Chapter 101: Yin-Yang Coin

Ming Yangzi’Er(1) was able to track spiritual energy. Whether Ming Han was controlling puppets or diverting his spirit, as long as he cast spells, the spiritual energy he used would leave traces. Luo Xu, currently unable to use divine powers, used the pretext of a "dowry" to hand a copper coin to Ming Zhuo.

The two had used this method before outside the array. Ming Zhuo followed his example, seizing the opportunity while that spiritual energy hadn't yet dissipated, and threw the copper coin. This time, the copper coin indeed followed a particular direction and, as soon as Luo Xu finished speaking, it had already rushed out of the front hall, plunging into the boundless night.

Ming Han said, "One of you remains unmoved, while the other speaks piercing words. Is your tacit cooperation due to the soul bond, or is there some other reason your heartfelt feelings are understood even through the darkness?"

"Whichever it is, it has nothing to do with you," Ming Zhuo said as a small paper figure floated from his fingers. "Instead of worrying about us, shouldn’t you worry about your own safety first?”

The paper figure immediately transformed into a fair-faced servant, rushing towards Ming Han. Ming Han didn't move and said, "You're not striking me now but Lin Changming. He's already in such a pitiful state, are you really going to kill him?"

Without a word, the fair-faced servant swung a knife towards Ming Han's neck. Ming Han's figure turned into mist, scattering instantly. Unfortunately, he was a step too slow and lost a lock of white hair to the servant's blade. By the time the black mist reformed into a human shape, he was already outside the hall.

"You've really become a master, striking so ruthlessly without leaving any room for mercy. If this body weren't still somewhat useful, I wouldn't mind letting you cut it down," Ming Han said. "After all, he was the one who led you into the array. If you killed him to vent your anger, it would be understandable."

His words implied that Lin Changming had set up the Nightmare Sealing Array willingly, intending to trap the two of them.

"Possessing someone else's body and then speaking ill of them," Luo Xu said, "How about this: bring your true form here and face Lin Changming directly so we can determine who really activated the Nightmare Sealing Array."

Ming Han's form dispersed again into black mist, drifting towards where the copper coin had disappeared, his voice echoing, "Inside this array, the Heavenly Sea’s Imperial Lord has exhausted his spiritual power. What use is there in delaying? Without your control, even if the Yin-Yang Coin finds my true form, it's all wasted effort!"

"All wasted effort, you say?" Ming Zhuo sneered. "If you weren't running so fast, I might have believed you."

If Ming Han could completely control Lin Changming, he wouldn't run, nor would he reveal his true form. Because this array was driven by Lin Changming's will, Ming Han could have simply taken Lin Changming's place and done whatever he wanted. His current actions only proved that he could occupy Lin Changming's body but couldn't control his consciousness.

The two of them rushed out of the front hall, finding the River God Temple transformed. Outside, there were rows of red wedding sedans. Ming Zhuo was so crowded by the wedding procession that he couldn't move. He said, "What madness is he up to again? How many more times does Jiang Linzhai have to see the wedding sedan?"

"The knot in his heart is not easily undone, it’s a disease," Luo Xu said, reaching out to extract the false river god trapped in the crowd. "The Yin-Yang Coin is heading to the edge of the array, hurry and pursue it."

But just then, the fair-faced servant reverted to a paper figure. Ming Zhuo's spell failed, and amidst the swaying crowd, he said, "My spiritual power is exhausted!"

That last bowl of the Water of Illumination had already been consumed, and kissing again wouldn't help. As the crowd grew larger, Luo Xu said, "I have an idea."

Ming Zhuo asked, "What is it?"

Luo Xu lifted a curtain and pushed Ming Zhuo inside. "This method of borrowing spiritual power is truly strange. I thought about it and realised that perhaps the Water of Illumination was just a ruse. What Lin Changming really wanted wasn't 'the Shifu killing Ruyi Lang out of duty,' but 'the Shifu being with Ruyi Lang despite everything.' That's why he kept saying it wasn't possible while leaving the loophole that the two of us could gain spiritual power just by being close."

He placed a hand on the sedan, blocking out the surrounding illusions with his body, and looked down at Ming Zhuo.

"The key to the child attendant's words wasn’t the first half, but the second half," the Imperial Lord spoke naturally, though his eyes gleamed with a hunger beyond the bounds of propriety. "Let’s try it in the wedding chamber?"

The Author Has Something to Say

Thanks for reading. 

The Translator Has Something to Say 

Apologies! I was on an impromptu holiday with friends and wasn't able to work on this! The normal posting schedule will return next week! 

Foot Notes

1. 明阳子儿 (Míng yáng zǐ er) I think Ming Zhuo is being referenced in this way to show further that he is the ‘son’ and disciple of Ming Han.