The warmth of being back at Yun Duo’s side after escaping the illusion was quickly shattered. Shang Can’s gaze swept over the faint bloodstains on Yun Duo’s white robe, realizing that during her time in the water, Yun Duo must have gone through a fierce struggle, a wave of indescribable pain swelling in her heart.
Yet she knew it was not the right time to show concern for her lover, so she cautiously channeled her healing technique through her fingertips, gently brushing over Yun Duo’s wounds. Only when she sensed that the injuries were not too serious did she feel a little more at ease. However, Yun Duo was more concerned about her. Even as her spiritual energy flowed through Shang Can’s body a few times, she still held onto her collar, reluctant to let go. In a low voice, she asked, “… Are you okay? After falling into the water, did she do anything to you?”
Shang Can thought to herself that if anyone should be discussing what was done to whom, it should be her and Yu Jiu. She hesitated for a moment, then directed her gaze toward the surface of Qing Lian Lake.
Yu Jiu, missing one hand, maintained her composure, still sitting on a lotus leaf. Blood oozed from the gap where her hand had been, but compared to before, she had clearly healed herself with techniques, and now she finally had the leisure to look at Shang Can again.
“You just now…” The once proud and defiant Yu Jiu now displayed signs of panic. Her lips were pale, her voice low, and her eyes, filled with anger, had a faint red glow. “…What did you do? How dare you…”
Shang Can remained silent. She had just been dragged out of the lake—from the illusion—by the very person who had thrown her in. While she had been watching those fragmented memories as if they were drifting by, the one who had been probing into her memories had clearly realized what she was doing, thus abandoning the significant advantage of suppressing her in the lake. Using what could be called a violent method, she had interrupted the illusion and dragged her out, resulting in Yu Jiu’s chaos leading to the loss of her arm.
It was evident that Yu Jiu didn’t want anyone to see her memories related to Ji Lian.
Shang Can gazed silently at the disheveled sect leader of Tian Wai Tian and pressed her lips together tightly.
But still, she should have only been brought into the illusion by Ji Lian’s ghost. Even if Ji Lian had intended for her to see some past events, she should have only viewed them from Ji Lian’s perspective. Now being able to see those images from Yu Jiu’s viewpoint seemed to be the result of the Dream-Inducing Fragrance.
Dream-Inducing Fragrance, what did Wan Shao say about it—
“Generally, you can only see the deepest, most unforgettable memories of that person, and they will appear bizarre and incoherent.”
No matter how profound Yu Jiu’s cultivation was, at most, she could only realize that someone was probing into her memories. There was no way for her to know which memories had been seen.
So why was she so flustered? Why indeed.
As the tangled thoughts unraveled, Shang Can realized that Yu Jiu, now without one hand, was no longer her and Yun Duo’s opponent. She should have seized the moment while Yu Jiu was injured and pressed her advantage, but for some unknown reason, she didn’t act. She found herself staring blankly at Qing Lian Jun, standing behind Yu Jiu—now that she had seen the real person, she felt even more that this was a mere puppet without substance. The Tian Wai Tian robe it wore did not match its face at all, giving off a sense of absurdity that seemed out of place in reality.
“…” Shang Can stared for a while, then softly asked, “…Do you know?”
Her question was ambiguous, and judging from Yu Jiu’s expression, it was clear that she did not understand what she was asking. Shang Can sighed inwardly, lowering her gaze to the still, tranquil lake surface, her mind clouded with fog, occasionally catching glimpses of something bright.
—The passage to the Underworld had yet to be sealed, with countless ghosts pouring out from the ghost realm, one lurking beneath the largest lotus leaf in Qing Lian Lake. The person sitting on that lotus leaf day after day was the one who had killed her.
She hadn’t let her know that she was here.
What was she here for? It would be too far-fetched to say it was for revenge. After all, the gate to the ghost realm had been open for quite some time, and how long Ji Lian had been here was already impossible to ascertain. But it wouldn’t do for there to be no opportunity for a confrontation; it seemed she had done nothing at all.
Had she? Had she not? Shang Can glanced over the pool of lotus flowers, feeling somewhat shaken. The meticulously nurtured lotus flowers by Yu Jiu, combined with the fragrant and puppet techniques—was there not a shadow of Ji Lian present here?
Once a question takes root, it is difficult to dispel. Shang Can felt a strong urge to ask Ji Lian about it, but she hesitated, realizing that such actions would expose Ji Lian’s whereabouts—she wasn’t sure if Ji Lian wanted Yu Jiu to know she was here, but nine times out of ten, she probably didn’t. Otherwise, why would she remain silent, lurking beneath the lake’s surface?
She also wondered what Ji Lian would feel upon seeing the puppet beside Yu Jiu, identical in appearance to her.
“Hey, what are you daydreaming about? Speak clearly—”
The vague silence only made Yu Jiu more anxious. The little phoenix, who had been acting strangely since emerging from the water, remained silent. She frowned and muttered, “Demonic cultivator?” and then fell silent again. Her gaze held an indescribable, annoying emotion—one of hesitation, unease, and perhaps even pity.
What a joke! Pity? How dare anyone look at her with such eyes!
And that flawless celestial body that had severed her arm and then retreated, clearly having the opportunity to kill her with a single blow, now stood beside Shang Can, seemingly indifferent to the outcome… Shang Can must have privately transmitted something to her; now she too began to cast the same gaze at her—
What is this? What is this?! The surging rage in Yu Jiu’s heart couldn’t be contained; her eyes unconsciously fell upon the intertwined hands of the two, as if her vision was narrowed to that one spot. She clenched her fists, gritting her teeth.
How long will this go on? How much longer can they hold hands?
An overwhelming killing intent surged uncontrollably in her heart. Yu Jiu only wanted to erase this irritating sight from her view, but suddenly the leaves beneath her swayed violently.
It was then that she realized, looking around as her narrow field of vision opened up, that the dark depths of the lake were faintly shimmering with an unexpected crimson gold, bright enough to induce panic.
Gradually, a scorching warmth began to emanate, but Yu Jiu felt as if she were falling into an ice cave. She slowly raised her head to look at the half-demon phoenix with the same color eyes, only to see her staring blankly at another direction, a flicker of reluctance crossing her eyes.
“…I set a fire before entering the illusion,” Shang Can confessed softly, aware of Yu Jiu’s gaze, though her expression revealed little joy. She looked at the gradually solidifying figure in a red dress and sighed lightly. “I originally only intended to burn your lotus leaf. Once in the illusion, I nearly forgot about it myself—but now, burning the entire bottom of Qing Lian Lake is probably not entirely… my doing.”
The rich fragrance in her nostrils seemed to fade slightly, and her immobile body finally regained some autonomy.
Wan Shao awkwardly propped herself up to stand. When she had been captured, she had just finished sending a message for help to Yunduan. She had hidden herself on the rooftop when she suddenly found herself inexplicably unable to move. Now, after finally being able to move again, her legs felt utterly numb, and she angrily ground her teeth, hopping a few steps.
“Wan Shao!” A hurried voice called from below. Wan Shao looked down to see Chu Ming rushing toward her, “I finally found you!”
“Just now, everyone around suddenly became unable to move. Although I wasn’t feeling well, I could still move somewhat. After checking the situation, I searched for you several times but couldn’t find you. I contacted Uncle Wang Yue for help, but I estimate it’ll take him some time to get here.” He spoke quickly without taking a breath, then urgently pointed towards Qing Lian Lake. The cultivators who had been restrained were gradually recovering, all drawn to the unusual occurrences over there. “Over there, Shang Can used heavenly fire too powerfully earlier; it’s probably impossible to conceal her identity now. I need to take a look—do you want to come?”
Of course, she had to go. While her body had been restrained, her mind had not. Wan Shao had heard quite a commotion while she was unable to move. Resentful that she had been unable to see the situation due to her direction, she could not avoid feeling the frequent flashes of crimson gold belonging to the heavenly fire, silently crying out in her heart. She found herself musing over the striking resemblance between the unmasked Qing Lian Jun and her mother, while simultaneously praying for Shang Can and Yunduan’s safety.
The entire scene was chaotic and tumultuous. With Chu Ming’s assistance, Wan Shao rushed non-stop to the shores of Qing Lian Lake. Many cultivators had already arrived before them, but all stopped at the periphery, their faces a mix of shock and fear, whispers of panic floating through the crowd.
“That’s—could that really be heavenly fire? The Radiant One has returned…!”
“No, don’t lose your composure! Yunchong Jun is here too; look—”
“But Yunchong Jun is standing next to the Radiant One!”
“That person on the lotus leaf… is that not the Sect Leader of Tian Wai Tian? The genius who has been in seclusion for over thirty years…?”
“…It is the Sect Leader… but…”
The unfinished words hung in the air, but everyone present understood what the unspoken half meant; no one had the courage to voice it. In the end, they merely exchanged glances, their throats trembling with disbelief, almost as if a thorn had lodged in their throats.
—But, the Sect Leader of Tian Wai Tian seems to have succumbed to demonic influence!
For a moment, everyone fell silent, but Wan Shao didn’t care about the Sect Leader; she stretched her neck to get a better look. The fight had seemingly paused; Shang Can and Yunduan stood side by side on the shore, appearing somewhat disheveled but without any obvious injuries. The person on the lotus leaf, however, looked significantly worse; not only did they lack an arm, but their face bore an expression of confusion, eyes wide as if witnessing something unbelievable.
Yet Wan Shao wasn’t looking at the three of them; her attention was immediately drawn to the flash of red. The ethereal, flowing gauze dress matched her memories perfectly. The half-visible side profile was painfully familiar. It seemed that the figure sensed her gaze; it stirred slightly, slowly raising its eyes to look at her, revealing a girl-like surprise, with brows and eyes arching in a delicate smile.
“…Mother.”
Like a murmured dream, Wan Shao blurted it out softly.
Aside from the circle around Yu Jiu, the lotus flowers emitting enchanting fragrances began to wither from the outer ring in the heavenly fire, and the restrained cultivators gradually regained their freedom. The surrounding voices grew noisy, and although Shang Can hesitated somewhat, in the end, she didn’t take any action.
At this point, some matters were bound to be revealed.
Moreover, the ones most anxious to bury the truth did nothing at all, merely standing there by Qing Lian Lake, lost in thought.
Her gaze seemed rooted here, yet the ghostly figure being watched showed no intention of responding, busying herself with her clothes beside Shang Can, softly muttering, “It’s much better outside than being in the water.”
Shang Can momentarily didn’t know what to say, running through several titles in her mind, all feeling inappropriate. Finally, she hesitated and spoke, “…Senior…”
The elegantly named woman raised her head in response, her bright eyebrows and eyes curving in a friendly manner. “You’re Wan Shao’s friend, aren’t you?”
Seeing the surprise flash in Shang Can’s eyes, Ji Lian smiled and explained, “The flower spirits are quite sensitive to scents. That bottle of Dream-In-Love you have on you was probably made by her. It’s a good idea, but the final product is a bit crude. You should add another ingredient and change it to—”
She had only spoken halfway when she inexplicably veered off track. Noticing that this senior seemed intent on giving a serious opinion about potion-making at a time when it really wasn’t appropriate, Shang Can steeled herself and interrupted, “…Is it because you know I’m Wan Shao’s friend that you showed me those?”
“…” Ji Lian paused her speech, gently blinking her eyes. Her gaze circled around the silent Yunduan, and she said, “That’s not it. I sensed another kind of aura.”
As she spoke, she surveyed Yunduan and, for some reason, seemed to grow happy. “The last medicine I made, you gave it to her, didn’t you?”
Shang Can was taken aback, and then she heard Ji Lian candidly confess, “That child’s Dream-In-Love is quite unguarded. Although you could see my memories with Yu Jiu through that scent and my illusion, since I poured the fragrance into the water, you naturally would be affected as well. I took advantage of that to take a look at your memories.”
“I’m sorry, but how should I put it…” Ji Lian’s gaze was innocent yet carried a hint of tenderness, her little mole seeming to hold a lively smile, “Having hidden underwater for so long, suddenly encountering someone who used the new medicine I made, I couldn’t help but want to know its effects.”
She smiled, her tone calm as she softly said, “You all are very good, really very good.”
Even though she had her memories peered into, Shang Can couldn’t bring herself to say a word of reprimand. An indescribable emotion surged in her heart. Unable to speak, she listened as Ji Lian continued, “…I’ve been under Qing Lian Lake for quite a while, and I know a lot of things…”
“When I came here, I was also rather dazed, not knowing why I was here,” Ji Lian said, her eyes still clear as water, sparkling like a deer gazing at the surface. “But after seeing your memories, I felt…”
She paused, her tone slightly lowering for the first time, whispering, “…That’s enough. I felt that it was all enough.”
In the distance, whispers continued to arise. Ji Lian suddenly seemed to sense something and turned her head. Shang Can followed her gaze and saw Wan Shao’s stunned face, as if she hadn’t yet recovered from the shock of suddenly seeing her mother.
Ji Lian looked very happy, her beautiful eyes narrowing with delight. “Oh, I’m so glad I got to see you.”
Catching some hint in her words, Shang Can’s heart skipped a beat. When she looked at her, she indeed saw the woman thoughtfully raising her hand, her fair fingertips gradually revealing a translucent quality under the sunlight, slowly spreading upwards.
“Well, it seems that telling her how to optimize that fragrance isn’t an obsession after all.”
Watching the unusual phenomenon appear on her own body, Ji Lian appeared even calmer than Shang Can, gently curling her lips into a smile, peacefully enclosing her fading fingers into her palm.
“If the water over there is the River of Forgetting,” Ji Lian lowered her eyelashes, “then I should be able to see the other shore by now.”
“Too bad it’s not.”
The lotus-like woman softly murmured as she closed her eyes. When she raised her head again, her long eyelashes were drenched in sunlight, fluttering like butterfly wings. She was as ephemeral as the dream bubbles formed under the sun, destined to last only a day.
“…Then there’s no need to look anymore.”
Perhaps only Shang Can and Yunduan, who were close by, heard her final words, yet they understood those words weren’t meant for them. As the last wisp of the red dress dissipated into the air, a trembling, blood-like indistinct sound emerged from the quiet, seemingly empty Qing Lian Lake. Everyone failed to catch the unclear syllables, but all witnessed the dreamlike spectacle above the lake.
The lotus petals had fallen.
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