TGCFNM -Chapter 266 Definitely

After careful discussion, everyone still felt that Wan Sanjin was the most suitable, so they finalized the plan: Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin would go into the treasury to take the valuable items.

Uncle Wu looked at Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin and earnestly advised, “The Divine Water takes up a lot of space. If you carry it, there won’t be room for the valuables. So, to get the valuables, we should leave the Divine Water behind. Don’t you agree?”

“Why?” Xiao Hua asked. It’s such a light item—can’t they carry it?

Uncle Wu said kindly, “You can’t have both the fish and the bear’s paw—you have to choose one.”

Wan Sanjin shook his head firmly. “No, I want both. I’ve prepared so seriously for this.”

Chu Ling nodded, then looked at Uncle Wu with a reassuring expression. “We won’t take much—just ten bottles. You can rest easy.”

Uncle Wu: “…” Rest easy? How could he possibly feel at ease?

Chu Ling finished her tea, stood up, and said, “I’m going back to my room to rest. The climb up the mountain was exhausting. Call me for lunch.” With that, she turned and left.

Wan Sanjin and the others also prepared to go rest.

Uncle Wu immediately followed Wan Sanjin, hoping he might still be able to persuade them.

—

Back in his room, Chu Ling collapsed on the bed, sprawled out in all directions, tossing the wooden box aside casually.

Ling Da glared at Chu Ling angrily, feeling his fur bristle as if stirred by the wind.

Chu Ling lay there, watching Ling Da’s furious stance, and casually picked up the wooden box to hand it over. “Do you want it?”

Ling Da’s eyes widened. “How could I want it? That’s the Wushen’s item. If a man touches it, it becomes tainted.”

Chu Ling’s interest piqued; she sat up. “I quite like your clan.”

A small wave of emotion rose in Ling Da. “You’re a Snow Ghost; it’s only natural that you would like our clan.”

Chu Ling: “…”

“What does this hairpin do?” the Ghost Scholar, sitting by the window, asked curiously.

Ling Da stepped forward, eyes reverent. “This item is a token passed down by generations who became the Wushen. With it, one can command the clan—no one dares disobey.”

“That’s all it does?” Chu Ling felt it wasn’t worth much. It’s like the emperor’s jade seal: while the emperor reigns, it’s symbolic. Once the emperor dies fleeing, it’s just a piece of stone.

Ling Da turned to Chu Ling, and after a long pause said, “Since you are a Snow Ghost, I’ll tell you—inside that stone is a divine herb. It grants immortality.”

Chu Ling’s hand, holding the box casually, froze. She immediately placed it on the table with utmost respect and sat down.

“Immortality is in here?” Chu Ling’s eyes lit up. Jackpot! If she sliced it into dozens of portions, she could sell to countless people.

Ling Da nodded seriously. “Yes. The divine herb is personally guarded by the Wushen. Our Wushen can even live up to 120 years.”

The small flame of hope that had just sparked in Chu Ling’s heart immediately went out with a puff.

She pushed the wooden box aside, propped her chin on her hand, and glared at Ling Da: She’d be better off practicing her heart techniques properly—maybe she could live as long as Mei Zhongxue, though she wouldn’t be living in a thatched hut.

Bai Su nudged Chu Ling silently: One hundred twenty at the mountain’s peak.

Chu Ling realized: Right, surviving to 120 in such harsh conditions with just medicine—then this herb really is powerful.

Though it still doesn’t grant true immortality.

Bai Su urged, “You open it first and take a look.”

Chu Ling took out the hairpin, then drew a silver needle. Following Ling Da’s reluctant instructions, he pried open the chicken-blood stone on the hairpin, revealing a black pill inside.

Chu Ling frowned. “Why does this pill smell like rust?”

Bai Su was surprised. “Rust? How could it smell like rust?”

Suddenly, Chu Ling’s eyes widened as she realized something. She sprang up with a jolt and glared at the pill. “Blood!”

Bai Su furrowed her brows. Straining to recall what she had read before, she finally remembered: “I remember now… the witches’ divine spirits live for a very long time because they are the most devoted servants of the gods. The gods grant them divine medicine to extend their lives. And this medicine is made from the purest ingredients, things that only exist in the temples.”

A shiver ran down Chu Ling’s spine. “I… I don’t want this medicine.”

Bai Su looked at her seriously. “But it really works. The witch tribe has existed for so many years, and they must have found countless spirit herbs in the snowy mountains. This medicine is absolutely potent.”

Chu Ling, holding the silver needle, suddenly looked at Ling Da. “This hairpin is worn on the head of a divine spirit. Then how did you know how to open this chicken-blood stone?”

Ling Da pointed to himself. “I am the guardian of the divine spirit.”

Chu Ling understood. “So you want me to destroy the temple?”

Ling Da nodded, then pointed at the removed chicken-blood stone. “The key.”

Chu Ling: “……After Mei Zhongxue grew old, did living in that straw hut make him senile? How did he just give everything away like this?”

The Ghost Scholar couldn’t help but chuckle. “Truly effortless to obtain.”

Chu Ling picked up the chicken-blood stone, ready to put it back, but Bai Su grabbed her wrist. “Xiao Ling… the medicine.”

Chu Ling looked at Bai Su, surprised at the pleading in her eyes. Then she realized, “Gui Wushuang?”

Bai Su bit her lip and nodded firmly. “After all, he’s my senior sister’s son. If… if he could live like a normal person?”

Ling Da hurriedly waved his hand. “Men cannot take it. If they do… they die.”

Bai Su’s arm went weak. She slid down from Chu Ling’s wrist, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “I was dreaming.”

Chu Ling looked at Ling Da. “Why can’t men take it? Does it contain poison, or is it incompatible with men, or is it cursed somehow?”

Ling Da said, “When the previous divine spirit passed the position to the next, she selfishly wanted to give it to her son, Gu Ge, and fed him the medicine. He died instantly.”

Chu Ling gently helped Bai Su up, a pang of sympathy in her heart.

Bai Su waved her hand slightly, grasping Chu Ling’s wrist, and said seriously, “I did have selfish thoughts, but compared to the world, his life is insignificant. He cannot live.”

Chu Ling nodded solemnly. “I’ve noted it.”

In the end, Chu Ling decided to take the medicine. She carefully stored it in a porcelain vial, hung it in the pouch at her waist, then put the chicken-blood stone back and simply inserted it back into the jade crown.

“Aunt Su, I’ll return this medicine to the temple. Medicines like this shouldn’t be taken away, because someone could replicate it—it’s too dangerous…” Chu Ling murmured.

Bai Su held her hand and nodded in agreement. “Well done.”

The Ghost Scholar also stood up. “Some things… are better off destroyed along with the temple.”

Because the witch tribe should not exist in the mortal world.

Ling Da pressed a hand to his forehead, devoutly saying, “I will sink along with the temple. The gods will guide me to the ends of heaven.”

Chu Ling grabbed the fur on his arm. “Don’t worry. It will happen. Definitely!”