Chapter 4 Danqing Medicine is Bitter "This is not what I want."
The peach rolled to the edge of the table with a soft thud, and then stopped.
Lin Feiran and Wei Changzai looked at each other in silence, their expressions both calm, but whether there was turmoil beneath the surface, no one knew.
Only Qiu Tong, with her head down and her eyes wide open behind her bangs, was clearly very surprised.
My fox mother!
Is this Lin Feiran?
Is it Lin Feiran, who desperately wants to ruin her reputation?
The words "break off the engagement" might be heard from Wei Changzai's mouth, or from his fellow disciples, but they would never come out of Lin Feiran's mouth!
So surprised that Qiu Tong's breathing became erratic for a moment, she quickly put her bloodied fingertips into her mouth to hide her discomfort.
After a long silence, Wei Changzai finally spoke: "Why?"
Lin Feiran sighed softly: "Have you forgotten? I said before that even if we were engaged, it wouldn't be a shackle between us. It wasn't before, and it isn't now."
She raised her hand, a jade bead tied to her wrist with a red string. She crushed the bead, and pearly dust fell. Immediately, a mayfly butterfly with transparent wings spread its wings and its tail feathers shimmered.
It circled a few times and then stopped at Lin Feiran's fingertip.
"This was a gift from the Human Emperor when he made the covenant with us. It was originally intended for our wedding banquet, but now it's time to set it free."
The mayfly butterfly moves gracefully, its scales trembling slightly, yet it cannot dispel the increasingly oppressive silence.
As dawn broke through the white, glass-like wings, a rainbow of light shone into Wei Chang's dark eyes before fluttering out the window.
"This marriage contract was just a misunderstanding. You know I'm not the kind of person who clings on relentlessly. I will write a letter to the palace official and ask him to pass on the message to His Majesty. You should also tell the Chief."
The atmosphere inside the room grew increasingly stagnant, so thick that it was hard to breathe.
"So what?" Lin Feiran looked at him. "I don't think there's anything shameful about spending energy pursuing what I want. Now that it's time to part ways, I won't feel regret either, because these are all my choices."
He repeated the question from before.
Lin Feiran shook his head, looked out the window, and said nothing more.
Wei Changzai's eyes flickered slightly as he glanced at Qiu Tong, who was pretending to be a quail with her head down, and said in a clear voice, "Junior Sister, would you mind going out for a while, please?"
Qiu Tong paused, then smiled and said, "Of course, it was my fault for being so inconsiderate and standing here all this time. You guys chat!"
She ran off in a flash, leaving only the two of them in the room. Wei Changzai suddenly spoke up: "You're angry. Can you tell me what I can do to make you stop being angry?"
Lin Feiran looked at his expression and was speechless for a moment: "I didn't break off the engagement with you because I was angry, resentful, or sulking..."
As a child, Wei Changzai did not understand liking or disliking. Apart from practicing swordsmanship day after day, he was always slow and indifferent to emotions. Even when eating osmanthus cake, he would taste it again and again and think about it before he could determine that the feeling was satisfaction and liking.
Lin Feiran suddenly felt like asking him, so she asked, "You like Qiu Tong, don't you?"
"like?"
Wei Chang was pondering the word. Lin Feiran had once told him what it meant to like someone. After thinking for a moment, he nodded.
“Yes. I want to see her when I wake up in the morning. I feel peaceful and comfortable when I am with her. I don’t want her to get hurt…” As he said this, his dark eyes looked at Lin Feiran, “Slowly, I realize that I am destined to love her.”
His gaze remained calm and peaceful, yet it sent a surge of heat through Lin Feiran's cheeks and ears.
That's not shyness, but a kind of awkwardness and embarrassment that comes from doing something inappropriate in a situation that makes people laugh, leaving you helplessly standing there and letting others mock you.
They were a match made in heaven; he was destined to love her, and he would not betray this destiny. He had already developed feelings for Qiu Tong, so he did not want her to die.
What about Lin Feiran's affection?
Qiu Tong cannot die, so Lin Feiran's fate is left to chance.
She took a deep breath to ease the stinging in her eyes: "Since you know the truth, why bother asking me the reason today?"
Wei Changzai looked at her: "I don't know why you're angry, so I have to ask. Slowly, everything is the will of Heaven. Go with the flow, do nothing, so why bother yourself? Love and affection will eventually be extinguished on the path of the Great Way. Is it really that important?"
Lin Feiran was stunned for a long time before laughing, a self-deprecating laugh: "If it's not important, you could have refused back then. Why did you have to suffer with me for so many years?"
Wei Changzai countered, "Whether fellow practitioners are Daoist companions, friends, or fellow disciples, as long as they share the same path, what difference does it make?"
So that's what he was thinking. It was somewhat unexpected, yet also quite reasonable.
Lin Feiran looked out at the snow-capped mountains and remained silent for a long time. Her heart gradually calmed down. Strangely, she was not thinking about Qiu Tong and Wei Changzai. Compared to them, she had a more urgent and unbearable problem that she had pondered for many years but had never told Wei Changzai.
She asked, "Wei Changzai, what exactly is it you're talking about?"
Before he could answer, she threw off the covers, stood up by the window, and beckoned Lianyan to come.
"This sword was a gift from you, but what am I supposed to do with it?"
Wei Chang paused for a moment, wondering why she changed the subject: "To cultivate the way of the sword, one must have a drawn sword to enlighten the mind."
Lin Feiran stood backlit, her scattered bandages fluttering in the wind. Her loose inner robe clung to her figure, revealing a touch of aloofness. She turned to look at him, her pale face half-lit and half-shadowed. She spoke, "Is what I practice the way of the sword?"
Wei Chang blinked, and the bandage that blew by rolled over his fingertips, still carrying some warmth. He held it in his hand, unconsciously rubbing it, and answered softly but firmly: "Manman, you and I both cultivate the way of the sword."
Lin Feiran then asked, "What kind of swordsmanship?"
Wei Changzai stood up: "The supreme way is to forget emotions, to be without desire, without possessions, without self, and to achieve oneness with heaven and man."
“No.” Lin Feiran turned around, took two steps, stood on the edge of the bed, and looked down at him. “This is not what I wanted.”
"So what is it that you want? You never tell me."
Wei Chang paused at his fingertips, and in the same posture, he looked up at her, his dark eyes clear, his voice cold, but his words were not at all tactful: "You've been cultivating for ten years, slowly, this is not your path, then what have you been doing for these ten years?"
Lin Feiran was momentarily dazed: "Yes, what am I doing? I want to be with you, I want to prove myself, I want others to like me, so I cultivate day and night, but I still achieve nothing."
Ten years of trials and tribulations have passed, and looking back now, the past seems so distant and unrecoverable.
A sudden heat rose in her eyes, and a strange fire seemed to ignite within her. Lin Feiran felt her mind become unstable and closed her eyes, saying, "We've known each other for ten years and still share a bond as fellow disciples. Let's part ways amicably. The termination of the contract is settled, and I won't bother you anymore. You may leave."
Wei Changzai frowned slightly: "What's wrong..."
Lin Feiran raised her hand and waved it away: "I don't want to say that word."
Wei Changzai lowered his eyes and looked at his hands: "In that case, I will grant your wish. I only hope that you will not regret it in the future."
He gazed at the distant mountains, where, amidst the white snow and green pines, a mayfly butterfly perched on a pine cone, its transparent wings reflecting a rainbow of light.
The door opened and closed again; Wei Changzai left, and the voices of two people could be heard from under the eaves.
"Senior Brother Wei, have you finished your discussion? I accidentally took these peaches out of the house, and I haven't given them to Senior Sister yet..."
"No need, she doesn't like peaches."
As the burning sensation in her eyes subsided, Lin Feiran opened her eyes and looked through the half-open door. She saw Wei Changzai turn and leave, with Qiu Tong following closely behind him. Then, she took two steps back, met Lin Feiran's gaze through the door crack, and smiled.
That smile was no longer as innocent and fearless as before.
The two looked at each other, and Qiu Tong's lips moved slightly, silently uttering a sentence. Lin Feiran looked at her lips and was slightly taken aback.
*
As dusk settles, night has not yet fully fallen; it is the time of transition between day and night, and the sky is tinged with a purplish-gray hue.
In Luoyang, tall buildings with black tiles and red corridors stand side by side. At the four corners of each building hangs a peony, in various colors such as vermilion, snow white, bright yellow, and deep purple. The peonies are languid and luxurious, displaying their beauty on their own.
A gust of wind swept by, rustling and slicing the delicate peonies in half, instantly showering the bustling city of Luoyang with a rain of petals.
"Ah, it's a demon race!"
A gasp rang out from the crowd under the cover of night.
A group of demons flew across the sky. They had different appearances and were dressed in bright colors. Their movements created a gust of wind, and they were extremely fast.
They flew towards the palace walls, where the star officials of the Star Domain had lit star lanterns to welcome them. After the demon envoys landed, they were led to the Golden Palace for a meeting, and then the group disappeared behind the palace gates.
Lin Feiran sat on the solitary pavilion on Xiaofeng Mountain, quietly watching everything, yet seemingly lost in thought.
“Outstanding.”
A call brought Lin Feiran back to her senses. She turned her head and saw two figures, one in gray and one in green, land on the pavilion and look at her with smiles.
The old man in gray had a kind face and white hair, but a youthful appearance. He had a wine gourd at his waist and was very approachable. The woman in green had her hair tied up in a Taoist bun. She was dignified and gentle, holding a jade ruyi in her hand. Although there were some fine lines at the corners of her eyes, they did not diminish her beauty.
Lin Feiran was somewhat surprised: "Elder Taihui, Elder Qingyu, what brings you here?"
The two Taoist priests were on good terms with her father in their early years, and they often visited his home to offer their congratulations during festivals. After Lin Lang passed away, they were the ones who brought her back to Sanqing Mountain and raised her there.
In her heart, she had long regarded these two as family.
Elder Qingyu gently patted her head and scolded, "When we heard you were injured, we rushed back to see you. When we found no one in your room, we guessed you must be here. Why aren't you resting and recovering? What are you doing here in the cold wind?"
Lin Feiran said apologetically, "I'm fine now. I just wanted to get some fresh air and clear my head, so I came to Xiaofeng Mountain. I'm sorry to have troubled you two to come looking for me."
Taihui stroked his beard and smiled: "It's nothing. Come, let me see how bad the injury is."
A warm feeling washed over Lin Feiran, and she reached out her hand as instructed: "No vital organs were injured, just exhaustion. You'll be fine after a few more days of rest."
Taihui held his fingers above Lin Feiran's wrist, and a spiritual light descended, tracing her spiritual meridians to detect her injuries.
He relaxed his brow and breathed a sigh of relief: "After all, he was born with a sword bone. His tendons and bones have grown more than halfway, so there's nothing to worry about. He just needs to take good care of himself and not run around recklessly."
Lin Feiran nodded: "I know."
Qingyu patted her head, then sighed softly as if remembering something, "I overheard the Grand Chamberlain talking to the Chief at dusk, saying that you two wanted to break off your engagement. Is that true?"
Lin Feiran simply nodded without saying a word.
Taihui simply sat down, gazing at Luoyang City not far away, untied the wine gourd from his waist, took a sip, and said: "Well said. I told you long ago that the kid was cold and aloof, nothing good about him."
Qingyu gently stroked Lin Feiran's hand and said, "Feiran, although it doesn't matter who you choose, I actually had my own selfish reasons for hoping that the two of you could become a couple."
Lin Feiran turned her head to look with some confusion.
A few traces of worry appeared on Qingyu's dignified face: "You know your own spiritual veins. Taihui and I don't usually talk about it, but we are actually very worried about them. The path of cultivation is difficult and treacherous. Look at Xunfang, whose realm is not low, she almost died at the foot of the mountain. How much more so for you?"
Lin Feiran fell silent for a moment.
Taihui swallowed his wine and stroked his beard: "Wei Chang is a very talented kid and will definitely be the next chief. With him around, your spiritual veins might still be saved in the future. Even if they don't, you won't be bullied. But he's too cold-hearted and not suitable for you."
Qingyu clicked her tongue and glared at him in dissatisfaction. Then she put her arm around Lin Feiran and said softly, "It doesn't matter if it's cold or not. As long as Feiran is happy, it's all good, right?"
She took out a gold-embossed sticker, her eyes shining with joy: "Look, this is your wedding announcement sticker, isn't it beautiful? And the wedding date is also auspicious, both being a lucky day and close to your birth date. Many sects and aristocratic families have received it."
Taihui even went to Qianshanhai to find a precious pearl, intending to use it to coax Pei Yu away so that you and Changzai could marry smoothly. Unfortunately… I'll give this pearl to you; one must always look forward, mustn't one?
Lin Feiran felt a little guilty. Originally, these things were not their concern. It was only because of her that Taihui and Qingyu put aside their cultivation and busied themselves with a lot of things.
Now, because of her, months of hard work are about to go down the drain.
Seeing Lin Feiran looking down and hesitant, Qingyu raised her eyebrows slightly, looked at Taihui, and her voice became even softer.
"We're not forcing you. If you're unwilling, then we won't get married. What's the point of Wei Changzai compared to you?"
"You're turning nineteen soon. In previous years, General Lin always attached great importance to your birthday celebrations, making sure to put on a grand affair. We certainly can't let you down. These guests and treasures will all serve as your nineteenth birthday gift, what do you say?"
Taihui stroked his beard and chuckled: "Elder Qingyu is truly sincere. Her words have moved me deeply. In that case, I will use them all as birthday gifts for Feiran."
Qingyu looked at him and said, "You're still better than me, clumsy with words."
The two often teased each other like this. After exchanging a few words, Qingyu took out a porcelain bottle and handed it to Lin Feiran.
“We went to the chief and got a few Three Yuan Emperor Pills. Even if your injuries are not serious, using them can nourish your spiritual veins and bones, which will be of great benefit.”
Lin Feiran naturally knew how rare this medicine was, and immediately pushed it back: "This won't do. My injuries have already healed quite a bit, there's no need to waste it."
"Since I'm giving it to you, I'll naturally use the best." Taihui feigned anger. "Feiran, are you perhaps afraid that this elixir is not good enough?"
He immediately poured two pills into his palm. The Three Elements Emperor Pills were sky blue, perfectly round and radiant, with a refreshing and invigorating fragrance. He tilted his head back and swallowed the pills.
The medicine melted instantly in his mouth, and Taihui was radiant: "Look, I took it without any problems."
Lin Feiran looked at the bottle being stuffed into her hand, then at him, and hurriedly said, "Elder, you misunderstand. I'm not afraid there's something wrong with this pill, but it's too valuable for me to accept."
Seeing this, Qingyu smiled, let out a soft breath, and pressed Lin Feiran's hand: "If you don't accept it, you're deliberately trying to make us worry."
The medicine was forcibly shoved into Lin Feiran's hand.
She looked down at the porcelain vase in her hand, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.
When you're injured, someone cares about you and brings you medicine; how could you not be happy?
Qingyu put her arm around her shoulder and said, "You're in a bad mood, so we'll keep you company tonight. Don't think we're old folks and don't have anything to talk to you about."
Lin Feiran smiled and lowered his head: "No. It's just... I have an appointment tonight, and I have to go in a little while."
Qingyu asked doubtfully, "A friend from down the mountain?"
Lin Feiran shook her head, looking at the porcelain bottle in her hand. The smooth surface of the bottle vaguely reflected her eyes.
"No, she's a fellow disciple."
A note from the author:
The main plot of this story is quite complex, with many foreshadowing elements. I also want to develop Lin Feiran's character as much as possible, so some parts will be quite detailed.
P.S.: The male lead will appear in the next chapter, but not for long.
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