Volume 3: Old Tales of Kunlun
What Are You Looking At?
How was an alpaca with a soul from the modern era supposed to explain the word “airplane” to an ancient bird-person from a novel?
If she didn’t, You Yan would surely think the little alpaca was insulting her.
Yi Qiu thought for a moment, cleared her throat forcefully, and leaned in close behind You Yan’s head. “You Yan, listen to me,” she said earnestly. “A feiji is not a flying chicken!”1
…
“The ‘ji’ in feiji… it comes from words like ‘jimi’ (secret), ‘jimin’ (astute), ‘jihui’ (opportunity). It’s the ‘ji’ in ‘tianji buke xielou’ (the secrets of heaven must not be revealed)2!” Yi Qiu began to spout utter nonsense with a perfectly straight face. “Feiji is a special term from my hometown. It has wings, and it can fly. It can carry lots and lots of people, and tons and tons of supplies! It’s a… a kind of exceptionally large bird!”
“Why have I never heard of such a thing?” You Yan couldn’t help but ask.
“You’d never heard of an alpaca before you met me, either!” Yi Qiu retorted righteously. “There are more things in this world that you’ve never seen, things you can’t possibly comprehend! Don’t look at me and see someone weak and useless. I know many things you don’t!”
“Such as?”
“Hmm… I won’t tell you right now. When the opportunity arises in the future, I’ll tell you all about it, bit by bit.” As Yi Qiu spoke, she couldn’t help but recall the world she used to live in, a touch of nostalgia filling her eyes. “If you’re willing to listen, that is…”
“Of course I am willing.”
“Then, it’s a deal. And you cannot complain that I’m long-winded… My hometown is a fascinating place. When you hear about it, you’ll find it absolutely incredible.”
There, in the silent night sky, they softly made a promise for the future. But the distant place they were heading toward was one of unknown hardships and perils.
You Yan was born with a formidable power. Once a power like that had been used to harm someone, it was just like the Fuzhu3 or the Huodou4—no matter where she went, she would be seen as an ill omen.
Yet it was precisely this power, seen by all as inauspicious, that allowed her to pierce through the layers of clouds, to soar past the heavenly aura that wreathed Kunlun Mountain5, and finally arrive at the peak that so many lesser yao6 could never hope to fly to.
Yi Qiu had thought the foot of the mountain was a paradise, but now, upon reaching the summit, she understood what a true heavenly realm was.
The palace of the Queen Mother of the West7 stood atop the mountain peak, nestled above the clouds. Countless immortal8 birds drifted leisurely among them, welcoming the heavenly guests who came and went.
The heavenly maidens who normally served the Queen Mother of the West moved with fluttering sleeves, their laughter and chatter echoing as they walked across the spotless white stone ground, which was wreathed in immortal mist. Here and there, two or three heavenly beings whose names were utterly unknown floated through the air as if acting like a cunt9.
Anyone who could reach this place, even if they weren’t a god or an immortal, was at the very least a yao of considerable cultivation. Naturally, no one dared to block their path forward.
You Yan shifted back to her human form, her expression a little tense as she nervously rubbed Yi Qiu’s head.
She had lived on Kunlun Mountain for over five hundred years, but this was her first time on the summit, the first time in the Queen Mother’s domain.
The Queen Mother of the West was the protector of Kunlun. As a yao who had grown up on this mountain, how could she not feel a sense of reverence and awe?
“Yi Qiu, I…”
“What’s there to be afraid of, You Yan!” Yi Qiu sidled up to her and whispered, “You grew up at the foot of the mountain. Those lesser yao down there don’t have the power to get up here. Nobody knows you. Stand up straight, alright?”
Hearing this, You Yan actually did straighten her posture, though her gaze still betrayed a hint of insecurity.
“Don’t act like a thief! We’re not here to steal anything!” the little alpaca coached her again.
You Yan nodded and took a deep breath.
The little alpaca glanced around, then looked up at You Yan. “You can just treat me as your spirit pet. All those important, high-status, powerful people love keeping spirit pets or mounts. I’m here to boost your prestige, so don’t be afraid!”
Seeing the usually timid little alpaca suddenly say such things to comfort her, You Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
She was silent for a moment before finally pushing her nervousness back into the depths of her heart. Reaching out to gently stroke the back of the little alpaca’s neck, she began to wander around.
Just as Yi Qiu had said, most of the yao from the mountain’s base who despised her lacked the power to come here. So no one here recognized her, and no one would point a finger at her nose and curse her with disgust.
Yi Qiu followed closely behind You Yan, wandering blankly through this unfamiliar place.
You Yan always subconsciously avoided crowds. It was true when she was three thousand years old, and it was true when she was five hundred.
Because of this, as they walked, they unwittingly found themselves at a very secluded immortal pond.
By the pond, a graceful silhouette seemed to stand, elegant and still.
This time, however, You Yan didn’t instinctively shy away. Instead, she walked forward in silence.
As they drew closer to the figure, the astonishment in Yi Qiu’s eyes deepened.
The figure wasn’t exactly familiar to her, but she knew she had seen her before—in the painted world of the Xun Pool10.
Yi Qiu subconsciously looked up at You Yan beside her. Sure enough, in You Yan’s gaze, she saw a flicker of surprise, and a struggle between wanting to approach and not daring to.
After a brief struggle, You Yan stopped, looking as if she wanted to turn and flee. But just then, the person turned around. The gaze in her eyes was as gentle as water, yet a flash of surprise crossed it the moment she saw You Yan.
You Yan frowned and, as if escaping, turned and hurried away from the immortal pond.
As Yi Qiu scurried to keep up with You Yan, she couldn’t help but look back at the person You Yan was so desperately avoiding.
The Wood God, Jumang11. To think, she was also here on this day.
So that means, she must have also witnessed the entire process of You Yan’s fall into demonhood, but she didn’t stop You Yan from getting close to Jiang Yuyao and Luo Mingyuan. Instead, when You Yan was injured, she even took care of her so diligently… Why is that?
As Yi Qiu was thinking this, she saw You Yan getting farther and farther away and couldn’t stop herself from calling out loudly.
You Yan had no idea how long she ran. Only when she could no longer sense that strange yet familiar spiritual aura did she finally stop at the sound of the little alpaca’s breathless calls.
Panting heavily, Yi Qiu managed to ask, “That… that person just now…”
“That was the Wood God, Jumang…”
“I, I know… Why did you run from her?” Yi Qiu asked, half-dead from exhaustion. “Didn’t… didn’t she save you once?”
You Yan was silent for a moment, then shook her head. “Do not ask.”
With that, she found a stone step and sat down.
Seeing that You Yan would not speak, Yi Qiu did not press further. She simply lay down quietly at her side, leaning gently against her.
It was peaceful here. They sat together for a long time, only getting up and following the sound of festivities when the distance grew lively.
It was the Queen Mother of the West’s birthday celebration, and gods and immortals from all corners of the realms had flocked to attend. The seating at such a banquet was highly particular; no one could sit just anywhere.
Those of eminent status were seated at the front of the hall, while those of ordinary status were seated further back. As for some of the uninvited yao of particularly low standing, if no one led them into the main hall, they could only watch from afar outside.
Right now, she and You Yan were mingling in the crowded throng of yao outside. Being short, her view was completely blocked. After she’d mumbled complaints for some time, You Yan couldn’t take it anymore and simply lifted her onto her back.
The little alpaca craned her long neck, eager to see what the gods and immortals inside looked like.
Unfortunately, they were simply too far away; she couldn’t make out any of their faces.
But even if she couldn’t see them clearly, it didn’t stop the little alpaca from playing a solo game of “Guess Who.”
Like someone who had never seen the world, the little alpaca exclaimed, “You Yan, You Yan, look! The Wood God is over there. It seems like her status in the Heavenly Realm is really high!”
You Yan explained, “The Wood God presides over spring. The growth of all living things in the mortal realm is tied to her. Naturally, her status is not low.”
Yi Qiu: “Hey! Is that, is that the Fire God?”
You Yan: “Probably…”
Yi Qiu: “You Yan, You Yan! Who are those four who just arrived? They look so powerful, everyone’s being super respectful to them!”
You Yan thought for a moment and answered seriously, “Those are probably the Four Divine Monarchs12.”
“The Four Divine Monarchs?”
“The Vermilion Bird and the Black Tortoise, the Azure Dragon and the White Tiger. They are the Four Great Divine Beasts of Antiquity, and they have long since cultivated to the level of Divine Monarchs. They guard the four cardinal directions of the Heavenly Realm, each with their own duties.”
“Oh, I know about them, I’ve heard of them… They seem amazing,” the little alpaca muttered. “Back then, the Huodou incident nearly alerted them… I always thought they were just divine beasts. I had no idea their status was so high.”
“Mmm…”
“So, is the one in the most incredible seat that little pig trotter’s13 old man?”
“…What little pig trotter?”
“You know, the Golden Crow14,” Yi Qiu explained. “I’m asking if that super important-looking guy is the Heavenly Emperor15.”
“He should be. A seat like that is likely worthy only of the Heavenly Emperor,” You Yan replied.
The Heavenly Emperor was expected to attend the Queen Mother’s birthday.
No matter what was destined to happen today, if You Yan was truly cornered with no way out because of a mirror, then it was likely not a single one of the gods and immortals present could escape responsibility.
But there were so many nameless small-fries here that You Yan certainly would not remember them all. In all likelihood, the full weight of her hatred would eventually be directed at the Heavenly Realm as a whole, landing squarely on the head of the Heavenly Emperor who governed it.
No wonder that years later, You Yan had shown a thousand degrees of loathing the very first time she laid eyes on Luo Mingyuan. Thinking back on the original text of 《Thin, Withered Branch》, the reason that little pig trotter was tormented so miserably by You Yan was probably because he was paying for his old man’s debts, wasn’t it?
“I don’t see that little pig trotter anywhere, though,” Yi Qiu said, feeling a sense of relief in her heart.
Thank goodness that little pig trotter didn’t come. Otherwise, with You Yan’s talent for holding grudges and misdirecting her anger, this trashy novel could forget about getting its HE16.
As Yi Qiu was thinking this, she looked down and saw You Yan glance around guiltily before looking up to whisper a reminder, “You’d better keep your voice down, before someone hears you.”
Although You Yan had already raised an invisible sound-dampening barrier, this was the Queen Mother’s domain, after all. Anyone here was bound to have a high level of cultivation. If someone overheard what the little alpaca had just said, it could cause a huge incident.
“Oh… I’ll stop talking, then,” the little alpaca said, closing her mouth with an aggrieved pout.
This bird-woman, who in the future would dare to spew venom right to people’s faces, was actually so timid as a child that she’d feel guilty for just whispering a few things about the gods behind their backs? I have to say, a little bird is still a little bird. Before its wings have hardened, it does not dare fly recklessly.
But speaking of which, she had assumed the Queen Mother’s birthday would feature things like song, dance, and elegant music. Instead, all that was happening was a procession of famous and unknown immortals taking their seats one after another, then presenting their gifts and jabbering on and on about how incredible their presents were. Who knows how much time had passed in this back-and-forth.
“Are birthdays for gods always this tedious?” Yi Qiu was growing impatient and couldn’t help but mutter, “Couldn’t they just wrap the gifts and give them privately? Then the recipient could open them slowly later, right? Why do they have to recite a whole list of features and user instructions and spout so much nonsense to their face…”
“Who do you think the Queen Mother of the West is? From what I’ve heard, only the most renowned high immortals and high gods17 are able to present their gifts in person in this hall. The gifts from all other immortals and yao are generally tallied by the immortal birds who manage the Queen Mother’s palace. After being counted, they’re piled up in one place. If you are not fated for it, your gift isn’t even worthy of a glance from the Queen Mother,” You Yan said flatly, seeming to find it exceptionally boring as well, and she drifted off into her own thoughts.
Yi Qiu heard this and pouted. “So that’s how it is. At least the gifts in this hall will be seen by the Queen Mother… These things sound rare and all, but we’re just too far away to see them clearly…”
The little alpaca mumbled to herself, wishing she had a pair of binoculars.
But as she watched, she suddenly noticed that You Yan’s gaze had shifted away from the center of the hall and was now fixed on a very crowded corner.
“You Yan?” the little alpaca tilted her head down, her eyes full of curiosity.
…
“What are you looking at?” Yi Qiu asked, her eyes instinctively following You Yan’s gaze, but she saw nothing. “There’s nothing there. What’s going on over there?”
The words had barely left her mouth when You Yan set her back down on the ground, turned, and pushed her way through the crowd, chasing in that direction.
“HEY! YOU YAN!”
If you’re going to chase someone, then go chase them! Why’d you have to put me down?!
The author has something to say:
I wasn’t at my best yesterday, so I’ve touched up some details today.
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