Journey Through Realms: Fulfilling Last Wishes

Chapter 23: The Naive Saintess of the Demonic Sect

After several days of relentless travel, the group finally arrived at the foot of the Demonic Sect’s mountain on the eighth morning. The journey had been grueling—save for brief stops to eat and sleep, most of their time was spent on the road. If they reached a town, they stayed there. Otherwise, they camped under the open sky.

Their efforts paid off as they arrived at the mountain base by morning. For the first time in days, they slowed the carriage’s pace, taking their time ascending the path to the sect.

“Brother Shen Yu, we’re finally back! These past days were so exhausting,” An Ran said as she stretched, watching the carriage climb the mountain.

“Yes, it’s been tough on you, Ran Ran. Once we’re back, make sure to get some proper rest,” Shen Yu said, his voice tinged with concern as he looked at An Ran’s tired face.

The past few days had been particularly hard on An Ran. While she initially found the carriage ride comfortable, the high speeds and constant motion soon became unbearable. Even with the carriage’s excellent shock absorption, the jolting left her queasy. She barely ate for the first two days, vomiting whenever she tried.

Fortunately, Gu Lao had accompanied them and showed her pressure points to alleviate nausea. These techniques helped her adapt, allowing her to eat again. Still, she avoided the snacks the Yue Lai Inn’s manager had packed, finding even the sight of food overwhelming during the journey. If not for Shen Yu constantly helping her press the pressure points, she might have fallen seriously ill.

“Once we’re back, I’ll sleep for three days straight to make up for all the rest I’ve missed,” An Ran declared, her spirits lifting at the thought of finally returning.

“You’ll have plenty of time to sleep—if you can,” Shen Yu teased, amused by her enthusiasm.

“Of course I can! But what about you, Brother Shen Yu? You’ve been poisoned and have been traveling non-stop. Are you sure you’re feeling fine?” An Ran asked, her concern evident.

Shen Yu had shown no signs of discomfort during the journey, even though he had been caring for her. Gu Lao’s pulse readings revealed nothing alarming, and he assured them everything was under control.

“I’m fine, Ran Ran. Don’t worry. If I feel unwell, I’ll let you know,” Shen Yu replied gently.

In truth, Shen Yu had felt unexpectedly well during the trip. He even suspected that the poison’s effects were weakening, possibly due to the medicine An Ran had prepared for him.

As they chatted, the carriage soon reached the Demonic Sect’s grand gates.

“Open the gates! The young master has returned!” Shen Yi called out as he dismounted to knock.

However, to his surprise, the gates remained shut. It was unusual—the sect rarely locked its gates, especially when they were expecting someone.

A deep voice from inside responded, “By the Patriarch’s orders, only Miss An is allowed entry. The rest of you are to either camp at the mountain’s base or leave. The Patriarch will not interfere.”

The guard sounded reluctant, likely dreading the consequences of delivering such a message. Shen Yu, known for his gentle demeanor with An Ran, had a very different reputation among others—cold, strict, and unyielding. Refusing him entry would undoubtedly provoke his ire. Yet, the Patriarch’s presence forced the guard’s hand.

“Why are you trembling? Do you think he’ll eat you alive? How did someone as spineless as you end up in my Demonic Sect?” The Patriarch scoffed, clearly unimpressed by the guard’s nerves.

“Apologies, sir,” the guard stammered, knowing full well the risk he was taking. He feared both the Patriarch and Shen Yu, but disobeying the Patriarch was the greater immediate threat.

Meanwhile, Shen Yi relayed the message to Shen Yu, awaiting his instructions.

“It looks like this is up to you now, Ran Ran. My father’s clearly angry—he won’t even let me through the gates,” Shen Yu said with a bitter smile, turning to An Ran.

“Why won’t Uncle Shen let you in? If he’s angry, why did he summon us back so urgently?” An Ran asked, puzzled by the contradiction.

“Don’t you see? My father missed you. He likely rushed us back because he didn’t trust me to return with you. Now that you’re here safely, I’m of no use to him. He doesn’t want to see me,” Shen Yu explained, resigned.

“Then I won’t go either. I’ll stay with you,” An Ran said firmly. She didn’t feel safe without Shen Yu nearby and was unwilling to leave his side.

“But Ran Ran, I need you to plead with him on my behalf. If you don’t, my father will only grow angrier, thinking I’ve influenced you poorly. Who knows when I’ll be allowed back home then?” Shen Yu said, coaxing her gently.

“But Brother Shen Yu, what about your medicine? Who’ll prepare it if I’m not there?” An Ran asked, worried. She had been secretly adding her own blood to his medicine to suppress the poison, a fact she hadn’t disclosed.

“Shen Yi can handle it. I really am feeling much better—most of the poison seems to have cleared. Don’t worry about me. Just try to convince my father to let me back in soon. If I get worse because you didn’t help, I’ll hold it against you!” Shen Yu teased lightly.

“Are you sure the poison is mostly gone? You mustn’t be careless. Here—take this powder. Add a pinch to your medicine before drinking it. Promise me you’ll use it, or I’ll never speak to you again!” An Ran said, her tone serious despite her concern.

Shen Yu agreed, smiling at her determination. Though reluctant to part, they both knew it was the only way to resolve the situation. An Ran would face the Patriarch, while Shen Yu waited for the outcome outside the gates.

After arriving at the Demonic Sect gates, An Ran did something that shocked Shen Yu. She took out a small vial, made a precise cut on her arm, and began collecting her blood in front of him. In no time, the vial was filled.

Shen Yu instantly understood everything. He stared at the vial, unable to bring himself to take it. This wasn’t the first time An Ran had done this—she had been secretly giving her blood to help suppress his poison. How had he not noticed sooner? He had even sensed a faint smell of blood but dismissed it.

“Take it, and don’t waste it. If you refuse to use it, that would hurt me more,” An Ran said sternly when she saw the guilt and pain on Shen Yu’s face.

Shen Yu hesitated, but An Ran, clearly frustrated, grabbed his hand and shoved the vial into his palm.

“Alright, I’ll head in now. Don’t waste my blood. Use it properly, and I’ll come back for you as soon as I can,” An Ran warned him harshly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

She jumped down from the carriage and called Shen Yi over to give him private instructions. Shen Yu remained seated in the carriage, clutching the vial tightly. His hands trembled, and a storm of emotions swirled in his heart.

He replayed the scene in his mind—how effortlessly An Ran cut herself, her practiced movements, and her lack of reaction to the pain. It was as if she had grown used to it. This realization pierced Shen Yu deeply.

He thought back to the An Ran he once knew—the girl who would whine for piggybacks when tired, who would cry out dramatically at the slightest discomfort. Now, she was doing all this for him, silently and without complaint.

When had she grown up so much? He blamed himself for being so blind. He hadn’t noticed the countless sacrifices she’d made, hadn’t seen her transformation.

It must have started after his poisoning. She had driven through the night to find help, even though she wasn’t skilled with horses. Her hands must have been blistered and raw by the time they arrived, but he hadn’t noticed.

An Ran had likely been adding her blood to his medicine for a long time, suppressing the poison that had no antidote. She had taken on so much responsibility, and all he had done was dismiss her concerns as excessive.

As tears threatened to spill, Shen Yu clenched his jaw. He resolved to live well—not just for himself but to honor An Ran’s sacrifices.

“Where should we go now, Young Master?” Shen Yi asked as he returned to the carriage after speaking with An Ran.

“Head to the base of the mountain. We’ll discuss the next steps there,” Shen Yu said coldly. If An Ran wanted him to wait, he would wait.

Meanwhile, An Ran approached the gates and called out, “Uncle Shen, it’s Ran Ran. May I come in alone?”

The gates creaked open, revealing a middle-aged man who immediately walked out with a warm smile.

“Ran Ran! You’re finally back! You don’t know how much I’ve missed you. Why didn’t you send a letter to let me know you were safe?” He said with genuine joy.

“I missed you too, Uncle Shen! We had some unexpected delays, or we would have returned sooner,” An Ran replied naturally, already feeling at ease with Shen Mie, despite meeting him for the first time.

“Well, I told your Uncle Mu you’d miss me, but he didn’t believe me. When you see him, make sure to tell him that!” Shen Mie said, half-jokingly, as he led An Ran inside.

Uncle Mu, or Mu Xiaodong, was a renowned doctor in the Demonic Sect. His skills were extraordinary, so much so that even Gu Lao considered himself a half-student of Mu. However, Mu rarely left his herb fields and workshop, preferring a quiet life, which kept him relatively unknown. He was also the one who had nursed An Ran back to health when she was first brought to the sect. To An Ran, Mu Xiaodong was a lifesaver, second only to Shen Mie in importance.

“Don’t worry, Uncle Shen. I’ll make sure to win that argument for you!” An Ran promised cheerfully.

“Good girl! But there’s no rush. You’ve had a long journey, so rest first. Once you’ve recovered, we’ll visit him together. He’s not going anywhere,” Shen Mie said, clearly pleased.

“Alright, I’ll rest first and then visit Uncle Mu with you,” An Ran said and agreed, feeling the exhaustion catch up to her.

“Good, good. Go rest well. There’s no hurry,” Shen Mie said, waving her off.

As An Ran walked away, Shen Mie watched her retreating figure with a mix of pride and sadness. She had lost weight, matured, and clearly endured much hardship during her time away.

“Let’s see if she dares to take such risks again,” he muttered to himself with a sigh.