Chapter Twenty Three

Wang Lan Biyu made her way through the mostly empty floor where their Azure sect was staying with a stone expression. The extravagant gold tiles around her merely made her want to turn around and leave even faster. But since she had given her word, she could only swallow these feelings and reluctantly accept their request for her to check in on the boy who expected much more from her than she could give. She could only comfort herself with the fact that after tonight, the chances Fuqing would be able to fawn over her would come to an end. She was really, really, REALLY unwilling to do it. Snakes cannot love. Snakes cannot feel emotions.

Snakes are emotionless. Venomous snakes are even more so. In her own way, Lan Biyu was protecting the innocence of the boy called Fuqing. When she arrives at the room where Fuqing is sharing with some other boys, she knocks on the door. It was answered rather quickly by another boy who seemed stunned by her sudden appearance. "Si-" When he was about to greet her nervously she raised a single finger to her lips to silence him.

Although confused, the boy did she instructed, and moved aside when she shooed him away even if he was full of confusion while doing so. Brother Fuqing wasn't here, so what was Wang Lan Biyu doing here? However, much to his shock the young girl made a beeline toward their window and threw it open seemingly with the intention of jumping out of it. His eyes widened and he gave a faint exclamation of fright. "Ah-! W-Wait!" However, the window slams shut behind her refusing to let him check on the fate of the girl who flew out like a floating celestial with no fear. Ignoring the frantic and frightened boy she had locked inside, Lan Biyu lands gracefully upon the slippery roof tiles just below the window sill.

Flicking her sleeves to rid the invisible dust on her clothes, she turns to her right to spot a gloomy Fuqing staring out at the city lights with a dark look in his eyes. She took a moment to finally access the boy who just like Da Chuanli would follow her around with bright eyes and flushed cheeks. He was handsome for a human too, nothing compared to Da Chuanli. But he had a righteous and youthful aura that was attractive in a male the fox-like Da Chuanli did not have. His hair was short, his shoulders broad, and his posture upright. Qing Mianyang had good eyes to try and woo the boy who would have a heroic appearance and reliable personality when he grew up. It was just a shame that he already had someone he had his heart set on.

Lan Biyu didn't like Fuqing, but given that his feelings toward her were sincere she had more tolerance for him due to her master's urging. And what also made him more easy on the eyes were his clear eyes with a familiar softness in them like someone in her past who looked at her the same way. But, it's just too bad that he chose her, Wang Lan Biyu. "Can you all not leave me alone for just a few moments? I apologize but, just for today I want you all to respect my wishes to be left alone." He spoke in a rare sullen and serious tone Lan Biyu wasn't familiar with.

He clearly did not expect that Lan Biyu would be willing to find him herself, but perhaps because of the outside chaos Lan Biyu didn't take his offensive words to heart. She ignored his request and slowly made her way to his side. Seeing a skirt, Fuqing's brows furrow. Did they allow a girl to enter their chambers to comfort him? His aura oozed disapproval, but when he was about to scold the other. One look up at the face of the individual wearing the baby blue skirt made him tense up and become full of bewilderment. His heart skipped a beat and shame coated his cheeks as he faced the girl in his heart who had most definitely seen his embarrassing failure this morning.

Fuqing didn't know whether to jump to his feet or hide his face out of mortification. Lan Biyu scurries the boy's spiritual aura and is annoyed at what she finds. There was a darkness that settled just above his left chest, a heart demon that was rearing its head. Simply losing one fight made him so disheartened? She frowns at him, Fuqing's breath stutters and his hands squeeze into fists as he turns away from his crush with mixed feelings. "Fuqing, as one of our master's brighter students are you not ashamed to be so easily defeated?"

Feeling discomfort in his heart as he was scolded by his sweetheart. Fuqing felt more pain than when he had to swallow his loss with what dignity he had left in front of all of his friends. He dared not raise his head in front of her. Rarely would she speak more than a few words to him as it was mostly him doing the talking when they were together. And now, the first time she spoke more than four words in one setting was when she was scolding him. Fuqing felt even more depressed.

"Is it the end of the world? Are you still a child? Throwing a tantrum over a single loss, isn't that just beyond immature? With all your talent can you still hold your head up high and claim you did your best as one of master's more promising students after today?" Criticism rained from her lips, each one crushing Fuqing more and more but each one more valid than the next so he could not even deny them. And the fact that Lan Biyu said them made him even more unable to rise. Hating the lowering of his head, Lan Biyu disdained this part of Fuqing who withstood her abuse just because she was a girl and he liked her a bit.

"Gao Chang wouldn't have acted like this if he had lost." Fuqing visibly flinches. Pursing her lips, Lan Biyu and Fuqing stayed together in the tense and depressing silence before he responded in a low voice. "Junior sister Wang should know my feelings, do you have to be so cruel?" His voice was hardly a whisper, and full of sadness. The confession fell like beads upon a smooth staircase replicating the delicate strand of hope tied so high even the owner couldn't easily reach it anymore. For as high as one holds an object in his heart, when it falls, it is bound to take out the many pillars that had been built beneath to support it during its ruthless descent.

Lan Biyu wasn't moved. Turning to leave without acknowledging nor looking back at the Fuqing whose shadows grew only larger after she arrived. She merely concluded their conversation with a cold "Reflect upon your mistakes compared to the rest of your fellow sect members who continue to hold their heads up high despite their losses. The path of cultivators is not a game in which you can play and follow along then stray off of depending on how you feel." Long after she left Fuqing stayed in the same position. His heart bitter and his expression was probably more so, hidden from the rest of the world. Burying his head into his arms, the teen's heart was in turmoil. When she re-enters the room the student who watched her leave was a bit startled to see her return so quickly but before he could question her actions. Lan Biyu left the room without explaining anything to him. Her expression choked the other boy who could only shrink back due to her chilling aura.

She wasn't a good person, this was for certain. Unlike others who would speak soft words and comfort a sorrowful person who held them in high regard. Lan Biyu felt it was a very human thing to do, feeling sympathy and such. To her, this was also considered the kindest thing she could do. Who was he to feel bad about himself while Ming Ailing who had no chance of winning and knowing so still had to lose in front of hundreds of cultivators? She didn't pity him like the rest of them did. He was one of the fortunate ones.

Born with talent, good spiritual roots, untwisted upbringing, and taken under a strong master. Yet he lost simply because he was faced with a person of the opposite sex. She would never pity someone ignorant like him. He was good to her, but she could never stand his naive outlook on life. The cultivation world was full of black-bellied humans who dirtied their hands in the name of virtuous immortality. "*Shhh!" Lan Biyu's scowl became apathy, standing taut she turned towards a window looking out beyond the dark city.

"*Shhhh~" Brows furrowing, she picked up her pace tossing the current matter to the back of her mind as a more concerning situation came up. Someone was trying to tamper with the shrine again. Her complexion worsened at the possible nefarious schemes of the people who would visit the shrine at this time of night when An Xing was taking place the next day. Only those involved in the shrine's true purpose and aware of what it held within would step into that place. Rushing back into the room assigned to her, Lan Biyu hurriedly placed a noise-blocking barrier around herself. Sitting on the floor, she took a deep breath, the air around her chilling. Unlike before when there was only a wisp of ice spilling from her lips the chi clouded beneath her feet gathering like a small pool of water before rising to her height.

Lan Biyu's brows furrow and sweat coats her forehead with effort as the specter takes the form of a lethal but beautiful white snake slowly curling around her body. But unlike when she was a child, the large snake was solid in its form almost indistinguishable between the real thing and a spirit. Biting the inside of her cheek, Lan Biyu opens her eyes seeing her human body sitting in the same position as when she left it. Sweat on her brows and her lips pursed tightly into a frown, occasionally her lashes would tremble but they did not open. Flicking her tongue at the beautiful skin she had just shed, Lan Biyu slithers away from the body that she occupied for more than a decade. Slowly making her way out of her window, she was careful to take the same path she did as a mere wisp.

However, unlike when she was just a ball of spiritual energy now she was in a corporeal form. She was as real and visible as any other snake. As to why this form was necessary, she couldn't risk them tracking her to her real body and implicating her master. Flicking her tail once Lan Biyu flinches when the connection between her and her body is cut off and knew that her human body must have collapsed without consciousness within it.

But it was late into the night, and no one would dare to bother her as master's daughter. Pulling a trick once was enough to set off alarms for her master, so he would be extra vigilant. Wasn't Da Chuanli's fetching of her before the night was entirely over because of that? It was the master's way of telling her not to go running about tonight. However, Lan Biyu could only ignore this order out of necessity.

From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of her tail mildly fading like a ghost. This small mistake couldn't be helped, only using her cultivation core it was obvious that at her level she could barely pull off this spell due to her steady spirit. It was a miracle she managed to create this body in the first place, even with its imperfections. "...." Bumping her nose into her white almost translucent scales Lan Biyu fell into a fair silence. Then quietly slithered her way down the tower into the court grounds. Looking around she had fallen into one of the minor court gardens. As it was her original form Lan Biyu was familiar with the body and moved stealthily resembling a flowing silver ribbon like an illusion from the moon's light.

Although her senses were dull as she wasn't in her natural environment she still had a vivid sense of where and what she was moving on. Flicking her tongue she moves her head in the direction of the small pond. If there is a body of water, there are bound to be more creatures living here other than the wandering me. Tail curling lightly, Lan Biyu decidedly shunned the pond of water that was calling out in an attempt to seduce her and slid back under the pathways of the sect halls. Any creature living within the walls of this sect was bound to be as brainless or conniving as the owner and Lan Biyu did not want to associate with them. For a noble creature such as her who once reigned as the lord of the sea a small puddle was hardly worth her time.

As she trailed beneath the undergrove and wood pathways, she occasionally caught snippets of conversations from passing figures above. "..senior sister it's late should we hea.." "...der brother can't you let it go this o..." "....-let them come. Should I be afraid of a simple noble family just because of their status?" Lan Biyu paused in her trek, turning around with bright milky eyes to look behind her towards the voice she had just passed. "*shhhh~" She hesitates, looking between the conversating people above her and towards the shrine. Flicking her tongue cautiously toward the familiar voice once again.

As she was wavering, a new voice, one she had never heard before spoke in a protesting and worried manner. "Young master!! It has already been a decade since you've left the family! Please reconsider! The madam has been ill with heart sickness since you've left and the master has never shown mercy after being angered by the young master and elder young master's disappearance. The concubine has been speaking in tongues and encouraging the master's coldness towards the madam as well!" The voice spoke again this time even colder than before, so much so that Lan Biyu almost doubted the identity of the individual speaking.

"If the situation is as bad as you claim, then it is even more reason for me to not return. Once an individual steps foot into the world of cultivation, the mortal realm matters are no longer of concern nor attachment to them. The matters of the capital and court especially are taboo for cultivators. For that is how we, the immortals and the mortals have managed to live in peace for so long." He seemed to sneer mockingly "-Do not tell me that since she was born a daughter of a duke, she believes this heavenly law does not need to be abided by herself?" "...."

Both Lan Biyu and the unfamiliar voice were forced into silence after this dominating and threatening speech. A dark aura Lan Biyu could easily identify as anger within the large silver spiritual energy surrounding the individual seemed to only grow with the silence that could only be broken by the teen who created it in the first place. Da Chuanli without the mask of warmth and kindness others were familiar with stared down darkly at the trembling bowed head of the servant. His phoenix eyes locked in a state of ever frost with raging waves of fire behind that thin veil of control the handsome young man held over himself. The smiles that he wore every day had made everyone forget that when he frowns it was as if the heavens were damning you to hell. The danger behind that smile was in full view for all to see, from a warm and gentle person to a heartless and callous individual.

His entire demeanor is standoffish and foreign, even taking a step forward puts pressure on your shoulders to kneel in his presence. This was the aura of a cold-blooded nobleman, through and through. Da Chuanli finally released the pressure on the servant by speaking, if only by a little so they could breathe. The noble and eloquent way of speech was unfamiliar and uncomfortable to her ears. Even more than usual as it scratched and itched her ear tuffs. "I will not investigate how you managed to find me nor who helped you get this far posing as a servant of this sect."

"-Go back. Tell that woman that both her sons died the moment they were accepted onto the cultivator's path." It was unknown if it was by force of the increasing pressure or the fear in their hearts of being cut where they stood if they persisted in protesting their reasoning for appearing before his eyes. But the servant could only swallow their tongue and scurry away after giving the young cultivator a deep courtly bow. "...This servant will relay the second young master's words to madam." When the servant's robes were out of view, only then Da Chuanli reveals his bitter smile to the deserted hall.

To think that even after leaving the capital those people would manage to contact him the moment he stepped foot off their Azure sect mountains. He didn't know whether to applaud their patience in waiting for the opportunity to contact him or mock their delusions of his return to that place. The heavenly laws were made to continue the peaceful separation of the cultivation realm and the mortal realm to prevent them from clashing. The cultivators would silence the demons and rampaging spirit beasts for the mortals without interfering in court manners. And the mortals would not bother the family member who stepped onto the path of an immortal. As well as not ask for compensation if one of their own slighted an immortal and their life was taken as payment.

This simple law was meant to keep their worlds separate but allow them to coexist. Telling him to come back to the capital, wasn't that just asking for him to be struck by failure the next time he attempted to ascend? If he had been convinced and weak-hearted enough to be swayed by the words of that servant then wouldn't all his elder brother's concern and efforts be in vain? In this trickery, Da Chuanli did not cross out the possibility of a jealous person attempting to catch him in a trap while receiving benefits from a high-ranked person in the capital all at once. And the woman who birthed him just managed to fit the bill as a brainless scapegoat in the internal wits and battles between cultivators. "Who?"

Da Chuanli finally addresses the mole listening in to the conversation, calling them out calmly even though his spiritual essence was leaking dangerously. "Reveal yourself while I am being polite." His ruthlessness was as unfamiliar as the tone he took in comparison to when he was usually around his fellow sect members. Lan Biyu had long known she had been found out, the second she had halted and hesitated in place. She had to give up her current mission and deal with this side-track situation first. If she left after stopping once it would be more suspicious and she had no doubts the paranoid young man would track her down and follow her to that shrine.

So, slowly she slips out from the darkness into the moonlight slithering up and poking her head up from the edge of the path. "??" Da Chuanli was stunned by the silver snake that poked its head from beneath the path and for a while his stoney expression was filled with mild surprise. An albino snake? The only person he knew to have a spiritual beast that was as dangerous as a white snake as a pet was his junior sister. And he knew this was not Chi, Chi was not only smaller but had a cuter innocent look with a relatively rounder head. But this snake, its head shape was flatter than Chi's, and the irises were also milky white making it unknown if it was blind or merely born that way.

The scales on this snake were also more, luxurious, than Chi. Unlike the pale and smooth stone white of his junior sister's companion. This snake could pose as an ornament of shimmering pearls or water crystals. To put it simply, it was a beautiful and dangerous-looking snake. Despite the dangerous serpent appearing in a place that wasn't its natural habitat; Da Chuanli's eyes subconsciously soften around the edges as he was reminded of his cold-faced junior sister.

And as her cheap senior brother was studying her, she too was studying him. Indeed, there was no fake smile on his face nor false kindness covering the indifference underneath. Da Chuanli's welcoming aura had been shed and replaced with an alienating eerie vibe that made your skin crawl. His lips which were always pulled up or curled in a teasing manner when faced with herself were flat like the person had given up on faking human expressions. Although the darkness in his silver aura was repressed, it still had a bit of the gloomy influence left behind by the servant. Seeing the snake make no move to come closer as if distrusting humans or fearing their trickery.

Da Chuanli could conclude the snake was not someone's pet, as it must have at least some pride and intelligence to avoid humans despite showing up in a sect garden. And from the mistake he made earlier, he had no doubts this was a spiritual beast or at least an awakening spiritual beast. Already, it was starting to resemble an outworldly creature that did not belong to the human realm. Not fearing a bite, Da Chuanli raised a corner of his lips into a semi-familiar expression to her surprise before kneeling where he stood fully turning in her direction. "How did you get in here? Are you lost?"

He spoke softly, confusing her even more as this was not the normal reaction a human should make when faced with one of her kind. Most of the time, cultivators' eyeballs would bulge from their sockets and they would try to kill her for her skin and beast core. Or fear her and try to flee on the spot as far away from the dangerous-looking snake as possible. She leans away from his hand and simultaneously rejects the sudden overlapping memory of her first meeting with her master. Da Chuanli's eyes grew even more gentle speaking even softer toward the seemingly wary young beast. "It's alright, I won't hurt you. Are you trying to find a way out of here? I'll help you."

With how tiny it was and the small amount of spiritual energy it had, taking into account the longevity of an average spiritual beast this one could be considered an infant. Da Chuanli's tone, actions, and expression overlap with her master's at this moment in time, and in turn...a pair of silver eyes filled her heart with familiar agony and yearning. The shock flooded Lan Biyu's calm heart like a cave bombarded by a roaring river, causing her soul and mind to shatter. Like a simple-minded snake seeking warmth, Lan Biyu's mind went blank and she slowly leaned towards the outstretched hand while holding her breath. The ghostly Hui seemed to smile even wider when he saw her actions of warming up to his approach and caught her breath. Da Chuanli could tell the snake was hesitating as it stared at his hand.

Jerking from his actions before contemplating after he encouraged it a second time. The snake slowly moved forward as if cautious of any malicious or sudden movements he made. It carefully flicks a tongue at his outstretched hand, peered up into his patient-looking visage. Then slowly started curling around his wrist to resemble a feminine bracelet, neither too tight nor too loose. The corner of his eyes squinted a bit as it was much too feminine a look on himself, but if his junior sister was present. Da Chuanli envisions this type of ornament on Lan Biyu.

Unsurprisingly, a pretty hairpin or bracelet of this look could match her well. With a noble exterior and highly held chin, and diamonds falling like raindrops from a finely crafted crystal snake in her black hair. Even if it was known as a vicious animal Da Chuanli had no doubts if Lan Biyu wore it, it would only accentuate his junior sister's dignified demeanor. He pursed his lips to stop the laughter that wanted to bubble up in case he scared the beast. However, seeing as it accepted his approach Da Chuanli knew it wasn't malicious so most likely it was kidnapped here. Holding the end of its tail in his palm and inspecting it for any injuries.

He noticed it was missing part of its tail and frowned lightly, suspecting that he had correctly guessed its origin. "Was someone really foolish enough to kidnap a young spiritual beast in an attempt to force a contract?" Getting a closer look at its scales, head, and tail. Da Chuanli could at least tell it wasn't meant to be a land snake for the tail was somewhat flat at the end like an eel. He had heard of the dangers of spiritual beasts, especially the snake clan. His brother was the victim of them after all, the silver serpent clan was especially dangerous.

But seeing as this one didn't cause a stir nor seemed to have any malicious intent, he could only assume it was a young hatchling that had yet to learn its clan's cruel ways. Even if it was from a malicious clan, a youngling was still a youngling and didn't know its background after just hatching. Just like he did not ask to be born from the capital, this young hatchling did not ask to be born as a silver serpent descendant. It had an innate good nature, how could he bear to kill an innocent? But the question was still; Who would be foolish enough to kidnap one of their young from the An Xing realm? His eyes clouded with hints of displeasure and unhappiness.

The Golden Cloud sect is getting bolder and bolder. If this spiritual beast did not manage to escape, then don't tell him they were planning on framing someone for its kidnapping in the future? Were they going to tame and nurture a young silver serpent so it could grow into a loyal beast and formidable beast in the future? Or...perhaps, pin the death of another on the silver serpent clan after raising this one to full adulthood? The more he speculated, the more his aura fluctuated and spurred the land he stood on. Messing with one of the most dangerous beast clans in the An Xing realm so badly, did they not fear retaliation?

Even if they were beasts, they were intelligent and vengeful beasts. Lan Biyu couldn't tell what DaChuanli was thinking, as she was having her own dilemma after realizing what she had done. Approaching him of her own accord, was she demented? How could I have mistaken this vile person for brother Hui? She felt frustrated, embarrassed, and angry with herself. The deceased was long deceased, and yet, the delusions seemed to only grow stronger the longer she stayed in this disgusting city of gold. However, she could only swallow this offense and feign ignorance to not give herself away under Da Chuanli's scrutiny.

"Perhaps junior sister Wang will know what to do with you." His mutter caused her to still until he helplessly sighed to himself and dismissed the idea. "Forget it, she is already upset at me. If I enter her room without permission again for the third time she will surely make me pay for real disregarding the favor she owes me." So he knew. The unhappiness in her heart seemed to only grow. She felt the urge to curl around his neck and tighten her hold a bit to cause the false gentleman to choke for even a second to satisfy this hatred.

As if sensing her foul mood, he dared to treat her like a child and pet her head rendering her dumbfounded once more. "Alright, don't be upset I'll take you out of here and won't let anyone else find you." Soothing the ripples after being prepared for it this time, did not make her less uncomfortable that THIS individual of all people had made her remember that person. The pretty snake side-eyes him and settles down, making him smile down at it. Internally, Lan Biyu's indignation continued to boil as she vowed to make him pay for touching her so wantonly. However, the way he handled her was earnest, it made her not know how to react.

So she could only push those feelings away and feign ignorance like a normal spiritual beast who did not know of the world yet. She was not worried he would recognize her spirit, she had cut off the link to her main body after all. Letting him walk for her could also be called a leisurely thing, she did not have to navigate her surroundings and let him do it for her. The sound of feathers flapping in the wind drew both of their attention. Two heads, one human and one beast turn at the same time towards an open window where a messenger bird Lan Biyu recognized as her master's appeared. Seeming to have spotted the snake on Da Chuanli's wrist he was holding to his chest, the bird squawks in fear and rejection.

Both disciples watched with half-interested eyes as the bird hesitated between entering the hall and flying away. Lan Biyu coldly watched it flutter to and fro like a coy and fearful maiden in front of her crush, seeming to even look longing at the handsome Da Chuanli who held her. Did he even know how to charm animals? She wasn't interested in teasing the terrified bird, but someone else was. Mischievously, Da Chuanli raised the hand she was wrapped around out towards the window frightening the bird to immediately fly out of sight leaving a single squawk behind in a flurry of feathers. Da Chuanli finally chortled almost heartily, his entire body shaking due to his laughter. "Pfft-!!"

"-I've never seen that bird so terrified before, even when I ignored it that bird persisted in giving me master's message no matter how cold I was. Even junior sister's pets couldn't make master's messenger bird fear them, but to think a young spiritual beast like you could make it run away so quickly." Da Chuanli's eyes sparkled as joy and amusement sprouted within the depths of his entire being like blossoming roses. Covering the bottom half of his face he hid the wide grin on his lips even though his eyes expressed his enjoyment of the situation. As he laughs imaging his master's foul face after seeing the message bird return with the letter still tied firmly on its leg Da Chuanli's eyes curve further. "....." Lan Biyu was internally deadpanning at her senior brother's childish tricks toward their master.

However, his imagination was cut short as the bird returned, this time with two letters tied around its leg. The bird glumly and cautiously settled on the window sill, watching Lan Biyu warily as the chuckling Da Chuanli came forward to untie the letters with his free hand. Da Chuanli quickly skims the contents, and as he guessed they were nothing serious in the first place, then quickly sent the bird off with a reply. Meeting the milky eyes of the spiritual beast Da Chuanli didn't hide his smile from the world this time. This smile unlike those before was even more handsome as it came from the soul. Lan Biyu, never having seen this expression from Da Chuanli before hurriedly looked away internally frowning. "Let's go, I will bring you outside the tower before heading back to report to my master."