Chapter 149 (2/2)
On the third count, None-flower Dust opened his palm and conjured a blue speck of flames. A hoarse and frailed voice croaked from inside of the cottage on the middle. “Oh my! Oh my! Come on now, Little None-flower!” The feeble voice of an old man called hurriedly, “Heaven forfend if you should burn down my house! I’ll never rest till I have my revenge!”
The wooden door creaked opened almost immediately, allowing None-flower Dust to enter. They walked through the threshold and found the insides of the cottage festooned with an assorted array of medicinal weeds and spices hanging from the eaves, while the air inside reeked of the aroma of herbs. But there was no one to be seen.
The frail voice of an old man croaked again. “Why are you here with a dead man? Is that a body you are giving me as compensation for burning down my house last time?”
“You speak too much,” None-flower Dust snapped, placing Xiao Chen on a bed. He turned to speak at the old man again, “Save him.”
A figure slowly came into view, ghostly and spectral. With hairs and beards as white as snow, the translucent body of the old man shimmered as he moved toward the bed to inspect Xiao Chen. He was no longer human, but merely a soul body. He checked Xiao Chen’s pulse and chuckled. “Ah… He’s in a terrible state.”
“Can you save him?” None-flower Dust pressed, his brows creasing into a frown.
Gui Xian snickered, his face beaming with pride, “Of course I can. Did I not save you too when you were almost dead yourself? Come to think of it, I had…”
“Enough with your blather! Get to work!”
“Why the hurry? You could’ve let me finish.” But Gui Xian paused suddenly and sighed. “What a pity… What a pity if he can be saved…”
“What are you talking about?”
“Heh heh heh heh!” The eyes of Gui Xian twinkled as he studied Xiao Chen’s body. “Oh my, an indestructible body…” he lamented longingly, “The fabled indestructible body… If only I have one like his…”
He carried on mumbling incomprehensibly, peering with yearning at Xiao Chen’s body. “This man is protected by the Spirit Silence Room,” None-flower Dust snapped, “I’d suggest against harboring any malevolent intent on him. Not unless you wish to incur the wrath of Bai Susu.”
“Ah… I see…” Gui Xian sighed with dejection, “What a pity… A pity indeed.”
“How long do you need?” None-flower Dust pressed again.
“His soul is as good as tattered… But each of his soul’s fragments will return in every seven days. It will take only forty-nine days for his soul to be restored. But…”
“But what?” None-flower Dust asked seriously.
“But I’m afraid all of his powers will be no more.”
None-flower Dust’s forehead wrinkled with distress. “Is there no other way?” He asked. “Of course there is. This is but mere child’s play to me!” Gui Xian barked indignantly with pride.
“Very well then. I’ll leave him with you. I’d best be off then.” None-flower Dust said and vanished, reappearing outside the door. He disappeared again, this time for good, but he left a lingering message that echoed hollowly into the valley, “Take care. There might be others who have found you by now.”
“I’ll be thankful enough if you were to leave me alone, you rascal?” Gui Xian hissed irately.
Forty-nine days passed by like a blur. The gentle, cooling breeze heralded the passing of autumn. Xiao Chen opened his eyes finally. He had woken up several times before but each time his eyes opened, he remained dazed and fuzzy only to lose consciousness again. He stared blankly as he finally regained his vigor and feel his strength returning to his fingers. The voice of an old man called out to him suddenly, “You’ve woken up finally, boy.”