Chapter 126: A Conversation in the Moonlight

The night at Snow Bamboo Land was fresh, beautiful, and carried the faint fragrance of orchids.

Under the moonlight, Xueze carried a pot of butterfly orchids toward Lanshui’s door, wondering what to say, unaware that the scent had already reached him. Moonlight bathed the stone steps, stretching Xueze’s shadow long, and the orchids revealed a unique, deep indigo hue in the silver light. A layer of frost on the petals caught the moonlight like gold dust, making the entire bloom shimmer with delicate brilliance. Xueze wore a gown of goose-yellow, which took on a pale, soft tone in the moonlight, neither clashing with the orchids nor feeling out of place amidst the blue glow.

"Is Senior Brother here?" Xueze wondered, seeing only dim light and hearing no sound from within. She looked at the flowers in her hands, thinking: *Senior Brother once filled a courtyard with pear blossoms, and I have always wanted to return the gesture. I grew these butterfly orchids especially for him, but is it too late now that only a few have bloomed? If I give them to him tonight, even though he will see them at their most beautiful, it feels a bit like an apology for their fading.*

Inside, Lanshui remained perfectly still, his breathing shallow and steady, waiting in vain for a knock.

One minute.
A quarter of an hour.

Unable to wait any longer, Lanshui suddenly opened the door. The door swung wide, a shadow appeared, and Xueze, who had just set the flowers down on the stone steps, looked up, startled. She stood up and offered an awkward smile.

"Senior Brother, you’re still awake!"
"It is still early. What brings you here?" Lanshui looked at her gently, then at the beautiful orchids. *Thinking of leaving the flowers and running away? Little girl, it’s a good thing I came out.*
"Me? I had nothing to do, just wandering about."
"Oh? And these flowers?"

Seeing Lanshui lift the pot with a questioning look, Xueze quickly replied, "I followed the fragrance. I didn't expect to find such beautiful orchids at your door. These are your favorite 'Pure Rain Ghost Orchids,' aren't they?"

Lanshui gave a faint smile. "Indeed. I wonder who was so thoughtful? I truly must thank her."

Xueze smiled, feigning indifference. "Enjoy them, Senior Brother. I should—"
"Come inside!"

Lanshui took the flowers in one hand and pulled Xueze into the room with the other. With a flick of his wrist, the room was suddenly filled with starlight, making the candlelight look dull and pale. Xueze watched in amazement as the points of light floated in the air, as if she were standing in a sea of flowers or beneath the galaxy itself. The lights were beautifully colored and soft, flickering and drifting like fireflies in the mortal world.

This display, known as "Starry Sky Across the Heavens," was a spell Lanshui had recently mastered. It could distract others or create such enchanting effects. Heavenly Mountain spells were often tedious and rarely practical, but they were quite effective for cheering someone up.

"Senior Brother, how did you do that?"
Lanshui smiled. "Tell me first, who sent these flowers?"

"I... I don't know!"
"Are you sure?" Lanshui stared at her.
Xueze lowered her head. "Senior Brother, don't suspect me! I—I was just passing by!"
"Oh, is that so?" Lanshui pinched her cheek. "I haven't seen you passing by here in all this time, yet today you appear right when these orchids do!"

Xueze took a step back. "Senior Brother, enough teasing! I brought them. I saw how hard you’ve been working lately and wanted to brighten your mood."
"Looking at the flowers is indeed comforting, but seeing the person who brought them is far more so."
"If you teach me the secret of these stars, I might come visit you more often!"
Lanshui chuckled. "Learning to bargain with me now?"
"I wouldn't dare. I just wish to learn more and be humbly taught."
"Aren't you all currently studying secret arts? Why are you interested in this? This 'Starry Sky' is a spell, but it isn't suited for you."
"Why? Why wouldn't such a gentle and beautiful spell be suited for me?"
"Don't be fooled by its appearance; that is merely a triggered effect, not the true magic. Learning this requires profound cultivation and is mentally taxing, so don't waste your energy on it. If you wish to see it again, just come find me!"

Xueze nodded. "Senior Brother, you should dispel it then! You’re working too hard; don't waste your spiritual energy."
"It’s no matter. Compared to the training you all do, this spell consumes very little. By the way, I’ve been busy and haven't had time to oversee your progress. How are your studies going? Any breakthroughs?"

Xueze gave an awkward smile. "It’s going... well. The 'Fish-Tail Ice-Drinking' technique is truly difficult and consumes a great deal of energy. Master has been working hard for us, but he hasn't seen much improvement."

"It’s fine if you haven't mastered it. I only had a vague understanding of it at your age. The most important part of cultivation is knowing what suits you and what brings you joy. If you learn something but never use it, it is useless. When Master is less busy, ask him to teach you the Five Elements Arts."
"What are the Five Elements Arts?"

Lanshui retrieved a book and handed it to her, dispelling the starlight and lighting all the candles in the room. "Take your time, don't rush." He pulled her to the table and sat quietly by her side, using the pretext of accompanying her reading to etch her bright eyes and red lips into his heart.

Time flowed gently, the atmosphere was warm, and the scent of the orchids in the air took on a touch of tenderness.

After reading, Xueze sighed, "This art is simple to understand, yet it requires a pure heart and kindness to manipulate the five elements and control flowers and trees. I want to learn, but is it too difficult?"
"Are you worried your talent isn't enough, or that your focus will waver?"

Xueze nodded. "I once saw my mother use the 'Flower Spirit Guidance' art, but after staying in Kunlun for too long, she lost the ability to control it. She once said she could command thousand-year-old trees, but after her heart became clouded and her intentions grew complex, she could only control simple flowers and grass. It seems it has much to do with one's state of mind!"

"Exactly! But we practitioners strive for a pure heart and few desires; how could our intentions be impure? I suggest this art because it takes a thousand forms and can be used without draining spiritual power. If you go down the mountain and need to hide your identity, or if your energy is low, you can use this. The purer your heart, the greater its power!"

"So that's it! Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Lanshui smiled gently, thinking: *If you learn this, you will have more ways to protect yourself, and I will be more at ease. But since the moment I met you, the extreme Five Elements arts have become irrelevant to me.*

Xueze turned the pages with interest, becoming so absorbed in the text that she failed to notice Lanshui’s tender, water-like gaze. Watching her quiet, well-behaved appearance, Lanshui wished time could freeze at this moment. Ever since he learned that the god Yanshuo had returned and had clashed with Xueze several times, not a day had passed without him worrying for her safety.

Lanshui’s composure and cold demeanor were for others and other things, but Xueze was his only exception. If anyone else had been standing at that door, he would not have paid them any heed, letting nature take its course. But he had sensed her presence from afar, smelled the orchids, and extinguished the candles, wishing to create the beauty of the starry sky for her. Every second of her hesitation had been a trial not just for her, but for him as well.

*What kind of feeling is this?* he had asked himself a thousand times, yet he had never found the answer.

Moonlight, candlelight, gentle breeze, and tranquility. Xueze read, Lanshui watched her, and the fragrance of the orchids filled the room, intoxicating the soul.

"Senior Brother, is this Five Elements system large? How long will it take to learn?"
"It is like the basic spells; these are minor arts with short incantations. Study with heart, and it won't take long! As for the more powerful advancements, they require your own realization; those are not found in books."
"Oh! And which one is your favorite?"
"I like the 'Ice-Water Convergence' in the Water Control Arts."
"Ice-Water Convergence? Being able to freely transform water and ice? Isn't that a Heavenly Mountain technique?"

Lanshui nodded. "Heavenly Mountain spells only teach you how to turn water into ice or vice versa, without the concept of true freedom. This book was researched by the two great cultivation sects, so it is unique."
"Does Senior Brother mean Kunlun Void?"
"Indeed. Kunlun Void and Heavenly Mountain have long been the pillars of the righteous path. Each sect dwells in seclusion for one hundred thousand years and emerges for one hundred thousand years, alternating to maintain peace in the world and the three realms. During the transition, they meet to research a secret manual. The last meeting was over ninety thousand years ago, so this book is an ancient relic of Heavenly Mountain. You must treasure it."
"I will. But is there only one copy of such an important book?"
"No, three volumes were produced. This book has been copied a few times, but few use it now, so Master took it back for safekeeping and was kind enough to let me study it."
"I see! But there are so many Heavenly Mountain secret arts; is there no systematic text? Relying on oral tradition seems inefficient."
"There are many written texts, but few can see them, and even fewer can use them. They require constant updating. All the noble and rare scrolls are in the Ice Palace, forbidden to all. The 'Fish-Tail Ice-Drinking' you studied is one of them; because its power is so terrifying, it is known as one of the Three Malignant Arts."
"The Ice Palace? Forbidden arts?"

Lanshui patted her head, smiling at her confusion. "Curiosity getting the better of you again? It seems I shouldn't have mentioned these. Focus on your secret arts, learn them one by one. Each spell has a realm of extreme refinement; if you can master just one, I shall consider you enlightened."

Xueze gave a silly smile. "I'd like that, but the road ahead is long..."
"I would like that road to be as long as possible."