#56: The Festival of Flowers

The two of them remained close for a while. Seeing that Bian Lingyu hadn’t moved, Shi Luoyi freed one hand and placed it on his, guiding it to her soft, slender waist. “Hold me too. I’m leaving tomorrow.”

Bian Lingyu’s hand rested on the delicate curve of the maiden’s waist, and only then did he snap out of his daze. Rationality swiftly replaced his momentary sadness.

Things shouldn’t happen thrice without consequence.

If Shi Luoyi truly intended to leave, she would have been as resolute and cold as before, not speaking in this gentle, placid tone.

Bian Lingyu’s response was to grab Shi Luoyi by her robe and toss her back to her original position.

“Shi Luoyi!” Bian Lingyu didn’t know whether to be angry at himself or at her.

Seeing that he had realized her ruse, Shi Luoyi couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “How did you figure it out so quickly?” She marveled at how someone so gravely injured could still possess such strength and vitality.

Their eyes met, and Bian Lingyu saw the bright, mischievous gleam in her curved gaze.

He couldn’t bring himself to stay angry with her, fearing any disturbance to the divine pearl within her. Resigning himself, he closed his eyes and ignored her.

Shi Luoyi felt a twinge of regret.

It had been... quite amusing. No one else had ever crumbled so completely under her teasing. Whether joy or anger, it seemed as though she could control it all. Back in the barren mountains, Shi Luoyi had thought that an angered Bian Lingyu appeared more like a living, breathing person with warmth.

When there were things he cared about, his eyes would shine with vibrant vitality. In her memory, Bian Lingyu was both spirited and full of temper.

But Shi Luoyi didn’t plan to torment him further. From what Cangwu had revealed, she knew Bian Lingyu must be utterly exhausted. After slaying Zhu Yan, he had immediately gone searching for her. Upon arriving at the courtyard, he hadn’t stopped refining pills. He had been working tirelessly.

Shi Luoyi wouldn’t stop him from refining pills.

She understood that some things couldn’t be halted. Her mother had once contemplated suicide to prevent her father from extending her life, but in the end, what had it achieved? It only filled their final days with bitterness, accomplishing nothing.

Even if she and Bian Lingyu could only live for one more day, they would do so without shadows, basking in the sunlight.

Early the next morning, Elder Hanshu arrived. Upon receiving Shi Luoyi’s message via the immortal crane, she had rushed over from Mingyou Mountain, fearing something had happened to Shi Luoyi.

Shi Luoyi gestured for Elder Hanshu to examine Bian Lingyu’s pulse. She had expected him to resist, but to her surprise, he extended his arm without hesitation.

Bian Lingyu knew that Elder Hanshu wouldn’t discover anything.

No matter how dire his state, he was still a divine being. Elder Hanshu couldn’t save him—no one could. Shi Luoyi needed to give up hope, and he wanted her to let go.

Elder Hanshu furrowed her brows and said to Shi Luoyi, “Let’s talk outside.”

Shi Luoyi glanced at Bian Lingyu and followed Elder Hanshu out.

“I’m powerless,” Elder Hanshu admitted. “I’ve told you before—my pills won’t work on him. Their origins are unclear, even from the time I first encountered them in the mirage realm of the Immortal Toad. All I sense in Bian Lingyu’s meridians is a heavy aura of death. If you wish to save him, you’ll need to find another way.”

Though Shi Luoyi had anticipated this, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.

She steadied her emotions. “Thank you for coming all this way, Elder Hanshu. I’ll think of something else.”

“I’ll return now.”

“Aren’t you staying for a bit?”

Hanshu looked at her. “Have you forgotten what day it is soon?”

At her reminder, Shi Luoyi recalled the upcoming grand competition among the sects, held every fifty years. This year, it would take place at Hengwu Sect, where the gates would exceptionally open to allow mortals to seek apprenticeship.

It was a monumental event in the cultivation world.

This year, coincidentally, Hengwu Sect was hosting, keeping everyone at Mingyou Mountain busy.

After the competition, Hengwu Sect would welcome new disciples.

“Elder Hanshu, there’s something I wanted to discuss with you. Be cautious of Bian Qingxuan in Hengwu Sect. When I went to rescue Hui Xiang, she captured me for a while, seemingly with some ulterior motive.”

Shi Luoyi still hadn’t deciphered Bian Qingxuan’s identity or intentions. She had speculated—since Bian Lingyu might be a deity, perhaps Bian Qingxuan was one too. Could she be the little crimson snake?

That crimson snake had been female when Shi Luoyi cleaned its bloodstains, startling it into baring its fangs at her.

Shi Luoyi couldn’t help but poke fun at it, laughing. “We’re both women—why are you being so fierce?” If it transformed into human form, it made sense that it could be Bian Qingxuan.

But why would Bian Lingyu protect her while Bian Qingxuan sought to harm her? Shi Luoyi couldn’t understand and thus hesitated to draw conclusions.

Now, she feared that Bian Qingxuan might not only harm her but also endanger Elder Hanshu.

Hanshu remained silent. Though skeptical, she harbored deep affection for her disciple, regardless of Bian Qingxuan’s questionable motives.

“What you said, I’ll keep in mind. However, Qingxuan hasn’t been in the sect recently. She went to greet a young master from Shengyang Sect—you needn’t worry.”

Shi Luoyi was surprised. “Has Shengyang Sect produced any notable figures recently? I remember it as a middling sect. Even their top disciple wouldn’t warrant Hengwu Sect’s attention.”

Not to mention sending Bian Qingxuan, who surprisingly agreed. No wonder Bian Qingxuan hadn’t troubled her lately.

“This happened just a few days ago,” Hanshu explained, frowning. “The sect leader ordered it. The young master specifically requested Qingxuan, who initially refused but later acquiesced for unknown reasons.”

Hanshu added, “This young master carries great prestige. It’s said that even the sect leader of Shengyang gave him exclusive use of their spiritual spring.”

The sect leader relied on that spring for cultivation—it was practically their lifeblood. For him to relinquish it...

Something was clearly amiss. However, in Shi Luoyi’s mind, Bian Lingyu’s safety took precedence. As long as this young master didn’t harm the common people or threaten her directly, she had no intention of interfering.

After Elder Hanshu left, Shi Luoyi returned to find Bian Lingyu once again by the pill furnace.

She no longer blamed him for treasuring his furnace so dearly.

Instead, she brought over a small stool and sat beside him in the backyard, watching the furnace together. The warm light danced across their bodies. Bian Lingyu didn’t seem surprised that she hadn’t left yet. Occasionally adding firewood, he treated her as if she were invisible.

Inside the furnace burned Bian Lingyu’s flesh, blood, and love.

Just watching it made Shi Luoyi’s heart soften impossibly.

Not long after, A’Xiu brewed tea and called from inside the house, “Master, Immortal Luo Yi, the tea is ready. I’ll set it on the table for you.”

Shi Luoyi glanced at the unresponsive Bian Lingyu and nudged his arm. “Hey, A’Xiu is calling you. Why aren’t you responding? Is she still your beloved?”

Bian Lingyu dodged her teasing touch, catching the playful glint in her eyes.

“Don’t push your luck.”

This excuse he had thrown out casually was something only Shi Luoyi clung to. With his head lowered, he noticed—she hadn’t believed him yet kept teasing him about it.

Shi Luoyi said, “Why did you say that? You never...”

She paused, lightly huffing. “Never mind.” If he wasn’t going to confess now, pressing further would only make her seem desperate.

For a sword cultivator, such idle sitting would typically be unbearably dull. Shi Luoyi had expected boredom, but unexpectedly, sitting beside Bian Lingyu and watching him refine pills felt intriguing.

Sometimes, she deliberately startled him, pretending to add fire to his furnace.

His icy facade would crack instantly, unable to maintain its usual cold composure.

To Bian Lingyu, what lay inside the furnace was her life.

Even if it were her, he wouldn’t tolerate her meddling.

After several attempts, even a clay statue would grow irritated. Bian Lingyu coldly warned, “Touch it again, and I’ll strangle you.”

Resigned to his fate, Bian Lingyu still didn’t realize that Shi Luoyi had already pieced together much of the truth from Cangwu. In his eyes, she remained oblivious to the significance of the pill furnace.

Even if he guarded it fiercely, he could do so openly, unafraid of exposing his final resolve to her.

Shi Luoyi tilted her head up at him, unable to suppress a laugh. “It’s been so long since I heard you speak like that. Do you remember when you first told me that if I provoked you again, one of us would die?”

When Shi Luoyi brought up these tense past moments, her voice carried only a faint sense of nostalgia.

Bian Lingyu wasn’t genuinely angry with her; he merely wanted her to lose hope in him.

Yet, the once dark and unbearable days, when recounted by Shi Luoyi, didn’t seem so bleak. Perhaps it was because her voice held no trace of disgust, and the sincerity in her smiling eyes was unmistakable—she truly cherished those memories. Unconsciously, he too began to feel that those lonely years hadn’t been so bad after all.

Throughout the entire afternoon, Bian Lingyu hadn’t uttered a single harsh word.

It wasn’t until after dinner that he realized his goal of driving Shi Luoyi away was growing increasingly distant. He had even grown somewhat accustomed to this peaceful coexistence, maintaining a careful distance yet remaining close.

Dinner was once again shared by four people, but it was livelier than the previous night.

A’Xiu and Cangwu had also adjusted to life in the small courtyard, discussing how Uncle Liu planned to plant vegetables in the yard that afternoon.

In the midst of their conversation, A’Xiu added, “This afternoon, while I was out buying meat with Grandma Zhao, I noticed how bustling the streets were. There were cultivators with swords everywhere. The inns are completely full now. Some even asked if our little courtyard could accommodate more cultivators. Immortal Luo Yi, is there some grand event happening at the sects?”

Shi Luoyi replied, “Yes, the Grand Sect Competition is about to begin. Various sects will select young disciples to compete at Hengwu Sect.”

“Has Immortal Luo Yi participated before?”

“Once.”

A’Xiu curiously asked, “Did you win?”

“No.” Shi Luoyi smiled. Fifty years ago, she had still been a half-grown girl, not yet eligible for the competition. She had sneaked in for a match but was caught and taken home by her father. “I didn’t finish fighting before my father brought me back.”

“So who won? They must be incredibly powerful.”

“They were indeed powerful. In the end, my senior brother emerged victorious. He possesses an innate sword bone, and his swordsmanship is divine.” Shi Luoyi could have stopped after the first sentence, but for some reason, she deliberately added the second part, then glanced at Bian Lingyu to gauge his reaction.

Now that she knew of the feelings Bian Lingyu had concealed for two lifetimes, it felt like uncovering hidden treasure. She wanted to gently unravel it herself.

She knew it would be filled with soft surprises.

She even hoped Bian Lingyu would grow angry, giving her an opportunity to talk to him and perhaps coax him into revealing everything.

But Bian Lingyu merely picked up a piece of bamboo shoot with his chopsticks, his grayish-black eyes lowered, making it impossible to discern his expression.

All Shi Luoyi could see was the movement of his jaw as he chewed the bamboo shoot, the sound of it breaking between his teeth. Yet she couldn’t fathom what he was thinking.

Bian Lingyu remained as cold and detached as a deity worshipped by mortals, resolved to endure this stalemate until his dying day.

Disappointed by his lack of reaction, Shi Luoyi picked up a piece of bamboo shoot and began chewing as well.

But her disappointment didn’t last long, quickly fading from her mind.

The bustling streets weren’t just due to the Grand Sect Competition—it was also the annual Flower Festival.

The customs of the Flower Festival had been passed down for countless generations.

Shi Luoyi had once read records of the festival spanning many years in the ancient texts her father had collected.

In ancient times, the Flower Festival took place in early April, but over time, it shifted to early May when spring was in full bloom.

The streets echoed with the sounds of music and laughter.

After dinner, Shi Luoyi asked everyone if they wanted to go see the Flower Festival.

Everyone’s eyes lit up. A’Xiu excitedly asked, “Can I go?”

“Of course. You can follow Uncle Liu and your cousin—they’ll look after you.”

Shi Luoyi knew that the Flower Festival originated in the ancient Zhou Kingdom. The people of Zhou were known for their open customs, and this day was traditionally one for lovers to pledge their affection. Tracing back thousands of years, if a man and woman were mutually attracted, they could disappear into the grass under the cover of nightfall.

Shi Luoyi had an idea forming in her mind. With someone as stubborn as Bian Lingyu, if she truly tried to wear him down, she wouldn’t succeed.

After A’Xiu and the others left, Shi Luoyi turned to Bian Lingyu. She tugged on his sleeve. “If you don’t come with me, I’ll go back and kick your pill furnace to pieces.”

“Let go!” Bian Lingyu was terrified that the divine pearl within her might react and tear her body apart.

But the maiden remained oblivious to the danger, just as she was unaware of his inner turmoil. Amidst the myriad lights, she smiled brightly at him. “So, are you going or not?”

“… Fine.”

The two left much later than everyone else.

The small courtyard was far from the main streets, in a secluded area. After walking just a few steps, Shi Luoyi heard a sound that seemed to blend pain and pleasure.

She paused, her sharp instincts drawing her gaze toward a nearby patch of grass.

On one side, the world was alive with human activity and lanterns; on this side, there was no light.

At first, Shi Luoyi didn’t understand what was happening and assumed a woman was being attacked. She immediately prepared to intervene.

This time, it was Bian Lingyu who grabbed her scarf, stopping her from approaching.

Surprised, she looked at him. His expression was blank as he turned his head away, offering no explanation.

The grass continued to sway, nearly shattering the moonlight’s reflection, though there was no wind.

“…” In an instant, Shi Luoyi understood.

She hadn’t realized earlier, but now that she did, she didn’t need Bian Lingyu’s reminder. Both of them instinctively moved away from the spot. Shi Luoyi’s face flushed red. She couldn’t comprehend how a woman could make such sounds. She had once heard similar noises while fleeing through the mortal realm, hiding in the Red Pavilion.

At the time, the woman had covered her mouth and laughed, teasing Shi Luoyi by tapping her nose. “Oh dear, this isn’t pain—it’s pleasure. No need to rescue me, miss. You’re so beautiful, yet so innocent. Who knows who will be lucky enough to have you in the future.”

But Shi Luoyi couldn’t imagine such a thing. Though she wasn’t entirely inexperienced… at the time, all she wanted to do was curse at Bian Lingyu.

And cry—but she had managed to hold back the tears, channeling her emotions into cursing him further.

For a long while, she remained puzzled, stealing a glance at Bian Lingyu with a mix of confusion and complexity.

Coincidentally, Bian Lingyu sensed her gaze.

No man in the world could withstand such questioning, not even a cold and aloof deity like him.

After a long silence, Bian Lingyu abruptly reached out and placed a mask over Shi Luoyi’s face. He had endured this long, fearing that one misstep would cause him to lose control and ruin everything.