Chapter 36: The Fairy in the Mortal World, Ah Jiu Meets a Rival

To love, one must also have courage. (Gu Long)
……
Liu Yi stood up, sighed, waved his folding fan, and said with a smile, “Why is Jili so silly? If you die, who will cook delicious food for me in the future?” His tearful eyes gazed deeply at Jili.
Liu Yi’s courage came from Jili; his heart was held by her. Jili wasn’t as beautiful as Ah Jiu or Shui Er, nor even as beautiful as her own maids, Shui Er and Qing Er. But Jili had a heart that loved herself. The fact that she placed a “love charm” on herself only showed one thing—she loved herself very much. From another perspective, wasn’t she adorable? Aren’t adorable people the most beautiful?
Jili wiped the tears from her eyes in surprise and asked with a twisted smile, “Are you pitying me, scholar?”
Liu Yi shook his head and said, “If I don’t cherish someone as understanding as you, then has my life been in vain?”
Of course, having seen love between demons, Liu Yi was more aware of every feeling. He didn’t want to suffer the same fate.
He stepped forward, gently hugged Jili, and said, “I am a man who studies the teachings of the sages. Since childhood, I’ve long yearned for what’s called love. I’ve heard that it’s easy for two people to be together—perhaps in an instant—but staying together is difficult, possibly taking a lifetime.”
Jili raised her tearful face and asked, “Are you afraid? Afraid that we won’t get along?”
Liu Yi smiled and said, “Maybe. How can things always go as one wishes? Who knows what might happen in the future?”
Jili wiped her eyes again and said, “I’m not afraid. I’m not afraid of anything if I can be with you, scholar.”
Liu Yi nodded and smiled, “Then from now on, you’ll have to wake me up, feed me, and help me go to bed.”
Jili laughed and said, “Okay, okay. If you’re not obedient, I’ll whip you.”
Liu Yi wiped the tears from her eyes and said, “Silly girl. I still need to send Ah Jiu to the capital. Oh, right, I promised Uncle Jiu from Fengmo Town that I’d go to Shenmen to help rid their town of harm.”
Jili looked at Liu Yi, her mouth twisting downward, and said, “Then when will you return? How long will I have to wait? What if you become an emperor’s son-in-law and leave me?”
Liu Yi smiled and said, “How could that happen? After sending Ah Jiu to the palace, I’ll return to marry Jili as my wife for this life.”
Jili laughed and said, “But Sister Ah Jiu likes you so much. Don’t you feel anything? It’s easy enough to marry her too!”
Liu Yi smiled and said, “Stop teasing. I don’t feel anything for Ah Jiu. That girl is so willful. And Shi Yi really likes her. Stop mentioning her. It seems like you have a grudge against her.”
Jili suddenly jumped up and kissed Liu Yi, saying, “Really? So you feel something for me but not for Ah Jiu? Haha.”
Liu Yi smiled and said, “Of course. Otherwise, how could I tolerate you placing a ‘love charm’ on me?”

Jili’er lowered her head again and said, “I was afraid the scholar would leave and never return, so I used the ‘Love Curse.’ It’s because I like you so much.”
Liu Yi smiled and said, “It’s okay, stop talking. I’m not blaming you. Besides, I’ve never experienced heartache before. It’s good for me to try it now.”
Jili’er quickly took out a white porcelain bottle and said, “Here, I won’t let you feel heartache. If you suffer, Jili’er’s heart will hurt too.”
Liu Yi took the bottle and asked, “Really?”
Jili’er replied, “Of course. This ‘Love Curse’ was created with my own efforts, and now it’s in your heart. If you don’t drink my blood, we’ll both suffer.”
Liu Yi pointed at the bottle and asked with a smile, “What is this?”
Jili’er said, “It’s the blood of a lover—one drop per month. This is a special bottle that ensures you won’t feel heartache for ten years. But I forgot to mention—this ‘Love Curse’ has another trait: on the Qixi Festival night, if I’m not by your side, it will activate for the whole night, and even the blood of a lover won’t help.”
Liu Yi laughed and said, “It seems this thing has a sense of loyalty too.”
He uncorked the bottle, and a rose fragrance wafted out. Liu Yi wondered, “Isn’t this your blood? Why does it smell like flowers?”
Jili’er smiled and said, “I wouldn’t have the scholar drink raw blood—it’s terrible. This has been specially prepared by me, with flower petals, curse powder, and blood. Just one drop at a time; don’t drink it all at once.”
Liu Yi smiled, covered the bottle, and put it in his arms, saying, “I understand. I must keep the blood of my lover safe.”
Jili’er walked to the stream, and the two sat down. Jili’er said, “Look, how quiet it is tonight.”
Liu Yi replied, “Yes. Tomorrow we’ll be running around again. I really wish we could stop soon. I even feel a bit tired now.”
Jili’er looked at Liu Yi and said, “Why are you so afraid of getting tired? Jili’er supports you. If you’re tired, go home, and I’ll massage your back.”
Liu Yi nodded and said, “Okay, okay.”
Jili’er leaned her head on Liu Yi’s shoulder and asked, “Scholar, do you think there really is such a place as the ends of the earth in this world?”
Liu Yi shook his head and said, “I don’t know. I suppose there is.”
Jili’er said, “Our clan believes that only those who truly love each other can find the ends of the earth, where happiness awaits.”
Liu Yi gently stroked Jili’er’s long hair and said, “After finishing all these things, I’ll definitely take Jili’er to find the ends of the earth.”
Jili’er laughed and said, “I also want to see a sea of flowers, a place full of blossoms. I want to admire the moon and stars, and listen to the wind singing. Haha, Jili’er wants it all…”
It seemed that time passed fastest at this moment. One night slipped away in the happiness of the two of them.
Liu Yi even fell asleep by the stream. When he opened his eyes, the sun was already high in the sky, and Jili’er was still leaning on his shoulder. Looking at her sleeping face, Liu Yi stretched out his arms and held her tightly…

What is this? Like? But not love! Liu Yi knew his feelings for Jill were just liking, not love. In that liking, he could find a hint of happiness. Perhaps he would fall in love with her, but that would take time…

Jill also woke up at this moment. Seeing Liu Yi holding her and looking at her, she smiled—a sweet smile. This was Jill’s happiness.

The two stood up and silently walked toward the thatched cottage…

A Jiu watched them walk back slowly, then turned to the Ten Heroes and said, “He… they… they haven’t returned all night!”

The Ten Heroes scratched their heads and said, “Seems so.”

A Jiu stamped hard on one of their feet and said, “Hmph!”

She went over to Mo Ying and said angrily, “Uncle Mo, they haven’t returned all night.”

Mo Ying stopped discussing with the Great Sword King and turned around, saying, “What? Jill often does this. She’s grown up now and should have her own life. Do I still have to worry about her forever?” After saying that, he turned back to talk to the Great Sword King again.

A Jiu stomped her foot and said, “Hmph!”

Seeing that everyone was chatting idly, Liu Yi also came over and greeted them…

A Jiu stepped forward with a sad face and said, “Idiot, where have you been? We’ve been waiting for you here, ready to set off.”

Liu Yi nodded and said, “Okay, then let’s get ready to leave.”

The Ten Heroes had already brought over several prepared horses and said, “Boss, the food and water are all ready.”

Liu Yi glanced back at Jill and smiled, “Girl, wait for me to come back and marry you.”

Jill smiled and said, “Okay! Sure!”

A Jiu was furious. The two were talking like that—clearly ignoring her! Just as she was about to explode, the Great Sword King said, “Princess A Jiu, please mount your horse. It’s time to leave.”

Fuming, A Jiu mounted her horse… In the blink of an eye, all four of them were ready to leave.

Jill wanted to cry but held back, saying softly, “Scholar, don’t forget to come back and see Jill.”

Liu Yi nodded and said, “I won’t forget.” Then he turned, clamped his legs together, and rushed eastward at high speed, leaving a trail of dust behind. Liu Yi didn’t dare stay longer. He was afraid—afraid of seeing Jill’s eyes, afraid of seeing her sad.

They rode fast all the way, with dust rising in the air. Near noon, Liu Yi stopped and said, “Alright, let’s split up. Great Sword King, take A Jiu back to the capital. I’ll go to Kunlun Mountain with Eleven.”

Before the Great Sword King could speak, A Jiu refused, “I don’t want to go back to the capital! I want to go to Kunlun with you.”

Liu Yi said, “We’re not going there for fun. We’re going to borrow treasures to help Fengmo Town get rid of threats.”

A Jiu said, “Then I want to go too! I still haven’t had enough fun. I’m not going back to the capital.”

Hearing this, Liu Yi felt uneasy. If this little A Jiu didn’t go back, his entire family might lose their heads. But what could he do now? If she ran away halfway, his crime would be even greater.

At that moment, the Great Sword King spoke up, “The emperor said A Jiu can return to the palace in three months. If you both give in, sending her back in three months won’t be a problem.”

A Jiu nodded and said, “Okay, then I’ll go back in three months.”

Liu Yi felt a headache and snapped, “What if you don’t go back after three months?”
A Jiu smiled and nodded, “Don’t worry. I keep my word. I’ll definitely go back in three months. If not, I can just run away again—then it’s not your problem, right?”
Liu Yi nodded helplessly. “Then that’s the only option. But don’t cause us any trouble.”
A Jiu said happily, “Of course! I’ve never seen a demon before. Hehe, I’m in for a treat this time.”
Liu Yi looked at A Jiu and felt something strange. Could he be from another planet? Why did he seem so excited at the idea of seeing a demon? Liu Yi waved his hand and said, “Let’s head to Kunlun.”
The group changed direction and headed northwest…
Kunlun Mountain, also known as Kunlun Xu, Kunlun Qiu, or Jade Mountain. Geographically, Kunlun Mountain stretches from the eastern part of the Pamir Plateau, across Xinjiang and Tibet, into Qinghai, covering a total length of about 2,500 kilometers.
Kunlun is a mysterious and legendary term. Immortals have lived here for thousands of years. It is said that above the immortals lies the realm of gods, who watch over the world from Kunlun. Among the immortals, some are most likely to become part of the godly race.
Kunlun Mountain rises undulatingly. In this vast landscape, there are countless treasures—jade trees,trees trees, and immortal trees to the west; Sha Tang Lang Wang Qian Hao to the east; red jade trees to the south; and green and jade trees to the north.
There are 440 gates around it. Each gate is four li apart, with each section measuring fifteen feet. There are also nine wells, with the Jade Vessel (a container for the elixir of immortality) located in the northwest corner. The north gate opens to allow the wind from Bu Zhou to enter. Palaces covering an acre, rooms adorned with jade, gardens, breezy areas, and Fan Tong trees are all within Kunlun. The ponds in the sparse gardens are filled with yellow water (likely spring water), which circulates three times before returning to its original state, forming the Red Water—drinking it grants immortality.
Everything the immortals need can be found here, including immortal trees, elixirs of immortality, and immortal water. Jade is the primary material used for decoration.
But these aren’t the most important things. It is said that if the immortals can find the gate leading to the realm of gods, their power can increase infinitely, making them supreme warriors. This gate is guarded by Lu Wu, a god with a tiger’s body and nine tails, and Tu Lin, a beast with four horns that resembles a sheep.
Yet, for thousands of years, no one has ever ascended to the divine realm through this gate, leading some to doubt its existence…
“Boss, this place is so far away. It’s already been ten days since we started. If only we could fly like the Wolf King!” Shi Jie Yi complained from his horse.
Liu Yi smiled and said, “Enough. This is the last time. Once we finish this and send A Jiu back, our journey will end. You still want to fly?”
A Jiu pouted and snapped, “So you really just want to send me back!”
Liu Yi laughed and said, “If I don’t send you back, my whole family will suffer.”
Da Dao Wang also nodded and said with a smile, “Having you around is like carrying the lives of an entire family.”
The four of them chatted and laughed as they reached the foot of Kunlun Mountain. Liu Yi asked, “Da Dao Wang, with Kunlun Mountain being so huge, where exactly is the gate?”

Da Dao Wang Dao said, “Isn’t there a staircase? I guess if we go up the stairs, we should be able to see it. I’ve never been here either. Such a great sect isn’t meant for us little people. The Divine Gate must be outside the mountain.”

As the four of them were speculating on horseback, suddenly everything blurred, and a woman appeared from the woods on the side—her white sleeves fluttering, her black hair blowing in the wind, gently scattering petals onto the ground…

A stunningly beautiful woman appeared before them—round face, big eyes, a high nose bridge, as if an immortal had descended from heaven, breathtakingly beautiful…

Shi Jie Yi looked at the woman, scratched his head, and said, “Boss, I guess I’m getting old. How can these people fly? Even such a young girl can fly. It seems the world is changing really fast.”

Liu Yi waved his folding fan and smiled, “Why rush? Sooner or later, you’ll be able to fly too.”

The woman in white landed and ran over excitedly, saying, “Young Master Liu, it’s you! It’s been so long. Do you still remember Shui Er?”

Liu Yi smiled and bowed, saying, “Immortal Shui Er, how could Liu Yi forget you? But you’re becoming even more beautiful. I can hardly recognize you.”

Shui Er laughed and said, “Idiot, I’m not some immortal. I told you to call me Shui Er.”

Liu Yi smiled and dismounted from his horse…

When he looked at A Jiu, her gaze seemed murderous. He dismounted too and forced a smile, saying, “Oh… Just came out from Jili Er. Now there’s another Shui Er. Why don’t you introduce her to me?”

Shui Er, seeing A Jiu’s murderous look, asked, “Who is this?”

Liu Yi replied, “My friend, A Jiu. Ignore her. I don’t know what she’s eaten these past few days—her breath smells strongly of medicine.” Suddenly, Liu Yi felt someone pinch his waist—painful, extremely painful.

Shui Er glanced at A Jiu and said, “Sister A Jiu, you need to take care of yourself. Don’t eat random things.”

A Jiu was speechless: “You…”

After saying that, Shui Er turned to Liu Yi again and asked, “Young Master Liu, how did you end up in Kunlun?”

Liu Yi shook his head and said, “It’s a long story!”

Shui Er said, “You must be exhausted from the journey. Come to my place first and have some tea to moisten your throat, then tell me everything slowly.” With that, she gave a gentle smile—so charming it was hardly excessive.

Liu Yi nodded and said, “That sounds good.” Then he handed his horse to Da Dao Wang Dao and led it aside. The group followed Shui Er up the mountain.

A Jiu grumbled as they walked, “Stupid scholar, foul scholar! How can he keep meeting beautiful women? Just got rid of Jili Er, now there’s Shui Er. Does he really want me, A Jiu, to disappear? Ugh… I’m determined to fight for what I want. No one can take it from me. Hmph!”