Chapter 288

Chapter 288: Two Souls (4000 words, two-in-one)

“Two souls?”

Ming looked at Zhou with utmost confusion.

“Can we talk somewhere more private?” Zhou smiled mischievously, gesturing toward the room.

Ming nodded; indeed, this wasn’t a conversation for public ears. “Then let’s talk outside the courtyard.”

“In your room, silly~ I’ve been in there before anyway,” Zhou teased with a wink.

Ming: “…”

“Relax, Master Xu. This is your territory after all. Do you really think I’d dare pounce on you?”

What if Her Highness gets jealous and I end up dead in Wudu? I’ve just barely managed to escape, so I don’t want to die so soon! Given the urgency, Ming decided to let her have her way. “Follow me.”

Ming led Zhou to his personal quarters.

After growing up, Ming had always lived with Pengda. Since Pengda was currently away on duty, the courtyard now housed only Ming.

Zhou entered Ming’s room.

Ming’s room was immaculately clean, not a speck of dust anywhere.

As for the furnishings inside, they were exactly as they were when Ming left a year ago, unchanged in the slightest.

This was done to ensure Ming wouldn’t feel uncomfortable upon returning.

Even though Ming, being a illegitimate son, was once overlooked like a mere bystander,

once he gained fame, the Xu Mansion certainly excelled in ‘adding flowers to brocade,’ meticulously attending to every detail to avoid angering Ming.

And it fit perfectly with Ming’s stereotypical impression of the nobility in Wudu.

They admit their mistakes faster than anyone, fawning over you once you prove valuable, but if you’re worthless, they won’t even glance at you.

Actually, it’s not just in Wudu.

Most nobles under heaven are pretty much like that.

Although Ming’s relationship with the Xu family used to be strained, now that they treat him well, one doesn’t strike a smiling face, right? It’s impossible that after rising to prominence, he’d flatten the Xu family.

“So, this is your room? Quite simple, isn’t it? And the courtyard is rather small too. Is this how your family treats their Zhuangyuan?” Zhou asked Ming.

“They offered me a larger courtyard, but I’m not used to it. I chose this one myself,” Ming replied.

“Alright~” Zhou understood why Ming did this—mainly to avoid receiving too many favors from the Xu family.

Without waiting for permission, Zhou sat on Ming’s bed, lightly patting it.

“Your bed is so hard.”

“I prefer sleeping on a hard surface,” Ming said.

Zhou pouted cutely. “But my knees will turn red kneeling on such a bed!”

Ming: “…”

Ming naturally knew what Zhou was insinuating, but he completely ignored her.

“Now you can tell me what happened to my mother,” Ming questioned.

“I don’t know the specifics either—it wasn’t me who did anything to your mother. But regardless, there are only two possibilities.”

Zhou lounged sideways on Ming’s bed, her elegant dress accentuating her voluptuous figure.

Ming suddenly recalled a phrase from his past life—”A collision with women like these would definitely cause waves.”

Ming quickly shoved the thought from those short videos out of his mind.

Short videos truly lead one astray!

“Master Xu was looking at me with such lustful eyes just now~ But I don’t mind at all~ If you wish, we could engage in deeper exchanges~”

Saying this, Zhou slightly lowered her collar, revealing a hint of delicate whiteness.

Ming didn’t blush innocently and look away; instead, he remained composed. “I prefer stopping at the right moment. Please hurry up and explain, Senior.”

“Hmph~” Zhou appeared heated, lifting her skirt to expose her thighs—round, even, and full.

“Master really has no sense of romance.”

Zhou yawned. “Within one body, there can only be one Divine Soul. That’s something everyone knows. So when does a situation arise where there are two souls? First, it could be due to soul possession, but the possession wasn’t complete. The two souls are fighting for control of the body. This often happens when cultivators’ bodies die but their souls escape, thus seizing someone else’s body to ‘reincarnate.’

“Second, it could be natural—a mishap during reincarnation where two souls enter the same body. This usually manifests early on, often resulting in dual personalities.

“There might also be a case where one soul falls into slumber, but on some day, the other personality awakens, leading to the phenomenon of two souls existing within one body.

“The final possibility is someone sealing their own soul.”

“Sealing?” Ming frowned.

While Ming could understand the first two points Zhou mentioned, the last one left him utterly baffled.

“Exactly.” Zhou smirked, then began to undress, leaving only a red peony bellyband, exposing large swaths of white tender skin.

She wore only red underpants below.

In the Wu Kingdom, these undergarments were essentially “triangle pants.”

Indeed, triangle pants existed in this world, originating from the Western Regions. They were convenient, cool in summer, so most women in the Central Plains wore them, mostly made of smooth silk.

With only these two pieces remaining, Zhou presented herself almost entirely to Ming, even revealing her “study highlights” with any slight movement.

“Come give me a shoulder rub~” Zhou beckoned Ming with a finger. “I’m too tired. Only if Master helps me relax can I continue explaining~”

Ming: “…”

For his mother’s sake, Ming had no choice but to step forward.

Zhou grinned, lying down on the bed, her soft curves deforming slightly.

As Ming massaged her shoulders, Zhou continued, “Some cultivators, to hide themselves from powerful beings who might deduce their existence, seal their Divine Souls after going into hiding. It’s similar to locking away memories, but more thorough.

“Then, in this new body, a new Divine Soul gradually forms. This new soul is produced later, which you can interpret as a new set of memories. When the original soul no longer wishes to remain hidden and feels it’s safe to emerge, two souls will coexist within the same body.

“Generally, there are three outcomes: the original soul regains control of the body, and the newly formed soul becomes part of the original.

“The second outcome is both souls sharing the body.”

Ming frowned. “Isn’t it possible for the newly formed soul to seize control of the body?”

“Impossible.” Zhou shook her head. “The strength of the two souls isn’t on the same level. In my opinion, that scenario absolutely cannot happen.”

Ming: “…”

“Is there a way to determine which situation applies to my mother?” Ming asked.

“There is, but I don’t possess such abilities. However, a Daoist might.” Zhou turned over on the bed.

Just as Ming was about to withdraw his hands, Zhou captured them with hers at her chest. “I can help you contact a Daoist. What do you say?”

“Then I’ll trouble Senior.” Ming pulled his hands away from Zhou’s grasp and her “study highlights,” earning him a coy glance from Zhou.

However, Zhou didn’t press further. “Give me a communication Flying Sword. I’ll write a letter to him. You saved him from Three Stone Peak, so he’ll surely come to assist you. Still, it’ll probably take over a month or two for him to arrive. During this time, Young Master Xu mustn’t reveal anything~”

“Understood.” Ming walked toward the door.

“Will Young Master not stay and sleep with Sister Zhou?” Zhou called out to Ming. “Young Master needn’t worry—I won’t harm you. I merely wish to enjoy ourselves properly. Besides, I don’t require you to take responsibility. Just consider me a Qinglou girl~”

“I’m not one to frequent Qinglou houses.” Ming exited the room without even glancing at Zhou.

Watching Ming leave and kindly close the door behind him, Zhou stretched lazily on the bed, hugging the quilt Ming had once slept in. “Such a young man, not appreciating an older sister’s kindness~”

Speaking, Zhou took a deep breath of Ming’s quilt, her eyes gleaming strangely. “It’s been a year, yet this quilt still retains his essence. Perhaps he truly can aid me in breaking through…”

Ming slept in Pengda’s room.

Pengda’s room was also cleaned daily, so it was spotless.

Still, Ming couldn’t sleep soundly, constantly feeling that Zhou might sneak-attack him during the night. After pondering, Ming decided to set up a Magic Array.

Nothing happened throughout the night.

The next morning, Ming visited his mother to offer respects.

After resting overnight, Ming noticed his mother’s complexion seemed somewhat better, albeit just a little.

Ming refrained from asking, “How have you been recently?” or “Mother, do you hear two voices in your mind?”

Doing so would only alarm her prematurely. Thus, Ming acted as usual, pretending to notice nothing, simply advising his mother to take care of her health.

Ming took Sheng Sheng for a stroll around Wudu, buying her some candied haws and preserved fruits.

They then visited Princess Wu at the princess’s residence.

Upon seeing Wu, Sheng Sheng happily rushed forward, only to be pulled back for boxing practice.

At first, Sheng Sheng was reluctant.

She wasn’t against practicing boxing; she just wanted to spend more time with Brother Xu since he had just returned.

But when Wu told her, “Boxing practice mustn’t be abandoned halfway or done lazily. Don’t you want to protect Brother Xu?”

Sheng Sheng immediately became spirited.

After Sheng Sheng started practicing at the princess’s residence, Ming visited old friends.

It had been over a year since he last saw them.

He learned that Li Han and others were still alive and had become centurions.

Especially during this period, Emperor Wu, considering Ming’s return, had specially granted Li Han and others leave.

If everything went according to plan, they should be on leave today.

Arriving at a courtyard gate, Ming gently knocked.

Soon, a woman came out.

She was delicately beautiful, not breathtakingly gorgeous, but still quite attractive—on the level of a village belle. Yet for some reason, Ming detected a strange scent.

Through the gate, Ming saw numerous children playing in the courtyard.

The yard wasn’t small, but the number of children seemed to exceed a hundred. “Could this be an orphanage?” Ming wondered.

“I am Xu Ming, a comrade-in-arms of Li Han from Blood Floating Pagoda. Excuse me for disturbing. Is Li Han residing here?” Ming asked, unsure if he had the right place.

“Ah, the Zhuangyuan himself! My apologies.” The woman bowed deeply. “Li Han frequently mentions your name to me.”

“Excuse me, miss…” Ming hesitated, wondering if she was Li Han’s wife. “My name is Ye Ye, as in the leaf’s Ye and night’s Ye. You can consider me Li Han’s elder sister,” Ye Ye bowed politely.

“Greetings, Elder Sister Ye.” Ming greeted respectfully.

“Li Han should return from the army today, but he hasn’t yet. Please, come in, Master.” Ye Ye invited Ming in.

“If I may disturb you.”

Ming followed her into the courtyard.

The deeper they ventured, the stronger the strange smell Ming had noticed earlier grew. It seemed like demonic energy! “The longer demons reside in a place, the heavier the demonic energy becomes.”

Suddenly, this thought flashed in Ming’s mind.

“It shouldn’t be, right?” Ming inwardly startled.

But what if… Ming activated his Dao Pattern Eye.

After its latest evolution, Ming’s Dao Pattern Eye had gained the ability to discern demonic beings.

Ming worried if there were any hidden threats among the children in the courtyard.

His gaze swept across the courtyard, finding nothing unusual.

But when his gaze landed on Ye Ye standing before him, Ming furrowed his brows.