After Cultivating To Immortality, I Became the Demon Venerable's White Moonlight - Chapter 5

Feng Hanyu sat upstairs by the window. It was exceptionally quiet here, with only the faint, fragmented sounds of footsteps and casual chatter from the pedestrians on the street below filtering in.

She blew out the candle, peeled the clothing away from her shoulder, and revealed her pale skin with its clearly defined musculature.

The four gashes left by Wen Miu’s massive talons were deep. Though the bleeding had stopped, the deep crimson lacerations remained a shocking sight.

A flask of wine was unsealed, and a rich aroma immediately wafted through the air. Holding the liquor with one hand, Feng Hanyu gritted her teeth and suddenly splashed the strong alcohol directly onto her shoulder. Even for someone like her, whose face was habitually detached and rarely showed joy or sorrow, she could not help but furrow her brows tightly, a low groan of intense pain escaping her throat.

Demonic beasts like Wen Miu often carried demon venom on their claws. Such wounds had to be cleansed promptly to prevent the toxin from spreading throughout the body, allowing the injury to heal.

Once the flask of wine was completely emptied, she took a deep breath, leaned back against the chair, and closed her eyes to rest.

The moonlight reflected onto the long street, where crowds below bustled back and forth. Possessing keen hearing, Feng Hanyu suddenly snapped her eyes open and looked down at the street.

She spotted a pure, elegant young woman walking through the crowd, a treasured sword strapped to her back. Her face looked remarkably familiar. From the front of her collar, half of a long silk ribbon protruded crookedly, fluttering gently with the breeze.

Isn’t this the very cultivation practitioner who was burning with desire that night? A faint smile curled the corners of Feng Hanyu’s lips.

She blinked her long eyelashes. Suddenly, moving without any wind, the silk ribbon drifted upward, spinning and swirling until it flew right into the second floor window.

Feng Hanyu reached out two fingers and caught the silk ribbon, catching sight of the handwriting written upon it.

Walking on the street, Yi Qinglan suddenly felt something amiss at her chest. Looking up, she realized her silk ribbon had already left her, flying higher and higher until it vanished through a second-floor window by the roadside.

The sect’s intelligence must never be easily leaked to outsiders.

Outside the guest room on the second floor, a knock resounded at the door.

“Come in.”

Yi Qinglan pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room was exceedingly quiet, illuminated only by a single dim candle, and the air was thick with the rich aroma of wine. A black-clad woman sat alone by the window, her back to the door, seemingly enjoying a fine brew by herself.

This woman’s figure felt strangely familiar.

The silk ribbon lay on the floor nearby, seemingly unnoticed by anyone.

With a movement of Yi Qinglan’s palm, spiritual energy coalesced at her fingertips, and the silk ribbon floated gently back into her sleeve.

Now that she had retrieved the ribbon, Yi Qinglan intended to state her business and take her leave. However, the stranger lifted her wine cup and said casually without turning around, “Meeting like this is a twist of fate. Why not join me for a drink?”

Yi Qinglan had originally only intended to reclaim her silk ribbon, but she was an avid lover of wine. With fine liquor right before her eyes, her inner cravings were instantly stirred.

Thus, she walked around and took a seat opposite the woman, holding up a cup with a smile. “Then I shall gladly accept.”

Saying this, she unceremoniously poured herself a cup. Just as she was about to toast this stranger, she looked up and froze.

The woman was dressed entirely in mysterious black. One side of her face was bathed in the moonlight, accentuating her delicate, pale skin which resembled flawless jade. Her eyes were cool and clear, tilting upward with a natural curve, like drops of frost and snow clinging to the branches of a plum blossom. She toyed with a small porcelain cup in one hand, a faint smile in her eyes. She looked like a banished immortal who had long resided in the Lunar Palace, possessed of a pure beauty that seemed entirely unearthly.

Seeing Yi Qinglan frozen in a daze, the woman smiled and raised her cup. “A guest from afar is a guest indeed. To you.” She tilted her head slightly and drained the cup in one gulp.

Seeing how frank and bold the woman was, Yi Qinglan admired her in her heart. She raised her own cup and drank it all down. The moment the liquor entered her mouth, she found it dense, mellow, and leaving a lingering fragrance on her palate. She couldn’t help but praise, “Excellent wine!”

Feng Hanyu said, “This wine is called ‘Jade Mash Brew.’ It is a famous local vintage, best appreciated under the moonlight.” As she spoke, she personally refilled Yi Qinglan’s cup.

Seeing that this stranger was so hospitable despite their lack of acquaintance, Yi Qinglan found it hard to refuse. She drank another cup and began to feel a bit lightheaded. Suddenly remembering she had official business to attend to, she realized she should return early.

Just as she was about to stand up, the woman opposite her noticed the red jade pendant swaying gently at her waist. As if pointing it out casually, she remarked, “Did you know that this jade pendant was originally part of a pair?”

Yi Qinglan felt a bit surprised. “The jade pendant?” She untied the pendant from her waist and stroked it gently in her palm. “I obtained this jade pendant by chance not long ago… How is it that you know of its origin, miss?”

The jade pendant lay warmly in her hand, emitting a delicate, dark-red luster.

“Yes,” Feng Hanyu nodded. “This jade pendant was originally carved from a single gemstone, which was later split into two, one bearing a beast motif and the other an eagle motif. The one in your hand is the beast-motif pendant. Wearing it on your person has the effect of clearing the mind and dispelling toxins.”

Stroking the pendant, Yi Qinglan said, “This jade looks incredibly translucent, it must be a treasure. You look quite young, miss, yet you know so much about it.”

“I possess no great talent. It is simply that my family has dealt in antiques for generations, which is why I know a bit about these things. However, my aptitude is shallow, and I did not inherit the ancestral business. Throughout my life, I have only loved cultivation, wandering among mountains and rivers to live freely as a rogue cultivator.”

“Is that so?” Yi Qinglan said in surprise. “So you are not only from a scholarly lineage, but also a fellow cultivator?”

Yi Qinglan studied her appearance closely as fragments of blurred memories resurfaced in her mind. “Forgive my forwardness, but you look remarkably familiar.”

“Oh?” Feng Hanyu feigned curiosity, leaning forward slightly. “Could it be that you have seen me somewhere before, miss?”

Yi Qinglan searched her memory. The way the person before her poured wine was entirely effortless and composed. Sitting in the same room with her, a faint, wispy fragrance drifted into her nose now and then…

In an instant, a flash of realization struck her, and she blurted out, “Could it be… could it be that you are the person who rescued me that night?”

Feng Hanyu’s expression registered a moment of surprise, followed by a candid laugh. “So it was you. On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, you were struck by a strange poison. I happened to be traveling near that area, and because I was drawn to the amusement of the lantern festival, I stayed in Guanyun Town for a day. I stumbled upon you by pure coincidence. I wanted to save you, but my cultivation was too weak, and I was truly powerless to do much. I never imagined I would encounter you again here. It truly is a grand stroke of fate that brings us together from a thousand miles away. Looking at you now, it seems you have fully recovered?”

Recalling the events of that night, Yi Qinglan’s face couldn’t help but flush hot. She nodded and said, “I have long been fine.”

Marveling in her heart at how wondrous fate could be to allow them to reunite here, she poured another cup of wine. “I can never truly repay your life-saving grace, miss. I can only toast you once more.”

With three cups of pure brew down her throat, Yi Qinglan’s face flushed a delicate red, and her eyes held a soft, romantic warmth, making her look exceedingly captivating. Holding the jade pendant in one hand, she tried to hand it to Feng Hanyu. “Since I have crossed paths with you again today, it is only right that this jade pendant be returned to its rightful owner…”

Yet, Feng Hanyu seemed to have already anticipated her thoughts. She gently nudged Yi Qinglan’s elbow back. “Jade is gifted to those with whom it shares a destiny. During our last encounter, I aided you in a time of distress. Today, we meet again, and you have downed three cups in a row, matching my temperament perfectly. From this moment on, we are friends. Between friends, what need is there for such formality?”

Yi Qinglan felt immensely delighted upon hearing this, finding this woman’s personality entirely to her liking. She took the jade pendant back, but couldn’t help asking out of curiosity, “Then how did you happen to come to Nanzhou City, miss?”

“To say it was a coincidence wouldn’t be entirely true.” At this moment, Feng Hanyu’s brows knitted slightly, as if she were harboring some distressing matter. “Perhaps it is a year of bad luck, treasures from my home have been repeatedly stolen, and the thieves fled in this direction. Although I have no great abilities, I do have some cultivation, so I came ahead to investigate.”

Seeing the look of sorrow on her face, Yi Qinglan felt an impulse rise in her chest to help ease her worries. However, remembering that she still had an important demon-slaying mission to attend to, she could only offer some kind words of comfort.

In the end, Yi Qinglan bade her farewell, feeling a deep sense of reluctance to leave. Suddenly remembering something, she introduced her own name and background, then asked, “May I ask for your name, miss? So that we may… meet again in the future.”

Feng Hanyu smiled faintly. “My surname is Feng, and my given name is Hanyu. You may call me Hanyu, Qinglan. Although my home is in the north, I love the beautiful scenery of the southern water towns the most, and I often lose myself traveling through beautiful landscapes. If you wish to see me in the future, you can simply look for the manager of the Mingyue Landing.”

On the way back to the inn, Yi Qinglan felt her steps growing soft and unsteady. She hadn’t expected that while the Jade Mash Brew tasted sweet and pleasant, its aftereffects would be so potent.

Fang Shuyue was awakened by the sound of her return. Tossing over, she let out a yawn and said, “Big Senior Sister, why are you back so late?”

Yi Qinglan felt a twinge of guilt. “I am unfamiliar with this place, so I took a detour on the way back and got delayed.”

Fang Shuyue didn’t reply, having already drifted back into a deep sleep.

Feng Hanyu… how can there be such a woman in this world?

Lying on the bed, Yi Qinglan stared at the moonlight casting shadows on the floor of the room, drifting off into dreamland amidst her wandering thoughts.

The next morning, after the group finished their breakfast, they rode their swords and headed north.