Zanxing (Retranslated)

Chapter 113 - The End of the Story (2)

“Nothing comes for free,” Tian Fangfang said confidently. “Those materials are all valuable, especially the eyes of Emperor Shengning. If we take them to Hua Jin Pavilion, they’ll be worth at least a few hundred spirit stones.”

“Although that’s true,” Zanxing cleared her throat lightly, “won’t the King hold us accountable for this?”

“He probably won’t,” Mu Cengxiao’s voice came from outside. “The scandal of the royal family has now been exposed to the cultivators of the sects. Although the common people of Li’er Country don’t know the truth, the royal family should no longer have the face to boast about Emperor Shengning’s ‘achievement’ of killing shark demons.”

Zanxing looked up as Mu Cengxiao and Meng Ying walked in from outside.

When did they start coming and going together all the time? Just as she was thinking this, Zanxing heard Meng Ying ask, “Senior Sister Yang, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

“No.”

“You were too impulsive,” Mu Cengxiao reproached. “The soul of a shark demon is something that mortal bodies cannot withstand. At the very least, it can damage your cultivation, and in severe cases, it can even lead to death. You were lucky last night, just passing out.”

“Has your cultivation regressed?” Men Dong asked with concern.

Zanxing circulated the qi within her body. Not only did she not feel uncomfortable, but her qi was also abundant, and she felt light on her feet. Somewhat surprised, she replied, “No, it doesn’t seem like last night’s events had any effect on me.”

“It’s better that way,” Gu Baiying retorted, sounding annoyed. “If it had an effect, I would not have been able to save you.”

Gu Baiying seemed to be in a foul mood today. Tian Fangfang leaned in to Zanxing and whispered, “Senior Uncle is upset about Yin Li. Junior Sister, please bear with him.”

Zanxing suddenly understood.

Changing the subject, she asked, “Senior Uncle, when is the secret realm reopening?”

“Tonight.”

“Tonight?” Men Dong asked, “Why so soon?”

“It was proposed by the Chihua Sect,” Tian Fangfang explained. “Tan Tianxin, wants to take advantage of the injuries suffered by disciples of other sects to enter the secret realm early and seek opportunities, so as not to be left behind. He’s really cunning.”

Zanxing asked, “Did Senior Uncle agree?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Gu Baiying sneered. “It’s not like anyone from the Taiyan Sect was affected anyway.”

Zanxing fell silent. Although they all had some minor injuries from last night, it wouldn’t affect their entry into the secret realm.

And so, the matter was settled.

Since Zanxing still needed rest, Meng Ying’s group left first. After they left, Gu Baiying entered his own room, followed by Men Dong.

As soon as they entered, Men Dong pulled Gu Baiying to sit on a chair in the room and held his wrist.

Gu Baiying shook off his hand. “What are you doing?”

“You can fool others, but not me,” Men Dong said, looking at him. “Senior Uncle, after last night’s battle with the shark demon, your spiritual energy congestion has worsened.”

Gu Baiying remained silent.

“Senior Uncle!” Men Dong grew anxious. “This journey was originally planned because there wasn’t much need for your involvement in the secret realm of Li’er Country, so the Sect Master instructed you to come along. Who knew we would encounter such powerful demons right away. The more forcefully you use your qi, the greater the damage to your spiritual veins. There might not be any serious consequences now, but it will be very dangerous the next time you use it. You—”

“I understand,” Gu Baiying interrupted him. “I won’t use it.”

Men Dong sighed. “Or, you could find a way to cultivate with Yang Zanxing.” He spoke with a troubled expression. “After all, when Yin Ying exposed your affair with her, everyone from the major sects already knows that our Taiyan Sect’s reputation is tarnished. It’s already a lost cause.”

Gu Baiying kicked him out of the door. “Get out!”

Men Dong scurried away in embarrassment.

The young man sat in the chair, his vermilion hairband as striking as ever. He looked down at the palm of his hand.

Where the qi was circulating, there was already a faint sensation of pain.

*

After that, nothing particularly noteworthy happened.

The King of Li’er Country was no longer as warm and friendly towards the cultivators as he was initially, becoming somewhat distant. Zanxing could understand; anyone suddenly exposed to their family’s disgrace would naturally find it difficult to face others.

In the evening, Nie Xinghong from the Yin Feng Sect arrived.

He handed a small box to Zanxing and smiled, “This is a Rejuvenation Pill specially made by an elder in our sect. Thanks to Fellow Cultivator Yang’s intervention last night, defeating that shark demon and saving our sect disciples from danger. When I heard that Fellow Cultivator Yang passed out last night, I was very worried, as we are about to enter the secret realm. I specially brought this Rejuvenation Pill in the hope that Fellow Cultivator Yang can recover her strength soon.”

Zanxing politely responded, “It’s nothing, just a small effort. No need for such formalities.”

“Not everyone has the courage to let the soul of a demon possess them like Fellow Cultivator Yang,” Nie Xinghong said sincerely. “Such righteousness is humbling for me.”

He insisted, and Zanxing was too lazy to refuse, so she accepted, saying, “Then I’ll accept it gratefully.”

Seeing Zanxing take the pill but still hesitating to leave, Nie Xinghong opened his fan and said flirtatiously, “I originally knew Miss Meng Ying from the Taiyan Sect was stunning, but now seeing Fellow Cultivator Yang, you’re naturally beautiful too. Can I call you Junior Sister Yang in the future? You can call me Senior Brother.”

Zanxing: “…”

Zanxing hadn’t had a chance to speak when the door next to her swung open with a sharp snap. Gu Baiying’s face was so dark it could have squeezed out water. He snatched the box from Zanxing’s hand, shoved her into the room, and sneered sharply, “What’s with all this brother-sister nonsense in the middle of the night? Disgusting, isn’t it?”

Nie Xinghong smiled politely and said, “Fellow Cultivator Gu, I’m here.”

Gu Baiying threw the box at him, hitting his face, and snapped, “Get lost, you peddler!”

With a bang, the door was slammed shut again.

Nie Xinghong’s desolate figure lingered outside the door for a moment before slinking away.

Inside the room, Zanxing turned her head to look at Gu Baiying, who was pouring tea at the table. He seemed both visibly irritated and genuinely disgusted by Nie Xinghong, downing two cups in a row.

Zanxing pondered silently.

Gu Baiying lifted his gaze and locked eyes with Zanxing. He furrowed his brows and said, “What’s with that expression, Yang Zanxing? Let me tell you—”

Zanxing walked up to him and pinned him against the wall.

Gu Baiying was stunned.

The boy’s back was pressed against the wall, with the girl in front of him approaching steadily. Among the female disciples of the sect, she was already quite tall, but because Gu Baiying was taller, she had to tilt her head back, only reaching his chest.

Zanxing looked up at Gu Baiying, who was momentarily puzzled. Finally regaining his senses, he asked, “What are you doing?”

“Gu Baiying,” Zanxing leaned in closer, “don’t you feel anything?”

Gu Baiying looked puzzled, “Feel what?”

Normally, he always appeared fearless, as if nothing could bother him. However, as he lowered his gaze, his eyelashes gently drooped, carrying a rare tenderness.

His eyes were clear, with a light color, lacking some depth, always carrying the crystalline clarity of youth. In this moment of confusion, one couldn’t help but recall the dazzling starry sky from last night.

So bright, yet so fragile.

Zanxing’s gaze fell on his prominent nose, on his rosy and plump lips, on his beautifully shaped, well-defined chin. She lifted her head, slightly tiptoed, her lips like butterflies about to land on the most vibrant petal of spring.

The boy was startled, pushing the person in front of him away with force, and sternly asked, “Yang Zanxing, what are you doing?”

Zanxing took two steps back, steadying herself before asking in confusion, “Didn’t it ring?”

“What didn’t ring?” he inquired.

“The Jie Xin Bell,” Zanxing replied, looking at him. “You constantly remind me not to engage in dual cultivation, and you become furious when others show me kindness. Pardon my incompetence, but I can’t think of any other reason.”

Gu Baiying’s expression changed slightly. “What reason?”

“It’s because you’re fond of me that you become jealous. It’s all due to possessiveness,” Zanxing pondered. “Senior Uncle, didn’t you feel anything when you looked at me just now?”

The room fell into complete silence for what felt like half an incense stick’s burning time.

After a while, Gu Baiying pressed his temples, gritting his teeth, “Who told you I’m fond of you?”

“Am I wrong?” Zanxing stroked her chin. “But your actions are really suspicious.”

This kind of plot, she had read about it in books when she was young.

“Of course not!” Gu Baiying snapped, “Don’t flatter yourself. Who’s catching feelings? Not allowing you to engage in dual cultivation with all sorts of people is because…”

Zanxing waited earnestly for his response.

“Anyway, it’s not what you think!” Gu Baiying huffed, “Yang Zanxing, stop filling your head with inappropriate thoughts. Focus on cultivating properly, got it?”

He stormed out angrily, muttering, “Me liking you, dream on!”

Zanxing: “…”

The Jie Xin bell didn’t ring at all, indicating that he truly didn’t like her. Zanxing pondered this and felt somewhat regretful. However, she still couldn’t understand why Gu Baiying had such strong objections to her engaging in dual cultivation with others.

Though, for now, she didn’t have any plans for dual cultivation anyway.

At midnight, the group of cultivators reconvened at the imperial mausoleum. Due to injuries sustained in the battle with the shark demon the previous night, nearly half of the participants who intended to enter the secret realm were absent. The monarch opened the entrance to the secret realm on the Starry Sky Terrace.

Without the elaborate ceremony from the previous night, without the lively chants, without the princess in red, and without the shark demons with silver tails, the royal family members avoided the gaze of the cultivators, as if avoiding a shameful and buried past.

Zanxing held onto Mimi as she ascended the Starry Sky Terrace. As the secret realm activated, she glanced back at the night sky of Li’er Country.

The stars were splendid, the Milky Way dazzling.

Just like in the past.

*

In the palace, the young imperial grandson yawned, setting down his brush after completing today’s calligraphy practice.

A maidservant approached the drowsy woman’s side and gently woke her. “Princess Lizhu.”

Princess Lizhu stirred awake.

It was an ordinary day, no different from the hundreds before it, yet she felt like she had forgotten something important.

The maidservant draped a robe over her. Princess Lizhu said, “I just had a dream.”

In the dream, it was the year she had just married into the Li’er Country. She was young then, often waking in the night, reminiscing about the rugged mountain winds of her homeland amidst the beautifully manicured gardens. She seemed to encounter someone, a blurry figure, who promised to take her home, back to her native land.

She had chuckled. “How could I “return” like that? I’m not a fish from the Western Sea.”

That person seemed a bit shy and laughed along with her. As he laughed, he transformed into a sky full of stars.

The young imperial grandson ran over, holding a blue conch shell. “Grandmother, can I have this?”

She glanced at the conch shell, its blue color as beautiful as the young man’s admiring eyes. Princess Lizhu smiled and nodded.

The young imperial grandson cheered and was led back to his sleeping quarters by his nursemaid.

The woman lowered her eyes, unable to remember when she had acquired the conch shell, just as she couldn’t recall why the young man’s eyes were blue.

She felt an inexplicable, profound loneliness, as if the last person accompanying her in the world had left without saying goodbye.

The Western Sea was vast, moonlight spreading across its surface. The waves, carrying the distant wind, gently stirred the papers on the table, making the still-wet ink shimmer invitingly.

It was a song about the shark demons.

Shark demons weave underwater, living beneath the waves,

Moving gracefully with the fish around them.

Their light, gauzy garments, so colorful, are hard to describe,

Every night, the clear waves reflect the moonlight.

Sometimes they visit the cities, from the endless blue of the islands.

Shedding tears of gratitude, they offer pearls—do not refuse them.

This year we meet, and hope to meet again next year.

Now we know every species exists,

In the hundred-foot deep springs, they build their homes.

Birds vanish into the empty mountains, no one watches them anymore,

One gaze at the ocean waves, and one’s hair turns white.

END OF ARC: SHARK DEMONS

***

T/n:

Hey guys, I hope you enjoyed the arc. Well, I definitely did! It was gripping, exciting, sad and beautiful! That’s why I didn’t want you guys to go through the torture of waiting each week for the next chapter. Hence the hiatus and subsequent mass releases.

As you guessed, Yin Li’s one last selfless act for his beloved before he disappeared was to erase her memories so she wouldn’t live the rest of her life with the guilt and trauma. That said, this chapter isn’t completely closed, and there are unsolved mysteries in it that carry on to the next.

However, I’m going to take another hiatus (lol). I want to give you guys time to recover from this arc and prepare for the next, which takes place in the secret realm. (Yeah, that’s not the real reason. My exams are just around the corner so I’m somewhat busy. Also thinking of stockpiling chapters.)

Until next time!