Chapter 38: Her Image Would Never Be Majestic Again
After more than ten days of recuperation, Li Yu felt much better.
Although still slightly unwell, and the fatigue hadn’t completely disappeared, the people and the bird who visited daily to check on her recovery, despite not explicitly saying anything, were clearly anxious for her to get better.
She knew that Mo Yichu and the little black bird wanted to return to Mount Chao Yao as soon as possible and ask Si Qinglan to save the soul fragment, fearing further complications.
As for Qin Yuan, her mind was filled with the immortal mountain, immortals, artifacts, and the path of immortality. Waiting here for almost half a month felt like being locked out of paradise.
The girl was practically bouncing off the walls with impatience. To distract herself, she spent her days wandering around the small town, chatting with anyone she could find.
Li Yu felt that if she continued like this, everyone’s mental state would be in jeopardy.
Of course, this excluded Mu Tao.
Mu Tao had been in good spirits lately, no longer blaming herself for what happened in the City of the Undying, always cheerful.
Li Yu sometimes wondered if, for Mu Tao, this human realm, which usually discriminated against demons, was actually warmer than Mount Chao Yao, which was supposed to be more tolerant.
After all, here, she was a respected Young Immortal from the sacred mountain; no one looked down on her.
But the girl never said anything.
She didn’t say whether she liked it here or whether she wanted to return.
She simply stayed by Li Yu’s side, cooking delicious food, keeping her company, and constantly checking on her injuries.
Her disciple was truly the most thoughtful.
The other disciples, no matter how respectful or how many times they kowtowed, couldn’t compare to Mu Tao’s attentiveness.
When they returned, it was time to make a statement to the entire Mount Chao Yao.
For her little disciple’s well-being, for the sake of lowering her blackening value!
She had to let everyone know that anyone who dared bully her little disciple was also disrespecting her!
So, on a bright, clear morning, Li Yu instructed Mu Tao to gather everyone and prepare for their departure.
The return journey was livelier than before.
It was just one more bird, and not a particularly talkative one, but the atmosphere was different.
The little black bird would fly into the carriage, perching on the seats, the windowsill, or someone’s shoulder, quietly listening.
Sometimes, it would fly outside, circling the carriage or landing beside the coachman or Mo Yichu, listening to them talk about what had happened on the mountain.
Its eyes were always filled with longing.
Longing for the day it could watch the moon with the princess, who yearned for freedom, on that seemingly free immortal mountain.
It said that the sea of resentment above the Moon Capital was so deep that she hadn’t seen the moon in three hundred years.
Whether it was the relief of having resolved the issue or the positive influence of her cheerful disciple,
Li Yu no longer found the journey so tedious.
She started appreciating the scenery, joining the “young people’s” conversations, and even exploring the towns and villages they stopped at.
She wouldn’t have done this before.
After all, given her status, going out with juniors might lead to her being inadvertently excluded.
And if she tried to fit in, she had to worry about her compatibility.
But now, with a longer “health bar,” she was more courageous!
While skipping and hopping wouldn’t be appropriate, shedding some of her aloofness and trying to blend in shouldn’t be a problem, right?
This bold experiment earned her a new evaluation from Mo Yichu.
He said that Master Li Yu seemed different from the one he knew before, but perhaps he had never truly known her.
—This was gossip reported by Mu Tao.
Li Yu just smiled without commenting.
The former Li Yu, the Exalted Immortal, probably wouldn’t have spoken more than a few words to these juniors in years, decades, or even centuries.
Just the thought was terrifying; she couldn’t be that aloof.
Perhaps with a more relaxed mindset, time passed quickly. After more than half a month of travel, they finally returned to Lan City and boarded the same merchant ship.
Qin Yuan said that for most people, finding the immortal mountain was a fool’s errand.
The vast ocean was mysterious and dangerous.
Drifting aimlessly, searching for a mythical place, with the added threat of the Luoyu, was practically suicidal.
Lord Zhao had spent a fortune and exhausted all his persuasive skills, promising safety, to convince a ship to take him.
But this time was different.
Perhaps because someone had actually seen the immortal mountain, or perhaps because the Luoyu had been subdued, renting a ship this time was incredibly easy. Several ships even competed for their business.
Among these competing captains, Li Yu saw a familiar face.
Familiar faces made things easier, so she told Qin Yuan to choose that ship.
They boarded the same merchant ship and saw the familiar faces from their previous journey.
The cooks in the kitchen, seeing Mu Tao, excitedly asked if they could enjoy her cooking again.
This time, Mu Tao remembered to ask for payment, but she didn’t ask for much.
Having no concept of human currency, she agreed to cook two meals a day for the entire ship and was overjoyed with the few copper coins they gave her, skipping back to Li Yu to show off her earnings.
And then she handed over the coins.
Li Yu, looking at the copper coins in her hand, felt like she had just received a tiny red envelope from a distant relative.
She pinched Mu Tao’s cheek and asked with a smile, “Why didn’t you keep it for yourself? You might have the opportunity to visit the human realm again.”
“What’s mine is Master’s!” Mu Tao sat on Li Yu’s bed, wrapped her arms around her waist, and rested her head on her shoulder. “Wherever Master is, I’ll be there. What Master has is also mine!”
The little girl’s sweet words made the small amount of “money” seem insignificant.
But the little wolf cub clinging to her was a bit too warm.
In the middle of summer, Mu Tao, lacking sufficient cultivation and having been busy in the kitchen, was like a little furnace.
Li Yu gently touched her forehead, dispelling the heat with a spell.
She didn’t use the system’s assistance but controlled the flow of spiritual energy within her with her mind.
This was the second time she had cast a simple spell without the system’s help.
She felt that her ability to sense and control spiritual energy had begun in the City of the Undying, when she recklessly used that powerful spell despite the backlash.
Although she didn’t understand the principle, that spell had awakened her awareness of the spiritual energy within her.
They said the first step was always the hardest. Thinking that that painful experience had inadvertently opened a new path for her, those ten days of suffering didn’t seem so bad.
Li Yu felt a surge of excitement.
She needed to find a place to practice other spells.
However, whether on the carriage, in the inn, or on this ship, none of these were suitable places for practicing spells.
It seemed she had to return to Mount Chao Yao first.
Since Mo Yichu had gotten lost at sea before, Li Yu was slightly worried about finding their way back.
Fortunately, although a blockhead, he wasn’t that foolish. He had used his spiritual energy to mark their location before leaving Mount Chao Yao.
Besides, if the protagonist couldn’t even find his way back, there wouldn’t be much of a story left to tell.
The ship, aided by the speed-enhancing formation, sailed smoothly and quickly.
Li Yu occasionally went to the deck to enjoy the sea, the sun, and the breeze.
She realized her mindset was completely different from before.
She couldn’t explain this change, but every time she saw the little black bird flitting around the ship, its long tail feathers brushing against the water, she felt a desire to experience this world more fully.
Even if she was here to earn her keep, there was no need to maintain that listless, overworked demeanor.
This place was far more free than her previous company!
With such a comfortable life, such beautiful scenery, why had she been so dissatisfied before?
The trapped princess was right; the moon always hung in the sky, and what you saw depended on your mood.
The same applied to many things in life.
A different perspective could change everything.
Time flew by when she was in a good mood.
Before she knew it, the ship entered Mount Chao Yao’s territory.
As the island appeared in the distance, Qin Yuan excitedly ran around the deck, asking everyone she met, “Did you see it? There’s a mountain over there! It appeared out of nowhere! Did you see it?!”
Mu Tao, unable to watch any longer, stopped her as she was about to start her second lap.
She said with a smile, “Yes, we all saw it!”
Qin Yuan excitedly pointed at the distant mountain. “Is that Mount Chao Yao? Is that where you live?”
Mu Tao: “Yes!”
Qin Yuan looked at Mo Yichu, as if seeking confirmation. “Is that right, Senior Brother?”
“Yes,” Mo Yichu replied habitually, then froze, feeling that the shift in address was a bit abrupt.
But before he could say anything, Qin Yuan turned to Mu Tao and called out sweetly, “Senior Sister~!”
That sweet greeting made Mu Tao speechless. She just stared at Li Yu, her eyes wide with panic.
It was as if she was passing the buck.
Qin Yuan turned to Li Yu and called, “Master Li Yu~~”
Caught off guard by this sudden change in address, Li Yu blurted out, “Don’t get ahead of yourself, you might not be able to stay here.”
Qin Yuan’s smile faltered for a second, then, hearing Mu Tao giggling beside her, she quickly realized.
She was brought back by the “head of the Three Revered Ones”; of course, she could stay.
So, she placed her hands on her hips and said confidently, “I don’t care! I’m here now. Even if you throw me back into the sea, I’ll swim back!”
The black bird landed on Qin Yuan’s head, flapped its wings, and looked at Li Yu’s right hand. “When can we save her?”
“After we return to the mountain, I will ask to see Master Qinglan.” Mo Yichu said, uncertainty in his voice.
Li Yu thought for a moment, then said softly, “I’ll be the one to ask.”
Repairing a soul and reconstructing a body was a taxing task.
Back then, Weisheng Xuanzhu brought back a Heavenly Soul Yang Spirit, and Si Qinglan helped out of appreciation for his talent.
But this time, it was just an ordinary soul fragment; Si Qinglan might not be willing to expend so much energy.
If a junior asked, the chances of her agreeing were slim.
It was better for her, a colleague of equal standing, to ask; it would make the conversation easier.
Mo Yichu clearly understood the weight of Li Yu’s status and looked at her with gratitude.
Li Yu had no doubt that after she helped Qin Ruoheng this time, if she ever needed anything in the future, this blockhead would willingly go through fire and water for her.
She admitted that she had ulterior motives.
He was the original male protagonist, after all, even if rejected by the system, he still had the protagonist’s configuration—such a loyal and practically indestructible person would be a very useful tool.
So, upon returning to the mountain, driven by both sincerity and self-interest, Li Yu immediately visited Si Qinglan.
She had thought that after being away for so long, Si Qinglan would show some sign of missing her.
But in reality, when they met, Si Qinglan’s expression was as casual as if they had just seen each other yesterday.
If it weren’t for her casual tone, Li Yu would have almost forgotten that these immortals, having lived for millennia, didn’t perceive two or three months as a long time.
“You’re here to see me, and you didn’t even bother to remove the Spirit Severing Hairpin first. I almost didn’t sense you and nearly jumped out of my skin.”
Si Qinglan held a small wooden basin and a spoon, leisurely watering the flowers in her garden.
She was actually doing this manually, despite being able to do it effortlessly with a spell.
And not only that, but a familiar-looking talisman floated in the garden, broadcasting the sounds of an argument.
Clearly, this immortal was eavesdropping on the disciples again.
Li Yu now wondered if the disciples knew about their founder’s…unconventional hobbies.
“You seem quite relaxed,” Li Yu said, removing the hairpin and walking over to Si Qinglan.
The basin and spoon in Si Qinglan’s hands flew back to a nearby water tank.
“I was wondering what brought you here. So, you’re returning my things. No need to rush, I could have just picked them up from your place in a few days.” Si Qinglan turned around with a smile.
She took the hairpin, but Li Yu didn’t let go.
Si Qinglan: “Aren’t you done with it?”
Li Yu: “Mm.”
Si Qinglan: “Then give it back.”
Li Yu: “I have a favor to ask.”
“You have a favor to ask me?” Si Qinglan blinked, amused. “That’s rare, but this isn’t enough of a ‘hostage’ to warrant a favor.”
“Don’t be so distant,” Li Yu said, releasing the hairpin.
With a flash of light, the hairpin disappeared from Si Qinglan’s hand.
She walked over to a nearby swing, sat down, dispelled the eavesdropping talisman, looked up at Li Yu, and asked with a smile, “Tell me, what could the omnipotent Cangming Revered One possibly need my help with?”
The word “omnipotent” made her feel slightly uncomfortable.
Unable to bear such a lofty title, she decided to return the compliment.
Li Yu: “Naturally, it requires the omnipotent Qingxuan Revered One to save someone for me.”
Si Qinglan raised an eyebrow, her expression changing slightly.
After a brief silence, she looked at Li Yu’s right hand, seemingly sensing the presence of the soul fragment.
Si Qinglan: “A human?”
Li Yu: “Mm.”
Si Qinglan: “An ordinary human.”
Li Yu: “Mm.”
Si Qinglan chuckled. “Li Yu, this isn’t like you.”
Li Yu: “…”
“There’s so much suffering in this world. Even with the power of an ancient god, you can’t save everyone. You, having experienced that battle, should understand this better than I do.” Si Qinglan looked at Li Yu curiously. “Who is this person, that you’re willing to nourish with your own spiritual energy and bring to me?”
“She’s Mo Yichu’s mother.”
“So?” Si Qinglan said calmly. “An ordinary human’s lifespan is only a few decades. It has been over three hundred years; why bother?”
“…”
Seeing Li Yu’s silence, Si Qinglan continued, “I don’t mean anything by it, I’m just curious why you are asking this for Little Mo Yichu?”
Li Yu: “If he asked, would you agree?”
Si Qinglan: “No.”
So decisive, so heartless.
As expected of an immortal who had lived for millennia, her principles were completely different from ordinary people.
Li Yu: “If I ask, will you consider it?”
Si Qinglan: “Well…”
She started swinging, her long, braided hair trailing on the grass, her green robes fluttering among the flowers.
Li Yu watched her quietly, not pressing the issue.
After a long silence, Si Qinglan finally gave in.
“This will take a lot out of me.” She sighed, stood up from the swing, and said, exasperated, “I really can’t with you lot, always causing me trouble!”
Li Yu breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “Thanks.”
“Give it to me,” Si Qinglan said, holding out her hand.
Li Yu raised her right hand, wondering how to extract the soul fragment, when the system obligingly did it for her.
The pure white soul, guided by a beam of light, floated towards Si Qinglan’s fingertip and disappeared.
Li Yu couldn’t help but ask, “How long will it take?”
“What’s the rush?” Si Qinglan said listlessly. “Pregnancy takes ten months; do you think reconstructing a soul and a body is that simple?”
“I have to give the juniors an answer,” Li Yu said.
“…About a month,” Si Qinglan said, turning and walking into her house.
A month, that was fast.
She had almost thought it would take ten months.
Li Yu followed Si Qinglan inside and watched curiously as she conjured a small flowerpot, placed a seed inside, and infused it with spiritual energy. “What’s that?”
Si Qinglan: “Formless Grass, for creating bodies.”
Li Yu: “Can you create any form?”
Si Qinglan: “It’s best to follow the shape of the soul; otherwise, the compatibility won’t be good.”
So, there was even rejection in this fantasy world, how scientific.
Formless Grass, Unasking Flower…
Si Qinglan’s plants all had similar, mysterious-sounding names.
Li Yu watched as Si Qinglan placed the flowerpot on a sunny windowsill.
Si Qinglan turned to her. “How unusual, you haven’t left after finishing your business. You’re not usually like this. Is there something else you want to say?”
Li Yu, whose mind had been blank, suddenly remembered something.
“Actually, yes.”
Si Qinglan, intrigued, quickly walked back to the table, poured two cups of flower tea, and gestured for Li Yu to sit.
“Did anything interesting happen during your trip to the human realm?” she asked curiously.
Li Yu: “Not exactly interesting events, but I did meet an interesting person.”
Si Qinglan blinked and raised a finger, a pure white light flickering at her fingertip. “This one?”
“She is…somewhat interesting…” Li Yu shook her head. “But I’m talking about someone else.”
“Oh?”
“I met a young girl in Yanyang, quite destined for immortality.”
“And?” Si Qinglan rested her chin on her hand, ready for the story.
Li Yu briefly recounted her encounter with Qin Yuan.
Si Qinglan listened attentively, taking credit for the good deed of the Unasking Flower saving the souls of the city.
To interrupt her self-praise, Li Yu quickly continued the story.
Finally, she asked tentatively, “Are you interested in taking her as your disciple?”
Si Qinglan: “Not interested, but…sure.”
Li Yu was surprised. “So readily?”
Si Qinglan couldn’t help but retort, “Since you’re asking, is this something that requires serious consideration?”
Li Yu: “Aren’t you even going to test her?”
Si Qinglan: “I’ll just ask her one question.”
Li Yu: “What question?”
Si Qinglan smiled, picked up her teacup, and took a sip.
As she put down the cup, she said casually, “Just bring her here.”
That seemingly profound and mysterious demeanor did have a touch of an expert’s air.
Unfortunately, in Li Yu’s eyes, this colleague was already a prime example of an elder acting inappropriately.
Her image would never be majestic again.
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