Half City Of Love - Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Yanxia, who had called out to her earlier, was nowhere to be seen as soon as Xuanyi entered the Nanhuayuan, and the promised tea and snacks were completely absent.
Xuanyi strolled leisurely along the Biyu Gallery by the edge of Woge Lake. The disciples were gathered around the lake in groups of three to five—some drinking, some playing the zither or flute, and others engaging in loud, animated discussions with bursts of laughter that reached the sky. But Yanxia was nowhere to be found.
How strange. Not only was Yanxia missing, but Shaoyi and Fuluo were also nowhere to be seen.
Xuanyi walked aimlessly along a narrow gravel path. This was her first time visiting Nanhuayuan. Although it couldn’t compare to the luxurious expansive scale of her own Zifu, it had its own delicate charm. The path wound gently around, flanked at times by hydrangeas, and at others by vibrant, colorful flowering trees. The branches stretched crisscross in gorgeous confusion, laden with heavy blossoms, exuding a unique beauty.
Xuanyi picked a pear blossom branch, playing with it as she continued her unhurried stroll down the gravel path. After walking for an unknown while, she suddenly saw Yanxia—whom she had been unable to find—leaning against a pillar in a small gazebo up ahead, wiping away tears.
She is crying again. How can she have so many tears? Should I comfort her? Xuanyi looked carefully behind her; the gazebo was empty, with no sign of tea or snacks.
She let out a disappointed sigh. Never mind, better to pretend I didn’t see anything.
Xuanyi turned her head away to admire the flame-red peach blossoms blooming along the road. Unexpectedly, Yanxia caught sight of her from afar and ran off without saying a word.
She wondered whether this little senior sister had come up with any remarkable scheme for revenge after all.
Holding the pear blossom branch, Xuanyi exited the gravel path and returned to the banks of Woge Lake. None of the disciples had left yet. Someone had brought Wushang Changrong Wine, causing a fierce, potent aroma of alcohol to permeate across the entire lake.
Disliking the smell of alcohol since childhood, she sought a spot upwind. There, she saw Taiyao, Fucang, Guting, and Zhixi gathered around a stone table, chatting. A pot of tea and several boxes of pastries sat on the table, casting a surprisingly tempting fragrance whenever the breeze blew.
The pastries Yanxia had given her early that morning had vanished into thin air by now. Unable to resist, she drifted over, staring straight at the boxes of pastries without blinking an eye.
Zhixi was in the middle of sharing an amusing story about their master’s teaching days. Right at the height of her storytelling, this little devil showed up. Displeased, Zhixi’s face darkened, and she fell silent.
Seeing Xuanyi’s eyes practically glowing green with appetite, Taiyao had no choice but to ask politely, “Junior Sister, would you like to sit down, have some tea, and eat a few snacks?”
“Sure.”
Xuanyi accepted with extreme enthusiasm. With a wave of her sleeve, an ice stool landed on the grass, wedging itself forcefully between Guting and Fucang. She then conjured an ice teacup, elegantly filled it seven-tenths of the way, took a light sip, and slowly let out a sigh: “A bit bitter.”
Getting free food and drinks and still being picky! Guting and Zhixi glared at her angrily.
Xuanyi carefully scrutinized the pastries on the stone table. Sigh, nowhere near as good as the ones Yanxia prepared this morning. Reluctantly, she picked up a piece of green bean jelly cake, took a small bite, and suddenly asked, “Senior Brother Guting, why isn’t Senior Sister Fuluo here?”
Guting did not look pleased at all: “Why are you asking about her?”
Xuanyi replied casually, “Senior Sister Yanxia called me here, but I couldn’t find her, and Senior Brother Shaoyi has vanished too.”
Guting’s tone turned even more irritated: “What does that have to do with Fuluo?”
Xuanyi swallowed the green bean jelly cake and took another sip of tea: “Nothing at all. What were you all talking about just now? You seemed so lively. Please carry on, don’t mind me.”
With you sticking around here, who would want to chat?! Zhixi haughtily turned her head away, pretending not to hear.
Taiyao looked back and forth; none of them were willing to speak. Left with no alternative since he was the one who had invited Xuanyi over, he stepped in to break the ice with a smile: “I actually have a fun story about Master. He told it to me years ago when he was slightly tipsy—I doubt any of you know it.”
He deliberately paused to read their expressions. Sure enough, Guting and Zhixi had already pricked up their ears, while Xuanyi was looking all around and Fucang seemed completely absent-minded… Sigh, ignore those two.
“You all know about the Lihun Sea in the Far West. Because two emperors fought a battle there years ago, it has now become a forbidden land. In truth, that place was said to have exquisite scenery, just like the banks of the Sansheng Stone, and was once a favorite spot for lovers. In his youth, Master made a grand vow, swearing to restore the Lihun Sea to its original state…”
Xuanyi lowered her head to meticulously pick through the pastries on the stone table, finding none to her liking. Suddenly, she caught sight of a golden chestnut paste cake inside the food box in front of Fucang. Just as she reached out for it, a slender hand moved faster than hers, pulling the food box slightly farther away.
“Master spent ten thousand years near the Lihun Sea. Its depths were freezing cold and pitch black, which gave rise to countless demonic creatures. He stayed for ten thousand years and slaughtered demons for ten thousand years, only to realize they could never be completely wiped out. In the end, he had no choice but to leave in despair…”
Xuanyi shifted her ice stool closer to Fucang and reached out for it again, but he dragged the food box away once more. Glaring at him with deep dissatisfaction, she looked up, only for Fucang to slowly grab the cover and seal the food box shut.
“Master was forced to give up his grand vow, and along with it, his attempt to demand hair from the previous Feilian God of Wind. It turns out he had made a bet with the previous Feilian God back then: if he could restore the Lihun Sea, the Feilian God would shave off all his hair and give it to him. Unfortunately, the vow could not be fulfilled, so the hair was naturally out of the question. Even to this day, Master still can’t let go of the Feilian God’s hair, all because of that bet from back then…”
Taiyao pretended not to notice the subtle tug-of-war over the pastries beside him and was about to continue when he suddenly heard Xuanyi’s exasperated accusation: “You’re even hoarding the tea all to yourself!”
Taiyao turned his head away and sighed deeply. Ignore him, I just want a moment of peace right now…
Zhixi knitted her brows tightly. This Princess Xuanyi is truly a plague. Just by getting close to her, even Fucang has become this absurd.
She cleared her throat softly, stood up, and looked down at Xuanyi coldly: “Princess Xuanyi, please do not ruin our pleasant mood for drinking tea and enjoying the view.”
Xuanyi looked at her with an expression of profound dismay: “Senior Brother Fucang is monopolizing all the snacks and tea! Why aren’t you calling him out, Senior Sister Zhixi?”
Zhixi took a deep breath. When it came to being fair and strictly just, she ranked first among all the disciples—a trait she had always taken pride in and held herself to rigidly. Yet, ever since meeting Princess Xuanyi, this virtue seemed like snow under a burning sun, disappearing without a trace.
Calm down, calm down. I must not lose my temper.
“Junior Brother Fucang is our fellow peer, whereas I have not accepted Princess Xuanyi as one,” Zhixi stated solemnly. “Those with different paths cannot make plans together. I cannot agree with the Princess’s behavior. To avoid unpleasantness on both sides, why doesn’t the Princess move elsewhere?”
Xuanyi gave a bright smile: “That’s fine, I don’t mind.”
Zhixi was utterly helpless against her hot-and-cold temperament. After freezing in place for a long moment, she had no choice but to sit back down.
Suddenly, a wave of commotion burst out from the disciples around the gallery. A hazy mist had somehow drifted over Woge Lake, and within the mist, two extremely familiar figures were slowly emerging.
“Are those Fuluo and Shaoyi?”
“Why are they in the lake?”
“No… this seems to be a cloud-and-mist illusion spell… Who cast it?”
The onlookers discussed animatedly among themselves, with the more curious ones turning around repeatedly to sneak glances at Guting—the two figures in the lake were standing far too close, their poses far too intimate, appearing thoroughly suspicious.
…Is this the revenge scheme Yanxia came up with? Xuanyi choked on her tea and hurriedly covered her mouth with her sleeve.
Guting turned his head to glance over. His expression instantly changed dramatically as he rushed toward the lakeside, his voice harsher than ever before: “Who cast this cloud illusion spell?! Slandering a goddess’s reputation like this—the intent is truly despicable!”
The disciples shook their heads one after another to prove their innocence. Guting’s face turned pale with fury, and he raised his hand to disperse the magic spell, when unexpectedly, the figures in the lake shifted. Fuluo clasped Shaoyi’s sleeve, her eyes shimmering like water, and whispered softly: “Do you truly have a place for me in your heart?”
It even had sound!
With a loud buzz of excitement, the disciples began to boil over once again.
