Moonlight Mystique

Chapter One

No one knew exactly when it started, but Shang Gu’s habit of frequently wandering the Lower Realm for leisure had vanished. By the time the deities of the Divine Realm noticed, the True God Shang Gu had already spent over a decade leisurely admiring the setting moon and fading stars from her Star-Gazing Pavilion.

Yue Mi was aware of this. With her respectable hobby of collecting treasures, she often wandered into Shang Gu’s palace to "borrow" some fine items for her own abode. Shang Gu couldn’t be bothered to argue, turning a blind eye—until Yue Mi, the infamous Devil King, set her sights on the Wu Hua Wine.

As the name suggested, Wu Hua Wine was brewed from the fruits of the Wu Hua tree. This tree was both prideful and difficult to cultivate, bearing fruit only once every fifty thousand years. The wine it produced was so potent that even True Gods could get drunk from it, making it an exceedingly rare treasure.

Yue Mi adored fine wine. For years, she had visited Wu Hua Guo Shen’s abode to demand Wu Hua fruits, only to be turned away by the old god leaning on his cane. It wasn’t until the tenth year, when she stormed his Immortal Cave and used his cane as firewood, that Wu Hua Guo Shen tearfully confessed his woes.

"Oh, my dear Divine Venerable Yue Mi! The True God Shang Gu has been taking every single fruit for years! If you’ve got the nerve, don’t bully this humble god—go make a scene at Shang Gu’s palace! Not only have you missed out, but even I, guarding my own doorstep, haven’t seen a single fruit scrap in over a decade!"

Thus, the Divine Venerable Yue Mi—who had once rampaged through the Divine Realm without equal—stepped into Shang Gu’s palace.

Bold as ever, she rummaged through the treasure vault and wine cellar, only to find not even a single fruit pit. Not only did she alert the palace guards, but she was also dragged before Shang Gu herself.

"Aren’t you ashamed? Stealing is one thing, but doing it so brazenly? And getting caught by the guards?" Shang Gu held her teacup with the air of a Divine Venerable.

Yue Mi rolled her eyes and scoffed. "As if I could outdo you? Wu Hua Guo Shen hasn’t seen a single fruit in ten years. How shameless can you be?"

Shang Gu narrowed her eyes in understanding. "You want Wu Hua Wine?"

"After a hundred thousand years of friendship, spare a few jars?" Yue Mi straightened, playing the friendship card.

"No." Shang Gu shut her down without hesitation and began shooing her away. "Ten years of brewing only yields ten jars. Don’t even think about it."

"You don’t even like wine. What do you need it for?" Yue Mi, sharp as ever, noticed Shang Gu’s distracted gaze toward the Peach Abyss Forest. A sudden realization struck her, and she darted forward. "Where were you just looking?"

Shang Gu arched a meaningful brow. "What do you think?"

Yue Mi gasped, her finger trembling as she pointed at the forest. "It’s not what I’m imagining, is it?"

Bai Jue loved wine—especially Wu Hua Wine. This was common knowledge across the realms.

"Exactly what you’re imagining," Shang Gu’s voice chimed in perfectly.

Yue Mi was momentarily stunned before realizing she might have played a role in this.

Ten years ago, during her grand birthday celebration, she had taken pity on Bai Jue, who had waited tens of thousands of years in vain, and brought Shang Gu to see him. Shang Gu had left without a word, and Yue Mi assumed nothing would come of it—even mourning Bai Jue’s unrequited devotion for days. Who would’ve thought Shang Gu had taken it to heart?

Now, realizing she had been kept in the dark despite being the matchmaker, Yue Mi was furious. "The two of you sit together so politely, practically a model pair of True Gods—so respectful and distant! Who knew you were hiding this!"Shang Gu smoothed the ruffled feathers of the goddess darting around the Starry Pavilion and pointed toward the Peach Abyss Forest. "Why are you angry? You knew before he did."

Yue Mi froze, turning back in disbelief. "He doesn’t know?"

"No."

"Did you send the wine?"

"Yes, same as every year."

"Is he an idiot?" The Flowerless Wine was truly a treasure—even when brewed with the Divine Power of a True God, barely one in ten batches survived, requiring immense divine energy.

"Oh, when I sent someone to deliver it, I said it was a gift from Zhi Yang. He doesn’t know I brewed it."

Yue Mi frowned, pressing a hand to Shang Gu’s forehead. "Are you the idiot? You’ve secretly liked him for over a decade, done so much—why not tell him?"

Shang Gu shook her head, utterly serious. "It’s not enough."

She gazed toward the Peach Abyss Forest, where a white-robed True God leaned against a tree, his dark hair and jade-like features unrivaled across the Six Realms.

"It’s not enough," Shang Gu repeated, turning back. "A mere ten years—how could I dare stand before him to repay tens of thousands of years of waiting?"

Yue Mi glanced at Bai Jue and understood Shang Gu’s meaning.

To be loved so utterly by such a man for millennia—even for someone as exalted as Shang Gu, the revelation had left her flustered and uncertain.

She really does love him… Maybe more than just love… Yue Mi studied Shang Gu, her eyes crinkling with amusement.

What a pair of fools. It’s enough to drive a friend mad.

Though Yue Mi left Shang Gu’s divine palace without securing any Flowerless Wine, she departed with a smile.

Half a month later, a minor upheaval erupted in the Human Realm. Mu Guang, ruler of the Heavenly Realm, reported it as protocol. When Yue Mi, overseer of the Three Realms’ military affairs, caught sight of the memorial, she immediately sent a petition to Bai Jue’s divine palace, stating that as a True God, he ought to inspect the unrest in the Lower Realm. Bai Jue, who had ignored mortal affairs for thirty thousand years, paid no heed to Yue Mi’s meddling. Yet her petitions arrived thrice daily, snowing into his palace until the entire Divine Realm took notice, assuming the Three Realms were in chaos and the mortal world overrun. Unable to endure the disturbance, Bai Jue quietly descended to the Lower Realm one dawn.

Once there, Bai Jue, true to his nature, wouldn’t make the trip for nothing. Disguised as a mortal, he journeyed east toward the capital, heartened by the joy and peace he witnessed along the way. Half a month later, he reached Chang’an during the Lantern Festival, where the Human Realm was alight with celebration and the warmth of the New Year.

The Divine Realm had its own festivities, but as a True God of aloof temperament, none dared act unrestrained in his presence. The past millennia had been dull indeed. Suddenly immersed in the mortal world’s vibrancy, he couldn’t help but chuckle wryly.

"No wonder so many refuse to return for centuries—they’re enchanted by this earthly bustle."

Having completed his inspection and enjoyed the revelry, Bai Jue prepared to leave. But before he could, raucous laughter erupted from the crowd ahead, accompanied by a voice he knew all too well—bold and domineering.

"Owner, if you lose again today, these ten jars of Daughter’s Red are mine! Don’t even think of cheating—all of Chang’an is watching!"

Ripples stirred in Bai Jue’s tranquil eyes. Hands clasped behind his back, his sleeves fluttering, he strode forward, parting the sea of people until he reached the front of the crowd.

There stood a youth in dark Jin-style robes, phoenix eyes arched arrogantly as he faced a tavern—none other than Shang Gu in male disguise.

Accustomed to her divine robes and flowing sleeves, this attire was a rare sight indeed.Bai Jue would never admit that just now, this esteemed True God had nearly resorted to a divine radiance to clear the way, all to catch a glimpse of the one who occupied his thoughts.

Since Shang Gu returned to the Divine Realm a decade ago during Yue Mi’s grand birthday celebration, they had occasionally crossed paths, but always in the company of other deities, never alone. Though the scene before him was bustling with noise, it was, after all, the Lower Realm.

Amid the crowd stood a small tavern named Qin Chu, its flag bearing the words "Century-Old Legacy." The tavern was modest in size, yet the aroma of its wine was intoxicating, especially the ten sealed jars of Nü’er Hong displayed at the entrance—so enticing that even Bai Jue couldn’t resist taking a whiff.

Listening carefully to the chatter around him, he finally understood the reason for the commotion.

It was the New Year festival, coinciding with the Qin Chu Tavern’s centennial celebration. The owner had brought out ten jars of Nü’er Hong passed down through generations and set up a ten-day challenge, inviting winemakers from the Central Plains to compete with their own brews. If any could rival Qin Chu’s Nü’er Hong, they would win a jar. Unexpectedly, on the first day of the challenge, a youth dressed in Jin-style robes appeared in Chang’an, bearing an otherworldly grace. Day after day, he brought wines of unparalleled variety—unheard of yet perfectly matched with the tavern’s prized Nü’er Hong.

Within days, the Jin-robed youth’s fame spread far and wide, even reaching the imperial palace. Today was the final day, and the people of Chang’an had gathered in eager anticipation. The nearby teahouses and pavilions were filled with young nobles, and even members of the royal family had come to witness the spectacle.

True to form, as the hour arrived, the Jin-robed youth appeared with his wine. Unlike the common folk, the nobles in the teahouses noticed the youth’s refined demeanor, reminiscent of the Wei-Jin scholars, and were eager to befriend him, assuming he hailed from a prestigious family. They promptly sent servants to inquire about his origins.

At the entrance of Qin Chu Tavern, the owner, having sampled the youth’s exceptional wines for nine consecutive days, was thoroughly impressed. Despite the youth’s bold claims, the owner smiled and said,

"Young Master, if you have fine wine, do bring it forth. Qin Chu Tavern has stood for a century. If we lose, we shall concede wholeheartedly." His eyes lingered on the jar in the youth’s hands, barely restraining himself from snatching it.

Bai Jue, too, was intrigued. Though this was the mortal realm, Qin Chu’s Nü’er Hong was no less exquisite than the rarest wines of the Divine Realm, surpassing even half of his own collection. Where had Shang Gu found so many exceptional wines to compete? Even if she had, after nine days, it would be nearly impossible to produce another that could outshine Qin Chu’s Nü’er Hong.

Given Bai Jue’s expertise in wine, if he said it couldn’t be done, it truly couldn’t.

Under the glow of the street lanterns, the Jin-robed youth glanced at the jar in her hand, a rare flicker of regret in her eyes. Five thousand years of cultivation—just to gift it to the people of this city.

With a sweep of her arm, she tossed the jar into the air. The seal broke mid-flight, and the jar spun gracefully before landing securely back in her embrace. In that fleeting moment, the wine’s fragrance flooded the street, leaving the crowd spellbound.

Recognizing the scent, Bai Jue was stunned—it was fig wine.

Divine figs were a rarity even in the Divine Realm, and for the past decade, Zhi Yang had been using them to brew wine exclusively for his temple. How had Shang Gu gotten her hands on any?

"Tavern Master, taste this! My wine is called ‘Wu Hua’—can it rival your Nü’er Hong?" Shang Gu pushed the jar of fig wine toward the owner with unbridled confidence.

The tavern owner, a true connoisseur, was already entranced by the aroma and eagerly reached for the jar. But then he paused and asked, "This old man has heard a certain tale. Might the Young Master enlighten me?"

"What tale?""Ten years ago, the Zhao family of Guanxi; nine years ago, the Bai family of Jinnan; six years ago, the Hu family of Mobei; three years ago, the Liu family of the Central Plains—all were challenged with wine and defeated by a mysterious visitor. Might I ask if this person was from Young Master's household?"

Over the past decade, every renowned wine-brewing family in the Imperial Dynasty, including the Qin-Chu Tavern, had been thoroughly bested in such challenges. Judging by age, it couldn't have been the youth before him, but there must be some connection.

Hearing this, the surrounding commoners gasped, their gazes toward the azure-robed youth shifting with newfound respect as they speculated which noble clan in the Imperial Dynasty could possess such remarkable skill.

Shang Gu was taken aback. She hadn't expected her occasional wine competitions in the Lower Realm would leave traces and be remembered by others.

"Innkeeper, today's challenge is between you and me. Why dredge up these old tales?" Shang Gu waved impatiently, spilling a few drops of wine. "Are you drinking this fig wine or not?"

"Ah! Drink, drink, drink!" The Qin-Chu Tavern owner had merely asked out of curiosity. Seeing the spilled wine, he grew distressed and hurried to catch it. "This old man has been waiting to taste it!"

But before he could reach it, a hand extended from the side and steadily caught the wine jar.

The tavern owner missed his grab and looked up indignantly, only to freeze in astonishment.

A white-robed young man stood there, dressed in the fashionable belted long robe of the time, with dark phoenix eyes and an ethereal handsomeness that exuded unparalleled nobility.

He stood beside the azure-robed youth, holding the wine jar with slender fingers as he glanced at the Qin-Chu Tavern owner.

"My younger sibling is still young and lacks proper manners. Having taken your family heirloom treasure, there's no need to continue this challenge—we concede defeat."

With that, he gave a slight nod to the tavern owner, cradled the wine jar with one hand, and with the other, grasped Shang Gu—who was still dazed—leading her through the crowd.

His transcendent aura parted the commoners like water, clearing a path wherever he stepped.

The Qin-Chu Tavern owner watched the pair of brothers—who had appeared and vanished so abruptly—with mixed emotions. He was relieved to have his family's last treasure jar returned, yet regretful that he would never taste the extraordinary fig wine he had only smelled. What a lifelong pity!

Thus, Bai Jue led Shang Gu away with an otherworldly grace, disappearing from the bustling streets of Chang'an, leaving behind awestruck commoners and admiring young nobles.

Shang Gu, still bewildered from being pulled out of the Qin-Chu Tavern, snapped out of it after just a few steps. She eyed her captured hand with amusement, wondering if this blockhead had finally realized she was the one who brewed the fig wine. Had he understood her feelings? Was he mustering the courage to confess? What would he say when he turned to her? This was so sudden—how should she respond? With restraint or boldness? Today was such an auspicious day—should she just drag him back to the Shang Gu Palace and settle things?

In the span of this short stroll, the tens-of-thousands-year-old True God Shang Gu's mind raced through countless possibilities, her heart leaping with joy while her face remained perfectly composed, betraying nothing.

Only after walking halfway down Chang'an Street, when the hand in his grasp grew increasingly warm, did Bai Jue suddenly realize he was holding another True God's hand. Turning leisurely, he met Shang Gu's expectant gaze and finally spoke his first words.

"Such recklessness. That fig wine was brewed with Zhi Yang's Divine Power. Using it to challenge mortals—drinking it could extend their lifespans by centuries or even elevate them directly to immortality. You've thrown the Book of Life and Death into chaos and stirred up trouble between the realms of ghosts and immortals. After tens of thousands of years as a ruling god, how can you still have such childish Heart-Nature?"

As he spoke, he naturally straightened Shang Gu's slightly disheveled collar.Bai Jue had always been aloof by nature. Even when offering such advice to Shang Gu, his expression remained gentle. Yet the protectiveness in his words and the intimacy of his actions—things Shang Gu hadn't noticed back then—were now crystal clear to her.

Though none of the words she'd expected to hear were spoken, Shang Gu felt inexplicably happy. Tugging at Bai Jue's sleeve, she shed the dignified wildness of a realm's ruler, displaying instead the rare girlish charm of her youth.

"Just giving these folks some extra blessings. Since they brew such fine wine, they deserve this reward."

If these skilled brewers died early, who'd make wine for Bai Jue? Shang Gu knew perfectly well—had Bai Jue not inadvertently stopped her, she'd have happily kept showering blessings on these mortals indefinitely.

Knowing her unconventional ways, Bai Jue assumed it was just youthful impulsiveness and refrained from further reprimand.

"Where'd you get the fig wine? Did you pester Zhi Yang for it?"

Shang Gu's earlier bravado vanished instantly when she realized Bai Jue still hadn't caught her drift. Retreating like a turtle into its shell, she deflected, "Yeah yeah, Boss has been weirdly obsessed with brewing lately. I just grabbed a jar for some drinking contests in the mortal realm."

"If you wanted some, you could've taken from my temple. He sends a jar yearly—there are still four or five in the wine vault. Why bother him?"

Shang Gu was inherently lazy—casual drinking contests were one thing, but spending a decade searching the Lower Realm for wine? Something was off. Unless...

Bai Jue knew his own preferences well. A sudden realization struck him, followed by overwhelming disbelief and joy.

Could Shang Gu have been collecting fine wines... for him? The mere thought sent tidal waves through his millennia-still heart, leaving him uncharacteristically flustered.

Afraid he'd notice, Shang Gu nodded vigorously, desperate to change the subject.

But Bai Jue, unusually persistent, pressed with deepened voice, "You dislike wine. Why compete for it in the Lower Realm?"

Of course he'd ask the one thing she feared. Taking a deep breath, she blurted evasively, "You all enjoy wine. I figured I'd win more as birthday gifts for everyone back in the Divine Realm."

'Everyone'? That single word made Bai Jue's eyes darken, forcibly suppressing the surging emotions until his gaze returned to calm stillness. After a long pause—just as Shang Gu grew uneasy—he finally stepped back, expression unreadable.

"I see. Then I'll await this year's birthday gift."

Among the four True Gods of Shang Gu's realm, Tian Qi also loved wine besides Bai Jue.

He'd thought she meant something special. Perhaps he'd imagined it again.

Before Bai Jue could even mock himself, his hand was suddenly seized.

Still in her mortal youth disguise rather than immortal form, Shang Gu gripped his hand with crystalline smile.

"Since we're here during the mortal Lantern Festival, let's experience their customs before returning."

Dragging him into the bustling crowd, she didn't notice how her smile reflected in his eyes—nor how his hand tightened around hers, refusing to let go.

The fifteenth lantern night, when mortals reunite—this ancient saying held true indeed.

Back in the Divine Realm at Yue Mi's residence, the goddess shook her head while munching melon seeds and watching the scene through her water mirror, sighing with exasperation.

"Two blocks of wood! After all my scheming and matchmaking, they still don't get it... Combined, they're older than the Divine Realm itself. What exactly did they eat growing up?"The Goddess of Stars and Moon sighed to herself. Half a year passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it would be Bai Jue and Tian Qi's birthdays.

Shang Gu had long instructed the divine guards of her palace to deliver the fine wines she had collected over the past decade from drinking contests in the Lower Realm to Bai Jue's palace, along with the nine bottles of premium Nü'er Hong she had won at the Qin Chu Tavern.

The wine jars departed from Shang Gu's divine palace, paraded ostentatiously through the streets—three full carts of them—dazzling the entire Divine Realm.

Shang Gu thought to herself: Though it couldn't compare to Bai Jue's tens of thousands of years of silent devotion and waiting, after saving up for a decade to build her "wife's fortune," she finally had some confidence to propose. So she lounged in the Stargazing Pavilion, waiting for Bai Jue's birthday, ready to seize the auspicious day to enter his palace and succeed in her mission—joyfully bringing her groom home.

When Bai Jue heard the news, though surprised and delighted, he dared not assume it was for him this time, as he had done before. After a moment of contemplation, he instructed the divine guards:

"Find out how many gifts Tian Qi's palace has received and report back."

Before long, the divine guard returned with the news.

"At the hour of Yin yesterday, three carts of wine jars entered through the back gate of Tian Qi's palace. The gatekeepers said they were all High Grade."

The divine guard reported nervously, not daring to raise his eyes. Silence lingered from the seat above, until finally, only a sigh was heard.

For the sake of the one he truly loved, he had unwittingly become a decoy—this time, for real.

For some unknown reason, in the 137,800th year of Shang Gu's reign, True God Bai Jue descended to the Lower Realm the day before his birthday celebration and never returned for years, with none knowing his whereabouts.

Shang Gu’s grand ambition to secure a husband ultimately failed, so she idled away her days at Yue Mi’s residence, sighing in frustration.

For some reason, Yue Mi had recently grown particularly disdainful of her, rolling her eyes at every turn.

“Ah, it’s so hard! Why is chasing a husband so difficult? Men’s hearts are as unfathomable as needles in the sea! Where on earth has he run off to?”

Shang Gu asked the same question every day. Yue Mi leaned against the corridor, gazing northwest, and couldn’t help muttering.

“Had I known your methods were so unreliable, I wouldn’t have followed your advice on silent devotion and grinding an iron rod into a needle. I gifted three cartloads of fine wine, yet not a single ripple was stirred. After all my efforts—fighting across the Three Realms and toiling for over a decade—he didn’t even return for his own birthday celebration…”

The direction she looked toward happened to be Tian Qi’s palace.

Shang Gu, preoccupied with Bai Jue’s absence, didn’t hear Yue Mi’s muttering. She only waited for Bai Jue to return to the Divine Realm so she could confess her feelings and win him over.

The two waited in the Star-Gazing Pavilion for years, but Bai Jue and Tian Qi never returned.

As if fate had decreed it, that year, before Tian Qi’s birthday arrived, he remained alone in the Qiankun Pavilion, learning of the impending Hundun calamity. He then descended to the Lower Realm and never came back.

Instead of Bai Jue’s return, Shang Gu received news of Tian Qi activating a world-destroying Formation in the Lower Realm, threatening to annihilate the Three Realms.

Zhi Yang and the True God Tian Qi rushed back upon hearing the news to discuss countermeasures.

From that day on, the female goddess of Yue Mi’s residence no longer wore her carefree smile or indulged in her habit of plundering treasures.

The day before Shang Gu resolved to sacrifice herself to save the Three Realms, she drank with Yue Mi in the Star-Gazing Pavilion.

Yue Mi asked her, “Bai Jue has returned. Why haven’t you spoken to him yet?”

After a long silence, Shang Gu finally replied, “I am the ruler of a realm, a True God of the Three Realms. Some things must be done. If I am destined to lose, it’s better never to have known.”

She suddenly turned to Yue Mi beside her.

“There’s something I’ve wanted to ask you for years.”

“What is it?”

“You don’t like wine. Why did you ask me for fig wine that year?”

Yue Mi froze, then fell into a long silence before finally smiling. “Who knew even a blockhead like you could have a moment of clarity? No need to guess—it’s exactly what you think.”

True God Tian Qi’s fondness for wine was also widely known throughout the realm.

She turned and left, her ethereal voice lingering on the long staircase.

“Like you, I never found the right opportunity. All these years, we’ve just idled them away and missed our chance. Shang Gu, no matter what happens, protect him for me.”

Shang Gu didn’t understand the meaning behind Yue Mi’s words. Had she understood, she wouldn’t have spent the next tens of thousands of years in regret.

The next day, Shang Gu ultimately failed in her attempt to sacrifice herself. Goddess Yue Mi led a group of the God Race to the Lower Realm and perished in Tian Qi’s world-destroying Formation. The only one to return alive to the ancient Divine Realm was an unremarkable little Phoenix—back then, she wasn’t yet Empress Wu Huan, merely a Divine Beast under Shang Gu’s command.

The day the news arrived was also a sunny one. Shang Gu, clutching the jar of fig wine Bai Jue had taken from her many years ago, gazed at Yue Mi’s residence and drank herself into a stupor, with none daring to console her.

What followed was the beginning of all stories.

True God Shang Gu sacrificed herself, the ancient Divine Realm was sealed away, and True God Bai Jue remained alone in the world, embarking on over sixty thousand years of waiting and guardianship.More than sixty thousand years later, when all the dust had settled, Tian Qi retrieved the three hundred years of Shang Gu's sealed memories from a statue weathered by time in the Vast Heaven Realm. Yet he never understood why there was a single tear within the goddess statue that had perished sixty millennia ago.

He had always believed it was left behind by Yue Mi for Shang Gu.

There were many things he never knew—not sixty thousand years ago, nor sixty thousand years later.

Shang Gu once spoke a truth that still resonates:

"If it must be lost in the end, it is better never to have had it at all."

This was not only the choice of Shang Gu and Bai Jue but also Yue Mi's final decision to let go.

Yet in the end, it was all too regrettable.

Shang Gu finally heard those words: "I am Bai Jue."

But what of Yue Mi?

The three carts of wine stoves she carefully collected over ten years remain sealed in the wine chamber of Tian Qi's divine palace. For over sixty thousand years, no one has come to open them.