Chapter Sixteen: An Unspoken Promise

Chapter Sixteen: The Unknown Promise

After slaying the supernatural beast, Xiao Mo busied herself gathering her belongings in the cave, while Ye Bai basked in the sunlight at the entrance, waiting for their return.

This hunt had played out with a certain irony—it could hardly be called a kill at all. The creature had simply exhausted itself. Xiao Mo had never before encountered such a pure crystal core, the elemental force within it almost entirely faded. Though the beast was not yet truly dead, in the right environment, it could revive once its elemental power reformed. But inside the glass dome, where not a trace of elemental energy stirred, such a revival seemed impossible.

The light burst grenades in Ye Bai’s hand were new to her, apparently crafted specifically to counter supernatural beasts. Yet everyone harbored their own secrets, and she felt no need to pry.

In truth, she had little to pack—only a few medicinal herbs she’d gathered along the way. Of little use to her, perhaps, but invaluable to body-tempering cultivators, as they hailed from the middle reaches of the Ghost Vein.

Xiao Mo decided to give the herbs to Ye Bai as thanks for the two light burst grenades. She had intended to gift her some finer potions, but she hadn’t brought any of the fragile vials while out on her family’s mission.

Ye Bai, eyes half-closed, watched the birds wheel through the sky above her. Suddenly, a pair of gently rounded curves intruded upon her field of vision, followed by a faint, sweet fragrance.

She sat up at once, flustered, “When did you come out? You didn’t make a sound.”

“I just finished packing. The road home isn’t close, so we’d best set out quickly.” Xiao Mo’s face gleamed with satisfaction, clearly having achieved her aim of startling Ye Bai.

Yet as she prepared to leave the cave she’d called home for several days, a wave of melancholy washed over her. Closing her eyes, she stretched out her arms and began to spin, her slim figure twirling as the pink dress she wore set the butterfly pattern on its hem fluttering to life.

Xiao Mo breathed deeply, greedily drawing in every trace of the earth’s fragrance, the scent of flowers borne on the wind. Slowly she spun, attuning herself to the heartbeat of this place. Unnoticed, a single tear slid from the corner of her eye, clinging to her long lashes before tumbling down her cheek like a kite with a broken string, leaving a glistening trail in its wake.

She was not so different now from when she’d first arrived—sent here to hunt supernatural beasts the moment she broke through to the novice level. From bewildered and bruised, crying alone as she tended her wounds at night, she had learned to survive, realizing that the lessons of the family paled beside those learned in the field.

The traces she left behind today would soon vanish, like tear stains drying in the sun, evaporating as she pressed ever onward. Perhaps, when she was tired at last and in need of a shoulder, she would finally allow herself to rest. Xiao Mo opened her eyes, glancing down at Ye Bai.

So beautiful. Like a princess dancing from the pages of a painting. Though her steps were unpracticed, the sorrow she carried resonated deeply within Ye Bai. For a moment, he longed to gather Xiao Mo into his arms and whisper that he could be her refuge.

But he could not. They were creatures from different worlds. Let this meeting remain a precious memory, a treasure buried in his heart.

“It’s time,” Ye Bai said, brushing the leaves from his trousers as he stood. “Let’s get going—once night falls, the road won’t be safe.”

He smiled faintly, resolving to keep these feelings to himself. Smoothing his hair, he strode forward.

“You’re going the wrong way,” Xiao Mo called suddenly from behind.

“Ah—”

Ye Bai froze mid-step, unsure whether to put his foot down. Only then did he realize he didn’t know the way back. Scratching his head in embarrassment, he turned to see Xiao Mo already striding ahead, her silhouette receding.

He hurried to catch up. The two walked in silence—Xiao Mo leading the way, Ye Bai following, his gaze fixed on her heels, lost in thought.

At last, they reached the guard station of the Parasol District. “I won’t go in with you,” Xiao Mo said, pausing at a distance. “I must return to my clan to report my mission. Should fate allow, perhaps we’ll meet again at Purple Star Academy.” With that, she vanished into the mountains.

Without looking back, Ye Bai entered the station. He dared not pause or call her to stay, fearing that the chasm between them would sap his courage. During that short walk inside, he clenched and unclenched his fists, repeating silently: “If fate allows, may we meet again at Purple Star Academy.”

He returned to his room, sorted the pelts and claws of the earth-gold mice he had hunted, then hurried back to the city.

The Tools Street was as bustling as ever—crowds, laughter, the hum of conversation. Yet Ye Bai felt different now, reborn. Gone was the student’s naïveté, replaced by a touch of ruthlessness. The easy smile no longer lingered on his lips, his eyes steadier, more mature.

“Boss! Come take a look—how much are these earth-gold mouse pelts worth?” Ye Bai strode into the shop where he’d bought his weapons, setting his bag on the counter.

“Coming, coming!” The shopkeeper rushed out from the back. The earth-gold mouse was a rare commodity. Not that the species itself was scarce, but body-tempering cultivators rarely dared hunt them for fear of running into the mother beast, while novices considered them beneath notice—the profit from their pelts too meager.

The pelts and claws were small things. The fur, once cleaned and sorted, could be made into handbags beloved by women; the longer claws, after some work, into daggers; the shorter, into jewelry. The shopkeeper always handled these items personally to guard against counterfeits.

“Well, if it isn’t our young lord!” the shopkeeper exclaimed. “I knew today would be lucky when I heard the magpies outside my door this morning! Your visit truly graces my humble store.” Clearly, he remembered Ye Bai and spared no effort to flatter him.

Ye Bai handed over his bag for the shopkeeper to tally, wandering the store in the meantime.

Sunlight streamed in through the windows, glinting off something that caught Ye Bai’s eye. He walked over to find a pendant—a heart-shaped red jade at its center, flanked by crescent moons that faded from red to pink, each a different shade. He recognized the moons as the smallest claws of the earth-gold mouse.

“Let me see that,” he said to the poised saleswoman at the counter.

Only after taking it in his hand did he discover that the heart-shaped jade could be pressed. When he did so, a tiny dagger, matching the size of the crescent moons and also made from an earth-gold mouse’s claw, sprang out from the center.

It would make a perfect gift for his sister—a delightful surprise. Ye Bai pictured the pendant gracing her neck and smiled inwardly.

“Boss, put this on my bill with the rest of my things.”

“Of course!” The shopkeeper beamed, thinking, You’ve brought enough material to make dozens of pendants like that. He calculated the cost at base price, bought Ye Bai’s goods at a generous rate, hoping to build goodwill. He trusted his instincts—this young man would bring him even greater fortune in the future.

“All done, young master. Hope to see you again soon!” The shopkeeper cheerfully credited Ye Bai’s account.

Ye Bai glanced at the sum, smiled, and said nothing. Some things were best left unspoken; to spell them out would only spoil them.

He bought some clothes and food in the street before heading home. He’d been away long enough—time to return, especially with just a week left before the exams. The final preparations awaited.