Chapter 0: Disciple and Dharma Image
“Demon Saint?” Duoyu’s delicate face, as fair as porcelain, showed a hint of suspicion.
Seeing this, Qin Gou inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Duoyun Stele had been in seclusion for too long and its information was blocked, making it less susceptible to misleading and detestable rumors!
However, after a moment’s pause, Duoyu suddenly spoke as if reciting a family heirloom, stating as a matter of course, “Do I even need to say? Of course, it’s Qin Gou of Arc-Moon Mountain, the exceptionally rare One Person, One Ranking. From the oldest elder to the newborn child, who in this world doesn’t know him?”
What a scoundrel!
Qin Gou’s face twitched, feeling utterly gagged. It turned out that what truly made her confused was why Mo Qingxin would ask such an obvious, idiotic question.
“Doesn’t that solve the mystery? My guess wasn’t entirely baseless, was it?” Mo Qingxin blinked her charming, spiritual eyes, her words full of deception.
She yearned so much to become inseparable sisters with Duoyun Stele. Look at this astonishingly overflowing soul power – who says a power bank can’t have its own backup power source?
“I just find your words… absurd,” Duoyu said, furrowing her dark eyebrows and shaking her head.
“Let me put it this way: for some reason, I don’t wish to harm you for the time being. But can you guarantee that you won’t make any moves against me in the future?” Qin Gou stopped joking and said in a deep voice, “Although you are an Artifact Spirit, the solidification of your soul body far surpasses that of many cultivators. You are truly an exception, and perhaps you have the ability to make a Spirit Oath?”
“But in reality, our grievances extend beyond this,” Duoyu said, falling silent again, seemingly lost in thought.
Suddenly, Qin Gou’s gaze flickered, and she muttered to herself, “Don’t rush, I’m still setting the stage, aren’t I? Why are you in such a hurry, you little rascal? Fine, have it your way…”
Immediately after, a captivating figure in a black dress appeared behind Qin Gou.
Xie Yu, that girl, always seemed unable to distinguish herself from a cloak. This time too, she rested her little head on Qin Gou’s shoulder from behind, tickling her neck. Her eyes held a pure innocence that was worlds apart from her alluring appearance, as she curiously examined Duoyu.
Mo Qingxin was already aware of Xie Yu’s existence, so she wasn’t particularly surprised.
Duoyu, who had been silent until now, suddenly trembled, her expression changing drastically as she took a step forward, her gaze fixed on Xie Yu.
“You…”
“That’s right, it’s this feeling! Sister, I’m sure you can help Xie Yu advance!” Xie Yu said with a friendly smile to Duoyu.
“Xie Yu… is it really you?” Duoyu subconsciously rubbed her eyes in a human-like gesture, finding it unbelievable.
Her words, which seemed to be a death knell for surprise, instantly made both Qin Gou and Mo Qingxin reveal astonished expressions.
“You know me?” Xie Yu paused, asking in confusion.
“Know you? You really are alive! This aura… you’ve actually become a Dharma Image?” Duoyu’s eyes trembled violently, showing extreme excitement.
“Duoyu, are you saying that Xie Yu was once a living cultivator?!” Qin Gou asked, her expression shocked, and immediately pressed for more information.
Qin Gou now knew that some cultivators with extraordinary talent could transform into Dharma Images after their death, just like that black-robed figure back then. However, he was far more powerful and terrifying than any Dharma Image Qin Gou had ever seen.
These Dharma Images, transformed from cultivators, could usually only be inherited by their own kin to protect their blood relatives with everything they had. But Xie Yu had been obtained as a reward from the system.
Duoyu glanced at Qin Gou with a complex expression, but did not respond. She looked back at Xie Yu and gritted her teeth, “Do you remember me?”
Xie Yu shook her head blankly.
For a moment, Duoyu’s expression turned gloomy, her eyes dim. Even though she existed solely as a soul body, she couldn’t help but shed two streams of tears.
“You once told me that when you’re sad and distressed, just cry it out. It doesn’t seem to be as effective now.”
“Did we know each other before? Xie Yu just doesn’t remember?” Xie Yu asked vaguely, biting her lower lip.
“I clearly told you back then that according to my divination, the journey would be extremely perilous, but you insisted on going! You even said you’d definitely succeed in taking me with you when you returned.” Duoyu approached Xie Yu again, her eyes blurred with tears, and said intermittently, “It’s also my fault… I didn’t have the substantive ability to help you back then.”
After speaking, Duoyu finally looked at Qin Gou and said, “I don’t know why Xie Yu became your Dharma Image. Perhaps it’s also due to her obsession. But I beg you, please, do not fail her! If there’s a chance to help her remember everything, I will go all out.”
“Only today have I learned that Xie Yu was once a cultivator as well?” Qin Gou said, her mind full of doubts. “Moreover, how can I know if your words are true or false? Duoyu, can you tell me more about Xie Yu’s past?”
“It’s not difficult to prove. Because I understand her too well, and… doing so might also help her remember something.” With that, Duoyu took a deep breath, met Xie Yu’s gaze, and said softly, “Little bird?”
In an instant, Xie Yu, who had been quiet and well-behaved just moments ago, became like a firecracker that had been lit. Her eyes sharpened, and she pouted angrily, exclaiming, “You, what did you call me?”
For a moment, Duoyu couldn’t help but break into a tearful laugh. “As expected, you’ll never change in this regard!”
Qin Gou looked at Duoyu in surprise and quickly said, “Xie Yu, don’t be angry yet.”
“But she!”
“Good girl, have this. Eat something first and calm down!” Qin Gou immediately took out the ‘Sparrow Pill’ obtained from the lottery draw from her Nas ring.
It was said to be a favorite item of birds.
“What is this? It smells so good!” Suddenly, before Qin Gou could even finish her kind words, Xie Yu snatched the porcelain bottle, curiously took out a pill, and popped it into her mouth.
The next second, Xie Yu’s little face flushed as if she were drunk. Her clear and beautiful eyes were filled with enjoyment. She held the small porcelain bottle filled with Sparrow Pills in her small hands, cherishing it to her chest, and completely forgot about bothering Duoyu.
“Xie Yu likes this.”
Seeing this, Qin Gou couldn’t help but chuckle, dotingly patting her little head.
“What is this? This is the first time in my life I’ve seen someone besides myself calm down this old friend so quickly,” Duoyu couldn’t help but ask.
“Secret,” Qin Gou coughed dryly, vowing to keep the name ‘Sparrow Pill’ forever in her heart.
“Never mind… seeing Xie Yu getting along well with you makes me feel much better, and I can tell you more about her with peace of mind.”
At this moment, Duoyu lightly nodded her head, her gaze complexly fixed on Qin Gou. “Although my old friend didn’t become your disciple, she became your Dharma Image.”
