Chapter 123: The Real Truth

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“We’ll hunt sea beasts here. Stay coordinated and maintain formation.”
“Yes, Palace Master.”
“Palace Master, look! We’ve slain a Foundation Establishment Sea Beast!”
“Well done.”
“Palace Master…”

…

Where is that noise coming from?
It’s so noisy.

In a hazy consciousness, an awareness stirred from chaos. She curiously “opened” her eyes to observe these strange, noisy beings. Her ability to learn was remarkable, and gradually, she could understand their conversations.

Eventually, one figure caught her attention—a woman dressed in a blue Daoist robe, whom everyone addressed as “Palace Master.”
“Palace Master?”

She didn’t understand beauty or ugliness; she only felt that the Palace Master exuded a comforting aura. Seeing her brought an inexplicable joy.

When the group prepared to leave, she made a bold decision—she wanted to follow the Palace Master.

But soon, she regretted it.

The Palace Master’s residence was devoid of water, filled only with mountains and trees. It was unfamiliar and uncomfortable. She wanted to return but didn’t want to leave the Palace Master either.

After much hesitation, she found the courage one morning to appear before the Palace Master. To her surprise, not only was the Palace Master not shocked but greeted her with a delighted smile.

The Palace Master had known about her all along.

This realization made her happy. She expressed her need for a place with water, and the Palace Master agreed. From then on, the mountain gained a waterfall, where she took up residence.

Sometimes, she eavesdropped on the disciples playing by the waterfall, gradually learning more. She discovered that the Palace Master’s name was Shui Qing Yue, and she herself wasn’t human but a sentient Water Spirit Jade.

She didn’t mind, and neither did Shui Qing Yue.

Shui Qing Yue often visited, sharing dreams and memories of a long-lost brother. Whenever Shui Qing Yue spoke of her dreams, her eyes sparkled; when mentioning her brother, they clouded with mist.

She decided to dislike Shui Qing Yue’s brother for making her sad.

Time passed unnoticed in the mountains. She didn’t know how many years had gone by in Water Cloud Palace, but she remembered every day with Shui Qing Yue and every person close to her.

Two individuals stood out most: a woman with a sweet, lilting voice who often spoke to Shui Qing Yue, and another whose eyes brimmed with ambition but feigned innocence before the Palace Master.

She thought she could always stay by Shui Qing Yue’s side and witness her dreams come true. But danger struck without warning. Her existence was discovered, attracting enemies.

That day, the waterfall of Water Cloud Palace was stained with blood. Shui Qing Yue’s sword became dull and battered.

Shui Qing Yue cried. She sacrificed her life to exchange her companions’ safety with the enemy.

She was heartbroken.

It was her fault Water Cloud Palace suffered. But as a mere piece of jade, she couldn’t save them.

Until she saw Shui Qing Yue about to fall under a man’s sword. At that moment, a surge of power she never knew she had awakened.

She carried Shui Qing Yue and fled.

They escaped to a small mortal town.

Good news: there were no cultivators here.
Bad news: there was no spiritual energy either.

Shui Qing Yue’s injuries worsened, and her own vitality weakened. She had overexerted her power, and her consciousness began to fade.

She was heartbroken.

She wasn’t grieving for herself but for never seeing Shui Qing Yue again. Before her disappearance, she wanted to do one last thing for Shui Qing Yue. She prepared to pour her remaining spiritual energy into Shui Qing Yue to heal her injuries.

But she failed.

Shui Qing Yue was too clever and realized her intention. She refused to take her spiritual energy. Frustrated and helpless, she could no longer see Shui Qing Yue’s figure clearly due to her weakening state. However, it didn’t matter—she still remembered her.

Unexpectedly, while she couldn’t save Shui Qing Yue, Shui Qing Yue sacrificed herself to save her.

“Ling Yu, thank you for being with me. We will always be the best of friends. Please live on, carrying my part of life as well.”

Shui Qing Yue transferred all her vitality into Ling Yu’s body. Slowly, Ling Yu, who was once a piece of jade, began to take human form—first her hands, then her legs, and finally, her youthful and delicate features emerged.

Shui Qing Yue was gone.

In her place was a baby identical to Shui Qing Yue.

This child had no memories and lived among mortals like a real child.

One day, a kind old woman handed her a steamed bun, her voice filled with compassion. “Poor child, what is your name?”

The little girl’s eyes flickered with confusion. It seemed she didn’t have a name.

No.

That wasn’t right.

She had a name.

What was her name again…?

Oh!

Her eyes sparkled with clarity.

Yu Zhao!

She was Yu Zhao!

…

“Senior Sister Yu! Senior Sister Yu, are you alright?”

Yu Zhao abruptly sat up, her eyes still clouded with fear and bewilderment.

“Senior Sister Yu, you’re finally awake! How are you feeling?”

Yu Zhao sluggishly turned her neck.

Before her was a face both unfamiliar and familiar.

“Ji… Han Zhou?”

She hesitantly spoke his name, her tone uncertain.

Concern deepened on Ji Han Zhou’s face. “Yes, it’s me, Senior Sister Yu. I’m Ji Han Zhou. Don’t you remember me?”

Yu Zhao rubbed her temples. “Don’t rush me. Let me gather my thoughts.”

“Alright.”

Without Ji Han Zhou’s interference, she could finally sort out her chaotic thoughts.

She had just dreamed a vivid and lifelike dream.

If the dream was real, then she wasn’t the reincarnation of Shui Qing Yue as Teng Xiao had claimed. Instead, she was the incarnation of Water Spirit Jade.

She had gained the opportunity to be reborn as a human because of Shui Qing Yue. That explained why her face was identical to Shui Qing Yue’s and why she was innately gifted with a water-based spiritual root.

She also understood why, in her past life, she yearned for familial love so deeply. It wasn’t simply due to wandering alone for so long, but because familial love was something Shui Qing Yue had longed for yet could never attain. Subconsciously, she wanted to fulfill that regret for Shui Qing Yue.

But in the end, she had failed Shui Qing Yue’s expectations. Not only did she fail to live well carrying both their parts, but she also ended up in a mess.

“Hah…”

At this moment, Yu Zhao’s feelings were complicated.

She had indeed unraveled the mystery of her origin, but the truth was completely different from what she had imagined.

She wasn’t even considered human, as her true form was a naturally occurring piece of jade.

The only thing that brought her some joy was regaining her memories as Water Spirit Jade.

The time spent at Water Cloud Palace with Shui Qing Yue was the happiest period of her existence.

Had she remembered earlier, she wouldn’t have been so moved by the superficial kindness occasionally shown to her by the people of Lone Moon Peak.

Shui Qing Yue.

We will always be the best of friends.

And…

Thank you.

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