Temporarily staying at Yunlong Jizhou Residence

The night was as dark as ink, with only a cold crescent moon in the sky casting its light, barely illuminating the bumpy path beneath my feet.

I followed Gongsun Sheng, footsteps deep and shallow, not daring to fall behind. The darkness around me seemed to writhe with life. The distant howling of unknown beasts and the terrifying moment in front of the ruined temple left me with a lingering fear. Only the green-robed figure ahead of me, remarkably stable in the moonlight, seemed a moving beacon, my only support in this perilous wilderness.

But this sense of dependence is highly contradictory and unreal.

He saved me. No doubt about it.

But why did he save me? Was it because I, an "oddity," couldn't die? Or was it some kind of compassionate instinct, a spiritual practitioner's instinct? Or... did he have deeper plans for me?

I didn't dare ask and could only follow in silence.

His pace seemed slow, but I had to jog to keep up. Moreover, the paths he chose were extremely treacherous. Sometimes, the path seemed to be nowhere, but pushing aside a thicket of brush revealed a new world. Sometimes, the path seemed flat, but he could sense the potholes hidden under the fallen leaves and circumvent them. This was no ordinary rush, but more like... an instinct to seek good fortune and avoid danger.

After walking for about half an hour, I was already panting, sweat on my forehead, and my arms were numb from holding the pipa and luggage. Just when I felt like I was about to give up, a gurgling stream appeared in front of me, and there was a relatively flat open space beside the stream.

Gongsun Sheng stopped and turned around. His face looked even colder in the moonlight.

"Rest here tonight." He spoke briefly and his emotions were unrecognizable.

I felt as if I had been granted amnesty. I almost collapsed on the ground, leaning against an old tree behind me, gasping for breath. My throat was dry and I quickly untied my water bag, but found it was empty - I had left in a hurry during the day and forgot to resupply.

Just as I was licking my cracked lips and feeling worried, a leather water bag was handed to me.

It was Gongsun Sheng. He had at some point filled the stream with his own water bag.

"...Thank you, Taoist Priest." I paused for a moment, then whispered my thanks. I took the water bag and, without caring about my manners, eagerly drank from it in small sips. The clear stream water, with a hint of sweetness, moistened my parched throat and eased my tense nerves a little.

He walked to another large rock by the stream, waved his whisk, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes slightly, as if he had entered a state of meditation. The moonlight cast a silver luster on him, making him look even more detached and untainted by the world.

I looked at him with mixed feelings.

This person is so powerful that he can ignore the mundane world, and so indifferent that he can warn me to "keep my head down", but he will come to my rescue in times of crisis, and even... notice such insignificant details as my lack of water.

What kind of person is he?

I hugged my knees and leaned against the tree trunk, unable to sleep. The wilderness was very cold at night, and I was only wearing a thin coarse cloth dress. I couldn't help shivering and hugged my arms tightly.

A blue cloth robe, still with some body temperature, fell lightly on me.

I looked up suddenly and saw Gongsun Sheng had opened his eyes at some point and was looking at me quietly. He was wearing only an even thinner undershirt, the sleeves of which fluttered slightly in the night breeze.

"Put it on." His voice remained calm, devoid of concern. More like... a reasonable response based on the current situation? "If you fall ill, it will be even more troublesome."

As expected, the subtle feeling of gratitude that had just risen in my heart instantly dissipated. It turned out they were just worried I'd become a burden.

But the warmth of his body was real. I silently wrapped my wide Taoist robe tightly around me. It still seemed to linger on his body, a faint, refreshing scent like burning pine needles mixed with a cold spring. This scent strangely calmed my turbulent mind.

"Master..." I hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help but speak, "Where are we going?"

Since he took me away, he must have a destination, right? I can't just wander around in this wilderness forever.

Gongsun Sheng closed his eyes again, and after a moment, he said calmly, "Jizhou."

Jizhou?

My mind quickly mapped it. That was Gongsun Sheng's hometown, his primary retreat in the original novel. He was taking me there? Why?

"Why... did the Taoist priest take me with him?" I finally asked the core question. "I'm just an insignificant musician. Didn't the Taoist priest tell me... to stay in my proper place and leave this troubled place?"

He took me along, which in itself contradicted his previous warnings.

In the moonlight, his long eyelashes seemed to move, but his eyes did not open.

"You already knew about the birthday gift, and you even saw Cui Daocheng's ambush." ​​His voice was steady. "If I let you go alone, and you were captured by the government or others, things might get out of hand."

I see.

It is to seal the mouth and control the variables.

In his eyes, I was still an unstable "oddity," a hidden danger that could leak plans and interfere with the "divine secrets." Keeping me by his side and keeping an eye on me was the safest option.

The last shred of hope in my heart was shattered. To him, I wasn't anything special, just a "trouble" that needed to be dealt with.

An inexplicable feeling of loss and humiliation washed over me. But I knew he was telling the truth. In this world, weakness itself is a sin. I had no bargaining power.

"I understand." I whispered, buried my face in my knees and stopped talking.

At least, I'm safe for now. Following him is better than falling into the hands of Cui Daocheng or the government. As for after arriving in Jizhou... let's take it one step at a time.

I spent the rest of the night in this half-asleep, restless state. Occasionally, I'd wake up with a start, only to see the figure still standing straight as a pine tree in the moonlight, and only then would I feel a faint sense of security and close my eyes again.

At daybreak, a small bonfire had been lit by the stream. Gongsun Sheng had caught two pheasants from nowhere and was roasting them over the fire. The fat dripped into the flames, making a sizzling sound and filling the air with a fragrant aroma.

I woke up, watching him expertly flip the roasted chicken, and I was lost in thought again. This Cloud Dragon, who could summon wind and rain and unleash the Five Thunders and Heavenly Gangs, was actually capable of such mundane tasks?

He handed me a pheasant that was roasted to a golden and crispy texture.

"Let's go after we finish eating."

I took it, thanked him, and began to eat. The chicken was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with seemingly no other seasoning besides salt. It was the most delicious and heartwarming meal I had ever had in this world.

For the next few days, we continued on our journey. Gongsun Sheng seemed in no hurry to reach Jizhou, choosing mostly secluded paths, avoiding towns and crowds. He spoke very little, spending most of his time walking in silence or meditating after dark.

I followed him like a silent shadow. My initial fear and wariness gradually gave way to a numb habit during the monotonous day-after-day routine. I began to have the energy to observe him, to observe the world.

I discovered he wasn't completely detached from the world. He needed to eat (though only a small amount), drink water, and even brush the dampness off his robes on dewy mornings. But his material needs were minimal; a meal and a place to sleep were all he needed. His serenity was something that came from within, not a facade.

Occasionally, he'd ask me questions about music, often centering on "Ten Sides of Ambush," about its form, structure, and emotional expression, but he stopped asking about its origins, as if genuinely accepting the "dream-inspired" theory. I happily discussed it with him, packaging my superficial understanding of rhythm and harmony from modern music theory in language accessible to this era.

Whenever this happened, he would listen with exceptional attentiveness, his deep eyes occasionally flickering with a thoughtful glint. I could sense that he harbored a certain curiosity and respect for music itself. This was perhaps the only area in which we could communicate peacefully.

A few days later, we finally arrived at Jizhou.

Unlike the plains of Shandong, Jizhou is mountainous and the air seems cooler.

Gongsun Sheng did not enter the city, but took me directly to Erxian Mountain outside the city.

The mountain path twisted and turned, the forest gradually deepening. The higher we climbed, the fewer people there were, and the thicker the fog, making it feel like entering a fairyland. Holding my pipa, I struggled, but the scenery around me, even someone accustomed to the modern city, was astounding. Ancient trees towered, strange rocks jagged, and the faint sound of cascading waterfalls was audible.

Finally, we saw a small Taoist temple in a secluded valley halfway up the mountain.

The Taoist temple was very simple, with white walls and green tiles, nestled among a few verdant pines and cypresses. Hanging above the doorway was an old plaque with the three simple, large characters "Zixu Temple" inscribed on it. This was where he usually practiced his meditation.

Gongsun Sheng pushed open the half-open wooden door and walked in.

The courtyard was small, but very clean. Herbs grew in the corners, emitting a faint bitter fragrance. The main hall enshrined the Three Pure Ones, offering a light aroma of incense.

A young Taoist boy, about ten years old and wearing a Taoist bun, was sweeping the courtyard. Upon seeing Gongsun Sheng, he immediately put down his broom and bowed respectfully, "Master, you're back!"

So he had a disciple. I looked at the handsome little Taoist boy and pondered my own situation.

Gongsun Sheng nodded slightly to the Taoist boy, then turned sideways to make way for me who was following behind him.

"Qingsong, this is Miss Bu. She's staying here temporarily. Please prepare a quiet room for her."

His tone was natural, as if bringing me back was a very normal thing.

The little Taoist boy named Qingsong looked at me curiously, but didn't ask any questions. He just replied obediently, "Yes, Master," and turned around to prepare.

I stood in the yard, feeling a bit bewildered. So... I'm staying here?

Gongsun Sheng turned to me, his eyes still that of calm scrutiny. "You will stay here. Life in the monastery is austere, and you will need to take care of your own daily life. Don't go down the mountain unless necessary, and don't disturb others who are practicing."

His arrangement was clear and concise, and it drew a clear line in the sand. He gave me a temporary place to stay, while asking me to continue to "behave myself" and not cause him any trouble.

"Yes, thank you for taking me in, Taoist priest," I replied with my head bowed. After all, having a place to stay that's sheltered from the wind and rain is better than wandering in the wilderness.

Qingsong quickly packed up a quiet room next to the side hall. It was small, with only a bed, a table, and a chair. The windows were bright and clean. Although simple, it was much better than the shabby inn I had stayed in before.

I put down my few luggage, hugged my pipa, sat on the hard bed, and looked out the window at the misty mountain scenery, feeling mixed emotions.

I did escape from the center of the storm in Yuncheng temporarily and avoided the danger of being immediately involved in the birthday gift incident.

But I didn't gain true freedom. I simply moved from a dangerous place into another, more secret prison controlled by Gongsun Sheng.

This is his territory, his dojo. Here, I am more like an "observation subject" under house arrest.

He still had doubts about me and was not completely at ease. My fear of him and the world had not been eliminated, but was temporarily suppressed.

But at the same time, an idea began to grow and spread in my heart.

Now that I've arrived here, beside this "Cloud Dragon," I've come into close contact with one of the core powers of this world...

Do I really have to continue to "keep to myself" and passively wait for the judgment of fate?

Gongsun Sheng warned me not to "disturb fate."

But perhaps my existence itself is a disturbance.

The song "Ten Sides of Ambush", those eyes that saw through everything, this unexpected trip to Jizhou... the chords of fate have changed.

I gently stroked the pipa in my arms, and the touch of the cool silk strings made me sober.

Maybe... I can find another way to "keep my place".

For example, An An is particularly...researching how to "conquer" this seemingly invincible "Long Aotian"?

This idea, with a hint of rebellion and challenge, quietly lit up in my heart like a spark in the dark night.

The road ahead is still uncertain and the danger is not far away. But at least I know what I should do next.

The first step is to settle down peacefully in Zixu Temple.