Chapter Ninety: Twin Lotus Blossoms

I am the Immortal Maiden of Blue Pool, she said.

I was stunned. The Blue Pool Immortal, who had been said to have killed herself to clear her name and died more than twenty thousand years ago, had in fact been sealed away here? And she looked so much like me!

“You really are the Immortal Maiden of Blue Pool? Weren’t you dead?” I asked.

“Yes. Dead,” she said.

“You have not been reincarnated in all these millennia? How were you sealed here?”

“My divine spirit was taken by the primordial sacred artifact, the Azure Sea Bow, and turned into the bow’s spirit. Then I was suppressed here by Lord Baolide,” she said.

“So it was you behind all this…” I said. Yet another thought rose in my heart. “To think the Immortal Maiden of Blue Pool and I are so alike… Master once said to pity the sorrowful and the wronged…”

“Were you not imprisoned here?” she asked.

“No. This old woman came to see what was what.”

At once the Immortal Maiden of Blue Pool dropped to her knees. “Flower Immortal Granny, please help me out of here! Take me to the Pure Jade Realm!”

“I can help you, but first you must tell me exactly what happened. And why did you shoot Amugulang?” I said.

“All right, though it is a long story,” said the Immortal Maiden of Blue Pool.

“No matter. Speak. I have all the patience in the world.”

I had to get to the bottom of Blue Pool’s story.

“Does Granny know how I died?” she asked.

“Unable to bear the scandal… you killed yourself to prove your innocence.” With my master gone, I no longer wished to pin such garbled rumors and groundless guesses on him.

The Immortal Maiden of Blue Pool gave a bitter smile. “Killed myself to prove my innocence… so that is how it was seen…”

“Was it not?” I asked.

“Of course not.”

It turned out that the Immortal Maiden of Blue Pool had once been a disciple under Lady Danxia of the Fairyland of Penglai. Twenty-four thousand years ago, when she first accompanied Lady Danxia to the Heavenly Court on business, she met Tiande in the Orchard of Immortal Peaches. Tiande fell in love with her at first sight and pursued her relentlessly. After Blue Pool returned to Penglai, Tiande came to see her every day, rain or shine. Moved by Tiande’s sweet words and his “devotion,” Blue Pool swore lifelong vows with him. Their secret pledge of marriage was discovered by Lady Danxia, and Tiande vowed before her that he would treat Blue Pool well. He also promised to return to the Heavenly Court, report the matter to the Celestial Emperor, and arrange the betrothal.

When Tiande returned to report, he happened upon the sudden rebellion of the Eastern province of Shentu, which allied with the Netherworld and launched a war, while the Heavenly Court was urgently mobilizing troops. Though Tiande was the Celestial Emperor’s eldest son, he was not valued because of his mother’s lowly status. Eager to make a name for himself, he volunteered to serve as vanguard commander and even pledged his life on a military oath. The commander of that expedition was my master himself. The left deputy commander was my seventh senior brother, later the Lord of Shentu, and the right deputy commander was my tenth senior brother.

At the time, the vanguard camp was stationed on the border of Shentu, close to Thunder Summer Marsh. When the Lord of Thunder Summer heard that the eldest prince was serving as vanguard commander, he personally came to the border with plenty of wine and food to reward the soldiers. After some polite conversation, he left.

The imperial uncle Tianxuan, who served as adviser, was a lover of drink and urged Tiande to keep drinking. Tiande, thinking victory was certain, drank himself into a helpless stupor. In the middle of the night the enemy launched a surprise attack, and the vanguard camp was annihilated. Tiande fought desperately and had his dragon sinews severed. The imperial uncle Tianxuan died amid the chaos of battle.

My master reattached Tiande’s dragon sinews, punished him with eighty lashes, and stripped him of military command. With his authority removed, Tiande was dealt a crushing blow and fell into utter decline. Then the Lord of Thunder Summer found him and told him that the strength of Thunder Summer and the allied lands of the Five Hills and Eight Marshes could serve as backing for his rise to crown prince; in the future he would no longer need to fight for himself, for Thunder Summer would have others do the dying for him. But the condition was that Tiande must marry Princess Leici of Thunder Summer as his principal wife, and in the future she would become crown princess and then Celestial Empress.

“Did Tiande tell you this?” I asked.

“Yes. I heard in Penglai that he had been badly wounded on the battlefield. My master saw that I was worried, so he sent me to deliver spiritual medicine to the army. After I had delivered the medicine, I disguised myself as a man and blended into the camp to care for him. That was when he told me everything.”

“He broke off the engagement with you?” I asked.

“No. He remained very kind to me. Even injured, he did not forget to care for me. He said he would not obey the Lord of Thunder Summer. Even if it ruined his future, he would never abandon his love for me and submit to fate.”

I gave a cold laugh. “Fate? He made a mistake and then blamed fate for it. What he meant was that his marriage to Leici was fate, while his marriage to you was proof that he loved you enough to defy fate.”

Tears poured down Blue Pool’s face. “I was deeply moved and thought I would simply stay in male disguise and care for him a while longer before leaving. Unexpectedly, the Supreme God Yunxiao discovered me. He urged me to leave the camp and keep away from Tiande. I begged him to let me stay, but he would not agree. If I had listened to the Supreme God Yunxiao then, perhaps…”

“You really should have left. Tiande had pledged himself to you in private and promised Lady Danxia. Before the engagement was even settled, he dared to break it. Your master, Lady Danxia, would never have let it go. This concerned the honor of the Heavenly Court and Tiande’s character. Why would Tiande take the initiative to end the engagement? When he told you the truth so sincerely, he was merely trying to move you, to make you give up the marriage yourself and go to Lady Danxia to request the annulment, so as to satisfy him,” I said.

“Yes! But I did not realize it. Fool that I was, I pretended to leave, then came back again. Not two days later, the enemy spread a rumor: ‘Blue Pool stirs chaos in the ranks; Yunxiao has been bewitched; our army is certain to lose.’”

I sighed.

“Tiande said such rumors are common on the battlefield, another form of contest between enemy and ally; he did not believe it. But he feared I would care.”

“He wanted to use the rumor to drive you away,” I said.

“Yes. But I foolishly said I feared nothing and refused to go. Then he said he feared the Heavenly Court might believe it and that it would affect our marriage, so he would personally send me away. I agreed. How stupid I was!” Blue Pool lamented.

“Was he really that kind-hearted? If you would not go, he probably had another purpose in mind,” I said coldly. In my heart I suspected that Tiande himself had spread the rumor.

Blue Pool gritted her teeth. “He escorted me out of the camp, and in the woods he bade me farewell with such tenderness and reluctance. I had only taken a few steps when he called after me again… He ran over, embraced me tightly, and wept as he said he loved me…”

Blue Pool collapsed onto the ground and cried aloud.

I patted and comforted her…

When her tears subsided, Blue Pool clenched her teeth and said, “He held me and took the chance to seal my immortal body…” As she spoke, her tears fell again, and she choked up.

I said nothing, already knowing what Tiande had done.

After steadying herself, Blue Pool said through tears, “He put a dagger into my hand, then stood behind me and took both my hands in his. He said he loved me deeply, and asked me to become his beloved consort in the next life as well. Then he drove that dagger brutally into my heart!”

I said softly, “That despicable wretch betrayed you and made it look as though you had killed yourself to prove your innocence after intolerable rumors. Then your master could do nothing to him. So he could smoothly marry Leici and gain the power behind her.”

“Clear Penglai waters, drifting clouds above, born in the fairy realm, blessed in every life.” The Immortal Maiden of Blue Pool murmured. “What I saw at the end was truly pathetic and laughable… I had once written those lines for him, and he threw them down beside me, turning them into proof that I died to clear my name!”

“Who else knows of your relationship?” I asked.

“My master, and Leici. She admired Tiande, and he once refused her,” said Blue Pool.

“Are you Xiao Qiao?”

Back then, Tiande had relentlessly pursued me in the Orchard of Immortal Peaches, calling me his beloved consort and then Xiao Qiao. When drunk, he even spoke of wounds or something of the sort, and it all matched Blue Pool’s story.

“Xiao Qiao was my childhood name,” said the Immortal Maiden of Blue Pool.

“How did the Azure Sea Bow take your divine spirit?” I asked.

“Beneath that forest lies this Azure Sea Bow. My blood seeped down and stained the bow. The bow sensed my resentment and injustice, and took my divine spirit within. I have slept in that bow and been refined by it ever since. Only a few days ago did I borrow it to take shape,” said the Immortal Maiden of Blue Pool.

“Why did you shoot Amugulang?” I asked.

“His betrothed said she wanted to take the Supreme God Yunxiao as her master. He said his betrothed had nothing in her head but the Supreme God Yunxiao, and that if she wanted the god to take her as a disciple, she should shoot herself dead! Then he even asked whether she wanted his help. His words reminded me of Tiande, and I was filled with rage!” Blue Pool said furiously.

I said in a low voice, “The Mucuo people are blunt-spoken and fond of joking. You misheard a fragment and wrongly blamed him.”

“How… how could I have blamed him wrongly?” Blue Pool did not believe it.

“We can speak of that later, slowly. Fortunately, matters have already been put right. I know you have suffered terribly, and your resentment has nowhere to go. Come back with me to Hundred Flowers Isle and seclude yourself in cultivation for a while,” I said. Mentioning my master made my spirit sink.

“All right. But may I first go to the Pure Jade Realm and explain things to the Supreme God Yunxiao?” Blue Pool asked.

“There is no need… the Supreme God Yunxiao has already passed away…”

“He has passed away? How could that be… he is the God of Bright Radiance…” Blue Pool could not believe it. Then she asked urgently, “And Tiande?”

“He married Leici, became crown prince, and is living very well, while having harmed others…” My tone grew heavier and heavier.

“How could this be!” Blue Pool could not bear such an ending.

I had asked that same question of heaven, of earth, of myself, countless times…

Blue Pool and I looked so alike, and both of us had suffered Tiande’s schemes. Meeting thus was no small fate. To deal with Tiande, I wanted to join hands with her.

“Immortal Maiden of Blue Pool, though you are trapped within the Azure Sea Bow and can take human form, you still have no freedom and are forced to serve others. If you wish to return to heaven, I can help you break free of this bow’s restraint and be reborn again. If you wish to avenge yourself before reincarnating, you may join hands with me and we can eliminate Tiande together. The choice is yours.”

“Granny, do you also have a grudge against Tiande?”

“One that cannot be shared beneath the same heaven!”

“Then let us destroy Tiande together!”

“Good!”

Blue Pool returned to the Azure Sea Bow. I took Bian and the Azure Sea Bow out of the Demon-Sealing Tower and informed Baolide that the source of Amugulang’s stabbing was also the evil done by Crown Prince Tiande. Baolide wept with age-worn tears and said bitterly, “Heaven and earth are without mercy, virtue is unworthy. If the divine sovereign should carve out a new heaven and earth, my Mucuo clan would willingly go under his banner and serve like dogs and horses!” He gave me the Mucuo Divine Eagle Token.

Amugulang was reborn, and Baolide ordered that day to become the Mucuo clan’s Festival of Double Life, their grandest celebration of the year.

Toward evening, while the Mucuo people were busy outside their felt tents preparing the bonfires and food for the Festival of Double Life, I dressed in Mucuo garb, disguised myself as an elderly Mucuo, and quietly left the camp.

The setting sun set the clouds at the horizon ablaze… Alone, I sat atop the grasslands and opened the recommendation letter that had remained unopened for twenty-five hundred years…

To Lady Danxia, with respect: There is an immortal maiden named Yu Fei, pure in disposition and intelligent of mind. Her face closely resembles that of your cherished disciple Blue Pool, and her temperament is as fierce and resolute as Blue Pool’s as well. She may perhaps be Blue Pool reborn, though this remains to be examined. Blue Pool was chaste and unyielding; unable to bear the slander, she died to prove her innocence. I was unable to fulfill my duty in protecting her completely, and I still carry pity for her in my heart. Now Yu Fei wishes to enter the discipline of the Pure Jade Realm. It would be improper for me to take her as my disciple, lest an innocent soul once again be wrongly burdened. I therefore hope that Lady Danxia will receive her as a disciple, instruct her diligently, admonish her often, and keep her far from the treacherous and the malicious. I make this request and send my best wishes. Respectfully, Yunxiao in his own hand.

Slowly I folded the letter and tucked it back into my bosom. So… so that was it… He had thought I was Blue Pool reborn. The goodness he had shown me, everything he had done for me, seemed suddenly explained—he carried pity in his heart, fearing that an innocent soul would once again be wrongly burdened!

The clouds at the horizon burned like fire, so fervent and beautiful in their red hue, yet soon to vanish into the darkness…

Across the grasslands rose an old, deep song, accompanied by ethereal, far-reaching strings, steeped in endless longing and a heavy, aching sorrow. A god in white flew out from the Mucuo Demon-Sealing Tower, holding in his hand a tiny, soft white feather from a sparrow. He gazed toward the edge of heaven…

“Is Bian not within the tower?” asked another god in black.

“Someone took him away,” said the god in white.

“And no divine spirit either?” asked the one in black.

“Yes,” the god in white replied heavily.

The god in black sighed. “We searched every Demon-Sealing Tower in heaven and earth that could hold a divine spirit… If he was not sealed there, where could his reincarnation have gone…”

The god in white said nothing. He stared toward the distant horizon, his face pale, one hand pressed to his heart…

“And our alliance with Mucuo?” asked the god in black.

“It is already too late…”

“Just who was it?”

The god in white looked toward the horizon and said lightly, “The Great Sound True God.” Unknowingly, his hand loosened. The white sparrow feather in his palm was lifted by the wind over the grasslands, floating upward and drifting away… like a single white snowflake, disappearing into the clouds at the edge of the sky…

As for me, I had already quietly transformed into a white sparrow and flown away from the Mucuo grasslands.

The Mucuo tents dwindled behind me, and that desolate song faded farther and farther away…

At the edge of heaven… at the edge of heaven… beyond the boundless sky… longing… longing… endless longing… beloved… beloved… are you there at heaven’s edge?