#Fengqing being loyal to Xie Lian

[beautifulsnake2162020]

So I was rewatching Season 2, Episode 6 of TGCF/Heaven Official's Blessing and something that didn't caught my eye the first time around was the look that Feng Xin and Mu Qing has after Xie Lian is escorted to be under house arrest in his palace.

It's like they both know that whatever Xie Lian says about killing the Yongan royal family it's either not entirely true or there is something that's not adding up. They may have their differences but they both know Xie Lian enough to know that he's definitely hiding something. And with the political affairs of the Heavenly court, neither of them could blame him.

Which makes me think that their visit to Xianle palace was to help him and get the truth from Dianxie so that they may assist him once again. It's really telling that Mu Qing is able to see through Xie Lian's act and Feng Xin doesn't deny that he is right. Instead Feng Xin intentionally instigates a fight between him and Mu Qing.

Now, I just want to say that it is entirely possible that they just get caught up in their squabbles and Xie Lian had been out of heaven for 800 years so he wouldn't have noticed how much Feng Xin and Mu Qing changed during that time.

And maybe a part of me is just overthinking this - but in this instance I don't think that their fight was simply because of a squabble but was planned.

Think about it - nobody would question if these two ended up arguing or fighting. The only reason why I find it suspicious was because of Xie Lian's internal monologue saying that it is odd. But had it been anyone else in heaven nobody would think it strange that these two are fighting. As a matter of fact no junior official that was standing guard even bothered to go inside to investigate why it seems there's a commotion because it's common knowledge that Feng Xin and Mu Qing in a confined space would end up in a fight.

And that was the point.

They both know how many spies heaven has and they both know Xie Lian is clearly protecting a secret that would explain everything, but he can't say anything because of a better reason. And the only way they could get him to spill the beans to them while keeping everyone else out of the way is if their fight induced Xie Lian to confess what is really going on. Only the two of them would know the secret and Xie Lian would be safe to share it because it would be masked by the commotion of their fighting.

And then Hua Cheng initiates his abduction of Xie Lian and they immediately stop and work as a team. Their differences in how they report to the rest of the heavenly court on his abduction might just be to keep up appearances.

But maybe that's just me overthinking. But this is my headcanon now.

[arohuacheng]

is anyone else up thinking about how pei ming is aptly named as the god of love not for his affairs but for how open he is with his friendship and his devotion to people especially in comparison to the cold detachment of the rest of the upper court. how the three tumors are the only real honest friendship that we see in the upper court and how pei ming is the most openly affectionate of those three. how pei ming is consistently looking out for shi qingxuan even as she disdains him. how pei ming is both an ally and a friend to the main group in the last act just because he's sociable like that. nobody else? just me?

[notyixiangs]

big fan of characters who understand each other so well that they are able to use each other’s weaknesses against each other. characters who have been inseparable for so long (whether they like it or not) that they’ve witnessed each other’s crest and fall and studied each other’s dispositions like specimens beneath glass. as a result they’ve crawled into the cracks in each other’s skin & mapped out the soft underbelly hidden beneath all that confidence and pride. so now they’re calling out the other person’s most shameful flaws, sniping at the most sensitive bits of scar tissue they try so desperately to hide, digging out their most humiliating memories or those filled with grief.

if you’re lovers or close friends, then you’re forced to realize that yes, to be loved is to be known, but to be known is also to flay yourself open. you cannot declare yourself above the risk of having someone take advantage of your wounds & you cannot transcend the vulnerability that comes as love’s collateral damage

if you’re enemies… then all i can say is that the sweet respite of enduring coexistence for so long is that you know precisely how to take each other apart. you know how to play the other like putty beneath your fingertips by tugging at their pain points, and that in itself is a glorious thing—but equally so, the knowledge that they can enact the exact same thing on you is inordinately terrifying

[good-vs-evo]

saw some ppl on tiktok getting SO PRESSED about polycules and relationships other than hualian and that was kind of funny so i needed to make and explain my relationship chart

i’d love to explain to them (as a polyam person myself >:3) that love is not a limited commodity and hua cheng falling for yin yu doesn’t mean he suddenly doesn’t care about xie lian at all but i fear that would be lost on them HAHA

also if you… don’t wanna see that kinda stuff… just don’t look at it… don’t hate on people who do… life would be easier for everyone… but moving on

i debated splitting yin yu x he xuan x hua cheng from the moon quartet then decided against it because it was getting waaaay too chaotic

rip to quan yizhen, either he has no manhua art or i couldn’t find it (i haven’t read the manhua yet ffjhshd)

uhhh i got a lot of inspo abt huayin from @devotedbutterfly’s tiktoks and stuff (sorry for going thru like all of ur stuff and generally being a demon on ur tiktok and tumblr ahsjdj) and xuanyin/blackmoon stuff from @ghooostbaby so. yes their stuff is very cool :]

anyways-

first chart is different explanations for everyone’s relationship with one another

the second is me trying to simplify them into categories

BUT i’ll explain this a lotttt better in text

quanyin

uh. this one feels self explanatory

hualian

if i have to explain this one it’s over

fengqing

same as the first two LMAO

xianle trio

yes, i had to break the trio and quartet into different categories

mulian: mu qing always admired xie lian for his self-assuredness, strength, and also beauty. he was a bit jealous of him for a long time, but they were able to talk about it and they both forgave each other for everything that happened in the past. he's had a crush on him since the beginning, but was bad at showing it. xie lian thought mu qing was pretty and a very interesting person; when he got older, he regretted not spending more time getting to know him, so he makes up for it later on in life! he loves when mu qing is softer and shy and more vulnerable than he is usually, and loves how mu qing is a good listener and is pretty emotionally intelligent.

fengqing: well. you get the idea

fenglian: feng xin was always loyal, the first person to have fallen in love with xie lian, and dianxia’s first kiss. he would’ve never left xie lian if xie lian hadn’t told him to. he respected xie lian a lot. xie lian loved how much feng xin cared, and felt immensely guilty about being unable to give him anything more. when they reunite, he showers feng xin with gifts and words of affirmation (he got better at expressing his emotions) and they spend a lot of time together

xianle quartet

all the other ones stay the same, so i’ll just explain the two new ones

huaqing: they were once stuck together and had to talk just out of boredom. they bickered a little but the more they talked the more they realized that there was more to the other. mu qing feels genuinely bad about what he did to hua cheng. he has a hard time apologizing but he tried his best to express his remorse, and hua cheng was pretty shocked (previously thought mu qing was a bit of an asshole) and, since mu qing was being sincere, decided to accept his apology. they hit some rough patches now and then, but xie lian and feng xin help them through it. they realized they’re pretty similar, and team up to stir up trouble with people they don’t like sometimes!

huaxin: feng xin was jealous of hua cheng because he was the one who won xie lian’s heart after 800 years and was really happy when he found out that xie lian liked him too. he admires that hua cheng was strong enough to help xie lian so many times. he also likes that hua cheng is a little cocky sometimes (read: very often), and finds hua cheng very good looking. hua cheng was jealous of feng xin for being the first person to be that close to xie lian, but appreciates how loyal he was throughout everything that happened and finds him pretty cool. he likes the way feng xin curses a lot when he’s pissed (finds it endearing)

huayin

ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVES!!!

yin yu fell first, because hua cheng was so fascinatingly determined and also like the prettiest person he’s ever met. he was intimidating, but could be quite kind, as he was to yin yu when they broke past the employee/employer relationship and became closer

hua cheng began to notice the way yin yu came off as so meek and unnoticeable, but had a kind of poised anger and strength beneath all of that. he trusted yin yu with a lot of more important tasks, paid him well, and considered him as more of a right hand man or partner in crime than a henchman, then eventually as just a partner

e’ming also likes yin yu, and trusts him to take care of it

hua cheng finds it endearing when yin yu gets protective of him (both of them know hua cheng is perfectly capable, but hua cheng finds it sweet regardless)

yin yu cheered hua cheng on a lot with xie lian and patiently listened to everything hua cheng had to say about him

huayinlian/hualianyu

ANOTHER PERSONAL FAVE

ppl keep being like “oh but hua cheng would never cheat on xie lian” HOW IS THAT CHEATING! GOOD LORD! HUA CHENG STILL LOVES XIE LIAN, BUT HAS ALSO DEVELOPED FEELINGS FOR THE PERSON HE SPENT THE MOST AMOUNT OF TIME WITH

i digress

yin yu fell for xie lian because he heard about him all the time. how could you spend so much time hearing about how wonderful, kind, gracious, and amazing someone is without catching feelings a little? additionally, hua cheng allowed yin yu to visit xie lian’s temple and leave offerings, trusting him to be genuine in his actions. yin yu saw some of the paintings and sculptures of xie lian and found him beautiful. he knows a lot about xie lian's life, and truly wants him to find peace and happiness

xie lian loves how devoted yin yu was to hua cheng and how much he helped him. he knows those years were hard for hua cheng, and he’s glad that he had a companion (contrary to what people say about “cheating”, xie lian is incredibly happy that hua cheng managed to find love while he was waiting). i know yin yu is canonically “plain”, but xie lian loves him and thinks he’s very handsome :) he gives him a lot of compliments and words of affirmation

blackmoon (yinxuan)

taking a moment to appreciate that very awesome ship name

yin yu thought he xuan was terrifying and intense, only to discover that. he’s just a guy (/pos). but he does have a lot going on! he has urges and a complex history and emotions he doesn’t show to a lot of people and plans within plans and is generally such an interesting person with so many layers to him. beneath a lot of those layers is a guy who’s kind and smart and would’ve stayed kind and smart if his life wasn’t utterly ruined

he xuan initially thought yin yu was just kind of pathetic, but learned more about him and started to like him more. he finds his passion really attractive, loves how genuinely sweet, kind, and gentle he is as well as how harsh, cruel, and unrelenting he can be. he treats he xuan well and makes him feel human and real and knows when to leave him alone and knows when he wants attention and cooks for him and-

they feel seen around each other, having experienced similar things (such as having their destiny “stolen” in different ways though) and have experienced suffering in such a firsthand way. they’re ready to just chill together now :)

moon quartet (hua cheng, xie lian, he xuan, and yin yu)

xie lian finds he xuan cool, doesn’t have too many thoughts about him. he xuan thinks xie lian is cute and also mildly terrifying (i’m definitely editing this later on, i just don’t have a lot of thoughts about them yet)

hua cheng and he xuan have been close for a long time, helping each other out with ghost king business. hua cheng let he xuan relax and chill at ghost city when he needed to, and he xuan kept a close eye on the heavenly capital, so they met often and bonded. they’re both motivated by something and are incredibly passionate about that thing, so they mutually admire the other’s drive and courage

i have the least for them so far, but i just think they’d be sweet together :] they’d all help each other heal and be able to talk to each other. they’d love each other a lot and take care of one another when they need it and be there when someone needs someone :3 idk they’re so traumatized and deserve to recover from that i’ll form more thoughts i swear

ANYWAYS. that’s it for now i’m def gonna write stuff for all of these ships :0 they’re all very special to me 💖 i might add them to my 30 day fluff challenge :3 cuz they all deserve some nice fluff! (ill also keep updating + editing! feel free to ask me to explain relationships more, id love to <3)

[myheartismadeofstars]

Random Fengqing headcanons:

Fengqing both have pets in their palaces (pets they've granted immortality) that remind them of each other. Mu Qing has a dog, a Shanxi Xigou named Jinfeng (gold wind). He is loyal and affectionate and protective of Mu Qing. He is the period equivalent of a titled purebred. He is a yellow colour and was an offering as a thank you. From a very devoted believer who happened to breed them. Mu Qing didn't know what he was supposed to do with a puppy, but he kept and doted on him. He sleeps in Mu Qing's bed even though he has his own.

Feng Xin has a cat, a pretty blue grey one with light green eyes. Her name is Zhenzhen. She was only a kitten living on the street when Feng Xin found her while looking for Xie Lian. She brought him luck on a side mission he was on so he decided to keep her. She's terribly spoiled and fickle because of it (to the point his subordinates nickname her "Nan Yang Furen" and say she truly rules the palace) she is, however very attached to Feng Xin and is very loving towards him.

FX fell first. MQ didn't know how to feel. I think FX could have attempted to confess once, back when they were mortal, but MQ thought he was being mocked.

MQ is worshipped as a god of children (a la this post)

Silver haired MQ rights!

FX is actually a total sweetheart when in a relationship! He's very much the pet name type (Qing-er and Baobei are most common) and his love languages are Acts of Service and Words of Affirmation. (Yes he swears while saying sweet things lmao. "You're so fucking beautiful" "You've been working your ass off, let me handle it" that sort of thing)

Mu Qing's are Quality Time and Physical Touch (I feel this in my bones. Mu Qing's gently touching people he loves and cares for. Fussing over hair and clothes is a very MQ show of affection. Unfortunately I feel like one time, after the fall of Xianle he fussed over Xie Lian and FX made fun of him for it because he was a servant before so he restrained himself, but when he's truly comfortable he will do it)

(can't think of anything else rn maybe I'll edit with more)

[irrealisms]

if you're still doing the character meme, Feng Xin?

How I feel about this character

ive said this before for this meme but im really running out of ways to say "i like him". i like him!!!! really good character!!!!! im still thinking about yen liveblogging book 2 yesterday and quoting him saying "Kick me out, for all I care. I don’t give a shit about being a heavenly official! If it wasn’t for Your Highness’ appointment, I really don’t care for it. But even if you boot me back to the mortal realm and I become human again, I will still be loyal to you, Your Highness." kick me out for all i care. i will still be loyal to you. and xl does and fx is. feng xin is loyal forever and he's a bodyguard who knows instinctively that his job is to get hurt so xie lian won't be (the way that, in the donghua, "nan feng" is always trying to put himself between xie lian and danger--a bit in front and a bit to the side--) and he fails and he just wants to protect and care for xie lian and the royal family and jian lan and cuocuo and he can't successfully do this for a single one of them and they all leave him for his own good. but he's still trying, he's still loyal, he doesn't want to leave them even though he'll obey them if they ask him to go. actually im just going to link this ask game response i did abt him for a different ask game

All the people I ship romantically with this character

honestly in canon i don't have strong romantic ships for him--jian lan is canon but not compelling, the more compelling ships are notably less canon and i'm less passionate abt queer readings there--but in the realm of fandom i do very much enjoy feng xin/xie lian bc of the aforementioned Eternal Devotion To His Master, and in general bc of the thing where xie lian is fx's entire Purpose in life (which is nonzero hua cheng parallells!). and there's also, hm, the thing where fx+mq are both Orbiting xie lian and xie lian is not really orbiting them back? which, as someone who's very into ships that are imbalanced/unrequited like that: very crunchy! also feng xin/mu qing but with the same caveats as i gave on my mu qing ask response, which is to say, i like approximately none of the feng xin/mu qing that actually exists, but if it were done completely differently it does in fact have potential. the thing is, it has to be about xie lian. very few fics know this

My non-romantic OTP for this character

also feng xin & xie lian and feng xin & mu qing! and the three of them together! xianle trio: wildly compelling to me whether it's platonic or not. i think i probably lean platonic on these even in the realm of fanfic but i will enjoy & read it and be like Yes This Is My Feng Xin OTP whether it is gen or slash.

My unpopular opinion about this character

man i have no idea what's popular or not. or like i know one (1) unpopular opinion i have (fanon fengqing is BORING) but i already used that opinion on the mu qing ask game response.... it'd be a based unpopular opinion of me to have to care about jian lan & his relationship w her but in fact i mostly don't. kind of an L tbh

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon.

once again with the "tgcf is really well-written in a way that satisfies both my aesthetic and my selfish desires for many characters. i am happy with canon here tbh". there are definitely tgcf characters i wish things had happened differently for dgmw but there are also a decent fraction where im like "yeah canon was perfect. no notes"

(ask game, give me a character)

[birbfeedersart]

i think fengqing is a good ship, but it probably has to do with my interpretation of their characters lol.

mu qing is prickly! he doesn't want to get hurt anymore, he has clawed his way from poverty to godhood! everything he has, he had to get by his own skill, cunning, and merit. he was willing to cut ties with the ppl who were nearly his friends, bc he was so determined to look after his mother himself. he's not afraid of hard work, but he still values an elegant appearance and good reputation. he is terrified, he is fearless! he is sharp and he is soft! he clings to his respectability, and yet believes himself to be fundamentally lesser than the other gods. but he will not give up his place in the heavens. he belongs there and he will MAKE the others see it! he can do everything on his own!! the only thing he can't provide for himself is company. what he wants most, i conjecture, is for someone to stay.

feng xin on the other hand learnt from a young age that he was meant to be a tool--a shield for the crown prince, and a weapon too, when necessary. just as he was truly experiencing life as his own person after the fall of xianle, his crown prince sent him away! what does a guard do with no one to look after?? what good is a shield if no one holds it? he helps his followers as much as he can, but there's a distance there in between--at the end of the day, the mortals have each other, and he is alone. surely he must want, more than anything else, a reason. an anchor of his very own. dianxia has hua cheng, and doesn't need him anymore. who is there for feng xin, who can understand what he's been through? who can be his rock in this world?

and!! i know they fight a lot but!! imo it's bc feng xin thinks (at the beginning of the novel) that mu qing hates dianxia and betrayed him. i think that once he realises this is not the case, he'll not be ~suspicious~ of mu qing any longer, and he'll probably sort of......forget??? like don't get me wrong i'm not saying he's stupid but......he keeps one thought in his head at all times. and those thoughts. don't exist before he thinks them. he's an in-the-moment kind of guy. whereas mu qing is always projecting his mind forward, trying to discern and plan for all possibilities. mu qing was angry bc he thought feng xin looked down on him. once he knows that feng xin does NOT look down on him, he'll have free rein for his tsundere routine. feng xin thought mu qing was not being nice to dianxia, which to his loyal heart, was just as good as hating him (feng xin). once he knows that mu qing IS still loyal (ie willing to take a cursed shackle before betraying xie lian) he'll realise 'oh that's mu qing, that's just how he is :D' and he won't mind if mu qing shouts or insults him or punches him anymore. bc that's just mu qing!!

tl;dr: mu qing is cat, feng xin is dog. i think they would make a good couple anyway. they can shore up each other's weaknesses and frankly they deserve each other (affectionate AND derogatory). thank u for coming to my ted talk

[beautifulsnake2162020]

We have it all (Hualian adopted daughter fanfic) Chapter 8

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction. I only do this for fun.

Premise: Not long after comforting a bullied girl named Meng Ai, Hua Cheng and Xie Lian find themselves adopting her and together they form a family they didn't know they had needed for awhile.

Story/Genre tags: Slice of life-ish (mainly), Family focused, Hua Cheng's houses finally become homes, there may be an overarching story but that's not the focus, Hualian being parents, Fengqing being uncles, Lang Qianqiu falling in love with someone who was raised by the Xianle squad, technically post-canon (though I haven't read the books so if there are some ooc moments please forgive me).

AO3 Link

Chapter 1, Chapter 2 , Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7

Follower tags: @anonimgato1507

Chapter 8

"Welcome back, Chenxi." Yin Yu says as he meets the Goddess just outside of the grounds of Paradise Manor. Once again she had a glamour hiding most of her divine aura but did not change her actual appearance. Anyone and everyone who had seen and heard her before would recognize it was her. Tonight she was no longer wearing the clothes that depicted her as one of her mother's priestesses but her own daily attire of a yellow outer robe and a pale pink inner clothes. And anything else that wasn't colored was cream colored. The very combination of colors that would paint the sky whenever it was dawn.

"Thank you Yin Yu, I appreciate that you refrained from saying my name when I arrived earlier."

"I know you enough to know that you have your reasons. Knowing what you had to endure for centuries -"

"Yin Yu." Chenxi stops him with a gentle tone.

"I did not help my former student ascend just for you to grieve what I have gone through."

"I could not help it, you will always be my professor. Awhile ago I had thought that you questioning me why I wanted to ascend was you doubting my abilities to do so. Later on I realized you were trying to point out that even immortality had its unintended consequences." She pats him on the back as they reach the building's entrance. Music was still being played but was now it was much more mellow and relaxed.

"Another former student of yours is in there."

"I know, it's one of the reasons why I've decided to appear tonight."

"Professor, with all due respect - I may not know what you are planning to do, but I should let you know that I am loyal to my master Hua Cheng and his family. Meng Ai is now part of that. And if you seek to harm her or break their family apart, I will not hesitate to fight for them. Even if it means fighting you." She nods and offers him an approving look.

"Then it's a good thing we have exactly the same interest." They bow to each other before she enters and he takes his leave.

The moment she enters she couldn't help but smile at the scene on front of her. Jing Mei was playing the Guzheng, probably for the last time since her mother Xiwangmu will need her services as an oracle soon. Many of them were playing a game of getting party favors with Xie Lian's sentient silk band lowering and raising the bars that the party favors hung from. Meng Ai was carried by Hua Cheng as she reaches for some party treats hung from the ceiling, Normally the game was to jump for the party favors but she was the birthday girl and Hua Cheng was just laughing as he lifted her so she could get as much as she wants. Generals Nan Yang and Fu Yao had bumped each other midjump as they were both trying to reach a peach.

Then her former student Shi Qingxuan, now recently mortal, had finally caught a plum. When they landed they looked up to where she stood and couldn't help it but they just had to run to her.

"Hello Shi Qingxuan."

"Hello Professor! I was starting to think you weren't going to come."

"It's nice to see you again. I've heard about what happened to you."

"Oh don't worry professor! I'm fine as you can see, though I'm still adjusting to life as a mortal." She raises an eyebrow with a matching smirk.

"Even after seven years?"

" Hey! It's been centuries since the last time I was mortal."

"I know, I tease." On her periphery she sees that her presence was noticed and that it was probably time to settle some of her prior engagements.

"Let's talk more later, if you need me you need only go to one of my temples or send a prayer to me."

"Of course professor." They step away and lead her to the group. Interestingly Hua Cheng hasn't put Meng Ai down and is in fact holding her tightly. The rest of them with the exception of Ji Huifan and Jing Mei wore neutral expressions. Her biological parents were relieved to see her.

"Sorry I'm late, my parents were reminding me of something."

"What's your name?" Meng Ai asks in curiosity.

"I'll give you a hint - we share the same name."

"Your name is also Meng Ai?"

"No, but you might want to ask your parents what your formal birth name is." She goes a little closer to her.

"If you can find out our name is and what my domain is, I'll give you your second birthday gift."

"Oh what's the first?" Chenxi then produces a multi-colored suanpan. 5 beads on the bottom and one bead on top consisting of 13 rods. While all of the top beads are red the bottom 5 beads depending on the rod contained blue, pink, orange, brown, black, and white beads.

"I noticed the last time I visited that you loved playing with my suanpan because it was colorful. Here's a little one so that you may take it anywhere." She gives the suanpan to Meng Ai as the little girl begins playing with it in awe. She turns to Hua Cheng and Xie Lian in a way that showed she means no harm.

"And also as a useful educational tool for arithmetics."

"Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome. I hope you won't mind if I eat something."

"Not at all, help yourself." Says Xie Lian as he leads Chenxi to the area where the food is.

"Dianxia we'll take care of it - go play with Meng Ai." Feng Xin says noticing that the little girl wants to know how to use and play with her new suanpan. This would give him a chance to bond with his new daughter while Feng Xin and Mu Qing have their own private conversation with Chenxi. After some persuasion Xie Lian is dragged back to the main entertainment area by Meng Ai. They both settle themselves facing her as she begins eating.

"Nice to finally meet you in person, Generals. For now you may call me Yu Yingtai while Meng Ai hasn't guessed who I am yet. But since you both are well acquainted with my former student, I believe that is one of the biggest clues to what my domain is."

"And yet you are not quite as forthcoming - much like your mother."

"With all due respect Xuan Zhen, the last time my family and I interacted with any Heavenly official I ended up imprisoned and bled out for centuries...among other things of course. I know your intentions are good, but I hope you'll forgive me for checking what you want with my experience with his family." She grabs a mooncake from the serving platter while she watches them share a look. Probably talking telepathically through their private spiritual array.

"Yingtai, this isn't just for our curiosity. Even you have to admit that the only sure way for Meng Ai to be safe is by eliminating the curse that you inadvertently placed on them." Feng Xin doesn't bother beating around the bush, nevertheless he does his best to be as persuasive as possible.

"It would lessen the danger to her, but even if they all cured themselves from their current condition they would still find some excuse to go after her. Trust me when I say that their delusion to sacrifice her to my mother's altar would persist even if they become mortal."

"But at least if they were mortal again - they would not be as invulnerable."

"Don't underestimate them Nan Yang. They were already dangerous before they became cursed immortals. There's a reason why they became the royal family when Fu Dao was nothing more than a strategically placed trading hub. The irony doesn't escape me that I fell in love with one of them."

"Let me guess, they didn't approve of you from the start?"

"On the contrary Xuan Zhen, I was their favorite for my beloved. I just didn't see that I was their favorite for nefarious purposes."

"And the story that Jing Mei and Ji Huifan told?"

"It is still true, they did not lie. They just respected my wishes not to tell the details. Some parts of the story is mine to tell. But Ji Huifan has been open on how the curse was lifted and how he was mortal again. I don't think you want to know those parts of my story when you already know how to cure them."

"Draining their blood?" Chenxi nods at Mu Qing. Behind them Shi Qingxuan and all four of Meng Ai's parents were keeping her distracted and entertained. A distraction she was thankful for since for all of Meng Ai's curiosity these aren't things that a little girl should know. Especially not on her birthday.

"Draining their blood till they are just on the brink of life and death."

"Ji Huifan says that he also poured out his grief." Feng Xin says questioningly.

"Because grief is a necessary part of the draining of blood in their case. The moment a large amount of blood drains from them they themselves will be confronted with what they have done. To me and to their victims. They already know this but don't want to accept it. They enjoy the current state they are in as cursed immortals."

"If they do then why are they hunting down Meng Ai? Why the need for her to be adopted by Xie Lian and Hua Cheng?"

"Will you calm down? Any louder and Meng Ai will be curious and come here." Mu Qing quickly reminds him as they both briefly glance at Meng Ai who seems to be getting her first suanpan mathematics lesson from Xie Lian.

"Unfortunately that is something even I cannot answer. The only thing that offering Meng Ai to my mother will do is to incur the wrath of my parents. And even I do not know what will happen when both of them are involved. All I know is that Meng Ai will just be another victim who just so happens to be related to them this time. But then again they've always been like this, always willing to sacrifice others but not themselves." Chenxi says melancholically.

"Listen Chen - Yingtai, I understand that you may not want to talk about everything that happened."

"And you won't have to."

"But we, especially Dianxia and Hua Cheng, need to know the entire story to truly remove them as a danger to Meng Ai."

"Given your domain deep down you also know this." Mu Qing adds.

"You got a mahjong set!?" The three of them hear Shi Qingxuan exclaim as one of Hua Cheng's servants brings it to the gathering.

"I thought mahjong involved money?"

"Not always Xiao Ai." Xie Lian clarifies as he puts her on his lap. Since the two of them will be watching the other four play.

"Money is only involved when you're in a gambling den. But the game itself is not inherently bad. It's quite fun when you know what you're doing Xiao Ai. San Lang please don't use your luck too much."

"As you wish Gege."

As the four of them begin washing the tiles Mu Qing and Feng Xin return themselves to Chenxi.

"Curing them will only treat the symptoms not the cause."

A moment of silence came after Mu Qing's last words. She carefully studied their faces and their body language. Feng Xin was more tense but he forces himself to relax awaiting her answer. Mu Qing was more relaxed than him but there was anxiety that he couldn't hide even if he wanted to.

She may have doubts but they both cared for Meng Ai.

Probably because she was now a part of Xie Lian's life and was now a part of his happiness. Or at least it began that way but even she could see that Meng Ai had begun making her way into their hearts.

"...Fine. But I have a few conditions."

"What are they?" Feng Xin asks eagerly.

"I'm only going to tell you once. So you better have Hua Cheng, Xie Lian, and Shi Qingxuan present. And Meng Ai shouldn't know this until she comes of age. But even then should she be curious tell her to come to me." She stands up as she notices the night becomes a little more darker. She'll need to leave now to do her daily job.

"We'll contact you through your oracle?"

"Yes please." She bids them all farewell before leaving. A few hours later with Meng Ai asleep in Xie Lian's arms, Xie Lian and Hua Cheng watches the dawn arrive in their cottage.

"There she goes, starting a new day."

"She's hiding plenty of things. Not just about Xiao Ai."

"Perhaps she isn't ready, or perhaps we aren't meant to know them."

"Only time will tell." Hua Cheng opens the door as they tuck their daughter in her bed.

______________________________________________________________

"Baba Lang you're joining us?" Xie Lian chuckles as Hua Cheng sits beside them in the study room.

"I reminded him that he needs to practice his calligraphy."

"Will you be writing the story of the butterfly lovers too? That's what Baba Lian told me to do after hearing that I drew the butterfly lovers instead of writing it down."

"Hmm so we'll be copying the same text Gege?"

"You know, why not. It's a simple enough writing exercise."

After a few moments Meng Ai couldn't help but look puzzled.

"Um Baba Lian maybe there's too much ink?" He sighs as he lessens the ink and hands the brush to Hua Cheng.

"Begin again."

"Hmm maybe you'll have to guide me - after all I never had formal lessons in calligraphy."

"Oh me too! My Baba and mama are the ones who taught me."

"Well to be fair little one they have excellent calligraphy."

"Which explains why even Xiao Ai has better calligraphy than you do." Meng Ai watches amused as Xie Lian places his hand on top of Hua Cheng's and guides him on making the first few characters of the butterfly lovers before she goes back to making another copy of the story. She had just finished her third copy, or the third copy that she was actually satisfied with. Legible calligraphy and no mistakes or accidental ink smudges. The copies that had her mistakes she set aside for making paper flowers later on or other paper creations.

It was at this moment that Ji Huifan enters with books and a fresh new pile of blank scrolls.

"Oh good you're practicing your calligraphy." He says in a language unknown to either Xie Lian or Hua Cheng. But Meng Ai merely rolls her eyes as she replies to him in the same language.

"Of course I am, I love writing."

"How many copies did you have to finish?"

"Only five."

"Then I'll wait until then."

In her periphery she sees him take out a pen which she was taught to be used more frequently in cultures more westward with different writing systems. Quickly seeing the confusion in their faces Ji Huifan explains calmly to them.

"Jing Mei and I have been teaching her some of the languages used along the silk road. Before I met her I travelled westwards to pursuit my studies in magic and in search for a possible cure. Eventually I became fluent in other languages and writing systems and would communicate directly to ambassadors whenever I returned in Fu Dao. I actually met Jing Mei when she was an adept studying in a place called Daxia. They have a different writing system than we do and we both feel that Meng Ai should know these just in case she finds herself somewhere in the silk road or if she is just bored."

"So the rumors are true, almost everyone in Fu Dao knows at least two languages." Xie Lian says.

"It was out of the necessity to keep the peace and to be attractive to travellers. And it is also beneficial for those who seek the path of magic, one magic system has it's advantages and disadvantages. Learning as much as you can expands the range of what is possible."

"And...I'm...done!"

"Have Xie Lian check it first."

Looking at her calligraphy while there were places wherein she could improve on those things could come with more practice and time. All five copies of the story of the butterfly lovers were legible, had no mistakes, and was neater than even Lang Qianqiu's calligraphy when he was teaching him.

"Alright you're done for calligraphy practice."

"Yes!"

"But not from writing." Ji Huifan then puts a new set of blank paper on front of her.

"Are you going to make me copy more things?"

"No." But before she could sigh in relief he puts her copies of the Butterfly lovers back to her side. And she looks at him with a puzzled look.

"This will be a language exercise for you. Translate the story of the Butterfly lovers to the language of Daxia." Her eyes widen and her frustration becomes clear.

"But I haven't mastered their writing system yet."

"Which is why I have brought my notes to help you. And until you are done I'll only be speaking to you in the language of Daxia."

"Really?"

"Absolutely." He replies in the Daxian language as he opens his book to the exact page which shows the writing system of Daxia. From what Hua Cheng and Xie Lian could see instead of being written from top to bottom and right to left, it was horizontal and made to be read from left to right.

"You only need to do one attempt for the whole story since this will be your first time doing this exercise."

"Is this really how you and mama learnt the new language?"

"Yes, we were also surrounded by Daxians so we had no choice but to speak their language while we were there." He dips the pen in ink and gives it to Meng Ai. Once he was satisfied with how she held the pen he nods.

"Now begin."

______________________________________________________________

It turns out it wasn't just Ji Huifan.

After doing their respective works for the day, they all gather in the kitchen in Paradise Manor. Even Meng Ai's babysitters were all present. The culinary lesson that Jing Mei that she opened to all new members of their family was in making her famous and much beloved mooncakes from scratch.

But before starting the lesson she had a couple of female servants prevent Meng Ai from entering with strict instructions that she may only enter when they hear a knocking sound from their side.

"Gather around in one spot everyone, so that Ji Huifan won't spend as much mana in casting this language spell."

"Language spell?!"

"Don't worry Shi Qingxuan, everyone of us will still be able to understand each other. But to Meng Ai it will temporarily sound like gibberish."

"This is so she could practice another language we've been teaching her. And one of the best ways to learn a new language is to immerse yourself in it."

"Exactly how many languages do you two know?" Feng Xin asks in shock and disbelief. While he never had direct contact with anyone from Fu Dao until now he had always thought that the rumor of anyone from Fu Dao being able to talk in more than one language was just an exaggeration.

But apparently not.

"Fluently or conversationally?" Jing Mei asks followed by a chuckle.

"Given how many centuries he's been alive, he's definitely fluent in more languages than I am. But I'm fluent in five and could talk in three more. We oracles need to be able to talk in as many languages as we could master since plenty of people from different lands also consult with Xiwangmu through us."

"Hmm, you know maybe I do have a need for your skills whenever Xiwangmu doesn't need both of you. That way you could still be in Xiao Ai's life as much as possible."

"Seriously? With your handwriting?" Mu Qing couldn't help but raise his eyebrow at Hua Cheng.

"He's working on it. And from what I've seen of some of the different writing systems there might be hope yet."

"CAN I COME IN NOW?!"

"Patience Aiai, we'll knock when you can enter."

"Please hurry up Baba."

"Alright, any final questions before I cast the spell?"

"Oh just a couple more - what language will you be teaching Meng Ai? And will we be able to understand anything you two are telling her?"

"We'll be speaking to her in the language of Anxi."

"Anxi is near Daxia and one of their official languages is the language used in Daxia. But the common language used in Anxi is distinct. Since plenty of those from Anxi are often in the Silk road we'll be focusing on this tonight." Ji Huifan adds as he stretches before readying himself to cast the spell.

"And Xiao Ai could understand everything you'll say?"

"Yes Dianxia, in all the languages we've been teaching her she knows enough to speak to any child from those cultures. She just doesn't have that opportunity to practice. Now let's not keep her waiting, and I know all of you are excited to finally learn how I make mooncakes." She nods at her husband and he casts the spell over all of them.

"Can you still understand us?"

"Yes, are you sure you did something and not just put on a magic show?" Ji Huifan smiles as Jing Mei chuckles at Mu Qing's question.

"It's not obvious now but you'll soon notice it once Aiai is here. Let her in Mei."

After a couple of knocks, Meng Ai rushes in and occupies a free spot near Xie Lian.

"Have you started making the mooncakes yet?"

"No we haven't Xiao Ai." Xie Lian says reassuringly but was only met with a confused look from Meng Ai.

"Baba Lian what are you trying to say?" Soon she was bombarded by questions from her three babysitters. The only thing she could understand was names.

"A-xuan you're not making any sense. What language are you speaking?"

"Huh so you weren't kidding when you said she couldn't understand us."

"Don't worry Qingxuan it's only temporary, the spell will be over after four hours if I don't extend it. But I don't think this lesson will exceed beyond two, depending on how it goes."

"Baba what are you telling A-xuan?"

"Just saying that this won't exceed beyond two hours." He finally replies to her in the Anxi language. Her eyes immediately show that she realizes what's going on.

"Another language lesson?" She replies back in the Anxi language.

"Yes, how else are you going to practice what you learnt?"

"Really Baba? I'm going to learn how to make Mama's mooncakes while speaking in Anxi?"

"I taught plenty of lessons speaking this language Aiai. And have spoken to many travellers from Anxi who sought prophecies from Xiwangmu. It's important to keep the skills you've learnt sharp. If you want to learn how I make your mooncakes the way you like it, you're going to do it while practicing and improving on the skills you know."

"And you can always ask your Mama and I if there are words that you don't understand." She appreciates the reassurance but everyone could see that she's still hesitating.

"Jing Mei, please tell her for me that not everyone learns two things at the same time. A skill that only a special few could brag about." Hua Cheng says and she promptly translates it. Once Meng Ai got the message there was now a fire of motivation from her as she eagerly straightens herself.

"I'm ready."

For everyone else who was affected by the spell, it was an interesting experience. In addition to learning how Jing Mei makes her mooncakes, for a few hours they could understand the Anxi language though none of them have been exposed to it. Or at least not to this extent. It had a different rhythm compared to what they were used to but it wasn't bad by any means. Before they realized it, two hours went by and the lesson was done.

"Now all you need to do is just practice to get all the timing right."

"That's it? Just practice?"

"Yes Aiai, just practice. Think you can still remember all we've learned today?"

"With practice I will!"

"That's the spirit. Alright I'll lift the spell now."

After a brief light flashing from his palms they then turn their attention to Meng Ai. Xie Lian takes the initiative to test if the spell was over.

"Xiao Ai, can you understand us now?"

"Oh finally." Her exasperated look makes all of them chuckle.

"All I was hearing was 'Bar-gar-krar-bar-Xiao Ai-gar-bir-krur-San Lang-bar-bar-Gege-gar-gar-Ju Yang-bar-bar' I thought you were all speaking a really old language."

"Is that so?"

"Yes Baba Lang."

"Well I hope you know it was also interesting hearing you speak in the Anxi language little one."

"Really?"

"Yes, I'm actually thinking if one day you could teach me the Anxi language."

"Oh I also know the languages of Daxia, Panyu, and Daqin."

"Even better, you could practice what you know and I would be learning more new things."

"And you could also teach me." Xie Lian adds, quickly picking up what Hua Cheng was trying to do. By giving her motivation to teach all of them something that she uniquely knows, it would encourage her to improve her skills and would give them a chance to bond.

After all if they themselves knew the languages they wouldn't need to exert spiritual power to translate between different languages.

"You know what, count me in."

"Learning several new languages will be quite useful."

Shi Qingxuan couldn't help but laugh at how Feng Xin and Mu Qing quickly added themselves to Meng Ai's new hypothetical new language class.

"I'll stick to being a casual learner and see if I could keep up with these four. Life is too short to not enjoy it."

Afterwards there was a new fire in Meng Ai as she progressed through her language lessons. The idea of teaching her new family members things she already knew put a different kind of pressure on her. Now she wanted to make sure everything she knew about the languages she spoke was correct. From the writing systems, the different cultures that were reflected in these languages and the little nuances that she may not have picked up the first time.

And before she knew it she was giving them their first lesson.

Or rather a casual conversation while the five of them were taking a trip in a nearby town. Shi Qingxuan wanted to join but had to talk with their brother. Her parents were ordered by Xiwangmu to do tasks for her. Hua Cheng gave both of them additional protection in addition to the glamour on their appearances. And so she was spending her time with her Baba Lian, Baba Lang, and Generals Nan Yang and Xuan Zhen. The latter three were in disguise and she was told to call them by their nicknames instead of their actual names.

"It's strange seeing you with two eyes Baba Lang."

She was so used to seeing him taller and with only his left eye. And now while he was still taller than Xie Lian, he was much shorter than what she was used to. And his hair was now in a side ponytail tied by a red cord.

"Trust me, you'll get used to it Xiao Ai."

"Don't worry, this is only for when we are out. It wouldn't do if everyone knows how I actually look like little one."

"Oh that reminds me, Nan Feng, Fu Yao, when will I get to see your true forms? Or am I not allowed because I'm mortal?"

"When you can beat one of us on your own in Go, then we'll show you our true forms."

"But Nan Feng I'm nowhere near that!"

"Yet. You're nowhere near yet. Because once you do, you'll quickly find out how predictable he is."

"I said she just needs to beat one of us. What makes you think she won't beat you?"

"Simple, she likes me more than you."

They hear Hua Cheng chuckle, something told all of them that he was up to something.

"You know he does have a point. How about this, if you manage to beat both of them separately and together then I'll get you that cloth tiger that you've been eyeing for awhile. And in each win you'll get a new hairstick."

He was sweetening the deal and making it more challenging. After all she is his daughter and training her to be strategic with different opponents is something he wants to foster. They quickly learned that she was attracted to shiny and attractive objects and plenty of that went to different hairstick designs. And of course she had been eyeing a cloth tiger since one of the first stores in the town's entrance was a toy store selling them. She was too shy to enter, but everyone could see that she had been eyeing the red cloth tiger and everyone of them heard her grumbling how the perfect one would come in blue.

"So if I beat one of them I get a hairstick?"

"Yes, each win earns you a new hairstick that you'll choose."

"If I beat both of them separately?"

"You'll get the cloth tiger that you wanted to buy from the store." Xie Lian adds in order to make each prize more justified with each challenge. Meng Ai wants to see Feng Xin and Mu Qing's actual forms which was the biggest curiosity for her since she called them by their heavenly titles.

"And when I beat both of them when they are playing against me together?"

"You'll see our true appearance. And you'll know my true name - I don't know about Nan Feng here but by that point you'll have earned the right to know the actual name your Baba Lian calls me."

"You'll not just know my true name and appearance you'll also get a gift from me."

"Let me guess - another game set you'll impulsively buy without consulting me?"

"I'll consult you this time!"

"Meng Ai you'll be getting a more sensible gift that you could actually appreciate on your own once you beat both of us as a team."

She chuckles before pretending to stamp something on paper.

"Alright, challenge accepted."

"Out of curiosity, how would you say it in the Daxian language?"

Xie Lian's question then eventually evolved into a delightful first lesson on the Daxian language for all of them. Later that evening when she checked what she taught with her parents she was rewarded with a Tangyuan as a dessert for dinner.

_____________________________________________________________

"We'll need to test it to be sure."

Ji Huifan says while he meets with Hua Cheng, Xie Lian, Feng Xin and Mu Qing. This was the safest time to do it since Meng Ai was taking her musical lessons with Jing Mei and a music teacher whom Hua Cheng hired. The ghost Li Shuyue had bet her afterlife when she was alive in order to try to save her lover. She had lost but fortunately was a talented musician in the Guzheng and the Guqin. The three of them got along and Meng Ai was always excited to have music lessons. She wouldn't be looking for them for awhile.

"When my blood was drained I was already pouring out my grief. But if grief is necessarily a part of draining the blood then all we might need to do is to hold them down while draining them of their blood. But since their skin would be thicker than a normal person's would be the blade used must be extremely sharp to even make an opening."

"The wound must also remain open for enough blood to drain out."

"Dianxia we could solve that with magic."

"If possible I want to avoid using magic for draining Feng Xin. Something tells me we'll need it more to keep them restrained and the wound open. Huifan, is there any instrument that you have that could facilitate the draining? Perhaps some of your medical leeches?"

"I've already tried the leeches on myself before I was cured. Unless you make them bigger or their teeth sharper they won't be able to go through all layers of the skin. The key to draining is draw out the blood which can be done through an external vaccum and an anti-coagulant on the wound to keep it open."

"And enough blood must be spilt to the point where they must faint and sleep." Ji Huifan nods at Hua Cheng.

"It's the 'death' of the curse and as Chenxi explained, the sleep afterwards is the body's way of restoring it back in it's mortal state."

"I have some ideas on how we can test it. But I'll need to collect my thoughts first."

Xie Lian says as they hear Meng Ai and Jing Mei's voices in the hall.

"Come on wash up, your father and I will take you out tonight."

"But I thought it wasn't safe for the three of us to be out?"

"We'll be within Hua Chengzhou's territory, he helped us make reservations for tonight."

Mu Qing waits until the two were out of earshot before asking his question.

"Are you going to finally tell her what her birth name is?"

"We'll do that tonight. When you have your own meeting with Chenxi."

"Whose idea was it to give her that name?"

"Both of us. I was tired of what my family has been doing and Jing Mei wanted to rub it in their faces after all the things they've said to her. I think a part of me had already known that we weren't going to stay in Fu Dao for long."

"You miss it?"

"It's impossible not to Dianxia. But I also couldn't stay there while they keep doing what they have been doing for centuries. I fear that one day they will turn to Fu Dao's subjects and begin preying on them when it seems that enough is not yet enough."

He makes his leave to begin preparing for his family dinner. He was grateful that the three of them were still allowed to have these moments even if it was to keep Meng Ai from bursting into Chenxi's meeting. Who knows how many more they would be allowed before they would be indefinitely separated.

"Chenxi is already in Ghost city with Shi Qingxuan. She's just waiting for Meng Ai to leave Paradise Manor." Xie Lian says after he received a message from Chenxi through the spiritual array.

"A little too early for her don't you think?" Feng Xin says in suspicion of her.

"Perhaps she just wants to explore. After all she doesn't come here till recently. I don't blame her for being curious of what goes on in my city."

"She's probably just catching up with Shi Qingxuan. They were after all her former student." Mu Qing says as he rolled his eyes on Feng Xin being dramatic.

They hear footsteps and the door opens and Meng Ai all dressed up entered.

"Baba Lang are you sure the restaurant is safe for us?" He chuckles as he kneels down to her so that their eyes could meet.

"I have personally made sure of it. Don't worry the three of you will be safe tonight." He pinches her chubby cheeks before putting a little bit more power on her silver butterfly pendant.

"Now go on, enjoy your evening with your parents. As long as you are in my territory you are safe." She smiles in relief and gives him a kiss on the cheek in gratitude.

"Thank you Baba Lang. Bye Baba Lian, bye Nan Yang, bye Xuan Zhen."

After saying their goodbyes she runs to join her parents in their family outing. A few moments later Chenxi arrives in Paradise Manor with Shi Qingxuan.

"I hope you've all already eaten, I can't predict how long this will take us."

"We have."

"Then Dianxia I need you all to relax, some things are better explained through my memories."

Chenxi casts a spell and makes the table glow. Turning it into a medium to show her memories.

"I never intended to fall in love with Hou Lijie, I was there to study and learn about the different cultures that were coming into my mother's place of influence. But...sometimes you can't control whom your heart wants."

They see a disguised Chenxi in more meager clothes as she rushes to an attractive man who was bleeding out and was being treated in an infirmary.

"Lijie!"

"Yingtai I'm fine."

"How can you be fine? You are still bleeding." Hou Lijie gives her a sad smile.

"It's a condition I've had since I was young. An incurable blood disease that makes me more vulnerable than any other members of my family."

Chenxi in her memory has a realization.

"Is that why you are so adamant in learning more about the world? To find a cure?"

"...It may have started of that way, but I also didn't want to die without trying or regretting anything."

He pats on the spot beside him beckoning her to sit with him.

"In truth I'm probably the best person to have been inflicted with this disease. If it were any of my brothers they would be devastated that they wouldn't be allowed to learn the martial ways. When all I need is food and a library."

"You also need a bed and a water closet."

"You know what I mean...Chenxi." He laughs as she looks at him in surprise.

"I already had my suspicions within the first week when we became classmates. You couldn't stay up late and tend to awaken a couple hours before dawn arrives."

"The other girls in my room are also early risers."

"Which is why that's not what lead me to your actual identity. It was the way you were relentless in your optimism and hope and your deep knowledge over Xiwangmu that made me guess that you weren't mortal. It's hard to explain but whenever you encourage people there is a sacredness to it for a lack of a better word."

Their eyes meet and in his eyes she could see that her secret was safe with him.

"There's something else isn't there?"

"Yes, your identity was confirmed when I overheard you arguing with someone in a dark secluded area. I thought you were going to be in trouble when I heard him say your name. Then when you returned to the school grounds you were upset but didn't want anyone else to know."

"Hmph, the first time you stopped being my rival."

"I thought it was strange that someone wanted to be close with me who was my academic rival. Can you blame me given who my family is?"

"I thought you of all people know that work and actual life are intertwined but not the same!"

"A defensive measure, I assure you."

"So what about that time made you change your mind?"

He takes her hand in his.

"It seemed you had the weight of the world on your shoulders."

"...In a way I did, it involved an incident that made me question myself."

"Even now you cannot tell me?" Now it was her turn to give him a sad smile.

"It's one thing for a mortal to confide to a God, it's another for a God to confide into a mortal."

The memory transitions into one of her imprisonment. And all of them sees that she had a cursed shackle on each arm. But what was unique was that the cursed shackles were glowing. She was in a dungeon in chains, the only light that glowed was the moonlight that had just entered.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" She asks sarcastically as a familiar figure emerges. One that still evokes pain among all those watching her memories.

"Consider this your punishment Chenxi."

"My punishment? This is your revenge on me Jun Wu." He smirks at her as she looks at him with disgust.

"I've already warned you before that your love affair with that mortal was making you neglect your domain. By eliminating your distraction I was doing you a favor."

"HOW DARE YOU TAKE MY FORM AND KILL HIM!"

"Every action has it's consequences Chenxi, because of him my people, the innocents of Wuyong remained in despair and doubted the heavens."

"That isn't how hope works, hope may be my domain but I also cannot force it on those whose hearts have closed off to it. Tell me Jun Wu, how can I nurture it when many of your people have closed their hearts to me."

"Then you should have opened them. Aren't you also the Goddess of enlightenment? Surely you know what to do to make them more receptive to you."

"I cannot enlighten those who find comfort in ignorance. Forcing it will only make them ignore me more and the more their hearts will not allow me to enter."

They stare at each other, neither one of them willing to look away.

"Until now you make excuses for not helping me."

"Just like how you are making excuses for your own faults? How you made a bridge to the heavens when it was a difficult solution for the problem that you faced? Or is it because you cannot cope and learn with your own failures?"

"You think I'm the failure? You who wasn't able to protect your beloved from death? You who were too late in making him immortal before he died from the disease I gave him? I think it was fortunate that they were able to avoid it by following my instructions quickly."

"You mean when you made them kill me over and over again then afterwards taking one bite of the peaches of immortality that I had brought? All because you told them that grief was for the unworthy."

"Well, they are now some of my most ardent followers. Thanks to you as repayment for the negligence you have done to Wuyong."

Chenxi just gave a demeaning laugh at him. Not intimidated by what he has done to her.

"Repayment? Jun Wu we both know why you cannot put regular cursed shackles on me."

"And why is that?"

She gives him a menacing smirk. And even though his face was shrouded in the darkness she could still feel his unease with the truth.

"Because not even you can afford to lose hope. Hope in what I may not know. Hope to share your despair? Hope for someone who understands you? Hope to make someone else just like you?"

Chenxi laughs menacingly at him.

"You can't do that without my domain. And so you put these altered cursed shackles on me because the whole absence of hope would put all three realms in a state that even you cannot change."

"...Let's see then how powerful your domain is. Convince one of them to change and see the error in their ways and your shackles will be gone."

Jun Wu gives her one last look.

"And not even your father can help you. How can he when I have killed all of his allies in the Heavenly Realm."

And with that he vanishes and the memory spell ends. She turns to Shi Qingxuan and places a reassuring pat on their back.

"Now you know why I told you that it's not your task to rescue me. My imprisonment could only end when one member of the family wanted to change."

"Oh professor." Shi Qingxuan couldn't help themselves but hug her.

"So how did you still teach students while you were imprisoned?"

"Through the spiritual array Xuan Zhen. If a mortal's desire is for knowledge and enlightenment and if they have enough hope, I could still teach them in their dreams. That's how I managed to teach Shi Qingxuan, Yin Yu and plenty of others while my main body remained imprisoned. It was one of the few activities that kept me sane throughout all those centuries. I only stopped for awhile when they began draining my blood after Ji Bocheng misinterpreted my mother's oracle. I needed the energy to get my strength back."

"So they refuse to move on from their despair and thus refuse to grieve. In addition to that they are Jun Wu's worshippers." She nods at Hua Cheng, his eye telling her that he now understands the root cause of the curse she accidentally caused the peaches of immortalitly to give.

"I asked them to leave that out since I didn't want to give him more power than necessary. The more you dwell on him the more power he maintains. Meng Ai is also not old enough to know what Jun Wu has done."

She finds herself chuckling at a memory that she was just reminded of.

"Imagine my surprise and approval when they both asked me if they could name her after me. By doing so they have also made me her patron deity and I am obligated more than others to look after her."

"Then why did your mother choose Dianxia and Hua Cheng?"

"General Nan Yang, even you could see the danger of me raising Meng Ai. The family of cursed immortals already knows me and my tactics and could fairly predict my moves. I'm the Goddess of hope not delusion. Even though some would argue that there is no difference between the two."

"Suddenly your seeming non-existence in the heavens makes so much more sense. I was wondering why I've only met your mother but not you or your father. Xiwangmu is that powerful isn't she."

"And more Dianxia, if there's one family member of mine that Jun Wu cannot ban it's my mother. She not only represents the Life and Death of an individual but also the Life and Death of a reign or era. To ban her would be to destroy the heavens."

"Hmm your memories have been enlightening on whom we are facing."

"You're welcome Hua Chengzhou. And I'll need to make my leave now before they return."

"Huh? Why?" Shi Qingxuan asks in confusion.

"I'd like to take a nap before doing my daily task. Now that it's not just my spirit who is doing it. And yet another reason why Jun Wu cannot put regular cursed shackles on me."

She bids all of them goodnight as she makes her leave.

"Well," Hua Cheng begins in a terrifying tone to everyone except Xie Lian.

"If they want to dwell in their despair then their grief will be even more satisfying."

AN: And that is it for this chapter. Please send your prayers that I do well in my midterm exams this week (and that I don't get mental block).

Jing Mei is one of the few people who have the guts to name her daughter Ji Chenxi.

I'm going to deviate a bit and not mention what "Yu" the surname in Chenxi's alias is (spoiler territory). Although if you know who the actual Xiwangmu's husband is then you already got your answer (he's still her husband in this story).

Yingtai - Literally means "Flower Terrace" but Chenxi intentionally chose it because Zhu Yingtai from the story of the Butterfly Lovers.

Li - Plum, Shuyue - Gentle and beautiful water

A suanpan is just the Mandarin term for abacus. This is from my own childhood but mine didn't have the divider for the top beads and the bottom beads, and each rod had beads of ten and it was really large. I remember it was colorful that's why I played with it a lot (having said that I am only average at mathematics - so it was pure marketing hahaha).

Panyu is the old term for Guangzhou (or Canton). The Panyu language is Cantonese.

Daxia and Anxi are based on the exonyms provided by Zhang Qian's reports. Daxia is Greco-Bactria wherein the dominant language is Greek. Anxi is the Parthian Empire which also adapted Greek as one of it's official languages but the lingua franca is actually Aramaic. This is what I will be referring to as the Anxi language since the Parthian empire has many languages.

Daqin is the Chinese exonym for Rome or the Roman Empire, no Chinese official have been able to reach Rome with the closest being Gan Ying. The language of Daqin that I'm referring to will be Latin.

Yes that is how widespread the connections of the cursed family are thanks to Ji Huifan. Though it is debateable if they were able to maintain that after Ji Huifan stopped participating in their activities.