Chapter 27: Remember, I will always have your back

My natal magic weapon—Feng Wu!

I simply couldn't believe my ears—I actually would possess a natal magic weapon!

And it even has such a beautiful name.

I looked at Feng Wu, then at Liu Junyan, so happy I didn't know what to do: "Liu Junyan, does it really belong to me? Could there be a mistake?"

Liu Junyan shook his head: "No, Xiao Jiu, a natal magic weapon recognizes its master; if it's not yours, you can't move it."

He said this, walked behind me, and hugged me from behind.

His left hand held my left hand, palm reaching toward Feng Wu, and I almost instinctively said: "Feng Wu, come!"

That bow actually swooshed and steadied itself in my hand.

Liu Junyan gripped my right hand with his right hand, guiding my left hand to hold the bow and my right hand to pull the string.

The bow was drawn full, the string taut.

As I released, a hollow echo rang through the whole mountain forest, startling a large flock of birds and beasts.

But after the sound faded, the bow returned to silence, with not a trace of fiery energy left.

I knew, this was Liu Junyan's true qi given to me being used up.

My heart was a mix of feelings—joyful that I had obtained a natal magic weapon, yet regretful that I lacked the ability to truly control it.

But I still wasn't resigned: "Liu Junyan, since I have a natal magic weapon, that must mean I was once able to cultivate, right?"

"Yes." Liu Junyan said, "Not only can you cultivate, your cultivation level is not low; at your peak, Feng Wu also took on a humanoid form."

I instantly widened my eyes: "Feng Wu can also take human form? Male or female?"

"A girl." Liu Junyan said, "But I don't know what you've gone through; now your body… is missing something. However, with Feng Wu, if you and it get along well, plus running the Dang Pu, accumulating merit through good deeds, you'll eventually return to your peak."

I asked: "What is my body missing?"

I've studied for many years, successfully entered university, had a physical exam, and found nothing wrong with my body.

Liu Junyan thought for a moment, then spoke earnestly: "Xiao Jiu, the time isn't right now; even if I could describe it, you might not be able to accept it—that's your past, it's over, so let's set it aside for now and just live well in the present, okay?"

"Okay."

I agreed without hesitation, because I know Liu Junyan will never harm me.

Afterwards, Liu Junyan kept accompanying me in practicing drawing the bow.

Without his true qi supporting me, I found even holding this bow taxing, let alone pulling the string to full draw.

Liu Junyan said my arm and wrist strength were insufficient, my balance unsteady, and this required long-term practice.

He constantly corrected my posture—not harshly, but when he got serious, I felt he would be a strict teacher if he were an instructor.

Time spent with Liu Junyan always passed like that.

As the sun slanted westward, he took me out of the village, preparing to return.

Passing by the Qilin Temple, I unintentionally glanced inside.

That glance made me feel as if I had fallen into an ice cellar.

In the Qilin Temple, before the Qilin deity statue, a mass of thick black qi coalesced, forming a tall humanoid shape.

Behind him, it even condensed into a pair of huge wings!

In the blink of an eye, that mass of black qi vanished.

I closed and opened my eyes; when I looked again, everything had returned to normal.

I even wondered whether I had just seen things.

No matter what, the Qilin Temple gave me a bad feeling; even after walking far away, I still had a sensation like a prickle on my back.

As Liu Junyan and I walked toward the village entrance, my grandmother followed from afar, watching.

Certainly not because she hated to see me leave, but because she feared this debt-collecting ghost of mine would stay and hurt her little granddaughter and grandson.

Sometimes thinking about it also feels heartbreaking—clearly, my birth had once been anticipated.

If there's blame to assign, blame fate.

It was past nine at night when we finally returned to the Dang Pu; Li Qingying was sitting on the doorstep, eyes wide with anticipation, and as soon as she saw the vehicle pull back, she sprang up to greet us.

Her gaze first swept over Liu Junyan from head to toe, confirming he was temporarily unharmed, then she turned to me, asking if I was hungry, and that dinner was hot in the pot.

Liu Junyan accompanied me through dinner, then said he needed to return to the Black Coffin.

I thought his "whole day" meant 24 hours, but it turned out to be only 12.

Liu Junyan walked ahead, and I silently followed behind.

I saw him all the way to the front door of the main house.

Liu Junyan suddenly turned, scooped me into his arms, kissed the top of my head, and whispered softly: "Xiao Jiu, boldly move forward, believe in yourself, don't be afraid—remember, I will always have your back."

My eye sockets instantly welled up unwillingly.

I flung my arms around his strong waist and choked out a sound.

Liu Junyan let me hold him like that for a good while, then he grasped my shoulders to create distance, hooked a finger to wipe the moisture from my eye corner, and said: "Believe me, soon we'll both need to push forward."

I nodded firmly: "Mm, I will strive."

I will desperately practice drawing the bow, strive to run the Dang Pu well, and accumulate merit.

I believe that one day I will be able to stand beside him with an identity worthy of matching his!

Liu Junyan returned to the Black Coffin.

The night passed without words.

Early the next morning, as Li Qingying rose and whipped her whip, I also got up.

She looked at me standing in the front yard, quite surprised: "Xiao Jiu, why are you also up this early?"

I had already been making hand seals: "I also got up to practice."

Damn it, after making the hand seals three times in a row, I still hadn't summoned the bow, and I suddenly felt a bit anxious.

Li Qingying just stood to the side, looking at me strangely.

I relaxed, took three deep breaths, adjusted my state to the best, and on the fourth round formed the hand seal.

Accompanied by the chant "Feng Wu, emerge," that bow finally appeared in my hand.

Li Qingying was petrified on the spot.

After a while she came to, walked over a few steps, stared at the bow in my hand, obviously amazed: "Xiao Jiu, is this the magical artifact Seventh Lord brought you out to find yesterday?"

"Yes, it's my natal magical artifact." I proudly introduced, "She is called Feng Wu."

Li Qingying envied endlessly, murmuring: "No wonder Seventh Lord took such a risk bringing you out; it was to help you retrieve your natal magical artifact."

Then she stared at me again, emphasizing: "Xiao Jiu, Seventh Lord treats you well; in this life you must never betray him, otherwise I will really kill you myself!"

I raised my hand and swore: "Never!"

Li Qingying and I each took a corner of the front courtyard, she whipped, I drew the bow.

After a while, Li Qingying couldn't hold back, came over to correct my motion: "Your wrist strength is insufficient, you have no energy; wanting to achieve Yībù Dēngtiān is impossible, first practice the basics."

That day, Li Qingying had me stand against the courtyard wall in a horse stance for half an hour.

After finally enduring it, I felt my legs were no longer my own.

Returning to the room, I lay on the bed resting a moment, then suddenly recalled the box I brought back from the stage that day; a carp leapt up sitting, and I took the box out.

Opening the box, pulling open that cuff of water sleeves, I took out that tattered booklet again, sat cross-legged on the bed and examined it from start to finish.

The booklet was too severely damaged; after piecing together for most of the day, I finally clarified some key events.

The author of this town gazette was a man named Dong Bian, who in the early Republic was an important figure responsible for compiling the Wufu Town gazette.

Later, after successive wars, he lost his post, yet still kept the habit of recording important events in Wufu Town.

Winter 1916, Wufu Town saw warfare; Chen Ping raised troops, pacified it, and took the title of Marshal.

……

Spring 1920, Chen Ping led troops on campaign.

July 1920, news came back from outside: Chen Ping suffered defeat.

Mid-July 1920, Chen Ping turned defeat into victory, and would soon return.

July 15 1920, I met Zhao Zixun in the alley, a coffin nail embedded in his forehead...

This is the last page of the town gazette, covered in bloodstains, the lower half damaged; that night the light was too dim, I only saw this part.

Now, looking again in the sunlight, I discovered that the purplish-black bloodstain covered a line of text: Zhao Zixun's hand gripped a dripping-blood Língchí dagger...