Cannon fodder in a classic cultivation story

3. Boring life

"How troublesome."

Feng Zhi Hao's words sent a cold sweat down Su Jing's spine. She unclenched her hand and dropped the bead she had just used for a power-up, destroying it to dust once it touched the ground.

The necklace changed to its previous appearance, the bead somehow appearing back on the string beside the jade stone.

What kind of jewellery was that?

Su Jing heard that man say it was a powerful artefact, and now it was clear his sayings weren't unfunded.

Su Jing kept her breath, afraid to be noticed. But as she stood hidden, she couldn't help but take notice of the black fog that was quickly spreading around. It got towards the place where the man's body was killed, increasing in density as it circled Feng Zhi Hao.

That surely did not announce good news. Although Feng Zhi Hao appeared unaffected by it, Su Jing couldn't ignore what this strange mist did to the other previous persons. Every time that fog showed up, it coincided with someone losing their mind entirely! If Feng Zhi Hao fell into one of those deep dream states and went bonkers, too, Su Jing knew she'd be in big trouble.

Her heart raced as she debated whether to warn Feng Zhi Hao and get her out. But would it even work? That fog looked seriously tough to handle - Feng Zhi Hao herself was a difficult person!

As if to confirm her guesses, Feng Zhi Hao placed a hand on her forehead, knitting her eyebrows. She bit her lip, as she tried to resist the force taking over her, her eyes glinted with intense hatred toward whatever haunted her thoughts.

A cold shiver ran down Su Jing's back seeing this. She never saw such intense emotions.

While Feng Zhi Hao's body was gradually enveloped in her memories haze, Su Jing tried to move and tiptoe back down the stairs. The slight hopes of saving Feng Zhi Hao were long gone - because now she wasn't that sure about her own well-being!

But even her futile wish to run away seemed unreachable - as Su Jing felt her body sink into place, anchored to the ground

"What is happening?!" murmuring, she attempted again to lift up her legs but they were unmoving.

That certainly didn't spell good news.

Feng Zhi Hao also seemed to be strangely silent. Su Jing glanced at her and saw how the mist was almost swallowing her whole, showing just how awful her memories were. This was by far the biggest black cloud she had seen on this mountain - and supposedly the one at fault for not allowing her to move!

Su Jing struggled more to move, the panic slowly getting in through her body. The edge of the cloud had reached her, feeling ominous and with Feng Zhi Hao's full emotions of resentfulness.

As it slowly crept over her body, Su Jing felt a cold pressure surrounding her. Her vision darkened, and despite trying to keep her eyes shut to avoid any hallucinations, something still appeared before her, demanding her attention.

Because of that, once Su Jing opened her eyes, she saw a different landscape. A beautiful garden and sunny rays. She was still prompted on the ground, however, someone else was with her.

To be more exact she was kneeling beside an old woman with her head carefully massaged in her lap. Su Jing had the urge to get up and slap the fingers that were touching her but her body continued to be still, sometimes acting on its own.

"Her" palm reached over her mouth as "she" took the air in boredom. The old lady smiled gently as she was treading Su Jing's hair, the multiple bracelets from her wrist hitting Su Jing's forehead with a cold touch.