Chapter 349: Bai Suzhen Has Arrived!

On the nineteenth day of the second month, the birthday of Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Mount Emei.

A streak of white light appeared; among the pilgrims ascending the mountain, a woman in white robes entered—her hair coiled high in a dignified knot, her bearing serene and refined. She followed the mountain path, bowing once every three steps and kowtowing once every five. Among the many pilgrims, few showed such devotion; some followed her example, others stepped aside to let her pass. Yet when it came time to offer incense, for some reason, the white-robed woman secured the first incense stick.

As the incense was inserted, Mount Emei naturally radiated purity and radiance. The white-robed woman understood this as the Bodhisattva's inconceivable power, illuminating all worlds and temporarily relieving the suffering and karmic burdens of all beings.

"Who kneels before me? What do you seek?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva responds to a thousand calls and a thousand answers, to ten thousand calls and ten thousand manifestations, rescuing all beings with power beyond comprehension. Her divine, wondrous words surfaced in the white-robed woman's heart.

"Your Grace, permit me to speak."

The white-robed woman held the incense with clasped hands and sincerely declared: "I am Bai Suzhen, beneath Qingcheng Mountain. For a thousand years I cultivated in my cave, single-mindedly pursuing the Dao, free of distractions. I renounce the mortal world and take refuge in the Three Jewels. I humbly beg the Bodhisattva to guide me, to liberate Suzhen from this mortal realm."

Guanyin Bodhisattva lowered her compassionate gaze, perceiving all pasts. Her brow furrowed slightly, as if troubled, and she said: "You still owe a deep emotional debt in this mortal world—you cannot yet be complete."

Bai Suzhen's eyes softened, recalling a time seventeen hundred years past. Her lips parted slightly as she said: "A thousand years have passed. In this vast sea of humanity, how can I repay that debt?"

Hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva gave her guidance: "On the twenty-second day is the Flower Festival. On Bao Family Mountain, brocade blooms like a tide. Those destined to meet, though a thousand li apart, shall come together—the old friend reins his steed, saddle carved in jade."

Bai Suzhen bowed deeply. Seeing the Bodhisattva's form had vanished, she pondered long, then formed a hand seal, summoned mist and clouds, and departed Mount Emei, heading toward Hangzhou.

Midway, she suddenly saw auspicious light swirling and petals dancing through the air. Looking out, Bai Suzhen saw a sphere of white light and purple mist in the clouds. After a brief thought, she knew who it was and immediately bowed, addressing: "Bai Suzhen, disciple of Lady Lishan, pays homage to the Immortal of the Hundred Flowers."

The clouds halted. The radiance receded.

The Immortal of the Hundred Flowers revealed her peerless true form, her gaze sweeping over Bai Suzhen. "Lady Lishan is the Primordial Yin Spirit, the Great Dipper Mother, mother of the Northern Stars, whose merit extends to the Three Realms and whose virtue nourishes all beings. What merit do you possess to study under her?"

Bai Suzhen's face flushed with shame. "The Holy Mother's mercy is boundless. I am but a humble girl who barely earned a place in her school—pure luck."

The Immortal of the Hundred Flowers studied her closely. "The Holy Mother's ways are unfathomable. She never acts without cause. Perhaps you have another destiny—perhaps so."

Learning Bai Suzhen was a disciple of Lady Lishan, the Immortal of the Hundred Flowers showed no divine arrogance. Instead, upon hearing Bai Suzhen was bound for Hangzhou, she gladly offered to accompany her.

"The Flower Festival in the mortal world is your own holiday."

Bai Suzhen spoke gently: "The dates vary—twelfth, fifteenth, twenty-second, twenty-fifth—but the reason is the same."

The Immortal of the Hundred Flowers smiled faintly. "It's merely that on one of those days, the flowers bloom most splendidly, and people find an excuse to wander and revel."

As they chatted, they unknowingly arrived in Hangzhou by cloud.

Hangzhou now brimmed with spring, flowers in full bloom, carriages and horses bustling, throngs teeming. The two women stood atop the clouds, gazing, when suddenly a pure aura rose from the clouds. The Immortal of the Hundred Flowers looked over, a smile touching her lips. "Old Tree Granny, you finally remembered to come greet me."

Tree Granny bowed, then grinned warmly. "How could I dare not come to meet you, Immortal?"

As they spoke, the three vanished from sight, descending slowly above Hangzhou's city, observing its scenery. Since Zhao Gou brought the court here, the city has changed daily, altered yearly, its population thickening, astonishingly new.

Unconsciously, they drifted to West Lake. They watched the colorful boats and painted barges, the music and song rising like a cauldron, the sounds loud and joyous, the revelry unrestrained. Tree Granny pointed to the lake and murmured: "Even the Golden Bright Pool in Dongjing cannot compare."

The Golden Bright Pool was the imperial garden of Bianliang.

The Immortal of the Hundred Flowers snorted in amusement. "Here, joy is so sweet, one forgets Bianliang."

Tree Granny smiled. "We are immortals beyond the mortal world. Why dwell on such mundane matters?" As they spoke, the three turned back along the lakeshore. Amid drifting clouds, the Immortal of the Hundred Flowers noticed waves of divine aura ahead, fragrant with blossoms, and felt a pang of wonder.

"Ahead is Tongren Hall."

Tree Granny said: "A man born with a natural Dao body, deeply devout, was recently guided by Maoshan Sect, received a divine registry, and had his spirit consecrated…" Tree Granny briefly outlined Gu Qing's situation. "We all have high hopes for him."

"I see."

The Immortal of the Hundred Flowers nodded. "Then let's go see him."

As they spoke, red light and purple aura enveloped the main hall.

Gu Qing was pruning flowers when suddenly the fragrance changed. He turned and saw three new figures in the courtyard. The foremost was the Immortal of the Hundred Flowers—her hair like clouds, her robes white and red, her bearing as majestic as a peony, as resolute as a plum blossom, as pure as a lotus, as gentle as an orchid…

Gu Qing knew many women, each with distinct temperaments. Yet now, every such quality seemed to coexist in the Immortal of the Hundred Flowers—truly the peerless beauty among all flowers, and the first celestial woman Gu Qing had ever met.

"I pay homage to the Immortal of the Hundred Flowers."

As Gu Qing bowed, the pruning shears still rested in his hand.

He had expected the twentieth. The nineteenth arriving now left him unprepared.

The Immortal of the Hundred Flowers covered her mouth and laughed softly, nodding at Gu Qing. She strolled idly through the courtyard, observing the flowers. "Your pruning suggests you understand flowers well."

"I dare not show off before an Immortal."

Gu Qing set down the shears. "I have studied books on floral arrangements."

Wuyasun of the Xiaoyao Sect cultivated flowers. One of his disciples, Shi Qingfeng, was a flower fanatic. Lu Miaozhi of the Tang Dynasty's Twin Dragons mastered garden art. The old man in Lu Xiaofeng, Wang Lianhua's Lianhua Baojian, and Wu Hen of Tianxia Diyi all had knowledge of this art.

These accumulated past experiences, once unearthed in the Zhuxian world, were now all put to use.

"Your studies are commendable."

The Immortal of the Hundred Flowers praised.

Gu Qing, delighted, turned to the two behind her. The Immortal of the Hundred Flowers introduced them.

"This is Bai Suzhen, disciple of Lady Lishan. Though she has not yet ascended, she will surely become one of our Daoist kind."

After introducing Tree Granny, the Immortal of the Hundred Flowers introduced Bai Suzhen to Gu Qing.

Gu Qing froze. He looked at the white-robed woman behind. Perhaps the Immortal's brilliance overshadowed her, or perhaps Bai Suzhen had deliberately subdued her aura—until now, Gu Qing had not noticed her beauty. But as his gaze fell upon her, he saw dignity laced with allure, a smile both reserved and deep, her eyes subtly shifting, radiating quiet emotion.

She has come…

"Do you manage this pharmacy alone?"

The Immortal of the Hundred Flowers asked.

"Your Grace,"

Gu Qing replied quickly: "I have a disciple named Xu Xian—honest and kind—who attends patients in the front courtyard. But the back courtyard breeds snakes and insects, and he finds them repulsive and fearsome, so he rarely enters."

Gu Qing seized the chance to cast doubt on Xu Xian.

Bai Suzhen's lips pressed together slightly.

(End of Chapter)