To spend more time with Li Mo, Hua established the Taixuan Sword School, taking in seven disciples—six female, one male—all of whom were exceptionally talented. She bestowed upon each of them a Xuanyuan Sword.
They became the main force against the Honkai in her stead, eliminating humans corrupted by it and aampaging Honkai Beasts.
In addition, Hua spent several years guiding gifted swordsmen, teaching them how to harness Honkai Energy for their own use.
They called it "Zhenqi" (True Energy, Qi, whatever) and from it derived various techniques. After several thousand years of evolution, a unique ecosystem independent of the imperial court gradually formed in Shenzhou—the Jianghu (Martial World).
The swordsmen of Shenzhou spontaneously gathered, forming martial arts sects that treated the refinement and application of Zhenqi as an intangible cultural asset.
"Those who fall to demonic influence must be executed."
This was her only rule. No matter who was consumed by Zhenqi and succumbed to its corruption, no mercy was to be shown.
It was only human nature to conceal a loved one's fall to the dark side, but in gratitude for the Immortal Jingwei's teachings, once a corrupted individual was discovered, a warrant for their arrest would be issued throughout the entire Jianghu, and they would be hunted to the ends of the earth.
Those who concealed them were considered equally guilty.
With the existence of the Jianghu, Hua could free up a great deal of time to be with Li Mo, traveling and experiencing the mortal world.
However, although the two were inseparable, they were not together every single moment.
They could be, but they couldn't.
Because Li Mo had to bring Hua happiness before he grew old.
From an ordinary person's perspective, one lives for but a few moments, and these moments are almost impossible to replicate.
For example: one's first wedding.
"Brother Mingyue! What are we doing today? Master is farming on the mountain, she won't be back for a while. I think we can go do something more fun~" Jiang Wanru said with a grin, her young face full of innocence. She blinked, unable to hide her playful nature.
"Wanru, how come I never see you this enthusiastic when you're practicing the Taixuan Sword Qi?" her older sister, Jiang Wanxi, teased, tapping Jiang Wanru on the head a couple of times. "We came down the mountain behind Master's back for business, not just to play."
Li Mo looked at the twins beside him and said with a sigh of resignation, "A little recreation is fine, but we have to finish our business first. Suyī, I hear that Li Shen has been pursuing you for a long time and has been waiting for you at the foot of Mount Taixuan. Aren't you going to see him?"
"Forget it. He's just a pretty face. If that's all he is, I'd rather look at you, Brother Mingyue," Qin Suyī said nonchalantly. "My true love must be a world-renowned hero. One day, he will come to marry me, riding on a seven-colored cloud. Not just some ordinary Young Master Chuan. I, Qin Suyī, have standards!"
With that, Qin Suyī cast a glance at Li Mo.
Li Mo nodded slowly and led the three girls into the nearest inn.
He had paid to build this inn, naming it the "Jingyue Inn."
But Li Mo wasn't the innkeeper; he was the man behind the scenes.
After all, they couldn't have nowhere to entertain guests on the wedding day, and he couldn't let Hua know before that day came, or the surprise would be ruined.
And... Hua seemed to have something on her mind recently, always asking him about "the difference between long-lived and short-lived species, and how he views it."
"Brother Mingyue, you seem to be in a hurry?"
"Am I?"
"Of course you are. You've already prepared the bridal sedan and the carriers these past few days. If Master agrees, you could get married the very next day. It would be another day of universal celebration. I think many people would come to participate."
"The three letters and six rites, a ten-mile red dowry, a phoenix crown and cape, an eight-bearer sedan chair, a proper wedding..."
"And you're marrying the world-renowned Immortal Jingwei. But I'm more curious about how stunning Master would look in a red dress..."
Qin Suyī was lost in thought, but Jiang Wanru's words pricked her bubble. "I'm afraid that's not all you mean. Sister Suyī's mischievous smile must mean she's imagining herself as the bride, hehe~ That's not allowed, you know. Brother Mingyue belongs to Master!"
"Jiang Wanxi, control your sister."
"Can't be done. She's all yours," Jiang Wanxi said, pushing Jiang Wanru forward.
"Sis, how could you just sell your sister like that?" Jiang Wanru said, aggrieved.
"Not sell, give. Selling would at least get me some money. But giving is free," Jiang Wanxi replied calmly.
The three of them bantered as usual. Being of similar age, they talked openly.
More importantly, the three of them didn't need to be reserved or restrained in front of Li Mo.
At first, they had been well-behaved and respectful in his presence. But as they spent more time together, they discovered that, unlike their Master, Li Mo was actually very easy to get along with and didn't care for tedious etiquette like seniority.
He even thoughtfully let them call him by his first name.
Li Mo smiled and turned his attention to the inn's layout.
If Hua were observant, she would notice that the layout here was modeled after her old family home.
Qin Suyī was right. He had indeed prepared everything. All that was left was for Hua to agree.
Li Mo had hinted at this to Hua many times, but she was too shy, always hemming and hawing, wanting to enjoy the peaceful daily life a little longer.
She was willing, but she felt it was too soon.
Li Mo didn't rush her. He still had some time. His appearance wouldn't change before his time was up, so no one would notice.
"Brother Mingyue, when are you going to take Master? Oh no... I misspoke. I meant marry Master, hehe."
Jiang Wanru stuck out her pink tongue, feigning innocence.
Jiang Wanxi's face darkened. She quickly scanned the surroundings, but found no trace of Jingwei.
If their Master heard that, she would be locked in a dark room to copy the Tao Te Ching for three days and three nights without rest. She wouldn't be allowed to leave until she was finished.
As martial artists, they didn't have the temperament to copy the Tao Te Ching. It was sheer torture
(TL: The Tao Te Ching is a foundational text of Taoism, a Chinese philosophy that preaches acting in harmony with the natural flow of the universe ("The Tao") through effortless action and humility.)
The last time Jiang Wanru was locked in there, she came out three days later like a soulless corpse. She would mutter phrases like "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao... The name that can be named is not the eternal name..." at random times—while eating, walking, sleeping.
It scared Jiang Wanxi to death. She thought she was possessed by something.
"I don't know, maybe tomorrow, maybe years later, decades later. For Hua, that amount of time is nothing."
But for him, it was a very long time.
"The intricate and elaborate wedding rituals may seem redundant, but they are to remind the two people that, whether they argue or live a mundane life, they must cherish the difficulty of this moment."
"You must also take it seriously."
People live for only a few moments.
The three of them exchanged glances, countless thoughts running through their minds. There was longing, and there was regret. There was anticipation, and there was disappointment.
---||---
Five years later—
Jiang Wanru: "Brother Mingyue, when are you going to marry Master? Sister Suyī is getting married soon."
Li Mo: "I'll go ask her when I get back. It should be soon."
Ten years later—
Jiang Wanru: "Brother Mingyue, Sister Suyī's daughter can already talk. Has Master still not agreed?"
Li Mo: "Uh, let's wait a little longer. Hua's happy every day, and I don't want to disturb her current mood. There's still time anyway."
Twenty years later—
Jiang Wanru: "Brother Mingyue, what excuse are you planning to use to convince me this year?"
Li Mo: "Cough cough, I'm still young. It's you, Suyī, Chaoyu, and Su Mei have all gotten married. If you don't hurry up, you really won't be able to marry."
Jiang Wanru: "I... it's okay. Brother Mingyue, why are you still the same as you were before? Hehe, you're still so good-looking after all these years. Speaking of which, Sister Suyī's husband, Young Master Chuan Li Shen, has become fat and greasy. He used to be such a handsome and dashing young man. In your words, I, a hardcore face-con, can't accept it!"
Li Mo: "Too bad. If you had met me a few hundred years ago, maybe you could have stayed young forever. Now I'm powerless to help you."
Jiang Wanru: "Hmph, aaaaaaaah! No way, I don't want to turn into a stooped old woman! Brother Mingyue, is there any other way to help me keep this face? I don't mind living a few years less, even a dozen years less!"
Li Mo: "Emmm... in theory, if you cultivate the Taixuan Sword Qi to its limit, maybe you can get a knack for prolonging life and restoring your appearance is possible."
Jiang Wanru: "Okay! Starting today, I will cultivate the Taixuan Sword Qi for ten hours a day!"
Li Mo: "Aren't you going to sleep..."
Thirty years later—
Jiang Wanru: "Brother Mingyue, do I have more wrinkles on my face?"
Li Mo: "Mhm."
Jiang Wanru: "Ngh... couldn't you just deceive me with a kind lie? Sure enough, you're with Master every day, so you no longer like this old woman Wanru!"
Li Mo: "How could that be? You'll always be my and Hua's most mischievous and lovable disciple."
Jiang Wanru: "Hmph, but... Brother Mingyue, do you seem to have more gray hairs on your head?"
Li Mo: "...Do, I?"
Forty years later—
Knowing that his time was running out, Li Mo no longer waited. He summoned all seven of the Taixuan Swords to the Jingyue Inn.
The seven swords, now in their fifties, had all stepped halfway across the threshold of death.
Human lifespans were limited, even for Cheng Ling Shuang, who had cultivated the Taixuan Sword Qi to its limit.
Now, gathered together, the seven patiently listened to Li Mo's final instructions.
"Chaoyu, you've been with Jingwei the longest, so I want you to wake her up tomorrow and bring her down the mountain."
"Su Mei, all the wedding attire and manpower is entrusted to you. Tomorrow, coordinate with Chaoyu to cover Jingwei with a red veil and change her clothes. If Jingwei refuses, just say that I asked you to."
"Lingshuang, I'm sorry to trouble you tonight, but please wipe out all the demons near Mount Taixuan. Don't let a single one go."
"Yanjing, you're in charge of receiving guests and maintaining order at the inn. Eject anyone who causes trouble."
"Suyī, the wedding venue will still be where we arranged before. Lend me your residence for a day."
Li Mo carefully detailed every step of the wedding, so fluently that there was no room for objection.
After all, Li Mo had improved this plan countless times in the depths of the night.
At this time, the forgotten Jiang Wanru raised her hand high. "Brother Mingyue, what about me? What about me?"
"You?" Li Mo paused, walked up to her, and patted Jiang Wanru on the head. "You and Wanxi just have to prepare to enjoy the wedding feast."
"Ah? I feel insulted!" Jiang Wanru puffed up her cheeks. Although making such an expression with her slightly aged face seemed a bit awkward, it didn't stop Li Mo from treating her like a child.
At least in Li Mo's heart, Jiang Wanru would always be a child who never grew up.
"Tomorrow will be a grand wedding. I'm counting on all of you to help."
The wedding, planned for forty years, would come to a close tomorrow.
Li Mo knew he didn't have much time left. He was gradually feeling weaker, both in mind and body.
He wanted to make her as happy as possible before his life ran out.
"..."
"..."
"..."
On the day of the wedding, Li Mo sat atop a horse. The bridal sedan was empty.
In the mansion prepared by Qin Suyī, countless relatives, friends, commoners, and passersby stood outside, only to see the groom standing alone in the festively decorated hall.
He stood there quietly, wearing a joyful red robe.
The hand that was supposed to be held was empty. The most important person was missing from this wedding.
The bride didn't come.
She didn't come.
Hua didn't come.
The wedding feast dispersed, and the guests all left.
Those who hadn't left yet looked at the lonely Li Mo in the hall, shaking their heads again and again, filled with emotion.
Some were watching the spectacle, some were mocking, and some were feeling sorry for Li Mo...
Li Mo didn't leave. He kept waiting until Qin Suyī had cleared everyone from the mansion, leaving only Li Mo standing in the hall, with Jiang Wanru standing behind him, waiting for Li Mo to turn around.
Everyone, including the seven Taixuan Swords, couldn't help but wonder, where had the Immortal Jingwei gone?
Day and night alternated, the stars scattered their light.
Like a parasol tree that seemed to be alive in the spring, but had actually died in the winter.
The few remaining moments passed quickly. In the silent hall, Li Mo slowly closed his eyes, muttering confused words.
Li Mo's body began to age, and death gradually descended upon him.
In the last few seconds of his life, he saw many things, memories he didn't fully understand.
He seemed to have been to many places, and he would return here again in the future.
"I see..."
"I forgot a lot of things, but that doesn't matter."
"Because the answer I'm really looking for isn't in the present, it's in the future."
With those words, his cold body crashed to the ground with a "clang," his pupils dilated, his consciousness detached from this broken body.
...
At the same time, at 9:03 PM, a special delivery, called "Honkai Alert" was to be made at the current timeline to the real life Jingyue Inn.
Returning to the inn, Shigure Kira couldn't help but feel cold. This cold was not from the outside, but from within. Every cell, every part of her body trembled with cold, as if immersed in a cold lake.
Saori Tsuruyo wrapped a thick blanket around Shigure Kira's entire body, hoping to resist the cold.
Although the effect was minimal, it was better than nothing.
Fires cannot be lit at night, even if you do get light to start, the light needs to extinguished and a new location is to be moved too, so that they will have a better chance of not getting caught. The use of heater is also forbidded due to it being more likely to get the caught. They could only rely on layers of thick blankets to cover Shigure Kira.
Saori Tsuruyo reached out and touched Shigure Kira's face. The moment she touched it, she subconsciously pulled her hand back. Shigure Kira's face felt like a block of ice.
Saori Tsuruyo looked down at her hand. There were still some water stains on her fingers.
According to the prophecy in the notebook.
At 9:04 PM three days from now, "She" will find Shigure Kira.
At 9:05 PM three days from now, Shigure Kira will die.
It was the second night, 9:04 PM.
"Drip... drip..."
The sound of dripping water came from outside the door.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
As well as the sound of something hitting the object.
Saori Tsuruyo suppressed her curiosity. Only ghosts knocked in this situation.
However, the inn could hide the presence of living people. There was only one reason this ghost could find this place, and that was because it was being drawn and guided to it from Shigure Kira, that something from the book, was happening.
Fortunately, the inn seemed to have a certain amount of protective ability. The ghost was being held back by the door, unable to enter for a long time.
"Captain, you stay here for a while. I'll go to the second floor to see what's going on outside."
"Be... careful..." Shigure Kira tightened the blanket even more. Gradually, the blanket was soaked by a liquid that seemed to come from nowhere.
"Yeah, I will. Maybe if I figure out this ghost's patterns, there will be a way to save you."
Saori Tsuruyo quickly left and ran to the room on the second floor, went to the first room on the second floor and opened the window.
The first room was slightly offset from the top of the inn door. If you look down and pay attention to the bottom corners of the doors, you can easily find it. It was an excellent observation point.
However, observation also came with risks. No one knew what the ghost was doing when they opened the window and leaned out to observe.
They might just stick their head out and come face to face with the ghost.
"Since it's here to find the captain, there's no reason it would be targeting me."
"Besides, targeting me is no different than targeting the captain. As long as the ghost enters the inn, we can only rely on the gun I got from Older brother to deal with it. If we can't handle it, we can only wait to die."
"Older brother hasn't woken up yet. I can't sit still and wait for death."
Saori Tsuruyo took a deep breath and leaned her head out the window without hesitation.
"Drip... drip..."
The night was like a dark curtain. It wasn't raining in the sky, so where was this water sound coming from?
Saori Tsuruyo fixed her gaze and saw a figure standing outside the inn door, its head ...bowed so low its face was obscured.
"Another Captain?"
"No, that's a ghost from the lake," Saori Tsuruyo quickly deduced.
The figure at the inn's door was another Shigure Kira, but it clearly possessed ghostly traits.
The Shigure ghost seemed to have no concept of pushing a door. Its face was pressed flat against the wood, its entire body sopping wet. Lake water streamed from its ears, mouth, and eyes, forming a small puddle at its feet.
"Unlike our Captain, this one doesn't have white hair."
"And... I get the feeling it's trying to do something."
The Shigure ghost tirelessly lifted its foot, again and again, trying to step over the threshold of the main door. But without fail, its toe would strike the very center of the threshold every single time—no more, no less.
So the banging sound was actually the ghost's foot colliding with the inn door's threshold.
Is this a trait of ghosts, too? she wondered.
A ghost that can't cross a threshold?
-----
The inn's name is 鸢月客栈 (Yuān Yuè Kèzhàn).
鸢 (yuān) is the second character in Hua's alias, 赤鸢 (Chì Yuān), which is translated as Jingwei.
月 (yuè) is the second character in Mo's alias, 明月 (Míng Yuè), which is translated as Mingyue.
So, the name Jingyue Inn is a portmanteau—a blend of the two main characters' names: Jingwei and Mingyue.