Chapter Twenty-Nine: Malice

After Li Qingqing finished speaking, she led Shen Chang’an and the others away from that place. On the way, Shen Chang’an and his companions inquired about her method for controlling the rat demons. She explained that she had used a special incense, which numbed the minds of the rat demons, rendering them temporarily unable to sense Shen Chang’an and the rest. However, according to Li Qingqing, the effect of this drug was only to induce rapid sleep. If those demons were attacked, they would immediately react and quickly break free from the stupor.

Shen Chang’an had no reason to doubt her. If the drug were truly so potent, Li Qingqing could have dealt with Yuan herself, without needing their assistance. With Li Qingqing’s help, the group was no longer fumbling in the dark. She had made inquiries about Fang City for a long time and was well aware of Yuan’s location.

Guiding Shen Chang’an and the others, she soon led them out of the manor, taking a different underground passage that led directly to Yuan’s lair.

“There’s actually an underground tunnel here?” Shen Chang’an was amazed. Snakes, insects, rats, and ants had no need for such a passage, so why had one been built?

Li Qingqing laughed. “Without this passage, how would Fang Siyi meet with Yuan?”

Only then did Shen Chang’an realize his oversight. He had only considered the monsters, forgetting about Fang Siyi, the human traitor. If Fang Siyi wished to see Yuan, he certainly couldn’t burrow through the earth like a demon; a tunnel was necessary.

“How did you discover this secret?” Shen Chang’an asked curiously.

Li Qingqing giggled. “The White Lotus Sect has many ways to sway the hearts of men. Fang Siyi is but a mere mortal—after a little seduction, he spilled everything.”

As soon as she said this, Shen Chang’an looked at her with an inexplicable, sympathetic gaze.

“Hey? Wait, what’s with that look? What are you imagining?!”

Shen Chang’an coughed lightly and said, “Well, I heard that Fang Siyi isn’t young anymore. Serving an old man like that must be quite difficult, don’t you think?”

“What? That’s none of my business! I sent other disciples from my sect to gather information!” Li Qingqing replied angrily.

Shen Chang’an shot her a cold glance and snorted, “So, you’re a madam after all…”

“No, hey, wait! How is that your concern?” Li Qingqing protested furiously.

Wang Yue hurriedly tugged at Shen Chang’an’s sleeve; now was hardly the time to provoke Li Qingqing. Shen Chang’an held his tongue. He and Li Qingqing seldom saw eye to eye, and if this continued, they might end up fighting each other before dealing with the monsters.

The group pressed on through the passage until, before long, they finally saw the exit.

“Is it here?” Shen Chang’an asked.

Li Qingqing nodded, then warned, “Be careful. Yuan’s true form is extremely troublesome.”

“Before we go in, could you tell us what Yuan actually is?” They were so close now that, instead of rushing in, Shen Chang’an halted, seeking more information.

Li Qingqing sneered, her eyes tinged with mockery. “Yuan—the Abyss. In Buddhist terms, it’s Naraka. Its essence is the accumulation of human malice.”

“Malice?” Shen Chang’an was taken aback.

Li Qingqing nodded slightly and continued, “The abyss, Naraka—both refer to unfathomable darkness and bottomless pits. Only the human heart can give birth to such things.”

“No one can truly ascertain what Yuan’s original form was, nor does anyone know for sure. But there’s no doubt—it is a monster born from human evil.”

“Malice… Can mere malice really create such a demon?” Shen Chang’an frowned.

Li Qingqing let out a cold laugh. “You make it sound so light, Daoist Shen. Ordinary people, when wronged or killed, can produce great resentment; if left unchecked, that resentment may give rise to vengeful ghosts. Should their anger find no release, they might become fearsome evil spirits!”

“And if someone becomes the scapegoat for everyone, forced to bear all their malice, what do you think will become of that person?”

Shen Chang’an fell silent. He was not unfamiliar with such things. Having lost his mother young, with a father constantly away at work, he, too, had been ostracized for a time. But at least, living in the modern world, things changed when he entered middle school and made new friends. That was the end of it. In this world, however, people were not so kind…

Shen Chang’an drew a long breath and spoke softly, “I have another question. Li Qingqing, as a member of the White Lotus Sect, why would you risk everything to seek my help? With your sect’s strength, dealing with Yuan shouldn’t be difficult.”

Wang Yue had said that the White Lotus Sect was enough to trouble even the Da Qian dynasty. Their ability to uncover Yuan’s secrets with ease, while Da Qian knew so little, was proof enough.

If Li Qingqing truly wanted to eliminate Yuan, joining forces with her sect would have been the best option.

Li Qingqing’s brow furrowed in hesitation, but she finally answered, “It doesn’t matter if you know. The White Lotus Sect is not united. There are different halls, competing factions. If I asked for help, who can say whether the Heart of Yuan would end up in my hands?”

Shen Chang’an glanced at Wang Yue, who nodded slightly. “I’ve heard there are three Saintesses in the White Lotus Sect, and the rivalry among them is fierce. Miss Li… you must be one of them?”

Li Qingqing laughed. “Trying to get information from me? If you think so, then so be it.”

Wang Yue raised an eyebrow but said nothing more.

Shen Chang’an, too, could not tell if Li Qingqing was truly a Saintess. She was highly capable for one so young—it would not be surprising if she was. But who could know the true depth of the White Lotus Sect? Even someone like her might not be a Saintess.

“That’s enough. Now’s not the time to discuss these things. Let’s deal with Yuan first, then talk after…”

Everyone nodded. The most pressing task was Yuan. Once Yuan was destroyed, anything else could wait.

A thunderous rumble erupted just as they were about to act, as if something catastrophic had happened within, causing the ground to shake violently.

“Not good!”

The passage behind them collapsed, and Shen Chang’an and the others shared a look of alarm. There was no other way now—they could only charge ahead!