Into The Sea

Riding the spirit crane, they returned to Haochen Mountain at dusk. However, they found a massive crowd gathered at the mountain gate, hundreds of meters below. Curious, Lan Wu looked down but couldn’t make sense of the commotion, so she urged Ji Lingyue to take them down.

Ji Lingyue shot her a helpless glance before steering the crane into a gentle descent, landing a short distance away. Lan Wu jumped down and tried to peek through the crowd, but they were packed too tightly. Frustrated, she casually tugged on a nearby disciple’s sleeve and asked, “What’s going on?”

“Oh, nothing much. Elder Ye brought back a demon beast, and everyone’s here to watch,” the disciple replied.

“Elder Ye?” Lan Wu echoed, “Which Elder Ye?”

“Who else but Elder Ye Qingjun?”

Standing beside her, Ji Lingyue’s expression turned cold, “A demon beast? Are demon beasts allowed on Haochen Mountain?”

“Ah, you wouldn’t know. Besides being our sect’s elder, Elder Ye is also a famous beast tamer. Whether it’s spirit beasts or demon beasts, she can control them all. The Sect Leader turns a blind eye to it. As long as these demon beasts don’t harm anyone, it’s fine.”

Ji Lingyue frowned, unconvinced. “A demon is a demon. They’re violent and unpredictable. They can’t be trusted. We cultivate to hunt demons and eliminate evil. How can Elder Ye casually bring a demon beast here?”

Lan Wu couldn’t help but retort. “That’s not fair. I think… not all demons are as bad as you say.”

Ji Lingyue was taken aback and turned to look at her. “Have you forgotten how you were almost eaten by that snake demon?”

“That… that was just one bad demon we happened to meet. Just like people can be good or bad, demons can be too, right?”

Ji Lingyue let out a humorless laugh, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Maybe there are good demons, but how unfortunate, I’ve never met one.”

Lan Wu fell silent, unsure how to respond to Ji Lingyue’s sharp tone. Just then, a warm voice called out from the crowd, rescuing her from the awkward silence. “Well, well, if it isn’t my dearest disciple.”

The crowd parted, revealing a woman and a beast at the center. The woman in blue robes smiled warmly; upon closer look, she did resemble the puppet by about half—it must be her master whom she had never met.

Behind her lounged a snow lion, its fur smooth and immaculate, with golden eyes like bronze bells, radiating an air of untamed wildness. Ye Qingjun stood before it, only half its height, making her appear slender and fragile, as if the lion could swat her away with a single paw.

Lan Wu blinked, a bit dazed. “Are you… talking to me?”

“Who else?” Ye Qingjun beckoned her closer. “Come, take Little Snow to the back mountain of Qianyun Peak for me.”

Lan Wu obediently stepped forward. “What about you, Master?”

“I’ll be…” Ye Qingjun paused, then waved her hand dismissively “Why ask so many questions? Just do as you’re told.” She handed Lan Wu a silver leash. “Elder Yao will take over when you get there.”

“Elder Yao is back too?”

“Why? Do you need something from her?”

“I…” Lan Wu glanced back to see Ji Lingyue standing stiffly in the distance, arms crossed and face tense, not looking at her. She couldn’t help but purse her lips, feeling a bit upset herself, “I understand.”

She took the leash and headed towards Qianyun Peak without looking back.

The back mountain of Qianyun Peak was rich in spiritual energy, lush with flowers and plants. Nestled amongst the greenery was a courtyard overflowing with spiritual herbs, the residence of Elder Yao. Leading the snow lion, Lan Wu attracted many curious glances along the way. By the time she reached Elder Yao’s door, night had fallen.

She stood at the entrance and called out. The door creaked open, and someone stepped out.

To Lan Wu’s surprise, Elder Yao wasn’t the kindly elderly woman she had pictured. Instead, she appeared to be a young woman, barely in her twenties.

She silently approached Lan Wu, her eyes seemingly unfocused despite looking at her.

After taking the leash, she turned and walked away.

Lan Wu was taken aback by her distant demeanor. After a moment, she hesitantly asked, “Elder, should I leave now?”

Elder Yao paused, her back still turned. “Yes.”

What a strange person.

Lan Wu couldn’t help but think as she made her way back to Jianzhi Courtyard. Surprisingly, Yu Shanye wasn’t there either. At this time, she would usually be experimenting with new recipes. After a quick look around and finding no one, Lan Wu retreated to her room, collapsing onto her bed and burrowing under the covers.

After a long while, she let out a deep sigh.

As night fell and stars filled the sky, the lump on the bed finally stirred, and she suddenly sat up.

Ji Lingyue hadn’t come.

It made sense, Lan Wu mused. Now that Elder Yao was back, Ji Lingyue could finally get the antidote. And once she was healed, she no longer had any use for Lan Wu. What a heartless little girl.

Grinding her teeth, Lan Wu jumped out of bed and paced around the room, getting more frustrated by the minute. Unable to sleep, she decided to grab an axe from the corner and head to the back mountain to chop some wood.

With a scowl on her face, she stormed out of the courtyard. She hadn’t gone far when she noticed a shadowy figure huddled on the stone steps ahead.

“!” Lan Wu yelped, jumping back in fright. She raised the axe defensively. “Who’s there?!”

The shadow shifted slowly, revealing a face as delicate as jade.

“…Ah Yue?”

Ji Lingyue glanced at her but then silently turned away, burying her head in her knees.

After a long pause, Lan Wu reluctantly walked over and asked. “Why are you sitting here in the middle of the night?”

Ji Lingyue remained silent. Lan Wu hesitated, then set down the axe and awkwardly sat next to her. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Ji Lingyue turned her head away, muttering, “You abandoned me today.”

Lan Wu’s eyes widened in surprise. “But you were the one who ignored me.”

“I didn’t,” Ji Lingyue suddenly lifted her head to look at her, her eyes red: “I was a bit upset, but I would never ignore you.” She bit her lip, seeming to hold back tears before asking, “Lan Wu, do you like demons?”

“It’s not about liking them…” Lan Wu sighed. “I just… I just believe there are good demons in this world.” She turned to look at Ji Lingyue, earnestly asking. “Can you accept that?”

Ji Lingyue replied without hesitation, “No.”

Lan Wu was speechless.

Was there even a hint of hesitation in her voice?

Ji Lingyue lowered her gaze, seeming to make up her mind, and said softly, “Lan Wu, you can’t change my mind, and I can’t change yours. So, let’s just… not talk about demons anymore, alright?”

“Not talking about it doesn’t make our differences disappear.” Lan Wu countered, her voice laced with frustration.

Ji Lingyue shook her head. “But if we don’t talk about it, you won’t be angry with me.”

Lan Wu was taken aback, feeling a pang of sadness in her heart. After a while, she asked softly, “Why do you hate demons so much?”

Ji Lingyue’s eyes drifted as if recalling something. After a while, she hugged her knees tightly and let out a faint laugh. “Maybe it’s because I once saved a cat.”

Lan Wu looked at her in confusion.

Ji Lingyue closed her eyes, her voice unexpectedly calm, as if telling an insignificant story. “Later, she killed everyone in our village and ate their hearts.”

Lan Wu froze, her face turning pale. After a long while, she managed to squeeze out a dry, “I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing?” Ji Lingyue blinked away the tears gathering in her eyes. “It’s not like you did it.”

Despite her words, Lan Wu couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. She tightened her grip on her robes.

After a while, a soft body gently leaned against her.

Lan Wu turned to see Ji Lingyue resting her forehead on her shoulder, looking gentle and vulnerable.

“Ah Yue?”

“Mm,” Ji Lingyue hummed softly. “Lan Wu, it’s time.”

“Time for what?” Lan Wu asked, confused.

Ji Lingyue bit her lip, then lifted her head, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Lan Wu met her gaze and found herself absently reaching out to touch the corner of her eye. Ji Lingyue instinctively closed her eyes, nuzzling her head into Lan Wu’s palm.

The burning heat brought Lan Wu back to her senses. “You didn’t go to Elder Yao?” she asked, surprised.

“Mm,” Ji Lingyue mumbled. “It was too late.”

Which meant…

“Help me, please,” Ji Lingyue said softly. “Just this one last time.”