Days of heavy snow made the streets and alleys at the capital melancholic.

　　Ye Xiaoxiang has made it to the majestic gate of the capital and stopped for a moment. She glanced back, thinking about the times she had thought about escaping this prison - leaving Beauty’s Smile and the capital. But now, when she was truly about to leave, the sense of joy was not there, only a touch of unwillingness.

　　‘I guess I’m not as free as I thought.’

　　“Buy Heavenly Lotus Sadness-away Congee, only five bronze coins for one bowl.” The voice of an old man came from the next corner.

　　The old man was swinging a large iron ladle beneath a tent. The congee pot was finished with its hot steam permeating the air. The snowflakes were fluttering closer but couldn’t make it into the pot before being melted.

　　“This congee can take away sadness?” Xiaoxiang was already next to the tent, absentmindedly. She had no idea why she was stopping here.

　　The enthusiastic old man placed the ladle into the pot. He wiped his hands on his robe and smiled: “Miss, you have a lot on your mind. Have a bowl of my congee and you’ll be worried-free right away.”

　　“How do you know what I’m feeling?” She stood there as the flakes fell on her head and shoulders, creating a thin frost.

　　The old man replied: “Most beautiful girls are sad. They want true love but afraid that others only want them for their beauty. They want peace, but people will certainly come to bother them. They want freedom, but again, others won’t let them have this. Thus, the more beautiful, the sadder they are. You are as pretty as a G.o.ddess, so your sadness should be greater than anyone.”

　　Xiaoxiang said: “You’re not completely wrong. I only want to research music and find the best song in this world, but the rowdiness of life stops my heart from being calm.”

　　“What is actually affecting you?” The old man asked.

　　She blushed and couldn’t respond.

　　The old man understood right away: “Ah, there’s someone you like? Haha, I know I’m right judging by your expression. So you like someone but he doesn’t like you back, so you can only hold it in. That only makes it worse for you.”

　　“Well, I know that…” She sighed.

　　“If you are aware, then you need to overcome it. Instead of living for someone else, why not live for yourself?” He said.

　　“What do you mean, senior?” 

　　“Romance is pain; the heavenly dao is happiness*. If you are searching for music, then let go of everything else and make your mind exceptional, then your music will be exceptional. There are plenty of ways to reach the grand dao. When your musical dao reaches the limit, you can still become an immortal or a saint, allowing you to live freely and forever in this world.” [1]

　　Xiaoxiang felt better and said: “Thank you for your guidance, senior.”

　　“Haha, we’re all just a pa.s.serby in this world. No big deal.”

　　She said: “So he is just another person among the ma.s.s I will meet as I travel in this world as well?”

　　“Of course.” 

　　“And vice versa?”

　　“Yes, don’t waste your time and fail to reach the grand dao. Come here and have this congee to take away all your worries.”

　　She raised the bowl and drank a mouthful. Her supreme beauty suddenly became ordinary; her skin no longer as fair as before. Someone like her could be found all over the streets.

　　This congee had changed her appearance completely.

　　“Are you regretting it now?” The old man asked.

　　“No.” She spoke with certainty.

　　“Do you still want to see that person?” He inquired again.

　　She touched her face and replied: “Senior, you’re right. All of my sadness stemmed from this face. After losing it, my mind doesn’t worry as much.”

　　The man nodded approvingly: “When you can create a song in tune with the heavenly dao to become a saint or an immortal, your true appearance will return.”

　　“Countless sages have tried but how many could actually become one of these beings? What if I can’t do it?” She asked freely.

　　“Then drown in the mundane world.” 

　　“I see.” There was nothing holding her back mentally now so she headed for the gate.

　　***

　　“Whoos.h.!.+” Feiyun landed nearby and looked around. He murmured: “I felt her presence nearby just now, where is it now?”

　　He looked around and saw an ordinary woman walking to the gate. There was also an old man cooking congee nearby with his ladle while peddling: “Buy Heavenly Lotus Sadness-away Congee, only five bronze coins for one bowl.”

　　Feiyun recognized him and said: “Hey geezer, did you see a woman as beautiful as a fairy walking through here earlier?”

　　The old man smiled: “Of course I did.”

　　“Really? Where did she go?” He asked.

　　The old man pointed at the gate: “Over there.”