Chapter Twelve: The Earth Goddess

Bai Hao asked if I knew what kind of illusion Kunlun Xu was using. I had studied a bit of miscellaneous knowledge and could tell it was a formation based on the sixty-four hexagrams, but I could not decipher it. Seeing I was only half-versed, he simply explained to me the method of deducing the sixty-four hexagrams. I managed to dispel part of the illusion and find my own way, while he silently followed me. If I had further questions, I would ask him; he would explain, and I would continue to search for my path.

In just a day, all the immortals disappeared into the vastness of Kunlun Xu, until it seemed only Bai Hao and I remained in the immense mountain range. That evening, I found a cave. I took out the pears given to me by the apothecary’s attendant, and Bai Hao and I sat at the cave entrance, roasting them over a fire.

“Are roasted pears really tasty?” Bai Hao asked curiously.

“Of course! Roasted pears are delicious! I often feel a tightness in my chest and discomfort in my throat—eating one makes me feel much better.” I turned the pear as I spoke.

“Where did you learn this?” Bai Hao seemed quite interested.

I chuckled. “Sometimes you don’t need to learn how to make food. Once, I had nothing to eat but a few pears I picked, and I craved something hot, so I roasted them. It was a happy accident.”

I handed a pear to Bai Hao. “Try it.”

He peeled it and took a bite.

“Tasty, right? Isn’t there a honeyed sweetness to it?” I looked at him expectantly. Those who cook often prefer to forgo eating themselves, finding the greatest pleasure in watching someone else enjoy the fruits of their labor.

“Mm, it’s delicious,” Bai Hao replied.

I took a big bite of my own pear. The pears from the apothecary tasted just like the expensive ones Bai Xi had given me, and roasting them made them even more fragrant and sweet than others. I couldn’t help but praise them aloud. “It’s a pity we’re on the road now; otherwise, I could make many other delicious things for you to try.”

“All right,” Bai Hao said, still eating his pear as he gazed at the sky.

I followed his gaze. In the sky, a bright, watery star gleamed. “That must be the divine star, Chongming, belonging to Lord Yunxiao, isn’t it?” I asked.

“Yes,” Bai Hao answered.

“Is Lord Yunxiao very old?” In truth, I wasn’t particularly curious about him, but ever since the start of this journey, his name kept cropping up. Everyone praised him, yet rumors abounded, piquing my curiosity all the more.

“He’s all right,” Bai Hao smiled faintly.

“Is he very strict, even ruthless?” I pressed on.

“Why do you think so?” Bai Hao asked.

“Even if he cleared his fiancée’s name, even if he held a ghost marriage for her—what of it? His beloved still died unjustly at his hands,” I said.

Bai Hao didn’t answer, only continued eating his pear in silence.

That night, he sat at the cave entrance, watching the stars. I kept him company for a while until sleepiness overtook me. No longer wishing to ponder Lord Yunxiao’s affairs, I used dry grass to make a large bedding for him, and another for myself, then crawled into my own “nest” and fell fast asleep. In my dreams, I vaguely heard someone calling "Yu Fei." I mumbled a reply and turned over, continuing to sleep soundly.

When I awoke in the morning, Bai Hao’s bedding was empty. He was nowhere in or around the cave—he had vanished!

I shouted until my throat was hoarse, but there was no answer, no sign of him anywhere. He must have flown away, disappearing overnight...

He said he wouldn’t concern himself with me, and now he truly had left me behind? Was he really afraid I’d cling to him? Or perhaps I’d said something to offend him? Last night, I called Lord Yunxiao ruthless—could that have angered him? I worried endlessly.

Now I was alone again, so I braced myself and continued climbing.

As I walked, searching for Yuqing Realm and Bai Hao, I eventually came upon a lush bamboo grove. The leaves were a vibrant, translucent green, spotless as if carved from crystal jade. The breeze stirred the bamboo leaves, making them chime melodiously—a truly enchanting sound. I admired the scenery as I went, and, passing through the bamboo grove, found myself amidst a vast sea of flowers. Blossoms from every season bloomed together, dazzling in their riot of color, vying for attention. The beauty was intoxicating, making one reluctant to leave. Emerging from the sea of flowers, I climbed to the summit of Kunlun. Clouds and mist surged like the realm of immortals, as if I stood at the gates of heaven. When the mist cleared, I saw before me the azure Heavenly Pool, its rippling waters merging with the sky. How wondrous and mysterious Kunlun Xu was!

“Could this be the Yuqing Realm?” I heard an immortal’s voice exclaim.

“Yes, yes! The Yuqing Realm is the divine domain Lord Yunxiao established in Kunlun Xu. It must be here!”

“We’ve finally arrived!”

Ahead, a group of immortals cheered. I hurried to catch up and found a dozen or so excited immortals in lively discussion. One of them greeted me, “Young friend, do you know if this is Yuqing Realm?”

“I do not know, Immortal,” I replied respectfully.

“It is! Look, do you see the palace up ahead? Isn’t that the Jade Void Palace?” another immortal pointed toward the sea of clouds.

Following his gesture, I glimpsed a majestic palace looming indistinctly atop the distant clouds.

The immortals rushed forward in high spirits. In their midst, an elderly, plump woman was jostled by the crowd, lost her balance, and fell heavily to the ground, groaning in complaint. She called for someone to help her, but no one paid her any heed. Seeing her pitiful state, I went to assist her, only to find her so heavy that she dragged me down as well. I collapsed beside her, nearly suffocated by the overpowering scent she wore, as if she’d used two catties of perfume.

“You, boy—what sort of weakling immortal are you? How do you expect to become Lord Yunxiao’s disciple if you can’t even help me up? You’ve hurt me!” she complained, shooting me a glare.

“Hurt you?” I was speechless. I’d only tried to help her, and she was the one who pulled me down.

A passing immortal advised kindly, “Young friend, this old woman is notoriously troublesome, a real pest. Whoever gets involved with her is sure to have bad luck. Best get away while you can.”

I’d heard of such things before—lower-ranking immortals with coarse roots, wandering about, using tricks to swindle treasures and spiritual power from others, gaining without effort. At the foot of the mountain I’d encountered the extortionist Madam Mingxi; now, atop the mountain, this unreasonable old woman! It seemed every kind of swindler gathered in this sacred land.

I tried to get up and leave, but the old woman clung tightly to my sleeve. “You’ve injured me and now you want to just walk away?”

Fine! I was penniless anyway—Bai Xi had already swindled all my money. I barely had any spiritual power left. If she wanted to extort me, let her try. At her age, and with such a rotund and homely appearance, surely she wouldn’t demand I sell myself like Bai Xi did.

“Elder, let me escort you down the mountain to the apothecary,” I offered.

“I’m not going down. I’m going to find Yunxiao!” she declared with great determination.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Lord Yunxiao truly had allure.

I looked her up and down. “Granny, you must be nearly sixty, with white hair. Are you here to become his disciple as well?”

“Not at all! I’m here to marry him!” she declared, utterly self-assured.

I nearly spat out the blood I’d accumulated over three thousand years. So this so-called discipleship gathering was nothing more than a matchmaking fair, and Lord Yunxiao the universal heartthrob, desired by young and old alike. His late fiancée, Lu Xue, was spared much trouble by her death; otherwise, she’d be driven mad by this swarm of persistent suitors.

“Elder, if you wish to marry Lord Yunxiao, the ages might match, but he is a true divine sovereign. With a figure like yours—enough for three—you might want to train for another thousand years to at least show some sincerity.” I laughed.

“You disrespectful brat! I’m not here to marry him myself—I’m here to arrange matches for my daughters!” she retorted.

I burst out laughing. “Daughters—plural! Planning to fill his harem with three thousand beauties?”

She gave me a sidelong look and said righteously, “You young immortals can disguise yourselves as men, claiming to seek discipleship just to catch a husband, but I can’t openly seek a match for my daughters?”

“Fair point,” I conceded, unable to find a retort.

“You’ve hurt me, so you must carry me,” she said, grabbing my sleeve and hooking her arm around mine, dragging me down again. My ankle twisted painfully, and my hairpin snapped, sending my hair tumbling down.

I sat on the ground and told her earnestly, “Elder, it’s not that I refuse to carry you, but just one tug from you leaves me in such a sorry state. Do you really think I have the strength to carry you? Now we’re both stuck here, one old, one lame—neither better than the other. You outweigh me three to one; I can’t possibly carry you. Either you carry me, we support each other, or we sit here and wait for another hapless soul to come by so we can swindle him too—though that might take until next year.”

“Fine, you’re quite something. I’ve been the landlady of the South Sea for tens of thousands of years, and I’ve never met anyone as shameless as you,” she said, nodding at me.

I was helpless with laughter. Who would have thought the landlady of the South Sea, a divine official, could be so unreasonable? Clearly, she was the one taking advantage of me, yet somehow I was the one accused of being shameless.

I ignored her and sat down to tidy my hair. I tried to use magic to conjure a new hairpin, but my powers were suppressed and I couldn’t manage even a simple pin. With no nearby branches, what else could I use? Suddenly, I remembered the hair ribbon I’d picked up—why not use that? I took it from my robe, quickly twisted my hair into a knot, and tied it up.

The landlady stared fixedly at my hair, then at me, and suddenly shrieked, “You rascal! Where did you get that hair ribbon? You stole it from my house!” She lunged for my topknot.

Startled, I scrambled away on one leg. “I didn’t steal your ribbon—don’t make wild accusations!”

“That’s my ribbon!” she cried, darting toward me with surprising speed and grabbing my hair before I could dodge.

She tugged several times, but the ribbon was now tied in a dead knot and tangled in my hair, refusing to come loose. My scalp hurt so much it felt as though she would rip it off.

“Stop! Let go! My scalp is about to come off! If you cause a death here in Yuqing Realm, let’s see how you hope to marry off your daughters!” I shouted.

She finally let go, pointing at me. “I thought I was the most shameless person in the world, but you outdo me by far!”

So she knew she was shameless.

“You move faster than I do, so stop trying to extort me. I have nothing, and now with my twisted ankle, I can’t walk quickly. Though the Jade Void Palace looks close, it’s likely several mountain peaks away. If you follow me, you’ll probably be late; you’d better go on your own,” I said earnestly.

“I’ll help you walk if you return my ribbon,” she bargained with a sly grin.

“A trade is a trade. What do you mean, ‘return’ it?” I rolled my eyes.

“It’s not a trade—it’s mine!” she insisted, growing anxious.

Seeing her expression, I felt a pang of guilt. After all, I’d only picked up the ribbon; perhaps it truly was hers. If it was, then I really was being shameless. If not, and she only wanted it for herself, she might miss her chance with Lord Yunxiao. Since the ribbon was never really mine, I might as well give it to her.

“Never mind, you don’t have to help me walk. I’ll give you the ribbon. Just don’t follow me anymore.” I reached up to untie it, but her earlier tugging had tightened the knot and tangled it hopelessly in my hair.

“I’ll do it!” she said, grabbing my hair and yanking hard, but still it wouldn’t come free, and my scalp felt like it was being torn off.

“Stop pulling,” I said, pulling a dagger from my robe.

She recoiled in fright. “I only want to reclaim my property—you’re not going to kill me, are you?”

I sighed. “With your strength, how could I possibly kill you?”

I turned the dagger around and aimed it at myself, closing my eyes and bracing myself.

“What are you doing!” she cried, grabbing my arm.

“I’ll cut off the hair knot to give you the ribbon,” I said, preparing to cut.

“All right, all right! Just untie it when you can—don’t wave that dagger about,” she grumbled.

“Then go on ahead. Meet me at the apothecary in Xuhuai Town in ten days, and I’ll give you the ribbon,” I said.

She rolled her eyes. “No way—what if you run off? I’m sticking with you.”

“Suit yourself.” I gave up arguing. By now my foot was swollen and throbbing so badly I had no strength left to quarrel. The landlady, spurred by thoughts of the ribbon, energetically found me a large branch to use as a walking stick. Despite her size, she moved with surprising agility, scolding me constantly to hurry up.

After half a day, with dusk approaching, the Jade Void Palace, once faintly visible, had disappeared entirely. We’d circled back to the bamboo grove. There, I found seven or eight groups of immortals, including the ones I’d met earlier by the Heavenly Pool.

It turned out everyone was lost—some had wandered round and round between the bamboo forest, flower sea, and cloud-capped pool. Worry and confusion were written on every face. Suddenly, someone among the lost immortals cried out, “Could it be that we’ve stumbled into the Maze of Immortals?”