The village of mortals had little spiritual energy for cultivation.
After finishing the peacock painting, Bai Zihao rediscovered the joy of painting. He spent his days sketching, occasionally interrupted by the sounds of Kong Muhua reading next door. She would often drop by, observing his art, eating his snacks, and coaxing him into various activities. Their days became more interesting as a result.
Young girls will grow up; it's not good for them to frequent men's houses.
To avoid any impropriety, Bai Zihao took to moving his drawing table under the tree shade in his courtyard whenever Kong Muhua visited.
Passing villagers often complimented him on his art, and young women would bring him food, asking for embroidered patterns in return. He always obliged.
Kong Muhua liked to sit on the swing, basking in the sun and engaging him in frivolous chatter about topics like why Grandma Wang's rooster stopped crowing due to heartbreak or how two sparrows by the river were having a bet, among other tales.
Bai Zihao couldn't fathom the interest in such tales, but seeing Kong Muhua laugh almost uncontrollably, he couldn't help but join in the laughter.
He found Kong Muhua to be a peculiar yet endearing young lady who loved to look good. She always carried a mirror and would check her reflection whenever possible. She wasn't interested in anything beyond grooming and had some skill in sewing and embroidery. As for anything else, it was a different story altogether. She once tried to help Bai Zihao with chores and ended up setting the kitchen on fire, breaking the laundry mallet, and knocking down the grape trellis. During an attempt to draw water from the well, she spent half an hour staring at her reflection. Bai Zihao almost thought she was going to jump in and had to rush over to pull her back, persuading her with both emotional appeal and reason for quite some time.
Kong Muhua blushed, "I just thought I looked so beautiful in the well's reflection and wanted to admire myself a bit more."
Bai Zihao: "…"
Kong Muhua: "Zihao, you are also very beautiful; you should look in the mirror more often."
Bai Zihao: "…"
He shouldn't have worried about this rascal.
Bai Zihao attempted to give Kong Muhua a cultured education, to cultivate both his mind and body, to create a well-rounded beauty. However, the endeavor ended in catastrophe. When playing the zither, Kong Muhua broke three strings; while painting, he bit through two brushes; his calligraphy looked like unintelligible glyphs; reading bored him to sleep after just three lines; and as for poetry and riddles, he often blurted out laughably incorrect sayings.
He was certainly a hearty eater, capable of polishing off an entire pot of food in one sitting. He'd crack sunflower seeds at an astonishing pace, easily going through two pounds at a time. And he had a penchant for locusts, often bringing home a hefty catch for Baizi Hao to cook—half fried, half grilled, and thoroughly enjoyed. When Baizi Hao hesitantly tried a bite at his insistence, he found the taste surprisingly tolerable. But psychologically, he just couldn't stomach it, so he abstained.
Baizi Hao harbored some concerns about this mischievous young man's future.
"Don't worry, I'm so beautiful that no one could possibly overlook me. And if they do, they're simply blind; we don't argue with the visually impaired," Kong Muhua stated with an unshakable self-confidence, offering quirky words of encouragement to Baizi Hao.
"Doesn't attracting bees and butterflies prove how alluring I am? If there aren't any around me, I can't very well call myself a beauty."
"Me, have flaws? I only possess some adorable quirks."
"Huh? If someone impressive takes an interest in me, that's due to my irresistible charm. Why should I feel inferior?"
"Considering how amazing I am and how I find you attractive and charming, you should have more confidence in your own allure."
"Who'd be foolish enough to say such a beauty like you is inadequate? Kick them to the curb and find someone more appreciative."
"Brother Zihao, I'm quite sensible, you know."
"..."
Baizi Hao found himself undergoing a myriad of trials and tribulations at Kong Muhua's hands for years. Not only did he reacquaint himself with his childhood skills of climbing trees and fishing, but he also spontaneously learned to roast insects, catch butterflies, fend off aggressive dogs, and deal with ruffians. The circle of familiar villagers grew over time, and he would occasionally join the community for local plays or assist in urgent farm work.
Eventually, the village's schoolteacher grew old and retired from his position at the schoolhouse.
At the villagers' request, Baizi Hao became the new schoolteacher. The children loved his gentle and attentive manner, admiring his profound knowledge. They'd often gather around him, gifting him with eggs, homegrown vegetables, and wildflowers. Many girls would blush around him, but Kong Muhua, a master of both palace and domestic intrigue, preemptively quashed any and all romantic pursuits.
Kong Muhua gave her floral skirt a confident shake, declaring, "Only valuable things get fought over. If a man can't even face a romantic rival and instead nitpicks his beloved for being popular, he's better off buried alive. Useless to live, don't you agree, Brother Zihao?"
Baizi Hao paused, his paintbrush hovering over the canvas. Over the years, he'd grown accustomed to Kong Muhua's audacious claims, no longer taking them to heart. However, upon reflection, he began to acknowledge some merit in her words. Smiling, he asked, "What if one cannot prevail in such a contest?"
Kong Muhua was decisive: "If you can't win someone over, you should leave with your tail between your legs. Why stick around to make a fool of yourself?"
In their avian society, matters of love are straightforward. If you can't win affection, you're simply not attractive or competent enough. Even the gods must abide by this principle. Males vie for favor through beauty or, failing that, through power—eliminating rivals, if need be. Anything goes, as long as you don't demean the object of your affections; that's just disgraceful.
Why love a bad person? If you love them, cherish them; why spoil them?
Kong Muhua had trouble understanding certain human behaviors.
Although peacocks aren't the most monogamous of birds, Kong Muhua, being an ancient demon, frowned upon ordinary peacocks who casually selected mates. She yearned for the best but was overly selective and thus remained unsatisfied.
The day everyone thought a god would execute Bai Zihao, Kong Muhua found him disheveled and somewhat pitiable. She offered him a discarded cloak to give him some dignity in the afterlife.
Facing imminent death, Bai Zihao still expressed gratitude with decorum.
This intrigued Kong Muhua.
Unexpectedly, the god did not kill him but assigned him peculiar tasks. Kong Muhua volunteered to help. Initially, she was merely curious, but as she drew closer, she was moved. Bai Zihao's beauty and his gentle demeanor captivated her. His essence was like a gentle stream in a forest—unassuming at first but increasingly endearing over time, until it becomes a habit, a constant presence you wish to have by your side eternally.
No wonder that notorious philanderer was also captivated by this particular "flower."
She should act quickly; back in the Immortal Realm, there would be more competitors. While confident in her own beauty and power, she was aware of formidable rivals. What if Bai Zihao preferred the authoritative types from the Dapeng clan or the aloof ones from the Bifang clan?
Kong Muhua was determined to seize the opportunity and "steal" Bai Zihao away.
Patiently adjusting her appearance to match human aging, she reverted to her true form at eighteen—a breathtaking beauty proficient in various dances. Luckily, her clan excelled in illusions, allowing her to appear as an ordinary beauty, thereby avoiding undue attention.
Bai Zihao, a beauty in his own right and accustomed to stunning sights, failed to notice anything unusual.
Kong Muhua employed various techniques to flirt, lavishing compliments on him daily.
Bai Zihao found himself flustered and secretly pleased. He had once dreamed of finding a good wife, but his life took a different path, leading him to discover that he was only attracted to "female" immortals. This left him feeling unworthy and hesitant to pursue women.
He had never harbored desires for women and hadn't even considered such matters.
Now, sensing Kong Muhua's affections and feeling mutual attractions, he began to wonder: could he still live a normal life as a man? Perhaps he was attracted to women who were tall, flat-chested, long-legged, and cheerful with a tomboyish edge?
Bai Zihao took a cold shower to rid his mind of unrealistic fantasies.
He was already committed to a male partner; he couldn't afford to harm anyone else.
Bai Zihao, suppressing his embarrassment, found an opportunity to confide in Kong Muhua: "My Daoist partner is a man, and I've grown accustomed to taking a submissive role with him... So, I shouldn't be near you. We are not compatible..."
Before he could finish speaking, Kong Muhua planted a kiss on his face, delightfully saying, "Your Daoist partner has been absent for so long; he's probably frolicking elsewhere and got himself killed. Don't waste your life mourning him. Consider me. Only by trying will we know if we're compatible." As a majestic peacock demon, her competitive spirit was unrivaled; she wanted to win in every aspect.
The deity had already neutered that scumbag and fed it to the dogs. She smirked, finding human dimensions irrelevant.
Gifted as she was, she might lack experience, but matters like these were driven by male instinct. She was certain she could quickly become proficient in satisfying Bai Zihao in bed, thus besting all competitors and becoming his new partner.
Today, the proud peacock was brimming with inexplicable confidence.
Bai Zihao, touched yet despairing, felt his affections for her growing when he realized she knew about his past and was still ardently pursuing him. To control these feelings, he immersed himself in calligraphy, revived his piano skills, and buried his nose in academic pursuits, trying to distract himself from Kong Muhua. Yet, she knew not what rejection was, resorting to all sorts of schemes to tempt him into spending time with her.
Sometimes, they'd go on spring outings; at other times, picnics; occasionally, they'd go to the city to see the lanterns, or row a boat on the river, or visit the mirror lake to see the peacocks...
Every day was filled with joy and laughter.
Bai Zihao knew he was wrong, but the addiction was too strong. Lost in laughter and captivated by this idyllic life, he forgot all his worries. Greedily, he even hoped that their ten-year agreement could be extended, that time could move slower...
Yet, the more he wished for time to slow down, the faster it seemed to go.
Finally, the messenger from the deity arrived.
That day, with Kong Muhua's house closed and her absent, Bai Zihao reluctantly placed his farewell letter and the golden peacock feather on the drawing table. In the letter, he detailed his background, embarrassing past, ludicrous emotions, awkward marriage, and the uncertain future he faced. He asked her to forget him and find a better happiness. As for their secret, illicit feelings, he hesitated for a long time but ultimately left them unwritten...
Following the messenger, Bai Zihao boarded the divine vessel back to the Immortal Peak...
Each step was heavier than the last.
He realized he had almost forgotten what Jin Feiru looked like, only recalling the painful humiliations in bed. Having tasted real sweetness and happiness, he discovered how bitter the treats given by Jin Feiru were after wielding his whip.
The rhombus-shaped mark on his collarbone started to heat up, tinged with an indescribable pain.
He was already wed to Jin Feiru; he had no choice. A man as arrogant as Jin Feiru would never permit him to leave. Any hint of betrayal, and he would suffer the same fate as the red bird he once admired: abused to death like a toy. He wasn't strong enough to endure such agony.
But a lifetime felt too long; he didn't know how to endure it.
...
With great difficulty, Bai Zihao entered the main hall of the Immortal Peak and prostrated himself once more before the deity who governed his destiny.
The deity commanded a servant to bring forth a tray holding an exquisite dagger.
The dagger is keen-edged, suitable for murder as much as for self-destruction.
Bai Zihao shed tears with a smile. The merciful deity granted him sweetness in his final moments—allowing him to meet that endearing person, to experience the stirrings of true affection. That was more than enough. Now, he longed for no more than to escape unending agony; death was his most fitting destiny.
Grateful, he prostrated three times before the deity. With trembling hands, he picked up the dagger, turning the blade towards his own heart. Red vines suddenly sprouted forth, entwining around the dagger, halting the impending act. They gently pulled the blade away, redirecting its course.
Finally, the deity spoke, "I offer you three choices."
Bai Zihao looked up, his face marked by astonishment.
"You may choose deep affection and spend your life with him in the dungeon."
"You may choose to end your life, and I will let him share your fate in life and death."
"Or you may abandon your principles, break the chains in your heart, and live solely for yourself…"
The deity's voice felt like a demonic whisper, penetrating the depths of his soul, dissipating the fog, and revealing the dark gate he'd never dared to consider.
Bai Zihao looked at the dagger in his hand, as if looking at the key that could unlock that door.