Ji Wushuang's heart was struck by the young boy's smile—it was too pure, too beautiful. She lowered her gaze to the little flower again. Indeed, it had seven colors, vibrant and eye-catching.
"Why are you giving this to me?""Because you like it."
Ji Wushuang raised an eyebrow in surprise. In her past life, she did have a fondness for bright, beautiful, and innocent things.Why?Because the more one lacks something, the more one yearns for it.
In her previous life, she fought against the heavens and the earth, slaughtered gods and buddhas alike, her hands stained with countless lives—good and evil, men and women, all without exception.Though she lacked for nothing in that life, this was the first time anyone had sincerely given her something as simple as a flower.
Delicate, clean, brimming with life.
Ji Wushuang decided to accept the flower, even if it had been found by Mo Lanyi; she didn't mind.
"Thank you."
The boy's dark eyes seemed to hold stars, twinkling with light."You're welcome."
Ji Wushuang gently tucked the flower in front of her chest and said, "Since I've accepted your flower, I'll grant you a request. How about I take you away to find your family?"
Though their earlier conversation had been brief, Ji Wushuang had already understood the reason Mo Lanyi had tricked the boy into staying here—to use his blood.If he remained, his life would be no more than that of a caged bird. If he wished to return home, she would extend her compassion just this once and use the Tianyan Diagram to divine his path.Of course, she needed the boy's permission first.She had no desire to become a drifting speck of dust in the world, like Wu Neng.
The boy tilted his head and suddenly extended his hand toward Ji Wushuang."I want to go with you."
His fingers were pale and slender, as though carved from jade and pure snow.Indeed, from head to toe, this boy was flawless.
Ji Wushuang chuckled softly. "I hope you won't turn out like Wu Neng?"The boy replied earnestly, "I won't."
Ji Wushuang, with a natural ease, gently took his fingertips. They were cold to the touch, like jade from a frozen river.She unfurled the Tianyan Diagram, but this time, she saw nothing.
Ji Wushuang: "..."Is the Tianyan Diagram broken?I knew it—antiquities are unreliable.
[You're the broken one, you antique! Even if you turn to ashes, this treasure of Menghong will remain intact!]
The Tianyan Diagram grumbled indignantly in her mind, but Ji Wushuang paid it no heed. Instead, she widened her eyes, quietly observing the boy.
Under her clear, piercing gaze, the boy's cheeks gradually flushed, yet he continued to meet her eyes without wavering, like a stubborn kitten bristling with determination.
The two stared at each other for a long moment before Ji Wushuang suddenly asked, "Do you remember your name? Or where you live?""Zhu Yan.""Which Zhu? Which Yan?""Zhu as in 'slay the gods,' and Yan as in 'color.'""Where do you live?""I don't remember.""Then what do you remember?""I remember that I came to find you."
The boy's tense face was filled with solemnity and sincerity. His gaze seemed to overflow with Ji Wushuang, his heart entirely consumed by her.
Ji Wushuang found herself baffled. She was certain she didn't know such a beautiful child. She laughed, amused. "Why do you keep mistaking people? First, you mistook Mo Lanyi, and now you've mistaken me."
The boy's fingertips tightened suddenly, flipping his grip to clasp Ji Wushuang's hand firmly. His eyes were filled with the panic of a small animal. "No, I'm not mistaken. I came here for you. That person lied to me, saying she was you…"
Ji Wushuang: "..."
Seeing her disbelief, the boy's eyes reddened slightly. "I came to find you. Truly…"
Ji Wushuang smiled. "Alright, then. Tell me, what's my name?"
Zhu Yan: "..."
She teased him, "See? You can't even say it. You've definitely got the wrong person."
Zhu Yan looked at her, flustered. His clear, dark eyes seemed to brim with a deep sense of grievance, like a puppy wronged by its master.How to put it? He reminded her of the not-so-bright little dog her Second Senior Sister kept.
Uh…Was it impolite to compare such a handsome boy to a dog?But it really fit!All he lacked were drooping ears and a wagging tail.
"Pfft…"
Ji Wushuang couldn't help but smile, gently stroking the vibrant flower pinned to her chest. Finally, she made her decision.
She reached out with her other hand and patted the "puppy's" head. "Zhu Yan, if you have nowhere to go, then follow me."
In this life, she had no spiritual bone and didn't know how long she could live.Perhaps fifty years, perhaps sixty.But as long as she was alive, she would take good care of him until he found his family.
Ji Wushuang smiled and said, "Pleased to meet you, little Zhu Yan. I am Ji Wushuang."
The name "Ji Wushuang" instantly lit up the boy's eyes, like a cascade of starlight pouring down from the heavens, gathering in his gaze.
"Ji Wushuang…"
He softly repeated her name, his face breaking into a bright, carefree smile.
"Ji Wushuang!"At last, I've found you! Ji Wushuang!