A Strange Tree on the Vacant Lot

The rear courtyard of the Dong Residence was designed in the style of a garden, with lush trees and flowers flourishing everywhere. Pavilions and towers were hidden among the greenery, creating an exceptionally elegant and tranquil environment.

Yet Qingyin could clearly sense that the black cat perched on her shoulder was somewhat tense, its furry ears pressed flat against its head. With her limited supernatural abilities, Qingyin could not perceive anything amiss; she only felt that the courtyard was unusually cool.

It was late summer, edging into autumn—there should still be a lingering heat in the air. But as she walked along the flower-lined paths, the coolness seemed to seep into her bones, though whether this was due to the abundance of foliage, she could not say. Qingyin, feigning expertise, carried a bronze compass, scrutinizing her surroundings as she proceeded.

At a fork in the path, Dong Zhanchu suddenly hurried forward and blocked her way: “Immortal Yin, please take this path.” He guided her toward a side corridor lined with flowers.

Qingyin complied, turning as directed, but her gaze discreetly drifted toward the deeper, verdant path that had been deliberately avoided. It seemed Dong Zhanchu was intent on keeping her away from that area. What could possibly be hidden there?

Not far ahead, they came upon a small pavilion. Qingyin claimed fatigue and took a seat on a stone bench to rest. At Dong Zhanchu’s call, a servant appeared as if out of nowhere, instructed to brew a pot of tea. The servant’s sudden appearance was uncanny, as if he had been lurking nearby or had emerged straight from the ground.

While Dong Zhanchu spoke to the servant, Qingyin glanced over and caught sight of the servant’s bloodshot eyes, which made her heart skip a beat.

Motu pressed his paw against her hand, whispering, “He’s a rat demon.”

The Dong family actually employed a rat demon as a servant! For ordinary mortals to command demons—how extraordinary. She recalled the red-eyed figure spying from the rooftop the previous night; it must have been this rat demon, likely dispatched by Magistrate Dong to gather information about the new arrivals.

A rat demon posed little threat.

During this interlude, Motu leaped from her lap and vanished into the flowerbeds.

Dong Zhanchu noticed but paid no mind, secretly wishing that the ill-tempered, scratch-prone cat would stay far away.

The black cat slipped through the flowerbeds, found the previously avoided fork, and cautiously entered. The further it went, the cooler it became, the chill seeming to emanate from below. The stone slabs of the path exuded wisps of cold that numbed the pads of its feet.

After a short distance, it stopped.

There, inscribed upon the stone slabs, was a row of characters.

The Flame Blade Spell.

A fierce barrier spell used to guard homes and courtyards, akin to digging a pit at one’s doorstep and lining it with sharp blades. Any minor demon stepping on it would instantly be scorched to cinders; even those with deeper cultivation would have their feet burned through. For mortals or celestial beings, the spell would not harm them but instead trigger a sharp sound in the caster’s ear, alerting them to an intruder.

To lay such a vicious spell here suggested a secret of great importance was hidden within. Though formidable, breaking the spell was not difficult.

Motu stretched his body, leapt high, and easily jumped over the spell, landing on the other side—yes, as long as he didn’t step on it, he was safe.

*

Qingyin and the others rested beneath the pavilion. Someone brought tea—not the servant sent for it, but a beautiful woman dressed in white.

Magnolia, the tree spirit.

She carried the tea tray, head lowered, cheeks flushed, and walked shyly into the pavilion. As she raised her eyes to serve the tea, she saw a familiar face sitting inside, winking playfully at her. Startled, she nearly dropped the tray.

Dong Zhanchu, oblivious to the exchange of glances, hurried to steady the tray. “Careful, miss, lest you burn yourself.”

“It’s nothing,” Magnolia replied, her cheeks reddening further, her eyes glimmering, lips pressed in shy elegance—graceful and charming. She assumed the perfect demeanor of a refined lady, expertly concealing her usual mischievous tendencies.

Qingyin nodded her approval in silence.

Dong Zhanchu asked, “You’re feeling better, miss? Why get up so soon? You should rest longer.”

Magnolia smiled, “I’m quite alright now. Hearing the servants say you were here, I wanted to bring you tea myself.”

Their conversation had a hint of intimacy, suggesting that since Magnolia’s awakening, the two had already shared some affectionate moments and their relationship had progressed smoothly. Qingyin witnessed this and, seeing Magnolia’s suffering finally rewarded, felt gratified, though a shadow lingered in her heart.

Firstly, Dong Zhanchu was the son of her father’s killer. So long as Dong Zhanchu himself had committed no wrongdoing, Qingyin could accept this. Magistrate Dong was Qingyin’s enemy, not Magnolia’s; she sought her family’s vengeance, while Magnolia sought her scholar—each unrelated to the other.

Secondly, the Dong Residence was rife with strange occurrences, and Dong Zhanchu possessed an unusual longevity, raising suspicions of some unclean curse. If so, such a person should not be allowed to forge deep ties with Magnolia. Yet nothing was certain, and Qingyin dared not interfere hastily, choosing instead to watch and wait.

Dong Zhanchu introduced Qingyin to Magnolia, “Magnolia, this is Immortal Yin.”

Magnolia bowed gracefully, “Greetings, Immortal Yin.”

Qingyin returned the gesture, “Such beauty~” Then turned to Dong Zhanchu, “Yin’er has followed you long enough and must be tired. Take him back to rest; I’d like a private word with Miss Magnolia.”

Dong Zhanchu was startled, worry flashing across his face. He knew Magnolia was a demon, and Immortal Yin specialized in capturing demons—was she going to target Magnolia? Concerned, he stepped forward, shielding Magnolia, and pleaded softly, “Immortal Yin, Magnolia is truly innocent.”

Qingyin laughed, “Don’t worry, I like her very much and won’t harm her.”

Seeing her demeanor, Dong Zhanchu relaxed, sensing no hostility toward Magnolia. He left a rat servant to attend and secretly supervise Qingyin, instructing him to keep her from wandering where she shouldn’t.

He then took Yin’er away to rest.

Once Dong Zhanchu and Yin’er were out of sight, Qingyin ordered the rat servant to stand further off. Then, arching a brow, she called lazily to Magnolia, who stood pressed against the pavilion pillar, “Magnolia~”

Magnolia was still guilty about leaving without notice, twisting her sleeve and responding softly, her gaze darting everywhere but at Qingyin.

Qingyin’s expression darkened as she demanded quietly, “Come here!”

Magnolia stuck out her tongue and hurried over.

“So bold!” Qingyin scolded, “You dared to break your roots and flee on your own—are you courting death?” She stretched her fingers, tempted to pinch Magnolia’s soft cheek in punishment, but refrained for fear the distant rat servant might notice, settling instead for a fierce glare.

Magnolia blushed, “It was a moment’s impulse. I never expected to see the scholar from a hundred years ago again. If I missed this chance, I might never have another.”

“Chance? What chance?”

“Um… that…” Magnolia stammered, “Romance.” As she uttered the word, sweetness blossomed from her heart, a soft smile appeared on her lips, her cheeks blossoming with blush, and her eyes shone like starlight—so beautiful that Qingyin’s heart melted.

She could no longer utter a harsh word and sighed, “Magnolia, do you realize that severing your roots and leaving the tree is a perilous act? If you can’t return in time, you’ll be reduced to dust. I came here to bring you back.”

Magnolia shook her head, lips pressed tight, “I know. I must return within thirty days. I’ll use these thirty days to secure my bond with the scholar, and then I’ll go back.”

“Thirty days?! No, that’s too risky. Even if you manage to save one of your three main roots in the end, it will still drain your vitality.”

“It’s alright. As long as a single root remains, I can survive.” Though gentle, Magnolia’s expression was firm as stone, leaving Qingyin helpless.

Qingyin said, “Magnolia, if Dong Zhanchu were just an ordinary mortal, it would be fine. But having entered this residence, touched its wards and traps, it’s clear his background is shrouded in mystery, and he possesses a strange longevity. The more we investigate, the less certain we are of who he truly is. Motu and I have discussed this, and he’s not optimistic either. I really don’t want you to entrust yourself to him.” Qingyin was only fourteen, yet the tree spirit was over a thousand years old. Her words, heavy with concern, betrayed the heart of a mother.

Magnolia felt Qingyin’s deep care and replied solemnly, “Whatever his true identity, in my heart, he is still the refined scholar from a century ago.”

Qingyin sighed, “There’s nothing I can do. You may stay here for a few days. But remember, it’s only a fleeting romance—not worth risking your life. If things become urgent, I’ll take you back whether you wish it or not.”

Magnolia nodded, “I understand. It was difficult enough to cultivate from a block of wood into a sentient form. I wouldn’t lightly risk my life.”

*

The black cat, having bypassed the Flame Blade Spell, continued ahead. The path led into a dense bamboo grove. Before entering, he observed carefully and noticed some bamboo stalks engraved with the Silk Fright Talisman. These talismans paired off, resonating with each other to form invisible threads. If a spirit or demon unwittingly passed through them, it would be like colliding with a razor-thin invisible blade—minor demons would be sliced in half.

Such vicious wards!

Breaking these talismans would be easy for Motu, but doing so would alert the caster, so he carefully avoided them. Fortunately, his small feline body could slip through the gaps between the Silk Fright Talismans, probing step by step into the depths of the bamboo grove. As he neared the end, the scene suddenly opened up.

In the center of the grove was a broad, circular clearing several acres wide, the soil black and red. Right in the middle, a solitary, densely-leaved tree stood.

The entire clearing held only this one tree—aside from it, the black-red earth was bare, with not a blade of grass or a flower in sight.

He focused his gaze on the tree. Its trunk was thick, estimated to require ten people to encircle it. The bark was dark and rough, the leaves palm-sized and a deep ink-green, clustered so densely they cast a heavy shadow.

Motu couldn’t identify the species. He had never seen such a tree. Yet with his special sight, he could see a faint layer of sinister black energy hovering over the clearing, thickest near the tree’s roots, as if the blackness seeped directly from them.

It seemed this tree was the very source of the ominous black aura enveloping the Dong Residence. Yet what its origins were, and what evil it held, remained a mystery.

He intended to approach for a closer look. As soon as he took a step, his ears caught a faint “shhh” from the bamboo. Instantly alert, he dodged instinctively—a green bamboo leaf brushed his face, its edge sharp as a blade, whistling through the air and stabbing into the stone path, embedding itself half an inch and quivering with a metallic ring!

These bamboo leaves were sharper than knives!

Despite all his caution, he had triggered a trap. From the bamboo grove came a series of “shhh, shhh, shhh” sounds—hundreds of razor-edged bamboo leaves fell from overhead, raining down like blades upon Motu.

A storm of blades, with nowhere to run.

Author’s note: Daily updates! Typing till my hands cramp—please massage my paws~ If you treat me well, I’ll be gentle with the kitty. Hmm, Motu kitty, should I call emergency services for you first?

Half-Immortal Seal 35_Free Full Text_35 Clearing and Strange Tree updated!