The Rise of the Divine Oracle

Chapter 165 - Devotion

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A/N:

I will take another 10 day break to regroup.

I want to write longer chapters..

The story is coming to an end soon though..

Stay safe and leave me comments cuz I like them a lot lol

BlakSalt

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Mianmian: "I read many books and most of them say that once the spirits settle inside the Shoucang Zhe, the only way for them to get out is by casting a grand spell or creating a first-class weapon. But that will only take out the spirits from the pouch to be trapped once again in another container (the weapon) or to be eternally destroyed (the spell)."

Qiren strokes his beard: "There has to be a way to free them without destroying them."

Mianmian nods: "I found one script that talks about a man that was able to do that. According to their account, the man used the grand spell route and created a talisman that turns back time."

Zewu Jun shakes his head: "That's not possible."

Mianmian nods: "I don't think they mean returning to the past. From the description I read, the talisman returns things into their original form. He basically returned the Shoucang Zhe he had to what it was: a scrap of fabric and a bunch of spirits."

Wuxian: "How did that happen? Didn't you say that the grand spell destroys the energy in the Shoucang Zhe?"

Mianmian shrugs: "I don't know. That's what's so confusing.. I got the script that describes the talisman. Since you're the most prolific talisman-based cultivator I know, I thought you might be able to figure it out."

She takes out a thin script and hands it to Wuxian. The smaller man takes it and sifts through it: "This is very complicated."

Mianmian nods: "I asked many senior disciples in Jin Sect. They were all baffled."

Wuxian sets the script aside and holds the Shoucang Zhe: "We need to secure this. Biming will definitely come for it."

Wuxian hands it to Qiren and the old man says: "I will keep it safe."

Mianmian smiles sadly at him: "Grandmaster Qiren, my husband and daughter are in there. Please be careful."

He pats her shoulder as he makes his way out.

Zewu Jun looks at the exhausted woman: "Lady Lou, you should go rest."

She bows to the men still present and walks out.

Wangji stands and pulls Wuxian with him, grunting: "Food."

Wuxian sighs in exasperation: "Again? I just ate like an hour ago!"

Wangji pushes the smaller man out: "Healer Shi said that you've been burning more energy moving around and using your gifts and weapons. You will exhaust your body if you don't eat more."

Wuxian groans: "I'm past the 'cow' quota of food at this point.."

Zewu Jun laughs at the couple as they disappear out the door. He hasn't spoken to Wuxian about the misunderstanding that happened before they unsealed his spirit container. He senses Wangji's anger at him even though he is still respectful and Wuxian never brought it up. The Oracle will resume his duties of welcoming the sick and needy next week and he wanted to clear the air before they returned to work. He just didn't know how..

After stuffing his face with more food than he cared to eat, Wangji finally set Wuxian free. The smaller man sat alone with the rabbits in Little Sanctuary. Jinhai enters the garden and bows to Wuxian: "You summoned me?"

Wuxian gestures with his hand for Jinhai to join him on the ground between the rabbits. After a few minutes of silence, Wuxian says in a low voice: "Jinhai, have you ever had something in life that meant more than anything to you?"

Jinhai thinks for a few seconds then shakes his head.

Wuxian pets the few rabbits sleeping in his lap and says: "These rabbits were born in the cold cave; the sacred place in Cloud Recesses where the treasure of Gusu Lan was kept for many years. Lan Yi, the first woman to ever lead a cultivator clan, believed that they are the reincarnation of your ancestors who joined her in her captivity to console her. When her spirit finally passed, they followed Wangji and I out of the cave and we took care of them."

Jinhai frowns: "Why are you telling me this?"

Wuxian looks softly at him: "As you know, Cloud Recesses has many rules. One of them prohibits having pets. Lan Wangji never willingly broke any rule before we decided to hide these rabbits in the back mountain. After I died, he took care of them religiously. He believed that these little balls of fur were a symbol of the beginning of our journey together. He waited for me for 16 years. He was flogged, locked up, humiliated and cursed because he refused to tarnish my name. Through all that, he cared for my son and our rabbits faithfully, waiting for me to return."

Jinhai pokes one of the bunnies that were sniffing his robes. Wuxian smiles: "These rabbits are proof of my soul-bond's genuine love; untamed and forever unwavering."

Jinhai purses his lips. He still didn't understand why Wuxian was telling him all this.

Wuxian carefully picks up one of the bunnies and places in Jinhai's hands: "I want you to take care of one of them for a week."

Jinhai was clearly uncomfortable with the soft, easy to kill rabbit in his hands. He frowns at Wuxian: "Are you crazy? I only know how to kill. I've never taken care of anything in my life and this thing looks.. squish-able."

Wuxian laughs at Jinhai's discomfort: "I know. I can speak to them and this one finds you intriguing."

Jinhai brings the fluffy animal close to his face to examine it. The bunny nips his nose and he scrunches his face in distaste: "I would rather eat it.."

Wuxian smacks his arm: "I was barely able to convince Lan Zhan to let you have one. He threatened to cut off your arms if you hurt it.."

Jinhai tsks: "I'd like to see him try.."

Wuxian reaches over and pets the rabbit in Jinhai's hands.

A wave of sorrow washes over the Slayer. Wuxian sensed his strong emotion and looked at Jinhai with worry: "What?"

When Jinhai continues to look at him with such a miserable face, Wuxian starts to panic: "Did I say something wrong?"

Jinhai shakes his head: "No.. I've never seen anyone look at anything the way you look at these rabbits. I don't understand it."

Wuxian whispers: "Devotion.."

When Jinhai looked confused, Wuxian elaborated: "These rabbits are my soul-bond's love confession to me. The least I can do is reciprocate by taking care of them."

Jinhai whispers: "Will I ever find someone who will look at me like that?"

Wuxian pats the hand holding the rabbit: "I am sharing this with you, aren't I. All you have to do is follow my lead and one day, you will find all those around you looking at you with nothing less than care and respect."

Jinhai thinks silently for a few seconds as he awkwardly tries to pet the rabbit handed to him: "Alright, I will try your way."

Wuxian beams at him. He still remembers his future self telling him to sway the Slayer. He needs to keep his promise by helping this man.. Even if his presence still scares him sometimes..

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