Chapter Sixty-Two: The Grand Feast of the Immortal Peaches-Master, Hold On—Your Disciple Is Coming(Luojia Jade)

That night, my dreams were filled with the thunder of war drums, the clash of golden spears and iron steeds... It was as if I were truly there. Suddenly, a crack of thunder jolted me awake. I sat up and looked outside; dawn had already broken, and the three Nethermaidens were already in the courtyard, practicing their dance.

I changed into a neat dance dress, swept my hair up high and tied it with a long ribbon, put on my makeup, and took the two drumsticks, each wrapped with pale golden silk, twirling them in my hands. I gazed at the woman in the mirror—a heroine in full regalia, masked with the one given by the Unfathomable High Deity—both familiar and strange.

"Fei'er! Don't be nervous! Remember the steps your aunt taught you, and don't forget the fake fall! When it happens, bite down on this." Without waiting for my reply, Aunt stuffed a small pellet into my mouth.

I looked at her in confusion, my eyes silently questioning, "What is this you're making me eat?"

Keke giggled. "It's a prop for the Dancers of Jade Lake. Bite it and it releases honey-infused safflower juice, looks just like blood! Hehe, Aunt especially had the immortals at the apothecary make it to catch everyone's eye!"

"Are you performing a dance or an opera?" I stared at the pair in disbelief.

"Remember to bite it when you fall! Otherwise you won't draw attention, and the effect when the wine of the flourishing age is offered will be lost!" Aunt reminded me.

"What a rotten idea! With all this fuss, how am I supposed to keep an eye on those three spies?" I grumbled inwardly.

"I wonder if the Unfathomable High Deity, having seen me last night, will report back to my master. How can I let Master know it's me? Perhaps I should flash the crystal bracelet later—Master would surely recognize me. Yes, that's what I'll do!" I plotted in my mind.

"Look! The God of the Vermilion Bird! How dignified he is!" The dancers craned their necks towards the grand hall, their voices in a flutter.

"Who's that little fairy following behind him? She's dressed beautifully! That celestial gown must be priceless!"

"Who is she to the High Deity?"

"No idea, has the High Deity Yunxiao taken a wife?"

"Haven't heard, maybe she's his betrothed."

"Could she be a princess from somewhere?"

The men and women whispered excitedly.

Dressed like this, Zizhen was no less radiant than the Third Princess. Master had brought her after all! Fuming, I handed my drumsticks to one hand, grabbed the wine jug filled with celestial wine, and gulped down several mouthfuls—nearly swallowing the pellet in my mouth.

Fuming, I thought, "Why must I hold this stupid pellet? I am the victorious god today! No coughing blood! No dying! No feigning weakness! You go drink your wine and whisper your sweet nothings! I don't need to ruin your mood with a message!" I glanced down, ready to spit out the pellet.

"Aiya, darling, don't spit it out! Don't be nervous, it's fine, we don't fear a tumble—just bite it when you fall, act a bit, that's all! Dance well—Aunt has faith in you!" Aunt cheered me on.

Still fuming, I covered the crystal bracelet on my wrist with my sleeve.

On the Supreme Hall, the horns began to sound, as mournful as the wind, battle steeds neighing... The rumbling of drums, accompanied by powerful shouts, swept from afar, transforming the festive atmosphere of the banquet into one of solemn majesty. The immortals and gods fell silent.

"Ha!"...

The male dancers steadily carried a huge red-lacquered Kui-oxhide drum onto the hall, shouting in unison, their voices deep and mighty. Around the drum, the female immortals danced gracefully, each with a hand-drum. I knelt on one knee atop the great drum, head lowered, back to the immortals, slowly beating the drum with mallets made from Kui-ox leg bones. The fluttering silk ribbons seemed to stretch memory itself. The drum's relentless cadence, echoing through the ages, struck not just the ear, but the heart.

Eyes closed, I struck again and again, each beat heavier than the last. The sound of the Kui-ox war drum reverberated across the thirty-three heavens, drumming into my very core... Horns blared from the camps, soldiers mustered on the fields, banners fluttered as mighty armies marched in grandeur... The drumbeat was more than sound: it was spirit, morale, the very conviction of victory!

I leapt, spinning through the air, turning to face the immortals, the drumstick falling before me, conjuring another drum. Dancing and drumming, I glanced around the hall. I saw Zizhen, radiant in finery, pouring wine for Master and smiling. Transformed, she was unrecognizable, like a celestial princess. Master held his cup and smiled back at her—did not look at me even once!

A pang of bitterness surged in my heart, the wine I'd drunk earlier suddenly rushing to my head, heart pounding, the drumbeat speeding up... Wherever the drumstick fell, a drum appeared; the sticks followed my hands, my hands the ribbons, my body danced with the silks—strength within grace, grace within strength, the perfect union.

Smoke of war rose, wind howled and cranes cried...

No matter how fiercely I struck the war drum, its sound grew dull and heavy... Why did everything feel so unspeakable, so suffocating? Victory, yet my heart was in pain!

The drums thundered, as if urging us to part... The shouts seemed to push us to sever all ties! Yet I would beat the drum with tears and a smile, dance through my pain! For the army's morale, for all the land to celebrate, for a flourishing age of peace!

The wine's effect grew stronger. I swept away all drums but the one before me, looked at him beside Zizhen, smiled brilliantly, and danced as I pleased, drummed as my heart desired... Do you see those endless crimson fields? That is the fire in my heart! Do you hear the drums of war? That is my song of victory for you! Morale, celebration, peace—none of that matters. I drum for you alone! Dance for you alone! As long as you return in triumph! I've drunk all the wine—why do you just raise your cup and watch me? Come! Let us celebrate together!

The drumsticks spun in my hands, and I danced by memory... The drumbeat grew ever more urgent, more intense, the shouts rising to match, my heart burning, as if the Spring Dawn Palm of old was blazing anew...

Suddenly, a wave of numbness swept my legs. I staggered, lost balance, stumbled back two steps, and knelt on one knee atop the drum... Propping myself up with the stick, I gasped for breath...

The shouts faded, the jingling of the women's hand-drums weakened...

A stir swept through the immortals!

Head down, I thought, "Who dares plot against me here in the Supreme Hall? Have those three Nethermaidens seen through me?" Gritting my teeth, I tried to rise... Another wave of fierce numbness in my legs... I collapsed onto the drum again. "What's happening to me? Why can't I stand?"

The immortals and gods held their breath, not a sound in the hall...

Where were the horns... the shouts... why had they vanished? Was that snow drifting from above? Was the sweet taste in my mouth honey?

I lowered my head and smiled faintly. "Very well! I shall celebrate with you like this!" Propping myself half-kneeling with one hand on the drumstick, I raised the other and resumed striking the great Kui-ox drum... The drumbeat slowly returned!

Thud!

From faint to thunderous, near to far! Louder and louder! The drumming once again shook the thirty-three heavens! It struck the heart. Head held high, I leapt up, flung both drumsticks in the air, caught the silken ribbons at their ends, and whirled the sticks down onto the drum, dancing with abandon... My robes billowed, skirt ribbons fluttered, the drumbeats soared to the sky!

"My body may be drunk, but my spirit is not! I cannot speak—can you hear the song of this flourishing age in my heart? I cannot dance with you—can you see the dance of prosperity within me?" Smiling, dancing, drumming...

Thunderous applause, cheers rising and falling.

The dancers below the drum each gathered their flower buds and silently soared toward the immortals—they would present the wine of the flourishing age!

The three Nethermaidens each flew toward Crown Prince Tiande, Second Prince Tiansheng, and Zizhen.

"Don't think this god is drunk! Attacking Zizhen, who knows no spells? Hoping he'd use that soul-capturing spell again and forfeit his life? Dream on! Today is victory—a day for joy! You three Nethermaidens will have to join in my celebration!" As I spun my drumsticks, I secretly used the Cloud-Congealing Heart Technique, sending needle-fine ice crystals into their meridians. Caught off guard, the three Nethermaidens fell victim to my trick and burst into uncontrollable laughter, dropping their flower buds, from which swarmed a mass of black venomous insects, straight toward Tiande, Tiansheng, and Zizhen.

Had the insects flown out suddenly in front of the three, they would have had no chance to evade. But now, with the buds fallen and some distance between them, it was easy to dodge.

Tiansheng raised his hand and cast a spell, knocking the insects from his path.

"But Master, why do you just watch me without moving? Tiande, you too—why are you just staring? Hurry, fend off those insects!"

Eleventh Senior Brother cast a spell to clear the insects in front of Zizhen; the Crown Princess flicked her fan and the swarm before Tiande vanished as well.

I smiled slightly at the sight, and the drumming ceased abruptly. The vast Supreme Hall was filled only with the wild laughter of the three Nethermaidens...

The hall erupted in commotion.

Heaven and earth rejoiced; this flourishing age was truly splendid. The task was done. As for that immortal couple, I had no wish to see more.

I flung away the drumsticks and soared from the hall, but could not find the exit! My vision blurred, my feet grew unsteady, my mind was lost in confusion...

"What is happening? How am I lost in the hall? Is there some illusion at work?" While I hesitated, a troop of heavenly soldiers and generals, weapons in hand, rushed forth, sealing off my path. At Tiansheng's command, his men seized the three dancing immortals by the jawbone, sealing their meridians and spells to prevent suicide or poison, and rounded up the rest of the dancers.

"Seize her!" With that order, the soldiers swarmed.

"What a splendid age, ruined by you pests!" I fumed.

I conjured the fallen petals left by the immortals, transforming them into pellets and flinging them at the oncoming soldiers. Instantly, each had a swelling on their forehead, clutching their heads and wailing in pain.

Another wave charged in. I turned the petals into round beads, sending the soldiers tumbling head over heels. Those who remained upright each received another bump on the forehead! Their foolish antics made me laugh despite my anger—after all, a lively celebration is best! So I crossed my arms and watched, laughing heartily.

"Seize the demoness!" The Heavenly Emperor's face was grim.

The soldiers formed a sword array.

"Who's the demoness here? You useless rabble! I've caught the assassins, and I'm not even allowed a laugh?" Enraged, I summoned the Crystal Sword!