294: Take Me With You

Take Me With You

I inched closer to the portal. Just as I was about to examine it more thoroughly with my spiritual power, a slight tug on my wrist pulled me back. "Qing-er," Bai Ye's voice called softly.2

I looked back at him. After what he just told me this morning, I knew he wasn't going to stop me anymore, but he must still be worried about me going after her so quickly. "I'll be careful," I promised with a smile. "She's going to be busy, and Wen Shiyin will be there to help me. Don't worry."

He shook his head though. "First, I'm not leaving your side. Take me with you."

I blinked. The way he just said those words … almost didn't sound like him. It was a command, leaving me no room to argue, but it was also spoken so caringly and gently that it didn't come out commanding at all, as if that was the only natural thing he was reminding me to do.

For the third time today, he had surprised me.

I darted a quick look at the remaining disciples, still trying various ways to break through the sword spirit's invisibility spell and locate her. "You're not staying with them?" I ventured. "I thought maybe at least one of us should be here to help."

He gave me a sideways glance. "They had no idea we were going to be here today, and they were prepared to take care of this situation all by themselves anyway. Give the young people a chance to hone their skills."

I almost laughed at how grand an excuse he just came up with. I knew he was only trying to stay with me though, and I couldn't blame him. So I nodded and took his hand in mine. "I can do the same thing I did at Misty Mountains to bring you along through the portal," I said. "Just hold on tight."

But he only tugged on my hand again. "Second," he continued, "let me show you the spell to summon her soul."

My heart skipped a beat. I had been so focused on trying to save the other two that I almost forgot this was the time. The sword spirit was no longer fooling around. She had made her final move, and it was now our turn to finish the game she started.

"I should have thought of that sooner," I said. "Is there enough time for it now?"

He squeezed my hand. "It won't take long. There are no incantations for this spell. It's all in our mind. Just close your eyes … Feel me, and follow my lead."

I felt an urge to keep an eye on the rest of the group and the sword spirit, who were all still caught up in that ritual over East Village. But knowing that Bai Ye must have reasons to deem it safe for us to drift out like this, I obeyed, closing my eyes and shifting my attention away from the noises around us, focusing solely on my mind.

His consciousness reached for mine, and his spiritual power stirred in me. I knew that was intended to mimic the resonation between me and the sword spirit, so I let him lead that power, feeling it as he took control of its flow inside me. It encompassed my consciousness, making it open up to his presence. But unlike the spell to share his memories, where we had opened up to each other completely and freely, he guided me differently this time, showing me where to let him in and where to keep my guard up. He didn't give me any access to his mind, or the other way around. Instead, he led my consciousness to rest precariously close to his, just enough to let our spiritual power mingle and mix, but not enough to let either of us affect each other's thoughts.

He let things stay that way for a while, giving me time to remember all the intricate details at work. Then his presence slowly faded away. He squeezed my hand again. "Can you do it?" he asked.

I blinked my eyes open. What he just showed me was actually quite complicated, but somehow, it was already etched into my mind as if I had done it hundreds of times. I couldn't help but marvel at whatever technique he used to achieve that effect. "Yes," I said, "I think I'll be quite fine."

He smiled. This time, it was not a hesitant smile filled with worry, but a confident one full of faith. "Then if you're ready, let's get to it." He glanced over my shoulder at the rest of the group. "I've used a spell to create a hallucination, so no one would notice our disappearance. I know that's not the way you want to leave your friends … But it's the best way to avoid alarming the sword spirit and making her suspect anything with her ritual. It will help to keep everyone safe."

Instinctively, I thought of arguing, but reason told me he was right. We needed to distract the sword spirit from realizing that the ritual had been modified, and from turning her attention to this portal to hunt down Lin Zhe and Wen Shiyin before we got a chance to find them. So I nodded. "I'll explain everything to them when we get back," I said. "I'm ready to get going."

Bai Ye released my hand then. Just like the first time we were at Misty Mountains, he scooped me up into his arms and stepped into the center of the portal spell. "Tell me where to go," he said.

I summoned my spiritual power, turning my full attention to the portal. Feeling the faint tug of energy under our feet, I guided him, tracing an elaborate pattern with his steps. Slowly, I felt the power around us starting to shift, awakening something as we drew out the symbol hidden beneath us.

Then, with a sudden surge of power, the ground dropped, enveloping us in darkness.

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