Chapter 20: You’ve Truly Moved On!!

That day, after emerging from the Demon Abyss, Zhao Lixuan returned to the Pear Flower Water Pavilion and cried his heart out alone.

Of course, only after joyfully finishing the victory banquet—being surrounded by the Immortal Lords offering their congratulations, mobbed by the young disciples chasing autographs and praise, and having Bitao Fairy, the scribe under Chu Immortal Lord, unroll her jade slip right there and furiously jot down their quartet’s heroic feat of flattening the Demon Abyss and purging its ancient filth, all to be entered into immortal history and sung for a thousand autumns.

Only after the banquet ended and the guests dispersed, the door shut, did true quiet finally descend.

Of course, it was happy tears.

This Moon Hunt, he’d achieved two monumental feats. From now on, he was no longer just the mascot of Fu Xi Palace—famous across thousands of miles but lacking real accomplishments.

Whether lighting the Nine Nether Lantern or purging the Ten Thousand Bones Demon Abyss, these were tangible triumphs that echoed through the Three Realms.

Wherever he went from here, he could stand tall and proudly declare himself Zhao Lanze’s little brother, never fearing he’d shame his elder anymore.

He even had the confidence now that, one day, he’d carry on Fu Xi Palace’s orthodoxy alongside Senior Brother Xia.

Everything was so perfect.

No reason at all to cry.

Zhao Lixuan couldn’t understand why, but a sour ache still welled up in his nose, impossible to suppress. In the end, he let himself bawl uncontrollably, utterly without decorum, till heaven and earth blurred.

The next day dawned a perfect midsummer blaze.

Azure skies stretched spotless, not a cloud in ten thousand miles.

Immortal Lord Li Xuan was back!!!

He rose, washed up, donned crisp white robes feeling refreshed—and then set off with light steps toward the shop to buy a parting gift for Jiang Immortal Lord!

Yes. After all these years, who would’ve thought?

In this lifetime, he’d actually get to walk the path of “buying a gift for Little Jiang” once more.

A farewell gift was still a gift.

Of course he’d pick it out personally with care!

The Moon Hunt was over. They’d uprooted every demon nest in the abyss—no surprises, there wouldn’t be another for at least a decade!

All that remained was one farewell feast, and Liao Yuan Court’s demon immortals could head home in glory!!!

The more Zhao Lixuan thought, the more he brimmed with joy—happy happy happy happy happy.

His delight overflowed so much he could barely maintain his usual aloof, distant demeanor.

It wasn’t that he desperately wanted Jiang Chen gone, either.

With their tangled past… this outcome was truly the absolute best they could hope for!

That was enough.

No need for more time together.

Otherwise, after a few more life-and-death clingings, they’d end up as true bosom friends—what then, pure awkwardness?

They’d slept together, after all…!

Better to part ways forever, and on holidays, just reminisce about the dazzling lanterns of the Flower Morning Festival in the Mortal Realm, the dots of yellow flowers in the Unstained Immortal Realm’s Tu Flower Immortal Grass Meadow.

Long days without longing, sharing the moon across a thousand miles.

…

Moments later, Zhao Lixuan arrived at the gift shop’s door.

The Mortal Realm had Many Treasures Pavilion and Treasure Vault. The Unstained Immortal Realm had the Immortal Realm’s premier jewelry store, Sunken Wood Manor.

The name suggested woodcrafts, but inside glittered treasures beyond count—exquisite jewels, pearls, finery of every lavish kind.

Staring at this dazzling array, Zhao Lixuan suddenly remembered Jiang Immortal Lord had never cared for such flashy luxuries.

What to do?

But then again, for ordinary things—what did Jiang Immortal Lord like besides sweets and goldthread greens?

He’d long forgotten.

Luckily, he still carried that VIP Roster.

Flipping it open, the little booklet only noted: likes sweets, music, birds.

Music? These days, he’d already scoured lost scores and rare flute transcriptions for Jiang Chen. Too commonplace now.

Buy him a bird to take away…?

…

Zhao Lixuan flipped the booklet downstairs, oblivious that upstairs in a private booth sat Lu Ziyuan and Jiang Chen.

The booth’s spot was cleverly chosen, screened by a carved mica partition—private yet affording a full view of the hall below.

Lu Ziyuan watched the earnest figure below, lips curving faintly:

“Little Li Xuan rarely shops at Sunken Wood Manor. See how carefully he’s choosing—surely there’s a farewell gift in there for you, Jiang Immortal Lord?”

Her gaze shifted to the door: “Oh? Chu Immortal Lord and Bitao Fairy are here too.”

Spotting them downstairs, Zhao Lixuan lit up like he’d found saviors: “Perfect timing, you two! You’ve worked with Jiang Immortal Lord for years—you must know what farewell gift would suit him. Quick, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda—help me brainstorm!”

Lu Ziyuan chuckled helplessly: “See? What did I just say?”

Former top senior sister of Fu Xi Palace, now immortal leader of Liao Yuan Court—Lu Ziyuan was peerless in arts and beauty, a true heaven’s proud daughter.

Her one flaw? Spoiled young by universal adoration, she was a touch weak at reading the room.

Like now: oblivious to any unease in Jiang Immortal Lord before her, she steered back to the interrupted topic: “…Right, you mentioned earlier—personal reasons, wanting to linger longer in the Unstained Immortal Realm?”

Jiang Chen’s lashes lowered: “…Mm.”

“But what reason that even I, the immortal leader, can’t know?”

Jiang Chen kept his gaze down, his profile stiff and cold in the booth’s soft light.

Lu Ziyuan sighed lightly: “Whatever the reason, official duties are done. The Immortal Court’s Cross-Realm Jade Docket expires in two days—overstay, and no one can bend the rules.”

“Opportunities like this public mission come once a decade…”

“The Unstained Immortal Realm’s regulations are ironclad. Over a millennium, the only precedent for demon immortals staying long-term… seems to be marriage to an upper realm human immortal?”

Here, inspiration struck her, eyes twinkling mischievously:

“Why not just find a human immortal lord you fancy and propose? All aboveboard then—stay as long as you like. Wedded bliss, problem solved?”

“With your reputation here now, who’d refuse?”

“…”

“…”

Jiang Chen left Sunken Wood Manor in silence as sunset painted the clouds in gorgeous brocade.

Zhao Lixuan had long gone. At the street corner outside lingered Chu Fusheng, frenziedly snapping up the Immortal Realm’s novelties.

The “Three Realms’ top beauty” had a crystal sugar figurine in his mouth, fingers laden with tinkling trinkets, seven or eight bulging storage pouches slung across him—like a walking rack.

Spotting the lone Jiang Immortal Lord, Chu Fusheng mumbled around his candy: “Why not just say it?”

“You personally planted hills of gold-and-silver flowers for him in the Mortal Realm, opened ‘Sunken Wood Manor’ branches everywhere there and here just to make his favorite trinkets. Why not shove your flowers—your feelings—right in his face…? Ow ow ow.“

Mouths were made for eating—best stick to that, lest disaster spew forth. Pinned to the wall, Chu Fusheng shrugged blandly: “All talk, no heart. Deserves the cold shoulder.”

“…”

Jiang Chen left.

Chu Fusheng hauled his “spoils” homeward, bumping into Xia Yunjie and Yu Rumu—his face instantly beamed: “Come, Immortal Lords—special souvenirs I picked just for you two.”

See? Perfect effect.

Normal folks loved flowers, beauties, delicacies. Didn’t? Just hit their tastes.

The Yellow-Skin Clan were born masters of this—winning favor was child’s play.

Some people just wouldn’t!

…

Jiang Chen wouldn’t.

The next evening, the farewell feast sprawled across Fu Xi Palace’s Lingxiao Heavenly Platform. Clouds rolled beneath jade steps, stars hung like a touchable veil.

Three tiers of viewing platforms brimmed with immortal silhouettes, flowing sleeves dancing in the breeze. Every Immortal Lord and disciple attended; robes swirled above and below, figures clustering. The endless feast table snaked like a dragon, aromas of rare delicacies and fine liquors wafting on the night wind.

Night fell. Immortal spell-fireworks bloomed in a thousand layers across the sky—now soaring golden phoenixes, now scattering spirit fireflies—casting flickering light on every face: smiling, tearful, reluctant, entranced. Like a dream of fleeting life.

Flickering lights danced across Jiang Chen’s stern profile, stirring dark tides in his bottomless ink-black eyes.

…He wouldn’t.

Otherwise, back then, he wouldn’t have erred again and again, sinking deeper into the mire until no salvation remained.

Last night, he’d received Immortal Lord Li Xuan’s carefully chosen farewell gift.

Someone was as generous as ever—buying Sunken Wood Manor’s crown treasure: the Ancient Cold Jade Flute, flawless and wreathed in innate frost aura.

The accompanying ice-silk note bore elegant script, thoughtful and complete: “Long roads and distant waters ahead—treasure yourself. May your immortal path be smooth, every road blooming spring.”

The words and tone brimmed with cheer.

One could picture Immortal Lord Li Xuan’s smug delight and relief upon finding the perfect gift.

A jade flute made a fine present…

If, in the past, someone hadn’t splurged a fortune on the Three Realms’ finest “music flute,” the White Jade Flute.

Of course.

He hadn’t even recognized the White Goose Jade Pendant dangling from it—naturally, he wouldn’t recognize the flute either.

The current Immortal Lord Li Xuan remembered nothing else.

Just that in two days, they’d never meet again. Utterly carefree from his bones.

“…”

Too bad. He’d disappoint him.

He wasn’t leaving.

Stay he would, even if forced—by the dirtiest means unseen by light.

What would Li Xuan do then?

Probably drop the gentle facade. Cornered, he’d spit cold words, loathing glares, drive him away.

Thinking this, Jiang Chen smiled to himself.

No matter.

He’d known all along.

…Known long ago that you don’t love me anymore.

Crystal clear: every moment in this Unstained Immortal Realm, every delusion of greed, every willful drowning in illusory warmth despite knowing it was mirror-flower water-moon—all his self-deceiving hopes, this reckless urge to stay—

Mere drinking poison to quench thirst.

But no matter.

Even gut-wrenching venom—how could it compare to two decades of someone refusing to set half a foot in the Mortal Realm?

Seasons turned, leaves fell, snow blanketed. The one below waited in vain—years slipped by.

In the end, he couldn’t wait.

So he came himself. Having come, he never planned to leave.

Thus…

Fireworks blazed, illuminating Immortal Lord Li Xuan’s smiling profile as he raised his cup. From the shadows’ flicker, Jiang Chen’s dark eyes fixed on him—then rose, stepping forward one by one.

Thus—he’d do one thing.