Chapter 131: Drinking Under the Moon and Recalling the Dream Realm

Lingxiang was extremely astonished, stroking the Linglong in her hand and feeling the Spirit Qi within. This was undoubtedly the Linglong Treasure Furnace, but how could it be inside a painting?

She looked at the woman before her, who was identical to her own mother, her eyes full of suspicion.

Seeing this, the painting spirit smiled: "I suppose this must be the Transformation Art of the Yuanqing Sect from back then."

Lingxiang had not expected that Brother Zhaoming's Transformation Art had reached such a realm. Just as she was marveling, she heard the woman continue:

"I was originally just an ordinary painting, but suddenly one day, a surge of Spirit Qi was injected into me—it was the Linglong in your hand. Nourished by its Spirit Qi day after day, I gradually gained spiritual consciousness, and later, I created this realm within the painting."

Linglong was originally an ancient Spirit Treasure with pure Spirit Qi; Brother Zhaoming had sent it in, never expecting it to nourish an ordinary painting into a Spirit Treasure.

Thinking this, Lingxiang asked: "Since you have achieved Spirit Communication, why do you not walk out of the painting yourself?"

Hearing this, the painting spirit smiled again: "Although I have achieved Spirit Communication, I do not yet have the power of transformation and cannot step into the outside world. But I can use the Spirit Qi of Linglong to send messages for it. I know you must have many doubts in your heart—why, even though an ancient spirit like Linglong has not taken on a physical form, I am able to, even if it is only within the painting. If you were to ask me, I would not know either, but from Linglong's own words, I have learned quite a few things, and I can tell you a little about them."

Things? What things...

Lingxiang was filled with doubt, but the painting spirit's eyes held understanding.

"Naturally, everything you do not know."

Xiaobai had been waiting outside for a long time, not knowing what to do, when he saw a surge of Spirit Power from the scroll hanging on the wall. After only a moment, Lingxiang flew out from the painting, and he hurried forward:

"Are you alright? What happened?"

Lingxiang's expression was calm, and she only smiled slightly: "The object I have been seeking for so long was actually right under my nose all along."

Lingxiang's demeanor left Xiaobai unable to fathom her thoughts; since she had found what she was looking for, why was she wearing such an expression?

Lingxiang appeared to be smiling yet not, her gaze different from usual.

"Xiaobai, help me take down this painting; I want to take it with me."

Xiaobai did as he was told, but he always felt that something was wrong with Lingxiang. When he handed the Painting Scroll to her, he wanted to say something, but for a moment, he did not know how to begin.

Lingxiang put the Painting Scroll into her Universe Bag and smiled again at Xiaobai's hesitant appearance, though this smile was truly somewhat forced.

"When I summoned you just now, were you drinking? Why not have a drink with me?"

"You... can you drink too?" Xiaobai asked in surprise.

"Hey~ if I can't, I can learn~"

The bright moon hung in the sky, the stars were brilliant, and on the rooftop, there were two people, two cups, and a pot of clear wine.

Lingxiang sniffed it; it had a mellow fragrance. She took a small sip, and it was bitter and spicy. Her whole face wrinkled up, and she kept smacking her lips. Xiaobai found it extremely amusing.

"I told you that you couldn't drink, yet you wouldn't listen." As he spoke, he downed the clear wine in his cup and turned to lift the pot to refill it.

Hearing him say this, Lingxiang felt somewhat unconvinced.

"Who said I can't drink!" She said, mimicking Xiaobai, and gulped down the entire cup.

With one cup of wine in her belly, she suddenly felt a burning heat, and her throat felt searingly painful. She couldn't help but drop the cup, her little face scrunched up, her hand constantly rubbing her neck.

"Aiya! ~ I really don't understand you men; you insist on liking to drink this kind of filthy stuff. I can't taste what's good about it at all; it's truly, truly disgusting!"

Xiaobai laughed out loud: "Since it's your first time drinking, how could you gulp it down like that? This is still the Flower Brew I chose; if it had been that strong liquor from before, drinking it like that would definitely have made your throat ache." As he spoke, he took the wine cup from beside Lingxiang, "Besides, what woman drinks like you do?"

The wine cup was halfway moved away when it was pressed down by Lingxiang. Xiaobai looked at Lingxiang; under the moonlight, he saw her cheeks were flushed, her face bearing a drunken look, her already beautiful features adding a touch of languor.

For a moment, he was somewhat captivated, but he sobered up in an instant.

"Since you can't drink, don't drink anymore."

Lingxiang, however, stubbornly pulled the wine cup back, poured it full herself, and raised the cup.

Yet she did not drink it; she only held it, her eyes gazing at the bright moon in the sky.

"Xiaobai, have you ever thought about what you want for your future?"

Hearing this, Xiaobai looked at Lingxiang; he did not know why she would ask this.

"Before I met you, I hadn't really thought about it. I suppose I would have just guarded my cave dwelling, abducted many beauties to keep me company, and then spent the rest of my life that way. Anyway, I was unattached and carefree, but..."

He did not continue, but said in his heart: But after meeting you, it was different. Even in that dream, it was you who let me walk out of the nightmares of the past.

"So that's how it is. Neither ghost, nor demon, nor human. According to records, the last time someone like you was seen was a hundred years ago." Lingxiang looked at Wu Yuan, her expression unreadable.

"What? Are you pitying me?"

"How could I? In the end, this is also your Dao. Since ancient times, there have been many who have achieved great success like you; there is nothing to pity. Unlike me, I have worked hard for over ten years, yet I am still standing still. Now, my life is almost gone; I fear my life ends here."

"Hmph! Do not feign such an attitude. Although I hate women, I have never taken a life. Put away those thoughts of yours!"

"Ha~ caught!" Lingxiang raised an eyebrow, "Any cultivator who has touched a life will carry some Evil Qi, but your Witchcraft is pure, so I guessed you had some past. Sure enough."

"I count as a cultivator?"

"That is natural. As the saying goes, the Dao produces One, One produces Two, Two produces Three, and Three produces all things. It is just that your Dao and mine are different. Although all things have Adao, all things return to the Dao, and all things move toward the Dao. Since you exist, it is reasonable. If you trust me, once the Witchcraft is undone, ask clearly about the cause, resolve your inner knots, and I hope you can cultivate diligently and let go of the past."

"Heh!" Wu Yuan lowered his head and sneered, "I have done these things and hurt you to this extent; can you let it go?"

"Old matters are all like this; the past is all like clouds and smoke, just like boiling tea overflowing a cup. There is nothing that cannot be let go," Lingxiang said faintly: "Do not judge others' faults, but discuss the future. Looking back is only a retreat; only the front is the righteous path."

Wu Yuan was startled and looked at Lingxiang, and she was also looking at him, her face open and honest.

The girl before him was slender and small, yet her heart was so strong.

He suddenly felt that those sordid things seemed truly unimportant now.

Boiling tea overflowing a cup, yes! Once it hurts, one knows to let go; once one lets go, one naturally sees things clearly.

Lingxiang waited for a long time, and seeing Xiaobai did not continue, she looked over, only to see him looking at her with hazy eyes, as if he were thinking of something.

Looking closely, Xiaobai, who had become a Grudge Demon, seemed to have a different appearance than before; he looked much better, with a bit more softness and charm...

Softness and charm?

Lingxiang hurriedly shook her head. Could it be that she was drunk? He was clearly a seven-foot man; how could one call him soft and charming? Fortunately, she hadn't said it out loud; if Xiaobai knew, he would definitely be unhappy.