Unseen Immortal of Three Hundred Years - Chap 63
Chapter 63
In those years at Xiandu, the rumors about the Spirit King and Tianxiu were numerous and varied.
Some said they were close, rare confidants. This was largely because Tianxiu was the most frequent visitor at Zuo Chunfeng’s reception, and aside from Tianxiu himself, the Spirit King was the most frequent visitor under the south window.
Others claimed they were diametrically opposed in temperament, often in conflict. This was probably because their interactions always started with some pretext, and this pretext always involved an “apology.”
The Spirit King was rarely in Xiandu, and Tianxiu did not engage in idle chatter. The rumors that reached their ears were few and far between, and those that did were met with a dismissive smile.
As for those subtle, intricate details of their interactions, only they themselves knew.
Perhaps because the period of calamity was too cold, Wu Xingxue dreamed of a certain winter year.
Returning from the mortal realm with a child in tow, he found Zuo Chunfeng’s eaves and window frames adorned with a row of long ice branches.
Actually, Xiandu had no distinction of seasons, and the scenery outside each Yu Yao palace depended on the owner’s preference. Zuo Chunfeng was a rare spot in Xiandu that mirrored the mortal realm’s four seasons. There were frost, rain, snow, and sunny days.
That period coincided with the coldest year in the mortal realm, turning Zuo Chunfeng from a Yu Yao palace into an ice palace.
The two children exclaimed “whoa” and ran over, stomping their feet and rubbing their hands together while trying to reach for those ice branches. After reaching them, they held them in their hands, breathing hard, passing them back and forth without letting go, amusing Wu Xingxue, who asked, “What’s wrong with you two?”
The children explained, “Sir, it’s cold to the touch, but it looks beautiful.”
Indeed, it was truly cold, but the sight, combined with Xiandu’s floating Yu Yao palaces, was indeed pleasing to the eye.
One of the children muttered, “I wonder when Lord Tianxiu will come today. This thing will be gone with just a few snaps. If he comes late, he won’t see it.”
Wu Xingxue said, “Who told you he was coming today?”
The child was puzzled, “Isn’t it always so?”
Wu Xingxue glanced at the top of his head and said nothing.
Not sure when it started, but every time Wu Xingxue returned to Xiandu, the first person he saw was always Xiao Fuxuan.
This seemed to have become an unspoken habit, yet the uninhibited Tongyan Wuji couldn’t help but tease it a bit.
Another young boy, clutching his sleeves to warm his hands, recalled seriously, “Besides, last time the adult said, when we sit amidst the spring breeze with icy branches hanging all around, we should prepare fine wine to welcome the arrival of the Celestial Residence.”
Wu Xingxue actually remembered, but still caught the boy’s hair bun and asked, “Which time?”
The young boy exclaimed “Ouch” and muttered, “Just the last time.”
“You can’t remember the important things, but this comes to you easily.” Wu Xingxue said lazily.
The young boy felt wronged and mumbled, but he was still concerned about whether the Celestial Residence could see the icy branches or not.
It was the older child who replied, “Stop whining, they can see. Didn’t the envoy from the Lingtai say just now that the lord of the Celestial Residence happens to be in Xiandu these days? With our adult coming back, he will surely arrive soon.”
Wu Xingxue donned his overcoat and walked briskly into the house, yet remarked, “You two little things, always so full of ‘surely’s.”
The young boy kept talking nonstop, and his feet never stopped moving. Perhaps it had been a while since he last returned to Xiandu, and he was quite excited. Without their adult saying a word, the two little things had already hugged the wine pot and set up the cups and dishes.
Everything was arranged perfectly, but they were interrupted by an unexpected guest.
Wu Xingxue couldn’t remember exactly why that day, only recalling that Sang Feng, Meng Gu, and the then steward of the Snow Pond area, Huo Ge, came to enjoy the spring breeze.
It was supposed to be a meeting to discuss matters, but somehow, the conversation dragged on, especially with Sang Feng, the chatterbox, who simply couldn’t stop talking.
The Spirit King rarely neglected his guests, so the wine was there, and there was no reason to show without offering.
Thus, with the scene and wine set, several immortal friends were in high spirits, staying from noon until nightfall.
That day’s enjoyment of the spring breeze synchronized with the mortal world, and as night fell, it even began to have light snowfall. Even immortals, who had seen all the sceneries of the world, could not help but be moved. Meng gu and Huo ge, buoyed by the joy of wine, leaned out into the snow, breaking off a few icy branches.
At that moment, Sang feng was holding a wine jug and remarked, “What Yun hai said is true; fine wine should be enjoyed with beautiful women.”
He spoke these words without much attention from the Spirit King, who was somewhat distracted.
Because just as the snow began to fall, he thought he heard a noise. It was as if someone had landed on the high eaves, leaning against the corner of the flying eaves with a sword in hand, quietly observing for a moment before turning away after Sang feng had finished speaking.
Throughout the entire gathering, besides Wu xingxu, it seemed no one else noticed.
Even he himself doubted for a moment whether it was an illusion caused by the alcohol.
But regardless of whether it was true or not, the drink made the Spirit King absent-minded, as if he had been scratched lightly by something.
When Sang feng and the others left was unclear to him. He only remembered that after the guests departed, the Spring Breeze Gathering fell into a deep silence. The young boy was busy using magic to clean up, with the clinking of cups and dishes.
Wuxing Snow, unable to calm his mind, suddenly got up and followed the window lattice out.
“Where are you going, sir?” the young boy asked from inside the house.
“To sober up, no need to follow,” he casually replied, disappearing into the night.
He said he was going to sober up but quickly found himself in the domain of Xiao Fuxuan.
He saw a light on under the south window. Little children were standing or sitting cross-legged, not following any rules at all. They were yawning and mumbling in groups of twos and threes, occasionally going in and out, but there was no sign of their master in the main house.
Not seeing anyone inside, Wu Xingxue tinctively looked towards the highest part of the eaves.
As expected, he saw a figure sitting on the eaves, bending one leg with the elbow resting on the knee, loosely holding a sword in hand.
Under the southern window was the place in Xian Du where the evil energy was most intense, and the position of that piece of eaves was a strategic point. Sometimes, the celestial beings would sit quietly at that point to concentrate and suppress the evil energy.
Generally, it’s best not to disturb during such times as it could provoke an instinctive defensive reaction.
However, the Spirit King, unsettled in his mind, forgot this.
He stepped lightly, landing on the high slanting eaves, bending over to pat the celestial being on the shoulder.
But the next moment, the world spun around him.
His extended hand was caught by Xiao Fuxuan, who flipped him over.
By the time he regained his senses, he was pressed against the eaves, with the celestial being’s sword having been drawn in that instant, its tip nearly embedded in the jade tiles.
Xiao Fuxuan, holding the sword, knelt on the ground, looking down at him. His narrow eyes blinked once before regaining clarity.
His lips moved slightly, as if to speak but no words came out. After a moment, he quietly asked, “Why are you here?”
The sword was still lodged in the tiles, and he remained kneeling, not moving aside. The sword aura continued to circulate, though it no longer advanced an inch towards Wu Xingxue.
Wu Xingxue surprisingly did not break free. After a while, he said, “I came to see what Lord Tianxiu was doing. Have you gone anywhere just now?”
Xiao Fuxuan’s half-lowered gaze rested on him. “For instance?”
Wu Xingxue said, “For instance, enjoying the spring breeze.”
Xiao Fuxuan did not respond, his long eyes reflecting fragmented light.
This was almost a certain acknowledgment.
Acknowledging that he went to enjoy the spring breeze, acknowledging that he heard Sang Feng’s words “Fine wine awaits the beautiful,” acknowledging that he then left.
Under the tall eaves of the south window, a long and ambiguous silence fell, like a kind of confrontation.
After a moment, Xiao Fuxuan hummed lowly in agreement, admitting, “I went to enjoy the spring breeze. I was not very happy, so I came back.”
Wu Xingxue felt a slight scratch in his heart again.
He looked at the man and, as if possessed, said, “Xiao Fuxuan, a confidant would not be unhappy over such a matter.”
Xiao Fuxuan’s gaze swept over Wu Xingxue’s face. After a while, he said deeply, “Indeed, a confidant would not.”
After finishing, he looked into Wu Xingxue’s eyes again and whispered softly, “So why did the Spirit King come here?”
Wu Xingxue’s captured fingers moved slightly, almost brushing against the other’s. He blinked and said, “humoring someone.”
