12 Heroic Past

Bai Lian continued to cultivate and grow her roots. The Floral Lake had gotten one visitor, a rank 5 spirit grand warrior. The cultivator quietly picked a couple herbs and left. She had no interest in conversing with the cultivator. In both her past and present life, she had never been a sociable person. In the case of the two children, she had taken the initiative to speak with them only due to her goal of testing her signalling ability. Her days were simply peaceful before the young pair visited her once more after a week.

As the young pair came within range, she greeted them. "It's been awhile, you two. Congratulations on becoming a spirit master, Little Yun."

"Big sis! Ah wait, that's not right. Granny! I missed you." Ji Yun waved her hand towards the lake while beaming brightly despite not actually knowing where the guardian spirit was.

"Hey, granny," greeted Lin Tao.

"Why is big sis not right?" Hearing how defeated the gentle voice sounded, Lin Tao wanted to laugh. Despite forcing himself not to laugh, the corners of his mouth shifted upwards into a smirk, clearly displaying his true feelings.

"Even though your voice sounds so young, Lin Tao said you were actually really old. He said only when I am covered in wrinkles would I be even close to being qualified to call you big sis."

'That Lin brat is a bigger bully than me… I only teased him a bit…' Bai Lian silently lamented her new age. 'Ah if I knew these children would bully me like this, I wouldn't have given them such a polite greeting.'

"Don't worry, although you're really old, I'm sure you're the most beautiful granny! Oh yeah, since you can see all throughout the forest, why don't you greet us when we enter the forest?"

"Although none can escape this guardian spirit's eyes and ears within this forest, my voice can't reach the entire forest." A trace of grudge could still be heard in the gentle voice.

"Are you really a powerful guardian spirit? You sure you can protect this forest?" Lin Tao stoically pondered out loud.

"Y-you're right. I can hardly call myself a guardian spirit anymore… The truth is… I've been gravely injured in a great war long ago to protect my sworn sister, the holy spirit of light. I have been recuperating for ages, yet I still don't have the power to protect this humble forest. Su-such an embarrassment, a worthless guardian spirit like me…" The gentle voice was laced with sorrow and traces of despair. As she spoke her voice grew softer until it was a mere whisper, conveying how difficult the topic was for her to speak of.

The soft voice filled with heartache pulled on the heartstrings of the two children, urging them to comfort the sorrowful spirit.

"Although you no longer have the power to protect, you still succeeded in protecting your dear sworn sister. With such a feat, how can you not be considered a guardian spirit!" Ji Yun rushed to comfort the guardian spirit.

"I-I had no idea. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Sacrificing yourself for the sake of your sworn sister is a truly noble act." Ashamed of his thoughtless words, Lin Tao's voice was soft and embodied distress. He felt immense guilt as he heard the sorrowful whispers of the spirit. This was the first time he had heard the spirit sound so miserable and weak. His doubts towards her identity as a guardian spirit dwindled.

Bai Lian observed the panicked children. Her gaze was filled with satisfaction. If the two children could see her facial expression, they would have seen a smirk wider than the one Lin Tao had just previously worn. No longer full of sorrow, her voice weakly infiltrated the minds of the young pair, "No need to comfort me anymore. My apologies, sometimes I get emotional thinking of my current powerlessness."

The gentle voice failed to ease the guilt displayed on the two children's faces. A sudden realization dawned upon Ji Yun. "Granny, you mentioned the holy spirit of light as your sworn sister. Isn't the holy spirit of light the Goddess of Light? That war you mentioned… I think it might have been the same one mentioned in the Sacred Historical Texts."

'Heh, she took the bait,' noted Bai Lian lightheartedly to herself. "So that's what she's known as nowadays. My heart feels at ease to know she's well."

"To think the Light Goddess is your sworn sister and you even saved her in the past! I knew you were an amazing guardian spirit," reverence shone from the young girl's eyes.

The Sacred Historical Texts were records of the gods and goddesses. These texts were considered the history of an age before cultivation. During a certain generation, legends, each possessing a mastery of a different element of qi, had been born. These legends ascended to godhood and triggered the beginning of cultivation among the mortals. Religions based off of certain gods or goddesses from these historical records were consequently developed. The Goddess of Light was originally a holy spirit of light before becoming a goddess. Her followers of the present were those of the Divine Light Sect.

"I merely gave your age a guess, but to think you would be so much older than I thought," mumbled Lin Tao quietly to himself. However, Bai Lian heard him very clearly.

'That brat! I wouldn't have had to aged myself like that if you didn't make me into an old granny! A heroic old timer is an upgrade from old granny spirit after all. But still, I'm a young maiden, you know! How can a flower withstand being called wilted before she has even bloomed?' Bai Lian bitterly sent a signal privately to Lin Tao "If you keep up that habit of verbally abusing delicate maidens, Ji Yun will run away from you. You'll be forever alone."

"Y-you!" Lin Tao's ears turned bright red as he shot a quick glance towards Ji Yun to see her reaction. Ji Yun stared questioningly at Lin Tao.

"Don't worry, I sent that message privately." A bell-like giggle echoed inside Lin Tao's head. He clenched his fists in anger, cursing that the spirit did not have a body for him to hit.

Lin Tao let out a deep breath and resolutely changed the topic, "Master said he wanted to meet you."

"Master?" Bai Lian's alertness rose as a sense of worry washed over her. 'How strong is their master? Could I have conned the little disciples of someone I shouldn't offend?'

"His name is Shui Renshu. Although his cultivation is low, his martial arts techniques are respected throughout the country. He's the director of the Shui Orphanage."

Bai Lian recalled how Ji Yun was capable of easily dealing with spirit beasts with the power of a rank 2 spirit warrior before she even began cultivating. "When does he want to visit me?"

"Tomorrow."

"I see."

"You're willing?"

"Regardless of whether or not I'm willing, I will be here. I can't stop you guys from bringing him over. Just make sure to tell him good things about me."

"I will try my best to come up with something good to say. Yun and I should be heading back soon."

'Don't make it sound like saying good things about me is really difficult,' Bai Lin gazed discontentedly at Lin Tao. "Wait, I have some questions I'd like to ask before the two of you leave."

"Let us hear them!" Ji Yun cheerfully awaited the questions.

"What's the date today?"

The two stared dumbfoundedly at the air. "Were you lying when you claimed nothing in this forest can escape your eyes and ears?" Lin Tao probed the spirit.

"Do you state the date every time you enter the forest?" The gentle voice responded stoically.

The young pair made a look of realization and properly answered the question.

'So it has been 3 years since my death…'

"What are your other questions?"

'Now I just need to ask about the state of my family.' Bai Lian's voice sounded in the pair's mind, "Please tell me…forget it. Well, until we meet again."

The two children gave each other an odd look, but they did not probe the guardian spirit any further.

"See ya."

"Bye bye."

As the young pair wandered farther away, the carefree attitude of Bai Lian faded.

Bai Lian couldn't bring herself to ask about her family. For their precious little girl to be killed right under their noses, there was no telling how rational they would be able to act. As long as she did not know, there would still be hope her family was fine. However, if she were to suddenly find out they acted rashly and met their ends…

'Even if I knew, I won't be able to do anything with such information. There's no need to hurry and find out. After all, there's still so many years before I can absorb from all the plants of this forest. Besides, asking about the Bai family will only raise their suspicions. I have just managed to lessen Little Tao's doubts towards my identity today. I can't let my efforts go to waste,' Bai Lian helplessly comforted herself.