Breaking the Precept

Guiyuan Daojun hesitated slightly at Jian Xiaolou's outburst, then waved his hand with a laugh. "Alright, alright, no need for idle talk. Regarding the child in Patriarch Baili's womb, I can't do much in my current state. The responsibility will fall on your shoulders."

With that, he extended his small hand, and the second gourd materialized, which he handed to Jian Xiaolou. "No matter how Patriarch Baili decides, she'll ultimately choose to keep the boy, not the girl. When the seal is undone, use the second gourd to store the girl's spirit body within."

Jian Xiaolou bowed her head and accepted the gourd with both hands.

"Senior, why are you with Big Gourd?"

"What? Can't a gourd have a friend?"

Big Gourd was still banging its head against a tree trunk, producing loud thuds. "Otherwise, why do you think I showed up at Sword Shadow Mountain? And why did he suddenly appear to shield you from those four stinky Daoists of Tiandao Sect? I originally came here looking for him. Running into you and the Second Sister was just a coincidence. However, he doesn't know I kidnapped you, so don't blame him."

So that's how it was.

Jian Xiaolou turned to Big Gourd. "But the second gourd hasn't recognized me as its master. I can't use it."

"Just think about it and pat the gourd," Big Gourd replied, restraining its urge to hug and lick her. "You're already its master; no need for formalities."

"I'm already its master?" Jian Xiaolou pondered. Could it be that the spirit-gathering tree, Chixiao, originally belonged to Xiaohei?

But that didn't make sense. Legend had it that the 'Immortal' planted the tree 120,000 to 130,000 years ago, while the Chixiao Calamity occurred 100,000 years ago. There was a gap of 20,000 to 30,000 years. This suggested Xiaohei planted the tree, left, returned two or three millennia later, and then perished here.

Or another possibility: the 'Immortal' stole Xiaohei's spirit-gathering tree and planted it in Chixiao. Xiaohei went through great effort to find it, only to die here.

Wait—now wasn't the time for this.

She asked, "What's the point of putting the girl in the gourd? The space inside is static, so she won't grow."

Big Gourd dragged out its words. "But she won't dissipate or die either."

Jian Xiaolou still didn't understand. "How is that different from death?"

This stupid human—was she really the reincarnation of his master?

Big Gourd's expression was full of doubt. He vaguely remembered his master being a male. How did he reincarnate into a woman? And her intelligence—how could it be so... touching? "After Baili Xi gives birth to the boy, she'll conceive again. If the child in her womb isn't another weakling, you can take the girl out of the gourd and put her back in to nurture alongside the new one."

Jian Xiaolou was shocked. "That's possible?"

"In theory, yes," Guiyuan Daojun's expression turned bitter. "But the two children must share the same origin."

The same origin?

Jian Xiaolou paused, her lips twitching. Did this mean Baili would have to borrow Chu Fengchen's seed again?

If the next child still couldn't suppress the current girl, they might need a third...

In her heart, Jian Xiaolou lit a whole row of candles for Chu Fengchen.

Was this a path to becoming a stud?

She asked again, "How can Baili's premature aging be resolved?"

Big Gourd looked skyward. "The only way to stop it is to enter the gourd and never come out."

Jian Xiaolou frowned. "What kind of solution is that? It doesn't solve anything."

"Sis, we're just gourds, not gods. How could we solve everything?"

"..."

Jian Xiaolou had mostly figured out the second gourd's capabilities. It wasn't fair to demand too much of it. So, Baili Xi's premature aging was incurable?

Her good mood from discovering Guiyuan Daojun was alive instantly plummeted.

Guiyuan Daojun gave her a few more instructions before sending her back.

Jian Xiaolou felt depressed even after returning, unable to lift her spirits despite the assurance of Guiyuan Daojun's survival. For the next month, she stayed at the Baili household, rarely venturing out.

During this time, Chu Fengchen and Baili Xi were nowhere to be seen, but Xiaohei returned alone from the First Sword Sect. Every day, Jian Xiaolou used the second gourd to transfer spiritual energy to her elder brother, then spent the rest of her time cultivating. With Zhan Tianxiang as the ideal sparring partner, her Earth Technique from the Dizang Sutra was practically perfected.

One day, while bored in her room, she considered taking out the six-star bone shard to contact Night Wanderer, wondering if he and Su He had escaped Nanshu.

But she hesitated.

When Yueze had extracted her soul, it was Night Wanderer's guidance that saved her life. She regarded him as both a benefactor and a friend. But his actions were indefensible, making her consider ending their friendship.

After much deliberation, she burned a fire soul crystal and threw the bone shard into the flame.

"Night Wanderer!" she barked angrily.

A long pause.

"...Xiaolou?" His voice was groggy, as if half-asleep.