139 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass

The days rolled by, and the dragon egg grew increasingly larger. The once-small egg, which used to sit comfortably in the palm of the hand like a white pebble, now required the full effort of both hands to hold. Perhaps it was nearing the time to hatch, for the egg's surface bore tiny cracks, and if one pressed an ear to it, now and then, slight scratching sounds could be heard from within. Raising the egg with her own hands and witnessing its impending hatching should have been a joyous occasion. Yet Fu Ling had been all frowns. The reason was clear: ever since signs of hatching had appeared, her little chick seemed distant and no longer close to her; moreover, it resisted her touch and was unusually aloof. Each time she neared, the egg would roll itself into a corner, avoiding her caresses and refusing to communicate. Much like right now, it preferred to idly follow the qilin around rather than letting its bonded owner embrace it. Fu Ling stood somewhat awkwardly, twisting her hands together, her eyes wide with hurt. She couldn't fathom what she had done wrong to prompt her spirit beast to so suddenly reject her— Just as it had been when she first met Jiu Ying. Jiu Ying treated everyone well except for her, whom she loathed intensely. This white egg was giving her the same sense of being unwanted. Amidst her heavy heart, the longing she harbored for her senior sister surged once more. What she didn't realize was that the white egg, which now seemed to repel her, was in truth her most cherished senior sister. On that day, when the white light from the golden tower enveloped them, Jiu Ying had been forced into a slumber, ultimately reawakening as a dragon egg. As the moment of birth approached, her consciousness began to stir, and instinctively, her inherent 'human' pride led her to resist bonding with another. In a semi-conscious state, she chose to escape her bonded owner. Only by breaking out of the shell could she fully awaken. It would be only then that she would recall the profound bond shared with her bonded owner. Though the egg was about to crack and needed more care, Fu Ling continued to closely monitor it despite being avoided by her spirit beast. Not far away, for some unknown reason, the vermilion bird and the fire phoenix were in the heat of another fight, filling the sky and the earth with their fierce flames. The fire emitted by the fire phoenix could barely be endured, but the blaze from the vermilion bird was none other than the terrifying Nanming Li Fire. In mid-air, the blazing flames surged down to the ground like a tide. The surrounding spirit beasts scattered in all directions, while the qilin rushed to intervene, positioning itself between the vermilion bird and the fire phoenix to separate the fiery-tempered birds. As the searing fire swept over the grass, the white egg remained motionless. Watching this unfold, Fu Ling's heart tightened. Without time to think, in a flash, she harnessed the gentle breeze around her and darted to the white egg's side, scooping the dragon egg into her arms. The fire roared from behind, surging forward with alarming speed, leaving her no room to dodge. At this critical juncture, the vermilion bird flapped its wings, directing the flames elsewhere. Everything happened in an instant. Had the vermilion bird been just a moment slower, she and the white egg would have been reduced to nothing but a pile of ash. The first layer of the spiritual realm was usually leisurely and peaceful. Most of the fighting among the spirit beasts was for fun. Like now, after battling, the vermilion bird and the fire phoenix even nudged their heads together, companionably flying off together. Evidently, such 'world-ending' interactions were common here. The qilin returned to the ground and circled around Fu Ling several times. It seemed to sense something— A human living here was not without danger. Just a moment ago, the girl before it had nearly lost her life. While it was fond of the girl's aura of fortune, it knew it was time for her to leave. The qilin extended its front paw, gently nudging Fu Ling's leg. The hint was unmistakable. Yet Fu Ling remained oblivious. The white egg wriggled incessantly in her embrace, trying to escape. In her lapse of attention, it fell to the ground, rolling back to the qilin's side again. Compared to its bonded owner, it favored being with the qilin more. She bit her lip, the frustration clear in her eyes, yet there was nothing she could do. The qilin, seeing her unmoved, took a step back and focused on the dragon egg. To Fu Ling, its touch was gentle. To the dragon egg, it was unceremonious. Raising its forelimb, it gave a forceful push, sending the egg rolling instead into a spatial brackishness where it vanished from sight. Startled, Fu Ling rushed forward and in the next moment, the white egg descended from above, landing securely back into her arms. The surroundings shifted abruptly, with the grassy fields, icy lakes, and spirit beasts fading into nothingness. They were replaced by a vast, endless expanse. Turning to look behind her, her eyes reflected the unruffled calm of a stretch of ocean. Wasn't this the entrance to the spiritual realm? Fu Ling stood astounded for a moment before regaining herself. Elated, she placed the egg into her storage stone and, without hesitation, soared into the sky, heading straight for the Qingzhu Sect— She missed her senior sister. The thought of seeing that cold, beautiful face made her impatient. ＊＊＊ At the foot of Tianwu Cliff, Fang Yuan Qing summoned a gray pigeon and wrote about her current situation to send to the Yuchun Hall. Fearing her mother would worry, she didn't mention the attack by the demon hound. She merely said she had encountered a friend and would be staying out for a while longer. Her injury had been healing for about a week, but the necrotic flesh on her right leg hadn't fully regenerated. Leaning slightly against a stone, her head tilted back, she watched the pigeon fly away before turning her gaze away from the sky. Returning would garner her better care, and her leg might heal faster, yet strangely, she didn't feel eager to leave. Why was that? She didn't know either. With the sunlight growing stronger and noon approaching, it was time for the meal. Anticipating her benefactor's arrival, her demeanor unconsciously softened. It was said that the female disciples of the Hehuan Sect were enchanting and seductive, but her benefactor appeared purely innocent. She struggled to envision such a pure-hearted girl learning seductive arts. She couldn't imagine Yue Liang performing such enchantments. Picturing the girl with her perpetually closed eyes, her smile gradually froze. That face, delicate and pure—surely if she could see, her eyes would be bright and spotless too. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pity. Lost in contemplation, the rustle of footsteps through the small forest signaled who had arrived. There was no need to guess. Turning her head, she saw a girl in a distinctive red Hehuan Sect gown approaching. The red was vibrant, alluring; the gown, provocative and revealing. From neck to chest, tender flesh lay bare, with arms exposed to the elements, the hem swaying lightly with each step, exposing slender, white legs beneath. It was a garment crafted to evoke desire. Though not seeing it for the first time, Fang Yuan Qing, who normally wouldn’t give it much thought, now found herself wishing for Yue Liang to wear something more modest. In such attire, Yue Liang could captivate any man's heart effortlessly. Beauty is an asset, yet without the ability to defend oneself, it becomes a curse. A blind beauty, especially, garners pity. Their outcomes often despairing. Her thoughts scattered until the girl's proximity brought her back to the present. Hehuan Sect disciples paid meticulous attention to their bearing and appearance, restraining their diet, hence the simplistic meals within their sect. For days, there had been only steamed buns and porridge. Today, however, the girl brought along an additional dish— With a gentle tone, she presented the special food, "The kitchen sister said you are what you eat, so I asked her to cook pig's feet for you. Please try it and see if it’s good." Finishing her words, she carefully took a porcelain dish from the bamboo basket. The dish contained steaming, aromatic braised pig’s feet. Fang Yuan Qing stared at the fragrance before taking the dish. As her gaze fell upon the girl's hands, she noticed numerous small cuts across her fingertips and palms, appearing to be from blade accidents. Without a second thought, she put down the bowl, reaching out to clutch the scarred hands. "What happened to your hands? Weren't they fine yesterday?" Her voice was laced with anxiety, her delicate brows furrowing tightly. Sincere concern emanated from her words. Though Ming Yue's eyes were closed, the crimson pupils could still perceive the world. Besides Dust, aside from Dust, there was no one else who genuinely cared for her. Seeing the worry etched in Fang Yuan Qing's features, her heart began to beat faster, a sudden warmth spreading across her cheeks. It was just a facade, no real feelings should have been involved. Unexpectedly flustered, she instinctively tried to pull her hands away, but the woman's grip was strong, preventing any struggle. Turning her head aside, she softly offered the excuse she had prepared beforehand, "It was just a little mishap with the blade, nothing serious." The wounds were shallow surface cuts. Still, Fang Yuan Qing felt a pang of heartache. A blind person’s life is filled with inconveniences, and for the slightest slip in attention, injuries can occur. Who knows how many setbacks her benefactor has suffered because of this? Pressing her lips together, Fang Yuan Qing's fingers moved slightly before she released those soft hands. “Have you applied any medicine?” Upon hearing this, Ming Yue felt a small stir in her heart. After a quiet moment, she nodded and softly responded, “Mmm. Don't worry, sister. Yue Yue can take care of herself.” After spending days together, the two were already well-acquainted. Fang Yuan Qing, a year older than Ming Yue, had become “sister” to her without realizing it. Unlike Fu Ling’s addressed “sister,” Ming Yue’s way of saying it always carried a hint of ambiguous affection. Hearing these words now, Fang Yuan Qing fell silent, not uttering another word. Only after finishing their meal did her mood calm somewhat. Unlike the past days, when the girl would leave hastily after delivering food, today she stayed a bit longer. Side by side, the two sat together, and before long, the person beside her laid her head upon Fang Yuan Qing’s shoulder. The atmosphere, serene and lovely, was soon interrupted by a soft sigh. Before she could inquire, the girl spoke first, “Yue Yue is so clumsy. The Sect Leader was teaching enchantment techniques today, and I couldn’t learn a bit.” Learning this, it's no wonder she was dressed like that. Fang Yuan Qing turned her head and her gaze fell right on the snow-white, jade-like face before her. Being so close, she only now noticed the thin scars lining her benefactor’s eyes and cheeks. Rather than marring her, they added a tender, pitiful quality. Startled, Fang Yuan Qing found herself looking a moment longer. Sensing the intensity of her stare, Ming Yue seemed to realize something. Perhaps Fang Yuan Qing was observing the scars on her face, for Ming Yue instantly covered her face with her hands, turning around in a fluster, leaving only her back. Silence filled the air. After a long while, a soft girl’s voice broke the stillness, “Yue Yue is ugly, I must have scared you, sister.” Ugly? How could she be ugly? Fang Yuan Qing's expression shifted as she took the girl’s hand from her face, drawing her back. “What do you mean ugly?” “You’re much prettier than me.” Fang Yuan Qing assumed her benefactor, being blind, couldn't see her face, which was why she dared to use such words to reassure her. Ming Yue's heart began to beat faster upon hearing this. Not truly blind, she certainly knew what Fang Yuan Qing looked like. Distinguished and handsome, how could she not be more beautiful? Speaking falsehoods with open eyes! Her hand was still held in Fang Yuan Qing’s grasp, and her face turned even redder. “I don’t believe you.” With that, she knelt beside Fang Yuan Qing, leaning into her embrace and reaching out to touch her face. “Let Yue Yue feel, then I’ll know what Sister looks like.” Her fingertips softly traced from forehead to brow, across eyes and along lips and nose. Each touch was careful yet thorough and gentle. Skin against skin, an endless intimacy. Behind her was a hard stone, in her arms, a soft benefactor. With nowhere to escape, Fang Yuan Qing had no choice but to let that warm hand linger on her face. The mood was indescribably tender and ambiguous. Yet the girl seemed unaffected, and though she pulled back her hand, she did not fully withdraw from Fang Yuan Qing’s hold. Instead, she clutched her arm, tilted her head, and bit her lip, uttering words that weren’t teasing but felt like it— “Sister’s a liar!” “Sister is undeniably beautiful!” Even Fang Yuan Qing couldn’t help her heart from fluttering momentarily. Disguised as a boy for years, no one had ever praised her beauty before, not even her own mother with such words. Suddenly unsure how to respond, she was saved by a slight ‘hmph’ that announced the girl’s weight had left her lap. Ming Yue stood, clutching the bamboo basket. “Yue Yue is mad now.” “I’ll see Sister tonight.” Usually, they only met once per day, but now, being ‘mad,’ why would she return at night? Fang Yuan Qing frowned, unable to grasp the meaning right away as the girl left with the basket. Because of that exchange, the ambient air remained warm. Now alone, she no longer hid her smile; though her lips remained pursed, they curled slightly. After all, what woman doesn’t enjoy being told she’s lovely? Especially by someone dear to her heart. ＊＊＊ The first day the gray pigeon was sent out, by the fifth day a familiar face had arrived. Not from the Yuchun Hall, nor from the Fuyang Sect, but Fu Ling. It turned out, the young girl only learned that her senior sister hadn’t returned to the sect upon her own return, prompting her to ask everyone she knew. Unfortunately, she failed to uncover any useful information. With no other choice, she went to Yuchun Hall to seek Fang Yuan Qing. Although she didn’t find the person, she at least obtained an address, which led her hurrying over. ※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※ With Ming Yue acting this way, it’s no wonder Sister Yuan Qing is charmed. 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