Chapter 382: Plum Emperor Sword – Part 2 (2/2)

'Child, do you want to form a pact with me? If you give me your Blood Essence, I'll teach you everything I know! My cultivation technique, my sword techniques, my dao comprehension, my knowledge, my Soul Qi, and Soul Essence will be yours! I'll give you everything, and I shall make you the strongest sword master of the God Realm! Even Kunwu and Samsara will be jealous of your sword dao!'

Kang Yan frowned as she found the sword suspicious, ”But my husband said my blood essence is precious. I can't give it to a stranger, especially a sketchy talking weapon I don't know.”

'You can trust me! Our encounter is fated! Please, form a pact with me! I'll break the pact with Ling Tianlong and take care of the backlashes. Just… let me be your soul-bound weapon, so I can continue protecting you and making up for the past mistakes!'

For some reason, Kang Dongfang's voice seemed sad and anxious.

The sorrowful voice of this soul troubled Kang Yan. She didn't want to talk with him anymore, so her expression distorted.

Kang Dongfang could read her mind like a book. Yet, it persisted in stalking her.

'Please! Child, let me be your soul-bound weapon. Let me atone for my sin!'

”What did you do?”

'I-I-I can't tell.'

”If you can't even tell me, how the hell would I know?! How can I trust you if you are keeping secrets?”

'B-But I just want to be by your side! Please believe in me!'

”No. You harmed my friends and my family. You helped our enemy attacking our peaceful town. We don't want you here.”

'…'

Despite being chased away, Kang Dongfang didn't give up. However, he couldn't come up with the right words to persuade Kang Yan.

…

Meanwhile, Ju Shoufen sensed something amiss with Kang Yan's one-sided talk. She consulted with her daughter's soul in her fan.

”Hu'er, can you hear what that sword is saying?”

'Actually, I can hear it loud and clear.'

”What are they talking about?”

'I think… the soul of that sword is Kang Yan's relative, precisely her father or grandfather. He might have abandoned her when she was born, and he is regretting it now.'

”Hoh?”

Ju Shoufen smirked as she started to get a general idea of what had transpired here, ”Is that guy under a curse or a restriction by karma? Sun Crow always taught me to be wary of my karma and avoid harming innocent people since it can come back and haunt me when I become a dao god. Did he mention something like that?”

'He DID slip that he is cursed and is related to some kind of karmic punishment. I think you're right.'

”Hohoh?”

Ju Shoufen rubbed her hands and took a sip of spring water, getting ready to confront the immortal-grade sword, aka a former dao god, who was cursed by his sins.

”Little Yan,” Ju Shoufen patted the girl's back.

”Ah, Elder Sister Shoufen. Are you alright? I saw you getting blasted by this evil sword!”

Ju Shoufen bitterly smiled and glanced at hovering Plum Emperor Sword, who seemed dejected by the remark.

”I think you should listen to the sword and give it a chance.”

Hearing that this loli, who acted like Kang Yan's elder sister, encouraged the girl to listen to him, Kang Dongfang was delighted. It instinctively manifested a few plum flowers, showing its bright mood.

”But I don't want to. This stupid sword harmed us, but now, it wants to steal my precious blood essence to form a pact with it. I don't trust this talking sword!”

The plum flowers withered. Kang Dongfang sulked again.

Ju Shoufen faintly smiled and held Kang Yan's hands, ”We're alright. No one has died. Yan'er, don't forget that we're blessed with Miaomiao's spring water and his hard-working effort. He always taught us to treasure people's feelings, especially our family members. So… give him a chance, okay?”

Ju Shoufen chose a roundabout way to hint at Kang Yan so that she could reconcile with the spirit within the sword.

The loli was already aware that the spirit might be Kang Yan's relative or her parent. Yet, she respected Kang Dongfang's decision by not disclosing his status to the girl.

Still, the hint should be enough for Kang Yan to figure it out.

Kang Dongfang slightly waved the sword, nodding at Ju Shoufen. He tried to convince his precious girl once more.

'I swear by my dao oath that I will never harm you, your friends, your family, or anyone that you cherish. Please… believe in me… Yan'er.'

Kang Dongfang made a blunder by caller Kang Yan with the ['er] suffix. Normally, only family members or seniors could call her [Yan'er].

Kang Yan frowned, not liking the sword. Yet, her instinct cried that she should believe in Kang Dongfang.

”Okay. I'll believe in you for once. Now, tell me. Who are you exactly!? Why are you trying to be so nice to me without asking anything in return?”

Kang Dongfang sounded like he was about to cry, 'I'm so sorry, Yan'er. I can't tell you what had happened to me or what our relationship is. But I promise you. Once my curse is lifted, I'll reveal everything.'

”Fine. I'll extract my blood essence. Oh, make sure you cancel whatever your relationship with our enemy. I don't like that guy… what's his name? Ling Tianlong?”

'Ah, I shall cancel the pact with Ling Tianlong immediately! Stand back, child. I'm going to get punished for violating my oath. It's gonna hurt, and it might harm people near me.'

”…”

…

= Unknown Dimension =

While Zhou Gongjin had been floating in the unknown dimension, he had a dream. He dreamed about the events in his previous life when he had confronted Ling Tianlong and his allies.

Although Ling Tianlong was arrogant, self-centered, and rude, he had many subordinates and friends. When Gan Ning and others had launched an ambush and managed to injure Ling Tianlong, the latter's friends always showed up to save him.

Zhou Gongjin dreamed of a certain red-haired girl, who always accompanied his nemesis.

She was rumored to be Ling Tianlong's woman!

One day, Zhou Gongjin managed to capture the girl. He and Huang Gongfu interrogated her to extract the information about Ling Tianlong and her background.

”I heard you were a remnant of Poseidon Spa House of Xu Clan. Why are you working with Ling Tianlong? His friend, Xie Tian, is the one who destroyed your sect and killed your friends.”

The red-haired girl laughed, mocking Zhou Gongjin, ”You know nothing. Even if you know, you can't change my mind. Now, kill me!”

Zhou Gongjin was confused about how this red-haired girl, Kang Yan, was so obstinate in following Ling Tianlong around.

”We're not going to kill you. Instead, we want to free you from whatever Ling Tianlong and Xie Tian have used on you. You see, we're here to save you. It's Ling Tianlong and Xie Tian who are your true enemy.”

”As I said! You know nothing! Xie Tian rescued me from those evil women, and Ling Tianlong is my father's savior! Why should I work with you to harm my benefactors!?”

It was a pity that he had failed to convince her as her bond with Ling Tianlong was too strong. After all, her sword techniques, Plum Blossom Sword, resembled Ling Tianlong's techniques as if she had the same mentor. She could have been useful had she imparted her swordsmanship to them.

That day, Zhou Gongjin and Huang Gongfu failed to extract valuable information other than her vague relationship with her father, whom Ling Tianlong had saved.

As they had no use for the girl anymore, they transferred Kang Yan to Wu Guotai, planning to let Sun Wentai's wife be the one to execute the girlfriend of their nemesis, avenging for Sun Wentai.

The dream abruptly ended as Zhou Gongjin didn't know what had happened to Kang Yan afterward. However, the Jiangdong White Tiger Sect was besieged the day after by Ling Tianlong, and Sun Bofu was killed on the same day.