Chapter 30: A Gothic Revelation and a Divine Quest

Ouyang Xiyue exited the study, a profound sigh of relief escaping his lips, as if shedding a heavy burden. Unbeknownst to him, Night Jia had already silently positioned herself by the study door, having been lying in wait in the living room.

The moment Ouyang Xiyue had stepped into the study, Night Jia had stealthily crept to the door, pressing her entire body against its surface, desperate to catch snippets of the conversation within. Yet, the study’s soundproofing proved exceptionally effective; despite her most fervent attempts, she gleaned absolutely nothing, her efforts ultimately proving futile.

“Night Jia? What brings you here?” Ouyang Xiyue inquired, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“Oh, I was merely strolling about,” Night Jia replied, her voice soft. “Seeing that Sister Xiyue had been inside for quite a while, I grew rather bored on my own, so I decided to wait here for you to emerge. By the way, Sister Xiyue, why is your face so flushed…?” She nervously clutched her hands, her fingers fidgeting with her skirt.

A wave of apprehension washed over her, fearing Ouyang Xiyue would see straight through her thinly veiled deception. Yet, to her surprise, he made no move to expose her.

“Ah? Red face? Are you referring to me?” Ouyang Xiyue feigned surprise, his expression perfectly composed, his heart betraying no tremor. “Alas, you wouldn’t know, but the study is an inherently enclosed space, and that Night Xuehui fellow insisted on setting the air conditioner to warm air. It was simply stiflingly hot, truly unbearable.”

‘The moment the words escaped his lips, Ouyang Xiyue silently commended his own quick thinking, realizing that had he not been so sharp, his secret might well have been revealed right then and there. It seemed peril lurked around every corner these days. Perhaps it was best to go change his clothes first; time was pressing, and he still had to prepare dinner shortly.’

“Air conditioner? But Sister Xiyue, our study doesn’t have an air conditioner at all, so where would this ‘warm air’ come from? Sister, tell me truthfully, are you lying? What exactly did you and Brother do in there? Could it be… no, it couldn’t be, you said it was impossible, so quickly… Tsk, tsk, tsk, it seems Sister Xiyue is quite the hypocrite after all.” Night Jia’s grin was mischievous, her eyes glinting slyly as she fixed her gaze on Ouyang Xiyue, leaving him feeling utterly helpless.

‘“What ‘finished,’ what ‘hypocrite’—what bizarre notions are these?” he mused. ‘As for the air conditioner, he decided, he would simply pretend he had never mentioned it. Ouyang Xiyue knew he had to make a swift exit, for against the cunning and spirited Night Jia, he feared he stood little chance.’

“Cough, cough. No air conditioner, you say? Well, then it must be some marvelous magic, haha! I’ll teach you about it sometime. Little Sister Night Jia, your clever little mind is constantly pondering the most peculiar things. Now, I must be off to attend to my duties. You be a good girl and watch some television, alright?” With these words, Ouyang Xiyue feigned composure, gently patting Night Jia’s head before making a hasty departure.

It wasn’t until he returned to the bedroom where he had previously changed that Ouyang Xiyue finally allowed himself to relax. He cast a quick glance at the doorway, secretly relieved that Night Jia hadn’t followed him, for her presence would surely have brought him a fresh wave of vexation.

‘‘The clothes are in the wardrobe, aren’t they? Custom-made?’ he mused. ‘No, that can’t be right. The more I ponder it, the more peculiar it becomes. Custom-made—what does that truly imply? How on earth did that Night Xuehui fellow obtain my precise measurements? I certainly never allowed her to take them.’’

‘Only then did Ouyang Xiyue realize, with a jolt, how utterly oblivious he had been. He recalled the last time he had rested on the academy rooftop, inadvertently drifting off to sleep, only to be carried home by Night Xuehui. He hadn’t seen Night Jia then; he presumed she must have been sound asleep in her own room, given the late hour.’

‘‘I never would have imagined that Night Xuehui, that scoundrel, was also such a hypocrite!’ he thought, indignant. ‘This is what she calls having no interest in my “airport-like figure” (TL Note: A Chinese slang term referring to a flat chest, often used humorously.)? If she wasn’t interested, why would she lay her hands on my body? Hmm, that last part sounds a bit odd, but it’s not exactly wrong, is it? That hypocrite! “Hypocrite”… I feel like I’ve heard that term somewhere before… *cough, cough*.’

‘Alright, I should just change,’ he decided. As Ouyang Xiyue opened the wardrobe doors, his gaze was immediately captivated by the garments within.

“Ha? Is this… a Gothic Lolita?”

The opulent attire, resembling a mysterious bloom unfurling in the depths of night, emanated an intoxicating allure. Ouyang Xiyue found himself unable to resist reaching out to gently caress it, his fingertips gliding over the exceptionally fine fabric, which felt as smooth and luxurious as silk. Observing the intricate patterns adorning the garment, he noted the delicate lines and exquisite brushwork. Could it possibly be custom-made by hand? ‘Never mind,’ he thought, dismissing the notion. ‘Who truly knows? Why bother with such excessive contemplation?’

Behold, for even a single glance was enough to discern the singular uniqueness of this garment. It appeared our Xiyue had well and truly descended into the wondrous abyss of feminine attire.

Yet, an undeniable shyness lingered in his heart, even as he stubbornly clung to his so-called ‘masculine dignity’—truly a hypocrite through and through.

‘‘I do possess a skirt or two like this,’ he mused, ‘but precious few. After all, I seldom wear such slightly childish attire; it always strikes me as a bit infantile. Though my current height barely reaches 1.6 meters, for a boy, it’s undeniably rather dissatisfying. Then I look at Brother Yu’s towering 1.9-meter frame, and every time I stand before him, I have to crane my neck to meet his gaze… Wait, now that I mention it, I’m suddenly struck by the realization that after all these years, Luli Ling actually seems to have surpassed me in height!’’

‘‘What in the world?!’ he thought, a wave of despair washing over him. ‘I’m starting to question if I even count as a boy anymore. Alas, I can only pray that before I reach adulthood, the heavens will grant me a little more grace, allowing me to grow taller.

Otherwise, should I ever revert to my true male form, I certainly wouldn’t wish to be branded a “shorty.”’ Ouyang Xiyue lamented to himself, his heart heavy with grief, appearing every bit like a solitary goose cruelly toyed with by fate.

‘‘So… I suppose I still want to try it on, don’t I?’ he mused. ‘This Gothic Lolita dress, with its dark and mysterious allure… Ah, well, what’s done is done. As the saying goes, if I don’t descend into hell, who will? (TL Note: A Buddhist proverb, often used to humorously imply embracing a difficult or unconventional path.) I’ve long grown accustomed to these circumstances, so what harm could one more instance do?’ As he entertained these thoughts, Ouyang Xiyue felt no sense of lost integrity; after all, his moral compass had, piece by scattered piece, long since been left behind in the annals of time.

****

The perspective shifted, settling upon the dense expanse of the Magical Beast Forest.

“Old Jian,” Lijian chattered, proudly thumping his sturdy chest, “your sudden change of heart has truly worn us brothers to the bone. You genuinely dote on this precious disciple of yours, don’t you? When it comes to gifts, you simply must choose the absolute best. To even contemplate forging a divine sword—it seems even a holy sword no longer catches your eye! I truly commend you! Thankfully, we brothers were here, otherwise, where would you have ever found those materials? A magical beast with a hundred-thousand-year lifespan would likely prove quite a challenge for you to confront alone. But with the three of us brothers united in effort, we are naturally invincible, as expected of us!”

“While Old Li does tend to ramble a bit too much, his words do carry a certain truth,” Jian Yi interjected, her tone earnest. “The holy sword you wield is already considered a paramount existence across the continent. Who could have foreseen your sudden ambition to forge some divine sword? Has such a weapon ever truly existed on this continent? I, for one, have never heard tell of it. Furthermore, we are currently deep within the core region of the Magical Beast Forest; acting so brazenly here is likely ill-advised. Now that we have what we came for, let us make a swift retreat. Should we inadvertently rouse some ancient, formidable beasts, the three of us brothers would undoubtedly find ourselves in a precarious situation.”

“Rest assured, my two brothers,” Jian Laifeng declared, his gaze distant, as if lost in visions of his disciple’s future glory, his eyes brimming with both anticipation and unwavering trust. “I, Jian Laifeng, have never once treated you unfairly. After all these years together, do you not yet understand my character? My master once instructed me to always strive for the absolute best. I admit, I was momentarily overcome with a burst of passion; who knows how much longer I have to live? Bestowing the finest upon my disciple is also my hope that he will possess a reliable safeguard for self-defense in the future. While this might indeed invite some trouble, I steadfastly believe in him. Among the younger generation, his strength is already considered paramount. I am utterly convinced that, in the not-so-distant future, he is destined to stand at the very pinnacle of the continent.”

“Yes, yes, Old Jian, everything you say is absolutely correct,” Lijian conceded, shaking his head with a resigned sigh as he observed Jian Laifeng’s utterly confident demeanor. “Aside from the materials we procured in the Magical Beast Forest this time, you’ll have to personally supply everything else required to forge this divine sword. Do you truly possess absolute certainty in your ability to craft such a weapon?”

“Indeed, Old Jian, you must consider this thoroughly,” Lijian urged, gently patting Jian Laifeng’s shoulder and offering a reassuring smile. “The chasm separating a holy sword from a divine sword is far from insignificant. In terms of elemental power, inherent attributes, and myriad other factors, an abyssal disparity exists between the two. A divine sword is merely an entity of legend; whether it can truly be forged, no one can definitively say. Should such a weapon indeed come into being, it is certain to unleash a tempest of bloodshed and turmoil across the continent. This first divine sword, whose existence is unequivocally confirmed, would undoubtedly ignite the avarice of countless individuals. If word were to spread that young Xiyue possessed this divine sword, he would likely know no more tranquil days. After all, legend dictates that when a divine sword manifests, it is akin to a deity descending to the mortal realm, its presence overtly apparent. At such a time, who knows what unforeseen calamities might erupt? Old Jian, I know you will shoulder every burden. Presently, there are but a handful of individuals on the continent whose strength surpasses yours, yet it remains possible that reclusive elders, hidden away in remote mountains, might still covet this divine sword. Nevertheless, rest assured, with us brothers by your side, you may proceed without apprehension. We shall declare to the outside world that the divine sword rests in your hands; with our three brothers standing united, we need fear nothing.”

“Haha, I knew I, Jian Laifeng, hadn’t misjudged either person or chosen the wrong brothers,” Jian Laifeng exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Excellent! Let us commit to this endeavor wholeheartedly! Even if it doesn’t fully succeed, it can still be refined to the quality of a holy sword, so our efforts won’t be entirely in vain, though it will consume a fair amount of materials. I shall find a secure location to make some preliminary preparations. Once I am ready, I will summon you both, and we shall commence immediately.” With these words, Jian Laifeng carefully placed some of the materials into his spatial ring.