The candle was lit, casting dancing shadows as its tiny flame braved the gusts of wind that playfully slipped through the open window. The breeze was strong, carrying with it a sense of impending storm, yet the signs were nowhere to be seen.
Lu Ye laid himself on the bed, gazing up at the sky, his eyes playfully searching for the moon. It was the night when the blood moon made its grand entrance, painting the sky with a captivating display. The familiar pale moon took on a striking crimson and ruddy brown hue, dominating the heavens. The billowing clouds danced and teased, playing hide-and-seek with the celestial marvel, amplifying its allure, which caused its brilliant light to sporadically bless and disappear from view
Lu Ye had gone to Damu Lan's room to tend to his supposedly drunk master, but Damu Lan was nowhere to be found. Left with no other choice, Lu Ye remained in his room, hesitant to fall asleep. Fearing the nightmare would haunt him again, aware that escape from their clutches was but a transient hope.
Lu Ye's countenance was blank, his eyes lacked any semblance of communication. He yawned and then sighed. He was bored. It had become his routine to tend to Damu Lan, spending his time there until just before dawn broke.
Lu Ye traced the patterns of the moon with his eyes, until a sudden tumult broke the serenity of the sect. Just as he was about to investigate the commotion, Fei Yi appeared at his door, urgency etched across his face.
"Lu Ye! Quickly! A grave matter! All disciples must gather at the treasured Qing Shan Hall now!"
Fei Yi grasped Lu Ye's hand, propelling him forward in haste. A whirlwind of questions spun in Lu Ye's mind.
Meanwhile, Damu Lan knocked on Cang Ren's door and let himself in. Cang Ren was in the midst of brewing himself a few ingredients, experimenting with his concoctions. Sensing Damu Lan's presence, Cang Ren continued his work without so much as a glance, asking, "Damu Lan, do you need another medicine?"
Silent greeted Cang Ren's inquiry, leading him to deduce that Damu Lan's visit did not concern his illness. Setting aside his tools, Cang Ren adjusted his posture and turned to face Damu Lan.
"Then, what brings you here?" he asked.
It took some time for Damu Lan to finally spoke. He said, "I came back from MingYue peak."
Cang Ren replied nonchalantly, "Then what about it? It's not unusual for you to do something abnormal at this point."
Damu Lan continued, "Someone broke through my barrier."
Despite the graceful placement of his hands behind his back, Cang Ren could tell that his palm seemed to not rest at ease. The faint sound of cracking bones reached Cang Ren's ears. It seemed to Cang Ren that Damu Lan was feeling anxious, even though his facial expression remained stern, only his brows furrowing.
"What spell?"
Ignoring Cang Ren's question, Damu Lan redirected the conversation. "You mentioned sending a few disciples to MingYue Peak to find a herb for you?"
Cang Ren managed a single nod in response
The next question from Damu Lan left Cang Ren uncertain whether he should tell the truth or conceal it.
"Did they find it?"
At that point, Damu Lan's words grew heavy and laden with purpose. He wasn't merely filling the silence but seeking a significant answer.
Cang Ren felt bewildered. Does Damu Lan care so much if anyone else finds the herbs instead of him?
"I asked you, did they find it?" Damu Lan repeated, his tone took on a commanding quality. The time seemed to still, as if time itself paused to bear witness to the conversation.
"...they did," Cang Ren admitted reluctantly.
Right afterward, Damu Lan gawked in disbelief.
His hand flies to cover his mouth as he asked, "Who...found it?"
"Your disciple."
Damu Lan's brows shot up in surprise, his lips parted. It was the final blow. His heart was heavy with emotion as he made do with Cang Ren's words.
"Wait! What does this mean?" As Damu Lan turned to leave, Cang Ren grabbed his arms, demanding an explanation. Looking into Damu Lan's eyes, Cang Ren saw a glimmer of tears.
Before Damu Lan could speak, a disciple barged into the room, bowing in a hurry. "Medicinal Master! Qing Zhu Jun! There's a grave problem! The residents of The Grim City have infiltrated the sect and blood has been spilled! They are heading towards the Treasured Qing Shan Hall!"
"What?!" Cang Ren exclaimed.
"My disciple...where is my disciple?!" Damu Lan asked, urgently.
"All the disciples were called to the Treasured Qing Shan Hall! They're protecting the sect with all their might!"
"He shouldn't be there..." Damu Lan's voice started shaking anxiously.
"Damu Lan, we must make haste. The man who took Zhang XiYi's strike is no ordinary opponent. Furthermore, The sect leader has just returned," Cang Ren suggested, though it seemed unnecessary, as Damu Lan promptly set off without any further reminder.
As they flew to the Treasured Qing Shan Sect, the stench of blood permeated the air, the landscape below them was stained with blood. They landed and checked the body that was strewn across everywhere. They were already lifeless. Cang Ren utilized his skills to tend to the wounded disciples. Once he had secured their safety, he followed Damu Lan, urged by the disciples, saying that their opponent was indeed strong. It was a noble act befitting a disciple of Qing Shan Immortal Sect—to protect the sect even when their lives hung in the balance.
Within the Treasured Qing Shan Hall, blood had already been spilled, painting a grim tableau of violence. Zhang XiYi had his hands full with a few conscious devils, their ceaseless onslaught pushing him to the brink. It seemed Zhang XiYi had offered to fight alone and not involve the remaining disciples in the battle.
From his vantage above, Damu Lan could immediately spot Lu Ye, and as he did, he swiftly landed beside him, tightly gripping his hand.
"Come with me," Damu Lan insisted, leaving Lu Ye astonished.
However, before they could leave, the previous cloaked figure intervened, "Lan Ye, would it not be disrespectful to leave without a greeting?"
With a mere gesture, the figure signaled his underlings to halt their assault, capturing the attention of all present. Damu Lan instinctively positioned himself protectively in front of Lu Ye, shielding him from their sight.
"Lan Ye, you were planning to leave while Lord Zhang fought for the sect? And to leave with but a single disciple? Is your favoritism so blatant?" He questioned with a tone dripping with disdain.
"I reckon it isn't for you to say that I'm disrespectful for leaving without a greeting when you don't even make yourself known." Damu Lan retorted.
A snicker escaped the figure's lips, followed by a faint "oh," before he continued speaking. In a swift motion, his hand reached up and undid his hood, revealing a cascade of long, flowing white hair—a striking resemblance to Damu Lan's own. His countenance exuded both playful wit and wisdom, creating an intriguing aura around him. However, his features bore no resemblance to Damu Lan, especially his piercing red eyes.
"Subordinate to Lord Yin, the second in command of the The Grim City, Damu Tong, I introduce myself," he declared, his words resounding through the gathered crowd.
The onlookers gasped collectively, their whispers and murmurs swirling through the air. It went on something like this;
"Damu Tong? Damu, as in Qing Zhu Jun's surname?"
"Could he be related to Qing Zhu Jun?"
The Damu Clan, aptly named, hailed from a lineage that grew up in the grasslands. Their daily activities and practices include riding horses, archery and taming eagles. However, the clan had long since faded into oblivion, vanishing centuries ago, their homeland destroyed by a catastrophic natural calamity, taking the life of many and over time, the families separated.
"Based on your reaction, I presume you must be contemplating my identity. It would be bothersome to reveal the precise name of my family branch, given Lan Ye's seniority. Instead, I shall offer a name that may be familiar with you," he paused for a moment before continuing with a sneer, "my ancestor was Damu Gong—Lan Ye, your uncle."
Damu Lan was taken aback, he had lived for thousands of years, making it difficult to recall the last time he had been in the presence of his uncle, the sole remaining family member after the tragic passing of his parents.
After he suppressed the longing for familial connection that stirred within him, another coursed through his veins. Disappointment. To think that one carrying the same blood in his veins as him had become a conscious devil.
Damu Tong declared "Well, let us set aside the notion of a family reunion. Our purpose for this arrival extends beyond such matters,"
"Speak." Damu Lan insisted firmly, his gaze locked upon Damu Tong, demanding answers in the face of mounting uncertainty.
Damu Tong extended his hand toward the figure standing behind Damu Lan. As Damu Lan realized who Damu Tong was pointing at, he raised his left arm in a defensive gesture.
"I've come to pick up our Lord Bai!" Damu Tong exclaimed.
At this pivotal moment, the onlookers gasped louder, the murmurs intensifying, and all eyes remained fixated on the unfolding scene.
"Your lord is not here. Didn't I make myself clear?!" Damu Lan shouted, glaring at Damu Tong as he did.
A sneer played across Damu Tong's face. "Why don't we verify that for ourselves, then?"
"He is my disciple! He is merely my disciple. There is nothing to verify!" Damu Lan declared, desperately trying to avert the situation.
"No," Huang ChenTao interjected, his voice adding weight to the conversation. "If he truly is not Bai Chang, the devil, then why do you refuse to verify, Damu Lan?"
"Sect leader, I must oppose this. It could potentially harm my disciple," Damu Lan countered, cupping his fists in a formal manner.
"What harm could befall your disciple if he turns out to be nothing more than a disciple?" Zhang XiYi chimed in, taking his place by Huang ChenTao's side, with Jin An standing beside him. Everyone was present to bear witness.
At this moment, the atmosphere grew tense, each gaze filled with seriousness, including Damu Lan's piercing glare.
"Master, I..." Lu Ye began to speak, but Damu Lan swiftly interrupted, not sparing a glance. "Say no more."
"Lord Bai, your subordinate has arrived to fetch you. Shouldn't you be moved by my loyalty?" Damu Tong taunted, a slight smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
With open arms, he reached out, his palms open, his action resembling that of a parent eagerly awaiting the placement of a newborn into their embrace. "During our last visit to this sect, I placed a mirror clone in each of the rooms. And I found you, hiding within. It was strange, though, as your new vessel seemed to possess traces of Lord Yin's essence. Well, you may explain once we get back to the city. So why not shed this bashfulness and step forward?"
Lu Ye had reached his breaking point. The accusations had finally pushed him over the edge. As the clouds dispersed from the blood moon, its eerie glow mirrored the fiery intensity in Lu Ye's eyes.
In that moment, the simmering rage within Lu Ye could no longer be tamed. His brows furrowed, his eyes narrowed, radiating hostility. His clenched jaw and and his nostrils flared. His body tensed, poised for action. His entire countenance exuded pure wrath.
And then, in a burst of raw emotion, he shouted. It was the first time he let his voice be heard, breaking the silence with a thunderous declaration. "I am not Bai Chang! I don't recall ever being him. Cease these baseless accusations, Damu Tong!"
"I have longed for the day when you would scold me, Lord Bai! No soul hath witnessed such madness! It was the right time to pick you up when the blood moon hailed!" Damu Tong exclaimed with a strange...sense of joy.
The blood moon was said to be the time when Bai Chang's wrath reached its peak. Legend has it during every blood moon, he would unleash his madness, leaving behind a trail of devastation. He would mercilessly slaughter an entire village, devouring their guts and leaving no bones!
"If you claim not to recall being you, then..." Damu Tong began, leaping swiftly towards Lu Ye. A mirror appeared mid-air in his hands as he continued, "this subordinate shall remind you!"
Damu Tong flipped the mirror, directing its reflective surface towards Lu Ye. Despite Damu Lan's attempts to shield Lu Ye with his own body, it proved futile as Lu Ye' gaze had already caught sight of the image reflected in the mirror.
In an instant, Lu Ye dropped to his knees, his pupils dilated, no light beaming from within. When Damu Lan called out to him, Lu Ye remained unresponsive, his mind seemingly lost in a distant memories
"What have you done?!" Damu Lan shouted.
Damu Tong smiled with feigned politeness, though sarcasm and insincerity lingered just beneath the surface. "Worry not, Lan Ye. His mind is merely drifting through fragments of distant memories. He may regain his senses momentarily," he added, his smile masking a sinister undertone. "That is, if he wakes up as the same person he once was."
Damu Lan felt utterly helpless, sitting beside Lu Ye and desperately shaking his body, but to no avail. Lu Ye remained unresponsive, lost within himself.
The others stood by playing as mere witnesses as they wait for Lu Ye to regain his senses so that a definitive answer could make everything come to light.