When Jiang Che’s body was revealed, a strange scar could be seen on his left chest.
Most people might have thought it was a birthmark, but a few from the Shenxiao Sect knew that it was a punishment for disciples who committed crimes against the sect.
The Zhuo Hun Ruler, made entirely of bronze-like material.
Its effect was a direct assault on the soul, and it would leave a scar that would never disappear under any circumstances.
Back then, Hu Jingzhong from Shuiquan Village had no way to deal with it.
He also just assumed it was a birthmark.
Seeing this mark, Xu Qianlan also understood Lin Yin’s meaning.
Actually, Xu Qianlan believed that this child was Jiang Che too, but she just couldn’t find a reason to convince herself.
Compared to Lin Yin, she was more eager to figure out what had happened to Jiang Che.
“He… why did he end up like this?”
“I don’t know…”
Lin Yin paused, then continued, “When I found him, I felt his emotions. I understood—he must be my Che’er…”
Hearing this, Xu Qianlan couldn’t help but be curious.
“Emotions?”
But she quickly realized it had to be hatred.
Seeing Lin Yin’s disappointed look, Xu Qianlan sighed inwardly.
Lin Yin, oh Lin Yin, if only you had known then, would it have been worth it?
“Xu… Senior Sister, his body, do you have a way to fix it?”
“That depends on what you want to fix first.”
Xu Qianlan answered somewhat impatiently.
“If you want to heal his leg, there are methods. As for his eyes…”
She hesitated before continuing, “There’s no way… The eyes are the Nascent Spirit Eyes, the spiritual apertures with the richest spiritual energy in the body. Ordinary wounds can be healed with pills that help bones regrow and flesh mend, but these eyes—I can’t treat them. It’s like a broken glazed lamp; no matter how you piece it back together, it won’t shine.”
Her words felt like a torment to Lin Yin, a punishment for her own sins.
Lin Yin frowned slightly, displeased.
“I’m talking about that thing inside his Dantian. You should have seen it. That thing absorbs spiritual power and will endanger Che’er’s life.”
Xu Qianlan saw that Lin Yin knew a bit about that thing, but she guessed that Lin Yin probably couldn’t tell what it really was with her limited knowledge.
“Alright, I have some clues about the thing inside him.
It’s very similar to something I saw in ancient texts—the Shi Ling Gu.”
At these words, Lin Yin raised her eyebrows.
She had devoted herself to cultivation her whole life and was indeed unfamiliar with such things.
“But I only heard that it was made by the Nanjiang Lineage. After it emerged, it was discovered by the Demon Clan, who ambushed it, causing great damage to its vitality, and the entire clan went into hiding.”
“Hm… and then? I just want to know if there’s a way to get rid of it.”
Lin Yin didn’t care about its origins.
Seeing this, Xu Qianlan shrugged helplessly.
“I remember this thing doesn’t have intelligence, so it’s usually easy to deal with. But this one is different; it connects to several vital meridians in Jiang Che’s body. Any slight disturbance might kill him.”
Mid-sentence, Xu Qianlan’s gaze grew serious.
“To untie a knot, one must find the one who tied it. If we can find the person who placed the gu on Jiang Che, maybe there’s a way. Or…
Or find the Nanjiang Lineage. Maybe they have a solution.
Though I’m very curious why Jiang Che would have this gu inside him. He shouldn’t be connected to the Nanjiang people, right? Could it be the Demon Clan?”
Her gaze turned toward Lin Yin.
Lin Yin simply shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Xu Qianlan was speechless.
She really wanted to have another big argument with Lin Yin—how could her own disciple know nothing?
Lin Yin took a deep breath, and her furrowed brows softened slightly.
“If that’s the case, start by healing his leg. Let me know if you need anything.”
Hearing Lin Yin say this, Xu Qianlan no longer held back.
“Alright, that’s easy. I just need to refine a Meridian Bone Regrowth Pill, then soak him in a medicinal liquid I concoct.
In a few days, his leg should be able to walk normally.
But… I’ll need Xuan Sui Jade Essence and Yulong Grass. These two are hard to come by.
Xuan Sui Jade Essence is found in the Northern Extremity, and for Yulong Grass, we have to make a trip to the Eastern Sea.”
“Okay, I’ll go find them for you immediately.”
Saying this, Lin Yin flicked her sleeves and turned to leave.
Xu Qianlan was dumbfounded.
“Wait, you’re leaving just like that?”
“Is there nothing else?”
Lin Yin frowned, as if she didn’t want to waste a moment.
Xu Qianlan’s mouth twitched awkwardly. Was this all to be expected?
“You just got back; shouldn’t you report to the Sect Master first?
Besides…”
Xu Qianlan hesitated.
“Shouldn’t you also change your clothes and take a bath or something?”
She pointed to Lin Yin’s clothes and shoes.
They looked like they’d been through a dust storm.
Lin Yin nodded, then summoned her sword and left.
Inside the wooden house, only Xu Qianlan and the unconscious Jiang Che remained.
Watching Lin Yin’s departing figure, a sly smile appeared at the corner of Xu Qianlan’s lips.
“That Lin Yin, gone from the sect for two years, and her brain still hasn’t grown.”
With that, she took out a pile of materials from her Storage Ring.
Among them were the Xuan Sui Jade Essence and Yulong Grass she just mentioned.
Her smile no longer hidden, as if some wish in her heart had been fulfilled.
Back at the Sword Immortal Abode, it seemed the place was regularly cleaned.
It was already late, and no other disciples were seen. Perhaps Lingjian Peak no longer had many people left.
She walked into the backyard, where a water pool lay hidden in a corner.
The edges were paved with bluestone slabs, and a thin mist always hovered over the water’s surface, which, combined with the dewdrops on the nearby pine branches, gave the place a warm and gentle feel.
On a stone platform by the pool, a plain cloth towel was laid out, clearly a regular bathing spot.
Lin Yin slowly took off her dirty moon-white dress, exposing her body to the moonlight.
Her pale white skin seemed bathed in moonlight, emitting a faint luster under the moon’s glow.
Her waist was slender enough to be grasped in a hand, but the lines of her shoulders and back held the sharpness of a cultivator—no trace of worldly excess fat, every inch seemingly nurtured by spiritual energy to be smooth and even.
What’s this called again?
Ah, yes—Hot Spring.
Lin Yin had an Ice Spirit Root and was very sensitive to temperature.
After Jiang Che entered the sect a few years ago, he noticed Lin Yin liked soaking in hot water baths.
But she also liked to spend time cultivating.
So Jiang Che had dug this pool.
He also went to Wanzhen Peak to ask the Head of Wanzhen Peak, Grand Elder Wen.
Grand Elder Wen kept calling her name sweetly, urging her to teach Jiang Che some formations.
Thanks to that, Jiang Che was able to develop a formation that could continuously convert the surrounding heaven and earth’s spiritual energy to generate heat.
Lin Yin cupped some warm water and poured it over herself.
As the warm water flowed past her waist, her gaze fell on her left shoulder, where a light brown scar remained—the place where Jiang Che had once pricked her with a hairpin.
Her fingertips gently brushed the scar, then she took out a bone-piercing nail about an inch long from her Storage Ring and pricked the same spot again.
She didn’t frown but closed her eyes gently.
……
After a moment, Lin Yin changed into a thicker white robe and flew toward Lingxiao Peak.