Chapter Fifty-Six: The Peach Blossom Realm Space-Time Formation

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Feng Qingcheng gently lifted the delicate young girl and passed through the artificial rock formations beside the hot spring pool, arriving at a connected mountain cave behind. Inside the cave was a stone bed, neatly covered with bedding and pillows.

He carefully laid the girl down on the stone bed, and seeing that her breathing had stabilized and she was no longer in serious condition, he finally felt at ease.

He softly pulled the blanket over her, took her hand, and lay down beside her. Her complexion remained pale, and a faint, unique fragrance of youth still lingered on her. Feng Qingcheng looked at her exquisitely beautiful face, and his heart softened.

Suddenly, he recalled the words she had said earlier that day: “I don’t like sharing things with others.”

Thinking about it, a smile involuntarily curved his lips. She truly was a distinctive little one.

Though young, she was strong-willed, independent, intelligent, sensitive, curious about everything, and possessed a stubborn spirit that refused to yield.

He also noticed that although she appeared obedient and compliant on the surface, inwardly she harbored resistance and rebellion against him.

He even felt that ever since she had come to his side as his alchemy apprentice, his life had become vibrant and colorful, each day filled with vivid hues. She made him want to be near her, to understand her, and to accompany her daily—her presence became a part of his life.

He stroked her delicate face, feeling frustrated: she was his apprentice, yet he had failed to protect her properly. This was his fault.

Her internal injuries did not seem caused by a fall but rather by a powerful internal force strike. Once he discovered who was responsible, he would not let them off easily. His slender phoenix-like eyes narrowed slowly, filled with ruthless resolve.

The moon was hazy, the birds dimly heard, and insects murmured in the night. Deep within the peach grove, a gentle breeze stirred softly, as if whispering a lullaby. In the fading night, who was crying in their dreams?

She nestled against him and drifted into sweet slumber. The warmth emanating from him made her feel safe and comforted. Here, he was not the cold, distant elder of the Alchemy Sect, nor was she a mere apprentice. In her dream, she closed her eyes peacefully, her even breathing casting delicate shadows from her long lashes upon her jade-like face, serene and beautiful as an infant’s.

He gazed at her sleeping form, his heart becoming especially tender and calm. The moonlight slanted westward, dew cold and fresh, their heads resting close as they fell into a deep sleep.

When Mingyue opened her eyes, it was already the next day’s morning hours. She was roused by a rich, enticing aroma.

She climbed out of bed, looking around drowsily, realizing she was in a natural mountain cave furnished with simple stone tables and chairs. The bed was neatly made, resembling a bedroom.

Mingyue paused, recalling the encounter with Feng Qingcheng in the peach blossom forest the previous day. She glanced at the single pillow on the bed, noticing a distinct indentation beside it. Had they slept together last night? Embarrassed, she reached to touch her back and arm, where the pain had faded, though her hand came away dusted with medicinal powder. She took a deep breath; the nauseous frustration inside her had vanished.

Her face flushed hot; she dared not imagine Feng Qingcheng removing her outer garment to apply medicine last night.

Had he seen everything? This felt a little humiliating. Perhaps it was best to pretend nothing had happened? She shyly covered her face.

Outside the cave, the scent of food drifted in. Mingyue’s stomach growled loudly, and she hesitated, unsure whether to go out or stay in.

“Awake?” A gentle voice called from the entrance of the cave. Soon after, Feng Qingcheng appeared in white robes, sunlight illuminating his handsome face, making him look like a jade statue, graceful and refined.

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Mingyue’s face flushed crimson; she dared not look up at him.

Feng Qingcheng approached, gently touching her forehead. “Does the wound still hurt?” he asked softly.

Mingyue, overwhelmed with embarrassment, nervously twisted the hem of her clothing and whispered in a voice barely audible, “N-no, it doesn’t hurt anymore. Th-thank you, Elder.”

“Last night we, we…” she stammered.

Seeing her head bowed, cheeks and neck flushed, making her look even more endearing and innocent, Feng Qingcheng teased, “Yes, we slept together.”

Mingyue lowered her head further, both embarrassed and flustered, unsure how to respond. Her eyes reddened, tears dropping quietly, the sight stirring sympathy in anyone who saw.

Feng Qingcheng panicked, thinking she was unwell. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder anxiously. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

The girl sobbed softly, replying, “No, I… I just don’t want to be responsible. I haven’t made up my mind.”

In truth, Mingyue had her own thoughts. Feng Qingcheng was of noble birth, the elder of the Alchemy Sect in the Shu Mountain Immortal Academy, a position of great power and prestige—far beyond what a humble apprentice like her could aspire to. Since she was little, her mother had told her that a woman must be independent, never relying on a man, lest she lose herself. Her mother warned that men were often fickle, and true love meant a lifelong pair; if that was not possible, it was better to forego such humble love. She did not want her daughter to suffer a lifetime of jealousy and pain.

Mingyue had grown up with this mindset and had often heard from Nalan Meidai that Feng Qingcheng was destined to return to the Phoenix Kingdom to inherit the throne, with many concubines inevitable. Thus, deep down, she bore resentment toward Feng Qingcheng.

Feng Qingcheng was taken aback, surprised that such a young girl held such independent views. Did he seem so unworthy to her? The girl's disdain for him brought a sudden wave of defeat and a touch of wry amusement.

His lips twitched before he finally said, “Then don’t think about it for now… Let’s eat something first.”

“Okay.” The girl nodded, sniffing softly.

Feng Qingcheng took her hand and led her outside the cave. He had already prepared a pot of rich mushroom soup in the morning. He ladled a bowl and handed it to Mingyue. “Eat slowly, don’t burn yourself.”

The mushroom soup was savory and sweet. After two bowls, Mingyue felt warmth spread through her body, and her complexion grew rosier.

After finishing the soup, Mingyue asked, “Elder, may I return to the academy now?”

Feng Qingcheng replied, “You can’t go back yet.”

Mingyue was stunned. “Why not?”

“This Peach Blossom Sanctuary is actually a temporal array. It only opens at specific times and closes automatically after one hour. It won’t open again until the third day at the hour of the dog, and then closes again after half an hour,” Feng Qingcheng patiently explained.

Mingyue exclaimed, “Oh no, does that mean I have to stay here for three days?”

Feng Qingcheng looked at her silently, thinking, “Is it so hard being with me?”

Curious, Mingyue asked, “But this place looks beautiful. Does it have a story?”

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Clearing his throat, Feng Qingcheng began to tell Mingyue the origin of the Peach Blossom Array.

The Peach Blossom Sanctuary was discovered by Feng Qingcheng by chance. It was a temporal array left by an ancient deity.

When Feng Qingcheng first entered the Shu Mountain Immortal Academy, he was still clearing residual poisons from his body and used his spare time to study methods to eliminate the toxins. One day, lost in the forest at the mountain’s base, he wandered into this peach grove.

The wonder of the Peach Blossom Array lay in its nature as a temporal space array, shielded by a barrier. Inside, the space was vast, but from the outside, it was completely undetectable.

The Peach Blossom Array opened only at certain times each month and closed at predetermined times. Here, peach blossoms never withered through the seasons. Within the sanctuary was a sacred spring known as the Elixir Spring, famed for healing and detoxifying. Beneath the peach trees grew companion plants—the Immortal Slaying Herb, known only from ancient texts.

Legend held that the Immortal Slaying Herb combined with the Elixir Spring could purge any toxin from the human body. Feng Qingcheng relied on this miraculous spring to gradually cleanse the residual poison within him. This was his final visit to remove toxins; after this retreat, his body would be fully restored.

Feng Qingcheng led Mingyue to the spot behind the rocks where the hot spring emerged. Here, a massive mountain covered in lush greenery stood, and a cave over a person’s height nestled among the verdant plants—the very cave where Mingyue had rested the previous night.

Mingyue asked with curiosity, “Elder, did people live here before?”

Feng Qingcheng nodded and took her hand, guiding her deeper into the cave. As they walked, the space suddenly opened into a small gorge. The gorge bloomed with countless wild flowers and fruits, bathed in radiant sunlight and vibrant spiritual energy—an enchanting paradise.

At the gorge’s entrance stood a huge stone stele inscribed with ancient characters.

Mingyue carefully studied the ancient script and finally understood the origin of the Peach Blossom Temporal Array.

In ancient times, there was a deity named Dongfang Longze who fell in love with a celestial named Shangguan Qianmo. Shangguan Qianmo was an extraordinarily beautiful woman, renowned as the most beautiful in the world. They were deeply devoted to each other and married in harmony.

Centuries later, during a war between immortals and demons, Dongfang Longze and Shangguan Qianmo fought against the demon forces. Shangguan Qianmo was grievously wounded by the demons, poisoned by a deadly toxin that disfigured her beauty. Ashamed of her appearance and feeling unworthy of Dongfang Longze, she retreated in seclusion deep within Shu Mountain.

Dongfang Longze traveled far and wide, enduring countless hardships, ultimately losing an arm and finding the Elixir Spring—the sacred detoxifying spring—and the Immortal Slaying Herb that aided in detoxification. The Immortal Slaying Herb required extremely specific growth conditions: it could only thrive under peach blossom trees that flowered year-round to maintain its potency.

Using great power, Dongfang Longze moved the Elixir Spring to the spiritually rich depths of Shu Mountain, personally planting peach trees and the Immortal Slaying Herb to help his beloved wife detoxify.

To prevent outsiders from disturbing Shangguan Qianmo’s treatment, Dongfang Longze erected the temporal array.

After treatment, Shangguan Qianmo gradually recovered, but Dongfang Longze suffered severe injuries in his quest, causing his immortal power to decline rapidly—from a youthful appearance of twenty to a frail old man. Distraught and remorseful, Shangguan Qianmo vowed to accompany him in death when his time came.

The inscription continued: Over a hundred years later, Dongfang Longze succumbed to time and passed away, followed shortly by Shangguan Qianmo. Together, they dwelled beneath the Nine Springs, inseparable for all eternity. Those who enter the Peach Blossom Array are destined souls, gifted with alchemy manuals.

The text also recorded the times when the temporal array opened and closed.

The final line bore a poem:

“What is love in this world, that it compels life and death to vow eternal?”