Chapter 6: They’re Still Fiancés

Lin Shijin plunged straight into the cold spring. The moment he saw Sheng Rufei’s face, he had a vague idea of what had happened. It was most likely the soul-bond acting up again.

But hadn’t Sheng Rufei promised not to tamper with the soul-bond at will?

His robes were soaked through. The spring wasn’t deep enough to pose any danger of drowning, but it was bitterly cold, the water like thawing winter snow, a chill mist curling above its surface.

A red thread bound their wrists together. In his panic, Lin Shijin had clutched at the only source of warmth; now he and Sheng Rufei were pressed very close, his arms looped tightly around him.

Because he had appeared out of thin air and practically dropped from the heavens, Sheng Rufei had caught him by instinct.

—So cold, so cold, so cold.

Was Sheng Rufei a bit deranged? Soaking in a cold spring at this time of year? Judging by the look of things, he must soak every single day. Plenty of elders claimed cold springs were good for one’s cultivation.

“Sixteenth shixiong, you… what on earth is going on?”

Lin Shijin demanded, loosening his grip and trying to pull away. He hadn’t expected Sheng Rufei, who looked so cold, to be so warm to the touch.

He knew he ought to let go, yet felt reluctant. Slowly, he released the youth leaning against the spring’s edge and scrubbed the water from his face.

“What did we agree two shichen ago? It hasn’t even been a day.” Lin Shijin began his reckoning, shivering violently.

Cold and belatedly angry, he glared at him.

Sheng Rufei was staring down at his fingertips, rubbing them lightly. His tone was a little stiff.

“I didn’t mean to.”

Just that one explanation. Lin Shijin felt he really ought to seize the chance to scold him. He still had no idea what this soul-bond was good for. At first it merely controlled him; now it summoned him at will. It was even more convenient than a teleportation technique.

He assembled his words, determined to warn Sheng Rufei not to push his luck. Yet as soon as he looked up, he met that face. It was usually so cold, and that ruthless glint when they were in the Misty Mountain cave still fresh in his memory.

Now Sheng Rufei’s lashes were lowered, gaze fixed on his own hands, and Lin Shijin’s words faltered. The protagonist-shou truly lived up to the title; when he wasn’t wearing an icy mask, his looks were absurdly distracting.

Lin Shijin averted his gaze and looked at Sheng Rufei’s fingers instead. Just now, those fingertips had brushed his waist.

“That won’t do. If you start going back on your word, am I supposed let you run wild whenever you please?”

Not looking at Sheng Rufei’s face eased his nerves. He said peevishly, “Tomorrow we’ll ask Shizun again how to undo the soul-bond.”

“If not Shizun, then the Scripture Inquiry Pavilion or the Library Pavilion.”

“There won’t be a next time,” Sheng Rufei said coolly.

“You’d better not,” Lin Shijin muttered reflexively.

Sheng Rufei looked at him without expression. Lin Shijin shut his mouth again. Something was wrong. Why was Sheng Rufei acting so righteous after causing the problem, as if he were the one overreacting?

He grew irritated. “Once I find a way to break this soul-bond, we’ll separate amicably.”

Sheng Rufei replied with a quiet “Mm,” and said no more.

There was no holding a conversation with this block of wood. Three sticks couldn’t knock a word out of him, and his face was always so cold.

Lin Shijin grumbled inwardly, belatedly remembering he was still in the cold spring and sneezed violently. He absolutely had to find a way to break this contract.

What if something like last time happened again? There were so many stock-investor gongs around Sheng Rufei; if Sheng Rufei ever dragged him along during some crisis, he might well suffer the consequences alongside him.

He wanted to climb out of the icy spring, but hesitated. He stared for a while at the red thread around Sheng Rufei’s wrist, then asked, “You dragged me here. Can’t you send me back?”

His clothes were dripping, and if he walked back like this he’d freeze solid. Sheng Rufei had already hauled him here. Why wouldn’t he send him back?

Sheng Rufei: “…”

Of course he couldn’t. Lin Shijin climbed out on his own, and Sheng Rufei cast a spell to dry him off. Then he left the spring as well, seemingly to escort him back.

As Sheng Rufei stepped out, Lin Shijin glanced over. He hadn’t seen clearly in the pool, but now that he was fully covered, his clothes manifested at once, collar fastened at the top, revealing nothing.

Their courtyards weren’t far apart. After all that fuss, it was already late. Lin Shijin had effectively taken a bath and went straight to bed.

The next morning, he was up before dawn to go to class with Sheng Rufei.

By the time they reached the Sword Pavilion he was barely conscious, utterly exhausted. The sky was still dark; hardly any disciples came this early.

Sheng Rufei ignored him entirely, practising his sword on his own. Lin Shijin tried to practise too, but he was too tired. He had forced himself up early just to avoid earning Sheng Rufei’s displeasure.

After a short while he put down his sword, his head bobbing with sleepiness as he watched Sheng Rufei. Soon he nodded off.

“Why are you sleeping here?” A familiar voice sounded. Lin Shijin opened his eyes. It was barely dawn, and the disciple before him was Jing Qiuhong, one of the sect leader’s disciples.

Jing Qiuhong was the only one in the Sword Pavilion he got along with; he hardly spoke to the others. Jing Qiuhong liked reading picture-story books, so they shared a few topics.

Lin Shijin woke up properly and instinctively looked for Sheng Rufei. Sheng Rufei had finished his practice, sheathed his sword, and walked past him without even glancing his way, face cold as ever.

“The elder complained to my shizun. I’ll have to attend lessons with my shixiong from now on,” Lin Shijin said.

Jing Qiuhong understood at once, giving him a “my god, you’re unlucky” look. He glanced in the direction Sheng Rufei had gone, and only after he was far away did he whisper:

“Same here. Xue-shixiong’s been sent to Forbidden Mountain, so Su-shixiong is in charge and he’s strict.”

“Will you have to get up at second watch every day?”

Lin Shijin nodded. They walked into the hall together. Jing Qiuhong murmured, “Sheng Rufei can’t stand the slightest fault. If you’ve fallen into his hands, your life won’t be easy.”

“Shizun only wants me to attend lessons with him. He doesn’t really manage me.”

“If he truly doesn’t manage you, that’s fine,” Jing Qiuhong whispered, “but if Shizun actually puts him in charge of you, you’re finished.”

“Plenty of disciples say Sheng Rufei strictly follows the sect rules. He can’t stand rule-breakers. With how unruly you are, your sitting posture alone might annoy him.”

Lin Shijin wasn’t bothered. He was more concerned about the soul-bond. They chose seats at the very back, deliberately as far from Sheng Rufei as possible.

“Do you know how to break a soul-bond?” Lin Shijin asked.

Jing Qiuhong was well-connected in the Scripture Inquiry Pavilion. There was practically nothing within the three thousand generations that he didn’t know.

“Soul-bond? Which sort do you mean?” He launched into a long explanation: “There are many kinds. Ones with beasts, ones with humans, ones involving demonic cultivators. But no matter which kind, they are not easy to break.”

After all, souls locked together are extremely troublesome to separate.

“None of those,” Lin Shijin muttered. “It’s the one on the marriage contract.”

“On the marriage contract?” Jing Qiuhong looked surprised. “I’ve never heard of that. Who binds a soul-bond to a marriage contract? Wouldn’t that mean the couple must stay together?”

Lin Shijin thought so too, which was why he was so perplexed. More disciples arrived, and the elders entered.

“You can try the Library Pavilion. Might be something in the ancient texts.”

Jing Qiuhong was about to continue when he suddenly sensed a cold gaze. He looked up and saw Sheng Rufei staring at him from not too far away, eyes unpleasant.

A chill ran down his spine. The Sword Pavilion elder was approaching; he’d better stop talking.

So he shut his mouth immediately.

Lin Shijin noticed Jing Qiuhong ignoring him and poked his arm. Usually they played cards or guessed talismans during class. Today, nothing.

Jing Qiuhong glanced at him and made a “be quiet” gesture, meaning he should listen properly while the elder lectured.

Lin Shijin: “…”

The elder began lecturing. Before Sheng Rufei, a tiny figure appeared of his little shidi woven from red thread. The little fellow poked the disciple beside him.

When ignored, he shuffled cards alone, then sprawled on the desk doodling. After scribbling two turtles on the table, and finally fell asleep.

He slept without a care in the world, head resting lazily on his arm, nodding gently while the elder droned on.

Sheng Rufei lowered his eyes to the text. These teaching texts had been compiled by him personally; he knew every word.

Teaching wasn’t easy for the elders, and considering he had edited these texts, they shouldn’t be so dull as to put someone to sleep.

His brown eyes lifted slightly, reflecting the little figure snoring on the desk. His expression remained cool as he reached out and prodded the tiny head.

The little fellow’s head dipped slightly. No reaction.

Only his backside shifted to a more comfortable position.

Lin Shijin slept on his desk. The elder’s lecture was basically scripture-chanting. Whoever wrote the texts… they were so dull he could fall asleep after two lines.

Perhaps because he’d been listening to scripture all morning, he dreamt of someone chanting. The voice becoming Sheng Rufei’s, coldly staring at him.

At the same time, he felt a tap on his head. He snapped awake, rubbing his forehead.

Instinctively he looked towards Sheng Rufei, then realised Sheng Rufei was now on the teaching platform. The elder was gone. Sheng Rufei was staring at him, expression cold.

Jing Qiuhong whispered, “You’re done for. He’s been watching you for at least half a shichen. Anyone who misbehaves,  Sheng Rufei would usually punish them to copy the sect rules.

“I admire you. Being watched that long and still sleeping soundly.”

Lin Shijin rubbed the red mark on his face, then touched his head. He wanted to ask whether Jing Qiuhong had been the one to wake him. Before he could, what Jing Qiuhong said caught his attention and he responded: “He won’t punish me. I only slept a little.”

Besides, they’re still fiancés. And fellow disciples.

“Aaa, you’ve been here a month. How do you still not know that Sheng Rufei is strict?”

A moment later, Lin Shijin heard his name.

Sheng Rufei stood on the platform, cold and unapproachable despite his youth. His voice was clear and level.

“Lin Shijin. Five hundred copies of the sect rules. Hand them in within three days.”