Shen Zhao, the Tianji Pavilion's foremost true disciple, is a flawless strategist. In public, he's as gentle as jade, but his inner monologue is as vicious as a barrage of comments.
Xie Wuyi, an abandoned demonic cultivator and expressionless swordsman, rarely says more than ten words a day. His inner thoughts average two.
While fighting over treasure in a secret realm, they both reach for the same box. An ancient Stone of Marriage simultaneously sticks to the backs of their hands.
The Heavenly Dao announces aloud: Binding complete.
From then on:
He says, "What a fine sword technique, miss," while thinking, "Is she chopping wood or what?";
He tries to lie, "I mean you no harm, miss," and immediately spits blood, as the entire secret realm looks on;
If he wants to break the bond, the price is a shattered soul for each of them.
They agree on three rules: no prying into each other's business, each goes their own way, and neither rescues the other from danger.
Three days later, all three rules are broken.
Separate by three li, and their meridians snap. Walk within ten zhang of each other, and every thought is laid bare. They can't hide murderous intent, embarrassment, or even a flutter of the heart.
Shen Zhao: I can calculate the sword strokes of everyone under heaven, but I can't predict her next move.
Xie Wuyi: Oh.
His one consolation is that this stone is different from other Stones of Marriage. It isn't connected to the internet, and he's the only one in the world who can hear her.
The one thing he can't figure out is this: the entire cultivation world sings the praises of the Stones of Marriage, so why did one choose two people who both want to kill each other?
And on the Red Thread Terrace, unseen by them, a Fatekeeper has been listening to the thoughts of everyone under heaven for three hundred years.
This time, he hears two people who can't hear each other.
