Liu Qiao’e left Watercloud Ravine as usual and arrived at Floating Cloud Valley. The menial laborers inside the valley saw her displeased expression and all lowered their heads to avoid her.
Liu Qiao’e had just been lectured by Mu Daoying, and a fire burned in her heart.
Early in the morning, that bitch Li Qingcheng had come provocatively to her doorstep—that was one thing.
But what was Mu Daoying? He had no relation to her whatsoever, yet he dared to lecture her?
Just thinking of the way Mu Daoying had looked at her made Liu Qiao’e’s face flush with anger. He hadn’t rebuked her; his eyes had been calm and sincere.
This old lady had lived this way for so many years—even when she was a babbling infant, she had heard the married couple next door cursing each other. Ask any neighbor, and who didn’t say the same? It felt good to say it, and it was satisfying to curse! That was just her temperament—if someone couldn’t stand it, tough luck!
Liu Qiao’e ground her teeth, her gaze falling on the laborers in the distance who were bent over weeding. One of them caught her eye and shuddered, driving his hoe too deep into the ground.
Liu Qiao’e immediately erupted. “I told you to dig pits, not make trouble for me!”
The laborer hurriedly nodded and bowed in apology. “Forgive us, Supervisor! Forgive us!”
“What kind of work is this?” Liu Qiao’e strode forward, jabbed the ground with her hoe, and slowed her speech slightly. “Jade Bowl Snowflake roots are fine—the pits need to be shallow for water and air to pass through. Otherwise, they’ll rot.”
The laborer assented meekly.
Liu Qiao’e frowned, her fingertips dancing as she formed several spell seals. The seals shot out, and in an instant, crisscrossing pits of varying depths appeared neatly in the flower field.
The nearby laborers, though they feared her like a tiger, had to admit that this Liu immortal’s control over her spiritual power was exquisite to the finest degree.
Big fish eat little fish, little fish eat shrimp. Though Liu Qiao’e was lowly in the outer sect, in the eyes of these laborers, she was undoubtedly a heavenly being.
Supervisor Liu was a meticulous person who handled everything personally, rewarded and punished fairly, though her temper wasn’t great.
If her subordinates made a small mistake and she caught it, they were in for a good scolding. But though she cursed, once they endured the storm, it passed—they wouldn’t lose their lives over it.
Already in a bad mood, and now these laborers added to her chaos. Liu Qiao’e dug the pits viciously, her anger growing as she thought more about it. She put all her brute strength into the work, treating it as digging graves for Mu Daoying and Li Qingcheng, those two bitches.
She had no patience for the laborers who wanted to help and shooed them aside. She plowed eight mu of land in one go. “Watch carefully!” She left only the last two mu for them to do.
The laborers thanked her profusely.
Liu Qiao’e ignored them entirely and continued her inspection.
It was unclear whether heaven itself opposed her, but after one round, she found either too much water or flowers scorched by the sun. A new little laborer didn’t even know how to ferment manure and, scared by her approach, overturned the dung bucket, splattering her all over.
It infuriated Liu Qiao’e so much that one Buddha was born into the world while the second ascended to heaven. She kicked the little laborer into the manure water, rolling him several times, before she vented some of her rage.
In truth, she didn’t need to oversee these chores personally.
The flower valley was divided into four large sections: east, west, south, and north. She was in charge of the eastern section, and under her was a minor supervisor among the laborers named Xu, who was diligent and steady. But for some reason, she hadn’t seen him all morning.
She sat down in the flower shed for a sip of water to rest and asked those around her.
Laborer Zhao Lao’er hemmed and hawed, beating around the bush.
Liu Qiao’e’s slender brows shot up as she snarled viciously, “Speak quickly or fart it out—if you dare hide it, I’ll grind you into flower fertilizer!”
Zhao Lao’er finally spoke in a trembling voice. “Han Siniang caught a cold and has been seriously ill these past two days. You know, Lady Liu… those two… they’ve already become ‘Cloud-Mountain Companions.'”
Seeing Liu Qiao’e’s face darken like water, silent, Zhao Lao’er’s knees buckled, and he knelt on the ground.
Everyone knew this Lady Liu was a fierce shrew. Though in the Joyous Union Palace, she had no man by her side and deeply despised those lovey-dovey couples.
If she caught men and women messing up due to romance today, who knew how she’d punish them.
Sure enough, Liu Qiao’e grew angry. “Is this his reason for skipping work without reporting?”
Zhao Lao’er braced himself. “Perhaps last night… last night Han Fourth Lady fell critically ill, and he forgot to report.” He thought to himself, Xu Kaiji, you’ve doomed me!
He waited anxiously for a long time before Liu Qiao’e spoke coldly.
“Go back and tell him I grant him a day off.”
Zhao Lao’er nodded. “Yes, yes—” He suddenly looked up. “Huh?”
“Deduct half a month’s silver—that’s punishment for skipping work without cause.”
“As for this Han Fourth—” Liu Qiao’e wrinkled her nose and tossed a white porcelain vial with a narrow mouth and round belly from her sleeve.
Zhao Lao’er hurriedly caught it clumsily.
Liu Qiao’e said sternly, “Take this medicine back for her to use. Tell her to get better quickly and return to work! If she’s not recovered in ten days or half a month, throw her out of the palace!”
Zhao Lao’er knelt and thanked profusely on their behalf before scurrying away with the white porcelain vial.
Liu Qiao’e picked up her slightly cool teacup, rubbed it gently, and let out two cold snorts.
—Cloud-Mountain Companion, Cloud-Mountain Companion.
She suddenly felt restless. Though she had been in a cursing match earlier, holding her own against the group, one sentence had struck her hidden pain, making her feel awful.
It was that pink-clothed girl’s words: “Someone doesn’t even have a Cloud-Mountain Companion to this day! What a disgrace!”
To cultivate yin-yang in the Joyous Union Palace, one needed a partner distinct from ordinary dao companions—a “fellow cultivator.” The term Cloud-Mountain Companion evoked morning clouds and evening rain, the fleeting bonds of dew.
Without a fellow cultivator, one couldn’t practice the sect’s core techniques. For the past six years, Liu Qiao’e had only superficially learned the basics.
But with her personality, how could she show weakness? Even if she agonized privately, she always put on an arrogant front in public.
With the Joyous Union Grand Ceremony approaching, Cloud-Mountain Companions in the palace increased day by day.
This was tied to the ceremony’s traditions.
On the day of the grand ceremony, they prayed to heaven as usual, beseeching blessings—no harm in that; most sects had such customs.
But the activity after the sacrifice was often decried by righteous sects as demonic, depraved, and utterly vulgar.
The Joyous Union Palace entered the dao through gathering yin to supplement yang and gathering yang to supplement yin, tracing its lineage to the White Water Maiden.
After the rite, disciples and their Cloud-Mountain Companions went to the river called Pure Water in the palace, bathed, sang, and sought joy.
Joy in the literal sense.
Joyous Union Palace disciples saw it as sacred.
Every disciple had to find their Cloud-Mountain Companion, or they would be spat upon as inauspicious.
Liu Qiao’e, who cared most about face, still hadn’t found hers.
She had originally set her sights on Fan Shuyun, but now that hope was shattered.
With the Joyous Union Grand Ceremony drawing nearer, if she attended alone, Li Qingcheng that little bitch would mock her mercilessly.
She drained the cold tea in her cup, frowned, and secretly weighed the men around her.
Either they looked down on her, or she looked down on them. After much thought, none satisfied her.
She took a sip of tea, caught her breath, and went back to work in the flower field.
The spirit flowers and immortal herbs under her care all bloomed lush and vibrant. When inner and outer sect disciples came for flowers, the Joyous Union Palace disciples were all fond of beauty: high buns adorned with red hairpins, colorful feather skirts, dangling jewels and flowing capes. As they strolled hand-in-hand through the flower field with baskets, they nearly dazzled Liu Qiao’e’s eyes.
She loved beauty too. But she wasn’t attractive, and deliberate makeup only made her look worse.
She looked down at the swaying, graceful large immortal flowers, her heart itching. She couldn’t resist picking one, quietly holding it to her temple, forming a water spell to check her reflection, and nodded secretly.
Afraid of being seen, she admired herself briefly before quickly removing it. Even so, she felt satisfied.
After that, she focused on farm work in the flower field until the sun slanted west, then let the laborers go.
Who would have thought enemies would meet again? On the way back to Watercloud Ravine, she ran into Li Qingcheng.
This woman was fierce in appearance but faint of heart, timid as a green bean. Perhaps wary of Mu Daoying’s morning display, Li Qingcheng glared at her indignantly but didn’t dare act rashly. She just shouted loudly, “Hey—”
All thunder and no rain. What bad luck. Liu Qiao’e pretended not to see.
Li Qingcheng: “I’m kindly reminding you—the Joyous Union Grand Ceremony is near. I’ve already had seven or eight people asking me. I can’t wait to see when you’ll find your Cloud-Mountain Companion!”
Liu Qiao’e: “Who asked you?”
Li Qingcheng’s nose twisted in anger. “Liu Qiao’e!”
On the surface, she acted indifferent, but Li Qingcheng’s words truly pricked Liu Qiao’e’s heart like a thorn.
The thoughts she had suppressed that morning resurfaced.
Cloud-Mountain Companion? Where was she supposed to find one?
As she pondered, Watercloud Ravine’s gate came into view.
–
Cultivation required a steady heart.
Without a steady heart, meditation was futile.
If the heart remained clear and calm like water at all times, embryonic breathing came naturally. Dressing and eating became cultivation—no need for rigid daily meditation.
The morning quarrel with Liu Qiao’e dispelled Mu Daoying’s desire to sit quietly.
After several days of sleepless adjustment, the inner breath in his meridians had stabilized greatly.
He lifted his robe and saw that the critical wounds on his abdomen and elsewhere had healed more than halfway—this was largely thanks to Liu Qiao’e’s medicines.
He had stayed in Watercloud Ravine for several days. Though cultivators could abstain from food after marrow cleansing, their skin stayed fragrant and clean, aided by cleansing spells for daily needs. But Mu Daoying was innately fond of cleanliness. With nothing to do today, he fetched a wooden basin, found a washboard, dragged over a small stool, and sat at the door washing clothes.
He scrubbed his daoist robe clean, shook it out to dry, and as he looked up, he saw the pot of Peach Blossom Flying Snow placed under the hall window, proudly blooming bowl-sized flowers in the sunlight.
For some reason, the flower before him reminded Mu Daoying of Liu Qiao’e.
That skinny, defiant woman looked nothing like the flower, yet Mu Daoying saw similarities between them. Both had vigorous vitality: slender stems supporting huge petals, equally arrogant and wild.
Mu Daoying couldn’t help recalling the morning quarrel.
In others’ eyes, he was perfect in every way except for his pedantic temperament—not like a natural daoist, more like a scholar. He liked to reflect on himself idly.
After Liu Qiao’e left, he thought back to their dispute over “filthy curses” and realized his mistake.
He had spoken out of turn that morning; such vulgarities were just her way of arming herself.
Without experiencing her hardships, he shouldn’t have spoken rashly or shamed her to her face.
He resolved to take it as a lesson.
He wanted to apologize to Liu Qiao’e, but words alone were too light, and gifts… he was alone and destitute now.
In Mu Daoying’s view, the Joyous Union Palace techniques were unorthodox, and her cultivation hadn’t advanced. Better to teach her some righteous methods.
As he pondered, he looked up and saw the pot of Peach Blossom Flying Snow.
He suddenly recalled his friend Zhao Yange saying daughters loved finery. After a slight hesitation, he pointed with a finger, sending a ray of spiritual light circling the branches three times, and clipped two flower stems.
His slender, jade-like fingertips brushed the stems clearly. Mu Daoying lowered his eyes and carefully trimmed them.
Born to the prosperous Gusu Mu Clan of the Great Xia Dynasty’s mortal world, with many sisters and younger siblings in his generation, all pampered and fond of beauty—
Though he rarely interacted with women after leaving home, as a child his carved-jade-powder-sculpted looks had earned him special favor from his sisters.
From childhood, he had learned these skills of arranging incense and flowers for amusement from them. In his hands, the stems soon formed hairpin shapes.
His spiritual energy was mainly wood, ever-growing. Mu Daoying released a wisp of pale green spiritual light that wound up the stems, storing spiritual vitality to keep them fresh for days.
With the flower hairpins made, but—
Looking at the hairpin before him, Mu Daoying was stumped for the first time, unsure how to give it.
As he thought, Liu Qiao’e walked in through the door.
The moment she entered, Liu Qiao’e spotted Mu Daoying.
It was hard to miss—mainly because he was too handsome. Black hair bound in a crown, skin white as snow, red lips echoing the Peach Blossom Flying Snow, fresh and refined, eye-catchingly bright. Like a pearl in the room, illuminating everything—who could ignore him?
He sat at the table, his dark hair curtain half-veiling his snowy face, lost in thought. Seeing Liu Qiao’e, Mu Daoying came back to himself, stood, and nodded to her in greeting. “Fellow Daoist Liu.”
It was unclear whether his breath control was insufficient or women’s intuition was keen.
Liu Qiao’e immediately furrowed her brows warily. “Something?”
Mu Daoying remained composed as he swiftly tucked the flower hairpin into his sleeve.
Liu Qiao’e’s attitude was sharp, and Mu Daoying didn’t know how to broach the subject for a moment.
Liu Qiao’e wasn’t one to indulge him. After waiting a moment and seeing he still hadn’t spoken, she turned to leave.
This wouldn’t do.
A petal drifted by, giving him a dizzying sense of enchantment.
Mu Daoying steadied his mind, supported the flower branch, and finally spoke, his voice like tinkling jade: “—Fellow Daoist Liu.”
Liu Qiao’e halted her steps.
Meeting Liu Qiao’e’s gaze, Mu Daoying quickly got to the point: “My apologies.”
Liu Qiao’e: “?”
Her eyes widened. “Are you sick?”
Mu Daoying: “…”
“What happened this morning was my mistake.” He steadied his mind, determined to ignore that remark from Liu Qiao’e.
Liu Qiao’e’s body stiffened slightly, but the rigidity flashed by in an instant. She soon curled her lips in a cold smile, her eyes gleaming with the look of someone enjoying a good show. “Your mistake? Where did you go wrong?”
Liu Qiao’e’s defenses were too tight. Mu Daoying knew that breaking through wouldn’t be easy. For someone like her, perhaps only sincerity could win her favor.
His nature was straightforward to begin with, so he felt no humiliation. He spoke frankly: “This one didn’t know of Fellow Daoist’s past experiences and, based on mere scraps of information, presumptuously lectured you like a master. That was truly improper.”
—But now, suggesting he teach her orthodox cultivation techniques would be hard to bring up.
With that in mind, Mu Daoying quickly offered the flower hairpin from his sleeve to her.
“Not knowing Fellow Daoist’s preferences, this is a little trinket I made in my spare time this morning. It’s nothing special—borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha, in hopes of bringing a smile to your face.”
He felt embarrassed. He finished speaking quickly, his face striving to remain calm as water, though his Dao heart stirred greatly. He had no idea if she would be pleased.
Even during the grand examination at Jade Clarity Temple in the past, he hadn’t been this nervous.
Who would have thought Liu Qiao’e would eye the flower hairpin in his hand suspiciously and demand with wide eyes: “Did you break my flower?”
Mu Daoying was stunned.
The two stared at each other, big eyes to small eyes, for a moment.
Mu Daoying straightened up and quickly admitted his fault: “My apologies.”
Liu Qiao’e snatched the flower hairpin and examined it, frowning. “Do you only know how to apologize?”
Mu Daoying’s reply was equally swift. “No.”
Liu Qiao’e looked at him.
Mu Daoying was candid: “Because they wouldn’t dare.”
Dare what? Naturally, it was because he had long presided over criminal affairs at Jade Clarity Temple. Not to mention rude or vulgar words—even upon seeing him, the disciples of Jade Clarity Temple wished they could stick to the walls as they passed.
Mu Daoying’s dark eyes gazed at her earnestly: “You’re the first.”
Liu Qiao’e suddenly grew curious. “You really never cussed out your mother? You never get angry?”
Mu Daoying said: “Of course there are times when I grow angry, but cultivation should fundamentally refine the body and temper the nature. Constant self-restraint is the essence of practice.”
Liu Qiao’e scoffed: “It’s better to vent than suppress. Daoist, if you hold it in day and night—this too, that too—I suggest you go with the flow a bit, act on impulse now and then. Otherwise, you’ll hold it all in until you turn into a big turtle!”
Mu Daoying said mildly: “Perhaps there will be a day when I act on impulse.”
But at least not today.
Mu Daoying’s mild yet resolute attitude left Liu Qiao’e speechless.
She fiddled with the flower hairpin for a couple moments, then abruptly asked: “Do you have a Dao companion?”
Mu Daoying showed a puzzled expression.
“Why do you say that?”
Liu Qiao’e felt a pang of guilt: “…Just asking.”
Cloud-Mountain Companion, Cloud-Mountain Companion—
Why had she thought of Mu Daoying?
The more she thought, the more alarmed Liu Qiao’e felt.
“No.” Mu Daoying shook his head. “This one devotes himself wholly to the Dao, with no interest in romantic entanglements.”
Liu Qiao’e: “You say you don’t understand romance between men and women, but I see you’re quite good at coaxing girls into a good mood.”
Mu Daoying countered: “Did I coax you?”