Eternal Love Within A Smile - Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Xu Manman left Tianlu Palace, handed the bronze mirror to Ning Xi for disposal, and then turned toward the courtyard of Immortal Lord Langyin, intending to inform him of the day’s events.
However, before she could get close, she saw the towering figure of the Qianluo Yaozun squatting pitifully outside the courtyard gate.
“What is Yaozun doing here?” Xu Manman asked in confusion as she approached.
Qianluo Yaozun lifted his head to look up at her, his face full of grievance and indignation. “Fangzun is talking with Immortal Lord Langyin, and they won’t let me in.”
Xu Manman was taken aback.
Staring at the tightly shut door, her imagination immediately ran wild.
No, no, no—She shouldn’t doubt the Immortal Lord’s character…
She shook her head and said solemnly to the Yaozun, “They must be discussing serious matters.”
With that, she folded her arms and squatted down beside him.
“Yaozun, why torment yourself with such worries? Fangzun definitely has no other intentions toward the Immortal Lord,” she comforted.
Yaozun sighed mournfully.
“That’s not what I’m thinking about. I’m thinking about…”
“Aheng?” Xu Manman guessed.
Yaozun nodded vigorously.
Xu Manman pondered.
“Are you bothered by Aheng’s past with Prince Mo?”
Yaozun’s face darkened with sorrow.
“Whenever I think about how Fangzun was once hurt so deeply, my heart aches unbearably. Even though she’s forgotten now, she must have been wounded so severely that she forced herself to erase those memories.”
Xu Manman had assumed the Yaozun was troubled by Fangzun’s past relationship, but she hadn’t expected his heart to be filled only with pain and anger.
This silly demon’s feelings for Fangzun are surprisingly pure.
She sighed.
“If Aheng had met you back then, she wouldn’t have suffered so much. After all, to you spirits, all humans must look alike, right? No distinction between beauty and ugliness.”
“Mm. Two eyes, one nose, one mouth…”
Yaozun thought carefully, then added, “But Ahèn is special. Aheng has a bright flower on her face.”
Xu Manman couldn’t help but laugh.
So this was how demons perceived humans.
She had always viewed things from a human perspective, never considering how vastly different the ways of life and thought were between humans and spirits.
“If everyone looks the same to you, then why did you fall for Fangzun at first sight?” she asked.
Yaozun answered earnestly, “Everyone else is the same. Only Fangzun is different.”
“How is she different?” Xu Manman pressed.
Yaozun frowned, straining to articulate his thoughts, but in the end, he gave up.
“I don’t know! But she just is!”
Xu Manman rested her chin on her hand, amused.
No wonder the Immortal Lord likes me and doesn’t find me ugly. To spirits, human beauty standards mean nothing.
A flower on one’s face is far more noticeable.
But then, what made her stand out in the Immortal Lord’s eyes?
“Now I’m worried that Fangzun might want to recover her memories. If she does, she could be hurt all over again,” Yaozun muttered, cheeks propped in his hands, his expression heavy with concern.
Xu Manman explained, “Humans have three souls: the life soul, the awareness soul, and the spirit soul. Memories are stored in the awareness soul. Those who lose their memories usually suffer damage to this soul. If the memories are merely sealed, they can be recovered by breaking the seal. But if a portion of the awareness soul is forcibly excised, those memories are lost forever. Even if others recount those past events, the person would feel nothing, as if they were an outsider.”
Yaozun turned to her.
“Then which type do you think Fangzun is?”
Xu Manman recalled Qunyu Fangzun’s emotional fluctuations earlier and hesitated.
“I’m afraid it’s the former… Her memories can be recovered.”
As she spoke, Xu Manman also realized something: after merging with her original body’s golden core, why hadn’t she inherited its awareness soul’s memories?
Had the original soul suffered irreparable damage?
Meanwhile, inside the sealed room, Qunyu Fangzun was discussing this very matter with Immortal Lord Langyin.
“In the year 2662 of the Hongdao era, I awoke from a coma, having forgotten all my past, and walked alone onto the path of cultivation. I created the The Flower Beauty Technique and founded the Flower God Palace. For four hundred years, I faced no obstacles—except for one unresolved heartache, which became the life-and-death trial of my cultivation.”
“Deep in my memories, there is a man’s voice. He told me…”
“You are the most beautiful woman in this world.”
“Truthfully… I wasn’t born with this appearance. But because of those words, I cultivated relentlessly, striving to live up to that praise.”
“Eventually, I became the renowned Qunyu Fangzun and have since heard countless such compliments. Yet, only that one phrase from my dreams still stirs my heart.”
Qunyu Fangzun sat across from Immortal Lord Langyin, her expression calm.
But when she spoke those words, a trace of confusion and softness flickered in her eyes.
She unfurled the portrait of Aheng and smiled bitterly.
“When I saw her, I remembered… This was my original face.”
Immortal Lord Langyin’s gaze shifted from the portrait to Qunyu Fangzun’s famously peerless beauty.
He found it inexplicable—was the difference really so vast?
To him, Qunyu Fangzun was not as breathtakingly beautiful as the world claimed, nor was the woman in the portrait particularly ugly.
“What does Fangzun intend to do? Do you wish to recover your memories?” he asked.
Qunyu Fangzun clenched her fists and laughed mockingly.
“It seems I forgot the past but never truly let go of my obsession. That voice in my dreams is my inner demon. I once considered seeking out my lost memories, finding the owner of that voice. But now, I see it’s unnecessary.”
“The Flower Beauty Technique is the path of heartlessness. Flowers and grass have no hearts; the supreme path is to forget emotions. Knowing my emotional barriers remain unbroken, I dare not continue cultivating, fearing I may succumb to demonic deviation. I heard that the Immortal Lord was born without a heart, so I came to seek your guidance on the path of heartlessness. Tell me, how does one become heartless and forget love?”
“What Fangzun seeks is beyond my ability. I was born without a heart and do not know what love is. I cannot enlighten you, nor can I impart my innate abilities to you.”
Immortal Lord Langyin paused, then added, “Of all those I’ve known, only the Revered Nian Yi was truly sincere and clear-minded. He once said, ‘There is no path of absolute heartlessness in this world. Even those without love for others will still cherish themselves—this, too, is a form of love.’ The highest realm of seeking the Dao through the heart is ‘seeing the mountain as the mountain once more.’”
“I’ve already seen it,” Qunyu Fangzun said indifferently.
“It wasn’t a pleasant sight. What’s forgotten is forgotten. I simply refuse to be trapped by my inner demon.”
Immortal Lord Langyin shook his head lightly.
“You are merely escaping. Only by facing your inner demon can you break through the illusion. Avoidance solves nothing.”
Qunyu Fangzun took a deep breath and stood slowly.
“I sought the wrong person. The Immortal Lord, born without a heart, naturally wouldn’t know how to forget love.”
As she turned to leave, Immortal Lord Langyin’s voice came from behind.
“Fangzun, do you remember how many fallen flowers lay by the path when you entered? How many petals did they have? What color were they?”
Qunyu Fangzun froze.
Her mind went blank, and she instinctively looked toward the courtyard.
“What passes before the eyes does not always enter the heart. What enters the heart is never forgotten. If it cannot be forgotten, then remember it. When the time comes to let go, it will vanish like smoke.”
Qunyu Fangzun stood still for a long while, gazing at the fallen flowers in the courtyard.
Finally, she sighed softly.
“Thank you for your guidance, Immortal Lord. You are not as heartless as you claim.”
After Qunyu Fangzun and Qianluo Yaozun left, Xu Manman immediately entered the courtyard and headed straight for Immortal Lord Langyin.
The Immortal Lord seemed preoccupied, quietly sipping tea as he admired the autumn scenery.
His slender fingers held the teacup, but he forgot to drink, leaving the tea to cool.
The deepening autumn hues paled in comparison to the desolation in his eyes.
Xu Manman’s heart tightened, and her steps slowed as she approached.
With a forced smile, she asked, “Immortal Lord, what did Fangzun discuss with you? Did she mention Prince Mo?”
Immortal Lord Langyin snapped out of his thoughts, setting down the cup.
“She has an inner demon and sought a way to dispel it.”
Xu Manman frowned.
“An inner demon… Could it be related to Prince Mo?”
“Perhaps.”
Xu Manman set the matter aside for now and relayed Emperor Chenghuan’s words in detail.
“Right now, the Daoist Alliance is in disarray. Fortunately, Ning Xi holds the Meteor Iron Token, so the situation is still under control.”
She spoke until her throat felt dry, then sat beside Immortal Lord Langyin and poured herself tea, gulping down two cups in quick succession.
Only after setting the cup down did she notice Immortal Lord Langyin’s clear gaze fixed on her.
She realized—she had used his cup.
Her face warmed.
Swallowing hard, she laughed awkwardly.
“There was only one cup on the table…”
“It’s fine.”
The Immortal Lord seemed unbothered, his eyes drifting away indifferently.
Xu Manman studied his elegant profile, her gaze lingering on his faintly colored lips.
Her heartbeat quickened.
Back in the water, she had “forcefully kissed” the Immortal Lord, but at the time, her mind had been dulled by pain, focused solely on survival.
Plus, she’d been facing Demon Lord Langyin—ferocious and unyielding—so she’d only cared about breathing, with no room for romantic thoughts.
But now, knowing the Immortal Lord’s feelings for her—and acknowledging her own budding affections—she couldn’t look at him the same way.
Using his cup made her stare at his lips.
Staring at his lips made her recall their touch—soft, warm, and damp, nothing like his usual cool demeanor.
In her desperation, she’d sucked and bitten, leaving those pale lips swollen and red, almost… indecent.
If it had been the Immortal Lord instead of the Demon Lord, She would’ve been gentler. She would never hurt him…
“Why are you biting the cup?”
Immortal Lord Langyin’s cool voice snapped her out of her reverie.
Xu Manman jolted back to reality and set the cup down casually, coughing lightly.
“I was just thinking… about what the Immortal Lord thinks.”
He looked at her, puzzled.
“Recently, I’ve realized how vastly different humans and spirits are. Even among spirits, there are great variations. Even in human form, they retain many of their original instincts. So I wondered—how does a flower, after becoming human, view the world? How do they see the one they love?”
She rested her chin on her hand, her bright eyes fixed on him.
“And why did the Immortal Lord fall for Xu Manman?”
Immortal Lord Langyin lowered his gaze, lost in thought.
His eyes softened with memory as he spoke slowly, “I once heard in an opera: ‘Love comes unbidden, yet runs deep.’ Perhaps my feelings for Manman are the same.”
He recalled their years together—three hundred years, a mere blink in his long life, yet those moments carried the weight of all his emotions and memories, too heavy to bear.
“But if the Immortal Lord doesn’t understand love, how do you know your feelings for Xu Manman are romantic and not merely mentorship?”
She challenged.
“You’ve probably seen those romantic operas. The biggest difference between romantic love and all other bonds is the desire for physical closeness. You and Xu Manman… never had that, right?”
At least in her memories, she and Immortal Lord Langyin had never shared even a hint of intimacy—unless one counted the times he carried her after exhausting training sessions.
The Immortal Lord shook his head dismissively.
“Flower spirits in love don’t need physical intimacy.”
Xu Manman froze, then burst into laughter, covering her face.
“Ah… haha… I see… So that’s how the Immortal Lord sees it…”
Her laughter tinted her cheeks pink, her eyes glistening with mirth.
A pity the Immortal Lord couldn’t appreciate her charm—his gaze held only confusion, not admiration.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, frowning.
Xu Manman wiped her tears and teased, “Then how do flower spirits express affection? By waiting for the wind?”
Even his innocence couldn’t miss her jest, but he didn’t take offense.
Instead, he looked at her calmly and said, “Manman is that wind.”
Her laughter died instantly.
Her damp eyes blinked in surprise before softening with tender emotion.
She was human, after all—unable to fully grasp a flower spirit’s perspective.
They took root where they were born, passive and patient, blooming and withering alone, waiting their whole lives for a breeze.
Her heart melted, yet ached faintly.
So in the Immortal Lord’s heart, She was the wind he’d been waiting for…
—
The next day, Xu Manman received news from Ning Xi: the remnant souls in the bronze mirror had all suffered damage, losing their memories. They couldn’t withstand another spiritual interrogation.
“It seems someone is determined to bury the truth of what happened back then,” Xu Manman mused, arms crossed as she strolled beside Ning Xi, watching the clouds drift.
“Master-wife, why did you want me to take the Daozun’s Meteor Iron Token? With my seniority, I’m hardly qualified,” Ning Xi asked.
“Qualified or not, you got it, didn’t you?” Xu Manman grinned.
“Ning Xi, a cultivator who doesn’t aspire to be Daozun isn’t a good sect leader. With Lianyue Daozun’s fall, the Siyi Sect was in crisis—but thanks to Ao Xiu stirring up trouble, the Daoist Alliance is now fractured and distrustful. This is our chance to solidify our position. You’ve been too sheltered by Master, lacking experience and thick skin. When something good is within reach, grab it first. Who cares if you’re ‘qualified’?”
Ning Xi absorbed this lesson, then asked, “What should we do next?”
“Take control of Shennong Temple’s defensive formations. Secure the array cores. You’ve inherited Lianyue Daozun’s expertise in formations, so this shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
Ning Xi hesitated, then nodded firmly.
“I can do it.”
“The Cardinal Tower also needs heavy guarding.”
“Understood.”
“Areas of the capital with dense populations need patrols. Compared to Shennong Temple and the Cardinal Tower, I’m more worried about civilian areas. They lack self-defense, and given the Blood Sect’s history, they prey on the weak.”
“I’ve already assigned disciples. Sang Xi is guarding nine key points in the capital.”
Xu Manman nodded approvingly.
“Ning Xi always understands me. But tell me—when did you see through my identity?”
Ning Xi blinked.
“What do you mean, Master-wife?”
Xu Manman chuckled, leaning in to whisper, “You obey me so unquestioningly. Didn’t you realize long ago that I’m your beloved master?”
Ning Xi’s lips trembled, her eyes reddening.
“Master… I didn’t dare acknowledge you unless you said it first…”
Xu Manman patted her shoulder fondly.
“I didn’t tell you because I feared your emotions would give me away. But I underestimated you—you’ve grown into quite the actress. Little Ning Xi isn’t so tearful anymore. Master misjudged you.”
Ning Xi fought back tears, forcing a smile.
“Since Master hid your identity, I assumed you had your reasons. I didn’t dare expose you.”
“I do have plans. Now isn’t the time to reveal myself.”
Xu Manman sighed.
“So, where did I slip up?”
“Your suicide note had flaws.”
“The handwriting and seal were perfect, and I aged the paper…” Xu Manman rubbed her chin.
“You used Siyi Sect paper. Each batch has a hidden date watermark—a trivial detail Master wouldn’t know, but I recognized it instantly. The ‘aged’ paper’s watermark was from last month. The note was fake, but the handwriting, seal, and tone were real. Who else could’ve forged it but Master herself?”
Ning Xi’s tone held a hint of pride, as if awaiting praise.
Xu Manman laughed helplessly—no wonder she’d been so quick to trust her after reading the letter.
“You truly are Lianyue Daozun’s finest disciple. Sharp and clever.”
Seeing Ning Xi’s red-rimmed eyes, Xu Manman’s heart softened.
She remembered the obedient child Ning Xi had been.
Over the years, she’d left the Siyi Sect in her care, and without realizing it, Ning Xi had grown into a capable leader.
Xu Manman pulled her into an embrace, patting her back gently.
“Ning Xi, you’ve done well. From now on, keep calling me Master-wife. I can’t reclaim my identity as Lianyue Daozun yet.”
Ning Xi nodded obediently, then hesitated.
“Master, how should I address your three… partners?”
Xu Manman’s face darkened.
“All fake. They’ve tarnished my reputation. Don’t spare them any courtesy.”
“And Immortal Lord Langyin…?”
Xu Manman paused.
“He’s different…”
Ning Xi’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“How so? Is he really…?”
Xu Manman flushed, stammering, “Well, not entirely. Actually, I—”
Before she could finish, a phoenix’s cry pierced the air behind them.
Li Que landed nearby, his handsome face stormy as he glared at their intimate posture. “Even among the feather clans, few women are as promiscuous as you.”
