My Disciple Wants to Tease Me Every Day - Chapter 75

: The Future
“How is it going, can you find his exact location?”

Because operating the Soul-Finding Array required a lot of spiritual energy, the four of them had taken turns tracking the monk’s location. Right now, it was Qing Yu’s turn. She poured spiritual energy into the array, carefully searching for the core’s position as they had before. Unfortunately, the ripple of ghostly energy which could be found within a moment just a bit earlier had disappeared like a stone cast into the sea, unable to be found.

“No, we may have been discovered, and the monk may have hidden the core.” Qing Yu tried for a long time, until sweat began to seep from her forehead, before she slowly recalled her powers. “I can confirm that it is still on this mountain, but it will require a careful search to find its exact location. Should we split up?”

The mountain range before them was not small. If they stayed together, they might not be able to cover all of it without spending five or six days’ time.

By that time, the core would already have been purified, and they would never get a chance to steal it back.

But splitting up was a bit more dangerous. Reasonably speaking, they shouldn’t walk into such an obvious trap.

Because it was Ning Guang’s core, it seemed improper to make others walk into danger. Di Jiufeng thought, then said, “He has clearly done something to this mountain. If we all go, we might be walking straight into his trap. What if I and Ning Guang enter the mountain range and you two stay outside to provide support? If something happens, it will be easier for you to find help.”

Qing Yu shook her head and said, “We can have Lin Hao stay outside alone to provide support, I will go with you. This mountain is so large, how long will it take the two of you to search it? Let’s go, don’t dally.”

Qing Yu saw them as friends. She would even be willing to hand over her life for them.

She would not stay outside and wait, and she was not afraid of the approaching danger.

Di Jiufeng did not stop her. It was not needed between true friends. Qing Yu knew what she was doing, she just needed to trust her.

[T/N: 真心相交的人, ‘people who interact with their true hearts’.]

“Alright, let’s split up after we enter the mountain range. Whoever finds it first, say something, don’t rush ahead to steal it from the monk. Wait until everyone is together to act.”

Lin Hao stepped forwards and said, “I also want to go, I…”

“Don’t be so eager to join in on the fun, you’re a ghost.” Di Jiufeng didn’t say any more, but she knew Lin Hao would understand. He was a ghost, and going up against a Buddhist cultivator well-versed in catching ghosts, he would be a hindrance rather than a help. If he accidentally got captured by the monk, they would have to worry about negotiating his release. “Just keep guard, don’t let him get away.”

Di Jiufeng gave him another order before entering the mountain range with Ning Guang.

This was a very large mountain. Even with three people searching together, it would take quite a bit of time. They all understood this, so after entering the mountain, they split off on three paths. Qing Yu walked quickly and disappeared in the blink of an eye. But Ning Guang, seeing Di Jiufeng about to leave, reached out to catch her arm. “A-Feng, don’t go in, I’m not too sure of Lin Hao. If he really did do something, all three of us will lose our lives in this place.”

Di Jiufeng understood what she meant. She pursed her lips and smiled, then said lightly, “What are you afraid of? Nothing will happen to me, I am your Shifu. But you–you should be careful. If it’s not an emergency, you must not use your ghostly cultivation.”

She pulled Ning Guang in for a kiss, then walked into the mountain, not turning back.

It seemed that there was an array cast over the mountain. Everything was silent, without a single sound. Di Jiufeng released her spiritual sense, taking the surrounding hundred miles into her perimeter of search.

––––Nothing, nothing at all, from the foot of the mountain to halfway up the slope, other than a few squirrels silently darting from tree to tree like actors in a silent play. None of the places Di Jiufeng had passed held a sign of human presence, and the road had disappeared before her.

This was a very strange mountain. An even little mountain path stretched halfway up the slope, but further up was only a vertical precipice without a foothold to be seen.

The precipice was very high, stretching straight into the skies. Di Jiufeng looked up, seeing only ash-colored stone and wispy clouds.

As a Deity Transformation cultivator, Di Jiufeng had a mysterious sense of the things which were on her mind. Di Jiufeng sensed that this monk had not left, but neither was he hiding on this perilous precipice.

But Di Jiufeng did not know where he could be.

She thought, then pulled out a communication talisman. She was going to ask Ning Guang and Qing Yu whether they had found anything, when she heard a voice speak from behind her. “Miss, are you looking for this humble monk?” It was a voice without a hint of anger, but Di Jiufeng’s back went taut. She had imagined many scenarios, but she never expected that he would walk right up to her.

[T/N: 施主, lit. ‘benefactor’, how monks refer to laypeople.]

Her body was stiff, her hands and feet cold, but after only a second of confusion, Di Jiufeng feigned calm and turned around.

Behind her was a young monk wearing a navy blue frock, his look very upright, a compassionate smile on his lips like one dedicated to delivering all living creatures from suffering.

She stared at the monk for a while. Di Jiufeng felt that she should say something to break this stalemate.

But what should she say? Threaten him to hand over the core, or cut and run to meet with Ning Guang and Qing Yu? Di Jiufeng hesitated, unsure what to say. After all, she couldn’t get a read on this monk. He was just quietly standing there like a part of the cold wind. He didn’t have a threatening aura, but she was unable to take her eyes off of him.

“Amitabha, miss, no need to be nervous, this humble monk will not hurt you.” He put his hands together and bowed to Di Jiufeng.

She didn’t know what the monk was thinking, but he turned around, completely unguarded with his back towards Di Jiufeng, and walked down the path. “Miss, fate brought us to meet, why not have a conversation with me? I will not take too much of your time, a stick of incense’s time is enough. In return, I will give you this ancient witch’s core. Are you willing?”

The monk walked two steps forward, then suddenly paused. He half turned around and reached out a hand. A pearl covered in seals laid in his wide palm. “Miss, you have chased me for so long, you must be here for this core. I never liked to steal others’ beloved things. A stick of incense’s time for a core, will you accept it?”

“What do you want to do with that stick of incense’s time?” Di Jiufeng asked.

“Nothing much, I truly only want to have a conversation with you.” The monk was calm and open, without a hint of conspiracy to be seen. But the more open he looked, the more uneasy Di Jiufeng felt.

A stick of incense’s time was not long, but it was enough to do some things. This monk was clearly setting a trap.

Di Jiufeng didn’t want to step in, but she didn’t know if it was too late to retreat.

Di Jiufeng’s heart clenched, and her breathing quickened. But, afraid to let this monk see, she forced down her heartbeat and tugged a somewhat relaxed smile onto her face. “That doesn’t sound like a problem, but I am a timid person. Could you swear an oath and promise you will not harm me or my friends?”

The monk looked at her for a while. His deep pupils seemed to flicker, or perhaps not. He did not speak, but stayed silent for a rather long time.

The silence was like a knife, carving away Di Jiufeng’s already low amount of calm. Her palms began to sweat and her spine felt cold. In the end, even her temples were soaked with sweat.

There was not a single sound in the wide open mountains. Even the wind brushing by her ear was silent. Such a quiet place felt unavoidably oppressive, and combined with the monk’s unusual silence, Di Jiufeng suddenly realized––––

He was probably about to attack.

Di Jiufeng’s heart clutched, and she silently raised her foot. But just as she was about to step back, the monk suddenly laughed.

He said, “Amitabha, monks do not tell lies. If you do not believe me, there is no harm in swearing an oath.” He raised his hands and swore an oath according to Di Jiufeng’s requests. When the binding of the Heavenly Way was cast onto his body, he said, “You ought to believe me now. Are you still willing to have a conversation with me?”

Seeing that he truly had no intention of harming them, Di Jiufeng’s heart, formerly suspended in midair, crashed back to earth, and the curiosity she had suppressed reared its head. “Then, what do you want to talk about?”

“First, the ancient witch. No, perhaps I should call her Ning Guang.” As he spoke, he sat down on a patch of empty ground.

Though Di Jiufeng was shocked to hear him mention the ancient witch, she did not panic. This monk was enigmatic and unreadable, if he wanted to eliminate the ancient witch, he would not have waited until now. And, he had already sworn an oath. Di Jiufeng felt secure, so she sat cross-legged facing him. “Very few people know that Ning Guang is the ancient witch. If I may be so bold to ask, great master, how did you come to know?”

The monk pressed down his hand in a calming gesture. “No need to worry, this humble monk’s methods can not be replicated. You need not worry that someone will discover her identity.

I have the Heaven’s Eye.

You must know of Hui Kong. I was his youngest disciple. In the battle that day, I fell into a crack in space, and I thought I was dead for sure. I never expected that I would survive by a fluke, and even acquire the Heaven’s Eye as a silver lining. But, this was an acquired gift and cannot be used excessively, or else my body would not be able to take it, my meridians would explode, and I would die.

Recently, I acquired this core. Because its energies were so strange, I looked at it with the Heaven’s Eye. You must not know what I saw to make me abandon the thought of purifying it and lead you here instead.”

He looked up, and his sorrowful gaze landed on Di Jiufeng’s body. “Amitabha, Miss, do you want to know your future?”

He tapped his left index finger on the center of his forehead, pulling out a cloud of crimson fog. “If you put your hand inside, you will see what will happen in the future. Monks do not tell lies, everything you see truly belongs to your future.”

Not everyone wanted to know the future, especially when that future may not be good.

Seeing his pitying gaze, Di Jiufeng’s hand felt as heavy as lead.

Notes:

This chapter was translated by Lily.