1 [Growing Flowers]
After becoming Dao companions, the two lived together, though the occasional disagreement was unavoidable.
Lately, Yin Feixue had taken a liking to cultivating rare flowers and strange plants, and had planted them atop Xue Cuo’s long-empty grave mound. Whenever Xue Cuo acted up and deliberately provoked him, Yin Feixue would march off to uproot the seedlings, calling it “weeding the grave”.
Once the weeding was done, they would return to Tiandu City. There, the Great King was once again the peerless demon lord, commanding all beneath him. A ruler could hardly lack magnanimity.
Besides, he still had candlelit discussions and Dao exchanges to attend to at night. It would hardly do to waste a night’s cultivation over a passing irritation.
Whenever Xue Cuo knew he was in the wrong, he would promptly find a way to smooth things over, inviting Yin Feixue out for a drink, a stroll in the evening breeze, perhaps a tune or two. However much displeasure remained would more or less melt away, and Yin Feixue would let his ears and tail slip out for him to stroke.
Xue Cuo: “Let me have a feel.”
2 [Great Dao Chess]
Recently, Xue Zhenzhen had become obsessed with a card game from the Eastern Lands, brought back by Gu Ruhui. She would play day and night with Xiao Gu, the little golden dragon, and the others. Whenever they were short of a player, they would call for Xue Cuo.
Xue Cuo, being incurably lazy, would pass the responsibility straight to Yin Feixue, who could only roll up his sleeves and take his place. He learned quickly enough.
Xue Cuo, however, preferred watching to playing. He would perch on a small stool behind Yin Feixue, peeking at all four hands.
He nudged the Great King quietly.
Yin Feixue cast him a sidelong glance. “Mind the tea.”
Xue Cuo immediately brought over a cup. “I’ve cooled it. Not hot at all.”
Yin Feixue lowered his head for a sip, then played a tile. Xue Zhenzhen seized it at once, her movements swift as wind, and laid down thirteen tiles in one sweep.
“Perfect completion.”
Xue Cuo clapped and gave a thumbs-up. “Mother’s still the best.”
Yin Feixue nodded in agreement.
Only the little golden dragon remained utterly lost, gazing at his shiniang* in admiration while staring blankly at his own hand. Fang Longxi, meanwhile, sat there holding an excellent hand he had yet to play, quietly swallowing his frustration.
(*TN: master’s wife.)
3 [Jealousy]
Friends often came to visit Xue Cuo, and Yin Feixue never minded.
Even when Kong Yun occasionally dropped by, Yin Feixue remained courteous and composed. Though Tiandu City and the Demon Court were not on good terms, appearances were maintained, and in any case, Kong Yun was Xue Cuo’s close friend.
Once, Kong Yun took Xue Cuo into a secret realm to retrieve treasure. They were gone for two or three months, and even paper cranes could not reach them.
Yin Feixue said calmly, “No need to worry.”
In truth, the Great King quietly wandered to the entrance of the secret realm two or three times a day, for nearly half a year, before the two finally emerged, one after the other.
The Demon Court hurriedly took Kong Yun away. Yin Feixue, meanwhile, brought Xue Cuo back to Tiandu City without incident.
He first checked his spiritual domain. It was full and steady, no injuries at all. Xue Cuo had merely been cooped up too long in the secret realm, and lately seemed fond of wandering about. Only then did Yin Feixue truly relax.
At first, things seemed perfectly normal, save for one detail: at night, the great tiger refused to return to bed.
Xue Cuo went to find him and saw him practising calligraphy. The strokes were uneven, the pauses heavy, betraying a restless mind. He went up behind him and wrapped his arms around him, giving him a little scratch. “What’s the matter?”
Yin Feixue said nothing. He set down his brush and sat upon the Eight Immortals chair. Xue Cuo hopped up onto the table and sat facing him, looking rather concerned.
Whatever lingering irritation Yin Feixue had dissolved at once. He even felt a little helpless.
“It’s nothing. I couldn’t sleep, so I came out for some air.”
Xue Cuo narrowed his eyes, unconvinced, and held out his hand. “Really? Let me check.”
A pair of soft ears slipped out from Yin Feixue’s hair, brushing lightly against Xue Cuo’s palm.
Xue Cuo rubbed them, and Yin Feixue leaned into the touch. Neither spoke, yet the tension eased.
“Don’t keep things from me,” Xue Cuo said.
After a moment’s thought, Yin Feixue replied, “Kong Yun still hasn’t chosen his form. He’s close to a breakthrough. This time… are you helping him choose?”
Xue Cuo shook his head at once. “Of course not. Xiao Yun’s gone to comprehend the Dao of the Southern Peacock Sage. As for me…”
He opened his palm. Resting there was a small piece of chalcedony, carved into the shape of a little tiger, clear as crystal, spiritual energy flowing through it.
He placed it in Yin Feixue’s hand. “For you.”
Yin Feixue closed his fingers around it, long lashes lowering over golden eyes. Then, without warning, he stood and pulled Xue Cuo up with him.
“Come.”
“Where to?”
“To talk by candlelight. And exchange Dao.”
Author’s Note
It’s finished. Scatter flowers!
At last, a sweet ending. I don’t think there’s anything more I want to write for this story. It took half a year, with plenty of bumps along the way, but it’s been the most satisfying one I’ve written.
Thank you so much to everyone who followed along. If you can, please leave a rating, I’d really appreciate it.
Until the next one.
Much love to you all. Flowers!
The translator (PurpleLy) has something to say:
This marks the end of another translation project. To be honest, this was one of the more challenging ones that I’ve translated so far. My thanks to the author for this amazing web novel and of course, to my lovely readers for your immense support.
My current on-going translations are “Transmigrating Into The Cannon-Fodder Male Wife Of A Universal Heartthrob”, “I Became The Tyrant’s Number One Flatterer”, “How To Properly Capture The Crown Prince” and “The Entire Cultivation World Dotes On Me”.
Do check them out as well as my other completed works: “Did We Agree To Be Arch-Rivals?”, “Infinite Power Over The World” and “This Husband is Frail and Weak”. Happy reading!
