Chapter 36 (1/2)

Translating this chapter of Lost You Forever took forever because it’s basically three chapters in length, not to mention the tears and snot that poured forth which required me to take numerous breaks in order to calm myself down. This is by far the most touching and devastatingly sad chapter of LYF but it’s not sad for Xiao Yao or any of the three men in her life. This chapter is a look into the past, the past of Once Promised that chronicled the story of Xiao Yao’s parents. Her mother the Xuan Yuan Princess and her father the Sheng Nong Great General, theirs was a Romeo and Juliet star-crossed love story that is heartbreaking and unforgettable. It was through their love and sacrifice that Xiao Yao is alive and sharing her story with us, so it’s only fitting that Xiao Yao finally learns the real truth behind all the rumors and terrible reputation that has dogged her daddy his entire life. Her mom couldn’t have fallen in love with a ruthless b.a.s.t.a.r.d so why was Qi Yo persona non grata in the entire vast wilderness? What exactly happened hundreds of years ago that decimated Xiao Yao’s loved ones but brought about the peace of the current Sheng Nong-Xuan Yuan unified under one kingdom prosperity?

I don’t blame Xiao Yao for being angry and petulant in the way she thinks about her parents and the legacy they left her, but sometimes the best people suffer to make the world better. Qi Yo was willing to play the part of the villain and do the dirty work that needed to be done to rid Sheng Nong of its rotting status quo but he did it before he knew that one day he would leave behind a daughter that would suffer for being related to him. It’s easy to be a martyr, harder to let your loved ones suffer with the aftermath the martyrdom. After this chapter I’ve translated the most critical portions of the last two chapters of Once Promised. It helps to paint a complete picture for the viewers who didn’t read OP. I wish I had the time and fort.i.tude to translate OP as well since the love story between Xiao Yao’s parents is actually much more satisfying to read mostly because that novel didn’t have a real love triangle. Here there is basically a love quadrangle so the romance gets split four ways and the readers are left with each of Xiao Yao’s guys being awesome in their own way but lacking something different each. Xiao Yao’s mom got lucky in her man having all the strengths and flaws combined together into one pa.s.sionate devoted man who loved only her.

Chapter 36 – Flowers Bloom Flowers Wilt, Farewell to a Loved One:

Towards the end of Spring, Fang Feng Yi Yang fell ill and her father the Fang Feng family head rushed to Qing Qiu to see her. Two days later the Tu Shan clan leader and the Fang Feng family head together announced that the Madam had pa.s.sed away.

All the clans and families in the vast wilderness sent their condolences but there were few that truly mourned Fang Feng Yi Yang. Almost all cared only about who would be the future Tu Shan clan leader wife. The Middle Plains custom was to wait a year after the death of a wife to remarry but anxious clan leaders were already sending inquiries to the Tu Shan clan leader to try and ascertain the type of woman he liked.

After the funeral Jing left Qing Qiu and continued to reside in Zhi Yi Castle.

With the Yellow Emperor’s permission, Jing came to Xiao Yue Summit daily not to spend time with Xiao Yao but to accede to the Yellow Emperor’s wishes and play Go with him. Using a specially created G.o.dly Go board, the board represented the entire world and the battle was far reaching. One match often lasted for months.

Xiao Yao would hang around them and read her medical texts or nap.

One evening a match finally concluded.

The Yellow Emperor stared at the board and sighed “It’s a shame that your objective in life isn’t on this; it’s a relief that your objective in life isn’t on this!”

Xiao Yao brought over plum soup and peered at the match but understood nothing “Who won?”

Jing smiled “Of course I lost.”

Xiao Yao smiled sweetly and handed the bowls of soup over.

The Yellow Emperor grumbled “The Middle Plains customs are the worst. What’s the point of mourning? If the heart misses the deceased then a person will mourn forever, if the heart has moved on then it doesn’t matter how long customary mourning lasts. Us Northwestern tribes view such matters clearer, for a widow or widower, one can have a funeral in the morning and a wedding ceremony in the afternoon. Many tribes go to funerals and then weddings on the same day.”

Xiao Yao spit out her plum soup with a laugh “Grandfather, you’re regressing in how you talk! They say older folks become kids as they age and now I actually believe it!”

The Yellow Emperor shook his head at Xiao Yao “You! I’m worried for your sake!”

Xiao Yao blushed and muttered “I’m in no rush to get married!”

“You’re not in a rush but someone else is. Otherwise why would he quickly arrange a funeral when Fang Feng Yi Yang is clearly still alive.”

Xiao Yao glanced at Jing “He pities Fang Feng Yi Yang and thought of this plan for her to die publicly so she doesn’t have to be sacrificed to the G.o.ds anymore and can live to watch her son grow up.”

Jing candidly admitted “Helping Fang Feng Yi Yang was secondary, my main purpose was to marry Xiao Yao sooner.”

Xiao Yao wanted to glare at Jing but when she met his eyes her heart started to race. She was angry but also touched and she lowered her head to focus on drinking her plum soup but her cheeks remained brightly flushed.

Jing said to the Yellow Emperor “Your majesty, I have a matter to beg your allowance.”

“Speak!”

“I want to take Xiao Yao out to travel.”

The Yellow Emperor said nothing and Jing added “I know Your majesty is worried about her safety but she can’t hide here forever. These past few months Xiao Yao has picked up her archery again and is making poisons as well, she has the ability to protect herself.”

The Yellow Emperor sighed “I know that raising baby eagles requires setting them free when they are grown but now that I’m older I still worry.”

“If Your majesty is worried then you can send secret guards to protect us.”

Xiao Yao grumbled “Grandfather, don’t forget that I wandered the world alone for hundreds of years, I raised myself!”

The Yellow Emperor decided “Xiao Yao does need to go out to clear her mind, you guys go!”

Jing bowed “Thank Your majesty!”

Zhuan Xu heard Xiao Yao was traveling with Jing and didn’t agree but the Yellow Emperor already agreed so he relented after Xiao Yao begged him. His only requirement was that she was to take Xiao Xiao and Miao Pu along.

In the Summer Jing set off with Xiao Yao and Jing Ye, Hu Zhen, Hu Ya, Xiao Xiao, and Miao Pu. They traveled until they reached Chi Sui where they boarded a s.h.i.+p and headed into Gao Xing territory.

Xiao Yao was perplexed and asked Jing “Are you going to do business or have something else in mind?”

Jing smiled “Business of course but I do have other plans.”

“What other plans?”

“One of them is to tour the scenic vistas.”

Xiao Yao walked to the s.h.i.+p bow and stared at the familiar scenery “There are so many beautiful vistas in the world, why bring me to Gao Xing? Don’t you know the Emperor and citizens here don’t welcome me?”

Jing handed a jug of plum wine to Xiao Yao and embraced her waist “The year of the Chi Sui Autumn Tournament, when you left I really wanted to send you off. I arrived at the port but could only stay in the carriage and have a servant send the snacks to you. I wanted to see you but only saw Zhuan Xu, Ah Nian, Feng Long, and Xing Yue talking on the s.h.i.+p. Until the s.h.i.+p disappeared from view I still didn’t see you. I knew you were about to reclaim your princess ident.i.ty and we might not be fated to be together so my heart hurt. I kept convincing myself that I would travel this route again with you someday and tell you that I came personally to see you off that day”

Xiao Yao’s eyes misted and she leaned into Jing’s embrace and drank the plum wine while watching the view pa.s.s by.

The entire trip Jing really was just sightseeing with no rush and often docking the s.h.i.+p to sh.o.r.e and taking Xiao Yao to explore.

Even though Xiao Yao wandered for hundreds of years, it was in the Middle Plains and she never explored Gao Xing. Jing was different, being the clan leader designate since he was young meant he traveled for business all over the vast wilderness. Whether it was the dangerous and scary Jiu Li, the unpredictable ocean, he visited everywhere before. This trip he knew where all the fun things were and the delicious food spots and he planned everything so that Xiao Yao was totally taken care of.

Since her mom died, Xiao Yao finally felt like she could be a kid and just enjoy without any worry or planning.

That night the two of them camped out on the mountain top.

Xiao Yao smiled “Let me show you something!” and then she climbed up a tree like a monkey to rest on the branch.

Jing took out a jade container and released spiders who quickly got to work between the branches.

Xiao Yao stared “Are you planning to make a web lace?”

Jing vaulted to Xiao Yao’s side and embraced her, blocking the cold night wind for her “I’ve raised these spiders since I was small, they make light and soft but impervious webs.”

Xiao Yao stared as the spiders worked feverishly until they made a web hammock between the branches. They returned to Jing who fed them bone essence and they happily retreated back to the jade container.

Xiao Yao didn’t know how Jing raised them but the spiders produced a sky blue web that glittered in the moonlight. She asked “Are you planning to take it back to make clothes with it?”

Jing smiled and then grabbed Xiao Yao in his arms to vault down and landed on the web. It was soft like resting on clouds. Xiao Yao marveled at how it even felt warm and laughed “Jing, you’re so clever even as a kid, to think of such a method of camping outdoors. Of course only the Tu Shan clan can afford it.”

Jing smiled wistfully at memories of the past “My mom and my brother really spoiled me.”

Xiao Yao laid on the web and stared at the stars above. Since wandering the world as a child, she slept outdoors countless times and it was never something she found fun. It was because she had no home so she had to sleep outside in a dangerous place where she had to always be on guard. But tonight sleeping outside became something different. Xiao Yao said in a low voice “Jing, these days I feel like I’m a kid again, and being with you feels like having my mom by my side.”

Jing coughed a few times and muttered “That doesn’t feel like a compliment.”

Xiao Yao flipped over and stared at him with a smile “I’m not saying you’re like my mom, it’s more….it feels like when I was small and didn’t need to think or worry about anything. Every day was happy.” Xiao Yao’s smile gradually disappeared “It all feels like a dream and I’m afraid I’ll wake up from the dream like when I was small.”

Jing softly kissed her “This isn’t a dream. We’ll walk the rest of our lives together.”

Xiao Yao smiled “Yes.”

The wind gently rocked their web hammock and the two laid next to each together staring at the glittering stars s.h.i.+ning down on them.

They walked and stopped the whole way until a month later they reached the sea near Gao Xing and by then it was the end of Summer.

Xiao Xiao said to Jing “Clan leader, if you want to go to the sea to sight-see, why don’t we head North. The East Sea has beautiful scenery and its a good place for my lady to wait for you if you have business to discuss.”

Jing said “That works.”

Jing changed course and headed North to the East Sea. He took Jing Ye and Hu Ya on a boat to Five G.o.ds Mountain to discuss business and afterwards planned to rendezvous with Xiao Yao on the East Sea.

Xiao Yao watched Jing’s boat disappear from view before heading back inside the cabin. When Jing’s boat entered Gao Xing borders, Ru So arrived on a large s.h.i.+p to receive him and he boarded the s.h.i.+p.

Jing said to Ru So “Please send word to His majesty that Tu Shan Jing and Xi Ling Jiu Yao ask for a meeting with him. If he’s willing we’ll go up the mountain and if not then we’ll leave.”

Ru So was stunned and the Jing Ye standing behind Jing stepped forward and took off her spider web spin face mask with a smile “Lord Ru So, long time no see. Have you been well these days?”

Ru So was silent for a bit and then said “I’ll go see His majesty now” and swiftly departed on his winged ride with no regard for pleasantries.

Xiao Yao stood beside Jing with her heart hanging in the balance but he patted her hand to a.s.sure her.

Ru So returned shortly with smile “His majesty asks both of you to come up the mountain.”

Xiao Yao let out a small sigh of relief but got even more nervous as the cloud carriage ascended. It stopped in front of Cheng En Palace and Ru So said “His majesty is inside.”

Jing said to Xiao Yao “Wait for me here.”

Xiao Yao nodded.

Jing entered the palace court and noticed the Grand Emperor’s eyes staring past him. Jing said with a bow “Xiao Yao is outside waiting but I wanted to speak privately with Your majesty first.”

The Grand Emperor had no emotion on his face as he looked at Jing calmly.

Jing said “These recent months I’ve done all I can to search for information about Your majesty and Qi Yo. Whether it was Your majesty or Qi Yo, both are incisively smart and overly cautious and wary people. If Xiao Yao’s mother wanted to fool the world it wasn’t hard. But to fool either or both of you, it would be impossible. Unless someone helped her, that is. My guess is when Xiao Yao was born, Your majesty knew that she was Qi Yo’s daughter. Because there was Your majesty helping to place the Face Forming Flower in Xiao Yao, that is why she resembled you so much when she was small.”

The Grand Emperor still had no expression but he coolly said “Your conclusion is correct, it was Ah Heng and I who sealed the Face Forming Flower in Xiao Yao’s body.”

Ah Heng must be the name that her close family called the Xuan Yuan Princess. Jing continued “The world thinks that Your majesty doesn’t know the truth and thus treated Xiao Yao as your daughter. They don’t know that you know the truth and still treated Xiao Yao as your daughter. I can guess that it was the Black Emperor who spread the rumor far and wide, and Your majesty is so smart you probably also figured that out already. I believe I know why he did it, and I think Your majesty does as well.”

Jing kneeled down and bowed his head to the floor “Jing thanks Your majesty for your love and protection of Xiao Yao.” Jing was the Tu Shan clan leader and when he saw the Yellow Emperor or the Grand Emperor he only needed to bow at the waist yet he was giving a full on the floor bow right now to the Grand Emperor.

The Grand Emperor was expressionless and motioned for Jing to rise “Did the clan leader come to see me just to say these pointless things?”

Jing sat down and continued “After Xiao Yao learned she was Qi Yo’s daughter, she’s been devastated. Now she appears accepting but it’s just her masking her inner pain. Your majesty knows Xiao Yao’s personality, she doesn’t care whether her dad is an emperor or a demon b.a.s.t.a.r.d, she’s upset because both her mom and her dad abandoned her and left her only lies. She is also sad because of Qi Yo, because all she knows about him was what the entire world thinks of him as a vicious bloodthirsty demon who killed indiscriminately. In this world only Your majesty knows information about Xiao Yao’s parents so I beg of you to tell her about the past.”

The Grand Emperor’s right hand unconsciously stroked the white bone ring on his left hand and his eyes stared at a point in the distance beyond Jing. His expressionless expression didn’t change but there was slight confusion in his eyes mixed with desolation. He murmured “Does Ah Heng really want Xiao Yao to know? I always thought Ah Heng wanted Xiao Yao to live free without a care.”

“Since Xiao Yao was born her life has determined that she can’t grow up like Ah Nian. Now that she’s grown up, no matter how painful and cruel the truth is, please tell Xiao Yao everything because only the truth can open her heart so that one day she can live carefree.”

The Grand Emperor murmured “She’s grown up?” When Ah Heng gave birth to Xiao Yao in a dangerous delivery, Ah Heng was in a coma for over a year and he was the one who slept with baby Xiao Yao and fed her. Ah Heng, why do I feel like Xiao Yao is still a daughter that must be protected at all costs? But she really is all grown up now!

Jing wanted to talk but heard the Grand Emperor say out loud “Ah Heng, our daughter is all grown up!” Jing realized then that the Grand Emperor wasn’t talking to him.

The Grand Emperor said to Jing “You can leave now!”

Jing tried to ask “Shall I bring Xiao Yao to see Your majesty?”

The Grand Emperor waved his hand “You guys head down the mountain and the boat will take you to Chi Sui.” After that he walked out of the chambers.

Xiao Yao saw Jing come out and rushed over “Da…..His majesty discussed business with you? How come it took so long? He….shall I go inside now?”

Jing said apologetically “His majesty told us to head down the mountain and a boat will take us to Chi Sui.”

Xiao Yao was heartbroken but put on an indifferent look “I told you already that no one on this land welcomes me. Forget it, no need to meet, let’s go!”

After taking the cloud carriage down, Xiao Yao saw a Gao Xing s.h.i.+p on the waters and Ru So formed a water bridge for Xiao Yao and Jing to board. Xiao Yao rushed on as if she couldn’t wait to leave while Jing pondered as he walked and wasn’t clear what he said wrong. How come the Grand Emperor changed his mind and actually kicked him and Xiao Yao off the mountain?

After they boarded the s.h.i.+p immediately set sail towards the Northwest.

Xiao Yao said to Ru So “We can go alone just take us out of Five G.o.ds Mountain.”

Ru So answered “His majesty’s orders was to take you to Chi Sui.”

Xiao Yao was furious “Jing!”

Jing pulled Xiao Yao aside and asked “Do you still want to go to the East Sea to play?” Xiao Yao shook her head. Jing said “Then catch a ride on their s.h.i.+p, with a G.o.d at the helm this s.h.i.+p is immensely fast and we’ll arrive in three to four days.”

Xiao Yao groused “I just feel like they can’t even bear for me to be in Gao Xing for one extra second and is rus.h.i.+ng to personally escort me to Chi Sui.”

Jing was silent and then pointed skyward “Look!”

Xiao Yao looked to where he was pointing and saw the ocean with Five G.o.ds Mountain in the background in the fog and this beautiful view was likely her last time seeing it so she silently took it all in.

Four days later the s.h.i.+p entered Chi Sui waters and Xiao Yao thought the s.h.i.+p would pull to sh.o.r.e to let them off but Ru So didn’t slow down the s.h.i.+p or appear to have any intention of docking it.

The s.h.i.+p sped towards Chi Sui Castle and years ago it was also Ru So who delivered her in the wedding party there. Xiao Yao leaned against the railing and asked “Ru So, are you still upset I ran away from my wedding? Do you want to personally deliver me to the Chi Sui residence so they can punish me? Right now everyone hates me so the Chi Sui clan is actually happy and grateful now that I ran away from the wedding and spared them having me in their family.”

Ru So was chatting with Jing and acted like he didn’t hear Xiao Yao and it was Jing who grinned at her.

Xiao Yao looked out over the railing where the view was lush green fields and forests when suddenly the view turned completely barren. Xiao Yao remembered seeing this barren area years ago when she came to the Autumn Tournament with Zhuan Xu and she asked Ru So and Jing “Do you guys know why this area is a barren desert?”

Jing said “Rumor has it a monster lives inside.”

Xiao Yao’s eyes suddenly bulged forward and Jing followed her and saw the Grand Emperor standing on the s.h.i.+p looking towards the barren wasteland. He was wearing a simple white robe with none of the emperor trappings and looked like a warrior wandering the world.

Jing bowed “Your majesty.”

The Grand Emperor walked to Xiao Yao and grabbed her hand and flew up in the air with her towards the barren land on sh.o.r.e. Jing hurried to join them.

After the three of them reached sh.o.r.e, Jing looked back and saw the s.h.i.+p speeding off as if nothing happened, still heading forward with people on the dock busy preparing to unload wares once the port was reached.

Xiao Yao tried to pull her hand back but the Grand Emperor didn’t let go. Xiao Yao grumbled “You don’t consider me your daughter anymore, why hold onto me?”

The Grand Emperor pulled Xiao Yao behind him into the barren land and Xiao Yao had no choice but to go with him.

In the beginning there were some cactus growing on the ground but as they headed deeper inside gradually there was nothing living around. Xiao Yao tossed her handkerchief into the air and it instantly burned up. Xiao Yao stared in shock and realized why the Grand Emperor held her hand, if it wasn’t for his spiritual power s.h.i.+elding her, she would have been burned already.

Xiao Yao asked “Dad, where are we going?” After she said that she realized she couldn’t call him dad anymore but it was too late to take it back so she grew silent.

The Grand Emperor turned to look at Xiao Yao warmly but didn’t answer her question. He said instead “I was born the Eldest Prince of Gao Xing and my mother was my father’s first wife and empress. Reportedly they were very much in love but she died giving birth to me. Soon afterwards a pair of sisters from the Chang Yi tribe entered the Palace and my father had new loves. Since I was small there would be constant accidents befalling me in the Palace. A few times I almost died. Later my uncle helped me leave Five G.o.ds Mountain and I wandered the vast wilderness. I settled down in a little town and opened a blacksmith shop. One day your Eldest Uncle came to ask me to fix his sword. We didn’t know each other’s real ident.i.ty as the Eldest Prince of Gao Xing and the Eldest Prince of Xuan Yuan and we became best friends.”

Xiao Yao listened raptly.

“Your mom was the only Princess of the Xuan Yuan Kingdom and is about a thousand years younger than me. When your mom was just born your Eldest Uncle jokingly said to me “You can become my brother-in-law!” Years later because of the Grand Empress and my many half-brothers, I almost died again. Your Eldest Uncle came to me after that attempt on my life and official proposed an engagement between your mom and me. He explained that I can use the alliance with the Xuan Yuan Princess to keep myself alive while he can use my Gao Xing Eldest Prince status to help keep his mom and younger brothers safe. I agreed with his proposal but rather than saying your mom and I got engaged it was really two princes in peril, myself and Prince Qing Yang, announcing to the world an alliance for our own protection. At that time your mom just learned to walk and couldn’t even talk yet and honestly I never imagined I would ever marry her so I never saw the engagement as real…..”

In the Grand Emperor’s recollection, the past appeared before Xiao Yao’s eyes, all those past happiness and sorrows: Eldest Uncle Qing Yang, Second Uncle Yun Zhe, Fourth Uncle Chang Yi, her Grandmother Lei Zhu, and her playful mischievous mom…..

It wasn’t clear how much time pa.s.sed but Xiao Yao smelled something burning and she looked over to see the Grand Emperor’s white robe had turned charred yellow and his lips were chapped like he hadn’t drank water for days. She hurriedly yelled “Dad!” She looked to Jing for help and saw his face bright red and he walked slowly like he was stepping on scalding lava.

Xiao Yao forgot about listening to the story and screamed “Dad! Stop going! If we keep going we’ll all die.”

The Grand Emperor looked back at Jing “Can you keep going?”

Jing forced a smile but couldn’t talk so nodded. A little white astral fox appeared and perched on Jing’s shoulder and he looked less pained.

The Grand Emperor continued while Xiao Yao was horrified “Dad, it’ll only get hotter as we go deeper inside.”

The Grand Emperor appeared not to hear her and held her hand tightly and continued to tell Xiao Yao his story with Ah Heng while pulling her swiftly behind him.

It was unending desert before them and because it was so hot even the blue sky was gone and instead turned all red giving the world around them the feel of eerie desolation.

The fox on Jing’s shoulder got smaller and smaller until it vanished and Jing spit up blood and his leg caught on fire. The Grand Emperor grabbed Jing and the fire was extinguished.

The Grand Emperor grabbed Xiao Yao on one hand and Jing on the other and continued forward. Xiao Yao saw his robe burn up while his arm was like a dried desert cracking open until blood seeped out and stained his robe.

Xiao Yao cried “Dad, you’re the head of a kingdom, how can you leave your citizens behind and die here?”

The Grand Emperor’s step halted for a moment before he continued to rush forward. Xiao Yao saw his hand was shriveled and blackened with only bone and no flesh or blood left and she screamed “Dad, Dad, please stop, I beg you please stop……..”

The Grand Emperor kept going and Xiao Yao raged “You’re not even my dad and I’ve no connection with you so you let me go, you have no right to hold me, let me go…..”

The Grand Emperor’s steps were slow and his powers could barely sustain him but he held on tightly to Xiao Yao and Jing and kept going forward. His expression was no longer his usual calm expressionless visage and instead looked stricken and anxious like he was looking for a long lost beloved treasure.

At this point they couldn’t make it back out alive anymore so Xiao Yao gave up struggling and followed behind the Grand Emperor but having no clue what he could be looking for.

After some time the Grand Emperor finally collapsed on the ground and pulled Xiao Yao and Jing down with him. Jing regained some of his power and held onto Xiao Yao to keep her from being burned but the Grand Emperor’s leg was badly burned and was almost just a skeletal bone.

Xiao Yao took out her precious medicine but the moment it left the jar the elixir evaporated.

Xiao Yao railed at the sky “What is this G.o.dforsaken place!”

The Grand Emperor tried to get up but couldn’t and his eyes reflect his utter despair. He looked at the sky “Why? I just wanted to confirm whether she was really here? Why don’t you let me know if she’s really dead or alive?”

Jing suddenly yelled “Your majesty! Look! Look!” as he pointed to the left.

Under the red sky there was a perfect pristine peach blossom forest that was ethereal like a fairy realm and untouched by the heat.

Xiao Yao rubbed her eyes in disbelief that a peach blossom forest could be intact in the middle of a raging inferno wasteland. The Grand Emperor’s desolate expression regained a sliver of hope and he stood up with Jing’s help and the three of them rushed forward together towards the peach blossom forest.

When they entered the peach blossom forest both Jing and the Grand Emperor collapsed on the ground nearly dead but the low power Xiao Yao appeared completely fine standing there with only her hair and clothes a little bit singed.

Jing still felt it was burning hot but because this peach blossom forest had the water and wood powers so he could summon the wood powers to help him create a water maze to keep the heat out unlike in the desert where there was nothing around and he had to only use his own power to withstand the heat.

Jing hurriedly conjured up the water maze and was about to pull Xiao Yao inside when he saw her nonchalantly strolling around the peach blossom forest as if on a spring day hike.

Jing stared slack jawed, if he didn’t know she had low powers he would have thought she was one of the most powerful G.o.ddesses in the world.

Jing asked “Xiao Yao, are you not hot?”

“Hot? No! The moment I entered the peach blossom forest I felt cool like a spring day on Sheng Nong Mountain.” As Xiao Yao spoke the peach blossom petals fell around her like falling snow and enveloped her in an embrace. Xiao Yao couldn’t help but reach out her hand to catch the petals.

Was he being strangely affected? Jing glanced over at the Grand Emperor and saw him sitting in a water maze he constructed and it was clear he also felt the burning heat. But he didn’t seem confused about Xiao Yao’s odd reaction and merely silently watched her with joy and sorrow in his eyes.

Xiao Yao asked “You two want to stay here and heal your injuries first? After you heal then we continue on?”

Jing grimaced. Heal? He was only barely able to stay alive.

The Grand Emperor smiled “Xiao Yao, we’re not healing, this place isn’t any less hot than in the barren desert.”

“But I don’t feel any of that.” Xiao Yao looked confused “The peach blossoms here are growing so beautifully, even more beautifully than on Sheng Nong Mountain.”

The Grand Emperor stared at the peach blossom forest and said nothing but his eyes was filled with abject sadness.

Jing looked around and carefully observed the peach blossom forest which was itself the most powerful spiritual maze in the world. Jing couldn’t help but be utterly impressed with whomever constructed the maze. The strange peach blossoms grew in the barren wasteland to create an oasis of life and helped to seal the monster’s terrifying power. But what was strange was the maze appeared to also be protecting the monster. If Jing headed deeper inside then the peach blossoms would not let him collect its water power and would instead shoot to kill him.”

Jing tried to test out his theory and walked deeper into the forest and he was right because the water power pulled back as a warning. Jing took a few more steps and the peach blossom forest was infuriated and thousands of peach blossom petals turned into the sharpest blades and flew towards him. Xiao Yao was terrified and flew towards Jing to push him down on the ground.

The petals turned back into soft fronds right before it struck Xiao Yao and landed softly on top of her and Jing.

Jing suddenly realized the petals only started falling after they entered the peach blossom forest and it wasn’t because he activated the maze but it was falling solely because of Xiao Yao.

Jing also realized why Xiao Yao didn’t feel the heat and said to the Grand Emperor “Your majesty, the peach blossom forest is…..protecting Xiao Yao.” Just like in the desert when the Grand Emperor used his spiritual power to protect Xiao Yao.

Xiao Yao was perplexed “Dad, what is this place?”

The Grand Emperor said “Xiao Yao, I think……your mom is still alive.”

Xiao Yao stared at him and he repeated “Your mom is still alive.”

The world was as silent as if it ended. Xiao Yao’s heart sank to the depths of the world’s lowest point and she couldn’t breath. She heard the sound of petals falling on her and her own voice sounding like it was from far away “What did you say?”

“Your mom is still alive.”

Xiao Yao could hear her thundering heart but didn’t know if it was happiness, sadness, or rage? She calmly wondered why she should be angry, shouldn’t she just be happy? But she heard herself scream “I don’t believe it! If she was alive when why didn’t she come back to pick me up? You’re lying! You’re lying!………”

The Grand Emperor sadly stared at her.

Xiao Yao believed that her mom was still alive but wished she was really dead so that she had a reason to forgive her.

“If she was alive then why didn’t she pick me up? Why did she abandon me? Does she know how I grew up? I was called a b.a.s.t.a.r.d sp.a.w.n, chased by people, I didn’t have a face, I fought with animals for sc.r.a.ps of food…..I was raised in a locked cage for thirty years no better than an animal! My hard earned powers was forcibly stripped from me and I was forced to eat the most horrific things…..Isn’t she my real mom? When I was being tortured and abused where was she? Did she give birth to me just so I could endure such abuse and torture……”

Xiao Yao thought she experienced all that and was cold and heartless enough to withstand it but some pain was merely locked away so now when the sh.e.l.l was forcibly peeled off she could still cry and hurt.

Xiao Yao headed out of the peach blossom forest with only one thought – to leave here immediately and forever!

Jing tried to stop her but he couldn’t move easily in the forest while she could.