While tending the sheep, one could cast aside all distractions, seeing only green mountains and clear waters before them.
After a leisurely afternoon, An Jiu herded the sheep back to their pen and relinquished control of the body to Mei Jiu.
Mei Ruyan came to find Mei Jiu, and they descended the mountain together.
An Jiu’s confrontation with Mei Rujiang earlier that day had pushed the body’s potential to its limits, resulting in severe physical exhaustion. Every finger joint felt on the verge of breaking, trembling uncontrollably. As Mei Jiu went down the mountain, the slightest exertion caused her whole body to shake.
Mei Ruyan supported her, asking, “Sister, do you think Mei Da will seek revenge for how you treated him today?”
Mei Jiu bit her lower lip hard, her eyes misting over.
“Sister,” Mei Ruyan’s eyes held a hint of inquiry. The cold murderous intent Mei Jiu had shown at noon when she wanted to throw Mei Rujiang off the cliff had stunned her. At that moment, Mei Jiu had seemed like a stranger.
She wasn’t surprised that Mei Jiu knew martial arts, but it seemed unlikely for a person to have such extreme dual natures. Could it be, as Mo Sigui had suggested, that Mei Jiu was… ill?
Mei Jiu was Mei Ruyan’s only connection to the Mei family. Even Mei Ruyan herself hadn’t realized how much she cared for Mei Jiu deep down. Regardless of emotions, at least Mei Jiu’s presence allowed her to stay in this family with peace of mind. So she feared for Mei Jiu’s safety.
“Sister needn’t worry,” Mei Ruyan reassured, with a hint of probing. “Sister’s martial skills are good. Even if Mei Da seeks revenge, what can he do?”
Tears suddenly slid down Mei Jiu’s cheeks, blurring her vision. She stumbled on a stone, her body swaying and collapsing towards the ground.
Alarmed, Mei Ruyan quickly grabbed her. “Sister, are you unwell?”
Mei Jiu didn’t answer, just cried.
Seeing that she still had the strength to cry, Mei Ruyan was slightly relieved. She crouched down, turning her back to Mei Jiu. “Shall I carry you down the mountain?”
Mei Jiu stared at her back, An Jiu’s words echoing in her ears. Her tears flowed more fiercely. “A’Shun, am I so useless?”
Mei Ruyan’s body stiffened slightly. It hadn’t been long, but the name “A’Shun” already felt like a lifetime ago. Hearing it suddenly brought back memories of that miserable experience.
“Why does sister say such things?” Mei Ruyan collected herself and turned to look at her. “Sister is extremely beautiful, well-read, and skilled in the four arts. Surely many young men will compete to marry you in the future. This morning in class, my sister could recite with everyone, while I couldn’t even read smoothly. If sister is incompetent, wouldn’t that make me worthless?”
Mei Jiu looked up to see a hint of a smile in Mei Ruyan’s phoenix eyes. She continued, “No one is born knowing how to do everything. If we don’t know something, we learn it.”
Such words… An Jiu had said something similar before.
In terms of appearance, knowledge, and background, Mei Jiu was superior to Mei Ruyan. Yet An Jiu never seemed to look down on Mei Ruyan. After hearing those cruel words today, she realized the difference between herself and Mei Ruyan. “I’m timid and weak.”
“The sages say that knowing shame is close to courage. Sister isn’t timid at all!” Mei Ruyan turned her back again, patting her shoulders. “Come on, sister. Didn’t we need to go see the Elder?”
Only then did Mei Jiu remember that Elder Zhi had asked her to visit after classes. She really couldn’t walk anymore, so she didn’t stubbornly delay matters and let Mei Ruyan carry her as suggested.
“Besides, when you scared Mei Da earlier today, you looked amazing!” Mei Ruyan carefully descended the mountain, sighing, “If that’s still considered timid and weak, what would be considered brave and strong?”
That wasn’t me…
Mei Jiu thought to herself.
Moreover, Mei Jiu would never become such a person. In her view, An Jiu was a complete lunatic, so callous towards life, so extreme and reckless.
But this lunatic enjoyed herding sheep and had such peaceful, beautiful aspirations. Mei Jiu felt that An Jiu was a pitiful person. Her cruelty was due to her experiences; at her core, she was still pure.
Remembering the terrifying scenes from her dreams, Mei Jiu shuddered and called out softly in her mind, “An Jiu.”
“Don’t speak! Two people who detest each other have nothing to say!” An Jiu could sense the change in Mei Jiu’s heart and immediately cut her off harshly. She didn’t need anyone’s pity or sympathy, especially not from a useless coward!
After a while, Mei Jiu said, “You must be tired. I’ll walk on my own.”
“Can you manage, sister?” Mei Ruyan was somewhat out of breath. She wasn’t a delicate lady incapable of physical labor, but she had been pampered for a few years and had already expended a lot of energy today. Carrying Mei Jiu was truly challenging.
“Yes, I can manage,” Mei Jiu said.
Mei Ruyan set her down, and they supported each other as they walked down the mountain.
An Jiu was displeased. She had finally made Mei Jiu feel negative, yet a few words of encouragement had restored her confidence.
Halfway down the mountain, they encountered Yaoye and Danyue, who were helping their respective masters back to their residences.
Mei Jiu washed up briefly and had a light dinner before having Yaoye lead her to Elder Zhi’s place.
Elder Zhi lived in Yongzhi Hall on the west side of Meihua Lane. Yongzhi Hall had two courtyards. The first was a large archery range, spacious enough for mounted archery. Through the second gate was another archery range, though smaller.
Elder Zhi wore simple everyday clothes, his wide sleeves tied up with cloth strips. He stood in the corridor, bow in hand, aiming at a target ten zhang away.
Mei Jiu didn’t dare disturb him and stood quietly to the side, waiting.
Half a cup of tea’s time passed, and he remained motionless, like a statue.
An Jiu stared at Elder Zhi’s fingers for a long time, marveling inwardly. Most people’s hands and feet become unsteady in old age, yet Elder Zhi remained perfectly still for so long—truly remarkable. However, to her, the accuracy of the shot and the ability to hold steady for a long time were irrelevant. What mattered was the stability at the moment of release and the precise control of all surrounding factors.
Elder Zhi’s finger released, and the arrow whistled through the air, hitting the bullseye.
He placed the bow on a nearby high table and said to Mei Jiu, “Come here.”
Mei Jiu walked forward on her sore legs.
“Try this bow,” Elder Zhi didn’t treat Mei Jiu as an ignorant student.
Mei Jiu took the bow as instructed and urgently called to An Jiu in her mind, “Please come out!”
There was no response.
No matter how Mei Jiu pleaded after that, An Jiu gave no response whatsoever. She was determined to let Mei Jiu fail and erase that pitiful bit of self-confidence.
“Why aren’t you moving?” Elder Zhi chuckled. “I had this bow specially made for you. It’s of excellent quality. What, still not to your liking?”
“No, no, that’s not it,” Failing to get help, Mei Jiu decided to try herself. She imitated Elder Zhi’s earlier movements, drawing the bow.
It was a simple action, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. As soon as she took her stance, Elder Zhi frowned, but he didn’t interrupt. He thought Mei Jiu might have natural talent but hadn’t learned properly.
However, Mei Jiu’s entire body began to shake uncontrollably after drawing the bow just a little, deepening Elder Zhi’s frown.
Mei Jiu was in agony. She hadn’t expected the bow to be so light when picked up, yet she couldn’t draw it no matter how much strength she used.
After watching for a long time, Elder Zhi finally couldn’t bear it anymore. He suddenly flashed in front of her, grabbing the bow and arrow, and stared at her with a frosty expression.
Elder Zhi’s severity frightened Mei Jiu, making her instinctively shrink her neck.
“Who are you?” Elder Zhi’s hoarse voice carried a terrifying pressure. “Timid gaze, shrinking demeanor—you’re not the person from the ancestral hall that day! Speak! Who are you?”