The Faces of This Chapter:
Yena: Half-commoner, Half-divine | Resilient, sharp-witted, cautious yet curious
Miao Miao: Yena's friend | Playful, protective, slightly anxious
Jin Yue: Close companion of Yena and Miao Miao | Calm, observant, caring, and protective
---------------------------------------------------
Yena sat on the bed, absently gazing at the painting on the opposite wall as her mind drifted back to the Moonstone Whip and her encounter with Niruana in her mind sea. The weight of it all lingered, compounded by the exhaustion that still clung to her bones.
Just then, the door to her room burst open.
Before she could react, a small figure launched at her, arms wrapping tightly around her. The sudden force knocked Yena off balance, sending both of them tumbling onto the bed.
A soft giggle escaped Yena's lips as she felt the familiar warmth of Miao Miao clinging to her like a child.
"Miao Miao," she chuckled, gently patting her friend's head. "Don't cry. I'm fine."
Miao Miao sniffled, quickly sitting up. "Let me see!" she demanded, grabbing Yena's wrist to check her pulse. A long moment passed before she sighed in relief. "You scared me half to death! Don't ever do something like that again!"
Yena smiled, watching as Miao Miao's brows furrowed in frustration. Before she could respond, Miao Miao pulled her into another tight hug.
"Alright, alright," Yena soothed, patting her back. "I promise I won't."
A few moments passed before Miao Miao finally withdrew, wiping at her eyes with the back of her sleeve. Her usual bright energy returned as she pouted. "Hmph! I really was scared. Jin Yue and I had to watch over you all night, you know!"
Yena chuckled. "I know, I know. Jin Yue told me. But, Little Miao Miao, where were you this whole time?" She tilted her head. "Did you two fight again?"
Miao Miao nodded. "It wasn't really a fight… I just felt bad for accusing him. I needed to cool off, so I went to the garden for a bit. But the moment I felt your presence, I ran back here."
Yena sighed. "And what exactly did you accuse him of?"
Miao Miao hesitated before mumbling, "Umm… You know how rare it is to find an elder ginseng, right?"
Yena nodded, and Miao Miao continued, "Well, the one Jin Yue had wasn't just any elder ginseng—it had an immortal root. That's why your spiritual energy recovered so fast."
Yena's brows lifted slightly in surprise, but she remained calm. "That is unusual… I was wondering how he got his hands on something not from this lok[1]."
Miao Miao leaned in, whispering conspiratorially, "That's not the only thing, though! When I was outside the inn, he sent men to look for me. I overheard them! They were strong, Yena—wearing armor and carrying weapons! Don't you think his family might be some rich and dangerous bandit clan?"
Yena laughed weakly. "Little Miao Miao, is that the conclusion you've come to?" She flicked her forehead lightly. "Didn't you just say you felt bad for accusing him? And now you're doing it again."
Miao Miao's shoulders slumped.
Yena sighed, her expression softening. "Having an immortal root ginseng is suspicious, and he clearly has access to rare resources. He must have a complicated background." She paused, then added firmly, "But he has done nothing wrong to us. In fact, he has proven himself more than once."
Miao Miao frowned but remained silent, lost in thought.
Yena continued, her voice steady. "Alright, we've gone over this more than once. He's trustworthy, and I trust him. But instead of assuming things, we can just ask him directly. He deserves that much... I've already disappointed him more than once."
Miao Miao's eyes widened. "Wait… Are you going to tell him about us?"
Yena shook her head. "Not everything. Our identities aren't just ours, Miao Miao. The reason we're here holds too much significance for all of Yuan. But we can be honest with him about our individual lives. He has always put us first. Isn't that what friends do? It's time for us to do the same. We need to trust him."
Miao Miao pouted, crossing her arms. "Hmm… he does have a suspicious background," she muttered.
Yena gave her a pointed look, and Miao Miao, catching the expression, quickly added...
"But, but—" Miao Miao huffed, then sighed. "He has done a lot for us…" She hesitated before finally nodding. "Okay! I'll decide after hearing his response."
She tilted her head, her usual brightness returning. "Till then, I'm making you soup! I'll go to the market to get groceries."
Before Yena could respond, Miao Miao hopped off the bed and dashed toward the door. She threw it open, ready to leave, but then paused.
Peeking back inside, she pointed at Yena with a stern expression. "Take care. Don't do anything—just rest!"
With that, she grinned. "Bye-bye! I'll be back soon!"
The door shut behind her, leaving Yena smiling at the empty space. She let out a soft breath before sinking back onto the bed. This time, exhaustion fully took hold of her body, and before she knew it, she had drifted into sleep.
---------------------------------------------------
After several hours of peaceful rest, she was stirred awake by the sound of hushed voices outside her door.
Outside, Miao Miao and Jin Yue stood in the hallway.
Jin Yue:"Let her sleep. You can make her drink your soup later."
Miao Miao:"Hmph, I was just going to check on her! And what are you doing with that?" She pointed at the covered pot in Jin Yue's hands, steam and a rich aroma rising from it.
Jin Yue:"I made her porridge..."
Miao Miao:"Ohhh, so that's why you won't let me in. You want her to eat your porridge instead of my soup!"
Jin Yue:"No! I mean... she's still recovering. Porridge might be better for her right now."
Miao Miao:"Tch... And weren't you just telling me not to wake her up? Now you're standing here with food, ready to do the same thing!"
Their conversation was abruptly cut short as the door creaked open.
Yena sighed and shook her head as she took in the scene before her. Of course. How could she expect them to stay quiet for so long?
Miao Miao immediately rushed to Yena's side, hugging her soup protectively. "Look! You made her wake up!"
Jin Yue could only exhale, unable to find the words to defend himself.
Yena gave them both a tired but amused look. "No need to blame anyone. Just come inside, you two."
With that, she turned and walked back into the room, leaving the door open for them.
She sat on the bed with Miao Miao settling beside her, while Jin Yue took a seat on the chair by the table.
After a brief pause, Yena looked at Miao Miao. "Could you go to the inn's restaurant and order something for us? We'll join you soon."
Miao Miao tilted her head, then glanced at Jin Yue, who looked just as confused.
She stood up, still eyeing Yena curiously. "Okay… Just don't make me wait too long."
Yena smiled and gave her a reassuring blink. Miao Miao studied them for another moment before realization dawned on her. With a small huff, she turned and left, understanding that Yena probably wanted to talk to Jin Yue alone.
As soon as the door closed behind Miao Miao, Yena stood up and bowed deeply to Jin Yue.
Caught off guard, Jin Yue immediately stood from his chair. "What—?"
Yena straightened and met his eyes. "I wanted to thank you for everything you've done for us."
Jin Yue blinked, taken aback. A dozen thoughts crossed his mind at once. "Did I... do something to offend you?"
Yena quickly waved her hands. "No, no, not at all! Actually, I just wanted to make something clear. This will be the last time I act formal with you. From now on, I'll at least try to be more open."
Jin Yue blinked again, even more confused.
Yena sighed. "Don't give me that look. You told me that you see me as a true friend and that you wanted me to do the same."
At her words, Jin Yue suddenly recalled their conversation from the night before at the inn.
"Ah…" He scratched the back of his neck. "You don't need to take that so seriously. I was just… caught up in the moment. I know it's not easy to trust and be friends. We're still strangers, after all—"
"Is that so?..." Yena interrupted, tilting her head slightly. "But I trust you. Miao Miao trusts you. Don't you trust us?"
Jin Yue opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Yena smiled. "And as for being strangers… I think we've come too far for that, don't you? But there are still things that need to be cleared up. That's what we'll discuss later."
Jin Yue exhaled, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "I trust you too. Umm… what exactly do you want to talk about? I promise I'll tell you whatever I can."
Yena chuckled. "No need to be nervous. It's just a small catch-up between friends. Now, let's go. Miao Miao is waiting."
He still wasn't sure what to expect from this conversation, but for now, he chose to follow.
---------------------------------------------------
Miao Miao perked up the moment she saw them approach. "Have you two talked?"
Yena nodded and said as she sat on the chair beside her. "Yes, I told him we won't be so formal with him anymore."
Miao Miao hummed in approval and then pushed a bowl forward. "Here, have a taste," she said, offering Yena the soup she had just boiled. She then glanced at Jin Yue with a smug expression, as if expecting some kind of reaction.
Jin Yue, however, was too preoccupied with his own thoughts. He still wasn't sure what exactly Yena wanted to discuss with him, but he decided to set his worries aside for now. With a quiet sigh, he took a seat at the table.
To his surprise, Miao Miao slid a bowl of soup toward him as well. He blinked at her, momentarily taken aback, before picking up the spoon and taking a sip.
"Wow!" He raised his eyebrows in genuine appreciation. "You really have a knack for cooking." He took another spoonful, savoring the flavor.
Miao Miao flicked her hair back with a satisfied smirk. "Tch... Of course, I do."
Yena smiled as the three of them settled into a comfortable meal together.
After a moment, she finally spoke. "Shall we start now?"
Miao Miao nodded.
Jin Yue, who had just taken another spoonful, glanced up. "Hmm?"
Yena's gaze turned serious. "Where did you go when we first arrived in the mainland of Huliya?"
Jin Yue blinked. "Huh?! I thought we were just going to eat and relax."
Yena shook her head. "We will—after clearing all misunderstandings. I think you also have questions about us, don't you?"
Jin Yue sighed, realizing he wouldn't be let off the hook so easily. "Fine. I went to see my family. I can't stay away from home for too long."
Miao Miao quickly interjected, "So… do you belong to a bandit clan?"
Jin Yue nearly choked on his soup. "What? No! Why would you even think that?"
Miao Miao tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Well, you're rich, intelligent, handsome, and you have a lot of resources. The men who were looking for me earlier seemed too strong to be ordinary civilians."
Jin Yue sighed, shaking his head. "I'll take that as a compliment… I guess. You can think of me as a brat from a very wealthy family. We have many people serving us and hold a prestigious position in Huliya. Those men were definitely mine, but I assure you, none of them were bandits. And honestly, why would you think a bandit would be handsome?"
Miao Miao shrugged. "I read it in books."
Jin Yue groaned. "What kind of books are you even reading?" Then, turning to Yena, he added, "I hope that clears up the misunderstanding."
Yena studied him for a moment before nodding. "Hmm… so you left us from time to time because you were visiting your family."
Jin Yue nodded. "Yes. I'm the only heir of my family, so they worry about me a lot. But now it's my turn to ask something."
Yena gestured for him to continue. "Go ahead."
Jin Yue leaned forward. "Why were you in the forest that day? Did you two lose your way, or…?"
Miao Miao remained silent, letting Yena answer.
Yena sighed. "We did get lost. Actually, Miao Miao is usually good at finding her way, but that day, she was confused. It was our first time here, after all."
Thinking back, Miao Miao realized Yena was right. Yena was just modifying the truth so as to not reveal their identities, she did get disoriented on their way to Tianlok. Nodding, she admitted, "I could have tracked the right path again, but then you appeared. But wait—you were there too. Why? As a prestigious resident of Huliya, it doesn't make sense that you got lost."
Yena crossed her arms and sighed dramatically. "Ah… So, you lied to me then. How foolish of me to believe you."
Jin Yue let out an awkward chuckle. "At the time, I didn't think much of it. Actually—" He leaned closer and whispered, "I was there for an investigation."
Miao Miao's ears perked up. "Investigation?"
Jin Yue nodded. "Hmm… There are signs of illegal poaching near the Mystical Forest."
Yena's expression darkened. "You mean the killing of mystical creatures? But wasn't that abolished after the Great Settlements?"
Jin Yue let out a slow breath. "Yes, and as you know, Huliya has always protected mystical creatures. Let alone harming them, our laws are stricter than in any other province. The people here have deep bonds with their domesticated mysticals."
Yena frowned. "So, you suspect an outsider?"
Jin Yue nodded. "Most likely. But here's the problem—there are no signs of cruelty or curses. And as far as we know, no one has intruded into the mainland. It's impossible to figure out who's behind this. As a family responsible for Huliya's safety, it's our duty to investigate. Even though my aunt forbade me from getting involved, I couldn't sit back and do nothing. I wanted to investigate further…" He sighed. "My aunt knows about my investigations and has forbidden me from entering the forest again. So, for now, I'm going to find my master and compete in the tournament."
Miao Miao folded her arms. "So that's why you were being so secretive."
Jin Yue rubbed the back of his neck. "That's one of the reasons. My aunt is very protective of me. I didn't have many friends growing up, nor did she want me to join a sect or compete in the Great Sect Tournament. So, I always trained alone. However, I didn't lie about my master—I really was going to find him after resolving this case."
Yena tilted her head. "So, you're going to Tianlong? Won't your aunt be upset?"
Jin Yue sighed. "She will… especially because I—"
Yena thoughtfully. "Because you stole the elder ginseng without her permission?"
Jin Yue sighed. "Yes, it was a divine herb. We have plenty of rare items, but my aunt was especially serious about that one. It had some… immortal root properties. She claimed it contained immense spiritual power, enough to extend life of a magic-commoner."
Yena's brows furrowed. "Did she ever tell you where she got it from?"
Jin Yue shook his head. "No. But it was kept safely in her chambers."
Miao Miao's eyes widened. "So, you really did steal it from her room?"
Yena sighed, a hint of guilt in her voice. "I guess this just made it even harder for you to convince her to let you participate in the tournament, huh?"
Jin Yue waved off her concern with a smirk. "It's not your fault. I was the one who took it. Besides, I'll handle her—no need to worry."
Yena smiled. "Do you have any more questions about us?"
Jin Yue nodded. "I do. You said your spirit weapon isn't ordinary. What did you mean by that?"
Yena placed her hand over the hilt. "This weapon… It's made from a powerful stone. I don't know its true potential, only that it grants visions—of both the past and the future."
Jin Yue frowned in thought. "That explains why you collapsed. If it's that powerful, it must have drained you completely."
Yena exhaled. "Maybe. But I'm fine now, thanks to the herb. I'd only ever heard of the immortal root ginseng's power, but now I know it's real."
Jin Yue's voice softened. "Even if you feel fine, you should be careful. Don't push yourself too hard."
Miao Miao looked at him, surprised. Jin Yue quickly gave an awkward smile. "Did I say something I shouldn't have?"
Yena chuckled. "No. You're right. We're friends, after all."
Miao Miao smirked. "But don't think you're off the hook, Jin Yue. I'm always curious, so be ready for more questions."
Jin Yue smirked. "Alright, little Miao Miao."
"Hey! Only Yena can call me that!"
Jin Yue flashed a theatrical grin. "Is that so?" Then he added, "I will remember that, little miao miao."
Miao Miao sprang up, chasing after him as he laughed and ran.
Yena watched them as they left the inn with a soft smile. "So this is what it feels like... to have true friends."
Suddenly she remembered someone, a companion of the past. A fleeting glimpse of him surfaced in her memory.
"We were friends too. Weren't we?"
[1] world