Little Alpaca – Chapter 194
by Little PandaVolume 5: Tribulation of All Beings
Before the Final Battle.
It had to be said, You Yan had always been an exceptionally steady person.
Moshui City was now clearly under the influence of the Fei. You could figure out with your toes1 that the heavily injured Ferocious Beast must be hiding within, relying on the city’s Resentful Qi to recuperate.
Few in the Xianlu Sect were aware of this matter. In recent days, those who knew wore brows knitted with worry that wouldn’t unfold.2 They had no way of finding the Ferocious Beast, much less any idea how to kill it. Naturally, their only hope was for You Yan to lend her aid.
But You Yan had no intention of acting—at least, not yet.
You Yan said that the Fei was different from the Yi Bird; it wasn’t skilled at concealing its Spiritual Aura. Finding it wasn’t difficult at all. However, without the certainty of a one-strike kill,3 attacking rashly would only beat the grass and startle the snake.4
She wasn’t afraid of failing. After all, the Fei was currently heavily injured. Even if she couldn’t kill it, she wouldn’t be overpowered by it either.
The problem was that with her strength alone, it would be difficult to block the Fei’s escape routes. If the Fei were to flee through the Mortal Realm, it would likely harm many ordinary people and bring irreparable damage to Moshui City.
Even if casualties were now unavoidable, the harm to innocent people should be kept to an absolute minimum.
Right now, Moshui City was in a state of hopelessness. Down the mountain, people had contracted a strange, contagious illness. The afflicted suffered from loss of appetite, a persistent cough, fever, and a gradually spreading red rash.
According to the original novel, within three days of infection, the red rash would turn from itchy to painful. Around the fifth day, it would begin to fester, and the victim would die within ten days.
This was all caused by the Poisonous Gas the Fei left in its wake. Once mortals with no cultivation base were exposed, they would be affected. It was completely incurable and extremely contagious.
For this very reason, the Mortal Realm in the original novel met its end in the shortest possible time. By the time the Heavenly Realm reacted and wanted to dispel the sickness for the mortals, it was already too late to stop the Poisonous Gas from spreading on a massive scale.
Yi Qiu had mentioned this to You Yan, so You Yan wasn’t just sitting idly by.
You Yan dispersed her own Spiritual Power, then borrowed the power of the Fuzhu, and sprinkled it over Moshui City along with the heavy rain.
Based on the original novel’s settings, the Fei was by no means an inexperienced creature like the Fuzhu or the Huodou. It was impossible for it to be unable to control its own power.
It spread its potent poison across the Mortal Realm for the express purpose of harvesting people’s fear, suffering, and resentment. All the negative emotions of the mortal world would become its strength. This was the reason for its power.
Now, it was hiding in Moshui, trying to use this method to stir up misery and heal itself. You Yan would not let it succeed so easily.
Recently, the Resentful Qi in Moshui City had grown increasingly thick. Although ordinary people couldn’t see it, they were all affected to some degree.
After all, a few days ago, the rivers in and around Moshui City had suddenly dried up. Along with the drought came that strange, contagious disease of unknown origin.
This “strange disease” had only just appeared and hadn’t yet reached the fatal stage described in the novel. However, the clinic doctors and street-side physicians were all helpless against it. Some of the healers had even contracted the same illness themselves. For a time, several clinics closed their doors, leaving the common people with nowhere to seek treatment and sparking widespread panic.
First, spring had refused to arrive, preventing the people from planting any crops.
Now, the rivers were dry and a strange disease was rampant. It was as if the heavens wanted to cut off their food and water, then punish the Mortal Realm with a great plague.
For a time, everyone in the city felt insecure,5 to the point where they wished they didn’t have to leave the main gate or the inner door.6 The once-bustling streets of the city were now much more deserted than before.
Although the Ferocious Fei’s presence caused water to dry up, the Fuzhu was also in Moshui City.
On the fourth day of the drought, Jian Li, using the single tenth of her power that she had just recovered, brought three consecutive days of heavy rain to Moshui, delivering hope to the dry wells and riverbeds.
The rainwater, mixed with Spiritual Power invisible to mortals, sprinkled into every corner of the city, attempting to disperse the colorless, odorless Poisonous Gas and the tormenting sickness.
When the rain stopped, Xun Chi sensed the abnormalities in the Fusang Branches everywhere and rushed over from afar.
After making some inquiries at the foot of the mountain, he brought heartening news back to You Yan and Yi Qiu, who were at the Xianlu Sect helping the Fuzhu and Huodou recuperate—the condition of the common people in Moshui City who had suddenly fallen ill had improved over the past two days.
The afflicted seemed to have only caught a common cold. After drinking a few bowls of medicine that might have been suitable for their symptoms and toughing it out for a few days, they had gradually recovered.
The drying of the rivers and wells had brought a plague, and a great rain had washed it away.
Before the people could even feel despair and death, life had once again returned to its former tranquility.
Hearing Xun Chi’s report, Yi Qiu couldn’t help but remark, “Looking at it this way, that Fei isn’t all that great, huh.”
Hearing this, You Yan shook her head. “That’s only because it’s heavily injured right now and doesn’t have much strength to spread its Poisonous Gas. If we were to wait for it to fully recover and take this plague beyond Moshui, it would no longer be something that could be controlled with a single rainstorm.”
That was true. In the original novel, the Divine Power of the Heavenly Realm could indeed cure the plague brought by the Ferocious Fei. Unfortunately, the Heavenly Realm was completely overwhelmed7 by the matter of the Wood God falling to the demonic path with the Jinwu. Furthermore, the silently spreading plague was simply too contagious. By the time the gods of the Heavenly Realm came to their senses and gradually became aware of the situation, the Fei’s Poisonous Gas had already permeated the Mortal Realm, far exceeding the scope of what the Heavenly Realm could purify.
Upon arriving at the Xianlu Sect, Xun Chi had immediately gone to check on Jian Li’s and Yue Zhuo’s injuries. The three “patients” just stared at each other in speechless dismay8 for a long while.
Finally, Yue Zhuo broke the silence.
“Xun Chi, are you okay? You look half-dead.”
“Look who’s talking. You can’t even maintain your Human Form anymore,” Xun Chi said with a wry smile.
The little black dog just shook her head, stretched her limbs with a huge yawn, and let out a couple of low whimpers. “I’ll be fine after a few days of rest,” she said listlessly.
Jian Li was silent for a moment before shaking her head with a smile. “It’s good enough that we can see each other again.”
The moment she had seen the Fei’s injuries healing so rapidly, she had truly thought, for an instant, that they would never be able to see each other again.
Now, both she and Yue Zhuo were alive and well, and Xun Chi, who had returned to the Heavenly Realm alone to receive his punishment, had finally appeared once more. Although none of them were in good shape, they had met again.
At Jian Li’s words, Yue Zhuo suddenly lifted her small head and boasted to Xun Chi, “I was the one who burned its Physical Body first, making it completely unable to move! That’s why it was stabbed in its Vital Point by that human! Does that count as a great merit for me?”
“Very impressive,” Xun Chi said, rubbing the little black dog’s head.
Yue Zhuo quickly shook her head, displeased. “In the Mortal Realm, only children get their heads patted. You’re not allowed to pat me like that, I’m not little!”
Xun Chi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “You little girl…”
Yue Zhuo huffed and added, “How am I little? I’m older than you! If being little means getting your head patted, then you just wait until I’m back in my Human Form. I’ll pat your head then!”
“Yue Zhuo, stop fooling around.” A smile was in Jian Li’s eyes as she gently admonished her. She stretched out a foreleg and scooped the constantly chirping little black dog into her embrace.
Yue Zhuo instantly fell quiet, whimpering softly and saying no more.
Yi Qiu watched from a distance, her heart also settling into a state of peace.
On the seventh day of the Fei’s revival from the Resentful Qi, Jiang Yuyao and Luo Mingyuan finally returned from the distant north.
They had seen the abnormal state of all the Fusang Branches along their journey. Now back in Moshui, they had first gone to the Mass Grave, only to find the barrier broken. They then rushed back to the Xianlu Sect, where they could sense the Spiritual Auras of You Yan, the Fuzhu, and the Huodou.
Currently, only the Sect Master remained to hold the fort at the Xianlu Sect. To protect the innocent people of Moshui City, most of the sect’s disciples had followed Chu Tinglan and Mu Qingshuang down the mountain. The only ones left were a few young disciples and those who had been injured by evil spirits at the foot of the mountain.
The Yin Qi and Resentful Qi in Moshui City today were far, far heavier than anywhere else in the Mortal Realm. But before they could even get an update on the situation, they heard You Yan say coolly, “Since everyone’s here, let’s get ready to make our move.”
“Make our move?” Jiang Yuyao was taken aback. “Now? We’re doing it in Moshui?”
“Mm.”
“Then what about the people of Moshui City?” Jiang Yuyao hesitated.
“Luring it out won’t be difficult. But if we can’t kill it in one blow, it will flee back into the city,” You Yan stated flatly. “If we want to kill it then, we’ll have to turn Moshui upside down.”
After a brief silence, Jiang Yuyao looked up and said, “But Jian Li and Yue Zhuo were both injured by it. We…”
You Yan said, “It is also heavily injured right now. If we don’t strike now, are we supposed to wait for it to recover and leave Moshui?”
“Of course not!” Jiang Yuyao replied, then asked with a frown, “What can we do?”
“Follow me,” You Yan said, turning to leave.
Yi Qiu subconsciously started to follow, but she saw You Yan suddenly stop and turn back. “You stay here.”
Yi Qiu frowned. “How can I do that? I have to go, I’m worried…”
“It’s too dangerous. No one can protect you.”
“I can protect myself!”
“You can’t.” You Yan’s tone was exceptionally firm.
Yi Qiu was stunned. This was the first time You Yan had been so adamant about not taking her somewhere.
In the past, no matter what happened, You Yan had always been confident that she could protect her.
Yi Qiu asked, “Is it that dangerous?”
You Yan replied, “Yes.”
Yi Qiu said, “I can’t help at all…”
You Yan confirmed, “Indeed.”
Yi Qiu bit her lip, feeling dejected. “If only I were a little stronger…”
Why had she been so weak from the very beginning? Now, she was even a burden who would get in the way just by following from a distance.
You Yan let out a soft chuckle. “Just wait here obediently for me to come back. That would be a great help to me.”
“I know, I won’t cause trouble,” Yi Qiu muttered, lowering her head. But the fingers clutching You Yan’s sleeve refused to let go.
After a few seconds of silence, Yi Qiu couldn’t help but look up and say, “I can stay behind, but can you tell me the plan?”
She knew that even if she went, she wouldn’t be of any help and might even distract others by being unable to protect herself. But that didn’t stop her from worrying about everyone—after all, You Yan rarely used the word ‘dangerous’.
You Yan definitely wouldn’t let her go this time. She just wanted to know what You Yan was planning. She felt that the more she knew, the less she would worry.
You Yan thought for a long while before asking softly, “Do you trust me?”
“Of course I do!”
“Some things can’t be explained in just a few words. When I get back, if you still want to hear about it, I’ll tell you then.” As she spoke, You Yan gently stroked Yi Qiu’s ear, her eyebrows curving into a smile. “I am confident I can kill it. I’m not bragging.”
“…” Yi Qiu’s mind went blank, and she gave a dazed nod.
“Remember, no matter what, do not come looking for me,” You Yan said again.
“I’ll remember.”
“Really?” You Yan asked again.
“If you don’t come back, I won’t go anywhere,” Yi Qiu said, pouting. “If you don’t believe me, you can just seal my Spiritual Power and turn me back into an alpaca, right?”
“That won’t be necessary.” You Yan fell silent for a moment, then said hesitantly, “I remember, where you’re from, there’s a rule that you can’t go back on a pinky swear?”9
Yi Qiu was momentarily stunned. It took her a good while to hook her pinky around You Yan’s right one, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “Is this good enough?”
You Yan smiled and playfully messed up Yi Qiu’s hair. “I’m leaving.”
Yi Qiu pouted, grumbling to herself in her heart.
What’s with the pinky swear? That’s stuff for tricking kids. This bird is so old, how can she still believe in this?
If I really wanted to sneak away, what’s a verbal promise worth?
It’s just that I’m an honest person…
An honest alpaca definitely has to do what she says she’ll do.
The author has something to say:
Ah, I’m back. My sleep schedule accidentally got messed up again, so I’m not in the right state and don’t want to force myself to write. The updates have been a bit slow, but it’s not a big problem. I’ll be back at full health soon!
Speaking of which, writing three historical baihe10 novels in a row will get very repetitive, so after I finish this one, I’ll definitely have to change things up. I still have two more historical baihe novels in my upcoming works list, and the one I haven’t started yet probably won’t be started until next year. I asked on Weibo earlier and found that most little angels want to see 《Sinful Disciple》 first, so I’ll ask here too: do you all want me to start 《Sinful Disciple》 or 《Little Good-for-Nothing》 first?
Footnotes
- Original phrase: 用脚指头想 (yòng jiǎozhǐtou xiǎng). A colloquial expression meaning something is so obvious it requires no real thought.
- Original idiom: 愁眉不展 (chóuméibùzhǎn). Describes a state of constant worry and anxiety.
- Original phrase: 一击必杀 (yī jī bì shā). A phrase meaning to kill or defeat with a single, decisive blow.
- Original idiom: 打草惊蛇 (dǎ cǎo jīng shé). To act prematurely and alert an opponent to one’s intentions.
- Original idiom: 人人自危 (rénrén zìwēi). Describes a situation where everyone is in a state of fear and insecurity.
- Original idiom: 大门不出二门不迈 (dàmén bù chū èrmén bù mài). Describes someone who stays completely indoors, often out of fear or as a recluse.
- Original idiom: 焦头烂额 (jiāotóulàn’é). Literally ‘scorched head and battered forehead,’ it describes being in a terrible fix or utterly overwhelmed.
- Original idiom: 大眼瞪小眼 (dàyǎn dèng xiǎoyǎn). Literally ‘big eyes staring at small eyes,’ it describes people staring at each other, at a loss for words.
- A ‘pinky swear’ is a traditional gesture to seal a promise, where two people hook their little fingers.
- Baihe, literally ‘white lily,’ is the Chinese term for the girls’ love (GL) genre, similar to yuri in Japanese media. ‘Gubai’ refers specifically to historical settings.
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