What the heck! It was supposed to be big and clumsy, but where did it go?!

Bai Ke: "..." Why did he suddenly feel so rejected?

Gripping the pearl that still emitted a gentle, radiant glow, Bai Ke forced his already exhausted body to take a few steps up the slope. He walked until he reached the top, then stopped and looked back at the "Ice Soul" from a distance.

He discovered that the mass of ghostly figures had vanished without a trace, and the mysterious "Huo Junxiao," whether man or ghost, was also nowhere to be found. The eerie scene, combined with his earlier confused state, made Bai Ke feel as if he had been lying on that "Ice Soul" and had a bizarre dream in the midst of chaos.

If this Sanqing Pool was really as he had speculated, where those within were stripped of all senses, leaving only their consciousness, and where thoughts could be magnified or even materialized…

Then, what was real and what was false in the experiences he just went through? Were they intertwined with truth and illusion? Which parts were real, and which were not?

Bai Ke took a step forward but then paused. After hesitating for a moment, he ultimately turned around and began to walk back the way he came.

The pearl in his hand could only illuminate the path a few meters ahead, much like the trajectory of his current life—each step forward revealing only a little more of the road ahead.

Before entering the Sanqing Pool, Bai Ke knew only that in the coming days, he had to follow Junxiao’s teachings, lay a solid foundation, and then remove the Seven Star Pill from his body. Beyond that, he had no clear plan.

But the recent painful experience had strengthened his willpower. Even after the Seven Star Pill is removed, he would continue to train until he achieved something significant—until he could carve out a safe haven for himself, his family, and his friends in a world where the ordinary and extraordinary intertwined.

With this new determination, the burden in his heart lightened considerably, and his steps became quicker. The cliffs on either side gradually took on clearer outlines, and the slippery stone path beneath his feet began to reveal a faint pattern, giving the sense that the path was becoming clearer and brighter as he walked.

When Bai Ke, holding the "Night Pearl," finally crossed the mountain gate, which was shrouded in a thin mist and sealed with a restriction, he couldn't help but glance back at the scene inside, hidden by a deceptive illusion, and let out a soft laugh.

That laugh carried many emotions.

Whatever the Hengtian Sect Master's original intention—whether to cure Bai Ke's eye disease or with some hidden ulterior motive—had inadvertently allowed Bai Ke to gain much from the experience. He had entered the gate lightly, only to find the path growing darker and more treacherous, facing countless dangers, suffering through broken bones and bleeding flesh, until he was put to death and reborn, the willows and flowers became bright.

(NT: From a Chinese idiom "柳暗花明又一村" (liǔ àn huā míng yòu yī cūn), lit. "the willows are dark, the flowers are bright, and there's another village ahead." This idiom is used to describe a situation where, after a period of confusion or difficulty, there suddenly appears a new and hopeful turn of events)

The road ahead grew brighter and wider, ultimately leading to an open and expansive view. This was likely the path he and many others would follow throughout their lives.

And Bai Ke's pursuits were greater than most, so the trials he would face—those that would break his bones and tear his flesh—were likely to be even more numerous.

As he looked at the peaceful scene behind the illusionary mountain gate, Bai Ke couldn't help but think of Huo Junxiao—his ability to command the wind and rain, seemingly invincible. Then he recalled the transparent, ephemeral figure within the Sanqing Pool, as if it could vanish with a mere gust of wind…

For someone like him, the trials and suffering he had endured must be beyond imagination...

As Bai Ke thought about it, a slight sadness crept into his heart.

However, he quickly brushed off the strange feeling, composed himself, and turned around to look at Lin Jie, who had been waiting for him by the mountain gate.

At that moment, Lin Jie was clinging to the gatepost, completely unconscious, with a drop of saliva hanging from the corner of his mouth.

Bai Ke: "..."

He observed Lin Jie's elegant posture for a moment, then squatted down and gently shook Lin Jie's shoulder. "Wake up, it's time to get up."

Some people wake up easily, like Bai Ke, who could wake up with just a light touch.

Others, however, are like a dead pig—no amount of shaking, or even a bomb going off nearby, would wake them up immediately. For these people, you have to find their weak spot and use threats or bribes, like with Lin Jie.

Despite Bai Ke's persistent shaking and patting, Lin Jie barely moved. He blinked drowsily at Bai Ke for a moment, then hugged Bai Ke's leg, mumbled a bit, and muttered, "Mmm... pork knuckle..."

"..."

Bai Ke, who had been patient, paused for a moment before prying off Lin Jie's hands, pulling his leg free, and standing up. He patted the nonexistent dust off his clothes, grabbed Lin Jie's ankle, and in a tone that was cool and calm, said, "Lin Jie, I'll count to three. If you're not up by then, I'll drag you back by one leg, face down. I'm not joking. Three—two—"

Lin Jie flipped over and sat up just before Bai Ke could count to one. He silently hugged his leg, pulled his pant leg out of Bai Ke's hand, then obediently stood up and trembled in an S-shaped path over to Bai Ke.

Bai Ke glanced at him and noticed that Lin Jie's eyes were still half-open and half-closed, with saliva still hanging from his mouth.

"..."

Feeling slightly repulsed, Bai Ke moved a step to the side before grabbing Lin Jie's sleeve and leading him forward.

Lin Jie drifted along like a wandering ghost, his steps swaying wildly. He didn't say a word the whole time, clearly still sleepwalking.

How he managed to walk while asleep was a mystery, but it certainly made him look like he deserved a good beating.

Bai Ke, still in a state of fake alertness, dragged Lin Jie back to the courtyard. He shoved Lin Jie, who had been fumbling around for half the night and almost ended up in the outhouse instead of the bedroom, into bed. Then, still in that same fake alertness, he took a bath, washed off the sticky cold sweat, and climbed into bed feeling fresh. As soon as his head hit the pillow, he fell asleep.

This was probably the first time in Bai Ke’s eighteen years that he had slept so soundly.

Both of them in the small courtyard slept dreamlessly through the night, which led to them both being late the next day.

"Do you know what time it is now?" Huo Junxiao glanced at the already bright sun in the secret realm's sky and then at Lin Jie.

Lin Jie stood straight as a pine, hands pressed to his sides, and answered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "It's the hour of the dragon." (NT: Chenshi, 7 to 9 am)

Bai Ke, standing nearby, also felt a bit embarrassed. He was usually very punctual and rarely was an hour late like this.

Huo Junxiao twitched his mouth, a bit troubled. On one hand, he was a strict teacher who believed in firm discipline; if someone needed to be punished, he would do so without hesitation. But with Bai Ke involved, he was reluctant to punish him, yet letting it slide seemed too lenient.

After a moment of hesitation, he spoke sternly to Lin Jie, "Since this is your first offense, I won't punish you too harshly. Go and chase Peanut. You're only allowed to use your body, no other techniques. You can eat once you've caught Peanut."

Lin Jie blinked a couple of times, then turned to look at Peanut, whose large body seemed a bit clumsy. He nodded without hesitation, patted his chest, and said, "No problem!"

Bai Ke was about to nod in agreement when he heard Huo Junxiao say, "You don’t have to go. Come back with me and tell me what happened yesterday at the Sanqing Pool."

Lin Jie: "..." I bought a watch last yea.

Feeling dejected, the little chicken slumped his head, walked over to Peanut, buried his face in its soft, shiny black fur, and started crying softly out.

Bai Ke: "..."

Huo Junxiao patted Bai Ke on the shoulder, then disappeared with him in a flash, leaving only a voice infused with energy echoing through the forest: "If you can’t even touch a single hair on Peanut within three hours, you can skip today's meal."

Lin Jie: "…Can I pull out one hair now and call it a deal?" He said this while actually reaching out.

But before he could finish his sentence, the warm and fuzzy Peanut disappeared with a "whoosh."

Lin Jie: "..." What happened to being big and clumsy? How am I supposed to chase that? How?

But thinking about how his entire day's meals depended on catching Peanut, Lin Jie could only cry as he ran into the forest, trying to chase after the chubby creature whose shadow he couldn't even see.

It's just as well that Peanut couldn't hear his complaints. Otherwise, if it knew he called it a "fatty," it would probably sprint even faster, leaving Lin Jie with no hope of ever catching it and ensuring he’d never taste a grain of rice again!

While Lin Jie was frantically searching the secret realm like a headless chicken for the black, chubby figure of Peanut, Bai Ke had already been whisked back to the small house deep within the secret realm by Huo Junxiao in a single flash.

Bai Ke thought to himself, "…In the blink of an eye, why did we have to spend hours walking here yesterday?"

Once Huo Junxiao saw that Bai Ke had steadied himself, he pulled him toward the house. However, before they even entered, Yu Xian's voice came from inside: "You little brat, you're finally done training your disciple. And stop scowling all the time. Even though yesterday was a bust, there's still some good news. At least we’ve confirmed that the missing soul fragment isn’t in any other region and is likely in Yi City. It'll be easier to find from now on. And that grumpy—Hey, weren't you going to punish him severely? Why’d you bring someone back with you?"

Before Yu Xian could finish speaking, he saw Huo Junxiao enter the room with a dark expression, followed by Bai Ke. Sensing the tension, Yu Xian fell silent and didn’t continue the previous conversation.

Bai Ke looked at him, pondering what he had just said. A missing soul fragment? Grumpy? If he remembered correctly, the old man Yu Xian had once called him “grumpy disciple” when they first met. At the same time, ever since he had entered the room, Bai Ke felt that something was off, but he couldn’t quite figure out what it was.

 

Translator : DarNan