A millennium passed in the blink of an eye, and the mortal realm underwent several cycles.
—
Ti Ying abruptly woke up from a nightmare.
The sky was pitch black, rain was falling steadily, and the scent of soil mixed with blood and water assaulted her senses. In the wilderness, the grinding teeth and panting of unknown demons seemed dangerously close.
As she turned her head, she saw a ghastly, pale face with a long tongue hanging in midair.
Terrified, Ti Ying was about to faint again when a hoarse male voice suddenly spoke nearby, “Awake?”
With a pale face, Ti Ying widened her eyes and saw a young man sitting with his knees bent near the entrance of the narrow cave.
He wore a dark robe and a hood; his profile was slender, but his features and limbs were indistinct.
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Rv oyp psxlobyv llakl.
Tsolhla, nsxryale vs vbl tbspvzu qynl bydtkdt ycshl Mk Zkdt, bl oyp ds zsdtla kdvkxkeyvkdt.
Fvyakdt yv bkx, Mk Zkdt’p blyav vbwxrle qsa y obkzl. Mbl rykd kd bla blye bye zlppldle, yde pbl osjl wr nsxrzlvlzu qasx vbl dktbvxyal, wdelapvydekdt vbl nwaaldv pkvwyvksd.
Slzwnvydvzu, pbl nyzzle swv, “Fldksa Jasvbla.”
Mbl uswdt xyd okvb y bsse, zssjkdt swvpkel vbl nyhl, alprsdele okvb y psqv “Txx.”
Mk Zkdt qlzv pvkqzle.
—
Mk Zkdt alnyzzle bla nwaaldv pkvwyvksd.
Several months ago, the small sect she had joined was nearly wiped out because of the incompetence of her master. It was unclear whether her previous master was alive or dead, but she had been on the run, pursued by unknown assailants.
Even after entering the Eastern Province, the pursuers remained formidable. Lacking martial skills, Ti Ying couldn’t defeat them and had to find someone for protection. Coincidentally, when Yujing sect was recruiting disciples, she eagerly signed up, abandoning her old sect to join this new one.
Although she hailed from a rural background, she had heard of the reputation of Yujing sect. If she became a disciple, those chasing her wouldn’t dare to pursue her anymore.
However, the recruitment process at Yujing sect was stringent, and registered disciples had to pass various tests before being considered successful and advancing to the next round.
After registering, Ti Ying was assigned to this place called the “Five Poisons Forest.” Being timid since childhood, the name sounded terrifying. She hesitated, standing next to a young man with a noble back view.
The young man stopped her, saying, “Junior Sister, are you going to the Five Poisons Forest? Would you like to team up?”
She agreed to team up, but after entering, Ti Ying regretted it deeply.
The Five Poison Forest was filled with demons and monsters everywhere. She couldn’t handle them on her own, and her companion was just as inexperienced as her.
The two of them had a tough time hiding and escaping in the Five Poison Forest. Just when they were about to be devoured by demons, Ti Ying had to use her most powerful spell—
After using it, the demons dispersed.
She also fainted from the ghostly face she had summoned in midair.
Not only did she faint, but she also had a vague and confusing dream about falling into darkness and cycles of reincarnation. Upon waking up, she couldn’t remember the details, but her head hurt badly.
—
Shivering, Ti Ying heard the hoarse yet gentle voice of the young man, “Did you have a nightmare?”
Feeling both cold and scared, Ti Ying dared not lift her head, afraid to confront the ghostly face she had summoned. Surprisingly, her companion spoke up, and Ti Ying immediately retorted:
“You’re so fierce. Why did you suddenly speak? You scared me.”
The young man, sitting at the entrance of the cave, blocking the wind and rain, seemed momentarily stunned. He turned slightly, glanced at the girl in the cave through his hood, and saw a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl. With slightly damp hair clinging to her somewhat chubby pink cheeks, her dark eyes drooped, lips tightly pursed, giving her a stubborn yet pitiful look.
However, she retorted immediately upon speaking.
It can be seen that the people who raised her are not of good quality.
After careful consideration, the young man said, “When you used the talisman to drive away the demons just now, your aversion to evil may have triggered the nightmare. Nightmares are caused by the residual sympathy of heaven and earth and are not necessarily real. For talisman cultivator, such aftereffects are not uncommon, so Junior Sister, there’s no need to worry too much.”
Ti Ying suddenly realized. Anyway, her spiritual energy was weak, and she couldn’t recall the details of the nightmare after waking up.
What does “aversion to evil” mean? She couldn’t control the power of the talisman, which caused the nightmare.
Her previous cheap master was incompetent, and he imparted poor skills to her. Only after leaving the small sect did she realize that the cultivators outside could fly and escape at will, something she couldn’t compare to.
But…
After hesitating for a while, Ti Ying said firmly, “I come from a talisman cultivation background, and I won’t be scared.”
She glared at the unfamiliar young man—demons were repelled by me, and all you did was say a few words, what skill do you have?
The unfamiliar young man with a good temper said, “So be it, I’ve been too nosy.”
He slowly pulled something out of his storage bag and handed it to Ti Ying.
In the dim light of the night, Ti Ying looked down and was shocked to see scars covering the back of his hand as he extended it. Before she could examine it closely, he seemed to realize the issue, tossed the item into her arms, withdrew his hand, and hid it back in his sleeve.
The young man said, “This is dry rations I bought in the town below the mountain. Junior Sister probably hasn’t had proper food yet, right? This place is simple, and I apologize for any inconvenience.”
His voice wasn’t pleasant, but his tone flowed like water, neither fast nor slow, grinding gently on the ears, leaving the inexperienced Ti Ying momentarily stunned.
Ti Ying looked down and saw the dried bun he had given her.
She didn’t feel embarrassed—she had just saved them both, so what was wrong with him providing some food and drink?
Ti Ying said, “Hey!”
He turned around in surprise.
After thinking for a moment, Ti Ying ordered like she was placing an order, “I don’t like this kind of dry stuff; it’s not tasty at all.”
If it were someone else, they would have long lost patience with her temper.
But the young man remained calm, “Understood. I came in a hurry and didn’t make sufficient preparations. Junior Sister, please bear with it, and I’ll make sure you won’t be inconvenienced next time.”
Next time?
Ti Ying thought for a moment: Oh, he’s probably talking about leaving this ghostly place, the Five Poisons Forest.
Yes, once out of the Five Poisons Forest, she could become a selected disciple of Yujing, and there would be no need for such hardships.
—
The young man gave Ti Ying dry rations, provided her with clean water, and in the end, threw a cloak to her for warmth.
Aside from the frightening ghostly face hanging above her head, Ti Ying now wrapped herself in the cloak, feeling content after being well-fed.
She whispered a small “Thank you.”
Being young, when she spoke while looking up, her black eyes revealed both innocence and fierceness.
The young man turned away, looking at the rain outside the cave.
He gazed outside, his back straight, as if lost in thought or assessing when the demons might find them, or how they could leave the Five Poisons Forest.
The small sounds of pulling and tugging and the occasional “Hmm” from the girl brought him back to awareness.
He lowered his head and saw Ti Ying gently tugging at his sleeve.
Ti Ying thought: In this desolate mountainous area, how can he sit so upright? From behind, he looks surprisingly elegant.
As she slowly moved closer, the young man subtly held his breath.
Her voice was soft, like a cuddly little cat, “Senior Brother…”
The young man thought: Didn’t she just scold me with a “Hey” earlier?
But he responded to her.
His response gave Ti Ying courage.
Ti Ying edged even closer to him, moving at a snail’s pace, until she was right by the young man’s side. She carefully hooked onto his sleeve and began to turn and fumble.
Ti Ying: “Senior Brother, oh, did you recognize that I’m a talisman cultivator because you are one too?”
The young man’s voice remained hoarse but patient, “Sort of.”
Ti Ying gained courage.
She trembled as she extended a finger and pointed upwards, “Then… is it still there?”
The young man hesitated for a moment, then followed her finger and looked up, meeting eyes with the ghostly face hanging in midair.
The face grinned at him, and with that smile, its nearly three-foot-long tongue was about to fall down, drooling onto the shivering girl’s neck, sticking and gooey.
Ti Ying was startled.
She dared not lift her head, “Wh-what is that thing, Senior Brother?!”
The young man gazed at the ghostly face.
When the next drop of saliva was about to fall, his finger resting on his knee moved slightly, and the tongue of the ghost’s face instantly became tangled, curling up the saliva and sealing his mouth
He used his sleeve to wipe the back of the girl’s neck, “It’s rainwater, Junior Sister.”
Ti Ying breathed a sigh of relief, though her teeth were still chattering, “How could rainwater drip into the cave…”
The young man explained, “In the damp and cold forest, such a phenomenon is quite common. Junior Sister isn’t from around here, right?”
Ti Ying, reassured by his explanation, hugged his arm outright.
The young man hesitated for a moment, “Junior Sister…”
Ti Ying shushed him, her voice still trembling, “Is it still there?”
Pretending not to know, the young man asked, “What?”
Ti Ying hesitated, “It’s, it’s… a spirit.”
The young man thought: She doesn’t even dare to say “ghost”? Isn’t this the ghost that obediently listens to her?
He answered, “Still there.”
Ti Ying shivered.
He sensed that the girl was on the verge of tears.
Evidence lay in her soft and trembling voice as she spoke to him, “Can you find a way to make it go away?”
The ghostly face in midair instantly looked wronged, descending to brush against Ti Ying.
Ti Ying gave a shudder and threw herself into the young man’s arms, “Wuwuwu.”
The young man said, “The demon will be scared away by your crying.”
Ti Ying’s crying immediately ceased.
—
Rain fell through the long night, and the forest was pitch dark. They could only hear each other’s breaths, creating a sense of mutual dependence.
The young man wasn’t used to this sudden and excessive dependence, but she had a bad temper, and he couldn’t find a reason to provoke her. After some thought, he asked her to lift her face towards him.
She refused.
The young man said, “Ghost…”
Ti Ying interrupted, “Don’t mention that word!”
The young man was startled by her reaction.
He changed his approach, “The spirit you summoned is behind you. If you face me, you won’t see it.”
Ti Ying was rebellious, “Why should I face you?”
The young man said, “I’ll help you wipe away your tears.”
Ti Ying was puzzled.
This reason was both affectionate and unreasonable, and his voice wasn’t pleasant either. She should have rejected it, but when his hand reached out, Ti Ying inexplicably found herself hooked under the chin, lifting her face.
Through the hood and veil, the young man’s eyes fell on her pale and slender face. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed lightly, her lips were almost bitten until they bled, her eyelashes were damp, a bit childish, a bit coquettish.
He then thought that the person who raised her had done a decent job.
The young man used his sleeve to gently wipe away the tears from her eyelashes.
He whispered, “You don’t need to be afraid of the spirit behind you. If a demon comes, it will help us. And over time, it will dissipate. If you’re afraid, close your eyes and sleep.”
Ti Ying was skeptical, “Sleep?”
The young man affirmed, “Yes, I’ll keep watch.”
Ti Ying wondered: Weren’t you silently following me and relying on me the whole way here?
Although she had a bad temper, the young man wiped away her tears, fastened the cloak on her, fed her food and water earlier. She was so comforted that her cheeks turned slightly red.
She nodded obediently.
Then, she made another outrageous request, “Senior Brother, I’m quite delicate. Can I sleep on your legs, and could you pat my back to soothe me?”
The young man responded with confusion, “…?”
She sure knew how to boss people around.
But his temperament was genuinely good, so he simply said, “Hmm.”
Ti Ying then showed a smile. She looked much sweeter when she smiled than when she scowled.
—
After Ti Ying’s excessive request was fulfilled, with the young man patting her back, she murmured before sleep:
“Why are you treating me like this?”
The young man paused.
He answered, “Because I’m your Senior Brother.”
Cultivators, when they meet on the road, are polite and often address each other as senior brother or senior sister. Ti Ying had been on the road long enough to understand these etiquettes. Moreover, if they all managed to enter the Yujing sect, they would indeed become senior siblings.
So Ti Ying thought it was just a courtesy.
The sound of rain rustled in the background.
After a whole day of hiding from demons, Ti Ying was exhausted. Tucked under the cloak, being patted on the back to sleep, she was extremely sleepy. Seizing the moment, she asked the last question before falling asleep:
“Senior Brother, what’s your name?”
The young man paused for a moment—after a whole day, the young miss finally remembered to ask his name.
He replied, “Jiang Xuehe.”
The name sounded somewhat familiar.
Ti Ying muttered for a moment but couldn’t recall, so she gave up thinking.
After a while, there was no movement. She felt he was impolite and became a bit displeased, “Aren’t you going to ask my name?”
He knew what she was called.
But to avoid her getting angry before falling asleep again, he cooperatively asked, “What’s Junior Sister’s name?”
Satisfied, Ti Ying crawled under the warm robe, “Senior Brother, I’m called Ti Ying.”
The young man lowered his gaze, gently patting her back, “Got it.”
—
Ti Ying didn’t know.
Jiang Xuehe was indeed her senior brother.
Before Ti Ying left her previous sect, her former master, fearing she might suffer, sent a message to his eldest disciple, expressing deep concern for Ti Ying.
Jiang Xuehe was that eldest disciple whom Ti Ying had never met.
So I’m guessing this senior brother retained his memory??