Chapter 33

Noon had passed, and the dark clouds in the sky slowly dissipated, revealing a ray of warm sunshine emerging from the clouds, casting a few rays of light onto the branches and leaves of the trees swaying in the wind all over the mountain.

The snow on the mountaintop was hard to melt, and there was still a sparse white blanket of snow everywhere. Some snow water slid down from the top of her head and dripped into Yin Qiu's hair, making her shiver from the cold.

As they descended the stone steps, Man Jiangxue walked ahead, her flowing skirts resembling billowing clouds. Her silhouette exuded an indescribable aloofness. Yin Qiu, with her small steps, couldn't keep up with Man Jiangxue's pace. She skipped several steps but still couldn't catch up, so she could only call out, "Uncle-Master... wait for me."

Man Jiangxue seemed not to hear her voice and kept walking. Yin Qiu had no choice but to speed up. When the two reached a flat area, Man Jiangxue suddenly stopped without warning. Yin Qiu had no time to react and bumped into Man Jiangxue's back.

A cold wind howled and swirled around her. Yin Qiu staggered two steps, quickly grabbed Man Jiangxue's arm, and looked up to say, "Uncle-Master?"

Man Jiangxue then turned around, looked down at Yin Qiu, and asked, "The person you were talking about that day, was it her?"

Now that things had come to this, Yin Qiu could no longer deceive her, so she honestly said, "It was her... but it really had nothing to do with me at first, Martial Aunt, I'm not lying to you."

Man Jiangxue's eyes remained calm as she said, "She approached Fu Xiang first, and then she set her sights on you."

For some reason, Yin Qiu was a little afraid to look at her, scratched his head, and softly hummed in agreement.

“You should have told me sooner,” Man Jiangxue said. “Whether it’s you or Fu Xiang, I will handle it on your behalf as long as I know about it.”

Yin Qiu lowered her head: "I just thought... we could handle it ourselves."

They were too naive and lacked understanding of Ding Lianzhen. Fu Xiang thought that if Yin Qiu used the marriage agreement to politely refuse Ding Lianzhen, the matter would end there. But who would have thought that Ding Lianzhen would turn her attention to Yin Qiu?

It's a classic case of trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead; being too clever for one's own good.

“If this happens again, remember to tell me as soon as possible,” Man Jiangxue said. “Leave anything you can’t handle to me.”

Yin Qiu replied, "I understand," and after thinking for a moment, added, "Actually, Senior Sister Ding didn't mean any harm, she was just a little too enthusiastic..."

Man Jiangxue frowned upon hearing this and lectured, "You are still too naive. Just as she herself said, if you weren't so young, she would definitely cling to you even more."

Yin Qiu paused for a moment, then said incredulously, "But we're both girls, and this is our first meeting. Even if Senior Sister Ding is very enthusiastic, what could she possibly do to me..."

“Don’t you understand?” Man Jiangxue scrutinized her. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t be so resistant to her.”

Yin Qiu was taken aback for a moment, but still said, "No way... Senior Sister Ding was just teasing me, she said that herself."

"And this?" Man Jiangxue said, suddenly raising her hand to touch Yin Qiu's lips.

Her fingertips were slightly cool as she lightly touched the corner of her lips, like a cold snowflake falling. Yin Qiu seemed to be electrocuted; her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she turned her head away sullenly, saying in a voice barely above a whisper, "Even Martial Aunt saw this..."

Man Jiangxue withdrew her hand and said nothing more.

Yin Qiu had never seen Man Jiangxue so serious before. Coupled with her cold attitude towards Ding Lianzhen, she was very different from the gentle and patient senior uncle in Yin Qiu's memory. It was as if she had become a completely different person.

Knowing that Man Jiangxue might be angry, Yin Qiu quickly threw herself into Man Jiangxue's arms, turned her head to look at her and said, "Uncle, don't be angry, I know I was wrong."

Meeting those gentle and sincere eyes, Man Jiangxue fell silent once again.

Angry? What is she angry about? She was forced to act as a mother for her senior sister. How can you not worry about taking care of a child?

Despite her concern, it would be fine if Yin Qiu understood her intentions. However, seeing Yin Qiu repeatedly defending Ding Lianzhen, it was clear that she did not understand the seriousness of the matter. Moreover, Man Jiangxue had never been a mother and did not know how to teach the younger generation. This was one of the reasons why she refused to take on a disciple. It was not easy to be a qualified elder. She knew that she was still lacking in experience. However, Yin Qiu was now under her control, and there were some things she could not ignore.

In the blink of an eye, Yin Qiu was no longer the pale, thin, and seriously ill little girl she once was. Over the past few days, Man Jiangxue had witnessed every little change in her. After her serious illness, the child seemed to have been reborn, growing more and more beautiful and outstanding among the disciples. Even Xie Yijun would occasionally mention her, saying that when she grew up, she would probably be even more outstanding than Shen Mandong back then, a beauty born from her mother's womb.

Most people in this world are drawn to beauty and averse to ugliness. Anyone with a beautiful appearance will always receive more attention and care than others, no matter where they are. However, it is not a good thing for someone to be too flamboyant. Today there is one Ding Lianzhen, but tomorrow there may be someone else. No matter how much Man Jiangxue wants to protect her, he cannot always watch over her. Personally intervening like this is only treating the symptoms, not the root cause.

Ultimately, it depends on what Yin Qiu thinks.

·

After a long while of silent contemplation, Man Jiangxue finally spoke again, "I forgot to ask you, what are your feelings for Ding Lianzhen?"

Yin Qiu looked up and asked, "How does it feel?"

Man Jiangxue asked, "Do you like her?"

Yin Qiu was taken aback: "This..." She paused, thought for a moment, and said, "After all, it's the first time we've met. I don't dislike her, but I feel that Senior Sister Ding is too enthusiastic. She's so enthusiastic that I don't know what to do."

Man Jiangxue glanced at her and said, "So if she comes looking for you again, are you willing to associate with her?"

Yin Qiu thought blankly for a while: "As long as she can be polite and well-behaved, it should be fine."

They are fellow disciples, and they will inevitably meet often in the future. Even if they have some disagreements, they will not become enemies. In the mind of Yin Qiu, who is only ten years old, it is always good to get along with others as much as possible. She has experienced being ostracized by others before and knows what that feels like.

If Ding Lianzhen doesn't take it to heart, that's fine. But if she's unreasonable and uses underhanded tactics, Yin Qiu will have no choice but to endure it. Man Jiangxue is busy with official duties every day and can't keep an eye on Yin Qiu in every situation. For Yin Qiu, the best way to handle things is to avoid making enemies and to be patient.

She wasn't Man Jiangxue; she was just an ordinary new disciple. What could she possibly use to compete with her senior brothers and sisters? Having been in a disadvantaged environment for so long, Yin Qiu had long been accustomed to accepting her fate. She didn't have the confidence of Man Jiangxue to turn against people.

That's what she thought, but Man Jiangxue disagreed, saying, "Do you think that's possible? If someone behaves improperly on the first meeting, how can you expect her to be well-behaved in the future?"

The conversation gradually became heavy. Yin Qiu was not used to this atmosphere with Man Jiangxue, and said with a bitter face, "Then what should I do? I can't complain to my master all the time, can I? I am different from my master. You only need to say one word and no one will dare to disobey you. But what am I? I am so insignificant. What if I anger Senior Sister Ding and she bullies me in secret?"

“She dares,” Man Jiangxue said. “No one in Yunhua Palace dares to bully you.”

Yin Qiu was stunned for a moment, then shook her head and chuckled, "I'm very happy that my master is willing to support me, but has my master ever thought that you are not afraid of senior sister Ding, so you can criticize her without holding back, but I can't. I don't have that ability."

What she said made sense. Man Jiangxue pondered for a moment, softened her tone, and said, "I don't mean to interfere with your friendships. If it were someone else, it would be fine, but I've heard a lot about Ding Lianzhen. Her reputation has always been bad. Besides, I made it very clear to her before that if she knowingly does wrong, I won't let her off the hook. But my warning is one thing, your attitude is also very important. If I step in to protect you, and then you become submissive, wouldn't it be a waste of my breath?"

How could Yin Qiu not understand her good intentions? She quickly replied, "I understand what Martial Aunt means. Don't worry, I know what to do."

Now that things have come to this, there's no need to continue discussing this matter. Looking at Yin Qiu's submissive appearance, Man Jiangxue sighed inwardly, thinking how difficult it is to be an elder. She hugged Yin Qiu back, her tone returning to its usual gentleness, and said, "Since you understand, I won't say any more. Let's go."

She took Yin Qiu's hand and walked sideways towards the stone path. Yin Qiu turned her head to look at Man Jiangxue for a while, a slight smile appearing on her face. She said softly, "Then how did my martial uncle come here? How did you know I was at Tianyin Peak?"

Man Jiangxue said, "I saw it."

So she had secretly followed us all the way here? Thinking of this, Yin Qiu's smile deepened, and she leaned on Man Jiangxue's shoulder, saying, "Thank you, Martial Aunt."

A mountain breeze swept through the forest, ruffling the stray hairs on Yin Qiu's forehead and partially obscuring her clear eyes. Man Jiangxue glanced at her and said, "No need to thank me, it's only right that your martial uncle protects you."

Yin Qiu was overjoyed and almost pressed herself against Man Jiangxue, sincerely saying, "Uncle-Master is so kind."

A soft, gentle voice rang in her ears, and Man Jiangxue unconsciously curled up the corners of her mouth, saying, "You may encounter similar things in the future. Don't panic then, and remember what I told you." She then looked at Yin Qiu, "But you don't need to close yourself off too much because of this. There are more good people than bad in this world. If you meet someone you like in the future, just be bold and date them."

Yin Qiu lowered her head again: "I'm still young..."

Man Jiangxue said, "I'll be a young woman in a few years, and there are some things I should know in my heart sooner rather than later."

"How could you not count?" Yin Qiu looked up. "I only like my martial uncle, I won't like anyone else."

Man Jiangxue laughed: "Two different things."

Looking at her smile, Yin Qiu tilted her head and said, "How can they be two different things?"

Man Jiangxue said, "You can't follow me forever. Sooner or later you'll have your own place to go. When people grow up, they all get married and start their own careers. You're no exception."

Yin Qiu asked, "What about my martial uncle?"

Man Jiangxue said, "What about me?"

"Where has my martial uncle gone?"

Man Jiangxue paused slightly, then replied, "Don't ask about my affairs. Take care of yourself first."

Yin Qiu suddenly realized that Man Jiangxue was still single to this day. She herself had said that most of her senior sisters had already started families, but why was she living alone on Jingyue Peak all day long?

My uncle is already twenty-five years old. Yin Qiu thought that compared to herself, her uncle would be the one to find a place faster. She just didn't know when that day would come.

If her martial aunt finds a place to go, will she no longer be able to stay by her side? Will the day come when her martial aunt leaves Yunhua Palace, making it difficult for them to even see each other?

·

Lost in these thoughts, Yin Qiu's smile slowly faded, and she felt an uncontrollable sense of loss.

She unconsciously stopped in her tracks, her fingers tightly gripping Man Jiangxue's sleeve, and asked, "But I want to know, does Martial Uncle have someone he likes?"

Man Jiangxue was pulled to a stop by her and said, "Why are you asking this?"

Yin Qiu stared at her blankly: "I'm curious..."

Man Jiangxue's gaze lingered on her face for a brief moment before she said, "No."

Hearing her answer, Yin Qiu's joy returned, and she asked, "What about before? Did you ever like anyone before, Martial Aunt?"

Man Jiangxue had never talked about matters of the heart with anyone, so she fell silent when Yin Qiu asked her. After a long while, she finally said, "No, not at all."

"Really?" Yin Qiu's eyes lit up.

"Why would I lie to you?" Man Jiangxue started walking around again.

"I don't believe it," Yin Qiu unconsciously pursed her lips, her tone becoming lighter. "Your martial aunt is so beautiful, there must be many people who like you. How could you not have liked anyone else?"

Man Jiangxue said with a hint of helplessness, "What do you know about liking someone? I said I don't, and that's final."

“There will always be a future,” Yin Qiu observed Man Jiangxue’s expression. “Uncle-Master will also get married.”

Man Jiangxue hummed in agreement: "Perhaps."

Yin Qiu's heart was in turmoil, alternating between joy and worry. She moved her hand to Man Jiangxue's palm, held her fingers and said, "If you ever find someone you like, please remember to tell me."

Man Jiangxue didn't notice Yin Qiu's emotional change, taking it as a childish question, and asked, "What did I say to you?"

Yin Qiu said, "Of course you'd tell me. If my martial uncle has someone he likes, he definitely won't want me anymore."

Man Jiangxue chuckled, "How could I not want you?"

Yin Qiu said, "It definitely will. Once my master gets married, he will leave Yunhua Palace. I can't just follow you like a burden, can I? That would mean you don't want me anymore."

"Don't talk nonsense," Man Jiangxue chuckled. "I'm not getting married anytime soon, and I've never even thought about it. You're worrying too early."

"What if?" Yin Qiu kept nagging, "What if my martial uncle meets someone he likes soon and they get married? You never know."

Seeing her serious expression, Man Jiangxue decided to tease her and said, "Then I'll take you with me and have you be my little maid."

Yin Qiu's face immediately fell: "I don't want to."

Man Jiangxue looked at her: "Why? Weren't you just worried that I would leave you?"

Yin Qiu thought to herself, "You're with someone else, yet you expect me to be your maid, watching you two being so affectionate every day? Isn't that just torture?"

“Anyway, I don’t want to,” Yin Qiu said. “I don’t want to be your maid, and I don’t want you to get married.”

Hearing her say this, Man Jiangxue became even more certain that Yin Qiu was just having a childish tantrum and was throwing a tantrum at her.

"Fine, fine, I don't want you to be a maid or get married," Man Jiangxue said, both amused and exasperated.

"I'm serious," Yin Qiu said, feeling utterly disheartened at realizing she was being coaxed. "If possible... could you really not get married? And not like anyone else?"

“I can’t agree to that,” Man Jiangxue patted Yin Qiu’s head. “I don’t even know what will happen in the future. If I promise you now, you’ll say I’m going back on my word.”

Yin Qiu sighed in a mature and sullen manner, and said in a muffled voice, "Why is my uncle like this? You could at least lie to me verbally."

Man Jiangxue smiled but said nothing, and then pinched Yin Qiu's cheek.

After leaving Tianyin Peak, Man Jiangxue escorted Yin Qiu back to the disciples' quarters. Since it was the martial arts test today, there were no classes in the afternoon. Yin Qiu refused to let Man Jiangxue leave, so Man Jiangxue stayed in her room with her for the rest of the afternoon until dinner before returning to Jingyue Peak.

As night fell, Yin Qiu lay on the couch, unable to sleep, constantly replaying her conversation with Man Jiangxue in her mind, her thoughts swirling and her heart filled with complex emotions.

She stared blankly at the pitch-black room for a long time, then let out a long sigh. Finally, she reached under her pillow, pulled out the snow-white purse, hugged it to her chest, and drifted off to sleep.