I helped the Northern Frontier General carry Xiao Yi into his bedroom. The imperial physician arrived quickly and treated him with skill, but Xiao Yi's condition was dire. The general explained to me that Xiao Yi had been unwell even before departing for Bashu, suffering from chills and sensitivity to cold. Nevertheless, he had gone to the disaster-stricken area, working tirelessly until he fell ill. His fever had persisted for days, and it was likely only the news of my arrival that had prompted him to summon the strength to come out and meet me.
After the general left with a sigh, guilt overwhelmed me. I clenched my fists tightly, chastising myself for not noticing Xiao Yi's pallor earlier and instead selfishly clinging to him and crying.
Despite the imperial physician's inability to identify the cause of Xiao Yi's illness, he prescribed fever-reducing medicine. Returning to the room, I activated my spiritual power to channel it into Xiao Yi's body for protection. Yet, as I touched the center of his brows at the Cuanzhu point, I was stunned to detect a malevolent force within him—identical to the one powering the Tongshang Array.
I suddenly remembered the dual-life-binding technique Li Jun had used on Xiao Ji and me. Hastily casting a spell to probe Xiao Yi's condition, I couldn't stop my hands from trembling. Xiao Yi wasn't ill at all—he was bearing the damage from the Tongshang Array!
Outsiders contributing spiritual power to someone sustaining the array inadvertently strengthen the one who cast it. Thus, neither Li Jun nor the others could protect Xiao Yi with their spiritual power. Moreover, the dual-life-binding technique could only link the fates of two people. This meant that although Xiao Yi lacked the spiritual cultivation to shield himself, he was enduring the same harm as Xiao Ji and me.
Pain stabbed through my heart, and tears welled up uncontrollably. Dismissing the attendants and setting up a barrier in the room, I transferred half of my cultivation to Xiao Yi.
Since the burden of the Tongshang Array was shared among the three of us, the cultivation was equally effective no matter whose body it resided in.
As my painstakingly accumulated cultivation ebbed away, I expected to feel regret. Instead, watching the soft purple light gently wrap around Xiao Yi and bring a flush of color to his deathly pale cheeks, I felt an unparalleled sense of relief.
I couldn't explain it—I only knew I wanted him to live in good health.
With spiritual protection in place, Xiao Yi's "illness" soon subsided. Fearing he would realize I had transferred my cultivation to him, I left my emblematic jade pendant of the Danxia Palace disciples with him, instructing the Northern Frontier General to tell him it was a charm to ward off cold, then returned to the Nuwa Temple to find Li Jun.
Li Jun decided to use the Water Spirit Pearl to pray for rain for the disaster area. However, the prayer ritual required a woman to perform it, and since Li Yan was pregnant and unable to cast such spells, Li Jun summoned all the female disciples of the Nuwa Temple, hoping to find someone capable of invoking the power of the Water Spirit Pearl.
Many disciples in the Nuwa Temple possessed spiritual cultivation, yet an hour passed without anyone successfully summoning the pearl's power. As the remaining few disciples took the stage, Li Jun and Li Yan's expressions grew increasingly tense.
I found this puzzling. Although the Water Spirit Pearl was an ancient divine artifact, it shouldn't have resisted so many skilled practitioners. Could it have chosen a destined wielder?
As the remaining disciples tried one after another, finally, the last girl managed to stir the pearl's power.
Soft blue light danced along her fingers, and the crowd let out a collective sigh of relief. But soon, the girl's face turned pale. Her cultivation was too weak to endure the immense power of the Water Spirit Pearl.
"Qing Yue, stop!" Li Jun commanded as he cast a spell to save her. The girl, in her panic, faltered, triggering a backlash from the pearl. My Five-Spirit Bracelet emitted a faint glow in response. Remembering my master's teachings that the bracelet was forged from the essences of five spirits, I leapt to the girl's side and simultaneously invoked the powers of wind and earth to surround the Water Spirit Pearl.
The combined suppression of wind and earth effectively neutralized the water element, and the pearl released its grip on the girl, gently falling into my hands.
Exhausted, the girl collapsed. Li Yan ordered her to be taken away to rest, and Li Jun subsequently declared the selection process over. Only the three of us remained at the altar, but neither Li Jun nor Li Yan mentioned the rain ritual to me.
Could it be because of the dual-life-binding technique? Before I could speak, Li Yan interrupted me, her expression conflicted. "Wuxie, you're not from this era, are you?"
I was startled. "Sister Li Yan, how did you guess?"
Li Jun looked at me with a complicated expression as Li Yan suddenly burst into tears. I was at a loss, gently supporting her. "What's wrong? Can I not pray for rain?"
Li Yan shook her head, her tearful eyes unable to meet mine. Turning to Li Jun in confusion, I found him smiling wryly. "Xiaoxie, perhaps you should call me 'brother.'"
"What?!" I was stunned.
"His Highness had a deep bond with Xiao Wan. He was certain you were her reincarnation. Although we doubted it at first, given Xiao Wan had only passed two years prior and a reincarnation would still be an infant, your ability to simultaneously wield wind and earth proves otherwise. If I'm correct, your spiritual power mirrors Xiao Wan's—it encompasses all five mutually supporting and restraining elements," Li Jun patiently explained.
"It's true my spiritual power embodies all five elements," I replied, waving my hand dismissively. "But I'm definitely not Xiao Wan."
"That's where you're mistaken," Li Jun sighed. "You have a rare 'Heavenly Water Convergence' destiny. This means that no matter how many lifetimes you reincarnate, your destiny remains unchanged. With your striking resemblance to Xiao Wan and your origin from another era… Do you understand now?"
Li Jun's words were clear, and I couldn't help but gasp in shock.
"You don't believe me?" Li Jun stepped closer and dipped a drop of sacred lotus water from a small jade vial onto my forehead. Taking my hand, he murmured a spell, and the water transformed into countless ice crystals swirling around me.
The crystals reflected scenes from Xiao Wan's life in the sunset—her moments of joy with her parents, her nights watching over a sickly Li Jun, her playful times with fellow disciples, and her tender moments with Xiao Yi.
"This is the Soul-Resonance Spell. If you are Xiao Wan's reincarnation, you'll see her life. If not, you'll see only blankness. What did you see?" Li Jun released my hand and asked softly.
Tears blurred my vision as I looked up, trembling.
"Welcome back, sister." Li Jun embraced me tightly, his voice hoarse with emotion.
"I…" My heart sank. "Brother, I can't stay in this era…"
"It doesn't matter. No matter how fleeting our reunion, we're grateful for it," Li Jun gently wiped my tears and consoled me.
"Jun is right, Xiaoxie. Don't dwell on the time we have; let's cherish it," Li Yan said with bittersweet joy, taking my hand.
Perhaps they were right. Even if only for a moment, this reunion was a gift from the heavens—a happiness I should treasure.
That night, I didn't return to Yi Qing Courtyard. Li Jun sent word to Xiao Ji before taking me back to the Li family estate. Its elegant and tranquil courtyard bore a striking resemblance to Xiao Yi's small garden. After dinner, Li Jun and I sat on the rooftop, gazing at the stars. He told me about the peculiarities of the Bashu corruption case. The evidence incriminating the official in charge pointed to Zhao, a former official of Bashu.
Zhao, despite his miserly nature, was known for his upright conduct. The so-called evidence against him was likely fabricated by the real culprit. Additionally, rumors of an epidemic among disaster-relief officers had emerged near the Crown Prince's residence. Following this, Xiao Yi's four maids began dreaming of his illness, claiming a celestial figure instructed them to inform the "Saintess" and perform daily prayers outside the city to avert disaster.
They believed I was the Saintess, Xiao Wan, and subtly guided me toward the disaster zone.
"Someone is trying to lure you to the disaster area. That person is likely the one who cast the Tongshang Array on the Third Prince," Li Jun said, his brows furrowing. "If I'm correct, they want you to witness the devastation and pray for rain with all your strength. Lacking training in Nuwa clan techniques, invoking the Water Spirit Pearl would deplete your spiritual power and leave you unable to sustain the Tongshang Array, let alone resist the effects of the dual-life-binding technique. Now, do you understand why we stopped you from praying for rain?"