Chapter 30 (Final Chapter) [VIP]
Chapter Summary: It feels like we first met yesterday, yet a thousand years have passed in retrospect.
Jingyang Ridge at dusk.
The sun shines obliquely through the sky, birds return to their nests, and the surroundings are as peaceful as ever.
Suddenly, the rapid sound of carriages and horses came from the foot of the mountain, and the entire mountain fell silent for a moment. The birds fell silent, and the wild grass and ancient trees parted on both sides of the road.
"Giddy up! Giddy up!"
"Gurgle, gurgle"
In just a moment, the pines and cypresses on the mountainside swayed, and with a clang, a simple carriage spewed up gravel and mud, bathed in the golden sunset, and sped up the mountain.
"...Uncle, could you please hurry?"
If you get closer, you can see the young woman's face, which is vaguely visible and anxiously looking around, behind the curtain that is being pulled up by the evening breeze.
Something seemed to be lying in her arms, its face completely covered, making it impossible to see clearly.
"drive!!"
Another long whip cracked into the air, the startled horse let out a long neigh, and birds all over the mountain took flight.
They chattered and chattered, spreading the news far and wide.
Startled by the flock of birds, the coachman in front of the carriage subconsciously looked up at the sky, wiped his sweat, turned to the side, and shouted into the inner room, "Wife, don't rush us! The mountain road is rugged and difficult to travel; we can't go any faster!"
Pan Yue avoided the driver's gaze, turned sideways, and looked up at the outside of the carriage.
"snort……"
The person in her arms trembled slightly. Pan Yue abruptly withdrew her gaze, looked down and saw his chest rising and falling, his breathing becoming increasingly weak. She reached out and touched his almost transparent neck, and unconsciously tightened her grip on his arms.
"Don't be afraid, Songsong, we'll be there soon..."
As they approached the mountainside, the babbling of the stream and the rustling of the reeds reached their ears; before Pan Yue could see clearly what was around her, her arms were suddenly empty.
The little fox, Songsong, could no longer maintain its human form. Wrapped in a loose coat, it slumped against her wrist, its tail drooping, as if it were asleep.
"...Songsong?"
The hand holding him suddenly trembled. Pan Yue pulled aside her loose coat until her face was exposed. She carefully tucked in her collar, then put her hands behind her back so the driver wouldn't see.
"Songsong?"
She held the little fox in her arms, just like every night they spent together, kissed his brow, and whispered, "Don't sleep!"
As if recognizing the soft whispers in its ear, the little fox's ears twitched slightly, and its tail tip just lifted half an inch before suddenly drooping down, as if it could no longer support itself.
The flame pattern between his brows reflected the fleeting evening light, dazzling for a moment, then quietly fading away.
An unprecedented sense of fear swept over Pan Yue, and her hands holding the little fox trembled uncontrollably, her throat tightening with a sob.
"Don't be afraid, Songsong! We're already halfway up the mountain, and the fox den is just ahead..."
"Grandma Song is waiting for us! She must have a way..."
Soft whispers, each word filled with affection.
"Yunyun's here! Songsong, don't sleep, talk to Yunyun, okay?"
"Why did you come down the mountain...? Everyone says foxes are clever, is Songsong stupid or something...?"
A mountain wind rustled, and the rumble of carriages and horses echoed through the air.
Mud splashed everywhere, disturbing Pan Yue's peace of mind and leaving her feeling dazed and uneasy.
Her little fox has always disliked the hustle and bustle of the world and the complexities of human nature... Yesterday's parting is still vivid in her mind, she has clearly returned to Jingyang Ridge, why...
Why did you come down the mountain again?
Her little fox...
She gently curled her fingers around his.
When the tiger is away, her little fox becomes the king of Jingyang Ridge.
He gave up his freedom for her, suppressed his fox-like nature for her, and entered the mortal world for her, becoming tainted by its dust and humiliation...
And now, it is because of her that he is covered in wounds and on the verge of death.
My heart feels as if it has been gouged out, empty and adrift, with nowhere to turn.
Clouds drift by, and the sounds of carriages and horses fill the air.
"Once this matter is settled, we'll deal with the steamed bun shop..."
After an unknown amount of time, Pan Yue awoke from the sounds of carriages and horses. With bloodshot eyes, she looked at the oblivious little fox in her arms and said softly, "Yunyun, would you like to accompany Songsong back to Jingyanggang?"
"The mundane world is so overwhelming, even I find it tiresome. Let's stay on the mountain with Songsong and never come down... Is that alright?"
"Just one thing..."
Her fingertips gently brushed the flame-like markings on his forehead, and a soft look softened in Pan Yue's scarlet eyes. She said gently, "There are many foxes in the mountains, but no other human. Now that Yunyun has come up the mountain, Songsong, remember, don't revert to your original form without reason, and don't fall asleep..."
Before she could finish speaking, a wave of bitterness surged up again, Pan Yue's throat tightened, her eyebrows trembled slightly, and she suddenly fell silent.
The scene of our last parting resurfaced in my mind.
Upon hearing that the face in her heart was actually a fox's illusion and that "Water Margin" had become "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio," Pan Yue was horrified and blurted out hurtful words.
now……
She looked down at the "person" in her arms, her light eyes trembling slightly.
She was originally a child raised in the mountains; what if she became a fox spirit?
What's it like to live in the mountains for a long time?
What if we don't engage with the world?
In this vast and chaotic world, where can one find a true friend?
Now she asks for nothing more than that the little fox in her arms open its innocent, bewildered eyes, wrap its arms around her fair wrist, and call her name again, just like before: "Yunyun!"
"Sigh"
"Hah! Hah!"
Before everyone could sort out their thoughts, suddenly there was a commotion of cars and horses jolting and neighing.
It turned out that the coachman, seeing no road ahead, grabbed the reins. After the frightened horse finally came to a stop, he couldn't even wipe his sweat before saying to Pan Yue through the carriage curtain, "My lady, the mountains ahead are too steep to go any further!"
"It's alright!"
After checking the direction, Pan Yue took off her money bag, hugged Songsong, and jumped out of the car through the back door.
"Hey! My wife?! My wife!"
The driver was shouting something, but Pan Yue was oblivious. She saw the fox den and quickly climbed up.
The plants and trees in the mountains have spirits, and they all give way to each other, with birds clearing the way; but there is a mischievous rock that lies by the roadside, hoping to stay by her side.
After rounding another bend, seeing the open terrain ahead, Pan Yue subconsciously quickened her pace.
The rocks tumbled and rolled, unable to be avoided.
"Hey!"
Pan Yue twisted her left ankle and lost her balance, falling forward abruptly.
"Rustle, rustle, rustle"
The wind rustled through the pines across the mountain.
Seeing Songsong slip from her grasp, Pan Yue's pupils constricted sharply; in a split second, she swiftly turned around, her back to her.
"boom!"
Dust billowed up, and the surroundings suddenly became silent.
"Cough cough cough"
After confirming that the little fox was safe and sound, Pan Yue breathed a sigh of relief, protecting Songsong with one hand and bracing herself against her back with the other.
"hiss!"
A sharp pain shot through her left shoulder, causing Pan Yue to turn pale and break out in a cold sweat. Turning her back slightly, she saw that her left shoulder, where she had exerted herself, was already chafed.
"Sigh"
Without bothering to check the depth of the wound, she sat down with Songsong in her arms, clenching her teeth, waiting for the pain to subside.
"Songsong isn't afraid..."
The smell of blood rushed to Pan Yue's head, and she was stunned for a moment. She belatedly realized that she had used too much force and accidentally cut her lower lip.
As dusk settles and time waits for no one.
Pan Yue licked the blood from the corner of her lips, gritted her teeth, and struggled to her feet.
Once she confirmed that the little fox was still safe, she took off running towards the fox den.
After an incense stick has burned.
The ancient pine tree, with its graceful canopy, finally appeared before Pan Yue, who was panting and "covered in wounds."
"Grandma..."
Pan Yue seemed to have all her strength drained away. Ignoring her disheveled appearance, she stumbled forward.
"Grandma, please help..."
Before the words were spoken, the ancient pine tree under the evening sun suddenly swayed without any wind.
Pan Yue subconsciously took a half step back.
But then, from among the towering pine trees, countless soft branches suddenly emerged, forming a soft and neat pine couch not far in front of her.
Pan Yue subconsciously opened her mouth, looked down at the little fox still peacefully in her arms, pursed her lips, limped forward, settled the little fox on the bed, her brows furrowed slightly, her eyes full of reluctance.
"Mother-in-law!"
The moment Songta left, Pan Yue subconsciously reached out her hand.
The pine tree trembled suddenly. Pan Yue strode forward, glanced at the little fox on the couch, then quickly lifted her robe and kowtowed before it.
Like every ordinary person clutching a straw and sincerely kowtowing before the Buddha.
"Grandma, no matter the cost... I beg you! Please save Songsong!"
Every word is heartfelt, every sentence is heart-wrenching.
"Rustle, rustle, rustle"
The ancient trees swayed gently in the evening light, as if hesitating about something.
A short while later, a gentle evening breeze began to rise again.
Amidst the lush, verdant canopy, countless strands of crimson silk suddenly cascade down, like a pair of gentle hands brushing past her temples and tracing her features.
Sunset glow on drifting clouds, pine breeze rustling through distant mountains...
A sense of distant and long-lost familiarity suddenly welled up in Pan Yue's heart. She was startled and abruptly raised her head.
Before she could see clearly, a ray of sunshine swept past the corner of her eye, and Pan Yue subconsciously lowered her gaze.
A... mirror?
The one that Songsong always carries with her?
Pan Yue leaned over and picked up the pine wood mirror, looking at it from left to right, her expression puzzled.
The handle of the mirror is made of pine wood, with fine and beautiful grain, and it seems to have been there for a long time.
She carefully stroked the patterns on the handle, looked at the mirror, then looked up at Granny Song who remained calm and composed, and asked with a puzzled expression, "Granny, what is this?"
The bright mirror surface suddenly shimmered with light, and the scene inside began to flow. Pan Yue subconsciously lowered her eyes to look, and her expression immediately froze.
Her face was not reflected in the mirror, nor was it where she was at that moment.
The terrain is undulating and layered with mountains.
Upon closer inspection, it does resemble the hilltop she frequented in her childhood.
In the center of the image is a plant...
Pan Yue's gaze suddenly paused, and she looked up at the mirror.
The two pine trees in the mirror have similar branches and leaves, so it seems inappropriate to only call the pine tree in the mirror an ancient pine.
The reason is simple: the pine tree in the mirror is only as tall as a person, clearly a small pine seedling that has just developed intelligence.
As the lines pressed into her palm, Pan Yue had an epiphany; she seemed to be able to read the heart of the little pine seedling in the mirror.
Unsurprisingly, the little pine sapling was Granny Pine in her youth.
Like every cultivator's inevitable path to enlightenment, the newly sprouted pine seedling is lively, restless, and fickle. It soon discovers, with dismay, that it is different from the birds, beasts, and fish it passes by every day.
She was "imprisoned" on the mountaintop, watching the sunrise and sunset every day, waiting for the flowers to bloom and fade, and was not allowed to move an inch!
Over the years, the pine seedling grew increasingly weary of its cultivation, feeling that the tree's growth was endless and that it would soon reach its end.
Such unchanging days were like a blank sheet of paper; no one knew how much time had passed, a hundred years, a thousand years, or ten thousand years... Xiaosongmiao's cultivation remained stagnant at the year he gained sentience, without making any progress.
A fleeting image in the mirror, a thousand years gone by.
For the little pine seedling in the mirror, a clear, cloudless sky is just another ordinary sunny day, suddenly adding a touch of brightness to the usually monotonous scene.
Suddenly, a small, incongruous figure appeared on the winding, rugged mountain path, taking its first unsteady steps.
"This is?!"
The hand holding the mirror handle suddenly trembled, Pan Yue's almond-shaped eyes widened, and she abruptly raised her head.
The inexplicable, yet strangely familiar warmth she felt from Granny Song upon their first meeting turned out to be no illusion.
The little pine tree that had accompanied her through countless happy, boring, or ordinary days of her youth has grown tall and majestic with the passage of time and the changes of the world.
Pan Yue's clear eyes suddenly trembled. She reached out and touched the gnarled trunk of the ancient pine tree, then looked back into the mirror.
Yesterday's time flowed by like a gentle stream, and the sound of the pine breeze rustled in my ears.
Using the ancient wood in her palm as a mirror, she was able to glimpse the fleeting images of yesterday forgotten deep in her memory.
Although each and every event was personally experienced, it seemed entirely different in Xiaosongmiao's eyes.
From her first steps to her youth, the little pine seedling on the mountaintop has always been her most loyal, reliable, and unwavering friend.
He sheltered her from the wind and rain, listened to her casual conversations, and accompanied her to witness countless sunsets, some magnificent and some beautiful.
She too could not escape the feelings and anxieties of a young girl at the age of sixteen.
"May he possess the composure and spirit of a great mountain... May he know the meaning of true feelings, and once he has chosen someone, may he be devoted to them wholeheartedly..."
"I hope he can cook for his partner, whether it tastes good or not doesn't matter..."
"I hope he... will include me in his life, will be happy to listen to my 'nagging,' and will put me first in everything..."
"I hope he is kind, brave, and also innocent and straightforward..."
"..."
At that time, Pan Yue was unaware that the little pine seedling was blessed with extraordinary abilities, having cultivated spiritual powers that allowed it to understand human speech and recognize people's hearts; it chattered on and on all day long without any restraint.
Today, after seeing her innermost thoughts reflected in the mirror, Pan Yue realized that all the mundane matters, everyday affairs, and even the girlish thoughts that made her blush at this moment... were all part of the "karmic connections of the mortal world."
So-called cultivation is nothing more than understanding the ways of the world.
With the unintentional and continuous nourishment given by Pan Yue, and with a greater understanding and tolerance of the world's various aspects, Xiaosong Miao's cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds.
Several years have passed in the blink of an eye, and the little girl in the mirror has grown into a graceful young woman, no different from the woman kneeling by the tree outside the mirror.
The girl has been admitted to university and will soon leave the mountains.
On her last trip up the mountain, she removed the nematodes from the old pine tree, her forehead pressed against the trunk, which was much stronger than when she was young, her eyes filled with reluctance.
"Songsong, take care of yourself... One day, we will meet again..."
In the blink of an eye reflected in the mirror, everything changes, from white clothes to grey dogs, from the sea to the fields.
The sapling grew into a towering, evergreen pine, and passing foxes, rabbits, deer, and monkeys would respectfully call it "Grandma Pine." The landscape at the foot of the mountain gradually changed, and it also acquired a new name: Jingyanggang.
Time flies, and the little pine seedling can no longer remember when it came here or what day it is.
Until one day, on what seemed like a bright and sunny day, at the end of the winding mountain path, a small, snow-white fox, all shabby and clumsy, wandered in.
Although the little fox was wise, the little pine seedling at that time had already seen too many worldly entanglements and changes in the world, and had no interest in the passersby in his life or the mundane affairs of the world.
Until one evening, a sleepy little fox leaned against her feet, wagging its tail, and quietly watched the entire magnificent sunset with her.
Distant memories, seemingly of one's homeland, surged forth in a powerful and sweeping manner.
She recalled the very beginning of her development of intelligence, the little girl who often came and watched countless sunsets with her.
She remembered the little girl's words: they would surely meet again someday...
Could the uninvited little fox be her in a different form? Or is it her karmic connection from the past?
The pine branches swayed gently in the breeze.
The girl's frequent chatter and "girlish thoughts" have crystallized into a drop of "destiny," which, through the changing years, has always been kept in the most important place for her.
In that instant of bowing my head, somehow, that drop of worldly fate quietly fell.
By sheer coincidence, the object landed right between the eyebrows of the little fox who was looking up, and it awakened his intelligence.
"Aye!"
The little fox, unaware of its past life, was overjoyed after gaining sentience. It wagged its tail and circled the ancient pine tree.
"Grandma, according to the rules of the fox clan, since I have gained sentience through your guidance, please give me a name!"
"name?"
The pine branches swayed gently in the breeze.
Suddenly, an image flashed into my mind of a distant afternoon, where a thin little girl, covered in sweat, spent the entire day removing the nematodes from her body.
At that time, a long wind blew for thousands of miles, and the evening sun shone like a waterfall.
She stood amidst the dazzling spectacle, panting heavily, her smile radiant.
"There is no other like Songsong here!"
Yesterday's bold words still echoed in my ears, the ancient pine branches trembled, and softly murmured: "Pine, pine..."
"Songsong? I have a name now! From this day forward, my name is Songsong..."
"Rustle"
In the center of the mirror, the innocent and naive little fox is still circling around the ancient pine tree. The two characters "Songsong" travel through the corridor of a thousand years of time, and along with that drop of timeless fate, quietly fall and merge into the little fox's brow, turning into a flame that disappears without a trace in an instant.
The causes and effects of mortal life are all predetermined from past lives.
With a slight bend of her five fingers resting on the tree trunk, Pan Yue suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions, as if she were feeling apprehensive about returning home.
The old pine tree in front of her changed its appearance the moment she looked up.
Unlike in the mirror, and unlike just now, as the branches and leaves swayed, Granny Pine suddenly gained a layer of cool, holy, and ethereal soft light.
The pine wood couch is placed stably in front of you.
Countless vibrant light green dots, like fireflies in the middle of the night, danced and leaped, swirling around Pan Yue and Songsong.
In just a moment, as if they had made up their minds, the light green light bodies all turned and surged into Songsong's chest, like a surging tide, vast and endless.
"Songsong?!"
Pan Yuexin's heart sank. She abruptly put down the pine mirror and ran to the bedside.
"Songsong? Songsong, don't be afraid..."
The little fox on the couch remained oblivious.
After an unknown amount of time, the green lights all faded away, leaving only the sound of the wind in the pines.
"Serene"
"Grandma, why is Songsong..."
Pan Yue frowned and looked up, her expression immediately turning blank.
"Mother-in-law?!"
In the blink of an eye, the lush and verdant canopy withered and decayed, resembling an old man with gray hair and frailty.
"Grandma..."
Pan Yue suddenly stood up, and before she could speak, a dead branch suddenly fell from above her head, brushing past her eyebrows and eyes, and reaching towards the pine bed.
Reluctant to part, it seemed to be a silent confession of her willingness and gratitude.
"Rustle, rustle, rustle"
A gentle evening breeze blew, and withered leaves fell one by one.
The pine tree in front of her grew smaller and smaller until... the evening breeze stopped, and Pan Yueqing's eyes trembled slightly.
It feels like we first met yesterday, yet a thousand years have passed in the blink of an eye.
"...Yunyun?"
Pan Yue felt a lump in her throat and a sense of melancholy in her heart. Suddenly, with a creak, her hand, which was hanging in front of the bed, was taken, and a soft but clear voice suddenly reached her ears.
Her knuckles twitched unconsciously. Looking down, she saw Songsong had transformed back into human form on the bed. Overjoyed, Pan Yue rushed forward and hugged Songsong tightly.
"loose……"
Great sorrow followed by great joy; a thousand words were on my mind, but when I tried to speak, only a choked sob came out.
"Yunyun, don't be afraid!"
Songsong had already sat up. She turned around and looked at her grandmother, who had turned into a little pine seedling again. She understood what had happened. She rested her head on her neck, gently patted her slightly trembling back, and said softly, "Yunyun, don't be afraid. Grandma has exhausted a hundred years of cultivation, but fortunately her life is not in danger. In a few years, she will definitely be as graceful as before!"
"……good!"
After a while, Pan Yue sat up, looked at the pine seedlings behind the two of them, and then at Songsong, her eyes red.
"How is Songsong? Is there anything bothering her? Has her wound healed yet?"
"It's alright."
Songsong gently interrupted, seeing her crying and laughing at the same time, she reluctantly reached out her hand, her fingertips lightly touching the corners of her reddened eyes and the tip of her nose.
As if to distract her, or as if suddenly remembering something, Songsong tilted her head, a sly glint in her eyes, and said in a light tone, "When we went up the mountain, in the car, Yunyun said she was willing to come to Jingyanggang for Songsong's sake. That promise is true!"
Pan Yue was taken aback, a hint of shyness flashing in her eyes. She quickly raised her head, her eyes reflecting the vastness of the moon and the wind, and said firmly, "A word from my wife is as good as gold!"
Songsong's fox-like eyes instantly became round, then quickly curved downwards.
"Yunyun is willing to be born for Songsong, how could Songsong bear to part with her..."
He had just grabbed her right hand with his left hand and was about to finish speaking when he glanced down at the scar on her left shoulder, and Songsong's expression changed drastically.
"Yunyun is injured?!"
Pan Yue had already forgotten about the wound on her left shoulder. Only when he brought it up did she casually turn her head to look at it.
The words "It's alright" were already on her lips when she caught a glimpse of Songsong's worried expression out of the corner of her eye. In a fleeting moment, Pan Yue's eyes softened.
"hiss".
"How are you?" Songsong knelt on the couch, frantically trying to answer. "Does it hurt?"
"pain……"
Pan Yue suddenly stepped forward.
With their breaths almost touching, she looked up into the other person's clear, moon-like eyes, her gaze sparkling, her voice soft and tender.
"Songsong, Yunyun suddenly can't remember what you fox clan do if you see your companion injured?"
They licked each other's wounds.
The answer was on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't bring myself to say it.
Recalling their first meeting half a year ago, when they couldn't understand each other at all, Songsong's clear eyes trembled, and her previously bloodless cheeks flushed red like boiling water...
"Clouds, clouds..."
Seeing his evasive and embarrassed expression, Pan Yue's eyes sparkled with a smile. Then, as if in pain, she gasped softly, frowned, and looked down at her left shoulder, which was almost scabbed over. She said softly, "If you don't want to, then forget it."
"I...I..."
He gripped the pine couch tightly for a moment, then released it. He jumped off the couch, glanced at her shyly, his cheeks flushed, and hurriedly said, "Yunyun, wait a moment, I'll go pick some burnet roots!"
"Hey! You..."
Before she could stop her, Songsong had already fled in panic towards the woods.
"Pfft"
The distant sky is filled with magnificent sunset glow, and the mountains are covered with cascading sunshine.
Pan Yue leaned against her childhood friend, gazing at the pine trees and flowing clouds, the evening geese flying overhead, and the evening breeze blowing as she quietly awaited her lover's return home.
Her eyes were like crescent moons.
Golden Autumn Moon.
The distant mountains are vast, the evening clouds drift lazily, and the pine breeze is gentle.
Osmanthus blossoms fall idly, casting slanting shadows, while weary birds nestle together.
Once a year, the moon is full, and people reunite once again.
[End of text]
[Author's Note]
If you're curious about why Granny Song from the present world was able to "travel back" to this place, the answer is in the next chapter's extra: Heavenly Wounded Star Lord.
Grateful for your companionship.
My new novel next door, "The Empress's Promotion Guide [Journey to the West]," is a spin-off of the Western Liang Kingdom chapter in "Journey to the West." It features a female fan of the Great Sage/the innkeeper of Yingyang Post Station in Western Liang Kingdom versus the Great Sage. Please add it to your favorites! [Purple Heart]
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