Killing Dao Fruit
Chapter 81 - 79: The Boundary Between Life and Death in the Yin Yang Realm, The Ferryman on the San Tu River

Chapter 81: Chapter 79: The Boundary Between Life and Death in the Yin Yang Realm, The Ferryman on the San Tu River

How could Wang Yuan overlook the various anomalies surrounding his grandfather?

The only person in Daling Village over seventy years old; seen by no one but himself, unknown to all; returning home only on rainy days, and disappearing without a trace when the skies were clear...

Although it wasn’t until he had just witnessed the mutation firsthand through "Unsightly Observation" that he was entirely certain of his grandfather’s current condition.

Yet his speculation about his grandfather’s identity started much earlier.

It began when he obtained the Daoist Book from the Wild Dog Taoist and learned about the conditions for the birth of a "Weird" entity, and his suspicion deepened when he awakened his "Eyes as Dark as Indigo."

At that time, a "note" had appeared in the "Small Book of Life and Death."

Note: The owner of the book, Wang Yuan, due to prolonged contact with a "Weird" entity and the influence of its accumulated ’knowledge,’ was triggered during a non-human transformation.

But at that time, he couldn’t verify it, so he put it aside temporarily.

As for the first time he realized there were secrets about his grandfather as a child? Wang Yuan could no longer remember when that was.

But he did recall seeing a news story in his past life.

A small boy, ill-treated by his stepmother, would run to the cemetery alone at night to cry to his mother.

Not scared in the slightest, for where there are loved ones, there lies home. Without them, it’s merely a house.

Why would he turn a blind eye to it all?

From the beginning to end, there was nothing confounding the heart or hindering clear sight with mysterious affairs.

The answer is quite simple—it’s only because with characters like the Tree Demon Grandma and female ghost cousin in front, Wang Yuan simply didn’t care about what his grandfather really was.

If the grandfather didn’t speak up, he wouldn’t ask.

Perhaps he also silently feared that asking might result in not even being able to maintain the peace of their current infrequent comings and goings?

Now that he had finally fully confirmed his conjecture,

Wang Yuan’s most genuine thought was probably, I don’t care if the old man is a human, a gradually mutating demon, or a man-eating "Weird." Whoever dares come to slay the demon, I will deal with them first!

However, looking at the cracked cattle horn on his grandfather’s head, he still couldn’t help but worry.

Even though it seemed far from fully turning into a "Weird."

As far as he knew, he had never heard of anyone who could completely revert back to their original state after the start of a mutation.

Just as he was about to speak, he was suddenly stopped by his grandfather’s gesture.

The old man tapped the brass pipe in his hand and stared at his slightly green-tinted eyes, saying with relief,

"You’ve advanced to the second realm ’Daoist Soldier’ in the Taoist Military Skill, awakened ’Eyes as Dark as Indigo,’ and the move you just used should be the ’Transformation into Tiger Technique’ from the seventy-two peculiar skills of the Xiangshan Sect, right?

The one thousand acres of our family land were earned when I served with the White Tiger Elite Soldiers.

In cooperation with the ’Five Army Camps,’ ’Three Thousand Camps,’ and ’Divine Machine Camp,’ we attacked the Xiangshan Sect together, cutting down forests and demolishing temples to build our wealth.

At that time, other opportunistic sects could only follow behind the Court’s army to pick at the remnants and scraps.

In the blink of an eye, several decades have passed."

"’To own it is not enough to rely on, to lose it is not to grieve, what the heart does, be it bitter or joyful, is known as All Appearances.’

Although the Xiangshan Sect was only a major branch of the All Appearances Dao, it was already known as the number one sect among the side doors; how grand was its prestige?

But didn’t the Mountain Temple on Xiangshan still get wiped out by the Court just like that?

From the Sect Master Marshal with true man’s merit to ordinary disciples, all were completely eradicated!

You should stop practicing that ’Transformation into Tiger Technique’ here. Never use it to seek enlightenment and fall into the rotten quagmire of the All Appearances Dao. If you do, causality will entangle you, and not even immortals will be able to save you!"

Seeing Wang Yuan nod solemnly in agreement, the old man, who was clearly privy to many secrets of the cultivation world, sighed at how time spares no one and then continued,

"In this short half a month that I have been away, you truly gave me too many surprises.

You even almost succeeded in taking back Xiao Wu’s corpse.

I guess you already know quite well all that happened back then; I’m going to take a bit of a shortcut, which nicely saves me some ’Merit.’

At first, neither I nor your grandma wanted you two kids to be dragged back into this vortex that has already devoured countless people.

However, who could have expected that you would manage to get this far on your own? I do have some extra words to share with you..."

Boom... Boom...

To Wang Yuan’s surprise, each time his grandfather revealed a secret, a deafening thunder sounded outside.

He couldn’t help asking, "Grandfather, what’s happening?"

The old man merely smiled and patted his shoulder, seemingly unconcerned as he said:

"It’s just a taboo for those descending from the Yin Department lower soil: Without a decree, Yin and Yang must not interfere with each other.

Although one can offset with merit, even the greatest merits are but a drop in the ocean. Yin Officials who return to the Yang World on their own must all be cautious and act like ghosts..."

Beyond Yin Morality, Wang Yuan learned of a new concept — Merit.

Yin Morality invokes celestial recompense; Yang virtue grants worldly fame.

However, these blessings, received through the response of the Heavenly People, are external and will inevitably run out one day.

Just like the Yin Morality in the ’Small Book of Life and Death,’ it comes and goes without leaving a trace.

If a cultivator does good deeds and truly detaches from that goodness, maintaining precepts and concentration, then they accumulate Merit.

This process can also be understood as "refinement"!

Unlike Yin Morality, which only benefits descendants or pays off in the next life, Merit transcends the cycle of life and death, transforming a lost soul from ghost to deity, paving the way to the roles of Yin Official and ghost god!

Just like Grandfather Wang Wenhua at this moment.

"So, having intervened with the living this time, I’ve violated the precept taboo and can no longer linger in the Yang World.

Grandfather doesn’t have much time left, let me finish what’s most urgent.

Back then, our ’tomb raiding’ barely managed to interrupt the ’Killing Banquet,’ but it also left troubles for you and Xiao Wu.

You only had to hide until after the bicentennial grand ceremony, and the Yili King’s Great Fortune would naturally dwindle, like a dragon stranded in shallow water.

It’s exactly ’at the top, Kanglong Regret, fullness cannot last.’

Now, plans can’t keep up with changes. In thirteen days, the ’Killing Banquet’ from that year will be staged once again, with no one attempting to prevent it.

In fact, each and every one is adding fuel to the flames with their own dark calculations."

"You’ve reclaimed the Corpse this time, and Xiao Wu is now able to leave the mirror.

The Green Phoenix Treasure Pearl she speaks of is rich in Yin quality and is a rare ghostly Possession item in this world, and she can completely embark on the path of ghost cultivation without any issues.

But your trouble isn’t small, as long as that treasure exists for a day, you’ll be the target for all arrows.

If you wish to rest easy, afterward you must make sure that all those in the know... are forever silenced!"

At this point, Grandfather chuckled coldly, like a cunning old fox:

"However, we two of the Wang Family’s main branch, despite being insignificant figures who can’t make the big leagues, are still enough to spoil the plans of those in high places, with your actions like this... that way..."

Boom!

With those words, another peal of thunder rumbled, and the circle of golden light behind Grandfather dimmed a bit more.

Clearly, due to the taboo of ’Yin and Yang must not interfere,’ not only would Grandfather be counteracted with equivalent force during his intervention, but even speaking each secret of importance came at a price.

Every interference the old man made in the Yang World had to be compensated with the Merit he had painstakingly accumulated.

That’s why, apart from protecting Wang Yuan in the past, he could only watch helplessly as Wang Yunhu, Master Ge, and the Luoyang Royal Mansion... all these evil spirits roamed freely on and off the stage.

Unless he wanted mutual destruction, merely appearing before others was a huge burden, let alone meddling.

And even with Merit to offset, Grandfather still experienced negative consequences for returning to the Yang World during the rain.

The bull horn on his head was clear proof.

Right now, Grandfather was like those unrivaled heroes who cough up blood while still drinking heartily from a large bowl.

Just as he often said, he knew from his heart what he wanted to do, what he should do.

He was also willing to pay the price, foreseeing and accepting the consequences of his actions.

This is the kind of responsibility a man should take on.

Therefore, Wang Yuan didn’t make a big fuss. Since Grandfather changed his initial intention and started revealing secrets, it meant Wang Yuan now had the qualifications to get involved in the complicated game of multiple parties.

What he could do was to perk up his ears and earnestly absorb the old man’s experience and wisdom!

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Grandfather, having finished giving his instructions, vanished into the storm.

It would be difficult for him to return to the Yang World anytime soon.

Wang Yuan looked down at the token in his hand, which seemed to be made of yinchen wood, with blood-red characters dancing wildly:

"Yin Yang realms separate life from death, Ferryman stands above the San Tu River.

—Daling Tomb Tiger, Wang Wenhua."