After Transmigrating into a Book, I Became Partners with My Mortal Enemy - Chapter 21

Ding Xiandi’s praise held a deeper meaning. The faint, shy flush on You Fuling’s face vanished instantly, and she finally understood the impulse Ji Ding had to genuinely strangle her.

The person who had just been crying out in pain was now ignoring her wound, ready to leave.

You Fuling asked, “Where are you going?”

Ding Xiandi threw on her outer robe. “To the Scripture Library. There is still work to be done.”

The original owner’s poverty was known to all, but You Fuling was the only one who truly understood what the real Ding Xiandi’s personality was like, which made her feel more empathetic.

You Fuling said, “I am not short on spirit stones, and I have plenty of spirit banknotes. You can use mine.”

The person who had pulled aside the door curtain turned back, not seeming to think this was any great vow of love. “Isn’t that normal? We are daoist partners now. Isn’t it only natural for us to help each other?”

Remembering this, Ding Xiandi let out an “oh,” as if she had just recalled something she had not told her yet. “I forgot to tell you, I have already applied for the daoist partner certification. You should prepare yourself later. I am leaving first.”

There were many disciples in Tianji Academy who already had daoist partners. Those in the Dharma Cultivation department or the Liantian Sect, where You Fuling belonged, were experienced in this. It was unlike Ding Xiandi’s sect, which had withered away, and she had very few connections in the Sword Cultivation department.

You Fuling replied, “I am coming with you.”

The medical hall was bustling with people, most of them pill cultivators with robes smelling of scorched herbs. When they caught sight of a flash of blue from a sword cultivator, they looked over curiously.

Ding Xiandi asked, “Don’t you have classes?”

The person who had rushed over earlier was not out of breath, but after walking a few steps, she clutched her heart.

Ding Xiandi could not tell if she was truly ill or just pretending, but she stopped to wait for her anyway.

You Fuling said, “My senior sister gave me leave.”

Ding Xiandi wanted to shrug, but she almost forgot she was injured and hissed in pain. “I am going to earn spirit stones, not to play. Do you really want to come with me?”

You Fuling nodded.

Whether at the Liantian Sect or Tianji Academy, almost no one approached her except for Ji Ding.

First, her senior sister acted like a mother hen protecting her chicks and did not like random people getting close to her fragile second junior sister.

Second, You Fuling’s personality was reclusive; she did not enjoy socializing. Apart from attending classes, she had never been to any other part of Tianji Academy.

Ding Xiandi, however, had wandered through most of it shortly after transmigrating here; she had even stumbled into the resting area for the mechanical cranes while looking for her senior sister and was almost blasted out.

The sword cultivator looked her over twice, and just as You Fuling thought she would be rejected, she nodded. “Then let’s go.”

Her right shoulder was injured, leaving her with only one usable hand. Still unwilling to give up, she asked You Fuling, “Are there really no pills for a quick recovery? The pill you fed me before was quite effective.”

She was referring to the wound on her face the day she transmigrated. You Fuling shook her head. “If everything were that effective, no one in this world would ever get injured. You have seen it yourself; some disciples use mechanical parts to replace severed limbs.”

Beyond the medical hall lay the academy’s bamboo forest. They had a long way to go to reach the Scripture Library and needed to pass through the bamboo forest to take the academy’s ferry skiff.

There were fewer people on this small path than in the front hall, and the noise seemed to be left far behind them.

On one side of the bamboo-lined path, there were disciples whispering intimately, but they paid no mind to the two girls walking by side-by-side.

Ding Xiandi had not slept well all night and had been injured that morning, so she felt sleepy even while walking. She squinted at the sky through the gaps in the bamboo leaves. “That is true. Otherwise, with your genius status in a major sect, you would have been cured long ago.”

Ding Xiandi did not understand You Fuling’s personality, and You Fuling did not understand the real personality of this person either.

She thought this remark was mockery, and just as she was pondering how to respond, Ding Xiandi spoke again: “I see that the cranes are all mechanical, and The Miscellaneous Records of Liuguang mentions other mechanical lifeforms. Since cultivation cannot bring the dead back to life or regrow flesh and bone, this technology can reattach severed bones. Is it that hard for you to replace your heart?”

You Fuling fell silent for a long time; for a moment, only the sound of footsteps on fallen leaves could be heard.

Not far ahead was the medical hall’s ferry stop. Ding Xiandi walked a few steps before realizing someone had not followed.

She turned back to see You Fuling with her head down. The wind blew up her veil, and unlike the suggestive, slightly torn lip of Ding Xiandi, You Fuling looked devoid of any intimate traces.

“What is wrong?”

Ding Xiandi smiled. “It is fine to let my imagination run wild for a bit, right?”

After a few more steps, she suddenly remembered. “I almost forgot, it is not actually your heart that is the problem.”

The outer robe she had sewn was a bit shorter than the crimson one underneath. Her plain face became vivid because of the look in her eyes, without a trace of gloom.

You Fuling glanced at her, discovering that neither kisses nor wounds could shake the person in front of her in the slightest.

Neither of them belonged to this world. Even the academy disciples whispering nearby were more open-minded than You Fuling.

Kisses, caresses, dual cultivation—these were all considered indulgence. Even those who practiced the Dao did not believe in eternity, yet You Fuling still longed to possess this person completely.

She needed this floating driftwood too much.

Ding Xiandi stared at You Fuling and noticed that the other girl’s eye rims were red.

Not understanding why, Ding Xiandi turned back toward You Fuling.

It took only three steps to reach her.

So close, yet reaching out still felt so far.

“I meant that perhaps this world can allow you to be a healthy person.” Ding Xiandi tried to fish something out of her sleeve, like a handkerchief, but unfortunately, all she pulled out was the mirror she had just stolen from You Fuling; the rest were just talismans she had drawn herself.

Her copper-coin hair tie was blown up by the wind, and Ding Xiandi coughed awkwardly. “I know saying things like this does not have much meaning.”

She used her left hand to take hold of You Fuling’s hand. Her body was stiff on one side, but she no longer hunched her back or lowered her head as she used to.

“Your senior sister told me via the Tianji Command that your body has anomalies. I do not understand divination or fortune-telling, but those who tell fortunes never speak with certainty.”

Ji Ding did indeed find Ding Xiandi unpleasant.

It seemed that after realizing the compatibility of these two from You Fuling’s state today, she instead relayed her concerns to Ding Xiandi through the Tianji Command.

This was almost a desperate entrustment; Ding Xiandi had to accept it whether she liked it or not.

“Isn’t there still a glimmer of hope? Think positively. If people can die over there and live here, maybe it is just ‘nesting doll’ reincarnation. Perhaps that side was not our first lifetime either; it is possible we have just forgotten.”

You Fuling did not believe it, asking with a sneer, “Then, thinking positively, do you intend to stay here?”

The person holding her hand shook her head. “No, I still want to go home.”

Ding Xiandi looked around, and just then, the ferry skiff arrived. She asked, “Do you have any spirit stones on you? I am penniless; I am relying on you.”

Even though You Fuling knew how wealthy she used to be, she still felt a subtle sense of indignation.

Ding Xiandi said, “I cannot help it; I am just poor and pitiful right now.”

Most disciples’ Tianji Commands were bound to spirit stones, no different from swiping a card for a bus.

After boarding the skiff, You Fuling could not help but ask, “What if I did not come with you?”

Ding Xiandi replied, “I would walk there myself, or hitch a ride on a private skiff.”

There were things the original owner would not do, but Ding Xiandi was capable of doing them.

The academy’s admissions in this world were age-restricted, so most were the same age. The remaining loose cultivators were also concerned with their reputation, projecting an image of generosity. The rich kid who had never taken advantage of anyone before had also learned how to survive in difficult circumstances.

You Fuling twitched the corner of her eye. Ding Xiandi asked, “Regret it?”

“Since our daoist partner application has not been processed yet, it is not too late to cancel. But you will have to pay the service fee.”

She did not forget to grumble, “They even charge a service fee, so stingy. No wonder a group of people are desperate to get into the Hidden Heaven Department; the benefits must be good.”

You Fuling, who had never lacked money in any world, did not understand. She only knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and she could not help but ask one more thing: “Do you have other candidates?”

Ding Xiandi shook her head; she was still checking information on Zu Jinxi.

You Fuling, standing beside her, caught a glimpse of Ding Xiandi’s search history on her Tianji Command, “West Sea.”

She asked, “West Sea?”

The Tianji Command was like the first smartphones in their original world; it lagged so much it had double-images, making it easy to kick the internet addiction.

Ding Xiandi did not hide it. “Mei Chi’s hometown.”

You Fuling raised her voice, “Your candidate is Mei Chi?”

Ding Xiandi clicked her tongue. Combining what Zu Jinxi said about You Fuling waiting for Mei Chi at the medical hall entrance, she asked, “Do you have a problem with Mei Chi?”

You Fuling shook her head. She looked into the distance. Aside from them, there were other pill cultivators on the skiff, but they had gotten off at the previous stops.

The Scripture Library was the last stop, and the person piloting the skiff was a professor within the academy.

The ferry was protected by surrounding runes, and each pilot was accompanied by a mechanical crane, like double insurance.

“You Fuling.”

“Hmm.”

“You Fuling.”

“Hmm.”

“A’Shan.”

“What is it?”

The person beside her kept repeating it. You Fuling could not stand it anymore and met Ding Xiandi’s teasing gaze.

You Fuling said, “Speak if you have something to say.”

Even if Ding Xiandi could look after her for a night and show her affection for You Fuling in front of everyone, only You Fuling knew it was all fake. If she had no value to be utilized, Ding Xiandi would not care at all.

But Mei Chi was different. Ding Xiandi was good to her as if Mei Chi were her own younger sister.

Why? Clearly, I am the one most intimate with Ding Xiandi.

Ding Xiandi said, “Nothing.”

Just then, the skiff landed. She jumped off the deck and reached out a hand to You Fuling.

The girl wearing the veil ignored her. When she landed, the hem of her daoist robe fluttered. Ding Xiandi let out a laugh. “Childish.”

You Fuling turned her head. “What is childish?”

Ding Xiandi said, “Asking that is very childish.”

At this hour, there were not many people in the Scripture Library. The white stork napping at the door already recognized Ding Xiandi and even let her pluck a feather.

You Fuling watched her teasing cranes and cats all the way inside, as if it were her own home, and could not help but ask, “Do you spend every day soaking in here?”

Ding Xiandi easily picked up her task for the day, dragged You Fuling to a secluded corner, and shoved paper and a brush into her hand. “You help me copy.”

The Liantian Sect’s Scripture Library was far less magnificent than the Tianji Academy’s. The daylight lamps were ornate decorations, and even the cabinets had flowing runes. To find a specific category, one only needed to fill in the relevant category on the Tianji Command.

You Fuling asked in disbelief, “You want me to do your work?”

Ding Xiandi nodded. “I was injured by your senior sister; why can’t you help me?”

Walking through the library, Ding Xiandi understood the organization of the categories. Usually, places like this had areas where ordinary people could not enter, and forbidden books had seals.

According to the plot of the original book, Ding Xiandi was destined to fall into demonic cultivation, so there was no need to look for any cultivation methods.

What she wanted to read was not in the list of forbidden books; they were all miscellaneous discussions of the cultivation world.

Geography, mineral energy and spiritual veins, rare beasts, and so on. The rare books she was copying were obscure and difficult to understand, but reading them to find answers was also a way to relax.

You Fuling refused verbally, but she knew that with this person’s injuries, doing this work would not be easy. Ding Xiandi took a few books and walked to You Fuling’s side. “I am looking for categories related to space-time transfer; take a look.”

She sat down next to You Fuling, pulling out the volumes along with her personal research notes.

You Fuling did not refuse. She read intently, and Ding Xiandi, sitting on the side, did not seem to want her to do all the work either; she could still hold a brush and write with her left hand, though the speed was a bit slower.

While copying, Ding Xiandi asked, “In the years you have been here, have you not thought about going back?”

She had asked this question before. You Fuling’s hand gripping the book tightened slightly. Ding Xiandi pretended not to see it. “You do not need to do as I wish.”

You Fuling replied, “When have I ever done as you wish?”

Ding Xiandi’s handwriting was tight in structure, a great contrast to her own go-with-the-flow nature. She remained head-down, copying the rare books. “Always. You are much easier to talk to than I imagined.”

They had been very close last night, yet they were still separated by a vast river, constantly testing each other.

Ding Xiandi curled her lips, which pulled at the wound You Fuling had bitten, and she hissed, sighing slightly. “Too obedient.”

Being obedient did not mean You Fuling was not dangerous.

Ding Xiandi did not know if her talk of killing and death was true, but the other person was at least, like herself, walking on the edge of death to have arrived here.

Everything here was different.

Forces were intertwined, and peers were harboring ulterior motives. In their original world, their parents had created a vacuum-sealed environment where they were at least safe. But here, losing one’s life was quite normal.

Ding Xiandi’s constitution was anomalous, cultivation was arduous, the sect was dilapidated, and there was the future of falling into demonic cultivation from the original book, making things even harder.

She thought a lot, but for now, she could only look for elusive clues in places like this.

The few space-time inversion techniques she had found so far were mostly stories from the Liuguang Nine Provinces and had no factual basis.

The pamphlet she handed to You Fuling also only had an interesting concluding remark:

Heaven and Earth inverted, insects and fish transformed; combine the Zhurou Tripod, the Heavenly Candle’s Tears, and Rootless Water. Write the ‘Fuyu Duzhuan’ Talisman, turn nine hundred spiritual lights, only then can one return to whence they came.

You Fuling glanced at it. “What exactly are you trying to say?”

She had arrived a few years before Ding Xiandi and still did not understand what these “three things” were.

Regardless of whether this method, placed alongside the stories of the Nine Provinces, was true, “Heaven and Earth” and “insects and fish” were already hard to achieve, let alone these three things.

There was also the requirement that the talisman must be written by five people, all at least at the Golden Core stage.

Not to mention how to draw this “Fuyu Duzhuan” Talisman, people at the Golden Core stage were hard to find, and there were further requirements regarding age and birth dates.

Ding Xiandi said, “You helped me with a task; you do not have to help with everything.”

She propped her cheek up and looked at You Fuling. “Of course, I do not mind money, but as for other things, you do not have to take care of me this much.”

You Fuling scoffed, “Do you think I like you?”

Ding Xiandi replied, “I did not say that.”

Even to this point, she had not put down her pen. Even though her left hand wrote very slowly, her strokes were powerful, and her style remained.

This, of course, was not the poor, pitiful Ding Xiandi that You Fuling was disappointed by. They had competed since they were small, and calligraphy was one of the things.

They say there is no first place in literature, but compared to her own handwriting, You Fuling liked Ding Xiandi’s brushwork more.

She took the brush from Ding Xiandi and wrote her own name on the cover page of the other’s notebook.

Stroke by stroke, it was not “You Fuling.” It was her original, despised, ill-omened name.

Ding Xiandi looked in surprise at the three characters that looked exactly as if she had written them herself.

The library was quiet and empty. The old man guarding the library was a drinker who kept a fat cat, which was now lying on the eaves sunning itself.

Wufang Island was isolated from the world. The Scripture Library was located at the extreme east, where the sound of the ocean waves could be clearly heard.

In Ding Xiandi’s faint impression, the girl who was always bowing her head removed her veil, revealing the rune that looked like a birthmark.

She was the same as before, yet different. Her extremely deep eyes gazed at Ding Xiandi, and the question she asked sounded like an interrogation:

“What if I really like you?”

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