There wasn’t a single good thing happening.
The newly appointed leader of Tianwaitian seemed to have learned from Pei Chen’s experience of falling into madness when facing the demon tribe. He adopted an even harsher attitude towards the demons than previous leaders. Wan Shao gritted her teeth as she read the report brought by the Night Crow. The fact that Tianwaitian had the time to disrupt the relatively honest tree demon’s hideout while the ghost tribe was still lurking in the shadows made her furious, and she cursed the acting leader’s ancestors repeatedly in her heart.
It really was not a good situation!
Wan Shao sighed deeply, barely regaining her composure from the edge of anger. She grimaced and silently cursed Shang Can for a moment, but soon felt a wave of bitterness rise in her, pouting her lips and struggling to hold back for quite a while before finally recovering.
Since that day when Yun Duan took the ghost tribe’s directory and left on her sword, Wan Shao hadn’t seen her again.
At that time, Wan Shao had not kept up with the developments, but she knew it was dangerous to leave someone like Yun Duan alone. Thus, she hurriedly searched for her in the ghost realm. For some reason, Nan Shuang, who had just had half of her house destroyed, did not speak any harsh words to her this time. Instead, she cooperatively sent her subordinates to search. However, even with the cooperation of the flower demons and the ghost tribe, they still couldn’t find Yun Duan, only discovering the ghost directory left alone on the ground in a remote area.
“If we’re searching like this, even a bird should have been uncovered by now.” Nan Shuang’s expression was calm, as if she was not surprised at all. “It must be that Yun Zhongjun doesn’t want us to find her.”
She spoke lightly, but Wan Shao was in a panic. In the moments she spent searching for Yun Duan, she had pieced together some clues, but she was full of resistance to her own conjecture. The fear and horror in her heart were nearly overwhelming. In the end, relying on the surprisingly reliable Nan Shuang, the elusive Ghost King had wandered around the immortal realm and returned with two pieces of news: first, that Shang Can had committed suicide in front of Pei Chen; second, that it was rumored Yun Zhongjun had recently returned to Qingyu and did not need to worry too much.
Wan Shao had no way of knowing how the first piece of news had reached her, but the second was indeed true and was a semi-public rumor in the immortal realm. After all, Yun Zhongjun hadn’t returned to Qingyu in the past two years, and this visit had stirred up some commotion.
Wan Shao should have felt somewhat relieved, but she no longer had that luxury.
…Shang Can died, and it was suicide?
Even though she had been worried about Shang Can’s life since she arrived at Biluo Huangquan, she had considered what she would do if she couldn’t keep Shang Can in that fragile body. But now, those two words suddenly crashed down in front of her like a sharp blow, and she staggered slightly, barely managing to sit down. In her stunned state, she felt dizzy.
Wan Shao never expected that, in the end, Shang Can hadn’t died from an old illness or at the hands of an enemy; she had died by—
Wan Shao dared not think further, nor could she imagine how Yun Duan would feel upon hearing this news. With external troubles and internal strife, she was the demon master of Biluo Huangquan, and no matter what, she had to put on a brave face, even suppressing her grief. Yet, she couldn’t help but force herself to think through the whole matter repeatedly.
Who doesn’t want to live? How could Shang Can possibly not want to live?
There were countless opportunities for this person to die. If she had long since made up her mind to die, she should have done it long ago… Why wait until that time? And there was that fire; people had already slit their throats. Why could she still summon such a massive celestial fire out of thin air? It couldn’t have been something she set up in advance just for self-preservation or to turn herself to ashes, could it?
No, it shouldn’t be like this. Wan Shao shook her head vigorously, unconsciously clenching her fists. As Pei Chen had said, Shang Can couldn’t have known that day that the cultivators were coming to find her. She had been forced to escape to that mountain, so it was even less likely she had made any plans in advance…
…And what about the records of a dead person without a soul going to the ghost realm? What kind of situation was that? Was it some sort of half-demon trait?
Heavenly fire summoned after death, a missing soul—
There were too many mysteries surrounding Shang Can. Wan Shao couldn’t help but feel irritated at this person for always bringing her trouble. She resigned herself to rubbing her aching temples.
She didn’t know what Shang Can’s half-demon side was exactly… Perhaps it would be better to start investigating this angle first?
Qingyu, Yuheng.
Two years later, standing once again on the bluestone path of Yuheng Peak, she didn’t feel strange at all. Yun Duan closed her eyes. As she arrived, the ancient tree that had stood at the entrance of Yuheng Peak for thousands of years rustled its leaves without wind, producing a sound like a zither, ethereal and clear, as if welcoming her.
She lifted her head in response and slowly walked beneath the Yuyin Tree. The zither sound was gentle and clear, and as Yun Duan quietly listened, she felt the heavy negative emotions that had permeated her body over the past few days begin to ease slightly, as if the filth was falling away from her heart, allowing her to catch her breath.
Standing under the tree, Yun Duan suddenly remembered the letter she received from Chu Ming more than a year ago, saying that he had gone to dig under the Yuyin Tree following the message Shang Can left him, and indeed found the jar of daughter red. He didn’t know if it could still be drunk after so many years, so he buried it back, waiting for Shang Can to return and drink it together. If they got drunk, it would count as her apology for these years.
Time had passed, and it was impossible to ascertain why Shang Can had buried the wine under the Yuyin Tree back then. However, this thought successfully evoked a hint of nostalgia. Just standing there, thousands of memories surged into her mind.
This was Qingyu Yuheng, the place where she had cultivated since childhood, the place where she became Shang Can’s junior sister.
It was the starting point of everything.
At this moment, it was afternoon. The outer disciples practicing on Yuheng Peak should be taking a nap, and the surroundings were quiet, with only the sound of the zither echoing from the Yuyin Tree. Yun Duan stood under the tree for a while when she suddenly heard slow footsteps coming from behind her.
She hesitated for a moment before turning around, seeing a woman walking towards her on the bluestone path, dressed elegantly and appearing ethereal. Although her face was stern, she carried a sort of dignified yet unfrightening aura, perhaps due to the slight smile in her eyes that resembled someone else.
“Back already?”
The master of Yuheng Peak, Wang Yue, stopped a few steps away from Yun Duan, as if greeting her after just stepping out for a moment. This made Yun Duan’s heart ache, and she lowered her head in a concealed manner, whispering, “Yes.”
She knew her mind was in turmoil at this moment. No matter how she appeared, her demeanor could not be concealed. She also knew that the person opposite her was certainly aware of all of this. However, Wang Yue did not question her; she simply asked, “Did you find her?”
“…” Yun Duan’s throat tightened slightly, and after taking a few deep breaths, she shook her head. “…No.”
“Is that so?” Wang Yue nodded, then turned around and casually took a few steps forward, saying as she walked, “Have you eaten? I haven’t eaten yet either; come eat with your master.”
The abrupt change in topic left Yun Duan dazed for a moment before she realized what was happening. She looked at Wang Yue, who had already walked a few steps away, and ultimately hesitated before following her.
The two made their way to the main hall of Yuheng, which was also Wang Yue’s residence. The familiar scent of sandalwood wafted up, bringing Yun Duan a sense of comfort, yet also an ache. On the table were indeed several plates of dishes. Under Wang Yue’s invitation, Yun Duan sat down and forced herself to eat a few bites before putting down her chopsticks.
Wang Yue observed her closely but didn’t try to persuade her. Instead, she ate seriously, chewing a piece of radish dozens of times before finally swallowing with a loud gulp.
“As a cultivator, being overly attached is actually a major taboo.”
Her sudden words made Yun Duan shiver. Before she could figure out her intent, she heard Wang Yue’s direct question: “What do you remember now?”
Yun Duan was startled and instinctively stood up. However, Wang Yue didn’t react to her defensive posture at all. She merely looked at her over the bowl and chopsticks, innocently saying, “It seems you remember everything?”
“…”
Knowing that Wang Yue was referring to Shang Can, Yun Duan hesitated and couldn’t respond. It had been Wang Yue who had sealed her memories, and although she didn’t know why it hadn’t worked, if Wang Yue found out that she actually remembered everything, would she—
“When I wanted you to forget her back then, I probably guessed that the spell wouldn’t take effect.”
Wang Yue’s words fell like thunder, and Yun Duan blinked in shock. Wang Yue continued, not caring whether she was following along or not, sighing, “At that time, you were unconscious, and I found that you inexplicably already had a very powerful spell on you, one I had never seen before… it was the mark on your waist.”
“Fortunately, I could sense that it wasn’t a harmful spell; it was just quite domineering. Any attempt to cast a lasting spell on you became very difficult, let alone one to make you forget someone—such a significant endeavor.” Wang Yue recalled, her brow furrowed. “So, I could only treat it like a dying horse being treated as a live one and give it a try.”
“But you seemed to play your part quite well. At first, I thought my spell had genuinely worked…” Wang Yue awkwardly set down her bowl, clearing her throat as she returned to the main topic. “It was only when you brought out Wuyou that I realized I had been played. But given the circumstances, seeing you appear to be holding up better than I initially feared, I just went along with the act.”
After the initial shock subsided, all that remained was a sense of guilt. Yun Duan sat down again, feeling at a loss about how to face Wang Yue. After a long pause, she finally whispered, “…I remember everything, except…”
She hesitated before continuing, “…except for the day Senior Sister left.”
Her words stumbled out, and Wang Yue merely smiled, though there was a trace of melancholy in her expression.
“Yun Duan.”
Gently calling her little disciple’s name, Wang Yue internally rehearsed her words multiple times. Yet when she finally spoke, it still felt like a thorn lodged in her throat.
“…Being overly attached is a major taboo.”
She repeated this sentence, releasing a silent sigh as she lowered her gaze. “Over the years, I’ve come to know what you’ve been up to. It’s only natural, so I didn’t plan to forcefully stop you. Then you encountered Can Zhe… When Chu Ming sent word back, he kept it all to himself. But I quickly realized who Can Zhe was, and though I shouldn’t have, I felt a twinge of joy at that time.”
“I had my selfish desires, thinking perhaps my disciple could come back.”
As Wang Yue spoke, her voice grew softer, and she felt an inexplicable reluctance to look at Yun Duan. Her heart was a tangled mess of emotions, and she ultimately steeled herself to play the villain.
“…And now I have my selfish desires too; I don’t want to lose another disciple.”
Though unspoken, her intention to advise Yun Duan not to cling to Shang Can was clear. Wang Yue felt a heavy emptiness in her heart. Despite her many years of cultivation, becoming a highly respected and formidable practitioner, she still didn’t know if her words were appropriate, or what words, or actions would be the best choice.
Shang Can was the first disciple she had personally accepted. Did she not care for her? Was she unaware of the feelings Yun Duan harbored for Shang Can?
Controlling memories with such precision, she had inevitably seen some of Yun Duan’s memories. Uncertain if it was due to the mingling of sweet and bitter emotions in those memories, Wang Yue’s spell had ultimately been poorly executed. She recognized this but tried to convince herself it was for the best, thinking it would be better to use fewer such spells. What if she hurt Yun Duan?
At that time, she believed Yun Duan wouldn’t want to forget Shang Can, and thus she inadvertently held back. Now, however, she felt a sense of regret.
But what could she do? She couldn’t just watch Yun Duan remain obsessed.
Even without knowing what had happened in recent days, she could see her little disciple had grown emaciated, her once-beautiful dark eyes now hollow, teetering on the edge as if walking a tightrope high above.
The most important thing was that Yun Duan herself didn’t seem to care. She looked as though she had lost the necessary things to live in this world, appearing ready to fall off that rope at any moment.
“…I know.”
Wang Yue lifted her head to see Yun Duan, who had remained silent, suddenly speak up, though she still kept her head lowered and repeated, “I know.”
After saying this, Yun Duan claimed she felt a bit fatigued and stood to leave, remembering to bow in apology. Her etiquette was impeccable, and her demeanor appeared normal. However, as Wang Yue watched Yun Duan’s departing figure, she couldn’t shake a sense of despondency.
What to do? Wang Yue pondered, wishing there were a perfect solution.
…If only Shang Can were still around.
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