Chapter 17
Do not hesitate to hope, let alone place your desire in expecting help from this humble servant.
"Y-you… are not a lifeless object!"
Is there anything this humble servant can do for you, My Lord?
"Ahh… forgive my tendency to act that way. Focusing back on the topic, I cannot deny the truth ticks away, the will to criticize that must be halted, founded on the plug of uncertainty.
"Once again, accuracy must be validated as it should. After all, the intended discussion is engraved, underlining the non-linear success of an outsider's life."
Realizing all those words, the offer spoken by Huan Zheng, Lady Ling Xu then fell silent, adrift in thought as she considered the possibility of securing a mutual benefit.
Whether it was through Huan Zheng's condition or the handover of the proposal that was being initiated, unwillingness to be involved had to be torn away, disabling indifference that had been aligned with her initial stance.
The pillar collapsed, accompanied by rapid tremors that signaled the wavering of faith as far as the anxiety of principles struck the tragic fate of Huan Zheng, the source himself.
Unwilling to heed it, disregarding the vile and lustful deeds sanctified in the past, the will to act recklessly was no longer seen as a standard.
It validated whether or not mutual care and compassion existed throughout the course to come.
Unconsciously, the greatness of love could strike through, shattering the firmness of a heart built on absolutes.
Of course, Ling Xu's deep wish was to extend her palm.
Yet, as her will carried her fingertips forward to respond, the will to help collapsed, fading further, and continuously declining in a seamless descent.
Anxiety was reflected, actual worries within the depths of her heart could not be avoided, highlighting her unwillingness to see the man before her depart, rushing to leave this world after a bargain no more than a painful delusion.
She must not lose him in any form.
The greater the chance repeated, the more it pressed upon her, criticizing whether there was any feasible follow-up even as confusion struck down a hundred matters at once.
And just as an attempt at a solution was carried out, her smooth passage through the sea of consciousness was suddenly disrupted.
A sorrowful scream welled up, spreading torture that nearly engulfed Huan Zheng's awareness in the moments that followed.
She stood frozen, the absence of any option to cast help shaped her thoughts, proposing a shock no less, no more, than her inability to respond, bound by the desire to help rather than succumb to the perilous fate looming overhead.
At first she thought like that, considering the fleeting span of time wasted only on harmful conduct.
But without intending to appear, suddenly a name was invoked, highlighting a call that was not etched in the shallows of her own heart.
It emphasized the presence of someone dwelling within the sacred spirit.
Startled, a voice emerged from between her conscience and her soul, diving deep into her being, spotlighting aspects that were immediately acted upon.
She hurried to take defensive measures, raising vigilance while her instincts surged in proportion.
As her intuition soared beyond its limits, it was not without reason.
The agenda proposed struck at her, intensifying the anxiety that wrapped around her, reminding her of how often young cultivators like Ling Xu were deemed perfect sacrifices for the elders.
Anything would be done for the smooth progression of one cultivation stage to the next.
Not caring to pledge love, even to outsiders, suspicion was invited.
Ambiguity was immediately met with a direct response, quickly clarified that all of it was nothing more than false suspicion.
In the end, he admitted it, interpreting the form of Consciousness as real, a crystal spirit handed down from elders who once granted him various cultivation facilities.
To sever disbelief, he spoke aloud, identifying himself in a warm introduction as custom demanded.
Because the individual—mysteriously called an elder—was bound with him as a Crystal Guide, a union unshakable, marking a tie of fate.
It was no wonder his words had to be followed after.
Especially after reflecting on the reason behind the bestowed crystal, in other words, the handover of not just the crystal but a fragment of consciousness itself.
It underlined the Crystal Consciousness's devotion to obey, to serve in carrying out every assigned duty in any circumstance.
The intent to serve Lady Ling Xu anywhere and anytime was classified as heavy devotion, loyalty without expectation of return, extending into the future and beyond.
She had been shocked by the crystal's ability to communicate, having only recently realized that the gift she received possessed its own consciousness.
In that moment, she nearly struck her head upon the ground, spinning in confusion as the truth unraveled.
It was clearly no trivial matter.
Considering that such a gift had engraved its spirit into her being, sharing time alongside her as it unfolded, prioritizing a bond that proposed discomfort by always being observed.
Yet, nevertheless, a fragment of knowledge had been obtained, building the foundation of a companionship with an individual under the full guidance of the guide, serving as a concrete mentor who could deepen her understanding.
Grounded on this advantage, she found supportive factors from within, enabling her to breathe easier since the burden upon her shoulders no longer had to be carried by her alone.
The hidden cooperation she hoped for could be realized, signaling the sharing of responsibility, reducing the weight while paving the way toward a brighter future.
Considering that the consciousness had long resided, having dwelled with the elder before her, it became a reason, a particular cause for small talk to be carried out properly, deliberately brought forth at the start until the main topic could be voiced in response to the urgency of the situation.
A mere glance should have been enough to understand, to feel the stabbing pain that never ceased, to end the continuity of suffering without regard for the current fate of the suffering patient.
Roughly, she wondered, was help desired?
"That is what is hoped for.
"And the offer of a bargain cannot be discarded, avoiding the bond of compensation that was presented right before your eyes.
"But putting aside such strong desire, deep inside longs to project, to validate the complexity at hand that is almost impossible to resolve—at least through the way you see it?"
It would be foolish of you to deem me useless.
To be frank, this humble servant understands, comprehending both the methods and the salvation needed to mend the shattered core of life itself.
"Indirectly, it can be healed, confirming what has truly befallen the target?"
Certainly, such guidance must not be rejected in vain, at least allowing the absorption of fundamental cultivation, fully grasping what must not be cast aside.
On that knowledge also, Ling Xu believed she could break through.
Not merely struggling to elevate her cultivation, but if she also acquired knowledge of medicine, herbs, and alchemy, her path would be complete.
However, just as she sought to awaken her soaring expectations, the cruelty of reality struck, nullifying the perfection of the offered bargain as his testimony melted away in the next moments.
Indeed, witnessing help was not as simple as turning one's palm upward.
She continued to wonder if there was any gap, any small chance that could be used somehow.
Her shallow doubts were immediately answered, responding to the nest of suspicions that had not been cast aside even once or twice by authoritative voices.
The ringing frequency swiftly spread, directly asking how strong her will was in the session of salvation.
For a moment she doubted his understanding of the cultivation world.
Yet their shared comprehension with a single glance was brilliant, a sparkling mark of one-sided agreement, wasting no more time before affirming his opinion positively.
Even though she possessed the Crystal Consciousness that shimmered brightly, its brilliance for a Banished Enlightened One like Ling Xu was limited, insufficient to complete perfection during the course of her studies, as the man's guidance before her had already been dissolved.
To be continued…