Volume Five: Amethyst Turns to Mist Chapter Nine: Amethyst Turns to Mist

Jin Lin looked at the filthy blood on herself with disgust, flicked out her tongue, and immediately went in search of a water source. The King of the Golden Silkworm Gu trailed after her cheerfully, leaving Yaoguang to wonder when the two had become so close. She withdrew her gaze and instructed Xuan Chen to bring his men inside, where they quickly subdued the black-robed figures sprawled all over the ground. Yaoguang herself led a group into the cavern. The clouds above had dispersed, rain had ceased, and sunlight now streamed through the gaping hole atop the mountain, illuminating the temple at last.

Black drapes hung everywhere, and before the blood pool stood a lofty altar, upon which the deity of the Black Night was enshrined. The special forces had already entered and were searching the area. Behind the statue, they discovered a dungeon. “Report! We’ve found dozens of hostages, all female, all still alive.” The soldiers descended into the dungeon. “Report, we have located the hostages we came to rescue. All are alive.” Immediately, they began escorting the girls out, counting as they went—thirty in total. No one knew how long the girls had been imprisoned; some were already semi-conscious. When brought up, each appeared vacant-eyed, their clothing filthy and torn.

“Report, besides the seven hostages we were sent to rescue, the rest are Miao girls.” With that, the special forces brought over the seven girls. Each was dirty, wide-eyed with terror as they looked around.

“I am Yaoguang, from the Sword of Heaven Special Criminal Investigation Unit of the Yecheng Public Security Bureau. Don’t be afraid—we’re here to take you home.” Yaoguang flashed her badge. The seven girls exchanged glances, uncertain at first, but after a moment, joy lit up their faces as they saw her identification, and they collapsed into tears.

“Kun, contact Director Chen at the foot of the mountain. Arrange vehicles at once—get these thirty girls to the nearest hospital. Tell Director Chen to try and contact the families of the Miao girls, and inform the bureau that the seven hostages are safe,” Yaoguang ordered.

“Yes,” Huo Mingkun replied, immediately hurrying downhill with Jiang Yun.

“Did they hurt you?” Yaoguang asked, concerned.

The girls sobbed uncontrollably, but all shook their heads. Yaoguang felt her heart settle. She didn’t speak the Miao language, so the Miao girls were comforted by Granny Liying.

“Soon, a car will take you to the hospital for a checkup. Once you recover, I’ll bring you home. Don’t be afraid—you’re safe now.” Looking at their dirty, tear-streaked faces, Yaoguang’s heart ached.

Before long, Director Chen arrived with vehicles, and the thirty girls were driven away.

Yaoguang turned her gaze to the pool of blood and ordered her team to drain it. As the blood slowly receded, the horror at the bottom of the pool emerged: countless remains of young girls—some nothing but bleached bones, others half-decomposed, some still rotting, and a few newly thrown in, their bodies swollen from soaking in blood.

Someone couldn’t stand it and rushed outside to vomit. Before their eyes, this was no temple—this was hell on earth.

“Is it possible to collect any evidence?” Xuan Chen asked, looking at the remains.

“No. These bones are coated in deadly poison, infested with unknown Gu worms. The Black Night cult itself is evil; the corpses of these girls are tainted with demonic energy—anyone who touches them will suffer.”

“How could things become like this?” Lishang, who’d just arrived, was so shocked by the scene he couldn't speak.

“This is the handiwork of your Black Night Grand Shaman,” Yaoguang replied coldly.

“Report! There’s another room deep in the dungeon, with an elderly man inside,” a soldier announced, carrying the old man out. Yaoguang checked his pulse, “He’s alive, but there’s no time to get him to a hospital. Lihun, call your tribal healer—quickly!”

“Understood.” Lihun hefted the elder onto his back and ran, calling out, “Grand Shaman Litian, stay with me, don’t sleep!”

“So this is the Grand Shaman Litian of the Heishan Miao Village?” Yaoguang said.

“Yes,” the Grand Shaman of Licheng affirmed.

“Jiang Yun, tell the villagers to prepare sulfur, spirits, and firewood. These corpses must be incinerated. If the Gu worms in them awaken, it will be a disaster—the whole region will be at risk,” said the Grand Shaman Lixing.

“Understood,” Jiang Yun replied, dashing out.

“I will perform rites to guide their souls. Immortals, I ask for your aid. The resentment of these girls is too deep. When the fire is lit, their souls will be released, and the surge of resentment could be catastrophic. Thankfully, the Black Night sorcery here was not fully formed, or we’d be in even greater trouble.”

“We obey,” the four immortals replied, immediately sitting cross-legged and beginning to chant prayers for peace. Soon, sulfur and other materials were brought in. Under Grand Shaman Lixing’s guidance, sulfur and spirits were poured into the pit, then firewood tossed in. A torch flew into the pit, and flames roared skyward. Wisps of black smoke rose, each wreathed with an angry, contorted face. Yaoguang rose into the air, golden phoenix wings unfurling behind her, and began to chant. Streams of golden light washed over the pit, dissolving the black smoke into countless firefly-like points of light that drifted toward the sunlight. The chanting, otherworldly and sonorous, seemed to strike everyone’s hearts.

The rites lasted for over an hour before the chanting ceased. Yaoguang descended, gazing at the extinguished fire and the ashes and bones left in the pit, her heart heavy with sorrow.

“Amethyst turns to smoke, souls vanish into oblivion.” Yaoguang walked out of the cave in melancholy, looking at the Black Night Grand Shaman and the black-robed members of the Ghost Sect, now tightly bound on the ground, and gave a cold, chilling smile. “To commit such evil is its own realm. First, you’ll face judgment by the law; when you descend to the underworld, I shall personally see to your souls being flayed. Oh, and Grand Shaman of the Black Night, perhaps you don’t know what that means—let these four explain it to you.” Without another glance at the fear of the Ghost Sect, or the Grand Shaman’s confusion, Yaoguang walked away.

But she had not gone far when the Grand Shaman’s scream rang out, “I am the Grand Shaman of the Black Miao! You cannot do this to me!”

“I have said before: those who collude with the Ghost Sect will be shown no mercy. Ghost Sect, remember this—even in death, you cannot escape my grasp. My vengeance, the vengeance of all people, will haunt you for all eternity. I am your endless nightmare. Hahaha…”

Her uninhibited laughter echoed, but in the ears of the Ghost Sect and the Black Night Grand Shaman, it was the tolling of their death knell.

“Yaoyao, is it over?” The male immortal, veiled in light-dimming silk, walked over. Yaoguang gave him a faint smile. “It’s all over.” Suddenly, her expression froze. Blood spilled from her lips. Pain radiated from her chest, and before she could utter another word, she collapsed.

“Yaoyao! Master! Phoenix! Divine One!” The sudden turn stunned everyone present. Their anxious cries were the last things Yaoguang heard before slipping into unconsciousness.