Because she had to restrain Li Xun, Shui Die Lan was a step too slow, her escape route was already cut off. The two puppets didn’t press the attack; they only fixed him with their cold, eerie stares, which at least saved everyone a round of words.
A low groan came from behind. Li Xun might be blind, but his ears were sharp. From the sound, he could tell her breathing was uneven, her qi disrupted. Clearly Shui Die Lan’s internal injuries were still severe. That set his thoughts moving once more.
Even though he was in enemy hands, he didn’t panic. “An illusion?” he asked cautiously,
Shui Die Lan didn’t answer. Li Xun guessed she was focusing on steadying her injuries, with no time or interest in sparring words with him.
That only made him more certain. Ignoring her silence, he said softly, “These illusionary techniques of yours is far stronger than the tricks those charlatans from the One-Dou Rice Cult put on. It actually reminds me of someone.”
There was no reaction from behind, and Li Xun felt sure of it now. He gave a slight smile and went on, “Oh, no, not someone. Not human. She’s one of the foremost among the million demons of this world. Ranked within the Seven Great Demons themselves. The Hundred-Illusion Butterfly Immortal. Does Fairy Shui remember her?”
After a long quiet, Shui Die Lan let out a low laugh. “Since you’ve already guessed, why waste words? You’re right. I am the Hundred-Illusion Butterfly.”
“So it really is you…”
Even though he had already guessed the truth, hearing her admit it so readily still sent a heavy jolt through Li Xun’s heart. For a moment, he almost couldn’t believe it.
But really, besides a demon of the Seven Great Demons, who else could break free and turn the tables after being bound by the Two Wanderers?
He let out a sigh, then shook his head. “So it’s true… In that case, my loss this time isn’t unjust.”
Those words came straight from the heart. His own intricate schemes were airtight enough, but compared to the Blood Fiend Soul-Crushing Annihilation Formation of years past? They were nothing.
Back then, even with such a formation, the Two Wanderers working together had still let the Qing Luan escape in the end. So how could he possibly hope to trap the Hundred-Illusion Butterfly, who stood on the same level as the Qing Luan?
He gave a bitter smile. “What I don’t understand is, why would a grand demon like you throw in with sects like Falling Feather or Vermillion Hook? Do you actually find that amusing?”
She laughed softly. “I could ask the same of you. You’ve got the two finest puppets in the world at your back, yet you still skulk in the shadows and play your little tricks. If it’s not in your nature, what else could drive you to such delights?”
Li Xun forced another weary smile, then changed his tone. “Butterfly Immortal, you’re mocking me. What good are the finest puppets? Worthless! Look at the state of things now. This mess isn’t the kind of thing a schemer like me would do, is it?"
“That’s true enough. If this had really been Wen Bufan or Yin Chonghua pulling the strings, I’d have no chance of turning the tables this time… Tch. This wretched mortal shell really is a burden.”
In the darkness, man and demon talked as if they were friends. But both knew full well this was only a brief pause to catch their breath after fierce exertion. Until the moment of life and death came, who could guarantee they would be the one still standing in the end?
The two puppets had fallen silent from the instant Li Xun was restrained. Partly because they had no orders from him, and partly because all their focus was locked in a delicate, intricate contest of qi against Shui Die Lan.
No human, ghost, demon, or monster could withstand the pressure of the Two Wanderers at once. Not even the Two Wanderers themselves, if they weren’t in their prime.
The subtle threads of qi entangled and shifted, drawing in vast currents of heaven and earth primordial qi, until it seemed the tiny cave might burst apart. At any moment, man, demon, and puppets alike could be buried under the mountain.
Li Xun’s only choice now was to distract Shui Die Lan in every way he could, hoping his two puppets could find an opening to strike decisively.
Of course, Shui Die Lan herself was fighting for time, struggling to restore her energy.
“You laid down quite the formidable formation. How did you manage it?”
“Five days in a row, each time while keeping company with my beloved. I wove in a little more each time. Enough to get the job done.”
“Oh? So you came today intending to make trouble. Your timing is rather well controlled.”
“Not at all. It’s Fairy Shui who hid herself so well. No matter how I calculated, I never would have guessed the Hundred-Illusion Butterfly. What I truly can’t figure out is… your injuries.”
“Just the technique of transforming a silkworm chrysalis into a butterfly. Hardly worthy of an expert's praise.” Shui Die Lan’s laughter came with a steadier breath than before. “What I really don’t get is this. Sure, neither of us ever meant to cooperate to the end. But even so, shouldn’t betrayal come after we’ve taken the treasure? If the two of us had truly joined forces, wouldn’t this temple’s treasure already be in our hands?”
“Yes, a pity indeed. But if you look at it in terms of military strategy, striking first is the surest way to catch the enemy off guard. Besides, I had little choice. After all, you learned of Xiao Zhongzi’s death.”
Shui Die Lan let out a light “Oh,” showing some interest in his words. At the same time, her contest of qi with the two puppets reached a critical point. The energy inside the cave could no longer be contained, and a deep rumble echoed through the surrounding walls.
Yet Li Xun’s voice didn’t waver. Against the thunderous explosions of spiritual force, it sounded faint, almost fragile. “The truth is, I didn’t come here for the treasure. I was entrusted with a task. I was here to keep Xiao Zhongzi alive.”
After he said this, Shui Die Lan gave no response. Li Xun paid it no mind and went on, “In fact, I was told that if I failed to protect him, I should kill him quietly, so no one else would know. So—”
Shui Die Lan cut him off. “Who sent you?”
The corner of Li Xun’s mouth curved faintly. “It was...”
His voice suddenly dropped, sinking lower and lower until it was nearly lost beneath the rumbling detonations. Shui Die Lan couldn’t help but strain her focus to hear.
At that very instant, the two great puppets surged with power. Tens of thousands of fine threads of qi pulled at the surrounding primordial qi, swelling violently within the cramped cave. A thick layer of rock was instantly scoured from the walls.
The air inside was nearly sucked dry, then in the next moment flooded with solid waves of primordial qi. The cave walls split apart, stone shattered and flew, only to be ground to dust by the whirling current of qi.
Shui Die Lan gave a muffled groan as the sudden strike tugged at her old wounds. She had no time to suppress the pain; her arm snapped forward, intent on crushing the treacherous Li Xun where he stood.
But in that moment, Li Xun’s body seemed boneless. Before her force could close in, he slipped away like an eel, sliding free of her grasp.
Shui Die Lan was startled. She couldn’t fathom how Li Xun, even after being restrained, could still move with such agility. That moment of surprise let him dart a step farther, widening the gap between them.
The cave roared with violent currents, shockwaves rippling out until the entire mountain seemed to tremble. The two puppets lunged forward together: one to shield Li Xun, the other to press directly against Shui Die Lan.
“Devious!” Shui Die Lan hissed, though her tone carried not the slightest hint of panic.
And in truth, Li Xun’s move was indeed cunning, his timing flawless to the last instant.
But he had overlooked one fatal problem. The Hundred-Illusion Butterfly was nothing like an ordinary cultivator.
With a mere flicker of intent, a heavy wave surged forth, sweeping through the raging vortex of primordial qi as though it didn’t exist. At that moment, “Blood Wanderer” was already upon her, while “Yin Wanderer” was no more than an arm’s length from Li Xun.
Shui Die Lan gave a faint smile and called out crisply, “Heaven and Earth reverse. Turn!”
The cavern’s primordial qi erupted for a second time. In the chaos of exploding currents, Shui Die Lan stepped forward, ignoring the palm of “Blood Wanderer” that hovered just inches away.
Strangely, “Blood Wanderer’s” arm suddenly jerked upward for no reason, smashing through the cave ceiling. Shui Die Lan slipped past with ease and soared straight out of the cavern.
Halfway out, she glimpsed “Yin Wanderer” and Li Xun twisting past each other in a bizarre crossing. Li Xun’s face even showed wild delight. Shui Die Lan only giggled softly, drifted out of the cave, then turned around with leisure in time to watch Li Xun rush headlong into her waiting arms.
....
T/N:
Here’s what I’m translating right now:
The Forbidden Path To Immortality: the godfather of dark xianxia. If you’re not well-read, it can be tough to get through. If you’re only in it for quick wins, you’ll struggle too. This one’s really meant for people around 40. Readers in their twenties might find it way too heavy 💀
Life as A Rogue Cultivator: This one's a slow burn. You’ll love it if you’re tired of heaven-defying protagonists with some specific goal in mind, or if you’re sick of golden fingers, complex plots.... The MC here is just a simple bandit whose only concern is figuring out how to earn some spirit stones to cultivate. It might sound boring when I put it like that, but it’s actually really good.
Seeking Immortality Across a Hundred Lifetimes: This is a longevity novel, and don't get the wrong idea. It isn't a simulation or reincarnation story. The MC’s golden finger is that whenever he dies of old age, he rejuvenates and becomes a nine-year-old again while keeping his cultivation. He has a total of 100 lifetimes. Naturally, the length of each life increases as his cultivation improves. For example, his first life lasts 62 years, his second lasts 93, and so on. But there’s one huge condition: the rejuvenation only works if he dies of old age. If he’s killed, that’s the end for him. This forces him to be extremely cautious and evasive. He’d rather go into seclusion and wait for his enemies to grow old and die than risk a direct confrontation.