Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Rainbow Bridge Over the Sea of Mist

Update Time: June 8, 2013

Wisps of white mist continuously rose from the lake, blue and clear as a polished mirror, gathering three yards above into a sea of fog. The mist lingered, hazy and dreamlike, layered upon itself, reflecting the lake’s brilliance in a dazzling display.

“Hiss...”

“So beautiful…”

Yao Yao was quite pleased with everyone’s reactions, boasting with pride, “Well? Wasn’t this trip worthwhile?”

Lian Yue truly felt her eyes insufficient, for she had never seen such a gorgeous sea of mist. She gazed in rapt admiration, nodding eagerly like a pecking chick.

The others quickly recovered from their initial amazement, yet their eyes still gleamed with irrepressible appreciation.

Yu Wen Lingxi, struck by the sudden openness of the scene, turned thoughtfully to look behind. Only then did he realize that, at some point, they had passed through a gorge. The sides were more like two upright boulders than mountain peaks, four or five yards tall, spaced about a yard apart, forming the gorge.

“Sister Yue, if you’re already so dazzled by this scenery, when you see what’s coming, won’t your eyes just pop right out?” Yao Yao teased Lian Yue mercilessly.

Lian Yue reluctantly tore her gaze away, defending herself, “Not a chance! No matter how beautiful, it can’t get any better than this.”

Yao Yao wasn’t offended, continuing to smile, “Then don’t blame me later for not warning you in advance.”

“Oh? It seems we’ve really chosen well this time. Brother Yu Wen, see? I told you following these two girls would be the right choice,” Qiao Zhi exclaimed, opening a fan he had somehow acquired, waving it with self-proclaimed elegance. “Truly worth the trip!”

Lian Yue couldn’t stand his affectation, feeling a shiver of distaste and quickly turning her gaze—only to meet Yu Wen Lingxi’s eyes, dark as ink, swirling like a vortex. She was instantly caught, unable to escape.

Gradually, Yu Wen Lingxi’s lips curved into a handsome smile, dazzling Qiao Zhi.

“Look! Look! Sister Yue, look! It’s starting! It’s starting!” Yao Yao’s penetrating voice snapped Lian Yue out of her reverie. Embarrassed, she dared not look at Yu Wen Lingxi again, inwardly lamenting her loss of composure as she turned back to the lake.

This… This… This… Lian Yue now truly fulfilled Yao Yao’s prophecy; her eyes seemed to fall right to the ground.

The sight before her could no longer be described by mere beauty. The warm sun, hanging above, broke free of its restraints and began to shine fiercely.

The white sea of fog was gilded with a dazzling golden edge. The previously tranquil mist surged forth, clouds ablaze with crimson, colors tumbling and flashing, rolling and shifting like a kaleidoscope.

Lian Yue stared at the ever-changing cloud sea, exclaiming “wow” and “ooh” in awe.

As if still unsatisfied, the lake, reddened by the glow, became a stage for bridges of rainbow light, emerging from the burning clouds, spanning from far to near, ethereal and dreamlike.

Had she not seen it herself, Lian Yue would never believe such spectacular and enchanting scenery existed in this world, intoxicating to the soul. Unbeknownst to her, she had become a part of the landscape reflected in the eyes behind her.

The sun, now slanting west, gradually faded its brilliance, returning to a gentle warmth hung askew in the sky. The rainbow bridges blurred, disappearing as the surging clouds returned to their initial tranquility.

The group stood by the shore, still reluctant to leave, eyes fixed on the lake as if awaiting another marvel.

“Urgent as a decree, all gods return, mi ma mi ma hong!” Yao Yao, feeling accomplished, admired their enraptured expressions, her mood exceptionally bright.

She waved her little hand before Lian Yue’s eyes, laughing, “Snap out of it—your eyes really did fall out!”

“Yao Yao, it’s so beautiful. Did you see those rainbows? I’m not dreaming, am I?” She pinched her cheek, “It hurts—so I’m not dreaming! Wow, it’s so, so, so beautiful!”

She had no idea that every smile and gesture, framed by the scenery, was etched deeply into a pair of eyes behind her.

Yao Yao nodded joyfully, “Mm, mm, mm, the first time I saw it was in summer—the scene was even more stunning then. If you’re lucky, you can see the fish leap with the rainbow. That’s truly breathtaking!”

Lian Yue imagined the scene Yao Yao described, her eyes filled with longing, though tinged with doubt. “Are there fish in this hot water?”

“Of course, and many kinds too.”

Qiao Zhi couldn’t help but interject, “But isn’t this a hot spring?”

Perhaps influenced by Lian Yue, Yao Yao shot Qiao Zhi a look of disdain, explaining, “Did I say this lake is a hot spring?”

Now it was Lian Yue’s turn to be puzzled, “Isn’t it?”

“Oh, Sister Yue, how can you be as silly as him?” Yao Yao ignored Qiao Zhi’s twitching face, looking at Lian Yue with exasperation.

Lian Yue was embarrassed, but couldn’t figure out the mystery.

“If I’m not mistaken, this lake is fed by both a cold and a hot stream,” Yu Wen Lingxi’s voice sounded behind her, slightly hoarse yet pleasant, seamlessly shifting Yao Yao’s attention.

“How do you know? Have you seen it elsewhere?”

Yu Wen Lingxi replied, “No, just a guess.”

“That explains it,” Qiao Zhi closed his fan, slapping his palm, “Why didn’t I think of that!”

Yao Yao didn’t even want to respond, eyes sparkling with admiration for Yu Wen Lingxi.

Lian Yue frowned slightly, feeling a twinge of displeasure. Subconsciously, she disliked Yao Yao’s current gaze, especially since it was directed at that person.

Lan Shui, who had been watching Lian Yue, reminded her, “Miss, now that we’ve seen the scenery, we should return soon. Winter days are short; best not to travel at night.”

Lian Yue glanced at the sky—the sun had slanted further west. Remembering she still had medicine to deliver to her second brother, she couldn’t help but steal a few glances at the medicine’s owner. She then suggested, “Shall we head back?”

Yao Yao had no objections. Yu Wen Lingxi nodded slightly in agreement, and Mu Shan, who followed him, naturally acquiesced. As for Qiao Zhi, he was deliberately ignored by everyone.

Qiao Zhi didn’t mind at all; he’d seen all there was to see.

The group retraced their steps. Lian Yue took a careful look at the gorge upon passing, and with Yao Yao’s explanation, learned that though the gorge spanned more than a yard, only a narrow meter-wide path allowed passage; the rest was dotted with small hot springs, thus the dense mist.

Curious, Lian Yue asked about the origin of the mountain springs. Unexpectedly, Yao Yao began recounting their story, continuing all the way to the courtyard where they stayed.

Lian Yue, distracted by the persistent sensation of eyes on her back, paid little attention, only remembering vaguely that the springs were somehow linked to a phoenix, with the mountain’s peak being the source, but the rest was unclear.

Qiao Zhi, however, seemed quite interested, bantering with Yao Yao along the way. By the time they reached the courtyard he shared with Yu Wen Lingxi, he had nearly dispelled Yao Yao’s hostility. She promised to call him next time for any distant excursion, and he parted contentedly, joining Yu Wen Lingxi inside.

Lian Yue’s intuition told her the owner of those unsettling eyes must be Yu Wen Lingxi, but his earlier demeanor left her uncertain.

“Sister Yue, are you even listening to me!” Yao Yao’s deliberate increase in volume pulled Lian Yue from her thoughts. Facing Yao Yao, hands on hips and eyes blazing, she asked in confusion, “What did you just say?”

Seeing Lian Yue truly hadn’t listened, Yao Yao repeated herself in defeat, “I was asking, when will you tell Brother Chu Chen about me?”

“Oh, what about?” As Yao Yao was about to explode, Lian Yue suddenly recalled, “Oh, I remember now.”

Yao Yao eyed her suspiciously, “Then what did I say?”

“You said you wanted to marry Second Brother, right? Don’t worry, I remember!” Though she said so, she was already thinking up an excuse to avoid the task. Clearly, Yao Yao wouldn’t accept a random excuse—what could she use?

Yao Yao seemed to sense her thoughts, “Then let’s go now. I’ll go with you, wait outside the door!” Without further ado, she pulled Lian Yue toward Meng Chu Chen’s courtyard.

Lian Yue was at a loss, unable to protest. What was this mess? She couldn’t even sort out her own affairs, let alone meddle in others’. Besides, Yao Yao was younger than her—how could she understand such things? She resolved not to help.

Her mind spun rapidly, soon settling on a plan.

“Yao Yao, slow down. Let’s find my eldest brother and sister first, then go together, okay?”

Yao Yao kept walking, “Why bother? You can just say it.”

“Look at the time—Second Brother was injured badly today, he must be resting. If we go now, we’ll disturb him,” Lian Yue argued, searching for a credible excuse.

Yao Yao paused, considering, “True. Promise you’ll help me.”

Lian Yue relaxed, vowing, “I promise, absolutely,” though inwardly she thought, “I absolutely won’t.”

Yao Yao released her hand, and together they returned to the Yue family’s temporary residence.

While things settled down for them, Qiao Zhi and Yu Wen Lingxi’s story was not yet over.