Chapter 40 I don't want to be more tempting to be picked than the full bloom of spring...
White, jade-like fingertips gently touched red lips; the snow-white and bright red complemented each other, like red plum blossoms on a snowy field, dazzling to the eye.
Bai Ye's eyes darkened slightly, his gaze lingering on those moist, red lips for a long time.
The beauty's eyes were slightly red at the corners, and her spring-water-like eyes rippled with a hint of allure. She seemed to sense the man's interest in her, and she gently bit her lower lip, leaving a faint tooth mark.
This hesitant, unspoken expression is more captivating than the full bloom of spring.
Bai closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were clear.
"I don't want to!"
“This isn’t loving her, this is blasphemy against her, and you’re blaspheming her too.” She shoved the woman in front of her away.
Zhong Jiuli was pushed and staggered backward, falling heavily to the ground. Her light gauze dress slipped down in the fall. This alluring sight of her half-undressed body fueled Bai Ye's anger even more.
"You are humiliating me, but you are also humiliating her."
Without further hesitation, he swung his heavy sword down at the woman before him.
Zhong Jiuli smiled, neither dodging nor avoiding, and simply vanished into specks of spiritual light under the sword's edge.
Bai was also breathing heavily, his emotions fluctuating wildly. He felt that the trials of the Tower of Babel were really too much, and no matter what, Zhong Jiuli should not have been turned into this state.
If this is a desire hidden deep in her heart, then am I being a little too despicable?
No, that's not right! Bai shook his head. This was intentional on the part of the Tower of Babel; it was a trap set for the Dao Heart.
Undoubtedly, she really liked Zhong Jiuli.
It's human nature to have desires for someone you like. She wants to do things lovers do with Zhong Jiuli, provided they are mutually attracted. It's not, not, such base fantasies.
"Yes, that's it. I would never be that lewd," Bai murmured softly. With this realization, she had passed the test of desire.
Bai sheathed his sword, turned around without hesitation, and entered the next level.
With one step, the world changed dramatically.
She felt as if she had stepped into outer space, surrounded by nothingness. All she could see was chaos, with endless fog above, below, left, and right.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" Bai shouted, his clear voice echoing outwards, but it was like a stone sinking into the sea, its echo disappearing into the endless void.
"What kind of test is this? Is it strange?"
There was no response, no illusion, no monsters, and no door leading to the next level.
Bai frowned. Could it be that this was the end of the road?
That would be rather pathetic. There's no reason why she couldn't pass the trial that Li Shoumo could pass at the age of twelve.
Bai stood there for a long time, the void still deathly silent. Even the flow of time seemed to stand still.
She gradually became anxious. The more anxious she became, the darker the surroundings became, from barely being able to see anything at the beginning to complete darkness where she couldn't see her own hand in front of her face.
Humans crave light; where there is no light, fear will breed.
"Thump, thump, thump!" My heart was pounding violently in my chest, deafeningly loud in the deathly darkness.
She was enveloped in absolute stillness and darkness, as if she were the only living person in the world, while countless terrifying creatures lurked in the darkness.
"Calm down. Even if there are ghosts in this world, you can easily take them down. Don't be afraid, Bai Ye." Bai Ye encouraged himself in his heart.
Sudden......
A pale hand reached out from the darkness! The pale fingers parted the void, and beneath the wet black hair, Sadako's iconic white dress and black hair appeared before Hakuya's eyes.
"Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!!" A piercing scream shattered the silence.
Bai also took off running, his boots splashing ripples like water as he stepped into the void.
Behind me came a series of rustling sounds, and the nightmares of my childhood came one after another.
A cockroach the size of a palm flapped its wings and pounced, like a facehugger, towards her face.
The eerie rag doll, its mouth gaping open with blood-stitched seams, stumbled and chased after her shadow. A pair of unowned embroidered shoes made clear footsteps in the darkness.
And the eerie sounds that seemed both near and far, like crying and laughing, all told Bai Ye that she was surrounded by a bunch of terrifying ghosts.
"I'll fucking swear, you bastard! You just do whatever I want, right? I'm angry!" Bai Ye rolled to the side to dodge the cockroach's cheek kiss, and his sword swept across, shattering the rag doll.
Countless worms crawled out of the doll's broken body, writhing their plump white bodies in the void.
"You're pulling this trick again! When I get out, I'll pry all your jade bricks off and throw them into the latrine to soak."
Bai, somewhat frantically, swung his sword, the sword energy shredding the defenseless insects into dust. He then swung his sword vertically again, and Sadako's twisted figure vanished into black mist amidst the sword light.
She took a deep breath, forced herself to turn around, and faced the approaching pair of embroidered shoes.
"I won't be scared by such a little trick! Come on, you slut!" Bai said, mustering his courage.
Her gaze involuntarily fell on the dark red embroidered shoes. The stains on the shoes looked like dried blood, and a small "囍" character embroidered in red thread could be vaguely seen on the inside of the shoe.
Bai Ye's throat tightened, and his feet involuntarily took a step back. These were ordinary shoes, and there wasn't even anything evil or sinister about them.
Yet, this very pair of shoes became a childhood nightmare for countless children. As a child, Bai didn't understand, but now that she's grown up, how could she not?
These are not shoes; they are a soul that withered before it could bloom.
"I know what this trial is!" Bai said with a low laugh. "Broken Tower, I know what this trial is, I'm not afraid anymore."
Bai also drew his sword and slashed down, and the pair of dark red embroidered shoes vanished into nothingness.
The surrounding darkness receded like a tide, restoring the white jade chamber. Bai looked at the newly appeared portal and stepped onto the next floor.
As Bai Ye had guessed, the next few levels were indeed tests of one's mental state.
Bai also broke through several floors in one go, finally reaching the last floor.
This time, a stone platform appeared in the air, and the tower spirit sat cross-legged on it.
She looked at Bai Ye and chuckled softly, "I have never seen a cultivator like you before."
Bai knew what she was talking about, but she didn't know she had so many fears when she was a child.
Finally, even scenarios of aliens attacking Earth appeared. Such things might indeed be a bit strange to cultivators in the cultivation world.
She bowed shyly and said, "Greetings, senior."
The tower spirit raised its hand, and a gentle spiritual force lifted Bai Ye up.
A clear, ethereal voice echoed in the void: "Young man, today your sword is not slaying demons and monsters, but rather the inner demons of the past. Only by breaking through illusions here can you see your true self."
"Remember this moment of clarity as you break through illusions. On your future path of cultivation, even if you face a thousand tribulations and ten thousand hardships, they will merely be a recurrence of today's scene. Now that you have broken through, you will have no fear of the trials and tribulations ahead!"
Bai bowed deeply and solemnly said, "This junior will remember your guidance, senior."
Having conquered the Tower of Babel, it was as if she had retraced her cultivation path, undergoing a complete transformation from body to mind. No wonder those cultivators traveled thousands of miles to venture into the capital of the Great Li Dynasty.
"I have something here that I hope you will pass on to an old friend." The tower spirit fluttered his sleeves, and a streak of light flew over.
Bai also raised his hand to catch it, and saw that it was a plain white brocade handkerchief.
The name was embroidered on the handkerchief with gold thread, the stitches fine and dense, showing great care. She stared at the unfamiliar handwriting for a long time... she couldn't recognize it.
What a... hopeless illiterate person.
“I have nothing of value. You can give this handkerchief to that person, and she will reward you.” After saying this, the tower spirit’s figure turned into a stream of light and disappeared.
"Senior, wait a minute! You haven't said who you're giving it to yet! I can't read!" Bai shouted, but no one responded.
A blinding white light erupted from beneath her feet, and when she landed, she was already outside the Tower of Babel.
At this moment, a large crowd had gathered outside the Tower of Babel. Bai's appearance immediately attracted the attention of many people, and a commotion arose around him.
"Look, someone's coming out. Did she lure out the tower spirit?" someone asked, pointing at Bai Ye.
"I don't think so. Judging from her blank expression, she's probably still in shock from being killed by a monster," another person countered.
“That makes sense!” The man was convinced by his companion.
The onlookers quickly turned their attention away from the young monk.
Bai looked around but couldn't see Zhong Jiuli and the others. She wondered where they had gone. She also didn't see Jiaojiao. She inwardly cried out in alarm, "Oh no! I can't have lost my friends so soon after leaving the newbie village!"
She turned around, intending to go back into the Tower of Babel to look for the person.
"Little one, where are you looking? We're right here."
Bai also looked up at the sound and saw the familiar spirit boat. Zhong Jiuli was leaning on the railing looking down, and their eyes met.
She leaped onto the spirit boat, and as soon as she stood still, she asked impatiently, "Have you seen Jiaojiao?"
"Hey, I'm here~" Long Jiao popped out from Zhong Jiuli's hair, waving her little paws at her.
Bai breathed a sigh of relief, as long as he hadn't lost his friend.
"Did you go into the Tower of Babel too?"
"Mmm!" Long Jiao nodded her little head and said, "I was kicked out by the fire giant. I hate that guy who set fire to things."
"That's still great. It just so happens that fire is a counter to you, otherwise you would definitely have made it to the end," Bai comforted her.
Long Jiao shook her head and said, "Ye Zai is still the best. You almost broke that predecessor's record, but it's a pity that you took more than three hours."
"Young Master Bai is indeed very strong," Li Shoumo added in praise.
Bai also glanced at Zhong Jiuli out of the corner of her eye, and met her smiling eyes, which were full of approval. She couldn't help but feel happier and said shyly, "Actually, it's okay. I don't care much about this record."
"Don't underestimate yourself!" Li Shoumo said solemnly. "The top ten people on the Tower of Babel record tablet are all peerless geniuses who dominated an era. Young Master Bai was able to pass the test in just over three hours. This strength deserves the title of 'extraordinary talent'."
Bai was a little embarrassed by the praise, so he coughed lightly and changed the subject, "Why did you all end up on this spirit boat?"
“Look, those cultivators down there are all looking for the person who lured out the tower spirit. Li Shoumo is no ordinary person, and we’re too conspicuous standing down there.” Liu Xianyue pointed down, indicating that she should look at the group of cultivators huddled together.
"How did those people know that the Tower Spirit had appeared?" Bai asked, puzzled.
Upon hearing this, everyone looked on with understanding; it seemed that this guy really was the one who lured the tower spirit out.
Liu Xianyue couldn't contain herself any longer and stepped forward to ask, "Did the Tower Spirit teach you any unparalleled martial arts techniques?"
"No, she said she didn't have anything to give me, and asked me to help deliver something to an old friend, but she didn't tell me who that old friend was before she disappeared." Bai Ye said, handing the handkerchief given to him by the tower spirit to Liu Xianyue.
Liu Xianyue took the brocade handkerchief and examined it closely, her fingertips tracing the embroidery on it. "The stitches are indeed fine and dense."
After turning it over and over without figuring out what it was, she handed it to Li Shoumo, saying, "This is the spirit of your Great Li Tower. Take a look."
After taking the handkerchief and seeing the embroidery clearly, Li Shoumo remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Perhaps... I know who it is."
She handed the handkerchief back to Bai Ye, saying, "Young Master Bai, please keep this safe. We'll find out whether it is true or not by going to take a look."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's hurry up. The little tiger is leaving the capital tomorrow, so don't miss this opportunity." After saying that, Liu Xianyue handed over control of the spirit boat to Li Shoumo.
Li Shoumo sailed on the spirit boat, which passed through the busy canal and finally stopped in front of a quiet courtyard in the western district. The blue bricks on the courtyard wall were already mottled and covered with withered yellow vines, giving people a sense of ancient desolation.
The four disembarked from the spirit boat and looked around the somewhat dilapidated courtyard. Li Shoumo stepped forward respectfully and knocked on the wooden door.
After waiting for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the wooden door slowly opened with a creak.
An elderly woman with a full head of white hair stood inside the door. Although her hair was completely white, her posture was as upright as a pine tree, and her face was as smooth as jade, without a single wrinkle. Only her eyes seemed to have witnessed the passage of countless ages.
"Grandma Jiang, it's me!" Li Shoumo approached with a grin, completely different from her usual stern demeanor.
Grandma Jiang's gaze slowly swept over everyone, finally settling on Bai Ye.
"Come in," she said, then turned and walked into the courtyard.
"Let's go in." Li Shoumo turned around and called out, then stepped into the courtyard first.
The group walked along the path through the courtyard and finally sat down at a stone table.
Grandma Jiang came out with a tea tray and poured a cup of hot tea for everyone.
The aroma of tea rises gently in the air, its rich fragrance invigorating the senses. Even before tasting it, just smelling the aroma is enough to invigorate one's spirit.
"Drink up, this is tea brewed by Granny Jiang herself." Li Shoumo eagerly picked up the teacup and brought it to his lips, urging the others to drink quickly.
Bai also wanted to drink, but the old woman opposite her had been staring at her ever since she entered the room, making her feel a little uncomfortable.
"Mother-in-law...why are you staring at me like that?" Bai couldn't help but ask.
"You've seen her, haven't you?" Grandma Jiang's hoarse voice carried an unspoken expectation; though it was a question, it was filled with unwavering certainty.
Zhong Jiuli patted Bai Ye lightly with her hand hanging under the table, signaling her to take out the handkerchief.
Bai hurriedly reached into his robes to pull out a handkerchief, only to find that it was the one Zhong Jiuli had given him earlier.
Her face flushed slightly, and she didn't dare to look up at Zhong Jiuli. She hurriedly stuffed the handkerchief back in and took out another one.
"Do you recognize this?" Bai Ye held the handkerchief in both hands and handed it to Granny Jiang.
Grandma Jiang took the handkerchief and stroked it carefully. "I recognize it."
Her voice was soft and calm.
But everyone could see the unspeakable sadness on her beautiful, youthful face.
Although she still had the same expressionless face as before, even the neatly combed silver hair at her temples seemed to speak of sorrow.
The courtyard was silent for a moment, except for the rustling sound of the fallen leaves in the breeze.
"Did she... say anything?" Granny Jiang asked calmly.
Looking at the broken light in the old man's eyes, Bai suddenly understood the relationship between the two.
She opened her mouth, unsure whether she should tell the truth.
"Just tell the truth," Granny Jiang said, seeing right through her thoughts.
After a moment of contemplation, Bai said, "She said that although the years in the tower were long, she never felt lonely because there was always moonlight from the human world falling into the tower every night."
"Continue," Granny Jiang said calmly.
Bai also secretly groaned in his heart, wondering why she still had to say, "She also said, 'If love between two people lasts forever, why should they be together day and night?'"
"Okay, continue."
"In life and death, in separation and reunion, we made a vow."
"Hmm, is there anything else?"
Bai realized that the old woman was just teasing her.
"Hahaha, you silly tiger, Granny Jiang told you to tell the truth, but you insisted on lying." Liu Xianyue laughed heartily.
“Young man, I know you mean well, but there’s no need for that. Just tell the truth,” Granny Jiang said.
"I'm sorry!" Bai apologized obediently first, and then relayed the tower spirit's words.
After hearing this, Granny Jiang looked dazed for a moment, then shook her head with a bitter smile, "That's what that person could say. Even at the very end, he still had to scheme against me."
“In that case, I will grant her wish.” Granny Jiang stood up and walked into the house.
Bai watched her retreating figure and asked, "Where is she going?"
Li Shoumo lowered his voice and said, "Just wait. I'm in for a treat today since I came with you."
Before long, a unique fragrance wafted through the courtyard. At first, it was not obvious, but gradually it transformed into a blend of various aromas, the fragrance solidified, and formed auspicious clouds in the sky above the courtyard. The rosy clouds soared into the sky, and colorful phoenixes danced among the clouds, emitting clear chirps.
"I never imagined that such a master of food cultivation as Granny Jiang would be hidden in this world," Zhong Jiuli sighed softly.
"Grandma Jiang hasn't personally taken action for many years. Today, we really have Young Master Bai's blessing," Li Shoumo said with a smile.
She had only tasted Granny Jiang's homemade spirit soup once when she was a child. The taste was... indescribable. Once she tasted it, she never forgot it.
Bai listened intently to their conversation, but his eyes remained fixed on the kitchen door.
When she saw Granny Jiang appear carrying a tray, she rushed forward like an arrow.
"Grandma, you've worked so hard. Let me help you carry this." She carefully took the heavy tray, and the delicacies on it shone with a precious light, as if a chaotic mist was swirling around them.
The aroma was irresistible, and Bai couldn't help but swallow, his eyes glued to the food.
Grandma Jiang looked at her greedy expression and a smile flashed in her eyes. "Go sit down at the table and eat."
"Okay~" Bai replied readily, walking carefully, afraid that he might accidentally disturb the chaotic energy flowing in the plate.
As the two approached the stone table, the strange phenomena in the courtyard reached their peak. A shower of rosy light descended like silk, accompanied by a clear, melodious phoenix cry. The colorful phoenix in the clouds transformed into a streak of light and swooped down, disappearing into the dishes on the plate, where it began to swim in the glistening broth.
"Wow, what is this?" Bai exclaimed.
Grandma Jiang flicked her forehead with her finger and scolded with a laugh, "Little one, can't you shut your mouth even when you have food? Or do you want to steal this old woman's means of making a living?"
"No, no, not at all." Bai hurriedly waved his hand, and helped the old woman to her seat, saying, "Grandma, please sit down."
"Tsk tsk~" Liu Xianyue rested her elbow on her cheek and propped her chin on her palm. "I've never seen Young Master Bai so attentive and considerate before. Sure enough... some little white tigers will follow whoever feeds them."
Bai retorted, "Liu Xianyue, you're really bored. Don't you understand respecting the elderly and caring for the young? You're so sour, don't eat anything Granny Jiang makes later."
"Me? Disrespecting elders?" Liu Xianyue's beautiful eyes widened, and her slender finger almost poked the tip of her own nose.
She wanted to retort that she might not be younger than Granny Jiang, but then she realized that wasn't right. This dilemma left her speechless for a moment, so she could only sullenly pick up a meatball and stuff it into her mouth, chewing it fiercely as if to vent her anger.
To her surprise, her almond-shaped eyes widened instantly with that one chew. The moment the meatball burst in her mouth, the rich aroma of meat mixed with spiritual energy rushed straight to her spiritual center, causing her to involuntarily exhale wisps of rosy light from her mouth and nose.
It's worth noting Liu Xianyue's cultivation level; the fact that this meatball had such an effect in her mouth shows just how rich the spiritual energy it contained was.
What sits on this table is less a meal and more a table of precious medicines.
Seeing this, Bai Ye could no longer restrain herself. She grabbed the bamboo chopsticks, first pulling out a pair and handing them to Zhong Jiuli, then distributing them to the others.
"Hey, you heartless little brat, where's your sister's?" Liu Xianyue shook her empty hands.
"I thought Boss Liu liked to eat with his bare hands."
"You!" Liu Xianyue was about to lash out when Zhong Jiuli interrupted her.
"Bai Ye, give Liu Xianyue a pair of bamboo chopsticks." Zhong Jiuli shook her head helplessly. She didn't know why, but these two were like cats with their fur standing on end, always determined to fight to the death when they got together.
Bai knew she had to listen to her wife. She handed a pair of chopsticks to Liu Xianyue before sitting down and eagerly popping a meatball into her mouth.
She had only chewed a couple of times when she froze on the spot as if struck by lightning. Her eyes widened, she made "mmm" sounds, and her head began to shake uncontrollably from side to side.
If it were any other time, Liu Xianyue would have laughed at her for behaving like this.
But at this moment, the behavior of the others present was similar to hers, except for Zhong Jiuli, who was relatively calm.
If it weren't for maintaining proper etiquette, the others would probably have started eating it.
Long Jiao was even worse; she buried the entire turtle in the small bowl. If Zhong Jiuli hadn't spotted her and pulled her back, she would have fallen headfirst into the bowl.
"Eat slowly and savor the food. Granny Jiang's cooking is more than just delicious." Zhong Jiuli ladled out a bowl of meat soup and handed it to Bai Ye.
Bai also took it and tilted her head back to gulp it down. The moment the soup entered her throat, she jumped up with a "whoosh".
"Wow, I feel like I'm on fire!" She waved her hands incoherently, her spiritual energy surging like a volcanic eruption.
"I told you to eat slowly." Before Zhong Jiuli finished speaking, Long Jiao suddenly jumped up with a "whoosh," the entire tortoise suspended in mid-air, its body bursting with golden light.
Her tortoise shell, already as brilliant as gold, now shone brightly, runes flowing around it, and the dazzling golden light was like a blazing sun in the sky, illuminating the entire courtyard as if it were daytime.
"Another bowl!" Bai didn't care about Long Jiao's strange behavior at all. He pushed the bowl directly in front of Zhong Jiuli. As soon as she opened her mouth, a seven-colored ray of light burst out of her mouth uncontrollably, which startled her so much that she quickly covered her mouth, afraid of wasting any spiritual energy.
Zhong Jiuli shook her head and chuckled, but still took the bowl and ladled out another spoonful of meat soup for her. Bai Ye didn't say a word, tilted her head back and gulped it down, finishing the entire bowl of meat soup in the blink of an eye.
The next instant, her body shone brightly with spiritual light, and the spiritual energy, so dense as to be almost tangible, condensed outside her body, eventually transforming into a dazzling cocoon of light that enveloped her entirely.
Grandma Jiang watched this scene with a smile. "This little fellow is quite picky. There are delicacies all over the table, but he only focuses on drinking this meat soup. The ingredients in this soup took me hundreds of years to gather."
Li Shoumo and Jiaojiao were equally impressive. They were both enveloped in spiritual light and transformed into cocoons of light, immersing themselves in profound insights into the Great Dao.
In the blink of an eye, only Granny Jiang, Liu Xianyue, and Zhong Jiuli remained by the stone table.
"It's just as good that the three of them aren't making a fuss anymore. Now I can finally enjoy my food in peace." Liu Xianyue smiled, and with a flick of her wrist, a pot of spirit wine appeared in her palm.
Zhong Jiuli praised, "Delicious food is good, but without fine wine to accompany it, it will lack some flavor."
"Sect Master Zhong is right, this humble woman will pour you some wine." Liu Xianyue chuckled and rose to fill their cups. The clear wine shimmered under the moonlight, its aroma refreshing and intoxicating; just one sip was enough to make one feel slightly tipsy.
Grandma Jiang picked up her wine glass, took a light sniff, and a look of intoxication appeared on her aged face.
She slowly raised her cup to the two men, saying, "I am honored to toast Sect Leader Zhong and Pavilion Master Liu today."
The two men smiled and raised their glasses, the three cups clinking gently together. The wine flowed down their throats, rich and lingering, as if a myriad of profound meanings were swirling on their tongues.
The moonlight, like water, spilled into the courtyard. The three of them, with the remaining dishes on the stone table, clinked glasses, chatted and laughed.
As the wine flowed freely, Granny Jiang raised her cup, gazing into the distance at the majestic Tower of Babel, and sighed, "Ah, the human world..."
"Countless tribulations can be overcome with one's cultivation, but the test of love is the most tormenting..."
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