Jinshu sat back down, casting a small spell to dry both of them off.
The cat nibbled on the leaves, making soft, rustling sounds. Jinshu stretched out her hand. “Can I have a little?”
Having gotten her wish, she pinched a leaf and brought it to the cat’s mouth.
This time, the cat obediently leaned its head over, contentedly munching on the still-fresh green leaf.
Its rough, sticky tongue slid across her palm, the fine barbs on its underside tickling Jinshu and making her shake her hand slightly.
On her jade-white wrist hung a string of sparkling bracelets. The decorations hanging from them resembled either crystal beads or budding flower buds, emitting a perfectly balanced glow—cool yet warm, as if capturing the light of the full moon and stars.
The slight movement of her wrist caused the ornaments on the bracelets to gently collide, producing a crisp, wind-chime-like sound.
“This bracelet is quite special,” the boy praised.
This bracelet was actually Banyu transformed. As a Spiritual Artifact, its offensive power wasn’t particularly strong; its most wondrous feature was its ability to change shape according to its owner’s will, making it unpredictable.
“Pretty, right?” Jinshu held up the sparkling bracelet. “Unfortunately, it’s not mine.”
The statement was cryptic, and the boy didn’t quite grasp its meaning.
Jinshu didn’t know how to explain. Banyu originally belonged to the body’s previous owner. Now, for reasons unknown, she had taken over this body. Although she hadn’t forcibly seized it, she still felt somewhat guilty, always subconsciously feeling as if she had stolen someone else’s belongings.
Whenever she saw the bracelet, waves of guilt washed over her even more intensely.
She sighed heavily, only to hear Chen Fuzhou say in a strange tone, “Did you steal it?”
This guy really had a way with words.
Jinshu didn’t want to bear such a heavy accusation and quickly denied it. “No, it’s just that I’m not good at explaining, but I definitely didn’t obtain it through wrongdoing.”
“But it looks like a Spiritual Artifact that recognizes its master. Look at its luster, and the Spiritual Power radiating from it. The artifact and its owner nourish each other—it clearly recognizes you as its master.”
Jinshu was stunned. “Really?”
“After what you just said, it might even feel hurt.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Jinshu indeed felt a warmth emanating from her wrist. Banyu’s glow also became much brighter, catching the cat’s attention. Its dark eyes fixed on the bracelet, and it raised a paw to swipe at her wrist.
She quickly withdrew her hand, and Chen Fuzhou pressed down on the cat’s rear. The little cat let out a few helpless meows before settling back down obediently.
“Little Senior Sister, is this what’s keeping you up at night?” The boy’s voice carried a hint of drowsiness. “Although I don’t know exactly how you obtained it, I don’t think you’re that kind of malicious person.”
Jinshu nodded, honestly admitting, “I didn’t use any underhanded tricks. It’s just that I myself don’t understand why I ended up with something that wasn’t originally mine.”
“Then why let it trouble you?” Jinshu was taken aback by the boy’s words. He emphasized, “Why should you suffer for something that isn’t your fault?”
That simple sentence actually calmed most of the unease in Jinshu’s heart over having taken over someone else’s life. It was like a lost boat suddenly catching a faint glimpse of land.
Although the youth did not know what truly troubled her, he still earnestly said, “If you’re really suffering, then find a way to return it.”
Jinshu was about to say she didn’t know how to return it when he continued as if foreseeing her thoughts, “If you don’t know how to resolve it, then try to compensate that person more. Although I believe the Spiritual Artifact chooses its master on its own, if you truly cannot reconcile with it, then try to make it up to him as much as possible.”
Jinshu stared blankly at her wrist for a moment, then a slight smile lifted the corners of her mouth. She nodded emphatically, nearly straining her neck.
“You’re really a good person,” she sighed sincerely. “You speak like a psychologist—it sounds so comforting. I feel like all my anxiety is gone now. I’ll probably sleep straight through until noon tomorrow!”
The youth asked curiously, “What’s a psychologist?”
Only then did Jinshu realize she had spoken too hastily. She hurriedly explained, “It means I think you’re my confidant, a good friend who understands me deeply! When you speak, it’s like a breeze blowing away all my worries. If possible, I hope we can talk more in the future!”
Chen Fuzhou gazed at her smile, fell silent for a moment, and then said in a strange tone, “This is the first time someone has described me that way.”
Jinshu cheerfully replied, “That’s because they lack discerning eyes and can’t see your goodness. I’m different! Since I was little, everyone who has met me has praised my eyes for being beautiful—bright and round, able to tell good from bad at a glance!”
A few barely audible chuckles escaped him. “Is that so?”
Jinshu puffed out her cheeks proudly. “And besides, my hearing is exceptionally sharp! As soon as I heard your voice, I knew you must be a good person! With such a pleasant voice, you should speak more often!”
“It’s just a pity no one talks with me usually.”
Jinshu frowned and comforted him, “How could that be? It must be because you’re always stuck in this dreary Rear Mountain, so no one keeps you company.”
“That’s not it. It’s just that the people I want to talk to don’t particularly like me, so they’re unwilling to speak with me.”
Jinshu detected a hint of grievance in his words. With a serious expression, she patted the youth’s head, adopting the demeanor of an elder sister. “Then from now on, let me keep you company and talk with you.”
Chen Fuzhou paused at the intimate gesture, stood up somewhat flustered, and bid farewell, “Senior Sister, you should rest early.”
“Will you come play with me tomorrow?” Jinshu widened her eyes, full of anticipation. “I still have to stay here alone for six more days! It’s so boring. Please, come keep me company.”
Her words carried a coquettish, hook-like charm. Chen Fuzhou nodded, then vanished into the night with the tortoiseshell in his arms.
Freed from her worries, Jinshu slept soundly.
She slept until the sun was high in the sky. But the next day, she waited anxiously by the agreed-upon lake all day, only to find that the unreliable junior brother never showed up.
On the third day, clinging to hope, she waited another day. Yet the empty lake didn’t even have half a fish to keep the appointment, as if mocking her for being stood up.
By the fourth day, Jinshu could no longer contain herself. Sitting by the lake, she hurled stones into the water and grumbled fiercely, “Liar, fibber, bad junior brother.”
The stone shattered the tranquil surface of the lake, sending ripples spreading outward. Jinshu stood up, brushed off her skirt, and vowed never to wait for him by this lake again. Just then, a voice from behind asked, “Little girl, I’ve been watching you for two days. What exactly are you doing here? Aren’t you bored?”
A reclusive master?
Jinshu turned around in pleasant surprise, only to see that the speaker was merely an old man. His appearance was ordinary, yet his face bore a kindly expression. His slightly curved eyes and the wrinkles on his face made him look exceptionally gentle and affectionate—like the most ordinary old man one might see anywhere, the kind you’d forget the moment you looked away.
How could such a person appear in the Rear Mountain? Jinshu cautiously took two steps back.
“What? Do you think I’m a bad person? Why are you so wary, girl? Judging by your attire, you’re not an outer disciple, are you? Which elder’s disciple are you? I was invited by your Sect Leader to stay here permanently not long ago, so it’s normal that you haven’t seen me before.”
Jinshu still didn’t answer, merely pursing her lips. The old man sighed helplessly and continued to explain, “I’m just an ordinary person, with no magical abilities whatsoever. I was only invited here to retire because I have some friendship with your Sect Leader. Besides, the Tianxuan Sect is covered by the Divine Vein Array, which connects to every elder. If I were to attack you here, I’d be subdued within three breaths. Don’t you have the confidence to hold out against an ordinary old man like me for that long?”
What the old man said wasn’t false. The Tianxuan Sect was enveloped by the Divine Vein Array. If a malicious person were to act within the Sect, the elders would detect it almost simultaneously.
Moreover, the old man wore simple cloth clothes, his expression was amiable, and he had not a trace of magical energy around him—truly no different from an ordinary person.
Jinshu bowed respectfully. “This junior is a disciple of Xuanqing Zhenren.”
“‘Who in the clouds sends a brocade letter?'” The old man paused. “A good name. What about your parents? Are they well?”
A fleeting trace of sorrowful reminiscence flashed in the old man’s weathered eyes, though his smile remained unchanged.
Jinshu straightened up and answered honestly, “My parents are both well. This name was chosen simply because I liked the poem.”
“You’re a fortunate child, spared the pain of separation. That’s a good thing. There’s no need to be so formal with me. I’m just an ordinary person. My surname is Fei. Since fate has brought us together, you can call me Grandpa.”
Jinshu smiled and nodded in agreement. “Grandpa Fei.”
“Let me ask you, why have you been coming here day after day to wait?”
Thinking of Chen Fuzhou, Jinshu felt a surge of frustration but didn’t voice it. “It’s nothing. I’m just looking for a mischievous cat.”
“A cat?” The old man glanced around. “I haven’t seen any cats nearby.”
Jinshu frowned as he continued, “I’ve been here for some time now and have never seen any cats.”
How strange. If this old man was here to retire, why would he come to the desolate Rear Mountain?
Suspicion arose in Jinshu’s heart. Just as she was about to ask, she heard echoes reverberating through the mountains: “Little Junior Sister, where are you?”
The voice belonged to a woman, calling out loudly again and again, startling the birds in the quiet Rear Mountain into flight.
The old man looked up toward the sky where the birds were taking flight and said, “Little Junior Sister? Is she referring to you?”
“Huh?” Jinshu was confused. “How could it be me?”
But as soon as she finished speaking, several elongated objects, carried by a fierce wind, shot straight toward the two of them. Jinshu leaped aside, dodging the swift and precise hidden weapons, and only after landing did she remember that the target wasn’t just her—there was also the ordinary old man beside her, who possessed no Spiritual Power.
A sense of dread washed over her, but when she looked up, Old Man Yan stood unharmed to the side, curiously examining the hidden weapons embedded in the ground.
“Little Junior Sister, I finally found you! It seems Master didn’t lie to me—you’ve truly improved, managing to dodge my iron flute!”
Only then did Jinshu get a clear look at the objects on the ground. They were long flutes, though they appeared to be made of iron, lacking the elegance of ordinary musical instruments.
The woman who had been calling out loudly earlier on the Rear Mountain also landed. With a wave of her hand, several iron flutes rose from the soil, stirring up clouds of dust, and returned to her waist.