No one knew that when the soul-locking mark pierced her body, everything became unchangeable. That sorrowful smile, that lingering purple in the peach garden, that golden mark, all fell into a deep sleep. Adjusting the brocade quilt, leaving the room filled with lingering warmth, he would return soon, to accompany you…
Back in the grand hall, Wang Xie was once again the supreme ruler, the fearsome Demon King, sitting on the luxurious throne with an imposing aura. “Liu Qing, how are things going?” His voice was deep and resonant.
“Yikes, that little lamb, don’t be fooled by his weak appearance, he’s quite stubborn at heart.” A man in green leaned against a golden pillar, speaking coyly, his eyes seductive, his shoulders half-exposed, every move exuding charm. “I’ve taken care of things for you, shouldn’t there be some reward?” Liu Qing smiled obsequiously.
“Sure.” Gold and silver treasures, stunning beauties, delicate boys, he could choose whatever he wanted.
“How about letting me see your little beauty? Don’t be so stingy.” Liu Qing looked at Wang Xie with keen interest.
“Do you think that’s possible? I’ll give you ‘Ice Chrysanthemum’ plus ten stunning boys.” There was no anger because he knew his eccentricity and insatiable curiosity. After speaking, he disappeared without a trace.
“Hey, don’t be so stingy, really, I’m a ten-thousand-year-old snake spirit, a Snake King, hey.” No matter how he called out, no one responded, and he pouted his alluring red lips in frustration, like a child, lowering his head. Soon after, he was smiling again, his phoenix eyes gleaming with a triumphant look.
On Yinwu Mountain, a man in white with flowing black hair had searched all five realms, through heaven and earth, even to the underworld, but could not find his girl. The Soul-Locking Mark was from the demon realm, but how could Xiaotu know anyone from the demon world? His refined face…
Exhausted, Timisula and his companions had already returned to the “Land of Cherry Blossoms” to discuss strategies with the four great elders. My dear girl, where are you? I miss you so much, all because of my own inadequacy. “My dear, the strawberries are ripe, sweet, come back to eat them, or we’ll eat them all.” “My dear, the little dragon is gone too, do you think he’s looking for you as well?” “My dear, the lotus flowers are blooming, they are beautiful, shall we go boating and pick lotus seeds together?” “My dear, the night without you is terrifying, I can’t sleep, but I really want to, for in dreams, there’s you.” “My dear, can you see? The tears of the flowers are bitter, my dear, why won’t you answer me?” Tears kept flowing down, transparent and crystalline, a poignant beauty, tears tracing down a pale face, a determined beauty. My dear, the flowers miss you, miss you so much it hurts, do you miss me too? The only responses were the cries of birds and the howling wind, and the silver mist grew thicker.
Chapter Eighteen: Divine Realm
If he could, he truly wished that the “Soul-Locking Arrow” had struck him instead. If he could, he would bear the mission of “saving the myriad moons” for her. If he could… But there are no such “ifs,” because things have gone awry, what has happened has happened, and it cannot be changed. In a wooden villa, a man in white lay sprawled on the ground, surrounded by bottles of wine, the air thick with the stench of alcohol, overpowering the once delicate scent of flowers. His gaunt face now bore a hint of stubble, his once snow-white robe stained with dust, the buttons loose. The once radiant immortal, now…
“Hey… young man, alcohol is bad for you.” Suddenly, an old man with white hair and a beard twisted into a braid, dressed in colorful clothes, appeared out of nowhere, chuckling with squinting eyes. While he spoke of the harm of drinking, he himself sat down and started drinking from the jug, “Gulp, gulp.” “Good wine, good wine, it’s been ages since I’ve had such fine brew. Not bad, not bad, the human world is still the best. Hundred Flowers, no wonder you love staying here, yet you didn’t even tell me, not very loyal, not very loyal.” He grumbled while drinking.
Hundred Flowers paid him no heed, drinking his wine, thinking only that soon, very soon, he could get drunk again and dream of Xiaotu. For days now, he had numbed himself this way. Yes, he was weak, a coward, only knowing how to escape reality, but that’s just from your perspective as an onlooker. You wouldn’t understand the heart-wrenching pain unless you’ve felt it yourself. Perhaps one day you’ll try it, then you’ll know how…
“Hey, Brother Hundred Flowers, here’s some news for you, seeing as you’ve treated me to this wine. There’s a magical place in our divine realm, what was it called again?” “Oh, right, ‘Misty Forest’, that place is fun, full of monsters, yes, monsters, and demons of all sorts. Do you know why you’d go there?” “Heh, you don’t know? Let me tell you, once you enter ‘Misty Forest’, you must retrieve one thing – the last remaining multicolored stone left by Nuwa when she mended the sky. With that stone, your powers will increase significantly, very impressive.”
Upon hearing this, Hundred Flowers was startled. If he could obtain that stone, his powers would increase, and he could protect his dear girl, no longer just a “Hundred Flowers Jade Immortal” with a mere speck of magic, but someone who could shelter Xiaotu from wind and rain. Hearing this, Hundred Flowers immediately got up, dressed, and tidied himself, returning to the divine realm in high spirits, donning his golden-embroidered red robe. “Hey, Hundred Flowers, do your best, hope you achieve what you wish.” The old man, still drinking, shook his head helplessly. He hadn’t been drunk, nor had he misspoken; he had intentionally revealed this information. He was the Old Moon, in whose hands lay the red threads of countless people, but he only tied them into knots, hoping for their happiness. Xiaotu’s thread was too complex, the most peculiar he’d seen in centuries, “unsolvable,” needing no tying, for it had already formed a dead knot on its own. Strange, isn’t it? That’s what you call “fated love.” “Red beans grow in the southern land, when spring comes, a few branches bloom. I hope you gather more, for this plant brings the most longing.” The Old Moon drank to himself.
Timisula and his companions returned to the “Land of Cherry Blossoms” to discuss strategies. “We must quickly find the ‘Goddess’s’ spirit, or after forty-nine days, the spirit will shatter, and then it will be beyond remedy,” said Elder Yin, his face full of anxiety. “What? The young miss has been hit by the ‘Soul-Locking Arrow,’ locking her seven souls and six spirits, where would a spirit come from?” Milk Pudding asked with a tearful voice. “The goddess, apart from her seven souls and six spirits, also has a primal spirit. Because she came from another world, she has a primal spirit in addition to her souls and spirits. That is her true essence, and those seven souls and six spirits are merely dormant spirits. The goddess reincarnated into another world, just possessing the body of a dying infant girl. Although the infant died, she didn’t reach the underworld, just a sleeping spirit, so there’s no harm. In other words, those seven souls and six spirits are essentially useless, just an illusion,” explained Elder Yu calmly, astonishing everyone. “However, the spirit, once separated from the body without proper protection, will shatter, so we must find the goddess’s spirit within forty-nine days.” With that, the “Land of Cherry Blossoms” immediately dispatched people to search all five realms.
Chapter Nineteen: The Bride
