Nan Yi's—or rather, Immortal Danxia's—lower body no longer had even a shred of human shape. From the waist down, there was only a plump, fat, silkworm-like insect body.
Attached to this segment of the insect body were countless thread-like, fine, and dense rootlets that constantly struggled and reached outward. Through a thin layer of insect skin, one could even see the pus-like fluid within.
“Jigu...”
“Jigu...”
“Guji...”
These fungus-like rootlets constantly wriggled in the air, making sickening squelching sounds.
“You see? These past few days, I refused to let Mother lift the quilt because I was afraid of frightening her.”
Immortal Danxia's face was calm, but her eyes were filled with an utterly mocking resolve to die:
“During the reign of Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty, Qinglong conspired with Huiyuan to steal my soul from the Underworld. They attached me to this Mayfly Wood to evade the eyes and ears of the soul reapers and escape the Underworld's pursuit. I was born with the memories of my past life, unable to find release for ten lifetimes, forever trapped within this hideous insect body.”
“Immortal Danxia was once a cultivator of some renown. If you truly loathed it so much, could you not have ended your own life...”
The moment Nan Zhi spoke those words, she suddenly felt an immense, crushing pressure bear down on her from above like Mount Tai. Her body stiffened, and she could not help but let out a soft groan as specks of blood seeped from her mouth.
【Cultivator “Nan Zhi” has suffered a spiritual attack from “Daoist Qinglong”, HP -500】
【Cultivator “Nan Zhi” has received the debuff “Light Injury”, Combat Power -200, Constitution decreased by 99】
【Cultivator “Nan Zhi” possesses the “Savior” bonus. The “Light Injury” debuff has been negated.】
Someone let out a heavy snort in the air.
—It was a warning from Daoist Qinglong.
He was actually keeping watch over this place with his divine sense at every single moment!
“A Nascent Soul cultivator can project their divine sense to control everything around them at all times. Not even the slightest rustle of grass can escape his eyes.”
Seeing Nan Zhi injured, a flash of worry crossed Immortal Danxia's eyes, and the smile on her face grew even more bitter:
“Dragging a body like this around, how is it any different from being dead? Do you think I didn't want to enter reincarnation sooner, to quickly abandon this joyless, sin-ridden life?
“The Mayfly Wood is naturally drawn to blood relatives. Every time I reincarnate, the moment I turn eighteen, it actively devours the blood of my parents and kin.
“It continues until the parents, siblings, wives, and children of the body I inhabited are sucked dry, all of them turning into nutrients for the Mayfly Wood, looking like dead wood and withered charcoal—”
She had seemingly held it in for too long, with no one to tell of the resentment in her heart. The despairing emotions that filled her had slowly accumulated, only to collapse in an instant, like a bursting dam.
“I have reincarnated for ten lifetimes. In my first lifetime, I was born in a daze into the home of a charcoal burner.
“At that time, I did not yet know the terrible consequences of the Mayfly Wood. When I grew to eighteen, I vaguely remembered some past events.
“I thought it was the favor of heaven, allowing me to obtain another lifetime of blessings, but little did I know, it was the beginning of a nightmare.”
“My parents both passed away when I was nineteen.
“My eldest brother, who had always looked after me like a father, also died suddenly the following year.
“In the fourth year, my beloved younger brother and sister, who were barely twelve, both lost their lives overnight.
“I originally suspected that an evil soul was at work, but I couldn't find anything.
“Rumors spread through the village that I was a Lone Star of Heavenly Slaughter. Yet, a cloth-selling girl next door named Bai Yu was extremely close to me, comforting me that everyone has their own destiny.
“Bai Yu and I were childhood sweethearts. Her father and uncles even treated me like a son, wanting to arrange a marriage between us.
“But I was originally a woman, and only regarded Bai Yu as a sister, so how could I ruin her life?”
Immortal Danxia's expression gradually grew numb:
“On the very day after I refused the marriage, Bai Yu's entire family of twelve was slaughtered by a demon overnight. When I opened the door, Qinglong was standing there, his robes fluttering, spotless and pristine.”
“He stood before the already terrified Bai Yu and said to me:
“‘So my lady was enticed by these mortal ants, coveting worldly relationships, which is why you were unwilling to remember your past life for so long?’
“‘The Mayfly Wood requires bone and flesh relatives as nourishment. Since the family of your current physical body is dead, why not marry this mortal woman and sire a child or two to extend your life?’
“‘Does my lady still have concerns? A few mere mortals... you protected them in the past, so it is only right that they return the favor now.’
“‘This mortal woman is now helpless and an orphan. If she wants to live, she will naturally be willing to become your living human pillar.’”
Nan Zhi could barely keep her composure.
Daoist Qinglong's obsession with Immortal Danxia had actually run so deep.
He could even calmly accept watching his beloved marry and have children?
Was this love?
No, this was a distorted love.
Two streams of clear tears flowed from the corners of Immortal Danxia's eyes, her smile looking more painful than crying:
“I immediately remembered all my past memories. Knowing my family had died because of me, and seeing Bai Yu's family suffer such a disaster, I was overcome with shame and slit my own throat on the spot.”
“I thought that would end everything, but the moment I opened my eyes, I was once again conceived in a woman's womb.”
“This time, my memories were even clearer. Once I reached an age where I could speak, I wanted to find Bai Yu's whereabouts. If she was still alive, I had to spend the rest of my life atoning to her.
“In that lifetime, I was reborn as a woman again, living by the sea, my family making a living by fishing.
“I was extremely cautious and never showed any intelligence, thinking that this would allow me to hide from Qinglong and find Bai Yu.
“But when I was nine years old, one of his external incarnations found me and brought me back to the Demon Suppression Monastery.”
“He told me that if I was unwilling to sacrifice innocent mortals, then once this body reached menarche, I would combine with him in dual cultivation, and the children we bore would be used to extend my life.
“He also said that a child's life is given by their parents anyway, so taking it was perfectly justified. He said if I truly liked children, we could just have more. If one died, there would always be another left to keep me amused.”
Immortal Danxia's tears had already run dry:
“Tell me, what is the difference between living like this, unable to escape, and being a raised pig or dog?
“I cannot die even if I want to, and living is worse than death. No matter where I flee, he can always find my whereabouts through the Mayfly Wood.
“I dare not get close to anyone, nor do I dare to express my affection. The dignity I once had as a cultivator is entirely gone, leaving me as nothing but a monster that can only drain the essence of flesh and blood. Living like this... living like this...”
“So after you died, you couldn't enter reincarnation, but were instead directly reborn as a human to start your next life?”
Nan Zhi was beginning to understand, and she probed further:
“Mayflies shaking the heavens... Daoist Qinglong created this method. You are the Mayfly Wood, and the Mayfly Wood is you.
“A life like a mayfly, born at dawn and dying at dusk. Although your lifespan thereafter is brief, you can truly transcend reincarnation. You do not need to enter the Underworld or descend to the Yellow Springs to achieve longevity. Is this not what cultivators seek?”
“Seek? Hahahaha...”
The tears that fell from Immortal Danxia were bitter. She forcefully struck the fat, bloated insect body of her lower half:
“Seek what? Everyone who gets close to me dies a violent death, and everyone who cares for me meets a miserable end. Am I to be trapped inside this insect's body, living a half-human, half-ghost existence, like a bug in a ditch or a wild dog in a filthy alley, never to find release generation after generation?
“What I seek is only death! I only beg for death! I only wish for death! I only pray for death!”
She practically shrieked this last sentence, as if speaking it to someone else.
Daoist Qinglong did not react.
“Years ago, when Father and Mother's first two children died in infancy, it wasn't because some Greater Ghost was causing trouble, nor was it because slaughtering pigs went against the harmony of heaven. It was simply because you wanted to die with all your heart.
“The one who guided Mother to slay the ghost wasn't some mud ghost from the City God Temple, either. It was because you couldn't bear to see Mother grieve again.
“But you knew Mother's next pregnancy would definitely be a girl, and you were unwilling to be reborn only to be humiliated by Qinglong. So you delayed your rebirth for a long time, allowing Mother to inadvertently give birth to a foolish girl like me.”
The more Nan Zhi spoke, the clearer her thoughts became. The causes, effects, and transitions perfectly connected together:
“Since you were so unwilling, why did you eventually reincarnate as Nan Yi and become a child of our family?”
“Naturally, because of you.”
Immortal Danxia's gaze toward Nan Zhi grew increasingly tender, as if it could melt into water, and an unnatural flush rose on her pale face.
She grabbed Nan Zhi's hand, her breathing rapid:
“In my first lifetime, the technique I practiced was the Qingjing Sect's closely guarded secret, the 《Great Dao Deduction Record》. Even as a mortal, I still had some premonition.
“I knew that in this world, only you—only you—can end all of this and put an end to my suffering.”
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