Chapter Forty-Three: Alliance

"You appear to have sustained serious injuries. Take some time to recover. Though the surroundings of Blue Moon Lake are indeed breathtaking, danger lurks everywhere. If your body and mind are not in their best condition, accidents are bound to happen," Mu Baiyun glanced at Ji Mo, noting her pallor, and offered a word of advice.

"Wei Qiu greets Senior Mu," Wei Qiu finally came to his senses. Ji Mo had retreated, the Giant Bear pursued, Mu Baiyun appeared, and the bear fled—all in the blink of an eye. Only when Ji Mo closed her eyes to heal did Wei Qiu realize what had happened. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he glanced at Ji Mo, who was already meditating, then walked up to Mu Baiyun and bowed.

Mu Baiyun nodded indifferently and said nothing. Among the disciples who entered the sect alongside him, Ji Mo—two years his junior yet able to match him in combat—was the only one he truly regarded. Of course, the reason Ji Mo could fight him to a draw was that he had no spiritual sword at the time, while Ji Mo fought barehanded. If he had used a weapon against his younger junior sister, Mu Baiyun would have considered himself shameless.

Zhao Hu did not know Mu Baiyun, and since Ji Mo had not introduced him, he did not bother to greet Mu Baiyun, simply seating himself beside Ji Mo as her guardian. Mu Baiyun observed Zhao Hu curiously, wondering what relationship this body cultivator, who had not yet reached the Mortal Transcendence stage, might have with Ji Mo.

Since Ji Mo began practicing the Heaven-Demon Body Refinement Technique, her recovery abilities had far surpassed her peers. Though her internal injuries were severe, after meditating for the time it takes one incense stick to burn, she opened her eyes and sprang up from the ground, once again full of energy.

What astonishing recovery! Mu Baiyun’s gaze flickered. Ji Mo stood, brushed the dirt and leaves from her clothing, and finally spoke, "Thank you, Senior Mu."

Had she not happened upon Mu Baiyun during her clash with the Giant Bear, even if she awakened the spirit of the White Jade Dragon Whip and slew the beast, she would have collapsed into unconsciousness, not to mention risking the exposure of her whip’s secret and the consequences that might follow. Her gratitude was genuine.

"No need for thanks. As fellow disciples, anyone would lend a hand in such circumstances. Junior Sister Ji, I’d like to discuss something with you. How about forming an alliance?" Mu Baiyun waved off her thanks. He had waited here for the length of an incense stick, clearly not simply to act as her guardian.

An alliance? Ji Mo was briefly surprised. Was someone as proud as Mu Baiyun truly willing to form an alliance? Mu Baiyun seemed to sense her thoughts and his handsome face flushed slightly. "Don’t look at me that way. In a place like Blue Moon Lake, even Foundation Establishment cultivators dare not claim they can leave unscathed, let alone me."

"I believe you. But with your abilities, unless you truly encounter trouble, you likely wouldn’t consider an alliance. Could you first tell me your reason? Only if I know, can I judge whether I am capable of assisting you and decide whether to ally with you. Isn’t that right?" Ji Mo smiled, her gaze intent.

"Junior Sister Ji, you never suffer even the slightest loss," Mu Baiyun said with a wry smile. Ji Mo smiled but said nothing.

"Very well, I’ll speak plainly. There’s nothing to hide. The task I accepted is to capture the Lightning Beast—you probably know, in our southern district, there’s only one Lightning Beast. The task has been posted for over twenty years, yet no one has completed it, which shows how hard it is to catch. Though I am confident in myself, I have little faith in succeeding."

"Moreover, the Lightning Beast has lived around Blue Moon Lake for years. Never mind how troublesome it is itself—the people who dare enter Blue Moon Lake are anything but ordinary. My strength alone is unlikely to succeed in capturing it, so I sincerely wish to join forces with you," Mu Baiyun explained simply, not hiding his motives.

"Senior Mu, you want to form an alliance so that, should we encounter the Lightning Beast and others try to compete with you, you’ll have someone to lend a hand. Isn’t that so?" Ji Mo raised her brows and asked.

"Exactly," Mu Baiyun replied.

"How do you know I won’t compete with you? The Lightning Beast’s offspring are incredibly valuable; others will covet them, and so will I," Ji Mo said.

"As long as you agree to an alliance, I’ll trust you," Mu Baiyun replied solemnly.

"Well, thank you for your trust, but I cannot agree. I too have taken on the task of capturing the Lightning Beast," Ji Mo said, her smile sincere yet her words a refusal.

"I see. With your abilities, it makes sense you’d accept this task. But that’s fine—the Lightning Beast task has existed for over twenty years without success. Even together, we may not have a chance. If luck favors us and we do encounter the creature, let’s rely on our own abilities. Whoever catches it, it belongs to them. How about that?" Mu Baiyun said, frowning briefly before relaxing with a smile.

Ji Mo pressed her lips together and said nothing, her gaze steady on Mu Baiyun’s face, searching for something. After a long moment, she sighed. "Very well, since you’ve said so much, if I refuse now, I’d seem petty. So let’s agree: we can work together against enemies, but when it comes to the Lightning Beast, each must rely on their own skill."

"Of course!" Mu Baiyun replied.

Ji Mo nodded. Wei Qiu and Zhao Hu, who followed Ji Mo’s lead, had no objections. The group quickly formed an alliance. Wei Qiu glanced at Ji Mo and then at Mu Baiyun, feeling a sense of unreality. He hadn’t expected that the two most talented disciples of the Moon-Watching Sect would so easily form an alliance.

Ji Mo and Mu Baiyun were not as sentimental as Wei Qiu imagined. After forming their alliance, they discussed briefly and headed towards the shores of Blue Moon Lake. The area around Blue Moon Lake was not large—excluding the perpetually mist-shrouded lake itself, there were just over two hundred square kilometers. Yet within this region, a cultivator's spiritual sense was blocked, preventing them from sweeping the area.

Thus, searching for a Lightning Beast the size of a small squirrel over two hundred square kilometers was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Neither Ji Mo nor Mu Baiyun wished to waste their time on a fruitless search. Rather than combing the area, they decided to let fate take its course. Having come to Blue Moon Lake, it was only natural to walk along its shore.