It had been a long time since they returned to Lingshan. Everything was covered in dust. In He Liansheng’s courtyard, the peach blossoms were always in full bloom. Red ropes tied to peach branches created a dazzling sight.
Xing Shuishui pushed open the door with a creak, finding everything inside unfamiliar. She picked up a broom, wanting to clean the room.
He Liansheng grabbed her arm and said, “Shuishui, you won’t stay here tonight. Stay in my room.”
Xing Shuishui was slightly stunned. One room… one bed? Well, it should be fine. After all, He Liansheng only cultivated and didn’t sleep.
Sunlight streamed through the small window as she raised her arm to block it.
The first time He Liansheng brought her to Lingshan, they were both preoccupied with finding Guan Wushan and hadn’t paid much attention to this room.
Thinking of this, she rolled up her sleeves and said, “Still need to clean up! I don’t like others touching my things. I always clean my own room. I’ll move over once it’s clean!”
He Liansheng seemed oddly distracted.
Xing Shuishui looked around and decided to start cleaning from the window table where peach petals were scattered.
Walking over to open the drawer, she froze.
Inside lay a small notebook.
Its title was: “Upon Meeting Water.”
The memories from the dream cicada overlapped with the present. The first line of the notebook was always—
Year 3720 of the First Scholar. I went down the mountain to catch spirits, and met Water.
Her heart ached, and she dared not read further.
She looked up to meet He Liansheng’s eyes and softly asked, “He Liansheng… how can you be so kind?”
He Liansheng cupped her face and said quietly, “Be good, let’s burn it. You’re here in person now. This thing has lost its meaning.”
Waiting a hundred years for someone’s return. Meeting the person you longed for in the book. From now on, the clouds would part to reveal the sun.
Xing Shuishui nuzzled his hand with her cheek, looking at him obediently, as if waiting for his direction.
“Remember the first day you brought me back to Lingshan? You asked if I liked this room. I said yes. You asked what I liked about it. I said I liked the peach blossoms outside, the birds in the trees, and everything inside.”
“But He Liansheng, what I really wanted to say that day was that what I liked inside was—” She looked up and said softly, “—you.”
“Shuishui…”
He Liansheng pulled her into his embrace, fingers tangled in her hair, as if wanting to crumple her up and never let go.
Xing Shuishui’s forehead showed creases from his clothes. She mumbled, “You messed up my hair again.”
He Liansheng released her and took the notebook, while she leaned against him as he turned to the last page. Outside the window, peach blossoms blazed bright, and inside the book was pressed a small peach blossom, the young man’s knuckles casting faint gray shadows over it.
These were the final lines she had never seen before—
Master always said fate couldn’t be forced, and broken mirrors were hard to mend. But I couldn’t accept that our story ended at that moment. I wanted her in my life forever after.
So—when the peach blossoms bloom again. I will go find the real Xing Shuishui.
I’m happy she taught me gentleness, love, and unwavering patience.
Reading to the end, the person from those words was now before his eyes, accompanying him as he read the final stroke.
His heart was restless. The lamp under the eaves burned long.
Xing Shuishui lifted her head.
As the clamorous wind blew through her heart, tears fell from her eyes, dropping onto her hands. Her thin sleeves clung to her wrists.
He Liansheng smiled, coaxing her gently: “Be good. Don’t cry. The peach blossom in your hair is wilting.”
Xing Shuishui rubbed her red eyes and said softly, “It’s wilting because my heart feels blocked. When I’m happy, it will bloom brilliantly. So He Liansheng—”
She lifted her face, eyes curved in joy: “Will you take me as your bride? I know you’re very good at growing peach blossoms!”
Light danced on Xing Shuishui’s face, dispelling all the gloom that had lingered in his heart for a hundred years.
The young man stared at her in amazement, momentarily speechless.
He Liansheng spoke hoarsely, word by word: “I will.”
If this world is just a long winter. I’m willing to stay by your side, keeping warm together.
…
The day He family came to propose marriage, all of Yin Mountain was shocked. Throughout history, humans married humans, and spirits married spirits. But now, not only was a spirit hunter proposing to a spirit, but the groom was from Lingshan’s He family, who had always looked down on everyone!!
The walls of Lihua Manor were covered with curious onlookers. Both humans and spirits gathered, eager to scrutinize the He family’s representatives.
The He family representative sat drinking tea with apparent composure, though his spiritual energy fluctuated violently. He increasingly felt that the family head’s claim of illness to avoid attending showed great foresight!
Cultivator weddings were usually simple, just writing a marriage notice before wandering the world. But since the He family was a great house, they had to maintain appearances. They planned to just go through the motions, keeping the bride price simple and following normal procedures.
But when he opened the gift list, he spat out his tea.
What the hell???!!!! They were practically giving the entire He family as a dowry!
Who changed this? The representative looked at the servant beside him, remembering it wasn’t like this when they left!!
The servant made a troubled expression, forming his hand into a blade and miming across his own neck, then the representative’s neck, looking very uneasy.
They both understood immediately. Looking down, He Liansheng’s soul imprint was still on it.
He sighed softly. Whatever. As long as the young master is happy.
Xue Sansi hadn’t shown any goodwill toward the He family representatives since they arrived at the manor. His grudge against Lingshan ran deep. It wasn’t something he could just let go.
However, regarding one matter, he and the He family head were “like-minded.”
Claiming illness, refusing visitors, out of sight, out of mind.
Xue Zhuangxin was also generous of spirit, taking on this responsibility. Not long after returning to his position as manor lord, he had everything inside and outside the manor running smoothly, commanding such authority that no one dared cause trouble, bringing many matters to conclusion.
So the remaining fate was left to them.
The evening market was bustling, temple pagodas lit up, human lanterns accompanying bamboo shadows in brilliance. City visitors rode donkeys listening to stories; theater houses were packed full; the smell of food stall delicacies nearly overflowed.
Xing Shuishui had just run out of a candy shop, holding the young man’s arm with a candied hawthorn still in her mouth. She explained which pastry shops in Yin Mountain had the best snacks, and which alleyways were easy to get lost in. He Liansheng carefully noted it all down.
She suddenly pointed to the bright riverbank and said with a smile: “He Liansheng, before you always released lanterns alone, now let’s release them together! We can pray for good fortune for our future travels across the world!”
At the most prosperous part of Yin Mountain River stood an ancient bridge. The bridge was painted red, with many shops. Young couples loved to release sky lanterns at the bridge head, and the dock was conveniently located there.
Xing Shuishui ran to buy a Kong Ming lantern from a peddler.
She raised her hand to write with magic, but hesitated for a long time.
Finally, she just wrote their names.
He Liansheng stood beside her, continuously playing with her braid hanging over her shoulder.
Xing Shuishui tilted her head and asked, “Have you thought of what to write on it?”
He Liansheng’s throat bobbed as he took Xing Shuishui’s hand and wrote the answer he had brewed for over a hundred years—
Xing Shuishui, He Liansheng. Young husband and wife, never to part.
The words caught the lantern’s firelight, slowly drifting away, reflecting in the young woman’s black pupils.
She let go, and the Kong Ming lantern floated into the night sky, lighting up half the dark heavens, while behind them were ten thousand house lights.
Xing Shuishui leaned on He Liansheng’s shoulder, their view becoming broad and wide.
She thought quietly, if Kong Ming lanterns were really so magical, then hopefully they truly would never part.
When they returned, Xue Zhuangxin and Xue Sansi had been waiting for a long time. Knowing they would travel far, they had prepared luggage filled with not just snacks but also their worries.
Xing Shuishui hugged her sister, face pressed against her arm, telling her not to worry too much.
Xue Zhuangxin patted her back and said gently: “We don’t know how long you’ll be wandering the mortal realm before returning. You must be careful. This world belongs to you two, don’t worry too much about us. If you hear anything interesting on your journey, remember to use the voice talisman to tell me and your Third Brother Sansi.”
Xing Shuishui swallowed the sourness in her throat and replied, “Alright.”
Xue Sansi leaned against the doorframe with folded arms. Though he said nothing, he gave Xing Shuishui a reassuring look.
His gaze turned to He Liansheng, his expression instantly changing from sunny to cloudy. He snorted coldly and left carrying their things.
After seeing them off for the last stretch, it was very late.
Xing Shuishui waved goodbye to her family as the evening star slowly rose behind her ear.
She turned around, a slight smile on her face, and reached out to the white-robed young man who had always been by her side, the red ribbon in her hair fluttering.
He Liansheng gripped his Taoyuan sword and held her hand as they walked forward.
Xing Shuishui lowered her head, following his shadow step by step.
“He Liansheng. Am I your bride now?”
“You are. Anyone who says otherwise will be chopped up.”
She burst out laughing.
The young man and woman walked under the moonlight, the evening breeze intoxicating.
Let’s return to the beginning of the story. A little peach spirit approached him with purpose, very cautious, but was still detected by him, Lingshan’s strongest celestial master. Not only did he not mind, he brought her to Lingshan and sheltered her from many external storms.
He Liansheng wasn’t always present. Every morning he had cultivation practice, either with his master or fellow disciples.
Actually, there were several times. Xing Shuishui couldn’t contain her impulses and ran to where Lingshan practitioners trained, hiding and secretly watching He Liansheng practice sword.
Sword intent whirled, waterfall spray flying.
The young man in white robes with silver sword, lips curved in a smile, split a meteorite ten miles away with one stroke, yet didn’t harm a single peach blossom before him.
“Excellent swordplay! Truly excellent swordplay!”
“Senior Brother He’s sword skills are supreme! We can’t compare!”
The little peach spirit stood dazed behind the door, fingers gripping the frame, peeking inside.
His robes danced in the wind, his high-bound hair flying through the air, graceful as a startled swan, elegant as a swimming dragon.
He Liansheng sheathed his sword and seemed to sense something as he looked over.
Just like now, many years later.
Their gazes met. Peach blossoms fell on both their shoulders.
In that moment, cheeks flushed red.
Only then did they know that you were the one who controlled this body.
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