So I Had No Choice But to Stop Being the White Moonlight – Chapter 143
by Little PandaConcerning My Cultivation and Turning My Wife into a Rabbit
The Curtain Falls
“Then keep being my little dog.”
Chi Qian had not yet pulled herself free from the grief of her friend’s passing when she turned to see Shi Jinlan shielding her.
Her hands, which had been clutching the rabbit tightly, suddenly found only empty air. Those tear-bright eyes flickered with surprise.
Chi Qian could hardly believe it. Her gaze held a mixture of astonishment and joy, complicated emotions swirling together: “Did you already⦔
Heavenly Fire descended from the sky, burning a path of crimson.
Shi Jinlan handled it with composure, even finding a moment to tease Chi Qian. She leaned against her back and replied: “It felt too good being held by you.”
Who could have imagined that the originally cold and aloof Shi Jinlan would have such a shameless moment.
Chi Qian’s eyes held a hint of reproach. After all the times she had run to the Demon Realm’s library, carefully protecting Shi Jinlanβand it turned out this person had already found a way to recover.
Facing Chi Qian’s reproach, Shi Jinlan gave a soft laugh.
Then she wrapped her arm around Chi Qian’s waist and flew away from that dangerous place.
Chi Qian had never experienced such speed in flight. She held tightly to Shi Jinlan’s waist.
The scorching air, heated by the flames, rushed past her cheeks. Chi Qian looked into the distance and saw that of the two who had been locked in fierce combat, only Yuan Ming remained, standing alone.
She stood at the point closest to the fire’s core, her calm pupils burning with pain.
Her heart seemed to be burning as well, erratic, as if twisted together, excruciatingβbut forcibly suppressed, repressed, with no outlet.
No tears flowed from Yuan Ming’s eyes. The searing flames Song Tang had left behind did not have the warmth of her tears.
Yet even so, Yuan Ming still felt that today she had lost someone very important.
Tomorrow the sun would rise as always. The world would welcome a better future.
But when she walked into that Royal City, she would never see that person again.
“Xianjun!” Just then, a warning suddenly rang beside Yuan Ming’s ear.
As the voice came, a Demon General flashed behind her, attempting a sneak attack.
But the moment he raised his blade, a streak of white light struck first. The Demon General who had lunged at Yuan Ming from behind instantly dissolved into powder.
Both were kills of demonkind, but this strike from Yuan Ming was clean and efficient.
She gazed at the sparks drifting into the distance, where not even a corpse remained, and forced herself to appear calm as she withdrew her sword.
She had more important matters to attend to. The Demon Venerable was dead, but his subordinates remained.
Her reason reminded her of this long-planned schemeβthe cold blade pointed toward the Royal City.
Under Yuan Ming’s spell, the Heavenly Fire ceased abruptly.
She had severed the last trace Song Tang left in this world. Her gentle eyes now held a coldness.
Dim light always manages to conceal many terrible traces. The earth returned to its original state.
Yuan Ming looked in the direction her sword pointed. The Demon Generals who had been fighting against them were now as quiet as chickens.
The people of the Demon Realm had always worshipped strength above all. Seeing that even the Demon Venerable they could not defeat had been cut down by Yuan Ming’s sword, many had already submitted.
Her long skirt lifted in the wind as she landed gracefully on the city wall.
Chi Qian watched the situation, now clear and swiftly resolved, and turned to ask Shi Jinlan the question she cared about most: “What will happen to Ah Yuan? When will she come back to reunite with Tangtang?”
“In a few thousand years, perhaps.” Shi Jinlan gazed at Yuan Ming in the distance, receiving the adoration of thousands, and spoke a cruel number.
γAs the cultivator who slew the Demon Venerable, the Lord Main System will be revered by the people, remembered for a thousand years.γ Thirteen emerged from somewhere or other.
The black cat nearly melted into the darkness, brazenly leaving a trail of plum-blossom paw prints on Chi Qian’s hem before jumping into her arms: γThe Lord Main System’s name is now a sword standing in this world, intimidating these people until she dies and becomes legend. Perhaps one day the prestige she brought to this world will fade, and the world will welcome the next cultivator to save the common people.γ
Listening to this, Chi Qian suddenly felt a vast desolation.
This world was a massive cycle. The stories they had truly participated in would slowly be worn away by time. Living people became stereotypes in books, envied by later generations, forever out of reach.
“Let’s go. We still need to report back to the Sect Leader.” Shi Jinlan gently smoothed the hair at Chi Qian’s cheek and reached out to wipe the ash from her face.
“Mm.” Chi Qian nodded. She and Shi Jinlan had been away without permission for too long, and she still didn’t know what situation her master, the Sect Leader, and the others were in.
Even so, the moment her long sword touched beneath her feet, Chi Qian still looked back every few steps.
She watched the Demon Realm growing distant. Though white-robed cultivators now occupied the Royal City, Yuan Ming remained alone.
A long wind lifted Chi Qian’s sleeves. The outer robe, partially consumed by Heavenly Fire, fluttered in the residual warmth.
That was the trace of Song Tang’s existence here.
The sun gradually rose in the distance, painting the dark night with daylight.
The valley, which had been leaking spiritual energy, was now quiet and still, mist swirling over the ice. It showed no sign of having been damaged.
Chi Qian and Shi Jinlan passed through the barrier together, thinking they had returned quietly.
But from far away, she saw a group of people standing on the path they had to take, welcoming Chi Qian and Shi Jinlan from a distance, cheering and jumping, excited beyond measure.
“Shijie, you’re finally back!”
“We heard there was a great battle in the Demon Realm. You had us so worried!”
“Shijie, why did you go to the Demon Realm?! Did you see the Xianjun?!”
β¦
When Chi Qian and Shi Jinlan descended, a crowd surrounded them, asking questions this way and that, making quite a lively scene.
Chi Qian looked at these familiar, living faces, and her spirits lifted slightly from the low mood she had been in.
Then she heard a gentle call from within the crowd: “Qianqian.”
Chi Qian looked up and saw Tu-shijie smiling at her, her arm in a sling.
She looked much better. Chi Qian hurried over and asked with concern: “Tu-shijie, how are you? Are you better?”
“Much better. This little injury is nothing.” Tu-shijie said, and was about to demonstrate.
Chi Qian was afraid she would make it worse by showing off, and quickly stopped her: “You should rest and recover properly! Don’t hurt yourself again.”
“So delicate.” Tu-shijie dismissed the concern.
The two chatted back and forth, and then Chi Qian heard another call: “Qianqian.”
This voice sounded somewhat serious. Chi Qian’s reaction was far less excited than when she had seen Tu-shijie.
She turned slowly and saw her master, the Sect Leader, approaching with several Elders.
“Master.”
“Sect Leader.”
Chi Qian and Shi Jinlan bowed to the seniors simultaneously.
The Sect Leader gestured for them to dispense with formalities, then asked: “Was it dangerous? Are you injured?”
“Chi-shimei and I are both unharmed.” Shi Jinlan answered.
Hearing this, the severity on the Sect Leader’s face softened considerably. He looked at Shi Jinlan, then at Chi Qian, and seeing that they were both fine, finally said with mock reproach: “Even if it was a matter of saving the world, you didn’t have to hide it from us so tightly. You really put us through quite a worry.”
“That’s right. If the spirit pigeon hadn’t reported that you two performed great merit in the battle against the Demon Venerable, we wouldn’t have known how long we’d have been anxious.” The Elder Chi Qian had met once beforeβthe one who had been rolling up his pant legs to plant rice seedlingsβalso spoke up, his face full of worry.
Shi Jinlan accepted all these concerns and reproaches, answering flawlessly: “We were also afraid that going to the Demon Realm would worry you more, so we didn’t say anything.”
“Since you’re back, rest well and write down your insights and experiences.” The Sect Leader said.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime combat experience. Shi Jinlan and Chi Qian did not refuse and answered in unison: “Yes.”
After asking a few simple questions, the Sect Leader looked at Chi Qian again.
He clasped his hands behind his back, assuming the posture of a strict teacher: “Qianqian, in the days you’ve been away, have you reviewed your lessons properly?”
Chi Qian hadn’t expected this to be waiting for her. She froze for a moment: “I⦔
The Sect Leader didn’t wait for Chi Qian to answer and reminded her directly: “Tomorrow I will check on you. Don’t think that just because you performed merit in defeating the Demon Venerable, you can forget your duties.”
Hearing this, Chi Qian tugged at Shi Jinlan’s sleeve and thought to herself: γShijie, since the matter is settled, can we leave now?γ
Shi Jinlan, however, replied: γNo rush. Since returning from the Demon Realm, I have some thoughts about cultivating crops in the Demon Realm’s soil that I’d like to discuss with the Elders.γ
Saying this, Shi Jinlan added to comfort Chi Qian: γJust review properly. It’ll be fine.γ
But the bitterness on Chi Qian’s face did not diminish in the slightest.
She knew Shi Jinlan’s idea would benefit all the common people, and she couldn’t stand in the way. So she struggled with the matter of the lesson check: “Can it be the day after tomorrow?”
Perhaps seeing that Chi Qian had just survived a life-or-death ordeal, Chi Qian’s master finally relented for once: “The morning after tomorrow. Come find me on time.”
Chi Qian beamed, her face instantly clearing: “Thank you, Master!”
Although Shi Jinlan hadn’t verbally agreed to let Chi Qian leave quickly, she still did her best to discuss the matter of cultivating crops in the Demon Realm’s soil with the Elders as early as possible.
Gucheng Hollow had always liked researching strange and unusual crops. When they heard about developing the Demon Realm’s land, several Elders’ eyes lit up.
The Sect Leader listened to Shi Jinlan’s analysis and nodded continuously, approving of her plan: “Since the world is now at peace, our Gucheng Hollow should do something for the common people.”
“I say we proceed as Jinlan suggests. What do you all think?”
“I think that works.”
“Not bad, not bad. I think our Gucheng Hollow is about to regain its former glory.”
β¦
The Elders all expressed their agreement, and the meeting proceeded smoothly with everyone’s consensus.
Afterward, who would be responsible for development and who would handle negotiations with the higher-upsβall were arranged smoothly. Shi Jinlan bowed and bid farewell to the Elders, bringing one matter to a close.
A clear breeze blew through the lush forest leaves, creating a rustling sound.
Shi Jinlan thought Chi Qian would be incredibly excited to hear they could leave. But before she could look for Chi Qian, she saw Chunyi running toward her from a distance.
“Shijie, it’s bad!” Chunyi was out of breath from running, extremely nervous.
Shi Jinlan frowned slightly, not thinking any more accidents could happen: “What is it?”
Chunyi: “Chi-Chi-shijie, she-she turned herself into a dog!”
“What?”
Shi Jinlan’s eyes went wide. Just as she was wondering, she saw a flash of green running past.
Qiushan followed with difficulty, and beside her ran a cloud-like big white dog, with a small black cat riding on its back.
Chi Qian had never experienced running on four legs before. Suddenly, everything in the world felt new and wondrous.
She gazed at Shi Jinlan in the distance, unable to suppress her excitement. Wagging her tail, she ran toward Shi Jinlan, completely disregarding whether Thirteen would be thrown off.
In shock and bewilderment, Shi Jinlan was nearly knocked over by Chi Qian.
The large white dog enthusiastically pounced into her arms. A mass of thick fur, coarse yet soft, covered more than half her arm.
Chi Qian was incredibly excited. Her two front paws pressed against Shi Jinlan’s shoulders as she kept nuzzling her: “Woof woof woof! (Shijie! Pet me! I feel so soft right now! Pet me! Pet me! Pet me!)”
Facing such an enthusiastic dog, Shi Jinlan couldn’t resist. She granted Chi Qian’s wish and reached out to pet her head.
When that cool palm rubbed across her head, Chi Qian felt the world spin.
She leaned against Shi Jinlan and couldn’t help but release her enthusiasm freely, as if she wanted to swallow Shi Jinlan into her fur.
A puppy’s happiness threshold was very low. Chi Qian couldn’t help but say to Shi Jinlan: “Woof woof woof! (Shijie! I feel so happy!)”
Shi Jinlan smiled at her words. She held Chi Qian’s paw and said to her with a deep smile: “Then keep being my little dog.”
The author has something to say:
Qianqian: I’m not going to be human anymore!
PS: The Cultivation World arc ends here! Tomorrow we’ll have an extra chapter with the four-person reunion!
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