189 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass

The celestial beings, revered in the eyes of the world for their unmatched strength, are also the ultimate goal pursued by cultivators on their path of cultivation. For ordinary people of the current times, their understanding of these entities comes solely from what has been documented in ancient texts. "All celestial beings are said to possess a kind heart, compassion, and mercy. As gods of the upper realm, their duty to protect common folk and bestow their grace upon the mortal world is not just in their nature but also their divine task." Yet, is this truly the case, with hearts filled with compassion, shielding mortals? Jiu Ying was deeply skeptical. At times, she even doubted whether celestial beings existed at all. She vividly remembered everything from her past life. Back then, to avenge his imprisonment, Ping Tian not only eradicated the entire Qingzhu sect after leaving the Youhuo temple but also killed everyone who had once crossed him. Before he pretended to be subdued by Si Qi, the world knew no peace for even a single day. That dark period of rivers of blood unknowingly became a nightmare that some would never forget, spending their entire lives haunted by it. Unable to defeat Ping Tian with their own strength, they could only place their hopes on the more powerful celestial beings. When she was initially brought to the Si family by Si Qi, she, like others who had been tortured by Ping Tian’s revenge, prayed daily for the celestial beings of the upper realm to bless the human world, ensuring their survival through this catastrophe. Unfortunately, what arrived was not the salvation of celestial beings, but rather an elaborate performance orchestrated by Si Qi and Ping Tian— A grand spectacle of a righteous cultivator successfully taming a demonic dragon. This charade not only propelled Si Qi to the position of the leader of the Xuanming sect but also allowed him seamlessly to replace Fu Xi’s place, becoming the second savior of the world. As for the truth, no one knew it from the beginning to the end. Even now, Jiu Ying could not fathom why the celestial beings, described in books as "caring for the world, blessing all of creation," would remain so indifferent, ignoring the tragedies of the human world and allowing the demonic dragon to wreak havoc. It was from that time onward that she lost her reverence for the celestial beings. Thinking about the celestial aura within Fu Ling, her previous understanding seemed shattered once more. As she gazed at the golden scale lying quietly on the cloth, she could not muster the courage to reach out and touch it. One reason was an irresistible awe and fear in her heart; the other was the possibility that this was an item left behind by celestial beings in the mortal realm. In front of the dressing table, the golden light swirled around. The copper mirror placed centrally on the table reflected this glow, revealing a stunning, delicate face. Jiu Ying's lips parted slightly, and her cold, beautiful eyes lifted a little, instantly seeing her own reflection in the mirror—along with a fragment of a smooth golden dragon scale. That single glance was enough to sense something amiss. That half-chipped golden scale captured in the mirror seemed to have some engravings. Though surrounded by a golden glow, the dragon scale on the table appeared perfectly pure to the naked eye, without a single blemish. But when viewed through the copper mirror, the inside of the scale was clearly covered in a layer of complex black engravings, resembling some bizarre incantation. Upon witnessing such a peculiar phenomenon for the first time, Jiu Ying even thought she might be seeing things. Furrowing her brow, she carefully grasped the scale through the cloth and observed it for a moment but discovered nothing unusual until she brought the scale to the mirror, confirming once again that something indeed was engraved on the scale. Unfortunately, no matter how she looked, she could not discern the true pattern of those eerie markings. How could an ordinary mirror possibly reveal the true nature of celestial objects? It seemed she would need to think of other methods. The night passed quickly. Before dawn the next day, Jiu Ying opened her eyes. More accurately, she was startled awake by her own dream. To speak of it, it had been a long while since she last dreamed. And this time, the nightmare that haunted her was still the painful experiences of her past life. Different from before, it was the contents of the dream that had changed. What she dreamt of was not the tragic death scene of her sect seniors but her own suicide— The ice lake's spring water dyed red with blood and the emaciated, blood-drenched woman with long hair. She didn’t see Si Qi in his red groom’s attire, nor the guests in her memory who scorned her corpse. Most importantly, she didn’t see the woman’s face. The only identifiable thing was the white garment on the woman. She could not have been mistaken—those white clothes were the ones she wore when she died. The same spot, the same dress, the same death—it couldn't be anyone else but her, could it? A flicker of pain spread in Jiu Ying’s heart, her chest heaving gently. She even caught a strong scent of blood wafting through her nostrils. At first, she assumed it was an illusion brought by the nightmare, but before she could get out of bed, the scent of blood in the air grew more potent. It seemed, it wasn’t an illusion. The outside world was still cloaked in darkness, and the surroundings were shadowed in dim hues. The wind was strong during the night, and at some point, the window had been blown open slightly. The bloody scent came wafting from the crack in the window. Jiu Ying quietly got out of bed, throwing on a long robe as she went to the window. Her guest room faced a long street. As soon as she opened the window, she saw a group of hurried yellow-clad individuals. She roughly counted them; altogether, there appeared to be about thirty people on the street, each holding a bulging black bag, from which emanated a heavy scent of blood. A cool morning breeze, in steady intervals, blew the bloody scent through the air, quickly dispersing it. The group swiftly left, and the scent of blood in the vicinity faded, as if it had never been there at all. Considering her cultivation strength had not yet recovered, Jiu Ying dared not act rashly. Thinking it over, she decided to keep the matter in her thoughts for now. Yu Ping and Qing Tong, after a night’s rest, appeared much more refreshed. On the contrary, Fu Ling ended up being the last to rise. By the time she finished freshening up and exited her room, the other three were already waiting on the inn’s first floor. Morning was passing, and more people gradually filled the streets. As the traffic increased, so did the patrons in the inn. Fu Ling’s charming appearance paired with her age-appropriate pink attire made her appear even more lively and captivating. The diners inside, predominantly men, couldn't help but direct their gazes towards her. Jiu Ying observed this unfold and her expression subtly shifted. Even though she had anticipated that one day Fu Ling would become the target of public admiration and pursuit, seeing these men’s eyes filled with covetous intentions left her feeling uncomfortable. Though she had never considered Fu Ling as her possession, her possessiveness constantly reminded her— She simply hoped Fu Ling belonged to her alone. It took considerable courage to face such a selfish thought frankly. Jiu Ying pursed her lips, lowered her gaze awkwardly until Fu Ling approached, prompting her to set aside the cup of tea that had long gone cold. "Senior Sister~" It was still the familiar, joyfully affectionate call, full of reliance. Hearing this cheerful voice, surprisingly, a sense of shame filled Jiu Ying’s heart. Clearly, she was still dwelling on that fleeting genuine thought. She lifted her gaze, silently observing Fu Ling, before responding with a silent nod. "Mhm." The atmosphere felt different, yet it was hard to pinpoint exactly how. Fu Ling was especially attuned to changes in Jiu Ying’s emotions. With just that simple response, she had already sensed something was amiss. Given Yu Ping and her servant were present, she felt rather shy to playfully tease her beloved for answers, so after a brief period of hesitation, she pretended she knew nothing. Even as they left the inn, she continued her discreet surveillance of Jiu Ying’s expression. The small town was not far from the Jiang family; crossing the bamboo forest ahead would lead them there. Bai Ge led the way up front, followed closely by Yu Ping in a man’s attire. As for Jiu Ying and Fu Ling, they maintained a moderate distance behind. Reflecting on the strange ambiance from before, Fu Ling still couldn’t shake her concern. She didn’t like Jiu Ying hiding things from her and hoped there wouldn’t be any secrets between them. Now absent of others, she no longer concealed her emotions and directly asked what was troubling her. "What’s bothering Senior Sister?" She knew Jiu Ying so well that she could unmistakably pinpoint her mood just with a straightforward question. Though it was not yet noon, the sunlight above was already abundant. Walking side by side, the faint scent of bamboo lingered around them. Occasionally, a cool breeze would rustle the trailing leaves, adding a gentle whisper to their walk. Unbeknownst to them, the unique summer heat had dissipated considerably. Jiu Ying continued walking without pause, her expression remaining calm and composed. As the older and more experienced of the two, she always appeared mature, steady, and patient in front of Fu Ling. Even now, with her thoughts discerned, she couldn't possibly reveal her true worries. After a moment's consideration, she offered another reason as a cover. "I'm just wondering when I will be able to recover my cultivation." "Without power, there are many things to fear, and I end up being a burden to those around me." This explanation was indeed perfect. Fu Ling never expected that Jiu Ying would confide such a personal trouble to her. Once a celestial-level powerhouse, to lose all cultivation in a single night would indeed be a massive blow to anyone. Though Jiu Ying had never mentioned her loss of cultivation outright, Fu Ling had keenly sensed how much it weighed on her. After all, how could someone who once appeared as a protector willingly become someone who needs to be protected? Upon hearing these words, Fu Ling felt a mix of heartache and a tinge of secret joy. Was the willingness to share her vulnerability a sign that her senior sister might have started to like her, even just a little? Despite constantly reminding herself not to mistake her senior sister's kindness for affection, she could not help but nurture such hope at this moment. Without thinking further, she voiced her genuine thoughts. "Senior sister isn't a burden. How could you ever be a burden?" "When my cultivation was so low, not only did you never disdain me, you always kept me by your side. Your kindness to me is like a mountain. Now that fate has wrongly caused you to lose your cultivation, how could I possibly hold it against you?" Her swift and earnest explanation perfectly illustrated how much Jiu Ying’s words meant to her. Such sincere tones truly move the heart. Although casually uttered, they reflected Jiu Ying's true feelings. Hearing Fu Ling's response, it was impossible not to be moved. She was about to reply when the young girl beside her spoke again in a hurry. "Now that senior sister is a manifestation of the Azure Dragon, your cultivation speed should be faster rather than slower. Why is your cultivation recovery taking so long?" This question had puzzled Fu Ling for quite some time. With the opportunity to clarify now, she naturally wanted more understanding. Putting aside matters of the heart, Jiu Ying usually had no secrets from Fu Ling regarding other matters. Without hesitation, she shared the cause. "I believe it's because my Dragon Heart Herb has been damaged." Dragon Heart Herb? Fu Ling was momentarily stunned, quickly recalling the scene of retrieving the Dragon Heart Herb from the web cocoon. In retrospect, it did indeed show signs of withering. "No wonder—the aura of the mountain spider is poisonous. Although the Dragon Heart Herb has draconic energy protection, enduring the toxic onslaught day and night, it's miraculous it survived at all." "We should have set out for Anyang Island sooner." "It's all my fault!" Before Jiu Ying could respond, Fu Ling took the blame upon herself. But how was any of this Fu Ling's fault? Surprised, Jiu Ying was about to ask why Fu Ling felt responsible when the latter apologized again. "If I had tried harder and improved my skills sooner, it wouldn’t have taken so long to help you reclaim the Dragon Heart Herb." "It's all my fault—" Another self-reproachful statement, filling Jiu Ying’s heart with bittersweet sorrow. She turned around, finally stopping her steps. "No need to feel guilty; I've never blamed you for this." "Fate is hard to predict. Who could have anticipated that while being blessed with this Azure Dragon form, my Dragon Heart Herb would be placed in such peril?" "Moreover, regarding cultivation, you've already exerted your utmost effort. It was thanks to you by my side that I was able to retrieve the Dragon Heart Herb." "In this situation, if you still feel guilty about my affairs, it would only bring me shame." Caring too much often means only considering the other person, leaving oneself as the forgotten one. The old Jiu Ying was such; Fu Ling is now the same. Fu Ling only half-understood Jiu Ying's words. She only knew that her senior sister hoped she wouldn’t feel guilty over this matter. If that's what her senior sister wished for, then she would comply. "Fu Ling understands." Though her reply was comforting, her true thoughts lay elsewhere. From the moment she learned that the Dragon Heart Herb was damaged, she had resolutely decided one thing— She must solve this issue for her senior sister.