When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a quiet little courtyard. A lantern hung at the entrance, its soft glow easing the somber atmosphere. Luo JinXiao breathed a sigh of relief, realizing she was covered in a thin layer of sweat.
“Master, what was that thing just now?” she hurriedly asked.
Elder Liu’s face remained stern. “I don’t know either. Fortunately, I heard things were unsettled here recently, so I came to fetch you. Otherwise, there would have been grave trouble.”
“There are many in the sect who can no longer be trusted. I just discussed with Elder He that if more disappearances occur, we might have to disband the disciples.”
Disband? Luo JinXiao’s heart sank; the situation had become that severe.
“But that’s only a last resort,” Elder Liu sighed deeply. The past few days of running around had aged his once youthful face considerably.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Luo JinXiao stepped forward and asked.
“That thing doesn’t mean you well. Just stay put in Wu Hui Sect for now, and don’t go anywhere. That would be a blessing,” Elder Liu shook his head, tapping Luo JinXiao on the head with his fan before stepping inside.
Confused, Luo JinXiao followed him and asked, “Why is it hostile towards me?”
“Why do you have so many questions?” Elder Liu huffed, glaring at her. “Your celestial veins are unique. It’s a blessing you haven’t been taken for alchemy. Stop overthinking.”
“I have too much going on to constantly watch over you. Being among people isn’t necessarily safe either. I called you here to give you this.” Elder Liu retrieved a small sachet from a cabinet and tossed it to Luo JinXiao. “If you encounter that thing again, open this. It will help.”
Luo JinXiao understood. No wonder Qu WeiYin had sought her out recently; it was because of this.
The Yin celestial veins were beneficial for cultivation, and Elder Liu mentioned her being in danger. It seemed likely that the missing disciples had their spiritual energy drained.
Wu Hui Sect kept this under wraps to avoid panic among the disciples.
Luo JinXiao felt a warmth rise in her heart. Even before she realized the precipice she stood on, people were already shielding her. Yet she also felt a sense of frustration at needing such protection.
“Thank you, Master,” Luo JinXiao said softly.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you back. I have more pressing matters to attend to,” Elder Liu sighed again, looking weary. Grabbing Luo JinXiao’s arm with surprising strength, he transported her in a dizzying instant to the disciples’ quarters, where lights and laughter filled the air.
Elder Liu had vanished. A white-robed senior sister approached from the door, kindly urging, “Sister, it’s late. Please go inside.”
Luo JinXiao thanked her, pushing the door open to enter. These were older disciples keeping watch. The autumn night was cool, and they vigilantly guarded the outside, truly dedicated.
Her bed was next to Lu FanZhi’s. After chatting briefly, Luo JinXiao lay down, focusing on the spirit stone she played with.
When the last person returned, damp with dew, and extinguished the lights, only then did Luo JinXiao place the stone by her pillow and close her eyes to sleep.
She slept until the middle of the night when the wind blew open the window with a creak. The sticky wind, laden with moisture, made her head throb.
Someone in the room was muttering in their sleep, but the voice suddenly ceased, leaving a deep silence.
Soft whispers began anew, coming from an unknown source. In her dream, Luo JinXiao listened, feeling it was not human. Alarmed, she broke out in a cold sweat, awake despite her closed eyes.
She could almost hear her pulse, sensing the sticky presence drawing near, sending a shiver down her spine.
A surge of anger rose within her. What was this thing that wouldn’t give up? She released her spiritual sense, perceiving its approach.
Whether she could defeat it or not, she would give it a fight.
At that moment, another voice sounded from outside, breaking the silence. Luo JinXiao twitched her ears, leaping up with her divine sword, striking in the direction of the disturbance. The thick air parted and closed with nothing there.
Her heart sank, the sensation of a nightmare enveloping her, freezing her in place, unable to move. The powerless sensation was unbearable. Realizing something was wrong, she bit down, breaking her lip.
The pain brought clarity. She opened her eyes to see the carved ceiling beams of the room, cold sweat trickling from her forehead. She was still on her bed, unmoved.
She had never encountered anything so bizarre. Summoning her divine sword, she slashed her arm, confirming her wakefulness with the sting and blood.
The sticky sensation had enveloped her completely. Gritting her teeth, she unleashed her spiritual energy, filling the room with silvery light, dispersing the cloying air. Only then did she roll off the bed, positioning her sword defensively.
A shattering sound came from outside the door, which swung open. Startled, Luo JinXiao nearly unleashed a lethal blow, but a familiar figure rushed to her side, gripping her wrist.
“It’s me,” a cool voice said. Recognizing the voice, Luo JinXiao relaxed, her tense body easing.
“Little Martial Aunt?” she whispered.
Qu WeiYin didn’t respond, producing several yellow talismans from who knows where. Murmuring a spell, the talismans glowed, affixing themselves to the doorframe.
Instantly, the sticky, eerie feeling vanished, leaving the room peaceful, filled with the chirping of insects.
Luo JinXiao closed her eyes briefly, realizing her clothes were soaked with sweat.
Qu WeiYin’s expression softened. She flicked her fingers, lighting the room’s candles. Nearby, Lu FanZhi murmured something incoherent, turning over.
“It’s over,” Qu WeiYin said. Though outwardly calm, her heart had been pounding. As she arrived and saw the lifeless room, she feared she was too late.
Fortunately, she wasn’t, and she exhaled quietly.
More footsteps approached, revealing Chang Siyu and the white-robed senior sister from earlier, both looking shaken. The night watch sister bore a scratch on her pale face, limping slightly.
Realizing his mistake in entering the female quarters, Chang Siyu hurriedly shielded his eyes.
“Thank you, Little Martial Aunt Qu,” the sister said repeatedly.
“It’s nothing,” Qu WeiYin shook her head, handing a few talismans to Chang Siyu. “Use these when keeping watch. Elder Liu just made them; they’ll be useful in emergencies.”
Chang Siyu accepted them eagerly, about to speak when Qu WeiYin’s gaze stopped him.
“Hurry out,” Qu WeiYin frowned.
Chang Siyu quickly retreated, and Qu WeiYin turned to the white-robed sister, advising, “These talismans will help, but they don’t solve the root issue. Stay vigilant, understand?”
The sister nodded earnestly.
Qu WeiYin then turned to Luo JinXiao, her gaze steady and calm, as if she hadn’t been worried. She examined Luo JinXiao, making her feel a chill from head to toe.
Suddenly, Luo JinXiao felt self-conscious about her disheveled appearance, wondering if she seemed too unkempt.
“Fix your clothes and follow me,” Qu WeiYin said, striding out the door.
Luo JinXiao grabbed her outer robe from the screen, quickly donning it as she caught up with Qu WeiYin.
“Little Martial Aunt…” she began, only to be cut off.
Qu WeiYin walked briskly, saying, “I’ll head down the mountain at dawn to search for the missing disciples. You’ll come with me.”
Luo JinXiao opened her mouth to ask but was interrupted again. “Once there, stay behind me. I’m not bringing you to help but to keep you in my sight, so those things don’t target you again.”
Qu WeiYin suddenly stopped, turning sharply. Luo JinXiao nearly bumped into her, stepping back hastily.
“You must promise me. Otherwise, stay here and wait for death,” Qu WeiYin said, her brow furrowed, lips pursed.
Though her tone was stern, her gaze wasn’t harsh, sounding less like a command.
Luo JinXiao’s heart skipped a beat, the frustration from earlier vanishing. She nodded obediently.
Weak or not, being protected by Little Martial Aunt was nice, she thought resignedly.
“Elder Liu can’t leave, so I’ll take you,” Qu WeiYin explained further, as if worried about Luo JinXiao’s thoughts. As she finished, she summoned the Crescent Moon Star Sword, leaping onto it.
“Do I need to prepare anything?” Luo JinXiao asked, drawing her sword to follow.
“QiongQi,” Qu WeiYin replied.
Luo JinXiao patted her pouch, smiling brightly, “I’ve got her.”
“Good,” Qu WeiYin nodded, seeming satisfied. This left Luo JinXiao a bit dejected, realizing she was more of a burden than even QiongQi.
They moved silently through the night, their hems damp with dew, feeling heavy and wet.
In the faint pre-dawn light, the cliff became a silhouette, the small house atop it lit warmly, clear and bright.
Qu WeiYin entered, her skirt trailing, tracing arcs on the floor. She rummaged through cabinets, tossing clothes to Luo JinXiao.
“We left in a hurry; I didn’t pack,” she said, shaking out some old garments. “We can’t reveal our identities, so we’ll dress as mortals.”
Luo JinXiao agreed quickly, unable to resist asking, “Did you know I was in danger and rushed to save me?”
She felt a glimmer of hope.
Qu WeiYin’s hands stilled, clothes slipping from her grasp. She hesitated before picking them up silently.
“I was just following orders. That thing happened to be near you, so I went to handle it.”
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