Chapter 12: The Ruthlessness of the Five Poisons

Tiying’s eyes widened in shock.

But it wasn’t just her; the devastated Chen Da, arms limp at his sides, weeping, and the great demon Suan Yu, sitting on the ground, both stared blankly at Jiang Xuehe.

Suan Yu asked, “What are you talking about?”

Chen Da forced a laugh. “Immortal, please don’t jest. I’m a mortal, surely you can all see that.”

Tiying tilted her face, looking closely at everyone—first at the human and demon to her left, then at Jiang Xuehe, tall and elegant as jade, behind her.

Jiang Xuehe spoke gently again, “Little Ying, come here, stand by my side.”

Tiying’s heart trembled.

She snapped, “Who gave you permission to call me ‘Little Ying’?”

Yet, after a moment’s thought, she carefully stepped over to stand by her makeshift senior brother—

She recalled his grace when he slew Suan Yu in the forest.

Jealously, she thought: Someone so powerful wouldn’t need to trick me, would they?

The demon Suan Yu, held at bay, was growing irritated. “I am Suan Yu, I am Wu Zhi Hui, what nonsense are you all spouting?”

Jiang Xuehe remained calm. “Oh? If you are Suan Yu, why don’t you remember anything about yourself before that Jade Capital Sect disciple tricked you? As far as I know, Wu Zhi Hui is a form created from resentment and filth, but that doesn’t mean one forgets everything about one’s past life.”

Suan Yu was struck dumb by this.

Jiang Xuehe’s gaze shifted to Chen Da:

“And you. From the moment we met, you told me and my junior sister a heart-wrenching tale—a good demon destroyed by a female disciple of the Immortal Sect. The story is moving, indeed. But what I’ve never understood is this: my junior sister and I came here for the trial, Suan Yu is trapped here—yet you, a mere mortal, are able to come to the mountain repeatedly, but never acknowledge your old demon friend?

“He’s been trapped for five years. You claim you wish to break the formation, to free him to die on his own terms. That seems reasonable, but: trapped within the Five Venoms Forest, he lives; leave it, and he dies. Any normal person would rather their friend survive, no matter how wretchedly.

“You broke the formation, chased after us, staged a drama of brotherly love—perhaps I am emotionally detached and don’t fully grasp normal human feelings. Junior Sister, if you had gone through great trouble to save someone, would your intent have been to see him die at the hands of the Immortal Sect?”

Tiying fell silent.

Hmph, what normal human feelings.

She didn’t have them either.

But Tiying declared confidently, “Of course I couldn’t bear to send my friend to die.”

Chen Da’s expression turned cold.

Suan Yu, sitting on the ground, looked up in confusion.

Jiang Xuehe continued softly, “Though my junior sister is mischievous, she is keen. She once said Chen Da’s story made no sense; now I understand why. If you change the faces in this story, it would make much more sense—

“Suan Yu regretted it long ago.

“On the day Suan Yu was tricked into marriage and led into the Five Venoms Forest by the Jade Capital Sect disciple, he realized he’d been deceived. Not wanting to die, he and his human friend played a soul-swapping game.”

—

Dawn approached.

In the Jade Capital Sect, disciples of the Hall of Discipline were yawning, just about to begin their day, when they saw a young woman in crimson, graceful and upright, waiting at the courtyard gate.

She stood outside the Hall of Discipline like a nail driven into the ground, and as soon as someone emerged, she strode towards them: “I demand a reinvestigation of the matter of the demon Suan Yu trapped in the Five Venoms Forest—I believe the one trapped there is not the real Suan Yu.”

The sunlight crept out from beneath the clouds, casting a thin golden light, illuminating the stubborn girl’s striking features, proud gaze, and spotless bearing.

The disciples who emerged from the Hall of Discipline all changed color at once.

A junior disciple, recently returned to the mountain, whispered, “Who is that? Why do you all seem afraid of her?”

One hiding at the back replied, “That’s Hua Shi, Elder Hua’s beloved daughter.”

The young disciple, in awe: “Should we call her Senior Sister, then?”

The eldest disciple hesitated. “…I suppose so.”

The junior: “Suppose so?”

The senior explained—Hua Shi was Elder Hua’s cherished daughter, but she had never officially joined the Jade Capital Sect as a disciple.

Five years ago, Hua Shi should have entered the sect. But during her first trial, taking part in the entrance exam, she provoked a demon called Suan Yu.

In the end, Hua Shi killed the demon, and the sect used her ruse to seal Suan Yu in the Five Venoms Forest.

It should have been a happy ending for both sides, but upon returning, Lady Hua persistently demanded a reinvestigation—

—

Hua Shi believed the demon Suan Yu she fooled was not the same Suan Yu who became Wu Zhi Hui and was trapped in the Five Venoms Forest.

On the day of the fake marriage, Suan Yu’s demeanor was off; his death, too easy.

Hua Shi declared: “Suan Yu summoned a flood and harmed the people—such deeds deserve punishment. But if the one imprisoned is not truly him, then the punishment is unjust.”

However, others argued—whoever or whatever was trapped in the forest had already borne the consequences.

The Jade Capital Sect only cared that the maleficent Suan Yu couldn’t leave the forest; they didn’t care who or what Suan Yu was.

Hua Shi had argued with them for five years; people thought she merely pitied the demon and wished to free him.

Her father avoided her, so did the sect leader. They told her the matter was for the Hall of Discipline, so she came here to make a scene every day.

She did this daily, missing her chance to join the sect. Now, as new disciples were being selected, she was still fixated on Suan Yu’s case.

Everyone in the Hall of Discipline dreaded seeing her.

Today, she was at it again.

Blocking their way, Hua Shi argued, “I’ve met Suan Yu—he’s sly…”

Everyone groaned inwardly.

As the eldest disciple tried to brush her off, suddenly, the formation inside the hall trembled.

Startled, the disciples rushed inside to check.

When they emerged, their gazes toward Hua Shi were complicated, even bewildered. “The Suan Yu you mentioned… he escaped.”

Hua Shi froze.

At once she transformed into a streak of light, darting down the mountain.

The disciples cried, “Quick! Follow Senior Sister! See what happened!”

—

Jiang Xuehe had given the story a new form.

On the day Suan Yu was to marry the Jade Capital Sect disciple and entered the Five Venoms Forest, he realized he’d been tricked.

Love turned to smoke and dust in his heart; hatred welled up against the disciple, but more pressing was how to survive the forest trap set for him.

Suan Yu had a human friend named Chen Da. Their bond was strong; Suan Yu knew Chen Da’s birth details—enough to lock a soul.

Since they were young, Suan Yu often played soul-swapping games with Chen Da.

That fateful day, facing the sect’s trap in the Five Venoms Forest, Suan Yu used a soul-swapping spell to escape the predicament—

His own soul entered the mortal Chen Da’s body; Chen Da’s soul entered Suan Yu’s demonic form.

With guilt, Suan Yu ended up causing the death of his human friend.

But unexpectedly, Chen Da—now in Suan Yu’s demon body—didn’t die. Resentment, unwillingness, and filth merged, birthing Wu Zhi Hui.

The power of these forces overwhelmed Chen Da’s human soul—his soul became incomplete, lost all memory of his human life, and only knew that he was Suan Yu, deceived by a female disciple, trapped eternally in the Five Venoms Forest.

From that moment, the Five Venoms Forest became Chen Da’s nightmare as Wu Zhi Hui.

At the same time, the forest became a nightmare for Suan Yu, now in human form.

As a mortal, Suan Yu lived in fear: the Soul-Locking Formation in the forest, subjected to annual trials by sect disciples, would only strengthen the demon trapped inside.

He feared the day would come when the formation could no longer contain Chen Da.

He feared Chen Da would seek revenge.

For five years, Suan Yu watched the forest daily—searching for a way to truly destroy Wu Zhi Hui.

Only if the demon died completely would Suan Yu, now human, be safe.

Carrying out such schemes under the Jade Capital Sect’s nose, Suan Yu was exceedingly cautious.

But even so, he could not escape Jiang Xuehe’s perceptive gaze.

—

A gentle forest wind, a sky turning silver with dawn.

The great demon, sitting on the ground, stared in disbelief at the man who had just been wiping away tears. “You’re me… I’m human…”

Chen Da looked at Jiang Xuehe with icy eyes.

Jiang Xuehe’s voice was hoarse, muffled by his hood, distaste evident: “You never wanted to save the demon—you wanted to use us to finish him off.”

Chen Da asked, “Where did I slip up?”

Jiang Xuehe replied gently, “Let’s not discuss how a mere mortal could know about the Soul-Locking Formation. Just think: you feared my junior sister and I wouldn’t be able to kill the demon, so you staged a display of brotherly love. But you’re a demon, not human; you don’t fully understand human emotions—you overplayed your hand.”

The real Suan Yu had to be present at the scene of the impostor’s death—to ensure the Jade Capital Sect would never let the false Suan Yu live.

Tiying, watching Jiang Xuehe from behind, thought: How clever.

If not for his wounds, he would surely be a radiant, handsome youth… Hmph, annoying.

Chen Da’s face darkened.

He turned and fled.

Jiang Xuehe didn’t move, but the sash at his wrist whipped out, binding the escaping man.

Tiying, anxious to keep Jiang Xuehe from claiming all the credit, had a sudden idea. She lunged at the great demon on the ground. “Chen Da, quickly, tell me your birth details so I can switch your souls back!”

The demon stammered, “I… I can’t remember…”

Tiying, temper flaring, snapped, “Then die!”

The demon’s eyes bulged. Seeing the girl’s ruthless expression, he hastily began forming seals to defend himself. But already injured and reeling from the revelation, he was thrown into confusion. Though Tiying was only a little girl, she managed to beat the demon into a sorry state.

Rolling on the ground, the demon wailed, “Aren’t you supposed to kill demons? Why are you trying to kill me?”

Tiying sniffed disdainfully, “Who said I’m here to kill demons? I’m here to slay Wu Zhi Hui!”

The demon stared in shock.

But at this moment, Tiying was awfully formidable.

The Poison Scale Formation had left her brimming with power; she hadn’t even had her fill of fighting yet. Handling an injured demon was a cinch.

With Jiang Xuehe’s sash binding Chen Da, she pursued the demon—she needed some credit, after all!

Tiying’s ruthlessness drove the demon into a desperate escape. Eventually, the demon could flee no more. He collapsed, looking back to see the girl descending from mid-air, her long dress fluttering as she pointed a finger at his forehead—

In that flash between life and death, the demon’s mind went blank. Suddenly, memories surged chaotically within him.

A child climbing mountains, saved by a demon who appeared as a young man, calling himself Suan Yu;

Suan Yu raising the child, teaching him spirit-swapping techniques while the child taught him human ways;

Growing up, the child reached marrying age. To save people from drought, Suan Yu accidentally summoned a flood.

Suan Yu grew close to a female disciple of the Immortal Sect, while his bond with his old friend faded. One day, Suan Yu said he was going to be married…

The demon, sitting on the ground, opened his eyes wide.

His hollow, pupil-less eyes, as sunlight shone through the clouds, suddenly gained irises.

He murmured, “I remember now, I remember! The day Suan Yu married—the day five years ago when he was supposed to die—that was my birthday!”

At those words, the real Suan Yu, bound by Jiang Xuehe and struggling desperately, turned to lock eyes with the demon.

Time stood still.

In the hushed moment of dawn, as gales swept outside the forest, only Tiying’s clear voice rang out:

“With three feet of fleeting life, I beg Heaven’s grace. In the name of might, rivers, sun, moon, mountains and stars are within my grasp… All souls, five viscera, dark and mysterious—by this command, return!”

The fourth chapter of the Great Dream, the Command of Return. Leaves stirred without wind, brushing against the slender waist of the girl.

Blue Daoist light flowed between her brows, her dark hair flying wildly, her bloodied skirt billowing behind her.

As she stumbled through her incantation, all creation seemed to lean close in affection. An invisible light enveloped Chen Da and Suan Yu… the deceived souls returning to their rightful places.

In that instant, Tiying stood at the boundary of darkness and light, as radiant as a firefly.

Night faded into dawn, the firefly glimmered faintly.

In the morning light, Jiang Xuehe looked up, gazing intently—

Even the Grumbling Monster could have such a beautiful moment.