Lin Shijin felt a little dazed. He didn’t want to lose his memory, and he certainly didn’t want to develop feelings for Feng Rugao; just thinking about it made his scalp tingle.
He asked hesitantly, “You mean a Daoist partner… what if it isn’t?”
After all, he and Feng Rugao were not Daoist partners, and a past-life connection of that sort seemed even more unlikely. He and Sheng Rufei, however, might have a chance. After all, they were bound by a soul-bond.
Jing Qiuhong was somewhat speechless. “If it isn’t a Daoist partner, why cast a love spell? It’s unlikely one would even cast a spell on their own disciple… there are only very rare exceptions.”
Another possibility, though, was simpler: it might indicate the caster’s obsessive attachment. Even if the person wasn’t a Daoist partner, they could still harbour an overwhelming possessive desire.
“Why are you spending all day researching this? No one’s going to put a love spell on you, so don’t overthink it,” Jing Qiuhong said casually, assuming Lin Shijin was meddling in other people’s affairs. He patted Lin Shijin on the shoulder. “Don’t get involved in others’ romantic entanglements, or you’ll only end up trapped yourself.”
Lin Shijin: “…”
Slightly exasperated, Lin Shijin thought Jing Qiuhong was a little unreliable. He decided to wait until class ended before heading to the library.
They arrived at the Sword Pavilion. Elder Song had arrived early, and the two returned to their seats, one after the other.
Elder Song said, “Today we won’t cover anything else. We’ll focus on your recent training.”
Lin Shijin’s spirits lifted. He had many questions about this training and wanted Elder Song to answer them.
“Your training has just concluded. After discussion among the elders, the mission is considered a complete failure. This exercise was unlike previous ones. Each group had its own stance and task.”
Elder Song continued, “I expect you’ve only just realised that everyone’s task was not as simple as it appeared. The tasks and roles assigned to you were specifically tailored by each peak’s elders, based on their understanding of you.”
No one spoke. They understood this, and they could also guess the elders’ intention: to make them recognise their shortcomings.
“All your missions were connected. The purpose was to save Yixiu City from destruction. A thousand years ago, Yixiu City was afflicted by an evil curse, originating from demons.”
“Among you in the city, some were scourge-slayers, some disciples of the immortal sects, some guards of the city lord’s manor, some ordinary citizens, and some demons disguised among them… Had you all been more alert, you might have saved the city.”
Elder Song sighed. “There are recording stones in the secret realm; the elders could see all your actions. As Scourge-Slayer Envoys, you focused solely on slaying demons, unaware that some were your former comrades. As immortal sect disciples, you failed to notice anomalies in the city lord’s manor, oblivious to the fact that the city lord had been controlled for days. As guards of the manor, you didn’t detect that demons originated there.”
“As ordinary citizens, you overlooked the growing corruption. The curse didn’t appear overnight. It accumulated over time, erupting on the day of the Ghost Exorcism Festival.”
“As demons among the city, you failed to notice disputes within your own kind. Those scourge-slayers afflicted by the curse… some retained their sanity, and that letter was delivered to the city lord’s manor.”
“The city’s factions are intertwined, and your identities spanned them all. The purpose of this mission was to teach you that actions cannot be judged solely by appearances.”
“Behind every appearance… there is always cause and effect.”
Elder Song’s words silenced the disciples. Lin Shijin felt clarity dawning; everything seemed to fit together.
“The mission originally had a longer deadline, yet not only did you fail to save Yixiu City, you caused its premature destruction.”
Elder Song spoke deliberately. He did not blame the disciples. The early demise of the city was due to other forces infiltrating the secret realm. The elders were still investigating.
His point was to teach them a lesson, especially the three assigned as scourge-slayers, who were all geniuses from their peak.
These three had an intense hatred of demons. Once inside the secret realm, they went on a spree, killing demons indiscriminately and collecting many jade fragments. Given their skill, they should have noticed something unusual. This revealed a truth indirectly. The three were cold-hearted, willing to kill even former subordinates, brothers, or loyal followers if they had become demons.
Perhaps the short time in the secret realm limited their exposure, but their flaw was still apparent.
A disciple raised a question from below.
“Those afflicted by the city’s curse become demons. Elder, should these demons be exterminated?”
Elder Song shook his head slightly. “Demons should be slain. The curse has been in the city for some time. Those you saw are afflicted, yes… but some retain their sanity.”
“Sanity makes them still human.”
Elder Song continued, “What if the cursed were not citizens, but your fellow disciples? What would you do?”
Naturally, they couldn’t kill their peers. A disciple spoke up.
“How can we tell if they retain their sanity?”
The demons in the secret realm were shrouded in swirling black mist. Even those who maintained their minds couldn’t be easily identified.
Elder Song smiled. “That’s the right question. A thousand years ago, whether cursed demons retained human consciousness… there was no way to know.”
“Some demons disguise themselves as humans. Initially low-level, they evolve over time, mimicking humans to deceive scourge-slayers.”
“You should be grateful to live in this era. There are no rampant curses today. A thousand years ago, Immortal Lord Fuheng personally sealed countless demons and curses in the Realm of Illusion. Today’s demons cannot be compared to those of a millennium ago.”
“You must have seen the devastation a rampant curse can cause. It could easily destroy a city.”
“Sending you to Yixiu City… was to ensure you remember the history of the immortal sect. The brief peace you enjoy now was bought with countless lives.”
Lin Shijin listened intently. Within the demon ranks, he had noticed no further oddities. He recalled the colossal statue in the underground demon city and the crane-patterned inscription in the envelope.
Many mysteries remained. He resolved to take notes and organise his thoughts.
Feng Qing had instructed him to visit Changming Hall every two days, so after class, he went to the library. He borrowed paper and pen and reviewed recent events:
- The city lord in Yixiu City had asked him, “Do you regret it?”
- The strange relationship between Su Lian and Xue Ning, and his inexplicable hunting of demons.
- The man in the crane-patterned robe who told him, “Come see me.”
- The meaning of the crane-patterned inscription.
- The need to break the Love Spell Lock.
After writing it all down, he highlighted the key point: the most urgent matter was to break the Love Spell Lock.
Thinking of this, Feng Rugao’s face appeared in his mind. In this world, Feng Rugao’s cultivation was nearly top-tier; it would be virtually impossible to break his love curse by external means.
Lin Shijin now put his soul-bond with Sheng Rufei last. He felt caught in a whirlpool, with many tasks awaiting him, as though an invisible thread were pulling him along.
He had come to the library hoping to find records. The book he took out detailed the history of the immortal sects. He flipped through it and found records of Fuheng.
Immortal Lord Fuheng was born three thousand lifetimes ago in a small city called Gusu. It existed a thousand years ago but vanished due to chaos caused by demons.
The book contained a drawing of a deity. Jing Qiuhong’s words echoed in Lin Shijin’s mind. He noticed a small shadow on Fuheng’s collarbone and earlobe. It matched the position of his own mole.
At that moment, he couldn’t help but wonder if his transmigration into this book was really a coincidence.
He replaced the book on the shelf, and just then, a voice called, “Young Master.” He turned to meet Feng Qing’s gaze.
“Young Master, Sword Master summons you to Changming Hall.”
Lin Shijin’s fingers twitched. Reluctant, he still had no choice. He had expected to wait two days, yet it was sooner than anticipated.
He followed Feng Qing out of the library.
“Shizun summoned me… could it be to enhance my innate talent?”
Feng Qing replied, “Young Master will understand when you see Sword Master.”
On the way, recalling Jing Qiuhong’s words, Lin Shijin hesitated. “Lord Feng, I heard today… that wearing the Love Lock for too long causes memory loss and other ill effects. Is that true?”
He didn’t want to lose his memory or develop feelings for Feng Rugao. Feng Qing paused, glancing back at the young man with some surprise. “Who told you that?”
“Nonsense,” Feng Qing said. “Sword Master cares for you and would never harm you. Besides, the Love Lock doesn’t make people forget. The Forget-Me-Not Grass does, perhaps.”
The young man, already not particularly bright, could scarcely imagine losing his memory.
Feng Qing advised, “Don’t overthink things. If you behave, Sword Master won’t keep you locked forever.”
Lin Shijin thought of how Feng Rugao had suppressed him with cultivation last time. He remained silent.
Soon they arrived at the familiar Changming Hall. Feng Qing went to Feng Rugao’s side. Lin Shijin, seeing the man on the main seat, numbly performed the disciple’s salute, his voice low:
“Disciple greets Shizun.”
As he knelt, the Changming Lock around his neck drooped, the thin chain binding him, and he felt a cold touch on his chin.
“Rise. You need not perform the disciple’s salute again in future.”
Lin Shijin’s lips pressed into a thin line as he replied, “Yes.” He disliked kneeling, and so rose to his feet.
Feng Rugao’s gaze fell on him. After a moment of silence, he asked, “How was today’s lesson?”
Lin Shijin answered politely, “Fine.”
He had heard everything he was meant to hear. He recalled Elder Song had stopped Sheng Rufei as he was leaving, probably due to the morning’s incident.
“Come every two days from now on,” Feng Rugao said, remaining seated in the main position. Feng Qing presented something, and a faint, delicate fragrance reached Lin Shijin’s nose.
Following the scent, he saw a cluster of snow-white lotus roots, whiter than any he had ever seen. They looked soft, almost alive, slowly shifting on the tray.
“Sword Master… should you explain this to the Young Master?” Feng Qing asked. Seeing that Feng Rugao did not object, he addressed Lin Shijin. “Young Master, this Snow Lotus Sacred Heart can enhance a cultivator’s innate talent. It is exceedingly rare and precious. While its effects are remarkable, there are initial side effects.”
Short-term side effects, which would not last long.
Lin Shijin’s lips turned slightly downward. He whispered, “What side effects?”
Before Feng Qing could answer, Lin Shijin continued, “The Snow Lotus Sacred Heart is extremely rare. Shizun, perhaps you should keep it for yourself. I don’t need to improve my cultivation.”
“I only wish to be an ordinary disciple,” he added, feeling Feng Rugao’s gaze. His fingertips tensed slightly, and his voice dropped lower. “I have no desire to deliberately enhance my innate talent.”
He would rather remain as he was than owe Feng Rugao a favour.
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Feng Rugao’s voice deepened. “It seems you still haven’t learned your lesson in Yixiu City. With low cultivation, you can only be controlled; no one will care for your feelings.”
True enough. Lin Shijin lowered his gaze, remaining silent. His fingertips brushed his palm, leaving a faint crescent-shaped mark.
“With higher cultivation… does that mean one may belittle others at will?”
He spoke softly, his voice low, almost fading at the end.
It was a rhetorical question. Feng Qing, listening from the side, was slightly surprised, instinctively glancing at his master’s expression.
Feng Rugao’s aura was restrained, half his face shrouded in shadow. His emotions were unreadable.
All disciples of the immortal sects were given an introductory phrase upon joining, left by Immortal Lord Fuheng:
“Having wielded the sword, one must constantly restrain oneself.”
To wield the sword was to remember its purpose: control selfish desires and never act recklessly.
Lin Shijin fell silent after asking. He had, in effect, contradicted Feng Rugao and might well be punished for it later.
“Young Master, it is not as you fear,” Feng Qing said gently. “High cultivation does not give one licence to belittle others. You understand this because of your kindness. But even if others understand… how many can truly act accordingly?”
“Sword Master enhanced your cultivation to prevent others from looking down on you.”
The recording stone had replayed the events of the illusion; Feng Rugao had seen how the youth had been controlled, teased, and taken advantage of.
Feng Rugao remained silent, still hidden in shadow.
Lin Shijin said nothing. There was no point in replying; even if Feng Qing was correct, he did not wish to agree with Feng Rugao.
A commotion came from outside the hall. Feng Qing vanished from sight and reappeared almost immediately.
He glanced toward Lin Shijin, hesitated slightly, then said to Feng Rugao, “Sword Master… Sixteen has arrived. He wishes to see you.”
