Dual Cultivation God Returns Chapter 1058: The game of lights and shadows

A leisurely, unhurried pace carried them along a winding, upward mountain trail. To their sides, the moonlit panorama of mountains and valleys unfolded, punctuated by tenacious flowering trees that took root in the desolate rocky terrain. Small clusters of verdant growth and wildflowers swayed gently in the breeze along the edges of the path.

In the quietude of this reflective moment, Wu Long simply savored the pleasant stroll beside the beautiful Hong Yue, refraining from disturbing her thoughts despite a growing curiosity about the reason for her sudden summons.

After a while, Hong Yue noticed the absence of Butler Bang’s and Wu Long’s voices. Turning, she saw they were walking alone. "Ah... I apologize, Daoist Wu..."

"Not at all, I found our walk quite enjoyable. I kept you waiting though you sought me out, so I was more than willing to reciprocate. Or rather, why wouldn't I relish a tranquil evening promenade with such a captivating companion? I am grateful you bestowed your time upon me instead," he stated genuinely, a smile gracing his lips that left her momentarily speechless. This reaction only improved his mood further, as he noticed her response to the subtly flirtatious remarks he had begun incorporating into their interactions. He then continued, his tone shifting to a more neutral cadence, "So, what prompted you to seek me out?"

"I..." she began, suddenly realizing the difficulty in articulating her query. Her mind, recently flooded with new perspectives, had thoroughly muddled the already precarious organization of her thoughts and reasoning. She averted her gaze, looking downwards with a contemplative expression, a faint furrow appearing between her brows. "I had intended to seek your counsel, but... I believe my thoughts are not yet sufficiently coherent. If it's not too bothersome, I would prefer to ask at a later time."

"Of course," Wu Long agreed with a gentle nod. "Please, feel free to initiate our conversation whenever you feel ready."

"Thank you, Daoist Wu," she replied with a sincere nod.

—

That night, sleep eluded Hong Yue as she turned restlessly in her bed.

’Theft Dao, huh...’ she thought, rolling onto her back. Her crimson eyes stared at the ceiling of the spacious, comfortable room, a dwelling she had grown accustomed to, though it initially felt quite alien.

Through the wide-open window, the small pond in the inner courtyard, shared with Hong Ye’s chamber, was visible. It was gently rippled by the night breeze and the adjacent garden waterfall. Glimmers of moonlight and dappled shadows danced across the ceiling, reflecting from the pond’s surface, drawing her gaze.

The memory of a conversation between Wu Long and herself surfaced – a discussion held over a year ago in the woods of the Soft Meadow Continent while they were searching for a Spiritual Land.

She now understood that it was Wu Long’s method of opening her eyes to the reality of her prior existence. However, the specific approach he took and the words he used stirred her thoughts anew, especially in light of what she had heard that very evening.

"If one could attain their desired outcome without resorting to harm or bloodshed..." she murmured aloud, her eyes fixed on the shifting shadows on the ceiling. "...I mean... it's essentially the same skillset, just without the killing... isn't it?"

For the first time, she contemplated the Bahshi Assassination Techniques, which she had practiced throughout her life, from an entirely different vantage point.

Even in its most rudimentary form, the Bahshi Ghost Step was an extraordinary technique for those engaged in stealth and subterfuge.

The advanced manifestations, which Wu Long had demonstrated, enabled one to pass through solid objects as if a phantom, provided there was even the slightest aperture or opening through which air, and consequently Spiritual Qi, could freely flow. This made it even more remarkable.

And as she had learned from him, there existed even more sophisticated techniques capable of penetrating completely sealed, airtight spaces, or even specialized formations and barriers.

Previously, she had only considered these abilities to be exclusively useful for assassination. This was largely because the notion of applying them in any other context had never occurred to her.

However, having seen them anew, she found herself unable to cease contemplating them, recognizing the striking parallels between the roles of an assassin and a thief.

’Then again... what about Ye’er?’ Hong Yue mused, a familiar pang of guilt resurfacing. She turned her gaze towards the window that overlooked the inner courtyard, a path that would lead her to her younger sister’s chambers.

Would it be considered selfish to pursue a different, less violent path for herself, while leaving her younger twin sister to navigate the very world they had only just escaped, all on her own?

After all, someone would need to assume leadership of the Bahshi Assassins. Unquestionably, Wu Long possessed the capability to do so himself or to designate an outsider for the role.

Yet, she observed that he seemed to favor entrusting the highest authority to members of his Dao Family, or at least, that was the pattern she perceived from her external observations.

Unaware of the finer points, she failed to grasp that rather than Wu Long burdening his Dao Family members with duties, it was precisely the opposite, with his women proactively shouldering responsibilities to assist him.

Her conclusion, naturally, was that Wu Long intended to transfer the leadership of the Assassination Group to Hong Ye.

While Hong Ye appeared unfazed, she was perhaps the more tender and considerate of the two twins. However, having understood emotions and empathy from a young age, and driven by a fierce desire to safeguard her elder sister, she compelled herself to adopt a ruthless demeanor. This hardened exterior served as a coping mechanism, a way to navigate the grim and blood-soaked reality into which they were born.

Was it not a cruel fate to thrust her back into that world, when an alternative path existed?

She also recognized that Hong Ye possessed little affinity for organizational structures or the weight of responsibility. This was a primary reason Hong Yue felt certain that Hong Ye would remain deeply involved in orchestrating the Bahshi Assassins, even if she stayed by Wu Long's side.

'Perhaps the roles should be reversed,' she mused. 'Maybe Hong Ye is the one suited for that less perilous journey. If one of us must tread the path of contract assassinations once more, it ought to be Hong Yue.'

'Ye'er has protected me all this time; now it's my turn to shield her,' a burgeoning resolve began to form in the beauty's eyes as she observed the creeping shadows on the ceiling slowly eclipse the lingering light, the moon being veiled by passing clouds.

—

The following morning, as the twins sat near their training grounds, Hong Ye, midway through a peach she had brought for breakfast, observed her elder sister gazing at her with an extended, focused stare.

"W-what? You want a bite?" Hong Ye inquired, her mouth partially full, extending the peach—now bearing a significant bite mark—towards her sister. "I only have this one with me, but you can have it if you like."

"Ye'er, what are your thoughts on stealing?" Hong Yue suddenly inquired.

"Stealing?" Hong Ye blinked, her eyes widening slightly. "It's just a peach, Big Sis, it's not such a grave matter... I can easily get another one..."

"No... I mean, in a general sense. Aren't our techniques quite adept for such activities?"

"Hehehe, you've only just figured that out?" Hong Ye leaned back onto the sun-warmed wooden floor, chuckling as she held the peach away to keep it clean.

"Ye'er, be careful; you're still eating that peach!" Hong Yue voiced her concern, watching as Hong Ye continued to chew while laughing and reclining.

However, Hong Ye paid her warning little mind, still amused by their topic of conversation. "Besides, why are you asking me? This is precisely what I've been telling you countless times!"

"You have?" Hong Yue's eyes widened, though a flicker of worry about her sister's precarious posture persisted as Hong Ye took another substantial bite of the peach.

"Hahaha! Of course, I have! Don't you recall? I used to get into trouble for pilfering extra supplies for our missions when we were youngsters, hehehe. The Elders were furious but utterly powerless, ahahaha!" Hong Ye seemed to relish the memory of the Elders' exasperated expressions back then. "Although, you did insist we shouldn't employ our techniques that way, arguing it constituted cheating to bypass mission trials that were meant to test our skills, especially when using high-grade talismans as if they were common."

"Ah," Hong Yue uttered, a look of dawning recollection and sudden clarity spreading across her face, which only elicited further laughter from Hong Ye.

But then, Hong Ye abruptly stilled, her eyes widening as she witnessed Hong Yue break into a broad smile. It was a gentle expression, containing a palpable sense of relief and joy, imbued with nostalgia, yet seemingly confirming something significant.

"Khuk-!" Hong Ye's eyes bulged for an entirely different reason as a piece of peach lodged itself incorrectly in her throat, triggering a coughing fit.

"Ye'er!!! See? This is precisely why I warned you not to laugh while lying down and eating!" Hong Yue immediately moved to assist her twin, patting her firmly on the upper back, her head shaking with a chiding yet concerned look.

"Khe-khum~... whose fault... khe-khe~... do you think this is?"

"Gravity, and also human physiology," Hong Yue replied with utmost seriousness, leaving her younger sister momentarily speechless and without a ready retort.