Chapter 243 Though Dead, Still Alive (Waiting) Pressing on his waist, inch by inch…
In the tranquil hall, wisps of smoke curled and the lights shone brightly. A Bagua (Eight Trigrams) plate was set on the ceiling. As Zhang Chunhe slowly approached, the plate spun open, revealing a sliver of sunlight as Yin and Yang separated.
The bright sunlight shone down, illuminating his aged yet clear eyes. He looked at them quietly, his expression serene, like a statue in a temple, showing no trace of hostility or malice.
Only the constant indifference of all things.
He wasn't questioning Qiu Tong, and his tone wasn't sharp, just as he wouldn't question a rabbit or an ant.
He had long been accustomed to the unity of all things, and would neither belittle any kind of creature nor value any person.
He glanced at the girl before him, raised and lowered his whisk, and just as Qiu Tong was about to cry out in surprise, a thick futon moved to the side and placed under her knees, while the long ropes that were entangled around her body also came undone.
When she looked at him with surprise, he simply explained in a slow voice.
"It is not the way Daohe Palace treats its guests to sit on the ground, but I cannot do the same to a demon in front of so many ancestors who have experienced the great war between the two worlds."
"Since you're only half a disciple, you should kneel like this."
Qiu Tong looked at the person in front of her, hesitant to speak. She rubbed her sore wrist slightly, her eyes looking around, and secretly practiced sword incantation, but she still did not receive a response from the Tai'a sword.
"There's no need to try anymore. I sealed your spirit sword on the way to capture you."
He paused, a faint smile appearing in his eyes, but it wasn't friendly.
"Are you surprised? Although it is the Tai'a Sword, in your hands, it couldn't even unleash one-tenth of its power. Sealing it is not difficult."
Qiu Tong was even more surprised: "Was that man in black you?"
She remembered the day she was kidnapped by the man in black. She only saw Prince Qingping try to stop him at the last moment, but he was too exhausted and could not completely stop the monster. That's how they left Qingqiu.
On the way away, Qiu Tong struggled, but was knocked unconscious by the man in black. When she woke up, she was in this hall and saw Zhang Chunhe.
She thought the man in black was someone he had sent, but she never expected it to be him himself. He actually did it himself.
Qiu Tong found it somewhat unbelievable.
“Of course it’s me,” he replied somewhat absentmindedly. “This matter is too important to entrust to anyone else. Only by seeing it with my own eyes can I confirm that he is truly not by your side.”
Qiu Tong had fully regained her senses. Although she still harbored fear from her past life, she was no longer the person she was in her previous life.
Her eyes flickered, her hands gripping the hem of her skirt tightly, and she steadied her voice: "What do you want to confirm through this?"
Zhang Chunhe glanced at her sideways, then suddenly fell silent, merely observing and pondering her with that sideways gaze.
For Qiu Tong, this gaze was extremely oppressive, as if it were a tangible weight hanging over her head, seemingly able to squeeze out all the secrets in her heart, leaving her nowhere to hide.
She does indeed have a secret, which is her rebirth.
She didn't mention it in detail when I spoke with Lin Feiran earlier.
All of this was clearly written in his eyes; he didn't hide it, and it was all laid bare before Qiu Tong's eyes.
Then he handed her the sheet music.
Qiu Tong didn't know what he had figured out, and she was always uneasy, but she couldn't help but comfort herself, how could an ordinary person guess such an unbelievable thing?
Thinking this, Qiu Tong's heart beat faster and faster under his gaze, and even a thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead.
It was as if she had returned to her past life, when her feelings for Wei Changzai were exposed, and he was gazing at them in the same way. But the difference was that his eyes were filled with anger and regret back then.
Zhang Chunhe looked at her calmly.
"The matter I needed to confirm has been resolved."
As for you, you should have thought about the consequences the day you asked me for the sheet music.
Why would a demon want such an obscure and unorthodox cultivation technique, and why would it specifically only take the lower part?
"Reborn, Qiu Tong, you still haven't improved at all."
With a sudden thud, it seemed as if something invisible had struck her head, making her feel dizzy, her heart pounding, and her palms sweating.
Qiu Tong's eyelashes trembled, and her hands, gripping the hem of her dress, almost turned white, but she simply lowered her head slightly, maintaining her previous composure.
"The cultivation method is what my elders want; as for the rest, I don't quite understand."
Zhang Chunhe chuckled softly, his fine white whisk circling around her: "If you don't understand, then forget it. Whether you're reborn or resurrected, I don't care about your affairs anyway."
Now that I have the answer I wanted, you no longer need it. Wait here for a while, and then I might let you go back.
The words were cryptic and Qiu Tong, still in shock, had no time to think them through. After he finished speaking, a sense of unease welled up in her heart. Just as she was feeling both surprised and worried, there was a sudden knock on the palace door behind her. She cried out in fright and turned around to look.
The knocking outside the hall paused briefly, then resumed rhythmically until Zhang Chunhe responded, at which point the knocking stopped.
"Master, the esoteric sect has sent word that we need to find a certain person."
Qiu Tong's gaze was filled with surprise and uncertainty. The heavy palace doors were not completely closed, with a gap of half a finger showing. A tall shadow was cast diagonally in, and even a corner of a robe was blown in by the breeze.
She recognized the voice.
Ji Changying.
Whether in her past life or this life, Qiu Tong didn't have many interactions with this senior brother, but the impression he left was very deep.
In her past life, when she and Wei Changzai joined hands, most of the Dao and Gongmen people disagreed and even tried to stop them time and time again. However, Ji Changying was one of the few supporters, and he even helped the two of them escape.
She still remembers that when they were by the Endless Sea, Ji Changying gave them a lot of pills and then said...
"Lovers in this world are often separated and filled with regret, but I would rather see them united in the end. Don't worry about Master, I will try to persuade him. In time, he will understand. Go now, and be careful on your journey."
Ji Changying was not unknown in Daohe Palace; on the contrary, almost everyone liked him, and he had a very good relationship with Wei Changzai. However, she and he were not exactly familiar with each other.
That farewell at the beach was the longest Qiu Tong ever spoke to him.
She was being held captive right outside the door. She wanted to call for help, but ultimately didn't want to involve him or put him in a difficult position, so she remained silent.
Zhang Chunhe, who was standing to the side, looked up and asked, "Who are you looking for?"
The shadowy figure stirred slightly, and a voice rang out: "What they are looking for is Qiu Tong."
The nostalgia in Qiu Tong's eyes suddenly turned into confusion.
She had no connection with Tantric Buddhism, and even harbored resentment towards them because of her father's situation. The two had no connection whatsoever, so why would they come looking for her?
Could it be that Prince Qingping was the one who facilitated this?
Zhang Chunhe remained silent for a few moments, his fingertips tapping incessantly on the jade handle of his whisk. After several changes in expression, he did not postpone or conceal the matter first. Instead, he cast a magic seal on Qiu Tong before slowly walking out the door.
The palace doors closed completely, leaving not even the last crack.
Outside the door, Zhang Chunhe said, "They sent people here? Then come with me to see them."
Hearing the footsteps of the two leaving, she felt uneasy. They seemed to be very familiar with the esoteric sect. Could it be that Daohe Palace also had dealings with them?
Qiu Tong regained her composure and looked around. She was immobilized by the magic seal, unable to escape or contact the outside world. The only thing she could rely on was the Tai'a Sword.
Looking at the jade tablets before her, she couldn't help but mutter quickly, "Seniors, although I am a demon, I have formally entered the sect. As a disciple of Daohe Palace, please bless me so that I may awaken the Tai'a Sword!"
"Sword, sword, sword, sword, sword..."
...
At sunrise, the light is bright.
Ru Xian leaned against the long couch, bathed in the not-so-warm sunlight, her eyes fixed on the roof beam. Her head didn't move, but her eyes followed the figure around.
In this house built of runes, the beams are not ordinary long timbers, but rather characters drawn stroke by stroke.
Lin Feiran then raised his hand and hooked it onto the characters, moving it back and forth.
"It's been almost half an hour, how much of the heat has dissipated?" he asked, resting his chin on his hand.
The blush on her face had faded considerably: "It's still hot, but much better than at the beginning."
The two slept in the same bed last night. Lin Feiran always slept well. After they said goodnight to each other, her breathing became long and even in a short while. Ru Xian, who always had difficulty falling asleep, simply held her, listened to her breathing, and closed her eyes to rest.
A chill emanated from her body, carrying a dense, tingling sensation. Her spiritual meridians ached incessantly. These pains, which she should have grown accustomed to, were alleviated and dissolved by the warmth she continuously radiated.
He couldn't fall asleep, but he had a kind of comforting and lazy feeling, like he was basking in the sunlight.
Gradually, the warmth began to rise. Ru Xian hadn't paid much attention, assuming it was just the boy's body heat. He raised his hand to check the temperature, then lifted a corner of the thin blanket on her back to help dissipate heat.
Just as dawn was breaking and he was finally starting to feel drowsy, Lin Feiran suddenly became burning hot.
It was like adding kerosene to a warm furnace, instantly igniting it and turning the entire interior a scorching orange-red.
Lin Feiran is this color.
The temperature was just right for him, but it was obviously strange for her. Ru Xian immediately grabbed her wrist, examined it for a moment, and couldn't help but recall what she had said about refining.
Lin Feiran hadn't specified what he was refining beforehand, and by the time he woke up, the treasure had already been refined and absorbed, so he couldn't see the original item.
Judging from the pulse, it must be a rare and precious natural treasure.
Without hesitation, he woke up Lin Feiran and, after asking her questions, learned that it was the Hanhai Deer Pill. His heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down a little.
The Deer Elixir of the Vast Ocean is extremely yin and yang, and it needs to be re-balanced after refining, otherwise it will burn like this. Although it is not harmful to the body, it is still unpleasant.
So he let Lin Feiran move around in the room to vent her anger and avoid running into that person outside.
Ru Xian stared for a while, then teased, "I'm starting to wonder if your face turned red last night because you were shy, or because you refined the Vast Sea Deer Pill and your blood rushed to your head."
Lin Feiran whispered, "The effects of the Deer Pill won't be immediate."
Ru Xian smiled without saying a word, then after a moment of silence, she tapped the table lightly and asked, "The Deer Pill of the Vast Ocean hasn't appeared for many years. Who gave it to you?"
He actually wanted to ask if it was a man or a woman, since the two must have a close relationship to be able to give her such a treasure. However, he was much older, and if he asked in that tone, it would inevitably seem childish. He didn't want to show that side of himself in front of Lin Feiran.
“A senior.” Lin Feiran, hooked on the beam, glanced at him as he swayed, and added, “A senior who is hundreds of years old. Although he is a man, I have great respect for him.”
She neither pointed out his intentions nor concealed his unspoken meaning. It was impossible for her to harbor any romantic feelings for a respected elder. Ru Xian glanced at her with some surprise, her eyes showing satisfaction.
"In that case, I won't ask any more questions."
Lin Feiran changes her sword techniques and martial arts routines almost every three days, except for the basics, and she does them better each time. Besides her diligence, she must have had a master guiding her.
He also saw through it but didn't say anything.
He was happy that she had such an opportunity, and he wouldn't gossip and disturb their relationship. Asking about it today was just to clarify the matter between a man and a woman.
Lin Feiran, halfway through dispersing the fire, suddenly asked, "Ru Xian, have you ever heard of the ends of the earth?"
Ru Xian pondered for a moment, then shook her head: "I've never heard of it."
She moved up and down while holding the talisman, but her voice remained steady: "I heard from Ru Niang that my mother used to be looking for such a place. I also dreamed of a coastline with a statue of my mother standing on the shore. I think that might be the place she was looking for."
To find out the cause of her death, I must go to this place.
"In my dream, there was also a cloud that looked like an eye, which resembled a totem of Tantric Buddhism. This place must be related to Tantric Buddhism."
But I can't blend in anymore. Do you think there's any way to find this place?
"Help you find the ends of the earth?"
Ru Xian changed her position, lying on the long couch, looking at her through her loose snow-white hair with one eye, raising her eyebrows slightly. The next moment, Lin Feiran swung over like a little monkey, landing steadily beside him, and very observantly pressed her hand on his waist, rubbing it inch by inch.
"I'm new to this and have limited abilities. Do you think there's any way I can find such an unheard-of place?"
Lin Feiran's massage skills are excellent. He has a very accurate grasp of the pressure and pain points, as if he was born to do this job. When Ru Xian first discovered this, she had the illusion of finding a treasure.
He closed his eyes and enjoyed the massage that came from his waist, sometimes light and sometimes heavy. Occasionally, a breath escaped from his throat. He turned his head to look behind him, and his fingertips, which were hanging on the carpet, flicked lightly.
Seeing her constantly looking up at him with expectant eyes, he couldn't help but smile.
"There are solutions, of course."
Firstly, one could find a Skywalker and have him search for the object using incantations. However, incantations begin with the 'name,' and terms like 'the ends of the earth' are inaccurate; they are likely just appellations and might not lead to the correct location.
He paused here, turned slightly to the side, and the slender lines of his waist moved with them, rising and falling under Lin Feiran's palm. The delicate and smooth touch brushed against her palm and then slowly returned to normal.
He pointed to his shoulder, and she leaned forward and pressed her hand against his neck and shoulder, waiting for him to continue.
"Secondly, I have a charlatan friend who is an expert in divination. He calculated your true identity and the secret realm I was looking for earlier. I can take you to him."
Lin Feiran's face lit up with joy. She was so grateful that she thanked him repeatedly and even pressed down on his outstretched arm.
Ru Xian smiled silently, letting her do as she pleased. He tapped his fingertips lightly and then spoke.
“We will go out today, but there will surely be many people looking for you. My friend is the best at having multiple burrows. Going to him will allow you to hide for a while. Once I have fully recovered, I will be your support, and you will no longer need to worry about the Secret Sect. You can do whatever you want.”
Lin Feiran said, "I have already reached the Advanced Realm, so I can protect myself and the people around me."
Ru Xian looked at her and said, "Then who do you want to protect the most? Think it over before you speak."
At this point, whether it's true or false doesn't matter; it's just sweet banter between lovers, as long as he wants to hear it.
Unexpectedly, Lin Feiran suddenly stood up, pretending to think, then lifted him up by the waist, weighed him up and down, and put him back on the couch, smiling and saying, "After weighing it, I still think it's as fine as hail."
She is usually reserved and quiet, rarely showing such a pure and radiant smile, which left Ru Xian somewhat stunned.
She added, "You're so good to me, you're definitely the first person I'll protect!"
"Just because I'm nice to you?" He raised an eyebrow.
With only the two of them present, Lin Feiran naturally revealed her true feelings, frankly saying, "Of course, it's also because I like it. I liked it a lot before, but now I like it extremely much."
As if a haze were to be lifted from its brows, a visibly pleasant expression would appear.
The two were still discussing how to meet their friend in the room. In the courtyard, Wei Changzai stood in front of the house for a long time, his cold eyes staring at the spot as if he wanted to stare a hole through it.
The Golden Wave Sword Spirit stood to the side, one hand on his hip and the other patting his shoulder, and sighed.
"Men need to be more open-minded to be liked. She hasn't eaten for several days, so why not take this opportunity to make her a bowl of hot noodle soup? Maybe that will win her heart."
As the old saying goes, the way to a woman's heart is through her stomach.
"Since we talked last night, I'll tell you in secret: Ru Xian's cooking skills aren't very good."
Wei Changzai: "..."
As he stared at the faint outline of the small house, he lifted his shoulder straps, fastened the wide sleeves on both sides, pursed his lips, and walked towards the small kitchen.
Upon seeing this, the Golden Wave Sword Spirit laughed loudly, then crossed his arms and leaned against the peach tree. A short, round little grass figure appeared in his palm, which was Lin Feiran's masterpiece when he was a child.
She looked down, the curtain on her face fluttering, her expressionless, but her movements were very gentle.
She didn't really care about names like Ru Xian or Wei Changzai; it all depended on Lin Feiran's preference, but she couldn't go hungry after waking up early.
Children must eat breakfast.
She looked up and saw the house made of runes gradually disappear, revealing Lin Feiran's figure in front of the door.
She first stretched, then met the sword spirit's gaze, somewhat embarrassed, withdrew her hand, then smiled and said, "Good morning!"
The sword spirit accepted the little straw doll, nodded, and said in a light voice, "Good morning."
Author's Note: Ru Xian's cooking skills are indeed terrible. Does anyone still remember that he has no sense of taste? But Lin Feiran can eat anything (X)
P.S.: I couldn't help but write more when the two of them were together. The next chapter will be set in the Abyss! [Lop-eared rabbit head][Lop-eared rabbit head]
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