Chapter 10
Chapter 10
A sea of mist stretched out before her eyes.
An eerie red moon hung high in the sky.
Her steps were heavy as she walked through the fog, unsure of her destination.
Suddenly, an old tree appeared before her, its branches completely devoid of leaves.
The withered limbs intertwined, resembling bleached bones that reached toward the horizon.
Where was she?
She stood frozen in place. When she looked down, she realized her hands and feet were shackled.
“Mogu, you slaughtered the entire Spirit Sword Sect! Your sins are heavy, and your crimes are heinous!”
“You are hereby banished to the Nine Abysses, never to enter the cycle of reincarnation!”
A cold, chilling voice echoed from all directions-distant yet close, surreal yet vivid.
“Who’s there?”
She looked around, and when she turned back, the world behind her had transformed into a blinding glare of light and shadow.
“Mogu, the century-long term is up. I permit your soul to return to the mortal realm to atone for your sins.”
“You must ferry thirty-two aggrieved souls in the world of the living and light the Soul-Ferrying Lantern before you can re-enter reincarnation.”
“Remember, this body only has three years. You must fulfill the lingering wishes left behind by the body’s original owner as quickly as possible.”
“Otherwise, once your soul dissipates, all your efforts will be in vain.”
The light and shadows vanished.
Darkness swallowed the entire dream.
Xia Ximo sat up abruptly, only to find herself sitting in a chair. The numbness in her legs felt somewhat foreign.
Silence filled the room. A solitary lamp had not yet burned out, though the sky outside was already fully bright.
Just as she was about to stand up, she noticed a black lotus lamp sitting on the table beside her. It did not look like an object from the mortal world.
By the morning light, Xia Ximo picked it up to examine it closely.
The lotus lamp was only the size of a palm, with thirty-two petals. It had no wick, lending it an eerie quality.
As she gazed at the object, three words suddenly surfaced in her mind.
-Soul-Ferrying Lantern.
Footsteps sounded outside the door; someone seemed to be approaching quietly.
Xia Ximo set the lamp down, stood up, and walked straight to the door, pulling it open.
The person outside seemed startled, but after a moment, they offered a kind smile.
“Miss Xia, you’re awake?”
It was the butler she had met briefly yesterday.
Xia Ximo gave a small nod.
Ren Cong continued politely, “I’ve ordered the servants to bring hot water. Please wash up and have breakfast shortly, Miss.”
“Mm.”
Her attitude remained cold, showing no regard for worldly etiquette, even in front of Ren Fengjue.
Ren Cong had already experienced this and didn’t mind. He held out a bundle of silver he had prepared earlier and added, “This is a small token of Lord Ren’s appreciation. Please accept it, Miss Xia.”
Xia Ximo looked at the heavy bundle in his hand and hesitated.
She didn’t know what was inside.
Observing her expression, Ren Cong explained, “Since you’ve just arrived in the capital, Miss Xia, I’m afraid things will be inconvenient everywhere without some money on hand.”
Hearing this, Xia Ximo finally understood.
“He’s giving me money?”
There was finally a ripple of emotion in her tone.
A smile touched Ren Cong’s lips. He thought to himself that while she didn’t care for social graces, she could still be moved by wealth. It seemed…
Maintaining a respectful posture, he replied, “Indeed.”
“How much?”
“Huh?”
Ren Cong doubted his own ears for a moment. His raised hands lowered slightly as he answered, “It is one hundred taels of silver.”
“Mm.”
The other party gave another faint acknowledgment but said nothing more.
She took the money from his hands and turned back into the room.
She didn’t even mention the word “thanks.”
“…”
Staring at her retreating back, Ren Cong stood frozen in place, unable to recover his senses for a long time.
After Xia Ximo had finished washing and eating, Ren Cong found himself having to knock on her door once more.
This time, however, he had brought two people with him.
“Miss Xia, this is Shopkeeper Liu from Brocade Garment Manor and Master Li, the tailor.”
Xia Ximo’s brow furrowed slightly, unsure of their purpose.
Seeing this, Ren Cong patiently explained, “Lord Ren gave orders to have two sets of winter clothes tailored for Miss Xia.”
Tailoring clothes?
She instinctively looked down at herself.
Having been trapped in the extreme cold of the Nine Netherworld for a hundred years, she had long forgotten the meaning of warmth.
At this moment, her soul had not yet fully merged with her body. The yin energy could not dissipate, leaving a chill that seeped into her marrow at all times.
Thick winter clothes were essentially useless to her.
However, on second thought, this was now an era of peace and prosperity. Beyond seeking food and warmth, people also cared about appearances.
In her tattered rags, she was inevitably a bit out of place.
For now, she would follow the local customs of this world.
“Very well.”
Ren Cong nodded with a smile and gave Shopkeeper Liu a meaningful look.
Shopkeeper Liu did not dare to be negligent. He stepped forward, his face beaming with a smile as he asked, “Does the young lady have any preferred styles?”
Xia Ximo didn’t even lift her eyelids. “No.”
“Then… are there any specific fabrics you prefer?”
“No.”
Shopkeeper Liu’s expression stiffened slightly. “Then…”
“You decide.”
“……”
This line of questioning actually made things difficult for Shopkeeper Liu.
In their line of business, they didn’t fear customers who were demanding or had tedious requirements.
After all, their Brocade Garment Manor was the finest in the capital; even the imperial consorts and princesses in the palace were full of praise for them.
But this girl-he had no idea what her background was, and her attitude was truly inscrutable.
If it weren’t for the sake of the Young Marquis…
After a moment’s hesitation, Shopkeeper Liu squeezed out another smile and said, “In that case, let Master Li bring out some sketches for the young lady to look over.”
For every season’s collection at Brocade Garment Manor, famous painters from the capital were invited to create illustrations.
These painters were all highly skilled; the details and colors they rendered were nearly identical to the actual garments, providing a very faithful representation.
Yet, as Xia Ximo flipped through the sketches one by one, her face remained devoid of any emotion.
Could it be that nothing caught her eye?
Master Li, the tailor, quietly observed her expression from the side. Just as he was pondering how to strike up a conversation, he noticed her eyes suddenly fixate on the scroll basket behind him.
There was a single scroll inside that had not been taken out.
“Miss, that scroll contains last year’s winter designs.”
Xia Ximo didn’t say a word; she simply reached out her hand toward him.
Master Li froze for a moment and glanced at Shopkeeper Liu. Seeing that the other man had no objection, he handed the item over.
As the scroll unfurled, there were only four sets of clothes, but the art style was completely different from the previous ones.
This painter had not only focused on the details of the clothing but had also drawn corresponding figures. Their expressions and the atmospheric rendering blended together, making each garment and accessory appear more vivid and radiant.
Though clearly created with great care, the work bore no signature.
Xia Ximo’s gaze swept across the rows, finally stopping on a young girl wearing a red cloak, standing in a snowy landscape with a slightly sorrowful expression.
Master Li chimed in, “This cloak was the most fashionable style last year. Almost every noble lady in the capital had one made.”
He was about to continue when she suddenly asked out of the blue, “Is this painter already dead?”
Master Li choked on his words instantly.
Shopkeeper Liu’s expression also changed.
Seeing their silence, Xia Ximo calmly withdrew her gaze and commanded, “I want these four outfits.”
Master Li snapped out of his shock, but hearing this, he felt somewhat at a loss.
Shopkeeper Liu was also stunned for a long while before he regained his senses.
“What are you standing there for? Hurry and… take this young lady’s measurements!”