Chu Liuxue's plan for revenge had actually begun many years ago.

But at one point, she almost gave it up. She thought, living out her days on Peach Blossom Mountain wouldn't be so bad.

"I really imagined those days, with Suiyan and me, growing old before you. By then, with our hair gray, we could still brew tea and admire flowers with you in the courtyard, quietly listening to the wind.

If only Suiyan hadn't left the mountain..."

Tao Mian, who had been silent for half the night, finally spoke, his voice hoarse.

"When did you find out... Si Dui's true identity?"

Chu Liuxue smiled.

"From the first day I met him."

She said that Chu Suiyan had been entrusted to her by his mother, but the boy was too young to remember anything. Later, he was easily tricked by his sister into believing he was a child picked up from a trash heap.

Chu Suiyan's mother was a songstress who had a past romance with Tan Yuan, the master of the Netherworld Hall. Unfortunately, time changes people, and her deep affection was misplaced, leaving only the unfortunate result of Chu Suiyan.

Holding her frail and sickly child, she wanted to go to the Demonic Realm to demand an explanation from her old lover, but she exhausted her strength halfway, barely clinging to life.

In her dying moments, she was filled with hatred. Chu Liuxue happened to pass by and, out of a rare moment of kindness, fed her a bowl of rice soup. The woman clung to the girl's hand, begging her to take her child to the Netherworld Hall to find Tan Yuan.

It was an unreasonable request, Chu Liuxue thought.

But perhaps if she hadn't been so desperate, she wouldn't have turned into someone so ugly with hatred.

She was young, yet prematurely aged. In Chu Liuxue's eyes, she looked worn, with dark circles under her eyes and purple lips.

It was said that she was once a renowned songstress in the capital, with many officials and nobles willing to spend a fortune for a smile.

Chu Liuxue found a swaddled baby forcibly placed in her arms, unsure of what to do. At that time, she had just buried her adoptive parents in the graves she had prepared long ago, with no one left in the world for her.

But she knew it was hard enough to support herself, let alone take on such a burden.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Without hesitation, Chu Liuxue tried to return the baby to the songstress, but when she looked down, she found the woman had already passed away.

Gone like a fading fragrance.

This was troublesome, Chu Liuxue thought, as she hated trouble the most.

The old servant was dead, the scholar was dead, her adoptive parents were dead, and now she had only two enemies left unresolved: a traitor from Sky's End Valley and the master of the Netherworld Hall.

The last two were not as easily dealt with as her adoptive parents, but Chu Liuxue wasn't in a hurry. After all, she was younger than them. Even if she did nothing, as long as she took care of herself, in fifty years she could set off fireworks on their graves, ensuring they wouldn't rest in peace even in death.

Chu Liuxue was always someone who repaid kindness and sought revenge. This was the first time she encountered such a dilemma, leaving her conflicted.

"You are Tan Yuan's son, and Tan Yuan is my enemy. Making sure he has no descendants is one way to seek revenge, but you and I have no personal grudge."

Chu Liuxue frowned, her tone calm, as if she were contemplating what to have for dinner.

She placed the swaddled baby on the ground, reaching out to pinch the corner of the small blanket.

Killing a baby was too easy; she just needed to cover his face with the blanket and hold it tight. If she was lucky, she wouldn't even hear any cries.

Chu Liuxue really did it. She covered the boy's face with the floral blanket, watching the ants move house by the roadside, silently counting.

One, two, three...

Not crying at all?

Curious, she lifted the blanket to see if the boy was still alive.

The child moved his neck and suddenly gave her a smile.

So silly and ugly.

Chu Liuxue wrinkled her nose.

"How can there be such an ugly child?"

She thought, I'll wait a little longer. After all, it's not like I can kill Tan Yuan right away.

Such a troublesome matter, I'll worry about it later.

"And then I kept him with me until I met you."

Tao Mian felt a bit surprised. When Chu Suiyan chose to return to the Netherworld Hall, Chu Liuxue didn't show much emotion, and he had guessed that she might have known all along.

He just didn't expect it to be so early, that she had been wandering with the bloodline of her enemy all this time.

Perhaps to better kill him, or maybe for some other reason.

"I really, really... tried my best to persuade myself to let go, and I almost succeeded."

Chu Liuxue spoke quietly as she looked at the graves before her.

She spoke of how many times she wanted to abandon the young Chu Suiyan at a crossroads, letting him fend for himself, and how many times she turned back in despair to find him.

Chu Suiyan always thought his sister had lost her way, never suspecting anything else.

"You were a salvation for me. On Peach Blossom Mountain, I almost never thought of revenge. The mountain took over all my emotions, and I didn't have to think about anything. Those were the most relaxed years."

Chu Liuxue was baring her heart to Tao Mian, but Tao Mian shook his head, unwilling to hear more.

"Stop, San Tu, you can't continue."

The girl had always been reticent, keeping her thoughts to herself. She was the most measured disciple he had ever taken, always knowing what to say and what not to say. She never imposed her emotions on others and was not easily influenced by outsiders, with a heart as clear and pure as a crystal.

And now, she had decided to pour out all the words she had buried in her heart, which must mean she had made some significant decision.

A decision no Immortal would willingly accept.

Chu Liuxue took two steps forward, looking at Tao Mian with gentle eyes, her master.

"I'm sorry, Shi Fu. I didn't want to burden you with this. I know how much the deaths of Senior Brother Gu and Senior Sister Lu have hurt you, and I don't want you to be hurt any further.

But the blood of the Dou Clan washes over my dreams time and again, defending Sky's End Valley with all his might was my father, and sacrificing her own granddaughter to save me was my old servant... The scholar was much like you; he didn't want me to walk the path of revenge, and neither do you. You two are the only good people I've met in my short twenty years. I tried so hard to save him, and now I still want to stay with you for a long time. I want revenge, and I want to repay kindness.

But in this world, how can one have it both ways? Loyalty and filial piety cannot coexist, and revenge and gratitude are also hard to reconcile. I pondered day and night, finding no solution, so I must seek revenge first, then repay kindness.

If you're willing to wait, then please wait for me."

Chu Liuxue was a considerate person, always thoughtful and attentive.

Both are like flesh and blood to her; she and Chu Suiyan are both Tao Mian's disciples, and she doesn't want to make things difficult for Tao Mian.

"You should continue being a carefree Immortal. I don't want to trouble you with my matters, and I'm sure Suiyan wouldn't either.

But anything can happen. To prevent that possibility, Shi Fu, I need a promise from you. And please give one to Suiyan as well.

When we kneel outside your door, asking you to fulfill that promise, then you can decide."

The girl turned around, smiling at the Immortal under the moonlight.

"The pear blossoms in the scholar's courtyard are quite beautiful when they bloom. If I can't make it in time, please see them for me."