Chapter Seventy-Two: The Pearl’s Remote Glow—What Is Its Origin?

“Lan, try moving around a bit and see if your wound still hurts,” Xiaoyin urged as she hurried forward, carefully helping Lanwu to her feet. Supporting her gently, she encouraged Lanwu to walk and stretch her limbs. After only a few steps, Lanwu shook off Xiaoyin’s hand and began hopping energetically in place, clearly overjoyed and fully healed—otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so exuberant.

“This pearl is simply miraculous! I honestly don’t feel a trace of pain anymore!” Lanwu exclaimed with delight, as if she could run laps around the entire mountain and still not be satisfied.

“You wild girl, try to calm down for a bit—what if you get hurt again?” Yin Boxuan said, laughing as he watched her. Today had truly broadened his horizons; who would have thought such wondrous healing treasures existed in this world? Just what was the origin of Yushang? Why did he always seem to possess things that could astonish everyone?

“But why didn’t the vision of that woman appear this time, and why was the healing method so different?” Yushang wondered aloud, puzzled. Could it be that the severity of the injury determined the method of healing? Everything today was so far outside his expectations that his thoughts had grown muddled.

“As long as the wound is healed, what does it matter? The pearl has to be returned to its rightful owner anyway, so why bother worrying about it any further?” Xiaoyin dismissed Yushang’s doubts, her attention still focused on Lanwu’s elation. Truly, once the pearl was returned, it would have nothing more to do with them—why waste energy over it?

“Perhaps the vision only appears when someone is gravely injured and beyond help. Brother Yu, you seem weary—don’t overthink it,” Meng You said gently, watching Yushang with some concern. Since leaving the secret passage, he’d seemed distracted, often gazing blankly at the stone walls. Yet when she turned to look, there was nothing there. Just now, he and Leng Huaiyi had been up to something she couldn’t decipher, and his words and actions seemed tinged with an odd, unsettling air. She genuinely worried that their savior Yushang was carrying some burden alone, unwilling to share it with them.

“Perhaps you’re right, and I’m just overthinking it,” Yushang replied, playing with the pearl. It gleamed even brighter under the sunlight, like a radiant star in the darkness. Yet to him, it seemed subtly changed—as if a newfound vitality had awakened within it, replacing its former lifelessness.

“It’s truly beautiful. May I hold it for a moment? Ever since it saved my life, I haven’t had a chance to really admire it up close,” Meng You said, her eyes and voice brimming with longing. She wished she could cradle the pearl in her palm and feel its aura, even if she could never own it—just observing it from such proximity would be enough.

“Of course you may. I doubt it would refuse, either. After all, being held and admired by a beautiful woman is far better than being idly toyed with by a man who doesn’t appreciate it,” Yushang said, handing her the pearl. Curiously, he felt a strange sense that the pearl was returning to its rightful owner. In his eyes, Meng You’s gentle temperament suited the pearl perfectly; if it truly belonged to him, he would be happy to give it to such a gentle soul. Instinct told him that in her hands, the pearl’s beauty would shine all the brighter.

“It seems Brother Yin was wrong when he said you didn’t know how to please women. If you wanted to, a single offhand remark from you would be more effective than ten sweet nothings from him,” Meng You teased, accepting the pearl. The instant her fingers touched it, violet light flared from within, shooting skyward. After a blinding flash, the vision of the woman reappeared. Her eyes were dazed, as though bewildered and fearful of this strange world. But when her gaze fell upon Meng You, holding the pearl, everything changed. She seemed to recognize a long-lost friend, rushing to circle around Meng You, radiating joy.

Lan Bingxian stepped forward protectively, determined to shield Meng You. Though this spectral woman had once saved his beloved, that did not mean she could not harm her now. He could not let her come to any harm; at the very least, he had to stay close in case of danger. But after only a few steps, Yushang blocked his path, saying, “Brother Lan, trust me. The woman in the pearl shares the same qualities as Yuanyuan—she would never hurt her!” Since someone he trusted so much said so, Lan Bingxian could only watch closely from the side, though his worried expression betrayed his readiness to whisk Meng You away at any sign of threat.

“Who are you? Why are you circling around me? Do you know me?” Meng You asked in confusion, gazing at the woman. Yet, she felt a profound sense of familiarity, as though she were reuniting with an old friend—so much so that her heart felt at ease. It was strange: aside from the time this woman had healed her, they had never met, nor known each other before. Why, then, did she feel this odd sense of kinship, and why was the woman’s affection so warm?

“How odd, Yuanyuan. Are you sure you don’t know her? Honestly, if you hadn’t told me otherwise, I would have thought the two of you were lifelong friends!” Lanwu laughed, finding herself fond of the woman from the pearl—perhaps because she had been saved by her. If only she were real and not just an ethereal vision, they would surely be the best of sisters.

“If I really knew her, this pearl would not have found its way to Brother Yu—it would have been in my possession long ago!” Even Meng You herself found it baffling. How could a complete stranger be so close to her? The last time, the woman had emerged to save her life; now again she clung to her as if unwilling to part.

“No wonder I felt the pearl was different from before—it must be because it met you and was moved,” Yushang said with sudden understanding, smiling at Meng You. Clearly, she had a deep connection with this treasure, to inspire such affection from something so rare.

“Maybe you lost it as a child and didn’t care, so you forgot all about it. Yuanyuan, think carefully—a treasure like this would never take such a liking to someone for no reason. It’s not an ordinary, ownerless trinket that can choose just anyone,” Yan Xuesu speculated, almost as if she were the one fated for the pearl.

“My woman is usually so clever—how can she be so muddled when it comes to rare treasures? If the pearl truly belonged to Yuanyuan, it could not have gone missing without cause. Even if she was too young to understand its value, don’t forget she had elders around her. With the old headmaster’s temperament, he would have put such a treasure away for safekeeping, not let a child treat it as a plaything!” Yu Xiaoran reasoned calmly. It seemed only someone like him, faced with such a treasure, could remain so composed.

“Brother Yu is right. Besides, Lan and I grew up with Yuanyuan, and we’re both older—we remember more. But I have no recollection of this pearl at all. Brother Lan, have you ever seen it?” Yin Boxuan mused, searching his childhood memories before turning to his senior.

“I can say with certainty this pearl was never seen at Yanlan Academy. If it ever belonged to Yuanyuan, Master would never have let such a treasure fall into obscurity,” Lan Bingxian declared, reasoning that if he had seen the pearl before, he wouldn’t have been so tense when the woman emerged and clung to Yuanyuan.

“Could it have belonged to Yuanyuan’s parents? Perhaps it sensed their aura when it saw you, which is why it’s so fond of you,” Xun Mishuang suggested, joining in the speculation. Truthfully, she was entranced by the pearl—no longer just a rare treasure or a fine artifact, but something with a soul and will of its own. Especially after seeing the woman’s apparition, she felt certain of this.

“But I sense this pearl is from the Immortal Realm. Since ancient times, the Immortal Realm has been at odds with the others, never sharing their sacred objects with outsiders. Besides, her parents were of the Demon Clan, making it even less likely they possessed such a thing,” Leng Huaiyi explained, his gaze never leaving the spectral woman.

“But Yushang is from the Netherworld—his enmity with the Immortal Realm is even greater. Why could the pearl reside in his body without causing him harm? If your theory is correct, the pearl should have tormented him to the brink of death!” Xun Mishuang objected, wondering if only Yushang was capable of subduing such an artifact—if so, she truly envied his ability.

“That’s because I have a unique gateway within me that restrains the pearl, preventing it from acting freely. So far, it hasn’t dared to stir within me. Besides, I believe the pearl belonged to the woman entombed in that mysterious region’s mausoleum. All your speculations are likely unfounded. As for why it’s so fond of Yuanyuan, despite only a few brief encounters—perhaps that’s simply fate at work,” Yushang replied, methodically explaining his reasoning. For now, it seemed the most plausible answer.

“That rascal is right. This pearl is no longer ownerless, and even if you uncover some connection between Yuanyuan and it, what does it matter? In the end, it must still be returned. Instead of wracking your brains for useless clues, why not make good use of it before the boy hands it over? That would be far more beneficial to us!” Xiaoyin, ever the pragmatist, saw things clearly. There was no point in wasting time delving into its past—better to use it while they could.

“Hahaha, you clever little snake! Even if you worked out the connection, I must still fulfill my promise and return it to its rightful place. That was the commitment I made, and I will not be a man who breaks his word. The elder who entrusted this task to me has done me countless favors—he is my benefactor, and I cannot betray his trust!” Yushang said firmly, and everyone nodded in understanding.