Wen Li’s expression was odd. How could someone bring their family to work? No, he was a soul-summoner; was it possible his ancestor’s ghost was still in the mortal realm?
However, she didn't care. She simply continued to command him with the overbearing attitude of a demanding client. “Oh, well, hurry up then. Don’t delay my business.”
“...” Are you even human?
Bai Songxu’s eyes widened, having expected at least a modicum of concern or sympathy. He found it hard to believe someone could be so cold and shameless. But with the long sword at his back, he could only let out a tearful grunt and continue working, despite the clear handprint on his face.
“Heavenly spirits, earthly spirits~” He continued to ring the bell, performing the ritual to draw out the soul.
Meanwhile, within the forbidden ground of the Tingyin Pavilion.
Among a range of emerald-green mountains forgotten by time, there was a deep, tranquil lake. A figure was reflected in the lake from a wooden pavilion by the shore, clad in robes whiter than snow that spilled over the ground like flower petals, with long, supple silver hair flowing freely.
The young woman’s eyebrows were like distant hills, and her elegant, icy aura was untainted by the dust of the world. Beneath her snow-white skin was an unnatural hint of frailty, as if a gentle breeze could blow her away into the nine heavens.
She sat quietly on the bluestone of the wooden bridge by the lake, an ancient fishing rod set before her.
Suddenly, the rod shifted. Xin Jiuxian looked down to see a thick grass carp blowing bubbles in the lake next to the hook. Just as she thought it had bitten and prepared to lift the rod, the fish suddenly leaped out of the water.
Splash!
It flew from the right side of the rod to the left, splashing lake water onto her robes.
Xin Jiuxian watched impassively, her expression cold and devoid of joy or sorrow.
Splash! Splash! Splash!
In the next second, the fish leaped from left to right, then from right to left, repeating this four or five times until the hem of her robes was mostly soaked.
It was as if it were mocking her for catching nothing right under her nose for an entire hour.
“Heh.”
The maiden, whose face was as frail and cold as frost, suddenly let out a soft sound. However, because she was accustomed to being expressionless, her face showed nothing. In the next moment...
Boom!
She raised her hand and blasted a hole into the edge of the lake. The water began to drain away, but she felt it wasn't fast enough, so she simply used her spiritual energy to pump the lake dry.
The young woman tore the bothersome long hem of her white robe, tied the rest around her waist, kicked off her shoes, and stepped into the mud of the lakebed in an outfit fit for planting rice.
Xin Jiuxian didn't care about the filth of the silt. Guided by her memory and spiritual scent, she locked onto the fish that had just provoked her.
Smack!
She grabbed it and delivered a slap. Then, swinging with both hands, she gave it ten slaps, matching the exact number of times the fish had splashed water on her.
Smack! Smack-smack-smack-smack! Smack-smack-smack-smack!
You’re a sore loser!
The grass carp, which had gained some intelligence but not much, was slapped senseless. Its tail gradually stopped moving. No, sister, I was just playing with you. I see you're the type who takes things way too seriously.
Xin Jiuxian carried the fish to the shore, ignoring the ruined lake behind her, and left muddy footprints on the ground.
Pot out, oil hot, into the pan!
Sizzle!
Smoke rose from the stir-fry, and a delicious aroma wafted through the air.
Finally, after eating her fill, Xin Jiuxian found a patch of grass to lie down on.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
Wait, mosquitoes?
Xin Jiuxian tore a piece of her robe to cover her face and raised a hand, unleashing a burst of spiritual energy that precisely killed all the flying insects in the vicinity.
Even so, there was still some ghostly noise by her ear. This time it became clearer and clearer; it wasn't a mosquito, but rather... it sounded like someone was whispering her name in her ear.
Xin Jiuxian sat up, her joyless, sorrowless face showing no emotion. She turned her head and looked around impatiently, but there was no one there.
She went back to sleep.
“Hey!”
In the next second, she vanished, along with the Yulan Floating Light Zither she had casually tossed aside.
...
“Buzz, buzz~ buzz, buzz!”
Wen Li waved her hand to swat away the surrounding mosquitoes, then simply fired a burst of spiritual energy to kill them all.
Observing that fifteen minutes had passed, many souls called Xin Jiuxian had been summoned, but they were either old men, old women, or children. There had finally been a younger one, but it was a demon soul.
None of them were artifact souls.
She looked down the mountain toward the square where the Xianle Grand Ceremony was being held. By now, the second stage, Discussing the Dao through Music, should have ended. The third stage—the performance by the Tingyin Pavilion's Supreme Elder—was about to begin.
Tsk, was this going to work? She didn't want to end up on the Tingyin Pavilion's most-wanted list.
“Sorry, sorry, I'll burn some paper money for you. My deepest apologies. I'll even burn two handsome young men for you.”
Seeing Bai Songxu politely ushering away each soul that wasn't the target, Wen Li let out a yawn.
“Are there any more souls? If not, forget it. I’m going back to sleep.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a pear from a nearby tree was blown off by a gust of yin wind and landed on her lap.
Wen Li said “thanks” in that direction, knowing it was Bai Songxu’s ancestor trying to soothe her.
Sweat rolled down Bai Songxu’s forehead. He was also nearing his limit. This was his first time summoning an artifact soul, and he had no idea if it would even work.
“Wait a little longer, just a little longer. If I still haven't found what you're looking for in fifteen minutes, then I’m really out of options.”
Although he had been coerced by Wen Li’s sword, he always believed in seeing things through. Besides, if he actually succeeded, he could add 'artifact souls' to his business sign. How cool would that be!
“Then good luck.”
Wen Li sat idly when she suddenly felt a powerful force rapidly approaching from the direction of the Xianle City square at the foot of the mountain. Had they been discovered?
That shouldn't be. It was impossible for them to be coming for her.
Wen Li’s lazy expression suddenly turned serious.
“Ding-ling! Ding-ling! Ding-ling!”
As Bai Songxu rang the bell with increasing intensity, a gale once again whipped through the surrounding thickets. A faint white spiritual light emanated from the ritual altar he had set up.
In the next instant...
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