Wangchuan - End

Recently, the biggest news in Wangchuan is the earthquake, but since the worst shaking, there hasn't been any more. The strangest thing is that the cracks on the ground disappeared overnight. Some old people say that Wangchuan is a place with good feng shui, a giant turtle underneath carries it on its back, and it will be free from earthquakes and floods for ten thousand years, Gods bless us! Everyone just laughed at this.

The chill of early spring has been swept away by the swaying willow branches and the bright sunshine. Zimiao and Jiu Jue stood at Unceasing's door, bidding me farewell.

"Where are you going?" I asked him.

"Everywhere; wherever there's water, there is me." Zimiao smiled at me, took my palm, and put a drop of water on it, crystal clear like a mirror, reflecting my face.

"Will you come back to see me?" I can't bear to part with him, just like a child hates parting with their parents.

"Of course. If he doesn't object." Zimiao pointed to my shoulder.

The miniature version of Ao Chi clings to me all day long, wanting me to hold him, to feed him, to give him water. Right now, he's squatting on my shoulder, rolling his eyes at Zimiao.

"You can ignore him." I glanced at Ao Chi, "This guy likes to eat vinegar anyway, let him have his fill. He even tailed us and listened to that woman's instigation, thinking I was crooning with you."

Zimiao smiled, gently holding my hand, "Shaluo, this reunion and disaster are good for you."

"Huh?" I looked into his clear, penetrating eyes.

"True love must stand the test of time, withstand suspicion and jealousy, and withstand hardships. Remember, love is love, it has nothing to do with friendship or family." Zimiao stroked my head, then patted Ao Chi's head, "You two still need to continue practicing this. But fortunately, you have plenty of time."

"So, what are you and I?" I raised my head and asked openly and straightforwardly.

"You tell me." He smiled.

I took his hand and wrote four words on his palm.

His smile almost melted away in the spring breeze as he embraced me, with Ao Chi squeezed in between.

"Um... about my marriage and breakup..." Jiu Jue nudged me, whispering, "I'll tell you next time. But you still need to prepare the red envelope!"

I watched their backs fading in the afternoon sunlight.

Wherever there is water, there is his presence, which is immensely comforting. But I always feel he has something left unsaid. However, where Zimiao is going no longer matters. What matters is, I know where I am going.

"What did you write in his palm? Tell me!" Ao Chi on my shoulder bared his teeth and claws.

"I'll tell you when you grow up!" I picked him up like a queen and tossed him aside. Thinking about having a year to bully Ao Chi, I feel quite gleeful.

Back in the shop, I picked up the ordinary little notebook lying on the table.

Dong'er, that arrogant woman, never apologized to me in the end. She just angrily threw this thing at me before leaving, saying it's a birthday gift from Ao Chi intended for me that she had planned to steal and destroy. She only said sorry to Ao Chi, placed a deed signed with her name in front of him, then flung back her head and returned to the East China Sea.

My birthday is actually still far away. Flipping through the notebook, what caught my eye is Ao Chi's crooked and unbearably ugly handwriting—

One day, standing before the Sphinx,
You ask, did Napoleon really break your nose?
Or was it the jealous sands of time in the desert,
Envying your heroic face, leaving you incomplete?
The sunset at Giza just touches the pyramid's peak,
Circles and edges, light and shadow,
It's what you've longed for, perfect geometry.
Your eyes shaded by the brim of your hat,
Wings sprout in the lens, flying through four millennia.

One day, the dawn bathes the bronze statue of the mermaid,
In Copenhagen's waterfront, morning breath permeates every passerby.
On the fragmented stones along the shore,
Your skirt touches the foam carried by the wind.
When the handsome prince has turned into a pot-bellied old man,
My little mermaid princess, are you still singing sad songs on the sea?

One day, you circle over the Nazca Plateau,
The roar of jet planes raises the temperature outside.
The ground paintings beneath your feet,
Blossom and stretch in various majestic shapes,
Eagle, spiral, triangle, octopus, without any constraints.
Once, there was a group of Incas,
Stubbornly waiting for the gods to descend again,
Bestow upon the earth marvelous and intricate patterns.
But the miracles did not reappear.
Perhaps the aliens are still observing.

One day, you silently stand in the crowd,
The waters of the Ganges emit an unpleasant odor.
In the dirty river, there are many devout and faithful faces and bodies.
The women's beautiful big eyes,
Glimmer with shyness and confusion under the veil.
Perhaps the children's hands are dirty; but, even the dirtiest little hands, look forward to candies and the future.
Buddha said: Each grain of sand contains a world, each tree a Bodhi.

One day, in February in Provence,
The owner of Simon's Restaurant presents delicious wild mushrooms,
Topped with thick, fragrant gravy.
Dogs bark in the snow,
Like little bears, they dive into the snowdrifts, their bodies turning white as they emerge.
This countryside of France,
Isn't just about lavender and wine,
But also the distinct four seasons and olive oil mills.

One day, you will travel to every corner of the world.
Keep walking, keep walking,
It's the greatest respect for this world.
And I will always be by your side.

I don't know when this guy became "poetry-savvy" and quietly jotted down such words in places we've been. All I know is that he doesn't like reading and doesn't have any literary talent. Just these few hundred words, and he has revised countless times.

For me, he can do the things he's least skilled at.

This is probably the best birthday gift I've ever received in my life.

I closed the notebook, sunlight streaming through the window, falling into the teacup, and the green tea swayed gently. I took a sip. This is a cup of "Fleeting Life" I brewed for myself.

There's a commotion in the kitchen. It's Ao Chi yelling again, "Where's my strawberry milkshake?!"

I think my story with Ao Chi has entered a brand new chapter. And stories are never-ending, whether they're others' or our own.

Well, my "Unceasing" has been rebuilt anew, and I'm considering reopening it.

---

Translator:

And they lived happily ever after… or did they? The Story of Fleeting Life spans 11 books and the adventures of Shaluo and Ao Chi continue to unfold, alongside the introduction of new characters and their captivating tales.

I hope you've found this journey into the realm of fantasy as enchanting as I have. As this is my first foray into the fantasy genre and BG category, translating this book has been a labor of love. I've tried my best to give English readers a smooth reading experience.

Please take a moment to share your thoughts and suggestions, or a review on NU. If you've enjoyed this adventure, consider supporting my work by donating a few bucks as a token of appreciation. Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a meaningful difference.

Until we meet again in the pages of another tale, farewell and happy reading!

3rd Jan, 2025 edit: Almost half a year since I finished this novel, and no reviews on NU yet. I never thought it'll get such a poor response. If you're reading this, you must've liked Fleeting Life at least a little, right? Won't you please give some feedback? I'll be happy to get any response at this point.😭  

Previous ┃ TOC

Wangchuan - Part 11

I must admit, landing was quite painful, with those sharp, hard rocks below me capable of smashing the bones of a normal human being.

No longer was it pitch black; a faint blue light slowly meandered through this vast space made entirely of stone. Was this underground? I had never seen such a grand underground world. Or am I dead and come to the Underworld realm?

"It's you... why is it you..." A weak and angry voice came from behind me. I turned around to see Dong'er lying on the ground, her face pale, a thin line of blue light passing through her right ankle where dragon blood trickled down from the wound. It was undoubtedly her who had grabbed me.

"Where's Ao Chi?" I stepped forward and grabbed her shoulders.

"Help me... help me get out!" Dong'er covered her ankle and shouted in panic, "I want to go back to the East China Sea!" The once dazzling Third Princess of the East China Sea was now reduced to a pitiful creature filled with fear and despair, trembling as if anyone could squash her like a bug with a single slap.

"I'm asking you again, where is Ao Chi?" I wasn't going to be polite to her. I admit that my grace is limited when dealing with certain individuals.

"Help me break this damn thing!" She seemed not to understand my words, pounding the ground as she yelled at me. I saw large beads of cold sweat dripping down her forehead; the bone-piercing pain must be unbearable for ordinary people.

"Please... I beg you..." She grabbed my hand, sobbing loudly, "I can't take it anymore! It hurts so much!"

Alright, damn it, I'm softhearted. I finally knelt down and examined that blue line. If I could break it, then... I would break it.

I gently picked up the line. It was soft, cold, and smooth like silk. One end of the line passed through Dong'er's ankle, but the other end... it seemed to stretch endlessly into the murky shadow ahead. How to deal with this? I tried to exert enough force to cut through a stone, aiming to "cut" the thin line.

The result was that I screamed in pain as a gash appeared on my palm. If I exerted more force, my palm might be sliced in half by this line. Bite, pull, summon a sharp sword to cut—none of it damaged the line in the slightest.

Just as I felt helpless, the other end of the line seemed to be forcefully pulled, and Dong'er screamed as she was dragged backward. Instinctively, I grabbed her, shouting angrily ahead, "Who? Show yourself!"

"Hehe, you are an outsider, why meddle in this?"

The shadow gradually brightened, with all the blue light around converging towards it, revealing a massive rectangular stone platform on which sat the man with a serpent tail and silver scales, the soft line wrapped around his fingers. A gurgling river surrounded the stone platform and him, with brightly colored fish swimming joyfully in the clear water.

When my gaze moved in the other direction, I could hear nothing else, see nothing else. My eyes only saw one fact—a man, bound to the left side of the stone platform by a similarly textured blue line, his head drooping, whether alive or dead unknown. Most of his body was submerged in the river, those strange-colored fish gaily swarming around him, tumbling around in a lively manner as if competing for fish food, while dark red dragon blood swirled and spread in the water.

This unlucky man, who could it be but Ao Chi! Normally, I would mock him to death, this insufferably arrogant fellow finally getting his comeuppance, reduced to fish feed as he deserved.

But when I really saw this scene, I couldn't find any joy. Watching the increasingly red water, I felt as if those fish weren't just biting him but also gnawing at my heart. A mixture of hatred and pain rose to my head and I stopped caring about anything else. I gathered all my spiritual power and vitality into my palm, and aimed a swift strike at the river. A surge of energy rolled, splashing water everywhere. The fish around Ao Chi were instantly washed away, many of them turning belly-up on the spot. Naturally, I didn't stop there, soaring into the air, the power in my palm turning into several sharp green crystals, which were unstoppable and stabbed straight at the culprit's head on the stone platform.

With a clang, the serpent-tailed man simply waved his hand and brushed aside the crystals that were enough to destroy most demons and monsters in the world, and which contained all my attack power. This casual flick shattered the hard crystals into a mass of green powder—they actually got smoked.

"Outsider, you still have a chance to leave. I won't bother with you." He half-opened his eyes and tugged the blue line in his hand. Dong'er screamed as she was dragged to the edge of the circular river. He glanced coldly at her, "Your attempts to sneak away are futile. Wherever you run, I can catch you."

I finally saw clearly that the line wasn't held in his hand; it actually grew out of his fingers! He could easily neutralize my full-force attacks, so how could my strength move his body? What the hell is this monster?

"Aren't you leaving yet?" The serpent-tailed man closed his eyes. "I could change my mind at any time, outsider."

"You tied up my man in the river to feed the fish, and you dare call me an outsider?" I walked step by step toward him until I reached the riverbank. Looking down at the river teeming with dead fish, I clenched my teeth and jumped in. The bone-chilling river water barely reached my chest, and I paddled desperately, swimming towards Ao Chi.

The river wasn't wide, and the man didn't stop me. I reached Ao Chi's side. I felt his breath, listened to his heartbeat, and breathed a sigh of relief—he wasn't dead.

I slapped his face hard, calling his name, watching his drooping head slowly lift. "You... you're not dead yet?" My hands cupped his face, squeezing out these words after the tortuous process.

"Woman, you're... just looking forward to my death, right?" His spirit was much subdued than usual, and even the slightest movements like frowning seemed very strained. I didn't hold anything against him anymore, I didn't resent anything anymore; looking at Ao Chi at this moment, I feared he would stop breathing the next second and die in this horrible place which never sees the light of day.

"I'll give you another chance to explain when we go back, but not now," I warned him fiercely, then raised my head, angrily addressing the aloof and remote man on the stone platform, "Let him go! Or else I..."

"Stop being delusional. You're just a little tree demon, you can't hurt me at all," the man lowered his head, looking at me like an ant on the ground. "I don't like fighting; I just want to be quiet."

Indeed, despite his detestable appearance and seemingly violent behavior, I hadn't sensed any killing intent from him from start to finish. He just sat there, as calm as the surrounding stones. Even when battling with Dong'er at Duan Lake, although he seemed murderous, his goal was simply to retrieve something from her. Just earlier at the shop, Zimiao also said, "Perhaps the debt collector came knocking."

I turned my attention to Dong'er, who was whimpering, and loudly questioned, "What did you take from him?"

"I... I didn't!" Dong'er blushed and defended weakly, "It wasn't his to begin with; it's mine!"

"If you make a promise, you should fulfill it; going back on your word is not what a principled person does."

"You're the noble Third Princess of the East China Sea, why are your brains still so unclear?"

Two familiar voices drifted over from behind.

I turned around to find Zimiao and Jiu Jue standing by the riverbank with smiles on their faces. Jiu Jue even bent down to pick up a dead fish, tutting, "These fish from Wangchuan River are excellent ingredients for making wine. What a shame you killed them all."

"You still have the mind to care about fish? He's about to lose his life!" I was infuriated, yelling at Jiu Jue, "Aren't you going to help save him?"

"Save him? Didn't you say it would be better if Ao Chi died?" Jiu Jue laughed at me. Seeing Zimiao, the serpent-tailed man slowly opened his half-closed eyes and smiled, "Water God of the Four Directions, we meet again."

Zimiao nodded politely at him, "Indeed, it's been a long time, Xuanwu Wangchuan."

"It's rare that we can meet again, and it's even rarer that you would name the place above after me," the serpent-tailed man pointed upwards. "Otherwise, I might even forget my own name."

"Back then, you defied the will of the heavens, saving the people in that nameless village without authorization, which angered the Emperor of Heaven. That's why you were sealed here, bearing the burden of this land for generations, awakening every thousand years, then falling asleep again, in a continuous cycle." Zimiao walked over the water, flicking off a few water droplets, breaking the line that bound Ao Chi, and bringing us back to the ground. "You were entrusted by someone and saved countless lives, this is not wrong, but unfortunately..."

"Right or wrong, it's not worth mentioning. Lord Water God need not blame yourself. At the time, you were just a minor emissary under the Emperor of Heaven, and acting as per orders was your duty," the serpent-tailed man interrupted Zimiao. "On Duan Lake, you wounded me with the Water God's Arrow, but I didn't hold it against you. I only have one thing on my mind now. You have a brilliant mind; you probably already understand clearly. So, I hope you won't obstruct me again, otherwise, I won't be polite." Eh? They know each other?! Zimiao never told me.

"What's going on? If you don't tell me, I'll bite you to death!" I dragged Jiu Jue to my side, glaring at him fiercely.

"Ask her!" Jiu Jue pointed at Dong'er, who was lying motionless on the ground, then whispered to me, "Xuanwu isn't a monster; he's a god. Only a fellow god can match him, and even a dragon isn't his match. Just look at your man. Besides Zimiao, nobody here can touch him. Don't act recklessly."

Ao Chi, covered in wounds, gradually regained his strength, struggling to sit up and pointing at Dong'er. "Just what disaster have you caused! Speak!"

Zimiao and the serpent-tailed man remained silent, coldly staring at Dong'er. All attention and pressure were suddenly focused on her alone.

"I..." Dong'er's fingers dug tightly into the ground.

"Say it!" Ao Chi roared.

"I can't give him the Dragon Pearl!" Dong'er finally screamed in agony, then burst into tears. "I can't give it to him! Without the Dragon Pearl, I'm nothing!"

Dragon Pearl?! For a dragon, the Dragon Pearl is equivalent to its life support, the source of its spiritual power. Without the Dragon Pearl, a dragon can no longer transform into a human form, only lingering in its dragon form, waiting for death and decay when the next winter arrives.

In my astonishment, I speculated what could possibly be worth a dragon exchanging its own Dragon Pearl for?! Ao Chi was shaking with anger, pointing at Dong'er. "You... have you lost your mind? Can you casually exchange the Dragon Pearl? You've gone mad, and now you're dragging others down with you!" Upon hearing this, Dong'er's tears suddenly stopped. Her sorrow was instantly pierced through by long-buried resentment. She even sneered at Ao Chi, each word dripping with bitterness, "Yes, I've long gone mad. On the day of our grand wedding, you left me in front of all the guests without a second thought! At that time, I didn't cry or make a scene. I held onto my identity and dignity, and waited for you. One year, ten years, hundreds of years, you treated me as if I were nothing. I still didn't cry or make trouble. I still waited, only to receive news of your marriage to someone else. Haha, it would be acceptable if you had married someone of my status. But you married a millennia-old tree demon who has never walked the righteous path! You embarrassed me so much!" Her angry eyes seemed to be burning with fire, billowing at me, wishing to crush my bones and scatter my ashes.

"You and I have no marital relationship," Ao Chi became surprisingly calm at this point, "That wedding was just a farce directed by the old man. He claimed to be seriously ill and said he hoped to see me married and settled down before he died. I agreed to marry you only out of respect for his wish. Unexpectedly, the old man was too happy and let it slip at the wedding feast." Ao Chi took a deep breath and looked at Dong'er. "I hate being lied to the most. You later learned the truth of this matter, and I even drafted the deed to annul the marriage contract. All you need to do is sign your name, and this marriage of ours will be dissolved. Moving forward, you will still be the Third Princess of the East China Sea. Yet, until now, you refuse to sign the deed."

"I will never sign it. Without my signature, you and I will forever be husband and wife," Dong'er smiled sarcastically, "You said I couldn't leave the East China Sea until I signed the deed. I heeded your warning, and waited in the East China Sea for nearly a thousand years. At first, I waited for you to change your mind, but later, when I waited for you, it was not you," she turned and pointed at the man on the stone platform, her wild laughter eerie, "but him I was waiting for!"

Ao Chi and I were both stunned.

"Xuanwu Wangchuan, awakening once every thousand years. What I was waiting for was the moment he woke up," Dong'er's sad and shrill laughter echoed, her desperate eyes holding a profound meaning as she stared at the silent Zimiao, then she turned back to me. "Tree Demon, I'm helping you. I'm helping you see clearly, helping you make a choice! You've been cultivating for thousands of years in vain, but you don't even know who you truly love!"

Her words struck me like arrows, piercing not only me but also Ao Chi. Dong'er shook all over with laughter, her soft body writhing on the ground, which was uglier than a dying snake.

"Most people only know that Xuanwu has extraordinary strength, able to carry the land on its back and keep it safe, but they don't know about its other ability," Zimiao glanced at the serpent-tailed man who was resting with closed eyes. "In the Underworld, there is a river called Wangchuan, the route every departed spirit must take. This Xuanwu is named after Wangchuan, which is a metaphor for its ability to cheat death and bring back the deceased." He extended his palm, the crimson mark still vivid in its center. "Unlike mortals, when immortals are destroyed in both body and spirit, they disappear completely. Mortals, on the other hand, still have souls that journey through the River of Forgetfulness to the Underworld after death for reincarnation. There are highly skilled individuals who can sneak into the River of Forgetfulness and bring the souls back to the human world, but none can bring back a deceased immortal, not even the Emperor of Heaven who has limitless power. Only Xuanwu can bring back dead immortals to the present by traveling against time to a point when they were alive, using this as a method of resurrection. All immortals 'resurrected' by Xuanwu have such a mark on their palms."

"Let me add a point," Jiu Jue coughed twice. "To bring back a deceased immortal, in addition to Xuanwu sacrificing most of its life, it also requires even the slightest remnant of the immortal's spirit or spiritual power. With this, Xuanwu can locate them in the vast time that has passed. Simply put, if Zimiao hadn't sealed his remaining primordial spirit in the bracelet for his daughter, even ten Xuanwus couldn't have brought him back. SO, our Third Princess went to great lengths to steal the 'Eyes of the Water God' from the water tomb."

I thoroughly woke up. So, it was her who orchestrated Zimiao's 'resurrection'?! Others might not understand why she went to such trouble, but now, I did. I, too, am a woman. I looked carefully into her eyes: "You think that as long as Zimiao appears, your brother Ao Chi will go back, is that right?"

She turned away, saying bitterly, "You don't deserve him, and you don't even love him at all. The one you love has always been Zimiao! Don't lie to yourself! It's only because he died that you regarded Ao Chi as a substitute and support. As soon as Zimiao returns, your heart will immediately turn around!" Is that so? I looked back at Ao Chi, and he was looking at me too. Our lips moved, but neither of us spoke in the end.

"Haha, did I hit the nail on the head? Think about how intimate you two were on the night of the Lantern Festival," Dong'er taunted triumphantly, glancing at Ao Chi. "Her attitude toward Zimiao, their tacit understanding, the tender look she gave him, and the way she fell asleep with her head on his leg—has she ever done any of that for you? Has she? Brother Ao Chi, you know best whether this woman truly loves you or not. I've told you, once the Water God returns, your tree demon won't see you anymore. Deep down, isn't that what you also think?" She laughed loudly, pontificating between us. "Deceiving yourselves!"

"Um, excuse me for interrupting." Jiu Jue stood awkwardly in front of Dong'er. "Matters of love are for the individuals involved to resolve. The current issue is with you, Third Princess. As far as I know, Xuanwu is kindhearted and willing to help others. Every thousand years when he wakes, if someone earnestly seeks him out with sincerity, he will help you in any way he can, without expecting repayment. Now he has helped you, but he's chasing you around demanding repayment, which really goes against his nature. I remind you that what Xuanwu hates most are those who break their promises."

Dong'er trembled, gritting her teeth. She crawled to the nearest point to the stone platform and pleaded with the serpent-tailed man, "Great God Xuanwu, I was anxious at the time, afraid that you wouldn't help me because I wasn't sincere enough, so I promised you the Dragon Pearl. You know what the Dragon Pearl means to me, and it's human nature for me to regret it in hindsight. I know, not only did I refuse to hand over the Dragon Pearl afterwards, but I also deliberately led you to Duan Lake when I fought with you, hoping to use Zimiao's hand to fend you off and escape. Everything has been one mistake after another. But I beg you to pity a mere woman like me and spare me. How about... letting me change it to a hundred thousand-year-old East China Sea pearls? Will that do?"

I thought of the massive shadow rising from the lake during the plane crash. With the capabilities of the East China Sea Dragon Clan, it wasn't difficult to cause a plane to crash right above Duan Lake. Everything since our plane fell into Duan Lake was orchestrated by this Third Princess. When Xuanwu woke up after a thousand years, she broke into the water tomb to steal the bracelet, then used Xuanwu's power to bring back Zimiao. By causing the plane accident, she ensured our reunion with Zimiao, and because she refused to hand over the Dragon Pearl, she clashed with Xuanwu. Deliberately luring him to Duan Lake during the confrontation not only allowed her to use Zimiao to fend off the enemy but also let her position herself as a victim and intrude between Ao Chi and me without raising suspicion. She didn't need to do much, just reveal her relationship with Ao Chi aggrievedly, along with a living Zimiao, and these two "bombs" were enough to sow discord between Ao Chi and me. Dong'er's intelligence lay not only in her patience and meticulous planning but also in the fact that she knew where the weakest point between Ao Chi and my relationship was and ruthlessly exploited it.

Only then did I understand why Zimiao and Jiu Jue kept saying they "admire" Dong'er.

To Dong'er's plea, the man on the stone platform responded with just one sentence: "I'll only take Dragon Pearl." Ao Chi stood up unsteadily and walked to Dong'er. His raised fist was deadlocked in the air for a moment, then dropped weakly, only cursing under his breath, "Stupid woman!"

Before the words had even settled, the surroundings suddenly shook violently. Countless rocks fell from above, and dozens of cracks crawled out from under my feet, spreading up the walls with a continuous cracking sound.

"You all just think that I'm relentless in demanding what was promised, but know this: I seek the Dragon Pearl only to replenish the vital energy I've lost when I went back in time." The serpent-tailed man looked up at the sky, "If I cannot consume the Dragon Pearl to restore my vital energy, my real body will perish. In that case, the Wangchuan that I carry on my back, which has expanded from a small village to a city, will sink into the ground and cease to exist." He lowered his head, closing his eyes again, "When this woman came to beg me, her words were sincere, her emotions genuine. She claimed it was to fulfill her deceased friend's wish, and used the Dragon Pearl as a promise, vowing to replenish my vital energy afterward, so that Wangchuan City wouldn't get into trouble. Only then did I agree to leave my primordial spirit and take her, transformed into a child, back through time to bring back Zimiao. I carry the heavy promise to keep the land on my back safe for the rest of my life. I never thought she would renege on her promise afterward. I wanted to kill this promise-breaking woman to get the Dragon Pearl, but she reminded me that the Dragon Pearl must be given willingly to be effective. Forcibly taking it would render it a useless dead object." He let out a long sigh, continuing, "Of course, for you, the life or death of a city can be easily ignored. To hand over the Dragon Pearl or not, you still have a choice. Just remember, time is running out."

Zimiao looked around and then examined Xuanwu before saying, "The underground world we are currently in is Xuanwu's true body. His primordial spirit has transformed into a snake-man and has been guarding this place for millennia. Although I don't know how much of his vital energy has been consumed due to going against time, the fact remains that his primordial spirit is indeed diminishing. Once his primordial spirit can no longer sustain itself, his true body will disintegrate, and the Wangchuan City built on him will inevitably sink underground. I believe the cracks we saw on the surface, including the earthquakes, were all caused by this. His true body is already collapsing." His gaze fell upon Dong'er, "If he doesn't get the Dragon Pearl..."

"No! Don't even think about it!" Dong'er shouted, guarding her heart, "I won't hand over the Dragon Pearl! I don't want to turn back into a dragon without magic and wait for death! What does the fate of an insignificant Wangchuan City have to do with me!"

Hearing her words, I really have the mind to kill her!

Wangchuan City is right above me, where the most ordinary group of humans in the world live a peaceful and happy life. There are also countless demons that come and go or live there, many of whom are old acquaintances of mine; mischievous or kind, harmless creatures. There's also my "Unceasing," and all my important memories, second only to Fulong Mountain, are in this city.

I've said it before; that place is my home. As a member of the family, I cannot stand by and watch the lively Wangchuan turn into a city of the dead buried underground. But he said only the Dragon Pearl can replenish his vital energy. Where can we possibly find a Dragon Pearl? Moreover, which dragon would willingly give up their Dragon Pearl? That would be suicidal! The tremors grew stronger, cracks multiplied, and the entire underground world began to shake.

"Let me go! Please let me go! I don't want to die here!" Dong'er cried in fear, tearing at the thread in her ankle. Jiu Jue said from the side, "Damn! Can the spiritual power of all of us support this turtle's burden?"

"No, Xuanwu's true body can only be sustained by himself. No matter how high our spiritual powers are, it's useless," Zimiao shook his head.

Suddenly, someone shouted, "Take it!" A one-inch-sized sphere, wrapped in dazzling purple-golden flames, whirled towards Xuanwu.

I turned back in surprise, but behind me, I no longer saw Ao Chi's figure, only a crawling purple-scaled giant dragon, its mouth wide open, breathing laboriously.

"If it's for replenishing your vital energy, my Dragon Pearl is more suitable than hers," Ao Chi, who had lost his human form, squeezed out these words nonchalantly.

Everyone present, including Dong'er, was shocked speechless by Ao Chi's actions. Even Xuanwu himself was taken aback, holding the hot Dragon Pearl in his hands without saying a word. I rushed over and hugged the massive dragon head, angrily demanding, "Take it back!"

"Don't mind my business," Ao Chi shook me away with a head toss, pinning me down with his tail to prevent me from meddling in. Then he turned to Xuanwu, "Aren't you going to swallow it? Afraid of choking to death?" Xuanwu tilted his head back, and the Dragon Pearl entered his mouth.

Within a few seconds, all tremors ceased, and even the previous cracks miraculously disappeared. The fallen rocks even returned to their original positions, as if the earthquake had been nothing but an illusion.

"Brother Ao Chi..." Dong'er stared blankly at him, no longer laughing like a maniac, but only wearing a look of disbelief. A dragon without its Dragon Pearl will die and decay come the next winter. Each dragon's Dragon Pearl is unique, irreplaceable, and impossible to replicate. Ao Chi slowly loosened his tail, and his head, which he had been trying to lift, crashed heavily onto the ground.

"You..." I ran over to him, at a loss, holding his now limp huge head. "Stop pretending to be dead! You're so big, I can't carry you! Get up!" At this point, I couldn't continue, tears falling onto his scales.

"I'm not dead yet, what are you crying for?" He rolled his eyes and looked at Zimiao, "Come here." Zimiao walked over and crouched in front of him.

"You entrusted this guy to me that year, and I've looked after her for so long..." He spoke slowly. "Though I really hate you, I know that the only person in the world who is better suited to take care of her than me is you. Since fate has brought you back, this troublesome burden is destined to be returned to you."

Zimiao smiled, hesitant to speak.

"Ao Chi, I'm not a thing to be handed over as you please!" I was both sad and anxious, speaking without thinking.

"Haha, well said, not a thing... Haha." Ao Chi caught onto my slip of the tongue and actually laughed. As he laughed, his eyes looked at me. "I really... love you. It was only that night, when I saw you sleeping so peacefully next to Zimiao, that I truly began to reflect on why you never showed such a gentle smile in front of me. What have I really brought you over all these years..."

"As*hole, you've misunderstood! It's not what you think!" I was anxious. How come he never takes a closer look at my thoughts? Always assuming he knows everything after only seeing part of it! Why couldn't he change it after all these years?

"You say Wangchuan is your home. I'll leave it to you." He took a long breath, slowly closing his eyes. "I'm tired. Let me sleep for a while."

"No, you can't sleep! Get up and argue with me!" I slapped him repeatedly, the rough scales leaving bloodstains on my hands, but I couldn't stop.

Zimiao grabbed my hand: "There's still one year until the next winter."

"Yeah, don't panic right away," Jiu Jue scratched his head, pacing back and forth.

Everyone knew that without his Dragon Pearl, Ao Chi faced only a dead end, not just in a year, but even in ten or a hundred years. No one would believe that Ao Chi would give up his precious Dragon Pearl for "just a small city." It was too unprofitable a trade.

But all he said was that it is my home, so he has to "leave it."

Dong'er collapsed to the ground like a fool, muttering Ao Chi's name. Suddenly, as if electrocuted, she sat up and frantically searched her body until she found a sachet. She tore it open and found inside only three words - "Just this once.^[1]"

Just as everyone was puzzled, the paper suddenly rose naturally into the air, crumbling into ashes in a few seconds. With a whoosh, the ashes flew up and formed an arch shape in mid-air.

Accompanied by a bout of coughing, the "door" in the air was pushed open, and a chubby old man with a white beard, standing less than two and a half feet tall, jumped out. Surveying the situation, he clicked his tongue: "A bunch of troublemakers, and they have to find me to clean up the mess."

With that, he walked over to Dong'er, gently snapping the thread passing through her ankle and helping her to her feet. Shaking his head, he said, "Girl, I've been hoping you wouldn't open that sachet. But I also knew you definitely would."

Dong'er seemed to have seen the great savior, kneeling in front of the old man. "Please find a way to save Brother Ao Chi! He gave the Dragon Pearl to Xuanwu!"

"Huh? He chose to give the Dragon Pearl to Xuanwu?" The old man stroked his beard, nodding, "Hmm, that's his choice." He then looked at Dong'er kneeling before him, "And what about you?"

"I..." Dong'er, anxious and frightened, blushed and was unable to speak.

"You could have chosen to exchange your own Dragon Pearl for Ao Chi's before Xuanwu swallowed it," the old man said with a smile.

"I... I just hesitated for a moment..." Dong'er lowered her head even further. The old man helped her up and said lightly, "Girl, do you remember what I said to you when you left Yizhu Cave?" Dong'er pursed her lips.

"Anyone who can't make a choice has only one answer - they only love themselves." The old man chuckled. "Girl, you don't really love someone as you think!" He then turned to look at Ao Chi and me, "But they are different. Hehe."

"Sir, you are…" Zimiao stepped forward, examining the old man.

"Hehe, Xuanwu Wangchuan," the old man replied with a smile, then nodded towards the stone platform. "That's my dear brother."

Two Xuanwus?! "Can't really be counted as two," the old man floated leisurely towards the stone platform. "Xuanwu Wangchuan has two primordial spirits, one tortoise and one snake. I am playful^[2] and left this cumbersome true body for my honest brother to take care of. Ah, this is something outsiders don't know."

"What are you doing here? Haven't you been shutting yourself up to reflect on your mistakes in the East China Sea?" The snake-tailed man didn't even spare him a glance.

"I feel guilty for letting you carry the name of Xuanwu alone for so many years," the old man landed beside him, sitting side by side. "Dear brother, the dragon girl you love will never come back. She can never come to wake you up. You've known this fact for a long time, but you refuse to admit it. Although our true body is sealed, our primordial spirits are free. Yet, you've kept yourself locked up here all year round, just to wait for someone who will never return. You really should not."

"What's good about you? Both the Flower Demon sisters were in love with you. One made steamed ribs for you, and the other made braised ribs for you. When they asked which one you preferred, you couldn't answer. In the end, you couldn't make a choice, causing both infatuated demons to die in depression. Since then, you've been hiding in the Yizhu Cave as a prisoner, ignoring worldly affairs. Coward!" The snake-tailed man retorted disdainfully.

"Acting a prisoner hasn't been in vain. At least I've grasped a truth related to choice," the old man curled his lips, then became serious. "Well, let's talk about our matters later. Return that Dragon Pearl to its rightful owner. I have returned to our true body, which is enough to support the city on your back. As for the vital energy you lost, I will help you regain it through practice. Let go of these juniors who have made the same mistakes as us."

I couldn't believe my ears. Did he say he's returning the Dragon Pearl?! Before I could ask, Ao Chi's Dragon Pearl had already flown out of the snake-tailed man's mouth, and with a snap of the old man's fingers, Ao Chi's mouth opened wide, and the Dragon Pearl went in with a whoosh. Does this mean Ao Chi doesn't have to die?!

I hugged this big dragon boy in ecstasy and disbelief, pressing my face against his, tears of joy streaming down my face. But just a few seconds later, my arms were empty, and I almost fell to the ground. When I opened my eyes, the massive dragon was nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was a chubby little purple dragon, barely two feet long, lazily lying on the ground.

What the heck is going on here?!

"Don't worry," the old man chuckled, "Because his Dragon Pearl was occupied for a while, it lost some spiritual energy. Naturally, it will take some time for it to return to normal after returning to his body. When the Dragon Pearl is damaged, his dragon form will also change accordingly. What you see now is what he looked like as a baby. It's fine. Just keep him well fed and watered, and in just a year, he'll be back to normal."

Ao Chi as a baby... I picked up this chubby little thing from the ground, feeling dumbfounded. He rolled his eyes at me, yawned, then buried his head in my arms and fell asleep. After all the twists and turns, I suddenly realized that I had to be his nanny for at least a year!

"It's getting late, all of you should return. We brothers are going to sleep well for another thousand years. Xuanwu needs to sleep to have strength." The old man waved to us, then glanced meaningfully at Zimiao. "Off you go, off you go. Haha."

"I..." Dong'er stood beneath the stone platform, feeling lost.

"You, with your noble status and pampered upbringing, seem docile but are actually arrogant. If you don't listen and burn your own hands, you'll never understand that boiling water should not be touched carelessly^[3]." The old man waved a hand at her. "Go back to the East China Sea and cultivate well. Remember, everything has its destiny, and forcing things will never yield results."

Dong'er lowered her head and dragged her feet as she walked away. When she passed by me, she cast an extremely complicated look my way. Holding Ao Chi in my arms, I stood in this place I was about to leave. I can't describe how I felt, only say I'm glad that I have a healthy and strong heart.

---

Footnotes:

[1] Four in Mandarin - 下不为例: not to be repeated; just this once.

[2] 贪玩: to be preoccupied with having fun; to only desire to have a good time.

[3] Basically, "Only after burning your own hand will you understand that you shouldn't play with fire."

Previous ┃ TOC ┃ Next

Wangchuan - Part 10

When the stars first appeared, we stopped in the sky above Wangchuan. The familiar city twinkled beneath our feet with its own lights, resembling a mirror laid upon the ground, capturing all the light from the sky within. I asked the reason for the sudden halt.

"Look at the city under your feet." Zimiao looked at the ground in silence, his moon-white robe glowing faintly in the air.

I lowered my head, seeing the city below for the first time from such a height and detail. I couldn't discern anything peculiar. "What's so special?"

A glint of bright lake-blue floated over. Jiu Jue brushed aside his tousled hair and reminded me, "Look carefully! I suggest washing your eyes with spiritual power. What does this city resemble?" I widened my eyes and infused my tired eyes with spiritual energy.

The lights of Wangchuan gradually blurred and dimmed, but an outline became as clear as a prominent boundary line. It meandered through the city beneath me, connecting and enclosing. This "boundary," which couldn't be defined by any substance, outlined Wangchuan and wrapped it up, presenting before me an odd shape.

"See it?" Jiu Jue asked again.

I raised my head, answering uncertainly, "Tortoise?"

The "boundary" visible only with spiritual power had vividly "drawn" the city of Wangchuan below into a gigantic creature with a tail and all four limbs intact, crawling motionless on the vast ground.

"It's the divine beast Xuanwu^[1]," Zimiao corrected.

"Xuanwu?" I was taken aback. "Didn't that creature perish in the great disaster thousands of years ago?"

It is said that as early as in ancient times, the Supreme Goddess Nüwa once used a divine beast with a turtle's body and a snake's tail as a mount, which became Xuanwu. After the death of Goddess Nüwa, this divine beast wandered everywhere, and was later brought under the control of the Emperor of Heaven. However, because Xuanwu only liked darkness, the Emperor of Heaven dispatched it to man underground in the human realm. It is said that any place protected by Xuanwu's divine power will be impregnable. Even if mountains collapsed, the earth split, or floods ravaged, they would not bring any harm. However, after the great flood that almost wiped out all life^[2] thousands of years ago, Xuanwu disappeared without a trace. The most widely circulated theory is that it was too old and drowned in the flood.

"Its death is just 'they say,'" Zimiao smiled. "Xuanwu is just the title of this creature; it has its own name." He paused. "It's called Wangchuan."

"Wangchuan?!" I looked again at the city below my feet. The boundary that outlined the giant turtle gradually faded away. I pondered for a moment. "So, the missing Xuanwu is beneath Wangchuan City?"

"It should be said that this giant turtle carries the entire Wangchuan City on its back." Jiu Jue clicked his tongue, "Only it can endure for so long."

"It shouldn't have met this fate. It's all because it met someone it shouldn't have back then," Zimiao shook his head with a sigh, heading down.

"You mean that dragon girl?" Jiu Jue followed him, "What happened to her later? You never really told me."

"Nothing, she gave up her dragon form and went to the village saved by Xuanwu to live to a ripe old age in conjugal bliss with her sweetheart," Zimiao said indifferently.

The wind whistled past, and I couldn't quite catch what they were talking about. Annoyed, I grabbed the two of them and demanded loudly, "What are you talking about? Why have I never heard you talk about Xuanwu before?"

"My dear, it's a fact that we're much older than you, so naturally, we know a lot more than you. But we're not storytellers. We don't have the time to tell you everything we know," Jiu Jue flicked my head. "Who knew this old turtle would suddenly pop up. It confused me too."

"Everything happens for a reason. You probably know the whole story, right?" Zimiao glanced down at the cinnabar mark on his palm, then looked at Jiu Jue, "After the battle between the Third Princess and it at Duan Lake, I'm afraid things will be a little tricky."

"It hates those who break their promises the most," Jiu Jue sighed. "So it's clear that the girl has attracted big trouble."

"You..." I stomped my foot.

"Don't be anxious," Zimiao smiled gently. "You'll know what you need to know in due time."

The three of us flew towards the ground, the sky getting farther away. The closer we got to Unceasing, the harder my heart pounded. Facts proved that my rapid heartbeat was indeed a harbinger—

It was the first time I saw "Unceasing" in such a sorry state. Furniture and objects were overturned and shattered, everywhere was scorched by fire, water on the ground flowed haphazardly like a stream, there was a cacophony of voices outside the shop, firefighters cautiously carried out the aftermath work amidst the lingering smoke, and the sirens on the fire trucks spun rapidly. The old lady from the grocery store next door, the eye-catching man who often sold insurance nearby, and others gathered outside the shop, gesturing and discussing animatedly.

The three of us concealed our figures and stood amidst the walls that looked like burnt rice cakes, gazing up at the sky—it was very convenient to see the night sky now, since we didn't know where the ceiling of the hall had gone. In just half a day since leaving Wangchuan, "Unceasing" had experienced a terrible explosion. I picked up a small piece of charred wood and noticed a faint blue glow around the edge of the wood. I said to Zimiao and Jiu Jue, "Only the Samadhi True Fire spat out by Ao Chi would leave such a blue light."

"This boy returned to the East China Sea with his first wife? He must have been angry with you for leaving without saying goodbye, so he set fire to your shop!" Jiu Jue speculated with a mischievous grin.

"Impossible!" I immediately vetoed his guess. Ao Chi is hateful, but not nasty. Zimiao was on the other side, observing carefully, "Perhaps the debt collector came knocking, but it's hard to say."

I searched everywhere in Unceasing, but Ao Chi didn't leave any traces except this fire. He had disappeared again, and also in such a sudden manner. I tried hard to hide my panic.

"It doesn't seem like arson; it looks more like a fierce battle," Zimiao said as he moved aside a pile of boards and bricks, revealing a crack as thick as an arm on the ground, stretching right through the hall.

Jiu Jue stood in the middle, closing his eyes and murmured something, concentrating for a while before shaking his head. "Apart from the three of us, there's no one else's scent here. With just my spiritual power, I can't find out where Ao Chi is."

"Why bother finding him? It's better if he's dead^[3]!" I kicked away a chair that was only half intact.

"You're acting like a child again," Zimiao shook his head with a smile, then became serious. "If we don't find him and the Third Princess as soon as possible, the entire Wangchuan City could be in trouble."

I snapped back to reality.

"Give me the dragon scale," I reluctantly held out my hand to Jiu Jue.

My spells, for the most part, were taught by Ao Chi. He also taught me that to track a dragon, all I needed was to obtain one of its scales. By casting a spell, I could then learn its whereabouts. He even, in a self-flattering gesture, gave me one of his dragon scales as a gift, saying that if he ever disappeared, I could use it to find him. But I only told him, "If I were to search for you because of your sudden disappearance, then I wouldn't be myself anymore. If you choose to leave, don't leave behind any lingering memories. I respect all your decisions." After I said this, he angrily took back the gift, cursed me for being ungrateful and heartless, and finally said, "If you don't want it, then don't. I also don't want to give it up. Anyway, I'll always be here and won't disappear. The one who disappears may be you."

That day, as I watched his melancholic figure depart, I quietly smiled. Not accepting his dragon scale wasn't because I didn't care, but because I believed. I believed that he wouldn't suddenly "disappear." Of course, I didn't tell him that in the twenty years that he left me, I regretted it many times to myself. If I had his dragon scale, I wouldn't have spent twenty years without finding him. It wasn't until later that I realized what he wanted to give me at that time wasn't just a dragon scale, but an unbreakable rope. He loved being alone and unfettered so much, yet he was willing to tie a rope around himself and hand me the other end. Even if we were to be separated worlds apart, it wouldn't let me lose him. Things change with the passage of time, and now, who has lost whom?

Just as I took the dragon scale handed to me by Jiu Jue, a huge tremor surged from the ground beneath. The walls began to shake, broken bricks and rotten wood fell down, and there were loud cracking noises.

I could imagine how many screaming humans and collapsing buildings were in the streets and houses outside the store. All of this was surely related to the gigantic turtle below the city.

I placed the red dragon scale in my palm, reciting the incantation Ao Chi had taught me. I drew circles on the scale with my fingers, then put my hand on the ground, and the dragon scale transformed into a sharp light that shot out from the ground, leaving a faint red trail pointing straight ahead.

The three of us followed along the trail of light, and we found its end in Unceasing's kitchen. This small place had been thoroughly wrecked by a powerful external force, with the stove and cabinets reduced to thick shards scattered all over. A large chunk of cement slab lay toppled in the middle, and the red light of the dragon scale pierced through it.

Zimiao stepped forward and lifted the cement slab with a palm. After the rising smoke and dust disappeared, a black hole with a diameter of over two meters was revealed. Standing at the edge of the hole, I leaned in to look. Inside the hole, there was no source of light, only darkness, and no strange odor, just a suffocating pressure that seemed to stifle my breath emanating from the opening.

"If Ao Chi is still with his first wife, then they must be down there," I remarked, tapping the edge of the hole with my foot. As soon as I finished speaking, a hand suddenly emerged from the hole, grabbing onto my ankle. From the seemingly bottomless darkness, a faint cry for help echoed. Before I could react, I felt my body plummeting, dragged down into the hole in a daze.

A rush of icy, damp air swept past my body. I couldn't see anything, and the hand gripping my ankle exerted a force so strong it felt like it would crush my bones. It was like a surge of power that only explodes when one grasps at a lifeline. I couldn't estimate how deep the hole was; all I knew was that I was falling endlessly, as if there was no end in sight.

---

Footnotes:

[1] Xuanwu is usually depicted as a turtle entwined together with a snake. It is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations, representing the north and the winter season. The Four Symbols are mythological creatures and viewed as the guardians of the four cardinal directions. These four creatures are also referred to by a variety of other names, including "Four Guardians", "Four Gods", and "Four Auspicious Beasts". They are the Azure Dragon of the East, the Vermilion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Tortoise (also called "Black Warrior") of the North.

[2] Sounds like the Genesis flood narrative to me.

[3] This line translates more closely to "It's clean only after (his) death." This expression implies that a problem or a troublesome situation can only be resolved or cleared up completely through someone's death. It's a way of expressing frustration or extreme dissatisfaction.

Previous ┃ TOC ┃ Next

Wangchuan - Part 9

"You?!"

"Um."

"Good to see you back."

There were no exclamations of surprise, no tears. With only a strong hug, the two men encapsulated centuries of separation.

This was the scene when Jiu Jue and Zimiao met. I knew it would be like this. These two men from the Immortal Clan, who once drank wine and played chess as they gossiped about everything under the sky, were as familiar as siblings who shared everything. Their tacit understanding is rooted deeply, unaffected by time or space. It is precisely because of this familiarity and tacit understanding that they can calmly accept both separation and reunion.

"Years ago, you just smelled the wine I brewed and passed out," Jiu Jue poured half a cup of wine into my cup, blinking deadpan, "With such a criminal record, I shouldn't even let you near my wine."

"Times have changed," I grabbed the cup and drank the wine in one gulp, staring straight at him, "I've taken pains to come all the way to this lousy winery of yours where even birds don't shit, full of kindness to console a jilted old man, and you're not even willing to give me a drink! I despise you!"

"You dare to say that to me? You returned to Wangchuan early without even notifying me, thinking you were still gadding about abroad! If I didn't call you with the big gossip of breaking up, would you have shown up so quickly?" Jiu Jue snorted and poured me another half cup.

"Your skills have improved again," Zimiao sniffed the contents of the cup lightly, took a sip, and gave Jiu Jue a thumbs up, "Only you can control the interesting flavor of this wine just right, each cup with its own unique taste."

"No matter how well it's brewed, it needs someone who can appreciate it before it's perfect," Jiu Jue raised his glass to Zimiao. The light from the lamp was just right, casting shadows on the wall, the clink of the two men's cups resounding clearly. In the rich aroma of wine, the silhouettes of the two men on the wall were as vivid as any ink painting.

Jiu Jue's winery, let's call it his home, is located in the outskirts of another city. It takes about three hours by plane from Wangchuan to get there. It took Zimiao and me twenty minutes, and if not for me taking the wrong route, it would have been even faster.

I seldom come here. First, besides the wine, there's nothing else here. It's boring. Even Jiu Jue himself rarely stays here. He once affectionately and artistically claimed not to be an otaku, but a man who wants to wander everywhere on his own, like the wind. Second, Jiu Jue rarely invites me of his own accord. He says he's afraid I can't handle the enchanting aroma of the wine here, and that I'll secretly drink up all his wine without paying. If it weren't for getting dumped, he definitely wouldn't have called me to the winery. The winery is not only his home, but also an important place where his hard work and thoughts are stowed.

The layout here is the same as before, except for the large floor-to-ceiling window in front, which looks a bit modern. Everywhere else is rich in ancient style: white walls, red columns, gauzy curtains, pearwood furniture, blue-and-white porcelain decorations, not to mention numerous antique calligraphy and paintings. The orchids in the corners of the room emit a faint fragrance, and a piece of semi-cursive script on the wall behind reads, 'green trees bend to cover the corners of the house, green mountains mend the gaps in the wall^[1].' It perfectly matches the green hills and lush trees outside the window. Just taking a look at such a place is relaxing and joyous.

However, from the moment Zimiao and I entered until now, Jiu Jue hasn't mentioned anything about the breakup. He's just reminiscing with Zimiao and teases me, looking as calm and composed as ever. There's not a trace of the traits of someone who's experienced a breakup. It's clear that all his wailing and crying on the phone was just an act!

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be getting married? But got dumped? You, you..." I grabbed Jiu Jue, stumbling over my words, "Are you going to hang yourself or jump into the river?"

"Ha, you had a bit too much to drink, didnt you!" Jiu Jue poked my head with gloating, then turned to Zimiao, "Look at the guy you trained, she still hasn't made any progress." He steadied me as I swayed, "The one heartbroken is probably you, right?" These words were probably the most effective hangover cure in the world.

"You went to Unceasing?" I instantly sobered up. I remembered not mentioning a word of the melodramatic incident that just happened to me to Jiu Jue.

"I don't have time to visit your little shop," Jiu Jue shook his head, laughing, "But seeing your miserable face, I guessed right away. Don't forget who your Uncle Jiu Jue is."

I punched him hard, "Spill it! How did you know?"

"Let me think." Jiu Jue deliberately tilted his head back, contemplating the sky, before saying after a while, "Actually, I just guessed." He lowered his head, looking at me with a forced smile, then glanced at Zimiao, "Uninvited guests stir up the sea of emotions. Men and women in this world are all alike."

He still had the mind to compose poetry? I threw up my hands, then, fueled by alcohol, grabbed Jiu Jue's collar, "You really live up to your reputation as an old fox, guessing everything right! Yes, my family has a relative from the East China Sea who says she's the first wife of my man, and Ao Chi doesn't deny it at all. I'll do them a favor, I came here to drink with you, so they can fly off together!"

I just said what I wanted to say, talking without rhyme or reason, as I unleashed all the pent-up resentment and grievances in my belly. It's not that I can't tolerate Ao Chi's contempt towards me. The world that belonged to me, once a wasteland, had been repaired and rebuilt single-handedly by Ao Chi at a moment I hadn't even noticed. I was so sure that Ao Chi loved this world deeply because I was in it. This world, which took so much time and effort, belonged only to him and me, not allowing a fault to violate it in any way. He wouldn't allow it, and neither would I.

And at the moment, my greatest grievance is that the one overturning this world is Ao Chi himself. The sadness and powerlessness of seeing one's own backyard on fire couldn't be diminished no matter how many buns I ate. I clutched onto Jiu Jue, my voice increasingly softer and slower, my tears washing away the words I wanted to say. I'm just glad that the people in front of me were Jiu Jue and Zimiao. In front of them, I don't feel ashamed no matter how crazy I act. I trust them and see them as family. In front of family, anything is okay.

Family, a concept that had always been vague, became incomparably clear at this moment. After releasing all my emotions without reservation, my confused and desolate heart suddenly realized that Zimiao was so naturally put under this concept by me, without any hindrance or melancholy.

"Alas, a woman in love is indeed brainless. Even you, a millennia-old tree demon are no exception," Jiu Jue patted my back gently, but his words were still mean. "That's why they say, falling in love is risky, and you need to be cautious when getting married. Cry if you want, I won't laugh at you."

Zimiao said nothing, calmly drinking, one cup after another.

Finally, I punched Jiu Jue hard, wiped away my tears forcefully, and took a deep breath, saying, "I'm fine."

"Are you sure you are calm and comfortable here and here?" Jiu Jue pointed to his heart, then to his head.

Much better. Zimiao is right. When hungry, eat; when angry, let it out. That's the way.

"I said I'm fine." I glared at him, grabbing his sleeve to wipe my nose.

"My coat is expensive! Missy!" Jiu Jue yelled and retracted his hand, grabbing tissues to wipe his sleeve vigorously, shaking his head as he did so. "Well, it seems like you're back to your senses now. I can talk to you..." He glanced at Zimiao, "...guys about a little problem."

"Are you finally going to talk about your heartbreak?" I blew my  nose hard.

"Heartbreak is a fact, but what I really want to tell you is a hundred times more important than heartbreak," Jiu Jue said, standing up to get a small wooden box from his antique desk drawer. Opening it, he said, "Take a look at this."

On the snow-white brocade at the bottom of the box, a scale the size of a thumb lay neatly arranged. The bottom was as translucent as jade, with a wisp of vermilion extending upward, growing brighter as it climbed, like a red cloud spreading from within, sparkling and translucent, with shimmering colors. After a brief examination, Zimiao said, "Dragon scale?"

"Not just any dragon scale, it's the most noble dragon scale from the East China Sea Dragon Clan," Jiu Jue said, looking at me. "Do you know where I found this?"

"Why on earth did you go to the East China Sea?" I blurted out.

"I found this in the Dongting water tomb." Jiu Jue looked at me gravely. "Not long ago, someone broke into the water tomb and stole the bracelet on Jingjun's wrist." He turned to Zimiao. "You know the origin of that bracelet, right?"

"They filled in the missing pieces of my story," Zimiao nodded.

"Who has the ability to break into the water tomb?" I was surprised. Could it be that a demon seeking quick success and instant benefits was driven to desperation and stole the "Eyes of the Water God" to improve their cultivation?

"At first, I was also puzzled. I wandered around the water tomb but found no clues. Before leaving Junshan last night, I couldn't let go and went back into the water tomb once more. It was then, under the severed roots of that foolish tree inside the tomb, that I found this dragon scale," Jiu Jue picked up the remarkable scale. "I recognized this as a dragon scale, so I caught the Dragon Lord of Dongting to account for it. Only then did I learn that this thing came from the East China Sea Dragon Clan."

"Although the Dragon Lord of Dongting is not as noble as the East China Sea Dragon Clan, he's still a divine dragon. Even if he only governs Dongting Lake, he's not easy to deal with. How did you manage to manipulate him?" Zimiao chuckled. "Looks like you've made another devious move."

"You've got it wrong. I simply brought a jar of hundred-year-old Snow Red wine, and that old fool Dragon Lord of Dongting went crazy with joy. A few cups in, and he spilled everything. When it comes to brewing wine, who in the Three Realms can match me?" Jiu Jue proudly tapped the jug. "You guys don't know, but when that old guy saw this dragon scale, it was as if his little mung bean eyes lit up, and he kept calling out 'Third Princess.'"

"Third Princess?" I was stunned, grabbing Jiu Jue and asking urgently, "And then?"

"And then? Well..." Jiu Jue paused. "The story after that probably has something to do with you. Otherwise, why would I call you here?"

My mind, which had been clouded by anger, gradually began to clear. The robbed water tomb, the dragon scale, the sudden turmoil between me and Ao Chi, all these previous coincidences that were too coincidental, started to organize themselves into a coherent narrative.

"That old fool said that among the East China Sea Dragon Clan, there's a Third Princess with a body covered in red scales. Among all the dragons of the East China Sea, only her scales shine with the colors of dawn. This Third Princess's maternal grandfather is the younger full brother of the current Dragon King. Because of her gentle and charming nature, as well as her exquisite beauty, she is adored by everyone in the East China Sea and the old Dragon King early on decided to betroth her to his grandson," Jiu Jue is bright-faced and sparkly-eyed whenever he talks about such gossip.

But I felt nauseated hearing this. Third Princess, the Dragon King's granddaughter-in-law—each word stabbed me like a knife, each sentence choked me like a bun.

Seeing my darkened face, Jiu Jue chuckled and patted my head, "It's okay, it's okay. Close relatives have no future. Be good, don't get angry, okay?"

"Dragons don't have to follow the rules of human reproduction," I pushed away his hand. "Continue!"

"On the day of the Third Princess's wedding to... well, to Ao Chi, this evil dragon, right after worshiping Heaven and Earth in front of all the guests, suddenly talked about something with the old Dragon King, then abandoned the bride and left the East China Sea. It's just that he was captured by the old Dragon King shortly afterward and imprisoned in the Ice Prison of the East China Sea Dragon Palace for many years. In the end, probably because the tough old Dragon King couldn't bear to punish his own grandson, he was released. But there are also rumors that the evil dragon, Ao Chi, broke out of the Ice Prison by his own abilities. After that, no one in the East China Sea Dragon Clan could control him, so they had to let him leave the East China Sea and do as he pleased."

"So, he was imprisoned in the Ice Prison because of this incident," Zimiao shook his head with a smile. "Initially, I thought he had committed some heinous shady business. This evil dragon is really an unusual thing."

"What did he say to his grandfather? At his wedding." I suddenly wanted to know this.

Jiu Jue shrugged: "Ao Chi only whispered to the old Dragon King, so only the two of them know what was said. The Dragon King considered it a family scandal and forbade anyone from talking about it, so not many people know the inside story. The Dragon Lord of Dongting happened to be one of the invited guests at the time, so he knows this story well. Moreover, what that old lecher can't forget is the Third Princess's beauty. Last night, while we were drinking, he kept telling me how ethereal and gentle she was, how she didn't lose her composure even when abandoned by her husband on the spot, and how she was even busy comforting the old Dragon King who was half-dead with anger."

My body slumped. The first wife is a fact, the marriage is a fact, and he didn't deny it because they are facts. She said that she had been waiting for him, waited for so long, for thousands of years, as a wife.

My anger, my grievances, suddenly seem unfounded and unreasonable. The one who should be angry and aggrieved isn't me…

"I admire this Third Princess of the East China Sea," Zimiao suddenly said, a hard-to-guess smile on his face that only he himself could understand.

"I admire her too!" Jiu Jue chuckled and leaned over, striking an exaggerated pose of brotherly unity with Zimiao.

"You guys..." I suppressed a strange sour feeling in my heart and said, "I know, you admire her for her grace and elegance, unlike me, who runs amok when unhappy and eats buns ferociously when angry, completely lacking the qualities of a virtuous woman."

Jiu Jue burst into laughter, his lake-blue hair swaying frivolously in the lamplight; Zimiao remained as steady as a rock, only slightly raising the corners of his mouth and shaking his head helplessly. The way they looked at me was the same as it was thousands of years ago.

Time froze and rewound at this moment. I became that little tree demon again who got angry at the slightest teasing. Zimiao is still Zimiao, Jiu Jue is still Jiu Jue, nobody has changed, whether in the cave of Mount Fulong or in this small winery.

Such a feeling soothed my chaotic heart, accommodating those feelings that had almost dispersed.

"What I admire is the extraordinary forbearance of this Third Princess." Zimiao smiled, "You are different from her. You can also wait, no matter how long it takes. But your waiting and her waiting have different purposes."

"Yes," Jiu Jue agreed, "What we admire most is Third Princess's shrewness and audaciousness."

After listening to their words, I thought about it and found that the person who broke into the water tomb and stole the bracelet was none other than Dong'er who kept "squeezing me out" of Unceasing inadvertently. If she only came looking for her husband, it's unreasonable for her to break into the water tomb and find someone who has nothing to do with Ao Chi, disturbing a person who has been dead for many years.  

I carefully recalled everything that has happened recently - the plane crash, Duan Lake, Zimiao's reappearance, the theft at the water tomb, Dong'er's search for her husband... conspiracy, trap, scheme, and other words like these keep dancing before my eyes incessantly.

A chime sounded from Jiu Jue.

"I've subscribed to phone news." Jiu Jue took out his phone from his pocket, glanced at it, and was stunned, "There's been an earthquake in Wangchuan."

"Huh?" I remembered the strange cracks on the ground I saw earlier.

"The magnitude is not big. A small number of buildings are damaged, and a few people have minor injuries." The content of the message should be considered fortunate, but Jiu Jue's brow furrowed tightly.

Zimiao's expression was exactly the same. He extended his left hand, palm up, revealing a conspicuous crimson, cinnabar-like dot at the center.

I distinctly remember that there were no "birthmarks" on Zimiao's palm.

"Did you figure it out?" Jiu Jue suddenly asked.

Zimiao closed his hand into a fist, smiling, "The world is so big, there are still too many things beyond our expectations."

"Do you have anything to tell me!" I couldn't stand these two men flaunting their tacit understanding in front of me. From their eyes, I could clearly see what we were all searching for.

"Have you heard of Wangchuan?" Jiu Jue asked.

"Of course, it's the city I live in." What a stupid question.

Jiu Jue shook his head, "Not your Wangchuan, but it can also be said to be that Wangchuan." I felt like punching him.

"Enough chatter." Zimiao stepped forward, grabbing my hand and heading towards the door.

"What's going on?"

"Back to Wangchuan!"

---

[1] This line is from a sanqu(lyric form of poetry) poem titled "题临安邸" (which roughly translates to "Inscription on the Lin'an Mansion") written by Ma Zhiyuan.  

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