The Black Lotus Eclipse - Chapter 6

“I never intended to hurt you. I have already found a new Seven Glow Lotus. Once Le You’s Immortal Body is forged, I will heal you… Jing Chun, all the harm I have caused you was unintentional.

“Jing Chun, can we start over? Didn’t you say you wanted to take me to plant Red Spider Lilies? Let’s live together by Wangchuan Lake and do whatever you want.”

I watched his deep affection with cold eyes and pulled a deeply mocking smile.

Zhuo Yuan choked up and then sighed in realization. “Le You is the daughter of Di Shu, the Goddess, who fell into the mortal world. This time descending, my original intent was to wait for her to grow up and form her Immortal Body, otherwise her mortal body cannot withstand the aura of the Immortal Realm.

“Meeting you was something I couldn’t help. I coveted your love, but I cannot disobey the task given to me by Di Shu, the Goddess.

“Le You is pure of heart. She clings to me, but it’s only a younger sister’s trust for her elder brother-she is different from you. Jing Chun, please don’t be angry, all right?”

Le You may be pure, but I think he’s truly foolish.

I turned my head away, closed my eyes to rest. The power in my body was gathering at my chest; I had to circulate it fully, or else my meridians would not be able to bear it.

I paid no further heed to Zhuo Yuan’s mutterings.

He trampled all the love I once had for him underfoot, then brushed it off lightly, attempting to rekindle our relationship.

What an enormous joke.

Night fell. While my strength had not yet recovered, Zhuo Yuan booked a pleasure boat and invited me to admire the moon.

He busied himself proving how much he loved me in his own way.

I had no strength to resist and could only let him have his way.

Le You sat gloomily between us, repeatedly bringing up Di Shu, the Mother Goddess: “Zhuo Yuan, I’m a bit scared about Mother Goddess’s birthday banquet this time…

“All the immortals from the Four Seas and Eight Desolations will be gathering in the Heavenly Realm. If someone looks down on me because I’m just a mortal, what should I do?”

As soon as she finished speaking, I froze in place, lost in thought.

I heard Zhuo Yuan patiently comfort her: “You are the true daughter of Di Shu; no one would dare question your status. Besides, I have already forged your Immortal Body in the mortal world. If you do more good deeds for people, with their offerings, your Immortal Rank will be unshakable.”

Le You immediately broke into a smile.

“Mother Goddess said that on the day of the birthday banquet, she’ll give me a gift. Zhuo Yuan, I can’t wait…”

Di Shu, the Goddess.

A mother’s love?

I snorted derisively.

“Rice cakes… rice cakes…”

From a distance came the cry of rice cake sellers. Le You tugged on Zhuo Yuan’s sleeve, her voice lively: “Zhuo Yuan, do you remember the rice cakes my mother made? My mortal mother-when you stayed at my house as a child, my mother would always make them for the holidays. I really miss those days.

“Zhuo Yuan, I miss my mother. Can you go buy some for me?”

Zhuo Yuan fondly patted her head and floated away, leaving just Le You and me, staring at each other.

She grew even more smug, provoking me: “You, a member of the Ghost Bureau, what are you snorting at?

“Whatever I want, Zhuo Yuan will always side with me first.”

I looked at her coldly, already guessing her reason for sending Zhuo Yuan away.

Nothing more than hurting herself to frame me.

Sure enough.

When Le You saw Zhuo Yuan fly back to the boat, she suddenly grabbed me, pulled the hairpin from her head and slashed a bloody line across her own neck, then clung to me, making it look as though I had shoved her into the dangerous edge of the boat.

“Zhuo Yuan… save me!”

She was a master at these little tricks.

But this time, I would not cooperate. I pried her fingers away, and fell together with her.

Terror flashed in Zhuo Yuan’s eyes. He used Le You’s falling body to reverse his grip and catch me.

“Splash!”

Le You sank to the bottom of the lake.

Despair, and a flood of unwillingness, shone in her eyes.