Chapter Thirty-Seven: Shifting Forms and Changing Shadows

Shen Baiyu’s gaze was as sharp as lightning, sweeping coldly over Xuan Yangzi. She did not answer him, but instead went straight to Wan’er’s side, gently helping her up and feeding her a pill. Only then did Wan’er’s complexion improve somewhat, and in a weak voice she managed, “Grandmother.”

With a wave of her hand, Shen Baiyu brushed the dust from Wan’er’s body and scolded her gently, “I told you not to go against my advice. Now you’ve tasted the consequences. Stay here and wait for me—I’ll deal with that wretched priest first.”

In truth, until just moments ago, she hadn’t known Wan’er’s precise whereabouts. She’d merely assumed that since Wan’er had just severed ties with Chen Qingwen, she’d need some time to calm her heart, so she hadn’t intervened.

This place was only a few streets away from the Drunken Flower Pavilion.

Wan’er nodded slightly. The worries that had weighed upon her heart finally dissipated, like clouds parting to reveal the moon. When she turned her gaze to her beloved, she found him looking back at her. Their eyes met in silent understanding, and the next moment, Chen Qingwen rushed to her side, embracing her tightly.

“Wan’er, I thought I’d never be able to hold you like this again.”

...

Xuan Yangzi’s face was conflicted—he could neither stay nor leave. That fox spirit was clearly no easy foe; she would not let him go so lightly.

But when had Hangzhou produced such a mighty “immortal” of the Yang Spirit realm, and right beneath his nose, with him none the wiser?

Shen Baiyu’s voice was icy as she declared, “For Ling Xuzi’s sake, I won’t kill you. But remember this: you are not worthy to challenge the honor of the Silver Fox Clan. Not even Ling Xuzi himself could do so, were he alive!”

“You know my master?” Xuan Yangzi was stunned, his face full of surprise.

“Before I change my mind, you’d best vanish from my sight,” Shen Baiyu said, her tone carrying an authority that would brook no refusal.

“I’ll go,” Xuan Yangzi replied, “but he must come with me!” He pointed at Chen Qingwen.

A cultivator must not be fearful or hesitant. To walk this path, one must have a heart that forges ahead, undaunted. If one cannot muster even this courage, one might as well return home and tend the fields.

“Do not overstep.”

“Otherwise, even as Ling Xuzi’s disciple, I will not hesitate to kill you!” Shen Baiyu unleashed a strand of demonic energy, letting it surge and ravage the surroundings as a warning.

This time, Shen Baiyu was truly angry. Her Silver Fox Clan had always kept to themselves, never seeking trouble, and now they were being targeted for no reason. Had she not arrived in time, Wan’er’s fate would have been dire.

She was already showing Xuan Yangzi great mercy by letting him go.

“From what this old priest has observed,” Xuan Yangzi said, “you may be of the demon clan, yet you have never committed any heinous crimes. But look at this young man—within half a month, his vital energy will be exhausted, and he will die. Is that what you wish to see?”

“And even if Chen Qingwen’s life or death is none of your concern, you must consider your junior’s future. If she continues down this path, you know well enough, even if I do not say it, what fate awaits her: all her cultivation will be for naught, ruined by a thousand sins.”

Xuan Yangzi would not relent. He first offered praise, then reasoned earnestly, believing that justice still existed in this world, that it was not so dark, and that one day he could cleanse away the evil that flowed through it.

Hearing his words, Shen Baiyu fell silent. Her original intent had been to let things take their natural course; the path was Wan’er’s own to choose, and whether it bore good or ill fruit, she would have to bear the consequences. Because she understood Wan’er, she had tacitly indulged her.

But now, she realized she might have been wrong from the start. Though she had sensed this before, at that time Wan’er and Chen Qingwen had been inseparable, and she hadn’t the heart to be the villain who broke apart true love.

After a while, she seemed to reach a decision. She looked deeply at Xuan Yangzi and said, with a hidden meaning, “Ling Xuzi has found a worthy successor.”

“It’s done!” Xuan Yangzi rejoiced inwardly—his words had swayed her.

Shen Baiyu approached Wan’er and said softly, “Wan’er, forgive me. The priest is right. I cannot watch you go astray. Forget all of this. Take it as nothing but a dream.”

“Grandmother, no…” Wan’er sensed something amiss, but the next instant, her head grew unbearably heavy, and she lost consciousness, falling into a deep sleep.

“Wan’er, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me,” Chen Qingwen said anxiously, hurriedly catching her as she fell.

“You should sleep for a while too,” Shen Baiyu said. As soon as her words faded, Chen Qingwen collapsed as well. Having done all this, she gently lifted Wan’er.

“I know your Jade Void Temple possesses an art called ‘Transposition of Form and Shadow.’ You can use it on him, so that he forgets everything regarding Wan’er. Without those memories, he’ll have no grief—a clean break.” With that, Shen Baiyu flicked her sleeve, transformed into a streak of silver light, and vanished in the blink of an eye.

“Who is she, really? How does she know our Jade Void Temple so well?” Xuan Yangzi murmured to himself.

From her words, it seemed she knew his master, and her familiarity with the secrets of the Jade Void Temple only deepened his bewilderment.

Nevertheless, the matter of Chen Qingwen was, at last, resolved.

Looking at Chen Qingwen lying on the ground in deep sleep, Xuan Yangzi sighed heavily. “Such a devoted soul. Perhaps forgetting truly is the best release.”

“Master, that Transposition of Form and Shadow sounds miraculous. If you forcefully erase his memories, won’t it harm his spirit?” Yi An asked curiously.

There were many ways to erase memories, but all involved the soul. Even for a cultivator, such methods could damage the spirit, let alone a mortal like Chen Qingwen.

Xuan Yangzi explained with some pride, “Who said I’d erase his memories? The Transposition of Form and Shadow is all about ‘transposition’—it resembles a crude form of hypnosis, but is far more refined. It can seal away a segment of someone’s memory. Not only a mortal like Chen Qingwen, even a cultivator could not break through its constraints.”

Yi An suddenly understood, and the look he gave Xuan Yangzi became layered with deeper meaning.

He happened to lack basic techniques, and before him stood Xuan Yangzi—a veritable treasure trove of knowledge.

It seemed that from now on, he would have to find a way to learn some techniques from Xuan Yangzi. For instance, the Five Elements Daoist Arts that Xuan Yangzi had employed earlier against the fox spirit were quite impressive.