Yama Reborn-Chapter 499 - 496: [The Younger Generation of Our Sect!]
Chapter 496: Junior of Our Sect!
The middle-aged woman was already pointing her sword at Sun Keke. As Sun Keke trembled and stepped backward, the middle-aged woman ultimately retained her self-control. Although the events were bizarre and shocking, it wouldn’t be appropriate to brandish her sword at Sun Keke.
However, the fact that the other party knew so many of her sect’s spells—such a matter was exceptionally significant to any reclusive sect, tied deeply to secrets that should never be divulged. How could they not seek clarification?
With a thought flickering through her mind, she turned to glance at Wu Daodao, who was already pulling Erya back. With a wave of her hand, a gust of wind swept past, rolling the two—one big and one small—into the room. Then, she reached out and grasped at the air.
"Bind!"
With a commanding shout, an ancient chest placed beneath the portrait of the ancestor opened on its own, and a rope WHOOSHED out, flying straight into the middle-aged woman’s hand.
The middle-aged woman switched her sword to her left hand, gripping the hilt backward and tucking it behind her, while she flicked the rope in her right hand.
"Go!"
A black light shot forth as the rope spiraled towards Sun Keke, swiftly coiling around her body and firmly binding Sun Keke.
Sun Keke let out a cry of alarm. She had turned her head, intent on running, but was now bound tightly. She had only taken two steps when her legs were tied, preventing her from moving, and she suddenly pitched forward, falling to the ground.
Her heart settled, the middle-aged woman stepped toward Sun Keke. "Don’t bother struggling. This is the Immortal-binding Rope, a mystical tool once used by our sect’s ancestor. Even a Controller can be bound by it for a while.
Young lady, I don’t want to hurt you, but some things must be clarified!"
Sun Keke actually hadn’t absorbed most of what she said, merely feeling panicky after being bound.
Suddenly, an unconscious thought emerged from somewhere within her, like an epiphany sparking in the depths of her soul; fortune had smiled upon her.
Sun Keke abruptly shut her eyes and muttered softly.
"Release!"
The tightly bound Immortal-binding Rope suddenly loosened! Not only did it loosen, but it also seemed extremely obedient, swiftly wrapping itself around Sun Keke’s arms.
The middle-aged woman’s eyes widened in shock! This was a mystical tool of our sect! Within the sect, only she could control it at will. Apart from her, not even her husband, Wu Daodao, could manipulate it with such ease!
Seeing the Immortal-binding Rope coil directly onto Sun Keke’s arms, the middle-aged woman turned pale with fright!
But Sun Keke had already leaped up, taking a swift step that carried her five or six meters away, flipping directly over the courtyard wall!
Mid-air, the Immortal-binding Rope WHOOSHED out, stretching and automatically hooking onto a large tree outside the wall, towing Sun Keke as she soared away!
In amazement, the middle-aged woman quickly chanted an incantation, attempting to control the Immortal-binding Rope and call it back.
But after chanting the incantation twice, there was no response!
It was as if her own mystical tool, the Immortal-binding Rope, no longer heeded her commands!
The middle-aged woman’s face turned ashen, and with a furious stomp of her foot, she leaped out in hot pursuit!
「In a cave on the back mountain.」
The cave was not cold; fires had been lit throughout its space, leaving it warm and dry.
Inside, a bed and a small wooden table were arranged. Song Qiaoyun, dressed in a dark cyan cloth outfit, stood behind the table. Her left hand formed a sword-finger gesture toward the sky, while her right hand held a Huanghuali wood awakener, gently pressing it down onto the table.
POP!
Mistress Song exhaled lightly, the breath seemingly emanating from her Dantian, and then she cleared her throat, enunciating each word clearly and precisely!
"Immortal Master Guai Li’s sword art soars high; Zhongli renounces his office and leaves the Han dynasty.
The royal uncle carries the Yin-Yang slate, while Caihe and Shanyang play their jade flutes.
Dongbin, a guest riding the winds with his sword behind; Guo Lao crosses Zhao Bridge on a donkey.
The fairy comes bearing Longevity wine; Xiangzi with his basket..."
Upon reaching this point, Song Qiaoyun pressed down the wooden awakener.
"...offers longevity peaches!"
That posture, that voice, that...
There was still someone crouched outside the cave entrance: Nangong Tiezhu, the Qingyun Sect’s top disciple.
The young man listened with utter delight, his hands clapping so eagerly they might have broken.
Every day he ran to the back mountain to bring food for this Mistress Song—an excellent task indeed! After all, the back mountain wasn’t far, and the short sprint wasn’t tiring. Plus, he got to listen to storytelling for free!
After Song Qiaoyun finished pronouncing the last three words, she placed the awakener down and smiled. "This concludes today’s ’The Eight Immortals Cross the Sea.’ Nangong, lad, let me know what you want to hear next time."
Nangong Tiezhu scratched his head and grinned. "Grand Ancestor Song, I want to listen to many stories! *The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants*, *Generals of the Yang Family*, and even *The Water Margin*..."
Song Qiaoyun waved her hand. "The young shouldn’t dwell on *The Water Margin*, and the elderly should avoid *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*. You’re a vigorous young man, full of energy. Stories like *The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants* or *The Water Margin*, filled with violence and killing, aren’t suitable for you. They can stir up a young man’s passions excessively, leading to reckless behavior. *The Story of the Yang Family Generals* speaks of loyalty and righteousness; that, I can recount to you. How about this: starting tomorrow, we’ll begin with *The Story of the Yang Family Generals*."
Nangong Tiezhu smiled delightedly and respectfully bowed to Song Qiaoyun, then said, "Grand Ancestor Song, please enjoy your meal. I’d best hurry back now; there’s still plenty of work to be done at the sect."
While speaking, Nangong Tiezhu picked up the food box he had brought and turned to leave the cave.
Song Qiaoyun was about to see him off with a smile when a sudden flash of alertness crossed her eyes.
"Nangong, wait a moment!"
Mistress Song suddenly leaped forward, grabbing Nangong Tiezhu’s shoulder and pulling him back, her gaze fixed intently beyond the cave entrance.
"There’s a murderous aura!"
"Huh?"
Nangong Tiezhu was taken aback. In the blink of an eye, he saw Song Qiaoyun leap out and run away. In an instant, she had disappeared.
「」
Sun Keke felt a gust of wind by her ear, and her body seemed to be riding on clouds and mist. She wasn’t flying by herself! It was the rope in her hand that was carrying her! For a moment, Sun Keke felt as if she had become Spider-Man, or perhaps Tarzan, swinging from tree to tree in the forest with the rope in her hand, being thrown farther and farther away.
The middle-aged woman behind her had already drawn her sword and was chasing after her, shouting something, but Sun Keke couldn’t make out a single word.
Actually, she was also shouting.
What she was shouting was much simpler.
"Help~me~ahhhhh!"
WHOOSH!
A figure suddenly flew across and appeared in front of her. A hand grabbed one end of the Immortal-binding Rope and pulled with force, dragging Sun Keke, who was mid-air, down.
Sun Keke screamed. She thought she would either die or be seriously injured from the fall. But then she felt a gentle force press on her waist and lightly lift her.
Sun Keke felt her feet touch the ground. After staggering seven or eight steps due to inertia, the Immortal-binding Rope was pulled, finally helping her stand firm.
Sun Keke’s vision blurred. Then she saw a familiar figure and heard a familiar voice.
"Keke? What are you doing here? What was that cry for help just now?"
When Sun Keke saw the person in front of her, all her fright and panic turned into aggrievedness, and she cried out, "Mistress Song!!!"
She buried her head into Song Qiaoyun’s arms and hugged her tightly.
Song Qiaoyun was frowning, about to ask what happened, when the middle-aged woman emerged from the forest and approached.
"You?"
Song Qiaoyun paused. She had thought Sun Keke encountered some danger. It turned out to be someone she knew.
"Why are you chasing Sun Keke? How did this young lady end up here?" Song Qiaoyun was asking when she noticed Sun Keke, scared out of her wits, hiding behind her and tugging on her sleeve, wanting to run. "Mistress Song, run! This person is bad, she was chasing me with a sword!" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
With a firm movement, Song Qiaoyun held Sun Keke back and shook her head. "Don’t be afraid. It’s okay."
She turned her head with a puzzled look at the middle-aged woman, as if to say, What’s going on?
The middle-aged woman had finally calmed down by this point. "This young lady has some relation to the secrets of my sect, and I need to ask her some questions."
Song Qiaoyun frowned. "The secrets of your sect?"
"Yes," the middle-aged woman nodded seriously.
Song Qiaoyun’s expression turned grave. Since she had lost her sanity, and ever since Chen Nuo had left her in the Qingyun Sect for treatment, she had been staying on the back mountain of the Qingyun Sect. The middle-aged woman would come every now and then to treat her. During this time, she naturally learned about the middle-aged woman’s skills and capabilities and also gradually came to understand some things about the Qingyun Sect, this ancient hidden sect. This was a true hidden sect with ancient inheritance and magical secrets. In comparison, the lineage of her own Song Family, practicing Ancient Martial Arts in the secular world, was just as the middle-aged woman had remarked: amateurish. Wasn’t it? Her own Song Family’s martial arts were still about hard training and physical conditioning. These people, on the other hand, seemed more like they were in the realm of cultivation! After learning about this, her wariness and reverence towards the Qingyun Sect only grew day by day. Of course, what she felt most was gratitude—if not for this middle-aged woman’s help, Song Qiaoyun knew her insanity wouldn’t have been so easily controlled. In recent days, the episodes had also become much less frequent. Thinking about it carefully, it had been nearly half a month since her last episode. The middle-aged woman had said that in another three to five months, she would be completely cured.
"There must be some misunderstanding," Song Qiaoyun still politely tried to intercede, speaking to the middle-aged woman. "I’ve known Keke since she was a child. She’s just an ordinary girl who hasn’t practiced any special skills. Moreover, she is my husband’s student, and her father is also my husband’s colleague—she is like a niece to me. If there’s anything to discuss, we can talk it out nicely. Please don’t scare the child."
The middle-aged woman frowned and said with a bitter smile, "Scaring the child? Elder Sister... I won’t hide it from you. Today, it wasn’t me who scared her, but rather... she truly scared me! She hasn’t practiced any skills? Do you know what she just did? She can perform every minor and major spell of the Qingyun Sect, and she’s proficient in all of them! You say she’s an ordinary person? Do you realize that she has cultivated the spells of our Qingyun Sect to the advanced level of ’Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, Five Qi Toward the Origin’?! With her skills, never mind an ordinary person, even among the elite of the world, she would be at the very top!"
Song Qiaoyun frowned. "That’s impossible, right? It’s just that the rope in her hand is a bit strange; I intercepted it just now. By the way, that rope, isn’t it your mystical tool?"
"My mystical tool? Don’t say that! Now this mystical tool probably belongs to the Sun family!"
Song Qiaoyun was stunned.
The middle-aged woman was naturally hot-tempered. Although half a lifetime of accumulated killing intent had dissipated after meeting Chen Nuo, the hot temper she had developed under that influence over the years still retained some of its edge. Now, with the matter concerning the supreme secrets of her sect, she was even less patient.
Waving her hand, she barked, "Don’t stop me! I must take her back to the sect and question her thoroughly!"
As she said this, the middle-aged woman stepped forward, swiftly reaching to grab Sun Keke’s wrist.
Before her hand could land, Song Qiaoyun frowned and suddenly slapped the middle-aged woman’s forearm.
When Song Qiaoyun blocked her hand with a palm, the middle-aged woman’s complexion changed. Without speaking, she turned her palm into a claw and reached out again.
Song Qiaoyun’s brows furrowed as she whisked Sun Keke behind her, while her other hand curled into a fist to engage the opponent.
Their arms waved and fists and palms flew; in the blink of an eye, they had already exchanged a fast flurry of seven or eight moves.
One grabbed, the other blocked, both their movements incredibly fast.
Finally, with a loud BANG, Song Qiaoyun exhaled and shoulder-barged the middle-aged woman’s elbow. Under the influence of the hidden force, the middle-aged woman was forced to retreat several steps, steadying herself against a large tree.
The tree canopy shook, and fallen leaves fluttered, dissipating the force and allowing her to regain her stance.
"Iron Mountain Lean?"
The middle-aged woman sighed. "Are you seriously fighting me?"
Song Qiaoyun spoke cautiously, "Naturally, I don’t wish to lay a hand on you. You’ve shown me kindness. If it were my own matter, I would comply with whatever you wished to do with me. But this child... Ah, please, for my sake, let’s not be so hasty. Let’s clear things up before we act. You came in shouting and wanting to fight, and you’re scaring the child."
Sun Keke, however, looked utterly bewildered as she stared at Song Qiaoyun!
Then, she spoke haltingly, "Mistress Song... you, you’re a martial arts expert?!"
She looked at Song Qiaoyun, then at the middle-aged woman. "You two... just now..."
The middle-aged woman glanced at Sun Keke with a cold face. "Hmph, young lady, still pretending? Your body is replete with the secret spells of my Qingyun Sect! Your cultivation isn’t any weaker than ours! And here you are, posing as an ordinary person?"
"She really is just an ordinary girl. It’s just that for the past two years, she got mixed up with that young Chen Nuo and then encountered some strange fortunes... Ah, please, don’t start fighting. Let’s sit down and talk things out clearly," Song Qiaoyun interjected once more, this time standing directly in front of Sun Keke.
The middle-aged woman suppressed her impatience. "I don’t want to fight either. As long as she doesn’t run away and can answer my questions satisfactorily, I won’t make a move."
"Okay!" Song Qiaoyun breathed a sigh of relief, turned her head toward Sun Keke, and said, "Keke, don’t worry, I’m right here watching over you. Don’t be scared. Answer whatever questions she has for you truthfully. As long as you do, I assure you no one will be able to hurt you."
Sun Keke also calmed down somewhat—after all, with Song Qiaoyun beside her, her panic eased—and she nodded. "Alright, ask me whatever you want. I have nothing to hide."
The middle-aged woman nodded. "Then come back with me to our sect."
"...Can we just talk here? I don’t dare go back with her," Sun Keke said, her face mournful.
Song Qiaoyun nodded. "Is that alright? I think if it’s just questioning, it doesn’t matter where it happens."
The middle-aged woman pondered for a moment. "Well, that’s fine. We can talk here."
She also sheathed her sword and said slowly, "First, answer me: where did you learn so many of our Qingyun Sect’s closely guarded secret spells?"
"I... I really haven’t learned any!" Sun Keke immediately responded. "I swear! All these things you mentioned to me—this is the first time I’ve ever heard of them in my life! Before today, I hadn’t even heard of them, let alone learned them."
"Impossible!" the middle-aged woman said flatly. "It might be plausible to say that spells come naturally to a genius just by learning them; that could still be somewhat explained. But cultivation and realm—it’s utterly impossible to achieve that in one day!"
That made sense. Even Song Qiaoyun, beside her, couldn’t help but nod in agreement—that indeed was an irrefutable point.
"Moreover, your cultivation, at a glance, reveals the purest methods of our Qingyun Sect’s Longevity Art! There’s also the Secrets of the Mountains and Seas and the Qingyun Path. Just by my mentioning them once, you were able to circulate them according to the cultivation methods and cycle your Inner Breath properly! Many of the spiritual acupoints for Inner Breath circulation are undisclosed secrets of our Qingyun Sect! Many spiritual acupoints can only be unblocked through our sect’s secret techniques before Inner Breath can flow smoothly through them. Without unblocking the spiritual acupoints, even the most prodigiously talented individuals would be incapable of practicing the cultivation techniques of our Qingyun Sect! Even a one-in-a-million talent absolutely could not do it! So, young lady, you are lying to me! You have definitely learned the secret spells of our Qingyun Sect!"
As she spoke, the middle-aged woman looked at Song Qiaoyun with disapproval. "This junior of yours is far too dishonest."
Song Qiaoyun still wanted to protect the child and hesitated for a moment. "Could it be that this child’s talents are just so exceptional that..."
"I’ve already said it has nothing to do with talent. The secret arts of the Inner Gate of our Qingyun Sect, several of the core cultivation techniques, all require the unblocking of spiritual acupoints to proceed! And the unblocking of those spiritual acupoints is unique to our Qingyun Sect; the acupoints unblocked by other sects are different from ours. Simply put, the routes for Inner Breath circulation are different! The routes for Inner Breath circulation in our Qingyun Sect are unique creations of our sect, and to follow these routes, the first step is to open these pathways. Therefore, it’s impossible to learn them all in one day! Besides, as I said earlier, cultivation cannot deceive people, nor can it be easily explained."
This was the hard truth, the undeniable evidence right before their eyes. Even Song Qiaoyun had nothing to say—as someone knowledgeable, she understood this logic too. It was a fact as simple as one plus one equals two. So... the only possibility was that Sun Keke had not told the truth.
Song Qiaoyun looked at Sun Keke with a troubled expression and tried to speak softly and patiently. "Keke, is there something you find difficult to speak about? If possible, it’s best to explain; otherwise, some misunderstandings, if not clarified, will only escalate. Moreover... you don’t understand, so I must tell you. For a sect, some unique skills are as vital as its lifeblood, its protected secrets. It’s absolutely forbidden for outsiders to know them. If outsiders come to know, the sect must ascertain how it happened; they absolutely cannot let it pass lightly. So, it’s best not to hide anything. Just speak out."
Sun Keke was so anxious that her forehead beaded with sweat. "I really didn’t lie! Mistress Song! I truly didn’t deceive anyone! I really don’t know what happened! I had never even heard of these spells before! I also don’t know how I came to know them. It’s like how one naturally knows how to eat and drink; as soon as I listened, I understood. It seemed not to require any conscious effort to learn. As soon as she said it, and I followed along, I could do it."
Song Qiaoyun’s expression tightened upon hearing this.
The middle-aged woman suddenly let out a cold laugh. "Qiao Yun, you’ve heard clearly what she said, haven’t you? It’s not that I’m being unreasonable. But the fact is right before us! This concerns the foundational inheritance of my sect, something I cannot let slide with just a few words!"
Song Qiaoyun sighed. "I understand... this matter... but this child..."
Sun Keke cried out loudly, "I really didn’t lie! I can swear! I’ll take a deadly oath!!"
Song Qiaoyun’s expression showed her internal struggle. She looked deeply at Sun Keke, then nodded and turned to the middle-aged woman. "I’m not trying to be protective... but I’ve watched this child grow up, and I know her better than anyone. She’s a good child who dislikes lying and isn’t adept at it. If she says so, then she must be hiding nothing. Considering everything, there must be some special reason involved—some special encounter or cause... It’s just that we haven’t figured it out yet. So... can you do me a favor? Let’s not rush or scare the child. Let’s ask slowly, think things through again, and analyze them carefully. If that doesn’t work, we can break the problem down and go over every detail. We’re sure to find where the misunderstanding lies."
The middle-aged woman sighed. "I understand your difficulty... How could I not be troubled as well? Chen Nuo has been a great benefactor to our Qingyun Sect, and this girl is Chen Nuo’s friend. I really don’t want to resort to force unless absolutely necessary."
After a pause, the middle-aged woman suddenly said, "Then, to prove this girl’s innocence, I have another method."
"Tell me!" Song Qiaoyun said immediately.
"Our Qingyun Sect has a spell called the ’Still True Technique’—Song Qiaoyun, you are more familiar with it than anyone else."
Upon hearing this, Song Qiaoyun’s eyes lit up. "The Still True Technique? That’s right! I know it; you’ve used it several times to treat my illness these past days!"
"Yes." The middle-aged woman nodded. "The Still True Technique is not a spell meant to harm others; you, Song Qiaoyun, have experienced it firsthand and know this perfectly well. This spell simply causes a person to temporarily lose their self-awareness, reverting to their most innocent and original state. During these past days, whenever you had an episode, I used this spell on you to alleviate your madness. Moreover, the Still True Technique has another effect: when a person sheds their self-awareness and returns to their true self, their consciousness is at its most pure. At that time, their reactions to the outside world will be completely truthful, without a hint of falsehood. So... as long as I perform the Still True Technique on her, and then... in that state, I ask her some questions, we can ensure that her answers are definitely the truth! Just by doing this test, I will be willing to believe everything she says!"
Saying this, the middle-aged woman looked at Sun Keke. "Young lady of the Sun family, are you willing to prove yourself?"
Sun Keke was somewhat nervous, but Song Qiaoyun nodded. "Keke, this Still True Technique, I’ve experienced it. It really isn’t a spell that harms people. After the spell is cast, it’s like being asleep. You temporarily lose your sense of self and will unconsciously respond truthfully to those around you, saying or doing whatever is asked without deceit."
"Ah?" Sun Keke was a bit scared. "Doesn’t that make me a puppet?"
"No, no, that’s not what it means." Song Qiaoyun smiled. "It’s not a spell that turns people into puppets, but one that returns you to your most fundamental, original consciousness. It doesn’t mean others can make you do whatever they want. Rather, it means you’ll react most truthfully to anything, without any pretense. To put it simply, it strips away all the habits and facades we develop later in life, reverting you to a person’s most innate, natural responses, devoid of any acquired deception. Besides... don’t worry. I’ll be right here watching over you, ensuring that nothing happens to you."
Sun Keke only half-understood, but Song Qiaoyun’s last sentence reassured her. After all, the woman before her was Mistress Song, an elder who had watched her grow up. The relationship between their families and Mistress Song’s character were things Sun Keke trusted unconditionally.
"Does it... hurt?"
"Not at all. This spell has been used on me several times; it doesn’t cause any harm."
Sun Keke thought for a moment, gathered her courage, and said, "Then... let’s do it! This way, I can also prove that I really haven’t lied!"
The middle-aged woman nodded. "Good. After the Returning Truth Art is used, I can truly rest assured by the words you speak. Once everything is cleared up, I will apologize to you."
However, Song Qiaoyun interjected, "...Please, be gentle. When you cast the spell, be careful not to frighten the child. I’ll stay right beside her and won’t leave, is that okay?"
The middle-aged woman smiled. "Of course, I won’t do anything untoward."
After speaking, the middle-aged woman’s brows furrowed, and her eyes, usually more white than black, suddenly seemed to deepen! Her dark pupils swiftly dilated, and her eyes, once more white than black, suddenly became more black than white! She quickly muttered a series of incantations under her breath, made a sword-finger gesture with her left hand, and exclaimed, "Young lady of the Sun family, do not move, do not dodge, and especially do not resist with your strength! Remember!"
Sun Keke spread her arms, straightened her body, and said loudly, "I’m ready!"
Silently, the tip of the middle-aged woman’s finger gently poked Sun Keke’s glabella!
「」
...
...
After waiting in silence for a few seconds, Song Qiaoyun and the middle-aged woman both watched Sun Keke with tense expressions.
Sun Keke’s eyes, which had been closed, finally opened slowly...
Suddenly, both Song Qiaoyun and the middle-aged woman’s gazes shifted. As they looked at Sun Keke, it was as if she had completely changed! Sun Keke’s aura seemed to swell instantly, then, just as quickly, it vanished! To be precise, it didn’t vanish but seemed to spread out and merge so perfectly with the world that it could no longer be sensed!
And as Sun Keke’s eyelids slowly opened, the previously nervous and uneasy expression on the young woman’s face also gradually vanished.
Finally, her face became indifferent.
Sun Keke lightly touched her glabella, then held her hand out in front of her to look at it. Finally, her gaze settled on the middle-aged woman!
After her lips moved slightly, Sun Keke spoke. Her voice was still Sun Keke’s delicate and gentle one, but her tone had become indifferent, carrying an undertone of superiority and disdain!
"Which junior of the sect dares to use our sect’s techniques on me?"
The middle-aged woman was startled.
Junior? Our sect?
While she was still confused, Sun Keke looked at her coldly and pointed casually.
"Such insolence!"
BOOM!!
The middle-aged woman felt an instant burst of murderous intent coalesce between heaven and earth, slamming directly into her!
Then, her figure flew backward like a cannonball!!
