Throughout the entire day, Ming Zhu remained distracted. Even when he finally bought the peach blossom crisps he had been longing for, he merely offered a faint tug of his lips in a smile, yet did not take a single bite.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Zhou Fuxue frowned, crossing off several locations on the map of black market streets provided by Ye Weiyang, where rare and exotic treasures were known to be traded.
Lu Qingkong and Younü had indeed used their travel permits to enter the Shishen Kingdom half a month ago. They had stayed in the capital for three days, spending the entire time scouring the black markets. However, shortly thereafter, the two of them seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving not a single trace behind.
Zhou Fuxue folded the map of the black market streets and tucked it away, letting out a nearly imperceptible sigh.
Ming Zhu seemed to have grown weary of waiting. At that moment, he was squatting beside a stall, picking through the wares.
Zhou Fuxue walked over. "Is there something you wish to buy, Senior Brother?"
Ming Zhu gave a soft "mm" in response. His slender fingers brushed over a scabbard carved with ancient, primitive patterns. After a moment of pensive silence, he said, "I want this."
It was rare for Zhou Fuxue to see him in the mood to buy anything. Seeing this, he immediately moved to pay, only to watch Ming Zhu fumble through his robes for a long time before producing a piece of crystal jade covered in mottled scratches.
He held it out and asked, "Is this acceptable?"
The stall owner took it, looked it over, and laughed. "Sir, please do not mock me with such things. This is crystal jade from decades ago; it hasn't been in circulation across the Five Continents for a long time."
Ming Zhu froze, his lips pressing together as he withdrew the jade.
Seeing Ming Zhu’s dazed and dejected expression, Zhou Fuxue felt a sharp pang in his heart. He quickly interjected, "Senior Brother, let me pay."
Ming Zhu shook his head and produced a strange piece of black jade instead. "Black Star Jade. Can I trade this?"
The stall owner took it and gave it a casual probe with his spiritual power. His eyes instantly widened, and he could not hide his delight. "Are you certain you want to trade this? Black Star Jade is priceless across the Five Continents! Forget a single scabbard—even if you wanted to buy every item on this entire street, it would be more than enough! Are... are you sure you want to trade with me?"
Ming Zhu nodded. "Yes. I like this scabbard very much."
He turned back and asked Zhou Fuxue, "Does it look good?"
Zhou Fuxue didn't know how to evaluate such an extravagant gesture. His lips twitched slightly as he managed with difficulty, "It... it looks good."
Ming Zhu picked up the scabbard, exchanged a few words with the stall owner, then stood up and handed it to Zhou Fuxue. "Here. A gift for you."
Zhou Fuxue was stunned. He took the scabbard in a daze, and by the time he regained his senses, Ming Zhu had already walked quite a distance away.
Zhou Fuxue hurried to catch up. "Senior Brother, why are you giving me a scabbard?"
Ming Zhu turned back to look at him with confusion. "Didn't you say your scabbard was no longer usable and that you came out to buy a new one?"
Zhou Fuxue faltered. "I... when did I say that?"
Ming Zhu was also taken aback. He stopped in his tracks, looking at Zhou Fuxue with a strange gaze. He slowly pressed a hand to his forehead, his brow furrowing.
"You clearly said it..."
Ming Zhu’s expression was vacant. He murmured a few words to himself, but seeing that Zhou Fuxue still looked at him with confusion, he turned his head away and said sullenly, "It’s... it’s nothing. I must have remembered incorrectly. Let’s go back."
Zhou Fuxue didn't know which word he had said wrong to upset Ming Zhu again. He followed closely behind, watching Ming Zhu’s handsome profile.
Suddenly, a memory that had been buried for many years flashed through his mind.
Fifty years ago, in Shou’an City, his Eldest Senior Brother—still dressed in red and ignorant of the world's suffering—had plundered all the crystal jade from Zhou Fuxue’s person to squander it recklessly at the night market.
The young Zhou Fuxue had followed behind him like a weary servant, carrying a pile of miscellaneous items. With a helpless expression, he had said, "The scabbard of the Wuxin Sword is worn beyond repair. I plan to buy one that suits my fancy."
Ming Zhu had smiled at him like a blooming flower, shamelessly saying, "Congratulations! Now you can't even afford a sword tassel!"
Even Zhou Fuxue hadn't recalled that event from fifty years ago for a moment, yet from the look of it, Ming Zhu had remembered it all along.
At this thought, Zhou Fuxue felt a sudden warmth prickling his eyes. He was about to step forward and take Ming Zhu’s hand when he felt a violent tremor surge through the ground, shaking so fiercely that people could barely keep their footing.
They were in the middle of a bustling market. The surrounding crowd instinctively let out a chorus of cries, and the area became chaotic in an instant.
Due to the sudden vibration, the stone pillars of the market began to collapse one after another. With several thunderous crashes, they nearly crushed the bystanders.
Zhou Fuxue rushed forward, grabbing Ming Zhu to quickly lead him away from the crowded market. Only when they reached an open space did he breathe a sigh of relief.
Ming Zhu had followed him quietly, but his eyes were fixed on the dark canopy of the sky in the distance.
"Soul-Suppressing..." he suddenly murmured.
Zhou Fuxue didn't hear him clearly. "What?"
Ming Zhu raised his hand and pointed in a direction. "There. I sense the aura of the Soul-Suppressing Lamp."
Before Zhou Fuxue could react, he saw Ming Zhu spin half a circle on the spot, his robes fluttering. A gust of clear wind rose from the ground, enveloping his slender frame. Then, he abruptly transformed into a streak of light, shooting toward the direction he had pointed, vanishing into the mid-air in an instant.
***
At the same time, in a secluded courtyard within the Shishen Kingdom, a barrier shimmering with blue light descended, completely isolating the place into an independent little world.
Lu Qingkong, dressed in black robes, kicked the wooden door of the courtyard with aggressive force. His eyes were practically turning green with rage as he roared, "That bastard! Just how long does he intend to keep us locked up? Once I return to Rizhao, I am definitely going to complain to Master!"
He had kicked every inch of the courtyard walls and the wooden door, yet the barrier remained unmoved.
Exhausted from his efforts, Lu Qingkong turned back, panting, toward the young woman brewing tea in the courtyard pavilion. "Younü! Come over here and help me find an exit! We’ve been trapped here for half a month. Why aren't you worried at all?"
Younü had reached the Nascent Soul stage at the age of sixteen, which preserved her appearance. Thus, even after fifty years, she still possessed that innocent, youthful look. She squinted her eyes and said with a beaming smile, "This place has been cut off from the rest of the world. No matter what method you use, you won't be able to escape. Since that's the case, why bother with such redundant efforts?"
Lu Qingkong rushed over in a huff, slammed a palm onto the stone table, and growled, "You. Nü!"
Younü immediately set down her cup, took Lu Qingkong’s hand into her palms, and blew on it gently. With a pained expression, she said, "Don't be angry, Senior Brother. If you bump or bruise yourself, it’s Younü who feels the heartache."
As she spoke, she blinked, her eyes brimming with tears.
Lu Qingkong: "..."
His face instantly turned beet red. He yanked his hand back and turned away, stammering, "I—I'm not—not angry! I told you, don't be so touchy-feely when we're outside!"
Younü tilted her head, looking puzzled. "But there are only the two of us here right now."
Lu Qingkong stuttered for a long while, unable to form a complete sentence, before fleeing in a panic to kick the door again.
Younü collapsed into fits of laughter where she sat.
After all these years, Lu Qingkong seemed to have never changed. A little teasing was all it took to make him turn red and lose his composure.
Propping her chin on her hand, Younü watched his angry attempts to kick the door with a sense of nostalgia. She murmured to herself, "When will he finally catch on? *Sigh*."
Fearing he might actually hurt himself kicking the door, Younü rose and strolled leisurely to his side. "Senior Brother, it’s been so many days. You should settle down a bit. We stumbled upon such a massive secret of his. Out of respect for Rizhao, he only put us under house arrest instead of silencing us forever. What more are you dissatisfied with?"
Lu Qingkong snapped, "Would he even dare? We both have the protection charms from Master and Fifth Senior Brother. The moment he harbors intent to kill, it will inevitably draw their divine senses here. Wouldn't he be the one suffering then? I just don't understand. On the surface, he seems like such a noble, virtuous man. How could he do something as vile as extracting human souls behind everyone's back?"
Younü took his hand, soothing him with a smile. "Alright, alright, stop being angry. You've been shouting all day; doesn't your throat hurt? No matter how insane he is, he won't make a move against us. Just relax."
Lu Qingkong gave a distracted, muffled "mm."
Only after responding did he realize Younü was holding his hand. His face flushed instantly, and he threw her hand off. Just as he was about to say something disappointing about how men and women shouldn't be so intimate, Younü suddenly lunged forward, hooking both arms around his neck.
Lu Qingkong: "..."
He froze instantly, stiff as a pillar.
Younü’s soft body pressed tightly against him, her forehead resting against his. They were so close they could hear each other's breathing.
Seeing his crimson face, Younü felt even more inclined to tease him. With a bright smile, she pressed her lips against his, gently prying open Lu Qingkong’s tightly shut mouth.
Lu Qingkong: "..."
*Thud—*
Ye Weiai seemed to hear a sound. He turned back, looking puzzled. "Brother? Did you hear something?"
Ye Weiyang held his brother’s hand with one hand and carried a carved lantern in the other. He walked slowly through the covered corridor toward the high tower of Changye Villa. Hearing the question, he glanced toward the nearby dense woods. His eyes were cold and indifferent as he said casually, "Oh, it’s nothing. You likely misheard."
Ye Weiai was most obedient to Ye Weiyang. He nodded dutifully. "Okay."
The high tower of Changye Villa was constructed from colored glaze. At night, even the mere spilling of moonlight caused it to emit a faint, dazzling glow.
Ye Weiai followed Ye Weiyang into the spotless Glazed Tower. Once they stood in the center of the tower, a dense array of talismans slowly bloomed from the base, enveloping them both.
Ye Weiai was long accustomed to this. He sat obediently on the floor, his eyes pure and clear. "Brother, when I was in Shou’an City, my body couldn't move for half the day. Brother Ming checked my pulse and said it was the pulse of a dead person. But you said I was just having an episode. Brother, is Weiai really just sick?"
Suspended in the air within the Glazed Tower was a radiant glazed lamp. It had no wick, yet it emitted a light even more brilliant than the tower itself.
Ye Weiyang placed the carved lantern on the ground and opened the cover, revealing a pale white jade tablet inside. Upon meeting the light, the tablet glowed slightly, manifesting a small, exquisite restrictive talisman array.
He lowered his gaze, staring unblinkingly at the two restless green shadows flickering within the array, his thoughts unknown.
"Brother? Brother! Are you listening?"
Ye Weiyang turned and gently stroked Ye Weiai’s face, offering a tender smile. "Of course. You are merely ill. As long as I realign your meridians, my Weiai will surely get better."
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
晶玉 | Crystal Jade | A form of currency used in the Five Continents decades ago.
黑星玉 | Black Star Jade | An extremely rare and priceless spiritual jade.
无心剑 | Wuxin Sword | Zhou Fuxue's sword (lit. Heartless/Mindless Sword).
镇灵灯 | Soul-Suppressing Lamp | A powerful spiritual artifact capable of sensing or manipulating souls.
琉璃塔 | Glazed Tower | A tower in Changye Villa made of colored glaze/glass.
首安城 | Shou’an City | A city mentioned in the characters' past.
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