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The Wanderer collected his thoughts and leaped down from the mountain peak, the wind whistling past his ears as if mocking his futile efforts. He ran with all his might, taking two steps at a time, eager to reach the Rainbow-Drinking Terrace. However, when he finally arrived, breathless and exhausted, all he found was an empty platform—there was no trace of his master.
A fiery anxiety surged within him, threatening to consume him entirely. He stood there in confusion, glancing around like a lost child. Suddenly, he turned sharply, his gaze falling upon the shimmering waves behind him.
On the glistening surface of the water stood an exquisite water palace, serene and majestic, resembling a celestial abode. The glazed tiles sparkled brilliantly in the sunlight, and amidst the intricately carved beams and painted rafters, a mysterious aura lingered. Surrounding the palace was a corridor adorned with coral and jade railings, intertwined with azure aquatic plants that resembled ancient scripts and bird carvings, adding an air of antiquity.
From a distance, The Wanderer could see two figures seated within the palace. One was fair-skinned with red lips and delicate brows; despite wearing a Nine-Flower Taihua Scarf, those familiar features unmistakably belonged to his pedantic master, Tang Xuanzang! The other figure wore a contemporary Dongting cap and appeared to be a graceful youth of unknown origin.
"Master!?" The Wanderer felt a mix of shock and joy, nearly calling out. But why was his master wearing that ridiculous scarf? And who was this youth?
Suppressing his myriad questions, he dared not reveal himself recklessly. Instead, he hurriedly climbed to a nearby mountain hollow to observe closely.
Above the water palace hung a plaque inscribed with four blue-and-white characters: "Guanju Water Palace." These characters seemed to carry some sort of enchantment that stirred unease within The Wanderer. "Guan Guan Ju Jiu, on the river islet..." That damned bird song unexpectedly linked itself to his master today.
He fixed his gaze on the two figures inside the palace, filled with doubt and unable to decipher what was happening. A heavy burden weighed on his heart, making it hard to breathe. He clenched his fists, wishing he could leap out immediately and seize Tang Xuanzang away!
Yet another thought halted him in his tracks. If his master truly succumbed to worldly desires and became lost in this gentle realm, what good would it do even if he reached the Western Paradise and obtained the True Scriptures? In the end, wouldn’t it all be for naught?
With this realization came a wave of melancholy. He sighed helplessly and continued to hide in the Mountain Hollow, determined to discern whether his master was on the right path or led astray. Perhaps the greatest threat they would face on their long journey for scriptures was not demons or monsters but rather the temptations of the mundane world.
As the evening glow bled across the sky like blood, casting a sorrowful red hue over this gentle realm, the youth reached out as if to touch the crimson clouds and said softly, "Mr. Chen, with such beautiful twilight, why not take a stroll?"
At that moment, Tang Xuanzang—no longer merely Tang Xuanzang but now referred to as Chen Yi—sat upright and simply nodded in response: "Little Moon King, please."
The two joined hands and strolled leisurely through this enchanting realm. The setting sun elongated their shadows like intertwined vines until they eventually vanished into a dense bamboo grove.
Deep within this bamboo grove lay an intricately designed pavilion known as Yudi Pavilion. It was unclear who had given it such a name; it carried an ambiguous connotation that hinted at something more profound.
In the attic, several famous calligraphies and paintings hung on the walls, each depicting tender and poignant scenes that harmonized beautifully with the gentle surroundings. Beside them lay a small note inscribed with a few lines of green characters:
The green mountains embrace the neck,
The white stream pierces the heart.
Where is the jade person?
In the empty sky, white clouds.
Chen Yi's gaze lingered on those lines for a moment, a flicker of emotion passing through his eyes before settling into calmness.
As the two strolled leisurely, they suddenly heard a faint melody drifting from deep within the bamboo grove, sorrowful and enchanting.
Chen Yi found himself involuntarily stopping, tilting his ear to listen. Noticing this, Little Moon King smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, does this rustic tune catch your ear?"
Chen Yi shook his head without replying, focusing even more intently on the song.
A gentle breeze swept by, carrying a few lines of lyrics:
The crescent moon shines over the land,
Some families rejoice while others grieve.
Some find comfort in soft beds adorned with jade and gold,
While others drift alone on a boat in the night rain.
Sister, I can only hold my pillow tightly at midnight,
Why does my lover leave in haste without staying?
Oh dear! If we do not meet tomorrow night at the third watch,
Only see how the Mandarin Duck Quilt is torn into fine willows.
The song expressed a woman's longing for her lover, each line dripping with sorrow and heartache.
As Chen Yi listened to this melody, his previously calm face began to show signs of turmoil. He closed his eyes, and in an instant, two streams of tears flowed down his cheeks.
Little Moon King looked at Chen Yi's expression, feeling a sense of pride in his heart. He then spoke, "Mr. Chen, it seems you have been away from home for quite some time. Hearing such familiar tunes must have stirred your longing for home, causing this sadness to arise. Why don't we go to the Azure Sky Tower and listen to some performances to lighten the mood?"
Chen Yi opened his eyes, clarity returning to them. He nodded and said, "That sounds good."
The two of them left Yudi Pavilion and headed straight for the Azure Sky Tower.
Meanwhile, The Wanderer was waiting in the Mountain Hollow across the way, growing increasingly puzzled as he waited for the two to emerge.
It turned out that the Azure Sky Tower was quite a distance from the Guanju Water Palace. Looking around, one could only see winding paths between the pavilions, with willows swaying gently and tall paulownia trees reaching for the sky. The two were chatting and laughing as they had already wandered off elsewhere; how could The Wanderer see them from his spot in Mountain Hollow?
In Mountain Hollow, The Wanderer was growing anxious, pacing back and forth, scratching his head in frustration, wishing he could rush in and drag that pair of fools out.
As the sun dipped lower in the west, the once-glimmering Guanju Water Palace took on a layer of dullness, resembling a dusty pearl that had lost its luster. Damn it, this place is just so irritating to look at!
Wait, what is that?
The Wanderer rubbed his stinging eyes and squinted into the distance. On top of a tall building, he faintly spotted two figures that looked like Daoists. He quickly activated his Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils to get a better look and realized it was none other than Tang Seng and Little Moon King!
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