The mountain air between the trees was thick with mist, thin vapors floating amidst the swaying shadows of pines. Dewdrops dripped along the branches and leaves, striking the stones with a crisp, subtle sound. Tired birds returning to their nests chirped in bursts, interweaving with the rustling of insects in the grass, making the mountain stillness even more profound. A plump gray rabbit was holding a wild fruit and gnawing on it, its three-lobed mouth twitching rapidly, looking quite content.
In the next instant, a massive shadow cast down without warning, as if a corner of the sky's light had been forcibly wiped away, enveloping it along with half of the wild fruit. The rabbit's ears twitched; it dropped the fruit pit and was about to bolt. At the same time, a sparrow preening its feathers on a branch also looked up in alarm, shaking its wings to fly away.
However, everything froze in a flash.
A faint azure light flickered from within that shadow as a ring-shaped restriction spread silently, sweeping past in a heartbeat—the air seemed forcibly sealed. The rabbit remained in a pouncing posture, frozen in mid-air. The sparrow on the tree also stopped in a wing-flapping pose, its plumage motionless, fixed upon the branch, even the swaying of the grass leaves came to a standstill. The sound of the wind and the chirping of insects in the forest vanished eerily at this moment; all was silent, as if even time had slowed by a beat.
A figure moved slowly with steady steps toward the cliff. Looking down from the height, the valley was filled with interweaving cooking smoke and mist, and the entirety of Liangdou Village was in full view.
The figure stood still, and a person stepped out. That person was draped in a black robe with a large hood covering the head, the hanging shadow concealing the entire face. Dark patterns flowed faintly on the robe, seemingly capable of swallowing light. Only a cold and indifferent aura diffused silently, instinctively making one want to step aside. He stood by the cliff edge with his hands behind his back, silently overlooking the village below.
Before long, another person walked out quietly from behind, in the same attire with a black robe and hood concealing the face. He stood silently beside the first, likewise overlooking the village. Neither spoke a word. The mountain wind brushed past, fluttering the hems of their black robes, yet it could not disperse that heart-shaking silence.
—
Meanwhile, inside the courtyard of the Lin Family Dyehouse.
[Illustration ↓]
https://i.postimg.cc/yxJP8Lb4/Q0003A1.jpg
That wisp of White Qi Mist that had not yet fully dispersed was still like a ribbon condensed from moonlight, slowly circulating around Xiang'er, making her pale, pretty face look even less like a person of the Mortal Realm.
"Xiang'er! Are you alright?" Lin Dalu rushed forward almost at a run, his voice carrying a tremble he hadn't noticed himself. One hand firmly supported Xiang'er's slender left arm while the other arm subconsciously wrapped around her shoulders, half-holding her in his embrace, fearing she might dissipate like clouds and mist in the next moment.
Beside them, Liu Hai stood dumbfounded, only regaining his senses after a long while. He hurriedly straightened his collar, which had been messed up during his earlier evasion, and actually bowed respectfully toward Xiang'er, "Immortal? I, Liu Hai, was blind and did not know an Immortal Maiden had graced us. I have offended you previously; I hope the Immortal Maiden will forgive me!"
Hearing this, a trace of a helpless bitter smile appeared on Xiang'er's pale cheeks. She lifted a slender finger slightly in a virtual support, "Young Master Liu... please do not do this. Please rise." Before her voice fell, her body suddenly swayed. Had it not been for Lin Dalu's tight support, she would have almost collapsed.
The moment Lin Dalu touched her sleeve, he felt a cool breath rush over him, like early snow quietly melting into his palm, carrying a faint fragrance that seeped into his heart and lungs. He suppressed the panic in his heart, but forced himself to remain calm on the surface, saying in a deep voice, "Let's go inside first!" As he spoke, half-supporting and half-carrying her, he helped Xiang'er into the house and carefully settled her onto the old wooden chair in the main room.
Turning to see Liu Hai still dazed at the doorway, he couldn't help but urge, "What are you still standing there for? Go get a basin of warm water!"
"Oh, oh! Going now!" Liu Hai woke as if from a dream and hurriedly ran to the kitchen.
The light in the room was divided into several soft shadows by the window, swaying and stretching the shadows of the three onto the mottled wall, flickering like the chaotic thoughts in their hearts at this moment. Xiang'er leaned weakly against the cold wooden table, her gaze rippling like water, carrying a bit of bewilderment and loss, "I... I indeed cannot remember past events clearly. Just now, seeing Young Master Liu in danger, I don't know why, but a Qi Current within my body began to circulate on its own, and... it was like that."
Lin Dalu silently handed over a bowl of freshly brewed hot tea, noticing that the girl's fingertips holding the tea bowl were still trembling slightly. He remembered yesterday by the river; her quiet sleeping appearance was like a white lotus in the mountains, tranquil and weak. How could she be a legendary Immortal?
"Miss Xiang'er, do not worry." Liu Hai came in with the water basin and leaned closer, rarely restraining his usual flightiness to say seriously, "Though I am a Mortal, I once heard a traveling Daoist say that those who practice cultivation value the foundation most. You performed such a profound technique just now and immediately turned pale; I fear you have suffered excessive depletion and injured your Qi and Blood?"
Xiang'er shook her head gently, a flash of trance in her eyes, "It doesn't matter... strangely enough, after performing the technique just now, I seem to have remembered something... it seems there is a set of Technique Formula that surfaced on its own..."
As she spoke, a look of determination appeared in her eyes, "Let me try it; perhaps through this, I can remember more."
Lin Dalu frowned, "Your current body..."
Without waiting for Lin Dalu to dissuade her, she forced herself up, walked to the bedside, and according to the fragments in her memory, sat cross-legged. One could see her hands slowly moving in front of her, forming one strange and profound Hand Seal after another, her ten fingers flying and even bringing out trails of afterimages. At first, there was no abnormality, but soon, a visible white Qi Current began to slowly spread with her Cinnabar Field as the center, like smoke and mist, yet carrying an aura of purity.
[Illustration ↓]
https://i.postimg.cc/Bb8gnmVf/Q0003B.jpg
Immediately after, the air suddenly tightened, and a gale was agitated from her Cinnabar Field, billowing upward with a roar. Xiang'er's sleeves and hair danced, her clothes fluttering loudly. Lin Dalu and Liu Hai were even pressed back repeatedly by this sudden surge of air, forced to block their faces with their arms, feeling the gale lashing their faces and their collars dancing wildly, almost unable to stand steady.
Amidst the whistling wind, Xiang'er's originally paper-pale face gradually turned rosy, as if a withered tree was meeting spring, but then it suddenly turned pale again as fine sweat seeped from her forehead. Xiang'er's brows were tightly locked, her smooth forehead suddenly darkened, and her delicate body began to tremble uncontrollably, seemingly enduring some immense pain, letting out suppressed groans from her throat.
"Xiang'er! What's wrong?" Lin Dalu was shocked to see this and, regardless of the Qi Current that had not yet fully subsided, was about to step forward.
Just then, the wind in the room stopped, and all the anomalies came to an abrupt halt.
"Puh—"
Xiang'er suddenly opened her eyes, her jade hand clutching her chest while the other hand barely propped against the bed edge. Her whole body leaned forward as she spat out a breath of blood; a flash of bright red landed on the dusty floor, appearing exceptionally striking.
Lin Dalu rushed up to support her, "Xiang'er! What's wrong?" He steadily held her swaying body, "What happened to you? Xiang'er!"
Xiang'er leaned in his arms, her eyes slightly open, her long and curled eyelashes slowly lifting, yet she still forced a trace of a smile, "No... it's okay, I'm fine. On the contrary, I feel... much better..."
Liu Hai was also panicked and leaned over to ask urgently, "Miss Xiang'er, do you still feel anything unwell in your body?"
"Just... feeling some chest tightness. Perhaps... I'll be fine after a rest." she panted slightly, her voice soft and weak as a breeze.
Lin Dalu looked up and glared at Liu Hai, his tone carrying a hint of blame, "Xiang'er was injured like this because she forced a technique to save you!"
Liu Hai immediately showed a look of guilt and smiled sheepishly, "That's right! Chunhe Tang in Guangde Town has a prescription for treating chest tightness, specifically for chest congestion and shortness of breath. My mother got medicine there back in the day; if I get some, Miss Xiang'er will surely recover after taking it. I'll go get the medicine for Miss Xiang'er right now!" As he spoke, he turned to run out.
Xiang'er gave a weak smile, "Thank you, Young Master Liu."
"Xiang'er, don't speak anymore, lie down and have a good rest." Lin Dalu carefully helped her lie down, covered her with a thin quilt, and tucked in the corners. Lin Dalu fetched a clean cloth and gently wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and neck. Liu Hai then turned and left, walking rapidly and gradually fading into the distance.
——(To be continued)