Chapter 1065: Envy Only the Mandarin Ducks, Not the Immortals

Sha Rulai suddenly released her.

It was not that he could no longer hold her. His daughter's refusal to see reason had angered him, and without realizing it he had tightened his grip. Then he abruptly became aware that he was using too much force and might be hurting her, so he instinctively let go.

Sha Huanli had indeed been hurt. Once released, however, she paid no attention to the pain. Clutching the aching arm with one hand, she ran out of the pavilion with grief written across her face.

Watching his daughter flee in sorrow only made Sha Rulai's heart ache more. His cheeks tightened, and it felt as though a knife were twisting inside his chest.

There were things he wanted to sit down and discuss properly with his daughter, yet he knew they could not be explained clearly. Some truths simply could not be told to her, at least not yet. Telling her now would do her no good and would only place his blindly impulsive daughter in danger.

Only after Sha Huanli disappeared from sight did Sha Rulai recover from his turbulent emotions. His cold gaze swept the surroundings, and he discovered that the scattered people of Ice and Snow Sacred Land nearby were all looking at him.

There was another familiar face watching him as well.

Niu Youdao.

Sha Rulai had no idea when Niu Youdao had arrived, but the man had probably witnessed what had just happened. He was staring over with his eyes blinking every now and then.

"Let's go," the person guiding Niu Youdao called.

Niu Youdao gave a quiet acknowledgment and followed him away.

Sha Rulai watched them briefly, then left the pavilion as well.

Wang Zun followed. After they exited the residence, he did not ask about the dispute between father and daughter. That was not something he ought to inquire into. Instead, he asked, "How did Niu Youdao get in here?"

"Nothing strange about it." Sha Rulai had no mood to think about that for the moment. His daughter had left his mind in complete turmoil.

As he was heading down the mountain from the gate, he stopped and looked back at the residence being decorated for the wedding, hung everywhere with lanterns and festive ornaments.

The joyous atmosphere only made him more melancholy. He could not imagine what his daughter must feel, surrounded by such a scene and watching all of this with her own eyes.

She had long since passed the usual age for marriage and was nearly an old maiden by now, yet he had never dared let her marry.

There had been a time when her heart first awakened to love. She had met a man she liked.

Sha Rulai had killed him.

Over the years, Sha Rulai had killed more than one or two men who tried to approach his daughter.

Daluo Sacred Land had also shown concern for her marriage and had even introduced several men who appeared to be excellent matches. Sha Rulai had found ways to reject every one of them.

He had killed some and rejected others because there were men whose backgrounds he could not determine, men whose motives he knew were impure, and men who had plainly been arranged by people with designs of their own. He could not simply sit and watch people who might harbor malicious intentions approach his daughter.

Sometimes, knowing too much could have the opposite effect. He knew his daughter might hate him even more because of it...

...

Niu Youdao saw Xue Luo'er again, and he saw Chuan Ying as well.

When he saw Chuan Ying, he instinctively looked him over a little more carefully. He had to admit the rumors were true. The man really was remarkably handsome. No wonder he had moved Xue Luo'er's heart.

A round of compliments and congratulations from Niu Youdao was unavoidable. Chuan Ying returned the courtesy with praises of his own, saying he had long heard Niu Youdao's famous name and the like, while Niu Youdao naturally responded with repeated modesty.

Perhaps because of Chuan Ying, Xue Luo'er was noticeably more courteous to Niu Youdao than she had been when they met years ago.

After the pleasantries, Niu Youdao asked, "May I ask why the two of you called me here?"

"What instructions could there be? I simply wanted to meet Brother Niu." Chuan Ying then seemed to remember something. "That's right. Linghu Qiu asked me to bring you a letter."

He drew a letter from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

Niu Youdao was somewhat surprised. He had not expected Linghu Qiu to contact him of his own accord, much less to send a letter into Sacred Realm.

He had intended to slip the letter straight into his sleeve, but Chuan Ying gestured for him to read it on the spot. Niu Youdao could only comply.

As he opened the envelope and read the letter, Chuan Ying asked for the bamboo tube, drew out the scroll, and unrolled it with Xue Luo'er, each holding one end.

After finishing the letter, Niu Youdao pondered inwardly. No wonder he had asked Yuan Gang to find out what was going on with Chuan Ying, only for Yuan Gang to report that Linghu Qiu had never replied. So Linghu Qiu had sent his answer directly through Chuan Ying.

The letter said that, if circumstances permitted and Niu Youdao needed help, he could ask Chuan Ying.

Were Linghu Qiu and Chuan Ying truly that close?

Then again, it was understandable. Chuan Ying was about to become Granny Xue's grandson-in-law. Perhaps he really would have the ability to help Niu Youdao.

"Envy only the mandarin ducks, not the immortals..." Xue Luo'er murmured, reading the words left in the blank space of the painting. She seemed to savor them endlessly and actually fell into something of a daze. The line appeared to strike directly at the heart of how she had felt all these years.

Chuan Ying clicked his tongue in admiration. "Marvelous brushwork. Brother Niu truly does possess a brush that brings flowers to bloom. A fine painting, a fine painting indeed."

Niu Youdao folded the letter and slipped it into his sleeve, hastily answering with modesty. "It's hardly fit to grace a refined hall. I'm in Sacred Realm with nothing to my name and had no idea what gift I could offer, so I could only present this clumsy work of mine. It's merely a token of my good wishes."

"You put thought into it." Xue Luo'er lifted her gaze from the painting and smiled. "It's beautifully done. I like it very much."

"You flatter me. So long as the two of you don't dislike it, that's enough."

"I've only just met Brother Niu. Would you mind if I spoke with him for a while?" Chuan Ying suddenly asked Xue Luo'er.

With an outsider present, Xue Luo'er naturally gave her future husband face. She nodded slightly in apology to Niu Youdao. "Then I won't keep you company."

Niu Youdao could only cup his hands in courtesy.

Xue Luo'er rolled up the painting and personally carried it into her chambers.

Once no outsider remained, Chuan Ying said, "Brother Niu, I imagine Brother Linghu has already said what needed saying in the letter."

Niu Youdao replied, "From now on inside Sacred Realm, I'll have to rely on Brother Chuan to look after me."

Chuan Ying smiled bitterly and waved a hand. "I don't even know what my own situation will be in the future. All I can say is that since Brother Linghu asked it of me, then so long as it's something within my ability, I'll do my utmost to help."

Hearing that, Niu Youdao probed, "How come I've never heard Brother Linghu mention you before?"

Chuan Ying chuckled. "He knows people everywhere. He can hardly mention every acquaintance he has to you."

"Oh, that's true." Niu Youdao nodded repeatedly, then probed again. "To form such a fortunate match with the Master of Ice and Snow Pavilion is truly astonishing. When I first heard the news, I could hardly believe it. May I ask how Brother Chuan encountered such a remarkable turn of fate?"

Chuan Ying waved helplessly. "All I can say is that it was fate. The story is hard to explain, so better not to speak of it."

"Hard to explain. Well said." Niu Youdao rose from the pavilion. "Brother Chuan, your happy occasion is close at hand. You must still have matters to attend to, so I won't disturb you any longer. Tonight I'll return to witness Brother Chuan's auspicious hour and happy union."

Chuan Ying stood as well. "I need to go back to my quarters and prepare to receive the bride. We may as well leave together."

"Very good." Niu Youdao nodded again and again.

The two courteously invited one another forward as they left the pavilion.

Chuan Ying called someone over and told him to inform Xue Luo'er that he would return first.

Hearing that, Niu Youdao suddenly interjected, "Brother Chuan, there happens to be one matter. I'd like to trouble you to pass along a message."

Chuan Ying looked surprised. "To whom?"

"It's like this. Before I came in, I saw the City Lord of Star-Plucking City enter this place. She seemed to be with the Pavilion Master. The City Lord and I are old acquaintances as well. Since I've seen her here, it would sit badly with me to leave without a word. Could you send a message and ask whether she might spare a moment so I can pay my respects in person?"

Chuan Ying had thought it would be something difficult. This was nothing. He immediately instructed the nearby attendant to pass the message along as well.

...

"All right. Today is my great day. It won't look good if you keep wearing such a miserable face. Give me a smile." Inside the bridal chamber, Xue Luo'er spent some time consoling Sha Huanli.

It really would be inappropriate to wear a tearful face on a day like this. Realizing as much, Sha Huanli forced out a faint smile.

"That's better." Xue Luo'er turned and called for someone to bring over the painting. "That's right, I just received Niu Youdao's wedding gift. Let me show you."

The moment Sha Huanli saw the scroll, she seemed to guess. "Another painting by him?"

"Mm. Different from the ones before." Xue Luo'er took one end and Sha Huanli the other, and together they unfurled the scroll.

A scene gradually spread before their eyes: extraordinary mountain peaks half veiling the bustle of the mortal world; beyond a mountainside town, beside a little bridge over flowing water, a pair of lovers remained together in affection. The painting was beautiful and rich with artistic conception, perfectly echoing the words in the blank space. That single line truly supplied the finishing touch.

"Envy only the mandarin ducks, not the immortals..." Sha Huanli murmured.

Her thoughts clearly sank into the mood of those words as well.

Xue Luo'er glanced at her. The two women had once suffered from the same affliction, so she understood Sha Huanli's feelings better than anyone. Not long ago, Xue Luo'er herself had been lost in the same painting and the same line.

Only after a long while did Sha Huanli breathe out softly. "It's beautifully painted. The things he painted before were lifelike, but precisely because they were so lifelike, they weren't something you could keep looking at. This is the sort of painting that truly has conception and rewards being viewed again and again. I used to think that someone like him, forever mixed up in the cultivation world's bloody storms, must be cold and unfeeling. I never expected him to carry this kind of tenderness inside. Without guarding that little measure of tenderness in his heart, he could never paint something with this kind of conception."

Xue Luo'er said, "Little Sister is right. How about asking him to paint one for you too?"

Sha Huanli shook her head. "What would I want such a thing for? It would only give me more thoughts and more worries."

Xue Luo'er sighed inwardly. That was true as well. Better not to let a scene stir up sorrow.

She was just about to offer more comfort when someone came in to report. "Pavilion Master, that Niu Youdao outside says he and City Lord Sha are old acquaintances. He wishes to pay his respects before taking his leave. The son-in-law asked me to pass along the message and see whether the City Lord finds it convenient."

Hearing that Chuan Ying had asked for the message to be delivered, Xue Luo'er felt she understood his gratitude toward Linghu Qiu and the people connected to him. She therefore spoke up for Niu Youdao. "Little Sister, Niu Youdao did come to congratulate me, and he brought such a fine painting. Consider it giving me a little face. There's no harm in meeting him and exchanging a greeting, is there?"

For Xue Luo'er's sake, and because the painting had moved her, Sha Huanli nodded, rose, and went outside.

Niu Youdao, waiting there, finally saw Sha Huanli approach and immediately cupped his hands in greeting. "We parted in haste at Sacred Realm's exit. I didn't expect to meet the City Lord here again."

Sha Huanli had wanted to praise his painting, but seeing Chuan Ying nearby, she restrained herself and maintained a dignified reserve. She smiled and nodded. "You've come too."

"For the City Lord to spare the time to see me is an honor." Niu Youdao said, "I came in haste and prepared nothing suitable. Later, once I've prepared a modest gift, I'll go to Daluo Sacred Land and pay my respects to the City Lord."

The instant she heard Daluo Sacred Land, the smile vanished from Sha Huanli's face. She said coldly, "After tonight's wedding banquet, I'll leave Sacred Realm and return to Star-Plucking City. You can't leave Sacred Realm anyway, so there's no need to trouble yourself."

With that, she turned and left.

Niu Youdao stared after her in astonishment, suddenly met with a cold face and seemingly unaware of what he had done wrong.

Beside him, Chuan Ying tugged lightly at his sleeve and lowered his voice. "Brother Niu, you said the wrong thing. Let's go."

Niu Youdao followed as he turned away and asked curiously, "What did I say wrong?"

Chuan Ying quietly reminded him, "I've heard some things from Xue Luo'er. The relationship between the Sha father and daughter is bad. I can't conveniently speak about the reason. In any case, Sha Huanli rarely goes to Daluo Sacred Land. Unless it's necessary, she almost never goes there at all. Remember this in the future: when you're speaking with Sha Huanli, try not to mention Daluo Sacred Land. Xue Luo'er specifically warned me of the same thing."

"Oh, so that's how it is. I've learned something. I'll remember it." Niu Youdao nodded repeatedly.

After the two left, their destinations lay in different directions, so naturally they had to part.

Before leaving, Chuan Ying said warmly, "Brother Niu, don't stand on ceremony in the future. If we have the opportunity, let's keep in touch."

"Good, good. Certainly." Niu Youdao agreed repeatedly.

[End of Chapter 1065]