Chapter Fifty-One: Celestial Rainbow, Supreme Clouds

Qin Xiaomo suddenly asked about his identity with such seriousness that he was at a loss for how to reply. After a moment’s thought, he said, “I am your husband.”

Qin Xiaomo felt this answer was a bit perfunctory. Hearing such words in this fantastical and romantic setting sent a tingling sensation through her. She pressed on, “You can’t be just the Young Lord of Mirror Void County, can you? With all your extraordinary abilities, you’re nothing like any eighteen- or nineteen-year-old prodigy. You still haven’t told me who you really are.”

“Do you truly wish to know?” Qian Mubai lowered his head, gazing earnestly at Qin Xiaomo.

“Yes!”

“I am but a fleeting wisp in the vastness of all worlds.”

“I don’t understand—a string of winding philosophical riddles. Are you the son of the old Lady of Mirror Void County?”

“Yes—and no. When I was four, I was poisoned, and on the verge of death my master saved me. It was then I recalled my past lives and understood the reason I came to this world. The title of Young Lord of Mirror Void County is but a position, nothing more.”

“So you remember your past lives?”

“I remember them all.”

“Then you must be learned in all things ancient and modern, or perhaps possess exceptional spiritual power. With such abilities, you could serve society.”

“To live among mortals, one must abide by mortal rules. Just as ghosts cannot harm people at will, and immortals cannot alter the order of the heavens and the cycle of rebirth. Even to reincarnate, one must drink the soup of forgetfulness,” Qian Mubai explained in the simplest terms.

“Does the old Lady know?” Qin Xiaomo asked.

“She does. That’s why she prepared a secluded courtyard for me, so I would not be disturbed. Is there anything else you wish to know?”

“One last question. You said you know the reason you came into this world—what is it?”

Qian Mubai fell silent for a long time, as if many words were on his lips, but in the end he only said, “I am waiting for you.”

Qin Xiaomo was bewildered. Wasn’t this all just a game? Even if the game was a parallel world, how could he have known she would come? Could it be that this journey across worlds was predestined, and he had known of it a decade ago?

“Enough, don’t think about it. Many things you’ll understand in time as you experience them,” Qian Mubai said, seeing her mind tangled up and her expression struggling for answers, feeling a pang of sympathy.

At this moment, the celestial maidens formed a line in the air and chanted in unison, “Congratulations to the Emperor for finding his wife; may your love burn eternal, a sight to make even the gods envious. May you be joined for a thousand years and the magnolia blossom with fragrance for ten thousand generations.” With that, they bowed gracefully and elegantly.

He interrupted her train of thought: “Look, those celestial maidens are addressing you.”

Qin Xiaomo looked up; sure enough, they were speaking, but she couldn’t hear a word. “You know I can’t hear them. What are they saying?”

“They said: Congratulations on breaking through to the fifth level of the Earthly Stage,” Qian Mubai replied with a smile.

“You’re lying to me. They spoke for ages, and you only relayed a sentence.”

“I distilled the essence for you,” Qian Mubai replied, lips curving with amusement.

“Are immortals here always so polite? A few words and such a grand salute,” Qin Xiaomo murmured, not knowing what else to do but nod and wave in return.

“When your cultivation advances a bit more and your spiritual hearing opens, you’ll understand them. Be patient. Come, change into the clothes I prepared for you—we should be going.”

Qian Mubai tugged the ox sinew cord, and before long, the old valley master appeared at the cave entrance to lead them out.

“Ah, at last you’ve succeeded! Congratulations, congratulations!” the old valley master exclaimed, seeing the Immortal Spring restored to its former clarity, his face beaming with joy—relieved to finally send them off.

“Thank you,” Qin Xiaomo replied politely.

“If you hadn’t rung the bell, I would have come down to check on you myself.”

“Why? We’ve only been here two hours at most. Did something happen outside?” Qin Xiaomo calculated the time.

“Two hours? You must be joking, Oracle—seven days have passed.”

“What?” Qin Xiaomo was astonished. How could seven days have slipped by in a blink?

“Yes, seven days. When my daughter Qinxian broke through to the fifth Earthly Stage, it didn’t take nearly as long,” the old valley master added, sounding exactly like a modern parent, never missing a chance to compare children: who’s taller, who eats more, who gets better grades…

The celestial maidens still lingered. Qin Xiaomo glanced at them, then at the old valley master, who seemed oblivious. She quietly asked Qian Mubai, “He can’t see the celestial maidens?”

“No.”

Since the old valley master mentioned Xu Qinxian, Qin Xiaomo couldn’t help but ask softly, “Did she also have celestial maidens come to congratulate her back then?”

“No, she’s incomparable to you,” Qian Mubai replied, naturally taking Qin Xiaomo by the wrist and leading her out.

Following behind, Qin Xiaomo looked down at her hand—her wrist—being gently held, a smile unconsciously blooming on her lips. Even more delightful were Qian Mubai’s words. She knew it was a compliment, but being told she outshone other women—especially Xu Qinxian—filled her with warmth, like a spring breeze.

After Qian Mubai and the others emerged from the Cave of a Thousand-Eyed Immortal Springs, Xu Qinxian hurried over. “Brother Mubai, you’re finally out! The disciple recruitment trial for Master Willow is the day after tomorrow at Youyi Ridge. If you’re free these two days, perhaps…”

Before Xu Qinxian could finish, Qian Mubai placed his hand on Qin Xiaomo’s waist, pulling her gently into his embrace. “My wife and I have matters to attend to, so we must take our leave.”

“Brother Mubai, where are you going?” Xu Qinxian trailed after, eager to join them.

“Qinxian,” the old valley master quickly interjected, hearing his daughter about to make a fool of herself. He smiled and said, “Then I won’t keep the Young Lord and his lady any longer. Pardon me if my hospitality fell short.”

After leaving Golden Valley, Qian Mubai instructed Jiang Wei to take Red Mole and Coldface back to Mirror Void City, the capital of Mirror Void County. He and Qin Xiaomo were headed somewhere else.

“Come,” Qian Mubai suddenly extended his hand to her.

“What for?” Qin Xiaomo asked, curious, as if he were inviting her to a dance.

“You’ll see in a moment.”

Puzzled, Qin Xiaomo placed her hand in his. Qian Mubai pulled her close, his arm circling her waist, and she found herself held firmly in his embrace.

“You…” Before she could finish, Qian Mubai covered her eyes with his other hand. “Don’t be afraid.”

“What? Ah…” Before she could react, she felt the ground vanish beneath her feet, her heart leaping into her throat in a rush more intense than any roller coaster. If her hair were short, it would have stood on end in fright. Her idle hands had somehow wound tightly around Qian Mubai’s neck, like a koala refusing to go to school.

“What’s happening? Take your hand away.” Qin Xiaomo’s curiosity was piqued; she could clearly feel her entire weight supported by Qian Mubai.

“All right.”

When he removed his hand, Qin Xiaomo’s eyes widened in astonishment. Beneath them, a cluster of colored clouds carried them swiftly through the sky, sunlight gilding the clouds in a gentle golden hue. Endless white clouds stretched below, and above, the sky was such a deep, pure blue it seemed ready to drip water.

She looked around at the cloud fields; in some places, veils of mist blocked the view. She asked, “What are those cloud barriers?”

“Oh, those are the dwellings of the celestial maidens who tend the flowers and plants.”

Qin Xiaomo gaped in amazement, craning her neck to see if she could spot any celestial maidens.

“If you wish to visit later, I’ll take you. But not now.”

After a long moment of awe, Qin Xiaomo suddenly realized she was still intimately clinging to his neck, her whole body tensing in embarrassment. “Let me down.”

“These Rainbow Auspicious Clouds only recognize their master, and your spiritual power isn’t strong enough to stand on them.”

“What would happen if I let go?”

“You’d fall,” Qian Mubai replied, utterly serious.