86 - The Cannon Fodder is Prepared to Divorce

Chapter 86 Qin Shuang, also known as little Tian Wen, originally lived a thousand years ago. Born with an eye disease, she knew little about the world around her and was often bullied in her tribe. Some called her a "demon," some said she was "cursed." She had been pelted with stones and had her hair set on fire, eventually finding herself trapped in a small, blurry world. She knew she had a mother but bore deep resentment towards her, as she hadn't even been given a name. The little girl was stuck in her own darkness, hitting walls with every step she took. When there was a heat source, she would scramble to grab something to eat, barely surviving. Yue Bai calculated and concluded that the girl was probably kept in a box, with food delivered sporadically. She received her name on a scorching day, amidst chaotic noises she could not comprehend. Until a loud bang echoed from above, marking the first time she saw something outside her darkness. Radiant golden light. “Hey? There’s a kid here?” Yue Bai was very familiar with this voice, but for the little girl, it was the first time she heard it. A clear voice, devoid of any disgust towards her. “...Tsk, tsk, tsk. Child abuse is a crime...” The person said, as the golden light stretched towards the little girl. The next moment, she felt warmth and strength envelop her as her feet lifted off the ground. “Come with me. Do you have a name?” Name? What’s that? The little girl didn’t know what she looked like, didn’t understand what the person was saying. She felt confused, strange, but most of all, warm. “Seems like you don’t. Hmm...” The voice paused, “Then I’ll call you 'Tian Wen', meaning 'Heaven’s Inquiry.' It sounds nice.” Talking to themselves. Yue Bai particularly disliked such self-indulgence and wasn’t inclined to watch any further. She had already read these scenes before; they were the parts Tian Wen could remember. The memories she couldn’t recall, or those entangled with divine essence, turned into a mess waiting to be untangled. Yue Bai had already begun loosening the knots, and now she had to methodically restore Tian Wen’s timeline. Tian Wen's timeline resumed after that person disappeared. Tian Wen had been waiting at their dwelling for a long time. On their journeys, Tian Wen had learned to gradually sense the passage of time, so this boundless darkness was particularly unbearable. Yue Bai watched as Tian Wen became increasingly restless, even despairing and cold. Then suddenly, one day, as she sunk deep into exhaustion and drifted off, Tian Wen felt a sting in her eyes. When she opened them again, a full moon hung in the sky. Sky, clouds, moon, mountains, trees, grass, flowers; table, chair, door, house, bed, cup, stand—everything she had only ever perceived through sound or touch now had form. But at that moment, Tian Wen had another question. Where was her deity? Tian Wen searched everywhere, overturning the lonely mountain under the moon, but found no trace of her deity. Only the long, lonely night accompanied her. Yue Bai stopped sorting here, planning to resume tomorrow. The timeline of this world differed from what she had experienced. To Tian Wen, that person had been missing for a thousand years, but to Yue Bai, it had been three thousand years since she last saw them. Still too early to determine what was going on, so Yue Bai decided to investigate further later. She retracted her divine consciousness, feeling somewhat exhausted. “How is it?” Jiu Yi asked her. Yue Bai didn’t disclose Qin Shuang’s affairs to him. Although curious, he understood the need to respect the host’s privacy. “It’s okay, but it’ll take time.” Yue Bai massaged her temples, seeing Qin Shuang sleep soundly, and tucked the blanket around her. Feeling a sudden unease, Yue Bai asked Jiu Yi, “Where’s Ji Wunian?” “Eh?” The system, usually only responsible for surveillance and task reporting, hesitated, speaking sheepishly, “Seems like... in the back mountains?” *** Ji Wunian had run far. She knew Yue Bai wouldn’t leave Qin Shuang alone in Qinglin Hall and thus wouldn’t come after her. Still, hiding from Yue Bai made Ji Wunian feel a bit guilty. Maybe she was just too used to being followed by Yue Bai. The fact that not being followed felt wrong was a peculiar experience itself. She laughed at herself, glanced at the steps ahead, slightly turned to the side, and continued forward. “Wunian.” Ji Wunian turned to find Zhao Zichen waiting in the shadows beside her. “Head Brother.” She clasped her hands behind her back, feigning innocence. “What brings you here so late?” “What do you think?” Zhao Zichen, dressed in formal Daoist robes with a fly-whisk in hand, looked stern. “You’ve been out all night. I’m surprised.” Last night she had been causing mischief with Yue Bai, but that was not something she’d tell her senior brother. She bowed, smiling, “Sorry to keep you waiting, Brother.” “Illegally trespassing,” Zhao Zichen stepped forward, releasing an intimidating aura. “Punishment.” Ji Wunian chuckled, letting her robes flutter, “Brother, if you truly wanted to punish me, you wouldn’t be here alone.” The main disciplinarian on the mountain was Wen Zheng from Baicao Peak. If they truly wanted to capture Ji Wunian, they’d summon the elders as witnesses. “Wunian,” Zhao Zichen found himself powerless against his little junior sister. His intimidating aura had never truly scared her. But he had to maintain his serious stance, “Sanqing should not get involved in this matter.” As the headmaster, Zhao Zichen had to consider the stance of the immortal sect, the relationship between the two factions, and even the risk of being humiliated by the demon emperor. Since he was aware of it, he couldn’t let Ji Wunian act recklessly. “Pu Shi is impulsive and combative. It’s rumored that the black dragon of Yue Gang is his close friend. We’ve always had conflicts with him. As for the matter of Liuli, we’ve shown enough kindness by not opposing the demon world.” Zhao Zichen took another step forward, his eyes sharp. “Wunian, don’t fool around anymore.” “Brother,” Ji Wunian smiled, “If the demon clan and Wujicang Xue go to war, the demon world will certainly take advantage of the chaos. What’s the point? Besides, Wujicang Xue's intentions are evident. Lingzhou’s concealment is just an excuse. The Jiang and Ning families brought it upon themselves. Song Ze’s case has too many doubts. Why should we let them fight over selfish gains, risking the lives of those young demon disciples?” “Moreover, chaos breeds evil. Who knows how many people could become resentful and fall into demonic paths, making wedding dresses* for others.” “Demonic cultivators are vile. The incident with Ming Yun should serve as a dire warning.” “...Is she chastising herself?” Jiu Yi’s tongue clicked in contemplation. Yue Bai, half-transparent in spirit form, had followed and listened to their conversation, making herself more ethereal. “Wunian,” Zhao Zichen sighed, “These are all your assumptions. Do you have proof that Lingzhou isn’t in the demon realm? Do you have evidence proving the Jiang and Ning families deserve this? Do you have any proof suggesting Song Ze’s death was unjust?” If Sanqing publicly questioned the two factions, how would it establish its own stance in the future? Openly accusing others of hypocrisy was never going to be well-received. Jiu Yi felt uncomfortable listening to this, “Feels a bit cowardly...” “Sanqing’s background isn’t as deep as Ming Yun’s sect,” Yue Bai replied indifferently. “They hold the title of ‘first’ in the mortal realm, but it’s somewhat exaggerated. If they were to intervene forcefully, it might provoke resentment from other factions.” After all, though they were initially hesitant due to the uncertainty of Lingzhou’s actions, the incident of Song Ze’s death had incensed the masses, and Lingzhou’s whereabouts became less of a concern. If Sanqing raised doubts now, it would seem as if they were indifferent to Song Ze’s death. Cang Xue aside, Wujicang would certainly object. “Brother,” Ji Wunian sighed, “I didn’t ask you to openly refute them. That’s why I came to steal the seal.” Masquerading as the sect leader, she could fabricate a secret letter in his name, providing Pu Shi an out while keeping Sanqing out of the mess. If caught, she’d bear the punishment herself. “Ridiculous!” Zhao Zichen scolded, “You are a direct disciple of Sanqing. How can you do something so absurd?” Ji Wunian pouted, “With all that said... what are you planning to do, then, Brother?” Acting coy because she couldn’t argue? Yue Bai watched the two: one glaring angrily, the other pouting innocently. The contrast in their attitudes was palpable. “...” Zhao Zichen almost couldn’t catch his breath. At over six hundred years old, arguing with his thick-skinned little junior sister seemed foolish. He brandished his fly-whisk, “You shouldn’t meddle in this anymore. Go back immediately!” “Brother, head brother,” Ji Wunian, leveraging her youth, tugged pitifully at his robe sleeves, “Brother, please don’t be so rigid. After all, it’s for the peace of the realm… If our master were still here, he’d surely agree…” Indeed, acting coy when at a loss for words. “Ridiculous!” Zhao Zichen waved his sleeve, a deep frown creating lines on his forehead, “I’ve told you not to interfere. If you continue this nonsense, ten years of confinement awaits you.” “Ah,” Ji Wunian sighed, halting her steps, “Brother...” Zhao Zichen, a step away from her, briefly paused but continued forward, “I sent the secret letter last night. How the demon emperor will respond is unknown, but regardless, do not use the seal of the head.” “No more nonsense. Hurry up and leave.” Ji Wunian bitterly smiled, quickly following. “Ding. New mission triggered: ‘Intercept the head brother’s secret letter.’” “...” Jiu Yi fretted over this task, “Should the letter be sent or not? I can’t figure it out... Can’t she think things through before acting?” Or think things through before making a wish... Yue Bai sighed, feeling a headache coming on. --- * "Making wedding dresses" is a Chinese idiom meaning to do work or make sacrifices that benefit someone else rather than oneself. She had already offered Ji Wunian a solution last night, yet here she was again, trying to steal the sect leader's seal. And that mission... Now, where on earth would she find the letter sent out last night to intercept it? “Jiu Yi, keep an eye on her.” Yue Bai suppressed her irritation and forced herself to think calmly. Based on past experience, if Ji Wunian was serious about it, she would likely take action on her own. It was best to observe first before making any decisions. Watching their figures recede into the distance, Yue Bai emerged from the stone wall where she had hidden her soul form. She dissipated her form and moved to a different dense forest. Runes danced at her fingertips as she drew another communication charm. “Miss Yue Bai?” Pu Shi’s tone was somewhat unpleasant, indicating his discontent. “Apologies for disturbing you late at night, Your Majesty.” Yue Bai preferred not to trouble Pu Shi unless necessary. There was a brief pause on Pu Shi’s end. “To what do I owe the pleasure, Miss Yue Bai?” “In a few days, representatives from Wujicang and Cang Xue will visit Sanqing,” Yue Bai had not intended to handle things this way, but her objectives compelled her. “I wish to request the Demon Emperor to send someone for a discussion.” “We’ve talked about this before...” “This request is purely personal,” Yue Bai sighed inwardly. “It’s an invitation from me, Yue Bai. I hope the Demon Emperor will oblige me.” “Yue Bai?” Jiu Yi didn’t quite understand. Another pause, then Pu Shi chuckled, “Is this for the girl, Lingzhou?” Yue Bai sighed again. “Not exactly, just a lot of issues. I hope the Demon Emperor can understand.” “Very well.” Pu Shi paused briefly before replying, “I will have the black dragon bring some people over. It’s a gesture of respect.” “Thank you, Your Majesty,” Yue Bai said, “I owe you one.” “...” Pu Shi chuckled again, “Miss Yue Bai, if you wish to enjoy the benefits of both worlds, remember to be fair. Our fox women are notoriously jealous.” Yue Bai felt a wave of discomfort but could only respond, “Thank you for the advice, Your Majesty.”