Chapter 20: Together

“Ke-ke—let go!” Filth from Chu He’s flame crawled up the link.
She knew filth’s bite—stopped the art—blocked it outside.
Looked at her hands—severity hit—disbelief: “Why… why like this…”
Why Chu He’s pollution different—why she had the mend method—and still failed.
“Once more,” slow. “Reverse erosion was too dangerous. Sister—don’t link with me again.”
Her mission—not Bai Yanci’s.
She never should’ve dragged Bai Yanci into war for private want.
“And you? What about you?” Bai Yanci angry. “Forbidden art exists because ordinary use is one life for another. Your body’s special—won’t kill you—but risk is huge—did you think?”
Brow tight—scold—then worry naked: “If you hadn’t stopped—do you know the cost? You’d look like her!”
She knew. Even she was scared.
Filth was fact—Chu He would worsen—soothe the restless flame first, plan after.
Bai Yanci stood—dropped holding barrier: “Ke-ke—wait two days. I’ll be back.”
Bad feeling—hurried: “Where?”
“Moon palace—Spirit Tide pool water.”
About to cast leave—Yi Ke hooked her sleeve—pulled first.
“Immortal realm wants you—you’ll be in danger! Sister—you don’t have to—for me you’ve done enough.”
Looked at Bai Yanci—eyes deep—nothing else inside.
Those eyes always cool—no grief, no joy—not even pity.
Bai Yanci didn’t care if Chu He lived—nor Jiang Ci nor the other five—what did immortals care?
This risk to the moon—for her alone.
“Chu He’s obsession ran deep—demon gate—flame turned so.” Hand down gentle—reassure. “Pool water for purification—plus forbidden art—maybe we save her.”
“Sister—you asked if I thought of myself when I didn’t stop in time.”
Steady back—copied Bai Yanci’s steel tone: “Then you—going back under warrant—did you think of yourself?”
Grateful Bai Yanci would go this far.
But walking into danger—she couldn’t allow it. Never.
“No other way.” Light smile like coaxing a child. “Fine—just visiting the moon—my home—I know it—those wastes can’t catch me.”
“Stop lying—you think I believe?” Punctured at once. “If it’s that easy—why flee to the mortal world? Why hurt so bad you lost all power?”
Bai Yanci laughed—helpless—and open admiration.
“Ke-ke—others’ lives aren’t my business. I want to help you—only you.” Promise: “Two days—I’ll return.”
“Fine.” She hooked Bai Yanci’s arm—human pendant. “You go—I go. Don’t leave me here.”
Sudden move—Bai Yanci startled—step back—wall of holding room.
This human… stirred her mood without effort.
Winter—holding room drafty—cold through her back barely kept her clear.
Through window—snow falling sometime.
First snow she’d seen in the mortal world.
Scene pulled unrelated memory—days ago—snow—carried unconscious Yi Ke home.
She thought herself firm—since the mortal world—decisions shook.
Was this path right?
Yi Ke: “What? Thinking?”
Back—refusal flat: “No. You’re mortal—no cultivation—force upper realm—you die.”
“Maybe I can.” Calm. “Hard to explain—sounds absurd—but I have a fallen god’s soul fragment—it can take me to the immortal realm.”
Immortal realm—immortals. Fallen god—divine—can reach there too.
In the dream Mu said it—SSS danger rating test subject.
Didn’t know fragment or rating—from what she had—she wasn’t ordinary—maybe not fully human.
Sun-Moon opening—Yang Yufei called her monster.
Hearing this Bai Yanci unsurprised—as if known long.
Late realization—soft: “The fallen god fragment… you knew already?”
Cold face—didn’t deny: “Even with the fragment you have no cultivation—I meant you to back off…”
“So we can go.” Deep breath, low. “Sister—take me. I’m not afraid.”
“Fine.” Bai Yanci agreed at last.
Chu He couldn’t wait—hands formed seals—strong immortal art—transport barrier—both center.
Pale white light wrapped—lifted—left the mortal world.
Yi Ke coming along—joy inside—this wasn’t fake—Yi Ke truly cared.
Alone too long—she wanted someone beside her—for long nights.
But puzzled—mortals had no immortal channels—only ability talk—how did Yi Ke know fallen gods? Those dreams again?
Gods could recall past and glimpse future—Yi Ke’s divine part only showed in dreams, not awake.
First time in moon transport—day and night blurred. Layered mist—swamp—images churning thought.
Bai Yanci’s power shielded—but touching cloud still felt ants gnawing—agony.
Each step toward upper realm—pain worse—almost drowning consciousness. Bit down—silent—didn’t want Bai Yanci to notice.
Bai Yanci noticed anyway—sigh—held her tight—warmth from palm—slow feed: “Don’t look—those are upper-realm illusions.”
Sister looked ice—surface lie. Dreams showed Bai Yanci sword through the moon—bodies everywhere.
She only trusted what she felt herself.
Whatever others said—whatever warrant—she believed her.
Long—yet a blink.
Back—both stood on moon palace ground.
Mist—fairyland—same as dream—more breathtaking still.
Spirit Tide Pool near the gates—no Spirit Tide jade guarding—other tools substituted.
Jade Dust took the whole jade—three great immortals sacrificing souls couldn’t forge a new artifact from nothing.
Ruler vile—lost an artifact they were sworn to guard—made others sacrifice to patch—now blamed Bai Yanci—drag her back to appease wrath.
Mind wandering—Bai Yanci thought worry—warm: “Don’t fret—I’ll be quick.”
Many guards at the pool—quiet water hard.
Worry unspoken—Bai Yanci became pale light—dropped into the pool.
“Who’s there!”
Pool guards alert—lead gesture—ringed the water tight.
“Playing god in the moon palace—tired of living?”
Lead closed eyes—chant—barrier up—force reveal!
Next—water level surged—huge wave.
Bai Yanci walked the wave out—clothes dry. Sword in hand—overlooking all—exposed before every eye.
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“Cheap tricks.” A few moves—barrier shattered—looked at them like dead things. “These days away I wondered—how does My Lord plan to dispose of me?”
Guards gasped: “Lord Bai!”
“She’s no lord—she stole Spirit Tide jade!” someone shouted. “Catch her—My Lord rewards heavy!”
“With you?” Light hand—all attackers flipped down.
Green-robed great immortal landed by the pool—blocked her strikes in few moves.
Green immortal fearless—half smile: “Lord Bai—long time no see.”