Little Guai bit onto her clothes from behind with an aggrieved expression, looking at her with teary eyes. After a long while, it suddenly spoke, “I… I don’t dare see Master. He’ll scold me.” Its voice was thin and soft, like a small child.
Hu Sha was both surprised and delighted. She cupped its fluffy face with both hands and cried out, “You can talk now? Ah ah! No, wait—you could talk before! Why did you stop talking later? Little Guai, don’t be afraid. Just say a few words in front of Master like you are now, and I guarantee he won’t scold you anymore!”
Little Guai silently shook its head and said in a low voice, “I don’t want to talk. Second senior brother left, and when I talk, no one pays attention to me.”
It suddenly mentioned Feng Yi, and Hu Sha had nothing to say.
She still remembered that strange smile on his face, as if he hated her to the bone. That kind of hatred was so deep it made one’s heart palpitate. The way he used to look at her had always been condescending and careless.
She knew how much he despised her. With just a little scheming and manipulation, he could make her deeply moved. With a few pretty clothes, a few hairpins, even a few roast chickens, he could buy her over, making her hand over all her trust without any doubt.
He thought he could just as easily obtain her love, making her suffer from longing.
But he was wrong.
He had been wrong from the very beginning. Simply because he had never truly tried to understand her.
Hu Sha could be easily moved by others’ kindness, but she would never shrink back because of others’ malice.
Father once said, one must conduct oneself openly and have a clear conscience. If someone treats you well by one measure, you repay them threefold—this is gratitude. If someone wrongs you by one measure, you must be three times harder than them—this is backbone.
So now, it should be his turn to taste the flavor of defeat.
Hu Sha patted Little Guai’s head and said softly, “Second senior brother has left, and I’m afraid he won’t come back in the future. But I’m here. I’ll keep you company and talk with you.”
Little Guai looked at her listlessly, “You? How many years have you even lived? There’s nothing to talk about with you.”
It turned and walked toward the door, then suddenly said, “If you want to find Master, I can carry you there, but I don’t dare see him.”
Five-Colored Stream was in a mountain gully not far from the door.
This place was clearly one of those deep mountain forests—perhaps not even one person could pass through in decades. The thatched cottage, bedding, and everything else had been temporarily conjured by Fang Zhun using magic. Outside the door was a large bamboo forest. Hu Sha lay on Little Guai’s back, letting it leap up lightly. Wind brushed past her cheeks, carrying moisture.
All around was vast white mist. Because the sun hadn’t completely risen yet, the forest was quite cool.
In the distance, she could only see large swathes of bright rosy red, like soft brocade spread beneath the mist. It turned out to be a peach blossom grove.
Little Guai slowly descended from the clouds. When they drew closer, she discovered a large depression in the middle of the peach blossom grove. Five streams of water flowed from the forest to this place and splashed down with impressive momentum. Because the morning sun was just rising, when daylight reflected on the stream water, the five streams actually emitted different colors—some red, some green, some blue, some purple—strange and magnificent, leaving one dumbstruck.
Little Guai landed in the peach blossom grove, set her down on the ground, and flew away without a word, not even giving her a chance to say thanks.
Hu Sha could only support herself on peach trees and slowly move forward toward the sound of water.
Her feet still had no strength, soft and weak. Walking just a little more became extremely difficult. Early in the morning, though it was clearly quite cool, Hu Sha broke out in a thin layer of sweat. Gasping for breath and truly unable to walk anymore, she leaned against a peach tree to rest.
From deep in the peach grove, a melodious flute sound suddenly drifted over—like the cry of a phoenix, the tone extremely beautiful. It seemed to blend with the wind and water sounds in the forest. Listeners felt as if peach blossoms were falling like rain before their eyes, thousands upon thousands of flowers blooming. They immediately felt expansive and forgot countless troubles at the bottom of their hearts.
Hu Sha involuntarily pricked up her ears to listen. For a moment, she didn’t feel tired anymore and followed the direction of the flute sound to search.
After passing who knows how many peach trees, her view suddenly opened up. Across from her was the depression she had seen from the clouds earlier. The Five-Colored Stream water rushed forth and poured into the depression, splashing pearls and jade, the rainbow colors enchanting. The momentum was grand, the scenery magnificent—even more impressive than viewing it from above.
Hu Sha stared dumbly, not noticing when the flute sound had stopped.
After an unknown time, she suddenly felt someone watching her from diagonally above. She quickly looked up and saw Fang Zhun in white robes, upright and distinguished, leaning against a large bluestone. On the stone was also a bamboo flute—the flute sound from earlier had indeed been him playing.
At this moment, he held a writing brush in his hand, carefully painting on a piece of silk. From time to time, he would lower his head to look at her. Seeing her looking over, he smiled slightly and waved his hand, “Stand a bit more to the right. That’s very beautiful.”
Hu Sha instinctively moved a step to the right. Suddenly thinking of something, her face flushed red again. At a loss, she called out softly, “Master… that… I…”
He made a gesture for silence, “We’ll talk later. Stand still and don’t move.”
Hu Sha’s entire body seemed rigid, the rigidity also carrying a hint of weakness. She stood there fixedly like a stone statue, not even daring to blink her eyes casually.
Naturally, she didn’t know she was very beautiful.
Fang Zhun used the soft brush tip to slowly trace the outline of her full, soft face. Her nose was small and straight, her lips rosy red and soft.
Her black hair fell behind her, not bound up—she probably forgot. She had always been casual in this regard, no need to mind.
Because she had come out in a hurry and hadn’t changed clothes, she wore his wide white robe, exposing a section of her bright white, slender neck. Further down—appreciating purely—past her flower-like breasts was her slender, soft waist. Her snow-white fingers showed half outside her sleeves. Because of nervousness, she was unconsciously clutching her sash. Her palms were probably covered in sweat.
Behind her, peach blossoms blazed like fire. Before her, water vapor permeated the air. She looked clearly more like a banished immortal who had just strayed into the mortal world—even a single eyelash was incomparably pure.
Fang Zhun finally completed the last perfect stroke. He tossed the brush aside casually, jumped down from the bluestone, and walked toward her.
Hu Sha watched with an expression as if a natural disaster was about to descend, staring blankly as he approached. He gently unfolded and spread that silk handkerchief before her eyes. The painting was still of her, with flying hair and clear features. Below were only two small characters: Hu Sha.
Her face seemed covered by rosy clouds, flushed terribly red. She suddenly lowered her head, unable to say a single word.
Fang Zhun grabbed her wrist and gently tucked the silk handkerchief into her sleeve pocket, saying softly, “I’ll give it to you. It’s just a pity about those good paintings from before—burned completely clean in one fire.”
Hu Sha still didn’t speak, only her eyelashes trembled slightly, clearly extremely uneasy.
He raised his hand and swept a lock of long hair from beside her ear to the back, calling her tenderly, “Hu Sha, stay here. Just for me.”
Hu Sha’s heart filled with wild joy, then with confusion. After a long while, she finally said in a low voice, “You… You are Master… an immortal. I am a mortal…”
Fang Zhun interrupted her with a light laugh, “So what? There are plenty of powerful and beautiful female immortals. Haven’t I seen enough of them in over three hundred years?”
Hu Sha shook her head. Suddenly she felt like crying—she didn’t know if it was because she was too happy or too afraid. She was afraid this happiness would disappear the moment it paused in her hands. She didn’t even dare grasp it.
“I shouldn’t offend an immortal.” She said in a trembling voice, “I… will work hard at cultivation, striving to become an immortal as soon as possible… That way… that way…”
Fang Zhun held her shoulder, letting her forehead rest against his chest. Her tears fell in large drops.
He gazed at the brilliant blooming peach blossoms and said in a low voice, “No need to force yourself to become an immortal. If you don’t become an immortal, I’ll accompany you as a mortal.”
A loud roar suddenly came from the depression, “Damn it, Fang Zhun! Making me stand down here being drenched by a waterfall as punishment while you’re up there sickeningly sweet talking about love! You’re going to make my teeth fall out from the sourness!”
Hu Sha was startled. Hearing that voice, it sounded like Mister Paper Doll Number Two.
She immediately looked up at Fang Zhun questioningly. He smiled nonchalantly and said, “Very well, I’m in a good mood today. You can come up.”
Having said this, he winked at her, “He failed in his duties and nearly made a huge mistake. This bit of punishment is still necessary.”
Hu Sha suddenly understood—he had punished Mister Number Two by making him stand below being drenched by the waterfall. It was completely physical torture. She looked at him with an expression that said “truly a demonic master.” Fang Zhun, however, was unconcerned. He pinched her nose, “Because you’re a girl, I’ve always been lenient with you. When Feng Di and Feng Yi made mistakes, they both had to be punished. Since they were small, the waterfalls they’ve been drenched under are no less than his.”
Hu Sha was immediately caught between laughter and tears.
As they spoke, a golden, glittering figure flew up from the depression, with a heroic bearing—it was indeed Mister Paper Doll Number Two. However, the golden armor he usually wore was now clutched in his hand. His upper body was bare, and he was drenched from head to toe.
Wearing an expression full of exhaustion and some indignation, he walked before Fang Zhun, dropped to his knees with a “thump,” and said without much sincerity, “Many thanks for Master’s teaching and for bestowing the spiritual spring to cleanse me, greatly increasing my power.”
Fang Zhun waved his hand with even less sincerity, “Alright, you’re dismissed now. Go on down quickly and don’t stay here being an eyesore.”
Mister Number Two stood up resentfully to look at him, then at the blushing Hu Sha. In the end, he still couldn’t hold back. Hesitating, he said, “Fang Zhun, as a subordinate, naturally I have no position to say anything about you. But as a friend, I must say this. You and the young lady are separated by the divide between immortal and mortal. Although immortals are not forbidden to marry, that refers to immortals marrying each other. If others learn of your actions, I’m afraid it won’t be good. Moreover, you’re nominally still her master. Just thinking of the young lady’s sake, it would be better to wait until after she becomes an immortal and the master-disciple relationship is removed before you can be together openly and properly.”
Fang Zhun said calmly, “Who made the rule that master and disciple can’t be together? I’ve never heard of it. Whom I love to be with is my business. Do I need others’ approval?”
Mister Number Two said urgently, “You’re always so willful! This matter naturally causes you no harm. Why don’t you think about her? Furthermore, if you want to become a mortal, you need to look at the current situation. How many people covet the Shuiliu Qin? And how many only refrain from forcibly seizing it because of their regard for you? If you willfully become a mortal like this, do you still want your life? Never mind your own life, but will you throw away the young lady’s life too?”
Fang Zhun found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
Mister Number Two continued earnestly, “You’ve always been pure-hearted and free of desires. After three hundred years, why have you suddenly become impulsive now? You can love to be with whomever you want, of course, because you’re an immortal. But can the young lady? She’s currently still just a mortal.”
Indeed, Hu Sha had not yet become an immortal. Consorting with an immortal would be a grave sin. Even if she achieved enlightenment in the future and became an immortal, this matter would still be a stain, inevitably recorded by the underworld. After death, she would have to be sent to hell to atone for her sins.
Thinking of this, Fang Zhun couldn’t help but want to sigh. He lowered his head to look at her. Her face was somewhat pale, her delicate cheeks, her watery eyes—everywhere was extremely adorable. If he indulged in momentary pleasure, he would merely gain a reputation as romantic and dashing. But this flower-like young girl would have to go to hell for it!
Seeing he had finally persuaded him, Mister Number Two’s heart immediately relaxed. He pressed on with another statement, “If you want to be together forever, it’s simple—just endure it. You continue being her master, continue being your immortal. You’ve already been an immortal for so many years—what’s a few more years? Wait until the young lady becomes an immortal and has the ability to deal with those evil demons and heretics herself, no longer afraid of people coming to snatch the Shuiliu Qin. Then you two can do whatever you want. No one can interfere.”
The two people opposite had no reaction. Mister Number Two felt his eloquence was quite excellent. Finally satisfied, he returned to the shadow to sleep.
Fang Zhun supported Hu Sha’s shoulder, quietly watching the five waterfalls across from them splashing pearls and jade. After a long while, he finally slowly released Hu Sha, put his hands behind his back, and didn’t look at her.
“Hu Sha, can words that have been spoken be taken back?” He asked her in a low voice without turning around.
Hu Sha’s face was pale, her eyelashes trembling uneasily. She said softly, “…They can, as long as the person who heard them doesn’t take them seriously.”
“Then—we’ll continue as master and disciple. Just now, those things… let’s pretend they never happened, alright?”
She didn’t speak.
Fang Zhun laughed softly, “Even if the listener doesn’t take it seriously, the speaker can’t forget, and has no intention of taking back what was said. Covering my eyes and continuing to live isn’t my style. Hu Sha, are you afraid of going to hell?”
She silently shook her head. Though he couldn’t see, he clearly knew her answer.
“I’m not afraid either.” With his back turned, he grabbed her hand tightly—so tight it seemed he wanted to crush her in his palm. “At worst, we’ll destroy the Shuiliu Qin again. Later, Master will accompany you as a mortal, and we’ll go to hell together. That place is definitely more fun than here.”
Hu Sha blinked her eyes. Two huge tears whooshed down and rolled onto her clothes.
She spread her arms and hugged him tightly, pressing her face against his back. She felt this person was like the support of the entire world. She could truly entrust everything to him without worry. She admired him so much, revered him so much, didn’t want to lose him.
“We… won’t go to hell. You wait for me. I’ll definitely work hard to become an immortal, definitely work hard!”
Hu Sha murmured.
Fang Zhun said with a smile, “Becoming an immortal isn’t that easy.”
He turned around, lowered his head to look at her closely, raised his hand to wipe away her tears, and said gently again, “But however you decide, I’ll respect it.”
Hu Sha was full of emotion. Rubbing her eyes, just as she was about to say something emotionally appropriate to the situation, she suddenly heard him clap his hands and say, “Alright, to become an immortal, from today I’ll be an iron-blooded master. Go down there and sit under the waterfall in meditation. Come back up after two hours.”
She distinctly heard the sound of her jaw dropping to the ground.
Fang Zhun looked at her carefully, then suddenly sighed again and gently pinched her rosy red face.
“For a mortal to become an immortal takes more than a hundred years. Even though I’m the genius my master spoke of, it still took me over a hundred years to achieve enlightenment. A girl with ordinary aptitude like you probably needs another hundred years. Two hundred years’ time—even an immortal would be stifled into stone.”
Hu Sha first pouted her lips because he said her aptitude was ordinary. Then hearing him say she’d be stifled into stone, she couldn’t help but laugh. She said in a low voice, “I’m ordinary everywhere, with nothing special. Master, why do you like me?”
Fang Zhun stroked his chin with difficulty, thinking for a long time, “Well… speaking of beauty, you’re truly not up to standard. Music, chess, calligraphy, and painting don’t work either. You used to be very obedient, but now you’ve become unruly. As for washing clothes and cleaning, Feng Di probably does better than you. Speaking of being understanding, I’ve long given up on your wooden head.”
Put this way, didn’t that mean she was completely substandard? Hu Sha’s jaw was about to drop again.
Seeing her expression was depressed and strange, Fang Zhun couldn’t help but laugh. He raised his hand as if wanting to hug her, but thinking of something, he held back. He slowly put his hands behind his back and turned away, not looking at her.
“If everyone in the world knew from the start what kind of person they would fall for, there probably wouldn’t be so many lovesick men and women. What do I want with beauty and intelligence? I don’t lack either of these things.”
Having lived three hundred years, what kind of person hadn’t he seen? The clever, the foolish, the devoted, the cold, the cunning, the innocent. There were too many people better than Hu Sha, but he didn’t want any of those. Because he didn’t want them, they were all like floating clouds.
Must there be a reason to like someone? Must one carefully dissect and analyze in detail when the heart was moved, when it ached, when it was bewildered? This kind of liking makes one weary.
“Hu Sha, that you bring me joy is enough.”
He caressed her cheek. When his fingers touched her skin, they lingered reluctantly, unwilling to leave. His fingertips felt burning hot. The maiden before him blushed like fire, her starry eyes intoxicated. He couldn’t help but want to draw near to her.
Last night’s kiss was too perfunctory, ended too quickly, before he could taste that soul-consuming, bone-eroding flavor. His heart suddenly began to beat violently. He had an impulse to hold her tightly and lower his head to kiss her.
Hu Sha called out softly, “…Master.”
Fang Zhun stopped there rigidly. After a long while, he only rubbed her soft hair twice and smiled slightly, “Alright, go meditate.”
In the end, reason defeated emotion. Hu Sha obediently sat under the waterfall to meditate (actually just struggling against the fierce water flow, and losing miserably). Fang Zhun leaned against the bluestone reading. Estimating it had been about two hours (actually less than one hour), he tossed the book aside and pulled the drenched Hu Sha out of the water.
Hu Sha pessimistically thought that at this rate, even after another two hundred years, she probably still wouldn’t become an immortal.
However, after sitting for so long, she didn’t feel it had helped her at all. The Shuiliu Qin in her arms, on the other hand, reacted quite strongly. It constantly emitted humming sounds and faintly released light, as if coming to life.
She remembered what Servant Girl Number One said about Five-Colored Stream and couldn’t help asking, “Master, did you come out to search for this Five-Colored Stream? Can it really make the fifth string grow?”
Fang Zhun nodded, “The time hasn’t arrived yet. Wait another two days.”
From Five-Colored Stream back to the small house in the bamboo grove, if they used cloud-riding or ground-shrinking, they would arrive in the blink of an eye. However, at that time, both of them seemed unwilling to use magic. Holding hands, they walked back on their two legs.
Hu Sha was clearly very tired. The demonic blood in her body had just been washed clean, and after stubbornly struggling under the waterfall for an hour, both her legs were shaking. Yet her heart didn’t feel it at all.
In the distance, seeing the simple little thatched cottage in the bamboo grove, she actually felt it was incomparably warm, like her own home.
She couldn’t help but stop and quietly take in the bamboo grove in the evening’s afterglow. Her heart held an unprecedented sense of peace and joy.
Fang Zhun squeezed her hand, lowered his head with a smile, and said, “Let’s go, go home.”
Go home. Without even asking, he could guess the words at the bottom of her heart. Truly a person of crystal and glass.
Hu Sha smiled at him slightly. Suddenly she heard him say again, “After all, I’m at least a Zhenren. The place where I live should have a more imposing name. Look at Taoyuan and Qingyuan—this hall, that peak. Even the place where Qingling Zhenjun lives is called Xiaoyao Hall. We can’t be outdone.”
She immediately froze, “But isn’t there already Zhiyan Studio? Doesn’t that sound good?”
Fang Zhun shook his head repeatedly, “Too unimposing, too petty.”
Hu Sha stared at him with wide eyes. He was clearly joking. His jet-black eyes shone like gems, very beautiful. But after more than five years of being together, she knew very clearly that whenever he revealed this expression, he was scheming something.
Sure enough, she heard him say, “Since there’s a Xiaoyao Hall, we might as well name ours something Hall too. Mm, here there’s no lack of beauties, beautiful scenery, or fine wine—only the words ‘soul-consuming’ are missing. I’ll name it ‘Soul-Consuming Hall.'”
Hu Sha’s face turned red again. She wanted to shake off his hand, but he came over and gently embraced her waist.
“Being with you is already soul-consuming enough.” Fang Zhun held her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it carefully. “Don’t worry, I can wait.”
Hu Sha smiled again, intertwining her fingers with his. She raised her head to look at him. All the beautiful scenery of that dusk, the brilliant clouds—none could compare to the dazzling light at the bottom of his eyes.
You are what’s truly soul-consuming. Hu Sha thought in her heart.
Let’s go, go home.
At home, Little Guai was still waiting with drooping ears, probably feeling apprehensive inside. And Servant Girl Number One had probably already boiled water, brewed tea, light smoke curling upward. When night came, Mister Number Two would sleep his fill and come out, and together they could taste fine wine and chat freely under the starry sky.
The lost eldest senior brother would eventually find his way here too, scowling as he advised them to drink less, while being forcibly plied with wine by Fang Zhun, his black face finally turning red.
If… if Feng Yi hadn’t become a demon, if none of that had happened, he would still come every day carrying roast chicken to tempt her, carelessly teasing her, then competing at drinking with Fang Zhun, the two evenly matched.
This was her home. Living here like this, not going back was also fine.
Not going back—that was truly possible.
Five days passed, and a light rain fell.
Fang Zhun rose very early. He pushed open the window. The divine light emanating from Five-Colored Stream in the distance was no longer as brilliantly colorful as the previous two days. It seemed to have restrained itself. The profuse colors also condensed into a pale white.
The time had arrived.
He lifted the curtain to the inner room and called out, “Hu Sha, are you up yet?”
After a long while, Hu Sha lazily responded with an “Mm” from inside, clearly still drowsily immersed in dreamland.
Fang Zhun poked his head in to look and saw her sleeping on the bed all askew. Half the blanket had fallen off, and her whole person didn’t look very secure either—with a slight roll, she would tumble to the floor.
“Hu Sha.” He called again.
The soft body on the bed squirmed again, as if wanting to get up. In the end, she didn’t brace herself properly and fell to the floor with a “thump.” Fortunately, the blanket fell with her, so she wasn’t injured. She truly had impressive skills—after rolling once on the floor, she hugged the blanket and still wanted to sleep.
Fang Zhun hooked his finger, and the entire blanket flew up, floating back to the head of the bed. Hu Sha was finally frozen awake. She sneezed, stood up reluctantly and unwillingly, rubbed her eyes to look at the sky outside the window, then cried out strangely, “It’s not even light yet, Master!”
“If we’re late, we’ll miss it.” Fang Zhun hooked his finger again. Hu Sha felt as if someone had grabbed her chest. She involuntarily moved to the washbasin stand and was passively washing her face.
With great difficulty finishing her morning ablutions, Hu Sha shivered and yawned, following him in a daze as they rose on clouds and flew toward Five-Colored Stream.
The Shuiliu Qin in her arms was a bit strange. Ever since arriving at Five-Colored Stream, it had been very happy, humming continuously throughout the night. But this morning, it acted contrary to its usual behavior and quieted down. Even the trace of blood color inside didn’t move, quite having the calm before the storm.
“Master, can we completely restore the Shuiliu Qin today?” Hu Sha was more concerned about this.
Fang Zhun didn’t speak, only shook his head. He didn’t know either. It was just that if the Shuiliu Qin wasn’t restored, the second heavenly punishment probably wasn’t far off. At such a critical moment, letting him be burned by heavenly fire again would be harmful without benefit.
Seeing Hu Sha’s expression was tense and uneasy, he probably knew his attitude had affected her. He smiled broadly, “It’s nothing serious. No matter how great the matter, Master is here.”
Having said this, he brushed aside a lock of disheveled hair by her ear and laughed, “You’ve made yourself such a mess.”
Hu Sha looked down at herself very ashamedly. Because he had hurried her out the door, her clothing ties were all crooked, the hairpin in her hair was askew and looked about to fall off—she looked like a wild-haired ghost.
Fang Zhun stopped in the clouds, lowered his head, and slowly retied her sashes for her, one by one, undoing them and realigning them to tie them properly again.
His fingers were long and fair. Each movement was meticulous and slow. Because his head was lowered, she could only see a section of his glossy black hair and two fans of long eyelashes playfully fluttering slightly.
Several times she tried to naturally shift her gaze away but couldn’t. Hu Sha’s eyes always ended up stuck on him, staring in fascination.
A hand covered her eyelids. Fang Zhun’s voice held laughter, “Little one with dishonest eyes. Turn around and give me the hairpin.”
Hu Sha’s face flushed red in an instant. Very embarrassed, she sheepishly pulled out the hairpin and handed it over, turning around and not daring to look at him anymore.
Fang Zhun carefully combed through her hair, gathered it into a bun, and secured it with the hairpin. Seeing her head continuously lowered, a section of her snow-white nape exposed, it made one want to gently bite it.
Unable to resist in the end, he gently embraced her and pressed a kiss into her hair, saying in a low voice, “Don’t be afraid of anything. I’m here.”
Above Five-Colored Stream, water vapor surged. The stream water that had been five colors in days past had all turned transparent. The depression was unfathomably deep, with no visible bottom.
Hu Sha lifted the Shuiliu Qin, turned to glance at Fang Zhun, and he nodded slightly.
She raised her hand and gently tossed the Shuiliu Qin into the depression. The rushing stream water instantly swallowed the qin’s body, no longer visible.
After a long while, no abnormal phenomena appeared. Hu Sha’s forehead broke out in a thin layer of sweat. She focused intently on that bottomless depression, unwilling to miss any clue.
Dawn was breaking. The rising sun slowly climbed up from beyond the mountain, piercing through layers of mist.
When the first ray of sunlight shone on Five-Colored Stream, the stream water seemed to suddenly stop flowing. Just for an instant, then immediately the rushing sound rose again. The transparent stream water stirred up waves of billows. The white foam receded completely, revealing the original five colors again.
Five streams of differently colored water converged in the depression. What had been unfathomably deep now looked like a cup about to fill with water, nearly overflowing. The water surface rippled ceaselessly, as if a giant hand was stirring below.
Suddenly, the water surface split in two as if cut by a sharp blade. A huge, pitch-black divine beast slowly emerged from the center of the depression. It looked like a fish, yet also like a dragon—impossible to say what strange form it was. But Hu Sha recognized it. She had seen many images of this divine beast in her father’s books before.
The dragon has nine sons. This was the ninth son—Chiwen, whose nature is water.
At this moment, it held an object in its mouth, treasured light flowing around it, solemn and dignified. It was the Shuiliu Qin.
Chiwen raised its head and saw Hu Sha and Fang Zhun. It nodded slightly, as if indicating Hu Sha could take the Shuiliu Qin away.
Hu Sha stood stunned for a long time before being gently pushed by Fang Zhun, “Go ahead. The Shuiliu Qin is yours now.”
It was… hers now?
Hu Sha still didn’t quite dare believe it. She slowly rose on clouds and flew before Chiwen, taking the Shuiliu Qin from its mouth and examining it carefully. She saw that where the fifth string had been empty, the last string had now grown. The entire Shuiliu Qin seemed to have come alive again, no different from when she first saw it at the Old Stone Mountain Hall. Divine light shimmered throughout, inspiring awe in one’s heart.
The only difference was that originally she couldn’t approach or touch it, but now she could pick it up at will. The Shuiliu Qin would no longer release cold light to stab her.
Chiwen nodded at her again. Its enormous body quickly sank into the water. The stream water in the depression that had nearly overflowed instantly fell back down, no longer visible. Only the five streams on all sides continued rushing ceaselessly into it.
Hu Sha stared blankly, holding the Shuiliu Qin, still not daring to believe this reality.
The fifth string had just grown like this. After guarding it for five years, worrying for five years, the Shuiliu Qin had ultimately been completely restored. Now she held it in her palms, emanating faint cold air.
In that beautiful icy blue center still remained a trace of blood color, pulsing gently like a heart. That was her blood and flesh—a divine instrument nurtured by blood and flesh.
Like a sudden instinct, not even requiring any words to explain, Hu Sha waved her hand. The Shuiliu Qin instantly transformed into a beam of cold light and drilled into her palm, disappearing without a trace.
Having completed this action, she herself couldn’t believe it. Startled as if surprised, she leaped up and flew back to Fang Zhun’s side, spreading her hand open to show him.
“Master! It… it’s gone!” Her expression was panicked.
Fang Zhun was very happy, though. He made a show of slapping her palm and laughed, “Silly child, it’s yours now. How could a divine instrument allow you to keep holding it after reviving? Naturally, it transforms into formlessness. When you need it, it will appear again at will.”
Hu Sha stared at her own palm, as if overjoyed and still hadn’t reacted.
Not until he grasped her hand did Hu Sha slowly raise her head, staring fixedly at him.
“Did Master know early on that the divine beast Chiwen was hidden within Five-Colored Stream?”
Fang Zhun shook his head, “I only knew the Shuiliu Qin was forged by a heavenly deity at Five-Colored Stream. Presumably, this Chiwen was originally used to guard the Shuiliu Qin. Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, the Shuiliu Qin ended up at the Old Stone Mountain Hall in Yingzhou’s Lezheng. Fortunately, you nurtured the Shuiliu Qin with your blood and flesh, allowing it to be restored. Chiwen was also assured to entrust the qin to you. Now, in this world, only you can control the Shuiliu Qin.”
Only her? Hu Sha was immediately overwhelmed by this favor. Surprised as she was, ultimately there was still some pride from achieving bountiful rewards after enduring countless hardships.
The divine instrument that Feng Yi and Qingling Zhenjun had schemed so hard to obtain had ultimately fallen into the hands of her—the person who broke the divine instrument. If they learned of this result, who knew whether they would regret it until their faces turned green.
Fang Zhun saw Hu Sha’s expression was strange—sometimes red, sometimes green, sometimes smiling, sometimes frowning. Being as clever as he was, he naturally knew what Hu Sha was thinking. He immediately smiled slightly, “One matter of the heart is settled. Don’t think about unimportant people anymore. Let’s go home.”
Only at this moment did Hu Sha truly feel supreme joy. She nodded, tightly gripping both his hands. The two of them turned and flew back to Soul-Consuming Hall.
Just arriving outside the bamboo grove, they heard Little Guai’s impolite low growl. Hu Sha looked at Fang Zhun questioningly. He seemed to have already anticipated this, his expression unchanged as he led her inside. They saw a young man in Daoist robes standing outside the cottage door, a long sword at his waist, hands lowered, waiting respectfully outside the door.
Little Guai stood on the roof, glaring at him fiercely. The moment it saw Fang Zhun return, its threatening growl immediately changed to ingratiating chirping sounds. It happily jumped before him, letting him stroke its head, extremely content.
The young man outside the door also turned around then. Hu Sha didn’t recognize him, but he wore a moon-white long sash at his waist and his sword bore the Four Harmonies Cloud Pattern—he should be a Qingyuan disciple.
Seeing Fang Zhun and Hu Sha’s tightly clasped hands, he couldn’t help but freeze. Instantly, he revealed an expression of “so it’s really true.” Looking at Hu Sha, his gaze inevitably carried some strangeness.
Fang Zhun didn’t speak. He led Hu Sha toward the door as if there were no one at the entrance.
That young man quickly lowered his hands and said, “Disciple Pingyuan pays respects to Great-Grand-Uncle Master Fang Zhun and Uncle-Master Hu Sha.”
The Ping generation—the same generation as Manqing, male disciples.
Fang Zhun didn’t turn back. He said calmly, “After entering the sect, didn’t anyone teach you not to stare directly at your elders?”
Pingyuan’s face immediately flushed red. His expression awkward, he quickly lowered his head, not daring to look anymore.
“This disciple was rash. Please forgive me, Great-Grand-Uncle Master!”
Fang Zhun pushed open the door and entered inside, saying, “If you have something to say, come in and speak.”
That Pingyuan was fairly perceptive. After entering, he no longer dared examine the interior arrangements. He only knelt before Fang Zhun and said, “Grand-Master has words for this disciple to convey to Great-Grand-Uncle Master. He says that now the five-year deadline is nearly past. If the Shuiliu Qin has not yet been restored, the second heavenly punishment will descend. If Great-Grand-Uncle Master receives it alone with your own strength, it will inevitably damage your cultivation. Therefore, he requests that you bring Uncle-Master Hu Sha back to Qingyuan. The second heavenly punishment will be borne entirely by all of Qingyuan.”
Upon hearing this, Hu Sha was immediately extremely surprised. Fang Zhun, however, remained as calm as a light breeze, his expression unchanged as he received tea from Servant Girl Number One and slowly drank a sip.
“Go back and tell Master that the Shuiliu Qin has been completely restored. The second heavenly punishment won’t descend. He can rest assured.”
Pingyuan was greatly shocked, “It’s already been restored? When?”
Hu Sha very kindly told him, “Just now. The fifth string has already been attached, so there won’t be any more heavenly punishment.”
She spread her hand. The Shuiliu Qin instantly emerged from her palm, floating in the air above her hand, ten thousand rays of divine light making it impossible to look directly at it.
Pingyuan was a junior disciple. Upon seeing the divine instrument, his heart immediately filled with awe. He knelt and kowtowed three times. When he raised his head again, he only saw Hu Sha wave her hand, and the Shuiliu Qin transformed into a beam of cold light and drilled into her palm, disappearing without a trace.
He said solemnly, “Truly worthy of being Uncle-Master. This disciple admires you immensely. Grand-Master also has one more statement for this disciple to convey: if the divine instrument has been restored, it should be returned to the Old Stone Mountain Hall in Lezheng. Objects of the heavenly deities—we mortals and scattered immortals have no qualification to profane them. I hope Uncle-Master can return the divine instrument to its original place as soon as possible. Only thus will merit be immeasurable.”
Hu Sha couldn’t help but freeze, “But… but if we put it back, Qingling Zhenjun will still continuously bring people over from overseas to snatch it. That will only cause more innocent people to die.”
Pingyuan said seriously, “Uncle-Master’s words are mistaken. Qingling Zhenjun is a righteous Zhenjun. How could he covet a divine instrument? Grand-Master instructed that now the Shuiliu Qin is in Uncle-Master’s and Great-Grand-Uncle Master’s hands, not held by Qingling Zhenjun. To speak of snatching is truly absurd. If you refuse to return the divine instrument, such behavior—wouldn’t it more closely resemble snatching…”
Before he finished speaking, Fang Zhun’s teacup made a soft “ka” sound. It turned out he had put the lid back on. Pingyuan knew he had misspoken and could only lower his head without speaking.
“Go back for now and convey what I just said to Master.” Fang Zhun said calmly, lightly waving his sleeve, “See the guest out.”
Servant Girl Number One immediately opened the door, staring at Pingyuan with big eyes, hoping he would leave quickly so she could close the door.
Pingyuan swallowed his anger and said softly, “Great-Grand-Uncle Master, Grand-Master thinks of you every day. Will you truly remain away and never return to Qingyuan?”
Fang Zhun said, “I will return naturally. Because I have important matters to attend to, my return date is uncertain. Tell Master that once miscellaneous matters are settled, I will certainly return to Qingyuan.”
Pingyuan’s lips moved. He wanted to say more, but seeing his expression was indifferent, saying more would only anger this temperamental great-grand-uncle master. He could only lower his head and take his leave.