Chapter Fifteen: Hao Dan Awakens in a Moment of Realization 2

Three days later, in the village of Luodi outside Shangqiu City, a strange little girl in a green dress appeared at some unknown hour. From the surface, she seemed about five or six years old, her delicate face as if sculpted from jade and porcelain, utterly adorable, but it was her pair of bright, limpid eyes, brimming with curiosity, that made her truly distinctive.

Since Haodan had entered the Void Spirit, and with Minister Zuo Yiyin and Lady Qi having departed for the Great Xia, Shangqiu had seen little peace in recent days. There were rumors that the evil spirit which had caused the earthquake had appeared again. Fortunately, the green-dressed little girl arrived just in time. No one knew what sort of spell she used, but her dainty little jade hands formed a few strange gestures, and a golden celestial light shot forth, striking the evil spirit and sending it fleeing with miserable cries.

The next day, within the city, the evil spirit appeared again, once more causing chaos as it seemed to be searching for something, darting madly through the streets. Again, the little girl in green chased after it, saving the people of Shangqiu from disaster. That day, the earth-shaking demon, resembling a pangolin with a human face, suddenly charged wildly through the outskirts, causing the ground to quake, earth to crack, trees to be uprooted, and widespread destruction. The townsfolk were thrown into panic, and many innocents were injured by the demon. Yet again, the green-dressed girl soared out, and the earth-shaking demon, sensing a presence far mightier than itself, immediately turned tail and fled, leaving a trail of wounded from city to countryside. Thankfully, the city guards from the Marquis Wu’s estate arrived in time to tend to the injured.

It was thanks to the little girl in green that both times the townsfolk, whether inside or outside the city, were spared greater harm. Otherwise, if Haodan were to return and find such misfortune, with his temperament, he would have dug three feet into the ground to root out the evil spirit.

After the earth-shaking demon vanished once more, the green-dressed girl seemed to discover something wondrous. Her limpid eyes glittered with excitement, and then, with a sudden twirl, she vanished from sight in a puff, leaving no trace behind. No one could tell what sorcery she used—so mysterious and extraordinary.

At that moment, outside a certain tumbledown thatched hut, no one could detect that the place had long since been shrouded by an extraordinary illusion spell quietly cast by Daoist Master Luya. To passersby, it appeared as nothing more than a garden for flowers and trees in someone's backyard, but in truth, it was hidden by an enchantment.

Not long after the little girl in green left, a wisp of white smoke drifted by, and from it stepped a figure in white—a kindly old man clad in a white fur robe, the pelt resembling that of some canine beast, his brows gentle and his face benevolent.

“How odd! I could have sworn I sensed my lady’s presence here, but why did her aura suddenly vanish without a trace? How strange,” the old man muttered to himself, puzzled.

After a while, still baffled, he disappeared into the forest.

Meanwhile, the little girl in green arrived outside the same tumbledown hut where Haodan had once stayed. How she found this place was a mystery—perhaps only Haodan could ask her when he awoke.

It was strange indeed: her limpid eyes flickered as if she was striving to remember something. If a master were present, he would surely notice she was not ordinary; it was as if she had lost something vital to herself—as if, to put it plainly, she had lost her memory.

In a day, Haodan would awaken from the dream realm of the Void Spirit. When that happened, what would transpire between him and the little girl in green?

...

Seven years in the Void Spirit had nearly passed. Haodan was now waiting outside the tranquil palace within the realm, while inside, Immortal Bailing was speaking with Daoist Master Luya.

“Master, to be honest, I cannot help but worry about him,” Immortal Bailing told Luya with candor. She knew her own feelings and did not conceal them from her teacher.

“I feared you might truly fall for that boy,” Luya said gravely. “I warned you time and again, but now things are as they are. I only hope you will not follow him out of the Void Spirit's dream realm. Your identity is too unique and sensitive. If you went with him, trouble would find you both too soon, and it would be ill for you both.”

“So what you’re saying, Master, is that you will allow me to leave the realm with him when the time is right?” Bailing asked, puzzled, sensing the underlying message.

“The time is not yet right. Soon, I will say a few words to him and send him back to the mortal world,” Luya replied, waving his hand in dismissal. Seeing this, Bailing withdrew.

Shortly after, Immortal Bailing emerged from the palace and, suppressing her reluctance, said to Haodan, “When you return to the mortal world, if ever your life is in grave danger, call upon me through Master’s Celestial-Slaying Flying Blade—I will come to your aid.”

Her peerless beauty was complicated with emotion. With these words, she turned and left, leaving Haodan in stunned silence. He could sense the strange feelings stirring in her heart. Bailing was unlike mortal women—she was a goddess. They had spent nearly seven years together. Her temperament was mercurial. At times, she was a gentle, lovely maiden; if Haodan neglected her for a few days, she would turn into a fierce and fiery little pepper. If he angered her, her ever-changing nature meant Haodan would be beaten so badly he could not train for days, sometimes left unconscious for over a week.

At this moment, Daoist Master Luya summoned Haodan into the palace with words to impart.

“My young friend, something unexpected has happened. The formation I set outside has been disturbed by outsiders; it may not last much longer. If you remain in this realm, you may find it difficult to return to the mortal world. That is why I have called you here—to tell you that you must return ahead of schedule.”

“Why is this?” Haodan asked in surprise.

“I do not know for sure. The mortal world hides many masters, and there is always the chance of evil spirits. You cannot linger here; a final warning: do not use the magic you learned in this realm recklessly in the mortal world, or little Bailing will not forgive you!” Luya joked. Having given his instructions, he waved his horsetail whisk, and Haodan felt himself sucked into an invisible vortex, vanishing without a trace.

Luya silently watched the spot where he disappeared, murmuring, “Not long from now, you will see little Bailing again. Only then...”

This immortal sage, always speaking in riddles and half-truths—little Bailing herself could not know what might happen when that time came.

Outside Shangqiu, in the ruined thatched hut of Luodi Village, after seven days of silence, there was finally a stir within. Yet outside, an unexpected guest had been waiting for some time.

On the hut’s wall, the silver ring-shaped portal glowed once more. Passing through the spatial gateway was a nearly indescribable experience—Haodan had nearly lost consciousness several times in transit. As the portal brightened, he flew out, hearing the sounds outside the hut, his breathing easing as his senses returned. He opened his eyes and sat up, looking toward the door.

Stepping outside, he was met by a petite figure in green—a little girl, exquisitely beautiful, her flawless face utterly captivating, her large, limpid eyes sparkling with innocence. Her hair was adorned with two naturally formed little braids, and she was sitting on a small swing before the hut, swaying gently.

Haodan stepped forward and held the swing. The little girl’s bright eyes were not on his face, but rather fixed upon the golden bell at his neck.

“Little sister, who are you? How did you find this place? Will you tell me?” Haodan asked gently, his manner calm and kind, for he could sense that this child was no ordinary being.

Although most of his time in the dream realm had been spent bickering and playing with Bailing, he had never shirked his duties in cultivation. Whether listening to Luya’s lectures or practicing strange arts with Bailing, he had always been diligent. Thus, he no longer acted with rash impatience as he once had.

“Who am I? I... I don’t know...” the little girl in green replied in a soft and fragile voice. Aside from her lively eyes, she seemed to be without memory or thought, unable even to answer such a simple question.

“!” Haodan was inwardly startled. He had awoken on high alert, bracing himself for danger, recalling Luya’s warnings.

Just then, a gust of wind rattled outside, and a white figure broke through the barrier—a kindly old man in a white fur robe, the same elder seen earlier among the trees.

“So that’s it! I did not expect this place to be concealed by an illusion spell—that’s why I could barely sense my lady’s aura,” the old man muttered, not looking at the pair.

“Elder, who are you?” Haodan asked, frowning, instinctively shielding the little girl behind him.

“And who are you? Why are you keeping my lady from me?” the old man countered.

“I am the master of this place. As for this little girl, I found her playing on the swing only after I stepped outside. I do not know her,” Haodan replied honestly, sensing no evil in the old man’s kindly face.

“In that case, forgive me for intruding, young man. My lady has suffered a calamity at home, which is why she is as you see—she has lost her memory.” The old man heaved a long sigh. As an elder, a few words were enough to judge Haodan’s character. Moreover, he had protected the girl at the first sign of trouble. Thus, the old man revealed the truth, lest excessive secrecy arouse suspicion.

“That explains it. When I saw her on the swing, I asked who she was, and she said she didn’t know,” Haodan said, suddenly understanding. As he looked at the little girl in green, his gaze softened with pity.

Who could fail to love such a lovely, endearing child? Any good person would risk everything to protect her. Yet in this world, appearances reveal neither virtue nor vice. Without deeper acquaintance, how can one know a person’s true nature?

“Young man, my lady and I have urgent matters to attend and cannot linger here. Farewell.” With that, the old man gently took the little girl by the hand and bowed to Haodan. “The green hills remain, and the rivers flow on. If fate allows, we shall meet again. Farewell!”

As the little girl in green followed the old man away, she suddenly turned back to look at Haodan, her limpid eyes filled with an emotion she could not express. Haodan met her gaze and saw a trace of reluctance.

Even so, with her memory gone, she could not interact as before. If she encountered evil spirits or monsters, she would instinctively confront them; if she saw the people endangered, she might help subconsciously. But to converse and communicate, she was no longer able. Watching the old man and the child depart, Haodan suddenly recalled something and quickly checked his robe—Daoist Master Luya’s Celestial-Slaying Flying Blade was still there, and he felt reassured.