After a second of silence, the system continued: [Rewards: Immortal technique "Supreme Forgetfulness Heart Sutra" (can only be practiced by those with great destiny), Immortal talisman Nine Heavens Tribulation Talisman (can save the bearer's life once; a talisman used by immortals during tribulations. Non-transferable), 15 years of sword dao comprehension, 200 plot points.]
[However, unbinding request received. Unbinding in 10 seconds. 10, 9...]
"Wait wait wait, I was just kidding around!" Chen Xing quickly interrupted.
[Heh. Men.]
In an instant, Chen Xing's mind gained 15 years of sword dao comprehension, as if he'd spent 15 extra years training in the way of the sword. His understanding of the cultivation technique he practiced, the "Myriad Arts Sword Art," had deepened considerably.
No time to savor the sword dao insights—Chen Xing needed to salvage his somewhat-dead situation.
Chen Xing lifted the curtain of the carriage and shouted outside: "Uncle Fu, stop for a sec!"
The carriage had barely stopped when Uncle Fu turned around, his face full of concern. "Young master, are you feeling unwell or do you need to rest?"
"Neither." Chen Xing rubbed his temples. "Do you have brush, ink, paper, and inkstone? I need to write a letter to Xilan. She left in such a rush today, I still have some things I didn't get to tell her."
"Yes, yes, I do!" Uncle Fu's eyes lit up, and he immediately pulled brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from his storage ring.
"Good. Make sure you deliver this letter to her personally."
Chen Xing held the brush with the tip hovering over the paper, his mind racing: He definitely couldn't just say that the Phoenix Wood could reconstruct her divine body. Knowing it could reconstruct the divine body but still coming to break off the engagement would make it obvious he looked down on her.
He paused for a moment, then wrote carefully: "Xilan, I'm sorry. I cannot defy the family's decision. I only wish that in our next life, we can continue our bond. Also, among the items I sent you is a piece of Phoenix Wood. Last year in a distant land, I happened to hear that this item may be beneficial to your divine body."
He wrote the "continue our bond in the next life" part really fast—it was purely a formality.
After all, breaking off the engagement so coldly, he had to leave some soft words behind. Otherwise, if Wen Xilan really came to settle the score with him later, he wouldn't even have a buffer.
As for the Phoenix Wood's effects, he didn't dare say it outright. He only dared to hint with the words "may be beneficial."
After he finished writing, he didn't even fold it—just handed it straight to Uncle Fu. He wasn't trying to hide anything. There wasn't anything shameful in the letter anyway, so it didn't matter if Uncle Fu saw it.
But when Uncle Fu looked it over, his eyes immediately turned red.
He stared at the words "continue our bond in the next life," then looked at "happened to hear in a distant land that Phoenix Wood is beneficial," and his mind automatically filled in an entire drama:
The young master, for the sake of the family, painfully broke off the engagement, but secretly ran all over distant lands seeking a way to save Miss Wen. He even traded his own resources for this one thread of hope. In the end, worried that Miss Wen would be sad, he specifically wrote down the promise to "continue their bond in the next life." This was the height of righteousness and devotion—love as deep as the ocean!
The more Uncle Fu thought about it, the more emotional he got. Tears nearly fell as the hand clutching the letter trembled. When he looked up at Chen Xing, his eyes were full of admiration and heartache:
"Young master, rest assured! Even if it costs me my life, I will personally deliver this letter to Miss Wen and let her know your sincere intentions!"
Chen Xing looked at Uncle Fu's suddenly reddening eyes and that expression of determination, as if he were heading off to battle. Three huge question marks immediately floated above his head.
He was about to ask "did you misunderstand something?" when Uncle Fu went "whoosh" and jumped off the carriage, disappearing without a trace.
Only Chen Xing was left in the carriage. He stared at Uncle Fu's retreating figure, rubbed his chin, and muttered quietly, "Should be... fine, right?"
...
Most of the parasol tree leaves in the Wen family's back courtyard had been knocked down by the rain, sticking wetly to the bluestone slabs.
Wen Xilan had just sat down under the covered walkway and flipped through a couple pages of a book when she saw a dark figure silently flip over the courtyard wall like a whirlwind.
It was Uncle Fu from the Chen family. His graying hair was a bit disheveled from the wind, but his eyes were bright and even a little red. The way he looked at her carried an almost "kindly" gentleness.
Wen Xilan's heart skipped a beat. She closed her book and stood up.
Her tone carried a few degrees of distant coldness: "I don't know what brings you here. I have nothing to do with the Chen family anymore."
She thought Uncle Fu had come to finalize the details of breaking off the engagement. After all, Chen Xing's decisiveness in the reception hall that morning still felt like a thorn in her heart.
But Uncle Fu didn't pick up on the "hostility" in her words at all. He just pulled out an oil-paper package from his chest, carefully unwrapping it layer by layer to reveal a neatly folded letter inside. When he held it out to her, his hands trembled slightly with excitement:
"Miss Wen, please don't worry. This is a letter my young master specifically wrote for you."
Wen Xilan stared at the letter, her fingertips hovering in mid-air, not daring to take it.
She remembered how Chen Xing looked when he came to break off the engagement that morning. He'd already said everything so absolutely—what kind of letter was there left to write? Could it be that he was afraid she'd cling to him, so he specially wrote a "final severance letter" to completely cut off any lingering thoughts?
Seeing her motionless, Uncle Fu anxiously pushed it forward a bit more. His eyes reddened even further, and his voice carried a hint of choking emotion: "Miss Wen, you must read this carefully! For your sake, my young master specifically made a trip to a distant land last year. That place is far and treacherous, I heard there are even demon beasts roaming about. He braved those risks to inquire about ways to help you, and that's how he found out about the Phoenix Wood's use. To exchange for this treasure, he even gave the family three years' worth of his cultivation resources, but he never mentioned a word of it to you."
Wen Xilan's head snapped up, her eyes full of surprise. "Phoenix Wood? Three years of resources?"
That morning she'd only noticed Chen Xing bringing a chest of resources. She hadn't paid attention to whether there was Phoenix Wood inside, and she definitely didn't know anything about "three years of resources."
"That's right!" Uncle Fu got more emotional as he talked, as if he'd personally witnessed Chen Xing venturing into secret realms. "The young master was afraid you'd be sad, so he didn't feel comfortable mentioning these hardships in the letter. But it breaks my heart to see it! He cares about you more than anyone in his heart, yet for the sake of the family he has to break off the engagement. And he still secretly did all this for you..."
Wen Xilan's hand trembled as she took the letter. She looked down and unfolded it, elegant and graceful handwriting coming into view.
Two short sentences—not a single word mentioned "venturing into secret realms" or "trading resources."
"...Young master, he actually still loves you!"
Uncle Fu's words exploded like thunder in her ears. Looking at the words "happened to hear in a distant land" in the letter, she inexplicably felt complicated emotions welling up.
She clutched the letter and looked up, wanting to ask Uncle Fu for more details. But Uncle Fu had already stepped back two paces, his face wearing a smile of "mission accomplished" contentment.
He cupped his fists and said, "Miss Wen, as long as you understand my young master's sincere heart, that's enough. I'll head back now to report. I won't disturb you any longer!"
With that, Uncle Fu vanished in a flash, leaving only Wen Xilan standing under the covered walkway, holding that thin piece of letter paper in her hands. She looked at the rain in the courtyard, her heart full of confusion and emotion:
Chen Xing, just how much haven't you told me?
The helplessness during the engagement breaking, the secretly delivered letter, and the warming jade he gave her as a child—all of it suddenly felt warm.
So you weren't betraying me. You just had no choice.
She gripped the letter tightly, warmth growing in her heart: You've gone to such lengths for me. If I ever reconstruct my divine body, I definitely won't let you down!
...
Chen Xing sat restlessly in the carriage, lifting the curtain every few minutes to peek outside.
"Young master, mission accomplished! I've personally delivered the letter to Miss Wen."
Chen Xing immediately sat up straight, his eyes lighting up instantly. "Did she understand what I meant?"
"Absolutely understood!" Uncle Fu's face showed pride.
"Excellent!" Chen Xing relaxed.
Since Uncle Fu said so, Wen Xilan must have discovered the Phoenix Wood's miraculous properties. He'd successfully delivered this favor. Hopefully in the future, she wouldn't try to kill him.
Uncle Fu, you really are my most capable subordinate!
Who says Uncle Fu is old? Uncle Fu is amazing!
Now that the engagement breaking was settled, Chen Xing remembered that the system seemed to have mentioned something called plot points earlier.
"System, what are plot points?"
As soon as he asked, a semi-transparent screen popped up before his eyes:
[Plot points can be used to exchange for items in the shop. Additional features like quest posting and cultivation acceleration will be gradually developed.]
[Current plot points: 200]
"I can buy stuff with this?" Chen Xing's eyes lit up as he tapped the "Shop" icon with his finger.
But when he saw clearly what was on the shelves, he instantly froze.
The most prominent items were "Thirteen Spices" and "Soy Sauce." Scrolling down, there were also "Steam Eye Masks," "Handmade Soap," and so on.
All of it was everyday stuff common from his past life. Not a single thing that could improve his cultivation level.
"Wait, are you messing with me, System?" The corner of Chen Xing's mouth twitched. "This is a fantasy world, and you're selling me this stuff? Can I use it as a weapon or refine pills with it?"
[The system shop's items will update as the host accumulates plot points.]
"Fine. At least Thirteen Spices does actually smell pretty good."