Volume 1, Chapter 33 – Sunset Dreamscape

Answering Bai Xiang’s call, Zhang Daoming rushed to the scene with a team.

On the way, Bai Leying, Bai Maoxu, and Xu Shu—who’d also gotten the news—came to meet up, and at Bai Zhuqing’s request specially bought a new pair of socks, new shoes, and a big bottle of mineral water.

After taking the items, Bai Xiang went alone to a secluded corner to wash her hands, feet, and face; she rinsed the blood from her white hair, then carefully wiped down the cloud-patterned wooden sword until every last trace of gore was gone.

She hesitated when taking off her stockings. She’d stomped hard enough to break her sandal, yet the thin, supple stockings were practically undamaged—just stained with demon-blood.

DreamLun brand—was the quality really this good?

Changing into clean shoes and socks, wrapping the dirty pair to carry in hand, Bai Xiang came out—just as Zhang Daoming, in a gray long coat, was walking over.

For fear of demonic contamination, there were no onlookers nearby. Zhang Daoming had the area sealed, tallied the dead and injured and the dozen-odd human-skins, then gave Bai Xiang a nod. “Looks like the Demon-Immortal Dao has you marked.”

“The Demon-Immortal Dao?” Bai Leying blurted. “Didn’t they just commit a crime? They still dare show up?”

Speaking out of turn to an official was terribly rude—more so when Bai Leying was a mere commoner. Bai Maoxu tugged her at once to hush her.

“No matter.” Thankfully, Zhang Daoming took her for a child and didn’t mind. He went on to Bai Xiang, “Their main purpose here was likely to watch the Benling people visiting No. 1 High today. They probably spotted you midway and impulsively tried to take revenge.”

“Revenge?” Bai Xiang paused; the only Demon-Immortal Daoist she’d crossed paths with before was that “Yang Xing.”

These demonfolk and demon-daoists—never mind that they’re selfish one by one—avenging a companion was still rare.

So “Yang Xing” wasn’t ordinary?

Also—why would people from Benling Sword Dao go to No. 1 High?

Bai Xiang frowned. Lately Chilong felt like a “convergence of storms and heroes,” every power flocking here.

“According to our investigation, Yang Xing is the sworn younger brother of the Demon-Immortal Dao’s Left Protector, ‘Lü Ran.’” Zhang Daoming shared.

“That ‘Lü Ran’ was already a Stain-the-Body great demon more than ten years ago, once wreaked havoc across many Zezhou dojos, and styled herself ‘Purple-Needle Daoist.’ Since acknowledging Yang Xing, she’s doted on him in every way. You may face her pursuit next.”

Rеаԁ oո ΚаtRеαԁіngСαfе

Here, Zhang Daoming deliberately paused.

But Bai Xiang only looked at him, saying nothing.

Ordinary people would already be leaning on connections to beg his help. Zhang Daoming marveled at how steady she was, then added aloud, “But you needn’t worry!”

“The Demon-Immortal Dao enraged too many this time. Yuming Sword Dao and Hantian Sword Dao have both sent more people to Qizhou. Add that Governor Fang is about to arrive in Chilong, and soon they’ll be too busy to mind you.”

“I’ll also send patrols to keep watch around Nanping Road.”

That was exactly where Shenming Dojo sat. Bai Xiang nodded and, with the others, saluted Zhang Daoming.

So sensible—Zhang Daoming couldn’t help finding her more and more pleasing to the eye, feeling she was unlike ordinary girls.

And indeed!

Last time she broke a Demon Pool and slew demonfolk at No. 1 High; this time, out for a stroll, she conveniently netted him two more.

And killed, neatly—no need for him to deploy anyone.

How could an ordinary girl do that?

Truly… Old Bai Shengju had drawn another fine hand…

Thinking of old affairs, and that Yuming Sword Dao would soon be sending people to Chilong, Zhang Daoming’s manner toward Bai Xiang grew warmer.

Not only did he refrain from taking the group back to the Inspectorate for statements as the rules required, he even sent regards to the old Master Bai before parting—altogether convivial.

After Bai Xiang’s group left, a black-faced police inspector with a full beard approached Zhang Daoming, bearing the blood-red soft-sword on a special warding cloth.

“Chief Inspector.” The inspector frowned. “This blade was a hair’s breadth from full forging. With such a weapon in hand, that demon shouldn’t have been stoppable by two sword-students…?”

Rеаⅾ οո ΚαtRеadіոgСаfе

“You think I can’t tell?”

Zhang Daoming flicked his sleeve, annoyed.

“Never mind that shabby sword—and that brute serpent! Even that beast’s body had at least a century of cultivation!”

“Chief Inspector?” The inspector blinked. “Then why…”

“Because Bai Shengju can’t teach someone like that.” Zhang Daoming snorted.

“I hear Yuming’s sending Xiang Xian to lead the team this time.”

“Heh. I’m not looking to invite trouble…”

Elsewhere, the Bai family had already been driven back to the dojo by Xu Shu.

“You go on up first.”

Halfway up the steps, Bai Zhuqing told the others.

“I have something to say to my sister.”

Once she turned serious, Bai Leying didn’t dare be unruly. Xu Shu and Bai Maoxu weren’t stubborn sorts either, and obediently left the two behind, the pair facing each other on the steps in the glow of sunset.

“Auntie.”

Bai Zhuqing smiled, a little sly.

“Do you need my help with something?”

“Yes.”

Reаԁ оո ΚatReαԁіոgСαfе

Bai Xiang admitted it.

“I want you to help me translate ‘Nuodi Sanskrit.’”

“Then Auntie should at least tell me why, right?” Bai Zhuqing tipped up her chin.

“That Canon of Returning to the Origin and Transforming Qi has no clear provenance. If Auntie wants me to help translate it for cultivation, I need to know whether it’s safe—is that too much?”

“It isn’t.”

Bai Xiang thought a moment. Deciding this level of secret was fine to share, she told her why Bai Shengju had sent her to Yinling Temple—emphasizing Master Hua’an’s particular attitude toward the classic.

“Jinchan Temple’s old method?” Light seemed to flicker in Bai Zhuqing’s eyes. “If it’s only for inward Nurture the Spirit, if I don’t speak and you don’t speak, instruments might not detect it.”

“The only question is whether Auntie is confident she can train it.”

“My gift is unusual. I can faintly sense the inner landscape’s channels.”

Here Bai Xiang waved a hand to blur the truth.

“And since you’ll be the one translating, you should be able to tell whether I’m training it correctly, and how far along I am.”

“True.”

Bai Zhuqing considered it. Feeling this was a rare chance to be close to Bai Xiang, she finally nodded her agreement.

“Though Auntie seems to have a lot of secrets…”

She looked at Bai Xiang.

“That demonic sword.”

Reaⅾ οn КаtReаdiոɡСаfе

“The reason the Forge the Sword realm absolutely suppresses sword-students is that before forging, a sword-student must keep body and mind pure.”

“Even if one’s bodily strength could contend with the Forged, if body and mind are tainted by demonic aura, you could go awry into deviation—and never forge a sword in this life.”

“But Auntie is completely unaffected by demonic aura…”

She drew near, her tone growing ever more shaded and hidden.

Bai Xiang thought she meant to leverage merits to press for why she could do it—but as she came close, a wisp of orchid fragrance reached her—and a soft body pounced into her arms.

“This really is…”

Sniffling, Bai Zhuqing lifted her small face in Bai Xiang’s embrace, then nuzzled down against her, cheek rubbing and burrowing into Bai Xiang’s warm softness.

“This really is wonderful…”

Bai Xiang had meant to push her away, but froze when she heard the words.

In the end—just a child…

Only now did she register that Bai Zhuqing was only seventeen. To expect her to endure such peril and remain steady in spirit was never very realistic.

Forget it.

Remembering the taste of her own long years of loneliness, Bai Xiang let her hands fall and allowed her little sister to vent in her arms.

For the sake of the help she could give.

Let her settle her heart for a while.