Chapter 28: The Soul-Severing Formation

Update time: 2013-05-28

Today, Qiao Zhi was a different man. Gone was his usual carefree demeanor; in its place was a solemn expression as he addressed the group, “Everyone, I’m sure you’ve all heard of the Soul-Severing Formation. Brother Yuwen and I have tried to enter it before, so we have some understanding. Now, I’d like to share my deductions regarding this formation, and then we can discuss our next steps. What do you think?”

Lianyu nodded and said, “That’s for the best. I’ve heard your third brother mention that you’ve loved studying formations since childhood, especially skilled at constructing and unraveling them. The more we know, the better our chances.”

Seeing no objections, Qiao Zhi began, “Though I pride myself on my knowledge of formations, I dare not make rash judgments about this Soul-Severing Formation. Brother Yuwen and I once tried to explore it. From here, it looks like nothing but trees, but once you step inside, all you see is thick mist, easily losing your way. Last time, Brother Yuwen and I only avoided being trapped because we withdrew immediately after stepping in.” He paused, seeing that everyone was listening intently, then continued, “To prevent ourselves from getting lost, I can only propose the simplest method. I’ll tie a long rope around myself and lead the way. Each of you should stand three zhang apart, holding the rope tightly. The other end will be fastened to this boundary stele. If we get lost inside, we follow the rope out. Is everyone clear?”

No one raised any objections, so he turned to the people behind him and instructed, “You lot, bring the long ropes over.”

“Yes, sir!” They dismounted and began unloading bundles of hemp rope, more than a dozen in total. Qingfeng, Qingqiu, Qingling, and Qingluan, without needing orders, deftly helped move the bundles to the boundary stele.

Once preparations were nearly complete, Qiao Zhi bent down and untied a bundle at his feet. He looped one end around himself in a secure knot, then instructed, “Now, untie the rest of the ropes, knot them together, and tie the last end to the boundary stele.”

“That’s right. Make sure the knots between bundles are tight and secure,” Qiao Zhi said as he watched, directing them. When Zhou Ziwen tied a loose, sloppy knot, Qiao Zhi quickly intervened, “Brother Ziwen, pull tighter—this will come undone too easily.”

Zhou Qian, having finished his own knot, shook his head at his brother, took the rope, and tied a firm knot. “Ziwen, you shouldn’t go in with us in this state. Stay here and keep watch.” He then suggested to Qiao Zhi, “Your Highness, I think we should still leave a few people outside. If something happens to us inside, they can pull us out together. What do you think?”

Qiao Zhi nodded in approval. “Master Zhou, you’re thorough as always. That would be safer. Since time is short and the masters from your families haven’t arrived, today we’ll just explore the way. If there’s danger, we’ll retreat. Take Brother Yuwen’s flute as our signal—if anything happens, those outside will pull the rope. Brother Yuwen, if you have no issues, please respond.”

There was only a low grunt in reply.

Qiao Zhi, suppressing a rising urge to cough blood, forced himself to focus. “In that case, Brother Yuwen, Brother Lingjun, and Master Zhou will each take two men into the formation. Including myself, that makes ten. Sister-in-law, you’d best remain outside, agreed?”

Zhou Qian responded first, “That’s best!”

Yuwen Lingxi didn’t even grunt this time, but Qiao Zhi wisely took his silence as consent.

Lianyu considered and nodded as well. Yue Lingjun, seeing her agree, sighed inwardly in relief—he had been worried his elder sister might insist on going in out of concern for their father and younger sister. He had been racking his brains for a reason to keep her outside.

In truth, his concerns were unnecessary. Lianyu had never intended to enter from the start. Though worried for her father and little sister, she knew her own limits well. She understood that her presence would only distract the others and potentially hinder them. Additionally, the black-clad kidnappers had not necessarily arrived yet.

“Then Qingqiu and Qingfeng will go in with me; Qingling and Qingluan will stay outside to protect the Princess,” Yue Lingjun decided, now free from worry.

Bluewater, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, “Young Master, I want to go in today as well.”

Yue Lingjun hesitated. He’d hurriedly decided on the teams precisely to avoid Bluewater volunteering. Her skills were beyond question, but he didn’t want her to take the risk. He tried persuasion, “It’s too dangerous inside. Stay with my sister—it will ease my mind, all right?”

Bluewater remained silent, but her unwavering gaze made her resolve clear.

Yue Lingjun sighed in defeat, realizing she would find a way in regardless of his objections. Better to keep her close than let her go alone. Having made his decision, he said, “Qingfeng, you stay. Bluewater and Qingqiu, come with me.”

Qingfeng wanted to suggest that Qingqiu stay while he went, but Yue Lingjun cut him off, “That’s settled. Everyone to their tasks.”

With their team set, Yuwen’s and Zhou’s teams assembled as well. Yuwen Lingxi brought his attendant Mushan and a middle-aged man in black robes, whose arrival had gone unnoticed. Yuwen Lingxi gave no introduction, and the others tactfully refrained from asking. Zhou Qian brought two loyal followers named Changming and Changde.

Once all was ready, Qiao Zhi gave a few final instructions to those outside, grasped the rope tied to himself, and stepped inside the boundary. Yuwen Lingxi, after waiting for Qiao Zhi to get two zhang ahead, gripped the rope tightly and entered second, followed in turn by the black-robed man, Mushan, Changde, Zhou Qian, Changming, Bluewater, Yue Lingjun, and Qingqiu.

Outside, Lianyu watched them. Through the gaps between the trees, she soon noticed Qiao Zhi, a hundred meters ahead, begin to deviate from the intended path, with those behind gradually following suit. The three-zhang lengths of rope between each person alternated between slackening and tightening. She signaled those beside her to shout to the group inside, but to little effect. Lianyu’s eyes flickered—there was indeed something strange about the formation. Not only did it confuse direction, but it also seemed to muffle sound. Her gaze stayed fixed on the ten within, especially Yue Lingjun and Bluewater at the rear.

At the very front, Qiao Zhi felt as if a layer of cloud and mist shrouded his vision—he could barely see anything more than two meters away. Mind racing with calculations and guided by experience and instinct, he pressed on. Suddenly, he sensed a subtle change in the mist around him, though he couldn’t say exactly what was different. He forced himself to concentrate, continuing his mental deductions.

Pulled along by the rope, those behind followed, though their path became increasingly convoluted.

Gradually, Lianyu could see only the slowly moving rope from outside; the ten figures themselves were hidden by the trees. When half the rope remained at the boundary, its movement slowed, then ceased altogether. Lianyu’s heart grew uneasy.

Had she been able to look into the depths of the woods, she would have seen ten people with differing expressions. Only the black-robed man’s eyes remained clear as he studied the surrounding mist thoughtfully.

At the head, Qiao Zhi’s face was grave. Just now, he thought he saw his mother, vivid as life, beckoning to him. For an instant, his mind blanked and he nearly walked toward her—only the sudden flash of the memory of her death shocked him awake. Realizing this was an illusionary formation, and that if even he was affected, the others must be as well, he urgently called out, “Brother Yuwen, play the flute!”

There was no reply.

“Brother Yuwen! Brother Yuwen!”

Qiao Zhi shook the rope vigorously, but still got no response. Convinced that Yuwen Lingxi had also fallen into a hallucination, he was filled with regret—he should have insisted on keeping Yuwen’s precious flute by his side. But regret was useless now; the priority was to get to Yuwen Lingxi, use the flute as a signal, and have those outside pull them out.

Carefully, Qiao Zhi began to shorten the rope between them, moving step by step toward Yuwen Lingxi.

At that moment, Yuwen Lingxi crouched on the ground, clutching his head with his left hand and gripping his jade flute tightly with his right, his body racked with spasms. Low, animalistic sounds came from his mouth. His eyes were tightly shut, his handsome face twisted in agony. Qiao Zhi had guessed right—Yuwen Lingxi was trapped deep in the illusion. He kept his eyes shut, unwilling to see the bloodied corpses and the wide staring eyes before him.

He was like a wounded beast; sensing someone approach, he lashed out by instinct. Caught off guard, Qiao Zhi barely dodged, taking a heavy blow to the shoulder and hearing the crack of breaking bone. He retreated, puzzled by the violence of Yuwen Lingxi’s reaction—what horrors could he be seeing in his hallucination? Qiao Zhi sensed that Yuwen’s punch was delivered with genuine killing intent, the ferocity of it chilling.

But Qiao Zhi never doubted Yuwen Lingxi truly meant him harm; after all, they were the closest of friends.

Before he could think further, Yuwen Lingxi swung again, this time at his temple. As Qiao Zhi prepared to dodge, the fist stopped midair—so did Yuwen Lingxi himself.

Only then did Qiao Zhi see the black-robed man standing beside Yuwen Lingxi, his hand still poised at the acupoint on Yuwen’s body.

Qiao Zhi exhaled in relief, nodding his gratitude to the man.

“Your Highness, we should withdraw. The others aren’t faring well either.”

As if to confirm his words, a heart-wrenching scream echoed through the mist. Though distorted, Qiao Zhi recognized it as Yue Lingjun’s voice. He glanced helplessly at the jade flute still gripped in Yuwen Lingxi’s hand. “Please carry your young master. Let’s go check on the others together.”

The black-robed man, saying nothing more, hoisted the still-tormented Yuwen Lingxi onto his shoulder and followed Qiao Zhi along the rope, heading toward the source of the sound.