The eminent monk asked,
"Little girl, do you have anything from the human realm?"
Things from the human realm… this suddenly reminded me of the painting Elder Tanuki had given me.
So, I took out the brocade pouch from my embrace and retrieved the painting.
The artwork was like a delicate small scroll.
The moment I placed it in my hand, it enlarged itself to match the painting's size.
Then, I handed it to the eminent monk.
The eminent monk took the scroll and opened it to look.
The person in the painting was precisely the Empress painting he had created years ago.
Seeing the painting he had gifted returned to his hands,
a hint of joy appeared on his face, and he sighed,
"This painting is the Empress painting I gifted to the fifth-generation elder of the Tanuki clan a thousand years ago."
As he spoke, he couldn't help but recount the painting's origin.
"It was the ninth year of Empress Wu Zetian's ascension to the throne.
I happened to enter Baima Temple, copying scriptures, and occasionally composing poetry and painting.
Later, I don't know who it was, but they took my proud calligraphy and paintings as treasures and presented them to the Empress.
The Empress was overjoyed upon seeing it and greatly appreciated the artwork.
So, she summoned me to the palace overnight and ordered me to paint for her in the grand hall.
I saw her, clad in dragon robes, seated on the dragon throne.
Her majesty and dominance were even more imposing than those of past emperors.
I glimpsed outside the hall and saw a dense purple aura enveloping the entire structure.
Thus, I applied my brush with vigor and created this Empress painting.
The Empress was extremely pleased and bestowed the painting back upon me, granting me permission to keep it with me."
Upon hearing this, everyone present was filled with emotion.
Though they had never witnessed this figure firsthand,
they felt as if they were there, beholding her majesty through the eminent monk's description.
I intended to express my feelings, but then I remembered the purpose of my visit, and thus I said,
"That must have been an unforgettable experience.
However, what does this painting have to do with my return to the human world?"
The eminent monk sighed deeply, put away the scroll, looked at A'Li, and then at me, saying,
"Whether you can return is not something I can decide.
You must ask him—the God of Zhongshan, Liu Xiang."
At these words, I felt a sense of bewilderment.
Liu Xiang… I had heard of him, but he was merely a legend.
How could he possibly be here? It struck me as somewhat amusing.
The eminent monk then shifted his gaze to A'Li.
Tian Shi and I exchanged confused glances, and our eyes simultaneously fell upon A'Li.
A'Li looked at the three of us and burst into laughter, then waved his hand, conjuring a gust of wind.
After the strong wind subsided, a figure in red landed on the ground. A'Li had transformed into someone else.
He was clad in blood-red robes, with long, dark raven hair.
His features were delicate and refined, with red lips and white teeth, resembling Guanyin of the Moonlit Water—truly breathtaking.
He held a bone fan as white as frost and snow, exactly like the legend of his figure, as fiery red as a blazing inferno.
It was truly said:
A fleeting glimpse in the mortal world, yet a hundred flowers bloom and fade, unable to match his countenance.
Is this truly Liu Xiang?
I couldn't react for a moment, feeling that the illusionary techniques of this place were disorienting, making it impossible to discern who was real and who was fake.
Yet, in my heart, I felt I had seen this appearance somewhere before.
However, I couldn't recall where.
Gazing at this familiar stranger before me, I found myself at a loss for words.
It was Tian Shi who spoke first,
"Are you Liu Xiang?"
"Indeed,"
he replied with a hint of arrogance.
"Then, are you A'Li?"
I asked him cautiously.
He let out a cold snort, offering no reply.
The eminent monk inquired,
"Young Master Liu is an ancient supreme being; how did he come to have a dispute with this young lady?"
Since the eminent monk had asked, he began to narrate the tale of my ill-fated connection with him.
"Speaking of my ill-fated connection with her, it all began when I went to the human realm.
At that time, it wasn't my first visit to the human realm, nor could I recall how many times I had been.
One day, I was reading in a library in the human world.
Suddenly, I sensed a pair of eyes fixedly staring at me from behind.
I initially thought it was an enemy, but when I turned around, I saw this woman.
I had assumed she was merely an ordinary admirer.
Unexpectedly, after I left that place,
this woman stuck to me like a stubborn stain, following me wherever I went.
Frustrated, I stopped her and asked why she was following me.
She stammered a lot of nonsense.
Feeling impatient, I didn't engage with her further and walked away.
However, after that,
this woman began to follow me stealthily every day, like a stalker.
I couldn't stand her any longer, so I called her out and established the 'Demon God's Rules' with her.
If she could defeat me, she could make any request of me.
Without a second thought, she immediately agreed.
To make her give up, I then brought her to this other realm."
I almost gasped in disbelief upon hearing this, exclaiming,
"So, that person, that person was you? No wonder you were so handsome."
He cast a disdainful glance at me, then sneered,
"Although you are utterly useless, shameless, and detestable,
I must admit, you have quite a bit of courage."
I felt a bit displeased. What was he talking about? Seeing his opinion of me, I explained,
"Hey, hey, hey, what do you mean I'm shameless?
I have to tell you, I just happened to be going in the same direction as you.
Otherwise, why would I have walked so far with you? Honestly."
"If that's the case, then why were you still pestering me?"
I hesitated, but still spoke,
"I don't know. Ever since I saw you that day, you've been constantly on my mind.
So, I thought, since I'm so smitten with you, why not be a little bolder?"
He seemed speechless, and then, as if struck by a thought, he suddenly said,
"Since that's the case, you've been in this other realm for several days, and your actions have not convinced me.
I don't wish to make things difficult for you. How about this: according to our customs here,
if a promise-breaker fails to fulfill their vow, they must publicly sever an arm as penance for breaking the oath. If you do that, I will send you back."
Seeing his smug and cold expression, I became very displeased and cursed at him,
"If you had just told me clearly from the beginning, wouldn't I have tried my best?
And you want me to sever my own arm? Humph!"
"You refuse to sever your arm?"
he said coldly, completely ignoring what I was saying.
How could I do something so foolish? I retorted angrily,
"You want me to sever my arm? Not a chance.
I won't do it! If you want my life, take it now."
"It seems you are unwilling to repent, aren't you?"
His tone suddenly chilled, and I felt a bit flustered.
It's truly wrong to like someone, and it's so unreasonable.
I felt the person before me was as unreasonable and incomprehensible as a child.
So, I replied with equal displeasure,
"Your demand is too unreasonable, I will not do it."
"If you are not sincere, do not blame me for being heartless."
Saying this, he conjured a strand of hair from his hand and held it before my eyes, mockingly saying,
"Do you really think I would like you?
Every moment I spent with you, I felt utter disgust."
I recognized it instantly as the lock of hair I had given him and cried out in shame,
"Give it back to me!"
I lunged forward, trying to snatch it back, but he suddenly dodged, and I missed.
Immediately, he burned the lock of hair right before my eyes.
The eminent monk seemed unable to bear the farce any longer and finally spoke, advising,
"This is a matter between you and Miss Liu, and it is not appropriate for me and Tian Shi to interfere.
However, as you sow, so shall you reap.
Young Master Liu, as an ancient god, you should understand this principle.
Do not wait until you have lost something to truly repent. Tian Shi, let's go."
The eminent monk called out to Tian Shi, and Tian Shi had no choice but to leave.
Before departing, he looked at the two of us with helplessness and sighed deeply.
Finally, he followed the eminent monk and ascended into the wind, leaving only me and Liu Xiang behind.
I looked at the stranger before me and decided to use the last bit of my gentleness to plead with him,
"Send me back. Keeping me here is useless."
I thought that if I spoke to him kindly, it might have some effect.
Unexpectedly, he suddenly changed his expression and sneered,
"Humans are truly heartless and unrighteous creatures. Neither oaths nor promises are trustworthy."
I frowned and tried to reason with him,
"If you don't like me, you could have refused. Why use such tactics?
If you don't send me back, are you expecting me to stay by your side?
If I sever my arm, how will I ever get married in the future?"
He let out a cold snort and looked at me with disdain, saying,
"You think too highly of yourself. You now know my true identity.
How could I possibly let you continue to stay by my side?
I had thought you were a woman with integrity.
I never expected you to be someone who fears death."
I said with a bitter smile,
"Then you might as well kill me and end this oath."
He sneered,
"I will not kill you. Since you have made a Demon God's oath with me,
then you must defeat me according to the oath.
Only then will you be qualified to ask me to return to the human world."
"If that's the case, then kill me and end this oath.
This way, it will preserve me and preserve you."
He shook his head,
"I will not do that. I know this oath might be a bit difficult for you.
But there's no other way. If you do not fulfill the oath, I cannot grant you any requests.
So, if you truly wish to return, then strengthen yourself.
Become a god as powerful as I am, and then I will seek you out for a match."
I sighed softly, never expecting him to be so heartless.
Indeed, men are all untrustworthy.
However, in my heart, I still held a sliver of hope for him.
Perhaps, if he had said that one sentence, I wouldn't have been so sad and would have accepted everything willingly.
"Since that's the case, I have one last question for you.
When you were A'Li, how much of your feelings for me were genuine?"
He turned his back to me, like an icy mountain, making him seem unreachable.
He remained silent, and after a long while, he replied,
"Not even a shred of genuine feeling."
A sharp pain pierced my heart. I knew he would say this, yet I couldn't help but ask.
Having received the answer, I was resigned. Whether I returned or not seemed no longer important.
I covered my chest with my hand and said to him for the last time,
"Since that's the case, I will no longer pester you and will accept everything willingly.
But before I go, I want to speak my heart.
That way, even if we become enemies, it won't be in vain for all my longing.
Listen carefully, as A'Li's friend, I officially declare my feelings for A'Li."
I paused, trying to control the tears that were about to fall, and said to him solemnly,
"A'Li, thank you for always being with me. I really, really like you.
From the first time you appeared in my life.
From when you drove away the demon birds to protect me.
From when you bravely ventured into the mountain god's cave to save me.
And from when you traveled thousands of miles to the Northern Divine Capital, just to save me."
I tried to control my emotions and slowly said,
"Thank you for accompanying me on this journey.
I should have told you these words sooner.
But I knew that I would leave someday, so I never told you.
However, today, I have no more worries or fears.
I am happy that I can bravely say these words to you.
From today onwards, we are no longer friends, and you are no longer A'Li.
Let us part ways here."
After speaking, I turned and walked away, my steps quickening, and tears began to stream down my face.
I covered my trembling heart with one hand; it ached terribly, but at least I had said what needed to be said.
Liu Xiang listened to my words, his eyes slightly reddening, and he couldn't bear to turn and look at me.
But he only saw my receding back.
He gathered his courage and called out,
"Liu Muye! Thank you.
Alright, from now on, you are no longer the Liu Muye of the past.
And I am no longer the pure and adorable A'Li.
Remember this! From this day forward, in this world, there will only be Liu Xiang, and no longer A'Li.
When we meet again, it will be the day you fulfill your oath."
Hearing his words, I waved my hand and bid him farewell.
He sighed softly, turned, and disappeared into the wind.
My heart still felt a pang of reluctance, and I couldn't help but look back. The space behind me was empty.
In the end, I was left alone.
I collapsed onto the ground, covering my face, weeping uncontrollably.
"From this day forward, in this world, there will only be Liu Xiang, and no longer A'Li."
What a definitive statement. Yet, how could what had appeared and been imprinted in my memory be so easily erased?
Recalling every moment with A'Li, I remembered his appearance when we first met, fierce yet adorable.
I remembered how he would harm himself for the sake of the tanukis in the village.
I remembered how, every time I woke up, he would be by my side.
And I especially remembered him taking the blow from Wanxue Zhu for me.
So many beautiful memories, bit by bit.
The emotions revealed in his smiles.
I refused to believe that he didn't like me even a little.
If he had told me from the beginning, I would have accepted any outcome.
But he waited until after I had fallen in love with him to tell me.
And now, I had lost everything, everything.
After an unknown amount of time, I had probably given up.
I lay peacefully on the grass, gazing at the crimson sunset clouds in the sky.
In the quiet woods, deer, birds, and rabbits,
as if sensing my heart turning to ash,
all came running to me and surrounded me.
I raised my hand and stroked the deer that lowered its head.
In a daze, I felt as if I had returned to the human world, returned to that normal life.
As I thought about it, I drifted into a deep sleep amidst tears and heartache.
In a daze, I suddenly found that my surroundings had become a vast expanse of white, and the silence was extraordinary.
Muzzyly, I heard a familiar and warm voice calling,
"Muye… Muye…"
I turned around, and in the vast white mist, I saw a blurry figure.
The figure slowly walked towards me, and as I saw the person's face clearly, I couldn't help but burst into tears.
The person approaching was A'Li. A'Li looked at me, tears streaming down my face, and his own face showed a look of heartache.
He slowly walked forward, embraced me, and comforted me,
"Don't be sad. You've always been a brave girl."
I looked up at him and couldn't help but touch him again and again.
The real sensation made it seem as if everything before me wasn't an illusion.
A'Li patted my head and said,
"I've come to say goodbye. I know about your feelings for me."
I tightly grasped his hands and asked hurriedly,
"Where are you going? This time, I'll accompany you."
I shook my head slightly, and a tear slowly fell from my reluctant face. He comforted me,
"I will not appear again. I am very happy to have experienced so much with you.
Forget me. Farewell."
Saying this, he became like a phantom, slipping from my grasp and drifting away behind me.
I cried out and chased after him,
"Don't go, don't leave me alone, A'Li! A'Li!"
However, he disappeared into the vast mist.
Leaving me with nothing but beautiful memories from the past.
Just like when we first met, he was all alone.