Chapter 28: One Watch
The lingering scream echoed like a strained string, and whenever Ji Yaoge thought it would stop, it would always peak again after gasping for breath. The sharp, penetrating sound on the silent mountain made their eardrums ache.
That scream, along with the little girl's fiery red figure, disappeared at the pile of stones, leaving Ji Yaoge and Bai Yan rubbing their itching ears, dumbfounded outside.
What just happened? They stood outside, unsure and cautious, not daring to step in. Ji Yaoge thought for a mont and announced, "I am a disciple of Chixiu Palace in Shuangxia Valley of Tiyu State, here to deliver Seven-Star Grass on orders..."
Before she could finish, a figure slowly erged from the pile of stones.
Having night vision after Foundation Establishnt, Ji Yaoge saw clearly in the frosty moonlight, with snowflakes like fireflies drifting down. The person wore a worn gray cloak, walking with heavy, slow steps. The dark cloak highlighted the stark whiteness of his hair, which was casually tied, strands falling near his temples. The face beneath was weathered, with chiseled features and deep-set wrinkles, reflecting strength. He was an elderly man with a narrow, fierce right eye and a left eye covered by a gold-embroidered black patch, hiding it from view.
In this place, on such a snowy night, an old man with one eye carried an unsettling strangeness, especially with a red-clad little girl cowering behind him.
Ji Yaoge was surprised—cultivators' youth lasted longer than mortals, supported by their longevity and cultivation. Most could halt their appearance at any chosen age—so preferred youthful vigor, others the sharpness of young adulthood or the stability of middle age. Few displayed old age unless they reached a bottleneck, could not advance in cultivation, and their lifespan was nearing its end, causing their body to naturally age and approach death.
Much like Gao Badou, who always claid to be an old man yet took the form of a young one, proving his longevity. Was this elderly man at the end of his lifespan?
In contrast to her surprise, the old man remained calm at their arrival, while the little girl behind him couldn't hide her fear.
"Sh-she-she-she's here to take away," the little girl stamred, clutching the old man's waist and peeking out, shivering with fear.
A solitary soul could sense its master; seeing Ji Yaoge, the girl felt it imdiately.
The old man, understanding this, kept walking but glanced at Ji Yaoge twice, then grabbed the girl's collar, pulling her to his side, and sternly said, "Walk properly."
The sprite, face flushed with fear, clung to his arm, pleading softly, "Brother Yuan, save , I don't want to go back."
With that, he knew exactly what was happening. The female cultivator he had saved 198 years ago had co to pay a visit.
Yuan Huan, having lived for three thousand years, had seen countless situations. Yet he had never encountered a sprite that preferred to wander rather than return to its original body, clinging to him like a cub to its mother, refusing to leave.
"Esteed senior, I and my junior brother are disciples of Chixiu Palace in Shuangxia Valley of Tiyu State, here to deliver Seven-Star Grass. We should have arrived by noon but were delayed due to the first snow. We beg your pardon for the tardiness," Ji Yaoge announced again, glancing at the frightened girl who shrank even more.
"Bring it inside," he said, voice unexpectedly rich and deep, devoid of old age.
Turning, his figure remained upright—if not for the disheveled white hair, he wouldn't appear old.
Strangely familiar, Ji Yaoge couldn't recall where she had seen him before.
Leading the way, the old man walked ahead, while the girl clung to his hand, glancing back fearfully. Ji Yaoge followed, noting how the old man repeatedly tried to shake off the girl's grip, unsuccessfully as she clung tightly, scared to let go.
Ji Yaoge wanted to laugh and eventually did, drawing the old man's attention as he turned back, eyeing her with his single right eye. She coughed to cover her inappropriate laughter, and he ignored it, continuing with the girl.
"Senior Sister, I've heard the resident here has a peculiar temper. Do you think he's the master here, or is there a higher expert hidden?" Bai Yan whispered to her.
Ji Yaoge shook her head, "Hard to say." She sensed no spiritual fluctuations from either of them. The old man's aura was steady—either he was extrely powerful or roughly at her level, within the Foundation Establishnt stage, while the little girl had no spiritual energy at all, like a mortal.
Yet it was odd for a mortal to be here, so Ji Yaoge couldn't help but look at the girl twice. The girl seed simple and straightforward, everything showing on her face, without pretense. Despite her fear of Ji Yaoge, Ji felt an inexplicable closeness and trust towards her.
The old man led them to an isolated stone cave, pointing at the cluttered chamber, and instructed emotionlessly, "The Seven-Star Grass cannot be stored in bags for long. Imrse it in the spirit pool to the right of the cave."
No hesitation in his command. As Ji Yaoge and Bai Yan walked towards the cave's entrance, the old man turned and yanked the girl's hand away forcefully, "She's not here to take you, but keep this up and she might notice sothing."
The girl glanced at the cave, asking softly, "If she finds out, will you help ?"
"I won't help you or her," he refused bluntly.
Two hundred years of companionship hadn't softened his iron heart. The girl pouted, clinging to him, "If she takes back and reunites her three souls, she'll know you stole her soul. Imagine it spreading that you, a nascent soul stage cultivator, took a female cultivator's love soul. How disgraceful!"
The sprite wasn't entirely dumb, even knowing how to threaten. Yuan Huan laughed angrily, "Then I should return you imdiately."
"..."
The girl looked at him resentfully.
"Senior, the Seven-Star Grass is placed. Is there anything else?" Ji Yaoge exited the cave, interrupting them.
Though the person’s cultivation seed low, she remained respectful, not knowing the depths of this place.
"Nothing more, you may leave now," said the girl, shrinking back behind the old man again.
Bai Yan glanced at the sky—snow fell heavier, from flurries to large flakes. The cold seeped into the bones, even cultivators couldn't withstand the chill for long.
"Senior, the snowstorm is heavy tonight, making sword flights difficult. The mountain path will surely be blocked. Please allow us to stay here for the night and depart at dawn," he requested.
Yuan Huan turned, his voice floated, "Don’t enter the inner cave." He left without looking back.
————
The suspended cave at Shigong Ridge was vast, with multiple chambers twisting inside. But with strict instructions to stay out, Ji Yaoge and Bai Yan settled outside the cave, using a rocky overhang as temporary shelter from the snow.
Exposed to fierce winds and endless snowfall, temperatures dropped steadily. Both, without proper protective artifacts, had to ditate and use their inner energy to fend off the biting cold, hoping for morning light.
Thunk—
Soone tossed a bundle of firewood at their feet. The wood was finely split, high-quality, dry phoenix wood.
Ji Yaoge and Bai Yan opened their eyes to see the little girl's pale face. Her exaggerated expressions seed almost stiff without blood circulation, but her eyes showed a mix of childish trepidation and innocence. Obvious fear of Ji Yaoge, but soft-hearted, the girl displayed typical human child behavior.
Thump—
Bai Yan ignited the phoenix wood with his Fla of Eight Directions. The warm light reddened their faces, driving away much of the chill. Knowing the girl feared her, Ji Yaoge remained silent and closed her eyes again. Bai Yan, however, rubbed his hands, calling her over, "Little girl, thank you. Want to sit by the fire?"
The girl shook her head—her wooden body feared fire, a spark could ruin the body she had waited two centuries for.
Bai Yan assud she was shy, moved closer, and sat beside her. She felt more secure with so distance from Ji Yaoge.
"What’s your na?" Bai Yan, exuding a brotherly warmth, asked gently.
The girl thought seriously, "Xiao Bai," sneaking glances at Ji Yaoge.
Bai Yan joked, "Then I'll be Da Bai. We’re destined to be friends."
"Really?" Xiao Bai blinked her almond-shaped eyes and called, "Big Brother Da Bai."
Both Bai Yan and Ji Yaoge couldn’t help but laugh.
Xiao Bai stared at Bai Yan's smiling face. Bai Yan, well-ford, his gentle smile under the firelight, reminded her of soone from Wanren Mountain...
"Big Brother Da Bai, you’re so handso," she blurted out, speaking her thoughts.
Pleased by the complint, Bai Yan confidently mused, "Of course, I’m the most handso man in Tiyu State..."
Interrupted, Xiao Bai added, "But not as handso as my senior brother."
"Who’s your senior brother?" Bai Yan, intrigued, teased her.
"My senior brother is the best person in the world," Xiao Bai replied, sneaking another glance at Ji Yaoge.
Ji Yaoge thought of Gu Xingzhi—198 years of minimal thoughts of him. Without the spirit essence, she felt no love-induced longing, confusion, or pain. Gu Xingzhi was like a distant past acquaintance; they had a dual cultivation agreent and once promised a life together, but now she doubted if she had ever truly loved him...
anwhile, Xiao Bai and Bai Yan had switched topics. She whispered, "Big Brother Da Bai, do you like her?"
Her gaze pointed to Ji Yaoge. Bai Yan, taken aback, denied it quickly, "Don’t say nonsense."
Not knowing what Xiao Bai perceived, she earnestly warned, "Then don't like her; she won’t like you." Her voice lowered, only loud enough for Bai Yan. He asked why, and she replied firmly, "Just know."
Bai Yan, dissatisfied with the response, looked at Ji Yaoge, her face flickering in the firelight, radiating charm, montarily captivating but quickly suppressed.
Cultivators seldom discussed feelings, especially in the sect, a common understanding.
Bai Yan, adhering to principles, changed the subject, "Are there only two of you here? Who is the senior?"
Xiao Bai, though innocent, was cautious, "Why are you asking?"
"As guests here, we should know the host," Bai Yan probed, sensing potential hidden experts.
Xiao Bai stood abruptly, "You don't need to know. Leave at dawn." She ran off quickly.
Ji Yaoge opened her eyes, teasingly looking at Bai Yan, who touched his face, realizing even his charm had limits.
————
The phoenix wood burned out by dawn, leaving charred embers. The night-long snow had ceased, but the sky remained dim, and the ground was blanketed in grayish snow, embodying winter desolation.
Ji Yaoge stretched under the rocky overhang and said, "Ti to go."
"Should we inform them?" Bai Yan approached.
"Yes." Despite the unwelcoming atmosphere, it was rude to leave without a word. Ji Yaoge nodded, intending to bid farewell from outside the cave entrance, considering her manners fulfilled.
As she was about to speak, a strong qi force rushed out from the dark cave. Startled, Ji Yaoge sidestepped quickly, seeing a person burst out, disheveled and shouting wildly, swinging fists at them.
"Hurry, catch him alive! Don't kill him," Xiao Bai shouted, chasing out from the cave.
Ji Yaoge was already engaging the attacker. Their cultivation levels matched, but his attacks were chaotic and deadly. She had to be cautious. Bai Yan called out, "Senior Sister," ready to help, but Ji Yaoge, fearing more chaos, replied, "Stay back," handling the attacker alone.
After several exchanges, the crazed man grew impatient, launching a fiery dragon from his scarlet palms towards Ji Yaoge’s head. She ducked, pressing her hands against the snow, causing snowflakes to rise and solidify into dozens of ice spikes, shooting towards him. Distracted by the spikes, he clumsily deflected them, allowing Ji Yaoge to seize his throat, pinning him to the ground by his pulse.
As his hair flew back, seeing Ji Yaoge clearly, he buried his head in her leg, laughing and crying, "Fairy sister has co to save !"
"..." Both Ji Yaoge and Bai Yan were stunned.
The disheveled man was Ren Zhongping, taken away by Ying Shuang 198 years ago.
Apart from Ren Zhongping's sobbing, silence hung over them until a deep voice ca from the cave entrance.
"You, bring him, follow inside."
Yuan Huan stood at the entrance, his gaze fixed on Ji Yaoge, not revealing how long he had been watching.
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