Chapter 118: Ayuan'er Arrives at the Outer Gate

A newcomer arrived at the Outer Disciple quarters; it is said to be a beggar child picked up by Fucang Elder while descending the mountain. The child is so thin that only skin and bone remain, small in stature, and looks extremely pitiful.

However, the child is not a properly recruited disciple, nor does the child have any registration or contract to prove their identity. Coming from an unknown background, this is truly against the rules.

Yet, since Lingxiang has already brought the child up the mountain, she cannot be expected to drive the child back, can she? Looking at the emaciated child, Hanyang is truly in a bit of a bind. Lingxiang, however, is completely indifferent, saying only that those who cultivate the Dao should eliminate demons and defend the Dao; if one sees someone dying and does not save them, what kind of Dao is there left to defend, and so on.

This line of reasoning leaves Hanyang unable to laugh or cry, but rules are rules after all, and they cannot be broken.

Lingxiang, feeling helpless, resorts to both acting spoiled and making threats, saying that since Zhuyuan and the bamboo courtyard are empty anyway, they should take the child in first, with all expenses covered by Qingwei Peak.

Hanyang has no choice but to agree for now, intending to report it to the Sect Leader later to make other arrangements.

Seeing Hanyang agree, Lingxiang is naturally overjoyed, skipping and running off toward Qingwei Peak. Watching her bouncing about, he can only sigh and shake his head—when has the expenditure of Qingwei Peak not been deducted from the sect anyway? She speaks as if it were a matter of great righteousness, but isn't it still the sect doing the good deed for her?

After settling the little beggar and having someone prepare a set of clothes for him, Hanyang goes to Wuji Hall to report back.

The little beggar is not at all shy; while the disciples in the sect are bathing him, he asks about this and that, and whatever he is asked, he answers readily and fluently.

After being cleaned up, he is actually a rather delicate-looking child, only too thin and gaunt, clearly having suffered.

A group of people takes him to eat, and his ravenous way of wolfing down food truly stuns everyone; even the disciples who came to serve the food cannot help but crane their necks to watch.

……

"Is there anything amiss?" Inside Youyuan Hall, Hanyang asks.

"He seems to have the temperament of a child, and he can answer whatever is asked, but I always feel there is something strange, though I cannot put my finger on it," replies a disciple named Hanwu.

"What did you ask him?"

"I asked for his name, where his home is, who his parents are, why he was begging, and such."

"And how did he answer?"

"He only said his name is Yuan'er, that he has no father or mother, and that he grew up in a ruined temple since he was small."

"Did you ask which temple?"

"I did. He said he didn't know the name either, only that an old beggar said the place used to be called Zhenfeng Temple, which was once bustling with incense, but he didn't know when it fell into ruin."

Hanyang frowns upon hearing this. Setting aside how the child answered, just considering that Zhenfeng Temple is located at the border between Xiangcheng and Guyang City, how did a small, weak beggar child like him manage to walk for so long to reach the city?

"Senior Martial Brother, is something wrong?" Hanwu asks hurriedly upon seeing Hanyang like this.

Hanyang only tells him to take good care of the child and keep a close watch, then sends him away. The sect is currently in a troubled time, so it is better to be cautious about many things.

……

Lingxiang returns all the way to Xianyun Abode, looking to be in an extremely good mood, skipping and jumping back into the room, which leaves Rendong and Xin Yi looking at each other in confusion.

As for Long Qi, he hides in the room the moment he sees Lingxiang from afar; he still feels very embarrassed about what happened last time, and seeing her suddenly makes him feel extremely awkward inside.

Once Lingxiang enters the room and closes the door, her expression changes instantly.

It is not that she is thinking about the incident with Long Qi from earlier that morning, but rather she is calculating regarding the Outer Disciple quarters. Yuanhui was someone she watched grow up, yet at only ten years old, he met such a tragic end; for Lingxiang, the hatred in her heart is truly hard to quell.

……

"Are you skilled in the Transformation Technique?" Lingxiang asks, leaning close to Wu Yuan's ear.

"Speaking of this Transformation Technique, it should be that old brat Chiyanzi who is skilled at it, but his cultivation is shallow, so I imagine he hasn't mastered the Formless Technique and cannot grasp it. But if you ask whether I am skilled at it..." Wu Yuan says, actually revealing his tail and playing with it, acting mysterious.

"So that's how it is; your fox cultivation isn't much either, after all these years, you can't even do a Transformation Technique." Lingxiang mocks him wantonly, her carefree demeanor causing Wu Yuan to freeze.

After a moment of distraction, Wu Yuan laughs: "Don't be so pushy. Let alone having cultivated for these years, even without this level of cultivation, I am in my fox form now; have you ever seen a fox spirit who isn't skilled in the Transformation Technique?"

"That's hard to say. You are neither demon nor spirit, so how would I know?"

Wu Yuan fiddles with his fluffy tail and smiles, "Tell me, what do you want me to help you with?"

Lingxiang frowns and ponders for a moment before speaking: "Whether you help me or not is one thing, but even if you had the heart to help, you lack the ability. Can you enter the Mountain Guarding Array of the Yuanqing Sect?"

"What? You want me to go deep into the tiger's den? That Mountain Guarding Array of yours is truly difficult to deal with. A few days ago, that old brat Chiyanzi and I pondered it for a long time outside and couldn't find a way, which is why I've been hiding in this little shack of yours."

"Since that's the case, why don't you enter a Spirit Binding with me?" Lingxiang says, looking at Wu Yuan with eyes full of smiles.

"Spirit Binding? What is a Spirit Binding?"

A so-called Spirit Binding is like a contract; if a cultivator encounters a spirit beast they fancy, they can take it as a Contracted Spirit to be used at their command. Even if the two are far apart, they can be summoned with a snap of the fingers.

"But if you do that, you will be restricted by me. My cultivation is low, so you won't be able to use your full strength."

"That doesn't matter, but would those old eccentrics in your sect be willing? As far as I know, your sect is deeply wary of the Demon Race and their kind!"

"Hey! Don't you know me by now? I have never cared about these trivial details. If I cared about such things, I wouldn't have persuaded you like that that day, would I?"

Wu Yuan's heart stirs upon hearing this. He naturally understands what Lingxiang is saying. For him, if he could enter a Spirit Binding with Lingxiang, he could likely stay by her side often in the future. It is just that he wouldn't be able to use his full strength, and according to the old brat Chiyanzi's deduction, the Demon Race's goal this time is Lingxiang; if that were truly the case, he would inevitably be unable to protect her well.

While Wu Yuan hesitates, he hears Lingxiang begin to act spoiled.

"Oh~ although you won't be able to exert yourself freely after binding with me, it won't affect your cultivation. Besides, there are many spirit pills and medicines available after binding with me, which will be of great help to your cultivation!" Lingxiang says, pulling on Wu Yuan's tail and stroking it, her face full of flattery.

A tingling sensation travels from the tip of his tail, and looking at the pitiful appearance of the little person before him, Wu Yuan is momentarily lost.

Forget it, forget it; this little girl is very cunning, and even if she were in danger, he imagines she would be able to escape on her own.

"Since that is the case, this seat grants your request!"

Seeing Wu Yuan agree, Lingxiang claps his tail happily, then begins to draw a Dharma Array in the courtyard.

After a flurry of activity, a complex Dharma Array appears under Wu Yuan's feet, filled with many intricate incantations that even he, having lived for so long, does not recognize.

Once Lingxiang finishes drawing the Dharma Array, she jumps in front of Wu Yuan, takes a needle from somewhere, pricks her own index finger, and then grabs Wu Yuan's finger to prick it as well.

Wu Yuan is completely baffled, but he sees Lingxiang press their index fingers together, then form hand seals and chant something under her breath.

"You are now a spirit, bound to this contract, to serve by my side, to always protect my person; should you violate this, the Heavenly Thunder Technique shall strike!"

As soon as the words fall, the Dharma Array begins to glow with fluorescent light, which instantly becomes blinding, and Wu Yuan closes his eyes.

"Since you and I have bound ourselves, by convention, I should give you a new name to serve as a Word Spirit."