A Touch Of Irony

"So… what did you need me for?" Xu Jiyu questions, silently evaluating the youth in front of him. This boy looks a year or two younger than him, he looks very cute and loveable! But actually, now that he thinks about it, he looks quite familiar for some reason…? Xu Jiyu furrows his eyebrows, deep in thought.

"Ah, well, hahaha, you see—" Fang Lei quickly makes his sword disappear with a snap of a finger. The crow on his head caws contentedly, before pecking a few times at the poor boy's head. Fang Lei brings a hand up, attempting to swat the crow off, but it only caws angrily and pecks at his hand instead. "Ugh, dumb crow, leave me alone!"

While Fang Lei bickers once more with the bird, Xu Jiyu's golden hues brighten up! He points a finger at Fang Lei, mouth agape, "You're… Fang Lei? Liu Jian's—ah, no, the King's friend?"

Yes, he remembers this boy! He was the one who gave the King three steamed buns at the festival, the one Xu Jiyu didn't like seeing the interaction between. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.

If this boy is the King's friend, then… what kind of relationship did they really have? This boy is actually a spirit, isn't that right? That's the only way to have a connection with the King of Spirits… Xu Jiyu was only a special case.

He feels his heart stir uncomfortably.

And coincidentally, Fang Lei really did manage to somehow choose the same body he'd used back then, even when choosing at random… his luck is really running out, it seems.

But, no matter. Since Xu Jiyu already knows, there's no use hiding it from him. Fang Lei ignores the crow that is still nestled on his head for now, and the corners of his lips curl upward. "Yes, I'm surprised you remembered after everything you've been through. I am not the King's friend, but I am actually the King's most trusted subordinate. I assume you already know that I am a spirit, then?"

Xu Jiyu nods, he had guessed correctly. "En. I had to dig through my memories, but I do remember. And unless the King had other human acquaintances, I did already assume you were a spirit…"

"You're a lot more intelligent than I originally thought, consider me impressed." Fang Lei replies, his words obviously intended to provoke the human in front of him. He still doesn't quite like Xu Jiyu for making his King become undeniably whipped…. Plus, he doesn't like humans in general, anyway.

The man who shall not be named was just an exception, he's only close to him because he had to get someone to retrieve Xu Jiyu for him, that's all! It was all for the mission! At least that's what he's convinced himself for now…

Xu Jiyu's bright golden eyes narrow; he's tempted to take off his 'nice' mask and speak his true feelings. However, he's sensible enough to understand that getting on the bad side of his only connection to the King right now is mostly likely a terrible idea. So he steels himself and bites his lip, effectively disabling himself from saying something he's sure to regret. Instead, he puts on a calm, reserved smile: "I see, well, I'm flattered. Since you've come to find me, it must be related to the King, then? After all, it seems you would rather go die than talk to me, but might I remind you that you're already dead?"

Fang Lei's face immediately fills with black lines. Clearly he had underestimated Xu Jiyu's temperament and touched his bottom line. But he quickly clears his face and thickens his skin. He simply can't be outdone by a mere human with weak spiritual roots! With so much spiritual power, not to mention being a spirit, the one who has the upper hand here is Fang Lei!

The crow's beady black eyes watch the scene unfold with great interest. Without making any fuss, it quietly eats melon seeds on the side, as if anticipating a great show.

"Well then, seems like you at least know that much. Good, very good." Fang Lei's emerald eyes spark with an unspoken challenge. "You're right, I only came here because of the King's orders. Don't misunderstand, I'm not doing this for you. You're lucky that the King is so attached to you. He gave me a mission to complete, and it involves your help..."

The crow nods its head as if it understood what was going on, while Xu Jiyu listens intently to the plan...

---

"So you're saying you want to go find my spiritual sword? You do realize that it's one of the world's lost magical relics, right? It's not easy to find." Qin Jin raises an eyebrow, although his expression is full of mild amus.e.m.e.nt.

Xu Jiyu, having come back to the Yun Sect alone, nods his head. "Yes. I know it may be a dangerous and long journey, but… it has a special kind of power that'll materialize into anything you so wish at your command, right?"

Qin Jin is an Immortal, he's lived for a thousand years already. Although he's sent his disciples out on a mission to find his lost magical relic, none have been able to find it. Although many cultivators tried to find it, all were unable to trace its whereabouts.

How did Qin Jin come into possession of this relic in the first place, and how exactly did he lose it? Well, that's a different story for another time…

"Yes, that's correct. Though it's old news now, I wonder how you found out about that…" The Sect Leader nods his head; it's not difficult to know what exactly the youth was asking him now. "Since you suddenly want to go find it, you want me to change it into something if you're successful?"

Xu Jiyu clenches his fists, but doesn't break eye contact with the Leader in order to show his determination. "En, I won't tell you now what exactly it is I want, but I just want you to promise me one thing. Once we return the sword, and your spiritual power is restored from absorbing its energy, you'll change it to whatever I want…" It's obvious that he is very nervous about making this kind of proposal. After all, who would ever want to bargain with the Immortal Sect Leader? Unless they have a death wish, it's better not to.

Wen Po stands silently to the side, listening to the exchange. By 'we', did that also mean Fang Lei? So Fang Lei was the one who proposed this kind of ridiculous plan? When was he planning on telling him about this? Wen Po's expression grows colder by the second.

Meanwhile, Fang Lei shivers as he feels a sudden chill. He awaits Xu Jiyu outside of the Sect's spiritual array.

"...Hm. Interesting. So you believe you have the power to find the relic with your friend?" The Sect Leader ponders, but it's true that he has nothing he wishes to materialize his sword into in particular. If he receives the immense spiritual energy from the magical relic, then that's enough for him. He only wants to retrieve the power he'd lost hundreds of years ago.

The youth nods listlessly. "En… I know I have weak spiritual roots, but I feel like I can help somehow."

"....." Qin Jin stays silent for a while, before he makes up his mind. To be honest, he has absolutely no reason to refuse this offer, so why not? "Alright then, consider it a deal, Xu Jiyu. Ah, but, take Liu Jian with you. The important mission I'd sent him on before his body was taken over by the King was actually to find my relic. This is the perfect opportunity for you to get to know each other, he already seems quite fond of you, hahaha!"

As Qin Jin animatedly laughs, Wen Po's eyes narrow. He remains holding his silence, deep in thought.

The youth's nervousness immediately disappears when he sees that Qin Jin is just teasing him again. Gosh, how could an Immortal Sect Leader be so shameless, ah? He thought he was going to die of anxiety!! He lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding, and sighs. "This one thanks the Sect Leader for his generosity, but politely requests that the Sect Leader stops his teasing. Will I be able to leave with Liu Jian and my friend tomorrow, then?"

"En, that's fine—but I still won't give up on making one of you youngsters call me 'gege'!" He jokes, then seriously adds: "I will make sure to inform Liu Jian about this matter. And as for your friend, you can go tell him I allowed him to pass through, so let him in." Qin Jin smiles mischievously, and Xu Jiyu freezes on the spot.

Xu Jiyu's eyes slowly wander towards Wen Po's direction. Actually, he had already promised Fang Lei that he wouldn't let Wen Po know that he was a spirit possessing someone's body… so he can only hope Wen Po didn't understand the meaning behind Qin Jin's words just now.

Wen Po did not look bothered by Qin Jin's words; in fact, he looks a bit angry and possibly cold? Perhaps he was no longer listening to their conversation after a certain point… if that's the case, then good!

"O-Okay, then I'm off to find him. Many thanks to the Sect Leader once again!" Xu Jiyu hurriedly replies, before fleeing from the room.

Sect Leaders are really scary, ah! They really know everything, even when they pretend not to!