Chapter 4: He Has Slumbered for Nearly a Century

“This place holds the strongest power of wishes, so the Wish Fish will linger here,” the Divine Attendant spoke.

The plump goldfish no longer circled the pond; instead, it swam slowly near the villagers, its scales flickering with an ethereal gleam.

Shi Xianyu asked, “Can they not see me?”

“If you wish them to see you, simply walk over,” replied the Divine Attendant.

Upon hearing this, Shi Xianyu realized that the scene before her was separated from where she stood by a shallow ripple-like boundary; a few steps forward would bring her to the well’s edge.

She thought about suddenly appearing before the villagers—how awkward that would be, especially since she’d brought so little water. A sense of defeat washed over her.

She let out a low sigh. “Forget it, I’ll wait until tomorrow… Tomorrow, I’ll buy a water hose, and I’ll be able to channel water in from outside.”

The Divine Attendant bowed with noble grace. “As you command, my Lady.”

The surroundings faded, and the well and the people vanished. Shi Xianyu’s mood sank. She glanced at the bucket of water at her feet, feeling increasingly foolish.

Pressing her lips together, she bent to pick up the bucket and trudged slowly toward the staircase. As she reached the stone steps and climbed a few, she turned to ask, “Tomorrow I’ll definitely bring in more water. Tonight, could you keep the Wish Fish quiet? They’re always crying and calling—I can’t sleep.”

The Divine Attendant answered punctiliously, “These fish belonged to the Pool of Wishes. When the spiritual energy of the celestial palace was exhausted, it was sealed, so they now wander here.”

Shi Xianyu thought to herself—so this is my fate. Who told my ancestors to squander all the spiritual energy?

She left the basement.

That night was again restless. Even plugging her ears was useless; the voices burrowed straight into her mind. Shi Xianyu tossed and turned for ages, unable to recall how she finally fell asleep.

The next day, she went with the village chief to handle inheritance paperwork and, along the way, bought an extra-long water hose.

Upon returning, she attached one end to the faucet, led the other to the basement, and asked the Divine Attendant to repeat his magic.

The basement once more transformed into the parched village, now silent in the depths of night. The villagers slept. Shi Xianyu shoved the hose into the well and turned on the water. Tap water gushed ceaselessly into the well.

Watching the rising water, Shi Xianyu finally breathed easier, though she worried aloud, “What if the villagers see the hose?”

The Divine Attendant replied calmly, “In that case, I’ll cast a spell of concealment.”

She saw no gesture from him, perhaps just a slight arch of his brow—and the hose disappeared! A stream of water poured from thin air into the well, wondrous and magical.

She was amazed and a little sour; as the master of the celestial palace, she wasn’t as powerful as the attendant.

Then she mused, it was only natural—he was a proper deity, while her divine bloodline was diluted beyond count.

The Divine Attendant seemed to sense her yearning, and said softly, “It’s merely a minor trick. When the celestial palace is restored, you’ll command wind and rain as you please.”

Shi Xianyu felt comforted and turned to smile at him—

But her smile froze.

She stared at the exquisitely handsome attendant. Was it her imagination, or had he grown smaller?

He folded his hands inside his wide sleeves, maintaining a cold, noble demeanor. “Do you have any other commands, my Lady?”

Shi Xianyu snapped out of it, quickly waving her hands. “No, no more…”

If I keep ordering you around, you’ll vanish altogether!

He arched a brow and looked away, his gaze deep and distant as he watched the well. “Once the villagers last through the rainy season, they’ll survive. There are countless villages like this across the Three Thousand Worlds. If we find them all and gather their wishes, the restoration of the celestial palace will be within reach. However…”

He frowned slightly and fell silent.

Seeing his solemn expression, Shi Xianyu held her tongue, simply keeping vigil by the well.

The well was deep; who knew when it would fill? After a while, she yawned.

The Divine Attendant glanced at her. “Are you tired, my Lady?”

“Mm…” Shi Xianyu rubbed her eyes. “I’ve been busy with the funeral and paperwork, running around nonstop, and sleeping poorly…”

“Rest, my Lady. I’ll watch over things here,” he said.

Shi Xianyu paused. After fulfilling her wish, the attendant seemed to have grown considerate.

“I’m going upstairs to sleep, then.” She walked lazily toward the stairs, glanced back after a few steps, and asked, “…Do you ever need to sleep?”

He kept his attention fixed on the well. “Since the celestial palace lost its spiritual energy, I have been in slumber for nearly a century.”

Shi Xianyu thought—so he’s slept enough.

She returned to her room and collapsed onto the bed. Her sickly body was easily fatigued. Though the noisy wishes lingered, exhaustion quickly claimed her, and she fell into a deep sleep.

She slept for a long time, waking to find it was already midday. The sun shone high outside, and Shi Xianyu marveled at the resilience of life. As a cancer patient, she had worked herself ragged for the funeral, then saved an entire village, and yesterday she’d nearly thought she wouldn’t wake again. Yet here she was—alive!

Every extra day felt like a gift, and she was deeply satisfied.

After a moment of satisfaction, she realized the voices of wishing had ceased.

Shi Xianyu sat stunned on her bed, listening carefully. She heard the wind, birdcalls, distant dogs and human voices, but not the insistent prayers.

What was happening?

Was it all a dream? A hallucination?

Shi Xianyu hurried out of bed, skipped her morning routine, and dashed to the basement.

Ah—no fish!

The plump, rotund goldfish that spun circles in midair were all gone.

Shi Xianyu covered her face in shock. “Am I really so sick? Did I sleepwalk two nights in a row?!”

Unable to believe it, she stepped forward—and the scene before her changed dramatically!

A white stone arch bridge appeared, one end connected to the basement, the other to a palace.

The palace was splendid and cold, resting upon a platform of white jade. Its walls were made of jade bricks, the roof covered in glazed tiles, and the eaves soared high at each corner, resembling soaring swallows or the powerful claws of mythical beasts.

It was breathtaking!

Last night, there had only been a single brick. Today, so much had been restored!