After cultivating for three hundred years, the little deer finally attained human form. The first thing she did after transforming was descend the mountain to find the young woman who had once saved her.
Amid the bustling crowds at the Lantern Festival, the little deer recognized her at a glance. She really was breathtakingly beautiful.
The little deer gazed at the pretty older sister. “I've come to repay my debt.”
The pretty older sister smiled radiantly. “Do you know how people repay a debt in this world? By giving themselves to their benefactor.”
Three hundred years ago, the white wolf Bai Ling had just taken human form. On her way down the mountain, she came across a little deer trapped in a hunter's snare.
“There's barely two ounces of meat on a little deer like this.” Bai Ling scoffed, then casually freed her.
Who could have guessed that, when she came down to enjoy the Lantern Festival crowds this year, a young girl would latch onto her? The girl had round, fawn-like eyes and tugged at her sleeve. “I've come to repay my debt.”
Bai Ling couldn't remember doing a single good deed in her life, but who could turn down a cute girl who showed up on her doorstep?
Each demon thought the other was human, and carefully hid her own identity.
They'd heard that companionship was the longest-lasting confession of love, so they decided to stay by each other's side and live out this lifetime together.
To keep the other from finding out, they imitated humans. One day, they used magic to add a couple of wrinkles; the next, they made a tooth fall out with a hand sign; the day after, they learned to walk with a cane.
When an old Taoist came to catch a demon, each thought he was there for her. When the house was thick with demonic aura, each thought it was her own.
Keeping up the act was exhausting.
After living among humans for over a hundred years, both of them had transformed themselves to look like frail old women.
But why could humans live so long? It made no sense! The grandson of Old Wang next door had already died of old age!
Bai Ling and the little deer each clung to her secret identity, and with heavy hearts began preparing for the other's funeral. But neither was willing to go first.
“An old woman over a hundred, left alone in the world, would be so pitiful!” I have to die after you. This is the last kindness I can give you.
They couldn't reach an agreement. Since they were already as old as they could possibly get, they had no choice but to lie flat... They found a young man from the village to arrange a grand funeral for them, complete with music and fanfare.
They lay together in their coffins underground for several days, controlling their breathing and not daring to move.
On the seventh day, Bai Ling cautiously opened her eyes a crack, only to find a pair of round, fawn-like eyes staring at her.
The little deer: “Don't you think... something's not right?”
Bai Ling: “What are you?”
Theme: Companionship is the longest-lasting confession of love
