Lie Huo Jiao Chou Volume 2 Chapter 26

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Except for you, who can be so heartless? Who else deserves to be the Human Sovereign?
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　　As Sheng Lingyuan's voice dropped, a glimmer of light flashed in the narrow cave, just like flowers on the rocky cliff. 

　　Then, a "silhouette" of a person came out of the darkness.

　　The figure was not short, yet he looked thin, even the Adam's apple was not visible, so at first glance, he looked like a teenager whose gender was difficult to tell. His long hair was braided into multiple small braids, which were all tied up behind him, giving him a pretty appearance. On the left side of his face, he wore a demon mask. The mask was laughing and the person was also laughing. Only one of his grape-like eyes, which were big and bright, could be seen. The contrast between black and white was very distinct, making him look very amiable.

　　If it weren't for the hole in the middle of his forehead, this person was like those beautiful teen idols on TV.

　　Xuan Ji frowned and looked at the masked person, then turned and looked at Sheng Lingyuan — He didn't know who this person was, he had never heard the name "Aluojin" before. But since the goatee guy had said "the body" in the coffin was nailed to the coffin in the forehead, that coffin in the lake was most probably this person's bedroom.

　　This place was a grave of the shaman tribe. Outside, there were more than 40,000 ancient corpses sleeping in the same "bedroom", yet he himself had a "single room". One could see that he absolutely came from the vicious ruling class.

　　Sheng Lingyuan had just mentioned, what were they called again, the one in charge of the shaman tribe?

　　Xuan Ji asked: "You are the shaman tribe's chieftain... or whatever 'sage'."

　　The masked person was not only an ancient man, but he was also of a different tribe. For people like him, even in that era, "Mandarin" wasn't easy to understand, let alone Xuan Ji's modern language style, he obviously didn't understand a thing. He tilted his head and widened his eyes, his face showing a questioning expression. This was a very childish movement. When an adult made a childish movement, they would look like they were pretending or even a little insane, but for some reason, he looked very natural while doing it.

　　He looked convincingly innocent.

　　"Chieftain," Sheng Lingyuan replied, "The last chieftain of the shaman tribe, Aluojin."

　　Aluojin understood his name, his face beamed, revealing two lovely fangs.

　　The hordes of questions in Xuan Ji's mind flowed out like a current: "You know him? No, didn't you just say that shaman tribe was wiped out by you? How could he see you like he was seeing his family? Also, is he alive or dead..."

　　"Can't you tell?" Sheng Lingyuan glanced at his direction. Xuan Ji's wings could not be spread out and sadly pressed against his back. Sheng Lingyuan's eyes glided over the folded wings, his eyes were cold as if he didn't want to spare even one glance at them, "He was summoned by the sacrificial writing, what do you think he is?"

　　Aluojin was extremely excited and said: "Aren't you happy to see me, Lingyuan-gege?"

　　"Like being awakened from a dream," Sheng Lingyuan muttered. He sighed then reached out his hand toward the figure's direction, his slightly weakened voice made it sound even more like a lover's whisper, "Aluojin, come here, let me look at you."

　　Xuan Ji must had been fooled too many times by him. As soon as he heard the devil with an ever-changing face starting to talk sweetly in a low voice, he immediately followed his instincts and took half a step away to the side, feeling this person must not have any good intention. 

　　Aluojin wasn't as sharp as he was. Right after he heard Sheng Lingyuan's faking tone, he looked at the man in braided dry herbs stupidly. Half of his face not hidden by the mask was blushing.

　　Then, the blush on his face floated into the corner of his eyes, and the mask also turned into a crying face: "I was locked up in this place by someone for so long, then I was awakened by those people using a gloomy sacrifice writing. I was thinking to go out and see... but what is this place? Isn't this Dongchuan? Why does Dongchuan have so many people? I can't understand a word they say."

　　Sheng Lingyuan said gently, "Yes, I know."

　　"I followed behind that person and I felt that you are here, so I brought you here... Lingyuan, I really miss you."

　　Sheng Lingyuan's head did not move, his eyelids slowly lowered a bit before they opened again, as if he was using his eyes to "nod": "I know."

　　Aluojin approached him step by step: "Lingyuan-gege, was it painful when you jumped into Chiyuan?"

　　"Yes," Sheng Lingyuan said gently, "I deserve it."

　　Aluojin looked at him, and as if bewitched, he took Sheng Lingyuan's outstretched hand, and when he raised his head, there was a look of resentment in his eyes: "There are so many interesting things outside. I don't understand what they are doing, but the paintings on the walls move and the steel bugs on the roads buzz loudly. Then, when the evening comes, everywhere is full of color and the streets are full of sweets. It's as if there's a market every day, looking even more joyful than New Year Festival. They are all living so well and happily, Lingyuan-gege."

　　Sheng Lingyuan held his hand tight.

　　The two of them were using the shaman tribe's language, Xuan Ji couldn't understand a single sentence from beginning to end, but his instinct was already one step ahead and warned him: "Be careful!"

　　The wronged and agonized look on Aluojin's mask suddenly became furious: "But how do they deserve to be so happy, I resent... "

　　As his voice dropped, a bunch of flowers vines came out behind his back — It was the same as the "bleeding" flowers on the rocky cliff, and along with ominous breeze, they all came charging at Sheng Lingyuan.

　　At that moment, as fast as lightning, Sheng Lingyuan threw Aluojin aside and suppressed him on the neck. Aluojin was half a head shorter compared to him, so when he was heavily pressed against the wall, both of his legs were off the ground.

　　The vines curled around his arm. The places where the vines touched instantly tore the skin and muscles underneath, yet Sheng Lingyuan did not avoid them. He was reciting something quietly in his mouth, the sound behind him was like that of a roaring storm. Next, black nails flew toward them from the middle of the lake, each was about half a foot long. Sheng Lingyuan took a nail and instantly pressed it against the center of Aluojin's forehead, making the resentful expression on the mask froze on the spot!

　　Blood splashed on his neck and chin, and any place that was exposed to the blood was burned, making sizzling noise as any blood drop landed. The wound healed in a speed one's eyes couldn't see and Sheng Lingyuan's expression didn't have a crack. He was the same as usual as he spoke gently: "If you're not happy, close your eyes, don't look."

　　Xuan Ji: "......"

　　Who was he reminding just now? 

　　This was clearly just two werewolves fighting with each other!

　　Aluojin's mask looked peaceful, and with a distant look, he glanced at Sheng Lingyuan nearby: "I saw you as soon as I opened my eyes and thought it was a dream, yet it wasn't."

　　Sheng Lingyuan did not answer, he was quick to brought other nails down on Aluojin's limbs.

　　"You are real, Bixia," Aluojin's voice changed into ancient and subtle tone, "Except for you, who can be so heartless? Who else deserves to be the Human Sovereign?"

　　Xuan Ji was quick to realize the change of pronouns and felt incredulous as he looked up at Sheng Lingyuan's figure.

　　His ability to hear ancient language wasn't advanced, but... if he didn't misheard, this brat just said "Human Sovereign"? Then, that person over there was...

　　Finally one last piercing nail went through Aluojin, making a "clang" sound as it went through the stone. The person was now motionless, but soon after, the cave shook again, and a frenzy laughter echoed from the four directions. It was clearly Aluojin's sound, yet it sounded like it was coming from somewhere far away.

　　The small cave collapsed on both sides, the two did not have anywhere to escape and were trapped inside within seconds.

　　Yang Chao crossed his legs as he sat in the seat on the back, closing his eyes as if he was meditating while holding Xuan Ji's e-cigarette in his hand. Driver Old Luo and Ping Qianru both did not dare to speak up, fearing that they would interfere with his "communication with the universe." Who knew that Yang Chao and the "universe", that old man's connection would go on and on. By lunch time, Ping Qianru was truly very hungry she lost her head. She took out a nut from the pocket, pinching it out and quickly threw it into her mouth. Yang Chao suddenly opened his eyes and looked at her, his serious face showed dissatisfaction.

　　Ping Qianru immediately did not dare to chew.

　　Yang Chao: "Can I have one?"

　　Ping Qianru: "..."

　　She hurriedly brought out a bag of nuts and shoved it into Yang Chao's hand: "So? Have you felt anything? Are we close?"

　　"I don't know, I have said before, my connection sometimes works and sometimes doesn't, the feeling I got from earlier is already gone." Yang Chao frowned and said, "Either we have driven past that place, or it must be that..."

　　"No, no, no," Ping Qianru interrupted him and reached out her hand to forcefully pull old Luo who was leaning against the seat, "Definitely it was us who have driven past the place. Luo-ge, turn, turn, turn!"

　　"Turn my ass! You can't turn around on highways! Who knows when the reinforcements will come," Luo Cuicui was really self-aware of his own ability and angrily said, "Just relying on us... if we were reliable, would we need to be in the Reparations Department?

　　As soon as his voice fell, his phone rang.

　　"Go, go," Ping Qianru reached up from her seat behind and took Old Luo's phone, "Director Xiao has delegated 'Fengshen I' to head over, telling us to send them the location!"

　　At this time, in the Penglai Conference, Lord Yue De who was pacing around suddenly had his phone vibrated a little, and he pretended to drink water while glancing over it underneath his black Zhongshan robe. He saw someone sent him a WeChat message: "Deviant Control was planning to do something, delegating the people from Fengshen I to head over, they just landed on the airport."

　　Lord Yue De's face suddenly flashed a gloomy expression: "So what, we're righteous and not afraid of any bad shadows."

　　A moment later, the other side quickly changed their voice: "Master, it seems like they're going straight to our 'mine', what do we do?"

　　The 'mine' was an ancient grave which was saved by their old ancestors, they had only dug up the surface, the bottom was forbidden space. It was said that once a person went down, there was no way to go back up again alive.

　　Compared to ordinary people, "Special Abilities" were more sensitive, they didn't need to be warned to feel the danger of the forbidden area, so Lord Yue De, ever since he was young, did not plan to explore more of this place. The closest he had ever gotten was the outside area to get some stuff, and that was enough for them to live lasciviously for several lives.

　　There were countless ancient books, a small part were written in an ancient language, and the majority were a bunch of demon symbols that nobody understood. Lord Yue De and his colleagues had organized a group of people who specialize in language, intending to break the demon symbols. Until now, they had only managed to break a small part of the language, not enough for them to read and understand the writings.

　　But the small part they could understand was enough to make them be cranes among headless chickens that were their competitors.

　　Except for the ancient book, the more precious were the small bits of ancient 'incantation technique'.

　　This 'incantation' concept was written on the books in ancient language. It still wasn't clear what they were used for, but these things were powerful in that, as long as there were tools, even normal people could use it. Some of them contained very lethal spiritual power, but the magical thing was, no matter how strong it was, there were antidote for it. After reversing the spell, there wouldn't be even a little bit of residue.

　　This was the real "lost secret" of this group of people.

　　Since ancient times, when people prayed to Buddha, it was because they want something. When everything was going well, the shrines of Tudi and Hebo* would be overgrown with weeds. If a cat caught all the mice, then they would soon enough be kicked out of the house, even the cartoon that the kids watched understood this life philosophy.**

*Tudi, Lord of the Soil and Ground; Hebo, River God
**This is talking about the cartoon "Shuke Beita" (author's note)

　　There was no war and no great disaster for more than 70 years, and the vast majority of people lived in peace and prosperity. There were few people doing some miscellaneous superstition movement like "raising little demon" and "summoning nine-tailed fox". People listened to the scammers on the street and created more trouble which had no other effect whatsoever except to make oneself more insane.

　　If something accidentally happened, those people at the Deviant Control Office would take out the "Ministry of Security" title to poke into people's business. They got fed by the government, their salary was paid by the government, and they had no shame standing there blabbering nonsense, but Lord Yue De's bunch had to take care of themselves.  

　　Under them, there were thousands of disciples, one call would yield thousands of responses, they couldn't just depend on nature to live.

　　In peace and prosperity, the "Great Masters" had no use of their talents, and so, the usually aloof and remote "Great Masters" couldn't find any work to earn money, and this simply wouldn't do. 

　　It was not easy to earn a living, Lord Yue De's group had to work like the saying, "Talented people are usually busy with work," in which one person played two roles —— one which inflicted harm to the people and another which would become the "savior" who saved the people.

　　It wasn't just him who did it, Lord Yue De glanced around the conference table and ambiguously shared a look with many people. If they truly couldn't turn things around, they had to be "flexible" and used some tricks. It wouldn't count as putting shame on the founding ancestors as this was somewhat the rule of the people in this profession.

　　So if things broke out, nobody could escape.

　　Lord Yue De placed the ceramic glass gently on the table and replied, "Then hold them back."

　　He didn't have a chance to send the message when his phone jumped out a news: "At 11:19, there was a 4.2 magnitude earthquake at Changning District. Epicenter is at Dongchuan with an epicenter depth of 0 km."

　　"Master," the disciple was one step ahead and sent the message, 'the mine' just had an earthquake!"

　　Xuan Ji's foot was on the epicenter of the earthquake, and when the cave collapsed, he had already prepared himself well to get his head smashed, yet the space under his feet was void, he didn't know where he was, the area surrounding was black as ink.

　　The light breeze brushed over, the refreshing scent of mud splashed against his face, one could hear slight sounds of birds singing and summer bugs crickling.

　　Not waiting for Xuan Ji to light up a flame, not far away, someone led a torch and rushed forward. They were dressed like that demon Aluojin, saying a bunch of shaman tribe language. 

　　Xuan Ji stretched his hand to stop him: "Ah, wait a minute..."

　　That person went "through" him and quickly ran towards the small road at the end of the cabin.

　　Xuan Ji: "......"

　　What is this horror movie situation, is he dead or is that guy dead?

　　At this time, a hand suddenly pressed on his shoulder, Xuan Ji instinctively struggled out and spun around, his fingers holding a flame pressed at the person's neck. The light of the flame illuminated Sheng Lingyuan who had blood all over his face.

　　"Where is this place? Imaginary land? You…," Xuan Ji remembered that just now, Aluojin ambiguously said the word "Human Sovereign". He instinctively corrected himself and changed the pronoun, "You* are..."

*This 'you' is one that is used only for people in high positions and used in a way that show deference. 

Additional note:
Human Sovereign(人皇): A quick search would tell you that the Human Sovereign in legend is the third Emperor after Pangu's Era. His greatest achievement was dividing China to nine provinces, built the united dynasty lasting forty-five thousand six hundred years.

Chapter end