Chong Zi - Chapter 43 : Ice Prison

Kunlun Ice Prison has always been a place where Xianmen hold demons and criminals. It was pitch black there, and occasionally ghostly laughter could be heard, presumably from sinners or demons. His voice is far and gentle. If it weren't for ears accustomed to listening in dead silence, then not a single sound could be heard. From this it follows that this place is very large and empty.

Are they all sealed in ice too? Chongzi thinks like this when he is bored.

Because of Xuan Bing's effect, his body didn't grow at all, and his broken bones naturally wouldn't heal. He maintains the freshest crack state. The suffocating energy in his body slightly condensed and was automatically released from the damaged place. Luckily he was numb from the cold so it was no longer felt.

Five immortal key chains locked each other's neck and limbs. The inner side of the ring had thorns, and the slightest movement would pierce the skin, causing severe pain.

But Chongzi still likes to move around from time to time.

If there is pain, it means that he is not very empty.

It hurt to know that he was still alive.

His body was used to being cold, and his eyes were used to the darkness. It's easy to mistake her for a ghost or something.

He had long thought of death, but even if he stopped taking in spiritual energy, there would still be traces of spiritual energy penetrating into the ice, continuously injecting into his body, and sustaining his life. He really wanted to die.

No one had seen him since the day he was brought in.

Where did I go wrong? Yu Du and the others all wanted me dead, but he didn't even want to let me die happily and chose the torment of life over death.

When Chongzi occasionally recalled, he would be a little confused.

Of course, he usually thought of such memories as dreams. In his dream, he has the most beautiful and the best immortal teacher in the world. He loves her, protects her, teaches her magic, worries about her injury, gets angry because of her mischief, and sometimes blushes in front of her.

He respected her, believed in her, and eventually fell in love with her.

Why did he have to go to such a place? Chongzi rarely thought about this matter and most of his time slept in the dark.

He doesn't know day and night. He doesn't know the year. It seemed that hundreds of years had passed, and it seemed that he had only slept a few times and had a few dreams.

Until there was a loud sound in the ear.

Chongzi was very uncomfortable after not seeing the light for so many years. He was so stimulated that he narrowed his eyes, but he still couldn't see clearly. He couldn't help but be surprised. Who would come to such a place? Should be... a new prisoner sent, right?

"You are used to it, Junior Sister Chongzi?" He squeezed his chin with one hand and shook it unceremoniously, aiming the sharp knife in the ring to penetrate the skin of his neck, and cold blood flowed down.

Drowsy for a long time, his reaction seemed to have become much slower, Chongzi carefully stared at that person for a long time before recognizing, "It's you."

"Three years in the ice prison, is Sudari Junior safe?" evil eyes.

Three years? Chongzi was not excited, and closed his eyes tiredly.

Three years had passed, why didn't he just let it continue? Want to recall those memories suddenly and let them face reality again? He couldn't believe that the teacher who loved him would leave him, didn't believe that his teacher wanted him to die like everyone else, didn't believe that he would attack him, he would rather think that his teacher tricked him into being wronged.

His hair was disheveled, his limbs were broken with white bones, blood and dirt stuck together, it was disgusting. Yue Qiao would naturally no longer be interested in his current appearance. Disgusted, he sneered behind him, "You're useless now. What's there to be afraid of?!"

Anyone else come in with him? Chongzi was slightly surprised and opened his eyes.

“I've been locked up for three years and I'm still not crazy,” Yue Qiao hummed. Seeing that he shouldn't, he grabbed her hair instead. "Aren't you going to kill me? I want to see, how are you going to kill me?"

"Do you want to die?" Chongzi said, looking at him.

Her phoenix eyes were sharp, and a cold light flickered in the center. Even though Yue Qiao was ready to come over, but she knew she couldn't do anything about it. Still looking with a guilty conscience, he let go and took two steps back.

Chongzi tried to move the muscles on his face, and was satisfied that he could still laugh, "Big Brother sure is brave but Big Brother doesn't speak in such a high tone."

When the humiliation failed, he scoffed, and Yue Qiao was irritated, "Your bones are already broken but your anger is not small!"

The slap fell heavily, and Chongzi was knocked to the side. Pushing the sharp neck blade to penetrate deeper into the flesh, and blood flowed, which was quickly stopped by Xuan Bing's effect.

Chongzi deliberately angered him so that he could be released as soon as he died.

Chongzi vomited blood, raised his eyebrows, and said word by word, "If you don't kill me, I will kill you in the future!"

The last time he was injured, it took him half a year to heal himself. Yue Qiao was narrow-minded and always held grudges, so she came to Kunlun on behalf of her mother. He stole his uncle Yu Xuzi's key and tricked the disciples guarding the Ice Prison. He wanted to torture her, but not only did he not show his pride, but he countered her to say this.

Recalling the terrifying situation when she was full of demonic aura before, Yue Qiao was frightened and horrified. He thought that people who were sent to Ice Prison had many conditions. With the support of his grandfather Xi Haijun and uncle Yu Xuzi, no one could kill him.

Killing intent suddenly appeared, and the hand pressed down on the hilt of the sword without knowing it.

End? Chongzi was about to close his eyes when he suddenly saw a dazzling blue light flashing behind the ice wall, which looked familiar. His heart suddenly trembled, and before he could think more, Yue Qiao was already in a coma in front of him.

A man came out from behind the ice wall.

Chongzi stared at him for a long time, opened his mouth, but couldn't hear a sound.

In an instant, a familiar person stood in front of him, still wearing colorful clothes, his ordinary face did not change, but his temperament seemed to be reborn, becoming arrogant and majestic, almost making him unrecognizable.

"Chongzi!"

"Sister Zhenzhu?" Chongzi didn't believe it, and muttered to confirm.

"It's me." he smiled.

The blood stains on the body and face disappear automatically, refreshing and comfortable, the familiarity that has been lost for a long time has now come. Chongzi's nose hurts. Her tears flowed uncontrollably and her voice trembled, “Sister Zhenzhu, why are you here? I thought…I thought you didn't even remember me.”

"Chongzi," Yan Zhenzhu stared at him for a while and sighed, "You still don't understand?"

The same blue light, which Chongzi had seen before, but after seeing it, he couldn't remember anymore. When he woke up, he had become an unpardonable sinner.

Was she the one who framed him? Sister Zenzhu?

Chongzi was confused, "No, it's not you!"

"That's me."

"Why?"

Yan Zhenzhu didn't answer, she turned to Yue Qiao on the ground, and kicked her with a sneer, “It's not in vain that I have spent the past three years getting close to Sima Miaoyuan, and finally let her persuade Yue Qiao to come in. Both of them are beasts in clothes. and an evil heart, and they are truly a match made in heaven."

Chongzi glanced at his broken arm, which was only connected by flesh and blood, and shook his head with a pitiful smile.

Being framed by Yan Zhenzhu, he was angry and sad, but compared to those who knew he was innocent, it was nothing. She was naturally born with the aura of a demon so she sure was unlucky.

"Are you here to kill me or to save me?" He felt tired and helpless, "If you want to save me, then there's no need. I don't know your true identity and I don't know why you want to hurt me. But I'm useless now. You don't need to bother planning. If you still have traces of guilt towards me, just kill me with one sword, and I won't hate you anymore."

Yan Zhenzhu lowered his eyes: "Reincarnated without entering the gates of hell, some things must be returned to you and you will definitely want to know."

He raised his hand and gently caressed Chongzi's forehead as usual.

Dusty memories were torn apart, and past events unfolded and presented one by one like a scroll.

...

The cloud bridge, the sea, the big fish, the fairy mountain, the little beggar girl, the proud little boy, the tall white-clad elf, the dashing little boy, the cold devil who endured his comfort...

"Ugly girl, follow me if you can!"

"With Master here, no one will bully you."

"If you really become my wife, this brother will always treat you well, let you bully me, and I promise never to see another sister again. You... are you willing?"

"Chongzi you have to remember that no matter how guilty you are there will always be someone who believes in you and likes you, like Uncle..."

...

There are too many things that I remember at a glance, and it is difficult to link them together. Chongzi was a little dazed, watching Yan Zhenzhu cut Yue Qiao's skin and flesh. He took two complete pipe bones from it and polished them. He couldn't help but mutter and ask, "What are you doing?"

"During that time, Sage Ni Lun and Nanhua Tianzun died in battle, and the Right Guardian, Dream Demon, was also killed by Luo Yinfan's sword. He was seriously injured and died. The Sage passed his magical powers to his daughter before he died," said Yan Zhenzhu as she started to speak. 

Her tone was a bit numb, as if she was talking about something irrelevant, “Sister is the daughter of a dream demon, who incarnated and infiltrated Nanhua. I wasn't strong enough. Until you went to Nanhua and discovered that you were born with a demonic aura. I wanted to use your hand to unseal the Heavenly Demon Order."

After a pause, he said softly: "Big sister did this for revenge, but then I saw that... you are a good child and you are obviously talented, but they refused to let you practice magic, and you saw it today. Even if it wasn't me who framed you, they would still do the same thing. I know that feeling wronged but I have to use that as an excuse to punish you. I'm even more unwilling to let you stay in Xianmen like that."

"Although this kid is nothing, he was born in the Immortal Realm and has good bones." Yan Zhenzhu put away the two bones and turned the rest of Yue Qiao's bones into ashes. "They'll notice soon enough so we have to hurry."

Once Yue Qiao died, his identity would definitely be exposed. He... really plans to do it?

There was no room for much consideration, a strong blue light was reproduced, and Chongzi slowly closed his eyes.

In the fog, he heard Yan Zhenzhu's low voice.

"After all it was your sister's fault that you ended up the way you did today. Whether you hate me or feel sad, big brother can't ask you to forgive me anymore. This is the last thing I can do for you."

"For hurting you to this extent, Big Brother doesn't know whether to regret it or not. As for Chengfeng..."

Is she taking advantage of her husband or is she sincere? Chongzi was curious, but unfortunately he didn't continue.

"There are many elders in Kunlun. You can't go out for the time being. Big brother can't pick up the broken bones for you, lest they be discovered by them."

"With the bone pipe, your demonic aura won't leak out, and with the help of spiritual energy, the healing effect is even more miraculous."

"Knowing my identity, Yu Xuzi will personally lead a master to send me back to Nanhua for trial. The Kunlun Void is the perfect opportunity. You only have half a month to escape. Remember, keep an eye on the top of your head."

***

Suo Xian's chain lock was stolen, and an accident occurred in the Ice Prison. Kunlun Headmaster Yu Xuzi and Kunlun Jun soon arrived with their students. After a fierce battle, they finally restrained the spy. Yu Xuzi immediately went to the Ice Prison to check and the poor Yue Qiao had been turned to ashes.

Naturally, no one noticed that he was missing two pipe bones, and then he saw Chongzi who was still bleeding locked on the ice, drowsy and asleep, and several of the immortal lock chains on his body had not yet been opened. His limbs were broken and he was truly pitiful.

Yu Xuzi was saddened by his nephew's death, but he was a true immortal. He knew his nephew's character. He could only sigh for a few days. In order to prevent road accidents, Yu Xuzi personally led Kunlun Jun and other masters to escort Yan Zhenzhu back to Nanhua.

After several days of sound sleep, Chongzi woke up again, and it was already dark again when he opened his eyes.

The memory woke up, the heart finally felt pain, and twitched violently.

He was framed and punished several times until Luo Yinfan finally cut the sword with his own hands.

In the hall, in front of everyone's eyes, the little girl in tattered clothes was crying and was about to leave. The young elf suddenly appeared and said, "I will accept you as a disciple." 

He had no idea how important this sentence was to the little girl. It didn't matter if he didn't learn cultivation arts, it didn't matter if he was looked down upon, at least there was a teacher. His teacher said that and Chongzi believed him and didn't mind his demonic aura.

Only when she didn't know, only when she was disappointed in him, the girl would rather die with her love for him, but now she realized that she understood everything and knew everything, just like everyone else. His teacher had just made the same choice. It turns out that his teacher is no different from others and also thinks Chongzi must die.

If so, why did his teacher give him hope again? Why not just destroy it with one sword? But he instead took him back to Nanhua, accepted him as a disciple, took extra care of him, and finally brutally broke his bones and threw him half dead into this Ice Prison to be tortured?

His kindness in the next life, only to hurt her again?

Is the guilt he is showing real or fake?

...

There are too many riddles, too many reluctances. So he had to find out even if he died!

With the new bone pipe, his demonic aura can be gathered, and the ice soul's spiritual power is continuously absorbed into the body, merging and connecting. Bringing strange effects, limbs are broken, bones are crushed, the heat is scorching hot, the skin is writhing, pulling, and the pain is unbearable. Chongzi closed his eyes tightly, cold sweat broke out, tremors all over his body and he bit his lower lip.

He didn't know how long, maybe a day or two, before the pain started to subside.

Chongzi sighed for a long time, opened his eyes tiredly to check, the fracture on his arm had indeed healed, his skin had recovered intact, and he had strength in his legs.

According to Yan Zhenzhu's words, Yu Xuzi and others are not in Kunlun at this time. It is a good opportunity to come out, but these five immortal key chains lock the body. Locking the soul, even a powerful demon lord can't escape, how can he break free?

"Watch the top of your head." Yan Zhenzhu's words sounded.

The top of the head is also ice, wet and hard, and there is nothing strange.

He knew that what Yan Zenzhu said must make sense. He used spiritual power in his eyes. After searching carefully for a long time, he finally found many uneven tracks on the ice wall. Since the ice is colorless and transparent, it's no wonder Yu Xuzi and the others didn't pay attention.

Chongzi smiled.

Spiritual power was restored, and it was easier to cast spells. A mysterious piece of ice "clicked" and shattered, leaving a dent in the ice wall overhead. The eternal lock can change in every possible way, and the key must also change in a hundred ways. It takes about a cup of tea to get through. The ice finally turned into a solid lock.

Chongzi blew lightly and inserted the formed ice lock into the keyhole on his right hand.

The first, no;

The second, no;

The third still doesn't work;

The fourth...

...

Finally, there was a soft click in the darkness, and the immortal keychain on the right hand opened in response.

Encouraged, Chongzi's self-confidence greatly increased, and he used the same method to open the other four locks, and his body finally regained freedom.

His clothes were worn out, with only half of his sleeve remaining, hanging bare on his shoulder. Even so he still felt an unprecedented light and fell to the ground.

Before he could stand still, his body suddenly lost its balance and fell sideways.

He thought it was because his legs had been inactive for too long. Chongzi struggled to get up, and after walking two steps it still felt wrong. After careful observation, he discovered that the broken leg healed without any treatment. The bend is not straight, one is long and the other is short, and the two hands are not much better. One palm is still slightly bent outward, which is very deformed.

Chongzi was stunned, and slowly raised his hand to touch his face.

His skin was so rough it was almost like a layer of skin and bone and you can imagine how ugly that was. No wonder Yue Qiao had such a disdainful look. She got really scary now, didn't she?

It didn't matter, she didn't need anyone else to like her.

Chongzi comforted himself, curved the corners of his mouth as much as possible, wrapped the dry long hair that had been dragged to the ground around his neck, and walked towards the door with a limp.

The Dream Demon Princess snuck into Nanhua for decades and Xianmen is still shaken. Then came the even more shocking news that a Nanhua criminal had escaped from the Kunlun Ice Mountain Prison! Those who heard it were astonished.

The lucky villain was only a girl in her twenties, and was the first person in history to escape from the Kunlun Mountain Ice Prison. Fortunately, most of the Kunlun disciples who were attacked were only in a stupor. With a little casualty we can see that he had no intention of hurting anyone. However, the suffocating devilish aura would never go away. After all, it is taboo, and Jiuyou Demon Palace must not be allowed to discover it first.

There was a lot of discussion, and the tone was full of admiration. Luo Yinfan's disciple was extraordinary.

Three days later, Luo Yinfan ordered Xianmen to arrest the evildoers.

But the girl suddenly disappeared, as if she had evaporated from the world.

***

The clear river flows over Bishan, and there are several groves of green bamboo along the river. A small thatched hut hidden in a bamboo forest. It is difficult to find them without careful observation.

A small boat floated up, and there was a woman sitting on the boat, wearing a very wide white robe, holding a large medicine basket woven with bamboo strips in her arms. There are many potions in the basket. Her long hair was loose, and her skin was extremely pale and rough, leaving traces of frostbite. Only the phoenix eyes added a hint of brilliance to the slender face.

As the boat docked, the woman struggled to her feet and climbed down with the basket.

The room was dimly lit, and there was a fifteen or sixteen year old boy lying on the bed. Seeing him enter, the boy immediately sat down and forced a smile, "Brother is back."

The woman said "en", put down the basket, went to the stove, poured a bowl of medicine and handed it over.

The teenager hesitated, but finally took it and drank it, then glanced at it secretly.

The woman saw what he was thinking and smiled, "Don't worry, you can leave in two days when your wound is healed."

The teenager was embarrassed, "I have been rescued by sister but I don't know the name of the sister's fairy, another day..."

"It's just a coincidence to save you, don't take it to heart," the woman interrupted him lightly, "I like quiet, I'm not used to being disturbed, and I hope you don't mention it to outsiders after you go out."

The young man hurriedly said, "Brother, don't worry, I won't tell anyone else."

The woman nodded and turned to leave.

The murmur of bamboo, white stone and blue stone pebbles are immersed in the clear stream, which is very bright and beautiful. The wind blows, and the upper river floats under the pink peach blossoms.

It was a pretty relaxing day in the mountains. After sitting in the sky, it became dark. In the blink of an eye, several days passed. Chongzi sat by the river, looking up at the sky.

The shadows of the sun were setting, the moon was just rising, and the stars were quiet in moments.

Xing Can is not there.

Chongzi lowered his head, mustered up his courage, and slowly opened his wide sleeves, revealing his terrifying left hand. The arm had been cut into several pieces, and then reattached. The arm was not bent straight, and he was so disfigured that he had even seen it himself.

This appearance of his looks like an ugly monster, no one wants to look at him one more time, no one can blame others for being afraid.

Chongzi smiled wryly.

When he returned today, the young man had disappeared, and he only left a note to thank him. Actually he didn't really care about this kind of thing. At first Chongzi saved him from the mountain demon's mouth. It is said that he is a disciple of Changsheng Palace. Being with him in the past few days, the boy was probably living in fear. He was afraid and embarrassed to say, how could he not see it.

At that time, there was a sealed door outside the Ice Prison so there was no chance of escape at all. Luckily the disciple guarding outside accidentally put his hand on the small window. He only had one finger within reach, but that was enough. He first used the soul transfer technique to temporarily exchange the souls of the two, and before the disciple could react, he immediately sealed his body and consciousness, and then planned to get the key to open the door. Bringing out the physical body, it is natural to be surrounded and chased behind. How exactly did he break through that many barriers, even in retrospect, he found it inconceivable.

After leaving Kunlun and on the run for a month, he discovered that Yan Zhenzhu had been executed. Chongzi was still very confused. Is it hatred? Is he happy or sad?

It was she who brought him to this point.

But in his memory, Chongzi still clearly remembered the carefree older sister, who had once hugged him crying to comfort him, had taken care of him when he was injured, had stood up to help him when he was being bullied. Once privately chatted with him about some gossip in Xianmen, then the two hugged and laughed, and finally he saved him from the Ice Prison with his life and released him.

Maybe it's better to be sadder. He didn't have the strength to hate anyone.

This place is remote, surrounded by mountains and rivers, and the scenery is beautiful. Chongzi has lived here for nearly a year, leading an isolated life. It's quiet here. Every time the wind blew the bamboo at night, he would think back to a place full of purple bamboo, where the best memories from his past and present life were bound.

There were many things to ask, but he didn't have the courage.

As for Qin Ke and Zhuo Hao, he heard that ever since he entered the Ice Prison, the two of them meditated and practiced, and never came out again. The arrogant young master and the reckless teenager were all trying their best to protect her.

There was also Abo who sent him to Nanhua. He usually comes down the mountain to visit her twice a year. He still doesn't know what happened to him. He had not seen her for three or four years. He must be disappointed and sad. He really wanted to go back to him, talk to him, and farm with him, but now the Xianmen must be watching him closely to catch him. He couldn't even report a letter.

After all she looks like this now and it's better not to look at anyone so as not to make others sad.

Chongzi looked up at the sky, and there was a huge cloud flying in this direction.

The night sky is clear, how could this be?

Suddenly thinking of something, Chongzi's heart sank, and he didn't care about anything else. He quickly stood up and performed an escape technique.

Chapter 42 | Summary | Chapter 44