Bamboo Chest Chapter Ten: A Youth’s Heart Should Reach for the Clouds
The land of the Wild World was truly barren; across the vast, endless wasteland, only sparse patches of green could be seen. A few soaring hawks spotted a rare prey and circled high in the sky, unwilling to leave. For some unknown reason, these aerial predators hesitated to swoop down and seize their target, waiting instead until nightfall.
Under the bright light of three moons shining overhead, the hawks realized they had lost their chance. A small demon spotted the youth and saw that he was gravely wounded, though his cultivation far surpassed its own. Scaring off the troublesome hawks, the little demon cautiously approached the youth.
The youth’s abdomen was stained deep red with blood, clearly suffering a severe injury.
“Heh heh heh, heavens above, grant me this opportunity...” The little demon grinned widely and pulled out its only weapon—a small knife—intending to pierce through the youth’s wound.
...
"If you don’t leave now, you will surely die." The woman in the white dress stood on the water’s surface, looking at Lu Yun, who sat cross-legged beneath the bright moon.
Hearing her voice, Lu Yun slowly opened his eyes. His gaze seemed to hold a luminous moon within, mysterious and extraordinary.
“May I know who you are, senior...” Lu Yun rose and bowed to the woman in white, hesitating as he spoke.
“You can call me Sheng Ge. And don’t call me senior.”
“Ah, Sheng Ge...” Lu Yun scratched his head and forced a smile. “Since we have formed a contract, to live and die together, could you help me?”
“Three times,” Sheng Ge held up a jade finger, “I can only intervene three times at most.”
“Alright!” Lu Yun exhaled and cupped his fists. “Thank you so much!”
Watching the youth’s figure slowly disappear, Sheng Ge furrowed her brow and murmured, “Why does he carry such a strong aura of righteousness?”
...
The little demon’s eyes burned with desire. It had already planned that after devouring this youth, it would break through its limits and then return home to reclaim the girl it loved. But just as the dagger was about to fall, a hand grasped the little demon’s arm.
“What do you think you’re doing?” A cold voice rang out.
The little demon’s body stiffened instantly. It turned its head with difficulty and met the youth’s gaze. The three moons above seemed to fall from the sky and suddenly appeared right before it.
The little demon’s face twisted in anguish as the dagger fell to the ground.
“Senior, I—I have no improper intentions!”
Lu Yun blinked, the strange light in his eyes fading. He released the little demon’s arm and slowly stood up.
Thinking it was forgiven, the little demon’s despair turned to joy, and it was about to flee.
“You...” Lu Yun pressed his hand on the little demon’s shoulder, and the little demon’s face immediately fell again.
...
The youth paused and asked, “Do you know the way to Qianjing City?”
“Yes, yes, I do!” The little demon nodded vigorously.
“Lead me there,” Lu Yun said wearily. “We’ll rest here for today.”
...
The night sky over the Wild World was beautiful. Lu Yun hadn’t admired it like this in a long time.
Suddenly, he thought of his sister and fell into silence. At some point, the youth had stopped smiling.
The rustling of grass and the breeze were sharp in the night. Lu Yun glanced at the little demon, neither too close nor too far, and slowly clenched the two short knives hidden in his sleeves.
Someone was coming!
“Two of you, may I join you?” A crackling fire lit the scene. Lu Yun stared intently at the two figures who suddenly appeared before him.
A man and a woman. The man was handsome; the woman elegant and noble.
After a long moment, Lu Yun nodded.
“Alright.”
The siblings smiled and sat down, joining Lu Yun and the silent little demon around the campfire.
“I think we can cooperate,” the man said with a smile.
The little demon looked puzzled, but Lu Yun suspected these two knew him—and perhaps also knew Zhang Qi or Yuan Bai!
“How do we cooperate?”
Lu Yun tossed a few sticks into the fire, asking casually.
“After the martial contest crowns the king, we’ll ambush and slay them!” The woman extended her hand to Lu Yun. “I’m Shui Ze from Luoze City.”
Lu Yun remained indifferent. The woman was unembarrassed and pointed to the man beside her. “This is An Luo, also from Luoze City.”
“You’re both city lords?”
Lu Yun narrowed his eyes.
“My brother is. I’m just tagging along,” Shui Ze waved a hand. “I don’t like being a city lord—it’s too exhausting.”
An Luo smiled faintly. “Lord Lu, don’t worry. We mean no harm. We found you thanks to the Moonlight Pavilion.”
“Moonlight Pavilion sells intelligence?” Lu Yun suddenly understood.
This Moonlight Pavilion was indeed no ordinary place!
“Lord Lu, you should visit the Moonlight Pavilion’s master. She’s quite interesting,” An Luo said.
“Boring, actually. Brother, you just like her!” Shui Ze muttered.
An Luo’s face flushed as he playfully flicked Shui Ze’s forehead.
“How dare you talk back to your brother!”
“Mmm...” Shui Ze covered her head, angry but silent.
...
Lu Yun looked at the siblings and thought about the Moonlight Pavilion.
He should make a trip there. If he could learn the whereabouts of Zhang Qi or Yuan Bai, his future endeavors would be much easier.
“How can I trust you?” Lu Yun asked.
An Luo curled his lips and extended his hand. A blood scar slowly spread across his palm, turning into a wound.
Shui Ze did the same.
“Lord Lu, trusting someone in the Wild World is simple—just swear an oath,” An Luo smiled at Lu Yun.
Lu Yun nodded and also extended his hand from his sleeve. A similar wound appeared, bleeding.
The little demon watched all this in terror, slowly backing away, wanting to keep distance from these people.
Goodness, if trouble breaks out now, how will it ever have a chance to reclaim its beloved girl?
“You too,” Lu Yun said coldly.
The little demon glanced at An Luo’s smiling face, then at Shui Ze, and finally fixed its gaze on Lu Yun.
“Senior, I...” it began.
“You too,” Lu Yun repeated.
The little demon was utterly crushed and began to regret everything.
It shouldn’t have come out today—it was such bad luck!
In deep remorse, the little demon also used the dagger it no longer wished to see to cut its palm, holding it out over the campfire.
Four people—no, four demons.
Their blood slowly dripped onto the blazing flames.
The fierce fire flickered, then transformed into an eerie purple.
Together, they forged a pact of cooperation, vowing not to betray each other and calling upon a certain presence to witness it.
The firelight illuminated their faces, burning the kindling that symbolized their sincerity.
The pact was sealed; the purple flames ceased dancing and gradually returned to normal.
Lu Yun lowered his hand and softly said, “Then it’s settled.”
...
In the vast Wild World, a man sitting leisurely in a pavilion gazing at the moon suddenly sensed something and looked in a certain direction.
Shortly after, the man chuckled, “Still young.”
The man seemed to be in high spirits. Raising his wine cup, he stood and placed one hand behind his back, looking up at the moon.
“Youth’s worries should be cast to the clouds; who cares for the lonely cold as one sits alone humming...”