Feng Yuejiu could be said to have turned misfortune into fortune. After this complete transformation, not only did his appearance and height return to that of a normal man in his twenties, but he also unexpectedly awakened the Water Command Token.
He soon woke up, and the watery ripple mark between his brows faded away.
Feng Lao was somewhat anxious and insisted that he try to activate the Water Command Token again.
Feng Yuejiu crossed his hands in a seal, murmuring incantations under his breath. Soon, the watery ripple mark reappeared. He pushed his hands toward the cold pond, and the water immediately rose in a surge, flowing continuously with his movements.
Feng Lao was finally satisfied, hugging Feng Yuejiu and praising him endlessly.
·
The Feng family’s matter was thus settled. Feng Lao expressed endless gratitude, sending a car to take us back and stuffing gifts into our trunk one after another.
Liu Xuanyi refused: “Feng Lao, the gratitude we wanted, you have already given. There’s no need for this.”
Feng Lao glanced at me and sighed, saying, “Huai Yan is a good child, but it’s a pity…”
He paused, speaking earnestly: “The Feng family’s ancestors suffered heavy losses, and the Water Command Token was lost for over a dozen generations, leaving the entire clan with nothing to rely on. Among the four great families, we are the weakest. Fifth Master Chang, what I can give, the other two families may not be willing to offer!”
Liu Xuanyi smiled: “That is not something for Feng Lao to worry about.”
On the way back, I repeatedly pondered Feng Lao’s words.
What Feng Lao gave was the Plum Blossom Coffin Nail marked ‘Shen.’ He mentioned that the other two families might not be willing to give theirs, meaning the Zhu family and the Bai family likely also hold Plum Blossom Coffin Nails.
Even the Chang family might have one.
I glanced at Liu Xuanyi. He had his eyes closed, and I thought he was asleep, but then I heard him say, “Ask whatever you want.”
I bit my lip but ultimately gave up.
The matter of the Plum Blossom Coffin Nails should not be forced. The more I ask, the more troubles arise.
I changed the subject: “Liu Xuanyi, does the Yin Escort Bureau accept any escort mission, regardless of good or bad?”
Liu Xuanyi asked curiously, “Why do you ask that?”
I sat up straight and said seriously, “It is said that Gu Fusheng died away from home because he was fleeing from enemies, and he himself died from the backlash of his Inner Elixir. When you accepted his escort mission, didn’t you know about this?”
“Has that White Fox come to see you?”
Liu Xuanyi keenly grasped the key point, his vertical pupils narrowing slightly as he stared at me intently.
I could only confess everything: “His name is Hu Jinzhao. Gu Fusheng forcibly extracted his sister’s Inner Elixir back then. He came to me hoping I could help ask if you had seen his sister’s Inner Elixir.”
“So you concluded that the Yin Escort Bureau doesn’t distinguish between good and bad, accepting any escort mission?”
Liu Xuanyi rarely spoke so aggressively, and I suddenly felt unsure: “But you did transport Gu Fusheng’s body back.”
“Gu Fusheng did not ultimately die from backlash; he ended his own life.”
Liu Xuanyi pinched the bridge of his nose, looking somewhat weary: “When he found me, the meridians in his body had already begun to protrude, growing white fur, taking on the initial form of Bai Hou. He confessed to me and begged me to help him find release.”
I was puzzled: “His Bai Hou form didn’t develop over the past hundred years after his death?”
Liu Xuanyi shook his head: “The Gu family’s ancestors had been in the fur trade for generations, accumulating too much sin from killing. The yin energy gathered within them, and they were targeted by someone with ill intentions who set a trap, aiming to refine Gu Fusheng.”
I was instantly enlightened: “Peeling the four-tailed white fox alive and devouring its Inner Elixir were all just to strip him of the protection of the Household Guardian Immortal and accumulate killing karma along the way. The moment he fled to another place, his death warrant was sealed.”
“I cannot allow such a corpse beast to wander outside, controlled by others,” Liu Xuanyi said. “I took on his escort mission with a clear conscience.”
I hugged his arm and agreed, “You did the right thing. Thinking back now, the Lu who appeared the night White Fox intercepted the escort mission must be connected to the person who refined Gu Fusheng.”
“That night, when White Fox and Lu appeared together, I thought they were in cahoots. I never expected White Fox had other motives for intercepting the escort mission.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “What a huge misunderstanding this is. You misunderstood him as being in league with Lu, while he thought you had hidden Gu Fusheng’s corpse for a hundred years just to avoid him. All that fighting was for nothing.”
“Back then, Gu Fusheng begged me to help him separate the four-tailed white fox’s Inner Elixir from his body, but the Inner Elixir had already been tainted by the corpse beast’s Malevolent Energy. I had no choice but to find another way to transcend the Inner Elixir.”
Liu Xuanyi looked at me. “Give me a few days to recover, then contact Hu Jinzhao.”
I nodded eagerly. “He agreed to come find me in a week. You focus on healing your injuries; there’s no rush.”
Liu Xuanyi escorted me back to the courtyard house and prepared to go to Dragon Locking Valley to recuperate. Before leaving, he warned me not to wander off. That Lu was no pushover, and since I had repeatedly thwarted his plans, he would certainly not let the matter rest.
Everything would have to wait until he returned.
Over the next few days, I peacefully practiced breathing exercises at home. Whenever I encountered difficulties, I would pester Liu Songyu to teach me.
Each time, Liu Songyu would act utterly disgusted, offering impatient pointers that always hit the mark.
When I sat cross-legged to continue my breathing exercises, she would sit beside me, watching until she drifted into a daze.
Amused, I nudged her. “If you keep staring like that, I’m going to get shy.”
Ugh!
Liu Songyu pretended to gag, making both of us burst into laughter. Then she murmured, “When you’re not talking, you really do look like my sister Liu Zhen.”
I was taken aback and seized the opportunity to ask, “You and Liu Zhen must have been very close.”
“Of course!” Liu Songyu’s eyes grew distant. “Sister Liu Zhen was like a deity to our clan. She was the most selfless, the greatest, the absolute best person in this world. No one could ever replace her in my heart.”
No wonder she had been so hostile when she first met me.
Back then, I thought it was because she liked Liu Xuanyi and resented me. Now I understood she was simply defending her sister Liu Zhen.
I gently probed further, “She and Liu Xuanyi must have been very close too, right?”
“They were supposed to get married.” Liu Songyu’s face fell. “But for some reason, Sister Liu Zhen suddenly rejected Fifth Brother. They had a huge fight over it, and Fifth Brother left the Chang family because of it. They never saw each other again.”
I never expected the story to unfold this way and was momentarily at a loss for words.
“That’s why I don’t understand why Fifth Brother fell for you after meeting you.”
Liu Songyu looked at me with disdain. “He clearly liked girls like Sister Liu Zhen—low-maintenance, capable, and skilled. But you? You can’t do anything and only cause trouble. Yet he dotes on you and indulges you. Tell me, why would he do that?”
“…”
How would I know why? I was clearly the passive one in this situation.
Though being called out so bluntly by the straightforward Liu Songyu made me feel a bit awkward and uncomfortable, I had to admit she was right.
Liu Xuanyi truly was very tolerant toward me.
Liu Songyu placed both hands on my shoulders and said earnestly, “Huai Yan, have you ever thought about what you would do if my sister Liu Zhen suddenly returned one day?”