The strange, romantic dream of the young man in the quiet lodging was reflected in every detail by the Jade Lotus beside his bed, while the mischievous girl above the clouds covered her mouth and snickered at the sight. The skyborne enchantress, whose hair resembled sumptuous purple satin, congratulated herself inwardly:
Heehee, you hateful little yellow-horned dragon! This time, I'll do you a favor and show you just how devoted your little sweetheart is!
At that thought, the smile at her lips grew broader, as though she could already see the proud little dragon maiden's nose twisting with rage.
The thought made her all the more pleased with herself. Unnoticed, the purple cloud carriage beneath her began shedding the dark hue that had blended into the surrounding clouds, quietly revealing its original brilliant violet radiance. From beneath that violet glow, a faint, almost imperceptible purple thread seemed to hang between heaven and earth, reaching into the lonely room at the Drunken Dream House in the little town below.
Just then, the strange girl watching from the sidelines aboard her purple cloud carriage suddenly felt her head spin. A startled "Oh!" escaped her lips, and like a kite with its string snapped, she found herself somewhere unfamiliar in the blink of an eye.
Meanwhile, the master of the Highest Clarity Hall remained immersed in his dream's boundless springtime beauty. Gazing at the woman nestled against him, her lovely face like a flower, her manner soft and tender, the hot-blooded youth felt his very soul soar beyond the clouds.
After hearing the beauty's words about flowers sharing one stem, Xing Yan gently answered in verse:
"Butterflies fly wing to wing, lotus blooms upon one stem; with such beauty before me, why not take her in my arms?"
At these tender words, the