"You two are a match made in heaven. May you both have a long, happy, and fulfilling life together." Tianmiao suddenly smiled and spoke softly.
"Ah, Tianmiao, what’s going on? Why did you suddenly say this?" Lou Sha felt an inexplicable sense of panic in her heart, always feeling like Tianmiao might disappear at any moment if she wasn’t careful. But how could that be possible? Tianmiao was her best friend—she wanted to be with Tianmiao forever in this lifetime. Yes, along with Ai Ke!
Tianmiao stood up, walked to Lou Sha’s side, and leaned down slightly to plant a gentle kiss on Lou Sha’s forehead.
"Lou Sha, you’re truly a lovely girl. May you live your life free from illness and disaster."
Tianmiao’s voice was clear and ethereal, as if it resounded in Lou Sha’s heart.
Lou Sha felt the warmth and softness of the kiss on her forehead, yet her heart was in turmoil. She reached out to embrace Tianmiao, but only grasped emptiness.
She suddenly raised her head, but Tianmiao’s figure was no longer in front of her.
Only a gentle breeze blew by, bringing waves of floral fragrance.
Tianmiao...
She was gone.
Was she an Elf from the East?
Lou Sha blankly gazed at the empty back garden.
When Ai Ke returned, he saw Lou Sha silently weeping.
"Lou Sha!" Ai Ke was shocked and sprinted over, pulling Lou Sha into his arms and asked anxiously, "What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Ai Ke! Boo hoo hoo... wah..." Lou Sha tightly embraced Ai Ke, wailing aloud, "Tianmiao, Tianmiao is gone, she’s gone."
"Gone? Where did she go? Don’t cry, don’t cry. I’ll find someone to bring her back." Ai Ke gently patted his beloved’s back, soothing her tenderly.
"Bring back... can’t be brought back. She is an Elf from the East, now she has returned, gone back to the heavens. Wah..." Lou Sha broke into sobs,
"Don’t cry, don’t cry, tell me what happened." Ai Ke looked at his lover sobbing with barely a breath between, feeling both tender and heartache.
Lou Sha choked back tears and forced herself to recount what had happened to Ai Ke. Ai Ke listened, remained silent for a long time, then raised his head to look at the sky.
An Elf from the East?
For some reason, Ai Ke believed Lou Sha’s claim.
This mysterious woman from the East, he had sent people to investigate her, but found no information. She seemed to have simply appeared out of nowhere. And then vanished just as suddenly.
He dared not imagine, if Lou Sha were standing at the castle gates unable to open the door, what might have happened. As he rushed to the castle to save Lou Sha, if those pursuing soldiers hadn’t suddenly all fallen with their horses, what terrible consequences could have resulted?
Lou Sha didn’t see it, but he clearly did. When those troops were about to catch up to Lou Sha, Tianmiao gently raised her hand, a point of white light shot from her fingers, and then the knights with their horses chasing them all fell to the ground, creating distance so he was able to timely reach Lou Sha. Moreover, the door itself, he’d personally inspected it, was a welded shut door unable to be opened by mere force. Yet Tianmiao opened that door.
"Don’t cry anymore, my dear. Your Eastern Elf wishes for you a lifetime of joy, free from illness and disaster. She’s given you the best blessing. So will you cherish it?" Ai Ke gently held Lou Sha, coaxing her softly.
"I will." Lou Sha nodded, her eyes red.
Lou Sha stepped out from Ai Ke’s embrace, looking at the still warm tea, then lifted her eyes to the sky, tears still glistening in her eyes.
Farewell, my Eastern Princess.
Years later, Lou Sha finally realized the blessing Tianmiao gave before she left.
Happiness and fulfillment, free from illness and disaster.
Her life had been incredibly smooth, without any illness or pain.
Lou Sha was smiling even as she closed her eyes before departing.
Thank you, my Eastern Elf.