Chapter 58: Bygone Days

“Beat me first—then I’ll consider.”
She’d thought exposed Bai Yanci would turn cruel—surprisingly agreeable—said yes straight.
Maybe “consider” was too tempting—hit what Bai Yanci needed now. Seeing her stall—Bai Yanci urged unhappy: “Still competing or not?”
“Yes—of course.”
Fine—she’d dared ask—she’d dare compete. Couldn’t beat Bai Yanci—and didn’t plan to win.
Qiyang Sword was in Bai Yanci’s hands now—Xi Yue’s weapon—in every sense hers too—but Bai Yanci had wielded it years—could drive it same.
Ordinary human now—no artifact—how fight a moon great immortal? She knew her place.
After deception—first heat, then calm—wouldn’t provoke Bai Yanci rashly—that was dead end—no chance to turn.
Ease the relation—get release—escape odds rose.
Then break the suppressors—not at anyone’s mercy.
Planned long—hand never stopped—sketch on paper—then refine.
Coloring—distracted—wrong pigment—hard to cover—used wrong palette to finish the whole piece.
Bai Yanci’s side stayed elegant throughout—every hair on the painted figure fine—same as Bai Yanci—elegant, noble, cold underneath.
Look closer—the figure was her. Not fully—Xi Yue.
Xi Yue in moon great-immortal dress—mercy in brow and eye—gentle feeling reached outside the frame. Skill of the painting—depth of lover’s feeling—made the viewer yield.
Her own distracted scrawl—crushing defeat certain. Full effort still crushed—no need waste heart on the contest.
Seeing her colors a mess Bai Yanci frowned: “What is this?”
“New style I discovered—how is it—not bad?” Blind praise—then sigh: “I lost again. This prisoner room is boring—inspiration gone—don’t know how to kill time.”
“Don’t dream—I won’t let you out.” Bai Yanci cold. “If you dislike this room—prefer the cell? That small request I can meet.”
“…No need.” Seen through—but no proof—she argued righteous: “When did you hear me say I want out? I only said I’m bored—staying here is dull, that’s all.”
“That bored?”
“Mm. So bored I’ve no appetite.” Chin in hands—blinked. “Sister, tell me a story?”
“What kind?” Hearing the old address Bai Yanci froze—brow lifted—mood visibly better—confirmed her guess.
These days she’d parsed Bai Yanci’s path somewhat.
Bai Yanci’s mouth was always hard—grand plans unsaid—guess and guess wrong—until exposure day—thunder in the sky.
This exposure forced—she’d ruined Bai Yanci’s plans too often—one step from guessing Jade Dust’s true face.
So before she ran—caught and kept close—better than lost in the wild.
Bai Yanci didn’t want enmity either—not as heartless as words.
Not heartless—love or hate, use or other—if Bai Yanci could use her feelings—she could be base once and use Bai Yanci’s back.
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Only lies hurt—spilled water won’t return—views opposed—how stay at ease beside her?
Dazed long—Bai Yanci urged low—she spoke: “Then tell me about you and Xi Yue.”
“Why hear that?” Bai Yanci stood to leave. “Long ago. Forgot is forgot—nothing interesting to tell.”
Fast—she grabbed Bai Yanci’s hem—wheedled: “Sister—only moon memory is blank—fill it in for me?”
The antiquity trip had filled shards—how she became witch, the cult—only moon remained blank.
What she knew of moon besides two Xi Yue visions—all from Bai Yanci’s telling.
Bai Yanci couldn’t refuse—she dug—started from first meeting Xi Yue.
At first no one knew Xi Yue was fallen god—not even Xi Yue.
Not Xi Yue’s fault—fallen-god power sealed tight inside—rare spill wouldn’t raise doubt. Just gifted—cultivated faster—soon great-immortal rank.
Bai Yanci met Xi Yue at Spirit Tide Pool.
Xi Yue loved the Spirit Tide jade pendant—came to the pool often to walk. Rich spirit—many immortals and spirits strolled nearby—Xi Yue among them.
Ordinary immortals and spirits didn’t dare so close to the artifact—almost putting hands on it.
Touch it—you’d trigger the ward guarding the pendant—artifact backlash—and the Lord’s wrath—life uncertain.
So she meddled—seals forced Xi Yue aside—cried: “Careful!”
Xi Yue came back—retreated to pool edge—almost touched the barrier. Realizing—face white.
Xi Yue murmured: “What was I just doing?”
“Looked like its power tempted you.” Bai Yanci puzzled. “Artifacts aren’t demon breath—why tempt an immortal forward? Strange.”
Both thought accident only. Bai Yanci wasn’t great immortal yet—but saving was grace—closer after—often together.
Until Diting had no one left—Bai Yanci ran back: “Xi Yue do you know—a great immortal the Lord favored died sudden—no one left at his side.”
Xi Yue never cared for Diting matters.
But the speaker was Bai Yanci—words from different mouths sounded different—from Bai Yanci they were pleasant.
“Counting—that’s the second great immortal to die sudden.” Xi Yue asked. “Two in a row—what does the Lord intend?”
“The Lord says he’ll choose strong great immortals as close aides—to run moon affairs. At the Lord’s side—taste power under one, above ten thousand.”
Saying it Bai Yanci’s eyes shone bright.
Understandable—almost everyone wanted taste of power—immortals had cultivation but were still people—no exception.
Xi Yue said: “I advise you—drop that thought early.”
Bai Yanci startled—first time Xi Yue opposed her outright.
Before, displeasure was always gentle—never this hard.
“Few great immortals left on the moon—you’re one—standing at the Lord’s side is easy.” Bai Yanci asked. “Setting power aside—don’t you want to serve the moon?”
Xi Yue shook head—silent—talk ended sour.
Calm never lasted—in an immortal realm internal fight the moon was dragged in—two more great immortals lost—Xi Yue stepped out—shielded weaker immortals behind her.
As time passed and cultivation grew—the seal on Xi Yue’s power weakened—this time Xi Yue showed fallen-god power first—Diting noticed.
After the turmoil—summoned to the palace—became person at Diting’s side.
After that Bai Yanci wanted Diting’s position more: “I never saw the Lord—only know his cultivation rivals gods. You’re fallen god—how strong is he really?”
“Very strong.” Xi Yue said. “I’m only fallen god—incomplete consciousness—weak beside ancient gods.”
“But gather full consciousness—you could match the Lord—become true god…”
“Yanci.” Xi Yue cut in. “Consciousness isn’t easy to recover. That’s not my aim—I was forced into the post—I don’t want it. You—best not want it either.”
There Bai Yanci stopped. Yi Ke halfway—cut off—annoyed: “Sister—why stop?”
Bai Yanci looked up cold: “Rest is boring. Don’t want to say more.”
Bai Yanci stood to leave—she stood too—hurried: “Leaving again?”
“Someone told Yang Yufei you wanted my strawberry cake—that’s why I came.” Bai Yanci tied apron—displeased glance: “If you don’t want it—I’ll go.”