Chapter 176: The Loneliness

　　They let go of each other’s clasped hands. Little Chi Maojiu seemed completely unaware of his actions, standing absentmindedly with the ghost of smile on his face. Occasionally, he would blink rapidly, making Wen Leyang feel uneasy.

　　Wen Leyang shook little Chi Maojiu in attempt to rouse him but he did not react. Chang Li stood, her hands folded behind her, squinting her eyes as she took in her surroundings. The sky and land went as far as the eye could see, but it was empty. After a few moments, Chang Li turned around. She stretched a finger and lightly pressed it to Chi Maojiu’s forehead, before laughing to Wen Leyang. “He is fine. His senses have been clouded by foul energy. Do you have any medication that will help to clear his senses?” Her voice sounded cool yet indirect. Within the seemingly infinite witchcraft dimension, her voice spread out far and wide, filling the warm desolation with beauty in an instant.

　　Wen Leyang nodded hastily. He stretched out his hand and applied the medication under Chi Maojiu’s nose, before massaging the two pressure points on the sides of Chi Maojiu’s nasal passage. Abruptly, little Chi Maojiu took in a long breathe and gave out a loud and startling sneeze. His eyes brightened and his head cleared. He coughed and tried to speak. With a thud, he sat on the ground as he stretched out a hand to their surroundings, his gaze was a combination of confusion and astonishment. “What… what happened?

　　Chang Li spoke in a soothing tone, “What happened? I was just about to ask you that.” The witchcraft dimension had appeared abruptly, but if she chose to, she could have exited it without much difficulty. Whether it was a heaven-sent power, sorcery, or the Art of Poison, these were all but a formality. The true power lies within the one who created it. The person with the strongest power would always triumph. Leyang Tian had exerted all his efforts in Shanghai’s Painting Town, keeping the world alive via sorcery for many years. In the end, he could not withstand the tremendous force of the Molten Metal Fire Bell and his world was shattered.

　　On the other hand, little Chi Maojiu was taking in his surroundings with expression of astonishment. With great effort, he recalled, “I remember probing the jade talisman with my sorcery in an effort to understand it. As a result, the Red Mark was conjured, out of my control, it surged into my body…” As he spook, he shook his head at Wen Leyang.

　　Chi Maojiu had no idea that the creation of the witchcraft dimension was triggered by the jade talisman upon the summoning of the Red Mark.

　　As Wen Leyang told him what had happened, little Chi Maojiu was dumbstruck. After a long while, his slowly understood, which then turned into surprise. His voice trembled, like a baby just learning to speak. “The Sorcery Art in the jade talisman… It confused my state of mind… You Can’t See… You Can’t See!”

　　Chang Li smilingly while still looking puzzled. “I can’t see? What do you mean by I can’t see? It is true that nothing can really be seen.” On usual days, she spoke her mind. She never cared if she was interrupting someone. Similarly, she spoke now but her voice sounded distracted. The smile in her eyes conveyed pity.

　　Chi Maojiu said impatiently, waving his hands in a flurry. “You Can’t See is our…” He stopped mid sentence. He cried out in surprise and his face flushed scarlet. “Oh no, please forgive my rudeness Grand Master.”

　　Chang Li did not mind at all. She laughed and said, “Continue, please.”

　　‘You Can’t See was one of the illusion spells of Miao Bujiao. It was capable of temporarily controlling the enemy’s state of mind. It was not a complicated spell, but Chi Maojiu had soaked in a concoction made of venomous insects since he was a boy, which made him hard to compel. Even his father, the Big Dragon’s Root, was incapable of using illusion spells on him.

　　Little Chi Maojiu gestured to his surroundings as he continued to explain. “The sorcery power in the jade talisman surged into my body. My state of mind was controlled by the illusion spell, which launched the Red Mark.”

　　Chang Li spoke in quiet tone, “It seems that the timing was too perfect.”

　　Wen Leyang was stunned. He had never heard Chang Li, who was had a carefree and joyous nature, speak in such a timid manner. Chang Li’s brows seemed to throb ever so slightly, Wen Leyang understood. This great demon that had created chaos for the last two thousand years was frightened! She was scared from the bottom of her heart, it came from a fierce hope and anticipation.

　　Chang Li’s tone was stiff but she did not care whether the both of them were paying attention as she spoke, “The sorcery power within the jade talisman was powerful. Little Chi Maojiu could not contain such a powerful force. When the power entered his body, he could not control it, let alone launch the Red Mark and guide the power out of his body. If it wasn’t for ‘You Can’t See’, this young boy would be a pile of ground meat right now.”

　　As he was not close to Chang Li, little Chi Maojiu did not notice the change in Chang Li’s demeanor, he nodded with lingering fears. “The jade talisman is capable of absorbing sorcery power. There are two different types of Sorcery Arts hidden within, one was ‘You Can’t See’ and the other was this stretch of space… however,” Chi Maojiu face fell. “I still do not feel like myself and this witchcraft dimension has already been triggered. I am still myself, but not the same as before, like I’ve lost something. I’ve used up my remaining power as well…”

　　Looking at the situation, the jade talisman had borrowed little Chi Maojiu’s power of the Red Mark and ‘Heart-Linking Lock’ to launch this witchcraft dimension. The witchcraft dimension was the sorcery power that was left behind by Tuo Xie in the jade talisman while the power from ‘Heart-Linking Lock’ was the catalyst that launched the spell.

　　Chang Li smiled and shook her head, what she said next confused everyone, “If it’s yours, it will always be yours…” Before she could finish her sentence, little Chi Maojiu suddenly cried out. Chang Li’s jumped back in shock. The demon cat, who usual could not be bothered to pay attention to people even if they were crushed by the falling sky, was startled. She growled, “Why did you startle me? Do you have a death wish?”

　　Wen Leyang quickly pulled Chi Maojiu to his side. The two of them did not to move a muscle.

　　After a few moments, Chang Li recovered from the surprise. She gave a desperate smile to Wen Leyang and Chi Maojiu. She hesitated for a few seconds, before finally heaving a heavy sigh. “Two thousand years have passed by in the blink of an eye, but I’ve grown impatient lately. The more time that passes, the more I miss… miss him.” As she said that, then lightly walk to Wen Leyang and leaned her delicate head on his shoulder. “He left this place but his power lingers here.”

　　Through Chang Li’s eyes, the witchcraft dimension grew blurry and dim.

　　Wen Leyang felt a brush of coldness along his shoulders. Two drops of tears ran down from Chang Li’s cheeks, her sigh still echoing and carried by the breeze. It’s sound hauntingly beautiful.

　　Wen Leyang did not dare move. It was as if Chang Li had turned into a crystal doll, and any movement he made may shatter her.

　　No one knew how much time had passed. Wen Leyang did not have the dare to take out his cellphone to check the time. Little Chi Maojiu, as he was a child and could not stay still for long, he murmured in voice softer than a mosquito, “Grand Master, is it true… true that this spell was left behind by the Grand Master Tuo Xie?” As Grand Master Chang Li was not in a good mood, Chi Maojiu had to pick his words carefully.

　　It was only then that Chang Li raised her head. With tears still running down her face, she laughed gently. “You know better than me, why bother ask me what you already know?”

　　Tuo Xie was the one who left behind the lock. The Red Mark was the key. However, the same key had once opened Lue Luo’s lock in the stone forest. On the other hand, the jade talisman was an item that was fought over by Painting Town and the Taoist priest, San Wei. Little Chi Maojiu thought in his heart, that Grand Master Chang Li should stop crying first, just in case this was the work of someone else and she was crying for the wrong person. That would be awkward.

　　Wen Leyang had a better theory than Chi Maojiu. Firstly, if this jade talisman truly belonged to Painting Town, with it’s disciples and with Hanba’s power, they would never have let this item fall into the hands of the Taoist priest San Wei. Secondly, Lue Luo was not like Tuo Xie, who had disappeared without a trace. He had descendants. When he laid dying, he was surrounded by family. Other than the stone forest’s boundary spell, there was nothing else he needed to keep safe. Most importantly, when Wen Leyang first came to seize the artifact, he did not pay attention to the jade talisman, which was capable of absorbing sorcery all this time. If it had belonged to their family, he would not have overlooked it.

　　Little Chi Maojiu looked around the vast emptiness of the plains. He then peered at Wen Leyang. Wen Leyang could barely force a smile as he shook his head. The only person who was suppose to possess the ability to enter this witchcraft dimension was little Chi Maojiu. However, as they were holding hands, they had entered together. Wen Leyang had utterly no clue as to how it had happened.

　　Chang Li’s mood seemed to have improved. She gestured towards the sky with a raised hand. “That his essence.” Then she stretched out her hand towards the ground. “This is also his essence.” And finally she pointed towards little Chi Maojiu. “I think these are all yours, he left it for you.”

　　Little Chi Maojiu almost exploded with excitement. “Really?! Then how do I take it?”

　　Chang Li chuckled. “This stretch of sky and land is at your command!” She was a great demon after all. Two thousand years ago, similar to Tuo Xie and his brother, she was an outstanding magic practitioner. Even though she did not understand the Sorcery Art, after she regained her composure, she figured it out. “There is nothing here that should be a mystery. This entire stretch of sky and land is made up of magic, awaiting your command.”

　　Chi Maojiu almost cried in nervousness, “But how do I make the sky and land obey me? I have lost my powers, I can’t even summon the Red Mark!”

　　Chang Li began to feel agitated, as she always had, when Chi Maojiu lost his composure. She frowned as she gently scolded him, “You may be talented but you’re also quite dense! Other than the Red Mark, has he not taught you anything else? Moreover, the jade talisman has already recognised the Red Mark earlier. Do you think Tuo Xie was a repetitive person and constantly babbled? He wouldn’t even have spare the time to talk about things that have passed, he only knew how to live in the present. To listen to him speak…” The more Chang Li talked, the angrier she got. It was obvious that she had drifted away from the topic of conversation.

　　Chi Maojiu pulled at his ears and scratched his cheeks anxiously. “Every form of ability taught to me by the Grand Master required the use of sorcery.”

　　This time, even Wen Leyang was agitated. He scolded little Chi Maojiu. “Bullshit! How about the Play of Sorcery then?”

　　Chi Maojiu cried out ‘oh no’ in alarm. He jumped up to his feet and did not waste any more time. He positioned himself into a stance and started moving his hands and feet. Usually, he was smart but facing the treasure left behind by Tuo Xie, he was distracted and his mind a mess. If it was not for Wen Leyang’s reminder, he did not know how long it would have took him to realize.

　　The Faulty Punch, the Corpse Dance, and the Play of Sorcery were unique skills left behind by Tuo Xie through his three disciples. Each skill had a secret of its own. Not only was it capable of enhancing one’s power, but it was a strong martial art skill. In the absence of sorcery, the Play of Sorcery became an acrobatic, martial art performance which one could also use as a defense tactic.

　　The Faulty Punch reversed Heaven and Earth. Its movements were messy, having no discernable fixed pattern.

　　The Corpse Dance radiated with a ghostly energy. Its movements were sombre, foretelling of bitterness and forlorn.

　　The Play of Sorcery was haunting, like a the casting of a shadow puppet on a bright screen. It seemed as if the characters in the play were sometimes as flexible as a slithering snake, and other times it was as mechanical as a rigid crab. The entire sky and land shook, as if in response to Chi Maojiu’s movements. With every punch and kick, sounds akin to the hoarse croak of a bullfrog and the buzz of a wasp could be heard. It did not take long for Chi Maojiu’s Play of Sorcery to take effect across the whole witchcraft dimension. It rippled with a haunting rhythm. The soaring skies turned dark and murky, and the shakings continued.

　　Little Chi Maojiu did not know if it was the Play of Sorcery that created the loud noises going through heaven and earth, or was the ghastly rhythm that was leading his Play of Sorcery.

　　After the wonder of this discovery had passed, We Leyang’s heart grew uneasy. The power of sorcery had been passed down from generation to generation in Painting Town’s descendants for the last two thousand years. It was only after one generation had died, only then will the power be passed on to the next. If the jade talisman was truly the sorcery left behind by Tuo Xie to Miao Bujiao’s disciple, could it be that the Grand Master was truly dead?

　　Even though two thousand years had passed, the clues that had appeared convinced Wen Leyang that the Grand Master was still alive and hiding somewhere, attending to his own private affairs.

　　Chang Li knew what he was thinking. His face turned pale as she cried out in a desperate tone, “That is not possible!”

　　Before her voice had even faded, little Chi Maojiu, who was fully immersed in performing the Play of Sorcery, suddenly cried out in surprise, like a small puppy that had suddenly noticed a wild hound. He jumped backwards in hurry. He stretched out a trembling finger and pointed towards behind of Wen Leyang and Chang Li.

　　Unbeknown to them, rows upon rows of enormous words had appeared, at the edge of where the sky and land connected.

　　The writings glowed with a ghostly light. Every stroke was like a colossal giant, using all its strength to separate Heaven and Earth, carving out the words with a giant axe. Every word was seared into one’s vision.

　　Wen Leyang turned pale from fear, he was desperately trying to contain his panic as he asked Chang Li softly, “What does the writing say?” He could not understand a single word. They were like a bunch of tadpoles to him.

　　Chang Li swallowed a gulp of air. Her voice trembled in excitement as she answered in a raspy voice, “I don’t know either.” Both of them turned to stare at little Chi Maojiu.

　　Chi Maojiu had collapsed on the ground. He stuttered, “It is… the ancient language of Qing Miao.”

　　Wen Leyang and Chang Li heaved sighs of relief. If even little Chi Maojiu could not read the words, they would certainly have started panicking. Chi Maojiu’s face was screwed up tight, as if he had a critical choice to make. Green veins popped on his forehead, looking like earthworms which had its head and legs chopped off. It looked agonizing.

　　Chang Li grew impatient, she shouted in a stern voice, “Read!” Little Chi Maojiu shook himself out of his daze, and clenched his jaw, seemingly having made up his mind. “The person who was granted access to this witchcraft dimension is my descendant, Tuo Xie…”

　　A sound of ‘oh’ escapes from Chang Li’s lips, she started bawling and screamed out, “Continue!”

　　“Don’t stop the Play of Sorcery, and you will inherit one hundred percent of my power! Break your left arm and launch the Play, you will inherit ten percent of my power.”

　　Chang Li, who was now bawling, gave out a ‘huh’ as she asked in puzzlement, “What kind of nonsense is that?”

　　Little Chi Maojiu paused. He put on a long face as he spoke to Chang Li and Wen Leyang, “I am only going to say this once, but I too think that our Grand Master is talking nonsense…” Upon saying that, his face light up with a fierce determination. Compared to his expression when he recently sacrificed himself to launch his Ben Ming when in attempt to kill Wen Leyang, his current expression was fiercer and more determined. Suddenly, the flash of red blood spurting filled their eyes.

　　Little Chi Maojiu had done it. He took out his short knife and cut off his left arm. He did not stop to dress his wound or even to staunch the bleeding. He launched himself in the Play of Sorcery, blood dripping and spraying everywhere, as if possessed by demons. Every word he spoke was utter in agonizing pain. He continued to read out the words that hung in the air, “Break your left arm and launch the Play, you will reveal the secret hidden within this witchcraft dimension. Future fortune and misery can’t be foretold! Choose your path forward wisely!.”

　　The one-armed Play of Sorcery was a complete change from the two-armed one. It was unknown whether it was just a trick of the light but the Play of Sorcery had lost its ghostliness. In its place was a sense of heroic solemness, the sounds of croaking and buzzing which had accompanied every movement was replaced with the clanking sounds of a bronze horn and the neighing of horses.

　　According to Tuo Xie’s written words, the Play of Sorcery was capable of invoking the power within the witchcraft dimension. If one were to dance with both arms, he then could receive all of the power left behind by the Grand Master and become free and unfettered. However, if one were to cut off one’s left arm and perform the Play, he could also reveal the secret hidden within the witchcraft dimension, capable of receiving the message left behind by Tuo Xie. However, the inherited power as a result, would only be worth ten percent.

　　If the sorcery within the jade talisman was filled to the brim, one could have just received it without any problem. However, in order to trigger the message left by Tuo Xie, a huge portion of the jade talisman’s power would be exhausted. Hence, Chi Maojiu would only inherit one percent of the original power.

　　The clanking sounds of the horn and the neighing of a thousand horses continued as fresh, red blood splashed onto the ground. The entire witchcraft dimension suddenly lit up with the light of a thousand suns, almost burning through the trio’s body. A gentle yet wild laughed boomed out, shaking the entire world.

　　Chang Li wailed ever so bitterly.

　　Ever since she started creating chaos in this world, she had been waiting for this voice! Tuo Xie’s laughter penetrated the loneliness she had felt in her heart for the last two thousand years, bringing back memories of the one she saw as her sky, her earth, her wildfire, her eternal love.

　　Two thousand years, which had passed in the blink of an eye, turned into a long bitter wail that traveled to the high heavens.

　　The voice in the witchcraft dimension was just a magic spell. Tuo Xie had left behind his voice but the person was not there. He did not hear Chang Li’s sorrowful howl, his laughter not the least but swayed by her sadness.

　　The howling sounded incomparably lonely against the sound of laughter.

　　Chi Maojiu’s expression finally relaxed. After he had completed the process, he fell forward. Before his body hit the ground, Wen Leyang caught him, who quickly and efficiently started applying medication, stopping the bleeding and dressed the wound.

　　After a few moments, Tuo Xie’s laughter finally stopped and started to speak in a slow tone. His voice sounded even and steady, “Descendants of Tuo Xie, the bearer of poison, the Qi master, and the master of death. The descendants from three lineages with talents and gifts that could be polished and honed to perfect, they were to inherit my legacy and be free to roam the world. They were not to betray the teachings, prohibited from leaving this place for a year, yet when I returned…” Tuo Xie’s voice suddenly took on a helpless note and anger, “Three of my disciples had disappeared without a trace!”

　　“Oh?” Wen Leyang who was in an agitated mood, could not help but cry out in alarm upon hearing those words. After the Grand Master’s ‘escape by thunder’, the original three disciples had waited for a period of time before they parted ways. No one had expected the Grand Master to return.

　　Chang Li had stopped crying. She sat on the ground absentmindedly, looking up at the sky, taking in Tuo Xie’s every word. The corners of her lips curled into a faint smile. She spoke softly, as if she was sleep talking, “What a big idiot, who taught three little idiots.” Her expression was as if Tuo Xie was sitting right next to her, like a pair of lovers murmuring sweet nothings to each other.

　　“I had an important matter that could not be held off any longer and I left with many regrets.” Cellphones had not existed two thousand years ago. Tuo Xie’s three disciples had just begun their training but before they could cultivate and grow their supernatural abilities, they had left and disappeared. Even for someone like Tuo Xie, it was difficult to track and locate them, thus he gave up.

　　After that, Tuo Xie talked of how after the demon cat had crushed the Ice Cone Nail, and he had entrusted his two brother from his brotherhood to resurrect Cone Nail, and protect it against evil. Wen Leyang had a rough idea of the situation at hand. Little Chi Maojiu appeared indifferent and a little worried. The recording of one’s voice through magic may have seemed like a shocking ability two thousand years ago, but with modern technological advancement, this skill seemed rather outdated. A great amount of sorcery had been exhausted conjuring this witchcraft dimension. For Tuo Xie to explain clearly and concisely what had happened, he would need to talk for a long while. Every word he spoke depleted what little was left of Chi Maojiu’s powers!

　　Chang Li sat off to the side, completely disregarding the presence of the other two. She muttered responses to Tuo Xie’s words under her breath. Her expression was one of happiness, warmth, satisfaction.

　　Tuo Xie’s voice did not pause. After he was done, he continued. “I have entrusted my brothers with these important matters. If Tuo Xie’s disciples were to cross paths with the descendants of Lue Luo and Mi Xu, they must show their respects to them as they if were elder brothers. They should treat each other like brothers! I had sailed across the sea to the Black and White Island with my brothers, to rectify the situation. Alas, some wounds could not be healed so easily. We agreed, upon my return in the future, we would find a way to put an end to it! The destiny of my trip will not be discussed here. If my descendants turns out to be be successful in cultivating their magic, please look for the Swords Immortals of Black and White Island to find out more.”

　　At this point, Wen Leyang looked stunned.

　　He had met the enlightened person Tian Shu. The people from the Black and White Island had been chasing after Xiang Liu’s evil soul for the past two thousand years. They were utterly unaware of Tuo Xie’s brothers’ doings. However, according to Tuo Xie, before he had disappeared, he had already settled the matter with them.

　　Wen Leyang did not know whether it was the enlightened person Tian Shu who had lied to him, or the enlightened person Tian Yin who had met with Tuo Xie in secret, did not pass on Tuo Xie’s words to the rest.

　　Wen Leyang was confused, was it Tian Shu who was lying or was it Tian Yin who had concealed the truth. What was the purpose of either of them doing so? The Sword Immortals of Black and White Island have lived in solitary whilst protecting Heaven for the past millennium. They mostly kept to themselves. Even though he considered them neither friend nor foe, in Wen Leyang’s heart, he respected them and have never had reason to think bad of them. That was why he felt his head spinning with doubt now.

　　“By the time I arrived on Black and White Island, the wounds I had received from a prior violent battle had finally recovered. I used my Ben Ming to forge this jade talisman. I entrusted the enlightened person Tian Yin, the heaven guardian of Black and White Island whom I respect and trust, to help me look out for my descendant, and deliver the jade talisman to them.”

　　Back in the battle, Tuo Xie had been injured severely, but he had pushed on in his journey without stopping. He first helped Chang Li to settle down, then he fished out the remnants of Cone Nail’s soul from the great sea. He then enlisted his two brothers to follow him across the sea to Black and White Island to clarify the situation to the enlightened person Tian Yin. Only upon reaching the island, had he healed completely.

　　After his injuries had completely healed, only then was he able to strip away his sorcery, leaving it for his descendants.

　　Wen Leyang and Chi Maojiu both heaved a long sigh simultaneously. Tuo Xie’s Sorcery Art seemed more miraculous than even Painting Town’s. He did not necessarily die when he stripped himself of his powers. At the same time, both of them regarded the disciples of Black and White Island with increasing suspicion. The jade talisman, supposedly entrusted to them by Tuo Xie to be passed down to Miao Bujiao’s disciples, had ended up in the hands of the Taoist Priest San Wei. If it was not stolen by the people of Painting Town, the three families of Wen, Miao, and Luo would still be clueless.

　　When Tuo Xie was leaving behind his power and crafting the witchcraft dimension, he was not aware of this future. His voice sounded peaceful and steady as he continued. The more Wen Leyang listened, the more excited he became. Grand Master Tuo Xie did not leave behind a mere portion of power for Miao Bujiao’s disciples, he had left his whole entire lifetime of learning!