The Frost Beneath Her Veil - Chapter 22

“A wish?” Yin Jiuruo did not understand the meaning behind the word and repeated Fu Qing’s question.

Fu Qing gazed at the Linked Branches in the pool that belonged exclusively to her and Yin Jiuruo. With a rare tenderness, she said:

“The rift of demonic energy in the Outer Lands is growing larger. I fear that after our wedding, you and I will have very little leisure time.”

“I see,” Yin Jiuruo understood her meaning and began to think seriously. “Master, let us go to the Abyss of the Far North to see the snow lanterns together.”

“Why the Abyss of the Far North?”

That was the most remote edge of the Nine Provinces continent—a place of perpetual, bitter cold where monsters roamed and no humans lived. There was only a small city there inhabited by the descendants of ancient gods.

Yin Jiuruo bit her lip, a shy expression appearing on her delicate features. In truth, after one of her bouts of amnesia, she had woken up beneath that very city. The darkness and cold had almost made her lose the will to live, until she saw the light during the Lantern Festival that day, giving her the strength to carry on.

“I heard they have lanterns made of snow there. They are very beautiful.”

The seasons of Mount Wuyang shifted into summer, and the scorching sunlight fell like scattered gold. Fu Qing’s hair was like silk and her robes shone with radiance, as if she were calculating something.

“Traveling to the Abyss of the Far North and back by sword takes a day at most. It shouldn’t be a problem.”

As it happened, tomorrow was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month—the Lantern Festival of the mortal world. Spending just one day there should not be difficult.

“Master, can I fulfill a vow to you then?” Yin Jiuruo suddenly gave a sly smile.

“Fulfill a vow?”

“Mhm. That is what everyone does.” Making a wish, fulfilling the vow, and then making another wish—it was as if it would never end.

A flash of pity quickly crossed Fu Qing’s features. She lowered her gaze. “Naturally, you may.”

The Chishuang Sword transformed into its longsword form and hovered in mid-air. Fu Qing mounted the sword, and seeing this, Yin Jiuruo quickly followed. For some reason, she felt that Fu Qing was preoccupied. Even the atmosphere of the entire Canglan Sect felt heavier than before.

According to the historical records of the sect, no earth-shattering events had occurred in the Nine Provinces for a thousand years. She told herself she was likely overthinking it.

Upon returning to Hexue Peak, Fu Qing looked at Yin Jiuruo with hesitation for a long time before giving a faint instruction: “Stay on Hexue Peak and do not wander. Tomorrow, we will go see the snow lanterns.”

“Alright,” Yin Jiuruo replied, watching Fu Qing’s slender figure depart. An inexplicable sense of unease rose in her heart. She couldn’t say why, but she felt that Fu Qing had changed recently, though she couldn’t pinpoint how.

A crane boy came to greet her early in the morning, his voice sounding strained. “Little Master, Feng Qi is waiting for you at Linyue Residence.”

Hearing this, the gloom in Yin Jiuruo’s heart dissipated, and she hurried toward the residence. Since Feng Qi’s cultivation had improved, the Sect Leader had sent her to the mortal world for training; they hadn’t seen each other in several years.

Feng Qi was sitting by the window drinking tea, her elegant appearance unchanged. With a precious sword on her back, she truly possessed the free-spirited air of a cultivator. As soon as they met, she spoke with immediate familiarity: “Jiuruo, I went back to Peach Blossom Town alone, only to find that all the little animals you adopted were brought back to the Canglan Sect by the Sovereign.”

“Yes, Master said that since demonic cultivators are rampant now, she was worried they would be bullied, so she brought them here.”

“Aiyoo, you’re about to be married and you still call her Master?” Feng Qi winked playfully.

“Ahem. A teacher for a day is a mentor for life,” Yin Jiuruo said, looking out the window guiltily.

“Pfft. I knew you were much better than that Shen Cangli. She has such an arrogant air about her noble birth; I can’t stand it. At your wedding ceremony, I’m going to have a good look at her face—it’s bound to be a spectacle.”

Yin Jiuruo laughed softly, then lowered her head and whispered, “She and Master had… an engagement. It’s only human for her to feel a sense of loss now.”

“Are you and the Sovereign just going to get married plainly like this? No special plans?”

“Does seeing the lanterns count?” Yin Jiuruo’s pale face showed a look of longing.

“Seeing lanterns, eh? That’s good. You’ve always wanted to see them. Do you ever regret coming to the Canglan Sect?” Feng Qi’s voice suddenly became very low. She seemed to fall into a daze, as if this had happened once before.

The snow lanterns of the Far North… Feng Qi laughed inwardly, thinking that humans were truly amusing creatures. Even without memories, the things they wanted to do were always shadows of the past.

Yin Jiuruo noticed that Feng Qi’s expression was strange—as if she were looking at a dying animal with unbearable pity.

“Why would I regret it?”

The hesitation on Feng Qi’s face vanished so quickly that Yin Jiuruo thought it was an illusion. “Nothing. I was just asking. You’re about to get married; of course, you won’t regret it.”

“Feng Qi, why are you being so weird?”

“Alright, I’m going to find Senior Sister Chong You. Go find your Master yourself.” Feng Qi left in a whirlwind, leaving Yin Jiuruo completely baffled.

Because they were going to see the lanterns the next day, she went to sleep early. Black mist swirled in her spiritual aperture, her blood ran hot, and the red of the markings on her face seemed to flow faintly.

It was that dream again. She was locked in the deepest cell, chains piercing her collarbones. Fu Qing, dressed in magnificent robes, gripped her chin with fingers as cold as jade, forcing her to smile.

Finally, the noble and beautiful woman smiled with satisfaction. “Smile more. You look most like her when you smile.”

In the dungeon, she was unable to speak. She felt her left wrist being cut by a dagger as Fu Qing placed a restriction inside her body.

Cold sweat soaked her clothes. Yin Jiuruo opened her eyes in sharp pain. What greeted her was the same dark room from her dream. Spiritual energy had transformed into a cage, sealing her in.

Fu Qing was pinning her wrist down, setting a restriction with blood. Her eyes were as cold as frost.

“Master, what are you doing? Why are you locking me up?” Yin Jiuruo gasped in shock, her blood and energy surging violently.

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