Chapter 537

A little boy's head?

I grabbed Liu Junyan's hand with both hands, nervously looking at him, and asked: "How old is the little boy? What does he look like? Is it a skull, or does he have flesh and blood?"

My heart started pounding wildly.

This is very important to me.

Liu Junyan described: "That head is still alive, with flesh and blood; when I locked eyes with him, he moved his eyes to follow my gaze; as for his age… maybe fourteen or fifteen?"

Could it be A Cheng's head?

But why would A Cheng's head appear there?!

What on earth did Dìshì do to A Cheng?!

"That head is not simple." Liu Junyan continued, "When I entered that space, two other souls from somewhere else also followed in; I saw the child's mouth moving, as if chanting some spell, and those two souls instantly exploded, turning to ash and smoke."

It's an ancient witchcraft passed down from the Ancient Feng Clan. I said without doubt, "That child… is probably my brother."

Liu Junyan frowned, surprised, and said: "Your brother? You don't only have a twin sister?"

Āyàn, I find it hard to describe him clearly, but you may have already seen him.

I told Liu Junyan about the White Bone Road, the small mountain overgrown with thorns and eyes, the headless youth, and his recent encounter with Emptiness.

Liu Junyan briefly analyzed and asked: "A Cheng is the brother you were meant to protect in your first life as the Fire Witch God, that is, as Feng Wu Jiu; he may not be your biological brother, but he was certainly the most important person in your life at that time, right?"

I nodded firmly: "He should be a brother even closer than a blood brother; I failed to protect him and didn't keep my promise to others; I can't remember, Āyàn—although I achieved Nirvana, that 'evil bone' has created a shackle for both the child and me, and I must get rid of it as soon as possible."

"It's not your fault, Xiao Jiu; back then you were just a child, you couldn't even protect yourself." Liu Junyan reached out, pulled me into an embrace, and comforted: "It's not hard to imagine that, before such a catastrophe comparable to the annihilation of a clan, you couldn't have gotten far with A Cheng; you must have hidden him, then drawn away those hunting you; later… perhaps something happened to you, causing you to forget A Cheng, Xiao Jiu—you're both blameless; the fault lies with those who harmed you."

"He's still alive, Āyàn." Liu Junyan always gives me strength and support; I choked up: "He came to find me, but he seems angry with me, always avoiding me; these years he must have had a hard time—indeed, even… his head was cut off by Dìshì…"

I can't go on speaking…

Liu Junyan gently patted my back and reassured: "Xiao Jiu, from your description, A Cheng now at least masters ancient witchcraft, has enough self-defense ability, he's clever; give him some time, and I believe you siblings will soon recognize each other."

I nodded firmly: "Before that, I need to sort out my own affairs; I can't drag him down again."

Liu Junyan silently hugged me; I knew he was weighing something, weighing the pros and cons.

After a while he said: "Xiao Jiu, the Zàng Qū is indeed the best place for you and the child right now; after I entered that space and experienced the upheaval of heaven and earth and the inversion of yin and yang, I had already entered the Zàng Qū—it's an ancient god temple; at least on the surface, its incense is still thriving; perhaps the deployment there isn't as bad as we imagined; whereas staying in Wufu Town, your and the child's condition will only get worse."

Liu Junyan still wanted to send us mother and child away.

He wanted to stay with everyone, hoping to devise a foolproof plan, and strike directly at the Wǎngsǐ Chéng.

Once this step is taken, there's no turning back.

Voices came from outside the room; everyone who was supposed to come had already arrived, and they were just waiting for Liu Junyan.

What Liu Junyan just told me, combined with what I said, needs to be summarized, and we'll discuss it with everyone later.

He let me rest in the room first and collect my emotions.

My thoughts are indeed in disarray; I need to calm down.

I waved him off, then leaned against the headboard, one hand on my abdomen, analyzing from all angles to see if I could find a better breakthrough.

After a while, the door was knocked, and Li Qingying entered carrying a bowl of medicinal food.

She watched me finish drinking, looking as if she wanted to say something but held back.

She never hides anything from me.

I asked proactively: "Sister Qingying, even you want to advise me to go to the Zàng Qū?"

"No, Xiao Jiu, whether you go or stay, I'll be with you, taking care of you and the child." Li Qingying hesitated, then gritted her teeth and confessed: "Xiao Jiu, I have something to tell you—please don't get upset."

I asked curiously: "What?"

"It's about the black cat." Li Qingying said, "When the Copper Coin Person left, the black cat followed him and never came back."

The black cat actually followed the Copper Coin Person away?

As soon as I thought of that string of skull prayer beads, I understood; the black cat is also a Little Guy who values loyalty and righteousness.

I nodded, indicating I understood: "When we returned from Mount Song, the Copper Coin Person gained an extra soul in his body—that is the soul of the Reincarnated Spirit Child, and also this lifetime's reward-body Buddha; with this identity, the Copper Coin Person should be able to protect the black cat well."

Li Qingying, however, was not optimistic: "After all, to the present Zàng Qū, the Copper Coin Person is more of an invader; fame invites trouble, and if he returns now, there will surely be a fierce battle."

How could I not understand this principle?

Otherwise, could Liu Junyan let him go?

Li Qingying reached out and rubbed my belly, sighed, and said: "Before, after a bowl of medicinal food, the Little Guy would be contentedly hiccuping in your stomach, and I could feel it; now he… is too quiet."

Yeah, so quiet it frightens me.

Li Qingying probed: "Xiao Jiu, since even Old Fang praises A Cheng's shamanic arts as powerful, perhaps A Cheng can help us?"

A Cheng?

Li Qingying's suggestion was like sweet dew poured on the head.

Not only did Old Fang praise A Cheng, but Liu Junyan also praised him just now.

Perhaps A Cheng really has a way.

But where is that child now?

He has been avoiding me.

Should I just go wait for him at Little Mountain?

But upon second thought, that child's mind seems quite sensitive; if I approach him with an agenda, would he resent me even more?

I don't want to keep pushing that child further away.

I rubbed my temples, feeling a bit tired, and said: "Sister Qingying, let me think a bit more; please keep an eye on A Yan and the others over there, and call me when you have news—I'll take a nap first."

Li Qingying then went out.

My drowsiness surged upon arrival, and I almost fell asleep as soon as I hit the bed.

But just as I fell asleep, I felt myself being pulled into an icy, bone-chilling space.

In that space, a bright red egg stood alone, its whole body covered in ice shards and white frost, utterly lifeless…