Chapter 494: An Unfulfillable Pact
“What’s this…”
Yuyue Zhenren was stunned. What used to be a bald patch in front of her cave entrance was now covered in flowers.
Lunar Grass, a type of flower that blooms at night and emits a soft glow, so named because its light resembles moonlight.
Vast fields of Lunar Grass spread out like a river of stars, as if a silver carpet had been laid on the ground.
Yuyue Zhenren felt momentarily lost in this dream-like expanse.
Within this gorgeous sea of blossoms, a familiar figure darted through.
Her dark hair flowing freely, with a radiant smile on her face. Her clear, animated eyes curved like tiny crescent moons.
She moved like a graceful butterfly, flitting from one cluster of flowers to another.
“Aaah~~ So many pretty flowers! Xiaobai will surely perk up when he sees them!”
Her innocent, romantic voice flowed into Yuyue Zhenren’s heart, yet suddenly, she felt an odd sensation in her chest.
This scene, she had dreamed of countless times before.
Hoping and yearning for Xiao Ling to come back and return to her life once more.
Chen Leling didn’t notice Yuyue Zhenren; immersed in her joy, she hopped around and ran deeper into the flower field.
Watching her gradually disappear, Yuyue Zhenren was seized by fear.
“Xiao Ling!”
Don’t go.
In a daze, she thought she was still dreaming.
“Mmm?”
However, Chen Leling heard her and turned around. When their eyes met, she ran over happily.
Unlike their previous dreams where Chen Leling would vanish amid the flowers, this time she charged towards her.
“Xiaobai!”
Overwhelmed with joy, she lunged at Yuyue Zhenren.
At that moment, Yun Zhonghe and Mu Jixue also noticed Yuyue Zhenren.
“Wow… weren’t you saying she was resting?”
“I, I had no idea it would turn out this way.”
Both were slightly tense.
Emerging from her daze, Yuyue Zhenren realized this wasn’t a dream and she’d been a bit too emotional.
“Yun Zhonghe, Mu Jixue, can you tell me what’s going on?”
She tried to compose herself.
“Zhenren… well…”
Yun Zhonghe started, but was interrupted by Chen Leling: “Xiaobai, look at the flowers, they’re so beautiful!”
She wanted Yuyue Zhenren to see the flowers.
Yuyue Zhenren’s eyes flickered. “For me…”
Surely, now she should be awestruck, but instead, she looked perplexed.
“Yeah!” Chen Leling nodded emphatically, “Ask Yun Zhonghe about the magic spell for flowering.”
Yuyue Zhenren: “…”
Chen Leling: “Do you not like flowers?”
Yuyue Zhenren: “Not, not exactly…”
She weakly admitted defeat, having been deeply moved by the sight before her. The empty space in front of her abode was now blooming with flowers planted by Chen Leling.
Her hollow heart seemed to be filled by this abundance.
Clearly… she did say she wanted to stay away…
Emotions surged within Yuyue Zhenren.
It was a complex feeling she couldn’t quite describe.
But looking at the stunning scenery, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything contradictory.
“Thank… thank you.”
Yuyue Zhenren actually blushed and thanked her, then lowered her head like a shy girl.
“Aaaah~!!”
Maybe she was grateful. Chen Leling cheerfully bounded into the field.
Suddenly running off, Yuyue Zhenren panicked. “Wait! Xiao Ling!”
“Uwah~ Uwah~ So good…!!!”
Chen Leling twirled through the fields, dancing with the flowers.
Mu Jixue sighed, chuckling, “Oh my… what are they doing.”
“But, Leiling looks very happy.”
Yun Zhonghe also kept an eye on Yuyue Zhenren’s reaction.
He had seen this flower-growing spell in the Outer Gate’s Scripture Pavilion once but initially dismissed it as useless. Later, after chatting with Yuyue Zhenren and realizing its significance, he decided to learn it himself.
“These flowers are transformed according to Leiling’s desires. She insisted on planting them at your doorstep so you could see them every day and stay in high spirits.”
Yun Zhonghe explained the situation: “In Leiling’s mind, you have always been her most important friend, never blaming you even though you were in this form.”
“Though Zhenren asked me to keep Leiling away from you, I don’t think this is the right approach.”
“Zhenren, Leiling never blamed you, it’s you who can’t forgive yourself.”
“Moreover, when you were young, there was no need for you to take responsibility.”
Listening to Yun Zhonghe’s heartfelt words, Yuyue Zhenren’s face quivered as if she might cry.
“No, it’s not like that…”
Seeing her stubbornness, Yun Zhonghe had to use his leverage, “Then if Zhenren truly feels guilty, can’t you make amends as Leiling’s caretaker now?”
A mere Golden Core Cultivator was threatening a mighty Transformation God. Quite bold, not fearing the consequences.
But Yun Zhonghe believed he was doing the right thing and faced Yuyue Zhenren resolutely.
“Could you please continue being friends with Leiling as a form of penance?”
Yuyue Zhenren froze.
After a moment, she bit her lip, unsure how to respond.
Truly, she was awkward with emotions!
Yun Zhonghe was getting anxious, “Quit dwelling on the past. Do you really want Leiling to suffer, Zhenren?”
Yuyue Zhenren: “Of course not, why would I? I definitely want her to be happy.”
Standing silently for a long time, watching Chen Leling’s bounding figure, she couldn’t calm her tumultuous emotions.
Yuyue Zhenren: “Is that so, Leiling doesn’t seem unhappy.”
Yun Zhonghe: “True. But whether she stays happy next, depends on us.”
“So you’re saying, next, Leiling’s happiness relies on me?”
“Exactly!”
“Is that so.”
“Of course!”
Yun Zhonghe firmly stated, then saw Yuyue Zhenren looking bashful.
She parted her lips, “I understand, even though I’m not very confident.”
At that moment, in the midst of the flowers, Leling stood up and came running over.
Happily she flew towards Yuyue Zhenren, “Xiaobai!”
On her hand, it seemed she held something. She extended her hand to Yuyue Zhenren.
“This is for you!”
An ornate headpiece made of Lunar Grass, which Chen Leling put on Yuyue Zhenren’s head.
With a joyous smile, she said, “It’s a gift!”
Yun Zhonghe chuckled, “I wondered what you were doing. It’s this?”
Chen Leling: “Yeah! And it’s the prettiest flower I found!”
Yuyue Zhenren was momentarily lost, remembering the past.
Ling: “Tomorrow, I’ll pick many pretty flowers for you.”
Ling: “I’ll pick lots and lots of pretty ones—”
—Those were the promises never fulfilled—
Yuyue Zhenren looked up, tears welling in her eyes, “Mm… you remember all of it.”
Seeing Yuyue Zhenren crying, Chen Leling panicked, “Huh? Xiao Xia?”
Yuyue Zhenren: “You’ve always remembered…?”
The tears wouldn’t stop flowing.
Yuyue Zhenren: “Stupid…! How long have you been searching for them…!”
Chen Leling: “Ah… sorry.”
Yuyue Zhenren: “Stupid, stupid, stupid…! How worried you’ve made me!”
Chen Leling: “Uh…?”
Uncertain whether Yuyue Zhenren was crying or enraged, Chen Leling seemed at a loss.
Yuyue Zhenren: “I’m… sorry… not mad… not mad at you.”
Chen Leling: “Huh…?”
Yuyue Zegen: “Thank you… sorry… sorry, past and present… sorry.”
Chen Leling: “Xiaobai…”
She reached out and gently touched Yuyue Zhenren’s head.
Chen Leling: “That… Xiaobai, can we make up?”
Yuyue Zhenren: “Yes… because you’ve kept our promises.”
Seeing Yuyue Zhenren wiping away her tears, Yun Zhonghe and Mu Jixue exchanged glances, unable to help smiling.
It might take some time… but—
Yuyue Zhenren quietly took hold of Chen Leling’s hand, and this time she wouldn’t let go: “Make up…!”
Chen Leling: “Aaaah~!”
Yuyue Zhenren: “We’ll always be friends!”
Chen Leling: “Yeah!”
Yuyue Zhenren: “About the flowers… maybe it sounds strange…”
Taking a deep breath, Yuyue Zhenren looked at Chen Leling: “Welcome back, Xiao Ling!”
Chen Leling: “I’m back! Xiaobai!”
After decades, she finally realized—
—A reunion of old friends.
How wonderful!
