Chapter 11 :The Parting Waters

Yueqing walked quietly along the misty foothills of Mount Yuling, her footsteps slow, weighed down by sorrow. Her eyes, usually filled with warmth, were now clouded with worry and grief. The mountain winds whispered around her, brushing against her tear-streaked cheeks as if trying to comfort her, but her heart remained heavy.

Sitting at the bamboo pavilion by the waterfall, Grandfather Ziyan lifted his gaze. He had been observing her descent for a while, his wise old eyes narrowing in concern. With a long sigh, he rested his arms on his knees and spoke in a gentle, gravelly voice.

"Yueqing," he called softly.

She looked up and forced a small smile, walking toward him. As she sat beside him on the bamboo bench, the tension in her shoulders was apparent. She clutched the edge of her robe, her fingers trembling ever so slightly.

"Why do you look so downhearted, child?" Grandfather Ziyan asked, a flicker of worry in his tone.

Yueqing lowered her head, her voice no more than a whisper. "Grandfather… I went to Tianhua Realm."

Ziyan's brows twitched, but he remained silent, allowing her to speak.

"I wanted to see Mo Ren… to find out what happened to him," she continued, her voice cracking with emotion. "But… they laughed at me. They humiliated me. Yingluo—she blamed me for everything… and now, they've all turned their backs on him. He's been sent to the Mortal World to prove his innocence…"

She paused, then lifted her teary eyes to Ziyan. "Grandfather… I want to help him, I really do. But… I don't know how to get to the Mortal World." Her voice broke into a soft sob. "What should I do?"

For a long moment, Ziyan said nothing. He simply looked at her, his gaze unreadable. Then, slowly, he stood and walked toward the shimmering pool at the base of the waterfall. The sound of rushing water filled the silence between them.

He let out a long sigh and stretched out his weathered hand over the surface of the water.

Then—he summoned his power.

The air shifted. Spiritual energy began to ripple around the pond. The surface of the water began to glow with a soft blue light, swirling slowly as if stirred by unseen hands. A mist rose from the water, cool and silvery, dancing in the air. Within moments, the pool transformed into a mirror, and in it was a vision of the Mortal World—its forests, its skies, and the roads that stretched endlessly beyond the mountains.

"Yueqing," Ziyan called again, his voice deeper now, imbued with both power and emotion.

She approached him slowly, eyes widening with awe. "Grandfather… is that… the Mortal World?"

The mist curled around her fingertips as she reached out, and the reflection shimmered like starlight.

Ziyan smiled gently, though there was sadness in his eyes. "Yes. I've opened a portal. This water is connected to the realm below. Through it, you may descend."

Yueqing's lips parted in wonder. "Your power… is incredible…"

A tear slipped down her cheek—though this time, it was not just sorrow. There was hope. There was purpose. Ziyan stepped forward and gently wiped the tear from her face.

"You've grown, Yueqing. You are no longer the little girl I once carried through the mist." His voice softened, heavy with emotion. "In time… you will understand your true fate. You were not born for silence. Your spirit will stir the heavens."

Moved, Yueqing threw her arms around him in a warm embrace. "Thank you, Grandfather. Do you really allow me to go? Will you let me help him?"

Ziyan chuckled, the sound as calm as the falling water. "I would be a fool to try and stop you. Your heart has already left."

She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling despite the tears. "I won't let him face it alone."

Ziyan gave a slow nod, then stepped aside. The mist parted, revealing the path through the pool.

"Go, Yueqing. But remember—your strength is not in your sword, nor your power. It's in your heart. Do not lose it."

With one final glance back at her home, Yueqing turned to the portal. Her steps were light, but her heart pounded like thunder. She stepped into the circle of mist. As the portal rippled around her like moonlight on water, her voice whispered through the veil:

"Mo Ren… wait for me. I'm coming."

As Yueqing stepped through the veil of mist, a sudden rush of wind embraced her body, spinning her through clouds of light and fading magic. The world around her twisted, then calmed, and with a thud, her feet landed awkwardly on solid ground—only to lose balance.

"Ah!" she gasped, tumbling into a patch of overgrown roots and tangled branches beneath a large forest tree. Dry leaves scattered into the air, and a small bird fluttered away in alarm. Yueqing winced, brushing off bits of bark and dirt from her robes, her long black hair tousled and catching sunlight between the branches.

She slowly pushed herself up, steadying her breath.

"So this… is the Mortal World," she whispered, looking around.

The air here was different—thicker, heavier with the scent of earth and life. Trees towered around her in majestic silence, sunlight filtering through their canopy in golden streaks. In the far distance, faintly visible beyond the hills, was the outline of a great city: the Human Kingdom.

Yueqing stood tall, brushed her robes, and fixed her gaze toward the distant spires.

"I don't know what lies ahead… but I must find Mo Ren," she murmured with determination. She tightened the strap on her small satchel, picked up her pace, and began her journey toward the kingdom of men—one step at a time.