“I also met a beekeeping couple. The husband was thin and weak, while the wife was tall and robust—they didn’t match at all.”

Geng Songsheng’s tone sounded somewhat indignant.

“Every day, the man would work himself to exhaustion while the woman sat nearby with her legs crossed. After the man finished work at the bee farm, he still had to wash clothes and cook. The woman not only didn’t help but found fault with this and complained about that, scolding and grumbling all day long.”

Zhu Weixi looked up in a daze. “Why marry such a wicked woman?”

“Exactly, I found it strange too.”

He smiled. “Once the man burned the rice, and the woman slapped him. I really couldn’t stand it and stepped forward to rebuke her, but the man protected the woman instead. Can you guess why?”

Zhu Weixi shook her head.

“Beekeeping was the woman’s ancestral craft. The man had married into her family. In two years of marriage, the woman hadn’t been willing to let the man lift a finger.”

Geng Songsheng continued, “Beekeepers must follow the flowers. The woman was pregnant and soon wouldn’t be able to go chasing blossoms. This man’s hands couldn’t carry baskets, his shoulders couldn’t bear poles—how could he manage an entire flower season?”

Zhu Weixi’s eyes turned completely red. After a long silence, she said, “So the road ahead, he had to walk alone.”

Geng Songsheng looked at her. “Yes, she had to walk it alone.”

Tears finally welled up from the heat, but she didn’t dare let him see them and forced them back down.

“Geng Songsheng, I can’t walk anymore.”

I don’t know what meaning there is in continuing.

“Zhu Weixi, look!”

Geng Songsheng extended his hand, covered in calluses, with several cracked openings.

“These hands used to only hold brushes and nothing else. Now chopping wood, lighting fires, washing clothes, cooking, mending—I can do it all.”

From a young master of a noble family to a monk was a tribulation. If you survive it, you’re reborn; if you don’t, you deserve your fate.

I could do it, so why can’t you?

You can, Zhu Weixi!

Zhu Weixi looked down at those hands through her long lashes, tears dropping one by one onto her own heart.

After that pregnant woman came to their door, Zhu Weixi had cried her heart out, overcome with grief. She thought she was the most wronged person in the world—deceived, betrayed.

Only now did she realize that true heartbreak doesn’t bring tears—you can only swallow them down with the pain.

Just like this moment. His voice remained gentle, his gaze still rested on her, he still spoke of the scenery along the road and the people he met with the same animated enthusiasm as years ago.

But Zhu Weixi understood more clearly than ever that only his eyes remained the same as before.

He had already pulled the thorn from his heart and walked forward openly and honestly for a long time.

While she…

Could never walk alongside him again in this lifetime, not even for a few steps.

“Zhu Weixi, my master has a saying. Do you want to hear it?”

Zhu Weixi looked up at him.

“He said a person’s life doesn’t end when they’ve traveled all mountains and waters, nor when they become enlightened, but at the moment they let go.”

Geng Songsheng looked at her levelly, saying gently, “Walk forward, don’t look back.”

No one waits behind you!

Zhu Weixi said nothing, remaining silent throughout.

After a long while, she drew out a silk handkerchief from her bosom. When the handkerchief unfolded, it revealed a crudely carved wooden hairpin.

Geng Songsheng took it and, without even looking, tucked it into his robes.

“I never did thank the Daoist who saved my life. This thing will be perfect to give to him.”

Zhu Weixi’s lashes trembled lightly. She looked up, smiling through tears. “Just those two places? Just two interesting couples? Aren’t there more? Tell me everything.”

Geng Songsheng smiled. “Want to hear?”

“Yes!”

“There’s plenty more.”

Geng Songsheng propped the fire tongs against the edge of the brazier and took down the thawed buns from the pot lid, placing them on the tongs.

After finishing, he began, “Before winter, my master and I went to the Maqu Grasslands. Do you know how the men and women there court each other?”

“How do they court?”

“If a girl takes a fancy to someone, she throws a horse lasso around the young man’s neck.”

“What if the young man doesn’t want her?”

“Then he has to find a way to break free.”

“What if the girl is set on him?”

“The girl will tell him to stay put, then throw her waist knife over, meaning ‘I’ll bring a generous dowry, won’t you reconsider?'”

“Quite sincere.”

“Isn’t it!”

“Once, I ended up with a lasso around my neck too.”

“That girl must have had excellent taste.”

Geng Songsheng nodded, looking at her intently, very intently, then said softly:

“Any girl who takes a fancy to me has excellent taste!”

…

Young Master Pei couldn’t hold back anymore, his heart anxious and fretful.

Although Geng Songsheng had a backbone of steel and could stand up tall and proud even if his tendons were pulled and skin flayed—he was a real man—but…

That was then. Those feelings belonged to that time.

Now Zhu Weixi was married. This man and woman alone together—what if talking led to something uncontrollable?

No, I need to go eavesdrop and keep watch for Xie Wushi a bit.

Of the three people before him, Yan Sanhe sat with eyes closed in meditation, Zhu Yuanzhao looked deathly pale, and only Li Buyan kept her wide eyes trained on him with significant meaning.

What are you looking at?

Never seen such a dashing, handsome young master?

Who knew Li Buyan wouldn’t just look but would reach out a foot to nudge his.

What are you doing?

Men and women shouldn’t touch casually.

Young Master Pei used his eyes to express condemnation, but before he could strike an imposing pose, Li Buyan raised both elegant brows at him and glanced outside.

“???”

Young Master Pei gasped inwardly.

Good heavens, so Hero Li also wanted to eavesdrop.

Li Buyan certainly wanted to listen, but her purpose for eavesdropping was to see if these two had any possibility of getting back together.

Monks couldn’t marry, but lamas could.

Old Monk Father was a lama, so Old Monk should be one too, which meant Geng Songsheng probably was as well, right?

Anyway, that wretched place called the Xie family, that wretched person Xie Laoda—she just didn’t like them. She could persuade Zhu Weixi to divorce, and throw the child to the Xie family.

She couldn’t accomplish this alone; she needed an accomplice.

Young Master Pei was perfect.

Li Buyan stood up. “I need to relieve myself, going out for a moment.”

“I, I’m feeling urgent too.”

Once Young Master Pei got outside, Li Buyan waited at the side, their eyes meeting: Come, let’s eavesdrop.

The two tiptoed over and simultaneously pressed their ears to the door.

After listening for half a day, they were dumbfounded. Not a shred of old romance was being rekindled—they were just talking about traveling and sightseeing.

Young Master Pei squeezed his eyes at Li Buyan: This Geng Songsheng is still a decent man.

Li Buyan blinked back: Damn it, if he’s a man he should charge forward!

Young Master Pei blinked again: Wonder what Sister-in-law is thinking?

Li Buyan also blinked: Sister-in-law, though good horses don’t eat grass behind them, this grass has more flavor than what’s at home!

Young Master Pei continued blinking: Buddha, the red thread is severed—bless them both to be well separately!

Li Buyan kept blinking: Heavens above, please let love’s fire burn a little hotter!

The door creaked open with a “squeak,” and both straightened up simultaneously.

“That, well…”

Young Master Pei glanced guiltily at Geng Songsheng, quickly adjusting his expression. “…I just came to see if the porridge was ready. I’m starving.”

Li Buyan grunted in agreement. “Young Master Pei’s excuse is my excuse.”

Young Master Pei: “…”

This damned troublemaker!

—