The Price of a Mistake

On the day she met Xu Qingzhu, Su Mo returned home to find both her grandpas looking troubled for the first time.

She drew a basin of water for herself and, only after washing away the dust of the road, dared to ask:

“Grandpa Gui, Grandpa Mo, is something wrong today?”

“Little Su Su, don’t go anywhere today. Just stay home. Put aside the temple priestess duties for now.”

“Little Mo Mo, listen to your Grandpa Gui.”

Though she couldn’t understand why, Su Mo knew her grandpas would never bring harm upon her.

So, she stayed home, quietly flipping through books.

Later, she learned from the villagers that a “True Demon” had appeared that day, but two mysterious figures had driven him away.

What angered the villagers most was that the “True Demon” had shown disrespect towards the Fox Immortal.

Upon hearing this, Su Mo vaguely realized that the “True Demon” must have been Xu Qingzhu.

Amidst the lingering incense smoke, that former benefactor lit an incense stick and asked a single question:

“Fox Immortal, does a Su Yao truly exist in this world?”

As the Fox Immortal was Su Mo’s eyes, she naturally saw him but paid him no mind.

The old temple priestess eventually pulled him away, as he had been kneeling on the prayer mat, obstructing other worshippers.

After that, two mysterious figures drove him off, their battle illuminating half the sky with crimson light.

Su Mo had assumed she would never encounter him again.

Yet, on Su Mo’s sixteenth birthday, as she successfully took over all matters concerning the Fox Immortal Temple and received blessings from three villages, Xu Qingzhu reappeared.

That day, Su Mo wore a red and white gown, a wreath of flowers adorning her hair. Amidst the blessings of the villagers on either side, she walked gracefully towards the Fox Immortal Temple.

Two little girls held up the train of her long skirt, following behind with eyes full of infinite longing as they gazed at Su Mo’s back.

Feeling the expectations and blessings of everyone present, Su Mo solemnly lit the incense and performed a series of rituals.

Finally, she turned to the assembled crowd and declared:

“From this day forward, I shall be the priestess of the Fox Immortal Temple…”

Her gaze swept over the diverse expressions in the crowd, and once again, she spotted that familiar figure.

It was Xu Qingzhu, yet he was far from the dashing, elegant man she had glimpsed three years prior.

Having clearly endured some unknown hardship, he appeared disheveled, his brow etched with profound disappointment.

His clothes were caked with dust from his travels, as if he no longer cared for his appearance.

He simply stood there, gazing up at Su Mo, who, surrounded by the crowd, seemed infinitely radiant.

Su Mo’s gaze swept past him without a hint of lingering sentiment.

This look, as if she had never known him, pierced Xu Qingzhu’s eyes, making his figure appear even more desolate in the wind.

After that day, Su Mo saw him a few more times, each visit for the purpose of worshipping the Fox Immortal.

Treating him no differently from any other worshipper, Su Mo neither troubled him nor paid him any special attention.

“Light the incense and place it yourself.” Su Mo’s slender, smooth hand pushed the incense sticks towards him, then she lowered her head to continue transcribing the Fox Immortal Temple’s scriptures.

All these texts required her arrangement, and she took the opportunity to add a good deal of her own material.

For instance, she pondered: Where did the Nine-Tailed Fox Immortal come from, and where did she wish to go?

How should one live to attain true happiness?

Su Mo delved into various life philosophies and mythological tales, compiling them into numerous volumes.

Occasionally, a reader would discover profound wisdom hidden within her writings, becoming ecstatic and offering more incense.

‘The regular editions are magically printed, so I should charge a bit less for the incense offerings… As for the classic and collector’s editions… those are personally transcribed by me, the Great Temple Priestess! How could they not be expensive?’ Su Mo tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, lost in her thoughts, completely forgetting Xu Qingzhu standing before her.

After an indeterminate amount of time, she finally looked up, realizing her former benefactor was still standing there. He hadn’t even lit the incense, appearing utterly captivated, as if mesmerized by her transcribing.

With a slight frown, Su Mo spoke with cool detachment:

“Young master, is there an issue with the incense?”

He opened his mouth, then changed his words:

“…I wish to purchase a scripture.”

“Very well. The Fox Immortal hopes everyone will buy books; the wisdom within them will surely clear away confusion.” Su Mo explained, while simultaneously tidying the books.

He simply watched Su Mo’s every movement, uttering not a single word.

By an odd coincidence, their fingers brushed unintentionally, but Su Mo casually moved her hand away.

“Is this the one?” Su Mo asked, lifting her gaze.

Meeting her eyes, he nodded, took the book, and left the Fox Immortal Temple.

After that, Su Mo did not see Xu Qingzhu for a long time.

She gave it no thought, as in her eyes, Xu Qingzhu was no different from any other worshipper.

‘Gather incense offerings!’ This became the only thing Su Mo truly wanted to do.

“Rumble—!” One day, during a heavy downpour, Su Mo was still transcribing scriptures within the Fox Immortal Temple.

Thunder and rain lashed against the windows, the interior illuminated solely by candlelight.

In the flickering light, the Fox Immortal statue appeared particularly sacred, and a profound tranquility filled the temple.

“Clang.” Someone entered, drenched by the rain, shattering the peace.

Su Mo set down her brush and looked towards the newcomer.

‘It’s this fellow again. What a bother.’ She remained still, thinking to herself.

“Whoosh~ Flap!” The wind gusted in from outside, causing the pages of her books to flutter.

Her brow furrowed slightly as Su Mo spoke with cool detachment:

“Young master, the Fox Immortal is not here today…”

“I’ve come to ask a question.” His tone was resolute.

“To ask the Fox Immortal?” Su Mo inquired, casually rising to close the door, preventing the wind and rain from dampening the statue.

Turning back, she saw him speak earnestly:

“No, I’m asking you, Priestess Su.”

“Please proceed.” Su Mo was unconcerned; in a few more days, her incense offerings would be sufficient.

She would then be able to attempt, for the first time, to condense an Incense God Dharma Body and truly utilize her identity as an Incense God.

“Rumble!” A clap of thunder illuminated the temple in a stark, pale light.

Xu Qingzhu, his hair plastered wetly to his head, posed a question similar to the one he had asked years ago:

“Are you Su Mo, or are you Su Yao?”

She naturally understood his meaning, but Su Mo held no lingering attachment whatsoever.

After all these years, she had long since seen through Xu Qingzhu’s true nature.

Thus, she feigned confusion, frowning as she countered:

“Young master, my name is Su Mo. Didn’t you know that?”

He stared at her in silence for a long moment, then quietly departed from the Fox Immortal Temple.

Even with the thunder and cold rain outside, he refused to stay any longer.

Before he left, Su Mo, with the same concern she’d show anyone, offered:

“The rain is heavy. Perhaps you should stay in the Fox Immortal Temple for now?”

Little did she know, this casual remark only deepened the sorrow in Xu Qingzhu’s heart.

He now understood: the person before him was definitely not Su Yao.

The Su Yao he had desperately sought seemed to have vanished forever.

Or perhaps, from the very beginning, there had been no “Su Yao” at all; the one he truly loved was Su Mo.

He had deceived himself for over a decade, only for that deception to be cruelly exposed by his own realization in this very moment.

He did not want to awaken from this delusion, for it meant he had foolishly squandered his chance.

Every regret was a consequence of his own making.

Remorse, guilt, despair, anger…

When he next faced Su Mo, realizing she had no memory of their past, he dared not speak further on the matter.

He did not turn back, but instead plunged into the rain. In the biting cold, only self-inflicted pain offered him a sliver of “forgiveness.”

“I am unworthy of her.” Xu Qingzhu collapsed to his knees beneath a tree, the rain and his tears blurring into one amidst the storm.

Even though he had reached the Nascent Soul realm and could be considered a formidable expert, the surging tide of regret choked him, making it impossible to breathe.

“Thud.” The scripture he had purchased from the Fox Immortal Temple slipped from his chest and fell.

He hastily picked it up, unwilling to let it be stained by even a speck of dirt.

Clutching the scripture to his chest, he looked up at the flashing lightning in the sky, then silently departed from the spot.

In the distance, Ghost General and Gong Nianxian, who had been secretly observing everything, playfully teased each other:

“That fellow finally figured it out.”

“Indeed. It seems he won’t be coming back… Old man, your technique truly is effective.”

“Of course! If I, a demon, don’t understand the human heart, then who does?!”

Chuckling, the god and the demon walked off together, arms slung over each other’s shoulders.