The Spirit-Worshipping Chart

At dawn, fragrant mist and clouds wreathed the jade radiance.

I was Qian Ling, a migrated spirit, sleeping among the flowers, with no pious intent.

"Qian Ling, you're a girl, so don't be so crude. You'll never get married at this rate."

He grinned roguishly, raising her chin with a folding fan to tease her.

At night, the music of the Eastern Di's green konghou stirred the heart.

I was Feng Yun, bearing resentment, playing a leaf flute, with no thought for glory.

"Are you stupid? You jumped down after me. Don't you value your life?" she shouted at him.

"Qian Ling, when did I ever say my name was Stupid? My name is Feng Yun." Her words didn't anger or annoy him. His face still wore the signature smile of a playboy.

For those ten-odd days, the suffering of this bewildering world was beyond words.

Not for the sake of survival, but so that you might be safe and sound, with your lovely face stained by tears.

"Qian Ling, don't look at me like that. Could it be you've fallen for this young master?" Though gravely wounded, he still held her in his arms as they searched for a way out of the cave of the Xiangliu serpent. His face still wore his signature foxlike smile.

At year's end, the world changed, and chaos stirred the heart.

Not to pay homage, but for the warmth of holding you, though we stood only inches apart and worlds away.

"Qian Ling, what should I do? You've seen everything. You have to take responsibility for me." His clothes were in tatters, and the flesh around his wounds was torn and gruesome, yet he still teased the girl before him as she wept until she lost her voice.

That day, a single mistaken thought settled everything.

Not for the next life, but to meet you along the way. Alas, our love ran too deep.

"Qian Ling, go." His quiet tone frightened her a little. This time, there was not the slightest trace of a smile on his face.

He was as cold as a stranger.

Beneath the bodhi tree, we watched the game of Go in silence.

Flowers bloomed and bodhi grew; the whole world was filled with the smiles of the Buddhas.

Heaven is impermanent, and earth is impermanent.

Look back, and the Buddha is me, and I am you.

One bow to the spirits, and the world becomes heaven.

Past life, present life, future life.

To gain, to lose.

"Whether you're the Fourth Young Master of the Feng family or the Heavenly Emperor Feng, in my heart you'll always be that dashing, carefree, wild and unruly, outrageously conceited Young Master Feng Yun."