Chapter 397: Taking Action Personally
Another night fell.
The darkness at Mount Mang was like ink, with a lone moon hanging between withered branches.
The Peony Fairy leaned against the highest rock, her red robes fluttering slightly in the night wind.
She held a peony petal between her fingertips, but her gaze rested on the distant lights of Luoyang city.
She had always been like this—even when gathering with the Hundred Flowers, she preferred solitude.
...
"Another one who doesn't know the meaning of death."
She suddenly laughed coldly, speaking without turning her head.
On the mountain path, a tall, slender figure in black was slowly ascending. The moonlight outlined his straight silhouette, his wide sleeves billowing like wings in the night wind.
"What elegant interests you have, young lady."
The visitor's voice was clear and bright, not at all affected like that City God from last night.
Only then did the Peony Fairy turn around, but she froze the moment she saw his face—
Under the moonlight, the man's features were as beautiful as a painting, his phoenix eyes holding a faint smile.
He wore no crown, his black hair loosely tied with a red cord, making his skin look like jade.
Most striking was the white jade folding fan hanging at his waist, flowing with warm luster in the moonlight.
"You..."
The Peony Fairy was momentarily speechless, the petal in her hand silently falling.
The gentleman in black cupped his hands in salute:
"I was passing by and saw the mountain full of peonies blooming under the moon, so I came to observe."
The Peony Fairy recovered her wits and asked warily:
"Which immortal are you? Sent by the City God?"
The gentleman laughed and shook his head:
"Just a wandering cultivator, unaffiliated with the divine path." He pointed to his luggage at the foot of the mountain. "Traveling the world, just arrived in Luoyang today."
The Peony Fairy regarded him with suspicion, but saw that he had already walked on his own to a white peony, bending down to smell it lightly.
"Beautiful flowers."
He praised sincerely:
"Unafraid of cold, not fawning on power—truly worthy of the title 'King of Flowers.'"
These words stirred something in the Peony Fairy's heart.
For thousands of years, how many had come for her beauty, yet none truly understood her pride.
"You... understand flowers?"
She unconsciously stepped closer.
The gentleman in black straightened up, moonlight illuminating his smiling eyes:
"I know a little. Are you the master here?"
"I..."
The Peony Fairy suddenly felt flustered:
"I just... like the peonies here."
"What a coincidence."
The gentleman took out a wine flask from his sleeve:
"I have some 'Morning Dew Brew' here, perfect for admiring flowers under the moon. Would you care to drink with me?"
The Peony Fairy should have refused. But for some reason, looking into his frank eyes, she nodded as if possessed.
...
Ten zhang away, in an ancient pine tree, Lin Wan reclined lazily against a branch.
She toyed with a recording stone between her fingertips, capturing every move of the distant pair.
"Tsk tsk..."
She shook her head with a bitter smile.
During the day, Ji Hongli had suddenly said the time was right and that she would take action personally.
Then she brought her here and instructed her to watch only, not revealing her presence throughout, looking very mysterious.
Lin Wan had no objections.
She hadn't expected that Ji Hongli was showing her this scene.
...
Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on her face.
She watched as Ji Hongli poured wine for the Peony Fairy, as the Peony Fairy's expression gradually relaxed, as the two sat closer and closer...
The feeling was strange—knowing that Ji Hongli wouldn't do anything out of line, yet watching them drink together under the moon, chatting and laughing, a strange feeling welled up in her heart.
Not anger, not jealousy, but something... indescribable.
"Forget it."
She put away the recording stone and shifted to a more comfortable position:
"Either way, she's my dao companion, so what if it's a bit green..."
...
By the rock, Ji Hongli was telling an interesting story from her travels.
The Peony Fairy covered her lips and laughed lightly, her eyes shining with light she hadn't shown in a long time.
"So, you've really been to Kunlun?"
She asked curiously.
"Naturally."
Ji Hongli nodded:
"The snow lotus of Kunlun, blooming once in a thousand years. I was fortunate enough to witness it—that was truly..."
She suddenly paused, because the Peony Fairy had unconsciously leaned forward, her eyes full of longing. Under the moonlight, her eyelashes cast fine shadows on her face, her red clothes against snow-white skin, breathtakingly beautiful.
Ji Hongli imperceptibly averted her gaze and continued:
"That was truly a wonder of heaven and earth."
The Peony Fairy didn't notice her reaction, resting her chin in her hand and sighing:
"Since I... took form from the Thirty-Three Heavens, I've never left this realm."
"Why not go out and see?"
Ji Hongli asked.
The Peony Fairy's expression dimmed:
"Since I occupy a divine position, naturally..."
She suddenly stopped, looking at Ji Hongli warily.
But the other only calmly took a sip of wine, as if not noticing her slip.
She gazed at the distant moonlight:
"If the heart is free, where can one not go?"
These words were like a key, gently opening the tightly closed door of the Peony Fairy's heart. For the first time, she carefully examined the stranger before her—there was no greed in his eyes, no scheming, only clarity.
"You... are truly a strange person."
She said softly.
Ji Hongli smiled:
"Likewise."
...
When the eastern sky showed the white of fish bellies, the two were still talking. The Peony Fairy was surprised to find that she had spoken with a stranger all night.
"Day is breaking."
Ji Hongli stood up, patting the dew from her robes.
The Peony Fairy suddenly felt reluctant:
"You're leaving?"
"A traveler must eventually part."
She cupped her hands in salute:
"Thank you for your company, young lady."
The Peony Fairy opened her mouth, but in the end only said:
"Will you... come again?"
When Ji Hongli turned around, the corner of her mouth rose slightly:
"If fate allows."
Her figure gradually disappeared into the morning mist.
The Peony Fairy stood in place, not knowing when she had acquired a white jade pendant in her hand—that which had fallen from Ji Hongli's sleeve.
...
In the top-floor room of the Dream Immortal Tower, morning light poured through carved window lattices, scattering fragments of gold on the floor. Lin Wan kicked open the door, her red clothes bringing in a few fallen leaves from Mount Mang as she flew in.
"I'm exhausted—"
She dragged out her tone, collapsing into the soft couch, casually grabbing the teapot from the table and pouring it into her mouth.
Ji Hongli followed unhurriedly, closing the door behind her. With a flick of her finger, candles lit up throughout the room one by one, revealing her smiling expression:
"Lin, the famous courtesan, your bearing..."
"Spare me."
Lin Wan rolled her eyes, suddenly remembering something and tapping the foot of the bed with her toe:
"Almost forgot about this."
There was a muffled "mmm mmm" sound from under the bed board.
Ji Hongli raised an eyebrow, a gust of clear wind flying from her sleeve to lift the hanging brocade bed curtains. There was a scholar in green robes tied up like a dumpling and stuffed under the bed, his mouth stuffed with an embroidered handkerchief, currently staring in terror with wide eyes.
"Oh, you're awake?"
Lin Wan propped her chin on her hand, examining him with interest:
"This young master, we met on the mountain road last night—how have you been?"
The scholar struggled even harder, fine sweat beading on his forehead.
Ji Hongli crouched down, pointing a finger at his forehead:
"Quiet."
The scholar instantly froze, only his eyeballs still rolling in terror.
"How should we deal with this person?"
Lin Wan swayed her toes:
"We can't keep him stuffed under the bed forever, right?"
Ji Hongli stood up, dusting off non-existent dust:
"I find him pleasing to the eye."
She suddenly showed a meaningful smile:
"Keep him as a turtle keeper [pimp/bouncer]."
"Huh?"
Lin Wan nearly choked on her tea:
"When did he offend you?"
Hearing the words "turtle keeper" from under the bed, the scholar's eyes grew even wider, like a startled rabbit.
---
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