Flower, Yet Not a Flower (Part 8)

“You may have heard the rumor that the Emperor and I knew each other before the Heavenly Court was founded, and that I received much of his care after ascending to immortality. There's nothing wrong with that statement, but the hidden story behind it is something no other deity probably knows.”

“Before the Heavenly Court was established, all races coexisted in one realm, engaging in endless chaotic battles. The slaughter gave rise to rampant Demonic Qi, and turmoil and conflict were everywhere. Among them, the fights between the Human Race and the Beast Clan were especially fierce. Chi Lian was one of the Human Race's tribal leaders active in that era. His background was rather special; he was not of pure human blood, but a hybrid of human and Flower Spirit. The Spirit Race had given names but no surnames, so he took his mother's family name 'Weishan,' making his full name 'Weishan Chi Lian'.”

“His tribe had engaged in direct combat with the Spirit Race several times, and it was only through his exhaustive efforts that they managed to survive. To protect his clansmen who were displaced by the flames of war, Chi Lian journeyed for ten days and ten nights, arriving at Mount Haiyu on the Day of Eternal Light to pray and offer sacrifices. He finally moved the Heavenly Race that resided on the mountaintop. The first to answer his plea and descend to the mortal world was none other than the present-day Emperor.”

“The reason the Heavenly Race is called the Heavenly Race is that they were formless and shapeless, merely coalescences of the pure qi from the heavens, yet they possessed immense power to control wind, rain, thunder, and lightning. Only upon coming to the mortal world did they take on human form. However, at that time, the Emperor had not yet been enfeoffed as a Heavenly Emperor. The name he used while walking the Mortal Realm was also given to him by Chi Lian. Because he shone with a brilliant light that illuminated all directions, he was called 'Wei Ming'.”

“A hundred years after the Heavenly Race descended upon the world, the Human Race finally won the war and expelled the indiscriminately slaughtering Spirit Race. To suppress the rampant Demonic Qi, the leader of the Heavenly Race and the leader of the Human Race reached an agreement. The Heavenly Race would create the 'Oath of the Nine Heavens,' isolating the Mortal Realm from other foreign races, creating a self-contained world for the Human Race to thrive and multiply, and bestowing upon the Mortal Realm the order of 'reincarnation,' so that souls would henceforth be indestructible and life would be endless. The Heavenly Race, in turn, built the White Jade Capital upon the foundation of the Oath of the Nine Heavens, shouldering the responsibility of protecting the Human Race from the encroachment of the Demon Clan and other foreign races.”

“Thus, heaven and earth were first divided, and the Three Realms were established. The Great Dao bestowed divinity, and the most meritorious members of the Human Race from this war could ascend to become immortals and gods. Chi Lian was, of course, among them. Moreover, the Emperor was a very close friend of his and was the one who most hoped he would ascend, but Chi Lian insisted on remaining in the lower realm.”

“Because he was the leader of the Human Race and the Oath of the Nine Heavens was his doing, he decided to spend his life witnessing how the Human Race would endlessly perpetuate through reincarnation. Then he, too, would walk towards decline, throw himself into the cycle of reincarnation, and welcome a new life, forever renouncing godhood to be a mortal through and through.”

“The history between those two may sound like just a few words to you, but for Chi Lian, it was a magnificent and turbulent life. For the Emperor, it was also a past affair that ended in regret.”

Chi Lian's expression remained unmoved. He offered a polite but empty "I wouldn't dare," then asked, "Then, what role did the Immortal Venerable play in this past story?"

Immortal Venerable Qingyang seemed to have anticipated this question and answered calmly, "I was just an ordinary mortal. After the war ended, I accompanied Chi Lian until his final moment. Before he died, he personally bestowed his divinity upon me and entrusted me with conveying his respects to the Emperor. That is how there is an Immortal Venerable Qingyang today."

“I know better than anyone that the Emperor looks after me for Chi Lian's sake. The favor of a deceased friend has protected me to this day, and yet, I mistakenly gave you the same name and, by a strange twist of fate, allowed you to become the Emperor's disciple.”

"I see." Chi Lian said, "Then, Immortal Venerable, for you to specially summon me today to speak of this past, what instructions do you have?"

“Are you telling me to change my name immediately? Or is it that because I have offended the taboo of that 'Chi Lian,' it would be best for me to take my own life on the spot, so we can pretend this mistake never existed?”

Immortal Venerable Qingyang's smile deepened, as if watching a child throw a tantrum. He waved his hand and said magnanimously, "I've long heard that you have a fiery temperament, one who would rather be a shattered jade than an intact tile. Seeing you now, it seems your reputation is well-deserved. No need for angry words. No one will force you to do anything. If anything were to happen to you, it would become my fault, and I would have no way to explain it to the Emperor."

Chi Lian furrowed his long brows and listened as he continued, "You are now a favorite in the Emperor's eyes. The Emperor protects you, but how much of that is out of regret for that 'Chi Lian' who refused to become an immortal, probably only he himself knows. But for you, who are unaware, who can say whether this affection is a blessing or a curse?"

“Perhaps the Emperor will never realize this. Or perhaps one day he will find an immortal who is even more similar to that person and transfer this favoritism to someone else. What will you do then, Chi Lian?”

His words had the air of a heart-to-heart talk, but the smile never left his face, making it less sincere than his words implied. Chi Lian said "Oh," and asked, "So is this a warning from the Immortal Venerable, as someone who has been through it?"

Immortal Venerable Qingyang raised an eyebrow and replied playfully, "Judging from the current situation, it wouldn't be wrong for you to say so. However, the biggest difference between you and me should be that I recognized the reality from the very beginning."

“Do you know why, despite having a backer like the Emperor, Chi Lian still refused to become an immortal?”

Chi Lian sat up a little straighter, adopting a posture of being ready to listen attentively.

“He once entrusted me to convey a sentence to the Emperor,” Immortal Venerable Qingyang had been waiting for this moment, and he spoke slowly and clearly, “The highest state is to be devoid of emotion. What deities cultivate is the Great Dao, and the Great Dao does not tolerate partiality. To have favoritism will ultimately damage one's path of Dao.”

“He gave up ascension to perfect the Emperor's Great Dao. A person like that, even a hundred of you and me could not replace. Who would dare to disregard his wishes, risk bearing infamy for ten thousand generations, and damage the Emperor's path of Dao that has spanned millions of years?”

At this moment, although no one had drawn a sword, the atmosphere in the hall was frozen like ice, filled with the killing intent of a drawn bow, ready to be released.

Neither of them spoke. Just then, three crisp strikes of a cloud gong sounded from outside the hall. An Immortal Attendant reported from beyond the door, "Immortal Venerable, Immortal Lord Xianzhen of Jiangxiao Palace requests an audience. He says he is here on the orders of Taiwei Heavenly Emperor to escort Immortal Lord Chi Lian back."

Immortal Venerable Qingyang's face stiffened, but he quickly suppressed his feelings and answered in a raised voice, "Understood."

He had just finished saying that favoritism could not last long, and in the blink of an eye, Immortal Lord Xianzhen showed up like this. It was quite a slap in the face. But Chi Lian didn't say much either. He stood up and said lightly, "Since the Emperor has summoned me, I won't disturb you any longer. Please stay, Immortal Venerable."

Immortal Venerable Qingyang had no intention of seeing him off anyway. As he turned to walk out, Qingyang suddenly spoke, "Every word I have said today came from the bottom of my heart, and there is not a single one that cannot be told to others. Although the truth is cruel, it's better than being kept in the dark, knowing nothing. But if you want to use this to act spoiled and win favor with the Emperor, claiming I deliberately sowed discord between you and your master, I will have nothing more to say."

Hearing this, Chi Lian halted his steps. He looked back from a distance, and a trace of a genuine smile finally appeared in his cold eyes and on his brows.

"There's a saying in the Mortal Realm, I wonder if the Immortal Venerable has heard it, called 'a distant relation is a distant relation'." The corners of his eyes tilted up as his gaze swept around. The more handsome he looked, the more sarcastic his words were. "The Immortal Venerable is the friend of a deceased friend. Those stale old matters from tens of thousands of years ago, you can just keep them in your own heart to ponder over. Stop meddling in my affairs."

Immortal Venerable Qingyang: “...”

Chi Lian exited Bitai Palace and saw Immortal Lord Xianzhen outside, dressed in a black robe with gold patterns, looking dashing and suave. He bounded down the steps, taking two or three at a time, and quickly reached his side, asking with a smile, "Third Brother, what brings you here?"

Xianzhen led him away, jutting his chin in the direction of Wanghan Tower as he said, "I was drinking with Danchen and happened to see you go into Bitai Palace with them. I waited and waited, but you didn't come out. I was worried you were being held up, so I fabricated an order from the Emperor—no one gave you a hard time, did they?"

Chi Lian laughed nonchalantly, "What a question, Third Brother. Immortal Venerable Qingyang is also a dignified and noble deity. Why would he neglect his proper duties just to specifically come and give a minor Immortal Lord like me a hard time?"

Seeing his cheerful smile and lack of any resentful expression, Xianzhen figured he probably hadn't been mistreated and felt a little relieved. He asked, "Then why did he specifically summon you?"

Chi Lian said casually, "Perhaps my reputation has been getting around lately. He felt it was unbecoming for an Immortal Attendant to be so conspicuous and specially called me over to give a few words of advice. After all, he's in charge of Xuanjian Pavilion, so instructing Immortal Attendants is part of his duty."

Xianzhen frowned upon hearing this, but Chi Lian didn't want to say more. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the silver flagon in Xianzhen's hand, "What's that?"

Xianzhen lifted it up for him to see. "Yuxiao Wine brought by Immortal Lord Danchen. We drank one flagon, and there's one left. I was planning to take it back to savor slowly."

"Sounds good." Chi Lian held out his hand. "Give it to me. I'll bring some other good wine to honor you with another day, Third Brother."

“...”

Xianzhen quickly hid his hand behind his back. "Why the sudden urge to drink? If the Emperor finds out later, he'll definitely say I'm leading you astray. Don't get your senior brother in trouble, I'm telling you."

But Chi Lian said, "Don't worry, Third Brother, I know my limits. Today's matter, and this flagon of wine, just pretend you know nothing about them. There's no need to alarm the Emperor either."

Immortal Lord Xianzhen didn't show his thoughts on his face, sometimes even seeming a bit flighty, but he was actually an extremely clever person with a mind full of schemes. The moment he heard Chi Lian's tone, he knew it wasn't that nothing was wrong, but that something major had happened. But since Chi Lian had made it clear he didn't want anyone to interfere, Xianzhen wouldn't insist on getting to the bottom of it. With a sly glint in his foxy eyes, he handed the flagon to him and even specially reminded him, "This wine packs a punch. You have to drink it slowly, or you'll do something embarrassing, and I won't be able to save you then."

Chi Lian was amused and started to laugh. "Got it. Thanks, Third Brother. Please help me keep this from the Emperor."

Xianzhen watched his figure disappear into the clouds and mist, let out a long sigh, and turned to walk towards Jiangxiao Palace.

The moment he parted from Immortal Lord Xianzhen, Chi Lian's smile vanished.

His composure and nonchalance were enough to fool Xianzhen, but tricking himself wasn't so easy. He knew Immortal Venerable Qingyang had ill intentions and that bringing up those old stories was purely to disgust him. If he were to become distant from the Emperor because of this, it would be exactly what the other wanted. But he had to admit, this move had indeed disgusted him.

Everything has its own time and place. The person of the past was long gone; there was no need for him to compete with a story from tens of thousands of years ago. Nor did he think the Emperor would confuse him with that 'Chi Lian' or be especially indulgent towards him out of a desire to compensate the other. But that feeling of a blockage stuck in his throat, unable to go up or down, was a vexation that no amount of strong wine could wash away.

It was difficult to describe his current mood. If he had to, it was as if an enemy had cast a spell on him when he was unprepared, but it hadn't taken effect immediately, and there was no way to dispel it. He could only let this doubt linger in his heart for a long time.

It might never erupt, or it might, a long time from now when he had already forgotten about it, suddenly deal him a fatal blow from behind.

Yuxiao Wine was as clear as jade and smooth on the palate, but its after-kick was strong. Chi Lian wasn't drinking for the taste anyway, but to drown his sorrows, so he got drunk even faster. His mind had completely turned to mush. He couldn't remember why he was upset, but the unresolved melancholy clogging his chest had still not dissipated.

Ding ding—

The White Jade Bell hanging from his waist suddenly moved without any wind, ringing out crisply.

Chi Lian's eyes were hazy with drunkenness. He couldn't be bothered with it, fumbling by feel to grab it. He pressed it randomly, not knowing what he touched, and the sound of the bell finally stopped.

The next moment, a tall figure appeared out of thin air beside him. Without a word, he came forward and hooked the wine flagon from his hand.

Chi Lian was as drunk as a small animal that didn't know how to extend its claws. He didn't scratch, only knowing to stretch out his hand to reach for it, practically offering himself up to be bullied. The person caught the pouncing Chi Lian with one hand, while using his height to casually place the wine flagon on a high rock ledge. He said, with a bit of a headache, "No... I said you're not allowed to drink anymore. What on earth happened that's worth you hiding here drinking by yourself?"

When Chi Lian heard his voice, it was like finding a single thread amidst a thousand chaotic thoughts. He finally recognized who it was. He glanced at him for a moment with drunken eyes, then slowly turned his face away and buried it in his shoulder, calling out softly, "Emperor."

"It's me." The Emperor rarely saw him like this and couldn't help but soften his tone. "What's wrong?"

Chi Lian asked vaguely, "Are you going to pick me up and take me back?"

The Emperor held him, patting his back soothingly. "Yes, what else?"

However, Chi Lian was not comforted. Instead, he closed his eyes, as if even looking at him was heartbreaking, and asked, "But I'm not Chi Lian. Will you still want me?"