Chapter 126: A Hidden Haven in the Peach Blossoms (8,000-word First Installment)

Gu Yi could not see what lay behind the main palace of the Great Rain Palace. He could only follow the sound of Gu Baici’s footsteps, using his blurred perception to piece together his surroundings bit by bit. During this time, he felt the light gradually fade, and he accidentally bumped into a rock, nearly cracking his skull.

Eventually, Gu Baici had him hold onto a rope as she led him.

"You keep your eyes closed—what use is there in clinging to this life?"

What kind of talk was that? My life might not be important to others, but it is certainly important to me.

"Why is the path here so difficult to walk?"

In truth, passing through this area felt like the passage in the ancient poem: "At first it was very narrow, just wide enough for one person. After walking a few dozen steps, it suddenly opened up." Although Gu Yi could not see, when he emerged from the narrow passage, he could feel the sky clearing, the light intensifying, and a gentle warmth.

Listening closely, he heard the chirping of birds in the thicket and the bustling of domestic animals.

There was the sound of flowing water, and by the banks, people were beating clothes, laughing and chatting.

There was the lowing of cattle, and farmers were cracking whips as they plowed the fields, singing songs.

There was the sound of children chasing each other in play.

It was a scene of prosperity, a true peach blossom spring hidden away from the world.

Before long, someone approached. The footsteps belonged to a woman, short and quick. "Ci’er, Old Wang from next door sent over two eggs today. Would you like to eat them? I’ll cook them for you."

Gu Yi thought he must have misheard.

Because he heard Gu Baici’s soft, gentle laughter. "I would love to, thank you, Mother Rong."

"Oh, we’re family, why stand on ceremony? I’ll have them ready in a moment. Ci’er, you might want to go check on Scholar Zhang; he’s telling jokes again."

Mentioning jokes, Gu Yi heard a roar of laughter from the men, young and old, ringing out in waves.

How very strange.

"Palace Master... what is this place?"

Gu Baici tugged on the embroidered rope in her hand. "Just follow me. Ten steps ahead is a stream with a wooden bridge; be careful not to fall in."

"Alright."

"Also, don't call me Palace Master here. Like everyone else, call me Ci’er."

Ci’er?

Gu Yi felt there was a trap waiting for him. The legendary Palace Master of the Great Rain, calling her Ci’er—wasn't that a bit too much of a contrast?

Before Gu Yi could even get the name out, someone nearby—a man with a distinctly rural air—was calling out, "Ci’er is back!"

"Yes, I’m back," Gu Baici replied politely.

"Who is that you’ve brought with you?"

"His name is Gu Yi. He was captured and brought to the Great Rain Palace by my people." Gu Baici stated all of this truthfully, then turned to Gu Yi and said, "Just treat this place as an ordinary village. Don't dwell on the affairs of the Great Rain Palace. If anyone asks, you can tell the truth, understand?"

Birds chirped in the sky, and in the village, a dog chased a chicken with a flurry of noise.

"I understand, but I still want to know what this place is."

Gu Baici said, "Then take off the blindfold and see for yourself."

Gu Yi’s heart skipped a beat. "If I look, will it be alright, even if it offends you?"

"Of course not. If you ruin my mood, the consequences will only be more severe."

Gu Yi: "..."

Never mind, I said nothing.

"We are going to listen to Scholar Zhang tell jokes now."

"Mhm."

"What 'mhm'? You have to laugh when you're done, otherwise, Scholar Zhang will be unhappy."

...

"Let’s say there was a small village of fewer than a hundred people, but every household was full of tongue-twisters; everyone had a way with words, able to speak in verse at the drop of a hat. One day, a husband and wife had a dispute because they couldn't conceive a child and took it to the magistrate. With the magistrate sitting in judgment, the husband spoke first: 'I am surnamed Zhang, with ancestors in Li Village. Married for three years, we have no little son.'

After the husband finished, the wife, aggrieved, wept: 'I am Wang Guifang, married into Li Village. He has land but won't farm it, preferring instead to chase wild flowers!'

After hearing their testimonies, the magistrate shook his head and pointed at them: 'As a magistrate, this case is simple. Since you two don't lay eggs, this old man can't help! Court dismissed!'"

"Hahaha, Scholar Zhang, that one was good! Even funnier than the last one."

"Tell another one, tell another one!"

...

Gu Yi stood to the side, feeling incredibly awkward. Is this really a joke? This is just dirty.

He had expected Gu Baici to be furious upon hearing such things, but instead, the girl beside him covered her mouth and let out a soft, feminine giggle.

"Haha, Scholar Zhang always loves to tell these, but, Gu Yi, you... are you... not laughing?"

Her tone had shifted from that of a girl-next-door to something reminiscent of a member of a demonic cult.

A chill ran down Gu Yi’s back, and he immediately spat out three words: "Ha. Ha. Ha."

He said the words, he didn't laugh them.

But Gu Baici was satisfied. "Mhm, it was funny, wasn't it?"

"Ci’er, is that Ci’er?"

"It is, Scholar Zhang. Do you have any other jokes?"

"Zhang Tianyan! I think you're going blind! What time is it? You’re not fetching water, just dreaming of being a big master! And 'Scholar'? I was swindled into coming back here by that title of yours! What kind of scholar writes his own name wrong when taking the imperial examinations!"

A short, stout woman came running with a stick to chase him! Scholar Zhang was so scared he fell right off his rock.

Gu Baici didn't mind at all, clutching her stomach and giggling. She even stirred up trouble by teaching the children a catchy little song:

"Scholar Zhang, won't work, five steamed buns he won't shirk; Scholar Zhang, fears his wife, won't touch her, lives a cautious life; Scholar Zhang, talks too much—say it, say it, go ahead and say it! Hahaha!"

...

The lyrics were amusing, and the children danced as they sang, never feeling tired.

The singing drifted across the fields and hills, and Gu Yi finally began to understand what Gu Baici was really doing here.

"Shall I tell a joke?" Although he couldn't see, he knew there were several farm women nearby.

Gu Baici gave her permission. "Alright, let’s see if yours is funny or not."

Receiving her approval, Gu Yi spoke freely. "There was once a Prime Minister who loved cursive calligraphy but didn't put in the effort to practice it. Everyone mocked his poor handwriting, but the Prime Minister didn't care. One day, he happened to write a beautiful phrase,揮毫—swinging his brush rapidly, his hand danced like dragons and snakes across the page. Once finished, he ordered his nephew to transcribe it. When the nephew tried to copy it, he was dumbfounded and didn't know where to start. He had to take the manuscript to the Prime Minister and ask, 'Uncle, I don't recognize the characters you wrote. Please tell me what they are.' The Prime Minister stared at it for a long time, and even he didn't recognize it. He scolded his nephew sharply: 'Why didn't you come and ask me earlier? Even I have forgotten what I wrote!'"

As soon as the short story ended, Gu Baici didn't hide her laughter. "Hahaha, yours is funny too! I didn't expect you to have such talent. Do you have any others?"

"I do," Gu Yi said, as these were easy for him. "Let’s say a ferry boat was crossing a river when it suddenly struck a reef. Water began pouring into the cabin, and the passengers were frantic. Only one gentleman sat still, as if nothing had happened, and mocked the others for making a fuss. 'No need to worry! What does it have to do with us?' the man said. 'Don't worry about the leak! It’s not our boat.'"

That one was probably even funnier.

Gu Baici and the women laughed and laughed.

His ability to do this quickly helped Gu Yi’s name be accepted by the people here. He didn't know why Gu Baici never hid her identity; it was as if the villagers here knew everything.

They knew she was Gu Baici, the Palace Master of the Great Rain.

They knew this was the Great Rain Palace.

They even knew what the Great Rain Palace was.

Gu Yi couldn't see, but if he had been fortunate enough to see it, he would have described it with the words from the *Peach Blossom Spring*: "The land was flat and vast, the houses orderly, with fertile fields, beautiful ponds, mulberry trees, and bamboo. Paths crisscrossed the fields, and the sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard."

Before long, Mother Rong called them over to eat.

It was a rustic meal in a farmhouse, plain and simple, but Gu Baici seemed used to it.

"You stole my chicken before; that was meant for the children. Don't do that again if you want to eat. Every household here is fairly well-off, though a chicken is something we only get to eat once every six months."

"No wonder you don't allow us to steal your food."

Mother Rong handed the chopsticks to Gu Yi, who took them naturally, which made the old woman curious.

"Young Master, can you see or not?"

Gu Yi replied, "I can see, but not clearly. Thank you for your hospitality, Mother Rong."

"It’s just some rice porridge and pickles, I hope you don't mind, Young Master."

"Not at all. This place is cut off from the outside world, filled with such a rich, vibrant life; it is better than any fairyland." Gu Yi held his chopsticks. Whether in this life or the last, the countryside always had a unique charm.

"You think so too?" Gu Baici asked.

Gu Yi nodded. "Actually, I suddenly understand why you don't let ordinary people come and go as they please. A place like this is truly not meant for outsiders. Thinking about it, perhaps it’s better that I don't know the full value of this place."

Like Shu Le, leaving as soon as he arrived was probably the easiest path. For someone like him, who already knew about this place, leaving would only become more difficult. Moreover, the Palace Master of the Great Rain was clearly someone who followed her heart rather than reason. If she didn't want you to leave, then even the Great Immortals would be of no use.

Gu Baici seemed to have her thoughts guessed, but she didn't respond, only saying, "Mother Rong’s cooking is excellent. Eat."

Gu Yi couldn't agree that the cooking was excellent. Rural scenery is only suitable for viewing when one’s heart is full of turmoil; actually living and eating here was not a great experience.

Could it be that Mother Rong’s cooking was better than the Imperial Treasures Pavilion in Luyang City?

Obviously not.

Gu Yi ate the rice porridge, finding it rough, almost scratching his throat.

But judging by the sound, Gu Baici was eating quite smoothly.

It was rare for the Palace Master of the Great Rain to be accustomed to such a life, finding contentment within it.

"Ci’er, judging by his attire, this young master must be from Xu. He’s likely from a wealthy family and may not be used to our bitter life. Mother isn't scolding you, but even though you are the Palace Master, you shouldn't be too overbearing. It’s not good to keep people locked up for no reason."

Gu Yi silently ate the very hard bun in his hand.

So, was this village woman actually lecturing the Palace Master of the Great Rain?

"Ci’er knows. I haven't taken any lives recently."

"That is good."

Gu Yi couldn't see Gu Baici’s expression. "Mother Rong... how did you know I was from Xu?"

"Young Master, your eyes cannot see, but we are all from Xu, so we recognize this style of dress."

Gu Yi was surprised. "Miss Ci’er is also from Xu?"

"Yes," Mother Rong’s voice, though raspy, was very kind.

"I’m finished, Mother Rong. Please, take your time." She stood up and took Gu Yi with her. "Stop eating, come with me."

A life-saving maneuver; Gu Yi would have died if he had to eat another bite of that bun—it was so hard it could have chipped his teeth.

Gu Baici led him out of the house, walking for a long time. First, they stepped on dirt, then grass. Along the way, she greeted the villagers, and she appeared very warm; the people seemed to like her as well.

They walked up a slope, likely to a grassy hill, feeling the light breeze on their faces.

Gu Baici asked softly, "Are you surprised by this place?"

"Yes. I’m also surprised by how friendly people are to me, considering I’m from Xu?"

"Yes."

"The Palace Master is also from Xu."

"Yes."

"Now that I’ve seen it, I suppose I really can't leave, can I?"

Gu Baici paused and said, "What are you thinking? Even if you hadn't seen it, where would you go?"

"Why keep me?"

"I think you are a very special person. This place is very boring, so stay here from now on."

"Palace Master, I really have important matters to attend to outside."

"I can only let you go back to Eighteen. They have also been staying here."

It seemed that wasn't going to work for now.

Since she was in a good mood, he shouldn't keep challenging her bottom line.

"Then I thank you, Palace Master."

Hearing the thanks, Gu Baici was genuinely happy. "Here, you can indeed call me Ci’er; everyone does. I won't be angry. You might find it strange, but do you know why I keep these ordinary people here?"

Gu Yi could likely guess.

Although he couldn't see, he could feel the rich atmosphere of life, and combined with what Shu Yu had told him, once all the information was connected, it only took a little imagination to explain it.

"Perhaps I can take a guess."

"Go ahead."

"I think this must be the place where you grew up. Perhaps when you were a child, you didn't know you were of the Mo Clan. It wasn't until later that everything changed. The Mo Clan gave you peerless beauty, but it also destroyed the quiet, peaceful life of this mountain village. Although I don't yet know why you brought these villagers to the Great Rain Palace in the Li Kingdom, I think there must be a reason."

"Perhaps in the depths of your heart, you never wanted to become the 'murderer' people talk about—the Palace Master of the Great Rain. Even though you have a lofty status now, I think when you look back on the past, the identity of the Palace Master is far less significant than being a little girl chasing dragonflies in the summer in this village."

Gu Yi continued: "Eighteen told me that Gu Baici is not interested in worldly affairs and only seeks immortality. But I think he was wrong. You don't necessarily spend most of your time seeking immortality—how can you seek it beyond the 'Yun Saint' level? So, you must have returned here. As for those worldly affairs, you don't want to manage them not because of a lack of interest, but because, more importantly, those things simply don't matter."

"I am more curious about something else. Shu Yu is your kin. Although she said you never thought about protecting your own people, compared to Zhang Weiyu, she is closer to you. Yet, Shu Yu had no way to deal with Zhang Weiyu; she didn't even mention it to you when she was injured by him. At first, I was quite puzzled by this 'righteousness over family' behavior. I even thought the Palace Master of the Great Rain was completely indifferent to the suffering of others, but after seeing this place, I understand..."

Gu Baici turned elegantly to face him, and the look in her eyes behind the mask had changed.

"Zhang Weiyu grew up in this village... if Shu Yu is your kin, then Zhang Weiyu is even more so."

Gu Yi wasn't sure if there were immortals in this world, but he had once reached the level of Yun Saint. He knew that when one approaches immortality, one often becomes a truly complete human being.

If one cannot even be a good person, what kind of immortal can one be?

In other words, no matter how powerful an immortal is, they are first and foremost a human.

Gu Baici was a human.

If she didn't want to conquer the world, she must have had some pursuit.

That pursuit lay within this farmhouse, with its beautiful flowers and fallen blossoms.

"Palace Master, am I wrong?"

"You keep calling me Palace Master, even though you already know I don't like being one."

Gu Baici remained elegant, taking two steps forward. "One thing is wrong."

Gu Yi asked, "What is wrong?"

"I am not failing to seek immortality; this place is my mortal world."

That was interesting.

So, she wanted to gain insights into the mortal world from these small details.

Gu Yi smiled. "In any case, I know you are not a bad person."

"Sigh."

"Alright, Ci’er. If you want peace and tranquility, why launch that war against Xu?"

"The Yin family of Xu weakened our world. I want to find the cultivation methods of the original world, and I must obtain them."

Gu Yi’s brows twitched. "You want the Mo Clan to master those methods so you can completely change the fate of the Mo Clan!"

"So, don't think about leaving the Great Rain Palace. Sooner or later, I will strike Luyang, and you will try to block me with your own body for the sake of your Emperor; that would be troublesome."

Gu Yi asked, "What if I know what the original world looks like?"

"Then you might be in trouble, because I don't intend to let anyone outside the Mo Clan have it. It will be exclusive to the Mo Clan. So, you will either be imprisoned, killed, or you will join us."

"This... how do I join?"

Gu Baici spoke very casually. "Mo Clan girls are beautiful even with minimal cultivation. If you work hard to make one of them like you, you won't be treated poorly. The hatred of the Mo Clan was magnified because of my killing of the princes, and people have gradually ignored the love of the Mo Clan. I only heard from you that you don't want to be involved with the Mo Clan. Have people outside forgotten how wonderful the Mo Clan girls are?"

Gu Yi didn't know what to say.

If she wanted to eliminate anyone who knew about the original world, it seemed a bit surreal.

"Ci’er, do you know about the Two Peaks?"

"It seems you really do know about the original world," Gu Baici looked at Gu Yi with some surprise. "The Two Peaks have been gone for too long. There are very few records about the original world. Those who call themselves 'Peak Masters' are just a mob that got lucky and stumbled into the Dao; they don't know anything at all."

"Then who knows?"

Gu Baici told him, "As it stands, there are only three places to find the answer. The most complete answer is hidden in the Human Palace. There is one person who knows everything; he is on Little Deng Island. There is half a person who knows part of the answer on Big Deng Island, and the final half-person only knows a little bit, but at least they know something."

Gu Yi immediately realized who the last person was.

"It’s Eighteen!"

He had guessed it, but the shock in his heart was immense.

"Eighteen is that powerful?! I thought you weren't his match, which is why you were suspicious of him."

Gu Baici hummed softly, a hint of playfulness in her voice.

So, when Gu Yi asked Eighteen why the Palace Master had locked him up, it was because of this!

"By the way, there might be one more person who knows in recent years: the Immortal of Little Yuan Mountain." Gu Baici finally thought of it, including what Gu Yi had just revealed.

"Gu Yi, Little Yuan Mountain has no successor; I have been there. Besides, where did your knowledge of the original world come from?"

Should Gu Yi tell the truth?

Perhaps he should, but it seemed a bit too early.

Gu Baici had suddenly shown the image of a simple person.

But all of this was just her side of the story.

Gu Yi said, "From the Highland Tree Sea."

"That makes no sense. The people from the Two Peaks are still searching for it themselves. I know they plan to go to Luyang’s Fuxian Lake to investigate, but I went there many years ago; apart from a few things left behind by Bian Xiaochuang, there is almost nothing left."

Gu Yi explained, "I once dreamed of a predecessor in a dream-paper. She said she knew everything and told me to go to the Highland Tree Sea at the right time to find her."

"Who? Is she alive?"

"Dead. It should be a soul consciousness left behind by sealed spiritual energy."

"Where? Tell me." Gu Baici asked directly.

"If I don't tell you, will I have to be locked up here forever like Eighteen?"

"You will tell me."

"Why is that?"

Gu Baici wasn't actually ignorant of everything. The reason she took Gu Yi around wasn't because there was no one else around, but because she saw a glimmer of compassion in Gu Yi for the Mo Clan.

"Because I am only doing this for my people; I don't want to hurt anyone. You wish I wouldn't attack Xu. If I can get what I want elsewhere, the war will naturally stop."

Gu Yi said, "I can tell you, but I want to leave. I hope you will let me go."

Gu Baici turned around. "That won't work. I don't want to let you go."

"Then I won't tell you!"

"Then I’ll make you eat that hard bun every day!" Gu Baici had noticed Gu Yi couldn't stand the stuff—a detail she had observed meticulously.

Gu Yi thought, *You win.*

"Let’s negotiate. Since it’s an exchange, we can talk."

Behind the mask, Gu Baici suppressed a smile. So, threats could work.

"It’s like this, Miss Ci’er. That predecessor told me there was no specific location, so I have to go find it myself. Otherwise, the Highland Tree Sea is so vast, I couldn't give you an exact point, could I?"

That was a reasonably plausible excuse.

Gu Baici thought for a moment. "Logically, Shu Yu could go with you, but if you want to run, she might not be able to stop you. If you really have to go yourself, then I will go with you."

"I wouldn't dare trouble you, Palace Master. This matter doesn't require you or Shu Yu. I met this predecessor with someone else, and I think it’s better to go with her. Besides, she mentioned wanting to go."

Gu Baici asked, "Who?"

"The Seventh Princess."

"Do you take me for a fool, Gu Yi? Just you and me. I’ll give you three days to think it over and come up with a better condition. Don't try any tricks."

The Palace Master flicked her sleeve and turned away, leaving Gu Yi standing on the grass.

Gu Baici left as if someone were calling her, and she wasn't worried at all, because Gu Yi really had nowhere to go.

Exhausted, he sat down and took off his blindfold, seeing the orderly houses below the hill for the first time.

He had received so much information today; he needed to watch the natural scenery to calm his mind and think about whether there were any logical loopholes in Gu Baici’s words.

An enemy leader suddenly starts confiding in you and becoming friends—perhaps it was because of the reality that he could never leave, or perhaps because Gu Yi said a few things that aligned with her heart. But whether true or false, Gu Yi would only choose to believe partially or with caution.

That was why he had hidden the situation of the Immortal of Little Yuan Mountain.

Yet, after careful thought, Gu Yi felt he could mostly trust her, because before he proactively mentioned the original world, a person at the 'Returning to Simplicity' stage had almost no value for deception or exploitation in Gu Baici’s eyes.

He had been here for several days, and he didn't know how Shu Le and the Seventh Princess were doing. Shu Yu had told him the Li army was preparing to take Desheng Pass and had even called in reinforcements from the Xingyuan battlefield.

If that were the case, Desheng Pass would definitely be under immense pressure.

And the Great Rain Palace and the Two Peaks had joined forces.

Gu Baici wanted to enter the Human Palace to find the secrets of the original world.

The Two Peaks had no special reason; hatred was likely enough.

In short, all the information converged to show that Xu was under great pressure, and Gu Yi even began to worry about the Imperial Treasures Pavilion in Luyang.

Xingyuan City could fall at any moment. Once it fell, the Li army could reach Luyang in seven days at most, and a siege of Luyang was not impossible.

Gu Yi sat and thought, then lay down, then closed his eyes. The warm sunlight was indeed comfortable, but there were many headache-inducing problems.

Before long, he heard footsteps on the grass, so he put the blindfold back on.

"Gu Yi, do you have any new, interesting jokes? Tell me one or two."

Gu Baici sat down on the grass as well, no longer asking about the annoying, serious matters.

Gu Yi thought that the more anxious he was, the less he should provoke this temperamental and fickle Palace Master. He should use all his efforts to make her happy.

"Of course. Let me tell you a joke about a 'dog father.' There was a man surnamed Lu, witty and good at talking. Next door, there was a woman who never laughed. A friend said to Lu, 'If you can say one word to make this woman laugh, and then another word to make her curse, I’ll treat you to dinner.' Lu agreed, and they went to find the woman. She was standing at the door, and there was a dog outside. Lu rushed over, knelt before the dog, and cried, 'Father!' The woman was startled, then laughed. Lu looked up and said to the woman, 'Mother!' The woman broke into a torrent of curses!"

Gu Baici naturally laughed softly.

After that, Gu Yi told a few more, and the atmosphere became cheerful, letting them forget the earlier conflicts.

...

"Gu Yi, how old is the Seventh Princess of Xu?"

"How old is the Seventh Princess?" Although everyone looked young because of cultivation—Gu Baici might even be younger than him, as she looked so good—she was likely more than a decade older than him. "I haven't asked, but she should be about my age."

"I know you now. If one day I want to kill her, what will you do?"

Gu Yi was direct. "I would persuade you not to kill her."

"And if I don't listen?"

"If you don't listen, what can I do? You have a grudge against the Yin family; I can't say you are wrong. As for me, I will fight for the chance for my friend to live, and if that chance truly doesn't exist, I will mourn her."

Gu Baici pondered this.

"You live with an enviable mindset."

"But I still hope you don't kill her. From Luyang to the Great Rain Palace, most of the people I’ve seen aren't truly evil to the bone. Everyone has their own 'immortal' pursuit and fights for what they hold dear. The Seventh Princess is the same; she is a very, very kind little girl."

Perhaps these words were true, but they were clearly difficult for Gu Baici to accept or understand from her perspective. After a humph, she asked, "Were you thinking of her while you were lying here just now?"

Gu Yi sighed. "Not in the way you mean. I was just thinking that she is at Desheng Pass, and I am worried about her safety."

Gu Baici drew a conclusion, drawing out her words, "Oh, so you *were* thinking of her. So that’s why you keep asking me to let you out—it turns out there’s a girl you want to see. A princess, indeed a very noble status."

Gu Yi felt that all women in the world were the same.

"Miss Ci’er, we are talking about war. There is a war at Desheng Pass; what does it have to do with romance?"

At this moment, romance seemed entirely unimportant.

"Do you mean that I am cruel and bloodthirsty, disregarding human life, and indifferent to the war?"

Gu Yi: "..."

"I mean, at a time like this, I wouldn't really be thinking about those things. Miss Ci’er, you are the Palace Master of the Great Rain; this title is far more powerful than that of a princess. If it’s only about finding the secret of the original world, there is no need for such a great display of force. You could just stop the war."

Gu Baici seemed unable to agree directly. "The beginning and end of a war are not simply decided by my will. It has already begun."

It was true; it had already begun...