Let's Never Meet Again - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I left the sect without alerting anyone.

The winter was biting.

Tightening the heavy coat my senior sister had given me, I shivered as I followed the small path down the mountain.

The frosty breath I exhaled blurred my vision. In the haze, I seemed to hear the instructions my master had given me on the day he brought me back to the sect.

“No matter what, fight to survive. Go and enjoy a more brilliant life.”

“A future that belongs to you.”

But both he and I knew the truth.

“I have no future.”

This was my destiny-a short life, born of the Calamity and destined to take the Calamity away, trapped in chaos, confined in a lonely city.

People like us are called “spirits.”

I glanced back at the sect. It was a dark silhouette against the sky, with only a few bright lamps remaining to guide the way.

After all, it was the place where I had stayed for a year. I still felt a sense of reluctance to leave.

“The Calamity is growing stronger. It’s almost mature. Dong, where are you?”

“Come quickly, Dong. We are waiting for you in Deer City.”

“Slower, just a bit slower… let me see this mortal world one more time…”

The wind carried the whispers of my kin.

I quickened my pace. Taking advantage of the pre-dawn darkness, I hurried down the mountain through the night, heading toward Deer City.

Heavy snow fell, and Wu Town was draped in silver.

This was the town closest to Deer City, separated only by a single forest.

Old Man Wang had set up his stall at the street corner early to sell freshly steamed buns. He grabbed two steaming buns and handed them to his shivering wife beside him.

“Your legs aren’t good. Didn’t I tell you to rest at home? It’s too cold today; you won’t be able to stand it.”

His wife held the buns, her face clouded with worry.

“You know I can’t just sit around. About that matter I discussed with you last time…”

“Old man, I know you’re reluctant to leave this place where our family has been rooted for generations, but that Demon Tree is about to cross the forest.”

Old Man Wang was also worried. It wasn’t just him; everyone in Wu Town was worried.

Should they move away quickly before the Demon Tree spread further, or should they live and die with Wu Town, the place of their ancestors?

“It’s not that I don’t want to move, but where could we go? We have no money left, and the child needs to go to school.”

The couple fell into silence.

Moving was no easy task, especially for ordinary folk like them who barely scraped by on a small livelihood.

“Sir, four meat buns, please. Keep the change.”

A crisp voice broke the Wang couple’s thoughts.

Old Man Wang snapped out of it and looked toward the source of the voice. He saw a young woman with bright eyes and white teeth, her face flushed red from the cold, constantly blowing into her palms to warm them.

He quickly picked out four thin-skinned buns with generous filling.

“Sir, if I go through this forest, will I reach Deer City?”

I didn’t care how disheveled I looked; I took the buns and started stuffing them into my mouth.

I took the opportunity to ask the old man for information.

To my surprise, the old man’s kind expression changed instantly. The older woman beside him looked at me with deep concern.

“I see you have an extraordinary air about you, young lady. Are you also an immortal heading to Deer City?”

“Also?”

“Many immortals have gone to Deer City, but few have returned. That Demon Tree has summoned many monsters to guard the area around Deer City. I advise you not to go, young lady.”

“That’s right. You’re all alone; it’s too dangerous. You should leave this place quickly!” Old Man Wang couldn’t help but chime in.

They had seen many immortals come to investigate Deer City, only to end up dead or wounded. It was a place where death was almost certain.

I swallowed the meat bun in my mouth.

“I see that the Demon Tree is about to spread here as well. Why haven’t you moved away yet?”

If spring arrived and the Demon Tree bloomed, there would be no living soul left within a hundred miles.

Although the main body of the Demon Tree was in Deer City, it had grown many massive vines over the years that spread outward, gradually expanding its territory.

From a distance, I could see the Panluo Forest between Deer City and Wu Town, entangled by giant, claw-like vines.

Old Man Wang gave a bitter smile.

“Even if we move elsewhere, we’ll just starve to death.”

“We can’t leave this place.”

I scratched my head.

Lowering my eyelids, I sensed the speed at which the Demon Tree was spreading.

“There’s no need to move. Spring is a good season. Everything will get better.”

As the older woman watched my departing figure, she whispered to her husband, “What a strange young girl. How could spring be a good season?”

“I hope she doesn’t go to Deer City.”

Most of the people in Wu Town had already fled. Along the way, I rarely encountered any merchants, though I saw plenty of beggars.

They looked quite young, dressed in rags that barely covered their bodies, huddled in corners and shivering. They were a pitiful sight.

I handed out all the banknotes I had on me.

The children took the money and kowtowed with practiced ease before swarming off to buy hot meat buns.

I stood there for a long time before finally continuing my journey.

After searching for an inn for hours, I finally settled into a dilapidated Earth God Temple as evening approached.

I gathered some dry straw and spread it beneath me to serve as a bed.

The cold wind whistled, and the half-broken door creaked incessantly, making it impossible to sleep.

After struggling for a while, I eventually crawled up and leaned against the doorframe, yawning.

My stomach chose that moment to let out an ill-timed growl.

Then, I felt a cold touch on my forehead.

I looked up.

The bright moon was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, snowflakes were drifting down, sharing an intimate embrace with the earth.

“It’s snowing…” I murmured to myself.

So, Dong has only just begun.

How will those people survive this winter?

“You look quite pathetic, Junior Sister.”

A voice, laced with indifference and a hint of mockery, drifted down from above.

An umbrella appeared over my head.

I tilted my head back. My cheeks were flushed red from the cold, but my eyes held a gleam of playful joy.

“Senior Brother, it’s been a long time.”

Pei You gave a cold snort. The frustration and worry in his heart vanished the moment he saw his junior sister.

Throughout the journey, he had constantly told himself it was only because she was a demon.

He had once sworn to use the sword in his hand to slay every demon in the world.

He forcibly categorized that small flutter in his heart as hatred for her kind.

I sat by the fire, stretching out my hands to feel the warmth spreading through my body. I watched as Pei You quickly built up the fire and repaired the door, feeling a sense of nostalgia.

No wonder Master used to say Pei You was like a brick-wherever he was needed, that’s where you moved him.

“Senior Brother, didn’t I tell you not to worry about me? I’ll tell you a secret: I’m actually a demon. Just let me die quietly in Deer City.”

I was still in the mood to tease him.

Seeing his face remain cold and stoic under the firelight was more entertaining than words could describe.

Pei You sat down, cradling his sword.

“I told you. Whether you are a demon or not, and when you die-I will be the one to judge, and I will be the one to do it.”

Without looking up, he handed me a paper-wrapped parcel.

I opened it to find osmanthus cakes, their delicate fragrance wafting out. A wave of warmth surged through my heart.

“Master told everyone that our youngest junior sister went down the mountain for a trial. That person knew I was coming to find you and asked me to bring these.”

“She said you would understand once you saw them,”

Pei You explained patiently.

“I know. I know everything,” I repeated.

An involuntary smile bloomed on my face.

“Senior Brother, have a piece. Since you went through the trouble of bringing them to me.”

He shook his head, frowning. “I won’t. They’re far too sweet.”

“I was just being polite.”

I ate a piece with great satisfaction, then carefully wrapped the rest and tucked them into my robe.

“Senior Brother, you should go back. I’ve received the sentiment, but let me finish the rest of this journey alone.”

Pei You remained silent.

Only the sound of the firewood crackling in the night filled the air.

After a long silence, he spoke.

“Junior Sister, I didn’t come here just to find you. I also have a reason why I must go to Deer City.”

“Is that so? Senior Brother, don’t lie to me.”

I stared at him, my gaze piercing.

Pei You turned his head away, looking at the newly repaired door. A strong gust of wind blew past, and the wooden boards seemed a bit loose.

“When have I ever lied?”

“Swear it on your sword.”

“…”

He stood up and began fiddling with the loose door again.

“It’s a task Master assigned to me.”

His voice was muffled, clearly a bit annoyed.

I stopped making things difficult for him and flashed a bright smile.

“Since you put it that way, Senior Brother, let’s go together.”

Pei You turned around.

In front of the Earth God statue, by the pile of firewood, his junior sister had invited him to travel with her.

His fingers rubbed the hilt of his sword.

“Fine.”

*You’re the one who said it.*