Chapter 11: Unresolved

Qian Dai knelt on one knee once more, solemnly lifting the wooden box above her head to present it to Yun Qingxue.

Yun Qingxue took the box and helped Qian Dai up from the ground, but she was in no hurry to open it. Instead, she looked at the box in her hand and asked, “What’s inside?”

“This servant does not know,” Qian Dai replied, standing straight and shaking her head. “This box was personally sealed here by Elder Ningzi before her death. As for what it contains, I truly have no idea.”

“Did Elder Ningzi say anything else?” Yun Qingxue asked again, still not rushing to open the box.

Qian Dai gazed at the box in Yun Qingxue’s hand and said, “Elder Ningzi instructed me to serve the Flower King faithfully and to wait until the day Your Majesty’s soul returned to its rightful place. Then, I was to hand over the contents of this box to Your Majesty and… find a way to help Your Majesty leave the Flower and Wood Clan.”

“You have a way to take me away from here?” Yun Qingxue’s eyes brightened. The Flower and Wood Clan was indeed a place of trouble, unsuitable for long stays, and it seemed Elder Ningzi, who had passed away a thousand years ago, had foreseen this.

“This matter requires careful planning, Master. Perhaps you should first see what Elder Ningzi has left for you.”

“Very well.”

Yun Qingxue finally opened the box. Inside the small box lay a piece of emerald-green silk, and in the center rested a tiny, transparent crystal thumb ring.

Yun Qingxue took the ring out of the box and examined it closely for a while but found nothing unusual. She then handed it to Qian Dai.

Qian Dai received it with both hands and studied it carefully for a long time before shaking her head at Yun Qingxue. “Master, I truly cannot see anything special about this ring either.”

“You also think it’s ordinary?” Yun Qingxue raised an eyebrow.

Qian Dai nodded. “Yes, I see no hidden mechanism. But I believe Elder Ningzi would never leave you something useless. There must be some secret within this ring.”

“A secret…?”

Yun Qingxue pondered briefly before carefully inspecting the wooden box again. Soon, she found eight tiny characters inscribed on the inside of the lid.

“Keep it safe, do not lose or discard it,” Yun Qingxue read aloud, handing the lid to Qian Dai. She then examined the empty box once more, ensuring there were no further clues.

“These words are in Elder Ningzi’s handwriting!” Qian Dai said with certainty, looking at the minuscule characters on the lid.

Yun Qingxue held the crystal ring and studied it again. “Elder Ningzi likely wanted to tell us this item is important. But what exactly is its purpose? Qian Dai, do you think it could be some powerful magical artifact or something?”

Qian Dai shook her head. With a flick of her fingers, she conjured a delicate silver chain. Taking the enigmatic crystal ring from Yun Qingxue, she threaded it onto the chain and placed it around Yun Qingxue’s neck. “I still can’t discern its secret, but since Elder Ningzi took care to leave instructions for us to safeguard it, it must be of great importance. Young Master, you should keep it close. Perhaps when the time is right, all mysteries will be revealed.”

“I suppose that’s all we can do for now,” Yun Qingxue said, her expression tinged with disappointment.

Qian Dai then prepared the bedding for Yun Qingxue. “It’s getting late, Young Master. You should rest early. We can discuss other matters in due time.”

“Mm.” Yun Qingxue responded, allowing Qian Dai to help her freshen up before lying down. Yet sleep eluded her. In just one day, she had lived two lifetimes.

“Master,” Qian Dai called softly, perhaps sensing Yun Qingxue’s unease.

“Mm,” Yun Qingxue replied.

Qian Dai’s gentle voice followed, “Young Master, rest assured. I will stand guard here.”

“No need. You should rest too,” Yun Qingxue replied.

Qian Dai chuckled lightly. “I will remain here.”

With that, a pink glow shimmered, and Qian Dai vanished from Yun Qingxue’s bedside. In her place stood an oleander plant.

“Qian Dai, is that you?” Yun Qingxue asked the oleander.

“Yes, Master. This is my true form.”

The oleander’s leaves trembled slightly as Qian Dai’s voice reached Yun Qingxue’s ears.

Perhaps fearing Yun Qingxue wouldn’t understand, Qian Dai added, “By reverting to my original form, I can keep watch over you while absorbing the essence of the sun and moon to aid my cultivation.”

“Oh,” Yun Qingxue nodded in understanding, then asked, “Qian Dai, can you teach me the art of transformation?”

A pink glow shimmered again, and Qian Dai reappeared in human form before Yun Qingxue.

“Young Master wishes to learn?”

“Mm,” Yun Qingxue nodded earnestly. “Of course! What if I accidentally revert to my original form again? I can’t always rely on you to use the Transformation Water to save me.”

Qian Dai smiled warmly. “Ordinary wood spirits require thousands of years of cultivation to take human form. But you are different, Young Master. Your innate constitution grants you the ability to transform naturally. This ability differs from ordinary spells—it requires no incantations or techniques. Simply focus your mind, and it will happen.”

“Focus my mind?” Yun Qingxue asked, somewhat incredulous.

Qian Dai nodded. “Yes. If you don’t believe me, try it. Just concentrate on the thought of reverting to your original form.”

Yun Qingxue closed her eyes, focusing solely on the thought, *I want to return to my original form.* Soon, she heard Qian Dai’s cheerful voice. “Master, it’s done.”

“Ah?” Yun Qingxue opened her eyes to see Qian Dai holding a mirror. Reflected in it was the form of a peony flower.

Looking down, Yun Qingxue saw that her pale hands were gone, replaced by a stretch of green.

“I really turned into my original form? But it doesn’t feel like anything changed!”

With that, she closed her eyes again, this time thinking, *I want to return to human form.*

After a moment, she opened her eyes. The mirror in Qian Dai’s hand now reflected a face of breathtaking beauty.

Yun Qingxue looked down again—her plain robes, her pale human hands had returned.

“So amazing!” She laughed joyfully, then concentrated once more to revert to her peony form before transforming back into human shape.

After several rounds of this, Qian Dai finally couldn’t help but laugh. “Young Master is truly gifted. With the right teacher, you will surely achieve greatness in the future!”

Yun Qingxue stopped her antics with a smile and lay back down on the bed.

Assuming she was tired, Qian Dai carefully tucked her in before reverting to her oleander form.

Time passed minute by minute. Just as Qian Dai thought Yun Qingxue had fallen asleep, the girl on the bed spoke again. “Qian Dai, starting tomorrow, could you teach me some spells?”

“If the Young Master wishes to learn, this servant will teach you all I know. But my cultivation is shallow. Finding you a proper master is the true path forward.” By the end, Qian Dai’s voice had grown solemn.

Yun Qingxue knew Qian Dai was troubled again and didn’t press further. Still sleepless, she closed her eyes to rest.