Soul Devouring Array - 2
The small grave stood quietly on a sheltered corner of the hillside, covered with the last mound of earth. There was no tombstone; only a small wild orchid was moved beside it.
Ji Wang first went to see Xun Jing and the others, and after learning that there was nothing wrong, he told them to rest early before returning to his room and quietly closing the door.
On the table in front of Bu Jiu were several dried and curled leaves, each with a few small, slightly blurry claw marks clearly imprinted on it.
Those were marks left by a young fox accidentally stepping on freshly fallen leaves while playing, the sap staining the leaves. Now the leaves are withered and fragile, but those claw marks are still clearly visible.
These were clearly not recent finds. They had been preserved all along, and were only taken out tonight in this state of mind.
Ji Wang didn't ask about the origin of the leaves; he simply sat down beside her and covered Bu Jiu's hand, which was resting on his knee.
He didn't know how much time had passed until the lamp flame popped softly. Only then did Bu Jiu seem startled by the subtle sound, his eyelashes fluttering.
His gaze finally shifted from the tiny paw prints on the withered leaves to Ji Wang's hand covering him, and he slowly inserted his fingers between Ji Wang's fingers.
“…Every few years, I go back to visit.” Bu Jiu suddenly spoke up. “I also have enemies, and I’m afraid of implicating them, so I rarely get close. I just check from afar to see if the tribe is safe and sound, and if the newborns are lively.”
"Wanlai was the most mischievous one in that den. The first time he tried to leave the den, he rolled around in mud and grass seeds, and was dragged back by the scruff of his neck by his mother fox, his four little legs still kicking wildly in the air."
His lips twitched slightly, like a smile that failed to take shape: "These leaves were picked up last late autumn when I passed by the woods where they used to play. I didn't intend to keep them; I just brought them back casually."
Ji Wang listened and asked in a low voice, "Anything else? About them... anything you remember, you can tell me."
It wasn't a question, but an invitation. An invitation for him to share a portion of those memories that were so heavy they almost crushed him, so that the two of them could bear them together.
Bu Jiu seemed touched by these words. He kept his eyes down, staring at the blurry claw marks on the withered leaves.
It wasn't until Ji Wang called his name again that he spoke: "There's another one... with really big ears that are always standing up high. At the slightest sound, it gets all its fur standing on end, like a little ball of fluff. Wan Lai always likes to pounce on it from behind, scaring it so much that it jumps up and then rolls around on the ground, as if it's laughing."
“In the years you were away, I once stayed there for a day in the spring. There was a kind of tiny white wildflower in that wood. They especially liked to put their noses close to it to smell it, and then sneeze, one after another, so silly.”
“The mother fox kept a close watch on them and wouldn’t let them go near the water. But one time I still saw from afar that Wanlai, taking advantage of the mother fox’s inattention, used his claws to try to scoop up some shiny pebbles in the stream. After trying for a long time without success, he got angry and growled at the water, splashing water all over his face.”
As he was talking, for some reason, his usually dry eyes suddenly stung with tears.
The sorrow came overwhelmingly and unfamiliarly; the withered leaves, claw marks, and Ji Wang's hand holding his all blurred into shimmering spots of light in his vision.
He blinked hastily, trying to suppress the weak wetness, but the more he tried to control it, the more uncontrollably the heat surged out of his eyes.
He turned his head and pressed his forehead against Ji Wang's shoulder to cover his disheveled face. His other free hand gripped Ji Wang's sleeve tightly, his knuckles turning white.
There was no crying, only suddenly heavy and suppressed breathing, and his shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
The moment he leaned closer, Ji Wang wrapped his arms around him, patting his back with one hand and stroking the back of his head with the other—a gesture of complete acceptance and protection: "Is it Ling Gu?"
"Yes. Only those of the same kind, carrying similar but not entirely identical auras, can make those cubs lower their guard at the very beginning." Speaking of this, Bu Jiu suppressed his grief.
Ling Gu's act of using the instincts of his own kind to carry out such an act of extermination undoubtedly touched a raw nerve: "I must kill him with my own hands."
Ji Wang knew that any advice about taking things slowly was futile at this point. He sighed softly, "But I'm equally afraid of losing you. If something really happens to you, I'm afraid I'll disregard everything and just want to go with you."
Then, he changed the subject: "But I can't really abandon Huaiqing and those disciples who have just gathered. This is a responsibility, a burden that we both bear together."
"So, you really have the heart to watch me live the rest of my life torn apart like this? On one hand, there's endless pain and the mad thought of following you; on the other hand, there's the responsibility I have to shoulder and countless expectant eyes?"
"Can you really bear to let me suffer endless torment from you, day and night, without peace?"
The scenario described by Ji Wang was more powerful than any direct words in stopping Bu Jiu's absurd idea.
He couldn't deny every word Ji Wang said, because it was also what he feared most deep down.
Just as Bu Jiu was pondering how to respond, Ji Wang made the final decision: "Back in the waterfall cave, I said I would take action."
Ji Wang calmly analyzed, "Ling Gu dared to act this way because he must be relying on the backlash curse of killing his own kind. He calculated that you couldn't kill him with your own hands, otherwise you would be severely injured. This precisely shows that he didn't come alone, he must have had helpers. His target has never been just that cub, but you, or rather, me."
The revenge has transformed from a simple matter of life for life into a perilous situation that requires utmost caution at every step.
Bu Jiu nodded, supporting himself on Ji Wang's arm, trying to straighten up to answer. However, the moment he looked up, his gaze met Ji Wang's reddened eyes.
"You?" Bu Jiu lifted Ji Wang's wet cheeks and gently wiped away her tears. "Why are you crying?"
Ji Wang didn't flinch, but instead turned her head and pressed her cheek even deeper into Bu Jiu's palm: "I'm scared. Just imagining you being attacked makes my skin freeze and hurt so much I can't breathe."
He grabbed Bu Jiu's hand and pressed it against his chest, where he felt a rapid, heavy heartbeat.
Just as Bu Jiu was about to offer some words of comfort, he heard Ji Wang sniffle, trying to regain some of his usual tone, and complain in a muffled voice, "Alright, alright... stop rubbing, or your skin will break."
He wiped his face haphazardly: "I'm a sect leader now, how can I act like this, crying and sobbing like this?"
Bu Jiu did not let go; instead, he rolled up his sleeves and gently wiped Ji Wang's slightly swollen eyelids with the softest fabric: "What's wrong, Sect Leader? You're only nineteen in this life."
He remembered that Ji Wang was once the Cloud Recesses Daoist who looked down on all living beings, but now, at nineteen years old, he was afraid, he shed tears, he depended on others, and he loved others without reservation. What was wrong with that?
Ji Wang was stunned by his words. Her carefully maintained "leader's composure" completely collapsed, and tears welled up in her eyes again. She pouted and muttered, "How did you end up comforting me..."
He was supposed to be the one to calm Bu Jiu down, who was on the verge of collapse. Instead, he ended up crying uncontrollably and had all his vulnerabilities hit by a single sentence from the other person.
Just as he was about to get his revenge, a knock sounded at the door: "Bujiu, Xiaobao? May I come in?"
Ji Wang quickly took a few deep breaths, trying to make his voice sound normal: "Please come in."
Huaiqing pushed open the door and entered, carrying a heavy-looking package in her hand.
“I’ve heard everything from Xun Jing,” Huai Qing said bluntly. “Given Bu Jiu’s personality, he’ll probably set off tonight to chase after him. I’m afraid if I come to find you any later, it will really be too late to explain.”
As he spoke, he untied the package and took out the contents one by one:
"These wound medicines are potent but fast-acting. They can be used both externally and internally. I have written down the instructions for use."
"This stack of talismans has functions for exorcising evil spirits, breaking through obstacles, protecting oneself, and concealing oneself. Although it is not as high-level as the ones you draw, it has the advantage of being comprehensive in variety, so it is for emergencies. It was just drawn by your fellow disciples and a few new disciples."
"These few small magical artifacts were collected by Xun Jing, Gui Tiao, and You Hang, who said they might come in handy."
He then took out several oil paper packages: "Dried rations and water pouches, they keep well and keep you full. Xiao He and the demons made them quickly, saying, 'Only when you're full will you have the strength to beat up bad guys.' And this too..."
Huaiqing finally picked up a fist-sized, bluish-black stone with natural patterns: "Shi Jian just gave this to me. He said it had been soaking in the spring with the most spiritual energy in the back mountain for a hundred years. He doesn't know exactly what it's for, but he thinks it can keep you safe and told me to take it with me."
The small tabletop was soon piled with all sorts of items, from different people, races, and sects, yet they had all come together at this moment.
Huaiqing looked at these things, then looked up at Ji Wang and Bu Jiu, and sighed: "I know I can't persuade you, and I can't stop you. We will guard this part of the valley well, the formation will be activated to the maximum, and everyone will be on high alert. You must be careful in everything you do."
He pointed at Bu Jiu: "Especially you, you should know whether your injury has healed or not. Don't be reckless."
Then he pointed at Ji Wang: "And you, Sect Leader, take care of yourself. You only have one life."
Ji Wang looked at the pile of heartfelt gifts on the table and nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, we've got it."
Seeing this, Huaiqing knew that further instructions would be useless, so she changed the subject and complained, "Come to think of it, why is it always me who stays behind and holds the fort at times like this? I wish I could..."
Before he could finish speaking, Bu Jiu interrupted him: "Because your medical skills and array formations are the best, and your adaptability is also comprehensive. In protecting the foundation and treating the wounded, no one can surpass you."
He stated the facts: "Once we go out, the rear must not be in chaos, and there must be someone in charge of the rescue efforts."
Ji Wang quickly chimed in, "That's right, Huaiqing. With you looking after everyone, Bujiu and I can be without any worries."
Huaiqing was rendered speechless by the two people's combination of calm analysis and emotional blackmail.
He snorted irritably, but most of the resentment on his face disappeared: "Alright, alright, you guys always have so many reasons."
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