Dark Chu Lian

As the group of armed individuals silently stood in the bamboo forest, watching the ancient structure and preparing for the right moment to infiltrate, Chu Lian paused for a moment while feeding the white-haired girl. She resumed, scooping up another spoonful of soup, cooling it down before bringing it to the girl's lips.

"Now, can you tell me your name?" After several minutes of feeding the stubborn white-haired girl, Chu Lian pretended she still didn't know her name and asked.

The white-haired girl's eyes followed the movement of Chu Lian's hand as she held the bowl. Upon hearing the question, she promptly replied, "Kurosaki Hazuki, a name of ill omen."

"Oh? Why do you say that?" Chu Lian was genuinely curious this time. Her father was clearly Chinese, so why did she have such an obviously Japanese surname?

"My father is Chinese, and my mother is Japanese. Originally, I was supposed to have both a Chinese and a Japanese name. But due to certain circumstances, I ended up only with the surname Kurosaki" the girl explained seriously, now feeling more at ease with Chu Lian after realizing her actions were for her own good.

"I don't recall exactly what happened. I only know that before I turned three, I was called Suzune Yuri. But when I was three, out of curiosity, I wandered into the family's forbidden area and passed out in a cave. When I woke up, I was back home. My father sighed, and my mother was crying. After that, I was given the surname Kurosaki, and my name was changed to Hazuki."

"A cold moon on a dark path? Is that the meaning behind your name?" Chu Lian pondered for a moment, breaking down the components of her name, and asked.

"My father said something like that, but I always felt this name had a special meaning," Kurosaki Hazuki nodded, then shook her head, unsure.

"Alright, let's leave it at that for now. Rest and regain your strength. We'll talk more later. Sleep now..." A warm stream of spiritual energy flowed from Chu Lian as her voice became soft and hazy, like a distant whisper in a dream. To Hazuki, it felt gentle and soothing, and soon her eyes closed, and her breathing steadied as she drifted into sleep.

Chu Lian carefully moved the girl's head off her lap and onto a pillow before gesturing for Inori and the others to follow her outside.

"There are enemies outside," Chu Lian said seriously. "According to Tina's analysis, there's a 90% chance they are the ones hunting Kurosaki Hazuki. I don't know how they found her here, but we can't let her fall into danger now."

"Chu Chu and Xiuer will stay here. I'll have Tina return shortly. With her here, even if enemies show up, you'll be able to retreat safely. Tina said that only two or three of them are stronger than her, but none can catch her," Chu Lian gently stroked Chu Chu and Li Xiuer's cheeks, speaking softly. "So this time, Inori and I will go. You two must prioritize your safety. If necessary, even if it means leaving Hazuki behind, protect yourselves."

"Sister, don't worry. As long as I still have the strength to fight, Xiuer won't be harmed. That's my promise to you," Chu Chu said with a determined tone, enjoying Chu Lian's gentle touch with half-closed eyes.

"I won't be a burden. Even if I don't have the strength or know how to fight, I won't let Chu Chu worry about me," Li Xiuer added with uncharacteristic firmness. It was clear that if it came to it, she was willing to do whatever it took.

"Nothing will happen. Trust me..." Chu Lian gazed at the two girls for a moment, then turned and took Inori's hand. "Inori, the enemies this time are likely stronger than all the ones we've faced combined. Until we encounter a truly formidable foe, let's fight together. Only when we can't hold them off anymore should we draw the ethereal sword."

"Because I fear if we draw the sword too soon and don't find the right person, it'll be disastrous..." Chu Lian's words made Inori tense. She pulled out a silver pistol from her thigh holster and nodded, "Lian, we'll be fine."

"Of course. If we weren't, I wouldn't be doing this," Chu Lian replied, referring to the decision to take in Kurosaki Hazuki despite the danger it brought.

With that, Chu Lian closed her eyes, and her once pure and serene aura shifted. A cold, dark energy began to emanate from her.

When she opened her eyes again, her black pupils had turned entirely purple, and even the ends of her long, straight hair had curled slightly.

"Let's see who dares to cause trouble here. Haha, it's been a while since I've had a chance to come out. Did you all miss me?" the purple-eyed Chu Lian said with a wicked smile, looking at Inori and the others.

"Hmph, I hate it when Sister turns dark. Just leave, I don't want to see you. Xiuer, let's go inside," Chu Chu stuck out her tongue and shot her a look of disdain. She grabbed Li Xiuer's hand and quickly retreated into the room.

"Mew..." Tina, who had silently returned to the room, let out a soft purr and jumped onto Chu Chu's shoulder, nuzzling her affectionately before settling down for a nap.

Once Tina was asleep, Chu Chu gently closed the door behind her, giving the dark Chu Lian a final mocking look. This made the latter laugh, "Haha, that girl really needs to be disciplined. The white Chu Lian is too gentle. If it were up to me, she'd be perfectly obedient by now."

"That's why you're dark Chu Lian, and she's the one who can always be out in the open," Inori said seriously, pulling her hand away from dark Chu Lian's grasp and holding her gun tightly.

"You're right. I'm me, and she's her. It's best that we do things differently," dark Chu Lian said, shaking her head with a sigh but without taking offense to Inori's rejection.

"Enough talking. If we keep this up, those rats will be inside soon. Tsk tsk, a bunch of pests thinking they can challenge me—how foolish," dark Chu Lian muttered, disappearing in a flash as she leaped between the bamboo stalks. Inori hesitated for a moment but followed closely behind, knowing that despite the transformation, dark Chu Lian was still Chu Lian.

Outside the Wafuu Ryokan, in the bamboo forest, a dozen or so strange figures stood silently behind a burly man wielding a long spear and wearing a purple-gold crown. They listened as he spoke.

"There's only one person left from the Shun Goku Sword School, and she either holds the answer we seek or it's been lost. But I don't believe the prophet was wrong. She must know something. Even if she doesn't, her soul does," the man's deep voice was calm, despite the murderous intent in his words.

"The Daughter of Destiny has appeared in China. She's the key to the underworld's entrance into the mortal world. Unfortunately, I don't yet know who she is. Those short-sighted fools think they're being discreet, but they have no idea we've already uncovered their plans," the burly man sneered at the mention of these people, his face full of disdain.

"Even without locating the Daughter of Destiny, finding the object linked to the resurrection of the Death Moon is enough. With the Death Moon, even without the key, we have a chance to break into this world." The man's eyes gleamed with excitement as he mentioned the "Death Moon."

"In today's world, which is so focused on technology, people have grown weak. Guns and the like pose no threat to me, and even artillery fire wouldn't harm me," he boasted. At his level of power, firearms indeed posed little danger to him.

"But there are still some old-timers around, and a few promising young ones too. If we cause too much chaos, it'll draw them out, and that would complicate things. If they catch wind of the Daughter of Destiny, they'll do everything in their power to stop us. And the resurrection of the Death Moon would also be exposed, making everything far more troublesome. In the mortal world, we're still too weak. If not, I wouldn't have to fear these ghosts and monsters," he said with a sigh, though his words were true.

If it weren't for the hidden families in the mortal world who dealt specifically with matters of cultivation and the underworld, he wouldn't need to worry so much. He could just barge in, kill at will, and capture that slippery girl. Why bother with all this?

"Ghosts and monsters? Haha, you're really overestimating yourself, aren't you, big guy?" A crisp, mocking voice suddenly rang out in his ear, causing him to flare up in rage. "Who's there?"

"Up here, look!" Dark Chu Lian sat atop a thin bamboo stalk, resting her chin on her hand as she looked down at him with a smirk.

"A mere slip of a girl dares to be so arrogant? Prepare to die!" The burly man was even more furious when he saw that his challenger was just a petite girl. His anger grew, and with a sweep of his long spear, he struck at the bamboo stalk, slicing through the ten-centimeter-thick bamboo as if it were nothing.

"How clumsy. I'm not even there anymore, and yet you still lash out. Should I call you dumb, or just plain stupid? Honestly, you're like a bull with more brawn than brains," dark Chu Lian teased, now perched on a bamboo stalk more than ten meters away in the same relaxed pose.

"If you've got the guts, come down here and face me head-on! Stop hiding like a rat. I hate cowards like you the most!" The burly man, now agitated and coarse, shouted angrily, completely losing his previous composure.

"You think I'll come down just because you asked? Who do you think you are?" Dark Chu Lian chuckled, clearly finding him childish.

But just then, the burly man, who appeared to be seething with rage, suddenly flashed a cold smile. His left hand flicked, sending a hooked weapon attached to a nearly invisible line flying straight toward her.

The sudden move was lightning-fast, catching her off guard. It turned out that his earlier anger had been a ruse. But then again, who wasn't pretending?