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墨書 Inktalez
Shen Jinglan suddenly opened his eyes in the underground chamber of the Evil Sect.
He breathed lightly, one hand unconsciously touching his chest, as if an invisible blade had just pierced through, causing pain deep within his bones.
Did something happen?
Even when those two were thousands of miles away, he could still sense them, but not long ago, that distant connection was completely severed; they must have entered that special Sound Wave Domain.
He was not someone who worried easily; Xu Xiaofei was himself, and he had nothing to be particularly concerned about.
Yet he couldn't help but worry.
These two people were incredibly important to him, and the outcome of their journey directly affected his life and death.
His palm pressed against his chest was already sticky. What he felt was not blood, but a hand full of cold sweat.
The chill that seeped from the Ice Sword had nearly frozen his blood.
Xu Xiaofei's spiritual power was on the verge of collapse under this attack. Fortunately... at the critical moment when he sensed the killing intent, he managed to make a slight adjustment, shifting his foot just enough to narrowly avoid a fatal blow.
He had evaded his vital point.
Holding his chest, he swayed unsteadily, locking eyes with that person from afar. He saw Spirit Sword Destiny raise his hand again after landing a successful strike, fingers slightly spread, with faint blue light gathering at his fingertips as he prepared for the next attack.
"Yan, wake up quickly!" Xu Xiaofei called out with difficulty.
Before he spoke, he had already noticed the wavering expression on Spirit Sword Destiny's face; the icy spiritual energy enveloping him began to fluctuate violently.
Hearing his voice, a flash of golden light suddenly flickered in his golden eyes, which seemed both demonic and human. It sparkled several times before gradually being engulfed by a deep ink color, returning to the original pitch-black gaze.
The familiar Yan stood before him again, looking at his current state with shock in his eyes. He lowered the hand that was preparing to unleash a killing move and withdrew the spiritual energy supporting the Ice Sword.
The Ice Sword that pierced through his chest instantly transformed into a stream of soft water, flowing away almost completely.
Seeing that he seemed to have regained consciousness, Xu Xiaofei couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
If Yan were to pursue him relentlessly, given his injuries, he truly wouldn't be able to hold on.
Just as Spirit Sword Destiny was struggling internally, he also forced himself to take a breath and activated the Protective Body Treasure. A swirling white light radiated from his body, then converged back, transforming into strands of spiritual light that flowed over his garments.
This was someone he never wanted to guard against, yet now he had no choice but to be cautious.
He took out two pills of the healing sacred medicine, Moonlight Elixir, from his belongings and swallowed them to suppress his injuries.
With a single word "Go," he turned around and led the way, soaring into the air.
This place was not suitable for lingering.
He sensed that Spirit Sword Destiny silently followed behind him, with a complex expression in his eyes as he looked at his back.
After a stick of incense's time, they flew out of the water area and arrived at a riverside meadow dotted with delicate yellow flowers.
According to the topographic map, this place was relatively safe and suitable for a brief rest.
Xu Xiaofei relaxed and collapsed onto the grass.
He had been holding on until now, which was already quite difficult.
Spirit Sword Destiny, who had been closely following him, instinctively wanted to support him when he fell. However, upon reaching out, there was a moment of hesitation. After a brief pause, they ultimately moved their hand closer to his body.
But an invisible force surged out, pushing their hand away.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye.
Xu Xiaofei, however, saw everything clearly.
He could only not see the hidden emotions in Spirit Sword Destiny's lowered gaze.
Suddenly, he reached out his hand and, as he fell, grabbed Spirit Sword Destiny's wrist. The defensive force had already been withdrawn back into his body.
The downward momentum was halted; he did not crash directly onto the grass. Spirit Sword Destiny wrapped their arms around his waist and bent down to let him lie down.
He heard Spirit Sword Destiny softly say, "I'm sorry."
Spirit Sword Destiny still kept their eyes lowered, the depths of their gaze dark and obscure, revealing nothing of their thoughts.
Xu Xiaofei said, "It's not your fault... You were also momentarily confused... it wasn't intentional."
That poisonous mist was enough to cause hallucinations, making him momentarily believe that Yan had died right in front of him. Spirit Sword Destiny must have also seen the illusions that clouded their mind...
Spirit Sword Destiny remained silent for a longer time before saying, "I'm sorry."
His voice was very soft, but the words felt heavy, containing countless unspoken emotions.
He gently unfastened the outer robe of Xu Xiaofei, removing the undergarment, and said, "I will apply medicine for you."
Although Xu Xiaofei had already taken medicine for his injuries, external application was necessary for faster recovery.
The clear green medicinal ointment was applied to the wound that pierced through his chest.
After applying the medicine, he wrapped it up with soft cloth strips.
Xu Xiaofei felt a wave of darkness before his eyes from the pain, yet he could still sense that his fingers were careful and gentle, with a hint of warmth at their tips.
Just as Spirit Sword Destiny was tending to him, he lost consciousness.
When he woke up, Spirit Sword Destiny was feeding him warm water.
He had been placed on a soft blanket, with a pillow woven from spiritual grass under his head.
He was still by this tranquil riverbank. The Evil Sect also possessed treasures that could conjure a house, but such treasures would continuously emit spiritual energy fluctuations once activated, attracting nearby beasts. Therefore, Spirit Sword Destiny did not use one.
The excruciating pain in his body seemed to have eased somewhat. Xu Xiaofei drank the warm water, letting it fill his chest and abdomen, and asked, "How long did I sleep?"
Spirit Sword Destiny replied, "You slept for an entire night."
Xu Xiaofei looked at him and smiled, "Don't worry, I feel much better now. It won't be long before I recover."
"Mm." Spirit Sword Destiny replied, his face expressionless, showing no joy.
He no longer smiled at him like before.
Xu Xiaofei could see that he was deep in thought and wanted to persuade him further, but Spirit Sword Destiny seemed unwilling to listen and changed the subject, saying, "It's time to change the bandages. I'll apply the medicine for you again."
He lifted the thin blanket, revealing that Xu Xiaofei was only wearing an outer robe on his upper body, which he peeled off. He gently supported Xu Xiaofei, allowing him to lean against himself, unwrapped the bandages, and applied the medicine again.
Xu Xiaofei kept watching his profile.
His obsidian-like eyes were focused on Xu Xiaofei's chest.
After finishing his task, Spirit Sword Destiny looked at Xu Xiaofei's body wrapped in bandages and suddenly said, "Many years ago, I also applied medicine to the Master like this. His body... resembles yours a lot."
It was also a young and strong physique, with slender muscles hiding vigorous strength and vitality. This kind of strength and vitality was like a raging fire, making one unable to resist diving into it and being burned to ashes.
Now, he had also wiped Shen Jinglan during his illness, but that body had been completely destroyed by disease; it felt nothing but hard bones with no flesh to touch.
He spoke slowly, his tone devoid of emotion.
However, Xu Xiaofei, lying on his lap, smiled and said, "I don't know why, but after hearing that, I suddenly feel a warmth all over."
He straightened up and suddenly embraced Spirit Sword Destiny tightly, kissing his lips.
As he reached out, he could sense that Spirit Sword Destiny was already becoming heated. He kissed more passionately, more emotionally, and added a bit of strength, causing both of them to fall onto the grass together.
At that moment of deep infatuation, Xu Xiaofei did not notice that a cold golden light briefly flickered in Spirit Sword Destiny's eyes before disappearing in an instant.
Both of them were breathing heavily. Their thick black hair spread on the ground, tangling together. Xu Xiaofei had originally tied his hair in a ponytail, but during his recovery, Spirit Sword Destiny had already removed the hair tie.
Only the two of them remained in the vast space, with boundless emotions shared in their breaths.
Just as they were about to take their kiss a step further, Xu Xiaofei sensed Spirit Sword Destiny's withdrawal. He let out a soft moan; the movement tugged at his wound, which was severe and difficult to bear.
Xu Xiaofei did not force it any further.
He did not know… that at this moment, Spirit Sword Destiny was thinking only of him and whether he still regarded him as the Shen Jinglan of years past.
He closed his eyes, and besides desire, there was also loneliness and pain in his gaze.
In Youzhou's Supreme Teachings Headquarters, Shen Jinglan lay on a soft couch covered with a heavy fox fur coat.
Without needing to look, he knew his complexion was poor. He should not have emerged so early; even when those two left, he had not been able to see them one last time.
But he ultimately could not hold back.
At the moment he sensed something unusual, a heart that had long been decayed suddenly began to beat violently within his withered chest, gradually calming down after a long while.
Before him stood an old man with a beard reaching down to his waist, who was taking out a Tortoise Shell to prepare for divination. He was knowledgeable and understood some aspects of divination himself, but each field has its own experts; the Azure Wilderness was more adept in this area, so he summoned him as soon as he emerged from seclusion.
Azure Wilderness smiled and said, "The meaning is vast and uncertain. Even the divination I have drawn is not an unchanging result; this, the Master must understand."
Shen Jinglan also smiled faintly, his voice extremely weak as he said, "I know. I'll wait for you to calculate the result first." He coughed gently and added, "If it's good, I'll believe it; if it's not good, I won't."
Azure Wilderness nodded and sighed, "Thinking this way is not bad."
While he was divining, Shen Jinglan quietly waited. A dark cloud had quietly enveloped his brow without him noticing.
After a long while, Azure Wilderness finally lifted his gaze from the cracks in the Tortoise Shell, coming back to his senses. He said to Shen Jinglan, "Looking at this divination, although those two are in a perilous situation with Calamity Cloud looming over them, their fortunes are turning from bad to good. They should be able to return safely; the Master need not worry too much."
Seeing Shen Jinglan nod slightly, he continued, "However, I also foresee... that before this Calamity Cloud dissipates, it will fall upon the Master."
"Me?" Shen Jinglan was taken aback, his brows furrowing slightly as he blurted out, "Why me?"
He couldn't understand how he, who had not ventured into danger, could have calamity looming over him.
Then, his brows relaxed again: "Well then, if it falls on me, it's certainly better than falling on those two."
Azure Wilderness said, "I cannot discern the depth of this calamity either. The Master should remember that nothing is too great; it all depends on the person."
"I understand." Shen Jinglan closed his eyes; he was truly exhausted. "Thank you for your efforts."
In the blink of an eye, the two had rested by the riverside for nine days.
Spirit Sword Destiny had proposed leaving yesterday, but Xu Xiaofei insisted on waiting a little longer until his injuries recovered some more.
The better his condition, the less danger they faced.
Spirit Sword Destiny was changing his bandages as usual, and Xu Xiaofei looked at him and suddenly smiled, saying, "This really isn't a big deal. You didn't mean to do it, and my injury is healing quickly. I don't mind, so why are you still worried? You rarely talk to me about these things."
He grabbed Spirit Sword Destiny's hand and said with a hint of grievance, "If you feel guilty towards me, you should talk to me more. Anything is fine; even if it's just like before, arguing with me is okay too."
Spirit Sword Destiny had always maintained a calm demeanor. When he did speak, it was usually just a few words in a quiet tone.
Only when Xu Xiaofei teased him would he respond a bit more. Even though he was somewhat indifferent to others, he was never this “only moving when poked” kind of person in front of Xu Xiaofei. They might accommodate each other in actions, but when it came to talking, neither would back down.
Spirit Sword Destiny glanced at him, his eyes still devoid of emotion, and said lightly, "I never argue with you; I only speak the truth. If you take the wrong path, you will definitely fall into the ditch."
Xu Xiaofei couldn't help but chuckle softly and said, "Alright, alright, you must be right."
Unexpectedly, Spirit Sword Destiny shot him a look and replied calmly, "Aren't you the one who wanted to argue with me? Why did you agree with what I said?"
Xu Xiaofei was taken aback.
He wasn't a dull person, but when it came to arguing, he really couldn't win against Spirit Sword Destiny.
He teased Spirit Sword Destiny with a few more words and laughed even more joyfully. However, as he looked at Spirit Sword Destiny, a hint of worry gradually surfaced in his eyes.
He always felt that something was unusual about Spirit Sword Destiny...
How could he help him let go of his worries?
After resting for another two days, they set off again.
Xu Xiaofei's injuries had mostly healed. The medicine he used was the rarest, and his own foundation was not lacking.
Starting from the riverbank, they entered a dense jungle. The forest was filled with various demon beasts, but fortunately, their cultivation was impressive, and their magical treasures were formidable. Together, they swiftly dispatched the demon beasts without encountering much danger.
In Xu Xiaofei's once abundant collection of weapons, only one sword remained: Deeply Engraved.
He no longer kept it in the Cosmic Bag; instead, he commanded its tip to point and keep it floating by his side. At the slightest movement, it would strike like thunder, shooting forth like a bolt of black lightning.
He had only recently acquired this sword, yet it felt incredibly suitable for him. It is said that every sword has its destined master; Deeply Engraved, crafted meticulously for him, likely meant that he was its destined owner.
As they journeyed through the jungle, they occasionally sustained minor injuries, but a dose of medicine was sufficient to heal them. After three more days, they finally reached their destination:
A nameless lake of deep green like emerald.
In the still waters without a ripple, a winding vine could be clearly seen submerged within; this was the legendary Xuanxian Vine.
The vine bore only one fruit, the Crimson Fruit, bright red like blood, resembling a garnet embedded deep within the emerald. It did not appear particularly extraordinary but was the essence condensed over countless years by the immortal vine.
Xu Xiaofei held Spirit Sword Destiny's hand and smiled gently at him, saying, "Wait for me here; I'll be right back."
Spirit Sword Destiny replied, "Okay."
At the same time as saying "okay," he withdrew his hand from Xu Xiaofei's palm.
Xu Xiaofei's body trembled as a surge of icy spiritual energy suddenly erupted within him!
This was the residual water spirit energy left in his body from the last time he was struck by Spirit Sword Destiny. Although he could move without hindrance now, the last bit of hidden injury would still require some time to fully recover. Embedding one's own spiritual energy within another's body and detonating it at a critical moment was one of the signature techniques of Spirit Sword Destiny.
He never expected that it would be used on himself at this moment!
The power of the ice explosion was not great, but it had momentarily hindered his movement. He watched helplessly as Spirit Sword Destiny leaped into Emerald Lake—without any hesitation, diving right in.
Spirit Sword Destiny must have decided to do this long ago.
Even if he wanted to scream, he could not make a sound. He saw that as soon as Spirit Sword Destiny plunged into the water, a terrible poison immediately began to corrode his entire being. The person he had just been holding hands with, that handsome young man, was suddenly transformed beyond recognition.
In an instant, Spirit Sword Destiny's clothes dissolved, and his smooth skin was covered with countless grotesque green blisters, with many areas beginning to rot and deform.
In this Azure Spirit Annihilation Water, all lifeless things would dissolve, and any magical treasures would be ineffective against it. Moreover, living beings, aside from this peculiar celestial vine, would also be eroded by the deadly poison.
Spirit Sword Destiny's movements were actually very quick. Before Xu Xiaofei could follow him into the water, he had already plucked the Crimson Immortal Fruit, spun around, and soared back out of the Water Surface.
The first thing he did was use a Bone Box made from Desolate Bone to store the Crimson Fruit.
Then he collapsed.
Xu Xiaofei caught his body. Memories from his past life surfaced vividly before him; back then, when he was in seclusion in a secret chamber, Spirit Sword Destiny had barged in and left him a life-saving pill while he himself had been left in a state of severe poisoning—neither human nor ghost—
Just like today!
He trembled as he placed several pre-prepared Elixir Pills into Spirit Sword Destiny's mouth.
In his previous life, Spirit Sword Destiny had died from this kind of deadly poison. This time, being prepared, they had already refined the antidote. However, while this pill could save his life, it could not repair the toxins corroding Spirit Sword Destiny's body or the damage to his spiritual essence.
In his arms, the unconscious Spirit Sword Destiny's breath gradually stabilized.
But his face had become terrifyingly distorted.
The originally pure water-type spiritual energy had also been tainted by the thick poison.
Xu Xiaofei gritted his teeth, unable to hold back his tears, which fell like rain from his eyes.
How should he explain this to Shen Jinglan?
He picked up Spirit Sword Destiny and flew back along the path they came.
As they returned to the outside world, Xu Xiaofei summoned the Deer Chariot.
Spirit Sword Destiny had not yet awakened. Sitting in the carriage, he held this person and gently whispered in his ear, "Your injuries can still be saved. I will be leaving soon; let him come to save you..."
His time was running out.
Only a few days remained in the carriage.
Though the Deer Chariot sped quickly, the enchanted carriage was completely steady. Spirit Sword Destiny slept deeply, and Xu Xiaofei knew it would take several more days for him to awaken.
Two hours later, he could no longer resist the drowsiness and let Spirit Pet Golden Fox keep an eye on the outside world while he lay down to rest for half an hour. Golden Fox sat proudly on the back of Deer Chariot, issuing orders that caused the two Deer Chariot to stir for a moment. Perhaps it was this agitation that allowed The Master of the Azure Wind Antelope Spirit Sword Destiny to regain a bit of consciousness.
He turned his gaze to Xu Xiaofei, who was sleeping beside him.
"Did you tell me... that you would be leaving soon?"
He seemed to have heard it vaguely, but it was not clear; perhaps it was just background noise in a dream.
This question, of course, could not be answered by the sleeping Xu Xiaofei.
He himself soon lost consciousness again, falling back into a deep sleep.
Upon returning to Supreme Teachings Headquarters, Xu Xiaofei settled Spirit Sword Destiny and then went to see Shen Jinglan.
Shen Jinglan had long been waiting for him.
When they met, Shen Jinglan first inquired about the condition of Spirit Sword Destiny.
"I feel guilty for your trust; he still got injured," Xu Xiaofei said.
"It is already fortunate that he returned safely," Shen Jinglan comforted him. "You need not blame yourself. Once I recover a bit, I will take him to Polar Dragon Abyss for treatment."
In Polar Dragon Abyss, the Nine Nether Dragon Lord was also an old friend from both their lives and happened to possess a treasure that could heal Spirit Sword Destiny.
They sat facing each other, and Shen Jinglan had prepared a meal and drinks.
They drank together, like friends who had known each other for many years, and talked about many things. They discussed friends they had met and not met, talked about swordsmanship, and shared their recent thoughts and reflections.
A pot of wine gradually emptied.
Xu Xiaofei finally clinked glasses with him, downing the drink in one go before setting the cup down. He smiled, stood up, and gently placed a hand on Shen Jinglan's shoulder.
His spiritual power and life force slowly flowed into Shen Jinglan's body through that hand.
The fruit of the Xuanxian Vine could heal Shen Jinglan's illness, but its potency was too strong for his body to bear. In his previous life, he had managed to endure it, but in this life, he still faced the risk of losing his life.
By accepting the life force he infused, Shen Jinglan's constitution would improve somewhat.
As for himself, Flesh was a condensation of celestial power; it would eventually dissipate, and returning to Shen Jinglan's body was an inevitable outcome.
This was something they had already agreed upon.
The connection between them, which had been tight, suddenly became extremely intense. All memories, thoughts, and emotions were completely open to each other without distinction.
Shen Jinglan looked at him, his eyes filled with understanding and concern. Suddenly he asked, "Aren't you going to wait for Yan's answer before leaving?"
He had previously asked Spirit Sword Destiny whether there was any aspect in which he surpassed Shen Jinglan.
He had originally wanted to know the answer to that question.
Xu Xiaofei smiled; his body was beginning to become ethereal. With a calm expression, he replied, "No need... it's just a fleeting thought."
The jealousy and unwillingness of the past had vanished at this moment. He was like a leaf that had detached from a branch; after being away from the tree for too long, he felt strange and distant from it.
At this moment, all strangeness and distance no longer existed.
Their spirits and bodies gradually merged.
Perhaps the most loving couple in the world cannot avoid having disagreements about everything. But between them, they had already achieved a spiritual connection, with all opinions aligned and complete mutual understanding.
You are me, and I am you.
The gradually fading shadow of Xu Xiaofei ultimately became invisible.
Sleeping in his own bedroom, Spirit Sword Destiny awakened from a sudden bout of Heart Palpitations.
In his last dream, he saw Xu Xiaofei.
The Handsome Young Man with a ponytail held the Mingxin Sword in his arms, smiling at him.
He said to himself, "Yan, I am leaving now. This is our farewell; please take it seriously."
This farewell was serious and solemn.
As these words fell, his figure became ethereal and eventually disappeared.
The Mingxin Sword fell from the empty void, producing a clear ringing sound...
Spirit Sword Destiny At this moment, he woke up with a start, sitting up abruptly and breathing heavily.
He put on his clothes, stepped down from the bed, and appeared before the subordinate guarding the door, asking, “Where did Xu Xiaofei go?”
He asked urgently.
The subordinate had seen him being carried back by Xu Xiaofei, and upon seeing him again, was still taken aback by his miserable appearance. After a brief moment of shock, he lowered his head and reported, “Reporting to Left Guardian, Young Master Xu went to see the leader.”
Is that so...
Spirit Sword Destiny let out a sigh of relief; it turned out he had been overthinking. Upon hearing this, his expression suddenly became quite gloomy.
He immediately ordered, “Are Chisong and Yellow Talisman in the sect? Have them go to the Alchemy Room right away; I want to start Alchemy.”
Having brought back the fruit of the Xuanxian Vine, the next step was naturally to refine it into an elixir. Fortunately, the difficulty of refining this elixir was not too great.
He then promptly headed toward the Alchemy Room, disregarding his own condition.
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