Volume 4: Immeasurable
Everyone Has the Right to Choose.
Chao Yun said she’d never thought about saving everyone.
She said that in this life, she had saved too many people who happened to be in her path, but those she truly wanted to protect were few and far between.
In that instant, Yi Qiu felt her heart clench, a jumble of five flavors churning within her.1
Whether it was the infatuated side character from 《Thin, Withered Branches》 or the weakened goddess standing before her now, both gave her the impression of a kindness so extreme it was almost painful. It was the kind of goodness that made her sigh, the kind that made her want to mutter under her breath, A Holy Mother2 is always drowning in sympathy.
Once upon a time, she’d always believed that to the Wood God Goumang,3 every living thing in the world possessed a seed of goodness. No one was beyond saving, no one beyond redemption.
But today, hearing Chao Yun’s words, she finally remembered. The Chao Yun from the original novel, the one who fell into the demonic path alongside Luo Mingyuan, had never been singularly focused on the fate of all living beings under heaven,4 contrary to what most readers expected.
In truth, Yi Qiu had always known. In the story of 《Thin, Withered Branches》, the only ones the Wood God Goumang ever truly wanted to protect were the Golden Crow5 and Fusang.6
Goumang was a goddess whose heart was always filled with compassion, but even gods have their selfish desires. For the sake of those they truly want to protect, they too will disregard the masses.
She always seemed to want to press all her emotions deep into her heart, like a spring rain in the dead of night, moistening things silently,7 ensuring no one could ever glimpse the fire burning within.
But just because it wasn’t seen, did that mean it didn’t exist?
In the original novel, nearly every character penned by Little Bird Coo Coo Fly met a tragic end. Even though Chao Yun ultimately survived, she had lost everything she’d ever wanted to protect.
In that complete and utter tragedy, she was always the one who was never cared for. And yet, despite it all, she had once struggled with all her might to turn the gears of fate. She had once followed closely in the shadow of the one she loved, step for step, even if she never received a single glance in return.
She stood utterly alone, embracing the version of herself that had fallen into the mud while using what remained of her strength and courage to betray every one of her beliefs to protect the love in her heart.
Goumang never wanted to save everyone.
And yet, despite that, she had failed to save even one of the people she truly wanted to.
And so, at the end of the story, she watched as Qinyuan flew away toward the horizon. With her heart dead, she fell into a daze, lost to the ten thousand years of emptiness that stretched before her.
If, in the original novel, the ones Goumang most wanted to protect were the Golden Crow and Fusang… what about now?
This Goumang, who had hidden the truth from the Golden Crow and Fusang multiple times to protect Yi Bird—was she still willing to betray her beliefs for them, just as she was written in the original?
Or had Goumang’s heart strayed from the original plot long ago?
If not, why was she protecting Yi Bird at every turn? In the original novel, she had never protected her, not once, and had always been on guard against her.
At the thought, Yi Qiu shook her head, dismissing the idea. Goumang liking Yi Bird? That’s just ridiculous!
“Chao Yun, you… you and Yi Bird…”
“I heard that Yuyao and Luo-shidi8 haven’t been seen for a long time?” Chao Yun deliberately changed the subject.
Yi Qiu was at a loss for words and could only lift her eyes to You Yan.
You Yan remained silent for a moment, leaning against the doorframe before speaking coolly. “You still remember them?”
Chao Yun couldn’t help but lower her gaze.
“I thought you’d stopped caring if they lived or died,” You Yan said, her voice like ice. “They’ve faced more than a few calamities on their journey. Weren’t you supposed to have descended to the mortal realm to protect them? Funny, I feel like I, a member of the Demon Race, have done more for them than you have.”
“If this is about what happened back then…”
“Don’t bother. I didn’t do it for you.” As You Yan spoke, her gaze flickered unconsciously toward Yi Qiu before returning to Chao Yun. “I helped them for my own reasons. Rescuing you this time—that is me repaying my debt to you.”
Chao Yun nodded, her gaze lowered, a bitter smile on her face. “In that case, the debt is repaid. From now on, you owe me nothing.”
You Yan frowned. “That’s what I think, too.”
Listening from the side, Yi Qiu was getting a headache. What are these two… no, these two birds, doing?
Setting aside the fact that they were all locusts on the same rope,9 that their ultimate goal was to help the Golden Crow and Fusang successfully pass their tribulation,10 they were still under the same roof right now. Why were they already talking about cutting ties?
“You two…” Yi Qiu interjected cautiously. “Can we please put these unimportant things aside for a moment and talk about what really matters?”
You Yan: “…”
Chao Yun: “…”
After a brief silence, Yi Qiu pouted. “Chao Yun, do you think we made a mistake saving you?”
“That’s not what I mean…”
“Good. As long as you don’t blame us, we’re fine.” Yi Qiu’s brow furrowed. “Although Yi Bird has fallen to the demonic path, she didn’t pursue us after you stopped her from killing the demons on Snake Mountain that night. So… she probably didn’t commit those acts of killing karma.”11
Hearing this, some of the sorrow in Chao Yun’s eyes faded.
You Yan added, “But she still gave rise to a heart demon.12 When the strange phenomenon appeared at Snake Mountain that day, it’s impossible the Heavenly Realm13 didn’t notice.”
Chao Yun opened her mouth, hesitated, and then closed it again without a word, her fingers unconsciously twisting the corner of her robes.
Yi Bird of Snake Mountain was, at her core, a false god. If she had remained devoted to good and protected the creatures of Snake Mountain, the Heavenly Realm might have tolerated her.
But now that she had a heart demon, how could the Heavenly Realm possibly let her go?
Yi Bird certainly couldn’t stay on Snake Mountain any longer. According to the original plot, after falling to the demonic path, she should have fled to the Demon Realm14 to recover.
“I don’t know what’s going on between you and Yi Bird, and frankly, I’m not interested. I saved you only because I hoped you would be able to make your own choice with a clear head,” You Yan said. “If you’re truly clear-headed now, then save who you want to save. Help who you want to help. I won’t stop you.”
As she spoke, she reached back and pulled the door shut. “But there is one thing you absolutely must make clear.”
“I don’t understand what you mean…” A flicker of confusion crossed Chao Yun’s eyes.
“You have to make things clear to Luo Mingyuan and Jiang Yuyao,” You Yan stated, her tone leaving no room for argument. “They are the victims. You are their friend. If you decide you’re going to protect Yi Bird, you at least have to tell them that.”
Chao Yun: “…”
“Yi Bird once implanted a demon seed15 I refined into the bodies of Luo Mingyuan’s adoptive parents. She used a Huodou’s16 ignorance to grievously injure both him and Jiang Yuyao, and she burned the entire Xianlu Sect to the ground.” In that moment, You Yan’s gaze was exceptionally sharp. “You don’t have the right to forgive Yi Bird for them.”
Chao Yun: “…”
“If you are Chao Yun of the Hua Mo Pavilion17 of the Xianlu Sect, then you are Jiang Yuyao’s Shimei18 and Luo Mingyuan’s Shijie.19 If you are the Wood God Goumang of the Jade Sea in the Heavenly Realm, then you are the Golden Crow’s closest friend and Fusang’s destined guardian. No matter what, you are an incredibly important person to them. If you choose to betray that bond, they have the right to know.”
Chao Yun: “…”
Yi Qiu stared blankly at You Yan, momentarily speechless.
She had never imagined You Yan would say something like that, and yet, there wasn’t a single thing wrong with her words.
You Yan was forcing Chao Yun to make a choice.
Where in this world was there a method to have the best of both worlds?20
Yi Bird took one wrong step, and then every step was wrong. Whether she could be redeemed was hard to say, but the sins she had committed could never be undone.
You Yan pressed, “You can disregard all living beings under heaven. But what about the two of them?”
Chao Yun fell into a heavy silence.
After a long while, she closed her eyes, a silent, bitter smile gracing her lips.
Finally, she asked softly, “Do you know where they are now? Are they safe…?”
Her voice was filled with worry.
Chao Yun still cared about them. Except for the period when she had lost her memories, there hadn’t been a moment she wasn’t worried about them.
At that, You Yan turned her gaze to Yi Qiu.
Yi Qiu, after a moment of stunned silence, quickly raised her hand as if answering a question in class. “I know! They’re at Ao’an Mountain now. Shang Shen21 Xun Chi has them under his protection.”
Chao Yun looked surprised. “Why are they at Ao’an?”
“That,” You Yan said coldly, “is a question you should ask Yi Bird.”
The icy words instantly silenced anything else Chao Yun might have said.
After another stretch of silence, Chao Yun sighed softly. “I’ll go with you…”
You Yan frowned, then stepped forward, took Yi Qiu by the wrist, and led her out of the guest room.
You Yan led Yi Qiu all the way back to her own room. Yi Qiu stared at her, eyes wide with astonishment.
Once they were inside, You Yan released her wrist and walked slowly to the table to sit down.
Yi Qiu shut the door behind her, then scurried over, pulling a stool up to sit beside You Yan.
She propped her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her palms, studying You Yan intently. Her beautiful almond eyes didn’t even blink, full of curiosity.
You Yan grew a little uncomfortable under her stare and flicked her on the forehead.
Yi Qiu frowned and leaned back instinctively, muttering, “What was that for!”
“Why are you looking at me like that?” You Yan asked in return.
“I… I can’t look at you anymore?” Yi Qiu pouted.
“That look in your eyes is clearly not right,” You Yan said, her own gaze questioning. “You have something you want to say.”
Yi Qiu thought for a moment. “Yes, I do have something to say…”
You Yan said, “Then say it.”
Yi Qiu took a deep breath and asked quietly, “Why… why did you say those things to Chao Yun?”
“Those things?”
“You know, what you said just now. About forgiveness and betrayal…”
You Yan’s brow furrowed. She considered it for a moment, then said, “Because you want Luo Mingyuan and Jiang Yuyao to be okay.”
“Huh?” Yi Qiu was confused. “What’s the connection?”
“There is one.” You Yan’s expression grew much more serious. “Being deceived by someone you care about doesn’t feel good.”
“Well…”
“Everyone has the right to choose how they face a situation like that, but only if they know the truth,” You Yan said. “In the past, when you hid everything from me, I was suspicious of you all the time. Because of that, I have no idea how much I missed… things that should have been mine long ago.”
“Ah…” Yi Qiu scratched the back of her ear, embarrassed.
“You want them to be okay. Therefore, I want them to be able to make their own choices after learning the whole truth. Instead of being kept in the dark forever by the very person they care about.”
The author has something to say:
Everyone, don’t worry! I haven’t been affected. The outline is set, and I’ll keep writing according to my own ideas. Characters will have good sides and bad sides, and there will definitely be people who like them and people who don’t. Everyone can express their own opinion. Just try to keep the discussion gentle and don’t let it turn into a fight.
✨ Unlock Early Access to Chapters! ✨
Choose your perfect membership at bamboopandatl.net:
📚 Full Access ($4.99)
• Advanced chapters of ALL ongoing novels
• Access to complete finished novels
• Ad-free reading experience
📖 Single Novel Access ($1.49)
• Advanced chapters of ONE specific novel
• Ad-free reading for chosen novel
PayPal is the only current payment option!