The Matchmaker Immortal Wants to Return to the Celestial Court - Chapter 27

After living in Guanxi Town for over a month and growing accustomed to its simplicity and tranquility, Qian Hongxian found it difficult to adjust when she first returned to Taipei. She was grateful to have the opportunity to return once more.

After confirming that Huang Shuzhen was in good health and that Lin Weiting had agreed to help take care of her, Qian Hongxian packed her bags and drove back to Guanxi Town with Yun Jinyao. Hand in hand, they returned to the Yun family residence, where Lisa was left stunned at the sight. She absentmindedly accepted the egg rolls Qian Hongxian handed her. Once Qian Hongxian went up to the third floor to put away her things, Lisa awkwardly twisted her hands and entered the room, apologizing for her cold demeanor.

“You don’t have to apologize. It was my fault in the first place,” Qian Hongxian reassured Lisa, who looked guilty.

“Yao-ge said you two are dating. Is that true?” Lisa grabbed her shoulders and asked, “He didn’t reply to my messages at all while he was in Taipei. I have no idea what happened between you two. How did you suddenly get together?”

“How about sleeping in my room tonight and listening to my story, Liqing?” Qian Hongxian smiled. Lisa blushed slightly upon hearing her name.

“If I sleep with you, Yao-ge might not be happy about it,” Yun Liqing said with a nervous laugh.

“This is the only night I have time to tell you a story because starting tomorrow, I’ll be staying elsewhere with Jinyao.”

Yun Liqing covered her mouth in excitement.

The next day, Yun Jinyao drove Qian Hongxian to a remote mountain area in Guanxi Town, arriving at a modest Buddhist temple.

Dragging her suitcase, Qian Hongxian looked up at the temple’s traditional-style roof. The temple was nestled against the mountain wall, with a clear stream flowing in front of it. The sounds of chirping insects and singing birds filled the air, instantly calming her mind.

“I came here once for a seven-day meditation retreat when I was in middle school with my grandmother and uncle. It was my only experience with meditation, but those seven days left a deep impression on me,” Yun Jinyao said as he stood beside her, looking up at the temple. 

“During the meditation, I felt like I had traveled to a different time and space. At first, I saw an aristocratic woman surrounded by a group of ragged beggar children. In the last three days of meditation, I saw a magnificent golden palace. It was breathtaking, but I have no idea which dynasty it belonged to. The plaque on the palace read—”

“Jinyao.”

Qian Hongxian turned to see an elderly monk in robes holding prayer beads walking toward them. The monk pressed his palms together in greeting, and Yun Jinyao returned the gesture. Seeing this, Qian Hongxian quickly followed suit.

“Hongxian, this is Master Yunkong. Master Yunkong, this is Qian Hongxian.”

“Welcome, welcome,” Master Yunkong said with a kind smile. However, Qian Hongxian felt that his deep gaze could see right through her. 

“You haven’t had lunch yet, have you? The kitchen has just finished cooking. You arrived just in time. Come, I’ll take you to put down your luggage.”

Qian Hongxian and Yun Jinyao were led to the dormitory behind the temple. Though they had separate rooms, they were right next to each other. Each room was simple, containing only a mattress, blanket, pillow, air conditioning, and a bathroom. Planning to pass the time on her phone in the evening, Qian Hongxian was disappointed to find there was no signal in the mountains. With a sigh, she set her suitcase down.

Master Yunkong took them to the dining hall, where many monks and nuns had already gathered. When they saw him, they paused their activities to greet him respectfully.

Qian Hongxian felt out of place with Yun Jinyao, but the monks and nuns were friendly, urging them to get their food.

The lunch was vegetarian but plentiful and delicious, especially the stir-fried rice noodles. Yun Jinyao and Master Yunkong engaged in conversation, revealing that although Yun Jinyao did not visit the temple often, he had kept in touch with the master. After the meal, Master Yunkong gave them a tour of the temple grounds, from the main hall to the meditation hall in the backyard. The main hall housed three Buddha statues, with fresh flowers, fruits, and scriptures placed as offerings. The meditation hall also had a Buddha statue but was otherwise minimalistic, containing only meditation cushions.

Afterward, Master Yunkong invited them to sit in the meditation hall. Yun Jinyao and Qian Hongxian sat side by side, while the master sat in front of the Buddha statue, facing them.

“I’ve heard about your situation from Jinyao, Miss Qian,” Master Yunkong said kindly.

“Master, can you really help me return to the Celestial Court?” Qian Hongxian asked anxiously.

“You must have heard of the Buddhist concept of ‘supernatural travel,’ haven’t you?” Master Yunkong smiled slightly. “Jinyao told me you’ve been meditating but haven’t grasped the essence of it. Don’t worry, we will teach you the secrets of deep meditation so you can harness supernatural abilities and move freely across realms. However, Miss Qian, do you have the confidence to succeed?”

Qian Hongxian turned to Yun Jinyao, unsure.

Yun Jinyao shrugged.

“The master is asking you.”

“Probably,” Qian Hongxian hesitated for a long time before finally replying. Master Yunkong did not press further and simply nodded.

Thus, the meditation training began. From the second day on, aside from meals and bathroom breaks, she spent all her time meditating or exercising. Talking to Yun Jinyao was forbidden unless necessary, and visiting each other’s rooms at night was strictly prohibited. The training left Qian Hongxian sore and exhausted, and she struggled to reach a meditative state, but Master Yunkong remained firm in his methods.

Though Yun Jinyao was not attempting to reach the Celestial Court, he occasionally meditated alongside her. Master Yunkong praised his steady posture but noted that he was no longer as focused as he had been in middle school. “Your desires cloud your natural talent,” the master observed. Yun Jinyao, however, seemed indifferent.

Qian Hongxian wanted to ask Yun Jinyao about his meditation experiences but was stopped by Master Yunkong. 

“You must understand it on your own. You cannot ask Jinyao.”

By the fifth day, her legs were so sore that she considered giving up. She planned to talk to Yun Jinyao after dinner and ask to leave. However, after the final meditation session that day, Master Yunkong solemnly told Yun Jinyao, “Your presence here is distracting Miss Qian. You should return home. When I believe she is ready, you may come back for her.”

Yun Jinyao and Qian Hongxian exchanged stunned glances.

“Master, Jinyao hasn’t distracted me. Please don’t make him leave,” Qian Hongxian pleaded. Even if they couldn’t talk, just having him nearby brought her comfort.

Master Yunkong sighed. 

“If you cannot free yourself from earthly attachments and remain entangled in worldly affairs, how can you return to the Celestial Court? If you wish, you may leave with Jinyao.”

Flushed with embarrassment at being seen through so easily, Qian Hongxian lowered her head.

“I understand, Master. May I have a moment to speak with Hongxian before I leave?” Yun Jinyao asked politely.

Master Yunkong nodded and left the hall. Yun Jinyao then helped the stiff-legged Qian Hongxian to her feet and led her outside to the parking lot. After days of limited interaction, just holding hands made Qian Hongxian’s heart race.

“You can do this,” Yun Jinyao said seriously, resting his hands on her shoulders. “I can tell how important returning to the Celestial Court is to you. Even if others don’t believe you, I do. And I believe you will succeed.”

Qian Hongxian responded with sorrowful eyes.

“I’m afraid my legs will give out before I make it back to the Celestial Court.”

Yun Jinyao chuckled, glanced around to make sure they were alone, and pulled her into an embrace.

“Once you succeed, I’ll come find you immediately.”

Encouraged by his words, Qian Hongxian found new determination. After Yun Jinyao left, she went straight to Master Yunkong’s office, met his piercing gaze head-on, and expressed her desire to continue.

Master Yunkong gave a kind smile, which reassured Qian Hongxian. 

“Miss Qian, you must have confidence in yourself. Confidence, combined with focus, is the key to your success.”

Qian Hongxian continued her practice at the temple. After two weeks, her diet had become lighter, her energy channels were clear, and she felt much lighter, no longer as uncomfortable as when she first arrived. She also began to settle into meditation. By the third week, she was fully immersed in the practice, and Master Yunkong praised her for making significant progress.

“The fifteenth is the day after tomorrow. The full moon carries the strongest energy—it’s time to teach you the key to returning to the Celestial Court.”

Qian Hongxian was filled with anticipation. After Master Yunkong taught her the technique of supernatural foot travel, she even stayed up late to practice, until a patrolling monk had to escort her back.

On the night of the full moon, Master Yunkong deliberately accompanied her for the session.

“Let’s begin.”

Qian Hongxian sat in the correct posture and closed her eyes.

After a moment, she felt a cool sensation pouring down from the top of her head, and then her body disappeared.

“Now, visualize yourself returning to the Celestial Court,” Master Yunkong’s voice echoed from a distant place.

She focused on the image of the Purple Cloud City palace.

Suddenly, Qian Hongxian found herself standing on the clouds. Her heart trembled, and she quickly lifted her head.

It had been three months since she last saw the Seven-Star Goddess, and now, at last, she once again saw the plaque above the palace gate, inscribed with the words “Purple Cloud City.”

“I’m back, I’m back! Queen Mother, Moon Matchmaker is here!”

Qian Hongxian felt dizzy and heavy, as if she could fall through the clouds at any moment and plummet back to the mortal world. Struggling to turn toward the voice, she saw the Queen Mother of the West and the Seven-Star Goddess drifting toward her.

Seeing the Queen Mother’s expression filled with compassion and sorrow, memories of her past in the Celestial Court surged back, making her finally feel the reality of her return. Her eyes welled with tears.

“Queen Mother…”

The Queen Mother of the West reached out and touched Qian Hongxian’s cheek, her touch warm and gentle. Seven-Star Goddess carefully examined Qian Hongxian from head to toe before holding her hand with a look of deep sympathy. “Moon Matchmaker, you have suffered greatly on this journey.”

“Honored goddesses, my lifespan in the mortal world is not yet over, and I cannot stay here long. May I ask where Siming is? I urgently need to see him,” Qian Hongxian pleaded, holding onto the Seven-Star Goddess and looking at the Queen Mother with desperate eyes.

The Queen Mother and the Seven-Star Goddess exchanged a meaningful glance before the Queen Mother sighed.

“Come with me to the Jade Pond Palace. Seven-Star, assist her.”

“Yes,” the Seven-Star Goddess responded with a bow before making a few gestures toward Qian Hongxian.

Qian Hongxian felt her surroundings blur, and in the next instant, she found herself inside the Jade Pond Palace.

The palace remained as majestic as ever. The Queen Mother was already seated, while the Seven-Star Goddess stood beside her. The celestial attendants around them were all familiar faces; they were all Qian Hongxian’s old acquaintances. They looked at her in shock. However, she had no time for greetings; she was eager to uncover the truth.

“Since your time here is limited, I won’t delay. Seeing it for yourself will be quicker than any explanation,” the Queen Mother said. With a wave of her hand, a powerful force pushed Qian Hongxian backward, making her retreat uncontrollably as her surroundings blurred once more.