MOF Chapter 3
by VolareThe group set off on their swords again, surrounded by towering peaks that pierced the clouds and lingering mists. As the scenery on either side changed, Xie Yiling’s vision widened, and he could see the Mo City shrouded in black evil energy from afar, almost unrecognizable in its original form.
Nangong Ci signaled everyone to stop not far from the city gate.
As soon as they landed, the intense evil energy rushed at Xie Yiling, almost blinding him. He swayed unsteadily and was supported by Nangong Ci, who reached out and touched his shoulder.
Xie Yiling clutched his chest with one hand and grabbed Nangong Ci’s hand with the other, saying, “Thank you, Master.”
Seeing that he had regained his balance, Nangong Ci stiffly withdrew his hand, turned his face away, and said in a flat tone, “It’s nothing.”
Si Wumian, behind them, didn’t notice this scene. He looked up at the Mo City before him, which resembled a demon’s lair, and couldn’t help but feel a sense of fear: “This, isn’t the evil energy in this place a bit too heavy?”
As he spoke, he inadvertently turned his head and saw Xie Yiling looking at the front in disbelief.
It wasn’t strange for Xie Yiling to react strangely. The destruction of Mo City, which possessed an immortal estate for thousands of years, would cause sighs and regrets no matter when it was mentioned. In the beginning, the various immortal sects were also shocked for a long time before accepting the fact that the Water-Ink Immortal Estate was gone, just like accepting the extermination of the Tian Yong Residence two years ago.
However, the destruction of Mo City three years ago was known to everyone, from the immortal clans to the mortal old and young. Si Wumian frowned and pondered, how could Senior Brother Xie look as if he had never heard of it before?
Realizing that his reaction was excessive, Xie Yiling coughed lightly and pretended to be surprised: “This, is this the former Mo City?”
Si Wumian explained, “That’s right. Since the destruction of Mo City three years ago, this place has become a dead city, but recently there has been an aura of evil within, and it is often restless, so we came to investigate.”
Xie Yiling was terrified as he listened, quickly digesting the information in Si Wumian’s words. The memories in his mind raced, and he finally found the part about the Mo family somewhere in his memory.
However, the Mo family’s massacre of the city happened after his death, and there wasn’t much information in the remaining memories.
The Mo City was massacred, and there were no survivors. In that case, Mo Nanyi, Mo Gongzi, must have also met with misfortune.
Xie Yiling felt sadness rising from within, lamenting the impermanence of the world. He casually guessed, “Could it be that the dead souls of Mo City gathered resentment and became vengeful spirits?”
“That’s a possibility.” Si Wumian glanced at him in surprise, amazed that he was quite knowledgeable, “Not long ago, the Gu family of Wei City sent three groups of cultivators to investigate, and various other families also sent cultivators after hearing the news, but none of them returned alive.”
“In addition, I heard that a cultivator was timid and didn’t dare to go in, so he guarded outside the city. As a result, he saw with his own eyes a monster shrouded in black air devour a cultivator who was running out of the city alive. The surviving cultivator desperately fled back and spread the word about this matter, but he went mad not long after.”
Nangong Ci, beside him, quietly observed Xie Yiling’s every word and action. There was a glimmer of light in his eyes, reflecting a figure.
Seeing that the two had finished speaking, Nangong Ci reminded, “Let’s go.”
The desolate city, abandoned for seven years, had its gates wide open. Within a few miles, withered trees grew, and the wind stirred up yellow dust. Not a trace of human presence could be felt. At this time, countless layers of black mist swirled above the city gate, and demonic energy was rampant.
Xie Yiling wanted to pass Si Wumian and follow behind Nangong Ci, but Si Wumian, out of concern for his senior brother, grabbed him and told him, “You’re new here and may not know how dangerous these things are, so it’s best not to wander around.”
Nangong Ci turned his head, his gaze imperceptibly sweeping over Si Wumian’s hand holding Xie Yiling’s: “The city is filled with extremely heavy demon energy, and I’m afraid there are quite a few demons.”
He took half a step to the left, blocking Xie Yiling behind him, and also blocking Si Wumian, who had to withdraw his hand that was touching Xie Yiling.
Nangong Ci pursed his lips and continued, expressionlessly, “After entering, remember not to act rashly and be careful.”
Xie Yiling quickly responded, “Master, rest assured, this disciple understands.”
The other disciples also responded in unison, walking into the city closely together.
The black mist inside the city was even thicker, and the thousands of households were empty. The wind rampaged through the desolate streets and alleys, gradually giving rise to desolation. Then, a giant demon roared, and wherever it passed, old doors and broken windows rattled.
Xie Yiling stayed close to Nangong Ci, vigilant in his heart. Suddenly, he stumbled under his feet and looked down to see a few bones scattered on the ground. He silently leaned closer to Nangong Ci, carrying out the image of someone with no strength to tie a chicken to the end.
Several balls of black mist seemed to have consciousness and circled around the crowd at a distance. The black mist was heavy, as if soaked in ink, but it also hid red eyes, fangs, iron hooks, and sharp claws.
Among them, golden threads outlined a human figure.
Xie Yiling’s pupils trembled slightly, and he almost blurted out the words “Puppet Technique,” but fortunately, he held back.
Nangong Ci said beside him, “This is the Puppet Technique, one of the four forbidden arts.”
Xie Yiling was shocked in his heart. The Puppet Technique was recorded in the *Record of Strange Contracts*. How could Nangong Ci know about it? Could it be that he had also secretly read that forbidden book?
The black mist and golden thread seemed to understand human speech, and immediately, without hesitation, their figures flickered and rushed straight towards Xie Yiling. Seeing that it was about to bite Xie Yiling’s hand, it was pierced by Bìluò/Azurefall with a sword when it was still half an inch away.
Nangong Ci held the Azurefall sword, his aura cold and stern: “The Puppet Technique can manipulate humans, ghosts, beasts, and demons. The golden thread in the body is the only connection between the caster and the puppet. If the golden thread is broken, the puppet will disappear.”
In the midst of his words, he had already killed several puppets.
It seemed that there was no need to guess. Nangong Ci had indeed read the *Record of Strange Contracts*. Xie Yiling exclaimed, “Why are there so many?”
Nangong Ci said in a deep voice, “These puppets are born one for one kill, two for two kills, and cannot be eliminated.”
Xie Yiling frowned upon hearing this, trying to appear like an outsider: “Master, these things are not simple! They have hands and feet, and they can fly on their own.”
He intentionally guided, since the Puppet Technique was a forbidden art and these puppets were so fierce, there was likely someone controlling them behind the scenes. He also thought of the woman he had met before. Wasn’t she just a piece of puppet wood?
The others looked at each other, confused.
What puppet technique, what four forbidden arts, what golden threads? How could they not understand a word?
Xie Yiling hid beside Nangong Ci, following him to the left and right: “Master, what should we do now?”
Nangong Ci did not disappoint: “To solve these puppets, either find the person controlling them behind the scenes, or replace them.”
He held a sword in one hand to defend, and cast spells with the other, trying to counter-control the puppets. He only saw the puppets constantly colliding with the barrier formed by Azurefall, trying to hurt everyone, but each time they were blocked by Nangong Ci’s spiritual power and tied into a ball.
Black mist puppets from all directions gathered towards this side, like black cages covering the sky, wanting to imprison them in them.
“Clang,” a sound rang out, as if something had broken.
Xie Yiling looked anxiously, but dared not ask questions, fearing it would cause unnecessary suspicion.
Nangong Ci raised his wrist and retracted Azurefall. The puppet fell from mid-air, and when he looked again, it was listlessly squatting on the ground. Nangong Ci moved his foot, and it was startled, but immediately followed loyally.
“This is?” Xie Yiling asked in surprise, “Master, why is it following you? Did you control it?”
Nangong Ci nodded and coughed twice, pressing one hand against his chest.
Xie Yiling almost immediately moved closer: “Master, what’s wrong? Did these things hurt you?”
Nangong Ci shook his head: “It’s nothing.”
This black mist puppet could be controlled, and so could the others. However, there were too many puppets in the city, and it was not easy for Nangong Ci alone.
“Si Yuan, Ning An.” Nangong Ci turned his head, “Watch carefully.”
Si Wumian and Nangong Ning An were called out, and immediately concentrated, staring at Nangong Ci without blinking. They only saw Nangong Ci raise his sword and use his spiritual power to write a spell in mid-air.
The black mist puppets were getting closer and closer to the crowd. Suddenly, the puppet at the very front, under the control of the spell, was stretched and enlarged. It struggled desperately, but to no avail.
Before long, there was the familiar sound of “clang,” and the puppet fell to the ground, subdued.
Si Wumian and Nangong Ning An nodded and said in unison: “Immortal Lord Fufeng, we understand.”
After speaking, the two of them immediately learned and applied what they had just seen, imitating Nangong Ci and starting to counter-control the puppets.
Perhaps the fate of the first puppet shocked the puppets behind, and they retreated one after another.
The remaining disciples, under Nangong Ci’s orders, began to surround the puppets. In this way, the group was finally able to continue deeper into the city.
There were still black objects flying in mid-air, occasionally approaching them suddenly, and Nangong Ci fixed them with a spell-turned talisman, so that even Xie Yiling, who was an ordinary person, could muster up the courage to punch them a few times.
As they walked, Xie Yiling noticed something: “Master, these puppets don’t seem to be as powerful as they look!”
Nangong Ci replied, “The black mist puppets are just a barrier released by the person behind the scenes to seal the city, so they are not too fierce.”
After listening to Xie Yiling, he had more worries: “However, although they are all small demons and monsters, there are many of them, and I am afraid that Master and the others will have difficulty eliminating them all at once.”
Nangong Ci glanced at the black object puppet: “He who tied the bell must untie it.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the first black mist puppet that was subdued suddenly became restless, and he subconsciously stood in front of Xie Yiling.
However, the black house puppet did not attack them, but floated forward all the way, like a wandering soul without a home, looking for its former residence. The crowd hurriedly followed, and from a distance, they saw the black mist puppet stop in front of a broken house, spreading its body and dancing wildly.
Looking at the scene before him, Xie Yiling suddenly opened his mouth: “Looking at it this way, this thing looks like a pancake!”
Si Wumian: “…Senior Brother Xie has a good appetite.”
The crowd did not ignore the puppet’s abnormality, only waiting for its next move.
Suddenly, a wisp of golden thread flew out from a window of the broken house, trying to drill into the black mist puppet’s body. Who knew that the golden thread turned left and right and could not enter the puppet.
Xie Yiling was worried that the puppet would be manipulated again. Seeing this, his eyes lit up, and he turned to Nangong Ci and said: “Master, look! After the puppet is controlled by you, others can’t control it anymore.”
Nangong Ci did not speak, but nodded slightly.
Xie Yiling praised without hesitation: “Master is really amazing!”
Nangong Ci said solemnly: “Pay attention to the house.”
The black mist puppet was obviously frightened by the golden thread at first, but after waiting for a while, it seemed to understand that the golden thread was no longer useful to it, and it suddenly became triumphant and arrogant again.
It transformed into a human form, with limbs, pinched the golden thread in its hand, tore it off forcefully, and then threw it on the ground and stomped on it angrily. As if it didn’t relieve its hatred, it lowered its head and spat fiercely.
The black mist puppet felt that it now had a backer, swaggered into the house, and after a while, there was a sound of fighting inside.
After a while, the doors and windows began to shake, and after a while, the roof began to shake. Then, with a loud “boom—”, the house collapsed.
A person was thrown in front of Nangong Ci and Xie Yiling, and the black mist puppet danced in front of the two of them as if asking for credit. Xie Yiling only felt that it looked even more like a pancake. He swallowed his saliva, retreated behind Nangong Ci, not forgetting that he was just an ordinary person without any spiritual power.
Nangong Ci asked in a cold voice: “Who are you? What is your purpose in hiding in Mo City?”
The man hung his head, trembling all over, as if he was frightened.
Xie Yiling felt that he was now a disciple of Immortal Lord Fufeng, and he had to take the lead in asking questions, so he raised his chin and said: “Are you the one who controlled these puppets?”
The man remained silent, not giving him, the only disciple of Immortal Lord Fufeng, any face.
“Master,” Xie Yiling turned his head, “he ignores people.”
The next second, Azurefall ruthlessly rested on the back of the man’s neck. With a slight force, the blade saw red.
“It’s me, it’s me!” A wise man submits to circumstances. A stabbing pain came from his neck, and he quickly responded, unable to help but want to avoid the sharp blade. When he raised his head, he revealed a sallow and purple face, and hurriedly lowered it again.
Xie Yiling felt that this person looked a little familiar and continued to ask: “What is your name?”
The blade was still on the puppet master’s flesh, revealing a chill. He dared not not answer, and responded to every question: “This lowly one’s name is Wen Zilao.”
Xie Yiling was taken aback upon hearing this. He had indeed seen this person before.
Wen Zilao, the personal subordinate of Wen Liangchen, the eldest son of the Wen family, the largest family in Jin City Qingzhou.
Nangong Ci lowered his head and interrogated him: “Is Mo City’s current state related to you?”
Wen Zilao was silent for a while before saying: “Yes.”
Nangong Ci continued to interrogate: “What is the reason for your actions?”
Wen Zilao did not continue to answer. His chapped lips slowly cracked open because he was pursing them tightly, and dark red blood slowly stained the cracks red, like mottled rust onLeaves.
Xie Yiling said: “Master, he’s not talking again.”
Wen Zilao glanced at him quickly. This glance was captured by Xie Yiling, but because it was too fast, he didn’t see the dissatisfaction hidden in the other’s eyes.
Si Wumian snorted coldly behind him: “Immortal Lord Fufeng, this person won’t shed tears until he sees the coffin. We must make him suffer a little before he will open his mouth.”
Perhaps Si Wumian’s fanning the flames had worked. Wen Zilao was whipped by Nangong Ci with the Southern Return Spirit Whip a full three times before he finally couldn’t bear it and loosened his mouth.
Xie Yiling quietly rubbed the goosebumps that stood up on his arms. In his previous life, he had made a mistake because of his impulsive actions and had also tasted the taste of the Southern Return Spirit Whip. With one whip, one Buddha was born and two Buddhas entered Nirvana.
Wen Zilao clenched his teeth tightly, his teeth connected to viscous blood, a scarlet red. He raised his head, looked at the legendary Immortal Lord Fufeng who slayed evil and eliminated evil, sighed, and then said a little gnashing his teeth: “This lowly one is just speaking out for injustice for the eldest son.”
The eldest son? Wen Liangchen?
Xie Yiling couldn’t help but laugh and turned to Nangong Ci and said: “Master, listen to what this person is saying, it’s so funny. He cultivates the puppet technique, manipulates puppets to harm people, and causes demons and evil to gather in Mo City, leaving no grass growing within three miles, but he still has the face to call himself speaking out for injustice.”
Wen Zilao’s purple face flushed red and he defended: “I, I naturally have my difficulties! Everyone says, ‘Bestow the Wen surname, and you will have half a lifetime of glory and a lifetime of wealth.’ Little do they know, just because the eldest son was not good at speaking since he was a child and had little affection with Master Wen, he was considered to be hiding selfish motives.”
“Later, the eldest son’s temperament gradually became eccentric, and Master Wen disliked him even more. After the eldest son came of age, he rarely returned home, and Master Wen turned a blind eye to this matter. As the eldest son’s subordinate, I know the eldest son’s character best. Although he looks cold and difficult to approach, he is actually a kind person. His biological father alienated and ignored him for no reason. He looks like he doesn’t care on the surface, but how can he not take it to heart?”
“However, Master Wen always felt that the eldest son was not as good as the other two sons, and he treated him coldly even if the eldest son diligently practiced his cultivation techniques day and night. That year, Master Wen suddenly fell seriously ill, and the eldest son took the risk of life and death topick medicine in a place where it was cold all year round. After returning, he fell seriously ill and didn’t survive the second spring.”
“From beginning to end, Master Wen never came to see him even once! It is often said that even a tiger will not eat its cubs, but the eldest son’s filial piety was regarded as nothing by Master Wen! Although Wen’s life was given by Master Wen, he still feels unworthy for the eldest son in his heart!”