Chapter 2

My days studying inner arts beside Master were cool, quiet, and exquisitely ordered. Even my smallest movements seemed to slow.

I sat at the low table, bored enough to count my fingers. Master set down his scripture and coughed. “What did An Nian say to you?”

There it was. I knew it. When An Nian called me clear-eyed in the hall, she had dragged me into her mess.

“She told me she truly loved you, Master. Nothing else.”

He rubbed one finger against another. “Why did Xu Bai take you to the mortal realm?”

What a graceful change of subject. Was he settling old accounts now?

“I begged Immortal Xu Bai to show me the mortal realm. We didn’t do much, only watched the Tage dance. I won’t slip away again without permission.”

Master paused. “The next time you want to go, tell me. I will take you.”

I murmured assent and opened my book again. Master came around the table, lifted my chin, and looked down at me.

“A-Yuan, do you know why An Nian died?”

I shook my head hard, though I had already guessed.

“She drugged me with aphrodisiac incense.” He picked up a brush and began painting on my forehead. It was not the first peach blossom he had drawn there.

His face had gone cold. My voice trembled. “Master is pure and untouchable. How could you allow another to defile you?”

His expression hardened further. “And you, A-Yuan?”

Me? What about me? I shut my eyes. “You rescued my life, Master. Whatever you want, this disciple will willingly give.”

For a long time, I heard nothing. At last, he set down the brush.

“Get out. Don’t come back for the next few days.”

Only after I stepped outside did I realize my underrobe was soaked through. One breath of wind chilled me to the bone.

Xu Bai came strolling by as I left. “Were you scolded?”

I shook my head and whispered, “Master’s sickness is acting up again.”

Xu Bai took my icy hand, saw the peach blossom on my forehead, and darkened. Whenever Master remembered the woman in his heart, he found some excuse to say strange things to me. I always told Xu Bai that Master’s sickness had returned.

With no lessons to attend, I spent my days in the herb garden, weeding and making poison. Xu Bai occasionally brought rare herbs and ate whatever poisons I produced along the way.

I gazed contentedly at Big Yellow and Little Red in the pond. If only life could remain like this forever.

Then Xu Bai failed to visit for five days straight. I had just sent a spirit bird with a message when Bai Yi rushed toward Master’s hall. The moment he saw me, pity flooded his face again.

Me? What now?

Before I could ask, a woman in green came walking behind him. Her black hair fell like a waterfall, and a tiny peach blossom adorned her brow. Her face was as lovely as spring.

She smiled at me. I clapped a hand over my mouth in delight.

The original had returned! Finally! Someone scatter flower petals!

She looked past me. I turned and found Master standing at the top of the steps, trembling.

“Nian Nian.” His voice came out rough.

Bai Yi tilted his head toward me. “A-Yuan, um, don’t be sad. I’ll copy your scriptures, and I’ll cover a whole month of your cleaning duty at Fallen Blossom Hall.”

I gripped his hand, moved beyond words. The tears in my eyes were from pure joy. Did I not even have to wail for appearances today?

Soon everyone across the Three Mountains and Nine Provinces knew that Master’s long-lost love, Li Nian, had returned. That meant a little nobody like me could skip work and play as much as I pleased. I spent half a month loitering at the Matchmaker’s shrine.

I was also avoiding Immortal Li Nian. Anyone would be annoyed to see a substitute wearing her face. The only pity was my herb garden. I had not made poison in ages, and my hands itched.

There was one other problem.

I had not seen Xu Bai for days.

The Matchmaker noticed my listlessness. “Little A-Yuan, what’s wrong?”

I propped my cheek on my palm as he sorted red cords. “Matchmaker, what does it feel like when your heart stirs for someone?”

He snapped the cord in his hands. “Little A-Yuan, you’ve finally awakened!”

Dragging over a chair, he sat beside me. “In my many centuries of studying romance tales, I have learned one thing: eliminate the right answer, and you become the right answer!”

I frowned at his nonsense. “What are you talking about? What right answer?”

“Don’t you mean Li Nian?”

I shook my head blankly.

“Then why ask about a stirring heart?” The Matchmaker looked baffled too. “You don’t mean Di Qing?”

I shook my head like a rattle.

“Then where did your heart stir?”

“For Immortal Xu Bai.”

Silence swallowed the entire shrine.

The Matchmaker smacked his forehead and howled with laughter. “That old iron tree made a little stone like you bloom?”

“Is Immortal Xu Bai really an iron tree?” I couldn’t decide whether to nod or shake my head. “I don’t know if I like him. I only know I want to be with him.”

“I’ve heard there is a drug in the Great Wilds called Truthwine. It lets people see their own hearts.”

The Matchmaker scratched his head. “It exists, but it is ferocious. Many young immortals have lost years of cultivation to it.”

“Besides, you’re still young. You have plenty of time to understand love.”

I sank into thought. How long would that take? While pondering, I casually pulled five red cords from his basket.

Before I could settle what it meant for my heart to stir, Bai Yi came to fetch me. Master was holding a banquet for the entire Three Mountains and Nine Provinces.

Mount Wu had not hosted such a grand gathering in years. Master clearly treasured Immortal Li Nian.

Bai Yi looked at me, words hovering on his lips. I looked back as he stammered.

I scratched my head. “Senior Brother, with this face of mine, I’m afraid I’ll annoy her and spoil things between Master and Immortal Li Nian.”

He scratched his head too. “A-Yuan, I know you don’t want to come, but Immortal Li Nian said she didn’t mind. She specifically asked me to bring you back.”

I sighed. “Fine. I’ll ask whether Immortal Xu Bai is going. If he is, I’ll come with him tomorrow.”

Bai Yi breathed out in relief and patted my shoulder. “A-Yuan, no matter what happens, you will always be my junior sister. Your senior brother will protect you.”

I gave him a smile that was awkward but technically polite.

The banquet was about to begin by the time I dragged Xu Bai back to Mount Wu. Everyone along the way stared at me with such sympathy that my skin crawled.

Xu Bai caught my sleeve and pressed me into the seat beside his. I stared at him with grateful puppy eyes.

Master and Li Nian sat in the place of honor. I leaned toward Xu Bai and whispered, “Immortal, do you think Li Nian and I look alike?”

He glanced at me. “You’re prettier.”

I smacked his arm. “That isn’t what I asked. I mean, I don’t think we look very much alike.”

Xu Bai lifted his wine cup and took a sip. “She is dignified and composed. You are a muddleheaded little fool. Of course you don’t look alike.”

I dropped a lump of poison into his wine. What an irritating man.

The banquet’s stated purpose was to welcome Immortal Li Nian home. After an enthusiastic round of welcomes, everyone turned to the real subject: when did Master intend to marry her?

Amid the teasing, I thought I caught Master looking at me twice. Unease fluttered through me, and I edged behind Xu Bai.

He turned with a gentle expression. “Are you cold?”

I nodded. Xu Bai straightened, shielding me completely. Not a thread of wind reached me.