Wei Zhao stood motionless, only his robes rustling in the mountain breeze.
Jiang Ci sensed something was amiss. She rushed over and supported Wei Zhao, seeing his eyes tightly shut and his hands ice-cold. Alarmed and recalling his previous episode of Qi deviation, she gritted her teeth and forcefully struck his chest.
Wei Zhao’s body trembled slightly, but his eyes remained closed. Jiang Ci forced herself to calm down. Fortunately, she still carried a set of silver needles from her time at the medical tent, which she had kept even after changing back into women’s clothing. She took out the needles, remembering Physician Cui’s teachings. Recalling that Wei Zhao’s episodes often occurred when he was thinking of his family, she deduced it must be related to his heart meridian and found the relevant acupoints to insert the needles.
She dragged Wei Zhao to the fire, added more firewood to make it blaze, and then cradled him in her arms. His body was ice-cold, his handsome face tinged with a rigid, bluish hue. Jiang Ci’s heart ached terribly. She stroked his forehead and said softly, “Your father, mother, and sister are gone, but I’m here with you. You promised to stay with me for a lifetime. You’ve never lied to me, even when you wanted to kill me before. I don’t want you to become a liar—”
Tears fell in streams. She felt as if her quiet sobs were floating from far away. Through blurry eyes, she gazed outward, and the fire became a hazy glow. In that light, she saw him smiling at her, but just as quickly, his smile faded, disappearing behind the light.
A tearing pain shot through Jiang Ci’s chest. As she struggled to breathe, she suddenly heard a very faint cough. She looked down in joyful surprise to find his bright eyes gazing at her quietly. His voice was weak: “You’re strangling me.”
Jiang Ci let out a startled “Ah!” and released her hands from around his neck. Wei Zhao’s head fell heavily to the ground. He cried out in pain, his eyes tightly shut, and passed out again.
“Wu Xia!” Jiang Ci hurriedly embraced him again. Seeing no response, she panicked and finally burst into loud sobs.
A slender, fair, and somewhat cold hand gently reached out to wipe away her tears.
Jiang Ci looked down to see a faint smile playing at the corners of Wei Zhao’s mouth. She suddenly realized and was about to push him away, but didn’t dare. Instead, she chided, “You pretended to faint to trick me!”
Wei Zhao lay in her arms, seeing her feigned anger masking genuine joy. His dark eyes brimmed with infinite tenderness. With his grand plan nearing completion and his family’s vengeance achieved, he felt unprecedented peace and joy at this moment. He buried his head against her waist and said softly, “I wanted to know what it felt like to deceive you.”
“No,” Jiang Ci said urgently. “You’re not allowed to trick me, not for a lifetime.”
Inhaling her clean fragrance, Wei Zhao murmured, “Alright, just this once. I won’t deceive you again.”
Jiang Ci removed the silver needles from his acupoints and said, looking down, “Are you feeling better? Let’s go back to rest, and I’ll prepare some medicine for you.” She made to help him up.
But Wei Zhao held her hands in place and said softly, “Don’t move. Just stay like this, don’t move.”
Jiang Ci remained still, letting him lie in her embrace, letting him hold her waist, listening to his gentle breathing, hearing the birds’ low calls in the mountains, watching the fire dim from bright to dark.
Wei Zhao slept for over two hours, waking to find the weariness and torment of recent days completely swept away. He opened his eyes to see Jiang Ci with her head drooping, having fallen asleep herself.
He gazed quietly at her features, faintly marked by the rigors of their hasty journey. There were still traces of tears on her cheeks, but the corners of her lips curved slightly upward, as if infinitely joyful.
He rose quietly, but Jiang Ci, a light sleeper, opened her eyes abruptly. Wei Zhao drew her into his arms and said softly, “It’s your turn now. You sleep.”
Jiang Ci smiled at him and said, “I want to prepare some medicine for you, to calm your mind and spirit.”
“No need,” Wei Zhao said mildly. “It will get better gradually.” Before Jiang Ci could speak, he smiled and said, “If you’re not tired, I’d like to take you somewhere.”
“Where?”
Wei Zhao gently pulled her up and said, “Home.”
Jiang Ci was greatly surprised. She followed him a few steps, then stopped with an “Ah!” Wei Zhao turned back: “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Ci withdrew her right hand from his grasp and returned to kneel before the grave, bowing respectfully. Wei Zhao watched quietly, his jade-like face suffused with growing tenderness.
Turning left from the crevice exit was an extremely hidden mountain path. It seemed rarely traveled over the years, with grass growing very deep. Wei Zhao led Jiang Ci slowly along. In the darkness, Jiang Ci said softly, “Wu Xia.”
“Mm.”
“Are we going home?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not tricking me?”
Wei Zhao suddenly turned, his right hand supporting her waist, and carried her on his back as he continued forward. Jiang Ci lay against his back, his long hair blown by the wind, brushing her cheeks. His voice was very gentle: “I’m not tricking you. I won’t trick you anymore.”
Jiang Ci felt greatly reassured, all her worries and anxieties of recent days vanishing without a trace. She called softly in his ear, “Wu Xia.”
“Mm.”
“Wu Xia, Wu Xia, Wu Xia—”
She called incessantly, and he responded each time. This stretch of mountain path seemed as long as a lifetime, yet also fleeting as a shooting star.
In the darkness, Jiang Ci sensed Wei Zhao carrying her through a grove of trees and up a peak. As the faint sound of spring reached her ears, she dimly made out what seemed to be several houses on the mountainside ahead.
Wei Zhao approached a house and pushed open the door, still carrying Jiang Ci. He turned towards the room on the right, took out a flint, and with a “crack,” lit a candle. As Jiang Ci’s vision brightened, she couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
This was a typical Yue Luo clan stone house. The furniture—tables, chairs, bed, and platform—were all simple items, but the tablecloth, chair cushions, brocade quilt, and embroidered pillows on the bed were all exquisitely crafted “Moon Embroidery.” On the east wall hung a “Moon Embroidery” landscape, with mountains faintly visible, verdant peaks rising in the mist, stone houses nestled among the peaks, and a spring winding past. The entire embroidery exuded an otherworldly, indescribably serene charm.
Wei Zhao carried Jiang Ci on his back, standing before this landscape. Gazing at the stone house among the mountains in the picture, his voice was unprecedentedly gentle: “This was embroidered by my sister.”
Jiang Ci’s heart ached. She tightened her arms around his neck slightly. Wei Zhao patted her hand and said softly, “I lived here until I was eight years old.”
“With your sister?”
“Yes, and with Master. When I turned eight, I followed Master and my sister to the Yujiaa Manor in Pingzhou. All the embroideries here were done by my sister. At seven, she could create the most beautiful embroideries of our Yue Luo clan. When she was ten, she embroidered ‘A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix,’ which could even lure skylarks down from the heavens. After I went to Hua Dynasty, only Uncle Ping came to maintain this place every month or two. Come to think of it, this is truly my home.”
Jiang Ci listened silently, quietly reaching out to wipe away the tears that had begun to form in the corners of his eyes.
Wei Zhao set Jiang Ci down, turned to face her, and embraced her, calling softly, “Xiao Ci.”
“Mm.”
“My sister would have been very happy to meet you.”
Jiang Ci felt somewhat bashful and said in a low voice, “Perhaps your sister would find me not beautiful enough, clumsy, playful, gluttonous, and—”
He sighed softly by her ear and gently kissed her eyebrows and eyes, one after another. As she continued to ramble, he sighed again and kissed her lips, silencing her words.
At that moment, Jiang Ci’s stomach growled loudly, causing her great embarrassment. Wei Zhao released her and burst into laughter.
Jiang Ci’s cheeks flushed red. She pushed him away and said, “Who told you to leave without saying a word, making me chase after you in such a hurry, penniless and hungry for two days?”
Wei Zhao sighed, hugged her, and said softly, “You should have stayed with the Changfeng Cavalry and waited for me. Why did you come after me?”
Jiang Ci didn’t answer, only pinching his waist hard. Wei Zhao endured the pain without a sound. Jiang Ci gradually loosened her grip and said, “If you leave me behind again, I’ll—”
“You’ll what?”
Jiang Ci couldn’t finish her sentence. She just rested against his chest and eventually said weakly, “I’m really hungry.”
Wei Zhao chuckled softly, released her, and said, “Wait for me here. I’ll be right back.” With that, he slipped out of the house.
Jiang Ci chased after him outside and asked, “Where are you going?”
From the darkness, his voice drifted back: “To steal some fish to feed the cat!”
Jiang Ci laughed and returned to the house. Seeing some dust, she found a broom and cloth to clean up. She then fetched spring water from nearby, found the kitchen, lit the stove fire, and boiled a large pot of water.
Just as the water came to a boil, Wei Zhao returned, dropping a sack on the table. Jiang Ci opened it to find several small crucian carp, along with ginger, oil, salt, and white rice. She was amazed: “Where did you get these?”
Wei Zhao just smiled. Jiang Ci understood and laughed, “If your disciples discover missing items tomorrow, they’ll never guess it was their god-like Holy Sect Leader who stole them.”
Wei Zhao smiled and said, “They’d be even more surprised to learn that their Holy Sect Leader stole these to feed a cat.”
Jiang Ci picked up a small crucian carp and tried to stuff it into Wei Zhao’s mouth, saying, “Yes, to feed you, you shameless cat.” Wei Zhao dodged, laughing, and the two chased each other around the room for a while. Knowing she couldn’t catch him, Jiang Ci gasped and laughed, “I’m out of energy. You help me with the fire.”
“Alright.” Wei Zhao sat down by the stove and built up a roaring fire. The firelight illuminated his face, making his eyes particularly bright. Jiang Ci occasionally met his gaze while cooking, always drawn in by that brilliance. Only when his face seemed to glow red from the firelight and he lowered his head did she blushingly look away.
The rich aroma of fish soup filled the entire house. As they sat down at the table, Wei Zhao suddenly smiled and produced a small wine jug from behind his back. Jiang Ci’s eyes lit up. She snatched it, laughing, “It’s been so long since I’ve had wine.” Then she asked with concern, “You’ve just been ill. Can you drink?”
“You can drink more, and I’ll drink less,” Wei Zhao said with a slight smile.
Jiang Ci was delighted. She found wine cups and poured, then hurriedly ate a few mouthfuls of rice, saying, “Drinking on an empty stomach makes it easy to get drunk. I should eat something first.”
Wei Zhao gently swirled his wine cup, not touching the food. His handsome features showed both joy and sorrow. After a while, he said softly, “It’s good to get drunk. Tonight, we should be drunk.”
Understanding his meaning, Jiang Ci quickly raised her cup and said, “Good, let’s celebrate your revenge and get drunk!” She took a sip and sighed, “Not bad, truly good wine!”
Seeing her greedy look, Wei Zhao smiled and downed his cup in one go.
The wine was mellow and strong as it went down his throat, just like when he used to sneak drinks from the cellar, hiding from his master and sister.
The fish soup was delicious, and the wine was fragrant and potent. They talked and laughed, and before they knew it, the jug was empty and the dishes were finished. Jiang Ci tidied up, then went to the kitchen to boil some hot water. She brought it back to the room and wrung out a hot towel for Wei Zhao.
Wei Zhao buried his face in the scalding hot towel. As the effects of the wine surged, he raised his head, his eyes now bloodshot, staring blankly at Jiang Ci.
His gaze was different from any other time. Jiang Ci’s heart suddenly raced. She quickly snatched the hot towel from his hands, picked up the water basin, and turned to leave.
Yue Luo houses all had high thresholds. In her flustered state, Jiang Ci’s right foot caught on the threshold. She fell forward, the water basin overturning, soaking her completely.
Wei Zhao leaped over, picked her up, and frowned, “How can you be so careless?”
Jiang Ci whimpered, “What should we do? I’m all wet.”
Wei Zhao carried her to a chair and set her down. He went to a large red cabinet in the corner of the room and rummaged for a while, finding a few pieces of Yue Luo women’s clothing. He held them, running his fingers over the fabric for a moment, his voice tinged with melancholy: “These belonged to my sister.”
Jiang Ci took them with both hands, her face red, and said, “You go out first.” Wei Zhao’s face also reddened slightly, and he quickly left the room.
The clothes had been stored in the cabinet for many years and were quite old. Jiang Ci changed quickly, finding them a bit short. They must have been worn by his sister when she was fourteen or fifteen.
From outside came the ethereal sound of a Xiao. Jiang Ci quietly walked out of the house and stood behind him. The Xiao’s melody was graceful and lingering, expressing deep longing before fading away.
Wei Zhao held the jade xiao and turned around. Seeing Jiang Ci in the blue silk phoenix-patterned dress, his gaze became somewhat dazed. Then he couldn’t help but smile and say, “It’s a bit short.”
Jiang Ci’s hands and feet were exposed by a few inches, like jade lotus roots. In the moonlight, her eyes were as beautiful as a painting, her face tinged with a peach-like blush. Wei Zhao felt that in all his years of physical and mental exhaustion, he had never experienced such a peaceful and joyful night. A hint of intoxication surged again, making his gaze even more dreamy.
The autumn night wind in the mountains was bitingly cold. Jiang Ci couldn’t help but stamp her feet. Wei Zhao came to his senses and hurriedly said, “The wind is cold outside. Let’s go in and rest.”
“Alright.” Jiang Ci ran back into the house, with Wei Zhao following. They both stared at the bed inside, freezing for a moment. Wei Zhao said awkwardly, “I’ll sleep in the other room. You can sleep here.”
Jiang Ci felt somewhat reluctant but after a moment of silence said, “Okay.”
Wei Zhao left, and Jiang Ci still stood motionless in the room. After a while, there was a knock at the door. She hurriedly opened it. Wei Zhao seemed to be blushing and after a moment said, “There’s no blanket over there.”
“Oh.” Jiang Ci turned around and realized there was only one blanket on this bed too. The embroidered satin cover had yellowed somewhat from age.
She went to open the large cabinet again, looked for a moment, then turned back with a forced smile, “There aren’t any here either. What should we do?”
“Oh, never mind then.” Wei Zhao said blankly, slowly turning to leave.
Seeing him about to cross the threshold, Jiang Ci called out urgently, “Wu Xia.”
Wei Zhao stopped in his tracks but didn’t turn around. Jiang Ci hesitated for a moment, then stammered, “It’s so cold. How can you sleep without a blanket?”
“I’ll meditate,” Wei Zhao said softly, also hesitating slightly.
Seeing him about to step forward again, Jiang Ci called out once more, “Wu Xia.”
“Mm.”
Jiang Ci’s voice gradually lowered, “You can… sleep here.” Before Wei Zhao could react, she quickly jumped onto the bed, sitting in one corner, and pointed to the opposite side, saying, “You sleep over there, and I’ll sleep here. We can’t let you meditate all night.”
Wei Zhao stood motionless at the door. Jiang Ci had to gather her courage again and smiled, saying, “I’m particular about beds and might not be able to sleep. Keep me company and talk to me.”
Wei Zhao turned around, not daring to look at her, and slowly walked to the bedside. He sat down but didn’t get into bed, just sitting there blankly. Jiang Ci suddenly felt her heart racing and her mouth going dry. She unconsciously licked her lips, and as she looked up, their eyes met directly. They quickly looked away, both blushing furiously.
Their breathing became somewhat heavy. The ambiguous atmosphere in the room made Jiang Ci vaguely feel that something was about to happen. She felt a bit scared but also inexplicably expectant.
After a long time, seeing Wei Zhao still sitting woodenly, Jiang Ci simply closed her eyes, burrowed into the blanket, and said, “I’m going to sleep now. Put out the candle.”
Wei Zhao responded softly, raised his right palm, and the room plunged into darkness.