Dream-Reviving Grass and Soul-Returning Incense (4)
On the surface, Su Qingtang looked perfectly sweet and obedient—but her inner thoughts stomped Qian Hua’s pride right into the dirt.
Qian Hua’s face stiffened, though she recovered quickly, her composure intact. “Little sister-in-law, that’s not what I meant. You must have misunderstood me. I just saw you walking alone—”
[I was afraid half a person might scare you.]
“…and about last night—I said something wrong, didn’t I?”
[If you know that, then why are you still talking? Have some self-awareness.]
“Anyway, Huai-ge is a good man, not like those shallow, flirty young nobles—”
[I know, thanks. You think I need you to tell me? What’s next—‘Don’t misunderstand those flirty men’? Sure, they’re not scumbags, they just want to give every girl in the world a home.]
Qian Hua’s breath caught in her throat, unable to say another word.
The others who’d overheard Su Qingtang’s thoughts all froze in place. Some wanted to step in to help, but after glancing at Yin Gu Huai’s expression, decided against it. Miss Su’s combat power—mental and verbal—was impressive enough.
Yin Gu Huai, watching Qian Hua’s awkward smile, couldn’t help thinking that sometimes, Su Qingtang’s lack of restraint was a blessing. At least it made things peaceful.
“Over here, young master.” Madam Qian seemed entirely unbothered by the scene behind her. She crouched to the ground, studying the soil and sniffing the air before pointing to a path through the underbrush.
Yin Gu Huai frowned slightly. The route she took grew increasingly remote. When she stopped but made no further move, he said calmly, “Are you sure about this, Madam Qian? We came because of the dragon horn you presented, but all you’ve done is lead us around. This isn’t the attitude of someone asking for help.”
Madam Qian’s tone turned guarded. “Young master, I already said in my letter—everything must be verified on site. I told you we needed one chosen by Heaven. The dragon horn was proof. Surely the prince wouldn’t go back on his word?”
The atmosphere tightened instantly. Seeing things turn sour, Su Qingtang hurried back to Yin Gu Huai’s side.
He remained composed. “This isn’t about going back on promises. It’s about honesty. You sent a single letter and an unverified dragon horn. My Patrol Division came here without question, endured hardship, lost comrades, and now we’re following you into unfamiliar terrain. Don’t you think you owe us an explanation?”
Su Qingtang tilted her head, about to speak—but Yin Gu Huai’s hand slipped from his sleeve to grasp hers tightly. Her mind went blank; all thoughts vanished as she stared dazedly at their joined hands.
Gu An immediately caught on to his prince’s intent and spoke up. “Exactly! We’ve lost good brothers along the way. Isn’t that sincerity enough for you to tell us what’s really going on?”
Qian Hua hesitated, then said softly, “Mother, maybe we should tell them. I believe Huai-ge means no harm.”
That snapped Su Qingtang out of her daze. [Yeah, Huai-ge means no harm—but you do. What kind of woman looks at a married man like that?]
Madam Qian, seeing her daughter’s blushing face, sighed and scolded quietly, “This is the Crown Prince. His future consort must be a noblewoman of high birth—not someone like you. And that girl with him? She’s no simple person either. The way you can’t even meet her eyes should tell you the difference between you.”
“Mother! How can you say that about your own daughter?” Qian Hua whispered, biting her lip.
“Enough. I’ll speak.” Madam Qian turned to Yin Gu Huai. “Since you insist, I’ll explain.”
“We’ve truly met with misfortune. My younger daughter often went hunting in the mountains—she always returned before sunset. But a few days ago, she entered as usual and never came back. I thought maybe she’d been caught by the storm and found shelter for the night, but even the next day, she didn’t return.”
Her face darkened. “Worried, I went searching. I found her trail marks along the way—and eventually discovered that dragon horn.”
She lifted her eyes to Yin Gu Huai. “Your Highness should know what a dragon’s horn signifies. Tell me—should I not be concerned?”
Yin Gu Huai thought of the dragon sinew they’d found. “That was all you found? Only the horn?”
Madam Qian nodded. “Believe me, I know dragons don’t lose their horns unless something grave has happened. I searched the riverbank. There was nothing else.”
“Very well,” Yin Gu Huai said coldly. “I’ll trust you this once. But if you’ve lied—no matter who you are—I won’t let it go.”
It wasn’t a threat so much as a declaration.
Madam Qian bowed slightly. “Of course. Please, follow me.” She turned and walked deeper into the forest.
Yin Gu Huai glanced back at Su Qingtang. “Keep that conch close. Don’t take it off.” Something was off—Madam Qian had clearly found the dragon sinew but hadn’t mentioned it. She was hiding something.
Su Qingtang nodded. “Got it. I’ll hold on tight.”
As the group moved on, she followed close behind him. [Little spirits, do you know what this area is?]
Yin Gu Huai didn’t interrupt her this time, silently clearing branches and vines from her path as she spoke with the unseen beings.
[We’re near the heart of Mount Wunian,] one answered. [We usually stay outside.]
[Why? Don’t you ever talk to the spirits inside? Make friends or something?] she asked, frowning. A mountain having “outer” and “inner” territories? That didn’t sound right.
[It’s not that we don’t want to. It’s that there are ghosts—big and small. They claimed this place long ago and forbade us from entering. If we did, they’d punish us.]
[And no one’s ever fought back?]
[We’d have to be strong enough first. We couldn’t even beat you.]
Su Qingtang thought back to their first encounter. True enough—these spirits had good sense when it came to self-preservation.
[Then can you give me any clues?] she asked, unease growing as she glanced toward Madam Qian and her daughter.
[Maybe. We’ve heard that the spirits deeper in the mountain feed on human dreams. People used to come here offering their dreams in exchange for their wishes being granted.]
[Just dreams? And they got their wishes fulfilled? Sounds ridiculous…] Su Qingtang paused mid-thought, recalling the locust tree—and the dragon beside her. [There must be a price. Surely they don’t just take dreams?]
[We don’t know. The inner spirits were forbidden to speak with us. But one thing’s certain—everyone who entered that area… never came back out. Not one, as long as we’ve existed.]
Su Qingtang’s heart tightened. [So the traps you set outside—the pit and the pavilion—that was to scare us off, right?]
[Yes. You’re all young, full of life. We can see your energy—you, especially, are connected to fate. The man beside you is Heaven’s chosen; he’s vital to your empire. The others, too, have the light of virtue upon them. And you—you can see us. That’s destiny. You shouldn’t die here.]
Su Qingtang nodded slightly. [Then… the blood on Madam Qian’s hands—was it because she didn’t go to the Astronomical Bureau first?]
For an instant, Madam Qian’s face stiffened before returning to normal. Qian Hua glanced around, startled—she’d heard Su Qingtang’s murmured words to unseen children. Can she see ghosts?
“Don’t get distracted,” Madam Qian warned. “She’s protected by the prince—you’re not.”
[We’re not sure about the Astronomical Bureau,] a spirit whispered. [But for months, we’ve seen many people enter through this path—all the same way.]
“Your Highness,” Su Qingtang said suddenly, gripping Yin Gu Huai’s hand, “have you ever heard of a spirit that feeds on dreams—and grants wishes?”
There was no time to ease into it.
He shook his head. “I’ve heard of ancient beasts that devour dreams—but none that can grant them.”
[Wrong,] a spirit interjected. [We can feel it. It’s one of us—born of nature’s essence. But those two ghosts? They’re the divine beasts.]
Only the rustle of leaves filled the silence. Then Gu Quan spoke. “Your Highness, I once read in an old folklore text—there’s a plant called Dream-Reviving Grass. Carrying its leaves lets one dream of whomever they long for. It’s said to express grief, though—not to grant wishes.”
[If plants can be spiritual, like the locust tree we saw, maybe this Dream-Reviving Grass evolved too. Entering dreams could be its power—and if it can shape dreams, isn’t that a kind of wish-granting?]
Su Qingtang asked the spirits, [Do you know this grass? But wait—if no one who sleeps here ever wakes up, then how does anyone know what it does?]
A new voice answered from ahead. “Simple. Because I was the one who went out to tell the tale.”
They stopped. Without realizing it, Madam Qian had halted and turned, her eyes gleaming with malice. “I always wondered why you brought such a fragile little thing along. So this is why.”
Yin Gu Huai stepped forward protectively. “The river—where is it?”
She sneered. “Didn’t Your Highness already find the dragon sinew? I tore it from that dragon myself. But he was too weak—couldn’t fulfill my wish. So I thought of your imperial bloodline instead.”
“And what makes you think I’ll submit to you?” Yin Gu Huai said coldly. “Gu An, Gu Quan—protect the others.”
Madam Qian laughed wildly. “Naïve prince! I’ve brought many others here before—people of talent, with powerful arts. Did you think I’d waste them?”
At her words, the surrounding plants began to twist and surge. Vines erupted from the ground, thrashing toward the group.
[Watch out!] the little spirits cried, trying to suppress the madness, but their power barely slowed it.
Su Qingtang gripped the conch tightly in one hand and Yin Gu Huai’s in the other, following his movements as they dodged the attacks.
But the vines kept coming, relentless and unfeeling.
Yin Gu Huai’s water magic was powerful, but water couldn’t destroy living plants—it only slowed them.
“Your Highness—take the leader first!” Gu An shouted, leaping toward Madam Qian.
But she only smiled, shoving Qian Hua into his path. The girl stumbled forward, straight into his sword. Zhou Kaili dove and knocked Gu An aside just in time; both rolled into the brush.
The gap in formation let more vines burst through, breaking their defenses.
Su Qingtang slipped, losing her grip on Yin Gu Huai’s hand.
“Su Qingtang! Who told you to let go—come back!” he shouted, lunging toward her.
But Qian Hua was closer. She grabbed a fallen sword and drove it toward Su Qingtang.
In the chaos, Su Qingtang stumbled back—off the cliff’s edge.
“Su Qingtang—!”
Her name tore from Yin Gu Huai’s throat as she fell into the mist below.