Chapter 75: A Puppy
What was this Jinxu Gui? (T/N:I’ll keep its name as the artifact “Jinxu Gui”. Gui means ‘sundial’ .)
<Sundial>
Si Qinglan saw the confusion in Li Yu’s eyes.
She sighed, looked at the green jade sundial in Li Yu’s hand, and recounted a story from a distant past, a past beyond their reach.
It was said that in ancient times, the God of Time, Shuhu, succumbed to his inner demons and, as his soul dissipated, his uncontrolled power scattered throughout the Three Realms.
The world was plunged into temporal chaos.
Day and night became erratic, the seasons disordered.
Extreme heat and extreme cold could last for a fleeting moment or an eternity.
And that wasn’t the worst of it.
It was said that during that time, one could inadvertently slip into the cracks of time.
People would lose their loved ones without warning.
And even if they were reunited, years, even centuries, might have passed.
And sometimes, cherished memories would dissipate like smoke, like rain falling on barren land, forgotten.
Like insignificant dust motes, carried away by the wind.
There was also a legend that said that at the turning of the tides, if one gazed at the water, they might glimpse the future or the past.
But these glimpses weren’t always true.
Because in a distorted timeline, everything was subject to change.
With the laws of time broken, the Three Realms suffered.
To restore order, the gods gathered Shuhu’s scattered power, refined it with heavenly fire for a hundred years, and from the chaotic ruins, forged the Jinxu Gui, an artifact capable of restoring the laws of time.
“The Jinxu Gui contains the power of Shuhu, the God of Time. With enough spiritual energy, its wielder can not only stop, slow down, or accelerate time, but also glimpse the past and the future.” Si Qinglan frowned. “But such power is incredibly difficult to control. A single misstep can disrupt cause and effect, altering the course of destiny…”
Her expression was serious. “This is defying the heavens; no one knows the price.”
Li Yu thought for a moment. “So…I can use it to see what happened four thousand years ago?”
“Li Yu, it’s too dangerous!” Si Qinglan said anxiously. “Even if you’re incredibly careful, you can’t guarantee you won’t disrupt anything… Besides, looking back four thousand years is incredibly difficult! You might get lost in the cracks of time, unable to find your way back!”
“…”
【The host needn’t worry about that. Navigation can be left to the system!】
Li Yu paused, then said softly, “Si Qinglan, I won’t get lost.”
Si Qinglan: “…”
Li Yu: “Disrupting cause and effect, defying the heavens, if it can prevent this disaster, I don’t care about the price.”
Si Qinglan: “Do you even understand what you’re saying?”
Li Yu: “I do.”
Si Qinglan: “…”
The final mission had a time limit; there was no time for recuperation or preparation.
In her current state, trying to rescue Mu Tao from Weisheng Xuanzhu was a long shot; she might as well try and hope for the best.
Since this artifact was recommended by the system, even if it was risky, there should be a way to use it safely.
This was her only chance to save Mu Tao, prevent the Heavenly Demon’s revival, and complete her mission.
She had to try, no matter the risks.
But she had to convince Si Qinglan first.
So, she asked, “Si Qinglan, why do you think disrupting cause and effect, altering fate, is such a serious matter?”
“Because it makes everything unpredictable.” Si Qinglan said seriously. “Everything in this world is governed by cause and effect, destiny.”
“It was because Weisheng Xuanzhu casually altered the fate of a mortal woman that the human realm, peaceful for over four thousand years, was suddenly plunged into chaos three hundred years ago.” She continued, “Even changing the future has such severe consequences. If you use the Jinxu Gui to tamper with the past, the results could be catastrophic!”
“Li Yu, you can’t bear such a burden, no one can…” Si Qinglan tried to persuade her.
“Then who can bear the consequences of the Heavenly Demon’s revival?” Li Yu retorted.
Si Qinglan was speechless.
Li Yu: “Does the human realm truly have the strength to face the Heavenly Demon now?”
Si Qinglan: “…”
Li Yu: “If the Heavenly Demon’s revival is the destined fate of the human realm, then why can’t it be changed? Why can’t this fate be altered?”
Si Qinglan lowered her gaze, lost in thought.
“Speaking of defying the heavens, hasn’t Weisheng Xuanzhu already done that?” Li Yu frowned. “He plotted and schemed, disrupted cause and effect, altered destinies, and if no one stops him, he will succeed.”
“Only the fate everyone accepts is a fate worth following!” Li Yu said, her voice calm, yet firm. “If someone tries to control it, and no one resists, then fate becomes their plaything.”
She didn’t care about the Dao of immortals.
She only knew that she had to save Mu Tao, and it wasn’t just about completing the mission.
“Si Qinglan…” Li Yu sighed. “You always talk about cause and effect, destiny, the price of actions, always seeming so rational—but aren’t we…paying the price for our past choices right now?”
“…”
“When you decided to take in the Demon Bone, how did these concerns about cause and effect, destiny, and consequences lose to a moment of compassion?” Li Yu looked at Si Qinglan, her tone both playful and genuinely curious.
“…”
“I’m already paying the price, look at my current state.” Li Yu smiled nonchalantly. “A little more…won’t make much difference… I don’t have much left to lose anyway.”
“…”
“Just let me try,” she whispered. “I know my limits; I won’t be reckless.”
Si Qinglan looked up, a strange glint in her misty green eyes.
She stared at Li Yu in silence, as if trying to see through her.
But she couldn’t.
She sighed deeply, a mixture of resignation and helplessness in her smile.
Si Qinglan: “I can’t argue with you.”
Li Yu: “…”
Si Qinglan: “But with your current strength, activating the Jinxu Gui…isn’t that a bit too much?”
Li Yu: “It should be fine.”
The system was willing to assist; what was there to be afraid of?
Si Qinglan shook her head. “It is too much, you need my help.”
Li Yu was surprised. “Won’t you be strained?”
“Of course, incredibly strained!” Si Qinglan said, a smile appearing in her eyes. “But two people being strained is better than one, right? This is the Jinxu Gui; we can’t afford any mistakes!”
“Si Qinglan…you can stay out of this…”
“Weren’t you just saying we’re all paying the price for our past choices?” Si Qinglan retorted with a smile. “I was the one who brought the Demon Bone to Mount Chao Yao; how can I stay out of this?”
She stood up, brushed the dust off her clothes, and extended her hand towards Li Yu. “Come on, use my spiritual energy first.”
Li Yu took her hand and stood up, asking casually, “Why yours first?”
Si Qinglan: “This path isn’t easy. I’m worried you’ll have the strength to go, but not to return.”
Li Yu: “…”
Si Qinglan: “Both the human realm and the Demon Realm are in chaos now. I can guard things here, but if something goes wrong, I won’t be able to help you. You need to conserve your strength for the return journey.”
Li Yu took a deep breath and stopped arguing, then whispered, “Thank you, Si Qinglan.”
Si Qinglan seemed to freeze, then chuckled wryly. “Li Yu, you’ve caused me so much trouble, and all you ever say is ‘thank you’—your thanks are worthless.”
Li Yu opened her mouth but couldn’t respond.
Si Qinglan: “This time…make them worth something! If you can pull this off, I’ll forget about all the spiritual herbs and elixirs you owe me!”
She hadn’t been keeping track anyway, had she?
Li Yu thought this, a smile appearing on her face.
Si Qinglan rolled her eyes, not bothering to argue, and erected a barrier around them.
She then turned to Li Yu and said seriously, “After this is over, I also have some questions for you. And you better answer them truthfully.”
Li Yu smiled and nodded. “I’ll tell you everything.”
“Then stop wasting time.” Si Qinglan gestured towards the Jinxu Gui and said playfully, “Let’s go, do you need me to carry you?”
Li Yu, no longer hesitating, activated the Jinxu Gui with the system’s assistance.
Si Qinglan’s spiritual energy flowed into her, like a gentle wind, a flowing stream, guided by Li Yu, all of it pouring into the sundial.
The green jade sundial lifted from her palm and floated into the air, expanding to an enormous size.
Its blue light intensified as the shadow of the gnomon moved in reverse.
The dial, its markings blurred, spun rapidly, a kaleidoscope of colors.
She found herself amidst a vast starry sky.
A star streaked past her, and she felt the weight of millennia, her heart aching, her very soul trembling.
This wasn’t just a starry sky, she thought.
It was the condensed light of countless years, lingering in this void.
Some of it flowed beneath her feet, forming a river, some floated above, transforming into stars.
A faint golden light guided her.
The Jinxu Gui was in her hand, a continuous flow of spiritual energy within her.
She walked along the river of stars, each step creating ripples in time.
A cool breeze, as if trying to stop her.
She continued walking, unfazed.
The breeze turned into a biting wind, howling and threatening to consume her.
It wasn’t just wind; it was the price of traveling through time.
—The further she went, the more difficult it became.
Si Qinglan had been right; this path wasn’t easy, but she couldn’t give up.
She strengthened her protective aura and, following the system’s guidance, continued walking against the biting wind,
The passing stars, shattering against her clothes, leaving behind fleeting images of the past.
Dynasties rose and fell, mountains crumbled and valleys formed, in the blink of an eye.
The stars turned into sharp blades, tearing at her flesh, her very soul.
The river of stars beneath her feet became thorns, drawing blood.
The icy wind thinned her protective aura, almost tearing it apart.
Exhaustion, like the wind, threatened to consume her.
Blood stained her tattered robes.
Her legs, numb with pain, still carried her forward, each step a struggle.
She couldn’t tell which pain was greater, this, or severing the Harmony Bells.
She didn’t know how much longer she had to walk, nor what she was even thinking.
How strange…
She hadn’t even considered stopping.
Why was she so determined to walk this path?
She didn’t understand.
Or perhaps, the pain had clouded her mind.
She could feel her consciousness fading, yet she couldn’t imagine the consequences of collapsing here. She just stared at the faint golden light, gritting her teeth, and continued walking,
Until her vision blurred, the guiding light almost disappearing.
The vast starry sky turned into a dizzying blur, engulfing her…
She closed her eyes and walked on, guided by instinct.
Just before her last shred of consciousness faded, she smelled the salty scent of the sea.
…
She was on the ship leaving the mountain, the sea breeze a cool caress.
A young girl’s sweet voice, accompanied by the chiming of silver bells, echoed behind her.
She turned and saw a flash of red.
Beneath the blazing sun, they stood side by side, looking out at the ocean.
She was slightly afraid, but the little girl seemed to love it.
…
The little girl in red, always flitting around her.
Even the mountain’s wind and snow couldn’t stop her.
Today’s meal was a feast.
The little girl was celebrating learning her first spell.
The little girl was building another snowman in the courtyard.
She seemed to enjoy creating a “mini-me” to guard the place.
…
Another winter, the world seemingly abandoning them.
The little girl, without a spatial pouch yet, carried her small bundle on her thin shoulders.
They traveled together, hiding and running,
Neither complaining.
It was the little girl’s first time celebrating the human New Year.
She listened to the firecrackers, watched the fireworks, her eyes filled with a joy she had never known.
If only she could show her more of the human world, Li Yu thought.
Take her through the seasons, show her how humans celebrated.
…
“Master!”
“Master~~”
“Master…”
The familiar calls echoed in her ears.
“Master, the noodles you wanted are ready!”
“…”
That wasn’t right.
She had left and never returned.
This…was a dream…
A weight pressed against her chest, a warm, heavy weight.
Something was touching her face, warm and rough, wet, rubbing against her cheek.
It tickled, and she instinctively tried to move away, but the sensation followed, brushing against her eyelids—a fleeting warmth, followed by a cool touch.
She opened her eyes and saw a small, gray puppy licking her face with its pink tongue.
A cold drop of water landed on her cheek, startling her.
The puppy, also startled, stopped licking and tilted its head, staring at her with its round eyes.
Li Yu swallowed nervously.
The coolness on her cheek, where the puppy had licked her, slowly brought her back to reality.
Where was she?
She was in bed, covered by a blanket, pale curtains tied to the bedposts, motionless in the still air.
A subtle, pleasant fragrance filled the room.
It was nighttime, snow falling heavily outside, the sky dark.
The room was warm, clearly protected by a spiritual barrier.
Although there were no candles, the room wasn’t dark, bathed in a soft, white light, like moonlight.
The puppy, seeing her awake, stopped licking and retreated, its head resting on its paws, its gaze averted.
“You…” she started, and the puppy, as if trying to avoid responsibility, jumped off the bed.
It hid under the table, its tail between its legs, its ears drooping, seemingly afraid, yet its round eyes still watching her intently.
Li Yu could sense spiritual energy from the puppy; it was a demon.
She sat up, looking down at herself.
Her clothes had been changed, and her wounds were bandaged, seemingly healed with spiritual energy.
Where had the Jinxu Gui brought her?
And who saved her?
Did she still have the strength to continue her journey to four thousand years ago?
Her head was still spinning, unable to think clearly, she decided to first figure out where she was.
She looked at the puppy and asked softly, “You can understand me, right?”
The puppy blinked, whimpered softly, and nodded.
Li Yu: “Where am I?”
The puppy barked, seemingly answering, but she didn’t understand dog language.
She had to rephrase her question.
Li Yu: “You’re not the one who saved me, right? Do you have a master?”
The puppy nodded, its tail wagging slightly beneath the table.
Li Yu: “Are you afraid of me?”
The puppy blinked, neither nodding nor shaking its head, just peeking out from under the table, its ears no longer drooping.
Li Yu smiled and, ignoring her aching body, got out of bed and walked over to the table.
Supporting herself against the edge, she looked down at the puppy. “What are you hiding from?”
The puppy whimpered softly, not answering.
Li Yu, wincing slightly, crouched down and reached out towards the puppy. Seeing that it didn’t flinch, she gently patted its head.
She didn’t know why, but this little puppy made her heart melt. Even being licked all over her face couldn’t dampen her affection.
She stroked the puppy’s soft fur behind its ears. “Little puppy,” she coaxed gently, “Can you take me to your master?”
The puppy nodded and was about to come out from under the table when the door creaked open, letting in a gust of wind and snow.
Li Yu looked up and froze, her heart sinking, her breath catching in her throat.
She saw a pair of eyes, as dark as night, and her body stiffened.
But he didn’t seem to recognize her, just walked in, closed the door, bringing with him the chill of the wind and snow, and placed a tray with a bowl of medicine on the table.
“Since you’re awake, drink your medicine.” He glanced at the puppy under the table. “Why are you here again? Licking people again?”
The puppy emerged from under the table, its tail between its legs, and sat down at his feet, its ears drooping, whimpering softly, like a child who had done something wrong.
“Didn’t I tell you, you have to ask for permission first?”
The puppy whined and lay down, its paws kicking the air in protest.
He seemed exasperated with the puppy and sighed, then looked up at Li Yu. “I apologize, it’s still young, doesn’t understand these things. Did it bother you?”
He was…being polite…?
This scene was unexpected.
“No, it’s fine…” she replied instinctively.
Then, after a long moment, it finally dawned on her—she might be in the right place, at the right time.
“Where am I?” she asked tentatively.
“The North Sea.”
So, it was the North Sea.
Weisheng Xuanzhu’s gaze was polite, unfamiliar, he clearly didn’t recognize her.
But according to the story, he had known “Li Yu” before his hibernation, which had lasted over a thousand years. He had even come looking for her immediately after waking up.
What was going on?
Had she gone too far back in time?
“You should drink your medicine,” he suddenly said.
“…Oh!” Li Yu stood up, supporting herself against the table, and looked at the dark liquid in the bowl, a wave of resistance rising within her. “I’m not a mortal; I can heal myself with spiritual energy. Do I really have to drink this?”
“Your spiritual energy is depleted, and you’ve been exposed to the cold. If you don’t want any lasting effects, it’s best to drink it.” He said. “This isn’t ordinary medicine; it will greatly aid your recovery.”
…She had vowed to never drink Chinese medicine again.
Forget it, she had risked her life, what was a little medicine?
Li Yu picked up the bowl, took a deep breath, and was about to down it in one gulp.
But the bitter smell made her recoil.
“N, no, I…I’ll drink it later.”
She saw the man and the puppy looking at her expectantly, as if they wouldn’t leave until she finished the medicine. Her hand, holding the bowl, froze.
Fine, she’d drink it, this body needed to recover.
Li Yu gritted her teeth and forced herself to drink the medicine.
She, who wouldn’t even drink slightly bitter powdered medicine in her past life, was now drinking Chinese medicine!
—So bitter!!!
Couldn’t they offer a piece of candy to cleanse her palate?
She put down the bowl, her spirit crushed, and the puppy circled her legs, its fluffy tail wagging, as if in praise.
Li Yu couldn’t help but pat its head. “Are you…praising me?”
The puppy nodded and licked her hand.
Li Yu: “Your puppy is quite cute.”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “It’s a wolf.”
Li Yu: “…?”
The little wolf pup barked and gently nibbled her finger.