"Hey, did you know?"
"That last incident wasn't my fault at all. I was the one who discovered that Crimson Pearl Herb first. The people from the Golden Crow Secret Realm only showed up later, and as soon as they saw the herb, they tried to snatch it without a word. I couldn't swallow my anger, so I fought back."
"The elders in the secret realm clearly knew it wasn't my mistake, yet they insisted I apologize to the Golden Crow Secret Realm. The Ancestral Patriarch even punished me with seclusion for self-reflection. Tell me, what am I supposed to reflect on behind closed doors? What fault am I supposed to contemplate? I wasn't wrong at all."
"Does the Golden Crow Secret Realm have the right to just grab what they want?"
"Should our Xiaoluo Secret Realm just take the bullying?"
Inside the stone cave.
The Mysterious Man lay quietly on a circular stone bed, his physical body enveloped by the many formations shrouding the cave.
Not far away, Qiānniǎo sat casually on a stone stool, pouring out her discontent in a sullen tone. "I know the Golden Crow Secret Realm is powerful, that our Xiaoluo Secret Realm can't afford to provoke them. I also know that Ancestral Patriarch Danqing punished me and made me apologize for my own good, and for the good of Xiaoluo Secret Realm."
"I know too that in the vast Great Desolate, many grotto-heavens and blessed lands, many Profound Heaven Secret Realms, vanish just like that, get annihilated just like that… In this Great Desolate, every moment, all sorts of secret realms disappear and perish for all sorts of reasons. I know. It's not that I don't know…"
"I also know that to survive in the Great Desolate, without a powerful background or formidable strength, one can only swallow one's pride. Otherwise… the consequences are unbearable, and the price paid is unimaginable."
"I know. I know it all."
"But I just can't swallow this injustice!"
"I feel it's just too cowardly, nothing at all like the life I imagined. I don't want this kind of life, even less this kind of existence."
"You know? If living merely for survival means groveling and compromising, I'd rather die a glorious death!"
As she raised her hand, a white jade bottle appeared in her palm. She brought it to her lips and took a sip. Perhaps unsatisfied, she gulped down the remaining fine wine in the bottle with a few hearty swallows, then continued.
"When I was younger and didn't understand things, I thought our Xiaoluo Secret Realm's non-contention was a choice we made, that we simply didn't contend. Only after growing up did I realize it's not that we choose not to contend, but that we can't contend with others, so we have no choice but not to contend."
"The Ancestral Patriarchs say that as long as our Xiaoluo Secret Realm remains honest and dutiful outside, acts low-key, yields graciously everywhere, we can preserve our Xiaoluo Secret Realm's legacy."
"Perhaps that was truly possible before. That was because the Three Thousand Great Daos were contending, and the Immortal Dao was still somewhat united. But the Present Ancient Era has been underway for over ten thousand years. The Heavenly Dao grows ever more mysterious, the Demonic Dao ever more bizarre, the Yao Dao and Ghost Dao both decline further, leaving only the Immortal Dao standing alone and dominant."
"The Great Desolate is also no longer the Great Desolate of yesteryear. The Present Ancient Era has been constantly changing, and the situation in the Great Desolate has been constantly shifting…"
"Now, the Great Daos no longer contend. What contends is the Immortal Dao itself. The various major Heaven Sanctuaries, the various grotto-heavens and blessed lands, the various Profound Heaven realms—all are engaged in overt and covert struggles, all are vying and snatching, all want to seize a seat in the soon-to-be-born Thirty-Three Heavens."
"Our Xiaoluo Secret Realm can choose not to contend, not to fight, not to seize. But after all, we are in this Great Desolate. How can we truly stay aloof? Our non-contention, non-fighting, non-seizing doesn't mean others won't contend, won't fight, won't seize."
"Today they snatch a Crimson Pearl Herb, and we can endure it. What if tomorrow they snatch all our resources? What then? What if they seize our Xiaoluo Secret Realm itself? What then?"
"We can endure for a time, but ultimately, we cannot endure for a lifetime."
"The entire Great Desolate is in turmoil. Being in the Great Desolate, how can we be spared?"
"I think Ancestral Patriarch Danqing knows. He has cultivated for tens of thousands of years; how could he not understand such a simple truth? It's just that… knowing is one thing, but the Ancestral Patriarch is, after all, old… He no longer has the energy or spirit to stir up trouble…"
"The Ancestral Patriarch knows. He has always known. Otherwise… he wouldn't be preparing to recommend a new master for Xiaoluo. I just don't know who the Ancestral Patriarch will recommend for the position of Xiaoluo's master when the time comes. I hope it will be Sister Ling'er. Thinking it over, only Sister Ling'er is qualified for the position of Xiaoluo's master. Only Sister Ling'er can lead our Xiaoluo Secret Realm out of its predicament."
"Sister Ling'er has been in seclusion for many years. I wonder if she can achieve the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm this time. I hope she can. If she can attain Great Luo Golden Immortal, then assuming the role of Xiaoluo's master will be more convincing."
Today, Qiānniǎo spoke many words and drank much wine. The wine was stolen. She drank two bottles and was slightly intoxicated. However, after voicing the troubles in her heart, her mood improved considerably—at least, it wasn't as oppressive as before.
"When I was still young, I always hoped to grow up sooner. But after truly growing up, I want to return to childhood. Childhood was carefree; I didn't have to think about anything. Only after growing up did I realize there could be so many worries…" After drinking the last drop from the white jade bottle, Qiānniǎo shook her slightly dizzy head and said, "No wonder everyone likes drinking. The feeling of being drunk is really comfortable…" She smiled, then looked toward the Mysterious Man lying quietly on the stone bed. She walked over and simply gazed at him. "I truly don't know what terrifying things you experienced, why you ended up like this. So many years have passed, and you show no sign of awakening. I really don't know when you'll wake up."
"Regardless, thank you for listening to my rambling today. If you ever wake up, I'll definitely treat you to a drink. I hope I can wait until that day… I also hope you have a day when you awaken…"
"Hmm, it's getting late. I should go back and continue my seclusion for self-reflection. You sleep for now. I'll come see you again when I have time."
Just as Qiānniǎo was about to leave, she suddenly froze, because she noticed the Mysterious Man's finger seemed to have twitched.
She quickly turned around for a closer look. The Mysterious Man's finger hadn't moved. Qiānniǎo murmured, "Maybe I'm drunk today? Perhaps I'm hallucinating?"
She shook her head and sighed. But at that moment, the Mysterious Man's finger twitched again. This time, Qiānniǎo was sure she saw it clearly. It was definitely not a hallucination.
"This…" Qiānniǎo's eyes widened in disbelief. She walked over and called out, "Hey, are you awake? Hey! Hey! Answer me!"
The Mysterious Man did not respond to her. However, Qiānniǎo was quite certain he could hear her speaking, because not only was his finger moving, his closed eyeballs also seemed to be moving, as if trying to open his eyes.