Chapter 9

In an instant, a familiar phrase faintly echoed in the mind of the woman: "Regardless of whether I can regain my rightful status in the future, or if I will die in this remote and impoverished place, having a name is meaningless." She seemed to be transported back to that barren little village by the banks of the Qishui River. Of course, with the passage of time, changes in appearance, and even the alteration of her voice due to three years of silence, it was impossible for her to immediately equate the person before her with the lover she longed for. Instead, this stirred a wave of tender emotions within her, extinguishing the flames of shock, anger, and resentment.

Faced with a man of such noble demeanor, her instinct as a priestess compelled her to accept Xing Mi's gift. She could only retaliate by hoping to use words to wound this man's pride, thereby bringing herself some meaningless pleasure. Naturally, she first inquired about Wu Ding's name, and then prepared to search her memory for the identity of the men of higher status who had once embraced her, pretending to have no ill intentions as she compared him from various angles.

Wuding and the illustrations in the book were not particularly concerned about this. Yes, the Seeress possessed nearly all the splendid beauty of the Xuanbird Shrine, but for a man who harbored a long-cherished love story in his heart, and for a sovereign who could summon any beauty at will, that beauty was not irreplaceable or indispensable. He smiled as he gently patted Xing Mi's shoulder, then turned to wander elsewhere.

The woman suddenly thought, isn't life just like a dream? Seven years ago, when she was still nestled in her lover's embrace, who would have imagined that today would come, that tonight would come, and that so much pain and humiliation awaited her? Since it is merely a dream, why not make this dream a little more beautiful, a little closer to the memories she cherishes? ... Upon thinking this, she seemed to unconsciously release Wu Ding's hand, turned behind the willow tree, then slightly peeked out from the other side, and suddenly jumped out ... Since it is merely a dream, why not make this dream a little more beautiful, a little closer to the memories she cherishes? ... Upon thinking this, she seemed to unconsciously release Wu Ding's hand, turned behind the willow tree, then slightly peeked out from the other side, and suddenly jumped out ...

However, Xing Mi could not so easily accept the monarch's blessing. Even if the monarch embraced a certain woman and retreated into the concealed thicket, he had to remain hidden nearby, vigilantly observing the surroundings. Moreover, how could he abandon the monarch to indulge in pleasure himself? Being astute, he had already discerned from the glance that Wu Ding cast towards the Se Girl that the monarch held a considerable admiration for her. Thus, it seemed quite natural for him to transfer the hand that the Se Girl extended towards him into Wu Ding's hand.

Thus, they saw each other's movements, and more importantly, they saw the expressions on each other's faces—expressions so familiar yet so distant, reminiscent of the passion that had once burned in their youth, now long transformed into a wisp of smoke drifting away

Two people walked hand in hand, casually chatting about trivial topics, slowly making their way to the banks of the Sui River. This place is far from the crowd, away from the bonfire, where only occasionally can one see the silhouettes of young couples tightly embraced in the grass, their skin shimmering under the moonlight like stars. For a while, the two fell into silence, each immersed in their own yet unified memories. On such a night in mid-spring, under such bright moonlight, and by the gently flowing riverbank, what difference is there between the Qi River and the Sui River?

Wuding felt somewhat taken aback, but soon accepted the good intentions of his minister. However, the Seer was greatly angered by this. Although, in name, the Seer, as a woman serving the deity and the gods, had the right to choose her favored man for intimacy, in reality, there were often situations where women were taken or pushed aside due to the disparities in wealth and power. Nevertheless, the Seer had rarely encountered such humiliating circumstances in the past two years. This was almost an insult; even if it was not an affront to the deity and the gods, it was still an insult to the Seer herself, despite her clear understanding that this bearded man held a status far more noble than the one she had chosen.

Wuding's thoughts seem to resemble those of the Seer, but for him personally, he would likely not wish to abandon his current power and pleasures to return to the impoverished life of seven years ago, even if he had someone he loved by his side, with soft lips and passionate kisses. He merely wishes to momentarily indulge in a dream, almost unconsciously opening his arms to welcome the past lover who should have jumped out from behind the willow tree.

Wuding unexpectedly encountered the Se女 at the shrine of the Xuan Bird. Seven years had passed, and both of their appearances had changed significantly: Wuding had transformed from a clean-shaven rural youth into a nobleman with a beard reaching his abdomen, exuding an innate authority (at that time, the Se女 was still unaware that he had already become the ruler of the Yi people!); the Se女 had become more mature and more alluring... She could entice every man she encountered with her charming gaze, no longer just a shy girl who would timidly rush into her lover's arms...

Wuding certainly could not directly assert: "I alone am the ruler of the Yi people." Keenly, he perceived the anger and urgency in the gaze of the Se woman, yet he could not say: "Under God, under the gods, under my ancestors, I alone stand; no mortal can be more noble than I." He had not made adequate preparations in advance, nor had he fabricated a pseudonym for himself. Upon hearing the Se woman's inquiry, he was momentarily taken aback and could only smile, saying: "Regardless of whether you desire my embrace or wish to part ways, asking for a name is meaningless."

In fact, the difference between Qishui and Suishui is not important; what matters is that the people around them have already changed. The two of them thought this almost simultaneously and then awakened from the dream of memories. They realized they had arrived beneath a willow tree, the surroundings empty and desolate, with only faint sounds of chatter drifting from the distant campfire in the wind—of course, they did not notice the vigilant gaze of the hidden Xingmi not far away. They realized they had arrived beneath a willow tree, the surroundings empty and desolate, with only faint sounds of chatter drifting from the distant campfire in the wind—of course, they did not notice the vigilant gaze of the hidden Xingmi not far away

The woman ultimately chose not Wu Ding, but Xing Mi. Given Xing Mi's beauty, her selection was entirely reasonable, and many noblemen cast jealous and resentful yet helpless glances at the bewildered Xing Mi. Although Xing Mi was not yet married and was not entirely ignorant of matters between men and women, she clearly understood that the purpose of her journey was to accompany and protect the sovereign, rather than to indulge in fleeting pleasures under the open sky.