Chapter 135

Chapter 135: Firefly Gu Worm

The Old Shaman broke into a cold sweat under the Bamboo Bear’s gaze. For him, Shen Sang Ruo’s question was a death trap. He did not dare anger this Little Ancestor.

He gave a dry cough and changed the subject at once: “We will talk about that later. Why did you come to the Floating Cloud Tower to find this Shaman in the first place?”

With that prompt, Shen Sang Ruo’s thoughts returned to treating Bai Ruo An’s eyes. As for the Bamboo Bear, she did not dwell on it. She did not know its true identity yet. She figured it was just a demonic beast cub. No matter how it resisted, it could not be that strong.

She said: “I have not introduced myself. I am Shen Sang Ruo from the Ninghua Sect.”

Fang Yu followed and said: “I am Fang Yu from the Joyous Union Sect.”

Shen Sang Ruo went on: “I came to ask if the Old Shaman has a secret method to heal blindness of the eyes and the heart. My third Senior Brother met with an accident and lost his sight.”

The Old Shaman asked: “I understand eye blindness, but what do you mean by heart blindness?”

Shen Sang Ruo explained: “Normally, even if a cultivator goes blind, they can use divine sense to explore the surroundings. My third Senior Brother is a talisman cultivator. After the accident, his divine sense could no longer read any content on talisman paper. Sometimes he could not even feel that the talisman paper was there.”

The Old Shaman nodded, already understanding. He said with pity: “For a talisman cultivator, spiritual power is the pen. It is like his other pair of eyes, but he cannot see even with that pair now.”

This was the first time Fang Yu had heard of her Senior Brother. He thought everyone in her sect was as strong as her and that Senior Sister. He had not expected such a sad case. A talisman cultivator who cannot do talisman drawing is no different from a cripple in the cultivation world.

Shen Sang Ruo said: “It is said the Old Shaman holds several secret methods. So I came to seek a way to undo this.”

Her clear eyes were full of hope as she looked at the Old Shaman.

He fell into thought and said: “This is tricky. Let me think carefully if there is a way.” He held that pose for a long time, then finally moved and said: “I remember now.”

He searched through his many layers of robes. Shen Sang Ruo’s eyes locked on his hands, her feelings rising and falling with his movements, her fingers tightening without her noticing.

The Old Shaman pulled out a translucent glass vial. Inside, two tiny things glowed on and off. They were beautiful.

Before she or Fang Yu could ask, he explained: “This is a pair of Firefly Gu Worms. I refined them from fireflies a few years ago.”

Gu Arts were a branch of Shamanic Arts. The Old Shaman had practiced Shamanic Arts for a thousand years, so he was a master of this craft.

Fang Yu eyed the vial and said with doubt: “Firefly Gu Worms? Can these Gu Insects heal Sang Ruo’s third Senior Brother’s eyes?”

Shen Sang Ruo’s face did not change because of the Gu Insects. She simply asked: “What do the Firefly Gu Worms do?”

The Old Shaman said: “Fireflies give off light. The main effect of Firefly Gu Worms refined from them is to bring light. This effect might fit your Senior Brother’s problem.”

Shen Sang Ruo was about to bow in thanks, but the Old Shaman raised his hand to stop her and said: “Do not thank me yet. I only said it might help. I cannot promise a cure.”

He added: “Also, this is a risky, crooked path. Once the Firefly Gu Worms enter his body, they will gnaw the insides of his eyes and take the place of his eyeballs. If it works, great. If it fails, his eyes will be gone for good. There will be no chance to see again.”

He passed the glass vial to her and said: “I will give you this pair of Firefly Gu Worms. Use them or not, that is your choice.”

Then he warned her: “If anything happens afterward, this Shaman takes no responsibility. You know the rules of the Floating Cloud Tower, right?” The Floating Cloud Tower opens once a year. Anyone who enters gets only one chance to ask the Old Shaman questions, and he does not guarantee a solution.

Shen Sang Ruo nodded and said: “Junior understands. Thank you for your help, Old Shaman. I will give the vial to my third Senior Brother and let him decide.”

With the problem addressed, the two of them were about to leave the Floating Cloud Tower when the Old Shaman said: “Wait.”

Shen Sang Ruo looked puzzled and asked: “Does the Old Shaman have more to say?”

He glanced at the black and white puffball nestled in her arms, his look complicated. He coughed and said: “I have something important to tell you alone.”

Fang Yu shrugged and said nothing. He took the hint and stepped out of the room.

Shen Sang Ruo could not read the Old Shaman’s aim. She had never heard of him asking someone to stay on his own. Now only the two of them remained in the room, yet he still did not speak. He stared at the Bamboo Bear, then at her. His meaning was clear.

She blinked and asked: “It cannot be here either?”

[What could be so secret that even a Bamboo Bear cub must be kept out?]

To the Old Shaman, the cute puffball in her eyes was a flood and a wild beast. He was afraid to anger it and only dared answer by blinking.

She said: “Then I will try to send it to Fang Yu,” and walked out.

Less than a quarter hour later, she returned without the plump pendant on her chest. It had taken a lot of coaxing to get the Bamboo Bear to agree to rest with Fang Yu for a while.

She stood calm and asked: “What important matter does the Old Shaman wish to tell Junior?”

The Old Shaman let out a quiet breath. At last, the Little Ancestor was gone. He straightened his face, and Shen Sang Ruo could feel that he had become much more serious. It really was important.

He said frankly and earnestly: “I kept you back to ask for your help. There is something I want you to do.”

She had not expected someone like the Old Shaman to need her help. She felt a little shocked, though her face stayed steady, and said: “Please speak, Old Shaman. Junior will do her best.”

He said: “Please persuade that Bamboo Bear to stay inside the Phantom Mirage Domain.”

He did not ask her to send it to the Conservation Office. The people there could not handle it anyway. The little thing only liked Shen Sang Ruo. Only she might persuade it.

He added: “If you succeed, I will give you a heavy reward.”

She said: “Please be at ease, Old Shaman. The Bamboo Bear is a creature of the Phantom Mirage Domain. I will not take it out of the domain.”

She was not a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect and had no extra plans for demonic beasts.

The Old Shaman lowered his eyes and said solemnly: “On behalf of the entire Phantom Mirage Domain, I offer you my most sincere thanks.”

Her face did not change much, but inside huge waves rose: [What is that little one’s true identity, that it is tied to the whole Phantom Mirage Domain?]