A month later, Yinze finally took the initiative to find me once. It was during Tianshi City’s most frigid time, heavy snow covering brocade robes. He met me at Bagua Peak, pointing to a deep cavern below. I had heard him mention before that this was the cave where he kept his beloved fire qilin.
This cavern was over a hundred meters deep, but standing outside, we could still occasionally see sparks jumping out, hot air rising, and hear the giant beast’s long, deep breathing. One could imagine this divine beast was truly divine—its true form must be as unbearable to look at directly as an emerging sun.
I didn’t understand why Master, who governed water, would go get a fire beast to tinker with. Wasn’t he afraid of water and fire being incompatible and conflicting? Of course, he couldn’t hear my internal criticism. He only said with slight regret: “My fire qilin seems unable to withstand the extreme cold of the Room constellation. It’s now ill and needs medicine to cure it.”
This medicine was Su Lian’s lotus seeds. Su Lian was the name I borrowed from the Su Lian cakes I loved eating as a child. Su Lian was actually a type of lotus with red petals and golden stamens, growing on nameless islands in the East Sea. This was a magical plant that would create bewildering water formations to disturb the sight and hearing of those who approached, for self-protection.
So I, who could control water, was undoubtedly the first choice as a guide. Knowing I could help Master, my mood couldn’t have been better. Following a group of senior brothers, we killed our way to the nameless island Yinze had designated. Heavy snow falling from the nine heavens also buried this uninhabited, isolated island.
Under the guidance of my water-controlling arts, we quickly found the secluded valley pool in the island’s center. The air was suddenly cold, heavy snow chaotic, yet the pool water was warm. In the center of that pool grew not only a glowing red lotus, but a snow-white giant python coiled around it.
The giant python reared up high, flicking its tongue at the Su Lian, its fangs sharp, gleaming coldly in the misty snow.
A senior brother said, “Terrible, this python wants to devour the Su Lian. Quick, stop it!”
Then the senior brothers all flew over to surround and attack that snow python. The snow python was no match for them and was defeated in several rounds, forced back to shore. One senior brother held the snow python at sword point while others quickly harvested the Su Lian seeds, then all gathered around, planning to kill the python and take its gallbladder.
At this moment, the snow python looked at me with pitiful eyes, as if seeking help. I quickly stopped them: “Wait, senior brother, this python cannot be killed.”
“Why?”
“It’s a snake Master raised—can’t be touched. Let it return to the forest.”
Bringing up Yinze, naturally, no one dared voice opposition. They released their hold, letting the snow python return to the forest. I looked back again at that golden, radiant Su Lian: “When leaving the island, you must go first. I need to walk behind to rearrange the bewildering water formation to ensure Su Lian’s safety.” They nodded and departed first.
Then I playfully raised my eyebrows, flew by water to the pool’s center, rolled up my sleeves: “Sisters who understand life’s pleasures like me are truly rare. Su Lian little sister, many apologies.” After speaking, I pulled the Su Lian up by its roots from the water.
I had already asked Master whether I could take this Su Lian myself. He said as long as I took the lotus seeds, I could dispose of the Su Lian as I wished. Such a beautiful flower—how could I not take it? I would plant it in the back garden of my quarters and lovingly tend and admire it daily.
However, as soon as I returned to shore holding the Su Lian, something ice-cold wrapped around my waist and dragged me into the forest. I screamed, but that thing coiled around me tighter and tighter. Looking back, it was that snow python from before.
With my throat constricted and unable to breathe, I said furiously: “Beast! Beast! I saved your life, yet you repay kindness with hatred. Truly, snakes and rats are family—not one good thing among you!”
Just as I was about to use magic to strike it down, the force embracing me didn’t lessen, but the sensation completely changed. The snow python suddenly shrank, and what held me tightly became a young master with frivolous, seductive eyes.
His clothes and hair were snow-white, wearing a golden crown on his head. His voice was also light and floating, both gentle and dangerous: “Miss, you may misunderstand me, but comparing me to vermin is your wrong.”
I said, “Oh, you can even transform into human form! Quickly release this little princess, or my master Divine Lord Yinze will descend from heaven and chop you into snake soup!”
He extended his thin tongue tip and lightly licked behind my ear: “By the time he arrives, our raw rice will already be cooked. Then with my eggs in your belly, I’m afraid even the Divine Lord couldn’t save you.”
These were improper words, yet I wanted to laugh hearing them. I turned back to look at him coldly, raised both hands slowly, and used “Drifting Waves Surging Tide.” Rotating water waves surged around us, striking directly at his face. He cried out and was knocked back, falling to the ground.
I approached him step by step as he retreated step by step: “Miss, I meant no offense. It’s just the nature of us Snow Snake Clan—when facing a life-saving benefactor, we must pledge ourselves. Miss, please don’t misunderstand. I truly want to lay eggs with you…”
I said: “Say one more word and I’ll chop you to pieces!”
“Yes, yes, yes, I was wrong, I was wrong. Miss has already saved me once. This time, you absolutely cannot harbor killing intent, or my five hundred years of cultivation will…”
I said: “What? You’ve already lived five hundred years?”
Snow Snake said, “Not every demon can live this long. But I’m naturally gifted. As long as I cultivate diligently, even if chopped back to original form, in five hundred years I’ll be a good snake again.”
“If you try any more dirty tricks, I really will chop you up.” Hearing him nod repeatedly begging for mercy, I said fiercely: “Really can’t tell—a rogue demon like you can live five hundred years.” For demons who cultivated for thousands of years, this number might not be so shocking, but for me, it was unreachably distant.
“Is Miss an immortal? Immortals can live much longer.”
“Of course not. I’m a spirit.”
“I see. You spirits can’t live very long. No matter how you cultivate, you’ll eventually return to your original form.” After speaking, he glanced at the Su Lian I’d thrown on shore. “Moreover, some spirits’ original forms are just as detestable as when in human form.”
Hearing him say this, I felt somewhat dejected. I was a water spirit with no particular original form—when dead, I’d just be dead. I said, “Yes, demons are so good, able to live so long.”
Snow Snake smiled: “Then why doesn’t Miss consider spirit-to-demon transformation?”
“Spirit-to-demon transformation?” These three words echoed in my mind like a spell, full of temptation.
“That’s right. Your power isn’t small to begin with. Willingly remaining a spirit is truly wasteful.”
“Shut up. I don’t want to become a demon.” I made a decisive decision, flew to the Su Lian, picked it up, and left without looking back.
“Miss, I’ve always lived on this island. If you change your mind and want to lay eggs with me, come find me anytime…”
Returning to Tianshi City, I planted the Su Lian in the back courtyard and found its vitality far exceeded my imagination. Two days later, it rained and snowed. The new lotus jumped in the rain like falling teardrops, then thrived in its new environment. I had read in books before that Su Lian was an immortal lotus with an extremely long life. If it grew well, living one or two thousand years was no problem.
In the boundless, auspicious snow, I sat by the carved window rail, looking at this lotus flower, and once again felt endless regret in my heart.
Even a plant’s lifespan was longer than mine—this world truly had no natural law. Comparatively, mortals were truly fortunate. Though their lifespans weren’t long, they didn’t coexist with gods, immortals, and demons in the same world. Without comparison, there was no pain—relaxed, carefree, and unrestrained.
Xuanyue, like me, loved this Su Lian that glowed like a night pearl, constantly flying around it. One afternoon, Goddess Qingwu passed by and was also attracted by this Su Lian. She had someone contact Yinze, planning to take it.
Hearing this news, I immediately rushed to the courtyard, only to see both Yinze and Qingwu there.
Yinze seemed to have just arrived. Seeing me come, he said: “This lotus isn’t mine—it’s Luowei’s. If you want it, just buy it from her.”
Before Qingwu could answer, I said: “Sorry, Goddess. I just obtained this flower and am treasuring it—I haven’t planned to transfer it.”
Qingwu waved her hand and smiled: “Miss Luowei, don’t misunderstand. I only found the Divine Lord because I thought the flower was beautiful—I didn’t say I wanted it now. If Miss Luowei doesn’t mind, in four or five hundred years, I could help you care for it.”
I was stunned. Four or five hundred years—she said it so casually…
Logically, she was being kind, but why did my heart feel so empty…
I forced a smile: “Good, thank you, Goddess. I have many things around me with lifespans much longer than mine—like my flowers, this little tiger—they can all live over a thousand years. If I die, I worry about who will care for them…”
Hearing this, Qingwu’s eyes lit up: “You’d worry about this little tiger too? No problem—you can entrust them all to me in the future. I love small animals, and the divine realm’s Changrong Heaven has the Six Realms’ strongest beast cultivation grounds. I could take it there, then—it might even become a legendary beast.”
Xuanyue looked at her, then at me, suddenly burrowing into my arms with a whimpering cry, as if weeping. I held it tight and nodded: “That would be wonderful. Thank you, Goddess.”