Chapter 108

The doors and windows of the hot spring room were tightly closed, and there was no wind, but the candlelight flickered slightly.

Man Jiangxue stood in the gentle, warm light, now dressed very neatly, her buttons fastened, her outer robe draped properly, the collar fitting snugly against her neck, the soft fabric exuding a pleasant fragrance, and there was no trace of skin exposed.

Although she never revealed herself from beginning to end, she had already shown herself in another sense.

Yin Qiu floated on the water like a drowned rat, the blush on her face still lingering, but it burned even more intensely amidst Man Jiangxue's inquiries.

“…My feet slipped,” Yin Qiu said, trying to appear natural as she looked up at Man Jiangxue. “I had been kneeling for too long, and my legs were stiff.”

Man Jiangxue glanced at her, bent down to pick up the clothes that had fallen by the pool, and said calmly, "Then you can warm yourself up. I'll go first."

As she spoke, she patted the water stains off her clothes, removed the screen, and strolled away from the place amidst Yin Qiu's evasive gaze.

She soon heard the door close. Yin Qiu stood there for a long time before letting out a long breath and sinking herself back into the water.

The image on the screen kept flashing before her eyes, impossible to shake off. Yin Qiu stared blankly, woodenly taking off her wet clothes before slowly beginning her bath.

She thought with some annoyance: I shouldn't have, I really shouldn't have, how could I have peeked at my martial uncle getting dressed?

But then she thought again: Well, that doesn't really count as peeping, does it? After all, there was a screen between us, and we didn't see anything.

Thinking of this, Yin Qiu immediately slapped her forehead hard.

What are you thinking! What would happen if you saw that?!

That's my martial uncle!

Yin Qiu cursed herself inwardly, but for some reason, the more she told herself that such thoughts were disrespectful, the more frequently the scenes she had just witnessed appeared, as if they were deliberately trying to antagonize her.

Yin Qiu was taken aback, and in her surprise, she felt panicked. She almost thought she was possessed by some evil spirit, so she quickly put her hands together and began to recite the Ziyin Heart Sutra with utmost seriousness, hoping to drive Man Jiangxue out of her mind.

This trick was indeed very effective. Yin Qiu's mind was filled with sword moves and mental techniques in no time. However, she still persisted in reciting them for a long time, until the water in the pool almost lost its temperature. Only then did Yin Qiu open her eyes, and her complexion finally returned to normal and was no longer hot.

A biting wind howled outside, and several paper lanterns swayed incessantly under the eaves. Yin Qiu glanced outside, sighed deeply, and got up from the pool, looking slightly tired. She quickly dried herself off, took the clothes off the screen, and put them on.

She washed her wet clothes in the clear water on the other side, and before leaving, she saw that Man Jiangxue's clothes were still hanging there, so she turned back and washed them there as well, before slowly pushing open the door of the bathhouse.

Night had fallen, and several candles in the courtyard had gone out. Before Yin Qiu could even step out, she spotted the person standing by the steps.

A gentle breeze carrying a faint fragrance wafted over, and Yin Qiu's emotions, which had just calmed down, began to surge again upon seeing that snow-white figure.

Feeling a faint heat rising in her cheeks, Yin Qiu paused, shook her head, and gave a silent, bitter smile.

Her recitation of the Purple Heart Sutra was in vain.

Perhaps the wind was too strong, because Man Jiangxue seemed not to have heard her come out and did not turn around. Taking this opportunity, Yin Qiu adjusted her mindset and took the initiative to ask, "Why didn't you go back to your room, Uncle? Are you waiting for me?"

Man Jiangxue turned her head, her profile appearing exceptionally beautiful and gentle in the backlight. She glanced at the two sets of clothes that Yin Qiu had already washed, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"I'm afraid you might fall again because of your leg problems, so I'll wait for you."

Sensing the teasing in her words, Yin Qiu couldn't help but blush and mutter, "Isn't that all the fault of Uncle-Master...? You're the one who made us kneel for so long."

“It’s my fault now,” Man Jiangxue said, reaching out to pull Yin Qiu down the steps with her. “If you hadn’t made a mistake, why would I have punished you?”

"What about upstairs before?" Yin Qiu immediately accused, "You ambushed me from behind and made me kneel down, that was tough, it still hurts!"

"That's because you're not skilled enough, what does it have to do with me?" Man Jiangxue said calmly.

Yin Qiu, hiding behind, pouted and said in a weak voice, "What kind of logic is this? It would be strange if I could beat my martial uncle. You're clearly bullying me..."

“If you talk back again, I’ll throw you out,” Man Jiangxue said without turning her head. “For every word I say, you have ten more to say. You can’t stand being the slightest bit of a verbal sparring partner. Who spoiled you like this?”

Yin Qiu was about to retort, "Isn't it because you spoiled her?" but she swallowed the words back.

She fell silent.

The two fell silent and went into the small building together. Yin Qiu immediately hung the washed clothes in the corner of the corridor. When she went back into the room, she saw that Man Jiangxue had already opened the food box and was carefully examining the food inside.

"Did you make this?"

Yin Qiu responded, closed the door, and said, "I made this while my uncle was still taking a bath. It's still hot, so eat it while it's hot."

Man Jiangxue sat down, took a bowl and chopsticks and handed them to Yin Qiu, saying, "Why don't you make something you like to eat?"

“I’m not a picky eater, I’m fine with anything,” Yin Qiu said, adding more rice to Man Jiangxue’s plate and serving her a bowl of soup. “Uncle-Master, it’s been a long time since you’ve had my cooking, so of course I’ll make it to your liking.”

Man Jiangxue glanced at her twice, slightly curled the corners of her mouth, and said no more. She picked up some food with her chopsticks, but did not put it in her own bowl. Instead, she gave it to Yin Qiu first.

The room was brightly lit, no longer the hazy view of the bathhouse, which allowed Yin Qiu to see Man Jiangxue's face and fair fingers more clearly.

She noticed that Man Jiangxue ate slightly more than usual today, and this small discovery suddenly evoked a subtle feeling in Yin Qiu.

In just four days, Man Jiangxue arrived in Yunjian City from Yunhua Mountain. Yin Qiu didn't need to think too much to know what Man Jiangxue's situation was like during her journey.

As Man Jiangxue herself said, she probably hadn't had a good night's sleep or a decent meal. It had been raining everywhere these past few days, and she couldn't even have a cup of hot tea on the road.

The reason behind this behavior was simply that she was worried about Yin Qiu and wanted to confirm her safety with her own eyes as soon as possible.

Yin Qiu nibbled on the lotus root, feeling a pang of heartache.

Man Jiangxue's intuition was very accurate. She had a bad feeling even when she was far away in Yunhua Palace. Yin Qiu had not only seen Nangong Min during this time, but also learned that someone would kill her. Including the day she heard the sound of a flute in the carriage and vomited blood, none of these were good things, but Man Jiangxue keenly sensed that they would happen.

But she couldn't tell Man Jiangxue that she had indeed encountered danger, and that there might be other unknown dangers to come.

Meng Jing is right. Perhaps after Man Jiangxue learns about what has happened these past few days, she will have a good plan to deal with it and protect Yin Qiu well. Because that's the kind of person she is. Wherever she is, it feels very safe. Yin Qiu can be a carefree child and rely on her wholeheartedly, just like when she was little, without having to use her brain to face what is about to happen.

But Yin Qiu couldn't bear to part with it.

Nangong Min is right, Yin Qiu has grown up.

Growing up not only means changes in appearance and physical size, but also means that she must gradually learn to stand on her own, to keep a clear head at all times, and to solve problems that seem to be the responsibility of Man Jiangxue.

What she actually wanted to learn was how to protect Man Jiangxue in return.

Even though it might sound unrealistic, Yin Qiu didn't think it was that complicated. What is protection? Does one only have the qualifications to protect someone if they possess exceptional martial arts skills? Not necessarily. If she takes good care of herself and doesn't cause Man Jiangxue any worry, or if she lets Man Jiangxue get a good night's sleep, that can also be considered adequate protection.

Yin Qiu felt satisfied by this somewhat private desire to protect.

·

It was well past midnight, and the inn was quiet inside and out. A cold wind swirled in the empty town, making the candlelit room feel a little warm.

The food was completely devoured, with only some cold lotus root soup remaining. The two ate comfortably and didn't say much during the meal. Yin Qiu cleared away the dishes and rinsed her mouth with Man Jiangxue. She closed the window and, by the light, noticed a hint of weariness in Man Jiangxue's eyes, a weariness that she only revealed in front of Yin Qiu.

The charcoal brazier burned out over time, but Yin Qiu didn't replace it. She made the bed and, just like in the palace, helped Man Jiangxue undress. Yin Qiu said, "I want to sleep with my martial uncle tonight, is that alright?"

It's been almost two or three years since she last slept with Man Jiangxue.

When she was younger, Yin Qiu always clung to Man Jiangxue, but as she grew older, she gradually stopped going to Chenxing Palace and had her own room.

The air was filled with the same unchanging, lingering fragrance. Man Jiangxue took off her outer robe, looked down at Yin Qiu, and said, "You'll be seventeen after this winter. Why are you still sleeping with me?"

“Even when I’m eighty, I’ll still sleep with my martial uncle,” Yin Qiu said matter-of-factly. “What does that have to do with age?”

“I will be dead when you are eighty,” Man Jiangxue said. “How can it not matter?”

Yin Qiu was startled and quickly covered Man Jiangxue's lips with her hand, saying anxiously, "Why do you have to mention death? It's so unlucky, ptooey!"

Man Jiangxue's lower face was hidden behind Yin Qiu's palm. Her eyes were lowered, and she seemed to be smiling softly: "Everyone dies. I've never been afraid of that. What are you afraid of?"

She didn't move away, nor did she remove Yin Qiu's hand. The warm breath she exhaled as she spoke felt like a gentle breeze pattering against Yin Qiu's palm—a strange and wonderful sensation. Yin Qiu's fingers curled slightly, and the Purple Sound Heart Sutra began to flow automatically into her mind, yet her heart still pounded, and beat very fast.

The contents of the Heart Sutra and the shadow on the screen intertwined in her mind. At this moment, Yin Qiu was somewhat busy, because there was a pair of red lips in front of her. The lips were not thin, but not full either. Yin Qiu couldn't describe them. She only knew that her martial aunt's lips were very beautiful, cool and refreshing, like snowflakes falling from the sky, as if they would melt at the slightest touch.

It melted in her palm.

Yin Qiu knew very well that she should withdraw her hand, but her heart was pounding and her mind was in chaos. She didn't have the energy to do anything. She could only try to appear normal and say in a normal tone, "I'm not afraid. I just don't want to hear that word, especially when it's associated with my martial uncle."

“Then you might have to hear it again,” Man Jiangxue said bluntly. “Are you trying to suffocate me?”

Yin Qiu was startled again, but quickly realized what was happening. She lowered her hand awkwardly and said, "It's because my martial uncle kept mentioning that word..."

The girl's shy appearance was like a peach blossom bud about to bloom in spring, the blush on her face was pleasing to the eye. Man Jiangxue glanced at Yin Qiu, not lingering on the topic of life and death. She turned around, got onto the bed by herself, and then looked at the motionless Yin Qiu, asking, "Aren't you coming over?"

A restrained joy appeared on Yin Qiu's face. She hurriedly took off her outer clothes, climbed into bed happily, and lay down next to Man Jiangxue.

Man Jiangxue slid down the headboard, raised her hand and extinguished the lamp with a palm strike, plunging the room into darkness. She slowly moved her arm up, and Yin Qiu followed suit, naturally resting her head on Man Jiangxue's arm.

A few tapping sounds came from the windowsill, and the night rain began to fall. Yin Qiu turned to the side and buried her head in Man Jiangxue's arms. She listened to the rain outside gradually increasing in volume, and also to Man Jiangxue's steady and strong heartbeat.

Man Jiangxue always looked like she was covered in frost, as if she could never be warmed up. The chill seeped through her clothes and was almost instantly dispelled by Yin Qiu's body heat.

Their breaths mingled, creating a flavor unlike anything they'd ever tasted. Man Jiangxue, with her keen sense of smell, brought her nose close to Yin Qiu's hair and whispered, "How much medicine have you been taking lately? You look like you've been soaking in a pot of medicine all over."

She'd said this a lot lately, and Yin Qiu had heard it many times. She moved her head, lowered it, and sniffed herself, saying in confusion, "What kind of medicine smell is it? I can't smell anything at all."

Man Jiangxue seemed to think for a moment before saying, "It's just a normal medicinal smell, nothing special. I just feel that it's familiar, like I've smelled it somewhere before."

Yin Qiu thought for a moment in the darkness, then took a deep breath into her sleeve, but she still couldn't smell the medicine that Man Jiangxue had mentioned. She only smelled the lingering scent of soap on the fabric.

“My uncle’s sense of smell is malfunctioning,” Yin Qiu said. “Perhaps it’s not my fault.”

Man Jiangxue didn't reply, as if she was considering the correctness of Yin Qiu's words. Yin Qiu waited for a while without getting a response. Just as she was about to ask a question softly, Man Jiangxue moved her body and adjusted her sleeping position. Yin Qiu thought she was going to say something, but after Man Jiangxue moved, she fell silent again.

The night rain pattered softly, striking the pavilion like countless needles, making a dense, rhythmic sound. Yin Qiu heard Man Jiangxue's even breathing right beside her ear, so she remained silent. She knew her martial aunt must be exhausted these past few days, as it was rare for her to fall asleep so quickly.

Yin Qiu could feel the body temperature of the person beside her gradually warming up. She opened her eyes in the deep night and touched Man Jiangxue's hand by feel. The hand was still cold, but it was much better than before.

A soft, warm breath brushed against her earlobe, where the skin felt damp and burning. Yin Qiu could imagine how close Man Jiangxue's face was to hers, and how she would brush against those lips if she turned her head.

Her heart pounded, quickening along with the increasingly chaotic rain. Only in moments like these could Yin Qiu truly see the changes in her heartbeat, because she was not in Man Jiangxue's sight. This gave her a private space where she could openly accept the emotions that were usually deliberately suppressed, including desires that she could not let outsiders, especially Man Jiangxue, know.

Yin Qiu had been aware of desire for a long time.

At first, she couldn't quite understand what that desire meant. But as she grew older and her mind matured, she finally woke up on some insignificant days. She went from shock to bewilderment, then from bewilderment to unease. And now, those uneasy feelings have unknowingly transformed into something else that is hard to describe. If she had to describe it, it would only be Yin Qiu's current overly calm state of mind.

Or perhaps, she discarded some of her distracting thoughts and learned to enjoy things without feeling entirely at ease.

She enjoyed the time alone with Man Jiangxue, the satisfaction of nestling in her arms, and the pleasure of quietly sensing any subtle changes in Man Jiangxue after she fell asleep. Even though this moment of joy would disappear without a trace before dawn, at this moment, without Man Jiangxue's gaze, she indulged in this hard-won pleasure.

The rain intensified, and the cacophony of the rain finally drowned out the heartbeats beneath the covers. Yin Qiu could clearly feel her heart settle into stillness. She carefully turned her head, using the dim light filtering through the window paper from the few scattered lanterns outside the corridor, to look at Man Jiangxue's gentle features, her straight nose, and her naturally red lips.

The darkness of night cast a shadow over the person, revealing a precious vulnerability in the usually impeccable person. Even though she was still holding him in a protective posture, Yin Qiu felt that she was actually being protected by him.

After all, she seemed so unguarded and so gentle. Stripped of her composure and the distance that emanated from her bones, she was no longer the person that many people looked up to.

She just slept quietly beside me, sleeping so soundly.

"Uncle-Master..."

A barely audible murmur mingled with the sound of rain outside the window. Yin Qiu gently closed her eyes and then softly clasped Man Jiangxue's fingers together.

With their fingers intertwined tightly, she gradually drifted off to sleep to the sound of rain.

Author's Note: Now that I've reached this chapter, I have some things to say about Man Jiangxue. Please make sure to read it to the end, my little angels. It's a bit long, but please don't think I'm being long-winded.

When I first conceived the character of Man Jiangxue, I gave her several keywords, including: upright and honorable.

Especially in her relationship with Yin Qiu, the "raising" feeling between the two of them wasn't too strong, because apart from spending every day together and getting to know each other, there was no other atmosphere that violated moral principles.

In Man Jiangxue's eyes, Yin Qiu was her senior sister's daughter when she was young, and she took care of her out of affection and a promise. But Yin Qiu when she grew up was just someone who was watched by Man Jiangxue grow up, nothing more.

What I'm saying is that Yin Qiu wasn't actually raised by Man Jiangxue.

My character development setting for this story is based solely on Yin Qiu's growth, not on who raises whom. This must be made clear.

So here's the main point I want to make: under the labels of "nurturing" and "older man seducing," if the balance isn't handled well, and if the older man falls in love first, it can give people a negative feeling of seduction, and make them feel that the older man is using his seniority and status to satisfy his own selfish desires.

But this problem does not exist in "Man Jiang Xue".

She won't have any moral constraints or resistance. If she likes something, she likes it; if she doesn't like something, she doesn't like it. No matter who the person is, she will follow her heart and won't deliberately avoid or restrain herself. She will let things take their natural course.

Because there wasn't much of a nurturing relationship between her and Yin Qiu; it was just companionship. They weren't even master and apprentice; they were just two people who had known each other for a long time and knew each other inside and out.

(This is why Man Jiangxue didn't avoid the slight flirtation between herself and Yin Qiu; she even seemed to enjoy it a little, because she was also feeling for Yin Qiu and would even take the initiative to make some physical contact with him.)

Therefore, I will not deliberately create the impression that Yin Qiu fell in love with her master first just because I am older and he falls in love first. Feelings are unpredictable and do not necessarily have to be clearly defined. It doesn't matter who likes whom first. Why can't they like each other in the process of getting to know each other?

So please don't worry after reading this. Qiuqiu and her master's love story isn't going to be a melodramatic, tragic romance. When the time comes, things will turn out the way they should.

Also, the book I mentioned in yesterday's post is: The Code of Scroll Along the River During the Qingming Festival.

That concludes my statement.