The Fourth Lady novel Chapter 64

When Qingyan woke up, she discovered that she was lying on the bed in her guest room. She stared at the strange, yet familiar ceiling, feeling like she'd just experienced a dream. Even meeting Yunhen also felt like it was a dream.

Whether it's Qilian Qingyan or Su Qingyan, they were both Yunhen's one and only disciple in this life.

Shibo once said, Yunhen was too attached to the mortal world. He simply wasn't suited for daoist cultivation to become an immortal. But she'd always never understood where Yunhen's attachment lies. Now, she'd finally understood, Yunhen's attachment was precisely--Qilian Qingyan.

But at the time, in Qilian Qingyan's eyes was only Weisheng Junmo. How would she have noticed the heartfelt longing and attachment in Yunhen's eyes.

Once a person has an attachment, they will become exceptionally terrifying.

Just like how Yunhen was willing to use his head of black hair in exchange for her to come back to this world.

But, this kind of kindness, how should it be repaid?

Qingyan held on to the blanket and softly sobbed. Shifu, didn't we agree, that from now on I will take care* of you?

(*TN: The phrased used here is specifically used for looking after the elderly and arranging their proper burial arrangements.)

When Qingdai pushed opened the door, she found Qingyan alone holding the blanket and softly sobbing. She walked up next to the bed and worryingly asked, "Miss, did something happen?"

When Qingyan heard her voice, she turned her head towards Qingdai, "Qingdai, yesterday, how did I get back?"

Truthfully, Qingdai didn't know how Qingyan returned yesterday either. By the time she sensed Qingyan's return, Qingyan had already fell into a slumber.

Qingdai listened and shook her head, "I don't know how miss returned to the guest room either. By the time I heard something, miss was already lying on the bed."

Listening to Qingdai's words, she thought of Yunhen's mysteriously profound martial arts skills. His abilities were probably unmatched, pity that he simply wasn't willing to stay in one place. If she could receive Yunhen's help, how great that would be.

But if it wasn't what he desired, how could she force him.

"Miss, you seem to be different than usual today." Chishao walked in carrying a bowl of water, "Miss woke up unusually early today. Abbot Lingyang said, he wanted to meet miss before his rites."

Listening to Chishao's words, Qingyan washed her face, before being brought away by the young monk outside her door. As for Xiaobai, it too followed behind Qingyan the whole time.

Many of the other worshippers were rather afraid when they saw the white tiger behind Qingyan. However, seeing Qingyan's appearance, they also felt that for someone who could tame a white tiger, she must be out of the ordinary.

"Shizhu*, the abbot is already waiting in the room for awhile now." The young monk said as he pushed opened the door.

(*TN: 'Benefactor' - term used by monks to address ordinary people.)

When Qingyan walked in, she saw a Sakyamuni Buddha statue sitting dignified in the center of the hall. Underneath it, sat an elderly silver haired monk crosslegged. He struck the wooden fish before him, mumbling something to himself.

Just like that, Qingyan quietly stood in front of bronze statue, calmly waiting. And the elderly monk continued to mind his own business, striking the wooden fish as if he didn't see Qingyan.

About an hour later, abbot Lingyang quietly got up. He walked up before Qingyan and slowly spoke, "Shizhu, shibo once said: 'What is fate, what is to disperse; fated to meet fated to leave; it is nothing but a moment's thought.' There's no need for Shizhu to be too concerned."

Qingyan looked to abbot Lingyang with a smile, "If that's really what he desires, Qingyan will definitely respect this promise." She put her hands together and bowed to the abbot.

"Shizhu, this is what shibo asked me to pass on to you." Lingyang said as he reached into his sleeve and pulled out a letter, placing it in Qingyan's hands. "Shibo said, if after you finish reading what's said in this letter, and you still wished for what you desire, then just go do it."

Qingyan accepted the the letter from abbot Lingyang. The familiar handwriting on the envelope somewhat pained her eyes.

--to Qingyan.

Qingyan stared at the letter in hand, a bit in a daze. Seeing her lost in thoughts, Lingyang called over the young monk from earlier to take her back to her guest room.

Qingyan didn't know how she returned to her room either. After she returned to her room, she began to open the letter. It recounted in detail everything Yunhen experienced all these years. It also tells of a matter, back when Qingyan was just born, Yunhen once told her fortune:

Ten thousand beasts face the Phoenix, a desolate fated girl, a talented commander born under the Ursa Major;

Sundial of nine stars, seven death fate*, the five elements eight divine trigrams shine on the golden dragon.

(*TN: This is something rooted in ancient Chinese astrology; this sign is considered extremely violent and ominous.)

Most importantly, Su Qingyan's life sign was the rare seven death fate sign, short of familial fate and love.

To reincarnate and reborn, all a solitary life.

Unless she can find a purple-gold malicious dragon to guard her; only then can she live in peace.

Qingyan stared at the letter in hand. After she finished reading it, she threw it into the bronze furnace, burning it to ashes.

She didn't believe in the so called life signs. Yet, she believed in every word Yunhen said. That year, it for her that he pried the mysteries of the heavens and agreed to let her learn the language of beasts. Yet, she of all people disappointed him.

And now, she still believed in every word Yunhen said.

Every incarnation forced to live a solitary life, so what of it?

"Miss, the old madam has a message for you. She said to let miss accompany her in the buddhist halls for the rites." Yunxiang appeared at Qingyan's door and respectfully spoke.

"Alright, I'll come right a way." Qingyan said as she tidied her clothes and walked out.

When Qingyan saw the old madam, she saw her walk over with a kind smile, grabbing her hand, "Yan'er, did you sleep well yesterday?"

Qingyan replied with a smile, "Thank you for worrying about me grandmother, Yan'er slept very peacefully yesterday."

"Good, I was just wanting to introduce abbot Lingyang to you. He's a very trustworthy person." With that said, the old madam brought Qingyan with her to the main hall.

Seeing abbot Lingyang, they greeted each other with a smile, as if they were old friends.

"Old madam, today's buddhist sermon, I will only lecture to Miss Su alone." Lingyang faced Su Jiashi and said respectfully.

Old madam listened to Lingyang's words and earnestly nodded, "Alright, then I'll leave it to you for today." Su Jiashi said and patted her hand. Afterwards, she left with Yunxiang and the others.

"Abbot, I've decided to purse my desires." Qingyan looked to him and slowly said, "and I won't regret it."

Lingyang looked to her and nodded, as if he wasn't surprised by her decision. "Since that's the case, then you can already start working on that blood jade in your hands." Lingyang said and walked to the side, pressing an unknown mechanism. Before them, a long path appeared.

"Shizhu, at the end of this path is a device. As for how it's used, I'm sure you will know." Lingyang looked to Qingyan still with calm look.

"Thank you for the guidance." Qingyan lifted the corners of her dress and step by step headed towards the secret entrance. Inside the hidden chamber, on either sides, seems to be filled with the former Qilian Qingyan's voice and smiling face.

The further she went, the more she felt the mysterious pain in her chest spreading, as if she was still Qilian Qingyan. And she could no longer tell whether she was Qilian Qingyan or Su Qingyan anymore.

When she reached the end of the path, she saw a painting. The woman in the painting was clad in white sitting on the back of a white tiger. And in her hand was a jade flute, put to her lips. It look as if she was about to perform a moving melody.

That woman was precisely Nanchen's previous Empress--Qilian Qingyan.