The earth shatters, the heavens collapse

where and penetrate every barrier.But this is the most straightforward meaning, as for its extended meaning I can't say for sure.Jiang Qiyun should have known, but he just smiled and said nothing.“Is...The stiletto heels clicked against the aged stone, making a rhythmic "click-clack" sound.

The sound was slow and rhythmic, like a leisurely stroll through this eerie house.

I immediately woke up from my hazy stupor. The sky outside the dusty glass window was just beginning to lighten. I had dozed half the night wrapped in my old cotton blanket.

Before I could fully wake up, the door to my room was already pushed open.

A blast of cold air swept into the room, carrying with it the chill and dampness of morning dew.

Ms. Xue stood at the door, raised an eyebrow, and said: "Get up quickly, it's late and there's nothing to eat. There's no one here who will bring you breakfast like your fifth senior sister to wake you up! Don't be so weak and coquettish here."

“I can’t even squint my eyes here, it's so run-down and old. I didn't complain even when I spent the whole night curled up on this thing! Which eye did you see me being delicate” I kicked off that smelly cotton quilt and jumped down from the cold, hard wooden bed frame.

"Hmph, you've been spoiled rotten, that's why you dare to rebel. Your grandmother could pluck your heart out with one hand! You even dared to snatch things from her last night Are you trying to die" Mrs. Xue looked at me with disdain.

I swallowed hard, trying to sound nonchalant as I asked, "…How was I supposed to know the old lady was so formidable I just wanted a candle because I'm afraid of the dark. Who knew she'd be so stingy...Who is she anyway"

"Um... He's my grandmother. You should call him Grandma."

"....I refuse."

I'm disgusted. To think I'm related to these two demonesses, big and small I refuse to believe it.

Ms. Xue didn't make things difficult for me; she called me into the kitchen to eat. The kitchen had a strong rural feel, with a pile of firewood burning nearby... Could there be someone helping the old hag with chores

The so-called food was a bowl of porridge, quite nourishing. It had red beans and barley in it, which added a touch of humanity to this house and the old and young witches standing before me.

“What do you two want from me” I set down my bowl and got straight to the point.

"Protecting you, huh" Ms. Xue raised an eyebrow and smiled.

If I wasn't obligated to them, I would really spit on the ground.

She saw me roll my eyes and laughed, "Oh my, little Yin Luo, you have quite the temper, just like me."

Who wants to be like you.

I fumed inwardly, but dared not speak out.

The old woman looked even more terrifying in the daytime than at night, because her skin was sagging and pale as if she were dead. She also had large patches of age spots... perhaps they were even livid spots.

She spoke in a hoarse, trembling voice: "… Damn that garlic head, wouldn't let the little chili pepper… In your youth, you were even worse than her!"

Ms. Xue chuckled: "That's true, there's nothing I wouldn't do."

"Are you here to have me listen to a crosstalk show What exactly do you want to tell me If not, let me go sooner rather than later, my husband must be very anxious looking for me." I urged impatiently.

After filling my stomach, I felt a little braver.

Ms. Xue tapped the old table with her fingernail, which was painted a bright red. "I told you it was for your protection, but you didn't believe me," she said softly. "Well, where should I begin..."

The Ten Witches of Ling Mountain have been elusive since ancient times. Later generations, based on legends, said they were the intestines of Nüwa, and some even questioned whether they all truly existed.

Among the most famous shamans was Wu Xian. This is recorded in history as a "myth and legend". Wu Xian had a country, powerful magical abilities, and was intelligent and resourceful. His people lived a life of prosperity and happiness under his rule.

At that time, the Wuxian Kingdom was famous for its abundant salt production. This was extraordinary. Surrounding tribes would offer various goods in exchange for salt, so the Wuxian Kingdom could practically "live off the land" and enjoy a high standard of living, comparable to modern-day Middle Eastern microstates with vast wealth.

But even though he was an extremely powerful minister in the mortal realm, after passing on the throne, Wu Xian still remained aloof and out of sight, his whereabouts unknown, and his life and death a mystery.

What happened later in history is unknown. The Ten Witches of Ling Shan remained as an ancient worship of the Witch Clan, but after the disaster of witchcraft and sorcery, every dynasty that came after spoke of it with fear and dread. The descendants of the Wuxi Kingdom lived a difficult life, so much so that they eventually built a magical system to hide from the world.

Within the realm of Fa Men, there resided many ethnic groups. Mu Wanchen and Si Huang led the witch practitioners and female witches, who constituted the main group. There were also scattered small tribes.

The survival crisis of these small tribes is many times worse than that of the Wuzhuang City.

Some tribes have only one surname, which means that within the entire clan, any marriage will result in blood relations.

If intermarriage occurs with outsiders, the clan's secret treasures and artifacts could potentially fall into other hands. Even if alliances are formed with smaller tribes, after several generations, the same survival crisis may arise again.

Some "individual" intelligent people saw this possibility of extinction early on and used some rare opportunities to "escape".

Fleeing takes courage, intellect, and strength, otherwise you become a traitor and are eliminated.

And the combination of favorable heaven, earth, and man is also crucial. In the last century, there was a very dark period on Chinese soil.

When nations cease to be nations, and war rages on, flesh and blood turn to dust, and white bones lie exposed in the open fields.

It was in this unprecedentedly chaotic world that Elder Xue, during an opportunity to leave the monastery, fabricated an illusion of her own death.

She grabbed a foreign woman who spoke an unintelligible language, thin and wiry, much like herself.

Back then, I had no idea who this woman was. After living outside the legal system for a while, I found out she was a Japanese spy.

In a time of chaos, killing one person is too easy, especially a foreign spy. Even if the body disappears, no one will look for it.

So the old woman poisoned this spy and then set her on fire, killing her. The old woman's companions inspected the body afterward and found traces of poison, believing it to be the work of the old woman herself. Thus, this old woman was granted "freedom."

Living in such tumultuous times, no one cared about a woman's background. She quickly married into a wealthy farmer's family, but later fled with her family and roamed from place to place. During this period, she encountered the Dragon King who had just escaped from the temple.

However, at that time the situation was difficult and she was preoccupied with her own affairs. She already had the identity and family of a "normal person", so she pretended not to know, gave King Long a meal and some money, and then parted ways.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the Dragon King was incredibly insidious. He secretly planted a curse on his eldest son and left a mark on him, intending to seize their family's wealth. In the end, they engaged in a fierce battle, and the Dragon King's natal curse was injured. This incident directly led to the Dragon King fleeing the country.

When I saw him, he was badly injured and taking refuge in my temporary dwelling... Having come out of the Daoist tradition, I knew one mustn't offend those who raise insects. So I sent him off politely, but who would have thought he was so vicious and harmful to all who met him! I had no choice but to fight him back... The old woman narrowed her eyes as she recounted these long-forgotten memories.

Later, the war raged on, forcing them into a life of displacement and hardship. The old woman's family suffered greatly, losing loved ones and depleting their wealth to survive those difficult times.

Who knew that this would actually make his family's status become peasant farmers, and they weren't affected by the "toppling of landlords and redistribution of land" campaign.

Thanks to his clever mind and "special" abilities, he gradually amassed a fortune. However, retribution eventually came, his son and grandson each died from strange illnesses, leaving only his only daughter who learned her father's skills. Afterward, she married into the trade, also engaging in some yin-yang business.

Later on, a granddaughter was born, starting a special "business" that continues to this day, entrusted to my mother... bah, Ms. Xue continues to manage it.

I was itching to hear more. So this old hag isn't on the same side as the Dragon King Then I have nothing to fear!

"What kind of business are you in You wouldn't be buying and selling people or trafficking organs, would you" we give it to you!" My brother fiercely stabbed at the back of his neck."I, I don't know how I got so unlucky—to meet both of you masters! Please spare me, Masters! All I want is to find a scapegoat...