Zanxing (Retranslated)

Inside the box were hundreds of talismans, packed tightly.

Zanxing picked one up and was taken aback when she saw what it was. “A substitute talisman?”

“Junior Sister, after the flood was resolved, I made a lot of these talismans. I thought that if one day you came back, I’d give them to you,” Mu Cengxiao said, clearing his throat. “The world is ever-changing, so it’s always good to have a few more.”

Zanxing was stunned. This was exactly what she had said to Mu Cengxiao when he had given her substitute talismans years ago, and she hadn’t expected him to remember it.

Mu Cengxiao, being as earnest as ever, had regretted not making more talismans after Zanxing disappeared. He had hoped that if he had made more, perhaps she might have had a chance of survival. Over the years, he had made a whole box of them and was surprised to finally have the opportunity to give them away.

Gu Baiying glanced at Mu Cengxiao and remarked flatly, “With so many substitute talismans, are you cursing someone?”

Zanxing put the box away and said to Mu Cengxiao, “Don’t mind him. Thank you, Senior Brother. These talismans are very useful to me.” She thought she might study how these talismans were made later. If everyone in Heishi City had one, perhaps the safety of the city would improve.

Men Dong whispered, “But, do you still call him Senior Brother?” He seemed troubled. “You’re now the Demon King of Heishi City. Everyone calls you Your Majesty. Are you still considered a disciple of our Taiyan Sect?”

Zanxing’s relationship with the Taiyan Sect was indeed complicated.

Zanxing looked at Meng Ying and joked, “I suppose that’s something to ask the Sect Leader.”

Meng Ying, who rarely smiled, let out a soft laugh. Zanxing had never seen her smile since they had met. Meng Ying shook her head and said, “There’s no need to be bound by titles. You are the Demon King of Heishi City and also a disciple of the Taiyan Sect. Junior Sister,” she looked at Zanxing, “as long as I am in the Taiyan Sect, our doors will always be open to you.”

Zanxing was taken aback, and a layer of soft warmth spread from her heart. It felt like finding a stable place to land in this drifting world.

Just as she was about to speak, Zhao Mayi interjected, “Oh, why speak so formally? Zanxing will be pairing up with the Seventh Junior Brother in the future. Since the two families will be in-laws, we are naturally still one family. It doesn’t matter.”

Zanxing was speechless.

She turned to look at Gu Baiying, who cleared his throat and looked away, tacitly acknowledging the comment.

Xuan Lingzi quickly picked up a wine cup and, seizing the moment, said, “Since we’re all having such a lively conversation, and Zanxing is back now, let’s talk about the future later. For now, let’s have a drink!”

The deep blue-green of the Floating Dream Wine swirled as Xuan Lingzi raised his cup with a hearty laugh. “In the past, I wished you all would grow wings on your own rather than relying on the Cloud Ladder

¹. Now, look at you all grown up, each one about to venture down the mountain to forge your own path. No matter what, the Taiyan Sect will always be your home. So, I wish you, my disciples, to soar far and wide, and let’s drink to that!”

May the youth be pure and brave, with unchanging intentions.

May the world be full of love every year, and the evening stars always shine.

By the end of the banquet at Doluo Terrace, Xuan Lingzi had to be carried away by someone.

His tolerance for alcohol had noticeably declined. It was unclear whether he was genuinely drunk or just pretending. Staggering over to Gu Baiying, he clapped him on the shoulder and said, “Baiying, back then, it was my fault for only caring about little Zanxing and not considering your feelings. I apologize.”

Gu Baiying pushed his hand away in distaste. “Don’t call me that.”

Xuan Lingzi, choking up, continued, “At my age, I shouldn’t be arguing with you, my junior. It’s my fault.” He began to sob uncontrollably.

Gu Baiying: “…”

Unable to tolerate it any longer, he snapped, “Stop crying!”

Tian Fangfang, smiling, helped Xuan Lingzi up. “I’ll take Master back now. He’s quite drunk.”

“I should leave as well,” Meng Ying said, shaking her head. “There are still some matters in the sect that need attention.” Being the Sect Leader of the Taiyan Sect was undoubtedly more demanding than being the Demon King of Heishi City.

By now, the night had deepened, and the banquet had left the table in disarray as everyone went their separate ways.

Zanxing and Gu Baiying returned to the Miaokong Hall.

Mingxiu Courtyard was as it had always been, with its pink gauzy curtains, peach-colored bedding, and the fragrance of magnolias filling every corner.

The persimmon tree in the courtyard had grown even more lush than before.

Standing under the persimmon tree, Zanxing looked up at the verdant foliage, her expression momentarily dazed.

A voice came from behind her, “Looking for something? Perhaps a tree hollow?”

Zanxing turned around in surprise to see Gu Baiying.

Gu Baiying pointed with his finger, and a cluster of silver light flew toward the depths of the tree canopy. The hidden tree hollow suddenly appeared, and a glowing green paper crane flew out from it.

Zanxing didn’t pay much attention to the paper cranes but furrowed her brow at him. “You were spying?”

He was taken aback and instinctively replied, “It wasn’t on purpose!”

“How could it not be on purpose?” Zanxing’s expression turned disappointed. “Gu Baiying, I didn’t expect you to be like this.”

He looked nervous, his voice taut as he tried to explain, “I thought you might…”

He had believed that Zanxing might never return, and perhaps the paper cranes were the last remnants of her presence. He had seen the emotions recorded within them and wanted to guard this secret. So, he had used magic to conceal the tree hollow and kept these hidden thoughts sealed.

Zanxing stared at him for a long while before suddenly bursting into a laugh. “Forget it, if you saw, you saw. There’s nothing shameful about it.”

Gu Baiying let out a sigh of relief but soon looked puzzled. “Why did you write these?”

The scattered, trivial details, the small snippets of daily life, the flowers blooming and withering in the sect, today’s rainbows and tomorrow’s rain—she had recorded them all with meticulous care.

Though it seemed pointless.

“You wouldn’t understand.” Zanxing reached out, and a paper crane fluttered over, landing lightly in her palm. “These are my own stories.”

Even though she didn’t win the final game against the heavens, it wasn’t a loss either. Having been thrust into this situation by accident, navigating it with ups and downs, worries and joys, she had ultimately strayed from the predetermined path.

The tale of At the Summit of the Nine Heavens had reached its conclusion, and the book had closed, but the story continued.

A brand-new story, unique to them alone.

The future was uncertain. Perhaps the Heavenly Dao would still chase her relentlessly. However, it didn’t matter.

In a hundred years of life, fleeting moments can still bring miracles.

Zanxing said, “I plan to keep writing, documenting everything we’ve seen and experienced in Douzhou, compiling it into a renowned masterpiece. I’ll call it ‘A Book to Teach You About Douzhou.’”

Gu Baiying: “…”

He clicked his tongue and criticized bluntly, “That sounds terrible.”

“Then how about adding your name? ‘The Stories of Me and Martial Uncle That You Must Know’?”

Gu Baiying calmly pointed out, “That sounds rather unserious.”

Zanxing thought for a moment and said, “Then it’s just me. Let’s call it ‘Zanxing’. With my name as the title, it’s clear who the main character is!”

“…”

Footnotes

1. 
   
   

   Climbing higher realms, striving only for ascension