The Old Sword Cultivator didn’t want to bring up these little bits of the past. He might seem carefree, but his life wasn’t truly happy either.

How many people in this world could truly live with joy?

The Old Sword Cultivator suddenly thought of someone. “Ah, right,” he said. “There was a girl in the Palace who kept asking about you. You might have time to visit her.”

Chen Changsheng paused. “She waited for me?”

The Old Sword Cultivator nodded. “Go see her.”

He wouldn’t say more, just wore a complicated expression.

After thinking a moment, Chen Changsheng nodded. “Alright.”

The Old Sword Cultivator didn’t accompany Chen Changsheng further. After leaving the Tavern, he found a tree outside the city and slept beneath it. As a Cultivator, he didn’t need sleep, but sometimes being awake let too many things surface in his mind.

He’d slept under trees so long it became a habit.

…

Many years later, Chen Changsheng once more walked into the Great Jing Imperial Palace.

Moonlight bathed the golden-roofed halls. Crimson doors stood before him. The night was quiet, yet held an air of grimness. Just like back then, the sight filled him with a heavy feeling.

Chen Changsheng walked slowly through the Palace grounds. Palace guards passed by him as if he weren’t there.

He came to the Library Pavilion. Compared to before, it remained unchanged, the same old, simple building.

Squeak…

The eunuch guarding the Library Pavilion heard the door open. Puzzled, he thought it was just the wind and got up to close it.

But as he sat back down, a sudden wave of drowsiness hit him. In the blink of an eye, he slumped onto the table, deeply asleep.

Chen Changsheng withdrew his hand. With a casual wave, the Oil Lamp on the table flew into his grasp.

Holding the oil lamp, he walked forward.

The Library Pavilion was especially silent, only the sound of Chen Changsheng’s footsteps echoed.

Thud.

When he reached the innermost part, Chen Changsheng stopped.

He looked up. Before him, wearing a light blue gown, a girl sat clutching a book, fast asleep.

After so many years apart, the little girl had grown up. Gone was her childishness; worry seemed etched between her brows.

The noise seemed to disturb her.

Xian Yue slowly opened her eyes. Seeing the glimmer of light, she instinctively raised a hand to shield them.

“Hmm…”

Chen Changsheng paused, moved the lamp to dim its light on her face, then knelt down to look at the Princess of Great Jing.

Xian Yue lowered her hand. This time, she finally saw clearly the person before her.

“You… you… you…!”

Xian Yue’s eyes widened. She pointed at the figure before her, suddenly finding herself speechless.

Chen Changsheng gave a gentle smile. “Long time no see.”

Xian Yue froze for a moment. A single Oil Lamp stood between them. It felt like over ten years had passed in an instant.

In that split second, she remembered the night she’d met that Scholar in the Library Pavilion. That one glance had stayed with her for over a decade.

Xian Yue suddenly covered her mouth and laughed, though she didn’t know why she was laughing.

Chen Changsheng asked, “What’s so funny?”

Xian Yue said, “I just remembered back then, I didn’t know you were an Immortal. I demanded you tell me stories.”

Chen Changsheng’s gaze grew complex. He forced a small smile. “Do you know now?”

“Mmhmm.”

Xian Yue nodded once. “I just found out a bit too late.”

Chen Changsheng suddenly fell quiet.

A shadow of loneliness passed over Xian Yue’s eyes. She didn’t speak either.

A moment passed.

A faint draft seemed to seep in from outside, making the candle flame flicker briefly.

Chen Changsheng snapped back to the present. Looking at Xian Yue, he asked, “Still want to hear a story?”

Xian Yue stared blankly for a second, then suddenly started laughing.

“Yes!”

Chen Changsheng smiled faintly. “Where did we leave off?”

“The Great Sage was trapped under the Five-Finger Mountain by that monk.”

“Let’s start over instead. This time, I should be able to finish the story.”

Just like all those years ago, Chen Changsheng sat cross-legged on the floor. He began telling the story of the Great Sage Equalling Heaven to the girl in front of him.

For a moment, it felt like the past and present overlapped.

But now, in the blink of an eye, the little girl had blossomed into a graceful young woman. It filled him with a wave of emotion.

Chen Changsheng started from the very beginning. The monkey born from stone. The Mount of Heart and Mind. The havoc wreaked in heaven…

When he reached the Tathagata Buddha, Xian Yue objected just like she used to. “I don’t like this monk.”

“Indeed, he’s hard to like.”

Chen Changsheng chuckled. “But the story must proceed.”

“We could change it.”

“If we change it, there’d be no ‘afterward.'”

“Then… let’s not change it.”

Compared to that, Xian Yue was much more eager to hear the rest of the story.

The Gentleman continued. He told of Monk Xuanzang, told of many Monsters.

That night, time inside the Library Pavilion seemed to crawl by incredibly slowly.

Listening, listening, Xian Yue suddenly felt her mind drift away.

Her eyes stayed fixed on the Green-Robed Gentleman before her.

From head to toe, unchanged!

Exactly like he was back then.

Sometimes Xian Yue couldn’t understand it herself. That year, she’d longed for the stories trapped in the books. Longing stretched over time, until slowly, she started longing for the person too.

Besides the tales, she only remembered the handsome Gentleman.

Ten-odd years passed like a flash. Never imagined they’d meet again.

Only now… it was too late.

She wasn’t listening to the rest of the story at all now. All Xian Yue did was gaze at her Gentleman.

Chen Changsheng stopped speaking. “Why are you staring at I instead of listening?”

Xian Yue giggled playfully. “You’re just as handsome as you were back then.”

“I hasn’t changed,” Chen Changsheng said.

Xian Yue looked at him, “Yes, you haven’t. But I changed. Even now, I think about it with regret. I wish I’d never listened to your stories back then. Made me long for all these years.”

Chen Changsheng said, “Once you hear the story, you won’t have to long for it anymore.”

“It wasn’t just the story I longed for,”

“Then what else?”

Xian Yue said, “You.”

“Huh?”

Chen Changsheng froze for a moment.

Seeing his reaction, Xian Yue smiled. “Not many outsiders come to the deep palace. You were my only friend. You’re the one I remember.”

Chen Changsheng asked, “From the sound of it… life hasn’t been too kind?”

Xian Yue nodded. “Not kind at all. No one wanted to be friends. They cursed me as a bastard. Wished I were dead soon. My Imperial Brother… he changed so suddenly too.”

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“Do you hate them?”

“Of course I do. Why wouldn’t I?”

Xian Yue lifted her head. “I wanted to escape every single day. But in the end… I died inside this Imperial Palace.”

As she spoke, she suddenly lowered her head.

Chen Changsheng sighed inwardly, reached out his hand and placed it lightly on her head.

Xian Yue suddenly shuddered with sobs. “I’m already dead…. Even if you touch my head now… I… I can’t feel anything.”

Chen Changsheng’s palm suddenly emitted a soft Golden Light.

A gentle warmth traveled through her hair. Xian Yue suddenly felt the cold around her lessen.

Chen Changsheng asked, “And what about now? Do you feel it?”

Xian Yue raised her head. She trembled, holding back her tears. An overwhelming urge swept over her to pour out all the grievances bottled up inside her for so long.