Half a month later…
Early one morning, a scream echoed from Gu Changliu’s room.
“Oh my god!!!”
He burst out of the room, his face pale, and ran into Mingluan.
“What’s wrong? Why are you shouting?” she scolded.
He clung to her leg, tears streaming down his face, his voice trembling. “There’s… there’s…”
“There’s what? A monster? Don’t be ridiculous! You’re a cultivator!”
“There’s… a woman!”
Mingluan followed his gaze and blushed, covering her eyes. “Gu Changliu! Have you no sha?! Keeping a woman in your room is one thing, but at least let her get dressed!”
“I-I don’t know her!” he wailed.
Chen Yin couldn’t help but chuckle at his pathetic cries.
Inside the room, Little Yao, having just transford into her human form, sat naked on the bed, glaring at him.
“You don’t know ? You’re the one who brought here!”
Gu Changliu stared at her, his eyes wide with disbelief. “You… you’re Little Yao?”
“You gave a na, so you’re my master now.”
She walked out of the room, naked and unashad, making Gu Changliu yelp and hide behind Mingluan, who quickly gave Little Yao her cloak.
Little Yao frowned at him, her hands on her hips. “Your na is Gu Changliu, right? Since you gave a na, you’re responsible for now.”
“What?! I just brought you back! I didn’t want a pet!”
Little Yao’s eyes filled with tears. “You… you did… things to … You have to take responsibility! Or I’ll… I’ll kill myself!”
Mingluan glared at Gu Changliu, who stamred, his face pale, “Y-you… you’re lying! I didn’t do anything to you!”
“You touched … everywhere…” Little Yao sobbed, her face crimson. “You played with for so long…”
Chen Yin didn’t know what Gu Changliu was feeling,
But he was dying of laughter.
He knew she was talking about her ears, but it was still hilarious to see the Immortal Venerable so flustered.
Gu Changliu, unable to defend himself, looked at Mingluan’s disapproving gaze and sighed. He was dood.
He turned to their Master for help.
But the monk just smiled and said, “Didn’t I tell you? Fate is a difficult thing to unravel. Whether it’s a good fate or a bad fate, it’s all predetermined. Since you found her, she’s yours now.”
And so, much to Gu Changliu’s dismay, he and Little Yao began their life together.
Mount Changliu had a new resident.
But despite his protests, Gu Changliu, soft-hearted despite his gruff exterior, took good care of Little Yao.
He taught her how to read and write, took her to the market, helped her cultivate, and played with her in the mountains.
And occasionally, their interactions led to so… awkward… situations.
Little Yao gradually adapted to life on Mount Changliu,
And Gu Changliu accepted his role as the caretaker of a beautiful fox demon.
Both Chen Yin and Qing i Niang, having experienced love and loss themselves, could see that she was falling for him.
But Little Yao, still young and naive, didn’t understand her own feelings.
She only knew that the man she loved,
Loved soone else.
Mingluan.
So she remained by his side, a quiet and obedient companion, listening to his complaints about Mingluan, his stories about her adventures with their Senior Brother, Mo Wuyou.
His every word, every thought, revolved around “Senior Sister.”
Little Yao just listened,
Sharing his joys and sorrows,
Watching him pine for Mingluan from afar.
“I like Senior Sister so much… how can I be better than Senior Brother? How can I make her love ?” he would often murmur, lost in thought.
Little Yao wanted to tell him,
It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t love you. I love you. I’ll always be here for you.
But he couldn’t hear her.
And she couldn’t say the words.
Three years later…
Little Yao, in her fox form, was sleeping on Gu Changliu’s head when their Master suddenly summoned them.
“…My children,” the monk said, his voice gentle but tinged with sadness, “it’s almost ti. I’ll be leaving soon.”
His words made Little Yao realize that their peaceful life on Mount Changliu wouldn’t last forever.
“Before I go, I have a few words for you. You are my disciples, so you must follow my rules. My rules are simple: Do good, and don’t ask for rewards. You are among the few who have embarked on the path of cultivation in this world. This world is still young, and there’s much for you to explore and create. I hope you will rember my words and protect this world, so humanity can thrive. Rember, your enemies are not just the ancient beasts that roam this land…”
“…But also those from other worlds,” he added, a cryptic smile on his lips.
His words made the three disciples exchange confused glances, while Chen Yin and Qing i Niang’s expressions turned serious.
“Is he talking about the Triennial Heavenly Tribulation?” Qing i Niang whispered.
Chen Yin nodded.
“A great calamity will soon befall this world. As my disciples, you must not run from it, but face it bravely…”
“…and protect the people.”
“It will be difficult, and I can’t help you much. Whether you succeed or not… depends on you, and on the fate of this world.” His voice was calm and steady.
“Yes, Master!” the three disciples said in unison.
“And you too, little fox,” the monk said, turning to Little Yao. “You are not my disciple, so you are not obligated to fight. You can leave if you wish. You don’t belong to this world. But if you choose to stay with Changliu, your abilities will be a great asset to him.”
Everyone looked at her, their eyes filled with expectation.
Even Gu Changliu looked at her, his gaze filled with a silent plea.
Little Yao had never seen him look at her like that before.
She wished he would always look at her that way.
Only at her.
She nodded without hesitation.
“Then I can leave with peace of mind.”
The monk smiled, his eyes filled with a gentle warmth, then his body began to fade, dissolving into dust.
Within monts, the benevolent monk was gone, leaving behind only a pristine skeleton.
Gu Changliu, Mingluan, and Mo Wuyou knelt and bowed their heads, their grief palpable.
Chen Yin looked at the skeleton, his heart filled with a strange mix of emotions.
…It was the sa crystal skull from his scroll.
He didn’t know how the Wu Xuan Ancestor had obtained it, but even as a re skeleton, it had possessed imnse power, comparable to a true Immortal.
And it was the remains of this monk.
Qing i Niang, seeing Chen Yin lost in thought again, snorted impatiently.
She knew he wouldn’t tell her anything.
Five years passed.
After the monk’s death, Gu Changliu’s playful deanor vanished, replaced by a quiet determination as he devoted himself to cultivation.
Within three years, he had reached the peak of Grand Clarity.
His swordsmanship was unparalleled, his only rival being his Senior Brother, Mo Wuyou.
During those five years, Mo Wuyou traveled throughout the land, bringing order to the chaotic world, driving away the monstrous beasts that plagued the mortal realm, securing a safe haven for humanity.
And Gu Changliu, traveling from sect to sect, challenging every cultivator he t, had beco a legend.
Their nas spread throughout the cultivation world.
Mingluan remained on Mount Changliu, cultivating diligently, preparing for the coming tribulation.
And Little Yao,
She stayed by Gu Changliu’s side, their footprints marking every corner of the land, their bond deepening with each passing day.
Her bloodline awakened, and she reached Grand Clarity without any formal training, her ability to manipulate the Void growing stronger.
But even after five years, she didn’t confess her feelings.
Neither did Gu Changliu confess his love for Mingluan.
Nor did Mingluan confess her feelings for Mo Wuyou.
They had grown up, matured, and learned that so things were better left unsaid.
So loves were never ant to be.
Five years later, the Triennial Heavenly Tribulation arrived without warning.
Two dinsional passages opened, unleashing a torrent of destructive energy upon the Lower Realm, turning the once vibrant land into a living hell.
Even Qing i Niang couldn’t bear to watch the carnage.
It was the first ti Chen Yin had seen what would have happened if he hadn’t intervened in his own ti.
Gu Changliu, Mo Wuyou, Mingluan, and Little Yao, following their Master’s instructions, fought against the invaders, a brutal and devastating battle that decimated the already dwindling ranks of cultivators.
They won, thanks to Little Yao’s ability to manipulate the Void, sealing the passages before they could be completely overrun.
But the Lower Realm was in ruins.
Gu Changliu led the rebuilding efforts, uniting the scattered remnants of humanity, while Mo Wuyou, driven by a sense of urgency, searched for a way to defeat the Upper Realm.
Mingluan, following the monk’s instructions, began forging a divine sword capable of challenging the Upper Realm’s power.
And Little Yao, gravely injured, fell into a deep sleep, her body slowly healing in a hidden chamber on Mount Changliu.
She knew little of what happened afterward.
Neither did Chen Yin or Qing i Niang.
Only two fragnted mories remained from her slumber.
One was of Gu Changliu and Mo Wuyou discussing the sword in a hidden chamber. “…It’s still not right. Master’s instructions are correct, but sothing’s missing.”
“Perhaps we have to discover it ourselves,” Mo Wuyou said, his brow furrowed. “But even with a Dao Realm sword, we can’t defeat the Upper Realm without the necessary cultivation. We need to find another way.”
“Two Daos?”
“It’s dangerous.”
“We have to try. Who will protect this world? Who will protect Mingluan?”
Gu Changliu hesitated, then nodded. “Alright. I’ll do it with you.”
The second mory was more fragnted and blurry. Little Yao saw Gu Changliu, gravely injured, Mingluan desperately trying to heal him. She didn’t know what had happened. Driven by worry, she woke up from her slumber, but Gu Changliu wasn’t there. Instead, a grand wedding was taking place on Mount Changliu. …Gu Changliu and Mingluan. He looked genuinely happy, happier than he had ever been with her. Little Yao left a letter and retreated to a secluded mountain, sealing herself away to guard a dinsional passage, passing down her duty to her descendants.
She only left her self-imposed exile twice.
Once, when Mingluan died three years later. Gu Changliu mourned her in silence, Little Yao watching from afar, just as she had watched him pine for Mingluan years ago.
And again, when Gu Changliu died. The world mourned the Immortal Venerable, but Little Yao secretly visited his grave, stealing his clothes, burying half with Mingluan, and keeping the other half. She never left Qinglian City again, transforming it into a hidden sanctuary, a world apart.
The final scene was of Little Yao, old and her hair white, but her face still beautiful, sealing her mories into her daughter’s bloodline before leaving to guard the seal, never to return.
Qing i Niang and Chen Yin were silent.
“So Little Yao also… suffered for love,” Chen Yin said softly. “She never confessed her feelings.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered,” Qing i Niang snorted. “n are fickle. She would have rather died than share him with his wife.”
“You’re generalizing, Senior. Are all n that terrible?”
“Look at yourself,” she said, rolling her eyes.
Chen Yin couldn’t argue with that.
“But I think he knew how she felt. There was just soone else he loved more.”
“Do you know how she felt, watching him marry another woman, then spending centuries alone, guarding the seal?”
“What would you have done?” Chen Yin shrugged. “They should have compromised. They could have been a happy family. Like and Master. She’s not stubborn at all—”
Qing i Niang glared at him.
Seeing her anger, Chen Yin felt a surge of… satisfaction.
“…As expected,” she gritted her teeth, “n are all trash.”
“I think all cultivators are trash,” he retorted.
Their conversation ended unpleasantly.
Then, Little Yao’s voice echoed through the secret realm.
“Descendants, this mory… is to explain why we guard the seal. You are not obligated to follow. I just hope… you won’t end up like , trapped in unrequited love.”
The image faded, and the secret realm crumbled.
Back in the main hall, the mark on Qing i Niang’s back was gone.
“We still don’t know what the Eternal Light Sword is missing,” Chen Yin sighed.
“What if…” Qing i Niang said slowly, “…he never actually finished it?”
“So what?” Chen Yin interrupted her. “If he couldn’t do it, it doesn’t an I can’t. I’ll find a way.”
Qing i Niang looked at him, impressed by his determination. “I hope you can keep your promise. Well, we didn’t find anything, so I won’t keep you. Go back to your harem. I’m tired.”
“We did find sothing,” Chen Yin said thoughtfully.
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