In the Qin dynasty, there was Ba Dong She Zheng, who said that when the king often closed his eyes, thunder would sound when he opened them, his eyes had a brilliant light, and he was a four-hundred-year-old immortal¹. Before She Zheng ascended, he made his eyes into pearls that could pray for rain, so the treasure was called the Rain-Praying Spirit Pearl. I heard the spirit pearl fell into the Western Sea, and its whereabouts remain unknown to this day. Recently, some officials returning from external visits also said that strange rain clouds have appeared in the west in recent years. Though hope was slim, having something was better than nothing. After packing all my belongings, under the escort of my second sister and hundreds of officials, I walked out of Zichao Palace.

¹[Note: Adapted from “Records of Divine Immortals” by Ge Hong of the Jin Dynasty: “She Zheng, styled Xuanzhen, from Ba Dong. He spoke of events during King Qin’s time as if seeing them before his eyes. He always kept his eyes closed, never opening them even when walking. His disciples had never seen him open his eyes for decades. One disciple persistently requested that he open them, so Zheng opened his eyes for him. There was a sound like thunder, light like lightning, and all disciples prostrated themselves on the ground. Li Babai called him a four-hundred-year-old child.”]

“This journey is dangerous. Weiwei, you must be very careful and act within your abilities.”

My second sister wore the black robes of the Suozhao Emperor, her long hair dark azure like a lake, but her face still fresh as peaches and plums, showing no signs of being nearly one hundred and twenty years old. On the other hand, my hair had long turned completely white, hanging to my knees like frost and snow, making me look more like the older sister.

I knew my second sister was also conflicted. She worried about my safety while hoping I could go out and find a way to cure her husband. After the drought worsened, all sorts of strange diseases followed, and Kongshu had contracted one of these chronic illnesses. For four years, he had been bedridden without improvement, and no one could treat him.

Seeing my second sister’s worried expression, I smiled: “Don’t worry, I’ll certainly be careful. As for Xihe, I’ll have to trouble the second sister to help take care of her.”

“With several children around, she won’t be bored.”

In the years after Xihe was born, my second sister and Kongshu had three children. However, none of them were a match for Xihe. Hearing my second sister say this, I was worried about those nephews… Just thinking of this, a clear voice came from the crowd: “Mother! Mother!”

Following the voice, I turned to see a young girl in an apricot-yellow dress flying over the water, landing before us with a “whoosh.” I said, “You’re not young anymore, yet still so reckless.”

She looked up at me with a beaming smile: “I learned that from Mother.”

“Nonsense, when did I teach you such things?”

“Uncle Su said Mother was like this as a child, too.”

“He talks as if he saw me as a child.” I snorted and touched her head. “Go back now. Mother has to leave.”

“Alright! Mother, have a safe journey and return home soon!” Xihe was still too young to understand the pain of separation, smiling more brilliantly than summer roses.

I had always been stricter with her than anyone else, yet was indulgent in my heart beyond words. From when she started teething, I gave her the most delicious food and the finest clothes, perhaps a bit excessive. Therefore, Xihe was a little dumpling as a child. Despite this, her personality was never affected. No matter how chubby she was, she always looked supremely confident and even used her size advantage to bully other children.

However, in recent years, she had grown rapidly, suddenly shooting up tall. Her round face thinned into an oval, her features becoming increasingly beautiful. Even the most decrepit old ministers in the palace had exclaimed over her beauty. But aside from her build and facial outline being similar, her features didn’t resemble mine much. She didn’t look like my brother or Su Shu either, and her spiritual power was terrifyingly strong. Thus, in recent years, the court has again raised repeated questions about her biological father.

I remember one night, not long after Xihe had slimmed down, my second sister came to chat with me. Xihe was already fast asleep, and seeing me constantly stroking her hair, she came over to look at Xihe too. But after just two glances at Xihe, she turned her gaze to my face. It was a long time before I noticed her watching me. She said, “Weiwei, Xihe has changed a lot recently. Every time I come here, I see you looking at her, but… do you still have feelings for the Divine Lord?”

I suddenly looked up and smiled bitterly: “How is that possible? Which mother doesn’t love her daughter like this?” My second sister sighed softly: “That’s good then. I’m relieved.”

Five years ago, one evening, Xihe came home asking if her father was an immortal. I asked her where she heard this. She first lied saying she had a strange dream, then mentioned some rumors in Suozhao, and finally, under my silent gaze, stammered for a long time before confessing the truth: it turned out her friend’s grandfather had once seen Yinze and told her that an immortal had once come to Suozhao with her uncle, and she looked exactly like a miniature version of that immortal. I scolded her severely, wanting to be harsh with her, but suddenly remembering my second sister’s question, my heart grew bitter, and I turned away to cover my face. Xihe was very sensible. From then on, she stopped asking about Yinze, at most occasionally using not having a father as leverage to satisfy her unreasonable demands.

This couldn’t be blamed on my daughter—she simply looked too much like Yinze. Anyone who had seen Yinze and then saw her could directly deduce their father-daughter relationship without guessing.

But after all these years, I no longer held resentment toward Yinze. As I aged and encountered more, I became more understanding than before. Given Yinze’s personality, his willingness to directly conflict with the Heavenly Emperor and show a cold face when in a bad mood showed he wasn’t someone who would avoid reality or was good at lying. If a woman bore his child, he couldn’t possibly avoid acknowledging it.

Therefore, when I revealed my pregnancy at Cangying Manor, his attitude was very abnormal. Those two visitors from the divine realm must have harbored ill intentions, and Yinze surely had unspeakable difficulties. But no matter what difficulties he had, he truly never came back to find me and had indeed reconciled with Shangyan. He perhaps didn’t want to do wrong to Xihe, but his heartlessness toward me was an iron-clad fact.

So while he wounded my feelings, he gave me Xihe. The old account between him and me could be considered settled. I no longer hated him, nor loved him. He was a passing traveler in my life who had led me through beautiful scenery in my youth, but was ultimately meant to be forgotten.

Now I was no longer young, nor could I love again. I no longer coveted immortality, no longer yearned for power, and would never again have so many unrealistic dreams. Just being a child’s mother and my sister’s royal aide, living to the age I should live, then returning my soul to Luoshui and my body to earth—there was nothing wrong with that.

In the cold winter season, withered grass flew everywhere. All the water in Suozhao had dried up, leaving only the source of life, Luoshui. Under the moon, I whistled once, and a giant, fierce tiger dancing on huge wings flew down from the sky, stopping before me. Its eyes were blood red, gleaming like blood pearls in the pale landscape. I mounted its back and it spread its wings to fly. The wind blowing toward us disturbed my black clothes and white hair.

I touched Xuanyue’s head: “Xuanyue, since Xihe was born, you’ve almost become her exclusive playmate. How long has it been since we went out alone together?”

Xuanyue flapped its wings, indicating it was also in quite good spirits. I smiled: “I remember when I first brought you home, you were even smaller than newborn Xihe, all soft and cuddly like a little girl.” Hearing its displeased low roar, I quickly smoothed its fur: “Of course, now you’ve become a mighty man.”

Only then was I somewhat satisfied, carried as we flew beyond Luoshui. We spent three days traveling and stayed in a small mountain town. In the past, appearing so brazenly with Xuanyue would surely have scared mortals out of their wits. But current circumstances were different—with three kingdoms in conflict domestically and demons wreaking havoc abroad, when we stayed at an inn, we only drew a few extra glances.

I chose the largest premium room, though it was still rather cramped for Xuanyue. Just as I was figuring out how to make it sleep more comfortably, I heard a voice from outside the window: “The Little Princess has such a cruel heart, actually leaving Su Shu alone to spend his days in an empty pavilion.”

I was startled and looked up toward the window. Su Shu had indeed poked his head up. He was riding a xuanniao, his body rising and falling with it, his curly hair rippling like waves in the wind. I said, “How did you follow me here?”

He smiled: “Naturally, I couldn’t bear the lonely boudoir, so I followed my beloved.”

“But if you followed me here, what about my daughter…”

Speaking of this, my back felt cold with an ominous premonition. I stepped to the window and pushed his body aside. My vision went dark with anger, nearly fainting—sure enough, Xihe was crouched behind him, holding a small bird in her arms. She and the little bird looked up together with smiles, sweetly calling: “Mother.”

Half an hour later, in the same room, Su Shu sat trembling to one side with a forced smile, not daring to utter a word. Xihe knelt on the ground with a mournful face, her lower lip protruding long to cover her upper lip in grievance, one hand holding the small bird, the other pressing her reddened bottom from being spanked: “Can’t I admit I was wrong?”

“Following me was bad enough, but you also randomly picked up small animals. Release that bird.”

Xihe carefully cradled the small bird and hid it in her arms: “Mother is so mean! This little bird is injured. I want to take care of it.”

“Little Princess, raising one more bird won’t hinder our journey. Just let Xihe be.”

“Su Shu, her making trouble is one thing, but you’re indulging her too. Quickly take her back to Suozhao. It’s dangerous outside with demons roaming everywhere. Every moment longer is very dangerous.”

“Since that’s the case, isn’t Mother’s situation also very dangerous? I definitely can’t leave! You should know our teacher said my spiritual power is dozens of times stronger than Mother’s. Maybe I can protect you at a critical moment.”

As the daughter of the Cangying God, how could her spiritual power be weak? I grumbled internally, then said, “The teacher was encouraging you. Even if what he said is true, you have spiritual power but no real ability—what use is that?”

“But…”

“Stay here tonight. You’ll go back tomorrow.”

That was the plan, but this brat didn’t let me have peace until the next day. That evening, Xihe refused to sleep in the same room as me. I guessed she planned to fuss with that bird she’d picked up, so I didn’t force her. But in the middle of the night, there were screams from next door.

I woke from my dream with a start, recognized it as Xihe’s voice, and without a word, rushed to her door and broke it down. I saw a seven-foot bird demon spreading its wings, with a rat’s head spitting sticky fluid, continuously spraying at Xihe. Xihe was so frightened she ran around the room screaming, “Mother!”

I waved my sleeves, and ice arrows flew out like rain, killing the bird demon on the spot. Xihe immediately ran over and threw herself into my arms. Seeing blood and sticky fluid still gurgling from the bird demon’s mouth, she hugged me tightly and cried loudly.

“There, don’t cry. Mother’s here, it’s alright.” I patted her back. “It looked cute and fluffy during the day, didn’t it? This is a Flying Birth Bird that has cultivated into a demon.”

Xihe was covered in tears and snot: “Mother, this demon was really scary. I can’t leave you outside anymore. I want to stay with you.”

“No. If you follow me, that would be truly unsafe. Don’t try to be clever. Tomorrow I’ll personally escort you back…” Before I could finish, my attention was drawn by a black shadow flashing outside the window. I shook my head, trying to see clearly, but could only see a patch of inky night.

The next morning, I set out with Su Shu and Xihe on the return journey to Suozhao. At noon, we ate at a farmhouse restaurant. Xihe, having forgotten her pain after the wound healed, slipped out to play while I wasn’t paying attention and brought back a small wooden bucket. She always loved small animals, so I figured she’d gone to the river to catch some fish and shrimp with the bucket, and didn’t ask much. After the meal, we traveled for half the day. Since we were taking shortcuts with no resting places, we set up a tent in the forest and hunted some game for food. But Xihe’s mood was abnormally good. Every time she secretly did something forbidden behind my back, she had this expression of wanting to laugh but trying to hold it in. Finally, I said directly: “Tell me, what are you hiding now?”

“Wh-what? I’m not hiding anything.” Xihe forced a laugh and waved her hands. “Mother, you’re overthinking. I’m not hiding anything at all.”

A mother knows her daughter best. I could see right through the little schemes in my daughter’s mind. I didn’t expose her on the spot, but softened my expression and silently handed her roasted meat without a word. After the meal, I pretended to go to the tent to sleep, but noticed Xihe’s shadow stretched long by the campfire as she tiptoed toward the back of the tent.

I got up and quietly followed, hearing water sounds behind the tent. Xihe was squatting by the campfire, whispering to something. I lightly flew to her side. At her feet was the small wooden bucket from earlier, containing a goldfish with large fins that swayed gently like fox tails, and a tentacle extending from its head with a small red lantern hanging from it.

I said: “This fish—are you happy keeping it?”

“It’s okay. I’m just afraid it might die without water, but it seems pretty tough…” Xihe scooped up a spoonful of water and carefully watered it. Halfway through, her hand shook and she knelt on the ground: “Wahhhhh, Mother!!”

Before I could speak, she was already kneeling and kowtowing in apology. She looked like her father, but while Yinze had ten parts of proud nobility, she hadn’t learned even one part of that, instead picking up those shameless tricks.

Her fussing gave me a headache. I just frowned: “How many times have I told you—the world is chaotic now. Don’t randomly pick up small animals. No matter how cute something is, it might be a demon in disguise. Why won’t you listen?”

“Because this fish is different!” She hugged the bucket and looked at me with tearful eyes. “When I found it, it was thrown in boiling water to cook, but was still alive and kicking… I thought this must be a divine fish.”

“Of course, a Henggong Fish can’t be boiled to death. Even chopping it with a knife won’t kill it.”

Xihe blinked curiously: “Henggong Fish? Is that its name?”

“You don’t study properly and don’t even recognize a Henggong Fish, yet you dare bring it back to raise! Throw it away!”

“No! It’s not a bad demon anyway, so I want to raise it!” Xihe immediately changed her expression and fiercely hugged the bucket. “If the fish dies, I die!”

I was wrong—her personality wasn’t completely unlike Yinze’s. She had learned all of Yinze’s domineering, unreasonable stubbornness. Soft when like me, hard when like her father, and fearless as thunder. I didn’t know what kind of boy could tame her in the future.

Actually, though Henggong Fish could transform into humans, they were mostly gentle and harmless, unlikely to be like that Flying Birth Bird. But as a mother, I couldn’t be too indulgent with my child, or she’d become lawless and even harder to manage later. I said: “Fine if you want to keep it, but take it back to Suozhao. Don’t follow me anymore.”

“Threatening me won’t work. Uncle Su promised he’d take me along the whole way.”

“If he keeps favoring you, he can go back with you, too.”

Xihe’s bright, big eyes widened even more. She let go of the wooden bucket and threw herself on the ground, vigorously shaking my legs: “Mother! Don’t treat your daughter like this. I’m your biological child! Though I don’t know who my real father is, I’m your biological child, right? Mother, let me keep this fish. As a child without a father, only seeing the lantern on this fish’s head, can I find direction in life…”

I was so angry I almost kicked her away. Just then, a red light suddenly spread from the wooden bucket, and the Henggong Fish leaped into the air, transforming into a red-clothed youth about Xihe’s age. He said, “Xihe, I can never repay your life-saving grace, but I really must go. My enemy is already nearby. We should escape quickly.”

Seeing her pet transform into a person, Xihe was stunned and said, “Who is your enemy?”

“A very scary snake spirit…” As he spoke, ear-piercing chimes rang through the mountain forest, echoing through the void. The Henggong Fish’s face turned paper white. He looked around: “Oh no, it’s already caught up. Farewell!”

He cupped his hands in farewell, manifested a fish tail, and flew rapidly into the sky. But just as he flew a few meters, black shadows emerged from the opposite mountain peak, like four wings breaking through the air, shaking in the purple sky. Instantly wind rose, and branches fell, shaking down fallen leaves everywhere.

Then, under thick, dark clouds, a giant snake head charged up from behind the mountain. It raised its head and flicked out its tongue, making that chime-like call again. Su Shu also rushed over at the sound, saying cautiously: “It sounds like chimes, with four wings—if seen, great drought follows… Could this be a Ming Snake?”

“Ordinary Ming Snakes are no match for Xuanyue, but with the current drought, conditions are unfavorable for us… Run quickly!”

I grabbed the stunned Xihe and summoned Xuanyue, riding on its back. Su Shu also transformed back into a Su Lian lotus, and I tucked him into my robes as Xuanyue spread its wings to fly. At the same time, the Ming Snake also charged out of the mountain range, swooping down from above with a “whoosh,” knocking down falling rocks and debris. One rock even hit Xihe’s head, giving her a small bump. She cried out softly, and I reached out to protect her head, braving the dust and stone rain as we fled in the opposite direction.

Behind us were constant sounds of the snake’s tail striking the ground. Each blow shook heaven and earth, the entire forest was earthquaking, and withered trees fell. After fleeing dozens of li, gradually that sound grew distant.

Just as we breathed a sigh of relief, thinking we’d escaped the Ming Snake’s clutches, we turned around a mountain peak only to see a giant column-like object fall across our path, heavily striking the ground and blocking our way. Looking closely, that thing as thick as a thousand-year-old tree was the Ming Snake’s tail tip!

We quickly stopped and tried to retreat, but saw the Ming Snake’s head also come over from the other side of the mountain, extending toward us from behind. It seemed this battle was unavoidable. But if we fought it while riding Xuanyue, Xihe would be in danger.

“Xuanyue, take Xihe to safety.” I jumped down from Xuanyue’s back and stood beside the Ming Snake’s belly.

Xuanyue was very sensible and flew toward the distance with spread wings. This action startled the Ming Snake. It let out a long howl, flicking its tongue with fierce intimidation as it slithered after them, wanting to hunt them down. Xihe was so frightened she screamed, calling for her mother to save her.

I stretched out both palms and pushed forward. A sharp ice cone five meters long flew out. As my black sleeves fell, the ice cone struck directly at the Ming Snake’s vital point. It quickly dodged the fatal blow but was still punctured and bleeding. Then it stopped pursuing Xihe and Xuanyue, slowly turned its head toward me, flicking its tongue. In its black vertical pupils with orange-yellow irises flowed what looked like black blood in crescent shapes. It was enraged.

Its neck swayed left and right, then suddenly opened its mouth wide and bit down!

I dodged backward, and its teeth scraped the ground, creating long cracks. After that, it repeatedly attacked me with lightning speed and wind-like agility, completely unlike the speed such a massive creature should achieve. Under its attacks, I dodged and weaved, unable to spare time to strike back, only able to wait and watch for changes.

Xihe gripped Xuanyue’s fur tightly and called out tearfully: “Mother, Mother! It’s too dangerous. Run away quickly!”

“Shut up! Get as far away as you can!”

Without sparing them another glance, I finally found an opening to use magic to counterattack the Ming Snake. But these spells only caused surface wounds at most. It was very cautious and would never let me touch its vital point. In terms of the Four Symbols mutual restraint principle, the Ming Snake was pure earth while I was pure water—I was completely countered by it, as passive as when Xuanyue’s parents were tricked into going to Xuanwu Heaven.

To conserve spiritual power, I didn’t fly up, but soon felt physically exhausted. Seeing that Xihe and Xuanyue had already flown far away, I summoned water mist and used “Mystic Ice Storm.” Instantly, thousands of ice swords rotated upward from below, forming a tempest that charged at the Ming Snake’s face.

Indeed, this move was very effective. Its body was pierced alive into a honeycomb, blood spattering everywhere, and chime sounds echoed through the mountain forest. However, this was the limit of what the Suozhao clan could achieve—going further was beyond what spiritual power could control. Having failed to kill it in one strike, what came next would probably be…

The Ming Snake went completely mad. Its movements were several times faster than before. It coiled around several times, trapping me completely in a circle. With each breath it exhaled, it brought drought winds that, just by lightly sweeping over my body, made me feel the water vapor in my body rapidly decreasing. After several rounds, I could barely stand and was almost kneeling on the ground. In an instant, it opened its mouth and struck at me. I saw that its throat was full of terrifying barbs. I wanted to retreat, but I had nowhere left to go.

At this moment, a black shadow descended from the sky. I heard a “thud,” and the snake’s head stopped moving.

Sword wind rang out sharply, and the Ming Snake suddenly turned into a heavy stone that crashed to the ground with a thump. The earth shook, mist rose on the horizon, and crows took flight. I couldn’t see clearly what had happened at all—the Ming Snake was already dead. Before the snake’s body, black smoke erupted explosively, and a figure instantly flashed in the mist.

When sword flowers gleamed bright white and he sheathed his sword with “swish swish” sounds, his fluttering clothes and hair braid finally settled down.

At this moment, my heart beat wildly, and I almost had the illusion of temporal confusion. His height, build, and this series of actions all reminded me of someone—the Yinze who had once saved me in Lianyao Valley.

At that time, Yinze’s magic was forbidden, so he could only use swordplay. I had only seen his skills at that time.

But obviously, these two people had no connection. When he turned his head halfway, revealing a face wearing a bronze mask, his jaw was sharp as a blade, and the eyes visible through the mask were blood red.

At this moment, I didn’t know whether to thank him or flee. What I could be certain of was that I absolutely couldn’t foolishly ask who he was. Because throughout the six realms, only one race could teleport instantly and have blood-red pupils when filled with killing intent.

His mask had two horn-like protrusions, sharp and long as swords, also a symbol of this race. I could still fight that Ming Snake, but with this person before me, I probably had no room for negotiation. I steadied my mind and said, “This demon lord, you may dispose of me as you wish. I only ask that you spare my daughter.”

He was silent for a long time, then turned and walked before me, looking down at me from his superior height.

Such heavy killing intent and demonic aura. Even having never dealt with demons before, this aura made one’s hair stand on end involuntarily.

I clenched my fists in my sleeves but appeared calm as still water: “You’re here looking for water, aren’t you? I’m the spirit of Luoshui, and my spiritual power is much stronger than my daughter’s. If you consume her, you’ll only get a body without spiritual power here.”

As his aura gradually calmed, his eyes slowly returned to their original color: “The water aura on your daughter is probably stronger than yours.”

Seeing him walk toward Xihe and the others, I attacked him with magic. But as if he had eyes in the back of his head, he instantly vanished in black smoke, dodged the attack, and flashed before me.

I said on the verge of tears: “Please, spare her.”

He coldly looked me over from head to toe with a half-smile: “Since you’re so persistent, then I’ll consume you.”