Chapter Nineteenth: The Road to Loulan

  When Mo Mo emerged from the Mo Ran Pavilion wearing a thick, heavy red dress, she truly stunned the entire imperial palace. Xuan Yu's originally curved mouth corners opened wide in surprise when he saw Mo Mo, revealing eight teeth, and never closed again. The normally icy Mo Mo was dressed up completely differently than usual. Her usual simple hairstyle of one hairpin holding up a high bun had transformed into a cloud-like coiffure, the pearl decorations on her phoenix coronet making her complexion appear even more rosy, her thick eyelashes blocking the expression in her eyes and leaving a shadow under her eyelids. Her already red lips seemed even more vibrant.

  She walked towards the main hall with a slight bow, took the jade scepter from Xing Chen's hand, said "Thank you, Father" and was immediately hugged into Su Manran's arms, who didn't care about the national dignity. No matter who advised her to let go, she wouldn't release her grip. Mo Mo gently patted Su Manran and said, "Mother, I'm not suffering, don't think that I'll be miserable after marrying him. Think about our past life, I want to protect you, I want to fight with those people who are chasing Father. What hardships haven't we experienced? I'm the princess, after all, I have the entire kingdom as my backing, Lou Lan won't treat me badly. Besides, Mother, I'm leaving with the person I love, I'm very happy in my heart. Really, Mother, give your daughter a blessing!" Mo Mo rubbed her cheek against Su Manran's neck.

  Summan loosened his hand and looked at Mò Mò, whose tears couldn't stop falling. Xīng Chén in the side put his arm around Summan, letting her lose her dignity and wet his dragon robe with her tears. Mò Mò took a step back, knelt down, and fell to the ground at the feet of Xīng Chén and Summan.

  "Father, Mo Er is marrying far away and cannot often be under your knees. Your daughter is unfilial, I'm leaving now." Mo Mo kowtowed three times. She stood up and was supported by the matchmaker as she walked towards Xuan Yu.

  "My queen is really beautiful" Xuan Yu took the jade Ruyi from Mo Mo's hand, with a faint smile on his face. He glanced at Han Lin, who was pale in the guard of honor behind him, and led Mo Mo to the sedan chair. After Mo Mo sat down, the ceremonial team moved slowly, taking Su Manran away from the palace, away from the people Mo Mo was familiar with.

  The whole way was paved with yellow earth, and the streets were swept clean. After passing through the last pass of the royal court - Qianzhang Pass, the ceremonial team marched for another day and camped at dusk in a desolate Gobi Desert.

  "Princess, the Gobi Desert is cold at night. I have a fox fur quilt here, come and spread it out." Xuan Yu lifted the curtain of Mo Mo's large tent, holding a pure white fox fur quilt in his hand. He said as he went to pull up Mo Mo's arm, wanting to lay it out for her.

  "Prince, I'll go myself. I'll be back soon after a brief visit. Let her spread the word." Mo Mo dodged Xuan Yu.

  "My queen, may I call you Mo Mo?" Xuan Yu finally caught up with Mo Mo and grasped her hand.

  "Xuanyu! Don't forget what we said in the beginning!" MoMo pushed Xuanyu with her hand, knocking him over.

  "Haha, I had forgotten, my wife is the so-called 'Jade-faced Guanyin'!" Xuan Yu sprang up from the ground and stood up, dusting off the almost invisible dust on his body. "What promise?" Without seeing Mo's disbelieving face, Xuan Yu sat down beside him, seemingly unaware of anything out of the ordinary.

  "At first we agreed that I would help you get Sveta and you wouldn't touch me!" Momo said, recalling the promise from back then.

  "Are you coming to my place, Nana?" Xuan Yu looked up at Mo Mo, pulling her down to sit. Looking into her eyes, he teased, "Besides, I won't obey. What can you do about it? Run away? Haha. This time is much more justified than last time. Not just Loulan, the royal court is also unbearable, right?" Defeated, Mo Mo slumped back, dropping her shoulders and shrinking an inch.

  "Hmph. Respectfully, Your Highness. The guards beside Mo Mo aren't here to eat dry rice!" Han Lin happened to be returning with a quilt and saw Mo Mo's disheveled appearance. He threw the quilt aside and strode forward, about to slap him down. Xuan Yu glanced at Han Lin and quickly retreated backward without changing his seated posture. Han Lin saw that his palm didn't land and immediately turned around, kicking his leg towards Xuan Yu. The latter kicked both legs and flew up, grasping Han Lin's leg in his hand. With a pull, it seemed like Han Lin was about to fall from mid-air. Mo Mo pulled out the fox fur cloak beside him, tightly grabbing one corner and flinging it at Han Lin, wrapping him up and dodging Xuan Yu's foot that was about to stomp down. He hugged Han Lin in his arms.

  "Hehe, you're still good to me!" Han Lin said bluntly, and snuggled into the fox fur coat beside Mo Mo.

  "Xuanyu. I'm tired today. Don't want to talk. Please leave!" With a dismissive tone, Xuanyu walked out with a hint of a smile on his face as he gazed at MoMo. He narrowed his eyes and left. When he reached the door, he bumped into Li Wuye. He turned back to glance at Han Lin who was leaning against MoMo's side. The corner of his mouth curved up slightly, revealing a hint of disdain.

  "Han Lin, get up. Mo Mo is now the princess of a neighboring kingdom. Be mindful of your behavior." Li Wu Ye pulled Han Lin back to the side of the bed and sat him down beside Mo Mo, shaking out the fox fur quilt. Han Lin sprang to his feet.

  "Hmph, like you? I couldn't do that. Didn't you see how unhappy Momo is?" Han Lin smoothed out his disheveled hair. Hu Mei's eyes glanced at the dejected Momo. Smoothing out the wrinkles on her clothes, she walked to Li Wuye's side "You clearly know Momo loves you, and it's fine that you've been good to her all along, but now you're rejecting her from afar. Since you gave her hope, why do you want to let it shatter? We each take what we need, but I'm not as hypocritical as you!" After whispering these words in Li Wuye's ear, Han Lin was about to leave. Not wanting to let Li Wuye say anything, he pulled out Momo's large tent and ran towards a small mound in the distance.

  "What do you think I want?!" Han Lin saw a surge of dark emotions in Li Wu Ye's eyes, closed them for a moment, and when he opened them again, the turmoil was gone, replaced by calmness. With his hands behind his back, Li Wu Ye didn't look at Han Lin as he continued speaking.

  "I've been raised by my master since I was a child, taught me martial arts, and educated me in literature. A few days ago, when my master passed away, he told me about my origins. He found me in the Forgotten Valley, where I had a blue tear-shaped birthmark on my face. Later, it disappeared for some reason, and that day, I fell severely ill and changed my appearance. Until this year's rainy season, I met a fake young master who seemed to be a spirit, talking to me every day, relieving my boredom. My condition started to improve, and I went to see him every day, bringing him food, and we had pleasant conversations. Gradually, I realized he was actually a woman.

  One day, when I went to find her again, she was nowhere to be found. My body began to deteriorate, and my master told me that my physique is special, requiring me to stay near a specific medicine to remain normal. At the time, I had given up all hope and searched everywhere, finally finding her in Nameless. So, I would visit her every now and then. When I told Master that I wanted to marry her, he said that she has the medicine on her body, but it's already taken effect, which is why my body improved.

  Any woman in the world can be married, except for her. If we force it, one of us will die. If we find the owner of the Soul-Calling Instrument and make them heartbroken until the instrument changes color, then within three years, gather three more instruments and find the person they love, the instrument will turn a deep blue color. Then, find that mysterious fourth person and give her the Longevity Medicine, and we can be together.

  During this time, I must not leave the medicine." When I showed Master the colored Soul-Calling Instrument with hope in my heart, Master sighed, and under my repeated questioning, he said, "The owner of the Soul-Calling Instrument's loved one is destined to disappear."

  Han Lin stared at Li Wu Ye's slender back, his mouth agape, unable to speak for a long time.

  "The Soul Vessel has changed color, I must find the other two and make Mo Mo fall in love with me! Turn that yellowish-brown into a deep blue, eat the Longevity Medicine, and Mo Mo can live. How could I not know that Mo Mo loves me?! But after I disappear, I won't let Mo Mo be heartbroken and lonely..." By the end, Li Wu Ye's voice was choked with sobs. His blurry eyes couldn't see the horizon where a patch of yellow sand flew up and rolled in."

  "Li Wuye! Quickly open up my Dao!" Han Lin's hoarse voice shouted at the person immersed in sorrow.