Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Huh?

I was a bit dazed. “Isn’t a Tiger Whip a Pure Yang item? My offering was correct, wasn’t it?”

Liu Junyan let out a soft chuckle. “Yes, it was correct, but… let’s not have a next time.”

He rarely laughed like this-satiated, yet mischievous.

His narrow eyes crinkled slightly, carrying a hint of tenderness. With just one look, I felt myself sinking into them, my cheeks flushing involuntarily.

I… I think I understood what he meant.

I opened my mouth to explain, but the words felt like I was only making things worse by trying to cover them up.

Feeling frustrated, I balled up my fist and gave his chest a light thump before turning my back to him, refusing to acknowledge him further.

In the next instant, Liu Junyan’s arm hooked around my waist and pulled me back. He buried his head in the crook of my neck, coaxing me, “Why are you running? Xiao Jiu, tell me about your trip to the Ghost Market last night.”

At the mention of that, I wasn’t sleepy at all anymore.

I gave him a brief rundown of the whole process and then asked, “Is there some kind of history between Sister Qingying and the Fox Lord? She seemed to really dislike him.”

Liu Junyan thought for a moment before saying, “There might be some misunderstandings.”

I gave an “oh” in response and asked another question. “Then what exactly is a Lifebound Artifact?”

“Most cultivators hold some form of magical tool or weapon in their hands, but not many can refine an ordinary artifact into a Lifebound Artifact,” Liu Junyan explained. “Once a Lifebound Artifact reaches a certain level, it can even achieve a state where the person and the artifact become one.”

I understood immediately and asked, “Then what happens if someone loses their Lifebound Artifact?”

“For a cultivator, a Lifebound Artifact is practically their second life,” Liu Junyan said. “Under normal circumstances, it’s impossible to lose it-unless the person dies, or is even wiped out of existence entirely.”

The consequences were that severe.

I was just an ordinary person and didn’t understand cultivation.

But I did know that on the night of the First Day of the Eighth Month, the reason Liu Junyan chose to save me through the wedding night was essentially a form of dual cultivation.

Unfortunately, since I didn’t know how to cultivate, he could only forcibly transfer Merit and True Qi into my body.

Liu Junyan was a cultivator.

Thinking of this, I asked, “What about you? Do you have a Lifebound Artifact?”

Liu Junyan nodded. “I do.”

I perked up instantly, rolling over to look at him with burning curiosity. “What is your Lifebound Artifact? Can I see it?”

Liu Junyan froze for a moment, his vertical pupils constricting slightly as if he had remembered something unpleasant. He shook his head gently.

I was sensible enough not to ask further.

Everyone has their own untouchable secrets; maintaining boundaries is important.

However, Liu Junyan added, “Later. When there’s an opportunity in the future, I’ll show it to you.”

I replied, “Okay.”

Liu Junyan’s large hand rested on my shoulder blade, rubbing it gently as he drifted into thought.

After lunch, Liu Junyan returned to the Black Coffin.

In the afternoon, I tidied up the counter.

I filed the old Pawn Ticket ledgers together and put the newly purchased tickets on a separate shelf. I also washed the calligraphy brushes. Once I was finished, I leaned against the counter to rest, and something caught the corner of my eye.

I stood up abruptly, walked around the counter, and headed outside. When I took a closer look, the hair on my arms stood on end.

It was that Broken Mailbox!

The Broken Mailbox that had been missing for half a month had actually returned, perfectly intact.

It stood there, crooked as ever, on the street in the Corridor Front of the Pawnshop, as if it had never disappeared.

When did it appear?

Last night?

Or today?

Who had stolen it in the first place? And who had brought it back now?

What exactly did they want?

A series of questions rushed to the top of my head.

The curse of this Broken Mailbox was still ongoing!
I scanned the surroundings but saw no one suspicious. To my surprise, however, I noticed a kraft paper envelope still lying inside the Broken Mailbox.

I stared at the envelope for a long while before finally summoning the courage to reach out and pull it out.

Inside the envelope was a folded piece of stationery.

Opening it, I saw the words: My Beloved Wanwan, I hope this letter finds you well…

This was a reply-a reply that Fu Wan had never received before her death.

The man who wrote it was named Zhao Zixun. He told Fu Wan in the letter that their army had won a great victory and would be returning soon. Once he arrived back in Wufu Town, he would immediately begin preparations to marry her.

Between the lines, I could see Zhao Zixun’s deep love for Fu Wan.

However, the date on the signature was nearly three months earlier than the date on Fu Wan’s own letter.

Seeing that date made my heart skip a beat.

According to what Zhao Zixun wrote, he should have returned to Wufu Town about a month after sending this letter.

Yet, nearly three months later, Fu Wan was still sending letters to Zhao Zixun. What exactly had gone wrong?

I looked back at the spark of fire inside the Hexagonal Palace Lantern.

Zhao Zixun was Fu Wan’s obsession. Only by finding him or uncovering the truth of what happened back then could this Yin Pawn-Fu Wan’s Soul Sacrifice to the Hexagonal Palace Lantern-be considered complete.

Now that Zhao Zixun’s Reply had appeared, did it mean someone was secretly guiding me?

And who would that be?

This inevitably made me think of the person Dou Jinsuo had mentioned-Second Master Liu.

Could it be him?

I placed the letter back into the Broken Mailbox, my heart filled with unease.

As night gradually fell, the door to the Southern Study remained open. I sat behind the counter, silently watching the Broken Mailbox at the Corridor Front.

I don’t know how long I waited, but a sudden gust of yin wind blew outside, followed immediately by the sound of the Hexagonal Palace Lantern swaying incessantly.

Taking two deep breaths, I walked to the door and looked toward the western corridor. I saw the faint, ghostly green fire inside the Hexagonal Palace Lantern battering against the glass walls frantically, as if it had sensed something.

Looking in the direction the fire was striking, I once again saw those flickering, shadowy figures at the West Street Intersection.

Only tonight, my vision had returned, and I could see them clearly.

There were five figures standing at the intersection. Three of them were pitch black, looking as though they had been charred to a crisp. Another was deathly pale and soaking wet. Without exception, they were all staring greedily at the Hexagonal Palace Lantern, whispering among themselves.

Behind the four of them stood another man.

No, he wasn’t standing; he was mounted on a horse.

He was tall, dressed in a military uniform with a saber at his waist. His face was hidden beneath the wide brim of his hat, making his features impossible to discern.

However, his aura alone was enough to enchant countless young girls.

His chin was slightly raised as he stared unblinkingly at the Hexagonal Palace Lantern.

The moment I looked at him, he seemed to sense it. He turned his head slightly to glance my way, then yanked the reins, turning his horse to head west.

In the heat of the moment, I bolted after him. “Zhao Zixun, is that you?”

The figures at the intersection were startled by my outburst and vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye.

The entire street was left with nothing but the steady, unhurried sound of hoofbeats.

Clack… clack… clack…

I had already chased him to the intersection. Further west lay the river that bordered Wufu Town.

Yet the horse continued forward without stopping.

My footsteps came to a sudden halt. No, this wasn’t right!

It was a trap!

I turned to run back, but at that moment, the sound of hoofbeats vanished, and Zhao Zixun was gone.

Slowly, rising from the surface of the river opposite me, were… Eight Coffins…