Capture the Jade (Attacking the Jade) - Chapter 23-Part 1
Chapter 23-Part 1
Xiao Ya picked up a peach and bit into it.
Teng Yuyi watched him curiously—though this little old man was only two inches tall, his appetite was astounding.
He devoured the entire fruit platter in one go and still seemed unsatisfied.
Teng Yuyi picked up the empty fruit platter and deliberately ordered him, “Go back to the sword and stay there for now.”
Xiao Ya burped but didn’t move.
Was she trying to boss him around just for feeding him one plate of peaches?
Teng Yuyi sighed, “Forget it, forget it. I’m too lacking in virtue and talent to be your master. Don’t put up with this, go find someone better suited for you.”
Reluctantly, Xiao Ya climbed to his feet, “Since we made a pact, Miss Teng, you lay down three rules, and I will follow them. But I, too, have a temper. Don’t think you can command me on trivial matters.”
“The first rule, and you’re already bargaining with your master. What else can I expect?”
Xiao Ya knew he was at fault and sheepishly leaped onto the bed, disappearing into the sword in an instant.
Teng Yuyi approached and picked up the jade sword.
Apart from the sword being slightly warm, it looked no different from usual.
She hid it in her sleeve and opened the door, calling for Biluo and Chunrong.
“Miss, why haven’t you gone to bed yet?”
“Perhaps I’m overtired and can’t fall asleep.
Bring me a jar of Luofu Spring wine from Yangzhou. A little drink will help me sleep soundly.”
Chunrong and Biluo didn’t think much of it—Miss Teng had always liked to drink.
Luofu Spring wasn’t strong, so they weren’t worried about her overindulging.
“Miss, don’t drink too much. Remember, there’s a banquet tonight.”
Later, the maids brought the wine, and after shutting the door, Teng Yuyi called out, “Come out.”
Xiao Ya immediately emerged from the sword, his face lighting up as he spotted a white jade wine pot on the table, its aroma rich and intoxicating, clearly a fine brew.
Xiao Ya was thrilled, his face glowing with excitement as he rushed to lift the pot.
But after glancing at Teng Yuyi, he put it back down, arrogantly asking, “Miss Teng, may I drink this wine?”
Teng Yuyi chuckled, lifting the pot and pouring wine into the jade-green cup.
“At least you acknowledge me as your master now and know to ask first. Don’t worry, this entire pot is yours, and there will be good food and wine for you every day from now on. I won’t make things hard for you, as long as you continue to act like you just did—always seeking my permission first. I keep my promises. You help me, and I’ll take good care of you.”
Xiao Ya, already dizzy with excitement at the thought of the wine, grabbed the cup and gulped it down.
He felt much better after drinking, but a hint of regret crept in.
He had thought that Teng Yuyi was young and he could get the upper hand, but in the end, it was she who had subdued him.
With a long sigh, Xiao Ya resigned himself to his fate. The Reverend Qinglian had been right all along.
Since the Xiao Ya Sword had chosen her, there was no way the new master would be ordinary.
Xiao Ya’s attitude toward Teng Yuyi became more respectful as he waited patiently for her to pour him a second cup.
After pouring the wine, Teng Yuyi handed the cup to Xiao Ya.
He reached out to take it, accidentally brushing her fingertips, and his mind reeled.
“Miss Teng, you—”
Teng Yuyi tensed, “What is it?”
Xiao Ya was puzzled, “Strange.”
“What did you see?”
Xiao Ya drained the cup in one gulp, still in shock.
“I saw what I was supposed to see. Miss Teng, how come you seem like someone whose life has been borrowed?”
Teng Yuyi’s expression changed, “What do you mean by ‘borrowed life’?”
Xiao Ya took another sip of wine to steady his nerves.
“It means you should have died, but someone forcibly borrowed another person’s life for you.”
Teng Yuyi was stunned.
The notion was too bizarre.
Her first thought was, “Impossible.”
But she clearly remembered dying and then inexplicably coming back to life on a boat from Yangzhou to Chang’an.
She had assumed it was a rebirth, but now Xiao Ya was talking about “borrowed life.”
Teng Yuyi steadied herself, “Explain slowly.”
Xiao Ya cleared his throat.
“From your fate, you shouldn’t have lived past sixteen. But someone used a secret technique to forcibly change your destiny and borrow another life for you. Going against the natural order always brings calamity. I suspect your revival must have disrupted some balance in the underworld, and the person who helped you will also face consequences.”
Teng Yuyi’s heart raced, “Wait…”
She tried to stay calm.
“If that’s the case, why would someone borrow life for me?”
Xiao Ya looked strange, “I’ve seen many strange things with my previous masters, but your situation likely means someone couldn’t bear to see you die so young. That person must know Taoist spell and have a deep connection to you. However, they were incredibly bold, knowing they’d also pay a price but still going through with it. But I looked into it—your mother died when you were five, your father doesn’t know Taoist arts, and your aunt’s family doesn’t seem involved. So, I can’t figure out who this person could be.”
Teng Yuyi’s mind was in turmoil.
If this were true, who besides her parents would risk everything for her?
“Can you not see who this person is?”
Xiao Ya spread his hands helplessly, “I’m just a sword spirit. I can’t know everything. But no matter what method was used to extend your life, it’s still against the laws of heaven. As the saying goes, ‘When the natural balance is disrupted, calamities follow.’ Not only will that person pay the price, but you will also face disaster.”
Teng Yuyi’s face grew paler.
“Does that mean we’ll both meet violent ends?”
“Not necessarily. Otherwise, why would that person have bothered borrowing life for you?”
Xiao Ya stroked his beard.
“But the person could only borrow your life. Any calamities that come after can only be resolved by you.”
Teng Yuyi was feeling overwhelmed.
“Let’s set that aside for now. You said the person who borrowed my life will face punishment? What kind of punishment?”
“I don’t know. It depends on how important their fate is. If their fate is strong, the punishment might be lighter. But regardless, they won’t escape some tribulations.”
Teng Yuyi forced herself to remain calm, “So this person will not lose his life in vain because of extending my life, right?”
“Correct.”
Teng Yuyi felt slightly relieved.
She had no idea who this person was, but since Xiao Ya said they were deeply connected to her, it had to be someone close.
She figured with time, she’d eventually find out.
“Earlier, you mentioned I’ll face calamities. How should I deal with them?”
Xiao Ya folded his arms, thinking for a long time before hesitantly saying, “There’s a way, but I’m not sure if it will work. Let me tell you a story, and you’ll understand.
“My previous master was called Guizhen, and he had a close friend named Meng Yunsheng. Meng Yunsheng and Guizhen were childhood friends and often visited each other.
“Meng Yunsheng ran a funeral goods shop, and next door was a Taoist temple. One time, Meng Yunsheng came home drunk and accidentally fell into the water. Because the rescue was delayed, everyone thought he wouldn’t survive, but he woke up that night. Although he was still himself, he became listless and didn’t like to talk. After two weeks, he suddenly went to find Guizhen, crying bitterly, saying that his life had been borrowed, and asked Guizhen to lend him the Xiao Ya Sword; otherwise, he wouldn’t escape death.
“Meng Yunsheng’s situation was different from yours. He had figured out his own fate and forcibly borrowed his own life. Unfortunately, he wasn’t skilled enough. The borrowed life had serious flaws, and he still had to return it.
“He didn’t want to die just like that, so he studied many Taoist texts and heard that slaying demons could resolve disasters. He thought he had found the solution, but he hadn’t formally trained in Taoism. There was no way he could rely on his own strength to exorcise spirits in such a short time. So, he begged Guizhen to lend him me.
“Guizhen lent me to him, but I only serve my master, so Meng Yunsheng couldn’t summon my power.
“Worried for his friend, Guizhen moved in with him and personally guarded his house. But even so, Meng Yunsheng didn’t escape his fate. One night, Guizhen heard a commotion and rushed in, only to find Meng Yunsheng dead in his home, his body in a terrible state, with his head missing.”
Teng Yuyi gasped and instinctively reached up to touch her cold neck.
