Chapter 36 Sleepless Tonight (Part 1) "I want to do everything, but..."
Seeing her expression harden slightly, Xun Feifei glanced at the person lying down and asked, "What, did you hit the wrong person?"
“He is…” Lin Feiran paused for a few breaths. Now that she was no longer a disciple of Daohe Palace, it would be presumptuous to call him senior brother. “His name is Ji Changying. He is quite familiar with me. Even if he knows we are here, he will not say much.”
A groan of unbearable discomfort came from beside him, and Ji Changying slowly woke up. He sat up, still clutching a few dark wild mushrooms in his hand.
"Junior sister, you've only been away from the mountain for a few months, and you've already forgotten me as your senior brother?"
He rubbed his temples, clearly having heard what she had just said.
Qingming scanned the surroundings, his gaze sweeping over the three still lying down, then over Xun Feifei who stood with his arms crossed, before finally settling on Lin Feiran, whom he squinted and scrutinized carefully for a while.
"Junior sister, you seem to have grown taller again."
Lin Feiran did not answer; she simply looked back quietly.
Ji Changying sighed slightly, stood up abruptly, dusted off the corner of his robe, adjusted his straw hat, picked up the mushrooms in his hand, and said quite naturally, "You are guests from afar. I happen to have set up a wild pot not far away. Why don't you all have a few drinks? Ah, I mean, a mushroom soup."
No one answered, and he didn't seem to care. He strode out and soon returned with light steps, carrying an iron pot. He even had the leisure to laugh and say, "If the mountain won't come to me, then I'll come to the mountain."
Xun Feifei watched him gather firewood and start cooking again, his expression inscrutable. He glanced at Lin Feiran with a questioning look in his eyes, but seeing Lin Feiran shake his head slightly, he had no choice but to step aside and wake up the two side dishes, Xuan Zhen and Bi Qing.
The fire raged, and the lukewarm soup quickly reheated and boiled. Ji Changying sat on a flat stone and said with great emotion, "Junior sister, ever since you and junior brother became lovers, you only come to eat my cooking during festivals."
Lin Feiran did not respond, but said, "Senior brother, you have been back at Daohe Palace for a long time. You must have heard a lot about my defection down the mountain and my several returns to steal treasures. Aren't you going to ask me why I have returned today?"
“I won’t ask. Since I’ve chosen to believe, why doubt? I’m back now, and I’m happy to see you. I don’t care about anything else.” Ji Changying looked at her and smiled. “However, after not seeing you for several months, you’ve become much more straightforward, which is good. It seems that the journey down the mountain suits you very well.”
Xuan Zhenbiqing finally recovered from the dizziness. Although she was still unsteady on her feet, her complexion was much better. Xun Feifei helped the two of them to their seats. After nodding to the three of them, Ji Changying really didn't ask any more questions. She just smiled at Lin Feiran with a happy expression.
Biqing propped her head up and asked, "When should we move? I'll probably be ready in about fifteen minutes."
Lin Feiran took out a bottle of Qinglu from his mustard seed bag and handed it to her: "Drinking a little will make you feel better. The sun is setting now, and the banquet has not started yet, so it is inconvenient to move around. We will proceed as planned when night falls. For now, you and Xuanzhen can rest here."
Biqing nodded, leaned against her, and sipped the dew, which made her feel much better.
Xun Feifei pushed away Xuan Zhen, who was also approaching, and observed Ji Changying without making a sound.
His expression remained largely unchanged, except for a slight fluctuation when he heard Lin Feiran say the word "take action." However, he did not become alert or wary; instead, he was filled with relief and joy, as if a kitten he had been watching over for a long time was finally pouncing on him.
"Junior sister, you've grown up!"
Xun Feifei: "..."
He had long heard that Daohe Palace, one of the four major sects, was known for producing madmen. Even if they weren't madmen, they were certainly extraordinary people. He had been skeptical in the past, but now he believed it to some extent.
Ignoring the joy in his voice, Lin Feiran glanced at the sky and asked again, "Isn't Senior Brother supposed to be present at today's Immortal Gathering?"
"Junior sister, the soup is ready! Quickly taste it and see if it's salty enough!"
He scooped up a spoonful of clear soup, blew on it to cool it, and then brought it to Lin Feiran's lips, waiting hopefully for her to open her mouth.
Lin Feiran hesitated for a moment, then took the spoon and drank it down, saying to himself, "Delicious."
Xun Feifei, who had been observing from the side, said upon hearing this, "Don't worry, your junior sister has already transformed. Today, even the Three Pots are no problem for her."
Ji Changying exclaimed with delight, "Truly, girls change so much as they grow up!"
Lin Feiran remained silent for a moment, not wanting to argue with the two. She had originally planned to find a secluded place after arriving here, and the group would lie in wait until night before proceeding according to plan. However, she unexpectedly ran into Ji Changying, who was having a picnic here. But things became much more convenient.
Few people venture to this mountainous area, and there are very few palaces here. The only one nearby is Ji Changying's courtyard, but that doesn't mean no one comes here. Disciples from the palace lead patrols every night, and the patrols will certainly be more frequent and rigorous during the Immortal Tour.
According to her plan, they would stay at Daohe Palace for three days, which would surely be a long and arduous journey. She was used to the unpredictable weather at Daohe Palace and could bear it, but Biqing and the others would be better off not having to suffer like this. If they could use Ji Changying as a cover, the trip would definitely be much easier.
Sure enough, before she could speak, Ji Changying said first, "Oh, the sun is about to set, and it's getting a bit cold. It's chilly in the mountains. There was still some warmth when the sun rose, but the wind and snow were blowing heavily at night. Since you are my junior sister's friends, why don't you stay at my courtyard for the night? It's secluded there, and no one will come."
Xun Feifei and the others looked at Lin Feiran, who simply said, "Since Senior Brother is attending the banquet, he doesn't need to worry about these things. I will take them there tonight."
"Junior sister has really grown up." Ji Changying looked at her with a smile, but there was a hint of melancholy and regret in her eyes.
"So-called growth inevitably involves a lot of pain and struggle, and seeing a lot of unsightly and dirty things. During those times, my senior brother was not able to be by my side, and I really felt guilty."
It's truly a pity.
He waved away the fallen leaves behind her, and in a moment of surprise, it was as if he had touched newly sprouted wings, not yet strong, but already beginning to flutter.
Lin Feiran turned to look at him, her eyes clear.
"Senior brother, some roads are destined to be walked alone, without anyone to accompany you, nor needing to accompany you. However, this does not mean being isolated and helpless; it is just that such is the way of the world, and everyone must go through this once in a while. There is no need to feel ashamed."
Seeing you today fills me with only peace and joy. Reunion is a joy, and nothing else matters. I didn't ask why you weren't here, just as you didn't ask me why I came. That's all.
Ji Changying was stunned and remained silent for a long time. After a while, she suddenly laughed and couldn't help but lean in to hug him: "I used to dislike little radish heads growing up, because once they become adults, they have to struggle in this filthy world, and their hearts and eyes will be filled with dust and dirt, making them disgusting to people."
But thankfully, junior sister, you're different; you've always been different. Don't worry, your friends will definitely be safe.
...
As the sun sets and its last rays disappear behind the mountains, night falls.
Lin Feiran stood up, took out a veil from his mustard seed bag and put it on. Paired with his black robe, he resembled a slender and reserved sword shadow, silently standing in the fine snow.
"Let's go," she said to Xun Feifei.
Biqing had also regained consciousness and waved to the two of them, saying, "Come back soon."
Ji Changying smiled as she traced her silhouette, sitting quietly in a corner, her gaze slightly dark and complex. However, this somber mood only lasted for a moment, hidden in the spring scenery, fleeting and difficult to detect.
*
Night had fallen, and Daohe Palace was brightly lit all around, with the central Taoist temple area being particularly lively.
The Taoist banners hung high, and bright pearls hung down in all directions. Their shimmering light reflected off the snow, making it even brighter. A sword platform more than ten feet high rose up in the middle, and hundreds of sword shadows roamed around it, protecting the Taoist.
This is the Taoist temple of Daohe Palace, named Dianjintai.
The so-called "Journey to the Immortals" is a discussion of the Dao. The purpose of participating in the Journey to the Immortals is to make friends through martial arts and exchange ideas through the law. If one does not have a match, the trip is in vain.
The names of the disciples participating in the Immortal Tour were all engraved on the flying sword shadows. Each sword had three people on it. Whichever sword you drew meant that you would have to discuss the Dao and fight with the three people on the sword in the next few days.
Those with good luck only have to compete three times, while those with bad luck, if they are chosen every time, will likely have to compete until the very end.
The young talents gathered together, drawing sword shadows from the Golden Platform, showing no fear.
"Young man, so dashing and spirited. I think you're no different from them. Why don't you join them and try your luck?"
Not far from the Golden Platform, under the shadow of a pine tree, two heads and two eyes quietly emerged. At first glance, they looked like two upside-down melon rinds, but unfortunately, the two were hidden in the shadows and were difficult to detect.
Without a doubt, this was Lin Feiran and Xun Feifei.
She stared at it for a long time before mysteriously uttering two words: "Guess."
"I won't guess."
Xun Feifei answered decisively, without asking further questions or showing any curiosity; he was more interested in exploring another matter.
"I've always felt that your senior brother is a bit strange. He's not a bad person, but he's hard to see through. How can you be sure he won't report you, since you two have a good relationship?"
Lin Feiran replied in a low voice, "It's not just that we have a good relationship; we once saved each other's lives and owe each other a debt of gratitude. Secondly, I've always been blind and have misjudged many people, but my intuition is still quite sharp. I've known since I was a child that my senior brother dislikes Daohe Palace."
"Now, I am the same kind of person as him. If he knew that, he would probably only want me to make a bigger scene."
After they finished speaking, neither of them uttered a word.
Lin Feiran stared intently ahead, his gaze sweeping over the passing disciples before finally settling on a rather furtive figure.
The person was wearing the disciple's robe of Daohe Palace, but he had several dark and elaborate flowers embroidered on the hem of the robe. The waist had also been re-tailored and fit extremely well, so it was clear at a glance that he loved beauty.
She lifted the hem of her robe slightly, reached out towards the sword shadow with a conflicted expression, and immediately withdrew her hand before even touching it, muttering "bless" repeatedly.
"Qiu Tong, hurry up and draw it, we're still waiting."
Someone urged her from behind. Qiu Tong cursed inwardly, but still gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and drew out a sword shadow.
The sword felt cold and sharp in my hand, exuding an imposing aura. A faint spiritual light first shone from the hilt, then climbed up three sections of the blade, each section more dazzling than the last, until it reached the tip of the sword. The light gradually faded, revealing the last name.
"Pei Yu".
Lin Feiran silently recited in his heart.
As expected, in this Immortal Tour Tour's Daoist debate competition, Qiu Tong's final opponent was still Pei Yu.
She had previously worried that the plot might deviate from its course because of her leaving the mountain, but now it seems that there is no major impact and that thing will still appear on time, so she is relieved.
Some felt at ease, while others were filled with apprehension.
Qiu Tong almost fainted when she saw the name on the sword shadow. She had managed to persuade Lin Feiran to leave in this life, and thought things would change. How did she still run into this evil god?
In Qiu Tong's heart, Pei Yu was far more despicable than Lin Feiran. If Lin Feiran was a villain who secretly plotted against her, then Pei Yu was a demon who openly opposed her.
Both being outstanding disciples of Daohe Palace, Wei Changzai was a loner who did not associate with others, while Pei Yu was surrounded by a retinue of people, but anyone could see that she was in love with Wei Changzai.
Initially, she was targeting Lin Feiran, who was engaged to Wei Changzai. Now that Lin Feiran is gone, she is the one who is suffering!
Someone covered their mouth and exclaimed in surprise, "It's actually Senior Sister Pei!"
Qiu Tong said dejectedly, "Yes, it's surprising that the person I fought with was actually her."
"No, I mean Senior Sister Pei came to draw the sword herself!" The disciple beside him said in surprise, and couldn't help but take half a step back.
A chill ran through Qiu Tong's heart. She turned around and saw four or five disciples huddled in the crowd, but they had spontaneously formed a semicircle to shield the person in the middle from view.
The woman had bright eyes and white teeth, her hair adorned with two hairpins, and her upturned eyes were full of arrogance. She had a habit of looking down on people, and her eyelids drooped slightly. Even though she was wearing a light purple dress, it could not hide her beauty, which was very eye-catching.
Her gaze swept casually across the room, but she didn't notice anything or take any of the disciples seriously.
Someone handed her a fanged ghost mask, speaking in a flattering voice: "I heard that you've been quite interested in these ghost masks lately, so I found one for you to appreciate."
Pei Yu then stopped and glanced at it, then scoffed and casually tossed the mask aside, causing the purple-gold bracelets on her wrist to jingle softly.
"I only want the best. This mask is poorly made. If you like it, you can use it yourself. Make way."
Despite the arrogant tone, the disciple showed no sign of offense, instead feigning regret: "Next time, I will definitely find the best for Senior Sister!"
Pei Yu ignored him and continued forward. Everyone instinctively stepped aside, and she walked unimpeded to the Golden Platform. With a flick of her right hand, she casually picked up a sword.
Before the sword's light could reveal its name, she spotted her own name among those present. It was faintly visible and hadn't yet faded away. Looking closer, she realized that the person wielding the sword was... Qiu Tong.
Pei Yu remembered her name and suddenly smiled. This smile was neither gentle nor pleasant; instead, it revealed a chilling coldness and provocation. The next instant, the sword in her hand froze into frost and shattered abruptly.
"Really, even cats and dogs dare to challenge me." She walked away slowly, not for Qiu Tong, but to the crowd, saying, "As a disciple of Daohe Palace, I, Pei, should fulfill my duties as host and entertain my guests. The matter of fighting and discussing Dao is not limited to these sword shadows. Even if my name, Pei Yu, is not drawn on the sword, you may challenge me at any time."
As for the rest, I'll wrap it up properly after I've had my fill.
She glanced at Qiu Tong lightly, then left and never returned.
Qiu Tong stood there, her hand holding the sword trembling. The disciple beside her kindly comforted her, "Don't be angry. Senior Sister Pei has always been like this. Among the younger generation, she only has eyes for Senior Brother Wei. If it were us, she probably wouldn't be happy either."
Qiu Tong remained silent, took a deep breath, and turned to leave.
"Let's go."
Lin Feiran remained silent for a moment, then fled with Xun Feifei, following the shadows of the trees.
*
Daohe Palace used to have three teams of disciples patrolling the mountain, but now that the Immortal Tour is underway, the number has increased to seven.
Besides guarding against outside thieves, the most important task of patrolling the mountain is to protect the precious places and prevent disciples from other sects who do not know proper etiquette from trespassing. However, while some people are chatting and discussing the Dao in the hall, they are forced to eat snow in the field outside, which inevitably makes them indignant.
"To sit and discuss the Dao with so many great masters is an opportunity that is priceless, yet we can only patrol the mountains. It is utterly absurd!"
"Forget it, even if the immortals give us face-to-face guidance, it might not be of any use to us with our limited understanding. We might as well do our job well to avoid being robbed again like last time."
"Isn't it Lin Feiran? Elder Xunfang has always been kind-hearted and soft-hearted. She must have let her go last time. If she still doesn't repent and comes to attack again, I will capture her with my sword!"
As the topic came up, the group began to reminisce and discuss it. In the midst of their excited conversation, a cold wind suddenly swept across the back of their necks.
The group immediately fell silent, their minds racing as they drew their swords and assumed a defensive posture. Not far away, a figure in black stood silently, wearing a veil and holding a disciple's sword.
The leading disciple raised his voice: "This is the Daohe Palace Sword Realm, an unopened forbidden area. No matter which sect or faction you belong to, and no matter why you are covering your face, please stop here!"
The man stood silently under the moon. As the wind blew, he suddenly vanished like snowmelt, melting away in the spot. Everyone was shocked and felt a chill run down their spines. Just as they were about to work together to investigate, they heard a gust of wind from behind them, as if a sword was rising.
With two sharp clangs, before anyone could react, the three trailing behind were knocked to the ground. When everyone turned around again, the dark figure had vanished without a trace, along with the disciples' swords in their hands.
Who is this person who surrenders before even starting a fight!
"Back off! Hold onto your disciple's sword! We absolutely cannot let this thief sneak into the Sword Realm!" The leader turned his head and looked around, but on the vast snowfield, not a single piece of clothing could be seen!
Could it be... a Venerable of the Divine Travel Realm?!
With a heart pounding like a drum, the leading disciple licked his dry lips and spoke again with much greater respect: "If you wish to enter the Sword Realm, why not wait three days? At that time, the Sword Gate will be wide open, and you can enter with dignity!"
"Of course I know."
The dark figure finally spoke.
Several more clanging sounds were heard, and the last disciple was attacked again. The already small group was now mostly wiped out, leaving them isolated and helpless. No one knew when this elusive person would attack them!
"I wonder which master has arrived. If you insist on forcibly entering the Sword Realm, why not wait until we leave before entering? We will not stop you!"
"What a spineless disciple."
The dark figure suddenly appeared before them, and the remaining people didn't even draw their swords. They quickly closed their eyes and retreated, afraid of seeing a true face they shouldn't have seen and getting themselves into trouble later.
"Don't you open your eyes and see who I am?"
Her voice rose slightly, revealing her true voice. Several people simultaneously thought of the same name, and their eyes widened as she lifted the curtain to reveal a very familiar face.
"Lin Feiran!"
Everyone was shocked, a stark contrast to their earlier nonchalant attitude when she was mentioned.
Lin Feiran stood in front of him, raising an eyebrow slightly: "According to you, I've returned to the mountain several times already, so I'm considered a regular customer. Why are you so surprised to see me now? Could it be that you've never actually seen me before?"
The group was speechless. They had only heard about it and had never seen Lin Feiran return to the mountain, but Elder Xunfang had seen him with her own eyes!
Thinking of this, the group felt justified and shouted, "Lin Feiran, we could forgive you for stealing the Golden Fire Pill last time, but what are you trying to do near the Sword Realm this time?!"
Lin Feiran did not answer, but only said: "Hit me, and I'll tell you!"
She no longer used the power of shadow to move around, but instead drew her sword and engaged in a fierce battle with several disciples. For a moment, the snow was shrouded in mist, and sparks flew where the blades clashed, like a flash of light in the snowy night.
Lin Feiran has always been adept at fighting against multiple opponents, and having spent a long time battling in Jingchuan, he is now even more at ease.
She stopped in her tracks, barely moving half a step forward or backward. Her disciples parried and slashed with their swords, trapping them all within the sword's edge. Occasionally, she would throw a few punches, like a big cat teasing a mouse, making them spin around in circles.
"what you do!"
The leading disciple was shocked, but Lin Feiran snatched the communication jade talisman from his waist and crushed it casually. She actually took the initiative to call for help for him!
After the jade talisman shattered, Lin Feiran unleashed a sword strike, the fierce sword wind knocking everyone to the ground, blood gushing from their throats.
She looked at the crowd, and the remaining sword wind lifted the curtain, revealing her calm face. She seemed to be thinking about something with her eyes lowered.
A moment later, several sword shadows appeared not far away, indicating that reinforcements were on their way. However, she calmly raised her head, crossed her arms, and stood there as if imitating someone. Her expression was quite cold and disdainful as she spoke in a chilling voice.
"When a sage controls floods, he doesn't enter even three times. But I, Lin Feiran, who moves mountains, will go in and out three times! Whatever treasures Daohe Palace has, I'll take them with me. Just wait and see!"
The sword shadows approached menacingly from behind, but Lin Feiran raised her right hand and vanished in an instant, as if she had never existed. The disciple's sword, which had been thrusting at her, missed its target, the blade sinking deep into the snow, vibrating and humming.
When the two groups arrived, before they could even ask any questions, they saw several men with bruised and swollen faces, their anger reaching its peak, almost steaming with rage. Since all their longswords had been confiscated, they could only point ahead empty-handed and shout angrily: "Lin Feiran, Lin Feiran is back in the mountains! She said she was going to empty my Daohe Palace, you scoundrel!"
"It really is her!"
"How many times has this happened? Once it was a theft, twice it was a robbery, three times... It seems like we're the only ones who are useless?"
The group immediately returned to report the matter to Taihui.
As the moon rose, a spiritual rain fell, pattering down on the fallen leaves. It was not wet, but it was damp. The leaves in the forest were shaken and tilted. Lin Feiran and Xun Feifei passed through them with great speed, their clothes and leaves not getting wet.
Xun Feifei couldn't help but say, "You're not good at making threats. What you said just now was just enough to provoke them... Besides, your expression just now looked very familiar. It's like I see it in the mirror every day."
Lin Feiran was speechless: "I just wanted to make an expression that could easily anger people, but I don't usually have that kind of expression, so I just imitated it. Sorry."
“…Alright, alright.” Xun Feifei accepted. “You said you were going to come here and blow up Liuzhu Pavilion, but just now you went to investigate some Sword Realm and deliberately angered them. What exactly are you trying to do?”
Lin Feiran replied, "What do you want to do? I want to do anything, is that not allowed?"
Xun Feifei looked at her strangely: "...Who said you can't say something sarcastic? Aren't you afraid of attracting the attention of important people by getting so angry?"
"No, at least until tomorrow night, I will only offend Taihui."
She knew Taihui too well. He was in charge of this Immortal Tour Gathering, but she managed to sneak in. His first reaction would definitely be to cover everything up, arrest her privately, and never dare to let the other sects laugh at him, never dare to give others any leverage, and never dare to let Zhang Chunhe know even a little bit.
In his eyes, Lin Feiran, who was merely at the Forgetfulness Realm, was no big shot, but the empty title belonging to Taihui was extremely important.
Halfway there, the two suddenly stopped, looked at each other, and simultaneously darted to the left, then quietly stood among the trees.
A light rain was falling, the banyan leaves swayed gently, and under the moonlight and tree shadows, a person was knocking on the palace door, anxiously calling out to the person inside, but there was no response for a long time. Her eyes shimmered slightly, and she kept releasing paper cranes, but they were all blocked by the tightly closed barrier and could not enter.
Above the palace gate hangs the three characters "Ninghe Residence".
"Wei Changzai, why are you in seclusion at this time..."
The day after tomorrow, she will face Pei Yu.
Qiu Tong recalled the fear of her previous life and felt helpless. She slowly sat down on the steps, hugging her knees. The flowers on her skirt were covered in mud and snow, making her look dirty. Paper cranes were scattered around her.
Even in this second life, nothing goes right. In this second life, nothing changes. In this second life, she still can't beat Pei Yu.
Reborn, it seems like nothing has changed, yet it also seems like nothing is right.
"Do you know her?" Xun Feifei asked in a low voice.
Lin Feiran responded softly, then suddenly reached out and grabbed a banyan leaf, brushing away the spiritual rain and silently shattering the ever-burning lamp under the eaves of Ninghe Residence, leaving only the clear moonlight and specks of spiritual rain on the ground.
Qiu Tong suddenly looked up, her mind racing. She wiped away her tears, slowly gathered the paper cranes, and headed towards the disciples' quarters.
Lin Feiran leaped onto a branch, caught Lingyu in his hand, looked at the snow and moonlight on the ground, and said softly, "It's going to rain tonight. Whether we can sleep peacefully or not, it's better to go back inside. We should go back now."
It will rain tonight; tonight, several people are destined to be sleepless.
Author's Note: Sorry for the late update today. I'll update again tomorrow evening, so please don't wait up for me in the morning TT
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