Chereads / The lonely journey of the cold fairy / Chapter 8 - Chapter 8 Dark under the lamp

Chapter 8 - Chapter 8 Dark under the lamp

Bai Chong'an, the patriarch of the Bai family, was now the only remaining Jindan stage cultivator in the clan. In his youth, he had studied at Danxia Palace, but as he grew older, he could never grasp the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage, so he returned home to spend his twilight years in peace.

He usually resided in the remote Fallen Leaves Cottage on the back mountain, seldom seen by anyone. All family affairs were managed by the younger generation, and only on extremely important occasions would he be called upon to appear.

Bai Siyao had only seen this granduncle once when her parents passed away. She remembered kneeling before their memorial when this immortal-like granduncle with flowing sleeves entered. He gave her a cold glance before turning away to speak with her eldest uncle.

"Dinghan died while serving the family. You must handle his funeral properly. Also, find a servant woman to take good care of his daughter."

Her eldest uncle responded respectfully.

Bai Siyao, upon hearing these words, kowtowed to this granduncle. Later, when she was bullied and sought justice from him, she couldn't even get past the gates of the Fallen Leaves Cottage.

Thinking of this, she curled her lips slightly.

It was... hard to judge.

"Master Huo, Fairy Yue, Second Miss, please come in," an old servant greeted respectfully at the entrance.

For the first time, Bai Siyao stepped into the Fallen Leaves Cottage, curious as she looked around.

Upon entering, a screen wall greeted them, with rock formations piled up on either side, exuding an antique elegance. In the middle courtyard stood a large, withered tree, though despite its dry state, it emitted a solemn aura. Suspended beneath the tree was an open umbrella, its surface as black as ink underneath but as pure as snow above, though what material it was made of, she couldn't tell.

Bai Siyao's gaze froze.

Wasn't that her mother's Yin-Yang Umbrella? She had known her granduncle kept it, but she hadn't expected it to be so openly displayed.

—No, it wasn't for display. If she wasn't mistaken, that tree was called the Yellow Springs Wood, capable of gathering death energy. With the Yin-Yang Umbrella opened beneath it, it could likely attract all the nearby wandering spirits.

What on earth was her granduncle doing? As a legitimate disciple of Danxia Palace, could he possibly be dabbling in soul control techniques?

"Second Miss?" The old servant appeared before her at some point, smiling as he reminded her.

Bai Siyao feigned nonchalance and followed Yue Yunqiao inside.

Despite the many years since she had last seen her granduncle, he still looked the same—his sleeves flowing elegantly, exuding an immortal air. He leaned against the window, smiling as he watched the younger guests enter.

Huo Chongxiao and his junior sister saluted solemnly. "Huo Chongxiao of Qianxiu Peak greets Senior Brother Bai."

His master, Master Changling, was highly respected in the sect, so addressing him as "Senior Brother" sufficed.

Bai Chong'an extended his hand in a friendly gesture. "We are all fellow disciples, no need for such formalities. Please, have a seat."

Huo Chongxiao thanked him and took a seat below.

Bai Siyao, as the junior, should have stood out of respect, but she had no interest in serving her granduncle. Pretending not to understand the custom, she sat beside Yue Yunqiao.

Luckily, Bai Chong'an was aloof and indifferent, paying no mind to such trivial matters.

He took a sip of tea and asked, "How is Master Changling? It's been decades since I left the sect, and I seldom hear news from them."

Huo Chongxiao replied, "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother. My master is well. He entered the Deity Transformation stage ten years ago and is currently stabilizing his cultivation."

"Deity Transformation, is it…" Bai Chong'an seemed lost in thought for a moment, but then smiled. "Congratulations to Master Changling. With his talent, this is only the beginning."

Huo Chongxiao sensed the underlying disappointment beneath his smile and offered a few polite words, understanding his feelings. What could be more painful for a cultivator than stagnation in their cultivation? Hearing of others advancing while comparing it to one's own situation could only lead to heartache.

After chatting briefly about Danxia Palace, Huo Chongxiao couldn't help but bring up the matter of the demonic creatures in Qingyun City. "Senior Brother Bai, what do you make of the demon sightings?"

Bai Chong'an waved it off nonchalantly. "The government has its own spiritual masters stationed there. Now that you've discovered it, they will handle it."

"But—"

"I'll have them pay more attention. After all, this is Bai family territory. Any disturbances would affect our clan's reputation as well." He then smiled approvingly, "I've heard about your accomplishments tonight. Junior Brother Huo and Junior Sister Yue have indeed lived up to Master Changling's teachings, handling the situation impeccably."

Yue Yunqiao, still concerned about putting in a good word for Bai Siyao, quickly added, "Senior Brother Bai, we have to thank Junior Sister Siyao for her sharp instincts. Without her, we might not have located the source of the demonic energy, and she even saved me."

"Oh, really?" Bai Chong'an finally turned his gaze to the younger girl, smiling as he praised her, "Well done. Qingru, fetch a talisman brush and deliver it to the Second Miss later."

The old servant respectfully acknowledged the order.

Yue Yunqiao let out a sigh of relief, flashing Bai Siyao a grateful smile. With the patriarch's reward, her terrifying aunt couldn't possibly give her any more trouble.

Bai Siyao returned the smile, but inwardly, she was indifferent. Yue Yunqiao didn't understand, but she did all too well. Her granduncle's words meant little—he never truly cared.

But it didn't matter. She was no longer the girl she once was. Why should she care?

Once the conversation concluded, Bai Chong'an said, "Since fate has brought my junior brothers and sisters to Qingyun City, it is only proper for me to host you. After tonight's arduous demon-slaying, why don't you stay for a few days to rest before returning to the sect?"

Huo Chongxiao gratefully responded, "Thank you, Senior Brother. We humbly accept your hospitality."

Bai Chong'an smiled slightly, gesturing for Guan Mowen to make the arrangements, then politely saw them off.

Before leaving, Bai Siyao casually touched the screen wall, admiring it. "Granduncle has good taste. This painting is quite beautiful."

Yue Yunqiao chimed in, "If you like it, why not get one yourself?"

Laughing and chatting, they followed Huo Chongxiao out of Fallen Leaves Cottage.

Once back at the estate, Bai Siyao asked, "Mr. Guan, where are the guests staying? Can you place them closer to me so I can serve as a guide for Senior Sister Yue?"

Guan Mowen replied, "Master Huo and Fairy Yue will be staying at the Clear Lotus Courtyard. Rest assured, Second Miss, I'll arrange for proper service. There will be no neglect."

"That's a bit far," Bai Siyao muttered in disappointment.

Guan Mowen smiled. "The master specifically instructed us to take good care of the guests, and Clear Lotus Courtyard is the best guest residence we have."

Yue Yunqiao quickly said, "It's no trouble. Even if it's a few extra steps, we'll wait for you, Sister Bai."

Bai Siyao nodded and handed back the string of protective copper coins Huo Chongxiao had lent her. "Thank you, Young Master Huo, for your protection tonight. Here is your talisman back."

Huo Chongxiao accepted it. "It was nothing. We should be thanking you instead."

The three exchanged heartfelt farewells, with Yue Yunqiao promising to meet Bai Siyao in the morning for an outing.

As she watched them walk away, Bai Siyao's smile faded.

Lowering her gaze, she sensed the demonic energy she had collected earlier flicker in her palm. Strangely enough, it seemed to resonate with the aura back at Fallen Leaves Cottage.

The Yellow Springs Wood, the Yin-Yang Umbrella… Could the source of this demonic energy truly lie within her own home?

That was an answer she had never expected.