Newly Entering the Spiritual Void Chapter 78: Overflowing Jealousy

The destitute scholar listened to their voices—so faint he surmised the two must have been poisoned. He leapt forward, intending to lift them up, but as he reached their side, a strange odor surged out from within the wall, making his head spin and his mind reel.

He hastily retreated with a backward leap, all the while exclaiming, “What a strange matter! How bizarre!”

The old beggar, noticing his anxious expression, asked in bewilderment, “Hey, penniless scholar, what could possibly surprise you so?”

The scholar ignored the question, steadied himself, then with a sudden flourish, swept his sword against the wall. Unexpectedly, the wall was merely a disguised curtain. With a flash of his blade, the curtain fell to the ground.

Gazing intently, he was startled once more. Before him stood two beasts, shaped like horses, with white bodies and black tails, each with a single horn and tiger-like fangs, exhaling vapor toward them in hissing breaths. The scholar swiftly raised his sword, slashing at the monstrous pair.

The two creatures, as if anticipating a sneak attack, drew back their horse-like heads and sprang into the air, baring their claws and fangs as they lunged toward the group.

The Hundred Flowers Lady quickly pulled Miss Jie aside and said, “Sister, fall back—this is dangerous.”

Miss Jie’s heart was full of resentment—her senior brother had never shown her the slightest warmth over the years, yet was so affectionate toward her sworn sister. She was about to burst into tears, but hearing the warning, she turned and saw the monstrous onslaught, and leapt back in shock.

The destitute scholar, seeing the beasts rushing upon them, thrust his sword rapidly, aiming to pierce the belly of the one to the right.

The old beggar narrowed his eyes and struck with his staff, channeling all his strength into the blow, for he could see these monsters were truly ferocious.

Both attacked with lightning speed, but especially the scholar’s sword—its force was so formidable that not only savage beasts but even the top experts of the martial world would struggle to evade it.

With two dull thuds, the rightmost beast’s belly split open, its entrails spilling as it collapsed, dead. The left was stunned by the old beggar’s staff and fell, unable to rise.

“I’ve traveled all over the land, but never have I seen such creatures,” the old beggar muttered, shaking his head, his broad experience failing to recognize these beasts.

The scholar replied, “According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, these are called ‘Jiao’—they feed on tigers and leopards, are fiercely aggressive, and breathe poisonous fumes that cause delirium in those who inhale.”

A woman’s heart is ever changing. Witnessing the myriad traps and mechanisms of this basement, Miss Jie’s animosity faded, her thoughts turning instead to her senior brother’s safety.

Jie Zhenzi and the masked woman lay together on the ground, seemingly oblivious to the chaos. Jie Zhenzi murmured, “What is that smell? It’s unbearable.”

The masked woman, Feng Jiezhen, replied, “After inhaling this scent, my entire strength feels sapped, and I’m overcome with dizziness.”

Their voices grew weaker, as if they were fading to the brink of death.

The scholar, seeing their condition, was helpless. He glanced at the old beggar and asked, “They’ve obviously been poisoned by the beasts and are semi-conscious. Do you have any way to save them?”

The old beggar smiled slightly. “I carry a kind of Restorative Pill, though I’m not sure it’ll work.”

“Let’s try it anyway. Give them two pills each,” the scholar urged.

The old beggar fished out a small medicine bottle from his tattered coat, removed the stopper, and poured out four pills, handing them to the scholar with a wry smile. “I, the beggar, fear nothing—neither blades nor boiling oil—but separating an embracing couple? My old face is too thick-skinned for that!”

The scholar laughed. “Who would’ve thought an old wanderer like you would have such scruples!” As he spoke, he strode to where Jie Zhenzi and the masked woman lay, lifting each with one hand.

Once they were separated, the old beggar followed, helped Jie Zhenzi sit cross-legged, and placed two pills in his mouth, pressing his palm to the vital acupoint under his nose to aid the circulation of energy and the medicine’s effect.

The scholar took two pills from him and administered them to Feng Jiezhen in the same way.

After a moment, both regained consciousness. Jie Zhenzi, opening his eyes to see his junior, blushed deeply and hurried to bow to the old beggar. “Thank you, elder, for saving my life. I am eternally grateful.”

The masked woman opened her eyes to discover two elderly men and two stunning young women nearby. Remembering how she and her sworn brother had stumbled into this secret chamber and fallen unconscious in each other’s arms, she felt a flush of embarrassment—though her face was hidden by a black scarf.

Miss Jie glanced at her, spat in contempt, and turned away to stare at the stone wall.

Their eyes met—Miss Jie’s long lashes framed a pair of bright, piercing eyes, her nose delicate, cheeks like snow, lips like cherries, and a smile that could ignite a man’s passion.

The masked woman thought, Before my misfortune, I may not have matched her beauty, but I was not far behind. Now I dare not show my true face. Though my sworn brother has professed his feelings, who isn’t drawn to beauty? How could he be an exception…

She glanced at Jie Zhenzi only to see his eyes fixed on Miss Jie’s back, unblinking.

Jealousy flared within her, and she suddenly raised her hands and slapped Jie Zhenzi hard across both cheeks.

Jie Zhenzi, shocked by her unreasonable outburst, could not bear the humiliation before so many people. In anger, he shouted, “Wretch!” and, with a move called “Waves Surging with the Tide,” struck fiercely at Feng Jiezhen’s chest.

This blow, fueled by rage, carried the force of a collapsing mountain.

The scholar and the old beggar were baffled by the sudden outbreak of violence.

Though Miss Jie was already upset, seeing the masked woman strike her brother’s face made her indignant. She snorted coldly, “Shameless woman!”

Feng Jiezhen, enraged by this insult, lashed out with both palms—her right hand deflecting Jie Zhenzi’s attack, her left palm striking straight at Miss Jie’s chest.

Her power far surpassed that of the siblings, and in her fury, her blow was deadly. Neither Jie Zhenzi nor Miss Jie could withstand it.

Jie Zhenzi, sensing the immense force, withdrew his attack and staggered back, shouting, “Junior sister, retreat! This woman’s strikes are lethal!”

But Miss Jie, unaware of Feng Jiezhen’s prowess and too proud to yield, braced herself to receive the blow.

The scholar, having seen her exchange blows with an old monk at Famen Temple and knowing her strength, feared she would be gravely injured or killed. He hurriedly stepped forward and, with a move called “Autumn Colors Divided,” sent a forceful palm at Feng Jiezhen’s left hand while pushing Miss Jie back two steps, laughing loudly, “Are you really going to fight to the death over love?”

Miss Jie blushed and retreated further, her eyes blazing as she glared at Feng Jiezhen.

Feng Jiezhen, hearing her sworn brother call her a wretch but address Miss Jie with such affection, grew even more furious. With a shake of her body, both palms raised, she lunged once more at Jie Zhenzi.

The old beggar, seeing real danger brewing in the cramped chamber, realized the fight could spiral out of control. Unsure how to mediate, he stepped between them, laughing, “We’re all on the same side—why get so worked up?”

Feng Jiezhen, seeing him block her way, withdrew two steps, just as her foot pressed a hidden switch. With a clang, a cold wind swept down from above.

Looking up, she saw the ceiling’s disguise split open. The cold wind cleared her fuming head, and her eyes swept the room before settling on the scholar.

The scholar laughed heartily. “Miss, your sworn brother is an honest man—he’s suffered enough. Spare him, won’t you?”

Hearing this, she thought, Indeed, I’ve been too hard on him, especially striking him before everyone—how could he not feel humiliated?

Turning, she glared at Miss Jie and shouted, “You little vixen, watch yourself! One day I’ll strip that pretty hide right off you!”

Miss Jie spun her sword, ready to fight. Seeing the tension rising again, the scholar dashed between them, snatched her sword, and demanded, “What are you doing?”

Feng Jiezhen, grateful to the scholar for saving her life, forced herself to calm down and suddenly leapt out of the chamber. The moment she exited, the opening sealed behind her, restoring the room to its former state.

Watching the masked woman depart, the scholar breathed a sigh of relief. “Miss Jie, you really don’t understand the danger. You’ve never seen that masked woman truly fight. If you provoke her, not one of us five will leave here alive.”

Chastened by his words, Miss Jie bowed her head, unable to retort, for the scholar had saved her life more than once.

The scholar turned to Jie Zhenzi with a faint smile. “Jie Zhenzi, I don’t understand—how did you end up down here?”

Jie Zhenzi, embarrassed, replied, “I entered the formation without hindrance, and while dashing through, I saw her pursuing an enemy. I followed, but suddenly the ground gave way and I fell.” With that, he bowed his head, too ashamed to say more.

The five of them slowly left the foul, stifling chamber and made their way along the passage. Everywhere they passed, all the traps and mechanisms had already been destroyed.

Suddenly, the old beggar cried out, “Strange! So strange! Such intricate traps, all ruined, all ambushes cleared, yet there’s no sign of any fighting. Whoever came here not only knows the art of earthworks but has martial skills beyond belief!”

The scholar glanced back. “Don’t be so surprised, old beggar. Whoever it was, if not an insider familiar with the mechanisms, must have had the blueprints.”

The old beggar nodded. “I believe you’re right.”

Miss Jie recalled that at the Welcome Pavilion, the scholar had mentioned a son named Li Hao who disappeared while studying in Shanxi. Yet the scholar’s surname was Bi, so why would his son’s surname be Li? Was this Li Hao her own cousin? She studied the scholar’s features, finding a resemblance to Li Hao’s father. Yet, proud as she was, and after their quarrel at the Welcome Pavilion, she refused to ask him directly, keeping her questions to herself.

But ever since entering this tomb, the scholar’s repeated acts of selfless bravery had changed her resentment to admiration and gratitude.

Seeing the scholar turn to her with a gentle smile, she resolved to ask her question. Yet, as the scholar began to speak and the old beggar finished, she asked, “Uncle Bi, the Li Hao you mentioned at the Welcome Pavilion—is he from Linnan, New Capital?”