Chapter Text
The roaring river accompanied Ying Xue’s first night on Earth. Unconsciously, she had drifted with the current for what seemed like an eternity until she lost consciousness.
“Miss Pei, I’ve found someone by the riverbank,” reported one of the Demon Hunter Bureau officers.
“Show me the way. She might have some clues about the water demon,” Pei Sijing ordered and hurried to investigate.
Pei Sijing decided to bring Ying Xue’s unconscious body back to the Demon Hunter Bureau. Her body appeared frail, covered in scratches that seemed to be inflicted by the water demon.
When Ying Xue awoke, she found herself in a room unfamiliar to her. She looked around, taking in the peculiar surroundings. The scenery outside the window next to her bed was breathtaking, and in the corner of the room stood a weapon rack holding swords. One of them immediately caught her attention—the Yun Guang Sword. It was identical to the one her grandfather had given her.
“Am I… in Loufu?” she whispered to herself, but quickly dismissed the thought. The air here was different. She must be on Earth. But how could her grandfather’s sword exist here?
“You’re awake?” Pei Sijing entered the room, her expression neutral but curious.
Ying Xue nodded.
“How are you feeling?” Pei Sijing asked.
“Thank you for saving me. I’m fine,” Ying Xue replied with a slight smile, gesturing with her hands.
Pei Sijing raised an eyebrow. “You… can’t speak?”
Ying Xue nodded again.
“I see. My name is Pei Sijing, head of the Demon Hunter Bureau. May I know who you are?”
Ying Xue simply stared at her in silence.
Pei Sijing sighed. “You should know why I brought you here. Your body is covered in wounds from the water demon. But don’t worry—we’ve treated them. Do you remember anything about your encounter with the demon?”
Ying Xue vividly recalled the water demon’s form and their encounter, but she chose to shake her head, signaling that she didn’t know.
“Alright,” Pei Sijing said, studying her closely. “From the state of your body, it’s clear you were exhausted after the attack. The water demon is our target, so I hope you can remember what happened and help us.”
As Pei Sijing turned to leave, Ying Xue stopped her, pointing toward a table with paper and ink.
Do you know the Goddess Baize?
Pei Sijing read the words Ying Xue had written and frowned.
“Why are you looking for her?” Pei Sijing asked cautiously.
I can only tell her about the water demon.
Recognizing the importance of this information, Pei Sijing decided to call for Wen Xiao, a trusted ally, to return to Tiandu for further investigation.
---
“Jiejie, what’s going on?” Wen Xiao asked as soon as she arrived.
“There’s someone who wants to meet you,” Pei Sijing said, leading Wen Xiao to a room she was all too familiar with.
Seeing the room, Wen Xiao smiled brightly. “Xiao Zhuo is back? Does that mean Zhou Yuanzhou has returned too?”
“I’m afraid not,” Pei Sijing replied. She entered the room and gestured toward Ying Xue, who was sitting by the window, gazing at the scenery.
“Go talk to her. I’ll wait outside,” Pei Sijing said, handing a brush and paper to Ying Xue before stepping out.
“So, you were looking for me?” Wen Xiao asked as she sat beside Ying Xue, observing the brush and paper in her hands.
Ying Xue nodded, studying Wen Xiao carefully.
“I’m Wen Xiao,” she introduced herself.
“I… I’m Ying Xue,” Ying Xue said softly, her voice trembling.
Wen Xiao’s eyes widened. “Pei-jiejie didn’t know you could speak?”
Ying Xue shook her head. “I only talk to you.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
“Do you know where Ying Long is?” Ying Xue asked hesitantly.
Wen Xiao froze. Everyone—humans, demons, and even gods—knew that Ying Long had been dead for a long time. To some humans, Ying Long was nothing more than an old myth. Wen Xiao forced a smile.
“Where are you from, Ying Xue?” she asked, her tone carefully neutral.
Wen Xiao repeated Ying Xue’s name in her mind. Ying Xue… Ying Long. Whoever this person was, she wasn’t human. But she wasn’t a demon either—if she were, Pei Sijing would’ve known.
“That’s not important,” Ying Xue said. “I just want to know where Ying Long is.”
Wen Xiao thought hard, deciding she needed to discuss this with the others before answering recklessly. “I don’t know. This is the first time I’ve heard his name.”
Ying Xue didn’t believe her. When Wen Xiao moved to leave, Ying Xue stopped her, unleashing the power of Longzu.
“Y-you are a demon?!” Wen Xiao stammered, her voice loud enough to alert Pei Sijing outside.
As expected, Pei Sijing and several Demon Hunter Bureau officers burst in and subdued Ying Xue, locking her in the underground prison.
---
"To be honest, keeping me here is pointless," Ying Xue muttered, feeling that the room she was in earlier was far better than this underground prison. Besides, the prison was designed specifically for demons, and she wasn’t one of them.
"So, you really can talk," Pei Sijing replied as she locked the cell door where Ying Xue was being held.
Standing beside her, Wen Xiao added, "Ying Xue, our conversation isn't over yet. I'll return after I speak with Pei Jiejie. Please don't cause any trouble."
Ying Xue simply nodded. "Alright."
Pei Sijing eyed both of them, her gaze sharp as she warned, "Wen Xiao, be careful. Don't trust her too much." She glared at Ying Xue before turning away.
---
Wen Xiao and Pei Sijing sat at the entrance corridor of the demon hunter bureau, sipping tea as they deliberated on what to do with Ying Xue.
"So, what exactly did she tell you that led to this situation?" Pei Sijing asked, her curiosity piqued.
"I don’t know. She’s... different. You and I both know she’s not a demon, but she isn’t human either," Wen Xiao said, unease clear in her voice.
"Did she at least tell you anything about the water demon that attacked her a few days ago?"
Wen Xiao shook her head. "Not a word. But she did ask me about Ying Long."
"Ying Long? He’s been dead for a long time. Why would she suddenly bring him up?" Pei Sijing looked perplexed. Everyone in Tiandu knew about Ying Long’s death—his story was practically folklore.
"Pei Jiejie," Wen Xiao began, her tone serious, "I need your help. Do not, under any circumstances, mention Ying Long’s death to her. At least not until Xiao Zhuo returns. With her current demeanor, I’m afraid she might have ulterior motives. It would be dangerous if she learned that Ying Long is gone. From the way she looks at me, it’s clear she misses him deeply."
"But how can we keep that from her? Everyone knows Ying Long is dead. How do we hide it?"
"That’s why I need your cooperation. Inform everyone in the bureau not to mention it. Besides, she’s in custody now; she won’t be able to leave the bureau."
"For how long? Lord Zhuo has been gone for so long, and we don’t even know when he’ll return," Pei Sijing said, her tone dimming with concern.
"For now, I’ll stay here and investigate her identity. As for Xiao Zhuo, we’ll deal with that later."
"Be careful when interacting with her," Pei Sijing warned.
Wen Xiao nodded in agreement.
---
In her cell, Ying Xue couldn’t shake the feeling that the so-called Goddess Baize was hiding something about Ying Long. But why? Did something happen to him? The thought gnawed at her mind, and her heart ached with longing for her grandfather.
She closed her eyes, letting her memories of Ying Long flood her mind. Back when he was still the leader of Loufu, Ying Xue had been just a child, too young to understand the calamity that had taken her grandmother and father. She remembered the day Ying Long handed her the Yun Guang sword, the same day he left for Earth.
Her grip tightened as she stared at her empty cell. "Ying Long... where are you?" she whispered to herself, determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.