Since becoming a mortal, He Simu had increasingly discovered the differences between individuals, sometimes greater than those between humans and evil spirits. For instance, some people were born with extraordinary physiques, natural talents in martial arts; others seemed to have borrowed their limbs, capable of falling off a horse before it even started running.

Like Duan Xu and herself.

Over two years, she had gradually adapted to everyday mortal life and began eagerly learning martial arts. Since the dramatic turn of events two years ago, Duan Xu’s health has steadily recovered. When He Simu expressed her desire to learn martial arts, he volunteered to be her teacher.

At first, when Chen Ying learned of this, he was full of concern, saying that Third Brother’s teaching methods could easily cause trouble. He Simu brushed this off. But once she began learning in earnest, she discovered that Chen Ying’s warning had been understated.

Duan Xu was too harsh.

And Duan Xu was too infuriating.

He Simu rotated her bandaged left hand and let out a cold snort. The middle-aged man in his forties beside her smiled and asked, “What’s troubling Miss He?”

He Simu was currently staying in Dai Prefecture. She had gifted Jiang Ai several landscape paintings of Dai Prefecture, which Jiang Ai arranged to be circulated among famous artists. The masters praised them highly, and once this news spread throughout Dai Prefecture, her reputation soared. A single painting now commanded a price of a thousand gold pieces.

She had to admit that Jiang Ai truly had a talent for making money.

The Chen Proprietor she was meeting today ran a silk business in Dai Prefecture and was reportedly the wealthiest man there, with extensive connections. His residence in Dai Prefecture city had ninety-nine and a half rooms, with carved beams and painted rafters, magnificent. Now he was smiling broadly, his eyes gleaming as he looked at He Simu.

He Simu pointed to the painting placed beside her and said, “Proprietor Chen, have you decided whether to buy this painting or not?”

“Of course, I’ll buy it! Anyone who can purchase one of Miss He’s paintings would boast about it for days. I’ve long heard that Miss He excels in both appearance and artistry—beautiful paintings, and a person even more beautiful than her art.”

He Simu replied flatly, “I mentioned earlier, that if you want to buy my painting, you’ll exchange it for your shop’s treasure, the Tian Lin silk. Has Proprietor Chen prepared it?”

Proprietor Chen smiled and clapped his hands. A servant emerged from behind a screen carrying a roll of silk in a perfect cinnabar red color, subtly shimmering with silver light.

He Simu walked over and touched the silk. It felt as delicate as a baby’s skin—warm, smooth, light as cicada wings yet completely opaque. The silver light overlaying the red, changing with the light, resembled the sparkling waves on the sea under the setting sun.

“This Tian Lin silk is made from precious cocoons from the Western Regions. It took ten years and over two thousand heavenly silkworms to gather enough silk threads. Lan Yue Workshop crafted it into silk fabric, and Gu Residence used the finest cochineal insects to dye it. Originally, there were five bolts in the world. Two were lost in the fires of war, and two were buried with the former dynasty’s emperor and empress. What remains in the world is just this bolt in my possession.”

Proprietor Chen straightened his back, proudly extolling his shop’s treasure.

He Simu bent down to examine it carefully, touching it meticulously. Her black eyes reflected the silk’s red as she said softly, “The color is indeed beautiful.”

Over the years, she had seen many fine silks and brocades, but this one was truly exceptional.

Seeing her appreciation, Proprietor Chen smiled until his eyes disappeared. He sighed and said, “I acquired this silk with great difficulty. Many people wanted to buy it, but I refused them all. I intended to pass it down as a family heirloom.”

Hearing this, He Simu turned to appraise him: “So, Proprietor Chen, are you giving it to me or not?”

Proprietor Chen finally revealed his true intentions, smiling slyly: “You see, if we became family, there would be no distinction between yours and mine. You would have this silk, and I could still pass it down as an heirloom—the best of both worlds…”

He Simu looked Proprietor Chen up and down, then back up again. She withdrew her hand, straightened up, and turned to retrieve the painting on the table: “Then I’ll take my leave.”

Proprietor Chen placed his hand on the painting, preventing He Simu from taking it. He let out a long, drawn-out sound and looked at He Simu: “I don’t bring out this fabric easily. Miss He, you’ve already seen and touched it. Don’t be ungrateful.”

The servants around the room stood shoulder to shoulder, forming an impenetrable barrier. Proprietor Chen’s gaze conveyed that now she was here, she wouldn’t be leaving.

He Simu looked around and withdrew her hand, saying calmly, “It seems Proprietor Chen wants to keep me for dinner.”

“You can stay for as many meals as you like—delicacies from mountains and seas, whatever you choose. You’ve seen my Chen family’s estate; we certainly won’t mistreat you.” Proprietor Chen smiled maliciously.

He Simu snorted and took out a luminous pearl from her bosom: “Then Proprietor Chen wouldn’t mind if I invite a friend to join us?” After a pause, she called out, “Feng Yi.”

The pearl immediately glowed with a soft radiance.

“Ancestor?”

“A proprietor has cordially invited me to stay for dinner, and I find it difficult to refuse. Would you like to join?”

The pearl was silent for a moment, then laughter came through: “How could I miss such a delightful occasion?”

From the moment the pearl emitted a voice, Proprietor Chen showed surprise. The servants in the room looked around anxiously, creating a flurry of fearful discussions. Just then, a violent wind suddenly arose in the room, sending papers and curtains flying. As everyone staggered unexpectedly, two figures materialized from the wind.

A slender, tall man wore a white silk Daoist robe embroidered with red lotus patterns. On his back, the twenty-eight constellations were embroidered in red thread, and he leaned on a cane. Beside him stood a woman in purple, like a porcelain doll with fair skin and black hair. Her lovely yet expressionless face featured a pair of deep black eyes.

The man tapped his cane on the ground, and the wind immediately ceased, leaving only a mess on the floor.

Proprietor Chen fell to the ground in fear, shouting about monsters.

He Simu’s gaze fell on the woman and frowned: “Why is Zi Ji here?”

He Jia Feng Yi replied, “Zi Ji happened to be visiting me in the mortal realm, so I brought her along.”

After responding to He Simu, he turned to the fallen Proprietor Chen, greeting him as if meeting a long-lost relative. He warmly grabbed Proprietor Chen’s shoulders, lifting him from the ground: “I’m sorry for appearing so suddenly—how rude of me! Looking at your dignified and prosperous appearance, you must be the proprietor who invited us for dinner. May I ask your surname?”

Proprietor Chen tucked in his neck, trembling and unable to speak. His neck was already short, and now he resembled a neckless turtle.

He Simu said, “Proprietor Chen.”

He Jia Feng Yi clapped his hands and exclaimed, “Oh! Surname Chen! Chen is a good surname! My senior brother’s uncle’s daughter-in-law’s aunt was surnamed Chen! What a coincidence, no wonder we’re having dinner together today.”

He Jia Feng Yi acted overly familiar, pulling Proprietor Chen along, picking up chairs that had been blown over, and seating him at the table. He then led Zi Ji and He Simu to sit down and smiled at the still-rigid Proprietor Chen: “Please don’t stand on ceremony with us. We could eat ten pounds of dragon liver, leopard gallbladder, or rare delicacies without getting tired. Just order whatever you like.”

“Why are you in the mortal realm?” He Simu asked Zi Ji directly.

More than two years had passed in a flash, yet the day she became mortal seemed like yesterday. Zi Ji had shortened her long life to that of a mortal and saved Duan Xu from the brink of death.

However, Zi Ji hadn’t come specifically to save her. Later, she learned this was the result of He Jia Feng Yi’s prolonged battle with Zi Ji, in which Feng Yi ultimately prevailed. She had merely benefited from Feng Yi’s success, finding a way out of her desperate situation.

Nevertheless, she didn’t have much fondness for Zi Ji. Presumably, someone trapped in a cage wouldn’t have much affection for the cage-maker.

“To check on the new order,” the deity replied, sitting at the pear wood table carved with the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea. She looked into He Simu’s eyes for a moment, then said, “Miss He, you needn’t be hostile toward me. Livestock cannot match human strength, humans cannot match evil spirits, and evil spirits cannot match deities. Each life has its place, with its limitations. Living earnestly with a small form and belief in life, experiencing love, hate, emotions, enmity, birth, aging, illness, and death—all are worthy of respect.”

Zi Ji raised her hand, gesturing between herself and He Simu: “The same applies between us. I respect your pain and difficulties, which is why I modified the order.”

He Simu was silent for a moment, seeming to accept her answer, then shifted the topic to He Jia Feng Yi: “Divine One, what are your thoughts about Feng Yi now?”

After consulting with his family, He Jia Feng Yi passed his Mars Star destiny to his nephew. He was no longer the Mars Disaster Star, nor the world’s strongest sorcerer, but this also meant he could cultivate the Dao for ascension.

Starting serious cultivation for ascension at his age seemed to offer dim prospects.

“When he ascends, he should be a better deity than I am.”

“And if he ultimately cannot ascend?”

Zi Ji was silent for a moment, then said, “Then that’s how it will be.”

He Jia Feng Yi sat to the side, stroking his cane as he watched these two ancestors exchanging words. He felt like a child about to enter school, with these two as the teacher and parent discussing his studies.

Proprietor Chen sat nervously at the table, rubbing his hands as if this weren’t his home but rather he had been captured as a guest. Just as he gathered the courage to question this incredible situation, the door was suddenly kicked open. The door panel fell straight to the ground with a loud crash, raising dust. Proprietor Chen cried out in distress, lamenting his fine sandalwood door.

A man dressed in a blue robe with tight sleeves and a round collar stood behind the door, holding the collar of an unconscious servant. The man was nearly thirty, handsome and tall, with an upright posture from years of martial training and bright, star-like eyes.

He was surprised by the scene in the room. His gaze swept across everyone before settling on He Jia Feng Yi, the most likely person to explain the situation.

He Jia Feng Yi met his gaze and immediately beamed, waving his cane: “Oh my, isn’t this Young Master Duan? Proprietor Chen offered to keep the ancestor for dinner. The ancestor thought two people would be too quiet, so she invited me and Zi Ji over. Does Young Master Duan also want to join the festivities?”

Duan Xu was silent for a moment, eyeing Proprietor Chen who was squeezed among the others like a little chick. He released his hand, dropping the servant to the floor. Placing his hands behind his back, he smiled innocently as if nothing had happened: “Since Proprietor Chen is so hospitable, surely he wouldn’t mind setting one more place?”

Proprietor Chen looked painfully at his door panel and raised his hand to point angrily at Duan Xu, but He Jia Feng Yi interjected: “How can you say that? You’re insulting our Proprietor Chen. Someone of his stature wouldn’t care about adding one more place setting. Look how excited he is—he’s about to call for the dishes to be served.”

With that, he turned to Proprietor Chen with a smile: “Isn’t that right?”

Proprietor Chen silently withdrew his hand and smiled apologetically: “Right… right… Hurry and serve the dishes!”

Duan Xu approached the table. The seats on both sides of He Simu were empty. After glancing at her expression, he pressed his lips together and sat across from her—next to He Jia Feng Yi. Observing the atmosphere between the two, He Jia Feng Yi thought they must have argued.

“May… may I know your esteemed surnames and names, honored guests?” The pitiful Proprietor Chen finally asked this question to the table of clearly unusual people.

He Jia Feng Yi smiled: “Oh my, I forgot to mention. I am He Jia Feng Yi from the Star Palace, and this is Zi Ji. I am Miss He’s relative.”

“Oh! So you’re a Daoist from the Star Palace! I failed to recognize such an eminent person!” Proprietor Chen bowed anxiously. Ordinary families might not know about other Daoist sects, but the Star Palace was renowned and known to all.

Duan Xu glanced at He Simu, who turned away.

He said, “I am Duan Xu. He Simu is my betrothed.”

Before Proprietor Chen could express his astonishment, He Simu laughed coldly: “Who is your betrothed? What marriage? I’m not getting married anymore.”

Duan Xu looked at He Simu for a moment, then smiled with crinkled eyes: “Fine, if you don’t want to marry, we won’t. We’ve lived without proper status for so many years already. But you must tell me why.”

He Simu didn’t look at him, merely stroking her painting scroll on the table without a word. The bandage on her left hand was particularly noticeable.

Duan Xu rubbed his fingers together and said, “If it’s because I accidentally injured your hand bone earlier, I apologize.”

His Broken Illusion sword unsheathed at his waist, flashing cold light. Proprietor Chen immediately crouched down, clutching his head and pleading for mercy.

However, the sword wasn’t directed at Proprietor Chen. He Simu pressed it down, grabbing Duan Xu’s left hand angrily: “Duan Xun Xi, what are you doing?”

“If you’re truly upset, I’ll give you my hand as compensation. You can do whatever you want—cut the tendons, crush the bones—I won’t say a word.” Duan Xu stared at He Simu with a smile.

“It’s not about that! I know you didn’t do it on purpose; you just didn’t realize how weak I am.”

Duan Xu caught the fleeting frustration in He Simu’s eyes. After a moment of silence, he grabbed her still intact wrist and said, “I understand now. Come with me.”

“Let go!” He Simu commanded.

Duan Xu simply took two steps forward and hoisted her onto his shoulder, turning to leave. He Simu’s face reddened with anger. Struggling on his shoulder, she called out to He Jia Feng Yi: “Feng Yi!”

He Jia Feng Yi covered his eyes: “Oh my, my hearing isn’t working well. Zi Ji, what’s that saying about officials in domestic matters?”

“Officials find it difficult to judge family disputes,” Zi Ji added.

When the footsteps and calls had disappeared, He Jia Feng Yi lowered his hand and turned to Proprietor Chen with a smile: “Proprietor Chen, you should thank me today. That young master has quite a temper. If not for my presence, your fate would have resembled your door panel. For that alone, we must add more dishes today…”

After leaving Chen’s ninety-nine and a half-room mansion, Duan Xu put He Simu down, mounted his horse, and galloped back to their residence in Dai Prefecture. Only upon entering their room did he release her.

He Simu had long stopped struggling. Turning to look at her, he saw her face and eyes reddened with anger as she bit her lip and glared at him coldly.

After a moment of silence, Duan Xu asked softly, “Simu, do you regret it?”

He Simu’s gaze intensified: “I do not regret anything. I just…”

Just… what? she wondered.

The room had no lights, and the light was gradually dimming. Duan Xu’s bright eyes reflected the orange sunset, presenting a sticky, honey-like quality—warm yet vulnerable.

She loved this world she now possessed. If she hadn’t become mortal, she would never have seen such a vivid world or experienced such a vibrant Duan Xu. How could she possibly regret it?

It was just that she wasn’t yet accustomed to being the fragile, powerless mortal He Simu.

She once possessed innate, formidable ghostly power. All evil spirits prostrated before her; nothing in this world could threaten her except separation and death. Looking at these myriad beings, she always felt both pity and longing—pity for their weakness, longing for their vibrancy.

Now she had gained their vibrancy but also their weakness.

Duan Xu was so strong that she became vulnerable before him. Even in casual training, he could easily injure her hand bones. When he carried her on his shoulder or pulled her along, she couldn’t resist. She learned what he taught slowly and with difficulty, as if she were innately incapable of acquiring such power.

Before, she had been invincible due to her natural talents. She had never experienced such frustration or disliked looking up to others. She disliked this feeling of being unable to control herself.

She was angry with herself.

In the sunset’s glow, Duan Xu’s chest rose and fell. Everything was quiet except for the sound of their breathing.

“Life inevitably involves birth, aging, illness, and death—that’s part of this world. Are you disappointed with this world?” Duan Xu looked at He Simu intently.

He Simu shook her head: “I’m not disappointed with the world; I’m disappointed with myself.”

Duan Xu chuckled softly: “Yes, you no longer have the powerful strength you once had. But in this human world, you still have me, He Jia Feng Yi, Jiang Ai, and Chen Ying. What are you afraid of?”

“But that’s still…”

“Still not your strength? Then what do you want me for? To share only joy but not sorrow? Do you think needing my help is shameful? Do you think I would look down on you in the slightest because of this? He Simu, did I ever refuse your help when I was gravely ill? Even knowing I could never impact your long life, knowing I was as fragile as an ant compared to you, did I ever back away or blame you for it?”

As Duan Xu spoke, his voice grew louder, his eyes trembling and reddening. After finishing, his chest heaved violently. He embraced the stunned He Simu and said softly, “Can you… please do not run away without a word every time you’re angry. You were the same back then—ending things just like that. I’m truly afraid of you.”

His heart beat fiercely; even through several layers of clothing, she could feel his anger and apprehension. She recalled the young man who had fought his way to her through the ghost army many years ago. If she could have felt it then, would his heartbeat have been like this?

He Simu hugged his back and said softly, “So your feelings then are like mine now.”

Duan Fox was indeed brave. If their positions had been reversed, with such a beginning, she probably wouldn’t have persisted.

Duan Xu, at twenty-six, had been gambling all his life. His soul had always hovered in mid-air, half held by himself and half entrusted to fate, navigating precarious situations and mixed fortunes, only finding stability in these past two years because of her.

He had always lived this way—unable to fully control himself, fragile yet resilient.

But it was precisely this fragility that made him passionate. Pain taught the meaning of happiness; cold taught the value of warmth. This was the mortal realm she loved.

“Being mortal is truly difficult…” He Simu murmured. “I need time. I must learn slowly.”

“We have plenty of time. You should rely on me, not leave me,” Duan Xu sighed in her ear.

“Alright.”

“You scared me. You must make it up to me.”

He Simu laughed softly: “Alright.”

Duan Xu took a breath against her neck, then lifted her horizontally and placed her on the bed. Bending down to kiss her, she hooked her arm around his neck. His voice muffled, he said, “Be careful of your hand.”

“Mortals are so troublesome…”

He Simu’s voice disappeared amid their breathing.

Night had fallen completely, but the room’s lamps remained unlit.

Amid the intense sensations, He Simu opened her eyes to see Duan Xu’s expression—fervent, infatuated, as if he were a flame about to plunge into water, exchanging his all-consuming heat for the water’s momentary warmth. His eyes were misty; sweat-dampened hair clung to his forehead. His sweat fell on her neck, so scorching it seemed to burn her. The same agarwood fragrance on their bodies intertwined, permeating the entire room.

She lifted her head to offer her lips and tongue. Between their entwined lips and teeth, she let out a sigh: “Oh no, I think I’m becoming increasingly infatuated with you.”

In this vibrant world, he still shone the brightest.

She had seen many landscapes but couldn’t forget that smile he gave her many years ago, wearing red wedding clothes amidst flying firecrackers and red confetti. Couldn’t forget that clear, gentle fragrance on his body.

Not to mention now, this warm, radiant, living Duan Xu in her arms.

The consequence of her words was that she cried out once, feeling even more overwhelmed.

Duan Xu’s ears reddened, so she bit his earlobe.

He trembled slightly and laughed softly: “It seems you don’t want to get out of bed tomorrow.”

“Having you serve me… isn’t bad either.”

He Simu’s voice paused as she kissed the strand of prematurely white hair at his temple.

They would live as mortals in this passionate, vibrant world. Time would pass, but nothing was frightening about its passage. They too would pass, until finally He Simu’s lifetime would completely merge with Duan Xu’s.

The greatest fortune in life: is to be with you until our hair turns white.

Later, Proprietor Chen’s unparalleled Tian Lin silk indeed became the wedding dress of the former Ghost King—although He Simu had been angry with Duan Xu that day, she had gone there to acquire fabric for her wedding dress.