Chapter 783: with translation of chapter title

We've talked and talked until we got here.

Li Qingying was startled by her own words.

Bái Sōnglán's hand holding the silver needle trembled slightly, and she looked up at Li Qingying.

Their eyes met, then they both turned to look at Xiao Jiu, still unconscious on the bed.

Bái Sōnglán swiftly collected all the silver needles from Xiao Jiu's body, took Li Qingying's hand and left, saying, "Qingying, let's stop the medicine; I won't needle Xiao Jiu anymore. Perhaps you're right—this is Xiao Jiu's tribulation; no matter what form it takes, we can't help her."

Li Qingying waved her hands, wishing she could slap herself twice; she regretted it, she shouldn't have spoken nonsense just now.

Now even the only one who could help Xiao Jiu, Bái Sōnglán, is unwilling to give Xiao Jiu medicine or needles—what are we to do?

Bái Sōnglán pressed down the restless Li Qingying and said earnestly: "Qingying, calm down; I know you're closest to Xiao Jiu, you can't stay out of this, but think—why did Xingchen and A Cheng stand by this time? Don't they worry about Xiao Jiu?"

They're not unconcerned; they can calculate and foresaw that this tribulation cannot be interfered with. Qingying, trust Xiao Jiu—she'll surely make it.

Li Qingying lowered her head, wringing her fingers.

After a long while, she looked at Bái Sōnglán and said sorrowfully: "After Seventh Lord ascended, he never returned; if Xiao Jiu ascends, will our Yin Dang Hang have to disband?"

Bái Sōnglán shook her head: "No, it won't; Qingying, you forgot—there's still Feng Ran."

Yes, there's still Feng Ran.

That Little Guy was personally chosen by Xiao Jiu as her successor; over the years she has grown increasingly graceful and poised.

If Xiao Jiu truly ascends, Feng Ran will take on the responsibility of Yin Dang Hang.

As for the Jiǔyàn qū region, it has remained stable.

Li Qingying pinched her brow hard, then said: "Shulan, go rest; you haven't slept for days."

Bái Sōnglán returned to the Bái Jiā Yīguǎn, but she sent someone to inform Hui Moqiong, explained the situation, and asked him to arrange his affairs and return quickly to accompany Li Qingying.

Xiao Jiu felt terrible.

Since she failed to enter that cave for the sixth time, her dreams seemed disturbed; she was locked in a parallel space, the feeling of her feet finding no solid ground was agonizing.

She could feel the surrounding space in a state of chaotic distortion, and she was being swept along by an invisible force.

Xiao Jiu began to reexamine everything that had happened during this period.

This trial didn't happen out of nowhere; it began when her merit had accumulated to a certain level.

But after she gave away a portion of her merit, the trial paused for a while.

This shows she hasn't actually reached a certain height yet.

That height... is ascension.

In other words, her merit has reached the threshold for tribulation ascension, but she won't undergo the heavenly lightning baptism like most people; instead, she is being tested in another way.

This testing method is somewhat unique, combining dreams and reality to examine her from all angles in various forms.

It may seem less intense than direct heavenly lightning, but in fact the difficulty is greater, the traps more numerous, and impossible to guard against.

The trial of gold, silver, and jewels tests whether she is greedy or hateful.

The trial of Shan Shan's peril tests her composure, when loved ones beg for help and she must choose between good and evil—whether she will uphold the Dao, act without selfishness, and not interfere with others' karma.

The appearance of Liu Junyan, for Xiao Jiu, could be considered the ultimate trial, right?

For Xiao Jiu, Liu Junyan's trial is everything.

Although she managed to stay calm, not to step forward or acknowledge him, she still couldn't achieve a mind as still as water.

Could the problem lie right here?

Xiao Jiu somewhat lazily thought, she didn't even want to achieve Fēishēng Chéngxiān; whether she could pass this tribulation wasn't important to her.

She is a mundane person, only wishing to guard Yin Dang Hang and everyone, forever.

If she fails to pass and suffers backlash, she accepts that.

Better than being trapped in this void, right?

Just as Xiao Jiu was thinking in a jumble, her body suddenly relaxed, the surroundings shifted rapidly, and she found herself standing in… the Nether Realm?

Xiao Jiu gazed at the towering walls of Wǎngsǐ Chéng ahead; she was all too familiar with this scene.

She strode forward, turned the corner, and when she saw the willow branch bracelet hanging on the willow tree, everything became clear.

Xiao Jiu quickly stepped back.

The willow branch bracelet is a secret signal between her and Liu Junyan.

Seeing the willow branch bracelet is like seeing Liu Junyan.

Xiao Jiu didn't know if moving forward would lead her to encounter Liu Junyan again.

But she knew that if she stood still, did nothing, and waited patiently, she could break this dream.

So, at the instant she saw the willow branch bracelet, she retreated again.

But what she never expected was that her back struck a solid chest.

Xiao Jiu was startled and immediately turned to look.

Upon seeing the person behind her, she was so shocked she staggered backward, almost falling.

At the critical moment, the man reached out and pulled her back.

A bloodstained willow branch bracelet fell to the ground.

Xiao Jiu instinctively crouched to pick it up, but the man had already snatched the willow branch bracelet, brushed past her, and walked on.

Xiao Jiu froze for a moment, then turned to gaze at Liu Junyan's back.

That cold, hard back seemed as if he had just bumped into a stranger.

Xiao Jiu furrowed her brows, about to ponder what was happening, when she withdrew from the dream.

The room was very quiet.

It must be night now.

Bái Sōnglán and Li Qingying were absent; in the darkness, quiet and still, Xiao Jiu could hear her own hurried breathing from fever.

She couldn't open her eyes, but her consciousness was clear.

She recalled Liu Junyan's performance in the dream, faintly, she seemed to have discovered something.

She thought of the words she used to comfort Shan Shan.

One day in heaven, one year on earth.

After Liu Junyan ascended upward, he may still be in the assessment period.

Xiao Jiu couldn't help but think, if this is a test for oneself, could it also be an assessment for Liu Junyan?

Otherwise, besides after ascension, the emotionless Liu Junyan, when has he ever been so unfamiliar and cold when facing himself?

Yes!

In the dream, whether it was Liu Junyan roasting fish in the cave, or the Liu Junyan encountered by chance in the Nether Realm, they are no longer the original Liu Junyan.

He is the Liu Junyan after ascension!

Thinking of this, Xiao Jiu was shocked by her own bold idea.

Afterwards she pondered, that Liu Junyan's performance should have passed the test, right?

He... seems to really not remember himself at all.

Achieved true Duàn Qíng Jué Ài.

Xiao Jiu's heart was mixed with five flavors, unable to say whether she was happy for Liu Junyan or sad for herself.

But not long after, she discovered she seemed still wrong.

Because she thought, if Liu Junyan truly achieved Duàn Qíng Jué Ài, then where does the power that drags her into these situations come from?

Roasting fish in the cave is the memory anchor for her and Liu Junyan.

Willow branch bracelet... also...