18 Still Shining Brightly As Ever

Hua Liuyan stared blankly, her heart surging with an urgent need to see the expression of the person before her, yet she trembled and instinctively recoiled, painfully aware of her own filth and decay.

The young immortal, as picturesque as a painting, knelt before her without a hint of hesitation or disdain.

She reached out a hand tentatively. "Your wounds—ah, these are from my second senior brother’s sword qi. If you are willing, I can help you treat them. Also, rest assured, I do not share my brother’s views; I do not believe you are in the wrong, nor do I wish to kill you."

"If you are still willing to trust me, I can take you to a place where there are others like you, along with cultivation techniques suited to your nature. Only, from this day forth, you must never slaughter the innocent. Do you understand?"

As the distance closed, Hua Liuyan finally saw the young immortal’s face clearly.

Bright as the moon, cold and ethereal as a deity.

Had she been only that, she might have inspired fear, but as she spoke, her tone was light and airy, devoid of arrogance, even a bit playful, as if she were simply speaking her mind as thoughts occurred to her.

In her eyes, Hua Liuyan was not a filthy monster or ghost, but a friend she had known, and this was not a moment of life-or-death crisis, but a casual chat between companions.

Hua Liuyan gazed at the young immortal with near-obsessive devotion.

Pure, dazzling... and gentle.

With her arrival, the vast sea of stars seemed nothing more than dust.

Hua Liuyan trembled as she reached out, but upon catching sight of her own skeletal fingers, she snapped back to reality, panic-stricken, and tried to pull her hand away.

"Hey, there’s no taking it back now!"

The young immortal laughed, grabbing her hand. Using some form of spell, she staunched the black blood and ghostly miasma seeping from the wounds. She then tore a piece from her own skirt and bandaged the injuries on Hua Liuyan’s arm.

The young immortal coughed softly, her eyes darting away in slight discomfort. "I didn't bring everything I needed, but fortunately, this sleeve has a built-in defensive array... My apologies, this is all I can manage for now."

Moonlight intertwined with the color of blood; gentleness entangled with cold, brittle bone.

In that moment, it was a scene more magnificent than anything Hua Liuyan had witnessed in her entire life.

Monsters and ghosts do not feel pain, yet at that moment, Hua Liuyan felt an ache so profound it was almost unbearable.

"It is enough," Hua Liuyan murmured. "It is enough."

If this were but a fleeting dream, she would be content to die right now.

But she did not die.

The young immortal imbued her with a wisp of sword qi, successfully deceiving the heavens and spiriting her away to that place meant for her—the Ghostly Cang Tower.

At the time of parting, she finally learned the young immortal’s name.

"I am Sheng Ningyu. 'Ning' as in the sage who remains unswayed by material things, 'Yu' as in a house filled with gold and jade." The young immortal, dressed in white and silver, waved at her. "I must be off—oh, and remember, do not do anything evil. If you do, this Heavenly Dao will surely bring the retribution down on my head."

Hua Liuyan suddenly asked, "Then, if I do many good deeds, will you receive the karmic blessings?"

Sheng Ningyu laughed, her eyes curving into crescents, her spirit bright and uninhibited. "Who knows? But doing good is never a mistake."

"This one understands."

After that, there was no news of Sheng Ningyu for a long time.

Their second meeting was when she suddenly descended from the heavens into the Ghostly Cang Tower, tossing a cultivator at Hua Liuyan’s feet.

"It is him," Sheng Ningyu said concisely.

Hua Liuyan was stunned, and her malice flared. Yet, hours later, watching the cultivator trembling and pale from the torture she had inflicted, Hua Liuyan suddenly felt indifferent.

"May I ask the immortal to strike the final blow?"

"Me?" Sheng Ningyu tilted her head and leapt down from a tree.

A shadow like snow, stirring falling blossoms and petals, swirling in a way that dazzled the eyes as if one were falling into a dream.

Hua Liuyan stared in a trance, only realizing what she had asked when Sheng Ningyu stood before her, and she immediately shook her head frantically. "That is not what this one meant! You need not—"

"Hey, don't be afraid of me."

Seeing Hua Liuyan’s regretful and uneasy expression, Sheng Ningyu arched her brows and laughed, her long hair swaying behind her.

"It’s just killing a cultivator, of course I can. You have no idea how long I’ve been holding back on this journey."

She drew her sword, and with a flash of light as swift as falling snow, the person on the ground was silenced forever.

This was the first time Hua Liuyan had seen Sheng Ningyu draw her blade. Having stayed at the Ghostly Cang Tower for some time, she knew that such a person was not worthy of Sheng Ningyu’s sword.

Yet, she had drawn it anyway.

Hua Liuyan could not describe her emotions; her heart was filled with joy, yet she felt a lingering sense of trepidation.

Immortal Sheng had helped her far too much. How could she ever repay such kindness?

***

"Speaking of which, I have another matter today."

The young immortal neatly sheathed her sword and walked over. "I know you are quite skilled at blending incense, and I would like to ask you to create a specific fragrance for me. Do you have the time?"

Hua Liuyan replied immediately, "This one has all the time in the world! May I ask for whom it is intended?"

Sheng Ningyu raised an eyebrow. "For myself, of course."

Hua Liuyan looked up in astonishment, her face, crisscrossed with scars, filled with agitation. "How could the immortal use incense blended by me?!"

"Why not?"

Sheng Ningyu tilted her head, her hair swaying. "‘The fragrance has a unique charm; so pure one forgets the cold.’ Your surname is Hua (Flower), and you blend incense; I thought of these lines the moment I saw you. To be honest, I wanted to ask you last time, but I was too shy—are you still unwilling?"

Sheng Ningyu lowered her head, looking utterly dejected, the tassels on her lotus crown hanging still. "If you are unwilling, I will not force you."

Hua Liuyan became even more flustered. "I am willing! This one is truly willing!"

"That is wonderful. Since you’ve agreed, there is no need for such formality. If you are willing, just call me by my name."

This time, Hua Liuyan refused, insisting that Sheng Ningyu call her "Yannu"—her childhood name.

Sheng Ningyu laughed. "Very well, Sister A-Yan. Let’s keep this brief, as I cannot stay long—you see, my betrothed is a bit of a fool; if I don't return, he might just wait for me in the snow forever!"

She had used a new term of endearment, strange yet sweet to the ear.

Seeing the young immortal’s joyful expression, Hua Liuyan knew her feelings for her betrothed must be profound.

How wonderful, she thought. If such a marvelous immortal had a partner, he must treat her with the utmost care, and from here on, their path would be smooth, their lives free of waves.

She asked for the specifications, but in the end, she refused to accept any spirit stones.

"I have already received too much of your kindness. I can provide for myself at the Ghostly Cang Tower now; please take these back."

Sheng Ningyu did not insist. She flicked her sleeves like clouds, and the tassels on her crown swayed triumphantly. "That’s great! To think there is such a thing as a free meal in this world—I won't be polite then."

A faint, unconscious smile touched Hua Liuyan’s lips.

"However, since we are speaking of kindness..." Sheng Ningyu drew out the syllables. "Sister A-Yan, I would like to ask you to do one more thing, how about it?"

Hua Liuyan looked up eagerly. "What does the immortal need? Please, command me."

Sheng Ningyu said, "I have to attend the academy, undergo seclusion, and sneak off to see—ahem, in short, I have very little time to travel. I will gift you a wisp of my sword qi. Once your wounds are healed, wander the world. On your journey, if you see women like yourself, help them as much as you can, provided you keep yourself safe. Can you do that?"

At the time, Hua Liuyan did not understand the intent; she was simply overjoyed that she could finally be of use to her young immortal. Though the thought of traveling made her hesitate, she could never refuse her.

She hesitantly produced a piece of white silk. "Immortal, could you imprint the sword qi onto this hair ribbon..."

It was not a hair ribbon, but the piece of the robe Sheng Ningyu had torn to bandage her wounds. Hua Liuyan could not bear to throw it away, nor could she let others touch it with their spiritual energy; she had washed the blood from it by hand, over and over again.

"...Is it possible?"

"Of course."

Sheng Ningyu didn't mind. She even asked, "Sister A-Yan, are you short on hair ribbons? Is the Ghostly Cang Tower that poor? Shall I give you a new one?"

Hua Liuyan shook her head repeatedly. "Not at all, this one is enough."

She watched Sheng Ningyu’s retreating back. Under the sunlight, she was like a celestial being.

Hua Liuyan asked, as if possessed, "Will you become the Sword Venerable?"

"Me?" Sheng Ningyu stood at the threshold, turning back against the light. As the radiance danced around her, she laughed heartily. "Never! Sister A-Yan, you hold me in too high regard!"

"If someone as unruly as me became the Sword Venerable, then the Heavens must truly be blind!"

That was not true.

Hua Liuyan thought, if such a wonderful person became the Sword Venerable, there would be more hope in this world.

Later, she did not know how it came to pass, but her words proved prophetic: the once-uninhibited young immortal became the "Moonlight Sword Venerable" of the Sword Pavilion, and the Ghostly Cang Tower had a new master.

She rarely visited the tower anymore, nor did she ask for incense. But Hua Liuyan never forgot.

"...I have saved up so much incense, and I established the Banbi Sect to shelter and help those women. Regardless of whether they have the talent for cultivation, they can come to the Banbi Sect to work."

Not only that, the sect had gained some standing. Xiang Bieyun—her new name—had never given up on the idea of finding and sheltering Sheng Ningyu’s soul, and for years, they had maintained ties with the Ghostly Cang Tower.

Xiang Bieyun spoke faster and faster, her words becoming jumbled toward the end, until Sheng Ningyu poured her a cup of tea. "Don't rush, speak slowly."

This sentence seemed to ignite something, and moisture flooded Xiang Bieyun’s eyes once more.

She gripped Sheng Ningyu’s left hand tightly, her eyes filled with a heartbreaking, humble anticipation, like a naive child wishing for a miracle. "Are... are you, truly?"

It seemed that if Sheng Ningyu denied it, the water in those eyes would shatter like broken pearls.

This was not in her plans. She had not expected to meet Hua Liuyan—the "Madame Xiang" who had changed her name and restored her appearance.

The memory of their meeting was but a blink in Sheng Ningyu’s long life of cultivation, and recognizing her now seemed to offer no benefits, yet—

"I am."

Sheng Ningyu offered a light, cheerful smile.

"Sister A-Yan, I heard you. You have done very well all these years; you are truly incredible."

Just like their first meeting.

The sunlight was faint, without wind or rain, yet it felt exactly like that night—blood and tears intertwined.

The moon was still that same moon, gently and boldly casting its light, unchanged.

Xiang Bieyun stared, tracing the silhouette of the person before her. Her brows softened, and a smile appeared within her tear-filled gaze.

It was her.

Only her.

Across the eight wildernesses and four seas, there was only this single, bright moon.

Under Sheng Ningyu’s curious gaze, Xiang Bieyun wiped away her tears and spoke of the last sixty years. She spoke of her name change, the founding of the sect, her meeting with Yuan Bushu, and countless past events and new beginnings. But at one point, she suddenly caught sight of the hand Sheng Ningyu had tucked away in her sleeve.

The scars on her wrist were jagged, old and new, each one a stark, stinging sight.

Pain pierced her heart. Xiang Bieyun fought to control her emotions, asking in a soft, trembling voice, "And you, Immortal?"

"Me? My life has been far less exciting than yours, Sister A-Yan." Sheng Ningyu leaned back in her chair, looking at the bright sun over the lake outside the pavilion, a smile on her face.

How wonderful, she thought. To be able to see such beautiful lake scenery once more.

Sheng Ningyu said in a light tone, "I suffered a minor injury, so I rested for a while. I haven't done anything particularly interesting."

The young immortal, just like in the past, spoke in the lightest of tones, her expression relaxed.

But Xiang Bieyun knew that over these years, her young immortal must have suffered greatly.

So much suffering.

Yet she had known nothing, and could do nothing to help.

In an instant, a wave of immense pain and guilt washed over her. The tears she had struggled to hold back broke through, and Xiang Bieyun’s face was covered in them.

Sheng Ningyu’s eyes widened. She had no idea how to comfort her, so she simply held out a handkerchief, repeating, "Don't cry, please don't cry—I am still alive, and my body is doing well—I am truly fine."

Xiang Bieyun knew she shouldn't be like this. After a while, she recovered her composure and suddenly widened her eyes. "I, have I disrupted your plans?"

"Recognizing you was indeed not in my plans." Seeing Xiang Bieyun’s face go pale, Sheng Ningyu arched her brows and gave a bold, uninhibited laugh. "But you know me—I never do anything according to plan."

Yes, the young immortal never followed a plan.

She would save monsters and ghosts she shouldn't, and she would meddle in affairs that had nothing to do with her.

Xiang Bieyun gazed at her, her knuckles turning white as she gripped her knees, yet she smiled. "Yes, the immortal has always been this way."

Sheng Ningyu was very familiar with the way Xiang Bieyun looked at her. Not long ago, she had used that same gaze to look at Yuan Xiao’er.

Sheng Ningyu accepted it openly, even pushing her luck to act spoiled. "It has been years, and Sister A-Yan is now 'Madame Xiang'! Come to think of it, I met Yuan Bushu at the academy. When the time comes, you two must make up for the wedding wine I missed!"

Xiang Bieyun looked at her with maternal affection, as serene as plum blossoms over water. "Whenever you wish, it shall be done."

As long as she was still alive in this world.

Xiang Bieyun lowered her eyes, her pupils suddenly dilating until the blackness almost filled her entire gaze.

In this instant, she was not the noble and elegant Madame Xiang; she was not the gentle and polite Xiang Bieyun.

She was the monster and ghost from a hundred years ago, the one everyone had sought to slay; she was Hua Liuyan, who had suffered all manner of pain and fallen into the mire.

She thought, it does not matter. This time, I will be here.

As long as the young immortal desires it, she would obtain everything for her.