Song Yao didn't understand.
Song Yao couldn't comprehend.
Where exactly had things gone wrong?
In her past life, she had been downright malicious, tormenting everyone and everything she came across. She had bullied and provoked Chen Qingqiu countless times.
In this life, she was practically a philanthropist, a model of the righteous path, and she had been exceptionally kind to Chen Qingqiu.
How did Chen Qingqiu recognize her?
Wait, no.
Zhu Zhao had recognized her too.
How did Zhu Zhao recognize her?
Exactly how many people knew her true identity now?
Her face fell slightly, but then she felt there might still be room to salvage the situation.
Chen Qingqiu was likely just guessing and wasn't entirely certain.
Song Yao lowered her head, pondering for a moment.
Since Chen Qingqiu was willing to go to the Earth Realm for her, she clearly harbored no resentment. There was also no need to worry about the girl spreading rumors, so letting her know wouldn't be a major issue.
However, if Chen Qingqiu knew her identity, wouldn't she be highly likely to stay behind for her?
Right now, Chen Qingqiu had just fled her wedding. Taiqing Pavilion and the Beiyao Sect would likely hunt her down, and they might even drag her back to marry Ye Chang'an.
Although the Earth Realm was dangerous, as long as she didn't pick fights with the Great Demon of Qianhuang like Song Yao had, it wouldn't be hard for someone of Chen Qingqiu's cultivation to survive.
Weighing the options, staying outside seemed safer—at least she wouldn't be forced into marriage.
It would be better for her to stay outside for a while and return only after the storm blew over.
Furthermore...
Song Yao herself wasn't ready to casually reveal her identity to her old friend.
Nor did she plan on returning to the past.
After a brief moment of thought, Song Yao took a few steps back. She conjured a small flame in her hand and smiled at Chen Qingqiu. “Saintess Sister, you can't just claim I'm your Third Senior Sister just because we're similar, right?”
“Would Third Senior Sister have saved you like I did?”
Amidst the flickering firelight, she chin-gestured toward the depths of the cave. “Don't overthink it. Focus on purging the parasite first. I'll keep watch outside.”
With that, she extinguished the flame, sat cross-legged at the cave entrance, and began circulating her spiritual energy to heal herself.
Chen Qingqiu stared at her back, a faint glimmer in her eyes. She murmured softly, “She would.”
“You would.”
This cave was a spot Song Yao had found when she previously came to Black Cloud Mountain for fun and was chased by that group of evil cultivators.
It was located on the edge of the Mist Realm, so she figured they wouldn't find them so easily.
Having been crushed earlier, her internal organs felt thoroughly battered. After healing for a while, she couldn't help but lean against the cave entrance and fall asleep.
About half an hour later, deep inside the cave, Chen Qingqiu exhaled a breath of turbid air, her eyes filled with a mixture of bewilderment and complexity.
Ever since Feng Qing brought her back to the Beiyao Sect sixteen years ago, she had been forcibly implanted with a parasite.
For over a decade, she had followed the rules, constrained by others in everything she did, living as a puppet at their beck and call.
Now that the parasite was completely gone and her shackles had fallen, this sudden freedom actually left her feeling a bit lost.
Pausing for a moment, she stood up and walked slowly to the cave entrance.
By the cave entrance where the white mist billowed, Song Yao was asleep, leaning askew against the rocky wall.
Her brow was furrowed tightly, and she let out uncomfortable whimpers from her throat from time to time, looking rather miserable.
Chen Qingqiu softened her movements and knelt beside her, her white inner robes pooling on the ground.
She carefully raised her hand, wrapped it around Song Yao's shoulder, and gently rested the girl's head on her lap, her long, drooping eyelashes casting faint shadows.
Gazing down at the person in her arms, her fingertips gently brushed aside the messy hair on the girl's face. Pale golden spiritual energy gathered in her hand as she began to heal her.
Song Yao's furrowed brow gradually smoothed out, and her breathing grew steady.
After a long while, Chen Qingqiu withdrew her hand and asked in a soft voice, “Do you want me to leave, Song Yao?”
“Will my staying in the Tianshu Realm cause trouble for you?”
“The path you want to walk isn't suitable for me to follow, is it?”
The girl in her arms was still asleep. As if feeling the cold, she curled up tighter, her slightly cool face nuzzling into Chen Qingqiu's hand in an attempt to absorb a bit of warmth.
...
This time, Song Yao didn't sleep for long before being startled awake by a commotion outside.
Opening her eyes, she met Chen Qingqiu's slightly moist gaze. Startled, she scrambled up. “W-What's wrong with you?”
Chen Qingqiu shook her head, her voice calm and gentle, giving away nothing. “It's nothing. How do you feel?”
Song Yao checked her condition. Her body felt light and airy without the slightest discomfort. She let out a soft exclamation. “Did you heal me?”
Chen Qingqiu: “Yes.”
Song Yao was amazed. “It's really a pity you didn't become a medical cultivator.”
Chen Qingqiu possessed an extremely rare mutated light spiritual root. Even without learning any spells, she possessed incredibly strong healing abilities.
It was just that Sect Master Feng probably felt that being a medical cultivator had less of a future than being a sword cultivator, so she had always made her practice the sword path.
After uttering this sigh, she shut her mouth and glanced outside the cave.
Dawn seemed to have broken. The forest was lush and dense, the white mist thick. The sunlight filtered down in dappled, indistinct patches, making it still difficult to see clearly.
There was no one in sight, but rustling footsteps could be heard.
They had already stayed here too long. If they delayed any further, the people of Black Cloud Mountain would eventually find them.
She dusted off her robes, stood up, put on her cloak's hood, and held out her hand to Chen Qingqiu. “Come on, I'll take you out.”
Chen Qingqiu murmured an agreement and took her hand once more.
Song Yao had been here several times before, so she led her through the woods with practiced ease.
They nearly ran into Black Cloud Mountain disciples along the way, but fortunately, they managed to avoid them by a hair without any mishaps.
Before long, the two of them bypassed the edge of the Mist Realm. The white mist had thinned out here, softened by the morning light, and the sound of gurgling river water drifted over from afar through the gaps in the wind.
Song Yao raised her hand and pointed outside. “If you head out from here, you'll reach the Yueliu River. Follow the river and you'll enter the Nine Saints Hall's territory. If you want to go to the Earth Realm, you can head there from the southernmost part of the Nine Saints Hall. But the Earth Realm is dangerous. It's fine to go take a look, but don't do anything reckless and lose your life.”
“If you don't go to the Earth Realm, just hide within the Nine Saints Hall's territory for now. Finding a mountain forest to live in seclusion will be safer than other places.”
Hearing something amiss in her words, Chen Qingqiu suddenly turned her head to look at her. “You're not coming out with me?”
Song Yao casually tugged at the brim of her hood and smiled at her. “Saintess Sister, you're being a bit too greedy. The money you paid only covers taking you this far. The rest of the way costs extra.”
Chen Qingqiu: “H-How much do you want?”
Song Yao: “No thanks, I'm not taking any more orders today.”
Chen Qingqiu fell silent for a moment, then bit her lip. “What are you going to do? I'll accompany you.”
Now it was Song Yao's turn to be dazed.
She laughed in amusement. “Why would you accompany me? I naturally have my own things to do. Hurry up and leave. I didn't flee any wedding, and no one is hunting me down.”
Chen Qingqiu: “...”
True enough.
Following her would only drag her down into a life on the run.
The light in Chen Qingqiu's eyes dimmed once more. She took a few steps out of the white mist, but then Song Yao's smiling voice rang out behind her: “Why the long face? It's not like we'll never meet again.”
The mist completely dissipated around her, but she still couldn't resist turning back.
The youth had already turned and was walking back into the forest, her figure relaxed as she waved her hand at her. “Saintess, please take care on your journey. Don't get hurt, lest you make someone's heart ache.”
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