84 - Dungeon Growth Log

——How could she just stand by and watch you fall? ...It seemed like she was recalling something. That seemingly aloof person had always, consistently, been on her side. Unknowingly... it had already been many times. Mo Family Village, entrance exam, black market. Senior Sister... clearly appeared to be such a cold young woman. But when holding her hand, it never felt as cold as it looked. Her hand was warm. Xia Ge stood in place, staring at the myriad of stars, lost in thought for a long time. A long time. "Let's go back, I'm tired." She hadn't walked far when a glimmer flashed across the sky. Xia Ge extended her hand and a familiar little red ribbon wound itself vividly around her wrist. It was Little Lovesick. "Thank you for your hard work," Xia Ge said. Little Lovesick affectionately rubbed against her wrist, then tied itself into a beautiful bow, proudly fluttering its 'wings'. Xia Ge: "..." She could roughly understand that it meant... "I can tie myself into a knot now?" Xia Ge awkwardly praised, "Wow, Little Lovesick, you are really amazing." "You are amazing too," a soft laugh echoed, eerie like a ghost. Xia Ge was startled, "Who's there?!" Along the Dān Peak path, there were many snow-white flower trees. When Xia Ge turned back, she saw a blue-robed girl with black hair and almond eyes gleaming with cold moonlight, sitting atop a snow-white flower tree. Petals fluttered around, devoid of any romanticism, instead evoking an indescribable icy chill. ...Great, she managed to avoid the new moon, but couldn't dodge the full moon. Chu Yi. "Oh, isn't this the young lady from Jiàn Peak I just saw?" Xia Ge maintained her composure, "Why are you still out so late? Shouldn’t you go back?" Chu Yi smiled lightly, "Didn't I want to see the legendary genius of Dān Peak?" Xia Ge smiled, "Now that you've seen him, young lady, you should hurry back." Chu Yi leaped lightly from the flower tree, her white sleeves with beautiful silver butterfly embroidery billowing like butterfly wings in the wind. She landed soundlessly. "What's the rush now?" Chu Yi said unhurriedly, "I just have a few questions that haven't been clarified." Xia Ge blinked, "What questions?" Chu Yi slightly raised her hand, and a beautifully glowing silver butterfly flew from far away, landing on her fingertip. She smiled lightly, "For instance, how did the 'Yī Mèi' on your hand suddenly appear at Jiàn Peak?" Before Xia Ge could respond, she continued, "Or perhaps... why did it bring my silver butterfly to the room of your Dān Peak's senior disciple?" Xia Ge blatantly lied, "No, young lady, you must be mistaken. My 'Yī Mèi' is well-behaved, never harms flowers or plants, never brings strange things home, and certainly never goes to Jiàn Peak." Chu Yi smiled slightly, using her fingertip to scatter the silver butterfly into the air, "But my Butterfly Spirit tells me it chased your 'Yī Mèi' all the way from Jiàn Peak." "Oh?" Xia Ge feigned amusement, "Evidence?" "Even if you are from Jiàn Peak, you can't just make baseless accusations. You claim your silver butterfly was chasing my 'Yī Mèi'..." She revealed the fine red ribbon on her wrist, "You need evidence, don't you?" Everyone’s last glimpse was of a glowing, golden ball-shaped 'Yī Mèi'. The earlier dusk and muddy water had obscured its true appearance. As long as Xia Ge firmly denied that Chu Yi's pursued 'Yī Mèi' was hers and claimed Senior Sister’s statement "Xia Wuyin was with me" as her alibi, even if Chu Yi suspected her of being a spy, she couldn't do much. Moreover, with Senior Sister as a witness, even if they discovered the 'Yī Mèi' was hers eventually, it didn’t matter much. Chu Yi paused, likely considering the intricacies, her smile faded somewhat, the moonlight like silver. She gazed at Xia Ge for a long time, then chuckled, "Did Xia Wuyin ever mention how likable you are?" Xia Ge: "...Did she?" She didn't feel likable at all, more like she was a nuisance. After a moment, Xia Ge's eyes widened in disbelief, "Young lady, do you like me?" No way she'd be exposed, right? No way, right? How long had it been? Chu Yi decisively said, "No." Xia Ge sighed in relief, "Oh, then someone else must like me." Chu Yi: "..." Xia Ge suddenly felt that Chu Yi's gaze turned icy, her voice chilling, "Do you think you're worthy?" For some reason, Xia Ge vaguely felt she might have inadvertently grasped something crucial. Could it be... No, impossible? "Whether or not that 'Yī Mèi' is yours," Chu Yi raised her eyes, smiling coldly, her almond eyes frosty, "I advise you to watch yourself." Saying this, she gave no further explanation, turned, and left. After a short time, the system spoke, "From her tone... did you steal her man?" Xia Ge: "..." Though it wasn't exactly stealing her man... it felt somewhat similar. Seeing Xia Ge not replying, the system incredulously asked, "Did you really steal her man?" Xia Ge retorted, "Why are you so dumb? I just thought you were smart. Shut up." System: "..." = = After returning from Dān Peak to Jiàn Peak, no one rested. They conducted an almost carpet-like search, extremely rigorous. Especially the guard team. "Leave no place unchecked!" "Who was not in the dormitory tonight besides the guards?" "..." Around them was chaos due to the spy incident, Jiàn Peak disciples were tense, determined to scrutinize every blade of grass and even the ants. And during such a crucial moment, Ye Ze was spacing out. He gazed at the jade in his hand, his mind muddled, sometimes recalling where he found the jade, other times thinking of the young man emerging from Senior Sister’s room with damp hair. "Ye Ze, Lord Chu wants us to look around the area." Li Liu said, "Let's go." Ye Ze snapped back and replied softly, "Okay," then followed. The two walked further away. "Brother Ye, you don’t seem to look well," Li Liu casually chatted as they walked, "Did something happen?" Ye Ze was silent for a moment, "Nothing." "Oh." Sensing that Ye Ze didn’t want to talk, Li Liu changed the topic, "Sigh, the Demon Cult has been too active lately, so brazen." Ye Ze agreed, "Hmm, wonder what they intend to do." "Who knows." Just then, Li Liu noticed something in the east, "Hey, there seems to be some commotion over there... you wait here; I'll go check it out." Ye Ze asked, "Brother Li, should I come with you?" Li Liu waved his hand, "No need, it hasn't been checked yet; you go ahead." Ye Ze watched Li Liu’s silhouette disappear in the trees' shadows, stood quietly for a while, and then looked back at the jade with a missing corner. "Hahaha, Little Ye, look at my Dragon Jade! Now I’ll never fear evil spirits!" "Hey, hey, Ye Ze, this wine is so strong, but it works. Slept till dawn.” ... After contemplating for a while, Ye Ze put the jade away silently and headed in the direction Li Liu pointed out. Through dense trees shrouded in darkness under a moonless night, he walked for a while until a faint sound of bells reached his ears. A crisp sound, continuous and resonant, like camel bells in a desert, sounding eerie and sinister in the quiet night. ...Bells again? He thought of Chang Nian's 'silent' bell. Ye Ze’s brows furrowed slightly. He gripped the hilt at his waist and moved toward the sound. The bell's sound wavered, sometimes clear, sometimes faint. Following the source, Ye Ze twisted and turned, passing through a messy wild fruit forest, occasionally stepping on rotten persimmons, with mosquitoes buzzing. Ye Ze’s brows knitted, yet seeing trees laden with apples and persimmons, he couldn’t help but think, if that bastard named Xia came here, he’d be extremely happy. Ye Ze paused his thoughts, leaving the wild fruit forest behind, he saw a patch of thorns, from which the bell sound emanated. Outside the thorn thicket, sword peak disciples patrolled. Amidst the chaotic hunt for the spy, tension was high. The patrolling disciples had stern expressions and an aura of strength indicative of high-level cultivation. Glancing around, Ye Ze had a rough idea of the place. The thorn patch before Jiàn Peak’s mountain prison. Beyond there was... the mountain prison. The bell sound continued faintly. Soon, Ye Ze was spotted, "Who's there?!" Ye Ze stayed put and awaited their approach. A square-faced patrol disciple arrived, anger evident on his face, "Who are you? No idlers allowed here!" Ye Ze presented his identity jade, "I'm from Jiàn Peak's guard team." “Guard team?” The square-faced patrol disciple examined the jade token, then scrutinized Ye Ze, his tightly knit brows showing no signs of relaxing. He handed the jade token back to Ye Ze, "This is not where you’re supposed to be! Go back!" "Who is imprisoned inside?" Ye Ze took the jade token, pausing momentarily, "Why is there a bell ringing?" "You think you can just know everything, don't you, you little brat?" The patrol disciple gave him a shove, "But if you really want to know, I can tell you—inside is a murderous lunatic! The sound of the bells is from her enchanted bell! Anyone who hears it will have terrible luck for generations!" ... A bell... murderous... Ye Ze stumbled backwards from the push, his heart tightening upon hearing those words. The patrol disciple didn’t apologize for pushing him, but instead coldly remarked, "You better hurry back. This is no place for a kid!" Ye Ze pressed his lips together, saying nothing. He brushed off his clothes, cast one last look at the thick patch of brambles behind the patrol disciple, and then turned to leave. ... Who on earth could be imprisoned inside?