Futile Devices Scans

Elio’s Notes: A quick posting update: since When the Swallows Return in Spring is still ongoing and we’re getting closer to the latest available chapter, we’ll be reducing the number of chapters posted per day for now. We’d rather pace the releases a little instead of catching up too quickly and then joining everyone in the ancient art of staring at the author’s update page. 😂 Thanks for reading and sticking with us!

“He’s over there! Catch him!”

“Don’t run!”

Ye Shijiu slammed to a stop, wheeled around, and doubled back. The boar demon charged wildly straight at him. Ye Shijiu planted a hand on the boar’s head, flipped neatly over him, and kept running.

The boar demon roared in fury, “You dare grab your grandpa by the head? Brat, are you tired of living?!”

Still running, Ye Shijiu said, “I-I haven’t only grabbed one. I-I-I’ve eaten one too.”

“Aaaaaah!” The boar demon went berserk with rage, transformed back into his true form, and charged after him.

Ye Shijiu glanced back. “I-it’s e-especially good served cold.”

Paper-figure Liang Yun struggled out from Ye Shijiu’s collar. He took one look at the enraged boar demon and cried in horror, “Ancestor, this is really not the time to provoke him!”

Ye Shijiu mustered all his strength and climbed over the prison gate. The pursuing boar demon crashed headfirst into the iron bars with a bang. Ye Shijiu vaulted over, sprang several meters away off the boar’s backside, and patted his chest with lingering fear. “That scared me to death.”

Liang Yun clung precariously to his robe. “I’m the one who nearly died of fright.”

“B-bad, this is bad.” Ye Shijiu hurriedly pulled open his robe and took out two flattened paper figures. Neither made a sound. On the verge of tears, he said, “I-I smacked Daoist Master Yue and the Great King to death.”

Liang Yun said, “Huh? You stopped stuttering!”

“Really?” Ye Shijiu froze, then his eyes widened with delight. “It really s-seems like I’m not stuttering anymore? Daoist Master Yue and the Fox Great King died, and now their spirits have worked a miracle!”

“Who stopped stuttering?” The two paper figures in his hands suddenly wriggled, then puffed back into shape with two soft poofs.

“Heavens!” Ye Shijiu’s hand jerked, nearly dropping them. He hurriedly cupped them both. “You actually weren’t smacked to death by me?”

“If one slap from you could kill us, we’d have no business going out into the world.” Xiao Chunhe cleared his throat and cast an unobtrusive glance at Yue Jingming beside him.

Yue Jingming looked perfectly normal. Of course, the tiny paper figure could not make many expressions anyway. He said to Ye Shijiu, “It is probably because you have been circulating true qi so frequently.”

Ye Shijiu broke into a grin. “I can finally say lots of things now I was suffocating before Daoist Master Yue my ears can hear lots of sounds too although it’s really noisy the No-Thought One-Mind Art is very useful I can temporarily block out all that noise and the Wushu Heart Method the Fox Great King taught me helped a lot too you’re all my benefactors and I can never repay such kindness I’ll definitely be properly filial to both of you in the future and Brother Liang too I really—mmph.”

“Quiet,” Yue Jingming said blandly.

Ye Shijiu covered his mouth and nodded repeatedly.

“Heavens, he was better off mute!” Xiao Chunhe rubbed his poor ears. “How can anyone talk without pausing? I’m about to suffocate just listening to him.”

Yue Jingming turned to look at him.

Xiao Chunhe blinked warily. “What?”

Yue Jingming raised a hand and carefully smoothed out the two fox ears atop his head, which Xiao Chunhe had rubbed all wrinkled. “Don’t ruin them.”

The corner of Xiao Chunhe’s mouth lifted. Returning the courtesy, he straightened Yue Jingming’s slightly disordered collar. “You be careful too.”

“Ancestors, every last one of you is my ancestor!” Liang Yun stood on Ye Shijiu’s shoulder, frantic enough to spin in circles as he watched one person fussing with his mouth and the other pair flirting with each other. “We are being hunted! Think of a way to escape!”

Ye Shijiu could finally open his mouth again. This time he was more cautious. “How do we escape?”

Yue Jingming said, “The Myriad Demons Scroll is here as well. That charm demon’s cultivation is very strong and her methods are cunning. We…”

The group huddled together and whispered for a while, then split up and disappeared in different directions. The demons chasing them stared at one another. They were only low-level demons of ordinary cultivation. After trying several tracking spells to no effect, they hurried back to report.

Xiao Chunhe tucked the paper fan into his waistband and was just about to take out his token when someone suddenly called, “Xiao Chunhe.”

He quickly turned and saw Yue Jingming returning. “Huh? What is it?”

Yue Jingming handed him a stack of talisman papers. “Each one has its incantation written on it. If something urgent happens, use the Yingshi Token. I will come help you.”

Xiao Chunhe looked surprised. “My real body isn’t here. If I truly run into danger, I can abandon the paper body and return. These talismans of yours are too precious.”

He had once pretended to be a Daoist and knew a little about talismans. These had clearly been drawn stroke by stroke by Yue Jingming himself. They contained abundant spiritual power and even had the incantations thoughtfully attached, making them far more effective. Xiao Chunhe had no idea how much care and effort Yue Jingming had spent on them. Greedy by nature though he was, he did not want to take advantage of Yue Jingming.

“Take them.” Yue Jingming caught his wrist and placed the stack of talismans in his palm, then instructed him quietly, “If you encounter danger, do not use spells or true qi lightly. Protect yourself first.”

After saying this, Yue Jingming turned and left without waiting to see how Xiao Chunhe would react. Xiao Chunhe stared at the stack of talismans with a complicated expression. They suddenly seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, and an inexplicable restlessness rose inside him. He muttered to himself, “Not good, not good. What am I supposed to do now?”

The Zixu Mountain token flashed again.

He was now even more certain that a red-fox demon was inside the Glazed Crystal Pavilion. He simply did not know who it was. Anyone would be fine so long as it was not the clan chief. Whoever dared steal something belonging to his Rongxi, he would kill without exception!

Naturally, the one thing he feared was exactly what happened. After winding through several passages, Xiao Chunhe found a secluded room. The clansman who had been sending signals was standing inside. Xiao Chunhe had already prepared to strike ruthlessly when the other person slowly turned around, revealing Xiao Wen’s face.

“Chunhe, it really is you.” Xiao Wen smiled faintly. “At first I thought some naughty little fox had wandered in, but there are very few who can cause this much commotion.”

Xiao Chunhe saluted properly with cupped hands. “Greetings, Clan Chief.”

“There is no need for so much ceremony between us.” Xiao Wen lifted one hand.

“What brings the Clan Chief here?” Xiao Chunhe asked.

Xiao Wen said, “The owner of this Glazed Crystal Pavilion is a charm demon named Feng Qingying. She is sociable and has gathered a large circle of demons around her. There is a lantern festival today, so she invited me here to enjoy the lanterns. And you?”

Xiao Chunhe answered stiffly, “Enjoying the lanterns.”

Xiao Wen: “…Haha. Still as cold and dull as ever. Not a bit like your mother. You probably take after that biological father of yours.”

Xiao Chunhe said with disgust, “I have nothing whatsoever to do with him. If I knew who he was, I would tear him limb from limb.”

“Alas.” Xiao Wen sighed. “Before this, you only sent an attendant back to the mountain to say you were going on a long journey. You did not even return on the fifteenth. The elders and I were worried sick. Since we happened to meet here today, come back with me.”

Xiao Chunhe’s expression grew even colder. “Thank you for the Clan Chief’s concern, but I still have something to do. I cannot return yet.”

Xiao Wen regarded him heavily and said with earnest gravity, “Chunhe, back then your mother became entangled with the moyao entirely to save you. If she were still alive, she certainly would not want you putting yourself in danger again to avenge her… I hear you have grown rather close to Yue Jingming of Zushan?”

Xiao Chunhe fell completely silent.

“Your mother’s death truly was connected to Zushan, and Yue Jingming is Su Ji’s disciple. It is only natural that you hate Yue Jingming. If you can find a way to kill him, you can also take some revenge for the clansmen we lost back then.” Xiao Wen glanced at him and took out a vial of liquid. “But I hear Yue Jingming’s cultivation is extremely high, so he may be difficult for you to deal with. This drug is called Soulfall. It is colorless and odorless, but can strip a person of all cultivation. It may give you the help you need.”

Xiao Chunhe clenched his back teeth. “I still have a use for him.”

Xiao Wen pushed the vial toward him. “Do not be as indecisive as your mother. Those who accomplish great things cannot fuss over trifles. Kill Yue Jingming, vent your anger, then return to the mountain.”

Xiao Chunhe’s expression was icy. “Who exactly was the person who caused my mother’s death?”

But Xiao Wen turned away. “I promised your mother that I would never let you know who your father was. Chunhe, this was your mother’s dying wish.”

Xiao Chunhe tightened his grip on the medicine bottle. “Is he still alive?”

“Of course.” Xiao Wen waved a hand, unwilling to say more. “Since I happen to be here today, hurry up and kill Yue Jingming, then return to Zixu Mountain with me. If not for you, I would not even have bothered coming down to look at these wretched lanterns.”

Xiao Chunhe said, “His real body is not here.”

“Neither is yours.” Xiao Wen looked at him with amusement. “Does that not make this the perfect opportunity?”

Xiao Chunhe frowned. “I—”

“Chunhe, do not disappoint me and your mother.” Xiao Wen cut him off. “Humans and demons walk different paths. You should understand that better than anyone.”

Xiao Chunhe lowered his head in silence. “Yes.”

He left the room, his expression cold and vicious, the baleful aura around him almost impossible to suppress.

How exactly had Xiao Wen known he was here?

That old fox even knew a great deal about him and Yue Jingming, and was determined to force him to kill Yue Jingming. It was true that Xiao Chunhe had a grudge against Zushan, but more than twenty years ago Yue Jingming had still been a child. He had absolutely nothing to do with his mother’s death!

Xiao Chunhe already regretted bitterly having once taken his anger out on Yue Jingming and gone around ruining the man’s reputation. Someone so upright, steady, and honorable was rare enough to begin with, and now Yue Jingming was treating him with genuine sincerity. How could Xiao Chunhe betray that trust and kill him?

As he thought this, the Yingshi Token hanging at his waist lit up.

Xiao Chunhe hurriedly picked it up and drew a Yingshi Talisman. Yue Jingming’s cool, clear voice came through. “How are things on your side?”

Xiao Chunhe cleared his throat. “I accidentally got lost.”

Yue Jingming’s voice paused. “Stay where you are. I will come find you.”

“No, I’ll look for another way.” Xiao Chunhe hurriedly said, “Did you finish everything on your side?”

“Mm. All the formations are in place. Now it depends on Shijiu and Brother Liang.” Yue Jingming said, “I am coming to get you.”

“Huh? Don’t—” Xiao Chunhe was still trying to refuse when the Yingshi Token went dark and silent.

He stared at the wooden token in disbelief, his paper heart beating wildly. Heaven knew he truly did like Yue Jingming, and he also loved teasing the stiff little Daoist just to watch him blush. He had never expected Yue Jingming to respond, and although neither had said anything outright, by now they both understood without saying it. But Xiao Chunhe had never imagined Yue Jingming would be like this!

He hurriedly waved his sleeves, dispersing every trace of red-fox-clan scent clinging to him. Before he had even finished, the handsome Daoist appeared with a sword on his back.

“Rongxi!” Xiao Chunhe called out, and all the chaotic emotions from moments before were instantly swept away by happiness.

Yue Jingming looked him over. “You are not hurt?”

“Of course not.” Smiling, Xiao Chunhe hugged him, buried his face in the hollow of his neck, and took two deep breaths. “I just got stunk up a little.”

Yue Jingming looked confused. He seemed unused to such intimate contact and instinctively started to push him away, only for the hand raised halfway to stop. Instead, he loosely supported Xiao Chunhe by the elbow.

Xiao Chunhe straightened, his eyes shifting mischievously. “You suddenly treat me this well. Don’t tell me it is because you kissed me and now think you have to take responsibility?”

Yue Jingming lowered his eyes. Calm, yet equally honest, he said, “Yes.”

Xiao Chunhe burst out laughing. “My good Rongxi, we only kissed twice. Even if we had slept together twice, there would be no need to take it seriously. Which one is harmless, your No-Thought One-Mind Art or the demon-gu inside me? Do not be foolish.”

Yue Jingming’s eyes snapped up. “What did you say?”

Xiao Chunhe used his fan to flirtatiously hook beneath Yue Jingming’s chin and said with a smile, “It was all trouble caused by charm incense. Calm down first. Once we recover the Myriad Demons Scroll, I’ll find a way to remove the charm incense from your body.”

Yue Jingming caught hold of his paper fan. His face was cold and solemn, but his voice remained steady. “Everything I have done came from my own heart. It has nothing to do with any incense.”

Xiao Chunhe abruptly sensed disaster. “Wh-what do you mean?”

Yue Jingming looked directly at him. “I have thought about it carefully. In the future, we can become Dao companions.”

Xiao Chunhe went white with shock. “Huh?”

Oh no, oh no. I flirted too far!!!