114 - Dungeon Growth Log

The wind and snow gradually vanished, and everything around started to distort again. The sword in his hand slowly gained substance. Ye Ze felt a moment of disorientation but in the blink of an eye, he was back to where he was. He paused slightly, and when he looked up again, all he held was a sword. The black-cloaked puppet pierced by the sword was twisting slowly, then disappeared as if a dream in the blink of an eye. Instinctively, Ye Ze took a step back, staring at the puppet's vanished place in bewilderment, then looked down at the sword in his hand. …An illusion? Was that puppet really an illusion? Wait, if the puppet was an illusion, then the sword… He looked around and found a bamboo sword scabbard on the ground. It appeared roughly carved, with two words solemnly engraved on it. Wenqing. He picked it up and slid his sword into it. The scabbard was coarse and casual, and the two words were carved crookedly, but the sword fit perfectly inside. For some reason, Ye Ze felt that this bamboo sword scabbard bore the shadow of someone he knew. Ye Ze hesitated, thinking, it must be... an illusion. After all, this place was unknown, and the priority now was to find a way out. He searched for the scabbard, stood up, and looked around. Apart from where he originally entered, there were no other exits. A dead end. Perhaps Chang Nian was right about going left. But sometimes, right or wrong isn't that important anymore. Ye Ze, holding the sword, thought indifferently. ——An orphaned beggar with no parents. No road? He raised his head, staring at the high ventilation duct, and drew out the sword he had just sheathed. Its ancient sword body, simple yet mysterious patterns, faintly emitted a powerful aura. Ye Ze’s spiritual senses had awakened. His spiritual power resonated faintly with the sword’s aura. Ye Ze lifted his eyes and infused his power into it, then swung the sword! In an instant, blinding light exploded, followed by a thunderous boom! If he had chosen the wrong path, then on the wrong path, he would forge a road of his own to the heavens! Light spilled down; endless clouds wafted mistily, fragments of rock shattered, falling silently. Beyond the breached wall lay a sea of swirling clouds, with dazzling sunlight too bright to behold, stretching out endlessly. Ye Ze looked up at the blinding sky. Exasperated, he thought, this road truly does lead to the heavens. Suddenly, the sword in his hand quivered. Ye Ze hesitated for a moment, as the boundless sea of clouds before him abruptly shifted, transforming into a sea of fire in the blink of an eye! A girl in white, touched with blood, sat on a phoenix tree, bells at her ankles jingling. She supported herself on the branches, smiling innocently. “Don’t even leave a dog alive.” Ye Ze clenched his sword tightly! The scene shattered suddenly, and in another turn, a youth in simple robes from Danfeng walked ahead arrogantly. The sword in his hand disappeared, left behind. Was it... Xia Wu Yin? But as the youth slowly walked away, he stopped and didn’t turn back with that familiar cheeky grin to ask what good treat he’d get today. Ye Ze felt a moment of confusion, thinking of the boy’s forlorn look when delivering medicine after a beating. ...A bit embarrassing. Embarrassing to the point he didn’t want to see the boy for months. Yet... upon reflection, it brought a slight smile. Even knowing it was an illusion, he paused, then slowly followed. After all, he was Xia Wu Yin. Unexpectedly, as he followed, the figure’s steps ceased. The person turned sharply to look at him, and Ye Ze came to a sudden stop, engulfed instantly by endless darkness-- It was the girl’s face on Xia Wu Yin’s, eerily fitting, yet... Uncomfortably, perfectly fitting. The bell-like voice, familiar yet strange, lightly and teasingly spoke, word by word. “The Ye family of the Lonely City left not even a dog alive, Ye Ze, why are you still not dead?” Each word struck a deep cord. With a few sharp, crisp sounds, the illusion faded. The Wenqing in Ye Ze's hand dropped and hit the ground, and the bamboo sword scabbard struck a stone, chipping the word “Wenqing” with a glaring white mark. = = Elsewhere. Xia Ge, unsure why, paused. “Why aren’t we moving?” The voice of the girl on her back was soft and gently teasing. Xia Ge hesitated for a moment. “Just an ominous feeling…” While she spoke, the stone path twisted, but they nonetheless reached its end. “What kind of bad feeling?” she asked. Xia Ge: “…Hmm, like goosebumps? As if something shady happened…” Her intuition was usually pretty spot on. Chu Yi: “…” Chu Yi paused, then changed the topic: “Brother, where are we now?” Xia Ge: “Ah… maybe above the skies.” All around, endless rolling clouds and dazzling sky light. Kick a stone, it rolls several times, then falls away silently. Besides the sky, nothing else could explain this. Xia Ge suddenly thought of the map Mao Qing drew. The silver butterfly disappeared as Xia Ge set Chu Yi down for a moment, not paying it much mind. “Wait here for a bit.” Chu Yi opened her eyes to look at her. Beneath her long lashes, her black eyes reflected the brilliant light outside the cave, beautiful yet hollow. Xia Ge knew that she couldn’t see anything. Without the destiny-child's fortune to sustain it, Tianmu grass would gradually lose effectiveness. She had read the pharmacopeia before; it started for a short while, a few minutes, then slowly extended to an hour, several hours, then a day, two days, countless days... Eventually leading to blindness again. As long as Ye Ze, the child of destiny, was present, maintaining the effect, it didn’t matter. But the original frequency of blindness would not change–as soon as Ye Ze left, whatever duration the blindness should last, it would remain. Xia Ge calculated roughly. All things considered, from the first blurred vision in the library, the frequency of blindness should be... once a month. The system had once asked her if she regretted giving the Ghost Dragon Jade to Ye Ze, even intentionally causing misunderstandings between them. Xia Ge quietly watched Chu Yi’s empty eyes, silent for a while, then slowly covered them with her hands. …There was nothing to regret. Even asking one, two, fifty times, a hundred times, she would still say the same—no regrets. Perhaps she might regret it in the future. But at least, for now, there was no regret. Such beautiful eyes, yet they couldn't see a thing. Just thinking about it is heartbreaking. Xia Ge was afraid of pain. Afraid of the dark, afraid of pain. So... she didn’t want this child to suffer so much pain. Chu Yi still raised her head, seemingly in a daze, “...Brother?” Xia Ge was silent for a moment, then whispered, "Little butterfly, your eyes are really beautiful." “Brother... it kinda hurts.” Chu Yi stiffened slightly. For a moment, she wanted to think of nothing. To forget the loneliness, to forget the pain of abandonment, to not think about what to do in the future, just wanting to plunge into this person's embrace, like that solitary child from many years ago, to wail and cry. To be able to voice all grievances. To let this person know all the pain. To have him soothe all insecurity, all fear. ——But no, it couldn’t be. Chu Yi knew very well that it couldn’t be. “Brother is so gentle.” So gentle. She whispered, “But Brother A Ze... why weren’t you like this before…” so what should I do to keep your gentleness? Chu Yi tried to make herself aloof, the innocent yearning contrived. Upon hearing this, Xia Ge froze. Ah, yes... Ye Ze... After a long pause, she slowly withdrew her hands, murmuring, “Because little butterfly is in a dream, of course.” White Dream’s Cave, a daydream and nothing more. As long as it felt happy, that was enough. Why pursue it further? She whispered, “If it’s a dream… anything is possible.” Chu Yi smiled gently, her innocent, watery eyes open: “Then can Brother kiss me in the dream?” So why deceive me? Chu Yi’s voice was innocent, “Brother said in dreams, anything is possible.” Why abandon me? Xia Ge was silent. After a long time, she gently patted Chu Yi’s head, bending down to kiss her eyelids softly. Her eyelashes brushed across her cheek, gentle and tender. Xia Ge whispered, “You will see.” Like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, eventually becoming your most beautiful self. Chu Yi, her eyes misting with warm tears, stared silently. ——You’re so gentle... what should she do about it? Decisions she’d made would not change. Yet... she found herself slightly wavering. Why would... she waver? Those who deceived her, who abandoned her, should suffer, right? They should die; they should die horribly, right? Why should they make her suffer so much? Given her hope only to cast her into despair, why leave with a smile so carefree?! Why should many people love you?! Why... should she love you too. So, all the people you like, and those who like you. Everyone who bullied you, and those you bullied. Those who care about you, and those you care about—she wants to gouge out all their eyes, make sure they don't die well, and live in torment just like her, in unbearable pain! Xia Ge saw Chu Yi crying and became a bit flustered. She wiped her tears with a helpless gesture, “Why are you crying?” Chu Yi choked back her sobs and earnestly said, “Because only in dreams will Brother treat me like this.” Xia Ge feigned innocence, “Why are you like this, little butterfly? I even bought you candied haws before.” Chu Yi: “…” Thinking she had comforted Chu Yi, Xia Ge pulled out the drawing that Mao Qing had done before. It showed a beautiful sea of clouds, a colorful butterfly fluttering, and a cave entrance with a plaque that read "White Dream's Cave." Xia Ge peeked through the cave entrance, and it indeed revealed a beautiful cloudscape, though lacking any butterflies. As for the plaque... Raising her red ribbon with a flick, it widened with the wind, about to whisk Xia Ge into the vast cloud sea, when her clothes were suddenly tugged. Chu Yi’s voice was soft, "Where are you going?" Xia Ge: “…” Chu Yi: “Will you abandon me in a dream too?” Xia Ge: "I'm just going out for a look. I'll be right back, um, I will definitely return." Chu Yi looked at her for a while, then slowly let go of her hand. Guided by the red ribbon, Xia Ge wandered through the boundless clouds. She looked up, attempting to get a clear view beyond the stone cave, yet the mist was too thick. However, she could clearly see a plaque on the stone cave. 【White Dream's Cave】. Not an exact match with the drawing, but very similar. With a turn of the ribbon, Xia Ge returned to the cave, her feet touching solid ground as she clicked her tongue in surprise. Mao Qing’s dream indeed matched the reality of White Dream's Cave. This indicated… the dragon wasn’t lying; this truly was the entrance to White Dream's Cave. But now the question arises... Zhuang Zhou dreaming of a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming of Zhuang Zhou? Marvelous. In that instant, Xia Ge felt spiritual energy ripple through her, an indescribable, subtle feeling washing over her heart, as if just one more step would bring enlightenment. As Xia Ge pondered, she felt a tug on her clothes. Turning around, she saw Chu Yi clutching her clothes, her voice uneasy, “You’re back?” Xia Ge paused slightly, a feeling she couldn’t describe spreading within her. It was warm, yet heartaching. Because only through this dream could she give her some solace. With a light "Hmm," she softly said, "I'm back." As her words fell, a moment of enlightenment washed over her, the mist cleared, and she took that decisive step, instantly seeing everything with clarity. ——Unaware of being a guest in a dream, indulging in fleeting happiness. A crisp, ringing bell suddenly resonated! Xia Ge was puzzled, “...Did your alarm go off?” The system, pretending to be dead, remained silent: “…” Clutching Xia Ge’s clothes, Chu Yi felt no inclination for joking. At the sound of the bell, she became rigid. After a while, she slowly released Xia Ge’s clothes. Silently, the silver butterfly flew into her sleeve, and Woming’s voice chillingly echoed. “Congratulations… Perhaps our first transaction… has succeeded.” I wish to return to that person’s side. As a trade. ——I will find the person you seek. The bell of Ask Immortal rang. Chu Yi slowly lifted her head, her sightless eyes staring into the space before her. ——What else have you lied to me about? The warmth and impulsiveness gradually faded, replaced by an icy clarity. Chu Yi felt she had never been so calm. The brother she had loved dearly, missed persistently, for whom she was willing to risk everything, into both fire and water. Even his gender. Was a lie. However. Even in a dream. He was unwilling to say a lie, to be together with her. If you're going to deceive, why not see it through to the end? The Ask Immortal beat the demon. This pair of bells belonging to Brother was indeed a fitting name. Chu Yi thought. ——Perhaps the quest for wisdom and immortality. Ultimately, succumbed to a single thought of becoming a demon. Author's Note: Hahaha, writing this has been thrilling! The extra chapter I promised yesterday is here, love you all! Today's update is still in the evening, if I can manage six thousand words today there will be three updates, if not, then two updates tomorrow. Hahaha, the more I write, the more exciting it gets. = = Don’t worry, the plot points you are concerned about are slowly being unveiled, though it’s giving me a headache. Actually, I kind of lean towards a simple, straightforward flashback—both succinct and clear for you to understand, yet somehow it feels like something is missing… But a not-so-clear flashback is just a pile of straightforward confusions… Sigh, you all are sweet headaches, no other choice but to spoil you with all my might (lifting high). Hmph, you absolutely won’t guess the plot if I don’t write it (arms akimbo, proud, but not really).