PID Chapter 99.2

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Throughout the banquet, Xiao Mo only acquired the Xuan Ice Stone. As for Chu Jinglan—he didn’t seem interested in anything at all.

 

The banquet’s chef was well-known as one of the best in the realm—a master of culinary arts whose dishes not only tasted exquisite but also contained abundant spiritual energy that could aid cultivation like spiritual pills. Chu Jinglan knew this because he had previously purchased some of this chef’s premium spiritual food and stored it in his storage device.

 

Among today’s attendees from various sects, Xiao Mo recognized a few familiar faces. Wang Yichen and his group were naturally present—as were others like Lie Ying from Tian Ge Sect. From Lingxiao Sect, Dai Zisheng was also in attendance; however, Su Baimo was nowhere to be seen by his side.

 

Su Baimo was now paying the price for his past choices. His karmic ties with the old Heaven’s Will had been too deep. With its destruction, Su Baimo’s great fortune had dissipated entirely. If backlash struck him harder than expected, he might even find himself plagued with misfortune going forward.

 

With the old Heaven’s Will gone, Su Baimo—regardless of his current cultivation level—was no longer a concern. The world now had only one Return to Void cultivator: Chu Jinglan. Su Baimo posed no threat, and Xiao Mo wasn’t interested in hearing news about him.

 

As the banquet neared its end, Wang Yichen, the host, raised his wine cup to propose the final toast to conclude the event. After everyone had taken their drink, Chu Jinglan suddenly spoke.

 

His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried spiritual energy, ensuring that everyone present could hear him clearly—even those outside the Jade Terrace.

 

“Three months from now, Du-E Sect will host a union ceremony. I, Chu Jinglan, wish to formally become Dao companions with Xiao Mo. Invited guests may attend the ceremony at Du-E Sect.”

 

Wang Yichen and Yue Ming both choked on their wine simultaneously. Thankfully, they weren’t the only ones coughing in surprise, so it wasn’t too awkward.

 

Jun Bushu calmly swallowed his drink and thought to himself: I knew I wasn’t wrong.

 

Wang Yichen was utterly dumbfounded. “Wait—how long have they even known each other? And now they’re becoming Dao companions? Yue Ming, when was the last time you saw him?”

 

Yue Ming frowned in thought. “Three years ago? Five years ago? I don’t really remember. What about you?”

 

Wang Yichen replied, “Two years ago.”

 

The two exchanged bewildered looks. Everyone had their own affairs to attend to—whether it was seclusion or exploring major secret realms—and it wasn’t possible to keep tabs on Chu Jinglan at all times. While Yan Chun Chuxia and Mo Zhi had maintained contact from outside Du-E Sect’s gates, they hadn’t mentioned anything about Chu Jinglan bringing someone into Du-E Sect.

 

Wiping his mouth, Wang Yichen muttered: “Even if this is a good match, I still need to investigate this Xiao Mo’s background… Wait a minute—Xiao Mo? That name sounds familiar. Hold on… hold on…” He tapped his folding fan against his forehead as realization dawned on him. “I remember now!”

 

As the master of Jinxiu Pavilion, Wang Yichen had an excellent memory.

 

Yue Ming asked quickly: “What did you remember?”

 

Wang Yichen’s eyes widened slowly as he explained: “Over three hundred years ago, my younger brother in the Middle Realm sent me information mentioning that Mo Lan once used an alias—and the pronunciation of that alias was ‘Xiao Mo.’”

 

The group immediately exchanged stunned looks.

 

“…Could it just be a coincidence?” someone suggested hesitantly.

 

“Do you think a coincidence like that isn’t a big deal?” another countered.

 

The group stared at each other in silence for a moment before Jun Bushu casually tucked his hand into his sleeve and declared: “Anyway, I see this as a good match. Everything else is irrelevant.”

 

Yue Ming nodded firmly: “Exactly. This isn’t something we can ask him about—even if we’re curious, we absolutely can’t ask. Even if curiosity kills us—we can’t ask… Damn it—I’m really curious! What do I do?”

 

Jun Bushu suggested thoughtfully: “Before their ceremony, I could request something from them under the guise of offering blessings and use it to perform a serious divination?”

 

Wang Yichen and Yue Ming immediately turned to stare at him with expressions that seemed to say: “Weren’t you the one who said you weren’t curious?”

 

Jun Bushu shrugged innocently: “Don’t look at me like that—I never said I didn’t want to know.”

 

With just one sentence from Chu Jinglan, the Jade Terrace erupted into chaos, leaving Xiao Mo completely stunned. By the time he regained his senses, he heard the faint sound of a wine cup being set down. Accompanying the sound, his vision blurred suddenly, as if a breeze had brushed his face—though it felt like nothing at all. When he fully came to, the scene before him had completely changed.

 

Moments ago, they had been at the bustling banquet on the Jade Terrace, surrounded by noise and people. Now, he and Chu Jinglan were inside a quiet room, illuminated by spiritual lamps that lit up one by one.

 

The legendary ability of Return to Void stage cultivators to shatter space and traverse thousands of miles in an instant was no exaggeration. Xiao Mo quickly realized that Chu Jinglan had brought him to a different location.

 

As soon as they arrived, Qiuqiu flapped its wings and flew off, leaving just the two of them alone.

 

Although Xiao Mo still had questions swirling in his mind, he couldn’t help but first take in his surroundings. The room was spacious, with two connected halls—one inner and one outer. The inner hall contained a luxurious jade bed adorned with carved floral patterns, while the outer hall featured exquisite furniture worth a fortune. The entire space was elegantly arranged with refined details, accompanied by a faint fragrance that soothed the senses.

 

Every detail of the room seemed tailored perfectly to Xiao Mo’s preferences.

 

Chu Jinglan spoke calmly: “This is your room within Du-E Sect. Are you satisfied?”

 

“I love it. Thank you,” Xiao Mo replied sincerely. He had no complaints—every detail struck a chord in his heart. From the moment he stepped inside, he felt completely at ease. Having finished examining the room, it was time to address the earlier topic.

 

“A Dao companion ceremony in three months?” Xiao Mo asked.

 

“Mm.” Chu Jinglan nodded slightly and paused for a moment before asking slowly, “You don’t want to?”

 

Xiao Mo hesitated briefly before responding: “If we’re going to put on an act and go all out with it, I can do it. But… uh, no—it’s fine. I’m just surprised.”

 

A Dao companion ceremony in three months—if Xiao Mo wanted this ceremony to truly be filled with genuine emotion, he would need to transform their relationship from brotherly camaraderie into romantic love within that timeframe.

 

For someone like Xiao Mo who had never been in a romantic relationship before, this sudden deadline made things feel incredibly urgent.

 

But it didn’t matter—he accepted the challenge.

 

However, he also noticed something else:

 

Even if this were just an act, hosting such a grand Dao companion ceremony was no small matter. In the past, Chu Jinglan would have consulted him beforehand rather than asking for his agreement after announcing it publicly.

 

Still, three hundred years had passed. Even if Chu Jinglan’s core nature hadn’t changed, his approach to things might have shifted slightly over time—and that was normal. People grow and change after all. Besides, Xiao Mo was willing to go along with this plan anyway. Such a minor change shouldn’t affect their relationship or how they interacted.

 

Although Xiao Mo’s instinctive reaction when faced with situations was often cautious and suspicious, when it came to Chu Jinglan, he found himself rationalizing away his doubts. He didn’t even feel that Chu Jinglan’s actions were inappropriate—he simply dismissed them.

 

The flickering light from the lamps danced in Chu Jinglan’s pitch-black eyes like flames igniting within shadows—a sight more eerie than warm. Yet somehow, those same shadows gave his features an illusion of gentleness; even his voice seemed tinged with warmth from the firelight as he said: “As long as you’re willing.”

 

“You mentioned earlier that you wanted to give me something—I’m very happy about that. I also have something for you.”

 

Chu Jinglan took out a storage device and handed it to Xiao Mo.

 

Xiao Mo accepted it and scanned its contents with his spiritual sense—and what he saw made his eyes widen in astonishment.

 

This wasn’t the storage device he had used back then—but inside it was an identical arrangement of space mirroring how he had organized his own storage device years ago. Not only that—everything from back then was still there. The Phantom Heart Core and East Clear Pearl were placed prominently in view; even the storybooks he had hoarded were preserved exactly as they had been—all untouched and intact.

 

In addition to the original items, the storage device now contained countless new treasures—an array of dazzling valuables that could rival the treasure vaults of some sects.

 

Xiao Mo was speechless, staring blankly at Chu Jinglan. “These things…”

 

“I kept all the original items for you. Over the years, everything I’ve come across—I’ve split it in half for us.”

 

Holding the storage device, Xiao Mo felt an indescribable mix of emotions. “It’s too much—you—”

 

Chu Jinglan’s voice was firm and decisive: “Take it.”

 

“I have more to give you.”

 

Xiao Mo already felt the weight of the storage device in his hand was overwhelming. Hearing this, he was stunned. “There’s more!?”

 

The shadows and flickering firelight in Chu Jinglan’s eyes reflected Xiao Mo’s image as he softened his tone: “Xiao Mo, let me give you a chain—is that alright?”

 

“A chain?” Xiao Mo asked curiously.

 

Chu Jinglan’s voice grew even gentler: “Mm. Hold out your hand.”

 

Without hesitation or suspicion, Xiao Mo lifted his hand obediently.

 

Chu Jinglan gazed at the delicate wrist extended before him—fair, beautiful, and so slender it seemed like it could break with a single squeeze.

 

In his storage device lay a powerful artifact—a Binding Immortal Lock forged from ten-thousand-year black iron. If it were fastened around such a pristine wrist, the stark contrast between black and white would make the wrist appear even more stunning.

 

The flickering light in Chu Jinglan’s eyes swayed silently as his shadow stretched long across the windowpane. Like a beast lurking in the darkness, he silently approached someone completely unaware.

 

Xiao Mo remained oblivious and held his hand up to Chu Jinglan without hesitation.

 

Chu Jinglan’s fingers trembled slightly within his sleeve. Slowly, he raised his hand and gently clasped Xiao Mo’s wrist.

 

Then he released his grip and looked up at Xiao Mo, his gaze steady. “Does it look good?”

 

As Chu Jinglan let go, Xiao Mo’s wrist was revealed—but it wasn’t bound by a heavy black iron chain.

 

Instead, a delicate golden chain adorned his wrist. It was embellished with dragon-shaped golden beads that had been blessed by Buddhist cultivators and imbued with protective blessings. Inscribed with several protective runes carved personally by Xianzun himself, it symbolized auspiciousness and safety.

 

Each protective rune had been etched by Chu Jinglan during moments of quiet longing for someone special.

 

Chu Jinglan stared at the wrist now adorned with the golden chain while the black iron chain in his storage device rattled violently under the tremor of his spiritual consciousness—yet it remained firmly suppressed within the storage device, never making its way onto Xiao Mo’s wrist.

 

Even so, when Chu Jinglan had commissioned this artifact to be forged, Xiao Mo had been on his mind.

 

Looking at the golden chain again, Chu Jinglan asked softly once more: “Do you like it?”

 

While the countless treasures in the storage device might have felt overwhelming to Xiao Mo, this light and exquisite chain immediately captured his heart. The golden beads shaped like dragons and lotus flowers connected by fine links glowed with spiritual energy. Xiao Mo’s eyes lit up as he turned his wrist to examine it from every angle. “It’s beautiful—the design is ingenious, and its spiritual energy is abundant. I love it.”

 

“Is that so…” Chu Jinglan murmured softly as he released his fingers. “As long as you like it.”

 

In the shadows, the beast growled low in its throat, restless and unwilling to quiet down. It crouched there, watching intently, clutching its sharp claws so tightly that they were nearly worn down—yet it didn’t pounce.

 

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter