Chapter One Hundred: A Wisp of Soul, Binding Two Hearts

"Exactly because Ying'er is immaculately pure in my heart, I find myself unable to let her go or forget her." Yu Shang pressed his hand against his bleeding wound and slowly rose from the ground, speaking to the others in a faint tone. Though it sounded like an offhand remark, everyone understood the love Yu Shang had harbored for all these years, as well as the silent sobbing of a heart that had been pierced through.

Especially when Yu Shang caressed the wound that would not stop bleeding, the faint smile that flickered across his face—one that defied comprehension—moved everyone deeply and stirred a strange ache in their hearts. Those broken wounds were just like that sorrowful woman. Though she caused Yu Shang immense pain, he could not bring himself to abandon her, because she had already become a part of his life. If he truly had the heart to cast her away, Yu Shang would not be able to go on living either.

"Heh, utterly ridiculous. You treat her like a celestial maiden, but in truth she is worse than a she-demon. What use is her beautiful appearance? Doesn't it still fail to conceal that vile, nauseating heart of hers?" Whenever Xiao Yin mentioned that woman, his gaze turned brimming with hatred, as though he wished to tear her limb from limb and condemn her to eternal damnation. But to be honest, if it came to hatred, Xiao Yin hated Yu Shang even more—hated his soft-heartedness, hated his foolish devotion.

From start to finish, Yu Shang had suffered so much harm from that woman. Why could he still not ruthlessly cast her out of his world? Why must he continue to wrong himself by keeping her firmly imprinted in his heart? Xiao Yin truly could not understand why Yu Shang—who had always been cold and merciless toward those who hurt him—would actually forgive that woman. What he did not know was that Yu Shang did not hate her out of lack of feeling, but rather because his love for her outweighed his hatred.

"Enough, let's stop talking about that woman. Let's think about what we should do next!" Meng Youyuan quickly interjected to break off their conversation. On one hand, she worried that these two, who were as close as brothers, might grow apart because of a woman they had only heard about but never seen. On the other hand, for reasons she could not explain, whenever she heard someone speak ill of that woman, she felt a surge of indignation and wanted to defend her.

But then she reconsidered—she did not truly know that woman at all, nor did she know what hidden truth lay behind this matter. Yet Meng Youyuan had a nagging feeling that the woman was not truly wicked, but had been forced by circumstance to hurt the one she loved. She suddenly felt a pang of pity for that woman, perhaps more accurately sympathy. But why such a strange thought had suddenly arisen, even Meng Youyuan herself was not entirely sure.

"What else can we do? A bet is a bet—I lost and I'll accept the consequences. Brat, you're not going to back out on me, are you?" Xiao Yin wisely dropped the subject of that woman and instead turned his attention to the battle that had just taken place. Though he said no more about it, discontent and suffocation still churned within him. He had to find a way to make that woman vanish from the brat's heart, no matter what price he had to pay, he did not care.

"How could I not honor the bet? Although you used such a despicable trick to make me lose focus, and thus defeated me to claim victory, I must admit it was indeed because my resolve was not strong enough—too easily influenced by outside factors. So I have lost, and you may do with me as you please." Yu Shang looked at Xiao Yin with a smile, then taunted him mercilessly. Even the dullest person could hear the underlying meaning in his words.

"You brat, what do you mean by that? Are you saying I have no skill and only won through tricks? I'll have you know, old friend, I simply didn't want to hurt you and didn't want to waste time, so I used this move to settle things quickly. Even if we were to fight again with real blades and real spears, you still wouldn't necessarily defeat me!" Xiao Yin's anger flared the moment he heard those words. He glared wide-eyed, his brows shooting up, and shouted at Yu Shang.

"You two should stop bickering like little children. Hurry up and finish your business, and I'll be on my way!" Xun Mishuang said helplessly, looking at these two. Their ages added up to so many years, yet they still acted like infants who could never grow up. They had just finished a fight, and still they had to compete with words to see who came out on top. Still, watching them squabble was quite entertaining—at least it was livelier than being alone.

"Headmaster, I entreat you. Everyone here, I entreat you!" Though Yu Shang did not wish to deal with that treacherous old man again, one must bow one's head when under someone else's roof. For now, he could only plead politely with the old man. If he refused to lend a hand and allowed that stranger—one who radiated danger and intended them harm—to succeed in a surprise attack, then they would truly enter with no way out, dying here without even knowing why.

"Enough, no need to say more, we understand. I'm sure the headmaster also knows what he should do when the time comes." Yu Xiaoran glanced at the old headmaster, who was lounging leisurely in the corner, and said softly. The old man had profited from them plenty; he could not expect to keep enjoying his ease. If he did not properly help them through this crisis, Yu Xiaoran would not let the old man off the hook, nor would he let the Yanlan Academy off the hook. Do not think he was incapable of doing something wicked—he simply found it beneath him.

"There's no need for you to speak to me in such a roundabout manner. Say plainly what you mean. You know that an old man's mind does not turn so quickly. If you keep speaking in such elusive riddles, this old man's head will spin and he won't be able to do anything at all!" The old headmaster looked at the crowd with a sly grin. He truly was one to fish for compliments after getting away with everything! He had laid a trap and won the bet, yet still had the nerve to claim his mind was slow. If his mind truly could not keep up, then everyone else would be more foolish than dunces. This old man was truly wicked—not only had he schemed step by step to outmaneuver them, but he refused to yield even in verbal sparring!

"I too believe the headmaster knows what to do, and I also know what I owe you. This is a fair and equitable trade, so no one will go back on their word!" Yu Shang spoke with an air of casual cheer on the surface, but beneath it he was grinding his teeth. Especially when he uttered the word "fair," he truly wanted to slap himself. But under the current circumstances, he had no choice but to appease the old man first. Just wait and see what he would do to him afterward.

"Brat, let's begin!" Xiao Yin glanced at the others, said no more, and sat down cross-legged. Yu Shang did the same, taking his seat across from him. Xiao Yin then gathered his inner true essence, his hands slowly rising from his dantian toward his heart. Once they reached his chest, he turned his palms and summoned the legendary essence spirit. When everyone saw that wisp of spirit, they were all astonished, their eyes locked onto it without exception—even the old headmaster was no different.

That wisp of spirit was crimson red all over, yet suffused with a layer of golden light. In shape, it was no different from a small snake, and it seemed even more spiritually alive. Xiao Yin extended his hand, and it obediently landed in his palm. But, for some reason, everyone felt as though it was slowly fading away. Xiao Yin sensed this as well. With a quick turn of his hand, he drove that snake-like wisp of spirit into Yu Shang's heart.

The others assumed the transfer was complete and began to step forward, but the old headmaster stretched out his hand to stop them. Understanding immediately, they retreated again. What followed next left them truly stunned. Xiao Yin roughly tore off Yu Shang's upper garment, leaving the women present at a loss as to what to do. They wanted to turn away, yet curiosity about what would happen next held them in place; they wanted to watch, but embarrassment crept in.

Just as they were all feeling awkward, Xiao Yin made another move. He slashed his own palm, and blood dripped down. Then he gathered his true essence, and with that blood-stained hand, he struck hard against Yu Shang's broad, sturdy chest. This time, something strange occurred—the blood did not slide down Yu Shang's body, but instead, carried by the true essence, merged entirely into his heart. Slowly, Yu Shang's face grew very ruddy, while Xiao Yin's became deathly pale. Faced with this sight, everyone was deeply confused. What was Xiao Yin doing? Why was he channeling his own blood into Yu Shang's body?

The old headmaster looked at the bewildered faces around him, then at the two men engaged in the spirit transfer, and said slowly: "The essence spirit of the Blood-Red Snake Spirit is a thing that recognizes its master. If one forcibly plants it into another person's body, one is not helping that person but indirectly harming him. To make the spirit obediently grow within another's body, the origin of the spirit must offer its own blood to nourish it. Only when the blood of the two has merged, and the spirit senses the presence of its master, will it grow willingly."

"This strange thing is too sinister! In that case, how much blood will Xiao Yin have to offer? I wonder if he can withstand it." Lan Wu said with deep worry on the side. When she saw Xiao Yin's pale face, her heart unconsciously clenched in knots. She truly ached for him and feared that in the next moment he might collapse. But at a time like this, there was nothing she could do but watch from the sidelines. That feeling was truly terrifying, frustrating, and helpless.

"Silly girl, don't worry. With so many of us here, we won't let anything happen to Xiao Yin!" Yan Xuesu gently comforted her. Though Xiao Yin's tongue was vicious on ordinary days, and his temperament arrogant, often leaving everyone speechless or fuming, he was nonetheless an irreplaceable good brother. She would not stand by and watch her friend come to harm, and she believed the others would not either.

"Don't forget, Xiao Yin is the Blood-Red Snake Spirit himself. With all his skill, how could such a small matter trip him up?" Leng Huaiyi picked up the thread as well, speaking calmly. Though he said this, his heart was also in turmoil. Judging by Xiao Yin's current state, he was growing ever weaker, as though with one misstep he might faint away. But there was nothing anyone could do except comfort one another with words.

"Yes, even Brother Yu cannot get the better of him. I refuse to believe such a small matter can defeat him. Little girl, set your mind at ease. I guarantee that in a little while he will stand safely before you, then say something exasperating to make you furious—so don't shed tears so easily!" Lan Bingxian looked at Lan Wu, who was on the verge of tears, and quickly teased her in jest.

"Little girl, he's fine for now. You must not start wailing, or else that wretch will poke fun at you again! You know, I can foresee the future. I say he's fine, so he will definitely be fine. Didn't I say that Yuanyuan would wake up? And look, she's standing here alive and well!" Xun Mishuang said with some helplessness. Was every person in love so fragile? Bursting into tears and carrying on as though life itself had ended at the slightest thing.

"You don't have to believe what others say, but you must take Sister Shuang's words to heart! Her prophecies have never once failed. In a little while, your good husband will come bouncing back to you!" Even Meng Youyuan surprisingly addressed Xun Mishuang as "Sister" rather than "Senior Master" according to the academy's rules. It seemed she had deliberately done so within the old headmaster's hearing, wanting him to ponder what she meant.

"Don't worry, this little snake is tough and won't die. At worst, he'll be a bit weak." The old headmaster said dismissively when he heard everyone's words. Though his remark was somewhat irritating, it also lifted the heavy stone from their hearts. Whatever the case, as long as Xiao Yin was safe, that was what mattered.