Bai Xifeng practically skipped through the garden, humming a light, airy tune that contrasted sharply with the heavy atmosphere she had just left behind. Walking a few paces behind her, Xiao Li watched her Young Miss with a growing sense of bewilderment. Something was undeniably different about Bai Xifeng, a new spark of confidence and wit had replaced her usual demeanor, yet Xiao Li still couldn't quite put her finger on what had shifted.
"Xiao Li, head over to the kitchens immediately and demand our meal," Bai Xifeng ordered, her voice laced with a newfound authority.
"But Young Miss," Xiao Li sighed, her shoulders drooping, "I am deeply afraid they will simply insult us again and hand over the same wretched scraps they gave us this morning."
"You needn't worry about that anymore. I've already settled matters with that old hag in the main hall," Bai Xifeng said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "If they have the audacity to offer you that same filth, simply threaten them. Tell them exactly who sent you."
Though hesitant, Xiao Li obeyed her mistress's command and departed toward the kitchen. Left to her own devices, Bai Xifeng navigated her way back to the secluded storage room. She had a hunch that amidst the neglected junk of the Bai household, she might find something truly useful for her survival.
She stepped inside, adjusting her outfit as she began to poke through the shadows. Thick layers of grey dust blanketed every surface, serving as a silent testament to how many years had passed since a human had last set foot in this room. As she reached deep into a pile of discarded trinkets, a sharp pain flared in her hand.
"Ouch! That stings," Bai Xifeng hissed, jerking her hand back to inspect the damage. A jagged edge had sliced into her finger, and she watched as a bead of crimson blood welled up and began to flow down her palm.
Deciding she needed to clean the wound before it became infected, she turned to leave the dim room. However, before she could reach the threshold, a voice resonated through the stagnant air.
"Finally... someone of worth has arrived here." It was a man's voice—deep, resonant, and vibrating with an ancient power.
Bai Xifeng instantly bolted upright, her every sense heightened. She spun around, her eyes darting into the dusty corners of the room, searching for the intruder. Yet, there was no one. The room was empty save for herself. 'Where on earth did that come from?' She wondered, a cold shiver running down her spine. 'Is it a ghost? Please, anything but a ghost.' She had never been a fan of the supernatural.
"Are you perhaps wondering where I am hiding?" The voice asked, seemingly reading the frantic expressions crossing her face.
"What do you want from me?" Bai Xifeng demanded, forcing a bravado she didn't quite feel. She planted her feet firmly, refusing to let the invisible speaker see her tremble.
"And what is it you think I could possibly want from a girl like you?" The man teased. He seemed to be enjoying himself, amused by her attempt to appear courageous.
"How should I know? Wait, do you want my body?" Bai Xifeng's eyes narrowed in sudden anger. "I'm telling you now, I will not let you have it without a fight!"
A rich, booming laughter echoed off the stone walls. To the mysterious entity, this girl was fascinating. She was clearly terrified, yet she had the spirit to snap back with such a ridiculous accusation.
"Little girl, do you truly wish to know who I am?" The man asked, his tone shifting to something more serious.
"Yes. I want answers," Bai Xifeng replied, nodding firmly.
"Then, look down. Pick up the mirror lying on the floor beneath you," The voice commanded.
Bai Xifeng glanced at her feet. There, half-buried in the dust, lay a small, ornate mirror. She bent down, her fingers brushing against the cold metal as she lifted it. It was then she noticed a dark smear of wet crimson across the glass.
"Whose blood is this?" she asked, her heart hammering against her ribs.
"Girl, have you already forgotten? That is your own blood. You cut your finger just moments ago." The man answered with a hint of exasperation.
"Oh... ha ha... right. I completely forgot about that," Bai Xifeng laughed nervously, feeling a bit foolish for her momentary lapse in memory.
The voice fell silent for a long moment. 'Is this truly the person I have been waiting for all these centuries?' the man wondered. She seemed a bit... flighty. He let out a long, weary sigh. Nevertheless, the blood did not lie; the confirmation was absolute.
"Touch the surface of the mirror and speak the word 'Combine.' Hurry up and say it." The man ordered.
Bai Xifeng did not move. Instead, she began to scrutinize the mirror with a critical eye. The craftsmanship was exquisite and clearly dated back to a forgotten era. 'What is this dynasty even called? What year is it?' she mused silently. 'This world is so bizarre. Cultivation, spirit energy, even the animals look like they're from a fever dream. Hey, handsome King Yama, if you're listening, why couldn't you have sent me somewhere normal?'
The man waited for the ritual to begin, but nothing happened. Bai Xifeng simply stood there, her facial expressions shifting rapidly from confusion to annoyance to boredom.
"Oi, girl... Hey! Are you still there?" The man called out, trying to snap her out of her trance.
"Oh, you're still here too." Bai Xifeng commented blankly.
"Girl, were you even listening to a single word I said?" The man asked, his patience thinning.
"What? No, not really," Bai Xifeng admitted. She had been far too deep in her own existential crisis to pay attention to a disembodied voice.
The man groaned audibly. "Listen to me very carefully. Touch the mirror and say the word 'Combine.' Now. Do it quickly."
Bai Xifeng's brow furrowed. 'Why should I take orders from a voice in a dusty mirror?' She thought. She wasn't about to be tricked into some soul-binding contract that easily.
"Why are you hesitating?" The man asked when he realized she was still standing perfectly still.
"Why should I do it? What's in it for me? And more importantly, who are you? What are you doing in my family's storage room? Are you some kind of resident ghost?" Bai Xifeng fired off the questions like a barrage.
The man was stunned into silence. Usually, when mortals encountered a mystical artifact or a powerful spirit, they followed instructions out of pure awe or terror. But this girl was treating the situation like a business negotiation, asking about "benefits."
"You are unable to cultivate, are you not?" The man finally asked.
"That's right," Bai Xifeng answered immediately. It was the plain truth, and she saw no reason to hide her lack of spiritual talent.
Again, the man was taken aback. Most people would have panicked or felt deep shame at such a revelation. Yet, she admitted it as if she were talking about the weather. This girl was certainly the one he had been waiting for.
"Why have you stopped answering my questions?" Bai Xifeng asked, her curiosity piqued. "Tell me, who are you really?"
"Do you truly wish to see my face?" The man countered.
"Of course I do," Bai Xifeng replied, her lips curling into a slightly creepy, mischievous smile as she prepared to study her new 'friend'.
***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. It breaks my heart when someone steals my hard work. Can you consider reading it on the original website for those who read my novel on another website besides w e b n o v e l .c o m, as your support to me? Thank you, from, your shameless author, ZerahNeko***
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