20 - Dungeon Growth Log

Jianfeng. The sun was shining brightly. A graceful young girl was clad in the blue and white short uniform of Jianfeng. Her long sword gleamed like snow, its light cutting through the air like lightning. Each of her strikes was elaborate yet refined; her sword energy and killing intent burst forth, showcasing her elegant stature and movements. Like a startled swan or a swimming dragon, she moved with breathtaking fluidity. In a flash of lightning. The radiant moonlight and those devilish purple eyes of that young boy abruptly surfaced in her mind. Chuyao’s sword tip, usually steady as a rock, trembled ever so slightly. Her almond-shaped eyes suddenly sharpened as she retracted her sword, forcefully withdrawing her rampant killing intent and sword momentum. The icy blue headband fluttered sharply in the glare of the sun before gently settling onto her soft black hair. The boy's voice was clear and gentle. —"My name is Xia Ge." Xia Ge, Xia Ge. Summer song, a long song of summer. The icy sword tip touched the ground as Chuyao's delicate eyebrows and eyes grew colder. ...Just a shorty pretending to be a hero, hardly worth her lingering thoughts! “Shhh—” The Frost Sword etched a cold groove into the ground as Chuyao sheathed it with a sharp, pleasant sound. “Hey, Sister Chu, I heard you descended the mountain again?” Chuyao looked towards the source of the voice. Amidst the mountain woods, a girl in blue, embroidered with silver butterflies on her sleeves, covered her smile. Her bright eyes and white teeth made her look particularly intelligent and spirited. Chuyao’s cold expression did not change in the slightest. “And what of it?” “How could it not concern me?” The girl with the long sword at her side, eyes resembling Chuyao’s almond-shaped ones, smiled, “It’s rare to see Sister’s heroic demeanor. I was too busy to descend the mountain yesterday and couldn't catch a glimpse. Little Yi was very regretful.” “Shut up.” Chuyao’s eyes were frigid. “Chuyi, don’t think that just because you’ve entered Jianfeng, you can do as you please!” “Oh?” The girl raised an eyebrow. Her black pupils took on a hint of coldness, though her lips still held a smile. “How could you say that’s ‘doing as I please’? Sister, you are unfair, not willing to give even a bit of face to your dear sister. I always thought we shared a deep sisterly bond…” “…Forget it.” Seeing Chuyao remain unaffected, Chuyi laughed lightly. “I always wondered what kind of place Jianfeng, the place you’re always so concerned about, really is… It’s actually not much.” The girl’s soft, long hair cascaded over her blue robe, held back by a light blue hairband. Unlike Chuyao’s light brown eyes, Chuyi’s eyes were pure black. Chuyao remained still. Chuyi smiled faintly, eyes filled with mockery. “But really, it’s impressive—Ms. Chu, the only one from Jianfeng who bothers to look after the lives of those outer disciples. Quite the savior.” Chuyao glared coldly at her. “Chuyao, it must feel proud, being seen as a savior…” Chuyi chuckled softly. “I wonder… when will I get to tear off that proud facade and see this so-called favored one of heaven in agony…” “Swish—” A cold leaf brushed past her temple, silencing Chuyi. Sharp leaves severed three of her hairs and embedded deep into a plane tree behind her. The celestial-like girl fondly touched her sword hilt with slender hands. Her light brown eyes gazed at her, licking her soft lips gently. She took a step towards her. A solitary leaf drifted silently past Chuyao before it landed, it was instantly cut into three or four pieces, each slice clean, like falling petals. Chuyi instinctively took a step back, only to find to her shock that she... couldn’t move! She watched helplessly as the celestial-like killer approached her steadily, emanating an overwhelming cold aura. —“Right now… I’d love to see you writhing in agony, Chuyi.” Though it was a graceful girl standing before her, her words carried a potent bloodlust. Under Chuyao’s beast-like light brown gaze, Chuyi trembled, the murderous intent crushing her skin like needles— —She would die! She would definitely be killed!! There was a fleeting moment of deep regret for Chuyi — provoking a tiger before her wings had grown. Was she... too reckless? Chuyi’s pupils shrank; her body trembling with tension. Her chin was suddenly lifted by icy fingers. The girl’s light brown eyes reflected her own shrinking pupils and sneered. “Oh, scared, huh?” Chuyi remained tight-lipped, not uttering a word. Chuyao’s eyes were full of mockery. “How pathetic…” Her hand slid down until it gripped Chuyi’s throat. Chuyi’s back was drenched in cold sweat. “I do as I please. Jianfeng will be as it should, understand?” “It would be best if you never appear before me again.” “I, Chuyao, am impartial. I disregard all connections.” “Trash.” = = After receiving her salary, Xia Ge delightfully bought a jar of wine at a little tavern and, generously for once, got herself a skewer of candied fruit. She then went to Zhang Carpenter’s place at the edge of the village to have her house repaired. Having called for help to bring down the giant scythe, Xia Ge ran to the tavern to buy good wine for those who helped, treated them to a meal, and settled the bill with Zhang Carpenter. Only then was the house repair finally done. The hefty sum she had managed to scrape together, a whole ounce of silver, was spent in no time. By the time everything was settled, the sun had set, and the bright moon was high in the sky. Lighting a candle, Xia Ge bit on a bandage as she tightly wrapped the wound on her hand, bitterly staring at the black giant scythe leaning against the corner of the house. Yesterday, playing the hero, though the Dragon Jade had blocked most of that scythe’s strike, the residual sharpness still injured her hand. “Sigh, life is hard, cherish it while you can.” With one hand looping the bandage and tying it on the back of her hand, Xia Ge sighed. System: “Then why keep the scythe?” Sell it for some silver? The little house was very small, with few possessions. It was practically bare. The black giant scythe leaned in the corner, its dark curved blade shimmering with a chilling light in the dim candle flame. Xia Ge: “I’m afraid of ghosts. The scythe wards off evil.” System: “…” Xia Ge ignored the system’s silence. She was genuinely afraid of ghosts. Xia Ge took out the Dragon Jade from her chest. The dragon-shaped jade pendant missing its right corner gleamed softly in the dim candlelight, highlighting the snow-white bandage on her left hand. “Thank you.” “Ghost Dragon Jade,” the system interjected, “this is supposed to belong to Ye Ze, isn’t it?” “Yeah,” Xia Ge replied. “It’s indeed his.” Ghost Dragon Jade, a piece of jade harboring a dragon soul. It wards off demons and dispels evil, keeping malicious spirits at bay. The male protagonist had few opportunities early on; the Ghost Dragon Jade was one of his fortuitous encounters. But she had seized it first. Because she was afraid of ghosts. Such things, encountering them once in a lifetime is more than enough. “I’ve borrowed it for so many years; it’s time to find an opportunity to return it.” Xia Ge tossed the jade in her hand, her eyes curving slightly. “A bit reluctant, but knowing it's that coward, I guess it’s okay to return.” He would eventually ascend to unparalleled heights through his hardships. The Ghost Dragon Jade would only accept him as its master. The system remarked: “It’s really hard to tell.” Meanwhile. At Lingxi Peak, the Council Hall. A fearsome figure lay in the center, and at the head of the Council Hall, an elderly woman with graying hair half-closed her eyes, holding a white whisk. To her left stood two men and a woman. The woman wore the plain clothes of Danfeng Peak, her hair tied back with a red ribbon. Her skin was as fair as snow, her face like white porcelain. Her black pupils were deep; her lips red without makeup, making her strikingly beautiful. She stood at the elderly woman’s left side, her head slightly bowed. To the elderly woman’s right were two men; one with thick eyebrows and big eyes, donned the Beast Peak attire. His black hair was tied back with a yellow ribbon, bearing a yellow jade flute at his waist. Standing tall, he appeared mighty except for one slightly incongruous detail—a yellow bird perched quietly on his shoulder, occasionally pecking at its feathers with a red beak. The other man wore the blue uniform of Jianfeng Peak. His long hair was tied back with a blue ribbon, a jade sword at his waist. His dark pupils stood with his hands clasped, exuding an ethereal aura. The elderly woman looked down at the ghastly figure and spoke in a hoarse voice, “Is this one from the Demon Sect?” The red-and-white robed girl shook her head, “Unknown.” “The manner of this one’s death... quite swift,” the elderly woman smiled faintly, “Jiu’er, is this the work of your Danfeng disciple?” Gu Peijiu’s voice was indifferent. “Yes.” “It’s rare for Danfeng to produce such a warrior,” the elder coughed lightly, glancing at the controlled woman with a hint of pity, “It seems the Demon Sect sent another to steal our secret arts. A pity.” Gu Peijiu remained silent. “Dispose of her.” “Yes.” Disciples in white took the woman away. “Jiu’er, does managing Danfeng tire you?” Gu Peijiu’s voice was flat. “With Chang Shixiong and Bai Li helping, it’s fine.” The elder sighed softly, casting a glance at the young man on her right. “Your brother Chang, being busy with the [Order] affairs, only stands in for the leading disciple of Jianfeng due to the slight favor owed to the Chang’an Chu family’s eldest daughter…” “You overpraise me, Master.” The young man in blue slightly bowed, “Though my family has some ties with the Chu family, I am a candidate for the inner disciple leader of Jianfeng. These tasks are my duty and have nothing to do with the Chu family.” The elderly woman sighed, "The next Jianfeng Wenling ceremony is still three years away... During these three years, we'll have to rely on you." "Understood," the young man nodded. The man in the Beast Peak attire remained silent, but the small bird on his shoulder tilted its head. Its tiny, black eyes, resembling grains of rice, glimmered faintly.