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墨書 Inktalez
“Xu You, are you doing well?”
As midnight approached, Xu Xiaofei walked alone down a secluded alley when someone suddenly appeared and blocked his path.
Who else could it be but Tang Xuan Zhu?
He was dressed in a dark blue long robe, with bamboo leaf patterns embroidered in silver thread on the front. A smile played at the corners of his mouth, giving him an ethereal appearance.
Even his eyes seemed to sparkle with a lively spirit.
Upon seeing him, Xu Xiaofei felt no joy at the reunion.
“Aren't you supposed to be back at the Tang family for your retreat? What are you doing here?”
Tang Xuan Zhu smiled and said, “The retreat can wait; I had to find you first. Friend, I never expected that not only do you sound like him, but you also look almost exactly like the young version of him.” As he spoke, he looked Xu Xiaofei up and down, “What a surprise. It’s as if he has come back to life and is standing right in front of me again.” His voice was filled with nostalgia.
Xu Xiaofei replied irritably, “He’s still alive!”
After learning the truth about Spirit Sword Destiny, he indeed felt a pang of jealousy. However, he couldn't harbor resentment towards Shen Jinglan. Every time he thought of this person, all that welled up inside him was sympathy and concern.
Tang Xuan Zhu slowly shook his head. “Though he is alive, in my heart, he is no different from dead. I was forced by circumstances to deal with him; I even destroyed my own Divine Consciousness for him and secluded myself for many years... He should have understood my predicament and been considerate! Back then, even when others offended him, he would just throw a tantrum and it would be fine after some coaxing. The current Shen Jinglan is nothing but a cold-hearted demon; he is no longer the person he used to be.” He looked intently at Xu Xiaofei, “Since he refuses to accept the Earthly Extreme Pill, I might as well take it myself; it could help make up for the sixty years of stagnation in my cultivation.”
His boldness made Xu Xiaofei feel a chill in his heart. He forced a smile and said, “I think you're not blind; he's the one who's blind. Otherwise, how could he consider you a ‘good’ friend?”
He began to step back, summoned his Flying Sword, and turned to flee on his sword.
His treasures were all lost, and this sword was given to him by Spirit Sword Destiny, of excellent quality.
Behind him, the faint sound of Xiao Sound echoed again.
Hearing the flapping sounds near his ears, Xiao Sound scattered into several white cranes, charging towards him.
Xu Xiaofei summoned another sword, and the sword energy spun like a crescent moon, shattering all the white cranes. The fragmented white cranes, however, quickly reformed, continuously multiplying and surrounding him heavily.
The Flute Music shifted from soft to mournful, and the Crane Flock suddenly let out a collective cry, turning their bodies and diving down. The void shimmered with rippling light as the Crane Flock plunged into an invisible Water Wave, causing the parts that did not enter to immediately vanish.
Then, Xu Xiaofei felt his Spatial Technique rapidly slowing down. Ripples began to spread beneath his feet, as if he were stepping on a Water Surface.
His Divine Consciousness perceived a lotus pond forming from condensed Sound Waves. The clear and bright pond water, infused with spiritual energy, appeared slightly viscous. Similarly transparent Lotus Leaves and budding flowers emerged from beneath the water, growing higher and denser, filling the entire pond.
The Water Flow was also rising; below his ankles was submerged in water, no wonder he was flying slower and slower.
Carp leaped out of the Water Surface, sending up a spray of sparkling droplets that cascaded towards his body.
The distant and soft Flute Music continued. As long as the Flute Music persisted, the lotus pond would grow and expand. The lotus flowers pulled from the Water Surface bloomed in succession, with a hint of crimson faintly appearing on their colorless petals.
This was the Sound Wave Domain formed by Flute Music—Music Pool!
Xu Xiaofei swept his sword energy around him for protection, shredding the Carp that lunged at him and nearby clusters of Lotus Leaves.
The School of Fish and Lotus Leaf shattered, instantly transforming into a liquid melody that drenched him, causing his movements to slow even further.
His next strike was slightly delayed, and a fish that had slipped past him burrowed into his chest, exploding immediately into a torrent of violent sound waves! Xu Xiaofei felt a jolt through his body, his ears ringing, and darkness clouded his vision; he nearly spat out blood.
If he could not escape this Music Pool, it would soon become his burial ground.
Tang Xuan Zhu quietly appeared not far ahead, standing at the heart of a blooming water-colored lotus, his robes fluttering as he played the flute leisurely. There was a mocking glint in his eyes.
The Sound Wave Domain resembled a fragmented land, and he was its master, controlling everything.
At that moment, an overwhelming surge of Water Elemental Spiritual Power erupted from Xu Xiaofei, transforming into three massive Water Dragons that roared and soared, shaking the surroundings. The Water Dragons darted in and out of the lotus pond, creating chaos. One of them swiftly lunged out, its mouth wide open, instantly swallowing Tang Xuan Zhu into its rolling azure belly.
Blocking Xu Xiaofei's path, Spirit Sword Destiny also stood on the back of one Water Dragon, revealing its form.
With a faint smile, it said, "You fell for it."
Around them, the formation radiated with brilliance, and the members of the Evil Sect emerged with drawn swords.
It was over.
Spirit Sword Destiny felt a surge of blood rising in its chest. A line of blood trickled from its shoulder, staining its pristine garments red. It pressed a hand against the wound but maintained a calm expression. This injury was mixed with sharp Sound Waves that rolled like blades within; ordinary methods would be ineffective for healing, but after resting for a few days, it would pose no issue.
Tang Xuan Zhu's final desperate attack was indeed somewhat troublesome! Fortunately, it could still be endured. At this moment, the man surnamed Tang had been stripped of his cultivation and imprisoned; Spirit Sword Destiny planned to "properly" entertain him.
Not far away, Xu Xiaofei stepped in front of him and took out a white cloth to bandage him up. He had also sustained internal injuries, his face pale, but he didn't seem to care about his own condition.
After finishing the bandaging, Xu Xiaofei looked up, her loose hair brushing back as she did so. She glanced at Spirit Sword Destiny and suddenly smiled. A few jade-colored pills were now in her palm; she swallowed two herself and then stuffed the remaining ones into Spirit Sword Destiny's mouth without hesitation.
Spirit Sword Destiny couldn't dodge in time; her warm palm had already covered his lips before she withdrew her hand.
The pills dissolved instantly upon entering his mouth, releasing a fragrant aroma with a hint of sweetness, and they weren't difficult to swallow.
"What did you feed me?" he asked.
Xu Xiaofei looked at him, her smile growing wider. "It's nothing, just a healing medicine."
Seeing Spirit Sword Destiny's skeptical expression, she leaned closer to his ear and whispered, "Let me tell you a secret. This is indeed healing medicine, no doubt about it. However, it was specially refined by Elder Yang Zhen for me. Besides healing, I don't even know what other effects it might have."
Spirit Sword Destiny was taken aback by her words.
Xu Xiaofei smiled with great satisfaction.
A cloud of golden flowers, Ruiyun, flew into the Absolute Sect Branch in Jinping City and gently descended into the back garden.
The back garden was serene, with a grove of bamboo and flourishing flowers and trees surrounding a babbling stream.
Shen Jinglan and Shaoyuan stepped down from Ruiyun, standing on the stone-paved ground.
No one noticed their arrival. They came concealed and restrained, using Shen Jinglan's methods, so even the highest-ranked Spirit Sword Destiny in the Branch could not detect them.
"Spirit Sword Destiny's Illusion Technique seems quite impressive! When did he learn it?" the hidden Shaoyuan exclaimed.
Naturally, the sound was isolated by Shen Jinglan, and only the two of them could hear it.
Shen Jinglan was also observing the two people in the courtyard.
Two Ducks were squabbling, making a constant "quack quack" noise.
They were still ducklings, with tender yellow beaks and covered not in feathers but in dull gray down. One of the mallards was particularly round and fierce. It spread its wings and chased the other one, which hurriedly ducked its head and ran away.
Shen Jinglan sighed with a smile, "This Illusion Technique is indeed quite good."
Originally, there was a hint of melancholy deep in his eyes, but at that moment, seeing the scene in the garden, it seemed to melt away like ice and snow.
After watching with interest for a while, he slowly said, "I used to think duck meat had a strong gamey taste and was hard to eat; only roasted duck with crispy skin was somewhat acceptable. But now..."
Shaoyuan asked, "Now what?"
Shen Jinglan smiled and said, "Now I find Ducks quite adorable."
As soon as he finished speaking, he lifted the concealment and appeared alongside Shaoyuan in the void.
The two ducks seemed to be momentarily stunned.
Shen Jinglan did not bend down to pick them up, nor did he make any gestures of casting a spell. He casually reached out and grabbed one duck in each hand.
These two were definitely not the type to be treated as real ducks, but upon encountering Shen Jinglan, they obediently closed their mouths and stayed quietly in his hands.
It was quite difficult to distinguish between the two ducks based on appearance, but it was easy to sense the fluctuations of spiritual power within them—one was a flowing water element, while the other exuded a sharp sword aura.
Shen Jinglan looked at one and said, "Xu Xiaofei, you really are a talented child." Then he glanced at the other, which looked a bit fierce, and added, "This is the first time I've seen such a inkstone."
The duck that had transformed from Xu Xiaofei squatted in his palm and quacked in response.
The healing potion from Yang Zhen had a phantasm effect that finally weakened after half a day, allowing them to revert back to human form.
Before that, any transformation technique would have been ineffective due to its overwhelming nature.
Shen Jinglan did not offer any help. He comfortably sat down with a cup of tea beside him, watching as Spirit Sword Destiny's fluffy form hid behind a tree. However, no matter how much it tried to hide, it was still within the range of his Divine Consciousness.
After transforming back to its original form, Spirit Sword Destiny still felt a bit shy and avoided Shen Jinglan's gaze several times.
Shen Jinglan's sudden visit caught it off guard.
Xu Xiaofei, on the other hand, was much more composed. Whether human or duck made no difference to him. He cupped his fists in salute towards Shen Jinglan, openly expressing his curiosity and inquiry towards this leader of the demonic sect.
"Follow me." Shen Jinglan said directly without any pleasantries.
He stood up and led the way, bringing Xu Xiaofei into a room at the end of the garden.
The interior was elegantly furnished. They sat facing each other on two cushions.
Xu Xiaofei spoke first, "Thank you, Sect Leader, for intervening at Spirit Serpent Palace and saving my life."
"No need to thank me," Shen Jinglan replied lightly. "You were in danger because of me in the first place."
He continued, "I noticed you have made progress with the technique I transmitted to you. If there are any unresolved questions, let me know now."
Xu Xiaofei nodded. After a moment of contemplation, she clearly listed her questions one by one. Shen Jinglan answered each of them in turn.
Although this was only their second meeting, there was an unspoken understanding between them.
A level of understanding that many people might never achieve in their lifetime.
After a stick of incense had burned down, Shen Jinglan asked, "Is everything clear now?"
"Yes, it's clear," Xu Xiaofei replied.
Shen Jinglan's eyes showed approval. From her questions, he recognized Xu Xiaofei's exceptional talent. In his time, he had been praised as a rare genius; Xu Xiaofei seemed to be no less than him.
"This cultivation method you should be able to master. You promised me that once you succeed, you would come to join me in the Evil Sect," Shen Jinglan said. "When you arrive, assist Spirit Sword Destiny well. Although he is clever and capable, he has some shortcomings. When I am not around, he will struggle alone."
Xu Xiaofei nodded seriously and said, "I will. I will do my best to support him."
They looked at each other... and saw understanding and trust in each other's eyes.
Where this trust came from, no one knew, but it undeniably existed.
"Very good." Shen Jinglan looked at him and suddenly smiled, "I really want to know who you are."
He resembled him, like his younger self, even sharing a similar temperament... However, his own youth had already taken away his health, never to return.
Xu Xiaofei also smiled and said, "To be honest, I also want to know who I am."
He gazed at Shen Jinglan and continued, "By the way, may I ask you something? Did you... back in the day, have any romantic affairs or anything like that?"
"No."
Shen Jinglan anticipated his question and answered straightforwardly.
He smiled wryly: "Back then, it wasn't that I didn't understand anything; I was just deeply immersed in the sword path and enjoyed making friends. Aside from friends, swords, and wine, I had no leisure to think about anything else. I never entertained such thoughts."
"I see." Xu Xiaofei murmured, "Actually, that's what I thought too."
Not only Tang Xuan Zhu, but even Spirit Sword Destiny... it seems everyone believes he is the descendant of Shen Jinglan, except for him, who doesn't quite believe it himself. If that were the case, then the fragmented memories he retrieved from his dreams wouldn't make sense.
Xu Xiaofei's eyes shifted, and he smiled brightly: "So, while you may be more powerful than me, I at least have one thing that I'm more experienced in," he raised a finger and shook it, "I've been there!"
"Oh?" Shen Jinglan was slightly taken aback. He really didn't look like someone with experience.
"Yes," Xu Xiaofei's cheeks flushed, and a gentle, sweet smile appeared in his eyes, "I... I dreamt of that time."
That kind of scene... although he couldn't describe it, he could still feel the beauty and joy of it when he recalled it.
"In your dreams?" Shen Jinglan asked with a half-smile.
Xu Xiaofei's face turned even redder as he hurriedly explained: "Even though I've forgotten the past, I still remember some old events in my dreams. That segment I dreamt about must be real; it's something I've personally experienced. Otherwise, it wouldn't be so clear."
Seeing him flustered, Shen Jinglan smiled and tactfully looked away.
The evening light slanted down, bathing the back garden in a hazy glow.
As the two walked out, they saw Spirit Sword Destiny meeting with Branch's subordinates at a distance in another corner of the garden. His demeanor was polite, yet everyone treated him with utmost respect.
They had all witnessed the abilities and methods of this Left Guardian, and they knew he was merciless towards those who made mistakes.
Xu Xiaofei gazed from afar and suddenly whispered to Shen Jinglan: "Actually, he appears gentle on the surface, but he's a cold and proud person. Sometimes he's as stubborn as a mule, right?" There was laughter hidden in his voice.
Actually, even though it was quite far away, Lin Yanruo wasn't intentionally eavesdropping; he couldn't hear what he was saying, but he still lowered his voice as if giving a report.
Shen Jinglan smiled and said, "Yes!"
They all focused on that figure, each with their own thoughts.
Xu Xiaofei spoke again, "Don't be fooled by his appearance; he seems really angry about you saving me. You'd better talk to him."
"I've already soothed him," Shen Jinglan replied. Why wait for you?
"Ah?" Xu Xiaofei was taken aback.
Shen Jinglan smiled and glanced at him with a hint of disdain, "You really had a romantic incident? ... Wasn't it just a dream?"
"No..." Xu Xiaofei's face turned red again, "That wasn't a dream."
He really did have a good time once. It's just that he lost it...
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