Leaving the Jiu residence was quite a scene. Jiu Qiqi started crying and asked Jiu Xinyi countless of times if she wouldn't change her mind about going to the spiritual abyss. The family of three were already saying their goodbyes to each other at the gate of the residence with a few other servants and soldiers when the scenario took place. That's why it was quite a scene for her mother to stop her from going when everything was already prepared to depart for the journey.
Jiu Xinyi found it quite taxing to shake her mother off from clinging on to her and preventing her from coming with her. Not that she brushed her off harshly, she was just a bit awkward because she still found it quite unfamiliar for a person to show excessive care for her. Fortunately for her, her grandfather helped her convinced Jiu Qiqi that she would be fine on her own.
Almost two weeks have passed since they left the Nanchang empire. The outside appearance of the spiritual abyss is a trench located in the southern part of the Qin continent, in between the dark continent. Because of its unique location, the spiritual abyss cant be entered by climbing down the trench or jumping off of it. There's only one way to enter its domain, that is to wait for the spirit portal- a gate connecting the outside world and the spiritual abyss, to open every second month of spring. By then, the spiritual abyss will let individuals who met the requirement to go in to fulfill a blood contract with a spirit familiar.
Jiu Xinyi had to leave half a month early for it will take them fifteen days to travel by carriage to reach their destination. She had a few soldiers from the Jiu army assigned by her grandfather for her safety and as well as Wanwan to accompany her for the whole journey. Once they arrive at the spiritual abyss, they will be retreating to a nearby country to wait for her return.
Somewhere at the Qin continent boundary, in the kingdom of Henghai, two people have made contact.
"I heard the young miss of the Jiu family has pushed through this year's spiritual ceremony?" A middle-aged woman asked as she took a sip of her tea.
They call the gathering of youths across the continent to enter the spiritual abyss to fulfill a spiritual contract the spiritual ceremony.
"Indeed madam. I suppose you didn't come here simply as to talk about the young miss from the Jiu family?" The man clad in all black asked back. He is the type of person who is not fond of small talk, although he might sound impatient, he still can't turn a blind eye to this certain customer. After all, it's still business they're talking about, a big one at that.
"Correct. I'd like you to do something for me." She placed down her teacup and waved her finger towards a maidservant who stood in one corner.
The maidservant hastened towards her mistress and placed a thick envelope and pushed it slightly forward before retreating to her position once again.
"That is only the partial payment. Once you get things done, I will deliver the remaining payment to your doors in a matter of three days." She said with a meaningful smile on her face.
The man in black took the envelope and skimmed through it. The thick envelope contained banknotes with Qin continent's seal on it, although he expected this much from his customer. The woman was from a rather impressive background, a total of 30 thousand silver banknotes as partial payment. 'Not bad.' He thought.
"What do you want?" He asked as he propped his elbow on top of the table.
The woman picked up her teacup once again and took a leisurely sip before speaking." I want you to kill Jiu Xinyi and disguise it as an accident."
The man was shocked beyond belief as a scowl formed on his face. 'Does she have a few screws loose?!' He thought to himself.
"Madam, we all know that killing a direct descendant from the Jiu family costs more than just silver?" The man gritted his teeth upon the absurd request from the woman. Is she underestimating the Jiu family too much?
"Now, don't misunderstand me. After you fulfill your part of the deal, naturally, the remaining payment will be in gold. I'll make sure it'll arrive at your doorsteps in three days' time." The scowl on the man's face reverted back as he breathe a sense of relief. He didn't want to cut off a big fish just because they didn't meet eye to eye in terms of payment.
"Fine. Consider it done."
At a riverside inn, still in the kingdom of Henghai, Jiu Xinyi's carriage pulled over. The sun was already setting by then, and they decided it'd be best to make it their meet up location when the time comes.
Facing the few soldiers she brought with her, "All of you should settle yourselves. I'll stay for the day and will depart tomorrow at dawn."
The young men were delighted but had to hold back their joy in front of their young miss. "But-"
"It's fine. I'll tell you if I need help." She said, cutting them off. Jiu Xinyi then diverted her gaze towards Wanwan, "I'd like to wash up, can you prepare the bath for me?"
"Yes, I'll prepare it right away young miss."
Most of the inns were already packed with foreign guests from other countries for the spiritual ceremony this spring. They were lucky enough to land an inn despite the place getting crowded as people continued pouring in from different countries.
The distance between the kingdom of Henghai and the spiritual abyss will take at least three more days by horse and Jiu Xinyi has decided to travel it by herself from then on.
"The spiritual contract will be my first step in this second life. I'll patiently climb up the hierarchy, although this time, I'll do it differently." She muttered under her breath, her eyes close in relaxation as she soaked in her bath.