A fleeting glance from her starry eyes led to a whirlwind of spring.
As dawn broke, dappled sunlight filtered through the exquisitely carved windows of the Temple of Fate, casting delicate patterns on the cloud-patterned stone floor. A faint scent of sandalwood mingled with the distinctive aroma of ink from books, creating an atmosphere of timeless tranquility. Yun Xi sat upright before his sandalwood desk, pen in hand, reviewing the mountain of fate records. His eyes were slightly lowered, his long eyelashes casting soft shadows on his handsome face, making him appear like a meticulously sculpted jade statue, serene and untouched by worldly dust. The tip of his pen danced across the jade slips, emitting a soft, rustling sound—the most familiar rhythm heard in the Temple of Fate.
Suddenly, a slight noise came from the inner room, accompanied by a soft exclamation, breaking the silence.
Yun Xi raised his eyes, the tip of his brush pausing slightly in the air, a drop of ink nearly falling onto the Book of Fate. He calmly placed the jade brush on the jade brush mountain and rose to walk towards the inner chamber. There, Mo Xiaoyu came running out of the inner chamber, barefoot and somewhat unsteady. She was still wrapped in the plain white gauze robe formed from the clouds and mist of Yaochi that she wore when she transformed, the wide sleeves trailing on the ground, her cloud-like black hair cascading over her shoulders, with lingering specks of spiritual light still swirling in her hair. Curious, she lowered her head, tugging at the overly long sleeves, and reached out to touch the silk gauze curtains hanging in the hall, her bright eyes filled with the bewilderment and wonder of someone newly arrived in the world.
"I can't stand up..." she muttered to herself, trying to adapt to this unfamiliar body, her steps unsteady like a little animal that has just learned to walk.
Yun Xi stopped in front of her, his gaze lingering on her for a moment. A barely perceptible tenderness flickered in his usually calm eyes. He turned and walked to the rosewood wardrobe beside him, his slender fingers rummaging through the layers of clothes before taking out a neatly folded dress.
The moon-white brocade shimmered softly in the morning light. The collar and cuffs were embroidered with delicate lotus patterns in silver thread, and the hem was adorned with tiny pearls—elegant yet lively—a new garment specially tailored to her figure. He had obtained this fabric from the Weaver Girl; every stitch and thread contained a gentle, spiritual power, perfectly suited for a newly transformed fairy.
"Reach out your hand."
His voice remained calm and even, but his movements betrayed a hint of awkward caution. As he bent down to tie her sash, his fingertips inadvertently brushed against the skin of her neck, causing both of them to tremble slightly. Mo Xiaoyu looked up and caught a glimpse of a faint blush creeping up his ears, yet he meticulously tied the ribbon into an intricate and delicate safety knot, each movement performed with the earnestness of someone performing an important ritual.
"Don't run around." These were the last four words he uttered, his tone like a warning, yet also like an almost inaudible sigh.
Mo Xiaoyu lowered her head, fiddling with the tassels at her waist. She thought the dress was indeed very beautiful, but the God-King seemed to have tied it too tightly, making it a little hard for her to breathe. She secretly glanced at Yun Xi and saw that he had returned to his aloof demeanor, straightening her slightly crooked collar. His fingers were icy cold, and when they occasionally touched her skin, she couldn't help but shiver slightly.
"You must learn to take care of yourself," Yunxi said, taking a jade pendant from her sleeve and carefully tying it around her waist. "This is a protective jade; it will keep you safe."
The jade pendant felt warm to the touch, and was carved with delicate lotus patterns that complemented the subtle patterns on her clothes. Mo Xiaoyu curiously played with the jade pendant, completely unaware that it was a protective magic artifact that Yun Xi had specially crafted for her using a century of his cultivation.
In the afternoon, the Jade Grass Garden behind the temple was in full bloom. Various colorful spirit flowers swayed gracefully in the breeze, releasing a delicate fragrance. Several shimmering spirit butterflies danced among the flowers, their wings reflecting a dreamlike luster in the sunlight. The newly transformed Mo Xiaoyu, full of curiosity about everything, couldn't resist chasing after them. Her laughter, clear as silver bells, echoed through the tranquil garden.
Her newly formed body was still quite agile, and she nearly fell several times while chasing after the spirit butterflies. Her moon-white skirt was already covered with bits of grass and dirt, but she was completely unaware. Just as she tiptoed, trying to touch a green spirit butterfly that had landed on a hibiscus flower, a shadow suddenly loomed over her.
"Where did this little imp come from?"
A cheerful voice descended from above, clear and melodious like jade striking each other, carrying a touch of nonchalant languor.
Mo Xiaoyu looked up and unexpectedly met a pair of smiling peach blossom eyes. The newcomer wore a black brocade battle robe with intricate dragon patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs. His black hair was tied up high with a simple jade crown, and an ancient longsword hung at his waist. He exuded an aura completely different from Yun Xi's—vibrant, flamboyant, as if carrying the warmth of the sun.
Ling Yuan bent down and casually plucked the hibiscus flower from which the spirit butterfly she had just chased had once perched. With a light twirl of his fingertips, the double-petaled fairy flower transformed into a shimmering crystal hairpin. His hand holding the hairpin slowly approached her temple, and the moment the hairpin pierced her hair, his fingertips brushed against her earlobe, sending a slight shiver through her.
"Don't move." His voice was deep and carried an undeniable air of authority. As the hairpin was inserted, she could even feel the warmth from his fingertips, and an indescribable sense of danger.
"These flowers are tacky," he tilted his head to examine her, a playful smile playing on his lips, "They don't suit you."
Mo Xiaoyu stroked the crystal hairpin in her hair, feeling its warmth and faint spiritual energy. No one had ever praised her so openly, nor had anyone said she was more beautiful than a flower. Beside Yun Xi, the aloof deity would at most nod slightly and say "acceptable" when she pressed him for an answer.
Something was quietly sprouting in her heart, itchy and with a dangerous sweetness. She felt her cheeks burning, her heart pounding uncontrollably, like holding a startled fawn. This feeling was both strange and thrilling, making her want to escape yet unable to resist getting closer.
"I...I am Mo Xiaoyu," she said softly, her fingers unconsciously twisting the sash of her clothes.
Ling Yuan's smile deepened: "So it's the little carp that Lord Siming keeps in the Jade Pool. I've long heard that there's a spirit carp in the Lord's Palace; seeing it today, it's truly extraordinary."
His praise was direct and ardent, like the summer sun, so bright it almost blinded her. This was completely different from Yunxi's subtle care, which required her to savor it before she could perceive it.
She instinctively turned around and looked towards the corridor.
Yun Xi was already standing beside the vermilion pillars, his white robes billowing gently in the breeze. He gazed silently, his eyes calm and unreadable, yet the knuckles of his fingers gripping the jade slip were turning pale from the force. A fine crack appeared on the jade slip, as if a fissure had opened somewhere in his heart. Sunlight cast a long shadow behind him, making his lonely figure appear even more desolate and cold.
"Little carp," Ling Yuan suddenly leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her hair, his voice carrying a bewitching magic, "The Heavenly Palace has many rules, it must be quite boring. Tomorrow at dusk, how about I take you to the Milky Way to scoop up stars? Those fallen star fragments will shine even more beautifully in the water than luminous pearls."
He raised an eyebrow slightly, his eyes gleaming with a provocative yet alluring light: "Dare you come with me?"
Mo Xiaoyu's heart pounded so hard it felt like it would leap out of her chest. She opened her mouth, wanting to agree, but then instinctively turned to look at Yun Xi. The figure in white still stood quietly under the corridor, seemingly isolated from the surrounding noise. She remembered his instructions from this morning, and the slight blush on his ears as he tied her sash, and a sudden hesitation rose in her heart.
But... scooping stars from the Milky Way—how intriguing that sounds! She had lived in the Jade Pool for a thousand years and had never witnessed a star fall. This thrill of being understood, this yearning for the unknown, battled fiercely within her heart.
"I..." She bit her lip, her fingers nervously gripping the hem of her dress, "But the God said..."
"What did you say?" Ling Yuan chuckled. "That you should stay in this tiny place forever?"
These words stung her. Yes, why must she stay in Yaochi and the Temple of Fate forever? She too was a spirit carp who had cultivated for a thousand years; she too longed to see a wider world.
"Dare!" The word finally escaped her lips, carrying a hint of defiant joy and an impulse she herself was unaware of—an urge to prove something.
Ling Yuan laughed heartily upon hearing this, and reached out to ruffle her hair: "Alright! Then I'll wait for you here at this time tomorrow." His actions were intimate and natural, a stark contrast to Yun Xi's restrained concern.
Mo Xiaoyu watched his departing figure, her fingers unconsciously stroking the crystal hairpin in her hair, a surge of indescribable excitement and anticipation welling up inside her. She didn't see that, in the instant she nodded vigorously, the figure in white under the eaves had already turned and left. In the shadow of the vermilion pillars, several fresh cracks were silently spreading, like a corner of someone's heart quietly shattering.
Yunxi returned to his study, where the books of fate were still piled high on his desk. He picked up his jade brush, but couldn't bring himself to write anything for a long time. He could faintly hear laughter outside the window—a bright smile he had never seen on her face before. He lowered his eyes, concealing the turbulent emotions within them, and finally just sighed softly.
The jade brush that had been left unused spread a blot of ink on the rice paper, like an unresolved knot in the heart.
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