Chương 85: Chapter 84: Closing Interlude IV

"Going to the capital?" Bai Zing repeated, incredulous, even as anxiety coiled tight in her chest at her daughter's words.

"Yes." Bai Ning's reply was firm. She tossed another scroll into her storage pouch, "packing" in a manner that looked far more like ransacking the room.

"Master has already shared his plans with me, and I want to go. It's a rare opportunity, one that may never come again."

"Still…" Zing pressed, struggling to give shape to her unease.

"You're so young. You've only just stabilized your realm. There will be time for adventures later. Going so far away…" Bai Ning, who was currently upending her bedding in search of a pouch of spirit stones (why had she hidden it there? Had she been planning something?), paused. She glanced up, and her expression softened.

"It's not as if I'm leaving forever, Mother. It'll only be a few years at most." Then, unexpectedly, she grinned.

"Besides, weren't you the one who said that every cultivator eventually has to step out into the world, once they've reached a stable foundation? You did it after Foundation Establishment, Father did too, heck, even Master did, though he always turns evasive when I ask about it. So, this is my turn." Bai Zing tried to smile, but her throat felt tight. How could she explain that it wasn't the 'adventure' that frightened her, though that alone would be reason enough, but her daughter's age?

Who had ever heard of a Core Formation cultivator not yet twenty? She tried to remember herself at that age, and the memory alone nearly made her recoil in secondhand embarrassment. Those were not years she looked back on with pride. And yet, what right did she have to object? Bai Ning had spent her entire childhood hidden away, protected, and denied the simple freedom of being young. It had been necessary.

With her talent, her age, and whatever hidden bloodline that demonic cultivator had sensed in her years ago, she had always been a target. And after the recent months, the tournament, its aftermath, everything that had followed- To tell her now to stay, to be careful, or to hide… It would feel like admitting that all of it, all of their struggles, had changed nothing at all. She couldn't do it. Instead, she tried another approach.

"You could explore the islands," Bai Zing suggested lightly.

"There's plenty to see here before you feel the need to venture to the mainland." Left unsaid was the truth that Bai Ning would be safe here; safe, and, above all, unchallenged. With Ancestor Qing ensuring their protection, and nearly every lingering threat either eliminated or driven off, the islands were as secure a haven as one could hope for.

"You don't need to follow your teacher anymore," she continued.

"Didn't you say you 'graduated,' in his own words, upon reaching Core Formation?" She stumbled slightly over the unfamiliar term, enunciating it with care. She might have blamed her daughter for the strange phrasing, but Senior Mo Jian could be just as peculiar at times, though she would never say that aloud. Bai Ning made a face.

"The islands?" she echoed, as if the words themselves were synonymous with tedium. Then, noticing her mother's expression, she hastily rearranged her features into what she likely believed was an innocent and virtuous look.

"I mean, the islands are a fine choice, ahem, but they're not the capital." Her emphasis implied that anyone who failed to grasp that distinction forfeited the right to an opinion. Under normal circumstances, Bai Zing would have reached out and pinched her daughter's ear, delivering a swift lesson in propriety, but ever since Bai Ning had stepped into Core Formation, she strongly suspected that any such attempt would prove… ineffective.

The little imp likely hadn't realized that yet, so Bai Zing relied instead on subtler weapons, like an arched brow, or a flat look, to keep her in line. The last thing she needed was for Bai Ning to discover that her mother's punishments no longer carried weight.

"And," Bai Ning continued, "the graduation thing is just Master being Master. It doesn't mean much. He said I can still call him teacher, and that he still has things to teach me, if I want to learn." She nodded, clearly satisfied with her reasoning. Bai Zing was not convinced. Mo Jian was rarely careless with his words. If he had declared her "graduated," then he had meant it. More likely, he had softened the phrasing to ease Bai Ning into independence, not for her to cling to it as proof that nothing had changed.

But pressing that angle further would only drive them in circles, so she shifted tactics.

"Your master likely has his own reasons for what he's doing," Bai Zing said carefully.

"It's not as though we are privy to them. And what is reasonable for a Nascent Soul cultivator-" She broke off, arching a brow and fixing her daughter with a flat look when Bai Ning opened her mouth to object.

"I know he hasn't officially stepped into that stage," she said dryly, "but he may as well have, so hush. My point remains. What is reasonable for him is not what is reasonable for you. The capital is bound to be crawling with dangers. Strength alone will not protect you there. One misstep, just one moment of bad luck, that's all it takes for things to spoil." Bai Ning waved the concerns aside.

"I know," she said.

"He told me his plans. And… a few other things." Her brow furrowed; she bit her lip, clearly weighing what she was permitted to reveal.

"Not everything, I know that, but enough." She hesitated, just briefly, before lifting her gaze to meet her mother's. Determination burned there, bright and unwavering.

"And that's half the reason I want to go," she said softly.

"What he's trying to do. What's coming… this might be the most important turning point in four thousand years. So reasonable or not, I want to be part of it." Her voice steadied.

"And besides, meeting an immortal isn't something you can schedule. This could be his only opportunity, which means it might be mine, too." Bai Zing was momentarily speechless. The most important thing in four thousand years? She had assumed – correctly, she believed – that the upcoming trip to the capital was related to the divine treasure Bai Ning had won, now in Mo Jian's possession. But now it sounded like far more momentous forces were at play. She needed to dig this out properly.

What exactly was Mo Jian planning- A hiss sounded behind her. Bai Zing went ramrod straight. Her qi spiked in terror, though she forced herself to remain perfectly still. She knew that sound. She had only ever read about it in ancient scrolls, the warnings etched in ink and fear: it belonged to a deadly predator, a creature of cunning and savage power. It was-"Miantiao!" Bai Ning exclaimed in delight.

The ghostly, translucent dragon, as long as her arm, leaped from behind Zing and landed squarely in her daughter's arms. It hissed happily as Bai Ning scratched at the scales near its jaw, clearly enjoying the attention, and delivering the prize it had been sent to fetch.

"Is that my missing sock?" Bai Ning gushed, her voice bright with amusement.

"You are such a good boy, yes you are." She continued scratching the dragon, which she had named "Noodle" of all things, as it melted into a pliant, joyous puddle in her arms. Bai Zing, who had secretly begun feeding qi into a saber she had summoned from her storage pouch the instant she had heard that hiss, drew a long, fervent breath. Ancestors preserve me… Just seeing that beast was enough to make her hackles rise. A dragon was not a pet to be cuddled.

It was a beast capable of ripping apart the entire sect on its lonesome. If it attacked… well, the saber might – might – be able to defend against one move and save her life. That was all she could hope for. Fortunately, the dragon was too busy being pampered to care about pride or attacking anyone. Bai Zing's eyes drifted to the item it had retrieved. The sock lay on the floor, a hole scorched straight through it, edges still smoldering with fire.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Bai Zing glanced at her saber. Neither dragon nor daughter had noticed. With a quiet, defeated groan, she slipped it back into her storage pouch, letting her qi dissipate. It's under control. It won't attack anyone… she told herself. The dragon gave a soft hiss of contentment. Bai Ning grinned.

"See, Mother? Isn't he the best?" Before Zing could be forced to say something like, "Yes, the very best," and die a little inside, the door slid open, and Zhou stepped in. Bai Ning's attention snapped to him.

"Father!" she cried ignoring the dragon's disgruntled hisses as it squirmed in her arms. Much to Bai Zing's sensibilities, Zhou was equally alarmed. He froze, taking in the scene before him, then spoke cautiously, pointing weakly at the dragon, which butted its ghostly horns against Bai Ning's chest, demanding attention.

"Ning'er… is that safe?" Bai Ning nodded immediately.

"Don't worry. Master Mo Jian said artifact spirits can be manifested for long periods of time without any risk. Miantiao will be perfectly fine." That was clearly not what he meant, Bai Zhou's expression said plainly, but he swallowed the rest of his concern, choosing to trust in his daughter's control over the dragon.

"Coward," Bai Zing mouthed at her husband from the side. Bai Zhou pretended not to notice.

"What are you two talking about?" he asked instead, turning to Bai Ning.

"My upcoming trip," she replied, rolling her eyes before smoothly changing the subject.

"More importantly, how is everything with the sect? Was anything damaged?" She asked because the island that housed the Greater Dharma Sect had been abandoned for weeks. After the tournament, when Mo Jian and Bai Ning had gone into hiding, Bai Zhou and Bai Zing had also slipped away from Daisai Island unhindered, largely because no one had attempted to stop or pursue them.

Anticipating retaliation, they had sent urgent instructions to the sect's elders and disciples to disperse, leave the island, and lie low until it was safe to return. Now, weeks later, the sect was gradually reassembling. When Bai Ning had arrived in the morning with her parents, she had found the island wild and overgrown. Its carefully curated elegance had faded.

Wisteria vines twisted unchecked around pavilions, flowers bloomed in unruly profusion, and the delicate qi lamps beneath the eaves had long since guttered out. Even their treasured spirit herbs and rare artifacts had been left behind in the disciples' hurried flight. Yet, surprisingly, the island had not been attacked. No demonic cultivators had come seeking revenge or destruction. When the disciples returned, the worst they found was neglect, rather than violence.

Now Bai Ning's parents were going through the sect grounds with measured scrutiny, ensuring everything remained intact and that operations could soon resume.

"It's all good. Almost untouched." Bai Zhou's tone made it clear he found the situation baffling, though his wife simply looked relieved.

"Good," Bai Zing said firmly.

"Then you can help me convince Ning'er not to be in such haste. And what's this about a 'turning point'?" She turned to her daughter, who rolled her eyes once more.

"I am not being hasty. And I can't tell you, as I said before…" … ……………………………………………………………… Hours later, after the day had given way to night, and her parents had left, Bai Ning let out a quiet sigh of relief. She didn't like lying to them, but the truth was not something she could share either. Not only had Master Mo Jian asked her to keep it secret, she wasn't even sure how she would begin to explain it.

Did they have the context to understand the truth behind the Shattering, or the Immortal of Slaughter, or what that man's release truly meant? She doubted it. So, as guilty as the deception made her feel, even if it was only by omission, it was for the best. Besides, she wasn't certain she knew the full truth herself. Master Mo Jian was still hiding things; of that she was sure. And she had the distinct impression that no amount of pressure would pry those secrets from him.

What he had already revealed was staggering enough: that he knew the future… that he possessed insights into this world that almost no one else did… She exhaled sharply and crossed to the sliding doors of her room, which opened onto the balcony beyond. Pushing them apart, she let the gentle moonlight spill across the wooden terrace. Tilting her face upward, she welcomed the cool breeze that carried the mingled scents of flowers and incense.

The soft murmur of waterfalls and burbling brooks serenaded the night insects, while luminous fireflies swayed and danced among the blossoms that adorned the sect grounds and the island beyond. Just before her, rising from the ground floor to the height of her balcony, stood an enormous, ancient wisteria tree. Its branches stretched so wide that poles had been driven into the earth to keep them from collapsing under their own weight, forming a picturesque canopy of pink, purple, and indigo.

Small incense burners hung from its massive limbs, releasing sweet fragrance into the night air. A lantern suspended from the edge of the roof cast a gentle golden glow upon the bark, and together with the moonlight, the light flowed across it like liquid metal. Above, clouds drifted across the night sky, their edges lined with diffused silver. The stars were hidden from view, but the shifting tapestry of light and shadow was majestic in its own right.

Once again, Bai Ning found herself falling in love with her home. A home she would be leaving behind for a very long time. She grimaced at the thought, but forced herself to let it go. It was necessary; that was what she had told her mother, and what she truly believed. With what was coming, Master Mo Jian was determined to seek an audience with an immortal and set his own plans into motion. He had shared those plans with Bai Ning, and she had even helped him refine some of them. And he had given her a choice.

By his own words, she was no longer his student. She could remain here, live peacefully within the sect, and pursue whatever quiet future she desired… or she could accompany him to the capital and help him prevent the coming apocalypse. Why her gentle, and, if she were being honest, largely unmotivated, master had suddenly become so resolute was beyond her. Even accounting for his knowledge of the future, his urgency felt like a different person wearing his face.

But she had known her answer from the very beginning. If she could do something, if she could help shape the answer to a madman bent on slaughtering the entire world, then it was her responsibility to try. Mo Jian was convinced that no single man or woman could stand against such a threat alone. Only by pooling their strength, gathering allies carefully, and seeking help with caution could they hope to endure what was coming.

"It is a problem for the whole world," he had told her.

"And if given a choice, everyone would want to help, if only out of selfishness." Bai Ning understood that much, at least. When survival was at stake, even the indifferent would find conviction. And so, they would go to the capital. All of this, just to convince one of the true powers of the world to aid them in ensuring that the Immortal of Slaughter could not be allowed to break free unopposed. It was also the reason Mo Jian had yet to step into the Nascent Soul realm, though he could do so at any time.

Given the shape of their plans… it was better to wait. There would be a precise moment, one they had carefully planned for, and advancing then, rather than now, would tilt certain matters in their favor. She understood all of that, but unease still lingered in her heart. It wasn't doubt; she was determined to go and determined to do what she could, but the feeling persisted, a sensation like standing at the edge of a precipice, peering down into a fall without end. What a grim thought.

I am a Core Formation cultivator now, she reminded herself, a dry smile tugging at her lips. If I fall, I'll just fly out. After all, a Core Formation cultivator could fly under their own power, without the aid of a magic tool, something she had enthusiastically proven by levitating inches above the floor for hours at a time, much to her mother's mounting irritation, until she had finally been ordered to walk like a proper person. It wasn't as though she had been hurting anyone.

The few disciples she had encountered since her breakthrough had all bowed deeply and addressed her as "Senior," their gazes filled with awe and caution. She had even been tempted to track down Su Li, one of the few friends she had within the sect, just to show off a little. However, the entire sect was in a state of restless activity. Disciples hurried along the stone pathways, elders gathered in low-voiced discussions, and storehouses were being inventoried and reorganized.

It was almost certainly connected to their sudden rise in standing within the Thousand Shattered Islands, and to the recruitment of two new Core Formation elders: Seniors Fan Mei and Liu Hong. In a sense, it was a poor exchange for losing Master Mo Jian, and, far more importantly, herself, but needs must. Bai Ning glanced up at the moon again, surrounded by a halo of silvery clouds, its surface both bright and pitted, and tried to exhale out all her worries.

She was an adult now, in the eyes of the wider world, no matter her age, and the capital was bound to be full of all sorts of hidden and subtle dangers. It wasn't like they could run from or fight the people there without consequences, so she couldn't afford to be reckless. And beyond all that, there was the task Master Mo Jian had entrusted to her: unlocking her bloodline ability.

He had been maddeningly tight-lipped about what, exactly, he had discovered, yet his conviction that it was now possible at her current realm did not feel like speculation. He knew something, likely drawn from the same mysterious source as his knowledge of the future. A glimpse of reincarnation, he had called it. What did that even mean? He still had not explained it fully. Bai Ning's eyes narrowed slightly as she gazed at the moonlit clouds. Yes, it was undoubtedly a good idea to go to the capital with him.

There was no way she could stay behind and simply accept his ineffable act. She would learn all his secrets, and then, one day, turn the tables to become the wise, infuriating mentor who withheld nuggets of information. See how he liked that. Cheerful thoughts like that aside, she did feel a little more settled. No matter what awaited in the uncertain future, for this moment, she let herself simply exist under the moonlight.

She lifted her face to its glow, and let the shadows fall behind her, feeling, if only fleetingly, that she was ready for whatever came next.