For the longest time, I believed the activation condition for the modifier was for Ye Tan to steal a kiss from me. Recalling it carefully now, I suddenly realized I might have been mistaken about one detail... The place where Ye Tan’s lips landed never seemed to be my mouth, but rather the center of my brow.
Looking at the cinnabar mole between my eyebrows, it did indeed resemble a switch. However, this spot was far too easy to touch accidentally; I often rubbed it when I had a headache or was deep in thought, and I certainly didn't avoid it during my daily washing. It couldn't be as simple as a mere touch.
If there was a difference...
An extremely uncomfortable yet logical suspicion surfaced in my mind.
"...Tan," I tugged at his sleeve. "Plant a kiss between my brows."
Ye Tan was startled. He looked down at me, and I stared back at him fixedly. He seemed willing to obey, yet he couldn't bring himself to do it. After hesitating for a long while, he said shyly, "Could you... please close your eyes?"
Hearing this, I shut my eyes. I felt Ye Tan’s breath slowly draw near, followed by his warm, moist lips pressing against the space between my eyebrows.
Immediately, I plunged into the modifier interface.
I hadn't guessed wrong.
If one were to ask for the difference between a kiss on the brow and touching it oneself...
...Could it be... saliva?
...Sigh, I suddenly didn't know how to face myself. This was indeed a command that could be easily accomplished alone, yet would never be triggered unintentionally in daily life.
But why did I feel so awkward about it!!
I was just about to modify the data when my body slumped over and slid off his shoulder. My breathing and heartbeat stopped simultaneously. Thinking something had happened to me, Ye Tan panicked and began frantically pinching my philtrum to perform emergency resuscitation. I had no choice but to temporarily switch back. My philtrum and wrists were both aching from his grip, and I couldn't help but let out a low groan.
"Master?! You—you suddenly fainted just now!! Are you feeling unwell?!"
I was pressed against Ye Tan’s chest. The moment I switched back, I felt his heart thumping like a drum, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat. I hurriedly comforted him, "It’s nothing, it’s nothing. I did that on purpose just now."
Ye Tan was still filled with shock and suspicion. I continued, "My constitution is unique. When the cinnabar mole on my brow is... is kissed, I fall into a state of feigned sleep that looks no different from death... The fluctuations in my internal strength are all because of this." I really couldn't bring myself to say that smearing saliva on it would also work, so I covered it up with vague words. I added, "Actually, it happened a few times before, but I never knew the reason. I only just confirmed it."
Ye Tan processed this, then said in shock, "You... you knew..."
I nodded honestly. "I’ve always known you were stealing kisses, though I guessed the wrong location before."
Upon hearing this, Ye Tan almost stood up as if to apologize and beg for punishment, but since he was holding me, he couldn't move easily. He could only lower his head and say, "This subordinate has offended Master. Please punish me."
I consoled him sincerely, "Nonsense. I only wish you'd done it more often." If you had stolen a few kisses every night, we wouldn't have been driven into such a passive position today.
Perhaps because my words were too shocking, Ye Tan was momentarily speechless. Knowing time was tight and there was no room for idle chatter, I ordered him to kiss me again.
This time, I switched into the modifier with peace of mind and adjusted the data. Canghai Yisu had ten thousand points in both attack and defense. Since the Little Rub sword was already destroyed, I set the values of the Ink-Gold Pine and Cypress Han Sword to be one and a half times that. It was only then that I realized this sword actually had a name: "Songfeng," or Pine Wind. There were no inscriptions on the blade, so it was no wonder we hadn't known.
After finishing the modifications, I noticed that Ye Tan’s current cultivation had reached three thousand. In just one month, it had actually tripled... I didn't know how much grueling effort he had put in. At this rate, he would be able to completely surpass Ye Xiao within half a year. However, I would definitely stop him in the future; I couldn't let him push himself so hard anymore.
There was one more thing worth celebrating: my HP had risen from 10 drops to 15 drops.
I should be able to take a few more tumbles before dying now. I really am quite resilient, keke.
After finishing the edits, I switched back. I was lying flat on Ye Tan’s lap; seeing me move, he hurriedly withdrew his hand.
Was he just touching my face?
Was it because I had picked up some dirt after traveling all day? I touched the spot he had brushed but felt nothing. Having no time to worry about it, I sat up and said, "Tan, it’s time. Go challenge Canghai Yisu. Otherwise, I’m afraid I’ll be finished off first."
Ye Tan’s thoughts were similar to my previous ones. "This sword was forged by a disciple of the First Sword Tomb. I fear the hope of victory is slim."
I said firmly, "We can win this time."
Once I spoke, Ye Tan didn't give it a second thought and immediately nodded. "Very well."
We sent someone to report immediately. Chou Wujiu had just fallen asleep when he was dragged back up, looking quite enraged. "It’s not even dawn yet, and you’re in such a hurry to seek death."
Despite a few coaxing words, he remained displeased. He led us back to the altar with a murderous aura. The rituals and the drumming were the same as before.
Looking at the cold, shimmering radiance of Canghai Yisu, I couldn't help but feel a bit regretful. I sighed and whispered, "What a pity. Such a beautiful sword."
Ye Tan unsheathed Songfeng. As soon as he weighed it in his hand, he felt the difference, a trace of astonishment hidden in the depths of his eyes. He pondered for a moment, but instead of swinging the sword down to strike, he slowly held it vertically against the blade of Canghai Yisu.
He took a deep breath, his knuckles turning white from his grip, and thrust the tip of Songfeng forward.
The sound of wind broke sharply, leaving a lingering echo.
Canghai Yisu did not break.
Instead, the blade of Songfeng pierced right through it.
—He had actually carved a hollowed hole right through the blade of Canghai Yisu.
The tomb fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone was stunned.
"The victor has been decided. There is no need to break it, is there? It is a fine sword; it would indeed be a pity to destroy it." Ye Tan’s steady voice echoed through the hollow tomb, each word carrying weight. He slowly withdrew Songfeng and sheathed it, then composed himself and retreated submissively behind me, whispering, "You said just now that Canghai Yisu was beautiful. I hope this hollowed pattern doesn't spoil your mood."
I couldn't help but smile.
Every time I said something offhandedly, he would always take it to heart and find a way to resolve things perfectly for both sides.
Chou Wujiu stood dazed for a long while, the emotions in his eyes shifting like churning clouds. Suddenly, his knees buckled, and he knelt down blankly.
I hurried forward to help him up, but he prostrated himself fully on the ground, performing a grand salutation. His voice trembled as he cried out:
"The First Sword Tomb welcomes the Sovereign to the throne—!"
As soon as he spoke, it was like a stone cast into the sea, stirring up a thousand waves. The dense, deathly silent crowd in the tomb suddenly knelt down one after another, performing the rites of worship with devotion. The chants rose wave after wave, deafening to the ears.
I was stunned.
Just a moment ago, we were lambs to the slaughter, and suddenly we were being held up as the Sect Leader. This plot twist was moving way too fast.
I quickly grabbed his shoulders. "What do you mean by this, Senior? How did he suddenly become the Sovereign..."
"Shut up!" Chou Wujiu suddenly barked. "In the presence of the Sovereign, how is there any place for you to speak?! Kneel down for me!" As he spoke, he forcefully spun me around and kicked me hard behind the knees. With a *thud*, I fell to my knees right in front of Ye Tan.
...Dammit.
Chou Wujiu’s movements were too fast; Ye Tan didn't have time to react. He shouted, "Do not be rude to Master!"
"Master?! How can the Sovereign debase his own status!" Chou Wujiu unsheathed his sword and glared at me, shouting, "As long as the Sovereign gives the order, we will immediately finish off this sickly weakling and restore the Sovereign’s freedom! In all the world, not even the Emperor himself is worthy of being the Master to the Sovereign of our First Sword Tomb!"
Ye Tan hurriedly helped me up and sat me down on the altar stage, carefully checking if my knees were scraped. Hearing this, he frowned. "When did I ever agree to be your Sovereign?"
"If you didn't want to lead us, why did you come to disturb the foundation of the First Sword Tomb? If you don't become our Master, how will you change the rules of the First Sword Tomb?" Chou Wujiu grew frantic, waving his sword wildly as he roared, "If you don't change the rules, today is the first of the month—the day the two of you should be presenting your heads! We have guarded the True Sword for generations. Now that Canghai Yisu is ruined, how do you expect our entire sect to carry on?!"
Hearing these words, the crowd below the altar also grew impassioned, shouting and calling out. I feared that if a single word was answered incorrectly, they would riot in an instant and crush us into meat pies.
My heart pounding, I shot frantic looks at Ye Tan. Ye Tan also felt a bit caught between laughter and tears. Helplessly, he responded:
"Fine. I accept."
Although it was unexpected and the road ahead looked precarious, we had at least managed to save our two small lives.
This haul... was probably a solid profit.
***
Glossary Table:
