When the White Moonlight Holds the Script - Chapter 34

Gazing at the familiar face in mid-air, Zhu Zhihan felt a surge of deep confusion.

How could it be Su Chaya?

She recalled what the system had said earlier, ‘The young chieftain has another identity in the illusion’ was that identity the envoy from the Immortal Alliance?

Something didn’t seem quite right.

Zhu Zhihan thought that for the Lu Yun tribe, although the Immortal Alliance had ultimately “saved” them, it was not a comfortable presence. Even if Su Chaya were to take on a role, wouldn’t it be better for her to act as a successor or warrior of the Lu Yun tribe? Why had the secret realm chosen to cast her as an envoy of the Immortal Alliance?

What did this mean?

As these doubts swirled in her mind, Zhu Zhihan ultimately decided to wait and see.

Over there, Su Chaya wore an expression identical to the other Immortal Alliance envoys as she activated the immortal artifact in her hand.

The palm-sized green jade suddenly expanded, slowly aligning with the rift in the demon realm.

What would happen next?

Zhu Zhihan held her breath.

Would the illusion shatter, or would it spiral into something worse?

Just then, she felt a shadow fall over her eyes.

It was Xiao Luan Wu’s hand, gently shielding her vision. “If it’s too much, don’t look.”

Zhu Zhihan was momentarily stunned, then let out a soft laugh.

“I’m alright,” she said, pulling Xiao Luan Wu’s hand down slightly. “Master, do you think it will end?”

“It will end.”

The mountain breeze carried the scent of blood and a heavy silence, while the flames burned quietly.

In this awkward position, Zhu Zhihan watched until the very end.

The chieftain had already fallen in battle, and the immortal artifact finally sealed the rift. As the envoy, Su Chaya handed it to a young child, the originally chosen successor.

And then…

Flames licked at the forest, and the scene before her abruptly faded to darkness.

But it wasn’t over.

Zhu Zhihan opened her eyes again, still holding Xiao Luan Wu in that awkward posture.

The surroundings had changed.

They were back by the riverbank, the very place where they had first met.

There was a peculiarly shaped rock by this river, one Zhu Zhihan would never mistake.

Could it be that time in the illusion had reversed?

The thought flashed through her mind.

“Ahem.” Xiao Luan Wu cleared her throat softly.

Zhu Zhihan snapped back to reality, realizing she was still holding the other’s hand.

She quickly let go, feeling her fingertips grow warm. “I was lost in thought for a moment. My apologies.”

Xiao Luan Wu withdrew her hand, turning slightly away as she crossed her arms. “Forget it.”

She seemed no less embarrassed than Zhu Zhihan. “So, it wasn’t over after all.”

By now, Zhu Zhihan was well-acquainted with Xiao Luan Wu’s temperament and immediately chimed in, “Yes, it’s truly unbelievable that it didn’t end! Who could have guessed?”

“Master, what’s going on? Do you understand?”

Hearing this, Xiao Luan Wu’s embarrassment eased slightly. “Perhaps there’s something crucial we’ve overlooked.”

The two of them were in no hurry to leave the riverbank and began discussing their current situation.

Xiao Luan Wu said, “The fact that time can reverse proves this is not a real place. It might be a small world with a predetermined course, or perhaps a fragment left behind from some past event.”

“I think I’ve read about something similar in ancient texts, but I only skimmed them for leisure and can’t recall the details.”

She looked at Zhu Zhihan. “You actually know more than I do, don’t you?”

Once again, Zhu Zhihan marveled at Luan Wu’s sharp perception whether young or older, Luan Wu always seemed adept at uncovering what others kept hidden.

“It’s an illusion, one with special effects.” Zhu Zhihan touched the tip of her nose, choosing to confess only part of the truth. “It seems to be a projection from some past era.”

Little Luan Wu glared at her. “You should have said so earlier!”

Zhu Zhihan felt guilty. “I thought it would end once we reached the conclusion.” By then, Luan Wu would have regained her memories, and she wouldn’t have to explain, as the whole thing sounded rather unbelievable.

But that didn’t happen.

The illusion’s timeline had reset, but Luan Wu’s memories hadn’t. Now, she had to face Little Luan Wu’s questioning.

After hesitating for a moment, Zhu Zhihan revealed everything except the part about “losing memories.”

“The commonly known history is like this, but there must be some truth hidden beneath it all.”

“In reality, a young clan leader was also dragged into this place, playing the role of the Immortal Alliance envoy. But I don’t understand why it had to be her.”

“There are indeed some doubts,” Little Luan Wu nodded. “Illusions don’t do things without purpose. I think there’s something suspicious about this Immortal Alliance.”

“The Immortal Alliance?”

“The illusion collapsed when the Immortal Alliance used their immortal artifact to seal the rift. This might imply that the one controlling the illusion didn’t want to see this happen.”

Zhu Zhihan understood her meaning. “Should we try to stop it this time?”

The two exchanged glances.

What followed was largely the same as the previous time. The two followed the patrolling warriors of the Luyun tribe back to their settlement. Zhu Zhihan gained their trust with elixirs, while Little Luan Wu earned their respect with her formidable combat skills.

Everything proceeded until the end.

The Immortal Alliance envoy appeared, bringing the immortal artifact.

As agreed beforehand, Zhu Zhihan hid in the shadows to observe, while Little Luan Wu drew her blade and confronted the Immortal Alliance envoy.

Su Chaya, playing the role of the leader, frowned. “Who are you?”

Little Luan Wu replied calmly, “Someone here to stop you.”

Su Chaya shouted sharply, “Do you wish to aid the demons and bring calamity upon the mortal realm?”

A look of disgust appeared on Little Luan Wu’s face. “I have slain thousands of demons over the past few days. What have you done to dare accuse me like this?”

Su Chaya: “…”

Zhu Zhihan noticed a flicker of guilt in Su Chaya’s expression.

In the end, persuasion failed, and Little Luan Wu clashed with the Immortal Alliance group, resorting to force.

Little Luan Wu, being younger and less experienced, was no match for them. Even with the help of the remaining Luyun tribesmen, she was defeated.

Seeing the situation turn dire, Zhu Zhihan activated a pre-prepared formation to conceal Little Luan Wu’s presence.

She pulled Little Luan Wu into the shadows of the trees.

Wiping the blood from her lips, Little Luan Wu stared coldly at the figures in the sky. “They really are suspicious.”

If they were truly here to help, why would they be so impatient and act so recklessly?

Zhu Zhihan took out a small porcelain bottle from her storage pouch and placed an elixir in Little Luan Wu’s mouth. “Rest for now.”

With the elixir in her mouth, Little Luan Wu was still brooding over her defeat. “Given time, I will surely defeat them!”

Zhu Zhihan whispered softly, “I know.”

She knew just how terrifyingly powerful this person would become in the future.

In the meantime, the situation over there had reached its conclusion.

Just like the previous time, Su Chaya ultimately used the immortal artifact to seal the rift, ending the disaster but leaving behind the scars it had caused.

Yet, unlike the last time, this time, the events continued to unfold.

‘What’s going on?’

Zhu Zhihan felt as if she had become a person suspended in mid-air weightless, even losing the sensation of her own body, unable to make a sound.

She watched everything unfold from the perspective of a complete bystander.

Fortunately, being able to see Little Luan Wu by her side brought her a sliver of comfort.

The events continued to unfold.

The Immortal Alliance and the Luyun Clan reached an agreement on the terms of their transaction. With the support of the Immortal Alliance, the Luyun Clan gradually recovered, though they never regained their former strength.

Seeing this, Zhu Zhihan could only inwardly scorn the Immortal Alliance for deliberately arriving late to offer aid.

But the scenes soon revealed to her that this was not the case.

She saw what lay beneath the surface.

The illusion allowed her and Little Luan Wu to perceive souls.

Many of the first batch of cultivators who entered the Snow Mountain Secret Realm perished within it.

The souls of those fallen cultivators did not return to the heavens and earth or proceed to the underworld for reincarnation. Instead, they were drawn into the highest snow-capped mountain, the core of the secret realm.

They saw the true core.

Inside that familiar cave, within the massive jade stone and even beneath it countless tormented souls wailed in agony!

Upon closer inspection, a small portion were newly absorbed souls, but the majority were Luyun tribesmen who had died on the battlefield faces Zhu Zhihan had seen, laughed with, and fought alongside!

Familiar faces like Chief Wubeiya, Daiyang, the cheerful girls who played leaf cards together, and others whose names she could or could not recall.

How could this be?

How could it be like this?

Zhu Zhihan’s scalp tingled with horror.

In that moment, she seemed to hear the voice of the illusion.

It was an amalgamation of countless voices agonized, distorted, and filled with resentment.

[The Immortal Alliance, deceivers..]

[There has never been an immortal artifact in this world that can operate endlessly without ‘fuel’!]

[Let us out, let us out!]

[Hahahaha! Kill, kill!]

Zhu Zhihan finally understood what had truly happened back then.

The Immortal Alliance had publicly claimed that this immortal artifact could convert demonic energy into spiritual energy, transforming it into a secret realm. But upon careful reflection, how could such a good thing exist?

If it was a conversion, wouldn’t it require some kind of ‘filter’?

In fact, it did.

But the Immortal Alliance had told no one.

The ‘fuel’ and the ‘filter’ were the souls of cultivators.

They had calculated it all too well, the souls of the Luyun tribesmen and the cultivators who entered the secret realm became the foundation for the artifact’s operation. Demonic energy was converted into spiritual energy, nurturing countless spiritual materials and replenishing the Immortal Alliance’s cultivators!

Then the Immortal Alliance lured more cultivators into the secret realm, where their souls, upon death, became nourishment once again. This cycle repeated generation after generation!

Truly a business with no cost.

Everyone had been kept in the dark!

[Ding! Congratulations on completing the mission, ‘Uncover the Truth Behind It All.’]

[You will receive a health value limit increase of x5 and growth points x1000. The growth points will be distributed after you advance to the next stage.]

The mechanical voice announcing the mission completion rang out, but Zhu Zhihan felt no joy whatsoever.

She only felt waves of discomfort churning in her stomach.

How could it be like this?

The Luyun Clan were originally a secluded, ancient tribe that could have remained detached and safe. They chose to shoulder the danger for the cultivators of the Central Plains and the Immortal Alliance, losing more than half of their people. Even after centuries of recovery, their numbers remained pitifully small. Yet the heroic souls of the fallen were being used here as mere fuel?

Even until the moment Zhu Zhihan and the others were drawn into this illusion, the souls of the Deer Cloud Clan remained trapped within the immortal artifact, tormented and driven to weakness and madness by the endless suffering.

At this moment, an intense longing surged in Zhu Zhihan’s chest.

If only someone could bring judgment upon the Immortal Alliance, if only someone could change all of this.

Why was she so weak? If only she had the power.

But just then, Zhu Zhihan felt her vision darken once more Xiao Luan Wu’s translucent spirit placed a hand over her eyes.

Zhu Zhihan froze for a moment.

‘If it hurts, don’t look.’

Even without hearing the words, Zhu Zhihan understood Xiao Luan Wu’s meaning.

In an instant, the nausea and discomfort she felt faded significantly.

Instead, a strange feeling welled up in her heart.

She had someone to rely on.

This awkward, stern, and youthful master was willing to shield her from the storm with shoulders not yet broad.

She no longer had to endure as she had before pushing forward through the wind and snow, no matter how difficult, to see things through to the end.

Someone was willing to bear her share of pain and responsibility.

“Boom!”

The surroundings shattered as if exploding into fragments, plunging once again into darkness.

All she could see was Xiao Luan Wu’s presence, a faintly glowing figure in the dark, like a firefly.

Xiao Luan Wu seemed to sense something and turned to look at her.

“I’m glad I could walk this path with you.”

Zhu Zhihan could hear her voice now.

But Xiao Luan Wu’s words left her confused. “What do you mean? Why are you suddenly saying things like this, as if we’re about to part forever?”

Xiao Luan Wu smiled faintly.

Zhu Zhihan froze. “No way? Wait…”

“Master!!”

Darkness swallowed them whole.

When the surroundings brightened again, Zhu Zhihan found herself back by the river.

Her first instinct was to look for the person beside her.

That figure was still there. She breathed a sigh of relief.

But she soon realized that the person standing before her now was slightly taller than Xiao Luan Wu, with a more mature silhouette.

It was unmistakably the Luan Wu she knew.

Her master, her partner.

“Long time no see.

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