Chapter 165 - 158: Farewell, Sorry for the Intrusion

Chapter 165: Chapter 158: Farewell, Sorry for the Intrusion

’A death oath?’

Li Heng had only just put away the two jars of century-old wine when Han Mu’Er kowtowed heavily in his direction, striking her head against the floor so hard it broke the skin and began to bleed.

’Whoa... This girl must have gotten the wrong idea!’

Deep down, Li Heng had only wanted to put on a show for the Snow Feather Tower. He never expected his posturing would not only work on them but also completely sweep Han Mu’Er up in it.

He had no idea what a "death oath" even was. But seeing Han Mu’Er’s valiant expression, her fine figure, and now with blood trickling down her forehead as she knelt on the floor, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity. He wanted to tell her to stand up before speaking.

"I’m willing to, but..."

Hearing the first half of Li Heng’s sentence, Han Mu’Er didn’t even wait for him to finish. Without a moment’s hesitation, she drew her Lifebound Sword and sliced open the back of her left hand as she spoke.

"I, the sinner Han Mu’Er, hereby swear to follow... to follow the esteemed lord before me for all eternity! I implore you, my lord, to tell me your name!"

...

Li Heng was already baffled. Seeing the flurry of motions Han Mu’Er had just performed, he’d assumed it was all part of some solemn ritual.

But then she’d suddenly asked for his name mid-oath.

So solemn at first, then suddenly so clumsy.

The contrast was just...

Li Heng didn’t even know what to say to that. ’But it’s just a Dungeon, whatever,’ he thought, not dwelling on it, and simply told her his name.

Once Han Mu’Er heard Li Heng’s name, she abruptly smeared the blood from her hand onto her Lifebound Sword and swore an oath in his name.

[Ding! You have obtained a contracted follower from the Ancient Dust Continent Dungeon.]

The moment Han Mu’Er finished her oath, the system’s notification chimed in Li Heng’s ear. At the same time, he saw a flash of blood-red light suddenly envelop both him and Han Mu’Er.

The crimson light appeared and vanished in an instant. As it faded, the cut on Han Mu’Er’s hand disappeared, and her Lifebound Sword, which had previously only emanated a frosty aura, was now wreathed in faint wisps of blood-red energy.

With the oath complete, Han Mu’Er stood up, Lifebound Sword in hand, and walked silently to Li Heng’s side, saying nothing.

Li Heng then noticed that Han Mu’Er’s cultivation realm had suddenly jumped from Soul Energy Grandmaster to Soul King!

Most importantly, the color of her nameplate had changed from yellow to dark green!

"I’ve long heard of the oath-swearing Secret Technique from the Cold Mountain Celestial Palace. To see it in person today is truly fascinating!"

Hua Lingyan shot Han Mu’Er a meaningful glance before picking up her Jade Porcelain Bowl again.

---

Meanwhile, in the main hall of the Snow Feather Tower, a few more poems were presented. For one of them, Hua Meng’Er finally spoke up, adding a few words beyond her usual thanks, but there was still no successful bidder.

Just then, perhaps due to the alcohol, Hua Lingyan’s face was slightly flushed. The Jade Porcelain Bowl in her hand, filled with the century-old wine, suddenly flew out of the room. Then, in the open, hollow center of the Snow Feather Tower, the wine itself formed the words Li Heng had recited earlier.

"What is most fleeting in this human world: a youthful face leaving the mirror, a flower leaving the tree."

The appearance of these words, formed from wine, instantly silenced the entire Snow Feather Tower. The first to speak was Hua Meng’Er.

"I implore you, honored guest... give me the entire poem!"

Hearing this, Hua Lingyan didn’t reply to Hua Meng’Er directly. Instead, she said something to Hongyu, who was in the room. Hongyu nodded and left.

Half a minute later, someone else appeared in Li Heng’s room... a demon: Hua Meng’Er!

The subsequent bidding at the Hundred Flowers Assembly was not affected by this development regarding Hua Meng’Er, and it continued with the same fervor as before.

Meanwhile, Li Heng looked around the increasingly crowded room, momentarily at a loss for words.

The maids, Hongyu and Mo Ya.

Han Mu’Er, who had inexplicably sworn an oath to him.

Hua Lingyan, the powerful Soul Saint disguised as a man.

And finally, the Tier Seven Soul Beast, Hua Meng’Er.

Though they were all stunningly beautiful, each had a completely different aura.

And, aside from the two maids, everyone else’s cultivation was way more badass than his.

And so, Li Heng’s previously relaxed mood inexplicably tensed up again. The atmosphere in the room grew somewhat awkward.

If he didn’t have a feeling that the "sincerity" the Snow Feather Tower would show him later would be substantial, Li Heng would have been tempted to just bail.

"Meng’Er greets you, honored guests! I implore you to bestow upon me the complete masterpiece. Meng’Er would be eternally grateful!"

Upon entering Li Heng’s room, Hua Meng’Er first gave a slight nod to Hua Lingyan before turning to Li Heng and performing a deep curtsy, pleading for the complete poem.

But Li Heng had only recited that line on a whim. In truth, of Wang Guowei’s poem, "Butterfly Lovers: Enduring the Suffering of Parting at the Ends of the Earth," that single line was the only part he clearly remembered.

Being asked to recall the entire thing on the spot, he really couldn’t bring it to mind.

So, after a moment of thought, Li Heng just smiled and said, "I can’t recall the rest at the moment. I’m afraid I’ve disappointed you, Miss Meng’Er."

Upon hearing Li Heng’s words, Hua Meng’Er’s expression clearly fell. She remained in her curtsy, not rising, and after a moment of silent thought, she spoke again.

"This is the treasure I hold within me. Once again, I implore you, honored guest, to give me the complete poem!"

As soon as her words fell, a "Spirit Body"—identical to Hua Meng’Er in every way—floated out of her.

Quickly, this Spirit Body began to coalesce, finally condensing into a single pink pearl, which then floated slowly toward Li Heng.

Name: Li Hua Demon’s Soul

Category: Soul Energy Items

Value: Mythical

Effects:

1. Can absorb the essence of Li Hua.

2. Can inscribe the Li Hua Demon Mark.

3. Affinity with Wood-element Soul Beasts +10.

[This item is uniquely bound and cannot be upgraded through conventional means.]

’Another Mythical item!’

Aside from the Cloud Cold Longsword, which had been his original goal, the Yin Bone Paper Fan and now this Li Hua Demon’s Soul were complete and unexpected windfalls.

Li Heng glanced over and noticed that Hua Lingyan’s gaze remained fixed on Hua Meng’Er the entire time; she said nothing about the Li Hua Demon’s Soul.

He immediately stored the Demon Soul Bead in his medium-sized Space Stone.

Li Heng was broke, so from the very beginning, his plan had been to freeload off the Hundred Flowers Assembly. He just hadn’t expected a prestigious place like the Snow Feather Tower to be selling "fakes."

That had given him an opening. While putting on his act, he’d managed to fleece them for a few things, not to mention scoring Hua Lingyan’s Yin Bone Paper Fan and Hua Meng’Er’s Demon Po.

Both of these items were genuine windfalls. They didn’t cost him a cent—all they wanted were poems!

Although Li Heng had resolved to be shameless, all they were asking for were poems. For him, that was just a matter of ’transporting’ them from his old world. It wasn’t a big ask. A little thought and a little ’transportation’ should be fine.

So, after stowing away the Demon Po, Li Heng turned to Hua Meng’Er and Hua Lingyan.

"Please wait a moment, ladies. I need a moment to compose my thoughts!"

A moment ago, Li Heng’s memory had honestly been a bit hazy. But for some reason, the moment a treasure was on the table, his recollection suddenly became crystal clear.

It wasn’t long before he had ’recalled’ the entirety of "Butterfly Lovers: Enduring the Suffering of Parting at the Ends of the Earth."

Upon receiving the complete poem, Hua Meng’Er immediately thanked Li Heng. At the same time, her eyes grew moist. Just as a single tear was about to fall, she was enveloped in a ball of pink light.

Li Heng was surprised by Hua Meng’Er’s sudden transformation, but before he had a chance to process it or say anything, Hua Lingyan spoke to him.

"Oh, right! Brother Li Heng, there’s actually something I’ve been wanting to ask. I wonder... if you might be able to enlighten me?"

Hearing this, Li Heng felt the phrasing was a bit familiar, as if he’d just heard it somewhere. He didn’t dwell on it, however, and replied generously, "Please, go ahead, Brother Hua."

Hua Lingyan smiled, her lips curling slightly. "I was just wondering, Brother Li Heng, how did you know... that my surname is Hua, and that I’m a woman?"

Holy shit!

It was only then that it hit Li Heng. He finally realized that because the system had displayed her information, he had let things slip. He’d addressed her as "Young Master Hua" earlier, and then just a moment ago, he’d referred to her as one of the "ladies."

Li Heng felt like an absolute idiot. The atmosphere in the room suddenly grew tense, and most importantly, the look in Hua Lingyan’s eyes—the eyes of a Soul Saint—had turned dangerous.

Beside him, Han Mu’Er had already drawn her Lifebound Sword the moment Hua Lingyan finished speaking, aiming it directly at her.

The moment he saw this, Li Heng didn’t think twice. Without a shred of hesitation, he exclaimed, "I’ll be taking my leave! Sorry for the intrusion!"