Chapter 39: Perhaps This Was the Best Ending
While Si Qinglan told Li Yu to bring Qin Yuan over, the juniors were already waiting outside Qianlizhu.
Li Yu summoned a spiritual butterfly, and soon, Qin Yuan, guided by the butterfly, arrived.
She entered the room, her face unusually nervous.
She knew Mount Chao Yao wasn’t Yanyang. No matter her status in the human realm, here, she was just a mortal seeking immortality.
The immortal before her, Qingxuan Revered One, was the most likely to accept her as a disciple.
Unsure of the immortal’s preferences, and afraid of making a bad impression, after performing the customary greeting, she stood rigidly, not daring to move.
Silence filled the room.
Qin Yuan cautiously looked up at the immortal, curiosity in her eyes.
She met a pair of misty green eyes and froze.
After a few seconds, Si Qinglan looked away and said to Li Yu, who was drinking tea, “Good aptitude, rare in the human realm.”
She then casually walked to the window and started pruning the flowers with a faint glow of spiritual energy at her fingertips.
Qin Yuan waited, but hearing nothing more, she spoke up, “Then, Revered One, will you accept me as your disciple?”
Si Qinglan didn’t turn around, just said, “I can, but you must first consider a question.”
Qin Yuan’s eyes lit up. “Please ask, Revered One!”
“Mount Chao Yao is far from the human realm. Outsiders cannot find it, and those within cannot easily leave.” Si Qinglan said calmly. “Of course, with diligent cultivation, you can eventually cross the ocean and return to the human realm… But have you considered how long that will take?”
“How long?” Qin Yuan couldn’t help but ask.
“A few hundred years at least, perhaps a thousand or more.”
Qin Yuan’s mouth opened slightly, but she didn’t dare respond.
“By the time you return, your family, friends, status, even your kingdom, will be long gone.”
Si Qinglan’s fingers glowed faintly as she snapped off a flower stem.
Even the longest lifespan was but a fleeting moment to her. The lives of mortals, the rise and fall of dynasties, were like a passing breeze, carrying away specks of dust.
But for ordinary people, it was much more than that.
Qin Yuan stared at Si Qinglan’s back, suddenly feeling that it wasn’t just a back, but a distant, ethereal path to immortality, far more elusive than she had imagined.
She hadn’t felt this from Li Yu.
Si Qinglan looked at the flower in her hand and asked softly, “If you want to stay on Mount Chao Yao, can you truly let go of all these worldly matters?”
Qin Yuan froze, lowered her gaze, and pondered seriously.
After a long moment, she clenched her fists, her eyes filled with determination.
“I can!” She said without hesitation. “I’ve always known that this path I yearn for… I must walk it alone. No one can accompany me to the end!”
This resolute answer, although expected, still surprised Li Yu.
She couldn’t comprehend such unwavering determination, such easy detachment from everything.
If it were her, she would have agonized over this question for a long time.
As Li Yu was thinking this, Si Qinglan spoke again.
“You are determined, but letting go of these things now doesn’t guarantee you’ll achieve your desired outcome.” Si Qinglan turned to look at Qin Yuan. “Besides, you don’t truly understand what it means to be an immortal. Even if you ascend to the Heavenly Gate one day, you might just be an unknown, insignificant being, forgotten by most.”
“I don’t seek fame or recognition!”
“Then what do you seek?” Si Qinglan chuckled softly. “Greater power, to vanquish evil, protect the righteous?”
A flicker of uncertainty appeared in Qin Yuan’s eyes.
Si Qinglan: “If that’s the case, when you finally achieve that power, you might find that you have nowhere to use it.”
“You cannot use it to casually help mortals, as it can easily disrupt the cause and effect of events. Every small change in cause and effect can lead to greater changes in fate, disrupting the natural order and causing unforeseen calamities.”
“You think the power of immortals can protect all beings, but they often cannot bear the weight of even a single thought from an immortal. This is why the laws of heaven exist, to balance the power of immortals and gods.” Si Qinglan said calmly, as if she had seen through everything. “Acting on your whims comes with a price, a price often not borne by you alone.”
Li Yu, listening, felt confused.
She initially thought Si Qinglan would readily accept Qin Yuan. Now she realized that this “one question” was far more complex than she had imagined.
Watching Qin Yuan’s “interview,” she felt that she herself would never have passed this entrance exam.
But Qin Yuan listened attentively,
The initial nervousness in her eyes replaced by deep contemplation.
Qin Yuan: “Revered One, are you saying that immortals only uphold the Great Dao, but the Great Dao is heartless and requires abandoning one’s own heart?”
Si Qinglan: “You can understand it that way.”
Qin Yuan: “So, right and wrong, good and evil, if they don’t affect the Great Dao, immortals should remain indifferent?”
Si Qinglan: “Mm.”
Qin Yuan pondered for a moment, then asked, confused, “If that’s the case, why did Cangming Revered One go to the City of the Undying, and why did you save Qin Ruoheng?”
She glanced at Li Yu, the confusion in her eyes replaced by a newfound conviction.
She said firmly, “You’re testing me, Revered One!”
A flicker of appreciation appeared in Si Qinglan’s eyes.
“Those who uphold the Great Dao can abandon everything but their own heart.” Qin Yuan said seriously, “Mortals cannot bear the weight of an immortal’s thoughts. Therefore, the laws of heaven are not shackles but warnings!”
“The greater one’s power, the more carefully one must consider the consequences of their actions! Only by exercising caution can immortals truly protect the world and uphold righteousness. Otherwise, they risk becoming demons that bring calamity!”
“Legend says that an ancient god, who fell in the Sea of Darkness, succumbed to his desires and turned into a demon—this is what it means to be one thought away from becoming a demon!”
“Cangming Revered One, willing to endure the backlash to intervene in the centuries-old resentment of the City of the Undying, acted out of restraint and caution, a decision made to protect the world! Because that single thought, that single action, could lead to a better outcome, it was worth the risk, regardless of the price! This is the true meaning of wielding divine power!”
Qin Yuan’s eyes shone brightly as she spoke, a fire burning within her.
—A soul that doesn’t die, a flame that doesn’t extinguish.
Her conviction was unwavering, but her example was flawed.
Restraint and caution were qualities Li Yu never possessed, not even in her dreams.
She had simply nudged the main storyline along and was now being praised for her profound wisdom; it was a bit embarrassing.
But Qin Yuan had clearly passed the entrance exam.
Si Qinglan walked over to her and transformed the flower stem into a wooden hairpin.
Qin Yuan immediately knelt down and reverently received the hairpin with both hands.
That day, the princess, yearning for immortality, finally joined a true immortal sect. Led by an unfamiliar senior sister, she was given a small room in Qianlizhu.
After bidding farewell to Si Qinglan, Li Yu felt a sense of awe.
She had underestimated Si Qinglan.
Qingxuan Revered One, the seemingly most unreliable of the Three Revered Ones of Mount Chao Yao, having ascended from a weak flower demon, clearly possessed hidden depths.
As she left Qianlizhu, Li Yu couldn’t help but think.
The original owner of this body seemed resolute but was actually indecisive and easily swayed.
Weisheng Xuanzhu, a lovesick fool in the original story, though caring for the world and raising his disciple well, how firm could the Dao heart of a lovesick fool be?
Perhaps, Si Qinglan, seemingly the weakest, actually had the most unwavering Dao heart among the Three Revered Ones.
Stepping out of Qianlizhu, she saw Mu Tao and Mo Yichu waiting, along with the anxious little black bird.
“Qingxuan Revered One has agreed to help. Return in a month.”
Li Yu said casually, summoned a crane, and returned to Chaoxi Pond with Mu Tao.
Everything she had experienced seemed to conclude with their return.
But the story wasn’t over.
More than a month passed peacefully.
During this time, Si Qinglan never visited Chaoxi Pond.
Li Yu figured she must be busy.
After all, she herself had said that even pregnancy took ten months; reconstructing a soul and a body within a month was a taxing task. She couldn’t be expected to gallivant around.
In the past, if her colleague didn’t visit to chat and gossip, Li Yu would have been bored to death, sighing and rolling around in bed like a salted fish.
But things were different now.
Her clingy little disciple, except for occasional outings and sleeping at night, was practically glued to her side.
Li Yu had thought that at her age, she wouldn’t enjoy such constant companionship.
But with Mu Tao clinging to her every day, she realized she hadn’t grown up much. She was still like her younger self, needing and craving constant companionship.
She was happy that Mu Tao needed her.
She was happy that Mu Tao stayed by her side whenever she had free time.
And when Mu Tao was away, she used the opportunity to practice controlling her spiritual energy.
The system was right; the original owner’s power was too vast for her to easily control.
Through repeated practice, she gradually understood the basic principles of circulating spiritual energy within her body.
Now, she had to solidify her foundation before attempting to channel more power.
This body was so strong that even a fraction of its power should be enough for her to dominate this world.
Her future seemed bright.
Perhaps because of this, every day at Chaoxi Pond, though seemingly the same as before, felt more…secure.
One day, Li Yu heard news about Qin Ruoheng from Mu Tao.
Qin Ruoheng had regained consciousness and left Qianlizhu two days ago, picked up by Mo Yichu and taken to Qingke Hua.
She had forgotten everything but instinctively felt close to the little black bird upon waking.
Mo Yichu didn’t reveal his identity, just brought her and the black bird back to Qingke Hua.
He said that she had finally let go of the past, and there was no need to burden her with it again.
After over three hundred years, with both her soul and body reconstructed, her past identities, whether as Princess of Huai or Queen of the southern kingdom, were no longer relevant.
Revealing his identity would only add unnecessary baggage.
No one on Mount Chao Yao knew her.
She could be free from her past roles, no longer anyone’s daughter, wife, or mother.
She could just stay here, an ordinary wood spirit, living freely and unrestrained.
The little black bird was a more suitable companion for her.
After all, during those three hundred years when he had forgotten, it was the bird that had stayed by her “side.”
Hearing this, Li Yu felt a mix of emotions.
After a long moment, she simply said, “That’s good.”
Although different from the perfect reunion she had imagined, for Qin Ruoheng, this was perhaps the best ending.
Not all separations needed reunions.
Those who could be let go of were often just passersby.
Now, the woman who had yearned for freedom would finally be free.
It was said that many plum trees grew at Qingke Hua on Mount Chao Yao.
Would she, like in the past, stand beneath the trees next summer, using a long pole to knock down the plums?
Perhaps, in a hundred or two hundred years, the little bird would also take human form, playing freely with her in the mountains.
The mountain spirits wouldn’t bully them, as they now had powerful backing.
That night, Li Yu sat by the window, gazing at the moon.
She seemed to see, through the moon, that small, confined space where Qin Ruoheng had been trapped three hundred years ago.
But what she saw wasn’t a cage, but a bird on the roof, looking up at the vast sky through the moonlit night.
Those once fledgling birds had finally found their own boundless skies.
The story could end here, at the beginning of a new chapter.
Perhaps because she was no longer affected by the weather, Li Yu wasn’t sensitive to the changing seasons. If it weren’t for the leaves turning yellow, she wouldn’t have realized it was late autumn.
One day, Si Qinglan, whom she hadn’t seen for over two months, suddenly visited Chaoxi Pond.
Li Yu looked at the familiar figure, feeling a sense of disbelief.
“What brings you here?”
“What, can’t I visit without a reason?” Si Qinglan said, walking in as if she were at home, finding her usual spot, and pouring herself a cup of tea.
She glanced at Mu Tao, who was practicing her cultivation techniques. “Little Taotao, I have something to discuss with your master. Go and practice outside for a while.”
Mu Tao opened her mouth slightly and looked at Li Yu.
Li Yu: “Go practice outside for a bit.”
Mu Tao: “Yes, Master…”
The little girl obediently left the room and gently closed the door.
The moment the door closed, Si Qinglan erected a soundproof barrier.
【Protagonist Blackening Value +1%!】
【Current Protagonist Blackening Value: 41%!】
There it was again, the sudden increase in blackening value.
So familiar, yet so unexpected.
Business first.
With the soundproof barrier up, it must be something related to the main storyline, something she had no memory of.
Li Yu took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
She looked at Si Qinglan and asked curiously, “What is so urgent that you need to hide it from my disciple?”
Si Qinglan: “Nothing much, just wanted to chat.”
Li Yu: “…Then why the barrier?”
Si Qinglan waved her hand dismissively. “Just some trivial matters, too embarrassing for juniors to hear.”
Li Yu took another deep breath.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but hesitated.
Before she could speak, Si Qinglan started chattering.
She first complained about how exhausting it had been to restore the soul and body, how uncomfortable she felt, and how long it would take to recover.
Then she complained about how busy things were on the mountain lately, too much work, no time for gossip, and even less time to rest.
Finally, she complained about autumn, saying that Mount Chao Yao looked less beautiful in autumn.
It was clear that when one was unwell, their mood also suffered.
And when one’s mood suffered, everything seemed less appealing.
Si Qinglan was currently in the same state she used to be in during those few days every month when she was still mortal.
Li Yu now understood why she had erected the soundproof barrier.
It was indeed better for juniors not to see her like this.
Considering that her colleague’s current state was somewhat related to her, Li Yu patiently listened to her complaints, occasionally making affirmative noises to show she was paying attention.
After venting, Si Qinglan seemed to calm down.
She took a sip of tea, paused, looked up at Li Yu, and asked with a hint of concern, “You said your internal injuries flared up in the human realm?”
Li Yu nodded.
Si Qinglan: “Serious?”
Li Yu: “Not too bad.”
Si Qinglan: “How’s your recovery?”
Li Yu: “Why the sudden concern?”
Si Qinglan pouted and sighed softly. “I’m not concerned about you. Do you really think I came all the way here just to complain?”
Li Yu was momentarily speechless.
She had thought Si Qinglan would get to the point, but she started complaining.
Now that she thought Si Qinglan was just complaining, she was about to discuss serious matters.
And after that last statement, Si Qinglan fell silent, just looking at her mysteriously.
Right, a bad mood required a different approach.
Li Yu: “So, there’s something else besides complaining?”
Si Qinglan nodded, leaned forward, and whispered, “The seal on Suiqiong Cave is unstable.”
Suiqiong Cave, the Upper Spirit Lamp, the seal on the Heavenly Demon Soul Seed.
Li Yu: “When did it start?”
Si Qinglan shook her head. “I’m not sure, I’ve sensed it for a while, but I only noticed recently.”
Li Yu: “…”
“Weisheng has been reinforcing the seal for the past two days, but you know, he hasn’t hibernated in over three thousand years; he must be exhausted… I’ve been watching him work for two days and two nights, with no apparent progress. It’s worrying.” Si Qinglan sighed, resting her face in her hands. “But reinforcing the seal…isn’t exactly my forte.”
Li Yu: “…”
You’re right, but it wasn’t hers either.
Si Qinglan: “If you’re feeling better, why don’t you go and help?”
Li Yu: “I…”
Si Qinglan: “I know you don’t want to see him, but I’m worried.”
Li Yu: “He…”
Si Qinglan: “What if he’s too tired and messes it up? I don’t understand those things, and even if I did, I couldn’t help. You’re the most reliable person for this.”
Li Yu: “…”
Seeing Si Qinglan’s trust in her regarding this matter, Li Yu felt a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
She wasn’t afraid of seeing anyone anymore. With the kill threshold lowered to 50%, she was perfectly safe.
The problem was, she couldn’t help even if she went.
But Si Qinglan had made her plea; it would be rude to refuse…
“Li Yu, don’t just sit there in silence!” Si Qinglan frowned. “You brought back that seal! If something goes wrong with it on Mount Chao Yao, I won’t let you live it down!”
Wait, why was she getting so worked up?
Li Yu: “Don’t worry…”
Si Qinglan: “I’m not worried, why would I be worried?”
She was clearly worried…
Li Yu: “Alright, alright, I’ll go and take a look, calm down…”
Si Qinglan: “I’m calm!”
Li Yu: “Mm-hmm…”
Si Qinglan: “…”
After a brief silence, Si Qinglan put down her teacup and asked, “When are you going?”
Li Yu replied with a wry smile, “Right now.”
Si Qinglan seemed to relax and dispelled the soundproof barrier.
“Then hurry up and go. I’ll await your good news.” She poured herself another cup of tea, acting as if nothing had happened.
Li Yu sighed.
This was about seeing the big iceberg; she wasn’t seriously expecting her to go alone, was she?
That would be too awkward. She needed to convince Si Qinglan to go with her.
Li Yu: “Si Qinglan, aren’t you going to come with me?”
【Protagonist Blackening Value +1%!】
【Current Protagonist Blackening Value: 42%!】
Si Qinglan: “I…”
Li Yu: “Forget it, I’ll go myself.”
She would go alone.
She was an adult; she didn’t need someone to hold her hand!
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