Chapter 57 Part 2

“N-no, not at all!” Zhong Yutian’s gaze flickered evasively. He hurriedly said, “I just wanted to see if that old lady was doing well recently. If she was, I’d be at ease!”

“More like the conscience of a wolf or the heart of a dog,” Yinyu said, leaning close to Lian Sheng’s side. Not afraid of what anyone might do to her, she very bluntly exposed Zhong Yutian’s thoughts.

Zhong Yutian still refused to admit it. Stubbornly, he said, “I’ve long since turned over a new leaf. How could I do such a thing?”

He secretly scrutinized the two before him, cupping his hands cautiously as he said, “So fated, it seems I’m bound to follow you two Fairy Maidens. I’ve thought it over: no matter how much longer you two Fairy Maidens stay in Dark Snow Heaven, I must follow and serve you!”

How could Yinyu be so easily fooled? But recalling that ghostly face outside the window just now, she actually nodded and said, “Fine then.”

Hearing this, Lian Sheng glanced at her, puzzled.

Yinyu jutted her chin toward the upper floor of the inn, saying cryptically, “He’ll be useful.”

Lian Sheng immediately understood. A very faint, cold laugh escaped her. She no longer looked like a merciful Bodhisattva. Holding the umbrella, she turned around, not even glancing at Zhong Yutian, and only said, “The snow is heavy. Let’s go back and take shelter.”

Yinyu said to Zhong Yutian, “You stay at the inn too. I’ll have the Innkeeper arrange a room for you.”

Zhong Yutian had no idea he was about to be sold out. His eyes suddenly lit up, and he grinned so wide he couldn’t close his mouth. “Thank you, two Fairy Maidens!”

Back at the inn, seeing a new guest, the Innkeeper didn’t care how shabby the other looked. With a face full of delight, he filled in the ledger, saying, “Rare to have another guest. Which room would you like? Pick any one.”

“Any will do,” Yinyu said.

Having a place to stay was good enough; Zhong Yutian didn’t dare be picky. He rubbed his hands together and looked around, meeting the Innkeeper’s scrutinizing gaze. He let out two chuckles.

The Innkeeper also laughed, the deep lines at the corners of his eyes showing. He then beckoned the Waiter over, having him lead the person upstairs.

Even Zhong Yutian’s steps became much lighter. As he walked, he said, “I know this inn. I’ve heard people say this establishment has been open for over a hundred years. Before the snow even started, the Innkeeper here was already stinking rich. Even more impressive, they say an Immortal also stayed here!”

Yinyu had been listening casually, but at the words “an Immortal,” her eyes suddenly lifted. “An Immortal?”

“It’s just something I heard. After all, that was ages ago, before I was even born!” Zhong Yutian followed the Waiter down the hallway, reaching out to touch every wooden sign he passed.

The room names in this inn were all very elegantly chosen. They didn’t use common labels like “Heaven” or “Earth,” but instead called them Cloud Mountain, Mist Village, Autumn White Dew, and Green Mountain Night—names that actually fit quite well with the Dark Snow Heaven of twenty-three years ago in Yinyu’s dream.

“What was the Immortal in those rumors like?” Yinyu asked.

Passing the siblings’ room, she paused slightly again. The lamp was lit inside, but unfortunately, she couldn’t see the situation within.

Zhong Yutian looked back. “That Immortal came and went without a trace. Back when Dark Snow Heaven still had tea houses and wine shops, she often sat there. She was dressed all in pure white, and I heard she wore a light gauze veil, so no one knew what she looked like.”

Hearing this, Yinyu seemed to recall a few more things. She did indeed like liveliness. Back on Little Desolate Islet, she had often gone to the bustling markets too, unable to bear even a bit of quiet.

The Waiter leading the way ahead didn’t look back. Only when he brought them before the door did he raise a hand and smile, saying, “Please, come inside.”

Zhong Yutian touched his dirty, messy hair, but showed no sign of embarrassment. Turning around, he cupped his hands and said, “Many thanks, two Fairy Maidens. Would you like to come sit in my room for a bit?”

Yinyu folded her arms, standing beside Lian Sheng and looking at him with a half-smile. Her meaning was written all over her face. How could this Zhong Yutian’s skin be so thick?

Zhong Yutian forced a smile, pushing the door open. “Then I… shall rest now?”

The Waiter closed the door for him. But before leaving, the Waiter knocked on Zhong Yutian’s door and said, “In a bit, this humble one will bring a brazier of charcoal up for you. If you find it stuffy in the night, be sure to push open the window to air it out.”

Zhong Yutian stretched his voice from inside to answer: “A brazier, is it? I’m not afraid of stuffiness, but I am afraid that if I open the window at night, something might crawl in. I’d rather stay stuffy.”

“It’s close to the Kang Family here. The Ghosts and Monsters in the city center don’t cause trouble,” the Waiter added.

Zhong Yutian let out an “Oh.” “Right, the Kang Family is only a li away. Their Talismans and incantations are potent. With them around, the Ghosts and Monsters don’t dare act up.”

The Waiter smiled. “You can rest assured. Our Innkeeper leaves the door wide open downstairs every day, and we’ve never seen any Ghostly Evil come in.”

“If I run into a ghost, will your inn pay compensation?” Zhong Yutian narrowed his eyes.

“That matter…” The Waiter touched his head outside the door.

Zhong Yutian sat down with his legs spread wide, snorting. “So I really might run into a ghost after all.”

After returning, Yinyu took off her shoes and socks, burrowed into the bed, and pulled the quilt up over her face, rustling about for a while.

Lian Sheng sat on the edge of the bed, just like the night before, eyes lowered, focused, with the bearing of a Sage.

After a long while, Yinyu poked her head out. In the dim candlelight, she stared unblinkingly at the person seated by her bed. Amidst the interplay of light and shadow, she momentarily didn’t know where she was. Was this Dark Snow Heaven, or the White Jade Capital of over twenty years ago?

It was Dark Snow Heaven, she concluded. Because Lian Sheng, who had yet to break her Precepts, was a flower in the pool, neither creeping nor branching, neither joy nor anger showing on her face. Only when drunk would her eyes and cheeks be dyed a rosy red.

Yinyu tucked in the corner of the quilt. “Boss Yu, want to squeeze in here?”

“I was originally staying in the other room; I have my own bed,” Lian Sheng said indifferently.

Yinyu lay there, one hand still pinching the quilt edge as cold air crept toward her chest. “It’s my first time here, and I easily attract things. I can only sleep if I squeeze in with you.”

“How precious you are,” Lian Sheng said, sitting down on the edge of her bed, but showing no intention of lying under the quilt. Instead, she pressed down the lifted corner of the blanket. “Just sleep.”

“Lie down here, Boss Yu.” Yinyu shrank back a bit, making a little space.

Lian Sheng didn’t move, so Yinyu reached a hand out from under the quilt. Perhaps her sleeve had ridden up a section, but the exposed arm was dazzlingly white.

As white as Painting paper, so white it didn’t seem like a living thing.

Yinyu tugged Lian Sheng’s sleeve, as if to pull her over. But since Lian Sheng didn’t move, naturally, she couldn’t pull her.

So that hooking hand traced along, catching onto Lian Sheng’s belt. Nimble and clever, as if with ulterior motives, she loosened the belt.

Lian Sheng grabbed her hand, her tone still relatively cold. “What are you doing?”

“If you won’t come, naturally, I have to grab you,” Yinyu said with ample justification.

Lian Sheng just looked down at her like this. By the bean-sized flame on the distant table, she saw what seemed like a hint of cunning in Yinyu’s eyes. That swirling gaze seemed to hold lingering affection.

She was silent for a moment before asking, “If I refuse, how long will you keep grabbing me?”

“I’ll just keep grabbing.” Yinyu’s words were slow and unhurried. Just listening to her tone, it didn’t sound like importunate pestering.

As she spoke, she pulled Lian Sheng’s belt open a little more, lifting it to her nose for a light sniff. With feigned curiosity, she said, “Boss Yu always carries a fragrance. Has it seeped into your very bones?”

That single taut string within Lian Sheng seemed to snap suddenly, pulled along with her belt. Her expression didn’t change, but she lifted the quilt, intending to simply lie down inside. Yet the moment she lifted the corner of the blanket, she saw the person lying there, her collar open, her beauty surpassing snow.

Actually, it wasn’t open very much. It just didn’t fully cover those inches of collarbone. That flash of spring scenery disturbed Lian Sheng’s Chan Heart, causing her to stumble right into the trap.

Lian Sheng half-supported herself, lifted the other’s slightly parted collar, and pressed it down over her collarbone. Without a single extra glance, she averted her gaze and said, “Is this how you invite me to share a bed?”

Yinyu smiled. “I’m not even sleeping naked yet. It’s not like you don’t know I have that habit. Otherwise, Boss Yu, you wear yours, I’ll take off mine. We won’t disturb each other.”

“A fine ‘won’t disturb each other.'” Lian Sheng remained motionless, seemingly somewhat annoyed. “You advance again and again, leaving no room. For me to retreat as far as I can, just to preserve your ‘won’t disturb each other’—but did you ever allow me to retreat?”

“I was just teasing. Whether it’s allowed or not, where’s the need to say it plainly? You know it perfectly well in your heart.” Yinyu reached out and poked Lian Sheng’s chest, right over her heart.

Lian Sheng thought, when it came to plucking at other people’s heartstrings and throwing them into disarray, this person truly was thorough and meticulous.

Under the gaze of the person beside her, she simply undid her outer robe, swept her hair aside, and lay down properly, stiff and straight. Coldly, she said, “Still calling me Boss Yu?”

“Then what should I call you?” Yinyu huddled at the side, turning on her side, speaking in a slow, muted voice.

“Lian Sheng.”

It was as if a crack had been cleaved open once more in those hazy memories. Dazzling white light rushed inside, stirring up some old matters, making Yinyu’s mind go blank.

Again, countless pagoda finials, some tall, some short, looking very much like the irregular houses of the Mortal Realm. At first glance, they even carried a hint of worldly charm.

But Little Enlightenment Ruins did not. It was eerily quiet, with the occasional toll of a bell ringing out, as if giving some warning.

That Lotus Immortal in red robes with a white outer garment seemed the only beautiful scenery in this Pagoda Forest. Unfortunately, she was just as somber and cold as the entirety of Little Enlightenment Ruins, making one feel utterly bored.

Afraid only Yinyu found it interesting, following closely behind and asking, “Lian Sheng, ordinary people say that the Buddhas of Little Enlightenment Ruins are without desire or demand, and even every blade of grass and every tree within is the same. But do the myriad beings within Little Enlightenment Ruins truly have no desires?”

“Did you come specifically to ask this?” Lian Sheng halted, holding a small pagoda finial as she looked back.

“Naturally not.” Yinyu approached step by step with her hands behind her back. Who knew who she was tormenting? Her figure was graceful, leisurely and casual, her pace impossibly slow.

Walking to Lian Sheng’s side, she spoke on her own: “I, on the other hand, feel that Little Enlightenment Ruins is full of desires. Every rise and pause of a step is desire. Turning back and gazing into the distance is desire. Every word and syllable uttered should also contain desire. Since one exists in this world, how can one be without desire? More or less, that’s all.”

“As for me…” Yinyu abruptly leaned closer, the pendant at her brow swaying. She added, “I came specifically to watch you break your Precepts.”