Chapter 59 Mo Denggao truly lives up to his wife's reputation.
With the help of the abbot, Jiang Geyun's abilities have been completely sealed. Now, she can't even summon her most basic natal fire.
Therefore, she originally thought she would no longer feel the sentiment of keeping to herself, after all, this "feeling" was not something unrelated to supernatural forces or strange phenomena.
But she did sense it.
Shouzhuo is always quiet and unassuming. It only becomes more active when it can casually drink a couple of sips of Jiang Geyun's blood. On ordinary days, it makes no move at all, and today is no exception.
Jiang Geyun had just swiftly cleaved the falling ever-burning lamp, and even the abbot behind him was saying, "Lord Jiang's skills are quite impressive." But who knew that the dagger in "Lord Jiang's" hand was still "sleeping," and after being "awakened," it even silently conveyed an emotion similar to "wanting to continue sleeping"...
This is really strange! Is anyone going to do something about it?!
Jiang Geyun was long past the age of communicating with inanimate objects as if they were alive—although she would still do so very occasionally. She knew the world in the book was special, but drawing hand seals and talismans was very different from feeling everyday objects conveying emotions. The latter was like being engrossed in playing on your phone when it suddenly says, "Stop playing, I'm a little tired..." It was bound to make her lose her composure.
Never mind, there are more crucial issues now, and this is not the time to dwell on this.
Jiang Geyun stared silently at the dagger in her hand for a long time, almost forgetting to reply to Abbot You's words.
Silence fell over the hall.
After a while, realizing something was wrong, Jiang Geyun turned around and said apologetically, "Thank you for reminding me, Abbot. I was distracted just now. I'm sorry."
Abbess You smiled nonchalantly, her manner amiable. She said, "What's there to apologize for? You've worked hard all day, you should rest now. Go back, don't worry about what's on the ground."
“It’s alright, I can clean it up quickly with the abbot, it’s just in time…” Jiang Geyun squatted down, picked up a fragment of the ever-burning lamp, and turned her gaze to meet the abbot’s. She said, “I also have something to ask the abbot.”
...
The abbot did not continue to push and pull with Jiang Geyun, and readily agreed to deal with it together. The two of them cleaned up the mess in no time.
As she finished, Abbot You picked up one of the fragments and carefully examined it to determine the owner of the ever-burning lamp. After a moment, she frowned slightly but ultimately said nothing.
Jiang Geyun had other things on her mind and didn't ask any questions about Abbot You's reaction. She just assumed that the abbot was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to see this ominous phenomenon, and was preparing to relight a lamp for that unfortunate fellow.
What she was struggling with was whether or not to hand over Shouzhuo to Master Youguan.
This is the thing that has been with her the longest since she came into this world, and it is also an important source of her sense of security.
For Jiang Geyun, handing it over was almost like taking off her safety rope to go bungee jumping.
Besides, it's related to the Cheng family. If it is indeed a strange object, Abbot You has decided to destroy it...
It only occasionally steals a little blood, so it's not really a bad thing, is it?
But if she doesn't hand it over, wouldn't all her efforts over the past few days be in vain?
"You just said," Abbot You put away the fragments and looked up to ask, "that you had a question for me?"
Jiang Geyun no longer hesitated and resolutely said, "Yes."
It's alright.
She was capable of protecting a dagger, and if Abbot You wanted to destroy it, she would naturally refuse, and she would have her own ways to do so.
The abbot pretended to listen attentively, signaling her to speak.
Jiang Geyun took Shou Zhuo off her waist, along with the scabbard.
She presented Shouzhuo to Abbot You with both hands and said, "I have gained nothing recently, which may be the reason. Abbot, please take a look and see if there is anything unusual?"
Master You took the gold from Shouzhuo, examined it carefully, and then exclaimed, "Gold born from fertile soil, its quality is superb!"
The scabbard, made of tortoiseshell, has a base color like amber or honey, with vivid patterns that resemble a sand painting with distinct layers. Overall, it is crystal clear and has a warm, smooth feel, making it truly a piece of exceptional quality.
Jiang Geyun was not surprised by this evaluation. After all, it came from Yunling Manor. Although the manor owner was not very good and his taste was not good either, the manor was owned by the Hua family, so there must be some good things inside.
Jiang Geyun herself had little interest in rare treasures. She always believed that once you see something, you can own it, and once it's gone, it's gone. After all, people can't truly possess anything; all they have are memories. Once you have memories, why bother with anything else?
Of course, the underlying reason might also be that she has to go all out and carefully plan for survival, so where would she find the energy to think about so many things?
But this hurt her too much.
She decided to choose the former as her reason.
After examining the scabbard, You Guan, the commander, drew the blade about an inch from the scabbard and began to examine the blade. In just a moment, her approving gaze turned into undisguised astonishment.
The abbot looked up and asked, "Where did Lord Jiang find this dagger?"
Jiang Geyun's heart skipped a beat.
She mumbled, "I happened to meet him on the way to the capital."
This is not a lie. Jiang Geyun did indeed "pass by" Yunling Manor on her way to the capital, and once again obtained Shouzhuo there.
Master You carefully sheathed Shouzhuo and handed it back to Jiang Geyun.
"To obtain such a divine weapon, Lord Jiang must have had a remarkable adventure. You must keep it safe."
Jiang Geyun took Shouzhuo and was puzzled for a moment.
She asked, "Doesn't the abbot think there's anything wrong with it?"
Even when she was in the hands of Abbot You, Jiang Geyun could still sense Shouzhuo's emotions. It wasn't someone telling her; there was no sound, no words, but the emotion, carried by some unknown force, quietly reached her chest and then spread.
It was clearly expressing that it wanted to come back and didn't want to leave Jiang Geyun.
This time, it was Abbess You's turn to look puzzled. She asked, "What is Lord Jiang trying to say? What's wrong?"
Jiang Geyun remained silent.
After a few seconds of pause, she smiled and explained, "The experience of obtaining Shouzhuo was quite miraculous. I'm worried that there might be some restrictions on it that I don't know about, so I'd like the Abbot to take a look. Thank you for your help!"
Abbot You smiled and shook his head, saying, "What's so difficult about that? No need for such formalities."
“However,” Jiang Geyun said, “I suspect that having it by my side is the reason the plan didn’t work, so…”
The abbot understood and said, "Does Lord Jiang want me to keep it safe for him?"
Jiang Geyun nodded and said, "That's exactly right."
After pondering for a moment, Abbot You said, "I don't mind, but Lord Jiang, if I were to have any designs on such a divine weapon..."
Jiang Geyun said without hesitation, "I believe in Abbot You."
What a joke! Abbot You could never be that kind of person.
Abbot You said, “I can certainly make a promise to Lord Jiang. However, while I can guarantee it, not everyone in this temple can uphold their principles. Lord Jiang, it would be best not to let him slip away.”
Jiang Geyun insisted, "Normally, I wouldn't easily hand it over to someone else, but this time I have a more important purpose. Don't you remember, Abbot? If I hadn't succeeded in eliminating the White-Clothed Ghost, countless more people would have suffered. Abbot, I really don't want Su Guang's tragedy to repeat itself..."
As she spoke, she looked at Abbot You with the utmost sincerity, hoping that this tactic would still work.
Yes, that was how she persuaded Abbot You before.
Old people are soft-hearted, and after a little coaxing, they finally agreed.
When Abbot You saw the familiar expression on Jiang Geyun's face, she sighed and shook her head. After a moment, she said, "How about this, I will keep it safe for you. I will return it to you as soon as the seal is lifted."
Jiang Geyun knew this was a rather unreasonable request.
Keeping someone else's belongings safe is a thankless and troublesome task, and the fact that Abbot You agreed already shows her a great deal of respect.
She immediately handed the still-warm Shouzhuo to Abbot You, saying, "I will remember your help, Abbot. If you ever need my help in the future, I will never refuse."
Abbot You sighed, "It's all for the sake of the people of Lianzhou."
After saying that, she took out a handkerchief from her bosom, wrapped Shouzhuo up in layers, and put it away.
This time, Shouzhuo was unusually lazy, and its emotions were very obvious. It was like a child being sent to school for the first time, with confusion, surprise, anger, and sadness playing out in turn. If it weren't for the fact that it didn't have a physical body, it probably would have clung to Jiang Geyun tightly and refused to let go.
As for Jiang Geyun?
Jiang Geyun is of course—
Like an "indifferent" parent, watching it being taken away.
Shouzhuo:......
After the matter was settled, Jiang Geyun left the temple set up for His Highness the Crown Prince and returned to her residence.
Her residence at Bailong Temple was very similar to that at Yunshui Temple, so she didn't have any problems adapting. However, now that Shouzhuo was gone and her abilities were completely sealed, she did feel extremely awkward.
Just to be on the safe side, she decided to sleep fully clothed.
Nightmares or demons...
When will you arrive?
...
On this day.
The spring breeze is gentle, and the willow branches sway lightly.
This is her favorite time of year, so it's perfectly normal for her to take a kite and fly it in the yard.
Unfortunately, her kite got caught on a tree branch in the yard.
A row of locust trees was planted along the edge of the yard. The locust trees were taller, and she hadn't paid attention to the height, so the kite got caught, which was perfectly normal.
She looked up at the tall locust tree and thought, "If only willows were planted here instead. Willows aren't very tall, and I could easily climb them."
But the locust tree is fine too.
She has always been a...
What kind of person was she again?
Oh, right!
She hugged the locust tree and quickly climbed up.
She was the youngest and most valued daughter of the Liu family, and had always been an outgoing and lively person.
Her restless heart settled down, and the kite that had slipped from her grasp returned to her hand. No matter how you looked at it, today was perfect.
She patted the kite, knocking the leaves off it.
She held the swallow-shaped kite in her hand and happily picked it up to examine it.
Satisfied with what she saw, she moved the kite aside and was about to bend down to climb down the tree when she saw a figure behind the kite.
A figure appeared outside the courtyard. Her view had been blocked by the raised kite, but when it was removed, she inadvertently met the eyes of the person looking up at her with a smile.
This person looks so familiar, haven't I seen him somewhere before?
She could never keep a secret, so she blinked and raised her voice curiously, "Which family's young master are you?"
Seeing that she didn't avoid him but instead took the initiative to ask a question, the young man was slightly surprised. He smiled and said something.
The wind seemed to suddenly pick up, and she couldn't hear his voice clearly.
However, she didn't care about that, because she remembered why the young man looked familiar—she had met him before.
That year on Qixi Festival, she went against the flow of people to find a lantern left at a stall, and bumped into him by chance.
She was in a hurry to find a lamp.
You know, if you write your wishes on a lantern and let it float down the river, your wishes might come true. At the very least, they might catch the eye of the gods, and maybe they'll remember you. After all, this is a special time for girls.
She hurriedly apologized to the young man she had bumped into, and rushed back to the stall to retrieve the lantern she had left behind.
The moment she picked up the lantern, she suddenly realized that she had actually memorized the young man's appearance with just a glance since the collision. Now, as she looked down at the lantern, she was no longer thinking about the original wish written on it.
What's going on?
She looked bewildered, carrying her lantern, and followed the crowd to release it.
She walked along, searching through the crowd.
Nothing was found.
Her maid found her and was scolding her angrily, but she responded with a laugh as before, though only she knew that there was a very subtle sense of loss in her heart.
Looking at the people under the courtyard wall, their faces, which had gradually faded in my memory since that day, suddenly became incredibly clear.
She hugged the kite tightly to her chest, making sure it no longer obstructed her view, and exclaimed with delight, "Wait, I remember now! It's you!"
Instinctively, she wanted to climb over the wall into the yard.
She could stand on the courtyard wall from a very short distance and then jump down.
She's in good health, quite agile, and unlikely to fall and get hurt.
But that won't work.
She knew she couldn't leave this courtyard.
Why?
For no particular reason, though she couldn't think of any specific one, she knew she couldn't leave and shouldn't ask any questions.
……wrong.
She thought to herself, "No, that's not right."
For a moment, everything fell still—the wind, the swaying leaves, the young master's smile outside the courtyard.
She vaguely heard a very low chuckle in her ear, followed by a seemingly random sentence—"As expected of my wife."
……What?
Everything before my eyes twisted in an instant, freezing from a vivid picture into blocks of color, like a dried-up spice dish, and then shattered into pieces, leaving nothing behind.
When she opened her eyes again, she saw herself in the bronze mirror with her hair styled in a woman's bun.
Has it been a long time?
She tilted her head, and the person in the mirror tilted their head as well.
Just then, the tightly closed door behind her was opened, and a figure appeared to her delight—it was the young master from the night of the lantern festival, under the courtyard wall!
She turned around abruptly, her hair ornaments swaying and making a soft rustling sound near her ear.
He seems unhappy.
His face was grim. He strode up to her, grabbed her arm, and said urgently, "You went out today? Did the Mu family see you?"
Her arms were gripped so tightly they hurt, and all she wanted to do was break free; she couldn't speak.
Seeing that she remained silent, he impatiently released her, shoved her back, and snapped, "Speak up!"
She carefully chose her words and said cautiously, "I didn't mean to, I wasn't discovered, I just wanted to see..."
"What's so interesting about this!" he shouted angrily.
She flinched in surprise.
Realizing this, his attitude softened. He half-squatted down in front of her, who had slid into the chair, and said gently, "Zhizhi, don't be anxious. I've told you before, you're the one I love most. It's just that the Mu family's help is very important to me. You can understand that, right, Zhizhi?"
She stammered, "I can, I know."
No. What is this saying?
His expression softened considerably, and he reached out to touch her cheek, but she instinctively flinched.
Ignoring her flinching, he forced his way onto her.
He cupped her face in his hands and said, "That's good, that's my good Zhizhi."
"But," she looked down at the person gazing at her tenderly, her hand touching the hand that cupped her cheek, and with her last glimmer of hope, she said, "I don't crave the position of the principal wife, [name omitted], could you please let me join the family first?"
The tenderness in his eyes turned into helplessness and exhaustion.
He withdrew his hand, stood up, and said coldly, "No, you know I simply can't do it right now. Haven't I explained it to you so many times already? Isn't that enough? Can't you understand me?"
After saying that, he sighed and turned to leave without looking back.
Tears kept welling up in her eyes.
Yes, no.
He also had his difficulties; he needed to climb up the ladder and achieve his own success in order to escape his father's control.
—What's wrong with that? When you really want to accomplish something, you're always thinking about how to do it, and you might even treat unrelated things as harbingers of success. You dedicate yourself wholeheartedly and give it your all. But now? You procrastinate, give a bunch of excuses, and say it's all wrong, that you just don't want to.
Huh? What?
What I saw before me solidified, compressed, and shattered once more.
...
She looked down and saw her white clothes being torn and ripped by the wind, making her look disheveled. She saw that if she went any further, there would be a bottomless abyss, a vast and magnificent mountain range, like red jade, which was the dowry of the eldest daughter of the Mu family.
Half of her foot was dangling in the air.
Let's take another step forward.
With just one step, you won't have to worry about anything anymore.
Let others regret, let others suffer, it's all irrelevant to her, irrelevant to her shattered dreams, irrelevant to the bruises covering her body.
She could no longer open her eyes; she could no longer bear it.
The cold night wind blew upwards from my feet.
Jiang Geyun shivered from the cold.
Driven by the unyielding chill, she opened her eyes.
—She was standing on top of the bell tower of Bailong Temple.
With toes dangling in the air, a very faint humming sound, produced by the fierce night wind blowing through the giant bell, came from behind, making one feel dazed for a moment, unsure whether the sound was real or if the humming in one's mind was affecting reality.
One more step forward and you'll fall and be smashed to pieces.
Jiang Geyun lowered her head and glanced down.
In the deepest, deepest darkness, only scattered lights could be seen at her feet, extremely distant and high up. The heavy darkness engulfed everything, including her.
Bailong Temple is built against the mountain, and its terrain is the same as the mountain. The bell tower has a special function and should be built at the highest point in the temple. With suitable terrain, the bell tower can perform much better than on flat ground.
If she were to fall, she would not only have to bear the weight of the clock tower itself, but also the drop caused by the towering mountain.
Jiang Geyun withdrew her gaze from below, her face expressionless.
I was lucky; I woke up in time.
As for memory?
It is riddled with flaws.
The other victims clearly had a longer transformation process, and their relatives and friends also gave corresponding testimonies regarding the changes in their personalities. So why was Jiang Geyun standing on this high place that night?
Who exactly is in such a hurry?
It seemed more like something else, rather than the white-clad ghost, wanted her dead.
In this case, the reliability of the memory is also compromised.
With such a weak effort, anyone who didn't know better would think that Shou Zhuo, a "left-behind child," had appeared to her in a dream.
Jiang Geyun remained motionless, not taking a single step back, standing silently in the boundless darkness.
Speaking of which, the feeling of being influenced by other souls is truly disgusting.
This "disgust" isn't directed at the white-clad ghost, but rather an objective feeling, like motion sickness—everything shouldn't be the way it is, yet it unfolds along that subtle path.
Whether you call it a sense of disconnection or a sense of rejection, there is no denying that she felt immense discomfort.
While she was immersed in it, all of this could be concealed, but once she broke free, a profound sense of discomfort overwhelmed her in an instant.
Some things cannot be examined closely or thought about in detail.
For some reason, she didn't feel this discomfort when she came to this world. Perhaps it was because she had many similarities with the original owner in terms of personality and experience, or perhaps the original owner had already disappeared.
However, she has also experienced being able to connect with other people's souls without feeling uncomfortable.
Not long ago, in Cheng Xi's sea of consciousness.
Jiang Geyun thought of the immense pain he felt at the time, having restrained himself to the extreme.
He is not someone who likes to show his pain, so the fact that he would show this side of himself in front of her suggests that the pain he actually feels is only greater than it is.
It seems he really did his best to protect her.
In this eerie and terrifying scene, at this critical juncture, her heart suddenly softened, and she thought that she should resolve this matter as soon as possible.
There was an unusual sound in the wind behind me.
It suddenly stopped.
Jiang Geyun did not turn around.
At this highest point, the deep blue-clad girl was almost hidden in the deep black night, with only a single glimmer of light emerging from the golden patterns on her clothes, making her seem like a deity in the dark night.
She said softly, "This kind of altered thing..."
The wind was still.
Jiang Geyun didn't move her feet, but turned around and looked at the darkness behind her and a figure in white. She smiled and said, "You're still a long way from taking my life. Keep trying."
A sudden gust of wind arose and swept in!
-----------------------
Author's Note: This is just constant provocation!
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We've done our best today! We've burned our last drop! Adults, please enjoy watching!
The ending of the previous chapter has been revised, with about 300 new words added. You can take a look again; only the ending has been updated with details about how Yun discovered Shouzhuo's problem. [Applause]
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