Chapter Six: Legends of the Supreme Deity

“How was it? Have you had your fill?” In that corner of Makeup Street, the breathtakingly handsome immortal asked me.

“I just ate one, barely had time to stretch my legs before your spell dragged me back!” I replied in frustration.

“I’m in a good mood today. Letting you go at all is already a favor. Was the pear delicious?” The immortal smiled cheerfully.

“Yes. It was delicious,” I said.

“Pay up!” He watched me with a grin.

I was stunned. “Didn’t I just give you protection money?”

“That was for protection. You think I’d send you there and fetch you back for nothing? Now it’s pear money,” he replied.

“You call that fetching? You tossed me over and yanked me back like a puppet, nearly wrenched my waist!” I complained.

“Doesn’t matter. The point is, you ate it. And, some little immortal’s bones aren’t as hard as stone.” He waved his fan and played the rogue.

“How much?”

“One golden leaf.”

“What? Are you extorting me? I don’t have a golden leaf. Maybe I should just throw it up and give it back to you.”

Thankfully, I thought, I only ate one. If I’d had more, I’d have to sell myself to pay off the debt.

“If you don’t have money, then off to the brothels you go,” he said airily.

Looking at his appearance, his attire, his scent… So he’s the madam of the pleasure quarters. No wonder he’s so unruly, collecting protection fees and fleecing people.

I hesitated, then timidly asked, “So if I sell myself, does that count as the price of one golden leaf?”

“Of course. What do you say? Sell yourself and come with me.” He leaned in, smiling slyly.

“Promise me—if I pay off the golden leaf, you’ll let me go. You must keep your word,” I said.

“Certainly. Pay the golden leaf and I’ll let you go. My reputation precedes me—I’m always trustworthy,” he said with absurd self-admiration.

“What’s your name?” I thought I’d remember it. If I ever meet one of the disciples or followers of the Supreme Immortal of the Clouds, I’ll make sure to complain that the immortal’s neighbor is a brothel madam.

“Bai Xi! Famous throughout the world, honest with both young and old!” He waved his fan, eyes fixed on me, smiling.

I threw all the silver leaves I’d earned at him. “I don’t have a golden leaf. This is about enough, you can exchange it yourself.” With that, I grabbed my cloak and took off.

Behind me, Bai Xi stood dumbfounded, clutching the silver leaves. He’d thought I had no golden leaf and that agreeing to pay meant I’d sell myself. He hadn’t expected me to toss him silver leaves. Gnashing his teeth, he cursed, “You… Fine! Just don’t let me catch you again, little crow!”

I’d lost money but avoided disaster. After two days’ labor, all I gained was a cloak, a brief stroll through the pear orchard, and that expensive pear in my belly. Sighing, I thought, “Luck has been rotten these past few days!”

The day to ascend the mountain and seek a master was approaching. I decided to head early to Jade Purity Realm and wait for Dongfang Mo. In fact, Kunlun Void hadn’t officially opened yet, but I’d heard from other immortals that there were maps for sale, showing shortcuts to Jade Purity Realm. No need to wait for the opening day—I could follow the map and enter Kunlun Void ahead of time, gaining an advantage. It would surely be crowded on the actual opening day. The logic seemed sound, so I bought a map, formed a small team with three wandering immortals at the map stall, prepared provisions, and plunged into the vast Kunlun Mountains.

There were three young immortals: Liulin and Zhou Ran, both men, and Wulan, a woman disguised as a man.

“Do you know Bai Xi?” I asked them.

“No,” Liulin replied.

“Has anyone ever charged you protection money or sold you overpriced goods?” I asked.

“No. Did you run into something?” Wulan inquired.

“Yes, not only did he demand money, he threatened to make me sell myself. Completely unreasonable,” I said.

“You sold yourself?” Wulan asked.

I laughed. “Of course not! Just lost some money to avoid trouble.”

“First time I’ve heard of such extortion. I did hear of a fairy encountering the Supreme Immortal of the Clouds in disguise though!” Wulan said.

“Really!” Liulin and Zhou Ran spoke in unison.

“I actually met the Supreme Immortal myself.” Wulan smiled mysteriously.

“What? Why didn’t you say so sooner! What’s he like? Is he powerful?” Zhou Ran asked.

“I was very young then, so I don’t remember clearly. But I recall his gaze was like lightning when he shot arrows, and his skill was extraordinary!” Wulan praised.

“Honestly, you focused on the wrong thing. Who cares about archery!” Zhou Ran complained.

“I focused on the key part. I kept my eyes on the arrows because I want to study archery under him!” Wulan replied.

“You just mentioned a fairy meeting the Supreme Immortal—was it for this apprenticeship?” Liulin asked.

“Yes. She said she met the immortal in disguise, and he promised to accept her into Jade Purity Realm!” Wulan replied.

“In disguise? Sounds like too many opera stories. It can’t be that easy!” I laughed.

Wulan whispered, “Of course it’s not easy. She claimed she’d already given herself to the Supreme Immortal. Her clan has a chastity mark, and she’s eager to show it off!”

I nearly popped my eyes out. “Is that possible?”

“A beauty trap, plenty of fairy women hope for such luck,” Zhou Ran said indifferently.

“She definitely didn’t meet the Supreme Immortal—must’ve been swindled!” Liulin said.

“I agree, she met a fake immortal. My future master isn’t that sort of person!” Wulan declared confidently.

I thought, either the Supreme Immortal is more cold and dignified than rumored, or that fairy really met a grand fraudster—probably Bai Xi, the brothel madam. With his looks and bearing, if he acted serious, anyone could believe he was the Supreme Immortal.

“You silly fairy girls are so naïve! There’s no such thing as free pie from heaven. It’s definitely fake. The Supreme Immortal’s status is unmatched, and he hasn’t married in forty thousand years. His fiancée, Lu Xue, is surely gentle and stunning. How could a godly lord notice an ordinary immortal?” Liulin said to Wulan.

“You talk as if you’ve met Lu Xue,” Wulan laughed.

“No need to meet her—anyone who died unjustly and is never forgotten by the immortal, who could keep him unmarried for forty thousand years, must be extraordinary,” Liulin replied.

“Died unjustly? Isn’t Lu Xue a traitor? Was she really wronged?” I asked in surprise.

“Of course she wasn’t a traitor. She was framed. After the battle at Wu Mountain, the Supreme Immortal investigated, didn’t spare anyone’s reputation, and forced the guilty palace princess to confess!” Wulan said.

“You didn’t know?” Zhou Ran asked me.

“Oh… I didn’t…” I wondered if there was more to the story than the tales I’d heard.

“It was announced across the heavens. The Supreme Immortal promised Lu Xue he’d marry her. White robes, white beast, white carriage, white entourage—he held a ghost wedding, carrying her garment back to Jade Purity Realm! Forty thousand years, solitary, never marrying again!” Liulin said.

“What? I never knew such a thing!” Liulin’s words overturned my understanding.

“Heaven’s number one lover—no wonder so many fairy women dress as men to seek apprenticeship, desperate for attention. So any supposed disguised romantic visit is definitely fake!” Liulin declared.

I thought, if that’s true, Lu Xue was truly wronged. If the Supreme Immortal believed she was innocent, why did he obey the godly order to execute her? He personally did it! All the announcements and ghost wedding—such theatrics, just to cover up his own guilt and cowardice. I laughed, “Does the Supreme Immortal always act so dramatically?”

“He’s actually very low-key. Despite all the rumors, few have seen his face. As for taking disciples, such a spectacle is just to give everyone a fair chance, to select the best talent. You don’t know this? You came to seek apprenticeship without doing your homework?” Wulan asked.

“I don’t know… I’m not here to apprentice, I’m here to find someone,” I said.

I described Dongfang Mo’s appearance in detail, but none of them had seen him.

The four young immortals chatted as they walked. Eighty percent of their immortal powers were suppressed by Kunlun Void’s dragon energy, leaving them almost like mortals, slowly following the map through the vast expanse.

Night fell early in the mountains. The day’s journey was short, and darkness meant they had to find a place to rest. Sheltered caves were hard to find, so they settled for a spot out of the wind. Liulin and I went to gather firewood, while Zhou Ran and Wulan pitched the tent.

I swung my dagger through the brush, collecting a bundle, only to realize Liulin had vanished, and the surroundings were unfamiliar. We’d wandered off without noticing! I called for Liulin and retraced my steps, but the wind-sheltered spot was nowhere to be found. Calling for the others brought no response. I was thoroughly lost.

The sky darkened, mountain cold seeped in. The wind stung my ears, making me shiver. I breathed into my palms, rubbed them together, and warmed my ears. In the distance, I spotted a cave with faint candlelight. Eagerly, I rushed over.

Just as I reached the cave entrance, I heard ambiguous voices inside—a man and a woman, clearly engaged in intimate affairs. Embarrassed, I quickly turned to leave. From within came a delicate female voice, “Immortal brother, am I better than Lu Xue?”

A man, moaning in pleasure, replied, “Yes… much better…”

I paused. That woman’s voice sounded familiar—it was her! Supreme Immortal? Lu Xue? Wulan said a fairy gave herself to a fake Supreme Immortal—it was true! And it was Weiyang!

“When will you take Weiyang to Jade Purity Realm, Immortal brother?” Weiyang asked shyly.

“…Let’s enjoy a few more days…”

“Why not go now?”

“It’s inconvenient now…”

The man’s words were followed by heavy panting and loud shouts…

“You… you’re so annoying! If you don’t take me, in three months I’ll bring your child to Jade Purity Realm!” Weiyang half-playfully, half-complaining, said.

Blushing, I covered my ears and tried to leave, but curiosity about the ‘Supreme Immortal’s’ true face made me hide behind a large stone. After a while, the two emerged, tidying their clothes. The man had thick brows and handsome features, sturdy and imposing—he did have a godly aura. He affectionately wrapped his arm around Weiyang, dressed as a man, and together they walked off, sweetly entwined like lovers.

“A dignified Supreme Immortal, so sordid? Impossible… He seems too young as well,” I wondered.

Though the cave was empty, I left it in disgust and found a dry, sheltered spot. Using what little magic I had left, I started a fire by rubbing sticks.

Sitting by the fire, warming myself, I occasionally heard birds and beasts. Alone in Kunlun Void, I wasn’t very afraid; years of solitary living had made me accustomed.

The expanse of snow glowed under moon and starlight, the night in Kunlun Void was vast and desolate. On clear nights, there was always a bright star in the sky—a pale blue, sparkling like ice or a gem, or perhaps like a tearful, speaking eye. Here in Kunlun Void, it shone even more brightly and clearly.

Gazing at the star, I wondered: Is the Supreme Immortal really an old man with a white beard? Or is he that man from the cave? Is he more handsome than Dongfang Mo? More beautiful than Bai Xi? What is he truly like? His fiancée Lu Xue died by his hand, and even though he cleared her name, what good did it do… And then there was Biyou, who took her own life because of rumors—she was deeply wronged as well…