128 - Dungeon Growth Log

As Xia Ge descended Sword Peak, preparing to climb Pill Peak, he encountered his senior brother Lu Qie, who was on his way up. Lu Qie, holding a pile of documents, was delighted to see him. "Hey, Xia Junior Brother!" Then, with a cheeky grin, he corrected himself, "No, I should call you Xia Commanding Officer now!" Xia Ge: "..." Though he didn't particularly want to admit it, being addressed as Commanding Officer was incredibly satisfying. Xia Ge plastered a fake smile on his face. "Ah, isn't this Lu Senior Brother! What are you up to?" Since their paths aligned, they walked side by side as Lu Qie explained, "These are records I brought down from Sword Peak, meant for Senior Sister. Everyone at Pill Peak's been busy with preparations for your Xuan-level Alchemist's promotion ceremony. Haha, congratulations!" ... Records for Senior Sister? Xia Ge's eyes briefly lit up before he coughed gently. "These documents look heavy; let's split them between us, Brother!" Lu Qie hesitated. "Uh, how could I possibly let you..." Despite talking about sharing the load, Xia Ge unceremoniously scooped all the documents into his arms. "Oh, it's no trouble! Fellow disciples should help each other! Come, I'll help you take these to Senior Sister!" The towering stack of documents nearly obscured Xia Ge's head. Lu Qie: "...Let me carry some. That's too high..." Xia Ge: "No need!" With the strength from being washed in the blood of a flood dragon, carrying fifty centimeters worth of documents was a piece of cake. Lu Qie: "..." Though feeling it might not be entirely proper, Lu Qie, who had been chastised countless times by Senior Sister for his mistakes with alchemical prescriptions, agreed without much struggle. Which was also why he was well-prepared for writing out the alchemy manuals thirty times the next day. As they walked uphill together, Lu Qie, thirsting for knowledge, asked, "I heard you all went to the legendary White Dream Cavern?" "Indeed," Xia Ge affirmed. "Did you find any treasures?" Lu Qie was curious. Xia Ge chuckled, "Luck wasn't that good, no treasure—just about got incinerated by a flood dragon." Lu Qie gave him a sympathetic look, "That's really unlucky. I thought folks going to the White Dream Cavern would come back with something." Xia Ge: "Oh?" Could it be that news of Ye Ze obtaining a sword from White Dream Cavern had spread? Lu Qie, envious, continued, "Haven't you heard? The Young Master of the Chang Family got an ancient relic charm from there!" Xia Ge was taken aback, "Eh?" The Young Master of the Chang Family? Wait, the Chang Family? Xia Ge's expression turned somewhat delicate. "...An ancient relic charm?" Lu Qie nodded, "Yes, it's all the talk. I hear the old master of the Chang Family is overjoyed." Xia Ge had an uneasy feeling but feigned curiosity, "Really... Have they mentioned the name of this ancient relic charm?" Lu Qie confidently said, "If you ask anyone else, they might not know, but if you ask me... Well, you found the right person!" Xia Ge: "..." Playing along, Xia Ge handed over two mid-grade spirit stones. "Brother, I've been busy lately; consider this a token for some drinks." With his palm greased, Lu Qie revealed, "The charm's called 'Radiance of the Firmament.'" Xia Ge maintained a neutral expression, "A fine name." ... So, it was indeed that. Radiance of the Firmament. The remains of the Ye Family after their annihilation. Once the closure of the massacre case was complete and the Chang Family lay low for years, they finally couldn't resist reintroducing this ancient treasure, hidden away for eight years, to the world. "This relic charm's appearance is a big deal," Lu Qie marveled. "Have you heard about the Chu Family's eldest daughter's situation?" Xia Ge was surprised, "Chu Family's eldest daughter?" Chu Yao? "Yes, she was assigned to guard Bitter Bamboo Village but everyone got whisked away by the White Dream Cavern..." Lu Qie stated, "The unexpected event held her partially responsible." Xia Ge: "...And how is this related to the relic charm?" "It originally wasn't connected," Lu Qie wiggled his fingers, "Until it was revealed that the Chang Family got their hands on Radiance of the Firmament." "The twist is, right after the Chang Family acquired the ancient relic charm, the Chu Family summoned their eldest daughter back, ostensibly for dereliction of duty at Bitter Bamboo Village, to face punishment." Xia Ge: "..." Unaware of Xia Ge's subtle reaction, Lu Qie continued his musings, "The Chu Family summoning back the eldest daughter indicates a brewing internal conflict and power shifts worth watching." Xia Ge paused in his steps. Lu Qie took a few steps and, noticing Xia Ge stopped, queried in puzzlement, "Xia Commanding Officer?" Xia Ge smiled, adjusting the documents almost theatrically as if they were about to topple, and casually inquired, "...When was this summon issued?" "Yesterday," Lu Qie said. "You haven't heard? Hmm, it seems they’re packing today, leaving by tomorrow?" "Oh..." Holding the documents, Xia Ge was slightly adrift in thought. They continued walking. Upon reaching a fork in the path, Xia Ge announced, "I'll take these to Senior Sister. Is she in the study? Brother Lu, you go ahead back." Lu Qie gave him a glance, "She’s in the study... But Xia Commanding Officer, this isn't quite right..." Xia Ge laughed, "No worries, it's all fine." Only then did Lu Qie leave. Xia Ge stood at the spot holding the documents for a moment. System: "Not going?" Xia Ge returned to his senses, "Going, going." After taking a few turns, Xia Ge arrived at the study. The oleanders in front of the study had faded considerably while clusters of autumn chrysanthemums bloomed vibrantly. At the green window, a girl held a cinnabar brush, still busy with her reviews. The sunlight was gentle. Sensing something, Gu Peijiu raised her eyes and instantly saw through the window the youthful figure in plain robes of Pill Peak, masked by a thick stack of documents. Gu Peijiu was silent for a moment before calmly asking, "...Where’s Lu Qie?" Bi Xi opened the door for Xia Ge, who entered with the heavy pile and placed them neatly on the rosewood table. "Ah? Him, I sent him off." The young boy turned to look at her, a brilliant smile on his face. "Wasn’t that heavy, special recruits are meant to assist Senior Sister anyway." That pair of cat-like eyes smiled. As if every flower on Pill Peak had blossomed. Gu Peijiu felt a slight warmth in her heart yet frowned, "... Don’t help him next time." Xia Ge teased with a cheeky smile, "Oh my, does Senior Sister care for me?" Gu Peijiu: "Yes." Xia Ge: "..." Thick-skinned as he was, Xia Ge found himself momentarily lost for words. The awkwardness lingered, although it seemed only Xia Ge felt it as stealing a glance showed the Senior Sister had resumed reviewing the documents. After a while, Xia Ge coughed lightly, shifting topics, "What’s Senior Sister reviewing?" Gu Peijiu responded, "Tomorrow is your promotion ceremony; these are preparations for it." She paused, offering a subtle smile, "It’s rare for Pill Peak to have a Xuan-level Alchemist; it should be celebrated." "No need for undue preparation," Xia Ge, now beside Gu Peijiu, ground ink for her, "Hey, Senior Sister, I heard there's a new ancient relic charm; is it true?" Once close, a faint sandalwood scent mingled with the ink fragrance. Cool and entwined. A very pleasant aroma. Gu Peijiu mm'd in acknowledgment, "Radiance of the Firmament." Xia Ge: "..." Suddenly, Xia Ge felt a pang for the two spirit stones given to Lu Qie. The Senior Sister already knew why he asked Lu Qie! Xia Ge inquired, "I heard the Young Master of the Chang Family got it from the White Dream Cavern?" Gu Peijiu’s gaze grew slightly deep, "Possibly." Upon exiting White Dream Cavern, when Tianzhu Ling took everyone away, Chang Nian was still trapped in the illusion. White Dream Cavern’s illusions, connected to the past, blurred reality and illusion; anything was possible. Yet... Gu Peijiu paused, side-eyeing him, "Why are you interested in this?" Xia Ge blinked, "Just curious." The young girl had large eyes, her face becoming more delicate, looking increasingly less like a boy. This child, her lip color, was quite attractive. Her heart suddenly raced a bit. Gu Peijiu quickly averted her gaze, unexpectedly asking an unrelated question, "How old are you this year?" Xia Ge was momentarily stunned, "Thirteen." Thirteen. So young. Gu Peijiu murmured softly, "Fourteen after the new year." Xia Ge, done grinding the ink, made a noise, placing the ink stick aside, "The new year is still far off." The new year... Xia Ge thought, having no family, there’s nothing to celebrate. The one time they tried, it was just buying good wine and food with Ye Ze, drinking till intoxicated, and sleeping well. And that was all. Gu Peijiu, finishing up with the document she was reviewing, remarked, "It’s sooner than you think." She paused again, asking, "Have you celebrated your birthday yet?" Xia Ge 'Uh'd at the unexpected question, breaking into laughter, "Why suddenly ask that, Senior Sister?" Gu Peijiu replied, "Just wanted to know." With a smile curling his lips, Xia Ge answered, "May first." Already passed. Silence fell between them as Gu Peijiu resumed the task of reviewing the records Xia Ge brought. Restless, Xia Ge would occasionally browse the books in the study or gaze out at the chrysanthemums. "Senior Sister, when were the chrysanthemums transplanted?" In no time, Xia Ge found himself outside the study, attempting to pluck a long petal from a pink chrysanthemum. Gu Peijiu remarked, "The oleanders are fading; I had Bi Xi send someone to transplant these yesterday." "Really beautiful," Xia Ge said shamelessly while plucking two petals. "So, did Senior Sister also hear about what happened on Sword Peak?" About Chu Yao, the intended major disciple of Sword Peak, being summoned back by her family. Gu Peijiu ignored Xia Ge's tactful approach, "Do you want to go?" Xia Ge: "..." Previously, Gu Peijiu had told him not to go to Sword Peak again. Xia Ge chuckled, his gaze evasively wandering, "What are you talking about, Senior Sister? Want to go where? I haven't said anything..." And that indicated he wanted to go. Gu Peijiu set her cinnabar brush down and glanced at the boy crouched by the window, tearing at the chrysanthemums. Her voice was calm, "If you wish to go, just go. You don't need my permission." Xia Ge: "..." With that, Gu Peijiu closed the documents. "Bi Xi, is it time?" Bi Xi, in the midst of sweeping, was startled, "Huh? What... Oh... not yet..." Caught off guard by his mistress's look, Bi Xi swallowed the words "not yet," instead checking the sky with an exaggerated urgency, "It's time, Miss; we should go or we'll keep the tutor waiting." "Mm." Gu Peijiu stated, "I have things to attend to; you should head back." Locking up the study, Gu Peijiu swept past Xia Ge with Bi Xi following behind, both planning to leave one after the other. Xia Ge: "I..." Gu Peijiu walked a few steps, stopping again, her voice faintly devoid of emotion, "If you want to go, go tonight." Because tomorrow, that person would be gone. Having said that, Gu Peijiu realized that the reminder might have been unnecessary. Her dark eyes grew slightly colder, and her pace quickened a bit. The emotions swirling within her were inexplicable. Gu Peijiu thought. Very wrong. This was... very wrong. Without cause or reason, just feeling very angry. It wasn’t rational, not composed, not like her at all. Yet it was uncontrollable. Like the wine jar that shattered in the restaurant back then. Merely thinking about it... felt uncontrollable. —Gu Peijiu simply couldn't stand seeing that child with others. Even the mere notion of it... Caused an unbearable suffocation. And a bit of pain. Where there is unintentional affection, there arises possessiveness from desire. This was possessiveness. Gu Peijiu halted her steps. Bi Xi, following behind, was puzzled, "Miss...? Why just then did you...?" The tutor had actually wanted them to wait before going over. Gu Peijiu silently gazed at the distant, cloud-shrouded peaks. That was Sword Peak. Her eyes beheld the ethereal mountains, yet her mind envisioned that scene in the restaurant—the child, Xia Ge, merrily drinking with Chu Yao. Possessiveness born from affection... After a while, Gu Peijiu lowered her gaze. "Nothing. Let's proceed." She thought. She, Gu Peijiu, seemed... really finished. Before the study. With everyone gone, Xia Ge crouched in front of the chrysanthemums, two petals still held in his hand. Xia Ge murmured, "...Why did Senior Sister seem so angry?" Was it just because Senior Sister had previously told him not to go to Sword Peak and today he had shown an interest in going there? Could it be just that? Impossible. Then it must be... The system's voice drawled lazily, "What else could it be? Because you've been playing around." Xia Ge calmly retorted, "You've been playing around." System: "Stop playing dumb. You asked about Sword Peak, and why? Because of the scenery? Even fools wouldn't buy that, player." Xia Ge: "???" System: "...It's not Sword Peak that's the issue, it's the person." Xia Ge acknowledged, "I know it’s about the person." She understood that it was quite likely the Senior Sister was upset because he intended to go to Sword Peak to see a certain someone. Standing up, with the petals crumpled in his hand, Xia Ge felt puzzled, "So, that's what's unclear." Author's Note: Xia Ge is genuinely confused right now. She has a vague idea of why Senior Sister is angry, but at the same time, she’s unsure... After all, the relationship hasn’t been clearly defined yet. ~~ Thank you all for your grenades and landmines! Love you all!!