#4: The Heaven of Six Desires (4)

As night fell, a thin mist rose over Yunling Mountain, and a thin layer of frost formed on the bushes. A gust of wind blew, making the leaves rustle and clap together, as if startled.

A chill swept in, and Yao Yin pulled her collar tighter.

A faint floral scent permeated the air, which was unusual for winter; at this time of year, flowers should have long since withered and fallen to dust.

“Ah—” Suddenly, a man’s scream came from ahead.

Yao Yin immediately recognized it as the voice of the bearded High Immortal! She quickly stopped her forward momentum, descended from her flying wooden sword, and hid in a large bamboo grove.

She didn’t want to meddle, but by accident, through a gap in the bamboo, she saw a horrifying scene—the woman in green clung to the bearded immortal official, surrounded by vines. The vines, as if alive, savagely pierced into the man’s body, sucking his essence and blood.

The vine tattoo on the woman’s shoulder blade emitted a faint green glow in the darkness, accentuating her exquisitely beautiful face, making her look incredibly demonic. She saw Yao Yin behind the bamboo grove, then licked the blood remaining on her lips, and provocatively raised an eyebrow, smiling at her.

That smile was full of allure and murderous intent, making Yao Yin’s heart pound.

Yao Yin’s luck was exceptionally good; on her first trip out, she encountered a ghost.

Demons and ghosts are different. People of the demon realm are dedicated to cultivation, hoping to someday attain immortal status. Ghosts, however, have no physical bodies and maintain themselves by constantly absorbing the vital energy of others. They completely abandon cultivation, using the simplest, most primitive, and bloodiest methods to gain power and achieve eternal life. They don’t believe in gods, only themselves; they climb over the corpses of others... In the Celestial Realm, ghosts are synonymous with slaughter.

The immortal official’s breathing grew weaker, reduced to mechanical twitches.

Because his back was to her, Yao Yin couldn’t see his expression, but she clearly saw the bulging veins on the side of his neck and his tightly clenched fists, where his fingernails had dug into his flesh. Blood dripped down, only to be quickly absorbed by the vines.

“D-Daring monster, q-quickly release him!” Yao Yin blurted out, but as soon as she finished speaking, she regretted it. She realized she didn’t even have a proper weapon; in her hand was only a withered branch used for flying.

“Heh...” The woman sneered, then said softly, “Little girl, I’m in a good mood today, so I won’t kill you. You may leave.”

“I-I am already an adult immortal. In the Celestial Realm, I cannot be called ‘little.’ You commit evil here, are you not afraid of divine retribution?” Yao Yin feigned composure, but her trembling voice betrayed her.

The woman raised an eyebrow and teased, “Adult immortal, how old is that? Eighty?”

“One hundred and twenty,” Yao Yin corrected.

“Is that so...” The woman covered her mouth, then couldn’t help but let out a burst of bell-like laughter. When she had laughed enough, she slowly said, “A hundred years is but a flick of a finger for me. You’re still too young.” As she spoke, she disdainfully tossed the now breathless immortal official aside, then casually conjured a spark and threw it onto his body. His body instantly ignited and turned to ashes.

Amidst the swirling ashes, she strode like a cat, gracefully walking towards Yao Yin.

Soon, she stood before Yao Yin, placing a hand on Yao Yin’s cheek. As she caressed her skin, she wondered aloud, “Your appearance is certainly excellent. I wonder if you taste good when eaten?”

From birth until now, Yao Yin had never encountered such a situation. She was instantly terrified, frozen in place, utterly bewildered.

Indeed, the outside world was too dangerous. She should have just stayed in the Pure Heaven or hidden in the mortal realm; then there wouldn’t be so many messed-up things happening!

“Bishui, you’ve really killed me... I’ll come find you even if I turn into a ghost! Master Li Sheng, farewell! I’ll repay your kindness in my next life!” After struggling countless times internally, Yao Yin’s body stopped trembling. She resignedly closed her eyes, quietly awaiting death.

The woman smiled faintly and said, “Little girl, I’ve eaten my fill today, so I won’t eat you. Therefore, you don’t need to look so ready to die.”

“Really?” Yao Yin slowly opened her eyes, only to see the woman’s expression suddenly change. She suddenly spread her body of vines, wrapping Yao Yin into a giant green fruit. Just as Yao Yin thought she had changed her mind, a strong floral scent suddenly filled the air, a fragrance she had never smelled before. It was rich and fragrant, so intense it made her feel nauseous.

“I didn’t expect her to come too...” the woman said, then covered Yao Yin’s mouth with the vines.

“Woo woo woo—” Yao Yin’s eyes were filled with terror, and she struggled desperately. The woman then said, “I said I wouldn’t kill you, and I won’t. If you want to live, don’t make a sound, otherwise, don’t blame me for not being able to protect you.” The woman’s voice became hoarse again, and Yao Yin nodded noncommittally.

Only then did she understand that the ghost demon was not trying to kill her, but rather to save her. Yao Yin had no choice but to clamp her mouth shut and force herself to trust her. But inwardly, she was also secretly shedding tears, lamenting how truly unpleasant it was to have her life in someone else’s hands...

As the floral scent in the air grew stronger, a woman dressed in a large red dress emerged from the darkness, drawing closer. She wore a black cloak and carried a lantern. Wherever she walked behind her, flame-like Lycoris radiata bloomed along the path.

The crimson Lycoris radiata were mesmerizingly beautiful and enchanting.

As she passed the immortal official’s corpse, a series of bell-like laughter rang out, accompanied by the woman’s charming voice: “Sister Shiyan, are you perhaps starving and even taking such lowly goods?”

The woman addressed as Shiyan smiled candidly and snorted, “My actions are not for you to comment on. You should return to the Master’s side and quietly remain his flower bud.”

“Heh...” The red-clothed woman let out a cold laugh. At the same time, a cold wind blew, sweeping her large hood down onto her shoulder, revealing her icy face.

Another great beauty! Yao Yin’s shock was immeasurable; she felt that all the beauty and charm of all the flowers in the world combined couldn’t compare to even a fraction of her appearance.

She saw her with a cold face, sneering, “I know you look down on me and resent me for charming the Master, but everyone relies on their own abilities. You can sit in the position of Ghost Monarch because of your powerful magic. My beauty is unparalleled, and it’s not a pipe dream for me to become his wife, is it?”

“Heh... you’re the most deluded one in this entire Night Bright Palace,” Shiyan laughed heartily, “You’ve been with the Master for so many years, and he still hasn’t had any intention of making you his consort. If I were you, how could I still have the face to keep pestering him?”

Upon hearing this, the red-clothed woman suddenly began to laugh, shaking with laughter, and the Lycoris radiata behind her bloomed even more crimson and vibrant.

When she had laughed enough, the woman’s expression suddenly darkened, and she said viciously, “One day, I will become his main consort and obtain that golden body. At that time, I will make you wish you were dead, force you to kneel at my feet day and night, and be my foot-washing servant!”

“This monarch awaits your grand arrival at any time, however...” Shiyan’s expression changed, and she raised her hand, striking with a gust of wind. With a sharp crack, a five-fingered imprint appeared on the red-clothed woman’s face.

“However, this monarch is still the Ghost Monarch now, and when you see this monarch, you must respectfully bow! This is a rule that cannot be broken.” Shiyan’s smile was picture-perfect, and she said with no small amount of pride, “This is just a small lesson for you, to help you remember. Next time, don’t forget to kneel down and perform the grand salute.”

“You!” The woman gritted her teeth, clutching her face, tears welling in her eyes. She sniffled, then finally let out a long sigh, knelt down, and said resentfully, “Lord Ghost Monarch, the Master is waiting for me ahead. Liluo takes her leave.”

“No need to see me off.” Shiyan pulled out a delicate nail file from somewhere and began filing her nails without looking up.

The red-clothed woman stood up, then couldn’t help but say, “There’s always tomorrow. We’ll see.”

“Heh, I’ve been seeing you for thousands of years, what’s there to be afraid of seeing more?” Shiyan said mockingly.

“...” Liluo was so angry she couldn’t speak. She flung her sleeve and turned to leave.

“Ah, seeing Hua Liluo angry makes this monarch feel even better, as if I’ve become younger.” Shiyan said, pulling out a finely crafted small mirror from her pocket. She smoothed the long hair falling over her ears in the mirror, lost in self-admiration: “Thousand years of beauty as if it were a single day, that’s me.”

Behind her, Yao Yin could just see her reflection in the mirror. The ghost in the mirror was covered in ghostly aura, her fingers slender and long, her nails dark and sharp, truly a ghostly claw from the underworld, sending shivers down Yao Yin’s spine.

This must be Shura King, the most powerful among the ghost demons...

Yao Yin was so frightened that she trembled all over again. Shiyan heard the movement and then remembered the little immortal she had trapped in the vines.

“Are you very afraid of me?” Shiyan let Yao Yin down and smiled, “Or do you find my reflection in the mirror terrifying?”

“Y-You are Ghost Monarch Shiyan!” Yao Yin felt her luck was simply off the charts. Her first long journey, and she encounters a ghost, and not just any ghost, but the King of Ghosts! But she seemed to have just heard Shiyan call another person “Master,” and there was a rank above Ghost Monarch in the ghost clan? This was truly news; she had never heard anyone mention it before.

“My dharma name is Shiyan, and I am indeed the Monarch of the Ghost Clan.” She said, lifting Yao Yin’s chin and smiling, “You haven’t answered me yet. Is my reflection in the mirror beautiful or not beautiful?”

“B-Beautiful...” Yao Yin stammered.

“Beautiful? Then why are you still so scared?” Shiyan’s eyes were full of confusion.

“Truly... uniquely charming.” Yao Yin was on the verge of tears. Although she was very afraid of her, she wasn’t lying. Shiyan, transformed into a Shura King in the mirror, not only didn’t become ugly but gained an even more striking charm, making her unforgettable.

Shiyan laughed heartily, shaking with mirth, and looked into the mirror again. But then, her smile froze on her face, and her eyes filled with surprise.

Yao Yin followed her gaze and saw a woman standing beside Shiyan in the mirror. The woman wore a red robe and a golden crown, her expression bold and unrestrained, giving off an aloof, grand, and rebellious aura. Her features were exquisite and perfect, her beauty unmatched in all three realms.

“Who is she?” Yao Yin asked curiously. As she spoke, she suddenly felt something was off. Because when she spoke, the person in the mirror also opened her mouth. She frowned, and the person in the mirror also frowned. Finally, Yao Yin let out a dry laugh, only to find the person in the mirror also dry laughing. The same actions, the same expressions, yet the person in the mirror and the person outside it were like two different individuals. Their facial features were completely different, and their auras were also distinct.

Compared to the person in the mirror, the already beautiful Yao Yin and Shiyan immediately lost their luster.

“Besides me, there’s only you here. Who do you say she is?” Shiyan frowned and said, “This water mirror can show one’s past life.”

“It can’t be me; I’m an immortal fruit without roots.”

“Then how do you explain this mirror?” Shiyan pondered.

“...” Yao Yin didn’t know how to explain either.

But looking at the fiery red cloak of the person in the mirror, she suddenly remembered herself in her nightmare—the goddess who loved to wear a red cloak and was like an untamed wild horse.

This was the first time she had physically learned that fruits growing on Wutong trees could have past lives. Previously, she had mentioned her dreams to her master, Immortal Li Sheng, who would always gently tap her head and say, “Wutong trees have no roots. You are merely an immortal fruit formed from the immortal qi within the Nine Heavens, Ten Earths, Four Seas, and Eight Desolations. You were born with an immortal body without needing to undergo trials; this is your good fortune.”

“Wait, I seem to have seen you somewhere...” Just as Yao Yin was contemplating her past life, Shiyan suddenly stared at Yao Yin in the mirror, deep in thought.

“I remember where I saw you!” Not long after, Shiyan’s eyes filled with excitement, and she burst out laughing, “Liluo, oh Liluo, you won’t have any comfortable days from now on!”

As Shiyan spoke, she conjured a spell, transforming Yao Yin’s appearance into that of the person in the mirror. Then, she grabbed Yao Yin and carried her, flying deep into Yunling Mountain...