Chapter 4 : Leave No Survivors
Chapter 4: Leave No Survivors
The sun rose and then set.
As dusk approached, Lin Xiaowan walked to the stream to fetch water. She dipped the gourd into the flowing water, and the mouth of the gourd made a “gulu gulu” sound as it filled.
“Hmm?”
Through the stream’s reflection, Lin Xiaowan noticed that at some point, a faint red mark had appeared between her brows.
She brushed aside the hair on her forehead.
The mark took the shape of three petals—quite beautiful. One petal was relatively distinct, while the other two were dim.
“This only appeared after dual cultivation… could it be related to the Profound Essence Scripture?”
The girl rested her chin on one hand, thinking back to the previous process.
When she had harvested from the young monk, it had indeed felt like something blooming between her brows. But at the time, she had been fully focused on circulating the Profound Essence Scripture and had not paid much attention.
“I’ll pay closer attention tonight.”
With that thought, Lin Xiaowan lifted the dripping gourd from the water and turned back toward the ruined temple in the forest.
The ruined temple.
Huijue awoke from unconsciousness, his lips dry, his head spinning, and intense pain coming from his lower body.
“What happened to me?”
His gaze was vacant. He only remembered the demoness approaching him, using some unknown method, after which he had fallen unconscious.
In his daze, he had only felt warmth—then an endless emptiness engulfed him completely.
“Disciple… you’re awake?” The white-browed old monk spoke hoarsely.
“Master!”
Huijue said excitedly. He tried to rise, only to find his hands and feet tightly bound with cloth ropes, unable to break free.
“Don’t waste your strength. That demoness possesses techniques— even if you break free, you cannot escape her grasp,” the old monk sighed.
“Master, as monks, how can we bow to such a demoness!” Huijue said angrily.
“I think your master is right. Little Monk Huijue, don’t waste your strength.”
Lin Xiaowan pushed the door open and walked in. She went to the fire, tilted the gourd, and poured water into a clay bowl with a gurgling sound.
“You haven’t eaten all day—you must be hungry. No rush. Once the hot water softens the cakes, I’ll feed you slowly.”
“You demoness! So vicious-hearted! My master and I saved you without asking for anything, and this is how you repay us!” Huijue gritted his teeth and cursed.
“Alright, alright, stop shouting. I’ll repay your kindness in my next life. Though… since I aim for immortality, I probably won’t have a next life. Haha.”
Lin Xiaowan made a small joke, completely shameless, leaving the master and disciple speechless.
Now that her thoughts were clear, her actions became much more carefree. Her aptitude was poor—since the path of dual cultivation was so powerful, if she wanted immortality, she had to follow it to the end.
She tore the cakes into small pieces, added hot water, and stirred, barely producing a bowl of “soup.”
She carried it to Huiyuan.
The white-haired monk murmured “Amitabha” and shut his mouth tightly, clearly unwilling to eat anything she made.
Lin Xiaowan frowned, pressing the bowl against his mouth, trying to pry it open. But he resisted fiercely, his teeth grinding audibly.
“You really think I can’t deal with you?”
Lin Xiaowan let out a strange laugh and pinched Huiyuan’s nose.
In just a moment, his face turned bluish. Unable to endure, he gasped for air.
Lin Xiaowan seized the opportunity and poured the soup into his mouth, then pressed down firmly with her pale hand to prevent him from spitting it out.
Only when she saw his throat swallow did she release his nose.
Ignoring his coughing, she walked to Huijue.
With his master’s example before him, Huijue knew resistance was futile. Besides, he was truly hungry.
He opened his mouth and swallowed the remaining soup.
“Good. That’s how you eat properly.”
Lin Xiaowan nodded in satisfaction.
According to the Profound Essence Chapter, if the target of dual cultivation was severely ill or starving, the refined female essence and primordial yang would be impure and mixed with impurities.
Tonight’s harvesting could wait—once they regained some strength, it would be better.
She sat by the fire, closed her eyes, and worked to digest the fragmented memories in her mind.
Trying to extract the truth from the two monks would be difficult.
So, to understand this world, the best way was through the original owner’s memories.
This place belonged to the Cangmang Mountain region.
Around it were more than a dozen cities and villages.
The Lin family she was born into was one of the prominent cultivation families in Luoyang City.
It was said that the reclusive family head had already reached Half-Step Foundation Establishment—extremely powerful.
Relying on his reputation alone, the Lin family could suppress the Qin and Li cultivation families in the city.
Whenever memories of the Lin family surfaced, Lin Xiaowan felt an inexplicable irritation.
The real Lin Xiaowan was already dead.
Yet her lingering obsession remained within the body.
“This is the original owner’s residual obsession… if I ignore it, it might keep affecting me.”
Lin Xiaowan frowned slightly, resting her chin on her hand.
Ancient texts indeed recorded things like “obsession” and “karma.”
“So be it. Without your body, my soul might have scattered. And since the path of dual cultivation requires many men… if circumstances allow, destroying the Lin family for you is not impossible.”
Before her words even faded, Lin Xiaowan felt her body lighten. Her perception sharpened, as if a veil covering her had been lifted.
She felt truly connected to this world.
Deep night.
The Profound Essence Scripture began circulating within her. After exhaling deeply, she walked straight to Huijue and crouched before him.
“You want—”
A breath of Mirage Qi was blown out.
The young monk felt the world spin and immediately fell into a half-dreaming state.
At this moment, his essence was completely unguarded—free to be taken at will.
“You… what are you doing to me?” Huijue murmured dreamily.
Lin Xiaowan ignored him, circulating the Profound Essence Scripture. A layer of female essence gradually appeared on her fair skin. She carefully collected it and swallowed it, while simultaneously extracting his primordial yang.
“Demoness! What are you doing to my disciple!!” Huiyuan shouted, his voice trembling in shock.
“Master, you’re quite good at playing dumb. Isn’t this your specialty?”
Lin Xiaowan snorted lightly, then turned her head and asked, “I’m curious—what kind of temple allows you to do such things so conveniently?”
“Master… Master…”
Huijue, his mind clouded, involuntarily spoke the doubts buried deep within him, “What you did in the main hall of Xizi Temple… does that really make prayers for children effective?”
“Rebellious disciple! Silence! You’ve been bewitched and are speaking nonsense!”
Huiyuan’s face flushed dark red as he shouted sternly, “If you dare slander the purity of the Buddhist sect again, I… I will not forgive you!”
His fear far outweighed his anger—if this secret were exposed, the century-old foundation of Xizi Temple’s “efficacy” would collapse instantly.
“Heh… hahaha!”
Lin Xiaowan froze for a moment, then burst into laughter, bending over as her shoulders shook.
“Purity? Efficacy? No wonder two monks carry so much silver. So this is how your prosperous temple achieves ‘results’? Not divine blessing—but bodily offerings from monks. Truly eye-opening.”
She giggled, wiping the corner of her eye.
“Demoness! Stop your slander!” Huiyuan gasped. “Those women willingly come to pray! It is a sacred ritual to grant children! Who are you to judge?! Your actions today are the true heresy—you will face heavenly punishment!”
“Willing?” Lin Xiaowan tilted her head. “Sounds more like charity, doesn’t it?”
By now, it was already the fifth round of dual cultivation.
Lin Xiaowan pondered.
From his words, that so-called Xizi Temple merely performed “offerings,” not true dual cultivation like hers.
“Ah! Master… it hurts! My body feels like it’s burning!”
Huijue’s scream interrupted her thoughts.
His face flushed unnaturally. Blood began flowing from his nose, some running into his throat, causing violent coughing.
“Why is this happening?! Stop! Stop! Benefactress!”
Huiyuan’s composure shattered as he watched his disciple’s condition.
“Let him go! He’s still a child! If this continues, he’ll die!”
Lin Xiaowan was startled by the old monk’s reaction.
She stopped extracting from Huijue. There was no rush—he was already at the brink.
She stood and walked behind Huiyuan, dragging him back like a sack before checking the bindings.
“Old monk.” Her gaze turned cold. The tip of her embroidered shoe pressed lightly against his face, grinding slowly.
“You’re barely surviving yourself, yet you protect this disciple so desperately. Quite the bond. Tell me—why? If your answer satisfies me… I might leave him half his life.”
Huiyuan’s face was forced sideways, yet his eyes never left Huijue.
The young monk murmured weakly, “Master… save… me…”
“Please! I beg you!” Huiyuan cried, tears mixing with dirt. He struggled forward inch by inch. “Let him go! Let my son go!”
Lin Xiaowan paused.
“Your son?” Her voice carried disbelief. “Monks are supposed to abandon worldly ties, aren’t they?”
“It’s true! Sixteen years ago, his mother came to pray for a child… he knows nothing! He’s innocent! Please, spare him!”
“Not calling me demoness anymore?” Lin Xiaowan laughed. “Interesting.”
She walked to Huijue.
“This is your father’s chance for you. Make good use of it.”
Then she added calmly, “There was a famous physician where I came from—Sun Simiao. He said if one could endure ten times in a night, one would master such arts.”
“I don’t need ten. If your son can preserve his primordial yang three times, I’ll spare you both.”
Before Huiyuan could react, she moved.
The Profound Essence Scripture surged within her—circulation, breathing, meditation, refinement.
On her forehead, the dim petals brightened.
“Buzz—”
She clearly sensed the change—the three-petal mark bloomed and closed, a spiritual bud descending into her dantian.
Qi surged violently.
“Boom—!”
The dantian filled rapidly, pushing toward the formation of a qi sea.
“At this rate… I can form a qi sea within three months!”
She opened her eyes in delight—
Then froze.
Huijue’s body had stiffened. Blood flowed from all seven orifices.
He was dead.
“Dead… what a pity.”
Lin Xiaowan turned to Huiyuan.
After blowing Mirage Qi, she slowly extracted female essence from him.
By morning, Huiyuan was at death’s door.
Lin Xiaowan sat beside him, energetic, licking her fingers.
“Say your last words.”
“…Tell me your name… I’ll curse you forever…”
She leaned close to hear.
“My name?”
She smiled faintly.
“Xu Fu.”