The Cannon Fodder Turns His Sister Into A Soaring Phoenix – Chapter 66

Chapter 66 The Great Female Protagonist, Filial Piety

Xiao Yunluo thought the salt in the courtyard was strange enough, but upon entering Pei Lianxue’s bedroom, she found it to be even more of a mess. The windows were all covered with red paper talismans, and red beans were scattered everywhere on the floor, leaving her with nowhere to step.

And Pei Lianxue? She was currently huddled on the bed, clutching a rooster she had found somewhere, trembling. Several willow branches were stuck in her hair, making her look as if she had just finished flying a sword at low altitude through a willow forest.

Xiao Yunluo stared for a long time before finally unable to resist asking, “Lianxue?”

“Eeek?!”

Pei Lianxue flinched and quickly hugged the rooster tighter. *Bawk—* The rooster, as if in great discomfort, widened its eyes and let out a cry.

Upon seeing that it was Xiao Yunluo, Pei Lianxue finally loosened her grip, sparing the rooster’s life. “It’s Yunluo?”

Xiao Yunluo tiptoed, carefully stepping around the red beans on the floor, and walked to the bedside. “What are you doing?”

“Last night I saw a ghost, in a bamboo forest not far away. There was a dismembered girl buried there, and I saw her ghost.”

“…A ghost?”

“Mmm… I stepped on her too…”

?

Hearing this, Xiao Yunluo’s eyes narrowed into slits, her features contorting into her center of her face, making her look like an old woman. The word “ghost” was generally only used by mortals who were unaware of the existence of immortals and cultivators. After cultivators reached the end of their lifespan or were on their deathbed, their primordial spirit would leave their body, and their consciousness would fade, causing them to drift around and sometimes end up in mortal towns. People who happened to see them would spread the word, and it would become a “ghost.” In reality, most primordial spirits that left the body were not that threatening; like an egg without a shell, they would shatter with a single touch. Primordial spirits wandering the mortal realm would be absorbed by the earth’s spiritual energy within a few days, which is what is referred to as “returning to dust and soil.” Moreover, the Xuan Xing Sect was built on the peak of Immortal Spirit Mountain. Even if a stray primordial spirit were to drift here, it would be “salvated into dust” before it even entered the sect’s gates.

Xiao Yunluo pondered for a moment. Could it be that a Xuan Xing Sect disciple had died of old age last night, and Pei Lianxue just happened to witness it? But what about the dismemberment? Could it be… that there had been a major murder case in the Xuan Xing Sect before?!

She fell silent for a moment, then looked at the rooster in Pei Lianxue’s arms, which looked like it had been through a rough night. “Then why are you hugging a rooster?”

“Senior Brother once told me, ‘When the six spirits are exhausted, the soul scatters; where the golden rooster crows, gods and ghosts are startled.’ Ghosts are most afraid of a rooster’s crow; they flee in panic when they hear it,” Pei Lianxue explained.

“So?”

“So, I just need to…” Pei Lianxue tightened her arms, and the rooster in her embrace immediately let out a mournful cry to the sky. *Bawk bawk bawk—*

Xiao Yunluo sighed. “The red beans and salt, and the willow branches in your hair too?”

“Yes, I heard a Senior Sister from the Hundred Lotus Sect mention it before.”

“…”

Six dots appeared above Xiao Yunluo’s head. However, seeing that Pei Lianxue’s eyes were red from fright and she hadn’t slept all night, Xiao Yunluo thought for a moment before saying, “How about this, we go to the place where you saw the ghost yesterday and perform a salvation ritual for it. I’ve memorized some scriptures.”

“…Okay.”

“You said there was a girl who was… dismembered?”

“Mm,” Pei Lianxue nodded vigorously.

Xiao Yunluo cupped her chin and thought for a moment, then continued, “If that’s really the case, it might have happened a long time ago. Let’s perform a salvation ritual for it first. After that, I’ll report this matter to the elders of Central Peak and have the disciples from Central Peak investigate. If it really is a past murder case… that’s not a small matter!”

“Mm… Then I’ll go prepare some things.”

“I’ll go back and get some things too.”

The two of them hit it off immediately and quickly went to prepare the items for the ritual separately, then headed to the bamboo forest where Pei Lianxue had practiced her sword last night.

They brought a peach wood sword, red talismans, red candles, a copper coin sword, and also a high-quality purple gold incense burner, along with a small red wooden table and a round cushion. After setting up the altar, Pei Lianxue killed the rooster and sprinkled its blood all over the bamboo forest, while Xiao Yunluo meditated in front of the altar, chanting the scriptures she had memorized for blessings and longevity.

“The Dharma assembly is established, and the relief is about to be completed. The sponsor is devout, offering incense and bowing… Wild geese may return, but the souls of the departed do not.” After Xiao Yunluo recited it five times, she and Pei Lianxue bowed together. “Rest in peace!”

…

After the two had been busy for quite some time, it was already time for the Xuan Xing Sect’s morning assembly. Soon, many Xuan Xing Sect disciples were seen flying towards the direction of the academy while eating their breakfast. Pei Lianxue also wanted to send breakfast to Ye Anping, so she excused herself first.

Because of what Pei Lianxue had said last night, Xiao Yunluo hesitated for a moment before catching up and calling out to her. “Lianxue… that…”

“Mm? What is it?”

“Can I… go with you to see your Senior Brother? I’ve prepared some pastries… I want to apologize to him… about the incident at the physiotherapy center last time…”

Upon hearing this, Pei Lianxue suddenly became vigilant, her brow furrowing into an “eight.” Seeing her expression, Xiao Yunluo quickly defended herself, “No… no, you misunderstand. I have no romantic feelings for your Senior Brother; I just want to get to know him.”

“…Just want to get to know him?”

“Yes, I promise.”

Pei Lianxue hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. “Then… alright.”

Afterward, the two left the bamboo forest to return to their rooms to change. As soon as they stepped out of the bamboo forest, a barefooted girl began to walk with pattering footsteps towards the altar they had just set up.

“…”

“…”

“…”

The girl looked at the altar and the surrounding red beans and chicken blood, and the six dots on her head flashed continuously from left to right like LED light bulbs.

“*Quack—*” After a while, a duck-like sound came from the sky. A golden-crested tiger-striped parrot circled above the girl’s head for a moment before flying down and landing on her shoulder. The tiger-striped parrot stared at the altar in front of the girl, tilted its head, and six dots appeared on its head again. Then, opening its beak, it flicked its tongue and shouted, “Spirit of the altar!! Spirit of the altar!! Great filial piety!! Great filial piety!!”

The parrot’s husky voice echoed through the bamboo forest. The girl took a shallow breath. “So rude.”

The parrot chimed in, “Rude!! Rude!!”

“You too.” The girl waved her small hand, and the tiger-striped parrot shot like a cannonball, falling in a parabolic trajectory into a pile of bamboo leaves nearby, leaving only a few drifting feathers on the girl’s shoulder. Then, the girl said softly, “Go and see.”

“See it if you want!! See it if you want!!” The tiger-striped parrot hopped out of the leaf pile, shook the leaves off itself, then spread its wings and followed the footsteps of Pei Lianxue and Xiao Yunluo. After it left, the girl stared at the altar for a while, then crouched down, took a piece of glutinous rice cake from the altar, and put it in her mouth.

“(Smack smack)” She chewed a couple of times, paused for two breaths, and swallowed. Then, she reached out and took another piece.

…