The Good Person

"You say the birth of plant spirits like you relies on the essence of heaven and earth? And you were born from moonlight?"

"Born under the falling moon—why not call you Luo Yue?"

"The characters 'Luo' and 'Luò' are different. 'Luò' (fall) isn't auspicious for you, but 'Luo' carries water, which can nourish you."

"What's the meaning of a name? Well, so others don’t have to call you 'hey' when they address you."

"You don’t like it here? But the outside is dangerous. You’ll be captured. This place is safe—why risk leaving?"

"Luo Yue, though I don’t fully understand, I feel you’re right. I’ll grant you freedom. Go and do what you wish."

Luo Yue felt the spear in its grip grow heavier, yet the words in its ears became clearer.

That was its first "master"—a little girl who couldn’t bear to part with it.

All its beautiful expectations of humanity stemmed from her.

Luo Yue swung its spear, lifting it with a mighty thrust, unleashing a terrifying pressure that surged forth—

Only to be blocked by a translucent sword.

Luo Yue raised its head, meeting Chu Xingchen’s calm, unreadable gaze, as that voice it despised echoed in its ears again.

"You’re called Luo Yue, right? For a plant spirit to reach the Unity Stage is no small feat."

"I’ve heard much of your story—wanting spirits to avoid capture, dreaming of a homeland for your kind?"

"Touching, yes. But you must know, touching doesn’t mean achievable. Countless people in this world are displaced—where could there possibly be a blessed land left for spirits?"

"Still, I’ll give you this chance. Shall we make a deal?"

"My Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect has a plan. Though we may not need you, it’s wise to keep a backup. Succeed, and I’ll grant you your promised land."

"You can refuse, of course. But how many of your kin have died under your leadership? Do you even know?"

"Tell me—how many more must die for your dream?"

"How can I guarantee it? Simple. Once this is done, the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect will endure for eternity!"

"The odds are less than thirty percent. But with the Great Calamity looming, without decisive action, how can we protect our homes?"

"Since you’ve agreed, your current strength is still lacking. Come with me—let’s first ascend to the Mahayana Stage!"

Hah… The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect enduring for eternity.

While my kind remains forever homeless.

Liars! All of them, liars!

Luo Yue roared, its spiritual energy scattering wildly, yet its spear moved faster than ever.

The spear transformed into a pillar of light, its chilling aura piercing the heavens.

Sword intent surged like a tide, crystallizing into countless flowing blades, descending like celestial rain, endless and relentless, crashing toward Luo Yue.

"Your true form is rooted here, masking this place’s fate and energy. This secrecy concerns the final retreat of my Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect."

"How long must you wait? Who knows? Wait for my command."

"If we succeed, someone will come. If we fail, someone will still come. If no one comes… it means the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect is no more."

"Worth it? Then tell me—was it worth abandoning your flesh, all for a homeland for spirits?"

"Hah… If we act, it’s worth it. The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect has its reasons."

"The Top First Immortal Sect of the World naturally bears the mission of the Top First Immortal Sect."

"May we meet again…"

Luo Yue ignored the onslaught of sword intent, letting the watery blades tear through its armor, pierce its flesh—all to drive its spear forward.

Meet again? Of course we’ll meet again!

Ask my homeland! Ask my people!

Luo Yue would demand answers with its spear.

"You’ve lost."

By the time the words reached Luo Yue’s ears, it realized it had already been struck to the ground, powerless to move.

The spear remained clutched in its hand, but it could no longer lift it.

Feeling its spiritual energy dissipate, Luo Yue slowly closed its eyes.

Hah…

In the end… it achieved nothing.

Chu Xingchen watched as Luo Yue’s energy scattered, withdrawing his own power, his gaze sweeping over the illusions around them.

A human girl. Luo Yue raising its spear. The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect’s promised land.

These weren’t mere hallucinations in Luo Yue’s ears—they were the fabric of the illusion.

But while Chu Xingchen remained unshaken, Luo Yue had no room for distraction.

The next moment, the illusion shattered entirely.

The fairy cottages on the branches vanished. The flowers, the trees, every spirit that had appeared in the illusion—all dissolved.

Tender leaves faded; smooth bark turned withered.

Only the towering tree remained, its sparse yellow leaves clinging to lifeless branches.

This had always been a dream—Luo Yue’s dream.

A homeland it yearned for, filled with the people it longed to see.

Now, all was settled.

Chu Xingchen glanced at Xie Lingyu, nodding slightly upon confirming she was unharmed.

Xie Lingyu flew over, her eyes falling on Luo Yue as it faded.

After a pause, she spoke:

"We know little of what happened back then. Though we’re enemies, I’ll ask the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect about their promise to you."

Luo Yue let out a mocking laugh, its voice eerily calm.

"And what if you ask? What if they refuse?"

"In the end, the victors write history. The weak have no right to question…"

Chu Xingchen cut in:

"Do you truly believe that?"

Luo Yue wanted to answer but found itself speechless.

Everyone knew plant spirits were gentle by nature, averse to conflict.

Yet that hadn’t spared them from persecution.

One-sided peace was no peace at all.

Luo Yue whispered weakly, "What else can be done?"

A world without a homeland, adrift for a thousand years—

For spirits, even a millennium was far too long.

A faint breeze stirred, and the tree’s yellow leaves began to fall.

The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect had always held the upper hand—not Luo Yue.

From the start, it never stood a chance.

It had no bargaining power, having poured nearly everything into its physical form.

Since birth, it had been at the mercy of others.

Luo Yue had no leverage, so all it could do was fight one last time.

Yet, as in the beginning, it lost again.

Luo Yue had gambled on the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect keeping its word, its hope rooted in that first "master."

She had been so kind, so kind that Luo Yue often wondered…

Were there still good people?

It lost the bet. The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect never came.

And no good humans remained.

Then let it all burn.

Luo Yue opened its eyes, a pure white light glowing faintly within them—

Only to freeze the next moment.

Xie Lingyu pressed a white jade stone against Luo Yue’s chest.

"What else can be done?" she answered firmly. "You’ll know after you try!"

Hah…

Luo Yue chuckled softly.

It had lost the gamble again.

Maybe there were still good people.

If it wasn’t being deceived.