Chapter 74 Spring’s Purest Melody

She Meier seemed not to have heard Yan Chixia’s words at all. Swift as a shadow, she raised her curved blade once more and, with a single sweep, sliced off the other antler of the Nine-Colored Deer. Yan Chixia could only watch, heart aching, exclaiming in distress. He had expected that, with its beautiful twin antlers suddenly severed, the deer would be wracked with pain, leaping about in agony. Yet, to his astonishment, after its antlers were cut off, not only did the deer show no sign of pain, it even seemed to rejoice, its spirit unburdened. With a clear cry toward She Meier, the deer galloped away on nimble hooves and vanished without a trace.

“How strange!” Yan Chixia wondered aloud, confused. “She Meier, why is it that after you cut off both antlers, the Nine-Colored Deer not only felt no pain, but departed with such joy, as if freed of a great weight? Also, the deer seemed quite familiar with you… Could it be you’ve met before?”

She Meier smiled sweetly at his question and replied, “Yan Chixia, I truly admire your keen powers of observation! You’re right: that Nine-Colored Deer and I are well acquainted. Counting today, we’ve met four times now. The first time was three years ago at just this season. My master had just finished refining the ‘Ruyi Divine Vessel’ and took me with her into the Valley of Certain Death for the first time to seek cultivation resources.

While we were traveling in high spirits aboard the Divine Vessel, we suddenly heard the mournful cry of a deer. Looking down, my master and I saw a beautiful Nine-Colored Deer collapsed beneath that very rock ahead, trembling all over and keening in pain. My master landed the vessel, and we stepped out to approach the deer. We found both its antlers were broken, shattered by a violent collision with the rock, its head bleeding profusely and its cries unceasing. That same Nine-Colored Deer was the one you just saw. When it saw us, it was terrified and tried to flee, but its wounds were too severe for it to rise.

Seeing its plight, my master summoned a Great Restoration Pill from her storage space and, with a flick of her finger, sent it flying into the deer’s mouth. Instantly, its wounds vanished, its head restored to perfection. The deer ceased its cries, rose to its feet, and even nodded to us with tears in its eyes in gratitude.

Moved by the creature’s intelligence, I took out my Enchanted Lute and played ‘Spring Snow’ for it—the same melody as before. To my surprise, the deer listened, utterly entranced, and began to dance about with joy, just as it did moments ago. After dancing, it stood before my master, lowered its head, and remained still, as if making a request.

I didn’t understand its meaning, but my master, with a wave of her hand, used the Heavenly Gang Shadowless Sword to sever the remains of its broken antlers at the base. The deer, seeing its discarded antlers on the ground, seemed overjoyed, gave a spirited cry, and darted away into the distance.

Back then, I too was puzzled—why, after losing both antlers, did the deer show not the slightest pain, but instead leave in high spirits? So I asked my master. She told me that the Nine-Colored Deer’s antlers must be shed once a year; if the old ones aren’t removed, new antlers cannot grow. That deer’s purpose in ramming the rock was to break off the old antlers, so new ones could sprout. My master further instructed me: Remember, come back to the Valley of Certain Death at this time next year and help the Nine-Colored Deer remove its antlers.

I asked how I could possibly find the deer again in such a vast place. My master said it was simple—at this season, enter the valley and come to this spot. Play ‘Spring Snow’ on the Enchanted Lute, and the deer would come at the sound.

And so it happened. The next year, my master and I returned by Divine Vessel, landed here, and I played ‘Spring Snow.’ The lovely deer appeared at once, danced joyfully for us, and then allowed my master to sever its antlers once again.

Last year was the same. So today, I repeated the process, and the deer, having waited a year, came running as soon as it heard the melody.”

Hearing this, Yan Chixia was enlightened. “Ah, so that’s how it is. She Meier, forgive me—I misjudged you just now!”

She Meier grinned. “Hehe, no harm done. One cannot fault the ignorant.” With that, she silently recited an incantation and stored both antlers in her storage ring.

Then, She Meier and Yan Chixia boarded the Ruyi Divine Vessel, which rose to about thirty feet above the ground and continued forward.

Yan Chixia was in high spirits, gazing down upon the strange scenery of the Valley of Certain Death while peppering She Meier with questions: “Who set up the barrier around the Valley of Certain Death? What was its purpose? Was it to monopolize all the resources here, or to seal in the venomous snakes and monsters to prevent them from wreaking havoc outside? How vast is the valley? Where can we find the Heart Elixir Fruit and the Stone of Revival?”

As they talked, the subject returned to the Nine-Colored Deer. Yan Chixia asked, “She Meier, I know the deer’s antlers are extremely valuable medicinal ingredients… Tell me, why did you store them in your ring? What do you intend to use them for?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’ll use them to refine Beauty Pills!” She Meier’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “To tell you the truth, my master, to maintain her youth, drinks a drop of Nectar every month and takes one Beauty Pill as well. I’m no exception. So every year, we must gather many ingredients to refine these pills. This time, besides picking Heart Elixir Fruit and the Stone of Revival for your master, I’m also collecting seven or eight types of herbs for the Beauty Pills. Yan Chixia, just wait—when my master finishes a new batch, I’ll give you a bottle right away, so you can take one each month and make yourself even more handsome.”

“Heh,” Yan Chixia teased, “She Meier, thanks for your kindness! But with looks as extraordinary as mine, I fear even the Beauty Pill can’t improve them further—I’ve already reached the pinnacle of handsomeness!”

“Pah! Braggart—shameless!” She Meier retorted playfully. But as the words left her lips, she felt a sudden embarrassment, her cheeks flushing. “Oh! How odd, Yan Chixia—I called you shameless, yet it feels as though I’m talking about myself!”

Yan Chixia couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s no surprise—when a thief cries ‘stop thief!’ it always feels that way.”

“You—!” She Meier glared at him in mock anger. “Hmph! Such a charming face, but not a single charming word out of your mouth! Hmph, Yan Chixia, I’m not talking to you anymore!”