Journey to the End of the Night Chapter 4 - 4 4 Sea Coffin Procession

4: Chapter 4: Sea Coffin Procession 4: Chapter 4: Sea Coffin Procession The sensation of undulating seemed as if it were drifting on the surface of the water.

A dismal moonlight seeped through the cracks of the ancient coffin, scattering sporadically inside and casting a light on his features, which brought a chill with it.

Baili An’s heart skipped as he quickly diverted his gaze and looked up, only to find that at some point, the heavy coffin lid had inexplicably opened a palm-width gap.

Li Jiujiu also noticed the gentle spill of moonlight and abruptly realized it, hastily picking up the Daoist robe thrown on the ground and donning it haphazardly.

Baili An forcefully pushed open the heavy lid and with a strong push, completely opened the lid covering them.

Darkness scattered, the cold moonlight clearly illuminating every corner of the coffin, and at this moment, they found themselves in the midst of a vast sea.

The crescent moon hung high in the sky, but it was of a bloody red color, its calm and sluggish waves reflecting a layer of a blood-like sheen.

He resembled a solitary sail in the sea, silently drifting on this endless surface.

Lowering his head to look at the pale and unfamiliar face reflected on the water’s surface, Baili An absentmindedly touched his own face, feeling as if he were in another lifetime.

Is this really what he looked like?

By then, Li Jiujiu had already properly dressed in her Daoist robe, though she arose somewhat awkwardly.

With one hand, she picked up her fellow disciple’s corpse and was about to throw it into the sea.

Baili An saw this and quickly voiced his objection, “What are you doing?

Isn’t he your fellow disciple?

Why not bury him properly instead?”

Li Jiujiu glared at him harshly, making Baili An feel guilty, and he instinctively shrunk his neck.

Naturally, she would not explain to him that she had completely given up on her fellow disciple when she sensed the real murderous intent from him moments ago.

Feeling disheartened, there was no longer any reason to hang on, especially since her fellow disciple’s death was of his own doing.

However, her fellow disciple had died because of the corpse demon, and if the members of her sect were to find any clues on his corpse, it might bring misfortune upon him.

With the body gone, there would be no worry about the sect members accidentally discovering his corpse.

She was protecting him intentionally, but she could never express this thought.

Yet when her gaze lingered on Baili An, the thought of disposing of the body was temporarily shelved.

Her expression serious, she said, “You take off his clothes and wear them, then throw him into the sea.”

Baili An uttered an “Ah?” in confusion.

“What are you ‘ah’-ing about!

Look at what you’re wearing; it’s ancient funeral attire from hundreds of years ago.

If you go out in that, any cultivation disciple with a bit of insight can easily discern your identity,” Li Jiujiu turned her head, unable to keep looking at him.

Baili An felt a warmth in his heart, realizing she was worried about him.

The man’s corpse, drained of all essence blood, was nothing more than a skin over a skeleton.

Dropped into the sea, it merely bubbled a bit before cleanly sinking into the depths.

Through the thick water, Baili An could still make out several unusually stout scale-armored odd fish tearing at the corpse’s skin.

Had he not been overly greedy, he might not have ended up in such a plight.

Upon hearing the splash of a heavy object hitting the water, Li Jiujiu turned around, and although she instinctively did not want to look at the young corpse demon, her gaze involuntarily drifted his way.

Because he dressed in her Lihe Sect’s blue and white Daoist robe looked genuinely fetching.

Already handsome and gentle by nature, shedding those funereal clothes made him appear even more agreeable to the eye.

Baili An seemed to notice her gaze and gave her a slight smile.

Li Jiujiu’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly lowered her gaze to her toes.

Baili An said, “Excuse me, miss, it seems a bit impolite of me, as I still don’t know your name.

Would you kindly enlighten me?”

Color rose on Li Jiujiu’s face.

“My name is Li Jiujiu…”

“Li Jiujiu… Jiujiu… Hmm, nice name,” Baili An savored her name and found it quite picturesque.

After he spoke, he saw her complexion grow even rosier, feeling as though he might have teased her somewhat.

Baili An, feeling embarrassed, scratched his head.

Li Jiujiu, seeing him so flustered, chuckled lightheartedly, her laugh as beautiful as flowers bathed in the sinister crimson moonlight, easily disarming any focused composure.

Yet somehow, a trace of deep sorrow tinged her brief smile.

She slowly crouched down in the Purple Gold Coffin, no longer carrying a cold gaze but softly calling his name.

“Baili An.”

“Hmm?” Baili An responded with a soft smile.

For reasons unknown, hearing that intimate yet distant call strangely made a fleeting pulse flutter within his still heart.

Meeting her gentle gaze, Li Jiujiu felt an odd impulse and nearly blurted out, “Why don’t you come back with me to the Lihe Sect?”

Baili An appeared visibly taken aback. “Lihe Sect? Isn’t that a cultivation Sect? Can I… go with you?”

Perhaps not…

Li Jiujiu knew it was unlikely, but then again, her father was the Sect Master, and didn't he hold the ultimate authority in sect matters?

Furthermore, her father pampered her immensely on most days.

If she were to pester him enough, it wasn't entirely impossible.

However, such a move might invite rampant speculation from the other disciples.

After all, she had left without her fellow disciples this time and returned with a young man…

The more she pondered it, the more unsettling it became, yet having spoken, she was unwilling to retract her words.

Gazing at the lanky yet upright young man with large eyes, he seemed outwardly ordinary if one overlooked his pallid complexion.

Blinking, she inquired, “Can you retract those tusks of yours?”

Baili An was momentarily surprised, then grasping her meaning, he shut his eyes and attempted to retract them.

After a moment, he opened his eyes and shook his head, signaling his inability.

Li Jiujiu observed him for a considerable time and concluded that the corpse demon’s tusks were not overly prominent and might not appear conspicuous unless scrutinized closely.

“It’s adequate; your skin is merely too pale, but with a touch of my rouge, we can easily conceal that.”

Hearing her meticulous arrangements, Baili An felt a mixture of amusement and distress—where would a man typically wear makeup?

Still, his heart was warmed by her intentions; she was indeed not heartless.

Despite her willingness, he could not selfishly impede her.

Baili An gazed intently at her for a spell, imprinting her delicate features in his memory, then gently shook his head.

Li Jiujiu’s expression faltered, feigning ignorance of his meaning, and continued, “You dislike rouge?”

Baili An pursed his lips and bowed his head. “I apologize, I cannot return to the Lihe Sect with you.”

Li Jiujiu could clearly perceive the young man’s thoughts and sighed softly. “Very well, if you are unwilling, I shall not compel you.

So, what path will you take in the future? Continue lying in a coffin as a corpse?”

Baili An shook his head; he had resolved to depart from this coffin.

Even though stepping into the mortal world meant embracing a future fraught with challenges,

he yearned to become strong, to cultivate, even as a corpse demon.

He held the belief that with sufficient power, he could ultimately break free from the limitations of this current form.

In this expansive world, anything was conceivable.

High above the Nine Heavens, colossal dragons traversed the firmament, and Immortals bathed in the dawn glow of the Star River; should he attain immortality, the righteous path would hold no fear for him.

Contemplating the boundless, uncharted future, and noticing the effort Li Jiujiu exerted to mask her disappointment from her beautiful countenance, a sense of warmth suffused Baili An’s heart.

“If it is possible, I wish to attempt a new life, no longer seeking eternal repose.”

Li Jiujiu’s nose tingled, her eyes brimming with moisture, and she stared blankly at the young man before her, her mind in disarray, momentarily at a loss for words.

Baili An offered a gentle smile.

The once intimidating tusks, which had initially appeared fierce, now seemed rather endearing under the young man’s innocent grin, almost resembling the cute teeth of a tiger cub.

Perhaps influenced by his smile, Li Jiujiu also presented a faint grin.

“Alright…”

The ocean stretched endlessly, appearing boundless, and for an ordinary individual lost within its vastness, despair might loom, anticipating an agonizing demise.

Fortunately, Li Jiujiu was a cultivator, and her cultivation level was quite advanced.

Despite her youth, she had already reached a significant stage of cultivation, undoubtedly attributable to her status as the cherished princess of the Lihe Sect.

She frequently consumed Immortal Elixirs and Spiritual Medicines that aided cultivation. Recently, she had broken through another realm, thanks to a transference ceremony performed by the elders. Coupled with the sword Qiushui gifted by her father, she possessed the ability of Sword Flight, allowing her to easily depart from this oceanic expanse.

As they prepared to part ways, Baili An unexpectedly inquired, “Are you not taking any of these items with you?”

He gestured towards the burial artifacts strewn across the ground—the Shadow Sword, Night Light Cup, mountain crystals, Glazed Umbrella, Mountain River Fan, Demon Suppression Tower, and so forth.

“These are your burial possessions; why would I require them?”

“But, well, I have no use for them, and seeing how happy your fellow disciple was when he saw these things, they must be of great use to you, right?

Why not take them, leaving them here would be a pity.”

Li Jiujiu knew he was indirectly trying to gift her these items.

She squinted at him, staring intensely till he guiltily lowered his head.

“You’re not trying to compensate me by giving these items to me, are you?”

Suddenly voicing such a question made Baili An’s pale cheeks quickly flush with a light blush.

With his pallid skin tone, that blush seemed even more apparent as he stammered, “I…

I…

I just wanted to give you the best things.”

Although compensating her was part of the reason.

Li Jiujiu seeing his embarrassed demeanor, chuckled out loud.

“Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore.

I’ll take these items then.

After all, I did suffer a considerable loss at your hands, taking a bit from you isn’t too unreasonable, right?”

Baili An nodded like a pecking chicken, “Not unreasonable, not unreasonable.”

Relieved that she would accept his items, he quickly crouched down to gather the myriad of treasures littering the ground, stuffing them into the mountain crystal.

“Huh?

There’s another mountain crystal?”

Li Jiujiu exclaimed softly; she hadn’t noticed before that while Baili An picked up the treasures, another mountain crystal was hidden beneath the stacked treasures.

Baili An glanced down and didn’t think much of it.

Knowing it was a valuable object, he started stuffing it into the other mountain crystal.

“Oh, they must be a pair.” He pushed hard, but no matter how he tried, he couldn’t fit it in.