Chapter 49 Part 1

Under the Sacred Tree, Pi Changge sat shoulder to shoulder with Wu Yingzong.

Pi Changge shelled pine nuts in his hand, casually feeding them to a squirrel waiting nearby, and placed the rest in a small wooden bowl. He said, “…Perhaps the next time I go down to the mortal world, I won’t come back.”

Xiang Xian arrived at the tree. Wu Yingzong saw him and quickly stood up. “Master.”

“You’re well, this Master.” Pi Changge glanced at him and asked, “Want some? These are the fruits from the ancient pine tree planted by the Queen Mother of the West before her ascension. I was just chatting with Brother Wu about White Jade Palace matters.”

Xiang Xian gestured for Wu Yingzong to sit and stood there with his hands behind his back. From the scene, it seemed Pi Changge had taken a liking to Wu Yingzong at first sight. He hadn’t troubled him for being close to Chaosheng or for the Divine Fruit he had painstakingly nurtured being taken by the ape.

“He says he’s your housekeeper,” Pi Changge said as he grabbed a handful of pine nuts and handed them to Xiang Xian. “He swore an oath to serve you for life, but you decided to give him to Chaosheng. Tell me, what were you thinking?”

Pi Changge saw through Xiang Xian’s little scheme at a glance.

“It was Chaosheng who liked him. I already traded him for Hulü Guang, so now he’s Chaosheng’s ape.” Xiang Xian smiled as he spoke. He knew Wu Yingzong’s temperament made breaking the oath impossible, so giving him away was simpler and more direct—it was doing a good deed. “Does Pi Senior want him to come to White Jade Palace and keep you company?”

Wu Yingzong grew even more tense. Xiang Xian placed a hand on his shoulder and said, “All beings have their own karmic ties and destinies. Back then, when you followed me from Penglai to escape and reach the mortal world, wasn’t it all for this day?”

Pi Changge burst into laughter and said to Xiang Xian, “You’re a man who sees things clearly.”

Xiang Xian observed Wu Yingzong and recalled the day they met in the Wushan Mountains. He hadn’t noticed it then, but now, upon reflection, Wu Yingzong had fallen in love with Chaosheng at first sight. Remarkably, Chaosheng was responding in kind as best he could. Though he didn’t know what had happened along the way, in just half a year, they had developed mutual affection and the intent to spend their lives together. Such feelings were exceedingly rare in the world.

As long as Wu Yingzong was willing, Xiang Xian would make it happen no matter what. Besides, White Jade Palace only had Pi Changge and Yuzhou. If they accepted Wu Yingzong, the palace would be livelier.

From Pi Changge’s words, it seemed he was already scouting for the next Garden Protecting Divine Beast. If not Wu Yingzong, who would he choose? Yuzhou?

“My lifespan is nearing its end,” Pi Changge said. “This descent to the mortal world feels especially pronounced. Is this a fated coincidence? In any case, many thanks to you. White Jade Palace doesn’t have much to offer—these pine nuts are yours.”

Xiang Xian couldn’t bear to eat the Pixiu’s gift and carefully stored the pine nuts. He thought to himself how fortunate it was that he hadn’t let the Pixiu and the dragon come down from Kunlun Mountain to pick them up. Otherwise, if one of those old men died midway, it would be impossible to explain.

Xiang Xian said, “But I remember that living in White Jade Palace means you won’t die, right?”

“That’s true,” Pi Changge replied, “but living too long isn’t fun either. Sigh.”

“Don’t say that,” Wu Yingzong said. “You have to think of Chaosheng.”

Pi Changge smiled and said, “You’re the white ape blessed by destiny, and you’re with Chaosheng. If you’re willing to guard the tree in my place, it couldn’t be better.”

Xiang Xian said, “This is an opportunity countless members of the Yao Clan spend their lives chasing without success. Old Wu, why haven’t you thanked Pi Senior yet?”

Wu Yingzong didn’t accept the honor and said, “Senior, you can’t die.”

Pi Changge laughed it off and looked at Wu Yingzong. “If there’s no death, how can there be new life? The cycle of the Heaven-Earth Veins, the endless renewal of all things in the world—it proves this point exactly. You think the Kunlun Divine Servants gave up eternal life to go to the mortal world out of folly, but I think they saw it more clearly. One day, you’ll understand too.”

“But don’t tell Chaosheng,” Pi Changge added seriously. “He can’t see it clearly yet.”

Xiang Xian asked, “Where is he?”

“Sleeping,” Wu Yingzong answered.

Xiang Xian looked up thoughtfully at the Sacred Tree and asked again, “Can Lord Jumang sense the direction where the demonic qi appears?”

“Mm.” Pi Changge nodded. “Its roots are connected to the Earth Veins.”

Xiang Xian: “Then do its leaves or branches have similar powers?”

“Maybe?” Pi Changge said. “I haven’t tried. Do you want one? I can give you a branch.”

As Xiang Xian pondered, Pi Changge seemed to know his concerns and said, “Lord Jumang’s small branches are different from the magic treasure ‘Green Branch.’ The Green Branch and Senluo Wanxiang were personally forged by the Queen Mother of the West and possess immense power, incomparable to ordinary magic treasures or weapons. Breaking off a small branch from the Sacred Tree won’t affect it.”

With that, Pi Changge produced a pair of pruning scissors and snipped a small branch from the end of one of Jumang’s twigs.

“That’s too kind. Thank you.” Xiang Xian hurriedly took the Sacred Tree branch bearing two fresh leaves and stored it safely.

“I’ll go take a look at the Main Hall,” Xiang Xian said, holding the pine nuts with a smile. “It’s my first time in the Immortal Realm. Who knows if I’ll have another chance.”