Chapter 1  : Rebirth

Cemetery

The sky was gloomy, grey, and drizzling miserably. In a cemetery, which was already cold, it seemed even more silent and eerie that even grown men wouldn’t dare to linger for long. But in such a deserted site, a woman, wearing a long black dress and holding a black umbrella, could be seen through the foggy rain, from a distance. With the raindrops dripping like ink, she appeared mysterious and petrifying.

With familiarity, Chi Shuyan walked to a tombstone, put her umbrella away, and disregarding the drizzle raining down on her, carried the bouquet of Baby’s-breath in her arms and knelt in front of the tombstone, staring at the photo posted on the tombstone. The photo was of a generous and intellectual woman who had tidy coiled hair. There was a slight curl in the corners of her mouth and her eyes were bright against her reserved smile.

Only then did the calm on Chi Shuyan’s face become stirred, but she blinked and held back her tears, revealing a relieved and clean smile as she spoke: “Master, let me tell you the good news. I’ve wiped out that ungrateful apprentice with my own hands for you. His family went bankrupt and he died. He was hacked to death under the chaos of knives, into exactly 108 pieces. You should also rest in peace under the Nine Springs[1.Nine Springs is the underworld in Chinese mythology].”

A hacking cough suddenly assailed her as if she was about to cough her lungs out. She hunched down and covered her mouth with her right hand. It was all blood-bright red which irritated the eyes. Scarlet blood also stained her lips, making her otherwise white face seem even more pale and transparent, while a circle of dense fuzzy black qi enveloped her from head to toe.

If certain Daoists were to catch sight of it, they wouldn’t definitely avoid it. Usually, a black cadaveric qi hovered on the shoulders of a person guilty of a major crime, but her entire body was shrouded with it. In the end, just how much blood had washed her hands?

Chi Shuyan glanced at the bright red blood on her hands without caring in the slightest. She took out a paper towel and wiped it clean as if it were a walk in the park. Obviously, it wasn’t the first time she’d had such a fatal cough.

“I know that if you were alive and knew what I’ve done, you would have surely scolded the shit out of me.” Chi Shuyan’s strength was failing, so she sat down beside the grave and chuckled softly. If the black cadaveric qi shrouding her brows was to be ignored, that smile was remarkably sweet. But soon, her smile dimmed down: “The person I care the most is sleeping underground, so how can I stand by and watch those who have killed you, enjoying the riches and glory, and domestic bliss. If the cost is my life, slaying these enemies with my own hands is worth it.”

Chi Shuyan slowly stood up, bowed deeply, and gazed at the picture while letting out a long sigh: “Master, Apprentice is finally… coming to see you once.” She was running out of time.

Outside the cemetery, she stood on a bright, wet road. She was about to open her umbrella, but probably drained of strength in her hands, a gust of wind swept the umbrella away, which had just propped open, into the middle of the road. She plodded step by step and was about to bend down to pick it up when she suddenly saw a large speeding truck in the corner of her eye.

magic The terrain here was so remote and peaceful, and such a big truck couldn’t ordinarily be spotted.

However, Chi Shuyan wasn’t in the least bit surprised. Her luck converged on a black puff of cadaveric qi, and it wasn’t strange for something to happen. She took a deep breath of wet mist mixed with rain and watched as the huge truck came crashing in without dodging in the slightest. In fact, for a Celestial Master like her, escaping a minor car accident like this was a piece of cake. But avoiding this one meant there would be another one. Having employed her most insidious and powerful method to slay her enemies, her chance of survival was almost certainly zero. Accidents of the like would only get worse and worse after the last. She closed her eyes, and even if she did it again, she wouldn’t regret it.

Between the lightning and flint, the bulky truck rushed forward and the lone, thin figure was crushed raw under its wheels without even a sound, akin to rolling on a fallen leaf, except for the bright red blood that sprayed and stained the damp road.

—

“Sweetie, sweetie…” Chi Shuyan tightly closed her eyes and vaguely heard her father’s call. Her tightly locked brow loosened – so nice. She’d never thought she would hear her father’s familiar voice again before she died.

Chi Lingyan straightened his waist and sat down at the head of the bed. He felt distressed as he smoothed his daughter’s tightly wrinkled brow and scanned her thin little face, then felt another bout of heartache. He knew that he wasn’t a good father, because of his military career. It was also for this reason that his wife, who had been complaining, eventually divorced him and he entrusted his young daughter in the care of his Third Sister’s family. Over the years, to thank his Third Sister, he sent almost more than half of his salary as their allowance plus his daughter’s living expenses and tuition fees.

“Fourth Brother, don’t worry too much. The doctor said that Yan Yan is fine.” A woman pushed the door in with a sigh and said, “Lucky for us this time. Otherwise, with that reservoir so deep, we couldn’t have done anything.” Hearing no response from Chi Lingyan, she took a quick glimpse of him sitting upright, and blamed herself, “It’s all my fault. If I had put a little more thought into this matter, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Hearing his Third Sister, Chi Guihua, blaming herself, Chi Lingyan’s stoic face twisted as he replied: “How can I blame Third Sister? It’s my fault for being too negligent as a father.”

Seeing that Chi Guihua had more to say, Chi Lingyan frowned slightly, took a glance at his sleeping daughter, and interrupted softly: “Sister, let’s go out and talk.”

Chi Guihua immediately nodded her head in agreement.

The door had just closed, but after a while, Chi Shuyan’s eyelashes fluttered. She slowly opened her eyes, rolled them, and sniffed the smell of disinfectant at the tip of her nose. She looked up at the snow-white ceiling and was a bit stoned for a moment. Wasn’t she dead? How was this possible?

Chi Shuyan wriggled and crawled up to her feet, stretched her waist, and casually caressed a cool white jade pendant around her neck.

She was really in for a surprise, because this jade pendant had been broken a long time ago. She hurriedly looked around, saw a stack of newspapers on the nightstand, and scanned the date above. She was still a bit unconvinced, so regardless of her weak and sore body, she headed straight for the bathroom.

When she saw the bright mirror reflecting an underage girl of 17 or 18 years old with long fringes concealing her brows and eyes, coupled with a pale and gloomy temperament, only then was Chi Shuyan convinced. She was overjoyed and felt like laughing. Just like a floodgate that had been opened, her emotions came pouring out and she wept in pain. She couldn’t believe she was back.

Those cruel things hadn’t happened yet and her father hadn’t met with a mishap. Chi Shuyan cried tears of joy. When she heard a familiar shout outside, she took a breath and only then did she calm down. She turned on the tap and rinsed her tear-stained face.

“Yan Yan, Yan Yan, are you in there? Dad’s coming in.” As soon as Chi Lingyan entered the door, he discovered that his daughter was not in the hospital bed. He lost his head out of fear, somewhat denting his unwavering determination. He thought that his daughter had run out, but when he suddenly heard a little movement in the bathroom, he exhaled a breath. In fear of startling his daughter, he knocked gently.

Over the years, as he went out on missions, his daughter increasingly became estranged and alienated from him. She was even scared and dreaded seeing him. Chi Lingyan was also somewhat distressed and felt at a loss as to how to treat her. He could only take a gentle tone with her. If his colleagues and subordinates were to see the usual strictly cold and resolutely fearless Second Lieutenant proceeding with such caution, their eyes would have probably popped out.

In the midst of his contemplation, the bathroom door swung open without warning, and before he had time to react, a slender figure lunged directly at him. Flustered, he hugged his daughter.

“Yan Yan, Yan Yan,” Chi Lingyan’s deep voice rang out. Looking at his baby girl, who was clutching his neck tightly and burying her face in his neck, he just felt his whole heart melt.

Chi Shuyan didn’t say a word either, just wrapping her arms around her father’s neck and choking a little in her throat. This was her living father and no longer a cold urn.

“Gosh, this kid. I can’t believe you’ve already grown up, and yet still pestering your dad like this. Your dad just came back and must be tired. Yan Yan, get off your dad.” Chi Guihua was a bit surprised to see Chi Shuyan wrapped around her Fourth Brother like this. Her niece was usually scared seeing her father, akin to a mouse seeing a cat. How could she be affectionate? But she didn’t think much of it, thinking maybe she was in shock. Seeing her own father must have been like finding someone to rely on.

When she heard this voice, Chi Shuyan’s apricot eyes swiftly opened and her pupils dilated. She could never forget this nightmarish voice, how snarky it was, abusive and uncaring regardless of their kinship. She threw her self-respect to the ground and trampled on it, and even dumped her father’s ashes on the trash. Disgust swamped her eyes and she tugged at the clothes on Chi Lingyan’s shoulders tightly in order to suppress the impulse to scratch her aunt’s disgusting face with one set in front and another behind.

Seeing Chi Shuyan ignoring her and the fact that her younger brother didn’t let go either, rather like he was holding a treasure, Chi Guihua really couldn’t stand looking at them and felt revolted. She bit her lips. She was just a lost cause; did he really need to guard her with such attention? Her brother was indeed good at everything, except at this.

It took a long time before Chi Lingyan laid his daughter on the bed and tucked her in.

“Yan Yan, you really – how could you run to such a dangerous place. What if you had an accident?” Chi Guihua scolded Chi Shuyan, “You’ve got to change your wild monkey temper.”

Chi Shuyan raised her head and stared straight at Chi Guihua. Chi Guihua’s neck felt inexplicably cold from her stare. She always felt that Chi Shuyan’s pupils were giving her the creeps. She scowled and tried to lecture her, but noticed Chi Lingyan’s sword eyebrows raised in her peripheral vision, so she stifled her breath.?Wretched girl, when your father is gone, see how I’ll clean you up.

A smile appeared on her face and she said, “Yan Yan, you must be hungry. I’ll go get you something to eat.” She turned and left. Chi Shuyan stared deeply at her departing figure.

“Yan Yan, are you uncomfortable anywhere? Be sure to tell me and the doctor.” Chi Lingyan looked at his daughter in a daze and flicked her forehead: “A penny for your thoughts?”

“Dad, can you not leave?” Chi Shuyan blinked her teary apricot eyes and tilted her small head on Chi Lingyan’s shoulder.

As soon as Chi Shuyan heard a sigh coming from above her head, she pushed Chi Lingyan’s head away and buried herself under the covers.

“Yan Yan, Yan Yan, just give Dad some more time to… think about it, will you?” Chi Lingyan struggled.

“Okay, you need to think carefully.” Chi Shuyan poked her head out and stared straight at her father’s eyes. Chi Lingyan couldn’t help but feel a bit helpless.

“By the way, Yan Yan, your aunt said that you always run back to the house to sleep and have a hard time sleeping in other beds. She can’t spare a hand to take care of you either. So, let her take your three cousins and move in directly with you some other time. It’s good if someone is there to look after you, too.”

Chi Shuyan sneered inwardly as she heard the same arguments as those in her previous life. Her aunt was really proficient in her schemes. Too bad she wouldn’t be so stupid as to lead the wolf into the door this time.