Fated Mark

“Liyue, would you please give your junior brother a general introduction to the Fuluan Hall?” Unconsciously, the young girl, full of childish innocence, assumed an adult’s demeanor. She moved with the grace and elegance of Luo Fu herself, her beauty unmatched in the world. “Fuluan Hall is divided into three—main hall, side hall, and rear hall. If you have no urgent matters, let Liyue take you on a tour.”

Liyue turned to Qin Chuan, smiled gently, and said, “I would be delighted.”

The two spent about a quarter of an hour, thoroughly exploring the Fuluan Hall. Qin Chuan gained a rough understanding of this unfamiliar place.

The rear hall contained numerous rooms, both large and small—storage rooms, pill chambers, book pavilions, training rooms, and more. The side hall housed the ancestral masters’ shrine, the zither pavilion, and guest rooms.

“You’ve only just entered the sect and aren’t familiar with Fuluan’s rules. Best not act on your own these few days. If anything untoward happens and you disturb Master’s pill refining or cultivation, it’s Liyue who will suffer for it.” She raised a fist as delicate as carved jade, feigning ferocity. “Keep the storage pouch I gave you safe. As for what’s inside, even I don’t know.”

At this, Liyue rarely showed a look of dejection, as if recalling some unpleasant matter. She was unable to cultivate; only after taking the pill that Master had promised would she have the aptitude for cultivation—yet the pill still lacked a key ingredient.

Not knowing how to comfort her, Qin Chuan responded with silence, his gaze unconsciously tinged with pity. Fortunately, Liyue was not one to dwell on grievances; her troubles were but grains of sand cast to the wind.

Seeing her expression brighten a little, he seized the moment to shift the conversation. “Do you know how to use the medical compendium Master gave me?”

“I’ve never seen such a thing, so I wouldn’t know. Master’s storage room does have many medical texts, but I can’t say why he would give you that particular one.”

Before Liyue finished speaking, Qin Chuan suddenly exclaimed.

“This is bad.” His face changed unexpectedly, something troublesome stirring in his arms. Regaining his composure, he glanced at Liyue beside him, utterly embarrassed, but unable to endure the discomfort, he quickly drew out the offending object. What else could it be but the white jade seal?

Qin Chuan looked astonished, the ache from the white jade seal’s bite still lingering. “Is this thing alive?”

Liyue looked at the seal in confusion. Another change occurred. Before Qin Chuan could finish, the white jade seal opened its mouth and bit down—not in an awkward place this time, but on the fleshy pad of Qin Chuan’s left thumb. “I understand now.” Qin Chuan’s hands were calloused, so he felt little pain; his eyes lit up with joy, as if he had discovered the secret.

After being bitten twice in similar circumstances, the answer became clear.

“Do you have anything hard on you?” Qin Chuan asked, not expecting Liyue’s accidental remark to reveal the seal’s purpose. Just as Master had said, fate works in mysterious ways; when the time arrives, things happen naturally.

“Oh, this is the coming-of-age gift Master gave me—the Liyue hairpin, a treasure of Jade Mat Mountain.” Liyue took the wooden hairpin from her bun, obviously fond of it, her eyes sparkling, gripping it tightly as though afraid it might flee.

“This is a wooden hairpin?” Qin Chuan frowned.

“You asked for something hard; this is the hardest item I possess.” Liyue saw his frown and realized his confusion. “Don’t be fooled by its appearance—it’s made from Liyue wood, unique to Jade Mat Mountain, harder than ordinary metals and stones. Though it’s a mundane item, it was carved using the methods of magical artifacts.”

She finished with a look of pride.

This surprised Qin Chuan greatly. According to Liyue, the wood was mundane yet superior to immortal materials, far exceeding ordinary objects.

He took the Liyue hairpin she handed him and brought it close to the mouth of the white jade seal. “Object,” he uttered.

Instantly, the white jade seal changed, biting down on the Liyue hairpin.

“Mm…” Liyue instinctively covered her mouth with both hands, as if she could feel the pain of the seal’s bite.

“Object, object…” Qin Chuan saw the result, knowing his guess was correct, but repeating the word only caused the seal to bite deeper.

Qin Chuan looked puzzled. He was certain the white jade seal had a greater purpose, not just to bite things. After pondering a moment, he tried again. “Object.”

Unexpectedly, the seal exerted itself and snapped the Liyue hairpin in two.

This was trouble.

Liyue fell silent, her delicate nose twitching and eyes reddening—clearly on the verge of collapse.

Qin Chuan’s eyes widened; he hadn’t expected his experiment to cause such a mishap.

Fortunately, the seal finally reacted.

“Heaven has its will, man has his intent, and I have my object.” The white jade seal, with sleepy bean-sized eyes, spoke in human tongue.

“Is this thing really called ‘Object’?” Liyue’s eyes widened in fascination, interest in the object surpassing concern for her hairpin. Qin Chuan breathed a silent sigh of relief, carefully storing the broken hairpin, resolving to replace it with a new one someday.

Object paid Liyue no mind, stretching its stubby limbs and dragging its rectangular body with difficulty up Qin Chuan’s shoulder. “I’ve slept too long; who knew I’d be so exhausted after just a few steps.” It panted heavily, lifted its elongated backside, and plopped itself down.

An hour later.

Moonlight filtered through the paper window, resting on Qin Chuan’s shoulder like a cautious jade hand reaching into the room.

Liyue had busied herself in Qin Chuan’s chamber, finally realizing that Object seemed uninterested in anyone but Qin Chuan. Finding it dull, she left of her own accord.

At last, Qin Chuan had time to examine Object. In half an hour, he uncovered its true nature—sharp-tongued and gluttonous.

The guest room was not large, but all the essentials were present. Qin Chuan sat cross-legged on the pine-framed bed, spiritual energy gathering in his eyes as he studied Object closely. Perhaps his expectations were too high, for Object did not display any of the marvels he had imagined. As he pondered, Object suddenly spoke.

Perhaps unnerved by being stared at, Object’s expression soured. It pointed at Qin Chuan’s nose and scolded, “Do you have some peculiar hobby, staring at my delicate form so intently?”

Qin Chuan replied seriously, “When Master gave you to me today, he mentioned you possessed all manner of wonders. I have tried to uncover your mysteries, but to no avail. I ask for enlightenment.”

Object’s heart leaped with joy, exclaiming at the youthfulness of the one before it. Stroking imaginary whiskers, it assumed an air of profundity. “Before heaven and earth opened, there was only primordial chaos. Then came the true meaning, which brought enlightenment. Primordial chaos transformed into all things, yet I was born from the supreme true meaning itself!”