Lily’s Death Point 3

Lily Bai nodded. "Uncle Ernie, you really have seen it all."

"But..." Uncle Ernie glanced at one of the fish.

Lily Bai asked, "What's wrong?"

Uncle Ernie replied, "Nothing, nothing! This is definitely his painting."

But the style of this fish is a little different from the others.

Maybe he was just overthinking it...

Lily Bai nodded again.

"When the former Gatekeeper was alive, she loved calligraphy and paintings," Ms. Crowe said from the side. "Back then, His Majesty the Supreme Emperor collected lots of artwork to make her happy—fish paintings, shrimp paintings, you name it..."

Lily Bai laughed. "Did Dad really like the former Gatekeeper that much?"

Ms. Crowe smiled. "He was afraid she'd break if he held her, and afraid she'd melt if he put her in his mouth."

"True... she really had a beauty that only heaven could grant," Lily Bai said.

"No wonder she could have a child like the Gatekeeper," Ms. Crowe said.

Lily Bai glanced at Evan Lan, her heart aching again. She wondered if she'd ever get to see his handsome face again in this life...

If only she'd known, she would have looked at him a few more times back when he was still human.

When she was pregnant with Moonlight, he was always out on missions, busy with all sorts of things... It felt like they never really had any quiet time together.

"Mom, aren't you able to grant other people's wishes? If I could trade ten years of my life to bring Evan Lan back for just one day, I'd do it!" Lily Bai said, staring at the painting.

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Ms. Crowe snapped. "The former Gatekeeper's spirit remnant has already dispersed. Wishing won't do any good!"

Lily Bai sighed and put the painting away.

"Is it really safe to keep these things here?" Max Mo said. "You should put them in a bank vault tomorrow."

Lily Bai nodded and instructed Sandy, "Sandy, keep an eye on everything tonight. Don't let anyone steal anything."

Lisa nodded. "Relax, nobody can steal anything from me."

...

Before bed, Lily Bai clung to Evan Lan and refused to let go.

"I miss you so much today," Lily Bai whispered. "Really, really miss you."

"I wish I could see you again, hold you again..." As she spoke, she started to cry, her tears falling into the flowerpot. "Xixi..."

A faint stream of spiritual energy flowed from the flowerpot along her hand and into her body.

Suddenly Lily Bai stiffened. "Hey! Where do you think you're going? Stop! Even as a tree, you're still naughty!"

"Eh? Where's Evan Lan 'touching' you?" Little Smudge poked its head out and asked.

"Shut up!" Lily Bai blushed, quickly putting Evan Lan's pot on the nightstand. "Little Smudge, let's watch the Jade Permits again!"

Whenever she missed Evan Lan especially badly, she'd watch the Jade Permits.

In the ninth Jade Permit, Lily Bai finally saw how gods in ancient times drew magic talismans.

He cut his finger, and with rhythmic, sweeping motions, traced glowing lines in midair, forming a talisman.

With a firm push, he sent the talisman into the tree trunk.

But the tree didn't react.

Then he drew a second talisman, a third...

After more than ten talismans, he finally stopped.

"I read in an ancient text that when people petitioned Holy Spirits, they used talismans like these," Evan Lan said, dressed in ancient robes. "I've just made more than ten wishes—did you receive them? If you did, shouldn't you grant this little god's request?"

"Come back, Qingluan."

...

Lily Bai ended up crying again.

She'd wanted to watch the Jade Permits to ease her longing for Evan Lan.

Instead, after watching, she just felt even sadder.

"Crying again!" Little Smudge said. "Maybe you shouldn't watch anymore!"

Lily Bai wiped her tears and shook her head. "Keep going."