Chapter 9: Mi Chutian Empress

Before Liu Shuang could ask Yan Chaosheng if he wanted to return to Canglan Lake, something happened outside the Ghost Realm.

A demon envoy who had come to celebrate Yan Chaosheng’s birthday had died, seemingly killed by a ghost cultivator.

Upon receiving the news, Yan Chaosheng immediately left with Fu Heng and Su Lun.

Changhuan scoffed, “I bet it was that Heavenly Lord. He can’t beat our Demon Lord now, but he loves causing trouble behind the scenes. The relationship between the demon realm and the Ghost Realm hasn’t been good these past years, and stirring up trouble between the two realms is exactly the kind of thing he would do.”

Liu Shuang nodded, agreeing that Feng Fuming was the most likely suspect. This Heavenly Lord always appeared gentle and humble, but his methods were far from honorable.

However, in the art of war, it’s hard to say who is right or wrong. In terms of ruthlessness, Yan Chaosheng was no less formidable.

Liu Shuang couldn’t be of much help in this matter. With Yan Chaosheng occupied, she might have to return to Canglan Lake alone. So she prepared a letter in advance, leaving only the last line unwritten.

She still held a glimmer of hope—what if Yan Chaosheng returned in the next few days?

Taking Yan Chaosheng back to Canglan Lake had always been Liu Shuang’s wish. She opened a drawer and took out a brocade box. Inside were various old pieces of jewelry, though aged, they still displayed exquisite craftsmanship and care.

These belonged to mortals and were the dowry left to her by the mortal mother who had taken her in.

Those years in the mortal world were the happiest and simplest times of Liu Shuang’s life.

Her mortal mother always said that according to human customs, when a girl marries, she must return home with her husband to ensure a long and loving marriage, harmonious and respectful. When she married, she must return home with her husband.

But before she could find a suitable husband for Liu Shuang, a passing Taoist declared that Liu Shuang was a demon who would bring disaster to the entire Qi Kingdom. The Taoist was highly respected, a disciple of the former state preceptor, and his words caused everyone to point out Liu Shuang’s peculiarities.

They said she had a bewitching beauty, didn’t feel hungry even after two days without food, and didn’t bleed when pricked by a needle. Panic spread, and eventually, her parents drove her out of the house.

Later, when her mortal mother was dying, Liu Shuang went to see her. Liu Shuang still looked like a young girl, while her mother was weathered, with gray hair at her temples.

Liu Shuang passed through the walls of the mortal world and knelt by her bed, holding her hand. Tears filled her mother’s eyes as she gently traced Liu Shuang’s features, asking if Liu Shuang blamed her.

Liu Shuang shook her head, softly combing her mother’s hair.

Perhaps all relationships in the world are like this—parents and children never easily abandon each other. They had taken her home when she was innocent, taught her kindness, literacy, and gave her warmth and care. Liu Shuang understood their fear of her. She had traveled the mortal world with her friend Shao You, learned much, forgotten their momentary harshness, but still remembered their long-lasting kindness.

Her mother wept uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. Besides Liu Shuang, she had no other children. It was said she chose not to have any.

That was the first time Liu Shuang experienced the pain of separation.

The little immortal grass arranged her mortal mother’s funeral and knelt in vigil. When she was driven out of the house, she had been naive. Now, everything had changed, but she could handle it all independently.

Her elderly father entered, no longer the handsome scholar of yesteryears. He patted Liu Shuang’s head and gave her a box.

Inside was the savings of their lifetime, a dowry for their daughter. Even though they knew Liu Shuang was not mortal, her father still told her, “Finding a good man is hard, but being yourself is not. If your future husband treats you well, then it will be a lifetime of happiness. If he treats you poorly and breaks your heart, be yourself, leave him, and seek new happiness and joy. Don’t lose yourself for anyone.”

Shao You said that when they drove her out, perhaps it wasn’t out of fear but to protect her. Not long after, her kind father also passed away. Liu Shuang erected memorial tablets for them in Canglan Lake.

Liu Shuang realized that all beings in the world are different. A brief moment in her life, a single journey, was a lifetime for her mortal parents.

A box of dowry had been treasured by Liu Shuang for a hundred years, taken to the demon realm, and now left in the Ghost Realm. The jewelry, though old, did not fade, like the warmth and love she had once received.

Liu Shuang wanted to take Yan Chaosheng back to Canglan Lake, to show him everything that belonged to her.

To tell her parents that she had not lived poorly, that she had always been happy. Her husband was a great ruler, maintaining peace between realms and protecting countless lives.

In fact, shortly after Liu Shuang met Yan Chaosheng, she mentioned Canglan Lake to him. Yan Chaosheng casually asked, “Oh? What place?”

“You forgot? You’ve been there!”

Two hundred years ago, Yan Chaosheng, severely wounded from a battle with the immortal realm, accidentally fell into the Canglan Lake realm, his blood staining the land.

At that time, Liu Shuang’s spiritual awareness had just awakened. Thinking she was about to face disaster, she was frightened and begged an old tree to save her.

Yan Chaosheng’s blood forcefully merged with her stem veins, and the overwhelming spiritual energy almost instantly filled her. Before Liu Shuang could react, her immortal grass instincts had already absorbed his spiritual energy.

Liu Shuang hurriedly tried to return some of the spiritual energy to him, but before she could finish, Yan Chaosheng stood up, indifferently wiping the blood from his lips, and disappeared in a black light.

After that, she was able to take human form and was later found by her mortal parents.

All her vivid memories began with Yan Chaosheng, though he knew nothing of it.

Every ten years thereafter, when Canglan Lake was plagued by calamitous fires, Yan Chaosheng would send a group of demon generals to accompany Liu Shuang back to quell the fires and protect her kin.

Liu Shuang, carrying the unfinished letter, went out to ask Qing Luan to deliver it. With Qing Luan’s speed, it would know the route quickly. Just as she stepped out, she saw Changhuan with a troubled expression.

“Changhuan, what’s wrong?”

“My lady, Qing Luan is missing!”

“What!” Liu Shuang was shocked.

“Today, I called for Qing Luan, but it didn’t come for a long time. I asked the ghost cultivators to look for it, but no one has seen it. Qing Luan is a loyal beast; if it doesn’t come when called, something must have happened.”

Liu Shuang understood the implication—if Qing Luan didn’t respond, it was either severely injured and unable to fly, or it was dead.

Either possibility was unsettling.

“Is the Demon Lord back?”

“Not yet.”

Liu Shuang tried to stay calm, “Is Chi Yuan here? Did the Demon Lord take Chi Yuan when he left the Ghost Realm?”

“Chi Yuan went with the Demon Lord.”

This made things difficult. Yan Chaosheng and Chi Yuan, who could easily sense Qing Luan’s location, were both absent. Fearing something had happened to Qing Luan, Liu Shuang made a decisive decision, “Qing Luan wouldn’t fly out of the Ghost Realm on its own. I have the Demon Lord’s decree in my chamber; mobilize the idle ghost cultivators to search for Qing Luan!”

“Yes!”

Soon, dozens of ghost generals were dispatched, searching the Ghost Realm for Qing Luan.

Changhuan comforted, “My lady, don’t worry. Qing Luan is strong; nothing will easily happen to it.”

Liu Shuang nodded, too preoccupied to respond, and went to search the places Qing Luan usually frequented.

Qing Luan had been with Liu Shuang for a hundred years, proud and aloof. She had personally groomed its feathers, made its nest, and often prepared snacks to feed it. Slowly, Qing Luan accepted her as its master.

After accepting her, it loved to stay close. Once, when Liu Shuang was in danger, Qing Luan shielded her with its body.

In the Ghost Realm, besides Changhuan, Qing Luan had been Liu Shuang’s longest companion.

Now, Liu Shuang felt an uneasy premonition, worried something had happened to Qing Luan. She searched the pine and sandalwood stones where Qing Luan and Chi Yuan rested, finding only a few fallen feathers and nothing else.

Liu Shuang was disappointed. With Su Lun absent, she couldn’t search other parts of the Ghost Realm for Qing Luan.

Later, the ghost generals returned, none having seen Qing Luan.

The ghost crows cawed twice. Liu Shuang sat in her chamber, unable to sleep with Qing Luan missing. She lit a glass lamp and listed possible places Qing Luan might have flown, planning to send the ghost generals to continue the search.

When the ghost crows cawed a third time, Liu Shuang suddenly heard a mournful cry.

It was Qing Luan’s cry for help!

Liu Shuang didn’t even have time to grab a cloak against the cold, grabbing the glass lamp and rushing out, “Changhuan!”

Changhuan was nowhere to be seen, and the ghost generals searching for Qing Luan were also absent. They must still be diligently searching.

The mournful cry echoed in the air. Liu Shuang could no longer wait, lifting her skirt and running towards the sound.

After the incident with the ghost rain, she knew her spiritual power was weak. She reminded herself that if Qing Luan was outside the Ghost Realm palace, she couldn’t recklessly run out alone, or she might not save Qing Luan and risk herself.

But after running a few steps, she found Qing Luan was actually within the palace.

Strange, Liu Shuang thought, if it was in the palace, why couldn’t anyone find Qing Luan?

The area was open, with a blood pool in the center, and a pavilion on the blood pool.

At midnight, this usually elegant place seemed eerie.

Liu Shuang cautiously crouched behind a rock, peering into the pavilion.

A white-bearded old man, with his back to her, was using a large cauldron to refine something. Qing Luan’s cries were coming from the cauldron.

Liu Shuang’s pupils contracted—the old man was using Qing Luan to refine a pill! Qing Luan was an ancient beast; using it to refine a pill could indeed greatly increase one’s cultivation.

Who would dare to target Qing Luan!

Liu Shuang tightly gripped the dagger she carried for self-defense, abandoned the glass lamp, and approached the old man.

Shao You had once said that refining pills was like meditation—until the cauldron opened, the refiner couldn’t wake up.

Indeed, she reached behind the old man without him noticing. Qing Luan seemed to sense her approach, its cries becoming more desperate.

Seeing Qing Luan about to be refined, Liu Shuang could no longer hesitate. Her eyes sharpened, and she thrust the dagger into the old man’s back, aiming for his heart.

The dagger, infused with Yan Chaosheng’s spiritual energy, easily pierced the old man’s body. He spat a mouthful of blood and slowly collapsed.

Liu Shuang hurried to the cauldron to release Qing Luan.

But as soon as she touched the cauldron, she heard a sinister laugh behind her. She turned to see the old man, who had fallen, now standing, giving her a strange smile.

She knew something was wrong and was about to release Qing Luan to fight together, but the cauldron under her hand had vanished.

The old man’s appearance slowly changed.

From a white-haired old man, he transformed into a stunningly beautiful young woman.

The ghost crows cawed in unison. The woman no longer smiled at Liu Shuang but weakly slid to the ground, clutching her stomach, her face pale.

When Liu Shuang saw the woman’s face, it was like a bolt from the blue—it was a face she saw every day in the mirror. She and Liu Shuang looked remarkably similar!

The woman also exuded an immortal aura. If not for Liu Shuang’s green robe and the woman’s white robe, they would be almost indistinguishable under the Ghost Realm’s blood mist.

The woman clutched her wound, which had somehow moved from her heart to her stomach. She staggered, and a black figure appeared instantly, supporting her, “Mi Chu, are you alright?”

Mi Chu’s lips were stained with blood as she leaned into Yan Chaosheng’s arms, enduring the pain and shaking her head, “I’m fine.”

Mi Chu looked at Liu Shuang, her tone sorrowful, “My lady, I know you don’t like me. It’s my fault for coming to the Ghost Realm and disturbing you.”

Mi Chu’s words made Liu Shuang realize that everything was a plot—the eerie pavilion, the old man she saw, and the cauldron refining Qing Luan—all were traps set by this Heavenly Consort.

Liu Shuang looked at Yan Chaosheng.

Yan Chaosheng sneered, “Why did you hurt her?”

Liu Shuang had never seen such a cold, distant look in his eyes, as if she were a stranger. At this moment, it was clear who he believed.

Looking at the face so similar to her own, Liu Shuang felt a chill throughout her body.

Heavenly Consort Mi Chu, so this was Heavenly Consort Mi Chu.

Her heart, repeatedly tempered, now ached slightly. She pressed her lips together, watching them from afar. The vague shadows in her heart were now connected, making her tremble to the core.

Liu Shuang forced a smile, though it was pale, “Yan Chaosheng, did you marry me because of her?”

A hundred years together, and it was all because she and Mi Chu shared similar faces?