After storing away the newly acquired treasures, Yun Qingxue and her companions continued their journey.
Over the next few days, Huanling occasionally guided them to several rare and valuable treasures.
Because of their treasure hunting, what should have been a ten-day journey to the desolate lands took them a full half-month to complete.
When the familiar mountain peak and cave appeared before them, Yun Qingxue released Huanling from her storage bracelet and personally removed the barrier sealing her.
“Go now.”
“Master? You don’t want me anymore?” Huanling landed on the ground, transforming into the form of a seven or eight-year-old girl, her bright, watery eyes gazing pitifully at Yun Qingxue.
“I told you, I’m not your master! Now that we’ve found the place we were looking for, it’s only right to fulfill our promise and let you go. Thank you for guiding us along the way—we found many useful things because of you.”
As she spoke, Yun Qingxue took out a few treasures from her storage ring and handed them to Huanling. “Consider these our thanks. Don’t use illusions to harm others anymore. Evil deeds will bring their own ruin—focus on your cultivation.”
“I don’t want them!” Huanling hid her hands behind her back and took a few steps back, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at Yun Qingxue. “You called my true name—that makes you my master! How can you abandon me? You all saw it—after that first time, I never deceived you again! You’ve found the place you were looking for, so why won’t you take me with you? You’ll still be staying here for a while before leaving, right? Master, please accept me! Before you leave, I can guide you to many more treasures! Master, you have the Sunstone, but its energy is too intense. If you could also obtain the Moonstone and the Starstone to balance its power, it would bring endless benefits to your cultivation! And I—I can lead you to those two gems!”
Huanling was desperate to prove her worth.
“That won’t be necessary.” Yun Qingxue smiled kindly at her. “Greed knows no bounds. I’m already satisfied with the treasures we’ve found, and I’m grateful to you. So take these—they’re what you deserve. Find a safe place and focus on your cultivation.” She took Huanling’s hand and pressed the treasures into her palm.
*Slap!*
Huanling flung her hand away, scattering all the treasures Yun Qingxue had given her onto the ground.
She stared at Yun Qingxue, her once-clear eyes slowly filling with a hazy, eerie mist.
“No matter what I do, no matter how much I try to please you, just because of my past misdeeds, you refuse to take me in—is that it?”
“Huanling… we were only passing acquaintances.” Yun Qingxue softened slightly, her tone gentler. “Before we met, we each had our own lives, our own thoughts. I don’t know you well, and you don’t know me well either. If you force yourself to recognize me as your master, our thoughts may never align. We might even become obstacles to each other…”
“You’re saying all this just because you don’t want me! I, Huanling, have lived for thousands of years—I’m not shameless! If that’s how it is, then farewell!”
Huanling turned away proudly, but tears betrayed her, rolling down her cheeks.
After all her efforts, she was left with nothing.
As a spirit born of the heavens and earth, she knew that even if she cultivated for countless millennia, she would never ascend to divinity. She would always remain a mere spirit—one outside the Three Realms, beyond the Five Elements.
But she remembered those vague, ancient words—the first voice she had heard when she first gained consciousness.
*The first one who calls your true name can free you from loneliness…*
*Can lift you to immortality, into the Three Realms!*
She didn’t know how long she had waited, how long she had searched…
And now she had finally found that person—yet they refused to take her in.
No matter how humbly she begged or tried to please.
“I’ll remember you. Cultivate well.”
Watching Huanling’s lonely retreating figure, Yun Qingxue couldn’t help but call out to her.
Huanling didn’t respond, nor did she look back. Soon, she vanished from sight.
“I hope she doesn’t harm anyone else…” Liuli murmured, a trace of melancholy in her eyes. Though she hadn’t liked Huanling, parting still stirred a sense of sorrow.
“Master, shall we wait here now?” Daise stepped forward and asked.
“Yes.” Yun Qingxue nodded. “We’re only about ten days away from the date agreed upon with Master. We’ll wait here to avoid any further complications.”
“Understood.” Daise replied, then began surveying their surroundings.
After a while, she turned to Yun Qingxue. “Master… don’t you think the scenery near the entrance looks different from what we saw the first time?”
“Over there.” Yun Qingxue pointed to a spot not far away.
Daise immediately realized. “That cliff wasn’t there before! When we came last time, there was no cliff at the entrance! Master, could Huanling have deceived us? Is this place…?”
“Unlikely. That cave entrance has the barrier formation I personally set. Besides, the rules of the Yunhuang Illusionary Realm dictate that its landscapes can shift and rearrange. If things have been rearranged, they naturally won’t be exactly the same as before. Moreover, Adai is practically Huanling’s natural enemy. If she tried to deceive us with illusions again, it wouldn’t benefit her in the slightest.” Yun Qingxue analyzed.
Daise smiled sheepishly. “Master is right. I suppose I’m just being overly cautious…”
“Better safe than sorry.” Yun Qingxue replied.
After all they had been through, who could blame her for being wary?
“You’ve been traveling for so many days, Master. You must be exhausted. Tonight, I’ll keep watch—you, Adai, and Liuli should rest well.” Daise entered the cave and quickly prepared a resting spot for Yun Qingxue, then gathered soft grass to make a small nest for Liuli.
As night fell, dark clouds drifted in from nowhere, obscuring the moon and stars.
From the pitch-black forest came the eerie howls of unknown beasts.
Yun Sisi leaned against a large tree, listening to the roars, unable to suppress a shiver.
Ever since she was a child, she never understood why—but every time she heard the cries of wolves, tigers, or other beasts, her heart would tremble uncontrollably.
The night wind carried a chilling breeze across her face, yet it couldn’t dispel the dark mist swirling in her eyes.
She had been wandering alone in the Yunhuang Illusionary Realm for months, but to her frustration, she still hadn’t found that wretched Yun Qingxue!
Still, even if she hadn’t encountered that woman, the treasures in this realm were plentiful.
Though she had faced danger twice during her months here, the rewards far outweighed the risks.
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