Chapter 229 Extra No. 1
In midwinter, Yunhua Mountain welcomed its first snowfall of the year.
The snow was light, scattered and intermittent, almost imperceptible, until nightfall when it fell in clumps like willow catkins, quickly covering the mountains with a layer of pristine white, a truly beautiful sight.
Yin Qiusong, her clothes loosely draped over her shoulders and her hair still wet, rushed out from behind the screen like a gust of wind. In the candlelight, her face was flushed, her eyes were watery, and her flustered expression carried a hint of shyness. As soon as she got into bed, she wrapped herself in the quilt.
Man Jiangxue followed behind and appeared. Her wide, white casual clothes were as white as the frost outside the window and carried a faint fragrance. The halo made her face look hazy and soft, even more eye-catching than the few shiny pearl buttons on her clothes.
Why are you running?
Yin Qiu huddled in the corner of the bed, only her bright eyes peeking out. She glanced at Man Jiangxue and said in a muffled voice, "...It's all because my uncle keeps touching me inappropriately. I told you to stop."
"What do you mean?" Man Jiangxue took a dry towel and said in a flat tone, "Didn't you invite me to bathe with you? It's cold, and you're unwilling to walk a little further to the bathhouse. The bathtub is so small, it's inevitable that the two of us will touch each other if we squeeze in. I didn't mean to."
Yin Qiu frowned and exclaimed, "Isn't this intentional? I'm already very ticklish, and you keep touching me..."
“Where are you touching me?” Man Jiangxue walked to the edge of the couch and sat down, looking at Yin Qiu and said, “You clearly asked me to scrub your back, why are you making me sound like a lecherous scoundrel?”
"You only rubbed my back?" Yin Qiu blushed and retorted softly, "You clearly did more than just rub my back, you touched other places too."
Man Jiangxue asked, "Where did I touch?"
Yin Qiu stretched out her hand, counting on her fingers, and said, "You touched me... well, you just touched me."
"So what? I'm just helping you take a bath," Man Jiangxue said calmly. "Besides, I'm right here. If you feel you've been taken advantage of, feel free to touch me back."
Yin Qiu looked at her, his gaze lingering for a moment on Man Jiangxue's slightly open collar, then cleared his throat and said, "Well, that's not necessary..."
"Come out quickly," Man Jiangxue patted her side, "Your hair isn't dry yet, be careful not to catch a cold."
Yin Qiu blinked twice, then reluctantly pulled off the covers. Man Jiangxue stretched out her long arm and pulled her into her arms, then took a handkerchief and ruffled Yin Qiu's hair, saying, "You just can't get rid of this habit. You have to dry your hair after a bath before you can sleep. I've told you so many times, why can't you remember?"
Yin Qiu didn't dare to move. She lay on Man Jiangxue's chest and pondered for a moment before replying, "Yesterday, Uncle Wen said that I've been a bit rebellious lately. Maybe I've reached the age of rebellion? I still want to listen to Uncle Wen, but I just can't help but do the opposite of what you say. I don't know why."
"You were never rebellious when you were a child, so why have you become rebellious now that you're older?" Man Jiangxue looked Yin Qiu up and down and asked, "Lately, you've been absent-minded about everything you do, and you always seem to be daydreaming. Is something on your mind?"
Yin Qiu said blankly, "No..." She adjusted her posture to look Man Jiangxue in the eye. "Perhaps everything is over and there is no more turmoil or accidents. Actually, this is a good thing, but I always feel empty inside."
Man Jiangxue patiently and meticulously dried her hair. After a moment of contemplation upon hearing this, she asked, "Is there still any unfulfilled wish? Or is there still someone you can't let go of?"
Yin Qiu thought for a moment and shook her head: "No, my wish has been fulfilled, and everyone is doing well. There is no one I can't let go of. Maybe I'm just not used to this peaceful life. I've never had a few days of peace since I was a child. Now that everything is settled and all is well, I feel a little uncomfortable being idle for the past six months. I don't know what to do next."
Man Jiangxue said, "You are now the chief disciple, which means you have a greater burden and responsibility than before. In the past, you only needed to focus on studying literature and martial arts at Jingyue Peak, and you didn't have to worry about anything else. Now, some of the duties in the palace have also been assigned to you. Logically speaking, you should be busier than before, but why don't you know what you should be doing?"
Yin Qiu said, "I have done everything I should as the chief disciple, and I am also working hard to improve my swordsmanship. I only have one short-term goal, which is to be able to beat Senior Sister Ji one day." She smiled as she spoke, "Once I can beat Senior Sister Ji, I will beat my martial uncle. When that happens, I will be the most powerful person in the palace!"
Man Jiangxue chuckled lightly: "It's not that I want to discourage you, but it will probably be very difficult for you to beat me."
“You’re confident, and so am I,” Yin Qiu said. “What if I can beat you someday?”
Man Jiangxue said, "Why do you have to be able to beat me? Have you ever seen anyone who thinks about beating the person they love all the time?"
Yin Qiu was momentarily speechless at the second half of her sentence, but quickly added, "That's true, isn't Senior Sister Ji one?"
Man Jiangxue paused slightly while drying her hair, and said with a wry smile, "That's true. But she studied hard back then to bring Wen Chaoyu back, and later went into seclusion to snatch Wen Chaoyu back from Nangong Min. So what was your purpose?"
"For no other reason than that I just want to do it," Yin Qiu said confidently, "I want to beat my martial uncle."
Man Jiangxue's lips curved slightly as she pinched Yin Qiu's cheek and teased, "It seems Wen Chaoyu was right. You have indeed reached the point of rebellion, and this rebellion is a bit late." She then added, "But having a goal is a good thing. I'll wait for the day you defeat me."
Yin Qiu chuckled, "Actually, I was just saying that casually. My martial uncle is so much older than me, it's really hard for me to surpass you, unless I can meet my martial uncle from when I was a child and challenge you to a duel before you've mastered your skills. In that case, I'd definitely win."
Man Jiangxue smiled without saying a word.
"What did you look like when you were a child, Uncle-Master?" Yin Qiu tilted his head and stared directly at Man Jiangxue.
"I don't know either," Man Jiangxue said. "If you ask me, who should I ask?"
"You've looked in the mirror before, haven't you?" Yin Qiu asked curiously. "Is there a big difference between then and now?"
Man Jiangxue thought for a moment and said, "If we only talk about appearance, the change is not too big. Of course, this is just my opinion. In short, if you see me, you should be able to recognize me at a glance."
Yin Qiu said, "But I just can't see him. Where can I go to see my uncle from when I was a child?"
Man Jiangxue hung up the handkerchief and smiled, "Then we can only meet in our dreams."
The lights were turned off, and the bedchamber became dimly lit, with only the lanterns under the eaves casting a faint glow, making visibility low. The two took off their outer garments and groped their way into the bedding. Yin Qiu rested her head on Man Jiangxue's arm, hugged her and kissed her for a while, and said innocently, "Then let's meet in our dreams. Uncle, hold me tighter, so I can find you quickly in my dreams."
Man Jiangxue pulled her into his arms, almost touching Yin Qiuyan, and said, "Then let's have a competition to see who finds whom first."
Yin Qiu, feeling drowsy, nodded and said, "Okay, I must find my martial uncle first..."
Man Jiangxue inhaled the delicate fragrance of her hair and said, "What if I go first?"
“There’s no such thing as ‘what if’,” Yin Qiu snuggled closer to her. “When I was little, my martial uncle found me first, so in the dream, I should be the one to find him first. Please let me have this chance.”
Man Jiangxue laughed upon hearing this, but replied softly, "Alright, alright, I'll let you have your way this time."
·
The next morning, when Yin Qiu woke up again, Man Jiangxue was no longer in the room.
Outside, the crisp chirping of birds and the noisy chirping of cicadas filled the air. The daylight was bright, the bed was covered with curtains, and a unique fragrance permeated the room. Yin Qiu rubbed her eyes and sat up. When she smelled the fragrance, she first wondered when Man Jiang Xue had changed to a different scent. Then, when she heard the cicadas chirping outside, she drowsily wondered where cicadas came from in winter.
She reached out and pulled back the curtain, intending to put on her shoes and get out of bed, but the sight that met her eyes made Yin Qiu shudder, and the lingering sleepiness in her mind instantly vanished.
The room was small and simply furnished. Although it was very clean and tidy, there was not much decoration. It looked like a guest room in some kind of place, but not quite like an inn.
There were no red maples outside the window, and no maple forest in sight. This was neither Jingyue Peak nor Chenxing Palace.
Even more bizarrely, there was no snow in the courtyard, no ice in the artificial hill and pond, cicadas were chirping, and the sun was shining brightly. It was clearly a summer day, not some snowy winter.
When Yin Qiu woke up, she found herself inexplicably in summer instead of winter, and in a completely unfamiliar place. Stunned, she quickly jumped out of bed and pushed open the door. To her surprise, the place was deserted and there wasn't a soul in sight. All she saw were pure white gardenias and jasmine in full bloom, filling the air with their fragrance. It was a quiet and elegant place to stay.
Where is this? How did she suddenly get here?
"Uncle-Master!" Yin Qiu shouted, but no one answered for a long time, so he had no choice but to leave the courtyard and walk outside.
Stepping out of the gate, one is greeted by magnificent palaces and pavilions, an unparalleled sight. The surrounding corridors are well-arranged and the vermilion walls obscure the view, while the glazed tiles reflect the bright sunlight. This place exudes an air of nobility, resembling a splendid palace, even more resplendent than Yunhua Palace.
Yin Qiu was completely bewildered, looking around blankly, standing at the doorway at a loss.
Am I dreaming?
Yin Qiu immediately rolled up her sleeves and bit down on her wrist.
It hurts!
If you feel pain, does that mean you're not dreaming?
But how could she be sleeping in a place she'd never been before? And where did Man Jiangxue go?
Yin Qiu called out to Man Jiangxue several times, but still received no response. The place was deserted, and after standing there for a long time without seeing anyone pass by, Yin Qiu had no choice but to wander around like a headless fly, trying to find someone to ask for directions. However, she walked for a long time without encountering a single person. Moreover, the place was like a maze, and no matter how she wandered around, she could not find the end. She could not even go out to walk on the street to take a look.
The sun was blazing, and Yin Qiu was exhausted and hot after walking for half a day. Just as she was about to find a shady spot to sit down and rest, she suddenly heard a familiar sound coming from somewhere. She vaguely sensed someone practicing swordsmanship. Unable to discern the direction, Yin Qiu simply leaped down to the rooftop. From a higher vantage point, she could see a familiar figure practicing alone in the training ground on the east side. The figure was dressed in clean and crisp white clothes, making her stand out.
Yin Qiu was overjoyed and hurried over, but when she got closer, she found that the figure was not as tall as she had imagined. In fact, the figure was half a head shorter than Yin Qiu and was a little girl who was only about eight or nine years old.
Yin Qiu was utterly astonished and instinctively pinched herself.
It still hurts!
So, was I dreaming or not?!
Yin Qiu couldn't help but fall into deep self-doubt. Silently, he squatted on the roof and carefully observed the girl. The girl had calm eyes and outstanding appearance. At such a young age, she already exuded a rare elegance and composure, and had an extraordinary demeanor.
That face... it looks exactly like my martial uncle's!
Could it be that she made a promise with her martial uncle to meet in her dreams before going to sleep last night, and she actually had such a dream?
But this dream is just too real!
Yin Qiu scratched her head, thinking for a long time but still couldn't figure out what was going on. Finally, she comforted herself and told herself that she was dreaming. Just as she was about to observe Man Jiangxue in secret for a while longer, she saw that Man Jiangxue had stopped at some point and was standing in the middle of the field looking up at her.
The two looked at each other silently from a distance. Those eyes were almost the same as they were years later, indifferent yet with an undisguised detachment, polite and courteous, but with a childlike innocence, unlike the mature Man Jiangxue of later years.
Meeting her gaze, Yin Qiu paused for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Can you see me?"
Young Man Jiangxue nodded slightly and said in a calm tone, "I can see."
Seeing that she had answered her question, Yin Qiu was very surprised. She thought to herself that she had never had such a real and clear dream before, and couldn't help but smile.
"Why are you sitting so high?" Although Man Jiangxue's voice was childish, her posture was very upright. She stood with her sword in hand, her expression calm and undisturbed, as if she was not surprised by Yin Qiu's sudden appearance.
Once she realized she was dreaming, Yin Qiu felt relieved and replied with a smile, "It's better to bask in the sun when you're up high. Do you want to come?"
Bathed in the sunlight, Yin Qiu sat leisurely on the eaves, her legs dangling in the air, her skirt fluttering. The sunlight made her smile even more radiant, more beautiful than the flowers in the yard.
Man Jiangxue looked at her for a while and said, "I haven't learned lightness skill yet, so I can't go up."
Yin Qiu raised an eyebrow slightly and asked with great interest, "How old are you?"
Man Jiangxue said, "Nine years old."
Nine years old... Isn't that the year my martial aunt was summoned to the palace to participate in the sacrificial ceremony? Logically speaking, if my martial aunt was able to fly into the air and hold up the Xiling banner in a storm at the age of nine, she couldn't possibly not have learned lightness skills. It seems that she didn't know Yin Qiu's identity, so she lied to her.
Yin Qiu saw through it but didn't say anything, and said happily, "Is that so? Then would you like to come up? If so, I can take you up."
Instead of answering, Man Jiangxue asked, "Who are you?"
Yin Qiu reacted quickly and guessed that this place should be the royal villa where Man Jiangxue lived in her childhood. She smiled and said, "My surname is Yin and my given name is Qiu." She paused and then said, "I am a martial arts master invited by your mother to teach you kung fu."
Upon receiving this, Man Jiangxue did not respond immediately, as if she was considering the credibility of Yin Qiu's words.
The girl before him, though young, possessed a serene and ethereal air, and spoke with a kind smile. She seemed more like a refined young lady than a江湖人士 (jianghu figure, someone from the martial arts world). Man Jiangxue glanced at Yin Qiu and said, "I've never seen you before."
“I just arrived today,” Yin Qiu said, lightly landing on the ground from the eaves. “You must have heard of Yunhua Palace? I am a disciple of Yunhua.”
Man Jiangxue stared at her, his eyes revealing unmistakable scrutiny and examination.
Seeing her so wary and unwilling to easily trust her, Yin Qiu sighed inwardly that her martial aunt was truly meticulous from a young age. If it were her own nine-year-old self, she would probably believe whatever others said and would never have been as calm and composed as her martial aunt.
Then Yin Qiu added, "The clothes I'm wearing are the disciple's robes of Yunhua Palace, and since your mother is from the Central Plains, you should be able to tell that I am too."
Man Jiangxue said, “I have seen the disciples of Yunhua.” She looked Yin Qiu up and down. “Your clothes are similar to theirs, but they are not quite the same.”
“Because this is the disciple’s robe that only the chief disciple can wear,” Yin Qiu said. “Have you ever seen the chief disciple of Yunhua Palace?”
Man Jiangxue shook her head: "Never."
"Now that you've seen him," Yin Qiu said, for some reason wanting to laugh but holding it in, and pretending to be profound, "the chief disciple is the best martial artist in the entire Yunhua Palace."
Upon hearing this, Man Jiangxue showed no surprise or admiration, simply replying, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Realizing that she still didn't seem to believe her, Yin Qiu smiled faintly, took the Zhubing sword from her waist, shook it into a longsword, and said, "Then let me show you our Yunhua sword technique."
Having said that, she immediately gathered her true energy in her palm and began to wield her sword on the spot. Her movements were as agile as a white goose, and each move was both visually stunning and contained profound inner strength, making it clear at a glance that what she had said was true. At first, Man Jiangxue was able to maintain her composure, but as Yin Qiu's strength became more and more astonishing, Man Jiangxue gradually showed longing, her eyes gleaming, and her gaze closely followed Yin Qiu's figure.
After finishing her sword dance, Yin Qiu sheathed her sword and stood steadily three steps away from Man Jiangxue. Observing Man Jiangxue's expression, she asked with a smile, "How was it?"
Man Jiangxue's indifference vanished in an instant, replaced by a look of approval and praise in her eyes as she gazed at Yin Qiu. She said softly, "Wonderful."
Receiving the praise, Yin Qiu said smugly, "Then do you think I'm qualified to teach you kung fu?"
“You are very capable and promising at such a young age,” Man Jiangxue said. “I’m just afraid I’m not talented enough to be your student.”
Yin Qiu was both amused and exasperated. "You? You're dull-witted?" She took a few steps closer to Man Jiangxue and teased, "You're being too modest. In terms of talent, I'm actually far inferior to you. No one in our Yunhua Palace combined can match your extraordinary talent."
“You’ve never seen me, let alone seen me in action,” Man Jiangxue said. “How can you be so sure I have extraordinary talent?”
Yin Qiu paused deliberately, then said mysteriously, "Because besides my kung fu being barely presentable, I can also tell fortunes, so I can tell whether you have good talent or not just by looking at you a couple of times."
Man Jiangxue said, "Fortune telling?"
Yin Qiu said, "Extend your hand, I can read palms and predict your destiny for free, it's fate that brings us together."
Man Jiangxue looked at her and said slowly, "My mother said that fate is not determined by heaven. What kind of destiny a person will have in this life depends entirely on the choices that person makes. Fortune telling and divination are all nonsense and cannot be believed."
“Your mother is right,” Yin Qiu said, “but sometimes, some things are destined, whether you believe it or not.”
Man Jiangxue said, "I don't believe in destiny. I only believe that success depends on human effort, not on fate."
Her confidence could be seen as innate, or it could be attributed to her mother's guidance; it's truly rare to see such awareness in a nine-year-old. Not wanting to spoil the mood, Yin Qiu smiled and said, "Whether success depends on human effort or fate, that's what you want to do. But have you thought about people?"
Man Jiangxue asked, "Who is it?"
“The people you will meet in your life,” Yin Qiu said, “you can achieve what you want through your own efforts, but the people you meet are all destined to be together. Just like your mother recruited many martial arts practitioners to teach you kung fu, but you didn’t know which people you would meet, right?”
Man Jiangxue pondered for a moment, then hummed in agreement: "That makes sense."
Yin Qiu laughed again: "Just like me, it is destiny that we met today."
A gentle breeze wafted by, carrying the fragrance of flowers around the two of them. Upon hearing this, Man Jiangxue looked up at Yin Qiu for a moment, then nodded and said, "Indeed, it seems that destiny is not an empty phrase. I have learned something."
After she finished speaking, she extended a hand to Yin Qiu. Yin Qiu smiled and held Man Jiangxue's hand, looking at it seriously for a while before saying, "You were born into wealth, but you have experienced many hardships. This year is a crucial year in your life. Have you been to the palace?"
Man Jiangxue nodded: "I've been there."
Looking at the fair and slender hand, Yin Qiu noticed a faint medicinal scent emanating from Man Jiangxue after hearing the answer. She must still be injured. Considering the time, the sacrificial ceremony had just ended, and Man Jiangxue was currently at the height of her fame. Thinking of this, Yin Qiu felt a strange, indescribable feeling welling up inside her.
If Man Jiangxue hadn't entered the palace back then, she wouldn't have distinguished herself at the sacrificial ceremony and become famous in Xiling, nor would the King of Yongye have known of her existence. Even if Xiling were still destined to perish, Man Jiangxue's life would likely have been very different. In that case, Ye Zhilan wouldn't have had to endure humiliation to travel to the Central Plains and enter Yunhua Palace, nor would she have schemed to harm Ruyi Sect. Everything would have turned out differently.
Therefore, things that are destined to happen cannot be avoided no matter what.
Yin Qiu thought to herself: If only there were such a thing as foresight in this world. Even if she might miss out on her martial uncle because of it, as long as her martial uncle could live a peaceful and happy life, she would rather not have met him.
Countless thoughts flashed through Yin Qiu's mind, and suddenly she had a bold idea—since this is her dream, could she take this opportunity to change the established facts and prevent her master from experiencing so much suffering?
Even if the price is going against my master's path, and I will never meet, know, or love her in this life, what does it matter if I can give her a stable future in this dream?
At least in the real world outside of their dreams, they have already achieved a happy ending.
A sense of indescribable melancholy arose in her heart, yet she was also somewhat glad that she had had such a dream. After much thought, Yin Qiu spoke up under Man Jiangxue's direct gaze: "At this time next year, Xiling will be destroyed and occupied by Yongye. If you want to be with your mother forever, it would be best to persuade her to leave before then and live in another place."
Hearing this, Man Jiangxue was slightly surprised, but not overly alarmed. She simply asked, "Really?"
Yin Qiu finally saw some of the expressions that a child her age should have on her face, and Yin Qiu said solemnly, "I'm not lying to you, really."
Perhaps it was because Yin Qiu's expression and tone were so certain, not like he was trying to deceive her, that Man Jiangxue withdrew her hand, remained silent for a moment, and then shook her head and said, "Even if you really can tell fortunes, even if what you say is true, I will not go with my mother."
Yin Qiu was taken aback: "Why?"
Man Jiangxue said, "There's no reason why," she looked at Yin Qiu and said calmly, "The fall of a country means the destruction of a family. Not only will my mother and I be separated, but the thousands of people of Xiling will also be separated. If your words come true next year, then I have a duty to do my best to prevent that day from coming in this short time, rather than knowingly abandoning innocent people to seek stability elsewhere. As a princess of Xiling, my privileged life is not because I was born in the palace, but because of the love and support of my people. The food, clothing, and daily necessities of the nobles are all taken from the people. Those who disregard their people are setting themselves on fire. My mother also said that Xiling is nearing its end, so I knew this a long time ago. Otherwise, I wouldn't have said those words that made my father despise me when I saw him in the palace two months ago. Although I am still young and my abilities are limited, I will not turn a blind eye to the current situation and do nothing. I appreciate your kind reminder, but I will not accept your suggestion. I'm sorry."
In the sweltering heat of midsummer, the two stood face to face under the blazing sun, their identical white robes billowing in the wind like clouds.
Yin Qiu listened, his mind reeling, and a sense of reverence welled up within him.
These are indeed words that my martial aunt would say. She doesn't just talk the talk; she truly walks the walk.
“It’s noon, the palace is about to serve lunch, I need to go and pay my respects to my mother,” Man Jiangxue turned to the side, “Would you like to come with me?”
Yin Qiu said, "No need, I won't go."
"Why are you crying?" Man Jiangxue asked.
Yin Qiu's eyes were slightly red, but no tears fell; they only dampened her eyelashes. Yin Qiu said, "I was moved by what you just said."
Man Jiangxue stared intently at her, then suddenly asked, "Have we met somewhere before?"
Yin Qiu was slightly taken aback, and said, "Perhaps," she smiled, "Perhaps I've seen you in a dream."
Man Jiangxue asked, "Your sword is very good. What's its name?"
Yin Qiu said, "Your name is Zhu Bing, and you will have such a good sword in the future."
“Chasing Ice…” Man Jiangxue said, “A good name. To chase ice, one must first condense frost. So my sword will be called Condensing Frost from now on.”
Yin Qiu choked up and couldn't reply.
“I come here to practice swordsmanship every day. Come find me again after you’ve had your meal,” Man Jiangxue said. “I’m willing to learn kung fu from you, as long as you don’t mind me.”
Yin Qiu said, "How could I possibly look down on you?"
--I loved you so much.
“Then it’s a deal,” Man Jiangxue took two steps back, looked at Yin Qiu and smiled very softly, “When I come later, you must remember to come too.”
Yin Qiu said, "I will definitely come."
Her skirt swayed gracefully in the wind. Man Jiangxue bowed respectfully, gripped her sword, and walked slowly towards the edge of the training ground. Yin Qiu watched her retreating figure, her heart aching with indescribable pain.
She called out in a voice barely audible, "Uncle-Master..."
"Uncle-Master".
"Uncle-Master!"
But the person had already gone far away.
The scene before her eyes began to blur, turning into a wisp of white mist that wouldn't dissipate. Yin Qiu searched and called out within that mist.
Suddenly, a voice responded, "I'm here."
Like a ray of dawn in the darkness, the voice guided Yin Qiu, clearing a bright path through the mist. The white light grew increasingly dazzling, filling the sky and the earth. Yin Qiu trembled and suddenly opened her eyes. In her vision were familiar bedding and curtains, and the person holding her tightly above her.
Outside, snow was falling heavily, and the red maple leaves remained unchanged. She had returned to Jingyue Peak and Chenxing Palace.
Yin Qiu was stunned, still somewhat dazed from just waking up. After a long while, she looked at Man Jiangxue, tears streaming down her face before she could speak, and said, "Uncle-Master..."
"Did you have a nightmare?" Man Jiangxue hugged her and gently comforted her, "It's okay, I'm here."
"Uncle-Master!" Yin Qiu sat up abruptly, hugging Man Jiangxue tightly with both hands, and said in a hoarse voice, "I dreamed about you, I really dreamed about you..."
Man Jiangxue lowered her head and gently kissed away Yin Qiu's tears, asking, "What did you dream about me about?"
Yin Qiu was still unable to calm down, and cried in her arms for a while before telling Man Jiangxue about her dream. After listening, Man Jiangxue picked a trivial matter and said, "How come I didn't know you could tell fortunes? Did you think I was easy to fool because I was young at the time?"
Yin Qiu originally thought she would say something else, but she didn't expect her to start by accusing her. Yin Qiu said angrily, "So what if I lied to you? I'm being rebellious lately. I finally had a dream about my junior uncle from when I was a child, so I'm going to lie to you. I'm happy to be the bad guy."
Man Jiangxue said, "Alright, alright, you decide." After saying this, she suddenly frowned and showed a hint of reminiscence. "But about your dream... I remember that when I was a child, I did meet someone in a separate courtyard. The story was pretty much the same as what you described. After I had lunch with my mother in the palace and returned to the training ground, that person never came back. I waited for her for a long time."
Yin Qiu asked in shock, "Really?"
Man Jiangxue glanced at her, her meaning ambiguous, and said, "Otherwise, why do you think I insisted on coming to Yunhua Palace back then? Going to Ziwei Sect would have been fine too."
Yin Qiu was completely dumbfounded: "No way... So, does that mean my martial uncle really did see me when he was a child?"
Man Jiangxue smiled knowingly: "Who knows?"
Yin Qiu paused, noticing that Man Jiangxue's smile seemed somewhat unfathomable, so she leaned closer to stare at her and asked seriously, "Are you serious?"
Man Jiangxue said, "Of course it's fake."
Yin Qiu nearly choked on her breath: "How could you lie to me?! I almost believed you!"
"You can lie to me, and I can lie to you," Man Jiangxue said frankly. "Isn't it fair to reciprocate?"
After such a dramatic emotional rollercoaster, Yin Qiu suddenly felt a surge of anger. She gritted her teeth, huffed, and was about to bite Man Jiangxue's neck to vent her frustration when Man Jiangxue blocked her lips first, pressing Yin Qiu down and kissing her for a long time, silencing her from any further words of anger.
A short while later, Man Jiangxue moved a little further away and looked at Yin Qiu, saying, "I heard it."
Yin Qiu was still angry, and upon hearing this, she retorted irritably, "What did you hear? I was bullying you in my dream! Are you going to bully me back?"
“Look, you’re throwing a tantrum again,” Man Jiangxue smiled and said, “I didn’t hear you bully me, I just heard you talking in your sleep.”
Recalling how much she had teased her in the dream, Yin Qiu couldn't help but feel a little guilty, and her voice softened: "What sleep-talking...?"
Man Jiangxue cupped her face in his hands and said, word by word, "You said—you love me very much."
Yin Qiu's heart skipped a beat, and she asked incredulously, "Really? I said that?"
“Yes,” Man Jiangxue said, “I’m not lying to you, it’s true.”
Yin Qiu felt a little embarrassed, not expecting herself to talk in her sleep like that. She glanced at Man Jiangxue and asked, "What about Martial Uncle?"
Man Jiangxue slightly curled the corners of her mouth and whispered to Yin Qiu, "I love you very much too."
Author's Note:
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
