Chapter 81: Driven to Madness

In the silent night, two carriages moved slowly, one behind the other, leaving Shelley City.

Shelley City was the closest trading city to the Dead Marsh. Between Shelley City and the heart of the Dead Marsh lay only a forest, its trees not particularly tall, with a path running through it for merchants and mercenaries traveling between the two places.

In the front carriage, Chu Ping’s expression was wooden; he flicked the whip indifferently, neither hurried nor slow.

Inside the carriage, the low laughter of Zuo Shi and Wu Yunlian drifted out, their voices mingling in cheerful conversation. The two women seemed relaxed throughout the journey, their laughter never ceasing.

In the carriage behind, Han Feng and Ku Long sat at the front, exchanging a few words from time to time.

Most of their time was spent vigilantly watching their surroundings, never letting their guard down.

Inside their carriage, Shi Yan was silent.

For nearly ten days, Shi Yan had hardly left the carriage except for the necessities of eating, drinking, and relieving himself.

Each time he emerged for a meal, he appeared haggard, his brows deeply furrowed, as if troubled by some matter.

Late at night.

Both carriages stopped by a small river in the forest. Zuo Shi and Wu Yunlian gracefully alighted and went to the river to wash their faces and fill water.

Soon, they returned, faces cleansed and water collected, only to find the Shi family’s carriage eerily quiet, not a sound coming from within.

“What is he doing in there?” Wu Yunlian stared at the Shi family’s carriage, her charming face full of perplexity. “I barely saw him come out on this journey. Aside from emerging to eat and drink, he seems to stay inside all the time. Each time he comes out, he’s dazed, as if pondering some problem... Such a strange boy.”

“He’s always been odd,” Zuo Shi nodded in agreement. “People who delve into ancient relics and texts are eccentric. Who knows what goes on in their minds.”

Wu Yunlian giggled, her laughter full of allure. “But you know, he really is different from the others. The young men who traveled with you before would swarm around you like flies, impossible to drive away! But this one—ten days have passed and he’s barely looked at you, hardly even leaves the carriage. Rare indeed.”

“Forget him. He is strange, that’s all,” Zuo Shi paused, only now realizing what Wu Yunlian said was true: Shi Yan truly hadn’t glanced at her.

She was not vain, but she knew her appearance was exceptional—something evident from how other young men responded to her.

Shi Yan, being at the age of youthful passion, should not have been immune. Why was he so peculiar?

All women are sensitive in such matters; Zuo Shi was no exception. Along with confusion, she felt a faint indignation.

“Give me some water.” Suddenly, a flat voice came from inside the Shi family’s carriage.

Ku Long paused, looked at Han Feng, and asked, “Madman, is there any water left?”

Han Feng shook his head and pointed at Wu Yunlian and Zuo Shi, who were walking over. “They’ve been fetching water these days.”

Ku Long leaned out, smiling at Wu Yunlian. “Sister, some water, please. Our young master is thirsty.”

“He should get it himself,” Zuo Shi pouted, humming softly. “Always cooped up in the carriage—doesn’t he worry about smelling bad? What a strange man.”

Ku Long laughed awkwardly and turned to the carriage. “Young Master Yan, Miss Zuo says you should come out for water.”

“Oh.”

Shi Yan replied indifferently, slowly pushing aside the curtain. He emerged, face haggard and lost in thought, as if still searching for answers.

He didn’t dwell on it, but walked slowly to Zuo Shi’s side, seized the water pouch from her hand, and tilted his head back for a deep drink.

Afterward, Shi Yan handed the pouch back to Zuo Shi, whose pretty face was flushed with anger, then turned and headed back to the carriage, muttering, “Why does this water have a fragrance? How odd…”

“Shi Yan!” Zuo Shi’s face turned red with fury. “That was my water pouch, not your family’s!”

Shi Yan was startled by her shout, snapping out of his contemplation of the ancient Life and Death Seal. He looked at her curiously. “Does it matter?”

“That pouch—Zuo Shi just drank from it,” Wu Yunlian teased, her smile mischievous. “Maybe, the water you drank still carried a trace of her lips.”

“Aunt Lian!” Zuo Shi’s cheeks burned bright red, stomping her foot. “You’re talking nonsense!”

Ku Long and Chu Ping were both taken aback, their expressions odd. Even Han Feng glanced over, though he quickly resumed his own tasks, pretending not to hear Wu Yunlian’s words or see Zuo Shi’s blush.

Shi Yan, catching on, feigned ignorance and grinned. “It’s fine. I’m not particular—I won’t mind a little of your saliva.”

With that, Shi Yan turned and disappeared into the carriage again, not showing his face.

Wu Yunlian burst into peals of laughter, her chest trembling with mirth. She suddenly felt that Shi Yan was not so dull after all. The boy’s occasional remark could be unexpectedly amusing.

Zuo Shi stood stunned, eyes wide, and after a moment shouted, “Shi Yan! You scoundrel!”

“Uncle Han, let’s go,” Shi Yan’s calm voice came from the carriage.

“Alright.” Han Feng’s lips twisted into a strange smile, and he nudged Ku Long. “Let’s move.”

The Shi family’s carriage rolled forward, for the first time overtaking the Zuo family’s, moving ahead.

Zuo Shi remained where she was, her face burning. She glanced at Wu Yunlian, then at Chu Ping, who was silently looking down, and snapped, “Laughing! What’s so funny? It’s not funny at all! You’re all so dull!”

She then leapt into her carriage, sulking. “Uncle Ping, drive! Crash into the Shi family’s carriage—I want him to suffer!”

Chu Ping stared, pitifully looking at Wu Yunlian.

Wu Yunlian shook her head with a smile, then climbed aboard, soothing Zuo Shi in the carriage. “Alright, little Shi. He didn’t mean any harm—don’t take it to heart.”

“It’s outrageous! Saying I... that I...” Zuo Shi grumbled, too embarrassed to finish her sentence.

...

Shi Yan paid no mind to the brief episode.

Inside the carriage, he leaned against the side, brow furrowed, strange symbols flickering in his eyes.

The characters of the Life and Death Seal spun rapidly in his mind.

These days, he had devoted almost all his energy to comprehending the ancient Life and Death Seal.

Even while eating, his mind never rested, obsessively trying to grasp the cultivation methods, as if possessed.

That was his nature.

Once he resolved to do something, he would focus all his attention, ignoring everything else, driving himself to completion regardless of outside influences.

Years spent pushing his limits had taught him one truth—only by immersing himself completely could he perfect anything.

Life and Death Seal! Life and Death Seal!

Now, this was the only thought in his mind—to master its cultivation method as quickly as possible.

Ideally, before entering the Dead Marsh, he could fully grasp its secrets.

Only then could he protect himself in the Dead Marsh and seize opportunities that would benefit him.

Shi Yan closed his eyes, body relaxed, organizing his insights from this period.

After a long time.

His mind stirred; his vital energy flowed, rising slowly from his abdomen and gradually entering his right arm.

The energy moved at a deliberate pace, gathering and refining constantly in his right arm.

Strands of vital energy collected there, making his arm appear translucent—bones and veins visible as if his skin were transparent.

Shi Yan was unaware of his arm’s peculiar state.

Eyes closed, he followed the cultivation method he had learned, attempting to activate the refined energy in his arm.

As his right arm slowly swelled, Shi Yan steeled himself, and the energy within his arm surged fiercely toward his palm.

Sparks of crystalline energy shot from his fingertips like lightning.

Those five strands seemed almost alive, stretching and contracting at his fingertips, yet never breaking free to fly forth.

“Still not right.”

Shi Yan opened his eyes, gazing at the crystals at his fingertips, a trace of helplessness on his face. He muttered, “Something must be off—this isn’t the sign of successful cultivation. Where did I go wrong?”

His voice faded, the energy at his fingertips slowly receding.

He sank once more into deep thought, possessed, still searching for the true essence of the Life and Death Seal.

...

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