Chapter 17
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
This chapter is edited by Farouq Omileye. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 17: We Will Have a Bright Future
“Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian, I’m going.”
Qing Luan looked back at Bai Lian, her gaze deep and heavy.
Though she longed to stay with her Martial Sister, time was slipping away. The moment had come for her to vanish into the ruins of Qing Luan, before the other sects could even receive word of it.
“Oh, you…”
Eh?
At first, Bai Lian’s reaction was one of confusion—her mind still hazy. But then, reality crashed down. Qing Luan had fallen, and a gentle force lifted her, separating her from Qing Luan’s body. The wings unfurled, trailing countless blue stars behind her as she soared toward the bright sun in the distance. It was as though she were an arrow chasing the light—majestic, radiant, and… gone forever.
“Shit!”
Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian was in a state of panic. She instinctively pressed down her long skirt, which, much to her surprise, lacked the “anti-gravity effect” she’d hoped for. Her gaze fell to her feet—she was high above the ground!
“…”
At that moment, Bai Lian thought perhaps that was the end of it.
But when Qing Luan began pulling her down, her face went pale, the image of Qing Luan flying toward the sun burned into her mind. The memory would stay with her forever.
Shuffle—
In her panic, Bai Lian waved her hands, trying to steady herself. As her heart gradually settled, she realized the fall wasn’t as dire as it seemed. After all, she was a cultivator of the Nascent Soul Stage. And more importantly, Qing Luan had placed an invisible bubble around her, shielding her from the wind’s force as she plummeted. In fact, with a bit of hot water, she could even enjoy a nice bath in it.
Though, of course, Bai Lian wouldn’t do such a thing.
…
When Qing Luan departed, the brilliant light that had surrounded Yunluo Peak began to fade, and the pure white world vanished like a fleeting bubble in the absence of Qing Luan. It was all so sudden.
The disciples of the Duxian sect looked up to the slightly dim sky. Had they just imagined what they’d seen?
No. It wasn’t an illusion.
A beam of light—sharp and bright as a spear—pierced the earth.
“There seems to be a person inside that light?”
“I feel like it looks a little like Martial Sister Bai Lian…”
“Wasn’t Martial Sister Bai Lian helping Martial Sister Qing Luan recover her Tao heart? Why is she flying to the sky now?”
“Dammit, I can’t see clearly from here. I need to get closer.”
“Who do you think you’re fooling, huh?!”
Among the growing chatter, Xiao Jinse and Su Youwei found themselves cornered, caught up in a rush of people. The two younger Martial Sisters, however, weren’t distracted. Their eyes stayed fixed on the falling light.
It was Martial Sister Bai Lian!
Their vantage point allowed them to see clearly. Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian had soared into the sky, riding the divine bluebird, before returning to the ground as though a celestial being.
“Of course! She’s the perfect Martial Sister Bai Lian!” Xiao Jinse’s eyes sparkled with longing.
If she could, Xiao Jinse would have wanted nothing more than to soar with Bai Lian into the heavens, perhaps even doing something “shameful” on the back of the invisible bird. Like, say, measuring her body and making her a new dress!
After months of training, Xiao Jinse realized just how much she excelled over the third Martial Sister. While she was skilled at alchemy, cooking, and sewing, the third Martial Sister seemed to only know how to fight.
“I should be the one accompanying Martial Sister Bai Lian! Once she becomes stronger, maybe we can leave our Shifu together!” Su Youwei, noticing the shift in the crowd, glanced at the second Elder Martial Sister. Danger was near.
They were both locked in an ongoing battle, neither willing to back down.
Bang, bang!
Su Youwei clenched her fists, feeling the heat of competition.
This was the first time she’d encountered such a tough rival.
Both younger Martial Sisters saw each other as their biggest competition. As for the rest?
“As long as we defeat one another, no one else matters.”
As these thoughts swirled, Bai Lian lightly landed by the main hall, stepping gracefully onto the old tree at the edge of Yunluo Peak. She resembled a butterfly fluttering between flowers.
In that moment, Jue Yunzi stepped forward, his pace quickening as he closed the gap. With a burst of energy, he appeared before Bai Lian.
His hurried approach, uncharacteristic of a sect leader, was almost comical.
“Bai…”
“Bai Lian!”
Yan Yue’s voice rang out, louder than Jue Yunzi’s.
Jue Yunzi’s expression soured as he stepped back, allowing Yan Yue to seize Bai Lian’s hand.
“That was Qing Luan, wasn’t it? She really flew like that?” Yan Yue asked, her voice trembling.
Over a dozen pairs of eyes fixated on Bai Lian, holding their breath. Among them, Qing Luan’s master, Elder Xu, was the most anxious.
Their cultivation allowed them to recognize what had just happened—Bai Lian had ascended to the sky atop Qing Luan’s divine bird.
But where did Qing Luan go?
Bai Lian remained calm, meeting their gaze. With a small nod, she confirmed, “Yes, it was Qing Luan.”
Boom.
Bai Lian’s words cleared their doubts.
Elder Xu, unable to contain herself, hid her face and wept. The others stood still, lost in their thoughts. Yan Yue asked softly, “Was it you who…”
Bai Lian shook her head. “I didn’t do much.”
Yan Yue pressed her hand to Bai Lian’s shoulder, offering a reassuring smile. “You’re too modest.”
In her own way, Bai Lian responded in her heart: I’m not modest.
But Yan Yue didn’t wait for an explanation. “You acted when everyone else was helpless. You fixed Qing Luan’s Tao heart in less than a quarter of an hour—such skill is rare!”
That wasn’t me.
“And you identified Qing Luan’s bloodline, helped activate it—such foresight!”
That wasn’t me either.
“Why so modest? Come on, give us a smile!”
Yan Yue gently cupped Bai Lian’s cheek, coaxing her into a forced smile.
“That’s it!” Yan Yue beamed.
At that moment, Elder Xu stepped forward, her approval evident. She placed a hand on Bai Lian’s arm.
“I know these gifts can’t compare to what you’ve done for Qing Luan, but please accept them. If you don’t, I’ll stay on Qiongming Peak until you do!”
She retrieved a jade pendant from her chest—a humble spirit tool, the [Half Inch Spirit Field], used for cultivating Spiritual Herbs.
Bai Lian sighed quietly, her heart softened by Elder Xu’s gesture.
What else could I do?
“Elder Xu, this is too much… but thank you. I’ll accept it.”
Bai Lian took the jade pendant, feeling its warmth—perhaps the warmth of Elder Xu’s heart.
She was moved.
She made a silent promise that when she returned, she would care for the spiritual plants on Qiongming Peak herself, leaving them in the hands of the jade rabbit.
Elder Xu smiled with satisfaction, then quickly shifted the conversation.
“Bai Lian, where is Qing Luan now?”
Bai Lian, still a little upset from her fall, answered calmly, though her words were tinged with frustration. “Younger Martial Sister Qing Luan… she has left.”
Not wanting Elder Xu to misunderstand, she hastened to explain. “She wanted me to say goodbye to you.”
“Qing Luan…” Elder Xu looked up, lost in thought, her gaze drifting toward the sun.
Jue Yunzi spoke gently, “Qing Luan said she would return. I believe that day is not far off.”
“Yes.” Elder Xu nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
The sun would set and rise again. As long as Qing Luan lived, she would return.
This should have been a happy ending.
But…
“Elder Martial Brother…” Elder Xu’s voice quivered.
Jue Yunzi understood and whispered, “Go rest now.”
After Elder Xu left, Jue Yunzi turned to the others.
The truth about Bai Lian’s ability to repair Tao’s heart must remain a secret. To spread that knowledge would be more dangerous than Qing Luan’s transformation into the Qing Luan Divine Bird.
The Elders nodded in agreement.
“Bai Lian, take some rest. If anyone asks about Qing Luan, just pretend you didn’t hear.”
“I understand.”
With a quiet bow, Bai Lian turned away.
Behind the grand hall, she saw Hong Luan once more.
“Qing Luan is well. She asked me to pass on her farewell,” Bai Lian said softly.
Hong Luan’s eyes flickered. “Does she still hate me?”
“Who knows? You can ask her yourself, if you ever see her again.”
Hong Luan nodded, resigned to her fate. Soon enough, she would be imprisoned in the sect’s iron prison. Would she even have time to see Qing Luan again?
As Bai Lian moved toward the front hall, Hong Luan suddenly stopped her.
“What is it?”
Hong Luan threw herself to the ground, her voice trembling, “Thank you!”
“I don’t care,” Bai Lian replied bluntly.
Bai Lian struggled inwardly, but in the end, she chose to accept the situation in silence.
Hong Luan added, her words tinged with sincerity, “I believe now that you are more suitable than me to be the sect leader. You will surely fulfill the long-cherished wish of the former sect leader.”
Bai Lian looked at her, her brow furrowing in confusion. “Because I’m stronger than you?”
Hong Luan shook her head gently, her eyes softening. “No, it’s because you are generous enough to accommodate everyone. Half of my gratitude just now was for saving Qing Luan, and the other half was for helping me understand myself. Alas…”
She sighed suddenly, a deep, wistful sound.
Why does this woman have to be so troublesome?
Hong Luan continued, “If I had joined the sect at the same time as you, I’m afraid things wouldn’t have been so complicated.”
“Maybe,” Bai Lian responded thoughtfully.
It would depend on how the game maker, Dark Blue, felt when writing the script.
Bai Lian gave a wave, her tone brisk, “If you don’t have anything else, I’ll be going.”
“Yes,” Hong Luan replied with a deep breath, her heart heavy.
She watched Bai Lian’s retreating figure, a sense of admiration washing over her.
Maybe you don’t realize it, but everyone around you shines brighter because of you.
As for your real strength… is that truly important?
You’re a Natural Saint.
You are truly worthy of being a Natural Saint.
With those thoughts, Hong Luan stood up and saw the deacon in charge of the iron prison approaching.
