The Immortal’s "White Moonlight" Reborn - Chapter 20

Wen Qiwu had woken up quite late, so by the time she saw the messages and tried to stop Zuo Lan, it was already too late. The Saintess had already rushed over the moment she sent her last letter; for extra insurance, she had even dragged Wei Xiheng of Falling Star City along with her.

Wei Xiheng was an expert at moving people around without leaving a trace. Having previously been told that Wen Qiwu was in “seclusion,” she had gone back home, but the moment Zuo Lan told her Wen Qiwu was in trouble, she rushed over without asking a single question.

Zuo Lan’s plan was simple: get Qiwu out of that hellish Reflection Cliff first and deal with the consequences later. She knew this would offend the Immortal, but as long as Yun Heng didn’t want a total war with the Yuxi Sect, she wouldn’t kill her. Since her life was safe, Zuo Lan saw no reason to be afraid besides, she was convinced Yun Heng didn’t value Wen Qiwu as much as she’d initially thought.

This was the second time in her life she felt she had completely misjudged someone: first was Lin Shu, and now it was Immortal Yun Heng. Am I destined to spend my life butting heads against these stone-cold blockheads? she wondered.

Perhaps it was because Wen Qiwu’s plight reminded Zuo Lan of her own past—back when she was isolated and helpless at the Qianyue Sword Sect, wishing someone would lend her a hand. But no one ever did.

Zuo Lan suppressed the gloom in her heart and discussed a stealthy entry into the Wenshen Sect with Wei Xiheng. They couldn’t walk through the front door; every move within the sect could be monitored by the Immortal if she so chose. Their infiltration had to be flawless.

However, Zuo Lan had underestimated her “danger level” in the Immortal’s eyes. Not long after her spiritual energy entered the sect’s borders, Yun Heng had already locked onto the two suspicious intruders.

The pair were just one mountain peak away from seeing Reflection Cliff, feeling lucky that they hadn’t been caught, when a white-clad figure suddenly appeared, blocking their path.

Wei Xiheng froze, and even Zuo Lan felt a jolt of pure terror. She watched as Yun Heng’s hand rested on the hilt of her sword a posture that suggested she was considering silences them permanently.

Yun Heng gave them an expressionless glance, and the two of them stood rooted to the spot like startled quails.

They were “invited” to Wendao Mountain. Although the Immortal’s tone was polite enough, they both knew they had no choice in the matter.

In a hall on Wendao Mountain, Zuo Lan and Wei Xiheng each held a cup of spirit tea, taking tiny, nervous sips. Yun Heng sat in the seat of honor, her icy gaze sweeping over them. Both guests felt a shiver run down their spines.

“To what do I owe the honor of your presence in the Wenshen Sect?” Yun Heng finally spoke, breaking the stifling, awkward silence.

“We came to find A-Que,” Wei Xiheng explained in a small voice.

This girl was guileless and blunt; she answered whatever she was asked, making it easy for people to lower their guard. Zuo Lan didn’t bother stopping her.

“Qiwu is not receiving guests right now. You’ve made the trip for nothing. Please see yourselves out,” Yun Heng said tonelessly.

That sentence struck a nerve in Zuo Lan. The Saintess’s eyes flashed with a cold fire as she asked darkly, “Is it that she isn’t ‘receiving guests,’ or is it that the Immortal doesn’t want her to see us?”

Yun Heng lifted her eyes to meet Zuo Lan’s. She didn’t deny it. She truly didn’t want her sister seeing this woman. If she was the primary reason for Qiwu’s “confusion,” then this Saintess was certainly the one who had encouraged it!

Zuo Lan nearly laughed from sheer anger. She stood up, looking ready to pick a fight with a True Immortal. Wei Xiheng, terrified, grabbed her sleeve. If you fight, ten of you couldn’t withstand a single strike of her sword! Stay calm!

Zuo Lan, of course, wasn’t actually going to fight. She patted Wei Xiheng’s hand to reassure her, then stepped forward, forcing a smile onto her dark expression.

“I know you’ve locked Qiwu away on Reflection Cliff, and I know you’re distressed by her feelings. I have an excellent idea; would the Immortal care to hear it?”

Yun Heng frowned, but Zuo Lan didn’t wait for permission.

“Fellow Cultivator Wei Xiheng here is from Falling Star City, the sole heir to the City Lord. She’s honest, her character is impeccable, and she’s a brilliant formation master. She and Qiwu are best friends who share everything. They are of similar age and interests—a match made in heaven.”

“Since Fellow Cultivator Wei is interested and her father is open-minded, why not let her take Qiwu back to Falling Star City to let their feelings grow? If it works out, it would be a beautiful union. The Immortal would no longer have to worry about her sister’s ‘troubles.’ Isn’t that a win-win?”

Wei Xiheng blinked in dazed confusion. It wasn’t until Zuo Lan shot her a sharp look that she instinctively nodded. “Right! Right! I want to become… Dao… Dao…”

Wei Xiheng’s teeth chattered so hard she couldn’t get the word “companions” out.

It was too cold. The Immortal’s gaze felt like it was intended for a corpse!

Zuo Lan stepped in front of Wei Xiheng, shielding her from Yun Heng’s terrifying aura. She mocked, “Does the Immortal disagree?”

“I will not let her join in your nonsense!” The sword in Yun Heng’s hand let out a low, vibrant hum, responding to the killing intent radiating from its master.

“Nonsense? Qiwu just happens to like women. How is that nonsense? If you can’t accept her feelings, fine, but you can’t stop her from finding happiness elsewhere! I know you have a prejudice against me, but Fellow Cultivator Wei is beyond reproach. What excuse do you have left?”

“Or rather…” Zuo Lan let out a sharp sneer. “Are you claiming you don’t love her, yet refusing to let anyone else near her? Immortal, you can lie to us all you want, but be careful you don’t end up lying to yourself.”

Yun Heng’s expression was as sharp as a frozen blade. If a gaze could draw blood, Zuo Lan would have been covered in wounds by now.

Her face remained calm and detached, covered in a thick layer of ice, but no one could tell if the emotions beneath that layer were equally still.

Don’t lie to yourself… don’t lie to yourself…

The words pricked her soul like needles, causing a faint throb of pain in her head.

If my sister let go of her feelings for me… would she agree to be with Wei Xiheng?

The image flashed in Yun Heng’s mind, and her hand tightened reflexively. Meanwhile, Zuo Lan, braving the crushing pressure of a True Immortal’s aura, spoke one last time: “If the Immortal does not love her, then please, let her go.”

Yun Heng looked up, and the raw hostility in her eyes made Zuo Lan’s heart skip a beat.

“…” A bizarre, heavy silence fell over the room. Wei Xiheng held her breath, not daring to utter a single syllable during the confrontation.

“I will not allow her to continue down a wrong path. Please leave,” Yun Heng said, her voice no longer quite so calm. Just as she was about to forcibly “escort” them out, she received a transmission from Lu Qiaoyi. Qiwu was awake.

A flash of joy brightened her eyes, and she instinctively moved to leave for Reflection Cliff. But after two steps, her face darkened again—Lu Qiaoyi mentioned that Wen Qiwu wanted to see Zuo Lan and Wei Xiheng.

Qiwu had only just woken up; how did she even know they were here? It had to be Lu Qiaoyi… Yun Heng silently blamed the Elder for her loose tongue. She didn’t want her sister seeing these two, but Lu Qiaoyi had warned that the patient shouldn’t be agitated and needed to be kept in a good mood.

After a long silence, Yun Heng finally conceded.

She intended to supervise the meeting to prevent them from saying anything untoward, but at that moment, a distress signal tore through the air. Yun Heng caught it; it was from the Tianyu Sect, the one closest to the Demon Realm. That region had been peaceful for ten thousand years. The sudden signal was thick with the scent of blood, and when she tried to make contact, there was no reply.

An ominous feeling coiled in her chest.

The Demon Realm had been restless lately. Could it be…?

Yun Heng pulled out a mirror and tapped the surface. The ripples revealed her sister leaning against her bed, obediently taking her medicine. The sharp coldness in Yun Heng’s eyes softened for a brief moment. Sadly, she couldn’t go to her. She put the mirror away and hurried to contact the other sects.

As Zuo Lan left Wendao Mountain, her legs finally gave way. Thankfully, Wei Xiheng caught her. Zuo Lan thought she’d really outdone herself today—actually daring to mock a True Immortal and surviving that overwhelming aura for so long.

Still, the price was worth it. They were finally going to see Wen Qiwu.

Guided by Lu Qiaoyi, they found the small cabin on the cliff. Zuo Lan pushed the door open, only to freeze at the sight of the frail patient.

“You…” Zuo Lan stared for a long time, and Wei Xiheng was equally shocked. Before, Wen Qiwu had looked a bit sickly, but it hadn’t seemed dire. Now, she looked like a withered flower, as if her spirit might drift away at any moment.

“How did you become like this?” Zuo Lan asked, her heart aching. How could Yun Heng have the heart to throw someone this ill onto Reflection Cliff? “Are you injured?”

“No, just my old condition,” Wen Qiwu said with a shake of her head.

“Did she forbid the physicians from treating you?” Zuo Lan’s eyes went wide with disbelief. She couldn’t imagine any other reason for a Void Refinement cultivator to look this deathly.

“No, no, don’t think like that. It’s just… my illness might be incurable,” Wen Qiwu explained quickly, seeing Zuo Lan’s mind wandering to dark places.

“Incurable? What about the Divine Physician? Did the Immortal not ask her?” It might be hard for others, but Yun Heng and the physician were friends.

“The Divine Physician came as well.”

“Then how can there be a disease the Divine Physician cannot cure…”

“It is Spirit Dissipation Syndrome.”

The room fell into a long, heavy silence at those four words. Zuo Lan’s voice died in her throat, and she felt a dull buzzing in her head.

The Divine Physician’s only failure in her entire life—the one patient she couldn’t savewhat was that disease called? Wasn’t it. Spirit Dissipation Syndrome?

While the patient herself managed a faint, tired smile, the two visitors felt their eyes well up with tears.

How could it be that terminal illness?

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