Chapter 221: Soul Binding
The key to successfully imprinting souls was the mutual affection between the two parties involved. There were no strict requirements for the location of the ritual.
This time, Cang Ling didn’t go to Mingjing Taoist Temple, but chose a private room in the “Poem of Spring” café.
She particularly liked Cheng Shizhu’s café, especially this small, nature-themed room decorated with seasonal flowers and photos of spring scenery.
The invited guests sat around the two protagonists, each with a cup of tea or coffee provided by Cheng Shizhu, their drinks placed on the small, round wooden table as they watched the imprinting ceremony.
Cang Ling had drawn a spiritual energy formation early in the morning, which would automatically disappear after the ritual. At the auspicious time she had calculated, she and Xiao Linghan’s soul sat on either side of the formation, their palms touching, their eyes closed.
The entire process was very quiet. The onlookers could only feel a gentle breeze, and after about five minutes, they saw a faint golden glow emanating from the two souls.
“…Is this ‘the power of merit,’ or the ‘bond’ and ‘soul imprint’?” Jiang Xue couldn’t help but wonder.
Her question was soon answered.
The golden light from the two souls connected, forming a chain-like pattern, wrapping around their hands, wrists, arms, shoulders… and finally, their entire bodies.
“A chain… if the two weren’t in love, would this soul imprint become a shackle binding two resentful spirits?” Xiao Luohan couldn’t help but wonder.
Thinking this, she was certain that even without this bond, Elder Sister and Cang Ling would still be drawn to each other.
It had been this way in the ancient world, and it was the same in the modern world.
Even though their living environments were vastly different, and they were considered “outsiders” by others, they still had pure hearts, instinctively considering each other’s well-being and offering help, trying to find ways to make the other person better.
Even if “love arose without reason,” when one proposed a relationship or living together, the other would always agree without hesitation.
At this thought, Xiao Luohan, looking at her elder sister and Cang Ling, was surprised to see the golden chains transform into glowing red threads!
Cheng Shizhu wanted to clap, but afraid of disrupting the ritual, she simply pressed her palms together, her fingers gently touching.
When the glowing red threads gradually faded, and Cang Ling opened her eyes, smiling and announcing “The ritual is complete,” Cheng Shizhu finally clapped, her palms turning red.
The other onlookers also applauded, Xie Xitong even playing the Wedding March, and Jiang Mei, who had been given a basket of rose petals by Xie Xitong beforehand, showered the two “newlyweds” with petals.
“Ahem… although we’re not getting married, it does feel like a wedding ceremony,” Xiao Linghan said, a little embarrassed. “Why don’t we have a small wedding banquet at home next time? Just the few of us.”
“Let’s have it at our place! Our dining room is big!” Jiang Xue immediately volunteered.
“Our dining room isn’t bad either!” Xie Xitong said, playfully competing with her for the venue. “And it’s more convenient for souls to eat at our place.”
This was especially important for ghosts, something a large restaurant couldn’t offer. After careful consideration, Jiang Xue reluctantly nodded, but still looked at the two souls expectantly.
“Let’s decide after we’ve discussed the details,” Xiao Linghan said, suppressing a laugh, trying to save face for the younger sister of this world.
“Do you feel any different after the imprinting?” Cheng Shizhu was quite curious about this.
“No,” Cang Ling, who had been focusing on her sensations, shook her head decisively. “I only felt like I was being hugged during the process.”
“I felt like I was bound by a rough rope,” Xiao Linghan recalled. “But the rope quickly became light and soft… did you see anything?”
Jiang Mei described what she had seen.
Grandma Xie, who had been silently observing, sipped her Pu-erh tea and glanced at Taoist Master Xuan Nuo, sitting beside her, signaling her to say something.
“Those were the chains of fate transforming into red threads,” Taoist Master Xuan Nuo explained slowly. After all, it was Cang Ling who had found this spell in her collection of books. “If the two weren’t in love, this ritual could also be used to ‘cut their losses.'”
“After all, a twisted and unhealthy relationship isn’t a good bond. Even if, during a certain period, the two are tightly bound together for various reasons, when their values clash, one of them will eventually let go.”
“Now that the chains have successfully transformed into red threads, and the entire process went smoothly, it means you’ve passed this test. Congratulations, at least you don’t have to worry about that kind of situation in this lifetime.”
Her words reassured both Cang Ling and Xiao Linghan.
In front of others, the two ghosts acted normally, but after returning, they couldn’t help but get close, touching the marks left on each other’s souls.
As expected, there was a new sensation.
As long as they maintained contact with the marks, they could instantly “read” each other’s thoughts.
“No wonder it requires mutual affection, there are no secrets at all now!” Xiao Linghan exclaimed in realization.
“But shouldn’t it be like this between lovers?” Cang Ling asked, puzzled. “Jiang Xue and A-Xi seem to have no secrets between them…”
“They’re an exception. Most people have ‘forbidden zones’ in their hearts that no one is allowed to enter,” Xiao Linghan said, her hand resting on Cang Ling’s “forbidden zone.” “Not even lovers or best friends, let alone family.”
“Perhaps they’re hiding secrets they consider shameful, or their darkest thoughts, or just sensitive information, like bank account passwords.”
Cang Ling seemed to understand, but a new question arose. “Then why do we have no secrets between us?”
“As for me… you can divine fortunes, and you’ve been secretly watching over me for a hundred years, so I don’t think there’s anything I need to hide from you,” Xiao Linghan smiled, extending a finger, and Cang Ling immediately snuggled closer. “What about you?”
“…My only secret, Your Highness already knows,” Cang Ling said, burying her face in Xiao Linghan’s embrace. “Besides the past hundred years, I have nothing to hide from Your Highness.”
She had even given Her Highness a list of the books she read, sharing secrets was only beneficial for them.
Her Highness, who understood human emotions better than she did, could easily turn everything into a way to engage her, guiding her through the fog and allowing her to experience the things and feelings she had thought unattainable.
With Her Highness’s company, she felt like she was experiencing a “second growth,” finally becoming closer to an “ordinary person.”
Another year passed, and on the thirteenth day of the sixth lunar month, Xiao Linghan, as a bridesmaid, attended her younger sisters’ wedding.
Although she had once been the eldest princess of a nation, she had never been good at handling ceremonies. After joining the army, she would even find excuses to avoid celebratory banquets, disliking the so-called “formal speeches” and the vulgar jokes men often made.
What she found even more unbearable and awkward were the tea parties and flower viewing banquets held by women.
It was as if every word condemned her “abnormality” as a woman, every gentle voice reminding her that “being a wife and mother” was the best path for a princess, her true duty.
She had also been repeatedly criticized for her insistence on joining the army, fighting for her country, and her willingness to sacrifice herself in battle, being labeled as “unconventional” and “rebellious.”
But she knew very clearly what she was doing and who she wanted to be, so when facing those women, she had to wear a mask, making sure they at least saw her as “one of them” during gatherings, to avoid conflicts.
For her, all social gatherings were something she had to endure, and although she could attend with a smile, she would feel disgusted and helpless afterward.
But it was different in this world. Most of the wedding guests were women, and even the men were mostly like Uncle Seuss—when it came to social interactions, both Ms. Jiang and Ms. Wei would decisively end any uncomfortable collaborations.
She just needed to sincerely offer her blessings to her younger sisters and enjoy the wedding as “Xiao Luohan’s elder sister.”
Souls couldn’t drink alcohol, so Xiao Linghan could only have a taste with the help of a talisman, the liquid being transferred to the sink.
Alcohol was forbidden in the army, even during celebratory banquets, and it wasn’t until she came to this world that Xiao Linghan started trying different kinds of alcohol.
She loved alcohol and felt a pang of regret for the wasted liquid, but when she returned to the restroom, she found that Cang Ling had already collected the wine in a large bottle and was searching online for the proper dilution ratio for watering plants.
“…Which plants are you watering with wine?” Xiao Linghan asked, watching her for a while.
“The plum tree where your soul resides,” Cang Ling replied.
Xiao Linghan: ?
“Can it really handle that?” she asked, half-joking, half-serious.
“If it’s diluted and applied gradually, it’s no problem,” Cang Ling nodded. “But I’m not good at this, so I’ll just take the wine back and give it to Cheng Shizhu or Sister Cheng, they’re good with plants.”
She knew what Her Highness wanted to see most, so she had prepared a large, empty bottle beforehand.
—And Her Highness’s favorite wine.
After returning to the Xie family’s home, Cang Ling took out the bottles of wine she had prepared, one by one, and used rituals and magic to make them palatable for souls.
Xiao Linghan was overjoyed, and in her good mood, she drank a bit too much, even inviting Cang Ling to join her.
Even when drunk, souls didn’t have the same limitations as physical bodies. As they drank to their heart’s content, they leaned against each other, their laughter contained within the closed glass doors, not disturbing anyone in the house.
