Chapter 28 Part 1
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This chapter is edited by Farouq Omileye. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 28: In the Crowd Once and Again, I Look for Her in Vain (1)
Yan Yue’s accomplishments in the magic array weren’t particularly high. In fact, it was the Blood Tree Patriarch who was truly skilled in this area.
As a tree, the Blood Tree Patriarch enjoyed peace and quiet, preferring stillness over movement. Unlike Yan Yue, who always found something to do, even if it meant causing trouble. With so much free time, it was natural to seek out distractions. But alchemy was out of the question. The Blood Tree Patriarch wasn’t afraid of fire, but it hated it.
One day, Yan Yue casually tossed a book about magic arrays onto the patriarch’s crown. And with that, the door to a new world was unlocked!
Years later, the patriarch could proudly declare that no tree in the Eastern Divine Land knew magic arrays better than it did. Yan Yue, who had been the one to deliver the book, couldn’t help but laugh.
When her father was out running errands for the Duxian Sect and An Lan ignored her, the patriarch stayed by her side, accompanying her through her childhood. When she longed to play the role of the Sword Fairy, the patriarch broke off its strongest branch just to indulge her.
When she felt tired, the patriarch wove a comfortable hammock for her from its branches and vines. When she was sad, it gently patted her back, offering comfort.
It’s no exaggeration to say that, without the Blood Tree Patriarch, Yan Yue might have closed herself off to the world. The patriarch was more like a father to her than her actual father, and sometimes, even a mother.
But despite all that, Yan Yue still felt it was more appropriate to think of the patriarch as a brother. After all, wasn’t the patriarch technically a generation ahead of her? She wasn’t particularly good at dealing with elders.
After a long pause, Yan Yue finally asked, “How do you know where Bai Lian is?”
Click.
The Blood Tree Patriarch inadvertently twisted its own branch and froze.
Something felt off.
It panicked internally. Damn, this is bad!
Never let Yan Yue find out that it had secretly copied her diary and handed it over to Bai Lian. If she knew, she would surely set it on fire out of embarrassment.
“Uh, it’s nothing…” the patriarch stammered.
“What do you mean, nothing?”
Yan Yue’s eyes narrowed, sensing something was off. The patriarch sighed, knowing it was caught.
“I… I sent something to Bai Lian,” it confessed, hoping Yan Yue wouldn’t dig deeper.
“What?” Yan Yue’s eyes widened. “Do you like Bai Lian? I’m telling you, Bai Lian is great, but you’re just a tree! And a male tree, at that…”
“What are you talking about?” The Blood Tree Patriarch interrupted her, flustered. “I sent something to Bai Lian for your sake! So you two can get along better.”
“What did you send?” Yan Yue asked suspiciously.
“A… a magic tool,” the patriarch said, looking away, trying to hide its embarrassment.
“Don’t talk about it anymore. Just hurry up and arrange the magic array.”
“Oh.”
Yan Yue didn’t believe the patriarch for a second. Something was definitely off. It was clearly hiding something from her.
The Blood Tree Patriarch sighed in relief when Yan Yue didn’t press any further. It quickly cast a new protective magic array, building on the old one.
“It’s time to pay.” Yan Yue cheerfully went off to report to Qiong Zhi.
The Flying Fog was surrounded by mist, with the occasional call of a crane, creating an ethereal atmosphere, much like an Immortal World on the clouds. It was truly a blessing in disguise.
Qiong Zhi smiled, forgiving Yan Yue’s recklessness. She had originally hoped to persuade Bai Lian to stay longer at the Flying Fog, but Bai Lian, concerned about her martial sisters and master, insisted on leaving.
“Take care of my daughter,” Qiong Zhi sighed. After this parting, she didn’t know when she’d see her daughter again. Even though miles might separate them, as a mother, her heart would always follow her daughter.
What impressed Qiong Zhi the most was that the jade rabbit had finally stopped minding her constant chatter. Qiong Zhi, who hadn’t realized how much she loved her own mother until she was gone, felt deeply thankful for Bai Lian’s presence.
She couldn’t help but hug Bai Lian tightly, whispering, “Thank you.”
“Ah?” Bai Lian blinked in confusion. Did this mean the jade rabbit was allowed to leave with her?
Before she could react further, Qiong Zhi had already placed the jade rabbit into her arms. The jade rabbit curled up there, its tiny body snuggling against Bai Lian’s chest. It felt familiar.
Times had changed. The jade rabbit was ready to fight for her own happiness. Though she wasn’t as skilled as Bai Lian’s two younger martial sisters, it was still uncertain who would win before she could fully transform into a human.
For now, she was content to get close to Bai Lian as a harmless rabbit.
The jade rabbit would win!
“Let’s go,” Qiong Zhi wiped her eyes, not daring to look any longer, for fear that she would want to force the jade rabbit to stay.
Bai Lian bowed to Qiong Zhi, then left the Flying Fog with the jade rabbit.
Many demonic beasts had come to see them off. The jade rabbit, recognized by the laurel tree, was the future of the Flying Fog, and Bai Lian was the Saint who had caused the variation in the laurel tree. They both deserved the warm cheers of the crowd.
“Princess Yao Ye!”
“Go, Princess Yao Ye!”
“You’re the best princess, Yao Ye!”
The jade rabbit waved its little paws from Bai Lian’s shoulders. She, too, had dreams of one day inheriting the ambitions of the Yaoguang Star Lord, to make the Flying Fog a sacred land that no one would dare to bully!
—
After leaving the Flying Fog, Yan Yue suddenly approached Bai Lian.
“The Patriarch said it sent you something?” she asked.
The Blood Tree Patriarch froze, a chill running through its branches. Why are you still thinking about this?
If Bai Lian says the wrong thing, Yan Yue is sure to get angry. The patriarch desperately blinked at Bai Lian, begging for help.
A new task appeared before Bai Lian:
[Task 1: Deny. (Reward: a middle-grade magic tool – May Rain)]
[Task 2: “It’s true. I received the patriarch’s concern.” (Reward: a White Fibrous Root)]
[Task 3: “This is indeed the case.” (Reward: a piece of Meditation Pill)]
“…”
Bai Lian glanced at Yan Yue in secret. Task 2 seemed to mock her, as though it were saying, Do you think you’re funny?
Hold on, Martial Sister Bai Lian!
She nodded and answered, “It’s true.”
Yan Yue seemed like she wanted to ask more, but Bai Lian quickly added, “It’s not a very precious thing. The patriarch simply said that Master Yan Yue cares about me very much, and as your best friend, it was only natural to show his kindness.”
Well said, Bai Lian! The patriarch sighed in relief.
“Such goodwill…” Yan Yue was still confused when Bai Lian suddenly stepped forward and gave her a hug.
“Master Yan Yue, thank you. Thank you for saving me.”
“I…” Yan Yue stammered, clearly flustered. “It was nothing… It was my mistake. Even if I didn’t come, you would have…”
She raised her hands in embarrassment, unsure where to place them.
