The Fate Spirit

I felt the sharp blade pierce through my heart.

I collapsed, almost losing consciousness.

At that moment, my body felt light, as if no wound had ever lingered upon me. I opened my eyes.

The scene around me now was vastly different from the one just moments ago.

Unbeknownst to me, a rather deep wound had appeared on Grandfather's hand.

And Su Ni was tearfully embracing me, her mouth continuously uttering:

"Chu Ling, quickly wake up! If you don't, you will die!"

I was startled to realize that I was currently holding a sword, poised to strike a tombstone. Fortunately, I managed to retract the sword in time and looked at Su Ni, saying:

"I... was I about to destroy the stele?"

Su Ni, still tearful, nodded at me:

"If you destroy that stele, then even after a thousand or ten thousand years, you will never be able to enter reincarnation, forever wandering in the Yin Realm."

I was startled, only now realizing the immense harm this would cause.

But hadn't she just told me to destroy the stele moments ago?

"Didn't you keep urging me to destroy the stele just now?"

Su Ni stared at me in astonishment, her eyes still glistening with tears:

"I was trying to stop you, let alone urge you."

Grandfather, holding his injured arm, came over and said to me:

"You were drawn into a dreamscape."

A dreamscape? Why was I inexplicably drawn into a dreamscape like this? Before I had a chance to ask further, Grandfather pointed towards the stone stele ahead.

Upon closer inspection, I saw a small spirit elf on the tree, staring at me in astonishment.

And it was through Grandfather's account that I learned.

That small spirit elf was called a Fate Spirit. It was originally a wood spirit born from the lifebound wood, and its connection to the lifebound stele was inseparable.

Each Fate Spirit born bears the duty of guarding two things: the lifebound wood and the lifebound stele, a duty passed down from one life to the next, never ceasing.

They had grown weary of this kind of existence, day after month, only able to remain here—a place devoid of light and so dark.

To be trapped for countless eons, unable to change; if it were me, I would also find these matters exceedingly tedious.

Outside, there were tens of thousands of beautiful sceneries they had never experienced.

Later, a legend arose from unknown origins: if the fated master destroyed their lifebound stele and personally withdrew from reincarnation, the Fate Spirit would be set free.

All the Fate Spirits passed on the tale that to gain freedom, their master must personally destroy the stele. However, few knew of this place, so very few Fate Spirits succeeded.

Because the Fate Spirit was born from the lifebound wood, it knew what its fated master thought and needed.

It read my desires, and thus disguised itself as Su Ni, urging me to destroy the stele. But it did not expect my will to protect others and my benevolent heart to be so strong.

At this moment, I also understood clearly that Grandfather had no intention of exploiting me.

At the most perilous moment, he risked his life to stop me from destroying the stele. If not for him, I would surely have died by now for an unknown reason.

The Fate Spirit flew from the lifebound wood towards me, its body radiating sparkling green light. It flapped its tiny wings, gazing intently at me:

"You are the first to overcome this dreamscape. Do you not wish for a better life for yourself?"

I gave a bitter laugh and shook my head:

"If one erases a life to exchange for one's own happiness, do you truly believe you would be happy in the end?"

The Fate Spirit stared at me blankly; it did not understand what I was trying to say.

It flew around me, then emitted many green lights that illuminated my body.

Then it whispered to me:

"The moment you plunged your sword to escape the dreamscape was the most beautiful scene I have ever witnessed."

I was stunned, unsure what this Fate Spirit was truly thinking.

It revealed a calm, somber expression as it looked at me:

"I sense a very peculiar scent about you. If my guess is not mistaken, this is undoubtedly the legendary Corpse Poison."

I looked up at it, then nodded, asking again:

"How do you know?"

It happily circled once, then stopped before me:

"This is the delicacy of this place. Can... can you let me consume it?"

I let out a soft sigh, and after that sigh, my voice deepened:

"It will turn me into a Ghost Soul. Can you truly consume it?"

The Fate Spirit nodded happily:

"As long as you agree, all this Corpse Poison will be dealt with by the evil qi."

I nodded without hesitation.

I hadn't expected such a good turn of events. When we left, Fourth Martial Uncle said that if we found the lifebound wood, a solution would naturally present itself.

So this was what he meant.

The Fate Spirit flew to my arm, then placed its small hand upon it. As soon as it touched me, I felt a surge of cold qi transfer from my arm to the Fate Spirit's body.

For me, the Corpse Poison was something that would claim my life, but for the Fate Spirit, it was like a meal.

After absorbing the Corpse Poison from my body, the Fate Spirit's wings shone even brighter.

Su Ni came to my side, observing very carefully.

She quickly asked the Fate Spirit:

"What about the evil qi then?"

The Fate Spirit turned and said:

"As long as you persistently carry a Bagua mirror and bask in the sun's peak radiance, it will dissipate."

Su Ni nodded in reply:

"Thank you."

It turned its head to look at Grandfather and said:

"You have gathered so much evil within you, yet you still live. That is thanks to having a good grandfather."

I looked at Grandfather in confusion, pondering that it wasn't due to the day not yet arriving that it hadn't manifested; what did this have to do with Grandfather?

It affirmed and asked me again:

"Do you still wish to change your fate? This time it is real; you, the fated master, must decide."

I stared intently at Grandfather, then felt that I wasn't angry about past events, only angry as to why he hadn't told me about these things.

But I truly detested this person named Zhou Yao; I felt he was inherently a harbinger of ill fortune, and wherever his name was, turmoil would surge.

I simply wished to sever all ties with Zhou Yao.

To let Grandfather and him live the lives that originally belonged to them both.

I looked at the Fate Spirit, then pointed towards Zhou Yao and said:

"I wish to separate Zhou Yao from this body."

The Fate Spirit asked me once more, as if to confirm everything with certainty:

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely." I replied.

Grandfather merely looked at me sadly, without a single word of reproach. Indeed! This was the life he desired; he only wished to be by Zhou Yao's side and protect him. After all, there was no longer any relation between Grandfather and me.

The Fate Spirit spoke in a strong voice:

"From now on, you and Zhou Yao share no relation. Hatred is hatred, but think carefully before making any decision."

I swear! This Fate Spirit is very troublesome; where did it come from to talk so much?

I took Su Ni's hand and, without looking back, walked directly in the opposite direction from before.

Su Ni looked at me, and from her eyes, I understood that this girl had discerned some of my thoughts.

Su Ni paused, her tone questioning as she said:

"Chu Ling, you are clearly not happy, yet why did you do this?"

I ignored her words and continued to move forward.

She spoke again:

"Are you truly cutting ties with Grandfather like this? Is it worth it?"

I stopped, turned to look at her, and gave a bitter smile:

"Is it worth it or not? It no longer matters. I am tired."