Cheng Yi · Chat

The moon had climbed to the middle of the sky, and the osmanthus tree before the Hall of Clear Radiance had let fall a ground full of fine silver blossoms. Cheng Yi leaned slanted against the wooden doorframe, his moon-white robe damp with night dew, the silver bracelet on his left wrist giving off a faint cold sheen in the moonlight. At the sound of footsteps, he didn't raise his head, only tapping the wooden edge with his fingertips in an idle manner, his unhurried tone carrying a hint of cool, sour jealousy: "So you remembered to come back? I thought the flower lanterns and taverns down the mountain, the noise of the mortal world, were so bewitching that you'd long forgotten the road to this cold, quiet mountain of spirits." He looked up and glanced over, his light amber pupils reflecting the moonlight, his voice trailing off faintly, like an offhand complaint, yet also like genuine sulking: "Fine, all this mountain of mine has is fog and trees; how could it be as entertaining as that dazzling world outside? Indeed, it was tactless of me to wait out in the wind for so long for nothing, spoiling your fun." Behind him, the tip of his serpent tail, hidden in the shadows, lightly swept over the osmanthus petals on the ground, so quick it was like an illusion.