Shared Moments

“Master?”

Before Luochen could knock a second time, the door swung open.

Zhu Qing’s hair was disheveled, and a weary expression clouded her features.

“Have you been up all night again?”

Luochen’s voice was tinged with concern.

For three consecutive days, Zhu Qing had opened her door with remarkable speed.

“Indeed. The last time your cold poison (TL Note: ‘Cold poison,’ a common affliction in cultivation novels that causes extreme cold and debilitation.) flared up, the elixir’s effects were less than ideal, so I’ve been trying to refine it.”

“However, I’ve encountered a rather thorny problem, and even True Immortal Yun Qing couldn’t offer any good solutions.”

Inside Zhu Qing’s room, books on elixirs were piled high, almost reaching the ceiling.

“In truth, I believe the elixir is already quite effective; Master needn’t put so much pressure on herself.”

Luochen drew open the curtains, allowing the sunlight to banish the gloom from the room.

“Moreover, burying yourself in work like this is detrimental to your health.”

Adopting a feigned expression of annoyance, she spoke in an unquestionable tone.

“Today, let me have your time.”

****

“How does it feel?”

“Quite pleasant, actually. No wonder you enjoy lounging here so much.”

The master and disciple basked idly in the sun, Zhu Qing feeling a comforting warmth spread through her entire body.

“It truly feels different from the heat generated by spirit stones, doesn’t it?”

Zhu Qing mused.

“Of course it’s different. Using spirit stones as a heat source for sunbathing would be an unforgivable offense.”

On this matter, Luochen was undeniably a traditionalist.

“By the way, Master, it seems I haven’t told you a story in ages.”

The last time dated back even before Chen Ruan’s arrival.

“It has indeed been a long time since I heard one. So… tell me one?”

‘What should I tell her?’ Luochen frantically sifted through her memories.

‘I’ve got it!’

Clearing her throat, she decided upon a profoundly classic tale.

“A long, long time ago, there lived two snake demons who had cultivated human forms. One was named Lady White, and the other, Xiao Qing.”

****

“So Lady White was eternally suppressed beneath Leifeng Pagoda?”

Zhu Qing gritted her teeth, spitting, “Fahai, that damned bald monk!”

“Pfft.”

Watching her Master’s earnest reaction, Luochen couldn’t help but smile.

“Luochen.”

“What is it?”

Luochen’s heart tightened; her Master rarely addressed her by name directly.

“It seems all the stories you tell are tragedies.”

Luochen considered this seriously, realizing it was indeed true.

Most of the ancient classical stories from her previous life had, more often than not, been tragedies.

“I don’t like tragedies. I want everyone to live well.”

Zhu Qing turned, their eyes meeting, and Luochen saw the profound earnestness in her Master’s gaze.

“Master,” she whispered softly.

“That includes you, and Chen Ruan too.”

“All of us, we must live on well.”

Luochen longed to earnestly say, ‘I promise you.’

Yet, knowing her own physical condition, she dared not make such a vow.

“Mhm.”

Her voice, faint as a mosquito’s buzz, was swallowed by the wind.

“Let’s go down the mountain for a stroll.”

Luochen forced herself to rally her spirits, arranging their next plans.

****

Jin Yang City.

“Is this thing really delicious?”

Zhu Qing eyed the large lump of yellow mud before her with a hint of trepidation.

“Of course! This Beggar’s Chicken is an absolute delicacy.”

Luochen rubbed her hands together like a fly, an eager expression on her face.

With a gentle tap, the yellow mud cracked open.

As she peeled away the lotus leaves, a fragrant burst of their freshness mingled with the rich aroma of chicken instantly assailed them.

“It certainly smells good,” Zhu Qing murmured.

The entire chicken was roasted to a tender, crispy perfection. Luochen effortlessly tore off a drumstick, dipped it in the cumin nearby, and began to feast with gusto.

“Master, why aren’t you eating?”

Noticing Zhu Qing still lost in thought, Luochen prompted her.

“Where are the gloves?”

Glimpsing the abundant grease on the roasted chicken, Zhu Qing felt she couldn’t quite bring herself to touch it.

“Oh, come on, there’s no need to be so particular when eating this!”

Seeing Zhu Qing still hesitate, Luochen grabbed her hand and vigorously rubbed her own grease-stained fingers over Zhu Qing’s.

“There, now it’s already ‘unclean,’ so feel free to eat.”

“Oh, you.”

Zhu Qing playfully tapped Luochen’s head, then, smiling, broke off the other drumstick.

As the sun began to set.

The two, now fully sated, soared on their swords towards Feibai Sect.

“Master, look!”

Zhu Qing turned her head, following Luochen’s gaze.

The flowing light of the setting sun bled across the sky in layers, illuminating the sea of clouds until it glowed like a colossal amber gem.

Their sword shadow sped onward, with the rosy glow of dusk trailing closely behind.

Their robes flapped crisply in the wind.

Luochen stared, entranced, at the beautiful scene unfolding before her.

The boundless rosy glow and the crimson remnants of the setting sun were mirrored in her pupils, stirring ripples of shattered gold.

Yet, Zhu Qing was watching her.

Watching the world reflected in Luochen’s eyes, and her tranquil face as she admired the scenery.

For Zhu Qing, the cycle of seasons, the ebb and flow of dawn and dusk, had been witnessed countless times.

But Luochen’s face was a love poem she could never tire of reading.

Silence reigned.

Time itself seemed to be melted by the twilight, cast into amber, and solidified into eternity.

****

That night, stars and moon shone in concert, their pure light cascading like a waterfall.

On the deserted back mountain of Feibai Sect, Zhu Qing and Luochen sat, admiring the night sky.

“These past few years have felt like a dream.”

Zhu Qing suddenly rose, pacing under the moonlight.

“Originally, I probably should have been in a state of idle aimlessness.”

“It was only after meeting you that my stagnant life found change.”

She paused before Luochen.

Bathed in the moon’s glow, Zhu Qing appeared as pure and radiant as an angel.

“For me, for Su Yue, and for many others in the sect, you are an indispensable presence.”

“Chen’er, will you leave?”

Her voice, gentle as water, carried an undeniable weight.

“Master, is there something wrong with my body again?”

Coupling Zhu Qing’s earlier remark that ‘all of us must live on well’ with her recent ceaseless efforts in refining elixirs, Luochen was seized by an ominous premonition.

Hearing this, Zhu Qing’s expression flickered between shadow and light.

“Alas,” she sighed deeply.

She began to speak slowly.

“When Shuanghua brought you back last time, I detected that this flare-up of your 寒毒 (cold poison) was far more intense than any before.”

“Based on my conjecture, the outbreak of the fire poison (TL Note: ‘Fire poison,’ an affliction in cultivation novels characterized by intense internal heat, often a counterpart to cold poison.) is not far off.”

Luochen’s face showed a look of understanding.

“In truth, I’m well aware of my own body’s condition, and I had largely guessed as much from Master’s behavior.”

“But, rest assured.”

Luochen offered a faint smile.

“Before I’ve finished what needs to be done, I won’t fall… cough, cough...”

Before she could finish, Luochen began to cough.

“Oh, you. You really should stop being so stubborn.”

Zhu Qing, sighing helplessly, manifested green spiritual energy in her hand, gently infusing it into Luochen’s body.

Once her body stabilized, Luochen’s expression grew serious.

“Master, your disciple has an impertinent request.”

“What is it?”

“After Master enters seclusion, I wish to go down the mountain and explore.”

“However, given your physical condition, it would be best for you to remain on Zhu Qing Peak and recuperate properly.”

“I certainly don’t want to emerge from seclusion only to find my eldest disciple reduced to merely a box.”

Zhu Qing frowned, a hint of incomprehension in her gaze.

“I understand all of that, but I still have an unfulfilled mission.”

Luochen’s eyes held firm resolve.

Zhu Qing paused, as if she was seeing the young girl from years ago who had declared her unwavering determination to cultivate.

‘I have a mission I must complete; I cannot give up here!’

The stubborn image of that young girl materialized before her eyes, gradually merging with the figure bathed in moonlight.

All these years had passed, yet she remained as headstrong as ever.

“Can you truly not tell me what it is?”

Zhu Qing offered a wry smile.

“I’m sorry…”

This one matter, Luochen could not reveal to anyone.

“It’s alright. I agree.”

Involuntarily, a slight curve appeared at the corner of Zhu Qing’s lips.

She knew that no matter how much she wished for Luochen to remain safely on Zhu Qing Peak, she should not interfere with her decision.

As a Master, she chose to let go rather than to bind.

‘A bird belongs to the sky, not a cage.’

“However, you must also promise me a few things.”

“Please speak, Master.”

“Always take your medicine diligently. When danger arises, don’t go all out; run if you can. If you can’t escape, first use the spirit artifacts I gave you to barrage the enemy.”

“In short, engage in combat sparingly; your body cannot withstand prolonged high-intensity exertion.”

“If you go down the mountain, take your junior sister with you. Otherwise, leaving her alone on Zhu Qing Peak would surely bore her to death.”

“While you’re at it, visit the orphanage with her. Remember to bring some gifts when you go; your junior sister is too foolish to think of it.”

“Oh, and since you’re taking your junior sister, let her go first if you encounter enemies; she’s quite durable anyway.”

“After descending the mountain, remember to show extra care for this solitary child; her talent for social interaction is practically zero.”

“And also…”

Watching the venerable one chatter on incessantly, Luochen’s lips curved into an uncontrollable smile.

“What are you laughing at?”

“When Master starts nagging, she’s just like any ordinary person.”

****

Zhu Qing Peak.

Su Yue, returning from her evening lessons, found herself bewildered.

‘Where were her grand senior sister and Master? Where had they gone?’

Searching for any trace of the two, she finally discovered a note on the table.

[Today, Master and I went out to play. Junior sister, please take care of your own dinner~]

A cute smiley face was drawn in the bottom right corner.

‘Damn.’

Su Yue instantly sensed that something was amiss.

‘Her home had been raided!’