86: Chapter 76: Karmic Affinity 86: Chapter 76: Karmic Affinity The moist sea breeze, blowing from the farthest north, swept across the North Sea, over the great rivers, and through the vertical and horizontal alleyways of the ancient city.

It also brushed past Jiang Huang’s cheeks, lifting her scattered strands of hair.

The young girl sitting before the paper window was as serene as an adult.

She silently watched the rising tide at the farthest end of the town, inch by inch overflowing the horizon, inch by inch spilling over the walls.

“Where is Xie Xuanyi?”

Jiang Huang suddenly spoke up.

The tone of her voice startled Deng Baiyi for a moment.

It was the first time Deng Baiyi heard Jiang Huang speak like that…

Throughout their journey from Qing State, the little one always sounded as if she had not fully woken up.

Mostly, she seemed foolish.

But at this moment, her tone was quite stern.

And her way of referring to Xie Zhen was also very strange.

Xie?

Deng Baiyi felt somewhat unfamiliar with this.

Jiang Huang slowly turned her head, a captivating golden flash passing through the depths of her pupils, but it was fleeting.

The next instant, her expression became vacant, “Sister Baiyi?”

The little one threw herself into Deng Baiyi’s arms, rubbing her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s, “The floodwaters are rising…

I’m so scared…”

“Don’t be afraid.”

Deng Baiyi gently stroked the little one’s head.

She looked down at Jiang Huang…

The familiar feeling returned.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Xie Zhen.”

Jiang Huang stretched out her finger, drawing circles on Deng Baiyi’s chest, her voice filled with grievance, “Did Xie Zhen run away and leave us behind?”

“How could that be?”

Deng Baiyi found this conversation bittersweet.

She smoothed Jiang Huang’s hair, and spoke slowly, “Would you like to go somewhere with Sister Baiyi?”

…

…

“The rain in the Imperial City today is really heavy.”

Today, the Zhi Dao Bookstore had an unexpected visitor.

Chen Jingxuan was seated before the desk, he slowly set down the scroll in his hand, lifting his head to look at the man clad in a crimson robe standing before him.

“Brother Baihuang.”

Chen Jingxuan rolled up his sleeves and poured a cup of tea for his guest, asking in a gentle voice, “What wind has blown you here?”

The visitor was none other than Qin Baihuang, the head of the Refining Department.

Qin Baihuang didn’t stand on ceremony, taking a seat directly opposite Chen Jingxuan.

He picked up the tea cup and drained it in one gulp, “State Preceptor, if Baihuang were to say he was just strolling and happened to stop by the bookstore, would you believe him?”

Chen Jingxuan smiled faintly.

He picked up the teapot again and poured a second cup for Qin Baihuang.

With a light sigh, Qin Baihuang drained it once more, “Actually, I’m here to take shelter from the rain.”

Chen Jingxuan poured the third cup for Qin Baihuang.

“Alright,”

Qin Baihuang earnestly said, “There have been some problems with the research of the Thousand Mechanism Umbrella, so I made a special trip to consult with you.”

Chen Jingxuan looked down indifferently and said, “Oh?

What’s the problem with the Thousand Mechanism Umbrella?”

“The array patterns on the umbrella ribs are too fragile.

The moment the umbrella is opened, the Magic Artifact will fall apart.”

Qin Baihuang spoke of his dilemma, “If we can’t sort out the array patterns, then the Thousand Mechanism Umbrella will only be a one-time Magic Artifact…

And every time it’s opened, its power is uncontrollable, sometimes strong, sometimes weak.

I hope the State Preceptor could shed some light on this mystery.”

“If the array patterns are no good, then change to a different one.”

Chen Jingxuan said calmly, “Baihuang, you should be much more skilled at this than I.”

“I have switched to many different array patterns over these ten years.”

Qin Baihuang still smiled, “However, not a single one of the array patterns can support the Thousand Mechanism Umbrella that I have in mind…”

“This implies that the Thousand Mechanism Umbrella is merely a concept.”

Chen Jingxuan said, “The nonexistence of array patterns that can support it might mean that this umbrella should not exist either.”

“Does the lack of precedent mean it will never exist in the future?”

Qin Baihuang said meaningfully, propping his chin with his hand.

Then he suddenly recalled an old matter, “State Preceptor, over ten years ago, someone made a suggestion to me…

That person’s proposal was rather absurd; he said if the Thousand Mechanism Umbrella needs a sturdy frame, why not use a sword to replace it?”

“Use a sword…

to replace the umbrella ribs?”

Chen Jingxuan raised an eyebrow.

“Doesn’t it sound foolish?”

Qin Baihuang smiled, “I scoffed at it then, but now, it seems like a good idea…

If we find a famed sword to serve as the frame, the most challenging part of the Thousand Mechanism Umbrella could be resolved without needing array patterns or wasting time.

As long as the sword is sturdy enough to withstand the burst when the umbrella is opened, the problem that has plagued me for years could be solved.”

“That is indeed a good idea.”

Chen Jingxuan asked, “Why didn’t you accept it?”

“Because what I was making was an umbrella, not a sword, nor a scabbard.”

Qin Baihuang spoke somberly, “That person was solely interested in tricking me into making a scabbard for him…

If I had taken his advice, I would have fulfilled his wish.”

At this point,

both understood what the other was thinking.

Chen Jingxuan poured himself a cup of tea and spoke softly, “So, what’s wrong with fulfilling that person’s wish?”

“Looking at it now, there’s nothing wrong,”

“But back then I didn’t think so.”

Qin Baihuang cast down his eyes, self-deprecating as he spoke, “Although that guy was odd, he wasn’t bad.

Perhaps I should have made a scabbard for him.

That might have allowed him to survive.”

After a pause,

Qin Baihuang looked up and frankly said, “My visit today is not about seeking shelter from the rain, nor about the Thousand Mechanism Umbrella.

I’m here for ‘Xie Xuanyi’.”

That name had not appeared in the streets and alleys of the Imperial City for a long time.

“Xie Xuanyi?”

Chen Jingxuan didn’t look at Qin Baihuang, but continued to quietly turn the pages of his book, “He has been dead for a long time.”

“Who knows?”

Qin Baihuang’s eyes lit up with a sharp gleam.

He said in a deep voice, “His body wasn’t found in the North Sea, and the Refining Department along with the Imperial City have been searching for ten years without even finding his sword!

You also know, that guy was very lucky – when the Northern Hunt was ambushed years ago, we thought he was dead too…

but not only did he survive, he actually lived quite well, and in the end, even brought back a phoenix-blooded Great Demon!”