Chapter 26 Forged Heart with Sinking Silver (Part 1) "You were born with a sword-like spirit, don't you want to..."
The time for the covenant had come, and Lin Feiran couldn't sleep that day. Before dawn, he went to the rooftop to meditate and pray, waiting for the sunrise.
The signing of the contract meant that the curse was about to be broken, and the solution she had been searching for for many years was finally in sight. This unexpected turn of events made her unable to contain her excitement and she couldn't help but let her mind wander.
The longer she waited, the more restless she became. So Lin Feiran started running around Xingzhi Palace. She was in good physical condition and landed silently so as not to disturb anyone's sleep. It wasn't until the sun was about to rise that her mind finally calmed down.
She walked towards the Lianqiao Palace in the sunlight. As soon as she got close, the door opened, and a boy poked his head out and said to her in a crisp voice, "Your Excellency, the Lord says that if you run around in the early morning again, he will break your legs."
Lin Feiran paused, then said slowly, "Did I disturb you?"
The boy shook his head: "We did not hear anything, but the Lord always sleeps soundly during the day and is awake at night. The early morning is when he is about to fall asleep but has not yet fallen asleep, so we noticed something. We should pay more attention in the future."
"Come in with me, the Lord is waiting for you."
The Lianqiao Palace complex contains numerous palaces, all located in areas with abundant sunshine. These residences are interconnected, separated by boardwalks and streams. Few people can pinpoint where Ruxian is staying that day, so they have to rely on the ginseng boy to lead the way.
Lin Feiran followed the child's steps, turning left and right, and finally stopped in front of a courtyard pavilion.
In the bright spring sunshine, the gleaming glazed tiles shimmered in the sunlight, and dewdrops glistened on the grass. Among them grew sycamore and ginkgo trees. Even though it was the height of summer, the ginkgo leaves were already ripe, like scattered gold everywhere, and the ground was covered with frost-yellow leaves.
The two stepped into the corridor, walked up to the pavilion, walked around the mahogany pillars, and stopped in front of the house. Lin Feiran looked inside and immediately felt that the house was even more luxurious.
A plush carpet that reached to the ankles was laid out, silver silk gauze fluttered lightly, ink-painted lotus lanterns hung from above, their faint fragrance wafting through the air, and a jade screen with gold wire stood tall behind it. On a long table, a censer of sparse plum blossom incense burned, its thick white smoke drifting onto the tabletop, swirling like frost.
This place can be described as luxurious and extravagant.
After delivering the person, the boy bowed and left, leaving Lin Feiran hesitating outside.
The reason was simple: the place was so exquisite and private that it inexplicably gave her the feeling of a boudoir where outsiders were not allowed.
The young lady, sitting cross-legged behind her desk, turned to the side with her eyes lowered, her long fingers teasing the little fox beside her with a gold coin between her fingers, leaving only her eyelashes curving gently in the air.
Hearing no sound, he lifted his eyelids to look at the person outside the door: "What are you standing there for? Come in."
"good."
After performing the Taoist salute, Lin Feiran took off her boots and entered. The carpet was indeed as soft as she had imagined. She admired it in her heart and couldn't help but secretly tiptoe around on it. It felt like she was floating on clouds... If only those round and full pearls hadn't been scattered in the carpet.
She walked to the table, nodded slightly, and then knelt down.
As soon as she sat down, she felt an undeniable light coming from her left. She turned her head and saw a wall of finely polished mirrors, so bright that it reflected everything in the room, including her astonished expression.
Lin Feiran: "..."
She swore she had never looked in a mirror like that in her life, and seeing everything clearly made her feel a little ashamed.
"What's wrong? With such a graceful figure, I should be in sight at all times, pleasing to the eye."
The two people in the mirror suddenly met each other's gazes. Lin Feiran silently looked away, thinking to herself, "That makes sense."
Ru Xian was no longer wearing the platinum robe she had before, but a jade-colored garment with silver patterns. Both cuffs were bound together with silver rings, and she wore several armlets on her right arm. Light silver tassels hung below her ears, shimmering with light.
Such a clear and bright color, paired with his handsome face, the contrast between light and dark complements each other perfectly, making him extremely eye-catching.
The blue-eyed fox leaped onto the table, casually tossing the gold coin in its hand like a hailstone. It jumped up and caught it in its mouth, just like a dog carrying a meat bun. It swallowed the coin in a few bites, then raised its paw to wash its face, its tail swishing wildly.
Lin Feiran was engrossed in watching. Ru Xian waved his hand in front of her eyes, and another gold coin appeared between his fingers. He said, "You're so engrossed in watching, do you want to eat some too?"
Lin Feiran nodded upon hearing this. Under Ru Xian's questioning gaze, she opened her mustard seed bag and said, "If the Venerable One doesn't mind, you can feed him here."
Seemingly surprised by her words, Ru Xian raised an eyebrow slightly and tossed the gold coin in: "It seems you've become familiar with me."
After this sigh, he leaned forward slightly, rested his right hand on the table, supported his chin, and looked up at her: "By the way, I haven't told you yet, the oath we're forming today is not an ordinary oath formation, but a demon-summoning decree. Since you've read so many books, you must be familiar with this. If you don't accept it, you still have a chance to back out now."
The edict to command demons is a well-known covenant law in the Daoist world.
During the great war between the two realms, human cultivators developed this formation, which used the souls of both sides as an alliance and bloodline as a contract, with humans as the contract masters and demons as the contract slaves, to force the demon race to be enslaved and driven by humans.
Through this covenant, we can share our thoughts and inspire each other.
If either party has even the slightest thought of breaching the contract, they will suffer the excruciating pain of having their spiritual veins severed. Unless they die, they cannot break the contract before fulfilling their promise.
Because this method is extremely domineering, and its various restrictions make it difficult for people to break their promises, some people modified it into a contract array when it was passed down. Although it is still called the Demon-Commanding Edict, it is no longer restricted to the relationship between humans and demons, nor is there a distinction between master and slave, and it cannot be forced.
Unfortunately, very few people use this method to form contracts today.
After all, this method would be perfect if used for unequal enslavement, but it is less useful than a chicken rib if used for forming alliances and contracts.
Human hearts are fickle; who can guarantee that they form an alliance without selfish motives and will never break their promises? Who dares to be completely open and honest with each other?
You only feel safe when there's a layer of skin between your heart and your stomach.
Ru Xian looked up and saw the girl standing tall and straight like a pine tree. After thinking for a moment with her eyes lowered, she nodded in agreement: "I agree."
He became curious again: "Why?"
“Firstly, the edict to subdue demons is extremely harsh, but there is a difference in strength between me and the Lord. I can guarantee that I will keep the agreement, and the Lord will do the same. Secondly, the fact that I dare to form this contract shows that the matter of being cursed is true and not a lie. Thirdly, the two sides cannot kill each other, which I think is very fair, so I agree.”
Ru Xian was slightly taken aback, but then she understood what she meant and couldn't help but laugh: "Sometimes, I really don't know if you're really stupid or just pretending."
Besides ensuring that both parties keep their promise, the Demon-Slaying Edict can also verify the truth of her contract. If the curse is false, his spiritual veins will be severed when the contract is formed. If the curse is true, even if he doesn't actually know how to break the curse, he must find a way to heal her within three years. Moreover, even if he regrets it later, he cannot kill her to break the contract.
“You are indeed a fine sword.” Ru Xian raised his hand. “In that case, let us immediately form a pact. I will inform you first that I am the master of the pact.”
Lin Feiran clasped his hands together with him, and upon hearing this, a faint smile appeared on his face: "Master and slave are just titles, I have no objection."
As soon as he finished speaking, a shimmering golden light flowed between their joined palms.
After a slight stinging pain, a thin crack appeared on each of their palms, from which bright red blood beads seeped, dripped, intertwined, and slowly merged to form a magic array.
Like a whistle opening its mouth in a low voice, with the last syllable drawn out inertia, it sounds like an intimate whisper, but it only sounds like one.
He spoke the words of the contract, each word precise and unambiguous, as ancient characters slowly solidified in mid-air, one side in Chinese characters and the other in the ancient language of the demon race, both radiating golden light.
"...There will be no betrayal. Even if the world changes, this contract will remain unchanged."
As soon as he finished speaking, the golden light stopped.
Lin Feiran carefully read the contents of the contract, which were exactly what she had expected. She then nodded and solemnly uttered her vow.
Same as above.
The golden light paused for a moment, seemingly not expecting her to say that, and then stopped after making a couple of hasty strokes.
As the last stroke of the suspended inscription reached its final mark, the characters glowed with a golden-red luster. The distinctly different characters separated and condensed into two beams of golden light, deeply engraving themselves into the right eyes of both individuals, leaving a thick ink mark beneath their eyes.
The hands were pressed tightly together, one warm and the other slightly cool. The blood-red mark on the palm slowly expanded, rising to the top of the head, shining with a lustrous golden light.
A whirlpool suddenly rose, lifting the hem of her robe that reached the ground. Her snow-white and black hair intertwined in the wind, inseparable, as if weaving a black and white chain.
As the wind subsided and the formation ceased, the two withdrew their hands. Two Tai Chi fish, one black and one white, rose from the engraving in their eyes, leaped into each other's palms, and then disappeared.
Only then is the contract complete.
"Rest for a while, and I will remove the first curse for you when the moon rises."
Breaking the curse is not something that can be done overnight; it requires gradually washing away the curse marks in the spiritual veins. He had already told Lin Feiran about this.
Ru Xian opened her eyes, her gaze suddenly falling on the tangled ends of their hair.
Her black hair was silky and glossy, hanging down softly. It seemed to be loosening on its own, but it was tightly entangled by her white hair, forming a knot that seemed to be determined to never let go.
He clicked his tongue softly, reached out and flicked his finger, dispersing the attack before Lin Feiran could open his eyes.
He's always the one being bothered, never the other way around.
Lin Feiran exhaled slightly and opened his eyes, completely unaware of what had just happened. He only asked, "Master, why wait until the moon rises?"
"Because the sunlight is strong now, it's a good time for a short rest."
Ru Xian got up and walked towards the long couch. As he walked, the hem of his robe opened and closed, revealing a pair of long legs. He lay down without caring, and the leg rings that were previously barely visible were suddenly exposed to the sunlight, shining silver.
All the accessories are in the same color scheme; this person has always had good taste.
"Yin-Yang symbol?"
She stretched out her right hand, and a small black fish swam out of her palm. It had a round head and a plump body, and a tail that looked like a dry ink mark. It swam a couple of times before falling into her palm, quite clumsy.
"This is the Yin-Yang fish, born in the eyes of the sworn brother and moving in the heart. With it, the two can communicate with each other."
He didn't speak, but she heard his voice, which was very close, like a whisper in her ear. Lin Feiran shifted her shoulder uncomfortably.
"When the Flying Flowers Gathering comes around, would you like to join us at Sword Mountain?"
Lin Feiran rubbed his ears, not quite understanding what he meant: "Is what the Lord wants on Sword Mountain?"
Ru Xian glanced at her sideways: "I'm asking you, do you want to enter Sword Mountain? Kunwu, known as the number one swordsman in the world, is still in the mountain. He is a near-divine sword, said to be able to split mountains and cut seas. You were born with a sword bone, don't you want to compete?"
"I want to, but even if I want to, it's not mine."
That was Wei Changzai's destined sword, drawn only for him.
“There are countless swords on Sword Mountain; surely one of them is more suited to me.” She looked up and asked again, “Why are you suddenly asking this?”
Ru Xian found her tone amusing and replied, "There are eighty-one spots for the Pilgrimage Valley this time. The Human Emperor has three spots, but I recently made an alliance with him and took two of them. If you have no intention of entering Sword Mountain, you don't need to worry about this Flying Flower Gathering. You can enter the valley when the time comes. If you want to enter Sword Mountain, then you will have to rely on yourself. After all, time is of the essence."
His dangling fingertips tapped the soft blanket intermittently, and he gradually quieted down, probably falling asleep.
Lin Feiran lay down on the ground as well, surrounded by soft, cloud-like downy fur, warmed by the sunlight and infused with the faint fragrance of plum blossoms. The skylight above was wide open, and a few clouds drifted by, casting brilliant sunlight onto the jade couch, enveloping him.
My thoughts drifted for a few moments, but eventually I returned to the past.
In fact, the Pilgrimage Valley had experienced another unusual event before this.
On the day Wei Chang entered Zhaohai Realm, it was his fifteenth birthday. Zhang Chunhe performed the coming-of-age ceremony for him, and the other disciples watched from the side, including Lin Feiran.
Halfway through the ceremony, an elder suddenly stepped in from the outer room, his face flushed and his expression excited: "Chief, this morning someone received a summons, saying that the Pilgrimage Valley will open, and only cultivators at the Illumination Sea Realm are allowed to enter!"
As a result, everyone's eyes fell on Wei Changzai.
He entered the Zhaohai Realm this morning, and someone was summoned. Only cultivators of the Zhaohai Realm were allowed to enter. This might be a coincidence, but it inevitably makes people think more about it.
In a flash, someone bowed to Zhang Chunhe and said, "Master, congratulations! What a coincidence! With the blessing of the Holy Spirit, our Daohe Palace may produce another Daoist!"
Zhang Chunhe inserted the jade hairpin into the crown, a smile on his lips, and shook his head, saying, "It's probably just a coincidence. But it's not unreasonable to take this as an encouragement to our predecessors and be included among them."
"Of course, of course! We must celebrate today's event!"
"In this grand ceremony, Daohe Palace will surely reclaim the top spot!"
The group chatted and laughed until nightfall, offering their blessings before finally dispersing. Zhang Chunhe looked at Wei Changzai, the silver light of his whisk gleaming on his arm, and smiled like a spring breeze. After giving a few words of advice, he left on his own.
That night, Lin Feiran and he sat on the tallest pine tree in the pine forest, its branches spreading outwards and firmly supporting the two of them.
Lin Feiran looked at the rolling mountains, then turned to the young man who was bowing his head and removing his crown, and couldn't help but ask, "Wei Changzai, what does it feel like to be in the Illuminating Sea Realm? Can you see further than in the Sitting in Oblivion Realm?"
Wei Chang was twirling a strand of hair between his fingers when he heard this. He paused and pondered for a moment before saying, "My body feels lighter, I can see farther, and my breathing and spiritual energy absorption are smoother. Otherwise, there seems to be no difference."
"Really? If I join Zhaohai, transporting spirits might be easier." Lin Feiran watched his movements. "Is this headdress uncomfortable?"
As he spoke, the hair ornament was removed, and the jade crown, carved from white jade, lay quietly in his palm, its surface lustrous and radiant, clearly not an ordinary item.
Wei Changzai shook his head, offering no further explanation, but instead continued her question: "How is your spiritual energy now?"
Speaking of her sore spot, Lin Feiran let out a soft breath, leaned her head against the tree trunk, and said in a muffled voice, "It's even more sluggish than before... I might still be stuck in meditation while you've entered the state of mind-searching."
Looking at her expression, Wei Changzai couldn't help but smile faintly: "It may not be because of the spiritual vein. Slowly, your mind becomes pure. Perhaps you haven't figured it out yet. There's no need to rush."
Lin Feiran sighed, "It's a pity I missed the pilgrimage ceremony this time. Who knows when the pilgrimage valley will reopen next time?"
Wei Changzai gripped the jade crown, his eyes flickering slightly, and his usually calm tone wavered a little: "I am confident about this grand ceremony. I will go to the Sacred Valley to find you a famous sword, how about that?"
Lin Feiran paused for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Those spirit swords may not be suitable for me. I will find my sword later."
Lin Feiran shook her head. Although she was a sword cultivator and possessed sword bones, she wasn't as obsessed with swords as others: "A sword is just a sword, a weapon. What's more important is the person. I just want to participate in a pilgrimage ceremony and try my luck in the valley."
However, in the end, no one was able to go. Before the ceremony, a divine decree was issued that the pilgrimage to the Sacred Valley would be temporarily suspended and discussed at a later time.
The grand ceremony was aborted before it could even take place.
It was all a misunderstanding, but Wei Changzai Daozi's reputation still spread throughout Daohe Palace.
She didn't know why the Sacred Valley opened or closed that time, but she knew that it was opened for Wei Changzai, and he successfully subdued the Kunwu Sword that hung on Sword Mountain, thus becoming famous.
Lin Feiran raised her hand again. Years of sword practice had made her finger bones less straight than those of ordinary people. The base of her middle finger was slightly slanted, just enough to allow a sword hilt to rotate through it, and there were several calluses on the base of her finger.
A cultivator's body should not have calluses, but she does. She practiced too frequently, and her spiritual body couldn't keep up with the repair process. Over time, these calluses were left behind.
At that time, she was not disappointed by not having a spirit sword, but filled with regret. She regretted not being able to participate in the pilgrimage ceremony, not being able to duel with the masters outside the sect, and not being able to personally enter the pilgrimage valley to witness the vast sword intent on Sword Mountain.
But now, everything has taken a turn for the better.
Sunlight filtered through my fingers, casting illusory halos.
Lin Feiran stared blankly into the distance when suddenly, it seemed as if a drop of ink fell before her eyes, plunging everything into darkness. She immediately withdrew her hand and sat up, her expression alert, but before her was once again the sunlit inner room.
Ru Xue lay quietly on the couch, the room filled with dazzling light, nothing seemed amiss, except for the blue-eyed fox turning its head to look at her, with half a gold nugget still in its mouth.
"Woof?"
It barked in confusion, then, as if its tail had been stepped on, began barking wildly in her direction.
Lin Feiran's vision went dark again, and she slumped back, her hands gradually being soaked by sticky, dark silver-colored water that wrapped around her and then dragged her into it.
Author's Note: Some people: "The young lady has arrived, everyone get out of the way!"
Some people: crawling in the shadows
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