Volume Two, Chapter Fifteen: A Thread Across a Thousand Miles

“I... I’m in a hurry to leave the valley!” It took Yibing a long moment to recall why he was so anxious.

“Is it really that urgent? Look at you, running until you’re drenched in sweat!” The leading woman took out a handkerchief as if to wipe his brow.

“No, that’s alright…” Yibing hastily tried to fend her off, but other beauties had already pressed their handkerchiefs to his face.

“Why don’t you come rest at our home for a while before you go?” At some point, the leading woman had slipped her arm around his.

“I can’t! I must leave at once! I only have the time it takes to burn an incense stick!” Though Yibing said this, his legs refused to move. Gazing around him, he saw nothing but rosy cheeks and red lips, sweet voices and intoxicating scents swirling together, making refusal the furthest thing from his mind.

“Oh, our house is right by the mouth of the valley. Have a cup of tea, and you’ll be out with just a single step!” The leading woman eagerly pointed it out, and only then did Yibing notice a courtyard nestled near the valley’s exit.

“I’d better not…” He hadn’t finished his sentence before the beauties had surrounded him, shepherding him toward the courtyard whether he agreed or not.

As soon as they reached the courtyard gate, Yibing saw the words “Hua Residence” written above. So, they hadn’t lied after all.

Yibing couldn’t quite recall how he ended up seated in the main hall. He hadn’t even settled himself before the beauties crowded in on every side—one offering tea, another feeding him fruit, some massaging his shoulders, others kneading his legs, serving him as if he were an emperor.

“Oh, sir, why not put that down?” One beauty reached for the large axe in his hand.

“No need!” Yibing quickly transformed it into a belt and strapped it around his waist.

“How marvelous!” The beauties exclaimed in wonder, reaching out to touch it.

“Forgive me, forgive me!” Swelling with pride, Yibing couldn’t help but sigh to himself: “This divine iron truly is a wondrous thing! It even followed my soul in here. Wait—something’s wrong! I’m only here in spirit! Then these beauties?!” Alarm pricked at his heart.

“No, I have to go!” Yibing sprang to his feet.

“Sir, what’s the rush? You’re finally here—stay and enjoy yourself a while!” The beauties instantly pressed him back into his seat.

“No, I really can’t, or I’ll miss my chance!” Though Yibing was urgent, he didn’t dare use force.

“Ha! If you’re in such a hurry, let’s not waste time!” The leading woman giggled.

“Alright, alright…” The beauties broke out in laughter, and in a flash, they began to undress. In the blink of an eye, they were all naked.

“Hey—!” Before him was a sea of bare, glistening skin. The leading woman in particular, swaying her hips without a stitch on, was the very image of a siren by the riverbank. A siren? A demon?

“Shameless! Out, all of you!” Yibing shoved his way through the throng and bolted outside. So slippery!

But just as he burst through the door, he crashed headlong into a woman.

“Oh! You’ve killed me!” She clutched her chest and pouted at him in feigned distress.

“You… you’re all… shameless…” Yibing turned his face away, blushing furiously.

“You… wuwu…” The woman actually began to cry.

“Big Sister!” Hearing her sobs, the other beauties rushed out, still bare, causing Yibing to dodge aside in embarrassment.

“Sir, we’re not shameless!” The eldest wept like a flower in the rain. “It’s just that so few people ever come here. Today, when you wandered in—so fair and plump, so delightful—and we sisters have all reached the age for marriage, we thought to keep you as our husband! But seeing your eagerness to leave, my sisters just got anxious and tried to force the matter, to make you ours before you could go!”

“That’s hardly the way… Besides, this place isn’t even real!” Yibing, though unconvinced, tried to speak gently.

“See for yourself! You can see us, we can see you; you can touch us, and we can touch you! What here isn’t real? Where your spirit is, there you are; the body is nothing but a shell. With us seven sisters to serve you, you’d have the life of a god—working the fields, weaving at the loom, a paradise on earth!” The eldest spoke with conviction.

“But…” Yibing’s mind raced through all the possible consequences.

“Never mind! We won’t force you. But at least have something to eat before you go!” The eldest seized his wrist.

“Eat?” Yibing’s eyes widened.

“Hurry and put your clothes back on! Sir prefers modesty!” the eldest commanded, dragging Yibing back inside.

In moments, the six sisters were dressed, and soon brought out dish after dish from the kitchen. There were mountain beasts and wild fowl, cattle and sheep from the land, fresh delicacies from the sea—every kind of rare and wonderful dish covered the table.

“I really should go! If I don’t, I’ll miss the time entirely. But a few bites shouldn’t hurt, right? I just have the time it takes to burn an incense stick—if I eat quickly, I’ll make it!” Torn by temptation, Yibing snatched up his chopsticks.

“Sir, have a drink first!” The eldest poured him a brimming cup.

“I don’t drink!” he protested, but still took the cup.

“Sisters, see to the gentleman!” At the eldest’s command, the beauties crowded around him—though dressed, their clothes were so haphazardly thrown on that what ought to be hidden peeked out, catching Yibing’s eye again and again.

“In fact, this isn’t bad at all—this is the life of a god! Why chase immortality?” Yibing thought as he wolfed down the food.

Suddenly, something tightened around his wrist, as though something had bound it. Looking down, he saw nothing. As he stared, the grip suddenly tightened, and he was wrenched off his feet and sent flying out of the hall.

When he opened his eyes again, the incense stick was burning out before him. He had returned to his body.

“Yibing!” It sounded like Fat Girl calling out to him.

“Just now…” Yibing looked at her, dazed.

“If you hadn’t come out, you’d be doomed! Was it really so wonderful in there?” Hanyu stormed forward, brimming with anger.

“I…” Qiu Yi hesitated.

“It was me!” Moxian suddenly spoke, tugging at the black cord that bound them all.

“Oh?” Qiu Yi looked at the frail girl in surprise.

“It’s actually a Soul-Locking Cord—it binds the soul! You may not see it, but it was still holding him.” Moxian smiled sweetly.

Qiu Yi seemed to awaken from a dream. He said nothing more, just managed a wry smile, waved once, and vanished.

“You little brat! So it wasn’t just a childhood toy from your master, but a treasure!” Hanyu felt thoroughly deceived.

“I didn’t lie! She only told me after I grew up, and this is my first time using it!” Moxian hurried to explain.

“It’s true!” Chengyan nodded to Hanyu.

“Well, thank goodness for it!” Hanyu suddenly remembered something. “Hey, why didn’t you come out sooner?”

“They…” Yibing’s face turned crimson.

“Alright, no need to ask. Just some temptation, that’s all!” Meiniang quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

“Oh, I get it! They…” Hanyu sneered.

“No! It was the food! So much good food—I couldn’t help myself…” Yibing said, mortified.

“You…” Hanyu gave him a withering look. “When have you ever resisted?”

Yibing hung his head even lower. His inability to resist had gotten him into trouble before—he’d once bitten Hanyu because of it.

“You’re too heavy! I couldn’t pull you out my first try!” Moxian suddenly complained.

“Thank you, Senior Sister! Otherwise…”

“Enough, let’s get out of here!” Master Tai Miao quickly interrupted their squabble.

“Oh…” Yibing rushed to the pagoda door and swung his axe.

With a loud boom, the entire tower began to shake violently. Before anyone could cry out, it crashed to the ground with a thunderous roar. Amid shrieks, everyone was thrown from the floor to the walls.

Now, the pagoda door was above their heads.

“Yibing! Go check it out!” Hong Kun, trapped beneath him, gasped. He was nearly suffocated.

“But I can’t get up there!”

“Flying… spell…” Hong Kun could barely get the words out.

“Oh, oh…” Yibing quickly formed a seal and muttered an incantation, soaring toward the pagoda door.

He pushed it open, but with a cry of alarm, immediately fell back down. Hong Kun shut his eyes in pain—he should have moved. Yibing landed squarely on top of him.

“Why…?” Hong Kun wheezed.

“There’s a monster out there!”

Everyone looked up. A massive eye was peering in through the doorway.

“Nonsense!”

“Turtle Brother!” Yibing perked up, and hurriedly flew back up. Hong Kun dragged himself aside with difficulty.

“Why are you so big?”

“It’s you who’s small!”

“Oh, right!”

“Just stay put—don’t come out!” With that, the giant turtle eye vanished.

A moment later, the whole pagoda began to move, as if something were towing it.

“So that’s the turtle?” Master Tai Miao asked, curious.

“Yes! But who knows where he’s taking us!” Yibing hurried back down.

“That blasted turtle, only showing up now! I told you he couldn’t be relied on!” Hanyu couldn’t help cursing.

The moving tower suddenly stopped.

“Watch me—” Hanyu began, but was silenced by Meiniang’s tail covering her mouth.

“That thing can hear us!” Meiniang whispered.

“So what! Blasted turtle! Stupid turtle!” Hanyu yanked Meiniang’s tail aside and shouted even louder.

The pagoda jerked, stopped, jerked again, stopped—again and again, back and forth, before finally moving steadily.

“He must be furious!” Hanyu giggled.

No sooner had she spoken than the pagoda shot forward, tossing everyone inside like a boat in a raging sea.

“Turtle Brother!” Fat Girl finally couldn’t help but shout.

At once, the pagoda steadied. Hanyu rolled her eyes, so angry she was about to shout again, but the fierce nausea made her think better of it. She’d save her anger for later.

After what seemed ages, the pagoda stopped moving, then was set upright again. Everyone tumbled to the floor, dazed and dizzy from the wild ride.

Leaning against the wall, Yibing finally staggered out the door. Lifting his eyes, he saw the divine turtle gazing at him with mischievous delight, and felt both angry and relieved. Looking around, he realized the turtle had dragged them all back to the pond in the garden.

“Turtle Brother, you nearly shook us to death!” Yibing scolded.

“Hehe, not you!” The turtle peered past Yibing’s shoulder.

“But I was… Oh…” Yibing retched.

“Wait, are those Hell Lotus seeds? No, that’s not right!” The turtle stared at the six spinning seeds still circling Yibing’s waist.

“There’s still a tear… Oh… in my body…”

“Ah, that explains it!” No sooner had the turtle spoken than the six seeds flew to hover before Yibing, who quickly grabbed them.

Stowing the seeds, Yibing tried to pull his companions along, but found he couldn’t budge them.

“Turtle Brother, lend a hand!”

“Alright, alright!” The turtle grinned wickedly, bit down on the Soul-Locking Cord, and darted toward the lake.

“Hey!” Yibing cried, but it was too late—the turtle dragged everyone into the pond.

In an instant, all of them were drenched. Luckily, the water was clear and not too deep—just over their chests—so, helping each other, they managed to stand.

“You blasted turtle!” Hanyu and Meiniang shouted in unison. If Fat Girl hadn’t grabbed Hanyu’s ear with one hand and Meiniang’s tail with the other, they’d have sunk straight to the bottom.

The turtle, unconcerned, clambered ashore and made to shove the pagoda into the pond too.

“Spare it!” Master Tai Miao cried out. The turtle rolled its eyes and drew back its leg.

“It’d be a shame to destroy it! I’ll look after it well!” Tai Miao explained hastily.

The turtle blinked, then turned, toppled the pagoda onto its side, and began dragging it toward the lotus-filled side of the pond by its tip.

“Don’t go out!” Tai Miao shouted as Hong Kun headed for the shore. Though he didn’t understand, Hong Kun obeyed and stopped.

With a splash, the turtle dumped the pagoda into the lotus pond.

“Thank you!” Tai Miao called out from the water.

“Hehe, don’t mention it!” The turtle glanced back, then rushed to the pond’s edge and started hurling insults at Hanyu and Meiniang: “Stupid rabbit! Sly fox!”

“Master?” Jin Guishan asked, puzzled.

“Look at the top of your junior sister’s head!”