As he channelled energy into the Window of Tunes, gentle winds immediately picked up within the chamber, wrapping around not only Zhao Yunxiao, but the rest of the group as well. A familiar mental image of his surroundings formed in Zhao Yunxiao's head, allowing him to not only sense, but also control the energy contained within the winds.
The treasure flute allowed him to summon two different types of wind – one for healing and one for destruction.
However, it was doing neither of the two at the moment.
Instead, Zhao Yunxiao was actually borrowing it as a medium to execute a third function.
He had long realised that the Zodiac Scripture was more than just an aid to the cultivation of the body strengthening system.
Just like how the Dragon Aspect could also be used as a form of attack, the Rooster Aspect was not limited to just improving his own sound resistance as well. By incorporating his understanding of the Rooster Aspect with the active ability of the treasure flute, he was able to extend this effect and imbue the entire group with an enhanced level of sound resistance, albeit to a lesser degree in comparison to himself.
This was made possible due to the close similarities between the two techniques, both of which focusing on sound as a medium.
Unfortunately, the current Zhao Yunxiao was still rather unfamiliar with the Zodiac Scripture. Had it been the Zodiac General Long Shiqian, there was no way that he would have needed a separate medium just to achieve such a result.
A single word from him would have sufficed!
Cai Caoyuan instinctively clasped his ears in fear, only to realise that the spirit's ear-piercing screech no longer brought him the same pain as it had before. At the most, it could only be considered an irritating screech.
As for Chang Huien and Xi Hei, they remained blissfully ignorant about the agony that the spirit's screech could have brought them if not for Zhao Yunxiao's interference. In fact, even Gu Qiansi and Lu Zhiying were surprised at just how harmless the spirit's powerful screech had become.
"This...! What did you do?!" the spirit screamed in disbelief. "Why is this not working?!"
"It's over, Tingyi."
"No! I don't accept this! I cannot! This is not fair! Why are we the ones to suffer?!"
"Do you still not get it, Tingyi? The ones who wronged us are already gone. There is no reason for us to suffer any longer."
"What do you mean they are gone? There are still so many people left!"
"The people of today have nothing to do with the events of the past. It is time to let it go."
"But, this...!"
"Young Cultivator, I might have committed grave mistakes, but I have also accumulated good karma in the past. In light of that, may I shamelessly ask you for a favour?"
"Let's hear what it is before I give you an answer," Zhao Yunxiao said.
"Of course. In that case, may I seek your mercy in sending my Tingyi for reincarnation instead of exterminating her soul? In exchange, I am willing to sacrifice all of the good karma that I have accumulated, even if it means being made to suffer for eternity in the nether world."
"What?! Master, no! I am not going to let you sacrifice yourself once again! I am here to help you, not to harm you! If anything, I am willing to be exterminated for good if that means you can reincarnate well!"
"Young Cultivator, what do you say?"
"No! No way! He is not going to agree to this! Don't agree to this!"
"I understand," Zhao Yunxiao answered solemnly. "Sir Lei He, considering the contributions and sacrifices that you have made to help stabilise the region in the past, I shall grant you your wish. I will ferry your disciple's soul for reincarnation instead of exterminating her."
"Thank you, Young Cultivator."
"What?! No! I don't accept this! No!"
"Lei Tingyi, you have committed heinous crimes both during your time alive and after. Logically, your soul should be exterminated instead of being allowed back to the nether world. However, I will make an exception for the sake of your master, Lei He," Zhao Yunxiao let out a deep sigh. "And don't worry, your master will be following right behind you."
"Eh?"
"Young Cultivator? You mean...?"
"Lei Tingyi, while you have committed various atrocities, it can also be considered to have originated from a sense of misguided loyalty to your master. And while your twisted actions have caused fear and harm to various people, your master is willing to expend his accumulated karma from saving hundreds of thousands more. With that, neither of you would need to be purged from existence," Zhao Yunxiao continued. "Of course, all I can do is ferry your souls to the nether world. Whether or not you will receive a different judgement there is something completely out of my control. I just need you to answer one thing... Do you repent?"
"This..."
"Thank you for showing mercy, Young Cultivator! And what are you waiting for, Tingyi? Answer the Young Cultivator!"
"But Master... this... is this really possible?"
"Tingyi! Hurry!"
"I... I repent..."
"What about you, Lei He? Do you repent?"
"Thank you for showing mercy, Young Cultivator. I repent."
"Good," Zhao Yunxiao kept away the Window of Tunes with a smirk. He lifted his palm from the ground, forming a mudra with both hands.
Next, he seemed to have entered a trance as a long series of words escaped his lips – words that the ordinary mortals present had never heard before in their lives.
In fact, among the people present, only Gu Qiansi recognised it as a soul-ferrying chant, meant to relieve spirits of their existing obsessions and deliver them for reincarnation.
Others might not be able to see the direct effect of the chant, but as time passed, the two souls felt their thoughts clearing up more and more. Slowly, they started separating not just from the silver pendant, but also from each other.
"Any last words?" Zhao Yunxiao asked.
"Tingyi, if we get the chance to be reincarnated, let's be good people in our next lives."
"Don't speak as though you are at fault as well, Master. I am being absolutely honest when I say that you are the most perfect person to have ever existed. But I promise you, I will definitely try to live according to your principles if I get the chance to live another life," Lei Tingyi's voice was no longer as bone-chilling as before. "And there is one more thing that I have never gotten the chance to tell you – I have always loved you."
"...Tingyi, we are master and disciple. Such a relationship would be inappropriate."
"I know. I know that as perfect as you are, you would never reciprocate my feelings, which is why I have never said this out loud. However, I am confident that you secretly love me too, and nothing you say will convince me otherwise."
"Tingyi..."
"You are not denying it. That is the best proof that I am right. I can only hope that if we ever get to have a next life, then our love will no longer be restricted by such meaningless societal norms that divide us master and disciple..."
The purple threads binding the spirit slowly constricted down to wrap around just the silver pendant itself, indicating that the two souls were gone.
Zhao Yunxiao let out a deep sigh and got to his feet. "It's over."
Silence.
A heavy, almost suffocating, atmosphere bore down upon everyone present as not a single person spoke. Not Gu Qiansi or Lu Zhiying. Not Cai Caoyuan, Chang Huien, or Xi Hei.
Zhao Yunxiao lightly tapped the Soul Suppression Shell Array, and the golden emblem on the ground quickly faded away.
He casually picked up the silver pendant before walking over to hand it to Cai Caoyuan. "Here, Boss Cai. As promised, I now return your silver pendant, undamaged."
"Lord Zhao..." Cai Caoyuan received the silver pendant with two trembling hands. As he felt the cold touch of the pendant on his palms, he could not help but keep thinking about what he had just witnessed.
Those were the souls of the legendary ancestor Sir Lei He and his disciple Lei Tingyi.
That was a front-row seat that provided precious glimpses into their thoughts... into the events that had crossed time to arrive here from the past.
At this very moment, he was so overwhelmed with emotions that the silver pendant, something that he had always hailed as a precious heirloom of the city, was actually the last thing on his mind!
"Is all of that... real?" Chang Huien asked with a trembling voice, clearly just as affected as Cai Caoyuan.
"I have no reason to make this up," Zhao Yunxiao said as Gu Qiansi and Lu Zhiying walked up to his side. "From now on, there should no longer be a curse surrounding the performance. If you really need some sort of proof, that will be it. That said, it might take some time for the relevant rumours to truly come to an end."
"Thank you, great cultivators!" Xi Hei fell to his knees in relief. "I'm saved... I'm truly saved now!"
"Thank you, Young Heroes," Cai Caoyuan echoed emotionally. "I don't know how we can ever repay you..."
Fatigue that had accumulated over the years quickly drained from his body as he fell back into his chair. For so many years, he had been subjected to the death threats from the Scarlet Leaf Sect, the guilt of repeatedly getting new actors to bear the weight of the curse, and the pressure to keep the performance going as bait for other cultivators.
The actors and actresses of his company only had to perform every evening, but he had to put on a show every day, every minute, every second.
One wrong step, and what awaited him would have been death.
But now, he could finally rest!
Seeing the looks on the three ordinary mortals' faces, Gu Qiansi could not help but let out a smile. It had had its fair share of dangers, but it was good to see that their work here had been of help to the locals.
"I am here on behalf of the Black Tortoise Sect, so there is no need to talk about repayment," Zhao Yunxiao said. "But if you really wish to do something for us, do you know of a Wen Guoping and Jue Qishi?"
"Hmm? They are?" Cai Caoyuan asked in confusion.
"They are two naive kids who just came to the city and joined your Good Luck Theatre Group not long ago," Zhao Yunxiao replied. "They can be considered slightly fated with us, so it would be great if you could lend them a hand from the shadows."
"I see," Cai Caoyuan let out a genuine smile for the first time in a long while. "Consider it done. I will make sure that they are provided for. And don't worry, I will not let them know that this is because of you."
"Mm," Zhao Yunxiao nodded. "Now then, shall we go deal with the city guards that have arrived a while ago?"
His words caused Chang Huien's eyes to narrow.
"So, they have arrived as expected," Chang Huien said while making for the stairs. "You have upheld your end of the promise. Now, it is my turn to do so."