My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 61 - 46 Shameless and Vulgar (Please Follow)

"The emperor spoke to Wuyang, saying: ’There is one below; I wish to aid him. His soul and spirit have scattered—cast the divination for me.’

Outside the tomb, Taoists stood solemnly upon their designated positions within the array, one chanting the soul-summoning verses.

The Taoist soul-summoning technique generally divides into two types: summoning souls for the living or for the dead. The former typically involves retrieving the lost souls of living persons, while the latter demands a descent into the underworld’s Yanluo Hall. It requires rituals for King Yanluo, his subordinates, Black and White Impermanence, Oxhead and Horseface, and other generals of the underworld, to summon back the person whose name is inscribed in the Book of Life and Death. Thus, the former is easy, but the latter is exceedingly difficult.

"Wuyang replied: ’Dream mastery! The will of the supreme deity is hard to follow; should you insist upon divination, a future offering must follow or the method will become unusable.’

A Taoist lit candles and pinched his fingers into a seal, reciting incantations.

Yin Weiyin stood at the center of the array, holding three sticks of incense in her hand, stepping methodically upon the celestial lines. Her Daoist robe flowed like smoke, ethereal amidst the billowing incense.

"Wuyang then began the incantation:

’Soul, come back! Leave the eternal calamity of your journey,

Why wander in four directions? Forsake these ill-fated places and return to where joy resides!’

Standing in the east, a Daoist shouted aloud:

’Soul, come back! The eastern lands are not a haven.’

Another in the south followed:

’Soul, come back! The south is not a place to stay.’

’Soul, come back! The calamities of the west are endless, a thousand miles of flowing sand.’

’Soul, come back! The north is no refuge.’

The two Daoists in the west and north completed the chant.

When the four-sided recitation concluded, the incense held by Yin Weiyin burned halfway through. She stood firmly before the tomb and called out, her voice echoing:

’Soul, come back! Do not ascend to heaven.’

Behind her, other Taoists chanted together:

’Soul, come back! Do not descend into this dark, ghostly city.’

The incense smoke surged, ascending into the heavens and then descending into the soil, as if forming an invisible bridge, guiding the soul’s three spirits and seven essences back to the mortal world.

.........

’Approximately two more days are required.’

Yin Weiyin remarked gently, her breath carrying faint traces of incense—not overly pungent like the heavy scent of Daoist Temples or Buddhist monasteries, but subtle, complementing her transcendent, immortal-like aura.

’On ordinary days, summoning the three souls and seven spirits would take a full twenty-one days. However, today is Demon Extermination Day, when Yin and Yang merge, blurring the boundaries between the living and the dead; three days will suffice.’

Chen Yi nodded slightly. Beside him, Min Ning gazed at the solitary tomb shrouded in smoky haze, lost in a daze.

Seeing this, Chen Yi curled his finger and flicked the coronet on Min Ning’s head with a snap.

Min Ning turned her head, shooting him a glare of annoyance.

She bent her fingers as well, initially intending to flick back but instead switched to a grabbing motion. Caught off guard, she yanked off Chen Yi’s hair coronet with sudden force.

Chen Yi winced slightly in pain and turned, only to see the young Min Ning smirking triumphantly, tossing his coronet lightly in her hand.

Chen Yi sighed and smiled helplessly.

Nearby, Yin Weiyin watched the playful commotion unfold with bitterness etched on her face.

She turned aside, unwilling to observe further.

Unfortunately, Chen Yi stepped closer, tilting his head toward her, and quipped teasingly:

’Thank you, Immortal Yin, for your extraordinary assistance. Your great virtue, forever remembered.’

Yin Weiyin’s almond-shaped eyes widened as she scowled at him:

’Shameless scoundrel.’

To steal her destined Daoist partner was bad enough, but flaunting it before her face—that was indeed the height of humiliation.

As for Min Ning, Yin Weiyin felt little affection toward her; after all, the two had scarcely met. Furthermore, Yin Weiyin cultivated the Taishang method of unfeeling, so her indignation stemmed more from the affront to her pride and the humiliation inflicted.

Witnessing her simmering frustration, Chen Yi held back his laughter and taunted lightly:

’I’ve already told you, stop yearning for Min Ning.’

’And what if I insist on yearning for him?’

Yin Weiyin countered with a mocking smile.

’If you insist on yearning for her, then I’ll have to start yearning for you.’

Yin Weiyin froze momentarily, then lowered her gaze and shook her head, smiling bitterly:

’You’ve already started yearning for me.’

Chen Yi laughed and replied:

’It seems the Immortal disapproves.’

Yin Weiyin’s expression turned frosty as she retorted:

’Approve? Approve of what? Approve of becoming a Daoist partner with someone deserving a thousand deaths and divine retribution?’

Chen Yi narrowed his eyes slightly at her words.

Her disgust was unmistakably genuine.

’Once upon a time, we were both willing partners; the Immortal herself personally requested multiple times for me to become her Daoist companion. And yet now, she turns her back on me completely.’

Chen Yi’s tone dripped with mockery, emphasizing the word "requested."

Recalling the agonizing humiliation of that night, Yin Weiyin burned with rage and snapped:

’Who requested?! I merely pointed out you were suited to be a Daoist partner!’

’You see? Isn’t that just admitting you wanted me as a Daoist partner?’

’You... you’ll pay for this with your downfall someday!’

Yin Weiyin’s cheeks flushed crimson in frustration as she fumed.

’Oh, flustered now, are we.’

[Yin Weiyin Negative Emotion Reward: Three years of True Qi.]

.........

Leaving Huaisui Village, they rode slowly into the Capital City. Chen Yi noted that Min Ning appeared to be in buoyant spirits.

Throughout the journey, she softly hummed ancient Yue ballads, her gaze bright and lively.

Seeing Min Ning in such a mood lifted Chen Yi’s spirits as well.

The Shangqing Heart Method was now in his possession. With dedicated cultivation, pairing its techniques with Wind-Cleaving Rain-Thrust, the next time he faced White Willow Sect’s Huang Liuqing, the battle outcome was far from assured.

After some calculation, Chen Yi estimated he had a sixty percent chance of victory—a chance to kill him. Members of the White Willow Sect emphasized blade techniques but neglected agility; their Qinggong skills were lackluster, ensuring they couldn’t escape.

Arriving at the Min Mansion, Min Ning dismounted and handed the reins to Chen Yi, saying:

’Take these back to the Eastern Factory for me.’

Chen Yi nodded slightly and turned to see a young beggar running toward them.

’Master, Lady Min, there’s a letter for you.’

The beggar handed the letter to Min Ning.

Min Ning examined the child curiously, while Chen Yi interjected:

’Give it to me.’

The child hesitated momentarily.

Chen Yi pressed five copper coins into the child’s hand.

The beggar quickly handed over the letter to Chen Yi and scurried away.

Chen Yi unfolded the letter and then darkened his expression.

[Director Min, heed this warning: Stop investigating the Zhang Prime Minister case. This matter has long been decided by the Heavenly Family. Should you persist, beware when walking alone at night. Signed, Yuxiu Manor.]

Leaving the bold signature of "Yuxiu Manor"—this was clearly an overt threat.

Min Ning leaned over and asked:

’What is it?’

’Yuxiu Manor sent this. It concerns the Prime Minister case; they’re warning you to drop the matter.’

Min Ning grew grim and muttered through clenched teeth:

’So it’s them threatening me with letters!’

’What’s the background of Yuxiu Manor? I found a dossier on them at the Eastern Factory; they seem to be linked to the Prince Mansion. In the past, they privately traded "Five-Stone Powder" catered to scholars and poets.’

’Indeed, they now belong to the Prince Mansion. But earlier, they were a property of the late Prime Minister. After the Prime Minister’s fall, seeking survival, they pledged allegiance to the previous emperor’s brother, the Prince.’

Min Ning sighed cautiously:

’It seems... this matter involves extensive connections. We’ll have to wait for my grandfather’s return before taking further action.’

Her words were cut short as Chen Yi interrupted:

’Wait for a decision? What kind of decision? Your grandfather, intimidated by a mere warning from Yuxiu Manor, wouldn’t dare reveal the truth about what happened back then.’

Min Ning turned in disbelief:

’Then what do you propose?’

’Pick a time, take people, and seize Yuxiu Manor.’

’But the manor’s owner, Feng Ying, has the backing of the Prince. That’s tolerable, but more troubling is his son, Feng Luo, who is a godchild of the enigmatic old matron. His name resides within Xique Pavilion. Don’t act recklessly!’

’The enigmatic old matron... the second-ranked nobility who safeguards the Imperial City?’

’Indeed, her...’

Chen Yi chuckled lightly:

’She has scores of godsons and goddaughters. Losing one wouldn’t matter. Besides, she wouldn’t dare kill me.’

Min Ning was startled and looked at him skeptically.

Yet Chen Yi’s confidence, almost brazen, was entirely convincing and free of deceit.

Min Ning couldn’t help speculating endlessly.

Wouldn’t dare kill him... What leverage did he hold?

The young warrior scrutinized him closely; aside from his strikingly handsome appearance, she couldn’t discern anything formidable.

Could he possibly be... the favored partner of the empress dowager?

Min Ning spiraled into absurdly wild imaginings.

Contemplating the thought of him tormenting her by day and serving as a plaything under the dowager’s imperial canopy by night, Min Ning felt both absurd and unnerved.

Detecting the shift in Min Ning’s expression, Chen Yi presumed she was preoccupied with worry and said:

’Ever since that ambush, I’ve wanted to probe into Yuxiu Manor. Now is the perfect chance—two tasks combined into one, a straightforward solution.’

With this, he glanced at Min Ning and smirked teasingly:

’They dare threaten you?

You and your sister, I’m the only one who gets to threaten you.’

Min Ning froze momentarily before drawing a sharp breath and hurling back:

’Shameless scoundrel.’