The Empyrean did not dare reveal the news of the green-eyed zombie’s escape. Many demons and monsters assumed that this progenitor of zombies was currently recovering from his injuries within the Empyrean’s depths. After all, his pure zombie blood was a prize that many would covet, especially now when he lacked the strength to protect himself.
A cool breeze swept through the mountains as the bright moon hung high in the sky. Liu Shuixian sat by the stream with her knees pulled to her chest, while beside her, the green-eyed zombie absorbed the spiritual energy of the peaks. The moonlight blurred the sharp lines of his profile, lending a poetic stillness to the night.
She did not know if he had understood her words from earlier that evening. He had remained silent for so long that she felt a growing sense of unease.
After a long wait, her nose tickled and she let out a small sneeze. Only then did the zombie turn to look at her, his voice low and raspy. "The wind is picking up. Let us return to the cave."
He carried her on his back once more as they headed back, moving with extreme care to ensure no stray branches scratched her. Liu Shuixian felt a strange tightness in her chest, but she knew she had to return. How could a human possibly live with a zombie?
Moreover, she had her parents and a life of her own.
The cave remained dim, with moonlight only reaching the entrance, making it difficult for Liu Shuixian to see. The green-eyed zombie found a thin quilt and wrapped it around her. Sensing she might have caught a chill, she huddled into the fabric but still felt cold. The zombie seemed worried; in the past, when Qiao’er fell ill, he would silently hold her. Liu Shuixian could feel the warmth radiating from him. She did not know that Hou’s nature was tied to the element of fire; she only felt that his embrace was remarkably warm. Tucked against his chest through the thin quilt, she did not struggle.
The mountain night was too quiet. Her mind wandered to the jade bottle hidden in her sleeve, and sleep eluded her. As she turned, she inadvertently brushed against his chest, seemingly touching an old wound. He let out a low groan of pain. Thinking she was already asleep and fearing he might disturb her dreams, he remained perfectly still, allowing her to lean against him.
His body now possessed warmth, a heartbeat, and a pulse; he could feel every ounce of pain and joy. The pain he felt now was the price of his rebirth.
In truth, Yinglong had been right—all things are governed by karma and fate. Since he had taken the zombie blood of Nüba, he had to endure the lingering agony contained within that blood on her behalf.
For the first time, Liu Shuixian felt the night was too short. Before she could reach a decision, the sky began to brighten. The zombie was still in the same position he had held since before she fell asleep. Seeing her open her eyes, he spoke. "I am going out to find food. I will be back soon. What would Qiao’er like to eat today?"
Liu Shuixian no longer had the energy to correct him. "I want to go home."
She gripped the jade bottle in her sleeve, her eyes fixed on the green-eyed zombie. He chose to ignore her request. "Shall I go buy crab roe buns from the Su Bakery?"
Liu Shuixian steeled her resolve. Her voice sounded exceptionally calm even to her own ears. "Then go."
The zombie seemed delighted by her response and immediately left the cave. He moved with incredible speed, vanishing from sight in an instant. Liu Shuixian peered out from the cave entrance, orienting herself toward the Twin Breast Peaks the State Preceptor had mentioned.
By the time the green-eyed zombie returned, it had begun to rain. The sky was overcast, and a fine, silent drizzle nourished the earth. Liu Shuixian sat alone in the cave; watching the rain from this vantage point offered a different kind of beauty. The zombie placed her breakfast before her. As she ate, she stole occasional glances at him, noticing that he was actually nodding off. For a zombie who no longer feared the sun, this was a dire sign.
Previously, he only felt drowsy when the sun was at its zenith. This meant the spiritual energy within his body was severely depleted and could no longer withstand further exhaustion.
Liu Shuixian waited a while after finishing her breakfast. Seeing that he showed no signs of waking, she called out to him twice, but he did not stir. Remembering the State Preceptor’s instructions, she cautiously poked him with her finger. "Hou, let’s go out and play."
He opened his eyes wearily and suddenly reached out, pulling her into his arms. Resting his head on her shoulder, his voice was thick with the haze of sleep. "We will go in a moment."
Liu Shuixian did not dare push him away. Being so close, she could feel his breath, which seemed to carry a scorching heat. Outside, the light rain continued. she stared blankly at the ashen sky, her mind a chaotic whirl of thoughts. After a long while, she actually fell asleep against his head.
She slept until noon. The rain had stopped, leaving the paths muddy. He had intended to go out and find more food for her, but Liu Shuixian caught the corner of his robe. "Let’s go for a walk."
Naturally, he was willing. He carried her out on his back. The mountain air after the rain was exceptionally fresh, and the vegetation, washed clean by the drizzle, was a vibrant, dripping emerald.
The green-eyed zombie originally intended to head south. In the past, because she could not tell one direction from another, Liu Shuixian never cared where they went. This time, however, she voiced an opinion. "Let’s go east. I heard the Twin Breast Peaks over there are quite beautiful. I want to see the view from the summit."
The zombie turned eastward. He did not walk fast. Occasionally, dew would drip from the trees; Liu Shuixian instinctively lowered her head, and worried that she would get wet and fall ill again, he lowered her from his back and carried her in his arms instead. They traveled in silence.
The Twin Breast Peaks did not actually offer any extraordinary scenery. Given the hour and the poor weather, looking down from the summit revealed only a blanket of milky white mist. Where the clouds gathered, the mountains stretched out in an endless, rolling expanse. He carefully set Liu Shuixian down, still holding her sleeve protectively. "The path is slippery. Be careful."
Liu Shuixian looked around and decided this must be the place the State Preceptor had described. She fell silent. As the mountain wind grew sharper, the green-eyed zombie finally looked around with sudden alertness. Golden talismans began to manifest in the air.
"Monster, where do you think you’re going!" the State Preceptor shouted. Sixteen Taoists were scattered around the perimeter. The green-eyed zombie was confused—he hadn't been trying to flee at all. He did not move to pick up Liu Shuixian, knowing these people would not harm her. He had tasted the State Preceptor’s power before; in normal times, the man wouldn't have been enough to pick his teeth. But now... it truly felt like the tragic sight of a dragon stranded in shallow water, toyed with by mere shrimp.
The Taoists guarded all sides, leaving him only two paths of retreat: the sky or the earth. His nature belonged to the element of fire, which was countered by earth; thus, the sky seemed to be his only option.
Without a word, he transformed into his true corpse form to battle the State Preceptor guarding the air. Ash-gray corpse qi spread beneath his feet. His face was deathly pale, fangs protruded slightly from the corners of his mouth, and his eyes were like deep green jade. Knowing his strength, the State Preceptor did not dare be careless. The two clashed in mid-air. Waves of heat surged, and the rain-drenched plants below withered as if scorched by a raging fire.
Just as Liu Shuixian stood frozen in uncertainty, the Heir of Prince Pingnan rushed out from the side, pulling her away from the formation. Her hand was held by another man; in this story, she had become a mere bystander.
The Heir seemed to sense her lingering pity. He whispered in her ear, "Let me take you back first. Your father and mother... they are waiting anxiously."
Liu Shuixian knew she should leave, but in that moment, she suddenly thought of Qiao’er. If the one standing here were that zombie’s Qiao’er, her heart would surely be breaking. She looked back at the Heir. He was only in his twenties, with refined features. Today, he wore a pale apricot-colored robe with a round collar, looking every bit the noble gentleman of a refined world.
"Zixuan... must he be killed?" she asked softly. Inside the formation, the zombie was still fighting the State Preceptor. In the end, she could not bear to see him die like this.
"Call me Zixuan. Shuixian, what the State Preceptor seeks... is different from what you or I desire. Even if I were to speak up now, I fear it would be of no use. Let us go."
Seeing her about to leave, the zombie abandoned the State Preceptor and tried to rush over to reclaim her. Just as he was about to break through the formation, Liu Shuixian spoke. The Taoists fell silent, leaving only the whistling wind of the formation. "Hou, you said you liked me, didn't you?"
Her face flushed as she spoke. As a sheltered young lady, when had she ever said such things? Inside the formation, the zombie looked at her expectantly, nodding repeatedly. She pursed her lips and, after a long pause, strode to the edge of the formation. She looked at him through the thin, veil-like barrier of talismans. "If you truly liked me, you shouldn't have come to disturb my life." She bit her lower lip, and finally pulled the jade bottle from her sleeve, thrusting it into the formation. "If you truly liked me, drink the talisman water inside. But I must tell you, if you drink it, you will certainly not escape this place today."
The State Preceptor’s face turned ashen. All the Taoists watched him. For a moment, he was lost, but then he took the small jade bottle from Liu Shuixian’s hand. She stared him down. "Drink it. Drink it and die here. Thousands of years of cultivation, destroyed in an instant. Drink it, and no one will ever remember your Qiao’er again. All her efforts will have been in vain, stripped of all meaning."
The zombie simply looked at her through the formation. A shimmering moisture gathered in his eyes. Liu Shuixian had the fleeting illusion that if she pierced the surface of that gaze, a clear mountain spring would pour out. But she could not back down. "Hou," her voice caught in the mountain wind, its tone shifting, "would your Qiao’er treat you like this? Liu Shuixian is not your Qiao’er. Do you understand now?"
She turned and walked away, hand in hand with the Heir of Prince Pingnan. The world faded into a wash of ink-and-wash landscape. Amidst the vast expanse of dark mountain hues, the two figures drifted further and further away. So, in this world, was Qiao’er truly gone?
*I can endure ten thousand cycles of reincarnation, yet I cannot find my lover again.*
The sound from behind was extremely low; Liu Shuixian could not tell if he was laughing or crying. She turned around and saw him pull the stopper from the jade bottle, tilting his head back to drink every drop of the talisman water.
"Hou!" she cried out.
The mountains remained silent.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 天外天 | The Empyrean | Literally "Heaven beyond Heaven," a realm for powerful beings. |
| 犼 | Hou | The name of the zombie protagonist; also a mythological creature. |
| 柳水仙 | Liu Shuixian | The female lead's name. |
| 巧儿 | Qiao'er | The name of Hou's lover from his past. |
| 国师 | State Preceptor | A high-ranking religious/political official, usually a powerful cultivator. |
| 双乳峰 | Twin Breast Peaks | A geographical location. |
| 平南王世子 | Heir of Prince Pingnan | The son and successor of the Prince of Pingnan. |
| 子轩 | Zixuan | The given name of the Heir of Prince Pingnan. |
| 尸形 | Corpse form | The true, monstrous form of a zombie. |
| 尸气 | Corpse qi | The dark, necrotic energy emitted by a zombie. |
| 符水 | Talisman water | Water infused with the power of a burned or dissolved talisman. |
| 应龙 | Yinglong | A powerful winged dragon from Chinese mythology. |
| 女魃 | Nüba | A drought deity and, in some myths, the first zombie. |
