Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Hugging Any Big Shot Is Still Hugging

Shen Sang Ruo looked around at their confused faces and asked the point directly: “Is the Blazing Heart’s strange behavior connected to the technique I practice?”

Daoist Wu Wei nodded and gave a sure answer, the corners of his eyes creasing: “Yes. You are the person the Blazing Heart has been looking for, the fated one.”

Shen Sang Ruo fell quiet for a beat. […]

He turned to Su Xi Yu and the others and spoke in a steady voice meant to reassure: “Set your hearts at ease. Your Master is not only fine; this is actually good for him.”

He explained for Shen Sang Ruo’s sake, each word clear: “The Blazing Heart was formed from a trace of Chang Li’s soul.”

Immortal Lord Chang Li’s disciples already knew this, so his words were truly meant for her.

He went on, revealing what they had not told Shen Sang Ruo before: “After your Master was sealed and fell into sleep, the Blazing Heart began to search for a person who matched it.”

Earlier they had said only that Immortal Lord Chang Li slept. They had not said why. Now they seemed to treat Shen Sang Ruo as one of their own and shared more.

Daoist Wu Wei finished with the key point, tapping a finger against his palm: “Only the matching person can awaken that trace of soul, and that trace of soul is the key to finding the artifact that will wake Chang Li.”

Su Xi Yu’s eyes lit up as soon as the words left him, and she asked in an eager rush: “So Master’s seal can be broken?”

Daoist Wu Wei gave a firm nod: “Exactly.”

Joy broke across the faces of Su Xi Yu, Song Wei Yan, and Bai Ruo An.

Even the chill in Ye Huai’s eyes seemed to melt a little.

Daoist Wu Wei turned back to Shen Sang Ruo and spoke seriously, his tone respectful: “Sang girl, earlier I said you did not need to help us again. I fear I must eat my words. Right now, only you can save Chang Li.”

He asked the question that mattered, his gaze steady: “Are you willing to carry the Blazing Heart and search for the artifact for Chang Li?”

Then he added something that made the path ahead feel less heavy: “The technique you practice, Fanning Wind and Stirring Fire Art, is one of the arts created by Chang Li. With the Blazing Heart on you, it will help you cultivate and comprehend the Dao.”

Shen Sang Ruo had not expected that the low-level technique she had chosen at random would lead to such a chance.

She thought for a moment and found no reason to refuse. Daoist Wu Wei had saved her, and she also wished to make good ties with the people of Ninghua Sect.

Though Ninghua Sect looked withered, strange, and a bit lonely, none of its members felt ordinary. They might be crouching beasts waiting for the right time.

Mystery and danger often walked with rare, precious chances.

On the path of cultivation, if you want to get ahead of others, how could the road be smooth and flat? Risk is something you cannot avoid.

[Hugging any big shot is still hugging. Hmm, the key is that it truly has to be a big shot.]

She lifted her chin and answered with a clear voice: “Junior is willing.”

Daoist Wu Wei brightened and clapped his hands once as he praised her: “Good! I did not misjudge you!”

Then he suddenly changed his tone and showed a cheeky grin as he teased, almost sing-song: “Of course, even if you did not agree, it would not matter. The Blazing Heart is already hanging on you. It will not come off until the artifact is found. Whether you agree or not, you agree, hehe.”

[Hehe?]

Shen Sang Ruo stared at him for a second: “…”

[Is this sly old man really the head of a sect?]

She steadied herself and brought up her own plan, speaking plainly: “However, I intend to spend the next year in Closed-Door Cultivation. Searching for the artifact will have to wait until I come out.” She explained how Master Ling Xiao had given her the right to use Clearheart Pavilion for a year as compensation.

Daoist Wu Wei waved like it was nothing as he said with ease: “No matter. A mere year. We can afford to wait.”

They had already waited who knew how many years to finally meet Shen Sang Ruo.

What was one more year?

Shen Sang Ruo asked the practical question, keeping her tone polite: “Sect Master Wu Wei, do you know where this artifact might be, or what it is?”

Daoist Wu Wei shook his head and gave the answer he could give, speaking with confidence anyway: “The Blazing Heart will guide you. Do not worry.”

In truth, even Daoist Wu Wei did not know.

Hearing that, Shen Sang Ruo did not press him further.

Daoist Wu Wei then turned to the others and issued an order with the energy of a general sending off trusted captains: “Take Sang girl to the Treasure Pavilion and let her choose the things that suit her. Arm her from head to toe, down to her toes.”

He raised his chin a little and said to her with pride: “Do not be polite with me. Our Ninghua Sect may lack other things, but we have stored plenty of artifacts and treasures.”

Shen Sang Ruo smiled and agreed without hesitation: “All right.” This was the kind of good thing only a fool would reject.

The more treasures she had, the better she could face danger while searching for the artifact.

She had no plan to be shy.

Knowing she could save their Master, the others were even warmer toward her.

They pulled at her sleeves, eager to bring her to the Treasure Pavilion at once.

They looked ready to hand over the whole family’s savings to her.

Ye Huai, however, reached out to stop her before they left.

The image of him pointing his sword at her was still fresh in her mind, so she could not guess what he meant to do now.

He cupped his fists and bowed with the same cool tone as always, but his words were serious and honest: “Earlier I offended Junior Sister Shen. I was reckless.”

Shen Sang Ruo had not expected Ye Huai to apologize just for that.

Ye Huai might look aloof and stubborn, but he was a man of principle.

She answered with a small smile, letting it go: “Senior Brother Ye only cares too much for Immortal Lord Chang Li. When you care, you can lose your calm. It is fine.”

The Treasure Pavilion of Ninghua Sect had seven floors.

Just as she had guessed, there were no guards inside, only Formations protecting each level.

They brought her to the fourth floor.

Su Xi Yu explained as she led the way, her voice bright with pride: “This floor is where we usually pick treasures. Who would have thought Junior Sister Shen is the fated one we were waiting for?”

She sighed in delight, almost singing the words: “It really is fate. Wonderful.”

Su Xi Yu felt a natural fondness for Shen Sang Ruo.

She waved toward the shelves and said happily: “Come, see what catches your eye. Take it right away.”

That was what she said, but in truth they hardly gave Shen Sang Ruo a chance to reach for anything.

Su Xi Yu darted among rows of bottles and jars, calling out as she picked them up: “What is in this bottle? Grade-Four Rejuvenation Pill? Take it. And this one? Grade-Five Concealment Pill? Take it too.”

She weaved through a small mountain of pills and herbs.

Then she snorted and tossed her hair as she declared, losing patience: “These were refined so long ago that I forgot what they even do. Who cares, just take them all!”

Her hands turned bold and fast as she poured whole bundles of pill bottles into Shen Sang Ruo’s storage bag. It was a bit rough.

Any one of these pills would be handled with trembling hands at Flying Cloud Sect.

Shen Sang Ruo felt a jolt of surprise. So Su Xi Yu was an Alchemist who could refine a Fifth-grade Pill.

Bai Ruo An moved to the talismans with slow, steady steps, his eyes still half-closed as he listed them like a grocer at market: “Lightning-Calling Talisman, Soul-Quelling Talisman, Spirit-Transforming Talisman, Teleportation Talisman…”

Compared to Su Xi Yu’s bold sweep, Bai Ruo An was gentle.

His tone was so calm that someone who did not know better might think he was picking cabbages.

But every kind of talisman he named could make cultivators from all sides fight to the death.

He held out a bundle with quiet confidence and said: “I drew these myself. Use them as you like, Junior Sister Shen.”

Bai Ruo An was a talisman cultivator by path.

Of the other two, Ye Huai was clearly a Sword Cultivator, and Song Wei Yan was a Spell Cultivator.

Because of their paths, neither had artifacts they had forged themselves.

That did not stop them from stuffing artifacts into Shen Sang Ruo’s storage bag as if there were no limit.

Ye Huai set aside a neat group of items as he said in his even voice: “Swiftstep Boots, Ice Shield, Chaos Pearl…” These were things he had gathered while traveling in earlier years.

Song Wei Yan rummaged in a corner, then called out with a grin as he lifted a bundle that looked very much like sticks of dynamite: “Oh, right. Here are some explosive tools the Sect Master refined.”

He announced the names one by one, oddly proud: “Tickle Bomb, Tear Bomb, Stench Bomb…”

They were not strong, but they were many, and they were very annoying.

Artifacts and treasures poured into the storage bag like they cost nothing at all.

Watching this, even Shen Sang Ruo’s usually calm face cracked a little as she stared at the growing pile.

She could not help but wonder: were these truly treasures and artifacts, or just weeds from the roadside dressed up with fancy names?