The three of them followed the purple gas’ lead the entire way. To protect the remaining purple aura they had, they tried not to fly too quickly. From time to time, some cultivators would fly past them. For some reason, Lonemoon felt like the more they travelled toward the north, the more cultivators there were around them. What’s more, it seemed like each cultivator looked more excited than the last. Some even greeted them warmly. Lonemoon was not too bothered at first, but as the number of cultivators around them increased, the looks they were getting got stranger as well.
Lonemoon began to feel like something was amiss. However, he kept his focus on the purple aura and tried not to think too much of it. That was until Shen Ying, who was seated on Yi Qing’s sword, spoke up.
“Eh, it’s gone.”
The two of them stopped and realised that the line in the purple gas was gone. There was nothing floating over to them anymore. “What happened?”
“If the aura didn’t disappear, I think we’re already here,” Yi Qing replied.
The three of them scanned their surroundings. There was a lake underneath their feet, and in it stood a small island. They could vaguely make out a crowd on the island. Everybody’s faces seemed to carry excited expressions, as if they were in the midst of an interesting discussion. The noise from the island travelled upward toward them.
They exchanged glances and decided to land on the island. Just as they were about to check if there was any similar aura as the purple gas’ there, everybody went silent. The previously noisy island became so quiet that they could hear a pin drop. The cultivators all turned to look at them in shock and disbelief. It was incredibly strange.
Lonemoon’s heart fell. Was this island private territory? Were they not allowed on the island? But from the looks of these people’s clothes, they were all from different sects. There was also no array around the island. Why then were they all staring at the three of them?
Lonemoon looked back at them in confusion. Out of habit, he wore his business-like smile on his face and greeted everybody. “Greetings, fellow immortals.” He was just about to ask what was going on when someone tutted!
“Hmph! How rude and unsightly!” The voice belonged to a man dressed in a green robe. He scanned Lonemoon and Yi Qing from head to toe, his expression full of contempt. One would think that he was looking at piles of garbage. “You’re contaminating this holy ground.” After he finished speaking, he tossed the red cloth in his hand onto a branch next to him. He tugged at the female cultivator beside him and flew off.
“…”
What just happened? Lonemoon pursed his lips. He did not just offend that cultivator, right? All he did was greet the crowd – the greeting was not even directed at that man! There was no reason for him to get mad.
Once the cultivator in the green robes left, the silence broke. Everybody burst into discussion once more, albeit in a lower volume than before. Every once in awhile, people would shoot glances at the three of them. People were obviously keeping a fair distance from the group. Some of the people from the crowd even left the island, following the cultivator in the green robes. Within seconds, a huge space was created specially for the three of them on the previously crowded island.
The three of them: “…” *What? *
(⊙_⊙)
“Fellow immortal, please don’t mind them.” A cultivator in blue robes stepped forward and patted Lonemoon on the shoulder sympathetically. “It’s obvious that those people are cultivators from Shuoyue City. Their lives are too closed-up from the rest of the world. That’s probably why they could not stand it. Fellow immortals, since you’ve already come, please don’t mind how others view you!”
With that, more people began to approach the group, expressions full of pity. One by one, they took turns to offer comfort and advice to the three of them.
“This fellow immortal is right! The two of you are extremely brave. Please don’t take what he said to heart. As long as both of you are genuine to each other, it will be alright.”
“That’s right. Nothing is perfect in this world. As long as you’re genuine, it does not matter that you wouldn’t end well.”
“I think you will be fine too.”
“Yes, everything is in God’s hands. Perhaps there will be a miracle!”
More and more people began to gather around them so that the crowd on the island became split into two. The people on one side looked extremely pained, as if they had been wronged. The people on the other side looked absolutely disgusted with them. They were looking at the other group of people with contempt.
Wait a moment!
Lonemoon was confused. For some reason, he felt like the situation was odd. What were these people saying?
“All of you…” He was just about to ask when he was interrupted.
The cultivator in the blue robes who first stepped up to comfort them suddenly retrieved a red cloth and stuffed it in Lonemoon’s hand.
“Here! Hold this. Fellow Immortal, you can go first. No matter what the outcome is, it will be alright as long as both of you love each other!”
He gave Lonemoon a light push, to the huge tree in the middle of the island. Next to him was an equally confused Chef, who was also holding onto a red cloth that someone else stuffed in his hand.
What was going on?
Lonemoon exchanged a look with a very confused Chef next to him. He looked at the red cloth in his hand and studied the crowd behind him who was looking at them intently, cheering them on silently. Suddenly, he realised everybody else around them were in pairs – one male and one female. A bad feeling surfaced in his heart.
“Well… Can I just ask what tree this is?”
The cultivator in the blue room smiled kindly and replied, “Don’t worry, Fellow Immortal. You’re not at the wrong place. Look at the stone tablet over there if you don’t believe me.”
Lonemoon looked over and found a stone tablet just underneath the tree. On it was written in golden letters using an immortal dharmic technique. The words were flashing: The Marriage and Fertility Tree!
Lonemoon, “…”
Yi Qing: “…”
The two of them jumped back immediately. After reading what was written on the tablet, they felt the sudden urge to gorge their own eyes out.
Fer… Fer… Fertility!
Σ(°△°|||)
Why would they beg for children! Were these people all looking at them so strangely because they thought he and Yi Qing were here to ask for children?
He and Yi Qing!
In what way did they look like they were here to ask for children? And why would he come here with Yi Qing? This might be some random realm at the boundaries of the world, but they didn’t have to act this stupid! In what way did Yi Qing and Lonemoon look like a couple! What’s more, Shen Ying was clearly standing next to Chef. Why would they jump to conclusions and think that Yi Qing and Lonemoon were an item? Were they blind!
Wait a moment!
Why was Chef moving so far away from him?
I’m straight!
“Master, I’ve used my divine perception to search around. There’s no hint of the purple gas over here. Let’s go somewhere else!” Once he finished speaking, he carried Shen Ying to his own sword and flew off.
Lonemoon, “…”
A while later…
“You two little bastards, come back!”
The audience of couples: “…”
Eh? What’s going on? When did that woman on the sword arrive? They thought that they were witnessing an unusual relationship. But now there was one more person involved? It was a love triangle.
Suddenly, everybody on the island felt a strong urge to gossip…
——————
“What should we do now?” Lonemoon sighed when he finally caught up with the two of them. He glared at them and gritted his teeth. “Chef, why are you standing so far away from me?”
“Er…” Yi Qing looked up into the sky.
“I’m going to say it again – I’m straight!” Lonemoon suppressed the strong urge he felt to beat Yi Qing up. “That’s about enough from the two of you! Let’s talk business!! Get the hell over here!”
“…” I’m just worried you’ll badly influence Master.
