As she spent more time with these humans, she began to see how they valued and cherished Yinou. Curiosity blossomed within her. She recalled a painting of the girl hanging in Su Ning's room—a depiction of someone with beautiful, soulful eyes. It was said that Yinou was a demon, yet she had an aura that resembled that of an immortal. How could this be? The thought of her being Zhang Li's most beloved and Su Ning's most treasured filled Xiao Hong with envy.
Xiaohong stared into the fire, the orange glow reflecting off her sharp features, her thoughts distant. Her fingers twitched with impatience, but not for the first time, it wasn't the flame that stirred her. It was the image of Yinou.
It had been some time since the others had begun speaking of her. There was something in the way they mentioned the woman's name—reverence, longing, sorrow—that made Xiaohong's chest tighten. How could they speak of her so... fondly? Yinou had been a demon, wasn't she? How did someone so bound to such dark power inspire such devotion?
Xiaohong shook her head, pushing the thoughts aside. She wasn't the type to dwell on things that didn't concern her, and yet—there was something about Yinou's image that lingered in the back of her mind. The way they spoke of her, the way they adored her, made Xiaohong feel like an outsider.
The campfire crackled, and suddenly, a voice broke her reverie. "How lucky she was," she muttered under her breath. The words hung in the air for a moment longer than she intended, and immediately, Xiaohong regretted them.
She could feel the weight of the silence settle over the group, the way every eye turned toward her. She didn't care—well, mostly didn't care—but something in her couldn't ignore the sudden shift in the atmosphere. She cleared her throat, her pride rising to cover her mistake. "What? You all can't take a little bit of honesty?" Her voice was casual, a little too much so.
"She was unfortunate," Li Yang responded softly, her tone heavy with sorrow. The words caught Xiaohong off guard, almost like a slap, and for a moment, she didn't know how to react.
Unfortunate? Yinou? But she had been revered by everyone. The thought of it left Xiaohong's mouth dry, the envy she felt creeping up again. She was loved. Cherished. Even in death. And here Xiaohong was, standing alone, a far cry from that kind of affection. But she would never admit it aloud. Not to any of them.
Time slipped by, days blending together in the monotony of their travels. Each day was a repetition of the last, but each night, as she sat by the campfire, there was a lingering thought that wouldn't leave her. Su Ning.
His presence was inescapable, like a shadow at the edges of her vision, even when he wasn't speaking. There were moments when his gaze lingered on her a little too long, moments when she caught him watching her—was it curiosity? Or something else? It was unsettling, but at the same time, it was familiar.
He had returned from the frontlines, his body weary, armor stained with the remnants of battle. The moment he stepped into the camp, his voice breaking through the chatter, it carried something unexpected—softness.
"I'm back," he said, his tone almost gentle, as though the weight of the battle had stripped him of his usual rigid demeanor.
Xiaohong looked up at him, her lips twitching slightly. "It's good to see you made it back in one piece. Or did you bring home a souvenir this time? A new scar?" Her voice was light, but there was a strange softness there, too.
Su Ning chuckled, though it was short-lived. "The battle was fierce, but we prevailed." His gaze met hers, and for a moment, something flickered there. A quiet understanding, perhaps, or maybe just a fleeting connection. "It's good to be back," he added, though his eyes remained distant.
The firelight caught in his gaze, and Xiaohong couldn't help but notice how the flickering shadows made him seem... softer. He had always been so intense, so driven, but now, there was something human about him. Vulnerable, almost.
Xiaohong forced herself to break eye contact, the warmth in her chest feeling like an unwelcome guest. "We're all grateful for your service, General," she said quickly, turning her attention back to the fire, her pride kicking in. "The people you've helped must be overjoyed to have you back. They've probably thrown a feast in your honor."
Su Ning's lips twitched at the corners. "I'm sure. After all, who could resist my charm?" His voice was a mix of humor and irony, but there was a quiet sincerity hidden beneath it.
Xiaohong rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. You're so full of yourself, Su Ning. Someone's got to keep that ego in check."
"Ah, yes. The master of humility speaks," Su Ning quipped with a raised eyebrow.
Xiaohong smirked, though a small part of her felt strangely... lighter. Maybe it was the fire, or maybe it was the fact that they weren't at each other's throats, but something had shifted. They were still as prickly as ever, but there was an odd sense of camaraderie now, too.
The days stretched into weeks, and Xiaohong found herself noticing Su Ning more than she cared to admit. There was something about the way he moved, his confidence tempered by the quiet sadness that followed him from battle to battle. The way his gaze softened when it landed on her—or maybe she imagined it?
It was during training one morning that Li Yang's voice broke through her focus. "Have you noticed how similar Xiao Hong's sword work is to Yinou's?"
The words made Xiaohong freeze mid-swing. Her sword hovered in the air, and her face hardened in an instant, fury bubbling up inside her. Similar to Yinou?
"Are you saying I look like her?" she snapped, her voice laced with venom. Her grip tightened around the sword's hilt, and she could feel her anger rising with every passing second.
Li Yang's eyes widened, clearly taken aback by the intensity of Xiaohong's response. "I didn't mean it like—"
"Don't," Xiaohong hissed. "I don't need anyone to tell me I look like her. Don't ever compare me to that dead woman again. Got it?"
Li Yang stumbled back, her face a mixture of confusion and regret. "I... I just meant—"
"I don't care what you meant," Xiaohong snapped, cutting her off. "Keep that nonsense to yourself." The thought of being compared to Yinou filled her with a burning disgust. Yinou's name was a scar on her memory, one she didn't want to reopen.
The others fell into an uncomfortable silence. Even Su Ning, standing at the edge of the camp, seemed to have caught the tension in the air. Xiaohong's chest tightened as she met his gaze, but she quickly turned away, unwilling to let him see how much those words had affected her.
Later that day, as dusk fell, Su Ning walked toward her, his steps deliberate, as if he had something important to say. Xiaohong was still fuming from the earlier conversation, but she managed to mask it with a sneer.
"Did you come to join the pity party?" she asked dryly, though her tone was laced with more venom than usual.
Su Ning's lips pressed into a thin line, his expression serious. "No, I came to speak with you."
Xiaohong raised an eyebrow. "About what? The fact that everyone seems to think I'm some reincarnated version of a dead woman?"
Su Ning's eyes softened slightly. "I think you know what I'm talking about." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Xiaohong, you—there's something about you. It's like you've been here before. You move like her. You fight like her."
Xiaohong's heart stilled. "You think I'm her?" she asked, her voice tight with disbelief.
Su Ning hesitated. "I don't know. But there's something between you and Yinou. I can't ignore it."
Xiaohong took a deep breath, her pride flaring up. "You're crazy. Just because I've got some fancy sword skills doesn't mean I'm her. I'm not her. I'm me. Get it?"
Su Ning didn't back down. "I can't help but wonder, Xiaohong. There's a connection—something deeper."
Before she could reply, Susu approached them, her expression unreadable. She reached out and gently took Xiaohong's hand, studying it for a moment. Xiaohong flinched but said nothing. Susu traced her palm with a somber look in her eyes, making Xiaohong uncomfortable.
Finally, Susu stepped back. "Sorry. It's nothing." She gave Xiaohong an apologetic smile, but there was a strange sadness in her eyes.
Xiaohong stood there, speechless, as Susu returned to the others. What was that about?
Su Ning's gaze lingered on Xiaohong, his expression conflicted.
He entered Jiu Tian's quarters, his expression tense. "Jiu Tian," he began urgently, "I think I know the truth—Xiao Hong is Yinou's reincarnation…and the Fox Immortal, right?"
Jiu Tian's gaze was unreadable. "And how did you reach this conclusion?" Su Ning's fists clenched. "Your power, Jiu Tian—it's identical to Yinou's. And your guidance, your warnings…" He shook his head. "Not Yinou's power, but hers," Jiu Tian corrected sharply. "So my suspicions are true. You seek the Fox Immortal, not Yinou." Jiu Tian chuckled. "You're perceptive, Su Ning. You've pieced it together."
Su Ning gasped, "You are the lover of the fox immortal, whom she gave cultivation to." Jiu Tian smiled. "Indeed. Xiao Hong is Yinou's reincarnation, but she is also Ling Yu, my beloved." He paused. "As for my guidance, the path of samsara is delicate, and the burden of the past is heavy."
A surge of emotion: hope, confusion, trepidation, washed over Su Ning. "What happens now?" he whispered. "If Ling Yu and Yinou's souls are bound, who will prevail?"
Jiu Tian's expression turned solemn. "That, my friend, is not for me to decide. Yinou is undergoing samsara to bind her soul with Ling Yu's, but the outcome is uncertain. They may coexist, or one may prevail. I have not seen this before, and can only guide as samsara unfolds."
Su Ning felt frustration and uncertainty. "What if she reject who she is? What if she chooses not to remember Yinou?"
Jiu Tian sighed sadly. "Then we respect her choice, no matter how difficult. Samsara is not ours to control, only to guide." Su Ning felt despair. "I can't stand by and watch her walk away again." Jiu Tian's expression softened. He placed a hand on Su Ning's shoulder. "Trust in the universe, my friend. Samsara is winding, but the answers may come in time, if you listen."
Su Ning nodded, his resolve solidifying. He returned to the campsite, his mind a whirlwind. He looked at Xiao Hong, the familiar features of his beloved Yinou etched on her face. The realization that she was so close, yet so far, filled him with hope and trepidation. "Xiao Hong," he said softly, "I need to speak with you."