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Chapter 60: Everlasting Affection
🕑 Added 2025-04-07 09:22:07 +0000 UTCA year later.
At the summit of Moonlit Peak, in the Divine Sect.
The rain had just ceased, leaving the empress trees even more vibrant in color. A blue luan perched among the branches, spreading its wings to soar to the treetops, pecking at the dewdrops on the leaves.
Under the golden empress trees, a table and two chairs had been placed in the shade. Two figures sat facing each other.
The man on the left wore plain robes. He picked up a black stone, furrowed his brows, and placed it on the board.
The woman on the opposite side had a faint smile, a red lotus mark on her forehead as vivid as blood. She picked up a white stone, made the final move, and said, "Sect Master Feng, you’ve lost."
This game had lasted nearly a year.
They had watched the empress tree leaves turn green, then yellow, and then green again. Today, at last, the game had come to an end.
The black stones were completely surrounded by white, a checkmate beyond recovery.
Feng He stared at the board, his frown deepening.
He had never expected to lose.
He had taken the first move, learned from Master Kongji for years, and yet he had still lost.
Expressionless, he asked, "Why?"
Mei He merely smiled and replied, "Sect Master Feng’s swordsmanship is unparalleled in all of Jiuzhou, but strategy is not the same as wielding a blade. Your swordplay is domineering, but that approach does not suit the board."
Feng He said, "I have always believed that in the history of Go, the strong prevail."
She shook her head. "Strength does not come from brute force alone."
"Then what should one use if not force?"
Mei He did not answer directly. Instead, she mused, "A year ago, you struck down your blade in the training arena, believing the game was already decided. But the world of Go is ever-changing, and the variables do not conform to your will."
"Not to my will?" Feng He frowned, then said flatly, "Then is it the will of the heavens?"
Mei He smiled. "Perhaps… even the heavens cannot control them."
Feng He recalled the woman clad in gauze a year ago, the one who had pushed the demon seed off the cliff.
His frown deepened. "That woman, is she the variable?"
Though he had not spoken her name, Mei He understood and simply answered, "Yes."
"So then, Sect Master Mei, you made your move before I did."
Mei He shook her head, still smiling. "No, she was never a piece I placed on the board."
For the first time, Feng He’s expression shifted noticeably. He held a black stone between his fingers, and a possibility he had never considered surfaced in his mind.
Mei He narrowed her eyes slightly, gazing into the distant sky. In a soft voice, she said, "Because she is the one playing the game."
…
Western Mountain, Demon Sect
Phoenix Blossom Spirit did not know how to play Go, nor could she understand it.
Yet, ever since that woman had been brought back to the Demon Palace by Left Protector Bai a year ago, she often watched her play, sometimes for an entire day.
That woman always sat on Phoenix Terrace, setting up a game, moving the stones without a word, as if playing against an invisible opponent.
Occasionally, the ghostly flood dragon lurking beneath the Netherwater would emerge, circling around her in a silent dance.
Layers of white gauze shrouded the dark and somber Demon Palace, while she stood alone atop the high platform, lifting her gaze toward the blood moon hanging over Western Mountain.
Phoenix Blossom Spirit saw her furrow her brows and ask Left Protector Bai, "Master, why is there a moon over Western Mountain?"
Her voice was colder than the Netherwater itself, which Phoenix Blossom Spirit found rather unfortunate.
Such a beautiful person, yet so lifeless, without a trace of expression.
But then again, she thought, almost everyone who came to Western Mountain was either dead or a fugitive. No living person would willingly step foot here.
As Phoenix Blossom Spirit pondered this, Left Protector Bai chuckled and said to the woman, "Baiyi, if you dislike it, I can teach you Nightmare Arts. You may erase it as you please."
Gu Baiyi shook her head. "What use is erasing it? I would only be cutting away the illusion of the moon, but it would still exist."
Left Protector Bai smiled gently, though his words were ruthless. "Once you are strong enough, it will only take a flick of your finger to erase anything or anyone, you wish."
Gu Baiyi gazed at the blood moon above and said indifferently, "Let’s hope so."
With that, Left Protector Bai shook his head and left Phoenix Terrace.
Gu Baiyi remained alone, continuing her unfinished game.
The blood moon cast its eerie glow. She walked to the edge of the terrace, plucked a phoenix blossom, and murmured, "It’s not that I dislike the moon; the moon simply dislikes me."
Phoenix Blossom Spirit looked at the black-clad woman before her, feeling an inexplicable sense of solitude in her expression.
She pitied Gu Baiyi.
What had she been through? At the prime of her youth, why did she wear such a look of world-weariness?
In the next moment, that loneliness faded.
Gu Baiyi’s expression turned cold once more. She gathered demonic energy in her palm and ruthlessly reduced the phoenix blossom to ash.
Seeing this, Phoenix Blossom Spirit shuddered.
It seemed the new Demon Lord was not one to be trifled with. It was best for her to remain hidden among the phoenix blossoms.
Yet, Gu Baiyi narrowed her eyes and reached out, pinching the flower’s stem. With a slight movement of her fingers, she shook out its spirit.
Phoenix Blossom Spirit was dumbfounded.
Fearful that this capricious new Demon Lord might kill her, she quickly lowered her head and knelt on the terrace, not daring to look up.
To her surprise, the voice above her was unexpectedly gentle. "Lift your head and let me see you."
Entranced by that unexpectedly soft voice, she hesitated before slowly raising her head, meeting those deep, narrow eyes.
Gu Baiyi was momentarily stunned, then composed herself and asked, "What is your name?"
Phoenix Blossom Spirit pointed at her tightly closed lips, signaling that she could not speak.
Understanding, Gu Baiyi pressed a finger to Phoenix Blossom Spirit’s forehead, and at once, a red lotus mark appeared.
Phoenix Blossom Spirit was astonished. The Demon Lord had actually lowered herself to form a bond with a lowly flower spirit like her.
For beings like her, only by forming a master-servant contract could she communicate through their souls.
In the next moment, Gu Baiyi’s voice resonated within her spirit. "Now you may speak."
Phoenix Blossom Spirit nodded and channeled her spiritual energy to respond.
"I am Phoenix Blossom Spirit, named Changqing." (Everlasting Affection)
Gu Baiyi frowned. "Changqin?"
"I am Changqing, not Changqin."
Gu Baiyi seemed momentarily lost in thought before she murmured, "Yes, you are not Changqin."
She then asked, "Can you wield a sword?"
Changqing replied, "I cannot."
Gu Baiyi looked at her and said, "I can teach you."
At this, Changqing hesitated.
She was merely a small flower spirit. How could she possibly learn such a profound sword art?
Gu Baiyi seemed to understand that such an idea was unrealistic. She reached out to help Changqing up, her tone calm as she said, "Since you're wearing this skin, you should at least have some skills to match."
Hearing this, Changqing felt a flicker of fear.
So the Demon Lord knew. She knew that Changqing had been relying on absorbing her dreams every night just to barely maintain her human form. And her current appearance indeed bore a resemblance to the woman from the Demon Lord’s dreams.
But possessing this appearance had never been her wish.
Lowering her head, Changqing swallowed her grievances in silence.
Gu Baiyi looked at her, tightening her grip on the Hanshui Sword, then smiled and said, "If you are utterly useless and still have the audacity to wear a face I detest, I might not be able to resist killing you."
Changqing’s eyes widened in alarm as she lifted her head, staring into the crimson eyes before her.
Gu Xueyi reached out and lifted Changqing’s chin with a finger, her voice gentle yet laced with an eerie edge. "Otherwise, if you were truly worthless, how could you resemble her even a little?"
Changqing felt the killing intent emanating from the woman and hurriedly responded:
"I am skilled in playing the qin."
"You can play the qin? Well, at least that makes you somewhat useful."
Gu Xueyi sneered at the pleading expression on Changqing’s face, finding it ridiculous.
She thought to herself, no, she truly wasn’t like her at all.
Releasing her hand, Gu Xueyi swept aside the layered curtains and returned to the high seat of Phoenix Terrace.
Through the gauzy white veil, Changqing heard the woman's indifferent voice: "From now on, you will play the qin here for me every night at midnight."
"Yes."
Changqing remained kneeling, listening to the sound of footsteps fading into the distance before she let out a quiet sigh of relief.
She stood up and gazed at the phoenix flower ashes scattered on the ground, an inexplicable sorrow washing over her.
She thought of the woman wreathed in deathly energy, those emotionless eyes. She couldn't understand why the Demon Lord liked to watch the scenery from here.
After all, Phoenix Terrace was freezing cold, and the blood moon overhead was far from pleasant. Standing here just to look at the view—wasn’t that just self-inflicted misery?
She frowned in thought for a long time before coming to a reasonable conclusion.
Perhaps the Demon Lord herself was also in great pain. So much so that by looking at something unpleasant, she wouldn’t feel her own suffering as acutely.
...
Feilai Peak, Wantangju.
Ji Rong looked at Dou Weiyi, who stood before her, and frowned slightly, feeling a strong sense of discomfort.
Yet Dou Weiyi, with her usual air of arrogance, scoffed, "Ji Rong, just look at yourself. What, just because Gu Baiyi is gone, you’re acting like you’re about to die?"
Ji Rong gazed at Dou Weiyi without a word, unwilling to respond.
A whole year had passed.
Ever since Gu Baiyi had 'switched maps,' this young lady had been visiting Wantang Residence incessantly.
Fine, if she wanted to come, so be it. But every time she did, she always managed to mention the protagonist.
At first, Ji Rong thought Dou Weiyi simply hadn’t adjusted to a life without the protagonist yet and was showing up to establish her presence.
That was until one day, when Liu Ningxue got drunk, clung to Ji Rong’s arm, and sobbed, "Senior Sister, I know everything. You must still be blaming yourself for failing to save Junior Sister Gu that day… But we all know you did your best, so please don’t be so heartbroken anymore!"
Heartbroken?
Ji Rong was completely bewildered, though her face remained calm as she asked, "Where do you see me being heartbroken?"
Liu Ningxue’s sorrow deepened. "You say that, but… Senior Sister, there’s no need to hide it. We all understand."
Ji Rong was dumbfounded. What exactly did they understand?
Because she certainly didn’t.
Then Liu Ningxue, brimming with emotion, started listing examples.
After Gu Baiyi left Wanjian Sect, on a certain date, a junior sister went to Tianji Peak to gather herbs. Passing by the long-abandoned Kuaixue Residence, she noticed the door wide open.
Curious, she tiptoed to the window to peek inside.
There, a woman dressed in light silk robes sat quietly, engrossed in a book.
Liu Ningxue wiped her tears and said, "Who would’ve thought Senior Sister and Junior Sister Gu were so deeply bonded? You even read the books she left behind. If that’s not reminiscing, then what is?"
Ji Rong’s expression twitched.
In reality, she had only gone to Gu Baiyi’s residence to check if the protagonist had left behind any cultivation manuals or secret techniques.
After all, protagonists always had some top-tier techniques lying around that could be salvaged.
By all that was holy, she was merely looting Gu Baiyi’s dropped items after her departure, not reminiscing about her!
Calmly, Ji Rong replied, "I was just flipping through them."
But Liu Ningxue, having expected such a response, offered yet another example.
On another date, after a class on alchemy, Dou Weiyi happened upon a small notebook someone had dropped.
There was no name on it, so she flipped it open, only to find pages filled with tally marks.
"Then the mystery was solved. That notebook was yours! And the number of marks on the pages? Exactly the number of days since Junior Sister Gu left. If this isn’t grief, then what is?"
Ji Rong thought back to her recovered notebook and was at a loss for words.
She had merely been calculating how many days she could continue surviving after the protagonist’s inevitable descent into darkness. There was absolutely no sorrow involved.
Yet Liu Ningxue remained deeply immersed in her own narrative. No matter how many words Ji Rong wanted to say, in the end, all she could do was utter a single indifferent sentence: "If that’s what you want to believe, then believe it."
Little did she know that Liu Ningxue would later tell Mo Yan, who then let it slip to Dou Weiyi.
Ji Rong would never forget that day.
It was the day of Wanjian Sect’s martial trials. The sky was clear, the wind gentle, and not a cloud in sight.
With the crazed protagonist gone, the infamous Xie Bai nowhere to be seen, and even benefactor Wei Zongqiu and wife Mei He having disappeared, Ji Rong stood at the center of the arena, surrounded by unremarkable NPCs, feeling utterly uninspired.
Without the protagonist around, her cultivation life had become mundane and uneventful.
She barely cared about her opponent. After all, it wasn’t as if they could defeat her.
But then, across the field, Dou Weiyi, seeing Ji Rong lost in thought and hesitant to make a move, suddenly exploded with rage.
"Ji Rong, can you not live without Gu Baiyi?"
Before Ji Rong could react, Dou Weiyi shouted in front of a thousand disciples, "Do you like her that much?"
The words echoed through the training grounds, lingering for what felt like a lifetime.
At that moment, the entire crowd fell silent.
Ji Rong stood still, contemplating a single thought.
Thank you, Miss Dou.
Thank you for adding a splash of social death to my otherwise dull existence.
