In the autumn of the 3723rd year of Yuanyuan. Two years after they parted. The cultivation world had begun to gradually forget her.
Lingshan held its autumn festival. It was an annual event only mountain disciples could attend, and such a grand occasion naturally included debates on the Dao.
The debates covered swordsmanship, spellcraft, talismans, and more. In previous years, the champions had alternated between the Li and Guan families. But in recent years, He Liansheng would participate.
The young man wielding the Taoyuan sword shattered his opponent’s talismans, his presence striking, his features cold and sharp. And so he became the first champion of swordsmanship. An undisputed top talent.
The He family head and mountain master beamed with pride. Those below cheered as if drunk on victory, praising and discussing his dazzling performance in the arena.
“Hey, don’t you think He Liansheng must have had some special encounter in Cangchuan? Look at his swordsmanship – one move would take me a lifetime to learn!”
“I heard he went to deal with Du Dizhu! Serves them right! Wuxiang Mountain has been too arrogant for years. They needed to be put in their place!”
“Senior Brother He has gotten stronger and stronger since leaving that spirit woman. He might even ascend to immortality one day!”
Xing Shuishui looked over. There on the red and gold Rankings Board, the names stood out clearly:
First in Swordsmanship: He Liansheng First in Talismans: He Liansheng
First in Alchemy: He Liansheng First in Arrays: He Liansheng First in Spellcraft: He Liansheng First in Soul Arts: He Liansheng …
Previously these positions belonged to others. But in recent years, his name dominated everything, almost terrifyingly so. Yet no one dared object.
Back at the debate competition when he forfeited for her sake, she thought what a waste, called him crazy. But whatever He Liansheng decided, let him be crazy then.
He was like that – there was only want or don’t want, never can’t do. Everyone held a grand feast to celebrate his championships, but he was nowhere to be seen.
The young man sat alone in the courtyard where she once lived. It was a beautiful autumn night. He took up his brush and wrote on paper—
Xing Shuishui, greetings through these words. I forfeited the debate competition. But at the autumn festival, I came first. Since you left, I’ve achieved many firsts.
I don’t know how many firsts I need before I can see you again. I don’t know where you are, or if anyone has bullied you. I’m very, very good at catching spirits now. If anyone bullies you, I’ll beat them up for you.
He finished writing. The talisman fire burned it to ashes. He wrote again—
About what happened at the Heaven’s Altar… I remember you cried. I forgive you.
He burned it. Wrote again—
If you say you like me, this life is yours to take. Really. I don’t mind.
Xing Shuishui, I don’t mind at all.
He burned that too.
Everyone was looking for him. His name echoed throughout Lingshan. But he just sat alone under the moon holding the Taoyuan sword, as if waiting for someone to return.
Legend spoke of a poison called Ruomengchan. It was bitter and astringent, but had a beautiful name. If one endured the bitterness and weathered the astringency, the person they longed to see would appear before their eyes. Like a dream.
The young man took out the Ruomengchan and consumed it.
When He Liansheng opened his eyes again, a young woman in light peach robes stood before him, smiling.
He stared for a long while.
The person he’d yearned for day and night reached out and poked his cheek, musing: “He Liansheng, you look unhappy. Why is that?”
He Liansheng grabbed her wrist, pulled her close, and said softly: “I’m happy now.”
Xing Shuishui blinked: “He Liansheng… you’re hurting my hand…”
She nestled in his arms, her hair slightly disheveled.
He Liansheng loosened his grip. Xing Shuishui heard people calling for him outside and turned to look. He Liansheng followed her gaze, his eyes growing cold: “Shuishui, don’t pay attention to them.”
“Will that make you happy?”
“Shuishui, you don’t need to please me or make me happy,” he said. “Just stay by my side. Everything else is what I should do.”
Xing Shuishui paused: “Okay.”
The young man cupped her face like a treasure, his gaze and tone full of attachment: “Such a good Shui.”
If only the dream could continue forever.
Xing Shuishui stared at him unblinkingly, smiling: “I heard you got many firsts. How should I reward you, He-Lian-sheng!”
She was still so cute, her cheeks round and slightly flushed. He couldn’t bear to part with her.
He Liansheng pressed a finger to her lips, smiling mischievously: “How does Shuishui think she should reward me?”
Xing Shuishui’s smile faded slightly, her eyes wandering uncertainly, somewhat embarrassed: “How about I give myself as a reward?”
The young man pinned her delicate hand against the wall, forcefully intertwining their fingers, his voice hoarse: “How will you give yourself to me?”
She said innocently: “By sleeping with you, of course.”
He Liansheng’s lips curved: “And how would we sleep?”
“With our eyes closed.”
“…”
The autumn night was quiet. After a long silence, he said: “Xing Shuishui, do you know sometimes I really want to…”
Xing Shuishui looked at him innocently: “Really want to what?”
He Liansheng said irritably: “Too crude. Don’t listen.”
“Then I’ll go to sleep.”
She seemed to like lying on the bed, didn’t even take off her socks before becoming drowsy. He Liansheng sat beside her, lost in thought as he watched her. He played with her braid, fingers twirling her hair tie, tightening then loosening it. As if that made it more real.
“Shuishui.” He called.
“Mm?”
“Shuishui.”
“What…”
“Say you won’t leave me. Ever.”
His tone held absolute possessiveness.
She said: “Won’t leave you…”
He confirmed again: “Won’t leave who?”
She said: “Asheng.”
He Liansheng froze, then laughed softly.
Xing Shuishui asked: “Why aren’t you sleeping?”
“Don’t want to.”
The dream she gave was too beautiful.
He feared if he closed his eyes, Xing Shuishui would be gone again.
That day, the sun shone brightly. Xing Shuishui slept until noon. When she pushed open the window, white walls and black tiles greeted her, birds flew across the azure sky, and the persimmon tree was gilded with sunlight, its orange fruits reflected in her eyes.
Xing Shuishui stretched lazily. He Liansheng had gone out and wouldn’t return until noon.
She leaned back in her chair and found a small booklet in the drawer. After a moment’s pause, she picked it up to read. It was a small journal titled: “Meeting Shui.”
It contained all his memories of her since she left, starting from the day he woke from his severe injuries. Xing Shuishui’s eyes reddened as she read the handwriting.
Year 3720 of Yuanyuan. Went down the mountain to catch spirits, met Shui. She’s a peach blossom spirit, easy to feed and keep alive. She doesn’t eat cilantro. She loves Dingding candy. She likes red hair ties.
One day, while she was sleeping deeply, I took a strand of her hair. She doesn’t know.
She has another name – Xue Jiuling. She has a brother and a sister, and many enemies. Du Dizhu is the first among them.
She has a hometown. Though she rarely mentions it, I can tell she misses it. I don’t know where Jiangsu is. Searched for a long time, Never found that place with the white snake legend.
If this too was a lie, I suppose I can only forgive her. It was always me who wanted her, not her who wanted me. As long as she returns to my side, I’ll gladly accept it all. …
Xing Shuishui cried.
She clutched the paper, tears dropping onto her dress. Hearing movement outside, she quickly wiped her tears and stuffed the journal back in the drawer.
He Liansheng returned to find her writing. The young woman kept her head down. The air felt damp – he knew she’d been crying secretly. His hands clenched.
Was being with him really so unpleasant?
He Liansheng set dried persimmons on the table, pretending nothing had happened, and asked: “What are you writing?”
She put down her brush, the ink bleeding into the paper for a moment.
Xing Shuishui recited: “I see the mountains in their beauty.”
She looked up at He Liansheng, smiling: “Do you know the next line?”
Without waiting for his answer.
She said: “Surely the mountains see such beauty in me too.”
Xing Shuishui’s calligraphy wasn’t good. Her characters looked crooked, the strokes twisted and blurred together.
He Liansheng took her hand, teaching her to write properly. Xing Shuishui listened as he softly repeated: “Surely the mountains see such beauty in me too…”
I see the mountains in their beauty, Surely the mountains see such beauty in me too.
She wrote it again, then grabbed the dried persimmons he’d brought and ate them. They were so sweet they stuck to her teeth. She reached for the tea on the table, finding it bitter. He Liansheng pressed down on her teacup.
Xing Shuishui turned her head, remembering how he indulged her in everything except looking in mirrors or at water in cups, though she didn’t know what he feared. But she couldn’t be bothered to worry about it. Xing Shuishui leaned against his chest and continued eating persimmons, truly enjoying them, her eyes curved in happiness. He Liansheng wiped the corners of her mouth.
Xing Shuishui tilted her head: “Asheng, will you buy me dried persimmons for life?”
He Liansheng lowered his brows: “Of course. Anytime.”
He picked up the brush and wrote their names over and over – Xing Shuishui, He Liansheng – placing them side by side as if this would keep them together forever.
Xing Shuishui. He Liansheng. Xing Shuishui. He Liansheng. …
Stroke by stroke. Intertwined together.
Xing Shuishui stared at the names until she felt increasingly drowsy. Recently, she seemed to tire easily. He Liansheng didn’t want to accept this. His fingers gripped the brush tightly, the final stroke of “Shui” suddenly lifting upward, the character blurring.
The brush clattered onto the table. Ink splashed onto his sleeve.
He pressed her hand, asking: “Shuishui. Can you stay with me a few more days?”
Her voice was weak: “I want to stay with you for so long.”
Lies.
The young man stared at her intently, asking again: “Then will you—marry me?”
Something like thunder seemed to crack outside the window.
His hair ribbon hung beside her cheek. Xing Shuishui lowered her eyes, clutching her light pink dress. It felt itchy.
“Xing Shuishui, marry me. I’m very good at growing peach blossoms – look at the peach trees in my courtyard. They bloom whenever I want them to. Be my Dao partner. You won’t be caught by spirit hunters, no spirit will dare trouble you. Du Dizhu can get lost, Lingshan can get lost, whoever objects can die!”
He gripped her hand tightly, refusing to let go, his tone growing increasingly agitated as he continued speaking. Xing Shuishui tried to interject several times but was cut off. Finally, when he had nothing left to say, He Liansheng lowered his head in despair, clutching the Taoyuan sword hilt. He waited for her rejection.
Outside the window, a ripe persimmon fell, startling birds into flight.
The young woman sat by the window, chin in hand, slowly turning back with a smile: “I’ll marry you. I want to.”
Her eyes gleamed golden, especially beautiful.
“I’m not lying.”
He Liansheng remained stunned for a long time.
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