A Fruitful Encounter

Under the Ginseng Fruit Tree, seven people sat in a circle, the fragrance of tea curling upward.

Xuande also smiled, his gaze sweeping over the group one by one.

He suddenly remembered something.

There were still a few hundred years until the Second Sermon.

By the time they reached the Purple Cloud Palace, the doors would not yet be open, and they would have to wait outside for a few hundred years again.

And this time, it should not be like last time, with no one there at all.

Haotian. Yaochi.

Those two child attendants guarding the Purple Cloud Palace gates, the future Heavenly Emperor and Empress of the Celestial Court.

Last time they arrived too early, and Haotian and Yaochi had not yet come out to greet them.

This time... they should meet.

Xuande's mind stirred, and he turned to Zhenyuanzi.

"Daoist friend Zhenyuanzi."

Zhenyuanzi looked at him. "Daoist friend Xuande, what matter do you have?"

Xuande smiled. "This poor Daoist wishes to ask for two Ginseng Fruits from you, if I may?"

At these words, everyone looked at him.

Hongyun's eyes lit up. "Daoist friend Xuande, what do you want Ginseng Fruits for? Have you finally come around and realized how good they are?"

Zhunti also asked curiously, "Daoist brother wants two? Is that enough? How about one for each of us?"

Zhenyuanzi did not ask Xuande what he intended to do with them. He simply called Qingfeng and Mingyue over.

"Go, fetch two Ginseng Fruits."

Qingfeng and Mingyue acknowledged and left.

Before long, the two young acolytes each returned holding a jade plate, each plate bearing a single fruit, pale and tender, shaped like an infant.

Zhenyuanzi gestured for the plates to be placed before Xuande. "Daoist friend Xuande, please."

Xuande took the jade plates, carefully examined the two Ginseng Fruits, then tucked them into his sleeve and cupped his hands in thanks to Zhenyuanzi. "Many thanks, Daoist friend."

Zhenyuanzi waved a hand. "You are too polite, Daoist friend. Just two fruits, nothing worth mentioning."

Hongyun leaned in, curious. "Daoist friend Xuande, are you giving these fruits to someone? To whom?"

Xuande gave a faint smile but did not answer directly. "You will know when the time comes."

Hongyun scratched his head, wanting to ask more, but Zhenyuanzi stopped him with a look.

Zhenyuanzi knew that Xuande's actions always carried deeper meaning. Since he did not wish to speak of it now, he would not press.

The others also refrained from asking further and continued drinking tea and chatting.

Time flowed like water, quietly passing amid their conversations.

A few hundred years were but a snap of the fingers for the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals present.

One day, Xuande rose and looked at the group.

"Daoist friends, there are still five hundred years until the Dao Ancestor's sermon. We should set out."

Everyone stood up in turn.

Zhenyuanzi called Qingfeng and Mingyue over and instructed them to watch over the temple.

Hongyun patted his robes and laughed. "Finally time to go! These few hundred years have left my bones itching from boredom!"

Zhunti chuckled. "Daoist friend Hongyun, you make it sound like we've been suffering here. We ate Ginseng Fruits, drank fine tea, debated the Dao—what more do you want?"

Hongyun grinned. "That's not what I meant! I'm just saying, finally getting to hear the Dao Ancestor's sermon—I'm excited!"

Nuwa said softly, "On this journey together, I hope all Daoist friends will look out for one another."

Fuxi nodded. "Indeed."

Jieyin spoke slowly. "It should be so."

The seven mounted their Escape Lights, left Wuzhuang Temple, and flew toward the direction of Chaos.

With the experience from last time, navigating this time was much smoother.

They followed the resonance left from their previous trip, traveling westward, crossing the border of the Primordial Wilderness, and entering that gray, hazy Chaos.

Within Chaos, there was still boundless nothingness, but having been here before, they had a sense of direction and no longer felt as anxious as last time.

The seven each circulated their dharma power to protect their bodies, locked onto the direction of the Purple Cloud Palace with their divine sense, and flew forward at a steady, unhurried pace.

Two hundred years later, that familiar glimmer of light finally appeared ahead.

The Purple Cloud Palace.

The ancient palace floated silently within Chaos, its surface flowing with faint purple light, exuding an aura of solemnity and sanctity.

The seven pressed down their Escape Lights and landed before the gates of Purple Cloud Palace.

Unlike last time, someone was already waiting outside the palace gates.

They were two youths, a boy and a girl.

The boy wore a dark Daoist robe, his features handsome, his figure tall and straight, with a steady air between his brows.

The girl was dressed in a moon-white gown, her appearance pure and lovely, her eyes clear and lively.

The two stood on either side of the gates. Seeing the seven arrive, they quickly stepped forward and bowed.

"Haotian, Yaochi, pay respects to all True Men."

Xuande looked at the two youths before him, understanding in his heart.

These were the Great Emperor Haotian and Golden Mother Yaochi, who would one day govern the Heavenly Court.

Of course, at this moment, they were merely attendants by Ancestor Hongjun's side, tasked with guarding the gates of Purple Cloud Palace and receiving the various great powers who came to hear the Dao.

Last time, they had arrived too early, and Haotian and Yaochi had not yet come out to greet them.

This time, clearly having learned from the previous experience and knowing that great powers would arrive ahead of schedule, they had been waiting here early.

"You two young friends have worked hard." Xuande smiled slightly, stepping forward.

Haotian looked up at this Daoist, whose body was shrouded in a faint golden light, and felt a slight stir in his heart.

He remembered this Daoist.

During the last sermon, he had been among the first to arrive, waiting outside the gates for a full three hundred years alongside the two Daoists from the West, as well as Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun.

"You flatter me, True Man." Haotian quickly replied. "This is this junior's duty."

Yaochi also nodded gently, her gaze sweeping over the seven, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

Xuande drew two jade plates from his sleeve, each bearing a plump, tender Ginseng Fruit, and offered them to Haotian and Yaochi.

"This humble Daoist comes from Wuzhuang Temple and has brought two fruits as a token of meeting. If you two young friends do not disdain them, please accept them."

Haotian and Yaochi were both stunned.

They stared at the two Ginseng Fruits before them, momentarily at a loss for words.

Ginseng Fruit, born from an Innate Spiritual Root, was greatly beneficial to cultivation.

Such treasures were cherished even by some Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals, who would not lightly part with them.

And now, this Daoist was offering them as gifts?

Haotian quickly waved his hand: "True Man, how can this be! This Ginseng Fruit is far too precious; this junior dares not accept it!"

Yaochi also shook her head repeatedly, her cheeks flushing slightly: "True Man is too kind; this junior... this junior cannot accept."

Xuande merely smiled, pushing the jade plates forward again.

"Take them," he said warmly. "This humble Daoist specially requested them from Daoist friend Zhenyuanzi to give to you. You stand guard at the gates of Purple Cloud Palace, seeing off and welcoming guests—it is hard work. These two fruits are but a small token of this humble Daoist's regard."

Haotian and Yaochi exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with emotion.

Ever since they had begun following the Ancestor, they had always stood watch at Purple Cloud Palace.

Of the great powers who came to hear the Dao, some were courteous, some arrogant, and some paid them no heed at all.

Never had anyone prepared a gift especially for them.

Never had anyone said the words "you have worked hard" to them.

"Many thanks, True Man!" Haotian bowed solemnly, accepting the jade plate with both hands. "This junior... this junior will remember this in his heart."

Yaochi also accepted the jade plate, her eyes slightly reddening as she whispered, "Many thanks, True Man."

Xuande nodded, said nothing more, and turned back to rejoin the group.

Haotian and Yaochi held the jade plates, standing on either side of the gates.

They watched as the seven figures found a spot outside the palace and sat down cross-legged, their hearts unable to settle for a long time.

They looked down at the Ginseng Fruits in the plates—plump and tender, exuding a faint fragrance.

They could not bear to eat them. Carefully, they tucked the jade plates away, hiding them in their sleeves.

This was the first time someone had treated them as "people."

Not as attendants by the Ancestor's side, not as dispensable ornaments, but as... "young friends" worthy of kindness.

This sentiment was more precious than the Ginseng Fruit itself.

Before the gates of Purple Cloud Palace, the seven found a spacious spot and sat down cross-legged.

Hongyun had been holding it in the entire journey, and finally couldn't hold back anymore. He sidled up to Xuande and lowered his voice:

"Daoist friend Xuande, so you asked for the Ginseng Fruit for this! Why didn't you say so earlier!"

Zhunti also leaned in, his face full of admiration:

"Daoist brother is truly... truly thoughtful! I never even thought of those two little attendants!"

Jieyin slowly nodded, his mournful expression tinged with a hint of approval:

"Daoist brother Xuande's action both plants good karma and shows compassion. Well done."

Zhenyuanzi smiled as he looked at Xuande, his gaze warm:

"I was just wondering what you wanted the Ginseng Fruit for. So it was to give to them. You have a kind heart, Daoist friend."

Fuxi also nodded: "Those two little attendants guard the Purple Cloud Palace, greeting arrivals and seeing off departures—it's truly hard work. Rare indeed that Daoist friend Xuande thought of them."

Nuwa said softly: "That Haotian and Yaochi, though they are attendants, have been by the Dao Ancestor's side for a long time. Their future prospects are boundless.

Daoist friend Xuande plants this good karma today, and blessings will surely come in the future."

Hongyun scratched his head: "Nuwa is right! I should have thought of that too! Next time I'll bring something too!"

Zhunti laughed: "What will you bring next time? Your homemade fruit wine? Would those two little attendants dare to drink it?"

Hongyun glared: "What's wrong with my fruit wine? The fruit wine I brew is a fine thing!"

Everyone laughed at that.

Xuande listened to their words and merely smiled faintly.

He did all this not for some "blessings."

It was just that, watching those two youths standing guard at the palace gates, He suddenly recalled how, in later legends, their fates would be filled with trials—ruling the Heavenly Court, yet ultimately unable to control their own destinies.

At this moment, they were still innocent attendants, with light still in their eyes. Giving them a little warmth—that was all.

As for the future...

The future could wait.

Before the gates of the Purple Cloud Palace, seven sat in stillness.

Within Chaos, there was no sun, no moon—only eternal gray haze.

But because they had companions, because there was laughter, these three hundred years no longer felt long.

Haotian and Yaochi still stood guard on either side of the palace gates, occasionally glancing at the seven figures.

They did not dare approach to disturb, only watching from afar, silently memorizing the appearances of those seven True Men.

Especially that Daoist, whose entire body was shrouded in a faint golden light.

They remembered his name—Xuande.