INE Chapter 97: Fate and Destiny

Ji Rong glanced at Gu Baiyi, then at the swirling magma below.

For a moment, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so she settled for an emotionless expression.

Her lashes, however, still held traces of tears.

Chu Changli had fallen into the sea of fire, dying.

At that moment, Gu Baiyi’s soul ascended from her mortal shell.

The ending was complete. Gu Baiyi’s spirit soared high, on the verge of leaving the ghost tomb, exiting this chapter of existence.

But as her soul detached from her body, she saw Ji Rong, her figure enveloped by spiritual energy.

In an instant, everything she had gone through flashed before her eyes, and she understood it all.

So, Gu Baiyi didn’t leave. Instead, she flew to Ji Rong’s side and gently wiped away her tears.

Because she was Chu Changli, and she was also Gu Baiyi, she was going to the place her Senior Sister was heading.

Ji Rong gazed at Gu Baiyi, allowing the cold hand to brush against her cheek.

Despite the chilling sensation, like cold spring water, she saw vines of the Bixue Peak flowers entwining, and from the depths of her heart, warmth spread.

Still, she truly despised Chu Changli, the ungrateful disciple.

This rebellious, maddening disciple who stirred up both love and hate.

As Ji Rong recalled that the person before her was indeed her disciple, the anger she felt turned toward Gu Baiyi.

She immediately gave a cold look and raised her hand, attempting to push Gu Baiyi’s hand away.

But what she didn’t know was that Gu Baiyi was merely a wisp of soul, visible but intangible.

The hand Gu Baiyi had extended was actually a manifestation of spiritual power, cool as spring water, but without substance.

Thus, Ji Rong’s cold swipe through the air ended in nothing.

Her hand hung awkwardly in midair.

Looking at Gu Baiyi’s smiling face, Ji Rong’s embarrassment deepened.

Damn it, what kind of ridiculous setup is this?

Why could Gu Baiyi, as a soul, touch her, but she couldn’t touch her in return?

This didn’t make sense.

Ji Rong’s temper flared. She turned her head away, coldly speaking to Gu Baiyi, “If you are Gu Baiyi, why do you still call me your Master? I don’t have the power to take you as my disciple.”

If Gu Baiyi had stayed her disciple for one more year, Ji Rong feared she’d die not in battle but from sheer frustration.

Gu Baiyi looked at Ji Rong, offering a slight, helpless smile.

When her memories returned, she hadn’t fully adjusted, and by instinct, she had called out, “Master.”

But after everything, she now understood.

Her Senior Sister wasn’t one to respond well to harshness.

As the Sword Saint, Ji Rong could endure the criticisms of the world. But when it came to her disciple’s soft pleading and pitying expressions, she was helpless.

Gu Baiyi pursed her lips, and a trace of grievance appeared in her eyes, but it was deliberate.

In a soft voice, she said, “Baiyi knows I’ve been a burden, causing Senior Sister much trouble.”

“I never expected that my soul would be so volatile, without concealment. Such a disposition… I feel unworthy to be part of Senior Sister’s teachings.”

Ji Rong’s response was nothing more than a silent, disbelieving stare.

Could she stop looking like Gu Baiyi, and start sounding like Chu Changli, all while spouting these white lotus nonsense?

Gu Baiyi sighed, continuing, “Senior Sister, I don’t like Chu Changli either.”

“I dislike her recklessness and the way she made you angry. But I envy Chu Changli too, because at least she could be reckless, pulling tricks to make you happy. Unlike me, unable to please anyone.”

Ji Rong sneered.

Don’t think you can excuse your behavior by distancing yourself from Chu Changli. I won’t forgive you so easily.

She didn’t hold back, speaking bluntly, “I’d rather you were Gu Baiyi, at least you wouldn’t jump into an abyss without warning and surprise me like this.”

Gu Baiyi paused for a moment, then smiled, “Baiyi also agrees, what Chu Changli did was really wrong.”

“Actually, I was thinking, if I were Chu Changli, I wouldn’t have let you watch me die.”

Ji Rong snorted.

What do you mean, “If you were Chu Changli”?

Aren’t you just my dumb disciple?

But after a brief chuckle, Gu Baiyi lowered her gaze, continuing, “But looking back, I was Chu Changli. When I jumped into the abyss, it was indeed to spare you the pain of watching me die.”

“But Senior Sister doesn’t have to think of me so kindly. Yes, my jump was for you, but wasn’t it also carefully planned, full of ulterior motives?”

Gu Baiyi gazed at Ji Rong, her tone and expression almost identical to that of Chu Changli.

“I wanted to spare you the pain, but I also wanted you to remember me. Whether with love or hate, with affection or indifference, I want to be the one you can never forget.”

“So, I jumped. I was certain you would never forget me.”

Ji Rong smiled faintly and asked, “Now that you’ve succeeded, are you happy?”

Gu Baiyi shook her head, speaking softly, “After achieving my goal, I only feel a brief sense of regret. I didn’t expect you to cry for me, and then I felt childish. If I could do it over again, I’d rather make you happy, not sad.”

Ji Rong refused to acknowledge her, saying coldly, “No need for do-overs. Gu Junior Sister, I am genuinely happy to see you.”

Gu Baiyi smiled warmly, “Really?”

“Really happy, not fake happy.”

“Why?”

Ji Rong scoffed, “Because as long as I don’t have to see my disciple, I’d be happy even seeing the King of Hell.”

Gu Baiyi: “…”

For a moment, she couldn’t tell whether Ji Rong was complimenting her or insulting her.

Below, the magma swirled and churned.

Ji Rong, expressionless, asked, “Now, the question is, how do we get out of here?”

Gu Baiyi nodded, “That’s a good question.”

They both looked at the sea of fire, then at each other, silent for a long while.

Finally, Gu Baiyi spoke, “I think I only left Chu Changli’s body after I died, so…”

Ji Rong fell silent. She certainly wasn’t about to jump into the magma to die, was she?

What if there’s no way out and this just turns into a suicide?

Gu Baiyi paused, saying, “Maybe we need to finish the Sword Saint’s story, and only then will you be able to leave.”

Ji Rong nodded thoughtfully.

They stood above the sea of fire, contemplating for a long while.

In the end, Ji Rong’s fear won out.

She was afraid that, if one of her disciples jumped into the abyss again, they might see her and Gu Baiyi talking so intimately.

Thus, she chose to follow the flow of the fire and took to her Qingshuang Sword, flying forward.

She didn’t believe this abyss would have no end, after all, she had made it.

Gu Baiyi, as a wandering soul, could only smile and follow Ji Rong.

They traveled for hours.

When they finally reached the end, the sea of fire had dissipated.

Ahead, a stone wall blocked their path.

Ji Rong, looking at the twisted vines on the wall, felt a strange sense of familiarity.

She raised her Qingshuang Sword and cut through the vines.

In an instant, the rocks shattered, and the vines snapped.

As the dust settled, the scene ahead revealed itself.

To her surprise, just as she saw the Moonlight Grass in the cave, a blood-red mouth lunged at her.

The sight was enough to make anyone jump in fear.

Gu Baiyi couldn’t help but warn, “Senior Sister, be careful.”

Though Gu Baiyi had warned her, Ji Rong was still startled.

After all, anyone would be terrified seeing a snake’s tongue flicking right before them.

The Sword Saint was deeply shaken by the consequences of her fear.

The situation was dire, and Ji Rong could only raise the Qingshuang Sword, instinctively slashing at the massive serpent with a strike of "Thunderstrike."

Thunder condensed at the tip of her sword, transforming into a bolt of lightning. With terrifying pressure, it struck the giant snake’s body.

With just one strike, the snake fell to the ground, grievously injured by the sharp intent of the sword.

It had not died, only because Ji Rong had held back when delivering the blow, avoiding striking its vital points.

Now, the giant serpent curled up, its breath ragged as it lay on the cold pond.

Crimson blood spread across the surface of the water, and its golden-brown vertical pupils widened. It seemed to see nothing of Gu Baiyi, who was merely a soul, but it glared at Ji Rong with malice.

Gu Baiyi, staring into the serpent’s eyes, couldn’t help but express her surprise. “Senior Sister, it’s the Crimson-Scaled Serpent.”

Ji Rong was equally shocked.

She had not expected to encounter an old acquaintance in the end.

Indeed, the game’s storyline had mentioned the sealing of the Crimson-Scaled Serpent by Yue Qianqiu.

But if she had sealed it, what benefit would it bring her?

Ji Rong gazed at the Qingshuang Sword, a sudden realization flashing across her mind.

Her grip tightened on the sword’s hilt, and her palm grew sweaty.

In the game, the Qingshuang Sword was said to have gone missing.

Perhaps… now she could seal the sword in a forbidden place, letting the Crimson-Scaled Serpent guard it.

That way, whenever she left the chessboard, she could return to the forbidden place and retrieve the sword.

This thought was exhilarating. If this worked, she could easily collect a sword!

Ji Rong felt enlightened, completely understanding the possibilities.

Her gaze toward the Crimson-Scaled Serpent shifted.

Looking at her, Gu Baiyi’s left eyelid twitches. Something felt strange about the tenderness in Senior Sister's eyes, a tenderness that was almost too eerie.

A closer look revealed that within the tenderness, there was a hint of something fervent.

As for where this fervor came from, she didn’t know. The Crimson-Scaled Serpent, innocent as it was, certainly had no idea.

At that moment, Ji Rong, who had once hated the serpent, now feigned the air of a grand Sword Saint as she coldly spoke, “I will not kill you. Instead, I’ll set up a formation here. You may move within the seal and enjoy the spiritual energy of the cold pond.”

“But in return, you must guard the secret within this cave until your death, or until someone kills you. That is the cost of your survival.”

Having said that, she asked lightly, “Will you agree?”

Though she asked if it agreed, she had already given the Crimson-Scaled Serpent no room for refusal.

The serpent, filled with resentment, had no choice but to weakly reply, “I agree.”

Ji Rong nodded in satisfaction. This was the obedient serpent she was looking for.

She then raised the sword and set the seal on the Crimson-Scaled Serpent.

To ensure that people knew this was the work of a Sword Saint, she purposely split the cold pond in two, carving a fierce sword intent into it.

She then sealed the Qingshuang Sword, sinking it deep into the cold pond.

Once these tasks were completed, Ji Rong ignored Gu Baiyi’s complex gaze and left the cave with a graceful stride, under the serpent’s watchful eyes.

As soon as she exited the cave, she felt a wave of dizziness.

Looking at her slowly fading body, she saw it becoming transparent before transforming into a strip of red silk.

She thought to herself, the plot must be nearing its end.

The red silk drifted over the flowers of Bixue Peak, the ever-green trees, and then toward the distant, hazy end, finally resting on the Bodhi tree.

Snowflakes fluttered in the air, and the red silk danced among the maple trees.

Soon after, Ji Rong’s soul floated out of the red silk, joining Gu Baiyi in the air to witness the final outcome.

After the great battle, Bai Yushuang had intended to take the sword and flute left behind by Chu Changli.

But Mei He, with a serious tone, advised her, “The Chixiao Sword is a source of many calamities. It should not remain in the Devil Sect.”

Mei He then gave Bai Yushuang the Lotus Flute, taking the Chixiao Sword with him.

From then on, Bai Yushuang and Mei He parted ways, never to meet again.

After being forced out of the abyss by Chu Changli’s spiritual power, Gong Yu was saved by Mei He, but her cultivation fell drastically and she could no longer make progress.

She grew weaker with time, abandoning her white robes in favor of red ones.

Mei He found the Mountains and Rivers Chessboard that Yue Qianqiu had left on the desk and sealed the Chixiao Sword within it.

Several days later, she became the head of the Wanjian Sect, as everyone had expected.

Often, she would stand at the peak of Bixue, gazing at the clouds, looking toward the distant, ethereal end.

Mei He remembered her master’s words, that one day she would return.

And so, she waited.

After the fall of the Devil Lord Chu Changli, the demons had no leader.

Master Kongji cast an invisibility spell and, amidst the chaos, came to the Western Mountain border.

He followed the demonic cultivators through the barrier and into the Devil’s Palace.

All these years, Kongji had wondered why Master Chu, the most gifted and insightful person of a century, had fallen to such a state.

His curiosity led him to seek answers.

Passing through layers of curtains, Kongji arrived at the Phoenix Platform, where he saw Changqing lying on the ground.

The woman had slit her wrists, and blood was spilling onto the phoenix flower petals.

Kongji clasped his hands in prayer and recited, “Amitabha." as he performed a ritual to guide Changqing’s soul.

He then looked at the empty Phoenix Platform.

It was said that this was a place where the Devil Lord often stayed, for it was filled with crimson phoenix flowers.

Why the Devil Lord favored the color red, no one knew.

Kongji gazed at a painting hanging on the Phoenix Platform, thinking that perhaps he understood.

In the small painting, a Bodhi tree was depicted.

Under the tree stood a woman in red, gazing up at the falling leaves from the tree’s top.

Was she looking at the Bodhi leaves, or something else?

Kongji didn’t know.

He simply took the scroll, storing it away in his bag, and returned to the Bodhi Sect.

Years later, the scroll was covered in dust.

Occasionally, Kongji would open the drawer and look at the painting.

At such moments, he would think of the cold, opulent Devil’s Palace and the phoenix flowers.

He would then close the scroll and pull the drawer shut.

Clasping his hands together, he smiled, “Due to karmic ties, all things are born.”

“Amitabha.”

Gu Baiyi’s soul hovered in the air, with Ji Rong sitting beside her.

Looking at the crude painting, Gu Baiyi couldn’t help but laugh.

Years ago, her soul had been in someone else’s body.

At that time, she was called Chu Changli.

One day, Chu Changli sat beneath the Bodhi tree, her legs dangling among the branches, swaying with the light snow.

She absentmindedly picked up a brush and began to paint.

It wasn’t until a red figure appeared in the distance that her strokes became more deliberate.

Chu Changli looked at that person and began painting landscapes, red maples, and flowers, all things she didn’t care for.

Seasons changing, which she never cared about, unfolded on the paper.

She sat on the branch, imagining that at that moment, Yue Qianqiu was not practicing swordplay by the stone tablet.

Instead, he was sitting beneath the Bodhi tree, looking at her, and giving a faint smile.

As she imagined this, Chu Changli painted the scene, but still felt the eyes in the painting were not quite right.

She was troubled, wishing that her master could glance at her.

To her surprise, Yue Qianqiu stood beneath the Bodhi tree, raised the Qingshuang Sword, and really did look at her.

Chu Changli thought that if her master discovered she wasn’t attending class and had sneaked into the forbidden area, he would hang her up for two days.

But if he found out she had secretly been painting him, it would probably be more than two days.

Just like hiding that dim, obscure heart, she hid the painting in her storage bag.

Then, she smiled and said to Yue Qianqiu, “Master, I want to practice swordplay with you.”