Chapter 16: with translation of chapter title

Huh?

I felt a bit dazed: "Isn't tiger penis a pure yang object? The one I offered is correct, right?"

Liu Junyan chuckled lightly: "Yeah, that's right, but... don't let it happen again."

He rarely laughs like that, feeling satisfied and mischievous.

The corners of his narrow eyes slightly tightened, carrying a hint of tenderness; just one glance made me sink into it, and my cheeks unconsciously flushed.

I... I think I understand what he means.

I opened my mouth to explain, but the words on my lips seemed to only draw more attention.

Feeling aggrieved, I clenched my fist and hit his chest, then turned my back on him, not wanting to deal with anyone.

In the next instant, Liu Junyan grabbed my waist and pulled me back, burying his face in the crook of my shoulder as he coaxed: "Why are you running? Xiao Jiu, let's talk about last night's trip to Gui Shi."

Speaking of that, I'm not sleepy at all.

I briefly told him the whole story, then asked: "Do Qingying Sister and the Fox Lord have some grudge? She seems to dislike the Fox Lord."

Liu Junyan thought for a moment and said: "Maybe there's just a misunderstanding."

I let out an "oh" and asked again: "Then what is a natal magic artifact?"

Cultivators usually hold some magic artifacts, but few can refine a common artifact into a natal one." Liu Junyan explained, "When a natal magic artifact is cultivated to a certain level, it can even reach the state of unity between person and artifact.

I immediately understood, then asked: "So what happens if someone loses their natal magic artifact?"

To a cultivator, a natal magic artifact is like a second life." Liu Junyan said, "Under normal circumstances it cannot be lost, unless the person dies, or even is utterly annihilated.

The consequences are actually that severe.

I'm just an ordinary, unremarkable person who doesn't understand cultivation.

But I know that on the night of the first day of the eighth month, Liu Junyan chose to save me through the bridal chamber method, which is similar to dual cultivation with me.

However, I don't cultivate, so he could only forcibly infuse merit and true qi into my body.

Liu Junyan is a cultivator.

Thinking of this, I asked: "Then what about you? Do you have a natal magic artifact?"

Liu Junyan nodded: "Yes."

I instantly became energized, turned over, and stared at him intensely, asking: "What is your natal magic artifact? Can you show it to me?"

Liu Junyan froze for a moment, his vertical pupils constricting slightly, as if recalling something unpleasant, and he gently shook his head.

I then Sensible stopped asking.

Everyone has a small secret they cannot touch; maintaining boundaries is important.

Liu Junyan, however, said: "Later, when the opportunity arises, I'll show it to you."

I replied: "Okay."

Liu Junyan's large hand covered my shoulder blade, stroking it gently, unknown what he was thinking.

After lunch, Liu Junyan returned to the black coffin.

In the afternoon, I tidied up the counter.

The old Pawn Ticket ledger was filed together, the newly bought Pawn Ticket placed separately on a layer, and I washed the brush; when I finished and rested my elbows on the counter, my peripheral vision suddenly caught something.

I sprang up, walked around the counter a few steps outside, and fixed my gaze—immediately my whole body's hairs stood on end.

It was that broken mailbox!

The mailbox that had disappeared for half a month had inexplicably returned intact.

It still stood crookedly at the street in front of the Dang Pu's corridor, as if it had never vanished.

When did it appear?

Last night?

Or today?

Who originally stole it? And who has now returned it?

What exactly does the other party intend to do?

A series of questions rushed straight to my crown.

The curse of this broken mailbox continues!

I looked around and saw no suspicious people, but unexpectedly discovered a kraft paper envelope lying inside the mailbox.

I stared at the envelope for a while, then finally mustered courage and reached out to take it out.

The envelope contained a folded sheet of letter paper.

Opening it, I saw: "My beloved Wanwan, upon opening the letter, be at ease..."

This is a reply letter, a reply that Fu Wan never received before her death.

The man who wrote the reply was Zhao Zixun; in the letter he told Fu Wan that their army had won a great victory and would return soon, and that upon his return to Wufu Town he would immediately prepare to marry her.

Between the lines, I could see Zhao Zixun's deep love for Fu Wan.

However, the date of the signature predates Fu Wan's letter by nearly three months.

Seeing that date, my heart gave a sudden jolt.

According to what Zhao Zixun wrote, he should have returned to Wufu Town about a month after sending this letter.

Yet nearly three months later, Fu Wan was still writing to Zhao Zixun—what exactly caused this discrepancy?

I glanced back at the faint spark of firefly within the hexagonal palace lamp.

Zhao Zixun is Fu Wan's obsession; only by finding Zhao Zixun or clarifying what happened back then can her soul's offering to the hexagonal palace lamp—this single yin day—be considered complete.

Now that Zhao Zixun's reply has appeared, does it mean someone is secretly guiding me?

And who is guiding me?

This inevitably reminds me of the person Dou Jinsuo mentioned—Title: Second Master Liu.

Could it be him?

I put the letter back into the broken mailbox, and I remained uneasy.

Night fell gradually, the door of Nan Shu Fang was open, I sat behind the counter, silently staring at the broken mailbox in front of the corridor.

I don't know how long I waited, when suddenly a Yīnfēng blew outside, and immediately I heard the hexagonal palace lamp constantly swaying.

I took two deep breaths, walked to the doorway and looked toward the west corridor, and saw that point of eerie green firefly inside the hexagonal palace lamp, as if it had sensed something, it was frantically striking the lamp wall.

Looking along the direction of the firefly's strikes, I again saw several shadowy figures at the western street entrance.

But tonight, my vision has recovered, and I can see very clearly.

At the street entrance, five guys stood; three were pitch black, as if burnt; another had a deathly pale face and was drenched all over, but without exception, they all stared greedily at the hexagonal palace lamp, whispering.

Behind those four, a man also stood.

No, he wasn't standing; he was on horseback.

He was tall and stout, wearing a military uniform, with a sword at his waist, his face hidden under a wide brim, making his features unclear.

Just from his Qìchǎng alone, it was enough to enchant a whole bunch of young girls.

He half-raised his chin, staring unblinkingly at that hexagonal palace lamp.

The moment I looked at him, he seemed to sense it, turned his side face to glance at me, then reined in his horse and turned westward.

At that moment, my head heated up, I lifted my foot and chased after him, shouting, "Zhao Zixun, is that you?"

The few guys at the street entrance were startled by me, and in the blink of an eye they vanished without a trace.

All that remained on the street was the steady sound of horse hooves.

Tap… tap… tap…

I had already chased to the street entrance; further west lay the river outside Wufu Town.

And that horse kept moving forward.

My steps suddenly halted—no, that's not right!

This is a trap!

I turned around intending to run back, but just then the horse's hooves disappeared, and Zhao Zixun vanished as well.

On the opposite river surface, gradually rose…… eight coffins……