Chapter Sixty-Two: Heaven and Earth, Worlds Apart, Never to Meet

Stars and moon accompanied him. When Zhong Ming returned to the courtyard, the wooden door was tightly shut.

Inside the house were two Daoists from the Elixir Sect. Although Zhang Nianchen’s injuries were not life-threatening, they required rest.

Zhong Ming did not push the door open directly. He tiptoed to the entrance and peered through the crack into the room.

An oil lamp burned atop a wooden stool. On the floor beside it was a straw mat, where Zhang Daozhen sat cross-legged, his breath slow and deep—clearly cultivating his mind and qi. Zhong Ming’s own rosewood bed had been commandeered by Zhang Nianchen, who now breathed evenly, sunk in a deep slumber.

“It seems there’s no place for me in this home tonight.”

Sighing, Zhong Ming walked to Liang Yu’s house, intending to make do for the night.

Liang Yu’s home was not only messy but also reeked of unwashed feet. Zhong Ming pinched his nose and tossed about for a long time before finally drifting off. Had he not been so exhausted, he doubted he could sleep in Liang Yu’s pigsty of a house.

Outside Yuni Village, the air remained thick with the stench of corpses. While Zhong Ming slept soundly and dreamed, for many others, this night would be sleepless.

...

Upon the broken city walls, Tian Xingjian stood holding a black short flute.

Just moments ago, the immortal stone he used to communicate with Li Que had shattered in his hand.

It crumbled to dust and was carried away by the wind.

Within the immortal stone was a trace of Li Que’s immortal qi. Such stones only break when their owner dies.

This revelation left Tian Xingjian certain: Li Que had not merely encountered trouble—he had lost his life.

At this moment, Tian Xingjian could no longer smile. Even as countless corpses surged outside the city walls, silently battering them; even as chaos reigned within, with townsfolk crying out for help—he, who usually relished a spectacle, cared little for the current turmoil.

Tian Xingjian was not saddened by Li Que’s death. Young Master Tian had never grieved for others; Li Que was merely a fellow disciple, not close enough to move him.

What wiped the smile from Tian Xingjian’s face was fear. Whoever killed Li Que could just as easily kill him.

Staring at the writhing tide of corpses below, Tian Xingjian’s brows knit tightly. His grip on the flute tightened until his knuckles turned white.

The flute glowed with a dim black light, as though dark flames danced upon it.

He pondered for a while before calling out, “Xiaoxiao, let’s return to the mansion.”

“Master, aren’t we going to watch the excitement?”

The little maid Xiaoxiao was puzzled; her master seldom looked so troubled.

Tian Xingjian shook his head. “No, better to safeguard my life. If we linger, we may not survive.”

With that, he turned to descend from the city wall.

Just then, a spark of starlight suddenly appeared in the northern sky, streaking closer like a falling star toward the border city.

Turning, Tian Xingjian easily spotted the radiant star. He paused, lifted his head, and gazed into the shimmering night.

Xiaoxiao, following close behind, almost bumped into him.

Seeing her master halt, Xiaoxiao asked, “Master, why…”

Before she could finish, Tian Xingjian raised a finger to his lips, signaling her to silence.

Xiaoxiao dared not speak. She, too, raised her head, joining Tian Xingjian in watching the northern night sky.

That brilliant meteor drew near the border city at astonishing speed. Behind it, a cascade of meteors—a shower of starlight—appeared in the northern heavens, all streaming toward the city.

“It’s Yu Tu who has arrived.”

---

Tian Xingjian was instantly invigorated, laughing aloud. He strode once more to the edge of the city wall, gazing boldly at the tide of corpses. “A siege of ten thousand corpses—what a grand spectacle! If I leave now and miss the breach, wouldn’t that be a great regret?”

The little maid Xiaoxiao was confused. “Master, we’re not leaving?”

“No. If Yu Tu finds out I fled the battle, she’ll surely speak ill of me before our master.”

Beaming, Tian Xingjian stood at the wall, hands clasped behind his back, chest proud as if commanding troops.

Behind him, the foremost meteor drew closer, heading straight for the broken city wall.

As it neared, its true form became clear—a young man in splendid attire, standing atop a giant lotus.

The lotus beneath his feet glowed a pale blue, flying through the night sky, easily mistaken for a shooting star.

The lotus descended atop the city wall and settled gently.

The newcomer was a fair and handsome youth, perhaps in his twenties, dressed in elegant robes and adorned with a creamy jade pendant at his waist. As the lotus touched down, it shattered into icy shards.

The youth landed and immediately approached Tian Xingjian, dropping to one knee and calling out loudly, “Inner disciple Yi Chongtian of White Jade Capital greets Uncle Tian!”

Though he appeared older than Tian Xingjian, he still addressed him as “Uncle,” suggesting Tian Xingjian’s seniority in the sect was considerable.

Without turning, Tian Xingjian’s smile widened. He said coolly, “Rise.”

“Yes, sir.”

Yi Chongtian was impeccably respectful. Though it was his first meeting with this young uncle, he dared not neglect etiquette.

The one before him was the palace master’s newly accepted direct disciple, whose power surpassed even the inner elders. If he left a bad impression, he’d surely suffer once this young uncle entered the palace.

Yi Chongtian stood carefully, then cupped his hands. “Uncle Tian, Tower Master Yu instructed me to come ahead and lend you a hand.”

White Jade Capital was a celestial sect, its blessed estate vast and divided into twelve towers and five cities. Each tower had a master; only Lady Echan of the First Tower bore the title of palace master, while the others were called tower masters.

The “Tower Master Yu” referred to was Yu Tu, master of the Second Tower.

Tian Xingjian nodded. “Where has Yu Tu gone?”

Yi Chongtian’s eyes flashed with surprise. He thought to himself: This Uncle Tian’s reputation is well-deserved. Rumor has it the palace master praised his talent as unparalleled, and values him highly. His status is indeed lofty—he dares to address Tower Master Yu by name.

“Uncle Tian, Tower Master Yu sensed that Uncle Li Que was in danger and has gone to investigate the site with her retinue.”

“Li Que is likely doomed.”

Tian Xingjian sighed and turned to gaze at the meteors in the sky.

He watched as a hundred streaks of starlight shot past the border town toward the wild hills.

With a cheerful smile, Tian Xingjian observed the starlight falling upon the hills and muttered, “Interesting…the excitement is only growing.”

...

The hundred streaks of blue starlight shone brighter than the actual stars, their dazzling glow raining down around the wild hills.

At the very center, a violet-blue radiance fell upon the hilltop, the most brilliant of all.

As the light faded, a figure emerged.

It was a child, no taller than two feet, with white hair and a youthful face. A jade hairpin adorned his high topknot. He wore a white silk robe with gold trim, the back embroidered with a city tower in golden thread.

The golden tower was vividly rendered, with an eight-sided pagoda most prominent, beside which were the words “Second Tower.”

The child’s face was so exquisitely beautiful it was difficult to tell boy from girl; most striking were his eyes—deep violet, shimmering as if a sea of stars dwelled within.

His celestial robe billowed, and his mount was no ordinary thing.

While most disciples of White Jade Capital rode crystalline lotus flowers, he rode a living creature—a white-furred, red-eyed, long-eared rabbit.

---

The rabbit was enormous; crouched, it was as tall as a man. Its crimson eyes glowed in the darkness, lending it a demonic air.

Celestial robe, jade hairpin, and the medicine-pounding rabbit—an immortal unseen by mortals.

This was the immortal of White Jade Capital—Yu Tu.

Yu Tu floated down from the rabbit’s back, landing precisely beside a patch of brown blood-stained clothing—the very place where Li Que had died.

He stared at Li Que’s garments for a long while before letting out a lingering sigh.

His voice was lively, melodious as a nightingale’s song—a pleasant boyish tone.

“We’re still too late. Li Que has fallen.”

Behind Yu Tu stood an emaciated old man, even thinner than Old Sun, his back hunched, appearing seventy or eighty years old.

The old man immediately asked, “Master, can you tell how Uncle Li Que died?”

“There’s an aura of a monster on his clothes. It seems he was slain by a demon of the Infant-Form realm.”

Upon hearing this, the old man’s face darkened. “Master, that monster is truly unruly. To destroy his body was bad enough, but even his soul was not spared. It must be a fiend who feeds on human essence!

When I find it, I’ll throw it into the Demon Refining Pool to suffer the torment of thunder and utterly annihilate its soul!”

With a wave of his hand, the old man ordered his disciples, “Search the mountain—find the monster practicing evil arts.”

Yu Tu waved dismissively. “Zeng Li, no need. I’ve already searched the area—there’s no Infant-Form demon within a hundred miles. The culprit has surely fled.”

Yu Tu then extended his arm and pointed at Li Que’s blood-stained clothes, which froze and floated upward.

“Take Li Que’s garments. When we return to the palace, we’ll build him a tomb for his robes.”

The old man called Zeng Li complied, collecting the clothes. Yu Tu, meanwhile, cast a casual glance southward.

Staring into the southern night, after a long pause, Yu Tu squinted and murmured, “Ten-Thousand-Demon Forest, are you about to turn your allegiance to the Left Faction?”

Once Zeng Li had packed away the clothes, he bowed and asked, “Master, where shall we go next? Should we head to the city and suppress the corpse tide?”

“No rush for the corpse tide. Send word to Yi Chongtian—have him help the corpses into the city.”

Zeng Li was surprised. “Master, it’s only the third watch, still some hours before dawn. Isn’t it too early to breach the city?”

Yu Tu smiled calmly. “Time waits for no one. This little city is beset by changes far beyond my expectations. Unless a few mortals die, they won’t see the Morning Star clearly.”

Zeng Li asked no more, bowed, and went to make preparations.

Yu Tu once more settled atop the long-eared rabbit’s back, instructing, “Prepare for dawn. I must visit two other places.”

His gaze grew deep; first he looked toward the Immortal Stone, pondering for a moment, then turned his eyes toward Yuni Village.

He suddenly smiled, murmuring, “Let’s go here first—its array is more intriguing.”

Yu Tu patted the rabbit’s back, and it bounded away down the hill.

The rabbit leapt far; just a few jumps carried it beyond the hillside, and it reached Yuni Village in mere moments.

At this time, Yuni Village was still shrouded by the Seven-Star Divine Concealment Array. Whether evil corpses or ordinary folk, none should be able to see the village.

Yet Yu Tu was unaffected. The long-eared rabbit beneath him hopped right over the red thread Zhang Daozhen had laid, bounding into the village.

Its destination was Zhong Ming’s little fenced courtyard.