Volume Thirteen: A Dream of a Thousand Years - Chapter Six: Unremarkable and Bland

Everyone standing outside the magical array looked at the scene unfolding within, and they all smiled.

"Master has such a tender heart. Maidservants and attendants from that era could hardly ever hope to encounter a master like her," Jiang Yun remarked.

"After all, Phoenix does not belong to that era. Even if she was there a thousand years ago, she was already an immortal by then. An immortal's mindset is fundamentally different from a mortal's," Chu Tianyou said.

Inside the array, within Duke Sheng Jinyuan's study, Liu Chenggong sat in a nearby chair. The two of them were playing a game of go.

"The mister once said that Phoenix is a celestial being descending to the mortal realm. How should one interpret these words?" Sheng Jinyuan asked, placing a stone.

"The Third Young Miss possesses a radiance that ordinary mortals lack, though people cannot see it," Liu Chenggong replied.

"Then how is it that you can see it?" Sheng Jinyuan asked with curiosity.

"The Duke forgets that I am also a cultivator. This radiance is simply a form of vital energy. While the art of reading qi sounds like a fairy tale to ordinary people, it is a mandatory discipline for cultivators. What I see is merely the qi surrounding her. When that qi condenses to a sufficient density, it emits light. Such a radiance signifies that she has already surpassed my level of cultivation," Liu Chenggong answered candidly, as there was nothing to conceal before the Duke.

"What is your level?" Sheng Jinyuan asked.

"A ninth-grade cultivator, the highest among mortals," Liu Chenggong replied. "As for the Third Young Miss, if I guess correctly, she is already an Earth Immortal, or perhaps even a true immortal."

"With her here, the Sheng family will rise to greatness," Sheng Jinyuan said.

"It is not merely rising to greatness; it is a soaring ascent. The Duke's ambitions are clear to both you and me, unspoken yet understood. I have often lamented the lack of divine will, but the Third Young Miss is precisely that divine will," Liu Chenggong answered.

"Yet we need a pretext," Sheng Jinyuan said.

"A pretext will present itself, but we must wait for the opportune moment," Liu Chenggong replied.

"I understand your meaning," Sheng Jinyuan nodded.

"Duke, when I cast a divination today, I fear the four young masters and the Third Young Miss..." Liu Chenggong paused, casting a glance at Sheng Jinyuan.

"Speak your mind without hesitation," Sheng Jinyuan said.

"The four young masters are destined to share karmic ties with the Third Young Miss, but the one who ultimately captures her heart will become the future..." Liu Chenggong stopped once more.

Sheng Jinyuan raised his head and stared straight at Liu Chenggong. "To whom the blossom falls depends on their own destiny. After all, children and grandchildren have their own fortunes."

"Judging from today, the Second Young Master..." Liu Chenggong left his sentence unfinished.

"Haha, Chuhan is the one I favor. Chuyu is out of the question; his mind is incomplete, so there is no possibility there. Chuhui is brave and skilled in battle, but he harbors too many petty calculations and will never achieve monumental deeds—being the lord of a single city is his limit. If he desires more, it is simply impossible; Chuhui lacks the breadth of spirit to match Phoenix. That leaves Chuxue and Chuhan. It all depends on their fate," Sheng Jinyuan laughed.

"The Eldest Young Master is burdened with too many thoughts, while the Second Young Master is more sincere. According to this hexagram, the Second Young Master is likely to..." Liu Chenggong said.

"We shall speak of this when that day arrives," Sheng Jinyuan said.

The two men exchanged a knowing smile.

On the roof of the Peony Pavilion, Yaoguang held Datou in her arms as she gazed up at the boundless sky, her heart filled with a profound sense of desolation.

Meanwhile, on the roof of the Hanqing Pavilion, Sheng Chuhan looked toward the direction of the Peony Pavilion, lost in thought.

Inside the Chuxue Pavilion, Sheng Chuxue stared blankly out the window.

Within the Xihui Pavilion, Sheng Chuhui's expression shifted continuously.

Only from the Tingyu Pavilion came the rhythmic sounds of snoring.

In the main building, Madam Sheng looked into the mirror with a gentle smile. She finally had a daughter; even though she had not given birth to her, she was precious beyond measure.

On the roof of the Peony Pavilion, Yaoguang gazed at Datou, and Datou gazed back at Yaoguang, the two of them locked in a silent staring contest.

"Sister, you are in love with Sheng Chuhan," Datou finally broke the deadlock.

"I am. But I have also let it go," Yaoguang replied.

"Because of me, this might be a compensation bestowed upon you by the heavens. Why not indulge yourself just this once?" Datou blinked her large eyes and said.

"In the end, it still leads to parting. There is no real meaning in it," Yaoguang sighed.

"Parting happens simply because fate dictates it so, but what harm is there in abandoning restraint within this fate? Do not leave yourself with regrets," Datou urged.

"But..." Yaoguang hesitated. Doing this would feel unfair to the Male Immortal.

"Daddy won't mind. It's merely bringing closure to a past affinity, not asking you to sell your soul," Datou said bluntly.

"You certainly have a broad mind. I haven't made up my mind yet; we'll talk about it later," Yaoguang pulled Datou closer into her embrace.

Outside the magical array, everyone cast a glance at the Male Immortal.

"Daddy, would you mind?" Jelly asked.

"Mind? Give me a reason why I should," the Male Immortal replied. "This is merely A-Yao's past. If this allows her to sever her unresolved karmic ties once and for all, it is a good thing. Carrying things in one's heart for a thousand or ten thousand years is never healthy. A-Yao deserves liberation; this is an opportunity."

"The two of you are remarkably broad-minded," Xuan Chen muttered in exasperation.

Inside the array, Yaoguang suddenly stared at Datou. "You called the Male Immortal Daddy?!"

"Wasn't that bound to happen sooner or later? Jelly already calls him that, so why shouldn't Baby? Besides, Daddy suits Baby's taste very well..." Datou chimed, acting cutely.

Seeing Datou's adorable appearance, Yaoguang hugged her tight and burst into laughter.