Chapter Sixteen

Soaking in her sweat Wang Lan Biyu jerks up from her bed shaking and giving out strange strangled sobs. The bed was soaked, and her body felt unnaturally hot and uncomfortable as she gasps for air swinging her head around in a dazed state. Lan Biyu felt her head tilt over, her body felt frail and her spine soft like jello. Salty droplets tumbled from her cloudy eyes as Lan Biyu fell to her side unable to support herself after becoming dizzy due to sitting up so abruptly. The moon shone through the blinds onto her shaking and sweaty pale skin, almost appearing like scales under the gentle light.

The girl shivers while clutching her chest, her heart still raced and the pain that had once torn open her world had reappeared, Lan Biyu wanted to claw open her heart. "Ah-!" Her cry was pained and full of aggravation. His silver eyes like those of the moon lingering in her heart and mind refused to leave her alone no matter how much she howled. Chi, her sole companion appears like a ghost from her sleeve to stare at her master silently. Lan Biyu hiccuped back her cries and bit her lip to prevent more noise from escaping, seeing the flash of silver her eyes were naturally drawn toward it.

Her expression was full of sorrow and agony yet Chi's gaze was tranquil and clear like an isolated spring, staring into those eyes for a long while, Lan Biyu tiredly closes her own eyes. Her shivers slowly come to a stop, and her shoulders which shook like leaves in the wind also calm down with the cool breeze of loneliness. "Chi." She rasps out softly, the snake flicks its tongue silently staring at her master who was starting to gather herself. Lan Biyu's aching heart still throbs, yet she could feel that familiar numbing sensation overcome her again as she awakes from her dream facing reality. That's right, this is reality, there is nothing that can be done anymore.

It wasn't real. Nothing, nothing was real... She took a deep breath and pushes herself up again, slower this time, and felt the courage to open her eyes without feeling the urge to vomit. When she did, there was no longer vulnerability within them instead there lay the same calm and unperturbed Lan Biyu as before. "Chi, this place, I hate it." Her lashes flutter briefly showing an abnormal expression, feeling something warm on her chest Lan Biyu frowns. Looking down she unhesitantly pulls out the pulsing thing around her neck, her expression shows confusion before recognition takes place. Pursing her lips with displeasure while making to stand Lan Biyu's knees almost gave way to her humiliation and bitterness. The girl's gaze grew colder while Chi slithers up Lan Biyu's legs to her shoulder intimately rubbing her cheek after seeing her master return to normal. "...Stupid person, who told him he could enter my room without permission?"

Though she says this Lan Biyu still handled the precious thing carefully with a scowl on her face. She would settle this later. Lan Biyu pauses before removing the jade carefully from her body and putting it on the nightstand pushing this matter to the back of her mind and dismissing the odd feeling in her chest. It would be bad if the item was shattered in a moment of carelessness, that person would hold this over her head for as long as he drew breath. "The city enchantment, who had cast it?"

For her to have actually almost fallen prey to the city enchantment, she felt like a disgrace to her kind. Her hand curls into a fist as what seems to resemble mist leaks from her fingertips floating towards the ground. Ice particles fall from her mouth as she exhales heavily, blinking and turning her chilling silver gaze onto the open window. "I wonder why, the first time I had fallen out of Àn Xīng-" Raising her hand the mist that swirled at her feet suddenly swarms towards the outside like a wild beast seeking freedom leaving frost on its path that sparkling like icicles. "-I hadn't destroyed this accursed enchantment the moment I laid eyes on it. We will not make the same mistake again, Chi."

Golden flames appear out of nowhere attempting to consume Lan Biyu's arm and she winces at the backlash of using demon arts in the city of gold. Yet the girl still held strong, stubbornly maintaining the bloody arts even with the demon restriction spell threatening to consume her. With her consciousness flowing out of her body following the mist that left traces of ice in its wake Lan Biyu trails after the ancient strands of chi to their source along the busy streets of courtesans and wanton nobles. Lan Biyu remained indifferent to the frivolousness of humans in the red district she passes by ignoring their exclamations. Though she did mock the irony of the righteous sect having a red light district at all it was none of her business what humans decided to spend their money and time on.

The scent becomes stronger as she travels further towards the large walls bypassing guards who shiver as she breezes by. Lan Biyu coldly looks down at a sentry who sat on the border dozing off while leaning on the stone wall. They feel too safe with the Golden Cloud sect's protection, lacking in skill and awareness. If it were not for the barrier surrounding this city, they wouldn't last even a single hour under a horde of demons. The mist descends the wall towards the ground floor where travelers denied passage camped outside, the cries of children and adults alike filled her ears as she mingles about searching for the chi which seemed to only grow stronger since she had exited the city walls.

Lan Biyu's nose crinkles with dissatisfaction as the powerful spiritual power overflowed from an old battered shrine that had long been abandoned by humans. Here. Seeping through the broken floorboards and rotten wood at her feet Lan Biyu could only express her mockery the moment she stood before a large heavy tapestry behind the statue of an unnamed god. Although old and torn at the edges the tapestry still held reminisces of grande and prestige. She could even see the phoenix that was woven into its body was embodied with real gold yarn. The phoenix with its wing spread past that of the tapestry's capacity embraced a brilliant worn-down crown upon an unknown woman's head. It glitters and swayed with her arrival, shimmering under the soft moonlight that pierced through the broken-down roof above its head.

Lan Biyu finally frowns to herself in deep thought. Although to the mortal eye, this tapestry was nothing but sad proof of the shrine's glorious history she could still see the golden spiritual energy it gave off. Or, at least the spiritual energy of whatever was hidden behind it gave off. But as a serpent of the silver sea, Lan Biyu could naturally sense the sinister aura hidden behind flecks of gold. This made no sense. Although an enchantment of this level was hard to accomplish, it was not impossible for a mortal who was at her master's level.

But her master's spiritual essence wasn't tainted red, Lan Biyu felt uncomfortable suddenly. The phoenix's eyes seem to stare down at her beadily as a small whisp of silver made to cautiously touch the tapestry. A violent aura overcame the mist like a monster swallowing her body of mist whole along with a terrible stench that floods her sense. "!!" Lan Biyu jerks out of the mist choking on the blood spilling from her lips giving the blood she caught in her hands a look of pure astonishment. "Impossible..."

The bright gold fire slowly came to a stop after no longer sensing the foreign snake spirit that invaded its territory. Lan Biyu shook as the injury to her spirit gave off a rotted element that made her want to vomit. So she did almost choking as she did so, the sour smell filling her nostrils mixed with blood. "M-Master-" Lan Biyu was alarmed for her master's safety after her discovery, but it was impossible! That was clearly-clearly-! She could feel that disgusting spell eat at her cultivation and finally knew how to feel fear. This, she knew this terrible power! No wonder, even a snake spirit such as herself almost fell victim to this demonic curse. This wasn't the work of a normal mortal. This city...Lan Biyu felt revolted and wiped the blood from her mouth while trying to calm down. The moment she had taken her first step into this accursed city, she should have known! "Foolish and arrogant!" She gasps hatefully, Chi tilts her head at her flustered master. She held her breath and closes her eyes to forcefully cut off the parts of her which had already been tainted before they could do more serious damage.

With a new round of sweat on her brows, Lan Biyu bit her lips as Chi wraps her body around the arm which had been encompassed by the golden flames flicking her tongue at the burns which fade away from her master before appearing on herself. Her lovely white scales become torn and ugly while Lan Biyu's arm was smooth and unharmed once more. Lan Biyu sat with a pale face and sank deeply into her thoughts as she worked on banishing that evil aura. The city was merely an extension of whoever or whatever placed the original enchantment. The golden threads are different from the bloody red ones, someone had tampered with the original spell and expanded its reach from just that tiny shrine to the city.

For that type of corruption to have continued festering even after so long, someone was feeding it the energy it needed. Her master would have never stepped foot inside this city if he knew, meaning that most likely all the other sects also have no idea what was going on. As for the Golden Cloud sect, Lan Biyu's brow twitches at the reminder of the sect which ruled this area. Most likely, almost all of them also do not know that the barrier they are so proud of is fueled by inhumane means. She almost sneered, what kind of nonsense did the owner make up to allow their companions to believe they could pull off such a thing purely by their own spiritual essence?

No, perhaps those people also helped that sinner commit those evil acts. A single shrine was bad enough, to have it spread over a city as large as this? Lan Biyu was sickened at the possible truth. Living in the Azure plains where such relics truly could and do exist that can protect a whole city, Lan Biyu was expecting an artifact from the deities. Not, THIS. She was confident in destroying or at least deactivating an artifact such was her training since a young hatchling at one point in her life. But now things have become complicated, her master could be harmed next.

Hui's smiling expression flashed in her mind and her whole body stiffens, Chi took in her master's brows that wrinkled further by the second with silent loyalty. It wasn't real, you are Wang Lan Biyu. You are no longer Chao Bai. With gritted teeth, Lan Biyu raised her head towards to window where small droplets of melted ice were still in the process of evaporating. Her eyes flash impeccably. Perhaps, some of the participants in previous Àn Xīng expeditions did not all disappear because of dying within the other realm...

~

Wang Minglan sat with his eyes closed on top of his luxurious large bed, his room was similar to Lan Biyu's but was much richer and well thought of. Not that Wang Minglan bothered to pay much attention as he was only focused on cultivating. The luxuries around him may be vast and well-intentioned, but even if he was a frivolous person he did not enjoy admiring fancy vases or expensive silk like other sect masters did. If one was to ask him what he wanted if not riches, he would reply he wanted to spend a peaceful evening with his daughter drinking a nice pot of tea she personally brewed for himself. And if he was feeling generous, perhaps that brat Da Chuanli could also join them.

Wang Minglan opens his fox eyes directing them towards his room door just as a soft knock sounds. "Master." His cold eyes warm up quickly as a bright smile made its way onto his face, "Biyu, come in. Is something the matter?" His lovely daughter who wore pure white like a swan amongst soft clouds enters the room. He looks the girl over and was relieved to see she was no longer wearing that confused and disorientated expression on her face. She was back to a calm beauty, although he was unsure if she had figured it out he could see she was no longer wavering and had mostly understood. The girl shut the door behind her before turning to him with an obedient and mild reply. Her lashes softly flutter as she blinks at him "No.." She hesitates, while Minglan only smiles at her in an encouraging manner. "-father." Wang Minglan's eyes become even softer as he waves her over so Lan Biyu made her way to his side like a swaying snowflake. "What matter has you knocking on your father's door so late at night? Is the room not to your liking?"

Lan Biyu looks up into the trusting and loving eyes of Wang Minglan, and without looking away the girl seemed to decide something then before speaking again. "No father, this disciple-, daughter only wanted father to advise me on how to cultivate further." Lan Biyu lowers her head quietly, Minglan laughs and teases the girl. "Advice? You've already flown past your previous bottleneck and still wish to surpass that? Don't be greedy." Minglan rests his hand upon her head coaxing her using a gentler method than he would with others as the girl responds better to kindness. Lan Biyu gave him a rather cute reaction then, tilting her head slightly and peeking up at him with those silver eyes from under her wave of black hair making his heart turn into mush. "My Biyu is already a natural genius, rushing perfection would only backfire at this point." The man's careful consideration and concern filter through her mind and looking into his caring face, for a brief second Hui's face overlaps with Minglan's making her gaze cloudy. She unconsciously utters a hum of agreement without thinking, "Mn."

Prompting her adoptive father to smile brighter down at her "Good girl." Lowering her head it was unknown what she was thinking but his cute daughter didn't dodge his hand and Minglan couldn't help but reminisce as he observes the acquiescent child who was silently accepting his care. The beautiful and clean girl in front of him overlaps with a child dressed in a dark red robe, Minglan eyes fill with sorrow at the memory. Back then, this girl refused everyone's touch whether female or male and only clung to his robe with a quiet and empty look in her eyes. Even he was uncertain if it was still a facade she put on to please him. But each time the girl turned to look at him with those silver eyes he felt as if she placed her world at his feet to pick up.

It was impossible to abandon her at that point, the dazed but dependant gaze that fell upon himself that day. Minglan was unsure why the girl had picked him, but it was better she picked him than an evil person who would take advantage of such a lovely child. "Father," Minglan returns to the present at her call and Lan Biyu asks him a puzzling question then. "-say if senior brother became one of the missing people in the Àn Xīng realm. Would father also stay behind to look for him in that place?" The man was stunned by her strange question then he couldn't help showing a helpless look while scolding her softly. "Are you cursing your senior brother? How can you doubt him with such gusto? Although your senior brother isn't familiar with that place like you are it doesn't mean you should doubt him so much." Unexpectedly Lan Biyu pursed her lips at him and insisted on his answer to her ridiculous question. "Would you father?"

Is she worried for him? To indulge her he carelessly gave her a reply, not lying while also trying not to aggravate the child before him. He chuckles to himself and appeases her "If any of you became lost in the Àn Xīng realm I would spare no effort to save you not just your senior brother. To me you are all my responsibility, it is my duty to ensure no harm comes to you."

"Then if everyone were to fall into danger and senior brother stays behind to save the other disciples would father also stay behind?" Minglan didn't know what came over the girl who asked so many questions tonight but was happy to entertain her by jokingly saying. "If your no-good senior brother really does do such a foolish thing then I would throw him through the portal myself." Lan Biyu's eyes flash strangely before he could discern the reason for her questioning she turns away dully replying with a simple "Understood." In hindsight, with such a serious disciple Minglan should have answered more seriously and perhaps even lie to her. But for now, the man who did not think such a thing could happen under his and Da Chuanli's watch merely smiled at his adopted daughter with a doting face.