Is Everyone Else's Eldest Disciple Like This? | Chapter 109 | A Soul Dissipates | Novela.app

After nightfall, Ming Zhu and Shang Yanfeng lay side by side on the inn’s bed, yet for some reason, Ming Zhu tossed and turned, unable to find sleep. Sensing that Ming Zhu was still awake, Shang Yanfeng spoke up. "What is it? Not used to the bed?" Ming Zhu shook his head and pressed a hand to his chest. "No, I just suddenly have a very bad premonition." When a cultivator reached the pinnacle of their power, some could peer into the secrets of heaven. Hearing this, Shang Yanfeng frowned. "Is it related to the Moon-Seizing Tower?" Ming Zhu couldn't quite describe the sensation, so he simply shook his head again. "Perhaps it’s just my imagination." Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, Shang Yanfeng did not press him. Shang Yanfeng was a quiet sleeper, unlike Lu Qingkong or Shen Di'an who kicked in their sleep. Ming Zhu finally managed to drift into a peaceful slumber, but in the middle of the night, he was suddenly jolted awake by a sharp, tearing pain in his spiritual form. Slowly opening his eyes, Ming Zhu inconspicuously clutched his aching chest. The rusted hairpin he had set aside before sleeping lay quietly beneath his pillow, now radiating a searing heat. Ming Zhu pulled the hairpin out, only to find in shock that the pin—which had previously been only half-covered in rust—was now entirely encased in corrosion. When he touched it, flakes of rust fell away like ash. The moment Ming Zhu moved, Shang Yanfeng snapped awake. "Senior Brother?" Ming Zhu’s expression was blank, his hands trembling as he held the hairpin in his palms. He whispered softly, "Kuayu?" The hairpin did not respond. Shang Yanfeng propped himself up, his brow furrowed. "Is that the Kuayu Sword? Why has it become like this?" Ming Zhu was too panicked to speak. He called out Kuayu’s name several times, but there was no reaction. Trembling, he threw on his outer robe and ran out without even putting on his shoes. Shang Yanfeng called out hastily, "Senior Brother, what happened?" Ming Zhu didn't look back. "I have something to take care of. I’ll be back soon. Don't follow me." Before Shang Yanfeng could say another word, Ming Zhu had already pushed open the door and vanished like a gust of wind. Ever since the Kuayu Sword followed him to the Sun-Obscuring Cliff, it had lost its connection to its master. Normally, after a master’s physical body died, the sword spirit would return to the Abandoned Sword Mound. Their memories would be wiped clean, and only after hundreds or thousands of years of nurturing their spiritual form could they return to Hundred Sword Mountain. Yet, Ming Zhu’s body had been dead for over fifty years, and Kuayu had remained by his side all this time. He must have paid a staggering price to achieve this. Barefoot and with his hair disheveled, Ming Zhu raced through the moonlight back to the Moon-Seizing Tower. Na Lian was asleep, cradling Xi Chu, when he was shaken awake. Opening his eyes, he saw Ming Zhu kneeling by his bedside, face pale with panic and body drenched in dew. Na Lian was startled. "What happened?" Ming Zhu held the Kuayu Sword, which had returned to its original form, in his palms. His voice shook. "Kuayu... Kuayu’s spiritual form is dissipating." Na Lian was instantly wide awake. He flicked his fingers to light the candles and took the Kuayu Sword. He probed it with his spiritual energy, but after a moment, he shook his head dejectedly. "There is nothing to be done. His life has reached its end." Ming Zhu’s body swayed. He collapsed onto the floor in a kneeling position, his face a mask of despair. "Kuayu..." Na Lian knelt down and gently stroked Ming Zhu’s head. He said softly, "I warned him before. Since he no longer has a bond with you, he should have returned to Hundred Sword Mountain long ago. Otherwise, he would surely face the end of his soul. Do you know how he answered me then?" When Ming Zhu had fallen into the serpent’s belly, his body had dissolved into a pile of bones, and the Kuayu Sword had been buried with him in the depths of the bottomless Blood Sea. Later, when Ming Zhu performed the soul-snatching possession, he had spent months in a daze within the Blood Sea. During that time, he had forced his body into the depths to retrieve Kuayu, which had been nearly corroded into a useless piece of scrap metal by the sea, having lost its master’s spiritual protection. Normally, a sword spirit would spontaneously return to Hundred Sword Mountain upon its master's death. But for some reason, Kuayu had stubbornly remained within that increasingly dilapidated blade, as if waiting for something in a trance. Only later did Ming Zhu learn that his spiritual form after death had been incredibly weak. During the possession, he was nearly shattered by the consciousness within the demon core. It was Kuayu who, at the critical moment, used his own soul to forcibly block a blow for Ming Zhu, allowing him to successfully possess the body and survive. When Na Lian had told Kuayu the danger of not returning to Hundred Sword Mountain, the youth—who had seemingly grown up overnight—looked at the maddened Ming Zhu and replied in a hoarse voice: "If I leave, how will he survive?" Kuayu had been right. If he hadn't been the thin thread desperately tethering Ming Zhu’s will to live, given Ming Zhu’s state of mind, he would have committed suicide countless times over. Ming Zhu clutched the rust-covered sword tightly, his voice thick with grief. "My Kuayu..." Na Lian couldn't bear the sight. He said gently, "He... every moment he remains alive, he suffers the pain of his form tearing apart. Leaving might be a form of release." Ming Zhu stared blankly at the sword in his hands. He murmured, "Has Kuayu... always been in pain?" Na Lian immediately realized he had misspoken and fell silent. Ming Zhu’s hand brushed against the blade, leaving several bloody streaks that slowly trickled down the metal. Then, the sword shimmered slightly, and Kuayu transformed into human form, reclining in the crook of Ming Zhu’s arm, smiling at him. Ming Zhu’s tears fell instantly. He choked out, "Kuayu..." The mask that usually covered half of Kuayu’s face was gone. Now, his entire body was covered in rust, and his handsome face looked somewhat ghastly and terrifying. He smiled and said hoarsely, "Zhu-zi, I’m leaving now." Ming Zhu pressed his forehead tightly against Kuayu’s brow, tears falling one by one. "Kuayu, Kua... Kuayu..." Aside from calling Kuayu’s name, he didn't know what else to say. He couldn't even bring himself to utter a futile plea for him to stay. Kuayu managed a faint smile and repeated himself. "I’m really going now." Ming Zhu wept so hard he couldn't speak. His spiritual power was now immense; even if all the masters of the five continents joined forces, they would be no match for him. Yet, when faced with life and death, he was utterly powerless. After Kuayu finished speaking, he called out softly once more, "Zhu-zi." Ming Zhu replied, "I’m here." "Live well." With that, he gently rubbed his cheek against Ming Zhu’s palm. His body turned into flakes of rust, inch by inch, and slowly dissipated. Ming Zhu watched through tear-blurred eyes as Kuayu’s soul scattered in his arms. He froze for a long time before frantically trying to scoop up the rust on the floor like a madman. "Kuayu! I... my Kuayu..." Ming Zhu’s voice was nearly shredded. He knelt on the ground, desperately trying to gather the rust from all directions. "My Kuayu is gone... Kuayu!" Na Lian could no longer watch. He grabbed Ming Zhu’s shoulders and shook him, saying sternly, "Buhui! He is gone." Ming Zhu seemed to have fallen into a trance. His eyes were vacant, tears streaming down his face as he clutched some rust on his sleeve and rubbed it gently against his cheek. He murmured, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I’m here..." Na Lian reached his limit and struck him with a palm to knock him unconscious. Ming Zhu curled up quietly as Na Lian carried him to the bed. Even with his eyes closed, the tears continued to flow, unstoppable. Na Lian rubbed his brow helplessly, wrung out a cloth, and wiped Ming Zhu’s face. Once he had finally finished tidying up, he turned around to see that Xi Chu had transformed into his human form at some point. Looking about five or six years old, the boy was crouching on the floor, using his small hands to pick up the flakes of rust bit by bit. Na Lian sighed. Xi Chu placed the few remaining flakes of rust into a small, dark-red sachet. Then, he ran over and placed the sachet beside Ming Zhu’s pillow, patting it gently with his small hand. Na Lian rubbed the boy’s head softly. "You did well." Xi Chu looked at Ming Zhu’s sleeping face with concern and asked in a childish voice, "Will he get better?" Na Lian was silent for a moment before saying, "He will." "One day, he will get better." The passage of time would eventually wear away all pain. Early the next morning, Zhou Fuxue was already waiting outside Shang Yanfeng’s door, holding a steaming breakfast. It wasn't until the hour of the Dragon that he knocked gently. To his surprise, the door was unlocked. When Zhou Fuxue pushed it open and entered, he saw that Shang Yanfeng had been up for some time, standing by the window with a frown, looking down at the street. Zhou Fuxue asked, "Fifth Senior Brother, where is Eldest Senior Brother?" Shang Yanfeng turned and shook his head. "He went out last night and hasn't returned." Zhou Fuxue’s brow furrowed. "Did he say where he was going?" "No, only that it was urgent. But from his expression, it seemed something happened to Kuayu." "Kuayu?" Zhou Fuxue thought for a moment before remembering that Kuayu was the spirit of Ming Zhu’s sword. He set the items down. "I understand. I’ll go find him." Shang Yanfeng said, "You’re a stranger to Jade City. Do you know where he went?" Without looking back, Zhou Fuxue replied, "I have an idea." He walked straight out. The only people Ming Zhu was familiar with were Rizhao and Na Lian. Since he wasn't here, he must have returned to the Moon-Seizing Tower for something important. Zhou Fuxue made his way to the Moon-Seizing Tower with practiced ease. Before he could even state his purpose, Na Lian personally came out to meet him, looking quite flustered. Zhou Fuxue asked, "What’s wrong?" Na Lian’s face was pale. "Follow me." He turned and hurried toward the side courtyard. Zhou Fuxue didn't understand, but seeing Na Lian’s serious expression, he quickly followed. Upon entering the inner courtyard, Zhou Fuxue was suddenly hit by a powerful wave of demonic aura. Having lost all his cultivation, he nearly stumbled from the force of it. Zhou Fuxue asked anxiously, "Is he injured again?" Na Lian shook his head and led him to the door of Ming Zhu’s room. "It’s worse than being injured. Go in and see him. Be careful—don't provoke him. His emotions are very unstable right now." It was broad daylight, yet Ming Zhu’s room was pitch black, as if shrouded by a barrier. One couldn't even see their own hand in front of their face. After giving his brief instructions, Na Lian hurried away, seemingly unafraid that Ming Zhu might kill Zhou Fuxue. Zhou Fuxue sensed that something was wrong. Since it concerned Ming Zhu, despite his unease, he stepped forward, pushed open the door, and walked in slowly. The room was shrouded in darkness. Zhou Fuxue felt his way to the table and lit a candle. But the moment the candle flickered to life, a dark shadow lunged from the corner. It struck the candlestick instantly, sending it to the floor. The flame flickered a few times before slowly dying out. In the instant before the light vanished, Zhou Fuxue caught a glimpse of a snake's tail swiftly retracting from beside the table. *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation ---|---|--- 魂飞魄散 | Hún Fēi Pò Sàn | Lit. "Soul flies away and scatters." Refers to the total destruction of a spirit or soul. 不讳 | Buhui | Ming Zhu's courtesy name or title. 奚楚 | Xi Chu | The young boy/snake spirit at the Moon-Seizing Tower. 玉城 | Jade City | The name of the city where the story is currently taking place. 辰时 | Hour of the Dragon | 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM.