Chapter 57: She Almost Thought the Snow Would Never Stop… p2
Li Yu sighed and placed the sundial back within the tree’s core.
When she opened her eyes, a tightness in her chest made her cough violently.
A wisp of green light floated in through the window and transformed into a human form.
Li Yu met Si Qinglan’s disapproving gaze.
“Still alive, I see,” Si Qinglan said sarcastically.
“I want to die,” Li Yu said weakly with a wry smile, “but there are still things I haven’t finished…”
“If your hand still works, you can write a will, and I’ll try my best to fulfill it.” Despite her words, Si Qinglan sent a sliver of healing spiritual energy into Li Yu’s forehead.
Li Yu: “That’s too much trouble.”
Si Qinglan: “Haven’t you caused me enough trouble already? Even sealing the Heavenly Demon requires using my territory.”
Li Yu: “I’m sorry.”
Si Qinglan: “…What’s there to be sorry about?”
Silence fell.
The pale green light flowed into Li Yu, easing the pain.
Li Yu closed her eyes, focusing on circulating the healing energy.
After a while, Si Qinglan withdrew her hand and sat down beside the bed, sighing.
Just as she sat down, Li Yu chuckled softly.
“What are you laughing about now?” Si Qinglan frowned. “Seriously, Li Yu, have you lost your mind? Why do you always giggle inexplicably after waking up from your injuries?”
Li Yu: “I was just remembering the last thing you said to me.”
Si Qinglan: “What?”
Li Yu imitated Si Qinglan’s tone and said seriously, “You better not let me see you again, or I really will intervene.”
Si Qinglan frowned, a hint of exasperation in her eyes.
“And here I am again, and you did intervene…by healing me.” Li Yu couldn’t help but smile faintly.
Her voice was weak, her words laced with a weary humor, but there was no mirth in her eyes.
Si Qinglan didn’t continue the joke, just asked in a low voice, “What happened?”
Li Yu: “What do you mean?”
Si Qinglan: “Weren’t you taking Mu Tao to the Demon Realm? You entered the passage; why did you come back alone?”
This made Li Yu curious.
She looked at Si Qinglan and asked, “I thought I fainted. How did I get out?”
Si Qinglan was momentarily speechless, her own question unanswered, now facing a question from the person who was supposed to answer.
Si Qinglan: “That Linchi bird brought you back.”
Li Yu: “Xiang Hanyu?”
Si Qinglan nodded. “She anticipated you going to the Demon Realm and waited at the entrance. But the place was swarming with cultivators from the immortal sects; she could only hide and observe.”
“Soon after you entered the passage, they dispersed,” Si Qinglan said calmly. “She was worried and went to check, finding you there… She wanted to take you back to Lingzhou, but your injuries were too severe; she couldn’t heal you, so she brought you back here.”
“She dared enter that place…?”
“For a demon at the Heavenly Tribulation stage, entering and exiting the Demon Realm isn’t difficult.” Si Qinglan conjured a cup of flower tea with a flick of her finger. “You’re lucky she went to check; otherwise, you might not have survived.”
She handed the teacup to Li Yu. “Sit up and drink some water.”
How thoughtful, she was indeed thirsty.
Li Yu took a deep breath, sat up despite the pain, and drank the tea in one gulp.
Si Qinglan took the empty cup and asked again, “So, what happened?”
Li Yu changed the subject. “How’s Mo Yichu?”
Si Qinglan: “Badly injured. He’s currently in the Spirit Restraint Hall, bound by soul-restraining barriers, unable to cultivate or heal.”
“…”
“With those outsiders still here, I can’t release him, he just has to endure for now.” Si Qinglan said. “At least he’s in much better shape than you, and he hasn’t complained.”
“Weisheng Xuanzhu entrusted him to my care.”
“He’s asleep anyway, so he doesn’t know what happened. Don’t feel too guilty.” Si Qinglan said comfortingly. “You expended a lot of energy in the City of the Undying; that kid is just repaying your favor.”
“Mm,” Li Yu nodded.
Si Qinglan: “You still haven’t told me what happened.”
Li Yu: “I…”
Si Qinglan: “Third time’s the charm. Change the subject again, and I’ll be angry.”
Li Yu thought for a moment, then said calmly, “I let Mu Tao go to the Demon Realm alone.”
Si Qinglan: “I know, I’m asking why.”
Li Yu: “Why what?”
Because the system forced her to, what other reason could there be?
Si Qinglan wouldn’t understand that.
“You were so close, why turn back?” Si Qinglan frowned. “That’s the Demon Realm, Mu Tao is still so young, how could you leave her there alone?”
Li Yu: “I told you, I have unfinished business.”
Si Qinglan: “…”
After a long silence, Si Qinglan bit her lip and said in a low voice, “You severed the Harmony Bells.”
Li Yu: “Mm.”
Si Qinglan: “What ‘unfinished business’ requires severing the Harmony Bells?”
Li Yu leaned against the bedpost and replied softly, “Some things…are difficult to explain, even I don’t fully understand.”
“You were the one who tied them, and you were the one who broke them… You were severely injured protecting her, yet you endured the backlash of the oath to abandon her.” Si Qinglan’s eyes were filled with confusion. “What are you thinking? I really don’t understand.”
Li Yu: “…”
Si Qinglan: “Li Yu, I can see…you can’t bear to leave her.”
Li Yu lowered her gaze, not answering.
Si Qinglan: “You had no reason to come back.”
Li Yu couldn’t help but chuckle. “Why, are you unhappy that I’m back?”
“How can I be happy?” Si Qinglan retorted. “Are you back to lead Mount Chao Yao? Do you think you’re still the revered Cangming Revered One, the guardian of the Upper Spirit Lamp, the only Exalted God in the human realm?”
She made the teacup on the table fly back onto the tray with a flick of her wrist.
She looked at Li Yu and said calmly, “You released the Demon Bone, committed a grave mistake. Your return has only caused me trouble.”
Li Yu: “How much trouble?”
Si Qinglan: “Many people are demanding that you be imprisoned in the Spirit Restraint Hall. I’ve been arguing nonstop to let you recuperate here.”
Li Yu glanced at her system stats.
【Character Compatibility: 51%】
The number made her slightly nervous, but then she remembered that the kill threshold was lower now, and she felt numb again.
“…Thank you,” she said.
“No need for thanks, just…my unfortunate fate.” Si Qinglan muttered. “If you were also imprisoned, Mount Chao Yao would truly be in chaos.”
“So, what’s the current situation?” Li Yu asked softly.
“Those people are refusing to leave.” Si Qinglan rolled her eyes. “They are waiting for you to wake up, demanding an explanation.”
“What explanation can I give them?” Li Yu said nonchalantly. “I was controlled by the Demon Bone, will that work?”
“You can try,” Si Qinglan’s tone was slightly resigned. “After all, no excuse could be more absurd than you releasing the Demon Bone and then returning.”
She sighed. “I don’t know when we’ll get rid of them.”
To get rid of them, she needed to understand what they wanted and then satisfy their demands.
“The Demon Bone is no longer in the human realm; what else do they want?”
“They want to decide what to do with the Upper Spirit Lamp, of course. After all, it contains the Heavenly Demon Soul Seed, it can’t be left just anywhere.” Si Qinglan said sarcastically. “We are willing to hand it over, but they haven’t decided who should take it.”
“Not surprising, the best option is still to keep it in Suiqiong Cave.” Li Yu said calmly. “When I recover, I can try to reseal it.”
“They don’t trust us.”
“Right, whatever.” Li Yu smiled nonchalantly.
Si Qinglan: “Besides the Upper Spirit Lamp, there’s also the matter of…you.”
Li Yu: “I really don’t know what to tell them, help me out?”
Si Qinglan: “Explaining yourself is one thing, the bigger problem now is…they want you to open the Heavenly Gate.”
Li Yu: “Open the Heavenly Gate?”
“They think that the only Heavenly Gate shouldn’t be guarded by you, that this matter needs to be reported to the Heavenly Realm…and that another god should be sent down to deal with it.” Si Qinglan’s voice was filled with worry. “They don’t dare punish you themselves, but once the Heavenly Gate is open, and the Heavenly Realm learns of your actions…Heavenly Tribulation would be the least of your worries.”
Si Qinglan couldn’t help but add, “Why did you even come back? They were about to leave after deciding what to do with the Lamp, but now they’re refusing to leave until you open the Heavenly Gate. It’s so annoying!”
“What do I have to fear anymore?” Li Yu said numbly. “When I recover, I’ll do as they ask. As long as they leave.”
“You’re truly…” Si Qinglan sighed, exasperated. “Forget it, I don’t even have the energy to argue with you.”
Li Yu was silent for a moment, then asked, “How long was I unconscious this time?”
Si Qinglan: “Half a month.”
Li Yu: “That explains why the snow has melted.”
Si Qinglan: “…”
Li Yu: “Si Qinglan.”
Si Qinglan: “What now?”
Li Yu: “I want to return to Chaoxi Pond.”
Si Qinglan: “Wake up, there’s no one there to take care of you!”
Li Yu: “I know.”
Si Qinglan: “…Fine, do as you please.”
Si Qinglan took a deep breath. “But wait a few more days. In your current state, you might die in there, and no one would even know!”
Li Yu smiled faintly and looked out the window, saying nothing.
Winter was finally over.
So much had happened in just a few short months, it felt like a lifetime.
She had almost thought the snow would never stop…
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