Offering Salted Fish to Master - C13
1- Where Am I?
2- An Excess of Beauties
3- The One Hundred
4- Clueless
5- Meeting The Ancestor
6- Sleep Schedule and Relax
7- Stairs, stairs and more Stairs
8- The red Lotus Fire
9- New Moon
10- Slim Waist
11- Cramped Hammock
12- Gengchen Immortal Mansion
13- The Youduan flowers of the Sun and Moon
14- Two Lumps of Flesh
15- White Deer Cliff
Chapter 13
The Youduan flowers of the Sun and Moon
Liao Tingyan slept until dusk, missing the entire day. Outside, scheming, hatred, and complications were of no concern to her. What truly occupied her mind was that Ancestral Master, Sima Jiao, killed people as easily as cracking peanut shells.
Liao Tingyan felt much more relaxed now that he was no longer in her hammock. As she had said, a good nap had solved all her problems—everything was fine now.
She got up and felt the abundant spiritual energy within her, experiencing a wonderful sense of vitality. The salted fish had soaked in water and swelled slightly. The Three Sacred Mountains now had an ethereal quality. Although many areas had fallen into ruins, they strangely emitted a sense of decayed beauty, likely due to the spiritual mist that cast a hazy veil over everything.
She didn’t see the big black snake or Sima Jiao, only the magically restored flame standing there with its hands on its hips, cursing loudly: “Useless fellows! Those useless grandsons of Gengchen Immortal Mansion had such a great opportunity yesterday, and yet they still couldn’t kill Sima Jiao!”
Sometimes, Liao Tingyan found it hard to understand the flame's stance. One moment, it claimed that if it suffered, Sima Jiao wouldn’t do any better, suggesting a symbiotic relationship; the next, it passionately wished for someone to come and kill Sima Jiao immediately.
Half of the central tower had collapsed. Liao Tingyan approached the gap, cautious not to stand too close. In just that brief glance, she spotted a dark figure beside a circle of flower beds below, with the black snake laboriously using its body to push aside the stones that had fallen around the flowers.
Those were the Youduan flowers of the sun and moon, the only plants on the Three Sacred Mountains. The flame red lotus probably shouldn’t even be considered a plant. She recalled the precious red lotus she had placed in her pouch and became curious about the Youduan flowers below. When those sisters first saw these flowers, they had acted strangely, and she still hadn’t uncovered the whole story.
Suddenly, Sima Jiao, beside the flower beds, turned his head and looked toward the central tower. He gestured for her to come over.
Cultivators had remarkably powerful eyes, and Liao Tingyan couldn’t pretend not to see him. She shrank back, turned, and made her way toward the stairs. She descended more than twenty flights and finally reached the edge of the flower beds, which were draped in light purple clouds. However, Sima Jiao, who had been standing there earlier, was now gone; only the black snake remained to continue moving the debris.
She turned her head to look around when suddenly, a voice sounded in her ear: “Why did you take so long to come?”
The ghostly ancestor appeared behind her, almost startling her into the Youduan flower bed. She remembered that those sisters rarely approached this flower bed without a good reason. There had to be something important here, so she quickly moved to the side—and ended up bumping into Sima Jiao’s arms.
Liao Tingyan thought to herself, “This doesn’t look a bit like throwing herself into his arms, does it?”
While pondering this question, she felt it wasn’t really one at all. After all, if the ancestor had activated the truth buff and asked, “Woman, are you throwing yourself into my arms?” she could have proven entirely her innocence.
But Sima Jiao didn’t ask that. He cast her a sideways glance, his expression clearly saying, “I’ve seen too many attempts at seduction, so don’t even try.”
Liao Tingyan thought, “Damn it! Use the truth buff! Hurry up! Let me tell you the truth!”
“Do you know what this is?” Sima Jiao asked, gesturing toward the flowers. No truth buff was involved.
Liao Tingyan replied, “The Youduan flowers of the sun and moon.” Damn, this was so frustrating.
Sima Jiao raised his hand and waved it over the flowers, which were gradually changing colour. These flowers had white petals and black leaves during the day, but as the sun began to set, they slowly turned into black petals and white leaves. To Liao Tingyan, it seemed as if the flowers he touched instantly turned black. His manual colouring technique was very impressive.
“Do you know how these flowers came to be?” he asked.
Liao Tingyan answered, “I don’t know.”
Sima Jiao seemed to take particular pleasure in destroying flowers, especially in mischievously tearing off well-grown petals. He plucked a black petal and tossed it aside, speaking in a monotone: “The seeds of the Youduan flowers of the sun and moon are very special. They are pearls left in the body after a member of the Sima clan dies. One pearl can grow one Youduan flower of the sun and moon.”
Liao Tingyan looked at the large patch of Youduan flowers and felt a chill run down her back. “So this… this is a graveyard? With so many Youduan flowers, how many people must have died here?”
Sima Jiao continued, “After a Sima clan member dies, their bodies don’t remain. All that’s left is a single pearl. There used to be many pearls preserved, but later I scattered them all here to grow these flowers.”
“Are they beautiful?” he asked.
Honestly, although it was a bit horrifying, it also seemed quite romantic. Liao Tingyan nodded straightforwardly, “Beautiful.”
Sima Jiao said, “Then I’ll give you one. Choose for yourself.” He pointed to the large patch of swaying black flowers.
Liao Tingyan's instincts warned her that something was wrong, but Sima Jiao stared at her, his face stern as he urged, “Pick one.”
Liao Tingyan raised her hand and snapped off a flower.
Only then did Sima Jiao explain, “The unique thing about the Youduan flowers of the sun and moon is that they could either be a spiritual medicine that eliminates any poison or a deadly poison with no cure at all. It’s said that for Sima clan members, the bone pearls of evil people grow into deadly poisonous Youduan flowers, while the bone pearls of good people grow into spiritual medicines. However, they look completely identical, and no one can tell them apart.”
Liao Tingyan gasped, “Oh? That sounds impressive. So could the spiritual medicine that cures any poison also cure the most deadly poison?
Sima Jiao replied, “Seeing that you’re still standing here, I guess you’ve chosen a spiritual medicine. Good luck.”
Just as he finished speaking, Liao Tingyan collapsed.
The somewhat deranged Sima E couldn't accept the situation. Liao Tingyan watched as Sima E prepared to strangle her own child on a dark, windy night.
Liao Tingyan felt much more relaxed now that he was no longer in her hammock. As she had said, a good nap had solved all her problems—everything was fine now.
She got up and felt the abundant spiritual energy within her, experiencing a wonderful sense of vitality. The salted fish had soaked in water and swelled slightly. The Three Sacred Mountains now had an ethereal quality. Although many areas had fallen into ruins, they strangely emitted a sense of decayed beauty, likely due to the spiritual mist that cast a hazy veil over everything.
She didn’t see the big black snake or Sima Jiao, only the magically restored flame standing there with its hands on its hips, cursing loudly: “Useless fellows! Those useless grandsons of Gengchen Immortal Mansion had such a great opportunity yesterday, and yet they still couldn’t kill Sima Jiao!”
Sometimes, Liao Tingyan found it hard to understand the flame's stance. One moment, it claimed that if it suffered, Sima Jiao wouldn’t do any better, suggesting a symbiotic relationship; the next, it passionately wished for someone to come and kill Sima Jiao immediately.
Half of the central tower had collapsed. Liao Tingyan approached the gap, cautious not to stand too close. In just that brief glance, she spotted a dark figure beside a circle of flower beds below, with the black snake laboriously using its body to push aside the stones that had fallen around the flowers.
Those were the Youduan flowers of the sun and moon, the only plants on the Three Sacred Mountains. The flame red lotus probably shouldn’t even be considered a plant. She recalled the precious red lotus she had placed in her pouch and became curious about the Youduan flowers below. When those sisters first saw these flowers, they had acted strangely, and she still hadn’t uncovered the whole story.
Suddenly, Sima Jiao, beside the flower beds, turned his head and looked toward the central tower. He gestured for her to come over.
Cultivators had remarkably powerful eyes, and Liao Tingyan couldn’t pretend not to see him. She shrank back, turned, and made her way toward the stairs. She descended more than twenty flights and finally reached the edge of the flower beds, which were draped in light purple clouds. However, Sima Jiao, who had been standing there earlier, was now gone; only the black snake remained to continue moving the debris.
She turned her head to look around when suddenly, a voice sounded in her ear: “Why did you take so long to come?”
The ghostly ancestor appeared behind her, almost startling her into the Youduan flower bed. She remembered that those sisters rarely approached this flower bed without a good reason. There had to be something important here, so she quickly moved to the side—and ended up bumping into Sima Jiao’s arms.
Liao Tingyan thought to herself, “This doesn’t look a bit like throwing herself into his arms, does it?”
While pondering this question, she felt it wasn’t really one at all. After all, if the ancestor had activated the truth buff and asked, “Woman, are you throwing yourself into my arms?” she could have proven entirely her innocence.
But Sima Jiao didn’t ask that. He cast her a sideways glance, his expression clearly saying, “I’ve seen too many attempts at seduction, so don’t even try.”
Liao Tingyan thought, “Damn it! Use the truth buff! Hurry up! Let me tell you the truth!”
“Do you know what this is?” Sima Jiao asked, gesturing toward the flowers. No truth buff was involved.
Liao Tingyan replied, “The Youduan flowers of the sun and moon.” Damn, this was so frustrating.
Sima Jiao raised his hand and waved it over the flowers, which were gradually changing colour. These flowers had white petals and black leaves during the day, but as the sun began to set, they slowly turned into black petals and white leaves. To Liao Tingyan, it seemed as if the flowers he touched instantly turned black. His manual colouring technique was very impressive.
“Do you know how these flowers came to be?” he asked.
Liao Tingyan answered, “I don’t know.”
Sima Jiao seemed to take particular pleasure in destroying flowers, especially in mischievously tearing off well-grown petals. He plucked a black petal and tossed it aside, speaking in a monotone: “The seeds of the Youduan flowers of the sun and moon are very special. They are pearls left in the body after a member of the Sima clan dies. One pearl can grow one Youduan flower of the sun and moon.”
Liao Tingyan looked at the large patch of Youduan flowers and felt a chill run down her back. “So this… this is a graveyard? With so many Youduan flowers, how many people must have died here?”
Sima Jiao continued, “After a Sima clan member dies, their bodies don’t remain. All that’s left is a single pearl. There used to be many pearls preserved, but later I scattered them all here to grow these flowers.”
“Are they beautiful?” he asked.
Honestly, although it was a bit horrifying, it also seemed quite romantic. Liao Tingyan nodded straightforwardly, “Beautiful.”
Sima Jiao said, “Then I’ll give you one. Choose for yourself.” He pointed to the large patch of swaying black flowers.
Liao Tingyan's instincts warned her that something was wrong, but Sima Jiao stared at her, his face stern as he urged, “Pick one.”
Liao Tingyan raised her hand and snapped off a flower.
Only then did Sima Jiao explain, “The unique thing about the Youduan flowers of the sun and moon is that they could either be a spiritual medicine that eliminates any poison or a deadly poison with no cure at all. It’s said that for Sima clan members, the bone pearls of evil people grow into deadly poisonous Youduan flowers, while the bone pearls of good people grow into spiritual medicines. However, they look completely identical, and no one can tell them apart.”
Liao Tingyan gasped, “Oh? That sounds impressive. So could the spiritual medicine that cures any poison also cure the most deadly poison?
Sima Jiao replied, “Seeing that you’re still standing here, I guess you’ve chosen a spiritual medicine. Good luck.”
Just as he finished speaking, Liao Tingyan collapsed.
Liao Tingyan thought she would die on the spot, but she didn’t. After fainting from shock, her mind was filled with confusion as she experienced several scattered memories.
The protagonist of these memories was a naive, innocent young woman named Sima E. She and her twin brother were the last surviving members of the Sima clan, which was on the verge of disappearing. Nevertheless, the Sima clan could not be allowed to vanish; their bloodline had to be preserved. From the moment she was born, Sima E found herself in a confusing environment where she was destined to join her brother in having offspring.
To preserve the pure bloodline of the Feng Mountain clan, the Sima family never mixed with outsiders. Tarnishing the Feng Mountain bloodline was considered a sin and unforgivable. However, within the Sima clan, incestuous relationships were not unusual; their actions were solely aimed at maintaining the purest bloodline. Only the purest Feng Mountain blood could fuel the Sacred Mountain Fire.
Liao Tingyan saw the Sacred Mountain Fire, burning like a small torch on a red face the size of a bowl. It was much stronger than the tiny, childish flame she had previously encountered. This flame seemed to be a rare treasure, and Sima E was the one nurturing the Sacred Mountain Fire in this generation. She grew up on the Three Sacred Mountains, surrounded by countless disciples who served her, and her food, clothing, and daily needs were all of the highest quality. To Liao Tingyan, she looked like the world’s number one princess. However, her life was truly miserable.
Sima E had a fondness for that flame. In these memories, the flame was not a childish entity but rather a hot-tempered man. No matter who came to serve him, they would be cursed until their heads bled. Yet, Sima E was the only person he never scolded. Unfortunately, despite her affection, Sima E could never truly be with this precious flame due to a reproductive barrier between them. Their relationship could only be described as “loving devotion.” When Sima E reached childbearing age, she was required to produce a child with her brother.
Through these memories, Liao Tingyan glimpsed the grandeur of the Three Sacred Mountains—majestic palaces, exquisite furnishings, and countless servants, each resembling a divine fairy. What struck her most was the large mural of Fuxi and Nüwa hanging at the level of the Emerald Pond flame. Sima E had to worship it daily, likely as part of the Sima clan's beliefs. Though reluctant at her young age, Sima E bore the weight of her clan’s rise and fall and endured it painfully.
Together, she and her brother had a son named Sima Jiao. Hearing this name, Liao Tingyan realized, “Oh, so this is the story of the Ancestral Mother.”
However, having a boy wasn’t enough; they needed her to bear a second child, a girl, to ensure the purity of the next generation’s bloodline. Unfortunately, Sima E failed to conceive a second child, and worse yet, her brother suddenly went mad, burning down half of the Three Sacred Mountains before committing suicide. These memories were unclear and fragmented, and Liao Tingyan pieced them together based on context.
The scene shifted to a haggard Sima E, seemingly driven mad by her circumstances. Despite her youth and exceptional talent, she had not yet matured. The Gengchen Immortal Mansion was no longer under the control of the Sima clan. With a weak leader and powerful ministers, many demanded that she continue to nurture the Sacred Mountain Fire and wait for her child to grow up, only to bear more children with him.
The protagonist of these memories was a naive, innocent young woman named Sima E. She and her twin brother were the last surviving members of the Sima clan, which was on the verge of disappearing. Nevertheless, the Sima clan could not be allowed to vanish; their bloodline had to be preserved. From the moment she was born, Sima E found herself in a confusing environment where she was destined to join her brother in having offspring.
To preserve the pure bloodline of the Feng Mountain clan, the Sima family never mixed with outsiders. Tarnishing the Feng Mountain bloodline was considered a sin and unforgivable. However, within the Sima clan, incestuous relationships were not unusual; their actions were solely aimed at maintaining the purest bloodline. Only the purest Feng Mountain blood could fuel the Sacred Mountain Fire.
Liao Tingyan saw the Sacred Mountain Fire, burning like a small torch on a red face the size of a bowl. It was much stronger than the tiny, childish flame she had previously encountered. This flame seemed to be a rare treasure, and Sima E was the one nurturing the Sacred Mountain Fire in this generation. She grew up on the Three Sacred Mountains, surrounded by countless disciples who served her, and her food, clothing, and daily needs were all of the highest quality. To Liao Tingyan, she looked like the world’s number one princess. However, her life was truly miserable.
Sima E had a fondness for that flame. In these memories, the flame was not a childish entity but rather a hot-tempered man. No matter who came to serve him, they would be cursed until their heads bled. Yet, Sima E was the only person he never scolded. Unfortunately, despite her affection, Sima E could never truly be with this precious flame due to a reproductive barrier between them. Their relationship could only be described as “loving devotion.” When Sima E reached childbearing age, she was required to produce a child with her brother.
Through these memories, Liao Tingyan glimpsed the grandeur of the Three Sacred Mountains—majestic palaces, exquisite furnishings, and countless servants, each resembling a divine fairy. What struck her most was the large mural of Fuxi and Nüwa hanging at the level of the Emerald Pond flame. Sima E had to worship it daily, likely as part of the Sima clan's beliefs. Though reluctant at her young age, Sima E bore the weight of her clan’s rise and fall and endured it painfully.
Together, she and her brother had a son named Sima Jiao. Hearing this name, Liao Tingyan realized, “Oh, so this is the story of the Ancestral Mother.”
However, having a boy wasn’t enough; they needed her to bear a second child, a girl, to ensure the purity of the next generation’s bloodline. Unfortunately, Sima E failed to conceive a second child, and worse yet, her brother suddenly went mad, burning down half of the Three Sacred Mountains before committing suicide. These memories were unclear and fragmented, and Liao Tingyan pieced them together based on context.
The scene shifted to a haggard Sima E, seemingly driven mad by her circumstances. Despite her youth and exceptional talent, she had not yet matured. The Gengchen Immortal Mansion was no longer under the control of the Sima clan. With a weak leader and powerful ministers, many demanded that she continue to nurture the Sacred Mountain Fire and wait for her child to grow up, only to bear more children with him.
When Liao Tingyan saw this part, she was completely confused. At this moment, Sima Jiao was just a few years old. “Are you people making these decisions really this perverted?” she thought.
The somewhat deranged Sima E couldn't accept the situation. Liao Tingyan watched as Sima E prepared to strangle her own child on a dark, windy night.
Liao Tingyan exclaimed, “I am completely baffled by the Sima clan.”
The memory ended there, showing Sima E committing suicide in the Emerald Pond. The green water turned blood-red from her blood, sprouting an enormous red lotus. Flames rose silently, enveloping her and reducing her to ashes.
Faced with such terrible memories, Liao Tingyan felt nauseous upon waking. Knowing too much wasn’t good; the more she learned, the deeper her troubles became. Having seen many ugly realities and understood the origins of these monstrous beings, she became increasingly uneasy.
"A ya! This job is way too extreme. I cannot handle it!"
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