191 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass

As Jiang Bei Qing spoke, Fu Ling's expression changed as well. Though she knew little about metaphysics and numerology, she understood that divining the future was against the heavens' will. Delving into celestial secrets and attempting to break heavenly codes could even harm one's fortune. Upon hearing that Jiu Ying wished to learn the art of interpreting hexagrams, she immediately voiced her protest. "It is not good for mortals to pry into heavenly secrets. Senior Sister, I forbid you from learning this!" Her tone was unwavering, her expression was stern, and it was clear she was genuinely angry. Jiu Ying stood rooted at the spot, looking somewhat helpless. She knew Fu Ling cared deeply for her, but she hadn't expected such a strong reaction to this matter. She relaxed her lips, her demeanor softened considerably, speaking with extraordinary gentleness and patience. "There is no need to worry so. We both know that the heavenly hexagram Senior Jiang Xun divined concerns the realm's peace. My intention in interpreting it is not to pry into heavenly secrets but to preserve the world's tranquility. If the intent is righteous, why should we fear divine retribution?" Despite her words, the mystical nature of such matters left open the possibility of unforeseen consequences. Fu Ling bit her lip, her gaze unwavering. No sooner had Jiu Ying finished speaking than Fu Ling shook her head once more in refusal. "No way!" Just as Jiu Ying once protected her, Fu Ling would never allow Jiu Ying to engage in anything that might endanger her. Her imperious tone, which allowed no refutation, resembled her temperament when she was fifteen or sixteen. Jiu Ying took in her appearance, and her lips inadvertently twitched upwards. A fleeting, faint smile crossed her face, disappearing almost instantly. In such a solemn moment, witnessing such an enchanting smile on the face of the one she loved, Fu Ling's heart momentarily lost its rhythm. How could she smile at a time like this? Fu Ling, slightly disgruntled, widened her eyes silently. When she next looked at the woman's cold and beautiful face, her tone unknowingly softened. "You can learn, but only if I am the one to do it." Jiu Ying raised an eyebrow, visibly surprised by the sudden change in the young girl's attitude. "Hmm?" Fu Ling felt inexplicably guilty about what she was about to say but couldn't hold back anymore once the words were at the tip of her tongue. She lifted her head, her starry eyes fixating stubbornly on the woman before her. "You can learn the art of interpreting hexagrams and even try to decipher Senior Jiang Xun's heavenly hexagram, but—let me do it." Jiu Ying hadn't expected Fu Ling to make such a demand, and her expression turned cold abruptly. Fu Ling didn't want her to take the risk, and equally, Jiu Ying couldn't bear to let Fu Ling take the risk either. The conversation seemed to reach an impasse. Jiang Bei Qing stood aside, unable to interject. She glanced from Jiu Ying to Fu Ling and back, moved by the fact that each was willing to risk themselves rather than let harm befall the other. Having been part of the Heavenly Hexagram Sect for over twenty years, she had never witnessed any pair of disciples whose bond could rival theirs. After a moment of hesitation, she finally cleared her throat and revealed a secret known only to the sect master. “There is no need to be so conflicted; that heavenly hexagram has already been deciphered by Grandfather. Naturally, he wouldn’t let anyone else take the risk of decoding it again.” What does that mean? Jiu Ying’s expression shifted slightly, skeptical of what she had heard. "Last time I visited the Jiang family, Senior Jiang said the content of the hexagram was known only to Senior Jiang Xun." Regarding this, Jiang Bei Qing also felt helpless. She shook her head and walked to the window, closed all the windows before responding. "Though the hexagram was deciphered back then, the contents were too shocking, so Grandfather didn’t dare to broadcast it. He wrote it down and entrusted it to Heng Lian Zong Zhu." "Father is unaware of this, and if Heng Lian Zong Zhu hadn't decided to pass the sect to me, I fear he might never have told me." "If you want to know the contents of the hexagram, you only need to wait till the 15th of next month. On that day, the old and new sect masters will exchange positions. Along with the sect master's position, Heng Lian Zong Zhu will surely pass Grandfather’s written secret to me as well." The 15th of next month—only over twenty days away? Jiu Ying twitched her lips, aware of the immense courage needed for Jiang Bei Qing to offer such help. She was willing to reveal a secret unknown even to her closest kin to an outsider. Not only Fu Ling, but Jiu Ying was also profoundly moved by such extreme trust among friends. Words of gratitude were on the tip of her tongue, yet she couldn't bring herself to speak them. Such a huge favor couldn't be adequately repaid with a mere "thank you." Moreover, Jiu Ying had always disliked being indebted to anyone. As if understanding her thoughts, Fu Ling stepped forward and broke the silence in the room. "Then thank you, Miss Jiang. If you ever need our help in the future, my senior sister and I will undoubtedly do our utmost to assist." As friends, one should readily accept each other's help. Jiang Bei Qing nodded and smiled. "Of course." And so, the matter was settled. There was no need to learn the art of interpreting hexagrams, nor risk deciphering the heavenly hexagram again. The stack of paper on the desk became unnecessary. Fu Ling, unwilling for Jiu Ying to be exposed to anything that might pose a threat, moved to discard the papers without a second thought. But just as she was about to reach out, Jiang Bei Qing's voice stopped her. "The manuscript 'Cangqiong' is a secret scroll of our sect. If you don't mind, may I borrow these papers for a few days?" Mind? How could she mind? Fu Ling paused her movement for a moment, then quickly continued. Before her beloved could give any instructions, she had already neatly stacked all the papers and handed them to Jiang Bei Qing with a smile. "It's yours." To give away such precious items just like that? A flicker of surprise crossed Jiang Bei Qing's eyes, and she hesitated for some time before responding. It wasn't until Jiu Ying's voice floated through the air that she tentatively reached out her hand. "The content of the divination technique is just short of the final part. Before completing the transcription, Fu Ling and I will not leave the Jiang family." The paper in her hand was both light and weighty. Jiang Bei Qing glanced down, the scent of ink suffusing her nostrils. At this moment, she felt grateful for her father's earlier decision. When shadows assaulted the Jiang family one night, Jiang Huai De had told her to fetch Jiu Ying for assistance. At the time, she was reluctant to concede to Jiu Ying. Had Jiang Huai De not repeatedly instructed her to do so, she might never have gained such good friends today. Raising her head, her gaze lingered on Jiu Ying and Fu Ling. After a long moment, she softly uttered the two words— "Thank you." *** Despite only being a section short of finishing the divination technique, there remained the challenge of transcribing it faithfully, given that she'd only skimmed it once in a prior life. Accompanying her beloved in the divination chamber for several days, Fu Ling finally succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep on the desk. It wasn't until the ink dried in the inkwell that Jiu Ying noticed Fu Ling had nodded off in fatigue. The chamber housed a small cot, just big enough for one person. Feeling tender-hearted towards the young girl who'd endured so much alongside her, Jiu Ying gently carried her to the cot. Gazing at that fair, obediently serene sleeping visage, she felt an involuntary softening of her heart. Though it was the same face as her past life's self, everything about her felt different. The brows, eyes, nose, lips—similar in form but not in essence. This life’s Fu Ling and the Fu Ling from the past life were entirely different people. Jiu Ying's eyelids lowered, her eyes brimming with such warmth they nearly overflowed. If possible, she wished time could freeze at this moment forever. "Little Ling—" Even knowing the girl on the cot was asleep, she couldn't resist calling out softly. It was Fu Ling's favorite moniker and hers as well. Predictably, only silence answered her, yet despite that, she couldn’t help curving her lips into a smile. "Little Ling—" Another gentle call met with no response. She repeated this several times, and Jiu Ying found endless joy in it. For once, revealing such a childish side, even she felt astonished. Afterward, even her face, typically covered in an icy veneer, blushed with a different kind of redness. The front window of the divination chamber was closed, but the back one was open. A night breeze swept in, dissipating some of the blush from her face. She thought perhaps she should take a walk outside. It was deep into the night, nearing midnight, and the Jiang family had all gone to sleep. The divination chamber wasn't far from Jiang Bei Qing's room, and from the doorway, one could even see the candlelight still glowing inside her quarters. Jiu Ying stood alone in the darkness, her white robes completely blending into the night. During the day, in front of Fu Ling, there were things she left unsaid. Now that it was deep and quiet into the night, it seemed a good time to speak. After contemplating for a long time, she finally stepped out from the shadows and walked towards the room illuminated by flickering candlelight. To become the master of a great sect, one's cultivation must surpass that of fellow disciples. Jiang Bei Qing had practiced the art of mystic hexagrams since childhood and was quite accomplished in this field. Having the opportunity to study the secrets of the "Cangqiong" scroll, she naturally wanted to devote all her energy to it. Though it was long past the time for rest, she sat quietly, leaning against the bed, engrossed in her reading. The window was half-open, and as Jiu Ying passed by, she saw this scene and couldn't help but tread more quietly. Despite not wanting to interrupt her study of the Taoist arts, there were matters that could only be spoken of at night. With a light sigh, Jiu Ying stopped in front of the window and gently tapped on the sill. Startled out of her thoughts by the sound, Jiang Bei Qing put down her book and glanced toward the windowsill, catching sight of a familiar, exquisite profile through the narrow gap. So late at night, and it was Jiu Ying who had come. Surprised, she didn’t know the purpose of the visit, yet she hurriedly threw on a robe and opened the door. Jiu Ying turned to look as she heard the door open, nodding once the person inside came out. "Miss Jiang." The summer night wind was filled with a refreshing chill. Jiang Bei Qing’s face was full of confusion. She turned back to gently close the door before stepping forward to face Jiu Ying. "Is there something you need?" A visit this late surely meant there was something important to discuss, something that couldn’t be shared with Fu Ling. Jiang Bei Qing was momentarily puzzled. With the matter of the heavenly hexagram resolved, she couldn't fathom what Jiu Ying might need to secretly discuss. In her confusion, a low female voice uttered a sentence that cleared her doubts. "I’ve come to ask for two more favors." The surroundings were dim, the sparse moonlight slipping down the eaves, mostly blocked by the red bricks, leaving only a small sliver to illuminate the ground and casting some light on the two of them. Jiang Bei Qing slightly turned her head, her gaze falling on the woman beside her, capturing a profile that was cool and beautiful. In terms of strength, she was no match for Fu Ling; in terms of knowledge, she was no match for Jiu Ying. If she were to consider how she could help, it would probably involve the art of interpreting hexagrams, which Jiu Ying had asked her to teach a few days earlier. "Besides the heavenly hexagram, what else can I assist with?" "What I need help with is indeed this matter." Jiu Ying didn’t hide her intention; she stated her request before Jiang Bei Qing could ask further. "I’m here today to ask you to teach me the art of interpreting hexagrams. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have waited until Ling Ling was asleep to come to you." The more Jiang Bei Qing listened, the more puzzled she became, her brow furrowing even tighter. "I've already promised to investigate the contents of your grandfather's heavenly hexagram for you, so why must you persist in learning hexagram interpretation yourself?" Although she anticipated this query, Jiu Ying's expression still shifted slightly. She pursed her lips, not immediately replying, but instead looked up at the night sky. It wasn't until silence enveloped them that she gently spoke again. "Have you considered that there might be more than one heavenly hexagram in the world?" Hearing this, Jiang Bei Qing was greatly astonished, her eyes filled with alarm. She shook her head, expressing skepticism about Jiu Ying's claim. "Heavenly hexagrams are not only difficult to decipher, but also hard to obtain. Grandfather, with all his profound talent in metaphysical arts, could only divine one. I can confidently say there is no one alive who has the capability to cast a heavenly hexagram." "And just as Fu Ling said, whether casting or forcibly interpreting one, it isn't good practice. You really don’t need to learn the art of interpreting hexagrams." What Jiang Bei Qing said made sense. It was not easy for mortals to divine heavenly hexagrams; so far, only Jiang Xun had managed it. Observing his miserable end, this might have been the price for forcibly peering into the celestial mechanisms. As a friend, Jiang Bei Qing didn’t want to see Jiu Ying follow in her grandfather's footsteps, because she knew that with Jiu Ying's talent, if she started learning divination and interpretation, there was a real chance she could indeed create a heavenly hexagram. Her tone was somewhat urgent, filled with worried admonition, clearly showing she truly considered the welfare of her friend. Jiu Ying lowered her gaze slightly, sighed softly to herself, and after a long silence, she spoke again. "You, as a disciple of the Heavenly Hexagram Sect, should know that heavenly hexagrams can appear in more than one way. Besides being divined by humans, sometimes the heavens may actively grant them to mortals. Technically, such hexagrams aren’t called heavenly hexagrams, but pre-hexagrams. Solving these hexagrams shouldn’t affect one's fortune." Pre-hexagrams? Upon hearing these words, Jiang Bei Qing felt momentarily dazed. After a brief period of contemplation, she recalled that Heng Lian Zong Zhu had indeed mentioned the existence of pre-hexagrams. She had been too young at the time to remember much about it, and since they were as rare as celestial spirits, she hadn’t bothered to investigate further. Now, hearing Jiu Ying mention it, her expression changed repeatedly, unsure of how to respond. Hesitating for a moment, she shook her head. "Heng Lian Zong Zhu said that no one has ever seen a pre-hexagram." Jiu Ying pursed her lips and took out the white cloth from her waist. "Is the shard from the Heart-Piercing Mirror still with you?" "In my room." Before she finished speaking, Jiang Bei Qing had already dashed to the room to retrieve the small shard. Meanwhile, Jiu Ying unfolded the cloth in her hand, revealing the palm-sized golden dragon scale. Without its covering, the golden light immediately bathed the courtyard. Its brilliance left Jiang Bei Qing momentarily stunned. It wasn't until Jiu Ying extended her hand that she snapped out of her shocked daze. "Use the shard from the Heart-Piercing Mirror to focus the moonlight onto this scale, then you'll know whether I'm telling the truth." With the golden dragon scale right before her, Jiang Bei Qing found herself momentarily hesitant to touch it. "This scale has nothing on it." Faced with her first encounter with a legendary pre-hexagram, one spoken of alongside heavenly hexagrams, she felt an inexplicable unease. Jiu Ying understood her apprehension but didn’t retract her hand. "Use the Heart-Piercing Mirror." Her persistent insistence began to sway Jiang Bei Qing. After a moment of hesitation, she finally decided, took the cloth, and raised the shard of the Heart-Piercing Mirror. Though small, the shard channeled a powerful beam of moonlight. She glanced down quickly, and indeed, found that Jiu Ying wasn’t mistaken— The inside of the dragon scale bore several complex, unintelligible hexagram patterns. A rough glance revealed striking similarities to the heavenly hexagram that Jiang Xun had cast. Perhaps this truly was a pre-hexagram granted to mortals by the heavens.