Inverse scale shuttle

The two returned to the room, the candles were relit, and the scroll depicting the ancient battle formation was spread out on the table.

As night deepened, Ji Wang was focused on an obscure annotation, his brow furrowed as he tried to visualize how it worked in his mind. Just then, a weight suddenly settled on his shoulder.

Ji glanced sideways.

Bu Jiu had closed his eyes at some point, his forehead resting on his shoulder, and he had already drifted off to sleep.

He still held a half-open ancient book in his hand, his fingers loose, as if even the last bit of his strength had been quietly taken away by exhaustion.

Ji Wang maintained his head-turned posture, his gaze sliding from Bu Jiu's sleeping face to the almost invisible light blue under his eyes, only then realizing with a start that although he had had a tumultuous day, he had at least managed to steal a moment of rest.

Could he not be held accountable? From the shock of the young fox's tragic death, to the Hidden Dust Temple, and then to the discussion in the council hall just now, analyzing the crisis with everyone... his mind was always tense, never relaxed for a moment, always awake, worrying about him, and planning for the overall situation.

Thinking this, Ji Wang unconsciously slowed his breathing. He adjusted his posture to make Bu Jiu more comfortable, and silently brushed away a strand of dark hair that had fallen onto Bu Jiu's cheek.

“It should be made a bit longer…” he suddenly murmured out of the blue, “and add some tassels at the bottom…”

As I said that, the image of the veil being slowly lifted appeared in my mind.

Thinking of this, he looked at the wardrobe on the other side of the room, which was full of clothes. Underneath the neatly folded and put-away winter clothes was a fabric woven from bright, fiery silk, which, in the time that Bu Jiu couldn't pay attention to him, was already taking shape as a wedding dress under his clumsy needlework.

Now only one step remains—the peace charm he has drawn countless times, winding from his collar to his waist.

The fantasy was so wonderful that Ji Wang couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Bu Jiu sensed the disturbance in his sleep and unconsciously nuzzled against Ji Wang's head, as if seeking a more secure support.

Ji Wang immediately held his breath and quickly used his free hand to pat Bu Jiu's hand resting on his knee in a reassuring manner, until the slightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed and his breathing became long and steady again.

The next morning, Huaiqing held the few pages of annotations that Ji Wang had added to the ancient formation map in one hand, examining them carefully with a slight frown, while in the other hand she applied the medicinal powder little by little to the wound below Ji Wang's shoulder blade, whose color had already faded.

“Looking at it this way, it is indeed more troublesome than I originally thought.” Huaiqing’s gaze moved from the pages to the wound, and then back to Ji Wang’s face. “I had only studied a part of the incomplete text of this formation by chance before, and it was already obscure and difficult to understand. It is extremely mentally taxing to deduce it. I still have those annotation notes left over from back then. I will find them for you later, which may save some effort.”

Ji Wang nodded.

The newly applied medicine powder contained two rare medicinal herbs that Bu Jiu had found in his private treasury. When applied to the wound, it felt cool and gentle, and the burning sensation was effectively suppressed.

"I was thinking that once the wound healed a bit more, I would try to actively mobilize the Dao source within my body. It's too slow to just passively wait for it to circulate and recover on its own."

Huaiqing continued working, meticulously smoothing the edges evenly: "When can I really stop you? If you can control the Dao Source as well as you did in your previous life, using this spiritual power to nourish the injured meridians will naturally make the recovery much easier. However, you must proceed step by step and not be greedy or reckless."

“I understand,” Ji Wang replied.

Huaiqing took out a medicine bottle from his bosom: "What about Bujiu? According to what you said last time, he needs long-term nourishment to strengthen his body and replenish his vital energy. I have adjusted the prescription of the pills in here twice, increasing their calming and stabilizing effects. He should take one pill before regulating his breathing each day."

“He went to check on the Reverse Scale Shuttle,” Ji Wang explained, carefully putting the bottle away. “Last time we studied the method of repairing the Reverse Scale Shuttle together and found that a key material was missing to complete it. It just so happened that it was stored in his private treasury, so he went to find it today.”

Huaiqing was relieved and began to pack up the medicine tools: "The things in his private treasury are probably more complete than the treasure vaults of many sects."

He looked at the rising sun outside the window and added, "Don't lie here for too long. Get up and walk around slowly after the medicine has taken effect. I'll go and supervise your disciple's practice, and also sort out your crumpled annotated notes."

After calculating that it was about time, Ji Wang got up, tidied his clothes, and walked towards the secret room where the Reverse Scale Shuttle was stored.

Bu Jiu stood in front of the stone platform, his back to the doorway, his figure almost blending into the darkness.

Ji walked in, his footsteps exceptionally clear, but Bu Jiu seemed not to hear them.

Ji Wang stood beside him and asked, "What's wrong? Is the fusion process not going smoothly, or is there something unusual?"

Bu Jiu seemed to only then notice Ji Wang's arrival, but his gaze remained fixed on the Reverse Scale Shuttle. His voice held a sigh: "It's so beautiful. After everything is over, could you give it to me?"

This request came abruptly, completely out of place with the tense situation that seemed to be brewing. A hint of surprise flashed across Ji Wang's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a smile.

“Only little birds like shiny things,” Ji Wang replied. “What, does our majestic Ghost King like this too?”

Bu Jiu was teased by him, but surprisingly, he didn't refute it. He just repeated it softly: "...It's beautiful."

Ji Wang smiled and shook his head: "Okay, but it has to do its work first and help us win this battle."

“It can only function fully once more at most.” Bu Jiu’s voice suddenly lowered. “Moreover, the next activation must be guided by your Dao Source. Therefore, when it’s time to use it, I must be by your side. My demonic power, my experience, and even my bloodline can help you control it better.”

Bu Jiu raised his head and looked into Ji Wang's eyes: "Ji Wang, you can't make up an excuse to send me away like last time. If you dare to do that again..." He didn't finish his sentence, but they both understood the unspoken meaning.

"I understand," Ji Wang promised. "It won't happen again."

Bu Jiu responded, accepting the answer. Only then did he turn his gaze back to the Reverse Scale Shuttle, but his eyes now held a different expression than before, one of assessment.

He pointed to the faint light flowing slightly sluggishly in several places on the shuttle body: "Its current state is very subtle. I have just completed the form, but the fusion still needs time to nurture it. It is best to guide it with Taoist spiritual energy every day—yours is the most suitable."

"Understood, Lord Bujiong." Ji Wang nodded readily, then leaned closer to the stone platform and carefully examined the Reverse Scale Shuttle: "You just mentioned 'bloodline'? Does this shuttle have a special reaction to the demon race?"

Bu Jiu remained silent for a moment, seemingly considering what he could say and what would involve too much of the past: "The forging of the Reverse Scale Shuttle could not have been completed by one person alone. Even when you obtained the opportunity back then, you only completed half of it. The reason why you were unable to break through the other half was because the power of this shuttle was too terrifying, requiring 'the two races to witness and share the consequences'. Therefore, from the beginning of the design, a key was reserved that it could only be truly completed with the help of powerful demonic energy."

He pointed to a faint pattern on the shuttle's body: "The last missing piece of material is this reverse scale belonging to the auspicious beast 'Su Guang'."

“Su Guang…” Ji Wang repeated the ancient name, vaguely remembering it, as if he had glimpsed a few words about it in some book of strange beasts that was almost eaten away by insects.

“It is said to be an auspicious beast that understands time and space and controls the flow of time, but it has long been extinct,” Bu Jiu explained. “Its scales have a natural affinity and resonance with powerful demonic energy. Although I am not Su Guang, we are similar in essence. When I activate it at full power, I may be able to use this resonance to guide the power of the Dao source to inject more accurately into key nodes, reduce unnecessary dissipation, and also lighten your own burden.”

"How did you obtain the remains of such a legendary auspicious beast?" Ji Wang asked疑惑地. "According to ancient texts, the Su Guang should be a sacred object passed down through generations, how could it be obtained so easily..."

“I pulled it out myself,” Bu Jiu interrupted him, with a hint of self-righteousness in his voice.

Ji Wang: "...?"

Bu Jiu didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with what he said: "About... more than two hundred years ago? In the far north, a fading afterimage of light was discovered. Its power was almost gone, but it was still guarding its last scale."

He added, "I told it I liked it and asked if I could have it. It refused."

Ji Wang could already picture the scene. The hot-blooded young Bu Jiu, facing the afterimage of an ancient auspicious beast, brazenly demanded its most precious scales. And after being refused…

"So you just pulled it out by force?" Ji Wang rubbed his forehead, almost laughing.

“Yes.” Bu Jiu admitted it readily, even raising his chin slightly. “It was just an afterimage, unable to stop me. Once I got the scales, the afterimage completely dissipated.”

He glanced at Ji Wang, as if seeing through his thoughts, and said calmly, "The Light of the Tracing Light is not something that lasts forever. It's better to give that scale to me than leave it in the hands of the soon-to-be-annihilated afterimage. At least for now, it can be of use."

As Ji Wang listened, the image of Bu Jiu ruthlessly extending his claws at the afterimage of the auspicious beast almost immediately flashed into his mind. He was both amused and impressed by Bu Jiu's uncompromising nature.

Before the sentiment had even faded, a teasing remark slipped out: "Luckily, you only liked the shimmering scales, not my Dao Source. Otherwise..."

He paused deliberately before slowly continuing, with a hint of lingering fear in his voice: "Otherwise, given your style, wouldn't you have skinned me alive, refined me, and extracted my essence?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Wang couldn't help but chuckle. He had only intended to tease him and let him see his embarrassed state.

However, Bu Jiu's reaction was beyond his expectations.

The ghost king simply turned his face and looked directly at Ji Wang, his expression devoid of anger. His gaze was so deep and calm that Ji Wang's laughter unconsciously stopped; he felt a chill run down his spine from the sudden stare.

Just as Ji Wang thought the joke had gone too far and was about to say something to make amends, Bu Jiu spoke up.

"Your Dao Source..." Bu Jiu's gaze slowly swept over Ji Wang, "It is in your body, intertwined with you, with your soul, inseparable."

Bu Jiu raised his hand and stroked Ji Wang's neck, following the pulsating veins downwards, stopping at his heart: "Skinning and dismembering? Refining?" Bu Jiu gently repeated the words Ji Wang had just used, his eyes slightly narrowed, "That's too troublesome."

"If I really wanted it, wouldn't it be easier to take the person and soul with me?"