After Pingyuan left, Fang Zhun stopped speaking. His expression was indifferent, and no one knew what he was thinking about.
Hu Sha deliberated for a long while before carefully opening her mouth, “Master… You’ve already been away from Qingyuan for five years. Why not go back and take a look? After all, the Shuiliu Qin has been restored. There’s nothing to worry about.”
He seemed not to have heard clearly. He raised his head with a slightly puzzled look at her, clearly thinking about something else, his appearance distracted.
“I mean…” Hu Sha planned to be more tactful and persuade him to return to Qingyuan for a visit. After all, he had already been away for five years, and moreover, he had left for five years because of her. Even if others didn’t say anything, she herself felt like a femme fatale. No wonder Pingyuan had looked at her so strangely.
Fang Zhun waved his hand, indicating she needn’t continue. Without a word, he stood up and left.
For the entire day that followed, Hu Sha didn’t see Fang Zhun’s figure again. She didn’t know where he had run off to.
She waited until the middle of the night and still didn’t see Fang Zhun return. Finally, even the usually coldest Servant Girl Number One couldn’t help but come to persuade her, “Just go to sleep already. Fang Zhun isn’t a three-year-old child who needs you to worry about him.”
Hu Sha also felt there was some logic to this. Actually, Fang Zhun’s abilities were very great. It was just that she had preconceived notions that his health wasn’t good, that he was delicate and scholarly, so she always worried something might happen to him. Thinking carefully, he had always been unrestrained and free-spirited. In three hundred years, he went wherever he wanted and had never encountered any accidents. Rather than worrying about him, she might as well take care of herself first.
Having thought this through, she simply washed her face and went to sleep.
After sleeping for who knows how long, she suddenly heard voices talking and laughing in the outer room. Hu Sha drowsily turned over and took a breath—there seemed to be a smell of wine too. Who was drinking wine in the middle of the night?
She threw on an outer garment, held a candlestick, and lifted the door curtain. She saw Fang Zhun and a man in black sitting outside drinking wine quite happily. His face wore a smile. Upon seeing her, he beckoned, “Did we wake you? Would you like a cup too?”
Hu Sha hadn’t reacted yet. She only instinctively nodded and slowly walked over to sit down. Fang Zhun indeed poured a cup of wine and handed it to her.
That man in black suddenly turned his head. His features were plain and ordinary, but his eyes sparkled with brilliance, extremely charming. Hu Sha froze again—this person looked a bit familiar. Where had she seen him?
“Ha, I only thought a beauty was hidden in the room. It turns out the beauty is actually this young lady. Truly surprising. Five years without meeting—you seem to have grown up considerably.” He said with a smile, his voice deep. The hem of his garment behind him suddenly lifted. With a “whoosh,” three fox tails emerged, fluffy and soft.
Hu Sha cried “Ah!” and nearly jumped up, “It’s you! Mister Fox Spirit who runs the bookstore!”
Mister Fox smiled even more happily, “To think you still remember me—truly an honor. Today I’ve come firstly to bid farewell, and secondly, since I’m leaving anyway, I might as well give Fang Zhun a few rare editions I’ve treasured for many years. I came by to beg a cup of wine and disturbed the young lady’s rest. I truly feel terrible about it.”
Leaving? She still didn’t quite understand. Fang Zhun beside her very kindly explained, “He’s already achieved enlightenment and become an immortal. Now, like me, he’s categorized as a scattered immortal, having escaped his status as a demon beast. So he closed the bookstore and plans to return to his hometown to marry a wife.”
So even fox spirits could become immortals. Hu Sha looked at him with emotion and said sincerely, “Congratulations to you, and I wish you and your wife a harmonious marriage for a hundred years and many children.”
Mister Fox smiled until his eyes narrowed to slits, “Many thanks. I also hope you can unite with your beloved as soon as possible and grow old together hand in hand.”
These words happened to touch on a hidden pain in Hu Sha’s heart. She could only laugh dryly twice.
Mister Fox drank two cups of wine and suddenly became interested. He spread his hand before Hu Sha, “Young lady, five years without meeting—how about I read your palm again?”
Hu Sha nodded and placed both her hands before him. This fox looked while nodding his head, also humming and muttering under his breath.
Fang Zhun smiled, “What have you divined this time?”
That fox didn’t respond. After looking for a long while, he closed Hu Sha’s palms and smiled slightly, “Same as before—no changes. The key is these next few days. Young lady, your luck is still quite good overall.”
Saying this was the same as saying nothing. Hu Sha silently withdrew her hands, but heard him say again, “In this world, money debts and blood debts are numerous calamities, yet none are as fearsome as romantic debts. You must beware of romantic entanglements.”
What did he mean exactly? He didn’t explain, only drinking cup after cup with Fang Zhun, drinking until even the fox ears on top of his head emerged.
Watching the east turn pale, this night was about to pass. Hu Sha was so sleepy her eyes could barely stay open. She lay on the table drowsing, Fang Zhun’s outer garment draped over her shoulders.
Mister Fox finally stood up to take his leave.
Fang Zhun accompanied him all the way to the door, looking at his wine-flushed face with a silent smile.
The fox tucked both hands into his sleeves but didn’t look at him, only staring fixedly at the faint dawn light in the distance.
After a long while, he finally said, “Your temperament—after so many years, you still haven’t changed it. You’re always inappropriately willful and easily softhearted. Now that little immortal who came to look after you in my place is probably also having quite a hard time, eh?”
Fang Zhun laughed lightly, “Not at all. You’re joking.”
As soon as his words fell, Mister Number Two’s voice came from the shadow, “That fox speaks correctly. This person is quite detestable.”
The fox laughed with two “hehe” sounds, “How fortunate—I escaped from the sea of suffering one step earlier. This brother here will have to suffer for quite some time longer.”
Seeing Fang Zhun’s smile was faint, a picture of breezy nonchalance and heartlessness, he couldn’t help but curve his lips.
“I’m about to leave now. In the future, with mountains high and waters far, who knows when we can drink together so freely again like today.” He paused, then said, “That young lady…” In the end, he couldn’t finish his words, only shaking his head.
“What should be said, what can be said, what I know—I’ve already told you everything. Don’t continue being willful. Take care.”
Fang Zhun smiled again, “So wordy. How have you become so nagging now?”
The fox indeed said no more. He only bent at the waist to bow to him, then turned and left. Because he used the ground-shrinking technique, in the blink of an eye, he became a small black dot and was soon no longer visible.
Fang Zhun stood quietly for a while. Mister Number Two’s voice came from the shadow again, “I think you should still listen to his words and go back once. Don’t let things become irreparable.”
He didn’t speak. After a very long time, he finally revealed a calm smile, “I just don’t want to believe…”
His words broke off. He didn’t want to continue.
Hu Sha walked out yawning, his outer garment still draped over her shoulders. She held several books in her hands, flipping through them while saying curiously, “Master, what rare editions did he give you? Why are they blank heavenly books again? They’re all empty.”
Fang Zhun couldn’t help but laugh. He turned and snatched the books away, flipping through them twice himself, “I already told you—they’re peerless rare editions that good children can’t read.”
Hu Sha rubbed her tired eyes, murmuring, “Is it still those stories you mentioned last time about love and hate, passion between men and women? Why can’t I read them?”
Fang Zhun stuffed the books into his sleeve and raised his hand to touch her cheek, “…Wait until you’re a bit older.”
Listening to this, it always felt like those rare editions weren’t good things. Hu Sha looked at him suspiciously twice. Too lazy to ask him—she couldn’t get anything out of him anyway—she simply stretched and walked back inside.
“I’m so sleepy, Master. May I sleep for a few hours before cultivating again?”
Fang Zhun suddenly grabbed her sleeve, “Hu Sha, would you play a game of chess with Master?”
Hu Sha froze for a moment. Seeing he seemed quite interested, she readily agreed.
Hu Sha’s chess skills were very good—this had once surprised Fang Zhun.
He still remembered five years ago, when extremely bored, he had forcibly dragged Hu Sha to play chess with him. Because she kept declining, he thought she didn’t know how to play. He even gave her a four-stone handicap, and as a result, lost miserably to her in the first game.
After that, he never gave her even half a stone advantage again. Probably to salvage face from the first game, in the second game, he killed without mercy. In the time it took to brew tea, he had swallowed half her territory, and then discovered a pattern in Hu Sha’s chess playing.
If others didn’t press her hard, she was also like lukewarm water—modest and deferential, not caring about winning or losing. But if someone played ruthlessly against her, she struck back with vicious moves, yet still methodically. Even when half her territory was eaten, her expression didn’t change.
In the end, he still lost the second game to her.
From then on, Fang Zhun was unwilling to play chess with her. Accompanying her lukewarm play wasn’t satisfying at all, but accompanying her fierce play—he couldn’t out-fierce her. He preferred to bully the paper dolls, using the game of Go to slaughter them until they were in complete disarray and crying bitterly—extremely satisfying.
After five years, today he asked her to play chess with him again—this was quite a rare occasion.
Both holding black and white stones, sitting on opposite sides, they fought for less than a moment before many of Hu Sha’s white stones were eaten by him. This time, he neither yielded nor played ruthlessly, only grinding slowly with her, eating away her white stones bit by bit.
Sure enough, Hu Sha hesitated, pinching a white stone and pondering exactly how to move.
Because the board remained unchanged for quite a while, Fang Zhun couldn’t help but raise his head and look at her with a smile. Outside the window, the bamboo grove’s whispering sounds were fine and delicate. His gaze slid down from her smooth forehead, watching her face take on a jade-like color in the spring light. By her ears were several strands of soft silk, blown by the wind to sway back and forth. Her hand supported her face, her brow slightly furrowed, her slender fingers unconsciously turning the chess stone round and round—clearly extremely troubled.
Finally, she seemed to have figured it out. Her brow jumped actively and smoothed out. She placed the stone on the board and looked at him with bright, sparkling eyes.
Fang Zhun’s heart was mostly no longer on the chessboard. He only lowered his head to glance roughly, then smiled, “You’ve lost.”
Hu Sha couldn’t help but freeze. She watched him grab a handful of chess stones with his hand and place them one by one in sequence, saying lightly, “My next move is here. Following your path, the lower right corner will inevitably be blocked, but the upper area will be empty of a large block. Because I won’t press you step by step, you don’t much care that I eat several blocks of your upper territory. You feel that guarding the lower area well is already sufficient. But what if I move like this?”
He placed another stone right in the center. Hu Sha’s expression indeed changed.
Fang Zhun smiled, waved his hand to scatter the board, and stood up, “Your chess strategy is like your temperament. If you haven’t been forced by someone into a corner with no way out, you won’t understand even when you die. Today, it’s just that Qingling Zhenjun is pressing you urgently, so you can still face it calmly. But if one day someone grinds slowly with you—you retreat one step and he advances two, you advance two steps and he retreats one—ultimately leaving you with nowhere to retreat, only able to obediently fall into his hands, what will you do?”
Hu Sha was stunned for a moment, then said in a low voice, “Besides death, there are no great matters.”
Fang Zhun gently shook his head, held her hand, and said softly, “Your life, in my heart, is heavier than heaven and earth. You cannot speak lightly of death. Hu Sha, though chess is a pastime, it’s no different from life—it’s all just a battle. It’s just that if you lose on the chessboard, there’s still a second game, a third game. Life, however, never has a second game. So you must be cautious, extremely cautious.”
Hu Sha looked at him with partial understanding, “Master, are you also playing chess? With whom?”
Fang Zhun lowered his eyelashes and placed the chess stones back in their box, saying calmly, “Unfortunately, my chess skills aren’t refined. I’m probably going to lose.”
As soon as his words fell, he turned his head toward the door and said in a low voice, “Since you’ve already come, why not enter? Why stand at the door doing nothing?”
Someone at the door?
Hu Sha turned around with surprise and uncertainty. Sure enough, she saw the door being gently pushed open. A figure in black slowly walked in, his face as pale as ice and snow, but his eyes as black as the deepest, darkest night.
It was Feng Di, whom they hadn’t seen in a long while.
A few days after Feng Di returned to Qingyuan, Uncle-Master Fang Ye, who had been away for a long time, also returned.
Not knowing what he had heard outside, for a time, rumors flew everywhere throughout Qingyuan, much more serious than the previous rumors about master-disciple incest.
But Feng Di paid no attention to these things. His thoughts remained in a state of confusion and self-blame. He shut himself in Zhiyan Studio, not daring to go out and see anyone.
Two more days passed, and Manqing finally couldn’t hold back. She ran to Zhiyan Studio to find him, though she didn’t know what to say either. She just blushed and lowered her head to look at her own shoes.
This young girl whose heart had just awakened was completely immersed in the beautiful dream from two days ago, unable to extricate herself. Her brows and the corners of her eyes were full of honey-sweet shyness and joy. Looking at the one in her heart, she only felt happiness.
“That… Uncle-Master Feng Di…” Because Feng Di remained silent throughout, she had to speak first herself. She was so embarrassed her neck turned completely red. “I… I’ve always liked you very much… In my heart, there’s only you. I was just afraid you wouldn’t accept me, so I never told you… Now… now I know… you treated me that way… I truly understand…”
Feng Di’s face was pale. His gaze swept across her flushed face once, then suddenly, as if scalded, he quickly withdrew it, turned his head, and looked at her no more.
“Yesterday… I went to find Uncle-Master Bairu…” Manqing deliberated, not knowing how to speak without seeming too enthusiastic. “She said… if two people love each other, we can… mm, we can… go find Grand-Master to plead…”
Having said this much, she really couldn’t continue. She stole glances at him with her eyes.
He, however, had no reaction at all. After a long while, he only said in a low voice, “I’ve wronged you… I’m sorry…”
Manqing froze, “Why are you sorry? I… you treated me that way, I wasn’t angry.”
Feng Di closed his eyes and took a deep breath, “I’m sorry, I… cannot. It’s my fault. Do with me as you will.”
Manqing stared at him blankly, her face slowly turning deathly pale.
“You don’t like me?” she asked in a low voice.
Feng Di gritted his teeth, “I don’t like you.”
Manqing looked as if she didn’t recognize him, “Then you… then that day… why did you treat me like that…”
Feng Di stood up, walked before her, drew the treasured sword at her waist, handed her the hilt with the blade against his own neck, and said in a low voice, “I offended you. Do with me as you will.”
Manqing didn’t take the sword. She just stared at him blankly, as if she didn’t recognize him at all, as if she didn’t even recognize this world.
After a very long time, she grasped the sword hilt but didn’t thrust it out. She simply returned it to its scabbard.
From beginning to end, without saying another word, she turned and left.
He didn’t even know whether she had shed tears. She just silently left Zhiyan Studio, left Qingyuan.
The next day came news that Manqing had voluntarily left the sect and returned to her hometown.
He never saw Manqing again. For the rest of his long life, until the very end, he never again saw this girl he had wronged.
Feng Di felt he wasn’t human. Not only not human—he was probably worse than a beast.
Looking back on his life, which wasn’t long but wasn’t short either, he suddenly discovered he had lived it as a complete failure. Almost nothing he did had succeeded. In terms of aptitude, he was inferior to Feng Yi, who had already become a demon. In terms of feelings, he had discovered too late.
He had lived seventy years, a great dream. He thought himself the eldest senior brother, the uncle-master in others’ mouths, and that his grand-master also regarded him with favor.
Only now did he suddenly realize—he was nothing. Everything he did failed.
Feng Di was so dejected he wanted to die immediately, turn to ash, and not let others see him, especially not let Master and Hu Sha see him.
He even developed a fear of those two. Just thinking about it made his heart feel like it was being viciously hooked, as if his heart would be pierced through.
He didn’t want to stay in Zhiyan Studio, didn’t want to stay in Qingyuan anymore. He wanted to leave, go to a place where no one knew him.
He left Zhiyan Studio alone in a daze, wandering randomly through the forests between Yimu Peak and Ermu Peak. He got lost in a pitch-dark, upside-down way. The small forest seemed like the largest maze—no matter what, he couldn’t get out.
Finally, not knowing where he had walked to, he suddenly heard several disciples talking in the forest. He vaguely heard the two words “Fang Zhun.” His heart immediately jumped, and instinctively he turned to leave.
“…Heard it from Uncle-Grand-Master Fang Ye at noon. Grand-Master was so angry about it, he nearly sent someone to Yuanzhou to capture Uncle-Grand-Master Fang Zhun and bring him back. They said it was about some Shuiliu Qin. That Feng Yi became a demon and needs the Shuiliu Qin to assist…”
Before the words finished, a crisp female voice beside him interrupted, “Ah, I’ve heard about this long ago! Two days ago, I heard people spreading it around. Feng Yi has now become a demon with endless, boundless power. They say it was at Uncle-Grand-Master Fang Zhun’s instigation. Because he wants to become a heavenly deity but doesn’t have sufficient Five Elements power, he sent Feng Yi to steal divine instruments. The Golden Pipa was also stolen by him. As a result, the master and disciple had a falling out over dividing the spoils—very unpleasant!”
Absurd! Feng Di closed his eyes, wanting to loudly rebuke these people who spread boring rumors.
But in that instant, he suddenly remembered what happened that night, when he had just rushed back and heard those two sentences Feng Yi said. Hu Sha said it was sowing discord, but no one knew the facts. As the saying goes, there’s no smoke without fire. The rumors flying around Qingyuan had reached a terrible degree—they couldn’t all be made up by people. There must be one or two insiders from that day.
Perhaps it really was Master… Feng Di furrowed his brow tightly, unwilling to continue thinking.
He turned to leave but heard those two in the forest say again, “Speaking of which, that Hu Sha person is also quite strange. She suddenly entered the sect, then was suddenly expelled. By rights, she’s a mortal with not half a bit of foundation. What exactly did Uncle-Grand-Master Fang Zhun see in her that he accepted her by breaking the rules? Only now do I understand—it was because she could nurture the Shuiliu Qin. At that time, when I heard Hu Sha went to retrieve the Shuiliu Qin, didn’t Uncle-Grand-Master Fang Zhun immediately rush out? He made Grand-Master so angry his expression changed, and afterward she really did obtain the Shuiliu Qin. Grand-Master was worried about her safety and sent Uncle-Master Feng Di to persuade her, but she somehow was bewitched by Fang Zhun and actually refused to come back, willingly nurturing the Shuiliu Qin for him. Uncle-Master Feng Di couldn’t fight his own master, so Uncle-Grand-Master Fang Zhun arranged him by his side to monitor him at all times. Truly worthy of being an uncle-grand-master. Looking at his refined and scholarly appearance, his schemes are actually so deep! I’m starting to feel rather sorry for Hu Sha.”
Feng Di finally couldn’t listen anymore. He couldn’t help but shout angrily, “What person is here spouting nonsense and rumors?”
The several disciples in the forest were frightened into silence. They turned and ran, scattering like birds and beasts in the blink of an eye. Feng Di angrily gave chase, but the forest paths were complex and he was naturally directionally challenged. After chasing for a long time, he didn’t catch a single one. He was so angry his face turned green. He raised his hand to pound the pine tree beside him. Pine branches and pine needles fell down with a clattering sound from his pounding.
How could Master be such a person? Complete nonsense!
He told himself in his heart: It’s all false, completely unbelievable.
But this voice admonishing himself clearly revealed stern words with an inner cowardice. His heart seemed to have broken open a hole, and the hole’s name was “doubt.”
Perhaps… perhaps it really was like this? Master has lived three hundred years—what kind of person hasn’t he seen? Why would he be particularly fond of Hu Sha alone? If not for the Shuiliu Qin, why would he insist on remaining away? Even when his grand-master relented and agreed to let Hu Sha return to the sect, he still refused to return to Qingyuan? If not for the Shuiliu Qin, how could the always clever and perceptive Feng Yi have become a demon? How could he have said those ambiguous words to Master that day?
Should he believe Master, or believe the teachings he had received since childhood, follow Qingyuan’s righteousness?
Feng Di was completely confused.
Behind him suddenly came a trace of light footsteps. He whirled around and said sharply, “Stop! Those rumors just now—where did you all hear them from?”
That person seemed startled by him and immediately stopped, frowning, “Feng Di? What are you shouting about here?”
Feng Di froze, looked carefully, and saw this person in white robes with a slight beard—it was none other than Uncle-Master Fang Ye. He quickly lowered his hands, “This disciple was rash… Please punish me, Uncle-Master.”
Fang Ye’s brow furrowed again, “Just now you… said something about rumors?”
Feng Di’s heart was in chaos like tangled hemp. He shook his head, “No… this disciple… this disciple didn’t…”
Fang Ye said calmly, “No need to deny it. Actually, even if you don’t say it, I understand. This matter is quite strange and not something you junior disciples can concern yourselves with. Today’s matter—just pretend you didn’t hear it. I will immediately transmit an order to Lianzhen Department, commanding everyone in Qingyuan not to mention this matter again. If you have no other business, return quickly. Don’t wander about randomly.”
Feng Di stood stunned for a long while. He could only lower his head in assent and turn to leave.
But thinking about it, he still wasn’t willing to accept it. He stopped there and said in a low voice, “Uncle-Master… I beg you to tell me, these things… are they true?”
Fang Ye sighed, “What good would knowing do you? I understand—Fang Zhun is your master, so naturally your feelings are different from others. But knowing about this matter won’t benefit you in any way. Go back. Don’t think about it.”
Feng Di said softly, “Uncle-Master, this disciple begs you.”
Fang Ye stood with his hands behind his back, sighing as he gazed at Sanmu Peak in the distance, soaring high into the clouds. After a long while, he finally said, “I also watched Fang Zhun grow up, you could say. This child has always been clever and intelligent. How could he be so obstinate about this matter…”
Before he finished speaking, Feng Di turned and ran as if possessed, staggering and hitting who knows how many trees. Finally, he rose on clouds and vanished in the blink of an eye.
Fang Ye stood in the forest for a long time, slowly turning his head back. His eyes in the dim forest looked red as blood.
He suddenly laughed lightly. With a flourish of his sleeve, he was about to disappear in a wisp of red smoke when he suddenly heard someone in the forest cry out in alarm, followed by a “thump” as they fell to the ground.
He slowly stopped his movement and turned to look back. He saw a young disciple of unknown generation lying softly on the ground, looking at him in terror, murmuring, “Uncle-Grand-Master Fang Ye? Your… your eyes…”
He smiled slightly, slowly walking over. His smile held mockery mixed with a trace of coldness. He asked gently, “What about my eyes?”
That young disciple couldn’t say anything, his face alternating between green and white.
Fang Ye crouched down and patted his head, sighing softly, “Your luck is truly bad…”
Before his words fell, with a “crack” sound, that person’s throat was already crushed by him. Without making a sound, he died on the spot.
Fang Ye stroked his face. His fingertips seemed to carry streaming flames. In an instant, he ignited the person. In less than half a moment, he had burned to ashes, blown away by the wind, no longer leaving a single trace.
Feng Di felt his entire being was about to split apart, shatter into countless pieces of powder.
He wanted to cry but couldn’t cry. He wanted to shout, but in his throat was only a rough, hoarse gasping sound, as if something was blocking it.
He didn’t know where to go. He just kept flying forward, kept flying.
In his mind were only some scattered images—from when he entered the sect and Fang Zhun taught him with great care, to Fang Zhun pulling Hu Sha into his embrace, finally becoming Fang Ye’s back.
Was it real? Was it really like this? Master was collecting divine instruments? Was it he who caused Feng Yi to become a demon? Was it he who seduced Hu Sha, making her search for the Shuiliu Qin?
He couldn’t continue thinking, afraid he would truly shatter.
In his panic, not knowing what place he had found, he suddenly landed on the ground, punching the stones viciously again and again. He pounded until his hands were covered in blood, yet he felt no pain at all.
Behind him, someone seemed to be calling him, but he couldn’t hear clearly and didn’t want to respond.
Not until that person suddenly used sound transmission, sending the voice directly into his ear, “Feng Di!”
It was his grand-master’s voice.
Feng Di turned around in confusion, his eyes vacant as he looked around in all directions. Only then did he discover he didn’t know when he had run to the peak of Yimu Peak. This was the bedchamber of his grand-master, Grand-Master Jinting.
Grand-Master Jinting’s face was heavy as water, staring fixedly at him. After a long while, he finally said in a low voice, “You… already know everything?”
Feng Di opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but couldn’t say a single word.
He fell to the ground, kneeling before him. Tears immediately flowed out. His entire body shook like a shriveled falling leaf.
Grand-Master Jinting took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, “This venerable one asks you—do you believe it? Your master who raised you for seventy-five years—do you believe he is such a person?”
Feng Di only shed tears, then shook his head forcefully.
He didn’t believe it, didn’t dare believe it, didn’t want to believe it.
Grand-Master Jinting said calmly, “Feng Di, just now Pingyuan returned and said Fang Zhun still refuses to return to Qingyuan, but the Shuiliu Qin has been restored. This venerable one is giving you a task. No matter what, you must persuade your master to come back. As for that young lady, if she’s willing to return, she may return. If unwilling, this venerable one will not force her, nor will I demand the Shuiliu Qin. Can you accomplish this?”
Feng Di stood stunned for a long time. Finally, he wiped away his tears and kowtowed to the ground, “…Even if this disciple must die, I will persuade Master to return to Qingyuan!”
When Hu Sha saw clearly that the person entering was Feng Di, she immediately jumped up with joy, laughing, “Eldest senior brother! You finally found this place! Where on earth did you run off to that day? No matter how I searched, I couldn’t find you!”
But Feng Di didn’t look at her. He only stared at Fang Zhun in a daze, then slowly walked before him and slowly knelt down.
“Master, please return to Qingyuan with this disciple! To dispel the rumors throughout Qingyuan!”
Fang Zhun didn’t speak.
Feng Di slowly advanced on his knees before him, grabbed the corner of his robe, and said in a low voice, “Master, this time, no matter what, please go back together with this disciple. Otherwise… this disciple would rather die by your hand immediately!”
Hu Sha was somewhat confused by the situation before her. She murmured, “Eldest senior brother…”
Fang Zhun raised his hand to stop her, slowly shaking his head.
He lowered his lashes to look at Feng Di. After a long while, he said, “Stand up. I don’t remember ever teaching such a humble disciple.”
Feng Di shook his head, still repeating that same line, “Please, Master, return to Qingyuan with this disciple! Otherwise, please let this disciple die by your hand!”
Fang Zhun sighed and slowly stood up, walking to the window. The brilliant spring light outside didn’t fall into his eyes even a trace.
His voice was low and gentle, yet made one feel an irresistible authority, “Do you still remember how I taught you back then? What matters and what people in this world are worth kneeling for, and what matters and what people are not worth kneeling for?”
Feng Di was silent for a moment, finally answering, “Kneel to heaven, kneel to earth, kneel to one’s master, kneel to one’s benefactor. Fear no tyranny, fear no falsehood, fear no evil.”
“Since you’ve come to find me now, it must be because in your heart you feel I’m wrong. Since in your heart I’m wrong, why kneel? Lowering your posture, using soft words to beg for pity, even threatening with death—why have you twisted yourself to this extent?”
His tone wasn’t harsh, even very gentle, yet it was enough to leave Feng Di speechless.
He smiled again and said lightly, “Generally speaking, those who become immortals pursue being unrestrained and free. Now being so cautious, fearing a wrong step, fearing to offend those in high positions—what meaning is there in becoming such an immortal?”
Feng Di finally stood up after all. He walked to Fang Zhun’s side and, like when he was small, tightly grasped Fang Zhun’s sleeve, as if not holding tightly enough would make him fly away.
He smiled bitterly, “Master, I can never out-talk you. From when I first entered the sect, I’ve always listened to you very obediently. Master has been like heaven in my heart. You’ve looked after me for over seventy years, indulging this disciple’s willfulness countless times. Today, please let this disciple be willful one last time.”
Fang Zhun turned his head to look at him fixedly.
Feng Di was already taller than him, having completely become a handsome young man with an imposing bearing. But the way he looked at him hadn’t changed, as if standing before him was still that little boy from over seventy years ago who had just entered Qingyuan and couldn’t sleep night after night from missing his hometown.
“Then,” Fang Zhun said slowly, “if I insist on not returning, your grand-master will punish you?”
Feng Di shook his head violently, “No! This disciple doesn’t fear any punishment! It’s just that now rumors are flying throughout Qingyuan. This disciple can no longer endure it. Master, whoever’s rumors they spread, even if they laugh at my uselessness, none of that matters. But what they say about you… Grand-Master also hopes you can go back yourself to explain. I know Master has always been free-spirited and doesn’t fear people’s words, but even considering everyone in Qingyuan, it’s better not to cause the junior disciples to panic and lose confidence in Qingyuan.”
Fang Zhun didn’t speak for a very long time.
Feng Di waited and waited but couldn’t get him to state his position. He immediately became anxious, nearly tearing his palms.
Suddenly he heard Fang Zhun laugh once and say calmly, “What they say isn’t wrong. I always can’t avoid being softhearted.”
Having said this, he looked at the sky again, “Going back now would also be late. Better to rest for one night and return tomorrow morning.”
Feng Di slowly released his sleeve. His heart was like finally settling into the dust—settled, yet revealing a layer of death energy. Though he had forcefully demanded he return to Qingyuan and his wish was fulfilled, it was as if he had inadvertently lost something important, something even he himself couldn’t think of.
He retreated two steps and knelt heavily on the ground, kowtowing to Fang Zhun with a deep voice, “…Many thanks, Master!”
Fang Zhun only smiled slightly without speaking and turned to leave.
On this last night, Hu Sha didn’t sleep well. Listening to the rustling wind sound outside the window, she had no sleepiness at all.
Feng Di, as if afraid Fang Zhun wouldn’t fulfill his promise, sat cross-legged guarding the door, not fearing the deep night and heavy dew. Hu Sha several times couldn’t help wanting to speak with him, but seeing his expression, she didn’t know what to say.
Actually, only a few days had passed, but eldest senior brother seemed like a different person. From the moment he entered until now, he hadn’t looked at her even once, much less spoken.
Hu Sha lightly walked to the window and pushed open a crack. Little Guai outside was joyfully wrapping itself around Feng Di, hugging his neck for a thorough licking. Unfortunately, the beautiful beast was sentimental while the hero was heartless. Feng Di pushed it away gently again and again, and it wrapped around him again and again—one person and one beast repeatedly performing useless actions.
She walked to the door curtain and looked outside through the gap.
Fang Zhun lived in the outer room. There was no light, no sound, as if he were asleep.
Hu Sha poked her head out just a tiny bit, wanting to take the opportunity to peek at Master’s sleeping heroic appearance. Her eyeballs were rolling around in the pitch darkness when she immediately heard Fang Zhun’s low, soft voice, “So late and you’re not sleeping—what are you looking at randomly?”
She immediately retracted her head. The door curtain brushed against her forehead, tickling.
“…I… mm, I was wondering if eldest senior brother sitting outside would be cold?” She finally found an excuse to deflect.
In the darkness, Fang Zhun’s voice sounded like it held a smile, “You’re lying.”
Alright, she was indeed lying. Hu Sha’s face flushed.
“Hu Sha, are you afraid? We’re returning to Qingyuan again.” He asked her in a low voice.
Hu Sha closed the curtain and silently shook her head, “…With Master here, I’m not afraid of anything.”
He seemed to laugh lightly. The laugh drilled into her ears, making her heart itch.
Hu Sha’s face flushed even more deeply. All around was pitch darkness, with only the scattered starlight outside the window. Very fortunately, she didn’t have to face him directly. Otherwise, if he saw her burning red face, what an embarrassment—what would she do?
He suddenly spoke again from the outer room, “Hu Sha, pour me a cup of tea, would you?”
She hurriedly agreed, lifted the door curtain, and strode outside. Unexpectedly, she crashed headfirst into someone’s embrace and was immediately held by two arms. She gasped, raised her head to look. In the darkness, she only saw a pair of eyes bright as stars. Immediately after, her lips felt warm—he had kissed down.
The darkness all around seemed to boil in an instant. From head to toe, Hu Sha seemed to turn soft as noodles, unable to catch her breath. A sound emerged from her throat, seeming like pleasure yet like pain. His arms immediately tightened, almost crushing her against his chest.
Hu Sha raised her hands, embraced his neck, her fingers inserting into his thick, cool hair. Suddenly, ten thousand emotions welled up in her heart.
She remembered that night at Taoyuan Mountain—the light of the serene grass glimmering and floating, dripping from his eyelashes. She had thought foolishly that three hundred years’ difference was no big deal. Actually, it was just self-deception, her heart full of helplessness.