Chapter 813 Waiting for you to eat together
Priceless?
She had forgotten about that.
But Song Chunxue quickly realized what was happening and gave Wuji a wink.
"It's not priceless at all. I bought this down the mountain. But it wasn't cheap either; it cost five taels of silver. You must keep it safe and don't give it to anyone else. If I find out you gave it to someone else, I'll definitely come after it!"
Wuji realized something, hesitated for a moment, and then quickly reacted.
"Oh? Is that so? That makes sense. If it were such a valuable treasure, could you buy so many at once?" Wuji looked at the short sword in the fourth brother's hand. "Five taels of silver is not a small amount."
The second brother carefully examined the dagger in his hand and felt that it suited his taste perfectly.
“That’s right, five taels of silver is almost two months’ salary of mine. Why did you buy so much, Mother?” The second son, who was used to handling weapons, recognized that this was a valuable item. He tested the sharpness of the dagger with his finger. “Although it is worth the price, doesn’t Mother feel bad about buying so much at once?”
Song Chunxue slapped her thigh with a serious expression, "It hurts, of course it hurts! I've never spent so much money on such a small thing before."
“However, after being away from home for a long time, I’ve realized the importance of self-preservation, regardless of gender.” She scanned the room. “Mulan, and the second and fourth brothers, you should go home and make it clear to your wives that you should practice with this thing regularly. If you have some skills, you won’t need to ask the gods for help when you encounter difficulties. The world is in chaos now, and you can meet all sorts of people.”
“I’m also thinking about your safety, so I want you to have more items for self-defense,” she said, then winked at Wuji. “But these short swords and daggers are not ordinary weapons. I know a way to make them less likely to be lost, and even if they are lost, they can be found.”
Tudan'er, who had overheard Lord Zhao and Taoist Han talking about this matter on the mountain, knew the truth.
Seeing the two of them going back and forth, he chuckled softly.
"What method?" Tu Dan'er asked cooperatively. "Uncle, please tell me quickly."
"Yeah, what method is it? My master hasn't taught me yet." Wuji took out his own weapon. "I don't know yet."
Song Chunxue tilted her head slightly, "How could you not know? Didn't you say that there is a spirit in this sword? What if there really is? Aren't you familiar with the matter of forming a contract with a spirit?"
"..." Wuji was speechless. What exactly was his master trying to do?
"Come on, all of you, be serious. This sword is quite expensive, don't waste it, lest someone steal it. All of you follow this senior brother, take your own sword, and follow his instructions carefully."
Song Chunxue knew that the spirit of the artifact was intelligent, and if she were to form a contract with it, it would be a very serious matter. It couldn't be as casual as her contract with Wuyou. It was best to form a proper contract to avoid being targeted by others in the future and suffering losses at the hands of the spirit.
Sanwa was the first to react; he felt that his mother wasn't joking.
He stood up and respectfully asked Wuji, "Senior Brother Wuji, I heard that the contract formation ceremony requires some preparations. Please give me your instructions and I will prepare them right away."
Wealthy families even need to write a contract when buying a pet cat, let alone such a precious weapon.
"Okay, then I'll tell you a few items, and you can go and get them."
"good."
Although the fourth brother thought it was a bit silly, like children playing house, he wondered if it was taking it too seriously.
But seeing how serious his mother and her apprentices and nephews were, he didn't ask any more questions.
Before long, Sanwa brought incense and tea, and also placed an incense burner on the main table.
Wuji also drew several talismans and handed them to the people who received the short swords or daggers. Each person held an incense stick and recited a vow of sworn brotherhood with Wuji.
"I wish that the sword spirit would become the sword in my hand, to accompany me through countless lifetimes. Thus, we made a pact to stay together for life."
Then, Wuji used the tip of his sword to cut his finger, using blood as a medium.
In fact, ordinary weapon spirits don't need to do this, but he could sense that the weapons his master gave them were not simple. If he wasn't careful, these weapon spirits wouldn't be willing to form a bond with ordinary people.
Sincerity is essential.
Without hesitation, the second and third brothers immediately cut their fingers and dripped blood onto the sword.
Changyun and Tudan'er completed the ceremony with devout expressions. Mulan hesitated for a moment, then pricked her finger as well, and suddenly felt an unprecedented excitement in her heart.
She was very grateful to her mother-in-law for giving her such a valuable item, and for not thinking that she didn't need to waste such a precious sword just because she was a woman confined to the inner quarters.
A mother's love makes her strong, and she hopes that in the future she will be able to protect her child with her own abilities.
She also wants to become stronger.
"Alright, the ceremony is complete. Make sure you keep it safe." Wuji sucked the blood from his finger. "For those who haven't finished yet, don't forget this step when you get back. If you really forget how to say the contract, you can just cut your finger."
The fourth brother tucked his wife's bag into his bosom and said, "Alright, we'll do it after my wife gives birth and finishes her postpartum confinement."
This can be considered as fulfilling one of Song Chunxue's plans. Afterwards, because the children all had their own things to do, they went out from Sanwa's house to stroll around the streets and parted ways in the evening.
Before returning to the mountain, Tudan'er winked at Song Chunxue, telling her to be nice to Lord Xie.
Afterwards, the three brothers carried the snacks they had bought up the mountain.
As the evenings grow cooler in late autumn, colored paper is already being sold on the streets in preparation for the upcoming Cold Clothes Festival.
If it were a few years ago, she would have started preparing long ago, taking time each day to cut out a few images.
Seeing the colored paper now, Song Chunxue thought of how she would prepare a set for Sanwa's father every year, but who would have thought that he would never receive it?
They're still alive and well.
But living is better than dying. She looked up toward the capital, wishing them both well year after year.
After buying two bowls of sweet fermented rice, some hawthorns, and pears that the elderly couple couldn't finish, Song Chunxue still bought a lot of colored paper to cut winter clothes for her parents and sister.
Before dinner, she returned to the Xie residence.
When the housekeeper saw her, a relieved smile appeared on his face, and he nodded repeatedly. "It's good that you're back. What would you like to eat tonight?"
Song Chunxue said apologetically, "I'm sorry to have worried you. Please feel free to do whatever you like, I'm fine with anything."
"Then I'll get to it and prepare it." With that, the butler went to the kitchen.
Before long, Xie Zheng returned from the yamen, carrying quite a few things with him.
The beggar's chicken wrapped in corn husks, and the grapes bought from who-knows-where, a big bunch that looked quite fresh, must have cost a lot of money.
"I bought this on my way back. I don't know if you like it?" Xie Zheng placed it on the table with a smile, looking slightly flustered. "You haven't had dinner yet, have you?"
"Okay, I'll wait for you to eat together." Song Chunxue peeled open the beggar's chicken. "It smells delicious. Sit down and eat with me."
After washing his hands, Xie Zheng sat down on the stool. He was still wearing his scarlet official robes, which made him look very healthy, as if they were not very familiar a couple of years ago.
Song Chunxue thought to herself that she should be the one feeling guilty and embarrassed, so why did Lord Xie seem so nervous, rolling up his wide sleeves several times?
While pouring tea, some tea accidentally splashed onto the table, and the teacup lid was accidentally knocked over and rolled several times on the floor, but luckily it didn't break.
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