Chapter 2
Although they addressed each other as “senior sister” and “junior sister,” Feng Chiyue and Ming Jiansu were not from the same sect.
Ming Jiansu was a true Human Immortal, while Feng Chiyue was a Celestial Immortal.
Feng Chiyue had met Ming Jiansu over three hundred years ago. Back then, Ming Jiansu had just ascended to the Celestial Realm and mistakenly entered the “Abyss of the Milky Way.” There, she stumbled upon and broke through a barrier that had been hidden for centuries, rescuing Feng Chiyue from the lightless abyss.
(T/N): Milky Way is also in literary translation “Heavenly River”
At first, Ming Jiansu mistook Feng Chiyue for a bewitching demon or a long-imprisoned traitor and refused to take her away. It was only after Feng Chiyue vehemently proclaimed her innocence, swore an oath to the Heavenly Dao, and presented an ancient record left behind by her predecessors that Ming Jiansu’s suspicions were dispelled. Only then did Feng Chiyue follow her to the Celestial Court.
She was just an innocent and pitiful Phoenix, abandoned in the Abyss of the Milky Way, left to grow up wild for decades.
“They’ve finally left,” Zhu Wan’s voice rang out. She and the other Celestials of Dong’e Mountain were like bamboo shoots after the rain, emerging one after another, clutching their chests as if they had just experienced a great fright.
In Dong’e Mountain, Ming Jiansu was upright and virtuous, Feng Chiyue was arrogant and domineering, and their disciples and the other Celestials were cautious and timid. They were three completely different types of beings. Feng Chiyue usually had Ming Jiansu to take care of everything, so she never bothered with the other Celestials on the mountain. Now, looking at their fearful and apprehensive expressions, she said with disdain, “The Heavenly Emperor intends to reclaim Dong’e Mountain. You’re all free to go your separate ways.”
Zhu Wan: “…” She wished she were better at cursing so she could unleash a torrent of abuse on Feng Chiyue. But then again, she also wanted to follow the other Celestials and find a new path. However, she was Ming Jiansu’s disciple, even if only in name. She couldn’t simply join another Celestial. At most, she could find a blessed place and become a wandering Immortal, living off the land.
Feng Chiyue didn’t care whether they listened or not. She couldn’t be bothered with their lives. Ming Jiansu was gone, and she didn’t want anyone else to serve her. With her immaculate Immortal body, she could just find a random place to meditate for hundreds of years without eating or drinking.
At dusk, Zhu Wan reported back with a mournful expression. After the Heavenly Empress’s visit, the Celestials who had initially agreed to stay on Dong’e Mountain were no longer willing. Feng Chiyue’s words earlier had given them the perfect excuse, and now they were all packing their belongings and leaving. Of the three hundred and sixty Celestials on Dong’e Mountain, not a single one remained. Even the peach blossom spirit in front of the hall wanted to escape, but unfortunately, no one was willing to move its roots.
Her master had spent hundreds of years building this place, and now it was crumbling overnight. Feng Chiyue, who had never had to manage anything, felt no heartache at the thought of its ruin.
“If their hearts aren’t in Dong’e Mountain, isn’t it normal for them to leave? What’s their relationship with me? Why should I stand in the way of their future?” Feng Chiyue looked at Zhu Wan with genuine confusion. Weren’t life and death, separation and reunion, all part of the natural order?
Zhu Wan’s heart bled. She gritted her teeth and said, “But they should at least wait until after the memorial ceremony! Master’s body is still cold—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Zhu Wan saw the soul-stirring smile on Feng Chiyue’s face and heard her nonchalant words, “What body? Did you find one? It’s just old clothes and a crown. What’s the point of worshipping that?”
Her voice was soft, but it struck Zhu Wan’s ears like a thunderbolt. She was so angry that she trembled all over, her hands shaking uncontrollably. She wished she could slap Feng Chiyue across the face. Feng Chiyue had always been infuriating, making people want to gnash their teeth in frustration. How could she say such a thing? How well her master had treated her! And this was how she repaid her?
Ignoring Zhu Wan, Feng Chiyue sat down on a stone platform, calmly admiring the twilight that seemed to set everything ablaze.
The setting sun was like blood, dyeing the mountains and rivers crimson.
Where the sun sank below the horizon, a majestic and imposing city wall stood on the desolate earth. Outside the city flowed a black river, stretching for thousands of miles, its depths unfathomable.
As night deepened, fewer and fewer people came and went. While the Celestial guards at the city gate dozed off wearily, a young female Celestial in gray robes and a veiled hat stepped into the city. The guards checked her identification plaque and waved her through.
The city was situated on the border, adjacent to the battlefield between Celestials and Demons. Those who came and went were mostly Celestial officials on duty or wandering Immortals seeking experience. As the female Celestial entered the city, more and more shadows appeared under the lanterns. In a tavern, two or three Celestials gathered, drinking and gossiping about recent events.
The female Celestial found a secluded corner and sat down, ordering two catties of wine as she listened to the conversations around her.
“The Dong’e Mountain Lord has perished. The Celestial Court is currently selecting a replacement.”
“So soon? Not that it concerns us.”
“That jinx Feng Chiyue is still on Dong’e Mountain, right? According to custom, the mountain still belongs to her until a new Dong’e Mountain Lord is chosen. If someone could buy it, they’d only need to change the name. How is she doing now?”
…
The female Celestial listened intently, her brows furrowing as she fought the urge to flip the table at the crude remarks about Feng Chiyue.
“She’s doing just fine,” a burly man with a wine pot snorted. “Maybe the Dong’e Mountain Lord’s death hasn’t sunk in yet. She even had the audacity to curse at the Heavenly Empress through the barrier today.” A hint of schadenfreude colored his tone. He wanted to curse at Feng Chiyue too, but he didn’t dare. It was quite entertaining to watch these two thorns clash, but it wouldn’t last long.
“The Dong’e Mountain Lord was a remarkable figure. Why did she spoil Feng Chiyue so much?” A female Celestial chimed in, unable to help but feel a twinge of sympathy. “If only the Dong’e Mountain Lord had taught her some manners, she wouldn’t be in such a predicament now, despised by everyone.”
“Perhaps she’s just rotten to the core,” someone chuckled. “To be honest, I want to see her downfall. I’m stuck here on the battlefield, risking my life, while she enjoys everything without lifting a finger. If she were the Heavenly Empress, I wouldn’t say a word. But she’s just like us. Even if she is a Celestial Immortal, she has no one to back her up.”
“You’re surprisingly honest about your jealousy.” The female Celestial placed her wine cup on the table and smiled faintly. “Gentlemen, be careful what you say, even after a few drinks.” With that, she tossed down some Cinnabar Jade, turned, and left. The remaining male Celestials, their mood dampened, fell silent for a moment before changing the subject.
Hearing no more news about Feng Chiyue, the female Celestial in the corner also rose and left the tavern. She walked along the wide street until she reached the end, then looked up at the fluttering banners. A moment later, she strode into an inn and rented a cave dwelling for three months. Only after entering the dwelling and activating the protective formations did she remove her veiled hat, revealing a face as cold as frost—it was none other than Ming Jiansu, the Dong’e Mountain Lord, who was rumored to have perished.
As the candlelight flickered in the cave dwelling, Ming Jiansu exhaled slowly, pushing away all thoughts of Feng Chiyue.
She had decided to leave after an argument with Feng Chiyue. She suddenly realized that since ascending to the Celestial Realm, she had never experienced the carefree and joyful life she had yearned for. Back in the mortal realm, she had envisioned a life of freedom and leisure after ascension. No one had told her that ascending just meant working a different job! The Celestial officials were even more cliquey than those in the mortal realm, with more rules and regulations, and they could deduct her monthly allowance at any moment. Moreover, there were tasks outside her official duties that she couldn’t refuse.
It wouldn’t have been so bad if she were only busy during the day, but she also had Feng Chiyue, a demanding and troublesome presence, in her palace. She felt that the two biggest mistakes she had made in her life were accepting the decree to become a Celestial official after ascending and bringing Feng Chiyue back from the Abyss of the Milky Way. Blinded by beauty, she had agreed to all sorts of unreasonable requests, including dual cultivation.
She had nothing against dual cultivation itself. Back in the mortal realm, she had taken her sword as her companion, and no one had ever captured her heart. However, when she first laid eyes on Feng Chiyue in the Abyss of the Milky Way, she was captivated, her mind in a daze. They were mutually attracted, their feelings aligned, so it seemed only natural to take things further. But Feng Chiyue… Forget it, it was better not to dwell on it.
In short, after two hundred years of physical and emotional exhaustion, she was tired.
She didn’t need to worry about Feng Chiyue.
With Feng Chiyue’s heartless nature, upon learning of her death, she would probably cry for a bit and then forget all about her sorrow. After all, she was a Celestial Immortal. She had survived in the Abyss of the Milky Way, so she could certainly stand on her own without her. As for those “enemies,” although Feng Chiyue was universally disliked in the Celestial Realm, it hadn’t reached the point of life and death. Moreover, Phoenix Mountain wouldn’t just stand by and watch Feng Chiyue suffer. The Phoenix lineage might be in decline, but a thousand years ago, they were the most formidable force in the Celestial Realm. A centipede dies but never falls over, let alone them, who were far from dead.
“Time to sleep,” Ming Jiansu murmured to herself.
She took out a jar of wine from her Qiankun bag.
The wine was called “Drunken Dreams Forget a Thousand Sorrows.”
With wine, how could she not sleep? Oh, she definitely wouldn’t.
Would her junior sister miss her tonight?
The next day, at the Dong’e Mountain Palace:
Feng Chiyue, her expression solemn, prepared to leave.
Zhu Wan, noticing her pale complexion and slightly red-rimmed eyes, felt a flicker of consolation. It seemed that Master Feng wasn’t truly cold-hearted. She had merely refused to show weakness in front of others and had grieved in private during the night. After a moment’s thought, Zhu Wan advised, “You just had a conflict with the Heavenly Empress yesterday. It’s not wise to go out now.”
Feng Chiyue frowned. “Last night, a Daoist boy from the Supreme Palace sent a message saying they would no longer provide elixirs to Dong’e Mountain. How dare they withhold what rightfully belongs to Elder Sister?” The message on the Chaos Mirror had infuriated her so much that she hadn’t slept a wink! How many elixirs would it take to replenish the energy she had lost from this one night of distress?
Zhu Wan: “…” She had received the message too. Why? Because “when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter,” of course. With no one left to protect them, they had nothing to fear. If they wanted to use rules and regulations as an excuse, it was even easier. They could simply agree on the surface and then delay it indefinitely. In short, they wouldn’t lift a finger. “Master, Elder Sister is gone. We can’t fight them.”
Feng Chiyue let out a cold laugh. “Do you think I’ve ever suffered a loss before?”
Meeting Feng Chiyue’s sharp and icy gaze, Zhu Wan felt a shiver run down her spine. For a moment, she thought she was facing the cold and imposing Sword Master. She rarely saw this sharp side of Feng Chiyue. In her memory, Feng Chiyue was always graceful and indolent, exuding the innate nobility of the Phoenix lineage. Among all the races in the Celestial Realm, only the merfolk of the Four Seas could compare.
But the feeling of being overwhelmed by Feng Chiyue’s aura lasted only a second.
How could she expect someone who would jump into her master’s arms at the sight of an untransformed green snake to possess the sharpness of a sword?
It must have been an illusion.
She parted her lips, about to urge Feng Chiyue to face reality.
But by the time she collected her thoughts, Feng Chiyue was gone.
Where had she gone? It couldn’t be the Supreme Palace, could it? The thought made Zhu Wan’s face drain of all color.
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