Dark Blue Frost - Chapter 17
Chapter 17: Infatuated Soul
Though startled at first, the moment he stood upright and turned to see who had spoken from behind, the surprise vanished without a trace. Faintly, a rare glint of ruthlessness appeared on his usually respectful face, making one’s skin crawl.
Indeed, he was the housekeeper of the Zhao family.
Perched comfortably atop the high wall of the dyehouse, leaning back in a relaxed posture, was the white-robed man—none other than Hua Wuyan, the fox demon who stopped at nothing in his pursuit of immortality. At this moment, he was fanning himself, wearing a half-smile that suggested he knew everything, yet still held a touch of malicious mockery.
In this deserted place, Housekeeper Zhao finally revealed his true composure, showing no panic in the face of danger. He looked at Hua Wuyan, having seemingly long recognized that he was not a fellow human, “You vile beast, knowing I possess a magical artifact, why haven’t you scampered off?”
As he spoke, he swiftly dug the final item out of the dirt, raising it in his hand as a warning and a threat, a rare look of solemnity flashing in his eyes.
When Hua Wuyan had earlier come to the Zhao manor claiming to be a master skilled in capturing ghosts and expelling demons, Housekeeper Zhao had initially dismissed him as a fraud, not taking him to heart. Later, however, when he noticed Hua Wuyan intentionally or unintentionally observing the dye vats, he realized Hua Wuyan was no ordinary person.
By logic, Hua Wuyan seemed to have guessed that something unusual lay beneath the dye vats, yet he did not dare touch them lightly, always standing far off with a strange expression.
Having guarded the artifact since youth, how could he not understand the mechanics behind it?
Hua Wuyan was clearly wary of the artifact buried beneath the dye vats.
Therefore, this Hua Wuyan was undoubtedly a demon.
“Vile beast?”
Regarding the term thrust upon him, Hua Wuyan let out a loud laugh, snapped his fan shut with a sharp click, swung his long legs, and blinked quite guiltily, “That is right, you are human, and I am a demon. Only, if a demon like me who has never harmed anyone is a vile beast, then what does that make a life-taking murderer like you?”
Housekeeper Zhao was clearly not an easy target to fool. Even at such a moment, he showed not the slightest discomfort of sitting on pins and needles.
He hummed casually, utterly unbothered, as though harboring no reservations about what he had done.
He returned Hua Wuyan’s half-smile with a look of mild contempt, “Since you say I committed murder for money, feel free to report it to the authorities and have me thrown into prison.” Then he added, “And you, a demon who claims never to have harmed anyone, why did you lack the courage to show your face before that master and disciple pair?”
Though a mortal, he possessed unusual experiences from his earlier years, so how could he fail to notice the anomaly regarding that master and disciple? The sword on the young boy’s back was clearly a divine artifact, and though the master spoke little, her imposing aura proved she was no ordinary person.
Furthermore, the moment they appeared, Hua Wuyan had vanished without a trace.
What was that if not deliberately hiding?
“Who says I didn’t show my face? I merely wish to cultivate for immortality and prefer not to meddle in idle affairs.” Hearing Housekeeper Zhao mention Qianse and her disciple, the smile on Hua Wuyan’s face faded slightly, and an unexplainable sense of annoyance welled up in his chest.
Clearing his throat, he raised his sword-like eyebrows slightly, his thin lips curving into a smile, his deep eyes shining brightly as a sharp look flashed through them. Abandoning any further pretense regarding his true purpose, he said, “That artifact is of little use to you anyway. If you give it to me to aid my cultivation, I can pretend to know nothing—”
Hearing that Hua Wuyan’s goal was the artifact in his hand, Housekeeper Zhao was momentarily taken aback.
Once he recovered, his expression turned somewhat strange.
“You wish to cultivate for immortality?”
He scrutinized Hua Wuyan carefully and suddenly let out a hum, his previously steady voice turning slightly raspy, though it was impossible to tell whether it carried emotion or doubt, “What is so good about cultivating for immortality that everyone flock to it so frantically?”
Hua Wuyan smiled leisurely, not minding the question, and simply asked back in a calm tone, “Then tell me, what is so bad about cultivating for immortality that you disdain it so?”
Housekeeper Zhao had no desire to entangle himself in this topic. He merely reached into his sleeve and placed the items just dug up from the dirt onto the nearby table. “If you want them, take them. In any case, these things are indeed of no further use to me.”
When Hua Wuyan clearly saw the items on the table, he smiled with sudden realization.
“Is this not the Bodhi bead mala, the supreme treasure of Qingfeng Daoist Temple that vanished eight years ago?”
Possessing excellent vision, he recognized the origins of those scattered items at a glance from afar.
Lifting his head, he glanced at Housekeeper Zhao, speaking in a tone that had long seen through the truth, “As I expected, you are that little Daoist monk, Chenkong, who stole what he was entrusted to guard.”
Placed on the table were indeed the Bodhi beads of the Qilin Eye, eighteen in total, smooth and round, emitting a faint brownish-yellow glow under the dim moonlight. This item was rare and precious, said to be left behind at Qingfeng Daoist Temple by Immortal Cihang—the only practitioner in the entire immortal realm who cultivated both Daoism and Buddhism—after listening to the ancient Lamp-Lighting Buddha preach in the Western Brahma Realm. Though a Buddhist item, for cultivators of Daoism and immortality, it was undoubtedly a top-grade treasure for increasing wisdom, aiding enlightenment, and protecting cultivation.
Regrettably, this treasure had vanished without cause eight years ago, and alongside it, the young Daoist monk Chenkong who guarded it disappeared without a trace. Because the artifact possessed immense power, it could not have been stolen by ordinary demons. Thus, the only answer was that the young Daoist monk Chenkong had committed theft himself and absconded to parts unknown.
Facing Hua Wuyan’s certainty, Chenkong remained silent. He turned, intending to leave, when another voice unexpectedly joined in.
“Since it is a matter of quiet bribery, should not those who witness it get a share?” The voice held a touch of playfulness, clearly belonging to someone undergoing a voice change, where crisp youthfulness and a low, magnetic tone blended seamlessly to form an agreeable sound.
Yet his words were laced with hidden thorns, “I am terribly sorry, but I happened to overhear what I shouldn’t have. I wonder if I might partake in a slice of the pie as well?”
Chenkong turned to look and saw the young boy carrying the sword.
A bad premonition suddenly struck his heart, yet he stayed rooted to the spot, quietly observing the situation while pondering his exit strategy.
Though it was a voice as pleasant as heavenly music, when it reached Hua Wuyan’s ears, it made him gnash his teeth in hatred.
“You little brat again!”
He glared angrily at Qingxuan, who was leaning against the corner of the wall watching the show, inwardly annoyed at how he could have been so careless as not to notice the boy’s presence.
“Where is your master?”
Instinctively, he began looking around, knowing that wherever this brat was, his protective master, Qianse, would certainly not be far behind.
“Are you still pining after my master?” Qingxuan sneered, a faint, mocking smile gracing his lips. Choosing the harshest words, he unceremoniously tried to shatter the fox’s beautiful hopes, “Has she not made it crystal clear? She will not dual-cultivate with a stinky fox like you, so give up on that thought!”
Subjected to unprovoked ridicule, Hua Wuyan’s hatred deepened. Yet a fox demon was, after all, a fox demon.
With a quick roll of his eyes, an idea came to him.
Looking at the indifferent Housekeeper Zhao, he vigorously fanned the flames with ill intent, “Chenkong, this brat thinks highly of himself and wants a slice of the pie. See to him as you will. After all, whether you kill one or two now makes no difference.”
Chenkong was no fool and knew Hua Wuyan was using him to do his dirty work. Thus, he did not take the bait, merely letting out a cold sneer. However, when a third voice sounded, the cold sneer on his face vanished completely.
“Housekeeper… Housekeeper Zhao!”
That voice, carrying a hint of timidity and trembling, was not as strong as usual, yet it was so familiar. Every time he heard it, he would secretly feel a sense of sweetness, even though he had to maintain a stern expression on his face. Yes, he liked the owner of this voice—liked her to the point where he would do anything for her.
Therefore, he had stolen the Buddhist treasure and come to this small town to live under an assumed name, solely to be closer to her.
Regrettably, the one she loved was not him, but her own brother.
The chasm between him and her, even when standing side by side, remained forever unbridgeable.
The owner of that voice was Fu Qiu’niang.
Seeing Chenkong’s expression change drastically in an instant, Qianse finally revealed herself.
“Fu Qiu’niang, you and Chenkong share a deep connection. For your sake, he stole what he guarded and hid under a false name.”
She shook her head, her clear eyes dark and deep like a sword pierces straight into one’s heart without mercy, “Yet now, seeing him every day, you failed to recognize him.”
“Chenkong?!” Fu Qiu’niang looked at Housekeeper Zhao before her, unable to connect a name that clearly belonged to a monastic with him.
After standing in a daze for a long while, she spoke with a hint of uncertainty, “You… you are that little Daoist master from Mount Ruoquan?!”
That year, her brother had said he was going to the capital to make a living. By the end of the year, he had sent back plenty of money through a messenger, yet he himself did not return. Though she and her father ate a sumptuously for New Year’s Eve dinner that year, she felt an unsettling worry in her heart. On the first day of the New Year, she packed her belongings and set off for the capital.
The capital, sitting at the feet of the Emperor, was naturally prosperous. She walked and watched along the way, her eyes dazzled. Yet, she had never imagined that her brother, for her sake, had voluntarily sold himself to a male brothel, serving high officials and nobles with his body and enduring endless humiliation.
After a brief meeting, she fled the capital, her mind in a chaotic daze. Passing by Mount Ruoquan, she followed the devout believers up the mountain. She knelt before the Buddhist Treasure Cave for three days and three nights, muttering endlessly, asking for nothing else but the blessings of the mountain deities for her brother—the man she loved.
She had even sworn a heavy oath never to marry anyone else in this life, determined to stay with her brother until old age.
At that time, the one guarding the Qilin Eye Bodhi beads inside the cave was Chenkong.
He had watched this woman kneel on the ground, weeping profusely as she babbled. At that moment, he felt that his heart, cultivated through years of Daoist practice, suffered a fierce, twisting pain.
Was that moment a destined calamity?
Seeing Qianse arrive, Qingxuan immediately raised his voice, carrying a touch of pride as if claiming credit, “Master, your guess was entirely correct. Zhao Fugui reportedly hanged himself at the Zhao manor tonight, and the coroner from the authorities is already examining the body.” Originally, his master had been reluctant to let him gather news alone. However, he believed he had accumulated plenty of experience over the past few days. Besides, carrying the Immortal-Slaying Sword, he could protect himself if necessary, so Qianse had reluctantly agreed to split up.
Qianse nodded slightly, her phoenix eyes half-closed, her thick black eyelashes sweeping down slightly.
“Chenkong, this matter probably has a great deal to do with you as well.”
Raising her eyes to glance at the dark-faced Chenkong, a meaningful light glinted deep within her gaze.
Hearing the news of Zhao Fugui’s death, the coldness in Chenkong’s eyes deepened.
“Zhao Fugui committed countless evil deeds. He deserved to die.”
Gritting his teeth, he muttered a sentence, yet his expression remained unnaturally calm, equivalent to admitting that Zhao Fugui’s death was arranged by his hands.
Indeed, Zhao Fugui had not hanged himself at all; he was strangled to death by Chenkong.
“Then what about Gu Huiniang?”
Seeing that he cared nothing for his blood-stained actions, Qingxuan immediately seized the opportunity to question, “What heinous crime did she commit that you not only harmed her, but also used an artifact to suppress her soul beneath the dye vats, forcing her to turn into a Rakshasa and know no peace even after death?”
Having witnessed Gu Huiniang’s tragic encounter in the Ninefold Hell, Qingxuan was filled with indignation. Meeting a heartless man obsessed with money was already a great misfortune in life, yet she was innocently harmed on top of it. Where was justice?
“Regarding this matter, I have nothing to say.”
Chenkong fell silent for a moment before speaking in a low, heavy voice. His fists clenched slightly in his hands before loosening again, adopting an attitude of complete indifference to his fate, “Since I have fallen into your hands, whether you hand me over to the authorities or send me back to Qingfeng Daoist Temple to await judgment, I am at your disposal.”
“Housekeeper Zhao, was Miss Gu really killed by you?” Even though Fu Qiu’niang did not wish to believe the fact laid before her eyes, she still had to speak tremblingly, wanting to confirm once more.
She had known Housekeeper Zhao for six or seven years. Every time she spoke with him, she could feel the warmth and gentleness in his gaze. She had thought he was a gentle and dependable man. It was not that she did not understand his affection, but rather that she could only pretend not to notice.
Regarding the woman he had thought about for years, Chenkong could not ignore her. He could only turn his head aside so no one could see the emotion in his eyes, responding with a single word in a raspy, bitter voice, “Yes.”
“I know… you did it for me—” Hearing this, Fu Qiu’niang understood everything instantly.
Earlier, when she heard Housekeeper Zhao mention that Zhao Fugui had violated Gu Huiniang, she had worried in her heart. Once Zhao Fugui actually married Gu Huiniang, her son would certainly have no reliance left. Perhaps even the secret of their incestuous affair would be exposed as a result. She was not worried about herself, but rather anxious about the child with intellectual disabilities she had carried for ten months. Now that Fu Yunchuan was gravely ill and unlikely to recover, her life was extremely bitter. If the Zhao family truly abandoned the child, how was she to support this family?
So, had Housekeeper Zhao killed Gu Huiniang precisely because of this?
“I committed the murder, so I will naturally bear full responsibility.” Chenkong spoke to clear any connection, not wishing to drag her into this matter, “This has nothing to do with you, so you need not blame yourself.”
Seeing him take everything upon himself, Hua Wuyan stared greedily at the eighteen Qilin Eye Bodhi beads on the table, knowing he could no longer obtain them, which instantly made him feel suffocated and frustrated.
“Chenkong, you have done so much for her, why hide and act so hesitantly now? Truth be told, you can be considered an infatuated soul in the Daoist sect.”
He took over the conversation with no shortage of sarcasm, dissatisfied that the situation had turned upside down after Qianse and her disciple appeared, leaving him as an insignificant bystander. Fine, he admitted that he too had once wanted to be a touching, infatuated soul.
Unfortunately, heaven had sent a downpour that drowned the infatuated seed in his heart alive!
Looking at Qianse and her disciple before him, unconsciously referencing rumors in his head and imagining how the pair engaged in deep affection and double-cultivation, his anger grew even harder to suppress. The drowned seed in his heart swelled, demanding an outlet to vent.
Thus, he simply poured out everything he knew, “You killed Gu Huiniang, suppressed her soul beneath the dye vats using the Qilin Eye Bodhi beads, and took advantage of the right time, place, and people to transform her into a Rakshasa Maiden, throwing the Zhao family into turmoil. Afterward, you seized the opportunity to play tricks from behind the scenes, attempting to ruin Zhao Fugui to vent anger for your beloved.
However, Zhao Fugui was crafty after all. Detecting your intentions, he guarded against you everywhere, leaving you no opening. So you simply decided to finish him off once and for all. That way, whether you successfully escaped or were brought to justice by the authorities, Zhao Fugui nominally had only one son left. Your beloved could naturally rely on her child’s status to inherit the Zhao family fortune and live a life free of worry.”
Finally, seeing Chenkong’s face turn pale and Fu Qiu’niang filled with shock, Hua Wuyan felt he had gotten his money’s worth and vented his frustration by transferring his anger onto others. Only then did he laugh, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, and asked in a thoroughly provocative manner, “Am I wrong?!”
