Chapter 11: Punished to Copy the Celestial Laws

Lord Lanshu had long found Fairy Shuangrao an eyesore, but for the sake of Jiuxian Yue, he had endured and endured again. Day after day, that fairy ran rampant through Water and Sky’s Endless Dream, domineering and wild, yet never leaving enough of a misstep to be punished—Lanshu feared tarnishing his divine reputation over a petty squabble. But today, he truly had to thank this little flower sprite; by chance, he’d taken the opportunity to rid himself of Fairy Shuangrao, eliminating a great source of worry from his heart.

Once Fairy Shuangrao was escorted away by the heavenly soldiers and taken to Zhouchuan, the thirty-three heavens were left with only the little flower Yan, awaiting judgment.

“Raise your head and tell me, did you truly have no dealings with the demons? Was it out of reverence for divine might that you entered the Hall of Clear Moon?” Jiuxian Yue’s tone was gentle, his expression one of benevolence, as if he were the savior of all beings.

Little Flower Yan slowly lifted her head, her eyes turning as she thought frantically for a way out. And so began her earnest, elaborate nonsense.

“Yes, Divine Lord, your boundless power is beyond compare, your supreme grace brings endless blessings to the nine provinces. Even ordinary folk, upon seeing you, could have their lifespans extended.”

“That’s enough! You still haven’t told me why you went to the Hall of Clear Moon.” Jiuxian Yue would not let her off so easily, not with so many lies on her lips. He was determined to have a proper explanation.

Tears welled in Little Flower Yan’s eyes, her expression brimming with emotion. “I am the little flower sprite who tends the Hall of a Hundred Blossoms. Thirty thousand years ago, when gods and demons warred, my soul was burned, leaving my immortal roots unstable. In all these millennia, I have tried to ascend seven times and never succeeded. But I heard that the wondrous elixirs in the Hall of Clear Moon could mend immortal roots. Yearning for ascension, I had no choice but to trespass into the hall.”

“Is this true?” Jiuxian Yue looked at her with doubt.

“It’s true. If you don’t believe me, Divine Lord, you can ask the Grand Fatekeeper of the Palace of Blessings,” Little Flower Yan replied naively.

Lord Lanshu’s eyes widened. He couldn’t help but half-cover his face with his jade fan, a smile playing on his lips. “Seven attempts at ascension, and never once successful?”

His interest in this little flower sprite grew—such pure-heartedness was rare indeed in Water and Sky’s Endless Dream. And since she had helped him rid himself of the bothersome Fairy Shuangrao, he resolved to offer her some help in return. As for owing her a favor, he doubted she could ever be of use to him—so he let it be.

“This little flower sprite is truly pitiable. Yue, I think you should let her go.”

Hearing Lord Lanshu interceding for her, Little Flower Yan clung to his words like a drowning person to a reed, eager to seize her chance. “Never again, I promise it will never happen again.”

Jiuxian Yue glanced at Lanshu, surprised to see him in such good spirits, and relented for his sake. “Your crime is not one deserving of death. Since your trespass was unintentional, you shall not be punished for it. However, you have broken the heavenly rules. As punishment, you must copy the laws of heaven fifty thousand times.”

“If you dare trespass in the Hall of Clear Moon again, you will be sent to Zhouchuan like Fairy Shuangrao.”

Little Flower Yan was relieved to hear she would not be punished further, but when she heard she must copy the laws of heaven fifty thousand times, her heart sank—she’d rather be sent to Zhouchuan.

“What?” She plopped onto the ground, her face frozen in shock. This was hundreds of times harder than a stint in Zhouchuan.

Lord Lanshu burst into hearty laughter at the sight—this little flower sprite was truly amusing. How had he never noticed that the Endless Dream held such a delightful little spirit?

Divine Realm—Water and Sky’s Endless Dream—Hall of a Hundred Blossoms.

The sun was sinking, its afterglow lingering in the sky, neither close nor far. Little Flower Yan, exhausted, yawned and stretched, pounding her aching arms with her fists.

“My hands are so sore... I’m so tired!” she moaned, sighing as she slumped onto the table, her body heavy with fatigue, and soon drifted off to sleep.

At that moment, Beiming Yanhuo approached quietly, lowering his gaze to see Little Flower Yan asleep at the table, worn out from her punishment. For reasons he could not name, he felt a faint pang of reluctance in his heart.

He sat down beside her with rare humility, and, following her handwriting, began to copy the heavenly laws for her, continuing until the moon shone clear and silver, and the night grew light and still.

“You truly are a foolish little flower sprite. I told you to find the Flower of Bone and Ash, not to trespass into the Hall of Clear Moon. Now you’re punished, and I have to copy these lines for you. If you fail to find the Flower of Bone and Ash, I’ll kill you and use you for flower fertilizer,” Beiming Yanhuo grumbled, letting his irritation be known. Yet something inside him had softened, perhaps unwittingly.

Without thinking, he took a quilt from the nearby couch and gently draped it over her.

Little Flower Yan awoke to daylight. She stared, wide-eyed, at the stack of paper before her. Fifty thousand lines of the heavenly laws—completed in one night. Was she dreaming? Had some kind deity heard her prayers and come to her rescue?

On instinct, she pinched her plump, round cheek. “I’m not dreaming. It’s really done. Wonderful!”

Beiming Yanhuo watched from the shadows as the little flower sprite danced with joy, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Not once in thirty thousand years had he smiled, and yet today, because of a little flower sprite, he did. Mixed feelings welled up within him.

Little Flower Yan had already guessed the truth: surely it was the immortal lord who had copied the lines for her. In her eyes, the severe immortal lord now seemed not quite so frightful after all.

“Thank you, Great Ice Block,” she said cheerfully, then hurried off with the copied heavenly laws to report to the Hall of Clear Moon.

Divine Realm—Water and Sky’s Endless Dream—Hall of Clear Moon.

Little Flower Yan smiled to herself, took a deep breath, tiptoed lightly, and crept to the entrance of the hall.

“Brother Heavenly Soldier, I’ve finished copying the heavenly laws. Would you please deliver them inside for me? I’ve some matters to attend to in the Hall of a Hundred Blossoms, so I won’t go in myself.”

She thought happily to herself: once I hand in these heavenly laws to Lord Jiuxian Yue, I will never have to set foot in this wretched place again.

Breathing a long sigh of relief and congratulating herself for her cleverness, she was completely unaware that Lord Jiuxian Yue and Lord Lanshu within the hall had already noticed her arrival.

“Little flower sprite, come in,” called Lord Lanshu, a knowing smile playing at his lips, his eyes sparkling with mischief, as he waited to see the embarrassment on the sharp-tongued little sprite’s face.