Liu Shinian looked out at the bright sunshine and said, "I want to go for a walk outside."
Yue Yao stood up and checked his wounds, which had healed considerably. She then helped him up. Liu Shinian's face was unusually pale due to excessive blood loss and the lingering chill.
His hair was slightly disheveled, and his heroic eyes had softened.
He looked incredibly beautiful, like a maiden from the neighboring house.
Yue Yao couldn't help but stare for a moment longer, then chuckled and teased him, "Brother Liu, you look like an unmarried young lady like this, even more beautiful than me."
Her close friends chimed in, "I think so too."
"Looking closely, he's truly as beautiful as a painting."
Xiang Cao even teased her and Liu Shinian.
"I was wondering why the princess didn't favor others but fell for young Master Liu. It turns out she's had her eyes on his handsome face all along."
Yue Yao's face flushed at their words, and she quickly changed the subject.
"Hey, didn't we say we were going for a walk? Why did it turn into this? Let's go out quickly."
Liu Shinian smiled faintly and didn't argue. He allowed Yue Yao to help him up, and they walked out accompanied by the others.
Yue Yao led him to the garden where they first met. Every plant and tree was exactly as they had first seen them.
Liu Shinian could still vividly recall the innocent and lively little girl diligently planting flowers and weeding amidst the blossoms.
The others tactfully moved away, hiding at a distance to observe. It wasn't that they were worried about any conflict, but rather they were curious about what the two of them would do.
Yue Yao asked him.
"Do you remember? The moment you suddenly appeared in the garden, I saw you at a glance."
"I remember. I had never seen a girl as beautiful as a flower before."
"Wait for me."
She released Liu Shinian's hand and walked into the flower bushes, picking the most beautiful and largest crimson rosebud. She returned to Liu Shinian and handed it to him.
"Could you tuck it into my hair?"
Liu Shinian took the flower and carefully tucked it into her hair.
Yue Yao felt a flutter in her heart and quickly asked him.
"How do I look? Am I beautiful?" she asked, twirling in front of him.
Liu Shinian praised, "You are truly beautiful, like a fairy among flowers."
Yue Yao suggested.
"Last time you saw the peach blossoms in full bloom. Now that the flowers have faded, only green leaves remain on the trees.
You must not have had a good look at what a peach tree with full foliage looks like."
"Indeed, I haven't looked closely."
"Then let's go now," she said, taking his hand and naturally walking ahead.
There wasn't much to say along the way, but Yue Yao suddenly asked him.
"Brother Liu, what kind of girls do you like?
I used to think about it less and never asked. Now that we can be together like this, I want to ask."
Liu Shinian was also stumped. If he thought about the past, he admired Xue Ji, treated others as a jest, and regarded Yue Yao with friendship.
As for Mu Ye, it started as a jest but later turned into sincerity, watching her gradually become extraordinary and resilient.
Seeing that he hadn't spoken for a long time, Yue Yao asked again, "Brother Liu, what are you thinking about?"
Liu Shinian finally turned back.
"Oh, I'm thinking about your question. As for liking, I actually don't know what kind of person I like."
"Haven't you ever felt your heart flutter?"
"Heart flutter?" Was it the flutter of unrequited love, or the flutter of love that could not be attained? He was confused again.
"I don't know either."
"Then have you ever felt your heart flutter for me?"
Yue Yao's sudden question stunned him, and both of them stopped involuntarily.
Yue Yao walked ahead, and Liu Shinian followed behind. Yue Yao dared not turn around, fearing she would burst into tears upon hearing his denial.
"Yes," he suddenly said.
Yue Yao was very surprised and turned back to ask him, "When was that?"
Liu Shinian replied, "The first time I saw you."
Yue Yao's heart warmed, and she squeezed his hand again as they walked towards the peach grove.
Before long, they had left the Penglai Immortal Palace and entered a lush green peach grove outside the immortal palace.
Yue Yao casually plucked a leaf from a tree and handed it to Liu Shinian.
"Look, the leaves here sprout vibrant green peach leaves every year. In a few more days, they will bear large fruits."
Liu Shinian brought the peach leaf to his nose and sniffed. He only smelled the scent of leaves, not the fragrance of peach blossoms or the sweet scent of peaches. It was just ordinary.
"Brother Liu, do you prefer Penglai Island or Black Mountain?" Bi Yao suddenly asked again.
Liu Shinian recalled how carefree and happy they had been in Black Mountain, with someone to accompany him when he was sad, and someone to accompany him when he wasn't.
They drank during the day and also at night. Back then, it wasn't as crowded or busy as it was now.
"Penglai Island is picturesque and as beautiful as a painting. Both the Penglai Immortal Palace and this Penglai Island can be called masterpieces of nature. If I were to be honest, I quite like it here.
As for Black Mountain, my good friends and brothers were there. We would drink on the rooftops, and talk about our thoughts under the moonlight. It was very peaceful."
She didn't need to say more; Bi Yao already had her answer.
"Let's go forward and take a look," Bi Yao said.
"Alright."
The two of them ambled towards the secret spot where the little maids had brought him when he first arrived. The slope was still covered in grass as before, and the sea breeze brushed against their faces.
Yue Yao released his hand and walked to the edge of the wind, letting the sea breeze blow the rose from her hair and her hair flutter, her skirt swaying.
She asked Liu Shinian again.
"Brother Liu, can you tell me the story between you and the Demon King? I'm very curious."
Liu Shinian then told her this long yet uncomplicated story.
"Since you want to hear it, I'll tell you.
When I first met Mu Ye, she was still an innocent young girl who knew nothing of the world. I thought she was very cute and wanted to tease her.
Unexpectedly, she had a rough personality and spoke rudely.
Later, the Ten Thousand Ghost King appeared, and she and I were assigned to the Ten Thousand Ghost Forest. That's where we met the Snow Blade Twin Fiends.
At that time, I only thought she was a clumsy and foolish girl, but unexpectedly, she saved many people with her own intelligence.
Afterward, I found the master who caused me lifelong pain, and at that time, I returned home, and she also left with someone else.
Later, perhaps some terrible things happened, and after parting ways with her friends, she encountered the Ten Thousand Ghost King.
The Ten Thousand Ghost King led her to commit random murders, which led to her being discovered by the Four Cities, and she was consequently wanted by them. Later, someone hired me to kill her. Not knowing it was her, I drew my sword and went.
When I met and fought her at Mount Wanxue, I recognized her. I fled in a panic but couldn't rest assured about her, so I returned to take her away.
Who knew this was exactly the villain's plan? I was captured, and she had to face various experts alone. I heard it was a near-death experience, but even after escaping, she still thought of coming to save me.
I never did anything for her, yet she poured out her true feelings."
After listening to Liu Shinian's story, Bi Yao realized how difficult the Demon King's journey had been, and how much she and Liu Shinian had experienced together.
They cherished each other and helped each other, which was beyond her reach.
She had initially thought she could still win, but unexpectedly, she had lost so completely.
She could only blame herself for not leaving Penglai Island sooner, for not meeting Liu Shinian earlier. She couldn't help but imagine.
"If Brother Liu had met me first, would he have fallen for me like he did for the Demon King?"
But there were no "ifs." She ultimately couldn't keep him, so she had to let him go.
With this thought, Yue Yao unconsciously began to dance at the windy spot, completely ignoring Liu Shinian's presence.
Her loneliness, sadness, helplessness, and acceptance were all blown away by the strong wind.
Liu Shinian knew she must have had many things to say and much reluctance, but he couldn't help it. He dared not speak, fearing he would hurt Yue Yao, and he was also tired of himself.
They stayed until nightfall before slowly walking back.
Upon returning to the small courtyard, Yue Yao, unusually, left Liu Shinian's courtyard and did not stay to watch over him. Liu Shinian lay alone on his bed, thinking that she had come to terms with it.
The next morning, the entire Penglai Island was filled with the sounds of gongs and drums and a bustling crowd. I thought Liu Shinian was getting married.
I hurriedly got up, walked out of the courtyard, and stopped a passing guard to ask.
"What's going on? Why is it so noisy?"
The person replied, "Reporting to the Demon King, it's because you and young Master Liu have slain Tian Wu, ridding us of a great harm. The clan leader is gathering everyone for a celebration banquet."
"Oh." I had initially thought that if Liu Shinian were getting married, he should have informed me. Unexpectedly, it was a celebration banquet. I thought I was overthinking things.
Then I saw Tian Long personally invite me, "Demon King, the clan leader requests your presence in the main hall."
"Alright, let's go."
He nodded slightly, turned, and led me towards the main hall. As soon as we entered the hall, all the ministers of the Mermaid tribe stood up to greet us. Under Tian Long's guidance, I also went to the main seat and sat beside the clan leader.
The clan leader said to me.
"Demon King, you have slain Tian Wu and rid us of a great menace. You must drink many cups at today's celebration banquet."
"Certainly, certainly." I looked around and couldn't see Yue Yao and Liu Shinian, so I asked curiously, "Why aren't Yue Yao and Liu Shinian here?"
"They should be here soon."
As he spoke, Yue Yao entered the hall, supporting Liu Shinian, and they took their seats to the right, guided by Wang Yuan.
At this moment, seeing that everyone had arrived, the clan leader stood up and addressed everyone.
"Today is a celebration banquet for the Demon King and young hero Liu. We thank them for ridding us of the menace Tian Wu. Come, let us first toast the Demon King."
Everyone immediately poured wine, stood up, bowed to me, and drank it all down. I also stood up and returned the toast.
Then the clan leader said again, "For the second cup, please toast young hero Liu."
With that, everyone poured wine again, bowed to Liu Shinian, and Liu Shinian also hurriedly stood up to return their toast.
After the toasts, the clan leader clapped his hands, and immediately fourteen women dressed in white and red dance attire entered the hall with light steps.
The leading white-clad woman wore a crane-shaped outfit, while the red-clad woman beside her wore a red floral skirt.
The clan leader introduced them to me.
"This dance is called 'The Crane and the Plum Blossom,' which tells the story of a white crane spotting a vividly blooming plum blossom in the heavy snow.
This is originally a legend of the white crane from our Mermaid tribe, which was later adapted into a dance."
"I've never seen a dance based on a story before, so I must watch it carefully."
At this moment, the drumbeats became brisk, and all fourteen women lay on the ground. Even the red-clad women spun around and transformed into white attire.
The red-clad flower woman was also covered by several women in white.
Then, the white crane woman began to dance gracefully amidst the white expanse, slowly rotating and soaring into the air, then flying back and forth in mid-air.
Suddenly, she swayed unsteadily and trembled, and the white-clad women on the ground surged forward, then spun back, as if describing the crane encountering a blizzard.
The white crane flew back and forth in mid-air several times, finally exhausted, and fell. At this moment, the white-clad women on the ground quickly surged forward, covering half of her body.
After a while, the white crane slowly rose, shook off the snow from its body, and moved forward with difficulty in the vast expanse of white.
At this time, the red-clad flower woman slowly broke free from the restraint of the white-clad women and emerged from the snow. She shook her body and stretched her limbs.
The white crane, already weak, suddenly saw a vibrant red rose appear in front of it and was overjoyed.
It hurried forward, looking at the flower again and again, finding it very pleasing.
Then, it pecked at the snow beneath the plum blossom with its beak. At its roots, it saw a patch of green grass.
So, it pecked at the grass, and with this green grass, it could live a few more days.
Thus, it rested under the plum blossom for a few days, and then the plum blossom stepped out and danced with it in the wind.
Later, after the white crane's injuries healed, it bid farewell to the plum blossom and flew far away. When it returned the following year, the place was already covered with fiery red plum blossoms.
Then, the white crane landed joyfully and danced with the plum blossoms. Finally, the drumbeats stopped, and they slowly landed, bowed, and retreated.
"Wonderful!" I was so engrossed that I was the first to applaud.
"What do you think, Demon King?" the clan leader asked.
"Unique and novel. Although it tells the story of a white crane and a plum blossom, it also seems to narrate the story of kindred spirits and friends."
My interpretation was unique and made the clan leader laugh heartily.
"The Demon King indeed has a unique perspective. Then, Demon King, you must enjoy the feast today."
"The clan leader too, I'll toast the clan leader."
"I'll toast the Demon King as well."
The banquet continued until noon. I felt a bit tipsy, but I still remembered to say to the clan leader.
"Clan leader, I have to return tomorrow."
"So soon?"
"I have been away from the Western Purple Kingdom for many days. I have many affairs to attend to there and need to go back and manage them."
"Since that is the case, I will not detain the Demon King any longer."
"Alright."
"I see the Demon King is a bit tipsy. I will have someone escort you back."
"Thank you, Elder."
He called out to someone nearby, "Mu Han, come and escort the Demon King back to rest."
"Yes."
With that, Mu Han came to my side, helped me up, and escorted me to my room in the back courtyard. After tucking me in, he left the courtyard.
Although I was somewhat dazed from drinking, I still remembered that I had to leave tomorrow, so I fell into a deep sleep.
That night, the entire Penglai Island was exceptionally quiet. Tian Long also proactively informed Liu Shinian about the Demon King's departure the next day. Liu Shinian was grateful for his informing him.
Tian Long asked, "How are you and Yue Yao?"
"We've sorted things out. There are no problems."
"That's good. Then get some rest."
"Alright, you go back."
That night, Yue Yao still did not come.