Chapter 31 Chasing Past Memories, Empty Hopes and Disappointed Visage:

Life on Xiao Yue Summit was very languid and lazy.

Zhuan Xu said Sheng Nong Mountain was the same as Five Gods Mountain but that wasnt true. Five
Gods Mountain had no memories but Sheng Nong Mountain! Zhi Yi! Zhe "rovin#e! it all had lots of
memories in ea#h $la#e.
Xiao Yao didnt %now if she $ur$osely didnt want to fa#e the $ast or really was lazy! but she didnt want
to go anywhere. &hen Zhuan Xu suggested she o$en a medi#al #lini# li%e she did on Five Gods
Mountain! Xiao Yao wasnt interested.
'very day Xiao Yao wo%e u$ after noon and then fli$$ed through her medi#al boo%s. (nly when ma%ing
$oisons did she $er% u$ slightly.
)he Yellow 'm$eror saw her so withdrawn and suggested *)hat boy from the Fang Feng family! his
name is Fang Feng +ei! right, - see you guys get along well! how #ome he hasnt #ome $lay with you
these $ast few years, You #an as% him to hang out together..
-t was better the Yellow 'm$eror not mention that be#ause afterwards Xiao Yao got even more
uninterested even in ma%ing $oisons. She s$ent every day sitting in a daze in the #orridor.
(ne day the Yellow 'm$eror summoned Xiao Yao and too% her into a wooden hut. -t was
s$arsely de#orated with only a /ade bo0 on the $allet that #aught the eye. )he Yellow 'm$eror said *)his
was the residen#e of the former Flame 'm$eror..
She %new whi#h former Flame 'm$eror he was referring to but #ouldnt hel$ but #onfirm *)he Flame
'm$eror that is regarded as the founder of medi#ine,.
*Yes! the one who wrote the Sheng Nong 1erb Manual! that Flame 'm$eror..
'ven though she never met him! Xiao Yao remained #urious about him after memorizing the manual so
she 2uietly loo%ed around the hut.
)he Yellow 'm$eror wal%ed u$ to the $allet and $ointed to the /ade bo0 *)his #ontains all the notes
written by the Flame 'm$eror when he was doing his medi#al resear#h. You #an read it..
Xiao Yao wasnt very interested and murmured *Sure..
)he Yellow 'm$eror added *&hether he was still alive or after he died! the entire world res$e#ts the
Flame 'm$eror more than me. 3fter uniting the Middle "lains and to sooth the $eo$les will - had no
#hoi#e but to venerate him! but in truth - never felt he was worthy until - settled at Xiao Yue Summit and
#han#ed u$on his handwritten notes. 3fter reading it #arefully - finally #on#eded that - #ould never mat#h
u$ to him. 3t least the me of the $ast #ouldnt4 Xiao Yao! - have only ever res$e#ted myself! the Flame
'm$eror is the only other $erson - ever res$e#ted and admired in my life..
Xiao Yao stared in sho#% at the Yellow 'm$eror! unable to believe that su#h an ambitious! brave! and
$roud Yellow 'm$eror #ould have /ust said that.
)he Yellow 'm$eror said *)he Sheng Nong 1erb Manual is something youve long memorized but no
matter how mu#h you %now it front to ba#% you have never truly understood it. 5ont loo% at me li%e that!
after you read it then youll understand what - mean..
Xiao Yao o$ened the bo0 and $i#%ed u$ the first s#roll and started reading.
(n#e she started she was mesmerized and didnt even %now when the Yellow 'm$eror left.
From morning until evening! from evening until morning! Xiao Yao didnt slee$ or eat and /ust %e$t on
reading.
)he notes started with the Flame 'm$eror writing that he $ersonally tested hundreds of $lants and herbs
to understand what its effe#ts were. 1e dis#overed that he was being $oisoned by the testing so he started
to #ure himself with antidotes.
)he Flame 'm$eror #arefully wrote down in detail every ty$e of medi#ine he too%.
1e needed to #atalog the effe#ts of ea#h medi#ine before and after! and then #arefully write down how it
affe#ted him after he too% it6 wea%ness! $ain! deafness! vomiting! s$asms! heart murmurs! seizures!
frothing at the mouth7..
)he notes were detailed and #alm without a shred of emotion. Xiao Yao read in it the #old star% words but
%new behind it was real $ain that a body had to endure. -n the beginning Xiao Yao didnt understand why
the $erson who #ould write the Sheng Nong 1erb Manual didnt %now how to lesson his own $ain, +ut
the more she read led her to understand that he %new how but didnt want to hel$ himself. 1e wanted to
give the $eo$le of the world a manual that listed the first rea#tion to a $lant or herb e0a#tly as it was
ingested.
8ntil the end! when the Flame 'm$eror %new there was no #ure for his $oisoned body! he still used his
body to test all sorts of medi#ines not to #ure himself but to #atalog more and more to leave behind.
)his #ould #ure heart atta#%s but would leave nerve damage9 that #an lessen ret#hing but will #ause
slee$lessness9 that #ould hel$ bodily $ain but might lead to blindness7..
-n these #old words! how dee$ was the love for the world! how magnanimous was the sa#rifi#e! how
brave and resilient was the determination.
3n 'm$eror for the ages was willing to endure su#h $ain and agony /ust to leave behind %nowledge to
hel$ the humans lesson $ain. +ut the lifes$an of the gods was so long that to devote it to e0$erien#ing
agony willingly re2uired how vast a heart full of #ourage.
)hese notes were /ust a $ortion of what the Flame 'm$eror wrote but #ontained some $lants not in#luded
in the Manual itself li%ely be#ause he didnt have time to test it re$eatedly to #onfirm. )he %nowledge
in#luded in the Manual was so detailed and $re#ise! how mu#h re$eated testing did it ta%e to #reate one
su#h Sheng Nong 1erb Manual,
3fter Xiao Yao finished reading the handwritten notes she sat there in a daze for some time before finally
leaving the hut.
)he Yellow 'm$eror stared at her 2uietly and she said *- was wrong4 - never truly read and understood
the Sheng Nong 1erb Manual4. -n the $ast she heard $eo$le tal%ing about how the Manual was the lifes
wor% of the Flame 'm$eror but she never truly #om$rehended what that meant. Now she understood that
what she had #asually learned was not /ust a medi#al te0t but the blood and guts of an 'm$erors entire
life.
)he Yellow 'm$eror nodded *-f youre wrong! how will you fi0 it,.
Xiao Yao didnt have an answer.
)he Yellow 'm$eror said *)he Flame 'm$eror didnt have time to #olle#t his final notes. 1e li%ely
doesnt #are whether - am venerating him during offi#ial $rayer #eremonies! if - #ould $resent the world
with the final #olle#tion from his notes and hel$ the $eo$le! it would be the best tribute to him. +ut - dont
%now medi#ine..
)he Yellow 'm$eror too% his hoe and headed for the fields.
Xiao Yao sat down #rossed legged and slowly #ontem$lated.
Zhuan Xu #ame in the evening and she said to him *- want to learn medi#ine..
Zhuan Xu was $er$le0ed *5ont you already %now medi#ine,.
Xiao Yao said *- learned my a##ident.. She learned by trying to $oison $eo$le and la#%ed the
fundamentals. She didnt even %now how to treat the most basi# ailments so she #ould never be
#onsidered a real do#tor.
&hen Xiao Yao was running the medi#al #lini# in Yin "rovin#e she a#tually dis#overed this limitation but
she didnt #are to fi0 it. She never intended to hel$ the $eo$le of the world with her healing so if there
were ailments she #ouldnt treat then another do#tor #ould deal with it. +ut now she fa#ed her limitations
and de#ided to #on2uer it. She wanted to forget everything she learned and start learning medi#ine from
s#rat#h.
Zhuan Xu as%ed *1ow do you want to learn medi#ine, &ant me to order 5r. Zhen to tea#h you,.
Xiao Yao shoo% her head *:ight now -m not worthy of him tea#hing me..
*&hatever you want to do! - will su$$ort you..
)here were medi#al s#hools in Zhi Yi ;astle so Zhuan Xu ordered royal $hysi#ians to ta%e turns tea#hing
#ourses there. Xiao Yao #overed her fa#e with a veiled hat and $retended to be a regular medi#al student
and started learning medi#ine from the bare basi#s.
Xiao Yao sto$$ed slee$ing in and got u$ early every day to ta%e #lasses at the medi#al s#hool. )he Yellow
'm$eror also got u$ early every day and went to tend the fields and read u$ on medi#al te0ts. (ne old!
one young! the days $assed $ea#efully on Xiao Yue Summit.
'very day Zhuan Xu would #ome have dinner with them rain or shine. 3fter years of testing Zhuan Xu
finally understood that the Yellow 'm$eror had let everything go with no intention of ever going ba#% to
rule. Zhuan Xu also gained e0$erien#e with ruling Xuan Yuan and didnt need his advi#e as mu#h so he
sto$$ed telling the Yellow 'm$eror every detail of what went on in #ourt and only shared the #riti#al
issues with him.
Most of the time Zhuan Xu never tal%ed about $oliti#s or Zhi <in "ala#e. 1e dis#ussed the land with the
Yellow 'm$eror and as%ed Xiao Yao what she learned today! the new friends she made in #lass! or
whether anything interesting ha$$ened.
Sometimes Zhuan Xu would linger after dinner to a##om$any Xiao Yao to swing or hel$ her do little
#hores or even ta%e a wal% with her in the $hoeni0 tree forest.
Xiao Yao felt nothing #hanged between her and Zhuan Xu! he was still her #losest $erson. +ut everything
was still not the same. 1e never let her go to Zhi <in "ala#e so she felt that he $la#ed her outside of his
normal daily life. +ut Xiao Yao didnt have a $roblem with that sin#e he didnt need her anymore now.
==================================
&inter left and Summer #ame! time $assed swiftly and Xiao Yao had been learning medi#ine for two
years in the medi#al s#hool.
(ne afternoon Xiao Yao wal%ed out of the s#hool and found Feng Long waiting for her. She smiled *1ow
#ome you have time today,. Feng Long smiled *-ll ta%e you ba#%..
-n the last two years! when Feng Long was in Zhi Yi ;astle he would find time to visit Xiao Yao in Xiao
Yue Summit and also #hat with the Yellow 'm$eror. 3fter Zhuan Xu arrived the four of them would then
have dinner together.
Xing Yue only visited on#e after Xiao Yao #ame to Xiao Yue Summit. 5ue to the Yellow 'm$eror!
everyone avoided Xiao Yue Summit! es$e#ially Xing Yue. She was a hostage in Xuan Yuan ;astle from
birth so the Yellow 'm$eror re$resented the s$e#tre of death to her. 1er fear of him was ingrained sin#e
#hildhood so even if she was now the 'm$ress of Xuan Yuan and the Yellow 'm$eror #ould not harm her
anymore! she still felt very aw%ward whenever she saw him. So she intentionally avoided it and if she had
her way she would have sent the Yellow 'm$eror ba#% to Xuan Yuan Mountain already.
-n her one and only visit! Xing Yue was very formal and stayed only briefly before de$arting.
Feng Long was vastly different than Xing Yue! he was ta%en at birth by the ;hi Sui #lan leader and grew
u$ in his grandfathers $rote#tive #are without any worry. 3fter he grew u$ he understood that the Yellow
'm$eror #aused his family to be s$lit into three $la#es but by su#h time it was already over. 1e mightve
been angry before but he didnt blame the Yellow 'm$eror anymore nor was he s#ared of him. 1e was
a#tually rather in awe of him! the ty$e of feeling a man with great ambition would have for another who
su##eeded. Li%e a beasts natural admiration for another $owerful beast.
)he other government offi#ials were wary so %e$t their distan#e from the Yellow 'm$eror to avoid the
aw%wardness of one nation with two rulers and lead to Zhuan Xus sus$i#ion of their allegian#e. Feng
Long was as smart as any when it #ame to $oliti#s yet with this he was #om$letely #andid and forthright!
he never avoided the Yellow 'm$eror and even used Xiao Yao to s$end more time with him. 1e li%ed to
tal% with the Yellow 'm$eror! to learn from him the histori#al events that the Yellow 'm$eror lived
through and had greater understanding of. Feng Long wanted to learn su#h wisdom and %nowledge from
an elder! su#h an o$$ortunity $eo$le dreamed of and might never e0$erien#e on#e! but be#ause of Xiao
Yao he had many o$$ortunities.
Xiao Yao and Feng Long returned to Xiao Yue Summit and Feng Long immediately ran off to find the
Yellow 'm$eror. 1e e0#itedly used his water $ower to draw a ma$ to show the army formations and
dis#ussed the atta#% strategy with the Yellow 'm$eror who listened $atiently. &hen Feng Long was done
tal%ing! the Yellow 'm$eror swa$$ed a few formations and Feng Long was rendered dumbstru#%. 1e
furrowed his brows in dee$ thought and then e0#itedly bowed to the Yellow 'm$eror in a$$re#iation.
Xiao Yao sighed and shoo% her head! she wondered if Feng Long was visiting her not be#ause he missed
his fian#ee but be#ause he missed the Yellow 'm$eror. She ignored that $air of young and old and went to
the dummy to $ra#ti#e her a#u$un#ture.
Zhuan Xu arrived to find Feng Long and the Yellow 'm$eror still dis#ussing army strategy and he
listened for a bit before wal%ing over to wat#h Xiao Yao $o%ing needles.
Li%ely she $ra#ti#ed ar#hery for so many years! she integrated the te#hni2ue into her a#u$un#ture so the
way she wielded needles was very different than other do#tors.
'ven though it was /ust a dummy! Xiao Yao treated it as a real $erson so she didnt dare sla#% off and was
#overed in sweat after her $ra#ti#e session. Zhuan Xu handed her a hand%er#hief to wi$e her fa#e and
tenderly said *)here are many do#tors in the $ala#e! why are you s$ending time learning su#h detailed
s%ills,.
Xiao Yao laughed *-f - wor% hard during the day - #an slee$ better at night..
*-s your slee$lessness better,.
*Sin#e starting to learn medi#ine! its gotten a lot better.. She still had a hard time falling aslee$ but she
wo%e u$ less during the night. +e#ause she sle$t better! her heart $ain $roblem also lessened.
Zhuan Xus e0$ression was #onfli#ted > Xiao Yaos illness was #aused by <ing and she never mentioned
him now! but after so many years she still hadnt forgotten him.
Feng Long saw Zhuan Xu and Xiao Yao #hatting in front of the dummy and #alled over *Your ma/esty!
#an you wor% a little harder $lease, ;ant you see me dis#ussing army strategy with your grandfather
over here, (f #ourse with me around youll never end u$ on the battlefield! but you should #ome learn
it4.
Zhuan Xu wal%ed over and moved the formations and immediately destroyed Feng Longs side. Feng
Long stared sla#%?/awed in disbelief.
Zhuan Xu s#offed *Sin#e - was small - was already learning su#h things with my grandfather. 1e a#ted
out all the battles he fought and ba#% then it was during the height of the Sheng Nong and Xuan Yuan war
so - heard so many battles firsthand. Many times Grandfather too% me to the battlefield and said that only
by standing in the middle of the fallen #or$ses #an - e0$erien#e the heat of the blood and understand the
sa#rifi#es of the soldiers..
Feng Longs emotions flitted from envy to /ealous to anger and finally to $ity. &hen he was $laying
$retend war with his friends! Zhuan Xu was ste$$ing over #or$ses to wal% forward.
:eal battle! real death! su#h things even an adult would have a hard time enduring! yet a very young
Zhuan Xu was standing there in the battlefield.
Feng Long sighed *For sure an 'm$eror isnt a $osition that /ust anyone #an $ossibly o##u$y..
Shan 1u announ#ed dinner and the four sat down to eat. Feng Long aw%wardly stood u$ and started
toasting ea#h $erson individually. 1e then stammered and loo%ed at everyone until Zhuan Xu im$atiently
as%ed *&hat do you want to say,.
Feng Long #hu#%led *)hat7.- was thin%ing7..my wedding to Xiao Yao ought to be s#heduled. My
grandfather wants to see great?grand#hildren and -m sure your grandfather does as well..
Xiao Yaos heart dro$$ed with a thud! li%e a $erson wal%ing on the edge of the #liff suddenly ste$$ing on
em$ty. 1er hands started to sha%e and she 2ui#%ly #len#hed into a fist and loo%ed down.
Feng Long stared at the Yellow 'm$eror who smiled *- have no o$inion! you youngsters de#ide your own
matters..
Feng Long rela0ed and immediately loo%ed at Zhuan Xu who smiled and slowly si$$ed his wine. Feng
Long %e$t staring $itifully *Your ma/esty! you have a gaggle of women so you ought to $ity a brother. -
$romised Xiao Yao - would only have her as my one woman in my entire life. - dont have a $roblem with
it and am willing to do so! but my family is an0ious that - get married..
Zhuan Xu finished his wine and smiled *)his is Xiao Yaos matters so everything a##ording to her
wishes..
Feng Long sighed and turned to Xiao Yao and wheedled *&hat do you thin%,
Xiao Yao bit her li$ and said nothing! she didnt sense anything when she and Feng Long were #oming
ba#% but he #learly #ame $re$ared. Sometimes he wasnt as #lueless as he a$$eared.
Feng Long softly said *-f you li%e living on Sheng Nong Mountain! lets as% 1is ma/esty to give us a $ea%
sin#e there are so many $ala#es uninhabited. -f you li%e Zhi Yi! the ;hi Sui #lan has a big residen#e in Zhi
Yi and you #an renovate it. -f you find both $la#es too he#ti# and want 2uiet then we #an go to ;hi Sui.
1ave you been there, )here are lots of rivers and la%es! li%e Gao Xing! so youll li%e it a lot. )he ;hi Sui
residen#e is very lovely #entered around a la%e and es$e#ially beautiful in the Summertime..
Feng Long loo%ed at Xiao Yaos e0$ression and #ontinued *-f you li%e medi#ine! you #an %ee$ learning
and even if you want to be#ome a $ra#ti#ing do#tor - would fully su$$ort you..
Xiao Yao felt that if her life was e0a#tly as Feng Long offered then it was already su#h a good life. ;hi
Sui #astle wasnt very big and was beautiful and serene. "erha$s she #an o$en a medi#al #lini# in ;hi Sui
;astle! there might not be blissful ha$$iness but there also wont be gutwren#hing sadness. )he days
would $ass in mellow #almness. She wanted to say yes but the word was stu#% in her mouth and she
#ouldnt bring herself to a#tually say it out loud so she nodded her head.
Feng Long as%ed *So you agree,.
Xiao Yao nodded again *Yu$..
Feng Long was so ha$$y he #ouldnt barely #ontain his smile. 1e s#ooted ba#% to his seat and said *-ll
write a letter to my grandfather tonight and have him send an envoy to dis#uss wedding details with the
1is ma/esty the Grand 'm$eror..
&ith this matter de#ided the four of them resumed eating. Xiao Yao was silent while Zhuan Xu smiled but
said very little. )he Yellow 'm$eror #hatted a bit with Feng Long but it was all Feng Long tal%ing and
being so ha$$y.
3fter dinner Feng Long didnt stu#% around li%e he used to and s$end more time with the Yellow 'm$eror
but instead immediately bid farewell and rushed off in e0#itement on his winged ride.
Xiao Yao wal%ed ba#% into the hut to write a letter to her dad and as% him to $i#% an aus$i#ious wedding
date for her.
3fter she wrote the letter and summoned the messenger bird! she tied the letter on its leg and was about to
release it when Zhuan Xu rea#hed out and #a$tured the bird in his one hand and grabbed Xiao Yaos hand
in his other hand.
Xiao Yao loo%ed 2uizzi#ally at him as he as%ed *3re you absolutely sure,.
Xiao Yao said *&eve been engaged for a long time and - have to get married sooner or later. Sin#e Feng
Long wants to get married soon then might as well get married soon4.
Zhuan Xu said *Youre not going to #onsider anyone else,.
Xiao Yao laughed *)o be honest you have $lenty of talented men re$orting to you and Feng Long is /ust
one of them. +ut his $ersonality is o$en and easygoing and he isnt too into roman#e! $lus hes willing to
a##e$t all my 2uir%s. &hen - agreed to get engaged to him years ago! you were the one who said there
#ouldnt be a better o$tion than him..
Zhuan Xu remained silent.
Xiao Yao *Gege4.
Zhuan Xu said *- dont want you to get married4. 1is hand was #old and his fingers were sha%ing.
Xiao Yao $atted his hand *- understand..
*You dont understand4. Zhuan Xus eyes were trained on his feet and his eyes were filled with ab/e#t
sorrow and des$air.
Xiao Yao said *- understand4 Years ago when you married Xing Yue! - also felt very u$set li%e she was
ta%ing you away from me! that we would be li%e outsiders from then on..
Zhuan Xu loo%ed u$ and stared at Xiao Yao *You were u$set when - got married,.
Xiao Yao laughed at herself and nodded *- really felt so awful ba#% then! so angry li%e something that was
mine was being stolen by another. Later - realized - was being $etty! youve been married to Xing Yue for
three years but youre still my Gege. You didnt get stolen by Xing Yue. Later when - marry Feng Long!
youre still my #losest! most trusted $erson..
+ut he didnt want /ust that! he wanted more77 Zhuan Xu #ould only smile as his heart fell. Xiao Yao
didnt want anything and only as%ed for her man to have only her. 1e no longer had the right anymore.
-t wasnt that he didnt have a #han#e with her! he a#tually had more #han#es than any of the men in her
life. &hen they were wor%ing hard to get #lose to her! he was already dee$ inside Xiao Yaos heart. -f he
but rea#hed out then no one else would ever have a #han#e. +ut he needed those mens hel$ so time and
time again he $ushed Xiao Yao towards them.
&hen Xuan Yuan ;astle was dangerous to him! he got <ings hel$. &hen he arrived in the Middle "lains
and it was dangerous in Sheng Nong Mountain! he got Feng Long and <ing to unite and ba#% him. )hen
the entire Middle "lains ba#%ed him. +ut now that he didnt need hel$ from either of them anymore! Xiao
Yao had already given her heart to <ing and $ledged her body to Feng Long.
-n Xuan Yuan ;astle! he %new that night <ing stayed all night in Xiao Yaos room. +ut he #ould only
$retend not to %now. 1e stared at the ma$ of the entire vast wilderness all night until sunrise. (n Zhi <ing
Summit! he %new Xiao Yao went to visit ;ao 3o "ea% to meet <ing and didnt #ome ba#% until the ne0t
morning but he #ould only $retend not to %now anything. 1e tensely studied his wor% all night. &hen he
was in the most dangerous moment! he %new Xiao Yao agreed to marry Feng Long /ust for him but he
#ould do nothing to sto$ it77. +a#% then he #ouldnt even $rote#t himself. 3 woman who #laimed to
love him was too s#ared to even meet with him! but Xiao Yao agreed to marry another man for him.
Zhuan Xu gri$$ed Xiao Yaos hand tighter and the messenger bird started to #ry out trying to es#a$e his
hand.
)he Yellow 'm$eror suddenly a$$eared and yelled *Zhuan Xu4.
Zhuan Xu and Xiao Yao loo%ed over at him and the Yellow 'm$eror said very gently *Zhuan Xu! release
the bird and let it go..
Zhuan Xu gradually released his hand and the messenger bird too% fight towards Gao Xing.
Xiao Yao rubbed her hand and said *)his matter is a bit abru$t! Feng Long #an be very random when he
does things..
Zhuan Xu turned to leave and his voi#e was dar% *:andom, 1e #al#ulated this better than anyone4.
Xiao Yao wat#hed Zhuan Xu disa$$ear into the #louds and as%ed the Yellow 'm$eror *5oes Zhuan Xu
and Feng Long have a #onfli#t - dont %now about,.
)he Yellow 'm$eror smiled *3 liege and his subordinate will always hel$ ea#h other but at the same time
be wary of ea#h other..
Xiao Yao wanted to say more but the Yellow 'm$eror added *Nothing to worry about! Feng Long is a
smart man and he will $lan whats best for him but will never #ross the line with his liege. +ut $eo$le
have tem$ers so if Zhuan Xu needs him then he also needs to give him some leeway. 3s the ruler Zhuan
Xu needs to have this magnitude..
Xiao Yao sighed *3fter the wedding - thin% it best if - go to ;hi Sui ;astle. -t would be too #om$li#ated
to stay here4.
)he Yellow 'm$eror smiled and then sighed. Feng Long really was the man most suited for Xiao Yao! he
#ant give her dee$ $assion but he #an give her a #alm uneventful life.
)he Yellow 'm$eror wal%ed off but then turned ba#% to see Xiao Yao sitting beside the window staring
into the dar% night in a daze. 1e #oughed lightly and Xiao Yao a$$eared to wa%e from a tran#e
*Grandfather! you havent gone to slee$,.
)he Yellow 'm$eror suddenly said *- as%ed Zhuan Xu to find any way $ossible to get Nine Lives Xiang
Liu to turn his allegian#e to us..
Xiao Yao bolted u$right and stared at the Yellow 'm$eror.
)he Yellow 'm$eror said *3ll these years! using any method! any $ersuasion! any means available! he
turned it all down..
Xiao Yao loo%ed ba#% out into the dar% distan#e and her fa#e showed no emotion! no /oy and no sorrow.
*Zhuan Xu ordered that two $ea%s in Sheng Nong Mountain be designated as off?limits and he has his
own $ersonal soldiers guarding it. You ought to %now why he did that. 'ven though Xiang Liu saved your
life! but you dont owe him anything..
================================
Zhuan Xu went to Xuan Yuan ;astle to handle some matters and didnt #ome to Xiao Yue Summit for ten
$lus days.
-t was instead Xing Yue who never #ame that de#ided to $ay a visit.
Last time Xing Yue saw Xiao Yao was when she /ust returned to Xiao Yue Summit and after that visit she
invited Xiao Yao to visit Zhi <in "ala#e to see her. Xing Yue was now the 'm$ress and she loved the
adulation and res$e#t her $osition earned her. She li%ed everyone bowing before her! even Yi Yang who
used to give her attitude now had to lower herself before her. +ut Xiao Yao remained the e0#e$tion.
Xiao Yao was very res$e#tful to her but never bowed her head to her. From birth until now! Xing Yue
never en#ountered a girl li%e Xiao Yao. She never loo%ed down on $eo$le below her nor did she $ander to
those with more $ower than her. She wanted for nothing and wished for nothing.
Xing Yue li%ed Xiao Yao be#ause she was so different than the other girls! she had this #arefree aura about
her. +ut Xing Yue hated Xiao Yao also be#ause she was so different than the other girls! all the things the
girls valued be#ame insignifi#ant when it rea#hed Xiao Yao.
Xing Yue was hiding a se#ret fear dee$ inside her. &hen she married Zhuan Xu! he had a smile the entire
time but her womanly intuition told her that Zhuan Xu was in the worst mood $ossible. She a#tually felt
that Zhuan Xu wearing all bla#% was a de#laration to the entire world that he was not ha$$y. (n their
wedding night Zhuan Xu didnt slee$ with her and she endured her an0iety and tried to be non#halant
about it. She turned over to get #loser to him but he turned over and was further from her. Xing Yue didnt
%now why but the entire night she was in a state of ab/e#t worry. She told herself over and over that
Zhuan Xu was sim$ly too tired. )he ne0t morning she got u$ and $ut on a ha$$y fa#e to head out and
re#eive the $eo$les well?wishes.
)he se#ond night Zhuan Xu still didnt want her. Xing Yue worried the entire night and by morning even
her ma%eu$ #ouldnt mas% her dar% #ir#les under her eyes. )han% goodness Zhuan Xu was as sweet to her
as always during the day and it even led to the $eo$le /um$ing to the wrong #on#lusion and /o%ing about
how Zhuan Xu was going to wear his 'm$ress out if he didnt #ontrol himself.
+y the third night! Xing Yue $ushed aside her fear and nervousness and too% off her robe and embra#ed
Zhuan Xu from behind. She wasnt as $retty as <in Xuan or as sedu#tive as Xiao Xiao! she wasnt as
gentle as Shu 1ui or as alluring as the &an Lei ;onsort7.but she was always very #ertain that she #ould
give Zhuan Xu something none of them #ould. Yet right now she was frightened.
Zhuan Xu didnt turn around and was so #old li%e a ro#%. Xing Yues tears fell and she $ressed forward to
%iss him.
Zhuan Xu finally turned around and $ressed her down underneath him. -n the dar%ness she #ouldnt see
his fa#e but her body #ould feel him. -n that moment he was li%e another $erson! his a#tions were filled
with $ent u$ longing and overflowing tenderness. Xing Yue felt that she was drowning in his $assion and
in the moment when he entered her! Xing Yues tears fell in ha$$iness. )hen she heard something! soft
and barely $er#e$tible! she heard Zhuan Xu seemingly #all out *Xiao Yao.. Xing Yue was li%e a #at
straining to hear but she heard nothing else and soon she was swe$t u$ in the moment and forgot
everything. +y the time she wo%e the ne0t morning! she #ouldnt be #ertain what she heard last night was
real or /ust a figment of her imagination.
)hose three nights be#ame Xing Yues dee$est se#ret.
Gradually Xing Yue forgot those three nights be#ause she wanted to forget. Zhuan Xu treated her ni#e but
not $assionate though never #old. 1e treated her better than his other #onsorts and that was enough to
ma%e Xing Yue #ontent.
+ut /ust when she was about to forget it #om$letely! Xiao Yao #ame ba#%. Xing Yue didnt even %now
how Xiao Yao #ame ba#%! but by the time she found out! Xiao Yao was already ens#on#ed in Xiao Yue
Summit.
)he name Zhuan Xu #alled that night! whether it was real or not! it #aused Xing Yue to develo$ a hidden
fear that she #ouldnt tell anyone about. She #ould only se#retly observe and in the last two years sin#e
Xiao Yaos return! Zhuan Xu went to Xiao Yue Summit every day rain or shine. (f #ourse! before Xiao
Yao #ame ba#% he also went every day to greet the Yellow 'm$eror so no one saw any #hange in his
behavior. +ut Xing Yue felt it was different but it wasnt something that #ould be e0$lained why it was
different. &hen Zhuan Xu went he always had a slight smile on his fa#e and when he returned this was a
sliver of tenderness in his eyes. -t was the way he o##asionally glan#ed towards Xiao Yue Summit with a
fleeting loo% of longing.
)he more Xing Yue observed the more terrified she be#ame. +ut her terror was something she #ouldnt
even find eviden#e for. &ith Zhuan Xus $ersonality! if it was true then why didnt he /ust ta%e Xiao Yao
for himself, 1e was already the ruler of a %ingdom! there was no need for him to hold himself ba#%4 So
Xing Yue #ould only reassure herself that she was over?thin%ing it all be#ause of a mista%en murmur she
heard that night.
+ut Xing Yue still #ouldnt feel rela0ed so she went to see Feng Long and as%ed when her brother was
going to marry Xiao Yao. )han% goodness her brothers answer made her ha$$y be#ause he said he was
/ust thin%ing the same thing.
Feng Long sighed *-f - want to marry it ought to be now otherwise itll have to wait until the war is over
and by then its not #lear if Xiao Yao will marry me..
Xing Yue as%ed *&hat do you mean,.
*You have to %ee$ this se#ret..
Xing Yue nodded *Gege you %now you #an trust me to %ee$ silent..
Feng Long said *Seeing Zhuan Xus moves re#ently! - thin% hes $lanning to atta#% Gao Xing..
Xing Yues eyes widened and Feng Long smiled *)hats why - told you to never underestimate Zhuan Xu.
1e is a very s#ary man4.
3fter her sho#% $assed Xing Yue felt e#stati#! li%e she was already able to sneer at Xiao Yaos u$#oming
fate.
&hen Feng Long told Xing Yue that Xiao Yao agreed to get married she as%ed *&hat did 1is ma/esty
say,.
Feng Long re$lied *+oth ma/esties gave their #onsent..
Xing Yue finally felt relieved! she really did #on/ure u$ too mu#h in her own night. )hat night it was /ust
Zhuan Xus $assionate sigh that she heard wrong.
Xing Yue went to Xiao Yue Summit to visit Xiao Yao with a feeling li%e she was above Xiao Yaos fate in
life! feeling ha$$y and $itying her at the same time. Xiao Yao didnt %now why Xing Yues attitude was
so odd this time but she felt Xing Yue was suddenly ni#er to her be#ause she was marrying Feng Long
soon.
Xiao Yao treated Xing Yue the same as always! res$e#tful but not deferential. Xing Yue and Xiao Yao
#hatted about this and that and she lingered until the Yellow 'm$eror returned to the hut #arrying a hoe on
his shoulder.
)he Yellow 'm$eror was wearing a farmers hat with his $ant legs rolled u$ and his feet #overed in mud.
1e smiled at Xing Yue with no stern aura in his e0$ression but Xing Yue felt li%e her inner most thoughts
were laid bare before the Yellow 'm$erors eyes. -t was li%e shar$ daggers digging into her ba#% and
Xing Yue #ouldnt sit another se#ond and 2ui#%ly greeted the Yellow 'm$eror and too% her leave.
==============================
)he Grand 'm$eror wrote ba#% to Xiao Yao that he and Feng Longs grandfather had #onferred and set
the wedding for two months hen#e.
'ver sin#e Xiao Yao got engaged the Grand 'm$eror had her trousseau $re$ared already so all Xiao Yao
needed to do was don her wedding dress and wal% down the aisle. +ut the Grand 'm$eror re2uested that
Xiao Yao return to Five Gods Mountain to $re$are for the wedding before he would announ#e the
wedding date to the entire world.
Xiao Yao %new why her dad did this! it wasnt to adhere to wedding #ustom be#ause her dad didnt #are
about that. -t was the re2uest of a father who was worried and an0ious over the future of his daughter and
wanted to #onfirm her de#ision one last time. 1e wanted to be #ertain that Feng Long was the man his
daughter wanted to entrust the rest of her life to.
Xiao Yao wrote ba#% that she would return to Gao Xing after she did a final $ersonal matter.
Xiao Yao went through Yu <iang to #onta#t ;hi Sui Xian to as% her to dig u$ something that Xiao Yao
as%ed her to bury a few years ago.
3fter Zhuan Xu assumed the throne! Xiao Yao used her $osition for the first time in her life to have
$re#ious treasures from around the vast wilderness #olle#ted and brought to her.
From the Northeast to$s of the Snow Mountain! she #olle#ted a $ie#e of Snow Mountain -#e 'ssen#e. -t
grew on the to$s of the Snow Mountain and itself was not $oisonous. +ut if something $oisonous went
inside when it was forming! then it would soa% u$ the $oison and after tens of thousands of years it would
be#ome one of the most $oisonous things in the world. )his $arti#ular -#e 'ssen#e that Xiao Yao found
ha$$ened to have an in/ured i#e worm demon #rawl inside so after #ountless thousands of years
underneath Snow Mountain! it had be#ome a $ie#e of e0tremely rare $oisonous i#e. -t a$$eared li%e a
beautiful $ie#e of i#y /ade but a#tually e0uded a $oisonous aura that #ould $ier#e straight to the heart.
Xiao Yao used all her effort to #arve this $ie#e of $oisonous -#e 'ssen#e into the sha$e of a sea #lam
shell! she #arved two sides of an e02uisite white #lam shell with wave ri$$les along the edges. &hen it
was o$ened it resembled a blooming flower.
Xiao Yao then used all sorts of e0oti# herbs and $oisons to #reate two mer$eo$le. She $ut the mermaid on
the #lam shell and she $ut the merman in the #orner away from the #lam shell. Xiao Yao also made red
#oral and #olorful little fishes.
3fter it was all #om$leted! Xiao Yao brought out the i#e #rystals #olle#ted from the North "ole and had a
s$e#ialist s$lit it o$en and hollow it out. She $ut the red #oral in first and se#ured it on the bottom. )hen
she mi0ed u$ a bat#h of $oisons with <ade Mountain bone essen#e to #reate a blue li2uid sus$ension that
she filled the i#e #rystal ball with so it a$$eared li%e blue water. She then $ut the #lam shell with the
mermaid and the merman #arefully inside the $oisonous li2uid and surrounded it with the #olorful fish.
She then #losed u$ the i#e #rystal ball and used her s$iritual $ower to tem$orarily seal it.
)o $ermanently seal ba#% u$ an o$ened i#e #rystal re2uired that it be returned to the North "ole and
$la#ed ba#% inside the i#e mountains. )hen a $owerful i#e s$irit god or goddess would then #reate a
s$iritual maze around it. 3fter two or three more years! the o$ened u$ i#e #rystal would $ermanently seal
ba#% u$ without any signs it had ever been o$ened.
+a#% then when Xiao Yao finished to the final ste$! she ra#%ed her brains and remembered the most
$owerful i#e $ower god in the vast wilderness was ;hi Sui Xian. She as%ed Zhuan Xu if she #ould as%
Xian to hel$ and he said *You found the right $erson. -ll have Yu <iang as% her for hel$. )hat i#e goddess
is 2uite warm towards Yu <iang..
&hen Xian #ame to see Xiao Yao! she thought Xian would loo% down on her for as%ing su#h a $owerful
goddess to do su#h a little favor. +ut when Xian saw Xiao Yaos #reation she e0#laimed *-ts so beautiful4
You must have s$ent a lot of time,.
Xiao Yao nodded.
Xian said *-ll hel$ you seal it into the i#e mountain in the North "ole. &hen you need to retrieved /ust
have someone send me a message..
Four years had $assed and now Xiao Yao needed to ta%e it out. &hen Xian brought the i#e #rystal ba#%!
she $la#ed it on a dish and it was #overed with more i#e so loo%ed /ust li%e a regular #hun% of i#e #rystal
dug out from the North "ole.
Xiao Yao as%ed a master #arver who s$ent three days and three nights to finally sha$e the i#e #rystal into
a round ball.
)he #lear e02uisite i#e #rystal! inside was the dee$ blue sea! and in the water was #olorful little fishes
swimming and beautiful red #oral. )here was an all?white giant #lam shell li%e a blooming flower and
inside a beautiful mermaid sat on the #lam shell. 1er hair flowed li%e seaweed and her beautiful tail was
half on the #lam shell and half in the water. She had one hand on her heart and the other hand rea#hed out
towards the distan#e li%e she wanted to grab onto something or li%e she was #alling someone to her. -n the
dire#tion where her hand stret#hed there was a merman floating in the water. 1e a$$eared #lose to the
#lam shell but he was #oldly staring outside the i#e #rystal ball so that it felt li%e he was a#tually in
another world and not in the world of the $ea#eful isolated o#ean with the mermaid.
)he underwater world inside the i#e #rystal was too beautiful that it a$$eared li%e a blue?#olored dream.
&hen the i#e #rystal ball was $la#ed on the table! it was so #old the i#y air swirled around it and ma%e it
even more illusory li%e it #ould vanish in a gust of wind! e0#e$t the i#e #rystal was so hard that even
%nives and swords #ouldnt damage it.
)he Yellow 'm$eror saw what Xiao Yao had made and he was so ta%en aba#%. 1e wal%ed into the hut
and #arefully e0amined it for a long time. 1e said nothing other than to sigh *(nly you will waste su#h
$re#ious things..
Xiao Yao stared at the i#e #rystal ball and said *)his is the last time..
Xiao Yao wra$$ed the i#e #rystal ball in a demon bear $elt and sent it along with a letter inside a /ade
#ontainer. She went to the )u Shan #lan messenger sho$ and $aid five times more than usual to deliver it
as soon as $ossible to @ing Shui )own.
-nside the /ade #ontainer was a letter with only one short message6
*-n two months - am getting married. )his is the last $oison - will ma%e for you. "lease a##e$t with a
smile..
============================
3fter Xiao Yao left the messenger sho$! she wandered around the streets of Zhi Yi and #ould see it was
even more bustling than before. )his newly designated #a$ital was bigger! more vibrant! more diverse
than Xuan Yuan ;astle. +ut for some reason Xiao Yao missed the Zhi Yi ;astle she first en#ountered
when she first arrived in the Middle "lains with Zhuan Xu.
3 fragrant s#ent wafted out from the sna#% sho$ and Xiao Yao went to buy some du#% ne#% and #hi#%en
feet whi#h the sho$ owner wra$$ed #arefully in lotus leaves. She then went to the ne0t door wine sho$ to
buy a /ug of $lum wine.
+a#% then she loved to sna#% be#ause it was deli#ious and she #ouldnt hel$ but want to nibble on it. Now
she realized it wasnt the taste but the feeling. +a#% then she thought she was all wizened inside but she
was still a very young girl who #ould ha$$ily en/oy the delights of the world.
Xiao Yao left Zhi Yi ;astle and Miao "u was waiting for her by the #loud #arriage. She saw her #arrying
two bags and laughed *"rin#ess hasnt bought these things in a long time..
Xiao Yao got on the #loud #arriage and said suddenly *-m not going ba#% yet..
Miao "u as%ed *&here to then! "rin#ess,.
Xiao Yao was silent for a moment and then said *3##om$any me to @ing @iu..
Miao "u was startled and as%ed *&hat does "rin#ess want to do in @ing @iu,.
Xiao Yao stared at Miao "u and she immediately said *Yes4 5e$arting right away4.
3n hour later the #loud #arriage landed in @ing @iu and Xiao Yao got out and glan#ed over at @ing @iu
Mountain. )he mountain was still the same! trees green and rivers flowing! but the $erson and situation
was no longer there.
She slowly wal%ed along the @ing @iu streets. @ing @iu was #lose to Zhi Yi but very different sin#e the
$eo$le of @ing @iu were very well off than%s to the )u Shan #lan. )he $eo$le wal%ing on the streets
ambled be#ause they #ould afford to en/oy life. Xiao Yao une0$e#tedly #ame and she didnt %now why
she #ame either. She /ust wal%ed with no destination in sight with Miao "u trailing behind her.
Xiao Yao wal%ed until suddenly Miao "u #alled out *"rin#ess4. and $ulled her sleeve.
Xiao Yao sto$$ed and glan#ed 2uizzi#ally ba#% at Miao "u who whis$ered *(ver there4.
Xiao Yao loo%ed in that dire#tion and saw <ing standing not far from her. Neither e0$e#ted to run into
ea#h other on the streets of @ing @iu so as $eo$le $assed them by both stood rooted in $la#e li%e a s$ell
was #ast on them.
Finally <ing got a hold of himself and rushed over to Xiao Yao *Xiao Yao777.. 1e had a million
things to say to her but #ouldnt say any of it.
Xiao Yaos smile was beaming *- randomly #ame for a twirl! didnt e0$e#t to run into you..
Xiao Yao handed over the $a#%ages in her hand and <ing instin#tively too% it. Xiao Yao smiled *-n two
months Feng Long and - will be getting married. "lease attend with your wife when the day arrives..
<ing dro$$ed the items in his hand and the /ug of wine smashed on the ground and the s#ent of $lum wine
wafted in the air. Xiao Yao ignored it and bowed to <ing with a smile before turning and 2ui#%ly wal%ing
away.
*Xiao Yao77.. <ing rea#hed out his hand but #ouldnt %ee$ her there and #ould only wat#h as her sleeve
sli$$ed through his fingers and she floated off.
Moments later <ing %neeled down and $i#%ed u$ the other $a#%age and o$ened it to find the du#% ne#%s
and #hi#%en feet.
-n that s$lit se#ond the $ast #ame rushing ba#%AA?
)he first time he went into the %it#hen he was so #lumsy and Xiao Yao laughed at him and then #ame to
hel$.
)he first thing he learned to ma%e was marinated du#% ne#%. &hen Xiao Liu ate it his eyes lit u$ and
whis$ered *Yours taste better than Lao Mu. +ut what will ha$$en if - get used to your flavor,. 1e smiled
and said nothing but in his heart he thought *- want you to get used to it be#ause -ll ma%e it for you for
the rest of your life..
-nside the 'vergreen :esiden#e! he taught her to $lay the zither but she hadnt the $atien#e to learn. She
li%ed to mun#h on a du#% ne#% and ma%e him $lay for her. She would solemnly de#lare *Sin#e you %now
how to $lay! in the future if - want to listen to musi# you #an /ust $lay for me..
(n Sheng Nong Mountain! mun#hing on du#% ne#%s and drin%ing $lum wine they tal%ed all night77.
'verything was as vivid as if it was yesterday. +ut she7..she was about to be#ome another mans wife4
1er life would no longer have anything to do with him4
<ing felt su#h $ain in his heart he #ouldnt s$ea%. Su#h $ain that a sweet a#rid taste rose u$ in his throat
and he started #oughing violently.
==========================
Zhuan Xu #ame to Xiao Yue Summit that evening and found Xiao Yao had $ersonally #oo%ed dinner for
him. Xiao Yaos #oo%ing wasnt bad but she was lazy so rarely #oo%ed. )he fa#t that she #oo%ed for him
made Zhuan Xu so ha$$y he ate a lot and the two of them %e$t the Yellow 'm$eror #om$any with lots of
laughter and #hatter.
3fter dinner Xiao Yao bid farewell to Zhuan Xu sin#e she $lanned to leave first thing in the morning for
Five Gods Mountain.
Zhuan Xu sim$ly smiled and said nothing.
)he Yellow 'm$eror gently said *You go ba#% first! later Zhuan Xu and - will have the trousseau our side
$re$ared for you sent over..
Zhuan Xu had Miao "u bring out the wine and Xiao Yao also wanted to drin% so order Miao "u to bring
out big bowls.
Xiao Yao and Zhuan Xu started gul$ing bowl after bowl of wine. )heir toleran#e level was e2ual and
ba#% in @ing Shui )own they never #ould determine who #ould drin% more be#ause both held ba#%.
)onight they dran% and held nothing ba#%! gul$ing down wine li%e water until both were roaring drun%.
Zhuan Xu grabbed Xiao Yaos hand and %e$t saying *5ont leave me4. Xiao Yao %e$t hollering *-ts you
guys who dont want me4.
Zhuan Xu said *- want you. You be my 'm$ress. - dont want anyone else! -ll %i#% them all out77.
)he Yellow 'm$eror as%ed *&ho is the $ersonal guard tonight,.
Xiao Xiao wal%ed out and the Yellow 'm$eror said *)a%e Zhuan Xu ba#% now..
Xiao Xiao $i#%ed u$ Zhuan Xu who held onto Xiao Yaos hand and refused to let go *- dont want any
other woman! - /ust want you77...
)he Yellow 'm$eror raised his $alm and stru#% Zhuan Xu un#ons#ious with one blow to the ne#%.
)he Yellow 'm$eror stared at Xiao Xiao *You guard him $ersonally tonight. -f anyone else hears a word
he says tonight! %ill that $erson immediately..
*Yes4. Xiao Xiao $i#%ed u$ Zhuan Xu and vaulted on a winged ride and was gone in the #louds.
============================
Xiao Yao wo%e u$ at dawn with a raging heada#he. 1er things were $a#%ed so after brea%fast she bowed
three times to the Yellow 'm$eror and #limbed on the #loud #arriage.
(n#e she arrived on Five Gods Mountain! as e0$e#ted her dad as%ed again if she was #ertain she wanted
to marry ;hi Sui Feng Long.
Xiao Yao giggled *-f - didnt want to marry him then why get engaged to him,.
)he Grand 'm$eror said *+a#% then Zhuan Xu was surrounded by danger from all sides so %nowing your
$ersonality you would do anything to hel$ you. -f you didnt get engaged to Feng Long! the Middle "lains
#lans and families would never have banded together to ba#% him..
Xiao Yao said *+ut Grandfather $lanned to $ass the throne to Zhuan Xu already..
)he Grand 'm$eror said *Silly girl! its not the same. -f the Middle "lains didnt band together then the
Yellow 'm$eror may have waited to %ee$ wat#hing Zhuan Xu and delay the $assing of the throne. &ith
one delay anything #an ha$$en. -f it wasnt for the Four Great ;lans banding together to lead the other
Middle "lains families! do you thin% they would su$$ort Zhuan Xu this #om$letely, -n their eyes Zhuan
Xu is the bloodline of Xuan Yuan and the Middle "lains are natural rivals. +ut be#ause of their battle with
the Yellow 'm$eror they thin% Zhuan Xu is the 'm$eror they #hose and not the su##essor the Yellow
'm$eror #hose thus all their rivalry vanished..
Xiao Yao said nothing. &hen she agreed to marry Feng Long it was be#ause of Zhuan Xu! she %e$t
insisting otherwise be#ause she didnt want him to feel bad. +ut now she didnt want to #all off the
wedding be#ause Feng Long was the best #hoi#e for her. 1e %new about her $ast with <ing and a##e$t it.
)hey also agreed that he would hel$ Zhuan Xu and he did do that. Feng Long hel$ u$ his end of the
bargain! it was Xiao Yaos turn to fulfill her end of the $romise.
)he Grand 'm$eror said *-ll give you seven days to re#onsider..
5uring the ensuing seven days! Xiao Yao really did re#onsider and thin% #arefully. 'very day she sat on
the /agged ro#%s outside of the 5ragon +one "rison and loo%ed out over the dee$ blue o#ean.
&hen 3h Nian went to get her! she #ould see the blue horizon! the red ro#%s on the #liffs! and Xiao Yao
dressed all in white sitting bare foot on the bla#% /agged ro#%s as the waves #rested at her feet.
)his image was im$ossible to des#ribe other than 3h Nian felt a sense of utter desolation for her sister.
Xiao Yaos image made her thin% of the legends of old! of a fishermans wife sitting on the ro#%s waiting
for her lover to #ome ba#%! sitting and waiting for so long she turned into a ro#%.
3h Nian had to brea% the desolation so she flew over and yelled *<ie/ie4.
Xiao Yao smiled at 3h Nian and then #ontinued loo%ing out over the horizon. 3h Nian said down beside
her *<ie/ie! what are you thin%ing about,.
*Nothing..
3h Nian also loo%ed out on the horizon and sighed *- remember it was near here that - $ushed you into
the o#ean. +a#% then - was so unha$$y but %now - realize it was nothing..
Xiao Yao smiled *Youve grown u$..
3h Nian as%ed *<ie/ie! what were you doing that night here,.
Xiao Yao said *- #ame to see a friend..
*)hen later! did that Nine?headed demon Xiang Liu #ontinue to harass you,.
Xiao Yao shoo% her head.
3h Nian said *- thought that demon was $retty fas#inating..
Xiao Yao loo%ed ba#% out over the blue o#ean and said nothing.
================================
Seven days later the Grand 'm$eror as%ed Xiao Yao *1ave you de#ided,.
Xiao Yao said *- de#ided! announ#e the wedding date4.
)he Grand 'm$eror said nothing and announ#ed the wedding date to the world. -n the 3utumn month on
the BBnd day! 'ldest "rin#ess Gao Xing <iu Yao was going to get married.
)he ;hi Sui #lan sent out wedding invitations to the world sin#e the ;hi Sui #lan leader wasnt /ust the
leader of the #lan that was the head of the Four Great ;lans! he was also the son of the Sheng Nong tribe
head Little Zhu :ong as well as the older brother of the Xuan Yuan 'm$ress. )he entire vast wilderness
mobilize to attend for ;hi Sui Feng Long! and also for the Grand 'm$eror! the +la#% 'm$eror! and the
Yellow 'm$eror. Not to mention the :oyal Mother from <ade Mountain.
)he ;hi Sui #lan wedding $resents were sent to Gao Xing on a fleet of shi$s so vast it was im$ossible to
see the first and last shi$ in on#e glan#e. 3 few years ago when the Xuan Yuan +la#% 'm$eror married his
'm$ress! the entire Xuan Yuan Cingdom #elebrated. +ut this time for the marriage of the ;hi Sui #lan
leader and the Gao Xing 'ldest "rin#ess! the entire vast wilderness was #elebrating. &hen the news
rea#hed @ing Shui )own! all the restaurants were abuzz and even the brothel ladies #ouldnt sto$
gossi$ing about it.
Xiang Liu was drin%ing and dis#ussing matters when #onversation rea#hed him.
Some said the ;hi Sui #lan leader was marrying the Gao Xing "rin#ess for #onne#tions! other said he
really loved her and $romised that she would be his one and only woman in this lifetime! still others said
the "rin#ess was so beautiful she was unreal7..
So many rumors and suggestions but it all rea#hed the same #on#lusion *)his "rin#ess sure has got a
lu#%y life4.
'veryone sighed *)his wedding is the biggest event in the last hundreds of years in the vast wilderness..
Xiang Liu stood u$ with a smile and bid farewell to the $eo$le he was drin%ing with.
1e wal%ed out of the brothel to find a misty rain falling.
1e wal%ed through a long street towards the western riverban%s! strolling slowly.
1e stood by the edge of the river and stared out at the water and misty air and it was im$ossible to tell
what he was thin%ing.
3fter a long time he loo%ed down and o$ened his hand and in his $alm was an i#e #rystal ball.
Misty raindro$s fell on his $alm and #reated an i#y mist around the i#e #rystal ball. -t made the blue water
inside even more vibrant li%e the o#ean under a full moon!
)he blue o#ean de$ths! the isolated $ea#efulness! the mermaid sitting on her beautiful #lam shell home
rea#hing out her hand to be#%on! to $lead! to summon. +ut the merman /ust #oldly loo%ed out at the world
outside the i#e #rystal ball.
Xiang Liu stared at the i#e #rystal s#ene for a long long time.
Slowly he rea#hed out a finger and $ressed it on the i#e #rystal so it loo%ed li%e he was ta%ing the
mermaids outstret#hed hand.
3t at glan#e it a$$eared that they were holding hands but in truth the i#e #rystal se$arated them. )hey
were from two #om$letely different worlds! they #ould never truly be together.
D BEFG! o#%oala. 3ll rights reserved.
Chapter 32 A Shadow Headed in hi!h Dire!tion:
)he 3utumn month arrived and the Gao Xing wedding $arty de$arted from Five Gods Mountain via the
water route towards ;hi Sui.
8nder :u Sos e0$ert travel $lanning! the wedding $arty entered the ;hi Sui waterways on the dawn of
the BBnd and the ;hi Sui wel#oming shi$s were waiting with #elebratory musi# $laying that was so loud
it shoo% the 'arth.
+oth sides of the ;hi Sui shore were /am $a#%ed with s$e#tators there to wat#h the festivities.
;hi Suis #lan traditional attire was the #lassi# flair of the Middle "lains with a $referen#e for red. Xiao
Yao too% off her white robe with her maids assistan#e and $ut on her red wedding dress.
)he shi$s entered the ;hi Sui river and gradually slowed down. -t was the season for the magnolias to
bloom and there were magnolia trees on both sides of the shore and the fragran#e #arried for miles as the
$etals rained down. Xiao Yao sat by the shi$s window and silently stared at the yellow $etals floating by
in the water.
)he shi$ hadnt yet rea#hed the ;hi Sui #lan residen#e when the sound of the #hatter on the shore rea#hed
the shi$. +e#ause too many guests were in attendan#e and the residen#e #ould not hold so many! the ;hi
Sui #lan used its i#e $owers to freeze the la%e surfa#e into i#e and a ban2uet was set u$ there. -t brought a
#ool breeze to the $ro#eedings and a great view to en/oy the ban2uet.
)he guests sighed! #learly the head of the Four Great ;lans #ould do anything! it #ould find dis#i$les with
the ne#essary $owers and it had money to s$end on even the biggest of $arties.
&hen everyone saw the Gao Xing shi$s arriving all the wedding guests stood u$ to wat#h.
Feng Long was wearing all red and was standing by the shore.
Xiao Yao gingerly wal%ed to the edge of shi$ with the assistan#e of her maid. She was dressed regally in
all red and wearing a #rown of /ewels but her fa#e was very beautifully bare. She only had on a little bit of
li$ tint whi#h $aired with the red $ea#h blossom brand on her forehead turned her into a vision of beauty.
Feng Long normally didnt $ut mu#h thought into women but seeing her and thin%ing that tonight she
would lay in his arms made even his heart thunder.
)he shi$ rea#hed shore but Feng Long still didnt move and only stared dumbstru#% at Xiao Yao.
)he #rowds laughed at him and his fa#e turned beet red and he 2ui#%ly grabbed the red lotus flower
bran#h bou2uet and bowed to Xiao Yao *)he lotus o$ens to bear unity! together our hearts as one..
Xiao Yao rea#hed out for it and re$eated the same aus$i#ious $romise.
&ith the sound of musi# surrounding them! Feng Long assisted Xiao Yao off the shi$ and felt her small
hand in his but it wasnt soft li%e the other girls but instead had hard #allouses whi#h made him feel even
more tender towards her and he held her hand even tighter.
Xiao Yao and Feng Long ea#h held the bou2uet bran#h and wal%ed forward. )he $ath was #reated using
lotus flowers of every #olor be#ause the ;hi Sui #lan was based ne0t to water so revered the lotus flower
as good lu#%. )he red lotus was the most rare and re2uired using s$iritual $owers to grow.
)he %ids were told to $i#% u$ the lotus and toss it at her to bring more #hildren. Feng Long leaned down
to whis$er *5ont misunderstand. -ts not that they dont li%e you! its #ustom to use lotus to throw at the
bride77.
Xiao Yaos fa#e was red *- %now! on the shi$ the maids e0$lained to me.. 3$$arently right after the
#eremony the #ou$le would retreat to a lotus tent also as a sign to have more #hildren.
Feng Long stared at Xiao Yao and he was so over#ome that he #ouldnt wait for the #eremony to be over
as soon as $ossible! for night to fall as 2ui#%ly as $ossible! to return to their honeymoon suite as soon as
$ossible. Feng Long said *Xiao Yao! after the #eremony then youre mine for the rest of our lives.. Xiao
Yao lowered her head and Feng Long smiled.
)here were $eo$le outside the residen#e #ataloging all the wedding gifts sent from around the vast
wilderness.
*)u Shan #lan! ninety nine 'ast Sea $earls! ninety nine North "ole i#e #rystal wind #himes7... 'veryone
stared at the )u Shan #lan leader! the i#e #rystals were rare and e0$ensive and had many uses. )urning it
into a wind #hime was a#tually a waste so most i#e #rystals were gifted in original form! no one would
ever give an i#e #rystal wind #hime mu#h less ninety nine of them.
Xiao Yao entered the residen#e and saw <ing sitting ne0t to the Xi Ling #lan leader. 1e was dressed in
blue and loo%ed thin and wan but still had a res$e#tful smile on his fa#e though he a$$eared e0hausted.
Xiao Yao thought! is he si#%, 3nd it loo%s rather serious. )hen why #ome to the wedding, 5id he want to
#ome or did he #ome be#ause he didnt want Feng Long to thin% there was any aw%wardness, 5id anyone
%now he is si#%7.Xiao Yaos mind was /umbled in that moment.
Feng Long whis$ered urgently *Xiao Yao4.
Xiao Yao sna$$ed out of it and realized this was her wedding to Feng Long. She felt this bittersweet
sadness well u$! from now on <ing would have nothing to do with her anymore.
Feng Long whis$ered *)wo months ago <ing #ame to see me while si#% and as%ed me to #an#el the
wedding. - left in a huff. - ho$e after the wedding he #an finally let you go.. Xiao Yao said nothing and
Feng Long as%ed *3re you ha$$y,.
Xiao Yao smiled *&hat do you thin%,.
Feng Long saw her smile and felt relieved *<ing said he as%ed me to #an#el the wedding not be#ause he
still had you in his heart but be#ause he %new you werent ha$$y and didnt want to marry me. - felt
#onfli#ted and dis#ussed it with my sister but she said no one for#ed you to marry me and you agreed
yourself so how #ould you not be willing,.
3 white?haired elder said *Shush! the aus$i#ious hour is here4.
Feng Long and Xiao Yao readied themselves and sto$$ed tal%ing.
3 voi#e rang out *3us$i#ious hour is here4 First $ray to the 1eavens4.
Xiao Yao and Feng Long $rayed to the 1eavens.
*Se#ond $ray to the an#estors4.
Feng Longs grandfather! his dad Little Zhu :ong! and his mother all smiled down at them.
Feng Long was about to lead Xiao Yao over to %neel before them when suddenly a #lear loud voi#e
sounded that interru$ted the $ro#eedings.
*Xiao Yao4.
'veryone turned their heads and saw Fang Feng +ei dress all in white wal%ing in from outside #alling out
in a strong voi#e *Xiao Yao! dont marry him..
Xiao Yao stared in a daze at Fang Feng +ei.
'veryone was stunned! no one #ould believe that a lowly born son of the Fang Feng family would dare
interfere with the wedding of the ;hi Sui #lan leader. ;hi Sui Zhen )ian thundered in rage *Guards4 5rag
this rude bastard away and hold him4 3fterwards -m going to as% Fang Feng Xiao Guai how he raised his
son,.
3 few ;hi Sui #lan guards rushed towards Fang Feng +ei to drag him out but they were held ba#% by a
$owerful barrier and #ouldnt even get #lose to Fang Feng +ei.
Fang Feng +ei a#ted li%e no one else was around and wal%ed towards Xiao Yao. 3s he wal%ed the guards
trying to blo#% him all were sent flying to the ground.
Feng Long #ontrolled his rage and said in a threatening way *Fang Feng +ei! there are many honored
guests $resent today and - dont want to disturb them. - ho$e you dont live to regret this4.
Fang Feng +ei ignored him and only stared at Xiao Yao *Xiao Yao! dont get married..
Xiao Yao furiously as%ed *&hat are you trying to do,.
*5ont marry ;hi Sui Feng Long4.
*Youre telling me N(& not to marry him,. Xiao Yao wanted to laugh her head off. *You leave
immediately4.
Xiao Yao said to Feng Long *Lets #ontinue the wedding! - dont want to miss the aus$i#ious hour4.
;hi Sui Xian led some guards to blo#% Fang Feng +eis way and even with Xiang Lius $ower he
#ouldnt brea% though immediately.
Feng Long nodded to the wedding #oordinator to #ontinue with the wedding *Se#ond bow to the elders
AA>.
Xiao Yao and the Feng Long fa#ed the three elders and $re$ared to bow.
Fang Feng +ei was battling ;hi Sui Xian and he #alled out *Xiao Yao! do you remember the blood oath
you swore, -f you renege on the $romise then everything you love will be#ome $ain! everything that
brings you ha$$iness will turn bitter..
Xiao Yao sto$$ed moving! she did ma%e a blood oath with Xiang Liu to do one thing for him.
Feng Long noti#ed Xiao Yao wasnt bowing and started to get nervous and #alled out *Xiao Yao4.
Xiao Yao slowly turned ba#% around and stared at Fang Feng +ei *&hat do you want,.
Fang Feng +ei *- want you to leave with me right now4.
Xiao Yaos entire body turned #old! with the entire vast wilderness gathered here! if she ran away from
her wedding and es$e#ially left with another man! that would be su#h an insult to the ;hi Sui #lan and to
Feng Long. 1ow would the ;hi Sui #lan see her, 1ow would the entire world view her,
Xiao Yao as%ed *&hy,. Xiang Liu! you %new two months ago - was getting married! why do you have to
do it this way, 5o you want the entire world to s$it on me, -f you want to destroy me! why did you
#hoose this most degrading method,
Fang Feng +ei #oldly said *You dont need to as% why! you /ust need to do as - say. - want you to leave
with me. :ight. Now4.
)he blood oath rang in her ears *-f - renege on this $romise! whatever - love will turn into $ain! whatever
brings me ha$$iness will turn bitter.. &ith todays events! even if she %e$t the $romise! did that mean
there wont be any $ain and any bitterness, Xiao Yao bitterly smiled! whether or not she %e$t the $romise!
she was going to have not a day of $ea#e in her life.
Feng Long nervously stared at Xiao Yao and he didnt realize his voi#e was 2uivering *Xiao Yao! its time
to bow4.
Fang Feng +ei stared intently at Xiao Yao and #oldly $ressed her *Xiao Yao! you owe me this..
She did owe him4 Not /ust the blood oath! she owed him her life.
Xiao Yaos fa#e was star% white as she stumbled towards Fang Feng +ei. Feng Long grabbed her hand
and his eyes were wide with terror *Xiao Yao! Xiao Yao! dont7... No matter when! he was someone in
#ontrol. +ut right now he didnt %now what was ha$$ening. &hy was his life filled with utter /oy a
moment ago and in a s$lit se#ond all the /oy vanished,
Xiao Yaos voi#e shoo% *-m sorry! -7.-7.today - #ant marry you4 -m sorry4.
Xiao Yaos voi#e wasnt loud but everyone $resent all had $owers so everyone heard it #learly. -t was as
sho#%ing as thunder and even the fol%s who thought they had seen it all #ouldnt hel$ but be sho#%ed.
From birth until now! Feng Long was li%e the son of the 1eavens. )here was nothing he #ouldnt have in
the world! only things he didnt want. 3s the entire gathered guests stared at him! Feng Long felt his
entire world #olla$se.
Feng Long released his hand and stood straighter! a $roud smile on his fa#e. 1e said slowly *- dont %now
what you $romised Fang Feng +ei! but you $romised to marry me today4.
Xiao Yao %new she and Feng Long had an understanding! and even if she didnt want to marry him she
would have #hosen the right time to #almly tell him. 1e wouldnt mind in that #ase! but to run out of the
wedding li%e this $ubli#ly was was shaming him. No man #ould a##e$t su#h shame! mu#h less a son of
the 1eavens li%e Feng Long.
Xiao Yaos fa#e was star% white and she turned to $lead with Fang Feng +ei who #oldly said *Leave with
me right now4.
Xiao Yao said to Feng Long *-7.-7.- wronged you4. Xiao Yaos voi#e was sha%ing and even her body
was sha%ing. *-m sorry4 - dont dare as% for your forgiveness! and later you #an do whatever you want to
me and -ll a##e$t it4. Xiao Yao finished and didnt dare loo% at Feng Long before she ran towards Fang
Feng +ei.
Xiao Yao had wea% $owers and Feng Long #ould have easily for#ed her to go through with the wedding.
)his was the ;hi Sui #lan residen#e and he was the ;hi Sui #lan leader! no matter how $owerful Fang
Feng +ei was! he #ould sto$ him. +ut his $ride! his arrogan#e! neither would allow him to for#efully %ee$
her in front of a room full of guests.
)wo guards sto$$ed Xiao Yao and $ushed her ba#% towards Feng Long.
Feng Long #alled out *Let her go4.
)he guards stared at ;hi Sui 1ai )ian and Little Zhu :ong.
Feng Long #alled out *- said let her go4 No one dare sto$ her4. 1is fa#e was blue and a vein throbbed on
his forehead and there was a#tually unshed tears in his eye but he still smiled $roudly.
3ll of the guards moved aside.
Xiao Yao lowered her head and bowed to Feng Long before Fang Feng +ei grabbed her hand and $ulled
her out behind him.
(ne $erson in all white ta%ing away one $erson in all red! right in front of an entire wedding full of
guests.
-t was dead silent in the wedding hall and not a single guest dared ma%e a noise or move.
)he sound of merry musi# floated in from outside.
<ing stared at Xiao Yao and Fang Feng +eis retreating forms and his fa#e was tinted with an odd red hue.
Fang Feng +ei vaulted on a winged horse with Xiao Yao and it rose into the air and disa$$eared in the
s%y. <ing suddenly started #oughing violently and that seemed to awa%en the entire hall of guests. Little
Zhu :ong stood u$ and #almly said *)he ban2uet is $re$ared and everyone #ame from far away. "lease
en/oy the ban2uet before leaving..
'veryone a#ted li%e nothing ha$$ened and a##e$ted before 2ui#%ly leaving the wedding hall.
Little Zhu :ong stared at his son standing ramrod straight and his elderly father?in?law and said *5ad!
you and Feng Long go rest4 5ont worry! let Xiao Ye and - handle the rest..
)he ;hi Sui Madam sighed and stood ne0t to Little Zhu :ong. Yet another time when she and her Gege
needed to on#e again shoulder the burden together and over#ome this diffi#ult event.
)he winged horse flew out of ;hi Sui ;astle and on#e Xiang Liu #onfirmed no one was following! he
swit#hed to the ba#% of the white #ondor.
Xiao Yao didnt say a word or ma%e a move. She was li%e a wooden $u$$et letting Xiang Liu do as he
wanted with her.
)he white #ondor flew 'ast and in the middle of the night it a#tually flew to @ing Shui )own.
Xiang Liu led Xiao Yao into an ordinary human residen#e and said *&ell stay here for a few days..
Xiao Yao said nothing and #urled u$ into a ball in the #orner of the $allet.
Xiang Liu as%ed *5o you hate me for $reventing you from marrying the ;hi Sui #lan leader,.
Xiao Yao #urled her body! grabbed her legs! buried her head on her %nees! and said nothing. 1ate or no
hate! she owed him this. 1e #ame to as%! she had to do it.
Xiang Liu saw that Xiao Yao was ignoring him so said *)here is hot water in the %it#hen. &ant to bathe,.
Xiao Yao said nothing.
*5o what you want. -m going to rest.. Xiang Liu turned and left.
1is one foot was out the door when Xiao Yao suddenly as%ed *&hen did you find out - was getting
married,. 5ue to her head being buried on her %nees! her voi#e sounded muffled li%e it was #oming from
far away.
Xiang Liu didnt turn around and his voi#e was #old *)wo months ago..
Xiao Yaos voi#e was sha%ing *&hy7.why did you have to do it this way,.
Xiang Lius voi#e got #older *5o you have any right to as% me why, )he terms of the deal was dis#ussed
in advan#e. &hatever - as%ed! you would do4.
Xiao Yao said nothing and Xiang Liu left without loo%ing ba#%. &hen the door slowly #losed behind him!
it let out a soft thud. Xiao Yao remembered that when she was aslee$ under the o#ean! every time the #lan
shell #losed it would ma%e a similar sound. Xiao Yaos tears silently fell.
She didnt slee$ all night and when the sun rose Xiao Yao felt her head throbbing in $ain. She wal%ed out
of the room to go to the %it#hen to get hot water to ta%e a bath.
She too% off her dress and saw the bright red wedding gown. Xiao Yao bitterly smiled wondering what
her dad! grandfather! and Zhuan Xu were thin%ing after hearing she ran off with another man on her
wedding day. Xiao Yao saw a #hest on the $allet and rummaged through it and found a few sets of ladies
#lothes. She $i#%ed a sim$le outfit.
Xiao Yao bathed and #hanged into a the sim$le outfit and felt hungry. She remembered not eating mu#h
the day before the wedding and now it had been three days sin#e she had eaten.
Xiao Yao wal%ed outside and saw Xiang Liu standing in the #ourtyard.
1is hair was ba#% to being all white and fell behind him li%e a waterfall. )he tree behind him had red
leaves and the brightness #ontrasted so that he loo%ed even more ethereal li%e untou#hed snow.
Xiao Yao sensed something but had to #onfirm it *&here is Fang Feng +ei,.
Xiang Liu #oolly re$lied *1es dead..
Xiao Yao stared at Xiang Liu and her eyes were blinded in $ain by his whiteness li%e a #loud and li%e the
snow. )ears #ame to her eyes! Fang Feng +ei too% her away and now Fang Feng +ei was dead and would
never a$$ear again. From now on it was only Xiang Liu. )hat irres$onsible! do whatever he wanted!
taught her ar#hery! too% her through the world see%ing the sim$lest of $leasures! that man was now dead.
1e on#e said > she and he were /ust tem$orarily #om$anions in this un$redi#table life see%ing ha$$iness.
1e never lied to her4
Xiang Liu 2uietly stared at Xiao Yao! his fa#e was li%e a ten thousand year old snow mountain! #old and
ins#rutable.
Xiao Yao abru$tly turned around and grabbed a $ail of water from the well and s$lashed the #old water on
her fa#e. &hen she lifted her head her fa#e was all wet. she didnt %now if her tears #ame down and
mi0ed with the water or was for#ed ba#% and never fell.
Xiao Yao went to the %it#hen and found a bis#uit and laid down on the grass $allet in the #ourtyard to
mun#h on it and bas% in the sun.
Xiang Liu as%ed *1as your slee$less $roblem not been #ured yet,
Xiao Yao a#ted li%e she didnt hear him. 3fter what ha$$ened yesterday! who #ared whether she sle$t well
at night. 3 more $rudish lady would have #ommitted sui#ide by now.
Xiang Liu as%ed *You dont want to go outside to wal% around,.
&hat was there to see outside, -t had been seventy years and even if the streets were the same! the $eo$le
were all gone. -f the $eo$le were all gone then why the wal% down memory lane, -f she didnt go see then
she #ould $reserve the ha$$y memories. -f she went to loo% then she might find all the flaws in her
memories.
Xiang Liu said nothing more and 2uietly read the shee$ s%in #loth in his hand.
Xiao Yao nibbled on the bis#uit and gradually fell aslee$. She felt li%e she was ba#% in 1ui ;hun ;lini#
and na$$ing in the #ourtyard with Shi @i 2uietly wor%ing beside her. She would natter to Shi @i that the
3utumn afternoon was the highlight of the day and have him go lay on the $allet with her to bas% in the
sun.
3 string of #hildrens laughter roused Xiao Yao from her slee$ and she fli$$ed over. She sub#ons#iously
glan#ed towards Shi @i and instead saw only $ure white. Xiao Yao #overed her eyes with her hands but
she didnt %now what she was trying to #over.
Xiang Liu and Xiao Yao lived in @ing Shui )own for over a month /ust li%e that.
-n the morning when Xiao Yao was still slee$ing! Xiang Liu would go out. Xiao Yao never went out and
when she sle$t she would toss and turn li%e she was still awa%e. &hen she was awa%e it was li%e a daze
and she was dreaming. )o say she hated Xiang Liu! but she never resisted and never tried to run away. )o
say she didnt hate Xiang Liu! she never s$o%e to him and a#ted li%e he didnt e0ist.
-t was now early &inter and the tem$erature was dro$$ing. Xiang Liu still wore a sim$le all?white robe
and often did wor% in the #ourtyard. Xiao Yao had wea% $owers and #ouldnt stay in the #ourtyard
anymore so she often wra$$ed herself in a blan%et and sat by the window.
Xiang Liu would often stare at Xiao Yao for a long long time. Xiao Yao sometimes #ouldnt sense it and
when she did sense it she didnt mind and let him #ontinue to stare at her.
&hen the first snowfla%es fell! it was the first snow of the &inter. Xiao Yao rea#hed out her hand but the
snowfla%es were too wis$y and melted the moment it tou#hed her $alm.
Xiang Liu wal%ed into the room and #losed the window for her.
Xiao Yao o$ened it. Xiang Liu #losed it again.
Xiao Yao o$ened it again. Xiang Liu #losed it again.
Xiao Yao went to o$en it again but Xiang Liu used his $ower and Xiao Yao #ouldnt o$en it at all.
'ven sin#e she left ;hi Sui ;astle! Xiao Yao had been #alm but now she #ouldnt endure it any longer and
$un#hed the window violently before glaring at Xiang Liu.
Xiang Liu #oolly said *&hat %ind of $erson - am! youve %nown all along. Sin#e you dared to ma%e a
deal with the devil! you ought to have the #ourage to a##e$t the #onse2uen#es..
Xiao Yao was ta%en aba#% be#ause Xiang Liu was absolutely #orre#t. )heir deal was #om$letely fair.
'ven if she #ould do it over and %nowing the #onse2uen#es of today! to $rote#t Zhuan Xu she would still
#hoose to move the voodoo bug into Xiang Liu. -t had sim$ly been too long sin#e Xiang Liu as%ed her to
fulfill her end of the bargain. She had also seen Fang Feng +ei as real! so their relationshi$ was #overed
by this tender sweet layer li%e a gauzy veil. Xiao Yao sim$ly forgot that their relationshi$ was always /ust
a transa#tion! so no matter what he #hose to as% of her! she had no right to be angry.
Xiang Liu sat down and started drin%ing wine and stared at Xiao Yao. )here was a #onfli#ted loo% in his
eyes! un#lear what he was thin%ing about.
Xiao Yao finally s$o%e *&hen #an - leave, &hat is your $lan,.
Xiang Liu didnt answer her 2uestion and /ust tossed a /ug of wine to Xiao Yao *)his wine is s$e#ially
made strong li2uor! one si$ and itll %no#% a $erson out..
)here was no brazier lit in the room so Xiao Yao was #hilled *No matter how strong the wine! it wont let
me drin% my woes away4.
She $i#%ed u$ the /ug and too% a big large gul$. )he strong wine hit her throat and burned its way down
to her belly! instantly warming her body and rela0ing her mood.
Xiao Yao #ontinued to drin% and Xiang Liu %e$t her #om$any and also silently dran%.
Xiang Liu suddenly as%ed *5o you want to marry Feng Long,.
Xiao Yaos e0$ression #hanged! she a$$eared to try and sna$ herself alert. Xiang Lius eyes were $ier#ing
bright and his voi#e tender and soft as he as%ed *5o you want to marry Ye Shi @i,.
Xiao Yao murmured *- do..
3nother 2uestion was right at the ti$ of Xiang Lius li$s but he was a#tually torn until a moment later he
as%ed *&ho do you most want to s$end your entire life with,.
Xiao Yao o$ened her mouth to answer but her e0$ression showed her internal struggle as her mind
refused to let her say what her heart felt.
3fter multi$le struggles she be#ame more and more $ained and her body began to sha%e as she #lut#hed
her head *1urt7..hurt7... Xiang Liu had used his $ower to try and see into Xiao Yaos heart but Xiao
Yaos mind was too strong willed. -f she en#ountered something that even she refused to thin% about! then
she would une0$e#tedly o$$ose answering it and the heada#he was the result of her refusal to answer the
2uestion.
Xiang Liu was afraid that she would in/ure her soul essen#e so he didnt dare $ush her and 2ui#%ly $ulled
ba#% his $robe and said *-f your head hurts! rest4.
Xiao Yao wearily rested on the $illow with her forehead furrowed in $ain.
Xiang Liu #overed her with a blan%et and Xiao Yao suddenly o$ened her eyes *&hy,.
Xiang Liu stared at Xiao Yao and didnt %now e0a#tly what she was as%ing why about. &as it why he
for#ed her to be#ome a runaway bride, (r was it why he used his $owers to $robe the true feelings inside
her heart,
Xiao Yao gave u$ as%ing and #losed her eyes to murmur *-m so hurting77Xiang Liu! - hurt777.
Xiang Lius hand $ressed on Xiao Yaos forehead and he said in a low voi#e *Youll forget what /ust
ha$$ened and after a good nights slee$ itll all be fine4.
Xiao Yao fell aslee$ but there was a sardoni# smile on her li$s as if mo#%ing *'ven after a good slee$ it
wont all be fine4.
&hen Xiao Yao wo%e u$! her head felt li%e s$litting and she sensed something strange ha$$ened last
night but no matter how mu#h she tried to remember she #ouldnt figure it out so she gave u$.
"erha$s it was due to wa%ing u$ early today Xiang Liu had already left.
Xiao Yao washed u$ and had brea%fast before going to sit in a daze in the #ourtyard under the sun. )he
sound of #hildren $laying rea#hed her.
She o$ened the #ourtyard door and saw seven or eight %ids $laying house. )hey were #urrently having a
$retend wedding and Xiao Yao #ouldnt hel$ but lean against the door and wat#h them. She suddenly
remembered Ma Zi and ;huan Zi! when she found them and brought them ba#% they were about the same
age. +ut they werent as noisy ba#% then! they were 2uiet and fearful! wor%ing hard and eating little!
afraid she would toss them ba#% out. -t wasnt until after a long time did they believe she and Lao Mu
wouldnt %i#% them out /ust to have one less mouth to feed.
)hat was all nearly ninety years ago now4 )he grass on Ma Zi and ;huan Zis graves had grown multi$le
times but her memories of them were still so vivid li%e yesterday.
3n old woman with a fa#e full of wrin%les and hair all white sat near the wall and wat#hed the %ids. She
a$$eared an#ient but was full of life still and her #lothing was neat and #lean. She beamed with ha$$iness
as she wat#hed the %ids $lay.
)he old woman be#%oned to Xiao Yao *Little lady! #ome here to sit under the sun..
Xiao Yao wal%ed over and sat beside the old woman! it was warm with the sensation of the S$ring
afternoon.
)he old woman said *- havent seen you before, 3re you +ao Zhus7...
Xiao Yao didnt %now who +ao Zhu was but li%ely Xiang Liu transformed into a human or his
subordinate did so and +ao Zhu must be who the old woman thought was her neighbor. Xiao Yao said
*:elative. - re#ently arrived here..
)he old woman said *3re the %ids bothering you, You havent had %ids yet,.
Xiao Yao sighed *&ho %nows if -ll have the good fortune to have %ids in this lifetime.. She bro%e off her
wedding to the ;hi Sui #lan leader and ran off with another guy. Li%ely no man would dare marry her in
this lifetime.
)he old woman said *You de#ide if you will have good fortune in your life..
1er words didnt sound li%e an unedu#ated #ountry woman and Xiao Yao glan#ed at the old woman and
then loo%ed around her surroundings. -t seemed familiar > if some arrangements were #hanged around
and the residen#e smaller and older7..Xiao Yao suddenly as%ed *-s this 1ui ;hun ;lini#,.
)he old woman said *Yes4.
Xiao Yao was startled and then as%ed *)ian 'r,.
)he old woman was ta%en aba#% and sadness flitted a#ross her eyes *Sin#e my ;huan Zi died! its been a
long time sin#e - heard someone #all me that name. 1ow do you %now -m Xan )ian 'r,.
Xiao Yao said *-7.- heard the old fol%s in town mention it on#e..
Xan )ian 'r laughed *Li%ely they were gossi$ing about how - was on#e a $rostitute and doesnt deserve
to live su#h a good life. +ut - did live an entire lifetime with ;huan Zi! we had four sons and one
daughter! and now - have ten grandson! eight granddaughters! and three great?grand#hildren..
*Lao Mu! Ma Zi! ;hun )ao! how are they77...
*)hey are all gone! -m the only one left..
Xiao Yao was silent for a long time before as%ing *Lao Mu7..how was he when he $assed,.
*Lao Mu had no #hildren of his own but Ma Zi and ;huan Zi treated him li%e their own father. )hey too%
#are of him until he was old no worse than a real son would have done. ;hun )ao and - were also good
daughter?in?laws and we too% #are of Lao Mu until he $assed with a smile on his fa#e..
Xiao Yao smiled! she didnt ma%e an effort to find out not be#ause she didnt #are! but be#ause she #ared
too mu#h. Now she %new they lived a good life it was li%e a dam had bro%en. Xiao Yao as%ed )ian 'r
*5id ;huan Zi ever find fault with you, 5id you ever feel unha$$y, 5id you regret anything in this
lifetime,.
Xan )ian 'r felt this girls 2uestions were odd but from the first moment she saw her! she felt this strange
%inshi$ so she answered *-ts not li%e a $rostitute with a #lient! only sweet without the bitter. 1ow #ould
our days together not be stumbling and fumbling at times, 3fter - had two sons! ;huan Zi and - almost
bro%e u$ but - #ouldnt withstand his $leading for forgiveness so we stayed together. +ut loo%ing ba#%
-m so relieved - didnt /ust leave in anger at that time..
)o $ush a woman who gave birth to two sons to leave! ;huan Zi really must have #ommitted a huge
infra#tion. +ut mista%es and wrongs #an be seen in an instan#e or viewed in a lifetime. 3fter her life was
almost at its end! Xan )ian 'r loo%ed ba#% and de#ided her forgiveness was the right de#ision. Xiao Yao
as%ed *3 $erson #an only see what is right before her! not what is ahead for the lifetime. 1ow does one
%now that a de#ision in that moment! even if its $ainful! is the right de#ision that one wont regret down
the road,.
Xan )ian 'r answered *Not only am - unable to answer your 2uestion! even a god or goddess living
hundreds more years #ant answer it. -snt a $ersons lifetime li%e wal%ing a desolate road, No one has
wal%ed it before you so ea#h ste$ is ste$$ing on un%nown ground. Some wal% a road with a good view!
others have a $oor view. +ut no matter what the view is! there will always be /agged #liffs! bro%en $aths!
dangerous beasts! $erha$s one wrong ste$ and one will tumble or maybe one wrong turn and one will
head the wrong way. +e#ause its a desolate road that is un%nown and dangerous! everyone wants to find
a #om$anion to wal% it with. 3nother set of eyes! another $air of hands! ea#h ta%ing #are of the other. -
warn you of a for% in the road! you warn me of a #liff ahead! we hold hands to #ross together! /oining
for#es to beat ba#% a dangerous beast77.two $eo$le stumbling and fumbling an entire lifetime together
and thats how it ha$$ens..
Xiao Yao said nothing.
Xan )ian 'r a$$eared to remember something and she s2uinted her eyes and also said nothing. )he sound
of #hildren laughing startled Xan )ian 'r and she stared at her great?grand#hildren with ;huan Zi and
smiled *- smiled and - #ried in my life! its been worth it4.
Xiao Yao never #ould have imagined the Xan )ian 'r standing at the end of her life would be so #ontent.
Xan )ian 'r #ounseled Xiao Yao *Little lady! you have to remember that whatever you want! you have to
believe it e0ists. -f you refuse to believe it! then how #an you give your true heart, -f you dont $lant the
seeds! you #ant have a ha$$y harvest..
)he %ids had moved on from the wedding to having %ids! the little girl was an0ious about not being able
to have a *baby. and the little boy was an0ious about going to see the *do#tor. and the *do#tor. gave
them medi#ine wra$$ed in leaves to go home and *brew.. )he *do#tor. solemnly told the *#ou$le. that
their nightly a#tivities would need to be de#reased to every three days and not to rush it in the eagerness
to get $regnant.
Xiao Yao burst out laughing and Xan )ian 'r aw%wardly e0$lained *)hey $lay all day in the #lini# and
eavesdro$ on a lot of the adult #onversations with $atients..
Xiao Yao said *-ts been a long time sin#e -ve been ha$$y. )oday! -m really ha$$y..
Xiang Liu #ame ba#% and stood beside the tree to wat#h Xiao Yao and Xan )ian 'r.
Xiao Yao stood u$ and stro%ed )ian 'rs head *)ian 'r! you did well. - %now ;huan Zi must have
understood and a$$re#iated that he got a great wife. Lao Mu and - are both very ha$$y..
Xiao Yao wal%ed towards Xiang Liu and Xan )ian 'rs voi#e bro%e as she #alled out *You7.who are
you,.
Xiao Yao turned ba#% and smiled at Xan )ian 'r but didnt answer her 2uestion. She and Xiang Liu
wal%ed through the #o$se of trees and disa$$eared.
)he tears in Xan )ian 'rs eyes fell and she struggled to stand u$ so she #ould %neel and bow in Xiao
Yaos dire#tion.
Xiao Yao said to Xiang Liu *&hy didnt you tell me that the %ids disturbing me everyday with their loud
$laying are Ma Zi and ;huan Zis grand#hildren and great?grand#hildren,. Life was so hard to $redi#t!
the two 2uiet little %ids she too% in years ago now left her a gaggle of loud boisterous offs$ring to give her
a heada#he.
Xiang Liu #oolly said *- told you to go out and wal% around the first day when we got here! youre the
one who wasnt interested..
Xiao Yao said *-ve been gone for so long now! it must be a mess ba#% there,.
Xiang Liu said nothing.
Xiao Yao as%ed *You did what you wanted but you let the Fang Feng family bear the brunt of the
#onse2uen#es. Fang Feng Yi Yang must have to hel$ her family weather the storm! and sin#e shes now
the )u Shan #lan leaders wife! even the )u Shan #lan has been dragged into it..
Xiang Liu #oldly laughed *5id you thin% - %e$t you from getting married so that Zhuan Xu would get
into a tiff with the Four Great ;lans, -ll tell you the truth! that was but half the reason4.
*)he other half4.
*)u Shan <ing hired me to go sto$ your wedding. 1e $romised that if - #ould %ee$ you from getting
married! he would give me thirty?seven years worth of army $rovisions for the soldiers..
*&hat,. Xiao Yao #ouldnt believe what she was hearing. <ing hired Xiang Liu to ruin her wedding,
*-f you dont believe me you #an go as% )u Shan <ing yourself..
Xiao Yao as%ed *&hen are you going to let me leave,.
Xiang Liu #asually said *- already got what - wanted! you #an leave anytime4.
Xiao Yao turned to leave and Xiang Liu said *3 word of reminder! the voodoo bug still #onne#ts us so if
you tell the world -m Fang Feng +ei! dont blame me if - hurt your heart and you die from the $ain..
Xiao Yao sto$$ed and loo%ed ba#% at Xiang Liu.
*5ont believe me,.
Xiao Yaos heart was suddenly #ut with so mu#h $ain li%e a sword $ier#ed it! the $ain so e0#ru#iating she
fell on the ground in a slum$.
Xiang Liu a$$eared to hold her life in his hands and he #oldly said *-f you dont want to die! then dont
say a word4.
Xiao Yao was in su#h $ain her fa#e was ashen and #old sweat dotted her fa#e. She sat u$ and smiled *-s
this the reason you never had time to go to <iu Li to brea% the voodoo bug, You want to #ontrol my life
and death so that one day you #an hold me hostage to your will, General Xiang Liu! you really are
something4.
Xiang Liu smiled and turned to leave. &ith a whistle his white #ondor des#ended and he vaulted on its
ba#% and disa$$eared in the #louds.
)he $ain in Xiao Yaos heart vanished but it was so $ainful that her body was still wea% and needed some
time to re#over her strength. 3fter some time! she slowly got u$ and wal%ed towards town.
@ing Shui )own had to have a $la#e where Zhuan Xu #olle#ted information. Xiao Yao didnt %now where
it was and it was even harder for her to %now where the Grand 'm$eror had his se#ret s$ies. -t was easiest
for her to find a )u Shan #lan business and she went into the nearest /ewelry store and as%ed to see Yu
Shin.
)he #ler% saw Xiao Yao was very for#eful so summoned Yu Shin out.
Xiao Yao said to Yu Shin *)a%e me to @ing @iu! - want to see )u Shan <ing..
Yu Shin noted that Xiao Yao #alled the #lan leader by his full name and wasnt ha$$y about it. 1e /ust
smiled and wasnt going to do anything but Xiao Yao im$atiently said *)u Shan <ing will see me4 -f -m
lying! you will only ma%e a useless tri$ and -m in your hands and you #an $unish me however you want.
+ut if what - say is true and you turn me down! youll u$set )u Shan <ing..
Yu Shin lived in the world of /ewelry and saw many #ustomers and was good at dis#erning those with
$ower. 1e made a de#ision and summoned a #loud #arriage to ta%e him and Xiao Yao to @ing @iu.
(n the #loud #arriage! Yu Shin as%ed Xiao Yao *&hy do you want to see the #lan leader,.
Xiao Yao furrowed her brows and said nothing. &hy, She had so many whys to as% <ing4 &hy sto$ her
wedding, &hy hire Xiang Liu, &hy, &hy,
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