Love & Redemption
Chapter 136: Volume 3 Heartless Xuanji - 43 Lover’s Curse

Chapter 136: Volume 3 Heartless Xuanji Chapter 43 Lover’s Curse

Lover’s Curse. The destined one. The spell wasn’t lifted.

Xuanji couldn’t figure out how these things were connected. She remembered encountering Si Feng at Sea Bowl Mountain, the half-crying, half-smiling mask on his face. Was that because of the Lover’s Curse? At that time, had Ruo Yu been about to speak but stopped herself because of this? What kind of spell could make a mask cry and smile? What backlash could occur if the spell wasn’t lifted?

After hearing Liu Yihuan’s words, she had rushed out in a hurry, controlling her sword to fly to Germu. She flew for a while before realizing they hadn’t followed and had to go back. She saw Liu Yihuan standing on a giant stone sword, broad enough for one person, while Ting Nu sat in a wheelchair at the front, just right. Such a large sword was a burden for Liu Yihuan to control, though it seemed easy for him; it was just slow.

Seeing Xuanji return, he frowned and exclaimed, "Why are you turning back? You go ahead fast! This way, you might still be able to bring him back!"

Xuanji hesitated for a moment before asking, "You . . . you first tell me, about the mask and Lize Palace . . . what exactly is going on?"

Liu Yihuan sighed, "No wonder, that proud boy would definitely not tell you the truth, bearing it all by himself. Let me tell you, Lize Palace has a strict rule: once you enter their doors, you’re not allowed to leave, nor to marry. To show adherence to this strict rule, everyone wears a mask that can only be removed inside the palace. In other words, only insiders can see each other’s true faces. In the eyes of Lize Palace, insiders are only their own sect members."

Xuanji recalled how Si Feng’s mask had been damaged by a demon four years ago, the dispirited and fearful look on his face, which she had not understood at the time, leading to a long argument with the Great Palace Master. In the end, he said he wouldn’t punish Si Feng . . . but it didn’t go as said, as Si Feng still faced punishment, having been subjected to some kind of Lover’s Curse.

"So, when that year you few little ghosts saw the face behind his mask, it was like treating outsiders as insiders. Regardless of whose fault, he had to be punished. Normally, it wouldn’t be severe—just detention, a scolding, or a few hits. The Great Palace Master liked him, surely he’d consider his well-being. Who would think, because of your reckless argument, you pushed the Great Palace Master to decide on a punishment of banning him forever from returning to his homeland. That’s the gravest penalty, do you understand what that means?"

Xuanji’s heart pounded erratically, and she shook her head in confusion.

"It means, from that moment, he gave up everything. He’ll never have a hometown to return to, forever a drifter, a lone wanderer."

It felt as if something had fiercely pricked her heart. At first, it didn’t hurt, but gradually, the pain gnawed deep into her bones, almost bending her over. He had told her none of this, always gently smiling, carelessly staying by her side. She had once willfully taken it for granted, as if he was born to accompany her, never to leave. What kind of courage did it take for him to make such a decision that day, to forever forsake his homeland, to give up everything he had once owned . . . Who was it for? What was it for?

So that was why he looked at her with such sad eyes that night. That was why he spoke of needing absolute certainty, why he said he couldn’t even regret it later. That was why he . . . made a bitter joke, saying he wasn’t a drifter.

She regretted so deeply, she covered her face tightly with her hands, not knowing whether it would be better to smash her wooden head to pieces or just stab herself with a sword.

Liu Yihuan saw her tears seeping out from between her fingers and felt somewhat reluctant to see her so distressed, he sighed softly, "If you feel that you have wronged him... with this kind of caring heart, his unrequited love was not in vain."

Ting Nu suddenly said in a low voice, "Having feelings is still like having none... emotions are not something that can be judged superficially. You, a big brute, what do you know?"

Liu Yihuan widened his eyes, feigning anger, "What do you mean I don’t know! After all, I am a flirtatious and handsome Half-immortal Lord! I have been with more women than you have ever seen. How can you say I don’t understand!"

Ridiculous! Ting Nu shook her head, dismissing the discussion of such trivial matters.

"Xuanji, the so-called Lover’s Curse, is meant for those disciples of Lize Palace who abandon their birthplace and defy orders," Ting Nu said melancholically, "The meaning of the spell is quite simple. It tells those disciples who chose outsiders over their own: if you think outsider’s world is better than home, then you must endure a test. If the outsider treats you as well as or even better than your own family, then the spell will naturally dissolve, and the mask becomes irrelevant. But if the outsider treats you poorly, and your heart suffers, it will naturally be reflected on the mask, so the mask will show a sorrowful face. It’s a reflection of the heart, something uncontrollable, even self-deception won’t help."

Xuanji dropped her hands, her face wet, a crystal tear hanging from her eyelashes, she stared at Ting Nu and choked, "Then... is Si Feng regretting? Does he, does he think we treated him poorly... and he’s heartbroken? But, I’ve already taken off that mask... Why..."

Liu Yihuan frowned and said, "Foolish! Although the Kunlun Divine Wood is divine, how can its power compare to real immortals! If you go to remove it, even a mask made of Vajra Jade in Heavenly Court could be easily removed, let alone a mere piece of divine wood! Anyone could lift the spell by removing it, but not when you do it! You don’t truly care for him, merely relying on your own advantages. How can the spell be lifted?! I’d say, it’s better for Little Phoenix to admit his fault back at Lize Palace, there’s still a chance to make amends. Otherwise, if he continues like this, he’ll eventually be exhausted to death by the Lover’s Curse!"

His words were too blunt, causing Ting Nu to consistently give him looks, but he pretended not to see them. These kids, tossing and turning, can’t come to a conclusion on their own, it was time to give them a push, otherwise they would suffocate from confusion.

If he had spoken these words to her before, Xuanji would have treated them as utter nonsense, hearing without understanding. But after her recent trip to Buzhou Mountain and meeting Shen Tu and Yu Lei, she vaguely recalled something, realizing she must have had a special status in her past life.

But Si Feng had said, the past life is the past life; it shouldn’t affect one’s mood in this life. The most important thing is to be happy now. Thus, her past life, has nothing to do with her. She did not want to explore it, nor did she want to be troubled by it.

"Who says I’m not sincere?" She suddenly spoke up, like a child who had something precious snatched away, her face flushed red with urgency and irritation, tears still on her face, "I am sincere! I like Si Feng, I don’t want to be apart from him! How could this feeling be fake?"

Liu Yihuan scoffed, "Good! You are sincere! Then let me ask you, what about Zhong Minyan?"

It felt as if a muffled thunderclap had rung inside Xuanji’s head, leaving her dizzy and disoriented. She stammered, "What... what did you say..."

Yihuan said, "What’s the matter, does my sudden mention of him make you feel guilty? Let me ask you, who is more important to you, Zhong Minyan or Yu Sifeng?"

This was an odd question she had never considered before, akin to someone asking which parent was more important to them. She replied anxiously, "How can you compare them! They are both important! They are the most important people to me!"

Yihuan laughed lightly, "Indeed, you have so many options. Yet he forfeited all his options for you, and you still claim to be sincere?"

Ting Nu saw the expression on Xuanji’s face and knew she had been unsettled. His heart was void of desires and emotions, and at this moment, compelling her to admit something was undoubtedly asking too much. He whispered softly, "Hold your tongue! Matters of the young, you get so involved, are you proud?"

Yihuan muttered, "Fine, fine! Consider me nosy! Little Phoenix is like a son to me, I watched him grow up. What father would want their son to be utterly smitten by a woman who doesn’t actually like him?!"

"How do you know what the reality is? And how do you know she doesn’t like Si Feng? Does it have to come to a head, blood and thunder, before it counts as liking someone?"

Ting Nu, severe when he became incisive, was typically awkward in speech but surprisingly eloquent now, leaving Yihuan touching his nose, muttering, "Well, I can’t tell... these young people nowadays..."

"Each has their own fate. Rather than worrying too much about others’ affairs, you should consider how you will deal with Heaven’s arrest later. Do you truly think they will let the matter of the Heavenly Eye slide?"

Yihuan’s face turned ashen, and he finally waved his hand in surrender, conceding, "Fine, you win! I’ll shut up, not saying another word!"

Out of the blue, Xuanji said softly, "I will lift the Lover’s Curse for him, no matter what, I won’t let him die. If... if he dies... I won’t live either!"

Her words were firm, leaving no room for doubt. Both looked at her and said no more.

Love, each has their own fate... indeed, the saying held some truth. Yihuan touched his nose and focused on controlling his sword, not interrupting any further.

Soon the trio arrived in Germu, and Xuanji saw how Yihuan had controlled such a massive Stone Sword before. Wondering how he would carry it once they landed, she was surprised as he tapped it twice, and the thing actually flew away on its own.

He turned around, seeing Xuanji staring blankly, and boasted with a proud smile, pointing at the sky, "That’s my exclusive horse, always waiting in the sky. Just with a whistle from me, it comes running."

Although Xuanji wasn’t fully convinced, given that he had the Heavenly Eye and seemed to have some connection with Lize Palace, some odd behavior wasn’t too surprising.

Yihuan, pushing Ting Nu, picked up his pace and looked back, "If you keep daydreaming, and Vice Palace Master snatches Si Feng, you’ll just have to cry!"

Xuanji hurriedly caught up and curiously asked, "Why are you so sure it’s the Vice Palace Master? Wouldn’t the Great Palace Master also blame Si Feng?"

Yihuan "tch"-ed and said in a hushed, secretive voice, "That’s simple, one look at the Vice Palace Master’s odd demeanor, and you know he is up to no good!"

So, it was just baseless speculation... Xuanji recalled the conflict she had had with the Vice Palace Master on Fuyu Island. His presence indeed carried a murderous air, fierce and brutal, completely unlike the Great Palace Master’s calm demeanor. Later, for reasons unknown, he let Si Feng off the hook. Although Yihuan was spouting nonsense, it wasn’t entirely impossible. Perhaps the Vice Palace Master had indeed ordered Ruo Yu to secretly kill Si Feng.

"If he dares to touch a single hair on Si Feng, I will... I will..."

"Will what?" Yihuan asked, eagerly stirring trouble.

Xuanji declared fiercely, "I will tear him to pieces!"

Though such a declaration from a little girl might typically be taken lightly, both men knew her special identity, and hearing her speak with such clenched teeth and severity, they felt a chill. Ting Nu furrowed his brows slightly, seemingly reminded of something, and finally, he sighed softly. (To be continued, if you wish to find out what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com. More Chapters are available. Support the author, support genuine reading!)

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