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墨書 Inktalez
The wind wailed in the ears, biting at the decaying window frame. A drop of water fell from the eaves, splashing into a puddle on the ground. Following that, a face appeared in the puddle, a face marred and fragmented.
As the gaze lifted, a pair of white embroidered shoes came into view, adorned with crimson flowers that had a melodious name: Red Spider Lily. The poem states: "On the other shore blooms the flower, with no connection between flower and leaf. The river of Forgetfulness flows quietly, a trench between here and there. The path of fire is long for travelers, scattering causes from past lives to present. May the heart's sorrow and love also grieve, as flowers and leaves drift apart never to meet again!"
This Red Spider Lily grows in the Underworld, and its owner clearly does not belong to the realm of the living. She glided like smoke over the puddle and entered the dilapidated earth temple. She looked up at the kindly-faced Land God and let out a cold laugh. With a light wave of her snow-white sleeves, she swept away the altar set before the Earth God, along with the long-dried offerings.
People revere gods and fear ghosts, yet they do not realize that these so-called deities are also quite mercenary. They are unwilling to visit places that have fallen into disrepair, and those impoverished families who can only offer meager tributes are looked down upon by these lofty beings.
After clearing away the altar, the owner of the embroidered shoes began searching within the earth temple. Finally, in a corner beneath the offering table, she found what she was looking for—some red fox fur covered in dust. She raised an eyebrow, revealing a strange smile as she exhaled a puff of black mist. Outside, footsteps approached; she turned to glance before transforming into a wisp of black mist and vanishing.
Xing Ruyi lifted her skirt slightly, feeling somewhat frustrated as she gazed at the earth temple before her. It seemed to have been in disrepair for many years; she wondered if any remnants of what the red fox had left behind during its tribulation still remained.
Having rained just the day before, the ground was quite muddy, especially in front of the temple where a large pool of dirty water had formed. Xing Ruyi began to regret not bringing the fox along; at least when faced with such circumstances, she could have playfully asked it to carry her across instead of awkwardly jumping over while holding her skirt and silently counting one, two, three.
Her shoe slipped on the moss-covered ground, nearly causing her to fall. Xing Ruyi quickly grabbed onto the broken railing in front of the temple to steady herself. When she looked up, her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of black mist—an indication that evil spirits had been there. Slightly suppressing her expression, Xing Ruyi steadied herself and began to scan her surroundings.
Inside the dilapidated earth temple, it seemed that only that wisp of black mist remained. The mist appeared both solid and dispersed; it was likely left behind by an evil spirit upon its departure. Xing Ruyi sighed in relief and waved her hand gently to disperse it completely. Such mountain temples often housed lonely souls and wild spirits; Xing Ruyi paid it no mind as she focused on searching the ground. After a short while, she spotted some dark red fox fur that glistened under sunlight as if it had an oily sheen. She casually took a handful and placed it into her pouch before turning to leave the temple.
A pair of embroidered shoes appeared out of thin air, suspended in mid-air within the earth temple, accompanied by a faint cold laugh that reached Xing Ruyi's ears. Confused, she glanced back and rubbed her ears before once again awkwardly leaping over the puddle while holding her skirt.
Although there were issues between Fang Ping and Luo Luo that went beyond Luo Luo's white hair, Xing Ruyi felt that since others sought her help and she was able to assist them, she should lend a hand when possible. As for Luo Luo's Cursed Lone Star fate intertwined with Fang Ping's dual soul existence—this was not something for her as a mere Rouge shopkeeper to resolve; thus, she preferred not to interfere too much in others' destinies.
The Prescription that Xing Ruyi customized for Luo Luo was called Black Sesame Powder, derived from "Taiping Shenghui Fang," an official medical text from the Song Dynasty containing 1,670 entries across various aspects including pulse diagnosis and prescriptions for internal and external ailments as well as bone injuries. Xing Ruyi was mainly interested in its beauty prescriptions and thus remembered mostly those.
Black Sesame Powder has properties that can turn white hair black and maintain youthful appearance; since the Song Dynasty, it has been used as an anti-aging beauty secret in royal courts throughout history. It is recorded in later texts such as "Bencao Gangmu," "Yujiao Yaojie," and "Yangsheng Shou Lao Ji." Due to varying circumstances, Xing Ruyi prepared this particular prescription for Luo Luo with special modifications. First, following the original formula, she soaked an appropriate amount of black sesame seeds in water until cooked through before drying them out repeatedly until finely ground into powder. Then she burned some red fox fur obtained from within the earth temple along with talismans written by foxes until reduced to ash and mixed this into thumb-sized pills. These were to be taken on an empty stomach every morning and evening or consumed with warm water or salt soup. Results would appear within half a month at least or up to two months at most.
When it was time for their meeting as agreed upon, Fang Ping and Luo Luo arrived as scheduled; however, upon receiving her prescription, Luo Luo did not seem particularly happy but rather wore an expression tinged with worry. As they sent them off at the door, Luo Luo suddenly stopped in her tracks and glanced at Fang Ping's back before quietly asking Xing Ruyi: "Ruyi, do ghosts really exist?"
"The so-called suspicion breeds dark ghosts; matters concerning ghosts are no different than this. If you believe they exist in this world, then they do; if you do not believe they exist here at all." Xing Ruyi gently patted Luo Luo's shoulder and asked her: "Luo Luo, do you believe in fate?"
"I didn't believe it at first, but later I did!"
"Why?"
"When I was younger, I encountered a Taoist in the mountains. He told me that I was the Cursed Lone Star and would bring misfortune to everyone around me. I was terrified and went back to tell my parents. I still remember how my father's face turned pale. I had never seen him look so serious and angry; I was so scared that I hid in my mother's arms. In the end, my father gently told me that even if I was the Cursed Lone Star, I could still overcome it."
"Your father is right. Good deeds are rewarded, and evil deeds are punished; the Master is always watching," Xing Ruyi said, pointing with her finger. Although she didn't believe in those deities, she acknowledged that in the Underworld, Lord Wang knew that people have cause and effect in reincarnation. Those who do good and those who do bad will receive different outcomes when they reach the Underworld.
Luo Luo listened and could only manage a bitter smile. She looked up through the veil in front of her, gazing into Xing Ruyi's eyes: "So, it's because I'm not good enough. My mother passed away when I was eight, and my father only lived two more years after that."
"Luo Luo!" Xing Ruyi felt a pang of sympathy: "Actually, I'm also an orphan. My parents passed away when I was very young. I don't know my fate, nor did any Taoist come to tell me if I'm the Cursed Lone Star or if my parents died because of me. All I know is that if my parents have spirits, they would want me to live happily and joyfully. Right now, I'm very happy and content because I have a husband who loves and even spoils me, and a lovely, warm-hearted son. Trust me, the Master will also treat you kindly."
"Really?" Luo Luo asked, looking up.
"Really!" Xing Ruyi nodded and gestured with her eyes towards Fang Ping: "See? You've met Fang Ping now!"
"Yes! I've met him! I never imagined I would encounter Ping. Perhaps you're right, Ruyi; my parents must wish for my happiness and joy. The Master has not been harsh on me because he allowed me to meet the best man in this world. Thank you, Ruyi; all my worries are gone. No matter what challenges lie ahead for Ping and me, I have the courage and confidence to face them with a smile."
"Luo Luo—" Xing Ruyi looked at the smile on Luo Luo's lips, hesitated for a moment, then decided to share what the fox had previously said: "My husband knows a bit about fate. He told me that the obstacles between you and Fang Ping are not just due to your white hair. If fate brings calamity, it can affect family and friends as well as husbands and children. Although I know my theory may seem outrageous at first glance, two people who truly love each other don't necessarily have to marry. Luo Luo, even though I don't believe it myself, when it comes to loved ones, believing is better than not believing, don't you think?"
"Thank you, Ruyi!" Luo Luo nodded in gratitude and added, "I understand now!"
"Sigh!" Xing Ruyi sighed deeply but said nothing more; she just stood at the door, waved her hand goodbye as she watched Luo Luo and Fang Ping leave.
The fox walked out gracefully and stopped behind Xing Ruyi, lightly asking, "Couldn't hold back?"
"I couldn't hold back!" Xing Ruyi nodded.
The fox asked again, "Did everything come out?"
"Everyone has come out!" Xing Ruyi continued to nod.
"Then what do you think they will choose?" the fox asked again, his gaze fixed on Xing Ruyi's face.
This time, Xing Ruyi did not answer. Instead, she turned around and looked into the fox's beautiful eyes, asking him, "If it were you, what would you choose? Yin Chensi, I have no parents, no relatives; am I also cursed?"
"You are not!" The fox replied, looking into her eyes. He sighed and pulled her into his embrace. "Even if you were, it wouldn't matter because I am the Azure Fox Emperor. The fate of mortals does not affect me."
Xing Ruyi wrinkled her nose and muttered, "The deposed Azure Fox Emperor!"
"Alright, even if I am deposed, if you wish, I can go back and reclaim that position at any time!" The fox looked seriously into Xing Ruyi's eyes.
"Forget it! I have no interest in being your clan's Empress. You're right; you are a fox, and a Qingqiu fox at that. The fate of mortals does not affect you. Besides, we are not officially married; you cannot be considered my husband. Even if I were to bring misfortune to my husband, it wouldn't apply to you. As for bringing misfortune to children? I think Yin Yuan's malice is heavier than that of the Cursed Lone Star. If he doesn't bring misfortune to me, then Amitabha." Xing Ruyi said as she stood on her tiptoes and gently kissed the fox on the forehead. "Yin Chensi, actually it's quite good that we are not married!"
The fox lowered his head and kissed Xing Ruyi's lips, infused with a hint of punishment, a touch of dominance, and a bit of stubbornness. Only after her lips were slightly swollen did he release her and say, "We are going to get married! You, Xing Ruyi, are destined to become my wife, the daughter-in-law of the Qingqiu Yin Clan!"
"Alright!" Xing Ruyi rubbed her lips and reluctantly said, "Given how domineering and charming you are, I won't argue with you for now."
With that, she broke free from the fox's grasp and ran into the shop while complaining, "Fox, I'm starving!"
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