Chapter 519: Husband, oh my husband!

Lu Yibei sat at the edge of the bed, looking at the Pure Lotus Sword on the floor, her brows almost twisted into a QR code, her mood exceptionally heavy.

Even now, recalling the fleeting image of Li Xuan that had just flashed before her eyes, she still felt extremely uncomfortable.

Although, putting aside her aversion to Li Xuan as a person, his appearance could be considered somewhat like a classic handsome man.

But what Lu Yibei saw just now, that twisted and ferocious expression, was already a kind of mental contamination.

And that suffocating sense of pressure was something she had never experienced before.

“Looks like, for now, that’s the only way left, huh?”

Lu Yibei muttered to herself, bent down to pick up the Pure Lotus Sword, laid it flat on her knees, focused her mind, and injected psychic energy into it.

If she wanted to learn information about the Great Pure Palace, she had to contact the Ancestors.

So, she could only grit her teeth and try.

If it really doesn’t work… Sorry, Operator Li, if I can’t avoid fear, I’ll just have to find a way to overcome it! Lu Yibei thought.

……

Radiant light spread across the sword blade, the tip quivered lightly, emitting a pleasant hum.

The moment a slight daze appeared before her eyes, Lu Yibei unhesitatingly interrupted the flow of psychic energy.

She waited a few seconds, repeated the process, and then interrupted the psychic energy again.

This cycle repeated about sixty times, each time increasing the duration by a fraction of a second.

It was just like testing the temperature of bathwater, moving from the tip of the foot to the whole sole, then gradually increasing the time immersed in the water.

Not until that suffocating pressure and Li Xuan’s figure failed to reappear did Lu Yibei finally breathe a little easier, emptied her mind, and boldly injected psychic energy into the Pure Lotus Sword.

Then, accompanied by the sword’s long cry, her vision plunged into darkness.

——–

The sky was as black as ink, a cool breeze drifting through the jungle of reinforced concrete.

At the top of a skyscraper reaching into the clouds, on the dilapidated, crumbling rooftop, at the edge of the rooftop, a refined and gentle-looking man raised his head to gaze at the stormy sky, his profile tinged with a sense of vicissitude, and within that, a trace of loneliness.

“Busy, it’s good for the child to be busy!” Qing Ji muttered to himself, sighing silently as he spoke.

Suddenly, a psychic energy fluctuation struck without warning, the air trembled, spreading colorless ripples.

Sensing that familiar aura within the psychic energy fluctuation, Qing Ji’s face lit up with joy, his eyes full of anticipation, but soon his expression darkened.

Hmph! That brat, not coming to see me for so long, does she think this Ancestor is already dead?

Uh, I guess I really am already dead… but that’s not important!

What’s important is, later I absolutely can’t show her a good face! Qing Ji thought fiercely.

At this moment, his mood was just like most empty-nest elders: both longing for the care of their descendants, and angry at their long neglect.

Just like a grandmother’s endless nagging, yet her hands never stop cooking.

However.

Just as Qing Ji was pondering how to teach that unfilial great-granddaughter-in-law a lesson, the psychic energy fluctuation rippling through the air suddenly dissipated.

“Huh? Gone?”

He let out a soft exclamation, turned around, and looked at the empty, ruined rooftop. The anger he had feigned faded from his face, replaced by a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

Heh, human affection is as thin as paper, the world ever-changing like a chessboard; looks like I was overthinking it.

Oh well, judging by her aura, her strength seems to have grown a lot, so she must be doing well. Qing Ji thought, a bitter smile appearing on his face.

Just like most elders, though they can’t help but feel lonely when they don’t see their descendants, as long as there’s a call to say they’re safe, knowing they’re doing well is enough.

The next moment, the psychic energy fluctuation in the air grew strong again, the familiar aura returned.

Qing Ji’s dim eyes instantly regained their luster, but then the psychic energy fluctuation disappeared once more.

And so, for nearly an hour, that familiar aura appeared, vanished, and reappeared, repeating a total of sixty-seven times.

Making one “call” could be considered checking in, but making sixty-seven “calls” in a row was something else entirely.

“……”

Looking at the empty, ruined rooftop, Qing Ji fell silent.

He no longer felt any anticipation or anger.

In his heart, there was only a single-minded killing intent.

He just wondered when his great-granddaughter-in-law would finally show up, so he could personally beat that little troublemaker to death!

——–

Consciousness seemed to sink into water, descending endlessly, slowly dispersing, then quickly gathering again.

When a cool breeze brushed her cheek, Lu Yibei’s eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes.

Before the haze in her vision cleared, a strong sense of danger enveloped her mind.

[What a fast sword!]

Lu Yibei, “???”

What kind of premonition is this? Have I already given up on treatment?

“Poof—-!”

Almost at the same instant the premonition flashed by, a burning pain rose from her back, and Lu Yibei watched as a three-foot blue-steel blade pierced through her chest.

“Sixty-seven……”

Qing Ji’s voice entered her ears, and Lu Yibei frowned slightly, a trace of confusion quietly rising in her heart.

I’ve neglected the Ancestors for so long, it’s understandable that he’s angry and stabs me once.

After all, I won’t really die.

But what does this “sixty-seven” mean? Is it some sword move I haven’t learned? Lu Yibei wondered.

Just as she was puzzled, Qing Ji’s voice sounded again.

“……Sixty-six, sixty-five……”

Lu Yibei, “……”

As each number came from his mouth, the light sword in his hand, condensed by simulating the Hundred-Armed Giant’s power, shot out like lightning.

Each strike avoided the vitals, stabbing wherever hurt the most.

For a moment, Lu Yibei seemed to see the light, and in that light, her old man was waving Seven Wolves.

Finally, unable to bear the ever-intensifying pain, she let out a heart-wrenching scream.

“Husband, my poor husband Lu Yibei! I miss you so much! Wuwuwu~!”

By the time Qing Ji counted down to “fifty-five,” she had already figured it out.

She had tried sixty-seven times, so the Ancestors would stab her sixty-seven times.

Then, as for whether to keep her dignity, she hesitated for about three stabs, and chose to keep it.

Then silently lowered the bottom line for her dignity.

Hearing Lu Yibei’s miserable cries, Qing Ji’s mouth twitched, and thinking of that great-grandson who died young and whom he’d never met, his heart softened, and his sword slowed down.

Very soon, the light sword condensed by simulating the Hundred-Armed Giant’s power dissipated into specks of light.

As it turns out, women really do get in the way of drawing a sword.

A moment later.

Qing Ji sat upright on the rooftop railing, watching Lu Yibei kneeling before her, tugging at her own ears, her chest heaving violently.

“Admit your mistake?!”

“I was wrong…” Lu Yibei replied weakly.

“Will you dare do it again?”

“I won’t…”

“That’s more like it.” Qing Ji rolled her eyes, and as she saw Lu Yibei trying to stand up, she barked sharply, “Wait, who told you to get up?”

“Oh.” Lu Yibei answered, kneeling back down, grabbing her ears again.

She was as obedient as a kitten that had just been scolded.

So aggrieved–she really didn’t know that injecting psychic energy into the Pure Lotus Sword would alert the Ancestors!

“Hmph!” Qing Ji glanced sideways at Lu Yibei, snorting coldly, “I know you, you little brat, you never come to the temple for nothing.”

“Speak, what do you want my help with this time?”

Though the Ancestor’s hand was swift, she still cared about her great-grandson’s wife.

“It’s a misunderstanding, a huge misunderstanding.” Lu Yibei hurriedly said, “Oh Ancestor~! I just missed you and came especially to see you!”

Old people, like children, need to be coaxed!

As she spoke, she blinked her peach blossom eyes, twisted her slender waist, and edged closer to Qing Ji.

“Oh?” Completely ignoring Lu Yibei’s act, Qing Ji raised an eyebrow and said coolly, “Now that you’ve seen me, you can go back.”

Keep pretending!

I’ve seen more female demons than you’ve had meals–I can see through your little schemes at a glance!

After all this time, do I still not know what kind of person you are?

“Well… haha.” Lu Yibei let out two dry laughs with a blank face, gesturing with her fingers, “Actually, there’s just one tiny, tiny thing I want to ask Ancestor for help with.”

“Hmph, I knew it!” Qing Ji rolled her eyes, “Speak! What do you want to learn this time? Let me make it clear, I won’t teach you any crooked or evil arts. Last time I taught you Paper Cicada Immortal, that was already an exception.”

“I told you, you misunderstood me!” Lu Yibei pouted, “I’m really not here to learn anything from you, I just wanted to… wanted to…”

“Want what?”

Lu Yibei’s eyes darted around, “I wanted to ask you how to sneak into the Great Pure Palace without anyone noticing, that’s all.”

“I don’t know.”

“Eh? How could you…” Lu Yibei hesitated.

Ancestor, don’t you often go ‘borrow’ things? Picking locks, scaling walls, walking through walls, holding your breath–you should be very skilled at all that, right?

“Ever since I became a master, I just walk in openly.” Qing Ji said blandly.

Anyway, whether it’s the gate disciples or the sect elders, none of them can stop me. It’s basically the same as walking in openly.

Lu Yibei, “…” Well then, I thought it was theft, but it’s actually daylight robbery, huh?

“What?” Seeing Lu Yibei silent, Qing Ji narrowed her eyes, sizing her up, and said sternly, “What are you scheming now, you little brat?”

“It’s not a scheme, not a scheme.” Lu Yibei waved her hands, explaining, “I just happened to hear that the last fragment of the Pure Lotus Sword is kept in the Great Pure Palace…”

At this, her voice suddenly choked, her eyes lost focus, and her whole person seemed to wilt like a flower. She turned away, lifting her sleeve to wipe her eyes.

“Sob sob! Ancestor, you know, this sword is almost the last thing my late husband left me, ying-ying-ying…”

As she spoke, Lu Yibei imagined her own tragic death, growing sadder the more she thought about it, nearly losing control of her emotions.

If she couldn’t even fool herself, how could she possibly fool the Ancestor?

“I’ve been longing to restore it, just to keep a memento, truly without any ill intent.”

Qing Ji, “…”

It didn’t seem like she was faking it?

Sigh, my great-grandson’s wife, usually so carefree, who would’ve thought she’s such a devoted soul?

Since ancient times, love only brings regret, and sweet dreams are the easiest to wake from… how lamentable!

After a moment’s thought, Qing Ji sighed softly, “Sigh, it’s actually easy to handle–there are two ways to solve this.”

Lu Yibei, “…” Heh, plan successful!

“First, I can give you a detailed map of the Great Pure Palace’s mountain gate and formation layout. Then you can come and go as you please. But times have changed, so I can’t guarantee nothing’s different now,” Qing Ji said.

“Second, if you can contact that Zhang Huainan kid, just tell him a chant, and he’ll surely hand over the last fragment. But it’s been over a hundred years now–whether that kid is still alive is another matter.”

“He’s alive, he’s alive,” Lu Yibei said, “I’ve heard people mention him.”

She clearly remembered, in Tang City, when she mentioned Zhang Huainan’s name, Fu Xinyi’s expression and attitude changed–that was enough to prove Zhang Huainan was still alive.

“Oh?” Qing Ji’s eyes lit up as if she’d heard wonderful news, and she smiled, “By now, that kid should be one hundred and two by lunar years–not bad, not bad!”

“I still remember, back then he wiped his nose and cried, saying that one day he’d surpass me. Who would’ve thought it would be in this way, haha!”

“But back to the point,” Qing Ji changed the subject, “nowadays that kid is probably an important figure in the Great Pure Palace. It might be difficult for you to see him.”

“……”

Not just difficult–possibly life-threatening!

What worries me more is, after all these years, will Zhang Huainan still respect the Ancestor? The scariest thing is, if Zhang Huainan still holds a grudge against the Ancestor, and I recite the chant she gave me, I might just drop dead on the spot.

Thinking this, Lu Yibei bowed slightly to Qing Ji, “I’ll find a way to overcome the difficulties. Please teach me, Ancestor.”

Whether it’s the map or the chant, even if I might not use them, it’s always good to remember them first.

Half an hour later.

Lu Yibei stared wide-eyed at the map Qing Ji had drawn on the ground, which looked like a child’s scribble.

“Ancestor, may I ask, what does this irregular circle that looks like a sesame seed flatbread represent?”

“What flatbread? That’s the mountain-protecting grand array, and those dots are the array cores, you fool!”

“Then what about this corgi?”

“What corgi? That’s a Qilin!” Qing Ji growled, “Are you questioning my drawing skills?”

That low growl carried a hint of embarrassment within its thin anger, and a trace of pride within the embarrassment.

Heh, so there’s finally something you can’t memorize at a glance?

Lu Yibei, “……” I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare!

Still, even with her memory, memorizing this kind of “map” was a bit of a challenge.

She even suspected that if she injected a bit of psychic energy into the map, it would immediately jump up and shout, “Higglety pigglety, zizzy zazzy!”

Withdrawing her gaze from the map, Lu Yibei rubbed her slightly aching brow and looked at Qing Ji, saying, “Ancestor, why don’t you tell me the chant first? I’m afraid I won’t be able to memorize this map for a while.”

“Hmph! Then listen carefully, I’ll only say it once.” Qing Ji lifted his chin slightly and recited in a clear voice, “Primal Harmony of Taiji, only then does the mouth open, separating kindness and righteousness. To fragment the pure, the great way has been abandoned……”

Wait, this chant, haven’t I heard it somewhere before? Halfway through, Lu Yibei frowned slightly, then, following Qing Ji’s words, blurted out:

“……all things reveal their clear advances and retreats, the divine furnace is silent and securely sealed. To obtain a fire, to refine a diamond, transcending heaven and earth!”

“Is this it? This is the description of your Spirit Pattern’s power, right? I remember you mentioned it once before.”

Qing Ji, “……”

The slap in the face came too quickly, not happy.

Noticing the subtle change in Qing Ji’s expression, Lu Yibei said sarcastically, “Ancestor, say something? Is it or isn’t it?”

I admit, I was trying to get back at him.

“It is.” Qing Ji replied through gritted teeth.

“Oh~!”

Good, so it really is the Ancestor’s drawing skills that are the problem, not my memory.

Lu Yibei nodded, instantly regaining the confidence that had been battered by that map.

——–

Lu Yibei squatted on the ground, staring at that twisted map for a long time until her eyes were dry, only then barely managing to memorize it completely.

Honestly, it was ridiculous–the map was a mess, but somehow it even had a 3D effect amid the chaos.

She couldn’t tell if it was a unique art style or an extraordinary talent.

After memorizing the map and resting for a moment, Lu Yibei suddenly recalled the reminders Huá Sāng had given her earlier. She glanced at Qing Ji, who was sitting with eyes closed, and asked softly, “Ancestor, my Spirit Pattern has been acting a bit strange lately, could you take a look……”

Without opening his eyes, Qing Ji interrupted, “Don’t ask me.”

No way, no way, could a grandmaster really hold a grudge over a couple of sarcastic remarks? Lu Yibei thought to herself.

“Is that so? Sigh! Then I’ll just have to wait until I see Zhang Huainan and beg him properly. I heard someone say Zhang Huainan’s treatment for Spirit Pattern loss of control is the best in the world.”

Qing Ji, “……”

“Husband, my dear husband~! Ying-ying-ying!”

As Lu Yibei spoke, she sneaked a glance at Qing Ji’s expression, only to be greatly disappointed.

Completely useless! If the Ancestor were alive today, he’d definitely be a master at spotting green tea bitches, right? Lu Yibei thought.

In the silence, Qing Ji opened his eyes a crack, glanced at that coquettish girl, and sneered.

“This matter, provoking me won’t help. Since you remember the description of my Spirit Pattern’s power, have you forgotten how my Spirit Pattern came to be?”

How did it come to be? Lu Yibei frowned slightly, recalling for a moment, and then her eye twitched.

She vaguely remembered Qing Ji saying that his Shifu were so poor that when they drew his Spirit Pattern, they stuffed in whatever materials they had on hand.

Their only principle: as long as it wasn’t lethal!

Thinking back carefully, Qing Ji’s ability to eventually condense a Spirit Pattern no one had ever seen before–[Primal Harmony of Taiji]–was probably the result of countless losses of control and beneficial mutations.

He was never afraid of Spirit Pattern loss of control, so naturally he never needed to master ways to treat it.

Fine, you win!

Sensing the subtle shift in Lu Yibei’s mood, Qing Ji put away his teasing and said smugly, “Alright, stop looking so glum, what’s with that face?”

Lu Yibei, “……”

Tsk, you say that like you actually have a solution.

Besides, I’m not looking glum, I just have facial paralysis.

I’m not listening, I hate you, bleh bleh bleh!

“Although I’ve never treated Spirit Pattern loss of control, I can guess what method Zhang Huainan uses to treat it. Want to hear?”

“Yes!”

“Heh heh!” Qing Ji smiled meaningfully, “Then do you know, before there were Spirit Patterns, how did humans obtain power?”