Chapter Forty-Six: Uncut Jade, Untempered Gold
As Menglan spoke, a smile finally appeared on her face. “Seeing my mother leave with a smile, I feel I made the right choice.”
Chen Yao murmured, “Though you did it to save someone, it still goes against the natural order. Because you were reincarnated directly as a human without passing through the cycle, you will be punished. And besides, the body you borrowed from Huahua won’t last long either.”
A pang of pain shot through Menglan’s heart. “You speak the truth, Master. Before I leapt into the well, every year on my birthday I would suffer the ‘pain of birth’ you spoke of—an agony so great I didn’t even have the strength to end my own life.”
She frowned slightly and sat in silence for a while. Chen Yao did not press further, knowing the “pain of birth” Menglan endured was not something that could be captured in a few words.
“The suffering you have endured will one day yield a blessing, I am sure,” Chen Yao comforted her. “Just look at Miaomiao, growing up happy under your protection, isn’t that a reward in itself?”
It was as if Menglan had suddenly reached a realization. Her worries faded, replaced by a bittersweet smile. “Thank you for your guidance, Master. Our parents’ passing left Miaomiao and me orphans from birth. Because of our background, many saw us as harbingers of misfortune, and no one dared to take us in. Eventually, we were placed in the Star Orphanage.”
Zilong sighed as well. “Miaomiao is truly a child of hardship. In a way, you both share a similar fate.”
Chen Yao nodded. “And what made you jump into the well?”
Menglan explained, “I felt an evil presence seeping from the bottom of the dry well. I was terrified, for the fear was exactly the same as what I felt when my little sister was possessed and bit our parents to death.”
Chen Yao’s eyes sharpened, fixing on the darkness of the night.
“My first thought was that someone evil was up to no good, and my first fear was for Miaomiao. I’ve long treated her as my own sister, perhaps as a way of making up for the guilt I felt towards my little sister. Miaomiao is everything to me—I couldn’t let anyone harm her again. So I risked everything and followed the evil aura to see where it would go. But to my surprise, Miaomiao wasn’t its target. It was after Wan Zhengzheng.”
Chen Yao remarked, “Who would have thought there’d be three people bearing the utmost yin in a single orphanage?”
Menglan nodded. “I only found out we were people of utmost yin after overhearing an old Taoist talking. But why did the evildoer choose Wan Zhengzheng?”
Chen Yao pondered, “The old Taoist she mentioned was probably Uncle Wei.” He explained, “Wan Zhengzheng carries two streams of yin spirit within her. These two streams spent a long time beneath the well and must have resonated with the evil energy emanating from it. If I’m right, the dry well acts like a transmitter for malice, marking those of utmost yin with a special sign. The villain uses these marks to hunt them down. As a high-level person of utmost yin, Wan Zhengzheng had already attracted their attention. That night, they struck, intending to take her life. But the evildoers never anticipated that Huahua—meaning you—would throw yourself into the well at that crucial moment. You used your yin to contain theirs, temporarily sealing the evil aura and saving Wan Zhengzheng’s life. But in doing so, you exposed Miaomiao’s identity as a person of utmost yin.”
Menglan smiled serenely. “I always knew that living in Huahua’s dead body wouldn’t last; reaching four years old was already a miracle. I thought I’d gamble my life to stop the evil from escaping the well—if I could save even one person, it would be worth it. Luckily, Zhengzheng always treated Miaomiao as a true sister. Miaomiao may have lost my companionship, but she gained another sister. In the end, that’s not such a bad outcome.”
Zilong sighed in admiration. “Menglan’s compassion is immense; even in danger, she thinks only of others’ safety.”
Chen Yao mused, “This proves the three of you share a mysterious bond. It almost seems fate brought Wan Zhengzheng to us for help.”
Zilong’s face brightened. “We must have been sent by the heavens to set things right! That’s the only explanation!”
At last, the truth of Miaomiao’s origins was revealed.
“Menglan, leave this matter to us,” Chen Yao said gently, stroking the sleeping Miaomiao. “You’ve suffered enough.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Menglan’s eyes filled with tears as she knelt with a thud, sobbing with joy. “Master, I can never repay your great kindness!”
Chen Yao helped her up. “I’ll take you and Miaomiao to Nianxue in a bit. When the time comes, don’t act rashly—listen to her in all things. Do you understand?”
Seeing Menglan nod in agreement, Chen Yao turned to Zilong. “Now that things are settled, remove the concealment array.”
The concealment array was a formation that shielded them from ordinary eyes, making it easier for Chen Yao and the others to hunt demons.
At the instruction, Zilong walked off in the distance, quickly recited an incantation at the edge of the array, gathered the items on the altar, and hurried back.
“Let’s go,” Chen Yao said, carrying Miaomiao and leading Menglan and Zilong over the wall.
Suddenly, Chen Yao’s gaze blazed as he furrowed his thick brows and looked around. “Zilong, do you notice anything unusual?”
Zilong was startled. “Master looks so serious! Could it be a powerful enemy?”
Without hesitation, he activated his spiritual sight. “Heaven and earth without bounds, borrow the laws of the universe. With the eye of heaven, reveal truth from falsehood; with the eye of earth, seek the source. O Supreme Lord Taiyi, as the command is uttered, so let it be!”
Scanning the surroundings with a worried face, Zilong said, “This enemy is powerful indeed—I can’t see a trace with my spiritual eyes! Master, should you try?”
Chen Yao grimaced, voice grave. “What spiritual sight—just look at our car. It’s gone!”
Hearing this, Zilong felt his blood boil. “Master, could you be serious for once? I don’t have your level of cultivation; using the earth eye is hard for me!”
Chen Yao glared angrily at the empty parking spot. “That was the new car our teacher just bought!”
Seeing Chen Yao’s face darken, Zilong panicked. “Oh no, I’ve never seen Master so upset!”
“What do we do now?”
“Call the police, you blockhead!”
Zilong nodded frantically and quickly dialed Officer Li.
“Officer Li!”
“Hello? Zilong, how did things go?” Officer Li’s concern was obvious.
“Officer Li, something terrible happened!”
On the other end, Officer Li’s heart clenched. “Not even Old Chen could handle it?”
“It’s been handled, but Master’s new car was stolen! This is bad—he’s furious, and the consequences could be dire!”
“Someone dared steal my sworn brother’s car? Zilong, tell Old Chen this is on me! I’ll get it done, and he’ll be completely satisfied!”
With that, Officer Li hung up, strode out of his office, and shouted, “Every officer with a flower on your shoulder, report to my office in two minutes!”
Outside, the senior officers were bewildered. “What’s going on? Is this a big case?”
“I’ve never seen the boss so anxious!”
“This must be huge!”
“Stop talking—let’s get in there and wait for instructions!”
The assembled officers listened as Officer Li made a call. “Director Xiao Mo at the traffic bureau?”
“Yes, sir, what can I do for you? Is this a major case?”
The waiting officers exchanged glances, too tense to speak, their breaths barely audible.
Half an hour later, Officer Li personally drove Chen Yao’s new car to the brand-new Star Orphanage. “Old Chen, sorry to keep you waiting. The car’s been cleaned and refueled. Does it look all right?”
Only then did Chen Yao’s dark expression ease. He patted Officer Li’s shoulder. “Brother Li, you’re truly capable! Such efficiency! Let’s go—everything’s settled here.”
Seeing Chen Yao’s anger dissipate, Officer Li finally relaxed. “You’ve worked hard tonight, Old Chen. Let me drive, let me drive!”
“My disciples didn’t cause you any trouble, did they?”
“They’re young—always noisy, but it’s nothing, just a bit of discipline.”
“Thanks for your trouble, Brother Li!”
“Don’t mention it! We’re sworn brothers, aren’t we?”
“Brother Li!”
“Old Chen!”
“Brother Li!”
“Old Chen!”
...
“Hey! You, the new guy! I’m talking to you!”
Liang Lingzhi, who’d been sitting on the ground all night, ignored the tattooed brute. The man snorted, “Didn’t you hear me? Want another beating?”
Lingzhi smirked inwardly. “Do you really take me for a docile kitten?”
After a night of contemplation, his resolve to stir up trouble had only grown stronger. “Baldy, my name’s not ‘hey!’ It’s Liang Lingzhi!” He jumped up, pointed at the tattooed man, and challenged, “You think you’re tough? Try taking me one-on-one!”