When Rong Shu arrived at the main hall, the person who was rumored to be "buying a spirit body" was already waiting there.
Dressed in a scholar's robe, he looked quite refined, but just by looking at his back, one could tell that he was a mortal from the human realm.
Rong Shu narrowed her eyes and sized him up. For some reason, what rose in her heart was not the usual pleasure of collecting money and treasures, but rather... anger.
He clearly loves all money and treasures, and he should be able to settle accounts with his customers, but he feels as if a huge stone is pressing on his heart, making him feel depressed and restless.
Hearing footsteps behind him, the scholar-like man turned around and was taken aback when he saw the young man in front of him. He was probably surprised that the owner of Qianjin Tower was so young, but he quickly recovered and bowed: "Greetings, Master. My name is Jie Changfeng."
Rong Shu stared at him, silent, her inner turmoil almost bursting forth.
I've heard people from the mortal realm mention Jie Changfeng before. They say he's known as "the Zhuge Liang of the mortal world" because he's very knowledgeable, but unfortunately, he was born with a useless mortal body.
"Master?" Xie Changfeng asked again when Rong Shu did not respond.
Rong Shu snapped out of her daze, stared at him for a long while, and then suddenly laughed: "You've come to ask for a spirit body?"
Xie Changfeng nodded: "Exactly."
Rong Shu's gaze turned cold, but the smile on her lips grew even brighter. She then stood up and walked to the main seat, casually picking up the pearl from the tea tray and playing with it: "Do you know how much that spirit is worth?"
Xie Changfeng nodded again: "Naturally, one million spirit stones."
Rong Shu tightened his grip on Mingzhu, his expression growing even more grim. He casually glanced at Xie Changfeng's thin frame and said, "Qianjinlou does not offer credit."
A million spirit stones would require plundering or even massacring two major cultivation sects to gather; he didn't believe that a mere mortal could accomplish this.
Xie Changfeng paused for a moment, then said honestly, "I do not have a million spirit stones."
Rong Shuben loosened his grip on Mingzhu slightly, a sense of relief washing over him. He lazily stood up and said, "See the guest out..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xie Changfeng hurriedly took two steps forward and shouted, "I can use something else to pay for the spirit stones."
Rong Shu paused, glanced at him sideways, and gave a mocking smile: "Which part of your body do you think is worth a million spirit stones?"
Jie Changfeng pursed his lips: "For hundreds of years, those chosen to succeed as the head of Qianjin Tower have not been bound by the Yin and Yang of the Three Realms, and have never experienced human warmth. Naturally, they can never have offspring or children."
Rong Shu's body suddenly stiffened, and she finally turned around to look at Xie Changfeng. After a long while, she smiled knowingly: "I've heard that mortals call you 'the strategist in the galaxy'?"
Jie Changfeng didn't understand, but he still nodded.
Rong Shu nodded: "You may continue."
Xie Changfeng took a deep breath: "I once saw a method in an ancient book that can restore a person's vitality. Even a wooden figure can be made to function like a human. You, the host, can be made to be human again."
Rong Shu's gaze suddenly sharpened as he stared intently at Xie Changfeng. After a moment, he chuckled softly, "That could indeed be worth hundreds of thousands of spirit stones." As he said this, his throat tightened slightly, "Young Master Xie, what method do you have?"
Jie Changfeng lowered his eyes: "The matter of the spirit body..."
Rong Shu paused slightly with her fingers: "Qianjinlou has always checked the money before inspecting the goods. If Young Master Jie is unwilling, please leave."
Jie Changfeng's face paled, and he suddenly took two steps forward: "Bai Ming Quan."
"Um?"
“The Hundred-Ming Spring is a heavenly spring. If one can exchange blood with another person in the Hundred-Ming Spring, one can be reborn as a human.” Xie Changfeng paused before adding, “However, the person exchanging blood must be willing to do so.”
Rong Shu remained silent for a long time, then let out a sarcastic laugh: "Are there still people in this world who are willing to be anything other than human?"
After saying that, he turned to leave.
"Master..." Xie Changfeng was about to say something more.
A ball of bright fire mixed with malevolence suddenly struck at his feet from Rong Shu's palm.
Xie Changfeng stopped in his tracks, his face turning deathly pale.
“I told you,” Rong Shu smiled warmly, “that it’s worth hundreds of thousands of spirit stones, and there are still hundreds of thousands left over.”
The moment she turned around, the smile on her face vanished, her lips tightened, her ponytail swayed slightly behind her, and even her back view conveyed panic and hidden anger.
Rong Shu's pace slowed down only after she returned to the rear hall.
What's wrong with him?
It seems something's been off ever since I heard someone came seeking a spirit, and now it's getting even weirder.
Reluctant to part with it?
The thought popped into Rong Shu's mind, and she was startled. "Really?"
He spoke softly, not as a question, but as a murmur.
"Rong Shu!" A woman's soft, cheerful voice suddenly called out to him from ahead.
Rong Shu suddenly came to his senses and looked ahead. Jiang Fei was running out of his palace and jogging towards him. The white veil on her body fluttered like smoke and mist, like a ball of extremely warm light.
Rong Shu's eyes glazed over for a moment.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Fei leaned closer to him, her eyes crinkling slightly. "You went out early this morning?"
At this point, her cheeks flushed slightly, "I accidentally fell asleep last night..."
Rong Shu looked at her flushed cheeks and her obviously shy smiling eyes, and his heart suddenly stirred. The heat that had been surging in his heart when she embraced him last night swept over him again.
Rong Shu's breath hitched, and she quickly lowered her eyes and smiled faintly: "It's alright."
"By the way, it's still a bit chilly outside. You should go inside quickly; the guards have already lit the brazier."
As Jiang Fei spoke, she reached out and pulled him towards the hall.
Her hands were warm, and the contrast was particularly striking when they touched his body.
“Feifei,” Rong Shu suddenly spoke.
Jiang Fei was puzzled.
"The porridge I had last night was quite good. Could you please make me another bowl?"
"Really?" Jiang Fei's eyes lit up, then she nodded. "Of course."
After saying that, he glanced at their clasped hands and said, "Go inside and wait for me."
Rong Shu nodded.
Only after her figure disappeared did Rong Shu turn around and return to the hall, sitting on a stone chair and tapping the table lightly with her hand.
After a long while, he took out a water mirror from his sleeve and casually twirled it in his palm.
It must be said that Xie Changfeng's words were very important to him.
The allure of being reborn as a human being, no longer being a lifeless "object," was too great for him.
Baimingquan, a blood transfusion...
There are also people willing to undergo blood transfusions.
Are there really people in this world who are willing to be anything other than human beings?
He didn't believe it.
Rong Shu suddenly grabbed the water mirror that was spinning in her palm, and after a long while picked it up and lightly tapped the surface of the mirror.
The mirror surface rippled like water, and then a familiar background slowly appeared: the kitchen of Qianjinlou, and a woman watching the bubbling porridge inside.
Jiang Fei.
Rong Shu panicked and abruptly slammed the water mirror upside down on the table.
Is it her?
"The porridge is here!" A soft voice called from outside the door after some time.
Rong Shu still looked dazed. She took the porridge and was about to put it in her mouth when she was stopped.
"I've told you so many times, it's hot!" Jiang Fei looked at him helplessly. "Even though your body is cold, it still hurts when you get burned."
As she spoke, she took the spoon, and just like last night, scooped up a spoonful of porridge, blew on it, and brought it to his lips: "Open your mouth."
Rong Shu looked at her, obeyed her movements, and opened her mouth to drink.
Although he was greedy for money, he knew better than anyone else that "for money" meant his life was far more important than wealth.
After finishing the bowl of porridge, the two remained silent.
It wasn't until Jiang Fei put the jade porcelain bowl aside that Rong Shu suddenly spoke up: "Have you grown tired of staying at Qianjin Tower these past few days?"
"Hmm?" Jiang Fei looked at him in confusion, then smiled with narrowed eyes, "Why are you suddenly asking that?"
"How about we go out for a trip?"
"Are you going too?" Jiang Fei asked, looking at him.
Rong Shu was taken aback. He had expected her to ask "Where are you going?", but she only asked "Will he go?"
“…Of course.” He nodded.
Jiang Fei's eyes lit up: "Okay!"
It was as if, no matter where he was, she would follow him to the ends of the earth, even if it meant going through fire and water.
Rong Shu gazed at her.
He needs to think things through carefully along the way.
Think about it carefully.
...
Wunian Mountain.
Tang Feiyan stood atop the mountain, staring intently at the distant clouds and mist.
She had been waiting here for three days, clinging to only the faintest hope in her heart.
She could never forget the day she said, "Miss Jiang was taken away by Rong Shu," and how moved her master was. Even her master, who had never left the mountain since his tribulation, said that he would personally go to ask for the medicine.
He said that when he was in the human world, he had a debt to repay, and once he finished repaying it, that would be the end of it.
Her master, who was always aloof and superior, went to ask for medicine for her, but she felt no joy whatsoever; instead, she was filled with panic.
Because, in her master's eyes, she saw a hint of nervousness and anticipation about going to Qianjin Tower.
She actually had a vague idea of the answer, but... she just didn't dare to believe it.
Miss Jiang once said that she never intended to address him as her master.
In Miss Jiang's heart, Yun Wunian is Yun Wunian, and her master is her master.
But what about Master? Can he really separate them?
The clouds and mist were churning ahead.
Tang Feiyan suddenly came to her senses and immediately saw Yun Jue riding the wind, his white robes fluttering, looking like a banished immortal, flying straight towards her.
Tang Feiyan's eyes brightened slightly, but she was stunned when she saw Yun Jue's overly pale face and the morning dew covering his shoulders: "Master, are you injured?"
"No." Yun Jue's voice was hoarse, yet deathly still. He waved his sleeve, and a bunch of snow lotuses flew toward Tang Feiyan. "This can help you stabilize your spiritual root." After speaking, he was about to return to his senses and leave.
"Master!" Tang Feiyan suddenly spoke, a sharp pain shooting through her dantian. She coughed, mustering her last bit of courage, "You saw Miss Jiang, didn't you?"
Yun Jue's back was stiff.
Last night, in the palace, the ambiguous whispers between Jiang Fei and Rong Shu resurfaced, causing his robes to flutter wildly.
Tang Feiyan's eyes darkened, but she still forced a smile: "Master, you've repaid Miss Jiang's debt, haven't you?"
From now on, does that mean I can stop seeing Miss Jiang?
Yun Jue's fingertips trembled.
Paying off debts?
He did indeed have to repay it, only in order to completely let go of that memory from the human world.
Jiang Fei also told him to let go.
In the end, it was he who couldn't let go of the past and was still attached to the human world!
"Once you've recovered, go and cultivate in your uncle's hall," Yun Jue said calmly.
But only he knew that he was taking his anger out on others.
Tang Feiyan turned pale with shock: "Master doesn't want me anymore?"
Yun Jue did not respond and flew away.
Tang Feiyan followed a few steps, her voice mournful: "If Master doesn't want me, why did you ask for the snow lotus for me today? Why didn't you bring the forgetfulness item so that your disciple could give up completely?"
Yun Jue did not stop, and went straight back to the palace.
But as he stepped into the mysterious gate shrouded in clouds and mist, he paused.
Something that makes one forget emotions.
There is a pill for forgetting love in Qianjin Tower.
Jiang Fei's tone was indifferent when mentioning the past, yet she was unusually intimate with Rong Shu.
An idea began to form in my mind.
—Jiang Fei took the Forgetfulness Pill.
Yun Jue's breath was icy cold, and his fingertips trembled.
If that's the case, wouldn't it be better if she forgot about her past relationship?
The past ten years in the human world were like a dream to him, and also the past to her.
Just right.
Yun Jue entered the palace and sat amidst the swirling clouds, trying his best to calm his mind.
But time flew by, and he grew increasingly anxious.
Is it really okay?
Is it really okay for Jiang Fei to be intimate with others but ask him to let go?
“Xiao Wunian…” A voice, both sighing and teasing, sounded in his ears.
Yun Jue suddenly raised his eyes, stood up in a daze after a long while, and looked at the clouds and mist in the distance.
In the next instant, his figure disappeared into Wunian Mountain.
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