Leng Qingqiu gazed quietly at the painting before her, an inexplicable ache rising in her heart, tears welling up in her eyes. She wondered to herself, "Could this woman in the portrait be the mother I have never met?" Ever since she could remember, Leng Qingqiu had lived in this secluded mountain wilderness, all a result of a painful past she could not bear to look back upon.
As a child, Leng Qingqiu had been treated as an outcast by the villagers, facing constant discrimination and rejection. Eventually, she and her father were forced to leave Leng Family Village, wandering until they arrived at this desolate spot. For years, the two had relied on each other, living a life of hardship. Had it not been for Old Man Leng’s basic knowledge of medicine, which allowed him to trade herbs gathered from the mountains for a meager living, they would have likely starved to death long ago.
Now, looking at this mysterious portrait, a hundred emotions stirred in Leng Qingqiu's heart. She longed to understand the mystery of her origins and to discover the whereabouts of her mother. Yet, reality was like a thick fog, leaving her with nowhere to turn. In these vast, boundless mountains, how was she to find the answers?
Just as Leng Qingqiu sank into deep thought, a gust of cold wind struck her, causing her to shiver. She came back to herself and gently stroked the woman in the portrait, as if she could feel her mother’s warmth. Though the path ahead was rugged, she secretly resolved to lift this veil and find her true place of belonging.
"Girl, this is your mother. She truly was as beautiful as a fairy. She was gravely injured when I found her while gathering herbs, and after I healed her, she married me. It’s just a pity she passed away when you were born! Fate is truly cruel."
"If Mom was so beautiful, how could she have taken a fancy to you? If she were going to marry, she should have married a top scholar! How could you ever have been a match for her, Old Man?" Leng Qingqiu teased, fearing her father would grow sad again.
"Nonsense, you brat! After I healed her, your mother loved me truly. Don't talk rubbish, or I’ll tan your hide."
"Mother, look, Old Man Leng is being mean to me. I'm so pitiful!" Leng Qingqiu pretended to cry, and the tears from the corners of her eyes instantly transformed into pearls, scattering onto the floor. Old Man Leng helplessly picked up the pearls, placed them in a box, and held his daughter.
"Silly girl, don't be sad. I’ll show you your mother's belongings."
In a hidden compartment under the bed sat an exquisite wooden box. Old Man Leng opened it to reveal a necklace strung with red Jiao-people tears, shimmering and magnificent.
"Did Mother leave this for me?"
"Yes. She didn't leave anything else when she departed. She wore this when she was in distress; consider it something left for you. Keep it safe and stay close to it."
"Old Man, you keep it. Looking at it, you can at least have something to remember her by. I’m afraid I’m too clumsy and might break it."
"Silly girl, you are the best gift your mother ever gave me. She was so kind and capable. Every piece of clothing you wore was made by her in advance during her pregnancy, all the way up until you reached womanhood. It's a pity she departed this world so soon."
"Don't be sad, Old Man. I will stay by your side forever, taking care of you until you're old and your teeth have all fallen out, feeding you bird's nest porridge every day."
"Silly girl, you’ll have to get married eventually. Do you know how much money it would take to feed me bird's nest porridge every day?"
"I won't marry. I just want to be with you. The money will come."
Old Man Leng held his daughter, his eyes filled with love and comfort. He gently stroked her soft hair, sighing to himself, "This child grows more endearing by the day. Watching her grow up day by day, I feel immensely happy." Yet, in this heartwarming moment, his thoughts drifted involuntarily into the distance, back to the woman who had once shared his life through thick and thin—Zhuniang.
"If only Zhuniang were here too, how wonderful that would be..." Old Man Leng murmured to himself. A trace of faint sorrow and longing appeared in his eyes. Zhuniang was a vital figure in his life; they had weathered many storms together, sharing countless laughs and tears. But fate had heartlessly torn them apart, leaving Old Man Leng in profound solitude.
Now, his heart was full of longing for Zhuniang. He recalled her gentle smile, her kind heart, and her meticulous care for him. Those beautiful memories washed over him like a tide, pulling him in so deeply he could not extricate himself.
"Zhuniang, where are you? Do you miss our daughter as much as I do?" Old Man Leng called out silently in his heart. He wished so much that she could return to his side so he could feel that warmth and love once more. But reality told him this was nothing more than a pipe dream.
Even so, he knew he had to be strong. For his daughter’s sake, he had to keep going. He would cherish her with all his love and let her grow up healthy and happy. At the same time, he trusted that Zhuniang must be watching over them from somewhere, blessing them.
At that moment, a pair of blue eyes were indeed watching them. On the roof, standing in a touch of white moonlight, was a handsome man in flowing white robes. He wore clothes that shimmered with iridescent, multicolored light. He looked down at the father and daughter coldly, unable to feel a shred of warmth. Having spent a millennium in the depths of the sea living a life of violence, he viewed human affection with nothing but disdain. A moment later, he vanished emotionlessly into the girl's room.
After dinner, Leng Qingqiu returned to her room, only to turn and face a pair of cold, emotionless blue eyes.
"Lord Xiangliu, you've arrived!"
"Spare me the chatter."
He bit into Leng Qingqiu’s neck without another word, drinking her blood with no mercy.
"My Lord, my body isn't holding up well lately. Could you wait until I’ve built up more blood before drinking again? You see, you aren't injured; you're in good health. Why not rest for a few days?"
"Do you want to die? If you do, I can eat you whole."
Leng Qingqiu’s heart pounded. Which nerve had this master tweaked today to be so hungry—no, so thirsty for blood?
"Your little secrets... I know them clearly. Stop stalling. Remember, I know exactly what you’re thinking."
"You can read minds! Lord Xiangliu is truly formidable! This young woman is humbled and full of admiration!"
"Stop with the nonsense. Here is blood-supplementing medicine. One pill a day. Once I’ve fattened you up, I’ll come for your heart’s blood in seven days. If you run, I’ll break your legs."
"I understand. I promise to eat well and get plump, full of blood. You should go now! I need to rest." She didn't dare let her mind wander anymore; this guy could read thoughts, and one slip-up would be the death of her!
Under the moonlight, Leng Qingqiu suddenly had no desire to sleep. She was being stalked by a monster, but she couldn't let it drag her father down! Tomorrow morning, she would go to Baiyun Temple to see if she could get an amulet. Perhaps she would meet an enlightened master who could guide her through this, turning bad luck into good. Her father was a good man who had spent his life doing good deeds; surely, there would be a turn for the better.