Early Spring Journey

Qinglong took half a step back, ready to bolt at any moment. “Besides, didn’t you also like to tease her? I was just talking, but you actually knocked off the iron shoe of Chuxia’s mount…” For some unknown reason, after Qinglong finished the last sentence, the young master’s face slightly reddened. Qinglong, who had been by the young master’s side since childhood, had never seen such an expression on him before — but that moment of distraction was enough. Qinglong slipped out of the room like an eel. As night fell, Chuxia held a copper basin, watching the young master wash his face. A thin layer of mud-like substance came off, revealing a very refined contour underneath. Noticing her keen interest, the young master asked, “Is it amusing?” “It’s quite interesting,” Chuxia couldn’t help but move closer. “Washing off this layer, it’s like you’ve transformed into someone else.” “Tomorrow, I’ll apply a layer on you too.” “You and Miss Baixue are too good-looking, wearing this makes you less conspicuous,” Chuxia smiled, her lips pressed together. “I’m just ordinary, no need for the trouble.” The spring rain outside continued to patter, occasionally a breeze would blow through the window lattice, causing the candlelight to flicker. The young master, watching Chuxia’s lively smile, seemed somewhat lost in thought. “Then, let Qinglong make you look prettier?” he suggested intentionally. “Would you not like that?” Chuxia put down the copper basin, instinctively touched her cheek, and shook her head. “I might not be pretty, but pretty people aren’t necessarily good people.” “Oh? Have you met a bad-looking villain?” “Not exactly,” Chuxia pondered. “Like, my future husband, I’ve never seen him… If he’s a big fatty or has a face full of pockmarks, would I not marry him? That wouldn’t do.” The young master was silent for a moment before smiling, “Girl, is it that you’re always thinking about your unseen husband?” Chuxia’s cheeks flushed, “No, I just said it casually.” “Alright, if one day you find that husband, I’ll have the manor celebrate your wedding with a grand dowry and send you off in style.” Seeing her skeptical look, he paused before adding, “If you can’t find him… perhaps it’s fate, then you’ll stay by my side.” He didn’t mention “as a maid,” and Chuxia didn’t notice anything unusual. She walked earnestly to the young master, extended her hand, and said, “A gentleman’s word.” The young master extended his hand for a pinky promise and completed the phrase, “Is as binding as a horse-drawn carriage.” His hand was always warm, dry, and strong; Chuxia’s pinky intertwined with his, and they pressed their thumbs together, finally satisfied. “I’m sure to find him, and then the young master will have to give me my indenture as well.” Under the candlelight, Chuxia’s cheeks flushed, her eyes sparkled, and the young master just smiled, promising, “Alright.” Before retiring, Chuxia spread out the bedding on the floor, but she heard the young master say slowly, “Don’t bother.” “You rest, I’ll be ready in a moment,” Chuxia wiped the sweat off her nose, thinking that if she was to suffer a bit by sleeping on the floor, she shouldn’t catch a cold. “I said, don’t bother,” the young master patted the bed beside him. “Sleep here.” “Young master, please don’t tease,” Chuxia gave a dry laugh, thinking, could you sleep on the floor instead? Suddenly, she felt weightless as she was lifted by the waist. Knowing it must be the young master, she panicked and struggled. “What are you doing?” He gently laid her on the bed, brushed her long hair behind her ear, and smiled, “Nothing.” With a flick of his left hand, the candle went out, and he sat on the floor, closing his eyes to adjust his inner breath, speaking no more. Chuxia woke up in the middle of the night needing to use the restroom. Opening her eyes, she glanced at the floor where the young master still sat, unmoving. She turned over, unable to hold it in, and softly called out, “Young master?” There was no response. The young master could sleep while sitting! Chuxia smirked inwardly, put on a coat, and tiptoed out. The spring rain had stopped outside, and the air was chilly. Ding dong… Ding dong… Chuxia’s heart skipped several beats, feeling a sudden chill down her spine. She quickened her pace, almost running. Ding dong… Ding dong… Goosebumps rose all over Chuxia’s arms, and she rushed headlong into the dark doorway. In Chapter Thirteen, as she entered the room, the candlelight came on, and the young master sat quietly at the table as if he hadn’t been asleep. “Young master… I heard a ding dong sound, like that day in Shuyuan…” Chuxia, pale with fear, stumbled to the young master’s side. “Listen!” The young master put his finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet. Ding dong… Ding dong… Chuxia gripped his sleeve, her hearing becoming even more acute in the silence, the sound seeming right beside her ear. After a while, it sounded like a wild cat stepping on the roof tiles, and indeed, the ding dong sound ceased. The young master, with a reassuring smile, gently patted Chuxia’s shoulder. “Silly girl, it’s the sound of raindrops falling into the courtyard water jar.” Chuxia was still half-doubtful, waiting a long while for silence to return, and then lay down with her clothes on. But the disturbance had left her unable to sleep. Wrapped in her blanket, she lay awake for an incense stick’s time, feeling more alert, and whispered, “Young master, are you asleep?” There was no response from the young master. Chuxia waited a moment, then softly “hmm”ed, saying, “Young master, I know you’re pretending to sleep. Otherwise… how did you wake up so quickly earlier?” After a long time, a leisurely “Hmm” came. “Young master, let me keep you company and talk,” Chuxia said in the darkness. The young master chuckled, “Who’s keeping whom company?” “Young master, are those assassins targeting us again?” “Possibly.” Chuxia swallowed nervously, the sound loud. “Then let’s pick up the pace. The sooner we get it… the sooner it’s over.” The young master didn’t answer, and after a while, he said, “If you don’t sleep now, be careful not to fall off your horse tomorrow.” “Young master, do you think the one who killed the lady was an insider from the manor?” Chuxia, unable to sleep, sat up wrapped in her blanket. “I feel uneasy until that person is caught…” The young master responded lazily, sounding very perfunctory. Chuxia found it uninteresting and fell silent for a moment before asking, “Young master, what’s hidden in ‘The Song of Mountains and Waters’?” “Treasure, or a martial arts manual, isn’t that what you guessed?” “I was just guessing,” Chuxia sniffed. “What do you hope it is?” “Gold, silver, jewels, those are things you can’t take with you when you’re born or when you die, I’m not interested; as for martial arts manuals, those who fight over them are even more laughable.” The young master responded coldly, “You must understand, for those with exceptional martial talent, even the most ordinary techniques can be transformed into something extraordinary. Take Qiao Feng, the former chief of the Beggars’ Sect, for example; with his basic Taizu Long Fist, he made every martial hero submit. As for profound martial arts techniques, if you throw them in front of a mediocre person, even after ten years of study, they might not learn anything significant. As for true masters, they develop their own unique style, why would they covet others’ techniques?” Chu Xia pondered this for a while, finding it quite reasonable. But upon further reflection, she felt something was off, and couldn’t help but say, “Then why do so many people go after treasures?” The young master gave a slight snort, “Greed, the desire for something for nothing, is common to all. With one’s vision obstructed by a single leaf, one can do anything.” Just as Chu Xia was about to speak again, she felt a heat in her throat; the young master had somehow sealed her mute point, preventing her from speaking further. She was immediately furious and wanted to jump up, but the young master leisurely said, “Your mouth can’t speak, but your body still wants to move—do you want me to hold you while you sleep?” Upon hearing the last sentence, Chu Xia lay back down, motionless. The young master then smiled faintly, “You refuse the toast but drink the penalty.” She slept until the sun was high in the sky.