Chapter 44: The Moon's Phases—Rarely Whole

Whenever night falls, longing grows stronger—a common affliction for those who journey far from home. Su Mu soaked quietly in the medicinal bath, tending his wounds, yet his thoughts drifted back to the tranquil and peaceful town in the southern riverlands, where his home lay, where his parents lived, and where An Rui waited for him.

Thinking of An Rui, Su Mu found himself absent-minded. How long had it been since he last thought of her? Lately, his mind was filled with the image of the girl in the white dress, and it seemed An Rui’s features were gradually becoming those of Miss Yue.

“Su Mu, Su Mu, how could you confuse An Rui with Miss Yue? How could you be so foolish?”

He punched himself in the head, vexed and ashamed of his own weakness. Yet, when his gaze fell upon the jade box not far from him, a secret joy bloomed within his heart.

“This was given to me by Miss Yue. She is so kind to me…”

Like a thief, he glanced around; seeing no one, Su Mu quickly leapt out of the medicinal bath, hastily brushed off the insects and leaves clinging to him, tossing them back into the water. Swallowing nervously, he sat at the bedside, staring at the jade box, then glanced around once more to make sure he was alone before wiping his hands and, with some trepidation, cradled the box.

The jade box was not heavy in the hand; its pale hue was exceptionally translucent, and by the flickering lamplight, something faint could be seen inside.

He gently opened the hidden clasp, and the box sprang open. At once, the room was filled with an exotic fragrance; even a distant whiff would intoxicate anyone, but Su Mu, closest to the box, was struck most intensely.

He felt as though his whole body might float away, an experience entirely new to him. The scent was indescribably comfortable. Peering inside, he saw a layer of milky-white ointment, the source of the overwhelming aroma.

Su Mu gently shook the box, and the ointment inside danced playfully with the motion, shimmering with hints of rainbow colors, a sight that seemed dreamlike and wondrous.

Immersed in fascination, Su Mu did not notice the air stir beside his bed. A white figure stood silently behind him, appearing without a sound. Even were Su Mu vigilant, it would be nearly impossible to detect.

Gritting his teeth, he slammed the box shut, suppressing his eagerness. Breathing heavily, he calmed himself. Such a miraculous thing must not be wasted; he resolved to return it to Miss Yue when he next saw her. Perhaps she did not know the true nature of the box’s contents, which was why she gave it away so easily. He must not betray her trust by quietly keeping this treasure.

“Why don’t you use it?”

The voice drifted from behind, as silent as its owner.

“Who’s there?!”

Startled, Su Mu whirled around and threw a punch, channeling his pulse force—enough to seriously injure an ordinary person.

It was as if he struck an invisible wall. Su Mu felt his knuckles crack, his whole body slammed back as if hit by a boulder. Without even seeing whether the figure was human or ghost, he was hurled several meters across the room, scattering chairs and tables.

Any ordinary person would have cried out in pain from such a blow, but Su Mu reacted instantly, rolling to his feet and readying another punch. But when he saw who was before him, his fist froze midair.

“Miss Yue? How is it you?”

Miss Yue stood with her hands bound, a faint smile on her lips, watching Su Mu with amused curiosity at his incredulous expression.

“What’s the matter? This isn’t some forbidden place; am I not allowed to come?”

“No, no, you’re always welcome. It’s just… how did you get in? I didn’t notice at all.”

Relief swept over him, only for embarrassment to follow as he realized he was stark naked. Flushed, he wished for a hole to crawl into, hurriedly grabbing some clothes behind the bed and dressing in haste, not caring that his pants were on backwards.

Miss Yue blushed as well, spat lightly, and turned her face away, seating herself on a nearby overturned chair. Su Mu, his face red as a monkey’s, emerged awkwardly from behind the bed.

“Miss Yue, you… you should have announced yourself when you came. I meant no offense.”

He tried to explain, but she interrupted him.

“You dare speak!”

“Yes, yes.”

“I gave you the jade essence—why don’t you use it?”

“Miss Yue, the thing in that jade box—is it called jade essence? It seems extraordinary, surely a rare treasure. You should take it back; how could you give it away so casually?”

Hearing her mention the jade essence again, Su Mu hurriedly retrieved the box from the bed and thrust it toward her. She did not take it, but frowned, her lips coldly declaring:

“Have you forgotten what I said? I never take back what I give. If you don’t want it, I’ll throw it out the door.”

With that, she picked up the box and tossed it out the window, showing no sign of cherishing it. Seeing her throw it away so easily, Su Mu quickly got up to retrieve it, secretly wondering how such a beautiful girl could have such a temper.

As he opened the door, he saw Black Crow approaching from afar. Seeing Su Mu at the door, he hailed him.

“I heard a commotion from your room—what happened?”

Su Mu nervously glanced inside; Miss Yue sat calmly, showing no reaction. He didn’t want Black Crow to know she was here, lest trouble arise, so he waved quickly.

“No trouble, Brother Black Crow. My stomach acted up and I bumped into the furniture. No need to come over; I’ll return to the medicinal bath now.”

Black Crow, puzzled—Su Mu was not usually so careless—gave a few more words of advice and returned to his own quarters.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Su Mu quickly retrieved the jade box. Fortunately, it was small, and the darkness prevented Black Crow from noticing anything strange.

“Miss Yue, this jade essence…”

Entering the room, he saw her glare and swallowed his words.

“Though jade essence is rare, I do not value it greatly. You mustn’t think it’s so remarkable. I gave it to you; it’s yours. Don’t be stingy with it.”

Knowing he could not refuse, Su Mu nodded, then asked, “Miss Yue, what is your name? Everyone calls you Miss Yue—are you actually named Yue?”

She hadn’t expected such a question, yet answered, “Why are you so interested in my name? Is my jade essence less important than that?”

“Of course it’s not.”

Seeing Su Mu’s earnest reply, Miss Yue paused.

“My name is Wan Yue’er. All of my people bear the family name Wan.”

“Wan Yue’er… Crescent Yue’er? Does that mean you’re like the crescent moon in the sky?”

Su Mu felt his guess was correct; the girl before him was indeed as mysterious and elusive as the moon, her temperament as changeable as its phases.

“So, your name is Su Mu—does that mean you’re as dull as a block of wood?”

Wan Yue’er shot him a glare, but he only grinned sheepishly. “Heh, not at all. My father deals in medicinal herbs, and when I was born…”

He was only teasing, but to his surprise, once started, he rattled on endlessly. Wan Yue’er meant to interrupt, yet found his stories increasingly interesting, and sat quietly listening as Su Mu recounted his life from birth to adulthood, taking nearly half an hour.

Seeing she was willing to listen, Su Mu spoke with half pride, half homesickness. One talked, the other listened; under the lamplight, their shadows overlapped on the window, harmonious and warm.

“This is the first time I’ve heard an outsider speak of their upbringing. It’s indeed much more interesting than where I come from. You… have had your share of hardship, much like me.”

Learning of Su Mu’s childhood, of how he was bullied and excluded, Wan Yue’er was moved.

“Miss Yue, did you also have a difficult childhood? What is your homeland like?”

Though he knew it was a somewhat improper question, Su Mu was young and thought little of it; whatever came to mind, he asked. He hoped for some common ground with Miss Yue, which would make future interactions easier.

“I cannot reveal anything about the Nether Realm. It is forbidden. Perhaps…”

Wan Yue’er seemed to recall something, suddenly raising her gaze, fixing it upon Su Mu.

“Perhaps one day I will need your help. When that time comes, will you help me?”

Su Mu sprang to his feet, slapped his chest, face flushed, and swore by the heavens.

“If Heaven bears witness, should Miss Wan Yue’er ever need my help, even if it means braving blades and fire, I, Su Mu, will not flinch.”

“I came here today with some hesitation. Giving you the jade essence had other intentions. Hearing your stories has changed my view of you.”

Wan Yue’er drew a small jade gourd from her waist, handing it to Su Mu.

“That jade essence is indeed a treasure, but its power is special and fierce. It can help you break through to the Heavenly Son realm for a short time, but afterwards, your cultivation may stagnate at the Primordial Spirit stage—your star source will crystallize, unable to become a sea, and you’ll never advance further.”

Su Mu was stunned; fortunate he hadn’t used the jade essence. Why would Miss Yue give him such a thing, akin to forcing a seedling to grow too fast? Before he could speak, she continued:

“I need your help, but your cultivation is too weak. I wanted you to grow quickly. Don’t be upset; sometimes, to accomplish great things, sacrifices are necessary. And if you use the jade essence, the benefits are real—you won’t lose out.”

“But… now I feel some fondness for you and don’t wish you to resent me in the future. This bottle of thousand-year stone milk can neutralize the jade essence’s intensity. Though it will slightly reduce its strengthening effect, it will prevent damage to your star source, allowing you to continue cultivating normally.”

Su Mu held the jade bottle, dazed for a long while, his expression complex.

“Why didn’t you offer this bottle from the start?”

“Because I only needed your body, not your person. The stone milk is precious—why waste it?”

Su Mu already knew of the ruthlessness of the world of cultivation, but even someone as otherworldly as Miss Yue was so pragmatic; he could not help but feel disheartened.

Seeing his reaction, Wan Yue’er sighed inwardly—what a foolish boy.

“Don’t worry, Su Mu. I won’t deceive or harm you again. Use the jade essence without worry—just apply it to your body. Then use the stone milk as well. Remember, after applying them, you must quickly return to your medicinal barrel.”

“Why is that?”

“You’ll see. Remember, remember.”