Blooming of the Red Spider Lily: The Enchanting Pavilion Master - Chapter 41 - A Simple Story

Hua Ning and the others were momentarily frozen in place. After a while, Feng Moqing couldn’t help but laugh, while Hua Ning rolled her eyes at the blushing woman. However, deep down, she admired the woman’s wild intuition: at least she understood that in the Pavilion of Rebirth, the person who seemed most noble was the pavilion master. In a way, it was indeed true that among the three of them, Feng Moqing appeared to have the highest status, even though it was also a reality.

“Did I… say something wrong?” The woman looked up with apricot-sized eyes, speaking timidly. A layer of moisture quickly covered her eyes, making her seem pitiful.

Feng Moqing immediately stopped laughing and gestured to Hua Ning to go comfort the woman. Being a man, he didn’t know how to handle the situation with a young girl.

Hua Ning glared at Feng Moqing and then lowered her voice as much as she could, saying gently, “He is not the pavilion master. My sister is not currently in the pavilion. Is there anything you need help with? I can pass it on to her when she returns.”

Without Bi’an, the Pavilion of Rebirth couldn’t operate normally. In this world, if there was anyone capable of fulfilling wishes, it was only Bi’an. That was her privilege-a right granted by that person, yet it also bound her.

“Really? The pavilion master isn’t here?” The light in the woman’s eyes dimmed in an instant, and a sense of sorrow enveloped her. It was genuinely hard for the three of them to witness. Hua Ning was about to offer some words of comfort, but the woman straightened up, nodded to Hua Ning and the others, and said, “Thank you, then I’ll come back another time.”

The loneliness in the woman’s eyes was thick and palpable, yet she stubbornly rejected Hua Ning’s attempts to keep her there, turning to leave the Pavilion of Rebirth. Just then, a softly spoken, clear voice echoed from outside the pavilion, startling all four of them, including the woman: “Hua-er, do you really let guests leave empty-handed? Is that how I taught you?”

The voice outside showed no hint of emotion, but Feng Moqing and Hua Ning rushed out instantly, forgetting the guest entirely. Hua Ning was so excited that she threw herself into Bi’an’s arms, burying her head against her sister and mumbling, “Sister, where have you been?”

Bi’an lowered her eyelids to hide her exhaustion, gently reaching out to stroke Hua Ning’s head while softly saying, “Hua-er, I’m back.” Then, she slowly turned her gaze to Feng Moqing, who stood behind Hua Ning, and met his slightly worried but nonchalant expression. In a low, soft voice, she slowly repeated, “I’m back.”

Just that one sentence made all the worry on Feng Moqing’s face disappear. The second prince, who usually carried a playful demeanor, appeared somewhat awkward upon hearing Bi’an speak so earnestly. He shook his fan and slowly turned his head away from her, but at that moment, the corner of his mouth lifted into a small smile.

“Are you the pavilion master of the Pavilion of Rebirth?” The woman, who had been forgotten by the four for quite some time, looked at the suddenly appearing beautiful woman with moist eyes, casting a confused glance at the awkward Feng Moqing before finally fixating her gaze on Bi’an.

Bi’an nodded, waiting for the woman to express her wish. However, she didn’t expect the woman to stare at her for quite a while before finally mumbling while tugging at her clothing, “You are the pavilion master of the Pavilion of Rebirth? Why are you so young and beautiful?”

The woman introduced herself as Li Bai, with “Li” meaning pear flower and “Bai” meaning pure white. Her request at the Pavilion of Rebirth was simply for a human heart.

After the woman suddenly expressed a compliment unrelated to her intention, Bi’an and the others fell into silence. The early summer night breeze carried a slight chill, causing Hua Ning to shiver in Bi’an’s embrace. Realizing this, Bi’an nodded to the woman and took the lead, pulling Hua Ning into the Pavilion of Rebirth.

Warm air wafted through, and the fragrance of tea filled the space. Bi’an leisurely sipped her cup of fragrant tea, splitting her gaze between Jiang Qing and the woman. She recalled leaving Hua Ning alone in the Pavilion during her absence; if it weren’t for Jiang Qing’s company, Hua Ning might have felt quite lonely.

No one could stay alongside anyone forever. She once thought that Hua-er could always be by her side until her final wish was fulfilled. But in reality, perhaps the first to leave would be her.

The truth hidden behind false appearances was something she could neither predict nor prepare for. She had no control over what the future held; one day she might completely depart from this world, leaving Hua Ning behind. At that time, all she hoped was that the most important person in her life would not be alone, ideally with company for a lifetime.

“Bi’an, Bi’an.” Noticing that the people beside her remained unresponsive for a long time, and seeing the woman’s face gradually flush with anxiety and confusion, Feng Moqing finally couldn’t sit still anymore. He set down the pastry in his hand and gently nudged Bi’an with his elbow.

“Miss, if you have something you wish for, feel free to express it. This pavilion will do its best to fulfill your wishes.” Coming back to her senses, Bi’an set down her now-cold tea, allowing Hua Ning to trade it for a hot cup. Only then did she take a small sip and turned to the woman in front of her, asking, “What is it that you desire?”

“Li Bai, that’s my name. You can just call me Li Bai, pavilion master.” As soon as Bi’an finished speaking, the woman quickly picked up the conversation and stated her name, though there was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. “I heard from friends in the demon realm that I can buy anything I desire here, is that true?”

The embarrassment on Li Bai’s face faded as she spoke, replaced by determination. Before Bi’an could nod in affirmation, the young lady continued with an unwavering expression, as if she would resort to desperate measures if Bi’an refused her.

“I want a real human heart! I want to become a real person!”

Feng Moqing, who had been leisurely fanning himself, sipping tea, and enjoying pastries, suddenly dropped his fan with a loud thud on the table upon hearing Li Bai’s request. Initially, he thought this young girl might have some simple emotional wish, but he never expected her to demand a human heart and that she wasn’t even human!

Recalling Hu Xi from the past, Feng Moqing found himself intrigued by this little demon. However, now that he remembered Hu Xi’s wish had been entirely for Jing Feng, he couldn’t help but wonder what Li Bai’s true motive was. Was it really possible for a demon to become human?

The elegant spread of pastries on the table was a feast for the eyes, each treat shaped like various beautiful flowers. They looked delightful and tasted exceptional; even someone from the royal family like Feng Moqing couldn’t help but praise Hua Ning’s craftsmanship.

Curiosity piqued, Feng Moqing’s gaze shifted between Bi’an and Li Bai while he also savored the delicacies. His movements were graceful and measured, carrying the refined air of someone raised in the royal palace.

To enjoy such exquisite food was indeed an art form, which explained why Hua Ning often poked Feng Moqing’s cheek, teasing him about how he effortlessly attracted the attention of women. However, now his charm seemed ineffective in front of both Bi’an and Li Bai. Bi’an was impervious to his allure, while Li Bai appeared lost in thought.

Li Bai held a pastry in her hand, raising it without any apparent desire to eat it. Her eyelids drooped, and she lowered her head as if she were studying the pastry, yet seemingly looking at nothing at all. After a moment, her melodious voice, like a songbird’s, broke the silence again: “Pavilion master, is that not possible?” Her tone carried a hint of choking emotion.

Bi’an remained silent for a long time about Li Bai’s wish, making Li Bai assume that her desire had been rejected by the Pavilion of Rebirth. However, aside from this place, she couldn’t find anyone else who could help her. She had longed to become human for quite some time, yet no demon had been able to propose a feasible solution until they mentioned this shop, a place that could grant wishes.

But was she being turned down now?

The more she thought about it, the sadder she felt, and soon her eyes turned red, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Seeing this, Bi’an pulled out a silk handkerchief and handed it to Li Bai before speaking slowly, “Do you understand that everything in this world has its own spirit? If you wish to go against the natural order, you must pay a price. Do you know how difficult it is to find a human heart? Even more so, a heart that can transform you from a demon into a person? A dead heart is useless; only a living heart will help you. And it must be a fresh, youthful heart, one that matches your age, not one belonging to an elderly person.”

The heart is linked to human lifespan. Since Li Bai wished to become a true person, she certainly wouldn’t want to be only temporarily human. But how could the Pavilion of Rebirth possibly find a human heart from someone who looked like her, around fifteen or sixteen years old?

As Bi’an stirred the tea, her gaze shifting from Li Bai to the surface of the cup where tea leaves floated, she maintained her indifferent demeanor. It seemed as if she was unconcerned about her startling words, as though she were merely discussing a trivial matter.

Feng Moqing, who lost his appetite the moment Bi’an hinted at finding a heart, sighed while eyeing the array of delicious pastries. It was a pity to him that he lacked the desire to indulge.

The more he looked, the more unfortunate he felt. Rather than dwell on it, Feng Moqing chose to focus his attention on the woman in front of him.

Though tears still lingered in Li Bai’s eyes, she forced a smile, just as Feng Moqing had thought earlier. When she smiled, her eyes sparkled joyfully, and despite being redlike that of a rabbit, it did nothing to diminish the beauty of her smile.

Her innocent, flawless appearance made Feng Moqing prefer to think of her as merely a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, someone who had just come of age. He imagined that one day this girl would fall in love with an exceptional young man, and they would grow old together, just like the future he envisioned for Xiao Jin.

As if sensing Feng Moqing’s gaze, Li Bai tilted her head to look at him, then offered another smile, tinged with bitterness. “I wonder if the pavilion master and the others would like to hear my story-a simple, cliché tale.”

Before Bi’an and the others could nod in agreement, Li Bai continued talking, tears still evident on her face, the moisture in her eyes unquenched, and her smile still laced with sorrow. Yet, as she began recounting the beginnings of her tale, she laughed wholeheartedly, her eyes shining with brilliance. It was clear how much this story meant to her; it was the most precious treasure of her life-something she wouldn’t trade for anything else, a unique gem in this world.

Li Bai was a naturally formed flower demon who grew near a school in the northern part of Fengli City. After soaking up the essence of nature for hundreds of years, she eventually transformed into human shape. From then on, Li Bai watched the cycles of the human world from the branches of a pear tree, living as an aimless, heartless little demon for centuries. Had that person not appeared, she would have continued being an unconcerned demon.

The first time Li Bai saw Le Zimu, he was just a naive child, looking about ten years old. He had always loved poetry and literature from a young age, and being intelligent made him excel in his studies at the school. Li Bai often perched on her branch, watching the children in the school. In her memories, there was always one child who received the teacher’s highest praise, but at that time, she didn’t know that little rascal or foresee the entanglement they would eventually have.