The Dragon

The next day was bright and sunny. Gu Fuyou had initially planned to visit the Yunduan Grand Canyon and confront a spirit beast that troubled Wantong City. However, her chaotic summoning of Zhong Michu had delayed her plans by a day.

Scholar Zhai, thinking Gu Fuyou might have forgotten, came early to remind her. If delayed too long, someone else might deal with the spirit beast, missing the opportunity to encounter Zuo Shaode.

As she approached Gu Fuyou’s room, she saw the door open and no one inside. Turning around, she noticed the door of Zhong Michu’s room was also open. She walked over and peered inside, bending slightly.

“Why are you here?”

Gu Fuyou was seated next to the bed, with a white object lying on her lap. Scholar Zhai observed it carefully and noticed it was a tail. Meanwhile, Zhong Michu was sleeping on the bed, nestled close to Gu Fuyou. Her hand was clasping Gu Fuyou’s wrist, and her forehead was softly resting against it. The white tail, peaceful and tame, stretched out from under the blanket onto Gu Fuyou’s lap.

Gu Fuyou gestured for silence with her index finger to her lips, warning Scholar Zhai. Scholar Zhai understood and covered her mouth with her folding fan. However, the noise had already woken Zhong Michu, who sat up.

Gu Fuyou asked, “Did you sleep well?”

Waking up groggy from a long dream, Zhong Michu saw Gu Fuyou sitting calmly beside her bed. Greeting her, she felt a bit dazed but managed to nod and respond in a hoarse voice, “I haven’t slept this well in a long time.”

Gu Fuyou’s heart softened, and she smiled, “If you wish, I can sing you a lullaby every night, hoping you sleep this well every time.”

Zhong Michu, becoming more alert, focused her gaze, her amber eyes brightening considerably, “Really?”

Gu Fuyou felt underestimated by her question and firmly said, “Why would I lie to you about this?”

Comforted by the affirmation, Zhong Michu looked down without answering. Her dragon horns and tail transformed into clouds and vanished. A moment later, she spoke, “Scholar Zhai is looking for you. You should go.”

Gu Fuyou glanced at her. Zhong Michu said, “I’m getting up.”

Gu Fuyou and Scholar Zhai left. Sitting on the bed, Zhong Michu’s vision gradually blurred, she gently covered her eyes and sighed shakily.

When Zhong Michu got ready and came out, Gu Fuyou and Scholar Zhai were discussing plans under the ginkgo tree in the yard. They planned to visit Yunduan Grand Canyon today and stay temporarily in Wantong City to meet the city lord.

The identity of Qingluan was quite useful, receiving hospitality from Zuo Yuezhi, and if they caught the spirit beast, they would also meet Zuo Shaode. The Zuo family would be tricked, unaware that beneath this guise was a spirit seeking retribution.

The Yan’er Bell fell onto Gu Fuyou’s shoulder, sticking close to her since recognizing her as its master. Zhong Michu looked down at her storage bag, gently touching the character “Man” on it, took it off, walked over, and called out, “Ah Man.”

Gu Fuyou turned to look at her, “Senior Sister Zhong.”

Zhong Michu handed her the storage bag. Gu Fuyou didn’t immediately take it, just looked at her. Zhong Michu said, “That night in Lihen Tian, when you came to find me, it was to take this, right?”

Gu Fuyou, reminded of that night and feeling exposed, couldn’t shake off the awkwardness of being caught. She simply smiled in response. Zhong Michu then said, “Take it, I was just holding it for you.”

Gu Fuyou felt she should have thanked Zhong Michu, but in that moment it seemed unnecessary, sensing that Zhong Michu wouldn’t value it. She silently accepted the offer. Upon opening the storage bag, she noticed everything was tidily organized, probably by Zhong Michu, which was unlike her usual careless manner of scattering talismans and pills.

Gu Fuyou found the sword embryo, “I met the previous Qingluan in Xian Luo, Senior Sister, do you remember, the one who healed you?”

Zhong Michu’s eyes moved slightly, responding faintly. Gu Fuyou smiled, “That elder’s name is Qing Man. She had the other half of Qimen, and she’s quite knowledgeable about formations. She taught me a lot and gave me the other half of Qimen. Now I have the complete book. If I have all the materials, I’m certain I can forged this sword.”

Gu Fuyou pulled out the sword embryo, its black yin-yang jade glowing dimly in the sun, “You haven’t forged it yet.”

Zhong Michu said, “I’m not skilled in that.”

“That’s fine,” Gu Fuyou replied.

Gu Fuyou ran her hand from the hilt to the tip of the sword, then, turning her hand, positioned the sword against her neck in a mock-suicidal gesture. Although the sword embryo had no blade, Zhong Michu still sternly called out, “Ah Man.”

Gu Fuyou laughed, a laugh filled with spite, her eyes reddening with a fire of hatred, “This sword has no name yet. Let’s name it today.”

Spirit swords must have names.

“Let’s call it—Yinhen.”

Holding the sword, Gu Fuyou’s eyes shone coldly, “The souls that fall under your sword should harbor resentment even in death.” Just like me, unable to find peace in death.

Zhong Michu gazed at her, her face showing a hint of sadness; she always remembered Gu Fuyou’s dream, especially the time Gu Fuyou spoke about this sword, her cheeks flushed with excitement and blood burning with passion. That was Gu Fuyou’s life-long love, deeply moving her. Though the details of Gu Fuyou’s face had faded from her memory, those passionate eyes remained etched in her heart, as unforgettable as the morning sun.

Gu Fuyou, now possessing profound skills and exceptional talent, had achieved everything she once desired. However, she didn’t feel entirely happy.

The sword she had dreamed of forging had become an instrument of revenge, transforming her bright hopes into a cold, dim reality. In Zhong Michu’s presence, Gu Fuyou resembled the person from her memories, but her demeanor shifted noticeably when the topic turned to the Zuo family.

She knew this, and it pained her heart.

Gu Fuyou took out the inner core of a Wind Beast and some metal spirit essence, placing them alongside the sword embryo on a stone table. Now having metal and wood elements, she only needed water, fire, and earth elements, and the Qilin marrow. The artifacts were easy to find, but not the Qilin Marrow. Once, she could have as much as she wanted, but without control over her own fate, and once she gained freedom, the Qilin marrow was gone. The Zuo family had taken a lot, and she wondered if they had any left.

Zhong Michu noted, “There’s more inside.”

Hearing this, Gu Fuyou picked up the storage bag, searched through it, and took out two beads. Upon examining them, she discovered one was a high-grade fire-element beast core, of high quality. Zhong Michu added, “That’s from a Huoyun Jiao.”

Gu Fuyou’s eyebrows raised. She remembered the Huoyun Jiao that had grievously injured Zhong Michu, a spirit beast of Zuo Taisui. Recalling the scales that had fallen like snow that day, Gu Fuyou felt a piercing pain and discomfort, gripping the core tightly.

Gu Fuyou gave a cold smirk and said, “What goes around comes around.” The Huoyun Jiao had once attacked the White Dragon when it was young and its scales were not yet fully developed. In a battle today, the fully grown White Dragon, with its now formidable and unbreakable scales, would likely have the advantage. It appeared that Zhong Michu had already taken care of the situation.

Holding a yellowish bead, Gu Fuyou asked, “And this one?” This was an earth-element artifact, possibly from a spirit beast hunted by Zhong Michu.

Zhong Michu replied, “It’s from my daughter.”

“Eh?” Gu Fuyou always felt slightly uneasy whenever she mentioned “my daughter,” but it was subtle enough to ignore if not dwelled upon.

Zhong Michu explained, “She was born clutching this artifact. It was in her mouth when she hatched.”

Gu Fuyou understood. The Azure Phoenix and Dragon clans indeed had such occurrences, being auspicious creatures that drew essence from the sun and moon and favored by heaven and earth. Naturally, they were born with many auspicious signs, some clutching artifacts at birth, but not all Dragons or Azure Phoenix did so, similar to gambling on raw stones – sometimes you’re lucky, sometimes not.

It seemed Zhong Michu’s daughter was also a chosen one.

Gu Fuyou played with the bead, saying, “Taking her possession doesn’t seem quite right.”

Zhong Michu indifferently said, “She won’t mind.”

Gu Fuyou unhesitatingly accepted, “Then I’ll take it. After all, I’m her honorary aunt. When I meet her, including this, I’ll prepare double the gifts for her.”

Gu Fuyou then took out a porcelain bottle from the bag, which looked like it was for pills. She had a premonition, opened the bottle, and a stench of blood emerged.

It was the Qilin marrow.

Rubbing the bottle with her thumb, Gu Fuyou looked at Zhong Michu for a long time, then smiled, “You didn’t use it.” She felt a bit of a bitter taste in her heart, remembering the many things that had happened. Her power had been so insignificant; she only hoped to compensate her, to help her as much as she could.

Zhong Michu’s expression turned cold. Gu Fuyou sensed her displeasure, recalling how Zhong Michu had resisted fiercely when she had fed her blood to her. Zhong Michu was different from the people of the Zuo family. Not everyone in the world was crazed and desperately craving her blood, wanting to devour her.

Gu Fuyou, choosing not to say more, placed the white porcelain bottle on the table and thoughtfully stroked her chin, “It looks like we just need a water element artifact.” It could be easy or difficult to find. Water element artifacts are plentiful, but those with pure attributes, strong spirituality, and high spiritual power are rare.

Zhong Michu offered, “How about my inner core?” Her inner core was indeed a rare water attribute artifact. Being a White Dragon with a water spiritual root and having reached the peak of Soul Splitting, her inner core was far more pure and precious than any treasure Gu Fuyou had.

Gu Fuyou looked at her, amused, and said, “What nonsense are you speaking?”

Zhong Michu insisted, “If you want it, I can give you my inner core.”

Zhong Michu’s serious tone made Gu Fuyou’s smile fade away.

Just the day before, she had left a set of fresh clothes by the bed, which Zhong Michu was now dressed in. The attire was a snow-white dress, adorned with wisteria flowers embroidered in purple thread at the cuffs. Gu Fuyou had always found Zhong Michu to be particularly beautiful in such clothes.

Currently, Zhong Michu was wearing that dress, looking pure and white like snow, with her sash fluttering lightly. Her amber eyes, warmed by the sunlight, appeared to melt into a warm, honey-colored stream.

Gu Fuyou couldn’t shake the feeling that what Zhong Michu really meant was, “If you want, I can give you my life.”

The warm stream appeared to wrap around her, seeping into every pore and threatening to invade her body. Although her heart was protected by a thick layer of ice, it was on the verge of melting, dangerously so.

Desperate to break free, she knew she couldn’t afford to be consumed by it, for it would lead to an unavoidable and disastrous end.

She hardened her heart, her gaze wandering, and upon spotting Scholar Zhai, she called out in a panic, “Scholar Zhai.” Her voice sounded oddly abrupt.

Scholar Zhai, unaware of the context, asked, “What’s wrong?”

Gu Fuyou asked, “Where were we in our discussion?”

“Ah?”

“The matter about Wantong City.”

“Oh,” Scholar Zhai replied, glancing at Zhong Michu, “Going to Yunduan Grand Canyon to capture a spirit beast.”

“Right, let’s get going.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

Zhong Michu stated, “I’m coming with you.” It was not a question but a statement.

Gu Fuyou, slightly avoiding her, said, “You’re seriously injured, stay at home.” She used Zhong Michu’s own words to counter her.

Zhong Michu replied, “There’s no one at home, and I’m seriously injured. It’s not safe for me to be alone.” She seemed to really like the phrase “at home.”

Gu Fuyou said, “Don’t worry, we have defensive formations.”

Zhong Michu countered, “Formations are inanimate, but people are not. You’re at the level of Soul Splitting, aren’t you? Can these formations really offer more safety than being by your side?”

Gu Fuyou bit her lip in frustration. Zhong Michu had become quite adept at argument. For every word she said, there were a hundred waiting in response.

Unable to win the argument, Gu Fuyou was about to stubbornly insist on her point when Scholar Zhai unexpectedly changed her stance. She suggested, “Gu Fuyou, it might be wiser to bring Miss Zhong with us. The Dragon Clan excels in taming beasts. Her presence could help us subdue the spirit beast effortlessly, saving you both effort and trouble. Wouldn’t that be more convenient?”

Zhong Michu agreed, “Scholar Zhai is right.”

Gu Fuyou looked at Zhong Michu, then at Scholar Zhai. Feeling utterly defeated, she surrendered, “Alright, then.”

She handed the mask she got yesterday to Zhong Michu, “Many from the Zuo family recognize you. If you’re coming with me, you’ll need to hide your identity.”

“I understand,” Zhong Michu replied.

After putting on the mask, the group left the house. Scholar Zhai sighed, then suddenly remembered the pride of the Dragon Clan, comparable to that of the Azure Phoenix, known for not easily allowing others to ride them.

“Gu Fuyou, how are we going to get to Yunduan Grand Canyon?” Scholar Zhai asked.

Gu Fuyou, seething with anger and considering Scholar Zhai a traitor, replied spitefully, “Hmph, we’ll walk.”

“…”

Translation note:

Yinhen – The Sword of Bitter Resentment or The Sword of Deep-Seated Hatred.