Chapter 26 Part 1
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This chapter is edited by Farouq Omileye. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 26: I Have a Dream (1)
After Qiong Zhi left, the open space beside the laurel tree fell into a deep silence.
Bai Lian walked to the edge of the Flying Fog and looked out at the fierce, swirling wind. This wind, full of a powerful spiritual energy, struck her with such force that, if she jumped down, it would blow her right back.
“Is this the real danger?” Bai Lian thought, her face expressionless.
The reward—a top-grade magical tool—was certainly not something easily earned. She regretted coming to the Flying Fog in the first place, but as she reflected on the success of resolving the mother-daughter conflict between Qiong Zhi and the jade rabbit, aligning them on the same side, she suddenly felt her “sacrifice” was worthwhile.
“The system is deceptive. In reality, I am someone with high moral cultivation!” she laughed inwardly.
As she chuckled to herself, Bai Lian found a large flat stone to rest on, lying down to wait until the jade rabbit underwent its transformation. The stone was cold, as winter had already arrived.
Bai Lian gazed at the starry sky, which had been obscured by bursts of fireworks. The world before her grew hazy, with only the bright moon remaining, swaying like frosted glass.
“So yellow.” She reopened her eyes and found herself looking up at a bright starry river, lying on a boat.
She stood, and only then realized she was walking on a river of stars, the dark canvas of the sky dotted with twinkling stars.
Perhaps this is what the poem meant— “Drunk, she knows not the sky is afloat in the water; A boat laden with sweet dreams weighs down the Milky Way.”
Clatter—
The sound of the tide reached her ears. Bai Lian turned to look toward the source. Above the Milky Way, she saw a plain-looking osmanthus tree on the mud. Beneath it stood the white rabbit, gazing up at the sky, motionless as a sculpture.
The most striking feature was the pair of pale blue long ears.
“The jade rabbit?”
It looked very much like the jade rabbit. Bai Lian leapt from the boat and waded toward the osmanthus tree.
The sound of the waves startled the white rabbit, and it turned to face her. Their eyes met, and in that moment, Bai Lian understood.
This was not the jade rabbit!
The rabbit’s eyes were filled with the weight of countless years, a deep disillusionment and confusion about the future. Bai Lian realized this was the first Yaoguang Rabbit, the “Yaoguang Star Lord” before she achieved immortality. Yet, she bore a striking resemblance to the jade rabbit.
Bai Lian couldn’t help but wonder if all Yaoguang Rabbits looked the same or if the jade rabbit was actually a reincarnation of Yaoguang Star Lord.
She followed the Yaoguang Star Lord’s gaze, which was fixed on the sky.
In that starry expanse, a meteor streaked across the heavens in a way that no poem could ever capture. Yaoguang Star Lord’s eyes sparkled as the stars above and below found their point of intersection, bridging the eternal divide.
On this day, Yaoguang Star Lord understood the Tao of the Moon and Stars.
The tree beside the rabbit seemed to glow. The mud in the sea lifted into the sky, and the water cascaded from every direction like a waterfall. Under the influence of the spiritual energy gathered by the stars, the land transformed into a floating island.
This was the Flying Fog from five thousand years ago.
Bai Lian watched as trees were planted, grass grew, and houses were constructed. Turning her head, she saw the Yaoguang Rabbit standing beside her.
Now she knew for certain—this was the jade rabbit.
They exchanged a smile, their bond unspoken as they walked forward into the memory of the jade rabbit. The once-deserted streets were now alive with people.
Bang!
Fireworks exploded, blooming in a red flower above.
Laughter echoed through the streets. Young rabbits joyously embraced the older ones. Tiger demons performed lively dances on wooden platforms, and plump yellow cats tossed fire rings in the air.
The Flying Fog was not just an island; it was the very essence of Yaoguang Star Lord.
This was the scent of peace!
The jade rabbit tugged at Bai Lian’s skirt. Without a word, Bai Lian understood her intentions.
“Look at yours.”
Bai Lian led the jade rabbit down the long street, entering the darkness once more.
After a brief walk, they found themselves back in the lively scene, but Bai Lian noticed the jade rabbit had disappeared. Standing beside her was a young girl in a light blue dress with rabbit ears and white hair.
“Is this… fourteen years old?” Bai Lian was shocked.
“Is this all?”
She hadn’t matured yet, not at the age for marriage!
The jade rabbit didn’t seem to care. She leaned over and wrapped her arms around Bai Lian’s.
“Let’s go! Let’s go!”
Her excitement was overwhelming. Bai Lian could only follow, letting the jade rabbit pull her through the “dream.”
The town under the Duxian sect, on New Year’s Eve last year, was as bright as day. This peaceful day, so rare in the cultivation world, was a true treasure.
The streets were adorned with red lanterns. Some people danced with paper dragons, others performed acrobatics, and some sold paper windmills they’d crafted themselves.
The jade rabbit, wide-eyed, was delighted at first.
“Look here, look there!”
In the dream, she could finally transform!
But by the second half of the night, the excitement had all but vanished. The sky darkened, and suddenly rain began to fall, heavier with each passing minute.
Even though cultivators tried to disperse the rain clouds, the New Year’s Eve atmosphere was irrevocably lost.
In front of the steps, Bai Lian held an umbrella, her gaze fixed on the raindrops dripping from the eaves as though she intended to watch them until dawn.
The jade rabbit sensed something was wrong.
If she didn’t appear in Bai Lian’s dream, would Bai Lian have been alone from start to finish? What about the others? Master? No. Martial Sisters? No.
Even the passers-by who stepped in puddles were nowhere to be seen.
The festivities were for everyone else, but Bai Lian had nothing.
This dream wasn’t amusing at all.
The jade rabbit frowned, her thoughts clear on her face. She realized that if she had known this, she wouldn’t have come into Bai Lian’s dream.
Bai Lian must be feeling very lonely.
“Nothing.”
Bai Lian reached out to gently touch the jade rabbit’s head.
She had no mind-reading skills, but the jade rabbit’s emotions were written all over her face. It was hard to ignore.
This was just a pure “child.”
Bai Lian smiled and comforted the jade rabbit.
“Originally, I was going to join in the fun. I’m not like the others in the Duxian sect who don’t care about New Year’s Eve. I just wandered around while they were busy cultivating.”
“I like you because you’re not like them.”
The jade rabbit puffed up her cheeks, not really angry at Bai Lian but at the world in general.
“Why does it have to be like this for Bai Lian? She hasn’t done anything wrong! Does a good person really deserve to be hurt?”
“This year, this year will be different,” Bai Lian continued, her voice reassuring. “If you come back with me, there’ll be you, the second Martial Sister, the third Martial Sister… and, if possible, I’ll try to invite Master and Master Yan Yue. We’ll have six people.”
“Yes.”
The jade rabbit nodded, and the rain began to lighten. After a while, she lifted her head and asked, “Bai Lian, do you like watching lanterns?”
Bai Lian shook her head, smiling. “Not really. I just like the feeling of everyone being together.”
