Chapter 22
“This is the fourth time,” Fu Xiang said with a strange expression, looking at Yin Qiu. “You really didn’t hear anything last night?”
The canteen was extremely noisy, but Yin Qiu still lowered her voice and said, "I didn't hear you."
Fu Xiang picked out all the meat dishes from the bowl and gave them to Yin Qiu, sighing, "You, you, you're sleeping so soundly! I barely slept a wink all night, but you're sleeping like a log!"
Yin Qiu was a little embarrassed and guilty: "I was just so tired that I fell asleep without realizing it."
"Then hurry back to your room and get some sleep after dinner," Fu Xiang said. "After class this afternoon, finish your homework and get some sleep as well. We'll start over tonight, and I don't believe we can't catch him!"
“But my injuries are almost healed,” Yin Qiu said. “Will he still come?”
Fu Xiang put down her chopsticks, took out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, and said, "Whether they come or not, we'll have to wait and see. Don't oversleep tonight."
Yin Qiu hesitated for a moment, then asked carefully, "Fu Xiang, how about I squeeze in with you tonight... okay?"
Seeing the worry on her face, Fu Xiang chuckled softly and said, "It's not that you can't sleep with me, but you're still worried if you don't know who this person is. He can bring you medicine today, but what if he brings you poison tomorrow?"
Startled, Yin Qiu whispered, "But I haven't made enemies with anyone..."
“That’s why we need to find out what’s going on,” Fu Xiang reassured Yin Qiu. “Alright, I’m here. Don’t be afraid. Just do as I say.”
Yin Qiu had no choice but to agree again.
With something on her mind, Yin Qiu was inevitably a little distracted during class. In the afternoon, she was whipped a few more times by her instructor, which made Fu Xiang curse at her. After the martial arts class ended, the two finished their homework together and went back to their rooms to take a nap. They were well-rested and ready to catch the thief that night.
At the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), the bell-ringing disciple made his routine rounds of the disciples' quarters, urging everyone to go to sleep early. Yin Qiu peered out the window and soon saw Fu Xiang also peeking out of the window of another row of disciples' rooms across a covered walkway. The two looked at each other from a distance and smiled slightly. Fu Xiang made a gesture to Yin Qiu, who understood immediately. They both closed the window and lay down on their beds, fully clothed.
Having caught up on two naps during the day, Yin Qiu was no longer sleepy at all. While feeling frightened, she also felt a faint excitement, as if she and Fu Xiang were plotting something big.
Waiting for a thief to run into a tree stump, like a chivalrous knight in a story, how impressive!
Just like last night, Yin Qiu remained motionless under the covers, keeping her eyes open until midnight, but still did not hear any movement.
The courtyard was quiet; even the wind had subsided considerably tonight. There were no candles in the house, but the visibility was still quite good. The snow had stopped for several days, and tonight there was a rare moonlit night. The moonlight shone through the window paper, casting a faint white glow on the ground, like a thin veil.
Yin Qiu's mind was clear, and the complex emotions in her heart dissipated as she waited. She even breathed softly and was not in a hurry. She just remembered Fu Xiang's words, pretending to be asleep with her eyes closed, while secretly paying attention to the movements around her.
In the deep of night, when all was quiet, Yin Qiu was just beginning to doze off when she suddenly heard a very faint sound.
The sound was very soft, like the faint sound of a breeze that could only be heard through a thick wall, or like someone slowly pushing open a door.
Yin Qiu's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but panic, but she still kept her eyes closed and pretended to be asleep.
However, after listening intently for a while, the sound quickly disappeared and never reappeared.
The room remained quiet, and she couldn't sense anyone's presence. However, Yin Qiu was already frightened and couldn't help but become paranoid. She felt as if someone had come, but she didn't dare to open her eyes rashly. For a moment, Yin Qiu was extremely anxious.
After waiting stiffly for a while, Yin Qiu silently comforted herself, thinking that she was just too nervous and had misheard some sound.
She exhaled cautiously, and very carefully raised her eyelids in the darkness, quickly scanning the scene in the room. As she looked, she noticed a blurry figure standing by the door a few steps away from the bed.
In that instant, Yin Qiu felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, and all the blood in her body rushed to her head.
·
In the pale moonlight, like thin clouds, the person stood tall and elegant, quietly standing at the door. Although his features were not clearly visible, it was clear that he was a man. He was tall and slender, and his robes swayed slightly, like a pine tree standing alone in the snow.
Yin Qiu was utterly shocked, her limbs went cold. At that moment, she lost the urge to scream and the strength to move. She could only open her mouth wide and stare at the person in shock from the dim light.
He did come after all!
The moonlight was pale, and outside the room, withered branches and fallen leaves filled the sky, swirling and dancing. One would expect it to be noisy, but the person standing there seemed to block out all the howling cold wind, making this corner very quiet.
Yin Qiu was so frightened that she broke out in a cold sweat, her hands and feet were ice-cold, her mouth was dry, and her back was soaked with sweat in an instant. She felt terrified, as if she were in a frozen wasteland, helpless and fearful.
On the contrary, the man remained calm. Although Yin Qiu could not see his face, she could feel that he was silently observing her. Yin Qiu was panicked and scared. In a panic, she hurriedly closed her eyes and slowly calmed herself down.
A moment later, footsteps sounded, and Yin Qiu quickly squinted open one eye and saw that the person was walking towards her.
The shadowy figure resembled a ghost, its movements exuding an indescribable eeriness.
At that moment, Yin Qiu almost couldn't help but shout out, but before she could make a sound, the man stopped and stood by the table.
Immediately afterwards, the person gently placed something on the table. Yin Qiu suppressed her panic and squinted at it again. Sure enough, it was a small, green medicine bottle.
A silence fell over the room.
Yin Qiu held her breath and didn't dare to move an inch. After the man put down the medicine bottle, he stood by the table for a while, then turned around and walked towards the door.
Seeing that he seemed about to leave without making any further moves, Yin Qiu breathed a sigh of relief and stared intently at the man. However, after taking only two steps, he suddenly stopped and said without turning his head, "You're pretending to be asleep."
It wasn't a question, nor was it surprise; rather, it was a calm, straightforward tone.
But to Yin Qiu, this short sentence was like a bolt from the blue.
The tension in her mind snapped instantly. Yin Qiu was terrified and was about to scream when the man, as if he had expected it, turned around and rushed to the bedside. He reached out with one hand and gently tapped Yin Qiu's chest twice.
Yin Qiu was instantly paralyzed, and all sounds were stuck in her throat.
Upon discovering that she had suddenly lost the ability to speak, Yin Qiu was shocked and struggled to get up, but to no avail.
“I’ve touched your acupoint,” the man said, looking down at her. “Don’t panic, I’m not a bad person.”
During the day, when discussing the matter with Fu Xiang, the two of them had considered almost all possible changes, except for the possibility of being targeted. Yin Qiu looked terrified and was extremely shocked. The image of her being brutally murdered immediately flashed through her mind. Overwhelmed with grief and indignation, she couldn't help but tear up.
"Don't cry," the person seemed to smile and said softly, "I won't hurt you, but you're emotional right now. I'll talk to you after you calm down."
After saying that, he ignored Yin Qiu's reaction and sat down on his own.
Yin Qiu was indeed in a state of turmoil, but let alone her young age, even others would not be able to remain calm in the face of such a strange event. Fortunately, Yin Qiu remembered what Fu Xiang had analyzed. Since this person had come to deliver medicine to her and had not tried to kill her, and his words were gentle and reassuring, he was not a bad person, at least that's how it seemed for now. Yin Qiu could only force herself to calm down and not let her mind wander.
The moonlight seemed to deepen, and the small room gradually became brighter. After a long while, Yin Qiu finally managed to overcome her fear and secretly began to observe the person.
The door was still open, and the man sat steadily at the table, pouring himself a cup of cold tea. He was wearing a black robe with wide sleeves and cloud patterns, the hem of which hung straight to the ground. His black hair was neatly tied up, and a silver mask covered his face, obscuring his eyebrows and eyes. Only a well-defined chin and a slightly thin pair of lips could be seen.
A well-dressed man wearing a mask.
·
Yin Qiu looked him over again, confirming that she had never seen this person before. Perhaps sensing her gaze, the man tilted his head slightly, a smile curving his lips, and said, "Still afraid?"
He didn't look like an assassin or killer, and he always had a faint smile on his face. Yin Qiu breathed a sigh of relief and blinked at him hesitantly.
"Aren't you afraid anymore?" the man laughed. "You're quite clever, knowing how to pretend to be asleep. I originally planned not to come again, but seeing that you went to bed unusually early today, I guessed that you had noticed something strange, so I wanted to see how you would deal with it."
Hearing his words, it was clear that he had a firm grasp on her every move. The thought that she might be secretly monitored by this person after entering the palace sent chills down Yin Qiu's spine and gave her goosebumps.
“I can untie your speech impediment first,” the man said, “but you mustn’t make a sound, understand?”
Even if she wanted to call for help, judging from his previous skills, he could probably subdue Yin Qiu before she could make a sound. Yin Qiu had calmed down a lot by now, and blinked her eyes a couple more times.
“Very good, good boy,” the man said, tapping Yin Qiu’s body with two fingers together. “Try it?”
Yin Qiu looked at him warily and coughed softly.
"Do you know about Brahma Valley?" the man asked.
"I...I don't know..." Yin Qiu's voice trembled.
"It's also a martial arts sect," the man said, "but not as famous as your Yunhua Palace."
Yin Qiu seemed to understand, but not quite.
“I come to Yunhua Palace every year,” the man said. “Every year, there are always a few promising new disciples. This year, I think you are quite good.”
Yin Qiu didn't quite understand and asked, "What do you mean...?"
"Poaching talent," the man laughed. "I think you have some potential; you're good at martial arts. Would you like to learn kung fu from me?"
"This person actually came to Yunhua Palace to poach our disciples?" Yin Qiu looked surprised and said after a long while, "But I am already a disciple of Yunhua Palace."
The man said, "So what? Your sect leader studied under other sects after serving in the palace."
Yin Qiu stared in disbelief and said, "But... but I don't know you yet, and I will have a master in the future."
“I won’t take you as my apprentice,” the man smiled gently. “I don’t want anything else from you, I just want you to learn kung fu from me.”
Could there really be such a good thing in the world? Yin Qiu became wary and paused for a moment before saying, "No, it won't work..."
Why not?
"I don't know who you are. Even if you want to teach me kung fu, you have to ask your martial uncle's opinion first."
"Full of Snow on the River?"
Yin Qiu subconsciously wanted to nod, but then realized she couldn't move, so she just hummed in agreement.
“You can’t tell her,” the man said. “It has to be kept a secret, including from your good friend who’s still waiting for your news in the room.”
He even knows about Fu Xiang! Yin Qiu was shocked: "How do you know everything..."
“Since you’ve come here specifically to poach our talent, you won’t be the only one they’re interested in,” the man said. “Your good friend is also quite good, but unfortunately she’s a descendant of Mingyue Tower. Comparing the two, you’re still the most suitable.”
He neither takes on disciples nor has any ulterior motives. Would he really expect something for nothing? Yin Qiu wasn't so easily fooled and boldly said, "I don't believe it."
The man still smiled: "Then what will it take for you to believe me?"
Yin Qiu thought to herself, "Your behavior is suspicious, and what you say is a mix of truth and falsehood that I can't tell. What makes you think I can convince her?"
Yin Qiu said, "I don't believe it no matter what. You should leave and don't come back again."
The man hesitated for a moment, then suddenly said, "If I said I knew your mother, would you believe me?"
Yin Qiu's heart skipped a beat, but she maintained a suspicious expression and said, "My mother?"
"Your mother's name is Shen Mandong, and she was the former chief disciple of Yunhua Palace," the man said. "Your father's name is Yin Xuan, and he is a member of the Ziwei Sect, is that right?"
Yin Qiu was silent for a moment, then said, "These things are not difficult to investigate. You can find out by asking around. Don't underestimate me just because I'm young. I'm not easily fooled."
“I can see that,” the man said. “It’s good to be wary. Children shouldn’t trust strangers easily. You’ve done a good job.”
Yin Qiu couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Then who exactly are you?"
The man looked down at her for a while, then smiled and said, "I won't tell you my name, but people in the martial arts world call me Young Master Fan."
"Young Master Fan?" Yin Qiu repeated the three words, then looked up and asked, "Your surname is Fan?"
The man chuckled: "My surname isn't Fan; I'm the Valley Master of Fanxin Valley."
It's truly a strange thing that the master of a valley would go to another sect in the middle of the night to recruit new disciples.
Yin Qiu pondered to herself, then asked, "Then why are you wearing a mask? You... can't show me your true face?"
The man said, "You're overthinking it. In the world of martial arts, some people disguise themselves, some people disguise themselves. Wearing a mask is not unusual. Whether we can get to know each other now depends on whether you are willing to."
There was some back and forth in their conversation, but Yin Qiu still felt like she didn't understand anything at all. She thought and thought, feeling completely helpless about the current situation, and after a long silence, she finally said, "I don't know..."
“If you want to learn kung fu well, leave the door slightly ajar tomorrow night,” the man said. “I will come to you when I see it, and vice versa.”
Yin Qiu was undecided.
“If you really don’t want to, I won’t force you,” the man said again. “It’s your choice. You won’t come anymore, okay?”
Yin Qiu stared blankly: "Oh..."
Seeing her blank expression, the man smiled and stood up to gently pat her on the head, saying, "However, please don't tell anyone about our meeting, especially not your martial uncle or your good friend."
His warm palm left a trace of warmth in her hair. For some reason, this gesture dispelled most of Yin Qiu's fear. She looked directly at him and asked, "Why?"
“Because it won’t sound good if word gets out,” the man laughed. “Then everyone in the world will know that I broke into the Yunhua Palace’s disciples’ courtyard at night, and I’ll be too ashamed to face anyone.”
Yin Qiu hesitated and remained silent.
“If you don’t say anything, I’ll take that as a yes,” the man said, walking to the door and turning his head to the side. “Then I’ll come again tomorrow night. The acupuncture will resolve itself in an hour, so you can sleep peacefully.”
After speaking, he walked out, his robes fluttering as the two wooden doors closed silently.
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