MOF Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Narrating Past Events, Ink City Filled with Sorrow – The Chaos in Ink City Began with…

Xie Yiling raised his head and saw Nangong Ci’s thin lips moving, but he couldn’t hear what he was saying. Before he could discern the lip movements, Nangong Ci had already turned and left.

Azurefall was pure white, its tip planted firmly in the ground, surrounded by talismans arranged in a formation, with golden characters floating around. Nangong Ci swiftly made a hand seal and summoned a string of golden bells. These two golden bells were tied with red silk ribbons, one slightly larger than the other, both emitting golden light.

Xie Yiling recognized the golden bells as Soul Summoning Bells, capable of attracting spirits.

“Ding-ling-ling–” The bell sounded clearly.

Azurefall’s white light gradually softened, and the sound of the golden bells also became lighter and slower. But Xie Yiling couldn’t hear any of this. He only saw Nangong Ci’s back, lifted by the wind again and again. When the wind settled, his robes were still.

The air grew colder and colder. Xie Yiling glanced at the surrounding locust trees, which were covered in frost, like blooming misty flowers. But around the Mo Tomb, nothing appeared.

Xie Yiling was puzzled. Only after Nangong Ci reached out and touched his forehead again did he open his mouth to ask, “Master, what happened?”

Nangong Ci said, “These are just wandering souls; they are not the people who died in Ink City back then.”

Xie Yiling found it strange, “But isn’t this the Mo Tomb? It’s unbelievable that there aren’t any Mo family ghosts.”

Speaking of this, he remembered the question Nangong Ci hadn’t answered earlier, “Master, what exactly happened in Ink City? Do you know?”

Nangong Ci said in a deep voice, “The chaos in Ink City began with an epidemic.”

Seven years ago, an epidemic broke out suddenly.

In Ink City, several common people were infected first, and all died of the illness within seven days. A few days later, several newly infected patients showed the same symptoms and died of the same disease after seven days.

The people of Ink City gradually became fearful, not knowing whether it was a man-made disaster or a natural calamity.

Southeast of Ink City, there was an isolated realm. This realm was located in Po Gu Mountain, and its scenery varied with the seasons.

As the saying goes: The spring scenery is secluded, with misty clothes blooming; the summer scene is lush, with verdant pine walls; the autumn hears a chilling, mournful wind; the winter is bleak, with much cold air. Good scenery is hard to keep for long, and the withering and flourishing of flowers are especially pitiful.

Among Po Gu Mountain, there was a large immortal estate, filled with ethereal spiritual energy and shrouded in white mist all year round. The forest was lush and dark green, and the scenery was picturesque. This was the Water-Ink Immortal Estate.

The Water-Ink Immortal Estate had an ancient maple tree that was hundreds of years old. This tree had weathered wind and rain, and every ten years, it experienced a cycle of green and falling leaves. Its trunk required three people to embrace, with branches and leaves intertwined and strong roots breaking out of the soil.

On one of the slightly higher roots, sat a venerable old man with white hair and eyebrows, and below him, a smooth wooden table.

Mo Changqing raised his cup to drink tea. After closing the lid, he asked, “Has the city been peaceful recently?”

Mo Zhinian, standing beside him, respectfully replied, “Recently, a sudden epidemic has appeared in the city, causing the deaths of several people. I have already sent Nanyi and Wuchou to investigate.”

Mo Changqing nodded, his gaze clear as he looked at Mo Zhinian, “What about Linyuan?”

“Still recuperating.” Thinking of his youngest son’s health, Mo Zhinian sighed, “He’s been resting for so many years, but he still doesn’t seem to be getting better.”

Mo Changqing put down his teacup, “Linyuan has a special constitution. Have him go out less these days.”

Mo Zhinian nodded, “Father is right. It’s just that I feel uneasy these past few days, not knowing whether this epidemic is just a small disaster or a great calamity.”

Mo Changqing’s eyebrows were deep, making it difficult to discern his emotions, and he sighed softly, “It’s hard to sever ties with the mortal world; we must leave it to fate.”

Below the Water-Ink Immortal Estate was Water-Ink Town. The townspeople were hurrying about, the mortal world bustling. Mo Nanyi and Mo Wuchou went together to the Chun Tong Medicine Shop.

Today, the medicine shop was packed inside and out. As soon as Mo Nanyi and the others entered, they saw several patients lying on low couches, covered with white cloths.

Just as Mo Nanyi was about to step forward, the medicine shop owner bowed, “Young Master Nanyi, Second Young Master Mo, why have you two come?”

Mo Nanyi said, “We heard that a strange illness has appeared in the city and have come to investigate on the order of the sect leader.”

The medicine shop owner, whose name was Hua Hao, was known for his charity and generosity. Hearing this, he looked regretful and shook his head, “This illness is strange; with my skills, I’m afraid it will be difficult to cure.”

Mo Wuchou frowned immediately and asked, “Do you know the source of the disease?”

Hua Hao was silent for a moment before saying, “I don’t know.”

Mo Nanyi and the others’ hearts sank.

Mo Wuchou stepped forward and carefully lifted the white cloth covering one person. He saw that the person was covered in pus and blood, their body swollen, and a circle of human-shaped bloody water had accumulated around the couch, as if they were about to dissolve.

If it weren’t for the fact that an eyeball was still slowly moving, Mo Wuchou would have thought that this person had already died. He looked at three or four more people in a row, and all were in such a terrible state.

Seeing this, Mo Wuchou couldn’t help but frown and said to Mo Nanyi, “Brother, these people have almost the same symptoms. The wounds are all festering from the inside out. I suspect they have been poisoned.”

Doctor Hua heard this and replied, “Second Young Master Mo is right.”

Mo Nanyi also lifted the cloth to observe, his gaze carefully sweeping over the wounds. Then, he pinched a small, roughly inch-long curse puppet and let it wander over the patient’s body. After a moment, he retrieved the puppet.

Mo Nanyi frowned, knowing that the injuries were not inflicted by ordinary people. He feared that some monster had taken a crooked path, refining evil magic to harm the world.

At this time, Mo Wuchou asked, “How did these people faint? I hope anyone who knows the details can tell us in detail.”

For a time, everyone spoke one after another. The locations where each poisoned person had fainted were different. Some were walking on the street and suddenly fainted; others were talking to others when they suddenly lost consciousness.

After about half a cup of tea’s time, the fainting people would froth at the mouth and turn blue, but soon they would wake up on their own, returning to normal.

However, their complexion deteriorated day by day, and their bodies began to itch and ache. After about five or six days, they were unable to walk or lift their hands, and the itchy areas began to fester and ooze pus, leaving them unable to move like boneless people.

In short, it was really strange!

Mo Nanyi couldn’t help but frown, “This matter is no small matter, but please rest assured, Mo will definitely investigate thoroughly and find a solution as soon as possible!”

Mo Wuchou also said, “Doctor Hua, we’ll leave it to you here.”

Hua Hao nodded repeatedly, “Healing the sick and saving people is the duty of a doctor. I hope the two young masters will not abandon us common people!”

Mo Nanyi nodded, and the two of them then left the Chun Tong Medicine Shop, quickly patrolled the streets, and then returned to the immortal estate to report the matter.

That night, dusk deepened, and the white moon hung over the branches. Mo Nanyi put on his clothes and looked through many ancient books at his desk. As the candlelight dimmed, he continued to search without success, and his eyebrows unconsciously twisted into a messy mass.

After a while, Mo Nanyi put down the ancient books and rubbed his aching temples, feeling anxious. Then, he saw half a corner of deerskin scroll peeking out from the bottom of the ancient books.

Mo Nanyi gently pulled it out, discovering that it was a fragment of an ancient book that had probably been clipped into another book and had fallen out for some reason. He saw that the deerskin scroll was engraved with complex ancient characters, making it very difficult to understand.

However, Mo Nanyi had a feeling that it might contain the answer he was looking for, so he read ancient books all night. By the time the moon had set and the stars had faded, he finally understood the general meaning.

“Seven Yang Pill… Extremely Yin Technique. Those who are poisoned by this will only have seven days to live. This technique greatly damages merit and is one of the four forbidden techniques of the Record of Strange Contracts. The recipe was lost later and is unknown.”

Mo Nanyi’s eyes darkened, and he put down the deerskin scroll, revealing a tired expression. He slowly got up and walked towards the bed, falling asleep fully clothed. This sleep lasted for two hours.

When Mo Linyuan came, Mo Nanyi was adjusting his crown in front of the mirror.

“Brother,” Mo Linyuan smiled and entered the room, “Why didn’t you close the door?”

Mo Nanyi smiled slightly when he saw him, “I was reading ancient books too late last night, so I fell asleep directly.”

Mo Linyuan had been resting for some time, but his complexion was still very pale, his lips colorless, only slightly moist.

Seeing this, Mo Nanyi couldn’t help but feel sorry for him, “Why aren’t you resting well in the room? How’s your appetite lately? You’ve lost so much weight.”

Mo Linyuan shook his head, still smiling, “If I stay any longer, I’m afraid I’ll grow grass on my head and accumulate soil under my feet.”

Hearing this, Mo Nanyi didn’t try to persuade him any further. He only took the deerskin scroll from last night and said, “Take a look at this.”

Mo Linyuan leaned over to look, and after a while, he exclaimed in surprise, “This is a fragment of the Record of Strange Contracts?”

Mo Nanyi nodded, “I don’t know where it fell from, but what’s recorded on it is indeed extremely difficult to find.”

Mo Linyuan then asked, “Brother, yesterday you and Second Brother patrolled the town. Did you discover anything?”

Mo Nanyi said, “A strange illness has appeared in the town. I compared it to the symptoms of the poisoned people on this scroll and found that the two were almost identical.”

Mo Linyuan hurriedly asked, “What kind of poison is it?”

Mo Nanyi said, “Seven Yang.”

Mo Linyuan murmured, “Seven Yang…”

“That’s right.” Mo Nanyi looked serious, “Using the Seven Yang technique, one can refine a pill called the Seven Yang Pill, which is highly poisonous and extremely difficult to dissolve. This only has explanations, but no recipe or method to dissolve it. It seems that this epidemic is being manipulated behind the scenes by someone with ulterior motives.”

Seeing his brother’s face full of worry, Mo Linyuan couldn’t help but feel concerned, “Has this matter been told to Father?”

Mo Nanyi shook his head, “I haven’t had time to tell Father about the Seven Yang Pill. Why don’t you go with me, Third Brother?”

Mo Linyuan said helplessly, “I’m afraid it’s time to drink that bitter root and bitter water again.”

Hearing this, Mo Nanyi urged him, “Then hurry up and drink your medicine. Be careful.”

The two of them went out, one turning right back to his room, the other turning left through the corridor.

Mo Linyuan returned to his bedroom, where a bowl of medicine had already been placed on the table. The medicine was completely black. Seeing this, he frowned deeply, walked to the bedside, and took out a red wooden box about four inches long and wide from under the pillow.

He opened the box, took out a piece of candied fruit, then picked up the bowl of medicine and drank it all in one gulp. He quickly put the candied fruit in his mouth.

Mo Linyuan scrunched up his face, disgusted, “So bitter.”

Arriving at the Water-Ink Pavilion, Mo Nanyi told Mo Zhinian about the remnant scroll and his findings.

Mo Zhinian frowned tightly, and after a moment, he said, “In the Water-Ink Immortal Estate’s Book collection Pavilion, the innermost layer contains half of the Record of Strange Contracts, passed down through generations. That half records many outstanding heroes, spiritual artifacts, divine beasts, and fine trees. I’m afraid the missing half is full of crooked paths.”

Mo Nanyi was shocked, “Father, the Record of Strange Contracts is actually in our Water-Ink Immortal Estate. How have I never heard of it?”

Mo Zhinian said, “Record of Strange Contracts, Record of Strange Contracts, it only records strange and evil legends. Our Mo family has guarded this Record of Strange Contracts for generations, but only to use it when needed. The time hasn’t come yet; we can’t publicize it.”

After listening, Mo Nanyi understood and asked, “Does that Record of Strange Contracts have a solution for the Seven Yang poison?”

Mo Zhinian shook his head, “If we knew the recipe, it could naturally be dissolved, but the half of the Record of Strange Contracts that we guard is the Yang way of Yin and Yang. It doesn’t have any Yin-damaging methods.”

Mo Nanyi said again, “Since Father has told me about this today, can I go to the Book collection Pavilion to read it?”

Mo Zhinian waved his hand, “Forget it, forget it, go and see. But remember, don’t let anyone else know.”

Mo Nanyi nodded, turned and retreated, and went all the way to the Book collection Pavilion.

Outside the Book collection Pavilion, there were many mechanisms. Mo Nanyi remembered the order of movement and successfully entered, then followed the method taught by Mo Zhinian to open the mechanism and found the half of the Record of Strange Contracts hidden in the wall.

This book’s cover was pitch black, with no decoration at all. Only three bloody words were written on it – Record of Strange Contracts.

Mo Nanyi opened the first page, which was the Heroes section.

“Cangnan Daoist, founder of Cang Ling Du. Countless good deeds in his life, often left the capital to relieve people’s worries and eliminate disasters in all directions. Died in the battle against the ancient evil beast Serpent Dragon, perishing together with the Serpent Dragon. The people of the world mourned endlessly, wearing mourning clothes, sending off the spirit along the long street, singing sad songs all the way.”

Mo Nanyi’s heart suddenly rose with respect. Cangnan Daoist’s name had shaken the world for a hundred years. No one in the world did not know him, no one did not know him; he was a ruler of his generation. No longer delaying, he continued to read, and before he knew it, it was late before he finally saw the “Fine Trees” section.

“Returning Spirit Leaf…” Mo Nanyi’s eyes were slightly sore, and when he saw “can solve the seven-day toxic symptoms,” his spirits immediately lifted.

“Returning Spirit Leaf, Returning Spirit Leaf!” He looked happy, feeling like a heavy stone had fallen from his heart. The heavy weariness between his brows was gone.