Chapter 67
On the misty river, moonlight and water droplets mingled, the shimmering waves like scattered silver. Above the Canglan River, the fireflies that had vanished from their evil ways slowly gathered into frame after frame, using the sky above the Canglan River as a backdrop to gradually unfold Li Zhaoxue's life memories.
This is also a kind of memory spell. If this spell is cast on someone during their lifetime, all their life memories will reappear in the public eye when they completely disappear from this world. Li Zhaoxue's life was short, bitter, and full of drama. Perhaps she foresaw that she would become an evil spirit in the future, so she kept these pitiful memories so that people would at least know who she was after she disappeared.
On the riverbank, the scene formed by fireflies constantly gathered, dispersed, and overlapped, creating vivid pictures. Li Zhaoxue's life for the first ten years or so was smooth sailing. Although her parents were gone, she was pampered by her older brother from childhood and was a young lady untouched by worldly affairs.
But the change seemed to begin when she was sixteen and first left Jianshui City to cross the Canglan River. She went with her brother to a banquet at the palace. At that time, Li Zhaoxue was lively and clever, and she quickly met a young palace guard named Qi Yuan at the banquet. In fact, he was not a young guard, but a senior guard.
He is a Xuancha (mysterious messenger) in the palace, and his family lives in Qinglian City. He is the young master of Qinglian City, but he has been cultivating Taoism and practicing swordsmanship in the immortal family since he was a child. At only eighteen years old this year, he has already gained a lot of cultivation. Not long ago, he was promoted to Xuanguan (mysterious official) and has many Xuancha under his command.
Li Zhaoxue exclaimed "Eh?" and teased Qi Yuan, "Eh, you're the young master of Qinglian City? And you're working in the palace? Has Qinglian City fallen into decline?"
Qi Yuan was indeed anxious. "I have never relied on my family. Since I was six years old, I have been studying at the immortals' academy on my own. Now that I have completed my studies and returned, I do not see anything wrong with serving in the palace."
Li Zhaoxue tilted her head, covered her mouth, and chuckled, "Alright, alright, then young master, will you stay in the palace forever? If I want to see you again next time, should I go to Qinglian City or the palace?"
"How's your cultivation level? Is it higher than my brother's? How about a match with him next time? He's self-taught in both cultivation and swordsmanship. Impressive, right? Who taught you?"
...
Faced with the girl's barrage of attacks, Qi Yuan finally couldn't help but turn around and suddenly drew his sword at Li Zhaoxue. This instantly terrified Li Zhaoxue, who screamed. Just then, Li Zhun passed by and, seeing his sister in danger, immediately and fiercely slashed Qi Yuan away with his sword.
Later, the brother and sister learned that Qi Yuan only wanted to teach Li Zhaoxue sword techniques, and they felt extremely guilty.
Li Zhun's sword strike showed no mercy. Qi Yuan was bedridden for half a month because of this. In fact, this whole thing started because of Li Zhaoxue. Feeling guilty, she came to the palace to see Qi Yuan every day for the next half month, bringing him all sorts of delicious food and climbing on his courtyard wall to chat with him about all sorts of wild and imaginative things.
"Qi Yuan, you promised to teach me sword techniques. You can't go back on your word!"
Qi Yuan, unable to resist Li Zhaoxue's persistent nagging, had no choice but to agree to her request again.
After that, almost every few days, a woman could be seen surrounding the usually stern and unsmiling Xuan Guan Qi Yuan in the palace. She was like a little sparrow, making the whole courtyard lively. The Xuan servants in the palace also all recognized this little girl who was always following behind Qi Yuan.
Unlike her brother Li Zhun, Li Zhaoxue was not talented in swordsmanship. She had been learning from Qi Yuan for more than half a month but still made no progress. Qi Yuan patiently taught her how to hold the sword and taught her each move, but Li Zhaoxue became impatient and discouraged. She threw down the sword and ran out to play.
Qi Yuan silently drew his sword, watching Li Zhaoxue's departing figure, and shook his head helplessly, but there seemed to be a hint of a smile in his helplessness.
Little did they know, at that very moment, another pair of eyes witnessed the girl's departure. Qi Yuan greeted the emperor, wondering what brought him here today.
Later, Li Zhaoxue visited Qi Yuan more frequently, and the emperor also seemed to come often. Li Zhaoxue loved the occasional chance to bump into him. However, she still preferred being alone with Qi Yuan. When the emperor was present, Li Zhaoxue was always as quiet as a little chick.
Qi Yuan always found Li Zhaoxue's incredibly obedient appearance both adorable and hilarious.
Li Zhaoxue complained to Qi Yuan, saying that she always felt uncomfortable when the emperor was around, and she only wanted to be alone with Qi Yuan. So later, she made an agreement with Qi Yuan that she wouldn't come whenever the emperor came.
After two or three years of this, they had long reached the age to get married. Both families were well-matched, and both sets of elders were willing to marry them, but the two young women seemed rather slow to understand.
The turning point came during an ordinary argument between Li Zhaoxue and Qi Yuan. As usual, Li Zhaoxue threw a tantrum and turned to leave Qi Yuan's courtyard, saying, "Hmph, Qi Yuan, I'm ignoring you. I'll never make up with you again."
It was that same phrase again. Qi Yuan had heard it countless times. Whenever the gift he bought didn't suit her taste, or he talked to other women too much, or he failed to consider her feelings in any way, she would throw down that phrase and turn away. But it wouldn't last long before Li Zhaoxue would smile and call out "Qi Yuan~" in front of him as if nothing had happened.
However, after that day, Qi Yuan did not see Li Zhaoxue for several days in a row.
When he met her again, it was already past her bridal sedan chair.
Qi Yuan: "What day is it today?"
The palace maid truthfully replied, "His Majesty is marrying a new empress."
Qi Yuan gave an "oh" and left to continue searching for Li Zhaoxue, but this time, no matter how he called her, she wouldn't appear. He couldn't find her anywhere.
At that moment, he didn't realize that the instant he brushed past her would be the closest he would ever be to her in his life.
Not long after, Taiyi City in the north of the dynasty was affected by evil spirits and was in turmoil. Taiyi City is located at the junction of the underworld and the human world. Inevitably, some evil spirits that were suppressed on the edge of the underworld would often break free and escape. Taiyi City often became the "first stop" for these evil spirits, and it was common for evil spirits to run rampant.
Qi Yuan was assigned to Taiyi City because of this turmoil. Taiyi City is far away from the palace and Jianshui City. Even if he flew there by sword, it would take several days and nights. Moreover, once Qi Yuan arrived, he was constantly burdened with trivial matters and important matters, leaving him no time to breathe.
During this time, Qi Yuan sent countless letters to Li Zhaoxue, but unfortunately, they all disappeared without a trace.
Qi Yuan was also very frustrated. He slowly began to realize that something must have happened to Li Zhaoxue.
However, by the time Qi Yuan realized something was wrong and thought about rushing back to find Li Zhaoxue, Li Zhaoxue had already given up hope in the palace.
Fortunately, she met a concubine in the palace. She was dignified and beautiful, but always frail. People in the palace said that this concubine used to be the most favored.
Later, Li Zhaoxue received news that the imperial concubine was to be executed, without any warning or reason. Such a gentle and kind person simply vanished from Li Zhaoxue's side.
She couldn't even find her sister's body. This was the first time since entering the palace that she felt so troubled, so uneasy, and so chilled to the bone. She knew that sooner or later she would become the next "Imperial Consort."
Not long after, Li Zhaoxue indeed received another death notice from Taiyi City. Qi Yuan had been corrupted by evil energy and transformed into an evil creature during a riot of evil spirits. He was then killed by several immortals who joined forces to pierce his heart.
She could no longer remain indifferent, no longer deceive herself. She had to see him at least once. Before, the emperor had always threatened Qi Yuan's life, but now, Qi Yuan was completely gone.
With no more worries, Li Zhaoxue went to Taiyi City to search for Qi Yuan's body.
The journey went smoothly. She spotted Qi Yuan's corpse at the mass grave in Taiyi City, but his figure was no longer the slender and tall man he once was. After being filled with the malevolent energy of evil spirits, his body was swollen into a strange, bizarre, and even disgusting shape. It was almost impossible to recognize his original appearance without careful observation.
Regardless, Li Zhaoxue had to accept that this was Qi Yuan. But her Qi Yuan had become like this. How could she deceive herself and convince herself to accept it?
She carried Qi Yuan's body slowly back to his hometown, Qinglian City. Evil spirits had wreaked havoc in Taiyi City, and Qi Yuan, transformed into one of them, had been slain—a shameful and ominous event considered unlucky at the time. Therefore, no one else claimed Qi Yuan's body except Li Zhaoxue. She carried the corpse, weeping the entire way.
She wondered why Qi Yuan, such a good person, would end up in such a state. She couldn't understand it no matter how hard she tried. Perhaps it was simply because he met her?
She's the one who ruined Qi Yuan like this.
On her way out of the city, perhaps because she was too conspicuous and too "ostentatious," Li Zhaoxue was suddenly stopped by an old Taoist priest.
Li Zhaoxue looked up and saw an old Taoist priest with a sage-like appearance. Behind the old priest was a basket on his back, and inside the basket was a little girl who called out to the old priest, "Master."
The little girl mumbled, "Master, where are you taking me? Where's my dad? Isn't he coming with us?"
The old Taoist said, "Come back to Cloud Hidden Divine Mountain with me. Your father—"—hesitated, seemingly unsure how to answer, and paused before continuing, "Your father wants you to come with me. From now on, you'll only have a master, no more father."
The girl didn't seem too sad upon hearing this. With her back to Li Zhaoxue, she wore clean and pretty clothes, her hair in two crooked braids, and appeared to be holding a pancake in her hands, munching on it with relish. The little girl was only five or six years old, and clearly didn't understand what separation meant. She simply thought it was a joke her master was playing to scare her.
Li Zhaoxue blinked her reddened eyes and stared blankly at the old Taoist priest. After a long while, he sighed and said, "Young lady, the journey is long. Where are you going?"
Li Zhaoxue said, "Qinglian City."
The old Taoist priest then asked if he could have some food, as the child behind him couldn't go hungry. Li Zhaoxue took out her last remaining dry rations and gave them to him. Finally, the old Taoist priest gave Li Zhaoxue something in exchange.
Li Zhaoxue accepted it.
She thanked the Taoist priest repeatedly, but he just shook his head and turned to leave. Just as he turned away, Li Zhaoxue looked up and saw the little girl in the basket on his back.
At this very moment, under the deep twilight of the Canglan River, everyone saw the little girl clearly through Li Zhaoxue's gaze.
She chewed on the biscuit, her cheeks bulging. Although her face was very childish, it vaguely resembled the image of Xie Wen at seventeen.
At that moment, the little girl suddenly looked up.
Xie Wen stared wide-eyed at the foot of the Canglan River, looking into the eyes of his five- or six-year-old self through the memories of others.
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