Zanxing (Retranslated)

When misfortune strikes, even cold water would get stuck in your teeth

人倒血黴的時候喝涼水都塞牙 (rén dǎo xuè méi de shíhòu, hē liáng shuǐ dōu sǎi yá) – This is a Chinese idiom that is used to describe a situation where everything seems to go wrong for someone.">¹. Zanxing had always felt that she wasn’t a very lucky person, but she was always indifferent to such matters and wouldn’t be overly obsessed.

Having lived for more than twenty years, the first time she won a prize was when she transmigrated into the book ‘At the Summit of the Nine Heavens’ and took away the male lead’s golden finger. But never in her wildest dreams did she expect that forcibly changing her fate would invite disaster upon her. Trying to snatch the protagonist’s luck with the fate of a non-protagonist would only lead to being trapped by the original work like this.

Hua Yue, the opponent belonging to Mu Cengxiao, became her adversary. That Night Vine Branch, which in the original setting couldn’t even be cut with a knife, could inexplicably break in half just because the original work wanted her dead.

Her entire body immersed in the marsh, Zanxing’s figure was almost instantly swallowed up.

On the shore, Hua Yue retreated back under the tree, looking towards the center of the marsh where the vortex still slowly flowed, the person who had just fallen in was like an illusion, leaving nothing behind.

The miasma here was too thick. Even staying for long, even he felt a chill. Once Yang Zanxing fell in, she would die instantly, impossible to survive. Hua Yue gave one last glance at the Black Marsh, snorted coldly, muttered “serves you right,” and turned away.

By the edge of the Black Marsh, calmness was restored, except for the abrupt break in the tip of the Night Vine tree on the shore, indicating the perilous scene just now.

Underwater, Zanxing felt her whole body beginning to ache.

The sensation was like peeling someone’s skin and soaking it in chili saltwater, every inch of the skin felt like it was being burned intensely. And that’s not all – the oppressive feeling in her chest grew heavier, spreading from her feet to her calves, then to her waist, as if turning into stone, as if something was pulling her deeper, never to see the light again.

Having learned about breath holding in public classes, Zanxing tightly closed her eyes, refusing to let herself suffocate in the surging mud, while desperately urging the Xiao Yuan Pearl inside her body, silently screaming in her heart: Don’t play dead at a time like this, get up and work!

That Xiao Yuan Pearl, once lively and active, had been silent since the sect assessment. Zanxing even suspected it had malfunctioned. Or perhaps the original work now restricted even the golden finger, just to erase her?

Her body continued to sink deeper into the marsh, the petrifying sensation spreading from her waist gradually to her chest. Zanxing didn’t give up, repeatedly urging her qi, not knowing how long she had been sinking until she felt that stiffness creeping towards her heart, when suddenly the Xiao Yuan Pearl moved.

The movement was faint, as if being slowly awakened from a long slumber. Zanxing felt a glimmer of hope and urgently increased her efforts, but unfortunately, she could only exert force above her chest, and her qi diminished rapidly, unable to compare to her usual strength. So this bit of qi was like a drop in the ocean, failing to make the Xiao Yuan Pearl shine as brightly as before.

Just as she was on the verge of despair, a faint green light suddenly appeared before her eyes.

Zanxing’s eyes were tightly closed. The mud under the marsh was as thick as ink, making it impossible to see anything. But guided by her spiritual consciousness, Zanxing could clearly see a small glowing green dot ahead. She hesitated for a moment, and the Xiao Yuan Pearl in her chest area trembled slightly, as if urging her to make a decision. Zanxing didn’t care about anything else. Since she was already facing death, she might as well take a desperate gamble.

She was unable to move her body, but at least her hands were not yet petrified by the mud. Zanxing stretched out her arms desperately, and finally, her fingertips reached the glowing green dot.

As soon as her fingertips touched the green light, Zanxing suddenly felt a cool sensation rushing over her. All the filth, dampness, and stickiness were swept away, and she could move her body below her chest.

It worked!

She closed her palms together, retrieving the green dot, but before she could take the next step, the green dot seemed to have a consciousness of its own and suddenly flew towards her, entering Zanxing’s lips.

A chilly sensation swiftly slid down her throat.

To be precise, it felt like consuming a mint candy, where the sugar instantly dissolved upon entering her mouth, turning into syrup. At the same moment this green mint candy entered her stomach, Zanxing’s body suddenly became lighter.

The mud around her no longer seemed to have any effect on her, as if she were swimming effortlessly in clear water. Zanxing swam vigorously upwards.

On the bank of the black marsh, a Rakshasa bird perched on the Night Vine tree, tilting its head to look at the whirlpool in the water. The whirlpool gradually slowed down and eventually stopped moving. Sensing danger, the Rakshasa bird let out a piercing cry, spread its wings, and flew away.

Splash!

Suddenly, a hand emerged from the marsh, covered in mud. Shortly after, a woman’s body emerged from the marsh, bringing up the thick black mud from her side. After a moment, the woman who had emerged from the marsh lay on her back on the bank, panting heavily, enjoying the joy of survival after the disaster.

The vast expanse of sky resembled ink, while myriad stars sprinkled down like rain, casting a mysterious and enchanting glow over the serene Black Marsh. The miasma had dissipated at some point, leaving the night in the mountains scented with delicate fragrance, tranquil and vast.

Zanxing gazed for a while, gradually furrowing her brow and sitting up.

From plunging into the Black Marsh until now, it didn’t feel like much time had passed. How come it was already dark outside?

The words of Ziluo echoed in her ears: “Before the sun sets, make sure to leave. Otherwise, when the moon rises, the ferocious beasts awaken, and it will be very dangerous on the mountain.”

Zanxing: “…”

She lifted her head, looking up at the moon resembling a silver plate.

Well, this original plot really knew how to take people by surprise.

On the open space before the entrance prohibition of the Gufeng Mountain, new disciples who had entered the mountain emerged one by one. Some were ragged and disheveled, clearly having endured much hardship there, while others looked fresh and spirited, appearing to have had a relatively smooth journey in their quest for treasures.

However, regardless of the situation each person emerged in, when they took out the Qiankun Bag from their waist, their expressions couldn’t contain their excitement.

“I dug up a Resonant Cry Flower!”

“I found Lingxiao Seed!”

“Hehe, I got my hands on a Seven-Eyed Fish.”

“Ah, Senior Brother, isn’t the Seven-Eyed Fish full of sharp teeth and extremely ferocious? How dare you catch it?”

“…Indeed, my pants were torn to shreds, and I nearly lost my manhood.”

Various exclamations filled the air as Ziluo stood at the door, counting the returning cultivators. At this moment, as the sky gradually darkened, the last ray of sunlight dipped behind the mountains, and the night descended upon the valleys nestled amidst the distant peaks.

One of the junior disciples by her side frowned suddenly. “Senior Sister, there’s one missing.”

“One missing?” Ziluo paused, her expression turning serious. “Who hasn’t returned?”

In the night of Gufeng Mountain, where ferocious beasts roamed, it was extremely dangerous. Before departing, she had bid farewell to all the disciples, urging them to return before sunset. How could it be…

“It’s Junior Sister Yang Zanxing,” the disciple cross-checked the names on the roster and replied, “Yang Zanxing hasn’t returned.”

Author’s note:

Footnotes

1. 
   
   

   人倒血黴的時候喝涼水都塞牙 (rén dǎo xuè méi de shíhòu, hē liáng shuǐ dōu sǎi yá) – This is a Chinese idiom that is used to describe a situation where everything seems to go wrong for someone.