Chapter Fifteen: You’re on Your Own Now
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Jiang Zao stared at the sword, which radiated a dangerous aura, feigning contemplation before ultimately deciding to form a contract. She was a soft-hearted person who could not bear to see them suffer here; it was never truly for the sake of truth or assistance.
“It depends on the wielder whether it is good or bad.”
“Someone as just as I am would never use it for evil.”
“I agree to contract with you... on the condition that your actions never go against my will!”
Seeing Jiang Zao’s consent, the two breathed a sigh of relief, their eyes smiling. As for her condition…
They did not care at all. They were no longer the swords of slaughter from the past; as long as they could leave, there was nothing they wouldn’t agree to.
“Agreed.”
Both parties gladly accepted, each feeling they had gained a great advantage.
Following her method, Jiang Zao stood behind the sword, sliced her palm, and tightly grasped the hilt.
Blood trickled down the handle. Upon contact with the blood, the black-red sword’s aura grew more savage, seeping into her body along with the blood. Every cell screamed as the violent energy assaulted her nerves.
“Ah!!!”
Jiang Zao’s entire being erupted with a fierce, murderous aura. She cried out in pain, exerting all her strength to pull the sword free.
Outside the illusion.
The two who had been watching Jiang Zao closely widened their eyes in disbelief at the overwhelming aura she exuded. Fear and unease surged within them to a peak.
“Zao Zao!”
“Junior Sister Zao Zao!”
They almost simultaneously rushed toward her.
On this side, Jiang Zao pulled the sword free and collapsed weakly backward.
“Junior Sister Zao Zao…”
Yan Wuqiu was the first to support her, preventing her from hitting the ground.
Jiang Zao smiled at him, then lost consciousness, the sword falling from her hand.
The two stared at the eerie black-red longsword with heavy thoughts.
This sword… was unlike any they had ever known.
Since Jiang Zao had personally chosen it as her weapon, they could only bring it back with them.
“I’m finally out!”
“No more being stuck in that sunless, miserable place!”
Inside the demon sword body, She Sha and Qing Ming, now free once more, revealed long-lost smiles.
Only Jiang Zao, as their master, could hear their voices; others could not. Yet the unconscious Jiang Zao only felt their chatter was noisy.
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Upon sensing her mood, She Sha and Qing Ming quieted. Though Qing Ming was displeased, he had no choice but to obey She Sha’s authority.
Once the world was silent, a faint smile graced Jiang Zao’s lips as she slept soundly.
“That sword… has truly found its master.”
…
Three days later.
Jiang Zao slowly awoke, disoriented from the long sleep. She shielded her eyes from the brightness until she adjusted, then lowered her hand.
“Zao Zao, you’re awake!” Jiang Zhuoran entered from outside, delighted to see her conscious.
Rubbing her heavy head, Jiang Zao got off the couch and asked, “Sister, how long have I been asleep?”
She remembered collapsing from exhaustion after drawing the sword; her dizzy head suggested she had slept quite a while.
Jiang Zhuoran helped the still-weak Jiang Zao to sit at the round table, smiling gently. “You’ve been asleep for three whole days.”
“Oh, by the way, Sister, have you seen my sword?”
Jiang Zao’s eyes searched anxiously, recalling the culprit behind her fainting.
There were rules between them; now that they had regained freedom, she still did not know the full truth.
Jiang Zhuoran smiled softly. “It should be within your spirit sea.”
Jiang Zao reached into her spirit sea and indeed found a familiar black-red longsword frolicking wildly, thoroughly enjoying itself. She smiled from the heart, infected by its joy.
“How long have you been cooped up? Even in this small spirit sea, you’re having a blast.”
“Seeing you like this, I’ll reluctantly bring you along more often.”
“Jiang Xiaozao, you’re awake.”
Qing Ming floated over cheerfully upon seeing her, casually speaking.
Perhaps freed from captivity, his temper had softened, which made Jiang Zao feel somewhat uncomfortable.
“How are you feeling now? You shouldn’t die anytime soon.”
Having just begun to reconsider him, Jiang Zao gave Qing Ming a look that said, “Are you serious?” leaving him to interpret the meaning.
“As expected, still as shameless as ever. I really misjudged you just now.”
“Sigh, why aren’t you answering me?”
Jiang Zao walked past him, ignoring the foul-mouthed, socially awkward sword spirit.
She still preferred She Sha’s demeanor.
“She Sha, I’ve fulfilled my promise. Now it’s your turn.”
“Of course.”
She Sha chuckled, having long anticipated that Jiang Zao would ask after waking.
“When you stepped into the Sword Tomb’s vicinity, Qing Ming and I sensed your presence... At first, the sword pressure you felt was Qing Ming’s mischievous doing.”
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“But that only made you feel stressed and weak; it wouldn’t have injured you. Later, when I sensed another sword aura on you, I ordered Qing Ming to retract his.”
“Our sensing range is limited; we only knew that other sword aura was very powerful. Without your senior brothers and sisters by your side, you’d likely be dead.”
“I’m not sure if someone controls it behind the scenes, but I can tell you for certain that sword’s name is E’Yue.”
She Sha spoke slowly, her delicate face serious. Jiang Zao had been their first choice; daring to bully her under their watch was an undeniable provocation.
If they found that sword, they would surely forge it into a part of themselves, making it recognize who was boss.
However, Jiang Zao, who took an unconventional path, distilled all that into one sentence:
Qing Ming bullied her!
Jiang Zao spun around mechanically, the fire of rage in her eyes threatening to incinerate him and remold him anew.
Seeing her on the verge of anger, She Sha silently took two steps back, giving Qing Ming a sympathetic glance before disappearing into the longsword, indifferent.
Qing Ming, you’re on your own.
I warned you not to provoke her, but you wouldn’t listen. Now look what happened.
“She Sha, no!”
Qing Ming cried out in terror, scrambling to return inside the sword body but was one step too late. Facing the advancing Jiang Zao, he could only grovel, trying to win her trust with lame excuses.
“Jiang Xiaozao, I said I only wanted to train you... do you believe me?”
“Believe? How could I not? Perfect timing—I want to exchange some insights with you too.”
Jiang Zao approached with a fake smile that chilled Qing Ming as if winter itself had pierced his bones.
Wuwu, I was wrong!
“Ow…”
As a spirit, he should have been untouchable by Jiang Zao, but with the contract, he was as tangible as a physical being before her.
“Hmph, if I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll think I’m a pushover. Let’s see if you dare to act up on me again.”
Jiang Zao withdrew from her spirit sea, beaming at her sister, and slammed the sword down on the table.
“Sister, this is the spirit sword I obtained in the Sword Tomb—named Qing Ming·She Sha.”
Jiang Zao had asked the two about the sword’s name but was told that due to the long passage of time and their prolonged slumber, they did not remember.
Memory lapses were unavoidable; it wasn’t practical to call it “Sword Sword” all day. Fortunately, it was named after the two spirits.
Jiang Zhuoran had yet to examine the strange sword closely and curiously ran her fingers along its blade.
The sharp edge glistened coldly, and the blade was etched with unknown runes—mysterious and eerie.
“A fine sword indeed… Zao Zao, don’t disappoint it.”