Chapter 146 Reply: Wishing you peace and good fortune.
When Wu Zhuyue returned from the border region, although she had a premonition, she still felt a chill when she saw a familiar figure waiting in front of the courtyard gate.
The woman, dressed in red, now dampened slightly by the chill of the night, was no longer fiery red, but more like a crimson maple leaf. She leaned against the wall, still clutching her knife as usual.
Lu Changqing was still following behind her. No matter what she said, he refused to leave, like a kitten with its tail held high, circling around her legs, convinced that she had food there and insisting on following her home.
Wu Zhuyue raised her hand, stopping the boy in his tracks, and whispered, "Wait here for me..."
"No need to wait, let her go inside and rest."
Yi Xiaohan's voice interrupted her.
The woman spoke with a commanding presence, just as she did everything else. Wu Zhuyue was momentarily speechless, her prepared remarks vanished, and she silently raised her head.
Lu Changqing was also intimidated by her. He squeezed Wu Zhuyue's hand and said softly, "Aunt Yi won't make things difficult for you." After saying that, he bypassed them and went into the courtyard first, obediently waiting in the house.
Two figures remained, silently facing each other in the moonlight. After a moment, Yi Xiaohan sheathed the long sword in his robes and casually said, "Accompany your master for a walk."
She was an impatient person who never kept anyone waiting, and naturally had no habit of waiting for others. Before Wu Zhuyue could answer, she reached out and pulled him along the mountain path.
The night was so still that only the cicadas chirped, and their footsteps, along with their shadows on the empty road, became increasingly clear. Wu Zhuyue's heart was pounding; Yi Xiaohan's hand on her shoulder felt as hot as a freshly baked sweet potato.
After walking a few steps, Yi Xiaohan said, "The delivery boy saw you weren't there and ran to me in fright, saying you were missing. Zhu Yue, next time you go out, remember to leave a note. Even if you don't say where you went, you should tell people that you weren't kidnapped, but just went out to relax."
Wu Zhuyue remained silent for a long while, then glanced at Yi Xiaohan anxiously. Suddenly, she noticed a thin line drawn on the woman's face, roughly at the corner of her eye, illuminated by the moonlight.
It's not lines, it's patterns. The teacher isn't young anymore; something must have happened recently, as the weariness in his eyes is undeniable.
Of the four True Monarchs, it's often said that True Monarch Lanqiu has the most violent and flamboyant temper. But a Nascent Soul cultivator can no longer be a boisterous young man, so where does she get so much temper to vent? She's just more humane and carefree compared to the others.
Therefore, I will no longer contend with myself.
Wu Zhuyue breathed a slight sigh of relief. Although Yi Xiaohan rarely showed her any close care, he was still quite special to her. For example, he was always patient and would not urge her even if she hesitated for a long time, waiting for her to sort things out.
At this moment, Wu Zhuyue finally mustered up her courage and asked, "Teacher... won't you punish me?"
"Tell me first, what did you go with your senior sister for? And you even dragged Changqing along, did you know that you wouldn't get punished if she was around?"
“We…” Wu Zhuyue paused, but still told the truth, “We intercepted the grain transport vehicle—it had been occupied by people with ill intentions who wanted to resell the grain on it, so we put it back on track.”
Yi Xiaohan raised an eyebrow slightly. "You shouldn't be able to find out about this. It was Shen Lixia who led the charge, right?"
Wu Zhuyue nodded honestly, thinking to herself that she couldn't hide it after all.
Unexpectedly, Yi Xiaohan smiled and snorted, saying, "They're cut from the same cloth! Do you know that cultivators who interfere too much in human affairs are punished? This matter involves no evil spirits or other cultivators. Regardless of whether it's good or bad, it should be left to ordinary people to handle."
Wu Zhuyue's heart, which had just relaxed, sank again.
“The last person who was punished still has whip marks on their back.” Yi Xiaohan patted her shoulder.
"Who?" Wu Zhuyue asked instinctively. Would they be punished the same way, and how severely?
Yi Xiaohan said, "It was your Aunt Yan. Back then, when she saw that the emperor of the mortal realm was incompetent and colluding with corrupt officials, she rode for three days to the capital and took the man's head with a single sword. The law enforcement department sentenced her to be whipped, and the person who administered the punishment was her teacher at the time. After that, she was left with those scars on her back."
Wu Zhuyue was shocked. "Did Aunt Yan really... accept it?" This matter was unjust to begin with, so why was the one who did justice punished? And would someone as proud as Yan Xueya be willing to be punished?
"She did overstep her bounds, and who can excuse that? Besides, she must have been prepared to bear the consequences when she made the decision."
Yi Xiaohan sighed, then suddenly changed the subject—
"However, I also think these people did a bad job. So, I won't punish you. Have the bodies been cleaned up? Has the carriage been destroyed?"
Unable to keep up with her rambling thoughts, Wu Zhuyue could only nod repeatedly and quickly said, "They're all gone, and the horses have been sold to others."
"That's good then." Yi Xiaohan laughed heartily. "As expected of Taihui's disciple, you're very clever. You don't need to worry about anything happening. If anyone comes looking for you, I'll take care of it myself."
She seemed completely unconcerned about Wu Zhuyue's unauthorized departure during confinement, and was even pleased about it. The True Lords of Taihui were all very protective of their own. Yan Xueya was known for her loyalty to her disciple, and the other two had also stood up for their children. However, this disciple of hers was so well-behaved and sensible that he was unlike a spirited young man; his mind was so meticulous that it was heavy.
Now that there's finally something that can help her, and it's not something as heartbreaking as ruining her cultivation, Yi Xiaohan is experiencing the feeling of a teacher being like a mother for the first time, and he feels quite gratified.
After turning the corner, she withdrew her hand from Wu Zhuyue's shoulder and smiled, "So you can rely on me more. Some of my direct disciples are still inseparable from their masters even at two hundred years old. How come you developed a demon in your heart and hid it from me for months? Don't you trust your teacher?" As she spoke, she frowned, looking somewhat aggrieved.
This expression immediately made Wu Zhuyue shake her head vigorously, waving her hands repeatedly, and hurriedly said, "No, no, no, it's just that I'm afraid of letting down Master... Master's expectations."
For a fleeting moment, she almost called out to Yi Xiaohan, "Master." Her heart was suddenly filled with warmth, and the heavy inner demons vanished along with the broken silence.
“You never say anything, you just keep your pain to yourself, that’s what hurts me the most. Zhu Yue, remember this—it’s always better to talk about it than to carry it all alone.”
Yi Xiaohan turned his head and looked solemnly into her eyes. His gaze was gentle, but it burned Wu Zhuyue.
"You don't need to be afraid of making mistakes, you don't need to be afraid of letting anyone down, and you don't need to constantly think about your every word and action. I know you are a sensitive child, unlike me who is always oblivious to other people's expressions. But you are still young—or even if you are not young, you don't need to walk on thin ice all the time. In this life, where is there anything perfect? You can make mistakes, you can disappoint others, but never let yourself suffer indefinitely."
The moon was cold, but Yi Xiaohan's words were like fire, like charcoal, flowing from her ears into her heart, bringing the warmth of a stove burning in winter. Wu Zhuyue suddenly felt a lightness on her body, as if a thousand pounds had been lifted, and then tears welled up again. More tears. She cried again.
In fact, Wu Zhuyue, who was sent away from the mass grave at the age of eight, should have stopped crying like this. But the group of people she met kept making the boy, who thought he would never cry again, shed tears time and time again.
A choked sob echoed in the cold moonlight, but she didn't have to bear it alone. She was pulled into a soft, warm embrace, her back gently patted, and she heard the woman's soothing voice say:
"You must grow up well."
When she returned to the room, Wu Zhuyue wiped her eyes, afraid that Lu Changqing would see the tear stains again. However, she realized that her worries were unfounded when she came in, because the boy had already fallen asleep on the table, as if he was extremely tired, and had not even finished his tea.
Wu Zhuyue looked at the teacup, its surface shimmering with water. Her gaze moved upwards, and she saw a pair of lips, even more moist, warmer, and softer than the tea. At this moment, her heart, already thin as a cicada's wing from the tears, was easily moved, and a thousand tender emotions would surge forth at the slightest touch, yet she still retained a shred of rational shame.
After hesitating for a long time, she gently picked up the teacup and carefully searched for any trace. The rim of the cup was very narrow, and she could find it in no time—but because she was doing something wrong, time seemed to pass very slowly. When she noticed a small water stain, Wu Zhuyue glanced at Lu Changqing again before slowly pressing her lips to the teacup and gently pursing them.
The next moment, she tilted the cup and, trying to cover up her intentions, took another small sip of tea, as if she had only been drinking tea before.
Instead of seeking a trace of warmth from Lu Changqing's lips, or trying to capture that hint of sweetness, Wu Zhuyue tasted the tea. It was clearly bitter to the point of astringency, but upon closer inspection, she sensed a subtle sweetness. It was Lu Changqing's sweetness.
What is she doing?
Wu Zhuyue closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them again. She carefully picked up Lu Changqing and placed him on the bed. She took off the boy's shoes and socks, and realizing that he had already cleansed himself, she cast a spell on herself before lying down beside Lu Changqing.
The sound of steady breathing filled her ears. Recalling the scenes of the day, even the beautiful, butterfly-like faces at sunset, Wu Zhuyue let out a soft sigh. Looking at Lu Changqing's sleeping profile, she felt a pang of sadness, finally understanding that this feeling was happiness.
She was indeed tired and soon became drowsy.
Her fingers gently slipped between his, loosely interlocking, their fingers overlapping. In a hazy daze, Wu Zhuyue recalled what Lu Changqing had said earlier and whispered, "I think I... like you a little too."
I also like this place a little; I like the teachers, my fellow students, and the elders.
Her master on the other side was probably busy with something, as she hadn't received a letter in a long time. But there was something she had to say.
The next day, Wu Zhuyue got up early, tucked Lu Changqing in, and quietly went to the table to sit down. She dipped her brush in ink and wrote a letter:
"Master."
I know that even a drop of kindness deserves a spring in return. But others have also been kind to me, and I cannot ignore that. The books you taught me also say that one should not be ungrateful and hurt others' feelings.
Therefore, I will no longer attempt to dispel the protective array. If the gods stand idly by while the stars shatter, then we will find other ways ourselves, methods that require no sacrifice. I have spent most of my life being sacrificed for others, and now, thinking back, I cannot accept anything more. Including you, Master—you said you yourself might become a sacrifice, so I must find new methods, rather than waiting for you to leave me as well.
I will strive to cultivate myself to the utmost, hoping to ascend to the upper realm as soon as possible to seek the method of restoration. In this vast world, there is certainly more than one deadly path.
I have learned a lot in the sect and have also felt the love from others. Therefore, I would like to say that I always think of you and love you.
I think I am probably growing up peacefully and smoothly, just as you wished.
May you also be safe and well.
Lately, the connection between us has been weak, and I do not know where Si Liuhua is. After Wu Zhuyue finished writing, he put the stack of letters into his mustard seed bag, intending to send them out when he could confirm his master's whereabouts.
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Author's note: Taihui is truly a wonderful place. The two people Si Liuhua sent here have both learned the ability to love that she had lost.
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