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墨書 Inktalez
As the time arrived, everyone went to bed one by one. I, following my usual habit, conducted my final patrol.
However, today I was accompanied not by A-Qing, but by Song Lan.
The resentment in Potter's Field had dissipated significantly; it was no longer as perilous as before. Rather than a patrol, it felt more like a leisurely stroll side by side.
I noticed that Song Lan appeared to be deep in thought, remaining silent throughout our walk.
Unsure of what to say, I could only steal glances at him occasionally, awkwardly walking in silence.
After a long while, he finally spoke slowly, "Mian Fei, Mr. Han Guang is a highly esteemed gentleman praised by many. The Gusu Lan also has a good reputation in the cultivation world; you need not worry too much."
"I know..." I mumbled. You don’t need to tell me; I am well aware of this matter.
"And since you have the mark and are connected to Master, you likely need not concern yourself with where you are," he continued, his brow furrowing slightly as he hesitated. "As for Young Master Wei... although he is not a bad person, some of his past behaviors have been criticized. If possible, you should try to keep your distance from him."
Upon hearing this, I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and respond with a light chuckle, "Sure."
Ah, it seems that those with overly serious personalities really can't stand Wei Wuxian's frivolous demeanor.
"Meow."
During our patrol, we encountered Snow, who was also on duty.
Snow glanced silently at Song Lan before slowly walking over to my feet.
"Meow?" (Why is it someone else today? Did that Vengeful Spirit find an excuse to slack off again?)
"Snow..." I crouched down slowly and gently stroked him with a hint of reluctance. "I'm... leaving here tomorrow..."
"Gah?" Snow was taken aback by this news. "Meow?" (What’s going on? Is this guy trying to chase you away again?) He shot an angry glare at Song Lan.
I couldn't help but pause in surprise as I recalled my previous complaints to him and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Well, this... is it not yet?"
"Meow!" (Alright! I'll teach him a lesson for you!)
"Wait, wait! No need to be impulsive!" I quickly pressed him down. "Actually, I just have to step out for a while, but I will be back."
"What’s going on? What did he say?" Song Lan looked at the agitated Snow with confusion, asking me with a puzzled expression.
"Uh... no, it's nothing. Don't mind it." I awkwardly laughed it off.
Snow seemed displeased and wanted to retort, but suddenly froze, breaking free from my grip and alerting me with a low growl in a certain direction.
I immediately focused and warily looked toward that way.
There, a ragged figure with a stiff gait was slowly approaching us. Unlike before, this figure seemed unexpectedly familiar to me...
Really now... should I say this guy has good luck, or that my luck today is rather poor?
I calmly stood up, preparing to use the Purifying Blade to eliminate the approaching corpse as usual before it could reach me, when a flash of sword light suddenly swept past me, effortlessly dispatching the foe.
...What a familiar scene.
After the initial shock wore off, I quietly observed Song Lan as he sheathed his sword.
Without saying a word, Song Lan stepped forward to examine the fallen corpse.
"Mian Fei," after a long pause, Xu Ran spoke softly: "Actually, A-Qing has already told me..."
As expected. I lowered my eyelashes slightly and remained silent.
In truth, I had always had a vague sense that A-Qing was monitoring me. Although she never explicitly stated it, she also didn’t make any effort to hide it. In our unspoken understanding, we all pretended not to know anything while being fully aware of the situation.
As for the reasons behind it, I couldn’t guess and didn’t bother to. Regardless of what the Taoist priests were planning, it was beyond my control. The system I bore was practically useless; I could only resign myself to fate and take things one step at a time.
However, I do not believe that all the warmth they once showed me was merely an act; there must have been some genuine feelings involved.
Yet, here we are now—
"So, what does the Daoist intend to do?" I asked softly.
Having decided to lay everything bare, did that mean I was now facing the legendary moment of judgment?
Whether I lived or died, whether this was the end or if I could continue on, depended entirely on how Song Lan would handle me.
I watched as Song Lan turned to look at me with a complex expression.
After a moment, he slowly approached me with his sword drawn, while I stood rigidly, on high alert for any of his movements.
To my surprise, he raised his hand and gently stroked my head, leaving me momentarily stunned and unsure of how to react.
"I told you not to push yourself too hard. Although you feign compliance with your words, you always stubbornly ignore it..." he said with a tone of helplessness.
I looked up at him in astonishment. "You... don't hold it against me?" Given his nature of hating evil with a passion, would he truly overlook my actions?
"A girl alone in the world should prioritize her own safety," he replied, though his brows furrowed in disapproval. "However, your methods are still a bit excessive. When following Mr. Han Guang in the future, make sure not to act like this again to avoid unnecessary trouble. If you unfortunately encounter danger, remember to seek help from others instead of shouldering everything alone. Do you understand?"
"I thought you were going to clean up the sect..." Was he really deciding to let me off the hook?
"Those who do evil must reap the consequences of their actions. What you did only served to fulfill their karma. As for your own karma, I have no right to judge; that is something you must experience for yourself."
I gazed at him with a heart full of emotions, unsure of what to say.
"It's late now. You need to set off with them tomorrow; get some rest. I'll take care of the watch tonight," he said.
Watching Song Lan's slowly retreating figure, I remained silent for a while before finally managing to squeeze out a soft response:
"Yes, thank you, Daoist..."
At the entrance of the Demon Suppression Cave, I hesitated for a moment before quietly stepping past the figures resting by the campfire and slowly turning to enter the cave.
I didn’t see Wang Xian and the others... Could they have gone off to some secluded corner for a secret rendezvous?
Inside the pitch-black cave, a sliver of moonlight filtered through the pockmarked opening at the top, casting a hazy glow that illuminated the interior.
I walked around the spacious cave, eventually retreating to my familiar stone bed. I grabbed a blanket from beside me and draped it over my shoulders, gazing at the moonlight cascading down from above while reflecting on the moments of these past days...
It’s really time to leave...
“Xiao Hua?” A-Qing entered the cave and softly called out. Seeing me lost in thought on the stone bed, she slowly approached and sat beside me. “Aren’t you going to sleep?”
“I can’t sleep,” I replied honestly.
“Are you worried?” A-Qing asked.
“No...” I started, feeling a bit dazed. “I just don’t really know what to do…”
It all felt too sudden, catching me completely off guard without any mental preparation.
“Nothing will happen,” A-Qing said as she patted my head. “But starting tomorrow, we’ll have to part ways, and it really makes me feel a bit reluctant!”
“A-Qing,” I turned to her and suddenly asked, “Do you want to come with me?”
A-Qing paused for a moment, wrinkling her nose in disbelief. “Of course not! I’m following Daoist Xiao Xingchen; have you forgotten?”
“Hmph, forgetting friends for romance,” I couldn’t help but tease her with a smile.
A-Qing stuck out her tongue. “Honestly, having just one ghost like me following you isn’t much help; wouldn’t it be better if you took Xiao Hay with you?”
I lowered my gaze, feeling a bit downcast. “They can’t leave Potter's Field.” After all, Xuan and Xue’s original forms were here, and their souls couldn’t stray too far away.
So those who fantasized about capturing them were simply wasting their efforts. Once they crossed the boundary of Potter's Field, their souls would automatically return to the statues and could not escape.
"I see..." A-Qing scratched her head, looking a bit lost. "But it's fine! Those young masters are all good people, I can guarantee that."
"Yes, I know."
"And you said it yourself, right? You're really amazing!" A-Qing suddenly hugged me. "My little flower is very impressive, so there's nothing to worry about!"
I was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Yes, that's right! I am amazing!"
With that laugh, the gloom that had settled in my heart lightened a bit.
Indeed, as long as I could still laugh, it meant things weren't as bad as they seemed. There was no need to overthink; just go with the flow.
After joking around for a while, A-Qing seemed to remember something and exclaimed, "Hey! Little flower, you won't be able to sing or tell stories anymore. Since you don't want to sleep yet, why not share a few segments for me to enjoy? Otherwise, it'll be really boring without any stories!"
So my biggest role here was to tell stories to entertain you? I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Alright then! Let me think..."
The next day, I called Snow and Xuan over and carefully explained my decision to leave.
"Gao..." Xuan's expression turned forlorn.
Well, at least you know you'll miss me. It seems my efforts weren't in vain after all. I felt a sense of comfort in my heart.
"Meow!" Snow pouted angrily, refusing to look at me.
Ah, such a proud little thing.
"In any case, you all need to get along peacefully from now on and stop arguing so easily," I advised earnestly.
"…Meow!" (We will take good care of this place, you don’t need to worry.) Snow reluctantly managed to say.
I chuckled and shot it a glance. "Then I'll leave everything to you."
"Don't worry, Little Flower, I will make sure they are well taken care of and won't let anyone take advantage of them," A-Qing confidently patted her chest in assurance.
"No, they are more capable than you when it comes to dealing with those troublesome matters. You should focus on taking care of yourself first and stop being reckless," I retorted.
"Ha! I’ll return that statement to you; who’s the one being reckless here? Honestly…" A-Qing stepped forward and hugged me tightly, whispering, "Take good care of yourself, okay?"
"Mm, you too."
Releasing A-Qing, I walked up to the Taoist priests.
"Once you leave Potter's Field, you will face the rules of the world. If you have any questions, remember to consult those seniors and follow their teachings. Do not act impulsively or recklessly, understood?" Xiao Xingchen solemnly reminded.
"Yes." After I responded, I turned to look at Song Lan.
"I’ve already said everything that needed to be said last night," he said, gently patting my shoulder. "Take good care of yourself and don’t act recklessly."
"Taoist Priest, I will come back," I promised him earnestly.
"Mm." He smiled faintly.
Before leaving, I turned back to glance at the Sophora Tree once more.
After enduring a harsh winter, it appeared listless; its branches and leaves remained sparse, completely lacking the previous vibrancy.
Feeling an inexplicable concern, I hesitated for a moment but couldn’t resist stepping forward. I placed my hand on the trunk and chanted a segment of healing art.
Song Lan walked over to my side and also looked up at it. "It’s alright; the Sophora Tree only buds in late spring, so there’s no need to worry."
"Yes..."
I gazed around the mountain peak where I had spent some time. Just as I had finally gotten used to this place, I now had to leave it behind...
"Daoist, I will definitely come back." I reiterated my determination, as if to emphasize my resolve.
Song Lan fell silent for a moment before suddenly pulling me into his embrace.
"Mm, I will wait for you here," he said softly.
I widened my eyes in surprise, and before I could gather my thoughts, he had already released me.
"Go on, don't keep them waiting too long."
"Yes..." I replied somewhat dazedly.
With each step, I turned back reluctantly, bidding farewell to everything before me in my heart.
It was only a year away; it would be fine...
I etched every scene deeply into my memory and resolutely turned away, walking toward the unknown journey that awaited ahead.
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