Chapter Twelve: Able to Conceal Shadows, Afraid to Face Bright Light

At this moment, Chu Youcai was preparing to wield the Crocodragon Mountains and Rivers Pearl to protect himself at any time. Yet, in the next instant, he realized all the strength within his body was utterly spent; every limb felt weak and powerless. He couldn’t even muster a single Crocodragon Palm. Instantly, he thought to himself that this might be the end.

Only now did he finally understand why wielding the Crocodragon Mountains and Rivers Pearl for twenty breaths in succession would so severely drain his vital energy. It turned out that each use consumed his strength to such an extent! Now, completely exhausted, he knew he wouldn’t recover within even half a cup of tea’s time.

Yet, the yin auras encircling him did not attack. They merely hovered nearby, and among them, two spirits who revealed distinct faces and forms bore expressions of reverence and expectation, as though wishing to speak but hesitating.

Chu Youcai sensed no malice from them and breathed a sigh of relief. He asked, “What is it that you seek?”

The spirits made no move, continuing only to gaze at him from a distance. As this stalemate persisted, a wisp of black mist shaped like a fox drifted over from outside and came before Chu Youcai. Its face was a mixture of shock and comfort.

This fox shape was, of course, Aunt Hong. She had not expected a mere mortal to possess a cursed treasure, nor to be so clever as to discern the true location of the serpent’s shadow and swiftly slay it. Having survived a desperate situation, she now looked at Chu Youcai with growing admiration. His calm bearing, defined features, and dignified aura only drew her favor further. She thought to herself that Hongyu’s choice was wise; if such a man could be entrusted with her fate, her own wishes would be fulfilled—clearly, she had misjudged him before.

As her heart relaxed, her fox form became even fainter.

Chu Youcai asked eagerly, “Aunt Hong, can you restore your body?” Were it not for her aid just now, he surely would have perished.

Aunt Hong shook her head. “My spirit just left my body, draining all my demonic power. Moreover, the serpent’s shadow wounded my true form. I am like an oil lamp at the end of its wick, unable to last much longer. This is but a final flicker.”

Hearing this, Chu Youcai’s heart lurched with sorrow. This woman before him was Hongyu’s only kin.

Aunt Hong smiled gently. “But to find peace of mind before death is fortune enough. What more could I wish for?” Then, with sudden solemnity, she continued, “Young Master Chu, many of the demon souls here are bound by the City God Temple’s restrictions, trapped, their spirits fading. Our greatest hope is that one day our sacred souls might ascend to the heavens. Just now, you slew the serpent’s shadow and cleansed the evil from its soul, allowing it to ascend at the final moment. This, I believe, is every demon soul’s deepest wish in this place.”

Only now did Chu Youcai understand why these spirits regarded him with both awe and longing.

Without hesitation, he said, “Very well. Give me a cup of tea’s time to recover. Once I regain my strength, I will perform the ritual and help your sacred souls ascend.”

Since the Crocodragon Mountains and Rivers Pearl seemed to possess a Buddhist power akin to a monk chanting a soul’s release after death, Chu Youcai would not refuse.

At these words, the black spirits all breathed a collective sigh of relief, their auras turning joyful, and the two with corporeal forms bowed deeply to him in gratitude.

Chu Youcai then focused on restoring his energy. When a cup of tea’s time had passed and his strength returned, he stepped among the spirits, preparing to draw forth the Crocodragon Mountains and Rivers Pearl and perform his ritual once more.

But just then, Aunt Hong said, “Wait.”

Surprised, Chu Youcai turned to her. She approached and said, “Young Master Chu, help me ascend as well. I cannot hold on much longer.”

“This…” Chu Youcai hesitated. He knew Aunt Hong was fading, but to send her off himself—how could he bear it?

She sighed. “My heart is at peace now. Please take good care of Hongyu. You are her only family left. Here—” She gripped hard behind her own neck and plucked a bright tuft of fox fur, handing it to Chu Youcai. “Give this to Hongyu for me.”

Having performed this rite, her form grew so weak that she nearly collapsed, all strength gone. After Chu Youcai received the tuft, she pressed her hands together with effort and said, “I have one final wish: that one day, you might slay Lei Yinyang. His cursed treasure can hide in shadows, but dreads strong light.”

Chu Youcai murmured, “Hidden in shadow, afraid of bright light?” Suddenly, he understood—this was Lei Yinyang’s weakness. He could cloak himself in shadows, making his attacks formless and intangible, but he must remain within the darkness and shunned bright illumination.

A surge of fierce confidence rose in Chu Youcai’s heart. Now that he knew Lei Yinyang’s flaw, his chances of victory had grown immensely.

He set aside all hesitation and once more invoked the Crocodragon Ritual, raising the Crocodragon Mountains and Rivers Pearl. Within ten breaths, he touched each spirit with the treasure.

As the ten breaths drew to a close, Chu Youcai withdrew the pearl and sensed within himself that, though he had lost a year of his lifespan, he had also gained three inches of vital energy. Instantly, his remaining lifespan leaped from four years to six.

This was an unexpected delight. Each of the two demon souls able to take human form, as well as Aunt Hong, had bestowed upon him an inch of yang energy.

Yet, something else caught his attention—this second use of the Crocodragon Mountains and Rivers Pearl felt weaker than the first. He could sense its power had diminished.

“Could it be that the curse’s effect wanes with each use?” Chu Youcai entered the inner world of the Crocodragon Mountains and Rivers Pearl and questioned the stone tablet, but the tablet remained silent. He quietly set aside this doubt.

He then watched in silence as the many demon souls transformed into pure white light and faded away in the air. Each one pressed their palms together in gratitude, offering him a devout farewell.

Among them, Aunt Hong’s eyes shone with warmth and sincerity as she looked at Chu Youcai, as if gazing at family. In that moment, Chu Youcai truly understood—demons and humans alike were creatures of feeling; in essence, there was no difference between them.

He glanced at the sky—it was just past midnight, the moonlight clear and bright. He murmured to himself, “Hidden in shadow, afraid of bright light.” Reflecting on this adventure, he realized his lifespan had increased from two years to six. For a moment, ambition filled his chest, but he also yearned for home, knowing that Yun Cui Xian was surely worried sick waiting for him.

Yet, holding the tuft of fox fur in his hand and thinking of Aunt Hong’s passing, Chu Youcai suddenly found himself afraid to meet Hongyu’s bright, jewel-like eyes.