The Immortal and the Crane

Princess Kiki and Ring got into the flying fish, continuing their journey towards the mountaintop.

With the white lotus flower within sight, they couldn’t help but smile.

They were on their way to obtain the white lotus flower to break the sea serpent demon’s curse on the mermaid.

To reach the mountaintop, they had to undergo tests from the three seasons of spring, summer, and winter.

They have experienced the spring of the Flower Fairy, the summer of the Fat and Skinny Fairy, and the winter of  Snow Beauty.

Before long, they finally reached the summit. The little princess landed the flying fish, and she and Ring stepped out.

They found themselves surrounded by the chirping of birds and the fragrance of flowers, resembling a paradise on earth.

But where was the white lotus flower?

Looking around, they spotted an old man sitting under a tree, smiling at them.

Wasn’t this the same old man they had encountered during the scorching summer, when it felt as hot as Flame Mountain? And standing beside him was the immortal crane.

They were about to speak when the old man chuckled and said, “No need to say more, I know everything. I am the immortal of this mountain. The Flowers Fairy,  the Fat and Thin Immortals, the Ice and Snow Beauty, they are all my disciples, together guarding the White Lotus Flower.”

Pointing in a direction, the immortal continued, “The White Lotus Flower is right there.”

The little princess and Ring looked in the direction indicated by the immortal, and not far away, they saw a celestial pool surrounded by clouds, and in the center of the pool, the white lotus flower bloomed.

The little princess was about to run towards it joyfully when Ring stopped her, pointing to the ground, “Princess, be careful.”

Looking down, the little princess saw that the path around the celestial pool was filled with thorns.

“This won’t stop us,” said the little princess. “We’ll just got into on the flying fish and fly over.”

However, the immortal chuckled and said, “To obtain the White Lotus Flower, one must personally traverse the thorny path.”

Ring said, “Princess, these thorns are like needles, please don’t step on them.”

The little princess replied, “We’re just one step away, we must try no matter what.”

Saying so, the little princess started to walk towards it.

However, the immortal interjected, “You must go barefoot.”

Ring became anxious, saying, “Princess, that’s not possible. Even with shoes, you’ll get pricked, let alone barefoot!”

But the little princess hesitated for a moment, then took off her shoes.

Closing her eyes, she took the first step.

Just when she thought it would be as painful as being pricked by needles, she felt as if she were stepping on cotton, soft and gentle.

Opening her eyes, the little princess saw the thorns automatically parting to the sides, making way for a carpet as soft as cotton.

Overjoyed, she ran forward, quickly reaching the edge of the celestial pool.

The white lotus flowers in the pool swayed with the wind, as if welcoming the little princess.

As she rolled up her trousers to pick the white lotus flower from the celestial pool, a bird flew over and snatched the flower before flying away.

The little princess looked and saw that it was the immortal crane from beside the immortal.

The little princess became anxious, she chased after the crane while shouting, “The white lotus flower is to save the mermaid, give it to me quickly!”

The crane flew back to the immortal’s side and stopped.

The immortal chuckled and said, “Actually, the crane wanted to help you. The water in the celestial pool is very deep, it’s afraid you might fall in.”

The immortal then said to the crane, “Quickly give the white lotus flower to the princess.”

The crane walked over to the little princess and placed the white lotus flower in her hand.

The little princess and Ring looked at the white lotus flower, feeling happy and excited.

The immortal said, “Hurry down the mountain, the mermaid is waiting for you.”

Ring asked, “Old man, why did the thorns automatically part for the princess?”

The immortal said, “If one relies on lies to deceive the fairies of spring, summer, and winter to come here, then stepping on thorns would feel like being cut by knives. The fact that the little princess can make the thorns automatically part indicates that she hasn’t lied and has come for justice.”

The little princess and Ring thanked the immortal and the crane, then boarded the flying fish and flew down the mountain, ready to lift the curse from the mermaid.

However, how could the sea serpent demon easily let them break the curse? He was waiting for them at the foot of the mountain.