101 - Dungeon Growth Log

Night descended, and the butterflies fluttered endlessly. “Kid? Why are you here again?” The jailer clutched his sword, eyeing the blue-clad girl before him with a hint of impatience. Chu Yi smiled, “May I go inside?” The jailer chuckled, “You think you can just stroll in? Do you take this place for your home?” Chu Yi replied, “Why not let me in?” Nearby, a disciple also laughed, “Little girl, how would you get in without a pass token? At least show us your identification token. Unless you have a substitute senior disciple's token, or the token of a senior disciple, no one without authorization is allowed in.” “Token?” Chu Yi contemplated for a moment and produced a light blue token. “Will this work?” The disciple took the token, his expression changing slightly as he scrutinized Chu Yi for a moment. Then he returned the token to her, saying, “Of course, it’ll work.” Chu Yi said, “Thank you very much.” “...After you enter, don't stay too long,” the jailer advised. “We can't be held responsible if anything happens.” “Don't worry, I just have a few questions,” Chu Yi replied, putting away the token as she entered the mountain prison. Someone nearby was curious, “What kind of token was that?” The jailer glanced at him, “Sword Peak Command Token.” The man gasped, “The Command Token?! How did she…?” “Who knows.” Inside the mountain prison. A woman, bound by chains, clutched a bell and silently gazed at the crescent moon through the iron window, tears falling soundlessly. “Why are you crying?” It took a long time for the woman to shift her gaze from the crescent moon. She looked at the blue-clad girl outside the bars. The girl had dark eyes, silver butterflies on her sleeves, and a faint smile that gave off an inexplicable coldness. “Why are you sad?” Chu Yi's pale hand gently tapped the rusty bars as she crouched, her eyes holding a slight smile. “Why are you crying?” The woman remained silent, her eyes blank, saying nothing. “The once-glorious leader of the demonic sect, now here like a dog with no home…” Chu Yi chuckled. “Pathetic.” Qin Yue moved her lips, finally asking, “Who are you?” Chu Yi responded, “Just a passerby.” Another person here to ridicule her. Qin Yue stopped speaking, her eyes returning to their vacant state, as silent as the bell she held. “I guess you think I'm just another person here to mock you,” Chu Yi laughed lightly. “If you are ignoring me because of that, then you are mistaken.” “Though I am a passerby,” Chu Yi slowly took a bell from her sleeve. “I am also a passerby who likes to hear stories.” Qin Yue's once-dull eyes locked onto the bell in Chu Yi's hand, her lips trembling as she scrambled to the bars. With her battered hands gripping the iron rods, she asked, “This… How do you…?” Chu Yi sat down, resting her chin on one hand and holding the bell with the other, smiling slightly. “So you recognize it. It turns out my trip wasn't in vain.” Qin Yue clung tightly to the bars, her voice hoarse, “Why are you here to see me?” Chu Yi said, “Someone asked me to find out if you recognize this bell.” Chu Yi paused, then smiled serenely, “From your reaction, it seems that you do.” Qin Yue's grip on the bars loosened bit by bit, her eyes showing a faint trace of coldness. “Since you recognize it, I won't beat around the bush,” Chu Yi continued, “May I ask where the original owner of this bell is?” “She’s dead. She's dead!” Qin Yue screamed, “She's dead!” Chu Yi chuckled softly, “Shattering someone's illusions with a single sentence; you show no mercy.” Qin Yue trembled like a madwoman but said nothing more. Chu Yi shook the silent bell in her hand indifferently. “I researched it. The bell I have is called ‘Wen Xian,’ and the bell in your hand is called ‘Kou Mo.’” “When the true owner of the bell opens their spiritual consciousness or attains a higher level, the ‘Kou Mo’ bell will ring, while the ‘Wen Xian’ bell is unique in that it rings only when the owner’s state of mind breaks through,” Chu Yi smiled slightly. “I heard that a few days ago, your bell rang?” Seeing Qin Yue silent and in a daze, Chu Yi stood up and brushed the dust off her clothes. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t speak.” “I will find out eventually.” Qin Yue muttered, “...and once you find out? Why are you searching, why...” Chu Yi laughed lightly and turned back, her gaze icy. “Because the sins you committed must be compensated.” Sins... ha. After Chu Yi left, Qin Yue watched her leave, then noticed a silver butterfly hidden in the corner, her eyes turning cold. The silent night dragged on, and she transmitted her thoughts, “You’ve been watching the mockery for so long—enjoying it?” “Why wouldn’t I?” A lazy, laughing voice replied. The silver butterfly on the wall was shrouded by an invisible barrier, blocking all sight. “Everything here is quite amusing.” Qin Yue lifted her eyes to see a tiny doll in red clothes on the iron window's small bar, watching her with a mischievous smile while resting its chin on its hand. “I heard you want to rescue me?” Qin Yue scoffed, her gaze dimming but no longer frenzied. “Don’t waste your effort.” “Why would it be wasted?” The red doll spoke slowly, “Do you think I can’t rescue you, or…” “You don’t want to be rescued?” “No news these years, and then such a grand gesture.” Qin Yue's voice was laced with sarcasm. “You never act without profit. It’s better to stay idle here than to be used by you.” Back at the rear mountain. Playing with a small doll, Su Chan lazily glanced at the young girl tied up nearby and suddenly laughed. The doll spoke to Qin Yue, “Don’t you want to see your daughter?” Qin Yue showed no outward change, but her heart tightened slightly. “What that child just said isn't entirely incorrect.” Su Chan spoke slowly. “In this world, secrets eventually come to light if one is determined, following clues and unraveling mysteries, everything will come to the surface.” Qin Yue said, “...No one will find her.” Despite her words, Su Chan easily detected the anxiety and reluctance within. “I understand what you’re struggling with,” Su Chan bent down, looking at the bound, wide-eyed girl. He smiled slightly, long white fingers gently touching the girl’s forehead. “It's wonderful that the daughter is still alive, but she might not remember anything.” “One side wishes her to forget everything and live a normal life, while the other selfishly wants her to remember everything.” “Humans are truly contradictory.” A bright red glow appeared, and Mao Qing's expression turned painfully distorted under Su Chan's touch. Bai Ren's face subtly shifted, “Master…” Su Chan lazily glanced at him, and Bai Ren immediately fell silent. As the girl’s memories flashed past, Su Chan closed his eyes, watching dismissively. Qin Yue's voice echoed in his ears, “...what do you want to say?” In the memories, a familiar boy smiled brightly, buying a large bag of sweets for the girl and slyly slipping one into his pocket. Su Chan smiled faintly, and the red doll on the iron window spoke softly, “I said, I can help you.” “Help me?” Qin Yue hesitated, “I never thought you’d be so kind.” Su Chan languidly said, “Maybe it's because I never act without benefit, but you can trust me this once.” “Do you have any leads from that child?” Qin Yue was silent for a moment, then softly said to the doll, “...A butterfly.” Engrossed in her memories, Qin Yue failed to notice Su Chan's barrier around the silver butterfly dissipating. Chu Yi, not far from the mountain prison, abruptly halted and heard the clear voice. Qin Yue’s voice? Who is speaking with her?! Chu Yi clenched her hand tightly and ran back toward the mountain prison. Having forcibly read Mao Qing's memories, the young girl remained dazed, her eyes floating blankly. Su Chan crouched down, gazing at the vacant-looking Mao Qing, with a faint smile. “Interesting. What is the butterfly?” Qin Yue whispered, “The child has a butterfly birthmark on the shoulder.” Su Chan gently touched the girl’s forehead, “I see.” The barrier reformed, the silver butterfly vanished into smoke, and Chu Yi’s pupils contracted slightly. The silver butterfly she left in the mountain prison... was discovered? Who is speaking with Qin Yue?! In the mountain prison. The moment the silver butterfly disappeared, Qin Yue noticed it, her voice turning frosty. “Why did you do that?” “Because it’s more fun this way.” Qin Yue said, “Are you mad?! That person wants revenge for the Ye family! If she finds out…” Su Chan chuckled softly, “Let her take her revenge, then.” Qin Yue held her breath, her voice turning harsh, “What do you mean by that?” "A person only realizes who is truly kind to them when they suffer. The same applies to that child," Su Chan gently caressed Mao Qing’s cheek, moving his hand slowly up the curve of the girl’s neck, “isn't that right?” “...Master!” Bai Ren couldn’t help but shout again. “Do you feel sorry for her?” Su Chan tilted his head slightly, “Do you want to save her?” Bai Ren clenched his fists tightly. After a long pause, he said with difficulty, “I dare not… Please, spare her life.” “What moved you to say that? Or rather... what gave you the courage?” Su Chan's hand slowly left the girl’s neck as he stood up, looking at Bai Ren’s pallid face with apparent curiosity. “Aren’t you afraid of the punishment for failing a mission, yet here you are, wasting your thoughts on worrying about others?” As he finished speaking, an overwhelming pressure descended. Bai Ren’s body shook, but he managed to stay upright, trembling all over, his eyes fixed on the scattered mint candies on the ground and the confused girl kneeling there. “Answer me,” Su Chan seemed suddenly very interested in this question, forgetting about his conversation with Qin Yue. Under the immense pressure, Bai Ren tried to speak but could only tremble, unable to utter a single word. Seeing his silence, Su Chan followed his gaze to the scattered mint candies. “So, it's that.” Su Chan squatted and picked up a piece of candy, chuckling softly after a moment. “Oh, that’s it.” Bai Ren’s lips twitched slightly, but he still said nothing. From nearby, Qin Yue asked, “What exactly are you trying to do?” Su Chan played with the piece of candy and sighed, “What to do... I said I would help you. Why concern yourself with what cat catches the mouse?” Qin Yue said, “I don’t trust you.” “That’s unfortunate,” Su Chan replied nonchalantly, “But I’ve already leaked the clues... What should we do about that?” Her voice carried a hint of laughter, “I suppose she’ll soon uncover quite a bit, won’t she?” Qin Yue was incensed, “You!” “If you didn’t trust me, you shouldn’t have placed your trust in the first place,” Su Chan said, glancing at the candy in her hand. “Trusting initially and then losing faith due to circumstances – don’t those sworn declarations and actions make you feel regretful?” Qin Yue sneered, “That’s because someone betrayed that trust.” “Betrayal, huh?” Su Chan mused over the word with interest. “Do you think I’m someone trustworthy?” Qin Yue remained silent. Su Chan sighed and tossed the candy aside. “If you think I’m untrustworthy yet still trust me, it only means you’re gullible. What does that have to do with me?” Bai Ren stood rigidly, frozen in place. Su Chan chuckled, “Indeed, the ways of smart people vary in their wisdom, and fools have different types of foolishness.” “But now, you have no other path left,” Su Chan continued, “Fortunately, you’re still valuable, so you can continue to believe in me.” Or rather, she had no choice but to believe. After a moment of silence, Qin Yue asked, “...What do you want me to do?” Su Chan said casually, “You’re one of the top spiritual priests of our times, correct?” Qin Yue glanced at the spirit-sealing chains binding her and replied after a long pause, “Yes.” Su Chan said, “Then you should be able to find the Evil Spirit Mountain, correct?” **Author's Note:** 墨溪 threw a landmine at 2018-08-01 23:52:34 顾归 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 00:55:46 小白喵喵 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 01:25:04 三更有梦书当枕 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 02:11:42 不将就 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 08:09:39 shoot threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 09:30:37 色即是空空即是色 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 09:30:39 yeming threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 11:49:56 永夜未央 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 18:11:57 永夜未央 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 18:12:14 愉悦 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 19:06:15 愉悦 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 19:14:33 愉悦 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 19:14:39 愉悦 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 19:14:43 愉悦 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 19:14:47 愉悦 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 19:14:53 愉悦 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 19:14:58 愉悦 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 19:15:03 愉悦 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 19:15:07 愉悦 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 19:15:17 愉悦 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 19:15:26 愉悦 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 21:21:05 愉悦 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 21:21:10 愉悦 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 21:21:13 愉悦 threw a landmine at 2018-08-02 21:21:37 Thank you, generous patrons! Open the doors for the Master!