My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 807 - 504: Time to Starve You (Double-Length)

The matter of the Wa City ghost town has temporarily come to an end. The statues of the Five Troublemakers were redecorated and placed back in the temple, serving respectively as Oxhead and Horseface, Black and White Impermanence, and the civil and military judges. Just like the chief and clerks under a county magistrate in the mortal world, although the officials in the City God Temple have grand titles, they are all appointed by the City God alone and are not subjected to the underworld's deployment. Thus, everything has been properly arranged, and Wa City continued its life as usual with Chen Yi as a nominal City God.

The Five Troublemakers naturally were grateful to tears for this arrangement. They had been effective for this town for too long and longed to become ineffective proper deities. A Wild God requires both grace and power to constantly maintain tribute, whereas a proper deity doesn't; they merely sit around the tribute table, and offerings naturally come.

Once everything settled down, Chen Yi and Yin Tingxue decided to rest a night in the town before leaving, staying in the guest courtyard of the Li residence.

Yin Tingxue read a book to Chen Yi. They had been busy all day, and she was already exhausted, not wanting to be disturbed. So she started reading to him from a book of words and phrases.

Words and phrases provide one way to critique poetry, ranging from essays and critiques, to specialized treatises, or narrative reviews, critiques, musical discussions, and argumentations, even discussing the method of poetry composition, and passing on knowledge. In short, Chen Yi found himself nodding off, his eyelids half-drooping, while Yin Tingxue seized the opportunity to only read critiques, avoiding poems that might reinvigorate him.

Chen Yi squinted as he looked at her.

The candlelight flickered, and as Yin Tingxue trimmed the long wick, she turned her head to find him staring at her, feeling a bit guilty, and asked, "What is it?"

"Nothing... just a bit sleepy."

"Sleepy, so you should go to sleep," Yin Tingxue wished he would sleep, "don't force yourself."

"Come to bed, I want to hold you."

"Oh," Yin Tingxue replied, kicked off her shoes, and had just climbed onto the bed when Chen Yi caught her in his arms.

Chen Yi roused himself a little and attempted to discuss the poetry they had just talked about:

"'In dreams awakened by the gentle rain, far from the chicken's cries in the frontier, a jade flute fills the night with cold music…' It's really beautiful."

"Yes, yes, Li Zhoongzhong's words are graceful with a long-lasting sense of artistic conception, though sometimes they feel a bit contrived and lack depth compared to his son's works."

"His son… who is that?"

"Li Yu, the last ruler of the Southern Tang," Yin Tingxue paused and consciously said, "consider this, both express lament. The former says, 'countless tears and endless regret,' while the latter states, 'endless regret, akin to the rivers flowing eastward in life.'"

"Oh, compared to Zhongzhu's verses, I prefer Houzhu's," Chen Yi's sleepiness rolled over him, seeking an analogy but finding no words, eventually saying:

"Compared to your Sister Weiyang, I like you more."

Chen Yi said this as he buried his face into her soft belly.

Yin Tingxue shivered reflexively, squirmed slightly, then slowly relaxed as the sensation of his face transferred through her skin.

She felt shy, twisting her waist, and asked, "Really?"

"Really."

However, Yin Tingxue wasn't as joyful as expected upon hearing this; she was mildly pleased but soon troubled, for she realized that Sister Weiyang would not be happy to hear such words. Thinking it over, she said, "Don't like me that much... second best is enough." Her words seemed like a struggle to break free.

Chen Yi held her tightly, murmuring, "You've won over her too well."

"Then… I surrender."

"Surrendering is not allowed," Chen Yi countered her whims, smiling, "do you really think you can choose not to compete?"

Yin Tingxue stayed silent, unsure if she agreed tacitly or was silently resisting.

Chen Yi, overwhelmed by tiredness, closed his eyes but still spoke with a smile before sleeping, "In such joy, I do not miss Ying..."

.....

He slipped into a deep sleep.

It felt as if he was sinking into gentle, rippling lake water, and also like the surrounding space was vast and boundless.

Chen Yi suddenly opened his eyes and saw an elderly woman with white hair sitting at a distance, her head bent down, turning to glance at him.

Then she slowly turned her head back.

"Hey!"

Chen Yi became alert immediately, realizing he was clearly asleep, so how did he get to this strange environment?

The Old Saintess turned her head to look at him.

"How am I here?"

"Tonight is Gengshen day. Since you've fallen asleep and haven't kept vigil, your soul naturally drifted out," the Old Saintess said with her head bowed, as if searching for something. "I casually guided you, and here you are in this Square Land."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi understood the situation. Geng, within the ten Heavenly Stems, belongs to yang metal, and shen, in the earthly branches, is also yang metal. Gengshen day is when the Three Corpses in a person are most active. People usually stay awake through the night; daoists often also practice through this night to keep the Three Corpses in check and prevent them from wreaking havoc.

With his fast-paced cultivation and lack of habit to guard the Three Corpses, Chen Yi naturally experienced soul overflow.

However, there wasn't much of a problem. He just needed to be cautious going forward. Chen Yi immediately sat cross-legged, curiously observing his surroundings. It was his first time entering his Square Land.

This particular Square Land was a gift from Yin Weiyin. Inside were pavilions, towers, and water pavilions, intricately arranged with a slightly whimsical appearance. The outlines were vague and ethereal, as if entering a miniature world.

Chen Yi looked back at the Old Saintess, slowly saying, "You met me for the Wa City matter, but I have many questions as well. Why not speak first of what you know?"

Having gone through so much, Wa City ghost town was no longer obscured by thick fog. Yet only the tip of the iceberg was revealed, leaving Chen Yi with an unclear understanding of the remaining threads.

He guessed that this meeting with the Old Saintess was intended for an exchange, an exchange of information. But Chen Yi wouldn't reveal his hand for nothing; he's never done so without pursuit.