Chapter Twenty-Seven: She Refused to Give Up

"Sister Su, Sister Su..."

Cheng Yingxue was so bewildered by the sudden turn of events that her mind went blank, leaving her frozen and unsure how to react.

As she stood dazed, the young girl who had been hovering high in the void suddenly closed her eyes, her body going limp as she tumbled from her long sword. Seeing this, the young girl instinctively moved to catch her.

Before she could reach her, however, the jade bracelet that had been hanging on Su Changling’s wrist suddenly erupted with a brilliant emerald light. Cheng Yingxue squinted against the glare, and when she opened her eyes again, she found a refined, handsome young man in green robes standing in mid-air.

"Who are you..." The young girl involuntarily took a half-step back. While shielding the soul of Cheng Yingrou behind her, her eyes remained locked on the face of Su Changling, who was now cradled in the man’s arms.

"A dweller of the mountains." Ying Wufeng’s reply was concise. Upon hearing this, Cheng Yingxue let out a breath of relief. "So, you are also an immortal from the mountain... Then, Sister Su—"

"Do not worry." Ying Wufeng lowered his head to look at the unconscious girl. "She was simply overcome by immense grief and pain, and her fury surged against her heart meridians, causing her to faint from the strain. Changling’s cultivation is quite profound; once she recovers from this shock, she will be fine upon waking."

"By the way, young lady, is there a place here where she can rest? I fear she will need to recuperate for at least an hour or two."

"Ah... yes, there is. My mother had a guest room prepared for Sister Su some time ago, though she never stayed there..." Cheng Yingxue blinked, then hurriedly led the way. "Sir, please follow me."

"Thank you." Ying Wufeng nodded. As he took a step, he caught sight of the thin, wan woman the girl had been desperately hiding behind her. He frowned slightly at the sight of Cheng Yingrou’s semi-translucent figure, causing Cheng Yingxue’s anxiety to flare up again.

"Sir, my sister, she is... she is..." The young girl stammered, unable to explain the situation. She wanted to pull her cousin away quickly, only to realize that the woman seemed unable to leave the faint, ghostly light of the compass.

"This young woman carries a heavy burden of resentment," Ying Wufeng said, his brows furrowed as he studied Cheng Yingrou. "It seems she must have died an unjust death."

"While I do not know what happened to you in the past... since Changling has kept you here, she must have her reasons." His gaze remained calm. As he spoke, he used his free hand to pinch a seal. "However, the souls of the departed cannot walk in the light of day. Relying solely on the dim glow of that compass is hardly convenient."

"I shall temporarily house your spirit within this compass. We can discuss everything else after Changling wakes."

"In that case, thank you so much!" Cheng Yingxue was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly. When she had first seen the immortal frowning, she feared he might simply shatter her sister’s soul without a second thought. It turned out this immortal from the mountains was far more reasonable and easier to talk to than the elders of her own clan.

"It is nothing, a mere trifle." Ying Wufeng waved his hand, swiftly securing Cheng Yingrou’s soul and tucking the compass into Su Changling’s sleeve.

The young girl led them through a small side door to her own quarters. By the time Ying Wufeng carefully placed Su Changling on the soft couch and wiped the two striking bloodstains from beneath her eyes, his own figure had grown three parts more ethereal.

"Young lady, I cannot stay long at the foot of the mountain. You will have to look after Changling for the time being." After settling her, Ying Wufeng bowed to Cheng Yingxue. The girl shook her head vigorously, looking embarrassed. "No, no, it is no trouble at all. It is only right; it is all as it should be."

"Not to mention that Sister Su helped me save my sister’s soul just yesterday... and she recently resolved the bone-binding affliction that had plagued me for years. Caring for her is my duty!"

"Sir, please go attend to your affairs! I will handle everything here for Sister Su—" Cheng Yingxue’s expression was full of sincerity. Watching her earnest demeanor, Ying Wufeng couldn't help but lower his head and offer a faint smile toward the girl on the couch.

With a flicker of green light, the young man vanished, transforming back into the jade bracelet that hung decorously on the girl’s wrist.

The young girl stared at the sleeping Su Changling for a long while, feeling as though everything she had experienced since last night was an inexplicable dream.

Cheng Yingrou had been locked in a room by her in-laws and starved to death. The clan elders knew the truth, yet for the sake of a "chastity arch," they had done nothing to stop it. Her uncle could not make all the decisions for the Cheng family alone.

And then there was Sister Su. She wondered what that vengeful spirit had done to her to leave her in such a state.

Cheng Yingxue’s head throbbed. Somewhere in the depths of her mind, she felt she needed to re-evaluate her relationship with the Cheng family. After reviewing the account books over the past two days, she realized her uncle was indeed showing signs of relenting.

But even if her uncle were willing to let her engage in business, would those old men in the clan give up the benefits they stood to gain from an alliance with the Shen family? If the elders refused to let her go—and her uncle alone could not defy them—what would become of her?

As she thought this, she instinctively gripped Su Changling’s hand and looked out at the brightening sky.

The patch of sky framed by the courtyard remained square and rigid, and the upturned eaves still firmly blocked the rising sun.

She did not want to give up.

She did not want to abandon this hard-won opportunity... she did not want to give up the freedom that finally felt within her reach. She did not want to be a bird in a cage, locked away in a deep mansion for the rest of her life. She wanted to follow her heart and run freely across every mountain and field she loved. She wanted to be a renowned female merchant.

"Of course, even if I cannot win them over, it does not matter."

"At worst, I will make a clean break with them."

Cheng Yingxue recalled what Su Changling had said on the day they first met—the girl’s voice had been indifferent yet resolute. Words she had once thought absurd now inexplicably filled her with endless courage.

That would be fine, too.

If the elders forced her uncle to break his promise, then from this day forward... she would simply sever ties with the Cheng family. It would sadden her mother, but that was all right. Once her business was established, she would find a way to take her mother out of this man-eating place.

She did not want to be trapped in this narrow world any longer.

"Sister, Sister Su, you will support me... won't you?" The young girl whispered as she leaned against the couch, soon closing her eyes and drifting into a dream.

The terror and unease of the entire night had drained her strength. And now, she too needed to sleep.