#25: Goddess (2)

Elsewhere, the night was cool as water, and the bright moon hung high in the sky. In the entire Ghost Tribe, only Nightfall Palace could gaze upon the stars; more precisely, only the Lotus Palace could glimpse the genuine stars. In the backyard of the main Lotus Palace, a faint scent of wine permeated the air. The manjusaka flowers by the path bloomed brilliantly, and blue butterflies seemed to dance among the thickets.

Hua Jun Yan leaned against the閣楼 (pavilion/upper floor), gazing blankly at the night sky. He held a white jade wine cup in his hand; the liquid within was long gone, yet he still gripped it.

“Master, she’s awake.” A deep male voice came from the man’s shadow, illuminated by the lamplight.

“Understood,” he said faintly, then rose and walked back into the room.

________________________________________

Yao Yin opened her eyes, her mind blank for a moment before she slowly came to. She moved her limbs and found that there was no pain at all. There were neither scars nor bloodstains.

Yao Yin looked around curiously, finding that the room was lit by over a dozen palace lanterns, brightly illuminated. The furnishings were elegant, and the dark sandalwood exuded a lingering fragrance.

“Where is this? Wasn’t I by the river with A-Yan?”

Yao Yin struggled to sit up, only to find herself barely clothed under the brocade quilt. On the wall by the bed, a bronze mirror was embedded. Her reflection showed her with long, flowing hair, and tender, fair skin vaguely visible beneath the translucent, gauzy nightgown. The loose, oversized white sheer nightgown felt unreal in its comfort, and a milky white ribbon formed a pretty bow at her chest.

Yao Yin felt a sudden flush, her face turning crimson.

“This, this, is this sexy lingerie?!” She had never worn such clothes before. She actually felt more embarrassed than seeing Zi Chen engaged in illicit acts with someone else... She glimpsed her clothes draped over a screen and immediately rushed off the bed to put them on.

But just as Yao Yin got out of bed, the door opened. In her haste, she stumbled, tripping on the hem of her simple gown, and fell straight down. A black figure quickly rushed over, attempting to catch her, but instead, she landed on top of him, using him as a cushion.

“A-Yan?” Yao Yin immediately scrambled up, only to realize the person beneath her was Yun Yan. His small face was deeply furrowed, his expression clearly one of pain.

So... she hadn’t been dreaming; the child by the river really was Yun Yan.

“I’m sorry, A-Yan, are you okay?” Yao Yin helped him up, carefully checking if he had fallen anywhere. Yun Yan lay on Yao Yin’s chest for a moment, then immediately pushed her away. His face was flushed, and his eyes were suddenly misty. Only then did Yao Yin remember her attire, and she immediately jumped onto the bed, wrapping herself in the covers.

“Cough.” Yun Yan composed himself and sat down on a low couch by the bed.

“A-Yan, I’ve been so worried about you...” Yao Yin couldn’t help but want to embrace him, but she really couldn’t get up easily...

“Where is this? Where have you been these past few days?” Yao Yin stammered.

Yun Yan looked at her without speaking, merely retrieved a bowl of herbal soup from the table. Steam rose from the soup. He stirred it with a spoon for a while, then handed it to Yao Yin.

Yao Yin held it, took a sip, and asked curiously, “Just now, I didn’t see that the medicine in this bowl was hot. A-Yan, when did you use your magic? I didn’t feel it at all.”

Yun Yan was silent for a moment, then said, “Finish the medicine, and I’ll tell you everything.”

“Oh,” Yao Yin responded faintly, smiling, “This place is truly luxurious.”

“...” Yun Yan sat on the edge of the bed, watching her, his eyes deep, his expression evasive. A translucent purple jade pendant, exquisitely carved with a dragon and phoenix, hung from his waist, impossible to ignore.

“This jadeite is truly beautiful, with the dragon and phoenix singing in harmony,” Yao Yin picked up the jade pendant and examined it carefully. “It’s a pity that in this world, both dragons and phoenixes have vanished along with the Creator God, Emperor Yan.”

Dragons and phoenixes were legendary ancient auspicious beasts, belonging to neither immortal nor demon realms.

“No, they haven’t disappeared yet...” Yun Yan shook his head.

Yao Yin was surprised: “There are still dragons and phoenixes in the world?” Before she could finish, a loud “bang” echoed, and the room door was kicked open.

The newcomer was Zi Chen.

Zi Chen stormed in, walked directly to Yao Yin’s bed, and swept away the herbal soup in her hand. The medicine bowl shattered into pieces on the floor.

“I told you not to approach Yun Yan, but you just went and moved directly into the main palace of the Lotus Palace!” He said, grabbing her and pulling her up.

Yao Yin only felt her body suddenly exposed to the air. He dragged her forcefully, her bare feet stepping on ceramic shards, and blood immediately flowed all over the floor.

“Zi Chen, let go, you’re hurting me!” Yao Yin cried out in agony, forcefully shaking his hand off. Her body instantly fell to the ground, her skin cut and bleeding from the ceramic pieces, with many fragments embedded in her flesh.

“Yun Yan is my brother! Why can’t I be near him!” Yao Yin felt a sudden chill, then realized a piece of clothing had been draped over her. She turned her head and saw Yun Yan standing behind her.

Yun Yan helped Yao Yin up, holding her hands, checking her injuries.

“Heh, he’s not your brother at all. He’s older than both of us combined! Come with me now! We’re going back to the Heavenly Palace!” Zi Chen’s voice boomed above her head, like a nightmare, giving Yao Yin a headache.

Yun Yan suddenly stood up, blocking her, his eyes unfathomably deep, looking calmly at Zi Chen.

“Today, I’m taking Yao Yin, and no one can stop me,” Zi Chen declared. Before Yun Yan could reply, he shoved him aside. Yun Yan was pushed by Zi Chen, and his entire body slammed into the sandalwood cabinet. Most of the decorations on it fell to the ground, smashing into pieces.

“A-Yan!” Yao Yin wanted to go to him, but her body was embraced by Zi Chen, her wrists held against his chest.

“Come back to Lihen Heaven with me. Let’s start over!”

“Are you crazy! Let go! I won’t go with you!”

“Ghost Tribe people are not to be trusted. Don’t sink any deeper! Right now, I can’t protect you completely, do you understand?” Yao Yin’s body was held tightly in his embrace, rubbing against him. This posture instantly reminded her of the scene she had witnessed earlier, filling her with even greater shame and indignation, and she struggled more violently.

A sudden, nameless fire flared in Yao Yin’s chest. With a loud “slap,” another resounding blow landed on Zi Chen’s face. The force was so brutal that a vivid red handprint immediately appeared on his cheek.

At this moment, two people walked in from outside: a wide-eyed Shi Yan, and the charming, violet-eyed Xiao Qing. Xiao Qing wore a playful smile, her face full of disdain. She started to step forward but inadvertently glimpsed Yun Yan at the side. She suddenly stopped, her face showing a difficult expression, not daring to advance further.

Yao Yin looked at Zi Chen and roared, “You keep saying Ghost Tribe people are untrustworthy, but what about you, what about you? You talk about being with me, but just a few hours later, you’re embracing someone else and doing those illicit things!”

“I...” Zi Chen looked bewildered, as if he completely didn’t understand what she was saying.

“Start over?” Yao Yin sneered, cutting him off, “Start what? We never even started! So what ‘start over’? Where I choose to live my life is my business, you can’t control it!” After she finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.

Yao Yin herself hadn’t expected to unleash such a furious outburst. She remembered herself as always being calm and unperturbed. Suddenly, some images flashed through her mind: a kind-faced man gently caressing her hair, every gesture filled with indulgence. But then the scene shifted, and he slapped her fiercely, his voice stern.

He, who was he... why had she never seen him, yet felt he was so familiar?

A severe pain surged in her head. Yao Yin swayed, almost falling again.

Zi Chen stepped forward and grabbed her wrist. Although his face showed confusion, he still coldly demanded, “Are you leaving, or not?”

“No.” Yao Yin offered no further explanation, just those simple two words. Resolute.

“Good.” Zi Chen looked into her eyes and said, “If your heart holds no place for me, then don’t say things that are unclear.” After saying this, Zi Chen glanced at Yun Yan and left without looking back.

“Zi Chen, wait for me.” Xiao Qing urgently called out and immediately followed him. Shi Yan, knowing there would be no good outcome if she stayed, quickly transformed into a green wisteria and disappeared.

In an instant, only Yao Yin and Yun Yan remained in the room.

The intense pain in her head grew worse. Yao Yin could no longer support herself and collapsed onto the ground.

A gentle warmth suddenly touched her forehead. She forced her eyes open and saw Yun Yan standing before her. His right hand rested on her forehead, his face showing tenderness. The purple jadeite on his waist was even clearer, dazzling her eyes painfully.

“This jade pendant is beautiful,” Yao Yin smiled, taking it into her hand to admire, “Palace Master Hua Jun Yan seems to have an identical one.”

Yun Yan’s body stiffened.

Yao Yin continued, “When Mother Yun entrusted you to me, I thought, this child is pitiful and defenseless. I must protect him with all my might in the future.”

She put down the jade pendant, looked up at Yun Yan, and smiled, “I thought you needed my protection, but it seems I was just being presumptuous... A-Yan, ah, no, it should be Palace Master Hua?”

Yun Yan froze, silent for a long time. After a while, he suddenly smiled, “Since you already know, I don’t need to bother explaining. I never intended to hide it from you anyway.” His small lips parted and closed, his voice incredibly pleasing to the ear.

Yao Yin paused, then said, “So, all of this was a lie, wasn’t it? Mother Yun wasn’t an immortal realm courtesan, nor was she the second concubine of Yun Du City Lord, but rather the Ghost Lord, Shi Yan.”

Yun Yan did not speak. His form suddenly blurred. Yao Yin steadied herself, and when she opened her eyes again, before her was unmistakably Hua Jun Yan’s exquisitely enchanting face.

Yao Yin smiled, “I don’t know why you would do this, but I think I’m not capable of protecting you...” She stopped, only to feel her body suddenly embraced by him. Hua Jun Yan gently placed Yao Yin on his bed. Then, he sat on the edge of the bed, took her hand, turned it over, and meticulously removed the tiny ceramic shards embedded in her flesh.

His scent enveloped her. Yao Yin’s heart pounded furiously, and her body felt like it was on fire. She tried to pull her hand away but suddenly heard his dream-like whisper, “Don’t move, you have a fever.”

“Fever?” Yao Yin’s face flushed, and she immediately stopped struggling.

His movements were gentle, yet faint pangs of pain occasionally emanated from her hand. The atmosphere was eerily quiet.

“The wounds on your hand are mostly taken care of,” he said, and was about to pull back the quilt. Yao Yin quickly stopped him: “I’ll do it myself...”

He paused, turning his head to look at Yao Yin.

After a long moment, Yao Yin swallowed, feeling utterly uncomfortable, and averted her gaze.

“Never mind, I’ll get you something to eat.” With that, Hua Jun Yan stood up and left the room.

Watching his retreating back, Yao Yin couldn’t connect him with Yun Yan at all.

“Why did you admit it? How much better it would have been if you hadn’t?” Yao Yin thought to herself.

His warmth still lingered in her palm, but her heart felt as if it had frozen over.

Several maidservants gradually entered the room. They brought food, cleaned the room, and bandaged Yao Yin’s wounds. But Yun Yan... no, it should be Hua Jun Yan, he never appeared again...