Chapter 4

Su Jing only furrowed her brows at him, not knowing with what to associate the term " divine sense". Was it a compass or something to detect her?

But didn't he see her directly numerous times?

The man continued, obviously analysing the expression on her face.

"Even here in front, in my innermost sea of knowledge, you can't be felt at all."

Su Jing again was not knowledgeable about these cultivation terminologies, making her not understand his point. She felt a bit stupid being all confused while he was so serious.

"I... don't know much about these things," Su Jing admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed by her lack of knowledge. 

The ghost gazed at her, with a superiority that made Su Jing remember the elder from the contest. He sat up and looked at her from a higher point, the sun's rays passing through his body.

"Aren't you curious enough to ask me anything? You are the first to get this privilege."

Su Jing could only think of his previous words.

 "I do not intend to mingle myself in other things if it's not in my place to ask about."

His face only grimaced more, them unable to align in their talking.

"You're for real not aware of it?" he asked her again, doubtful, "I'm surprised how you got to live so long without being dead...You disrupted my realm and went in like a bull — even that memory was forcefully opened."

Like a bull?

Su Jing long stared at him, him again using rude words to describe her. 

"I think there may be a misunderstanding. I just went through the marked way towards the immortal realm. I had no intention to walk here and disturb you."

How could she know that this side of the mountain was his territory? Su Jing felt wrong to be accused like this.

The ghost only put his palm over his forehead, annoyed by her words.

"I guess it's because of your mortal origins, " he said silently, scrutinizing her again, "your soul feels strangely strong. That was at fault for you being here, long story short."

His explanation only entangled Su Jing, who was not sure about her having such powers.

Has this something to do with her awakening? Any other reasons for her soul to be stronger weren't there...and for him to waste his time on her. Su Jing didn't have any other choice but to believe him, like a gullible.

"So it was my fault at the core, I didn't mean to do any of that." as she said this, he closed his eyes again, seemingly annoyed, "My only goal is to reach the immortal realm, I hope senior trusts that."

The ghost went tranquil again, playing with a rock between his fingers. It was strangely transparent, like how he was as an entity.

"Your journey here is close to an end, anyway," he said throwing the rock and opening a passage. Pointing at it with the hand that held the rock, he looked towards Su Jing, suddenly tired and not wanting to talk anymore, "You just have to continue on this path and you'll reach your destination, that is a guarantee from me."

Su Jing got confused by him, not knowing what to think of his actions. He called her contradicting but he seemed closer to the meaning of this word.

Before she could express her thanks again, the ghost stopped her, giving a warning.

"But look after your constitution, you'll only create problems if not handled well."

He warned her, with his head turned towards the valley of clouds. His eyes, once unfocused, now bore the weight of contemplation, as they could see far beyond the horizon.

Su Jing lifted her body and wiped the dust and snow off her clothes, looking at the man.

It is not known when he got it out, but the ghost had in his hand a black palm leaf fan.

Perhaps it was because he had saved her, or maybe it was the yearning for someone to be near her, but the potential danger he posed didn't weigh heavily on her heart now. Su Jing bit her lip and observed how his long fingers gripped the fan, its black colour shimmering.

"What are you waiting for? I'm sure you have matters to attend in the immortal realm."

Su Jing couldn't help but feel embarrassed. The nature of the thoughts that occupied the ghost's mind looked hard to reach, an unmistakable air of solitude hanging around him.

"Then I'll not be a bother anymore. Thank you for your guidance, senior. "

Su Jing took a last look at the faded picture of the immortal, continuing her way up the stairs till she didn't see his presence anymore.

The frigid coldness was harder to bear now, making her fingers get a hurtful frostbite. If the place where the immortal lay was in the sun's full view, a little warmer and drier, the spot where she came had a strangely shadowy atmosphere, more affected by the humid winds.

On this path, only snow prevailed, making Su Jing scared of an eventual avalanche. Not even the rocks were showing, everything being covered by the big mass of whiteness.

For some reason, this landscape didn't harbour the beauty the foot of the mountain had. It only looked desolate in Su Jing's eyes. The stairs started to be hidden, more and more difficult to distinguish - as if it told you to follow your heart and instincts, not your head.

Su Jing continued to go up, even when the road couldn't be seen anymore. A blizzard started to wash away the visibility in front, the numbness in her body rising. 

By the time Su Jing realised, she was in an illusion again - where the same hard winter swayed, but in a different place.

It was more peaceful, and in contrast with the last memory, this one had a pleasant smell and outdoorsy charm. A graceful and mellow flute sound accompanied the ambient, bringing Su Jing's attention towards the little girl on the bench - who tried with difficulty to hit the right notes.

The child was around five to seven years old with rosy cheeks and bright, twinkling eyes. She was holding a tiny, delicate flute in her small hands. Her chubby fingers gently pressed the keys as she kept bringing the flute to her lips.

Her innocent laughter accompanied the music, creating a heartwarming scene of pure joy and charm.

Su Jing couldn't describe the state she was going through, however, she felt her chest hurting - how that piercing loneliness was surfacing and making her heart feel numb.

She struggled to suppress these overwhelming emotions and forcibly directed her thoughts toward the goal of reaching the immortal realm. 

However, it felt like an uphill battle because Su Jing had no clear understanding of what she truly desired, loathed, or aspired to achieve.

She was akin to a blank page, mirroring the actions of those around her, yet still grappling with a profound sense of emptiness and confusion.

Was she doing the right thing? Bai Xiuying said that destiny was all in her power, but now, for once, she wished for others to make these decisions instead of her.

By the time Su Jing realised, the little girl long left the bench she was staying on, running and fading in the distant background.

As Su Jing approached after her, she noticed that the child had accidentally left her flute behind, and it was now concealed beneath a blanket of small snowflakes.

She gently cradled the flute in her palm, its vibrant red colour standing out against the snowy backdrop. 

The miniature world began to fade gradually, with each flake drifting along the wind's direction.

Back on the mountain, the flute still lingered in her palm for a while, but it eventually vanished when she closed her palm, transforming into a small, bright dust that gradually dissipated into the snow.

Su Jing kept looking at her hand, being in deep thought.

Was this her memory or the ghost's? The scene made her feel emotions, but a disconnected feeling was still there.

It was strange.

As the illusion dissipated, a sudden gust of wind caught Su Jing off guard, nearly knocking her down the stairs.

She quickly regained her balance and looked around, wondering if the strange blizzard was a sign that something had happened to the ghost. After all, this was his realm of knowledge.

However, she dismissed the thought, remembering the powerful presence he had shown. Despite the strange weather, she knew that he was capable of protecting himself. 

With her arm in front of her eyes, she tried to analyse the surroundings, but they looked more and more difficult to see through, the desolate landscape becoming confusing and mysterious.

And when a slight tremor in the ground followed, Su Jing's sense of danger activated, alerting her to run away!

Looking around, she spotted the huge mass of snow heading her way. Her heart raced, and Su Jing instinctively sprang into action. She quickly turned and bolted down the hill. An avalanche was approaching!

Her speed was difficult to control, causing her to slip several times and soak her clothes with snow. The frigid coldness bit at her cheeks and her throat stung from the rapid breaths, filling her body with a rush of adrenaline.

That was still for nought, the blocks of snow appearing closer and closer.

Soon, the snow swallowed her whole, the world becoming a suffocating whirlwind of snowflakes. Each breath was a desperate struggle for air as she tried to remain on the surface.