“Hmm, I know.” Seeing Wang Xie’s flustered look, Xiaotu found it somewhat amusing; this lovable man. The Phoenix soared through the skies, heading straight for the mountain top, piercing through the clouds. At that moment, everyone felt as if they were about to enter the realm of the heavens, surrounded by swirling white clouds. After what felt like an eternity, the Fire Phoenix finally landed on the summit of Ling Mountain, the place of legend. The ground was fertile, yet there was not a single weed or flower… just an endless expanse of flatness, nothing to see, no beautiful scenery from the mountainside… The air was not filled with the scent of flowers, nor the… It is not the fragrance of nature, but the aura! Yes! It is the aura, seeping into the heart in fine threads, wandering within the five viscera and six bowels. Taking a deep breath, somehow, every part of the body seems to relax completely, to open up entirely… “So, this is the peak of Ling Mountain,” sighed Liu Qing. “Yes, indeed. The mystery of Ling Mountain’s peak lies in the naturally gathered aura, a state of selflessness, free from worldly thoughts, just like here,” Xiaotu said softly. Ling Mountain, oh Ling Mountain, how many heroes and adventurers have perished trying to reach its summit, seeing it as the gateway to the divine realm, the source of wealth… Yet, who could have imagined that the peak of Ling Mountain would be like this…
“Ha ha ha, I was unaware of the goddess’s arrival, please forgive my lack of hospitality,” a hearty laugh reached their ears, and then, amidst this white expanse, a man in white appeared before them, almost blending into the surroundings. White, the same white, the same aura, the same otherworldliness, the same detachment… Through the veil of white, one could clearly see that the man’s appearance was ordinary, yet there was an undeniable charm that drew people in. His ethereal demeanor transcended all, indescribable, only to be felt, not explained… His wide sleeves fluttered gracefully, tracing arcs in the air with his movements, everything imbued with poetic grace… Truly, a man like poetry…
“May I ask, who are you?” For some reason, Xiaotu felt an unusual connection to this man; she was certain he would become her confidant! Absolutely!
“I am Xiaoyao Zi, the one you’ve been seeking, Goddess!” His words were pure, untouched by dust, unbound by worldly constraints. “You are Xiaoyao Zi?” Everyone was surprised; they had been tracking his traces, but wherever they went, no one seemed to know of such a person. Was “Xiaoyao Zi” even real? Yet here he was, the very man they had been desperately searching for these past few days!
“Yes, I am Xiaoyao Zi.” His smile was like a spring breeze in March, and with a flick of his sleeve, his transcendent aura was beyond comparison. “How did you know we’ve been looking for you all the way up here?” Xiaotu asked, puzzled, realizing this was the man Huolian had been searching for, Xiaoyao Zi. “Ha ha, because my heart is as calm as a mirror.” Looking at the vast white mist, Xiaoyao Zi laughed heartily. “You…” Xiaotu was about to ask if he knew Huolian when she was interrupted.
“Goddess, there’s no need for words. Huolian is an old friend of mine. Now, the urgent matter is to find your husband, the Jade Immortal of the Divine Realm.” With a slight smile, his dark eyes seemed to see through everything, piercing into one’s soul. Xiaotu smiled back; what a man Xiaoyao Zi was, with foresight and insight, no wonder he resides at the peak of Ling Mountain. Apart from this summit, where else could such a figure reside?
“Wow, you’re really clever to guess all that!” Lianlian blinked her big eyes in amazement, secretly thinking if she were as smart, she’d know what that silly boy was thinking. “Hmph, silly girl, not everyone is as dense as you,” a hand tapped her head, but with such gentleness, laced with affection. “Ah, it’s Lotus Fairy, indeed lively and innocent,” Xiaoyao Zi laughed, his eyes moving between them, perhaps sensing another fated encounter.
“Xiaoyao Zi, do you know where my husband is?” Xiaotu trembled, with excitement, anticipation, yet also fear. What was she afraid of? That this hope might be in vain… or how their reunion might unfold…
“Goddess, do not fret. If you do not mind, please accompany me to my humble abode.” He led the way into the white depths, his jade fan swaying, white robes flowing, his figure ethereal and detached. His words calmed the group’s impatience, and they followed this cloud-like man into the depths of the white fog, momentarily believing that this enigmatic figure was about to blend with the surrounding white, becoming a wisp of cloud among the mountains…
As they walked, surrounded by vast whiteness, slowly, each person’s heart was nourished, letting go of daily concerns, feeling relaxed… The sound of a gentle stream washing over stones, the cries of cranes soaring through the clouds, and Xiaoyao Zi’s words, like a refreshing spring breeze…
“Everyone, this is my humble abode.” His voice, entering their ears, created ripples of tranquility. Upon closer inspection, they saw patches of floating clouds, clumps of green bamboo, wisps of cooking smoke… Before them stood a thatched cottage, unremarkable, much like many rural dwellings, yet somehow, perhaps due to the extraordinary aura of Ling Mountain’s peak or the owner’s ethereal presence, this cottage too seemed extraordinary…
Looking at the scene before her, Xiaotu’s heart couldn’t calm down. At some point, her dream life had been to live with her beloved, secluded in the mountains, watching the sunset together every day, enjoying delicacies in a small courtyard, playing in the bamboo grove…
“Immortal, why have you summoned Huai Xu here?” Just as everyone was lost in thought, a Taoist in green approached, bowing respectfully to Xiaoyao Zi, his expression somewhat excited. “Ha ha, this matter is of great significance. Huai Xu, do you know who these people are?” With that, Xiaoyao Zi turned and walked into the cottage. Squinting her phoenix eyes, Xiaotu examined the green-robed Taoist, indeed a cultivator, his robe exuding a hint of celestial energy. Meanwhile, Liu Huai Xu was also observing this group; how had they come to the peak of Ling Mountain? It seemed Xiaoyao Zi had called him here for these seven individuals, each with their noble appearance, unique aura, and fine silk attire. More importantly, he sensed a divine power, the fragrance of cherry blossoms, and they stood out among the crowd. Here is the English of the provided Chinese text:
