Early Spring Journey

On their way down the mountain, they circled back to the front mountain. In the dark night, neither spoke, each seemingly lost in thought. But throughout the journey, the young master held Chu Xia’s hand tightly, never letting go. After walking for an unknown amount of time, they saw a large tree in the middle of the mountain path. Chu Xia squinted and whispered, “Is this the cypress tree the innkeeper mentioned?” The young master smiled, “Let’s check it out.” Upon closer inspection, it was indeed a cypress tree, lush with branches, adorned with red silk ribbons and numerous copper locks hanging from its branches. Under the blue velvet-like night sky, stars were scattered like handfuls of silver. Chu Xia kept looking up until the young master’s voice came softly from behind, “Little girl, are you counting how many locks are here?” Chu Xia withdrew her gaze, somewhat embarrassed, and laughed, “How did you know?” He touched her cheek, extending a hand with a small silver lock lying quietly in his palm, “Let’s try it too.” Chu Xia was taken aback, slowly lifting her head to meet his eyes, “When did you prepare this?” The young master didn’t answer but focused on her expression. “Do you believe in this?” she asked with joy, taking the lock from his hand and gently rubbing it in her palm. The lock still held the warmth of his hand; she quickly closed her fingers, as if to keep the warmth from escaping. “Young girls tend to believe, don’t they…” The young master, watching her childlike actions, deepened his smile. “Don’t you believe?” Chu Xia looked at him with some disappointment. “If you believe, then I believe,” he said, his eyes complex. Chu Xia quietly averted her gaze and smiled, “Shall we hang it up then?” He wrapped an arm around her waist, and with a light leap, they sat on a branch of the cypress tree. Chu Xia chose a branch not too thick nor too thin, snapped the lock shut with a click, and carefully examined the two names engraved on it, unable to suppress a smile. The young master gently held her shoulders, pulling her close. The night breeze blew, her hair brushing against his neck, slightly tickling, yet gentle. “Master Tu Feng must have something very important to tell you tomorrow night,” Chu Xia suddenly spoke. The young master smiled faintly, “Perhaps.” Chu Xia seemed to ponder for a moment, then asked in a daze, “Will it be good news?” The young master tightened his hold around her waist, closed his eyes, and rested his chin on her hair, not answering. As the cool wind picked up, and being on the mountain, Chu Xia shivered slightly. The young master whispered in her ear, “Are you cold?” She turned just as his lips brushed against her cheek. Both were startled. In the early summer, Chuxia hurriedly turned her head, but he smiled slightly, gently lifting her chin with his hand, slowly turning her face towards him. The inexplicable panic gradually subsided… The air was left with an indescribable affection and a sweet fragrance. Chuxia, forced by him, slightly tilted her head up, watching as the young master’s thin lips approached, his breath also drawing near, making her feel flustered yet irresistibly drawn like a moth to a flame. She closed her eyes, and just as they were about to touch, a long, distant bell rang from the mountaintop. Chuxia quickly opened her eyes; the mountaintop was now alight with flames, and one could imagine the chaos there. The young master also turned his head, listening intently to the bell, frowning, “It seems something has happened on the mountain.” Chuxia felt a vague sense of foreboding, she only looked at the young master, but he decisively said, “Let’s go down the mountain first.” He held Chuxia and leaped down from the cypress tree. They had not walked for more than half an incense stick’s time when the dragon of fire on the mountain had already spread to the mountainside. Chuxia, somewhat bewildered, asked, “What is that?” At this moment, the young master, on the contrary, appeared very composed; he slowed his pace, smiled slightly, and said, “It seems there are uninvited guests, and the Shaolin disciples are chasing them down.” Chuxia became even more uneasy, “Uninvited guests?” The young master’s eyes shone brightly, he touched her hair, his tone extraordinarily gentle, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”