The sky suddenly cleared, clouds danced, the wind ceased, and the rain stopped, revealing auspicious clouds. The Moon Star and Sun Star shone brightly in the sky. Heavenly generals and celestial beings, including the Heavenly King Li with his tower, Nezha the Third Prince, the Four Heavenly Kings, the Ten Great Marshals of Heaven, Marshal Tianpeng, the Ghost King of Great Strength, and the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions… all stood outside the Southern Gate of Heaven to pay homage to Moye. Moye, cradling the unconscious Ziyue, had tears in his eyes. “Ziyue-” A call echoed through the stars, filled with sorrow and joy. “Moye, take Ziyue to the Moon River; the Moon River can save her.” From within the Southern Gate of Heaven, Guanyin Bodhisattva of the South Sea emerged, her hands clasped in prayer, speaking to Moye. “Can the Moon River really save Ziyue?” Liu Bugun looked up and asked the Bodhisattva. “Amitabha,” the Bodhisattva chanted, “Lay her in the Moon River, and let her lie there for three times seven days, twenty-one days in total. The river will absorb the poison from her body, and she will awaken.”
Liu Bugun, both shocked and overjoyed, carried Xu Caitong and flew towards the Moon River on the back of Dapeng. They crossed thousands of mountains and rivers, returning to the side of the Moon River. Liu Bugun gently placed Xu Caitong into the river, and immediately, a silver light rose from the water, surrounded by a golden halo that enveloped Xu Caitong. “Don’t die, you can’t die. You promised me we’d continue our love for eternity.” Liu Bugun held Xu Caitong’s hand, kissing it lightly. Men don’t cry easily, but for her, he shed tears.
At the edge of the Moon River, there was a divine bird, and beside Dapeng stood a valiant man. In the river lay his wife. The villagers of Moon Village had heard the news and gathered at the riverbank to see for themselves. They saw the woman lying in the river was the girl who had returned with Yue’er from the riverbank over a year ago. Everyone was discussing it from a distance. Yue’er, who had rushed to the Moon River, parted the crowd and saw Caitong in the river, letting out a “Wah” cry before running home, only to stumble and cry incessantly upon entering. Ruiping came over to help her up, brushing off the dust, and asked, “What’s wrong, my dear?” “The lady is lying in the river,” Yue’er said between sobs. Ruiping, still not understanding, saw neighbors approaching, saying that the woman in the river was the foster daughter of their old madam. Ruiping, supporting the Old Madam Xu and leading Yue’er, came to the riverbank. Seeing Caitong lying in the water, Ruiping couldn’t help but call out “Miss” and burst into tears. Old Madam Xu, calling out “My dear,” approached the riverbank. Seeing Liu Bugun gripping Caitong’s hand, she asked curiously, “What is the relationship between the young master and the woman in the river? Why do you hold her hand so tightly?” “The woman in the river is my wife,” Liu Bugun replied, looking at Xu Caitong in the river. “Ah, you are my son-in-law?” Old Madam Xu said, wiping tears of joy. Ruiping explained to Liu Bugun that Xu Caitong was the foster daughter of the old madam. Liu Bugun bowed to his foster mother, then sat by the river, staring blankly at the water, holding Caitong’s hand.
Old Madam Xu ordered her four sons, Guili, Guipeng, Guizhen, and Guitang, to set up a shelter by the Moon River, providing Liu Bugun a place to rest. She reassured him that their family would take care of his meals. Xu Puran and Xu Zhizhou, upon hearing the news, came to the riverbank. Liu Bugun bowed deeply to Xu Puran, “I greet my father-in-law.” “No need for formalities, my son-in-law. My daughter is stubborn; she must have caused you trouble,” Xu Puran said, helping Liu Bugun up. “No, it’s my fault for not being able to protect her, which led to her severe injury,” Liu Bugun said, exhausted. “Brother-in-law, don’t blame yourself anymore. I know my sister well; it’s her recklessness that led to this,” Xu Zhizhou added. “No, no, it was indeed my negligence that caused her injury.” “Don’t blame yourself anymore, son-in-law. If not for my daughter leaving home without permission, we wouldn’t have reached this point. After receiving your letter and knowing you were by her side, I was at ease. Your wife is now your responsibility, to scold or to praise,” Xu Puran said. Liu Bugun shook his head, looking at Caitong in the river. The Bodhisattva had said that Caitong would wake up after lying in the river for twenty-one days, but how many days had passed? Liu Bugun was anxious, unable to eat or sleep well, his face showing exhaustion. He prayed daily, holding Caitong’s hand, hoping for divine intervention to save her. Xu Zhizhou saw the giant bird beside Liu Bugun and reached out to touch it. “Caw-” Dapeng screeched, extending its sharp claws, scratching Xu Zhizhou’s hand.
“It was the Great Peng that carried me and my wife back to the Moonlit River. It’s a divine bird, and its contribution to defeating Fuxiu was significant,” Liu Bugun said, staring at the waters of the Moonlit River, addressing Xu Puran and Xu Zhizhou. “My son-in-law is the reincarnation of Mo Ye, a hero from the time of creation; we all admire you. It’s a great blessing for my daughter, Caihong, to marry you,” Xu Puran remarked. Liu Bugun gave a faint smile, thanking his father-in-law for the praise. Xu Puran was concerned about Liu Bugun staying and eating at the Moonlit River, but Liu Bugun shook his head, saying it was no trouble. He explained that the Bodhisattva had said that if the river water of Moonlit River could absorb the poison from Caihong, she would awaken. He wanted to be the first person she saw when she woke up. Liu Bugun had been guarding Xu Caitong by the Moonlit River for ten days, not leaving her side for a moment, unable to eat or sleep, holding her hand every day, expressing his love for her.
Yue’er, a regular visitor to the Moonlit River, would come every day, asking Liu Bugun the same question: “Uncle, will Auntie wake up?” “Yes,” Liu Bugun would answer every day. “That’s great! When Auntie wakes up, I want her to teach me how to read and write,” Yue’er clapped her small hands, speaking with innocent delight. “Yes, Auntie will definitely teach you,” Liu Bugun, moved by Yue’er’s innocence, said. “Auntie, please wake up soon; do you know how heartbroken Uncle is? Wake up quickly; Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, Uncle, and Aunt are all waiting for you to wake up. Yue’er will give you lots and lots of delicious food when you wake up, okay?” Yue’er, sitting by the river, spoke to the unconscious Xu Caitong.
