The Exorcist

Book 7: Chapter 56: Treasure Tome

Wan Li couldnt get in, but Ruan Zhan and Bao Da Tong mentally updated him on the situation inside. After Bao Da Tong listened to Wan Lis response, he opened his mouth and relayed his meaning.

The connection between siblings is truly something! Bao Da Tong closed his eyes, even managing to imitate Wan Lis speech patterns.

He wasnt as powerful as Ruan Zhan and also wasnt Wan Lis friend for life. Therefore, he needed to focus his mind to communicate with Wan Li telepathically, unlike Ruan Zhan who did so easily.

The black tornado sneered, ramming another tornado closer towards their barrier.

However, Zhang Xiao Hua, do you truly cherish your little sister that much?

Another sneer and another collision was the response as the tornado moved even closer.

If so, why are you the only one to enjoy the feeling of growing up, to enjoy Lu Yans motherly affection? Why dont you share any of it with your sister? This time, the black tornado halted for a moment. Zhang Xiao Huas angry voice rang out. Stop trying to drive a wedge between us. Hong Yu and I have been together for three hundred years. Someone like you couldnt possibly understand.

Youre wrong. Understanding people is my job. Not to brag, but Im rather good at it. If you really cared about that sister of yours, how could you possibly let her look on as you make up for your lost time? In your eyes, shes not really a sister, merely a companion, right? Once you find something more important to you, youll probably ignore her, right? You didnt seem too worried about her injuries while you battled Ruan Zhan earlier. She was injured you know, injured for your sake. Didnt you notice?

Shut up! Zhang Xiao Hua shouted. He had three centuries of cultivation but in terms of wordplay he was far from being Wan Lis match. As he yelled, the black tornado formed from their fusion slowed.They were gradually forced back into the corner of the formation by the wind currents.

Hong Yu, dont listen to them. Theyre trying to divide and conquer. He increased his power, maintaining this final move of his.

Zhang Hong Yu let out a muffled sound of agreement and the tornado stabilized again.

Im afraid Little Sis Hong Yu also has some opinions about her big bro, right? Bao Da Tong continued. If it werent for the voice being different, he could have been mistaken for Wan Li. Although the two bickered constantly, their worked pretty well together during critical moments.

But Hong Yu, its fine to be dissatisfied with your big bro. Everyone has their own insecurities, theres nothing to be ashamed of. For example, Im very afraid of falling in love with a woman yet being unable to protect her. Bao Da Tong Bao Da Tong didnt expect Wan Li to bring up their own affairs and involuntarily paused. However, he still continued relaying. Hes a jokester on the surface, but hes very afraid of being unable to live up to his fathers expectations. Ruan Zhan, hes afraid of getting close to warmth. Hes afraid that once hes gotten used to the feeling, he wont be able to go back to the cold. Xiao Xia, shes afraid of being rejected by the man she loves. Therefore, we all have things we fear, and try our best to ignore the deepest truths in our hearts. Arent you the same? Dont you feel some complaints about your brother always ordering you about without considering your feelings? But youre afraid of angering him so you dont dare speak up. But why not? Is it because hes too selfish, or is it because without him, you also have nothing?

I dont have such thoughts. This time it was Zhang Hong Yu who spoke, but her voice was weak and unable to convince even herself, let alone Zhang Xiao Hua.

Zhang Xiao Hua couldnt help but feel a little nervous. If he couldnt maintain his fusion with Hong Yu, they would have no chance of winning. He already felt fear towards this terrifying Wind Screen Formation.

Dont you? When Lil Tongs body could no longer contain two souls at once, didnt you blame your brother for driving you out, leaving you adrift without any shelter?

My big bros side is my shelter.

Then dont you mind him liking another woman?

His voice had just fallen when the barely stable tornado suddenly slowed again. Ruan Zhan and Bao Da Tong were able to see the two-headed bird shape. It was no longer just a clump of black miasma. Although they were still fused, their heads were looking in different directions.

If you didnt care, why did you target Xiao Xia three times? Bao Da Tong continued to pass on Wan Lis words. You must feel some resentment, but you just didnt say anything. Just like how you ignored your brothers urgings when he kicked you out of Lil Tongs body, and insisted on kidnapping a bunch of children. Yet you didnt eat them, and instead kept them as your toys. Were you trying to annoy your brother and get his attention? Or were you afraid youd be on your own in the future, and having those children nearby meant you wouldnt be lonely? Or both?

I wasnt. Zhang Hong Yu still refuted, but apart from those two words, she couldnt say anything else.

You didnt tell your brother you tried to kill Xiao Xia, right? Wan Li brought out the big guns. Zhang Xiao Hua immediately turned to look at Zhang Hong Yu, seeming both surprised and angry. But Hong Yu remained silent.

This was a plan Ruan Zhan and Wan Li had come up with after putting everything together. They had discovered that a rift had already formed between the two fiends. They hid things from each other. Therefore, although they hadnt known the two could fuse, they had still prepared a plan to widen the rift. They hadnt thought it would come in handy.

Wan Li felt that despite their childlike appearances, the fiends were sufficiently mature mentally. They lacked maternal love and had found Lu Yan to make up for it. Therefore, Lu Yan was fine despite living with them for years. Yet that sort of safety was temporary. They didnt actually love Lu Yan. They had to know the effect of living with a human for a prolonged period of time. Such a human probably wouldnt live past thirty. This was already apparent from Lu Yans physical condition. They were merely demanding selfishly, especially Zhang Xiao Hua. He treated his younger sister, whom he had spent three centuries with, the same way.

He wanted Xiao Xia because he wanted a mature womans love. This included the love between a man and a woman, as well as that of a mother and her son. Unfortunately he had spent all his time underground and didnt understand that such love couldnt be seized.

Zhang Hong Yus hatred of Xiao Xia was also clearly one womans jealousy of another. Zhang Hong Yu was over three hundred years old. Perhaps she didnt actually want to experience the joys of growing up like her older brother. Perhaps she just wanted to become a real woman, and not remain a childs shadow forever. The attractive figure and beautiful appearance of a matured woman was like a curse. Unless she seized someone elses body, she would never obtain it.

Puberty often hit girls earlier and harder than boys. Perhaps she loved her brother, but had always been ignored and overlooked. Therefore, she might be resentful of the older brother who only used her and didnt actually love her! Perhaps she thought if she looked like a real woman, she would have a certain place in her brothers heart.

Therefore, she wanted to use Xiao Xia as her shell. Being inside the body her brother liked, and to be liked by her brother, was probably happiness, right?

Do you want to kill Xiao Xia? Zhang Xiao Hua asked. Why didnt you tell me?

There are plenty of things she hasnt told you. Bao Da Tong had spoken on his own, without Wan Lis input.

Woosh

A tornado whirled past them. The sharp wind blades left a large wound on Zhang Xiao Huas face and he cried out in pain.

Lets deal with the enemies first! Zhang Hong Yu gritted her teeth.

Although a rift had formed between them that was now exposed by Wan Li, she still loved him after all. Her heart ached at seeing him injured.

Zhang Xiao Hua knew this wasnt the time to get emotional. Therefore, he gathered his own spirit power and received Hong Yus familiar strength, rapidly increasing the speed of their rotation. Gradually, the black tornado formed again. However, it wasnt as fast as before. Upon careful examination, a crack was visible in the center.

Whether human or ghost, a rift in the heart prevented a wholehearted fusion if left untreated and merely ignored. This was especially the case when casting spells.

Its our turn. Seeing the small yet terrible crack, Ruan Zhan raised his hand.

Bao Da Tong tacitly understood. The moment Ruan Zhan withdrew the annihilation seal, he immediately prepared the bloodwood sword and took out a talisman with his other hand. When the sound of breaking glass announced the shattering of their barrier, he swiftly traded places with Ruan Zhan and acted.

Ruan Zhan put all his strength into the wind blade in his hand, completely putting his safety in Bao Da Tongs hands. This was something only the closest companions could pull off. It signified wholehearted trust.

Two thunderous booms rang out, reverberating in the sealed space and causing their eardrums to buzz.

Ruan Zhans wind blade split apart around the black tornado formed by the fiends, and then attacked from every direction. In an instant, four flying blades pierced into the tornado from four different directions. The tornado completely separated, turning into a pile of severed limbs that fell to the floor.

At the same time, a huge tornado also happened to reach Ruan Zhan and Bao Da Tongs position. To allow Ruan Zhan to attack, they had already taken down the barrier and the annihilation seal. Therefore, the tornado headed straight for them.

Bao Da Tong stood in front of Ruan Zhan, slamming the talisman in his hand heavily onto the bloodwood sword and gripping its hilt with both hands. Holding the sword before him, he gritted his teeth and stood his ground. Behind him was Ruan Zhan, and he had to protect his companion.

The tornado released a low hum as it swept at them mercilessly. However, it was directly split in two as red light exploded from the bloodwood sword, passing harmlessly on either side before reforming and continuing onwards. The tailwind left traces of blood on their skin, but they had managed to avoid the threat to their lives.

The moment the tornado passed, Ruan Zhan immediately set up the barrier and annihilation seal again. Now they just had to wait for the helpless fiends to get ground up by the wind.

Zhang Xiao Hua lay unmoving on the ground, clearly heavily injured. He was unable to fight anymore, but he suddenly let out a peal of cold laughter. Great, you defeated my final move! Ruan Zhan, I do not accept my loss. You used schemes and tricks to restrict me! But I still have one final card to play. You wont get a complete victory. Ill have those children accompany me in death! If Im going to suffer, I will make everyone else suffer with me!

He laughed wildly, the shadows on the ground writhing along, before starting to chant an unintelligible spell.

What? Scared? He asked smugly, seeing no trace of resistance in Ruan Zhan. Dont you care about those children? Where is the supposed empathy you despicable mortals have? Ah A wind blade severed one of his arms. Meanwhile, Zhang Hong Yu didnt even have the strength to move.

Man, youre really something. Harming others with no benefit to yourself. You even insist on dragging others down with you in death. Bao Da Tong spoke. The crime you suffered, dont tell me you want to inflict it upon others? How can you be so cruel? But dont worry. Would we not have measures for those many innocent souls in your hands?

Hmph, the tattered banner cannot absorb those souls. They are too weak and have no way to preserve themselves. Even if the banner isnt offensive in nature, they cannot endure it! They would become damaged even if you stored them! Zhang Xiao Hua said both smugly and resentfully.

The tattered banner is to guard against you. As for those weak souls, we have other plans. Weve already calculated every step you plan on taking.

Seeing Bao Da Tongs confidence, Zhang Xiao Hua suddenly despaired. He cried out. I dont believe it! I dont believe it!

Pity appeared on Bao Da Tongs face as he sighed. You have only yourself to blame, as expected. Havent you realized our dearest Xiao Xia never appeared? Think about why her illusion was holding that black box. Im ok with telling you that Xiao Xia was in a hole under her illusion the whole time. That way her aura would be mixed within, allowing her illusion to fool you. She came out the moment you guys entered the Wind Screen Formation. Inside her box is a treasured tome that took in all those innocent souls, even the crippled ones.

Ruan Zhan didnt speak. He watched as Zhang Xiao Hua and Zhang Hong Yu slowly leaned against each other. They held each other and trembled, like two children in the face of danger. He felt some unwillingness in his heart, but thinking of those soulless children he hardened his heart once more.

Why? Why were there always people doing such heinous things, forcing him to deal with such tragedy? Why did those people never consider the consequences of their actions, and keep even a trace of compassion in their hearts?

It was true that the tattered banner was too forceful so it couldnt absorb weaker souls. However, the empty second half of Master Longs ancient tome could contain even damaged souls. It could naturally keep the souls of the children without any issues.

Master Long had already left this world, but his benevolence still lingered. Even the formation used to deal with the two fiend children had been learned from his tome. Someone capable and kind like him had ended up being dragged down by his emotional attachments and was tragically wiped out. They had also used emotional estrangement to defeat the fiend children. It seemed that emotions were the strongest weapons in the world.

Passion fades. Loving someone too much, whether as family, friends or lovers, would end up shortening ones life span!

Ah Zhan! A voice appeared in Ruan Zhans mind.

He trembled, involuntarily looking around. Yet there was no sign of the person who called out to him. Was it his imagination? That person was already dead. Did he miss him too much, or hate him too much? Or was he unable to let him go? Why would he imagine hearing his voice?

Ah Zhan! The voice rang out again, close enough that it seemed right outside the formation!

The voice stabbed into Ruan Zhans heart, sharper than a wind blade. His focus was abruptly scattered and he lost control of his strength. The annihilation seals power burst forth by itself, breaking the Wind Screen Formation in an instant.

While the formation was broken, their barrier remained. Right as the annihilation seal turned to break the small barrier, which would unavoidably end up harming them, a tall and skinny figure suddenly appeared. With a swift point of the finger, the annihilation seals light immediately extinguished as it dropped in front of Ruan Zhan. At the same time, the pair of fiends were absorbed into the persons palm!

Uncle! Bao Da Tong and Wan Li cried out simultaneously.