Chapter 57: Waking Up
In the house by the lake, the old steward told Yu Shi, who had just changed clothes and walked out, “The flowers you needed were prepared.”
“Thank you, Mr. Steward,” Yu Shi said as he looked at the fresh flowers on the table, noting the variety and the presence of some unfamiliar, rare types.
“No need to thank me. I’m glad you’re taking better care of Ninth Master Feng,” the old steward said with his usual gentle and kind smile. “However, once Ninth Master Feng wakes up, it might not be suitable to place flowers and decorations there anymore.”
Jiang Mang, also observing the flowers, asked curiously, “Why?”
The old steward sighed lightly, “After Ninth Master Feng wakes up, he sometimes falls into a state of madness. To prevent him from harming himself, dangerous or excessive decorations won’t be placed in the room.”
‘So that’s it!’ Jiang Mang thought about how the Feng family, being such a wealthy family, had placed expensive decorations even in their rooms. So she had wondered why Ninth Master Feng’s residence was so simple, thinking it was just Ninth Master Feng’s preference for a plain style.
Yu Shi said, “I understand. I will be careful. After the Ninth Master wakes up, I will remove any fragile items and will not place any flowers that might affect him.”
Seeing that Yu Shi understood, the old steward nodded with satisfaction.
He had taken care of several generations of spirit demons in the Feng family and had seen nearly a hundred exclusive “caregivers” come and go.
Most of these people were fearful of the dangerous spirit demons and did not dare to stay long.
This young man before him, who took the initiative to make changes while taking care of Ninth Master Feng, was truly unique.
“Also, Mr. Steward, do you have any plans to install dehumidifiers in Ninth Master’s residence?” Yu Shi asked.
The old steward, known for his extensive knowledge, was surprisingly at a loss for words.
“Dehumidifiers…?”
“Yes!” Jiang Mang agreed, “We have central air conditioning in our rooms, but Ninth Master Feng’s place doesn’t have any. Living on the lake means there’s a lot of moisture, which is bad for the health. Dehumidifiers are really needed.”
The old steward’s mouth twitched, but given his age, he quickly composed himself. “Indeed, we will consider this matter.”
“Alright, you should go take care of Ninth Master Feng now; don’t delay.”
As they headed out, Jiang Mang quietly made a face at Yu Shi and whispered, “I can tell he’s just brushing it off.”
Yu Shi, holding the selected flowers, replied softly, “It’s our job to make suggestions; whether they are accepted is up to the employer.”
As long as he fulfilled his duties, that was enough.
Just as they reached the wooden walkway, they suddenly heard a commotion behind them, with someone shouting loudly.
“Don’t let her in!”
“Stop her! Report to the master!”
A cold female voice commanded, “Get out of my way, don’t stop me!”
Another young woman’s voice, sounding delicate, said, “You mere servants of the Feng family, how dare you block our second aunt!”
Jiang Mang turned around in shock, eyes wide at the scene unfolding.
A woman in a purple dress was storming toward the lake, clearly heading for the residence of Feng Xuexiang. Behind her, a group of Feng family servants in uniform chased after her.
The servants tried to block her but were thrown to the ground by the swirling snow and wind she conjured with a mere wave of her hand.
“Wow! That must be a high-level exorcist! She can summon wind and snow!” Jiang Mang exclaimed in amazement.
Yu Shi saw the woman forcefully make her way to the lakeside, where she was stopped by the old steward.
The old steward, though appearing thin and unassuming, stood firm in front of the aggressive woman, who hesitated and did not advance further.
“What are you doing? Ninth Master Feng isn’t awake yet, and disturbing him like this might not be appropriate. If you have something to discuss, perhaps we should move this to the tea room?” The old steward’s tone was gentle, but his stance was resolute.
Xue Ruoyao replied bitterly, “I’m here to awaken Feng Xuexiang. The Feng family has forgotten their promises and the initial agreement. I want to ask my cousin directly if he’s willing to save my father, his own uncle!”
Another group arrived, with Feng Zaiyin at the forefront, also blocking her path. “Aunt Ruoyao.”
“Ninth Uncle is not yet in a state to be awakened. Forcing it would not be beneficial, as you know.”
“Grandfather is still considering the matter. Knowing you’re here, let me take you somewhere we can discuss it properly.”
After some commotion, Xue Ruoyao was eventually escorted away.
With the lakeside calming down, Jiang Mang and Yu Shi continued toward Ninth Master Feng’s residence.
Jiang Mang, ever curious, speculated, “Was that woman from the Xue family? The Xue family of the Four Great Families?”
The Four Great Families in the southern region, known for their renown in exorcism, were Feng, Mei, Xue, and Ming, collectively called the Four Great Families of Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon. The families were interrelated through marriages, and Feng Xuexiang’s mother was the younger sister of the Xue family head.
Yu Shi’s gaze settled on the energetic Jiang Mang beside him.
As the female protagonist, Jiang Mang’s background is indeed intricate. Her mother, Xue Ruojia, was the daughter of the Xue family head, and the elder sister of Xue Ruoya.
She had eloped with a low-ranked exorcist years ago, vanishing from public view. Shortly after, Jiang Mang was sent to an orphanage.
Therefore, Jiang Mang also had to call Feng Xuexiang uncle.
Jiang Mang was working hard on massaging her sleeping uncle, with Yu Shi giving guidance.
“No need to press so hard; you can be gentler,” Yu Shi advised.
“Oh, okay!” Jiang Mang responded, adjusting her technique.
Afterward, Yu Shi lifted Feng Xuexiang’s clothes slightly and noted the redness on his skin. He thought: Sorry, Ninth Master. Your niece’s first massage wasn’t perfect. Please forgive her on account of family.
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Jiang Mang asked, “How did I do?”
Yu Shi said, “For a beginner, you did quite well. But next time, let me handle it.”
Jiang Mang: “…”
As they were leaving, the old steward, waiting in the lakeside house, informed them, “You don’t need to come tomorrow. Someone will provide you with emergency training on how to care for Ninth Master Feng when he wakes up.”
…
With only half a month until the summer solstice, the urgency was unusual. The Feng and Xue families had just reached an agreement to awaken Feng Xuexiang ahead of schedule.
That night, the lake’s deep purple water lilies bloomed, filling the dark lake residence with their rich fragrance.
A car arrived at the lakeside, where the old steward welcomed Feng Zaiyin, Feng Zaixing, and the Feng family head, Feng Houzhan.
Feng Zaixing, making his first approach to the mysterious lakeside residence, was excited. Though he and Feng Zaiyin were both grandchildren of the Feng family head, Feng Zaixing had not been favored as much as Feng Zaiyin. Being selected to help awaken his uncle naturally filled him with anticipation.
As Feng Zaixing walked across the wooden bridge and inhaled the scent of the water lilies, he began to feel drowsy and his vision became clouded with illusory scenes. His expression grew vacant.
Feng Houzhan glanced back at his grandson and shook his head, saying, “So easily affected? How useless.”
“Zaiyin, wake this useless thing up.”
“Yes.” Feng Zaiyin, holding a bronze mirror, tapped his cousin on the back of the neck.
Feng Zaixing jolted awake, startled by the illusion he had been lost in. A cold sweat ran down his back as he realized how the illusions had affected him.
The Feng family was notorious for their mind-bending illusions, and as a spirit demon, Feng Xuexiang was even more formidable. He could trap anyone in a real illusion if he wished. Even if he didn’t intend to, his lingering energy in a place could influence the surroundings.
The lake itself was a suppression array designed to contain his power, but even so, his influence still spread.
The fragrant purple lilies, appearing so real, were merely illusions, projections of his mirror world.
Having heard many stories of his uncle’s illusions driving people mad and to their deaths, Feng Zaixing was cautious, following closely behind his cousin.
In the pitch-black house, lights flickered on, and the three entered the pristine world.
As the most favored grandson, Feng Zaiyin rarely had the opportunity to visit this place. It seemed unchanged from his last visit, except for a new addition: a rattan flower vase on the table.
The vase held several branches of vibrant red berries, adding a splash of color to the otherwise snow-white world.
Feng Houzhan sat by the bed, pressing a round, bright red blood bead from his fingertip onto Feng Xuexiang’s forehead. It appeared as a vermilion mark, gradually sinking into the snow-white skin.
“Zaixing, come here.”
Feng Zaixing swallowed hard and obediently approached. He had been instructed on his task, and upon his grandfather’s signal, he steeled himself and made a deep cut on his own wrist.
Blood dripped steadily, absorbed by the bronze mirror held by Feng Zaiyin.
Only when Feng Zaixing’s face turned pale and he was on the brink of collapse did Feng Houzhan say, “That’s enough.”
After absorbing the blood, the bronze mirror was completely renewed and gleamed with a bright silver hue, a butterfly pattern shaking and fluttering its wings on the back.
The person lying on the bed slowly sat up, his long black hair, which had been draped over his shoulders, now falling freely down his back.
Feng Houzhan took the mirror and extracted six copper nails from behind him.
These nails existed between reality and illusion. Feng Houzhan held them and carefully drove each one into the tattoos on Feng Xuexiang’s back.
With each nail he drove in, Feng Xuexiang’s body convulsed violently. When the final nail was inserted, the bronze mirror vanished from sight.
After a while, Feng Xuexiang, sitting on the pristine white bed, tilted his head slightly.
Feng Houzhan gently moved the long hair that covered his face behind his ear and said in a soothing tone, “Xiaojiu, you’re awake. I’m sorry for disturbing your sleep, but your uncle is in trouble and needs your help. There’s nothing more I can do.”
*
Xue Ruoyao waited anxiously at the Xue family’s grand residence. Upon hearing that people from the Feng family had arrived outside, she hurried through the courtyard to greet them.
At the entrance, she happened to see someone stepping out of the car, and Xue Ruoyao stopped in her tracks.
Though she had dared to storm into the Feng family’s residence and demanded to awaken Feng Xuexiang, the sight of her cousin made her hesitate.
Standing by the roadside, she waited until Feng Xuexiang passed by her and quickly followed.
“Xuexiang, my father’s condition is dire. He was invited to contain a demon in a newly excavated millennium tomb, but the demon was so powerful that it ended up corrupting him. Now he’s lost, and we can’t get close to him. Once my younger sister awakens, we can only temporarily seal him…”
Feng Xuexiang walked straight toward the residence where the Xue family head, Xue Shanwei, was located, showing no reaction to Xue Ruoyao’s words.
Xue Ruoyao, undeterred, watched Feng Xuexiang’s back with a sorrowful expression.
Her younger sister was a spirit demon of the Xue family, with the revived bloodline being a “Snow Demon.”
While not as potent as the Feng family’s “Illusion Mirror,” greater power demanded a heavier price.
She suspected that Feng Xuexiang was nearing madness and demise, and no one knew whether he was still sane. Perhaps his current actions were merely driven by the Feng family’s blood curse.
…
In the room of Xue Shanwei, the Xue family head, the light was dim and the man sitting cross-legged on the bed was undergoing a horrific transformation.
Countless dark limbs grew out of his body, sticking to the room in a dirty and slimy manner, almost filling the entire space.
A crystalline white frost covered his deformed body, barely maintaining his human form. Yet, the black substance within his body continued to stir beneath the frost, slowly devouring the ice crystals and growing.
Feng Xuexiang stood in the center of the room, surrounded by the menacing demonic limbs. He raised his hand, and a purple butterfly fluttered out from between his fingers.
Ding—
The space suddenly transformed into a lake, with the dark water submerging the clawing demons. The demonic limbs, sensing danger, writhed frantically and erupted from the lake.
Countless purple butterflies gathered on the demonic limbs, feeding on the writhing black substance.
…
Xue Shanwei clung to the last shred of clarity in his mind, resisting complete control by the demon. The area around him was shrouded in darkness, with only the center still covered in falling snow.
The cold snowflakes helped him fend off the encroaching black demonic aura, leaving him disoriented and struggling to hold on.
Just as he felt he was reaching his limits, he suddenly heard his daughter’s voice.
“Father!”
With this call, a crack appeared in the surrounding darkness, and a purple butterfly flew in, landing on his shoulder.
The overwhelming blackness dissipated instantly. The voice grew clearer, and Xue Shanwei opened his eyes to see his daughter, Xue Ruoyao, sitting by the bedside.
He raised his hand, now restored to normal with only a few ugly scars remaining.
“Did Xuexiang come by?” Xue Shanwei asked with difficulty.
“Yes, he did. He has already left.”
*
At the Feng family residence, Yu Shi and Jiang Mang finished their training and walked along the roadside.
Jiang Mang asked, “The steward said that after Ninth Master Feng wakes up, he will mostly be calm but occasionally act erratically. How should we care for him? I have no experience.”
Yu Shi replied, “Just treat him like a patient with a mental illness.”
As a car drove by on a nearby road, Yu Shi suddenly caught a faint scent of lotus flowers. He watched the car as it made its way toward Feng Xuexiang’s lakeside residence.
**TN
Xiaojiu – Little Nine
