Chapter 445: The Great Female Protagonist, Seven Days Later
As the sun rose in the east, a light rain began to fall, pattering on the window sills and eaves.
* * *
Inside the pavilion with its many bamboo curtains, Xiao Yunluo, clad in a purple Daoist robe, sat at a desk. She held a golden feather brush and wrote “Seen” on the documents before her.
A brass incense burner beside her released a calming smoke that swirled before the beams.
Qiu Shui Rou sat at her side, a hint of embarrassment on her face. After watching Xiao Yunluo finish reviewing one memorial from the Xuan Xing Sect, she quickly handed over the next one, encouraging her.
“Young Master Xiao, there are still a few more… not many.”
These documents were mostly about the internal affairs of the Xuan Xing Sect, such as needing spirit stones from the treasury to repair alchemy furnaces, or suggestions for improving the meals of young cultivators in the Qi Refining Stage.
Normally, these would be handled by elders or the disciples managing the pavilion.
Qiu Shui Rou truly couldn’t think of any other way to keep Xiao Yunluo here.
She never expected her young master to be gone for seven days and nights when she went to find Ye Anping.
At first, she thought three days was already extraordinary.
Now, she understood that perhaps she had underestimated Ye Anping’s stamina, or perhaps she had underestimated her young master’s temper…
It was unheard of for a Core Formation Stage cultivator to serve a Void Returning Stage cultivator for seven days and nights!
After Xiao Yunluo penned “Seen” on another document and saw Qiu Shui Rou handing her another one, she couldn’t hold back. She placed the brush back on its stand, turned her head to stare intently at Qiu Shui Rou’s face, but said nothing.
“…”
Seeing her like this, Qiu Shui Rou gave an embarrassed smile. After a moment of consideration, she quickly asked,
“Young Master Xiao, are you tired? Shall I go make you a cup of tea and bring some snacks?”
Xiao Yunluo let out a long sigh and retorted unhappily,
“Aunt Qiu… The sun has risen seven times outside!! You initially asked me to wait here for my mother to wake up. I waited for a day and wanted to go back, but you insisted I stay, using all sorts of methods to tie me here. Do you think I’m foolish and easy to fool? I can see that you’re deliberately trying to keep me here!”
* * *
— If you weren’t easily fooled, you should have realized I was deliberately keeping you here the second time the sun rose…
Qiu Shui Rou thought to herself, maintaining a smiling face.
“How could that be~ Aunt Qiu just thought that if your young master saw you diligently handling sect affairs after waking up, she would be very pleased, and perhaps she wouldn’t blame you for secretly going to the Central Domain anymore…”
The displeasure on Xiao Yunluo’s cheeks grew, but she couldn’t say more. After thinking for a moment, she stood up from the cushion, patted her skirt, and turned to leave.
“I’m going back! Call me again when my mother wakes up!”
Qiu Shui Rou quickly followed her, looking at the fine winter rain outside the bamboo curtain and blinking.
“Young Master Xiao, it’s still raining outside. Please wait a little longer, and go back after the rain stops.”
“No! I’m going back now!”
“Alas…”
Seeing that she couldn’t be stopped, Qiu Shui Rou glanced at the back of Xiao Yunluo’s neck. Her right hand, hidden in her cloud-like sleeve, formed a knife shape. After hesitating for three breaths, she swung it out.
— My apologies, Young Master Xiao! If you go back now and disturb your young master, we’ll both be sent to the back mountain to reflect on our actions…
* * *
*Whoosh…*
However, just as the hand knife was about to land on Xiao Yunluo’s unsuspecting neck, a bell sound from the rain outside the pavilion made her quickly withdraw her hand.
*Ding-a-ling—*
Finally finished…
Qiu Shui Rou felt a sense of relief and quickly turned away, smiling.
“Young Master, you’re awake?”
!
Xiao Yunluo, who had been puffed up with anger moments before, suddenly stiffened as if electrified upon hearing the bell. She slowly turned her head to look.
Si Xuanji, holding an oil-paper umbrella, slowly ascended the steps in front of the pavilion. The ground in the courtyard was muddy from the light rain, but her fair, jade-like feet stepped as if treading on lotuses, leaving no trace in the mud.
“Yunluo, you’re back?”
“Ah… *gulp*… Yes, your daughter greets Mother.”
Xiao Yunluo swallowed, her chin pressed down, and quickly clasped her hands in a deep bow. She watched Si Xuanji enter the pavilion, hand over the paper umbrella to Qiu Shui Rou, and then approach her. Si Xuanji slowly raised her hand and gently poked the dragon horns on her forehead.
“Three years of seclusion before one grand moment, born into a cloud and becoming a dragon, roaring through the nine heavens. These dragon horns look quite nice…”
“Mother, Ye Anping told me I was born from a Xuan Dragon…”
“Yes, he’s not wrong.” Si Xuanji nodded. “Yunluo, you are not my biological daughter. It’s just that by a twist of fate, you broke out of the egg in my hands. Perhaps influenced by my illusory spirit, you did not break out in dragon form, but appeared in human form with a similar appearance to me.”
“Mmm…”
Xiao Yunluo didn’t have much of a reaction. She just vaguely nodded, as if remembering what she heard in classes at the Xuan Xing Sect Academy.
Seeing her like this, Si Xuanji shook her head slightly and sighed,
“Some things are not recorded in the library. They are only passed down by word of mouth among sect leaders.
In ancient times, human cultivators massacred the dragon race extensively, using their blood and bones to refine their cultivation. This is what led to the glory of the four domains for humans today. The only surviving Nine Heavens Xuan Dragon, while evading the pursuit of human cultivators, accidentally encountered a young cultivator named ‘Xiao Yuan’. This person was the founder of the Xuan Xing Sect, and also the origin of your surname.
Xiao Yuan was a human cultivator with mediocre spiritual roots. He was bullied in his youth and harbored deep hatred for humanity. It was for this reason that the Nine Heavens Xuan Dragon took a liking to him and made a blood pact with him.
The content of the blood pact was that the Nine Heavens Xuan Dragon would help him reach the pinnacle of humanity, and in return, he would help the Xuan Dragon destroy the current human race.
Si Xuanji sighed softly, her Yin-yang eyes gazing at the rain curtain from the eaves. Her gaze seemed to traverse millennia, a hint of helplessness appearing in her eyes. She continued,
“However, after Xiao Yuan, using the Xuan Dragon’s and his own destiny, spent nearly a thousand years to unify the chaotic human cultivators of the Zhou Xing Tian Yu at the time, he did not fulfill the blood pact he made with the Xuan Dragon. He returned to the Xuan Dragon and said one sentence to it:
‘— The old gives way to the new, the new replaces the old; this is the way of heaven. I have been with you for a thousand years. If there is a next life, I will repay you.’
After that, due to the blood pact, his soul scattered before the Nine Heavens Xuan Dragon, and he perished.
The Nine Heavens Xuan Dragon watched the human prosperity created by Xiao Yuan with its spiritual energy. Although it was furious, it tried many methods but was powerless to reverse the decline of the dragon race. Later, its lifespan ended, and it returned to dust, leaving behind only a dragon egg to continue its lineage. This is how you came to be…”
At this point, Si Xuanji looked at Xiao Yunluo’s light purple eyes, narrowed her eyes slightly, and said,
“Your biological father harbored hatred for human cultivators from beginning to end, and eventually placed this hatred upon you. This is the destiny you were born to bear. The Xuan Dragon has appeared; it will slaughter current human cultivators for the dragon race. What will you do?”
Xiao Yunluo’s expression grew a bit dazed.
“I’ve never met my father, and I don’t have much concept of these things… I’ll listen to Mother.”
“I’m just telling you this. You don’t need to answer now.”
Si Xuanji tilted her head slightly and walked to the side.
“The Xuan Xing Sect was born from your father’s Golden Cicada Shell. By appointing you as the Young Master, I have returned the origin of the Xuan Xing Sect to the Xuan Dragon. After I ascend to immortality, you will be the Sect Master of the Xuan Xing Sect. If you choose to follow your father’s wishes and exterminate human cultivators, then go find that fox in the Central Domain; he will be more than happy to help you. If you are unwilling to inherit the hatred your father entrusted to you, then find a way to break your destiny star.”
Xiao Yunluo murmured and nodded.
“…Mm, I understand.”
After walking a few steps, Si Xuanji hesitated for a moment, then stopped and turned back.
“There’s one more thing…”
Xiao Yunluo quickly clasped her hands. “Mother, please speak.”
“Don’t call me Mother anymore. I was never your mother to begin with, and we have no blood relation. Furthermore, I haven’t taken care of you much over the years. This mother-daughter relationship ends here.”
Xiao Yunluo froze for a moment, then her eyes widened.
“Mother… You… What did you say?”
“From now on, you can call me Master, or Sister, or Elder Sister. But don’t call me Mother anymore. I never included you in my Si family’s genealogy anyway. After all, you are a Xuan Dragon; the Si family’s genealogy can’t bear a destiny like yours…”
“But…”
Si Xuanji ignored her any further and waved her hand slightly at Xiao Yunluo.
Instantly, Xiao Yunluo felt everything in her vision twist. When she came to her senses, the rain from the sky was already falling on her face, and she found herself outside the cave dwelling.
A small umbrella suddenly appeared above her head. Qiu Shui Rou also rushed out, holding the umbrella to shield her from the rain.
“Young Master Xiao, shall I escort you back?”
“Aunt… Aunt Qiu?” Xiao Yunluo turned her head dazedly and asked, “What my Mother just said… Did you hear it, Aunt Qiu? She said… she… doesn’t want me anymore…”
Qiu Shui Rou thought for a moment and seemed to grasp Si Xuanji’s intentions. Seeing Xiao Yunluo’s utterly bewildered expression, she comforted her.
“Young Master Xiao, your young master didn’t say she doesn’t want you, just that she’s no longer your biological mother. And she also said you can call her Master.”
“But… but… why? Did I do something wrong?”
“Uh… You didn’t do anything wrong. Perhaps you’ll understand what she means in the future.”
Since Si Xuanji hadn’t explained it clearly, Qiu Shui Rou found it difficult to elaborate. She had to side with Si Xuanji no matter what, so she could only comfort her.
“Young Master Xiao, don’t overthink it. This is a good thing, not a bad thing.”
“…A good thing?”
“Yes, it’s a good thing. Aunt Qiu guarantees it’s a good thing. How your young master treated you before, she will continue to treat you, and perhaps even better.”
“…”
Xiao Yunluo was somewhat lost. She looked at Qiu Shui Rou’s face, pursed her lips slightly, and said nothing. It was only then that she remembered what Ye Anping had asked her to do, and quickly asked,
“Aunt Qiu, that… Young Master Ye wanted to see my mother…”
“See the young master?”
Qiu Shui Rou thought for a moment. Since Si Xuanji hadn’t explained it to Xiao Yunluo, then…
She shook her head slightly. “No. And don’t mention the young master to Ye Gongzi either. If your young master wishes, she will speak for herself.”
“Oh… I see.”
“Then I’ll escort you back. Let’s go…”
“Mm…”
Xiao Yunluo nodded slightly, glanced back at the large door of the cave dwelling, bowed her head in acknowledgment, and then, accompanied by Qiu Shui Rou, they flew on their swords towards Tianyun Peak, breaking through the rain.
The rain fell heavily, and Tianyun Peak seemed to be covered by a veil, appearing ethereal and uncertain from a distance.
The two landed their swords on the mountainside amidst the Three-Bay House clusters. Qiu Shui Rou handed the umbrella to Xiao Yunluo, gave a slight nod and bow, and left on her own.
Xiao Yunluo watched Qiu Shui Rou return, then, holding the oil-paper umbrella, she slowly walked towards her own Three-Bay House.
Her mind was in turmoil, constantly replaying Si Xuanji’s words from earlier. But as she walked to the entrance of the Three-Bay House and thought about playing Mahjong soon, this chaotic worry was suddenly swept away.
Even if her mother didn’t acknowledge her, she still had Ye Anping…
Even if she didn’t understand her mother’s words, Ye Anping knew everything, and she could just ask him…
*Creak—*
Xiao Yunluo took a deep breath, pushed open the large door of the Three-Bay House, and stepped inside.
“An… *hiss*—”
Then, upon seeing the open window of the main house, she gasped in shock, her face turning ashen.
A severed hand, emitting a faint black mist, hung from the eaves like a little doll, swaying in the breeze of the rain. Occasionally, it would even wiggle its fingers.
Ye Anping, who was cleaning the house, heard the sound of the courtyard gate being pushed open and poked his head out from his doorway. Seeing Xiao Yunluo standing at the entrance staring at Gu Mingxin’s hand, he called out,
“Yunluo, you’re back?”
“Ah?!” Xiao Yunluo was startled by his sudden call and quickly scurried over, pointing at Gu Mingxin’s hand and asking, “Anping, what is that hand?”
“It’s the hand of a Demonic cultivator, a Blood Fiend Body. I forgot to soak it in water for seven days, and it got waterlogged, so I hung it there to dry.”
“…”
Xiao Yunluo hesitated to speak, then forced herself to accept it as Ye Anping spoke matter-of-factly. She nodded slightly and then said,
“Anping, my mother doesn’t seem to agree to you seeing her.”
Ye Anping nodded, indicating he didn’t mind.
“It’s fine, then let’s forget it.”
“And… my mother also said she doesn’t recognize me as her daughter anymore.”
?
Hearing this, Ye Anping was taken aback. There was no such plot in the game. But after thinking about it, he understood.
It was mostly because of him…
He pondered for a moment, pretended to be confused, and asked,
“Dan Yue Shang Xian is kicking you out of the Xuan Xing Sect?”
“No… She said I can call her Master, but not Mother anymore.” Xiao Yunluo nodded weakly. “Anping, but I don’t understand.”
Ye Anping thought for a moment, then shook his head as if puzzled.
“Mm… I don’t understand either.”
“This… I see…”
“But Dan Yue Shang Xian is the Sect Master of the Xuan Xing Sect, so she must have her reasons.” Ye Anping reached out to wipe a raindrop from Xiao Yunluo’s forehead and asked, “What do you want to eat? I’ll make you some noodles?”
“Noodles… Which noodles?”
Ye Anping, in a sage-like manner, explained expressionlessly,
“Noodles. *Mian Tiao*.”
Seeing this, a blush spread across Xiao Yunluo’s face. She shyly nodded.
“Ah… Oh… Mm, hehe—”
She gently took Ye Anping’s hand and, holding the umbrella together, they walked towards the kitchen in the courtyard.
One tended the fire, the other cooked the noodles…
Soon, the rain passed and the sun emerged.
The gentle breeze was like silk, the sky was as clear as washed jade. The hand hanging from the eaves slowly unfurled, feeling the warmth of the sun…
…
