Chapter 3: Witchcraft Command 2

Having made up his mind, Feng Yi turned to the three cultivators who were kowtowing like pounding garlic and said, “Our young mistress has declared that she will spare you today. This is an immense act of mercy for you. Who in these southwestern barbaric lands doesn’t know that once the Witch Gu Token is issued, it must claim a soul? Consider yourselves lucky today. Get lost now. If you ever dare to come to Yelang to smuggle salt again, you will not be forgiven.”

Upon hearing this, the three cultivators repeatedly kowtowed and said, “We wouldn’t dare, we wouldn’t dare, we would never dare again.” Then, they scrambled to their feet and fled as if running for their lives.

Seeing that the cultivators had fled, Weng Li said, “Feng Yi, send a messenger ghost child to the Venom Gu Office and have them send some people to retrieve these Walking Corpses and the salt.”

Feng Yi acknowledged the order: “Yes.” He then snapped his fingers. In a flash of white light, a white ghost child knelt at Weng Li’s feet.

Weng Li instructed the ghost child, “Go back quickly and summon a few cultivators to retrieve these corpses and the salt.” The ghost child nodded to Weng Li and then vanished from her feet.

After the ghost child had departed, Feng Yi said, “Young Mistress, let’s rest for a while and wait for the cultivators who will come to transport the salt.”

Weng Li nodded and found a stone slab nearby to sit on. After sitting down, she suddenly felt a faint burning sensation in her chest and unconsciously furrowed her brows slightly.

Noticing Weng Li’s frown, Feng Yi quickly asked, “Young Mistress, are you unwell?”

Weng Li shook her head and said, “It’s nothing. It’s just a slight burning sensation at the Spirit Root. I suppose it’s about to advance in rank.”

Hearing this, Feng Yi was overjoyed: “Advance in rank? Young Mistress, I have served you for over a decade, and your Spirit Root has never shown any reaction before.”

Weng Li also nodded: “Yes, isn’t that right? I was starting to doubt whether my identity as a Spirit Root host was real or not.”

Feng Yi suddenly asked, “Young Mistress, I once overheard the Master mention unintentionally that a Spirit Root host is destined to live a solitary life. Is that true?”

Weng Li paused and said, “Actually, I’m not entirely sure. But according to the Wen family records, every hundred years, the Fengming Wen Clan produces two Spirit Root hosts, both of whom are women. Because the Spirit Root has the ability to gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, the Spirit Energy and cultivation of the hosts throughout the generations have far surpassed those of ordinary cultivators. One year of cultivation for a host is equivalent to several years, or even more, for an ordinary cultivator.

Therefore, the hosts of each generation have almost always been great masters in the mystical arts. However, the hosts of each generation have also almost always ended up alone in their old age, because the host cannot engage in intimate relations with a man. Once she does, the Spirit Root will transfer half of her Spirit Energy and cultivation to the man she was intimate with, and the host will change. After losing the Spirit Root, the host’s body will gradually become weak. Those with good fortune may live for another eight to ten years, while those with bad fortune may die within three to five years.

Therefore, the ancestral teaching of the Fengming Wen Clan is that female hosts must not marry and must protect the Spirit Root for life until death. Over the centuries, it is said that only one host violated this ancestral teaching. She married a cultivator she loved, but less than a year after he obtained her Spirit Root and cultivation, he abandoned her and went far away to cultivate immortality and seek the Dao.”

After hearing this, Feng Yi couldn’t help but open his mouth wide. He asked, “Then… what happened after that?”

Weng Li sighed and shook her head: “Later, that host died a miserable death. In the end, she was so frail she was nothing but skin and bones, yet she kept hoping every day that the man would return to see her one more time. But that man didn’t even bother to see her one last time.”

Feng Yi said indignantly: “How could such a man exist in this world? He truly deserves to die! But that host was really too pitiful!”

Weng Li pursed her lips: “Yes; that’s why my elder sister and mother have told me this story since I was young. They were afraid I would follow in that host’s footsteps. My mother said; there are already few men in this world who are devoted, and even fewer among them who can truly win your heart. I think even without this spirit root, I’m destined to grow old alone in this lifetime!”

Feng Yi however said: “But young mistress; aren’t you engaged to Tuoba Yuan of the Youxue Pavilion?”

Weng Li shook her head and smiled: “My elder sister told me long ago. The old master of Youxue Pavilion has known all along about the spirit root of the Fengming Wen Clan’s hosts. Back then, it was precisely for the chance that his unborn child might obtain this spirit root that he proposed the arranged marriage to my father.

Now that I’ve grown up, the old master Tuoba has never mentioned the arranged marriage. And our Weng family has never brought up the matter of the spirit root’s appearance. I’m afraid the old master Tuoba has long intended to break off the engagement. It’s just that his son Tuoba Yuan is unwilling.”

Feng Yi nodded: “Yes, no wonder. For over twenty years, no one has known that you possess this spirit root, plus your spirit root has never shown any reaction all these years. Therefore, the old master Tuoba probably thinks you’re not the spirit root host he hoped for. That must be why he wants to break off the engagement! But I think young master Tuoba quite likes you, young mistress. Every time he visits, he brings you all kinds of novel and interesting things.”

Weng Li smiled bitterly: “Perhaps, but I don’t like him. At most, what I feel for him is sibling affection, not romantic love.”

Feng Yi giggled and said: “Young mistress; in over twenty years, I’ve never seen you like any man, so how would you know what romantic love feels like?”

Weng Li rolled her eyes at Feng Yi: “You fool, I have a heart to feel with! I’ve never found myself constantly thinking about Tuoba Yuan. When I see him, my heart doesn’t beat any faster at all. Do you think that could be romantic love?”

Feng Yi opened her mouth wide as if suddenly understanding: “Oh; so constantly thinking about someone, and having your heart beat faster when you see them – that’s what romantic love is!”

Weng Li laughed: “You shameless, crazy girl. What, is my Gu Department no longer able to keep you contained? Are you thinking about getting married?”

Feng Yi quickly said: “No, no, no! How could I marry when you haven’t married yet, young mistress? I made up my mind since childhood to accompany you for my entire life. Wherever you go in the future, I’ll follow.”

Weng Li couldn’t help laughing: “I was just teasing you! Look how flustered you got. But Feng Yi, if you ever meet someone who makes your heart beat faster, you should marry him. ‘I wish to wed the one I love, and grow old together with white hair.’ If you truly meet a deeply devoted and righteous man, I’ll definitely prepare a generous dowry for you.”

Hearing this, Feng Yi blushed and asked: “What about you, young mistress? If you meet someone who makes your heart beat faster, would you marry him too?”

Weng Li raised an eyebrow thoughtfully: “I think I probably would!”

Feng Yi widened her eyes: “Huh? Even if your spiritual root changes owners, you still would?”

Weng Li nodded firmly: “Yes!”

Feng Yi exclaimed in surprise: “Even knowing you would die, you still would?”

Weng Li smiled instead: “When my father was alive, he often said that how long one lives isn’t important. What matters is living happily, joyfully, and becoming who you truly want to be. If the person I meet is truly my destined one, even if I only live three to five years, I think I’d be willing.”

Feng Yi blinked at her young mistress with partial understanding but remained silent. She simply didn’t know what it felt like – this heart-pounding, constant longing her mistress described.

As master and servant were speaking, the cultivators from the Venom Gu Office arrived. Seeing Weng Li, they approached and knelt on one knee, cupping their hands in salute: “Greetings, Young Mistress.”

Weng Li gave them a slight nod: “Take this salt and these Walking Corpses back.”

The cultivators acknowledged the order, immediately rising to drive the salt-laden Walking Corpses slowly back toward the Venom Gu Office.

Seeing the salt being taken away, Weng Li felt somewhat relieved. Suddenly, her stomach growled in protest, making her laugh involuntarily: “Feng Yi, your young mistress is a bit hungry.”

Hearing this, Feng Yi looked ahead: “Young Mistress, we’re not far from Bajun City now. Should we go find a tavern there to eat?”

Weng Li pouted with disdain: “Food from outside taverns is neither clean nor tasty. I think we should use Sword Kinesis to return to the Venom Gu Office and have my mother make us something to eat.”

Feng Yi looked up at the sky again: “Young Mistress, it’s probably not even Shen hour yet. The Madam must still be worshiping that Yiling Patriarch Wei-something in the ancestral hall. Besides, using Sword Kinesis from Bajun would take at least half an hour.”

Weng Li shot her a glare: “Don’t be disrespectful. Our benefactor is called Wei Ying. Wei Wuxian. Yiling Patriarch is a derogatory name others call him.”

Feng Yi chuckled: “Right, right. Wei Ying; Wei Ying. I remember the name Wei Ying because you’re named Nian Ying to commemorate that benefactor of yours. You’ve said this hundreds of times, Young Mistress. I’ve long memorized it by heart.”

Weng Li thought for a moment: “Have I? That many times? Even if it’s hundreds of times, it’s only proper. My mother says we should remember kindness for a thousand years. Well then, we won’t disturb my mother while she’s peacefully worshiping our benefactor. I’ll listen to you today! Let’s go eat in Bajun City.”