Chapter 137: Excuse Me, Whom Should I Give It To?

"Yes, that's a good girl!"

I reached out and patted her bun, then walked into the room in a few strides. I turned to shut the door firmly behind me, approached the bedside, and crouched down, calling her name softly.

Watching her slowly open her eyes, she turned her head toward me.

"You've come."

Her voice was raspy, grating against the eardrums. I couldn't help but wonder how that little Chubby one had been taking care of her; after all this time, he had only stood by the door playing, never once coming in to bring Senior Sister Liuying a cup of water to soothe her throat.

I rose and walked to the table, filled a cup of tea, and returned to the bed. "Senior Sister, have some water first. Once you've finished, we can have a proper talk."

Seeing her give a slow nod, I lifted her slightly, held the rim of the cup to her lips, and helped her sip it bit by bit. Once she was done, I gently helped her lie back down.

"You haven't been here for half a day. I thought you wouldn't come back."

She smiled faintly and whispered, "I have lived here alone for over three thousand years. The nights in this Luofu Palace are so desolate, so desolate that they truly frighten me. I keep thinking of three thousand years ago, when my master and many of my fellow disciples were here. Back then, we lived together in this palace. During the day, we studied immortal arts together, and at night, we would drink by the lotus pond, chasing and playing. I was the master's only female disciple, so he was exceptionally kind to me, always doting on me like a child. He took me wherever he went; even when he went to rendezvous with mortal women, I would be there, watching quietly from the side."

Having said this, she paused for a moment before adding, "After Master left, many of my fellow disciples departed Lingyun Mountain one after another. Now, I am the only one left. The past is still vivid in my mind, and so many people have left without a word. So, I thought you would be like him—that once you left, you would never return."

"I won't. I promise I won't." I smiled at her as she lay there, unable to suppress the joy in my heart as I said, "Senior Sister Liuying, Xiaoyu came here because I have a piece of good news for you."

"Good news?" She was slightly startled at my words, but it lasted only a moment before a desolate smile appeared on her face. "I don't know what could possibly count as good news for me at this point."

With that, another crystal-clear tear slid from the corner of her eye.

I reached out and gripped her thin wrist, which was little more than bone, and said with excitement, "I've found a way to help you bring back our Second Uncle-Master."

"My master?"

Fengshi Liuying's eyes widened abruptly. She grabbed my wrist in return, staring intently at me. "Xiaoyu, you... are you saying you can help me bring Master back?"

"Yes!" I smiled, nodding with certainty. "However, I need you to give me a personal item of yours, or perhaps something precious that Second Uncle-Master once left with you. That way, it will be easier to make him believe what I say."

"I see." She didn't ask further, but gave a slow nod. She reached under her pillow, pulled out a silk handkerchief, and handed it to me. "Though this handkerchief looks as good as new, it has actually been with me for over three thousand years. He handed it to me to wipe my face when we first met in the mortal realm. I didn't return it to him later; I just kept it secretly while he wasn't paying attention. I never imagined that this handkerchief would stay with me for three millennia. I don't even know if he remembers where it came from after all this time."

At first, I thought this handkerchief might be quite useful, but after hearing her hopeless, desolate words, the tiny glimmer of hope that had just sparked in my heart was instantly extinguished.

I did not know what Putai's true identity was, but I knew in my heart that he was not of the Demon Clan. Asking him to infiltrate the Demon Realm to help me find Xiaoyao was truly pushing him too far.

"Does Senior Sister have any other personal items? Something that would make Second Uncle-Master recognize it as yours?" I asked again, turning to scan the room carefully, hoping to find something. But I found the furnishings in the room to be excessively simple—nothing like my own Qingshui Tower.

"There is one more thing." She raised her head with difficulty and pointed to a sword on the vanity.

"You mean Second Uncle-Master would recognize this sword? You want me to take this sword to show him?" I asked, eyes wide with disbelief.

The sword was far too long! It would be difficult to carry down the mountain. And it was far too old! I would be embarrassed to hand it to Putai.