Chapter Eighty-Nine: Yun Ranran of the Nine Provinces Academy

Both of them placed the paper crane into the lantern at the same time and let it drift away with the current.

Because their eyes had been closed, neither saw the wick inside the lantern flicker in and out of sight. At last, the final wisp of black smoke rose into the air, circling beside Lotus and taking the shape of an infant before gradually fading from view.

After a long while, they opened their eyes, and the lantern had already floated far away.

Lotus continued tugging at Eternal Black’s sleeve until they found an inn in Peaceful City and settled in.

Perhaps from being too worn out by all the fun, once they returned to the room, Lotus set down the mask, lay down on the bed, and fell fast asleep without even removing her shoes.

In the deep silence of night, one or two faint cries of a baby sounded within Lotus’s room. The infant that had been gathered about Lotus by the river appeared and clambered onto Lotus’s belly, sleeping there sweetly.

Eternal Black was staying in the room next door. Since he did not sleep deeply, he still sensed something amiss. Whether it was a lingering aftereffect from capturing Jade Cui earlier, he could not tell; he only felt that the air around him had suddenly grown damp, as though the yin energy had become heavier.

He got up, put on his shoes, and passed through the wall into Lotus’s room. Seeing her sleeping so peacefully, his worry eased somewhat.

Then he noticed those feet still sticking out from beneath the quilt, not yet having their shoes removed. He could not help smiling wryly. “Not even your shoes are off.”

With careful, light movements, he took off Lotus’s shoes and set them neatly by the bed, then tucked the quilt around her. He lingered in the room for a while; just seeing her sleeping face made him feel steadier.

About the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Eternal Black returned to his room, unaware that the infant on Lotus’s belly was watching all of this, even calling after him with a hopeful, “Papa...”

Early the next morning, Eternal Black rose at dawn. After breakfast, he waited downstairs for Lotus to wake so they could go to the Sacred Temple. But noon had already passed, the sun blazed fiercely overhead, and Lotus showed no sign of getting up.

Back when Lotus was still his disciple, lying in was a common habit. Eternal Black had no choice but to go upstairs and call her himself.

When he opened the door, Lotus’s room felt strangely cold, cold in a way that was not normal. Lotus was lying on the bed, sleeping very soundly.

Eternal Black frowned and walked to the bedside, gently patting Lotus’s arm. “Lotus, wake up. It’s noon!”

Still she did not stir. The unease in his heart spread further. He sent refined spiritual power into her body. “Lotus! Wake up!”

With a soft murmur, Lotus slowly opened her eyes. Seeing a huge face right in front of her, she rubbed them and said, “Eternal Black? What are you doing here? Ahh... I’m so sleepy...”

She yawned, as if she meant to keep sleeping. How could Eternal Black dare let her drift off again? He helped her sit up at once, though he still did not tell her the truth.

“It’s past noon already. We agreed yesterday to go to the Sacred Temple. Surely you haven’t forgotten?”

He deliberately put on a frosty expression.

Lotus had not seen that stony face in ages, and for a moment she even panicked. “Don’t be like that. I won’t sleep anymore, I’ll get up right away! You go out first! I need to get dressed!”

Eternal Black hid the unease in his chest and said helplessly, “You didn’t even take your clothes off last night.”

Lotus looked down at herself in surprise. “I really didn’t... Maybe I was too sleepy and forgot.”

She got up and put on her shoes. “All right. Let me wash up, and after lunch we’ll head to the Sacred Temple!”

Eternal Black rose and closed the door, but even as he stepped out, he still did not feel entirely at ease.

Not long after, Lotus came downstairs. She looked fairly energetic. “Waiter, two bowls of sour soup noodles!”

Eternal Black’s brow furrowed even more. “Didn’t you used to dislike sour food?”

Lotus froze, then rubbed her stomach a little bashfully. “I don’t know why, but I just want to eat it today. I guess I’m craving it.”

Eternal Black did not ask further.

This inn served food quickly. The waiter carried over two bowls of sour soup noodles and set them before Eternal Black. “Guests, your sour soup noodles! Please enjoy!”

Lotus smiled faintly at the waiter and accepted the bowl. “Thank you.”

Looking at the noodles, she eagerly picked up her chopsticks and took a bite.

The waiter had not yet gone far when Lotus swallowed the noodles in her mouth and took another sip of the soup. “Waiter, your sour soup noodles are not sour at all. Could you make me a fresh bowl? I’ll pay double!”

The waiter was taken aback. He had always had confidence in the cook at their inn; there was no way something as basic as sour soup noodles not being sour could happen.

But since the guest was being polite and reasonable, they naturally could not argue. “Of course, guest. I’ll tell the kitchen right away to make you another bowl. We’ll make sure it’s sour!”

Lotus waved with a smile. “Go on!”

Eternal Black found it all far too strange and decided to observe a little longer.

“Hey! Guest! Your authentic sour soup noodles are ready!”

The waiter brought a freshly made bowl to Lotus’s side. Even from that distance, Eternal Black could smell the tartness of the broth.

Lotus took a sniff, and not only was she not put off by the sourness, she actually said happily to the waiter, “That’s more like it. Now that’s sour soup noodles.”

After the waiter left, Lotus ate with satisfaction. Eternal Black asked almost casually, “Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

Lotus did not even look up, busy swallowing the noodles in her mouth. “Nope. I’m just a little sleepy, and it seems I’ve also fallen in love with sour food.” Then she took another satisfied sip of soup. “Ahh! This is absolutely delicious!”

“If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, tell me early.”

Lotus kept her head down and continued eating. “Got it, got it!”

After finishing the bowl, Lotus’s stomach was soothed, and she let out a belch redolent of vinegar. Fortunately, Eternal Black did not mind her like this. She was like a great oaf, and her wits did not seem especially sharp either.

After eating, the two of them walked slowly toward the Sacred Temple to aid digestion. Along the way, aside from Lotus constantly growing sleepy, she showed no other unusual symptoms.

The Sacred Temple truly lived up to its name as the divine shrine of the Nine Provinces continent, the place in the eyes of all common people where one could speak with Heaven itself. In Eternal Black’s eyes, the entire complex was shrouded by a light that felt strangely familiar.

Just as Lotus was about to step onto the first stair leading into the Sacred Temple, sudden agony struck her abdomen. She curled up at once.

Eternal Black gathered her into his arms and took out a pill for her to swallow, but she still did not improve. Pouring more spiritual power into her might bring temporary relief, but only for a moment; the instant she moved, the pain would return doubled.

Cruelly enough, not a single passerby was outside the Sacred Temple, and the temple itself stood above three more steps. Eternal Black tried to carry Lotus upward, but she cried out that it hurt even more, leaving him helpless and unable to take even a step.

Just as Eternal Black was about to unleash a forbidden art, a surge of spiritual power intercepted his movement.

“No!”

The voice of a woman was very familiar. It was none other than Cloud-Dyed, whom they had parted from only two days ago.

“Are you trying to kill her?”

Without another word, Cloud-Dyed struck Lotus’s belly with a bolt of spiritual power. Eternal Black had no time to stop her, yet in an instant Lotus no longer cried out in pain.

Eternal Black’s hand, still holding the jade flute, trembled slightly. Only Heaven knew how worried he had just been. If anyone had to be in pain, he would rather it be himself than his Lotus.

Cloud-Dyed helped the still-weak Lotus upright and muttered something over her belly. Whatever she said, Lotus was steadily improving.

“Thank you...”

And then Lotus fainted into Cloud-Dyed’s arms.

The chapter ends here.