I carefully looked up at him: “Master?”

I saw him looking down at me condescendingly, saying with contempt: “Do you think I need you to accompany me in taking a wife?”

This atmosphere was wrong. I immediately changed my tune: “No, no, of course not. Master is wise and mighty—whatever you do, we as juniors can only cheer from the sidelines. How would we dare presume to speak of ‘accompanying’?”

“Since that’s the case, go back and accept your punishment.”

Being punished by Master was practically my daily bread. Now I had learned not to ask why anymore, only saying: “Alright.” After a pause, I still wasn’t resigned: “But Master, I want a master’s wife…”

After speaking, I looked at him, he looked at me, and I said aggrievedly: “I understand. Disciple deserves death—copy twice as much.”

Copy again, copy again. And he wouldn’t let me have a brother copy for me. What was more important—copying books or attending class? Since Master wasn’t afraid that my copying books would delay my studies and embarrass him, I simply wouldn’t attend class. This time, the book was even more boring—”Records of the East Sea.”

The next day at noon, on Mount Baidi, I flipped through those materials recording aquatic products, spirit stones, and immortal trees, yawned, and slowly scrawled illegible characters on paper. Not far away, Master Uncle was teaching them to split stones with immortal arts on the mountaintop, and they were all practicing with great enthusiasm.

Since I couldn’t participate anyway and couldn’t finish copying, I might as well slack off. I propped up my chin, thinking of Master’s ice-block face from the previous night. Though frightening, it was quite good-looking. Such a wonderful master—why wouldn’t he marry a wife?

Although everyone feared and revered him, I knew that if he nodded his head, the girls wanting to marry him would probably line up from Azure Dragon Heaven to Vermillion Bird Heaven. Thinking of this, poetic inspiration struck me. I picked up Yinze’s brush and quickly composed a poem on paper.

After writing the first two lines, Master’s image in my memory became even clearer. His every frown and smile, every word and action, even the way he held chopsticks high, all flashed through my mind. Gradually, I somewhat understood—Master was unwilling to marry a master’s wife because Master was so ethereally noble that even the most immortal banished immortals couldn’t match him.

So I continued writing the last line, dotted some ink, and finished perfectly.

At this moment, someone called from ahead: “Senior Sister Luowei, what are you doing?”

The visitors were resting senior sisters. I stroked my chin and proudly handed them that paper. On it was written:

Exotic beasts and water-smoke surpass paintings, Tianshi’s thousand years of prosperity.

Gazing at the lonely peak’s brocade tower, my master dwells in the upper realm.

If you ask where the god has gone, traceless, invisible to mortal eyes.

Nightly dreaming of azure robes, misty, your heart ripples like smoke.

After reading the poem, Senior Sister burst out laughing: “Junior Sister, you’re truly mischievous. This poem is so apt—the Divine Lord is indeed so lofty, making people feel he can be gazed upon but not approached.”

I raised my eyebrows: “Master is a beauty.”

Junior Sister said, “My Heavenly Emperor, this poem is killing me with laughter. I haven’t even seen the Divine Lord in person yet, but I’m already dying to see his true face.”

In the past, if I asked Master any question and he felt I was meddling too much, he and punish me for it, and I would harbor some resentment. But recalling the previous night’s conversation, I wasn’t angry at all. Instead, I found Master’s coldness somewhat cute.

The more I thought about it, the more my heart felt like it was filled with sugar. I said with a grin, “Do you know? Yesterday, I said I wanted to accompany Master to find a master’s wife, but Master disagreed and scolded me. So boring.”

Senior Sister said: “Ah, Junior Sister, you really are a fearless newborn calf, actually daring to make such a request to the Divine Lord.”

I said, “So I got punished again. Look, I’m copying now.”

Junior Sister said, “Why won’t he marry a master’s wife?”

“I don’t know. Master is mysterious and unfathomable. I’m just a disciple—I wouldn’t dare speculate wildly.” I pursed my lips, but the corners of my mouth twitched with a smile.

I was truly a strange person.

I was the one who suggested Master take a wife, but after being rejected by him, I was inexplicably happy all day.

“Regardless, you wrote this poem wonderfully.”

After speaking, Senior Sister and Junior Sister read it again, then burst out laughing. Unfortunately, their laughter was too loud and attracted many disciples to watch. Before I could stop them, this poem had spread among them. Then, as expected, blame came pouring down one after another.

That paper with the poem made a round among the traitorous fellow disciples before finally being returned to me by Master Uncle. I took the paper, and he pointed at the title on it: “‘My Master the Beauty’?”

“I hesitated for a long time before giving up on ‘My Master the Divine Lord’…”

“Luowei, you’re becoming more and more disrespectful!” Master Uncle was indeed someone who had been with Master for years. When angry, he commanded authority without rage, making even the watching disciples step back.

I said guiltily: “I was wrong, Master Uncle.”

“If it were only the first three lines, I would say this is a good poem.” Master Uncle held the paper and looked at me sternly: “But you insisted on adding unnecessary flourishes—this strange title and this last line. Luowei!”

“Present…” I shuddered.

Master Uncle said sternly, “This is insubordination, fantasizing about your master. I must show this to the Divine Lord.”

Hearing this, all disciples, especially those who had seen Yinze, gasped. I knew Master Uncle was a resolute person, so I didn’t try to stop him anymore.

He took the paper and floated away. Everyone else also dispersed dejectedly, leaving only Junior Sister with some sisterly loyalty, coming over to pat my shoulder: “Actually, I think Master Uncle has no taste. The last line is the highlight.”

I waited like a condemned prisoner on the execution block until evening. Finally, someone came to report that Divine Lord Yinze was waiting for me in his residence and told me to return early. I went back to Cangying Residence with the heart of going to my death.

In Caiyue Pavilion, a pot of fragrant tea and a branch of fresh peach blossoms were placed on the table. When I entered, Yinze was sitting at a red wood round table, tasting tea and reading poetry—yes, the one I wrote. The more composed and calm he appeared, the more I trembled all over. I saw him shake the paper, glance at the poem, and say coldly: “Luowei.”

Calling me by name again—looks like I could die several hundred times today. I pulled a long face, squinted my eyes, walked beside him, and directly knelt: “Master, I was wrong. Beat me, scold me—I submit to your will.”

But he didn’t even look at me, only saying indifferently: “Do you think you’re still a child?”

I shook my head desperately like a rattling drum. Yinze said, “Do you think others will easily forgive you for doing these things?”

I still shook my head desperately. He said: “Setting aside this poem, I heard from your Master Uncle that you also spread among disciples the matter of my unwillingness to marry?”

I was so frightened that my hands turned cold. I immediately kowtowed three times on the ground, almost about to shed tears: “Master, I’m sorry! The disciple was foolish! Master Uncle was completely right—the disciple was insubordinate, not knowing the heights of heaven and earth. Please severely punish the disciple!”

For a long while, there was only silence above. I only heard the sound of a teacup lid opening and Yinze lightly stirring the tea. Tea brewed with early spring rainwater had always been his favorite. Finally, he slowly said, “I don’t understand why you wrote this poem. How did you come to write this last line?”

I was confused by the question and said, bewildered: “I just wrote it…”

“Have you had similar dreams?”

“Seeing Master day and night every day, how could I not dream of you?”

He fell silent again for a long while, then suddenly stood up, facing the window, and pushed open the casement.

At this moment, night was deep, the azure moon cold and desolate, a red apricot branch entering through the window. He said, “Forget it, go out.”

I was stunned for a while, then said: “This… you’re not punishing disciple anymore?”

Yinze said, “No need to copy as punishment either. You wouldn’t copy seriously anyway, and would cause many jokes. I’ll forgive you this time—let there be no next time.”

So that wasn’t my imagination. Master had indeed become much gentler recently. I was overjoyed and jumped up: “Thank you, Master!” Then, on impulse, like before, I rushed in front of him, so excited I almost jumped. However, when he turned around, I realized I had grown taller—now I reached his shoulder and no longer needed to crane my neck to look up at him like looking at an adult.

The distance between us suddenly shortened. Just then, a spring breeze passed by, scattering red blossoms, filling the round table, and on our hair and shoulders. And just then, under this vast azure light, the room was filled with flower fragrance.

He glanced at me lightly, the watermark patterns under his eyes like winding flower branches, supporting this world-toppling countenance, achieving immortal elegance surpassing the upper realm.

Being looked at by him like this, I couldn’t help but lower my head, not knowing where to look, only saying softly: “Thank you… Thank you, Master. Master treats me so well.”

On the way back, I was light as a swallow, sitting against a pillar in intoxication. What kind of mood was this, what kind of feeling? I couldn’t find an answer.

I only hoped every night could be like tonight, with such good spirits.

Fahua Cherry Plain—this place sounded quite zen-like, but had nothing to do with Zen at all. Because the true meaning of these four characters lies in the last two: Cherry Plain, Marriage Plain.

This place had long become a famous destination in Tianshi City—a place to encounter future husbands and wives. Moreover, the method of meeting was quite bizarre—picking up corpses. From morning to evening every day, Fahua Cherry Plain had a group of young immortals with nothing to do, lying on the grass under cherry blossoms, sleeping.

If others passed by and saw a relatively pleasing “corpse” on the ground, they would “pick up” that person, and the first step of romance would be completed. This was also the place Ruoli had always most wanted to visit. After making a fuss for several days, she finally got her wish and dragged our entire group to Fahua Cherry Plain.

This afternoon, the azure sky was like the vast sea, cherry trees like pink clouds, spring grass stretching to the mountains, the ground full of infatuated men extending beyond the spring mountains—that’s right, since girls were somewhat reserved, ninety-five percent of the corpses lying here were males.

I didn’t understand what these people had for brains. A perfectly good cherry blossom plain, an excellent place for appreciating spring and drinking wine, and they turned it into a morgue. Of course, many strong-minded people could ignore these infatuated men on the ground, gathering in groups, wearing flowers and appreciating scenery, having gatherings under trees or in the air.

Those immortal maidens flying in the air were truly beautiful, especially the girls in pink dresses. Their skirts fluttered like clouds, drifting down with the wind like flowers, shuttling through the forest—one couldn’t tell whether they were immortals, clouds, or flowers.

Ruoli was also a strange person. Seeing so many lying corpses, she was as excited as a little bird, clapping her hands while saying: “Third Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, have you been to Fahua Cherry Plain before?”

Fu Chenzhi said, “Only passed by.”

Ruoli said, “So this is your first time accompanying someone here?”

Fu Chenzhi thought for a moment and nodded: “I suppose so.”

Ruoli was even happier, pointing at a cherry tree: “I’ll rest under that tree for a while. Remember to come find me.”

Since I taught her a lesson last time, apart from criticizing me a couple of times after I wrote “My Master the Beauty,” she hadn’t done anything excessive. So since she had some interest in my brother, it could be considered my brother’s romantic fortune, and I decided not to interfere.

Seeing that Fu Chenzhi’s attitude toward her wasn’t bad, I thought to myself, these two wouldn’t pick up corpses here today and settle their fate for life, would they? I glanced at Ruoli and sighed. I’d be happy to have a sister-in-law, but could it be someone else… forget it, a gentleman should help others achieve beautiful relationships.

I took several other disciples and quietly slipped under other trees to drink tea, eat pastries, and enjoy life. But before long, I couldn’t sit still and got up to wander around. Unexpectedly, after walking a few steps and passing by a lying corpse, I heard him clutching his chest and moaning in pain. Looking closely, I discovered it was a fellow disciple—we had even spoken a few times.

I moved closer, bent down, and asked: “Junior Brother, are you alright?”

Junior Brother’s handsome little face was covered in cold sweat. He looked up at me and said, “Senior Sister Luowei, I have food poisoning… now I feel like my heart is being cut by knives, unbearably painful…”

Strange—if it was food poisoning, why would his heart feel like being cut by knives? But I didn’t think deeply about it, only saying: “How could this happen? Can you get up? I’ll take you to find a doctor…”

“I-I can’t get up anymore.” Junior Brother tremblingly extended his hand toward me: “Senior Sister, save me…”

I quickly took his hand and used great effort to help him up. At this moment, the disciples behind us applauded and cheered in unison. I looked back and saw them waving their outer robes, using magic to shake cherry blossoms all over the ground, excitedly calling: “Together! Together! Together!”

What? What did this mean?

I turned back to face Junior Brother. The painful expression that had been on his face had already vanished without a trace, and the arm that had been resting on my shoulder was withdrawn.

He smiled at me with full apology and somehow produced several cherry blossom branches, handing them to me: “Senior Sister Luowei, I have long admired you. Just seeing your graceful figure every day is enough to make me dream of you, truly causing sleepless nights and loss of appetite. I hope Senior Sister can accept this heartfelt intention…”

I admit, I was shocked. Looking at him, then at the flowers, the only opening line I could think of was: “Didn’t Master Uncle say that before coming of age or completing training, Cangying Sect disciples are forbidden from romantic entanglements and private betrothals?”

Junior Brother said frantically: “I only want Senior Sister to know this intention, nothing more. If Senior Sister is willing, I don’t mind waiting forever…”

Accompanied by the tidal “together” shouts from behind, I really couldn’t concentrate. But this child might be even younger than me—I shouldn’t hurt him. Taking those cherry blossom branches, I was pondering how to refuse when a tall figure had already blocked in front of us: “Junior Brother, if you can truly wait, some intentions are better kept in your heart. What you’re doing is harming Weiwei.”

Junior Brother exclaimed in shock: “Hea-Heavenly Tianheng Senior Brother…”

That’s right, the most annoying thing about having a brother was this. When little sister was being confessed to, he had to stick his nose in, not even letting people enjoy the wonderful feeling for a moment. Of course, this action didn’t just anger me—it included other senior brothers too.

A group of them came over and pulled Junior Brother and me aside.

“Tianheng Senior Brother, save the protective behavior for another day. Don’t spoil the fun today.”

“Exactly, exactly. Today is our junior brother’s confession day. The main characters are the two of them. Come on, everyone, take action!”

What were these people thinking? It was like they had planned this. I subconsciously glanced at Ruoli in the distance and found my premonition completely correct: her face wore a victorious expression, clenching her fists and cheering for this group of senior brothers.

This group was quite cooperative too. Getting excited, they actually split into two groups—one pushing Junior Brother, one pushing me, insisting on pushing us together. These bastards were troublemakers. If things got out of hand, the unlucky ones would be Junior Brother and me.

The result was that I resisted stubbornly, Junior Brother was half-willing and half-reluctant, and the senior brothers on both sides shouted “one, two, three” together, forcibly pushing me out first.

Cherry blossoms dotted everywhere, a flower rain, like snow. For that moment, time seemed frozen.

Just as I was about to be knocked flying, Fu Chenzhi suddenly rushed out and reached out to catch me. But the people behind used too much force, and Fu Chenzhi couldn’t stand steady either. I crashed into him head-on and knocked him to the ground.

There happened to be a small hill nearby. We rolled together on the grass several times before finally landing on level ground.

I was knocked dizzy and disoriented. When I came to my senses and shook my head, I found the situation had changed, with him pressing down on me.

To protect me, he had placed both arms behind my head. He took a long breath: “Weiwei, are you alright?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine.”

Although I answered this way, we both looked into each other’s eyes and froze. Indeed, we were usually quite intimate, but looking at my brother so closely, I was still somewhat embarrassed, so I forced a smile: “Good thing nothing happened. They were too chaotic.”

Fu Chenzhi didn’t speak or move. The only movement was shifting his gaze from my eyes to my lips.

From childhood I had liked following brother around, imitating everything he did. Being looked at by him like this, I also became foolish and followed his gaze to look at his lips. Ah, brother’s lips were even lighter in color than cherry blossom petals, yet unusually full, looking like they might taste good…

Bah bah bah, what was I thinking!

My heart immediately began pounding like drums as I started pushing hard against his chest: “Thank you, brother. If you hadn’t come over just now… mmm…” The rest of my words were covered by those two soft lips.

At this moment, I had frozen stiff as a wooden chicken.