When feelings reach their peak
Summer has arrived in the mortal realm.
The moment Yan Dan landed in the mortal realm, she found herself in a remote border town. Asking the townspeople, she learned she was in Anping Town, while Yelan Mountain was still dozens of miles to the north. She had indeed neglected her studies for too long; her demonic arts were a complete mess, she couldn't even find her way to her own doorstep. Although Anping Town wasn't a bustling water town like those in Jiangnan, there were still a few passersby on the streets. Unable to use her magic in front of so many mortals, she had no choice but to walk out of the town. An hour in the Heavenly Court was equivalent to a month in the mortal realm; she wondered how Yelan Mountain was doing now. Just thinking about it made her want to fly back immediately.
As she turned the corner, a bowl of hot water splashed towards her from the side, nearly soaking her. Yan Dan glanced back and met the eyes of the woman cooking at the noodle stall. The woman was probably over thirty, yet her cheeks were still fair and her eyes were as clear and bright as glass. She looked at Yan Dan, a little embarrassed, and tapped the wooden bucket with her spoon: "Uncle Zhao, aren't you careful? What if you spilled it on that young lady?" She smiled at Yan Dan: "I'm sorry, it's almost noon. Let me treat you to a bowl of noodles. Our Dan Dan noodles are famous; everyone who's tried them raves about them."
Yan Dan looked at the other person and murmured, "Min Liu..."
"What...what did you call me?"
Yan Dan hurriedly said, "No, I mean, the noodles... the noodles are very soft... cough, they're delicious..."
She still remembered those days in the opera troupe, and she also remembered Min Liu, the girl who shouted that there was a monster when she first saw her. Monsters live a long time and can remember things from long ago, but mortals are different.
Min Liu chuckled and scooped the cooked noodles out of the pot: "Judging from your appearance, you must have run away from home, right? Noodles are better when they're chewy, not soft." She handed the bowl of noodles to Yan Dan: "It's best to eat them while they're hot. It's just that this place is too simple and there's no place for you to sit down. You're not used to eating standing up, are you?"
Yan Dan hurriedly replied, "No, I'm used to eating while squatting." Back in the opera troupe, when we were busy rehearsing and setting up stages, there was no time to sit at a table and eat slowly.
Min Liu smiled and said, "Look at what you're saying. A young lady should act like a young lady." She looked at Yan Dan for a while and couldn't help but say, "You look about seventeen or eighteen years old. You really look like one of my friends."
The dan dan noodles were both sour and spicy, and Yan Dan choked involuntarily upon hearing this, coughing repeatedly. Min Liu, oblivious to her embarrassed expression, was lost in thought: "It's been almost twenty years. I wonder how she's doing now..."
Yan Dan couldn't help but think to herself that she had always lived a life of great success, causing her no shortage of trouble and suffering, and lately she seemed to be getting worse. Lost in thought, she saw a spoon brimming with bright red chili sauce reach out, instantly piling up a mess in her noodle bowl. The uncle who had almost spilled water on her earlier chuckled, "It tastes better with more chili, right?"
Yan Dan nodded stiffly: "Yes, it's really delicious."
The uncle was very simple and honest, and immediately scooped another spoonful of chili peppers for her: "Now that it's getting hot, eating a bowl of noodles and working up a sweat is what feels good!"
Yan Dan made a firm decision, picked up a spicy noodle, and stuffed it into her mouth.
Min Liu was very happy and chatted with her while cooking noodles: "Little girl, where are you from?"
Yan Dan felt a little embarrassed when she heard the words "little girl". She coughed and said, "Nandu". She was most familiar with Nandu and had also learned the accent from Jiangnan. It would be easy to give herself away if she said she was from another place.
"Nandu?" Min Liu narrowed his eyes slightly, paused, and then said, "I visited Nandu when I was young, and it is indeed a good place. You ran away from home, didn't you? Was it because your parents wanted to marry you off?"
Most women in the mortal realm marry young, becoming mothers in their early twenties. Yan Dan felt awkward but could only give a soft "hmm."
“Finding a good husband is a big deal. There are many noble young men in your Southern Capital who are all good-looking, but in the end, they may not be good husbands.” Min Liu smiled. “Don’t laugh, I used to date a noble young man. He was talented, from a good family, and could also fight. But now when I think about it, I find it funny. What did I see in him? He knew things I didn’t. I just admired his good looks.”
Yan Dan turned her head to look at her and couldn't help but ask, "And then what happened? How did you come to understand all of this?"
"Later? When I reached a certain age, I naturally had to get married. I married... well, he's the one who came from over there. We're just ordinary people, and we're happy living our lives together. Why should I still be thinking about that person from before?" Min Liu put down her spoon, pulled the man who was putting down a load of flour over, and took out a handkerchief to wipe her husband's sweat.
As Yan Dan ate her noodles, she felt the spiciness rising in her eyes, which stung, so she quickly rubbed them.
This meal was a bit too much for her to handle. Just like the mutton offal soup that Yu Mo had cooked for her before, her eyes stung and her heart felt hot as if something was about to overflow.
After some delay on the road, it was already evening when we returned to Yelan Mountain. The setting sun on the horizon was brilliant, as if a pale red dye had soaked through the sky.
Yan Dan walked to the dried-up lakeside, took out the water-fixing bead from her sleeve, and placed it down. Soon, a clear spring gushed forth from the bottom of the lake, the water level gradually rose, and the evening breeze was no longer unbearably dry, but instead carried a damp mist. The setting sun on the horizon quickly dimmed, the sky darkened, and a light drizzle began to fall.
With the rain, Yelan Mountain will return to its original state.
Yan Dan was in a hurry to see Yu Mo, so she didn't even go back to her own residence and went straight to Yu Mo's place. As soon as she entered the mountain lord's residence, she smelled a strong smell of blood. Her heart skipped a beat, and just then she saw Bai Ling rushing towards her. She quickly grabbed her arm and asked, "Bailing, what happened?"
Bai Ling's face turned deathly pale, and she trembled as she gripped Yan Dan's hand: "No...it's terrible! After that day, many demon clan leaders said they would no longer submit to the mountain lord, and then...our Feather Clan also rebelled..."
Yan Dan's heart sank, and she softened her voice: "And then?"
"Later, the Lord of Purple Scale Mountain went out, but those bat demons came looking for Lord Yu Mo... They were here last night, right here..."
"And now? Where did Yu Mo go?"
The lark choked back tears: "The back...the back mountain..."
Yan Dan closed her eyes briefly and patted her back: "Don't worry, I'll go check on him right now. Yu Mo will be fine." She had barely turned around when Bai Ling grabbed her sleeve. "Bailing?"
"Don't go over there! The mountain lord is about to transform into a demon; he might accidentally kill you!"
Yan Dan pulled her sleeve back and forced a smile: "I'll be careful. Bai Ling, I'll be back with Yu Mo by tomorrow morning at the latest."
She turned around and followed the stench of blood toward the back of the mountain. Rain was falling, which diluted the scent, and the sky was gradually darkening.
The mountain path was rugged to begin with, making it difficult to find someone. She wondered how long it would take to find him, and her anxiety grew. Given Yu Mo's cultivation level, it was impossible for him to transform into a demon under normal circumstances. She had heard the clan leader say long ago that when demons lost their cultivation and could no longer maintain their human form, they would transform. Once transformed, their demonic nature would prevail, making them crave blood and even kill their own loved ones.
The rain poured down harder and harder, almost swishing across the mountain path, washing away the last trace of life.
Just as Yan Dan was at her wits' end, a flash of blue light appeared before her eyes, followed by a long, agonizing scream that pierced the sky. A chaotic mass of black shadow pounced on her, twitched a few times, and then lay still.
She quickly reached out and made a gesture, and a burst of white light rose up. The body of the person beside her gradually transformed into a bat. Yan Dan wiped the rain off her face, took two steps forward, and then stopped.
She saw two figures standing not far away. One of them wielded a sword, and almost in the blink of an eye, a chilling aura of green flashed across the ground. The other turned to flee, but was still caught in the sword's energy, letting out a few roars before collapsing forward. Yan Dan strode forward and called out, "Yu Mo?"
She had only taken two steps closer when she suddenly felt a chill in her throat; the icy blade was already pressed against her neck, applying slight pressure.
Yu Mo turned half his face away, his eyes turning bloodshot, and dark blue scales were constantly growing on that side of his face. Yan Dan gasped, standing still, feeling the sword pressed against her neck trembling slightly, unable to be pulled back, yet unable to be pushed forward even an inch.
Yan calmed herself down, raised her hand and placed it on the sword, slowly pushing it to the side: "Yu Mo..." She looked into his eyes and said softly, "Although you told me not to come back, I still think the food and accommodation here are good. Even if you kick me out, I'm going to stay here to the very end."
Just as she was about to take another step forward, Yu Mo suddenly shoved her on the shoulder and thrust his short sword forward, cleanly piercing the chest of a bat spirit that pounced on her. White smoke rose from the bat spirit's body, and it soon transformed into a giant bat, squealing in pain.
Yan Dan had managed to regain some of Yu Mo's self-control, but now, due to the sudden turn of events, all her efforts were in vain. If she were to be torn to pieces by Yu Mo in the end, she wouldn't hold a grudge, but she knew that Yu Mo would suffer greatly once he recovered. She didn't want him to suffer any longer. As she watched Yu Mo withdraw his short sword and turn to her, she rushed over, pulled his neck down, and, without hesitation, kissed his lips.
Yu Mo's lips were icy cold.
After a moment, Yan Dan heard the clear sound of a sword falling to the ground. Yu Mo slowly raised his hand and placed it on the back of her neck, deepening the kiss. The rain grew heavier, lashing against the surroundings. Yan Dan closed her eyes, clutching his clothes tightly, seemingly oblivious to the cold as the rain soaked her body.
—The first rain since the beginning of summer.
Yan Danzhen wanted to slap herself hard a few times.
She didn't know what she was thinking at the time. Without even blinking, she pounced on Yu Mo like a hungry tiger and forcibly kissed him. Could it be that her feelings for Yu Mo had actually become so filthy?
Yan Dan held her head in distress: How was she supposed to face Yu Mo after this? She was probably the only one who dared to kiss him first. Although demons weren't as particular as mortals, this was still incredibly inappropriate. She had never been outrageous, never had any restraint, and always acted impulsively. She was sure she'd never get married…
Yan Dan felt a pang of self-loathing for a while when she suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder. She quickly looked up and saw Yuan Dan standing in front of her with a smile, asking, "What are you talking to yourself about over there?"
Yan Dan stared at him, speechless, for a long time before finally stammering, "Huh, you're still here?"
Yuan Dan dusted off his robe, a smile in his eyes: "What, do you think I'm the kind of guy who would change course as soon as things go wrong?" He straightened up, looked into the distance, and said softly: "It suddenly rained yesterday, and Dan Shu was so happy he couldn't sleep... Although I am the clan leader, many things are not up to me alone. But now, it seems that Yelan Mountain has been saved."
Yan smiled faintly and hummed in agreement.
They stood and sat, gazing at the small figure with furry ears on the lakeside.
Dan Shu was working hard, turning the soil, digging holes, and planting his peach trees.
Bai Ling walked over, smiling, and asked, "What are you all talking about together?"
When Yan Dan saw it was her, she couldn't help but tease, "Bailing, your face was as pale as hell yesterday, and you were even trembling when you spoke..."
Bai Ling put on a stern face: "What, is that not allowed? Besides, you two really haven't asked the Mountain Lord a single question yet, have you? You have no conscience."
Yuan Dan sighed: "Why bother asking? You've been telling everyone this since early morning, and now everyone knows it. I'm sick of hearing it."
Before Bai Ling could speak, her face darkened, Dan Shu ran excitedly towards them: "Daddy, when do you think the peaches will grow? If I water them diligently, will it be okay the day after tomorrow?"
Yuan Dan covered her forehead and muttered to herself, "Who does this silly child take after... really..."
Yan Dan felt that although Dan Shu was a bit slow-witted, he lived the most carefree life. His heart could be filled with just a tree, a fruit, and a flower, which was not bad.
Four-leaf lotus
Yan Dan was very distressed.
For a full hour, she repeated the same action: "Walk to Yu Mo's door, put your hand on the doorknob, then let go, turn around, and continue pacing outside." What should have been a perfectly ordinary visit to Yu Mo now felt incredibly awkward. How was she supposed to explain what happened last night?
She paced back and forth a few more times, and then the door creaked open. Yu Mo leaned against the doorframe, looking at her calmly: "Are you coming in or not?"
Yan Dan gave an "oh" and followed him into the room, racking her brains for something to say to ease the tension. Just as she was thinking hard, she suddenly noticed the white cloth on the table and immediately had a flash of inspiration: "Yu Mo, are you alright?"
Yu Mo lifted his robe and turned to sit down on the chaise lounge: "It's nothing serious, just some very shallow scratches."
"Does it hurt a lot?"
Yu Mo frowned slightly, looked up at her, and said, "It's alright."
When Yan Dan saw him looking at her, she suddenly felt nervous and even a little flustered. She blurted out, "If you feel pain, you can call out." As soon as she said it, she immediately regretted it. No matter how she thought about it, it sounded stupid.
Yu Mo kept looking at her, but didn't say a word.
Yan Danzhen wanted to slap herself, so she could only stammer as she explained, "Uh... if it hurts a lot, you should yell out. It makes you feel better, right?"
Yu Mo's tone was quite calm: "Even if it really hurts, does saying it out loud make the pain go away?"
Yan Dan stammered for a moment before finally saying dryly, "If you don't like to cry out in pain, you can occasionally act cute... ah..." She was extremely frustrated. She must be under a spell, how could she keep spouting such stupid things?
"Acting cute?" Yu Mo repeated coolly.
Yan Dan felt like she wanted to die, and hurriedly said, "If you don't like acting cute... then you can throw a tantrum, haha."
“…Yan Dan, come here.” He moved the books beside the chaise lounge and patted the empty space.
Yan Dan gave a dry laugh: "I can hear you talking from here, so there's no need for me to go over there, right?"
Yu Mo smiled and asked, "What are you afraid of? Weren't you very brave yesterday?"
Yan Dan had no choice but to stiffly walk to the chaise lounge and sit down.
"What were you trying to say to me when you were pacing around outside and didn't dare come in? Were you trying to say that you were out of your mind last night and now you feel ashamed to face me?"
Yan Dan opened her mouth and stammered for a while, but still couldn't say a word.
Yu Mo lay half-reclined on the chaise lounge, casually picked up a book and opened it: "If you can't figure it out, just think about it here slowly until you do."
"How could you do this? You're not my master, yet you still resort to this trick."
"You just said it was okay to occasionally act spoiled and throw a tantrum, didn't you?"
Yan Dan gave a pitiful "oh" and could only sit there, lost in thought. She naturally liked being close to Yu Mo, but did she truly like him the way she used to like Ying Yuan? She had considered what would happen if she returned to Ying Yuan's side. If she did end up doing so, Yu Mo would surely act as if nothing had happened and smile as he saw her off.
But now she has decided to stay by Yu Mo's side, and she believes that this is the right thing to do and that she will never regret her decision in the future.
Yan Dan hesitated for a moment, then asked, "That strange eye... do you still want to give it to me now?"
Yu Mo put down his book, looked at her quietly for a moment, and said calmly, "Put it in the top drawer of that cabinet over there."
Yan Dan walked over, opened the drawer, and held the strange eye in her palm. Suddenly, she heard Yu Mo say, "Didn't you say you didn't want it before? Why do you remember it now?"
Holding the strange eye, Yan Dan suddenly realized: Why was she so nervous? After all, Yu Mo was the one who liked her first. Thinking this, she suddenly felt much bolder, walked back to the chaise lounge, and leaned down to look directly at him: "Can't I use the strange eye as... as a token?"
She actually wanted to say it was a token of love, but saying it that way would be beneath her dignity as a woman.
Yu Mo smiled, "Sure. But have you considered that tokens are meant to be exchanged? What are you planning to give me in return?"
Yan Dan put on her most domineering and unreasonable expression: "I have nothing to exchange with you, but I have one life to give—" Before she could finish speaking, Yu Mo suddenly sat up and pulled her onto him, smiling as he said, "That's fine too."
Yan Dan gave an awkward "hmm," rested her forehead on his shoulder, and clutched his sleeve, remaining silent. Then, Yu Mo whispered in her ear, "Yan Dan?"
"……What?"
"Are you really shy?" He reached out and stroked her hair, chuckling slightly. "Didn't you always say you were thick-skinned? Now you're actually feeling embarrassed?"
Yan Dan's voice was muffled: "Who says someone with thick skin can't be shy..."
Being shy is a good thing.
Yu Mo held Yan Dan, who couldn't lift her head, and couldn't help but smile: Actually, they still have a lot of time to let her think things through.
In the following days, Yan Dan remained idle as before. Yu Mo had many things to take care of and no time to spend with her. She would often peek out with her strange eye, thinking that if she drilled a hole and strung it together with a wind chime, it would look quite beautiful.
Since learning that Yu Mo cared deeply for her, Yan Dan was quite pleased with herself. She had always been self-aware; among the demons, there were countless people with beautiful appearances, and she was definitely not one of the outstanding types. Therefore, Yu Mo probably liked her for her inner qualities. It was clear that to be a demon, one needed to cultivate both inner and outer beauty.
The notebook Zhixi had given her was soaked by the rain and had been drying for several days, but it was still wrinkled and several pages were stuck together and couldn't be separated. Yan Dan had no choice but to take a paper cutter and peel it open page by page. What was written on the white paper in black and white was the incredibly painful experience of their clan, with countless examples of people fleeing to the heavens and the earth and being cut into pieces in the end.
As a result, Yan Dan broke out in a cold sweat in early summer.
She turned a few more pages, then suddenly sat up straight. This page recorded that in the ancient primordial era, the water god Gonggong struck Mount Buzhou, causing widespread flooding in the mortal realm. The goddess Nuwa refined seven-colored stones to mend the sky, and a member of her clan with the highest cultivation level used his own power to help Nuwa restore the mortal realm to its original state. This was an achievement.
Yan Dan put down the book, walked to the window and looked out. Although the area was no longer short of water and rain, it was still desolate, and the scenery of the past was nowhere to be found. The senior who had made great contributions had exhausted his cultivation and slept for a hundred years before awakening.
She leaned against the windowpane, the wind chimes tinkling. Suddenly, a seven-colored light descended from afar, billowing clouds and auspicious energy soaring into the sky, before vanishing just as quickly. Yan Dan, puzzled, hurried towards the direction of the light. Before she could see anyone, she heard Yu Mo's voice: "I wonder what important matter Your Majesty has brought?"
Emperor? Yan Dan thought for a moment, then slipped behind a large rock.
"I'm here to see Yan Dan." The voice belonged to Tang Zhou.
Yan Dan frowned, not understanding why he had come; they had already made their conversation perfectly clear.
"Do you want to take Yan Dan back to the Heavenly Court?" Yu Mo asked in a low voice. After a moment of contemplation, he said softly, "I won't let you take her away. Even if I'm being selfish, Yan Dan has finally started to care about me a little. How could I possibly let her go?"
"So, you want to stop it? I think it's better to let Yan Dan decide this herself."
“She likes to laugh, but that doesn’t mean she’s not sad. Even if she puts on a happy face, she’s still sad inside, so…” Yu Mo paused, then said softly, “I know Yan Dan still cares about you, and has always only cared about you. But if you don’t have the determination to give up everything you have now, how can I entrust her to you?”
"She won't be happy to stay in the Heavenly Court. If you really want to take her away, you should give up your current position as Emperor. Otherwise, how can I entrust her to anyone other than myself?" Yu Mo's voice sounded as if he were speaking with a smile. "What does Lord Yingyuan think?"
Yan Dan couldn't see the other person's expression as they spoke, but she imagined it was accompanied by a faint smile. She felt there was no need to listen to anything they said afterward.
She thought of Yu Mo's past jokes about "fish and lotus being a perfect match," how he would go along with her jokes about Lord Lianqing, and how he would take her on trips all over the country. How could she easily give up those little moments, those clumsy yet intimate interactions?
—Naturally, I can't give it up either.
Tang Zhou came and went that day, and Yu Mo didn't mention it to her. Yan Dan was happy to pretend she knew nothing and spent her days with Dan Shu and the little fox. Dan Shu was very attentive to his precious peach tree, turning over the soil every day and returning home covered in dirt.
"Sister Yan Dan, look at these leaves, they're drooping and not growing well at all," the little wolf demon said to her with a mournful face.
Yan Dan wasn't very skilled at tending to plants, so she went closer to take a look. The peach tree's leaves were sparse, and it was clear from the look that it wouldn't bear fruit. She bent down, dug up a clump of soil, and her heart sank: the soil in Yelan Mountain had always been fertile before the soil was extracted, but now what was sticking to her hand was dry and brittle.
Abundant rainfall alone is far from enough. If, like the Zhu Cui Mountain in the southwest, the soil becomes hollowed out due to excessive rainfall that it cannot absorb, then we will have to find another place to live. However, Yelan Mountain has already suffered severe damage, and Yu Mo's cultivation has been greatly diminished, leaving us with no other way out.
Yan Dan hesitated, and returned to her residence early before sunset. As soon as she stepped into the room, she saw Yu Mo leaning against the window, as if he had been waiting for her for a long time. Behind him was a pale red sunset, which, somehow, made his dark clothes appear warmer.
Yu Mo smiled and extended his hand to her: "Did you take Dan Shu out to play again?"
Yan Dan took his hand, lowered her head and pondered for a moment: "Yu Mo, where did Zi Lin go? Why hasn't he come back yet?"
"He went to see the chieftain of the Feather Clan; there were some matters to discuss."
Yan Dan recalled what Bai Ling had said that day: the Feather Clan no longer submitted to Yelan Mountain. In places she couldn't see, Yu Mo must also be very worried. Having lived here for so long, anyone would develop feelings, let alone the demons who valued belonging the most. She took Yu Mo's hand and hesitated for a long time: "Yu Mo, I have a way to make this place go back to how it was before."
Yu Mo's smile vanished: "You don't need to overthink it. We can just go somewhere else. I didn't really care anyway..."
“It happened long ago, in ancient times. When the water god Gonggong collided with Buzhou Mountain, our ancestors were able to help the goddess Nuwa restore the mortal world to its original state.” Yan Dan looked at him. “Do you think I should give it a try?”
Yu Mo withdrew his hand, his tone quite indifferent: "Why do you need to ask me? Can I stop you from making your decision?" He flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.
Yan Dan hurriedly tugged at his sleeve, saying pitifully, "Yu Mo, don't be angry..."
Yu Mo paused, then finally sighed, "I'm not angry." He was silent for a moment, then said, "Just tell me, what are the consequences of doing this? And what can I do?"
"It will probably exhaust my cultivation, and then I'll sleep for a hundred years... right?" Yan Dan met his gaze and immediately felt guilty. "If you had helped me set up the array, it definitely wouldn't have taken that long..."
Yu Mo looked at her quietly for a long time before saying, "I need to prepare for two days. Think about it carefully yourself."
A New Beginning (The End)
A bamboo broom swept across the ground, leaving shallow marks on the bluestone. The fallen petals, soaked by last night's downpour, were slightly whitish. Zhixi raised her hand, brushed her hair aside, and bent down to pick up the faded petals one by one. She heard someone walk past behind her, but without looking up, she said softly, "The Emperor's Throne."
The footsteps stopped.
Zhixi picked up a crabapple petal, its petals already faded to a light red, yet it still looked quite vibrant against her fair fingers: "Our clan has rarely had twins born of the same root. Do you know why? Because one of them will inevitably steal the other's dew, and in the end, only the one who managed to steal most of the dew will become human."
She stood up, as if talking to herself: "I once thought that some things were destined. Me and Yan Dan, Emperor Throne and you and Yan Dan, in the end there was only one result, it was just a matter of time." She picked up the crabapple petal, turned around and smiled: "I don't know if she would care that she was born with the same appearance as me, but I never cared. Beauty is just an illusion reflected in the eyes, beauty is just bones."
Tang Zhou coughed softly: "You've learned Zen principles very well."
Zhi Xi turned around gracefully, still smiling slightly: "Your Majesty, you didn't understand what I meant. I wasn't talking about Zen principles. But now she probably won't care about such things anymore. Soon, I will be the only one left in this world with this appearance. Your Majesty, you once told me that no worldly affection can last. And I have never been attached to such things. Actually, when you said that, you still cared about it deep down, didn't you?"
Tang Zhou paused for a moment: "You mean...?"
"Judging by the time, it should be about time. In a little while, Yelan Mountain should return to its original state. Our clan always has some special characteristics. Your Majesty, would you like to see Yan Dan one last time? If we don't see her this time, we may never see her again." A begonia petal slipped down, fluttering in an arc before returning to the ground.
Tang Zhou flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.
Zhixi slowly leaned down, picking up the fallen petals one by one, and murmured, "They say that love can blind one to everything, and it really is foolish. Believing everything, even the Emperor."
Please believe me, if I were the only one left in this world and you were no longer here, how lonely I would be.
Yan Dan was conflicted. Only after reading the book Zhi Xi left her did she realize what a foolish thing she had done in the past. She had always heard people say that the heart of the four-leaf lotus could cure all diseases. Even Linghua Yuanjun, the most skilled physician in the Heavenly Court, said so. Later, she checked several ancient books and they all said the same thing. Thinking about it, she felt that it was true.
However, no matter how skilled Linghua Yuanjun was in this art, she wasn't from their clan. What those books said wasn't entirely wrong, but her method was completely wrong. Most of what was recorded in the ancient books was what happened when their clan was slaughtered. The lotus heart could indeed cure stubborn diseases, but if a clansman was willing to use their cultivation to save people, there was no need to gouge out their heart.
The term "lotus heart" refers to the determination to sacrifice, the determination to sacrifice for the people and things she cares about.
Yan Dan turned her head to look at Yu Mo, who stood beside her with his brows furrowed and hands behind his back, silent. The time they spent together was so short, yet the days apart felt so long.
She turned around, smiled, and called out, "Yu Mo."
Yu Mo slowly turned his head, still frowning, watching her take a few steps closer and hug his waist. He lowered his head, resting his chin on her forehead, and chuckled softly, "What did you say? I can never help it..."
Yan Dan felt the arm holding her trembling slightly. She looked up at him and said, "Yu Mo, I owe you so much. I know I can never repay you in this lifetime. Let me repay you this time first, and then I'll repay the rest slowly, okay?"
Yu Mo slowly closed his eyes and sighed, "Alright... just not too long. One hundred years, I'll only wait one hundred years."
Yan Dan tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek generously: "It won't take a hundred years, I'll remember to wake up soon."
Yu Mo frowned, touched his cheek, and then softened his expression: "This is the second time. It won't work next time."
Yan Dan chuckled and took two steps back. "Then I'll be going..." She gazed at the calm, still lake before her. A hundred years later, she would awaken here. She lifted her skirt and slowly stepped into the water. The cool lake water reached her ankles, rippling in circles. Suddenly, she felt a weight on her shoulder. She instinctively turned her head and a passionate kiss landed on her lips.
Yan Dan's eyes widened in surprise. She could see Yu Mo's expression; his eyelashes trembled slightly, not entirely calm but not irrational either. She reached out and hugged him back, tilting her head back obediently.
Through countless cycles of beginnings and endings, we have gazed upon the waxing and waning of the moon through countless autumns.
A century has passed, and there is still a long, long life ahead, until the seas are no more and the mulberry fields are no more.
When Tang Zhou arrived, Yelan Mountain had returned to its former tranquility and peace. Large swathes of lotus flowers bloomed along the gently rippling lake, all pure white, swaying softly in the breeze.
He had never seen so many snow-white lotuses before. Such a vast expanse seemed to cover the entire lake. The petals shimmered with a faint golden hue in the afterglow of the setting sun, and the fragrance of lotuses wafted through the air, as if he had returned to the southernmost edge of the Heavenly Court. Back then, he could see nothing and could only stand by the window for an entire day.
He assumed that the view outside the window was of a lotus pond, and that he could always smell the faint fragrance of lotus blossoms.
Much later, he finally saw it and discovered that there was no lotus pond at all, nor a pond full of lotus flowers. The faint fragrance was emanating from the agarwood made by Yan Dan.
He recalled every single word Yan Dan had said to him.
I remember every single sentence so clearly.
He was too late.
Yu Mo stood by the lake with his hands behind his back. When he turned around and saw him, he smiled faintly and said, "You've come." His sleeves fluttered slightly in the wind. "You've come a little early, but it's good that you're early."
There are still 100 years left.
A hundred years from now, she will awaken here, and they will meet again.
Just like the fallen queen buried alone in the ancient stone tomb, just like the memories left behind after the death of the evil god Xuanxiang, just like the Luoyue clan who embraced each other in life and death, just like the underworld palace that drifts and floats in the arena of life and death, carrying the secrets of heaven and earth, just like the incense burning like dust in the desolate courtyard, everything is still going on.
As time goes by, there will always be grand encounters, friendships, partings, and reunions.
I still remember when we first met, the flowers were in full bloom, we laughed, we cried, and we parted.
We look forward to our reunion.
Ripples spread gently as a carved wooden incense burner is placed into the lake.
Ripples spread slowly across the water.
Tang Zhou put down the small knife in his hand and smiled slightly: "...I've lived too long. I've learned not to see many feelings and many things clearly. Yan Dan, do you know, I still remember the first time we met. You were just a little girl, so mischievous at such a young age. I thought then, was it innate or was it taught by some immortal lord? You didn't look like a fairy at all. Later...you really weren't a fairy after all..."
Naturally, no one responded to these words.
It's just talk.
Even if we were to spend a hundred years recounting their past, their loves, hates, and separations would still be endless. Even when it's the same event, each time it's told, it suddenly brings forth a multitude of details.
Tang Zhou picked up a piece of sandalwood and continued carving a new agarwood burner. Fine wood shavings slipped quietly through his fingers: "I know you like making agarwood. Back then, I couldn't see, so I could only carve an agarwood burner for you by feeling with my fingers. I never thought about why I wanted to make you happy, until you jumped off the Seventh Cycle of Reincarnation..."
After that day, he went to the ends of the earth.
Standing at the window where he used to spend entire days, he realized that his thoughts were often far removed from reality. Outside the window, there had never been a lotus pond, yet he could only recall how vividly she had described the scene of lotuses in bloom. In the quiet, empty courtyard, the only thing still carrying Yan Dan's aura was the sandalwood incense burner he had carved.
Inside the incense burner, the agarwood was reduced to dust, nothing more than cold, lifeless ashes.
The sandalwood in his hand gradually took on the shape of an incense burner: "I still remember all seven of my reincarnations, but I never met you again. Fortunately, in my last life, I found Di Zhi and I found you."
"The most ridiculous thing in this world is to search for something with all your heart, only to find that what you were looking for was already right beside you. When I was the Heavenly Emperor Qingli, I was thinking of you, and even after I became a mortal, I still think of you."
He exhausted his mind in pursuit of something, but in the end, he drifted further and further away from it.
"I'm no longer the Emperor of Heaven, but a local deity here. I spent a thousand years in Heaven, and only now do I realize that being an Emperor is not as comfortable as being a mere local deity. But how did these rigid Heavenly rules produce someone like you?" Tang Zhou carefully carved lotus flowers and leaves, his fingers slipping and nearly cutting himself. "Originally, I wanted to carve an incense burner for you every day. But I've spent too long in the mortal realm, and I've lost the delicate skills I used to have. At first, it took me three months to make something decent, but fortunately, I have a full hundred years to learn slowly."
"Yan Dan." When do you plan to wake up? In the blink of an eye, another hundred years have passed so quickly.
Why is it that the years we've known each other are shorter than the years we've been apart?
But this time, it's my turn to wait for you.
"Yan Dan".
The newly carved agarwood incense burner was gently placed into the lake, where the water was tinged with gold by the setting sun.
"Yan Dan, I've thought it over. I won't ask you anything anymore. Whether we can go back to the way things were before or not doesn't matter. As long as this is it... as long as I can watch over you..."
If only I could see you again. I'd almost forgotten what you looked like.
Tang Zhou straightened up, brushed the sawdust off his sleeves, and looked at the sunset on the horizon, which resembled a tapestry of brocade. Another day had passed. He turned his head and saw Yu Mo strolling over, patting him on the shoulder with a smile: "Brother Tang, look who's here?"
As the sun sets, a figure in dark blue stands beneath a peach tree, elegant and graceful, exuding a captivating charm.
Liu Weiyang smiled slightly: "I was lucky this time; I actually managed to get out of the Underworld."
Tang Zhou also laughed: "It must have been very dangerous in the middle of this..."
They are all like that. Even after so much has happened and they've gone through so many twists and turns, they still manage to meet again.
Yu Mo gazed at the lotus buds swaying gracefully in the breeze on the lake, and a bright smile gradually appeared in his eyes. In an instant, the green mountains and grass behind him all lost their color.
"I'm afraid Brother Liu isn't the only one who's come back."
This time, we've finally waited for it.
Qixi Festival (1)
Zilin and Linlang had a fight.
Yan Dan, biting her chopsticks, watched with relish the two people opposite her, their faces turned away, ignoring each other. She had said it before: Zi Lin's temper was as foul as a latrine and as hard as a rock; even a beauty like Lin Lang would eventually find him unbearable. As she stared expectantly, suddenly her head felt heavy, and she was almost shoved into the plate in front of her.
Yan Dan glared angrily, only to see Yu Mo press down on his sleeve, lean over, take a plate of celery, place it in front of her, and say in a flat tone, "Eat."
Yan Dan was furious. Since her recovery, Yu Mo had remained indifferent to her, and had even become more ruthless than before: "I don't want to eat celery!"
Yu Mo turned his head and glanced at her, saying indifferently, "I didn't quite hear what you said just now."
"I said...I said I really like eating celery..."
"Oh, then eat more."
Yan Dan pitifully picked at the celery on her plate, oblivious to the smile playing on Yu Mo's lips. She felt her future was destined to be indescribably miserable, and even the bright sunshine outside seemed like a gloomy cloud to her.
Bang--
Linlang suddenly pushed aside the low table in front of her, causing the plate on the corner to tremble and crash to the ground. She abruptly stood up, turning to Zilin with a murderous aura.
Yan Dan immediately raised her head. Although she couldn't resist Yu Mo, Lin Lang could still bully Zi Lin. Thinking this way, she felt a little more at ease. Yu Mo raised his elbow and leaned it against the edge of the table: "Mind your own business. This has nothing to do with you."
Linlang stood tall and proud, pointing at Zilin's nose and shouting, "Zilin, I'm carrying your child!"
"...Pfft!" Yan Dan spat out her drink.
A hush fell over the surroundings. Bai Ling stared wide-eyed, not even noticing that the chopsticks in her hand had fallen to the ground. The little fox tumbled onto the table with a thud and couldn't get up for a long time. Yuan Dan's eyes were vacant, completely devoid of his usual radiance.
Yu Mo took the towel, turned Yan Dan's face towards him, and carefully wiped it. Yan Dan felt his fingers were slightly cool, and the wiping pressure was just right. Yu Mo put down the towel, a smile playing on his lips: "I told you long ago, mind your own business."
Yan Dan was surprised: "Huh, you don't seem surprised at all?"
Yu Mo hummed in agreement and handed over the bowl: "The soup over there."
Yan Dan carefully placed the soup in front of Yu Mo, who was surprised to find that the two opposite him had already made up. Zi Lin beamed, "When did this happen? I had no idea." Lin Lang raised her hand and slapped him several times before finally scolding, "I only found out the day before yesterday..."
Zi Lin was very happy and said he would invite all the demons in Yelan Mountain to a full moon celebration.
Yan Dan couldn't help but think to herself, "How long has she been pregnant? The full moon celebration should at least wait until the baby is born." However, Zi Lin, the silly father, was incredibly doting on Lin Lang, and he seemed much more pleasing to the eye than usual.
Yu Mo frowned as he glanced at them, then turned back to look at Yan Dan without saying a word.
Yan Dan felt a chill run down her spine and stammered, "Yu Mo... why are you looking at me like that..."
Yu Mo said calmly, "Zi Lin has no bones left now, won't Lin Lang climb all over him in the future?" Similarly, if this were to happen to him, he would also need to think about it carefully.
Yan Dan said dryly, "But...but Zi Lin doesn't have bones, he has a tortoise shell..."
So, after recovering, Yan Dan had a major worry: for the future, she needed to assert herself and look down on Yu Mo with disdain. He was the one who cared so much about her, so why was she the one who was always being bullied?
Regarding this matter, there is someone ready to point out a clear path for her.
"Me and Zilin? Hmm, I was the one who seduced him, what?" Linlang put down her fan and, seeing Yan Dan's stiff expression, immediately explained, "We are different races, so our customs are different. Our fox clan cultivates in this way; the more enlightened a fox clan member is, the higher their seductive skills become."
Yan Dan rested her chin on her hand, looking quite troubled: "But using this trick against Yu Mo is completely ineffective."
"Why not? Come on, I'll teach you how to seduce him. First, you have to make him admit it, then treat him gently and considerately. When the time is right, you have to lose your temper. Don't let him look down on you! Give him a good whipping and then a few more pats on the back, and Yu Mo will finally be obedient. Let me tell you, I've disliked him for a long time!" Lin Lang pulled Yan Dan along and strode out along the courtyard path.
"Linlang, you have to be careful now that you're pregnant!"
"What are you afraid of? If anything goes wrong, it will be Zi Lin's fault!"
"..." Yan Dan sighed inwardly. It turned out that she had misunderstood Zi Lin and thought he had made a great deal, but in fact he only lost money and did not gain anything.
Linlang suddenly stopped in her tracks, pointed ahead, and said softly, "Look, Yu Mo is over there."
Yan Dan naturally knew that at this time, Yu Mo must be sitting under the locust tree in the courtyard, reading a book or taking a nap. The sun was about to set, and he would be going back in a little while.
Linlang huddled up to her and whispered, "Go over there now, walk straight, don't take any detours. When he looks up at you, smile at him and then sit on his lap. If he doesn't react at all, either he doesn't like you, or he's not a real man. But Zilin said that Yu Mo really likes you, so this method will definitely work."
Yan Dan was silent for a moment, then asked, "And then?"
"And then? There won't be a 'and then'... Go on, go on!" Linlang gave her a push from behind. "Go straight there, don't be so hesitant!"
How could he not feel guilty?
Yan Dan took two deep breaths and walked slowly towards Yu Mo, stopping every three steps to look back at Lin Lang. Lin Lang waved impatiently behind her, silently saying, "Hurry up!"
Yan Dan gritted her teeth, took a few quick steps forward, and almost rushed to Yu Mo's side. Yu Mo was half-reclining on the chaise longue under the old locust tree, resting with his eyes closed. Hearing the noise, he opened his eyes, looked at her, and then closed them again.
Yan Dan stood there stiffly. Lin Lang had just said that she would smile at him when he looked over, but she hadn't even had a chance to smile before it was too late... She turned her head and saw Lin Lang mouthing, "How can you be so stupid and have no talent at all? Now! Sit on his lap! Take his hand!"
Yan Dan felt extremely wronged, closed her eyes, and resolutely turned around and sat down. Before she had even fully sat down, Yu Mo grabbed her waist. Yu Mo also moved aside to make room for her: "You sat down so suddenly, aren't you afraid the chair will fall apart?"
Yan Dan was so anxious she was about to cry. She glanced back at Lin Lang and saw her stamping her feet in anger, silently signaling, "Don't be afraid! Take his hand and kiss him directly!" Seeing that Lin Lang was even more nervous than she was, Yan Dan gritted her teeth and decided to go for it. She leaned in and kissed him directly on the lips.
Because it wasn't the first time, it went exceptionally smoothly.
Yu Mo stood there frozen, and it took him a long time before he raised his hand to put his arm around her shoulder.
Yan Dan leaned against him, and saw him raise his hand to his forehead and cough lightly, "Yan Dan, I..." Yu Mo said a few words, then suddenly frowned slightly and fell silent. She suddenly wanted to laugh, but had to hold it in: after spending so much time together, she noticed that Yu Mo would cough lightly before speaking when he was embarrassed. Although she had acted terribly before, at least she had achieved her goal, and Lin Lang probably wouldn't have to stomp her feet in anger anymore.
Suddenly, Yu Mo turned his head and gave Lin Lang a cold look. Lin Lang took a few steps back and turned away.
"Yan Dan, I told you before, this trick won't work next time."
Yan Dan wanted to retort, "If it didn't work, why were you shy before?" but in the end, she swallowed those words silently under his gaze. She had completely lost in terms of momentum.
"So, did you get into trouble, or what?" Yu Mo sat up. "You actually let Linlang make decisions for you? What good ideas could she possibly come up with? You..."
Yan Dan was speechless. She couldn't very well say that she wanted to bully Yu Mo, or she'd be in deep trouble. After weighing her options, she stammered, "Yu Mo, you're currently single, and you've never been married, and... you still like me, right?"
Yu Mo looked at her without saying a word.
Yan Dan was utterly shocked: "You've changed your mind so quickly?"
"Does what I think have anything to do with what you did before?" Yu Mo tapped her forehead. "Give me a different reason."
Yan Dan gave an "Oh," and said, "Actually, it's still related... Linlang said that if you don't react to this, it means you don't like me." Yu Mo's eyes narrowed into a smile, but he remained silent. Yan Dan finally understood why she always felt Yu Mo's smile was so gentle. A smile that came from the heart was always especially warm.
"So, you want to see my reaction, right?" Yu Mo reached out and brushed the strands of hair that clung to her cheek. Yan Dan was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding his intention, when she felt the world sway and she was lifted upside down by him, held on his shoulders. She was startled at first and instinctively hugged his back. Through the thin spring shirt, she could feel the slight heat on his back, which instantly tensed up.
Yan Dan stared blankly, thinking, "Should I carry him?" She thought that since she wasn't tall enough and her weight wasn't heavy, carrying Yu Mo wouldn't be a huge problem. Okay, okay, even if she was lazy and heavy-bodied right now, Yu Mo didn't seem to be struggling as he walked with such long strides.
After much thought, she came to one conclusion: this is probably called...sentiment.
As the sun sets, the colorful clouds on the horizon gradually fade, merging with the quietly approaching night. The silvery moon hangs upside down in the sky, the stars are few and far between, and the chirping of insects rises and falls in the air.
Yan Dan watched as the pale, silvery moonlight spilled across the ground as she passed by. Occasionally, various monsters of all sizes from the Yelan Mountain region would approach, each one seemingly having pre-arranged a plan: first, they would freeze, then their faces would contort with terror, and finally, they would flee in a flash. Yan Dan was dumbfounded, and a question blurted out: "Why are they all running away like they're fleeing a disaster?"
Yu Mo paused, then walked casually through the long corridor: "Look where we're going?"
Yan Dan tilted her head down to check the direction: "It looks like your residence."
"So what else can I do in my room, on my bed?"
Yan Dan was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "Yu Mo, Yu Mo, I think we should take it slow. This is definitely not how it's portrayed in the play!"
Yu Mo asked calmly, "So, according to the script, how should the next scene be performed?"
Yan Dan quickly recalled the events and hurriedly said, "We should have agreed to go on a spring outing to admire the flowers the next day, but now is not the time. So, reciting poems under the moon would be quite elegant. After a month or so of this, we could go on a trip together, and then..."
"So, all those things you said before were just made up?"
"Of course I didn't just make it up!" Yan Dan said angrily.
Yu Mo reached out and pushed open the carved mahogany door, then flicked his sleeve to close it, and said in a low voice, "Yan Dan, I have already presented the betrothal gifts to your clan leader."
Yan Dan, who was still struggling in despair, suddenly froze: "When did this happen?"
"Yes, before you woke up." Yu Mo bent down, placed her on the bed, and sat down on the edge of the bed, lifting his clothes.
"And then what?"
"And then? Your clan leader seemed very happy, readily agreeing, but then worried that I might divorce you one day, so he wanted me to choose a few more... Yan Dan?"
Yan Dan raised her eyes, only to find everything before her eyes was red. She tugged at Yu Mo's sleeve and said, "What are you saying? Why aren't you afraid I won't want you? Am I that bad? You can't bully people like this, huh?" His handsome face was so close to hers, and a hot kiss landed on her lips. For a moment, she felt only dazzling tenderness.
Yan Dan steeled her resolve. Since this was inevitable, she figured she might as well face the consequences decisively. She spontaneously wrapped her arms around Yu Mo's waist and returned his kiss with a deep, passionate kiss.
Their current situation, in terms of spiritual practice, should be called dual cultivation; in the mortal world, it should be called sexual intercourse.
As Yan Dan leaned in for a kiss, Yu Mo let out a barely audible chuckle, leaning back slightly to let her kiss him in return. He untied the knot on her sash. Yu Mo then pressed down on her shoulders, kissing her chin before slowly moving his kisses down her neck.
Yan Dan bit her lip, determined not to show weakness. She reached out and touched Yu Mo's sash, then pulled and tugged at the hem, managing to tear it off. Back when she was working odd jobs in the opera troupe, even taking off a heavy opera robe would only take a short while, let alone an ordinary outer robe.
Yu Mo leaned down and pressed her down, her loose hair sliding onto the bedding, contrasting with the ornate embroidery on it.
Through the thin inner garment, the traces of passion were impossible to conceal. Yan Dan could only feel the heat, unsure whether it was the burning kisses on her body or her own own fervent desire. Their hair intertwined, even their breaths were hot, like sparks that could ignite a prairie fire.
Yu Mo's forehead was slightly sweaty, his expression remained calm, but his eyes burned with passion: "Yan Dan."
Yan Dan thought he was about to say something, so she waited quietly. Suddenly, a burning pain surged through her body. She couldn't help but grab his shoulders, taking small breaths and slowly relaxing her tense and stiff body. Yu Mo whispered in her ear again, "Yan Dan..."
She then realized that he only wanted to call her name.
But just hearing his name caused her heart to ache. She opened her eyes wide, trying to see his expression clearly, a kind of affection she had never felt before. Even in the midst of his emotions, his handsome face remained unchanged.
For no apparent reason, Yan Dan found Yu Mo to be incredibly moving.
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