Chapter Twenty-Two: The Land of Ultimate Yin, the Object of Pure Darkness

When the four hurried back, night had already fallen. The entire forest was shrouded in a profound tranquility, moonlight filtering through the leaves and casting sparse shadows upon the ground. Deep within the woods, a luminous object could be seen, bright and gentle, radiating a soft white glow.

Without a moment’s hesitation, the four quickened their pace, moving with lithe agility. Ji Xuanyu, though his body was already exhausted, forced himself to keep up with the other three. He lagged behind slightly, but stubbornly refused to be left out, keeping pace with them.

Muye watched with a touch of pity, while Aishuo was both annoyed and perplexed: why would anyone push themselves so hard for the sake of a woman? The more she thought about it, the more bewildered she became, her curiosity about the woman ahead growing stronger, tinged with a faint sense of dissatisfaction.

When the four reached the valley, the sound of flowing water was as soft as silk and bamboo, soothing to the heart. Not far away, a woman in white was seated cross-legged atop the water, her face devoid of emotion, as fragile as a porcelain doll, spotless and pure. A layer of white mist encircled her, shimmering and elusive, making her impossible to grasp. Spiritual energy lingered around her form.

Aishuo, curious, flew forward to investigate, but was halted by Ji Xuanyu’s weak call from behind. She turned, somewhat irritated, to glare at him.

"Why are you so frail? Xinyu, help Xuanyu with his breathing. Muye, give him some medicine to take..."

"I truly don’t understand why you’d do this to yourself over a woman!"

Her commands came almost by instinct, never forgetting to mutter a complaint, and she shot a glare filled with anger at the woman in the pool, Yinyao. Yet Yinyao seemed oblivious, giving no reaction whatsoever. Seeing her so unmoved, Aishuo felt an urge to simply turn and leave.

Suddenly, the white light in the pool intensified, becoming dazzling. The four instinctively shielded their eyes with their sleeves. After a moment, a figure began to emerge from the mist, ethereal and unreal.

"Ghost Doctor? Poison Enchantress?" The voice from the pool was questioning and carried a hint of anxiety.

Aishuo, Muye, and Gu Xinyu stared in astonishment as the figure grew clearer—Silver Fox?! Yes, it was the Silver Fox, her hair as white as snow, billowing lightly in the wind, a tiny silver fox mark upon her brow.

They nodded, awaiting her next words.

"Hurry and cleanse the poison from Yinyao. She hasn’t much time left!" Silver Fox drifted before Aishuo and Muye, her phantom hands grasping theirs and pulling them toward the marble at the center of the pool.

Aishuo, somewhat annoyed, shook off Silver Fox’s hand. She despised others making decisions for her without her consent.

"You’re not dead?" Aishuo asked, deeply puzzled. She had heard four years ago that Silver Fox had fallen victim to poison, yet now, after all this time, she found herself face to face with her.

Seeing Muye already bending over Yinyao, checking her pulse and diagnosing her condition, Silver Fox relaxed and began answering Aishuo’s questions.

"No, I left four years ago. What you see today is merely a remnant of my spirit left in the mortal world upon my death. Otherwise, how could my form seem so unreal?"

Aishuo nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "Why do you still possess such powerful spiritual energy?"

She was genuinely baffled by the ease with which Silver Fox had transported her and Muye to the center of the pool. Glancing at the mark on Silver Fox’s forehead, understanding dawned: she must have transcended mortality at the time of death and become a true deity. Only those who reached the Void Realm would bear such a mark of status.

Seeing comprehension on Aishuo’s face, Silver Fox said no more, and floated to Yinyao’s side, observing her closely.

Muye’s expression was troubled: though Yinyao’s heart meridian was protected, her blood was thoroughly poisoned. If the poison was not purged completely, only death or a blood transfusion awaited her. Moreover, she had been afflicted with a yin poison, which could only be treated in a place of extreme yin, using objects of extreme yin—like fighting poison with poison. Yet the risks were great: if she could not withstand the cold, she would die during treatment. And where could such a place be found? The object in question—violet orchid—was exceedingly rare!

Wait! Wasn’t it violet orchid that Aishuo had gathered today? Truly, fate had intervened.

Muye looked up at Aishuo, then smiled respectfully at Silver Fox. "Senior Silver Fox, Yinyao must consume an object of extreme yin and meditate in a place of extreme yin to have hope. But both are incredibly hard to find!"

As Aishuo heard the term "object of extreme yin," she instinctively touched the ice-black box at her side. Wasn’t it the violet orchid she’d picked that morning? No! She couldn’t give it up; violet orchid was far too precious, and she had more important uses for it. She still wished to study it extensively.

Silver Fox, keen-eyed, noticed Aishuo’s movements, and Gu Xinyu and Ji Xuanyu, seated on the grass, became alert as well.

Yinyao could be saved!

They all sensed Aishuo’s hesitation, and every gaze settled upon her. Muye gave Aishuo a meaningful look, confirming their shared hope, and everyone’s face lit up with anticipation as they waited for Aishuo to hand over the violet orchid.

Feeling everyone’s eyes upon her, Aishuo grew uneasy. "Yes, I have the violet orchid, but I will not hand it over!"

With a leap, she landed on the grass outside the pond, her words resolute.

Muye said nothing more, following her outside. Even though he was eager to save Yinyao, he would never force Aishuo to do anything against her will—especially since curing Yinyao’s poison required more than just the object of extreme yin; without the place of extreme yin, all efforts would be futile.

Ji Xuanyu, upon hearing this, became so agitated that, coupled with his weakness, he collapsed. Gu Xinyu rose and grabbed Muye’s hand, knowing only Muye could persuade Aishuo.

Silver Fox, outraged that Poison Enchantress would stand by and let someone die, flew to Aishuo and used her spiritual power to grip her throat, threatening, "Will you save her or not?"

"Not!" Aishuo replied, breaking free of Silver Fox’s threat and soaring to the summit of the valley, "I detest threats more than anything!"

Her scarlet robes billowed in the wind, her loose hair lending a wild beauty, her cold tone and displeased expression unmistakable. She was the Poison Enchantress, known throughout the realm.

"Aishuo!" Muye knew she meant to leave, and tried to stop her or follow, but Gu Xinyu patted him on the shoulder. Muye watched as the red figure vanished above.

"Aishuo will be fine! Go check on Xuanyu. When he wakes, we’ll find a solution together," Gu Xinyu reassured Muye. He knew Muye worried for Aishuo, and understood their inseparable bond. Turning, he looked at Silver Fox, who seemed despondent.

"Don’t worry, Senior Silver Fox. Yinyao will be alright! Is Yinyao your daughter?" He hesitated, but asked.

Silver Fox nodded, drifting to Yinyao’s side and gently caressing her hair, her gaze full of deep affection and, in its depths, a trace of sorrow.

Muye helped regulate Ji Xuanyu’s breathing, transferred some of his own power, gave him several pills to restore his strength, and settled him to rest. Only then did he step out of the bamboo hut, closing the door softly.

Gu Xinyu stood alone on the grass, his shadow long and silent, lost in thought. He pondered many things:

He wondered how Yin Su could be so heartless, though that was her nature. He wondered why Aishuo, usually so generous, was unwilling to part with a single violet orchid to save another. He wondered why he was so concerned for Yinyao, when their acquaintance was merely a misunderstanding, a jest...

"Xinyu?" Muye called softly, concerned at seeing the usually carefree Gu Xinyu in such a state.

"Heh... Muye, Xuanyu has fallen asleep," Gu Xinyu replied with a dry laugh, lost in thought.

And then, silence as deep as the night itself.

The two raised their heads, gazing at the bright moon, each lost in contemplation—perhaps their worries were different, or perhaps they troubled over the same thing...

—Endnote—

If you like it, please add it to your collection. Spare a thought for the lost and wandering t^t