and said, "Xiao Jiu, go outside and take a look—your aunt has arrived."

Aunt?!

I sprang up and ran outside.

Already a crowd had gathered at the entrance of Dang Pu.

The sky was completely dark, and a vehicle was parked outside Xijiekou—sure enough, it was Tang Xun's car!

Smack!

A loud slap rang out from Xijiekou.

The streetlights at Xijiekou flickered, and then I saw two people standing in the shadows of the intersection.

The woman slammed a hard slap onto the man's face.

The man exuded an unstoppable lethal aura, standing there as if the surrounding air had frozen.

It was the Seven Halls Yama.

He had just been slapped by Tang Xun.

He stepped forward, seemingly wanting to explain something, only to see Tang Xun raise her right hand, aiming a small crossbow at his brow: "Come closer and try—I'll kill you!"

Saying that, she placed her left hand on the trigger.

She really intended to kill the Seven Halls Yama.

But it was obvious that with such a tiny crossbow, even firing ten bolts couldn't so much as scratch the Seven Halls Yama.

The Seven Halls Yama also seemed helpless, yet did not snatch or force anything from Tang Xun.

He merely turned his head to glance at Dang Pu.

I only felt that his meaningful gaze lingered on me for a moment, after which the Seven Halls Yama vanished from everyone's sight.

He... what does he mean?

Is he wanting me to persuade my aunt?

I didn't have time to think about that, I rushed toward Xijiekou.

Once the Seven Halls Yama left, Tang Xun's tense body instantly relaxed; seeing me, she blurted: "Xiao Jiu, is that girl Yu Nian with you? How is she doing?"

Sure enough, Tang Xun didn't know anything about Yu Nian.

"She's... not good." I asked, "Aunt, what just happened? Did you escape from Hu Shan?"

Tang Xun grunted, then strode toward Dang Pu: "First take me to see Yu Nian."

Soon, Tang Xun stood beside Yu Nian's bed.

Looking at Yu Nian covered in wounds, Tang Xun nearly cursed the Seven Halls Yama into a sieve.

"I trusted him, so I hid Yu Nian in Hu Shan. Those few days he took me on a trip to the Nether Realm, and when he returned I sensed something was off." Tang Xun gritted her teeth, "Every time I wanted to see Yu Nian, he gave me excuses, and I grew suspicious. Sure enough, I uncovered clues, caused a ruckus in Hu Shan, but he imprisoned me..."

My aunt being trapped was something I could foresee.

I wondered: "So how did you escape this time?"

The entirety of Hu Shan was guarded inside and out by yin soldiers as tightly as a sealed jar; even Liu Junyan had to get permission before being allowed to see the Seven Halls Yama.

Under these circumstances, it would be very difficult for Tang Xun to escape on her own.

"He's sick!" Tang Xun said, "A lunatic!"

I stared at Tang Xun in shock, thinking she was just venting anger at the Seven Halls Yama.

But that wasn't the case.

Tang Xun saw my expression and explained, "I'm not just spouting anger—he really has a mental illness. When it flares up, he bangs his head against the wall, howls like a ghost, terrifying. I took advantage of one of his episodes to steal his token and flee, but before I even reached Dang Pu, he gave chase."

That's how it was.

Hearing Tang Xun's description, my suspicions deepened.

I pulled Tang Xun into my room and said carefully, "Aunt, many things have happened these days; I have some guesses that might explain why the Seven Halls Yama fell ill."

Next, I described the matter of the Hēimǎng to Tang Xun in full.

Finally I summed it up: "If the other side can control the Dark Paulownia Nether Seal with witchcraft, it shows they not only know sorcery but also have high cultivation. If they truly mastered the Weave Dream Fifth Chapter: Weave Dream Becomes True, then my and the Seven Halls Yama's memories may well have been tampered with."

Tang Xun stared blankly, then murmured, "Tampering with memories leads to mental disorder, paranoia, occasional bouts of terror... He... he really seems to be like that."

Tang Xun grabbed my hand and said anxiously, "Xiao Jiu, how often do your attacks happen? Is it very painful? You must never hurt yourself—you're carrying a child."

"Aunt, for now I only get frightened, I don't self-harm." I reassured, "I have plenty of people around me; they'll keep an eye on me."

Tang Xun then relaxed a bit and immediately decided: "No, I must return to Hu Shan to closely observe his condition and uncover the truth."

Uh...

I scratched my head and said, "Aunt, you just slapped someone and shouted about fighting and killing, and now you're leaving so soon..."

"It's fine, I can bend and stretch." Tang Xun said while walking out, "Xiao Jiu, take good care of Yu Nian for me—I'll be back soon."

I watched Tang Xun's car speed away from Xijiekou, smiling helplessly.

What "can bend and stretch"—clearly it's just that someone who's loved feels fearless.

Had anyone else today treated the Seven Halls Yama this way, their head would probably have been relocated already.

"Head relocation"... Just thinking of that phrase, the bloody scene of Yin Dang Hang flashed across my mind, and I immediately pinched my arm hard, using the pain to calm myself.

After I had calmed down, I looked again at the bloody marks on my arm where it had been pinched, and my heart turned cold once more.

This unconscious little action will only increase as the episodes become more frequent, and the harm to myself will only grow greater, won't it?

If I cannot change the situation, soon I too will be seen as a lunatic by others, won't I?

After dinner, Liu Junyan went off to a meeting with Hui Moqiong and the others; after I helped Yu Nian wash up and gave her a full-body massage, I had just stepped out when I saw Bái Sōnglán standing with her arms crossed, leaning against the main house doorway, her head tilted as she looked toward the west wing.

From that angle she couldn't see inside the west wing; I felt a bit curious, so I walked over and asked, "What are you looking at?"

Bái Sōnglán jumped at my sudden appearance, then tried to cover it up, saying, "Nothing, just woolgathering."

Having said that, she flustered and hurried back to her own room.

I grew even more puzzled—what on earth could be in the west wing?

I seized Bái Sōnglán and headed for the west wing; the moment we stepped inside, a thick incense fragrance washed over us.

On the futon before the shrine, a person sat cross‑legged, earnestly chanting sutras…