Volume 5: The Flow of the River, The Life of the Past – Chapter 127

The night was lashed by a violent storm; beneath the pitch-black canopy of the heavens, flashes of lightning tore through the sky as if they would rend it asunder. Jinli walked through the torrential downpour, her clothes soaked through, her dark hair plastered against her cheeks, embodying a sense of desolation and wretchedness. Who could have imagined that the once infinitely radiant Lady would today look like a drowned rat?

This was the first great rain to fall upon Qingqiu.

She arrived at the gates of the Tushan Estate. The black stone tiles felt freezing beneath her; she seemed to see the youth from that night again. Slowly, she raised her head to look at the imposing characters inscribed above. Then, the gates opened, and someone emerged. Upon seeing her, they let out a cry of alarm, and she collapsed to her knees in the rain. She was exhausted—utterly, bone-wearily exhausted.

Her eyes remained open, the merciless rain pelting her face. It hurt. For the first time, she felt the raindrops cutting into her like knives.

When she finally awoke, she felt warmth, and her hand seemed to be held in another’s. Vague, low sobs reached her ears. A fire was burning in the room, and the candles had been lit. She turned her gaze to the person holding her hand.

"Nannan, you’re awake!"

A voice, aged and vigorous, spoke with a touch of joy. It was Grandmother.

Grandmother Tushan held Jinli’s hand, trembling with emotion. After years of absence, the once lively and spirited girl was now devoid of color, her eyes lacking any trace of light. Her heart ached for her.

Jinli sat up. Besides Grandmother Tushan, the eldest brother of Tushan Yan was present, along with his two daughters.

"Oh, little A-Li, you gave us such a fright. Are you alright? Is there anything uncomfortable?" her pregnant sister-in-law asked with concern.

Pale-faced, Jinli shook her head. Then, looking at Grandmother Tushan, she said, "Grandmother, I need to speak with you for a moment."

Grandmother was a perceptive woman; she merely cast a glance, and those standing behind her withdrew one by one. The room was warm, while outside, the rain continued to beat against the lattice windows.

Jinli took Grandmother’s hand and asked, "My mother..."

Grandmother Tushan’s expression faltered. She slowly raised her hand to stroke Jinli’s hair, then said with immense tenderness, "Nannan, my child, I am so sorry about your mother."

Hearing this, Jinli wondered: Does Grandmother know something? Her tone grew more urgent. "Grandmother, do you know something? Did my mother say anything to you?"

Grandmother soothed her. "Nannan, this is not a matter you can change. Listen to me—do not ask, and do not involve yourself. Since ancient times, the fall of a Divine Sovereign has been a law of nature. A-Yan did this because she did not want you to suffer."

Why would she say that? Why tell her not to intervene? Did this truly involve the Demon Realm? Colluding with the Demon Realm was a crime punishable by Heaven’s wrath!

"Grandmother..."

Grandmother Tushan’s gaze was filled with pity. "Nannan, never again come here through such a storm. If you wish to see me, send word, and I will have someone bring you."

Seeing Grandmother brush the topic aside, Jinli knew that pressing further would be in vain.

However, she secretly formed a plan. If what the scroll said was true, the Tushan clan of Qingqiu might truly become the next Mermaid Tribe of the South Sea. All she could do was guard this family. Whether in the Eastern Wasteland or here, she would hold her ground, even at the cost of her life, to uncover the truth. She would find the one pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Grandmother Tushan was aging, her silver-white hair pinned up meticulously, retaining the dignity of a clan head. Jinli nodded and leaned into Grandmother’s embrace. "I’m sorry for worrying you, Grandmother."

Grandmother smiled at her words.

The next day, when Jinli prepared to leave, the Tushan family came out to see her off. Looking at the large, magnificent crowd in the courtyard—all of them with exquisite features—Jinli realized that, aside from her eldest uncle’s family, she did not recognize a single soul.

She forced a few smiles to her face. Grandmother Tushan held her hand and walked her to the gate, then, when no one was looking, slipped something into Jinli’s palm. "Nannan, come back and visit often. I will miss you."

"I will. Grandmother, please take care of your health."

"I will. Next time you come, remember to bring your future husband for me to see. Your brother travels constantly; I can no longer count on him." Though she spoke of Jincheng with a light tone, the longing in her eyes was profound.

Jinli clutched her grandmother’s hand. A husband... Her eyes clouded with sorrow. "I know. The wind is strong today; please go back inside, Grandmother. Don't see me off any further. I’m leaving."

She looked back with every step, watching the elderly woman standing on the stairs, gazing after her with deep affection. Her heart was filled with bitterness and pain, and she finally bid farewell through tears.

At the very end, once everyone had gone back inside, she quietly doubled back. Having made a firm decision, she formed a hand seal, her palms pressing together in a lotus-like gesture. A golden array of talismans appeared above the Tushan Estate, enveloping the entire residence. Only then did she depart.

Leaving Qingqiu, she traveled southwest. The wild grass grew withered and yellow, revealing barren, infertile soil, and dust swirled in the wind. She was puzzled; even outside the borders of Qingqiu, the land, nourished by immortal power, should never have fallen into such a state.

What had happened here? Had some demonic beast emerged?

Across the desolate landscape, yellow sands rolled, and despite the high mountains, not a single lush, verdant tree could be seen. In the distance, she saw a group of people, shirtless, digging frantically. She could see only their heads and shoulders in the deep pits. More and more earth was piled up, but there was nothing but dirt. Puzzled, Jinli stood on a rise and looked out; the vast, endless land was cracked and covered in countless pits of varying depths.

They seemed to be searching for something, yet it didn't seem so. Standing above, they held wooden buckets of various sizes.

She approached and asked, "What are you digging for?"

The heat had left their skin cracked and mottled. Despair filled their eyes, but upon seeing Jinli, they were struck by her beauty. Mistaking her for a goddess descending from the heavens due to her attire, which stood in stark contrast to their own, they knelt and bowed.

"We beg the Goddess to grant us rain!" they cried out.

Unprepared for this, Jinli hurriedly gestured for them to rise. "What is happening here? Why are you doing this?"

A young man replied, "There has been a drought here for three years. We have no choice but to dig here in search of water."

Jinli was stunned. She calculated on her fingers—this was not right. The divination for this region was auspicious, and the disciples under the Rain God were diligent in their duties. Where had the rain and the spiritual essence of the land gone?

She saw the pleading in the children’s eyes, as if they saw hope in her.

She could not bear it. Stepping back, she formed a seal, using her magic to draw water into the pits they had dug.

"There’s water! There’s water!"

Cheers erupted one after another. While they celebrated, Jinli used a Water-Gathering Pearl to fill their buckets, but she knew this was merely a temporary relief. The most important thing was to find the root cause.

She slipped away quietly.

When she reached the town, she found it equally desolate. Merchants had shuttered their shops, and only a few people remained on the streets. She checked every well, and every one of them was bone-dry.

In such a situation, she had no choice but to consult the spirit governing this region.

Night soon fell, the wind howling like the cries of a child lost in the silence. Jinli stood with her arms crossed by a well. Ensuring no one was around, she formed a seal, and cold, blue astral fire ignited at her fingertips. Her gaze turned a deep, icy blue.

"Appear," she commanded softly.

The flames scattered like fireflies in all directions. A moment later, a figure appeared before her. As the mist cleared, she squinted at the Earth Deity kneeling on the ground.

"This lowly immortal pays respects to the Lady."

"Rise." Jinli did not wish to waste words. "Tell me, what has happened here?"

The Earth Deity dared not look up at her radiance. He lowered his gaze and said slowly, "In reply to the Lady, this place was once lush and rich with spiritual energy. Because an ancient god fell here, the people’s lifespans were extended; the elderly could live to over three hundred years."

Jinli sat by the dry well, legs crossed, her expression heavy. "Continue."

"But three years ago, a nameless demonic creature appeared. With its arrival, the springs dried up in a single night, and the spirits of the trees were drained and withered. The lifespans of the long-lived plummeted from three hundred years to ninety. Now, because there is no water or tree spirit, the creature feeds on the spiritual energy of the people. Their lifespans are growing shorter, and there are even cases of infants dying at birth."

*Snap.* The wooden twig in Jinli’s hand shattered, and the blue flame consumed it, turning it to ash that vanished in the wind.

The Earth Deity swallowed nervously. Everyone said the Lady was easy-going and approachable, but right now, she was as unpredictable as a storm; he feared that at any moment, his head might be the next thing to "snap." He kept his head bowed, not daring to peek.

*Bringing drought, absorbing spiritual energy,* Jinli thought. *In ancient times, only a Drought Demon (Hanba) possessed such power. Yet, after the Demon God fell into slumber, the Drought Demons were all sealed away; it is impossible for one to be here. What kind of demon could be so bold?*

"Does the Divine Sovereign who governs this area know of this?"

The Earth Deity silently prayed for his Sovereign. "This lowly immortal has reported it." But whether the Sovereign would act, he did not know.

To have such a creature appear and ravage the living—which Sovereign could be so incompetent?