Descend to Earth (I)
He Shu was leaning on the couch, leisurely flipping through a book of human stories that he had bought from a bookstore a few days ago.
He is the messenger crane of the Ninth Heaven. Not long ago, he got the opportunity to come and serve Madam Xi, the March Flower Goddess.
Although he didn't know how such a good job could have fallen on his head, he didn't think much about it. He happily faced the envious eyes of his colleagues and lived a life that was often down to earth.
It was the Chen month on Earth, and the peach trees were ablaze with color, creating a delightful scene far more interesting than the dull, monotonous Nine Heavens. For the inhabitants of this celestial realm, being able to descend to the mortal realm was truly a rare and wonderful opportunity.
It happened that he had just taken office and had not yet made full preparations, so he went down to the mortal world with Madam Xi and her group.
He had thought he would be thrown into work in a hurry, but unexpectedly, Madam Xi did not like servants to be around, and ordered them to wait in the inn where they were staying. So, He Shu had an unexpected free time and simply took a rest.
This seemed to be the first time he officially came down to earth after becoming an immortal. The world was prosperous and bustling, and he was very excited at first, but after wandering around for several days, he gradually felt bored, so he stayed in the inn all day reading storybooks.
He had been reading the book "Qi Xiang Zhi" for two days and was enjoying it so much that he couldn't put it down.
Seeing how obsessed he was, his companion Heqi also became curious and came over to watch with him.
See the book:
"It was March, and the Demon Guest Terrace was ablaze with colors. The Flower Fairy, Xuandu Jun, was arranging a flower catalogue on the terrace. A crane attendant stood holding a jade inkstone, glancing sideways."
"I saw the fairy sitting upright, her face like a peach blossom, her skin as white as jade. The slight frown on her brows was like a willow tree bent by a warm March breeze, and her eyes were like the bright moon at midnight reflected in a blue lake..."
"The crane attendant was so mesmerized that the jade inkstone in his hand tilted, and the ink splattered onto his sleeve. The fairy turned her gaze, lightly tapped his forehead with her fingertips, and parted her red lips: 'Foolish child, what are you looking at that has you so focused?'"
Suddenly, she felt a slight chill between her brows and hurriedly lowered her head. The fairy was two parts bright as the first string of the moon, three parts graceful as spring mist, and four parts ethereal as wispy smoke. Her every frown, smile, and gesture made her heart flutter…
When He Shu read this, he was a little absent-minded, and the image of Madam Xi appeared in his mind.
The flower god described by the author is quite apt, he thought.
“That’s ridiculous!”
Heqi's face flushed red, and he closed the book in frustration:
"As a servant, how could you peek at the Immortal Lord, and look so... so foolish! Moreover, the laws of Heaven are before us, who would dare to act so rashly? Do you want your soul to be shattered? This filthy author is talking nonsense!"
He Shu looked at the angry He Qi, silently withdrew his hand that was pinched by the pages of the book, and felt that she was making a big fuss out of nothing.
However, he had indeed heard that the immortal servants who had communicated with him said that Madam Xi had a cold temperament, but was very gentle and kind to them, the servants. However, the crane servant who was closest to her was a troublemaker who was always picky about everything.
But is it really so unforgivable for a servant to fall in love with the Immortal Lord?
He Shu thought so, lowered his eyes, and his thoughts drifted further and further away.
Why are there people who cannot fall in love wholeheartedly?
"How dare you make such a fuss about the Immortal Lord and the young servant of Baohua Palace? You are truly fearless!"
Heqi was unaware of the twists and turns in Heshu's mind and was still muttering to himself. Finally, he became so angry that he just flicked his sleeves and left the inn, presumably running to Madam Xi.
He Shu tilted his head and looked at her secretly, then quietly watched her leave completely. Then he picked up the book that was denounced as "extremely ridiculous" and continued to savor it.
The plot of the book is simple and the story is also old-fashioned. It is just a story about a little fairy servant falling in love with the fairy master he serves.
Human stories are nothing more than stories about love, hatred, fighting and combat, and it is a common plot for the lower-ranking people to fall in love with the higher-ranking people.
The book He Shu read a few days ago also had a similar plot, but it was about two different people falling in love or killing each other.
He really didn't understand why Heqi reacted so violently, as if he had been hit in a sore spot and suddenly lost his composure.
But he had never heard of Heqi having such an experience before. It was really strange...
It was his first time to come into contact with the theme of immortals, and he happened to be reading about a character with a similar identity to himself. He found it very novel and interesting. After reading a little, he was eager to know whether the little servant in the book finally expressed her feelings to the immortal she loved.
What will be the ending of this pair of lovers with different social status but mutual affection?
Thinking of this, He Shu couldn't wait to turn the page back again. His fingertips trembled slightly with anticipation, and the wind from the pages brought a faint scent of ink - but the next moment, all his movements froze in mid-air.
What I saw before me was not the expected lingering words, but a glaring blankness that seemed to swallow up everything.
It was like a bucket of cold water was poured over his head. He Shu stared blankly at the blank pages, a little bit of disbelief. The faint flame in his heart was extinguished with a "puff", leaving only a few wisps of unwilling smoke, curling and unwilling to dissipate.
Maybe there was a printing error...
He flipped through a few pages hoping for a lucky break, only to see exquisite illustrations appear in his sight at an inopportune moment. Vivid little figures acted out the plot of the book until the last page, and the unresolved story ended there without a trace.
He Shu slowly closed the book, frowned and looked away, not knowing where to look. With nowhere to put his eyes, he could only blankly describe the landscape painting in front of him.
His heart suddenly felt empty. Although he didn't want to believe it, the story that had been tantalizing him came to an abrupt end just as the protagonist was about to realize his true feelings.
He remembered that he had confirmed with the shopkeeper when he bought the book that this volume was already complete...
Could it be that the author hasn’t finished writing yet?
If only that were the case...
One day in heaven is one year on earth. When he comes down to earth next time, he should be able to see the end of the story.
He Shu comforted himself silently.
He sighed softly, shook his sleeves and stood up, turned around and rolled over to the bed not far away. After calming down, he picked up another book beside his pillow.
The last time he went out, he bought a lot of storybooks, and he had to read one or two of them.
The book I'm holding now tells the story of a scholar and a fox demon in their past and present lives, and their bitter love. It's also very gripping, and even the language and literary grace are better than "Qi Xiang Zhi".
But unexpectedly, He Shu, who thought he could let go of his obsession, only flipped through two pages before closing the book and putting it back where it belonged.
The unfinished story was like an annoying little insect, gnawing at the tip of his heart. The more he tried not to think about it, the more clearly the glaring blank space between the pages, the fairy's faint smile as she glanced back, and the little servant's panic as he lowered his head appeared before his eyes, disturbing him.
"Forget it, let's go to the bookstore again. We can't make things difficult for ourselves."
He Shu sighed again, put on his robe while muttering, and got up from the bed.
Taoism emphasizes "following nature," so he could certainly be right by following his inner desires. Besides, if the bookseller had truly deceived him, he wouldn't have to settle the score with him.
It would be best to open his stomach and see if there are some copper coin maggots that eat human blood inside. Otherwise, why would he disregard his morality and expire these innocent guests just to sell books? It's really hateful!
He thought indignantly, dressed up a little, put on his veil, and left the inn.
The streets were still bustling, no different from the previous few days.
Before He Shu could even reach the gate, he was filled with a clamorous noise like a cauldron of boiling water. Before him lay a long street stretching ten miles, with buildings dotting the landscape. Outside the vermilion-painted gates hung a variety of wine and tea banners, rustling in the wind.
But he had no intention of appreciating the books at the moment. He just walked quickly according to his memory and soon found the bookstore.
The dark-faced waiter who had received him a few days ago came forward again with a smile on his face.
"Sir, please come in..."
This opening was no different from the one when he met this guy a few days ago. He Shu was not in the mood to listen to him again, so he raised his hand to stop him from saying next.
"Aside from volumes one, two, three, and four, are there any other sequels to 'Knowing Each Other'?"
"'Knowing Each Other'? This shop doesn't seem to have this book..."
"I just bought this book here a few days ago, why are you saying it's out of stock today?"
He Shu was a little anxious. He looked at the dark-faced clerk, whose face and ears were reddening steadily, though not obviously. He assumed that he was truly unfamiliar with the books in the store and had no intention of making things difficult for him. He turned aside and continued walking into the store.
"Forget it. Let's ask the shopkeeper to come. Please tell him that the young man who bought 'The Contract of Understanding' from him a few days ago wants to see him."
"Shopkeeper? But our shopkeeper hasn't been in the store these days. Sir, did you recognize the wrong person? Perhaps it was another employee in the store who handled it..."
"Not here?"
He Shu frowned. Had he been deceived from the beginning? Was that man not the bookshop owner at all? Perhaps he was just some itinerant peddler who had appeared from nowhere?
"Four days ago, also in the afternoon, was your shopkeeper really not here? He was a short, fat, middle-aged man with a small mustache on his chin. His surname should be Jia."
He Shu was still not giving up and kept asking for details.
The image of that man gradually became clear in his mind, and more details had become blurred, but he was sure that the bookseller was dressed elegantly, with a jade buckle of ancient carving hanging around his waist. He did not look like a man who was short of money.
It’s a pity that I can’t use magic at the moment, otherwise I wouldn’t be so helpless.
He thought to himself, this is not good. The world is so vast. He Shu, who has never even figured out the whole of Chaisang City, let alone the whole world, was suddenly at a loss. Where should he go to find that damn liar?
Is that unfinished story, that unspoken love, really going to become a knot in his heart that can never be untied?
"Sir, why would I lie to you? If you don't believe me, you can ask other shop assistants or regular customers. Our shop owner was definitely not here four days ago. Besides..."
As the dark-faced man spoke, the corners of his mouth suddenly lifted awkwardly, revealing his two not-so-aligned front teeth.
"Our shopkeeper's surname is Zhen, he's a tall, thin old man..."
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