Chapter 56: Bai
After Sirn left, Lin Yan hurried back into the carriage.
She frowned, seeing Bai’s somber expression.
“What did Sirn tell you?”
“Nothing much. It wasn’t really him who told me.” Bai composed herself, her voice regaining its usual calmness.
Sirn clearly hadn’t been pleased to see her, a demon, and had barely spoken.
But his message from Lugner had revealed a lot.
At least now, she had a purpose.
Bai touched the small box in her pocket. Even now, as a demon, Lugner still trusted her, even sending her to the heart of the human Empire—the capital.
Perhaps this was his way of atoning…
“Miss Lin Yan, about where I’m going next—” Bai looked at Lin Yan, her pale blue eyes filled with determination. “I’m going to the capital.”
“The capital?” Lin Yan’s eyes widened slightly. “Why would you go there? Three Legendary Knights reside in the capital…”
“Personal matters,” Bai said, averting her gaze. “And I don’t intend to cause any trouble there. Just taking care of some personal business.”
Lugner hadn’t told her how to access “Vikarn” from the capital, perhaps for this very reason.
But the capital, now the only access point to “Vikarn,” would become the focal point of the struggle for the “Weapon of Vikarn.”
Bai didn’t want to be involved. “Vikarn,” and its Weapon, were not her concern.
But she needed answers, about Sister Neily, about herself… who she was, what she was…
She had to enter Vikarn.
“If that’s your decision, I won’t stop you.” Lin Yan smiled, sitting down beside Bai and ruffling her hair. “However, in your current form, entering the capital might be difficult.”
Bai shook her head, dodging Lin Yan’s hand, then, after a moment of hesitation, took out the small box.
“This is a transformation rune. It can change my appearance—to the form you first saw me in. That way, I won’t attract attention.”
“I see…” Lin Yan recalled Bai’s initial appearance. Aside from her cuteness, which she still possessed, there had been no demonic traits.
Just a faint demonic aura, but that wasn’t a major issue.
Only the most perceptive, battle-hardened knights would notice the difference, and such knights were rarely found in the capital, mostly stationed on the borders.
“It’s a shame I won’t be able to see Bai like this anymore,” Lin Yan said, her gaze lingering on Bai’s face.
Bai, flustered by her intense stare, turned away.
“Oh, Bai… come on, it’s just a few glances,” Lin Yan pouted, a rare display of feminine vulnerability.
If the Garrison Knights saw her like this, they would be shocked.
Bai didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on the fading sounds of the funeral music outside. “Miss Lin Yan, I think it’s time for me to leave.”
Lin Yan’s expression faltered. She wanted to say something, but no words came out.
“Thank you for your care these past few days,” Bai said, turning slightly, a faint smile touching her lips. “It was nice meeting you, Miss Lin Yan.”
“Bai…”
Rays of sunlight illuminated Bai’s long eyelashes, casting faint shadows on her cheeks. Her long, gray hair swayed gently in the breeze.
Lin Yan had to admit, Bai’s profile, adorned with that faint smile, was breathtaking, a sight she would likely never see again.
Her expression softened. “It was nice meeting you too, Bai.”
She didn’t offer to accompany Bai to the capital. She knew Bai’s journey was about more than just reaching the capital.
If Bai hadn’t invited her, she must have her reasons.
But…
She was still reluctant to let her go.
Lin Yan stood up, stepped closer, and gently embraced Bai, resting her cheek on her head, saying nothing.
Bai didn’t resist, allowing herself to be held.
Dressed in their black gowns, they looked like twin lilies, blooming from the darkness, pure and beautiful.
“That’s enough,” Bai said, gently pushing Lin Yan away, opening the carriage door and stepping out.
She walked past the mourners, past the silent coffin, past her comrades’ belongings, towards the unknown.
Lin Yan stepped out of the carriage, watching Bai’s retreating figure. Then, as if remembering something, she chuckled.
“Bai, you’re still wearing a dress!”
Her voice, though not loud, carried clearly in the quiet cemetery.
But no one looked up, no one paid attention.
Bai’s figure stiffened slightly, and she looked down at her dress, her shoulders trembling as if suppressing a laugh.
But she quickly regained her composure, lifting her skirt slightly as she continued walking.
“Just this once. One last time.”
Unseen by the crowd, a genuine, breathtaking smile bloomed on Bai’s face, a smile she had never shown before, a smile she might never show again.
“Goodbye, Lin Yan.”
Lin Yan, watching Bai’s slightly stubborn figure, smiled brightly.
Then, lowering her eyes, she whispered, just loud enough for herself to hear,
“Goodbye, Bai.”
A farewell, and yet, also a promise of reunion.
Uncle Lin appeared beside Lin Yan, standing shoulder to shoulder with her.
“Miss, do you truly believe Miss Bai isn’t Xu Bai?” he asked, his expression serious as he watched Bai’s receding figure. “No matter how I look at it, Miss Bai is incredibly suspicious…”
He hadn’t considered this possibility before. If he had, he would never have allowed Lin Yan to bring Bai to the banquet.
Although the outcome was favorable, Lin Yan having escaped the “Vikarn” situation, the process had been far too risky.
“Bai is Bai,” Lin Yan interrupted softly.
“As for whether she is Xu Bai…” Her eyes narrowed into crescent moons. “Does it matter?”
(End of Volume 1)
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