Chapter 5: Sorry, Organization

Chapter 5: Apologies to the Organization

Though this sword had recently pierced him to the core, being the understanding person he was, how could he blame a mere blade? So, upon realizing the sword was a turncoat with intentions of betraying its master, Chi Yu immediately embraced it.

He didn't ask if Ling Hezhou was dead; until confirmed, Chi Yu assumed he was still alive. And the sword provided a satisfactory answer.

Phantom Lightning traced its name in the soft soil. Chi Yu softly read it aloud, earning an affectionate nudge from the sword. Chi Yu patted it, whispering, "I know you are a kind sword, and surely you have a compelling reason for following that demon. When the time is right, you can become my life-bound spirit sword."

He spoke with a hint of a test, and Phantom Lightning fell silent. After a moment, it hesitantly bobbed up and down, then swayed side to side.

Chi Yu guessed, "So you do have a compelling reason for following the demon, but you can’t become my life-bound spirit sword?"

Phantom Lightning: [Nodding emoji]

Chi Yu wasn't too disappointed. He asked, "Can you handle it alone? Do you need my help?"

Phantom Lightning shook its head, transforming into a streak of light and flying towards Xie Xiyi’s location.

Chi Yu nimbly climbed a tree to wait for it.

In truth, the distance between Chi Yu and Xie Xiyi wasn't far, and Xie Xiyi should have noticed. It was purely because Xie Xiyi was at a critical juncture, too preoccupied to notice his surroundings. Meanwhile, Chi Yu was too weak, his presence as faint as an ant, which allowed him to reach this area undetected.

Inside a craggy, tiger-crouch-like cave, black mist floated above the ground like the lingering fog over a winter river. Black runes occasionally surfaced, only to shatter like fleeting bubbles.

The Nascent Soul of a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator was restrained mid-air by several black talisman rings, shouting angrily, "How dare you, punk! Do you know who I am? My father is the Blood Slaughter Ancestor! If you harm me, he will never let you go!"

He continued with a stream of profanities, but seeing Xie Xiyi ignore him, he quickly changed his tune, alternating between offering great rewards and making solemn vows.

As expected, Xie Xiyi paid no heed. Seated on a meditation cushion, his jade-like hands enveloped and isolated by mist, he held a top-grade spirit stone, engraving a spell seal into it. Using the mist as ink and his divine sense as a brush, he soon formed a small, intricate spell seal inside the stone, wrapped within its internal energy core. This allowed the spell seal to be preserved permanently and effectively, turning it into a talisman ordinary cultivators could use.

Pleased with the successful experiment, Xie Xiyi hummed an unnamed tune softly in his throat. Even in fragmented pieces, it sounded like a quiet, melodic tune.

He only hummed a few measures before falling silent, casually tossing the engraved spirit stone onto a table without much care.

Now he finally had time to deal with this incessantly chattering spirit.

He reached out to touch the spirit, the mist parting slightly to allow Xie Xiyi’s pale fingertips to make contact. The spirit immediately screamed in agony, one arm instantly melting into liquid, dripping steadily onto the ground like molten iron, burning several holes into the earth.

Nascent Soul cultivators are immensely powerful—able to communicate with heaven and earth, roam the cosmos, deduce all things, and overturn mountains and seas. Even separated from their physical bodies, their spirits retain most of their power and abilities. They can perform soul possession, seizing others’ bodies. Thus, even in spirit form, this cultivator remained defiant, believing he could still perform soul possession on Xie Xiyi given the chance.

Yet such a powerful cultivator, upon merely touching a bit of Xie Xiyi’s skin, suffered such a miserable fate—how could it not be terrifying?

Gasping and shuddering, the Nascent Soul cultivator’s iron will instantly crumbled. Before he could plead for mercy, Xie Xiyi withdrew his hand and turned his head to the side. "Come here."

The jade-white spine sword, gliding along the cave wall, paused and slowly turned its tip, drifting over to Xie Xiyi.

Xie Xiyi examined it for a moment before taking out a Taowu skin to wipe it clean.

After polishing Phantom Lightning spotless, Xie Xiyi released it. He then gathered the spirit between his fingers, black forbidden curses crawling from his wide sleeves to coil tightly around it like serpents. Screams erupted again but were quickly stifled as the powerful spirit was injected with countless spell seals.

Seizing the opportunity, Phantom Lightning used its tip to lift an old-fashioned lantern behind Xie Xiyi, flashed past him like lightning, and shot out beyond the cave’s formation.

Chi Yu waited in the tree for over ten minutes before Phantom Lightning returned.

Seeing the lantern hanging from the sword’s blade, Chi Yu slid down from the tree and reached out to take it. "Is Ling Hezhou inside?"

Phantom Lightning nodded.

Chi Yu shook the lantern. It had a crystal windproof shade and appeared made of ordinary gilded metal, but it was unexpectedly heavy, with a slight vibration, clearly a spiritual artifact in the form of a lantern, likely of no low grade.

He fumbled around but found no switch. "How do I release him?"

Phantom Lightning shook its head again. Chi Yu wondered, "I can’t release him?"

Phantom Lightning nodded.

Chi Yu muttered, "Why can’t I? Is my cultivation level not high enough?"

A pleasant voice drifted over softly, "Several Nascent Souls are imprisoned here. If released, you might be possessed."

Chi Yu: "Huh? Really? What should we do then? Can we just release Ling—"

Before he could finish, Chi Yu froze completely.

The jade-white spine sword swept past him and was grasped by Xie Xiyi.

Chi Yu slowly turned his head to find Xie Xiyi standing very close. His figure was tall, seemingly able to blot out the sky, and Chi Yu stood in his shadow, small as a young animal.

Chi Yu lifted his face slowly. From his angle, he could see Xie Xiyi’s sharply defined, elegant jawline. The sinister ghost mask and crimson pupils, like hellfire, stared directly at him. "It’s you."

Xie Xiyi’s tone carried a faint hint of amusement. "You’re not dead."

Black forbidden curse chains dropped from his sleeves, slithered snake-like onto Chi Yu’s feet.

"What’s this?" Chi Yu jumped in fright, wanting to distance himself from Xie Xiyi, but his body stiffened, unable to move even a finger.

Phantom Lightning hummed again in Xie Xiyi’s hand, its jade-white surface flowing with a faint golden light.

Xie Xiyi’s mesmerizing laugh. "So that’s why."

No wonder its spiritual power had scattered like a common weapon when killing him.

Phantom Lightning’s humming grew stronger. If not for Xie Xiyi’s suppression, it would have flown from his grasp.

Though immobilized, Chi Yu still had his voice. "I came to follow you. You’ve seen it—I have a secret technique that allows resurrection! Even Nascent Soul, Great Perfection, or Tribulation Transcension cultivators can’t do this. Take me in, and once I’ve cultivated enough, I can both defend you in battle and take blows for you. It’s a good deal, right?"

Xie Xiyi looked down at him without speaking.

Chi Yu couldn’t see his expression, only the eerie, sinister ghost mask. In such a critical moment, he still found time to wander—how does he see without eye holes? Won’t his eyes atrophy from disuse?

Forcing his focus back, Chi Yu continued pledging loyalty. "...Though lowly as I am, I wish to follow a wise master. If you accept me, I would go through fire and water without a second thought!"

Xie Xiyi laughed. His laughter was unique—light and pleasant, incongruous with his tall stature, carrying a delight that made one’s body tingle. "In that case, go die."

He said it lightly, raising the resisting, vibrating Phantom Lightning, and thrust it into Chi Yu’s heart just as he had the first time.

Chi Yu: "..."

Damn it!

Chi Yu’s consciousness cut out, sinking into blackness.

Xie Xiyi pulled back the spine sword, its blade shimmering with golden light as if in rage. Ignoring it, he used the sword to slice open Chi Yu’s robes, soon revealing the young man’s lean, supple pale body.

Where Chi Yu had been pierced, a bloody hole gushed, quickly staining the grass with blood.

Xie Xiyi took out the Taowu skin to wipe the sword, but Phantom Lightning tilted slightly, leaving a long cut across Xie Xiyi's slender fingers.

Xie Xiyi paused, black mist surged onto the wound, clotting it before blood could flow. Soon, the area cut by Phantom Lightning healed completely as if nothing had happened.

Xie Xiyi said darkly, "A sword that betrays its master has no right to exist."

The spell seal chains slithered out, wrapping around Phantom Lightning layer by layer, quickly devouring it.

Xie Xiyi whispered, "Come out only when you've learned your lesson."

Putting Phantom Lightning away, Xie Xiyi took out a premium-grade spirit stone and slowly carved a spell seal. By the time he finished the third one, the body at his feet began to breathe again, the pool of blood underneath starting to flow back.

Soon, all the blood had returned to that thin chest, the pierced wound closing and healing instantly. Color returned to the youth's pale cheeks.

Chi Yu woke up quickly, opening his eyes to see Xie Xiyi's fierce ghost mask. "..."

He pulled up his status screen and sure enough, his age had jumped to 15. He couldn’t afford to waste any more time here—if he kept dying, would he devolve into a fertilized egg at zero?

Anything but that.jpg

Chi Yu immediately changed allegiance, tears pouring as he hugged Xie Xiyi's thigh: "Big Boss, I was forced! It was all the system! The system told me to gain your trust and then betray you, Aaaah!"

As he wailed, Chi Yu was shocked that the system had no privacy safeguards—he actually managed to say the word "system" out loud!

Seriously, system—you're utterly useless!

Xie Xiyi showed no surprise at his words, nor did he pay them much mind.

He had seen it all—the moment Chi Yu revived, the energy signature... was of the same origin as the Forbidden Curse.

Xie Xiyi casually reached out to Chi Yu, the mist once again forming gloves to cover his hands. He lifted Chi Yu's face, then slid his hand down, carefully feeling his shoulders and arms.

One death, and his bone age had decreased as well.

This was clearly the power of the Forbidden Curse. Interesting—someone else besides him was using Forbidden Curses.

Xie Xiyi felt a spark of interest.

Chi Yu shivered at his touch. Even through the gloves, where Xie Xiyi touched him felt bone-chillingly cold.

Just like Xie Xiyi himself, it gave off an eerie and frigid feeling.

After checking his bone age, Xie Xiyi bent down, helped Chi Yu up, his voice still pleasant and melodious, though with a hint of false warmth: "I appreciate your honesty. You may stay."

He paused, still smiling: "As a Sword Servant."

Chi Yu jumped at the offer: "Fine, I'll take what I can get."

Xie Xiyi watched as he immediately wiped away his tears, even quickly flashing a relaxed smile, and his laughter paused slightly.

Chi Yu waited a moment but didn’t hear Xie Xiyi ask about the system. Seeing him about to leave, Chi Yu quickly called out: "Boss, any chance you'd release Ling Hezhou? He’s my friend."

Xie Xiyi laughed. "He is my quarry."

His voice was gentle, but beneath that spring-like warmth lay an ice-cold demeanor and killing intent, cold as a snow-capped mountain.

Though he kept Chi Yu, it didn’t mean Chi Yu could cross his boundaries.

Chi Yu fell silent.

He asked again: "Boss, how do you plan to deal with him?"

Xie Xiyi said lightly: "You are just a Sword Servant."

After a pause, he added: "Open your mouth."

Chi Yu hesitated for a moment, then quickly opened his mouth.

Without even moving a finger, at Xie Xiyi's will alone, the black rune chains slithered out from his pale wrist again, crawling onto Chi Yu’s feet, up his legs, and onto his body.

The black chains felt ice-cold; even through clothing, the touch was freezing. As they climbed higher, they coiled around his upper body, wrapping around him like a constrictor, one loop after another, until they reached his neck. One end of the chain slipped into Chi Yu’s mouth.

His taste buds detected an intensely bitter taste, followed by the sensation of holding an ice cube—the temperature in his entire mouth dropped, making Chi Yu’s teeth chatter.

The chain brushed against his teeth and palate, finally settling at the warm root of his tongue, where it implanted a spell seal.

Because the mouth was warm, the chain formed from the Forbidden Curse actually lingered for a while, attempting to force its way down Chi Yu’s throat.

At that moment, Xie Xiyi moved his fingers slightly. The chain paused, then slowly withdrew from Chi Yu’s mouth and returned to Xie Xiyi.

Chi Yu licked his teeth and asked Xie Xiyi: "What was that? Your weapon? Why did it try to go into my mouth?"

Xie Xiyi didn’t respond.

Chi Yu showed no embarrassment at all and continued: "Will you still kill me? What I said earlier was true—I want to follow you. Staying with you has much better opportunities. So, why did your weapon try to go into my mouth just now?"

Xie Xiyi turned and walked away.

Chi Yu hurried to follow, then felt a sudden chill all over and realized his robes had been cut open, his chest and waist exposed.

He quickly put his clothes back on, but in that brief moment, Xie Xiyi was already a hundred meters away.

Chi Yu sped up to catch up and asked again: "Where’s Phantom Lightning? Aren’t I a Sword Servant? Shouldn’t I tend to the sword? Boss, give Phantom Lightning to me. I’ll carry it for you."

"Boss? Why aren’t you answering me?"

Chi Yu soon found he couldn't speak.

Chi Yu: "..."

Fine.

*

Although he hadn’t saved Ling Hezhou and had even gotten himself tied up in this, Chi Yu felt pretty good about things.

No matter what, he had gotten close to Xie Xiyi.

His status was just a bit low, but that was fine—a soldier who doesn't want to be a general isn’t a good soldier.

No matter how low his status, it was still better than being one of Xie Xiyi’s defeated enemies.

Because those defeated by Xie Xiyi not only had their bones crushed to dust but also had their spirits extracted to be tormented.

Chi Yu had seen with his own eyes how Xie Xiyi refined a Nascent Soul Cultivator’s spirit into a soul artifact and collected it into the Myriad Soul Banner.

He couldn’t help but gasp in shock—after all, Xie Xiyi was only at the Golden Core Stage!

Sorry, organization, I’ve really defected.jpg

From now on, I’ll be Xie Xiyi’s dog.jpg

Author's Note:

Early stage, Chi Yu: I’m the villain’s dog.jpg

Mid-stage, Chi Yu: I’m the villain’s destined rival.jpg

Late stage, Chi Yu: Do I have to be the wife? QAQ