Xiang Su was extremely nervous, staring at the terrain beneath the Kunpeng’s wings, ready at any moment to jump off the bird and escape. She really couldn’t understand how Sister Junshang could stand by and watch her die! Though Dong Tianyun claimed on the surface to be recruiting her as a menial worker, he might actually be planning to take her somewhere deserted to quietly kill her.
Even if he didn’t want to kill right now, judging by his temperament, who knew what might anger him again—and then she’d still be dead. Most critical of all, he also had a wife like Chilin. How could she possibly have good days ahead following them?
Ahead, a mountain peak was shrouded in thick clouds. The Kunpeng slowed its speed. Xiang Su gritted her teeth—opportunity knocks but once, better to jump now and figure things out later! She wasn’t yet proficient with the cloud-riding incantation. Falling rapidly from the Kunpeng’s back, her heart pounding with terror, she almost crashed into the ground before frantically summoning a small wisp of thin cloud. It couldn’t support her weight at all, only managing to slow her fall slightly. She passed through the cloud and hit the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.
No time to worry about the pain—she needed to hide immediately! Her transformation technique wasn’t very good either; she could only transform into something she was skilled at—a tree. Fortunately, this mountain was lush with trees. She hid behind a row of trees, feeling her disguise was seamless.
The Kunpeng slowly descended to the mountaintop. Dong Tianyun sat on its back without moving.
Xiang Su was very nervous, trying hard to blend into the surrounding greenery.
The Kunpeng disdainfully turned its head away. Even watching the crows flying past mid-mountain was better than looking at this clumsy transformation. Was this even a transformation? Among a row of poplar and willow trees stood this single gardenia tree—she had basically just reverted to her original form! It wanted to weep for its master. Giving her a drop of spirit blood was truly a catastrophically wrong decision!
The phoenix’s cry rang out nearby. Xiang Su was terrified, her branches and leaves trembling, making rustling sounds. She quickly stiffened her branches—she absolutely couldn’t make any more noise. She knew Chilin wouldn’t let this go so easily.
Though the Kunpeng resented Xiang Su for plucking out one of its feathers, it couldn’t help glancing at her. It had been many years since it had encountered anyone this foolish. If she were to be eliminated just like this, it felt vaguely disappointed. Unexpectedly, the gardenia tree that had been so conspicuous among the other trees had, in the blink of an eye, been transformed by its master into a small poplar tree indistinguishable from the surrounding trees. Looking at her rigid, foolish appearance, she probably hadn’t even noticed yet.
Chilin jumped down from the phoenix, her robes flowing gracefully as she landed. “Brother Yun!” she called out with playful reproach, even stamping her foot coquettishly.
Xiang Su trembled again. This time she was getting goosebumps at the risk of her life! She’d thought “Dong Tian” was disgusting enough, but who knew there was also “Brother Yun”! She had to escape from these two people, or else if she wasn’t killed, she’d be nauseated to death!
Dong Tianyun slowly descended from the Kunpeng’s back, ignoring the Fire Spirit Princess’s coquetry.
“Where is that evil creature?” Seeing that sweet talk wasn’t working, Chilin revealed a fierce expression, her beautiful eyes coldly scanning the surroundings.
Dong Tianyun walked toward the cliff edge. Hearing her speak, he happened to stop right in front of Xiang Su. “Since I’ve already promised Qingsui to keep her safe, why must you pursue her relentlessly?”
“Brother Yun, I’m doing this for your own good!” Chilin stamped her foot again. “You’re about to forge your sword. Not to mention that the Demon Emperor is stirring with ambition, I think even the Celestial Emperor… In any case, we absolutely cannot leave any hidden troubles!”
“If she follows me at all times, how can she be considered a hidden trouble?” Dong Tianyun’s hair swayed gently in the mountain wind. Xiang Su was very close to him and saw his appearance clearly for the first time.
All she could say was that his face matched his manner of speaking perfectly—Jin Zhan had left too deep a shadow on Xiang Su. She had become deeply convinced that the better-looking a man was, the stranger his temper and the more vicious his tongue. She really hadn’t expected that a face created from bone fragments could be so bewitching. Especially his eyes—Xiang Su almost didn’t dare look closely. They seemed to possess a soul-stealing technique. One glance and she was drawn in, her spirit scattered.
“You really want to keep her by your side?!” Chilin completely lost control, shrieking her question. This appearance was similar to when Yingchun Hua had quarreled with her. Xiang Su could hardly believe this was the same Fire Spirit Princess who had just been riding a phoenix, looking down imperiously at all the immortals.
“Saving her at the time was a small gesture of apology to Lingze Mountain and Qingsui.” Dong Tianyun glanced with the corner of his eye at the small tree whose branches and leaves didn’t move at all. Compared to the other trees swaying gently in the wind, she actually stood out quite prominently. Fortunately, Chilin was currently in a rage and hadn’t noticed. “Naturally, I intended… to spare her life.”
“But…” Chilin was completely enraged. Disregarding Dong Tianyun’s face growing cold, she wanted to continue arguing.
“When did it become your place to decide my affairs? Just now in front of Qingsui, I was merely giving your father some face. You should return to Yinghuo Manor.” When Dong Tianyun said these words, the corners of his mouth even carried a contemptuous faint smile. Even Xiang Su felt somewhat sorry for Chilin watching this. A fine Dijun’s daughter, to have found such a husband—truly pitiful. Speaking without leaving any dignity.
Chilin’s face turned deathly pale, which against her red robes made her even more pitiable. Unfortunately, Dong Tianyun didn’t even glance at her. “Fine… fine, Dong Tianyun! Even if I don’t kill her, the gods and demons of the Three Realms won’t spare her. When that time comes, don’t blame it on me!” Chilin, after all, had been pampered and spoiled. Having been spoken to so coldly by Dong Tianyun, her temper also flared. She threw out a harsh remark, summoned her phoenix, and disappeared in a flash of golden light.
Xiang Su breathed a sigh of relief. The clearest sentence she had heard just now was Dong Tianyun saying he would spare her life. Dong Tianyun had seized a precious treasure that everyone coveted, and she was the most unfortunate “perceiver.” Rather than be hunted by villains from all realms, serving as a hunting dog to track down Dong Tianyun, she might as well endure his sarcastic temperament and follow him as a menial worker.
Having just calculated this clearly, she saw that Dong Tianyun had already gracefully mounted the Kunpeng.
“Wait!” She shouted loudly, stumbling as she resumed human form, afraid she wouldn’t make it in time. The Kunpeng flew fast—she had experience with this.
Dong Tianyun pretended to be deaf again, not turning his head back. The Kunpeng spread its wings, its talons already leaving the ground. “Wait for me! Dong Tian…” If she missed this chance, where would she find him again?
Dong Tianyun seemed quite displeased that she wanted to address him directly by name. This time his ears worked fine. His head turned slightly, and those dark, bright, coldly gleaming pupils swept a glance at her, silently scattering her wits. She felt as spineless as Xiao Huai, fawningly calling out, “Junshang, wait for me.”
Dong Tianyun ignored her but didn’t signal the Kunpeng to fly away either. Xiang Su nimbly climbed onto the Kunpeng’s back. She clearly felt the Kunpeng tremble. Was it because last time she had accidentally plucked out its feather? The Kunpeng’s feathers were dense and orderly—missing one was still quite obvious. Xiang Su apologetically stroked it, silently saying sorry in her heart.
The Kunpeng probably sensed this and suddenly beat its wings in rapid flight, letting out a long cry like a mournful wail. Xiang Su was startled and nearly rolled off. This time she didn’t dare grab the Kunpeng’s feathers again—they weren’t secure! Grasping randomly, her hand found a golden, glittering sash that felt very handy. Her new Junshang was also quite accommodating, quickly grabbing the other end of the sash, and she steadily escaped danger.
Having leisure now, she examined the lifesaving sash carefully. The craftsmanship was excellent; the patterns on it were all embroidered with shining fine thread she didn’t recognize. She followed the sash upward with her eyes. Her new Junshang wore his usual expressionless face, but the veins at his temple bulged. Gazing forward, he casually flicked his hand, and the sash fluttered out from her hand with the wind, falling back along his robe.
Xiang Su saw clearly—the sash had floated out from the side slit of his robe. His robe… was even more magnificent and beautiful than the sash. Qingsui Sister’s brocade garments were already beautiful enough, but who knew men’s clothes could be this ostentatious? Her attention had completely drifted elsewhere.
The Kunpeng suddenly flew very cheerfully. It had been plucked of a feather, but its master had nearly had his pants pulled off. Comparatively, it felt balanced.
It suddenly understood its master’s true intention in saving her originally. For hundreds of years, everywhere there were only boring, reverent faces. Finally, here was someone who broke the monotony. “Playing” with her every day, or watching her antics—that could be quite interesting.
Xiang Su heard a very strange gurgling sound, as if coming from inside her body. She listened carefully with her head tilted, but then it was gone.
“Jun… Junshang…” She timidly spoke up, suddenly thinking of a question. She was a Wood Spirit who had acknowledged the Metal Dijun as her master—which realm did she actually belong to?
Dong Tianyun looked at her coolly. Had she called him just to watch her act foolish?
“Um… when will we arrive?” She came to her senses, speaking very straightforwardly, “I haven’t had a single sip of water since taking human form.”
Dong Tianyun’s eyebrow raised slightly. Just now her stomach had growled—he had heard it clearly. So when she complained about not having a sip of water, it probably wasn’t the ordinary meaning of being thirsty.
He glanced at the ground below and lightly commanded the Kunpeng: “Go to Qingze Manor.”
The Kunpeng obeyed, rapidly descending. Qingze Manor was not far ahead. Xiang Su couldn’t sit steady again. Dong Tianyun, having learned from previous experience and guarding against her grabbing his sash again, simply reached out and grasped her arm.
Xiang Su smiled at him gratefully. Her new Junshang occasionally showed kindness. She really admired him—he seemed glued to the Kunpeng’s back. No matter how it flew, he didn’t move at all… Probably because she was new to human form and had seen too little, she noticed that her thoughts always drifted in inexplicable directions.
When the Kunpeng landed, Xiang Su felt it was most impressive. Her new Junshang’s posture dismounting the bird was also most proud and most pleasing to watch. She imitated Dong Tianyun’s manner, leveling her chin and looking at everything with disdain as she hopped down from the Kunpeng’s back. No help for it—compared to Junshang’s graceful leg-lifting dismount, her height wasn’t enough to perform such an imposing movement.
Dong Tianyun paid no attention to her monkey-like behavior.
The generals guarding Qingze Manor respectfully approached, cupping their fists in salute. They apologetically said: “We beg Shenghuan Dijun’s pardon. Our Junshang is undergoing tribulation in the mortal realm and is not in the manor.”
Dong Tianyun’s eyes seemed to look at them yet clearly didn’t regard them at all, speaking in a detached and languid manner: “I’m merely using your Qingze Pool. What does it matter whether he’s here or not?”
The two generals were still in difficulty when an immortal official managing affairs emerged from the manor, all smiles as he gestured invitingly toward the interior. The general still said: “This immortal pool, Junshang gave instructions…”
The immortal official glared at him. The general said no more, silently stepping aside, watching as Dong Tianyun led his one person and one bird arrogantly and domineeringly into the manor.
The Qingze Pool was a Water Spirit sacred pool. Before departing, their Junshang had instructed them to guard it strictly. Even gods and demons throughout the Three Realms would find it difficult to obtain a single drop of sacred water. But this Shenghuan Dijun… was definitely an exception. The general sighed inwardly. Given this Dijun’s temperament, if they didn’t stop him, he would enter smoothly. If they did stop him, he would beat them into chaos and then enter anyway. This loss was taken for nothing. The Celestial Emperor would absolutely never question Shenghuan Dijun over such trifles.
Xiang Su followed Dong Tianyun for a while, circling around a small valley. Amid concealing flowers and trees, there was a square immortal pool shrouded in misty vapor. Xiang Su sniffed—the clean fragrance of this water was even better than Lingze Mountain’s water. It probably counted as a supreme treasure of the world. She was feeling quite uncomfortable and, ignoring both the guiding immortal official and Dong Tianyun, quickened her pace and ran to the pool’s edge, scooping up a handful of water to drink.
“This…” The immortal official’s face looked strange. Dong Tianyun glanced at him, and he fell silent again.
Xiang Su drank her fill, but the empty feeling in her stomach didn’t disappear. Previously, when she was still a gardenia tree, whenever she was parched, a sip of spirit pool water would make her comfortable. But now even such excellent immortal water couldn’t relieve her discomfort?
Dong Tianyun had also paced to the pool’s edge, looking down at Xiang Su, who was kneeling on the ground with a puzzled expression.
“Having transformed into human form, you naturally have human form’s troubles. You are no longer a tree now. Merely drinking water cannot relieve the burdens of human form. Such as hunger, thirst, and natural urges.”
Xiang Su dumbly nodded. So that was it…
“As long as you diligently cultivate, naturally you can gradually cast off these encumbrances.” Dong Tianyun glanced at her. Xiang Su felt this was a threat, clearly meaning she shouldn’t be lazy. She guiltily lowered her head to look at her hands. Eh? Her hands had become more delicate and smooth than before, her skin seeming to carry a faint luminous glow.
Seeing her surprised and puzzled expression, the immortal official said somewhat proudly: “The Qingze sacred water is also called Huanxian Water. It can make one’s skin fine and smooth. How many fairy maidens…”
Xiang Su had already jumped into the water with a splash. Such wonderful water—how could it be wasted? Why only make her hands smooth? Washing her entire body would be more worthwhile.
“Ah?!” The immortal official was already dumbstruck. Bathing in the pool… that was treatment reserved only for the Celestial Emperor’s consorts! He had wanted to ask Dong Tianyun to intervene, but unexpectedly Dong Tianyun looked completely matter-of-fact, extremely naturally asking him, “Did the Mingyu follow Qingze out of the manor?”
The immortal official looked at the happily bathing Xiang Su, grief-stricken as he said: “Lord Mingyu did not accompany Junshang on his tribulation. He is cultivating in the cold pool behind the manor.” The Mingyu was a Water Spirit sacred creature and also Dijun Qingze’s mount. All the Water Spirit immortal officials had to respectfully address it as “Lord.”
“Mm, I have business with it.” Dong Tianyun turned around, indicating with his chin for the immortal official to lead the way.
“But… but…” The immortal official looked at Xiang Su in difficulty.
Xiang Su also caught sight of Dong Tianyun turning. She “perceptively” climbed ashore. “Leaving now?” She had bathed to her heart’s content, smiling as she followed her new Junshang.
Dong Tianyun glanced back at the dripping wet her, waving his sleeve across. Xiang Su felt a wave of warm wind against her face. Her soaking wet hair was blown loose, floating lightly down to settle on her back already dry and refreshing. Her clothes were also dried by the water-repelling technique, very graceful.
She noticed the immortal official staring at her with wide eyes. When she looked back at him, he blushed, like how Xiao Huai had looked at her the first time.
“Let’s go.” Dong Tianyun urged coolly. The immortal official guiltily came to his senses. Just now he had only been distressed about the pool water and hadn’t noticed that the young lady Dong Tianyun had brought was actually an absolutely beautiful maiden. At least among the fairy maidens who had sought sacred water these past few thousand years, none had been this pretty.
“Wait!” Xiang Su suddenly remembered something and cried out in alarm. She looked around, and it was truly difficult for her—she could actually produce an embarrassed expression as she said to Dong Tianyun, “Junshang, conjure something to hold water for me. I want to bring some of this water to Xiao Huai.” Wasn’t this exactly what Xiao Huai had been dreaming of?
“No! Absolutely not!” The immortal official nearly cried. Dong Tianyun bringing people to force his way in—they couldn’t resist that, and could still explain it to their Junshang. But this washing and taking—he had no way to account for it!
Dong Tianyun frowned. The immortal official thought he was about to scold the young lady, but when his hand rose, he was already holding a jade gourd, asking: “Is this enough?”
Xiang Su walked over and held the gourd in both hands, weighing it. If used sparingly for bathing, it would be enough. So she nodded with satisfaction.
“Shenghuan Dijun!” When the immortal official knelt down, his voice cracked.
“If there’s a problem, have Qingze come find me.” Dong Tianyun’s face darkened. The immortal official no longer had the courage to say what he wanted to say, watching in anguish as Xiang Su filled the gourd to the brim.