Volume 4: Immeasurable
What People Seek is Different
At that moment, Yi Qiu suddenly remembered something—something she really shouldn’t have overlooked.
In the original text of 《Thin, Withered Branches》, there was indeed such a rule. The Wood God was the deity of the spring birth of all things.1 Every spring, she would bring new color and vibrant life to the Mortal Realm.
If the Heavenly Realm lost its Wood God, the Mortal Realm would gradually lose its lush vegetation.
The Wood God falls, the Ferocious Beast Fei2 emerges. This was the source of the infuriatingly tragic plot in the later parts of the original novel.
The 《Classic of Mountains and Seas》3 once recorded: “The Fei has the shape of an ox with a white head, a single eye, and a snake’s tail. Where it walks through water, the water dries up; where it walks through grass, the grass dies. Its appearance signals a great plague upon the world.”
In the world of 《Thin, Withered Branches》, the “Fei” was one of the ancient Ferocious Beasts.4 Its soul had once been shattered by the gods, only to be reborn from “The Suffering of All Living Beings.”5
And this Suffering of All Living Beings was born precisely when the Wood God fell into the demonic path, causing the plants of the Mortal Realm to wither, cries of anguish to fill the land, and the people to live in misery.
This detail actually lined up perfectly with what Xun Chi had said.
It was because losing the Wood God would bring suffering upon all living things that the Heavenly Realm would absolutely never permit her to fall in love with a demon.
This was a case of preparing for the worst. After all, those in high positions always have far more to consider than ordinary people. The Heavenly Realm was responsible for protecting the Mortal Realm, so naturally, it had to repair the house before it rains6 on behalf of the common people.7
Thinking about it carefully, the Heavenly Rule that gods and immortals cannot fall in love with demons, while born of prejudice, wasn’t entirely without reason.
The situation was actually similar to content moderation on certain platforms. The scope of what needed to be managed was so vast that it was impossible to analyze the rights and wrongs of every single case. But if left unchecked, major problems could easily arise. The crudest yet most effective method was to cut with one knife.8
It seemed likely that there had been past instances of demons corrupting gods, which had caused significant trouble. Since it was inconvenient to regulate each case individually, a blanket rule like this was created.
Unfortunately, while the Heavenly Dao9 is impartial, people have feelings. No matter how rigid the rules, they could never truly chain the human heart.
Whether in the novel or in this reality, the Heavenly Realm’s Wood God had been suppressed for too long by the weight of those two words: the common people.
In the end, she would make her own choice…
Yi Qiu feared that no matter how the main storyline changed, that final boss was destined to appear.
While Yi Qiu let her imagination run wild, the Realm Within a Painting10 changed once more.
Yi Qiu had thought the connection between the Wood God and Yi Bird had ended there. But only now did she realize that even though Yusu had left, the Realm Within a Painting they were in had not disappeared.
It turned out the story wasn’t over. As day and night cycled, the blurred world before them sharpened into focus once again.
When everything returned to normal, the Wood God received the Five-Colored Thousand-Petal Lotus from the Flower God.
She pondered for a long time before finally sending someone to deliver the flower to Snake Mountain.
Once this flower cures the Fire Poison11 in Yi Bird’s body, she thought, she should have no more worries and will no longer need my care.
But several days later, Yi Bird flew back again.
She didn’t cry or cause a scene as she had before. She simply found the Wood God in the familiar Jade Sea.
That day, the Wood God was staring blankly at the clouds obscuring the sky, her thoughts so scattered that she didn’t notice someone approaching from the side.
Suddenly, a small white flower landed on her chest. She snapped back to her senses and looked up to see the little five-colored bird perched on a willow branch behind her, tilting its head slightly.
“You…”
“There’s more,” the little bird said, transforming into a woman. She tapped her toes lightly on the willow branch and drifted down beside the Wood God.
She extended her right hand. A Spiritual Light12 flashed in her palm, and when it faded, a small paper bag tied with a thin string appeared.
“The Jujube Paste Cake13 I told you about before. I tried a few places in the Mortal Realm, and this one is the best,” Yusu said as she unwrapped the cake and held it out to the Wood God with both hands.
The Wood God seemed dazed for a moment. She subconsciously took it, broke off a small piece, and placed it in her mouth.
She couldn’t tell if the taste was sweet or bitter. Before she knew it, her eyes began to sting.
She had thought Yusu would never return. But from that day on, it was as if nothing had ever happened between them, and they fell back into their old way of being together.
But while they had returned to how things were, it was no longer truly the same.
The Golden Crow14 didn’t know, and Fusang15 didn’t know, but the Wood God knew what kind of feelings Yusu held for her.
Those feelings were impossible to ignore. If she truly let them continue to grow, they would one day cost Yusu her life.
The Wood God began to feel afraid but didn’t know how to bring it up.
Several times she tried to mention it, but Yusu would quickly change the subject.
The Wood God knew this little bird was avoiding the issue, but wasn’t she herself clinging to a sliver of wishful thinking?
If they could just stay like this forever, with neither asking for more nor overthinking things, perhaps they could go on for a thousand years, and the Heavenly Realm wouldn’t interfere.
But the human heart is always greedy.
Once you’ve tasted sweetness, you not only can’t bear bitterness anymore, but you also can’t stop yourself from wanting more.
Yusu was never a fool. She could see the Wood God’s avoidance and would naturally try to find the reason for it.
At some point, when Yusu brought gifts for the Wood God, she started bringing some for Fusang as well. Every time, Yusu would exchange a few words with Fusang. The Wood God never listened, so she never knew what they talked about.
But what you worry about will always come to pass.
One day, Yi Bird came to the Wood God’s side as usual.
She followed behind the Wood God, circuitously telling her many stories she had heard in the Mortal Realm.
Finally, she asked softly, “You’re sending me away not just because the Heavenly Realm won’t tolerate me, but also because… gods and immortals cannot fall in love with demons, right?”
A question like that sent the Wood God into a complete panic.
She didn’t dare, nor did she want, to face this moment. If facing the truth meant certain loss, then she would rather be a liar, living forever in self-deception.
“Lady Wood God, I… I’ve heard that if a Demon enters into a Blood Contract16 with a god, they are no longer considered a demon.”
“…”
“I don’t dare ask for too much. I only wish to stay by your side, to earn a small, special place in your heart… Just a little is enough,” Yusu said, slowly kneeling before the Wood God.
Her gaze was like that of the most devout believer, yet it was tinged with an impure obsession and expectation.
Day after day, year after year, she thought, even if the person before me were a heartless stone or ice that never thaws, I want to try with all my might.
She wasn’t actually that greedy. What she wanted was never a soul-deep, undying love, but just a special status, a little warmth. A fraction more each day, an inch more each month—if she could have that for a lifetime, she could live in peace.
For that, she was willing to drag herself through the mud.
“Lady Wood God, if my identity makes things difficult for you, then I am willing to be your slave. From now on, if you live, I live; if you die, I die. I will stay by your side for all eternity,” she said. “As long as you can accept my feelings, I don’t need a title, I can give up my freedom, I can…”
“You cannot.”
The Wood God finally cut Yusu off.
After deceiving herself for so long, she finally understood that this was all far beyond her control.
What Yusu sought, she could not give.
“Leave. Don’t come back.”
“Why?”
“You understand,” the Wood God said softly, closing her eyes. “What you want, I cannot give you.”
“You have your duties, you follow your Heavenly Dao, you love your common people… Your heart has room for thousands upon thousands, but there is no place for me anywhere in it, is there?”
“…”
“You never once thought of being with me, so you shouldn’t have given me any hope in the first place. But you did, and then you crushed it with your own hands…”
“…”
“Lady Wood God, don’t you think you’re cruel?”
“…” Faced with Yusu’s words, the Wood God couldn’t help but clutch the corner of her robes.
“Now, I almost wish you had never saved me…”
“Leave.” The exact same words, but this time, there was not a trace of hesitation.
That day, the Wood God sent Yusu away and placed a barrier around the Jade Sea, forever blocking anyone from entering or leaving.
As night fell, Fusang came and sat down beside her.
“You sent that little bird away?”
“Mm.”
“Then what’s this Barrier for?”
“I should have severed her romantic notions long ago.”
“And what about you? Have you severed your own?”
“…”
“Why not form a contract with her?” Fusang said softly. “If you form a Blood Contract, she can stay here forever. With that relationship in place, as long as the Golden Crow and I say nothing, no one else will know.”
“So it was your idea…” The Wood God couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
Fusang’s eyes darted away for a moment. Seeing no blame in the Wood God’s expression, she looked helpless. “I really don’t get it. Don’t you want her to stay? She’s willing, so why aren’t you?”
“Perhaps one day, you will understand,” the Wood God said in a low voice. “She is who she is. She is no one’s slave, and she shouldn’t have to drag herself through the mud for anyone.”
Hearing this, Fusang sighed heavily. “So my good intentions backfired?”
But the Wood God only said faintly, “It’s not your fault. I knew this day would come…”
As her voice faded, the world dissolved into chaos once more.
Yue Zhuo stared in the direction where the scene had vanished, frowning. “Why couldn’t they just form a Blood Contract? If they did, wouldn’t they be together?”
“What people seek is different, and things can change over thousands of years,” You Yan said coolly. “A Blood Contract means a lifetime of servitude. Who can guarantee that a love that’s inseparable today won’t become a regret tomorrow?”
“Forming a Blood Contract is the same as handing over your freedom, dignity, and even your life to another, with no way of ever getting them back,” Jiang Yuyao said, glancing at Jian Li and Yue Zhuo. “It’s like us. Although I promised you eternal freedom and I’m certain I won’t trouble you as long as you don’t break our agreement… if I were to face disaster, you would inevitably be dragged into it. It’s a shackle that can only be broken by death. Unless there was no other choice, who would want to live the rest of their life in an unequal relationship with the one they love?”
The Wood God was right. Fusang hadn’t understood back then, but now she finally knew why the Wood God had made such a choice.
A contract could have kept Yi Bird there, but the price was making her a Demon Slave.17 Not only would the Heavenly Rules prevent her from being given any title, but she would also be seen as nothing more than a servant in the eyes of others.
Yi Bird was still young and hadn’t truly seen the world. How could she know she wouldn’t regret it in the future?
A young girl could be impulsive and naive, but how could a god who had lived for tens of thousands of years take advantage of that youth and ignorance, stealing a lifetime of freedom in the name of love?
No matter how many negative consequences that choice had now, at the very least, the person who made it had been convinced it was the right one at the time.
All one could say is that people view things from different perspectives, which naturally leads to great disagreement.
In the end, it all came down to that same phrase—what people seek is different.
Yi Bird was willing to give up everything to stay by the Wood God’s side, but the Wood God wanted her to leave that cage and pursue her own freedom. From the very beginning, they were star-crossed…
At this thought, Yi Qiu subconsciously glanced at You Yan.
I bet, she mused, if the System suddenly popped out one day and said, “As long as you form a Blood Contract with someone from this world, you won’t have to return to your original one!”…
…You Yan would probably “do” her without a second thought.
After all, that bird woman doesn’t have a moral compass.
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