Chapter 62: Escape

“Ke-ke—when did you get so clingy?” Bai Yanci couldn’t refuse—let herself be pulled to the table. “You really want company—or today’s food doesn’t suit you?”
“Of course I want you.” Soft.
Bai Yanci asked because not a bite touched the dishes.
Nothing to do with taste—she’d been listening to Yang Yufei’s past—no time for chopsticks.
They say catch someone through the stomach first—Bai Yanci had mastered it—nothing she cooked she didn’t love.
Trapped but unhurt—fed well every day—why not enjoy.
Seven days and she’d leave this hellhole—only keep Bai Yanci steady—no suspicion.
Best tool—sell charm.
Just thinking how to keep Bai Yanci—two bites in—Bai Yanci asked: “What did you and Yang Yufei talk about?”
“Sister—jealous?” She looked up—grinning.
“…No.” Bai Yanci was speechless. “I never thought Yang Yufei a threat.”
Another pastry—muttered: “True—you’re so good—who could threaten your place?”
Bai Yanci silent long—she looked up—met eyes dark and unreadable—tail of voice almost trembling: “Do you mean that? I treat you like this—you don’t resent me?”
“Of course I resent—hid identity so long—made me suffer plenty.” Bai Yanci’s light dimmed—she added soft: “But not so much now. You weren’t all wrong—those people don’t matter—why fight you for them? I only need stay beside you.”
Bai Yanci’s heart stormed—couldn’t believe her ears.
Am I mad—hallucinating—only dreams look like this inside construction?
Ke-ke—when exposed you resented blamed—almost said hate.
I thought you stayed by compromise—played deep love—as if nothing happened.
Now this face—I don’t know your heart.
Bai Yanci waved a hand—inner barrier gone—door open.
Yi Ke startled: “You’re…”
“You said you were bored—wanted air.” Bai Yanci stepped aside—clear exit. “I shaped outside like Jintian City—as long as you don’t leave the construction boundary.”
Smoother than planned—maybe Bai Yanci thought her power suppressed—no waves—saved effort.
One step out—Jintian streets she knew—traffic and bustle copied perfect.
She marveled: “Ancient art indeed.”
“You said?”
“Construction was the War God’s specialty—classical records—one of the oldest arts.” She watched Bai Yanci’s face the whole time.
No reaction—like ordinary fact.
She’d probed several times—Bai Yanci truly didn’t know the War God—didn’t know jade rabbit wit came from a thread of the god’s remnant soul.
Consciousness only—a wisp—not fallen-god power.
---
Maybe therefore Bai Yanci never doubted her origin.
Bai Yanci asked soft: “Ke-ke—you wanted a walk? I’ll go with you.”
Facing the ninety-nine percent false Jintian—sourness she couldn’t hold—nose in her voice: “Sister—I want the real Jintian.”
“Only that—I can’t promise.”
“Why?” she asked. “Lock me here—do nothing—what for? Collecting spirit flame—for what?”
Harming life—stealing flame—topic they couldn’t dodge.
She’d said she didn’t care—Bai Yanci wouldn’t believe easy—any wavering was already hard-won.
“I told you—spirit flame raises cultivation.” Bai Yanci changed subject—near pleading. “Ke-ke—we haven’t shopped together in so long—come with me—please?”
Dragged into a mall—straight to the first-floor cake shop.
Bai Yanci swiped the card skilled: “Boss—two strawberry cake slices.”
“Coming!” The boss beamed. “Miss—you look familiar—long time no see—try our new item—delicious.”
No worry—macarons and cake slices on the table fast. One bite—blank as paper—flat, tasteless.
Fake stayed fake—however real the phantom—never became real.
Bai Yanci tasted—face pale—mood sour—fork aside—irritated wave—mall crowd vanished.
“What’s wrong?”
“I never grasp construction’s essence—environment full of holes—even food taste wrong.”
Maybe after exposure—no burden left—Bai Yanci dropped guard—first time volunteered heart matters.
“Sister—don’t be so hard on yourself—you’ve done well.” Patient. “Besides taste I haven’t found a flaw.”
Yet she wondered.
After the war of gods Diting burned all records of deities—including ancient technique texts.
Bai Yanci had no War God memory—where did she learn construction?
“Sister—where did you learn this art?” she asked. “I thought construction was lost ages ago.”
“From when I gained wit—I could use mimic arts. After I knew Xi Yue I learned the name—construction.” At Xi Yue’s name Bai Yanci’s gloom eased a little. “So many years—you still say the same thing—moving.”
Bai Yanci stood: “This is pointless—we should go back.”
“Okay.”
She linked Bai Yanci’s arm—stayed close.
Back at phantom Tinglan Apartments Bai Yanci said: “Ke-ke—I have business—see you tonight.”
“Okay.” Obedient.
Bai Yanci looked back reluctant—words piled at the lip—swallowed—only: “Goodbye.”
Ke-ke—I hope you meant it—hope you don’t hate me—I don’t want to treat you like this.
In this world I care most—I love you most.
You have a broad heart—you hold this awful world—I cannot.
My heart is narrow—a thousand years—in mind and eye—only you.
Bai Yanci gone—Yi Ke wiped the smile—phone out—messaged Jiang Ran.
[Yi Ke: Plan moved up—is the cannon ready?]
[Jiang Ran: Standing by anytime.]
[Yi Ke: Action in ten minutes.]
Following Spirit Tide jade pendant’s breath—she reached the array eye. Once before Spirit Tide Pearl had broken construction’s barrier—would again.
Hand out—pearl to the eye—light flooded the phantom space—distant buildings crumbled—shattered.
Power locked in her body flowed at last—pale white in her palm—one palm split the barrier at the eye—Spirit Tide jade pendant gripped tight.
Milt’s artifact—naturally served her too.
Phantom collapsed—in a blink she stood on ruins.
“Team leader!”
She turned—Jiang Ran and others one side—smiled: “Jiang-jie—I’m back.”
Other side—a solid barrier shielding all of Qixie.
She knew Bai Yanci too well—reaction speed wouldn’t let her people hurt—hence the mad-looking move.
“Ke-ke—I underestimated you.” Bai Yanci dropped the barrier—cold eyes. “You hate me that much—want to leave my side?”
“Yes—I don’t tolerate grit in my eye.” She shielded Jiang Ran and the rest—met Bai Yanci’s gaze. “Lord Jade Dust—you may lie to me—I may not use love to lie back?”
Strange title again—Bai Yanci’s chest tightened—still put on airs: “Others may call me Lord—you needn’t.”
“Lord Jade Dust—at this point—does the title matter?”
Bai Yanci summoned Qiyang Sword—countless shadows—at the four from SI’s throats: “Ke-ke—my patience is limited—don’t push me. You’re one person—you can’t save everyone.”
Shadows nearly at their necks—she laughed cold inside—couldn’t dodge after all.
She spoke sudden: “Lord Jade Dust—can you give my lover back?”
“Ke-ke—nonsense? I’m right here.”
Light laugh: “Yes—you’re here. But you’re here and I feel you worlds away—cloud on cloud—I can’t see clear.”
Escape chosen—no turning back.
Caught again—dark damp confinement—guard doubled—no second chance.
Jiang Ran came to save her—now in Bai Yanci’s hands—she couldn’t abandon them.
“You always wanted Xi Yue’s full consciousness?” She looked up at Bai Yanci. “Release them—I give the consciousness back.”
“Give back?” Bai Yanci baffled—didn’t follow—thought she agreed to return to Qixie. “Come back to me—I’ll promise anything.”