Chapter 12: Blessed by the Koi Spirit

Hearing the summons from inside the hall, her once radiant and enthusiastic smile gradually twisted into awkwardness.

Within the hall, the High Deity of Nine Moons and Lord Lanshu were engrossed in a game of chess.

A hint of helplessness surfaced on Little Huayan’s face; inwardly, she was almost certainly weeping. Head lowered, her expression crestfallen, she offered a respectful bow in perfect form.

“Little Huayan pays her respects to the Revered High Deity of Nine Moons, and to Lord Lanshu.”

“Hmm. Fifty thousand copies—have you completed the transcription?” The High Deity of Nine Moons, face impassive, continued playing chess with Lanshu.

“They’re all done. I promise I’ll never trespass into the Jade Moon Hall again,” Little Huayan replied timidly.

“You may go,” the High Deity said, still without lifting his gaze.

It was Lord Lanshu, sitting beside him, who seemed rather interested in Little Huayan. Moved by the plight of the flower sprite who had failed to ascend seven times, he contemplated lending her a hand.

“In a few days, the Mystic Realm of the Boundless Sea will open. Any immortal spirit who passes the trial may increase their spiritual power.”

“Really?” Little Huayan’s eyes lit up, golden with excitement.

“Would I deceive you? If you succeed in the trial of the Boundless Sea’s Mystic Realm, I will grant you all the spiritual elixirs within the Jade Moon Hall. Should you find the Xuan Yuan Pearl, I will take you as my disciple. From then on, you may come and go from the Jade Moon Hall as you please.”

“It’s a deal!” Without hesitation, Little Huayan agreed to Lord Lanshu’s offer.

Inwardly, she thought that with the Jade Moon Hall’s wondrous elixirs, her broken life soul would surely be healed. Most importantly, she would gain free access to the hall, making her search for the Corpse Flower much easier.

When she heard Lord Lanshu mention taking her as his disciple, she could scarcely believe her ears—such a great fortune had actually come her way.

If she could become Lord Lanshu’s disciple, the fairies of Heavenly Water’s Endless Dream would never dare bully her again.

Even the High Deity of Nine Moons was taken aback, setting aside his chess piece.

“You little flower sprite, you really are greedy. But as for accepting a disciple, Lanshu, how is it I’ve never heard you mention this before?” His lips curved ever so slightly, so faintly that it was almost imperceptible.

Hearing herself called greedy by the High Deity of Nine Moons, Little Huayan instinctively lowered her head.

—

“My destiny and this little flower sprite are well aligned. Seeing how pitiable she is, I thought to take her as my disciple. Why, Nine Moons, do you wish to compete with me for a student?” Lord Lanshu twirled his jade fan thoughtfully, glancing at the High Deity.

He simply thought Little Huayan’s spirit was pure and kind; seven failed ascensions in thirty thousand years spoke of her perseverance, and he found her pleasing to the eye. Surely, in all of Heavenly Water’s Endless Dream, few could compare to this flower sprite.

As for the Xuan Yuan Pearl, it was exceedingly hard to find. The Mystic Realm of the Boundless Sea was riddled with dangers—spiritual beasts everywhere and ingenious traps. Even he could not easily obtain the pearl.

“Lanshu, you’re quite good at making yourself look generous by giving away all my Jade Moon Hall’s spiritual elixirs to this little flower sprite,” the High Deity of Nine Moons remarked, raising his brow, turning slightly to smile at Lord Lanshu.

“Ah! I’m only highlighting your divine glory!” Lord Lanshu imitated Little Huayan’s fawning manner from the Thirty-Three Heavens, praising Nine Moons.

The High Deity of Nine Moons lifted his gaze to Little Huayan, recalling her bootlicking performance in the palace.

“You may go.”

Little Huayan answered with a cheerful “Oh!” and skipped out of the Jade Moon Hall, beaming with delight.

—

The Divine Realm—Heavenly Water’s Endless Dream—Hundred Flowers Hall.

For three days straight, Beiming Yanhuo had holed up in the Hundred Flowers Hall, claiming he’d broken heavenly rules and had nowhere else to go. Pitying him, Little Huayan took him in.

“Big Ice Block, from now on, Hundred Flowers Hall is your home. If anyone dares bully you, just mention my name—I’ll defend you with all I have!” Little Huayan hugged a wine jar to her chest, taking a deep gulp.

“You’ll protect me?” Beiming Yanhuo tilted his head, incredulous.

A subtle, almost invisible smile played at the corners of his lips, so charming it could not be ignored.

“Here, this is the nectar liquor Liuying gave me. Let’s have some together.” Little Huayan offered the jar to Beiming Yanhuo.

Wasn’t the wine supposed to be gone? Had this little flower sprite lied to him earlier? Beiming Yanhuo wondered.

—

When Beiming Yanhuo didn’t accept, Little Huayan downed the entire jar in one go.

“Excellent wine.”

She hiccuped, patted Beiming Yanhuo on the shoulder, and began to speak in earnest nonsense.

“Lord Lanshu is going to take me as his disciple!” Little Huayan tumbled over in joy.

“Big Ice Block, don’t worry. Once I find the Xuan Yuan Pearl and become Lord Lanshu’s disciple, I’ll be your pillar of support from now on!”

“Don’t be fooled by the fairies of Endless Dream bullying me—it's just that I can’t be bothered to deal with them.”

“And don’t go around with a long face. Smile! It’s really not such a big deal.”

“As for me, I’m content as long as I have enough to eat and wear.”

“I have my best friend Liuying, the Hundred Flowers Hall, and of course, I have you!”

Beiming Yanhuo listened to Little Huayan’s drunken ramblings and watched her wild antics, motionless.

“In a few more days, the Mystic Realm of the Boundless Sea will open for the trial. If I succeed, my life soul will be healed; I’ll ascend in one leap and never have to go to the Palace of Blessed Fate for ascension again, nor wait another sixteen hundred years. And then, I’ll be able to protect you…”

Little Huayan’s eyes grew unfocused, and her elbow, propped on the table, wobbled like a roly-poly doll.

Gradually, she closed her eyes, laid her head on the table, and fell asleep.

Seeing this, Beiming Yanhuo gently lifted her in his arms and carried her to her sleeping chamber.

“To think she’s this happy about becoming that hypocrite Lanshu’s disciple. He’s nothing compared to me, the Demon Lord. This little flower sprite—maybe her broken soul’s addled her brain as well.” Beiming Yanhuo grumbled sourly, unwilling to admit his own feelings.

As the cool night set in, Beiming Yanhuo tucked Little Huayan in, bent down, and gazed at her sweet sleeping face, lost in thought for a long while.