When the White Moonlight Holds the Script - Chapter 35

“Long time no see.”

As the words left her lips, Zhu Zhihan realized her voice carried a faint tremor.

In her heart, there was a sense of melancholy, a reluctance to part with the young Luan Wu.

But there was also a feeling of stability.

At some point, she had come to recognize this person’s strength. It seemed that as long as this person was around, the surroundings were safe, and anything could be accomplished.

Wait.

Yes, if Luan Wu was here, wouldn’t defeating those from the Immortal Alliance in the illusion be as easy as lifting a hand?

Without further thought, Zhu Zhihan shared her idea with Luan Wu.

Luan Wu nodded. “Defeating them is indeed no challenge at all.”

With this affirmation, a heavy weight lifted from Zhu Zhihan’s heart, freeing her mind to dwell on other, less pressing matters.

And then she suddenly noticed the peculiar way Luan Wu was looking at her.

How to describe it? It was like an inland animal seeing the ocean for the first time, a mix of curiosity and reproach.

In that moment, Zhu Zhihan recalled the two illusions she had experienced.

Countless scenes flashed through her mind: her mindless flattery of the young master, stumbling into the young master’s embrace, playing cards with the young master, sticking leaves all over the young master’s face, the list went on and on.

Luan Wu’s reaction was clearly because she remembered, right?

Zhu Zhihan wished she could faint on the spot, if only to avoid facing Luan Wu.

“Th-that, I can explain,” Zhu Zhihan stammered.

Luan Wu crossed her arms. “Hmm.”

Zhu Zhihan fell silent.

“I can’t explain but I promise! It was purely out of my deep admiration and reverence for you.”

Unfortunately, the fully grown Daoist Venerable was not as easily fooled as the young Luan Wu had been.

“Is that so?”

Zhu Zhihan: qwq

Luan Wu looked at her, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Not going to continue?”

Zhu Zhihan mumbled, “You already know everything, and you’re still teasing me.”

She resigned herself to the situation. “Anyway, the younger you was just so adorable and approachable that I couldn’t help myself.”

“Adorable?” Luan Wu repeated the word slowly.

Zhu Zhihan felt like crying. Had she just inadvertently said something outrageous again?

The amusement in Luan Wu’s eyes deepened as she emphasized, “I’m not old now, either.”

Fortunately, Dai Yang and the Luyun tribesmen arrived soon after, sparing Zhu Zhihan from further awkward conversation with Luan Wu.

Thank you, Dai Yang!

As in the previous two cycles, they exchanged words, and eventually, Dai Yang led them to the settlement.

Seeing the familiar scene and meeting Chief Wu Beiya again, Zhu Zhihan felt a complex mix of emotions.

Would they be able to resolve everything completely in this cycle?

Chief Wu Beiya delivered her usual opening remarks.

But unlike the previous times, after learning that there was still no response from the message sent to the Immortal Alliance, Chief Wu Beiya turned her gaze to them.

“You must be a powerful cultivator,” Chief Wu Beiya said to Luan Wu.

The chief stood up, descended the high steps, and bowed deeply to Luan Wu.

Her posture was one of sincerity and exhaustion. As the current leader of an ancient remnant tribe, she bent her back for the sake of her people. “Since the Grand Elder sacrificed himself and the Second Elder exhausted his life force, our Luyun tribe has struggled even more to fend off those demonic creatures.”

“Could you, please help our Luyun tribe?”

Before Wu Beiya could complete her bow, Luan Wu gently raised her hand, and Wu Beiya felt as if something was supporting her, preventing her from bending any further.

Wu Beiya’s expression flickered with a trace of sorrow. Indeed, so be it. Since it was a decision made by their Lu Yun Clan, then it should be the Lu Yun Clan who…

But then she heard the person before her say, “The clan leader’s righteousness is profound. As a junior, I feel undeserving of this gesture.”

Luan Wu spoke with a double meaning: “Rest assured, Clan Leader, there is no need to worry. I, as a junior, will grant you release.”

Though Wu Beiya found the phrasing somewhat odd, she did not dwell on it.

After her moment of pleasant surprise, she quickly summoned her subordinates: “See to it that these two esteemed guests are properly accommodated!”

Once again, as before, Zhu Zhihan and Luan Wu were lodged in the same grand tent, though this time their quarters were even more luxurious.

Memories flooded back like a tide. Zhu Zhihan still remembered that it was on this very night she had carelessly asked the young Luan Wu about her grudge with the demon clan, and the young Luan Wu had actually answered her.

However, she had later also confided in the young Luan Wu about her past as an alchemist and having had a master. That should count as balancing things out, right?

“Can’t sleep?” Luan Wu approached, noticing the candle still burning in her partitioned space, and asked.

Zhu Zhihan, lying sprawled over the table, nodded.

“Master, do you think that simply preventing the Immortal Alliance from bringing the immortal artifact will be enough to end all this? It feels a bit too easy, almost unreal.”

Moreover, the reason why Su Chaya had taken on the role of the Immortal Alliance envoy remained unanswered.

“It’s not that simple,” Luan Wu said, sitting opposite her.

Zhu Zhihan perked up. “What do you mean, Master?”

Luan Wu dipped her finger in tea and drew three circles on the table.

“First, we need to understand what the Lu Yun Clan, the Immortal Alliance, and Su Chaya each represent.”

Zhu Zhihan listened attentively as Luan Wu explained.

Luan Wu continued, “We already know the past grievances between the Lu Yun Clan and the Immortal Alliance. The Immortal Alliance deceived the Lu Yun Clan and used the souls of their ancestors to power the immortal artifact. We can consider them as opposing forces.”

Zhu Zhihan nodded. “Indeed, if the souls of the Lu Yun Clan are freed, the Immortal Alliance’s interests will surely suffer. And if the Immortal Alliance’s artifact remains, the Lu Yun Clan will never know peace. It’s a deadlock.”

“What about Young Clan Leader Su Chaya? Why is she singled out separately? Isn’t she part of the Lu Yun Clan.”

Luan Wu revealed the answer: “Su Chaya represents the current Lu Yun Clan the one making the choices. She could choose to stand with the Lu Yun Clan or with the Immortal Alliance.”

Zhu Zhihan seemed to grasp Luan Wu’s meaning. Memories flashed through her mind like lightning, and she suddenly understood: “Symbolism!”

“You mean, before entering the illusion, she chose to side with the Immortal Alliance. So, in the illusion, she became the envoy bringing the immortal artifact for the Immortal Alliance.”

Luan Wu looked at her with approval in her eyes.

But soon, Zhu Zhihan fell into confusion again: “That doesn’t make sense. How could Su Chaya be a mole for the Immortal Alliance? She doesn’t seem like someone who would betray her ancestors.”

She was reluctant to think ill of the young clan leader.

Because, in that deep, secluded cave earlier, Su Chaya had clearly seemed like someone who shared the same sentiments as the sacrificed Lu Yun clansmen.

“Because the weights on either side of the scale are not so easily measured,” Luan Wu said after a moment of silence.

“The scale?”

“Yes, a balance.” Luan Wu described, “The choice Su Chaya faces isn’t merely about whether to destroy the immortal artifact or not, but rather a decision between releasing her ancestor and leaving behind a world overrun by demons after the artifact shatters, or allowing her ancestor to remain trapped forever in the artifact, ultimately leading to their soul’s dissipation.”

[A trolley problem.] At the same time, Miss System whispered in Zhu Zhihan’s ear.

[Two trolley tracks, one with five people tied to it, the other with one. The trolley is currently heading toward the track with five people, and you have the chance to pull the lever.]

[Five deaths or one death would you choose to pull the lever?]

Zhu Zhihan felt a chill run down her spine.

“This is simply impossible to choose.”

Drawing a parallel, Zhu Zhihan thought that if she were in such a situation, she would likely be unable to decide as well.

On one side, her ancestor, her blood relative. On the other, the ideal that the Luyun Clan once pursued with the lives of their entire clan, and the peace of the entire world.

No matter which she chose, the rest of her life would be consumed by guilt.

She looked at Luan Wu: “Master, your earlier assurance to Chief Wu Beiya, do you have an answer now?”

Luan Wu nodded: “I have an idea, but it needs to be tested.”

At the break of dawn the next day, a horn sounded.

This time, Zhu Zhihan was prepared, having learned from experience. She glanced at Luan Wu: “You won’t stop me from watching you unleash your power and vent your anger, right?”

“Of course not.”

Upon arriving, Luan Wu’s combat prowess once again redefined Zhu Zhihan’s understanding legends spoke of great masters who could move mountains and fill seas with ease, and Zhu Zhihan felt that Luan Wu was not far from such a realm.

It was just that there had never been an opportunity for Luan Wu to fully demonstrate her abilities before.

The seemingly endless horde of demons was scattered by Luan Wu’s few strikes, the dazzling blade light surging like raging waves, swiftly cleansing the entire area.

This was the strength that made the entire Immortal Alliance wary Luan Wu, who had ascended to the position of Dao Sovereign not through any background or influence, but purely through her own power.

She sheathed her blade.

In the ensuing silence, Zhu Zhihan applauded enthusiastically.

“Clap, clap, clap!”

The Luyun Clan, not understanding the context, followed suit and applauded as well.

Luan Wu nearly stumbled the great master who remained unflinching in the face of countless demons almost met her downfall because of this, which would have been utterly ridiculous.

She put on a stern face, half-exasperated, and looked at Zhu Zhihan.

Zhu Zhihan knew when to stop.

On the way back, Zhu Zhihan still felt a bit unsatisfied: “Is that it?” She had thought it would be more challenging.

Luan Wu shook her head: “This is just an illusion, after all. It can’t simulate overly powerful forces. If it were the real past, heaven-level and earth-level great demons could also descend upon the mortal realm through the rifts.”

Zhu Zhihan understood: “No wonder. The Great Elder and Second Elder mentioned by Chief Wu Beiya probably also…”

She felt a renewed sense of respect for the Luyun Clan.

The reality of the past was far more brutal than this illusion. Yet the Luyun Clan had never considered retreating.

On the third and fourth days, Luan Wu dealt with the demons just as swiftly.

The Luyun Clan suffered no casualties.

Chief Wu Beiya was overjoyed, and Zhu Zhihan could feel the entire Luyun Clan enveloped in a light and cheerful atmosphere.

Zhu Zhihan couldn’t help but share in their happiness.

That day, the Deer Cloud tribe held a rare feast. The tribespeople played small drums and bells in simple melodies, feasting on large chunks of meat and drinking freely.

Zhu Zhihan found herself immersed in the atmosphere, deeply moved by it all. She thought that once she left this illusion, she would never see these people again, nor experience such a scene, so she decided to join in and drank a little wine.

But she never expected she would be such a lightweight!

The liquor was too strong. After just half a cup, she began to feel tipsy.

This was evident in how her entire demeanor became audaciously bold.

“Shizun? Shizun, would you like to play bamboo tiles? Come on.” Zhu Zhihan found Luan Wu and even stumbled, nearly falling only to be caught and steadied by her master.

Zhu Zhihan took the opportunity to sit beside Luan Wu, leaning against her as if she had no bones of her own.

Luan Wu, who had refrained from drinking to maintain control of the situation, looked at her with clear, penetrating eyes. “Not joining the others anymore?”

Zhu Zhihan drawled, “I want to play tiles with you.”

Luan Wu had intended to refuse.

She wasn’t good at such games, nor was she accustomed to such intimate forms of amusement. But as she took in her little disciple’s flushed cheeks, her eyes glistening as if soaked in water, and the fleeting image of her younger self with this very person, she hesitated inexplicably.

Ah, what was the use of reasoning with a little drunkard?

In the end, Zhu Zhihan got her wish.

They had a wild time that day, but the next morning brought its own suffering.

Zhu Zhihan felt as though her head was splitting open. Didn’t Miss System say that this illusion was entered with the soul? How could there still be a hangover effect.

Recalling what she had done while drunk the day before, her headache only worsened.

She even wished she hadn’t woken up at all.

Although, although she did feel that Luan Wu had been more lenient with her lately, and she had secretly harbored a desire to explore and get closer but not in this way!

Remembering the look Luan Wu had given her, Zhu Zhihan buried her face in the blankets.

Her image…

Days passed, and the Deer Cloud tribe remained without casualties.

The hidden forces of the Immortal Alliance finally grew impatient.

So, on one of the routine battlefield sweeps, the Immortal Alliance envoys, led by Su Chaya, appeared.

But this time was different from before. With the battle not as brutal, their arrival felt rather unremarkable. Even their ethereal, cloud-riding aura seemed overshadowed by Luan Wu’s presence.

Zhu Zhihan watched with satisfaction.

After bullying them for two cycles, they finally!

Over there, Su Chaya’s expression was indifferent, her tone flat, like a puppet being manipulated. “…The Immortal Alliance bestows upon you a divine artifact to aid your cause.”

Zhu Zhihan held her breath and asked Miss System, “What do you think Luan Wu will choose to do?”

She trusted Luan Wu completely, but even after days of contemplation, she couldn’t come up with a satisfactory answer. Was such a dilemma even solvable?

If the divine artifact wasn’t destroyed, Zhu Zhihan would feel furious and deeply aggrieved on behalf of the Deer Cloud tribe. But if it was destroyed.

Miss System said, I think the trolley problem exists because the protagonist can only pull the lever.

Zhu Zhihan’s eyes widened slightly. “You mean…”

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