077 Lin Wan Awakens

“All right.”

Hearing Er Gou’s words, Lin Wan hurriedly pressed her hand to the wound. I took a band-aid from my pocket.

“I didn’t expect such a small cut to bleed so much.”

“That’s because I used wind pressure to squeeze it out,” Li Ergou retorted, rolling his eyes at me.

“Just wait. Once the Scribe’s Ruler has fully absorbed the blood of the contract holder, it will reveal its true form.”

As time passed, the last drop of blood disappeared into the black ruler. Strange patterns began to surface on its body, golden lines spreading across it. The golden markings gradually detached from the ruler, floating in the air and spinning, carrying the ruler up with them. Lin Wan’s six of spades playing card spun rapidly in the air, following the ascent of the ruler.

Suddenly, the card expanded in an instant. The ancient black-and-gold ruler pierced through the card, and a blinding golden light erupted from the six of spades, enveloping the three of us in its brilliance.

Around us appeared four golden figures clad in ancient robes, each holding an old bronze ruler, their aged and dignified visages commanding awe.

“What is this—”

“Shh!” Li Ergou signaled for silence. I swallowed the words that had reached my lips.

At that moment, Lin Wan seemed to enter a trance, completely detached from our world. The intricate patterns on the ancient ruler began to wrap around her, burrowing into her flesh like nerves. The moment the golden lines touched her skin, Lin Wan’s body trembled violently.

I saw her lips twitch as if she wanted to cry out, but she suppressed the urge.

“Does it hurt a lot?” I couldn’t help but speak.

Li Xinxin quickly covered my mouth and whispered so only we could hear, “Don’t make a sound.”

I watched Lin Wan’s muscles tense, veins bulging, her face twisting in agony. Her mouth was wide open, as if she were screaming, yet not a sound escaped. A silent cry for help—it was heart-wrenching to witness.

Finally, all the black and gold lines sank into her body, leaving no trace behind. But I noticed a six of spades symbol had appeared on her forearm. The card and the Scribe’s Ruler vanished once the process ended.

Deprived of the ancient relic’s power, the golden light faded at once. Lin Wan slumped to the ground, limp and drained.

“I did it…” she murmured, before closing her eyes and passing out.

“Er Gou, are you sure this is normal? Is that it? Is Lin Wan truly a full contract holder now?” I fired off three questions at once.

Li Xinxin, uncharacteristically patient, replied, “It should be successful. The card and artifact have fully fused with her. When she wakes up, she’ll be able to use the artifact’s true power, but to grow stronger, she’ll have to depend on herself.”

I was about to say something when a cold female voice interrupted us.

“Well, in that case, I’d better deal with all of you now before you become a threat.”

Zhou Zitong, whom we hadn’t seen in some time, appeared behind us.

“What are you doing here?” I snapped. The last time we met, she nearly killed me in the grove. If not for Tan Tou and Lin Wan arriving just in time, I would have been dead already.

Li Ergou immediately saw something was off with Zhou Zitong. Their eyes met, and she paused.

“Awakened contract holder?”

Lin Wan, still unconscious, suddenly shuddered, drawing our attention.

“This kid awakened too?” Zhou Zitong’s expression changed, her sharp demeanor fading into a pitiful, delicate act.

“Oh! And who might this young lady be—”

“Li Xinxin.”

Li Ergou, unimpressed by Zhou Zitong’s sudden change, said crossly, “What do you want? If there’s nothing, don’t bother us.”

With that, he and I started to help Lin Wan up from the ground.

“Hey, don’t go! This time, I have a deal I want to offer you,” Zhou Zitong exclaimed, blocking our path.

“What do you really want?” I turned to her. This abrupt change in attitude had to be because of Li Xinxin.

“Do you know there are two ancient relics hidden in the library?”

Her words caught me off guard. How did she know about the relics?

“So?” Li Ergou pulled me aside, speaking to me quietly.

“Why didn’t you tell me about the relics? This is crucial for the Spade line. The artifacts are the foundation of a Spade contract holder’s power!”

I whispered back, “I thought you saw them too. Besides, we only met yesterday—there wasn’t time. The relics being in the library is common knowledge.”

While talking quietly to Li Xinxin, I replied to Zhou Zitong, “Of course. But I hear the next trial is connected to the library’s relics.”

Zhou Zitong’s eyes lingered on me, a hint of amusement in her gaze. “So what if there’s a trial?”

I pretended not to care, pulling Li Xinxin aside, not caring if Zhou Zitong noticed.

“Why would the relics be in the library?” Li Xinxin asked, genuinely puzzled.

I quickly explained what I knew about the library’s secrets to her.

Li Xinxin nodded thoughtfully. “If that’s the case, there are two possibilities. One: the contract holders of the ancient gun and scroll haven’t awakened yet—they’re half-contract holders like you and haven’t found their relics. Two: neither has been activated yet.”

“If they haven’t been activated, that’s dangerous. If someone destroys both relics, the Spade faction will lose two major powers.”

“But aren’t those two cards supposed to be powerful?” I remembered the ancient gun driving off an enemy with a single shot—heroic and dashing.

“Don’t be naïve. The relic’s power isn’t endless. Before they bond with a human, the power they use is just the remnants from the previous contract holder. How long do you think they’d last if the Ghost Faction used attrition tactics?”

“Uh…”

“You said the scroll was split into eight pieces and the gun was buried deep underground. That’s to avoid pursuit by the Ghost Faction! Isn’t it obvious?”

“Uh…”

“So, let’s see what Zhou Zitong wants. If the next trial really is in the library, no matter what, we must protect the ancient scroll and gun.”

“Got it!” Li Ergou was suddenly full of energy, rattling off orders, and I could only nod in agreement.

“What do you want?” I asked.

Zhou Zitong bit her lip and said slowly, “We of the Yin Capital Ghost Line naturally want those two relics to disappear from D University.” As she spoke, her eyes scanned the two of us, as if gauging our reactions.

“But I also know your Spade line from the Hall of Artifacts would never agree to that.”

“So let’s compromise: you take the relics out of the library. Only in your hands will they reach their full potential—there’s nothing but benefit for you.”

On the surface, Zhou Zitong was extending an olive branch, seemingly offering to help us obtain the relics. But why insist on removing them from the library? The library itself was shaped like a bagua, and as the site of both the strongest and oldest artifacts of the Hall of Artifacts, it surely hid a deeper secret.

“Very well!” Li Xinxin suddenly agreed. “I accept.”

I shot a look at Li Ergou, but he remained impassive, standing before me, his hands behind his back, subtly gesturing for me to let him handle it.

“But you must guarantee our safety—until we obtain the relics.”

Zhou Zitong’s eyes flickered, but she quickly masked it—though not quickly enough to escape our notice.

“All right. Until you get the relics, we’ll ensure your safety.”

“We?”