Dream Marsh was a stretch of shimmering emerald water located at the blurred boundary between the heavenly and mortal realms. Even after a thousand years, this desolate border saw few visitors.
The lonely White Dragon God resided here.
The silent Dream Marsh was like his own melancholy dreamscape—placid, stable, and solitary. It remained unchanged through ten thousand years.
Shui Yue said that Dream Marsh resembled him.
He would offer a faint smile, yet a thousand years of lingering sorrow remained etched in his gaze.
"Shui Yue, are you truly willing to stay here with me for the rest of your life?" he would often ask.
"If you are willing to stay with that snake, then I am willing to stay with you," Shui Yue replied. "You need someone to look after you."
That snake. She referred to the white snake sealed deep within the ice at the bottom of Dream Marsh.
That was the sole reason the White Dragon God, Leng Jing, remained here.
He had waited for far too long.
Perhaps that white snake would never wake up. Shui Yue often looked into the deep waters with a complicated expression.
Three hundred years ago, ever since she was saved by Leng Jing, she had decided to accompany him in this place, even though his heart held no room for a minor water goddess like her.
She knew his identity. Five hundred years ago, when the heavens were on the brink of collapse, it was this White Dragon God who had sacrificed himself to mend the celestial barriers. It was thanks to his distinguished service that the three realms enjoyed peace today. Yet, he had requested only self-exile to this barren border, all for the sake of the white snake sleeping beneath the water.
As for his body, it had long been ravaged by the ten thousand strikes of ice, fire, and lightning endured while mending the barriers. He grew weaker by the day. Even the God of Medicine had warned that he had less than a century of life remaining.
How much longer could he hold on? Shui Yue gazed at the white-clad man sitting in a wheelchair made of frozen jade by the water's edge. He was always there, silently staring at the water, while she watched him from behind.
It was a deadlock with no solution.
"Shui Yue, do you know? Every five hundred years, the Cycle of Heaven opens once." Leng Jing spoke more than usual today. Normally, he wouldn't say three sentences in a day.
"And so?"
"It is an opportunity. Do you see the faint, five-colored radiance on the horizon? It means the Cycle of Heaven is about to open." Leng Jing lifted his head, and after a long silence, he finally said, "I want to give him this chance, so that he may be set free."
"What are you planning to do?!" Shui Yue’s eyes widened in alarm. She had a very bad premonition.
"I will give him his freedom," Leng Jing repeated, his gaze dropping to the bottomless depths of Dream Marsh beneath his feet.
"Are you mad?! Your dragon spine is shattered, and your eyes are nearly blind! How much more do you want to suffer?! I won't let you go!" She threw her arms around him, her tears falling like rain. After all this time, did he not cherish her feelings even a little?
"Grant me this," he said softly.
She finally broke down, collapsing to the ground. She knew how much damage the bone-chilling waters of the thousand-foot pool would do to him. If he went now, he might never return.
He gently stroked her hair. His hand was beautiful, like fine jade, but unfortunately, he had only one; the other had been left behind in the rift of the heavens long ago.
"Shui Yue, my eyes can no longer see clearly. Help me guide his soul."
"Forcing someone into the Cycle of Heaven is a violation of celestial law! Your body and soul will be extinguished!" She gripped his hand, refusing to let go.
"I was originally a product of defying heaven; I shouldn't have existed in this world to begin with." Leng Jing’s hand slowly slid from her grasp. She knew she was about to lose him.
He finally transformed into a graceful white dragon, plunging straight into that vast expanse of water.
When a white light rose from the depths once more, like a rainbow piercing the sky to enter the five-colored clouds, Shui Yue’s tears fell like a spring. She knew that man was gone.
***
Startled awake from a nap, Bai Zao couldn't help but shiver.
The book in his hand had long since fallen to the floor. Although he was awake, the nightmare was still vivid in his mind, as if it were real. Seeing that it was about to rain, he wouldn't be able to go home today.
Which was exactly what he wanted.
He turned back to look at the person lying on the bed.
That person’s features were like a painting, peerlessly beautiful and as quiet as a doll.
Bai Zao walked over softly and kissed his forehead. The man’s clothes were loose, revealing snow-white skin and a captivating collarbone.
Seeing no one around, Bai Zao boldly reached into the man's robes and whispered in his ear, "Fufeng, I had a very strange dream. In the dream, you were a Dragon God and I was a white snake. Isn't that strange? There was also a fairy who said you were the reincarnation of the Dragon God. Because your soul was incomplete, you were born unable to move, blind, and mute. But I know you can understand me. No matter what our past lives were, we are destined to be together. I like you, Fufeng. Wait for me; once I return from the imperial examinations in the capital and become an official, I’ll come to take you away so you don't have to suffer here in the Li family home. Fufeng, it’s going to rain. I’ll cook your favorite noodles for you. What do you say?"
"I say no. The author, Tanuki, makes us act but doesn't give us any pay. I'm going home to eat." Leng Jing climbed out of bed.
"I haven't even made my entrance yet!" Leng Qingqing complained, leaning against the window.
"You did," Leng Jing said. "Look up there. You had a verbal cameo."
"What kind of entrance is that?! I want to appear! I want to appear! I want to appear!" Leng Qingqing transformed into a white snake and started wriggling.
"What are you guys doing?! Can't we just carry the angst to the end?" Bai Zao said excitedly.
"Forget it, trying to do an angst scene with you lot was a mistake. I should have asked Xuan Yuan Yue and Leng Yueshi to guest star instead." A moment later, he understood.
"Yes, yes, let's celebrate the birthday!" Leng Qingqing said with a beaming smile. "We must eat longevity noodles!"
The entire staff came out to offer their congratulations.
Oh dear, the Li family courtyard is getting too crowded. There are too many people. You little buns, why are you joining the commotion too?
Because of Leng Qingqing’s strong demand, a special extra shot was filmed.
Jing-er, what is that expression on your face?
The extra shot is as follows:
Beneath the thousand-fathom deep pool. [Leng Jing: Wasn't it a thousand feet? It got deeper... Tanuki: Shut up!]
Leng Jing stroked a block of thousand-year-old ice crystal. A young man was sealed inside.
"I've finally come... Father..." Leng Jing pressed against the ice, looking at him intently.
"Wait, isn't this the White Mink? The one sealed inside is the White Mink! The White Mink! Tanuki, you froze the wrong person!" Leng Jing turned around and shouted.
"Is it easy to get a cameo?" Afterward, the White Mink, wrapped in a quilt with a hot water bottle on his head, shared his thoughts with the camera.
"But I still haven't appeared yet! Ahhhh!" Leng Qingqing called out from a distance.
Special thanks to the guest star, Shui Yue. Consequently, only Shui Yue received a bonus for this event.
The Leng family trio watched longingly as Sister Shui Yue took the bonus away. Grudge in progress...
Tanuki’s reply: "Because you guys aren't professional!"
Chapter 37 [The previous chapter] has been updated as of 18:30. The desert journey in Chapter 39 is about to begin. Please stay tuned, folks, and don't miss it.
