"Since we're already in the mortal realm and have uncovered signs of an evil cultivator plot, we might as well collect more evidence. Who knows what else we'll find."
Yu Qingcheng spoke with confidence. With a Golden Core cultivator in their group, and Senior Brother Liu likely to break through at any moment, she and Xia You, both in the mid-stage Foundation Establishment, might advance further after this experience. She had no intention of missing the opportunity.
Liu Haotian also agreed. He had a strong sense that his own breakthrough to the Golden Core stage would happen here in the mortal realm.
"Junior Sister Yu is right. If we hadn't noticed anything, that would be one thing. But now that we have, we should get to the bottom of it."
With their course set, the four of them put off returning to the cultivation world. Yun Xi brought out a carriage that had belonged to the bandits from Luozi Ridge, and the group began their journey in relaxed yet alert spirits.
At the same time, the evil cultivators hiding in the mortal realm were lying low. They had sensed the immense spiritual pressure earlier, and it had left them shaken. Most feared that a Divine Transformation cultivator from the cultivation world had descended on a whim. Terrified of being discovered, they buried themselves as deeply as possible.
Because of this, although Yun Xi and the others stayed cautious, they encountered no new corpse-nurturing sites or signs of evil cultivators along the way.
Seven days later, they arrived at a city called Chuntao. It was bustling and lively. After casting a minor illusion to conceal their appearances, they entered the city.
The smell of cooking smoke and everyday chatter filled the air. They overheard that a lantern festival would take place over the next three days, so the group decided to enjoy the festivities.
"I wonder what a mortal lantern festival looks like," Xia You said, curious.
"Let's go see for ourselves," someone replied casually.
They wandered into a small inn with a banner reading "Longmen Inn" and were greeted warmly by the proprietress.
"Are the four of you here to stay or just stopping for a meal?"
"Staying. We want to see the lantern festival."
The moment the proprietress heard that, her smile widened.
"You've made the right choice. Chuntao's lantern festival is the liveliest of all. How many rooms do you need?"
"Two."
"Alright, two upper rooms."
After taking their silver, the proprietress had one of the attendants lead them upstairs.
When Yun Xi and the others saw the young attendant, they exchanged subtle glances.
Once the attendant had led them into their rooms, Yu Qingcheng casually tossed him a few copper coins.
"Hey, we're new in town. Mind if we ask you a few things?"
The attendant caught the coins with a smile and bowed respectfully.
"What would you like to know, honored guests?"
"Tell us about your lantern festival."
The attendant's eyes lit up. He launched into an animated retelling of Chuntao's lantern festival traditions, its origins, and the lively atmosphere year after year.
Once he'd spoken at length, Yun Xi asked,
"Have there been any strange or unusual happenings nearby?"
"Strange happenings?" the attendant repeated, momentarily confused.
"You know," Yun Xi said, "things that are bizarre or eerie."
At that, the attendant's face instantly changed. He shook his head.
"I have to make a living. I rarely leave Chuntao, and hardly ever leave this inn. I don't know anything about what goes on outside. I'm afraid I can't help you, honored guests."
Liu Haotian spoke in a slow, deliberate voice.
"You're a loner. What family are you supporting? And your blood ties have already been severed."
The color drained from the attendant's face. He turned to flee, but Xia You flicked his sleeve, and the door slammed shut.
The attendant's legs gave out beneath him. He fell to his knees and pleaded,
"Immortals, please spare me. I have no desires left in this life. I swear I'll never return to Taoyuan Village. Please, let me go."
The four exchanged glances. His words contained far too much information.
This time, Liu Haotian gently raised the man with a wave of his sleeve and spoke calmly.
"We are not the immortals you speak of, nor are we worthy of such a title. We are cultivators, nothing more. But your face bears signs of death, and your forehead is shrouded in blackness. That's why we asked questions.
Tell us everything you know. Maybe there's still a path forward for you. If not, no matter where you run, only death will await."
Hearing this, the attendant collapsed again, this time sobbing as he recounted the story of Taoyuan Village.
His name was Yin Yong, born in Taoyuan Village to an ordinary farming family. His only strength was that he could read and write. That was thanks to his ancestors, who had built a private school in the village. Every Yin family child was allowed one year of free schooling.
A year was enough for the teacher to judge whether a child had talent for study. Yin Yong clearly did not. After learning a few common characters and some basic arithmetic, he returned home to farm. No one in the family forced him otherwise, since he wasn't the only son.
The year after returning to the fields, Yin Yong was fishing in the river when his net caught on a bronze mirror. The mirror's surface was cracked, but its back was beautifully engraved. Delighted, he brought it home.
His younger sister, Yin Hua'er, was instantly drawn to the mirror and begged him to let her have it.
From then on, Yin Yong noticed his sister looking into the mirror more and more. She seemed obsessed. One day, he overheard her whispering as she gazed at her reflection:
"Immortal, I have fallen for Scholar Xin from town. I want to marry him."
A moment later, she let out a joyful laugh.
"Really? I can? Then I'm willing."
That night, she carefully covered the mirror with red cloth before going to sleep.
Yin Yong scratched his head. He thought she was just confiding girlish secrets to her reflection and didn't think much of it.
But three days later, Scholar Xin sent a matchmaker to their home, requesting to marry Yin Hua'er. Yin Yong was shocked.
The Yin family, however, was thrilled. Their daughter was marrying well. It was a blessing. The whole family rejoiced, and Yin Hua'er was married off in high spirits. When she returned for her three-day home visit, she said she was very happy and even took the cracked bronze mirror back with her.
Half a month later, their parents died in their sleep.
The entire Yin family was devastated. Their parents had always been healthy, barely falling ill. Yet they passed so quietly, without warning. No wounds, no signs of poison. The family could only arrange their funerals in sorrow.
On the day of the funeral, Yin Hua'er returned to Taoyuan Village and brought the mirror back with her. In private, she pulled Yin Yong aside, sobbing.
"Third Brother… it's my fault Father and Mother died."
"What? What are you saying?"
Yin Yong's unease surged.
Tears streamed down Yin Hua'er's face as she confessed,
"I made a wish to that mirror. I asked to marry Scholar Xin. But the price… was our parents' lives."
Yin Yong couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"You… you traded their lives just so you could marry up? How did that mirror even make it happen?"
Yin Hua'er wept harder.
"There's a deity inside the mirror. He said he could grant any wish, but there would be a price. I thought offering incense would be enough. But… but he took their lives instead."
Yin Yong was terrified. That very night, he snatched the mirror and hurled it into the river, hoping that would end the nightmare.
But what he didn't know was that his second brother had overheard everything. After Yin Yong threw the mirror away, the second brother jumped into the river that same night and fished it back out.