With no shovel available, Fu Hua simply tore a thick branch from a tree, shaved one end flat, and used it as a makeshift shovel, digging into the earth one scoop at a time.
Worried about accidents, the Fu Hua of the past had buried the box very deep, so digging it up now was rather time-consuming.
After digging for a good while, until the pit was eight meters deep, Fu Hua finally hit the box.
She hugged the box and leaped out of the pit in a single bound. Ignoring the dirt that now covered her body and face, Fu Hua, with a heart full of excitement, placed the box on the ground.
With slightly trembling hands, she entered the code. The box emitted a soft click, and a small gap appeared where it was sealed.
Fu Hua took a deep breath to steady her emotions, then slowly reached out and opened the lid.
"Little Xuan..."
Gazing at the Book of Cangxuan inside the box, which hadn't changed a bit in a thousand years, it was as if the marks of time had no effect on her. She was still in a deep slumber, just like Sleeping Beauty from a fairy tale.
This Sleeping Beauty was just a little small.
Fu Hua reached into her clothes, took out the arc reactor, and carefully opened the energy supply port on the Book of Cangxuan's body, placing the arc reactor inside.
Fu Hua watched the Book of Cangxuan with great anticipation. She didn't know if the arc reactor would actually work, but if even this failed, then she would truly be out of options.
Fortunately, fate finally smiled upon her this time, choosing not to play another cruel joke.
As the arc reactor was placed inside the little doll's body, high-intensity energy began to transfer at a rate of three billion joules per second, instantly reaching every component within the Book of Cangxuan.
"High energy reaction detected. Current charge at three hundred percent... five hundred percent... nine hundred percent..."
A somewhat mechanical voice came from the Book of Cangxuan's mouth, and a short while later, she slowly opened her eyes.
"Chiyuan..."
The Book of Cangxuan blinked. She looked at the Fu Hua before her, who, despite the drastic change in attire, still had the same face. She tilted her head.
"How long... was I asleep?"
"...Not long. Just a single nap's worth of time."
Fu Hua pursed her lips, a faint smile appearing on her face. She reached out and gathered the little doll into her arms. Feeling the warmth gradually returning to her body, Fu Hua was finally certain that this was not a dream. She had finally awakened her dear friend.
"Chiyuan..."
Being held in Fu Hua's embrace, the Book of Cangxuan was stunned for a moment, then she too revealed a gratified smile and wrapped her arms around Fu Hua's neck.
"It's been a long time. Have you been well?"
"Mmm... I've been very well."
"Is that so? That's good."
The two held each other for a while, neither speaking, simply feeling each other's warmth and heartbeat, savoring this hard-won reunion that had been a thousand years in the making.
---o---
"Celestial, how did you get so disheveled? Fuyun Temple is in ruins, too."
A while later, by a small river on Taixuan Mountain, the Book of Cangxuan sat on the bank, washing the clothes Fu Hua had just taken off while speaking to her, who was bathing in the water not far away.
After trekking over mountains and wading through rivers, then digging in a pit for half the day, Fu Hua's body was already filthy. If the Book of Cangxuan hadn't forcefully dragged her to the river, she might not have bothered to bathe.
"Mmm... a lot has happened. It's too much to explain in just a moment."
Fu Hua immersed her body in the cool river water. Watching the little Cangxuan skillfully wash her clothes, she was momentarily lost in a daze. It was as if she had returned to a thousand years ago. Back then, they were just like this; after vanquishing demons, one would be responsible for bathing, the other for laundry.
"Mmm... it seems I was asleep for a very long time." Little Cangxuan shook her head thoughtfully, then looked at Fu Hua again. "Chiyuan, the you of today seems to have a lot more human warmth than before. It looks like you didn't forget what I told you."
"Human warmth..." Fu Hua paused. She hadn't felt any change in herself, but in the eyes of the Book of Cangxuan, who had slept for a millennium, the current Fu Hua was quite different from the old one.
At the very least, the current Fu Hua spoke more and had a richer variety of expressions. She wasn't like her old self, who wore a blank, emotionless face all day long and wasn't any fun at all.
"Whew, the clothes are washed. Next is to mend them."
After drying the washed clothes, the Book of Cangxuan produced a needle and thread from who-knows-where and began to meticulously stitch the clothing.
Don't ask how she dried them; just know it was a function Cangxuan had installed for her.
After all, to make it easier for the Book of Cangxuan to take care of Fu Hua, Cangxuan and Danzhu hadn't installed many weapons on her. Instead, they had maxed out her housekeeping and life-skill abilities.
So, the Book of Cangxuan was less of an armed doll and more of a nanny doll.
Of course, she wasn't completely without combat ability, but most of her functions were supportive. With a Celestial like Fu Hua around, when it came to fighting Honkai Beasts, was there really a need for a little doll to step in?
In no time at all, the little doll had mended the tattered clothes, making them look as good as new.
"Chiyuan, you can come out now."
"Mmm."
Fu Hua nodded, walked out of the river naked, took the towel handed to her by the Book of Cangxuan, dried her body, and finally changed into the clean clothes.
And thus, a brand new Immortal Celestial Chiyuan appeared.
"Chiyuan, you have to tell me everything that's happened over the years. By the way, is it still the Tang Dynasty? Or is it a different dynasty now?" Little Cangxuan asked curiously, floating in mid-air.
"Little Xuan."
"Hmm?"
"Thank you, for always being by my side."
Fu Hua looked at the little Cangxuan beside her with a serious expression. She had never said such words before, but having experienced loss, she now understood the preciousness of what she had. She would not lose another friend again.
"Eh? Goodness gracious, you blockhead! Did someone replace you?"
Hearing Fu Hua's sudden words, the Book of Cangxuan's eyes nearly popped out of her head in surprise. Was this the same Celestial she knew?
Just how long had she been asleep!
Why had the Celestial become so... so cute!
"If you don't like hearing it, I won't say it in the future."
Seeing the Book of Cangxuan's jaw-dropped expression, Fu Hua thought she disliked hearing such things. Fully embodying her emotionally direct nature, she tried to take back her words.
"Don't! Say it! Why wouldn't you say it? I love hearing you say it!" Little Cangxuan suddenly hugged Fu Hua's head from behind, her face beaming with a happy smile.
"Quick, say a few more things! Say you need me, that you can't live without me."
"Ngh..."
"Heehee, Celestial, Little Xuan will always be with you from now on..."