Huaise swung his blade down.
An invisible force halted his advance.
Liu Shan slowly lowered his hand. Tears, like broken strings, rolled endlessly down his cheeks. His eyes were hollow, his spirit absent.
"Brother Huaise," his voice was faint, as if the wind could scatter it, "I... I don't think I can ever be dignified again."
Before he could finish, Liu Shan's body began to fade into transparency.
His blue Suzhou embroidered robe slowly disintegrated into fragments. His disheveled hair gathered into a semblance of order, while his facial features gradually blurred.
The dignity he had fought so desperately to preserve was being stripped away, petal by petal, dissolving into the iridescent glass.
"Huaige, I'm sorry." Liu Shan forced an agonized smile at Hua Xu. "Even if we could start over, it wouldn't change... I failed to protect our dignity."
"Liu Shan!" Hui Xu hacked madly at the invisible barrier. "Hold on! I can save you! Hold on!"
The man shook his head, his tone still mocking. "Too late! When 'Golden Sea Silver Loan' was signed, the rules activated. Liquidation is only a matter of time."
Liu Shan's body grew increasingly transparent. His gaze fell upon Huai Xu's locust-bone blade, lingering deeply. Before his form fully dissolved into petals, a streak of firefly light traced a perfect arc through the air, merging into the blade.
At the hilt of the locust-bone blade, a flower glowed.
From the embrace, the Flower Spectrum's luminous light flew forth:
[Liu Shan]
[Obsession: Dignity Lost]
[Trigger Condition: Violation of Rules]
[Judgment Flower Language: The Void Host Returns to Its Place, Power Ascends One Tier]
[Realization Method: One Hour]
The list on the glass pane slowly faded away.
The man stood up, his almond-shaped eyes fixed on Huai Xu, filled with both mockery and pity: "Shopkeeper Huai, next. It's your turn."
"My ass!" Huai Xu gripped his Huai Bone Blade, veins bulging, eyes crimson. He stared at the pool of blood still wet on the empty floor, the gold powder in his embrace burning faintly.
He snapped his head up, swinging the locust-bone blade at the masked man with a snarling roar: "I'll make you... pay with your life!"
Huaishu's howl collided with the workshop walls, rebounding off the blade. The steel hummed and vibrated, its edge growing three feet longer as a cold, sharp aura flared from its black-gold surface.
The invisible barrier that had blocked him shattered inch by inch as the blade descended.
The masked man raised an eyebrow, his gaze amused, yet he made no move to strike.
The monsters behind him began to stir restlessly, gaping mouths opening wide. Saliva dripped from their fangs, corroding the floor with a hissing sound.
"Pay with your life?" The man chuckled softly, his fingertip gliding across the glass. The ledger materialized once more in the void, its length now shortened. Liu Shan's name had vanished, replaced by another line of blood-red characters:
[Settlement Complete: Liu Shan · Decent · Soul returned to the Abyss.]
[Remaining Debt: One million spirit stones.]
[Debtor Transferred: Huai Xu. ]
[Activation Method: Automatic Transfer.]
"Seems 'Dignity' isn't worth much after all—not even enough to cover the debt." The masked man adjusted his visor. "In the rules of Fanmengzhou, there's no such thing as 'paying with one's life.' Only equivalent exchange."
Hua Xu's heart pricked like a needle.
Lan Qi had said: "Once it's recorded in the ledger, it's a debt carved into your bones."
No mercy, only equivalence—that is the rule! That is Fanmengzhou!
Hua Xu's breathing steadied, his grip on the locust bone blade gradually relaxing.
He drew the golden powder of joy from his robe, its shimmering radiance gleaming.
"One million spirit stones—I don't have them," Hua Xu's voice was low and hoarse, his gaze fixed on the masked man. "But I have obsession."
The amusement faded from the man's eyes. Meeting Huai Xu's steady gaze, his expression grew solemn. "Oh? What obsession do you wish to offer as payment? Your guilt toward Liu Shan? Or your forgotten memories from another realm?"
"Neither." Huai Xu raised his hand and hurled the golden powder forcefully at the Spirit Cloth Chariot.
As the glass vial shattered, golden light danced through the air. The fine, joyful powder settled onto the threads of the Spirit Garment Chariot, instantly merging with them.
The once-silent chariot suddenly whirred into frenzied motion. The threads shuttled so swiftly they left only afterimages.
The patterns woven forth resembled the subtle designs on Liu Shan's green robe, yet they were more dignified and magnificent.
"I shall use Liu Shan's dignity, combined with my own obsession—friendship—to weave an S-grade Spirit Garment." Huai Xu stepped forward, blade in hand. "The Garment's Inspiration: Liu Shan's entire life. The Reward: The cancellation of all debts. Plus: I demand to know the truth behind Liu Shan's first arrival in the Mortal Dream Continent."
The workshop fell silent at these words.
The monsters ceased their restlessness, staring blankly at the Spirit Garment Chariot.
The masked man's expression darkened completely.
The glass suddenly broke free from control, hovering midair as lines of code scrolled rapidly:
[S-Class Order Verification]
[Garment Core contains obsessive essence: Liu Shan's dignity, meets requirements]
[Weaver sacrificed partial obsessive essence: friendship, meets requirements]
[Reward Request: Debt Offset + Truth. Request Denied]
[Reason for Denial: Triggered Rule Three. Truth requires equal compensation. Exchange Condition: A segment of Huaixu's memory]
"You've got some nerve, betting like that," the man sneered coldly. "Freshly arrived Truth isn't exactly a gift. Are you sure you want to trade your own memories for it?"
Hua Xu remained silent.
Memories of Liu Shan in reality gradually blurred.
"Weaver," Hua Xu growled, raising the locust bone blade to slice his palm. Blood dripped.
The blood mingled with the silk threads. Instantly, the Spirit Garment Loom flashed with white light. The pale blue bundles suspended above the workshop trembled in unison. The unfinished spirit-patterned garments floated upward, dissolving into threads that flowed into the loom.
A fresh, faintly bitter fragrance filled the air—like the path Liu Shan had walked and the life he had lived. Bitter, yet tinged with melancholy.
Clang—
The workshop's wooden door was smashed open once more.
Shizhu stormed in, his dark red robe torn and tattered.
His gaze fixed on the light emanating from the Spirit Cloth Loom, his eyes instantly turning crimson. "Huai Xu! How dare you weave this spirit garment! The Abyss of Devouring will not let you off!"
He flicked his hand, sending a cloud of black mist hurtling toward the spirit robe cart.
The mist surged forward, filled with countless wails of resentment. Everything it touched became tainted.
"You're asking for death!" the masked man growled, sweeping his hand to transform the glass into a wall of light that blocked the black mist.
Shi Zhu froze for a moment before bursting into maniacal laughter. "Have you forgotten the Abyss's orders? We want Huai Xu's obsession! How dare you protect him?"
"I recognize only the rules," the masked man replied, cutting short the exchange. "During an active S-class contract, the debtor is protected by the rules of Fanmengzhou. If you dare violate those rules, ask the crystal glass first if it agrees."
"Rules?" Shi Zhu sneered coldly. "Fine, fine, fine. You'll pay for this at the Abyss."
With that, his figure flickered, transforming into a streak of light that vanished from the workshop.
The instant he vanished, a blue robe neared completion. Spiritual patterns shimmered across its surface. Under the light, a dark crimson base gradually revealed itself, blending with the surface's azure hue to create a dazzling, iridescent garment.
"S-Class Spiritual Pattern Garment: [Dignity], complete!" The robe soared through the air, landing directly in Huai Xu's hands.
The masked man stowed away the glass panel and approached Huai Xu, the playful glint gone from his almond-shaped eyes.
"Order fulfilled. Debt offset." He raised his hand and swiped the glass panel:
[S-Grade Order Contract: S-Grade Dignity Spirit Garment = Debt Offset. Binding Complete. Signatory: Huai Xu]
[Truth does not permit equivalent exchange. Rejected.]
The instant the masked man reached to take the Spirit Garment of Dignity, vines on the wall twisted wildly, blooming with white, phosphorescent flowers.
A thick, cloying sweetness wafted through the air—a scent that, upon closer sniff, carried the stench of rotting flesh.
Outside the window, the vibrant sky instantly turned dark crimson. A terrifying pressure surged through the workshop, causing the Spirit Garment Looms, Spirit Ironing Tables... Every spirit artifact trembled.
A dark crimson cloud slowly descended from the window.
The masked man's expression changed drastically: "No! The cypress's obsession is too pure. Woven into spirit garments, it has summoned the shadow demon of the Abyss, Yantu."
As the masked man looked up toward the window, Huai Xu seized the moment to don the spirit robe.
The moment it touched his skin, the robe molded perfectly to his form. A warm, colossal power surged through the fabric, permeating his extraordinary meridians and vital organs.
The hem glowed a deep crimson, resonating with the Huai Bone Blade.
A flash of light flickered in his embrace:
[Xu Xu has returned]
[Hua Xu]
[Cultivation: Forgetfulness · Tier 1]
Hua Xu gazed at the dark crimson cloud outside the window. His eyes held no fear, only unwavering resolve.
"The debt to Liu Shan is repaid," Huai Xu gripped the Huai Bone Blade, his voice echoing throughout the workshop. "Now, it is my turn to settle accounts with the Abyss!"
As the words fell, a cold, golden blade aura sliced directly toward the crimson cloud beyond the window!