"Do you know him?" Yao Ranran looked at the blinded left eye, recalling someone.
Lu Ziqian nodded blankly. "I once saw him in Langgan City. Back then, he followed me for eight li, trying to take me as his disciple… but I refused. My heart belongs only to Master Ranran!"
He hurriedly explained, afraid Fairy Yao Ranran would think he was a fickle person.
"Mm… I understand. Did you say he dropped a blood-colored pearl in your hand?"
"Yes, this very pearl…" Lu Ziqian dug into his sleeve and carefully showed her the blood-colored pearl.
Fairy Yao Ranran picked up the Ancient Appraisal Mirror, wanting to confirm what it was.
[Yinsha Blood Soul Pearl: An evil artifact that gathers Yin energy and murderous intent, formed from the offering of thirteen Blood Eye Pearls.]
"Thirteen Blood Eye Pearls…" Yao Ranran gripped the Yinsha Blood Soul Pearl tightly. Inside, it seemed as though a raging torrent of resentment churned endlessly.
Instinctively, a thought flashed through her mind—how could a mortal even touch this thing?
Gurgle gurgle—
The Yinsha Blood Soul Pearl rolled out of her hand.
Lu Ziqian froze for a moment, then chased after it without hesitation.
Fairy Yao Ranran watched his flustered back, her pupils widening in shock.
Could it be that the spy was none other than this foolish scholar who suddenly moved to Nameless Peak and insisted on taking her as his master?
Her mind raced, tracing events back to the day the three of them returned from the secret realm.
A black bird had fallen out of the sky, snapping the tree vine and breaking a few of her bones.
Xiao Rong and Xiang Yin followed closely. The vines doubled in strength. Above normally calm Gu Ling Mountain, a meteor fell from the sky, nearly taking their lives.
When Jingjing was healing inside the Taoist temple, Lu Ziqian had not appeared, so nothing happened.
But when Xiao Rong and Xiang Yin recovered and were passing Nameless Peak, Lu Ziqian ran into them. Coincidentally, they also met Grandma Wang, who wanted to send them rice cakes while chatting with Lu Ziqian until sunset. From then on, a series of strange events afflicted Xiao Rong and Xiang Yin, leaving them dizzy and unable to purchase pills for healing…
"Fairy Yao Ranran, is there something wrong with this blood-colored pearl?" Lu Ziqian carefully wiped the blood-colored pearl with a corner of his robe, ensuring it was clean before respectfully holding it out.
Fairy Yao Ranran remained silent, holding the small mirror up toward him.
Lu Ziqian blinked in confusion. "Fairy Yao Ranran, is this mirror… wrong?"
Why did Fairy Yao Ranran point the mirror at him?I
t seemed to be some kind of magical artifact, and this was his first close look at such a precious item.
Yao Ranran still gave no answer.
Gradually, the small mirror displayed information about him.
Target: Lu Ziqian
Talent: Tiansha Lonely Star (destined for a lonely life, extremely harmful to those around him, a natural talent for demon cultivation)
Spiritual Root: Dark Root
Cultivation: None
Evaluation: Good words are only spoken once. Stay away if you do not wish to die!
Damn!
Tiansha Lonely Star!
Yao Ranran felt as if struck by lightning.
A storm of emotion churned within her, yet her face remained expressionless.
"Fairy Yao Ranran, Fairy Yao Ranran?" Lu Ziqian called gently, confused why she ignored him.
Fairy Yao Ranran's feathered lashes trembled slightly. Lu Ziqian brightened. "Fairy Yao Ranran, what were you thinking just now?"
Watching her expression, his heart raced.
His ears flushed red, stiffly holding the Yinsha Blood Soul Pearl.
Yao Ranran lowered her gaze to the pearl, raised her slightly trembling fingers, and cautiously pinched the rounded Yinsha Blood Soul Pearl between thumb and forefinger, lifting it up.
During this, she did not touch Lu Ziqian at all.
"Fairy Yao Ranran, what exactly is this thing?" Lu Ziqian asked curiously.
Fairy Yao Ranran instinctively stepped back half a pace, staring at Lu Ziqian's confused eyes. Realizing her movement was impolite, she stopped and said, "Brother Ziqian, has anyone checked your cultivation talent?"
Brother Ziqian…?
Lu Ziqian's face flushed crimson. "You may just call me Ziqian, Fairy. I am only a mortal. No one has ever examined my cultivation talent."
He glanced secretly at Fairy Yao Ranran, then quickly looked away. She was his master; hierarchy must not be broken.
Yao Ranran kept a safe distance, her mind working rapidly.
Judging by his expression, he was not lying. That explained all the accidents.
Lu Ziqian was unaware of his special constitution, so his unconscious proximity to Xiao Rong and Xiang Yin caused them to become gravely ill. The longer they stayed near him, the closer their death came.
As for the One-Eyed Daoist—
Fairy Yao Ranran turned her gaze to Zuo Xia.
Suddenly, a gust of wind lifted his wide robe, revealing bruised and discolored skin underneath.
The sight was shocking. Lu Ziqian jumped back in fear. "Fairy Yao Ranran, what happened to this Daoist? What kind of torment did he endure in life?"
Yao Ranran gave him a meaningful look. These wounds were undoubtedly related to Lu Ziqian.
Lu Ziqian recalled, "I remember not long ago, this Daoist's arms were perfectly fine. How could he suffer such injuries in such a short time… These tiny wounds are like falling into a nest of poisonous insects. Who is so cruel to torment even a fortune-telling elder?"
Yao Ranran glanced at him: that question is for you!
The fresh wounds corresponded exactly to the time he met Lu Ziqian.
This One-Eyed Daoist was resilient and experienced, still alive after so much. Yet he should never have held on to the pearl, seeking out Lu Ziqian. Given Xiao Rong and Xiang Yin's condition, he would lose at least half his life if he did not die outright.
Yao Ranran could not allow Lu Ziqian to continue wandering outside, especially near her Taoist temple. She lifted her hand, and the storage pouch in Zuo Xia's arms flew to her.
"Um…" Lu Ziqian summoned courage to look into her eyes, falling into a pool of autumn-like clarity.
"Mm?" Yao Ranran did not speak further.
Lu Ziqian's ears flushed red. He said softly, "Fairy Yao Ranran, why did this fortune-telling Daoist commit suicide in your hands?"
Suicide?
In a way.
And it has much to do with you!
Yao Ranran only wanted to quickly distance herself, preserve her life, and save Xiao Rong and Xiang Yin.
"He was old and weary of life, so he died," Yao Ranran said succinctly.
Lu Ziqian was dumbfounded.
Why did the fortune-telling Daoist look like he had lived enough…
Yao Ranran continued, "Lu Ziqian, do you truly swear to take me as your master?"
"Yes! The only two thoughts that pushed Ziqian back to his hometown were my grandmother and Fairy Yao Ranran!" Lu Ziqian hurriedly replied.