Volume Two, Chapter Six: Tears Once Again

He no longer remembered how he had come up. Dispirited and lost, he floated at the mouth of the well, one hand holding the lotus blossom, the other clutching its stem. He Lingchi sat down heavily on the ground. Jin Guishan and Qi Yuanxiao both lowered their heads. Xiaoyao’s eyes blazed with anger. The lotus had already bloomed, but had not yet produced seeds; its seven-colored petals were visibly fading.

“Is there anything that can be done?” Yibing looked at Xiaoyao with pitiful hope.

“Alas...” Xiaoyao shook his head.

“But Miss Zhao...” Yibing was on the verge of tears. He desperately pressed the blossom and stem together, trying to reattach them, but it was all in vain.

“Stop struggling! There’s no way to fix it! Besides, the root isn’t damaged. In a few years, it will bloom and bear seeds again on schedule,” Xiaoyao hastily consoled him.

“A few years from now? By then, Miss Zhao’s soul will have scattered!” Yibing continued his futile attempts, his head still down.

“Brother Jin, could you find something to tie them together?” Suddenly, Yibing looked up. Jin Guishan hesitated a moment, seeing the tears in Yibing’s eyes, and though he knew it was pointless, he still searched around. But in the marsh of sticky mud, what could possibly be used for binding?

“Use this!” He Lingchi quickly pulled a handkerchief from her bosom.

“Yes, yes...” Yibing nodded repeatedly, gripping the junction of blossom and stem tightly with one hand, and reaching for the handkerchief with the other.

Suddenly, He Lingchi stared at Yibing in terror.

“What—” Yibing didn’t finish his question before realizing what she meant. His body was glowing again—and not in the water this time! Instantly, a bright point emerged from his chest, slid swiftly along his arm, and sped into the hand clutching the lotus. It flickered and danced, spinning once on the back of Yibing’s hand before shooting toward his fingertips. Immediately, a blinding light erupted!

After a long while, the group could finally make out what had happened. The teardrop was gone, Yibing’s body no longer glowed.

Yibing’s lips trembled.

“Whose tear was that...” He Lingchi was the first to break the silence.

“Wow...” Xiaoyao stared in disbelief as the lotus blossom regained its radiance.

Nervously, Yibing opened his hand. Sure enough, the lotus and its stem were rejoined, as if they had never been severed! The flower gently twisted, circling Yibing, as if studying him intently.

“...Thank you for saving me! If I hadn’t been so heavy, you wouldn’t have had to—” Yibing stammered awkwardly.

“How do you know it was trying to save you?” Xiaoyao couldn’t help but mutter. To his surprise, the lotus immediately turned to face him directly. Xiaoyao froze, thinking, “It’s over, even this lotus is becoming a spirit!”

Seeing Xiaoyao roll his eyes and fall silent, the lotus turned back to Yibing, gazing at him again. For a moment, the air was so tense that everyone felt suffocated. Then the lotus slowly withdrew, finally settling quietly on the water’s surface.

“It’s about to seed...” Xiaoyao said as he lifted Yibing out.

Before their eyes, multicolored streams of light rose from each petal, weaving together until they merged into a glowing sphere. The sphere grew larger, until it fully enveloped the lotus. Suddenly, the light exploded outward; every petal seemed to fall away like drifting leaves and vanished into thin air, leaving behind only the lotus pod, now filled with seeds!

“Great Immortal...” Yibing pleaded with his eyes.

“I’ll do my best...” Xiaoyao replied resolutely.

“Please, if we don’t have these seeds, Miss Zhao’s soul will be lost forever!” Yibing’s eyes brimmed with tears.

Without another word, Xiaoyao leaned over to take the seeds. Rather than wasting time here, he thought it better to quickly seek out the lotus’s master. But as he bit down, he found nothing— the seeds were insubstantial, mere phantoms that could be seen but not touched.

“Hey, what do you mean by this?” Xiaoyao glared at the lotus. The Hell Lotus tilted its pod, as if glancing at Yibing.

“Me?” Yibing pointed at himself. To his surprise, the pod bent slightly downward. He looked at Xiaoyao, who scowled but said nothing. Yibing carefully stepped forward and reached for the seeds; to his astonishment, they landed in his hand.

“It wants to give them to you. There’s nothing I can do,” Xiaoyao said helplessly as Yibing looked at him, bewildered. Xiaoyao then tried to take the remaining six seeds, but again grasped only emptiness.

“Hey, what is this... sigh...” Xiaoyao realized the lotus’s intention and sighed.

Yibing had no choice but to take the remaining six seeds himself, quickly gathering them all.

“Great Immortal, I only need one! Please return the other six!” Yibing said, offering the six seeds to Xiaoyao. Xiaoyao was deeply moved—this would help reduce his punishment. But as he tried to take them, once again, his mouth met only air.

“Ah... so be it,” Xiaoyao finally lost all temper. Clearly, the lotus intended for Yibing to have them all. He could only blame himself for his negligence, which had brought the lotus such suffering at the hands of the three golden toads—karma, indeed.

“Lotus, oh lotus, the Great Immortal means well! I only need one—” Before Yibing finished, another burst of light appeared before his eyes.

Astonishingly, seven more seeds emerged!

“Haha... it was my own pettiness!” Xiaoyao laughed, somewhat abashed. He tried again and this time, each seed fell smoothly into his mouth. The lotus bowed slightly to Xiaoyao, then sank into the water; in an instant, the well’s water turned black as ink.

“Great Immortal?” Yibing looked from the seeds in his hand to Xiaoyao. Xiaoyao nodded and took flight, not forgetting the three golden toads, which he grabbed in one claw. From above, the croaking of frogs soon echoed.

Not until Xiaoyao had flown far away did Yibing and the others collapse onto the ground. They looked at each other, all wearing wry smiles.

“Brother Jin, take all these seeds—use them to save Miss Zhao!” Yibing handed over the seven seeds.

“One is enough!” Jin Guishan took one and said, “This is the lotus’s gift; it’s best not to waste the rest.” He looked at Yibing and nodded, just like Xiaoyao. For something so precious, for the lotus to give everything must hold a deeper meaning.

Thus, Yibing accepted it. He took his uncle’s medicine pouch, placed the remaining six seeds inside, and hung it around his neck. He Lingchi couldn’t help but burst out laughing, and Jin Guishan and Qi Yuanxiao chuckled as well. He hadn’t realized how thick his neck was—rather than hanging, the pouch was squeezed tightly, the strap cutting into his flesh.

“What are you laughing at?” Yibing scratched his head in confusion.

“Brother Mu, your great kindness needs no thanks! We won’t stand on ceremony. We must take our leave and hurry back to save our junior sister!” Jin Guishan quickly changed the subject.

“Yes, yes, saving Miss Zhao is what matters!” Yibing sprang to his feet.

“Once our junior sister is safe, we’ll come to Baodun to thank you in person!” Jin Guishan said, gripping the lotus seed tightly.

“Brother Jin, I’m still worried! What if—” Yibing began to reach for the medicine pouch at his neck.

“Brother Mu, rest assured! Our master said that as long as we have one seed, our junior sister will be fine!” He Lingchi quickly reassured him.

“Alright, alright...” Yibing nodded repeatedly, though worry still clouded his face. Jin Guishan smiled, pulling two bamboo dragonflies from his breast.

“Brother Mu, here are two bamboo dragonflies. I’ll carry one, and you carry the other. When my sister is safe, I’ll send this one to bring you the news—wherever you are, it will find you.”

“Really? Wonderful, truly wonderful!” Yibing accepted the bamboo dragonfly eagerly.

“Alright, let’s part ways here—until we meet again!” Jin Guishan clasped his hands in farewell.

“Until we meet again!” Yibing returned the gesture.

He watched the others disappear into the distance, not stirring until even their shadows had vanished. Only then did he drag himself toward the Five-Colored Cave. His mind was filled with worry for Fat Girl, uncertain if a single seed would suffice. Leaving the Peach Marsh, he realized that instead of fretting, it would be better to return and report to his uncle for advice. With that, he sped off at a run.

With the experience from last time, Yibing charged straight into the Five-Colored Cave.

“I guessed it would be you!” Even before he had steadied his feet, Senior Sister Mutong was already waiting at the mountain gate.

“Greetings, Senior Sister Mutong!” Yibing quickly bowed.

“Master said there would be a guest—so it’s this big bun!” Mo Yan, who had just run out, laughed merrily.

“Greetings, Senior Sister Mo Yan!” Yibing blushed furiously.

“Brother Mu, what has you so flustered?” Mutong asked expressionlessly.

“Reporting, Senior Sister, I was sent by our uncle to fetch some clothes for her. I lingered in the marsh and lost track of time, so I’m in a bit of a rush,” Yibing scratched his head sheepishly.

“I see. Come in, then!” Mutong nodded and walked toward the main hall.

“Yes!” Yibing hurried after her.

“Hey, little chubby, why hasn’t my master returned?” Mo Yan suddenly imitated Daoist Xifeng’s voice, startling Yibing.

“Oh, Banyuedun is leaderless, so she’s staying a few days to keep order!”

“Does that mean we don’t need to watch over things here?” Mo Yan’s brows shot up.

“Heh, well...” Yibing could only laugh awkwardly.

Upon entering the main hall, Yibing saw that Feixue and Chengyan were already waiting, but Senior Sister Biyi was nowhere to be seen.

“Tell us about the situation at Banyuedun,” Mutong said, motioning for everyone to sit.

“Where’s Senior Sister Biyi?” Yibing finally couldn’t help but ask.

“She was just here, wasn’t she?” Feixue glanced back.

“Biyi said you had a whole crew of monsters?” Mo Yan interjected. Mutong shot her a glare, but since the words were out, Mo Yan stuck out her tongue.

“Yes! A rabbit, a fox, and a turtle—they’ve helped me a lot...” Yibing nodded unconcernedly. The others all stared at him in curiosity.

“No need to mention the rabbit—it’s all thanks to our uncle, as you know! As for the fox...” Seeing their interest, Yibing swallowed and began to recount the tale.

Mutong and the others listened in rapt silence. They rarely had the chance to leave, spending every day in cultivation. Now, with a rare chatterbox to regale them with worldly tales, it was a chance not to be missed. Yibing was no fool; he skipped over anything inappropriate, sharing only the entertaining bits.

Just as Yibing was describing being pursued by the Jade-Faced Gentleman, Biyi walked in. Yibing seized the opportunity to lavish her with praise, saying that without her, he would have lost his life for sure. Biyi couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hey, little fatty, what’s wrong?” Seeing Yibing suddenly dazed and absent-minded, Mo Yan called out anxiously.

“Oh... after that...” Yibing’s round face turned crimson. Mutong frowned.

It took more than half an hour for Yibing to finish the whole story. Though his mouth was dry, the others were still left wanting more. After an awkward silence, a loud stomach rumble broke the tension, and everyone burst out laughing, leaving Yibing clutching his belly in embarrassment.

“Go get him something to eat!” Mutong ordered Chengyan with a smile. Chengyan left, grinning.

“It’s best if that Red Sparrow is destroyed!” Feixue, who had been frowning, could not help but say.

“Uncle said it won’t survive!” Yibing quickly replied.

“That’s good!” Feixue nodded. “You never know with these monsters. Even if their cultivation is ruined, who’s to say they won’t find some demonic spell to regain their powers and wreak havoc again?”

“Yes, who knows how many people that fox demon has harmed!” Mo Yan seemed more concerned about Meiniang.

“...She’s already turned over a new leaf...” Yibing’s voice was noticeably weak.

“Can those she harmed ever come back?” Mo Yan pouted. Yibing was at a loss.

“That’s enough! Since Master has spared them, she must have her reasons. Besides, haven’t they already lost their powers?” Mutong quickly intervened.

Just then, Chengyan returned with a plate of vegetarian food. Yibing’s eyes lit up instantly. As soon as the plate was set down, he devoured everything in the blink of an eye, leaving not a crumb. The others gaped in astonishment.

“Get... get some more!” Mutong stammered in surprise.

When Yibing saw a trace of distaste flash across Biyi’s face, his heart sank.