Chapter 18: Why Did It Turn Out This Way…

It was a token, about the size of a palm.

The token was a deep, dusky cyan in color—neither jade nor metal, its material exceedingly unique.

Its surface bore no trace of artificial carving, possessing instead a naturally smooth, rounded finish.

What was even more peculiar was that the moment it left Bai Yue’s hand, it began to emanate a pure, inviolable spiritual pressure, carrying an air of undeniable authority.

Under the influence of this pressure, the thin, turbid spiritual energy in the surrounding air began to converge and spiral toward the token, like ministers bowing before their emperor.

Xiao Yueluo’s body went rigid.

Mechanically, she lowered her head and, with trembling hands, carefully cradled the token.

On the front of the token, carved in an ancient, arcane script, were two bold, sweeping characters:

Du Xian

On the reverse side, fine golden lines traced a lifelike cyan lotus, along with a single character: Bai.

“Th-This… this is…”

Xiao Yueluo’s voice completely changed pitch.

In her mind, the contents of the Chronicles of the Central Continent and A Study of the Du Xian Sect—books she had memorized cover to cover—flashed wildly.

This appeared to be the Du Xian Cyan Lotus Token, a credential reserved exclusively for true disciples and above!

A forgery?

Who in the entire Central Continent would dare to counterfeit a core token of the Du Xian Sect?

And who had the ability to inscribe a formation capable of instantly mobilizing the surrounding spiritual energy into such a small token?

“It really is…” Xiao Yueluo collapsed onto the wooden chair behind her, her eyes vacant.

What had she just said?

“I’d sooner believe I myself am a Heaven-chosen heroine than believe you’re from the Du Xian Sect!”

“No one knows the Du Xian Sect better than I do!”

Recalling her grand, righteous performance of exposing the “fraud” moments ago, Xiao Yueluo wished she could dig a deep hole in the bluestone floor with her toes and bury herself alive.

How utterly humiliating!

Su Qingyan, seeing Xiao Yueluo’s deflated state, roughly guessed what had happened.

Though she didn’t share Xiao Yueluo’s fervent reverence for the Du Xian Sect, she understood its significance well enough.

She looked nervously at Bai Yue, her wariness now replaced by a deep, reverent awe.

“Cat got your tongue?”

Bai Yue leisurely walked over to Xiao Yueluo, looking down at the girl whose cheeks were flushed so red they seemed ready to drip blood.

The corner of her mouth curled into an undisguised, malicious grin.

“Weren’t you quite talkative just now?

First this, second that—impeccable logic, perfect reasoning.”

Bai Yue leaned down, bringing her lips close to Xiao Yueluo’s ear, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:

“Now then, Lady Heaven’s Chosen, may we please get going?”

Xiao Yueluo jolted, snapping her head up to meet Bai Yue’s teasing, half-smiling eyes.

This woman had done it on purpose!

She could have just shown her identity outright, but instead, she had to watch her perform like a jumping clown for half the day!

How could the Du Xian Sect harbor such a scoundrel!

Though she had cursed Bai Yue a thousand times in her heart, facing the cruel reality, Xiao Yueluo had no choice but to lower her head in shame.

“Se-Senior…” Xiao Yueluo bit her lower lip so hard it nearly bled, her voice barely a whisper.

“This junior was… highly disrespectful just now.

Please, Senior, be generous and forgive me…”

“Giving up that easily?

What happened to that ‘death before dishonor’ spirit from earlier?”

Bai Yue straightened up and casually beckoned.

The Du Xian Cyan Lotus Token transformed into a streak of cyan light and flew back into her sleeve.

“Alright, wipe that look off your face.

If I really wanted to do something to you, even a hundred lives wouldn’t be enough to save you.”

Bai Yue turned and strode toward the shop’s entrance.

“Don’t dawdle.

Don’t you want to restore your spiritual roots?”

At the doorway, she paused and glanced back at them.

Xiao Yueluo shuddered.

Though this ill-tempered woman’s true motives remained unknown, she was the only lifeline Xiao Yueluo had!

“Qingyan, let’s go.”

Xiao Yueluo took a deep breath, her gaze hardening once more.

She gripped Su Qingyan’s hand firmly and strode after Bai Yue’s retreating figure.

Whether it was a mountain of blades or a sea of fire ahead, for the sake of regaining her former glory and protecting those precious to her, Xiao Yueluo would charge forward without hesitation!

Walking ahead, Bai Yue heard the footsteps behind her and a small smile tugged at her lips.

Excellent.

The little cabbage had willingly jumped into the basket.

Now came the task of slowly filing down this little wildcat’s claws on the Du Xian Sect’s home turf.

Hum—

Just as the three of them stepped out of the shop, a crisp sword hum pierced the sky.

A massive spiritual boat, its entire body glowing with cyan light and carved with intricate array patterns, materialized overhead out of thin air.

Its enormous shadow instantly covered half the street.

The terrifying pressure radiating from the boat made countless cultivators in the city go weak in the knees as they raised their heads in horror.

“Let’s go.”

Bai Yue paid no attention to the terrified mortals and cultivators below.

Her investigation had already told her there was no one of note in this city, so she couldn’t be bothered to waste more time being inconspicuous.

***

That night.

A cool breeze carried distant whispers, and the autumn moon stretched endlessly across the sky.

Inside the flying boat’s guest quarters, Xiao Yueluo tossed and turned on the soft couch, unable to sleep a wink.

Giving up, she got up and prepared to sit outside for a while.

Unbeknownst to her, her restless movements had already awakened the sleeping Su Qingyan.

Sigh.

Xiao Yueluo sat on the steps of the open-air deck outside the room, gazing at the countless stars so close she could almost touch them.

She felt like a complete fool now.

Yesterday, she had been so certain of her reasoning, practically declaring Bai Yue a fraud from some demonic cult—and yet…

She really was from the Du Xian Sect, and not just an ordinary disciple.

Why did it turn out this way…

Xiao Yueluo buried her face in her knees, curling into a tight ball.

“Yueluo, why are you sitting out here?”

A gentle voice came from behind.

Xiao Yueluo stiffened.

“I…”

Her head drooped even lower.

Changing the subject, she asked, “Qingyan, aren’t you conflicted at all?

She’s from the Du Xian Sect, and she says she’s taking us there.”

Light footsteps drew nearer.

Su Qingyan walked up beside her, crouched down, and sat on the steps, speaking with a smile: “That, huh.

I was pretty shocked at first, but I’m not really conflicted about it.”

“Why?”

Xiao Yueluo asked in a muffled voice.

“Because we didn’t have any other choice anyway.

Besides, she’s not really a bad person.

Think about it—she hasn’t done anything truly excessive to us.”

“Since when did you sound so familiar with her?

Speaking up for her like that?”

Xiao Yueluo puffed out her cheeks and suddenly looked up at Su Qingyan.

Caught by that slightly jealous gaze, Su Qingyan shook her head vigorously to signal she meant nothing of the sort.

Rarely flustered, she stammered defensively: “I’m not really speaking up for her either.

It’s just… she did help both of us, and she wants to help you restore your spiritual roots.

Wouldn’t it be wrong to badmouth her behind her back?”

But rather than convincing Xiao Yueluo, these words only threw her into greater turmoil.

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