Tang Hua slowly turned around. His features were as picturesque as ever, exuding unparalleled grace, yet the familiar face now bore an unfamiliar expression. He stared at Tan Yin for a long time, then suddenly raised an eyebrow, revealing a playful smile—the kind only Tai He would make.
“Tan Yin,” he spoke, “it’s been a long time.”
Tan Yin felt as if she were in a dream. She stammered, unable to utter a word, even though she had so many questions just moments before. Time seemed to rewind, as though she had been transported back five thousand years. Tai He stood before her, smiling, calm and carefree, while she remained frozen, unable to form a coherent sentence.
During Tai He's five-thousand-year slumber, she had waited for him alone, descended to the mortal realm alone, and searched for his lost left hand. Looking back now, those long, desolate years seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. Only now, seeing him again, did she realize that she had waited five thousand years for this man.
Five thousand years, and in front of him, she was still the same stammering young goddess.
Tai He looked down at his hand and smiled. “I’m not quite used to this immortal’s body. I can’t suppress my divine consciousness for long.”
Tan Yin murmured, “You… took over his body?”
Tai He exaggerated his smile. “How could that be? This body was already dead when I found it. I was in a hurry to find you, so I couldn’t search for a more suitable one.”
“In a hurry to find me?” Tan Yin repeated the words slowly, wondering if this was all just a dream.
“Yes, in a hurry to find you.” Tai He stepped closer and, just as he used to, lovingly ruffled her hair. “Silly girl, I know you’ve been searching for my left hand.”
His left hand. Tan Yin suddenly jolted, as if waking from a daze. She grabbed his hand, her voice urgent: “Tai He! A-are you alright? Did your mortal tribulation happen? Your divine power has weakened, how did you descend to the mortal realm? And now, your left hand…”
Tai He gently patted her. “Slow down, slow down. You’re speaking nonsense.”
Realizing she was asking incoherent questions, Tan Yin abruptly stopped. After a long pause, she whispered, “Why did you choose to sleep?”
Tai He replied calmly, “I had a premonition that my mortal tribulation was approaching. With my left hand missing and my divine power weakened, I knew I wouldn’t survive the tribulation. I had no choice but to go into slumber.”
A mortal tribulation—every god and goddess eventually faced one. Han Nü's tribulation had been Tan Yin herself, Tan Yin's tribulation was Yuan Zhong, but who would be Tai He's?
She realized she had far too many questions, and the emotions and experiences of five thousand years couldn’t be expressed all at once. Tai He seemed to understand this as well. He smiled at her. “In any case, I’m here now. You sealed my body inside that massive divine crystal, so I couldn’t bring it down to the mortal realm. I had no choice but to find a suitable body here. I happened to come across this fox immortal—he had just died. Although the body isn’t quite compatible with my divine consciousness, it will do for now.”
Tang Hua is dead? How did he die? Tan Yin didn’t ask, and Tai He probably didn’t know. He had been asleep for five thousand years and likely wasn’t aware of Han Nü’s transformation into a demon. She didn’t dare bring it up either, fearing it would sadden him. After all, he had once said that Han Nü was his companion. But the fact that Tai He’s first act after awakening was to descend to the mortal realm to find her, not Han Nü, left her with an inexplicable discomfort.
Tai He gazed at her quietly, his unfamiliar eyes holding a familiar look. Tan Yin forced a smile but wasn’t sure what to say. Suddenly, Tai He sighed and said, “Tan Yin, what has become of you?”
Instinctively, she looked down at herself. “...What do you mean?”
“Your mortal tribulation has begun,” Tai He said bluntly, his eyes filled with pity. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice just because you’re wearing gloves?”
Tan Yin’s heart raced in panic. She clasped her hands behind her back, her fingers fidgeting. After a long silence, she whispered, “It’s nothing.”
“Nonsense,” Tai He scolded, frowning. “You’ve only been in the mortal realm for a short while, and your tribulation has already progressed to this point. In just a few months, you could face total annihilation. How can you say it’s nothing?”
She shook her head slowly. “It’s really nothing. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Tai He’s frown deepened. “Not worry about you?”
She didn’t answer. Neither of them spoke, and a heavy silence fell between them. After what felt like an eternity, Tai He suddenly chuckled. “My left hand fell to the mortal realm and gained its own destiny. It’s likely in the body of someone from the fox clan. You must have found him by now. Tan Yin, who is he? It’s time for me to reclaim my left hand.”
Tan Yin abruptly raised her head, her face pale. “It’s not time yet! If you forcibly take your left hand, you’ll die!”
Tai He laughed heartily, waving his sleeve as he began walking down the mountain. “What do I have to fear? I know where he is now, don’t I? No need to say more—I’m going.”
Tan Yin grabbed his sleeve. “Wait!”
Tai He stopped but didn’t turn around. “Wait for what?”
His voice dropped, as if he had already seen through all her hidden thoughts. There was even a hint of mockery. Tan Yin felt a chill run through her, yet her grip on his sleeve tightened.
“Don’t go,” she whispered.
“...Tan Yin, are you worried that I’ll die if I forcibly retrieve my left hand, or are you worried about something else?”
He asked softly.
She remained silent, her head lowered, like a stubborn child caught doing something wrong, unwilling to let go of his sleeve.
Tai He’s voice grew more sarcastic. “I understand. You’re afraid that person will discover the truth—that you deceived him. You like him, don’t you? You’re scared he’ll find out you only approached him because of another man, and that he’ll leave you. Tan Yin, what do you think? Will I go, or won’t I? And once he knows the truth, how do you think he’ll react?”
“Tai He!” she was almost pleading now.
Still, he didn’t turn around, standing with his back to her.
“You love him,” his voice was calm and faint. “Tan Yin, your mortal tribulation is him.”
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