Chapter 193

Chapter 193: Burning With Eyes Covered

Aunt naturally understood the reason for Lou Yun’s shock. She gave a bitter smile and said, "Young Master Lou, please don’t be surprised. Actually, when Tong’er was born, our entire Shui family was thrown into an uproar. No one had expected that his body would also bear the water contract."

Realizing his loss of composure, Lou Yun promptly sat back down and immediately pointed at Shui Lingtong. "Then what exactly is going on here?"

Aunt shook her head with a rueful smile. "I’m truly sorry, but I don’t know. Not even our clan head knows what this means!"

However, at that moment, Chang Xiang within Lou Yun’s consciousness murmured silently, "It seems that old legend might actually be true. Two bearers of the water contract have emerged simultaneously. If the clans of the Fire Contract and Wind Contract face similar circumstances as the Water Clan… then ah, Lou Yun… Lou Yun, your burden grows heavier still!"

Chang Xiang didn’t share these thoughts with Lou Yun. As he’d said himself, it wasn’t yet time. What’s more, even he couldn’t determine whether finding Lou Yun was mere coincidence or truly fate’s design.

Lou Yun remained dazed for a while. Since not even their clan head understands this, there’s no point in me dwelling on it, he thought. I should quickly ask about removing the water contract instead. But is this child truly aware of the method?

"Little brother, do you know how to remove the water contract from your mother, your sister, and yourself?"

Shui Lingtong nodded firmly. "Of course I do!"

"How?"

Despite his youth, Shui Lingtong was clearly no ignorant child. Instead of answering Lou Yun immediately, he turned to look at his mother. Only after seeing her nod did he face Lou Yun again. "Brother Lou, the method is actually quite simple. It requires burning the water contract away."

This answer made Lou Yun exhale deeply with relief. Since it involved burning, it certainly involved fire. If there was one thing he was confident about, it was handling fire. Chang Xiang’s speculation seemed right – he truly could help the water family shed their contract.

Unaware of Lou Yun’s rising confidence, Shui Lingtong continued on his own. "But it’s strange, really. Our clan has tried many times before. Ordinary flames can’t burn the contract upon my body away. Not even higher-tier human fire could do it. So until now, we still have no idea what kind of flame could destroy the water contract."

Hearing this, the sliver of assurance Lou Yun felt vanished. A new worry surfaced – what if even his Fusang Fire couldn’t burn the contract away? After all, the temperature he could control wasn’t yet very high, and Fusang Fire ranked as the lowest among the Eighteen Known Heavenly Fires.

Lou Yun rubbed his hands thoughtfully. "Have you tried using Heavenly Fire?"

Aunt and Shui Lingluo could only listen on in confusion to Lou Yun and Shui Lingtong’s conversation. As women of the Shui family, they hadn’t even earned the qualification to undergo the burning attempts – only Shui Lingtong had been subjected to the clan’s tests so far.

Yet it was Aunt who responded first to Lou Yun’s question. "Certainly not. Those who possess Heavenly Fire are incredibly rare. And even if they existed, our Shui family in its current decline couldn’t possibly form a connection strong enough to invite one; as you see, we have fallen too far."

Aunt’s words struck a chord within Lou Yun. Once, when his father’s magical weapon was damaged, a mere Earth level magical weapons master could have repaired it. But though the Lou Family back then wasn’t faded like the current Shui family, it was only a small family. They knew no Earth level experts and couldn’t afford the cost of hiring one either.

Thinking of this, Lou Yun smiled. "Aunt, that’s where you’re mistaken. The fact that your Shui family bears the water contract removes any notion of unworthiness from your interactions with others. If anyone’s rising above their station here, it’s me reaching for your status!"

"Hardly! Young Master Lou, you’re too modest…" Aunt’s voice cut short abruptly. She had just caught the implication in Lou Yun’s words. The realization made her surge to her feet, trembling uncontrollably; her lips quivered violently. "Could… could it be… Young Master Lou… you… you possess… Heavenly Fire?"

Lou Yun smiled as he nodded. "Yes, I possess Heavenly Fire."

The words stilled the three members of the Shui family – young and old – as if frozen by some spell. After several moments of silence, Aunt suddenly choked out a low sob.

Shui Lingluo and Shui Lingtong snapped back to attention, rushing to Aunt’s side. They helped her sit and began comforting her in hushed tones.

Young and unburdened by the water contract’s backlash themselves, their reactions paled against Aunt’s overwhelming emotion; her life had been ravaged by its torment.

This was joy so profound it brought tears. Having long abandoned hope of freeing herself from the water contract’s grip, its sudden proximity overwhelmed her. Years of swallowed pain and bitterness flooded out in her weeping.

After a while, Aunt finally regained her composure. She wiped her tears dry and apologized to Lou Yun. "My apologies, Young Master Lou. I’ve made a spectacle of myself."

"Not at all!" Lou Yun waved his hand dismissively. "Aunt, I understand completely. But I must clarify this first – while I possess Heavenly Fire, I cannot guarantee it will certainly burn away your water contract. Let’s give it a try before anything else!"

"Agreed!"

Lou Yun rose to his feet, surveying the three members of the water family. Unsure who to attempt first due to his lack of certainty about the consequences of failure, he hesitated.

At that moment, Shui Lingluo stepped forward. "Young Master Lou, burn away my water contract first!"

Shui Lingtong added eagerly, "Brother Lou, try mine! Previous attempts with ordinary and human fire yielded nothing."

Aunt glared at them both. "What sense is there in fighting over this? Naturally, I should be first!"

All three understood: the first attempt also bore the greatest unknown risk.

Faced with their volunteering, Lou Yun thought briefly. "Then let Miss Shui be the first."

Lou Yun had his reasons: Aunt’s body, weakened by years of illness under the contract’s backlash, likely couldn’t endure the Fusang Fire’s heat. Shui Lingtong, though previously tested, was still a young child whose unfinished development made him vulnerable. Any mishap could scar him for life. Shui Lingluo, therefore, was the safest choice to pioneer the ordeal.

Lou Yun’s decision silenced the other two. Aware his logic was sound, they conceded.

They moved to an inner room, even more sparsely furnished with just a simple plank bed. Lou Yun instructed Shui Lingluo to sit cross-legged upon it. Turning to Wen Hou and Tie Sha, he requested, "I must trouble both of you to guard me during this."

Though Aunt had resided there safely for long, Lou Yun refused to risk anything. Wen Hou grinned. "No problem!" With a flash of movement, both men vanished from sight.

Shui Lingluo was ready, her face flushed crimson. Lou Yun asked with concern, "Miss Shui, are you unwell? Overwhelmed?"

Shui Lingluo’s head sank nearly to her lap. Shyly, she shook her head, remaining quiet. Aunt whispered softly from the side, "Young Master Lou, our water contracts manifest upon the chest."

Lou Yun instantly grasped the awkwardness he’d overlooked. For a woman of the Shui family, the chest was a private area – especially to be exposed before a man like himself.

Yet viewing it seemed unavoidable for precise targeting with the Heavenly Fire.

A wave of helplessness washed over Lou Yun.

Aunt’s eyes shifted thoughtfully. She ventured carefully, "Young Master Lou… may I be so bold as to ask… are you wedded?" Lou Yun understood her implication: the most straightforward resolution involved him marrying Shui Lingluo. But that path was closed. Scratching his head, he admitted, "I am betrothed."

The answer brought palpable disappointment to Aunt’s face. Even Shui Lingluo, her gaze lowered, betrayed deep dejection.

After intense thought, Lou Yun clapped his hands resolutely. "Very well! Little brother, fetch me a piece of cloth. I shall burn away the contract blindfolded."

"Blindfolded?" Aunt gaped, then shook her head firmly. "Young Master Lou, forgive my doubt, but you aim with Heavenly Fire! Its legendary ferocity… a mere slip…”

Lou Yun, while no master of perfect control over Fusang Fire, was thoroughly at ease with it. Calmly, he assured her, "Set your worries aside. My spiritual senses can locate the signature of the water contract itself. I will concentrate my fire solely upon that mark. Trust me, I know my limits."

Seeing his resolve, Aunt raised no further objection. Shui Lingtong brought a piece of cloth which was used to blindfold Lou Yun tightly. Then he too departed the small chamber. Only Aunt remained, her gaze locked intensely upon the blindfolded youth as he prepared to attempt the seemingly impossible act of purging Shui Lingluo’s water contract by flame.