Chapter 153: What Do You Think?

Chapter 153: What Do You Think

Shang Yunduo was stunned: “Your lifebound sword?”

Pei Jie nodded.

But how could your lifebound sword be there?!

Forget it, Shang Yunduo turned to grab the oar: “Let’s go get it back first!”

Pei Jie pulled him back: “It’s on the shore. We’ve already traveled more than half the way; there’s no need to go back. We can pick it up on the way back.”

Shang Yunduo: “What if someone runs off with it?”

Pei Jie shook his head: “That won’t happen. It hasn’t moved, so it must be stored somewhere. If someone were actually carrying it, it would be too late to row back now. Besides, no one else can use Frost Sword but me.”

“Oh…” Shang Yunduo felt a bit reassured, though not entirely. After hesitating, he set the oar down.

From here to the shore, it would take at least four or five days to row. If Frost Sword was really being carried by someone passing through this area, they would indeed be too late. If not—whether it was in someone’s hands, stored away as a treasure, or kept somewhere else—sooner or later, they’d find it.

Pei Jie didn’t seem too worried either.

Shang Yunduo scratched his head and sat down on the couch, still confused.

Pei Jie: “What’s wrong?”

Shang Yunduo shook his head. He just couldn’t understand how someone as skilled as Pei Jie could lose his lifebound sword. “I thought the sword you usually use was your lifebound sword…”

Pei Jie drew his sword: “Star Breaker?”

Shang Yunduo: “Yes! That’s it!”

It was the sword that had been pressed against my throat the first time they met!

So it’s called Star Breaker.

But now that he thought about it, something didn’t add up. Star Breaker was a Profound-grade spirit treasure, and Pei Jie was already at the Nascent Soul stage—how could he use a Profound-grade sword as his lifebound artifact?

Pei Jie handed him the sword: “Star Breaker was the first sword I forged myself. I made it early, so it only reached the Profound rank. My current cultivation still lets me use it. Frost and White Rainbow were forged together—those are my true lifebound swords.”

Shang Yunduo: “Oh… huh? Two of them?”

Pei Jie nodded.

Shang Yunduo: “Are both of them on the shore?”

Pei Jie: “No, only Frost. Back when I was injured and fleeing for my life, I unfortunately ran into a madman and had to leave Frost behind.”

Shang Yunduo: “Fleeing for his life?!”

Shang Yunduo: “Which madman?!”

Pei Jie thought for a moment: “I forgot which sect’s elder he was.”

Shang Yunduo: “???”

He suddenly realized that Pei Jie wasn’t talking about before they first met. The madman he mentioned wasn’t the kind of bastard who bullied Qi Refining cultivators with higher cultivation. “When did this happen…? If we go for the sword, will we run into him again?”

Pei Jie: “No, he’s been dead for centuries.”

Shang Yunduo: “…”

He couldn’t help but complain: “It’s been that long—hasn’t Frost been refined by someone else yet?”

“Refined?” Pei Jie said proudly: “That’s my lifebound sword.”

Seeing Shang Yunduo’s confusion, Pei Jie added: “As long as I’m alive, not even a Deity Transformation stage cultivator can refine it.”

Shang Yunduo: “…”

He remembered that Xiao Chi had refined someone else’s lifebound artifact before.

But his senior’s stuff was definitely different!

Shang Yunduo thought it over carefully. Since that was the case, they really shouldn’t go directly.

How could anyone who had gotten hold of Pei Jie’s lifebound sword be simple?

What if they were a Nascent Soul mid or late stage cultivator?

Shang Yunduo said solemnly: “Let’s wait until we come out of the secret realm, then first investigate who has Frost Sword now, and plan from there.”

Pei Jie smiled: “No need to be so cautious.”

Shang Yunduo: “Huh?”

Pei Jie: “We’ll just go take it back.”

Shang Yunduo: “J-just… take it by force?”

Pei Jie: “It’s my sword.”

Shang Yunduo: “…”

As expected of his Senior—if he’s in the right, he’ll rob; if not, he’ll steal.

“Mm!” Shang Yunduo silently decided he would still do some research on the side.

But he was still confused: “Can’t you use a lifebound sword if your cultivation isn’t high enough?”

Pei Jie nodded: “You can barely use it, but to unleash the sword’s full power, you must be at least at the Core Formation stage.”

Shang Yunduo suddenly realized: “No wonder you don’t use White Rainbow!”

Pei Jie shook his head: “No, I don’t have White Rainbow on me either.”

Shang Yunduo: “Huh?!”

Seeing his confusion, Pei Jie explained: “It’s not lost—it’s with my clone. You might have seen it.”

Shang Yunduo was stunned: “I’ve seen it?”

Impossible—he had never seen a sword more powerful than Star Breaker, nor had he ever seen Pei Jie’s clone.

But Pei Jie asked him: “Taiyuan Sect also has a large lake, you’ve seen it, right?”

Shang Yunduo nodded.

Pei Jie: “My clone is at the bottom of the lake.”

Shang Yunduo: "..."

Then it clicked.

Taiyuan Sect has seven peaks, arranged like the Big Dipper, collectively called the Seven Star Peaks. Where the dipper's handle points, there is a lake—a vast, ocean-like lake he had not only seen but also knew about. The novel had described this lake; disciples could fly over it but not dive into it. The waters were one of Taiyuan Sect's forbidden grounds. Disciples thought it contained treasures, but it was actually a watery jail, sealing many demon beasts. Even the Sect's Supreme Grand Elder, who practiced the Heartless Dao and almost never showed up, stayed at the bottom of the lake.

If Pei Jie's clone was trapped down there, no wonder he hadn't come looking for him.

But that's a huge problem, isn't it?!

That Supreme Grand Elder is supposedly at the Deity Transformation stage!

Even at Pei Jie's peak cultivation, he'd never reached the Deity Transformation stage!

Seeing his expression change, Pei Jie asked, "You've seen it?"

Shang Yunduo shook his head and told him about the forbidden area.

A mere Qi Refining stage disciple like him, just admitted to the inner sect, could get chased off for hanging around the lake too long.

Pei Jie sneered.

"Senior..." Shang Yunduo held him tighter, "When you go to Taiyuan Sect, is it really to get your clone back?"

"...No, I'm going to massacre everyone in Taiyuan Sect."

Shang Yunduo: "..."

Pei Jie: "Scared?"

Shang Yunduo shook his head.

Even though Pei Jie turned into a different person at the mention of Taiyuan Sect, radiating a murderous aura without meaning to, after spending so much time together, he believed he understood Pei Jie well. He trusted his Senior wouldn't hate someone or even a whole sect without a reason.

Shang Yunduo swallowed and said seriously, "Actually, I still have my inner disciple token from Taiyuan Sect..."

Pei Jie: "Oh?"

Shang Yunduo: "I can work with you from the inside."

Pei Jie paused, then laughed: "You're not scared?"

Shang Yunduo shook his head, "We're dao partners."

So what if he was a villain? They had no emotional problems, hadn't broken up or divorced. Of course they should share the good times and the bad, live and die together. He couldn't just stick to Pei Jie when things were fine and run when he was in danger—what kind of person would that make him?

At worst, they'd die together.

Besides, the cultivation world was full of crises. He had seen through it all; any day could be his last. Death was death—what difference did it make if he died by a Qi Refining stage cultivator or a Deity Transformation stage one?

He definitely wanted to die with Pei Jie.

Thinking about it... it was quite romantic!

Shang Yunduo took Pei Jie's hand and smiled at him.

Pei Jie: "..."

In the dark cabin, Pei Jie actually saw a look of cheerfulness on his face.

Sometimes he really couldn't understand Shang Yunduo.

Shang Yunduo: "Senior, why are you looking at me like that?"

Pei Jie: "What kind of look is that?"

Shang Yunduo: "Like I'm an idiot..." Shouldn't he be touched at a time like this?

Pei Jie couldn't help but smile, turned sideways, and kissed him.

Shang Yunduo immediately launched into a heartfelt speech about sticking together through thick and thin.

Pei Jie ignored his rambling. "The connection to Cold Frost is fading. Let's mark the spot first."

"Right, right!"

Shang Yunduo opened the window to spot a landmark, but then felt something was off about their boat.

He looked down at the lake surface and said in confusion, "Is the tide rising? Oh no! Our boat is taking on water!"

He quickly shut the window and opened the door, only for trapped water to burst in, instantly covering his calves. Small waves slammed into the low couch, even catching Pei Jie off guard.

The two, totally clueless, forgot that a boat is a container. Pei Jie's flying boat was well-built and airtight, but without them noticing, it had filled halfway with rainwater. The boat was rocking so hard on the lake that neither of them realized the waterline was almost at the window.

Shang Yunduo quickly grabbed a basin and started scooping water out.

After another frantic cleanup, their clothes were soaked through again.

The fish Shang Yunduo had casually caught over the last few days were all dead—ruined by rainwater and inedible.

By the time the clouds parted and the rain let up, it was already light out. Shang Yunduo threw the spoiled food into the lake to feed the fish, sighing, "Good thing we've both reached Foundation Establishment and don't need to eat. If we had hit a few heavy rains, we'd starve to death out at sea. Fishermen really have it rough."

Pei Jie wrung out the washed clothes and hung them on a rack to dry. "Fishermen wouldn't be as clueless as we are."

Shang Yunduo: "Yeah, they'd know the boat would fill up."

"Hearing this, Pei Jie walked over and kicked his butt, nearly knocking him into the water."

Shang Yunduo grabbed the side of the boat and laughed heartily. Seeing fish in the water, he stripped off his clothes and jumped in to catch fresh ones.

The lake water after the rain wasn't very clear, but the lake was deep and big enough that visibility was pretty good. Shang Yunduo had only been diving for a bit when he spotted a big fish.

He surfaced for air, then continued swimming in the fish's direction. But the moment he grabbed it, the startled fish dragged him forward fast. In no time, both man and fish vanished from view.

Pei Jie hung up the last of the clothes and looked at the water. The lake, calm after the rain, was like a mirror in the morning light. Where had Shang Yunduo gone?

"Shang Yunduo?!"

The surface remained still. He stood by the boat, about to strip off his clothes and dive in, when Shang Yunduo suddenly surfaced a few hundred meters diagonally ahead, waving and yelling, "I see it! Senior, over there!"

Pei Jie picked up the oar and rowed forward.

Shang Yunduo swam back holding the fish. As soon as he touched the boat, he exclaimed excitedly, "I can see underwater! I can see the giant turtle's foot—three massive pillars, ouch!"

He rubbed his head and looked at Pei Jie, confused: "Why'd you hit me?"

Pei Jie: "Get up."

"Oh." Shang Yunduo tossed the fish onto the boat first, then climbed up himself. "I think I saw that ore you mentioned. It's green, at the bottom of the lake. There's tons of it."

Pei Jie: "You still want to dive down and get it?"

Shang Yunduo shook his head: "No, it's a bit deep. Without spiritual power, getting to the bottom would be tough."

Pei Jie shot him an annoyed look, still remembering that the other had no spiritual power.

However, realizing they could use the underwater view for directions, they made much better time getting to the secret realm.

After two days, they had reached the edge of the mist. Now there was no need to jump into the water anymore; they just had to keep rowing forward. Any spot would do, as long as they could get ashore.

Remembering that entering the Ancient Plain Secret Realm would forcibly split them up, Shang Yunduo complained bitterly: "After we get in, you need to come find me quickly."

"..." Pei Jie said, exasperated, "Keep rowing. It'll take about half a day to get in."

Shang Yunduo slacked off, rowing with one hand while holding onto Pei Jie with the other, "Senior, I want to discuss something with you."

Pei Jie: "What?"

Shang Yunduo: "Can I also place a mark on you? I want to find you too."

He'd been wanting to say this for ages, ever since he couldn't find Pei Jie in Lingxi Valley. Too many things kept coming up, so he'd forgotten.

Now he remembered!

Why should Pei Jie be the only one who could find him? Why couldn't he be the one to find Pei Jie?

It wasn't fair.

Shang Yunduo was all set to argue with Pei Jie, ready to fight his corner, when Pei Jie just said, "Fine."

Shang Yunduo: "Ah?!"

Just like that? That easy?

Author's note:

Yunduo (starry-eyed): Is this love?

Pei Jie: ...