Jian Dan picked up the small white jade bottle. The mouth was sealed, but judging from the shape, it was clearly meant for pills.
There were no markings on the bottle itself, but when Jian Dan flipped it over, she noticed faint characters at the bottom.
The inscription was badly worn, nearly illegible. Only a single character could be vaguely made out: "death."
Jian Dan studied it for a moment, but no pill came to mind that would be associated with the word "death."
"Yue Liang, since this is your reward, you should keep it. Who knows, it might come in handy one day."
"Alright. I'll listen to Zhūnzhǔ."
"And this, Yue Liang brought it back from Purple Sky Sect. She asked Xiao Yong Zūnshàng to pick out a few Zitan flowers before leaving. Their fragrance lingers for a long time. Female cultivators tend to like them."
"Nice. I like them too. I'll plant some in the cave tomorrow."
Yue Liang tilted her head slightly. "Zhūnzhǔ doesn't like them?"
"I do. It's thoughtful of you. But I'd rather not carry the scent. It makes me easier to track."
"Oh! Yue Liang understands."
"But that doesn't mean we can't admire them. Let's see if Xiao Lü can get them to grow."
"Sure! Xiao Lü is very diligent."
While the two of them were chatting, a guard arrived to report:
"Reporting to Zhūnzhǔ, Feng Nianyue Zhēnjūn of Tianyun Peak requests an audience."
"Let her in."
With Jian Dan's permission, the guard quickly returned, leading Feng Nianyue inside.
"Feng Nianyue pays respects to Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ."
Jian Dan raised her hand, sending a soft wave of force to lift the visitor.
"There's no need for such formality between us. Sit."
Jian Dan settled at the blood jade table under the banyan tree, and Feng Nianyue took her seat across from her.
Jian Dan studied the woman on the other side. Feng Nianyue still had her charming grace, but her eyes no longer held the naïveté of youth. Instead, there was a calm poise in her demeanor. She was at the peak of Nascent Soul and seemed close to breaking through to Divine Transformation.
"I can see your spiritual aura is steady. You'll break through soon."
"Yes. I heard Zhūnzhǔ had returned, so I came to pay my respects. After this, I plan to enter seclusion to break through to Divine Transformation."
"Good. It seems you've worked hard these past hundred years."
"My purpose today is to thank Zhūnzhǔ."
"Thank me? For what?"
"For pulling me back from the brink back then. You woke me from the illusion of love. If not for you, I might've made an unforgivable mistake."
"You give me too much credit. Love between men and women is natural. Even cultivators seek Dao companions. The path to longevity is lonely, and having someone beside you makes it easier to bear."
"I understand now. Back then, I was blinded by Kong Qiankun. I thought no one else would do. Thinking back now, it feels laughable."
Jian Dan raised an eyebrow and feigned surprise.
"Is this the first time you've spoken about it? Now that you mention it, something comes to mind."
Feng Nianyue wasn't sure which of her words had triggered Jian Dan's thoughts. She poured her a cup of tea and waited silently.
"I heard something long ago, back when I was still a Loose Cultivator. Supposedly, there's a kind of medicine that can make a female cultivator fall hopelessly in love with a male cultivator. Completely beyond reason."
Feng Nianyue frowned. "Such a thing actually exists?"
"Allegedly. The rumor is it originated from the Yin-Yang Gate.
The way it works is simple. The man takes the pill, then repeatedly interacts with the woman. Over time, the medicine activates in her system. The result is what you described. She becomes infatuated, entranced, as if possessed."
Feng Nianyue lowered her gaze, deep in thought. She tried to recall if her own experience matched Jian Dan's description.
"Of course, those with strong will or who already have someone in their heart aren't affected. And if the man dies, the effect gradually fades."
Jian Dan sipped her tea, then added:
"Think about it. After Kong Qiankun's death, you grieved for a while, but eventually the pain just... vanished, didn't it?"
Feng Nianyue nodded slowly. A flash of hatred flickered in her eyes. What she had thought was mutual love was, in the end, nothing more than manipulation.
She rose and bowed deeply. "Thank you for enlightening me, Zhūnzhǔ."
"No need for that. Those raised in sects like yours rarely encounter such underhanded tricks. That's why it's important to go out into the world. Gain experience. Books and jade slips can't teach you everything."
"You're right. That's exactly what I lack. After this breakthrough, I plan to travel and train."
"Good. Then allow me to wish you success in reaching Divine Transformation."
"Thank you for your blessing, Zhūnzhǔ."
Feng Nianyue retrieved a small silver box from her storage ring and handed it over.
"Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ, this is a life-saving jade token passed down from my ancestors. Inside is a sword strike sealed by Ancestor Tian Yun. I hope you'll accept this token as a token of my gratitude."
"Heh. A gift like that? I'd be a fool to refuse."
Jian Dan accepted the token with a bright smile. Then she reached into her black-gold ring and pulled out a sealed jade box.
"This is my gift in return. Please deliver it to Tian Yun Zhēnzūn. Tell him the truth behind the fall of the Mo Mei Zhūnzhǔ is sealed within. He'll understand once he sees it."
Feng Nianyue hesitated for a moment. She vaguely remembered that the fallen Mo Mei Zhūnzhǔ had some connection to her sect's founder.
Still, she took the box and stored it in her ring.
Jian Dan gave a faint smile and reminded her:
"No peeking. What's inside isn't something your current cultivation can handle."
"Yes. Then I'll take my leave."
"Yue Liang, escort her out."
After watching Feng Nianyue disappear into the distance, Jian Dan retrieved a jug of her homemade Purple Jade Heartwine, ready to enjoy it alone.
Yue Liang returned in a blink and caught the scent from the table. Her little nose twitched, eyes sparkling as she looked up at Jian Dan.
Jian Dan poured her a small cup.
"Just one. Savor it. Once it's gone, that's it."
Yue Liang nodded, licking at the wine with her little tongue. Her tail wagged as she absorbed and refined the energy within.
"Zhūnzhǔ, does that kind of drug really exist in the cultivation world?"
"Maybe it does. Maybe it doesn't."
"Huh? So you made it up? You tricked her?"
"Just wanted to help her let go. It'll improve her chances of success in the breakthrough. And since she gave me a life-saving charm, I don't feel guilty."
"Zhūnzhǔ is so clever. But will she believe you?"
"Of course. As long as she wants to believe."
"I think she does. There's only hatred in her eyes now. No sorrow. Everything matches what you described."
"Exactly. Time is the best medicine. A hundred years have passed. Even his face is probably a blur now. Who would still grieve?"
Yue Liang took another sip. She was starting to get a little tipsy but looked content.
"Zhūnzhǔ, what's in your gift?"
"That's a secret. Not telling."
Jian Dan raised her head and downed a cup of wine. She poured herself another.
Inside the jade box was the soul of Ma Yi. Back at the Heavenly Demon Palace, Ma Yi and Ma Feijun of the Ma clan had tried to capture her together. In the chaos, she fought back.
Using a life-saving talisman passed down by her ancestors, Jian Dan managed to kill them both and sealed Ma Yi's soul.
Tian Yun Zhēnzūn only needed to perform a soul search to uncover the truth behind the fall of Mo Mei Zhūnzhǔ.
After three cups, Jian Dan was in high spirits. She didn't bother using spiritual energy to sober up. Instead, riding the high of the wine, she drew the Mò Xī Jiàn and began to dance beneath the moonlight.
Inside the sword, the sword spirit groaned in frustration.
"This woman's drunk again. Why does she always torment me when she's drunk?"
Jian Dan cycled through all five elemental sword styles: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
Above the peak of Tianyue Mountain, sword light flashed across the sky.
The sword of water flowed endlessly.
The sword of wood pulsed with life.
The sword of earth stood solid and immovable.
The sword of metal cut with unstoppable force.
The sword of fire blazed with fierce intensity.
In the end, the five sword styles merged into one, forming the chaotic realm of sword energy.
Satisfied, Jian Dan sheathed the Mò Xī Jiàn and returned it to her dantian. She scooped Yue Liang into her arms and headed back to the cave to sleep.
Completely unaware that her drunken sword dance had once again made the name Jian Lu echo far and wide.