Travel · Hangzhou Arc (Interlude): A Fairy Descends to the Mortal World

Hangzhou.

Many people's impression of this city may come from the line "Heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below" written by Fan Chengda in his "Records of Wu Commandery" during the Southern Song Fan Chengda.

After the economic center shifted south during the Southern Song Dynasty, these two cities became representative capitals of the Jiangnan water town landscape, with Hangzhou becoming the political, economic, and cultural center of the Southern Song Dynasty.

After hundreds of years, this city, which has been at the forefront since ancient times, has now embarked on the path of modernization, with skyscrapers rising from the ground and soaring into the sky.

In this modern metropolis where the ancient and the modern blend seamlessly, a new story is about to unfold.

West Lake, Qingbo section.

The term "Qingbo" here does not refer to the West Lake, which is often praised by literati, but rather to the Qingbo River, which has flowed quietly through the city streets for thousands of years.

In ancient times, this place was the economic lifeline of Lin'an City. Caravans, fishmongers, merchants, and travelers all passed through the city via this waterway. Although its glory has faded, it still stands as a rare "blank space" in Hangzhou.

The riverbanks are lined with countless plane trees and camphor trees, their dense canopies intertwining to form a green dome. On sunny days, sunlight filters through the dome, casting dappled outlines on the water's surface. The houses on both banks stand neatly side by side, unlike the skyscrapers in the bustling city center. Here, they are all white-walled and gray-tiled, bearing the marks left by the passage of time.

As the saying goes, true hermits live in the city, and indeed, there is a fairy living in seclusion by the Qingbo River.

At eight o'clock in the morning, inside a slightly old-fashioned brick and tile house.

A pure white fox was curled up asleep, with a crimson mark on its forehead.

Perhaps feeling hungry, she struggled for a moment before reluctantly waking up from her dream, stretching her body as she did so.

Then, she gracefully strolled through another half-open door into the bedroom, and with a powerful leap from her hind legs, she jumped onto the bed of a certain blue-haired fairy.

Slap, slap, she gently patted the beautiful face of the sleeping, aloof fairy with her paws.

"... Um?"

The blue-haired fairy slowly opened her pair of bright, icy blue eyes, as clear as frost crystals, her gaze filled with a hint of confusion as she awoke.

"Are you hungry?" Her voice was as cool as her temperament, like a gentle breeze in the sweltering summer heat.

The white fox whimpered twice, its cute little head rubbing against the fairy's palm.

To an outsider, this would appear to be a simple interaction between the master and pet, but from this fairy's perspective, it's a completely different situation.

"There's nothing I can do about it~ As the Sentinel, I don't need to eat, but the laws of Heaven here are too harsh. Not only have they stripped me of almost all my powers, but they've also turned me into this pet-like form..." Heartfox's tone was tinged with sorrow and helplessness. "I've already tried to transform into human form, but the result is still the same."

"So, I'd like to trouble the beautiful, kind-hearted, and highly skilled fairy Qingxiao to prepare some food for this unfortunate little fox in distress~"

Qingxiao and Heartfox stared at each other, and for some reason, the aloof fairy exhaled a breath of stale air, her voice filled with a helpless sigh.

She doesn't have a habit of oversleeping, but she also doesn't like being disturbed from her sleep. However, the person who came to wake her up was her old friend and boss, so she could only accept it.

"Please wait here for a moment, I will wash up and then cook you a soup."

As the cool female voice faded, the fairy got out of bed and quickly went into the bathroom to wash up.

Seeing that her plan had succeeded, Heartfox didn't linger in the room. She strolled to the dining table in the living room and waited for breakfast as if it were her due.

Qingxiao's culinary skills were mostly developed through her own efforts during that time of seclusion in the mountains.

Her cooking style and dishes are also Qingxiao, quick, and convenient; a meal can be prepared and finished in a maximum of twenty minutes.

Ultimately, for her, eating was more of a means to maintain vital signs than a source of enjoyment.

A stove, a pot of hot water, and some homemade noodles that Yangyang brought over a few days ago, plus a fresh free-range egg—it won't be long before these things become Qingxiao's hot breakfast to serve.

Of course, she wouldn't miss out on the Sentinel's share, but as for this sword immortal, she probably couldn't make any dishes that would impress the Heartfox.

Not long after, a bowl of noodles with an egg and water and a serving of blanched chicken breast were served on the table.

Heartfox looked at the boiled meat on her plate, then silently glanced at Qingxiao, as if asking, "Is this all you're giving me?"

"I'm not sure if you can eat seasoned food in your current state," Qingxiao explained calmly. "The books say that foxes shouldn't be fed seasoned food; if they eat it without permission, it will affect their health."

"But I am the Sentinel! The Sentinel can eat whatever he wants!" Heartfox protested.

"I have to be responsible for your health." Qingxiao gently shook her head. "Just bear with it for now. Once you can transform into human form, you can enjoy all the delicacies of the world."

Heartfox was resentful, but Heartfox knew that Qingxiao was doing it for her own good, so she didn't make things difficult for him anymore and silently started taking bites of the chicken breast in the bowl.

Seeing that she had temporarily appeased Heartfox, Qingxiao sighed softly and began to eat her own breakfast.

"Speaking of which, Suisui and the others have been in Guangzhou for several days now, so it should be time for them to return today." She thought to herself.

A week ago, on the day Suisui and her group set off for Guangzhou, I actually had a small get-together with her. We talked about how we had found out the whereabouts of that Rover and were going to investigate.

Ding-dong, ding-dong.

It was a notification sound from her own phone. After quickly finishing her breakfast, Qingxiao took out her phone, opened the Little Green Bubble app, and was surprised to see the message that Suisui had just sent.

Chongming Plucks Flowers: Sister Qingxiao ~

Chongming Plucks Flowers: We're getting ready to go back to Hangzhou.

Chongming Plucks Flowers: [Image]

The photo shows Suisui taking a selfie on the bus. Liang Yu is sitting next to her, and the two of them are smiling and look very happy.

Dragon's Cry in Shallow Snow: It seems you're already on your way back.

Dragon's Cry in Shallow Snow: Have you seen that Rover?

Chongming Plucks Flowers: I've seen you! I've seen you!

Chongming Plucks Flowers: We're in the same car with him right now.

Dragon's Cry in Shallow Snow: That's good.

Dragon's Cry in Shallow Snow: During your time in Guangzhou, did you have any interesting experiences or observations?

Chongming Plucks Flowers: There are so many! I'll tell Sister Qingxiao about them when I get back.

Dragon's Cry in Shallow Snow: Yes, I will also prepare some tea at that time.

Chongming Plucks Flowers: Then it's settled!

Chongming Plucks Flowers: Oh, right, I should remind you of something.

Chongming Plucks Flowers: It seems a typhoon is coming to Hangzhou soon, Sister Qingxiao, please remember to be careful and avoid going out unless absolutely necessary.

Qingxiao remained silent for a long while after hearing this suddenly appearing new term before responding.

Dragon's Cry in Shallow Snow: Yes, I'll be careful.

Chongming Plucks Flowers: That's all for now~ I need to take this opportunity to get a good night's sleep. This train journey will take six and a half hours! It probably won't arrive until tonight.

Dragon's Cry in Shallow Snow: Get some rest.

Dragon's Cry in Shallow Snow: Goodnight.

Chongming Plucks Flowers: Goodnight~

Seeing that there was no further news in Suisui's chat, Qingxiao put away her phone and began to clear the table.

"Was it that little girl named Suisui who sent you the message?" Heartfox asked.

"It's her. She and the Rover are on their way here," Qingxiao replied.

"You two are really getting along well now."

"She has been kind to me, so I naturally treat her with courtesy."

Putting aside what happened in Dreamland for the moment, Qingxiao was able to settle down peacefully here thanks to Suisui.

Are you going out with me later?

"No need for that, I'll just stay home."

Heartfox didn't not want to go out; rather, she was reluctant to go out in this manner.

"What ever."

Qingxiao returned to her room and locked the door. A moment later, she came out. She had already taken off her pajamas and was now wearing a very simple moon-white short-sleeved shirt and a smoky blue long skirt, with a section of her ankle exposed, her skin as clear and translucent as jade.

"I'm going out," Qingxiao said, her voice as flat as ever.

"Remember to come back early, I need you for lunch," Heartfox reminded her.

After giving Heartfox a silent reply, Qingxiao put on her sandals and left the house.

Compared to the bustling new district, the atmosphere of Qingbo Street can be described as slow-paced.

The sky is overcast today, and the ground is a bit damp; it seems it rained last night.

Qingxiao's keen Resonance Power detected a restless atmosphere in the wind, as if a storm was brewing.

Perhaps this is the typhoon that Suisui was talking about?

After standing there in a daze for a moment, Qingxiao started walking again and made her way to the vegetable market street.

The residents of Caishi Street have always been early risers. At 5:30 in the morning, the sounds of chopping meat and haggling in the local dialect can be heard from the meat stalls.

"Oh, here you are, Qingxiao, the usual?" The tofu stall owner, a middle-aged woman, greeted Qingxiao warmly as she approached.

"Hmm." Qingxiao's tone was neither warm nor cold. "I'd like more today."

"I understand, I understand." The old woman quickly packed the freshly made tofu into a bag and handed it to Qingxiao.

After Qingxiao completed the payment by scanning the QR code with her mobile phone, she carried the bag of fresh tofu to the next stall.

She strolled along the market street, stopping occasionally to buy the ingredients she needed, a sight that the people around her had long taken for granted.

In their eyes, Qingxiao's image is that of a detached and aloof fairy... well, although she is indeed a fairy.

After leisurely strolling through the entire market street, Qingxiao suddenly found herself with a lot of fresh ingredients. Looking at the time, it was almost eleven o'clock.

"It's getting late, I should go back. If I stay any longer, she might start making a scene again," Qingxiao thought to herself.

As she walked back to her doorstep, Qingxiao, with her sharp eyes, suddenly noticed that there was someone standing in front of her house.

Red hair, a bun, pigtails, and that all-too-familiar black casual outfit—it was obvious who it was.

"Suoming?" Qingxiao called out the person's name, "What brings you here?"

Suoming, who was playing with his phone, heard Qingxiao's call and looked up to meet her gaze.

"Good afternoon. I was just passing by and thought since it's been a while since we last met, I was going to give you a visit, but no one answered the door," Suoming said indifferently. "And my messages to you went unanswered. I was thinking of just leaving after not seeing you for a while."

Sorry I didn't check the message.

"It's alright, as long as they're here."

"Then come inside with me. I'll make you something to eat as an apology for neglecting you earlier," Qingxiao said softly.

"It's not really an apology, but if that's your intention, then I'll gladly accept," Suoming said calmly. "It'll save me the trouble of buying lunch from the shops outside."

"Oh dear, Heartfox, you haven't transformed into human form yet? What a pity." Suoming's voice carried a rare hint of mockery when he saw Heartfox still in her fox form.

"There's nothing I can do~ I was originally a great power, but I was suppressed by the Heavenly Dao and stripped of my cultivation in one fell swoop. Now I can only live in this state. Even if I wanted to transform into a human, I am powerless to do so..." Heartfox said with feigned sorrow, as if she was accusing fate of injustice.

"Could you ask her to read fewer cultivation novels?"

"That's her hobby, it's none of my business," Qingxiao replied.

"Ha..." Suoming sighed softly in helplessness, then changed the subject, "Speaking of which, Rover Suisui and the others didn't come up empty-handed this time, after all."

"I know, she just told me this morning that they're on their way back."

"That's perfect. I'll go meet them another day, and while I'm at it, I'll also meet that incredibly resourceful Rover."

Qingxiao gave a soft "hmm," and then a silence fell between them.

"Speaking of which, how are those two little ones, Jing Ran and Bu Ling, doing lately?" Heartfox couldn't stand it anymore and took the initiative to start a conversation.

"You mean that Ghost Cat Lamp and that Dreamland Daoist?" Suoming pondered for a moment before replying, "They've been making a killing on social media lately, doing some kind of haunted house adventure project, and they've got hundreds of thousands of followers now."

"I checked his WeChat Moments, and he said he'd be returning to Hangzhou in a few days."

"The food is ready." Qingxiao carried the last dish of the original, unprocessed food to the table.

"As expected of a Sword Immortal, even the food he eats has such an ethereal quality." Suoming casually picked up a piece of fish. "But it's still quite delicious."

"Having lived in seclusion in the mountains for many years, I've grown accustomed to a simple diet. If it doesn't suit your taste, I'll certainly cook something different for you."

"Oh, no, there's no need. I'm not a picky eater, so I won't trouble you, Fairy, to cook another pot of food for me."

Suoming was about to pick up another piece of fish and put it in his mouth, a certain foolish fox casually bit off the piece of fish.

"Mmm~ It tastes good." Heartfox nodded in approval.

"I need to get a new pair of chopsticks," Suoming, his face darkening.

Qingxiao didn't reply, but silently got up and handed Suoming a clean pair of chopsticks. She casually tossed the pair of chopsticks that Heartfox had bitten into the sink.

After this brief incident, the two people and the fox continued their meal quietly, and no one spoke for a while.

"Speaking of which, do the Rover have a way to resolve your current situation?" Suoming asked.

"It's hard to say, but we have to give it a try." Heartfox shook her head. "After all, I can't always look like this fox, can I? How much fun would that take away?"

"Then, when the Rover arrive in Hangzhou, shall we pay them a visit in person?" Qingxiao suggested.

"That's one way, but it's still too bland for me," Heartfox said after a moment's thought. "Hey, how about we do it like this...?"

"Is this really a good idea?" Suoming frowned. "I feel like what you're doing is rather unethical."

"I had no choice," Heartfox said, feigning helplessness. "After all, I can't stay a little fox forever."

"If you've already made up your mind, then go ahead and do it," Qingxiao replied after a long silence.

Although Qingxiao also opposed this behavior, she didn't want to stop it, nor could she. Once Heartfox made up her mind to do something, not even ten oxen could pull her back.

"Then it's settled. Just wait for my good news."

And so, while on her journey, the unsuspecting Hajiling was subjected to a brutal beating by her Sentinel during a simple lunch.