Chapter Twenty-Two: Returning to Jade Purity

Specks of blood dotted the ground beneath the pear tree. High God Yun Xiao stood silently beneath the branches.

“Fool! With such a grave injury, why didn’t you keep her here? What kind of healer are you?” Spring Wind rebuked Bing Wu.

Bing Wu hastily knelt down. “Disciple… I made a mistake.”

“You’re so heartless! Not only did you drive her away, you insisted on doing it yourself! And now, she’d rather die than let you heal her!” Spring Wind turned his blame on Yun Xiao.

“If you hadn’t struck her, she could have gone to Penglai with a carefree heart,” Yun Xiao replied.

“Carefree? Nonsense! I threatened her with you all—her every thought was for your safety. And how did you and Dongfang Mo treat her? Forcing her to leave like this, how could she possibly be happy?” Spring Wind retorted angrily.

Yun Xiao soared away without another word.

By then, I had finally flown beyond the outskirts of the town, distancing myself as much as possible from Kunlun’s void. I could fly no farther—my body heavy and exhausted, I descended and trudged onward with great effort.

The farther, the better… the farther, the better…

The night in Kunlun grew ever colder, yet the blaze in my heart would not be quenched.

I came upon a frozen river. The surface was sheathed in ice. Latching onto hope, I hurried forward, found a freshly-formed hole for fishing, and scooped up a handful of ice shards from the opening, stuffing them into my mouth.

As the icy water slid down my throat, it seemed to dampen the raging fire within me. I scooped up two more handfuls, swallowing them, and felt some relief at last.

Rolling onto my back, I lay atop the ice, letting the chill seep into me from below. Utterly spent.

All was silent around me. In the night sky, that heavy star twinkled like a droplet of water… or perhaps like the eyes of that immortal god.

So tired… I only wished to sleep for a while. My eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

Crack! Crack! The ice beneath me began to fracture. I jolted awake from my stupor, realizing with alarm that my body had no strength left.

Hot tears slid down my cheeks, falling onto the ice, carving deep, jagged fissures.

Suddenly, the ice shattered with a bang, and I plunged into the river.

Such cold clarity…

A biting chill…

The fire in my heart seemed frozen solid, my consciousness sealed away atop the snow-laden Chasing Immortal Cliff.

Perhaps it was better to remain frozen like this…

My senses grew dim, and in a haze I glimpsed a white dragon diving into the water, swirling and swimming, stirring the ice-cold river into a whirlpool.

The white dragon coiled around me, lifting me up and out of the water. “Let your heart kindle like firewood, your breath flow like wind, your feelings thunder like lightning, your essence surge like rivers and seas. Gather energy, focus your mind, let clouds form within—let the flame vanish beyond the sky…”

“What are you saying?” I asked him.

“A verse.”

“Oh.”

“Have you memorized it?”

“Yes.”

“Keep reciting it in your heart.”

“All right.”

The white dragon soared with me into the sky. Though my true form is only a cold crow, I had never flown so high. It felt as though I could reach for the moon, as though I could touch that bright, watery star. I clung to the dragon’s neck, lying on his back. His aura was as clear and refreshing as the drifting snow.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked.

“To the Immortal Mountain.”

“To Penglai?”

“To Jade Purity.”

“This dream feels so real…” Embracing the white dragon, I drifted off to sleep on his back.

A pair of beautiful eyes, long lashes fluttering, gazed at me. Hugging my blanket, I turned over, intent on continuing my deep slumber.

“Little bunny, do you think she’d taste better stewed than pheasant soup?” Spring Wind masked his face with his folding fan, fanning himself gently as he whispered to Ding Mao beside him.

“I don’t know. I think cabbage and turnip soup is the tastiest,” Ding Mao replied with a greedy glint.

Spring Wind kicked him square in the rear. “Stupid rabbit! You only ever think of cabbage and turnip! You’re always so talkative, yet the one time you should’ve said it was chicken soup, you left me embarrassed before your master!”

Ding Mao replied mournfully, “I honestly thought the Lu Wu beast had made soup out of him.”

“Then why didn’t you stop me? You let me drink a whole bowl! It’s all because you keep fetching tea and currying favor with your master!” Spring Wind scolded.

“How could I dare stop you, Shibo? Even Master can’t stop you. But why did you insist on keeping him? Master didn’t want to—must you make things so difficult?”

“Of course! If he doesn’t become my disciple, how am I supposed to make money to buy you cabbage and turnip?” Spring Wind glared.

“Master always buys the cabbage and turnip…”

“All grown on my Hundred Flowers Isle! No money needed!” Spring Wind huffed.

“Oh! I get it, Shibo. You placed a wager, didn’t you? You must have bet on Yu Fei as the dark horse, hoping to make a fortune. Now you've succeeded—perhaps you’ll become the wealthiest in the heavens!” Ding Mao chirped.

“The wealthiest is your master! The offerings from all beings alone are more than enough for him!” Spring Wind replied sourly.

“You’re rich enough as it is, Shibo, yet you always come over to scrounge meals…” Ding Mao chuckled.

“If you laugh again, I’ll roast you!” Spring Wind threatened.

Lying in bed, clutching my blanket, I had long since been roused by their bickering, hearing every word clearly. I thought to myself, “So that’s it—they made a bet on me, no wonder they were so