#32: Man-Made Disaster (5)

Back in her room, Yao Yin took off her coat and collapsed onto the bed. She felt like a deflated ball, the whole world seeming so unreal. Her journey so far had been a whirlwind of life-threatening events, and even the deepest pain felt like a dream after it passed.

How could so many things happen and change in just over a month?

Yun Yan wasn’t Yun Yan, but Hua Jun Yan, the Lord of the Ghost Tribe. Zi Chen was still Zi Chen, but he had lost his eyes and gained a wife and child. And herself? Although her body was now completely unharmed, she had truly endured the agony of being dismembered.

Tired? Very tired.

As Yao Yin thought, she looked at the ring on her finger. The ring lay quietly on her middle finger, ancient and understated, showing no hint of its brilliance. She turned the ring, and a faint halo of light passed over it. Suddenly, a playful female voice echoed in her ear: “Are you missing me?”

“Who’s there!” Yao Yin cried out in alarm, startled.

For a long time, no one answered.

Yao Yin investigated closely and realized the voice seemed to be coming from the ring. She tentatively turned the ring again and asked, “Who are you?”

“Master, marry me, marry me~! If you agree, turn the ring three times to the left. If you don’t agree~, also turn it three times!”

The woman’s voice was melodious and lingering, her laughter like silver bells. Although it came from a demonic object, Yao Yin had to admit that just by listening to the voice, one would only think it belonged to an otherworldly goddess.

Yao Yin, hearing this, was actually amused by the woman’s voice. So she turned the ring three times to the left, but nothing happened.

“Nothing happened?” Yao Yin observed for a moment, and feeling a bit bored when nothing happened, suddenly a brilliant white light shot up into the sky and flew out the window. In an instant, colorful fireworks scattered across the sky, illuminating the entire Nightfall Palace.

Once Yao Yin accustomed to the white light, she found a nearly transparent goddess in green robes standing before her. The goddess’s black hair was like silk, styled in a simple bun on top of her head, truly embodying the youthful appearance of a maiden.

In the hands of the goddess in green, a series of fireworks shot into the sky. These were not ordinary fireworks, but grand magic. Various spells flew out of her hands, all advanced techniques Yao Yin had never heard of or seen before. Yet, in her hands, these spells were like toys, effortlessly summoned.

The brilliant and colorful fireworks illuminated the entire sky. Everyone in Nightfall Palace and even the entire Ghost Tribe stared up at the sky with wide eyes, just like Yao Yin.

Wen Ren Tong Tian, who was having tea with Shi Yan and Jiu Qing, looked at the sky and continuously clicked his tongue: “Which young master is pursuing a girl now? That’s quite a grand gesture.”

“So romantic.” Shi Yan looked on with yearning, “I really want to pick all those stars.”

“Those aren’t stars, that’s ancient magic,” Jiu Qing took a sip of tea, saying indifferently, “Don’t touch them.”

“Who in the Ghost Tribe has this ability to create such a grand display...” Wen Ren was astonished, his mouth agape for a long time.

“Who else but the Master?” Shi Yan said irritably, “It must be that little girl Hua Li Luo throwing another tantrum and begging the Master to play with her.”

Jiu Qing didn’t even look up, and continued, “A long time ago, I once saw it. After the Master watched it, he stayed in his sleeping quarters for a whole month, and the fireworks also floated for a month.”

“Does the Master value Hua Li Luo that much?”

Jiu Qing smiled: “Hua Li Luo wasn’t even born back then.”

“That’s good, that’s good,” Shi Yan said, relieved.

“I’ve learned something,” Wen Ren said, taking a satisfied sip of tea, “Next time I go to the Celestial Realm, I’ll set off some fireworks for those little immortal maidens; they’ll definitely fall for it.”

Shi Yan and Jiu Qing simultaneously rolled their eyes at him and continued to drink their tea.

At the same time, by the riverbank in the back hall of the Lotus Palace, Hua Li Luo lay beside Hua Jun Yan, watching the fireworks in the sky with him.

“When will you personally set off fireworks for me?” Hua Li Luo asked.

“Children’s tricks, what’s there to see?” Hua Jun Yan closed his eyes to rest.

“Because you’d be setting them off for me,” Hua Li Luo caressed his left palm, not finding the familiar small object, feeling a little lost and somewhat jealous.

Hua Li Luo couldn’t help but ask, “Did you just give your ring to Yao Yin?”

“It’s merely returned to its rightful owner.”

“You really won’t marry her?” Hua Li Luo stared at his face, very worried.

Hua Jun Yan smiled, but did not answer.

“Tell me! I want you to tell me again, with your own mouth, that you don’t like her!” Hua Li Luo persisted, “You only like me, right?”

Hua Jun Yan opened his eyes and smiled gently, “The scenery is beautiful, concentrate on it.”

“Oh...” Hua Li Luo nodded, obediently leaning against Hua Jun Yan, saying no more. The sky was vibrant with colors, yet there was no disturbing roar. Soon, she nestled in Hua Jun Yan’s embrace and fell asleep.

Hua Jun Yan was expressionless, watching the fireworks in the sky alone, his thoughts slowly drifting.

He couldn’t remember many things from the past, but the one thing he was certain of was that the goddess in green was no longer there...

The fireworks lasted for a quarter of an hour. After that time, in Yao Yin’s room, the figure of the goddess in green grew fainter and fainter, her voice more and more distant, finally disappearing. But her smile seemed to linger there forever.

“This ring is so much fun! It turns out to be a voice-recording ring.” Yao Yin turned it three times to the left again, and everything from before replayed. Her mood brightened somewhat amid the dazzling fireworks. She lay at the head of the bed and fell asleep while watching.

When Yao Yin woke again, it was already the next morning. She opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was Hua Jun Yan’s pale face and bloodshot eyes.

“You, why are you here?” Yao Yin immediately sobered up, genuinely startled by him. Seeing that Hua Jun Yan wasn’t speaking, Yao Yin added, “Your complexion is so poor, didn’t you sleep well last night?”

“Someone was naughty last night, setting off fireworks for a long time,” Hua Jun Yan smiled, staring at Yao Yin’s face, making Yao Yin feel her face burn.

“The betrothal gift was good, right? Have you agreed to marry me?” Hua Jun Yan asked again.

“Nonsense,” Yao Yin rolled her eyes.

“I’m serious. It represents me. Isn’t taking the entire Ghost Tribe as a betrothal gift enough?”

“It’s enough, but,” Yao Yin said seriously, “why do you repeatedly bring up marriage? We aren’t that close, and I don’t think you truly like me. Moreover... there’s nothing on me worth coveting.”

“Wasn’t marrying me always your greatest wish?” Hua Jun Yan was serious, not at all like he was joking.

Yao Yin also composed herself and said earnestly, “I’m telling you again, I’m a fruit born from a Wutong tree, with no past life. The mirror image you saw was just a prank by Shi Yan! Even if there was a past life, I remember none of it. Now, I am just Yao Yin.”

“You’re still as stubborn as before,” Hua Jun Yan chuckled.

“...Why are you so unreasonable?” Yao Yin pressed her hand to her forehead, “Alright, let’s not talk about past lives, let’s talk about this life.”

Hua Jun Yan crossed his arms, presenting an attentive posture.

Yao Yin asked, “If you marry me, what about Hua Li Luo?”

“I only treat her as a younger sister.”

“But yesterday your sister said she’d kill herself if you married me.”

Hua Jun Yan paused: “You overheard our conversation?”

Yao Yin sneered: “Palace Master Hua, with your power, would you not have detected my presence? Are you complimenting me or belittling yourself?”

“Sigh... A woman who is too aggressive, men will dislike.” Hua Jun Yan spread his hands, helpless, “Li Luo has been with me for a long time. The day before yesterday, she even dispersed all her cultivation for me. I can’t abandon her. But the wedding, it has always been your wish. I have failed you once, I don’t want to fail you a second time.”

“I don’t remember anything from my past life. Please, Palace Master, let me go. I just want to live a peaceful life.”

“Are you serious?”

“Truer than gold,” Yao Yin held up the ring on her finger.

Hua Jun Yan composed himself, silent for a long moment, then said, “Alright, I’ll let you go.”

“That quickly?” Yao Yin was stunned. Hua Jun Yan’s easy agreement made her somewhat disbelieving.

Hua Jun Yan then said, “But I need you to promise me that you’ll always wear the ring.”

Yao Yin looked at the ring on her finger, not finding it much of an inconvenience, and nodded vigorously: “It’s a deal!”

“There’s a long road ahead. As long as you’re alive, we have plenty of time,” Hua Jun Yan said with a confident smile, his tone filled with certainty.

Yao Yin was noncommittal, too lazy to argue with him. Her only wish now was to return with those Bashe eggs and report back, then resign from her position at Yuanjun Manor. She wanted to find a place with beautiful mountains and rivers to live in seclusion and cultivate. Until she gained enough power, she no longer wished to appear in the world.

Just then, a letter, accompanied by black flames, appeared out of thin air before Hua Jun Yan. Hua Jun Yan glanced at it, and the letter automatically burned to ashes. At the same time, Hua Jun Yan said to Yao Yin, “Zi Chen is awake.”

“Really? I want to see him!” Yao Yin ran off the bed, still wrapped in her quilt, not even bothering with shoes, and scurried towards the door. Hua Jun Yan pulled her back, angrily saying, “The old you would never see anyone without being dressed up, but now you’re not even wearing shoes!” As he spoke, he bent down, meticulously put on her shoes and socks, and only then let her run off.

“Thank you,” Yao Yin’s expression froze for a moment, and then she vanished in a flash.