Chapter 252: The Love Destiny of the Seven Fairy Maidens

In front of the Southern Heavenly Gate stood a guard commander with troops, keeping watch.

His face was like indigo, hair like vermilion, with a huge mouth and fangs; his appearance was extremely fierce and mighty, wearing a forged‑iron helm, black‑gold armor, and wielding a thick, bowl‑sized, dark‑red, solid‑iron demon‑subduing staff—the Growth Heavenly King.

But before Yu Lin could step forward to speak with him, a faint ripple spread through the space ahead.

The next moment.

He vanished right beside Jing Yun Tudi, as if Jing Yun Tudi himself had arrived.

Just as Jing Yun Tudi was puzzled, a voice sounded at his ear:

"You may depart on your own accord."

Hearing this, he immediately bowed toward the front and said:

"I respectfully follow His Majesty's decree."

He turned and left, thinking to himself: "They said they never came to the Heavenly Court, yet now the Jade Emperor summons them…"

He shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

Behind him.

Taiwei Jade Pure Palace, also called Haotian Golden Palace Miluo Heavenly Palace.

There, glazed tiles of crystal and jade bricks formed the walls, auspicious light streamed in ten thousand crimson rainbows, and auspicious vapor erupted in a thousand purple mists.

Bright rosy clouds shimmered against the heavenly light, while emerald mist hazily veiled the entrance.

Inside the Great Hall, the vaulted ceiling rose far and deep, containing the stars of the heavens.

On the ground, immortal aura swirled, turning into countless Golden Lotus blossoms.

The entire palace was vast and boundless; one felt both its immeasurable breadth and its solemn majesty, as if it were the source and center of all rules and order.

At the deepest part of the Great Hall, where endless rosy light and auspicious haze converged, stood a throne fashioned by Dao Rhythm.

Upon the throne sat a solitary figure.

He wore a Nine Chapter ceremonial robe, with crown tassels hanging, his visage shrouded in the endless radiance of the great Dao, indistinct yet exuding an unrivaled authority that governed the three realms and held the universe.

He sat there in silence, yet seemed to fill the entire Jade Pure Palace; the rivers of past, present and future time flowed quietly around him, as if he could easily grasp them—he was the Jade Emperor.

At this moment, his gentle gaze fell on Yu Lin, and a calm, grand yet familiar voice, like the resonant tone of the great Dao, rang through the hall and entered Yu Lin's heart:

"Yu Lin, after many years we meet again, how have you been lately?"

Yu Lin, though surprised by this inexplicable familiarity, remained composed in this setting and answered truthfully:

"I'm fine, life has been quite comfortable," he said, looking up at the radiant figure and voicing his lingering doubt:

"But… pardon my presumption, have we met before?"

The Jade Emperor heard this and let out a gentle laugh, as if he had anticipated Yu Lin's words, and said, "Ha—… seeing versus not seeing, what difference does it make?"

"For beings such as us, past mist, future haze, or the present instant are all like sand flowing through the palm, flowers and moon reflected in a mirror."

"You do not recognize me now, yet how could you know that it is not the you of yesterday who has been playing chess with me for ages? The you of the future will also watch the changing rivers of stars with me?"

Yu Lin pondered briefly, a hint of enlightenment in his mind, and nodded:

"Indeed, time is not a one‑way road."

He steadied his mind, adjusted his robe, faced the Jade Emperor, and respectfully clasped his hands in a formal bow, saying, "However,"

"At this moment, I truly am seeing the Great Heavenly Venerable for the first time."

"You are courteous,"

"No need for excessive courtesy," the Jade Emperor waved his hand, and the great Dao's radiance on his face faded, revealing his true countenance. It was not the stern, rigid visage one might imagine, but a dignified, regal middle‑aged emperor, eyes as deep as a sea of stars, seemingly able to embrace all things and perceive cause and effect.

At the same time, as the Jade Emperor's thought shifted, a seat crafted from warm white jade and ten‑thousand‑year sandalwood, exuding a faint fragrance, materialized beside him and floated lightly to Yu Lin's side.

"Sit," the Jade Emperor said gently, as if addressing an old friend.

Yu Lin did not refuse and sat down calmly.

The Jade Emperor looked at him, got straight to the point, and asked, "Today you come to seek me—are you here to help resolve the love calamity of the seven women?"

His reference to the "seven women" naturally meant the Seventh Fairy Maiden.

Yu Lin raised an eyebrow, showing interest:

"Oh? Love calamity? Please elaborate,"

The Jade Emperor explained, "She is born with a celestial body; though unlike mortals she does not need to endure countless hardships to attain the Dao, the Heavenly Path is impartial and still requires many tribulations before fulfillment."

"Since the great monkey's havoc was safely weathered, she now has only this final calamity left."

His tone grew slightly somber, with a hint of helplessness: "I have lately observed her thoughts wavering, her spirit unsettled, and within her fate a faint red thread of marriage has emerged."

"It seems this final calamity must lie in the character 'love'."

He paused, his voice bearing undeniable authority: "If this marital bond ties to the Heavenly Court's deities, I may consider it. Yet the other end of that red thread clearly reaches toward the mortal realm!"

"Immortals and mortals are distinct; heavenly regulations are strict—this is absolutely forbidden!"

His gaze fell on Yu Lin, seeking counsel:

"Therefore, I wish to hear your opinion—how should this matter be handled properly?"

Yu Lin, after listening, thought to himself that this was the situation.

He pondered briefly, then said, "Great Heavenly Venerable, I think letting her descend to the mortal realm once may not be a bad thing."

A flash of surprise crossed the Jade Emperor's eyes, sparking interest: "Oh? How do you mean?"

Yu Lin lifted his hand, pointing toward the Human World below, and calmly analyzed, "As the saying goes, 'One day in heaven equals one year on earth'—how long do mortals live?"

"Even the longest‑lived mortals rarely surpass a hundred years; to the Heavenly Court, that is but a hundred days of time."

"When that mortal's life essence is exhausted and the soul returns to heaven and earth, this love bond will naturally fade, leaving no lingering concerns."

He then turned the argument, contrasting, "Conversely, if her love target this time is a Heavenly Court deity, should their temperaments clash and thoughts diverge, disputes would arise. Being in the Heavenly Court, seeing each other daily, would that not be awkward?"

"Handling it then would be even more troublesome."

Finally, he concluded, "Therefore, in my view, it is best to let nature take its course."

"Even if the Seventh Fairy Maiden truly stirred a mortal heart, the Great Heavenly Venerable need only, when the time comes, take her back to Heavenly Court according to heavenly law. In heaven, merely a few dozen days pass, while in the Human World, dozens of years have gone by; that mortal man would likely have already turned to dust."

"Time flows, memories fade, as if it were just a great dream, leaving no trace. In this way, she fulfills the love tribulation she must endure, while causing no harm to the dignity of the Heavenly Court—surely the Heavenly Court's rule, isn't it beautiful?"

"The Jade Emperor, hearing this, stroked his palms and pondered, a glint of sudden realization and appreciation appearing in his eyes: 'Not bad! What you say is indeed reasonable, very reasonable! This plan is truly a perfect two-in-one strategy.'"

"But he immediately shifted the conversation, his tone carrying a hint of subtle teasing and deep meaning, his gaze piercing as he looked at Yu Lin:"

"Just, if we were to act according to this plan…"

"I happen to be curious—someday in the future, how will you devise a way to help them meet again?"

"Like that monkey, cause another ruckus in the Heavenly Palace?"

"……" Yu Lin looked at the Jade Emperor's expression, which held a touch of understanding and a hint of watching the show for amusement, and for a moment didn't know what to say.

"You seem to know everything, just waiting here for me?!"