Section 17
The great hall was shrouded in dim light, yet Luna Wu possessed keen eyesight.
In her imagination, the beehive should resemble a fist-sized object, riddled with holes. The narrow gap between the two imposing columns where the spirit stood was barely wide enough to accommodate a hand.
Luna Wu stepped forward and, amidst the enveloping darkness, spotted a tiny green object no larger than a pea, ensnared by silken threads, appearing utterly unremarkable.
Is this truly the beehive they seek?
How could she possibly extract it?
The small beehive hovered about a meter above the ground. Luna Wu slightly bent her knees and leaned closer to examine it. Numerous thoughts flitted through her mind, all focused on how to retrieve it. Perhaps due to the tension weighing on her spirit, a wave of drowsiness washed over her, prompting her to rub her eyes vigorously—
What happened next surpassed her understanding.
Like each instance of drifting into dreams via the jade pillow, Luna Wu first felt her feet loosen, then lifted one foot, only to find herself surrounded by an endless expanse of green. As she walked and surveyed her surroundings, it seemed she had entered the interior of an oval, her feet pressing against a soft, cushioned surface, the air thick with the sweet scent of plant sap.
Inside the oval, there was no artificial light, yet the environment glowed with an inner radiance. Gradually, Luna Wu discerned that this oval was not hollow; numerous transparent threads cascaded from the top to the bottom.
Continuing onward, she deftly navigated around the threads and sticky substances, noting that the distance from top to bottom was not particularly high—less than twice her own height. With her previous experiences traversing the jade pillow, she felt little astonishment at what lay before her and politely inquired, "Is anyone present?"
No one responded.
As she walked, a gentle flurry of wingbeats gradually reached her ears. Following the sound, she glimpsed a shadow, but her view was obstructed by the threads. Quickening her pace, she finally emerged from the tangled web to behold the complete form of the shadow.
It was a black bee, at least twice Luna Wu's size.
It hovered above her, its eyes looking down at her with an air of dominance.
Luna Wu could not comprehend what was transpiring; everything felt beyond the realm of normalcy. The black bee appeared somewhat menacing, and she swallowed hard, saying, "I didn't mean to intrude into your home—"
Upon hearing her, the black bee flapped its wings.
It did not speak in words, yet Luna Wu "heard" its voice: "The time is not yet right."
"When will that be?"
"For the item you seek."
"How do you know what I desire—"
"Return in seven days."
Before Luna Wu could fully grasp the meaning of this exchange, she sensed the black bee communicating with her through the frequency of its wingbeats. A gust of wind then swept her away, and when she regained her senses, she found herself back in the darkened hall, before the two great columns.
"What are you doing?" the spirit behind her asked.
Still in a daze, Luna Wu responded without thinking, "It told me to return in seven days."
"Who? Are you referring to the queen bee inside?"
At the mention of the "queen bee," Luna Wu felt a jolt of recognition, recalling the immense black bee she had encountered within the oval, its abdomen marked by a striking golden triangular area.
"It seems even the ancient venomous bee fears you," the spirit said quietly. "Who exactly are you?"
"What ancient venomous bee?"
"Do not turn around," the spirit interrupted her motion. "What I am telling you now cannot be heard outside. You and that gentleman are here for the ancient rarity, are you not? You possess remarkable abilities; we could collaborate."
Her words contained numerous pieces of information Luna Wu lacked, and fearing exposure or eavesdropping, she lowered her voice and feigned indifference. "How do we collaborate?"
"I will help you rescue your beloved, and if you obtain the beehive, you shall share it with me."
Section 18
The spirit effortlessly rescued Leo Lee from Victor Ward's grasp, an act that seemed almost effortless in Luna Wu's eyes.
She appeared suddenly before the two in the courtyard, swiftly seizing the short sword that Victor had pressed against Leo's neck. Both men were taken aback by this unexpected turn, but Leo, quicker on the draw, swiftly subdued Victor beneath his blade.
With defeat evident, Victor maintained a calm demeanor and addressed the void, "Might I inquire why you have intervened?"
The spirit understood he was addressing her, gradually materializing under the moonlight.
It was the first time Leo and Victor beheld her true form, both displaying expressions of astonishment.
The spirit regarded Victor, gesturing towards Luna Wu with her gaze. "I seek the beehive, and she can assist me."
"If you were to ally with me, I could be of service to you as well," Victor countered.
Standing beneath the eaves, the spirit crossed her arms and shook her head. "You cannot assist me, and your nature is too vile."
Victor scoffed, "People tremble at the mention of spirits; can anyone truly be more wicked than you?"
"Call it as you will; you are simply unworthy." The spirit turned to Luna Wu. "Remember your promise to me."
As she spoke, the spirit prepared to leap away, prompting Luna Wu to exclaim, "What is your name?"
Having already vaulted into the courtyard, she laughed lightly, responding, "Aria, Aria Hu."
With Aria's departure, only the three remained in the shrine.
Leo swiftly unbuckled Victor's belt, binding his hands without uttering a word, then confiscated his pouch. This infuriated Victor, who arched an eyebrow, "If you intend to kill me, then do so; why take my pouch?"
"You craft talismans, using rare materials. Given the remote location of Nanhai County, I doubt you could produce a new one in time. It's safest for me to keep your pouch."
"You've gone too far."
A white horse galloped forward, and Leo seized Victor, hoisting him onto its back. "You owe me yet another life."
"I've told you, I won't—"
Leo interrupted him, gently stroking the horse's neck. The steed understood, carrying Victor northward.
Luna Wu was plagued by a multitude of unresolved questions. As Leo turned back toward her, she quickly asked, "Are we heading back?"
He nodded, his gaze holding a profound significance.
Unable to decipher the meaning behind his look, Luna Wu boldly inquired, "Do you want to know what I encountered inside?"