Chapter 26: Journey to Penglai (Part 5)

The room was filled with a faint medicinal scent, entwined with the subtle fragrance of orchids from the incense burner, creating a dismal aroma. The fluctuating spiritual energy caused the hanging gauze curtains and the bagua banners to flutter constantly.

In the small hall of Xu Qianqian’s room, a screen separated it from the inner chamber. Several years ago, the Elder Taishang had extracted a wisp of her soul to preserve her life, placing it in the flame of his soul-restraining lamp’s protective candle. As long as the candle burned, she would remain alive; this way, everyone could work together to protect her and give her a glimmer of hope.

Currently, three elders were in the small hall, using their spiritual energy to sustain the candle’s flame, but the flame still flickered wildly within its halo.

Suddenly, someone with a sword burst through the door. Clad in black robes with golden petals embroidered on the hems, the figure rushed in, calling out, “Qianqian.”

“Xu Jiansu, you can’t go in.” One of the female cultivators guarding the candle, her face hidden beneath a black robe, turned her head slightly, revealing a glimpse of stark white bones inside. It was Elder Hua Qingyu from the Discipline Hall. “She’s too weak; you’ll startle her.”

Xu Jiansu immediately turned back, walked up to the protective candle, and upon seeing the flickering flame that was barely alive, clenched his teeth and without hesitation, drew his sword across his wrist, letting his blood drip onto the flame.

The flame “hissed” as it burst forth with a spray of sparks, showing a slight improvement, but its effect was still minimal; it remained low and very weak.

Everyone present was taken aback.

Knowing it was a drop in the bucket, Xu Jiansu still gave after ten years of cultivation.

After Xu Jiansu let out blood, he simply bandaged himself and sat down to guard the candlelight together. Worried about Qianqian, he felt like his insides were burning, and his expression was very gloomy: “What on earth is Shen Suwei dawdling about? He hasn’t returned in the past few days.”

In Xu Qianqian’s room, Elder Taishang sat in front of the tea table as the elder, and he thought the same way.

However, their reasons for wanting Shen Suwei to return were different. Xu Jiansu certainly disliked Shen Suwei, but he was the person Xu Qianqian liked. He feared that if Qianqian couldn’t see him, she would have regrets, which made him anxious.

The elder was waiting for a spirit that resembled Qianqian.

With white hair and beard, he wore a pure white Daoist robe, and his garments swayed with the spiritual energy around him, giving off a pine crane-like aura. Though he appeared old on the outside, his eyes were clear and bright, devoid of any murkiness, extremely clear yet also very indifferent.

The paper in his hand was blank, without any writing. This was very strange.

Had he not received the order from the letter butterfly, or did he receive it but not understand it, or was it something else…

The elder smiled coldly, his expression suddenly becoming stern: “Very well.”

Such determined children were rare in the sect.

It was taking too long, and they had already lost the opportunity.

Xu Qianqian was exceptionally weak. Even if they brought back the spirit, they couldn’t take that risk; they could only leave it to fate.

Outside the bed curtain, a pale and thin arm stretched out, the veins on the wrist clearly visible.

She had been seriously ill every few days, taking countless medicines and enduring countless hardships. Even cultivators couldn’t withstand such torment, let alone a girl without spiritual roots.

The wet nurse held Xu Qianqian’s hand with sympathy, choking back her emotions as she massaged her.

Xu Qianqian was already too weak to smile back to comfort her, simply staring with hollow eyes at the top of the tent.

Xu Jiansu’s voice outside startled her; she forced out a breath and asked, “Is my brother here?”

“Yes!” the wet nurse quickly replied, “Miss, did you hear? Your brother said that Brother Shen is on his way and will arrive soon.”

“Brother Shen? Why… is he coming back…?”

Mentioning Shen Suwei did indeed lift her spirits a bit.

“He must have been entrusted by the sect leader to find something that can save you, which is why he’s delayed. Otherwise, he would have come to see you long ago.”

However, after the wet nurse finished this sentence, Xu Qianqian did not seem as joyful as she had imagined. Her gaze was dry, and she sighed deeply:

“I hope… he stays at the training grounds. Why must he be burdened by the mundane world… running around for me…?”

As she spoke, her eyes glistened with tears.

Unable to work, she usually stayed indoors, feeling depressed. Whenever her condition stabilized a bit, she would ride in a zhi lan carriage to watch the disciples duel at the training grounds.

The young disciples, proud and ambitious, loved to practice various dazzling moves, combining techniques and swordplay, creating rainbows with their swords and battling with spiritual energy, dyeing the entire sky a rosy hue.

Shen Suwei was definitely not the most outstanding one. Among the crowd, he was quiet like a shadow, only bowing humbly when facing his opponents. Yet once he held a sword, it was extremely fast and accurate, the sword whistling like a line drawn, akin to a crane’s cry from the ninth heaven. When the sword returned to its sheath, the branches did not sway, yet moments later, flowers rained down from the trees like a heavy snowfall. Xu Qianqian looked up and saw that the tree was left with only leaves, no flowers.

He stood quietly amid the flower rain, his robes covered in fallen blossoms, bowing once more before returning to his team, petals cascading down from his shoulders.

Before long, this young man indeed entered the inner gate.

Xu Qianqian loved to watch him practice with Xu Jiansu. Her second brother thought she was watching him and often called her over, but her gaze was actually on the other person.

Xu Jiansu’s swordsmanship was fierce, striking like metal clashing; once he attacked, he did not give anyone a chance to breathe. Shen Suwei, however, retreated first before advancing, using softness to overcome hardness, creating winds with his sword and sleeves, capable of seizing openings in desperate situations, turning the tide and creating opportunities for survival from death.

It was very captivating.

Even now, she couldn’t quite understand whether she liked Shen Suwei or the wind from his sword, the falling flowers, or the fleeting glimmer of hope. It was simply something different from the dullness and darkness of her room.

She had once thought about possessing it, but how could the wind be bound to her?

If it were bound, it wouldn’t be the wind anymore; it would turn heavy like every inch of air here, gradually suffocating her.

Seeing her close her eyes, the wet nurse was frightened and tightly grasped Xu Qianqian’s hand: “Miss, for Brother Shen’s sake, please hold on a little longer.”

“But what use am I?” Xu Qianqian opened her eyes again, wearily gazing at the top of the tent.

She didn’t want to drag anyone down, but it was unavoidable. If Shen Suwei returned specifically to see her, she might feel a bit comforted, but if he had to find something like a medicinal herb for her, she would feel painful instead.

“If you are well, then even if Brother Shen is late, he wouldn’t be punished.”

Xu Qianqian was taken aback at these words.

She thought that by closing her eyes, she could throw everything behind her. But it wasn’t like that. Even if she were dead, she would still drag others down and get scolded.

“Turns out I still have this use… Since it has come because of me… then I will hold on until he returns.”

The heart-protecting candle flame, which had originally flickered weakly to a single point, now stood up slowly as if caressed by a spring breeze, showing some signs of life. Several elders, seeing this, were all filled with surprise, their expressions relaxing as they withdrew their spiritual energy and congratulated one another.

The elder suddenly opened his eyes.

He hadn’t expected that Xu Qianqian would actually manage to pull through this time on her own. He got up and looked at her by the bed.

Xu Qianqian was drenched in sweat and already fast asleep, but her spirit was stable, without worry in the short term. He turned to leave, and the blank piece of paper also turned to powder and dispersed within a few steps.

The spiritual crane had spread its wings and flown above Penglai.

Penglai was an island in the sea, surrounded on all sides by vast azure waves, the sound of the waves gradually becoming clearer.

Passing through the clouds, the island was adorned with flower trees like brocade, with immortal mist curling around.

The houses in the mortal realm had dark tiles and white walls, but the immortal gates did not adhere to such forms; most were made of bamboo and wood, appearing ethereal and graceful. Delicate pavilions and towers lightly rested among the green pines and clear waters.

The scenery along the way was picturesque, and Xu Qianyu watched in rapt attention.

Even the system sighed, “Xiaoqian, don’t you think that life is like a dream?”

It was saying that it had thought this week would end badly, but unexpectedly, there was a turn of events leading to today. Although success still felt far off, it ignited a bit of ambition and determination: no matter what, it would fight alongside the host until the last moment in this world.

“I think…” Xu Qianyu pondered for a moment, her lips moving, “it feels like a nightmare.”

“Why is that?”

Xu Qianyu replied, “It’s like having a nightmare where you dream of entering the sect at nine years old, enduring discrimination. Even though you try your hardest, you still end up learning nothing and getting killed. When you wake up, you realize you’re already fourteen and still haven’t ascended the mountain. Isn’t that a nightmare?”

The system: “…” I understand.

As they descended to a lower altitude, it drizzled slightly. Xu Qianyu felt cool and decided not to let Shen Suwei use the Water Stopping Spell. She closed her eyes and tilted her face up to catch the raindrops, feeling quite pleased. At this moment, she removed the damp red ribbon from her face and tucked it behind her ear, crossing her arms coldly as she said, “Don’t be afraid. If there’s suffering, I’ll take it on myself; it won’t concern you much.”

The system: TUT, I’m sorry!!

The sound of the tide surged continuously, mixed with several calls of cranes. The seaside was foggy, with drifting mists hovering over the heavy railings.

The spirit crane landed steadily in front of the “Dream Crossing.”

“Dream Crossing” is located at the border of Penglai, actually a pavilion at the North Wharf, serving as the gate of Penglai Island. The gate has a lock, and the sect has prohibitions set by the ancestors. The restriction is a pair of copper bells hanging from the eaves. These bells usually remain still, but if they ring without wind, it indicates that someone from outside the sect has entered.

As Xu Qianyu stepped onto the shore, the bells above her head rang loudly. A female cultivator standing beneath the eaves looked over at the sound, only to see the blue bell seemingly grabbed by someone in midair, falling silent.

Shen Suwei revealed his figure, wearing a gray-white robe, a loose belt accentuating his waist. His long black hair was slightly damp from the rain, cascading down his snow-white collar.

Sword energy, raindrops.

Pine wind, rust. Tenderness and sharpness intertwined. Yet, he displayed no ambiguity, only an excessive cleanliness.

Beside him stood a girl with twin buns, her height reaching only to his shoulder. She carried a wooden sword on her back, dressed in a striking red upper garment and a dark blue pleated skirt. Turning her face, a red cinnabar dot adorned her forehead, her face vibrant and eye-catching. She was flamboyant and luxurious, vividly colorful.

Two female cultivators from Dream Crossing approached, saying, “Senior Brother Shen is back. The Sect Leader has been waiting for us here.” One glanced at Qianyu and smiled, “Is this little sister Qianyu?”

Shen Suwei replied, “Yes.”

The other waved her hand, but before Xu Qianyu could walk over, Shen Suwei grabbed her sleeve and asked the two female cultivators, “How is Qianqian?”

Xu Qianyu was a bit surprised.

It seemed that her senior brother cared deeply for Xu Qianqian, asking about her as the first thing upon arriving at the island, indicating a good relationship.

Since Lu You resembled Xu Qianqian, it made sense that her senior brother treated Lu You well.

The two replied, “Fortunately, she’s fine now.”

Shen Suwei nodded, signaling Xu Qianyu to follow.

The female cultivator said, “The Sect Leader said to visit Qianqian today. It’s inconvenient to meet after the long journey; otherwise, we would settle down first and arrange for another day.”

Xu Qianyu was not surprised. It was difficult to see Xu Binglailai. He was usually busy with affairs and spent his free time resting, often with a little child blocking the entrance.

He was quite particular about cleanliness and disliked noise, needing to bathe and burn incense, plus make an appointment. Today, it was impossible to meet.

However, that senior sister Bai would take her to the pavilion, while Shen Suwei naturally went to see the Sect Leader and would have to part ways in a hurry.

Xu Qianyu couldn’t help but turn back, “Shen Xianjun.”

Shen Suwei was taken aback, turned back at the sound but only revealed half of his side profile, appearing restrained and cool. After a while, he said, “Go ahead. When you see the Sect Leader, you can go together.”

Xu Qianyu happily replied, “Okay.”

Feeling reassured with her senior brother around, she felt much more at ease.

This Senior Sister Bai was gentle and quiet, leading Qianyu through a secluded inner courtyard. She answered any questions but rarely introduced others, only mentioning that her residence would be quite similar to her previous one in the human realm, and there would be people to provide for her needs, so she needn’t be afraid.

Xu Qianyu looked around. The island was lush with trees compared to the human realm, and the distances between the houses were quite far apart. Though tranquil, it was overly silent. This place felt both strange and familiar; she remembered some areas while the system informed her of others, giving her a vague impression of the island’s layout.

As they passed by Xu Qianqian’s “Bangyue Pavilion,” a female cultivator in a black robe walked out and approached them. She seemed to notice Xu Qianyu, paused, and turned her gaze towards them. Her face was too pale. No, under the gauze hat, it wasn’t a face; it was a chilling skull.

This person was actually her arch-nemesis. The moment Xu Qianyu saw those dark hollow eyes, memories of thunder, rainy nights, and black veils flooded her mind, the bony fingers reaching for her face, making her take a step back. “Hua Qingyu.”

“You actually recognize her.” Senior Sister Bai Xue grabbed her quietly and said, “Don’t be afraid. She’s our Elder Hua from the Discipline Hall. She entered the path through demons, so her appearance is a bit frightening, but she’s a good person.”

Xu Qianyu stared at Hua Qingyu and whispered, “Why is she always looking at us?”

“She really likes young girls.”

Xu Qianyu was extremely surprised, noticing that Hua Qingyu was indeed looking this way, but her demeanor was gentle, lacking any murderous intent.

However, as they got closer, Hua Qingyu recognized Xu Qianyu’s appearance and suddenly turned her head, seemingly feeling ill at ease, swiftly disappearing like a swallow.

Xu Qianyu was furious: “What does this mean?”

The senior sister replied, “Well… she dislikes pretty girls.”

Xu Qianyu was puzzled. Did that mean she wanted to ruin others’ beautiful faces since she had none?

Hua Qingyu was truly vicious.

Upon pushing open the door, there were two small rooms, and outside was a tiny courtyard with a flower tree planted in it. Though it was clean and dust-free, it felt…

Xu Qianyu put down several boxes, leaving almost no room to stand in the room, so she had to shove the boxes under the bed. After a while, she lifted her skirt, sat on the bed, and gasped for breath.

How did Xu Binglai come to feel that this was almost the same as when she was in the mortal realm?

[Nanling Bodhisattva, Volume 1: End]