Chapter 107: Keke's Love

Keke had returned, safe and sound.

With a sudden thud, Keke knelt on the ground. “Fei’er, I know you hate him and want to kill him to ease your anger. But he saved my life. For my sake, please save him, won’t you?”

“Save who?” I asked.

“Ming Mo,” Keke said softly.

My heart tightened. I clenched my teeth but said nothing.

“Keke, have you lost your mind? Pleading for that ungrateful wretch? Have you fallen for him?” Chunfeng scolded, frustrated beyond measure.

“The Underworld King used his mother to threaten him. That’s why he had to steal the Jade Dragon Vase!” Keke defended Ming Mo.

“Don’t forget, it was his mother who trapped you in the Netherworld, and Ming Mo ordered the Underworld Hound to swallow you,” I said coldly.

“I remember. His mother couldn’t stand him talking to me every day, so she deliberately lured me with fragrant wine and captured me! As for being swallowed, that was on the Underworld official’s orders. He had no choice. Besides, I didn’t die, and the Spring Breeze deity is fine too,” Keke hurried to explain.

Yes, everyone was fine, but how was I to avenge my master? How was I to settle my own score?

“If he’s willing to save me, it means he still has a conscience. Just give him another chance, please!” Keke knelt, shaking my arm desperately.

I didn’t know what had transpired between Keke and Ming Mo—perhaps she had already fallen deeply for him in the Netherworld. Looking back, she used to curse him daily, peck at him, and yet he was so patient with her. That was a kind of affection, wasn’t it? If he hadn’t betrayed my master, he would have seemed a dutiful son, earnest and self-assured—a gentleman. But all of that was an illusion. My master valued him so highly. I trusted him so completely.

“Keke, I can forgive anyone in this world, show mercy to anyone—except these few. My master’s vengeance has nothing to do with you. Ming Mo saved you, and you like him? Fine! This time I won’t kill him. If you want to save him, do it yourself—I won’t help!” I shook off her hand and walked away without looking back.

“Fei’er! Please!” Keke fell to the ground, calling after me.

I sat alone in the ancient cold cave on Hundred Flowers Island. The chill here couldn’t ignite my anger. “My vengeance is mine alone. You don’t have to help me settle it, so why beg me to save him and put me in this impossible position? If Ming Mo hadn’t betrayed the sect, how could my master’s soul have been scattered by the Jade Dragon Vase? He would sacrifice my master just for his mother?”

“Master, should I give him mercy? Should I give him another chance? I once said to look inward; I made it so hard for you to let Princess Changyang go. Now I understand that feeling. It’s easy to say, but so hard to do. How can one truly see from the other’s perspective?”

The ginseng dolls in the cave peeked from behind a large block of ice, watching me. When I ignored them, they jumped to my side, tugged at my robe, then retreated behind the ice again.

“Go play by yourselves,” I said.

I closed my eyes and placed my hand over my heart... The memory of catching the ginseng dolls when I first entered Jade Clarity was vivid.

“Ming Mo’s wolf venom flared, his beast nature unleashed as he attacked you. Your stance was resolute, but your eyes were full of mercy. When the Dragon Abyss Sword reached him, you withdrew it steadily, letting him bite your arm. His venom was cured, but your right arm was injured for quite some time. I was a little jealous then, thinking you favored him and disliked me. If it were you today, would you do the same?”

Outside the cave, Keke had cried herself into a tear-streaked mess. I emerged and gave her my tears. She looked at me, overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude, unable to speak.

“Next time, I won’t spare him,” I said coldly.

Keke thanked me and left.

“小乌鸦 (Little Crow), you just gave her that? Are you stupid?” Chunfeng exclaimed anxiously.

“That’s what he wanted,” I said, feeling a bit down.

“小乌鸦, are you alright? Have you gone mad thinking of him? Look at me—do you even recognize me?” Chunfeng pressed his face close. He had been angry with me moments ago, but now he was teasing again. His anger with me never lasted more than an hour.

“Chunfeng, are you expecting me to pinch your face again?” I asked.

He quickly dodged to the side, patting his chest. “Not crazy, not crazy! You scared me to death.”

“Chunfeng, I’m going to Yuzhu Mountain,” I told him.

“Oh, tell that silly girl! Don’t be as stubborn as Sister Fei’er!” Chunfeng said.

He knew I was worried about Keke, who must have left Ming Mo at Yuzhu Mountain.

Keke sat alone on the steps outside a bamboo hut. I sat beside her.

“Has he gone?” I asked.

“Yes,” she replied.

I remained silent.

“Fei’er... I’m sorry. I owe him and I have to repay. Once I settle it, we won’t see each other again,” Keke said.

“What if you can’t repay?” I asked.

“I still won’t see him,” Keke gritted her teeth.

“Why? Afraid I’ll kill him?” I asked.

“He said he will stay in the Netherworld until the last hungry ghost leaves. Why does he like that terrifying place so much?” Keke was puzzled.

“Everyone has their own choice. Once made, they must bear the consequences,” I said.

“Is Ming Mo a good man or a bad man?” Keke asked again.

“To me, he’s an enemy; to you, a lover; to Jiang Wu, the most beloved son; to the Underworld King, a tool; to the Cloud Sky deity... someone to be saved. What do you think?” I countered.

“I can’t say. I always feel he’s not that bad. He’s helpless,” Keke said.

“There’s a lot of helplessness in this vast world. But in this world, there are always those who shatter and those who remain whole,” I said.

“Yes. Although he barely survives in the Netherworld, I think he has some conscience. He treats me well and protects me. That’s why I want to save him,” Keke said.

“Tell me how he treats you well and protects you,” I urged.

Keke recounted how she was abducted.

The aquatic tribes had sealed her divine powers and taken her to a lonely island in a great swamp. After throwing her into a cave, they left to report to their master. Suddenly, a chilling howl pierced the air. A huge black wolf appeared at the cave entrance, its two electric green eyes radiating murderous intent, sharp fangs bared. It leapt inside and instantly knocked the tribesmen to the ground. They writhed and wailed in pain, bitten by the wolf.

“Climb on!” the black wolf told Keke. She mounted its back.

The wolf raced wildly through the swamp, pursued by countless black mud fish monsters leaping from the water to attack.

“Lie flat on my back! They’ve set seals; once we’re out of the swamp, we can fly using magic,” the wolf said. They quickly exchanged words.

“Who are you?” Keke asked.

“Dongfang Mo,” the wolf replied.

“Ah! It’s you!” she exclaimed.

“Why did they capture you?”

“To use Spring Breeze deity as leverage.”

“Is Xiaobai your child?”

“Of course not! I don’t like Spring Breeze deity.”

“Where is Fei’er?”

“She died five hundred years ago.”

A swarm of black mud fish lunged at Keke. “Hold onto me!” Ming Mo leapt up, beating the fish away. Some bit his claws; he bared sharp teeth and tore them off along with his flesh.

“If they bite you, tear them off! Otherwise, they’ll burrow inside and devour your organs!” Ming Mo warned.

As they neared the swamp’s edge, hope appeared. But suddenly, a wall of mud fish rose. Ming Mo instantly shielded Keke with his back and charged through. They fell to the ground; Keke’s divine powers recovered. The mud fish burrowed into Ming Mo’s body. Keke desperately used her magic to pull them out but there were too many.