Chapter 119 – Dissection

Zhang Xiuqi didn’t dodge. With his skills, even if he were “ambushed,” he had countless ways to shake it off. Yet, he didn’t use any of them. Instead, he allowed Wei Yang to firmly drag him into that kiss.

There was no probing, no hesitation, nothing that could be called uncertainty—only an urgency that made one’s heart race. The hand gripping his collar was too tight, the knuckles pressing against his Adam’s apple, making it hard to breathe. But when the wet, slippery tongue touched his lips, prying them open like a live fish, Zhang Xiuqi felt something in his mind snap. Everything that had been lingering and struggling in his thoughts turned to ash, replaced by a searing heat rising from his bones, a heat intense enough to drive one to madness.

After just a second of hesitation, he reached out, clasping the back of Wei Yang’s head, and kissed him back fiercely!

The response was too sudden, the escalation too rapid. Wei Yang’s body trembled slightly, his experienced teasing becoming chaotic as he was swept into a whirlpool of passion that left him disoriented. Tongues tangled, saliva exchanged, and gradually, the kiss turned into a battle, one that made their blood boil and their breath come in gasps… But that still wasn’t enough!

Wei Yang’s free hand began to move, silently creeping up Zhang Xiuqi’s thigh, fingers sliding along the smooth fabric of his pants. Under that hand, the muscles tensed inch by inch, as if something had disrupted the man’s unshakable willpower, making his breathing grow heavier. Yet, he didn’t pull away. Instead, he shifted slightly, as if offering himself to that skillful hand.

And so, the hand found what it was searching for. A low chuckle escaped Wei Yang’s throat as he struggled to pull his tongue back, whispering, “Brother Qi, you’ve grown up.”

The teasing tone carried a seductive edge. Zhang Xiuqi’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently as he leaned down to bite Wei Yang’s slightly upturned lips. But before he could deepen the kiss, a sharp honk exploded outside the car window. Startled out of his wits, Wei Yang quickly pulled away and glanced in the rearview mirror. He realized he had parked too close to the road, blocking traffic. It seemed a car behind him wanted to exit the neighborhood and had honked to alert him.

Irritated, he ran a hand through his hair, restarted the engine, and moved the car further in. But by the time the other car finally passed, the Little Celestial Master sitting beside him seemed to have regained his composure. He pushed the car door open and stepped out.

The passionate kiss felt like a daydream, but the lingering sensations on his tongue and fingertips were undeniable. Wei Yang chuckled softly. As long as his Little Celestial Master cared for him and felt that spark of desire, what was there to worry about? First, he’d get his hands on him, then work on the “parental approval” route, and the problem would solve itself. Recently, Master Zeng’s attitude seemed to have softened. Maybe he had caught wind of Zhang Xiuqi’s inner turmoil. If that were the case, it wouldn’t just be one-sided seduction but a genuine mutual affection.

Running those four words—”genuine mutual affection”—through his mind, Wei Yang felt his heart soar. With an irrepressible smile, he stepped out of the car and headed upstairs.

But when he pushed the door open, he was met with a surprise. The room wasn’t just occupied by Zhang Xiuqi—Master Zeng had also returned and was sitting on the couch, talking to his nephew. Seeing Wei Yang enter, he looked up and greeted him, “Ah Yang, where’s the diagram you found? Let me take a look.”

It was only then that Wei Yang remembered that before leaving Zhou’s studio, Brother Qi had already made a phone call. Given the significance of the Spiritual Aperture Diagram, it was no wonder Master Zeng had returned so quickly. Just moments ago, he had been thinking about the “parental approval” route, and now here was the parent sitting right in front of him. Wei Yang couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty. Both he and Brother Qi looked like they had just been caught in the act, with no time to cover it up. Would this old fox notice something?

But no matter how uneasy he felt, he knew this wasn’t the time to dwell on such things. He quickly pulled the silk diagram from his pocket and handed it over. Without a word, Master Zeng opened it and began to examine it. After a while, as if he had seen something, his arm trembled slightly, and he said, “No wonder they went to such lengths to find that manuscript…”

There was something indescribable in his voice, a mix of hatred and satisfaction. Wei Yang swallowed hard and was about to ask for clarification when Master Zeng looked up and said, “I heard from Xiao Qi that you ran into some trouble this time. What did you see?”

Wei Yang reacted quickly, replying, “It seemed to be the scene of Sun Yunhe opening a spiritual aperture, but he failed that time.”

No matter how slow he was, he now understood what he had seen. That spot sealed by the Yang Bi must have been another spiritual aperture. Or, to think of it differently, perhaps Sun Yunhe’s years of targeting spiritual apertures were all aimed at finding a way to counteract the Yang Bi and open the path to the underworld. If he had succeeded, who knows what kind of disaster he would have unleashed.

Hearing Wei Yang mention the Yang Bi, Master Zeng’s brow furrowed. “A sinkhole sealed with Yang Bi? Could the legends be true…”

Seeing Wei Yang’s puzzled expression, he sighed softly and explained, “It’s said that during the early Tang Dynasty, many strange phenomena occurred in the Sichuan-Chongqing region. Later, after investigation by Taoist masters, they discovered the existence of a ‘ground leak,’ which is the sinkhole to the underworld you mentioned. Several masters from the Mao Mountain, Zhongge, and Sutu sects worked together to seal it completely. To avoid accidents, the location was hidden, and no records were left in the sects’ texts. I only heard about it because of the close ties between Sanliao Village and the Sutu Sect. I never expected Sun Yunhe to find it and attempt to destroy the seal. That man is truly…”

Master Zeng didn’t finish his sentence but instead changed the subject. “I see that this diagram marks over ten spiritual apertures, but only one has no annotations. Could that be the sinkhole? Did he never think of going back there?”

This was the most puzzling part. Sun Yunhe’s spiritual aperture diagram was incredibly detailed, with each location marked with the flow of earth energy, the positions of the formation’s eyes, and other characteristics. With this information, seizing the spiritual energy would be as easy as pie. Spiritual apertures weren’t living things, but they were naturally occurring and could indeed dissipate and regenerate. Thus, seizing spiritual energy wasn’t about taking all of its power but rather temporarily harnessing its natural force or transferring one’s own divine retribution into the aperture. The diagram was left as a guide for future attempts.

Given how dangerous the sinkhole was and how Sun Yunhe had failed there, it would make sense for him to have detailed notes for future attempts. Yet, the diagram had no information about it, as if it had been abruptly abandoned halfway through, leaving one baffled.

Wei Yang pondered for a moment before speaking up. “Master Zeng, is Sun Yunhe’s original manuscript still around?”

Master Zeng immediately understood what he was getting at and stood up abruptly. “I’ll go take a look!”

Whoever had sealed this spiritual aperture diagram within the painting, it must have originally been hidden in Sun Yunhe’s manuscript. And who else but Sun Yunhe himself would have hidden such a diagram in a book?

As Master Zeng went to fetch the manuscript, Wei Yang took the opportunity to walk over to the couch and sit down across from Zhang Xiuqi. He coughed lightly and pointedly touched the corner of his mouth.

The kiss had been so intense that both their lips were slightly swollen. Wei Yang’s lower lip still bore a faint bite mark that hadn’t faded yet. Master Zeng had been too focused on the diagram to notice, but Zhang Xiuqi had seen it clearly. His expression stiffened imperceptibly, as if he wanted to touch his own lips but ultimately restrained himself, instead shooting Wei Yang a stern look.

The look clearly said, “Now is not the time!” Wei Yang grinned and shot back a glance that said, “We’ll talk later.”

Zhang Xiuqi seemed about to say something, but Master Zeng returned with the manuscript. “Ah Yang, take a look at this.”

Hearing this, Wei Yang knew Master Zeng had found something. He quickly stood up and took the manuscript. The inner lining of the back cover had been completely torn open, revealing two lines of hastily scribbled blood writing. The handwriting was messy, likely due to the writer’s intense emotions.

“Blood debt must be repaid, even if it costs the entire clan.”

Just eight words. The blood had oxidized over time, turning a dark red, and the strokes were forceful, almost piercing through the paper, exuding a bone-chilling, deranged murderous intent. Wei Yang’s heart, which had been floating moments ago, sank instantly. He thought of the white-haired man he had seen in his dream, the one who had wiped out an entire manor and exterminated three clans, thousands of lives. Had everything he did been for revenge? For that Great Witch named Jiang Qi…

The bone chain around his neck felt cold and heavy, like a shackle. Wei Yang put the book down and sighed. “Master Zeng, I think Sun Yunhe might never have intended to return to the sinkhole. He just… gave up.”

During that battle, Sun Yunhe had been awakened by the residual power in the bone formation, regaining his sanity. Thus, he stopped seeking out spiritual apertures and stopped trying to extend his life, instead accepting a truth that had left him heartbroken. That was why he chose to seal his vow along with the map, burying it within this manuscript. At least when he wrote this manuscript, he must have been relatively happy.

This was also why, when he saw the diagram, he had dreamed of that terrifying battle. That must have been the last spiritual aperture marked on the diagram, a blank spot with no records.

Slowly organizing his thoughts, Wei Yang said softly, “Sun Yunhe had already taken his revenge, but he couldn’t retrieve the soul of that Great Witch Jiang. He might have even lost the residual soul in the bone formation. In that final moment, he regained his clarity and gave up everything, disappearing without a trace.”

This should have been a surprising answer, but Master Zeng didn’t show much astonishment. Instead, it seemed he could understand the hidden meaning in Wei Yang’s words. He let out a cold laugh. “He gave up, but those disciples who learned his techniques didn’t.”

The power of the Spirit Seizing Formation alone was enough to lead those with weak wills astray. No one knew if Sun Yunhe had taken on disciples, but it was certain that his two heaven-defying techniques had been passed down, with some even modifying them into simpler, more sinister methods.

Wei Yang fell silent for a moment before suddenly asking, “Master Zeng, are the people you’re dealing with the ones who learned Sun Yunhe’s techniques? Were they the ones who harmed my parents and Brother Qi’s father?”

Master Zeng clearly hadn’t expected Wei Yang to ask so directly. He reflexively glanced at Zhang Xiuqi, but when he saw the expression on his nephew’s face, he sighed softly. “Yes.”

“Then were the people you were tracking and the ones trying to take the book from Old Yao also part of that group?” Wei Yang pressed on.

“Yes.”

“And now, have you found their trail? Is their target also a spiritual aperture?” Wei Yang’s questions came rapid-fire, cornering Master Zeng.

Master Zeng looked at him and asked, “You’ve figured it all out?”

“I guessed.” Wei Yang smiled at Zhang Xiuqi, who was sitting to the side. “Spending so much time with Brother Qi, it’s not hard to piece things together.”

Master Zeng didn’t bother acknowledging the teasing. He pondered for a moment before finally speaking. “You guessed correctly. A month ago, I found their trail and even uncovered some valuable information. But I accidentally tipped them off, which is why they’ve been chasing me relentlessly. I didn’t expect so much to happen as soon as I returned—not only did we eliminate several of their key members, but we also recovered Xiao Qi’s Heavenly Soul.”

“So you want to turn the tables?” Wei Yang frowned slightly. “Actually, I’ve never understood why you don’t seek help from others. Aren’t there more people from Longhu Mountain or Sanliao Village besides the two of you?”

“It’s not as simple as you think.” Master Zeng’s eyes turned cold. “Xiao Qi’s position in Longhu Mountain is somewhat awkward. His father was from a collateral line and married into Sanliao Village, which has always made the main family look down on him. Back then, to help Xiao Qi with his trial, his father broke the ancestral rules and died in the process. As a result, the blame for ‘destroying the Forbidden Land’ fell on him. Even though they knew someone else was behind it, they had no intention of finding the real culprit. It was only because Xiao Qi himself was so talented and had Sanliao Village blood that they even considered helping him stabilize his soul.”

“As for the other sects,” Master Zeng shook his head, “those with true skills are few and far between, and those willing to help are even rarer. These days, the Taoist sects are in decline, and the idea of a common enemy has become a thing of the past. Each sect is only concerned with its own survival. Who would risk their few remaining disciples to help someone else’s cause?”

The advancement of science and society has brought countless benefits, but it has also pushed these ancient sects into an age of decline. Spiritual apertures and auspicious sites have been replaced by high-rise buildings and villas, Buddhist and Taoist holy lands have become tourist attractions, and the vast network of transportation has disrupted the flow of energy. Practicing in this era is already incredibly difficult, and those who venture into the world to exorcise evil are already rare. Expecting them to help strangers track down an old enemy and eliminate a great threat is almost unimaginable. Not to mention other sects, even within the main branch of Sanliao Village, it’s hard to find someone willing to risk their life to help.

But the enemy wouldn’t wait for him to prepare. This was already their best opportunity. Seizing spiritual energy is a complex process, and if they could interfere during the process, it could either severely weaken the enemy or even cause a fatal backlash. Such a golden opportunity couldn’t be missed. And this was exactly what Zhang Xiuqi was thinking as well.

Looking at the solemn faces of the uncle and nephew, Wei Yang felt the frustration of being left behind fade, replaced by an indescribable feeling, something between helplessness and pity. Perhaps only someone like Master Zeng, who appeared worldly and cunning but was stubborn and unyielding at heart, could have raised a blockhead like Brother Qi. They could have let it go—was revenge really that important? This was the modern world, a thousand years removed from Sun Yunhe’s era. Yet, they had chosen to dedicate their lives to it, not just for revenge but to ensure that those scum were thoroughly eradicated.

Or perhaps, what had driven them to this decision was that Celestial Master Zhang, whose face Wei Yang could no longer clearly remember…

Wei Yang didn’t show any of this, merely smiling faintly. “So it seems you need help, huh? And this spiritual aperture diagram must be quite useful.”

Of course, it was useful. For those seeking to seize spiritual energy, it was a detailed guide that could make their task much easier. But for Master Zeng, it was also a valuable tool. After all, formations had their weak points, and the more one understood about a spiritual aperture, the easier it was to find the flaws in the enemy’s setup. This diagram might be even more valuable than one or two helpers.

This was a rhetorical question, and Wei Yang didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he said directly, “With this diagram and the bone formation that reacts with it, adding me to the mix should be of some help. Oh, and I can throw in a turtle carrying the Great Derivative True Technique—buy one, get one free. Won’t you consider it?”

His tone was light, as if he were not volunteering for a potentially deadly mission but rather pitching a product. Zhang Xiuqi, who had remained silent until now, couldn’t help but want to say something, but Master Zeng raised a hand to stop him and spoke seriously to Wei Yang. “This matter has nothing to do with you, and we can’t guarantee a safe return. For you, it’s too risky.”

Wei Yang chuckled. “Master Zeng, Brother Qi has already told me this. But to be honest, does it really have nothing to do with me? Whether it’s destroying that sinister formation in Wang Village back then or taking out those Jiangtou Masters later, I’m already deeply involved. Not to mention the bone formation and the witch’s blood—even if it weren’t for you, I should be thinking about this for my own sake. If I don’t help, should I just wait for them to come for me?”

This was hard to refute. Master Zeng pondered for a moment before saying, “But we don’t fully understand how the Witch Bone works or what kind of negative effects it might have on a person. Using it is like walking on thin ice—you never know when you might fall through.”

“Unless you don’t want to cross the river, being afraid of that is pointless. Should I just watch you two skate away and disappear?” This time, Wei Yang noticed that the Little Celestial Master wanted to say something and quickly cut him off, smiling at him. “Brother Qi, I’ve dreamed of Sun Yunhe, more than once. Although I’m not sure what his relationship with the Great Witch Jiang was, I understand the regret and pain he left behind. If possible, I think he would have wanted to live and die with that Great Witch, rather than being left alone in the world, heartbroken and mad.”

Perhaps some of Sun Yunhe’s residual soul had attached itself to the bone formation, allowing him to see those scenes from the past? Wei Yang wasn’t entirely sure, but he understood the lesson well enough. If he let Brother Qi walk away now, he would never be able to sleep peacefully for the rest of his life.

These words made Zhang Xiuqi freeze. Seeing his nephew’s expression, Master Zeng’s brow suddenly furrowed, and he turned to scrutinize Wei Yang closely, as if noticing something he hadn’t before. The little swindler didn’t feel awkward this time, meeting his gaze with a calm, unyielding determination.

Their eyes met for a moment before Master Zeng looked away and patted his nephew’s knee. He stood up. “This matter is a bit complicated. Let me explain it to you in detail.”

He didn’t address anyone specifically, but Wei Yang understood and stood up as well, following him toward the study. In contrast, Zhang Xiuqi remained frozen in place, seemingly unable to keep up with the rapid developments.

There were some things he had always been reluctant to think about, but what if he and his uncle failed to eliminate those people? Would they come after Wei Yang and harm him? What would happen to a descendant of the Wu Family carrying the Witch Bone? The mere thought made Zhang Xiuqi’s heart twist, as if two powerful forces were tugging at it, causing a wrenching pain. If he had to face this, perhaps it would be better to keep Wei Yang by his side…

After a few seconds of hesitation, Zhang Xiuqi finally stood up and followed the two of them.