Kapitel 20: 700 Collection Bonus: Ying Yue

In the heart of a small mountain town, nestled amidst rolling hills and lush greenery, there resided a figure of grace and compassion: Ying Yue.

She was the epitome of beauty, her delicate features and gentle demeanor captivating the hearts of all who crossed her path. The villagers often spoke in hushed tones of her ethereal presence, likening her to a celestial being that had descended upon their humble abode. Ying Yue's home, a quaint farmhouse surrounded by bountiful fields, stood as a testament to the simple yet abundant life she shared with her mother, Chingxi Yue, and her father, Jun Li Yue.

But despite the picturesque surroundings, a shadow lingered over their tranquil existence—a void left by the absence of Ying Yue's father, who never returned from the distant war that claimed him. Chingxi Yue, a woman of unwavering faith and determination, clung to the hope of her husband's eventual return, her once-youthful visage now weathered by years of longing and uncertainty. Each day, she would venture out into the fields, her steps faltering with the weight of unspoken fears, her gaze searching the horizon for a glimpse of her beloved's silhouette. As time passed and Ying Yue blossomed into womanhood, she took it upon herself to tend to the land that sustained them, nurturing the crops with tender care and planting vibrant flowers to adorn her mother's weary path.

Yet, beneath her outward composure, a quiet desperation gnawed at her soul—a desperate desire to alleviate her mother's suffering and bring solace to her troubled heart. But their isolation proved to be a barrier to finding a solution. Situated in a remote corner of the mountains, their village was cut off from the outside world, its rugged terrain rendering travel arduous and treacherous.

With no access to medical aid or knowledgeable outsiders, Ying Yue found herself grappling with a sense of helplessness, her efforts to ease her mother's illness thwarted by the cruel whims of geography. Despite the challenges that loomed before her, Ying Yue refused to succumb to despair. With each passing day, she drew strength from the love that bound her family together, her unwavering determination a beacon of hope in the face of adversity. And though the road ahead was fraught with uncertainty, she vowed to persevere, guided by the light of her unwavering love for her mother and the enduring promise of a brighter tomorrow.

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As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the tranquil village, fate cast its hand upon the lives of Ying Yue and the mysterious stranger who stumbled upon their humble abode. Canghai, his noble bearing a stark contrast to the rustic simplicity of the village, appeared like a lost soul adrift in a sea of uncertainty. With no memories of his past, he stood at the threshold of Ying Yue's world, his presence an anomaly in the tranquil rhythm of their existence. Ying Yue, ever the embodiment of warmth and kindness, welcomed Canghai with open arms, her compassionate spirit extending to embrace the stranger in their midst.

Sensing his vulnerability, she took it upon herself to guide him through the labyrinthine pathways of their village, each step a testament to her boundless generosity. As they wandered amidst the verdant fields and fragrant blossoms, Ying Yue shared with Canghai the secrets of their land, her words imbued with a quiet reverence for the beauty that surrounded them. And in the gentle cadence of her voice, Canghai found solace—a refuge from the tumult of his forgotten past. "One day," Ying Yue mused, her eyes alight with a flicker of hope, "I hope to discover a flower that holds the power to heal all wounds." Her words hung in the air, a whispered promise of a future bathed in the radiance of possibility. But as the days unfurled into weeks, and weeks into months, a bond blossomed between Canghai and Ying Yue—a connection forged in the crucible of shared experiences and tender moments.

In the quiet stillness of their evenings, beneath the canopy of stars that adorned the night sky, Canghai found himself drawn to the luminous spirit of the woman who had captured his heart. With a tender sincerity that echoed through the corridors of his soul, Canghai confessed his love for Ying Yue, his words a testament to the depths of his affection.

And in the gentle flutter of her lashes and the soft curve of her smile, he found his answer—a love that transcended the boundaries of time and memory. But their idyllic interlude was shattered one fateful evening, as a contingent of men descended upon their sanctuary, their presence heralding the end of Canghai's fleeting respite.

As twilight descended upon the village, casting long shadows that danced in the fading light, a somber procession made its way to Ying Yue's doorstep. A group of stern-faced men, their presence a harbinger of impending upheaval, had come to claim Canghai—the cousin of the emperor, whose absence had stirred ripples of unrest across distant lands. Canghai had lied to hide in the village. With heavy hearts and resigned acceptance, Ying Yue watched as Canghai was led away, his past shrouded in secrets that even he dared not unravel.

And as the echo of his footsteps faded into the distance, leaving behind only the hollow ache of betrayal, Ying Yue made a solemn vow—a vow to never allow him to darken the threshold of her home again. In the wake of Canghai's departure, Ying Yue found solace in the simple joys of tending to her flowers and caring for her mother.

Her garden flourished under her tender touch, its vibrant blooms a testament to her unwavering love and boundless compassion. And as word of her selfless deeds spread far and wide, people from all corners of the land flocked to her doorstep, drawn by the promise of her healing touch and the warmth of her benevolent heart. But amidst the adulation and admiration that surrounded her, there lurked a shadow—a shadow cast by the machinations of a heart consumed by envy and unrequited love.

The female merchant, her name lost to the annals of time, harbored a burning desire for Canghai—a desire that festered into resentment as she watched him return time and again to the arms of Ying Yue. Driven by jealousy and blinded by her own selfish desires, the merchant's love twisted into something dark and malevolent.

No longer content to play the role of silent observer, she resolved to eliminate the one who stood between her and the object of her affection. With calculated precision, the merchant acquired a lethal poison, its potency masked by the innocuous guise of powdered petals.

And on the eve of reckoning, as the moon cast its silver glow upon the earth, she descended upon Ying Yue's garden—the very embodiment of all that she coveted. With a heavy heart and trembling hands, the merchant scattered the poison upon the delicate blooms, watching with twisted satisfaction as the vibrant colors wilted and faded into oblivion.

And as the toxin seeped into the earth, its tendrils of darkness snaked their way into the heart of Ying Yue's world, spreading their tendrils of despair. Unaware of the impending danger that loomed on the horizon, Ying Yue ventured into her garden, her heart heavy with worry for her mother and the burden of her unspoken fears.

But as she approached the edge of the cliff, where her prized blossoms once bloomed in riotous splendor, a wave of dizziness washed over her, dragging her into the depths of unconsciousness. By the time Canghai and her mother realized her absence, it was too late. The once-vibrant garden lay barren and lifeless, its keeper lost to the abyss.

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As the moon cast its ethereal glow upon the desolate landscape, a lone figure wandered amidst the remnants of what once was—a mother haunted by the specter of her daughter's absence.

With each passing night, her tears mingled with the dew that clung to the barren earth, a silent lament for the loss that weighed heavy upon her heart. But on this particular evening, as she traversed the empty expanse of land that had once been adorned with a riot of colors, her steps faltered at the sight of a familiar figure standing upon the precipice of the cliff.

With a surge of desperate hope, she hastened towards her daughter, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and longing. "Ying Yue, my dear child," she cried out, her voice trembling with emotion as she drew near. "Why have you left us so soon?" Ying Yue's spirit turned to face her mother, her expression tinged with sorrow and regret.

"Mother, forgive me for the pain I have caused," she murmured softly, her voice carrying on the breeze like a whispered prayer. "From the day you brought me into this world until now, I have known only your love and devotion. But the time has come for me to depart." With a bittersweet smile, she reached out to her mother, offering solace in the form of a sacred gift. "Take this," she implored, her words laden with the weight of a final farewell. "It will bring you the comfort and healing you seek." And with those parting words, Ying Yue's spirit dissolved into the night, leaving behind only a radiant bloom—a golden-hearted lily that shimmered with ethereal light.

It was a testament to her love, her sacrifice, and the boundless compassion that had defined her existence. As the first light of dawn illuminated the horizon, casting a halo of warmth upon the grieving mother, she reached out to cradle the delicate flower in her trembling hands. And in that moment, she felt a sense of peace—a fleeting glimpse of her daughter's enduring presence, woven into the very fabric of the earth. And so, with the dawn of a new day, hope bloomed amidst the desolation, guided by the radiant spirit of a beloved daughter and the enduring power of love.

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As the truth unfurled like a delicate blossom in the wake of tragedy, Canghai stood before the shattered remnants of Ying Yue's garden, his heart heavy with the weight of remorse and revelation.

The female merchant's confession echoed in his ears, her words a haunting reminder of the depths to which jealousy and desire could lead. With tears streaming down her cheeks, the merchant pleaded for forgiveness, her once-ambitious gaze now clouded with the burden of guilt. She had succumbed to the allure of envy, blind to the beauty that bloomed before her in the form of Ying Yue's love and compassion. And though her actions could never undo the damage she had wrought, her contrition offered a glimmer of redemption amidst the darkness. Haunted by the memory of his lost love, Canghai made a solemn vow to honor Ying Yue's legacy—to tend to her mother with the same tenderness and care that had defined her existence.

With each passing day, he found solace in the simple acts of kindness, his heart finding solace in the quiet rhythms of village life. As the seasons turned and the world continued its relentless march forward, a poignant truth took root in the hearts of those who remained—the white lilies that adorned Ying Yue's home were more than mere flowers.

They were a symbol of her enduring spirit, a beacon of hope amidst the shadows of grief and loss. From the cliffs where her spirit had found its final repose to the humble abode where her memory lingered like a whisper on the wind, the white lilies served as a reminder of Ying Yue's boundless love and the legacy she had left behind. And so, with each sip of the herbal drink infused with the essence of Ying Yue's blessings, her mother found comfort in the embrace of her daughter's spirit.

The white lilies that graced her home became a symbol of healing and renewal, their delicate petals a testament to the enduring power of love to transcend even the darkest of nights. And as the villagers gathered to pay homage to their beloved Ying Yue, they marveled at the beauty of her creation—the flower lilies that bloomed in her absence, a living testament to the indomitable spirit of a woman whose love knew no bounds. And though she had vanished from their midst, her presence lingered still, woven into the very fabric of their lives, forevermore.