Volume Thirteen: "Goddess Yunxi's First Rain" - Flowers Bloom and Wine Warms; in Your Company, Hunger Is Forgotten

When Xing Yan returned to Spirit Bud Palace, the dragon maiden, detained in conversation by the sisters of the water realm and cloud clans, was growing anxious. Although a maid had told her that her companion had gone for a stroll in the nearby coral grove, his long absence still worried her. Just as she was wondering what excuse she could use to escape these endlessly chattering immortal ladies, she saw Xing Yan return unharmed. At the sight of that familiar figure, the emptiness in Lingyi's heart gave way to reassurance.

As she went happily forward to greet him, her face blossoming into a smile, the young male immortals who had been stealing glances at her marveled inwardly:

How strange. Why would the Four Rivers Princess care so much about a mere Dragon Palace guard?

Only a quarter of an hour remained before the Sea Epiphyllum would bloom. The center of the palace hall, previously bustling with guests, had been cleared. Onto its glittering, multicolored floor, Dragon Palace strongmen carried a pristine white jade cauldron, its surface lustrous and smooth. It was filled with a transparent balm as rich as congealed cream. Floating upon it was a wondrous emerald plant, its stem tall and slender, its soft leaves translucent green, gathered around a tender, pale-gold flower bud like stars clustering around the moon.

According to Lingyi, this jade grass with its golden bud in the cauldron was the Sea Epiphyllum Immortal Flower everyone had come to see that evening.

By now, all the guests in Spirit Bud Palace had returned to their seats and fallen silent, waiting to witness the marvel of the Sea Epiphyllum's blooming. With the hall so quiet, Lingyi felt too awkward to ask Xing Yan what had delayed him.

A little later, Meng Zhang, master of