Chapter 104

Shi Ran opened her eyes, feeling completely refreshed; she took a deep breath and looked up at her surroundings.

A carefully arranged bedchamber, beneath her lay a purple sandalwood canopy bed inlaid with mother-of-pearl and jade pieces; the purple sandalwood was inlaid with mother-of-pearl forming the Han Palace Spring Morning Picture; above the bed hung a gilded incense ball, now exhaling threads of sleep-inducing suhe incense.

Beside the bed stood a purple sandalwood dressing table with a Western mercury mirror; the cosmetics box on it was half-open, revealing a white jade comb inside, while a glazed box nearby held a dab of rouge that had spread like a spilled sunset.

Opposite the dressing table stood a Xiangfei bamboo couch, covered with a grape-pattern woven carpet; several inlaid silver bolsters lay casually, and the topmost apricot-red pillow still bore an untaken pearl dangling hairpin.

An inner chamber was partitioned by a treasure pavilion, displaying rare treasures in an artful, dazzling array; this did not resemble a cultivator's quarters but rather the boudoir of a noble lady from a story.

Shi Ran muttered a complaint under her breath, about to rise, when the door creaked open and a lovely girl entered, exclaiming, "Shi sister, you're awake?!"

Shi Ran nodded, recalling who the girl opposite her was: "Meng Qingen, Junior Sister Meng?"

Meng Qingen smiled, "Yes, I'm good friends with Chu Yaoer; I often hear her talk about older sister!"

Shi Ran tugged at the corner of her mouth; what a coincidence—she was recalling some things, yet the Chu Yaoer she mentioned was not in her memory.

Shi Ran wasn't very enthusiastic; Meng Qingen pouted dissatisfiedly, "What would you like to eat, elder sister? Our specialty here is Bishui Yuntian—would you like to try some…?"

"That doesn't sound tasty!" Shi Ran shook her head. "No, Junior Sister Meng, I want to ask—where did my senior brothers and sisters and junior brothers go? Which direction did they take?"

Meng Qingen gave a sweet smile and personally poured Shi Ran a cup of tea, saying, "Elder sister, have some tea first—they're fine; they went out yesterday for a day and are now holding a meeting in the main hall."

Shi Ran really had no mood for tea, but seeing Meng Qingen's expression she had to take the cup and drain it in one gulp, saying, "All right, I've finished it, Junior Sister Meng—I have something important to ask my senior brothers; thanks for the tea."

Having said that, she started toward the door, but though the vermilion lacquer door was within reach, it seemed to recede farther and farther; a moment of dizziness overtook her and she collapsed straight to the floor.

Behind her, Meng Qingshen's voice was icy like a devil: "One after another, all like this, sister, why are you rushing off like this? Yaoyao said she had urgent business—are you too? Why not stay? Why not have some Azure Water Cloudy Heaven?"

Shi Ran felt dizzy and heavy, struggling to grope for her Cosmos Bag; she remembered her master had given her many pills, just one… just one…

Meng Qingshen smiled bewitchingly, yet offhandedly picked up an ice-cracked plum blossom vase and smashed it hard onto Shi Ran's head; instantly, shards mixed with fresh blood sprayed everywhere, Shi Ran's dazed consciousness finally ceased, but she still managed to spit out a vicious line: "Pervert… you damn pervert!"

Meng Qingshen chuckled, shoved Shi Ran into her Cosmos Bag, and just as she finished tidying up, urgent knocking sounded outside: "Qingshen, Qingshen, are you in there? Did you see that little junior sister from the Floating Dream Sect yesterday?"

Meng Qingshen quickly wiped away the bloodstains left on the floor, kicked the shards under the bed, put her smile back on, hid her Cosmos Bag deep in her sleeve, then calmly went to open the door.

"How did Senior Brother Lu come here?" Meng Qingshen feigned surprise, leaning against the doorframe, her fingertips twirling a strand of blue-black hair at her temples. In the flicker of her gaze, the blood-stained handkerchief was slipped deep into her sleeve.

Senior Brother Lu anxiously peered into the room and explained: "Three disciples from the Floating Dream Sect and Junior Brother Zhou have been missing for a day and a night; I came to find their little junior sister to see if she has any other ideas. It's strange—clearly last night they were arranged to stay in the side room next to yours."

Meng Qingshen's eyes suddenly lit up: "I remember—Shi Ran said before dawn she was going to look for our master, heading into the eastern bamboo grove!" She tilted her head, showing a puzzled expression: "Could she still not be back?"

Before her words faded, a commotion suddenly arose in the distance; a disciple came running from afar, asking everyone he met, "Where is Senior Brother Lu?"

Senior Brother Lu forgot about Shi Ran, strode over a few steps, and asked, "What's the matter that you're so panicked?"

That disciple was clumsy in speech, yet adept at reading expressions; he directly handed the blood-stained white cloth to Senior Brother Lu.

"The entrance to the demon mirror has been found. Do not worry."

"This is a major matter; I must report it to the sect leaders. Come with me!" Senior Brother Lu gathered up the cloth, and like a gust of wind he led several junior disciples away.

"They found the entrance that fast?!" Meng Qingshen gave a light chuckle. "Good, otherwise it wouldn't be fun!"

Shi Ran had slept for a long time; when she opened her eyes again, she found herself completely submerged in water, her wrists bound by black-iron chains. She strained against them, but the iron links didn't budge.

This must be a dream, Shi Ran thought; if she fell asleep or woke up, she'd be fine—but she had opened and closed her eyes three times, and she remained chained in the water.

"Hey! Is anyone there? Meng Qingshen!!" Shi Ran yelled at the top of her lungs, "You're sick—why go to all this trouble just to lock me up?"

"You pervert……" 【three thousand words omitted】

"Sister!"

Suddenly a soft, childish voice rang out, startling Shi Ran; thanks to Meng Qingshen, whenever she hears the word "sister" she trembles all over.

Shi Ran jerked her head back, sending water spraying everywhere. She saw a girl about seven or eight years old crouching by the pool, tilting her head to look at her. The girl wore a pale yellow ruqun, with two fresh gardenia flowers pinned in her hair, appearing innocent and pure—if one ignored the blood-dripping dagger in her hand.

"Sister, your angry face is cute too," the little girl said, swinging her legs as the dagger scraped the stone edge of the pool with a screeching sound, "She's far more fun than that earlier sister called… what was her name? Yaoyao."

Shi Ran stared at the fresh blood on the dagger, her heart tightening.

"Y-you… what did you do to Senior Brother Lu and the others?" Shi Ran's voice trembled, the iron chains clanking.

The little girl suddenly leaned close, the scent of gardenia mingling with the stench of blood washing over her. "Lu-gege…" she said, licking the dagger, "He said he was going to find the sect master of your Floating Dream Sect." As she spoke, she produced a blood-stained jade tablet from her bosom—the very natal magic artifact that Senior Brother Lu never parts with.

Shi Ran's stomach churned. This was no little girl; she was clearly a demon wearing human skin!

"Where is Meng Qingshen?" Shi Ran forced herself to calm down, "Let her come see me."

"Senior Sister Qingshen is preparing the feast," the little girl giggled, showing teeth stained with blood strands, "Tonight's 'Azure Water Cloudy Heaven' needs fresh ingredients." She suddenly grabbed Shi Ran's hair, "Do you know, sister? This dish requires a living person…"