Chapter 207
Jian Shiyi Lang slept soundly through the night.
When he woke again, the entire world seemed to be shaking violently, with torrents of rain pouring down. The cold, weightless feeling of the rain made him suddenly awake, and he opened his eyes.
He didn’t know when, but the rain had already flooded into the cave, filling it halfway, with the water level still rising. His shoes, socks, and pants were soaked through with rainwater.
Jian Shiyi Lang looked down and found himself being carried by Taotie, suspended in the air, rainwater dripping off him.
Jian Shiyi Lang: “?”
Taotie: “?”
Taotie’s dark-gold pupils blinked, revealing a trace of unprovoked anger and embarrassment.
Before Jian Shiyi Lang could figure out why, he felt Taotie’s massive head shake slightly and, with some impatience, toss him onto his back.
—On Taotie’s back was the only dry spot left in the cave.
Lying on Taotie’s broad back, Jian Shiyi Lang rubbed the back of his head.
When he first realized that Taotie had picked him up, Jian Shiyi Lang had thought he was about to be eaten. After all, it was said that Taotie had a huge appetite and could eat anything. Eating a human when hungry was probably normal, right?
But Taotie… was saving him?
“Thank you,” Jian Shiyi Lang said, sliding a bit on Taotie’s back. He struggled to hold on to the scales to avoid falling off and then whispered, “Lord Taotie, you’re quite nice.”
Taotie: “…”
Taotie snorted coldly but said nothing.
After a long while, Taotie slowly lowered his head, flattening his back to make the human’s position more comfortable.
Another long silence.
Jian Shiyi Lang was a lively and cheerful person by nature. As part of his job, he could strike up a conversation with anyone. With just him and Taotie in the cave and nothing else to do, he decided to talk:
“Lord Taotie, today when I was at Pear Blossom Village to get supplies, I encountered something strange. They said that the new bride of the Li family at the village entrance…”
“When I was little, I lived with my parents and older brother in the south. We were fishermen. Lord Taotie, have you ever seen the sea?”
“Lord Taotie… are you the ferocious beast from the Shan Hai Realm? But you seem kind-hearted. You don’t seem anything like what the village says, burning, killing, and looting.”
The rain kept pouring, and in the cave, there was no sense of day or night, and time seemed to slip by unnoticed. Jian Shiyi Lang listened to the continuous rain, feeling the warmth of Taotie’s body through the scales beneath him, and continued chattering about things he had heard. Before he knew it, he was getting sleepy again.
…Throughout it all, Taotie barely responded, as if he didn’t care at all about what the human was saying, letting it all wash over him like background noise.
But when Jian Shiyi Lang’s voice grew softer and eventually faded, Taotie suddenly opened his eyes wide, his enormous pupils gazing upward, urgently looking for the human’s condition.
—Humans are fragile. This Jian Shiyi Lang, had he… died?
Soon, feeling Jian Shiyi Lang’s steady breathing, Taotie finally relaxed.
Fortunately, it was just that he had fallen asleep.
Taotie lowered his head and yawned as well, listening to the steady sound of Jian Shiyi Lang’s breathing, slowly falling back to sleep.
So, amidst the sound of the heavy rain, in the dim cave, the man and the fierce beast slept and woke, woke and slept, going through several cycles. When Jian Shiyi Lang woke up again, the rainwater that had almost filled the entire cave had somehow receded, revealing the original cave floor. The rain outside seemed to have stopped.
In its place, a tremendous rumbling sound filled the air:
Gululu—
Gululu—
The sound was somewhat similar to the rumbling his stomach made when he was hungry, but it was deeper, louder, like a vibration from the depths of the earth.
Along with the rumbling sound, the scales beneath Jian Shiyi Lang’s feet began to tremble.
Jian Shiyi Lang: “…Lord Taotie, are you hungry?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the entire cave suddenly fell into a deathly silence.
Taotie remained silent.
In his dark-gold pupils, there was a clear expression of ‘What nonsense are you talking? Don’t try to slander me.’
But after a while, the rumbling sound came again:
Gulu—gululu! Gululu!!!
This time, the sound was even more heart-wrenching, the kind of noise that would make anyone who heard it feel sorrowful and teary-eyed.
And this time, Jian Shiyi Lang clearly heard it:
The rumbling sound was unmistakably coming from below, from the fierce beast lying on the ground…
Jian Shiyi Lang: “…”
Jian Shiyi Lang fumbled around in his clothes for a while, finally pulling out a flatbread.
It was a flatbread he had made himself. At first, it was just something he could eat while traveling around selling goods, but later, at the request of the neighbors, he occasionally made more to sell.
Jian Shiyi Lang wasn’t a professional cook, so the flatbread wasn’t exactly delicious. Moreover, it had soaked up some rainwater, making it look even worse, but since it had been kept close to Jian Shiyi Lang’s body, it hadn’t gotten completely cold due to his body temperature.
Jian Shiyi Lang carefully wiped the bread with his sleeve, tore it in half, and offered one half:
“Lord Taotie, if you’re hungry, would you like to try a bit?”
The enormous beast remained silent.
After a long pause, just as Jian Shiyi Lang thought that Lord Taotie was too disdainful to eat his half of the flatbread and was about to pull it back…
Suddenly, a flash of white light appeared in front of him.
The massive beast had disappeared, and standing before Jian Shiyi Lang was a silver-haired man, covered in wounds.
The man was tall and handsome, but his face was twisted in a scowl, as though he were displeased.
He grumpily took the half of the flatbread from Jian Shiyi Lang’s hand and said:
“Hmph, human, I’ll reluctantly accept your offering.”
His voice was low, carrying a hint of inherent arrogance, but the muffled tone quickly made Jian Shiyi Lang connect him to the enormous beast.
—This was the first time he had heard Taotie speak.
So he really could speak human language.
Jian Shiyi Lang continued munching on his flatbread while curiously eyeing the man beside him, his gaze never missing a detail.
Taotie, feeling his gaze, grew a little flustered. His cheeks were stuffed with flatbread, and though he seemed to be enjoying it, his face twisted into a more irritable expression. “Human, what are you staring at? Chew, chew, chew… I’m just giving you a little attention, and you’re getting carried away… chew, chew, chew…”
Jian Shiyi Lang: “You look good, so I’m just looking a little longer.”
At these words, Taotie’s ears turned even redder.
—”You, you!”
“In our Taohua Slope, you’re kind of like the village’s most handsome guy.”
—”What’s a village’s most handsome guy? Chew, chew, chew… Also, where is Taohua Slope?”
“Taohua Slope is the village where I live. I was once the village’s most handsome guy, but if Lord Taotie is here, I’d have to bow down in defeat.”
—— “Human, what is your name?”
“I’m Jian, the eleventh child in my family. Everyone calls me Jian Shiyi Lang, but my real name is ‘Yun Lan.’ What about you, Lord Taotie? Do you have a name?”
—— “My name is Taotie. Hmph, quite imposing, isn’t it?”
“…”
The cave remained dim, but Taotie used his magical power to create a small fire. The two of them sat shoulder to shoulder by the fire, sharing the flatbread.
Jian Shiyi Lang, being a chatterbox, rambled on, discussing all kinds of topics. Taotie appeared uninterested, occasionally responding, but he was actually listening attentively.
The flatbread wasn’t very tasty, but after being heated by the fire, it became warm, and the two of them ate it seriously. Taotie even licked his fingers after finishing, much to Jian Shiyi Lang’s amusement. Taotie, both angry and embarrassed, grabbed Jian Shiyi Lang’s collar, and they began playfully wrestling, getting closer until their breaths tangled together.
The wind, mixed with the dampness of the rain, blew through. Time seemed to flow incredibly slowly. The flickering fire cast their shadows on the ground, stretching them intermittently.
For some reason, as Jian Shiyi Lang—Yun Lan—looked at their shadows, he suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to cry.
It was as if old memories, long buried, surged up like a rising tide, submerging everything above. It felt like finding a lost treasure, and his heart was softened, filled with a bittersweet ache.
It was at this moment that both Yun Lan and Taotie realized—
The continuous rain that had lasted for days had stopped.
The fire went out, the rain receded, and the path to the outside world became clear. The light from outside filtered softly into the cave, dusting the two of them with a gentle glow.
Taotie and Yun Lan both fell silent.
After a while, Yun Lan stood up.
Taotie asked him, “Are you leaving?”
“Yes.”
Yun Lan nodded.
“…”
Taotie lowered his eyes, hiding the hint of melancholy in his gaze.
— He was trapped here and couldn’t leave, but the human was different.
What held Yun Lan back was only the rain. Now that it had stopped, he should naturally leave.
Yun Lan belonged to the outside world—mountains, rivers, lakes, the bustling marketplaces, and the center of people’s smiles and attention.
He didn’t belong to Taotie.
A strange, unexplainable feeling of frustration and sourness rose in Taotie’s heart.
These emotions surged up, blocking his throat, and the words he finally spoke were:
“Human, your flatbread is awful!”
Yun Lan: “…”
Yun Lan scratched his nose awkwardly. He knew his cooking skills weren’t great. The neighbors bought his flatbread not because it tasted good, but just to fill their stomachs. But in this world, most people were just happy to have something to eat, not caring whether it was tasty or not.
But Lord Taotie was, after all, Lord Taotie—a mighty ancient beast. It was perfectly normal for him to be picky.
After some thought, Yun Lan made up his mind and said:
“Then, Lord Taotie… I’ll study a bit more and try to make something tastier. How about I bring it to you tomorrow?”
Yun Lan grinned foolishly, dreaming, “Maybe I really have a talent for this, and one day I’ll become the world’s best chef.”
Taotie: “…”
Taotie didn’t discourage Yun Lan’s somewhat unrealistic fantasy, but he did latch onto a key word in his speech:
“‘Tomorrow’?” Taotie asked urgently. “Tomorrow, will I be able to see you?”
Yun Lan nodded. “Yes.”
“What about the day after tomorrow?”
“You’ll see me then too.”
“And the day after that?”
“Of course.”
“Then… the day after that?”
“Okay.”
“…”
—— “How long will we keep meeting?” Taotie couldn’t help but ask.
“A million years… forever,” Yun Lan smiled and said. “How about it?”
Taotie opened his mouth.
His heart was gently squeezed by two warm hands, and though it hurt in delicate, tiny ways, it stirred in him an unexpected hope.
It felt like as long as he wished loudly enough, it would come true.
“Forever,” huh?
“Alright,” Taotie hesitated, then extended his hand, saying:
“Let’s make a pinky promise.”
Yun Lan nodded and was about to extend his hand when he suddenly thought of something.
He asked Taotie:
“What if I die… or if I reincarnate, change into someone else, and can’t find my way back here?”
“Then I’ll come find you.”
Taotie said decisively.
“It’s been so long… will you remember me when you find me?”
Yun Lan felt a bit worried.
Taotie’s memory wasn’t exactly great.
“So what if I forget?” Taotie said, showing a nonchalant expression. “Whether I remember or not, whether it takes thousands or tens of thousands of years, I’ll search for you through countless time and space. When I find you, I’ll remember. What’s the big deal?”
Even if, in that long time, Taotie had forgotten who he was searching for or the reason for his search, it didn’t matter.
As long as he could see him again, the endless years of searching and waiting wouldn’t feel so unbearable.
Millions of years, just for this one moment of reunion.
“……”
For some reason, hearing Taotie’s words, Jian Yunlan felt the heavy burden in his heart suddenly lift.
The long time, the pain of separation, the forgetfulness… none of it was something to be afraid of. When they met again, he would still reach out his hand to Taotie, and he would share his hot food with him.
The only difference was that next time, he would try his best to make the food taste even better.
So, Jian Yunlan smiled happily, his eyes curving into a gentle crescent shape, and he extended his hand.
“Alright, let’s make a pinky promise.”
Jian Yunlan and Taotie’s little fingers touched, their foreheads pressing together.
A warm, glowing light rose from the chest of Taotie, and the light split in two. Half remained near his heart, and the other half drifted into Jian Yunlan’s chest.
—— “Pinky promise, hang yourself, ten million years, never change!”
The two of them spoke in unison.
Then, they both laughed. Jian Yunlan’s cheeks dimpled with two small dimples, and Taotie showed his sharp tiger teeth, looking like two children who hadn’t grown up, yet they solemnly promised eternity.
From that moment on, they were fated to be bound together.
Never to be separated.
*
The torrential rain finally stopped, the dark clouds dispersed, and in their place was bright daylight.
Outside the cave, various sounds emerged.
The sounds, once faint, gradually grew louder, each one carrying hope and expectation, growing stronger as the light from outside the cave spilled in, as if urging something forward.
Jian Yunlan heard many familiar voices among them.
—— There was the immature voice of a little girl, it was Hu Danggui; the clear and aloof voice of Ning Sheng; the honest and simple voice of Niu Tou; and the gentle young voice mixed with a boy’s laughter, it was Ye Qingquan and Lele…
And many more.
Countless familiar names, carrying memories from so long ago, suddenly flickered to life like lanterns, their lights merging into a sea, coming from the cave’s entrance.
The voices gently, eagerly, and anxiously urged him to stand up, to take a step, to walk outside.
To leave the cave and walk into that beam of light.
Jian Yunlan was drawn to the light, and couldn’t help but observe it closely:
Within the beam of light, there were the lights of a bustling city, the lively streets and alleys, the ringing of three-wheeled bikes, customers chatting and laughing in queues, little girls calling out to attract customers, Niutou running around busy with tea and water, and…
Himself.
Wearing a floral apron, holding a spatula, busy at a small food stall.
“Jian Yunlan, you need to go.”
Beside him, Taotie spoke softly, releasing the hand that had been holding his.
Taotie took a step back and gently pushed Jian Yunlan forward, sending him into the beam of light that had spilled into the cave.
“…” Jian Yunlan stumbled a step forward, staring blankly at the entrance of the cave.
Wanting to see more clearly, Jian Yunlan couldn’t help but move closer to the exit of the cave. The warm lights gradually spread across him, driving away the wet cold of the rain, and his whole body warmed up from head to toe.
Just one more step, one more step forward, and he would walk into the light.
His heart beat violently, and the whole world fell silent, only the deafening sound of his heartbeat filling his ears.
In that moment, Jian Yunlan could almost imagine what he looked like standing there. He was meant to belong there, in the city streets, at the center of the lively crowd, his heart aching with a burning desire, almost unable to wait.
But…
Jian Yunlan stopped in his tracks and turned around.
He couldn’t leave yet. He had forgotten someone very important.
He couldn’t leave that person behind and return to the light alone.
He had to go back.
Jian Yunlan’s steps started slow, then gradually quickened, until he was almost running. It felt as though his chest was filled with fire, burning so intensely that he could barely catch his breath. Even so, he urged himself to go faster.
Faster, just a little faster.
“…”
In the depths of the cave.
Taotie stood alone, staring at his empty palm.
He couldn’t help but pull a self-deprecating smile, turning around and walking further into the deeper darkness of the cave.
Suddenly, Taotie heard the sound of hurried footsteps behind him.
The footsteps grew louder and closer, disordered and rushed, as if afraid of losing him. As they ran, a voice shouted:
“Lord Taotie!”
Taotie’s heartbeat skipped a beat.
He turned around and saw Jian Yunlan, panting and out of breath, standing behind him.
Jian Yunlan leaned on his knee, catching his breath. His eyes were shockingly bright, and he looked at Taotie with an incredibly serious expression, smiling:
“Lord Taotie, you once said you would die with me.”
“But I’m a little greedy. Not only do I want to die with you, I want to do more, more things with you—live together, sleep together, daydream together, play games together, watch TV together, run a food stall together…”
“So, I want to ask—”
“Will you live with me?”
Jian Yunlan extended his hand to Taotie.
Thump, thump, thump.
In an instant, the world fell into a kind of soft silence.
Taotie felt his heart uncontrollably tremble, as though it were pierced by a mountain torrent and a tsunami, as if he had heard the thunder and lightning of the beginning of the world, or glimpsed a ray of light breaking through the storm of the century.
He stared into Jian Yunlan’s eyes, and time suddenly slowed down, feeling as if millions of years had passed. In reality, only a few seconds had gone by.
Taotie heard his own voice, dry and trembling, whispering:
“I will.”
Then, Taotie reached out and took Jian Yunlan’s hand.
They walked together out of the cave.
This journey took them from darkness to the breaking light of day, from silence to the bustling sounds of life—
Their fingers intertwined as they walked side by side, returning to the world of human warmth.
