Chapter 44
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Chapter 44: The Welcome Gift
“Young Master, Miss Ming He.” A shadow descended like the wind into the courtyard, interrupting Qin Chu Yi’s gaze towards Ming He. Elder Lin had returned.
Ming He’s expression sharpened as she sheathed her sword, casually wiping away the fine sweat from her face as she walked over to stand beside Qin Chu Yi. “Elder Lin.”
She greeted him with a single call. “Are we ready?”
“Yes.” Elder Lin glanced at her and nodded, finding his judgment still accurate; she had agreed!
“We can begin establishing the contract now.” Elder Lin addressed Qin Chu Yi respectfully. “Duanwu, guard the courtyard gate well.” He said this while waving his hand to sketch a formation symbol in the air.
Spiritual energy was drawn in and adhered to the symbol, swaying up and down with Elder Lin’s gestures, and then slowly floating up, disappearing from view.
For a brief moment, the air seemed to still. Ming He blinked, sensing something different about the Chang Ming courtyard.
Is this the technique of formation mastery?
She pondered, wondering if this was the formation that Nineteen wanted to study. It appeared quite unfathomable.
Qingyun Peak main hall.
A middle-aged cultivator in loose robes lifted his head from the pile of jade slips on the desk, slightly surprised. “Spirit Contract!”
He murmured as if recalling something, standing up and leaving the green jade table, stepping out of the hall. The Sect Master of the Liu Yun Sect stood atop the peak, her gaze piercing through the swirling mist towards the Chang Ming courtyard. “Star Lock!”
As her emotions surged, the middle-aged cultivator clenched her fists to keep them from trembling. “Flickering Light.”
Sect Master Qu Lingyun uttered these four words and then burst into laughter, a laugh filled with both melancholy and relief. “Heaven does not disappoint!” Finally, she glimpsed a glimmer of hope.
“Do we really not need to prepare anything?” In the Chang Ming courtyard, Ming He looked at Elder Lin, puzzled. They just sat down without doing anything else. This was nothing like she had imagined.
Qin Chu Yi sat opposite her; while she felt some confusion too, she never showed her emotions, so it was hard to tell.
Only Ming He wore her confusion and puzzlement on her face, feeling that the significance of the Spirit Contract had suddenly diminished, and even the Star Lock seemed less unique and remarkable.
“Miss Ming He, this isn’t a Dao partner contract; it doesn’t require such grandeur.” Elder Lin feigned ignorance, teasing Ming He as he closed his eyes and began to set up the Spirit Contract for them.
He had spent seven days searching for the so-called medium, which now floated in the air: blood dragonwood, bodhi seeds, skeletal flowers, blue thunder branches… and many more that Ming He had never seen before.
As Elder Lin’s fingertips traced through the air, invisible spiritual energy formed a trajectory, creating a formation seal. In an instant, as the seal materialized, the numerous suspended spiritual items turned to ash, their traces vanishing, and spiritual energy surged wildly into the formation seal.
After gathering spiritual energy, the formation seal gradually took shape, dense spiritual energy swirling and shining silver. It hovered mid-air, spinning, emitting an ancient and profound aura that caused the onlooker to tremble, unable to gaze too long.
“Miss Ming He, empty your mind,” Elder Lin said softly. Seeing Ming He nod and close her eyes, he moved his fingers again to form a different golden formation seal. He controlled it to fly towards the location of the Star Lock near Ming He’s heart. The seal quietly merged into her heart.
In the next moment, Ming He felt a warmth at her heart, sensing the Star Lock tremble slightly, a golden light shooting forth toward Qin Chu Yi. She seemed to have formed an indescribable connection with Qin Chu Yi.
Elder Lin seized the opportunity, pressing the earlier silver formation seal onto Qin Chu Yi, his own aura suddenly weakening, his complexion pale as if he were no longer a cultivator.
That was the consequence of invoking the formation to establish the Spirit Contract.
“Buzz—”
As Elder Lin controlled it, Ming He felt an increasing heat at her heart, as if it were boiling. That scalding feeling soon vanished, replaced by a refreshing comfort like a gentle breeze caressing her face.
The Star Lock within her heart shone brightly; the starlight emanating from her enveloped both her and Qin Chu Yi, and in the starlight, Ming He opened her eyes to see Qin Chu Yi. She glowed just as brightly, bathed in the starlight.
The Spirit Contract was completed.
Ming He could not describe the impact the Spirit Contract had on her and Qin Chu Yi. She felt an extraordinary sensation in her heart; sitting here, she felt as though she could hear the sound of larks flapping their wings on Qingyun Peak, the rustling of leaves as the wind blew past, and the clear sound of the stream flowing gently…
Was this one of the benefits Qin Chu Yi brought her?
What about Qin Chu Yi?
Ming He shifted her gaze from the distance back to Qin Chu Yi, noticing a faint daze on her face and the coldness that had once enveloped her seemed to have lessened. Under the radiant sun, the starlight softened her features, enhancing her already breathtaking beauty.
Had her cold poison been cured? Or was it merely suppressed for now? Ming He wondered silently.
As if sensing her intense gaze, Qin Chu Yi looked up, her eyes still warm. Her long, phoenix-like eyes were deep and clear, shimmering with unshed tears, and her delicate eyelashes fluttered slightly. She was utterly captivating.
“Young Master, how is it?” Elder Lin interrupted their silent exchange once more, his voice urgent, his pale face betraying his concern for Qin Chu Yi.
Qin Chu Yi’s eyelashes trembled as she glanced at Ming He, her eyes gentle, a faint smile playing on her lips. Then, meeting Elder Lin and Duan Wu’s eager gazes, she subtly shook her head before they could show disappointment and said, “Half.”
“Half?” Elder Lin repeated, sending a pulse of spiritual energy into Qin Chu Yi’s body to assess the situation. After a quarter of an hour, his tense expression relaxed slightly. “It’s fine. It must be that Miss Ming He’s cultivation is still too low. Once her cultivation improves and she begins to refine the Star Lock, I believe the Young Master’s cold poison can be fully resolved.”
“Hmm.” Qin Chu Yi nodded in acknowledgment, then said, “Elder Lin, you should rest for now.”
The Spirit Contract was an ancient pact recorded in ancient texts, involving the Star Lock, and the cost of invoking this contract far exceeded her expectations. Even with Elder Lin’s high cultivation, the price was still significant.
“Young Master, there are matters in the clan that require your attention, and also concerning the Floating Cloud Sect…” Elder Lin hesitated, leaving his words hanging.
“I understand.” Qin Chu Yi lowered her gaze, her expression unreadable.
“Good.” Elder Lin knew she had her own plans, and with a flicker, his figure vanished into the air.
At the courtyard gate, Duan Wu glanced at his Young Master and Ming He, then quietly slipped out of the Chang Ming courtyard, closing the door behind him and leaving the space to Qin Chu Yi and Ming He.
The Young Master must have something to say to Ming He, Duan Wu thought.
“Ming He.” In the courtyard, Qin Chu Yi’s eyes softened as she looked at Ming He, a hint of bashful gratitude and warmth in her gaze. A faint blush colored her cheeks, and in her snowy white robes, she seemed more approachable, less distant, as if she had shed her icy mask in front of Ming He. “Thank you.”
Her voice was clear but soft, perhaps because she had never thanked anyone before.
Ming He smiled gently in response. “Sister Qin’s cold poison… has it been resolved?”
She added, noticing the surprise in Qin Chu Yi’s eyes, “Though you didn’t say it, I can guess a little.” She had sensed Qin Chu Yi’s helplessness, the way her fate seemed to bind her. In the original story, this fate was called a setting, but here it felt like a chain.
A chain that held Qin Chu Yi captive.
“No.” Qin Chu Yi shook her head gently. “Elder Lin just said that my cold poison is only half resolved. Because your cultivation and control over the Star Lock are still too weak. But it’s enough to suppress the cold poison so that it no longer hinders my cultivation.”
“When your cultivation grows stronger, we can strengthen the Spirit Contract, and I’ll be able to draw on the power of the Star Lock to fully lift the cold poison’s control,” Qin Chu Yi said, her eyes blinking softly, her smile carrying a hint of playfulness and anticipation. “So, I’ll wait for you at the Floating Cloud Sect!”
Floating Cloud Sect.
Ming He paused. “Sister Qin… are you a true disciple of the Floating Cloud Sect?”
“Yes.” Qin Chu Yi smiled, not denying it. “I’m the chief disciple of the Liu Yun Sect and a true disciple of the Floating Cloud Sect. How many identities do you think I have?”
Her smile deepened as she met Ming He’s dark eyes, her lips curving upward. “Junior Sister Ming He, let me formally introduce myself: I am Qin Chu Yi, from the Qins of Songyun, the Chus of Four Sides Surrounded, and the Yis of Those Who Follow the Crowd. I’m truly glad to have met you here.”
“There’s much you probably want to know—about my cold poison, my origins, and more. When I see you again at the Floating Cloud Sect, if you still wish to know, I’ll tell you everything.”
Qin Chu Yi smiled, making a promise for their future meeting. Though Ming He hadn’t asked, she knew Ming He was curious. She felt she shouldn’t keep hiding the truth, but dangers still lingered around her.
“Ming He, the Liu Yun Sect is good, but it’s also small. Do you know how vast and boundless the world beyond is? When you step outside…”
Qin Chu Yi raised her hand, pointing toward the Liu Yun Sect’s gate, her tone distant, as if it held the grandeur of mountains and rivers. “You’ll embrace an entire world!”
“So, Sister Qin, do you want to explore this world with me?” Ming He asked, her smile radiant, her heart stirred.
She had always known how small the Liu Yun Sect was in this vast world and had longed to see what lay beyond. But back then, she had been too weak, so no matter how much she yearned, she had to keep it hidden.
Now, after a year in this world, she had reached Spirit Guiding stage nine levels. It seemed she finally had the strength to step beyond Liu Yun.
The battlefield of the heavens, the Dragon and Tiger Rankings, and the Thousand Layers Spirit Mountain—they still felt distant to her, yet she was not without the qualifications to reach them.
Ming He clenched her fist, her fingers tightening around the white long sword, her knuckles turning slightly pale. In the Eastern Region’s First Continent, the Floating Cloud Sect, was where Qin Chu Yi’s hidden identity resided.
“I have seen this world many times,” Qin Chu Yi said, her eyes bright. “But if you wish to see it, there’s no harm in going again.”
This way, she could witness the rise of a true sword cultivator!
Ming He, the rising sword cultivator from the humble Liu Yun, was the first one Qin Chu Yi had discovered.
Indeed, it was a rewarding experience.
She had witnessed the birth of a prodigy.
“Great!” Ming He’s smile did not fade, becoming even more radiant under the blazing sun. “I will go find Sister Qin.”
After all, they could be considered friends now.
“Does that mean Sister Qin is leaving now?” She had overheard Elder Lin’s conversation with Qin Chu Yi, understanding she must have urgent matters to attend to.
“Yes,” Qin Chu Yi nodded. “Duan Wu should be ready. I will set off now.”
“Is there anything you want to say to me?” Ming He tilted her head slightly.
“Yes.” Ming He smiled back, her Peach Blossom Eyes sparkling softly. “Sister Qin, I will find you.” She spoke earnestly.
The Floating Cloud Sect.
She was very interested and wanted to see the world Qin Chu Yi had walked through. At just over twenty, in the Dust Dispersal Stage Five, a noble Young Master and a true disciple, she remained her goal.
Nineteen was too distant to see clearly, Mu Xuan Ye had already reached the top, Ji Wu Xu and Lou Qing Shang seemed to be veiled in mist, while Yun Zhao Feng… was a bit weak.
The only one within her sight, her sole target on this path forward, was Qin Chu Yi.
Though equally distant and shrouded in mist, she had already dispelled most of the fog.
So it was not a big problem.
“Alright.” Qin Chu Yi replied with a smile, turning and walking toward the courtyard gate. After a moment, she paused and tossed a storage pouch to Ming He. “This, give it to your Master for me.”
She watched the storage pouch arc through the air with a gentle smile, then threw another item to her. “As for this, it’s my gift for you, a meeting present!”
“This is a meeting gift!”
Qin Chu Yi added with a playful wink before turning and leaving the Chang Ming courtyard without looking back. “Ming He, I will wait for you at the Floating Cloud Sect.”
She repeated, her clear voice lingering in Ming He’s ears before fading into the air.
Ming He gripped the sword in her right hand and quickly caught the storage pouch with her left, hanging it at her waist. She noticed a flash of light as she accurately received something in her hand. It seemed to be… a weapon?
She looked down at the item wrapped in satin, the hard shape slightly protruding. Taking a breath, she returned to the stone table and carefully opened the satin. What greeted her eyes was a brilliant sight—the inside held a dagger.
The entire dagger was pitch black, shaped like a curved fang, and its aura was chilling and bone-piercing, a blend of cold and murder. The hilt had intricate dark patterns, and as Ming He examined it closely, she realized the patterns depicted an animal.
A falcon.
The dagger’s tip, like the sword blade, was as dark as ink, and its sheath was also black, made from ten-thousand-year profound iron, hiding the dagger’s sharpness and bloodthirst within its small sheath.
This was an extraordinary dagger, its grade at least above the profound level, but its worth should not be determined by tier.
It should be decided by the one who held it.
This was also a dagger that seemed incompatible with a sword cultivator.
Sword cultivators are sharp and fearless, while daggers wait silently in the shadows for the right moment.
It did not belong to a sword cultivator, but it suited her well.
Ming He drew the dagger and gently flicked it, producing a dull sound. Even under the blazing sun, it carried a hint of the coolness of the night.
Such a cold weapon had a nice name.
Ming He smiled as she returned the dagger to its sheath—Moon Crescent Dagger, the meeting gift from Qin Chu Yi.
She carefully tucked the dagger away and walked toward the main hall with the storage pouch hanging at her waist.
