Verdant Green Maiden looked over the silk, which was covered in writing.
On it was Cao Zhi's final work, a thousand words spilling forth in sweeping strokes, rising and falling as it recounted a life. Only in the final line had he written, "Presented to the goddess of the Luo River."
He would never see Luo Shen again, but his verses had.
"Long time no see, Cao Zijian."
Verdant Green Maiden looked toward the grave, its top mottled with traces of moss, and sighed softly before putting away the bamboo slips.
Cao Luo bowed and backed away several steps, not daring to disturb Verdant Green Maiden as she reminisced with Cao Zhi.
Though "reminisced" was generous—Verdant Green Maiden was the only one talking, muttering to herself. But Cao Luo wouldn't dare listen in. All that talk of Immortals, Demons, Ghosts, and the like—if he heard too much, he might not live long!
Verdant Green Maiden took a great many treasures from the Dragon Pearl and set them before Cao Zhi's grave.
"I wonder if you've been reincarnated. If you have, then never mind. If you haven't, don't go complaining down below that I didn't bring you anything! Look, these are all precious treasures. Take a look at this one: a South Sea Merman's tear! And these—I gathered them over decades of roaming around the Northern Territory!"
"They're all priceless, impossible-to-find things!"
She chattered on as time slipped quietly by.
"Sigh... You scholars really do love making a fuss over things like this! I read your final work—it's truly excellent! But could you remove that last line?"
"With those few words added, won't it become a second Ode to the Luo River?"
"..."
Only when the sky began to darken did Verdant Green Maiden stretch and rise to her feet.
"All