Beyond the dense, crystalline barriers of time and space, within the ethereal mists of fate, the azure and beautiful planet spun ceaselessly for eons.
Two figures flickered into existence—Meng Qi and Gu Xiaosang—appearing outside the old residential complex they once called home. Around them, the illusory river of time manifested, flowing silently.
Holding Gu Xiaosang’s hand, Meng Qi moved upstream against the current, parting the flow of time to return to an earlier era—shortly after he had first “crossed over” into the real world. The neighbors around them shed their graying hair and wrinkles, reverting to their youthful, middle-aged appearances.
Gu Xiaosang first closed her eyes, savoring the subtle shifts in time, feeling the singularity of past history. Then she opened them, her deep, starry gaze sweeping the surroundings with effortless grace.
“The fashion here has a unique charm,” she remarked with a smile, her dress transforming into a loose, flowing white gown adorned with simple yet elegant patterns, exuding an air of refined purity.
But she wasn’t entirely satisfied. Frowning slightly, she pinched the fabric at her waist and said, “This is too loose—it makes me look like I’m a few months pregnant…”
As she spoke, she produced a light-colored belt from nowhere, cinching it around her waist from the outside. It served as both decoration and a way to accentuate her figure, adding a touch of lithe elegance. Her long, straight black hair cascaded like a waterfall as she tilted her head, partially obscuring her face and delicate ears, lending her an alluring, half-hidden beauty.
Watching Xiaosang master Earth’s contemporary aesthetic in mere moments, Meng Qi felt a pang of shame. His own attire—a standard plaid shirt, jeans, and white sneakers—hadn’t evolved in years.
Xiaosang lifted a foot, transforming her boots into pink-and-white high-heeled sandals that accentuated her slender, fair calves, giving them an almost translucent glow. Then she turned to Meng Qi, lips pursed in amusement, scrutinizing him head to toe—again and again—without saying a word.
“What’s the matter?” Meng Qi feigned nonchalance.
Xiaosang smiled sweetly. “Nothing. I just finally understand why my dear husband was still a virgin when he first ascended to the Celestial Court.”
Meng Qi nearly choked, though his Nirvana-level self-control kept him composed. “Everyone goes through a phase of ignorance,” he said solemnly.
Without responding, Xiaosang reached out, adjusting his collar and replacing his plaid shirt with a fitted dark blue one—nearly black—to match his mature demeanor. Naturally, his jeans became slacks, and his sneakers turned into black leather loafers. The transformation was striking.
“This will do for now,” she said, clapping her hands and stepping back to admire her handiwork—Meng Qi restored to his Earthly appearance.
As the ripples of time faded, the two stepped out of the river and into history proper. Immediately, they were met with a barrage of gazes—men and women, young and old—all unable to resist staring at Gu Xiaosang, awestruck by her beauty and poise. Some passersby were so entranced they walked straight into lampposts.
Maintaining a serene expression and graceful demeanor, Xiaosang lowered her eyes, though a flicker of amusement danced within them—like a fox who’d stolen a chicken but pretended innocence.
With the existence of the Golden Emperor dimmed by a certain Nirvana being’s intervention, and now accompanying her husband home, she set aside her usual schemes and shadows, embracing a rare lightness of being.
Ignoring the curious stares, Meng Qi pulled out his Wan Jie Tong Shi Talisman disguised as a phone, acting as his own signal tower to dial home with his original number.
“What’s up? Calling at this hour—did you run out of money again?” His mother’s voice was knowing, as if she’d already anticipated his needs.
Meng Qi coughed. “Well, my girlfriend’s in town for work today, so I thought I’d bring her over to meet you.”
“What?!” His mother’s voice shot up an octave. “You little brat! Meeting the parents is a serious affair—you can’t just ‘bring her over’ like it’s nothing! Wait—since when do you have a girlfriend?”
“We’ve been together a while. It just wasn’t serious enough to mention earlier,” Meng Qi explained.
Beside him, Xiaosang stood gracefully, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger, listening to his fabrications with an amused smile.
“Well, well, my boy’s grown up and learned to keep secrets!” His mother’s tone was a mix of sarcasm and pride. “When are you coming? What’s her name?”
“Gu Xiaosang. Just call her Xiaosang. We’ll be there soon,” Meng Qi replied gently.
It was in moments like these that he truly felt the weight of his own existence—fearing the day he might lose his humanity entirely, like the Golden Emperor and other Nirvana beings.
“So soon? Why didn’t you say so earlier, you little rascal!” His mother sounded exasperated. “Take her to the mall nearby—I need to rush out and buy groceries! Can’t have her thinking we’re slacking!”
With that, she hung up and bolted out the door.
Watching her go, Meng Qi turned to Xiaosang with a shrug. “That’s Mom for you. Let’s take a stroll and pick up some gifts.”
He’d already prepared spiritual herbs like ginseng and lingzhi—items ordinary people could tolerate—but they needed mundane presents to avoid suspicion.
“Already taken care of,” Xiaosang said, lifting her left hand to reveal an assortment of liquor, cigarettes, and health supplements. “While you were calling, I sent a thought projection to the mall. They even gave me a fifty-percent discount.”
She’d adapted seamlessly to modern life—though the “money” had been conjured from thin air.
Taking the gifts, Meng Qi glanced at an old swing in the courtyard. “Let’s wait there. I always dreamed of bringing a girlfriend to sit on that swing with me.”
They walked over, Xiaosang perching lightly on the swing without rocking, while Meng Qi stood beside her, chatting idly as the setting sun bathed them in golden light.
A group of young passersby stopped in their tracks, stunned by the sight. They discreetly snapped photos with their phones.
“She’s way prettier than any celebrity!”
“Fifteen out of ten!”
“If I’d had a classmate like her, memorizing the *Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River* would’ve been a breeze…”
Whispering among themselves, they reviewed the photos—only to find something off.
“We’ll just Photoshop that guy out later,” one muttered resentfully.
But back home, no matter how they tried, Meng Qi’s figure refused to be erased. Sweating profusely, they wondered if they’d stumbled into a ghost story.
After a while, Meng Qi’s phone rang—his mother signaling it was time to bring his “wife-to-be” home.
Climbing the stairs, he rang the doorbell. The door swung open instantly, as if someone had been waiting eagerly. His mother beamed at the threshold—only to freeze, struck speechless by Xiaosang’s beauty.
Xiaosang broke the silence with a demure smile. “Hello, Auntie.”
“Y-yes, hello!” His mother snapped out of it, ushering them inside while shooting Meng Qi bewildered glances, as if silently demanding an explanation.
*How did my dumb son land a girl this stunning, poised, and cultured?*
*Is she perfect in every way except her eyesight?*
*But even then—she’s one in a million! With all the temptations out there, and Meng Qi being… well, Meng Qi—how can he possibly keep her?*
Once seated, Meng Qi made introductions. His mother remained unusually reserved, as if facing a celestial maiden. Xiaosang, meanwhile, played the part of the demure, well-mannered girl flawlessly.
Truly, the demoness could embody any role—earning Meng Qi’s mother’s instant adoration.
When Meng Qi went to fetch water, his mother cornered him in the kitchen, whispering fiercely, “Spill it, you little brat—how on earth did you get a girl like that?”
“Mom, your son has depth. Plus, I’ll be promoted, become a CEO, and reach the pinnacle of life. Xiaosang just recognized my potential,” Meng Qi said with a grin.
His mother huffed at his nonsense but changed tack. “How old is she? She looks barely eighteen.”
“She just has a youthful face. She’s about to graduate college,” Meng Qi lied smoothly.
His mother nodded. “Where’s she from? What does her family do?”
“From the provincial capital. Her father passed early; her mother’s a CEO of a multinational.” *The Luo Sect counts as cross-border, right? Earth even has followers of the Eternal Mother.*
His mother inhaled sharply. “Son, a girl like this is once in a lifetime. Whatever happens, be grateful and accept it gracefully.”
She was certain this wouldn’t last—Xiaosang’s standards were too high. Once the girl’s “temporary blindness” passed, she’d move on.
*Though comparing my son to excrement feels wrong… the analogy fits.*
“She and her mother are estranged—irreconcilably. It’s tied to her father’s death,” Meng Qi said, half-truthfully. *Can’t exactly say this sweet girl’s a ruthless killer with countless lives on her hands…*
“Poor thing. Treat her well,” his mother said solemnly before slipping out to call Meng Qi’s father home for dinner.
Meanwhile, in another city, in a rented apartment, a young man named Meng Xiaoqi suddenly jolted awake, sneezing violently—as if sensing something terrible had happened.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage