After Death, I Became My Shijie’s Palm-Sized Birdie – Chapter 46

Yu Hengwei

That is my most important person—worth trading everything for

“It should be Fellow Daoist Yu.” Gao Fu opened the door as if claiming credit, but the instant it swung open, she gave a sudden shiver.

            

So cold.

A woman dressed in pale blue robes stood at the entrance. Her features were delicate and refined, an ordinary sword in hand, yet an alarming chill radiated from her entire being.

Gao Fu caught a glimpse of the gloom in the newcomer’s eyes that had not yet dissipated. She was hardly surprised—this Fellow Daoist Yu had always been eccentric in temperament, though she meant no real harm.

            

Ever since they met a few days ago, the woman had treated her like this—as if Gao Fu had stolen her money or stolen her person. Then again, she wasn’t much warmer to anyone else, forever wearing an expression that kept everyone at arm’s length, bristling with icy barbs. Thinking of it that way, Gao Fu felt rather balanced.

Oh right—she’d almost forgotten to give Qiwu a heads-up. She absolutely couldn’t let Qiwu be frightened by this woman.

【Qiwu, this person is called Yu Hengwei, a wandering cultivator. Her strength is roughly at the Earth Immortal Realm. She’s just a bit eccentric in temperament, so don’t be afraid—I’ll handle all the dealings with her…】 Gao Fu spoke to Wen Qiwu via voice transmission, swearing to protect her gentle-natured friend who was utterly hopeless at verbal sparring.

            

Who could have imagined that before she even finished speaking, a cold gust whisked past her—and in the blink of an eye, the person before her had vanished.

As for where she’d gone—why, right behind her, of course.

Wen Qiwu had barely heard Gao Fu describe this Fellow Daoist Yu as eccentric-tempered when the woman materialized right in front of her. Wen Qiwu instinctively stepped back, a flicker of wariness surfacing in her eyes.

            

Perhaps it was the wariness flickering in her gaze that wounded this Fellow Daoist Yu—the person Gao Fu called eccentric stood there as helplessly as a child who had done something wrong.

Someone like this… didn’t look eccentric in the slightest. On the contrary, Wen Qiwu thought this Fellow Daoist Yu looked like a wronged bird in the Beast Garden—she practically made one want to reach out and pat her head.

Wen Qiwu rubbed her fingers together, and upon noticing her own eagerness, she hastily scattered the chaotic thoughts from her mind. This Fellow Daoist Yu was not some bird she could casually ruffle—such thoughts were far too presumptuous.

            

Wen Qiwu quickly raised a smile and took the initiative to greet her.

Whether it was her imagination or not, Wen Qiwu felt this Fellow Daoist Yu seemed a little nervous. Come to think of it, those eyes… the soul warmth radiating through them felt somewhat familiar to Wen Qiwu.

And because of that familiarity, she was willing to associate with this Fellow Daoist Yu.

            

“F-Fellow Daoist, are you the one planning to enter the Phoenix Lord Tomb?” When Yu Hengwei first addressed Wen Qiwu, there was a strange awkwardness in her speech.

“That’s right. I heard Fellow Daoist Yu knows of a rift into the Phoenix Lord Tomb. I’d trouble you to guide the way—I will certainly reward you handsomely.” Ah Fu must have paid something to recruit this Fellow Daoist Yu; this was Wen Qiwu’s own affair, and she couldn’t let someone else foot the bill. She wanted to pay Gao Fu back as much as possible.

“No need. This Fellow Daoist Gao has already paid the compensation.” Fellow Daoist Yu’s tone returned to normal, but she absolutely refused to accept anything from Wen Qiwu.

            

This…

Wen Qiwu looked at Gao Fu, her expression signaling that she would cover the payment this time.

“It’s nothing major. I only promised to help Fellow Daoist Yu find someone. My family has plenty of people, so finding someone isn’t much trouble.” Gao Fu waved her hand, indicating that Wen Qiwu shouldn’t worry about it.

            

Finding someone… She had lived in seclusion at Wenshen Sect for years and honestly didn’t have that many connections—unless she asked her shijie for help.

“If you truly feel bad about it, Qiwu, then come visit Canghai Domain as a guest. I have plenty of siblings, but not a single one I can confide in. I’ve been hoping for someone to accompany me to the temple fair¹. The Dragon-Leaping Ceremony will be held there soon, and it’s bound to be lively.” Gao Fu hadn’t forgotten her original goal—she was still trying to lure Wen Qiwu back to her home.

The Dragon-Leaping Ceremony of Canghai Domain…

            

Long, long ago, Canghai Domain was the territory of the Dragon Clan, and the Dragon-Leaping Ceremony originated from that era. Though the Dragon Clan had now become history, humans and certain aquatic tribes still preserved the ceremony.

Continuing to this day, the Dragon-Leaping Ceremony had become the grandest local festival. She’d heard that Canghai Domain was especially bustling every time the ceremony was held. Wen Qiwu had originally wanted to go and relax, but now the one who needed relaxation had become her shijie.

Physical injuries were secondary—her shijie’s most serious wounds were in her heart. Staying on Cloudmist Mountain all the time would only make things worse. It would be better to bring her shijie to Canghai Domain afterward to help her unwind.

            

While Wen Qiwu was deep in thought, she didn’t notice that Fellow Daoist Yu beside her had nearly crushed the table. And when she nodded in agreement, a flash of panic crossed Fellow Daoist Yu’s gaze.

“I’ve long heard the Dragon-Leaping Ceremony is spectacular. I’ve never had the chance to see it. Fellow Daoist Gao, perhaps you could bring me along as well.” Yu Hengwei suddenly spoke up.

Gao Fu’s smile stiffened. She stared at Yu Hengwei in disbelief. The other woman still wore her usual icy expression—she didn’t look like someone who wanted to visit Canghai Domain for fun. So… why?

            

But she currently needed the woman’s help, and she couldn’t very well refuse her over something so trivial.

To her surprise, Wen Qiwu actually breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, “Then it’s perfect—Fellow Daoist Yu can keep you company. I’ll need to take care of a patient after I arrive, and I’m afraid I’d drag you down and keep you from enjoying yourself.”

A patient? Yu Hengwei murmured inwardly.

            

【Ah Fu, I think you may have misunderstood Fellow Daoist Yu. She may look cold, but she has a very good temperament. You probably have some misunderstanding about her.】 Wen Qiwu transmitted.

Good temperament? Wen Qiwu said it so gently and earnestly that Gao Fu actually wavered for a moment. She stole a glance at Yu Hengwei—and from the woman’s eyes read unmistakable disdain.

“…” No—this was definitely not a misunderstanding.

            

It was simply that this Yu Hengwei acted well-behaved only in front of Qiwu. Wait—acted well-behaved only in front of Qiwu?

Gao Fu’s gaze snapped to her in sudden wariness. What was this person plotting?

“…Fellow Daoist, the Phoenix Lord Tomb is dangerous. I once stumbled into it by accident. Ghostly remains litter the ground there, and even if you barely make it to the tomb’s heart, the Demon Emperor left layer upon layer of killing mechanisms behind. Even True Immortals might not escape unscathed. Won’t you reconsider?” Yu Hengwei urged.

            

“Thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoist Yu, but I must go.” Wen Qiwu politely declined the suggestion. She knew the other woman meant well, but she couldn’t comply.

“Qiwu…” Hearing Yu Hengwei—whose cultivation was who-knows-how-many realms above her own—say this, Gao Fu also hesitated, wanting to persuade Wen Qiwu not to go.

Wen Qiwu shook her head gently at Gao Fu, her tone firm. “Ah Fu, I must enter the Phoenix Lord Tomb to retrieve something. I have a patient at home who urgently needs that Immortal Artifact for treatment.”

            

“But it’s so dangerous over there… is it worth it?” Gao Fu looked at her with worry.

“Of course it’s worth it.” The smile on Wen Qiwu’s lips deepened. She gazed out the window and murmured softly, “That is my most important person.”

Worth trading everything to ensure her safety.

            

Yu Hengwei froze for a moment.

From Wen Qiwu’s tone, Gao Fu heard a feeling as deep as the waters of her homeland, Canghai Domain. She didn’t know who that patient was, or what their relationship was to Qiwu… Sigh, it really made one envious.

“You don’t need to worry about me, either. The Phoenix Lord Tomb isn’t that dangerous for me—I already have a plan.” Wen Qiwu explained.

            

Qiwu was certainly mysterious. Perhaps she didn’t need to worry so much.

When Gao Fu withdrew her gaze, she happened to glance at Yu Hengwei—and saw that the woman who had never given her a kind look was now wearing what looked suspiciously like a shy blush. Gao Fu shuddered. It was a bit terrifying. What was she being shy about?

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The author has something to say:

            

I originally planned to post an extra chapter tomorrow, but unfortunately I’ve come down with a bad cold and a slight fever. Whether I can manage the extra update will depend on how I feel tomorrow.

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