Shen Miao never expected that the so-called master would turn out to be the eccentric Taoist priest she had once encountered at Ming Qi's Putuo Temple. The words of that strange priest had lingered in her mind for a long time, making her feel as though he had seen through her secret of having lived two lifetimes. Later, when she sent people to search for the priest's whereabouts, they scoured the entire Fixed Capital but found no trace of him.
Now it made sense why they couldn't find him—the priest had traveled all the way to Longye in Great Coolness.
This made things rather peculiar. According to Benyue's account, the young siblings had met this priest several years ago. That meant the priest had been in Longye years ago, and it seemed he had stayed there for quite some time. Could it be that he was originally from Great Coolness? If so, why had he appeared in Ming Qi's Fixed Capital? Surely he hadn't traveled all the way back just to divine those two fortune sticks for her?
Shen Miao said, "Revered Priest..."
The eccentric priest stroked his beard, swaying his head as he replied, "This humble priest's Taoist name is Chiyan. You've come to seek help for someone, haven't you, Madam? I've been waiting for you for a long time."
Luo Tan was taken aback. "Priest Chiyan, you already knew we would come looking for you?"
Priest Chiyan smiled smugly and shook the divination tube at his waist, producing a rattling sound. "This humble priest also cast a divination for himself."
Shen Miao thought to herself that while this priest was eccentric, he seemed to possess some genuine ability. For instance, the words he had spoken at Putuo Temple had been quite insightful. If he truly was the rumored master, it wouldn't be surprising. She said, "My husband is gravely injured. I heard that you possess the power to defy fate, so I came specifically to seek your aid. Please save my husband's life. If you succeed, I will reward you handsomely."
Huixiang and the others stood behind Shen Miao. Hearing her words, they realized she seemed to know this strange priest. Though they were puzzled, now was not the time to ask questions. Listening to Shen Miao's plea, they wondered if she had been deceived—the idea of "defying fate" was too mystical, and this priest looked like an ordinary man who ate plain grains. Had Shen Miao fallen for the tricks of a charlatan?
But Shen Miao knew better. Someone who could discern that she had lived two lifetimes and that she had once been an Empress in her past life—this eccentric priest was not the type to make wild guesses.
Upon hearing Shen Miao's request, Priest Chiyan shook his head with a smile. As he stepped closer, everyone noticed he carried a fishing rod on his back and a fish basket in his hand—apparently, he had been fishing. Strangely, the hook on his fishing line was straight. No wonder his basket was empty—how could he possibly catch fish like that?
Seeing that he had yet to respond to Shen Miao, Luo Tan grew anxious and asked, "Priest, can you save my brother-in-law?"
The priest set his fish basket down by the door before straightening up and giving Shen Miao a deep look. "Heaven's secrets must not be revealed. If this humble priest cannot even disclose divine mysteries to you, how could I dare to defy fate and invite such calamity?"
"But you saved Benyue's friend, that little boy," Luo Tan argued in confusion. "Wasn't that also defying fate?"
"That was because the child was not fated to die. Heaven ordained that he would meet me, and it was also destined that I would save him," Priest Chiyan replied.Huixiang and Bajiao were taken aback. They had initially thought it was just the delusional ramblings of that pair of siblings, never expecting it to be true—and now this Taoist before them admitted it was indeed his doing.
Shen Miao frowned slightly. "Then may I ask, Master, what is the destined connection between you and me?"
The Taoist chuckled. "Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed."
One moment it was "heaven's secrets cannot be revealed," the next it was the same phrase again—and at such a critical juncture. Even Shen Miao, who was usually patient, felt her temper flare. She snapped, "A man of the cloth, yet not one who commits heinous deeds. Now the good suffer at the hands of villains, while the wicked strut about in triumph. Truly, 'those who kill and burn wear golden belts, while those who mend bridges and roads lie unburied.' What kind of heavenly justice is this? What kind of righteousness is being upheld? For a master like you to promote such ways—it’s truly eye-opening, and utterly laughable."
Cong Yang’s eyes widened. How had Shen Miao suddenly started berating someone? Her words were undeniably sharp, but hearing her vent like this was oddly satisfying.
To everyone’s surprise, the Red Flame Taoist, instead of getting angry after being scolded, burst into laughter and clapped his hands. "As expected, spending time with that fierce dragon has made you just as fierce. Excellent!"
Luo Tan muttered under her breath, "What’s wrong with him? Getting scolded and still so happy..."
The Red Flame Taoist spoke again. "You’re right—heaven’s justice is inherently unfair. But mortals govern mortal affairs. Heaven dictates fortune, but not fate." He smiled faintly, flicking his horsetail whisk. Though dressed in tatters, he suddenly carried an air of transcendent grace. "Though heaven did not decree that I change his fate—and his destiny is too noble for me to alter—it did decree that you and I meet here, and that this humble Taoist must bestow upon you a destined encounter."
His words were cryptic, leaving everyone bewildered—except Shen Miao, who fixed him with a sharp gaze. The Taoist asked, "You truly wish to save him?"
"Indeed."
The Taoist smiled again. "Since you’re so determined to save him, follow me." With that, he turned and made to walk ahead.
Without hesitation, Shen Miao immediately followed. Huixiang and the others hurried after them.
But the Red Flame Taoist suddenly turned back, looking at Huixiang and the rest. "You cannot come."
"Why not?" Cong Yang’s face darkened with anger. They had been tasked with protecting Shen Miao—how could they let her go alone with this eccentric, mystical Taoist? If anything happened, how would they explain it to Xie Jingxing when he awoke?
"Ahead lies the Qimen Dunjia array set by my master. The formations laid by my master cannot be unraveled by anyone in this world—not even me. There is only one path of life; all others lead to death. It is designed specifically for those with martial skills—the stronger one’s martial arts, the quicker they perish. This lady has no martial prowess and can accompany me. The rest of you..." He shook his head. "Enter, and you die."
"But how can we trust you won’t harm our mistress?" Huixiang demanded. "If we don’t follow, how will we know where you’re taking her?"
The Red Flame Taoist spread his hands, looking every bit the rogue. "If you don’t believe me, then I won’t go. Take your mistress and hurry back."
Huixiang nearly choked on her fury.Shen Miao said, "Just wait here for me. I'll go with the Taoist priest."
"Madam," Bajiao also expressed disapproval.
"Um..." Luo Tan cautiously spoke up, "I was wondering... could I go too? I do know some martial arts, though not at a high level, so it shouldn't cause any issues, right?"
Taoist Chiyan seemed to notice Luo Tan only then, looking her up and down before saying, "Passable. It's almost like having no martial arts at all. Fine, you can come along too."
Luo Tan: "..." What did he mean by 'almost like having no martial arts'? Her skills might be lacking compared to those trained since childhood in Prince Rui's Estate, but she wasn't completely defenseless!
Still, at least she could accompany Shen Miao, unlike Huixiang and the others. Luo Tan said, "Little cousin, I'll go with you. If anything happens, we can look out for each other."
After some thought, Shen Miao nodded. Though impulsive, Luo Tan had never caused any trouble before. Shen Miao wasn't sure what Taoist Chiyan intended to do. She was naturally wary of others; while she believed the priest had some abilities, she still harbored doubts.
Seeing Shen Miao's resolve, Huixiang and the others knew persuasion was futile. With Luo Tan accompanying her, they felt slightly more at ease. They gave Luo Tan some final instructions and even handed her the Ink Feather Army's signal flare, telling her to crush it if anything went wrong—they would find a way to rush to their aid.
Taoist Chiyan, however, grew impatient. "Hurry up. If it gets dark, even I won't be able to help you."
Shen Miao said, "Let's go now."
The path Taoist Chiyan led Shen Miao and Luo Tan on was peculiar. This nearly jungle-like area seemed devoid of any trails, yet the priest would turn at certain bends or descend at specific points, as if an invisible, clear path lay before him. The route was often treacherous, yet whenever it appeared impassable, he would uncover a new way forward. Luo Tan watched in amazement, while Shen Miao was equally astonished.
Luo Tan asked, "Taoist Priest, you seem very familiar with this place. Do you come here often?"
"I grew up here, so of course I know it well," Taoist Chiyan replied smugly, stroking his beard. "Many of these trees were planted by me."
Luo Tan nodded. "So you're a true native of Great Coolness. But I heard earlier that... you and my little cousin had met before? She's never been to Longye before—did you meet her there?" Luo Tan still remembered the look of surprise on Shen Miao's face when she first saw the priest, clearly indicating prior acquaintance.
Taoist Chiyan gave Shen Miao a meaningful glance. "This lady and I share the fate of two divination sticks. No matter where we are, we are destined to meet."
Luo Tan scratched her head, confused. Shen Miao, however, seemed lost in thought. She felt this priest knew far more than she had imagined. Once Xie Jingxing's matter was resolved, perhaps she could ask him seriously about her past life.The thought had just crossed her mind when the Red Flame Taoist chuckled, "Madam wishes to save someone and also to ask questions, but you can only choose one, not both. There are gains and losses, and losses and gains. Madam must carefully consider your choice."
Shen Miao's heart skipped a beat. The Taoist seemed to see right through her thoughts. This meant that if she wanted to ask about her past life, she couldn't save Xie Jingxing, and if she wanted to save Xie Jingxing, she had to remain silent about her past life. What kind of rule was this? Shen Miao felt a surge of frustration. Just then, the Red Flame Taoist asked, "Has Madam made a decision?"
Luo Tan watched them curiously, not understanding the hidden meaning in their conversation. But Shen Miao had always been like this—her words were rarely comprehensible to others. Someone like Luo Tan, with her simple mind, had no hope of figuring it out.
Shen Miao replied calmly, "Answers can be sought through other means, but saving a life—I have no medical skills, nor can I alter fate. I can only trouble the Taoist for help. How can secrets compare to a life? Please prioritize saving him first."
The eccentric Taoist burst into laughter again. "Madam is too dishonest. Talking about secrets and lives—why not just say you value him more than yourself, so you're willing to give up what you seek for his sake?" He gave a mysterious smile. "Madam's hostility has also diminished because of this."
Shen Miao frowned slightly. The Taoist, however, casually picked up a willow branch and, humming an unknown tune like a child, swayed as he continued walking ahead.
She had no choice but to follow.
The Taoist walked for a long time. Afraid of delaying matters, Luo Tan didn't dare complain, and Shen Miao wouldn't say anything either. Unsure of the time, they only noticed the sky gradually darkening, the sunlight growing faint, when the Taoist suddenly stopped and said, "We're here."
Luo Tan and Shen Miao stepped forward. Before them lay a vast valley, fragrant with flowers and lush greenery. It was midsummer in June, and the valley was in full bloom. Bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun, the scene shimmered with radiant colors, like a fairyland on earth—so beautiful it felt surreal.
"It's so beautiful here!" Luo Tan exclaimed in awe.
The Red Flame Taoist looked at Shen Miao. "Has Madam noticed anything?"
Shen Miao caught a faint medicinal scent in the air. Looking around, though the flowers and plants were vibrant, they seemed different from ordinary flora. Hesitating, she asked, "Are these... medicinal herbs?"
The Red Flame Taoist laughed heartily. "Exactly. Though I cannot save your husband or alter his fate, my master owns this medicinal valley. There is a herb here that can cure all poisons—this herb can save your husband's life."
Shen Miao had never told the Red Flame Taoist about Xie Jingxing's injuries, yet he immediately discerned that Xie Jingxing had been poisoned. Luo Tan gazed at the eccentric Taoist with admiration, but Shen Miao was unfazed—she had long suspected the Taoist possessed genuine skills and wasn't surprised now.
She said, "I beg the Taoist to grant me that herb that can cure all poisons, to save my husband's life."Chi Yan smiled: "This medicinal herb was left behind by my great-great-great master. It has been kept in this valley all this time, and there's only one of its kind left in the world. For ordinary people, consuming it prolongs life. For those poisoned, it naturally cures all ailments... Such a precious herb—how could I simply give it to you for free?"
"You're a compassionate Taoist priest," Luo Tan said. "If it's gold or silver you want, my little cousin can certainly afford it. What would you like in exchange?"
Shen Miao also spoke up: "As long as it's within my power, I will do anything for you, Priest."
"What if I asked the lady to exchange her own life for it?" Chi Yan asked slyly.
Shen Miao froze. Before she could respond, Luo Tan interjected, "You're being unreasonable! What kind of condition is that?"
Chi Yan waved his hand dismissively. "As a man of compassion and a Taoist priest, I would never engage in such murderous deeds. It was merely a jest. I do, however, have a question for the lady." He turned to Shen Miao, who was still momentarily stunned. "Would the lady be willing to enlighten this humble priest?"
Shen Miao finally snapped out of her daze, her heart filled with astonishment. In that split second when Chi Yan asked if she would trade her life, a thought had flashed through her mind—she was willing.
But how could that be? Behind her stood Shen Qiu, Shen Xin, Luo Xueyan, and a whole family of loved ones. Yet, in that moment, she had been ready to give up her life for Xie Jingxing. A sudden fear gripped her heart.
Too much emotional investment would only lead to deeper wounds in the future. Her past life was a vivid example. She could try to love again, but she dared not—nor could she afford—to gamble with such intense emotions.
"Little cousin?" Luo Tan shook her arm gently.
Shen Miao steadied herself and turned to the priest. "Please speak, Priest."
"Look," the priest crouched down, pointing to a small flower amidst the grass. "This is the Red Sleeve Herb, a miraculous cure for coughs. But lately, it hasn't been blooming much. What do you think is the reason, my lady?"
What did this mean? Shen Miao was no physician—she couldn't even distinguish medicinal herbs, let alone diagnose their ailments. Still, she crouched down beside him and examined it closely. She noticed tiny black dots wriggling densely on the buds and had an inkling. "Perhaps it's infested with insects."
"This humble priest thought the same," Chi Yan said with a troubled expression. "But the Red Sleeve Herb is extremely delicate. It can't tolerate insecticide yet attracts pests easily. The only way to remove these insects is to pick them off by hand, one by one, with the gentlest touch—or else the petals will be damaged."
Luo Tan frowned. "I see. But what does this have to do with us?"
Priest Chi Yan stood up, waiting for Shen Miao to rise as well before smiling. "But I am a man, rough in my movements and not particularly meticulous. If I were to pick them myself, I'd likely miss many and might even harm the petals. These are rare and precious herbs, so I was hoping the lady could help me remove the insects cleanly."
Luo Tan's eyes widened. So this priest had summoned Shen Miao here just to treat her like a gardener's assistant?
Shen Miao asked, "Once all the insects are removed, will you give me that antidote herb?"
Chi Yan nodded.
"Very well. I'll do it." Shen Miao immediately prepared to set to work.Luo Tan fell silent. If being a temporary gardener could earn them a medicinal herb, it didn’t seem like a bad deal.
But Chi Yan shook his head and led Shen Miao and Luo Tan forward a few steps, saying, “It’s the Red Sleeve Herbs here.”
When the two looked, they were stunned.
It was an entire field of medicinal plants, nearly as vast as all the farmland of a wealthy household combined. The herbs weren’t neatly arranged—some were Red Sleeve Herbs, others were different plants, all tangled together in wild, dense growth. Just identifying the Red Sleeve Herbs would take considerable effort, let alone picking out all the pests from so many of them. Who knew how long that would take?
“Are you deliberately toying with us?” Luo Tan immediately jumped up in anger. “How can one person possibly finish all this?”
Chi Yan merely smiled at Shen Miao. “Does Madam also think one person can’t finish, that it’s impossible?”
Shen Miao only stared at him deeply and asked, “If I complete this, will you truly give me the herbs?”
“Little cousin!” Luo Tan grew anxious. “He’s clearly making a fool of you! If he truly wanted to help, why would he set an impossible task? How is this the behavior of a compassionate man of the Dao?”
Chi Yan said, “Young lady, you are mistaken. There’s no such thing as a free meal in this world. To gain something, one must lose something; to lose something, one must gain something. If you want something, you must pay the corresponding price. This lady wants my herbs, so she must rid my other plants of pests. That is fair. Besides, whether it can be done or not—isn’t that up to her?”
He continued, “Pick out all the pests from the buds and stems of these Red Sleeve Herbs, then fertilize all the herbs on this mountain for me, and I will return the herbs to you.” He flicked his horsetail whisk. “And don’t think of cutting corners—I will inspect your work in the end. If there’s even the slightest negligence, you won’t get the herbs. Also,” he glanced at Luo Tan, “this young lady cannot help. Madam, can you do it?”
“I can do it. And I hope the Daoist keeps his word.” With that, Shen Miao stepped into the thicket of herbs, bent down, and began carefully picking out the pests.
A dignified Royal Consort, a noblewoman raised in luxury since childhood, was now acting as a gardener and herb-tender for a mountain recluse. Even professional herb farmers wouldn’t take on so much work alone—picking pests and, worse… fertilizing. Luo Tan couldn’t even imagine Shen Miao’s frail frame carrying fertilizer. If Shen Xin and Shen Qiu in Fixed Capital found out, they would surely be furious.
But when had Shen Miao ever gone back on her decisions? Luo Tan gritted her teeth and moved to help, but Shen Miao sharply stopped her. “Stay there. If you don’t want me to hate you, don’t come down.”
Her tone was harsh, and Luo Tan’s eyes reddened, her heart heavy with guilt. If she had known Shen Miao would be led around like this, she would never have told her about the Moon Chasing incident. Now she had dragged Shen Miao into suffering and deception—what a sin. She shouted, “But this strange Daoist is clearly playing with you! Is it worth it?”"I've never done anything for him," Shen Miao said without looking up, carefully tending to the flowers and plants. "If there's even the slightest possibility, I should do it." She added, "If you truly care for me, find me or make me a lantern. When night falls and it's too dark to see, at least I'll have some light."
Luo Tan took a deep breath, then turned to see the Red Flame Taoist smiling as he walked away, waving his horsetail whisk. She quickly caught up and said, "Strange Taoist, listen to me first..."
Shen Miao crouched among the flowers, unaccustomed to such tasks after so long. She didn’t find it beneath her to pick worms, fertilize plants, or labor as a herb farmer. In this world, pride had no place in moments like these. One must bow when necessary, and when schemes fail, toil honestly without futile resistance. This was a lesson her past life had taught her—one she only grasped in the cold palace at the very end.
Had she yielded sooner and stopped challenging Mei Furen, perhaps Mei Furen wouldn’t have targeted Fu Ming and Wan Yu so ruthlessly. Why suffer for the sake of stubbornness? Revenge? Resentment? Such thoughts could wait. What mattered now was the present.
If Chi Yan kept his promise in the end, her suffering would be worth it. Toiling like a peasant woman in this desolate wilderness was far nobler than sitting on the throne as Empress, only to face the world’s mockery—as she had in her past life.
Yet the endless valley of Red Sleeve Herb stretched before her, an overwhelming task with no time to waste. Shen Miao couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
By the time Luo Tan brought the lantern, night had fully fallen. The valley was cool, adorned with stars, the moon, and the hum of cicadas—but Shen Miao had no mind to appreciate it. Under the dim lantern light, she inspected each herb one by one, staggering under the weight of her burden. Mosquitoes swarmed, leaving swollen bites on her delicate skin, while thorns pricked her hands. She labored through the night without rest.
Luo Tan watched with tears in her eyes, unable to help, cursing Chi Yan inwardly.
Finally, by the afternoon of the next day, it was done.
Wiping sweat from her brow, Shen Miao set down the empty baskets and asked Chi Yan to inspect her work.
The Taoist merely smiled. "No need. You’ve done well." From his personal satchel, he retrieved a small box and handed it to her. Shen Miao opened it—inside lay a single herb.
"This is the one," Chi Yan said. "You cured the valley’s Red Sleeve Herb, and now I’ll cure your husband’s wounds. A promise kept."
Luo Tan fumed. "You’ve taken advantage!"
"Your perseverance has impressed me, Madam," Chi Yan replied. "I hope, no matter what trials you face in the future, you remember the sincerity you showed today. Had you cut corners, the pests would not have been fully eradicated—and this herb would not be in your hands now."
"My thanks for the gift, Master." Shen Miao was eager to return, but the moment she took the herb, exhaustion crashed over her. After a sleepless night and days of strain, her body was a taut bowstring finally loosened—her head heavy, her steps unsteady.
"My thanks for the gift, Master," Luo Tan echoed, glaring at the Taoist. Watching Shen Miao’s haggard state pained her deeply. Shen Miao was the most composed and unshakable among the Luo and Shen families, yet here she was, toyed with and helpless. It rankled. "I hope your Red Sleeve Herb never suffers pests again," Luo Tan added sharply. "No one else will be as kind-hearted as my cousin, laboring alone as your herb farmer across an entire mountain. Even professional herb farmers wouldn’t finish the job in a single night."The Red Flame Daoist laughed heartily: "That's hard to say. I've met your lady three times, and this is only the second meeting. There's still one more to go."
Luo Tan curled her lips: "Who wants to see you?" Taking Shen Miao's arm, she said, "Let me help you down the mountain." Then she called back to the Red Flame Daoist: "Hurry up, Daoist. We're still waiting for that thing to save lives."
The Red Flame Daoist followed behind, watching their retreating figures. His gaze lingered on Shen Miao's slightly faltering steps as his playful expression faded, replaced by a flash of pity in his eyes.
After a long moment, he shook his head and uttered two words.
"Futile."
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
The mystic, as an angry single dog, waves his banner high to torment couples\o~
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