AUOF - 44

Battling with a donkey left Sang Li utterly exhausted, and she collapsed on the ground, unwilling to move.

People often said “stubborn as a mule,” and indeed, this was one lazy and obstinate donkey.

Amid her fatigue, Sang Li noticed the stable master leading over a gleaming white horse.

At the sight of the horse, the first word that came to mind was—”luxurious.”

The horse’s body was entirely silver-white, its tail as fluffy and curled as auspicious clouds. Its eyes were mismatched—one red, one black—and its wings were semi-transparent. As it walked, flowers bloomed beneath its hooves, and frost swirled around it, exuding a beauty beyond description.

It was also incredibly proud, refusing to look anyone in the eye. It walked with an arrogant sway of its hips, seemingly looking down on everyone. It even rolled its eyes at the donkey and Sang Li on the ground.

Sang Li: “...” This horse didn’t seem like a proper horse.

Someone nearby recognized it—

“Isn’t that Yuxue?”

“Isn’t this Lord Ji’s mount? Why is it here?”

“Yuxue’s here, but where’s Lord Ji?”

The appearance of Yuxue caused quite a stir, and murmurs spread quickly.

Sang Li was taken aback. Lord Ji’s horse?

“This one is for you, miss,” the stable master respectfully offered the expensive reins made from phoenix sinew, treating the horse as if it were more noble than a person.

Sang Li hesitated to accept, but just then, the lazy donkey on the ground suddenly sprang up with a burst of energy, shoving the reins aside and lying back down, hinting for Sang Li to climb aboard.

Her brows twitched slightly; she hadn’t expected the donkey to have such a competitive streak.

“Thank you for going through the trouble, Stable Master. I’ll ride this one,” Sang Li decided, deftly mounting the small donkey. The horse before her did look capable of flying swiftly, but it was far too precious. If anything happened to it along the way—if it were lost or killed—even cutting off all nine of her fox tails wouldn’t be enough to repay its value.

Not to mention repaying it; given Ji Hengyu’s stingy nature, he might just make her into a mount herself.

Hearing that Sang Li had chosen her, the donkey proudly shot a glance at the white horse, flapped its wings, and laboriously flew onto the array bridge.

Being naturally lazy, the donkey flew at a sluggish pace, demanding carrots every few steps.

Sang Li grew increasingly frustrated, feeding it while complaining, “I should have ridden that horse instead. Look at you, so fat and still eating.”

The donkey grumbled discontentedly, then suddenly accelerated, flying toward the floating clouds.

In the time it took to burn a stick of incense, it carried Sang Li out of the Gui Xu Sea and stopped at Nonstop Cliff.

One person and one donkey lay on the grass to rest.

Seeing how happily the donkey was munching on carrots, Sang Li felt a bit hungry herself and pulled out some dry rations Shaoyao had packed for her.

Speaking of which, Shaoyao was truly thoughtful. Knowing she would leave today, she had stayed up late last night making many delicate pastries. However, those pastries were too exquisite for her to bear eating, so she only brought a few flatbreads.

While busy eating, someone tapped her shoulder and sneered, “What kind of sorry excuse for a mount is this? And what are you eating?”

The sudden voice startled Sang Li, nearly causing her to drop her food.

She turned around and was met with a strikingly beautiful face.

The woman wore a simple purple outfit, as lively as the butterflies in the mountains.

At the moment, she was disdainfully critiquing Sang Li’s donkey and her flatbread.

“Lady Situ?” Sang Li swallowed the last bite with difficulty, choking slightly, and hurriedly patted her chest to ease her breathing. “Why are you here?”

“I’ve been here for ages!” Situ pouted unhappily, reaching out to pinch Sang Li’s cheek. “I should be asking you why you’re so late! Everyone’s already left in three waves, and you’ve only just arrived. I’m exhausted from waiting for you.”

Her grip was strong, and Sang Li yelped in pain, struggling to free herself. But Situ relentlessly pinched her other cheek, leaving them both red.

Seeing this, Situ burst into laughter. “You’re so cute!”

Sang Li sighed. “I don’t have time to play with you, Lady Divine. I need to go on my training mission.”

“I know,” she snatched the carrot from the donkey’s mouth and tossed it high into the air. When the donkey chased after it, she said, “I’ll accompany you.”

“…?”

“…??”

Sang Li thought she must have misheard, her eyes widening. “Huh?”

Situ explained, “My senior brother went down the mountain. There’s nothing fun at Gui Xu Palace. After much thought, I decided to come down the mountain with you.”

Situ originally hadn’t planned to come out.

But upon calculating, she realized Sang Li would be gone for over six months. The Gui Xu Sea was dim and dull, and the disciples were all boring. The only entertaining thing was Sang Li, and without her, there was no fun at all. After deliberation, she decided to wait here in advance to go out and find some amusement with her.

With her goal achieved, Situ mounted her majestic water qilin steed, looking down at her. “Let’s go. We should reach Cloud Heaven City before descending the mountain.”

Sang Li knew she couldn’t dissuade her, so she reluctantly led the little donkey and followed behind her.

They were moving far too slowly, and Situ impatiently urged, “Why don’t you leave that donkey behind? My Zangguang can expand to carry three people.”

Upon hearing she might abandon the donkey, it immediately began to whine unhappily.

Sang Li stroked its ears and politely declined Situ’s offer. “Thank you for your kindness, Lady Situ, but this donkey belongs to the Stable Master. It wouldn’t be right to just abandon it. I’ll ride it.”

Situ didn’t press further, patting the head of her water qilin. “Just call me Situ from now on. Adding ‘Lady’ sounds strange.”

Sang Li smiled. “Alright, Situ.”

Situ raised her eyebrows, delighted. “Tie the reins to Zangguang’s tail, and I’ll have it pull you both along.”

Sang Li’s eyes lit up instantly.

She had already been annoyed by how slow the donkey was. If Situ was willing to take them along without abandoning the donkey, it would be perfect.

Sang Li immediately complied. Zangguang’s feet produced auspicious clouds, steadily carrying one person and one donkey into the sky.

The further north they traveled, the colder it became.

By the time they entered Cloud Heaven City, both had changed into winter clothing.

Sang Li was wrapped in a red cloak, half her face hidden beneath the fluffy hood.

Today was the fifteenth day of the Winter Festival, and also the Joy God Day of Cloud Heaven City.

For the people living in these mountains, the Joy God Day was akin to their Spring Festival. On this day, a lantern festival was held, river lanterns were released, and everyone gathered by the Xi’er River to make wishes, expressing gratitude to the Joy God for their blessings throughout the year.

Cloud Heaven City was the main city of the northern mountains.

The city was magnificent, and its nights were the most vibrant and bustling times. The streets were filled with dazzling lights and colors, creating a scene so lively it seemed as though this city was an eternal pearl shining amidst the dark mountain ranges.

The streets were wide, but due to the throngs of people, they still appeared somewhat crowded.

Situ had never seen such a lively scene before. One moment she was drawn to street performers singing songs; the next, she was watching acrobats, running around in all directions, thoroughly entertained.

“Situ, wait for me!”

Sang Li struggled through the crowd and found Situ stopping in her tracks, looking up at the stage with wide-eyed curiosity.

Sang Li stood beside her and glanced over.

This was likely a special program for the Joy God Day, featuring multiple stages with different competitions. The crowd below watched enthusiastically, cheering loudly without pause.

Sang Li gave it a quick scan: there were contests for music, chess, calligraphy, painting, riddle-solving, martial arts tournaments, and even eating challenges. The variety was endless.

Situ’s gaze was fixed on a rabbit-shaped lantern hanging at the back.

The lantern was exquisitely crafted, lifelike to the point that it was hard to tell it wasn’t real. A pink bead formed a lotus flower on the rabbit’s chest, making it look incredibly adorable.

Situ stared at it, her eyes glued, clearly smitten.

Remembering a promise from the previous selection day, Sang Li tugged at her sleeve. “Do you want it?”

Caught red-handed, Situ’s ears turned red, and she buried her face in the soft yellow fur collar. “It’s okay.”

Sang Li knew she was just being coy and couldn’t help but suppress a smile. “Since we’re already here, why don’t I go up and join the fun?”

Situ blinked in confusion. “Huh?”

Sang Li pointed upward. “I’m going to sign up.”

Situ blinked again, sizing her up. “Music, chess, calligraphy, painting—what are you good at?”

Sang Li shook her head.

She wasn’t skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, but she could dance. With her original fox spirit foundation, winning first place in a competition would be easy. However, with so many people watching, dancing would draw too much attention and invite unnecessary trouble. So…

“There’s an eating contest. I’ll participate in that!” Sang Li declared decisively. “Wait for me. I’ll be back soon.”

Situ’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.

What? She wanted to compete in what???

An eating contest???

Sang Li had already walked onto the stage and addressed the organizer. “I’d like to enter the competition. How do I register?”

The organizer looked her over.

Noticing her extraordinary appearance and attire, which differed from the locals, he immediately deduced she might be a young lady from a prestigious family outside the mountain. His tone became respectful. “Which event would you like to participate in? We have a wide variety of options—would you prefer to play the zither or…”

Sang Li cut him off bluntly. “Eating contest.”

The organizer thought he had misheard. “What? You said… which event?”

Sang Li repeated firmly, enunciating each word. “Eating. Contest!”

The organizer was stunned.

He looked her up and down several times. “Miss, not to discourage you, but today’s challenge involves watermelons chilled in the icy river. Not only little girls like you but even those burly men out there can barely handle it. Are you sure?”

Sang Li nodded. “I’m sure.”

After all, she wasn’t human, so she didn’t fear the cold…

Wait? What?

Sang Li licked her lips, her eyes gleaming. “You said… watermelon?”

“Yes,” the organizer nodded. “The Ice Lotus Melon is a specialty of Cloud Heaven City. While other melons ripen in summer, ours only grow in winter. The colder the weather, the sweeter the melon. Every season, outsiders come here to buy our melons.”

Melons!!!

She could finally eat some!!!

Heavens, after nearly half a year in this place, Sang Li had survived on just a few snacks brought by Shaoyao, with only a handful of bland spiritual fruits. Today, she could finally eat a real watermelon!!!

Fearing she might miss this opportunity, Sang Li quickly raised her hand. “I want to participate! I want to participate!”

The organizer sighed helplessly. “Alright, then sign your name. It’s about to start soon. Just don’t blame us if you get sick.”

Ignoring his sarcastic remarks, Sang Li eagerly wrote down her name and anxiously waited backstage.

Soon, it was their group’s turn. When her name was called, Sang Li stepped onto the stage with three burly men.

On the stage, the pre-cut melons were already laid out.

These Ice Lotus Melons were indeed different from any she had eaten before. The outer skin resembled a regular watermelon, but the flesh inside was crystal-clear white, fresh, juicy, and utterly mouthwatering.

As the only woman in the group, Sang Li immediately became the center of attention once she appeared.

To prepare for the competition, Sang Li removed her cloak, revealing a bright red outfit that made her glow under the festival lights. Her small face, illuminated by the lanterns, looked as radiant as a precious gem.

“Miss, are you sure you’re in the right place?!”

“The singing or dancing stages would suit you better.”

“Yes, why mingle with these big-eaters?”

The crowd burst into laughter, but Sang Li ignored them, keeping a cool expression.

When she spotted Situ among the audience, she smiled and subtly gestured toward her.

Situ, who had been anxious about this whole situation, immediately felt reassured when she saw Sang Li smiling only at her.

“The rules of the competition: Three gongs signal the start, one gong signals the end. Whoever eats the most wins!”

After the announcement, the assistant prepared to strike the gong.

Perhaps because Sang Li stood out so brightly, people from the bridges, streets, and even the upper floors of taverns leaned out to watch.

After three gongs, the competition officially began.

The men beside her started eating ferociously, using both hands. One man on the right didn’t bother with utensils, abandoning the bowl entirely and burying his entire head into the melon.

Sang Li rolled up her sleeves and picked up a slice of melon, beginning to eat.

The organizer hadn’t exaggerated—this melon was incredibly sweet. Since it grew in spring water, it carried a refreshing, icy sweetness that made her whole body tingle with delight as it went down.

She savored the first slice slowly, but by the second piece, she began to channel her spiritual energy, shielding her stomach. She devoured one slice after another in rapid succession, barely chewing or swallowing in between.

Sang Li’s speed was astonishing. To onlookers, it seemed as though she wasn’t even bothering to chew or swallow.

The burly men beside her, despite their capacity for food, couldn’t withstand the cold.

By the time they’d eaten more than half a melon, they were shivering uncontrollably. Looking at Sang Li, they were utterly dumbfounded. This delicate, porcelain-like young girl calmly ate slice after slice, showing no signs of struggle at all!!

The crowd, having never seen anyone eat melons like this, erupted into cheers, raising their arms and shouting in unison—

“Melon King! Melon King!!”

“Amazing, Melon King!! Take apprentices! Take apprentices!”

The title “Melon King” caught in Sang Li’s throat, nearly choking her. When she heard someone suggest taking apprentices, she gagged and started coughing violently.

The people below grew even more excited, cheering louder and louder.

Even Situ was swept up in the excitement, laughing heartily and shouting along, “Melon King!! Go, Melon King!!”

Sang Li spat out a few melon seeds: “...” Was this endless??

The competition was heating up, and everyone was inspired, their laughter never ceasing.

No one noticed the figure watching from above.

This was the grandest tavern in Cloud Heaven City.

From the third-floor window, one could see the entire splendor of Xier Avenue.

Ji Hengyu wore a white cloak over his shoulders, and the table before him was piled high with various meats. He hadn’t touched them, only placing a single cup of wine in front of him. The flickering lantern light cast deep shadows over his eyes, making his gaze appear profound.

Below, the crowd cheered wildly. Qi, holding a chicken leg, gnawed on it with equal enthusiasm. Since this was a private room, he didn’t bother hiding his face and simply removed his mask to eat voraciously.

The noise downstairs was overwhelming. Qi glanced down, and the longer he looked, the more familiar the woman on stage seemed. After a moment, a chicken wing got stuck in his throat, and he choked, his face turning red as he grabbed a drink and gulped it down. Finally, he managed to croak out—

“Miss Sang Li?”

Ji Hengyu’s fingers traced the jade-white cup in his hand. He lowered his eyes and smiled faintly, then lifted the cup to his lips and drained it in one go.

It took Qi a long while to process what he had seen. As he continued eating, he couldn’t help but nod and remark, “No wonder Lord Ji likes her so much. Truly a match made in heaven…”

That last sentence slipped out unintentionally, revealing his true thoughts.

Realizing his mistake, Qi was terrified. He quickly glanced at Ji Hengyu out of the corner of his eye.

The man wasn’t angry; his gaze remained fixed downward.

Seeing Sang Li preparing to leave the stage, Ji Hengyu also turned his attention away, tossing a silver ingot onto the table before rising silently.

Watching his lord depart, Qi didn’t dare delay.

His mouth opened wide as he devoured the remaining food on the table in one fell swoop. Afterward, he put his mask back on and hurried after Ji Hengyu.

________________________________________

Sang Li handed the rabbit lantern and a jug of Ice Lotus melon wine she had won to Situ. “Here. The shopkeeper said it’s fruit wine made from fresh melons, and all the girls love it. I’m too full to drink it, so you try it.”

Situ held the lantern, lost in thought for a long moment.

Sang Li tilted her head curiously. “Don’t you like it?”

“No,” Situ shook her head, her expression somewhat rigid. “It’s not that I don’t like it… It’s just…”

Just…

In her five hundred years of life, she had never received such a gift.

Over the years, others had showered her with rare treasures, priceless gems, and exquisite offerings. But she knew those gifts weren’t truly for her . They were given out of obligation—to her status as a divine maiden, to uphold the dignity of the Dao Lord. Once she left the divine realm and shed that identity, she would be nothing, and none of it would follow her.

The rabbit lantern was beautiful.

Its eyes were embedded with luminous stones that glowed softly. As Situ held the lantern, listening to the lively sounds around her, her eyes inexplicably grew moist.

Not wanting others to see her vulnerable side, she uncapped the jug and tilted her head back to drink.

Sang Li rushed to stop her. “Hey, slow down—it’s very cold.”

“It’s not cold,” Situ wiped the wine from her lips, along with the moisture from her eyes. “It’s delicious.”

“Why did you suddenly decide to get this for me? Competing with mortals like that—it’s so embarrassing.” Though the divine maiden loved the rabbit lantern dearly, she refused to admit it, stubbornly maintaining her tough exterior.

Sang Li, worried they might get separated, grabbed her sleeve. “I promised you last time.”

Situ blinked in confusion.

“You gave me such a wonderful weapon. If I’m going down the mountain, I should bring you a gift too.” Spotting many people releasing lanterns to make wishes, Sang Li hurried to buy two river lanterns. Holding them, she turned back to smile at Situ. “Do you think these look nice? We’ll release them in the Xier River later.”

The bright glow of the lantern illuminated her radiant face.

Situ sniffled, unable to hold back her tears any longer.

“Sang Li, you’re so naive,” Situ said, her voice trembling with suppressed sobs. “I’ve been using you this whole time—don’t you realize that?”

“I know,” Sang Li nodded. “But you really want to be friends with me too.”

The mere act of “using” her wasn’t enough to explain why the divine maiden had shown her so much attention.

Sang Li had realized early on that Situ was lonely. Beyond the pretense of manipulation, she genuinely wanted to be friends.

Situ was momentarily stunned, then burst into even heavier sobs. “You’re just a lowly servant—I don’t want to be friends with you! Don’t get ahead of yourself! I’m just using you!”

Watching her cry so hard, nose running and tears streaming, Sang Li could only humor her. “Alright, alright. Then, Divine Maiden, shall we release the flower lanterns together?”

Situ rubbed her red, swollen eyes and reached for one of the lanterns, her voice tinged with bitterness. “...Of course.”

Sang Li smiled again and took her hand, leading her to the Xier River.

After releasing the river lanterns into the Xier River, the Joy God Day festivities officially came to an end. Many people were still lighting lanterns under the bridge, but Sang Li and Situ found a quiet spot.

Countless lotus lanterns floated on the dark river, their tiny flames connecting like scattered fireflies, trailing off into the distant darkness.

Sang Li held her lantern and gazed up at the bright moon, sighing softly. “If only it would snow now—that would be perfect.” The moonlight reflecting on the river, coupled with winter snowflakes drifting down, would have made for a breathtaking sight.

However, it was merely a wish—snow wasn’t something that fell on command. Sang Li rose to her feet, preparing to head down to the riverbank to release her lantern.

But just as she took a step, she inadvertently caught sight of a white speck landing on her shoulder. Startled, she lifted her gaze and saw a flurry of snowflakes descending, blanketing the red-tiled roofs and cobblestone alleys in pristine white.

Before long, the snow reached the riverbank, where frost mingled with the flickering lantern flames, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

Everyone paused in their tracks to admire this rare snowfall, none willing to leave.

“It’s actually snowing!”

“Yes, it hasn’t snowed in Cloud Heaven City for three hundred years.”

“Heaven blesses us with fortune! May this snow last a little longer.”

The townsfolk were overjoyed, fervently praying for the snow to endure.

Though Cloud Heaven City was in the north, it rarely saw snow. Even in winter, rain was more common. A snowfall like this was truly a once-in-a-century event.

Sang Li slowly crouched down, casting a spell to inscribe her wish onto the lantern. She then released it, watching as the lantern drifted away into the night, carried by both the falling snow and the gentle current. She and Situ lingered for a long while, until the lantern disappeared from sight, before finally rising to leave together.

Amidst the snowy scenery, only one person stood apart, unmoved by the spectacle.

He stood by the riverside, his tall, slender figure wrapped in wind and snow. With a slight curl of his fingers, a lotus lantern floated gently into his palm.

Ji Hengyu lowered his gaze to examine the blessing slip, which read—

[Thousands of households pray for longevity; clear skies and pure snow illuminate the lotus lantern.

Not seeking immortality or the moon’s glow tonight; only wishing for the present moment to endure.]

“Lord Ji, why have you stopped?” Snow seeped into Qi’s mask, making him uncomfortable. “It’s strange. I’ve heard that the Joy God offended the Snowbright Mountain, and since then, Cloud Heaven City hasn’t seen snow. How did it suddenly start snowing? Could it be the young snow deity playing tricks?”

Seeing that Ji Hengyu still hadn’t moved, Qi cautiously stepped closer. “Lord Ji?”

“It’s nothing,” Ji Hengyu said, tucking the lotus lantern away. He looked up at the sky, snowflakes melting against his eyes, and a faint smile played on his lips. “Gui Xu will soon enter winter as well.”

Qi blinked. “Ah, yes.”

Ji Hengyu remarked, “I wonder if it will snow there.”

Qi didn’t know why he had brought this up but replied nonetheless: “Why does Lord Ji ask such things? Gui Xu hasn’t offended the Snowbright Mountain, so it will definitely snow. If it doesn’t, this disciple will go to Snowbright Mountain and capture that little brat.”

Snowbright Mountain had recently changed rulers, and the newly ascended young snow deity was still just a child, not yet fully matured. A single piece of candy could easily coax him. When Qi revealed his true form, there was no way the young snow deity would dare defy the immortal lord’s wishes.

“Qi,” Ji Hengyu suddenly called out.

“Disciple is here.”

Ji Hengyu’s tone grew stern: “Stop talking.”

Qi: “...”

Oh.