you."“Other girls who had arranged marriages with the dead, all looked more haggard. After all, heaven and earth are different realms, and when couples consummate their marriage, it always takes a to...I remember that man, his Mandarin had a bit of an accent, and his appearance... was pretty average-looking and clean.

But his heart was too wicked. It disgusts me that a man would drug a woman. That's why I don't even remember what he looked like.

Moreover, seeing him later burned beyond recognition by the poisonous water and reduced to a cripple was punishment enough.

“What is he to the Si clan Is he important” I whispered.

Mu Wanchen nodded and said, "The head of the Si clan is a female witch, so women hold a high status. However, there are also some witch lineages that are more honorable. He is the son of the previous clan leader, otherwise he wouldn't be allowed to leave the sect and travel."

"Travel What's he learning I think he's learned bad things from bad people, and he was always a troublemaker anyway. Otherwise, how could he have done such a thing..." I said in a low voice.

“Going out on an important mission is to bring a woman back... But in the society you live in, there are cameras everywhere. He's like walking a crooked path, wanting to snatch a woman back during times of chaos and turmoil, using underhanded methods. All he has to do is bring the woman into his fold, and it will be almost impossible for her to escape.” Mu Wanchen gave me a cold glance.

"Like you, falling into a snake pit, if you hadn't had this bracelet, you would have been bitten to death long ago... There is more than one snake pit within the Dharma."

Well... I have no idea....

Back then, I was terrified and ran away in panic. You were so aggressive, how could I trust you

Now that I think about it, the area enclosed by that method is about the same size as Hainan Island. How could I possibly escape with just two legs

"So you're saying this traitor, Siyun, ran away What does that even mean" He looked like a walking dead man, where could he possibly have run to

Within the Miji Fa Men where Mu Wanchen resided, there were many villages and tribes of varying sizes. Each village and tribe had its own leader, but the "Divine King" was their supreme ruler, more like a spiritual leader.

After the Ten Witches of Spirit Mountain, thousands of years of proliferation and descendants fled in various hardships to the sanctuary of Fa Men. They still revered the Divine King, and each generation's Great Witch King inherited the name of the Divine King, governing this last "Peach Blossom Spring".

Disobeying the Divine King's command could be considered "treason." That man named Siyun, unbeknownst to the gods and spirits, vanished from the Si clan's fortress.

"The Sihuang sent someone to inform me. I suspect there's someone within the Si clan who released him. He harbors resentment and might come seeking revenge."

The mere thought of that blood-soaked, medicine-smelling creature made me feel nauseous.

"How is he going to get revenge What a weird look..."

Mu Wanchen chuckled lightly: "Yin Luo, skin painting isn't just a story... Witchcraft encompasses everything, from the flamboyant to the subtle. Taoism and traditional medicine are all related, don't be careless."

How can I be careful It's just about trying not to go out, but it's impossible to stay indoors all the time, right

These days have been my final period of laziness. I practically see Mu Wanchen the moment I open my eyes. He's in my downstairs study, having gone through almost all of my books. He takes out the useful ones and puts them on my desk for me to read.

I've heard about the saying that Tao originated from witchcraft, but I don't really understand how it works. He was quite patient in explaining it to me.

In ancient times, the Ten Witches of Ling Shan were considered messengers of the gods. After that, "witch" referred to "saints of time," which was the most authoritative and enlightened sage at the time. Fuxi creating the Bagua and King Wen interpreting the I Ching were both accomplished by saints of that era.

In that period, the shaman king was unified, serving as both an inner sage and an outer ruler.

Early Taoism is largely derived from shamanism. However, the great wisdom of the sage founders of Taoism has formed a system centered on "Tao". Relying on transmission through masters and families, it has proliferated and been passed down to this day.

In ancient times, what was called a "witch" was "a person who is intelligent and selfless, and can gather people's sincerity and righteousness. Their intelligence is comparable to that of heaven and earth, their divine power shines far and wide, their wisdom illuminates everything, and their cleverness penetrates everything. Thus, the divine descends upon them. In men, it is called a shaman; in women, it is called a witch."

In ancient times, only those who were intelligent, upright, respectful, and wise were considered capable of becoming a "witch".

Therefore, the ancients were certain that there existed a "god" transcending the individual human body.

Wu, is the unity of humans and gods.

This is completely different from the understanding of witchcraft in later generations. Mu Wanchen looked down upon those who practiced sorcery like Zhong PoPo, charging money to perform rituals and casting spells for longevity.

In his view, these were the dregs of the shaman world.

I kept asking him to show me the talismans. Talismans are different from Daoist charms. Talismans predate Daoist charms and are mainly composed of combined characters and embedded constellations.

Able to summon deities, suppress evil spirits, and bind and punish ghosts.

"How interesting..." I said with a smile, comparing the witch runes and Taoist runes. "Why don't you teach me how to use them"

"It's good that you learn the Dao, no need to learn witchcraft... This requires a combination of spiritual enlightenment and initiation, which doesn't suit you." He shook his head and put the talisman away.

"What if the other party uses witchcraft and insects to harm me"

He pointed at the bracelet on my hand: "Wear this, and ordinary poisons will avoid you. If you encounter a very powerful poison, your female centipede inside can also counter it — provided its strength is sufficient."

I slumped my shoulders a little dejectedly, always hearing "raise it well, raise it well," but how do I even raise it I can't see it, and I have no idea when it grows up!

During my days as a recluse at home, I spent almost every day locked in my small tower, immersed in books, diligently expanding my knowledge. It has to be said that Mu Wanchen is very patient, simply waiting for me to finish reading, acting as a dedicated "tutor".

Even immortals need to go to school, you know. On the last day of the month, I went back to school. Mutian Wanyan used a barrier to shield himself and left with me.

This feeling is actually quite good. It's like having an extra bodyguard. No matter if I'm queuing up or picking up a book, as long as I squeeze through the crowd, I can see him standing in a secluded place, watching me from afar.

I have never been this close to someone before.

"Hi~ Yinluo, Yinluo!" Tang Yufeng saw me from afar and greeted me loudly, then ran over.

Face to face, I had no way to dodge. Gritting my teeth, I simply nodded.

Tang Yufeng rushed to my face, lowering her voice and saying, "I heard my dad say that the driver from our family accident, his wife and children are all in the hospital. Do you know about this"

"Huh I blankly shook my head. Why would I know"

"Is it excessive grief" I asked.

Tang Yufei frowned and stared at me: "No, I suspect it might be a ghost! When we went to the disaster relief with you, didn't we encounter those strange old mice The more I think about it these days, the weirder it feels. That driver was bitten, maybe it's some kind of virus or curse, otherwise why would he run into the street and get hit by a car!"

I frowned slightly and whispered, "Then... perhaps the Master could take a look"

Tang Yufeng had originally come to question me. Hearing me say this, she was taken aback: " ... You really don't know"

I think these mysterious things shouldn't be explained to ordinary people—and they can't be explained. I wouldn't believe it myself if I hadn't experienced it firsthand.

Mu Wanchen walked up behind me and whispered, "…Go take a look."nThough all converge to the same end, their paths diverge. Though united in purpose, they face a hundred worries.They chose different paths, but ultimately...their goal was nothing more than the survi...