Only after crossing the Wangchuan River with her own body did she understand its true power. All the suffering imaginable in the mortal world gathered in these waters, shaking souls violently while leaving flesh unmarked.
Rather than Wangchuan River, it might be better called the River of Suffering. Even with her cultivation, it was hard to endure. Yet somehow, a mere mortal ghost had crossed it several times.
She quietly listened to the rain while organizing her thoughts.
Rain fell onto the river’s surface. Drip, drip, drip—
He Liansheng carried Xing Shuishui on his back to the middle of the river. The water remained ink-black, with more and more lanterns appearing, brushing against the skirt hem floating on the water’s surface.
Xing Shuishui reached down to touch a lantern. A golden light flashed and quickly faded, revealing a dim name at the wick.
She turned her head, surprised: “He Liansheng, do you know what these lanterns are for?”
He Liansheng glanced at them, his expression barely changing as he said quietly: “Souls are like lamplight, the dead are great. Placing lanterns by the Wangchuan River is a blessing for the next life, and can also bless family and friends.”
Xing Shuishui thought of her parents who died in this world – her father’s soul was taken by Yinzi on the day she was born, and her mother died protecting them as they fled. If she had the chance, she would definitely place lanterns for them too.
As she thought this, her gaze swept over the bobbing lanterns. She saw He Liansheng’s name on one of them and pointed: “That one seems to have your name.”
He Liansheng stopped in his tracks. The lantern read: My son He Liansheng, may your wishes be fulfilled, may you find peace year after year.
The handwriting was delicate, as if practiced countless times.
The young man stared at that lantern, lost in thought. Xing Shuishui gently grabbed his ear and said with a smile: “A lantern left by your mother. That’s wonderful. There are still many people in this world who truly wish you well.”
He Liansheng’s expression shifted slightly as he turned his head: “Are you among them?”
Xing Shuishui curved her lips, answering without hesitation: “Of course I am. I’ve always wished you well, always wanted you to be cared for by many people, wanted you to forever stand out, to always be first. I told you, don’t fall for my sake – keep being brilliant for me.”
He Liansheng stared at her for a long while, his black hair floating quietly in the river water, before saying softly: “But what I meant was – are there any lanterns wishing you well? Shuishui.”
Xing Shuishui thought about it seriously, showing slight regret: “Many people disliked me in my past life. I’m not sure if there are any for me.”
Besides family, she couldn’t think of who else would care about her. There were so many lanterns here. Placing lanterns wasn’t something everyone in Fengdu had to do. Though she didn’t mind, her eyes still swept over the names on several lanterns.
Xing Shuishui looked away, smiling faintly: “Let’s cross the river first.”
“I’ll help you look.” The words seemed to come on the wind. Xing Shuishui’s expression softened as she saw He Liansheng’s spell flying out, streams of light drifting over the river.
—There won’t be any.
When people anticipate something, they often say the opposite.
She closed her eyes, then looked up. The Wangchuan River had already responded, lantern flames rising to gather like star rain in the sky. Hundreds of lanterns converged around her. How… were there so many?
Xing Shuishui lowered her eyes as the writing on the lanterns appeared—
I love Xue Xiaojiu. Would trade three souls and six spirits for your soul’s return. May we never meet in all lifetimes. May you possess all the world’s splendor. Peace year after year.
The signature was blank. The date was several years after her death.
Many lanterns had similar messages.
These lanterns, spanning over a hundred years floating on the Wangchuan River for several lifetimes, were finally seen by her in this chance moment.
Xing Shuishui was stunned. Who placed these lanterns with such a strange way of addressing her? It seemed they were placed after her death in her previous life. Xue Xiaojiu. Someone from her past life? The writing style was somewhat similar to He Liansheng’s.
The young man clearly hadn’t expected this result and mockingly said: “Was this your lover from your past life?”
Xing Shuishui said seriously: “You’re my only lover in both past and present lives.”
He Liansheng made a sound: “Then it must be someone who loved you but couldn’t have you.”
Xing Shuishui replied irritably: “That’s rich coming from you. There are far more people who loved you but couldn’t have you than those who loved me but couldn’t have me. He Liansheng, these are just a few lanterns, they might even be pranks. Bringing someone back to life isn’t that simple.”
She herself had paid a terrible price to help her sister return to the cycle of reincarnation.
The lanterns on the river were bright. The young man grew increasingly annoyed looking at them and waved his hand to disperse them.
He Liansheng continued carrying her across the river, saying harshly: “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have helped you look for lanterns.”
But Xing Shuishui laughed: “Alright, I get it, you can’t stand other men in your sight.”
The young man retaliated by tugging her braid. She immediately cried out in pain, her legs flailing and kicking his calf. The young man glanced down at her pale ankles soaked by the water, but didn’t argue with her, just quickened his pace.
Li Guanxing, who had been waiting on the other shore for a long time, saw this scene and clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly, with nowhere to vent his anger. He almost wanted to kick the ghosts waiting for reincarnation into the cycle of rebirth. He really couldn’t tell if these two had come to seek Grandma Meng’s soup antidote or just to flirt.
Meanwhile, the Immortal Meng gazed at this scene for a long time, her eyes full of contentment.
Li Guanyu asked: “What are you thinking about, Immortal?”
The Immortal said: “I’m thinking—”
“After all these years, someone finally accompanied him across the river.”
Li Guanyu didn’t understand.
The rain over the Wangchuan River stopped. Xing Shuishui finally crossed the river, shaking herself as soon as her feet touched the ground to shake off the water. It was a bit cold by the river, so she summoned separation fire to warm herself. Seeing He Liansheng unmoved, she flicked her wrist and said: “Go.” The fire flew over, giving him a flame as well.
He Liansheng crossed his arms and looked at the small flame beside him, his eyebrow lifting.
Xing Shuishui looked up.
The Path of Reincarnation was gray, like an old person’s clouded eyes. Immortal Meng approached holding a blue lantern, creating a stark contrast with the red flowers by the Wangchuan River.
They watched as she raised her hand, pinching two fingers together in the air toward the flowers by the Wangchuan River. Instantly, a vibrant red flower flew out, buzzing as it came over.
Xing Shuishui raised her hands to catch it.
The Immortal turned her head and said: “You’ve crossed the Wangchuan River, so I’ll keep my promise. This spider lily contains past and present lives. When your sister destroys this flower with her own hands, she’ll remember everything.”
Xing Shuishui politely thanked her.
The Immortal suddenly asked: “Aren’t you curious about your own past and present lives?”
Xing Shuishui was startled and said: “But I’m not in the cycle of reincarnation.”
Li Guanxing asked in surprise: “How could you not be in the cycle of reincarnation?”
Realizing she had let something slip, Xing Shuishui added: “Um. I’m just guessing.”
The Immortal smiled and said: “Then I’ll guess too – sooner or later, you’ll reread your past and present lives from another perspective.”
Xing Shuishui couldn’t understand what this meant no matter how long she pondered it. She took back the Floating Spirit Mirror that Li Guanyu had been keeping and hung it at her waist, then turned back to say: “The past is already set, I can’t change it, so I rarely look back.”
The Immortal smiled and said: “You’re quite interesting. Everyone else I’ve met has been so curious about their past and present lives.”
Speaking of which, she asked He Liansheng: “What about you? Are you curious?”
“No.”
He Liansheng didn’t even think about it.
Xing Shuishui ran over, holding the small flower and linking arms with him. He Liansheng truly had no interest in such boring topics as past lives. He glanced at the Li siblings, raised his hand to form a seal, and they returned to the mortal world.
When they returned to Separation Fire Manor, Xing Shuishui sensed something might be wrong.
The atmosphere was unusual, as if there had been a fierce battle. Walls had collapsed, bricks and tiles were scattered everywhere.
Her pupils contracted. Before she could ask what happened, she quickly ran toward her sister’s room.
The door burst open with a bang.
Xue Zhuangxin was leaning by the bed, looking at her with worried eyes.
“What… happened to you? Did… something bad happen?”
It was good that her sister was fine. She must have been overthinking.
Xing Shuishui panted as she rested her hands on her knees, looking at the mess outside. It might have been caused by unruly spirits fighting in the manor. There were always some who didn’t follow the rules.
She relaxed a bit and handed over the flower: “Miss Xue, could you… help me with something? Just… crush this.”
Xue Zhuangxin came over and patted her back, saying softly: “Don’t be afraid, I’m here. Take your time…”
Xing Shuishui quietly looked at her, patiently asking: “Could you help me crush this flower?”
Xue Zhuangxin hesitated for a moment but did as asked.
Her delicate hands came together, the jade bracelet on her wrist swaying like flower branches. In her peripheral vision, the Wangchuan flower scattered across the ground. Xue Zhuangxin’s eyes grew confused, her form swaying. Xing Shuishui supported her and casually closed the window.
Xue Zhuangxin’s face had been like a camellia in early morning, jade-white tinged with rosy clouds. As time passed, it gradually turned pale, the color draining from her lips as if remembering something painful. Sister, I’m sorry, Sister, I’m sorry, Sister, I’m sorry…
Xing Shuishui’s heart ached again and again.
The beauty opened her eyes and spoke that long-absent name: “Xiaojiu…”
Xing Shuishui’s eyes reddened: “Sister.”
Xue Zhuangxin asked hoarsely: “How long have I been asleep?”
“Not long.”
Just over two hundred years or so.
Xue Zhuangxin: “Xiaojiu… I seem to remember dying… It feels like I had a very long dream, became a mortal, and was about to marry again, but not to Young Master Mu.”
Xing Shuishui: “Sister, it’s all in the past now. This is Separation Fire Manor, just like before. I know who killed you back then. Don’t worry, Sister, I’ll definitely make them pay with their life! Make them regret ever coming into this world.”
Xue Zhuangxin couldn’t help but laugh: “You’ve grown so much, but still haven’t learned to take care of yourself. Don’t live just for me, you should live for yourself too.”
Xing Shuishui gazed at her for a long time, tears in her eyes. Xue Zhuangxin gently tucked the loose strands of hair behind her ear, her face finally showing some joy. Occasional insect sounds could be heard, and outside the window were shadows of falling peach blossoms. A person’s shadow could vaguely be seen reflected on it.
Xue Zhuangxin asked: “Who’s outside?”
Though they had met before, her sister had just recovered her memories, and having two lifetimes of memories mixed together would be very confusing.
Xing Shuishui was afraid of frightening her so she had He Liansheng wait outside. Now that Xue Zhuangxin brought it up, she didn’t know how to explain – one was human and one was a spirit. She was truly afraid her sister would faint upon hearing it.
The room fell silent as someone pushed open the door and entered.
Xue Zhuangxin looked up.
That young man wore white clothes with ink-black hair, his expression indifferent. He held a silver longsword and lifted his eyes to meet her gaze. Her first impression was that this person had excellent features: his brows and eyes were like sunset clouds on the horizon, like moss growing on warm stones, with both light and depth, not quite like spring mountains yet surpassing them.
Just one glance made it impossible to look away.
He wasn’t a spirit but a cultivator, with very high cultivation – he had even become a Celestial Master at such a young age.
He Liansheng walked up to her, grabbed Xing Shuishui’s hand, his vermillion headband swaying as his expression became somewhat relaxed, unusually free of mockery.
He looked at Xue Zhuangxin and said with a curved lip: “Her future partner. He Liansheng. Previously a disciple of Lingshan’s master and young master of the He family. But don’t worry, I’ve already betrayed the path, and have no connection to Lingshan from now on.”
Xue Zhuangxin was stunned.
He spoke of this betrayal lightly, without a trace of guilt.
Leave a Reply