Chapter Sixty Three

Perhaps it stemmed from her dismissive demeanor or his incapacity to offer reassurance through mere words. The conversation naturally fell flat, with Feng Shuchang giving in first with a permissive air. Even holding hints of softening in case Chao Bai was feeling somewhat offset due to his contradiction before. "Did you like the memory jade?" His subject change was a welcome one; he could see the visible changes in her expression. Her expression, once filled with mild ridicule, eased up. Her left hand rubbed the corner of her sleeve with subtle fondness. "They were lovely. King Feng's considerations and sense of aesthetics are as impeccable as always. Those masters of the Fan arts are much more prescient in the city than in the countryside or palace; however, "Zhong Ni" is more popular, so it must have been hard for King Feng to acquire such a treasure.

Seeing she was willing to speak more with him, a smile irrevocably entered Feng Shuchang's gaze as they landed on the vase in the corner. "It was nothing. In fact, having found a like-minded companion after all these years like you. Lady Chao Bai is also a blessing for someone like myself who enjoys art in a martial world." As expected, these words ease the atmosphere further, allowing Feng Shuchang to observe another soft halo glaze over her person. Hand making to reach for her back to stroke that guqin, Chao Bai froze, then naturally hid the naughty limb under the table instead. "..." She was mildly dazed by her actions, having never expected to revert to old habits so suddenly in front of another person. 

Was it because of the event with that red fox? Or was it because of the recent run-ins with old company? Feng Shuchang, unaware of her inner dilemma, went on completely at ease, "It had never dawned on me before that a refined spiritual beast such as Lady Chao Bai would ever acknowledge art originating from humans. Lady Yin, though her face holds a smile in the face of music or literary masterpieces, only holds amusement and curiosity for it, not appreciation." Lashes fluttering under the blindfold, she smartly loosens her shoulders and responds in a timely manner. Even if it was a somewhat foreboding one. "Though we are of the same origin, being of two separate minds, naturally, our thoughts and obsessions are different from one another." 

Not noting the darker inner meanings of her statement, Feng Shuchang sent her a faint laugh and smile. "After all this time, this humble one has only ever sent over memory jade for Lady Chao Bai's entertainment, unable to allow the lady to enjoy the real thing in person. Nonetheless, though the tribulations of tomorrow will still come, with them comes a new opportunity." Leaning over with a gentle mannerism different from his arrogant one, Feng Shuchang spoke sincerely. "Should the lady find an opportunity to enjoy such activities outside the martial world, the lady should take it. In life, one should cherish those miniscule amounts of peace as best as they can. For the mind knows no rest, and the world even less." 

Those fingers lining the corners of her sleeve tremble for a fraction of a second as his words unintentionally align with Wang Minglan's sentiments. Thus allowing a mild flood of memories to resurface that she had forgotten about. Her master's large palm on top of her head of black hair. Her master's gentle voice. Furthermore, her master's doting tone and encouraging gaze whenever she would play him a melody she spent days practicing over and over to perfection before allowing them to enter his ears. The smile he would give her was like the morning sun bearing down on pink peonies after the foggy mist upon their mountains cleared out, leaving behind only a faint layer of dew on each leaf. 

Whispers of longing in her heart reached out before she realized, letting her lose herself in a momentary trance like that of a lost child. "... Shall I?" Much to Feng Shuchang's surprise, Chao Bai's murmur was voiced, letting him see a glimmer of the reserved woman's deepest yearnings. Perhaps noting her moment of vulnerability, the man had no thoughts of taking advantage of her when it was obvious she wasn't really asking him. In fact, from the beginning, he had an inkling Chao Bai had someone she had never forgotten in her heart. For occasionally he would sense the heavy and sorrowful air surrounding her on especially cold, rainy days. A heavy visage much too similar to the one his elder sister carried since she lost her beloved even today.

When one's heart and mind were in constant turmoil, the sadness of yesterday could not be forgotten even after today's joy. Those who lose themselves the easiest to the fantasy of stories and melody of music tend to be those who shed the most tears. Her question, he took it as a momentary slip of control due to overusing her abilities today and only offered her his silent companionship in answer. He who abused her position and unproblematic personality to his advantage did not deserve to lecture her. Only able to offer her compensation in the form of human trinkets. Xiao Bai was much too good for this world. 

He would never underestimate her intellect, even if her emotional intelligence was lacking. So he didn't make an effort to hide anything; she would always understand or come to her own conclusions." Tengyi's letter arrived not long ago; he's been rather anxious since you left the sect. He also sent along a small gift, though I don't know what he could have gotten you. I do know that since you fell ill, he disappeared rather frequently, making Yilin quite stressed in the process." Regarding his student's adamant views of treating Chao Bai as his precious junior sister, Feng Shuchang was also helpless. Since in reality Chao Bai was much more capable and stronger than he. Even taking part in protecting him from the shadows in the near future. 

They never made much effort to hide her true position either; everyone in the sect treated her as well as they would an ancestor. It was only his straightforward and diligent disciple who insisted on doing this. Although he wanted him to be kind to her and considerate, this type of getting along wasn't exactly what he meant when he instructed Jiang Tengyi to take care of her. Then again, supposedly it also wasn't a bad thing he wanted to truly treat her as his sister. The other children had always been either too frightened or reluctant to approach the stern Jiang Tengyi. Yet the cold but inwardly kind Chao Bai was tolerant and somehow filled that missing piece of "only child" syndrome he suffered from easily. 

"If it's too burdensome, feel free to tell me, and I will discipline him for you." Chao Bai shook her head as she held out her hand. "There's no need." Feng Shuchang also took out the bundle in his pouch for her leisurely. Though he said that, he wasn't going to insist since the two got along harmoniously already to the point of his disciple drawing his sword for her sake. Why complicate matters further? "Ah." He exclaims as she was opening her gift, suddenly remembering something. "Right, Tengyi won't know that you will be accompanying them. I gave the excuse that you were too ill, and we found an alternative solution to hiding your spiritual essence. Though it's doubtful if he believes it or not, as long as you say so, he will have to at least consider it as a possibility." 

With a master who dug future pits for his student, Chao Bai felt that Jiang Tengyi indeed needed to be exposed to the world urgently, like Feng Shuchang insisted. "I see." Making no promises, she left the conversation at that. Her core was still seeping, but it wasn't as bad as the previous days when it poured out like a broken dam. Increasing the dosage of the poison in her body also helped slow the process, giving her time to control the recovery of the crack. Though her body was more sluggish than before, with a bit of practice she could move as fluidly as a normal person despite the lack of sensation. Even if he appears calm on the surface, Feng Shuchang hesitated in informing Chao Bai of what they discussed in the meeting. Especially the matter of the demonic royal.

In fact, the timing in which Jiang Tengyi left would still be too early, and they couldn't guarantee that hiding her underneath his and Ling Da Chuanli's scent could cover everything. It wasn't just cultivators they were hiding from now. With the added addition of royal demonic beasts suddenly, the reality of war became that much more prevalent. Feng Shuchang had many hidden concerns, but whenever he saw the pale countenance of the woman before him. It made him reluctant to add more burdens onto her shoulders. He held no qualms questioning Matriarch Wu nor Hulian, but Chao Bai was a different story. He was gentle with his approach: "Lady Chao Bai, actually I didn't only come here to discuss the incident between you and Sir Hulian." 

Hearing him speaking so slyly, Chao Bai briefly, with her fingers lightly tracing the words on the letter, paused before continuing. Knowing that the thing he told her next would probably be something bad or disturbing, she prepared mentally. And indeed, his next words were shocking enough that if she was holding a brush, the ink would have blotched the page, ruining her work. Leaving her particularly disturbed. "Does the lady perhaps know the process in which demonic beasts come to be?" Demonic beasts? Placing the letter on the ruined table dripping with melting ice, not caring if the paper absorbed water and ruined the characters she had yet to read. 

The woman wore a serious expression and lifted her blind gaze up to look at him reflexively. "Be clear." Seeing her react so sensitively, Feng Shuchang almost regretted asking before sighing internally; if he didn't tell her, she would have found out from Lady Yin eventually anyway. Recounting the story sect leader Wei had told them and observing carefully as the lightly pursed lips of the woman before him slowly became a deep frown. A demonic royal...They actually managed to obtain a demonic royal...They... Her heart fell into the very pits of her stomach, making her feel ill. Feng Shuchang worriedly calls out to her after she just sat there with a dense aura surrounding her, seemingly losing her soul. 

"Xiao Bai?" But as he called out cautiously, the perfectly fine woman's face twisted as if enduring something painful, and she bent over, covering her mouth, vomiting acid. "Xiao Bai!?" Gagging violently, Chao Bai shook so much it frightened Feng Shuchang to death, who hurriedly called for Ehuang. "Ehuang!! Something's wrong with Chao Bai!! Xiao Bai, what's the matter?! Is the poison acting up?!" In all their time together, he hadn't seen many versions of Chao Bai. But in every single one, she always managed to keep a calm state of mind, never letting anything slip her state of mind. Nails digging into his forearm, Chao Bai shook her head as she gasped for air, enduring the sickening churning in her belly and spiritual sea.