She held the pendant out to him as if presenting a treasure. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
He nodded. “Very beautiful.”
She smiled. “This is the Star-Blue Peony, the rarest and most precious variety among all peonies…”
“It’s your true form,” he said with a faint smile.
Yun Qingxue blinked, suddenly feeling an odd sensation, as if she had just given herself away.
She withdrew her hand. “M-maybe I should give you a different peony instead…”
But Huanshi chuckled and lightly tapped his finger. The peony pendant in Yun Qingxue’s hand flew into his grasp.
“This one is perfect!”
With that, he conjured a delicate silver chain, threaded the pendant onto it, and fastened it around his neck.
“Thank you… I love this gift.”
“Uh… A-are you sure you don’t want to change it?” she stammered, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Earlier, she had been so focused on thanking him for his help—twice—that she wanted to give him the most precious peony she had.
But she had forgotten: the Star-Blue Peony was unique to the entire Flower Tribe. It was, unmistakably, a representation of *her*.
Giving *herself* to a god…
Uh… Was it too late to take it back?
“It’s wonderful. Why would I change it?” Huanshi blinked, his expression pure and innocent.
His guileless look made Yun Qingxue feel suddenly dirty-minded and presumptuous.
“Unless… you weren’t truly grateful, so… so…” Huanshi lowered his eyes, a faint sorrow radiating from him.
A pang of guilt struck Yun Qingxue’s heart.
“D-don’t be like that! I really meant to give you that pendant!” she hurriedly assured him.
“Really?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Really!” She nodded vigorously. “Truer than pure gold!”
“Alright. I believe you.” A sly glint flickered in his half-lidded eyes.
“Um… Huanshi, thank you. I’ll always remember you as a friend!”
“Before you leave, let me take you somewhere,” he said, detecting the farewell in her words and feeling an inexplicable twinge of loss.
“Huh? Where?” she asked.
Without another word, he took her hand, his expression serious. “Come with me!”
With that, he soared with her on the wind, heading straight for the heart of the Divine Realm—toward the palace shrouded in auspicious clouds.
“Hey! What are you taking me there for? Won’t we get caught?” Yun Qingxue’s heart leaped into her throat.
“I’m taking you to meet someone. Don’t worry—the Divine King entered secluded cultivation a few days ago. The main hall will be empty at this time!”
“Meet who?” she asked, puzzled.
“You’ll see when we get there!” Still holding her hand, Huanshi swiftly navigated through the clouds until they arrived before a majestic divine palace.
He pushed open the grand doors and led her inside.
The hall was resplendent, every corner exuding an awe-inspiring grandeur—yet it was eerily empty.
“Who are we meeting?” Yun Qingxue cautiously scanned the vacant hall, her gaze suddenly freezing on a blooming Star-Blue Peony in the eastern corner.
“W-what is that?” she gasped.
“Aunt Chen,” Huanshi called softly toward the peony.
A flash of blue light, and the peony transformed into a stunning, dignified woman.
Her beauty defied all description.
Yun Qingxue stood dumbfounded, utterly speechless.
“This is…” Lan Xuechen was equally stunned upon seeing Yun Qingxue. She stared at Huanshi in disbelief, wondering if she was dreaming.
“Aunt Chen, this is the current Flower Queen, Yun Qingxue,” Huanshi said calmly, enunciating each word clearly.
“How is she here? Why is she here? Was it your father?” Lan Xuechen’s face twisted with agitation.
“Aunt Chen, don’t worry. My father didn’t capture her. She was poisoned and needed divine herbs for an antidote, so she secretly came to the Divine Realm with Purple Melody Sage’s help. I’ve already gathered all the herbs she needs. Before she leaves… I thought you two should meet.”
“Are you… the previous Flower Queen, Lan Xuechen?” Yun Qingxue finally recovered from the shock of seeing another Star-Blue Peony.
“Yes.” Lan Xuechen nodded with effort, her shimmering eyes fixed unwaveringly on Yun Qingxue.
She had never imagined she would suddenly see her daughter after a thousand years of separation!
When she had given birth to her, she had been just a tiny, fragile bundle. The little one hadn’t even had the chance to open her eyes and see her mother before they were torn apart…
A thousand years had passed. Time had flown, and her daughter had grown into such a graceful, peerless beauty…
Lan Xuechen’s eyes reddened, tears glistening within them.
She wanted to speak to her daughter but didn’t know where to begin.
She couldn’t embrace her long-lost child like other mothers could.
She couldn’t even let her daughter know that she was her *real mother*.
If Qingxue learned the truth now, she might recklessly try to save her—no matter the cost.
She wasn’t a good mother. She had only given birth to her, never able to accompany her growth or offer her the care she deserved.
Now, the only thing she could do—the *one* thing—was to protect her safety.
“Child…” Lan Xuechen forced a smile, but after those two words, a thousand others clogged her throat, leaving her speechless.
She could only gaze at her daughter with longing.
A thousand years. Countless days and nights, she had dreamed of what her daughter might look like.
And her daughter was far more beautiful than she had ever imagined.
“Greetings, Senior!” Yun Qingxue finally regained her composure and bowed respectfully.
But Lan Xuechen could only smile through her tears.
Mother and daughter met for the first time, yet all they could do was stare at each other in silence.
After a long pause, Lan Xuechen steeled herself and reluctantly tore her gaze from Yun Qingxue to look at Huanshi.
“This place is too dangerous. Take Qingxue away, quickly!”
“Mm.” Huanshi responded quietly.
Lan Xuechen turned back to her daughter, drinking in her face—she felt she could never look at her enough.
“Child… could you… hug me?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“Of course.” Yun Qingxue smiled softly. For some reason, a pang of sadness welled up in her heart as she looked at Lan Xuechen.
Step by step, she approached and reached out to embrace her.
But—
Her hands passed straight through Lan Xuechen’s body.
“W-what?” She stared in shock.
“Aunt Chen only has a wisp of her soul here. You’ll need to use magic to embrace her,” Huanshi explained quietly.
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