Beginning with the Ubume Bird

Chapter 140: Chapter 39: Goddess Temple

“`

The tables were a messy aftermath of the feast, with empty dishes strewn all about.

Hmm, just one dish.

Crouching by the stove, Cha Xiaodao struck a match and lit the cigarette in his mouth, silently calculating.

After “Culinary Skill” comes the “Food Banquet”.

The higher the specialization, the better the awakened legacy skills, pity it’s a support class.

“Your ‘Witch Language’ status has been lifted.”

Li Yan at the table placed his chopsticks down, not a minute more or less, exactly fifteen minutes. He wiped his mouth, feeling a numbing sensation that zipped from his coccyx to his crown, leaving his entire body incomparably relaxed.

He said to Cha Xiaodao, “I’ll head to Naizi House first to finish the designated duel, then we’ll meet at Godess Temple.”

Cha Xiaodao glanced at Nine-Winged Sudu, who had passed out beside him. After arriving at the restaurant, Li Yan mashed the Yuanmou Jujube into a pulp and fed her a bit of it. The wound stopped worsening, but there were no signs of it healing.

Li Yan’s arm went around Nine-Winged Sudu’s neck, and his other hand wrapped around her thigh, lifting her up entirely.

The usually vibrant and bizarre Nine-Winged Sudu was now pale, her soft body occasionally trembling. Li Yan could even see the organs undulating beneath her ghastly white ribs, a sight that was shockingly macabre.

“With less than an hour to midnight, why not hold on until then?”

Cha Xiaodao offered the suggestion.

“No need, I’m fighting at Ming Tomb today, and there’s enough time to travel. I’ll take the two of them over, and after the duel is done, we’ll meet at Godess Temple.”

“How do you know you’re fighting at Ming Tomb today?”

Cha Xiaodao was taken aback, but quickly realized something. “You’ve met Pei Yunhu?”

“Mhm.”

Li Yan’s response was terse. He seemed unfazed by it.

He walked over to Lady Dan and said in a low voice, “Although Cha Xiaodao has no reason to deceive me, still be cautious. The Caishikou where heads are chopped off is already so ominous, places like the Godess Temple, who knows what kind of trouble there might be. It’s best if we can form relationships, but if not, focus on protecting yourself.”

Lady Dan seemed to have her own opinions about this world, different from Li Yan’s.

She handed Li Yan a towel, then smiled and said, “I just chatted with Mr. Cha; ordinary monsters can’t enter the old restaurants in Yan Capital City. They only serve gods and Buddhas who receive offerings. That day at Liubi House, the girl with the twin buns we saw is one of them. These people have a peaceful aura about them, there shouldn’t be any major problems.”

Li Yan’s expression relaxed considerably. He clearly understood that Lady Dan had seen his bad mood and was trying to comfort him.

“Then, should I accompany you to Godess Temple?”

Cha Xiaodao stood with his arms folded, also contemplating on his own.

Trust is a mutual thing; Li Yan had helped him break through his peak, and he had to fulfill his promise in return.

The information Cha Xiaodao had previously gathered suggested that Godess Temple could heal Nine-Winged Sudu.

Telling Li Yan about this and accompanying him there wouldn’t make much difference, but it would show his willingness.

As for what happens next, whether the two can establish a long-term cooperation or even get closer, it depends on how well they get along.

Li Yan thought for a moment, then with a strange expression, he asked Cha Xiaodao, “How do you plan to travel?”

“You’ve seen what my legs can do,” Cha Xiaodao said confidently, lifting his chin.

“Alright then.”

…

The Dodge Tomahawk sped off, leaving all others in its dust.

Liang Ye’s brash voice was as playful as ever.

“Peach blossoms and plum blossoms are fragrant, pear flowers are pretty, but how can they compare to the spring excitement on my branches~”

The joyous sound of the suona carried far into the distance.

As for Cha Xiaodao, he had already been left far behind, out of sight.

The whistle of the wind, and the green Copper Coin swayed backward on Li Yan’s neck.

The heavy snow landed on Li Yan’s shoulders and arms, causing him to shiver with goosebumps.

Sudu, leaning against Li Yan’s back, was wrapped in a black long coat, her complexion oddly rosy.

“`

Only when they could see the temple with its gray eaves and yellow walls, adorned with a Ba Gua mirror, did the Dodge Tomahawk slowly come to a stop.

Li Yan carried Nine-Winged Sudu through the temple gate. The door was open and the yellow curtains on the altar were drawn, so the deity inside was not clearly visible, the aroma of sandalwood pervasive within the room.

The shrine was carved with flowing clouds, flames, heavenly maidens, and flood dragons.

The left side read “Maintain sincerity and reverence as if the gods were present,” and the right side had “Summon literary, martial, and auspicious blessings.”

Lady Dan stepped over a Copper Coin, took two steps forward, and gave a respectful bow to the yellow curtains.

“Midnight hasn’t arrived yet; even if you bow, she can’t see you.”

Li Yan gently placed Nine-Winged Sudu down, indifferent to the grand and solemn decorations.

Lady Dan, who originated from a Mountain God, had never seen such splendor before. She looked around, her gaze settling on a clay sculpture in a side hall.

It was a pretty maiden with a double hair bun, holding a Yujing Vase.

Li Yan frowned. It was after ten o’clock at night; the temple should have been closed, but the gates were wide open and there was no one around, which was more than a little unusual.

Come to think of it, Li Yan hadn’t seen anyone on the way there either.

The sound of something tearing through the air came one after another, and Cha Xiaodao’s face turned grim. Leaning against a pillar, he kept panting heavily, his fingers trembling as they pointed at Li Yan, lips turning white with anger.

“Calm down, you still have a tough fight ahead of you.”

Li Yan’s attempt at consolation was perfunctory.

“How did you know this place could cure Sudu in the first place?”

“There was a strange creature I chased here, uh, a little boy wearing a yellow duck shirt who could only throw heads. He ran in here and came out completely healed in just a few minutes. I jumped up to peek over the wall and saw the courtyard was full of white light, with a woman in her mid-twenties standing there. She just glanced at me and did nothing.”

“You didn’t rush in to check it out? You might have caught a ‘legendary’ oddity.”

Li Yan said half-jokingly, half-seriously.

Cha Xiaodao ignored Li Yan, patiently explaining, “My advice is to light a few sticks of incense for the temple. With these two by your side, one an ancient demon and the other a wild mountain god, it would be much more reliable to let them handle negotiations than you doing it yourself.”

Lady Dan agreed, nodding at Li Yan.

Li Yan then asked, “Say, Xiaodao…”

Cha Xiaodao’s eyebrow twitched, but he did not retort.

“On your way over here, did you see anyone?”

“No.”

Cha Xiaodao blinked and also felt that something was off.

“Never mind, let’s not worry about that for now.”

It was almost eleven o’clock. The calm before the storm was the quietest time, and no one would risk the chance of not reaching the designated place to attempt to ambush Li Yan or Pei Yunhu.

“Lady Dan, I’ll leave two Sudu birds here. If there’s any emergency, let me know.”

“There’s no need.”

Lady Dan spoke with unusual conviction, glancing at the Nine-Winged Sudu on the cushion.

“When you come back, I’ll return to you a bouncing, lively female demon.”

Li Yan flashed a toothy smile and slapped Cha Xiaodao on the shoulder.

“Let’s go, I’ll accompany you for part of the way.”

With that said, the two of them walked out arm in arm.

“Where did you get that bike? Looks pretty expensive.”

“It’s so-so.”

“Rich second generation?”

“So-so.”

Lady Dan watched the roaring turbo depart before turning her attention back to Nine-Winged Sudu’s face.

She gently sat down, drew up her knees, and her red lips parted slightly:

“Open your eyes, everyone is far away now. Besides, with the severity of your injury, even if you woke up, wouldn’t the Lord Governor still have to carry you? Why bother with such petty tricks?”