The Legend of Taotie Recap, Plot, Synopsis

The Legend of Taotie Synopsis

In the city of Wuxia within the Great Liang Kingdom, Tianxiang Tower is a place so renowned for its delicacies that even the most powerful nobles and officials are willing to go to great lengths to taste its cuisine. Tianxiang Tower is home to two legendary figures: the enchanting and stunningly beautiful young proprietress, Zhu Chengbi, whose culinary skills are unmatched, and the charming and witty accountant, Chang Qing, known for his poetic brilliance. The two are widely recognized as a pair of delightful frenemies.

Zhu Chengbi and Chang Qing go through a series of thrilling and perilous events together. As they journey on, Chang Qing witnesses Zhu Chengbi craft one exquisite dish after another, including Ranyi Kuai, Huyan Feng, Zhangjian Zhu, Tiandi Chun, Furong Yan, Wuchang Gong, Shuangsheng Gu, Tongxin Qian, and Qianji Mian. Each dish carries a unique story, imparts a moral, and reflects an aspect of human nature.

In the end, the deranged Prince of Langya sets a deadly trap to force Zhu Chengbi and Chang Qing to grievously wound each other. His ultimate goal is to coerce Zhu Chengbi into creating the Dish of Immortality to prolong his life. His insatiable greed drives him to attempt to unleash the Black Qilin, destroy the Lotus Heart Pagoda, and obliterate the entire city of Wuxia.

Desperate and cornered, Zhu Chengbi transforms into the mythical beast Taotie, losing all sense of reason and swallowing Chang Qing whole. Trapped within the darkness of Taotie's belly, Chang Qing finally discovers the remnants of Zhu Chengbi’s humanity and manages to awaken her. Together, they vow to start anew.

The Legend of Taotie Recap

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The gluttonous beast Taotie, known for its insatiable appetite, accidentally wandered into the human realm, living freely without restraint. Eventually, Lian Deng, a monk, moved Taotie with compassion, but this inadvertently opened the Heaven-Connecting Gate. This led to an alliance between the armies of the Black Ridge King and Qiongqi, who aimed to dominate the human world. Lian Deng and Taotie personally led troops to a fierce battle outside Songyang Gate. The battle was perilous.

Even though Taotie was incredibly powerful, the enemy forces outnumbered her by tens of thousands. Struck by countless arrows, Taotie was severely wounded. Upon hearing that Lian Deng had sacrificed his physical body to transform into a protective tower, she fell into despair. Reminiscing about the days when they fought side by side, her grief consumed her. Without hesitation, she detonated herself, ending her life.

Five hundred years later, in a resplendent mansion known as Tianxiang Tower, Chang Qing was painting a portrait of Zhu Chengbi. Zhu Chengbi, who had been without fresh delicacies for days, lay idly, dozing off out of boredom. Curious about Chang Qing’s painting, she leaned over to take a closer look, but Chang Qing intentionally concealed the canvas. Just as Zhu Chengbi was about to snatch it, a visitor arrived at the door.

At that moment, Zhu Chengbi, who had been lamenting the lack of fresh ingredients, was greeted by a male guest, Gao Zong. Gao Zong brought in a large water tank, inside of which was a stunning mermaid. Zhu Chengbi immediately grabbed her chopsticks to sample the fish, only to find the flesh bitter and far from sweet. Puzzled, she questioned Gao Zong, who revealed his backstory with the mermaid.

Recently, Gao Zong had encountered a beautiful woman by the sea, who left him utterly captivated. Unable to forget her, he returned to the riverbank daily in search of her but found no trace. Determined, Gao Zong jumped into the river, prompting the mermaid, who had been hiding behind a rock, to reveal herself and save him. From then on, Gao Zong and the mermaid lived together, even renting a small courtyard by the river to enjoy a tranquil life.

Unfortunately, fortune turned against Gao Zong, and after squandering his wealth, he could no longer provide for their livelihood. Desperate, he spent his days wandering between pawnshops. Frustrated, he returned home one day, accidentally spilling the tea the mermaid had brought him. The hot tea scalded the mermaid's wrist, causing her to reveal her true form and flee to the courtyard pond, thus exposing her real identity.

Overcome by greed, Gao Zong learned from a friend that a powerful court official, Master Jia, had a penchant for eating rare fresh fish. He decided to offer the mermaid as a tribute. Surprisingly, when the mermaid learned of her husband’s plan to sell her, she agreed willingly. When she was brought to Tianxiang Tower, though she wasn’t forcibly restrained, Zhu Chengbi still found the fish meat bitter and unpalatable.

Together, Zhu Chengbi and Chang Qing questioned the mermaid and Gao Zong about their relationship. The mermaid explained that she had once seen Gao Zong release a flower carp back into the river. Later, when his ship was caught in a storm and overturned, she saved him without hesitation. Zhu Chengbi remarked that wealth often conceals a person’s true nature, but adversity reveals it.

Gao Zong, who was willing to trade his wife for benefits, was by no means a virtuous man. At this moment, the Langya King, ruler of Wuxia City, arrived at Tianxiang Tower to pay a visit. Initially, Zhu Chengbi had declined to see anyone, but the sudden presence of an extraordinary fragrance compelled her to run outside.

The Langya King, Zhao Heng, visited Zhu Chengbi, bringing along two small sea turtles and requesting her to cook them. Zhu Chengbi took one glance at the turtles and refused immediately, pointing out that these had been dried for so long they were no better than ham and not worth her effort in cooking. She suggested that Zhao Heng have his household chef prepare them instead. Despite being politely shown the door, Zhao Heng had no intention of leaving.

He even ordered his guards to search Tianxiang Tower. Fortunately, Zhu Chengbi’s two clever maidservants quickly hid the mermaid in a fish tank, preventing her from being discovered. Zhao Heng left empty-handed. Upon returning, he consulted Xu Shuying, a scholar known for his knowledge of mythical beasts. When Zhao Heng inquired about the origin of the Lotus Heart Tower, Xu Shuying explained that the fall of the tower marked the emergence of the Black Ridge King, signaling great danger.

Xu also recounted the story of how Lian Deng had sacrificed his body and blood to seal the tower. Additionally, rumors circulated that the proprietress of Tianxiang Tower, Zhu Chengbi, was the reincarnation of Taotie. Two days later, Gao Zong, consumed by guilt and longing for his wife, returned to Tianxiang Tower to reclaim the mermaid.

Tearfully, he confessed to Zhu Chengbi his deep regret for bringing his wife there and declared that he now understood she was an irreplaceable treasure. The mermaid, overhearing his heartfelt words, believed him and willingly followed him back home. Meanwhile, Jia Lian, who had been plagued by recurring nightmares, heard that consuming a mermaid could alleviate his suffering. Determined to acquire mermaid flesh, he began scheming and reaching out to anyone who could help him achieve his goal.

Zhao Heng returned to Tianxiang Tower once again, bringing two pieces of prime meat. Zhu Chengbi personally cooked the meat into a dish so exquisite it melted in the mouth. Both being connoisseurs of fine cuisine, Zhao Heng and Zhu Chengbi shared a deep appreciation for the art of cooking. Zhao Heng then proposed that Zhu Chengbi prepare the mermaid for him, and this time, she did not refuse.

After Zhao Heng left, Chang Qing immediately warned Zhu Chengbi against harboring murderous intentions. He reminded her that while she could consume mythical beasts, the mermaid A Jiao now possessed human emotions and should not be treated as food. Though Chang Qing’s reasoning was sound, Zhu Chengbi, driven by hunger, was unwilling to listen. The two argued fiercely, and in frustration, Zhu Chengbi stormed off to the Lotus Heart Tower.

Whenever Zhu Chengbi had something on her mind, she would visit the Lotus Heart Tower, speaking as though Lian Deng were still there to listen. This time, she chastised the monk for leaving her to guard the tower while depriving her of the pleasures of fine cuisine. However, her solitude was interrupted by Zhao Heng’s arrival. Weakened from days without food, Zhu Chengbi nearly fainted, and Zhao Heng carried her back to Tianxiang Tower.

Meanwhile, the city was abuzz with guards searching for the mermaid. It wasn’t just Zhao Heng’s men; even the mermaid clan had begun searching for A Jiao. Since the mermaid clan’s weapons were no match for human tools, they soon gave up on A Jiao, allowing Gao Zong and her to reunite once more. Time passed, and the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived. Once again, Zhu Chengbi and Chang Qing quarreled over food, refusing to speak to each other.

While the tension lingered, Zhao Heng suddenly appeared, inviting Zhu Chengbi to a Mid-Autumn feast. He brought along luxurious, glowing white silk, which immediately caught Zhu Chengbi’s attention. Delighted by the fine fabric, she agreed to join Zhao Heng for moon-viewing, completely ignoring Chang Qing’s objections.

Zhu Chengbi changed into the clothes Zhao Heng had gifted her, making her fair skin and striking beauty even more radiant, resembling a celestial maiden. Even the usually stern and unyielding guards beside her were momentarily stunned. Chang Qing attempted to stop her again, but Zhu Chengbi paid him no heed and stepped directly into Zhao Heng’s sedan chair. Worried, Chang Qing quickly hired a carriage to follow them.

Zhao Heng’s sedan stopped by the riverside, and he and Zhu Chengbi boarded a boat together. To Chang Qing's surprise, he saw Gao Zong and A Jiao also boarding the boat, carrying an invitation. Realizing that no one could board the boat without an invitation, and knowing the city was full of people hunting for mermaids, Chang Qing grew anxious. Desperate, he jumped into the water and snuck aboard the boat.

Gao Zong held A Jiao’s hand tenderly and declared that today they would wed and become a couple. Deeply moved, A Jiao was overcome with tears, captivated by Gao Zong’s sweet words. When Gao Zong suggested they drink a ceremonial cup of wine together, A Jiao drank without hesitation. Moments later, she fainted and reverted to her true form. Zhu Chengbi emerged from the shadows, praising Gao Zong’s plan.

She noted that the wine she had brewed herself would naturally force A Jiao to reveal her true form. As planned, Zhu Chengbi was to prepare the mermaid into exquisite delicacies for the banquet guests. Closing the kitchen doors, Zhu Chengbi asked A Jiao if she regretted anything. A Jiao pleaded for Zhu Chengbi to spare her. Zhu Chengbi cast a spell, surrounding A Jiao with a layer of blue mist. The banquet soon began.

After ensuring the guests had bathed and changed to fully appreciate the delicacies, Zhu Chengbi presented each one with meticulously crafted dishes. Jia Lian, delighted, ate with great enthusiasm and even spoke to the guests about the rarity and profound story behind the dish. He narrated how the mermaid endured hardships, experienced human love, and, at the moment of death, was still intoxicated by the illusion of affection. Eating such a dish, he claimed, would naturally bring unparalleled happiness.

Listening to this, Chang Qing was heartbroken. As a compassionate person, he could not accept Zhu Chengbi harming any being other than mythical beasts. He believed mermaids, with their pure emotions, should not fall victim to such cruelty. Hearing that Zhu Chengbi had killed such a deeply affectionate creature, he was overwhelmed with sorrow. Zhu Chengbi then encouraged everyone to drink the aperitif she had prepared.

Zhao Heng, observing Zhu Chengbi’s expression closely, noticed her satisfied smile when the guests began sipping their wine. Sensing something amiss, he discreetly put his cup down. Jia Lian, impressed by Gao Zong’s apparent devotion to A Jiao, praised him lavishly, promising him promotions and rewards, including a special fish dish to enjoy.

Trembling, Gao Zong picked up a piece of fish, forced it into his mouth, and, despite his difficulty swallowing, remarked that it was both delicious and brought him a sense of happiness. Meanwhile, in a water basin, A Jiao overheard the men shamelessly commenting on the taste of her flesh. Enraged, she wailed in despair.

Watching the banquet, Zhu Chengbi finally revealed the truth with a laugh: the wine everyone drank was the same poisoned wine Gao Zong had served to the mermaid. It not only exposed their true forms but also caused hallucinations and weakened their limbs. The guests were shocked, and many began collapsing. At that moment, the mermaid clan stormed the boat, seeking revenge while protecting their own.

Amidst the chaos, a young servant from the mermaid clan urged A Jiao to eat Gao Zong, saying it would help her completely forget him. However, as A Jiao recalled the happy moments she had once shared with Gao Zong, she chose not to devour him. Instead, she silently left.

A Jiao left in tears, filled with hatred, as the mermaid clan erupted in fury. They began slaughtering everyone at the banquet. Zhu Chengbi quickly grabbed Chang Qing and jumped into the river to escape the dangerous situation. Amid the chaos, the Langya King was nowhere to be seen. He had revealed his true form—clearly a mythical beast.

His two astonished subordinates saw that their master had grown a qilin arm, but they didn’t have time to process this, as the Langya King swiftly took their lives. Zhu Chengbi and Chang Qing surfaced in the water, breathing heavily. They had narrowly escaped as many mermaids surrounded the boat in pursuit. Fortunately, they had fled quickly. Chang Qing felt reassured, believing he had judged Zhu Chengbi correctly. Despite her mischievous nature, she maintained her principles at critical moments.

Feeling that Zhu Chengbi should not hide anything from him, their misunderstandings were resolved. Zhu Chengbi even invited him to admire the moon together. The Tianxiang Pavilion returned to its usual quietness. Bored, Zhu Chengbi decided to prepare some exquisite snacks for her friends. This time, she set her sights on pufferfish and scorpions. Though aware of their toxicity, her curiosity got the better of her. After steaming, boiling, and cooking the ingredients, she eagerly tasted them herself.

Xu Shuying arrived uninvited, having long suspected that the owner of Tianxiang Pavilion might be the reincarnation of a gluttonous beast. This time, he was particularly aggressive, questioning Zhu Chengbi outright if she was indeed a taotie. Chang Qing, standing nearby, broke into a nervous sweat, fearing Zhu Chengbi would be unable to handle the interrogation. Fortunately, Zhu Chengbi, intoxicated by the pufferfish’s poison, had lost her senses. She babbled incoherently, unable to answer any questions.

Seeing this, Xu Shuying left in frustration. Zhu Chengbi had abstained from meat for several days. This time, she specifically went to the market to buy a small mythical beast, intending to enjoy a feast. On the way back, she encountered a foolish young scholar who claimed that mythical beasts were living creatures and pleaded with her not to kill indiscriminately. Seeing the naive look in his eyes, Zhu Chengbi pushed him aside.

She directly asked if he wanted to buy the creature to set it free, explaining that she had spent a considerable amount of silver to purchase it. If he didn’t want the beast to become food, he could pay to release it. However, the scholar had no money and secretly followed Zhu Chengbi. Seizing the moment when Zhu Chengbi and her maid weren’t paying attention, he freed the mythical beast.

Zhu Chengbi and her maid refused to let the young scholar get away with it. They chased him relentlessly, eventually arriving at Xu Shuying’s residence. It turned out the scholar was Xu Shuying’s son. Xu Shuying, smelling the scent of the mythical beast on his son, grew furious and punished him, warning him to stay away from mythical creatures. However, his son repeatedly ignored these warnings. To discipline him further, Xu Shuying dripped melted candle wax onto his son’s palms.

Seeing this, Zhu Chengbi’s maid, Ying Tao, was so frightened that she immediately reported it to Zhu Chengbi, remarking that Xu Shuying was truly ruthless. In the Langya region, a spy was discovered murdered. Upon investigation, the guards found that the wounds contained a unique venom. Zhao Heng showed the venom to Zhu Chengbi, who quickly identified it as bee venom, a type found only in the northern Di territory. This suggested a deep connection with the northern Di.

A few days later, the Southern King of the northern Di attended a banquet hosted by the Langya King. Zhao Heng invited Zhu Chengbi to prepare the feast, intending to test whether the Southern King knew anything about the bee venom. When the Southern King refused to disclose any information, Zhu Chengbi gave her maid a signal. The maid exclaimed in panic, claiming that the pufferfish meat had been mistaken for mandarin fish. The guests were horrified.

The Southern King, too, began to feel severe abdominal pain. Zhao Heng quickly remarked that only bee venom could act as an antidote, but the Southern King denied knowing anything about bee venom. Seeing this, Zhu Chengbi dismissed the panic, stating that the maid had been mistaken—the fish was indeed mandarin fish. After hearing from Zhu Chengbi that his son had stolen her mythical beast, Xu Shuying became furious.

He returned home and scolded his son harshly, even threatening to kill the beast himself. However, the young scholar immediately fled with the creature in his arms. From the assassins, Xu Shuying learned that the northern Di had been using venomous bees to kill, targeting individuals with three moles on their palms. It was said that these individuals were prophesied to destroy the northern Di in ten years.

Uneasy, Xu Shuying visited Zhu Chengbi to confirm the lethality of the venomous bees. Zhu Chengbi confirmed that once targeted, the bees would eliminate their victim within three days. After careful thought, Xu Shuying used a heated iron needle to burn three moles into his palm. Then, he went to the marketplace to search for his son.

Xu Shuying arrived at the marketplace, searching everywhere for his son. He had an ominous feeling—a major event was about to unfold. At the market, he encountered a strange man whose face twisted into a sinister expression before letting out a couple of eerie laughs. The man shook a bell in his hand, and a swarm of black bees surged toward Xu Shuying, seemingly intent on taking his life. Instinctively, Xu Shuying raised his hand to shield his face.

As he did so, the three moles on his hand became visible, and the black bees unexpectedly dispersed. This strange occurrence left Xu Shuying even more unsettled. That evening, Xu Shuying tracked down the residence of the peculiar man he had seen earlier at the market. After carefully searching the place, he discovered a massive beehive inside the room, housing thousands of venomous bees.

Alarmed, Xu Shuying rushed home, retrieved a precious family heirloom—a painting—and delivered it to Tianxiang Tower overnight. Offering the painting, he pleaded with Zhu Chengbi to protect his son and ensure his safe upbringing. Zhu Chengbi was surprised by Xu Shuying’s late-night visit and was about to ask for an explanation, but he refused to elaborate and resolutely left. As soon as Xu Shuying departed Tianxiang Tower, he was stopped by a strange young man dressed in white, with white eyebrows.

Sensing something was amiss, Xu Shuying shouted, “The Beidi are killing people! ” But before he could escape, he was killed by the mysterious youth. Lu Ying received a report from his subordinates and immediately went to examine the body of Scholar Xu. He learned that Xu Shuying had visited a woodshed before his death and hurried to the location with his men. Unfortunately, it was too late—the property had already been reduced to ashes.

While Lu Ying lamented his delay, the same white-clad, white-browed young man appeared. Although Lu Ying had the opportunity to capture him, Xu Ruoxu intervened, pulling the youth away to safety. Lu Ying’s guards prepared to shoot the pair with arrows, but Lu Ying, mindful that Xu Ruoxu was Scholar Xu’s only son, relented and allowed them to escape. Unbeknownst to Xu Ruoxu, the black bee demon he rescued, known as Ling, was the very one who had killed his father.

Xu Ruoxu acted out of gratitude, recalling how Ling had once saved his life, and was now repaying the favor. Ignorant of his father’s fate, Xu Ruoxu wandered the streets at night with Ling. Hungry and unable to find food, they suddenly caught the scent of something delicious. Looking up, they saw Tianxiang Tower and climbed into one of its second-floor rooms. Zhu Chengbi caught them red-handed.

A bookish man by nature, Xu Ruoxu was fully aware of the shame in stealing and immediately admitted his wrongdoing. To make amends, he stayed to help Zhu Chengbi cook. When Zhu Chengbi mentioned needing some black bee honey, Xu Ruoxu had Ling produce extra for her. At this point, Ling obeyed Xu Ruoxu without question and even joined him in learning how to fold wontons.

In private, Zhu Chengbi confided in Chang Qing that Ling was originally a transformed black bee. Black bees typically worked diligently, gathering food and making honey to serve their tamer. However, one bee had gained spiritual power and taken on a human form, gaining some awareness in the process. Zhu Chengbi’s ultimate goal was to awaken Ling’s free will and help him break free from his tamer’s control. Yet for now, Ling’s subconscious still obeyed the commands of the one who had tamed him.

Zhu Chengbi often found herself chatting with Chang Qing, only to feel that he could never truly understand her. The two of them were like opposites, yet they spent every day together. Zhu Chengbi didn’t fully understand Chang Qing’s background. She only thought of him as kind-hearted and simple, though she couldn’t figure out why she always kept him by her side, enduring his endless chatter. Zhu Chengbi opened the treasure map sent by Xu Shuying.

Years ago, a monk had given her a drop of Qilin blood, and now she found it strange that the monk had gifted a demon-identifying map to Xu Shuying and a drop of Qilin blood to her. With Xu Shuying now dead, she tried to uncover the connection between the two. For the time being, she decided to let Ling stay at Tianxiang Tower for a few more days.

Zhao Heng objected to letting Ling reside at Tianxiang Tower and instructed Lu Ying to take action. However, Chang Qing was no ordinary man and managed to match Lu Ying in skill. After a brief exchange of moves, Lu Ying conceded defeat and returned, frustrated. The Southern King of Beidi had stayed in the Xia Kingdom for several days without any intention of leaving. Zhao Heng handed him a secret letter.

In the past, the Southern King had witnessed his elder brother solidify his power by murdering their sibling. Although his brother had countless justifications, the Southern King was convinced that returning to Beidi would bring nothing but misfortune, which explained his reluctance to leave Xia. The letter Zhao Heng gave him bore the Beidi King's seal, falsely claiming that the Southern King had been kidnapped and calling for an alliance with Xia to attack other nations.

Lu Ying eventually tracked down Ling and relentlessly pursued him. However, Xu Ruoxu continually shielded Ling, preventing Lu Ying from taking action. Finally, Lu Ying found an opportunity and shot an arrow that struck Ling in a critical area. Xu Ruoxu didn’t understand why Lu Ying was so determined, and Lu Ying revealed the truth: Ling was the one who had killed Xu Ruoxu’s father in the street. The revelation hit Xu Ruoxu like a thunderbolt.

Grieving his father’s death, he wept bitterly but still believed that Ling had been manipulated by villains. Zhu Chengbi persuaded Xu Ruoxu to follow her plan: uncover the identity of Ling’s tamer, the one who had compelled the black bees to commit atrocities. After careful consideration, Xu Ruoxu agreed and brought Ling to the site of the old hive that had been burned down.

Seeing the massive hive where he had once lived as a child, Ling was flooded with memories. Just then, the tamer’s bell rang, and Ling’s consciousness was involuntarily awakened. He couldn’t help but walk toward the bell-ringer. Xu Ruoxu recognized the sinister-looking old man as the one his father had encountered. The tamer ordered Ling to follow him, but Ling hesitated, repeatedly mumbling that he had killed Xu Ruoxu’s father.

At that moment, Ling realized he had been a puppet used to kill countless innocents, and he now felt unworthy of Xu Ruoxu’s trust. The tamer shook his bell to summon a swarm of black bees to attack Xu Ruoxu, but Chang Qing arrived in time to save him. Though Chang Qing was slightly outmatched, Zhu Chengbi soon arrived to assist, preventing a tragedy. Seeing that Xu Ruoxu was safe, Ling spread his wings and flew away.

Zhao Heng invited the Southern King of Beidi on a hunting trip, and Xu Ruoxu, too, received an invitation. Zhu Chengbi appeared on horseback, graceful as ever. She had once struck a deal with Zhao Heng: if Xu Ruoxu was not handed over, Zhao Heng would ensure the safety of the Northern Xia Kingdom. Since the hunt was taking place in the mountains, Zhu Chengbi had been called to ensure everyone’s safety.

While Zhu Chengbi was guarding the group, Tianxiang Tower was infiltrated by an unknown intruder who stole the spirit map that Xu Shuying had delivered. The black bee tamer appeared again and assassinated the Southern King of Beidi in full view of the crowd. Panic erupted as people fled in all directions. As the Southern King collapsed to the ground, his true form was revealed—a large brown gorilla, confirming that he was also a demon.

Zhu Chengbi returned to Tianxiang Tower only to discover that Bai Ze's spirit map had been stolen. She declined Zhao Heng’s offer to help. After seeing Zhao Heng off, she immediately shut the door and questioned Chang Qing directly, asking if he was the one who had stolen the map. Chang Qing was utterly shocked and quickly explained that he had already worked hard to catch the thief. He didn’t understand why he was always the one being suspected.

Even Zhu Chengbi couldn’t understand why Chang Qing, standing before her, bore such a striking resemblance to Bai Ze. Keeping someone so suspicious by her side was undoubtedly dangerous. Determined to send him away, Zhu Chengbi declared her decision. However, Chang Qing stubbornly retorted that he owed Zhu Chengbi a significant sum of money and wouldn’t leave Tianxiang Tower until the debt was repaid.

Helpless, Zhu Chengbi tore apart a drawing of a maid named Ying Tao that Chang Qing had personally sketched. By destroying this drawing in public, she made it clear she would no longer tolerate him. Furious, Chang Qing left. The Langya King of Wuxia personally escorted the slain Southern King of Beidi back to Beidi, publicly clearing himself of any involvement before leaving. Late at night, the Beidi King summoned the black bee tamer.

Furious about what had happened during the day, the Beidi King could understand wanting to eliminate rivals, but to have someone switched out midway was embarrassing. The tamer was equally shocked and deeply frustrated about killing the wrong person. Seeking to atone for his failure, he begged the Beidi King to spare his life, promising to return to Wuxia and assassinate both the real Southern King and the hateful Langya King.

In reality, the true Southern King of Beidi was still alive. Zhao Heng had used a demon beast to impersonate the Southern King, hoping to open his kind-hearted eyes to his elder brother’s true nature. This experience finally made the Southern King see his brother’s methods for what they were. After Chang Qing left Tianxiang Tower, Zhu Chengbi felt a deep sense of loss.

She reminisced about how lively and happy things had been when Chang Qing was around, regretting that she had personally driven away a good friend. Zhu Chengbi went to the Lotus Heart Pagoda again to confide in the monk, expressing how much she had taken on to protect all of Wuxia. While wandering through the market, Zhu Chengbi unexpectedly came across Ling, sitting in a daze. Fortune had truly brought him back to her.

Zhu Chengbi had just acquired the copper bell used by the tamer to summon the black bees and thought that testing it on Ling wouldn’t hurt. Since Ling had defied the tamer, his senses had begun to deteriorate, and his eyesight was now blurry. Realizing his life was nearing its end, Ling deeply missed Xu Ruoxu. Meanwhile, Xu Ruoxu, feeling restless, couldn’t resist returning to Tianxiang Tower to see Ling.

When Ling had killed Xu Ruoxu’s father, he had absorbed some of the father’s memories and unconsciously inherited the deep love the scholar had for his son. The tamer created a new, more powerful puppet, stronger and more obedient than Ling. A fierce battle broke out in the forest. The new puppet aimed to kill both Ling and Xu Ruoxu, but Zhu Chengbi arrived just in time.

Black bees carried deadly poison, and seeing that Zhu Chengbi couldn’t protect Xu Ruoxu, Ling immediately fled with him. Chang Qing also appeared, using his signature large brush to draw a sturdy iron net, trapping the puppet and the black bees. The tamer, shot in the abdomen, remained defiant and ordered the puppet black bee to reveal its true form and fly away.

Ling engaged in a desperate battle with the puppet black bee but was ultimately overpowered and fell to the ground. The puppet black bee mercilessly killed Ling. In his final moments, Ling transferred his remaining consciousness into the puppet to protect Xu Ruoxu. The puppet black bee, now imbued with Ling’s memories, began to experience self-awareness. Ling entrusted it to never forget the names of its benefactors and to protect what it cherished most.

After Ling’s death, the puppet black bee inherited his consciousness, calling out Xu Ruoxu’s name and gently touching the grieving Xu Ruoxu’s face in a familiar motion Ling had once used. Xu Ruoxu watched as countless specks of light gradually disappeared before him. He called out Ling’s name in anguish, his heart breaking.

When Chang Qing saw the bell in Zhu Chengbi's hand, he assumed she had schemed to harm Ling and angrily stormed off. Not wanting him to misunderstand, Zhu Chengbi immediately went to his residence to explain. She told him that Ling was not dead—his memories had been transferred to the new puppet black bee. Moreover, the bee poison that Ling had once hated in himself was now consumed by Zhu Chengbi, giving him closure on that matter.

Chang Qing returned to the scene and saw Xu Ruoxu happily playing with his new companion. Feeling relieved, he was content knowing that Xu Ruoxu, who was always so kind-hearted, now had a close companion. It was always hard for Chang Qing to witness harm come to good people or noble demon beasts, so seeing this harmony was a welcome change.

During the time that the Southern King of Beidi, Di Feng, was away, his elder brother would occasionally recall their childhood closeness. Back then, he had been grateful that his younger brother had sacrificed himself to become a hostage in another nation for the sake of the country. Now that his throne was secure, the elder brother found it unbearable to coexist with his sibling, a feeling that left him filled with shame.

Zhao Heng went to find Di Feng, but his room was empty. A guard informed him that Di Feng had gone out early in the morning. Fearing for his safety, Zhao Heng immediately led people to track him down. When they arrived, Di Feng was indeed surrounded by assassins. Although Zhao Heng managed to save him, Di Feng was utterly despondent.

He lamented that ever since leaving Zhao, he had realized how much his elder brother, who once protected him as a child, had changed. Zhao Heng had changed too. Overwhelmed by despair, Di Feng raised a blade and ended his own life. Witnessing Di Feng's suicide, Zhao Heng was overcome with sorrow. Holding Di Feng’s lifeless body, he couldn’t help but sigh, wondering why someone with freedom couldn’t cherish themselves. Zhu Chengbi fell into a peaceful sleep on her couch.

Normally cheerful and lively, she often dreamed of herself as the gluttonous General Taotie, dying tragically in battle with arrows piercing her front and back. She also dreamt of the heart-wrenching pain she felt when hearing that the monk of Lotus Heart Pagoda had sacrificed his body to sanctify the pagoda. Upon waking, she saw Chang Qing fanning himself nonchalantly and couldn’t help but think he was heartless.

She asked him if there was anyone in his past that he wished he could never forget. Chang Qing pondered for a moment but remained silent. This only made Zhu Chengbi more convinced that his past was as blank as a piece of white paper. One day, a distinguished guest arrived at Tianxiang Tower—Zhou Guangping, a member of the Zhou family from Jiangling.

Zhou Guangping, who lived in the famous Four Jing Garden, was an only son cherished as a precious gem by his mother. Rarely leaving home, he had to report everything he did to her. If his mother didn’t see him for even a minute, she would become frantic and, in her agitation, sometimes scratch her own face with her prosthetic hand. This time, Zhou Guangping insisted on meeting Chang Qing alone.

At the door, Zhu Chengbi noticed Zhou Guangping’s maid, Liyu, looking incredibly nervous. Out of kindness, Zhu Chengbi reminded Zhou Guangping to return home soon. To avoid suspicion, Zhu Chengbi left Tianxiang Tower with two maids. On the way, she shared Zhou Guangping’s story with them. He had married four wives in succession, but shortly after their weddings, his third and fourth wives had died under mysterious circumstances.

Rumors circulated that the feng shui of his house was unfavorable, particularly the white tiger carved from white stone in the courtyard, which was said to bring bad luck. However, Zhu Chengbi wasn’t sure what secrets lay behind it, and it had nothing to do with Tianxiang Tower. When Zhou Guangping returned home with his maid, he found the room in disarray and his mother in a highly unstable emotional state.

She scolded him for being away so long and even ordered the maid Liyu to whip Zhou Guangping’s wife, Ruifang. Ruifang's cries of pain pierced Zhou Guangping's ears as he knelt and begged his mother for mercy. The pearl that Zhu Chengbi had given him fell to the ground during the commotion. His mother picked it up but felt as though it burned her hand.

Zhou Guangping relayed Zhu Chengbi’s words: “Hold a pearl in your hand too long, and you might get burned. ”At Tianxiang Tower, Zhu Chengbi had already guessed that Zhou Guangping intended for Chang Qing to paint a fake person to replace him so he could escape his mother’s control. Zhu Chengbi warned Chang Qing not to help Zhou Guangping, as his impending dangers and trials were still unresolved.

Zhao Heng acquired a rare pearl—emerald-green, large, and exceptionally beautiful. Admiring its brilliance, he praised it endlessly. At that moment, Zhu Chengbi arrived, expressing her fondness for the pearl and offering a high price to purchase it. However, Zhao Heng refused to sell it, explaining that he was preparing an expensive gift to welcome an important visitor from the palace. In the city of Wu Xia, a carriage slowly approached.

Inside was a noble princess, visiting Wu Xia for the first time. She was filled with excitement. She had long been infatuated with Zhao Heng, and the two had been betrothed for years. This time, she came under imperial orders to marry Zhao Heng. Zhao Heng personally led his men out to greet the honored guest. However, upon seeing only the princess and not his long-anticipated father, he was visibly disappointed and turned away, heading back to his room.

Later in the afternoon, Zhao Heng questioned the princess about palace affairs. She presented the emperor’s decree, revealing that her visit to Wu Xia was solely to fulfill the imperial mandate of marriage. Zhao Heng felt even more disheartened. That evening, the princess made an effort to improve relations, burning soothing pine incense in the room. Zhao Heng relaxed slightly but was soon jolted awake by a nightmare. Realizing it was already the 14th, he hurriedly dressed and left.

Zhao Heng went straight to Tianxiang Tower, where he shared drinks with Zhu Chengbi. Although he had refused to give her the pearl earlier that day, in the quiet of the night, he gifted her the precious gem. Deeply touched, Zhu Chengbi thanked him. Suddenly, Zhao Heng began hallucinating and found himself kissing Zhu Chengbi in a vision. As the scene grew clearer, he realized he might have been affected by the princess’s incense.

With his awareness intact, he quickly excused himself and left. Early the next morning, Zhou Guangping’s mother frantically searched for him. Zhou Guangping was at the ancestral hall offering incense. Seeing his mother’s overwhelming anxiety at not being able to see him, he sighed deeply. Her suffocating love left him breathless. Meanwhile, Chang Qing had already painted an identical likeness of Zhou Guangping, intending to secretly replace him in the Zhou household and grant Zhou Guangping his freedom.

However, within two minutes, someone accidentally spilled water on the illusionary paper figure, instantly revealing its true form. Staring at the soaked portrait on the ground, Chang Qing sighed, knowing Zhou Guangping would endure further torment in the coming days. Zhu Chengbi, suspecting that Chang Qing had secretly visited Zhou Guangping, was furious at his disobedience.

She threw Chang Qing’s belongings into the hall and declared that he was now banished to living on the first floor and forbidden to go upstairs. After discarding his belongings, Zhu Chengbi felt a pang of regret. Facing the Lotus Heart Pagoda, she silently asked the monk of Lotus Heart if she had once again been too willful. According to the plan, Ruifang and Zhou Guangping were supposed to escape together that night.

However, due to the paper figure being exposed earlier, Zhou Guangping failed to get away. Unaware of the situation, Ruifang slipped out during the day and waited at the agreed meeting point at night. When her husband didn’t show up, she grew increasingly anxious. Suddenly, a monstrous beast lunged at her with its gaping jaws. With a blood-curdling scream, Ruifang collapsed into a pool of blood.

By morning, rumors spread across the streets that Ruifang, the wife of the Zhou family, had been killed by a strange creature. Upon hearing about the tragedy, Chang Qing realized he might have been indirectly involved and rushed to the scene. There, he saw Ruifang’s face nearly unrecognizable, with her chest soaked in blood. Chang Qing felt deeply distressed.

Zhu Chengbi, who already knew the identity of the culprit, told Chang Qing not to worry, assuring him that someone would come to Tianxiang Tower to confess later that day. Sure enough, before long, Zhou Guangping’s mother arrived. She confronted Chang Qing, accusing him of promising to help her son escape from the Zhou residence. Observing her domineering demeanor, so unlike an ordinary person’s warmth, Chang Qing instinctively stepped back.

Zhu Chengbi stepped in front of him and questioned Zhou’s mother’s intentions. Enraged, Zhou’s mother revealed her true form—a white tiger. In response, Zhu Chengbi unleashed her own power, revealing herself as the gluttonous Taotie. “Do you think I’d fear a mere tigress? ” she retorted.

Zhou’s mother, sensing her son’s desire for freedom, personally visited Tianxiang Tower to ask Zhu Chengbi to stop Chang Qing from assisting Zhou Guangping. However, Zhou’s mother couldn’t understand why Zhu Chengbi, a Taotie, would comply with the requests of a White Tiger. She was turned away at Tianxiang Tower and returned home in frustration. Knowing that his mother had gone to the Xunlie Bureau, Zhou Guangping waited at the door for her return.

When he heard the marketplace rumors about his wife’s tragic death, he was overwhelmed with anxiety. He asked his mother if she had confirmed the identity of the body. Hearing her confirmation that it was indeed Ruifang, his heart was shattered. Zhou’s mother remained indifferent, even suggesting he not grieve too much, as she could arrange for him to marry another woman. Saying this, she pushed Liyu, a potential new wife, toward him.

Barely coping with his wife’s horrific death, Zhou Guangping was forced into remarriage by his cold-hearted mother, leaving him utterly despondent. Having long prepared a dagger for himself, he decided to end his suffering. However, Liyu secretly reported his suicidal intentions to Zhou’s mother. She arrived just in time to stop him, sternly warning that even if he used a dagger to take his life, she could bring him back to life.

Zhou Guangping went to the family ancestral hall and stood before the plaques of his ancestors. In silent prayer, he lamented that being trapped here was worse than death and desperately hoped for a way out. Seeing his despair, Liyu swore to help him escape. The Xunlie Bureau conducted routine inspections and searched Sijing Garden. When Lu Ying questioned the residents, he noticed their hesitations, as though they were hiding something.

Despite a thorough search, he found nothing and left with his team. As they were leaving, Liyu discreetly slipped a note into Lu Ying’s hand. The note read “madwoman. ” After reporting to the Qilin King, Lu Ying decided to search Sijing Garden again. Meanwhile, Zhu Chengbi had asked Chang Qing to watch the door for her. Earlier, she had gone to Sijing Garden, where Zhou’s mother had gifted her a bronze cauldron.

This cauldron, a precious artifact, had caught Zhu Chengbi’s eye, and Zhou’s mother generously allowed her to keep it for personal use. Zhu Chengbi explained that it could be used for hot pot. As the cooking process required her full attention, she instructed Chang Qing to guard the door and prevent anyone from entering. When Lu Ying tried to search again, he was stopped by Chang Qing. Curious as to why cooking required a closed door, Lu Ying persisted.

At that moment, the Qilin King, who was acquainted with Zhu Chengbi, arrived and ordered Lu Ying to show respect. As the two conversed, Zhu Chengbi opened the door herself. Inside, she was alone, with nothing unusual in sight. Zhao Heng, catching the aroma of the food, joked that he hoped Zhu Chengbi would cook for him someday. Zhu Chengbi agreed with a smile. During his search of Sijing Garden, Lu Ying finally discovered the so-called “madwoman.

” The woman, clearly unhinged, repeatedly muttered the words “White Tiger. ” Observing her erratic behavior, Lu Ying understood the reference to the note. However, Zhou’s mother claimed this woman was her family’s first daughter-in-law, who had been kept in the garden due to her unstable mental state, insisting that her words could not be trusted. Lu Ying reported his findings to Zhao Heng.

Zhao Heng, intrigued, noted that the Zhou family ancestral hall prominently displayed an embroidery of a White Tiger. Coincidentally, the White Tiger in the embroidery had a damaged forepaw, matching Zhou’s mother’s own condition. Zhao Heng playfully suggested to Lu Ying that Zhou’s mother might be the very person they were looking for. For several days, Zhu Chengbi remained in the kitchen, focusing intently on preparing a dish.

Concerned for her well-being, Chang Qing personally cooked a bowl of porridge for her. However, Zhu Chengbi found it unappetizing. Just then, Zhao Heng sent over a variety of exquisite meats, which delighted her. Along with the food came a note from Zhao Heng, which Zhu Chengbi read with a smile, happily accepting his invitation.

The princess arrived in Wuxia and constantly showered Zhao Heng with care and attention. She even humbled herself by tidying his desk. While organizing it, she discovered many letters she had previously written, all neatly stored in a wooden box, completely unopened. This realization saddened her deeply. No wonder she had never received a reply—he had never even read them. That day, Zhao Heng invited Zhu Chengbi to admire peach blossoms together.

Zhu Chengbi was puzzled by this, wondering how peach blossoms could bloom in such cold weather. But in the evening, as she gazed at the sky, she saw Kongming lanterns rising gracefully into the air. Zhu Chengbi smiled—this was Zhao Heng’s promised peach blossom viewing. The lanterns floated gently, resembling blooming peach blossoms. Watching this, Chang Qing felt a pang of jealousy and quickly painted peach blossoms all over the courtyard.

Instantly, countless pink petals appeared and fell gracefully, stunning Zhu Chengbi. Zhou Guangping overheard his mother requesting Zhu Chengbi to prepare the dish called "Palm Pearl" for him. Curious about the mystery behind the dish but determined to avoid eating it, he devised a plan to interfere. Noticing Chang Qing supervising nearby, Zhou Guangping brought a painting Chang Qing liked, claiming he wanted to admire it together.

While Chang Qing was distracted, Zhou Guangping sneaked away and opened the door to Zhu Chengbi’s kitchen. Disturbed during her cooking, Zhu Chengbi coughed up blood. Hearing the commotion, Chang Qing rushed over and scolded Zhou Guangping for interrupting their work. Coincidentally, Zhu Chengbi needed a drop of Zhou Guangping’s blood for her cooking. She took it directly from him and promptly ordered him to leave.

Two days before Zhou Guangping’s wedding, his mother personally visited Tianxiang Tower to inquire if the ingredients were ready. Zhu Chengbi, looking weak, assured her that everything would be delivered to the Zhou residence on time. Meanwhile, Zhou Guangping contemplated how to break free from his mother’s control. Secretly, he wrote a letter and entrusted Chang Qing to deliver it to Lu Ying before setting his plan into motion.

On Zhou Guangping’s wedding day, Liyu donned her bridal attire, feeling as though she were in a dream. As a mere maid, she never imagined becoming Zhou Guangping’s wife. Meanwhile, Zhu Chengbi successfully completed the “Palm Pearl” dish. Seeing how exhausted she was, Chang Qing insisted she rest for a while. That night, a horrifying scream echoed from Sijing Garden. Zhou Guangping burst out of the bridal chamber, shouting that a beast had attacked his wife.

Alarmed by his panicked state, everyone rushed to the scene. On the bed, they found a corpse with its heart gouged out, the sight utterly terrifying. Chaos erupted in Sijing Garden, with cries of murder everywhere. Lu Ying, waiting at the door, immediately led his men inside. Although Zhou’s mother tried to stop them, she had no choice but to let the officials investigate.

The Zhou family had already lost four daughters-in-law, and now, the fifth one had been killed on her wedding night, her organs removed. Lu Ying and his guards launched a thorough investigation. In the process, Zhou’s mother was forced to reveal her true form—a majestic White Tiger standing in the room. Everyone was shocked. Lu Su ordered his men to fire arrows. Though the White Tiger displayed immense strength initially, Zhou Guangping destroyed her lair, severely weakening her powers.

Eventually, she was injured by Lu Su’s demon-slaying sword. Captured, Zhou’s mother still didn’t realize that everything that happened that day was orchestrated by Zhou Guangping. Liyu also revealed herself, and the bride sitting in the chamber turned out to be nothing more than a wooden puppet—a ruse staged by Zhou Guangping and Lu Ying. Even after being exposed by her son, Zhou’s mother took all the blame upon herself.

She desperately pleaded with Zhou Guangping to consume the “Palm Pearl” that Zhu Chengbi had prepared, but Zhou Guangping coldly threw the dish away. Zhou’s mother confessed to killing everyone, insisting that all the guilt should fall solely on her. She even revealed that Zhou Guangping was not her biological son. When Lu Ying asked how the White Tiger should be dealt with, Zhao Heng ordered her imprisonment.

Zhou Guangping, now despondent, was approached by Zhu Chengbi, who quietly asked if he realized that his chest pain was different from others'. It was caused by the beast within him. Zhou Guangping was stunned—he had a beast within him?

When Zhu Chengbi left Sijing Garden, she told Zhou Guangping that there was beastly nature within him. Since his mother was imprisoned, Zhou Guangping had felt unsettled. Though he had once desperately longed for freedom, now that no one was watching over him, he found himself feeling lost. Clinging to Liyu, he wished that she could always stay by his side. Zhao Heng also received a portion of the "Palm Pearl.

" Grateful to him for giving her the "peach blossoms" in winter, Zhu Chengbi gifted him this dish, knowing he had someone he deeply cared about. She hoped this delicacy would help Zhao Heng fulfill his wishes. Zhao Heng went to the prison to question Zhou Guangping's mother about the "Palm Pearl. " Though imprisoned, Zhou’s mother remained concerned about her son and expressed regret that he hadn’t eaten the dish she had painstakingly asked Zhu Chengbi to prepare.

In response to Zhou Guangping's doubts, she explained that the dish was meant to encourage him to treasure those close to him, treating them like the "pearl in his palm. " It couldn’t suppress the beastly nature within him. Zhao Heng felt some disappointment—after all, he himself was also a demon beast. He had someone in his heart and had hoped to use the dish to rid them of their beastly nature.

Chang Qing reflected on everything that had happened recently and finally realized that the white tiger wasn’t the killer—Zhou Guangping was. The white tiger had taken the blame for her son. Chang Qing hurried to find Zhu Chengbi, shared his suspicions, and confirmed them with her. Fearing that Sijing Garden was now in danger, he rushed there immediately. But Chang Qing was too late.

By the time he arrived at the bridal chamber from the previous day’s wedding, Liyu had already been killed in a gruesome manner. In a corner of the room, Zhou Guangping crouched, clutching his head in agony. The previous night, he had witnessed his own hands transform into tiger claws. His body, out of his control, had brutally killed the bride beside him. Chang Qing urged Zhou Guangping to turn himself in.

Zhou Guangping asked for an hour to settle his family affairs, and Chang Qing agreed. Zhou Guangping handed over a large sum of silver to his servants, instructing them to return his first, mentally unstable wife to her family and to find a skilled doctor for her treatment. After arranging everything, however, Zhou Guangping did not keep his promise. Instead, he boarded a boat and fled.

When Chang Qing realized Zhou Guangping wasn’t coming, he reported the truth to the Xun Lie Department (the Demon Hunting Bureau). The white tiger was proven innocent and released. Chang Qing entered the prison to escort her home. However, upon learning that her son had harmed another person, Zhou’s mother, consumed by guilt, knelt before Chang Qing and tearfully begged him to help her see her son one last time. Without the aid of Xiang embroidery, she could barely move.

When Chang Qing asked her about its purpose, she explained that the embroidery granted her the ability to walk on clouds. Moved by her plea, Chang Qing recreated the embroidery from memory. With its power restored, Zhou’s mother ascended into the sky to search for Zhou Guangping. Out on the vast sea, Zhou Guangping was drowning his sorrows in alcohol.

He wanted to live freely and be a good person, but he couldn’t control himself during the cycles of day and night. Now, with his mother in prison because of him, Zhou Guangping sought solace in intoxication. Suddenly, a fierce storm rose over the sea, dark clouds rolling overhead. Zhou Guangping realized his mother was near. He looked up and shouted for her to stay away, warning her not to try to control him again.

Zhou’s mother appeared and pleaded for her son to return home with her. Zhou Guangping refused, angrily questioning why she had given him a beast’s heart. Under his relentless questioning, the white tiger finally revealed the painful truth about the origin of the heart. As a child, Zhou Guangping suffered from a heart condition. His father had heard that a tiger’s heart could cure such ailments.

One day, while the white tiger was out hunting, Zhou’s father killed her cub in secret. When the white tiger returned to find her child barely breathing, its chest still warm and heart faintly beating, she saw little Zhou Guangping crying nearby. Overcome with pity, the white tiger made the painful choice to use her child’s heart to save the young boy. Stunned by the revelation, Zhou Guangping was consumed by guilt.

Recognizing his own sins, he tore the beast’s heart from his chest and returned it to the white tiger. Then, without hesitation, he ended his own life.

Zhao Heng, accompanied by the princess, was on his way to the imperial palace in the capital to meet the emperor. Along the way, he encountered many refugees. Due to poor harvests this year, many farmers were left without food. A group of starving people gathered in front of a noodle shop, pleading with the proprietress for food. However, she impatiently drove them away. As an official, Zhao Heng couldn’t stand by and watch the harsh treatment.

Though there was no imperial edict for disaster relief, meaning the granaries could not be opened, Zhao Heng used his own money to buy food for the refugees, ensuring they could fill their stomachs. Grateful, the refugees revealed to the Langya King that the poor harvests were caused by a demon beast, the *Gu Long* (Drum Dragon). Lu Ying reminded Zhao Heng to resume their journey, warning that delaying too long might anger the emperor.

Recently, Zhu Chengbi had often been lost in thought, gazing at the Shennong Cauldron she had obtained from the white tiger and looking toward the Lianxin Pagoda with a faint smile, lost in memories. Many years ago, she first encountered Lianxin when she had just completed a thousand years of cultivation and taken on human form. Due to the toll of cultivation and her nature as a *taotie* (a mythical gluttonous beast), she had an enormous appetite.

One day, she caught the scent of something delicious and eagerly followed it to find a monk peacefully making peach blossom *qing tuan* (sweet green rice balls). Using a small trick, Zhu Chengbi "borrowed" a large number of *qing tuan* from the monk. Later, when the monk was preparing to leave the village, the locals, terrified, pointed toward the seaside and spoke of a demon haunting the area.

Naturally, the monk set out to slay the demon, only to discover Zhu Chengbi was the culprit. Upon learning that she was a demon beast, the monk tried to persuade Zhu Chengbi to abandon her wicked ways and consider traveling the world with him to sample all kinds of food. Zhu Chengbi, unwilling to give up her hard-earned territory, refused. The two fought fiercely, neither gaining the upper hand. Remembering this, Zhu Chengbi couldn’t help but shed tears.

Now, the monk had sacrificed himself to become the Lianxin Pagoda, and she could no longer hear his voice. Seeing Zhu Chengbi looking pale and coughing frequently, Chang Qing decided to cheer her up by cooking for her. He spent an entire day making various types of pastries, leaving the kitchen in complete disarray. However, when Zhu Chengbi saw the pastries, she had no appetite and demanded to eat demon beasts instead.

Determined to fulfill her wish, Chang Qing went to the market to buy demon beasts. Unable to bear the thought of killing a live one, he bought a dead beast. However, when he brought it home, his compassion got the better of him, and he buried the beast instead. When Zhu Chengbi, exhausted, heard that Chang Qing had gone to buy a demon beast, she immediately ordered two maidservants to help her check.

Upon seeing a small grave near the kitchen, she understood what had happened. This time, she didn’t blame him and instead asked Chang Qing to carry her up the mountain. Carrying Zhu Chengbi on his back, Chang Qing climbed to the mountaintop. Once they reached the destination, Zhu Chengbi asked him to set her down. It was at this very spot, years ago, that she had stopped to rest when she was tired.

Back then, Lianxin had encouraged her to keep moving forward, telling her that beyond this point was Wuxia, a place filled with delicious food. Zhu Chengbi had since kept her promise and protected Wuxia for many years, though she could no longer see Lianxin. Zhu Chengbi guessed that the *Gu Long* must be suffering from extreme thirst, as the drought had caused great hardship.

She planned to persuade the *Gu Long* to let go of its grievances, believing rain was the only solution to ease the disaster. Just then, a young boy appeared, tossing down two *qing tuan* identical to the ones Lianxin had made. The boy called them "Heaven and Earth in Spring. " As soon as the *qing tuan* were offered, a light drizzle began to fall. The boy introduced himself as Shi Yiwu, nicknamed Stone.

Having received teachings from his ancestral master, he had learned to make *qing tuan*. Seeing Zhu Chengbi’s pale and malnourished appearance, he brought her to his home and personally made *qing tuan* for her. Watching the young monk skillfully sprinkle flour and knead dough, Zhu Chengbi thought of Lianxin, whom she had longed for day and night. After eating the monk’s *qing tuan*, Zhu Chengbi’s strength began to recover. Noticing Zhu Chengbi’s improved health, Chang Qing was overjoyed.

Hearing the maidservants gossip about recent stories of dragons and immortals, he explained there was a book called *The Tale of Mei Sheng’s Encounter with Immortals* that recorded many accounts of immortals. Intrigued, Zhu Chengbi asked Chang Qing to tell her a story from the book every day.

Recently, Zhu Chengbi had been reading *The Tale of Mei Sheng’s Encounter with Immortals* with Chang Qing and came across a story about a divine dragon. According to the legend, the divine dragon that lived on the cliff was a romantic and gluttonous creature, never refusing any delicious food or drink. This reminded Zhu Chengbi of her encounter with the dragon many years ago. At that time, the dragon had mentioned a particular pastry called *“Heaven and Earth in Spring.

”* Hearing about the incredible taste of this pastry, Zhu Chengbi became curious. The dragon had lamented that the ingredients required for the pastry were exceedingly rare and that even with the recipe, one would still need to find the specific components to make it. That evening, Zhu Chengbi returned to her bed to rest after chatting for hours. Seeing that she hadn’t taken off her shoes, Chang Qing carefully covered her with a blanket and removed her boots.

He carried out these tasks with great care, yet Zhu Chengbi’s mind remained preoccupied with thoughts of Lianxin. In her dreams, she often saw Lianxin making pastries for her. Those dreamlike glimpses of his face brought her happiness, but upon waking, she was overcome with sadness, longing for her old companion. Many sleepless nights, she would rise from her bed, gaze at the Lianxin Pagoda in the distance, and sigh, lamenting the five hundred years that had passed.

She wondered how Lianxin was doing now. Zhu Chengbi fell deeper into her memories. Five hundred years ago, during her conversation with the divine dragon, she had encountered a man about to take his own life. This man, burdened by poverty and despair, had lost all joy in living and planned to jump off the cliff. At that moment, the divine dragon appeared and shared his story.

The dragon revealed that his love for food had led to punishment by the Heavenly Emperor, who confined him to a small mountain stream, unable to move. To regain his freedom, the dragon needed a soul willing to be freely sacrificed. The despairing scholar volunteered his soul for the trade, but the dragon ultimately found this solution unsatisfactory. Instead, the dragon encouraged the scholar, Mei Sheng, to create *“Heaven and Earth in Spring”* as a token of gratitude and hope.

Mei Sheng then spent the next five hundred years wandering, no longer contemplating death. Knowing that someone in the world cared about him gave his life meaning. During those years, Mei Sheng devoted himself to searching for the ingredients to make the pastry, discovering purpose and joy in the process. Meanwhile, Zhao Heng had arrived at the imperial palace after much effort. He presented his father, the emperor, with a delicacy called *“Pearl in the Palm.

”* However, upon smelling it, the emperor found it unappealing, angrily flipped the table, and ordered Zhao Heng to eat it himself. Unable to disobey, Zhao Heng complied, yet no adverse effects occurred. Even so, the emperor showed no concern for Zhao Heng’s intentions. Instead, he blamed him for the ongoing disaster and had him thrown into prison. Elsewhere, Ji Wenzhen had heard rumors that townsfolk were flocking to buy *qing tuan* from a young boy.

Enraged, she went to investigate and discovered a constant stream of customers buying the pastries. Ji Wenzhen recognized the boy as her junior disciple and demanded that he hand over the *Red Plum Umbrella* and the *Xunfang Manual*. However, the boy, knowing that their master had expelled Ji Wenzhen from the sect, refused to give her the master’s relics.

While imprisoned, Zhao Heng explained to the princess that the reason he had given the emperor the delicacy was because a fortune-teller had predicted misfortune for the emperor that year. Zhao Heng had hoped to help his father avert disaster, but now that he was in chains, he feared he could do nothing to aid the emperor. Hearing this, the princess was deeply moved and went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to attend to the emperor.

There, she encountered an assassin, but thanks to her vigilance, the emperor remained unharmed. The princess relayed Zhao Heng’s warning to the emperor, turning the situation in their favor and securing his pardon. Zhao Heng was released from prison and deeply grateful for the princess’s actions. However, when the princess lovingly placed her hand on his sleeve, Zhao Heng hesitated and chose to leave.

On the way back to Wuxia, Zhao Heng couldn’t help but ask his men if anyone had learned how to resolve the local disaster. One confidant mentioned a celestial text that recorded a method: they needed the *Xunfang Manual* to make *“Heaven and Earth in Spring,”* the divine dragon’s favorite pastry. If successful, it would bring favorable weather and end the drought. Worried about the dire situation, Zhao Heng became determined to do everything he could to pursue this solution.

Zhu Chengbi and Chang Qing went to look for Little Stone, only to find him unconscious on the ground, with a trace of blood on his forehead. The *Red Plum Umbrella*, which had always been enshrined nearby, was also missing. They immediately carried Little Stone to bed and treated his injuries. Fortunately, the wounds were not serious, and Little Stone soon regained consciousness. Upon waking, Little Stone realized that the two magical artifacts entrusted to him by his master were gone.

He became anxious and began to cry. Zhu Chengbi comforted him, saying there was no need to worry—they would do their best to retrieve them. Little Stone had no idea who had stolen the *Red Plum Umbrella*, but Zhu Chengbi was certain it was his senior sister, Ji Wenzhen. Ji Wenzhen later visited them herself and brought high-quality seashells from the Eastern Sea as a gift for Chang Qing.

She asked him to convince Little Stone to abandon the idea of making *“Heaven and Earth in Spring. ”* Ji Wenzhen insisted that the story of the divine dragon was a mere myth and that it would be best if her junior brother didn’t follow in their master’s footsteps. However, Chang Qing saw through her ploy.

He pointed out that Ji Wenzhen was likely jealous of Little Stone’s success in selling pastries and had come to disrupt his plans to eliminate competition. It had been a long time since any delicacies were made at Tianxiang Tower, so Zhu Chengbi decided to prepare some herself. She made several pastries, but her two maidservants shook their heads repeatedly, finding them incredibly unpalatable. Even Chang Qing frowned as he tasted them. Just then, Zhao Heng arrived.

After sampling a piece, he couldn’t help but ask Zhu Chengbi if she had accidentally used sugar as salt. Zhu Chengbi felt disheartened. It seemed her senses were failing her. Having not eaten Little Stone’s *“Heaven and Earth in Spring”* for days, her body seemed to be weakening. In her dreams, she heard a voice warning her that her time was running out.

Long ago, Zhu Chengbi had taken a severe blow in place of Lianxin, and now her body was gradually deteriorating. Before long, she would completely lose her five senses. One day, Zhu Chengbi fainted, and Chang Qing carefully carried her in his arms. He noticed that her body was growing weaker by the day.

However, Chang Qing had his own secret mission for coming to Tianxiang Tower: to steal Zhu Chengbi’s Qilin blood, activate the Tongtian Seal, and release the demon beasts back into the celestial realm. He had seen for himself that the Qilin blood was hidden in Zhu Chengbi’s chest, but after much hesitation, Zhu Chengbi decided not to use it and returned it to its original place.

As Zhu Chengbi’s condition worsened, Chang Qing consulted his superior, who advised him that the only way to save her was to find a miraculous doctor in the mortal world. Late at night, Chang Qing gazed at the Lianxin Pagoda in the distance and resolved to seek out Xuan, the divine doctor. On his journey, Chang Qing unexpectedly encountered Zhao Heng.

Unsure why Zhao Heng was there, Chang Qing tried to shake him off, but they both eventually reached the divine doctor’s residence. As Zhao Heng had mentioned, the divine doctor refused to see strangers. Zhao Heng, however, sent in a written request through a maidservant, and the doctor quickly agreed to meet him.

The divine doctor had already guessed that Zhao Heng wanted him to save Taotie and warned him that in order to do so, the current emperor must first be eliminated. The divine doctor later met with Chang Qing and gave him a prescription requiring numerous demon beasts. Although Chang Qing rarely killed, he decided to prioritize saving Zhu Chengbi.

He and Zhao Heng descended the mountain together but discovered something extraordinary: once they crossed a certain barrier, the words on the prescription vanished. When they returned to the boundary, the words reappeared. Realizing this, Chang Qing deduced that the divine doctor wanted them to work together to complete the mission. Late one night, an assassin broke into Tianxiang Tower, carrying the *Red Plum Umbrella*. The assassin placed the umbrella over Zhu Chengbi’s bed, intending to steal her soul.

However, Zhu Chengbi had cleverly arranged for her maid, Ying Tao, to sleep in her place, thereby escaping harm. Zhao Heng and Chang Qing had previously instructed Lu Ying to patrol near Tianxiang Tower. Hearing the cries for help, Lu Ying rushed in with soldiers, but the assassin fled. Despite chasing them, Lu Ying and his men failed to capture the intruder. When Chang Qing and Zhao Heng returned to Tianxiang Tower, they found Zhu Chengbi lying in bed, alarmingly weak.

Time was running out to gather the medicinal ingredients listed on the prescription. Zhao Heng offered to join Chang Qing in capturing the demon beasts, but Chang Qing refused. Given the severe disaster in Wuxia City, Chang Qing insisted Zhao Heng remain behind to maintain order while he personally handled the task of capturing the beasts.

Zhu Chengbi had been unconscious in bed for many days, neither eating nor drinking, and showed no signs of waking up. Seeing her lying motionless, Chang Qing felt deeply sorrowful. He recalled the days when Zhu Chengbi, full of energy, would cheerfully call on him to do this and that. Those were such happy times. Yet, in just a few days, she had become so weak.

Resolving to do whatever it took, Chang Qing decided to venture out to collect the medicinal ingredients listed in the prescription. Zhao Heng questioned his subordinate about whether the thief of the *Red Plum Umbrella* had been found. To his surprise, the masked subordinate admitted that he was the one who had stolen it. He explained that before Mei Sheng passed away, he had coughed up blood on the umbrella, forming a pattern resembling red plum blossoms.

From then on, the umbrella gained the ability to gather people's souls. He revealed that by placing the umbrella over Zhu Chengbi's head, her illness could disappear. However, he did not disclose that he had also stolen the *Seeking Fragrance Manual* to trade it for Ji Wenzhen’s *Dragon Scale Sword*. Anxious to save Zhu Chengbi, Zhao Heng immediately brought the *Red Plum Umbrella* to her. When he opened the umbrella by her bedside, Zhu Chengbi slowly regained consciousness.

Meanwhile, Chang Qing, accompanied by several servants, was out gathering medicinal ingredients. Enduring harsh conditions, he never allowed himself a moment of rest. Wan Er, the county princess, had returned to Wuxia. She was deeply infatuated with Zhao Heng and asked him when he would marry her. However, Zhao Heng’s heart was with Zhu Chengbi, and he had no feelings for Wan Er.

Bound by filial duty, he gave the excuse that Wuxia was in the midst of a disaster and he could not focus on holding a grand wedding. During the day, Zhao Heng busied himself with managing governmental affairs, but he frequently visited Tianxiang Tower. Curious, Wan Er assumed he had some request to make of Zhu Chengbi and decided to follow him there. What she saw surprised her: Zhao Heng was attentively caring for Zhu Chengbi.

Thinking it was Zhu Chengbi’s culinary skills that had captivated him, Wan Er attempted to get closer to Zhu Chengbi and asked her to teach her some recipes. Following Zhu Chengbi’s instructions, Wan Er prepared delicious dishes. Yet, when she presented them to Zhao Heng, he only took a couple of bites before setting the bowl aside. The next day, Wan Er went to Tianxiang Tower again and overheard Zhao Heng and Zhu Chengbi conversing warmly.

She noticed the affectionate way Zhao Heng looked at Zhu Chengbi, and in that moment, she realized the truth: Zhao Heng liked Zhu Chengbi. Though anger surged within her, she suppressed it and joined them. She saw Zhao Heng savoring Zhu Chengbi’s poorly made dishes with great enthusiasm. Curious, Wan Er tried the food herself and found it unpalatable. Zhao Heng discreetly signaled her not to expose this. Wan Er immediately claimed it was delicious.

Meanwhile, Ji Wenzhen, despite obtaining the recipe for *“Heaven and Earth in Spring,”* failed to replicate it no matter how hard she tried. Enraged, she recalled her master’s words and believed the failure was due to her hands. She decided to instruct a sorcerer to cut off Little Stone’s hands, ensuring that no one else could surpass her or their master in success.

Late at night, the sorcerer carried out Ji Wenzhen’s cruel orders, using magic to sever both of Little Stone’s hands. The next morning, when Zhao Heng sent his subordinates to fetch pastries, they found Little Stone lying in a pool of blood. Elsewhere, Chang Qing finally encountered the mystical Linglu, a deer spirit. According to the prescription, they needed the antlers of a Linglu.

Upon seeing Chang Qing, the Linglu eagerly approached him and asked if he had found the path to the heavens. Chang Qing lied, claiming that he hadn’t found it yet but needed one of the Linglu’s antlers. Although the Linglu knew Chang Qing was deceiving it, it was willing to sacrifice itself for even the slightest hope. After Chang Qing cut off one of its antlers, the Linglu collapsed and passed away.

Chang Qing felt deeply saddened as he saw the Linglu perish because of him. Naturally kind-hearted, he would never have taken a life if it wasn’t absolutely necessary. The Langya King was preparing to host a rain-praying festival and sent invitations to every pastry chef in the city, asking them to contribute their efforts for the disaster victims. Ji Wenzhen, confident that Little Stone’s hands were now crippled, believed she would surely claim victory.

When Zhu Chengbi’s health improved slightly, she went to Zhao Heng’s residence to express her gratitude. Little Stone’s arms had been successfully reattached, and he was able to resume making pastries. Seeing Little Stone still persistently working on *Heaven and Earth in Spring* moved Zhu Chengbi deeply. She recalled what Little Stone’s master had once said: Ji Wenzhen, driven by excessive desire, could never successfully create *Heaven and Earth in Spring*.

In contrast, Little Stone, who had devoted over a decade to perfecting one single pastry, had achieved a flavor that Ji Wenzhen could never replicate. Zhao Heng knew that the *Red Plum Umbrella* and Little Stone’s pastries alone wouldn’t be enough to sustain Zhu Chengbi’s life. Every day, he asked his subordinates whether there was any news of Chang Qing, instructing them to inform him immediately if they found him. Finally, the day of the competition arrived.

Little Stone and Zhu Chengbi shared a carriage to the event. As they chatted along the way, Little Stone recounted how he first heard the voice of the Divine Dragon when he was four years old. Unfortunately, it had only spoken a single sentence, and no matter how many times he returned to the bridge, he never encountered it again.

His master had told him that the Divine Dragon loved this particular pastry, so Little Stone had spent his life perfecting it in the hope of fulfilling his master’s dying wish. At the competition, Ji Wenzhen represented *Seeking Fragrance Hall* with her creation, *A Thousand Colors in Bloom. * Its unique design and vibrant colors earned high praise from the judges, who immediately declared *Seeking Fragrance Hall* the winner.

However, Zhu Chengbi interrupted their decision, pointing out that Little Stone’s entry had yet to be tasted. She requested a reevaluation. Zhao Heng, present at the event, supported the request and urged the judges to carefully assess all entries. Little Stone finally presented his perfected *Heaven and Earth in Spring*. Upon tasting it, the judges were astonished, declaring that while Ji Wenzhen’s creation was a worldly delicacy, Little Stone’s pastry was truly divine.

Overcome with frustration, Ji Wenzhen, who had schemed endlessly to win, broke down, unable to bear the weight of her desires. Carrying his completed pastry, Little Stone reverently walked to the Divine Dragon Bridge and, as the heir of the Mei clan, presented *Heaven and Earth in Spring* to the Divine Dragon. After a long and arduous journey, Little Stone was overcome with emotion and wept. As his tears fell onto the pastry, they formed small, bright red spots.

Zhao Heng explained that pastries must be made with one’s heart to achieve perfection. The Divine Dragon, tasting the long-awaited flavor, leapt out from the depths of the pond. After all these years, it finally received its answer and was just as excited as Little Stone. Seeing the Divine Dragon brought Little Stone great joy. However, an assassin suddenly burst out from Ji Wenzhen’s sedan chair. The attacker, wielding the *Dragon Scale Sword,* aimed to kill the Divine Dragon.

Chang Qing returned to Tianxiang Tower and learned that Zhu Chengbi and her maids had gone to the competition. Overjoyed to know everyone was there, he rushed to the venue. Seeing the assassin disrespecting the Divine Dragon, he immediately used his giant calligraphy brush to draw an indestructible shield that blocked the first attack from the *Dragon Scale Sword. * When the second attack came, the *Red Plum Umbrella* in Zhu Chengbi’s hands emitted a brilliant light, deflecting the sword.

At that moment, Mei Sheng appeared and personally presented the pastry to the Divine Dragon. Savoring the long-sought flavor, the Divine Dragon was satisfied. It bid farewell to Mei Sheng and lifted the disasters plaguing Wuxia. Gentle rain fell across the land, saving the region. Chang Qing pleaded with the Divine Dragon for a few drops of its blood. The Divine Dragon graciously granted his request before vanishing into the ether.

With peace restored, Zhu Chengbi reflected on the bond between Mei Sheng and the Divine Dragon. The Divine Dragon could have left the pond many years ago, but it remained out of loyalty to a promise. Similarly, Mei Sheng tirelessly persevered year after year, climbing mountains and crossing rivers to fulfill a single vow. One might call them both “foolish,” yet their devotion was touching.

Now that the *Red Plum Umbrella* no longer contained Mei Sheng’s spirit, Zhu Chengbi grew alarmingly weak again. Chang Qing quickly brought the medicinal ingredients he had gathered to meet the mystical physician. Determined to save Zhu Chengbi, he was willing to pay any price for the antidote.

Zhu Chengbi took the antidote brought by Chang Qing and began to recover that very day. Chang Qing stayed by her side for a long time, watching over her. When Zhu Chengbi finally woke up, the first thing she did was ask where Zhao Heng was. Despite all his efforts and care, Chang Qing was once again overlooked, but he did not take it to heart.

Early in the morning, Zhu Chengbi went outside for breakfast and happened to run into Yun Dun, a guard who often worked with Lu Ying. Yun Dun had seen Zhu Chengbi a few times before while on missions. When the steamed bun seller said only two buns were left, Yun Dun generously offered them to Zhu Chengbi. The two of them chatted and laughed as they ate, but suddenly, an explosion rang out.

Zhu Chengbi immediately recognized that the explosion was related to Zhu Que, so she followed the scent to Yan Hua Liu Xiang(the Firework Willow Lane). She quickly deduced that the Zhu Que spirit had come to Wuxia and had taken the form of Qu Yan, the top courtesan in Yan Hua Liu Xiang. Qu Yan explained that she had come to Wuxia seeking revenge against her father’s killer.

To gain Zhu Chengbi’s protection, Qu Yan presented Zhu Chengbi with a Zhu Que egg, saying it was a token of goodwill. In return, Qu Yan demanded that Zhu Chengbi turn the Zhu Que egg into a fine delicacy and sell it for an exorbitant price to those lucky enough to taste it.

Before leaving, Qu Yan repeatedly warned Zhu Chengbi that while the egg was delicious, it could only be eaten once; eating it a second time would result in excruciating pain and death. While Zhu Chengbi was out, Zhao Heng visited Tianxiang Tower, where Chang Qing was also present. Curious about how Chang Qing managed to obtain the medicine that saved Zhu Chengbi, Zhao Heng questioned him.

Chang Qing revealed the truth: after sending the medicinal ingredients listed on the prescription to the Mystic Physician, the physician had requested a person’s remaining lifespan as a catalyst for the medicine. Desperate to save Zhu Chengbi, Chang Qing willingly sacrificed his own lifespan, leaving himself with only six months to live. Zhu Chengbi returned to Tianxiang Tower with the Zhu Que egg and encountered Zhao Heng once more.

Seeing him, her heart stirred with excitement as she wondered if Zhao Heng was the monk’s reincarnation. To mask her emotions, she deliberately questioned him playfully, asking why he hadn’t stayed at his residence to help the Princess prepare for her birthday banquet. She then presented the Zhu Que egg for everyone to see. The people gathering around were seeing a Zhu Que egg for the first time. Ying Tao, amazed by the large, azure-colored egg, was full of curiosity.

However, when she heard that customers would be chosen by lottery and that each bite would cost one hundred taels of silver, she thought it was far too expensive and doubted anyone would actually eat it. As instructed by Zhu Chengbi, the shopkeeper prepared a bamboo container with one hundred bamboo sticks for the lottery. Zhao Heng immediately volunteered to draw the first lot. Chang Qing, wanting to help Zhu Chengbi with her business, suggested buying on credit.

However, when Zhu Chengbi angrily pointed out that he already owed two hundred gold taels, Chang Qing couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Meanwhile, Princess Wan Er was out shopping as usual when she ran into her childhood friend Chen Ze. Chen Ze recognized her instantly and called her “Yutong. ” Wan Er, afraid that Chen Ze would expose the truth, hurriedly arranged to meet him at another location. It turned out that Wan Er was not the real princess.

Years ago, after the prime minister’s daughter died of illness, Wan Er had been bought at a high price to take her place. Not wanting to return to a life of poverty in the countryside, Wan Er warned Chen Ze never to see her again or reveal the truth. Chen Ze, still harboring feelings for her, pleaded with Wan Er to remember their past and not abandon him completely.

Wan Er returned to Zhao Heng’s residence feeling uneasy after her encounter with Chen Ze. Her anxiety worsened when she was plagued by nightmares that night. Upon waking, her maid told her that she had seen a ghost, and the ghost had even asked if the maid had run into an “old flame. ” Wan Er immediately suspected that Zhao Heng had discovered the truth. Panicking, she ordered her attendants to prepare her clothes, determined to explain everything to Zhao Heng.

Late at night, Zhu Chengbi came to Zhao Heng to apologize. She explained that she had encountered an old acquaintance during the day but had done nothing inappropriate. Zhao Heng, direct as always, stated that their engagement had never been a matter of mutual consent. If Wan Er found someone she liked, he would report to the Emperor and have their engagement annulled. Wan Er had come to Wuxia precisely to marry and fulfill her mission.

Upon hearing Zhao Heng mention breaking off the engagement, she adamantly refused. She immediately knelt beside Zhao Heng, clutching his sleeve with a pitiful expression. Wan Er insisted that her relationship with the man was pure and offered to prove her sincerity with her life. Zhao Heng, who was not a ruthless man, was moved by pity and forgave her. He even promised to send her a specialty dish from Tianxiang Tower for her upcoming birthday banquet.

Lately, Lu Ying had been visiting the Firework Lane to see Qu Yan. With her exceptional beauty, Qu Yan naturally attracted some unsavory characters. Those who came to listen to her sing were either wealthy or noble, and one man, lusting after her, spent a lot of silver to have her drink with him. Unable to tolerate such disrespect toward the woman he cared about, Lu Ying used an old madam's hairpin to subtly remind the man to behave.

Although his intention was merely to give a warning, others around grew envious of him. Lu Ying and Qu Yan often spent time alone, while Qu Yan showed disdain for everyone else. That night, the man who had harassed Qu Yan was found dead. Many suspected Lu Ying since they had witnessed his conflict with the victim. However, Qu Yan testified that Lu Ying had no opportunity to commit the crime, and the crowd quieted down.

Zhu Chengbi finally completed the Hibiscus Banquet, creating delicate pink hibiscus flowers from the egg mixture. Not only was the dish visually stunning, but its fragrance was also enchanting. Chang Qing, pitying the loss of a small life, questioned her. Zhu Chengbi explained that it was not a true loss. For a life to be born, a pair of male and female spirit birds needed to unite, but this particular egg would never hatch.

When the Hibiscus Banquet began, everyone who tasted the dish praised it, saying its flavor evoked their most cherished memories. Ying Tao noticed some diners moved to tears and initially thought the dish might be unpalatable. However, seeing their nostalgia and emotional expressions, she finally understood the true brilliance of the Hibiscus Banquet. Among the diners, Chen Ze paid one hundred taels of silver to taste the Zhu Que egg.

Seeing how much others praised the dish, he decided to save his portion and mustered the courage to bring the hibiscus broth to Zhao Heng’s residence to give it to Wan Er. Wan Er, who despised seeing Chen Ze, immediately drove him out. That night, a man who had just tasted the Hibiscus Banquet walked into the bustling streets with ill intentions and harassed a woman in public. Suddenly, his body burst into flames, and he burned to death.

Strangely, the man appeared joyful as he was consumed by the fire. Lu Ying, tasked with investigating the case, found the charred corpse bizarre and began questioning witnesses about the events that day. When Zhu Chengbi heard about the incident, she immediately suspected the involvement of Zhu Que and angrily confronted her. Qu Yan, however, showed no remorse.

She explained that she had once painstakingly incubated her eggs, but one day, after returning from foraging, she found only broken eggshells in her nest. Someone had eaten her bird eggs while she was away. Heartbroken, her mate went in search of the thief but was brutally killed. Now, she was the last female spirit bird left in the Three Realms, utterly alone. To avenge her loss, she devised this banquet to uncover the culprit.

Zhu Chengbi, moved by Qu Yan’s tragedy, urged her not to take things too far. As Chang Qing’s life entered its final countdown, he and Zhu Chengbi had a quiet conversation. Chang Qing mentioned that if someone were willing to give up their life for her, a single wish could come true. His wish was to obtain the *Lianxin Tower*. Zhu Chengbi immediately objected, firmly telling him never to bring up the matter again.

Chang Qing knew that his time was running out. Every day he spent with Zhu Chengbi, he tried to stay by her side as much as possible. Although he claimed he wanted the *Lianxin Tower*, in truth, he simply wanted to see how much he meant to Zhu Chengbi. Her rejection saddened him, but Chang Qing still yearned to express his feelings. However, time and again, he suppressed the emotions welling up in his heart.

Lu Ying frequently visited Qu Yan to listen to her play the guzheng, and their relationship gradually became closer. One day, Qu Yan curiously asked about the scar on his face. Lu Ying, lost in memory, blurted out that he had joined the Xunlie Division to eradicate all the demons in the world. This upset Qu Yan, as she herself was a demon. Could this mean that she too would have to be eliminated by Lu Ying?

The thought weighed heavily on her, and she feigned illness to send Lu Ying away. Recently, Chang Qing had been writing farewell letters for Zhu Chengbi. There was so much he wanted to say, so many feelings he wished she could accept, and he hoped they could spend more time together. One day, he overheard Zhu Chengbi planning to clean the *Lianxin Tower*.

Worried that her recently recovered health would suffer from the exertion, he volunteered to do the cleaning in her stead. While cleaning the *Lianxin Tower*, Chang Qing accidentally discovered a hidden drawer. Inside, he found a thick stack of letters that Zhu Chengbi had written to the monk Lianxin over the past 500 years. These letters detailed her life’s changes and her deep longing for Lianxin.

After reading just two letters, Chang Qing realized that Zhu Chengbi had long since given her heart to someone else. Beneath her seemingly careless exterior, she was warm and deeply loyal, having guarded Wuxia for 500 years for the sake of a promise. Understanding Zhu Chengbi’s feelings, Chang Qing became even more determined to leave. His health had been rapidly declining, and he had begun coughing up blood.

He didn’t want Zhu Chengbi to see him in such a fragile state. Packing only a few belongings, he instructed the two maidservants at Tianxiang Tower to take good care of Zhu Chengbi. Knowing she often had a poor appetite, he gave them her usual stomach medicine to ensure she could eat properly. Zhao Heng wanted Zhu Chengbi to personally oversee the preparation of food for the princess's birthday banquet. Zhu Chengbi was unwilling.

Ever since suspecting Zhao Heng might be the reincarnation of the monk Lianxin, she had harbored mixed feelings about him. Hearing that she would need to cook for another woman only made her more uncomfortable. Zhao Heng explained that he had no romantic feelings for the princess. He simply felt indebted to her because she had once saved his life by taking an injury on his behalf to free him from a prison.

Zhu Chengbi was noncommittal, her mood still sour. She decided to find Chang Qing to ask him to accompany her on an outing, but he refused to get out of bed. Left with no choice, she wandered the streets alone. While strolling, Zhu Chengbi noticed Xunlie Division guards lingering hesitantly outside Qu Yan’s residence. She approached them and inquired about the situation.

The guards revealed that their investigation had uncovered a link between the victim, Li Jiuzeng, who had burned to death, and the Hibiscus Banquet. Zhu Chengbi personally led the guards to question Qu Yan. However, Qu Yan claimed she had never met the victim and provided no useful information.

Lu Ying went to Tianxiang Tower again to investigate the Hibiscus Banquet. He was curious about what kind of meal could cost 100 taels. When Chang Qing saw Lu Ying’s rude demeanor, he was ready to issue an eviction order. However, Zhu Chengbi arrived just in time. Seeing that Lu Ying was willing to pay 100 taels to try the meal, she instructed Yingtao to bring out the egg flower soup from the Hibiscus Banquet.

When Lu Ying saw it was just a bowl of egg flower soup, he regretted his decision, feeling it was not worth the exorbitant price. His words offended Zhu Chengbi, who used her magic to bind him to a pillar. She pried open his mouth and forcibly fed him the Hibiscus Banquet. Initially, Lu Ying was resistant, but he quickly succumbed to the delicious taste and started eating voluntarily.

After two bites, he felt a burning sensation coursing through his body and soon became disoriented. Lu Ying felt as though he had been lifted onto a sedan chair and carried far away to a peach orchard, where he saw Qu Yan dressed in red. Overcome with joy, he rushed to her and embraced her tightly, expressing his desire to be with her forever.

Qu Yan, moved to tears, told him to go back, but Lu Ying refused, wanting to stay in the moment. Unknowingly, he woke up to find himself still at Tianxiang Tower. Zhu Chengbi explained the secret of the Hibiscus Banquet: it evokes a person’s most cherished memories, which is why so many people are drawn to it. After leaving Tianxiang Tower, Lu Ying went to see Qu Yan and confessed his feelings to her. However, Qu Yan directly rejected him.

She explained that their differing statuses and identities made it impossible for them to be together. Lu Ying insisted that he didn’t care about such things, saying that for the first time in decades, he deeply cared for someone and wished to live an ordinary life, marrying and having children. Qu Yan, knowing Lu Ying’s aversion to demons, coldly issued an order for him to leave.

Back at the Xunlie Division, Lu Ying reflected on how eating the Hibiscus Banquet had not caused him to spontaneously combust. Furthermore, Tianxiang Tower had no motive for murder, so other clues were needed. His subordinates reported that the victim’s previous residence registration was falsified, and his identity had been fabricated. Lu Ying found it suspicious that both victims had questionable identities and wondered what the real cause could be.

Zhu Chengbi visited Qu Yan and learned that Lu Ying had indeed come to see her. Despite clearly liking Lu Ying, Qu Yan had ruthlessly rejected him. Zhu Chengbi was curious about her reasons, and Qu Yan honestly explained that their lifespans were different, making it impossible for them to grow old together. Her words struck a chord with Zhu Chengbi, who had secretly loved a monk for so many years, longing to be with him.

She realized it was all one-sided—how could a demon and a human ever be together for the long term? Zhu Chengbi and Qu Yan drank wine and chatted, and Zhao Heng also joined them. Qu Yan played music for their enjoyment. Slightly drunk, Zhu Chengbi stared at Zhao Heng’s profile and, in a daze, mistook him for Lianxin.

Grabbing Zhao Heng’s arm, she tearfully said she had waited for him for 500 years and begged him never to leave her waiting alone again. Zhao Heng was shocked, realizing Zhu Chengbi’s heart had been occupied by someone she had waited for over five centuries. Despite seeing that Zhu Chengbi was drunk, Zhao Heng refrained from any inappropriate actions, while Qu Yan left early. The room was left with only Zhao Heng and Zhu Chengbi.

As Zhu Chengbi fell into a deep sleep, Zhao Heng murmured that even if she loved someone else, he was unworthy of her with his current status. As long as she didn’t despise him, he was content to remain her friend. Despite his high status and the respect he enjoyed, Zhao Heng was deeply insecure. He was well aware of his humble origins and the scorn he had faced as a child.

Having someone treat him as a friend was already enough to make him happy. Chang Qing, noticing Zhu Chengbi hadn’t returned for a long time, went to Pingyue Lane to look for her. He found Zhu Chengbi and Zhao Heng asleep together, with Zhu Chengbi draped in Zhao Heng’s robe. Sighing, Chang Qing picked up Zhu Chengbi and carried her away.

Shortly afterward, the princess arrived at Pingyue Lane, took the drunken Zhao Heng back with her, and even helped him change his clothes. Wan Er accidentally discovered Zhao Heng’s true identity—he was a half-demon. In his groggy state, Zhao Heng admitted it, confessing that he had endured scorn from his parents as a child and longed for someone who would accept him and never despise him. The princess, deeply in love with Zhao Heng, assured him that she would not reject him because of this.

At dawn the next day, Chang Qing couldn’t help but reprimand Zhu Chengbi, warning her not to be so casual in the future. Drinking late at night with a man and nearly staying out all night would only invite trouble from unscrupulous people. His stern words upset Zhu Chengbi, who noticed that Chang Qing seemed less gentle than usual. Frustrated, she felt he was meddling in her affairs more than ever.

Zhao Heng woke up and was alarmed when his subordinates informed him that Princess Wan Er had visited the previous night while he was asleep and changing clothes. Realizing that Wan Er must have discovered his half-demon identity, he immediately ordered his men to find her. If she refused to comply, they were to deal with her on the spot. They searched for her all day, but by evening, Wan Er returned on her own.

With no one else around, Zhao Heng asked her where she had been and why she hadn’t taken the opportunity to escape. Wan Er replied that she had gone to a temple to pray for him. Not only would she not leave today, but she also vowed never to escape again. She declared that she was the imperial-appointed princess consort and would belong to Zhao Heng for this life and beyond.

Zhao Heng pressed a dagger to her neck, but seeing her unwavering determination, he softened and lowered the blade. Chang Qing visited Zhao Heng again, sharing details about Zhu Chengbi’s daily habits and food preferences, urging him to take good care of her. Zhao Heng was puzzled, wondering why Chang Qing, who seemed deeply devoted to Zhu Chengbi, was planning such a long journey away from her.

At Tianxiang Tower, Zhu Chengbi heard from Yingtao that Chang Qing’s personality had changed recently. He had assigned all his usual cleaning duties to two maidservants and repeatedly instructed them to take meticulous care of Zhu Chengbi. This wasn’t like him at all. As she was pondering this, she heard the sound of a carriage outside. Chang Qing had returned. Zhu Chengbi got up to greet him, but noticed that Zhao Heng had come along as well.

Skipping over Chang Qing, she greeted Zhao Heng directly. Chang Qing, hurt, walked quietly back to his room. Sensing his unusual behavior, Zhu Chengbi recalled their earlier argument and decided to deliberately provoke him. She agreed to go out with Zhao Heng to admire lotus flowers and enjoy fine cuisine. While they were viewing the lotus flowers, Zhao Heng confessed his feelings to Zhu Chengbi, promising to cherish her and stay with her forever.

He reached out to hold her hand, but Zhu Chengbi instinctively pulled away. Deep inside, she felt conflicted. She had often imagined Lian Deng confessing to her, yet now that it was happening, she felt no excitement. Instead, her mind kept drifting back to Chang Qing’s sorrowful expression earlier. She wondered if something had happened to him. Using an excuse, she left early and returned home. When Zhu Chengbi didn’t return on time, Chang Qing waited at the door for her.

She slipped in through the back entrance of Tianxiang Tower and saw Chang Qing still waiting. The sight filled her heart with warmth. When Chang Qing saw her, his face lit up with joy, and for a moment, the tension between them vanished. Zhu Chengbi asked if something was troubling him lately, but Chang Qing evaded her questions, insisting he was planning to leave Tianxiang Tower. Hearing this, Zhu Chengbi’s eyes reddened with tears.

She begged him to stay, saying she already saw him and Yingtao as her family. Chang Qing struggled to hold back his emotions, but tears nearly escaped his eyes. In private, Wan Er met with Zhu Chengbi and handed her a secret *demon scroll* she had quietly taken. She wanted to reveal Zhao Heng’s secret but hesitated at the last moment, only mentioning that she had seen the scroll change before.

Late at night, Chen Ze arrived at the agreed meeting place, bringing a *Hibiscus Banquet* he had treasured for years. Wan Er had initially planned to lure Chen Ze there and eliminate him to keep her secrets safe. But seeing the deep affection in Chen Ze’s eyes, she couldn’t go through with it. She realized how much she and Chen Ze were alike—both in love with someone who didn’t return their feelings.

Just as she loved Zhao Heng, who didn’t love her, Chen Ze was in love with her. Seeing Wan Er’s tears, Chen Ze immediately wiped them away and comforted her. Zhao Heng arrived with his men, originally planning to celebrate Wan Er’s birthday that evening. However, when the birthday girl went missing, they searched everywhere for her. When Wan Er saw Zhao Heng, she ate the *Hibiscus Banquet* right in front of him.

Knowing it could only be eaten once, she smiled and told Zhao Heng that she could now leave with her secrets intact. She reassured him not to worry before passing away.

After Wan Er self-immolated, the Xunlie Division brought Chen Ze to their office for questioning, asking if he was from Panyun Village. At first, Chen Ze denied it, but when presented with evidence, he had no choice but to admit it. Lu Ying was puzzled. Years ago, Panyun Village had been engulfed in a devastating fire.

Historical records indicated that the fire was linked to a mystical bird that, in a fit of rage, set the blaze after witnessing someone cruelly abusing orphans. Only a handful of people had survived the fire. Lu Ying asked Chen Ze if he had intentionally killed the princess. Chen Ze vehemently denied it, claiming that the princess was the love of his life and that he could never harm her. However, he refused to reveal the full truth.

Wan Er had once told Chen Ze herself that she had taken on someone else’s identity. Now that she was gone, Chen Ze was determined to keep her secret forever. At Tianxiang Tower, Zhu Chengbi called Chang Qing to examine the *Bai Ze Demon Scroll* together. They noticed that more mythical beasts had appeared on it, suggesting that the scroll changed over time.

The *Hibiscus Banquet* Zhu Chengbi had prepared for Wan Er was still untouched, so she invited Chang Qing to enjoy it with her. That evening, Lu Ying visited Qu Yan and mentioned the case he had just reviewed. Qu Yan was shocked to hear that Chen Ze had been imprisoned, as he was the last person involved in the conspiracy that led to her husband and children’s deaths.

Qu Yan prepared wine laced with a sedative and served it to Lu Ying. However, Lu Ying noticed something was off and urged Qu Yan not to recklessly infiltrate the Xunlie Division. Qu Yan then recounted the reason she came to Wuxia City. She and her husband had once pitied Chen Ze, who was an orphan, and couldn’t bear to see him tortured to death. They took him in for the night, but this act of kindness revealed their location.

The next day, Chen Ze abducted her five children and devoured them alive. The memory of this tragedy had haunted Qu Yan ever since, driving her to endure all these years. Zhu Chengbi sensed Qu Yan’s deep pain. After Qu Yan’s heartfelt pleas, Zhu Chengbi prepared another *Hibiscus Banquet* and instructed Yingtao to deliver it to the prison. Unable to resist the temptation, Chen Ze ate the banquet and self-immolated, dying on the spot.

Qu Yan was about to storm the prison to kill Chen Ze herself, but Lu Ying blocked her way, pleading with her not to take such risks. As they argued, they heard Chen Ze’s agonizing screams from inside the prison and realized he was already dead. Qu Yan finally felt a weight lifted from her heart.

She asked Lu Ying to escort her to face justice, but after hearing the full story, Lu Ying encouraged her to leave instead, urging her to let go of the past and start anew with him. Qu Yan saw the sincerity in Lu Ying’s eyes, but before she could respond, three arrows suddenly shot toward her. Lu Ying immediately shielded her with his body, taking the arrows to protect her. The arrows had been fired by Zhao Heng.

After witnessing Wan Er’s tragic death, Zhao Heng had sworn to become Qu Yan’s mortal enemy, vowing to eliminate her completely. Furious at seeing Lu Ying injured because of her, Qu Yan soared into the sky and unleashed a massive fire over Wuxia City, turning it into a sea of flames. From Tianxiang Tower, Zhu Chengbi saw the city ablaze and prepared to reveal her true form to save it.

Chang Qing tried to stop her, reminding her that her body was still recovering and that transforming too often would harm her vitality. Ignoring his advice, Zhu Chengbi ascended into the sky. Before leaving, she told Chang Qing that she had promised Lian Deng to protect Wuxia City, and she intended to keep that promise. Inside Wuxia City, the citizens grabbed basins of water to fight the fire, but the flames were too fierce for ordinary methods to work.

Suddenly, a massive divine beast appeared in the sky. Someone identified it as a *Taotie*. The Taotie blocked Zhuque (Vermilion Bird) from starting further fires and swallowed the flames that had already spread. The citizens knelt in gratitude, offering prayers of thanks. Even Zhao Heng, who was present, was deeply impressed by the Taotie’s majestic form and its dedication to protecting the people of Wuxia City.

In the end, Qu Yan fled to Lian Deng Tower, where she met Lu Ying for the last time. Having avenged her family and unexpectedly found love, she felt her life was complete. She willingly ascended to the heavens to accept her punishment, leaving no regrets behind.

As Qu Yan ascended to the heavens, she unexpectedly discovered her son, who had bravely saved lives during the fire. She recalled hatching five eggs long ago, four of which were eaten by humans. To her surprise, one had survived and successfully hatched. Realizing this at the very last moment, Qu Yan wept. Her tears, falling to the ground, extinguished all the fires.

In the sky, Qu Yan flew into the Taotie's mouth, but after a short while, she was spat back out. Zhu Chengbi awoke, commenting idly on how delicious the Zhuque tasted. Chang Qing, knowing her well, understood that she was merely putting up a tough front. In truth, Zhu Chengbi had spared the Zhuque, allowing it to be reborn. After Qu Yan’s departure, Lu Ying was consumed by grief, struggling to move on from his sorrow.

During the fire, Yun Dun saved Granny Sun’s granddaughter. After recovering from his injuries, Yun Dun returned to work at the Xunlie Division, where everyone greeted him warmly. Yun Dun mysteriously remarked to his colleagues that he seemed to have grown a pair of wings recently, but everyone laughed it off as nonsense. While cleaning up the ruins of the fire, Yun Dun stumbled upon a Zhuque with fiery red feathers.

Carrying a birdcage, he called out to Lu Ying for a meal. When Lu Ying saw the Zhuque, it reminded him of Qu Yan. His eyes lit up with hope as he carefully held the cage and examined the bird. That night, Lu Ying also recalled seeing the Taotie spit out the Zhuque again, which made him wonder if this Zhuque, found amidst the ruins, could truly be Qu Yan reborn.

This thought gave Lu Ying a new sense of purpose, and he began meticulously caring for the little bird. That night, Chang Qing had a dream in which countless mystical beasts urged him to open the Tongtian Seal so they could return home. Despite their pleas, Chang Qing struggled to fulfill their request. Awakening from the nightmare, Chang Qing felt torn. He wished to protect the Taotie but also wanted to help the spirit beasts return to their homeland.

Chang Qing’s master reappeared, chastising him for exchanging his remaining lifespan with Xuan Yi, leaving himself with little time to live. The master called Chang Qing foolish, pointing out that Zhu Chengbi’s powers were still weak and that Chang Qing had gained her trust at Tianxiang Tower. Any misstep now would ruin his mission. When the master repeatedly referred to the Taotie as a heinous beast, Chang Qing, having spent much time with Zhu Chengbi, instinctively defended her.

However, the master warned him that Zhu Chengbi would soon take him to a place where he would witness the blood-soaked truth. Meanwhile, Zhao Heng held a grand funeral for Wan Er. Now that Qu Yan had been eliminated, he considered it as avenging Wan Er’s death. Soon after, an imperial edict arrived in Wuxia, leaving Zhao Heng anxious about the emperor’s potential punishments, as the princess’s death had occurred under his watch.

The emperor’s edict first reprimanded Zhao Heng for his failure to maintain order, then ordered him to eliminate the Taotie within a few days. The emperor’s younger brother arrived in Wuxia to personally oversee Zhao Heng’s efforts to carry out the order. By autumn, the crabs had grown plump and succulent. Zhao Heng sent seafood to Zhu Chengbi as a gesture of goodwill. At this time, Tianxiang Tower had been sealed off.

Zhu Chengbi informed Zhao Heng that she would be leaving on a trip. The emperor’s younger brother guessed that she might be heading to Yangcheng Prefecture, as historical records indicated that the Taotie visited that place every year.

On this journey to Yangcheng Prefecture, Zhu Chengbi brought Chang Qing along. Upon arrival, they found the entire street desolate and eerily quiet. Chang Qing felt a chill down his spine, sensing someone following them. It turned out that Zhao Heng and the Second Prince were also there. Zhu Chengbi led their group to an inn and handed over her precious seasonings to a maidservant. The maidservant guided them toward the palace of Lord Wuchang.

However, they were obstructed along the way, which enraged Zhu Chengbi. Five hundred years ago, Lord Wuchang had betrayed her trust by refusing to send reinforcements, which led to her being severely injured. Naturally, every encounter with him filled her with resentment. When the maidservant tried to make excuses again, Zhu Chengbi angrily knocked the documents off the desk, the noise alerting Lord Wuchang. Forced to appear, he ordered his subordinates to prepare a lavish meal for the guests.

Among Lord Wuchang’s subordinates was a Crab General, who was accustomed to acting unruly. Seeing Zhu Chengbi’s disrespect toward Lord Wuchang, the general attempted to retaliate, only to be stopped by Chang Qing, who blocked the attack with a brush. Zhu Chengbi looked at the frail and sickly appearance of Lord Wuchang and sighed at the impermanence of life. Five hundred years ago, under the guidance of Monk Lianxin, Zhu Chengbi had come to this place for the first time.

At that time, Lianxin was also present, and everyone had shared joyful camaraderie. Zhu Chengbi had believed they would endure hardships together. However, during the ensuing Heavenly Demon War, Lord Wuchang broke his promise, ruining their plans. Lianxin was forced to sacrifice himself to the tower, and Zhu Chengbi, once a carefree little beast, became a resentful one burdened with sorrow. As night fell, Chang Qing, as usual, went to Zhu Chengbi’s room to check if anything was out of place.

He found her playing with a sharp dagger. Zhu Chengbi told him that by dawn, she planned to use the dagger to open the Coral Pearl. She had heard that the pearl could transmit sound over great distances and thought it could serve as a makeshift communication tool in the future. Chang Qing advised her to remain calm and show compassion rather than resort to violence.

Zhu Chengbi shook her head and reminded him that if he understood the backstory, he wouldn’t blame her for what she planned to do. Meanwhile, Zhao Heng and Lord Wuchang’s wife had reached a tacit understanding. Aware that the two factions were enemies and that the emperor had issued a decree to capture Zhu Chengbi, they decided to join forces. Lord Wuchang’s wife asked Zhao Heng for a plan, but he hesitated, leaving the Second Prince to explain in detail.

Feeling restless, Chang Qing wandered around and unexpectedly found a string of prayer beads. As he stepped into the barrier, he was discovered by Lord Wuchang’s shrimp and crab soldiers. They mocked Chang Qing’s ignorance, claiming that the prayer beads were the most valuable treasure in Yangcheng Prefecture and that Zhu Chengbi caused chaos here every year because of them. They also said that no one else dared approach this place.

Listening to their words, Chang Qing deduced that the prayer beads held a special significance for Zhu Chengbi. Normally, she was lighthearted and playful, but her demeanor became fierce and vengeful in Yangcheng Prefecture, as if this place had wronged her deeply. As Chang Qing carefully explored the area, he heard a commotion and quickly rushed toward it. Zhu Chengbi was surrounded.

To protect her husband, Lord Wuchang’s wife had secretly drugged Zhu Chengbi and used a fragrant incense burner to activate the toxins in her body, leaving her weak and powerless. Fortunately, Chang Qing arrived in time. He drew a sword with his brush and shattered the incense burner, helping Zhu Chengbi regain her strength. Lord Wuchang’s wife was no match for Zhu Chengbi and quickly fled in defeat. Zhao Heng then unleashed an illusion, trapping Zhu Chengbi and Chang Qing in an empty void.

Zhu Chengbi and Chang Qing walked together in the void, but after just a few steps, a barrier suddenly appeared, separating them. Chang Qing pounded on the barrier, but Zhu Chengbi couldn’t hear him. Both realized the peril of their situation but could do nothing about it. Chang Qing was pulled out of the illusion by Zhao Heng. A crab spirit appeared and told Chang Qing that the mirror in front of him was the entrance to the illusion.

Through it, he might find Zhu Chengbi. However, the illusion was fraught with dangers, and no one could predict what might happen. Worried for Zhu Chengbi’s safety, Chang Qing charged into the entrance without hesitation. Inside the illusion, Zhu Chengbi was deeply trapped, haunted by painful memories. She recalled the past five hundred years of struggle, all in the hope of reuniting with Lian Deng one day, but he was still nowhere to be found.

Overcome with despair, Zhu Chengbi drew the dagger hidden on her and prepared to end her life. Zhao Heng, watching through the mirror, immediately knocked the dagger from her hand. Realizing it was a trap and someone wanted her dead, Zhu Chengbi refocused her efforts on finding an exit. At that moment, she saw Xuan Yi, the healer.

Zhu Chengbi remembered how Chang Qing had once brought a list of rare medicinal herbs to Xuan Yi, hoping he could create an antidote. When Xuan Yi said he needed someone’s lifespan to complete it, Chang Qing had unhesitatingly offered his own. Zhu Chengbi cried out in protest, realizing how much Chang Qing had silently sacrificed for her while she had previously treated him so imperiously, oblivious to her actions.

Meanwhile, in the illusion, Chang Qing saw Zhu Chengbi weeping bitterly while holding a man dressed in white. He had never seen her so heartbroken. Although he couldn’t clearly see the man’s face, the sight of Zhu Chengbi crying was unbearable for Chang Qing. He tried to rush to her side, but the scene vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Chang Qing vividly remembered another vision in the illusion: Lord Wuchang’s wife coldly plunging a dagger into Zhu Chengbi’s body. Her blood splattered onto the translucent barrier. Looking closely, Chang Qing realized it was real blood. In the illusion, Lord Wuchang’s people discovered that Chang Qing was a banished celestial being. However, within the barrier, the illusion could cloud anyone’s mind.

Chang Qing tirelessly searched for Zhu Chengbi, but whenever he found her, it was only a beast’s illusion of her. At times, Zhu Chengbi berated him, calling him useless and incapable of helping her escape, even threatening to draw her sword and kill him. Her coldness deeply wounded Chang Qing. At other times, Zhu Chengbi appeared affectionate, softly calling his name and tenderly embracing him. Chang Qing, having never experienced such warmth from Zhu Chengbi, nearly fell for the deception.

At the last moment, he seized the dagger and stabbed the imposter, realizing it was one of Lord Wuchang’s people disguised as Zhu Chengbi. Chang Qing remembered the mantra Zhu Chengbi had written for him before they parted, which contained spatial and temporal coordinates. Deciphering its secrets, he finally arrived at an underwater realm. Through the surface of the water, Chang Qing saw Zhu Chengbi sitting on an island, playing chess with an old man.

Lord Wuchang’s people boasted that the two jars of wine beside Zhu Chengbi were poisoned. Even a small sip would leave her breathless and dead. Chang Qing watched as Zhu Chengbi, unaware of the danger, raised a cup of wine to drink. He immediately pulled out his large brush and drew a tool to knock the cup from her hand. Hearing Chang Qing’s voice, Zhu Chengbi now fully realized how much he had done to protect her. Without hesitation, she revealed her true form and shattered the illusion that had entrapped them.

After Zhu Chengbi emerged from the illusion, she returned to Yangcheng Manor with Chang Qing. Lord Wuchang’s wife knelt and begged Zhu Chengbi to spare her husband, but Zhu Chengbi refused to relent. Chang Qing remembered his former superior’s warning that Zhu Chengbi’s nature was ruthless and cruel. Believing it to be true, he stepped in front of Zhu Chengbi when she was about to eat Wuchang.

Surprised that someone so close to her was blocking her, Zhu Chengbi asked Chang Qing why he was doing this. She pointed out that he had only verbally opposed her eating other beasts in the past but now was physically intervening. Chang Qing simply urged Zhu Chengbi to stop killing indiscriminately. Without much explanation, Zhu Chengbi demanded that Lord Wuchang return her prayer beads.

Lord Wuchang, however, looked troubled and explained that the monk Lian Deng had set a barrier around the prayer beads, and only Lian Deng himself could retrieve them. Enraged, Zhu Chengbi rushed to the barrier and began slashing at it with a blade. Each strike caused the barrier to retaliate, leaving her battered and bloodied. Watching this, Chang Qing felt heartbroken.

It was then that Lord Wuchang revealed the truth about their enmity: five hundred years ago, during the battle at Songyang Pass, the black qilin led an army of beasts against Lian Deng and Zhu Chengbi. At that time, Lord Wuchang had promised to lead 100,000 soldiers from the Water Palace as reinforcements. However, when the critical moment arrived, he broke his promise, forcing Lian Deng to sacrifice himself.

The memory of these events caused Zhu Chengbi immense pain, leading her to wreak havoc at Lord Wuchang’s manor every hundred years. Learning the truth, Chang Qing felt deeply remorseful. It was Lord Wuchang’s betrayal, not Zhu Chengbi’s fault, and he had wrongfully blamed her without understanding the situation. While consumed with regret, Chang Qing suddenly noticed countless puppet threads flying toward Zhu Chengbi, wrapping tightly around her.

The more she struggled, the tighter the threads bound her, causing blood to seep through her clothes. The puppet threads were controlled by Zhao Heng’s subordinates. Zhu Chengbi, confused and hurt, addressed Zhao Heng, whom she affectionately called “La Rou” (Cured Meat), asking why he would strike her when she was at her weakest. Zhao Heng stepped forward, declaring that he was there to eradicate the gluttonous beast for the current emperor. Zhu Chengbi was heartbroken.

She had always regarded Zhao Heng as a reincarnation of Lian Deng, yet he dismissed her as nothing more than a beast. Tearfully, Zhu Chengbi took out a treasured sound-transmitting shell she had intended to gift him, saying she never expected to be so mistaken. Zhao Heng retorted that he was not Lian Deng’s reincarnation.

Hearing Zhu Chengbi repeatedly mention events from 500 years ago, he became furious, realizing he had been loved only because she thought he was someone else. This revelation made him feel pathetic. As Zhao Heng’s subordinates urged him to harden his resolve, Zhu Chengbi reached her limit. Seeing this, Chang Qing ignored the danger and rushed into the barrier. The barrier shattered, and the puppet threads binding Zhu Chengbi were severed.

Regaining her powers, Zhu Chengbi, armed with a magical artifact, vowed never to be humiliated again. When she turned around, she realized it was Chang Qing who had saved her. At that moment, the prayer beads glowed, and Lian Deng appeared. Lian Deng explained the entire incident: five hundred years ago, Lord Wuchang had not broken his promise.

Instead, Lian Deng had written him a letter, asking him not to send troops to avoid more bloodshed and prevent others from being harmed in the war. Zhu Chengbi had been kept in the dark all these years. To protect her dignity, Lord Wuchang willingly endured excruciating pain every century. The prayer beads, Lian Deng explained, held the power to revive Lord Wuchang.

Looking at Zhu Chengbi with compassion, Lian Deng advised her to become a gluttonous beast with empathy and to stop killing innocent beasts. He also entrusted Chang Qing to keep an eye on her. After his words, Lian Deng disappeared, likely for the last time. Overwhelmed with emotion, Zhu Chengbi felt grateful and touched. For five centuries, she had visited the Lotus Tower to speak to Lian Deng, unaware that he had always been there.

Now, determined to honor his advice, she resolved to live well. Zhao Heng, severely injured, was forgiven by Zhu Chengbi. She admitted that she had misunderstood him before. However, Zhao Heng’s actions in this battle had nearly cost Zhu Chengbi her life. She declared that all past grievances were now settled. Chang Qing, too, was gravely injured. When Zhu Chengbi saw the totem on his chest, she recalled seeing him make a deal with Xuan Yi in the illusion.

It turned out to be true: if the totem disappeared, Chang Qing would lose his life entirely. Seeing his weakened state, Lord Wuchang gave his prayer beads to Chang Qing. Wanting to extend Chang Qing’s life, Zhu Chengbi changed her plans and decided to take him to Yaoguang Sea.

Zhu Chengbi and Chang Qing arrived at an inn, where the owner had a rough and peculiar appearance: one eye was functional, while the other was a white, lifeless orb. Chang Qing inquired about the Floating Fish Inn, and the innkeeper feigned terror, claiming the place was overrun by beasts. He warned that everyone who went there for a meal never returned and became food for the monsters instead of enjoying fish soup.

Chang Qing felt a chill run down his spine, but Zhu Chengbi immediately saw through the lie. She pointed out that the innkeeper was simply jealous of the other inn’s thriving business and had spread these rumors out of spite. Chang Qing handed the innkeeper some money and decided to stay the night. That evening, Chang Qing asked Zhu Chengbi if her determination to go to Yaoguang Sea was truly just to taste the fish soup.

Zhu Chengbi nodded, explaining that after surviving the ordeal with Lord Wuchang, she needed to replenish her energy with some delicious food. She jokingly added that if the old innkeeper refused to provide them with a boat the next day, she would simply give him a beating. Seeing Zhu Chengbi return to her mischievous self, Chang Qing felt relieved. When morning came, Zhu Chengbi and Chang Qing headed to the riverside.

The weather was clear and sunny, the air crisp and refreshing. The beautiful scenery lifted their spirits. Along the way, they encountered Liu Zhongxian and his wife. Having only read about Liu Zhongxian in books, seeing him in person was a surreal experience—he exuded an ethereal and approachable demeanor. After exchanging greetings, the four parted ways. Seeing such a talented and beautiful couple left Chang Qing feeling envious. The river was so clear that one could see the bottom.

Zhu Chengbi and Chang Qing found a small boat to take them to the Floating Fish Inn. Since they hadn’t eaten breakfast, Chang Qing was feeling quite hungry. Zhu Chengbi reassured him that they’d soon enjoy fresh fish stew. As they admired the surrounding scenery, water suddenly began leaking into the boat. Chang Qing quickly used his hands to scoop out the water, while Zhu Chengbi inspected the damage.

Realizing the boat couldn’t be repaired quickly, she took Chang Qing and ascended into the sky, flying through the clouds to their destination. For the first time, Chang Qing experienced walking on clouds, free from Earth’s gravity, and marveled at the river scenery from above. When they arrived at the inn, they found that many others had come to try the fish soup, each seemingly with their own agenda.

Among the patrons was a self-proclaimed experienced Taoist who enthusiastically shared the story of the inn’s owner, Ji Hairu. The Taoist explained that Ji Hairu once had a close sister who tragically drowned in an accident. Heartbroken, Ji Hairu vowed to stay and guard the inn, never marrying. Decades passed, and she remained true to her promise, running the inn with a helper who served as a waiter. Over time, the business flourished.

Ji Hairu ordered her staff to start preparing fish, while the diners continued chatting. Suddenly, it began to rain. A woodsman arrived, claiming he had passed by while hunting. Zhu Chengbi, however, was immediately suspicious. What woodsman would venture into the mountains during rain and then come to the inn to taste fish soup, even paying a high price for it? She noticed he carried a weapon, clearly indicating he was in disguise.

The woodsman took out a few flower mushrooms from his basket, boasting about how rare and valuable they were, with incredible medicinal properties. Zhu Chengbi treated his claims as a joke but kept a close eye on him without revealing her suspicions. Outside, dark clouds rolled in, and the air was filled with a strong smell of the sea. Someone cried out, “A monster is coming!

” As a shadow moved beneath the water toward the inn’s railing, the patrons grew nervous and urged the Taoist to catch the monster. The Taoist made a show of hanging up talismans and wielding a peachwood sword, chanting spells over the river. However, after all his bustling efforts, no monster appeared. The Taoist quickly found an excuse, claiming the fish bait was not to the monster’s liking, and suggested the woodsman offer his mushrooms as bait.

The woodsman directly proposed a trade: he had his eye on Chang Qing’s large calligraphy brush. If Chang Qing agreed to exchange it, he would reveal the mushrooms’ value. Hoping to fulfill Zhu Chengbi’s wish to enjoy the fish soup, Chang Qing reluctantly agreed to the deal.

The Taoist, now holding the rare flower mushrooms, leapt into the river. Chang Qing focused intently on the water, fearing for the Taoist’s safety. Zhu Chengbi reassured him, saying there was nothing to worry about—the Taoist wouldn’t catch any monster and would likely just pull out a small fish to pass off as one. Not long after, the Taoist emerged from the water, holding a three-inch-long little red fish. Chang Qing immediately realized Zhu Chengbi’s prediction was correct.

Even Ji Hairu, the innkeeper, couldn’t believe that the small fish was the infamous fish demon responsible for harming so many. The Taoist claimed that the fish had the ability to transform and that they were fortunate to catch it before it fully matured; otherwise, it would have caused even more havoc. With no way to disprove the Taoist’s claim, Ji Hairu played along.

She rewarded him with some money and asked him to spread the word that the fish demon had been eliminated. The Taoist eagerly agreed, delighted with the reward. Finally, Zhu Chengbi and Chang Qing got to taste the fish soup. Zhu Chengbi asked Chang Qing how he found it. Though Chang Qing wasn’t a connoisseur of fine food, he remarked that the soup still carried a faint fishy taste.

Ji Hairu’s face fell, and she explained nervously that the inn’s business had been slow, so her cooking skills might have grown a little rusty. The original plan was to leave after having the fish soup, but Zhu Chengbi decided to stay the night. Chang Qing, hearing it was just for one night, didn’t object. Late at night, unable to sleep, Chang Qing opened the window.

He gazed at the moonlit river, its surface rippling under the gentle breeze, and was overcome with emotion. Thinking about his limited time left, he wondered if this might be where he and Zhu Chengbi would part ways. Meanwhile, there was a knock at Ji Hairu’s door. It was the county magistrate, who had come to discuss shutting down the inn.

The magistrate had long coveted Ji Hairu’s beauty, and with the recent rumors about a fish demon, he believed closing the inn and sealing off Yaoguang Sea would be the best solution. However, Ji Hairu wasn’t intimidated. She reminded him of the despicable things he had done in the past, including the mysterious circumstances surrounding his mother’s death. Did he not feel any shame? The magistrate, rebuffed, left Ji Hairu’s room in disgrace.

As he walked down the hallway, he saw the Taoist from earlier holding a pile of silver notes and talking to himself. The Taoist lamented his regrets, saying he wished these silver notes could save his wife. But as he spoke, he suddenly collapsed and died. The magistrate, witnessing this, shouted, “A monster is here! ” The other guests, hearing his cries, rushed out of their rooms. When they saw the Taoist’s lifeless body, everyone grew uneasy.

The magistrate, seemingly possessed by fear, ran out, declaring he had to leave immediately. But when he reached the riverside, all the boats had disappeared. Without a boat, escape was impossible. He returned to his room, muttering, “I didn’t harm my mother. ”The man who had earlier disguised himself as a woodsman explained that the magistrate, in his quest for power, had driven his own mother to her death. It seemed his conscience was tormenting him. Chang Qing was puzzled.

How could a mere woodsman know so much about the magistrate’s dark past? Moreover, he was unnervingly calm after witnessing the Taoist’s death, showing no concern for his goods or for his own safety. Instead, he speculated on the identity of the killer, which struck Chang Qing as absurd. By now, Chang Qing suspected that the woodsman was actually an agent of Langya King. Confronted, the man admitted it and stopped hiding his identity.

Later that night, there was another knock on Ji Hairu’s door. This time, it was Liu Zhongxian, who spoke to her with deep affection, recalling their past. He confessed that he had fallen for her at first sight and fondly remembered the days when they drank wine and recited poetry together with her sister, discussing life’s purpose and ideals. He had hoped they would be together forever, but Ji Hairu had been forced into an arranged marriage.

She had been waiting at Yaoguang Sea ever since. Now reunited, the two disregarded societal norms and rekindled their old romance. That same night, Chang Qing experienced a sudden bout of shortness of breath. He clutched his chest, groaning in pain. Zhu Chengbi rushed to his side and used her magic to stabilize him. Seeing the totem on his chest fade in color, Zhu Chengbi knew that Chang Qing’s time was running out.

At dawn, Liu Zhongxian woke in Ji Hairu’s room. After a night of intimacy, he marveled at how her beauty had only grown over the years. However, he noticed she was wearing her late sister Ji Hairong’s clothes. At that moment, his expression darkened. Back then, Liu Zhongxian had not only shown affection to Ji Hairu but had also secretly been involved with her sister, Ji Hairong. The exact circumstances of Ji Hairong’s drowning remained a mystery to this day.

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