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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 8 Caged Vermilion Bird
Ji Zichen listened intently without needing to look; he could already predict that there were at least ten Vermilion Birds here. His face was frozen in shock. The last time, he had only encountered the Vermilion Bird Spirit, which had been difficult enough to deal with. Now, with the real Vermilion Birds right before him, how could he not feel fear?
Ji Zichen's heart sank. These cages appeared sturdy, but who knew if they were old and worn? Would the Vermilion Birds break free?
Yukang stared at everyone with wide eyes, fully understanding their feelings at this moment. He had felt the same way during his first visit. With a calm smile, he reassured them, "Don't worry; these cells are made of high-quality cold iron and have undergone special treatment. Each iron pillar is infused with Corrupt Flower Grass, which the Vermilion Birds fear. Their powerful abilities are sealed within; they won't come out to attack us."
Ji Zichen breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. "The Vermilion Birds fear Corrupt Flower Grass? What is that?"
Yukang replied, "What, do you want to pick a few for self-defense? Unfortunately, it's already extinct."
Ji Zichen felt a bit suffocated in this place and asked, "Is this your secret?"
Yukang countered, "Isn't this considered a thousand-year secret?"
Indeed, it could be classified as such—a terrifying thousand-year secret. No one had ever imagined that the Vermilion Birds would "reside here." From the layout of the prison, one could still see the strict prohibitions against trespassing from years past. It was unclear how they had discovered that the Vermilion Birds feared Corrupt Flower Grass and had used it to bind them within these iron pillars; it was undoubtedly a wise decision.
Ji Zichen said solemnly, "What do you want us to see this for? How is this related to the Revival Technique?"
Yukang fixed his gaze on Ji Zichen. "Do you want to continue listening?"
Ji Zichen replied earnestly, "Of course; my goal is the Revival Technique."
Yukang's expression darkened as he pondered deeply but eventually spoke up. "The Vermilion Birds trapped here harbor resentment, jealousy, disgust, and anger towards humanity. The more severe their beastly transformation, the stronger their powers become. They attack humans and destroy everything they can. Yet deep down, they still possess a sense of conscience; they are tormented by the intertwining of sin and morality—a pain we cannot even begin to imagine."
"If you want your friend to come back to life, she must resonate with them and understand their suffering. Do you still wish for your friend to be revived? Make your decision."
Without hesitation, Ji Zichen declared, "Even after seeing all this, I will not change my mind! I must bring her back to life!"
Yukang sighed. "Very well."
He took out a small bead from his pocket. The bead was plain and unremarkable in appearance. Yukang said, "Place this bead in your friend's mouth; it will protect her body from decay. Now go; take your friend to Holy City. To use the Revival Technique, I still need to prepare some things."
Ji Zichen accepted the bead and tucked it away in his pocket. Although he still did not know how to use the Revival Technique, Yukang seemed knowledgeable enough. As long as he could revive Lin Chuyu, it didn't matter whether Yukang knew how or not.
" Ji Zichen said, 'Alright, I'll go bring them to the Holy City. Bifan, let's go.'"
Shen Bifan had just taken a couple of steps with Ji Zichen when he suddenly pulled him back, his expression wary. "Brother Zichen, something feels off. The Suzaku just moved slightly, and now it seems to have stopped completely."
Ji Zichen was taken aback. "You're right, those Suzaku are too quiet now. This atmosphere feels a bit strange."
Suddenly, a dark shadow leaped over Ji Zichen's head and charged straight at Yukang. Ji Zichen was startled; the word "heart" had barely left his lips when the Demon-Slaying Sword followed suit. Flames erupted from the sword as a fire dragon surged forth, racing toward the dark shadow like a bolt of lightning.
Ji Zichen recognized that the shadow was indeed a Suzaku. This Suzaku had leaped up from behind him, but why did it not attack him? Instead, it seemed intent on targeting Yukang. Perhaps this Suzaku knew that Ji Zichen was not the one who imprisoned it, or maybe it could sense that Ji Zichen lacked any royal bloodline.
Even though Ji Zichen acted almost simultaneously, he was still a moment too late. Yukang's chest had already been slashed by the Suzaku's claws, and the fire dragon closed in fast. To avoid being burned, the Suzaku flapped its wings and soared upward, causing the fire dragon to miss and extinguish its flames.
Seeing someone attacking from behind, the Suzaku was furious. It turned in mid-air and dove toward Ji Zichen. This startled Ji Zichen; if he hesitated even slightly, it could mean his demise, and no one would be able to help him. Was he really going to sit back and wait for death?
The Suzaku's temperament was unpredictable at this moment, leaving Ji Zichen with no choice but to strike hard.
"Heart!" Shen Bifan and Yuxuan shouted in unison, ready to rush in to save him without regard for their safety. However, at that moment, a thunderous roar erupted just above the Suzaku's head, followed by a loud bang.
A Furnace Thunder struck the Suzaku's head, scorching it completely before it fell to the ground with a thud.
Yukang stared at Ji Zichen in shock. "He even defeated a Suzaku! Who exactly is he?"
Seeing Ji Zichen kill the Suzaku, Yuxuan let out a sigh of relief and rushed to Yukang's side, her eyes filled with concern as she looked at his injured chest. "Third Uncle, how are you...?"
Yukang forced a pained smile. "I won't die."
He then began to heal himself.
In a panic, Shen Bifan approached Ji Zichen. "Brother Zichen, are you hurt?"
Ji Zichen wiped the cold sweat from his brow. "I'm fine. Fortunately, the Suzaku here is quite weak; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to handle it."
Ji Zichen walked over to a prison cell and noticed that the iron bars were twisted, revealing a large hole. It was clear that this Suzaku had broken free from its confinement. Ji Zichen turned to Yukang and questioned him sternly, "Weren't you saying they couldn't get out?"
Yukang was tending to his wounds while saying, "Logically, she shouldn't be able to come out."
Ji Zichen forced a smile and replied, "I think we should leave here quickly. These prisons are old and dilapidated; we can't stay for long."
"That's fine. You go gather the others. I'll check this place again," Yukang said.
"Alright, I'll go right away, but don't push yourself too hard," Ji Zichen cautioned.
Yukang chuckled, "Are you worried that if I die, no one will save your friend? Don't worry; my life is quite resilient. However, there's something I need to tell you in advance. If your friend survives, you must keep her in check. If she becomes too violent, then when the time comes, you'll have to deal with that problem yourself."
Ji Zichen frowned and asked, "You want me to kill her?"
"If she brings disaster, what meaning does her life have?" Yukang replied.
Ji Zichen expressed her concerns, "I won't let such a thing happen."
With that, Ji Zichen and Shen Bifan turned to leave.
As Yukang watched Ji Zichen's figure disappear into the dungeon, he sighed deeply and asked Yuxuan, "Am I doing the right thing or the wrong thing?"
Understanding Yukang's words, Yuxuan replied, "Third Uncle, I'll keep a close watch on her. If she truly brings disaster and you can't bring yourself to act, then I will take care of her."
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