The Price of the Beloved

4

I was ecstatic. I wanted to tell Silas Aurelian, "Senior Brother, I'm officially Master's disciple now. I'm truly your sister."

I couldn't wait to share my joy with him.

He came out of his seclusion. But for some reason, when he heard I had become a disciple, he wasn't the least bit excited. Instead, the look he gave me was incredibly complex.

"You wanted to become a disciple that badly? You couldn't even wait for me to come out of seclusion?"

I didn't understand why Silas Aurelian was angry.

He was the one who told me to take his Master as my own. That way, I would become his true sister.

But why?

Why did he get angry when I became Master's disciple?

Silas Aurelian rummaged through my little chest and pulled out a small, faded leather ball.

He said, his face expressionless, "This is the first ball I ever gave you."

Then, he fell silent for a long time.

The Artifact Spirit couldn't stand it any longer and came over to hurry him along.

"Hey, come on, big shot! 'This is the first ball I ever gave you,' and that's it? What about the rest of the story? The things you said when you gave it to her, the things that happened—say them! And what's with that tone? This is your Junior Sister! Not some stray cat or dog off the street. Put some emotion into it!" The Artifact Spirit was hopping mad.

It mimicked Silas Aurelian's tone, dripping with sarcasm.

Silas Aurelian shot the Artifact Spirit a vicious glare, looking as if he was about to strike.

"Go on, hit me! If you so much as touch me, I guarantee this Remnant Soul will scatter instantly," the Artifact Spirit yelled, completely unafraid.

Silas Aurelian restrained himself.

Holding the small ball, the look on his face softened slightly.

"This is the ball I gave you when we first met. I told you back then that the path of cultivation, lasting for tens of thousands of years, was too bitter. I wanted to find a sister for myself..."

Silas Aurelian paused for a moment before continuing, "You told me excitedly that you were the only Koi in the Western Koi Pond, and that you wanted a big brother, too. You said you would definitely become my sister."

'That's right. You were the one who wanted to find a sister. So why did you turn on me with such harsh words after I became one?'

"Keep talking! Did she become your sister in the end? You two must have played with this little ball together all the time, right? Get to the details!" the Artifact Spirit urged frantically. It was because I was resisting the absorption of Soul Power, and my Remnant Soul was growing dimmer and dimmer.

'The Artifact Spirit genuinely wanted to save me.'

'But I was beyond saving.'