the Willow Forest
‘If the Willow Forest truly can accelerate my training… then it would be invaluable. I could return home sooner… return to Father… and return to the way things once were…’
Lanyi’s resolve began to soften.
‘I would no longer need to fear losing control and accidentally harming someone.’
“Very well… I will go with you tomorrow,” she answered in a soft, sweet voice.
Bajie, who had been waiting anxiously for her reply, immediately broke into a broad smile. The delight in her eyes was impossible to conceal.
“Excellent! Then I shall see you tomorrow!”
Before she could continue explaining the rest of her plan, A-Ling’s voice suddenly came from outside the bedchamber door.
“My Lady… are you still awake? I thought I heard you speaking with someone.”
Bajie jolted in alarm and immediately whispered to the woman before her,
“I shall come for you during the Chou Hour, before dawn! You are not allowed to break your promise, little Rouling!”
The moment she finished speaking, the red-haired Zhenyuan leapt from the window and vanished into the darkness as swiftly as an owl.
She departed with a triumphant thought in her heart.
‘Heh heh. Tomorrow, Lanyi, you will finally understand just how remarkable and dependable a Zhenyuan like me truly is!’
Deep within a hidden chamber concealed inside the Wei Estate, Wei Balong stood tall before an enormous ancient stone tablet carved with strange patterns.
The tablet pulsed rhythmically with a soft blue radiance. The glowing lines upon its surface resembled living tree roots overflowing with an immense amount of Qi.
Yet the expression upon the Clan Leader’s face was filled with unmistakable concern.
“My Lord… why have you still not come to bed?”
The gentle voice of the First Wife sounded as she stepped forward to stand beside him.
She looked toward the unusually rapid flickering of light across the stone tablet, and unease began to rise within her heart as well.
A long sigh was Balong’s only answer at first.
His eyes remained fixed upon the glowing, root-like patterns.
“I am concerned about the flow of energy within the Cursed Lands. Look at this. Its light has never trembled so violently before. It appears that the Qi deep within the inner regions has grown unnaturally powerful.”
His brows drew together as he continued in a grave voice,
“Tomorrow, I must order Pabao, Beyuan, and Puzhen to patrol the borderlands more frequently. They will need to deal with any Qi demons that may be born from this instability.
“If we allow the situation to continue unchecked, the villagers living near the outer edge of the Cursed Lands will suffer and be placed in danger.”
Balong fell silent for a moment.
His thoughts remained fixed upon the secrets hidden deep within the forbidden inner territories.
The intensity of the Yin energy he sensed there filled his chest with dread.
‘Why has the Yin Qi suddenly become so violent…? Could something have happened within the inner regions of the Cursed Lands?’
The following morning, a thin mist still blanketed the surroundings.
Bajie led the way along a rugged stone path, taking Lanyi beyond the outer walls of the estate and toward the depths of the forest.
Lanyi followed behind while tightening the shawl around her shoulders.
A trace of fear stirred within her heart, for every step she took carried her farther into the Cursed Lands—a place spoken of in countless terrifying tales.
More importantly…
‘Can I truly trust her?’
She still did not know how dependable the troublesome Zhenyuan humming cheerfully ahead of her truly was.
At the very least, Lanyi had been cautious enough to leave a letter in her bedchamber for A-Ling and A-Lan.
‘I have gone for a walk near the edge of the Willow Forest with the Fourth Young Miss. I will return to the estate no later than the Shen Hour.’
Ahead of her, Bajie wore a sly smile.
She glanced back at the nervous Rouling and began plotting within her heart.
‘The atmosphere is still far too peaceful. If I want this little Rouling to witness my greatness and rely upon me completely, I need to add a little excitement!’
Bajie drew in a breath, arranged her expression into one of solemn seriousness, and broke the silence.
“Lady Lanyi… did you know that deep within the forests of the Cursed Lands, there are more than merely dense currents of Qi?”
She lowered her voice ominously.
“There are also vicious beasts and demons that enjoy ambushing lost Roulings and devouring them.”
Lanyi’s steps faltered.
“Demons…? Do such things truly exist?”
“They certainly do!”
A smile tugged at the corner of Bajie’s lips when she noticed the fear appearing upon the other woman’s face.
“They usually hide within the shadows, waiting to seize the ankles of timid Roulings before dragging them into pits and eating them.
“If there is no powerful and talented Zhenyuan nearby to protect them… heh heh…”
Lanyi immediately stopped walking.
Her elegant face became visibly stern as she replied in a level but decisive voice,
“In that case, we should return at once. If this journey is truly so dangerous, then the reward is not worth the risk. My life must take priority.”
The color drained from Bajie’s face.
‘This is bad! Is she frightened enough to change her mind!? N-no, I cannot allow that!’
“W-wait! There are none around here! Truly!”
She waved her hands frantically.
“Look… I shall use my Qi to inspect the surroundings right now!”
The moment she finished speaking, Bajie began circulating the power within her body.
Brilliant golden light suddenly surged outward from her form.
The radiance spread in a vast, resonant wave throughout the surrounding forest.
Birds startled from the branches the instant the current struck them, scattering into the sky. Even the small animals nearby fled in every direction.
Then the wave of energy passed directly through Lanyi.
She froze.
Being struck so openly by the Qi of a Zhenyuan felt deeply strange.
It resembled the sensation she had experienced when she absorbed energy from Beyuan and Puzhen.
‘What was that…? The sensation that just struck me… was that her Qi?’
Alarm immediately rose within her.
‘This is terrible! Will my own Qi begin raging again?’
Yet nothing happened.
‘How strange… Why am I completely unaffected?’
Lanyi lowered her gaze toward the Dark Jade Bracelet around her wrist.
‘Could this be what is helping suppress my energy so steadily?’
“See? I inspected the area with my Qi. There is nothing here at all. You may relax!”
Bajie raised her voice, attempting to restore Lanyi’s confidence.
“Even if there were something nearby, the moment it felt my power, it would flee in terror!”
Lanyi, only just recovering from the sensation of Bajie’s golden Qi, began to frown.
“There may be nothing here… but what about the Willow Forest?”
Realizing that Lanyi still had not relaxed, Bajie hurriedly pointed toward the immense snow-covered mountain range towering deep within the Cursed Lands.
“Over there! That is Level Four territory. That is where demons wander around in great numbers.
“But the route we are taking is perfectly safe. And did you know? On the summit of that mountain, there are Millennial Snow Plum Blossoms!”
Lanyi fell silent for a moment.
She immediately recognized the name from the botanical texts she had studied in the Wei family library throughout the past month.
“The Millennial Snow Plum… the most beautiful and delicate of flowers.
“It requires extremely refined control of Qi to harvest. The slightest mistake will cause it to wither at once.
“It is said to symbolize a love that must be cherished with the greatest tenderness… Is that the flower you mean?”
Bajie, who had intended to impress her with her knowledge, immediately scowled.
‘What is this? This Rouling knows more than I do, even though I am the one who lives here!’
She ground her teeth inwardly.
Her attempt to display her superiority had somehow been defeated by knowledge from a book.
Lanyi, meanwhile, reviewed what she had read and realized that the records truly contained no mention of dangerous demons within the Willow Forest.
Her nervousness began to fade.
“In that case, I shall trust you.”
The black-haired woman stepped forward until she was walking beside Bajie.
The wariness in her eyes gradually gave way to interest in the surrounding scenery.
The anxiety that had weighed heavily upon her heart slowly diminished as they continued toward the mysterious forest.
“Hey! Wait!”
Bajie hurried after her.
“Do not walk as though you already know the way!”
“Is this not the correct path? I believe I remember the map from the books.”
“Tch! You little bookworm!”
Before long, the two of them arrived at the Willow Forest.
It was so beautiful that it appeared to have emerged from a painting.
The long, graceful branches of ancient willow trees hung low above the perfectly still surface of the water.
The air was cold, yet carried a refreshing clarity.
Lanyi immediately sensed the dense and evenly flowing Yin Qi circulating throughout the area—something that could not be found anywhere outside the Cursed Lands.
“Wow…”
The black-haired woman could only whisper in wonder.
“Hmph. Well? It is beautiful, is it not? I told you so!”
The boastful host smiled in satisfaction before leading Lanyi toward an open clearing among the willows.
In the center stood a simple circular stone platform.
“This is the place,” Bajie explained. “That stone helps improve the circulation of Qi. You should cultivate there.”
Lanyi looked carefully around the surroundings, conducting one final inspection for danger.
Only then did she step onto the platform and sit cross-legged, preparing to circulate her energy.
“Fourth Young Miss, please remain at a distance while I remove the bracelet.”
She slowly slipped the Dark Jade Bracelet from her wrist and placed it beside her, allowing the Qi within her body to return fully to its natural flow.
“…!”
Bajie stared at her.
“Do you believe I am so weak that I need to fear your power?”
Despite her complaint, she merely pursed her lips and walked a short distance away to find somewhere to sit while she waited.
‘This is ridiculous. None of this is going according to my plan.’
‘I have not had a single opportunity to appear graceful or impressive before her.’
‘And I cannot exactly walk over and disturb her while she is cultivating…’
The red-haired woman scratched her head.
‘Why must I be such a good person?’
‘How am I supposed to boast and display my abilities so that she can witness how extraordinary I am?’
“Ugh… this is unbearably boring,” Bajie muttered.
She lay down upon the grass beneath one of the willow trees, using her own arm as a pillow.
Her eyes remained fixed upon Lanyi’s steady back as the Rouling gradually entered a meditative state.
Then an idea suddenly came to her.
‘That is right. I only need to wait until she finishes cultivating!’
‘Yes, yes. Once she is finished, I can lure her toward a little danger.’
A wicked smile began to spread across the troublesome young woman’s face.
‘Hehe… then she will become frightened and have no choice but to hide against me.’
‘Hmm… where should I trick her into going?’
‘It should only be something mild—just enough to startle her a little.’
‘Hehe. Perhaps a slug demon?’
‘Young ladies from the capital are usually afraid of slugs.’
‘Oh! Or perhaps a frog would be better. ♥’
With the willow leaves rustling softly in the breeze, Bajie began to grow drowsy beneath the cool, pleasant shade.
Her eyelids were just beginning to close when—
RUMBLEEEEE!
Without warning, the earth beneath them shook with tremendous force.
The ancient willow trees swayed violently, their leaves raining down around the clearing.
An enormous tremor erupted from directly beneath the circular stone platform.
CRASH—!!