As I ascended the mountain, a bamboo flute melody drifted from the wilderness, causing me to pause and look around.
In a daze, I saw a white crane fly overhead. I looked up, only to hear someone speaking behind me.
"Young lady, where do you come from?"
Hearing the voice, I quickly turned around and saw an elderly person dressed in white, somewhat plump, with a head full of white hair.
A long, white beard cascaded from their chin.
They looked like a recluse from the outside world.
I asked the elder.
"Elder, why are you here?"
The elder chuckled and replied.
"I've lived nearby for a long time. It is you, little girl, who I should ask, where do you come from?"
I thought for a moment and said.
"I come from Nanhai City."
But he shook his head and said.
"No, you do not come from there, nor do you belong to any place in this world. You come from the mortal realm."
Unexpectedly, this master knew so much. I hurriedly asked him.
"Elder, how do you know so much?"
The elder smiled slightly, turned his back, and said nothing more, only that.
"I have a connection with you. Please, come to my humble abode for a drink."
"Thank you, elder."
Saying this, he walked ahead, and I followed him.
With a wave of his hand, a straight path suddenly opened through the dense, impassable trees. I followed him onto the path.
The path was quiet and serene. Soon, we reached its end, where, deep within the forest, a cliff with a waterfall appeared.
Beneath the waterfall was a thatched hut.
In front of the hut stood a leaning peach tree laden with blossoms. Beneath it were a stone table and chairs.
The elder led me along the clear path into the courtyard.
Just then, the cry of a white crane echoed from the sky. I looked up and saw the same white crane I had seen earlier, now circling overhead.
It then slowly flew down and transformed into a small child dressed in white, with two buns tied on their head, and a delicate build.
The child approached the elder and cupped his hands, saying.
"Master, I have returned."
The elder nodded with satisfaction, slowly turned, and introduced me.
"Young lady, this is my disciple whom I recently accepted. I have named him Bai Li."
"Bai Li, a good name. I am Liu Muye."
I introduced myself.
Bai Li also cupped his hands towards me and said.
"Greetings, Miss Liu."
Truly a polite and good child.
The elder patted Bai Li's head and said.
"Li'er, the young lady and I have some things to discuss. Go and brew us a pot of tea."
"Yes."
With that, Bai Li turned and went into the thatched hut to make tea. The elder invited me.
"Young lady, please sit here."
Saying this, he led me to the peach tree and to the stone table.
As soon as I sat down, the young boy returned with a teapot.
With a gentle wave of his hand over the stone table, tea utensils appeared. He then poured two cups of tea and placed them before the elder and me.
He then turned and left.
The elder said.
"Young lady, please try this. It is tea brewed with water from the waterfall behind the mountain."
I looked up and saw the cascading waterfall, like raindrops from heaven gathered in one place.
I wondered what tea brewed with waterfall water would taste like.
So, I picked up the teacup and took a sip. I found it to be bitter with a hint of sweetness, and sweet with a hint of bitterness.
"This tea, it is slightly bitter upon entering the mouth, then gradually becomes sweet. And when you smell it, there seems to be a faint, fresh fragrance."
The elder nodded, affirming my words. He said.
"This waterfall water is different from elsewhere. When you first taste it, it is bitter with a hint of sweetness. When you taste it again, the aftertaste is endless."
At this moment, the young boy brought over a plate of peaches and placed them on the table. The elder invited me.
"Come, try these peaches. They are the fruit from this peach tree."
I looked up in confusion at the pink peach blossoms overhead and asked.
"Elder, this peach tree is not yet in season to bear fruit."
"Look again carefully."
I looked up again, filled with curiosity. I looked carefully and suddenly saw small, tender peaches hidden among the branches. I was filled with surprise.
"How strange, why can this peach tree bloom and bear fruit at the same time?"
The elder smiled slightly and replied.
"Because this peach tree holds great love in its heart. It bears the mission of nurturing the birds and beasts in this area, as well as myself and my disciple.
Therefore, it strives to break free from the shackles of fate and achieve blooming and fruiting simultaneously."
I was filled with astonishment.
"Trees also have great love? If trees can achieve great love, then humans can too."
Seeing my gradual enlightenment, the elder picked up a peach from the plate and handed it to me.
"Try it. See what the fruit of this great-hearted peach tree tastes like."
I took the peach and took a bite. Immediately, a clear sweetness filled my mouth.
In my mind, the image of the peach tree blooming with all its might in winter to bear fruit, and then in spring, concentrating all its nutrients into the fruit, and then extending its roots to seek nourishment, unbidden, arose.
Years of accumulated experience, blooming again and again, bearing fruit again and again, gradually shortening the time, and finally achieving the result of blooming and fruiting simultaneously.
I shed a tear silently and asked the peach tree in my heart, was it worth it?
The peach tree did not respond. Just then, a gentle breeze blew, rustling the peach blossoms. The blossoms fell like rain in the wind, as if a peach blossom shower had descended.
I slowly opened my eyes, looking at the dancing peach blossoms all around, my heart filled with boundless emotion.
The elder said.
"Some people are born to save all living beings, while others are destined to live a simple life.
Sometimes, we cannot choose our fate. All we can do is move forward."
I caught a falling peach blossom and asked the elder with great sadness.
"Elder, what is my fate? Have I perhaps made many mistakes in the past?"
"Your fate is hard to say. Perhaps you should not only possess ordinary, small love, but also learn selfless, great love.
Although few can achieve it, it does not mean it does not exist."
"Selfless great love? But I have nothing now, how can I... possess great love."
"What is lost will return. We cannot be perfect.
Nor can we satisfy everyone. Follow your heart, and your heart will guide you to the answer."
"Follow my heart..."
I murmured to myself, still not understanding the elder's words.
I was very curious why this elder before me understood so many principles, so I asked him.
"Elder, why do you understand so many principles?"
The elder replied.
"Because, the more one experiences, the more one naturally understands."
"The more one experiences."
"Hahaha, don't think so much now. Just live your life well."
Saying this, the elder stood up and said.
"Young lady, you must be tired after a day's journey. Come and sleep in my thatched hut."
I felt a bit embarrassed and said.
"How can I impose?"
But the elder did not mind and said.
"It's alright. Go and get some rest. I need to go and look around the surroundings as well."
Saying this, he called his disciple.
"Li'er, come here and take Miss Liu to rest."
"Yes."
Bai Li responded.
He walked over from a few steps away and gestured, saying.
"Miss Liu, please follow me."
"Thank you, elder. I will go now."
"Go ahead."
After I followed Bai Li away, the elder gazed at my retreating back, nodded thoughtfully, and then, transforming into a white shadow, flew into the sky.
I was led into the thatched hut, and then into a room on the left. The room was neat and bright, meticulously cleaned.
Bai Li said.
"Miss, please rest here."
"Thank you, young master."
With that, he left. I took off my shoes, lay on the bed, and slowly closed my eyes, falling into a deep sleep. All my previous fatigue vanished.
The next morning, I felt the sunlight was unusually piercing.
I slightly opened my eyes and saw the blue sky, white clouds, and the fiery red sun.
While marveling at how beautiful the weather was, I suddenly felt that something was amiss.
With a "whoosh," I sat up and found only sparse trees around me. I was sitting in an open space.
There were no houses nearby, no peach trees, and certainly no waterfall.
I was bewildered, not knowing what had happened, whether it was a dream or something that had actually occurred.
Suddenly, I remembered that I still had to ascend Mount Wanxue to find the Wanxue Spider. So, without dwelling on it, I followed the path and headed up the mountain.
Mount Wanxue was as serene as ever, with only white snow as far as the eye could see and endless cold.
I stood in the wind and snow, aimlessly calling out for the Wanxue Spider.
"Wanxue Spider! Wanxue Spider!"
However, after calling for a long time, I received no response.
Looking around, there was only vast white snow and the cold wind that blew from time to time. As for the Wanxue Spider, there was not even a trace of it.
There was nothing I could do but give up searching for it for now.
Relying on my previous memory, I found the cave entrance again.
Standing before the cave entrance, memories flooded back like a spring.
I couldn't help but recall the days when I searched for Celestial Master Zhang with Ali.
I remembered his bright smile even in the heavy snow, his gentle care and sincerity in the cave.
And I remembered him being injured by the Wanxue Spider while saving me.
Everything felt like a dream, an illusory dream. After waking from the dream, he left with all the beauty, forever gone.
I sighed deeply and entered the cave, which was filled with beautiful memories, and lay down in my former position.
Turning my head, I saw Ali appear before me again in a daze. I hurriedly called out.
"Ali, is that you?"
Ali smiled slightly but did not answer me. I reached out to pull him, but he vanished before my eyes like the wind.
"Still can't forget him?"
A sharp pain pierced my heart. I shook my head helplessly, turned my head, and closed my eyes slightly, falling into a deep slumber.
In the middle of the night, a strong wind suddenly arose. The howling wind and snow outside the cave were as piercing as a baby's cry.
I woke from my sleep, and a sound like a bull's roar reached my ears. It was the voice of the Wanxue Spider.
I immediately crawled out of the cave and headed in the direction of the sound.
However, how could the vast snow be so easily navigated to find him?
At that moment, I vaguely saw a blurry human figure appear in the wind and snow.
Before I could get a clear look, a long sword whistled towards me.
I quickly dodged it. The sword circled around and flew back.
I was a bit stunned, thinking, how could they have caught up so quickly.
Suddenly, the person leaped out of the wind and snow, sword in hand, and aimed directly at my head.
I was in a panic and retreated hastily. My feet suddenly slipped, and I fell backward, doing a somersault.
The person abruptly stopped their sword mid-air, made a few gestures, and then swung their sword.
Instantly, several sword energies, like swimming dragons and slithering snakes, attacked me. I hastily raised my hands to cover my face.
The moment the sword energy was about to strike me, it was dispelled by the demonic energy of the Wan Gui King.
The person was slightly startled but not discouraged. They swung their sword again, hacking wildly.
I had never encountered such sword power. I hastily protected myself.
Although I was protected by the Wan Gui King's demonic energy, I could still feel the force and pain, as if they were chopping bone and splitting wood.
After a few exchanges, I had sustained several cuts.
If this continued, I would still be killed by him.
It seemed they had sent a formidable opponent this time.
I slowly stood up, intending to use that move. Before using it, I pondered for a moment and shouted at him.
"If you don't want to be drained dry by me, get lost! Don't force my hand."
He suddenly froze, his sword slowly lowered. He asked dazedly.
"Muye?"
Hearing this voice, my heart jolted. It sounded like Liu Shinian's voice. My heart was filled with both shock and fear, but I wasn't sure if it was him.
So, I slowly approached. In the reflection of the snow, I gradually saw the person before me was Liu Shinian.
The moment I saw him clearly, my heart was filled with dread. I quickly turned my back, suddenly at a loss for what to do, my thoughts in turmoil.
I wanted to flee, but he suddenly asked.
"Are you Liu Muye, or Wan Gui King?"
I stood frozen, afraid to see him and afraid to answer him.
If he knew it was me, what would happen? He had already lost his closest master. I couldn't hurt him further.
So, I fled without looking back. He leaped forward, landing in front of me, holding his sword, and asked sternly.
"Who exactly are you!"
With no escape, I could only confess to him. If he were to kill me, even in death, I would consider it worthwhile.
I put on a proud demeanor and laughed heartily.
"Hahaha, who else could I be? Naturally, I am Wan Gui King. What, are you here to die?"
Liu Shinian was not provoked by my words. He looked at the person before him, listening to her voice, filled with doubt.
His mind was in a struggle. Muye could not possibly be Wan Gui King. So he asked again.
"Why do you have Liu Muye's appearance?"
I smiled faintly, feigning nonchalance, and lied to him.
"That woman you mentioned? I ate her. However, her soul was truly delicious.
It tasted so fragrant and sweet, hahaha."
Hearing this, Liu Shinian trembled slightly, tightly gripping the sword in his hand, and roared.
"You demon! You killed so many people and harmed Muye.
She had nothing to do with all this, yet you killed her. Today, I will avenge everyone."
Saying this, he furiously swung his sword and thrust it at me. I closed my eyes, smiling, wishing for it to end.
However, after waiting for a long time, there was still no movement.
I slightly opened my eyes and found that the space before me was empty.
Liu Shinian had long since disappeared, leaving only silence.
I guessed that he recognized me, perhaps he had recognized me much earlier.
Thinking of this, I collapsed onto the ground, suddenly regretting why I had made this deal with Wan Gui King.
What would Liu Shinian do? How could I face him?
I sat helplessly in the snow, my eyes filled with sorrow.
I sighed, and resignedly lay down in the snow, letting the swirling snowflakes fall onto my face.
Liu Shinian hurriedly ran down the mountain. His heart was in a panic and disbelief.
But that face, that tone of voice, it was clearly Muye, living and breathing Muye.
He couldn't believe that the Wan Gui King he had always hated was actually Muye.
She was clearly trying so hard to help everyone, but why would she then deceive him?
His mind was in a mess. He didn't understand why Muye had become Wan Gui King.
Thinking of facing her on the battlefield in the future, his heart ached.
He never expected that they would reach this point.
Dejected, he leaned against a tree trunk, his gaze vacant as he looked towards the snow-capped mountain peak.