Si Teng (Rattan) – CH 042

Chapter 42

Yan Furui couldn’t say he had earned the undivided trust of Chen Yindeng and the others, but at least he wouldn’t be so rigidly excluded from their secrets as before.

The reason was that he stubbornly blamed Si Teng for Wafang’s death, repeating it every day, either through gritted teeth or sobbing:

—”That monster Si Teng killed our Wafang.”

—”Wafang was so small; his death was tragic.”

—”Master Taoists, aren’t you supposed to exorcise demons? Find a way to kill her. “

—”Even if it costs me my life…”

Everyone would try to dissuade him. Even Chen Yindeng would tell him, half-heartedly, that he was overthinking it. Maybe it wasn’t a monster but just a human trafficker. Even if it was a monster, it wouldn’t necessarily be Si Teng.

At these times, Yan Furui’s face would flush red, his eyes widen, and he would scream at the top of his lungs, “Are you all blind? It’s clearly her!”

He didn’t know if it was psychological or if he had actually seen it, but every time Chen Yindeng said this, he felt a subtle flicker of satisfaction cross her face.

After a few repetitions of this, one day, Chen Yindeng said to him, “Master Yan, come with us to Blackback Mountain. We’re short on time and need help.”

Now, did that count as working for Si Teng, obeying her every word?

No, no, no, Yan Furui didn’t think so. They were both monsters, so it wasn’t a question of who was on whose side. He simply made the best choice for himself and for Wafang.

Just like what Si Teng had said to him that day. “In this world, I’m the only one who can deal with Chen Yindeng now, so don’t think you’re helping me. You’re just borrowing my power to avenge Wafang, and I, through you, want to make things go more smoothly. We each get what we need, and we owe each other nothing.”

***

After receiving Qin Fang’s call, Yan Furui wasted no time. Donning his raincoat, he stalked out of the village in the dark, trudging slowly out of the village. He didn’t dare turn on his flashlight until he was far from the village gate.

He didn’t know how long he’d walked before his flashlight flickered, catching the unlit headlights of a car. He realized it was parked there. The water on the ground was up to his ankles. He waded through it, but when he got closer, he didn’t get in. He leaned against the window, his eyes fixed on the raindrops that pattered against the glossy brim of his black raincoat.

—”When the time comes, Chen Yindeng and the others will tell Miss Si Teng that they might have discovered the Red Umbrella’s lair.”

—”That cave is in Blackback Mountain. The path is difficult to navigate, so no one goes there. The cave is huge, like a house with several entrances winding around it. There are many animal carcasses inside. At the very back is a large cave with many stalagmites, stone bells, and a small, stinking pond.”

—”The Taoist priests’ magical instruments don’t enter the cave. They’re arranged in various locations outside the cave. I heard Taoist Cang Hong mention it once, saying that the time must be set. At noon, after Miss Si Teng enters the cave, all the magical instruments will be activated, using the peak yang energy at noon to trap her. However, the power of this attack will only last for three quarters of an hour, so Chen Yindeng must deal with you within three quarters of an hour.”

—”Chen Yindeng built a mechanism in the innermost cave, but I can’t see what it is. When I entered the cave, a large part of it was already completed. The craftsmen in the village only made small parts, so no one knows what the final assembly will be. The Taoists also asked, but Chen Yindeng only said that it was a technique passed down from their Magu Cave and would definitely be able to deal with Miss Si Teng.”

After saying this, he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Si Teng. “I’ve roughly marked the location and main directions of the cave. If necessary, Miss Si Teng can go and take a look. I won’t go with you. I need to get back before anyone notices to avoid arousing suspicion.”

Si Teng asked, “Won’t Chen Yindeng go to Blackback Mountain tonight?”

Yan Furui shook his head.

The Taoist group stayed in a hotel next to Chen Yindeng’s residence. Chen Yindeng and Yangbo’s bedroom windows faced Yan Furui’s room. He had observed the couple for two consecutive nights and found their sleep and rest schedules to be very regular. They turned off the lights around 10 p.m. and stayed awake until dawn.

***

Qin Fang drove the car around to the other side of Blackback Mountain. This side was steeper, with a dark, jagged outline rising straight up from the ground. Qin Fang glanced at Si Teng’s high heels with a nagging headache. “How are you going to climb like this? You’re not going to need me to drag you up, are you?”

Si Teng glanced at him and slowly kicked off her shoes. “Want to compete?”

Qin Fang immediately became wary. “No!”

Facts proved that not competing was a wise choice. Si Teng’s climbing prowess wasn’t even due to her remaining demonic power but was entirely due to the nature of vines. She could grasp branches that were beyond the reach of an ordinary person’s arm, and with a little leverage, she could even gain several body lengths. Qin Fang tried his best to catch up, but he was still far behind. Si Teng stopped several times to wait for him. The last time she stopped, she asked, “Do you want me to drag you or help you?”

Really…

Qin Fang, with a burst of energy, raised his head and replied fiercely, “No, I can do it…”

Before he could finish his words, the muddy ground beneath his feet blocked his path, and he fell backwards. He rolled a long way in the mud, finally getting up. Si Teng was still high up, saying, “In that case, I won’t pull you.”

Qin Fang watched her continue upward, then saw himself covered in mud and water. He regretted it to the core, thinking, “What’s wrong with just letting her pull me?” Of course, a man shouldn’t show weakness to a woman. But she was a monster. Even if he had trained himself through the coldest days of winter and the hottest days of summer, he would still be defeated in one blow against her. Why bother saving face?

He had expended immense effort, grumbling and struggling to climb up. He was suffering for saving face. The seniors hadn’t lied to him at all.

After finally reaching the summit, they were stunned.

No wonder Yan Furui’s topographic map was drawn that way. They’d been so clever as to climb the mountain from the other side, hoping to leave no trace, but they’d made a huge mistake.

Although this path also led to the summit, it didn’t lead to the cave. Between the summit and the cave lay a ten-meter-wide, bottomless… cliff.

Qin Fang sat down on the rocks in frustration. “I can’t jump over it.”

Si Teng raised a finger to her lips and sighed softly. Then she walked to a tree, wrapped her arms around the trunk, rested her forehead against the trunk, and muttered something.

Qin Fang looked and suddenly felt goosebumps all over his body.

Not just that tree, but the surrounding trees and vines, too, were bending, stretching, and extending in one direction at a speed visible to the naked eye. Within minutes, a small bridge, less than half a meter wide, woven from a tangle of vines and branches, had formed over the ten-meter cliff. If the rain got a little heavier, the bridge would sway.

Si Teng turned and waved to Qin Fang.

Qin Fang was stunned and stammered, “Um… Si Teng, this isn’t a joke…”

***

Recently, Yang Bo had been working on a silver plate depicting the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea. It was the size of a plaque, and each figure was carved in three-dimensional openwork. In a few months, there would be a Miao silver craft competition in the autonomous prefecture. He heard that the top three entries would be sent to Beijing for exhibition. He really wanted to create something well-crafted. Before going to bed, he asked Chen Yindeng, “Wouldn’t it be better if He Xiangu’s ribbon was made more slender? That would make her waist appear slimmer and her figure more beautiful.”

After waiting for a long time without Chen Yindeng’s response, he turned over and propped himself up on his arm. He looked at Chen Yindeng. “Did you fall asleep right after lights out?”

Chen Yindeng wasn’t asleep. Her lacquer-like eyes sparkled in the darkness. Yangbo held her gaze for a moment and asked, “Why did you lie to those Taoist priests about your pregnancy?”

Chen Yindeng was stunned for a moment, then realized that someone who helped her at Blackback Mountain must have told Yangbo. “You knew?”

She asked again. “Did you say anything?”

Yangbo shook his head. “I told him that Ah’Yin must have had a reason for saying that. Just pretend you don’t know and don’t tell anyone.”

Chen Yindeng felt a warm feeling in her heart, her eyes warming. She leaned forward, wrapped her arms around Yangbo’s neck, and kissed him on the lips.

Yangbo’s body heated up with emotion. “Ah’Yin, it’s time for us to have a child. I don’t know why it’s been so long. Mom said there’s a witch doctor in Jin’ani Village who’s very effective. We could…”

Before he finished speaking, he noticed Chen Yindeng’s mood suddenly cooled, and even her body stiffened like wood. She said, “I’m so tired. Let’s rest.”

Yangbo wanted to persist, but Chen Yindeng looked him in the eye, her voice suddenly indescribably gentle. “I’m so tired. Let’s rest.”

A strong sense of drowsiness gradually came over him, and his eyelids seemed so heavy that he couldn’t open them. Yang Bo’s head tilted, and he fell on Chen Yindeng. A strange red light flashed in Chen Yindeng’s eyes for a moment, and then she pushed Yang Bo away with disgust and turned over and sat up.

If she hadn’t been severely injured by the leader of Magu Cave a hundred years ago and still not fully recovered, why would she hide so timidly within the Taoist sect, engaging in intimate relationships with inexplicable men to conceal her true identity?

Human males were driven too much by impulse. Intimacy already disgusted her, and now he was pushing the issue of having children: demons couldn’t have children with humans unless they sacrificed themselves for love, abandoning all their demonic power and transforming into a human being—who would do such a foolish thing? Bai Suzhen? After giving birth, she was imprisoned in Leifeng Pagoda forever, never to rise again.

No, no, she remembered something, and her heart skipped a beat.

According to the Master Cang Hong, Si Teng had given birth to a child. Not only that, she had been killed before. How had she managed to return to human form, become a demon again, and even come back to life? Did she have some unknown secret technique?

No, the trap needed to be reconfigured. She couldn’t just kill her right away. She needed to get some information out of her.

Chen Yindeng rolled out of bed.

***

Yan Furui had just entered the village gate when he inadvertently looked up and felt something flicker high up. Alert, he quickly crouched beneath the stone slabs at the base of the wall and pulled his black raincoat over him. At first glance, he looked like an irregularly shaped rock.

The rain showed no sign of abating. He held his breath and gently lifted his hood a little.

It was Chen Yindeng, truly Chen Yindeng. She moved so fast, like a stunt in a movie. One moment she was high up, then, in a flash, she was right in front of him. The next second, only her back was visible at the village gate.

Although he had been mentally prepared, when he actually saw her, his breath still caught in his chest for a long time: Chen Yindeng was truly a monster, truly the Red Umbrella!

This monster didn’t seem to be as omnipotent as depicted in human stories and legends, capable of ascending to heaven and descending to the earth, turning rivers and seas upside down. She still had to walk wherever she wanted to go, though this time, she was much faster.

It was the dead of night; the rain was pouring down. Where was she going?

Yan Furui’s face suddenly changed as a thought occurred to him. He quickly pulled out his phone and called Qin Fang.

The call went through, but no one answered. Yan Furui was terribly anxious. He pressed and redialed again, silently muttering to himself. “Just answer the phone…”

***

Qin Fang’s smile was uglier than tears. He said, “Si Teng, don’t be ridiculous.”

This was truly a joke. Was this a bridge? There weren’t even any guardrails on either side. It swayed unsteadily in the wind and rain like walking on a tightrope. It would have been fine if it were perfectly woven, but when he got closer, he saw the holes between the branches were as big as bowls. If he’d stepped off the right path, his leg would have fallen right through.

Si Teng urged him, “Go ahead.”

Qin Fang stammered, “I… I really can’t. I’m afraid of heights…”

Si Teng looked at him for a moment, paused, and a sneer crossed her face. “This won’t work, that won’t work. I really don’t know what use you can be.”

With that, she stepped onto the suspension bridge. She truly walked as if it were flat ground, not even needing to spread her arms for balance, striding across as steadily as if she were walking on a catwalk. Qin Fang’s face burned with anger from her earlier words. He steeled himself and walked to the bridgehead. After taking a deep breath, he was about to take his first step with a trembling heart when a sudden gust of rain lashed down on him, causing the branches and vines that had previously formed the bridge to snap back into place.

Si Teng didn’t even glance at him as she ducked into the cave.

He was already soaking wet from the rain, but at that moment, his heart suddenly felt as cold as if it had fallen into an ice cellar. Qin Fang stood there for a moment, stunned, not wanting to seek shelter. He retreated to the rocks and sat down against the wall, thinking to himself, “You’re a monster, so powerful!” Of course, ordinary people couldn’t do the same. He was afraid of heights; it was just innate, just like some people were born afraid of water. There was nothing to be ashamed of.

Even though he consoled himself with this, he still felt an indescribable sense of loss when he thought of the way she’d looked at him, like he was just a piece of trash. Although he’d always been looked down upon by her, after spending so much time together, he’d always wanted to help her in any way he could. It was just a small thing, and she’d just said, “I really don’t know what use you can be.” It was truly heartbreaking…

After some time, he suddenly realized that his phone had been vibrating.

It looked like Yan Furui was on the phone. Perhaps it was because of the thunderstorm that the signal was bad, but after the call was connected, there was a constant buzzing noise. Sometimes, the signal would suddenly disappear completely. Qin Fang was anxious and walked down a distance to test the direction, trying in vain to find a place with a better signal. “Hello… Hello… Can you hear me…”

He suddenly fell silent, quickly retreating behind a tree, his gaze fixed on the opposite mountainside. A chilling feeling instantly spread through his body.

That rapidly ascending white figure was… Chen Yindeng?!

***

In just a moment of stunned silence, Chen Yindeng had already reached the cave in front of the cliff. The elusive figure suddenly froze like a ghost. Pausing briefly before the cave, she suddenly shook her entire body, shaking off the water like a cat or dog, and swerved sideways to enter.

“Miss Chen!”

Chen Yindeng’s body stiffened, then paused, like a slow-motion scene in a movie or TV series, before slowly turning around.

The rain seemed to suddenly intensify, pounding the rocks, treetops, and overhead, stirring an unreal, dense echo in his eardrums. Facing Chen Yindeng’s strange gaze, Qin Fang suddenly calmed down.

Was that his own cry just now? It seemed so.

Chen Yindeng stared at him for a long time before finally speaking.

“Qin Fang, why are you here?”