Bab 17: The Luminescent Abyss
Shanqiao blinked up at the disappearing light.
Thankfully, the rocks were relatively on the moderate side of sizes. She had some bruises, but it wasn't enough for them to snap her spine or burst open her head.
On second thought… perhaps being knocked on the head would be preferable. At least… At least then, she would have died slightly more peacefully.
She yawned as she fell… this fall seemed to be much longer than she had originally thought it would be.
Her eyes closed to guard against the darkness…
"Hmm?" she muttered as she slowly opened her eyes.
Her finger twitched. It wasn't painful…
Shanqiao turned towards her surroundings and was astounded.
All around her were luminescent plants that brightened her surroundings. If the abyss hadn't been so deep, she figured that the luminescence could have been seen from the highest of cliffs of Huangshan Mountains.
"Achoo!" she rubbed her nose.
She was sitting on top of a mountain was fluffy feathers. They appeared to be silver, but took on the color of the various luminescence that surrounded them.
"Achoo!"
They could very much as well be golden, she thought as she slowly stood up.
She was quite doubtful that a mountain of fluffy feathers could save her life, but she was at least marginally happy that she was alive. If something was given to her for free, she wouldn't necessarily complain about.
Now, for her survival… She looked down at the bamboo sword at her side and found it broken in half.
"I suppose that's to be expected," she muttered as she pulled it out and threw it aside. "At least as long as I find bamboo, I won't be a problem."
After consoling herself over the loss of her weapon she continued on.
"Scree!"
Ruan Shanqiao turned to face the origin of the noise. However, all she could hear was flapping.
"Birds?" she frowned. "Why are there birds here?"
She pondered for a moment or two before she continued.
In the shadow of her departure, one could faintly see two golden eyes. They blinked a couple times as they closely watched the girl's retreating back before they disappeared once more into the darkness.
Despite the beautiful ambience of warm luminescence from the surrounding plants, the bottom of the abyss itself was quite eerie.
Even Shanqiao's steel heart shivered in fright.
Quite clearly this place had a complete lack of human contact. There wasn't even a speck of humanity in its growth.
"I suppose it's to be expected," she said out loud to herself. "Most people who come to the Huangshan Mountains are cultivators who are able to fly or able to avoid from falling into an abyss."
She sighed loudly and looked down at her open palm. There was a small indent where the Blood Pact had made its mark. She had noticed this small abnormality during one of her many sleepless nights.
Then, she took out her mother's white jade amulet. She rubbed the surface to calm her fraying nerves. As the indentation roughly passed across her thumb, the fright in her heart disappeared.
"Mother," she muttered. "Even if I die here, will it be okay?"
There was silence.
"I might die here eventually. Then, I would be unable to fulfill my promise to rebuild the Ruan Clan."
As she said these words, determination took hold in her heart and a renewing light flashed in her eyes.
'Once upon a time,' she thought, 'my brother told me that promises are made to be broken. However, it is my mother's final wish…'
"Brother," she called out as her feet continued to move forwards, "how could one forsake their own blood of their death wish? Even if promises are made to be broken, the final wish that one utters must have been made from desperation. Do you ignore desperation be ignored too?"
Feeling ever so indignant, Shanqiao pouted slightly before continuing.
"Scree!"
She looked up.
A bird the size of a chicken had appeared in front of her. It had a golden head and tail, and crimson wings trimmed in emerald green feathers. Its scarlet eyes had the glint of intelligence as it cocked its head at her.
"Hmm?" she tilted her head to the other side.
"Scree?" The bird mirrored her movement.
They blinked at each other.
"You look like the legendary bird that the jade tablet describes."
"Scree?"
"I would touch you, but what if I die of poison?"
"Scree…"
The bird blinked a couple more times before flapping away lethargically.
"Wait for me!"
Ruan Shanqiao chased after the legendary bird look alike.
The unusual pair continued through the dimly lit abyss.
***
Meanwhile, Ruoxi flew over the abyss erratically. Anxiety chewed away at her as she and Yiyi frowned in frustration.
They had attempted to descend the abyss, but its endless depths had prevented them from continuing without eventually meeting their deaths.
"What do we do?" she scratched her wrist as the furrows between her eyebrows deepened.
"What about the Blood Pact, young miss?" Yiyi suggested.
"Well…" Ruoxi checked the upside down triangular indent on the inside of her wrist. It was still whole. "I don't think she's been hurt, but considering the depth of the abyss, what if it is endless?"
"Everything must have an end, young miss. It may be likely that the abyss connects to a different portion of the Huangshan Mountains."
"Yiyi…"
"Yes, young miss?"
"Will we find her?"
"We must hope."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone