Chapter Twenty-Two: Reversal

When the dream faded, I felt dizzy and disoriented. Looking around the cave, I couldn't tell if this was reality or still a dream.

Doubting myself, I pinched my cheek.

Ouch, it hurt.

Convinced I was back in reality, I remembered the Dream Immortal's words. I took the jade pendant from my waist and held it in my palm. Before I could channel my spiritual power into it, the pendant's white glow began to envelop me.

The soft, feather-like light wrapped around me snugly. It was ticklish, but not unbearable. The light circled me a few times before dispersing like scattered feathers.

I cautiously moved my arms and twisted my waist. The pain from before was gone, as if it had been blown away like a wisp of smoke.

However, I felt like something was missing from my mind, as if there was something important I couldn't recall.

Forget it, thinking too much is pointless.

This Dream Immortal—or rather, this precious jade pendant—is remarkable.

As I was admiring the treasure, a voice suddenly came from behind me. Startled, I turned around and accidentally elbowed the person. Fortunately, he used a spell to catch the pendant before it could fall.

The Immortal returned the pendant to me, his eyes gentle but slightly reproachful. "Qingyue, you're still injured. Why aren't you resting?"

Holding the Moon Spirit Jade, I excitedly recounted my dream to him. "Immortal, I had a dream where I met the Dream Immortal. He told me about the uses of this Moon Spirit Jade, and it healed all my injuries." I patted my chest confidently and smiled at him.

"Dream Immortal? That's unheard of."

He placed his cool hand on my forehead, easing the lingering heat and clearing my muddled mind. He didn't rush to withdraw his hand, instead murmuring to himself, "How can this be?" Then, he used his spiritual power to examine my wrist.

"Yes, the Dream Immortal. Though I've never read about him in any books, he must be an immortal who travels through dreams to help people," I explained based on my understanding.

The Immortal seemed skeptical and looked at me with concern. "Qingyue, are you sure about this Dream Immortal's identity? I'm worried he might have other intentions towards you. Besides, the immortals in this world..." He was about to continue when something shiny peeked out from his sleeve. He quickly hid it behind his back.

Since when did the Immortal become so secretive, hiding things from me?

Could it be something tasty?

My eyes lit up, and I swallowed. "Immortal, what's that in your sleeve?"

At my question, the pink on his cheeks deepened, and he avoided my earnest gaze. "It's not ready yet. I'll give it to you on your wedding day."

Wedding day???

I felt a sudden panic.

So, the Immortal really is planning to be with Ling Lu. Is he tired of me always wanting to stay by his side and has already prepared a dowry to send me away? If that's the case, is he now looking for a "dowry destination" for me?

No, I can't give up so easily.

I tugged at his sleeve, my eyes slightly pleading as I spoke in a coquettish tone. "Immortal, I promise I'll cause less trouble in the future and act within my limits. I'm still so young and delicate. Can't I stay in Qiong Yun with you for a few more years?"

"Do you not want to marry?"

Marry? I don't even know who I'm supposed to marry. I can't agree to this lightly.

"Yes, yes, I really don't want to rush into marriage. Immortal, please, in light of my willingness to change, don't be so quick to prepare my wedding. Alright?" I deliberately lowered my voice at the end, hoping the pleading tone would move him.

His eyes darkened, and he lowered his gaze in disappointment. With a hoarse voice, he said, "Alright, if you don't want to marry, you won't marry." He then pulled out the shiny object from his sleeve and handed it to me. "Since this won't be part of your dowry, I'll give it to you now."

I looked closely and saw it was a pure white jade flute.

The Immortal's craftsmanship was indeed beautiful.

Happily, I accepted the jade flute and thanked him. Then I sighed, realizing I didn't know how to play it. "Immortal, I remember there's a book about learning to play the flute in your study. But I've never paid attention to musical instruments before, so learning it might be difficult."

"I'll teach you," he said, glancing at me. His lips parted as if to say something more, but he hesitated before finally speaking again. "I need to return to Luoyang to fetch some things. I'll be back soon. Stay here and... don't let me lose sight of you again."

Fetch some things. Sigh, he's probably going back to Luoyang to see Ling Lu and using this as an excuse to leave me. Even though I understood his intention, his concern still touched me.

After saying goodbye to the Immortal, I ate some remaining wild fruits and drank some water, barely enough to fill my stomach.

Sitting idly in the cave, I began to feel bored. I took out the white jade flute the Immortal had given me and awkwardly blew a few unmelodious notes. To my ears, they sounded melodious and clear, though untrained.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps outside the cave, mixed with the faint scolding of an elderly woman. Suspecting it might be people from the Xinghuo Sect, I hid the flute and found a concealed spot to hide.

A shadow cast into the cave as a sallow-faced woman hunched over and squeezed in. Her black-and-white hair was tied in a bun as she gestured for a few gray-clad men to follow her inside.

She spat angrily at them, "Can't you move any faster? If someone sees you in this state, you'll be in trouble." Then she smoothed her breath with a gesture and put on a facade of harmless friendliness as she struggled deeper into the cave.

I was about to move further back when I heard one of the men start complaining.

They were apparently under orders to find someone and had been searching for days without success. For some reason, they couldn't show their faces in public and had found a hiding place outside Luoyang, which turned out to be this very cave.

However, when the Immortal and I arrived earlier, we hadn't seen any signs of occupancy. Could they have mistaken the cave?

I was about to step out and ask when I overheard the woman mention "Que Han, that rat." My anger flared.

So, the person they're looking for is the Immortal? How dare she speak so disrespectfully! Does she think Qiong Yun has no one to stand up to her? Today, they're in for some bad luck! I formed a spell, creating a patch of frost on the ground, and waited for them to pass by.

But after waiting for a long time, I didn't hear anyone fall. Odd, there's only one path through the cave. Did they stop halfway?

Curious, I peeked out and was startled to jump back.

The wrinkles, pockmarks, and dark spots on her face were clearly visible.

The old woman, with her crooked mouth and smug expression, crossed her arms. "Such petty tricks, only the wild brats of Qiong Yun would bother with them."

Petty tricks? I snorted internally.

In a flash, I stepped out and slapped her hard across the face. "Petty tricks? Then how about you taste this one?" She was stunned, unable to dodge as I swung again, landing another slap on her swollen, pockmarked face. "And this one? You're nothing but a loud-mouthed old hag." With a surge of strength, I embedded half of her body into the stone wall, causing debris to rain down.

I turned to the men, my face stern, wearing a mocking smile. "What, you're not leaving? Do you want to stay here for a beating?"