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Chapter 201: Melancholic Song
Chapter 201: Melancholic Song
Under the moonlight, the young girl sat on the windowsill of the wooden house with her feet dangling, one hand resting on the window frame and the other on her lap. The night breeze gently fluttered the edge of her garment. Occasionally, her feet would move slightly, playing with the wind, or perhaps just indulging in childish amusement.
A sudden, faint smile appeared on her lips, soft and warm, reminiscent of a ten-year-old girl’s natural expression.
The night was deep, and the moonlight was cold. For some reason, she still showed no intention of leaving.
She became unexpectedly quiet, neither asking Lu Chen about Ah Tu nor directing any harsh words at him. At that moment, Lu Chen had a peculiar feeling, as if Bai Lian were simply sitting there, playing for the sake of enjoyment.
Of course, Lu Chen could never truly see this girl as an ordinary ten-year-old. Given her previous display of ruthless and malicious methods, he felt that had his skills been slightly less refined, he might not have been able to see the moon tonight.
However, continuing to hold this stalemate didn’t seem like a solution. Bai Lian appeared to be completely unconcerned, but this was Lu Chen’s wooden house, and he intended to sleep tonight. With such a dangerously unpredictable girl sitting on the windowsill, no matter how brave Lu Chen was, he felt he couldn’t dare to close his eyes.
Therefore, Lu Chen thought it best to have a word with Bai Lian, considering it would be ideal if they could part ways and each return to their own place to rest. Just as he was about to speak, Bai Lian suddenly let out a low hum, and began softly singing a tune:
Crescent moon,
Reflects the silk of joy.
Red garments,
For whom do you dress?
Yī yā...
Time flows like water,
White hair, hurriedly.
Morning sees red makeup,
Evening is separated by a thousand mountains.
Yī yā...
The song was short and simple, with delicate lyrics. Sung by her, it carried a tinge of melancholy and solitude, as if a lonely woman was lost in deep thoughts, not quite reflecting the sentiment one would expect from her age.
Even though Lu Chen had long stopped seeing Bai Lian as a mere young girl, hearing this song still struck him with a sudden and inexplicable feeling.
The moonlight bathed Bai Lian’s beautiful face, giving her an ethereal and celestial aura. Her voice, like a melody from the heavens, was light and transparent, almost perfect, drawing one into the song and evoking the image of the wistful woman in the lyrics.
As the night deepened and the cold wind howled, her singing gradually faded and then ceased.
Lu Chen spoke suddenly, “Where did you learn this song?”
Bai Lian turned to look at him and asked, “Why do you want to know?”
After a pause, she then asked, “Did you think it was good? Did you like it?”
At least, he could drop Ah Tu off in the forest outside the city.
No one knew of Lu Chen’s various calculations and plans. The Kunlun Sect was busy with its preparations, with Master Xian Yue overseeing everything. However, the various tasks and details were managed by Master Xian Yue’s junior, Zhuo Xian.
As a Golden Core cultivator, Bai Chen’s second disciple, and Master Xian Yue’s junior, Zhuo Xian had a prestigious reputation within Kunlun Sect. Most Nascent Soul cultivators held him in high regard.
Zhuo Xian was also a highly capable individual, adept at handling both major and minor matters with nearly flawless execution, earning the trust of Master Bai Chen and Master Xian Yue.
One day, on the snowy Winter Peak, Zhuo Xian, leaving his cave dwelling, noticed Bai Lian standing not far from the entrance to her cave, gazing into the distance in a daze.
Snowflakes drifted through the air, creating a breathtaking scene on Winter Peak. Bai Lian, dressed in a white mink coat, looked like an exquisite statue, beautiful beyond words.
However, given Zhuo Xian’s extensive experience, he was not overly surprised. He merely smiled and said, “Junior Sister, you’re up early.”
Bai Lian turned to him, her expression as cold as the snowflakes around them. Politely but with a touch of detachment, she greeted him, “Second Brother, good morning!”
Zhuo Xian nodded, “I’m going down the mountain today and might not return until evening. Be careful up here by yourself.”
Bai Lian responded, “I understand. Don’t worry, Second Brother.”
Zhuo Xian smiled and was about to leave when Bai Lian suddenly spoke again, “Second Brother, I have a question I’d like to ask.”
Zhuo Xian stopped and said, “Junior Sister, feel free to ask.”
Bai Lian inquired, “I’ve heard that recently there’s been quite an uproar down in the sect about a Devil Cult infiltrator who killed an innocent disciple?”
Zhuo Xian paused for a moment before nodding, “Indeed, it’s true. The deceased disciple was named He Changsheng. His ancestors were once Kunlun disciples, but their family fell into decline. He had seemed to want to make a comeback, but unfortunately, this tragedy occurred.”
Bai Lian frowned, “I think I’ve heard of the He family before, but I don’t recall much. How come we haven’t captured the Devil Cult members who committed these crimes?”
Zhuo Xian replied, “We’ve sent people to investigate, but those Devil Cult demons are cunning. We haven’t been able to find out much and, in fact, have faced additional issues.”
“He Yi?” Bai Lian asked, looking at him.
Zhuo Xian was slightly surprised but then recalled Bai Lian’s background and understood, “Yes, it’s him.”
“I’ve heard he’s not doing too well lately?” Bai Lian asked.
Zhuo Xian looked at Bai Lian with curiosity, as she rarely spoke so much. Nonetheless, he answered patiently, “Yes, he had some conflicts with the Su family in Kunwu City during his investigation and was recently taken back by his master for seclusion. However, in a way, he seems to have turned his misfortune into a blessing.”
Bai Lian was intrigued, “How so?”
Zhuo Xian explained, “It’s said that recently he conquered his inner demons with great effort, transforming his grief into immense power and breaking through to the Golden Core stage. Now he is at the same level as me.”
He smiled at Bai Lian and continued, “For someone his age, his future is truly boundless!”