Chapter 49: A Horde of Demons in Wild Revelry (Part 42)

Shen Xiao said, “The Bluebird Clan originates from Spirit Mountain, and just like those at the Abyss, they are classified as beast spirits. It is rumored that the people of the Bluebird Clan possess the bloodline of the phoenix, making them exceptionally noble. They are gifted in singing and dancing, often traveling among mortals to spread various ballads.”

An Yao smiled. “That’s true, but with wars breaking out everywhere these years, fewer and fewer songs are being preserved.”

Shen Xiao recalled his own experiences over the years and couldn’t help but sigh softly, “Indeed, the songs of the Bluebird Clan have become rare.”

An Yao asked, “Have you ever met anyone from my clan?”

Shen Xiao was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head. “Never.”

An Yao laughed again. “You spoke as if you were familiar with them; I thought you had heard my clan sing.”

Shen Xiao remained silent.

He was never particularly talkative, but rarely was he as withdrawn as he was now.

Shi Xianyu followed behind the two, sensing an undertone of gossip in the air.

Her gaze drifted to the sword on Shen Xiao’s back. She remembered that its tassel was made from several feathers, but now the hilt was bare, with no decoration whatsoever.

Where had the tassel gone? When did it disappear?

Shi Xianyu’s mind wandered with speculation, but she knew nothing for certain. Her curiosity scratched at her heart like a cat’s paw, making her forget even the pain in her hand.

...

After walking some distance through the woods, they arrived at the valley An Yao had mentioned. The scenery was breathtaking—wildflowers bloomed in a riot of colors across the slopes, set against a backdrop of blue sky and white clouds, like a vibrant, multicolored tapestry. Several squads of soldiers were digging for useful herbs with bamboo baskets on their backs. Higher up the slope, a group of armored cavalry stood in a formidable formation, guarding a man wearing a jade crown.

From afar, Shi Xianyu couldn’t make out his features, only that he was a young man of noble status.

An Yao’s lips curled involuntarily when she saw him, and she turned to them with a smile. “Excuse me, I’ll leave you for a moment.”

With those words, she dashed toward the man, her skirt billowing in the wind, joyful as a bird in flight.

“That man is the Crown Prince of Qi,” Shen Xiao said as An Yao ran off, gazing into the distance. “He was already Crown Prince when I knew him. Later, Qi fell, and he went into exile, whereabouts unknown. After so many years, I thought he must have met a grim fate, but it seems she saved him…”

Shi Xianyu was surprised. “Wouldn’t that make him rather old now? He looks so young.”

Shen Xiao himself appeared youthful because of his cultivation, but the Crown Prince surely wouldn’t have pursued immortality.

“Perhaps he took a pill for youth,” Shen Xiao mused, his voice distant, as if a breeze might carry it away. “The Bluebird Clan not only excels in song and dance, but they also care deeply about their appearance. They spend much time grooming their feathers and enjoy making beauty elixirs.”

Shi Xianyu didn’t quite understand, and asked Shen Xiao, “Brother Shen, from your tone, you seem acquainted with them. Why keep it secret?”

Shen Xiao smiled faintly. “I know them, but they do not know me, so it’s better not to mention it, lest I bring unnecessary trouble upon myself.”

Shi Xianyu was puzzled. “You know them, but… they do not know you?”

Shen Xiao considered her a friend and saw no reason to hide anything. He confided, “I was once the heir of Guangde Marquis’s estate in Qi. At fifteen, I was fortunate to be enlightened by a Daoist master and became set on the path of cultivation. My parents disapproved and forced me into the famous Egret Academy of Qi, hoping the teachers would guide me down the so-called proper path. At the time, several princes attended the academy, including the Crown Prince. Yet, I never spoke to him.”

Shi Xianyu hadn’t expected that the humble Daoist Shen came from noble lineage.

Then she thought, the poor only seek to fill their stomachs; who has time for cultivation? For ordinary folk, fasting and abstinence must seem absurd.

“Brother Shen, how did you meet Miss An?” Shi Xianyu asked curiously. “Did she also study at the academy?”

Shen Xiao shook his head with a gentle smile. “Egret Academy is built on a mountain. To help its students study undisturbed, we were allowed down the mountain only once a month. When restless, I would wander the mountainside. Once, I fell into a hunter’s trap and she happened to pass by and saved me.”

“So that’s how it was. I hadn’t expected such a connection between you two,” Shi Xianyu said, enlightened.

Shen Xiao looked back on those days with emotion. “Yes. Back then, everyone around me opposed my pursuit of cultivation. Only she knew and encouraged me. She told me that all cultivators travel to Spirit Mountain, her home, and the dream of nearly every cultivator.”

Shi Xianyu: “…”

Could it be—was Shen Xiao’s wish to reach Spirit Mountain actually to see An Yao?

Shen Xiao continued, “I was just fifteen, a foolish boy. To see her again, I would sneak to the mountainside whenever I could. If I was lucky, I’d find her sitting in a tree, singing. Her voice was intoxicating, bringing peace and calm to the soul. I never dared disturb her, only listened quietly from the shadows…”

His voice faded. He gazed at King Jing in the distance, a faint smile curling on his lips. “But now, I realize her song was never meant for me. She sang for King Jing, and I never knew.”

Shi Xianyu studied his expression and softly asked, “Brother Shen, is your wish to go to Spirit Mountain because of… Miss An?”

Shen Xiao smiled. “She was a catalyst, a goal. Over time, it became a habit. When I was younger, I used to think—beast spirits live long lives. If I wanted to match her, I had to cultivate diligently. But after experiencing so much, meeting all sorts of people and events, the feelings between men and women faded. Seeing her again today, I suddenly feel…”

He struggled to describe his emotions, thought for a moment, then said to Shi Xianyu, “It feels as if my dream has been fulfilled, but also as if nothing has happened at all.”

Shi Xianyu felt a pang of sorrow for him, pursed her lips, and said softly, “Since you’ve met after so long, why not tell her?”

“Tell her?” Shen Xiao smiled and shook his head. “No, there’s no need.”

“Why not?” Shi Xianyu didn’t understand. “You searched for her for so many years—shouldn’t she know?”

“I searched for her for my own sake,” Shen Xiao replied, looking toward An Yao in the distance. “Besides, she has no interest in me. If I told her a man had searched for her for decades, it would only bring her discomfort and trouble…”

He took out the sword tassel he had torn off earlier. Decades had passed, yet the feather he picked up under the tree was still as bright as new.

With a gentle turn of his hand, the feather drifted into the grass.

“It’s time to end this…” Shen Xiao murmured. “Perhaps closure is part of cultivation as well.”

Clearly, it had nothing to do with her, yet as Shi Xianyu watched the feather fall, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness in her heart.