Fleeting Dream Across Three Lifetimes - Chapter 9

It was undeniable that when Su Zining saw her, for an instant, she still felt a little happy inside. She always remembered that she once said, if Lin Qingchen died, she did not know what she would do. Back then, she had hesitated for a long time, originally intending to leave everything behind and go. After all, to her, Qin Mohan was still a potential threat. She did not trust her. Yet in the end, for reasons she herself could not explain, perhaps to avoid some shadows from her past life, perhaps out of confusion about where to go next, she went to Wuji Sect.

Of course, she did not use the recommendation letter given by Qin Mohan, but instead revealed just a little of her abilities, displaying her rather weak five spiritual roots. Although they were mediocre in quality, it was still enough for her to be accepted as a gray-robed disciple. Thus she stayed on Luori Peak and even took an alias. As for why she called herself Zhi Mo, it was simply a pseudonym she had always used before, which suddenly surfaced in her mind at that moment, so she continued to use it.

She gathered her thoughts and raised a smile. “If I’m not here, where else could I be? And you, do you have anything troubling you?”

Understanding what she meant, Qin Mohan shook her head. “By now I am basically Lin Qingchen.” Except for those moments when she awoke from dreams in the dead of night, vaguely sensing that other world, she no longer returned there in the daytime. But even so, she could still learn from the book about all of Su Zining’s early opportunities and tragic experiences.

After speaking, Qin Mohan sighed softly, lowered her head to look at Su Zining, and frowned. “Here, does that person often harass you?” Judging from the situation, this was not something new. Su Zining, with her beautiful and alluring appearance, indeed easily drew covetous eyes.

Su Zining pressed her lips together, then gently said, “Actually it’s not so bad. He doesn’t interact with me much most days, and I can usually avoid him. Though it is a bit of a nuisance, compared to the Su family, it’s far better.”

A sharp twist seized Qin Mohan’s heart, her brows knitted tightly. “If I ask my shizun, will you move to Ziyun Peak?”

Su Zining lifted her gaze to her, her eyes flickering before she looked away. “No need. You’ve only just arrived on the mountain. To trouble Peak Master Luo Yuan over such a small matter wouldn’t be right. Besides, injustices exist everywhere. Hiding away in some corner isn’t a long-term solution. And… as you just said yourself, you’re often unreasonable and protective of your own, so he definitely won’t dare again.” She stretched her tone deliberately, her face wearing a sly smile as she repeated Qin Mohan’s earlier words. Her long lashes fluttered playfully, making her both cute and spirited.

Qin Mohan glanced at her, gave a dry cough, and turned her eyes away a bit awkwardly, mumbling, “Even so, I’m afraid he might pretend obedience while secretly making trouble for you.”

Oh. Her ears are actually red. This discovery amused Su Zining. Watching her lecture Lin Xu, she could act so composed and aloof, yet with just one teasing line from her, she was embarrassed.

“Didn’t you say you’re protective? If I come to complain, you can just cover for me.”

Qin Mohan fixed her gaze on her, then smiled and nodded.

This time it was Su Zining’s turn to feel uneasy. Qin Mohan was not one to smile often, usually keeping a faint and reserved demeanor. Yet toward her, she was not stingy with smiles. Could it be, she wondered, that she really likes me? Startled by this sudden thought, Su Zining shivered. Though she had been deceived by that man in her past life, she truly had no interest in women.

“What’s wrong?” Qin Mohan asked, noticing the change in her expression.

“Nothing.” Su Zining quickly calmed herself, then smiled charmingly. “I should get back to work, and you ought to return to Ziyun Peak, so…”

“Yes, I’ll walk you back,” Qin Mohan replied unhurriedly, her eyes resting on her as if to signal for her to lead the way.

Su Zining stiffened, turned away, and frowned. What exactly did Qin Mohan mean? Did she intend to imitate that man, little by little gaining her trust to better obtain what she wanted? Taking a deep breath, Su Zining’s expression darkened at the thought. No matter what, she would never again accept others without reservation. Those painful experiences had taught her that kindness to others was cruelty to herself. Whatever Qin Mohan wanted to do, she would follow along for now. At the very least, as an initiated disciple, her presence would provide some protection and peace.

Qin Mohan followed behind her at a leisurely pace, wanting to ask why she had chosen the name Zhi Mo, but she held back. It no longer mattered. What mattered was that she had found Zhi Mo. Even if she did not like her much yet, there was still time. She would surely come to trust her.

Qin Mohan had a poor sense of direction. The paths on Luori Peak wound and twisted, and each time she came and went, she relied on teleportation arrays. But where Su Zining lived was off the beaten path, unreachable by formation. On the way, Qin Mohan stayed very quiet, her eyes fixed on Su Zining, while in her mind she tried to memorize the route. Oddly enough, when it came to reading books or memorizing spells, once was enough for her, but with paths, unless she drew them, she could never quite remember.

Feeling the silence grow too heavy, Su Zining turned back intending to say something, only to see Qin Mohan looking deadly serious, her eyes focused and her right hand sketching shapes in the air. She looked a little silly. Stifling a laugh, Su Zining asked, “What are you doing?”

Qin Mohan quickly dropped her hand, pursed her lips, and whispered, “Remembering the road, so I can come find you next time.”

Su Zining was momentarily stunned, then pointed ahead to a small, somewhat worn courtyard. “That’s it right there.”

As she approached, a girl of seventeen or eighteen spotted her and immediately raised her brows in annoyance. “Zhi Mo, look at the time, and you still haven’t finished your chores! Yesterday the spring water at the Cleansing Platform wasn’t enough. You were told to fill it and didn’t. Today I went and it was still empty! The white jade steps outside the main hall aren’t cleaned yet, and also—”

“And also nothing, I’ll do it for her.” Qin Mohan stepped forward, half blocking Su Zining from the girl who was practically spitting in her face.

Du Juan had been fuming, for yesterday she told Su Zining to fetch the water, but it was not full. As a result, when the irritable Lin Xu passed by, she was harshly scolded. If the chores couldn’t be finished, she should have said so yesterday instead of pretending to be diligent and willing. In her anger, she hadn’t noticed Qin Mohan standing behind Su Zining. Now, seeing her step forward and block the way, she froze.

Though Qin Mohan disliked the way she treated Su Zining, she also understood it was the petty cruelty of human nature to bully newcomers. If she lectured her too much, it would only make things harder for Su Zining. So she spoke calmly.

Since Du Juan often cleaned the Wuji Hall before lectures, she had seen Qin Mohan before and recognized her as the inquisitive little disciple of Elder Luo Yuan of Ziyun Peak. At once she panicked. “Lin-shishu, this… this is our chore, we… we wouldn’t dare.”

“It’s nothing. I held her back for a few words and delayed her time. Since I made you miss your tasks, it’s only right that I help with the work.” Qin Mohan’s tone was calm, though her expression was composed.

She was beautiful, and her temperament was even better. With her looking at her so seriously, Du Juan’s face turned red as she stammered, “Then… if that’s the case, we’ll help with the work. We wouldn’t dare waste Shishu’s time. Zhi Mo, we…”

Qin Mohan nodded. “Zhi Mo isn’t feeling well. I’ll fetch the water for her, the rest I leave to you.”

There were seven or eight people living in the courtyard, and at the noise, they all came out, timidly staring at Qin Mohan. Hearing her speak this way, they felt flattered and overwhelmed. “Not hard, not hard at all.”

Most gray-robed disciples would never reach Foundation Establishment in their lives and could only live a few more decades. In a place like Wuji Sect, where the divide between strong and weak was stark, it was rare for them to receive any respect, much less from someone who was an initiated disciple.

Qin Mohan gave them a nod, then turned and said, “Zhi Mo, come with me. I don’t know the way.”

Su Zining’s feelings were complicated. She gave her a glance, then went to the backyard for a bucket, leading her to the spirit spring. Luori Peak was even larger than Ziyun Peak, and the spring was quite far from the Cleansing Platform. To fill that pool would take seven or eight trips back and forth. 

Qin Mohan frowned. “You do this every day?”

“Huh?” Su Zining had been staring at her in a daze. Coming back to her senses, she answered, “Mostly me, though sometimes they help.”

Qin Mohan was silent for a while. “From now on, I’ll help you.”

Su Zining laughed. “The way you’re dressed, if you carry water from the spirit spring to the Cleansing Platform, their jaws will drop to the ground along the way.”

Qin Mohan lowered her head to look at herself, then lifted her eyes back to Su Zining, scanning her up and down. The scrutiny made Su Zining uncomfortable, until she finally said, “Give me your clothes.”

Su Zining, stripped of her outer robe, was speechless. “…”

Wearing only her white inner garment, Qin Mohan slipped into the gray Daoist robe as she said, “Wait here for me, wear my clothes first.”

Holding her garment, Su Zining watched her carry two buckets of water and leave on her own. The robe in her hands was still warm from its owner’s body, and faintly fragrant, carrying Qin Mohan’s scent. Though she swore up and down she had no interest in women, she could not deny that when Qin Mohan had leaned close just now to undo her robe, her heartbeat had quickened in that instant. She shook her head at herself. Again and again she reminded herself, this was nothing but mutual use. Qin Mohan would not hurt her, but she would not give her the chance to hurt her either.

Such repeated self-hypnosis could indeed deceive herself. Yet later, this very thought would become a source of endless regret for Su Zining.

Qin Mohan returned quickly. Seeing her, Su Zining rushed forward. “You surely aren’t used to this kind of work. Let me do it instead.”

“Hm?” Qin Mohan raised her brows with a hum, then shook her hand casually. “I’ve been fetching water at Ziyun Peak for half a month already, I’m used to it.” With that, she continued the work.

Su Zining could tell Qin Mohan wasn’t using spiritual power. She hadn’t expected someone who seemed so elegant to be so efficient at menial labor. By the time the pool was full, half an hour had passed. Qin Mohan removed the robe and handed it back. “I should go now. Take care of yourself. I’ll come again tomorrow.”

Seeing her about to leave, Su Zining deliberately asked, “Do you remember the way?”

Qin Mohan halted, pondering. Perhaps she had grown too dependent on navigation before. In this vast sect, where the layout was so similar everywhere, it was indeed difficult for her to recognize the way. Still, she had just made a point of memorizing it, so she should be able to find it. Turning back, she caught the mischievous glint in Su Zining’s eyes and promptly said with crisp decisiveness, “I don’t remember. Zhi Mo, come fetch me. I’ll wait for you by the Wuji Hall.”

Su Zining realized she had dug herself a pit, and for a moment, no words came out. Qin Mohan, who was about to leave, stopped again, turned, and handed her a storage ring. “Inside are some Qi-Gathering Pills, Vermilion Fruits, and also Solid Essence Pills from the Lin family, pills to increase spiritual power. Keep them. Five spiritual roots consume a lot of spiritual energy. I’ve reached Foundation Establishment now, so I don’t need them.”

Su Zining probed with her divine sense: two fourth-rank Vermilion Fruits, a bottle of Qi-Gathering Pills, four Solid Essence Pills, plus several Earth-grade spiritual tools and spirit herbs brimming with energy. For Qin Mohan, these were all precious items, and she was giving them to her? She knew that Vermilion Fruits were rare even for initiated disciples, whose generous masters might grant one every half month. Had Qin Mohan given her everything? It was true that five spiritual roots required more energy, but normally, wouldn’t people think nurturing someone with such roots was a waste of resources?

Qin Mohan… she truly couldn’t figure her out.