Chapter 54 - Remembering You
They say when enemies "meet", the eyes are particularly red with rage. At this moment, both their eyes were competing in redness. It was hard to tell from the surface who had wronged whom.
However, her "cousin" was still unconscious, so Dou Qingyue swallowed her grievances and chose not to quibble with the blind woman.
She might let it go, but Cui Ti was intent on settling scores.
Why should her perfectly fine "my husband" be entangled in the melodramatic love triangle of Xi Jing? Why, just because Dou Qingyue was in trouble, should her Xing Guang also be implicated?
She bled so much from a mere trip and fall; the mere thought pained Cui Ti.
Being blind, she continued to glare at the wooden stool, treating it as if it were Dou Qingyue herself: "You, follow me."
Bai Tang helped her out of the room, looking back at the sickly and conscience-lacking Miss from her family.
Dou Qingyue took a sharp intake of breath in surprise. It was shocking enough that Cui Ti dared to shove her. In their previous life, her cousin's wife was a gentle lamb. If it weren't for her "cousin" being so protective, she'd have long been bullied without mercy.
But in this life, Cui Ti's courage had grown considerably. She dared to provoke, dared to push, and even dared to challenge.
Dou Qingyue clicked her tongue, and in no time, they stepped out of the room, finding a secluded spot.
Cui Ti whispered with Bai Tang. From Bai Tang, she learned of the heavy price Dou Qingyue paid for jumping into the lake. Cui Ti scoffed, "Don't think just because your days are numbered, you can act recklessly. General Dou might indulge you, but I won't. Stay away from my husband!"
"......"
Hao Zhong and Rao Liang were stunned when they saw the young mistress threatening someone. Their eyes were rounder than the bells hung around a cat's neck.
My goodness! A jealous and fierce woman is truly not to be trifled with!
Dou Qingyue's face was as pale as paper, and she coughed in the wind. She knew her own health was deteriorating. She had risked her life to marry into the Pei family, but it all ended in vain. Instead, she seemingly lost several years of life for no reason. Talking about frustration, no one felt it more than she did.
Her current predicament and the injury of her cousin were the result of her recklessness. If her aunt came to scold her, she would take it. But Cui Ti acting all haughty as the young mistress, she couldn't help but scoff: "Don't think just because you're blind that you can disregard me. Does my cousin know how poisonous your tongue is?"
"At least it's better than your poisonous heart!"
While Pei Xuan lay unconscious, the two women, both infatuated with him, began to quarrel like children, revealing each other's flaws and mocking each other. Cui Ti's advantage was her momentum.
She spoke her mind, words sometimes before thoughts. Intent on settling scores from both their past and current lives, Dou Qingyue might have had a sharp tongue, but her stamina was lacking. After a few words, she'd be interrupted by coughing, giving Cui Ti the upper hand in both substance and appearance.
In the end, did she really lose an argument to a timid blind woman?
"You better wake up to your status!"
Cui Ti, with the aura of the young mistress of the Pei family, leisurely walked away, leaning on Bai Tang's arm.
After some distance, she asked, "Did I do well just now?"
Bai Tang's eyes sparkled, "Very impressive, this time Miss Dou lost."
Having bested Dou Qingyue, Cui Ti felt a momentary relief. Concerned about Pei Xuan's injuries, she hurried back to his room.
Once they were gone, Dou Qingyue covered her mouth with a handkerchief, coughing up blood.
In her previous life, she had caused Cui Ti's death. Now, Cui Ti had cursed her short-lived fate.
Indeed, her days were numbered.
The Dou family declined the Song family's proposal.
Song Zizhen watched as she grew increasingly frail. His fondness for Dou Qingyue, having only met her once, was luckily not too profound.
Zheng Wuji came with a jug of wine to console him. They then decided to visit the unconscious Pei Xuan together.
People age, and so do rabbits.
She watched as the girl aged with time, until the lively little rabbit could no longer jump around and just snuggled listlessly in her arms.
"Am I going to die?"
"Don't talk nonsense."
"I'll die soon. Even after all this time, I still don't know your name."
"You can call me Xing Guang."
"Xing Guang?" The rabbit spirit smiled, "That's a nice name. Does it mean 'traveling light'?"
"If you say so, then it does."
"No wonder. Being by your side feels so warm, as if there's light shining upon me."
The rabbit spirit had previously been ambushed by a wolf demon during a battle for control of a mountain. She suffered severe injuries, damaging her foundation, causing her cultivation to regress significantly. Even the hope of living for several more centuries became a luxury.
Her eyes were ruby red, even brighter than the finest rubies in the celestial palace, "I haven't asked you, why have you been following me?"
"I..."
The celestial lord was at a loss for words.
After a long wait, and seeing her unchanged expression, the rabbit spirit became accustomed and didn't feel uncomfortable. Thinking of her impending death, she held back tears, "Xing Guang, you must remember me. After I die, if no one remembers, it would be pitiful."
"Alright, I'll remember you. I promise."
"You, a mere mortal, how many years can you remember?"
The celestial lord came to her side as a mortal, hiding his true self perfectly. He earnestly replied, "However long I live, I'll remember."
"That's good," the rabbit spirit gazed into the distant sky, "Thank you for remembering me."
The mountain breeze was cold, her end drawing near. Unable to help herself, she shivered, and the celestial lord hugged her tighter, "Jiao Jiao, you mustn't sleep."
"But I'm so tired..."
She slowly closed her eyes.
He would never see those beautiful ruby-like eyes again.
The rabbit spirit was gone.
She gradually grew colder in his arms, stiffened, and eventually reverted back to her original form, an old, shedding white rabbit.
The celestial lord, who had lived for ten thousand years, tasted the ultimate bitterness for the first time. Despite his high status, he couldn't save the little girl he loved so dearly.
He stared blankly at the heavens, then a gust of wind stirred, and the old rabbit was taken into the cycle of reincarnation.
In the vast mortal world, no one can escape their destined calamities. He stood up to search for the Jiao Jiao he had protected for a millennium.
A cry echoed through the heavens and earth. The celestial lord was reborn in a grand Taoist temple as the beloved daughter of the temple's master and his consort. She was destined to be the next leader of the temple.
One year, the emperor brought his son and daughter to the temple to predict the nation's fate. The children of the temple were entranced by the sight of the young princess.
"Who are you?"
The young princess asked with a coy tilt of her head.
"I'm the future leader of this temple. You can call me the Little Temple Master."
"Can you take me out to play?"
"Of course!"
The bond of their friendship remained unbroken over the years. In the blink of an eye, twelve years had passed. The seventeen-year-old young abbess had become the true leader of the Daoist temple, while the princess of the empire was only then promised in marriage.
"I'm getting married! Will you come on my wedding day?"
There was a heaviness in her heart, yet she didn't know why. "I'll come. I want to see you get married with joy."
The grown-up princess approached and hugged her, the warmth spreading. A strong sense of unwillingness to part arose in her, "Do you like your future husband?"
"I don't. But the emperor's decree has been issued; what's done cannot be undone."
"If you don't like him, let me help you!"
"How will you help? Don't do anything rash!"
Right then, monsters rampaged throughout the Eastern Yue Kingdom. Those practicing Daoism were terrified by the brutal creatures. Everyone kept their peach wood swords hidden, avoiding the great responsibility of slaying monsters and demons.
The seventeen-year-old abbess struck a deal with the cunning emperor and, carrying her monster-slaying sword, embarked on a perilous journey.
On the day of the princess's grand wedding, news spread across the land about the young abbess vanquishing a horde of demons with her sword. The wedding was halted halfway.
The emperor, leading his officials, went to the east gate to welcome their hero.
The princess was overjoyed, "You're back?"
"I'm back."
The young abbess returned, whole and intact.
Yet, she dared not meet the eyes of the princess.
It was as if those eyes held the most brilliant and vibrant colors of the world, too dazzling to look directly at.
After many twists and turns, the princess never married. Instead, she joyfully moved into the Daoist temple.
The young abbess devoted her life to the Eastern Yue Kingdom. She bled for the people and shed tears for the princess.
When she cried, it was unclear what caused her sorrow. It seemed there were words left unsaid.
She exhausted her life force, sacrificing herself to purify the world, vanquishing all the monsters.
Ten years after her death, the princess wept profoundly and followed her in death.
Everyone said it was a love-driven sacrifice, but the reticent young abbess couldn't witness it.
As the wheel of life turned, another life began.
A Daoist monk, devoted to his practices, gave up his allegiance to the Three Pure Ones just for a glimpse of a beauty. Little did he know that this innocent-looking woman was the most treacherous demoness, seducing him to the point of no return.
"I will kill you!"
"Do it."
The demoness held his hand, her seductive eyes casting playful glances.
Later, the Daoist monk tore open his chest, presenting his 'core heart' before the demoness, "If you desire it, it's yours."
With her hands stained in blood, only that glowing 'core heart' shone brightly, illuminating the dark demonic palace.
It also hurt the demoness's eyes.
Her eyes turned red as she shed tears, seemingly lost, not knowing the reason for her sorrow.
The young Daoist lay dead at her feet.
She consumed the 'core heart,' greatly enhancing her power, achieving formidable capabilities. Yet, she couldn't escape the final question of the Heavenly Dao ---
"Do you feel guilty?"
Guilty?
She had long forgotten remorse.
Being a demon, why cling to humanity?
But her heart felt differently.
She felt guilty.
Truly remorseful.
A massive vortex enveloped her. Everywhere she looked, she saw the Daoist's blood and past illusions.
Within these shadows, she found a naive rabbit and a strikingly gentle and beautiful immortal.
The Bamboo Demoness, seemingly heartless, possessed the 'core heart' given by the Daoist.
She saw her own true intentions.
And it brought her excruciating pain.
She couldn't withstand the final question of the Heavenly Dao. Unable to ascend, she vowed to repay the Daoist's emotional debt in her next life.
Indeed, the Daoist had feelings for her.
But he was too naive. If not for seeing her true heart, she wouldn't have realized his deep affection.
Had she known earlier, she certainly wouldn't have hurt him.
Generations come and go, repeatedly missing out, adding layers upon layers of regret.
Understanding where one comes from is to also know where one goes. As Wenqu of the reincarnation saw through the cycle, she glimpsed another lifetime with the enchanting Miss.
In their seventh life, she had eagerly welcomed her into the household, becoming the young mistress of the Pei family.
She would delicately pick out tiny fishbones for her, guiding her past potholes big and small. She cherished her, yet never dared to get too close.
One step too late, the one she deeply longed for had already fallen into the lotus pond, life extinguished.
The sharp pain pierced her heart like a knife, and Pei Xuan's eyes suddenly shot open.
"Xing Guang!?"
Cui Ti had stayed up all night, keeping vigil by her side.
The joy-filled shout of "Xing Guang" echoed directly into Pei Xuan's ears. The age-old bond wrapped around her heart and she replied with gentle warmth, "My wife."
"You're awake! That's wonderful. I'll go tell mother, I---"
Her joy rendered her speechless. Pei Xuan grabbed her hand, his gaze uncontrollably tracing the details of her face.
This was his dear Miss.
Cui Ti couldn't handle his gaze and her ears turned red, "Xing Guang, did you wake up confused?"
Pei Xuan chuckled, holding her tightly around the waist, "Indeed, I must have been dazed from sleep. It took me this long to finally have you."
Wenqu, in all her cultured grace, even more detached than Buddha, after eight lifetimes of reincarnation, returned as a refined 'rogue'.
"My wife, can you call my name again?"
Her voice was undeniably captivating. Cui Ti, with her heart fluttering like a scared deer, pursed her lips and softly murmured, "Xing Guang."