Chasing The Moon (Moonlight Mystique) - Chapter 41
Chapter 41
“Old Turtle! I’m back!”
Bai Shuo swaggered as she pushed open the hut door, her hands on her hips, causing the small wooden door to creak and groan like a worn-out drum.
Inside the hut, it was eerily quiet, and the usual thunderous snoring of the old turtle, which could shake the hut roof, was nowhere to be heard.
“Huh? Not here? Where did he sneak off to drink again?”
Bai Shuo held her pose for a while, but since no one was there to admire her, she dropped her arms in disinterest. She leisurely lay down on the vine chair under the old tree and flicked her wrist.
“Safe, no one’s here.”
In an instant, the small vine turned into a young boy.
Fan Yue, familiar with the routine, fetched water from the well in the courtyard and brought it to Bai Shuo.
She took a hearty sip and patted Fan Yue’s head.
“My good disciple.”
Fan Yue noticed that Bai Shuo was staring at the small courtyard gate without even glancing at him, causing a hint of sadness to flicker in his eyes. But he quickly recovered his composure and headed to the kitchen to prepare some food.
Bai Shuo rested her chin in her hand, her eyes curving into a smile.
Great, Ah Zhao will become the sect master of Piao Miao in the future, so won’t she be able to do whatever she wants in Piao Miao? She had it all figured out; in the future, all the island’s elixirs would be made by the old turtle, and she would never have to go out to pick herbs in the middle of the night again.
“Sleep, sleep, bask in the sun~~~”
Bai Shuo couldn’t help but hum a tune. Right on cue, the little disciple handed her a piece of fragrant osmanthus cake. Bai Shuo swallowed it in one gulp and laughed aloud; life was truly wonderful.
But that big demon was really a headache… Bai Shuo glanced at the boy, who was fidgeting nervously, and the disciple grinned sheepishly, looking especially flattering, afraid that Bai Shuo might change her mind and send him away.
Forget it; let’s keep him for now. After all, the master-disciple relationship is already established. Even if the big demon comes back one day, he wouldn’t dare to harm his teacher, would he?
There are gods watching over us!
Oh right, Ah Zhao is going to Wutong Phoenix Island tomorrow; she must follow and prepare plenty of spiritual medicine.
Bai Shuo hurriedly got up and rummaged through the boxes and chests, pulling out all the precious items the old turtle had left behind and packing them into a big bag, which she then stuffed into her Qiankun Bag. After working up a sweat, she lay back in the vine chair, happily daydreaming about the good days to come while waiting for Chong Zhao.
But as the sun rose and set, and the moon hung high in the sky, the person she was waiting for never appeared.
“Even the sect master needs to sleep, and a disciple can’t work all night…”
The night breeze blew, and Bai Shuo sneezed, unable to resist muttering.
The young boy, who had been dozing off to the side, heard Bai Shuo sneeze and immediately opened his eyes, ready to take off his outer robe and cover her.
“Hey, hey,no,no, no need, I’m not cold.” Bai Shuo quickly stopped him, buttoning up the half-removed robe.
“Listen, disciple, we are the authentic sect of the immortal sect, and we are from a good family. You can’t take off these clothes casually in the future.”
“Oh.”
The boy nodded obediently, “Then I’ll go make a pot of hot tea for Master.”
“Smart.”
Bai Shuo nodded with a smile, about to praise him when footsteps sounded behind her.
“Hurry, hurry, Ah Zhao is coming; hide quickly…”
Before Bai Shuo could finish her sentence, Fan Yue had already transformed back into a small vine and slipped onto her wrist.
Bai Shuo breathed a sigh of relief and turned around with a big smile.
“You stinky boy, you finally decided to come…”
Halfway through her shout, she saw who it was and paused. Standing at the door of the medicine hut was Er Yun.
“Senior Sister Er Yun?”
Why would Er Yun, who always kept her distance, come to this outer island in the middle of the night?
Er Yun, surprisingly, had a rare kind expression. Her demeanor was a bit strange, and she didn’t speak; she just stood there awkwardly.
“Senior Sister… Are you here for the elixirs?”
Bai Shuo thought of the only possibility.
“No.”
Er Yun replied stiffly, and before Bai Shuo could speak, she handed her a small porcelain bottle.
“For you.”
The small porcelain bottle emanated a strong spiritual energy, containing second-grade elixirs.
“Senior Sister, this is…?”
Er Yun coughed and looked away.
“The cold air in the Xuan Ice Cave can harm a half-immortal’s body. This is an elixir my father left for me, much better than the waste you make.”
Bai Shuo stared blankly, glancing up at the moon in the sky.
What’s going on? The moon didn’t rise from the west, did it?
“Hey, do you want it or not…”
“I do, I do.”
Before Er Yun could finish, Bai Shuo grabbed the elixir bottle and clutched it in her hand, her eyes narrowing into a line.
“Thank you, Senior Sister.”
Bai Shuo chuckled; second-grade elixirs were rare, and she rarely succeeded in making them herself.
It would be a waste not to take them.
Who knew Er Yun, usually so domineering, actually had a kind heart.
“Senior Sister, you’re really a great person. You’re the most considerate of me on this island. Don’t worry, in the future, all the elixirs made in our medicine hut, I’ll make sure to bring them to you first.”
Bai Shuo caressed the small elixir bottle, smiling happily.
Seeing Bai Shuo smiling foolishly, Er Yun opened her mouth and, after a moment, finally spoke.
“Bai Shuo, the sect master has ordered you to leave the island tonight.”
The hand caressing the small elixir bottle paused, and Bai Shuo looked up in shock.
“Senior Sister, what did you say?”
“Second Uncle said that as long as you could survive three days in the Xuan ice Cave, your life would be spared, but you are no longer a disciple of Piaomiao. Did you think that because Junior Brother will become the next sect master, you could stay?” Er Yun said stiffly.
“I…”
Bai Shuo opened her mouth. No matter what she said, she had made a huge mistake. But she had thought that Ah Zhao could convince the sect master to let her stay. After all, she was just an insignificant half-immortal medicine disciple in Piaomiao.
“Where is Ah Zhao? I… I want to see him,” Bai Shuo suddenly said.
“Junior brother has already retired for the night. He is going to Wutong Phoenix Island tomorrow. Such a trivial matter doesn’t need to disturb him.”
Bai Shuo’s lips parted, but she had nothing more to say.
She had waited all day, not for Ah Zhao but for Er Yun.
It wasn’t that Ah Zhao couldn’t keep her; it was that Ah Zhao didn’t want to keep her.
Bai Shuo was very smart.
When Er Yun spoke those words, she understood who truly wanted her to leave.
Why?
Bai Shuo was somewhat confused.
The little vine on her wrist seemed to sense her sadness and gently touched the palm of her hand.
“From now on… take care of yourself.”
Er Yun seemed unable to bear Bai Shuo’s expression, turned around, and left.
As she reached the door of the medicine hut, she couldn’t help but pause and say, “The path of immortality is long and arduous, Bai Shuo. Junior brother is now at the pinnacle of being an immortal lord. You and he are not on the same path.”
After speaking, Er Yun transformed into a streak of light and headed towards the inner island.
The moonlight was covered by dark clouds, and Bai Shuo suddenly felt weak, leaning her head against the vine chair.
Over the years, Bai Shuo had only two concerns: one was to find the immortal who saved her, and the other was her companion, Chong Zhao, who depended on her for life.
She worked so hard to refine medicine for Chong Zhao, but now Chong Zhao no longer needs her.
Even when she left home and fled with Chong Zhao, Bai Shuo was not as lost as she was now.
The vast path of immortality felt incredibly lonely.
Where could she go after leaving Piaomiao?
Suddenly, a pair of warm hands held hers. Bai Shuo looked up and met the clear eyes of the young boy.
“Master, what’s wrong?”
Bai Shuo was momentarily stunned, but the warmth of his hands gradually thawed her confused heart. The path of immortality is long, and the three realms are vast.
Where could she not survive?
Ah Zhao had his own path to walk, and so did she.
Bai Shuo suddenly stood up, placing her hands on her hips, instantly full of life again.
“Disciple, pack up your things, we’re leaving!”
“Where are we going?”
“To travel the world!”
Under the night sky, on the sea of Piaomiao, a small boat sailed away, the night obscuring the figures on board.
On the stone peak behind Piaomiao, Chong Zhao stood alone, gazing at the boat in the distance. A streak of light passed by, and Er Yun landed beside him.
“Junior brother,” Er Yun softly called out to Chong Zhao, but the person on the mountaintop did not respond to her.
Her gaze also fell on the boat.
“I thought she would cry and insist on seeing you…”
“She wouldn’t.”
After a long while, Chong Zhao’s voice finally sounded.
Er Yun waited for Chong Zhao to continue, but he only said that one sentence and then fell silent.
Er Yun stared blankly at Chong Zhao, then thought of Bai Shuo from the medicine hut earlier.
For some reason, she felt a sense of relief.
One left without asking, and the other didn’t ask her to stay.
It seemed the most heartless, yet it was the most understanding.
But she didn’t even know what Chong Zhao was thinking.
Her junior brother and Bai Shuo were not meant to be together, and he might not be meant to be with her either.
Perhaps, in her junior brother’s heart, she wasn’t even as good as Bai Shuo.
Er Yun sighed softly, no longer disturbing Chong Zhao, and disappeared from the mountaintop.
The wooden boat sailed away, but a scene flashed through Chong Zhao’s mind.
Last night, in the stone cave of the back mountain, Chong Zhao was meditating when a flash of immortal energy appeared, and Songfeng emerged in the cave.
“Master Uncle?” Chong Zhao opened his eyes and, seeing it was Songfeng, quickly stood up and saluted.
“Very good; your immortal energy has greatly improved. It seems the calamity that the senior brother brought to Piaomiao has become an opportunity for you.”
Chong Zhao’s heart skipped a beat.
The night before, during his meditation, his inner demons almost went astray.
If it hadn’t been for that demon clan woman who protected him, his Dao heart might have been shattered.
Chong Zhao didn’t know why Fu Ling had saved him multiple times, but he understood the strictness of the immortal rules.
If his entanglement with Fu Ling were known in the immortal world, even if he had done nothing wrong, the Heavenly Palace wouldn’t tolerate him and might even bring disaster to Piaomiao.
“Master Uncle, has something happened in the sect?” Chong Zhao changed the topic and asked.
Songfeng had come to the back mountain in the middle of the night, interrupting his meditation, so it must not be without reason.
Songfeng let out a long sigh. “Your senior brother Zhe Sang has returned to the island.”
“Senior brother is back?”
Chong Zhao wasn’t unhappy about it.
Two years ago, even though Zhe Sang took advantage of the situation, he relied on Bai Shuo’s elixirs to suddenly advance his level and narrowly defeated him. Zhe Sang, with his high and proud spirit, left the island in anger.
To be honest, Chong Zhao felt a bit guilty about it.
Seeing no joy on Songfeng’s face, Chong Zhao asked, “Master Uncle, is there something wrong with senior brother’s return this time?”
At the same time, dark clouds covered the sky. On the east coast, a dark figure flashed into a house. The person approached a sleeping baby, and a strange red bead appeared in his palm. The bead absorbed the spiritual energy from the infant’s spiritual platform, and in an instant, the red bead flashed, and its evil aura grew stronger.
Under the moonlight, Zhe Sang’s gloomy face was revealed.
Two years ago, he left Piaomiao with high spirits, determined to make a name for himself before returning. However, after traveling through the three realms, he realized that Piaomiao was just a drop in the ocean compared to the rest of the realms.
When he competed with other disciples of immortal sects for blessed lands, he was severely injured. He ventured into the North Sea to seek a blessed land but encountered a monster instead. When his life was hanging by a thread, he met Fu Ling, the second palace master of Cold Spring Palace. He desperately pleaded with Fu Ling to save him, swearing allegiance in exchange for his life.
Over the years, he had done many unspeakable things for Cold Spring Palace, and the reward he received was this demonic bead. This demonic bead could absorb the spiritual energy of mortals, allowing him to advance to the level of an immortal lord in just two years.
A hint of bloodlust flashed in Zhe Sang’s eyes. Absorbing the spiritual energy of mortals might help him advance quickly, but the tribulation he would face in the future would be no easy feat. His gaze was fixed on the demonic bead. Unless he continued to absorb a large amount of mortal spiritual energy for his use, the position of sect master in Piaomiao would greatly facilitate his actions. This was the real reason he returned to Piaomiao.
The image of Fu Ling’s beautiful face flashed in Zhe Sang’s mind.
Only such a powerful demon lord could be a match for him, and Er Yun was long forgotten.
With a movement, Zhe Sang disappeared from the room.
In the stone cave of the back mountain, Chong Zhao’s expression changed slightly.
“Master Uncle suspects that Senior Brother Zhe Sang has practiced an evil art?”
Songfeng nodded.
“I know the disciples I’ve taught. With your senior brother’s talent, it’s absolutely impossible for him to advance to the rank of Immortal Lord within a hundred years. Yet in just two years, he’s not only able to conceal his Immortal Lord aura in front of me, but also…” Songfeng paused, “he didn’t dare to touch the Mountain-Guarding Jade scroll.”
The Mountain-Guarding Jade scroll is formed from the spiritual essence of past sect masters, and such a spiritual tool is highly sensitive. It usually automatically issues a warning when encountering evil.
Although the scroll showed no reaction when meeting Zhe Sang, it’s uncertain what would happen if it were used for cultivation. Zhe Sang’s sudden increase in immortal energy had already aroused Songfeng’s suspicion, so he intentionally tested him with the Mountain-Guarding Jade scroll. To Songfeng’s surprise, Zhe Sang, feeling guilty, refused to take the scroll, which only deepened Songfeng’s doubts.
At that moment, Songfeng’s expression changed. A jade scroll appeared in his palm, emitting a faint glow that pointed directly to the west.
“Master Uncle, this is…?”
“Someone in the mortal world on the East Sea has used an evil technique to absorb the spiritual energy of mortals.”
Seeing Songfeng’s somber expression, Chong Zhao said, “The one using the evil technique may not necessarily be Senior Brother. Perhaps he has also had some fortuitous encounters during his training outside.”
“Whether it is him or not will be determined in tomorrow’s disciple competition.”
Chong Zhao, however, looked hesitant. “Master Uncle, if Senior Brother really has practiced an evil art, his current immortal energy is comparable to mine. I’m afraid I may not be able to detect it…”
“No matter. I have a way.”
Songfeng whispered something into Chong Zhao’s ear, causing Chong Zhao’s expression to change.
He quickly shook his head, “Master Uncle, you mustn’t. You’re already injured…”
Songfeng waved his hand.
“Zhao’er, Piaomiao has been through one calamity after another and can no longer afford any more disturbances. If your senior brother has indeed committed such a treacherous act, Piaomiao must not fall into his hands. I am already at the end of my days; Piaomiao has only you left…”
Songfeng coughed heavily, his face pale.
Chong Zhao hurriedly supported him.
After a while, Chong Zhao knelt down and bowed.
“Disciple will not fail Master Uncle’s trust.”
Songfeng’s expression was relieved as he helped Chong Zhao up.
“Bai Shuo stole the Mountain-Guarding Jade scroll probably for your sake. I did not make things difficult for her. I’ve already instructed Yi Fan to keep watch outside the Xuan Ice Cave, and I’ve quietly lifted the restrictions of the Xuan Ice inside the cave. With her half-immortal body, staying inside for three days won’t cause any problems.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Master Uncle.”
“Zhao’er, Bai Shuo has no immortal fate. Whether she stays or leaves, it will be up to you to decide after tomorrow.”
“Master Uncle…”
Chong Zhao came back to his senses. The wooden boat on the East Sea had already sailed far away and was no longer in sight.
—Ah Shuo, I hope you will always be a carefree little half-immortal. Although Piaomiao is distant, it cannot remain unaffected in these three realms.
Go find the person you want to find. If someday, after I have done all that I should do, and you still haven’t found him, I will stay by your side forever.–
