Chapter 12: The Pact of Adulthood

At that moment, I saw them all rushing toward me. Only then did I fully realize the danger and hurriedly took a few steps back. But my legs were unsteady. I ended up sitting heavily on the ground. The large white weasel was already before me, its sharp teeth aiming for my head!

Just then, a cold, clear voice rang out sharply: "How dare anyone of any rank try to snatch my person? You're giving them too much face!"

"Die!!!"

A burst of fury erupted. A chilling wind whipped around, making it hard for me to keep my eyes open. The white weasel suspended in midair was suddenly struck by an invisible force, breaking it in half.

*Bang!*

The immense force slammed into it. Its fur, usually puffed up, now lay flat against its skin, making it look hideous in midair. In an instant, it shrank to less than half its size.

*Squeak squeak squeak!*

As it hit the ground, the yellowish creature emitted a sharp, pained noise, clearly distressed. It tucked its tail and fled in panic.

The other small yellow weasels, seeing this, slammed on the brakes so hard their hooves dug into the earth, forcing themselves to stop abruptly. Then, turning their heads, they followed the white weasel, tail between their legs, and ran off.

In the blink of an eye, silence returned. Apart from the rustling wind, there was no other sound. I stared blankly around me, still not fully recovered from the shock.

"Get back inside quickly!" I pouted and staggered back to the coffin in three unsteady steps.

But this time, I didn’t sleep. Instead, I sat at the mouth of the coffin, sulking, hugging my chubby cheeks and looking up at the cave entrance.

The female corpse seemed too lazy to pay me any attention. She ignored me completely.

I don’t know how much time passed, but I grew a bit sleepy and leaned against the corner of a nearby coffin, drifting off.

Faintly, I thought I heard sounds of fighting.

When I opened my eyes again, a tinkling of a copper bell sounded outside.

"This child must be handed over to the Maoshan Sect today! Otherwise, he will attract the attention of other evil demons and heresies!" an ancient voice shouted toward the grave.

Who was it this time?

I struggled to stand and peeked outside.

In front of the graveyard stood an old Taoist priest dressed in yellow robes, with long hair and a flowing beard. In his hand, he held a copper bell and a peachwood sword, radiating a righteous aura.

The cold female voice spoke again, "Are you implying that I am the evil demon and heresy you speak of?"

"Not at all! What I mean is, if this child is not taken to the Maoshan Sect, he will be schemed against in the outside world, bringing only danger," the old Taoist replied.

The female corpse snorted coldly, "This child will always be by my side; no evil demons or heresies will succeed. I respect that you are from the Maoshan Sect and have no wish to fight. Leave immediately!"

What was the identity of this female corpse? She even disrespected the leading Taoist sect?

Later, my grandfather could never understand this.

"Do you insist on opposing the Maoshan Sect?" the old Taoist persisted but did not make a move.

The cold female voice refused to reply, only leaving two words: "Not leaving!"

"You!" The old Taoist was momentarily speechless, then swept his sleeve and turned away, leaving swiftly.

I wanted to crawl out and chase after him, but an invisible force pushed me back into the coffin, making me fall flat again.

A woman’s voice whispered in my ear, "Fool, dawn is near. I will soon unlock your consciousness; otherwise, you won’t remember what I say today."

After she spoke, a bright light flashed inside the coffin, like a camera flash. It lasted only a moment.

The clear stupidity in my eyes vanished.

I stared around blankly. Before I could react, the woman’s weak voice came again.

"I have exhausted myself tonight. While you slept, many things came, but I handled them all. I may not act for several years to come. There is a book beneath me—take it with you. No one else may see it; only you."

To my surprise, I could now speak: "You... are you alright?"

My mind was clear. I remembered everything since birth—all the scenes I had ever seen were vivid in my mind.

My throat briefly adjusted, and I spoke normally.

The female corpse seemed very weak, her voice sharp: "Don’t speak! Listen carefully, I don’t have much time!"

I quickly shut my mouth.

"The things in the book, once learned, will safely carry you through your eighteenth year. If you don’t understand anything, have the wandering Taoist in your village help you. On your eighteenth birthday, come find me!"

So much information poured in. I anxiously asked, "What wandering Taoist?"

"That madman!" she shouted angrily, though her voice was clearly less forceful now.

I asked again, "Why find you at eighteen?"

"To resurrect me..."

Resurrect!?

"What resurrection? How can that be?"

But all I received was silence.

No matter what I asked, no one answered. The female corpse lay beside me, and I recalled she seemed very afraid I would touch her body.

So I cast my eyes toward her ample chest, then tapped her belly gently.

No sharp voice came.

Could she really be too depleted to speak?

Just then, familiar voices sounded outside.

"Dad, slow down! How come your legs are quicker than mine? Slow down, Dad!"

"Dad? I’m talking to you! Why are you speeding up?"

I slowly stood and crawled to the cave entrance.

As I emerged, my grandfather rushed over and grabbed me tightly.

"Oh, my dear grandson, you’ve suffered! Are you alright? Let grandpa check you."

He began examining me head to toe—left side, then right, then lower.

I looked at him with hopelessness and said, "Grandpa, I’m fine. There’s no need for such a thorough check."

"How can that be? Spending a whole night in a graveyard, who knows what could happen? What if—"

He stopped mid-sentence, stunned as he looked at me.

"You... you... did you just speak?"

Not only my grandfather but my father and the madman also froze.

The madman glanced at me and said, "The Life Palace has turned purple. This child’s consciousness has been unlocked—he has regained his true self. Now we can truly call him a millennium genius!"

Hearing this, my grandfather hugged me excitedly. "Is this true?"

"Why would I lie? It must be that woman who unlocked his consciousness. This also means the three-year crisis is over, but... a minor tribulation every three years, a major one every five—not trivial matters. Why did that woman unlock it so hastily?" the madman said with puzzlement.

I suddenly recalled the woman’s words—she had a book beneath her and told me to learn it and then come find her.

I still had no idea what she looked like.

She wanted me to resurrect her...

Could someone who was already dead truly live again?