Chapter 101: A Taste of Sweetness and Sourness Recounts a Forgotten Alliance
The meeting was scheduled for the afternoon.
Shen Mi ate lunch at home before setting off. Lately, the task of cooking has almost entirely fallen on Chef Dan.
She thought she knew Danheng quite well, but when she saw him calmly chopping vegetables and skillfully stir-frying them at the stove, she was still somewhat surprised. Perhaps due to the game's text, she had never imagined that Danheng could cook, and not only could he cook, but he could cook very well—the kind of cooking that could open a restaurant on the spot.
The taste isn't just superficial; it carries the flavor of home. There's no fancy plating, only the warmth of everyday life. It's delicious, incredibly delicious—not just generally delicious, but the kind of deliciousness you'll want to remember for a lifetime.
His deliberate skill in chopping vegetables, the effortless mastery of the spatula, the fluid rhythm as if it were second nature. It's clear that during his years of expulsion from Luofu, he didn't let himself succumb to despair, but instead lived quietly and well.
—This Danheng, who strives to live and find herself, should not be swept away by fate to the point of falling like a fallen leaf.
Shen Mi watched his back as he bent down to clear the dishes, a bitter feeling welling up in her chest. The threads of fate were too cold; since fate had given her a chance, even if it was just to tear open a crack, she would try her best for Dan Heng.
Perhaps that's why she felt even more compelled to see Bai Xuan.
She put down her chopsticks, took a deep breath, and her eyes gradually hardened. The afternoon light streamed through the window, and she stood up, with only one thought in her mind: no matter the cost, she would protect this leaf and let the story flow again according to its predetermined course.
The Prison of Shadows lies beneath the ancient Sea of Wave Moon, its layers of caves interwoven like a net. Although several temporary entrances are provided for passage, the true entrance is only one gate to the Prison of Shadows, forged with the image of a mighty spirit—the "Gate of Suppressing Evil."
"Ancient mythology refers to this powerful spirit as 'Fangxiang,' because it can devour evil spirits, and its image was cast on bronze doors." The judge, Xueyi, who led the way, spoke in a cold voice, her face expressionless.
She paused, then added, "If you hear whispers coming from inside the door when you get close, don't be alarmed. It's a warning to passersby to be mindful of their own conduct and not to harbor evil thoughts."
After hearing this, Shen Mi obediently nodded and followed closely behind Xueyi, but his eyes couldn't help but be drawn to the scenery around him.
Two enormous chains hung from the dome, deeply embedded in the massive rocks on either side, their cold, metallic color gleaming eerily in the sea light. Sunlight refracted through the water, shattering into shifting fragments of light and shadow, dappling the stone walls like silent, flowing ripples.
Directly ahead, the "Fang Xiang," standing a hundred feet tall, glared angrily, his face contorted in a ferocious expression. His orange-yellow pupils burned like scorching flames, seemingly able to pierce through the heart, leaving no place for those with ill intentions to hide. That imposing aura made people subconsciously hold their breath, daring not to make a move.
The place where Bai Xuan was imprisoned was the Scorching Hell. White foxes fear heat and prefer cold, so being imprisoned here was almost the most severe form of punishment.
To reach the Scorching Hell, one must first traverse a walkway suspended above the abyss and personally activate a mechanism driven by high-energy jade to unlock the Prison Key. Then, using the power of the painted screen, one must bypass the "key" that resembles a towering pillar to reach the heavily sealed Scorching Hell at the top.
But today is different. Because Shen Mi was personally led by Judge Xueyi, they did not need complicated procedures. They directly used the power of the mechanism to descend from the giant pillar and arrive at the location of the Scorching Hell.
When the two arrived, a judge was already sitting in front of the cell. Her long gray hair fell over her shoulders, and her eyes were dark and swollen, as if she hadn't slept for days. The cell was shrouded in layers of blue light, which made her face appear even more weary and serene.
She bowed her head, her pen scratching softly on the paper, as if she were writing each cold, hard rule onto the page. When she heard footsteps approaching, she didn't look up, but her voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable certainty:
"Sister, you've arrived?"
"Hmm." Xueyi responded briefly, her expression remaining completely unchanged. She then turned to Shen Mi and whispered, "If Miss Shen is ready for the meeting, just give me a signal, and Han Ya will begin recording immediately. We will stand aside and will not interfere. The barrier in front of you will be set to close to block out sound, allowing sound to pass through from within. You will also be able to see the prisoner's face and speak with him. But please remember, do not touch the barrier."
Shen Mi nodded and said clearly, "I understand, let's begin."
Xueyi nodded almost imperceptibly, then raised her hand and made a gesture. Hanya stopped writing, looked ahead, and gently pressed the control button. With the soft sound of the mechanism turning, ripples of light appeared on the barrier in front of her, and a deep rumble came from within. Then, the thick soundproofing quietly disappeared.
The light from the barrier faded, and the scene in the prison cell finally became clear.
The air in the cell was so heavy it seemed to solidify, carrying an atmosphere of anxiety and scorching heat; every breath made one's chest tighten. And in this intense heat, a solitary white figure sat alone.
Bai Xuan's hands were tightly bound by cold chains, his face pressed against them, greedily absorbing the last bit of coolness. His exposed skin was covered in beads of sweat, the runic iron chains wrapped around his neck were cold and heavy, and his whole body was so haggard that he seemed almost withered, as if he could be swallowed up by the scorching air at any moment.
Shen Mi frowned, her gaze falling on him with unbearable tenderness, as if she herself was suffocating from the scorching heat, feeling every bit of temperature and torment he was enduring.
She approached slowly, her footsteps echoing softly in the scorching prison. Her gaze fell on the kneeling figure, and a complex mix of emotions welled up within her. In the end, all her resentment dissipated into a light, airy "Master Bai Xuan."
Bai Xuan, inside the barrier, slowly raised her eyelids, sweat trickling down her face, causing a stinging sensation like needles.
His voice was hoarse, yet tinged with surprise and bitterness: "Chen Mi, you've come... It's kind of you to still call me Master."
Shen Mi steadied his gaze, his tone calm and his mind clear: "I call you Master because I still respect the flying skills you taught me. But that doesn't mean I forgive the trap you set for me."
After hearing Shen Mi's words, Bai Xuan opened her eyes with difficulty, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her, but just chuckled foolishly twice.
Shen Mi said in a serious voice, "Speak, why do you want to see me?"
Bai Xuan closed her eyes, as if suppressing some kind of pain in her body, and said in a low voice, "The prison is heavily guarded, and no news can get in. I asked to see you just to make sure you are alright."
Shen Mi frowned, suppressing the urge to leave as she listened to Bai Xuan finish speaking. She had thought he would tell her something important, but he was just concerned about her well-being.
"You're the one who set me up for kidnapping, and you're also the one who ordered the Jurchens to hunt me down. You made me get lost and wander around in such a big forest, and how dare you ask me if I'm alright?"
Bai Xuan was slightly startled, a trace of guilt and helplessness flashing in his eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed a few times, but he did not answer immediately. He remained silent for a long time before saying in a low voice, "I... do indeed bear full responsibility, Shen Mi. I apologize to you, I'm sorry. But please understand a father's heart for avenging his daughter."
As she spoke, Bai Xuan stirred.
Shen Mi's heart skipped a beat. Was it coming?
She stood there, watching Bai Xuan struggle to her feet, gripping the chains on both sides.
The scorching heat eventually tormented the nearly thousand-year-old fox-man to the point of being unrecognizable. His clothes, soaked with sweat and quickly dried by the heat, clung to his body. His snow-white garments were covered in dust, tattered and mottled, making it almost impossible to imagine that he had appeared so neat and handsome when they first met.
"Revenge." Shen Mi stepped forward, speaking calmly and in a deep voice, "You've dragged so many innocent people into this. Aren't you afraid their families will come after you for justice?"
"Hahahaha..." Bai Xuan laughed as if he had heard something utterly absurd, his laughter echoing through the scorching prison, tinged with irony and self-mockery. When his laughter finally wore off, he stopped, his gaze fixed intently on Shen Mi.
"Seeking justice?"
Bai Xuan clasped his hands together, looked up at Hua Riguangtian, his eyes filled with resentment, his tone laced with grief and obsession, and growled through gritted teeth:
"If Heaven has justice, it will not allow my son to die like this!"
He lowered his head, his tone suddenly becoming calm as he addressed Shen Mi: "If the relatives of those innocent people come seeking revenge, I, Bai Xuan, will not shirk my responsibility, nor will I conceal anything. I will explain my motives in detail, and I will earnestly accept the punishment that is due to me—"
His tone shifted abruptly, he stopped abruptly, his gaze deepening, as if another layer of hatred was slowly creeping out from his chest: "But what if 'fairness' is concealed, the truth is deliberately obscured, and justice is artificially distorted—then what then?"
His words were like a pebble thrown into a silent pool, creating ripples. The air in the scorching prison suddenly became even more oppressive, and everyone's breathing seemed to be stretched out.
Shen Mi stood a few meters away, her fists clenched, her knuckles slightly white. She could hear the sound of her own heartbeat, and she could also hear the faint struggle and determination in Bai Xuan's words—it was not a simple confession, but more of a desperate cry in the face of the rules.
"Do you know about the monstrous dragon that suddenly appeared on Mount Luofu after the swift battle?"
Before Shen Mi could answer.
Bai Xuan pounded his chest repeatedly, his fists echoing dully as if releasing all the pent-up emotions of the past few centuries. His eyes bulged, his voice hoarse as if scorched by flames: "That—is my daughter! My daughter! My daughter!" Tears welled in his dry, cracked eyes, rolling down his chapped cheeks and dripping onto the hot stone slab with a soft yet piercing sound.
The scorching prison fell silent for a moment, with only Bai Xuan's trembling voice and the echo of the tiny water droplets evaporating instantly.
Chen Mi felt a tightness in his chest, as if a heavy stone was pressing down on him. Complex emotions surged within him, and his throat felt sour, as if he had swallowed a lemon slice.
"She should have been remembered in glory and revered by future generations as a hero who died in battle."
"But what happened in the end? What happened in the end? There wasn't even a skeleton left..."
Bai Xuan's throat tightened, the blood vessels in her eyes deepened, and her tears evaporated quickly in the scorching air, leaving not a trace of moisture.
After a long while, Shen Mi slowly spoke: "Since you've already said it, why don't you just tell me everything you know?"
Shen Mi stood silently a few meters away, her gaze fixed on the emaciated figure tormented by obsession and resentment. As a victim, she knew that Bai Xuan's actions had already violated the law, an unforgivable crime, and that no matter how many unspeakable secrets she had, she could not escape judgment. Yet, deep in her heart, she couldn't help but feel an uncontrollable lament for her former master, a father who had gone astray because of "love."
She knew she wouldn't get any more information, and even she herself was troubled by the emotions in Bai Xuan's words.
Bai Xuan looked at Shen Mi, and for a moment the sorrow on his face was replaced by a calmness. He slowly took a breath, as if splitting the burning flame in his chest in two, leaving one half for pain and the other half as a sharp blade in his words.
"A monstrous dragon has emerged from nowhere, and one wave of trouble has just begun in Luofu. The flames of war have barely been extinguished, and before everyone has recovered from that catastrophe, they are forced to face this new and powerful enemy."
"Everyone says that Bai Heng was unlucky and was suddenly parasitized into a new vessel after surrendering to the enemy. But who knows the truth?" He almost roared out the last few words.
Bai Xuan's chest heaved violently, veins throbbing on his forehead. Then he gritted his teeth, his voice turning ferocious:
"And all of this! It's all the fault of those damned Lord Yinyue and Yingxing! If they hadn't secretly used the Dragon Transformation Technique, how could my son have ended up like this?!"
The chains made a screeching sound as he struggled.
"They used my son's flesh and blood to bear that forbidden law, stripping her of the heroic glory that should have belonged to her, making her bear the name of 'evil dragon' and be cursed by the world!"
Bai Xuan's eyes were cloudy, with tears mixed with blood.
"The Immortal Boat Alliance deliberately concealed the truth in order to consolidate its foundation and foreshadow unrest. Unfortunately, by the time I learned the truth, it was too late, and I didn't even have the chance to defend her."
"The world only remembers that wicked dragon, only remembers the 'chaos,' only remembers the calamities she brought. No one remembers how she fought with all her might in that battle, sacrificing herself for the people of Luofu, and perishing together with Shuhu!"
Each accusation, each word a tear of blood. Who can close their eyes, bearing the weight of injustice, swallowing their agonizing cries?
Bai Xuan's voice gradually lowered, blood spilled from the corner of his lips, his eyes were empty, staring fixedly ahead. At that moment, Shen Mi felt as if he wasn't looking at the cold stone walls of this dark prison, but rather at a figure that had long since disappeared.
Shen Mi stood quietly, not daring to interrupt, letting the overwhelming grief echo in her ears. She knew this matter had nothing to do with her, yet she was still overwhelmed by this sorrow, her chest tight with grief. As an observer, she had no right to forgive for anyone, nor to apologize on behalf of others.
However, the only thing she could do was try to give Bai Xuan's obsession an outlet.
"You seek revenge to restore the glory that Bai Heng deserves. Danfeng and Yingxing use the Dragon Transformation Technique to resurrect their dearest friend."
Shen Mi said this not to exonerate anyone, nor to make any hasty conclusions about the matter. She simply wanted Bai Xuan to know that their initial intentions might not have been entirely contradictory.
However, the universe has its laws, and the world has its rules; all actions are outside the bounds of forgiveness.
Even if there are grievances like a raging fire, even if there are regrets and resentment about the ending, they all vanish like a sudden gust of wind...
At her sister's prompting, Han Ya copied down their last conversation.
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Author's Note: Thus, the bosses of the Jingyuan and Ren arc have temporarily come to an end. From the very beginning, the general plot of the Jingyuan and Ren arc was already set, because I wanted to write a different perspective on the Yunwu story, which is why you see what you're reading now. In my setting, the ordinary people of Luofu are unaware of what truly happened back then. What would it be like for a "father" who has been traveling for years to suddenly learn of his daughter's death? What would it be like to unexpectedly learn the truth from others? I started writing this part of the plot based on this premise. So, going forward, Shenmi's crisis is not only about saving the ending, but also about resolving the relationship between the three people. I seem to have said a bit too much. I hope you all enjoy my story. Thank you for reading this far. [Pity][Pity][Pity]
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