Zanxing (Retranslated)

The entrance to the Miaokong Hall was empty and desolate.

Xuan Lingzi had gone down the mountain for relaxation and had not yet returned, and the little servant in the hall was also absent. Tian Fangfang and Mu Cengxiao were busy with the new disciples and their own cultivation, while Liu Yunxin had moved into Yue Qin’s hall—this was mostly occupied by women, and she occasionally learned some minor spells there.

Previously, he had only felt that his Elysium Hall was cold and quiet, but now, he suddenly realized that the once lively Miaokong Hall had also become lonely at some point.

Gu Baiying paused for a moment at the entrance of Miaokong Hall before finally stepping inside.

Since Zanxing’s departure, he had rarely come here.

It wasn’t that he was unwilling, but perhaps that he was afraid.

Just like how Xuan Lingzi wanted to create a golden statue of Zanxing in the main hall, which he resolutely refused. It was as if by doing so, he could deny the fact that Zanxing was no longer present, rejecting the unbearable truth.

Mingxiu Courtyard remained the same as before. Xuan Lingzi had the little servants sweep and clean every day, and the peach-colored bedding and gauze curtains were still as they had been. Even every day someone would bring tea and snacks that Zanxing liked—of course, to avoid waste, they were eventually eaten by Xuan Lingzi himself.

After entering the Ten Thousand Killing Formation, Zanxing’s demon identity was discovered. The angry Daoist Lingxin searched every corner of Miaokong Hall inside and out, retrieving all of Zanxing’s clothes and belongings, trying to find any traces of her ill intentions towards the cultivation world. Later, those items were all burned in a fire.

Now, everything in the room was new, the furniture was cleaned spotless, but the presence of Zanxing was no more. In an instant, it had become cold and desolate.

Gu Baiying looked down.

All traces of her existence had disappeared, her past erased so thoroughly that it was as if such a person had never existed in the world.

Moonlight slipped in through the window, falling onto the floor in front of the window, clear as water, with a few mottled tree shadows swaying.

Gu Baiying suddenly remembered the fortune he had drawn from the jewelry vendor during the Qixi Festival in Heishi City with Zanxing.

“The moon in the spring courtyard is full of love, yet it still shines on the fallen flowers of those who are parted.”

At that time, he was so angry with the vendor’s nonsensical words that he failed to notice the true meaning within this fortune.

The bright moon still hung high, yet dreams remained difficult to fulfill.

In the end, he alone was left as the parted one.

A breeze blew, making the tree shadows sway. He looked at the persimmon tree outside the window and walked into the courtyard.

This persimmon tree had withered rapidly over the two years following the Ten Thousand Killing Formation incident. Its branches and leaves had gradually turned yellow, and it seemed on the verge of dying. After the Gold Gate Ruins expedition, when the flood receded and the spiritual veins flowed again, the persimmon tree quickly revived.

The tree’s shadow was dense, cutting the moonlight into countless clear shapes that fell on the ground and intertwined with the human shadow.

Zanxing’s maid used to love sitting in the courtyard and watching this persimmon tree, always chattering about making sugar-coated persimmon cakes when the fruit ripened. Later, Hong Su went to Heishi City and never returned, and Zanxing never tasted the fruit from this persimmon tree.

It was ultimately a regret.

He stood under the tree, a gust of wind blowing from the distant mountains, causing the green shadows of the tree to tilt. From deep within the tree’s shade, a green light suddenly fluttered over, riding the wind, and landed in the youth’s palm.

Gu Baiying was startled.

It was a green paper crane, folded somewhat roughly, with wings fluttering up and down, looking quite lively. He instinctively looked up and saw a small black hole exposed on the tree trunk among the particularly dense canopy above.

It was a tree hollow.

The tree hollow was usually well-shaded by the tree’s leaves, but perhaps the recent strong wind had scattered the hollow’s mouth, causing a paper crane to fly out.

The paper crane had come out of the tree hollow.

Gu Baiying’s gaze lingered slightly.

In Gufeng Mountain, there were paper cranes used as communication talismans that could help deliver messages. But this glowing green paper crane did not seem to be a communication talisman; it rested in his hand like a firefly.

There seemed to be writing on the wings of the paper crane.

He paused, guessed something, and unfolded the paper crane.

The green paper crane unfolded into a square piece of paper with writing on it.

October 8. Moved to Mingxiu Courtyard today. The food is quite good, and the beds in the sect are really soft.

Gu Baiying was stunned.

The handwriting on the paper crane was far from beautiful. It was instantly recognizable as Zanxing’s script.

Xuan Lingzi was generally satisfied with everything about Zanxing, but he had one regret: Zanxing’s handwriting was not as elegant as her talisman drawings. It wasn’t exactly ugly, but her writing always looked awkward, as if she had never written anything in the past few years. Xuan Lingzi, who cared about appearances, often wanted Zanxing to improve her handwriting, and would frequently provide her with calligraphy practice books, but Zanxing never used them.

She wasn’t fond of writing, so after Zanxing left, Mingxiu Courtyard no longer had any traces of her presence.

However, he, Gu Baiying was here now, peeking into the emotions recorded by the paper crane hidden in the tree hollow.

The silver spear in his hand swept through the shadowy tree hollow like a silver wind.

One paper crane after another fluttered down.

October 15. Today I sparred with Senior Brother Tian. The Qianyan Axe made a crack in my staff. I hope it isn’t broken.

October 20. Today I was scolded by Aunt Yue Qin. She’s really fierce.

Senior Brother Mu actually gave Senior Sister Meng a box of very ugly rouge. Senior Sister Meng wasn’t angry. She really has a broad mind.

Mimi has gained another three qian

¹in weight these days. It’s scary.

Men Dong’s lotus bun looks really nice. I want to learn how to do it. I wonder who styled it for him. Is it Daoist Yueguang?

Cultivation is really hard. I don’t want to study anymore.

Cultivating is actually very interesting. I want to practice for two more hours tomorrow.

This month’s spirit stones have been spent early again. When will I become wealthy?

The scars on my face still haven’t healed. Fourth Uncle seems to be lying to me.

Today I read the book ‘The Great People of Douzhou’ in the library. It left a deep impression on me. One day, I hope to travel around Douzhou. I wonder if I’ll ever have that chance.

Recently, the food has been quite good, but I hope they don’t make scallion noodles in the canteen tomorrow. I really don’t like them.

He also read about himself.

Senior Brother Tian said that the gray gauze robes in the sect aren’t very nice. It’s better to wear the white robes of Seventh Martial Uncle. Could it be that Gu Baiying himself is good-looking?

He couldn’t help but smile when he read this line.

Countless green paper cranes fluttered around him, their dazzling and charming glow swirling around, playing and making noise, slowly repeating the past.

Gu Baiying seemed to see Zanxing sitting by the window, carefully writing down her daily emotions, folding them into paper cranes, and placing them carefully into the tree hollow, sealing her secrets.

She had a radiant smile, free of any reservations, complaining about the hardship of cultivation one moment and vowing to work hard the next. She recorded the blooming of a flower, got upset over food she didn’t like. She observed everyone and then let them go.

It was like writing a book no one would read.

A paper crane floated gently before him, carrying a beam of cold moonlight, and gazing at him tenderly.

This paper crane was different from the others. The tip of its wing was marked with a trace of ink, as if the writer’s heart was elsewhere, and the pen wasn’t held firmly, leaving an abrupt ink stain on the paper.

Gu Baiying unfolded the paper crane.

The paper inside was densely written, almost filling the entire sheet. The woman’s handwriting floated before his eyes.

Today it rained. After the rain cleared, a rainbow appeared in front of Chu Hong Terrace.

I met Senior Brother Nie from Yinfeng Sect at Chu Hong Terrace. He acted in a familiar way and asked me what color flowers I liked so he could pick them for me.

Following this were traces of smudged ink, as if someone had been distracted and anxious, writing a line, then hastily wiping it out. After thinking about it several times, she seemed to have finally put down the pen.

The young man’s gaze fell on the last line, and his expression suddenly froze.

Countless moving lights solidified.

Violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red

Footnotes

1. 
   
   

   A Qian is a Chinese coin.

2. 
   

   The colors of the rainbow. I am not sure if you guys remember, but Men Dong had once remarked that Zanxing’s seven ‘favored concubines’ were like the seven colors of the rainbow, and that it was only missing white(he was talking about Gu Baiying)