Green Mountains and Bright Moon Never Fade, Part 1

Even through the black mist, Yun Yao could feel the leader’s ferocious malice surging toward them.

But no amount of rage could change the situation.
The Tianzhao Mirror had split down the middle, its divine light extinguished, now no different from an ordinary stone.

“…Lord Hanyuan.”

The black-mist figure’s voice dripped with venom, as if he wished to grind their bones and drink their blood. His shrouded face, with two sinister hollows for eyes, glared at the two figures on the ground.
The ruined Tianzhao Mirror was hurled down, embedding itself before Mu Hanyuan.

His icy voice twisted into a hoarse laugh. “A demon seed born into the world, forcing a future-foretelling treasure to self-destruct… Truly remarkable, Lord Hanyuan.”

With that, the black mist swirled, and he vanished into the air.
“Retreat!”

At the leader’s command, the scattered demonic cultivators fled northwest.

Yun Yao stared blankly at the mirror before Mu Hanyuan.
After a moment’s hesitation, she summoned it to her hand.

Its spiritual energy had indeed dissipated, now storable in a mortal artifact.

The Tianzhao Mirror was an immortal realm object, impervious to mortal forces, even in prophecy. Its current state suggested it had touched something beyond mortal power—an immortal taboo?

The vision it had projected was clearly Mu Hanyuan’s appearance from her past life in the Samsara Tower. Why had it appeared in the mirror’s prophecy?
Did it mean Mu Hanyuan was doomed to repeat that tragedy in this life?

Her grip tightened on the mirror.

—She would never let that tragedy recur.

The wind howled around them, the field littered with wounded and debris.
Now wasn’t the time for reflection. Yun Yao tucked the broken mirror away.

Ding Xiao and He Fengming rushed over, avoiding Mu Hanyuan’s gaze. “Martial Aunt, do we pursue?”

“They were prepared; chasing is pointless. And,” Yun Yao paused, turning southeast, “we can’t leave.”

“Huh? Why?”

Ding Xiao and He Fengming were puzzled, but moments later, they sensed something, their faces shifting as they followed Yun Yao’s gaze.

“The Immortal Alliance’s rescue was delayed—please forgive us, Fellow Daoists!”

A resounding voice echoed across the sky, and dozens of powerful figures appeared on the southeastern horizon, moving in the opposite direction of the fleeing black-mist figures.

Soon, the Immortal Alliance elders landed, swords in hand.

“Senior Brother Xiao Zhong!”
“Brother!”
“Has anyone seen Xiao Zhong?!”
“…”

Jiushi Valley disciples returned, searching for Xiao Zhong’s aura amid the rubble.
Three of the four Jiushi Valley elders were gravely injured, carried off by Immortal Alliance disciples for treatment. The sole uninjured elder—the hot-tempered, white-bearded one Yun Yao had saved—stood with red-rimmed eyes, voice hoarse. “Xiao Zhong! Where’s Xiao Zhong?!”

Wu Tianya seemed to snap back to reality.
He stood not far behind Yun Yao and Mu Hanyuan—after that moment’s hesitation, he’d tried to rush forward but was too late.

“Elder Wan,” Wu Tianya steadied the elder, teetering on the edge of madness. “Xiao Zhong… likely met with misfortune.”

“Impossible! Absolutely impossible!” Elder Wan roared hysterically, grabbing Wu Tianya’s collar. “He’s Jiushi Valley’s greatest disciple of this generation! How could he meet misfortune?!”

“The Thousand Faces Technique refines living souls into one’s body. If that person could impersonate Xiao Zhong and fool you last night, it means Xiao Zhong is already…”

“You’re spouting nonsense!”
Elder Wan shoved Wu Tianya away, his voice breaking. “…It’s you! It’s all because of the calamity you brought—”

Wu Tianya’s expression shifted.

At that moment, a cold female voice cut through the elder’s cries. “Elder Wan, this was Valley Master Xiao Jiushi’s decision! Before you rashly blame others, consider his position!”

“…”

Wu Tianya’s hand stiffened at his side.
He tilted his head, as if to glimpse Yun Yao’s expression, but lacked the courage to fully turn and stopped.

Elder Wan panted heavily, his bloodshot eyes glaring at Mu Hanyuan behind Yun Yao—

“Fine, fine! I can overlook everything else, but Lord Hanyuan!”

“…”

His voice, raised in fury, named the one everyone avoided mentioning. The ruins of the temporary camp fell silent, all cultivators freezing in unison.

Unaware of the hush, Elder Wan’s blood-red eyes burned with conviction. “A treasure meant for the Immortal Sect Competition, capable of divining immortals and demons, foretelling the future—yet it showed the demon seed’s world-destroying omen!”

“—”

Above the wilderness, silence reigned.

In that stillness, a moment passed. Mu Hanyuan gazed calmly at the elder, his孤 robes billowing in the wind.
“It’s not me.”

“You!”
Elder Wan’s eyes nearly bled with rage. “The Tianzhao Mirror is an immortal treasure, as your junior sister herself said! The demon seed’s world-destroying omen was foretold centuries ago by Qianmen’s leader, Si Xuan, at the cost of his life! The mirror’s vision showed raging demonic flames and apocalyptic scenes, yet you deny it—”

“The mirror is broken,” Yun Yao interrupted, her voice icy. “I know Elder Wan is overcome with grief, but your words represent not just you, but all of Jiushi Valley!”

“Fine, fine…”

But Elder Wan, maddened by his disciples’ deaths, wasn’t swayed by Yun Yao’s restraint.
After a anguished laugh, his blood-stained white beard trembled in the wind. He shot backward, his hoarse, furious voice echoing across the sky, reaching every cultivator present—

“Jiushi Valley disciples, heed my command! Send word to recall all traveling elders. I will personally go to the East Sea Phoenix Clan to summon the Valley Master! Three days from now, at the Immortal Sect Competition, I’ll demand Qianmen explain themselves!!”

“…”

Yun Yao nearly ground her teeth to dust. “That old fool—I shouldn’t have saved him.”

“Even knowing this, Master would’ve saved him,” a voice came from behind, stopping beside her.

Mu Hanyuan spoke softly. “I once thought Master’s impartial kindness stemmed from never being wronged or seeing the world’s darkness and deceit. Now, I see that’s not true.”

“I’ve seen plenty of darkness—Bi Xiao and their ilk…”
Noticing Fuyu Palace disciples approaching, Yun Yao restrained herself, coughing lightly. “The more deceitful the world, the less I’ll join them. What they ignore, I protect; what they sow discord over, I trust; where they do evil, I’ll do good. Why should I change my principles for those gutter rats? Should we abandon beauty because of their filth and surrender the world to them?”

Mu Hanyuan paused, then nodded slowly. “I understand. I’ll follow Master’s words.”

“…You still don’t get it. The day you truly understand, it won’t be for me, but for the world itself.”

Yun Yao sighed, recalling words from her past life in the Samsara Tower, spoken by that Mu Hanyuan as he fell to darkness.

If he hadn’t said it himself, she couldn’t fathom why Lord Hanyuan, who upheld Qianmen and protected the realm for three hundred years, did it all for her alone.

Perhaps due to the Final Flame’s parasitism or the hellish past where he was killed as a demon, Yun Yao realized Mu Hanyuan held a detachment from the world.
Like a lofty moon, untarnished by mortal dust, his saintly deeds never truly touched human suffering.
Thus, when he fell to darkness, he disregarded all, treating lives like straw.

His compassion and evil existed outside the mortal world.
He never truly stood among people.

That was why he fell into that abyss.

“Master, do you trust me?”

Yun Yao snapped back.

“Do you trust that I’ll never become that person?” Mu Hanyuan’s voice was faint, heavier than usual.

“Mu Hanyuan, whether I trust you alone doesn’t matter. What matters is that countless cultivators here and beyond saw it. The news of the demon seed’s emergence will spread across the realm, and you’ll face endless doubt and criticism.”

Mu Hanyuan lowered his eyes. “As long as Master trusts me, even if the three realms point fingers, I’m unblemished and unafraid.”

“No, that’s not enough.”

Yun Yao met his gaze with unprecedented seriousness. “The mirror’s prophecy may be your fate. But no matter how fate pushes you, I hope you never compromise or become like him, indifferent to the world. Promise me—never, ever become that person.”
“He is fate, but fate should be yours, not the heavens’.”

“…”

At the spot where the light dagger pierced Mu Hanyuan’s heart, an uncontrollable pain flared, hot and cold, burrowing deep.

For the first time in ages, he heard the demon’s low, mocking voice from his consciousness.
This time, it was closer, as if whispering in his ear.

[…Haha, you don’t actually believe her, do you?]
[The world’s prejudice is endless. No matter how much you do, it won’t erase their doubts. Once planted, suspicion grows—and she’s no different.]
[One day, the world will abandon you.]
[In this world, no one truly stands with us.]

“…No,” Mu Hanyuan shut his eyes tightly. “I’m not like you. I’ll never yield to so-called fate.”

“Mu Hanyuan?”

Yun Yao noticed his odd expression, about to ask more.

“Lord Hanyuan.”

A stranger’s respectful voice sounded behind her, accompanied by an unmasked aura. A group stopped a few meters away.

Yun Yao’s expression cooled as she turned.

As expected, it was the Immortal Alliance group that “conveniently” arrived.

“We’ve questioned the cultivators present about what happened. Given the Tianzhao Mirror’s vision and to quell public concern, please, Lord Hanyuan, come with us to Tianshan Palace.”

Yun Yao stepped in front of them. “For what?”

“You must be Fellow Daoist Yun Yaojiu, Lord Hanyuan’s junior sister?” The leader smiled politely. “Rest assured, the Immortal Alliance won’t judge rashly. At the competition in three days, we’ll give Lord Hanyuan a chance to clear his name.”

“Clear his name?” Yun Yao scoffed. “If it’s about clearing his name, why go to Tianshan Palace? Afraid he’ll flee?”

“Lord Hanyuan is a saint of virtue. Surely he understands our predicament. With so many cultivators watching, we can’t let you leave freely. If something happens, how would we explain it?”

Yun Yao was about to retort, but Mu Hanyuan, calming himself, stepped forward. “I was headed to the competition anyway. I’ll go with you.”

Yun Yao frowned, turning to him.

—
If Fuyu Palace went mad and used this as an excuse to probe Mu Hanyuan’s spirit mansion at the competition, the blood-red threads within would be impossible to explain.
Even if hidden, probing a spirit mansion was dangerous—one malicious move could ruin his foundation or take his life!

Before she could speak, Mu Hanyuan seemed to read her mind.

“All you need to do is trust me,” he said gently. “I won’t let slanderers succeed.”

“…”

Yun Yao fell silent, then turned to the Immortal Alliance officer. “Fine, you can take my senior brother—but since Tianshan Palace has plenty of space, arrange lodging for the rest of Qianmen’s disciples too.”

The officer’s smile froze. “…Pardon?”

Yun Yao casually grabbed Mu Hanyuan’s sleeve. “I want to share a courtyard with my senior brother at Tianshan Palace.”
Ding Xiao gaped at their linked arms.
“Oh,” Yun Yao noticed her stare, “and them too.”

The officer: “…”

“Not willing?”
Yun Yao tugged Mu Hanyuan as if to leave. “Then don’t blame us for not cooperating. It’s Tianshan Palace that refused to invite the Buddha.”

“…Wait!”

The officer gritted his teeth, forcing a smile. “Of course, it’s fine. Please, Qianmen Fellow Daoists, board the immortal ship.”

“…”

The Immortal Alliance disciples arrived, and the injured minor sect cultivators and rogues were taken away on immortal ships.
The temporary camp soon emptied.

A hundred miles away, in a dense forest, two figures hid in the mist and shadows.

“You’re sure—that rare treasure is on Mu Hanyuan?” A hoarse, excited voice barely concealed its thrill.

“Based on the Spirit-Revealing Compass, its blood-red light confirms it’s the Golden Lotus Mu Hanyuan carries,” the black-mist leader said, hesitating. “But for some reason, the blood light is edged with gold, as if sealed…”

“Sealed?”

“Yes, and another thing,” the leader said respectfully to the shadowed figure. “Up close today, the lotus’s spiritual light was far weaker than yesterday’s reading.”

The shadowed figure mused. “The True Dragon lived ten thousand years—its words can’t be false. If the Golden Lotus is the immortal treasure that can break Qianmen Realm’s heavenly gate, it’s normal for such an extraordinary object to shift and conceal itself. I’ll report to the Ancestor for his judgment.”

“The Ancestor?” The black-mist leader looked up, shocked and delighted. “Isn’t Ancestor Bi Xiao in secluded cultivation at Tianshan’s depths? He’s coming out?”

“If we seize the immortal treasure lotus and break the realm’s heavenly curse, ascension becomes possible. Why would the Ancestor stay secluded?”

“Yes, yes, I was foolish.”

“Around the competition, don’t show yourselves at Tianshan, lest Qianmen or Jiushi Valley notice and gain leverage.”

“Yes, I obey the Palace Master’s command.”

“…”

The figure stepped forward.
Moments later, he appeared in a resplendent golden hall.

Bypassing a screen, he revealed his face to the guest in the seat. “Apologies, Brother Chu, palace matters delayed me. You won’t hold it against me, will you?”

“Not at all,” Qianmen Elder Chu Tianchen stood, smiling. “Palace Master Wen, please.”

Half a day later, Tianshan Palace.

“What? So it was a misunderstanding?”
Ding Xiao leaned back, incredulous. “So those demonic cultivators at the inn on the way to Fantian Temple meant to silence you, but you and Lord Hanyuan fought them off, exposed their demonic-immortal hybrid techniques, and saw the demonic aura on Lord Hanyuan’s newly forged sword, assuming he’d joined their path?”

Yun Yao nodded. “In truth, that sword is mine now.”

“What??”

Yun Yao raised an eyebrow, and Mu Hanyuan lifted his sleeve.
The Minsheng Zither appeared before him.

At the same time, the Dragon’s Roar Sword unsheathed with a fierce aura, dimming the room’s lamplight.

Ding Xiao shrank back, cautious. “It doesn’t look demonic at all?”

“It’s been purified at Fantian Temple.”

“But then why did the Tianzhao Mirror show… that?” Ding Xiao lowered her voice.

“Likely the demonic cultivators used some evil technique to frame him, tarnishing Mu Hanyuan’s name.”
Yun Yao paused, glancing at Ding Xiao. “What, don’t you trust your Lord Hanyuan?”

“How could we not!” Ding Xiao nearly squeaked. “Lord Hanyuan has devoted himself to Qianmen, risking his life to protect us. We’re not brainless ingrates! Yesterday, when Fuyu Palace disciples gossiped about him in the west courtyard, Brother He drew his sword!”

“Sounds like he’s quite protective of your Lord Hanyuan.”
Yun Yao turned to Mu Hanyuan with a half-smile.

Catching her gaze, Mu Hanyuan looked back, his eyes tinged with knowing resignation.
He turned to Ding Xiao, speaking gently. “Tianshan Palace is Fuyu Palace’s domain. Tell Brother He not to act rashly, lest he fall into a trap.”

Ding Xiao slumped. “Oh.”

Yun Yao shook her head, smiling.

“Alright, it’s late. Rest now. These matters don’t need your generation’s worry. Focus on improving your strength and cultivation.”

“Yes, Martial Aunt…”

Ding Xiao rose reluctantly, heading out. At the door, she paused, peeking through the crack. “By the way, Martial Aunt, Qianmen is resting just outside Tianshan Palace. Shouldn’t we join the Sect Leader?”

Yun Yao glanced out the window. “Even if we went, we’d be tailed. With things unclear, it’s best not to drag them into this.”

“Alright, I’ll take my leave.”

“…”

Once the door closed and no prying senses remained, Yun Yao’s expression grew serious. She turned to Mu Hanyuan. “At the competition, Fuyu Palace may publicly confront you over the mirror’s vision of the demon seed’s world-destroying omen. Be prepared.”

Mu Hanyuan nodded calmly. “They likely think the Dragon’s Roar Sword proves I’ve turned demonic and will demand to probe my spirit mansion.”

“?” Yun Yao’s brows frosted over. “I’ll never allow them to probe your spirit mansion!”

Mu Hanyuan paused, then smiled. “Why not?”

“Why? Those demonic cultivators, obsessed with extending their lives through evil arts, even refining living souls—they’re utterly conscienceless!”
Yun Yao’s rant halted, as if recalling someone, and her brows drooped. “In short, letting those people touch your spirit mansion is absolutely impossible.”

Mu Hanyuan watched her silently.

The lamplight flickered, highlighting his ethereal profile, his usually frost-cold eyes now softened with warmth.

Catching his gaze, Yun Yao’s heart skipped. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I thought, as long as it didn’t tarnish Master’s name, I could cripple my cultivation before the competition if they pressed me.”

“—?” Yun Yao nearly leapt from her chair.
Snapping back, the red-clad woman gripped the table’s edge. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Mu Hanyuan smiled faintly. “My cultivation was built for Master, so it can be discarded for Master. If it dispels their demon seed prophecy, it spares you trouble.”

“? Stop,” Yun Yao turned. “What do you mean, built for you?”

“When Master was in seclusion, I had to uphold Qianmen and protect our disciples, so I needed strength.” Mu Hanyuan’s eyes softened, lashes like falling stardust. “Now that Master’s injuries are healed and your cultivation restored, I only need to stand behind you, right?”

“That’s a load of…”
Yun Yao barely stopped herself from cursing.

She closed her eyes, inhaling and exhaling three times to calm herself.

Opening her eyes, she looked at Mu Hanyuan earnestly. “Remember your promise never to become that person?”

Mu Hanyuan paused. “Of course.”

“Then the first step is not living solely for me. That makes your world narrow, a mere thread.”
Yun Yao sighed, lifting her hand to gently turn his jaw, meeting his unresisting gaze. “You don’t just look at me—you look at the whole world. Care for living people, like Ding Xiao and He Fengming. You protect and trust them, and they stand before you too.”

Mu Hanyuan’s gaze darkened. “Must I?”

“You must. Only then will you truly live like a person. Only then will you cherish the world and avoid that lonely, doomed path.”
Yun Yao withdrew her hand, looking at him seriously. “Even if it’s fate, you must cut through it with your sword. Remember the Naihe Sword Technique I taught you?”

Mu Hanyuan nodded.

“Do you know why it’s called Naihe?”
Yun Yao didn’t wait for an answer.

She looked at the gold bell bracelet on her wrist. “You said my kindness comes from not seeing human deceit. No, I’ve seen plenty, but beyond that, I remember the warmth of people’s hearts. The world may be filthy, with monsters lurking in shadows, but beyond darkness, there’s always light. Even if it fades before night, I believe it returns at dawn.”

“I’ve seen the darkest nights, Mu Hanyuan, when I loathed the feeling of powerlessness.”

Yun Yao lifted her eyes, wet but resolute with a smile. “But I realized—if the night never ends, I’ll be the sword that cuts it. If light doesn’t come, we’ll tear through the darkness.”
“With the sword in my hand, I question the world and protect its people. If the heavens deny me power—I’ll seize it.”

Mu Hanyuan’s eyes flickered with shifting light, silent.

Yun Yao smiled faintly. “That’s the Naihe Sword Technique I’m passing to you.”

“Learn it slowly. One day, I believe you’ll understand,” Yun Yao said, returning the Dragon’s Roar Sword to its zither sheath. “From now on, Dragon’s Roar is yours, and Naihe is mine.”

Still processing her words, Mu Hanyuan looked up sharply. “Master, are you…”

“The Naihe Sword has hung atop Tianshan for three hundred years, enduring frost and cold,” Yun Yao gazed out the window. “It’s time to unseal it and confront the world’s demons once more.”