Capture the Jade

There was a small pavilion in the corner of the garden, and Teng Yuyi pointed to that side: “The Two Taoists, why don’t we go to the pavilion and talk there?”

The faces of Jue Sheng and Qizhi tightened, but their footsteps unconsciously moved: “We are very busy, so we must leave after saying a few words.”

Teng Yuyi couldn’t help, but smile and nodded, letting Chun Rong and Bi Luo stay where they were, and walked to the pavilion with Jue Sheng and Qizhi.

When they arrived at the pavilion, she took the initiative to place the jadeite sword on the stone table generously: “Here, may the two Taoists appreciate it.”

Jue Sheng and Qizhi pretended not to be interested in the jadeite sword, and each looked around the scenery in the garden. After posing for a long time, they still have not heard Teng Yuyi speak. Jue Sheng finally couldn’t help it: “Lady Teng, why haven’t you asked us if we brought the itchy itchy bugs or not?”

Teng Yuyi was slightly surprised: “What itchy itchy bugs?”

The two quickly looked at each other. What is going on? Why is it different from what they expected? Lady Teng took the initiative to take out the jadeite sword, but did not ask them for the itchy itchy bugs.

The two looked at the jadeite sword in confusion.

Last night, they were too far away from the sword to be able to see the real thing. With it being placed under the sun right now, the sword was glazed with bright colors, and was glossy like ice.

Qizhi carefully picked it up: “It really is a mysterious artifact. It’s a pity that even senior brother can not see the origin of the sword.”

Jue Sheng also praised without cease: “It’s strange to say, this sword looks like jadeite, but if it was really made of jadeite, how can it not be damaged at all?”

Qizhi was about to speak when he suddenly surprisingly said: “Huh? I am not mistaken right? Why didn’t the sword shine last night? Jue Sheng, you look carefully.”

Jue Sheng rubbed his eyes: “It seems that there is something wrong.”

While saying that, he took out a black-colored talisman, ignited a red light, and was about to burn the blade of the sword.

Teng Yuyi hurriedly grabbed the jadeite sword: “The Taoist priest, what are you doing?”

Jue Sheng solemnly said: “Lady Teng, this is a Qingji talisman, and it can be used to test the spiritual power of a magical weapon. I see that there is something unusual about this sword, so I planned to test it with this talisman.”

“Qingji talisman?”

“That’s right. The so-called “Qingji” is the essence of the legendary water spirit, also commonly known as the water ghost. The water ghost has low spiritual powers, but its resentment is actually quite heavy. As long as the energy of the water ghost is smeared on a talisman, it can be used to check a Taoist weapon weapon. If the spiritual power of a Taoist magic weapon has not been damaged, the Qingji talisman will be burned out as soon as it is touched. However if the spiritual power of the magic weapon disappears, then the fire on the talisman will not extinguish.” Qizhi said.

A talisman was lit at his fingertips, and he approached the jadeite sword. The flames indeed did not move, but when he exchanged it with his peach wood sword, the flames suddenly extinguished.

Jue Sheng and Qizhi were greatly shocked: “Lady Teng, your sword has lost its spiritual sword. If Lady Teng doesn’t believe me, she can try it herself.”

Teng Yuyi’s eyes swirled back and forth on the faces of Jue Sheng and Qizhi. She lengthened her voice: “I don’t need to see it. This sword was by my side all night, how could it lose its spiritual power for no reason?”

“But there has never been a problem with the Qingji talisman…” Jue Sheng pondered for a moment, “How about we try something else?”

Qizhi took out the Thunder Altar Instrument: “Try this.”

The two put the Thunder Altar Instrument close to the flames of the Qing ji talisman, and the flames silently extinguished. They tried several times, and the results were the same. It was only Teng Yuyi’s jadeite sword that could not.

Qizhi’s face tightened: “Oh no, Lady Teng, the spiritual aura on your sword can not even compare to the Thunder altar instrument from the temple.”

Jue Sheng said urgently: “Is it that after cutting off one of that evil spirit’s claws, it was not enshrined in time? The spirit of the sword was binded by its demonic energy? Lady Teng, you may not know that the more magical an artifact is, the more it must be carefully consecrated1Consecrated = to make or declare sacred, like to be enshrined and worshipped.”

“consecrated?”

“That right, regular and fixed offerings can maintain the magic weapon’s spiritual powers.”

Jue Sheng unfolded his chubby hand: “Lady Teng, your sword’s spiritual powers have already been damaged. If one does not quickly come up with a method, it will likely become a disposed item.”

The two of them spoke after one another, and the more they spoke, the uncredible it became.

Teng Yuyi’s face was calm, but on the inside, a drum was quietly beating in her heart.

The jadeite sword was obtained after she fell into the water on the way to Chang’an. At first, she only thought that this object had an extreme sense of closeness. After waking up, day and night, Cheng Bo and Duan Fu believed that this sword was strange. There was a time when she was asleep, and they took the chance to take the sword and quietly throw it back into the water.

That night, she had nightmares over and over again. The next day, she was looking for the sword everywhere. Cheng Bo and Duan Fu had no choice, but to use a net to try to fish it up. The strange thing is that the sword did not sink to the bottom of the river, and instead was fished up instantly.

The sword returned to her, and those demons and monsters in her dreams were gone, but even so, she did not think that this sword had any remarkable powers. Last night in the forest, she stabbed the evil spirit with the sword in a hurry, and only then did she know that it could be used to deal with demons.

Does this kind of object need to be consecrated as well? She had never heard of anyone say this before.

Jue Sheng saw the hesitation on Teng Yuyi’s face, and took the opportunity to say: “Ordinary magic weapons naturally do not need to be consecrated, but we have collected many strange ancient artifacts. When it comes to consecrating, there is no one in the world that knows it more clearly than Qingyun Temple. Lady Teng, why not lend this sword to us? After the sword recovers its spiritual aura, we will then return it to you. It’s just that you first have to tell us where this sword came from.”

Teng Yuyi lightly stroked the blade of the sword: “I am okay with giving the sword to the Two Taoists…”

Jue Sheng and Qizhi’s eyes lit up.

Teng Yuyi calmly said: “It’s just that I still have several rare artifacts that were all given to me by my mother when she was passed away. To be honest, the jadeite sword is just the most ordinary one out of them.”

Jue Sheng and Qizhi’s eyes widened slightly. The jadeite sword was already enough for them to open their eyes, but it was just the most ordinary one?

“If I were to put all my treasures in the Qingyun Temple to consecrate, then I’m afraid it would cost a lot.”

The two secretly reckoned on whether Teng Yuyi’s words were true or not, but she didn’t ask for the itchy itchy bugs. She took the initiative to put the sword on the stone table, and did not seem to care much as if she really did not put the jadeite sword in her eyes.

Teng Yuyi said very slowly: “If the Taoist priests are interested, I can order someone to bring the rest.”

This time, even Qizhi could not hold his breath, and said giddily: “Then please do, we just happened to want to help Lady Teng consecrate them at the Qingyun Temple.”

Teng Yuyi changed her words: “It’s just that——”

The two lost their voices: “What?”

“Those magic weapons can not be consecrated in the Qingyun Temple all year round, and there must be a day when they return back to me. Can the Taoists tell what methods of consecration are used for the Taoist treasures?”

The two were stunned. Today’s actions were all instructed by senior brother. The truth is mixed in with lies, and the falsehood is covered with a shell of truth. There is only one thing that is true, the Taoist artifacts each do have their own way of consecration.

Since Lady Teng had already promised to hand over the jadeite sword, then there is no harm in saying such irrelevant words, because without the help of a Taoist priest, it is useless even if you know the methods.

Qizhi said sternly: “Let’s just take senior brother’s soul locking bug for an example. This thing is a bug, but because it’s perception is too low, even after cultivating for thousands of years, it is still unable to die in a seated posture2The meaning behind this is that in Buddhism, the best way to receive death is in the lotus posture because in the lotus posture you will be fully alert, and your energy will also disappear. Knowing that death is coming, you can keep alertness to the very end. And to be alert while you are dying is one of the greatest experiences.Later, it met a master, and by chance, it was turned into a spiritual weapon. When it was cultivating, it fed on bees, and still does not change its problem of eating sweet paste. Every seven days, it needs to soak into an urn filled with sugarcane paste, otherwise its spiritual powers will greatly decrease.”

“It’s the first time I have heard about a magical weapon that loves to drink sweet paste.” Teng Yuyi said curiously, “What else?”

Jue Sheng: “There is also master’s wind broom. It is made of artemisia grass by the honored Buddhist monk, Qing Lian, in Taiyi Mountains. Qing Lian, the honored Buddhist monk, has a very simple personality, and does not like to have people personally serve him. It was this wind broom that was used to personally clean the courtyard. When cleaning, it pours its heart into the cleaning process, and overtime even the wind broom had spiritual powers. After the honored Buddhist monk, Qing Lian, passed away, the wind broom was made into a horsetail whisk3horsetail whisk = was a type of fly-whisk, consisting of a short staff with hair, made from an animal such as a cow or horses. Taoist and Buddhist monks used it to symbolize cleansing of stress, evil thoughts and energy, and given to the descendants of the Zhongnan academy. The spirit of the horsetail whisk longs for the honored Buddhist monk, Qing Ling, and once a month, it will go crazy, making a mess. The way to consecrate it, is to use it to sweep the courtyard, or else it will jump off the consecrating altar, running wildly all around the courtyard.”

Teng Yuyi said oddly: “Huh, how does a horsetail whisk run away?”

Jue Sheng lively jumped up and down to demonstrate it: “Just like this, it bounces and bounces, running very fast. No one can catch it.”

“Interesting.” Teng Yuyi was overjoyed, “Having said all of this, is there a spiritual weapon that eats bugs?”

“Of course there is. We have a mysterious underworld mirror in the temple, and it was transformed by a mythological beast in the mountains. This mirror can recognize evil spirits, clear evil energy, and its abilities are extensive. However it’s just that every forty nine days in the Ninth Heavens, you need to put a pot of termites as a sacrificial offering in front of the mirror for it to consume. Otherwise, it will be wailing like ghosts and howling like wolves in the mirror4means sorrowfully crying out loud. In Chang’an city, there are fewer and fewer termites recently, and in order to find termites, one doesn’t not even know how many different places we had to go to. Afterwards master decided to use white bugs instead of termites, and the mysterious underworld mirror was not picky with it.”

Teng Yuyu was surprised: “Your senior brother turned white bugs into itchy itchy bugs to use for dishonest practices? Isn’t it impossible to feed anymore?”

Qizhi said: “Itchy itchy bugs have their own use, and the white bugs also have their own use. They have nothing to do with each other. Moreover, white bugs grow very easily, and it is just in time to feed the mysterious underworld mirror in forty nine days in the Ninth Heavens. Once the time limit is exceeded, it will not be good.”

Teng Yuyi listened with keen interest, and asked casually: “It seems that the period of consecrating spiritual weapons varies from a few days at least. How many days at most then?”

Jue Sheng blurted out, and continued to speak: “The shortest is seven days, and the longest is several months.”

Teng Yuyi said surprisingly: “Huh? If the shortest is only seven days, and I only used this sword for the first time last night, how could something be wrong with it in just one night?”

Jue Sheng and Qizhi were stupefied, and could only blame that they were too oblivious to the words they said. In a moment of carelessness, they accidentally slipped their tongues5something that you say by accident.

“Just relying on a Qingji talismans, I’m afraid it is not enough for us to determine if it has lost its spiritual powers.” Teng Yuyi unfolded her palm in front of the Taoists, “Why don’t you take out the itchy itchy bugs? Whether the sword has lost its spiritual powers or not, we will know once we try it with these malicious bugs.”

The two of them had their hearts twisted into a fried dough twist. They originally thought that they would have encircled Lady Teng in, but in the end, they did not expect that it was themselves who ended up being encircled around instead.

If they refused to take it out, it was equivalent to admitting that they were trying to deceive Lady Teng for the jadeite sword. If this accidentally spreads out, then the reputation of Qingyun Temple will be ruined.

However, if they were to take it out, Lady Teng would know that the jadeite sword had not lost its spiritual powers as soon as she tries it. This means that what senior brother instructed them to do today would be in vain.

They worked in vain, and in the end, not only failed to get the jadeite sword, but also had to take out a bag of itchy itchy bugs. They knew that they shouldn’t have been so careless just now. This, Lady Teng, is indeed more cunning than they expected.

Teng Yuyi saw that the two of them were very motionless, and pretended to be surprised: “What’s wrong? Could it be that the Taoists don’t dare to try?”

Jue Sheng and Qizhi hesitated. Something like the jadeite sword may not have any reaction to the malicious bugs, so if it wants to be tried, then it can be tried. At worst, they can just act according to circumstances.

The two of them held onto the last bit of hope, and took out the [called to live is no better than to die itch itch itch blossom bugs] from their sleeves along with the antie, and put them on the table.

Teng Yuyi carefully looked. The pouch on the left is calm, solid, and slightly smaller while the pouch of the right was full and bulging, clearly indicating that there was something wiggling inside.

When opening the pouch that was wriggling, it filled the eyes with bluish green, and crowded together were a bunch of small hard-shelled bluish green bugs.

Qizhi reminded Teng Yuyi: “Lady Teng, these bugs move very fast. Beware of them flying onto you.”

Teng Yuyi smiled while opening the other pouch on the table: “There is nothing to worry about if there is this, right? Is this medicine powder? Many thanks to the Taoists for this medicine.”

Jue Sheng opened his mouth, and nodded unhappily.

Teng Yuyi untied the string, and inside was a ginger yellow colored medicine powder. When getting closer to it, there was a light and subtle fragrance.

“I have the itchy itchy bugs and antie already.” Teng Yuyi smoothly put the bag of antie into her sleeve, “Whether my sword has spiritual powers or not, we can try it now.”

Qizhi pouted his mouth in dismay, and led out two itchy itchy bugs from the pouch, making a “chirping” sound to lead the bugs onto the jadeite sword.

The bugs stretched out a pair of thin bluish green tentacles, and slowly crawled up onto the blade of the sword. The jadeite sword allowed the poisonous bugs to trample on oneself, quiet and still without any reaction.

Jue Sheng deliberately sighed: “Look, this sword indeed has lost its spiritual powers, and even merely two itchy itchy bugs can’t do anything about it.”

Qizhi took advantage of the situation and hurriedly said: “Lady Teng should believe it this time around right? Your sword is already done for, so it is best to quickly tell us, humble Taoists, about the origin of the sword, and this humble Taoist can also come up with a method of consecrating faster.”

“Wait a minute.” Teng Yuyi picked up the sword, “I heard that a magic weapon also has a saying of recognizing its owner. Since this sword belongs to me, I should personally test it myself.”

As soon as the sword reached her hand, a faint and unusual light flashed on the edge of the blade. The two bugs seemed to sense the danger, and a pair of almost transparent bluish green wings stretched out, revealing the numerous densely packed scarlet red hairs underneath.

Teng Yuyi knitted her eyebrows and frowned. Just now, she had still thought that the bugs looked unique. However as soon as its hideous appearance was revealed, she no longer thought that they were cute.

The bugs twisted for a moment, and took Teng Yuyi as a target of attack. The tentacles on its head raised sharply, and fiercely bounced up from the edge of the blade of the sword.

Teng Yuyi’s heartbeat sped up. This thing moves like lighting, and after being effected for only a moment, the sword in her hand became silent and unreactive. Could it be that it really lost its spiritual powers? It was just this moment, when the blade of the sword became blazed with rays of light. The two bugs seemed to be as if they was burned, shamefully falling back onto the table.

Jue Sheng and Qizhi turned pale in shock, and squeezed up to take a look. The bluish green bugs turned into two small lumps of burnt ash in a blink of an eye.

While Teng Yuyi wiped her jadeite sword with a handkerchief, she smiled: “I just knew it, how could it lose its spiritual powers for no reason? Even if it needs to be consecrated, it is not the time right now. I didn’t expect that the Taoists would make a mistake.”

The two of them were embarrassed. Jue Sheng glanced left and right, took out the Qingji talisman from his arms, and said with a laugh: “It rained every day a while ago, and this talisman has long been dampened. Qizhi, don’t be lazy and immediately go back to dry it. Lady Teng, since the jadeite sword has not lost its spiritual powers, and the several injured victims are also okay for now, then it is inconvenient for this humble Taoist to stay here any longer. We will take our leave.”

Qizhi depressingly followed behind Jue Sheng. It was the first time they deceived a person, and in the end, they suffered a crushing defeat. Not only were they not able to get the jadeite sword, but they also suffered the loss of giving away the itchy itchy bugs and medicine powder. Senior brother will not spare them, and when they return, there will only be confinement waiting for them.

Teng Yuyi pointed to the maid outside the pavilion, and said with a smile: “I have prepared a few generous gifts to thank the Two Taoist priests for their generous acts.”

Jue Sheng raised his head in dismay. The maids all walked in a line, holding a few red brocade boxes while standing quietly aside.

Even the thank you gifts were prepared in advance. It can be seen that Lady Teng was bound to win over the itchy itchy bugs long ago.

The two felt deeply humiliated, and their faces were stern, loftily walking out. However, Lady Teng is humble and generous which really makes it hard for them to hate her.

Teng Yuyi was in a very good mood, beaming with smiles while putting away the pouch of bugs on the stone table. Just as she was about to tighten the red string, between the ray of lighting and flint of fire, another thing flew out of the pouch, and went straight for the jadeite sword on the stone table.

She only thought that it was an itchy itchy bug, and did not care much about it. Who knew that once she got closer to it, did she find out that it was actually an all over pitch-black moth. Qizhi looked back and unintentionally saw it. His eye suddenly widened, and said urgently: “Lady Teng, be careful.”

Before Teng Yuyi could respond, that thing flew on the jadeite sword, only hearing a “poof” sound, and turned into a cloud of black smoke. The smoke circled around the sword three times, and vanished into thin air soon after.

Teng Yuyi was baffled: “This is?”

When one attentively looks at it, one’s complexion can not help, but change drastically. It was originally a transparent bluish green blade that seemed to be smeared with a layer of dirt, but now suddenly turned dusty gray.

Jue Sheng and Qizhi were stunned. When did senior brother mix this thing in? Could it be that he thought that they were not Lady Teng’s opponents so he left a trick in advance?

At this moment, the spiritual powers of the jadeite sword have been completely sealed.

Teng Yuyi knew that something was strange, and hurriedly poured out another itchy itchy bug and put it on the jadeite sword. However, no matter what the itchy itchy bugs did, the jadeite sword was like a pool of frozen stagnant water.

Teng Yuyi calmly looked at the two of them: “The two Taoist priests, what is going on?”

It was the first time that they received orders to harm others, so it was inevitable that they were somewhat embarrassed. Jue Sheng slapped his forehead: “There are still some matters in the temple. After staying in the mansion for so long, this humble Taoist will first take our leave.”

He slipped down the steps like a wisp of smoke, and said while leaving: “Lady Teng, just apply the medicine powder on your skin, and the itchy itchy bugs will not dare to come near you.”

Qizhi couldn’t help, but feel apologetic: “This is called the “Terminating Spirit Loop”, specially designed to seal the spiritual power of the magic device… Lady Teng, this sword has already been sealed, and only senior brother can undo it. Um….there is a wine tasting assembly in the Caifeng building tomorrow night. That place has been filled with a lot of evil energy lately, and senior brother will take us there to eliminate the evil spirits. If you are willing to tell us the origin of this sword, then you can come find us at the Caifeng building. If senior brother is in a good mood, maybe he will help undo the seal on the spot. That’s all I have to say, farewell!”

Teng Yuyi was stunned. Jue Sheng and Qizhi ran off extremely fast, and in a blink of an eye, they were gone.

Thousands of thoughts crossed her mind, and she resentfully sat down in the pavilion.

Lin Chengyou has good tactics, and it was her who was too careless. The little Taoist priests are Lin Chengyou’s little junior brothers. If his little junior brothers were fooled by someone, how could Lin Chengyou not know?

It was just that she never expected that just for a bag of bugs, they would actually go as far as to ask her to exchange it for this mysterious sword.

She tried to lift up her spirits, and poured out a few itchy itchy bugs to try again, but the results were still the same. The sword was still that sword, but the spiritual powers were gone.

She looked up, and deeply sighed. The sword is with her, and it is impossible for her to discard it. However she doesn’t know any Taoist methods, how could she undo the “Terminating Spirit Loop”.

Does she really need to go to that Caifeng building? At that time, will there be any traps again?

She rubbed her temples, and was just about to come up with a way to handle this when Chun Rong hurriedly led Cheng Bo in: “Lady, Cheng Bo is here.”

Teng Yuyi calmed down, and turned around: “How is it?”

Cheng Bo got closer and whispered: “Last night, Dong Erniang was locked up in the Jingzhao Mansion of the magistrate. After entering the prison, she rolled around on the ground, saying that her body was itchy and unbearable. She begged the jailer to help her call for a doctor. Her father, Dong Mingfu, went to the magistrate, Gu Zhao, to plead for his daughter. However, Prince Cheng had long already sent people there to explain this woman’s crime. There has not been a formal hearing to this case yet, and no one dared to invite a doctor without permission.”

He said while looking at Teng Yuyi: “My Lady has incredible foresight. When it was almost dawn, General Duan suddenly came, and it was as if he has access to the key point. It didn’t take long before a doctor was invited, but it’s a pity that two doctors were replaced, and now it is all helpless for them. This old servant has already smoothly casted a net. It’s just that the people on General Duan’s side are very on guard, and in order to practically carry out this plan, it will still take some twists and turns.”

Teng Yuyi smiled, and unfolded the palm of her hand. In the cloth pouch, there was a faint thing squirming around inside.

“It’s no problem, I just obtained a good item.”

Final part of this chapter! Thank you for reading!