Xuan Hongsheng and Granny Xue’s corpses were dumped in the barren land outside the Medicine Valley, left to be devoured by the wild beasts and insects.
The disciples in the valley quickly accepted Xuan Qinghong as the new Valley Master. After the succession ceremony, he called Bai Ran into his room.
Seeing her master close the door with a serious expression, Bai Ran sat before the table and smiled, “Master? Do you have something to tell me?”
After setting up a soundproof barrier, Xuan Qinghong also sat at the table. “Yes, this old man has something extremely important to discuss with you.”
Xuan Qinghong raised his eyes, his gaze sharp and overwhelmingly authoritative. “Tell me the truth, Master. What exactly is your identity?”
Bai Ran was stunned, not expecting her master to ask such a question.
She lowered her eyes, contemplating how to respond, when Xuan Qinghong spoke again, “You don’t need to lie to this old man. I can already guess the general outline.”
The Gate of the Ghost Mansion had always been known for its cruelty and bloodthirstiness, housing an endless legion of vengeful spirits.
These vengeful spirits, accumulated over years of ghostly energy, evolved into resentment. Strong resentment could drive people mad.
Even the faint-hearted, upon encountering them, would become deranged and unable to live a normal life thereafter.
Once they set their sights on a human, they would never give up midway.
Yet, on two separate occasions, once when he went up the mountain alone, and once under Xuan Hongsheng’s orders, the vengeful spirits had not attacked them, nor had they even revealed any resentment.
Then there was that single wail. The mournful cry of the vengeful spirits was capable of shattering ordinary eardrums, causing them to bleed from all seven orifices and die.
But after that incident, Xuan Qinghong found Bai Ran completely unharmed.
“Xuan Hongsheng’s strength was clearly above mine, yet he allowed me to pierce his heart with such ease.”
Xuan Qinghong’s gaze was probing and somewhat stern.
“And the words your mother said to you as she was leaving also struck me as strange.”
'Your existence is our blessing.'
'We' referred to the departed souls, the Ghost Clan, and 'you' referred to his disciple, Bai Ran.
Connecting these few clues, a terrifying conclusion fermented in Xuan Qinghong’s mind.
His beloved disciple was the Ghost King.
Xuan Qinghong’s tone was so certain that Bai Ran had no room to argue.
She raised her eyes, propping her chin with one hand. “Master, no matter who I am, I am still your disciple.”
They looked at each other, and it was Xuan Qinghong who broke eye contact first.
He sighed, a hint of helplessness on his face. “Do you know the immense responsibility and obligations that come with being the Ghost King?”
Bai Ran did not answer, but the smile on her face faded slightly.
Xuan Qinghong extended a hand and pointed to the sky. “Standing at the very apex of the Nine Heavens.”
Standing at the pinnacle of the entire world.
The decline of the Ghost Clan was common knowledge, yet Bai Ran had become the Ghost King.
The corresponding price was that she had to endure countless trials and lead countless ghosts back to their former glory.
“Little one, tell this old man, how much burden do you carry on your shoulders?”
How much burden, Bai Ran could no longer recall.
She simply summarized it with a common saying: “With great power comes great responsibility.”
“Master, if a person is weak, anyone can step on them. How can they protect those close to them?”
The smile on Bai Ran’s face vanished completely, replaced by resilient, sharp, crimson eyes.
“I have vengeance to exact, and people I need to protect, so I need strength.”
If she had not become the Ghost King, if she had not stepped into that palace, she would not even be able to protect a single loved one now. The entire lower and middle realms would have become a living hell.
Her master would have fallen to Xuan Hongsheng, and the formula for the Three-Marked Clear Spirit Pill would have remained in Xuan Hongsheng’s hands.
He would have continued to act with impunity, causing harm behind the scenes and killing disciples of the valley.
All of this indicated that Bai Ran needed this power.
“If I become the Ghost King and possess talents and abilities that others do not have.”
“Then what right do I have to complain that the responsibility on my shoulders is too heavy?”
Xuan Qinghong’s clenched fist trembled. Meeting Bai Ran’s crimson eyes, he sighed deeply.
The little one was right, but…
“This path is not an easy one…”
If she took one wrong step, there was an abyss below.
“Master, I will.”
“I will stand at the pinnacle of this world and bear all responsibilities.”
She would turn history at her page and rewrite new miracles.
Xuan Qinghong was stunned. The pinnacle of the world…
He stood up and chuckled softly, fetching a cup of cool tea from the side. “It’s warm. I remember you saying you wanted some.”
The teacup was placed before Bai Ran, steam continuously rising.
Bai Ran pursed her lips, the crimson in her eyes returning to black. She took the cool tea and took a few sips.
The tea, after swallowing, was still so refreshing and lingering.
“Only you, Master, would heat up cool tea.”
Bai Ran smiled, and Xuan Qinghong smiled too.
Until Bai Ran finished her tea, the smile on Xuan Qinghong’s lips had not faded.
“Little one.”
“Rest when you are tired.”
His tone was gentle, yet full of concern. Bai Ran nodded, clutching the teacup tightly.
“Okay.”
…
The next day, Bai Ran left the Medicine Valley alone.
Upon her departure, the disciples of the entire valley came to see her off, a spectacular sight.
“I really didn’t expect your master to refuse,” Xiao Zi said, lying in the spatial dimension with a puzzled expression.
Last night, as soon as Bai Ran brought up refining the Three-Marked Clear Spirit Pill, Xuan Qinghong had immediately and righteously interrupted her.
Bai Ran nodded, she was also a little surprised.
When she left, her master had given her a copied formula, so why would he refuse her help?
“Could it be that your master knows you are a divine-demonic body and doesn’t want to cause you trouble?”
Xiao Zi’s words enlightened Bai Ran.
Her master’s mind was quick and he thought deeply. Her proposing the matter of the pill before leaving naturally indicated her ability to refine it.
And refining it required divine-demonic blood. Xuan Qinghong had likely guessed this.
Bai Ran was a divine-demonic body.
If the Three-Marked Clear Spirit Pill were to appear, her identity would be completely exposed.
Bai Ran pursed her lips. Is that why Master refused her help…
What a stubborn old man…
…
After passing through the barrier of the Medicine Valley, Zhu Que transformed into its original form, carrying Bai Ran as they soared through the air.
The wind howled past her ears when suddenly, a chill shot up from behind.
“Careful!” Xiao Zi’s panicked cry rang out.
Bai Ran started, immediately shifting sideways to dodge an attack of spiritual energy imbued with killing intent.
She turned back abruptly, and Zhu Que immediately descended to the ground.
“You?” The face before her, Bai Ran had seen before the reversal of time: “Li Hu?”
The man in front of her was disheveled, and his entire being was now entwined with resentment.
“It was you… it was you who killed my father…”
Before the reversal of time, Bai Ran had visited his home to treat his gravely ill mother.
But after the reversal of time, Bai Ran had not.