Chapter 15: Loss

“Who?” Bai Yanci chased at once.
But Yi Ke clutched her sleeve—sleep won—seconds later asleep in her arms.
No answer—she felt a loss she didn’t expect.
Yi Ke already liked someone—days together—she’d noticed nothing.
Hidden well.
However lost she felt—only a sigh—bent careful, lifted the sleeping girl, laid her center bed.
Drunk Yi Ke unlike daytime—sprawled every which way. Double bed size—stuff piled—no spare space.
Looking at her—mood oddly good—smile without trying. Top of wardrobe—the folded rabbit-fur blanket—gentle over Yi Ke.
Wasn’t rabbit fur warmer? Stashed away for thin quilt—couldn’t understand.
Done—didn’t leave—watched her sleep.
Deep night—no one knew her real heart. Only now she let feeling run. Safest—no one could hurt her.
Watching—cheeks burned again—heart raced fast.
Yi Ke asleep—couldn’t see her fluster. Still she looked away panicked—quick to the living room.
At the door—stopped.
Couldn’t help looking back—girl in dreams again—smile deeper, soft: “Ke-ke—sweet dreams.”
Next morning Yi Ke woke—living room empty again. Bai Yanci mostly home—but vanished often lately.
More than before.
Hangover throb—worse than usual. Rubbed temples resigned—last night blurry—remembered Bai Yanci picked her up, brought her home.
Seemed… Bai Yanci asked something.
Head aching thinking—eyes on coffee table—breath stopped.
Warm water. Unfamiliar pills. Heart carrot breakfast. No guess who.
Cup—temperature perfect. Bai Yanci careful—probably timed her wake. Never treated this finely before.
Liking Bai Yanci was her luck.
This cared-for feeling—first real hope for the future.
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At first—saved a rabbit by chance—fate—pet for company. Later—drawn by immortal beauty beyond mortal.
Now so much happened—feelings for Bai Yanci weren’t surface anymore.
She didn’t want to let Bai Yanci go.
Once clear—the thought rooted deep—fed with heart’s blood.
Set the cup down—kitchen knife—cut a lock of hair clean—threaded spiritual-flame breath into it.
Bai Yanci kept it close—wherever she went—Yi Ke could track flame traces.
Hair into a pouch she’d embroidered from a tutorial—hard-won.
When Bai Yanci returned she held it out: “Sister—embroidered this myself. For you.”
Seeing the “earth-shattering” stitch work Bai Yanci frowned: “What’s inside? Energy ripple?”
Petty trick—couldn’t fool Bai Yanci.
Remembered a period drama—acted on the spot: “It’s green silk—you know?”
Brow tighter: “Green silk? Isn’t that just hair? Who puts hair in a pouch?”
Rabbit learned modern memes—not period ones yet.
Bai Yanci disliked the embroidery—and the romantic gesture too.
“Mm… anyway it’s important.” Closer. “What’ll you trade me?”
“So?” Bai Yanci thoughtful.
Opened the pouch—hair on her palm. Touching strange power—it lived—coiled her finger—became a fine ring.
Faint azure flow on the ring—Yi Ke’s flame color.
She stared at the ring—dazed. Came back: “I gave you Ice-Clear Jade. Nothing you offer beats that.”
“No.” Yi Ke shook her head light. “Something more precious still.”
“What?” Brow arched.
Yi Ke laughed—finger on lips—shh. “Won’t tell you.”
Sister—you’ll probably never know.
In my heart your true heart outweighs any treasure by a thousand times.
Truth couldn’t be spoken—she veered: “Sister—moon palace education—is it hardship training?”
“What’s hardship training?”
“Eat bitterness become superior—that set.”
“Moon core teaching is profit supreme—not hardship training.”
Bai Yanci corrected: “Those in power believe only deep obsession and fantasy feed endless drive—power reaches the ideal peak.”
She knew. But without asking—how get more moon news? Only source she had.
Bai Yanci willing to talk moon—she pressed: “Sister—you and Jade Dust from same place—any guess at her identity?”
Excellence is always few.
Jade Dust’s shown strength plus moon power map—should narrow it.
Bai Yanci thought long: “Spirit Tide Pool has fierce barriers. Take Spirit Tide jade and escape—cultivation must be extreme. Even I—approach the jade—not unscathed. Strange—Jade Dust carries no aura I know.”
Bai Yanci’s status—should know every top immortal—yet unfamiliar energy?
“Moon’s elites are countable—how not recognize?”
“Moon isn’t explained in two sentences.” Side-eye, scolding tint. “Stay safe in the mortal world—cases nearly killed you—worry about the moon? How many lives do you have?”
Question denied again.
She shut up—remembered Mu’s bottle: “Sister—know any drug that suppresses abilities? Arts-type stuff.”
Handed the white bottle over.
“So many questions today?” Bai Yanci took it, tipped a pill, annoyed. “Next you’ll ask how to reach the moon?”
Immortal sister’s brain circuit—Yi Ke laughed: “Tell me if you can.”
“Don’t dream—mortal flesh can’t reach the immortal realm.”
Bai Yanci crushed the pill—brow locked: “Where’d this come from?”
“Ability Bureau. Foster mother gave it.” Calm. “She researches abilities—probably an experimental product.”
“How long you took it?” Worry naked in her eyes. “Immortal art traces inside—long use crushes ability—harm only, no good.”
Honest: “Didn’t take this bottle. But she experimented on me—lots of decoctions—similar effect.”
So that was it.
So Yi Ke had such strong flame—but showed far less than she should.
By flame grade—what she could use was an iceberg tip. Years of suppression—she’d be formidable otherwise.
Bai Yanci anger rose, voice quick: “Your foster mother hates you—feeding this?”
“She said I was sick—medicine for treatment.” Pause, slow. “Not just drinks—experiments—blood draws every time—don’t know what they did.”
After she stopped going for “treatment”—ability grew day by day. Bai Yanci’s power merging in—qualitative leap again.
Still didn’t understand Mu’s purpose.
If afraid of her strength—should’ve killed her at Wangshu Orphanage—end the threat.
Hearing this Bai Yanci’s face darkened: “Ability Bureau goes too far!”
Casual question—such fierce reaction. She sensed something off, soft: “You and the bureau… bad blood?”
“I just hate how they treat you.” Bottle slammed on table. “Long suppressing an ability user’s root—like stopping bone growth. In time—can she walk normal? Lift weight? A waste person.”
She understood—like foot-binding in the old Qing. Not like Jiang Ran said—stop drug and recover.
SI instruments too crude—couldn’t see bureau’s handiwork.
Mu probably knew—bold to give the bottle—didn’t expect Bai Yanci at home as cheat code.
What Mu wanted her to know or not—she knew now.
“Okay. I know.” Pocketed the bottle—enough evidence later—confront Mu face to face.
“Wait.” Bai Yanci sudden—tone odd. “Remember last night?”
Last night? Why ask?
Drunk… said something she shouldn’t?
Heart nervous—face calm: “What thing?”