Hearing these words, I opened my mouth again and asked,
"Qingdai, this soul curse. Does it have any other characteristics besides nourishing the soul?"
Qingdai nodded,
"Yes, it directly acts on the soul.
During its second outbreak.
Both the caster and the one who had the curse cast upon them.
Will perish together, their souls scattered.
Now, this is the second time.
If we cannot remove the soul curse within seven days.
We will both vanish into thin air."
Qingdai spoke with a hint of worry.
Hearing this, I gasped for air.
So, this was the nature of the soul curse.
It was used to divide and nurture souls.
But the downside was that after the second activation,
If not removed within seven days, both parties would die.
I drew a sharp breath.
Although startled, it was fortunate that my master was guiding me.
The timing seemed to be just right.
So I said to Qingdai,
"Qingdai, the timing is still sufficient.
My master appeared in my dream and told me something.
Three days from now, at Blackwater Mountain, something will appear that can remove your and my soul curse.
So, three days from now, we will go to Blackwater Mountain together, and find that thing.
We will definitely be alright, nothing will happen to us."
I said seriously.
Qingdai, upon hearing this, her eyes held a glimmer of surprise.
"Really? That's wonderful..."
I nodded,
"It's true, so please hurry back with your true form!"
"Mhm!"
Qingdai nodded gently.
We looked at each other again.
In our eyes, there was a growing anticipation.
Perhaps, this was our destined connection!
Next, I told Qingdai about the affairs of the Black Demon Cult at Blackwater Mountain.
Now that the Daoist sects had issued a Class C summons.
Cultivators were gathering at Blackwater Mountain to jointly attack the Black Demon Cult.
Qingdai listened quietly, not interrupting.
As I finished speaking, I said,
"Qingdai, do you know what this thing is that can remove our soul curse?
My master didn't say when he appeared in my dream.
He only said that the thing was at Blackwater Mountain.
And that we must go there.
He also said this is a major obstacle in my life, and what is mine is also yours.
After all, our lives are intertwined because of this soul curse."
Qingdai listened to me and then replied,
"A Soul Stone, a special gem that can cleanse the soul."
"Soul Stone..."
I frowned, murmuring the words.
I firmly etched it into my memory.
Initially, when I heard about the commotion at Blackwater Mountain.
I just wanted to witness the grand spectacle.
To see the various Daoist sects, and the people of the profession.
After all, such a scene was not something that could be seen every year.
Especially in this era of depleted spiritual energy, the age of Dharma decline.
Daoists were becoming an endangered species.
But now, I had an additional objective.
That was to obtain the Soul Stone held by the Black Demon Cult. I had to get my hands on it.
If not for myself, then for Qingdai.
She had sacrificed too much for me.
It would have been fine if I died; I had faced too many hardships along the way.
To have lived this long was already a great fortune.
But Qingdai could not.
Two thousand years of torment, only to lose her life in the end, it was not worth it.
I thought to myself.
But at this moment, Qingdai's body began to flicker, appearing and disappearing.
Seeing this, I knew it was time for her to depart.
Because this was merely a spiritual fragment of Qingdai, not her true form.
Before I could speak, Qingdai smiled and said to me,
"Qin Ze, I have to go now.
Wait for me, I will definitely return as soon as possible, and obtain the Soul Stone. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
To remove the soul curse from us."
I nodded, "Mhm."
"Alright, be safe on your way. I'll be waiting for you!"
I also said with a smile.
My gaze towards Qingdai held more emotion.
Qingdai said no more, but gave me a deep look.
Then, with a slight flick of her sleeve, her body transformed into a white smoke and vanished.
Leaving me alone on the stone bridge, listening to the "whoosh" of the stream, and watching the bright moon.
From this moment on, I finally understood, understood everything.
Understood why Qingdai appeared, understood the past-life connection between Qingdai and me.
All of this was destiny.
Without Qingdai, there would be no me in this life.
Without her, I would have likely perished two thousand years ago.
I stood on the stone bridge for a while.
Then I turned and walked back towards the shop.
Returning home, I checked the time.
Two o'clock in the morning.
It was still early. I lay on the bed, closed my eyes.
Thinking about my meeting with Qingdai, thinking about those words.
I couldn't fall asleep for a long time.
When I fell asleep again, I found myself in that familiar dream.
That ancient battlefield, the blood-red sky, the fiery clouds like blood.
And the corpses scattered everywhere.
And the crying of that woman in white...
I approached her.
And once again appeared before her.
Before, I could never see the woman's face clearly.
Only last time, I had seen the appearance of the man in the woman's arms, and it was me.
As my vision focused.
The woman's blurred voice became clear, and her indistinct appearance also became clear.
It was her, it was truly her.
Qingdai.
Her dark hair was slightly disheveled, her clothes and cheeks stained with blood.
She was holding me in her arms and crying.
At this moment, I understood.
Why this dream kept appearing.
It turned out, this was how I looked when I died, ten lifetimes ago...