Moonlight Mystique

Chapter Forty-One

"Old Turtle! I'm back!"

Bai Shuo pushed open the thatched cottage door with an air of grandeur, hands on her hips. The wooden door creaked like a worn-out drum.

The cottage was eerily silent, devoid of the usual earth-shaking snores of Old Turtle.

"Huh? Not here? Did he sneak off to drink again?"

Bai Shuo struck a pose for a while, but with no one to appreciate it, she lost interest and dropped her arms, leisurely flopping onto the rattan chair under the old tree. She flicked her wrist. "All clear, no one's around."

The little wooden vine instantly transformed into a young man. Fan Yue, familiar with the routine, fetched water from the well behind the courtyard and handed it to Bai Shuo. She took a big, satisfied gulp and patted Fan Yue's head. "Good disciple."

Noticing Bai Shuo staring at the courtyard gate without even glancing at him, Fan Yue's eyes dimmed slightly. But he quickly perked up and headed to the kitchen to prepare food.

Bai Shuo rested her chin on her hand, eyes curved in delight.

Perfect! A-Zhao was going to become the Sect Leader of Piaomiao in the future—that meant she could strut around the island as she pleased! She had already decided: from now on, Old Turtle would be responsible for refining all the Medicinal Pills on the island. No one would dare make her go herb-picking in the middle of the night again.

"Sleepy sleep, bask in the sun"

Bai Shuo couldn’t help humming a little tune. Her little disciple promptly handed her a fragrant osmanthus cake. She swallowed a piece in one bite and laughed. Life was truly wonderful.

Except for this big demon giving her a headache… Bai Shuo glanced at the young man, her eyes darting around. The little disciple grinned ingratiatingly, terrified she might change her mind and kick him out.

Ah, well. Might as well keep him for now. The master-disciple relationship was already established. Even if the big demon returned one day, he couldn’t possibly defy his master—the heavens were watching!

Oh right, tomorrow A-Zhao would be heading to the Phoenix Wutong Island. She had to tag along and prepare plenty of Spirit Medicine.

Bai Shuo scrambled up and rummaged through the cabinets, pulling out all of Old Turtle’s prized possessions. She stuffed them into a bulging bag and stored it in her Qiankun Bag. By the time she finished, sweating profusely, she collapsed back onto the rattan chair, panting. As she daydreamed about her bright future, she waited for Chong Zhao.

But as the sun rose and set, and the moon climbed high, the person she was waiting for never appeared.

"Even Sect Leaders need sleep… Can’t this disciple serve his master all night?"

A night breeze blew by, and Bai Shuo sneezed, muttering to herself.

The drowsy young man beside her snapped awake at the sound of her sneeze and immediately moved to take off his outer robe to drape over her.

"Whoa, no need, no need! I’m not cold." Bai Shuo hurriedly stopped him, pulling his half-removed robe back on. "Listen, disciple, we’re a proper orthodox sect, upstanding and righteous. From now on, you can’t just take off your clothes willy-nilly."

"Oh." The boy nodded obediently. "Then I’ll make Master a pot of hot tea."

"Smart." Bai Shuo smiled approvingly, about to praise him further when footsteps sounded behind her.

"Quick, quick! A-Zhao’s here—hide!"

Before she could finish, Fan Yue had already transformed back into a little wooden vine and coiled around her wrist.

Bai Shuo exhaled in relief, then turned with a bright grin. "You brat, finally decided to show—"

Her voice cut off mid-sentence as she froze. Standing at the cottage entrance wasn’t Chong Zhao—but Er Yun, poised and elegant.

"Senior Sister Er Yun?"

What was she doing here on the outer island in the middle of the night?

Er Yun, unusually amiable, wore a strange expression. She stood there awkwardly, silent."Senior Sister... did you come to collect the medicinal pills?" Bai Shuo could only think of this one possibility.

"No." Er Yun replied stiffly. Before Bai Shuo could speak, she handed over a small porcelain bottle. "For you."

The scent of Spiritual Qi wafted from the bottle—it was actually a second-grade Spirit Medicine.

"Senior Sister, this is...?"

Er Yun coughed and averted her eyes. "The cold energy in the Profound Ice Cave can harm a half-immortal’s body. This is some Spirit Medicine my father left for me before. It’s much better than the junk you refine yourself."

Bai Shuo stared blankly, glancing up at the moon in the sky. What was this all about? The moon hadn’t risen from the west, had it?

"Hey, do you want it or not—"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Before Er Yun could finish, Bai Shuo snatched the bottle and clutched it in her hand, her eyes narrowing into slits.

"Thank you, Senior Sister." Bai Shuo grinned. Second-grade Spirit Medicine was rare—she rarely succeeded in refining it herself. Might as well take it since it was offered. Who would’ve thought that Er Yun, usually so domineering, actually had a kind heart?

"Senior Sister, you’re truly a great person. Out of everyone on the island, you’re the one who cares for me the most. Don’t worry, from now on, any Spirit Medicine I refine in the alchemy hut will be sent to you first." Bai Shuo stroked the small bottle, beaming with delight.

Seeing Bai Shuo’s foolish grin, Er Yun hesitated before finally speaking. "Bai Shuo, the Sect Leader has ordered that you leave the island tonight."

Bai Shuo’s hand, still holding the bottle, froze. She looked up in shock. "Senior Sister, what did you say?"

"Second Uncle said that as long as you endured three days in the Profound Ice Cave, he would spare your life, but you would no longer be a disciple of Misty Isle. Did you really think that just because Junior Brother will succeed as Sect Leader, you could stay?" Er Yun’s tone was unyielding.

"I..."

Bai Shuo opened her mouth but couldn’t find words. No matter how she spun it, she had committed a grave mistake. But she had thought A-Zhao could persuade the Sect Leader to let her stay—after all, to Misty Isle, she was just an insignificant half-immortal alchemy assistant.

"Where is A-Zhao? I... I want to see him," Bai Shuo suddenly blurted out.

"Junior Brother has already retired for the night. Tomorrow, he leaves for the Phoenix Wutong Island. There’s no need to disturb him over such a trivial matter."

Bai Shuo’s lips parted, but no more words came.

She had waited all day—not for A-Zhao, but for Er Yun.

It wasn’t that A-Zhao couldn’t keep her here. It was that A-Zhao wouldn’t.

Bai Shuo was clever enough to understand, the moment Er Yun spoke those words, who truly wanted her gone.

Why?

Bai Shuo felt lost. The little vine around her wrist seemed to sense her sorrow, gently brushing against her palm with its tendrils.

"From now on... take care of yourself." Er Yun also seemed unable to bear Bai Shuo’s expression and turned to leave. But at the door of the alchemy hut, she paused and added, "The path of immortality is long, Bai Shuo. Junior Brother has already reached the Peak of Immortal Lord. You and he... are not on the same path."

With that, Er Yun transformed into a streak of light and vanished toward the inner island.

The moonlight was swallowed by dark clouds. Bai Shuo suddenly felt drained, slumping into the rattan chair and burying her head in her hands.

All these years, Bai Shuo had only two things she held dear—one was finding the immortal who had saved her, and the other was Chong Zhao, who had relied on her for survival.

She had worked so hard refining medicine, all for Chong Zhao. But now, Chong Zhao no longer needed her.

Even back when she had fled her home, wandering with Chong Zhao in exile, Bai Shuo had never felt as lost as she did now.

The vast path of immortality was so lonely. Where could she go after leaving Misty Isle?

Suddenly, a pair of warm hands grasped hers. Bai Shuo looked up and met the clear eyes of a young man."Master, what's wrong with you?"

Bai Shuo was momentarily stunned, but the warmth in her palm gradually thawed her bewildered heart. The path of immortality was long, and the Three Realms vast—where couldn't she live? A-Zhao had his own path to walk, and so did she.

Bai Shuo suddenly stood up, hands on her hips, instantly full of vigor again.

"Disciple, pack our things. We're leaving!"

"Where to?"

"To roam the world!"

On the misty sea under the night sky, a small boat drifted away, its occupants blurred by the darkness.

On the stone peak behind Misty Mountain, Chong Zhao stood alone, watching the distant boat. A streak of light flashed by, and Er Yun landed beside him.

"Junior Brother," Er Yun called softly, but the figure atop the peak didn't respond. Her gaze also fell on the boat. "I thought she would cry and make a scene, demanding to see you..."

"She wouldn't."

After a long silence, Chong Zhao's voice finally came. Er Yun waited for him to continue, but he said nothing more.

Er Yun stared blankly at Chong Zhao, then recalled Bai Shuo in the medicine hut earlier. For some reason, she felt a sense of relief.

One left without asking, the other didn't stop her—seeming heartless, yet understanding each other best. But she didn't even know what Chong Zhao was truly thinking.

Her Junior Brother and Bai Shuo were not the same, and perhaps neither was she. Maybe in Chong Zhao's heart, she wasn't even as important as Bai Shuo.

Er Yun sighed softly and left Chong Zhao alone, disappearing from the mountaintop.

As the boat faded into the distance, a scene flashed through Chong Zhao's mind.

The previous night, in a stone cave behind the mountain, Chong Zhao was deep in meditation when a surge of immortal power flashed, and Song Yun appeared in the cave.

"Junior Martial Uncle?" Chong Zhao opened his eyes and, recognizing Song Yun, quickly stood to bow.

"Good. Your immortal power has improved greatly. It seems the calamity our Senior Brother brought upon Misty Mountain was an Opportunity for you."

Chong Zhao's heart skipped a beat. During his cultivation the night before, his Heart Demon had nearly caused Qi Deviation. If not for the Yao woman Fu Ling intervening to protect him, his Dao Heart might have shattered. Chong Zhao didn't know why Fu Ling had saved him repeatedly, but he understood the strict rules of the Immortal Realm. If his connection with Fu Ling were discovered, even if he had done nothing wrong, the Heavenly Court would not tolerate him—and it might bring disaster upon Misty Mountain.

"Junior Martial Uncle, has something happened in the sect?" Chong Zhao changed the subject.

Song Yun wouldn't have come to the mountain at night to interrupt his cultivation without reason.

Song Yun sighed deeply. "Your Senior Brother Zhesang has returned to the island."

"Senior Brother is back?" Chong Zhao wasn't displeased. Two years ago, though Zhesang had taken advantage of the situation, Chong Zhao had only barely defeated him by forcibly breaking through his Realm with Bai Shuo's Medicinal Pills. Proud and resentful, Zhesang had left the island in anger. Chong Zhao still felt guilty about it.

Seeing no joy on Song Yun's face, Chong Zhao asked, "Junior Martial Uncle, is there something wrong with Senior Brother's return this time?"

Meanwhile, dark clouds gathered over the eastern coast. A shadowy figure slipped into a humble home, approaching a sleeping infant. A sinister red pearl appeared in the figure's palm, drawing the Spiritual Qi from the child's spiritual platform. In an instant, the pearl flashed, its malevolent aura growing stronger.

Under the moonlight, Zhesang's grim face was revealed.Two years ago, he had left Piaomiao with high spirits, determined to make a name for himself before returning. But after wandering the Three Realms, he realized Piaomiao was but a drop in the vast ocean. Competing with disciples from other immortal sects for blessed cultivation grounds, he was severely wounded. Venturing into the North Sea in search of such lands, he encountered a Yao Beast and was left hanging by a thread—until he met Fu Ling, the Second Palace Master of Cold Spring Palace. He begged for her help, swearing loyalty in exchange for his life. Over the years, he had done many unspeakable deeds for Cold Spring Palace, and his reward was this demonic pearl bestowed by Fu Ling. This pearl could devour the Spiritual Qi of mortals, elevating him to the rank of Immortal Lord in just two short years.

A trace of bloodlust flickered in Zhe Sang's eyes. While consuming mortal Spiritual Qi allowed rapid progress, the Heavenly Tribulation he would face upon further ascension would be anything but simple. His gaze fixed on the demonic pearl—unless he continued to absorb vast amounts of mortal Spiritual Qi for his own use. And the position of Sect Leader in Piaomiao would greatly facilitate his plans. That was the true reason for his return.

Fu Ling's elegant face flashed in Zhe Sang's mind. Only a powerful demon lord like her was worthy of him. As for Er Yun, she had long been cast aside.

With a flicker of movement, Zhe Sang vanished from the room.

In the stone cave of the back mountain, Chong Zhao's expression shifted slightly. "Junior Martial Uncle suspects Senior Brother Zhe Sang has practiced forbidden arts?"

Song Feng nodded. "I know the disciples I've taught. With your senior brother's Aptitude, it would be impossible for him to reach Immortal Lord within a hundred years. Yet in just two years, not only can he conceal his Immortal Lord aura in my presence, but..." Song Feng paused. "He dares not touch the Mountain Guardian Jade Slip."

The Mountain Guardian Jade Slip was forged from the immortal essence of past Sect Leaders. Such Spiritual Artifacts were highly sentient and would automatically warn against malevolent forces. Though it showed no reaction to Zhe Sang, using it for cultivation was another matter. Zhe Sang's sudden surge in power had already aroused Song Feng's suspicions. Deliberately testing him with the jade slip, Zhe Sang's guilty conscience made him refuse Song Feng outright—only deepening the latter's doubts.

Just then, Song Feng's expression darkened as the jade slip in his palm emitted a faint glow, pointing westward.

"Junior Martial Uncle, what is this...?"

"Someone has used forbidden arts in the mortal realm of the East Sea, devouring mortal Spiritual Qi."

Seeing Song Feng's grim expression, Chong Zhao said, "It may not be Senior Brother. Perhaps he encountered some rare opportunity during his travels."

"Whether it is him or not, tomorrow's disciple competition will reveal the truth."

Chong Zhao hesitated. "Junior Martial Uncle, if Senior Brother truly practices forbidden arts, his current power rivals mine. I may not be able to expose him..."

"No matter. I have my own methods."

Song Feng whispered something into Chong Zhao's ear, causing the latter's face to pale as he shook his head. "Junior Martial Uncle, you mustn't! You're already injured..."

Song Feng waved his hand. "Zhao'er, Piaomiao has suffered too many calamities and cannot endure another. If your senior brother has truly committed such heresy, Piaomiao must never fall into his hands. My time is waning—you are all that remains..."

A heavy cough escaped Song Feng, his face paling. Chong Zhao quickly steadied him before kneeling and kowtowing deeply.

"This disciple will not fail your trust."

Song Feng smiled faintly, helping Chong Zhao up. "Bai Shuo stole the Mountain Guardian Jade Slip likely for your sake. I did not punish her harshly. I've instructed Yi Fan to guard outside the Profound Ice Cave, and the cave's restrictions have been quietly lifted. With her half-immortal constitution, three days inside will not harm her."

"Thank you for your mercy, Junior Martial Uncle.""Zhao'er, Bai Shuo has no immortal destiny. Whether she stays or leaves, the choice is yours after tomorrow."

"Junior Martial Uncle..."

Chong Zhao came back to his senses. In the East Sea, the wooden boat had already sailed far away, disappearing from sight.

A-Shuo, I hope you'll always remain just a carefree little half-immortal. Though the ethereal path may be distant, none in these Three Realms can truly remain untouched by worldly affairs.

Go find the person you're searching for. If one day, when all I must do is done, and you still haven't found him... I'll stay by your side forever.