“Master, I’ll hug you so you won’t be cold anymore,” the boy’s voice was urgent, as if he was trying hard to explain. “I couldn’t wake you up when you were sleeping, but then, as soon as I started talking, you woke up.”
“Mu Mu?”
“It’s me. I can talk now, Master. From now on, I’ll stay hidden and won’t cause trouble for you. Please don’t make me leave.”
Hearing the muffled voice in her ear, Bai Shuo paused, feeling her heart soften. It was as though the iron wall around her heart melted away.
Fan Yue hadn’t regained his memories, only his sentience. He remembered everything after waking up in the herb hut and the encounter with Zhe Sang that night. He believed himself to be a small demon spirit, and thought Bai Shuo was imprisoned here because she’d tried to steal the jade slip to protect him from Zhe Sang’s threats.
Bai Shuo didn’t know whether to be relieved or saddened. She patted his back. “Alright, alright. You’re a grown-up now, stop clinging. I won’t send you away.”
“Really?” The boy looked up at her, his gaze earnest.
“Really. When have I ever lied to you?” Bai Shuo said, then reminded him, “But you have to promise me—when we leave here, you’ll stay hidden and make sure no one finds you…”
Before she could finish, a beam of sunlight suddenly pierced into the cave, warming the frigid air. Two figures entered from outside.
Fan Yue instantly transformed into a small vine, curling tightly around Bai Shuo’s wrist.
Silhouetted against the light, one of the visitors, seeing Bai Shuo unharmed, sighed in relief, his voice carrying a hint of delight.
“Junior Sister Bai Shuo, the three days are up—you can leave!”
Junior Sister Bai Shuo? Bai Shuo looked at Yi Fan and Chang Xu, who had entered the cave, with an awkward expression. Since when were the inner disciples so courteous to her?
Oh, right—A-Zhao! She still didn’t know the outcome of his duel with Zhe Sang. Zhe Sang was cunning and treacherous, and he had advanced to Immortal Lord. A-Zhao had better not have fallen for his tricks…
“Thank you both for watching over me these past few days. Please, Senior Brothers, take me to the inner island,” Bai Shuo said, her face filled with concern. “I know I’ve made a grave mistake, but I just want to see today’s duel. Once I see that A-Zhao is safe, I’ll leave Miao Miao immediately and won’t trouble either of you further.”
“Junior Sister, you don’t have to leave,” Chang Xu said hastily.
“Don’t have to leave?” Bai Shuo was taken aback. “But the sect leader said…”
“Oh, today Senior Brother Chong Zhao won the duel, and the sect leader has already announced that he will succeed the sect in the future. Given your close relationship with him, he’ll definitely want you to stay…” Chang Xu whispered, “We all know you stole the jade slip for Senior Brother. With him around, he’ll protect you—don’t worry.”
“A-Zhao won?” Bai Shuo’s face lit up with relief, but then she realized something. “You said the sect leader announced that A-Zhao would inherit Miao Miao? Then… what happened to Senior Brother Zhe Sang?”
Yi Fan’s expression shifted, and for once, his usually reserved face showed a hint of disdain. “He used mortal energy to reach Immortal Lord and has had his golden core shattered by the sect leader. He’s been imprisoned.”
What?! Bai Shuo was dumbfounded, muttering to herself about how Miao Miao seemed to keep producing troublesome characters. First there was the wicked Bodhi Song He, and now there was Zhe Sang?
“Junior Sister Bai Shuo, the sect leader is upset over the matter with Zhe Sang, and Junior Brother Chong Zhao is staying by his side. You’d better return to the herb hut for now,” Yi Fan said sternly. Chang Xu seemed ready to object, but a glance from Yi Fan silenced him.
“Alright, alright, since the duel is over, I won’t go to the inner island. I’ll head back to the herb hut and prepare more spirit medicine for Miao Miao.” Since she was concealing a little demon, Bai Shuo changed her mind as soon as she heard that Chong Zhao was with Song Yun.
With a quick yawn, she added, “Senior Brothers, I’ll head back on my own—no need to escort me.”
Before they could respond, Bai Shuo darted off like a gust of wind.
Inside the Mysterious Ice Cave, Chang Xu frowned. “Senior Brother, Junior Brother Chong Zhao is going to be the sect leader. Bai Shuo went through so much hardship for his sake. Surely he has feelings for her. Why didn’t you let me take her to the inner island?”
“Fool,” Yi Fan said with a calm look. “If Junior Brother really cared about her, do you think it would be us welcoming Bai Shuo out of the cave?”
With that, Yi Fan turned and walked away, leaving Chang Xu staring after him, scratching his head in confusion.
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