Longevity Candle

Chapter 62 The Little Fox Yearns for the Mortal World

"Master, what is that piece of paper next to the green lamp? It's even glowing with gold," the little fox asked curiously.

“That’s a page from the Taiping Book, left behind by the Taiping Dao Master back then,” Hu said.

"Master of the Way of Peace? Such a boastful title, even the Empress wouldn't dare to call herself Master." The little fox exclaimed in shock.

Hu Yan's gaze was complicated: "He can be called the Dao Master, not only the Empress, but all the immortal masters, Daoists, and spirits of mountains and seas have no objection."

"Is he so powerful?"

“He’s very powerful. He killed many immortal masters and Taoists and severely injured many mountain and sea spirits,” Hu Yan said in a low voice.

"Master, could you tell me the story of the Lord of Taiping Dao?"

"You'll also be guarding the Green Lamp from now on, so naturally you'll need to know his story. Remember to keep your distance. The Lord of Taiping Dao is only so powerful because the Green Lamp lowers his eyes; he's quite fierce..."

Hu Yan slowly began to tell the story, and instructed the little fox not to touch the green lamp.

The little fox listened, occasionally letting out a gasp of surprise.

Hearing that the Master of the Way of Peace was unwilling to cultivate immortality and instead entered the mortal world, she was greatly puzzled: "Is the mortal world so good? It's gone in a mere hundred years."

“The mundane world is not good at all.” Hu said, “If he hadn’t chosen the mundane world, his elder sister would not have left Peach Blossom Village and risked her life to shake the fate of the nation.”

"The Peach Blossom Sword Demon didn't have to die." The little fox looked regretful; such a powerful human had actually died.

“They could have lived, but they all chose to die.” Hu Yan sighed, “After the Peach Blossom Sword Demon died, the Lord of Taiping Dao lost his heart and went mad.”

"crazy?"

"Yes, he went mad. He blamed all the elves and immortals for his sister's death. With his mortal body, he released dragon energy and summoned Zhuzhao, killing many immortals, severely injuring many elves, and driving us back to the mountains."

"That Taiping Dao Master is a bad person, why did he send us back?" the little fox said angrily.

"Sigh." Hu Yan sighed deeply. Good people, bad people?

Who can say for sure?
……

Time flies, and the little fox has grown up.

Reading with Hu Yan was really boring and tedious, and she always looked gloomy.

Fortunately, her master needed to watch over the green lamp, so she could sneak out to play.

She went to Peach Blossom Village, where the people were very kind and friendly, and they even gave her the biggest peach to eat.

She liked humans and gradually became curious about the outside world. Her master said there were many humans outside.

While its master was guarding the green lamp, the little fox ran away from the mountains under the pretense of going to Peach Blossom Village and saw many, many people.

She curiously observed the people outside, who were no different from the people of Peach Blossom Village; they all had two arms and two legs.

Using magic, he transformed into human form and walked through the human world, seeing many foods he had never seen before.

Following the sound of reading, she arrived at a school where the teacher was instructing her in writing and telling her stories she had never heard before, which were much more interesting than what her master taught her.

The little fox had a sudden idea. It went back to Peach Blossom Village, took some money, transformed into a little girl, and thus entered the school in a dignified manner.

And so she made many playmates, the one who attracted her the most was a boy.

He was handsome and had an outstanding temperament. He was the best student in the school. The little fox took the initiative to befriend him: "My name is Hu Ling, Hu as in Gu Yue, and Ling as in Ling Dong (meaning lively and agile)."

Zhang Ning looked at the little fox in front of him and blushed a little. He never thought that this delicate and lovely little girl would take the initiative to befriend him. After hesitating for a while, he finally said, "Zhang, Zhang Ning."

The human and the fox became good friends, going to school together during the day and going home together after school.

The little fox would always escort him home, then return to the mountains at night to show his face to his master.

As she learned more and more characters, Hu Yan often praised her, saying that she had a talent for reading and was a genius of the fairy fox lineage.

Hu Yan decided that at the end of the Ning Kingdom's reign, he would send Hu Ling as an envoy to perform good deeds in the world.

Hu Ling now had an excuse to focus on her studies and reduce the number of times she visited her master.

And so, she spent more time away from the mountains, happily going to school with Zhang Ning.

Zhang Ning's family was not well-off, and he almost dropped out of school several times. It was only thanks to Hu Ling's protection that his family was able to continue his studies. The two grew closer and closer, gradually developing a bond that went beyond friendship.

Hu Ling didn't understand; all she knew was that she didn't want to leave Zhang Ning.

Zhang Ning was young and naive, and Hu Ling almost completely occupied his heart.

Time flies, and Zhang Ning grows up. He participates in the imperial examination.

In this day and age, women do not hold official positions. They cannot participate in the imperial examinations, nor do they want to, so they silently see each other off.

"On the day I graduate from high school, I will marry you in a grand and glorious ceremony, and I want you to be the happiest woman."

He made a promise before he left.

Hu Ling felt a little flustered. She knew that it would be difficult for her and Zhang Ning to be together, but she also had some expectations.

Life is short. As long as I don't say anything and keep it from my master, and stay with him for a hundred years, who will know?
She held onto a sliver of hope.

From that day on, Hu Ling would wait outside the city every day for Zhang Ning to return.

Because of the long distance, she could only receive a reply every two months, which made her longing for him even deeper.

But she dared not go to the capital, where the national destiny and dragon energy would suppress her magical power.

Finally, in the fourth year, he received a reply from Zhang Ning. He had indeed become the top scholar in the imperial examination and was preparing to return to fulfill his promise!
Hu Ling was happy for a long time, but then she became uneasy again.

In the end, she chose to follow her heart.

She remembered the day Zhang Ning would return and waited for him early on the hillside outside the city. She also wore the flower wreath that Zhang Ning had made for her, which she maintained with her magic. The wreath remained intact and never withered.

In the distance, the sounds of horses' hooves, suona horns, and gongs and drums filled the air as a group of people escorted the newly appointed top scholar home in celebration.

Hu Ling, wearing a flower wreath, gazed into the distance.

Zhang Ning, riding a tall horse, looked expectantly at the hillside, only to be struck dumb.

Hu Ling replied to his letter, saying she would bring a flower wreath and wait for him on the hillside when he returned home.

But now, what he saw was a white fox, standing upright, wearing a flower wreath.

He was furious. He spurred his horse forward and roared, "You beast, give me back Ling'er!"

Hu Ling froze, unsure of what had gone wrong. But seeing his furious expression, she dared not linger and fled at top speed, not even caring about the fallen wreath.

Although her magic was suppressed, her physique was extraordinary, and she escaped far away in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Ning picked up the wreath, and the people behind him caught up. One of them said, "Scholar, why get angry with a fox? Going home to visit your parents is more important."

Zhang Ning ignored their words and spurred his horse forward, saying, "I'll be right back."

He chased after him for a while, but he disappeared without a trace.

Hu Ling gazed at Zhang Ning from afar, watching him in his fine clothes and riding a spirited horse, his heart heavy.

It wasn't until Zhang Ning returned home that she finally understood.

Zhang Ning held an imperial edict, tainted with dragon energy, which suppressed her magical power.

Unless he distanced himself from the imperial edict, he could no longer become human in his presence.

Hu Ling returned to the mountain and came back in a few days. Zhang Ning couldn't possibly carry the imperial edict with him all the time.

Zhang Ning was very busy upon returning home, as local officials, landlords, and gentry all came to host banquets for the top scholar.

Zhang Ning also used their manpower to search for Hu Ling, but they couldn't find her even after searching the entire city.

She waited a month and finally got her chance. After the banquet, he came alone to a peach grove, the place where he and Hu Ling often met.

Hu Ling came out again, looking at him with sparkling eyes.

"Ling'er, I'm so glad you're alright, so glad you're alright." Zhang Ning hugged her excitedly: "I've passed the imperial examination with top honors. You should tell me where my home is. I'll ask a matchmaker to come and propose marriage tomorrow."

"Ning Lang, we... are not suitable."

(End of this chapter)