Summit of the Mountains, beneath the Moon Disc.
A Celestial Palace, sculpted from white jade, stood towering and majestic.
The palace stood with its back to the full moon, moonlight spilling like water across the jade-carved bricks. From afar, mist seemed to swirl as moonbeams danced in endless motion.
Stepping into the palace, one found the gentle moonlight illuminating the interior, revealing this to be a place of focused cultivation, a haven for tranquil and even arduous self-discipline.
The Dao was ever-present, with no discordant notes of strings or flutes to disturb the ear.
One nurtured breath and nature, untroubled by laborious tasks.
At times, a shadow would drift by, riding the wind.
Often it was a Spirit Rabbit, circling the Jade Pond and resting atop it.
Thus, all who came and went were Magical Practitioners, their conversation lively but never mingled with Commoners—such was the scene.
Yet, in the usually unchanging silence of the Moon Palace’s depths, a sudden, pig-slaughtering wail broke out.
“Let me go, let go of me!”
“I really am not some monster, let me go!”
Dragged helplessly by an invisible force of spiritual energy, Luo Dan’er shouted at the top of her lungs, struggling with all her might.
Perhaps it was because her spiritual power, drained earlier by Luozhilan, had not yet fully recovered, or perhaps the palace-garbed beautiful woman before her was simply far stronger.
No matter how she struggled, she could only be dragged obediently forward.
“What right do you have to call me a monster? Hey, let go of me! I really am Luozhilan!”
“What right?”
The palace-garbed beauty’s eyes flashed with panic and resentment as she retorted.
“My Miss would never say something like ‘Zhilan won’t do it again.’ Whenever she made a mistake, she’d just stubbornly argue to the end, never admitting fault!”
“Monster, I could tell at a glance you weren’t my Miss.”
At these words, Luo Dan’er flew into a rage.
These wretched people! They have no idea of Mother’s gentleness!
Even if she’s been cold, deceitful, and harsh lately, she definitely loves Dan’er deeply!
No, Dan’er must clear Mother’s name!
Enduring the jostling as she was dragged along, she shouted at the palace-garbed woman:
“Aiya, your misunderstanding of me is way too deep!”
“What do you mean I’d never admit fault? If I did something wrong, why wouldn’t I admit it?”
“Do I really seem so stubborn in your eyes?”
The palace-garbed woman paused, turned, and nodded emphatically.
“Looks like you, monster, know my Miss all too well.”
…
Now Luo Dan’er was utterly speechless, a profound sense of powerlessness creeping over her heart.
Prejudices between people are like mountains!
“I really am Luozhilan… You probed me with your spiritual power, didn’t you?”
At a loss for how to convince this palace-garbed woman, Luo Dan’er could only pout and murmur softly.
“Heh, you’re far too pleased with yourself. You think that’s enough to fool me?” The palace-garbed woman’s beautiful eyes narrowed as she said coldly, “True, I sensed nothing amiss, but that’s exactly what’s so strange.”
“When you see the Palace Master, with a single sweep of her divine sense, she’ll shatter your soul and reveal your true form.”
Wow! How can this old woman be so unreasonable!
What cultivation stage is this Palace Master at? Could she really see through something?
Luo Dan’er sensed things were going badly and quickly tried to recall the set of arguments Limuqun had taught her before.
But the palace-garbed woman flicked her wrist, and a wave of spiritual energy sealed her mouth shut.
“Enough! I don’t want to hear any more of your nonsense.”
“Save your words for the Palace Master!”
“Mmmph, mmph…”
Where did she learn this mouth-sealing move?! Twice now! Never giving anyone a chance to explain!
Mourning in silence, Luo Dan’er was dragged by the palace-garbed woman all the way to the palace’s depths, to a secret room bathed in moonlight and rich with spiritual energy.
“Disciple Xue Yang humbly requests an audience with the Palace Master.”
The palace-garbed beauty bowed at the secret room’s door, her voice respectful.
Moments later, the thick moonlight in the air began to ripple. From within the room came a voice—clear, otherworldly, crisp as a bell yet almost devoid of emotion.
“Aunt Xue?”
“Did Lan’er cause trouble again?”
“It’s not that Miss caused trouble.” The palace-garbed woman—Aunt Xue—flushed, hesitating as she replied:
“Reporting to the Palace Master, Miss skipped her lessons again today and went to the back mountain. I found her as usual, but today her words and actions were terribly off.”
“I… I suspect that Miss’s body has been overtaken by a monster, her spirit invaded.”
“Her body overtaken by a monster?”
The spiritual energy in the air rippled as a graceful figure silently appeared beside Aunt Xue, lifting Luo Dan’er by the hand.
This figure was clad in a long, gauzy robe woven from moonlight. Her pale, round thighs were partially exposed, glowing with a silvery sheen in the moonlight. Her bare jade feet pressed directly on the ground, yet seemed shielded from all impurity by an invisible barrier, leaving only their plump, fair arches and faintly pinkish-white toes.
Her face was veiled by moonlight, her features obscured. Yet her cool, solitary bearing, her full-moon-like curves, her delicately arched form—all proclaimed her a beauty second to none.
She reached out, her jade-like, moon-pale hand gently pressing to Luo Dan’er’s forehead. Instantly, Luo Dan’er felt a surge of cold, clear spiritual energy fill her, causing her whole body to shiver uncontrollably.
“It’s Lan’er’s spiritual power, no doubt.”
The Palace Master’s delicate brows drew together. With a wave of her jade hand, she lifted the restriction from Luo Dan’er’s mouth.
“Lan’er, what mischief are you up to now?”
Freed at last, Luo Dan’er could no longer keep up any act. She poured out her indignation:
“Injustice, injustice! Palace Master, I’m only seeking the Dao, yet I’m slandered like this! This is pure defamation, totally baseless!”
“Palace Master, she even sealed my mouth so I couldn’t speak, and dragged me all the way here. Did she consider my dignity? My feelings? You have to give me justice!”
The Palace Master only lifted an eyebrow, turning to Aunt Xue and speaking to her mind:
“This willful and unreasonable attitude—that’s exactly how Lan’er is, isn’t it?”
“This…”
Aunt Xue found herself at a loss for words.
Could it be Miss was just pretending earlier?
“All right, all right. The Sun-Repelling Festival is almost here, the Blessing Ritual is nearly prepared. At this critical time, let’s not create unnecessary problems.”
With a gentle wave of her jade hand, the matter was thus closed.
“Aunt Xue, you’ve worked hard. The Alchemist from Penglai was too impatient and I’ve already sent him away. Go rest now; let me have a word in private with Lan’er.”
“Yes.”
Receiving her orders, Aunt Xue left with lingering doubts, fading into the moonlight.
Outside the secret room, only Luo Dan’er and the mysterious Palace Master remained.
The Palace Master reached out her jade hand, took Luo Dan’er’s small hand, and in a blink appeared inside the secret room.
She lifted the moonlight veil from her face, finally revealing a stunning visage.
Yet Luo Dan’er, upon seeing that face, was nearly struck dumb, frozen where she stood.
That face—so like a grown Luozhilan’s. The only difference was the delicate nose, which wasn’t quite as tall or cute as Luozhilan’s, and the thinner lips, which lent an ethereal, distant coldness to the beauty.
If Luozhilan, before revealing her true nature, was an aloof iceberg—touch her, and you’d feel the chill.
Then this Palace Master was a bright, cold moon, forever out of reach.
The Palace Master knelt down, her full chest pressed into her thighs as she spoke to the dazed Luo Dan’er:
“Lan’er, don’t be willful anymore. Aunt Xue is one of us. You mustn’t be so unreasonable in the future.”
As she spoke, she reached out to stroke Luo Dan’er’s head, just as Luozhilan had always loved to do.
Lost in a moment, Luo Dan’er blurted out softly, “Mo—Mother.”
Realizing her slip, she quickly clapped a hand over her mouth in panic.
But the Palace Master only smiled gently, moonlight quivering all around her.
“Silly girl, who calls their own sister ‘Mother’?”
Sister?
Luo Dan’er was utterly stunned as the Palace Master continued:
“All right, all right, tidy yourself up. Let’s get ready to go down the mountain for the Blessing Ritual.”
“The Exorcising Sun Ritual is rather difficult to manage. Watch and learn from me closely—one day, it’ll be your turn to perform it.”
As she spoke, gentle moonlight enveloped them both. When the light faded, the two figures had vanished, as if nothing had ever happened.