Snow's Embrace: Chapter 9

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Retranslation

Over one thousand bamboo sticks, over ten thousand colorful ribbons—learning how to make a single umbrella turns out to be far faster than breaking through a formation.

Zayne said, after the umbrella ribs have been constructed, I only have to wait for a large snowfall. At that time, my umbrellas will be completed.

I’ve finished one hundred and ten umbrella ribs, but I still don’t know what it is I’m cultivating this time—perhaps only Zayne can tell me. But lately, I haven’t seen even his shadow, and even Little Bai doesn’t appears much as before.

I really want to know what it is he’s busy with… perhaps I can help him? Or perhaps it’s because I’m unable to help, which is why he hasn’t told me.

Just one more step to go, and my umbrellas will be completed.

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The finished umbrella frames are piled up in a small mountain not far from the Divine Tree. The wind blows through the hollow umbrella ribs, making all manner of strange sounds.

I lie within the umbrella mountain nearly bored to death as I wait for the “” to descend.

Making umbrellas is a sleep-inducing task, so lately I’m always sleepy.

MC: No one’s around, it’s so boring…

Zayne: …not here?

MC: (Huh? It seems like he doesn’t know I’m hidden here…)

Zayne: Since that’s the case—

Zayne: “On the 12th day of the , slacking off from cultivation”... This ought to be officially recorded, just in case someone tries to deny it later.

MC: (He actually has an accounting book that records my slacking off? Now that’s not acceptable… I’ll find an opportunity to steal it and set it on fire.)

I silently scheme, secretly thrilled with this unexpected gain.

Just as I decide to patiently wait to see if I can overhear some “secrets,” suddenly, my surroundings go silent and even the strange-sounding wind stops.

I get a and lift my eyes to look—

Through the piled up layers of umbrella ribs, a pair of eyes as clear and soft as melting snow waits beyond the gaps, greeting me with a smile so elusive, it can never be found when sought.

Zayne: Why did you think to sleep beneath the pile of umbrellas?

MC: Just… wanted to try it…

Zayne: Still not coming out?

MC: If I come out… first, don’t look.

Zayne: Why.

MC: Because… I have to use both my hands and feet to burrow out. It doesn’t seem like it’ll look very graceful…

Zayne’s brief laugh drifts through the umbrella ribs. I’m so flustered by his laughter that I really want to just crawl out and give him a scare.

Zayne: That certainly isn’t too good.

A cold sensation suddenly rises. His spiritual power gathers the wind like towering waves, and in the blink of an eye, over a hundred umbrella ribs are lifted up to float in the air.

I raise my head and look at the umbrella ribs gently swaying in mid-air, and very quickly notice drifting shadows falling from the

MC: It’s snowing! My umbrellas can finally be completed today, right?

Zayne: Mm.

MC: It’s finally almost over!

Zayne: …

MC: These umbrellas were made with the Divine Mountain’s bamboo and are now covered with the Divine Mountain’s snow. Doesn’t that make every one of them a Divine Artifact?

MC: Even though I don’t know what you want to seal with them, but with so many umbrellas, you should be able to leave two or three behind, right?

MC: At that time, I’ll have one, you’ll have one, and Little Bai can have one too…

Zayne: If you are given an umbrella, use it by yourself. Don’t give it to anyone else.

Zayne: As long as the snow on the surface of the umbrella doesn’t melt, then there is nothing you need to fear.

Zayne: However…

Zayne seems to recall something and shakes his head as he smiles.

Zayne: You like to go looking for trouble. Perhaps the umbrellas will get used very quickly.

Snowflakes drift towards the umbrella ribs, gently floating down to rest upon the smooth, evenly shaped bamboo sticks, covering them in a lustrous canopy of pure white snow.

The snow is silent yet falls quickly, and it seems that all of the umbrellas will be fully covered in the blink of an eye. Suddenly, my heart skips a beat and I immediately grab onto Zayne’s sleeve.

MC: Zayne, the umbrellas are completed, my cultivation has finished.

Zayne: Mm.

MC: When the time comes, what will I become?

Zayne: What do you want to become?

MC: I want… I don’t want to become anything else, I just want to stay like I currently am.

Zayne: …

Zayne: Your wishes, at least one will come true.

I tightly press my lips together, yet am unable to stifle an inappropriate yawn.

Zayne: Sleepy?

MC: …making umbrellas was so boring. You and Little Bai also didn’t come visit me, so that made it even more boring.

MC: But I’m not going to sleep. I want to bear witness to the moment when they are fully completed.

I rub my eyes, futilely trying to rub away the heaviness of my eyelids. Through my blurry gaze, I see something like—

drawing in every single snowflake and every strand of wind, the energy stretching all the way into the heart of the Divine Tree.

MC: The Divine Tree has become so big and strong..

Zayne: …You saw it?

MC: I did see it, but… is that power overflowing from the Divine Tree, or is the Divine Tree drawing in power?

Zayne reaches out and gently covers my eyes, blocking the entire scene.

Zayne: Sleep for a while, alright?

MC: But…

Zayne: Don’t be scared.

I very rarely can refuse Zayne, especially when he uses this kind of gentle, shallow tone.

I can skip looking at the umbrellas, but Zayne lulling me to sleep only happens once in a blue moon, so I very quickly disregard the strange feeling in my heart and close my eyes.

Zayne: Sleep a little longer. There’s no need to awaken too quickly.

Zayne: Afterwards, you can go see those very fragrant flowers, and try out sugar fried dough in the hamlet.

Zayne: Bring along an umbrella, my snow won’t melt…

MC: (But… how long counts as long…)

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I don’t remember when Zayne’s voice disappeared.

How I fell into a deep sleep, I also don’t remember.

I only remember that sleeping on the snow-covered ground was soft and comfortable, and not the least bit cold. After my heart hurt for a while, it became completely silent.

MC: (How long counts as long…)

MC: (Zayne…)

It’s probably because the layer of ice on the cold pond has started to melt, or perhaps the tender shoots beneath the frozen earth have opened up a single crack in the ground.

A crisp, splitting sound explodes inside my mind, startling me awake from a deep dream. The senses that had disappeared for a long time suddenly return.

The first that awakens is my sense of smell—a very faint fragrance curls around me without dissipating. I open my eyes, only to be met by dappled white light that makes me close my eyes again.

MC: …

The dappled light shifts and sways, casting shades of dark and light red through the thin skin of my eyelids. After my eyes fully adjust, I finally understand the origin of the fragrance.

The entire tree is covered with a snowy sea of flowers in full bloom. The already lush and towering Divine Tree now seems as if it can hold up the blue dome of Heaven.

MC: All the flowers are blooming!

MC: …Zayne?

There is no longer any snow beneath the tree, and it is so quiet all around me that not even a single bird cry can be heard, as if I am the only one left between Heaven and Earth.

I use the tree trunk to support myself as I rise, then circle the tree once in search, but there are no traces of anyone else.

MC: Little Bai…?

Not far away lies a small grey-white ball. Yet, when I approach, I discover it’s only a rock.

Beside the rock is a folded umbrella. I had thought it was Little Bai keeping a watch on it for me.

MC: There’s only one umbrella.

MC: He knew I wanted one, so he left one just for me?

I’m glad that I found a reasonable explanation for myself, but after trying a few times, I just can’t manage to smile.

MC: Zayne, Little Bai, you’re both not here?

MC: …Zayne, are you here?

MC: …

A silent qi aura emits from the Divine Tree. I dare not be too loud, so I hug the umbrella and quietly return to my small house.

Mistranslation Alert: This was originally translated as a "breath" emitting from the tree, but it's actually Zayne's qi energy, his primordial life force.

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From that day onwards, after waking up every day, I would go to the Divine Tree and sit in a daze, then return to sleep at night.

The weather grew warmer day by day, but it was still very cold near the Divine Tree. When I slept beneath the tree, I ended up being frozen awake in the middle of the night.

It was also around that time that I suddenly realized I could no longer sense the Divine Tree.

My power seemed to have been completely suppressed by something.

The sunlight grows fiercer with each passing day. I carefully put away the umbrella and then discover that the canopy made of snow truly hasn’t melted.

MC: (Will he really not return before the umbrella breaks…)

When I open the umbrella, a familiar clear, piercing qi aura hits me in the face. I bite down on my lower lip, but the calm I had done my best to maintain suddenly collapses.

Mistranslation Alert: This was originally translated as "familiar, refreshing scent," but it's actually Zayne's qi energy, his actual life force that he had imbued in the umbrella, smacking MC in the face.

I bury my head beneath the umbrella until the barely audible sound of footsteps arise, and the side of my hand brushes against warm, soft fur.

MC: Big Hua…!

Big Hua is considerably calmer than before. Even when I tightly hug her, she doesn’t struggle, and when my tears soak her fur, she doesn’t growl.

She gently wags her tail, brushing against my shoulder.

MC: I don’t like this…

MC: No one’s here… do you know where they went?

Big Hua raises her head and looks towards the Divine Tree.

MC: Would the Divine Tree know where they are?

I also raise my head and blankly stare at the canopy of the tree that is like a snowfall upon the clouds.

A tiny piece of snow floats out and descends towards me.

MC: …Zayne?

I hurriedly reach my hand out to catch it and draw it closer for a look—it’s a single unfamiliar white flower. It’s as clean and white as snow, but unfortunately, it isn’t snow.

MC: Since I am no longer able to sense the , then this is probably a false impression.

MC: But…

If it isn’t a false impression, then this is definitely the answer the Divine Tree has given me.

Flowers fall in their season—. The person I want to find is perhaps no longer here.

I carry that flower and think for a long, long time. Big Hua comes and goes, bringing me a red fruit in her mouth.

MC: Thank you, Big Hua.

I gently place the white flower on the ground at the base of the Divine Tree, then rise, put away the fruit, and give Big Hua’s head a pat.

MC: You’re so amazing, you’ll definitely guard this place well.

MC: Before we return, I’ll hand the Divine Tree over to you, alright?

Only after hearing Big Hua’s whimper do I finally nod, then pick up the umbrella and head towards the path down the mountain.

Since he’s not here, then I’ll go elsewhere to search. The world beneath Heaven is vast and the people are numerous—so long as I carry my umbrella, I can go anywhere.

I’ve already rested for a very long time. From now on, not a single moment can be wasted.

Before I step through the Divine Tree’s barrier, I turn my head back and look one last time.

Beneath the Divine Tree, Big Hua’s silhouette has grown very blurry, but the Divine Tree is still towering and beautiful, just like in the past.

MC: It’s so fragrant… that flower just now, what kind of flower was it…

MC: Once I find Zayne, I’ll definitely have to ask him.

Beneath the Divine Tree, the tranquil white flower takes root—gracefully, it rises, its delicate fragrance curling and lingering of its own accord.

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Read the End Notes for an academic explanation of the umbrella's cultural symbolism, as well as three theories as to what really happens to Zayne at the end of this myth!