The celestial maiden has come to save me.

When Little White had fully landed, Zhao Liang realized that behind him stood a young maiden of exquisite beauty and ethereal grace. Her long hair flowed over her shoulders, her white robes fluttered lightly in the breeze. A purple silk ribbon was tied behind her hair, her eyes deep as autumn ponds, her brows distant as mountain ridges. She was at the height of youth, no more than fifteen or sixteen, her white attire as pure as snow, her delicate beauty radiant and dazzling, impossible to look upon directly.

Her appearance was like that of a celestial maiden, and Zhao Liang found himself utterly transfixed.

At this moment, Little White darted over and leapt into Zhao Liang’s arms, nuzzling affectionately, clearly delighted. Only then did Zhao Liang recover from his daze.

The maiden in white smiled at them and asked Zhao Liang, “Young sir, are you the one who rescued Little White before?”

Zhao Liang quickly lifted Little White from his arms, bowed, and replied, “Indeed, I did save Little White once, though to my shame, it was I who set the animal trap in the first place. I simply made amends for my mistake; I would not call it a rescue.”

The maiden smiled and said, “Little White has always been mischievous. Suffering a loss now and then is good for him, makes him learn.”

Little White seemed to understand the reproach, whining in protest beside Zhao Liang.

“Miss, is Little White yours?” Zhao Liang had long suspected the connection between the maiden and the fox and finally voiced his question.

“You might say so. Three years ago, my mother and I went to visit a senior at Mount Qingqiu and happened upon Little White’s mother. She was caught by a hunter, gravely injured, barely clinging to life.”

Seeing Zhao Liang silent, she continued, “I noticed she was pregnant and pitied her, so I pleaded with my mother to buy her from the hunter. We brought her home and cared for her, and Little White was born three years ago.”

The maiden paused, then said, “Two hours ago, a thrush flew to my home, chirped at Little White, and he hurried to me, biting my sleeve and tugging me outside. I followed him to the mountain summit, where the thrush flew straight into the valley. I brought Little White down to investigate, and that’s how I found you here.”

Only now did Zhao Liang understand the sequence of events.

“You also call him Little White?” Zhao Liang asked.

“Yes, this clever little fellow is pure white, so I named him Little White. I didn’t expect you to call him the same—how amusing.”

The maiden’s laughter was as clear as silver bells.

“Well, that’s quite the coincidence. May I…may I ask you something?” Zhao Liang hesitated, unsure how to proceed.

“You may ask, but I might not answer,” the maiden replied with a mischievous wink.

Zhao Liang scratched his head, pointed at the sky above the valley, and asked, “How did you come down from there?”

“We flew down,” she answered calmly.

“Flew...flew down?” Zhao Liang’s mind reeled, unable to grasp what he’d heard. He stared in astonishment. “Does that mean you’re a celestial maiden?”

The maiden burst into laughter. “Not a celestial maiden, just an ordinary cultivator.”

“Cultivator?” Zhao Liang didn’t even know what that meant.

“All right, let’s not talk now. It’s getting late. We should leave the valley first,” she said, cutting off Zhao Liang’s confusion.

“Come here, hold my waist,” she ordered.

“Ah!” Zhao Liang was dumbfounded and flustered. Although ritual propriety was not strictly observed in the pre-Qin era, Zhao Liang knew men and women should keep their distance.

“What are you waiting for? If you don’t hold onto me, how will I take you out of the valley?” The maiden was slightly annoyed at his hesitation.

Zhao Liang snapped out of it, stepped forward, and awkwardly wrapped his arms around her waist.

A delicate fragrance drifted from her, and his mind wandered.

Just then, the maiden produced a snowy-white silk ribbon, called out, “Hold tight! Up we go!” She cradled Little White in her arms, stepped onto the ribbon, and soared into the air with Zhao Liang. They rose swiftly, faster than a galloping horse, like an arrow released from the bow.

As Zhao Liang ascended higher and higher, wind whistled past his ears. He glanced down, realizing they were at least two hundred yards above the ground. Fearing a misstep might spell disaster, he squeezed his eyes shut and clung tightly to the maiden’s slender waist.

Before long, the maiden said, “You can let go now!”

Zhao Liang realized they had reached the summit. He opened his eyes and quickly released her.

She collected the ribbon and set Little White down.

At last, he had returned to the world of men, reborn anew, Zhao Liang thought with a sigh.

Seeing the maiden looking at him, Zhao Liang hurriedly bowed deeply. “Thank you for saving my life. May I ask your name?”

She replied, “I am Bai Ling. And you?”

“My name is Zhao Liang—ah-choo, ah-choo, ah-choo!” He sneezed several times. It was early autumn, and during their flight, the mountain wind had chilled him to the bone.

“That white ribbon—what treasure is it? You can fly on it! So impressive,” Zhao Liang said with admiration.

Bai Ling smiled. “This ribbon is called Snow Cloud Silk—white as snow, light as clouds. By the way, Zhao Liang, why did you come to this valley surrounded by sheer cliffs?”

Zhao Liang briefly recounted how he had caught Tian Er stealing, and how Tian Er retaliated.

Bai Ling’s brows furrowed in anger. “That Tian Er—rather than repent, he escalates his crimes, plotting murder and theft. Truly vile! I will help you teach him a lesson. Three days from now, meet me here. We’ll settle accounts with him.”

“Agreed. At noon three days from now, we’ll meet here,” Zhao Liang swore, sealing the pact with a clap of hands.

As dusk fell, Bai Ling said, “Let me escort you back to Tian Family Village.”

Zhao Liang hurriedly replied, “No need, Miss Bai. I can never repay the debt of saving my life—how could I trouble you further? I know the way well enough to walk it with my eyes closed.”

Seeing his insistence, Bai Ling did not press further. She bid him farewell, took Little White in her arms, and soared away.

Zhao Liang waved after Bai Ling and Little White until they vanished from sight, then turned and headed for Tian Family Village.