By the Road to the Yellow Springs - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

My father didn’t really care whether I could speak or not, but he couldn’t stand to see my mother sad.

So, that very day, he carried me off to find the Black and White Impermanence.

He said that no matter what, he was going to demand a mouthful of human milk for me to drink.

We passed by the Naihe Bridge.

That was the first time I saw the Emperor of Fengdu.

On the Road of Yellow Springs, the Red Spider Lilies were in bloom, stretching out for thousands of miles as far as the eye could see.

He was leaning casually against the side of the bridge, reaching out to pluck a flower that was blooming with wild abandon.

I remembered how I had rolled around on the Road of Yellow Springs hundreds of times in the past.

Yet, I had never realized that the Red Spider Lilies were actually this beautiful.

My father walked faster and faster, and the figure by the bridge grew smaller and smaller, nearly fading from sight.

I got anxious and shouted:

“Daddy, a pretty lady!”

My father looked in the direction I was pointing.

“Ha, my silly daughter, that’s the Emperor of Fengdu. He’s a man… Wait! My Yan’er can talk?”

That was the first time I ever spoke.

Later, I learned that this Emperor of Fengdu, who was as beautiful as a Red Spider Lily, was actually even more powerful than the Ten Yama Kings.

He ruled the entire Underworld; he was the true Lord of the Underworld.

He was an existence that nobodies like us couldn’t hope to touch in a lifetime.

If he weren’t currently dangling me in the air by my collar, I probably would have believed all those rumors about him.

On the Road of Yellow Springs.

The Emperor of Fengdu held me up in front of him, looking me dead in the eye as he asked:

“What is this thing?”

I wasn’t sure if he was asking me; it felt more like he had picked up a toy he didn’t recognize.

He turned me over and over in his hands with curiosity, almost flipping me upside down to inspect the soles of my feet.

“I am Zhao Youjun’s precious daughter, Zhao Xiaoyan!”

Even though I was five years old by then, I was a late bloomer when it came to speaking. Usually, whenever I managed a long sentence, I would receive a shower of praise.

So, after finishing my sentence, I waited expectantly for the Emperor of Fengdu to compliment me.

To my surprise, the Emperor of Fengdu’s beautiful lips suddenly thinned, his eyes filled with pure disdain.

He clicked his tongue and said:

“Your father has terrible taste.”

I didn’t quite understand what he meant by that.

But I was bright and clever; I could tell from his tone that it definitely wasn’t anything good.

So, I got angry too, twisting my body with all my might to try and break free from his grip.

Hmph!

No one is allowed to badmouth my father, not even someone as good-looking as him!

My struggling was useless.

He inspected me from top to bottom, inside and out, just like my mother would check a newly sewn doll.

He even lifted my eyelids to take a peek.

Then, he said with a note of regret-

“What a waste, raising it to be this big.”

I didn’t understand what that meant, so I just tilted my head and looked at him.

He gave a soft sigh and tossed me aside carelessly.

Then, he strolled away with an air of effortless grace.