Upon seeing Li Jiyan appear, Yu Ziyu put down her book, ran up to him, touched his sleeve, and asked, “Are your clothes dry?” Li Jiyan was still dressed in white, just like he had been at Fengwei River.
Li Jiyan pulled back the sleeve she was holding: “This isn’t the one by the river.”
Yu Ziyu circled around him once: “Really? I didn’t even notice. Why do you always wear white? White is unlucky.”
”Didn’t you say white looks good?” That day, he was on the wall of her courtyard and he clearly heard her say that men in white shirts looked good.
”When did I say that?”
Yu Ziyu didn’t understand the underlying meaning of the conversation, but she didn’t want to argue further. She just wanted to quickly persuade Li Jiyan to join her in cultivating immortality. The two of them could become husband and wife and travel together to the immortal mountains to seek out the gods.
”Li Jiyan, I’ve come to see you because I have something important to discuss.” She presented him with the book “Tang Wen” that she had brought with both hands. “Look, what is this?”
”Book.”
Yu Ziyu was displeased, a dark cloud pressing down on her delicate eyebrows: “What a brute! I’m asking you, what book is this! Open your dog eyes and take a good look.”
Li Jiyan glanced at it briefly, then coughed lightly to cover his embarrassment: “I don’t look at it. I usually only read military books.”
”Since you want to marry me, you have to read Taoist books. It would be best if you could cultivate with me. I don’t want an ignorant mortal as my husband.” Yu Ziyu waved the book in her hand. “Otherwise, when I attain enlightenment and ascend to heaven, I’ll abandon you.”
”Then teach me.”
”good!”
Yu Ziyu handed the book to Li Jiyan, put her hands behind her back, squinted her eyes, and began to talk eloquently about the fairy mountain described in the book.
”East of the Bohai Sea, there are five sacred mountains: Daiyu, Yuanjiao, Fanghu, Yingzhou, and Penglai. Each of these mountains stretches for 30,000 li (approximately 15,000 kilometers), with a flat summit spanning 9,000 li (approximately 4,500 kilometers), and the distance between them is 70,000 li (approximately 35,000 kilometers)…”
Li Jiyan casually flipped through the book, only understanding a few words, and asked, “So what are your plans?”
Yu Ziyu was displeased that he had interrupted her, and reprimanded him with a cold brow: “You have no manners. When I am speaking, you should just listen and not ask questions or interrupt me.”
“Why?”
”I have my reasons for doing things, and these are secrets that cannot be revealed. Don’t ask any more questions.”
Yu Ziyu clapped her hands and continued her story about the immortal mountain, “The immortal mountain is the abode of immortals, with multi-story buildings and magnificent palaces. The mountain is filled with countless gold and jewels, and also various kinds of fruits; eating those fruits can make one an immortal…”
She spoke with such rapt attention, her longing for the sacred mountain palpable. As she spoke, she unknowingly led Li Jiyan out of the general’s mansion.
Li Jiyan stopped interrupting her and let her ramble on.
Yu Ziyu became more and more enthusiastic as she spoke, and she also began to appreciate Li Jiyan more. This kid was incredibly patient; he had listened to her for so long without showing any signs of impatience, which was truly rare.
Even her older sister,who usually treats her the best, couldn’t stand these boring stories about cultivating immortality. She would always find an excuse to leave after listening to her talk for less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.
After talking about the Immortal Mountain, Yu Ziyu then talked about the Fangxian Dao, then about the Huang-Lao school of thought, and finally about Pangu creating the world.
By this time, it was getting late, but she showed no sign of finishing.
Li Jiyan suggested, “Why don’t we find a place to sit down, and you can continue?”
”No need, I’ll just say a few more words and then I’ll be done.” She hadn’t fully recovered from her cold, and her voice was hoarse from talking so much. “According to my guess, after Lao Tzu rode his green ox out of Hangu Pass, he achieved enlightenment and escaped the mortal world to enter the universe.”
Li Jiyan finally asked, “What is the universe?”
Yu Ziyu touched her neck, trying to ease the discomfort in her throat: “The universe is the place where time and space of all things in the world come together. As Zhuangzi said, ‘It encompasses the sun and moon, and the universe, and they fit together.’ This universe originates from here.”
She stood in front, looking at the red and yellow sunset in the distance: “I hope that one day I can also understand everything in the world and ascend into the universe as soon as possible.”
”What will I do after you ascend to immortality?” Li Jiyan walked over and stood beside her.
Yu Ziyu hadn’t thought about this question and couldn’t answer it immediately, so she could only give a perfunctory reply with a straight face: “Why would you ask me about something like this? What use are you! Just figure it out yourself!”
After the conversation had gone on for so long, Yu Ziyu finally remembered her original purpose for coming to find Li Jiyan.
She patted her forehead and said, “I almost forgot, I came to ask you if you would be willing to let go of your worldly attachments and go with me to the immortal mountains to find the gods?”
”Looking for a deity?” Li Jiyan didn’t understand Yu Ziyu’s words.
”It’s about finding a deity, which might take a year or two. If you’re willing, we can get married tomorrow and set off the day after.”
She spoke of it so casually, as if getting married and finding a deity were as simple as drinking water and eating.
Before Li Jiyan could reply, a group of people appeared ahead. Yu Ziyu pushed him aside and slipped into the alley behind them, bending down to look at the Third Prince Xiao Jin not far away.
”The Third Prince is very handsome, but I wonder if he’s as ugly as you.”
Li Jiyan’s lips twitched: “Men are all the same.”
Yu Ziyu straightened up and instructed, “You wait here, I’ll go talk to him for a while.”
“Why won’t you let me come along?”
”You’re so immature! He and I grew up together, and we always talked about sweet, romantic things. What are you doing following me? You’re such a spoilsport!” She said, turning to leave.
Li Jiyan grabbed her arm: “Since you like him so much, why don’t you marry him?”
“I have my reasons for doing things, don’t worry about it.” Yu Ziyu shook off his hand and waved her sleeve. “Wait for me here, I’ll go say a few words to him and come back.”
Yu Ziyu ran out of the alley and rushed to Xiao Jin: “Third Prince, what are you doing here?”
”There’s been some trouble at the Dragon Guard camp, so I came to check it out.”
Yu Ziyu nodded: “Oh, then I’ll be going now.”
Xiao Jin was both amused and exasperated. Yu Ziyu had always been like this since they were children. Whenever she saw him, she would rush over to greet him and ask what he was doing. After asking, she would leave without lingering.
”Xiaoyu, are you feeling better? Even though you have the body of an immortal, you still need to take medicine to recover from a cold so that your cultivation won’t be delayed.”
Yu Ziyu stopped and turned her head: “It’s all better now, it’s nothing.”
Xiao Jin took out a gold hairpin from his sleeve: “This is for you. I was originally planning to give it to you when I went to your residence later, but since we’ve met here, I’ll give it to you.”
“I don’t want this. I don’t care for these worldly things,” Yu Ziyu refused decisively.
Xiao Jin naturally had a way to get her to accept it, saying, “When I was in the palace, I had your ancestor, Lingxuzi, bless it. Wearing it will help you with your cultivation.”
Yu Ziyu’s eyes lit up, and she anxiously shoved her head in front of Xiao Jin: “Why didn’t you give me such a wonderful thing sooner? Hurry up and put it on my head.”
Xiao Jin smiled and gently helped her insert the hairpin, subtly stroking her long, black hair: “It’s done, you look beautiful.”
After putting on the hairpin, Yu Ziyu vaguely felt that her skills had improved a lot: “Thank you, Third Prince. When you return to the palace, please thank the Ancestral Master for me as well.”
”good.”
Li Jiyan watched Yu Ziyu and Xiao Jin’s figures in the alley and felt a pang of jealousy.
Suddenly, his heart pounded like thunder, his blood seemed to flow backward, and he felt dizzy and lightheaded. He felt as if he were falling into an endless abyss. In the midst of the spinning, he grabbed onto black thorns and vines, but still fell.
He realized it.
The “him” inside me burst out uncontrollably…
Yu Ziyu, adorned with a gleaming gold hairpin, returned to the alley: “I’m so busy every day, you should be understanding. By the way, where were we…?”
Li Jiyan’s eyes turned gloomy, even carrying a strong sense of hostility.
He suddenly gripped her wrist tightly, gritting his teeth as he said, “Yu Ziyu, we’re engaged, yet you’re still so fickle. How can you treat my feelings like this?”
Yu Ziyu froze, staring at Li Jiyan’s deep eyes.
She realized something was wrong.
”Li Jiyan, are you having an epileptic seizure?! Let’s not even talk about how our marriage isn’t settled yet. Even if it were, you should still obey me! A disobedient man is worthless!”
Li Jiyan pinned her against the wall, took the gold hairpin from her hair and threw it on the ground, then lowered his head to smell her black hair.
“Ayu, I’m not that coward Li Jiyan. I won’t let anyone manipulate me. What I want, I will get. You will always be mine.”
”If you’re not Li Jiyan, then who are you?”
Yu Ziyu’s mind was in turmoil, and Li Jiyan’s portrayal of the character made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.
“Ayu, I am your husband. After I kill Li Jiyan, we can be together forever.”
He was tall, almost towering over Yu Ziyu, and his calloused hands gently stroked her neck.
”Ayu, trust me, your husband can give you everything you want.”
His eyes burned with passion, and his whole body felt hot. He was the one who first met Yu Ziyu, but he hesitated to be the first to tell her his feelings.
This body has been occupied by that good-for-nothing Li Jiyan. Now that he’s out, I don’t know how long he can hold on. I need to hurry up and get close to his Ayu for a while.
”Remember this, I am not Li Jiyan. I love you more than Li Jiyan.”
He put his arm around Yu Ziyu’s waist, lowered his head, his body burning hot, and continued, “Ayu, your husband misses you so much that he’s going crazy. Please have some pity on me. I’ve finally managed to come out once, so let your husband kiss you.”
Yu Ziyu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Her cough hadn’t subsided, and she was laughing and coughing at the same time, which brought tears to her eyes and made her face flush red.
Li Jiyan patted her back tenderly, “My sweetheart, what happened to you? Did you catch a disease?”
Yu Ziyu laughed uncontrollably, overjoyed. Li Jiyan must have been possessed by some kind of ghost! In all her years of killing demons, she had never seen a ghost that could possess someone.
Seeing this today has truly broadened my horizons!
What a great merit it would be to kill this ghost!
”Wonderful, absolutely wonderful! Incredibly wonderful, it’s like heaven is helping me!” Yu Ziyu finally stopped laughing and shouted hoarsely.
Li Jiyan tenderly cupped her face and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes: “Ayu, what’s wrong? Did you see your husband and become so happy?”
He suddenly hugged Yu Ziyu tightly: “Ayu, I’m so happy. You have me in your heart, don’t you? Don’t worry, I will work hard to kill Li Jiyan as soon as possible.”
Yu Ziyu was extremely excited.
She kicked Li Jiyan away and laughed as she chanted a spell.
”Hahahaha! The Xuan Emperor has decreed, proclaiming the Heavenly Edict! The Azure Dragon emerges from the heavens, the White Tiger stands in opposition, the Ghost General musters his troops, refine the Gate of Life! So be it!”
She drew her longsword, its blade gleaming coldly, and pointed it directly at Li Jiyan.
Li Jiyan dodged to the side, somewhat incredulous: “Ayu, are you going to kill me?”
”You ignorant and reckless creature, how dare you possess a human body to commit evil and wreak havoc on the world! Today, I will act on behalf of Heaven, skin you alive, and see what kind of wicked beast you truly are!”
Yu Ziyu raised her longsword and rushed forward, her eyes as cold as sharp arrows, aiming to stab Li Jiyan in the chest.
Li Jiyan, a military general, did not dodge but countered her moves, pinching her sword between two fingers.
He asked, “Ah Yu, are you really going to kill me for that good-for-nothing Li Jiyan?”
Yu Ziyu was completely immersed in the ecstasy of “exorcising evil” and couldn’t hear Li Jiyan’s words at all.
After Li Jiyan caught the tip of her sword between his fingers, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. What a formidable ghost! It seemed she had met a tough nut to crack and needed to be extra careful.
She extended her left hand, making a sword-fighting gesture with two fingers. She stretched her hand forward, her fingertips slicing across the blade, and immediately a bead of bright red blood spurted out.
Yu Ziyu put two fingers together, smeared the blood from her fingertips on her forehead, and said in a steady and powerful voice: “Open your Yin-Yang Eyes!”
Upon seeing fresh blood, she became even more excited.
She lifted her foot, flipped over, and kicked Li Jiyan in the head. Li Jiyan was worried about the wound on her hand and wasn’t paying attention, so he was kicked squarely and fell to the ground.
Yu Ziyu stepped on his chest, the tip of her sword pressed against his throat.
She quickly pulled out a yellow paper talisman from his pocket, stuck it on Li Jiyan’s forehead, and chanted: “Wandering soul, wandering soul, shattered soul forcing the coffin, the power of Tao is as great as heaven! Break!”
Li Jiyan laughed, grabbed her bleeding hand, pulled it towards him, and sucked the blood from her fingers.
He looked at her, his eyes alluring, his warm tongue tracing along her two fingers, and mumbled, “Ayu, you’re sick.”
Yu Ziyu felt a chill run down her spine from his licking, her whole body shivering, and she gasped for breath.
She cursed angrily, “I never expected you to be such a lecherous scoundrel! You even know how to lick people! You’re a born bastard! Today I’ll tear off your face and see just how far you can go with your lewdness!”