Chapter 41

If one is not careful, it’s hard to make out these two characters, especially with the poor lighting inside the cave. At first glance, Tie Miaqing didn’t see clearly. It was only when she noticed Yu Qing kneeling on the ground and staring at it intently that she also focused and managed to discern the faint writing.

Upon realizing there were characters, she examined them closely. It was better not to have seen them clearly; when she finally recognized the words “An Pi” (safety and well-being), she was utterly shocked.

Others might not know what she had written on her palm at the time, but she herself was well aware. The so-called wordless book had left no trace on her own palm, so how could the ashes here retain the words she had written on her palm?

It was inconceivable, mysterious, and made her feel the pressure from the unknown.

The anger and sense of being toyed with that she had felt earlier vanished instantly. She looked around cautiously, wondering if there really were deities watching everything from the unknown.

Her mouth felt dry, and she asked in a feigned ignorance, “What are you doing?”

“An Pi… What does this mean?” Yu Qing muttered to himself as he got up and then asked her, “Madam, what did you pray for to the spirits, and what did you write in the wordless book?”

Tie Miaqing swallowed hard behind her veil, unwilling to tell the truth. “Nothing much, just asking if this journey would go smoothly.”

“Oh.” Yu Qing nodded and continued to study the characters.

Tie Miaqing felt uneasy and tried to ask, “What’s the result?”

Yu Qing looked at her hesitantly, “Madam, were you not sincere enough when communicating with the spirits, or were your thoughts too cluttered?”

How could Tie Miaqing answer this? She had thought a lot before, and while she couldn’t say she had no杂念 (杂念 means "miscellaneous thoughts" or "distractions"), she also couldn’t pinpoint what those thoughts were. She herself was confused and huffed, “Are you asking me, or am I asking you?”

Yu Qing smiled bitterly, “Madam, I’m afraid I can’t explain this clearly. Come, look at the ashes and see if there are two characters. What do you see?”

Tie Miaqing pretended to examine it seriously and said calmly, “It seems to be ‘An Pi’.”

Yu Qing sighed, “Right, you can see it too. The problem lies here. You asked the spirits if this journey would go smoothly, but they didn’t answer you. If I say the spirits seem to be asking me, and it seems they want me to give you the answer, would you believe me? You might think I deliberately wrote these two characters on the ground to deceive you.

“I performed the ritual to help you communicate with the spirits to prove that I do have some knowledge of divination and to prove that we are indeed fated to meet. But it seems the spirits were toying with me, and you failed to communicate with them. Now, I really can’t explain myself. Could it be that you are not the woman fated to help me leave this dangerous place?”

Tie Miaqing: “It seems your divination skills aren’t very effective.”

Yu Qing scratched the back of his head and sighed, “I never claimed to be an expert. I said I only have a basic understanding. It’s normal to make mistakes. Besides, a doctor can’t treat himself, which is a common principle. Madam, I know you won’t believe me no matter how I explain, but I swear I have no ill intentions towards you. I just want to survive and leave this place. I hope you will show mercy and let me go.”

Tie Miaqing was silent for a moment and then said slowly, “Didn’t you say you could help me with what I need to do on this journey?”

Yu Qing looked somewhat dejected, “Madam, as you can see, I made a mistake and might not be able to help you. Madam, please let us go!”

He bowed and pleaded, even begged.

Tie Miaqing remained unmoved, “Without even trying, how do you know it won’t work?”

Yu Qing said with difficulty, “What if it doesn’t work after we try? Will you kill us?”

Tie Miaqing, who was well aware of the accuracy of his divination, didn’t want to reveal it to maintain control over him. She put on a more amiable face, “Alright, do your best. As long as you try, I promise to let you go and ensure your safe passage to the capital for the imperial exams. I won’t harm you. How about that?”

Yu Qing’s eyes lit up. After all the deception, he was waiting for this promise, which proved he had gained a psychological advantage. Unless something unexpected happened, this woman would no longer have the intention to kill him, and the danger from this group would be averted.

He still hesitated, “Really?”

“I keep my word.”

“Words are cheap.”

“If you’re worried, there’s nothing I can do. In this place, any promise I give won’t make you feel secure. You have two choices: either trust me and follow my instructions, or I kill you. You choose.”

Her gentle voice belied the harshness of her words.

“Alright, there’s no choice. I’ll have to trust you.”

Tie Miaqing felt a sense of accomplishment, her chin lifting slightly. “Tell me your plan. What do you want to do next, or how do you plan to help me?”

Yu Qing pondered, “First, find some incense. Second, find the location where the fire crickets are hiding, the place where you saw them.”

Tie Miaqing was puzzled, “Do we need to burn incense?”

It wasn’t necessary to burn incense; creating smoke by burning grass would also work. However, Yu Qing wanted to continue the charade and needed a reason for his “word reading technique” to avoid causing trouble for Linglong Temple.

“True incense shows more sincerity,” Yu Qing sighed, looking regretful that he hadn’t used incense earlier.

Fine, Tie Miaqing didn’t argue further and decided to follow his instructions. She turned and left the cave.

When Sun Ping and the others saw her come out, they gathered around and asked how it went.

Tie Miaqing, following Yu Qing’s earlier instructions, didn’t reveal the communication with the spirits. Instead, she ordered Cheng Shanping and Zhu Shangbiao to go to the nearby demon lair to get some incense.

Seeing her decision, the three didn’t ask further.

Outside the cave, Yu Qing watched helplessly as Cheng Shanping took his belongings. He couldn’t bear it and approached Tie Miaqing again, “When will you return my things?”

Tie Miaqing: “Don’t worry. As long as you do your best, I’ll return them to you, regardless of the outcome.” She noticed the blood on his lip, knowing he had internal injuries from Cheng Shanping, and took out a small bottle, giving him a healing pill.

After Yu Qing took the pill, she reminded him, “From now on, as long as you are in the ancient tomb wasteland, don’t mention your identity as candidates for the imperial exams to anyone, or we might not be able to ensure your safe departure.”

Yu Qing: “I understand. If the demons find out, it will cause trouble.”

Tie Miaqing emphasized, “Not just the demons, but even humans. I said, don’t mention it to anyone.” Seeing the three still confused, she explained, “Each of your heads is worth one million taels of silver. Have you heard of Lady Xixia? Her son was killed by a disciple of the Commander of the Sining Mansion…”

After hearing the truth, Yu Qing and Xu Fei were almost frightened out of their wits. The three finally understood the real reason why the demons were targeting the candidates.

Especially Yu Qing, who was terrified. If he had known it was Lady Xixia, the old demon, and the Commander of the Sining Mansion in conflict, he would never have dared to help Ashiheng take such a huge risk. Even Ashiheng himself might not have dared to participate in this year’s imperial exams.

This made it clear that the people of the Sining Mansion were ruthless. Despite causing such a big incident, they still dared to proceed with the exams, showing they didn’t really care about the candidates’ lives.

He finally understood why the merchants of Youjiao Bu, who usually didn’t get involved in external disputes, wanted to kill them. One million taels of silver was a huge fortune anywhere. Since he had delivered himself to them, they would take the opportunity to claim the reward.

No wonder offering them tens of thousands of taels of silver hadn’t moved them.

He now suspected that even if he helped them find the fire crickets, they might not let him go because of the huge reward. He immediately tried to negotiate, “Madam, Lady Xixia is already dead. She was killed by the Commander of the Sining Mansion. Didn’t you know?”

“What?”

This time, it was Tie Miaqing and Sun Ping who were shocked.

But Tie Miaqing’s eyes narrowed, as if she had guessed Yu Qing’s thoughts. “Since I promised to let you go, I will keep my word. Don’t speak recklessly here. This ancient tomb wasteland is, to some extent, Lady Xixia’s territory. Cursing her death on her territory will bring trouble to yourself.”

Yu Qing looked earnest, “Madam, I’m telling the truth. When the convoy was attacked, I saw an old rat demon with a cane. She and a few demon cultivators said that the Earth Mother had killed Lady Xixia, and then they withdrew. I didn’t understand why they suddenly left at the time, but now I understand.” Although he didn’t reveal the full truth, it was still a simplified version of the facts.

This made the two women even more suspicious. Tie Miaqing looked at Sun Ping hesitantly, “If the Earth Mother personally intervened, killing Lady Xixia would be no problem. However, the Great Sage of the Thousand Streams Mountain in Haishi is not to be underestimated. The Great Sage is not afraid of the Earth Mother.”

Sun Ping nodded in agreement, “Lady Xixia had the confidence to challenge the Sining Mansion because she had some backing. She was qualified to attend the Great Sage’s birthday celebration at the Thousand Streams Mountain. Even if she had no close relationship with the Great Sage, the demons’ face was at stake. The Sining Mansion’s ruthless actions would make the demons lose face. If a demon who was invited to the celebration was killed by the Sining Mansion, the Great Sage would not remain indifferent. The Earth Mother would not dare to act rashly without some restraint.”

Yu Qing was getting anxious, “I… I don’t know, but I can swear to the heavens. I heard the demon cultivators talking, and they mentioned the Earth Mother killing Lady Xixia. If I’m lying, may I be struck by lightning and die a terrible death.”

Xu Fei, who had been silent, finally spoke up, nodding, “I heard it too. I can vouch for him.”

Sun Ping looked at the frowning Tie Miaqing, “Madam, it’s easy to verify the truth. If Lady Xixia is really dead, it will be a significant event. The demons in the southwestern region will react, and we will hear the news in a few days.”