Qin Zhizhi felt her vision go dark as Elder Nanfeng’s voice looped endlessly in her mind: The two of you lives are linked if he you will also.
Listen to that. Was that even humanly possible?
Before her rebirth, the thing she heard most often was the system chattering endlessly in her head.
“Host, Xie Yutai has arrived.”
“Are you still not going to see Xie Yutai?”
“Xie Yutai will never fall in love with you, Host. Never.”
Xie Yutai had practically become an inescapable curse in her heart.
After her rebirth, Xie Yutai was no longer a curse. He had directly transformed into a talisman pinned to the back of her neck.
Wonderful, her combat stress had just doubled. Even the system would weep if it heard this.
To be fair, Qin Zhizhi had never thoroughly considered the matter of Xie Yutai’s lifespan. He was the male protagonist of the novel, endowed with an incredibly powerful plot armor. Shouldn’t he survive until the very end and live longer than everyone else? Therefore, whether in the past or the present, she had never worried that Xie Yutai would die.
Since he would not die, it did not sound quite so terrifying.
Once her life was guaranteed to be secure, Qin Zhizhi quickly adjusted her mindset from the shock and asked earnestly, “In that case, does it mean I can live as long as Immortal Xie lives?”
Xie Yutai was already in the late stage of the Golden Core realm, giving him a lifespan of five hundred years. Didn’t that mean she could free-ride for five hundred years?
Lu Yuandao and Su Qingyi looked at Elder Nanfeng together, their eyes filled with the sentiment of can there really be such a good thing?
Faced with their expectant gazes, Elder Nanfeng stiffened. “Cough, naturally that is not possible. You will still live only as long as your natural lifespan allows.”
“In fact, not only do you not get to share his lifespan, but you also have to share his risks. Your constitution is not as strong as his, Miss Qin. If young friend Xie gets injured, he will be fine, but you might die.”
Hearing this, Qin Zhizhi said bluntly, “Why don’t you just kill me instead?”
So there were no benefits at all, and she was just here to suffer? What exactly was she gaining from this?
Xie Yutai, one of the parties involved, was actually calmer than anyone else. “Is there no other way?”
“This is the talisman of the ghost cultivator Dan Wuning. No one has ever survived after having the Corpse-Freezing Talisman used on them.” The underlying meaning was already very clear. Elder Nanfeng raised his eyes to look at Xie Yutai, but the words it cannot be undone simply could not leave his mouth.
Xie Yutai had always been untainted by a speck of dust, pure and noble. Yet now, his collar was stained with dust and covered in bloodstains.
Thinking back to when he received the invitation a few days ago, Elder Nanfeng had also been quite surprised. Everyone said that Xie Yutai practiced the Way of Supreme Emotionlessness, maintaining a detached and indifferent demeanor. He possessed no threads of passion and naturally would not fall for anyone. Even though Miss Qin of the Tiantong Sect had long declared that she would marry no one but him, others merely treated it as a joke, and no one believed the two would ever become Dao companions.
To their surprise, they actually did. Even Elder Nanfeng felt a touch of sentimentality.
The world envied Xie Yutai for achieving fame at such a young age and possessing an invincible sword intent. However, those of them who were several hundred years older understood that the Way of Supreme Emotionlessness was truly not easy. Since historical records began, only one person had successfully achieved ascension through the Way of Supreme Emotionlessness, hailing from the Guiyuan Sect. Since then, no one else had been able to master this cultivation method until Xie Yutai appeared.
The moment the youth obtained the Way of Supreme Emotionlessness, he became the most solitary person in the world.
He had no master, no friends, and no romantic love. He relied entirely on himself to forge a path in the Dao of the sword.
If he could truly meet a kindred spirit to ascend the immortal path together, they would naturally be happy for him. Who could have anticipated that such an event would transpire at the covenant ceremony?
Now, although he had slain Jiang Yuanzhi, he had also lost his eyes. It was truly a case of joy turning into sorrow, a world of difference from his past days.
Could this be the destiny of those who practiced the Way of Supreme Emotionlessness? Whether voluntary or forced, they were doomed to sever their threads of passion and destined to be alone.
Elder Nanfeng shifted the topic and said slowly, “However, our sect has never excelled in the study of talismans. The Shapo Sect specializes in the gates of profound mysteries, and the Yasheng Sect focuses solely on the methods of talismans. They should have a way to resolve this. Coincidentally, the Sect Master of the Yasheng Sect has not yet left after coming to discuss matters; he is currently residing in our sect.”
Xie Yutai pondered for a long moment. “I happen to be heading to the Shapo Sect.”
The Shapo Sect? In the past, Xie Yutai did not have much connection with this sect. Why was he going there? A trace of doubt flashed through Qin Zhizhi’s mind, but since it certainly had nothing to do with her, she dismissed it immediately.
Su Qingyi chimed in from the side, saying, “Isn’t that perfect? Senior Brother Xie will go to the Shapo Sect, and we will return to the Heguang Sect, so neither party will be delayed. Miss Qin, you should follow Senior Brother Xie.”
Elder Nanfeng’s gaze fell back onto Qin Zhizhi.
She looked like her. Looking closer, she still looked like her.
His surprised sound from earlier carried three parts confusion and seven parts astonishment. It was for no other reason than the fact that this lady, who appeared delicate, weak, and completely devoid of cultivation, looked very much like the female cultivator from the Tiantong Sect who used to chase after Xie Yutai. Although Nanfeng was old and did not care much about external gossip, he had still heard rumors. That Miss Qin Zhizhi was the direct martial sister of the Tiantong Sect Master Fu Xingyun, and the treasure in the palm of the old Sect Master Qin Xiuyuan. She was born bright and radiant, pampered since childhood, getting whatever she desired.
Although the Miss Qin before him was small in stature and pale in complexion, appearing much weaker and quieter by comparison, a close look revealed that her facial features still bore a thirty to forty percent resemblance. Most importantly, the occasional flying spirit in her brows and eyes was practically identical.
For such a coincidence to exist in the world. He did not know whether it was a blessing or a curse for an ordinary person like her.
He thought the young lady before him would agree immediately, but to his surprise, Qin Zhizhi thought for a moment and said decisively, “This is inappropriate. Immortal Xie possesses formidable strength and needs to travel by sword. Carrying an ordinary person like me would inevitably be a burden. It would be better for him to travel alone to save time. I can follow the members of the Heguang Sect and return with Elder Nanfeng. We can exchange messages with Immortal Xie in a timely manner. In case the Shapo Sect lacks a method to break it, it won’t delay him for too long.”
Her layout was coordinated, rational, and well-argued. In the end, it all boiled down to one sentence: she did not want to be alone with Xie Yutai.
Do not ask why; if you ask, it was simply unnecessary.
As the saying goes, a qualified ex should be as quiet as if they were dead, let alone the fact that she really had died. What did Xie Yutai’s future have to do with Qin Zhizhi? She was a prequel that had already passed, and she yearned for a new life more than anyone else.
Speaking of which, Xie Yutai was indeed quite decent. Although she did not know what her death had to do with Jiang Yuanzhi, Jiang Yuanzhi had been slain regardless. At least on the surface, her great vengeance had been avenged, which could be considered a fulfillment of Qin Zhizhi’s past infatuation. After settling this matter, Xie Yutai’s disrupted life would finally return to its proper track slowly, and he would continue to walk his grand path of immortal cultivation.
He would never have to worry about someone sticking to him like chewing gum ever again.
The moment Qin Zhizhi finished speaking, Su Qingyi discovered a blind spot. “What if the Shapo Sect happens to have the solution? Wouldn’t you have to make another trip then?”
Lu Yuandao immediately tugged her sleeve and gave a light cough. “Junior Sister, come over here with me for a moment.”
Su Qingyi was still oblivious as she was led to the side by Lu Yuandao. The two of them stood under the eaves of the tavern whispering to each other. They were quite far from Xie Yutai and Elder Nanfeng, but their distance from Qin Zhizhi was acceptable. The gentle breeze carried a few scattered sentences, floating intermittently into Qin Zhizhi’s ears.
“The name is the same, she looks like her.”
“cannot see.”
“the two of them were holding hands there.”
“Ah, then Senior Brother Jun.”
“Facing each other night and day it’s hard to guarantee it won’t.”
Qin Zhizhi was puzzled.
She felt like something was amiss.
Before she could snap out of it, Lu Yuandao and Su Qingyi walked over together, the expressions on their faces very solemn. Su Qingyi said seriously, “Miss Qin, I think what you said is very correct. You should still return to the Heguang Sect with us!”
Lu Yuandao also agreed, “Yes, Uncle-Master Nanfeng, Miss Qin is a helpless woman, so it is safer for her to travel with us. Besides, Junior Brother Jun is still there; we must bring her back to him completely intact no matter what.”
These two were truly wonderful wingmen.
Qin Zhizhi was overjoyed in her heart, but on the surface, she faintly repeated, “What if the Shapo Sect happens to have the solution? Wouldn’t I have to make another trip then?”
Elder Nanfeng burst into laughter and said, “There is no need to worry about that. I have two Shadow-Following Talismans here. You and young friend Xie can each take one, and you can teleport to the other’s side just by crushing it.”
The Shadow-Following Talisman was a very miraculous talisman that usually appeared in pairs. It allowed one to teleport instantly to the other person’s side after being crushed, though it also had limitations; it could only be used within the three sects and six factions. Because this talisman was very difficult to refine and its function was rather niche, generally only core disciples could occasionally obtain two, with the other end usually bound to their master or an elder.
Qin Zhizhi knew about this talisman, which was why she dared to directly propose separating from Xie Yutai. Her only difficulty had been how to bring up the Shadow-Following Talisman, since this talisman was only possessed by the three sects and six factions, and Qin Zhizhi of the Twelve Cities should not know about it.
She really had to thank this pair of clever little rascals, Su Qingyi and Lu Yuandao.
After receiving the talisman, Qin Zhizhi stood beside Lu Yuandao and Su Qingyi, quietly watching Xie Yutai converse with Nanfeng. The two were presumably discussing the matter of Fotan. For Fotan to be completely slaughtered by Dan Wuning overnight was definitely no small matter for the cultivation world; she feared the demon race was planning an even larger move.
After speaking, Nanfeng’s face turned somewhat grave, and he nodded with a sigh.
Following his conversation with Elder Nanfeng, Xie Yutai turned his body slightly. Because Qin Zhizhi was right next to Elder Nanfeng, the two of them were now directly facing each other. Xie Yutai was very tall, while Qin Zhizhi was somewhat short, only reaching his chest.
Xie Yutai’s movements paused slightly as his right hand rested on his sword hilt, and he lowered his head slightly. If not for the white silk cloth covering his eyes, Qin Zhizhi would have suspected he was looking at her.
She pretended not to notice, merely lowering her head to stare at the upper part of Xie Yutai’s shoes in a daze.
Lu Yuandao and Su Qingyi bid farewell to Xie Yutai respectively.
Qin Zhizhi then saw the shoe upper embroidered with cloud patterns move slightly, turning in a different direction and kicking up a small amount of dust. Under everyone’s gaze, Xie Yutai transformed into a beam of blue light, departing by sword.
“I wonder if Fellow Daoist Xie will be fine alone, since his eyes are now also.” Lu Yuandao remarked softly from the side.
Only then did Qin Zhizhi raise her head, watching Xie Yutai’s vanishing silhouette, temporarily losing herself in thought.
Elder Nanfeng drew a flying Dharma treasure from his universe bag and tossed it into midair. A single flower petal instantly transformed into a massive lotus flower. He tapped a few Heguang Sect disciples who were still unconscious, settling them onto the Dharma treasure, and then urged Qin Zhizhi and the others to hurry up. Seeing everyone was present, he smiled slightly and soared into the sky. “Sit tight now.”
Qin Zhizhi only felt the fierce wind brush against her cheeks, blowing her hair into a frenzy, leaving her entire being somewhat distracted. From her abdominal dissection to her rebirth, and up to the present moment, a few days had passed for others, but for her, it felt like only a brief instant. At this moment, she finally had the time to sort through her emotions, and Qin Zhizhi began to contemplate her future path.
The Corpse-Freezing Talisman absolutely had to be undone, there was no need to see Xie Yutai ever again, and she absolutely had to return to the Tiantong Sect. She was still thinking longingly about her large saber.
Qin Zhizhi earnestly calculated how she could return to the Tiantong Sect.
Meanwhile, Lu Yuandao and Su Qingyi were checking on the several disciples who were still unconscious one by one. Seeing that they had simply passed out, they finally walked over to Elder Nanfeng’s side and sat down peacefully.
Seeing Lu Yuandao approach, Elder Nanfeng glanced at the quiet Qin Zhizhi and spoke in a low voice, “I just recalled, is there another Miss Qin within our sect?”