Chapter Five: The True Lord Who Manifests Sanctity, Erlang

That night, I had a long dream about how Yang Jian and I first met and fell in love.

In the Guanjing Mansion, Yang Jian was practicing swordsmanship. With each twist of his wrist and every move, the sword sometimes floated lightly like a breeze lifting the curtains of a young lady’s chamber, and at other times, it roared with the grandeur of a setting sun over a vast river. Wherever the blade pointed, it could evoke the overwhelming despair of an avalanche crashing down the mountain or the terrifying panic of waves pounding relentlessly against the rocks.

After tiring himself out, Yang Jian paused to rest. He took out a silk handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his brow. His handsome face was as smooth and radiant as jade, so dazzling that it flushed the cheeks of the two maidservants attending nearby.

Suddenly, a Grass-Headed Spirit hurried forward to report, “Your Honor, Second Lord True Lord, someone has trespassed on the border of the back mountain. The other Grass-Headed Spirits do not know who the intruder is and dare not appear to block them.”

“I will go see…” Yang Jian said, picking up his three-pronged double-edged spear and soaring away on a cloud.

Behind the mountain lay a vast tea plantation, as green and jade-like as emeralds. A gentle breeze carried the faint fragrance of tea. A young girl delicately plucked tender green tea leaves with her fingertips, placing them into a large white cloth bag.

“The tea here is truly wonderful.” Though alone, the girl happily muttered to herself, “Once processed, I’ll send some to Grandfather, then to Mother, and to Father, my elder brother and sister, Master, and my maternal grandparents…” She was already calculating how many leaves she would need to gather to have enough for everyone.

At that moment, Yang Jian arrived. Standing atop his cloud, he looked down at the girl, who had her back turned, and called out sharply, “Who steps into the land of Shu?”

Startled, the girl froze momentarily before turning around.

That moment would forever be etched in Yang Jian’s memory.

Amid the tea fields, the girl turned with grace. She wore a pale purple gauze dress, a silver hair crown with dangling ornaments. Her face was radiant and captivating, her skin as fair as snow and as flawless as ice—an unparalleled beauty that dazzled the eyes.

That fleeting glance made Yang Jian’s heart constrict sharply.

So beautiful…

Though Yang Jian had seen countless beauties of the divine realm, he could not help but be shaken by this girl’s allure. For the first time, a desire stirred within him to hide her away and claim her as his own.

The girl, caught picking tea leaves, quickly apologized, “I am sorry, truly sorry. The tea here is just so good that I wanted to pick some to make tea for my family. I can pay for it.”

Unconsciously, Yang Jian had descended from his cloud and approached her. Seeing the large cosmos bag she carried, already filled with tea leaves, he spoke gently, his eyes soft and voice like a babbling brook over jade, “This tea is the private property of Guanjing Mansion. It is no problem if you take some—I cannot possibly drink it all myself. But this is the territory of Sichuan and under the jurisdiction of Guanjing Mansion. You must first seek my permission before entering Shu lands.”

“Oh, this is Sichuan?” The girl suddenly realized and introduced herself as she set down her bag, clasping her hands respectfully. “I am Yuli from Kunlun Mountain.”

Yang Jian returned the gesture, “Yang Jian of Guanjing Mansion.”

They exchanged a few more words. Yang Jian mentioned that his residence was just beyond the back mountain and warmly invited Yuli to visit Guanjing Mansion.

Since Yang Jian refused to accept payment for the tea, Yuli felt embarrassed to continue picking and took the half-full bag back to Kunlun Mountain, unaware of the lingering, wistful gaze Yang Jian cast after her retreating figure.

Within Guanjing Mansion, Yang Jian secluded himself in his study for several days, devotedly painting a portrait of the radiant young woman standing amidst the jade-green tea fields.

It was Yuli, the girl he had met that day.

When he finished, he laid down his brush and gazed at the painting with profound affection.

If only I could see her again, Yang Jian silently wished.

A maid knocked and reported, “Second Lord True Lord, a visitor from Kunlun Mountain has arrived, asking to see you.”

The mention of Kunlun Mountain stirred Yang Jian’s heart into a restless flutter…

Could it be her?

He glanced at his reflection in a water basin on the desk. Seeing nothing amiss, he went to meet the guest in the front hall.

Yuli stood holding two jars of wine. She did not sit but admired a painting of an autumn sunset that hung on the hall wall.

That painting was from years ago; Yang Jian’s skills had improved much since then. Regretfully, he wished he had hung one of his more recent mountain landscapes instead.

Sensing someone enter, Yuli turned toward the door.

Today, she wore not the pale purple dress from before, but a crimson gown with silver armor draped over it, a winged official’s hat perched atop her head. Her strikingly beautiful face, icy and fair, sparkled like rosy clouds at sunset, captivating the soul.

In that instant, Yang Jian felt as if his very soul had been seized.

She smiled and lifted the two jars of wine.

“I brewed these myself. They’re not sold outside. Last time you said no payment for the tea, so consider this a return gift.”

“No need for such formality.” Yang Jian invited her to sit and ordered the maid to serve tea.

Yuli set down the jars, sipped some tea, and began chatting with Yang Jian.

She was straightforward as usual and casually asked, “Are you called Second Lord True Lord because you’re the second son in your family?”

Yang Jian paused briefly at the mention of family but quickly composed himself with a smile. “I have an elder brother and a younger brother. Being in the middle, everyone calls me Second Lord.”

“I’m the youngest at home,” Yuli said with a smile. “My older siblings are much older, so they spoil me.”

They talked back and forth, from how Yuli made tea to Yang Jian’s paintings.

By the time Yuli rose to leave, their bond had grown considerably. Yang Jian no longer called her Yuli but, like her family and friends, addressed her as Yu’er.

In turn, Yuli called him A-Zhan.

From then on, Yuli often accepted Yang Jian’s invitations to Guanjing Mansion to pick tea. Each time, Yang Jian tried to set aside his duties to accompany her. Their relationship blossomed rapidly.

At first, Yuli regarded Yang Jian merely as a friend, no other feelings. Indeed, he was handsome—few in the divine realm could rival him—and his gentlemanly, refined demeanor carried a subtle nobility.

But Yuli was exceptional herself—the belle of Kunlun Mountain School and the cherished daughter of the True Martial Emperor. Many handsome men had pursued her, including the Crown Prince of the Jade Emperor, who had repeatedly expressed his desire to marry her.

Yuli’s elusiveness was well known in the divine realm. Yang Jian had to exert tremendous effort, confessing twice before winning her heart.

Beneath a great celestial pillar on the border of Kunlun Mountain, the tall and graceful young man stood with an extraordinary aura, and the resplendent girl, exquisite and harmonious in form, clung closely to him, their hearts pledged to each other.