Two evergreen trees stood before the graves of Cangshu Bai’s parents, their lush foliage remaining vibrant throughout the year. They stood like two figures in silent vigil over a patch of pristine earth, where not a single weed dared to grow.
He turned back and gently took Mu Ran’s hand. His voice was low and soft, yet filled with solemnity. “Father, Mother, this is Mu Ran, my wife.”
Mu Ran knelt beside him and called out respectfully, “Father, Mother.”
Fearing that Mu Ran might overthink it, Cangshu Bai did not tell her that this was merely a cenotaph. His parents’ remains had been lost two hundred years ago. Back then, he was a fledgling with no power to protect himself, let alone seek revenge. Even this empty tomb was something he had only managed to establish a few years prior.
He had already wiped out the Cangshu family of Song City, but as he knelt before his parents’ graves now, he felt no sense of joy.
“Even though I’ve never met you, I know you must have been wonderful people.” Mu Ran kept her head bowed as she arranged the offerings before the graves, her voice a steady, gentle murmur. “Thank you for bringing Jinzhi into this world, and thank you for raising him so well. Please, rest easy. I will stay by Jinzhi’s side from now on and take good care of him.”
“But if your spirits are still watching over us and you’re truly worried, you can always visit Jinzhi and me in our dreams. Jinzhi misses you often; he wants to talk to you, too.”
“You don’t need to worry too much, though. I know Jinzhi seems cold on the outside, but he has the softest heart. He walked such a long, lonely road by himself before, but now that I’m here, I won’t let him be lonely anymore.”
Cangshu Bai knelt at her side, his blue robes fluttering softly in the mountain breeze. Perhaps it was the warmth of the sunlight, but his usually cold and indifferent features were now entirely bathed in a tender, soft glow.
He simply watched Mu Ran in silence. He watched her bow her head to meticulously arrange the offerings and watched her lips move as she whispered to the two graves. Every word she spoke landed gently on the softest part of his heart.
Finally, Mu Ran took his hand. “Father, Mother, Jinzhi and I will be happy together, right?”
She looked up at him, her smile bright and radiant.
Cangshu Bai’s throat tightened slightly. His fingertips curled instinctively as he wrapped her hand within his large palm. His voice was slightly raspy as he replied, “Yes.”
The sun had been high when they climbed the mountain, but by the time they descended, evening had begun to fall.
When they reached the streets, night was rising. Curls of smoke drifted from the chimneys of every household, and pedestrians hurried along, rushing to return home.
On the way back, Mu Ran did not try to be stubborn. She lay against Cangshu Bai’s back and dozed for a while. By the time she opened her eyes, they had already entered the quiet, deserted alleyway.
Mu Ran had noticed long ago that the alley where Cangshu Bai’s ancestral home was located was sparsely populated and exceptionally quiet. On their first day, she thought she saw someone living across from them, but she hadn’t seen a soul there in all the days since. Perhaps she had simply been mistaken.
Still feeling a bit drowsy, Mu Ran looked up and said, “The stars are out.”
Cangshu Bai’s pace was steady and smooth. Hearing her, he turned his head slightly, a faint smile spreading across his lips. The person on his back was soft and warm, her breath brushing against his neck with the lingering haze of sleep.
He said, “Mm, I see them.”
Mu Ran looked at the brightest star in the sky and playfully reached out toward the night. “They’re so pretty. I wish I could pluck one to keep.”
Cangshu Bai said, “I’ll pluck one and give it to you.”
Mu Ran laughed, knowing he was joking. She lowered her hand to wrap her arms around his neck, nuzzling against his face. “No need,” she said brightly. “I already have the two most beautiful stars.”
Her finger lightly touched the corner of his left eye. “One star is hidden here.”
Then, her finger lightly touched the corner of his right eye. “And another star is hidden here.”
She burst into a joyful laugh. “Jinzhi, I’ve already plucked my stars.”
Cangshu Bai’s eyelashes trembled slightly. When he looked at her again, his dark eyes were filled with shimmering light, far brighter and more tenderly burning than any star in the sky.
Mu Ran seemed to be infected by the brilliance of those stars, her own eyes sparkling like clear autumn water.
Cangshu Bai asked in a low voice, “Do you want to kiss me?”
Mu Ran nodded.
He said, “Wait until we get home.”
Her eyes curved into crescents, her smile enchanting. “Alright.”
When they reached their front door, they saw two men standing across the way. Mu Ran, mindful of appearances, quickly patted Cangshu Bai’s shoulder and slid down from his back.
The two men were dressed in identical black robes, appearing to belong to the same sect. They exchanged a look before walking over, clasping their hands in greeting. “Are you the residents of this house?”
Cangshu Bai stepped slightly in front of Mu Ran to shield her. “We are.”
One of the men asked, “We were wondering if you’ve seen our fellow disciple? His name is Duan Minggui, and he lives right across from you.”
Cangshu Bai’s tone remained flat. “We only moved in recently. We haven’t met the person across the way, nor did we know someone lived there.”
The two men exchanged another look, then suddenly offered friendly smiles. “If you happen to see Duan Minggui later, please let us know. We are disciples of the Changqing Sect. Our sect is located in Changqing Alley here in Song City. Meeting you both here is a stroke of fate.”
The other man produced two invitations. “If the gentleman and his lady are interested in pursuing the path of immortality, you might consider leaving your names on these. You can bring these invitations to the Changqing Sect to attend our lectures and study the Way.”
Mu Ran looked at the two invitations with curiosity.
Cangshu Bai said, “My wife and I previously belonged to a sect. However, due to our lack of talent and spiritual roots, we left. We have no destiny with the path of immortality. We appreciate your kindness, but we must decline.”
He took Mu Ran’s hand and led her inside. Once the gate swung shut, the friendly expressions on the two men’s faces vanished instantly.
“Our Changqing Sect is the most popular new sect in Song City right now. Everyone wants to join us. This man actually looked upon us with disdain.”
“They truly have no spiritual roots. They were likely expelled from their previous sect and have lost heart because of it.”
“I could tell their roots were useless, too. But the man is handsome and the woman is beautiful. With those looks and such fine bodies, plenty of people would be fighting to get their hands on them.”
“Forget it. There’s no rush to pull them into the sect. Duan Minggui disappeared while owing the sect so much of his lifespan. I wonder if he ran away. We should find him first.”
The other nodded. “True enough.”
The two men walked away together, and the alley fell silent once more.
Cangshu Bai heated water and bathed with Mu Ran. It was, of course, a simple bath; pitying her exhaustion from the mountain climb, he could not bring himself to do anything else to her.
When he lifted Mu Ran and tucked her into bed, she grabbed his hand. “How about... I help you?”
Cangshu Bai sat on the edge of the bed and stroked her face. “Are you not afraid of your jaw getting sore anymore?”
Mu Ran pulled the blanket up and hid her face.
He let out a laugh and patted her gently through the covers. “Go to sleep.”
He still had to gather the dirty laundry and wash the mud-stained shoes.
Mu Ran fell into a deep slumber. In the dead of night, she drifted into a dream where it felt as if something was watching her. This damp, cold gaze seemed to envelop her from every direction, like a frigid serpent coiling tightly around her body.
Her breathing grew shallow and labored under the suffocating sensation. Finally, she struggled free from the nightmare's grip. When she opened her eyes, she was met with her husband’s gaze—eyes as deep and dark as a frigid pool.
No lamp was lit in the room.
Cangshu Bai sat by the bedside. It was impossible to tell how long he had been there, silently watching her. A young man who usually possessed a cold, detached air now seemed almost like a phantom in the dark.
Mu Ran asked in confusion, "Jinzhi, aren't you sleeping?"
A flicker of soft light returned to his eyes. He reached out and opened his palm to reveal a glowing speck. "Look," he whispered. "What is this?"
Mu Ran perked up and sat up in bed. As the covers slipped down, revealing her slight frame, the man considerately pulled the quilt back up, wrapping it tightly around her.
"It's a glowing stone!" she exclaimed.
Resting in his palm was a piece of ore that emitted a gentle radiance. The light wasn't blinding; instead, it cast a soft, tranquil glow, as if he had gathered crushed starlight and condensed it in his hand.
"Does it look like the star you saw tonight?" he asked.
Mu Ran nodded. "It does!"
She took the stone from him, and the dim room seemed to shimmer with its presence. It was then that she noticed a layer of frost clinging to Cangshu Bai’s hair and shoulders, as if he had just returned from a place of extreme cold, his body still carrying the chill of wind and snow.
Mu Ran clasped his hands in hers. "Where did you go? And where did this stone come from?"
"While I was washing the clothes, I saw a shooting star fall," Cangshu Bai replied. "I chased after it and found this small fragment."
Mu Ran was so stunned she was momentarily speechless.
In this bizarre world filled with demons and spirits, a falling star was perhaps not that unusual. What was truly extraordinary was that someone would actually go chasing after one.
Cangshu Bai leaned in closer, a faint smile rippling in his eyes, more tender than the finest jade. "Ranran, do you like it?"
Mu Ran felt a sudden tug at her heartstrings. She reached out and pulled his cold body into an embrace. "I love it."
He lowered his gaze. "I'm glad you like it."
"Jinzhi, you're a fool."
A chuckle escaped Cangshu Bai. "And how am I a fool now?"
"You ran out in the middle of the night. What if you had run into a demonic cultivator?" She tightened her arms, holding him even closer. "Don't ever do that again."
Resting his chin on the top of her head, his Adam’s apple bobbed as a soft laugh escaped his lips. "Alright. I won't do it again."
