Love is destined to last a lifetime
Since that day when Gongsun Sheng—no, now in my heart, he is more of "Yiqing"—allowed me to call him by his name, the relationship between us has entered an unprecedented intimacy and tacit understanding.
He still visited me daily, examining my injuries and personally changing my dressings. At first, when his slender fingers inevitably touched the skin of my neck and shoulder, we both stiffened uncomfortably and quickly looked away. But gradually, this intimacy became a habit. He would gently tend to my wounds, whispering questions about my feelings. When he was close, I could smell his clear, refreshing scent more clearly, feel his steady breathing, and a sense of peace settled within me.
Our conversations were no longer limited to spiritual practice. He would discuss the seasonal scenery of Erxian Mountain, his experiences traveling with Master Luo in his youth, and even occasionally share his unconventional perspectives on Taoist texts. I, in turn, would weave the whimsical modern world in my memories, weaving it into "strange stories from overseas" or "fragments of dreams" in a way he could understand. He would always listen intently, his deep eyes fixed on me, sometimes puzzled, sometimes enlightened, as if searching for a connection between the strange world I described and our own.
This spiritual connection brought me far greater joy and fulfillment than physical recovery. The wound on my shoulder, nourished by the elixir and his pure spiritual energy, healed quickly. In just over ten days, I was able to move slightly without the excruciating pain.
However, Liangshan Lake was not our paradise. The battle on the front lines ultimately resulted in a bitter victory for Liangshan, with Hu Yanzhuo defeated and retreating. However, Liangshan also suffered significant losses in troops, horses, and supplies, severely damaging its vitality. More importantly, Chao Gai, the Heavenly King, sustained new injuries from his previous attempts to break out of the siege. Upon returning to the mountains, he fell seriously ill, and his health deteriorated rapidly.
The balance of power within the stronghold was thus completely tilted. While Song Jiang remained nominally his deputy, he had effectively taken over most military affairs and daily management, and Wu Yong increasingly surrounded Song Jiang, offering his counsel. Within the Juyi Hall, the atmosphere of the "Chao Gai era" was rapidly fading.
That evening, Yiqing came to see me as usual. My injuries had healed considerably, and I was leaning on a couch by the window, reading a scroll of bamboo slips he had given me a few days ago on the basics of formations in the last rays of daylight.
He pushed the door open and entered, bringing with him the coolness of an autumn night. The gloom between his brows seemed even heavier than usual, and even the cool aura around him seemed chilled.
"Yiqing," I put down the bamboo slips and looked at him with concern, "but what happened ahead?" Now I can call out this name naturally, and when he hears it, his eyes will soften slightly.
He sat down on the chair next to my couch and was silent for a moment before he slowly said, "I'm afraid King Chao... won't survive this winter."
I was shocked. Although I had anticipated this, hearing him speak it in person still brought a wave of sadness. Chao Gai might have lacked great talent and strategy, but his unwavering loyalty and magnanimity were the original foundation of this stronghold.
"Brother Song Jiang discussed with several of his brothers today about inviting a renowned doctor from Tokyo to treat us," he continued, his tone calm but with a subtle hint of sarcasm. "I'm afraid... your real purpose is not to treat you."
I immediately understood what he meant. The invitation to the renowned doctor was a pretense; the real purpose was probably to establish connections with the outside world, particularly with officials in Tokyo who might act as go-betweens, paving the way for future "recruitment." It seemed Song Jiang couldn't wait any longer.
"Then you..." I looked at him worriedly. He had a close friendship with Chao Gai, and he hated the idea of recruiting him, so he must be feeling very uncomfortable right now.
He looked out the window at the deep dusk, the last glimmer of twilight in the distance about to be swallowed by darkness. "If we don't share the same ideals, we can't work together," he said in a low, resolute voice. "Liangshan's fate is about to end. This place...is no longer a place to stay."
He mentioned leaving again. This time, it was no longer a vague tentative move, but a clear intention to leave.
"When...are we leaving?" I asked softly, using the word "we".
He turned back, his gaze resting on my face. The struggle and confusion of the past were gone, replaced only by a settled clarity and resolve. "Wait until your injuries heal, and until this matter is over." He paused, looking deeply into my eyes. "Luanyin, I have spent my entire life pursuing the Way of Heaven, believing my heart to be as still as still water, untainted by dust. It wasn't until I met you that I realized the world still holds ties, capable of disturbing my heart, but also... of soothing my soul."
My heartbeat suddenly accelerated and I looked at him holding my breath.
He stood up, walked to my bed, and slowly squatted down so that his eyes were level with mine. This posture made him no longer the immortal who needed my admiration, but just an ordinary man gazing at the woman he loved.
"I know you come from another world, carrying a secret. I once saw you as an uncertainty, a calamity, and wanted to stay away from you, but in the end... I was forced to be trapped." His voice was low and clear, and every word struck my heartstrings. "When you sacrificed yourself to block the arrow in Gaotangzhou, and your heart of Taoism was shattered, I realized that you were no longer a calamity to me, but... a destination that I willingly accepted."
He reached out and gently held my left hand, which was resting on my knee. His palm was slightly cold, but held an incomparable firmness.
"Bu Luanyin, Luanyin," he called my name, his eyes blazing like the brightest stars in the night sky. "If you wish, leave behind the troubles of this world, the disputes of Liangshan, and follow me to find a quiet place. He will cultivate Taoism, and you will play the zither. From now on, amidst the green mountains and clear waters, amidst the rolling clouds, it will be just you and me. Are you... willing?"
There were no flowery words, no vows, only the simplest promises, the most sincere invitations. Practicing Taoism, playing the zither, surrounded by verdant mountains and clear waters, just you and me—this was practically the dream I'd longed for most in my heart, yet couldn't achieve, since I'd traveled through time.
Tears welled up in my eyes without warning, blurring his image. I clutched his hand tightly, nodding my head vigorously, my voice choked but clear: "I do! Yiqing, I do! Wherever you are, that's where I'll be!"
When I answered in the affirmative, his eyes suddenly lit up like a thousand stars, and the corners of his usually cold mouth finally curved into a genuine and gentle arc, like the first melting of ice and snow and the return of spring. He gently closed his fingers, completely enveloping my hand in his slightly cool yet reassuring palm.
There was no hug, no kiss, just holding hands and looking at each other was more than a thousand words could express. All the anxiety, all the waiting, all the struggles, in this moment, were finally put to rest.
We are in love for this life and wish to grow old together.
We know that leaving Liangshan is not easy, and the road ahead is still uncertain. But at this moment, the hands tightly clasped together and the certain sense of belonging in our hearts give us the courage to face everything.
(End of Volume 3)
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