Chapter 8: Crossing the Line

Bai Yanci’s voice shook—emotion vivid for the first time.
Tired, eyes closed, hair wet with cold sweat.
Pain from the stripping lingered—but somewhere inside a crack opened, light slipping in.
Bai Yanci… was worried about her.
“Sister, I’m fine.” Forced an easy smile. “Really fine.”
Bai Yanci certain: “You’ve met someone from the moon palace.”
“Those moon people—selfish, false—for strength they’ll use any vile trick.” Scorn. “Think a wanted poster in the immortal realm can kill me? Dreaming.”
“Wanted poster?” Yi Ke caught the key word fast.
Bai Yanci said no more—waved a barrier, cut the outside world off.
Sure no one listened, low voice: “They set me up—lost my powers. Immortal realm hunting me. I had to hide in the mortal world.”
“Ke-ke, you saved me. I don’t want you hurt.” Eyes burning on her, almost stubborn serious. “Moon power runs deep—not good people, not opponents you can face. Stay far away—the farther the better.”
“A woman told me the forbidden art.” Yi Ke told everything—red robes, half silver mask, name Jade Dust.
Bai Yanci frowned long, shook her head slow: “On the moon I never heard that name.”
One-way barrier—they could hear out. Jiang Ci woke.
Bai Yanci dropped the seal. Yi Ke called Lin Qingzhu: “Notify Jiang-jie to pick her up.”
To Jiang Ci: “How do you feel?”
Jiang Ci sat up confused—still not clear what happened.
When flame was polluted, inner greed and obsession magnified without limit.
Jiang Ci might envy Jiang Ran—never truly wanted to hurt anyone—just couldn’t accept it, took the wrong road.
“Thank you for your care. I’m fine.” A long while. Soft voice, bitter smile. “Team Leader Yi—may I ask one question?”
Before Yi Ke answered, Jiang Ci looked at her—complex pain: “Why… do sweet dreams always wake easier?”
She had no words.
She wanted that answer too.
“Maybe good things in this world were always rare—over time they become luxuries.” Pause. “Staff will walk you through procedures. Jiang Ci—may your road ahead be bright.”
Back at the apartment, Bai Yanci spoke first—rare for her: “Jiang Ci said those things to you in interrogation—you still wish her well?”
“I believe that wasn’t her true heart.” Yi Ke sudden question: “Sister—if someone’s inner self is twisted and dark but they do good all their life—good person or bad?”
Bai Yanci silent. Yi Ke continued: “Judge deeds, not thoughts. Jiang Ci was used by Qiming, eyes blinded a moment—she deserves a new start.”
“Human thoughts are always novel.”
“Sister, one more.” Yi Ke looked at her, playful: “This case was internal SI business. I don’t remember bringing you to interrogation—how did you know?”
Bai Yanci didn’t dodge—met her eyes, half smile, two words: “Guess.”
She didn’t press. If Bai Yanci wouldn’t say, she had no way.
Exhaustion rose. She turned off the light.
Night was deep.
After Yi Ke swore she was fine again and again, Bai Yanci relaxed a little—afraid to disturb her sleep—deigned to sleep in the living room rabbit nest.
But two or three AM—sound from the bedroom.
She pushed the door. Yi Ke curled in a corner of the bed, only a thin blanket.
The rabbit-fur blanket tucked away neat in the wardrobe.
This human… used what she shouldn’t, ignored what she should.
All her cleverness for the world—none left for herself.
Breath very weak—lighter than normal.
Closer—the usually smiling face flushed, forehead streaming sweat.
Yi Ke slept uneasy—brow tight, hand clutching the quilt.
“Ke-ke?” Soft call. No answer.
About to check her breath—hand pulled back sharp.
What was she doing?
Not the first time crossing the line.
Mortal affairs—she shouldn’t meddle. As she’d told Yi Ke—respect fate, follow heaven’s way.
Yet she couldn’t move her feet.
She’d betrayed principles held a thousand years.
Dazed, she reached out—immortal power at her fingertip—paused before Yi Ke’s brow.
What was wrong with her?
Every time she neared Yi Ke—some feeling she couldn couldn’t name.
Strong—pulling her toward an abyss.
Long after, she stopped fighting. Followed the deepest wish—touched that azure flame lightly.
Hot—hotter than imagined.
Yi Ke’s first time using top-tier moon forbidden art—success alone was rare.
Forced stripping without measure—how could there be no backlash?
With Yi Ke’s flame talent, backlash wasn’t fatal—mostly suffering, normal in days.
As she meant to withdraw—Yi Ke grabbed her wrist.
That hand hot as flame—body weak, grip strong—pulled her hand to her ear.
“Yanci…”
Hearing Yi Ke murmur in sleep, she froze whole.
In the dream Yi Ke called her name—hot cheek against her cool hand, warmth passing through.
Too close. Too ambiguous.
As if smashing some wall she thought was solid.
Reason returned a little—wanted to pull free—afraid to break the dream.
What was this human dreaming—so weak, still smiling?
The room quiet enough to hear her own heartbeat.
No—two heartbeats.
Woven in a strange rhythm—unexpectedly in harmony.
Yi Ke’s warm breath on her wrist—itch inside, as if some feeling would break soil.
“Sister, don’t go…” Mumbled again—tighter grip.
Her heartbeat faster too.
She realized—dangerous. Should leave. Pull hand back hard. Retreat to safe distance.
Tomorrow they could keep dignified distance.
She didn’t. Couldn’t bear to pull away.
Eyes closed. Soft sigh. Resigned look at Yi Ke—other hand free, small formation.
Moon palace purification art.
Pure flame power as source—she sent strength slowly into Yi Ke’s flame to speed recovery.
Couldn’t instantly heal the gap from stripping—but eased the pain now.
Calmer—full of doubt.
This human was very strange.
As a human, governing spiritual flame was already strange.
Only that kind of flame could be voluntarily stripped—only that kind self-repaired.
Ordinary people—stripping for another was trading one life for another.
Yi Ke had that special power—could have stayed out—yet again and again spent herself for others.
Even stripped her own flame to save someone who’d spat cruelty at her.
Really people who’d die for another?
Stupid? Stupid to the bone.
The immortal realm wouldn’t. The moon palace wouldn’t.
On the moon—self-preservation was eternal truth. Pity and selflessness only became weakness.
But… was that really right?
First time in her life she doubted it.
Yi Ke’s flame soothed by purification—brow eased. Watching her sleep, her gaze softened without noticing.
Unaware—when Yi Ke shifted unconsciously, she adjusted for comfort so she’d sleep easier.
Sat like that two full hours—dawn pale—carefully withdrew her hand.
She didn’t know—soon after, Yi Ke’s lashes fluttered.
As body heat fell, Yi Ke hovered half awake.
Even… heard her own deafening heartbeat.
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Pain still at her chest—yet warm feeling grew bit by bit, slowly filling a bottomless hollow.
When Yi Ke fully woke, day was bright.
Living room—Bai Yanci on the sofa, cup of plain water before her.
Immortal sister’s daily habit.
“Sister, morning.” Bright smile.
Bai Yanci sipped, casual: “Fever gone?”
“Huh? I had a fever?” Puzzled. “I feel fine. Maybe good constitution.”
“Right, sister—I had a weird dream last night.” Bai Yanci’s hand paused, looked up.
“I dreamed mist and clouds—like an ancient palace. Many people doing their work in order. Where I went, someone called one woman… Lord Bai.”
……
Bai Yanci silent long, face blank, set down the cup, stood for the kitchen.
She hurried: “Where are you going?”
“Make breakfast.” Offhand. “Can’t have the patient taxing herself.”
“You can cook?” Teasing. “Gonna jump in the pot and stew yourself?”