Chapter 113
The candlelight cast long shadows across the snow-covered river.
Her black hair cascaded down her shoulders, her face was as beautiful as jade, and beneath her loose outer garment was a thin, white undergarment. She stood before Yin Qiu, bathed in a pale yellow glow, as if she had stepped out of a painting.
Actually, she had wanted to ask these questions for a long time, but she hadn't found the right opportunity.
That night in Yunjian City, she was indeed quite tired. She had ridden for four days to reach Yin Qiu's side, and had not slept well on the way. She had also been caught in several rain showers. The chill of the rain was not dispelled by the heat in the hot spring room, but was only covered up by the body temperature of the person in her arms when she lay in her arms with Yin Qiu.
She was feeling incredibly sleepy that day, so when she held Yin Qiu and talked to her, she couldn't resist the drowsiness. She smelled the soap scent in Yin Qiu's hair and the unknown medicinal smell on her body. She became drowsy and forgot to reply to Yin Qiu, but she didn't lose consciousness quickly. Instead, she fell into a light sleep that she rarely experienced.
Then Yin Qiu took her hand and, turning her head, breathed her warm breath onto her cheek.
It's the feeling of being quietly watched.
Man Jiangxue doesn't really like being watched, but since childhood, she has always been the kind of person who is watched. Those gazes are of all kinds, some are open and some are furtive and secretive. She knows all of this, but she is used to not caring, even though there's nothing to care about.
Many years ago, a gaze that stood out from the others appeared in those gazes.
That gaze came from Shen Mandong.
Many years later, she saw that same expression in Yin Qiu's eyes again. Even though she had her eyes closed and didn't see it with her own eyes, she clearly felt it.
But she couldn't be sure, nor could she tell.
She couldn't be sure whether the way she looked at her years ago and years later was truly the same.
Anyway, that night, Man Jiangxue's feelings were somewhat indescribable and subtle.
She didn't know what went wrong, but this winter, her interactions with Yin Qiu seemed to lack something, yet also have something more.
She has always been a very perceptive person, especially when things she is familiar with change. She can always detect it immediately and accurately, but she just can't figure out why.
Why did Yin Qiu look at her like that?
She was a blank slate in matters of the heart. In her limited life, she only had one fleeting encounter with Shen Mandong, but she regarded Shen Mandong as a close senior sister. She was still young at that time and could not understand what the mortal world was like in Shen Mandong's words. The word "mortal world" was a blind spot that she did not understand and had never crossed.
The fact that these two words were associated with Yin Qiu made her even more confused.
But amidst her confusion, she was surprised to find that she didn't mind Yin Qiu's gaze.
Even after Yin Qiu had whispered her name and fallen asleep, she pulled Yin Qiu even closer into her arms.
She watched her for a long time in the darkness.
Just like Yin Qiu, as long as you are by her side, whether you are talking to her, quietly watching her, or smiling at her, you can give her a feeling that no one else can give.
But she didn't know if Yin Qiu felt the same way.
“So I want to know,” Man Jiangxue reached out and lifted Yin Qiu’s face, “what are you looking at, and what are you dreaming about?”
Illuminated by the flickering oil lamp, Man Jiangxue's lowered gaze appeared somewhat profound, while Yin Qiu's face flushed red and her breathing became erratic.
How should she answer?
Her heart pounded, and Yin Qiu felt an unprecedented sense of restraint. She almost forced herself to run away, and said in a soft voice, "How could Martial Uncle pretend to be asleep..."
“Answer me,” Man Jiangxue pressed, noticing that Yin Qiu was avoiding her question. “Tell the truth.”
Seeing that she seemed unwilling to let him off easily today, Yin Qiu had no choice but to rack his brains to make up an excuse, saying, "Because...because my martial aunt is beautiful!"
Man Jiangxue paused for a moment and said, "It's pitch black, what can you see?"
“It’s not pitch black,” Yin Qiu said with a straight face. “There are lanterns lit in the corridor…”
How could Man Jiangxue not see through her nonsense? She asked again, "Then what did you dream about?"
This time, Yin Qiu told the truth: "I don't know, I don't remember ever having a dream..."
Man Jiangxue fell silent.
This didn't seem to be the answer she expected.
But what was the answer she expected... or rather, what was the answer she wanted to hear?
A strange feeling welled up inside her, and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Man Jiangxue remained silent for a moment, then released Yin Qiu's chin. Suddenly, she stared at her and said, "You've been very well-behaved in the palace for the past two years, knowing when to sleep. Why are you even more attached to me now that you're gone?" She paused for a moment, then continued, "I've been forgetting to ask you these past few years, do you still consider me your mother?"
Upon hearing what she said, Yin Qiu was stunned for a moment, then asked incredulously, "Uncle-Master... do you think I treat you like my mother?"
Man Jiangxue finally seemed to have reached her limit: "I'm asking you a question, so just answer me. Don't keep asking me questions in return. Just say yes or no."
Yin Qiu quickly said, "Of course not!" She looked at Man Jiangxue in surprise, "I'm just close to my martial uncle... Besides, I've never really treated you as my mother. I only had that thought when I was a child and my martial uncle took me in."
Having said that, Yin Qiu scrutinized Man Jiangxue's expression and asked, "Is there a problem?"
question?
Man Jiangxue fell silent.
She didn't know what the problem was.
The two looked at each other, each lost in their own thoughts. After a long while, Man Jiangxue finally asked, "Then, in your eyes, who am I?"
Yin Qiu was taken aback again, and hesitated before saying, "Uncle-Master... isn't he just Uncle-Master? Who else could he be...?"
Seeing that she seemed not to understand her meaning at all, and that she herself had not asked directly, Man Jiangxue was unusually speechless. Finally, she sighed and said, "Never mind, it's good that you don't treat me like your mother."
Yin Qiu looked at her, puzzled.
Man Jiangxue fell silent, walked to the table, blew out the candle, grabbed Yin Qiu by the back of her collar and threw her to the inside, then lay down beside her without saying a word.
Yin Qiu huddled up in a ball, not daring to move.
She wondered: What's wrong with my martial aunt today? Why is she asking so many strange questions?
The candlelight went out, and only the dim moonlight shone on the floor near the window, not reaching the bed. Yin Qiu opened her eyes and tried her best to make out Man Jiangxue's face in the dim light, but she could not see anything clearly, only a blurry silhouette.
Although Yin Qiu felt that Man Jiangxue's behavior today was somewhat unusual, she didn't have the extra energy to figure out why she was acting strangely.
Man Jiangxue didn't press Yin Qiu too much about what happened that night, which was already a huge relief for Yin Qiu. If Man Jiangxue had pressed her for details, she really wouldn't have known what excuse to give.
Should I ask her to reveal her feelings?
How could that be?
Just imagining the scene in her mind sent a chill down Yin Qiu's spine, as if she were in a frozen wasteland.
If her martial uncle knew her feelings, she would never be able to get along with him as intimately as she does now.
Because her martial uncle only treated her as a junior, as a child, if she found out, she would definitely avoid suspicion and distance herself from him.
That's not what Yin Qiu wanted to see.
No...no, absolutely not.
Yin Qiuyin, hidden in the shadows, gradually grew serious.
She must hide herself well and never reveal anything inappropriate to her martial uncle.
Since her martial uncle seemed to have some suspicions, she could no longer treat him as she pleased.
She had to bury all the shady things and do her best to dispel her uncle's suspicions. Only in this way could she stay by her uncle's side for as long as possible.
The night grew darker, and the moonlight outside became brighter.
The person beside her remained silent for a long time, and did not take the initiative to hug her as they used to. Yin Qiu sighed inwardly, and carefully pulled the blanket over herself.
·
The next morning, when Yin Qiu woke up, Man Jiangxue was no longer in the room.
The house was very quiet, so quiet that it seemed like no one was there. Yin Qiu didn't sleep well that night. When she woke up and didn't see Man Jiangxue, she felt a sense of loss that she couldn't help.
She sat on the couch for a long time before getting up, dressing, and washing up. She then went outside and searched around, but could not find Man Jiangxue anywhere.
Where are they?
Yin Qiu was puzzled, but fortunately, the disciples who accompanied him were all gathered in the backyard to compete in swordsmanship. After inquiring, Yin Qiu learned that Man Jiangxue had been invited away by the people of Jiuxian Hall.
"They said it was a master of the Dream Hall who specially sent someone to invite our master uncle," a female disciple said. "Senior Sister Bai Ling also went with him, about half an hour ago."
Yin Qiu was taken aback by her words.
Didn't Afu say that the Nine Immortals Hall wouldn't meet with anyone from any sect before the Mozi Terrace meeting? Why does Meng Wugui suddenly want to see Man Jiangxue now?
Also, why did Man Jiangxue take Bai Ling away without calling her?
Recalling the night they slept in the same bed, with a distance always between them and neither of them ever getting close, Yin Qiu's sense of loss intensified at this moment.
Could it be that my martial uncle discovered something... and that's why he's starting to avoid her?
Yin Qiu's face turned pale, and she seemed dazed.
"Senior Sister?" The female disciple noticed Yin Qiu's change in expression carefully. "Why do you suddenly look so pale... Are you feeling unwell?"
Yin Qiu couldn't control her chaotic thoughts and had been thinking all sorts of random things in that short time. She shook her head and said, "It's alright," then asked, "Did Uncle-Master say when he would be back?"
The female disciple replied, "She didn't say anything. She just specifically told us not to come to your room unless it was something important. Our senior sister said you didn't sleep well last night and would probably get up later today, so we all stayed in the backyard to practice our skills. We didn't disturb our senior sister, did we?"
Yin Qiu immediately gleaned another piece of information from her words: Man Jiangxue knew that she hadn't slept for a long time last night.
This also indicates that Man Jiangxue himself was the same.
Yin Qiu couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable.
The two lay together, but neither of them actually fell asleep. She stayed up most of the night with her eyes open, and Man Jiangxue stayed up most of the night with her, but she didn't say a word to Yin Qiu, nor did she hug her like before.
What is this if not alienation?
Even if Yin Qiu was unwilling to accept it, she had to come to a conclusion at this moment—Man Jiangxue must have already noticed her inappropriate thoughts.
Her actions last night and today have already demonstrated her attitude.
"...Okay, I understand." Yin Qiu felt a chill in his heart, but he didn't forget to appear calm. He chatted briefly with the female disciple for a few moments before turning around and going back to his room.
As soon as she left, Meng Jing walked over from the corridor, medical book in hand. Seeing Yin Qiu's somewhat forlorn figure today, Meng Jing looked at her from afar for a while and asked the female disciple, "What happened?"
The female disciple shrugged: "Nothing happened, but I think Senior Sister Yin seems to be in a bad mood. Should we go and ask her, Senior Brother?"
Meng Jing thought for a moment and replied, "Alright."
She rolled up the medical book and put it in her sleeve. She walked along the corridor to the outside of the side room. Yin Qiu had just entered the room. Before Meng Jing could call out to her, she saw Yin Qiu pause at the door with her back to her, and then close the two wooden doors heavily without turning her head.
Hearing the loud sound of the door closing, Meng Jing paused in his steps.
Did they know she had followed them?
Meng Jing frowned, thinking to herself that Yin Qiu was indeed in a bad mood and didn't want to see her right now, so she gave up the idea of caring for Yin Qiu and returned to the backyard.
Just as she turned to leave, the door, which had already been closed, quietly opened a crack.
Seeing Meng Jing's figure quickly disappear into the corner of the corridor, Yin Qiu closed the door again and turned around with a calm expression.
Everything in the room remained unchanged, including the teacup where the note had been placed the night before. Only now, a green figure appeared at the table.
·
"What are you doing here?" Yin Qiu poured two cups of cold tea from the table and pushed one of them to the person opposite her.
"I waited for you in the bamboo grove all night, why didn't you come!" Afu slammed her hands on the table, causing tea to splash and wet Yin Qiu's fingertips.
Yin Qiu paused almost imperceptibly upon hearing this, then looked up and asked, "Did you write that note?"
Afu snorted, "That's right, I wrote it!"
Yin Qiu suddenly understood.
She had speculated about the messenger last night, so now that she knew it was Afu's doing, there was nothing strange about it.
This girl has superb lightness skills. It would be a piece of cake for her to sneak into her room unnoticed and leave a note. As for courage, she has no shortage of it either.
Yin Qiu held the teacup in her hand and twirled it gently. Just as she was about to answer Afu's question, she heard Afu ask in an unfriendly tone, "It's fine if you don't go to the bamboo grove, I can just make another trip to find you myself. But what's wrong with you? Did you sleep in the outhouse last night? Why weren't you in your room!"
Yin Qiu could tell from her tone that she was still angry with her about what happened the day before, so she smiled and said, "You should at least sign your name. Even the most careless person wouldn't go there rashly after seeing your note, especially since it was arranged in the middle of the night, in a place like a small bamboo grove outside the city."
"You're just being paranoid!" Afu retorted. "If you were the one inviting me, I would definitely go!"
“You have quite the nerve,” Yin Qiu said. “I can’t. I’m afraid of dying and I’m afraid someone will try to harm me. I’m sorry you had to laugh at me.”
Sensing the mockery in her words, Afu let out another low snort: "Then go again tonight, I have something to tell you."
Yin Qiu looked at her: "Is there something you can't say now?"
"That's because it's something you can't let anyone see!" Afu rolled her eyes at her. "Don't you know what 'walls have ears' means? There are so many spies from the Ziwei Sect in your Yunhua Palace that we can't even catch them all. Who knows if this place is absolutely safe?"
“Then how am I supposed to know if you’re lying to me?” Yin Qiu’s eyes were calm, revealing a clear sense of unease. “Give me a heads-up so I know what’s going on, otherwise I won’t go.”
Afu looked utterly exasperated: "Why are you so suspicious? I told you this isn't a good place to talk, it's so exhausting communicating with you!"
“It’s a very special time, please bear with me,” Yin Qiu said. “Nobody wants to be suspicious, but I have my concerns. If you want to talk about it, then talk about it; if you really don’t want to, then don’t.”
Afu could only say irritably, "Fine, fine, fine..." As she spoke, she leaned over the corner of the table and whispered in Yin Qiu's ear, "Don't you want to see your mother? Go to the bamboo grove tonight, and I'll let you see her."
Yin Qiu glanced at her sideways, then said calmly, "Really?"
"Why would I lie to you?" Seeing that she doubted her, Afu's temper flared up again. "Why don't you ever believe what I say!"
“Just yesterday you said you didn’t know where my mother was,” Yin Qiu scrutinized her, “but now you know?”
Afu knew she would say that, and she snapped, "I really didn't know that day! But I found out later! You're driving me crazy!"
Yin Qiu let her vent her anger without getting annoyed: "But you said before that I would only be able to see my mother on the day of the conference. How come you changed your mind about that?"
Afu was so angry her mouth twisted: "Didn't you keep asking and asking that day, and even hit me because of it! If you want to see me sooner, then see me sooner! Don't be ungrateful, you're driving me crazy!" I really don't understand how my senior sister could consider someone like this a friend!
Just like that day, Yin Qiu was still observing Afu's expression, but still couldn't find any sign that she was lying. Yin Qiu pondered for a moment and said, "Okay, I will go to the bamboo grove to find you tonight at the hour of Yin."
"Shut up!" Afu cursed as she walked to the window, pushed open the window, and climbed up. "Then you better not break your promise! If you miss this opportunity, you might not be able to see your mother again, so don't blame me for not reminding you."
After saying that, she didn't care what Yin Qiu's reaction was and jumped out in a flash.
—It was as if spending even a little more time with Yin Qiu would kill her.
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