I Went Crazy Killing in the World of Gods and Demons - Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Xia Ke’er lay motionless on the bed, looking half-dead and listless, her eyelids drooping with no energy.

Xie Qingling and Ye Anran walked in, but she didn’t even lift her eyelids, appearing ready to die at any moment.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Xie Qingling stepped forward, approached the bedside, and stood looking down at Xia Ke’er from above.

“Would you rather die than break the contract?” Xie Qingling gave her one last chance.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t imagine how to live without Xia Tian in the future… It would be like this world without mountains, without the moon and wind, without the sunhow could I go on?” As she spoke, Xia Ke’er lowered her head. “I’ve done wrong. Please grant me release.”

Ye Anran gritted her teeth, standing silently as she turned her head away and closed her eyes, unable to bear witnessing the bloody scene about to unfold.

After about three to five seconds, or perhaps a bit longer, Ye Anran, with her eyes tightly shut, heard Xie Qingling’s voice.

She said, “Have you ever considered one thing?”

“What?”

“Why did Xia Tian choose you?”

“…Why… why me?”

“In this vast world, why you of all people? As a half-immortal Spirit, why would it obey your every whim and allow you to take whatever you wanted?”

Xie Qingling’s words made Xia Ke’er ponder deeply.

Xia Ke’er had thought about this question before, but each time she failed to find an answeror perhaps was afraid of the answerso she pretended not to think about it, pretended not to care.

But now, forced by Xie Qingling to confront this lingering doubt in her heart, Xia Ke’er said in agony, “I don’t know, I really don’t know. Just kill me!”

Xie Qingling sat down on the bed, as if she hadn’t heard her, and continued calmly, “Xia Tian said it thought you were a kind, good girl, which is why it chose you, hoping you could help it cultivate and attain immortality. But you… blinded by greed, you betrayed its sincere intentions. Not only did you fail to aid its cultivation, you even hindered its progress.”

“You’ve caused Xia Tian a lot of trouble, Xia Ke’er,” Xie Qingling said.

“Stop it, stop talking… Don’t say anymore!! I won’t listen, I won’t!” The previously subdued Xia Ke’er grew agitated again.

“You’re always so selfish, only thinking about what you want, never considering what Xia Tian needs. Why not let it have its way for once? Or is your so-called affection just an excuse, since you won’t even grant it freedom? It’s a fox from the wildit doesn’t belong solely to you as Xia Tian.”

“If you break the contract, even though you’ll forget it” Xie Qingling lowered her head, looking at the sorrowful fox, and said, “it will always remember you.”

Ye Anran was stunned.

Had Xia Tian really confided so much in Xie Qingling?

Or was Xie Qingling just “talking therapy” again?

Ye Anran didn’t dare speak anymore.

Glancing at Xia Ke’er again, she found no words to describe the expression on that fox-like face.

Grief, self-blame, pain, obsession… all these emotions intertwined, ultimately transforming into a pained whimper in her throat.

Xia Ke’er said, “I agree to your terms.”

Tears streamed down Xia Ke’er’s face as she cried, “I consent to terminate the contract.”

She wailed loudly, as if afraid she might change her mind, and spoke in the fastest, most desperate tone: “You… you perform Memory Cleansing on me!”

Xie Qingling nodded. “Don’t worry, it won’t hurt at all.”

Ye Anran: “…”

Ye Anran, who had just opened her eyes, looked at the composed Xie Qingling and didn’t know what to say.

Did she really just coax and deceive her way into resolving the situation with Xia Ke’er?

She had thought Xia Ke’er wouldn’t escape death…

Xie Qingling gave Ye Anran a meaningful look, signaling her to act quickly before Xia Ke’er changed her mind.

With a single Silver Needle from Ye Anran, Xia Ke’er closed her eyes.

First, incense was used, then the needle was applied. By the time she woke up tomorrow, it would mostly be resolved.

Ye Anran still felt somewhat dazed that things had been resolved so smoothly.

She looked up at Xie Qingling and asked, “Did Xia Tian really tell you that?”

“Of course not, I’m not familiar with it.”

“Then you…” Then how did you manage to fabricate it so convincingly? She had almost believed it!

“I took a gamble. Xia Ke’er responds better to soft approaches than harsh ones, and it turns out I succeeded.” Xie Qingling spoke righteously, “Besides, I think my speculation is very reasonable. If it weren’t for cultivation, why would a semi-immortal Spirit like it come to the mortal world for no reason?”

“Oh, that makes sense.”

“Alright, the matter is resolved. I’ll report to the department head now.” Xie Qingling quickly activated her earpiece, completely disregarding whether it might disturb Ling Fang’s rest in the middle of the night.

Once the call connected, Ling Fang’s voice came through: “How’s the situation?”

He sounded quite alert, probably still awake and handling affairs.

Xie Qingling replied, “Department Head, Xia Ke’er has agreed to terminate the contract. Please instruct us on the next steps.”

Ling Fang paused, “Resolved that quickly?”

“Yes.” Xie Qingling answered formally, “We used a relatively harmonious and friendly approach to reach a consensus with Xia Ke’er. Once Senior Anran performs Memory Cleansing on her, the contract can be terminated.”

“Alright, I’ll take over the follow-up. You can return and rest. You’ve worked hard today.”

“Understood.”

Watching the entire process, Ye Anran’s lips twitched, and she no longer recognized the term “harmonious and friendly.”

If the department head found out, he’d surely scold them to death, right?

But… she wouldn’t say a word. Hehe.

Xia Ke’er fell and got hurt all on her ownwhat does that have to do with Xie Qingling?

“Senior Anran, I’ll take my leave now.” Xie Qingling turned back and said to Ye Anran, “Please keep an eye on Xia Ke’er. The department head will come personally to handle it shortly.”

“Wait, but… I wanted to ask, how should we perform Memory Cleansing on Xia Ke’er? Up to which point in time should we erase?”

Xie Qingling thought for a moment and said, “Directly erase all her memories from two years agono, make it three years agofrom when she encountered Xia Tian.”

That’s quite a large time span…

“Erasing so many memories at oncewhat if it affects her daily life later?”

Xie Qingling was also troubled, but she quickly came up with a solution. She said, “It’s fine. The Logistics Department will have a way.”

Ye Anran: “…Huh?”

Xie Qingling left.

The roar of a motorcycle engine echoed through the night sky. The nanny, deep in sleep, didn’t hear it. Under the calming spell cast by Ye Anran, she remained unaware of everything that had happened that night.

She slept dreamlessly throughout.

Having resolved the major issue, Xie Qingling slept exceptionally soundly.

When she woke up, it was already 9 a.m.

Just in time for work.

However, she was still on vacation, so even if she didn’t show up on time, she believed Ling Fang probably wouldn’t say anything.

Xie Qingling stretched lazily and walked downstairs, full of energy.

Just as she was about to grab some breakfast to appease her growling stomach, she noticed a message from Ling Fang on the whiteboard in the hall:

“Left some documents and files on the table for you. Take some time to read them, then handle the aftermath regarding the fox.”

Xie Qingling: “…”

Alright.

No room for refusal.

Biting into a piece of toast and holding a cup of coffee, Xie Qingling went to the conference table and opened the documents Ling Fang had left for her.

The documents contained a rough summary of the recent incidenta basic post-operation report.

Among the details, the number of audience members affected by the extraction of Human Qi had been tallied.

A total of 34 people fell ill: 25 middle-aged and elderly, 5 adolescents, and the remaining 4 were young adults.

Among them, those with better physical constitutions would recover after about seven days of bed rest.

Those with weaker constitutions would have a tougher time, with symptoms fluctuatingsometimes better, sometimes worse.

These individuals required special treatment.

Ling Fang had already applied to headquarters, requesting they send a Talisman Water Master from the Meishan Sect to assist with the subsequent specialized treatments.

The latter part of the document dealt with the handling of the fox.

Xie Qingling finished reading the entire document while eating her breakfast.

When she looked up, she noticed the shrine containing Xia Tian placed in the cabinet against the wall.

Shrines were usually kept on the third floor, but since Xia Tian wasn’t a Righteous God they worshipped, he didn’t qualify for that privilege.

Xie Qingling took out the shrine and placed it on the table, saying, “I don’t know if you can hear me, but I think it’s necessary to inform you.”

“Xia Ke’er ultimately chose to set you free.”

“I don’t know what kind of agreement you had with her, but from now on, you are not to disturb her again.”

As her words faded, Xia Tian’s ethereal, hollow voice emerged from the shrine: “I know. This morning, I sensed that the contract has been dissolved.”

“Thank you, fated one. You’ve done me a great favor.”

“Don’t thank me so quickly, and don’t speak to me like that,” Xie Qingling replied. “I’m not your fated one. I’m the one who will seal you away.”

Xia Tian fell silent for a moment, then asked, “How will you deal with me?”

Xie Qingling said, “We will find a remote, inaccessible mountain forest and seal you inside, preventing you from stepping into this mortal world again. You won’t be able to leave this shrine and can only continue your cultivation in the place we’ve chosen for you. Don’t attempt to enter a world that doesn’t belong to you, or it will be detrimental to both sides.”

“You don’t belong in the mortal world. Your abilities and your identity are unsuitable,” Xie Qingling continued. “Even if you were truly human, you would still be special. Our department won’t allow you to continue moving about in the mortal world. There’s a saying in our world: ‘Those who are not of our kind must have different intentions.’ It’s not just about the conflict between good and evilthe fundamental issue is the difference in stance. You and we are not the same, which means you cannot survive here. If you were to blend into the mortal world, it would cause trouble.”

“You’ve cultivated for so many years, gained human understanding, and speak in Zen-like phrases. You should understand what I mean, right?”

“I understand.”

“But…”

Xia Tian said, “I can no longer return to the mountains and forests.”

Xie Qingling’s face showed no expression as she stated calmly, “Don’t try to beg for mercy or act pitiful in front of me. I won’t sympathize with you, nor will I help you. My colleagues and I are still working overtime to clean up the mess you’ve caused. Even if you’re unwilling to go back, we will proceed with this plan.”

“You, a semi-immortal who has endured countless hardships in your cultivationdo you not have even a shred of compassion for all living beings?”

After an unknown period of silence, Xia Tian let out a heavy sigh.

It said, “In the beginning, I wasn’t a semi-immortal. I was just a fox spirit cultivating in the mountains and forests.”

“My grandmother said that foxes possess first-rate spiritual nature. As long as one has wisdom and refrains from killing, it’s easy to achieve enlightenment and become an immortal.”

“My grandmother was also a fox spirit, but she couldn’t withstand the Heavenly lightning tribulation and failed to attain human form or achieve enlightenment. She told me I was the most talented child in our clan and must continue cultivating diligently.”

“Later, my clan members died one by one, leaving me completely alone. I was a solitary spirit, running alone in the wilderness, worshiping devoutly under the moonlight. I prayed and prayed, bowed and bowed. I grew increasingly clear-minded, my cultivation deepened, but I also grew more and more lonely.”

“I passed the child trial, endured the Wheel track tribulation, and survived the Heavenly lightning. I became humana fox spirit with human form.”

“I am a fox spirit, but not a fox. I am a monster, but without companions. I want to be human, but everyone fears me.”

“I’m so lonely, so terribly lonely. I don’t know how many years I spent in the mountains and forests. I’ve planted flowers, tended to grass, but they don’t speak. When the wind comes, they sway; when it rains, they bow their headsthat’s the best response they can give me. I can speak human words, but I don’t know who to speak them to.”

“I once kept a rabbit, but it only feared me, avoided me. It couldn’t understand why a fox would want to keep a rabbit. It died soon afterlife is fleeting. To my thousand-year lifespan, it was merely a mayfly born at dawn and dead by dusk.”

“I searched for fox spirits, wanting to find companions. I didn’t want to run alone through the wilderness, nor curl up alone against stones to sleep. I also sought a deity who could grant me a Bestowment, or someone who could offer me guidance, but found neither.”

“Later, I met Ke’er.”

“She feared me, yet would listen when I spoke. She wanted to flee, yet always returned.”

“She told me of mortal affairs, and I spoke of mountain matters. I gradually stopped searching, no longer feeling lonely. Having immersed myself in the mortal world, I could never return to the lonely mountains.”

“I grew attached to all worldly things. Having experienced warm embraces, I could no longer endure cold stones.”

“To leave the mountains and enter society, I deceived her. I was no Household Immortal, yet let her worship me as one.”

“She invited me home, devotedly making offerings. She was devout, and I was delighted.”

“When a spirit receives worship, it may ascend to immortality. But what’s stolen remains stolen. I became a half-immortal, while Ke’er suffered retribution.”

“This is my karma, my sin, my destiny, my transgression… I shall repay it myself.” Xia Tian’s tone suddenly turned solemn, “I’m not feigning pity to seek your understanding.”

“I offer you the Core I cultivated over a thousand years to atone for my sins. But… I beg you to guide me toward enlightenment, to offer me spiritual direction.”

As the words faded, Xie Qingling suddenly felt her body stiffen, immobilized. Mist swirled around her, shadows flickering indistinctly.

It was as if she’d been pulled into another realm, isolated from the outside worldthis solitary space where she could find refuge.

Before her stood a white fox standing upright like a human, its paws clasped in a ceremonial bow as it asked: “Tell me, do I resemble a human or a deity?”