Chapter 414: The Voice from the Fusang Divine Tree

“My dear aunt! You call this a small favor? You’re asking for my life!”

After hearing Gou Meng’s plan, Mao Sanyou let out a wail, his face full of misery.

Although those Fire Crows were once his father’s familiars, and he could exert a faint influence over them thanks to the power inherited from his father,

they no longer bore the familiars’ mark and were now led by the Crow Slave. Whether he could command them at all was a big question.

Gou Meng was asking him to use the sword of a former dynasty to cut down an official of the current one!

“Who’s your dear aunt? My blood ties with your father aren’t that close, at best we’re distant relatives.” Gou Meng stood with her hands on her hips, her expression indifferent. “If you can do it, say you can. If you can’t, say you can’t.”

“You should know, if you succeed, the power from your father’s side within you will be partially restored. Then…”

She paused, sizing up Mao Sanyou from head to toe. “I can’t say about anything else, but at least your looks will improve. You’re over fifty now, aren’t you?”

“At your age, you still don’t know what a girl’s lips taste like?”

“……”

Mao Sanyou felt offended. Although he truly didn’t know, the reason he’d kept his original settings since hatching was because he preferred quality over quantity and had high standards for a partner-not because he didn’t want one!

Besides…

“Aunt, you don’t know either, do you?”

Gou Meng’s mouth twitched slightly. She subconsciously glanced toward the theme park, retorting, “You think I’m like you? If I want to know, I’ll find out as soon as I get back!”

“Is that the same? Girls kissing each other is pretty common, isn’t it?” Mao Sanyou frowned.

“Not at all…” A blush flashed quickly across Gou Meng’s cold, indifferent face. Then she raised her hand and smacked Mao Sanyou’s head hard with her pipe. “What do you know!”

“Back to business, hurry up. Give me a straight answer-can you do it or not? You don’t want to see Tang City suffer because of this, do you?”

“……” Mao Sanyou fell silent, pondering for a long time. He sighed soundlessly, as if making a huge decision, and said harshly, “Fine! I’ll give it a try, but if I fail, don’t blame me.”

Whether or not he ever tasted a girl’s lips was secondary; what mattered was that he loved Tang City deeply, Mao Sanyou thought.

Seeing Mao Sanyou agree, Gou Meng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The cloud of worry between her brows seemed to disperse a little.

These past few days, she’d felt more defeated than ever-not because she’d spent all the New Year’s money Grandpa Turtle gave her, or that after spending on over a dozen pulls she still hadn’t gotten the card she wanted, or that she regretted not being able to afford her favorite games on sale on the Steam platform, nor because she feared dying under the barrage of Tang City’s barrier.

She’d always trusted Grandpa Turtle to handle things, and with Shang Nanxing secretly helping, there was almost no chance of trouble. The odds of surviving Tang City’s barrier bombardment were over eighty percent, but that was just the beginning.

Just as Mao Sanyou had learned from those illegal psychic organizations, once her plan succeeded, Tang City’s barrier would switch forms, causing its defenses to fail. Any psychic or haunting could come and go freely.

The scale would likely rival a super-sized Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts-maybe even surpass it.

At that time, Gou Meng’s old enemies, psychics and hauntings coveting her or Fuyang’s power, and even those “chaotic evil camp” types who just wanted to wreak havoc, would flood into Tang City and Taoyuan like wild dogs fighting over scraps, doing whatever they pleased.

In such chaos, if she hadn’t been stabbed twice in a row by the Crow Slave and lost her peak psychic ability, she’d still have confidence to handle it. But now…

She was like a hero from the Land of Light-cool for three minutes, then her status light would start flashing red.

Dealing with Lu Yibei was one thing, but facing thousands of psychics and hauntings was beyond her reach.

If Mao Sanyou could use the power of Fuyang in his bloodline to control the Fire Crows within Taoyuan, that would at least reduce part of the threat. Gou Meng figured it would raise her chances of surviving the chaos by ten percent.

Even so, that would only bring her odds up to less than thirty percent…

Those psychics and hauntings flooding into Tang City were the real threat.

Still, a one-in-three chance was better than waiting decades, or even just a dozen years, to rot and fall beyond saving, Gou Meng thought.

If the Crow Slave hadn’t stabbed her and awakened the vast psychic energy of Fuyang slumbering in the Fusang divine tree, speeding up her corruption and fall, she wouldn’t have made this decision.

“Alright, that’s settled!” Gou Meng pulled herself together and said to Mao Sanyou, “Later, I’ll count on you to keep intercepting those clueless fools. I’m heading out now.”

Mao Sanyou was still caught up in the worry of Gou Meng sending him on a risky mission, his mind not quite catching up. He asked in confusion, “Where are you going?”

Gou Meng took a light puff from her pipe, squinting as she blew out a cloud of smoke, her lips curling into a suggestive smile. “Didn’t I just say?”

As she spoke, she glanced toward the theme park.

“I’m going to find out what a girl’s lips taste like!”

As her words fell, she transformed into a square scarf. In the distance, the jacket hiding atop a utility pole and secretly observing twitched, then floated up lightly, as if blown away by the wind, flying toward the theme park.

Given the current situation, letting Gou Meng act alone made Lu Yibei a bit uneasy. Although she knew Mao Sanyou was secretly counter-intercepting those attackers, to be cautious, she had the jacket follow quietly, ready to assist at any moment if danger arose.

Unexpectedly, the jacket ended up overhearing some astonishing information.

A moment later, inside the theme park.

Sensing the return of the jacket through the familiars’ mark, Lu Yibei spent fifty yuan to hire someone to keep her place in line, then sneaked off to a corner of the theme park and found the jacket.

Through the familiars’ mark, she vaguely perceived the words the jacket had heard, and Lu Yibei fell into deep thought.

“I think I get it. You mean, that pesky little sister snuck off to discuss with someone whether or not she should kiss me?”

“……”

The jacket stood still for a while, as if seriously recalling and pondering, then began to wriggle, imitating a human gesture, and nodded at Lu Yibei.

That’s right, she really does want to kiss Lady Witch!

(๑-̀ㅂ-́)و✧

Other things are too complicated for it to understand, but this-how could it not get this?

Lu Yibei, “……”

Good grief, that pesky little sister actually had such sneaky thoughts. No wonder she insisted on riding the Ferris wheel, even when she saw the long line and made such a fuss about it…

The Ferris wheel really is a perfect setting for a kiss.

Now this is trouble. I can’t do anything to betray Meow Meow-chan. What if she tries to kiss me by force? What should I do? Lu Yibei worried.

–

Four in the afternoon, the sunlight already growing dim.

After a long absence, sunlight pierced through the clouds, and beneath the sky where blue and rose hues intertwined, the Ferris wheel quietly turned, slowly climbing to its peak, and the city, bathed in a dreamy glow, unfolded beneath their eyes.

As the Ferris wheel rose higher and higher, Lu Yibei stared unblinkingly at Gou Meng, who was pressed against the glass, gazing out. Her heartbeat seemed to accelerate with the ascent, faster and faster…

Inside the small cabin, it was eerily quiet; she could even hear her own heart pounding like a drum.

Resist. For Meow Meow-chan, I must resist. If she suddenly lunges at me, I’ll hit her with a Four Beasts Bright Sky Cannon and send her flying! Lu Yibei thought.

Just then, Gou Meng, who had been gazing out the window, turned her head and softly called, “Lu Yibei…”

“Hm? Ah?” Lu Yibei froze, a flash of panic in her eyes, then, at a loss, closed her eyes and crossed her arms over her slightly bowed head, covering her lips.

She waited in darkness and silence for a long time, but the expected thing didn’t happen. Instead, she heard Gou Meng’s puzzled question, “What are you doing?”

Lu Yibei opened her eyes a sliver and stole a glance at Gou Meng. Seeing that she wasn’t making any unusual moves, she fell silent.

“……”

After a while, she whispered, “N-nothing, I’m just a little afraid of heights.”

“Heh, trash.” Gou Meng sneered, turned around, and looked out the window again, continuing to enjoy the view.

As she turned, her gaze lingered for a moment on the handkerchief on Lu Yibei’s chest, then, as if she’d thought of something amusing, a meaningful smile flickered in her eyes.

–

Evening, Hua City.

In front of a small factory in the southern part of the city that had been abandoned for a long time. The factory mainly produced animal feed and was once the main supplier for the southern suburb slaughterhouse.

However, after those strange incidents at the southern suburb slaughterhouse, the factory lost a major source of income. Coupled with poor management, it eventually went out of business and closed down.

In front of the factory, on a weed-choked lot, Jiang Li sat in the car, quietly watching Ah-Hua busying herself outside.

Ever since Lu Yibei became the King of Hauntings in Hua City, and with Du Sixian’s efficient and rational management, there hadn’t been any murder-type haunting incidents in Hua City for a long time. Observing malignant haunting gathering spots, measuring psychic energy fluctuations, and reinforcing seals had almost become daily routine for Hua City’s The Midnight Watchers Society.

After a long while, having finished measuring the psychic energy fluctuation data and reinforcing the seals, Ah-Hua carried her tools back, stuffed them into the trunk, got in the car, and sat in the driver’s seat.

“Miss, it’s done. Are we heading back now?”

Jiang Li nodded slightly. “Mm, let’s go.”

The car started slowly, wound its way through the narrow path, merged onto the main road, and headed toward Amber Mansion. Watching the scenery flash by outside the window, Jiang Li suddenly seemed to remember something. She took out her phone, opened a certain penguin chat app, and then tapped into her messages.

She stared at the screen for a while, frowning.

Lu Yibei hadn’t contacted her for two days now. He hadn’t sent any mushy messages to Meow Meow-chan’s account, nor had he sent any trash talk to The Midnight Watchers Society’s work account complaining about Tang City and hinting for a raise. It was unusual.

Just two days ago, she’d receive at least a hundred messages from Lu Yibei every day.

Suddenly going silent-could he have run into some trouble?

But what kind of trouble could happen in Tang City? He couldn’t possibly be reckless enough to provoke that being in Taoyuan, could he? Jiang Li wondered.

Through the rearview mirror, Ah-Hua saw Jiang Li’s furrowed brow and asked with concern, “Miss, you don’t seem very happy. Is something on your mind?”

“No, it’s just that Lu Yibei hasn’t contacted me these past two days. I’m wondering if something’s gone wrong with his work,” Jiang Li replied calmly.

Ah-Hua slapped the steering wheel hard, speaking up for Jiang Li, “Hmph! I always thought that heart-stealing scoundrel was unreliable. He stole our miss’s heart and doesn’t even cherish it! If he dares mess around out there, just wait till he comes back-I’ll show him what’s what!”

“Stole my…” Jiang Li parted her lips slightly, sighed silently, and said lightly, “Ah-Hua, you should read fewer of those strange books. What are you even saying?”

After a pause, she added, “I’m just worried he might run into danger while supporting the work in Tang City. After all, he’s already used up his welfare graveyard.”

As she spoke, Jiang Li lowered her head to look at her phone and sent a message to Lu Yibei.

Jiang Li: “Lu Yibei, reserve operator of Hua City, according to regulations, when going out on a mission, you must report your work progress to your superior once every three days. It’s about time, so why don’t you give an update?”

After sending the message, Jiang Li waited for a long time without receiving a reply from Lu Yibei, and her mood suddenly grew heavy.

Could it be that she’s assisting the operators investigating the haunting gathering site in Tang City and can’t use her phone right now?

Then I’ll just wait a bit longer.

Thinking this, Jiang Li put away her phone and looked out the window. At some point, it had started snowing again.

Ever since that heavy snowfall a few days ago, the snow in Hua City had been falling on and off for several days, as if spring would never come.

–

Meanwhile, inside the “Prize Shooting” shop at Tang City Theme Park.

Gou Meng held the gun with both hands, aiming at the target with a practiced look, then took a deep breath, held it, and pulled the trigger.

“Bang-!”

A perfectly… missed shot, hitting the shop owner’s hat five meters away instead.

The shop owner’s mouth twitched, and he said weakly, “Little girl, if you really want that phone, just buy it directly. I’ll make an exception and sell it to you for a bit cheaper.”

If this keeps up, I feel like sooner or later you’ll end up shooting me.

With your marksmanship, the odds of hitting ten bullseyes in a row and taking the phone are barely better than winning the lottery.

Making money is important, but what’s more important than safety? the shop owner grumbled inwardly.

“No way! We have to play by the rules. I just don’t believe it today-if I can’t get that phone, I’m not leaving! Boss, please load me another ten bullets!” Gou Meng straightened her back and said.

While Gou Meng was tormenting the shop owner, Lu Yibei, who was waiting nearby, finished reading the message from Jiang Li and resisted the urge to reply.

Meow Meow-chan is so smart-if I don’t reply to her for a long time, she’ll definitely sense something’s wrong.

By then, if she checks in with other cities that have operators supporting Tang City, or tries to contact the Tang City Midnight Watchers Society to ask about the situation here, she’ll probably figure out that something big has happened in Tang City.

Thinking this, Lu Yibei quietly put away her phone, rolled her eyes at Gou Meng, and got up to walk over to her.

“Stop shooting, just stop. Let me do it!”

If I let you keep going, my wallet won’t survive. Lu Yibei added silently in her heart.

“Boss, please load me ten bullets.”

Gou Meng glanced at Lu Yibei and scoffed, “You? If I can’t do it, how could you…”

“Bang-!”

Before Gou Meng could finish, with a gunshot, the target in front sounded the ten-ring hit prompt, “Ten rings, amazing! Keep it up!”

Gou Meng stared at Lu Yibei, eyes wide, muttering, “That must be luck, pure luck!”

“Want to go again?” Lu Yibei said coolly, then raised the gun and fired nine more shots in a row, all hitting the ten-ring.

Putting down the gun, Lu Yibei raised her eyebrows at the dumbfounded Gou Meng with a cheeky look, her eyes seeming to say, “Admit defeat, pesky little sister? I can predict the shots!”

And so, after the “Prize Shooting” shop owner had his nerves tormented by Gou Meng, his wallet was tormented by Lu Yibei. Reluctantly, he brought out the latest flagship Huami phone, watching the backs of these two unruly “sisters” as they left, inexplicably feeling that tonight’s evening breeze was especially bleak and cold.

–

Night fell like a curtain, quietly covering the valley where Taoyuan was located. Mountains, hills, houses and trees near and far all became blurred again after being clear.

As the sun set, flocks of Fire Crows flew over Taoyuan, like the evening clouds falling from the sky, streaking across and then plunging into the valley.

Their sunset prayer ritual had begun.

“In the sun dwells Fuyang, called the

three-legged crow; when Fuyang cries, the sun rises, and all the birds under heaven sing; when Fuyang rests, the sun sets, and all the birds under heaven rest…”

The Crow Slave knelt before the Fusang divine tree, praying devoutly, while flocks of Fire Crows danced wildly behind him.

Suddenly, the psychic energy that had awakened in him over the past few days with Fuyang’s gradual awakening surged violently, rampaging inside him and making his consciousness waver slightly.

In that daze, he seemed to hear a low chant in his ears, as if responding to his prayers and the power within him that should have belonged to Fuyang.

“Tang Valley… Fusang…”

The Crow Slave jerked his head up, eyes wide in disbelief as he stared at the twin-trunked giant tree before him, his gaze gradually turning feverish, so excited he could barely contain himself.

“Silence! Everyone, listen quietly!”

He suddenly turned and shouted at the Fire Crows behind him. Once all the Fire Crows quieted down, he listened intently, and in the faint sound of the wind flowing through the air, he heard the low chant even more clearly.

“Above Tang Valley stands Fusang, a tree ten thousand zhang tall. The sun arrives in a day, departs in a day…”

The Crow Slave clearly heard that the chant came from the treetop. Following the direction of the sound, searching for a long time, he finally saw those gently swaying, pitch-black tender leaves.

“Awooo-ahhh-!”

What he had sought for centuries had finally come true. The Crow Slave was overwhelmed with excitement, unable to control himself, bursting into tears, crying his heart out, yet the joy in his sobs was unmistakable.

His master had truly “awakened.”