In the following days, they camped in the mountain forests at night but encountered no further unusual incidents.
Rumors said there was an Imperial Mausoleum built in a certain part of Turn Tide Mountain. Due to the excessive number of sacrificial burials accompanying several generations of emperors, the area was perpetually shrouded in eerie winds, and ghostly sightings had become increasingly frequent in recent years. The current emperor rarely visited the mausoleum for rituals, and now it had likely become a gathering place for demons and malevolent spirits. The bird demon and the unfamiliar man from that night must have been creatures from the mausoleum, right?
To have accidentally wandered into the Imperial Mausoleum amidst the vast expanse of Turn Tide Mountain and encountered such extraordinary events—this clearly proved her luck was anything but ordinary. This trip was bound to be fruitful; she would surely bring home a handsome and capable husband to make her father happy.
Four days later, they finally arrived at Esteemed Spirit Valley. The gatekeepers were stunned when they saw the enormous pelican descending from the sky.
This Spirit beast… was truly eye-catching. No one had ever dared to use such a large and ugly Spirit beast before.
When Xin Mei jumped off Qiu Yue’s back, the gatekeepers’ jaws dropped even further.
She… she was such a beautiful girl! Though dressed in the simplest green robes for travel, her loveliness was undeniable. She walked over with a bright smile, her cheeks as fair and delicate as fine porcelain, her expression sweetly innocent and carefree. Just seeing her smile made it seem as if there were no troubles in the world at all.
Xin Mei had intended to greet them and hand over the Spirit beasts to collect her payment, but the two gatekeepers just stood there blushing. Hmm, upon closer inspection, both of them were quite good-looking!
She glanced left and right, deciding the one on the right had more masculine charm. She preferred real men over pretty-faced ones. Patting her money pouch—which held three thousand taels in silver notes, enough to buy a person—she thought, "He can just come home with me!"
Xin Mei cleared her throat. “Hey there, young man, would you like to—”
“Are you the Xin boss from the Sinister Clan?” Someone interrupted from inside the gate.
“Yes.”
Business came first; the husband matter could be discussed later. Xin Mei answered with a grin, flashing a smile at the handsome young man and glancing at the name tag on his waist. “Oh, your name is Zhang Dahu. Got it. I’ll find you later—we’ll have a little sparring session.”
Good looks alone weren’t enough; he had to be capable too. She needed to test his skills.
His face turned red, then pale—probably the “shock and delight” mentioned in operas, right?
In even higher spirits, Xin Mei led the group of Spirit beasts inside, following the stewardess.
Esteemed Spirit Valley was one of their Sinister Clan’s biggest clients, purchasing large quantities of Spirit beasts almost every year. In the past, her father had always made these long trips; this was her first time here. The abodes of immortals were truly different—so clean, spacious, and beautiful. Even ordinary blue-brick houses and green grass with red flowers were arranged with unique elegance. Along the way, she often saw disciples of the valley master passing by, each refined and neatly dressed, nodding politely to greet her.
When they reached an ornate pavilion, the stewardess went in to announce their arrival before returning. “Boss Xin, the valley master says he’s in a good mood today and would like to meet an old friend. He also invites you to stay here for a few days.”Xin Mei had once heard her father mention that the master of Esteemed Spirit Valley was a fox immortal who had attained enlightenment a thousand years ago. He was the most amiable person, and even juniors could joke with him without fear of reprimand. It was truly wonderful that he allowed her to stay here. Later, she would go find Zhang Dahu to discuss the matter of purchasing a husband.
Just as she lifted her foot to step inside, a sudden bellow of an ox echoed overhead, and a rickety ox cart descended from the sky, landing right beside her. The door swung open, and a white figure tumbled out, darting into the building as if his life depended on it, shouting, "Move aside! Move aside! Zhen Hongsheng! You damn fox, get out here now!"
He moved so swiftly that Xin Mei didn’t even catch a glimpse of his face. Turning to the stewardess, she noticed the woman’s calm expression, clearly accustomed to such scenes.
"Boss Xin, please," the stewardess gestured for her to go upstairs.
Since the woman was so composed, Xin Mei felt it inappropriate to make a fuss and ask questions. She proceeded upstairs.
The building appeared ordinary from the outside, but inside, it was a world of its own—bright as day, with each floor representing a distinct season. After passing through the scenic beauty of spring, summer, and autumn, Xin Mei paused at the steps leading to the top floor, where a snowy, bitterly cold winter awaited.
Ascending the steps, she found a small courtyard at the top, complete with a frozen pond, trees laden with red winter berries, a snow-covered pavilion, and—two men tangled together inside it.
"Give it to me!" The man on top demanded fiercely.
"Beg me, and I’ll give it to you," the one beneath replied with a flirtatious gaze.
"You’re asking for death!" The man on top darkened his face.
"Not just death—I want to die in ecstasy," the one below responded smoothly.
"You—" The man on top suddenly froze, lifting his head to spot Xin Mei standing dumbfounded at the entrance. He stiffened.
"Oh, so you’re Xin Mei?" The man beneath turned his head, smiling at her. "Last time I saw you, you were just a baby in swaddling clothes. Look how big you’ve grown now. Come here, let me get a good look at you."
Xin Mei stood still for a moment, then turned to leave. "Sorry for interrupting. I’ll come back later."
"Stop!"
A loud shout made her turn back. The man who had been on top now stood in the snow, clad in a loose, worn robe, his gaunt frame trembling. His face bore a complex mix of shame, anger, and despair as he stared at her, carefully saying, "You’ve misunderstood!"
Such classic words—often heard in dramas. For instance, when a man accidentally holds hands or embraces a woman who isn’t his wife, and his wife happens to witness it, his first words are inevitably these. Or when a woman is framed by a cunning rival, and her husband turns cold and cruel, finding solace in tormenting her, she would inevitably choke out these four words, heavy as mountains.
Sympathizing with such emotions, Xin Mei decided not to react in a way that would worsen their distress and simply nodded. "Oh, I see."
But the man only grew more frantic, roaring, "What do you see? Don’t look at me like that! You don’t understand anything at all!"
Xin Mei scratched her head in frustration, while the other man in the pavilion burst into laughter. With a flick of his sleeve, a worn book landed in the first man’s hands."Meishan, your temper has grown increasingly fiery these years. Hard to believe you're an immortal. Go take some calming pills when you get back. Here's the thing you wanted—just an old brewing manual, and you're already losing your mind."
Meishan carefully tucked the slightly worn booklet into his robe as if it were a treasure. Glancing at Xin Mei now, he felt somewhat awkward and simply flicked his sleeves before leaving. His voice drifted up from downstairs: "You have plenty of herbs here. Let me stay a few days to gather ingredients for brewing."
"Xiao Mei, come here." The man in the pavilion lazily beckoned.
A living white fox was draped around his neck, so still that if not for its blinking eyes, Xin Mei would have mistaken it for a scarf. Above the fox's lustrous, plush fur was a face both gentle and smiling—so beautiful it could put flowers to shame!
"Hehe, it's been so long. You've grown so much." He reached out to stroke her porcelain-like cheek, his palm warm and fragrant. "And so pretty too."
Xin Mei shivered at his touch, then remembered her father's warning: this Fox Immortal Lord had no sense of elder decorum—he liked touching hands and feet indiscriminately to show affection. Just let him do it a few times and it'll be over. But... why wasn't he stopping?
He took her hand, turned it over to examine her palm lines, then silently flipped it back, kneading her fingers like a toy as he spoke: "I heard your father is troubled about your marriage. Stay here for a few days. The valley has many handsome young disciples—just point out whoever catches your eye."
Xin Mei's eyes instantly sparkled. Being touched a little didn't seem so bad now.
"Really? Actually, I already noticed that gatekeeper Zhang Dahu earlier!"
Zhen Hongsheng paused, raising an amused eyebrow. "Oh? Why him? He's only been here a few months, has no skills, and isn't particularly good-looking."
"No way, I think he's very handsome."
He chuckled lowly, a mischievous glint flashing in his enchanting eyes. Pinching her chin, he tilted her face up to meet his gaze.
"Is he better-looking than me? If you've seen someone like me and still want him, little girl, you truly have no taste."
Xin Mei gazed at him with clear eyes, her pupils darting thoughtfully before she hesitantly said, "You... uh, Lord Fox Immortal... how should I put this..."
"Just say it." Zhen Hongsheng urged, eager for her honest opinion. Vanity was his weakness, and now he strained to hear her verdict.
With utmost sincerity, Xin Mei declared: "You look like a woman. I don’t like the pretty-as-a-flower type."
"......"
Crack—his heart shattered into pieces. The winter snowscape atop the tower disintegrated into glowing embers that vanished midair, revealing the pavilion's original carved pillars and painted beams once more.
The ashen-faced Fox Immortal Zhen Hongsheng abruptly stood and staggered away, step by desolate step.
Like a woman, like a woman, like a woman... The words looped endlessly in his mind. In his thousand years of life, no insult had ever struck so deep, leaving him utterly devastated.
"Uh... Lord Fox Immortal?" Xin Mei called out in bewilderment. What about Zhang Dahu?He suddenly turned around: "This is called handsome! Handsome, do you understand?! You ignorant little brat! I will never give you any of my disciples! Not a single one! Not even half! Never!"
With that, he covered his face and ran off in a frenzy.
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