Several weeks had passed since her last outing—since that strange, unforgettable meeting with Yi Luotian.
Within Luhua Pavilion, the scent of herbs lingered in the air, soft and fresh, like rain-soaked leaves under morning mist. Towering wooden shelves lined the walls, packed with jars, scrolls, and dried petals. The central table was cluttered with freshly gathered flora, each specimen carefully arranged. Mortars, pestles, and divine instruments of healing rested nearby, glowing faintly with spiritual energy.
Ling Yun stood at the center of it all, her pale violet sleeves neatly tucked as she worked. With a simple gesture, divine power shimmered at her fingertips. Words and illustrations appeared on the floating scroll in front of her, documenting each rare herb she had discovered beyond the celestial border.
She hummed softly to herself, the melody Wenlan had played for her just the day before. It was a gentle, earthy tune.
Her hand paused as her gaze fell upon a golden blossom resting on the table. Its petals glowed faintly, a warm radiance pulsing through its veins. A rare flower, prized for its detoxifying properties and its ability to nourish the spirit and body alike.
The moment she looked at it, she thought of him.
That devilish grin he had given her before she left.
"I know places filled with rare herbs and precious plants…"
His words echoed in her mind, playful and teasing, yet oddly sincere.
The thought was tempting.
Ling Yun wasn't naive. She knew—without question—that he was not of the Celestial Realm. His aura was wild, his qi unfamiliar, darker than anything that belonged in Heaven.
And yet… he had been wounded. He hadn't asked for help, hadn't flinched or groaned, even as black blood seeped from a festering wound. He endured it all in silence, his only response a faint, mischievous smile.
It hadn't felt wicked.
It had felt—strangely—mortal.
She sighed and turned back to her scroll, trying to push the memory away.
As a minor goddess, she was often overlooked. Few in the Celestial Realm paid her any mind. She didn't mind, truly—she preferred quiet solitude. Wenlan was the only one who had ever truly seen her. The only one who stayed.
They had bonded over their shared love of herbs and rare plants—over the thrill of nurturing something delicate into life.
Thinking of Wenlan now, Ling Yun felt a prickle of guilt.
She hadn't told her friend about Yi Luotian.
Not yet.
Anyway, it wouldn't hurt to make use of him. She was a healer, not a fighter—and if he was willing to act as her guide and bodyguard, then why not?
With that thought, Ling Yun reached into her sleeve and retrieved the jade hairpin. She closed her eyes and channeled her divine sense into it.
A faint glow enveloped the pin, blooming with an ethereal green light. Moments later, a message shimmered into view above it, written in characters of soft, drifting light:
"Meet me at the same spot. Two days from now."
___
Two days later, Ling Yun informed Wenlan that she would be heading back to Wuying Peak. As expected, her friend fussed over her like an old hen, listing safety precautions and warning her not to wander too far.
Ling Yun rubbed the tip of her nose, half exasperated and half amused. Wenlan was always like this. Still, a warmth bloomed in her chest, soft and steady. It was nice, knowing someone cared.
With a light step, she rose into the sky, robes fluttering as she soared toward the meeting place.
She had assumed she would arrive early and wait for hours before Yi Luotian appeared—he didn't seem the punctual type. But as soon as her feet touched the rocky cliffside, she saw him.
He was already there.
Leaning casually against a tree trunk, Yi Luotian looked like he had stepped from a dream. Clad in black robes embroidered with gold, he stood tall and languid, every inch a figure carved from shadows and starlight. His long hair spilled down his back like a river of night, catching the breeze in slow, silken waves.
His golden eyes found her at once.
Ling Yun froze, caught in the act of staring.
Flustered, she turned her face away and gave a polite cough. "Ahem. I didn't expect you to be here already. I was… surprised, that's all."
Out of the corner of his eye, Yi Luotian saw the faint blush rise on her cheeks.
How adorable.
Yi Luotian chuckled softly, the sound low and rich like dark velvet. He pushed off the tree and began walking toward her, his gaze never straying from her face.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
Though still a little flustered, Ling Yun nodded with enthusiasm. When it came to discovering rare medicinal plants and spiritual herbs, her passion burned brighter than her shyness. The faint gleam in her eyes gave her away.
Amused by her shift in energy, Yi Luotian extended a hand toward her.
Ling Yun blinked, her brows lifting slightly as she looked down at his open palm, her eyes filled with quiet confusion.
He laughed once more, this time unable to conceal his amusement. "What's wrong? Afraid I'll eat you?" he teased. "If you don't hold on to me, you'll get lost. The place we're going to is easy to get lost in."
Still glaring faintly, Ling Yun huffed under her breath—but reached out anyway. Her slender fingers slipped into his, hesitant yet trusting.
His hand closed gently around hers.
For a moment, he said nothing. Her hand was small. Delicate. Warmer than he expected. He looked down at their joined hands, a thoughtful look flickering in his golden eyes.
"I'll lead," he said quietly, and with a step, the air around them rippled.
He pulled her forward, and together they vanished into the mist.
___
Soon, they arrived outside the entrance of a cave in the Underworld.
Ling Yun turned to Yi Luotian, her eyes alight with curiosity.
"So you're truly from the demon realm. I've never stepped foot in the Underworld before… only wandered near its border."
Yi Luotian glanced sideways, amusement dancing in his golden eyes.
"Afraid?"
She looked up at him, gaze clear and sincere.
She shook her head. "No. It's as beautiful as I imagined it would be." She let her fingers trail lightly over a nearby bloom, its petals soft, glowing faintly with bioluminescence.
"In Heaven, everything feels curated—controlled. But here… it feels untouched. As if time moves without interference."
Yi Luotian paused.
That was not what he had expected her to say.
Even though he had sensed she was different, he hadn't expected such an earnest answer. A slow smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
Ling Yun, no longer embarrassed, tugged at his sleeve, her voice eager.
"Don't dawdle. Let's go!"
They descended together.
The deeper they went, the dimmer the light became, replaced by a soft, bioluminescent glow that pulsed faintly from the walls. When they stepped beyond the final veil of shadow, Ling Yun gasped.
Before her stretched an otherworldly sanctuary—a vast cavern cloaked in violet mist. Glowing blossoms hung like stars from the ceilings, their petals drifting lazily through the air. Pools of shimmering water mirrored constellations etched into the stone, and strange flora bloomed all around in hues of crimson, gold, deep blue, and silver.
The air was thick with spiritual energy—ancient, potent, almost sacred.
Yi Luotian spoke at last, voice low and reverent.
"This is Night Spirit Blossom Abyss."
Ling Yun turned in place slowly, eyes wide in wonder.
"It's… beautiful. But how is this here? Even the Celestial Realm has no record of plants like these."
Yi Luotian crossed his arms over his chest, pride gleaming in his golden eyes.
"Our realm holds countless rare and precious treasures," he said with a smirk. "Honestly, I think it's even better than what you all have up there in the Celestial Realm."
Ling Yun laughed—soft, melodic, like a bell chiming in the spring breeze.
It was the first time he had heard her truly laugh.
And he froze.
She had always been beautiful in a quiet, delicate way—like moonlight kissing the edge of a flower petal. He had seen many goddesses before, celestial and demonic alike, each carrying their own allure. But when Ling Yun laughed, something else happened. It was as if she had gathered the light into herself, holding it for a fleeting moment, before letting it spill gently into the air around her—soft, shimmering, impossibly pure.
And the most breathtaking thing of all… was that she didn't even realize it.
For the second time, Yi Luotian was certain—this was fate.
In the demon realm, when one desired another, they pursued them openly, fiercely, and without pretense. There were no riddles or courtly games. Feelings were laid bare. But this situation was different.
She was different.
And he feared that if he came too close, too quickly… he might startle her. Scare her away.
Still, he had already made up his mind from the moment she knelt beside him and reached out her hand, not with fear, but with kindness.
She was the one.
And for her, he would wait.
Even if it meant taking things slow.