Chapter Fifty Five

What could they do with regret? What can they do with anger? All across the plane they merely inhabit one small corner of it. The rest of the mystery they have yet to solve lay with ones long past. So, what can current suffering and anguish afford them in such times where the resurface of old ghosts came back to haunt them? Can they question ghosts? Will Wang Lan Biyu come back to life to confirm their guesses? Or will she be disgusted with them for never questioning her death because of their arrogance and blind grief? Since the day she breathed her last the nightmares had never ceased, her face flashing in their memories only to continuously end with the scene of her fluttering sleeve and white hand upon a cold blade. 

Minglan knew Wang Lan Biyu had a dangerous past, for she had risked everything for his senior brother and himself. Giving her position, her clan, her people, to save humans unrelated to herself. Humbling herself to follow him in the skin and identity of a human she considered as lower beings. She suffered in silence, protected and cared for others in his place. Carrying burdens he did not ask her to, comforted him in his moments of loneliness when his senior brother had gone into seclusion to recover. Attentively sought to bring light into his life when his disciple also left him alone.

He could not get revenge for her, for Ling Da Chuanli's life was also in danger and he refused to lose another precious person. The day he had to leave the An Xing realm behind as well as the culprit for his daughter's death he swore when the time came for the realm to open once more and the sect was stabilized. He would eradicate that clan for good. Whether it results in his own death it did not matter, for his daughter's life it would only be retribution for failing to protect her as he promised. He had thrown himself into setting the sect straight and calling back all his surviving comrades in urgency to gather forces. Trying to work through the pain. 

Yet what happened? It turned out Wang Lan Biyu's death wasn't a mere feud between spiritual beasts but the collusion of humans? You are telling him, that his daughter's murderers were under the same sky as himself? Wang Minglan had never felt the crushing ponderosity of his naiveite more clearly than at that moment. Why had that snake protected them rather than finish them off? It meant, just like the humans the Silver Sea was split in two, and some of the snakes of the silver sea have contact with a group of humans. His daughter had been caught in the middle of the war he had sworn himself to never take part in. Minglan soothed his turmoil by rubbing the cup of tea made by Da Chuanli an action that used to ease his mind in the past when sitting with Wang Lan Biyu. "Ling Da Chuanli, from now on if provoked by those associated by the Golden Cloud sect." His master's tone was icy, unforgiven, and vengeful "You have my full permission, as both a guardian and the sect master of Azure to end their lives." 

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 For Ling Da Chuanli, it was a situation one could not help, for death was constant, it could also come after him the very next day if it did not come for Wang Lan Biyu that day. A bitter pill he had been forced to swallow since young, but faced with Wang Lan Biyu being the victim it still sent him reeling into a void of no return. His master kept many things from him, his junior sister's origins and reason of passing being some of them. And he in return also never asked how or why things ended up as they were. The corridors of his master's courtyard always had a biting cold to them in the darkest times of night. 

But tonight was different, with his memories clouded, and heart in a strange mood. Was it nostalgia? When she still lived here did she also feel the same wandering these halls at night to practice alone? The candlelight of his study caught him off guard for a second until he recalled what he had promised Gao Chang. Chi, seeming to notice something off about him shook her tail before curling up around his arm like a vine. Strangely attentive in comparison to how she acted around his master. Perhaps, by coincidence she made him turn his head to look over his shoulder to where she once always stood by his side in their days together in Master's yard.

The young master alone in the moonlight took a deep breath to regain the composure he was so proud of. "Senior brother." Standing at attention seeming to have been waiting quite awhile for his return as expected was Gao Chang. Unexpectedly though, a young woman stood beside him with her head lowered. An uninvited person. Her twin braids had long been replaced down to a single braid, her white robes a soft orange in the candle light. Rui Shi. Ling Da Chuanli did not act surprised nor acknowledged her presence standing behind Gao Chang. "Senior brother Ling." Treating the girl was air Da Chuanli strolled pass the two with Chi resting on his shoulder to his personal cabinet.

Seeing the objects inside Chi seemed mildly interested, but only in a specific scent Da Chuanli used during meditation or to rest his eyes. Interesting enough, they were the same ones he had brought along during his stay to Jiang Tengyi's sect. Though not understanding her interest in something she couldn't use or digest, he didn't stop the snake from stealing one or two as he had plenty to spare. Setting her on his desk to do what she wished Da Chuanli settled down to continue practicing calligraphy as if the two standing at attention at his table were none of his concern. Rui Shi was far from timid, but in front of this icy senior she shrank a tad bit finding him more frightening than ever. Da Chuanli never lost his temper in front of them, nor did he lay a single finger on them. 

However his smile was more frightening than facing a demonic beast with nothing but a twig for a weapon. She had overstepped her boundaries following Gao Chang, however she too...She too wanted to know why Wang Lan Biyu's spiritual weapon had chosen to awaken again. And in the hands of their standoff senior at that who had one of the most stranded relationships with the deceased. All she and the others knew was the pallid faces of those who returned as well as Qing Mianyang being the last one seen by Wang Lan Biyu's side when she passed. Everything else from how she had passed to where her body was wasn't disclosed to anyone in fear of upsetting their master.

Gao Chang, knowing how she and the others felt visibly hesitated, but peering at Da Chuanli's peaceful expression as he grinds the inkstone himself. He took a deep breath before lowering his head to murmur while partially blocking Rui Shi with his body from Da Chuanli's sight. "RuiRui, senior brother seems tired. Let's leave your request for another day." Stiffly snapping her neck to look up at Gao Chang with denial and disbelief. Gao Chang? Rui Shi couldn't understand or registered that Gao Chang wasn't standing up for her after he more than anyone else knew how she felt. Perhaps feeling guilty, Gao Chang deliberately moved his gaze away from her baffled one even if Rui Shi was the one who had followed behind him without permission. "Gao Chang I-" "I'm sure that I told you that I would only discuss the situation with you Gao Chang. Is my role as a senior and Master's only inner disciple a joke to you?" 

Gao Chang tensed up, instantly lowering his head to Da Chuanli to apologize "This junior will apologize in place of junior sister Rui Shi for the disturbance, I'll take her away immediately." Watching their exchange with an air of helplessness and shock Rui Shi only recovered from her daze when Gao Chang pulled her arm to retreat. Why? Why won't anyone tell us anything? Didn't we also grow up with Wang Lan Biyu? Wasn't she also our senior sister? Weren't they also owed an explanation? A belly full of fire which had been growing in her since the beginning burned bright at this moment, slapping Gao Chang away. "Rui-" "Shut up! You shut up! Why do you keep taking their side?!" Infuriated Rui Shi snaps at Gao Chang before addressing Da Chuanli directly without an ounce of respect or fear from earlier, despite her knees shaking she was firm in her reprimand.

"Senior Brother Ling! After all these years of staying silent I've had enough of you and master's selfishness!! I also want to know why sister Wang is no longer with us, I also want to cry and mourn her! Are you and master the only ones who can care about her?!" The young woman's face was brightly lit and full of fury and sadness as she screamed at the immobile Da Chuanli. Her shout making Chi turn around and stare at her deeply with her crystal gaze. Gao Chang recovering from his surprise hurriedly tried to pull her again peeking at Da Chuanli's indifferent expression with a shiver. "Rui Shi!!" "Get your hands off me Gao Chang! Don't you feel the same?! Don't you know how much we have endured from keeping silent for their sake?! What about us?! Didn't we love Wang Lan Biyu too?!" 

Dragged outside fighting with Gao Chang, the very last glimpse of Da Chuanli was still that damnable heartless expression as if nothing mattered, not putting her in his eyes, not putting anything into his sights or heart. And the bout of hatred intensified for her senior brother's indifference at that exact moment as a sob spills from her lips. Gao Chang holding Rui Shi in his arms tightly didn't loosen his hold even after her sob entered his ears and his heart felt a sharp stab. "It's not fair-! It's not fair-! Why can't we ask about her?! Why can't we speak of her?! Why can we not say her name as if she never existed here?! Waaahhh~!!!" Struggling in his arms Rui Shi cried out heartbreakingly, seeming to have reached her limits as well of enduring the stifling circumstances of their mountain. 

In this place where there was nothing but a neglectful master and cold senior brother, they the reluctantly gathered disciples of An Xing's sect master stood behind the patriarch's younger brother in respectful silence. Being half heartedly taught and cared for, looked at as backdrops for the seemingly genius of a inner disciple under everyone's adoration of care. It was only Wang Lan Biyu who saw them as individuals. It was only Wang Lan Biyu who breathed hope and life into their courtyards, letting them laugh and guiding them patiently in the integrity and responsibility as a immortal. Wang Lan Biyu was the only one who fought for them when the other children bullied them for being so called left over unwanted trash who did nothing but make Ling Da Chuanli shine brighter. 

It felt like a thousand nails were digging into his throat as she cried, but he still pursed his lips and continued to carry her away as she wailed. "It's not fairr~! Gao Ch-Chang it's just not faaairrr-!!!" "RuiRui..." Gao Chang sighs bringing the girl's tear and snot covered face to his chest, this time though she angrily punched his stomach as she leans into his arms staining his robes a dark grey. Muffled hiccups and whimpers still escaping from her as he whispers in her ears tenderly "RuiRui, Senior Ling is also hurting just as much as you are." "Liar..." Rubbing her face and dirtying his robe more for his defense of Ling Da Chuanli even after her outburst, whining to the teen bitterly after a sniffle. "Ling Da Chuanli doesn't care about anyone but master and the patriarch. He never cared about us nor Wang Lan Biyu! When has he ever stepped foot or let others visit her living courters to pay our respects even once?!"

Taking a handkerchief form his sleeve he meticulously wipes her face for her wearing the same tender expression as always in the face of her sorrows. The brows which always strung tight as well as the frown which always hung on his lips couldn't be found at all when faced with his beloved's tears. "That's because he is good at hiding it, as the eldest and the younger brother of our Patriarch isn't it normal he doesn't show weakness in front of others?" Rui Shi pouts her red nose and puffy eyes at him unhappily, alighting a flicker of amusement in his heart. Not voicing his true thoughts to avoid upsetting her again after just calming her down. He leads her slowly into a understanding state "Although you and the others spent a lot of time with sister Wang, who was it who spent practically every waking hour accompanying her and lived in the same courtyard with her for as long as she had been with us?" 

As if coming to a conclusion after he opened her eyes, although belated Rui Shi truly hesitated to answer, glumly lowering her head in response but Gao Chang still didn't take a harsh tone with her. In fact his voice only became softer and persuading "-Senior brother Ling also spent the last few years of his childhood in her presence, sister Wang was no sparrow. She shone just as bright as Senior Ling, this type of person whether you wish for it or not she will burrow into your heart even just a smidgen. As unmoved as Senior Ling acts, who is it who to this day cannot tolerate hearing so much as her name being spoken from another person's lips? Who would threaten even an Elder for speaking ill of her death?" Rui Shi purses her lips as she could still recall the incident in which Elder Shang entered their master's courters to encourage him to move on from his grief for the sake of the sect. Only for Ling Da Chuanli to coldly escort him from their mountain banning him from reentering with threats of reporting to the patriarch. 

At first glance one could say it was for the sake of their master, but the intense fury in his eyes had stunned her that day too as much as it did Elder Shang. "Don't just peer at the surface. Senior Brother Ling cares even more than you would ever have suspected." "He follows the Heartless Dao, he knows nothing!" Blurting this out Ru Shi was still somewhat unconvinced, Gao Chang wasn't upset she cut him off. "Even if you think so, you were in the wrong this time. Do not run around too much anymore, I will take care of it so try not to appear in front of Senior Ling and provoke him again." He rubs her messy head of hair murmuring seriously with a glint in his eyes after seeing she had been properly soothed. Muttering to himself internally After all, it is because he follows the Heartless Dao that he knows more than anyone how much he truly cared for her. Even if he will never admit it to himself.