Chapter 217

After the spring rains subsided, Cangzhou welcomed a sunny day. Swallows flew diagonally, and mountain flowers bloomed in profusion, making it a beautiful scene once again.

The convoy left the official road and turned onto a mountain path, crushing fallen branches along the way. The path narrowed as it went, eventually traversing a narrow canyon and passing countless streams and brooks. When the sunlight returned after parting the foliage, a basin surrounded by mountains appeared before them, nestled deep in the valley. Sheer cliffs blocked out the sky, a vast sea of ​​trees stretched out, and babbling brooks circled the ground. Stone bridges and plank roads connected the landscape, and lotus leaves formed ribbons of jade. A cool breeze swept through, swirling pear blossoms like snowflakes in winter, pure white and fragrant, clinging to one's clothes.

As Yin Qiu drifted off to sleep, she caught a whiff of the fragrance of flowers. As if sensing something, she lifted the carriage curtain and was stunned by the breathtaking scenery before her. Her vision suddenly opened up, as if she were in a fairyland, and she was overwhelmed by the sights.

“This is the Valley of Brahma Hearts,” Shen Wang slowed down and walked alongside the carriage, saying to Yin Qiu, “Few people visit the valley, and most people in the martial arts world do not know where the Valley of Brahma Hearts is located. You are a rare guest, young lady.”

Yin Qiu stood at the front of the car, gazing into the distance. At the end of her vision were rows of low houses, not the magnificent palaces and towering buildings of Yunhua Palace. Instead, there were only green tiles and white walls, green willows everywhere, and dense pear trees scattered among them, like snowflakes falling gently. Red apricots were also scattered among them, like rouge on lips, making it unforgettable and breathtaking.

"Miss, why don't you get off and walk around? You've been traveling for days, it's good to stretch your legs." Shen Wang dismounted and instructed a disciple to go into the valley to spread the word. Then, she walked to the carriage and reached out her hand to Yin Qiu. Yin Qiu had the same idea and indicated that Shen Wang didn't need to help her. She jumped off the carriage and walked with Shen Wang.

“I was the first one to follow my godfather,” Shen Wang said. “It was fate. My father passed away early, and my mother followed him, leaving me all alone and helpless. Then I met my godfather, who took pity on my loneliness and adopted me as his son. I have watched as Fanxin Valley has grown stronger day by day. Now that I know that you are actually my godfather’s biological daughter, I am happy for him. The younger brothers and sisters in the valley will be very happy to see you. When you arrive, please don’t be shy. Just make this your home.” She smiled as she spoke, “It has always been your home.”

The two walked up the stone path to the boardwalk. Lotus leaves floated on the flowing water, and the view was lush and green. Yin Qiu looked around and said sincerely, "This place is really nice. It's far away from the world and there's no noise. It's a rare find."

Seeing that she was standing on the bridge admiring the scenery and seemed to have no intention of moving forward, Shen Wang said with pleasure, "Miss, you must be tired from your journey. You should go inside and rest. Your godfather has been waiting for you these past few days and must be eager to see you."

Along the way, Yin Qiu had already adjusted her mindset and was no longer nervous. However, when she finally arrived at the Valley of Brahma, the indescribable unease in her heart couldn't help but return.

The two crossed the bridge and walked through the flower-filled grove towards the gate. Yin Qiu's gaze wandered, noticing that the gate to Fanxin Valley was extremely simple. There were no high walls, only a bamboo fence encircling the stream. The gate itself was also very ordinary, a simple wooden door, exceptionally plain, and there weren't even any gatekeepers. The scenery here was superb, nestled against the mountains and beside the water, hardly resembling a martial arts sect. Instead, it seemed more like a beautiful village in the mountains, without a trace of martial arts atmosphere.

Shen Wang pushed open the door and led Yin Qiu into the valley. The remaining disciples followed behind with their horses. After the disciple who had informed them earlier announced their arrival, there were already many people standing around looking around. When they saw Shen Wang and the others come in, they all looked at Yin Qiu with curiosity and greeted her warmly.

Yin Qiu nodded in response to everyone. Considering that she came from Yunhua Palace, she couldn't let her sect down here. So she paid extra attention to her words and actions, trying her best to be polite and respectful. She returned the greetings with a smile to everyone who greeted her, without pretending to be aloof. As a result, she was surrounded by people who chatted and laughed with her, asking her all sorts of questions.

“Now that the girl is here, we’re going to fall out of favor. Our godfather will definitely abandon us once he has his own daughter.”

“Our Fanxin Valley is a place of beautiful mountains and clear waters, with unparalleled scenery. Tell me, young lady, which is better, your Yunhua Palace or ours?”

"Hey, look, don't they look alike?"

"Oh my, it really does look familiar! It looked familiar at first glance, and upon closer inspection, it really does look exactly like it!"

...

Amidst the cacophony and chatter, Yin Qiu gradually found herself overwhelmed. But upon hearing someone say the last few words, she stopped and asked, "Are they talking about me? Who do you resemble?"

A female disciple chuckled and said, "Of course you look just like the portrait hanging in your godfather's room. Except for your eyes, you are exactly like that portrait. When I saw you just now, I thought you were the person in the painting who had come out!"

Hearing her words, Yin Qiu already guessed who the person in the portrait was. Her heart couldn't help but race, and she secretly clenched her skirt. Shen Wang instructed the disciples to disperse and led her through a long procession of houses. The two walked through the well-arranged streets and headed towards the northern outskirts. Ahead flowed a river filled with lotus leaves, and on the opposite bank of the small bridge was a secluded courtyard near the mountain, hidden among the blooming pear and apricot blossoms, which were faintly visible and serene, making it very beautiful.

Shen Wang stopped here and introduced, "That's my godfather's courtyard. He's always preferred quiet and doesn't want us to serve him. He lives alone in a corner all year round, and we rarely disturb his peace except when necessary. A disciple just said that my godfather is taking a medicinal bath over there," she pointed to the west side, "That's our valley's medical pavilion. You can cross the small bridge to the other side yourself, young lady. My godfather will come to find you when he's finished. I have some things to take care of, so I won't see you off any further."

Yin Qiu replied with a "okay" and smiled, "Thank you very much then. It's been hard on you to escort me all this way."

Shen Wang said, "Not at all. If my godfather hadn't given me instructions, I would have entertained you, but since he wants to be alone with you, I shouldn't disturb you. Please, make yourself at home."

The two bowed to each other and went in different directions. Yin Qiu crossed the bridge and entered the quiet courtyard. There were no luxurious things inside, only three houses, all built of wood and bamboo. The bamboo fence enclosed a small world, peaceful and quiet, with a unique charm.

Yin Qiu picked up a flower branch, held it in her hand, and walked around, stopping and starting, looking around. Two female disciples walked towards her and asked, "Is that Miss Yin? You've finally arrived. We've been waiting for you for days."

Yin Qiu smiled and said, "Hello, both of you senior sisters."

"It's good that you're here, young lady. Senior Brother Shen is a man, so it's inconvenient for him to come and entertain you. Your godfather calculated that you should be back today, so he specially asked the two of us to come here and wait for you. You look travel-worn, young lady. We've prepared hot water and new clothes inside. Take a bath first and change into clean clothes. By the time you're ready, your godfather should be back."

Yin Qiu was new to the place and unfamiliar with everyone, so she was naturally grateful to have someone to guide and take care of her. The two female disciples took care of everything, and without waiting, Yin Qiu was led by them to the bathhouse, where she took a comfortable hot bath. When she came out, it was almost noon, but there was still no sign of Gongzi Fan. The two female disciples served her hot tea and went to the medical pavilion to report. Yin Qiu sat in the hall for a while, and her mood gradually calmed down. She was no longer anxious, so she put down her teacup and went outside for a walk.

She hadn't noticed it when she arrived, but now she saw that the yard was divided into many flower beds and plots, with all kinds of flowers and plants, as well as a lot of green plants and fresh vegetables. Yin Qiu found it interesting, so she squatted down to examine it closely and recognized that in addition to flowers and plants, there were also many medicinal herbs.

Many medicinal herbs were also planted on Wenxin Peak in the palace. Whenever Yin Qiu went to see Meng Jing in the past, she would humbly ask her for advice and thus knew some of them, but she didn't know much about flowers and plants. Yin Qiu squatted down and gently stroked the grass leaves and petals that were covered with dew. Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice behind her say, "That's a water lily, also called a water lily Guanyin. It can be used for medicinal purposes."

Yin Qiu paused, and before she could turn around, the light in her eyes suddenly dimmed. A hand, carrying the scent of medicine, came from inside a dark sleeve, brushed past her hair, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her up.

"Although it has medicinal value, the leaves are poisonous, so it's best not to touch them."

Yin Qiu's heart stirred slightly. She glanced at the pale, thin hand, then raised her head to look at the person who had come. Gongzi Fan was wearing a wide black robe and a thick cloak, and his face was still covered by half a silver mask. He was also looking down at her.

There was no one else in the courtyard, only the two of them standing facing each other. The gentle breeze carried the scent of faded pink and white blossoms, their pleasant fragrance almost palpable, yet it couldn't mask the medicinal aura emanating from Gongzi Fan. Yin Qiu felt a chill on her wrist, as if holding not a human hand, but a block of ice. She wanted to grasp Gongzi Fan's hand in return, but didn't. Yin Qiu asked, "What will happen if I touch you?"

With a smile in his eyes, Gongzi Fan asked in return, "How old are you?"

Yin Qiu said, "I'll be eighteen this winter."

“That’s good,” said Gongzi Fan. “If you were only three years old, you would definitely bite your fingers and play with them. It would be troublesome if you swallowed the poison.”

Yin Qiu said, "That's not necessarily true. What if I didn't bite my nails when I was three years old?"

Gongzi Fan led her to the well, drew a ladle of water for her to wash her hands, and said with a smile, "Then you're lucky, that's a good thing."

Yin Qiu looked at him.

It was already mid-April, and except in places with cold weather, most people had already switched to spring clothes. However, Gongzi Fan was still wearing winter clothes, and the cloak on his shoulders was also very thick, with fur inside and out for excellent warmth. Although he was wearing a mask, his appearance was still unrecognizable, but the lower half of his face was unusually pale, his lips were bloodless, and his whole person exuded a heavy sickness, making Yin Qiu feel as if a slightly strong wind could blow him over.

The well water was cool, but not bone-chilling. Gongzi Fan rolled up his sleeves and bent down to wash Yin Qiu's hands. Though he was thin as a skeleton, his palms were still large and broad, easily holding both of Yin Qiu's hands in one. The tension and confusion of their journey had been worn away, but now, upon seeing each other again, Yin Qiu felt a strange, indescribable emotion. She looked away, gazing at the flowerbed, and asked, "Did you plant all of these?"

Gongzi Fan hummed in agreement, took out a handkerchief to dry her hands, and replied, "I just wanted to kill some time. I don't have many hobbies, but I like to grow flowers and vegetables."

"And what are those?" Yin Qiufu walked to the fence, squatted down, and asked, pointing to a few of the flowers.

Gongzi Fan brought two small stools and sat down behind Yin Qiu, saying, "It's Blue Sparrow."

What about this one?

"Springtime in all four seasons".

"this?"

"Pine Needle Peony".

Yin Qiu lowered her head and sniffed the soil. She noticed a bamboo basket on the side containing some tools. She picked up a small shovel and turned over the soil, saying, "Can you take care of so many plants?"

“If you’re going to plant them, you have to take care of them no matter how busy you are,” Gongzi Fan said, his gaze fixed on Yin Qiu without looking at the flowers. “You don’t recognize the flowers and plants, but what about the medicinal herbs?”

Yin Qiu glanced at the herbs and replied, "I recognize Arisaema, Pinellia, and Lonicera japonica, but I don't know the others."

"What about the vegetables?" Gongzi Fan smiled. "You are quite well-fed and clothed in Yunhua Palace. Apart from reading and practicing swordsmanship, you probably haven't done any farm work. How many kinds of vegetables do you even know?"

Yin Qiu glanced at the latticework pattern beside the flowerbed and said somewhat awkwardly, "I only know how to eat, not how to recognize... Is that a potato?"

“Those are sweet potatoes,” said Gongzi Fan. “Potato sprouts have bigger and rounder leaves. Sweet potato leaves can be stir-fried or boiled and mixed into a salad.”

“I’ve never worked in the fields,” Yin Qiu said. “I recognize common vegetables when they’re in front of me, but I don’t recognize them when they’re buried in the ground.”

Gongzi Fan said, "Let me teach you. The clump next to the sweet potato is peanuts, the one behind it is taro, and further ahead are radishes, water chestnuts, ginger, and garlic."

Yin Qiu listened attentively and asked curiously, "Won't planting so many things together make a mess?"

“How could it be a mess?” Gongzi Fan said. “Of course, I just casually scatter some seeds every spring. Whether they grow or not depends on their own fate. I don’t grow vegetables to eat, but just for leisure. It’s not as important as growing flowers.”

Yin Qiusong picked up a small clod of soil, flattened it with a shovel, squatted quietly for a while, and said, "I'm hungry."

Gongzi Fan glanced at the sky, then got up and helped Yin Qiu up, saying, "You must be hungry. I'll cook you some food."

Yin Qiu tilted her head and looked him over: "Can you cook?"

“Yes,” Gongzi Fan smiled. “As for whether the cooking is good or not, it depends on whether it suits your taste.”

Yin Qiu said, "I'm not a picky eater," and then added after a moment, "but I can't handle spicy food very well, and I love sweet food."

Gongzi Fan said, "I know." He led Yin Qiu into the kitchen and moved a chair for her. "There are candies on the table, all of which are your favorites, but don't eat too many. We'll have dinner later."

Yin Qiu said "Oh," and leaned on the table to open the small box. Inside were all kinds of candies and quite a few pastries, smelling sweet and delicious. Yin Qiu ate the candies, obediently sitting at the table watching Gongzi Fan start a fire, wash rice, and boil water. The scene seemed strange to her; she had never imagined that Gongzi Fan would cook for her himself. She felt both curious and incredulous. Feeling somewhat uneasy, especially since Gongzi Fan was ill, Yin Qiu felt she was the one who should be busy. She asked, "Do you need my help? When I was in the palace, I often cooked for my uncle. Although I can't grow vegetables, I'm quite good at cooking."

Gongzi Fan took off his cloak and hung it by the door. He poured the washed rice into the pot to cook, stirring it with a spatula as he said, "No need, go play."

Yin Qiu didn't know whether to stand or sit, so she asked again, "What kind of dishes do you want to make? I'm free anyway, I can start by picking out some vegetables."

Gongzi Fan looked at her and said, "That's fine too. There's everything in the vegetable basket under the window. Just take whatever you like."

Yin Qiu ran over, lifted the lid, picked out two potatoes, and sat on a small stool, intently peeling them. Gongzi Fan, thinking the potatoes were almost ready, took a dry cloth and sat behind Yin Qiu to dry her hair. Gongzi Fan said, "It's still early spring, the weather's cold. Remember to dry your hair promptly after bathing to avoid catching a cold."

"knew."

Yin Qiu peeled the potatoes and soaked them in water, then took out a bunch of vegetables to prepare. Gongzi Fan dried her hair, stood up, and continued stirring the rice in the pot. The kitchen was filled with steam and white mist, and the smell of burning firewood filled the air. Yin Qiu finished washing the vegetables and then didn't know what to do next.

After cooking the rice, Gongzi Fan took it out and put it in a steamer to steam it again. Yin Qiu hugged the small box and shook it, then picked out a pine nut candy and fed it to him, saying, "I like this the most. My mouth stays sweet for a long time after eating it, and it doesn't turn sour."

“Hmm,” Gongzi Fan tasted the flavor, “delicious.”

Yin Qiu looked at him again.

“This place is far from any town, and there are no restaurants,” Gongzi Fan said, dragging a chair to the doorway and beckoning to Yin Qiu. “We can’t afford a fancy feast to welcome you; we’ll just have simple food and drinks. Will you be unhappy?”

Yin Qiu kicked the small stool over and sat down next to him, saying, "No, it won't happen." Then she rested her hands on her knees, propped her chin up, and added, "It's rare for someone to cook for me personally. I often go to restaurants, but there's nothing new there."

As they drew closer, the hems of their clothes brushed against each other, the lingering warmth carrying on the breeze. Gongzi Fan leaned back in his chair, gazing at Yin Qiu's gentle and serene profile, and asked with a smile, "Man Jiangxue, can't you cook?"

"Uncle-Master...?" Yin Qiu thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Uncle-Master doesn't need to know, I already know."

When she smiled, her eyes crinkled, and she looked very endearing. She wasn't an unrestrained or flamboyant person; every smile and gesture exuded elegance. She was a quiet and gentle girl. After they met and talked and did things for a while, it wasn't until Man Jiangxue's name was mentioned that Yin Qiu finally showed her first smile since arriving here. Gongzi Fan raised his hand, then lowered it again, finally patting Yin Qiu's head and gazing at her as he said, "Have you been to my room? There's a portrait of your mother there."

"I haven't gone yet, I haven't seen him." Yin Qiu moved closer to him.

“You two look very alike.” When Gongzi Fan saw her approaching, he opened his arms. Yin Qiu’s dark eyes darted around for a moment, but she hesitated and didn’t move.

Gongzi Fan didn't urge him, but simply maintained that position and asked softly, "Can I hug you?"

This seemingly plain sentence, yet concealing countless complex meanings, made Yin Qiu's mind flutter.

She and Gongzi Fan had known each other for many years. Over the years, he had taught her academics and martial arts, and had even held her hand and hugged her. But at this moment, this inquiry was different from the past, filled with a different kind of emotion. Although their conversations seemed no different from usual, Yin Qiu could sense an unavoidable estrangement between them, though neither of them had shown it.

A warm feeling gradually filled her heart. Yin Qiu nodded, then moved her small stool slightly and carefully leaned against Gongzi Fan's chest. She had never imagined being so intimate with this person. Her mind raced with thoughts, yet upon closer examination, it seemed as if she hadn't thought of anything at all. So, Yin Qiu simply abandoned those chaotic thoughts and smiled genuinely, saying, "Is it really that similar?"

“She is generally like her, but there are differences,” Gongzi Fan raised his hand to take off his cloak, wrapped Yin Qiu in his arms, and said softly, “Your mother is lively, cheerful and always smiling. Wherever she is, even a cloudy day is a sunny day. You are much more reserved and more composed than her. If your mother were here, the three of us would be even more lively. She never seems to be in a bad mood. She can chat and laugh with anyone and is very lively.”

Yin Qiu imagined Shen Mandong's appearance in her mind, her eyes sparkling with a beautiful light. She pursed her lips and said, "When I was little, I was quite mischievous. When I first arrived at Jingyue Peak, my martial aunt couldn't control me. I gave her a lot of headaches, but I didn't even realize that I had done anything wrong. It wasn't until I grew up that I gradually calmed down. Thanks to my martial aunt's teachings, I learned a lot from her by being around her. If I hadn't met my martial aunt, I might not be who I am today. I might be vulgar in my speech and behavior, and no one would like me."

Gongzi Fan said, "That's not necessarily true. You are inherently kind and not someone who is easily corrupted. Besides, even if you were to go astray, there will always be people who treat you well and like you."

Yin Qiu nestled in his arms, the warm body temperature giving her a different kind of security than what Man Jiangxue could give her. Yin Qiu closed her eyes and said, "Perhaps, I'm still quite lucky. Besides my martial uncle, I've met many people who are good to me."

Gongzi Fan's chest heaved, and he coughed twice. Yin Qiu immediately opened her eyes and looked at him, asking, "Am I too heavy? Am I squeezing you?"

“No,” Gongzi Fan smiled gently, “you are not heavy at all, lighter than a cat.”

Yin Qiu looked at him and pointed to Gongzi Fan's collar, saying, "You have an injury here?"

Gongzi Fan said, "I promised Manzhen that I would attack your Yunhua Palace for her, but I broke my promise in the end. She was very angry, so she taught me a lesson."

Yin Qiu remained silent for a moment, then sighed and asked, "Is the wound deep? Does it hurt?"

“It doesn’t hurt,” said Gongzi Fan. “It’s almost healed.”

Yin Qiu seemed to remember something, got up, walked to the table, poured a cup of tea, and took out a medicine bottle from her sleeve.

"This is the antidote for the Gu poison. Now you're willing to take it, aren't you?"

Gongzi Fan nodded slightly, and Yin Qiu poured out the antidote and handed it to him. After watching Gongzi Fan swallow it, she served him tea and said, "Meng Jing said that this antidote will make you sleepy for a while, and you will be fine when you wake up. Let me help you back to your room to lie down."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Gongzi Fan shook his head, coughed, and chuckled. "I just started steaming the rice. What would you eat if you fell asleep?"

Yin Qiu said, "I'm not hungry anymore after eating some candy. I'll keep an eye on things here. I feel more at ease now that you're cured. I'll be able to eat several more bowls of rice when you wake up."

Gongzi Fan paused for a moment, then replied, "Very well."

Seeing him set off, Yin Qiu quickly helped Gongzi Fan back to his room. Sure enough, Gongzi Fan soon became listless and drowsy. Yin Qiu had him lie down on the couch, covered him with a blanket, and then quietly sat by the couch to watch over him.

A pale golden light shone through the window paper, casting a hazy shadow in front of the bed. The mask on Gongzi Fan's face reflected that light, which was then reflected in Yin Qiu's eyes, like a field of moving fireflies, flickering and shimmering like stars.

Yin Qiu lowered her head, not looking at the room's furnishings, but silently watching Gongzi Fan. Hearing his even breathing, she slowly raised her hand and touched the cold silver mask.

But after only touching it once, she withdrew her hand, sighed softly, sat on the softly padded footstool, and fell asleep by the bedside.