“Since the past is the past, then in that case, let’s think of a path of retreat. How are we getting out of here?” A Yin asked, brushing the detritus off her hands. Once the words spilled past her chin, she looked at Xia Ji calmly despite the chaos. Xia Ji replied sorrowfully, “I was in this painting for several thousand years, and it was only with great difficulty that I came as a person, how could I not stay as a guest?” A Yin regarded her with extreme disdain at her coyness, and said with a cold laugh, “Just now, you experienced that talisman yourself, and although it might not be able to kill you, there are indeed ways to torment you, and it would be simple to write a few talismans and burn you thrice a day, so this lady here says, let’s see if it’s you who will first die of pain, or we who will first die of hunger.” Tu Laoyao also was thinking of solutions in bits and pieces, and said, “She loves beauty, so best to tie her up and put up a mirror in front of her, and shame her to d...

Translator's note: curious about why I'm working on the earlier chapters? You can find an explanation in the translator's note on the ninth chapter . - The party was not detained by the Herb of Yao for long, rather walking deeper into the tomb, and in the exact centre was a four-sided stone that formed a platform with a narrow bottom and a wide top, about half a metre tall, a new coffin resting on its top, its width equally wide at the top and the bottom, the black lacquered wood glistening. On either side of the stone platform were erected two glass lamps of the same colour, stretching out like tree branches, and Li Shiyi indicated to Tu Laoyao to advance and light them with the lamp, and with a whisper of fire igniting, the white oil candles pervaded the air with the scent of wax, suddenly and simultaneously scattering light across the cold interior of the tomb. The candle flames lit, after only half a minute of warmth, A Yin tugged her overcoat closer around her frame, t...

Translator's note: curious about why I'm working on the earlier chapters? You can find an explanation in the translator's note on the ninth chapter . - Arriving at Tianjin, the sky was already coloured with dusk, and Tu Laoyao woke from his doze, following along after Li Shiyi to get off the train with drowsy eyes, a suitcase in each hand. Outside the train station, someone sent by Master Wu was already waiting, wearing a smart tunic and standing by a rickshaw like a pine tree, and, seeing A Yin, called in a rather ostentatious tone, “A Yin-xiaojie,” [1] bowing as he opened the rickshaw door. A Yin didn’t stand on courtesy, getting into the passenger seat with ease, leaving the back row of seats for Li Shiyi and Tu Laoyao. At the front, A Yin fished out a mirror to fix her makeup, and Song Shijiu was slightly carsick, gently turning in towards Li Shiyi’s embrace, and Li Shiyi softly patted her back, slightly distracted herself; only two or three days had passed, and yet sh...

Translator's note: curious about why I'm working on the earlier chapters? You can find an explanation in the translator's note on the ninth chapter . - Once one night had passed and light returned, Song Shijiu’s height changed, more or less that of a two year old. This time, Li Shiyi took care, and before going to sleep, changed her into a large cotton garment that covered her hands and feet, and when she opened her eyes, found that it was just perfect, the sleeves enveloping her wrists, aligned neatly with the line like the joint of a lotus root. Li Shiyi had just fetched water and stooped at the front of the door brushing her teeth when she heard the gate of the courtyard creak, and Tu Laoyao, back inclined as he carried a bundle wrapped in blue and white cloth with a scattered flower pattern, stood upright and grinned, and when Li Shiyi raised her brows in question, Tu Laoyao said, in high spirits, “I’ve packed, let’s go!” Li Shiyi stood up, wiping the water from the cor...