Chapter 119: The Demon-Concealing Bracelet

Amidst the commotion of the crowd, Jiangxue, seated in the great hall, noticed Chu Youcai sitting below. A hint of a blush unexpectedly appeared on her usually icy face.

She whispered a few words to Xiangyu, who sat beside her. Xiangyu looked startled and kept glancing toward Chu Youcai. Jiangxue then lowered her head, murmuring something to Fairy Nüyi. The fairy lifted her gaze to observe Chu Youcai; her brow furrowed slightly before she ultimately gave a nod.

With that, Jiangxue took Xiangyu’s hand, stepped down from the dais, and walked over to Chu Youcai.

The scene left everyone else stunned. What was happening? The cold-faced Jiangxue had previously ignored all attempts at pleasantries from those around her, leaving many feeling humiliated. No one had expected her to approach Chu Youcai of her own volition, and with a demeanor no longer frost-bitten and distant. Jealousy began to well up within the onlookers.

Jiangxue spoke softly, "Young Master Chu, it has been a long time. We are deeply grateful for your guidance and for saving our lives back then."

Chu Youcai smiled slightly. "Think nothing of it. I merely happened to be there at the right time." He gestured to the empty seat beside him. "Please, sit."

As they took their seats, Jiangxue asked with a puzzled expression, "Young Master, you previously mentioned being familiar with my sister, Xiangyu. When I asked her about it later, she was completely bewildered. I wonder..."

Chu Youcai gave a bitter, internal smile. In his desperation back then, he had used Xiangyu as a pretext to gain Jiangxue’s trust; he had never imagined the words would be so hard to retract. A flash of inspiration suddenly struck him. He turned to Xiangyu and asked, "How is your physical form holding up?"

At these words, Xiangyu’s expression turned reverent. "Thanks to your rescue, and the white lead and sulfur you provided, I have successfully molded my physical body."

Chu Zhaoyun, sitting nearby, was shocked. *Could it be that Xiangyu was a spirit?* She felt a surge of curiosity about Chu Youcai—how exactly did he know these two?

Chu Youcai smiled again. "It is good that your form is stable. However, I fear you have forgotten the events of our previous life. Allow me to recite a poem for you."

Jiangxue and Xiangyu listened intently.

Chu Youcai began: "Boundless is the agony of longing, gazing with affection at the dim lamp. I fear you shall return to the land of the Shazhaoli; where else could I find another like you?" He turned to Xiangyu. "Xiangyu, could you compose a response?"

Xiangyu fell into deep thought. Chu Youcai, meanwhile, took a withered twig and began tracing patterns on the ground.

Before long, Xiangyu parted her lips and replied: "The long night is easily spent, the morning sun already climbs the window. I wish to be like the swallows under the beam, nesting together in a pair."

The surrounding crowd nodded in admiration, feeling that Xiangyu’s reply was perfect. Chu Youcai, however, let out a hearty laugh and pointed to the ground. "Look here, everyone. What is this?"

They looked down and discovered that the patterns Chu Youcai had traced with the twig were the exact same verses. Everyone was stunned.

Xiangyu realized with a start, "So, Young Master, we truly were acquainted in a past life. Might I ask what our relationship was?"

Chu Youcai smiled faintly. "The Buddha says it cannot be spoken. You will naturally understand when the time comes." He thought to himself, *Even if you look back forever, you will never know.*

Xiangyu nodded, though still appearing somewhat confused. She handed a bracelet to Chu Youcai. "Young Master, my master asked me to give this to you."

Chu Youcai was startled and felt a wave of anxiety. He suspected Fairy Nüyi’s cultivation exceeded fifty years and worried she might have sensed his demonic arts. He braced himself as he took the bracelet, only to be taken aback. The bracelet was as verdant as a fresh leaf and radiated an icy, pure energy. To his surprise, it resonated perfectly with the demonic arts within him.

Seeing his confusion, Xiangyu whispered, "Master said this is a greeting gift called the 'Demon-Concealing Bracelet.' I do not know what it does."

A shock ran through Chu Youcai—Fairy Nüyi had indeed seen through his true identity. He slipped the bracelet onto his wrist, and instantly, he felt his aura being drawn into it; the demonic energy within him was no longer leaking out. While not a cursed artifact, the bracelet possessed powerful concealment capabilities, rendering him invisible even to the eyes of Taoists with fifty years of cultivation. As for those with a century of practice, they were as rare as phoenix feathers in the Loulan Kingdom and of little concern to him.

Chu Youcai was overjoyed. "My thanks to Fairy Nüyi for this gift." He looked up to see the fairy smiling at him with great kindness. He bowed respectfully from afar, and the fairy responded with a gentle nod.

Chu Youcai then asked Xiangyu, "How did you and Jiangxue come to meet Fairy Nüyi?"

Xiangyu explained, "After Jiangxue helped me shape my body, we intended to find you. However, we discovered countless rare flowers blooming in the surroundings and wandered deep into the thicket, where we met our master. She was holding a Helin flower and, upon seeing us, said she had been on her way back to the Penglai Celestial Palace but, sensing our aura, decided to take us as disciples and brought us here."

Jiangxue nodded, adding, "Master is the goddess in charge of all flowers. Her greatest ability is her voice, which is so profound that it carries the power of the spring breeze, causing grains, birds, and vegetation to flourish." Even with her usual icy demeanor, her face glowed with adoration when speaking of her master.

Chu Youcai was struck by this. Back in the underworld, King Zhuanlun had used nothing but his voice to block the assault of the judge’s cursed artifact. It seemed that once one’s cultivation surpassed fifty years, the voice itself could become a vital magical treasure.

Xiangyu turned to Chu Zhaoyun and asked, "Young Master Chu, why don't you introduce this sister?"

Chu Youcai smiled. "This is my ninth sister, Chu Zhaoyun. Back at the Prince's manor, she often looked after me and never minded my poor reputation."

Xiangyu greeted her warmly, "Greetings, Sister Zhaoyun."

Chu Zhaoyun, who had been listening quietly due to her reserved nature, replied, "I greet both of you, Fairy Jiangxue and Fairy Xiangyu."

Xiangyu took a treasure from her robes and handed it to Chu Zhaoyun. "We have nothing else on us for a first meeting, but this is a Fog-Image Crystal Mine gifted to us by our master. When used, it creates a thick, bewildering mist. Please, accept it as a token of our meeting."

Jiangxue did not hesitate to produce an identical crystal and gently placed it in Chu Zhaoyun’s hand.

Chu Zhaoyun was startled. "I am older than you, this is not..." She looked toward Chu Youcai, seeking his guidance.