Chapter 06 The Cost of Blood
You, you... are you serious?
Liudao naturally knew that she was mocking him, and feeling helpless yet unable to retaliate, he could only glare at her in frustration
Indeed, it is said that Granny Qian from the back street kindly arranged a few marriage proposals for him, but the young ladies were all unwilling, simply because he is disabled
My goodness, this craftsmanship is simply divine; such a small object can be made so exquisitely! Look, there are tables and chairs inside the cabin!
When Eleven woke up, it was already noon. She was awakened by the noise from downstairs. She walked to Xi Juechen's room and knocked on the door a few times, but there was no response. Suddenly feeling a bit worried, she pushed the door open with force and barged in.
The young man nodded decisively
Her soft exclamation of admiration, however, caused the young man, still immersed in surprise, to involuntarily shiver
Indeed, it is a fine sword, surely fast enough
"Miss, would you like it? The price of this item is somewhat high, but I have indeed spent a considerable amount of time on it, and it is worth this price," the young man said with a smile as he noticed her captivated gaze.
Fortunately, Xi Juechen remained completely still, deeply asleep. Yet even in his dreams, he appeared quite fatigued. It can be imagined that he endured considerable torment on the night of the new moon. Meanwhile, Liu Dao curled up in his embrace, also soundly asleep, still clutching his Ziyu Tower. It seemed that this magical artifact was the only treasure he was unwilling to part with.
When I entered, I indeed saw someone escape. As for whether he was carrying a sword, I did not pay attention to that
In fact, she could tell at a glance that what was placed on the sword rack was not the sheath of "Jue Xiao"
At this moment, even the guests who were eating were drawn in, gathering around to watch. People could not fathom the intentions of the girl in the purple attire, but everyone was eager to know how the disabled young man would respond.
"If you are unwilling to pay the price, I will not help you heal. You must think carefully; the price I require is your right thumb." Eleven shook the small boat in front of him, "If you agree, it will become your final masterpiece."
Faced with the cold, skeptical gaze of the Eleven, Liu Dao shivered and quickly explained: "Why are you so suspicious? I have not deceived you; there is indeed a sealed immortal sword here, and this sword sheath is the proof. If there were no sword, what would the sheath be for? Oh no— the immortal sword must have been stolen by that person!"
Do not forget, you once promised
Then let's eat this
If you are unwilling, I will naturally not force you
The young man looked utterly perplexed, yet he still nodded: "In fact, it wouldn't hurt to take a look, but my legs have been unable to move for over ten years..."
The tranquility and coldness in her eyes conveyed to him a definite answer
Indeed, having lost my right thumb, I will henceforth lose the craft of bamboo weaving... he murmured
"What cost?" Excitement sparkled in his eyes
Her tone did not seem to suggest that she was joking, and the young man's face turned pale. His eyes were fixed on his hands, his brows furrowed, clearly engaged in a fierce internal struggle
... ...
I suddenly remembered something... Some time ago, a person broke into the solitary sword chamber. At that time, I did not have the opportunity to deal with it, so I temporarily locked him in this secret cave. Now he has disappeared—he must have stolen the immortal sword! But wait... I placed a seal on the immortal sword using celestial magic; a mortal cannot possibly break it... I placed a seal on the immortal sword using celestial magic; a mortal cannot possibly break it...
Eh, where is the sword?! Liu Dao's eyes widened, and he was so shocked that he couldn't speak for a long time
She unconsciously revealed a smile, gently closed the door, and went downstairs
Eleven quietly waited for the flush on his face to gradually fade, then smiled brightly and said: "Now stand up and give it a try"
The young man gazed at the glinting blade, his right hand trembling uncontrollably. Before him, the young girl's charming face seemed to suddenly transform into something sinister and terrifying. ... She, she ... ? ... Is she ultimately here to save or to harm ? !
The sharp sword light in the hands of the girl in purple unexpectedly silenced this noisy place for a moment. Everyone ceased their chatter and directed their tense gazes towards the young man who had made the promise
Amidst the astonished gasps of the crowd, the young man, who had been paralyzed for over ten years, truly stood up, trembling unsteadily.
Looking at the little Six Dao's gritted teeth, Eleven suddenly felt an impulse to pinch his chubby little face a couple of times
Unable to resist, I stepped closer and saw that the bamboo basket contained various small ornaments woven from bamboo strips. There were small animals such as dragonflies, mice, and roosters, all vividly lifelike and exquisitely charming. Additionally, there were miniature furniture items like tables, chairs, and screens, which, due to their reduced size, made these everyday objects appear quite interesting. Purchasing them as decorations for the table would also be uniquely distinctive
The owner of this seemingly extraordinary sword is dressed quite modestly. The person wears a hat that obscures their face and is clad in a black outfit, exuding a striking presence at first glance. Although she is dressed in male attire, she is immediately recognized by Shiyi, for despite binding her chest, the soft and graceful curves of her body are something that Shiyi, as a woman, can naturally discern.
The sword was unsheathed with a resounding clang, and the young girl, with fingers as delicate as water bamboo, grasped the rough sword hilt firmly. As she walked towards the young man with the sword in hand, the crowd erupted in astonishment.
Once these words are spoken, there is no room for regret. I ask you once more, are you truly willing to make this exchange?" She fixed her gaze firmly on his face, her expression solemn.
Indeed, where is the sword? Eleven deliberately elongated his voice, using this excuse to lead us into this secret cave. Could it be that there is some ulterior motive behind this?
Thus, Eleven supported Xi Juechen, who was holding Liu Dao in his arms, while Liu Dao cradled the Ziyu Linglong Pagoda, and together they returned to Pengchang City
The promise made earlier, I shall not go back on it!" he said loudly with his eyes closed
Indeed, this item is worth the price. She smiled slightly, "However, forgive my boldness, may I take a look at your leg?"
The small figure of Liu Dao let out a cold snort: "Do I have any choice left?"
The people around, seeing Eleven carelessly lift his garment to inspect his legs, were filled with curiosity and formed a circle to watch the spectacle
Your legs cannot stand, not because the bones lack the strength to support, but because the meridians are blocked, rendering you immobile. As long as the meridians are unblocked, you will be able to stand up.
"Esteemed guest, I would like to borrow your treasured sword for a moment, if that is permissible?" she inquired softly
He is selling goods, and his business seems to be doing quite well. Many customers are reaching into their pockets to make purchases, while continuously expressing their admiration.
She glanced around, her gaze settling on a guest's table, where a long sword was placed. Just by looking at the scabbard, one could tell that this was a treasured sword. The scabbard was crafted from red copper, exquisitely made, adorned with golden dragon patterns, and the sword tassel was embellished with precious jade.
The six lines furrowed the small brows, seemingly in deep contemplation
Upon hearing this, the young man immediately brightened with excitement in his eyes: "Could it be that you, young lady, know how to treat my leg..."
... ...
Eleven silently gazed at the large and small figures for a while, suddenly feeling that this scene was unexpectedly harmonious
He bit his lower lip with great force, his face as pale as paper, yet he still slowly extended his right hand
Upon hearing her say this, the people around immediately began to discuss among themselves
It is that little brat! Truly detestable, he actually broke into the solitary sword orchid, and it turns out it was for that immortal sword. Had I known this earlier, I should have just eliminated him on the spot
What does this girl really mean? Could she be someone who just wants to pick a fight... someone wondered
"If you are treating others' ailments, why do you not seek wealth, but instead wish to harm others?" someone exclaimed loudly
The young man was taken aback by her sudden remark and asked in confusion, "Why does the young lady want to see my legs?"
She did not gather around like others to watch the excitement, but instead sat upright, quietly sipping her tea. At that moment, upon suddenly hearing the question from Eleven, she was momentarily taken aback, and then simply nodded gently.
The next day, in the inn
Xi Juechen could not help but slightly curl the corners of his lips upon hearing her speak so earnestly.
What attracted the most attention from the guests was a bamboo boat. The boat was only the size of a palm, yet its structure was identical to that of a real houseboat, with even a few small windows that could open and close just like the real thing. The craftsmanship of this individual, who could create such a delicate object at such a small scale, was truly remarkable.
If I were to ask you to exchange with one finger, would you be willing
Hearing him say this, Eleven immediately thought of the well-dressed Taoist. In this way, she felt a sense of relief in her heart. Because she knew that Jingyuan's celestial sword was very loyal to its master, even she could not draw it from its sheath. If that sword could be drawn and stolen by a mortal, how could it be the celestial sword "Jue Xiao"
He was a young man with a delicate appearance, slender in build, and his clothing appeared somewhat old and disheveled. He sat at a table closest to the entrance, but instead of food and drink, there was a bamboo basket placed on the table. The guests coming in and out would curiously pick up the items from his bamboo basket to take a look, and then select from them.
With a faint smile, she raised her hand, and the sword fell.
Since it is lost, there is nothing we can do. Your Excellency, the Celestial Lord, we must return to Pengchang City now. Are you willing to accompany us? said Shiyi with a smile
He had just heard the price mentioned earlier on the 11th, and without haggling, he generously took out the money
I, I am really fine! Really fine!" He was so excited that he lost himself in the moment; if it weren't for his feet just having recovered and lacking strength, he would have almost jumped up.
Esteemed Immortal Lord, the demeanor of an immortal should be calm and harmonious; excessive killing intent is detrimental to one's immortal foundation. In the future, it would be wise to restrain it a bit more.
"Stolen?" Xi Juechen questioned, "That group of spider demons is quite troublesome, and this secret cave is extremely hidden. Who could possibly have the ability to steal something from here?"
Downstairs is the lobby of the inn, which is bustling with guests at this hour. A person sitting at the entrance caught her attention
"I am sorry, but now is the time for you to pay the price." She fixed the young man with a cold, piercing gaze, her expression revealing an unwavering determination with no room for negotiation
However, the actions that followed on the 11th startled him, causing his entire body to shudder
This child possesses great skills, but unfortunately, fate has not been kind to him! He has no relatives or friends, and he is unable to move his lower body, leaving him without anyone to care for him... Sigh,
With her palm opened wide, a crystal-clear orb resembling a droplet of water lay in her hand, reflecting a strange red glow. The disabled young man took it without hesitation and swallowed it whole. Immediately, a flush spread across his face, filled with an expression of anguish, as he gripped the edge of the table tightly with his fingers, appearing to endure some peculiar pain
Eleven listened and couldn't help but furrow her brows. After pondering for a moment, she walked over and took the small boat from a guest's hand, examining it closely
He pondered for a long time and then said earnestly: "I have endured enough of the various pains of being paralyzed from the waist down. If I could truly stand up and walk, what would it matter if I had to exchange it for a thumb?"
At eleven o'clock: "I can make you stand again, but you must pay the price"