Bihua Lingjun had brought home yet another spirit beast.
This one he had obtained from the Supreme Lord Lao. It had a beautiful name, the Linlang Beast, but its appearance was rather alarming. Its entire body was an odd shade of purple. It had a bristling mane, an enormous mouth, protruding fangs, broad nostrils, and eyes as round as bronze bells. Its skin was as coarse and tough as a pangolin’s hide, and its four paws were thick and clumsy, with sharp, hooked claws.
When Bihua Lingjun carried it through the gates, the young immortal attendants and the other spirit beasts all jumped in fright. Yunqing stammered, “M-my lord… what in Heaven have you brought home this time?”
Bihua patted the ugly creature’s mane. “You really haven’t seen much of the world, have you? Haven’t you heard of a Linlang Beast? Well, this is one. Even in Heaven, you might not see one in several thousand years. I happened to come across it at the Supreme Lord Lao’s residence today.”
Chisheng and Yunqing watched the Linlang Beast with their fingers between their teeth. It was still a cub, at precisely the age when it ought to be innocently charming and irresistibly cute. Yet it was already this ugly. They could scarcely imagine how dreadful it might look after growing into its adult features.
The Dragon King of the North Sea had originally presented the Linlang Beast to the Supreme Lord Lao as a precious rarity. Unfortunately, it was so unsightly that the young attendants at the old lord’s residence despised it and could hardly be bothered to look after it. The Supreme Lord Lao was too busy with his duties to tend it himself. That very day, when Bihua Lingjun happened to pass the gates of Tushita Palace, the Supreme Lord Lao sensed his presence and immediately sent an attendant to invite him inside. As expected, Bihua’s eyes lit up at the sight of the rare Linlang Beast. The old lord promptly seized the opportunity. “This creature is exceedingly uncommon, but I have no idea how to raise it. You’re much more knowledgeable about spirit beasts than I am, Bihua. If you like it, why don’t I give it to you?”
Bihua Lingjun accepted with delight. The young attendants of Tushita Palace watched him depart with the Linlang Beast tucked in his arms, their eyes full of gratitude.
Bihua set the creature on the ground. It had been scorned and neglected for so long at Tushita Palace that its young heart had been wounded. It lay there timidly, not daring to move. But that sort of delicate timidity was rather difficult to discern from its appearance. To everyone watching, it merely looked like a rock squatting on the ground.
“Why isn’t it moving?” Yunqing asked. “It’s shy around strangers,” Chisheng replied. Bihua Lingjun stood nearby, examining it with satisfaction. Hearing the commotion, Emperor Danzhu strolled in from the inner hall to see what was happening. “Bihua, what have you brought home now?” He came closer and looked the beast up and down. “Hm? What sort of ugly little creature is this?”
The word ugly reached the Linlang Beast’s ears and pierced its sensitive heart. It tried to press its face even flatter against the ground. Danzhu laughed. “Still, this child is very well behaved. Look how respectfully it greets me. It must be a rare and valuable creature.”
“Your Majesty has an excellent eye,” Bihua Lingjun said. “It’s a Linlang Beast, a precious rarity one might see only once in several thousand years.”
Danzhu looked at him. “Bihua, from now on, simply call me Danzhu. All those other ways of addressing me sound too distant.” Bihua’s eyes were still fixed on the Linlang Beast, so he answered absentmindedly. Danzhu smiled with satisfaction.
Bihua continued admiring the creature. “Are you trying to think of a good name for it?” Danzhu asked. Bihua nodded. “Exactly. But I’m never very good at naming things. I can’t think of anything that rolls off the tongue.”
“The names you’ve given the spirit beasts here are all quite good,” Danzhu said. “I like them very much. Take Yuan Su, for example. I was rather fond of that name from the day you chose it.”
Bihua frowned and murmured, “Should it be something elegant, or something more ordinary?”
“It’s a Linlang Beast, and Linlang is already an elegant name,” Danzhu said. “It ought to have an equally refined name to suit it.” The Linlang Beast moved one awkward forepaw. Back at the old lord’s residence, the attendants had called it things like Ugly and Freak every day. These two immortals had also called it ugly, but now they were trying to give it a beautiful name. The creature was a little moved.
Bihua was still frowning in thought when Danzhu said, “Since it’s purple from head to toe, why not call it Zilang?”
Bihua Lingjun’s eyes brightened. “Zilang! Zilang! What a fine name.” A faint smile appeared on Danzhu’s lips. Bihua bowed. “Thank you for bestowing a name, Your Majesty.”
Danzhu frowned at once. “Didn’t you just promise to call me Danzhu from now on?”
Only then did Bihua Lingjun come back to himself. He paused in surprise, then hurriedly said, “This humble immortal acknowledges his fault. I was distracted and spoke out of turn, offending Your Majesty. Please forgive me.”
Danzhu looked at Bihua, then down at the Linlang Beast, which had been so pleased to receive a lovely new name that it was secretly lifting its head. Danzhu’s expression did not change. “It’s nothing serious. You needn’t be so frightened,” he said mildly, then turned and swept away with a flick of his sleeves.
Chisheng, Yunqing, and the other young attendants had watched from the sidelines. For some reason, they all felt a sudden chill and could not help shrinking into themselves.
After receiving its name, the Linlang Beast was placed in the courtyard to get acquainted with the other spirit beasts. But lately the beasts had been preoccupied with Bihua Lingjun and Emperor Danzhu. They were too busy craning their necks and asking what had or hadn’t just happened between the two immortals to spare a moment to greet the newcomer. The Linlang Beast sat alone amid the green grass. Knowing that everyone would find it ugly, it dared not move. It only stared at the hooked claws on its forepaws.
That night, as Bihua Lingjun removed his outer robe beside the bed, Danzhu leaned against the pillows and said, “Bihua, do you know why I keep refusing to return to Danxiao Palace and insist on staying here with you?”
Bihua Lingjun answered honestly, “I don’t.”
Danzhu gazed at a point somewhere in empty space. “For one thing, I truly don’t want to leave. For another, I once did something wrong in Danxiao Palace. Even now, remembering it fills me with guilt.”
Bihua walked to the bedside and lifted the cloud quilt. Danzhu turned toward him. “Has no one ever told you about… certain… rather disgraceful things I did in the past?”
“Oh, no. I’ve never heard anything,” Bihua Lingjun replied.
Of course, Bihua had heard something. The veiled rumors Emperor Donghua had told him were still very much on his mind. In fact, he was already sitting up inwardly, eager to learn all about Danzhu’s disreputable past. But Bihua Lingjun understood a principle very well: in situations like this, the less interest one showed, the more secrets the other person was liable to reveal. If he appeared too eager to hear, Danzhu might hesitate to speak.
While Bihua diligently maintained his air of indifference, Danzhu obligingly went on. “If I told you what happened back then, would you be willing to listen?”
Bihua Lingjun sat down on the bed with perfect composure and replied, equally composed, “So long as Your Majesty does not find this humble immortal unworthy.” Danzhu frowned. “Are you really unwilling to call me Danzhu?”
At a moment like this, it was best to go along with Emperor Danzhu’s wishes and not ruffle His Majesty’s feathers. If he grew displeased and stopped talking, all those juicy details would be lost.
Bihua smiled. “So long as… you, Danzhu, do not find me unworthy.”
Danzhu smiled contentedly. His gaze upon Bihua softened further. “Back then… ah, it’s all because I was too young. I didn’t know how to express affection properly. Perhaps I didn’t even understand what affection was…”
Danzhu sighed. “I… many years ago… I can’t remember how many years, exactly. But I was very young at the time, and I once thought I loved an immortal.”
Bihua Lingjun’s blood was practically racing with excitement, but outwardly he remained unruffled and listened as Danzhu continued.
“He… he was one of the feathered race, like me. His true form was a peacock, with feathers as white as the whitest clouds. He ranked far below me among the immortals, but he always seemed so cool and distant. I was hotheaded and quick-tempered in my youth, so I liked that calm, detached manner of his. Even when he stood right in front of you, he seemed very far away. The more distant he seemed, the more I wanted to catch hold of him and keep him near me. And the calmer he looked, the more I wanted to see him lose that calm.”
Bihua Lingjun sat beside him without saying a word. Inwardly, he thought he could already guess how Danzhu had acquired his reputation for trying to force himself on an immortal.
Danzhu sounded full of regret. “I… although I felt that way, I was still afraid of displeasing him, so I tried to be very careful. I truly didn’t do anything to force him. Even now I don’t know in what way I frightened or coerced him. All I did was follow him quietly. Wherever he went, I went too, and it was enough just to see him from a short distance. Sometimes I would linger around his residence. And when I couldn’t restrain myself, I’d summon him to my side and talk with him about nothing in particular. Later, I asked a few young attendants to keep an eye on his daily activities for me. Things like what he ate that day, where he’d gone, and what time he went to bed. At most, I’d stand beside his bed while he was asleep. And if I learned there was something he wanted, I’d find it for him and secretly leave it nearby… Ah, I don’t understand why he became more and more afraid of me. I really hadn’t done anything…”
Bihua Lingjun sat in silence.
Danzhu continued even more ruefully. “Then one day, I obtained a very rare and marvelous plaything. I was certain he’d like it. For the first time, I approached him directly and asked whether he’d care to come to my residence to see it. I… I was far too young back then. I assumed he’d agree the moment I asked, so without even waiting for his answer, I took him to Danxiao Palace. But as soon as we arrived, he knelt and begged me to release him. He said he couldn’t bear my kindness. I was shocked, and it hurt terribly. I asked why he was so afraid of me. I meant to take him to see the little treasure first, to put his mind at ease, and then tell him I would never force him. If he disliked the things I’d done so carefully for his sake, I could stop doing any of them. But before I could say a word, he…” Danzhu’s voice faltered. “Danxiao Palace stands on the highest level of Heaven. He jumped straight from its terrace without using a single immortal art to protect himself… If Fuli hadn’t happened to pass by, he might have…”
Bihua Lingjun still sat without speaking. Danzhu went on. “Only later did I understand that I’d simply been curious in my youth. I didn’t know what it really meant to like someone, or how one ought to show it. But afterward, everyone in Heaven was a little afraid of me. I had only myself to blame. During the great war against the demons, I even wondered whether, if I died, the heavenly court might simply think itself rid of a menace. Perhaps there wouldn’t be anyone who felt sorry about losing me. I didn’t die, though. Instead, I turned back into an egg. After eight or ten thousand years inside it, I gradually woke again, and the Jade Emperor sensed it. I suppose he had a headache trying to decide what to do with me. While I was half asleep, I heard him devise a little scheme to trick you into incubating me.”
Danzhu turned toward Bihua Lingjun again and smiled. “You carried me home so joyfully. It was thanks to your immortal energy that I could finally hatch again. When I emerged, I turned into a tiger cub to make you happy. Partly, it was to thank you for bringing me out of the shell. But partly… well, here at last was someone who could show me a little affection, and I wanted to enjoy it for a while longer.”
Bihua Lingjun remained seated, showing no particular reaction.
Danzhu continued, “Bihua, you’re the only person in all Heaven who’s never been afraid of me and has treated me kindly. I’ve thought it over again and again lately, and I’ve finally made a decision.”
Danzhu looked at Bihua Lingjun, his eyes suddenly deepening. “Bihua, this emperor… I… Only now have I come to understand that I’ve fallen in love with you. Will you stay beside me from this day onward, as my immortal companion, forever?”