Chapter 230 Extra No. 2
This year's snowfall is less than in previous years. The past few days have been sunny and clear, and much of the snow in the mountains has melted, leaving the surrounding area shimmering with light. Even the wind carries a precious warmth of winter.
Because of the good weather, Yin Qiu had been taking Man Jiangxue to Mingguang Hall for tea quite often these past few days, and also helping Ji Wanshu with official business. In addition, Wen Chaoyu specially invited them to Lanfeng Pavilion to enjoy the scenery today. Yin Qiu was very happy after hearing the message from her disciples. After lunch, she and Man Jiangxue went to the back mountain. The group met in the pavilion, brewed tea and chatted together, and were in a particularly pleasant mood.
After more than half a year of adjustment, Ji Wanshu, the sect leader, has finally gotten the hang of things and is much more adept than before. Recently, the disciples and elders in the palace have been full of praise for her, never hesitating to compliment her whenever they meet. Busy with paperwork all day, Ji Wanshu doesn't have as much time to practice swordsmanship as she used to. Therefore, whenever she meets with Yin Qiu, they have to have a spar to warm up their muscles. Yin Qiu is happy to spar with her, and after sitting in the pavilion for a while, the two draw their swords and begin to fight in the woods. The disciples watching nearby cheer with excitement and are filled with longing.
Man Jiangxue brewed tea, while Wen Chaoyu warmed wine. The two sat together, both focusing their attention on Ji Wanshu and Yin Qiu. Wen Chaoyu found it amusing and suddenly said to Man Jiangxue, "Speaking of which, quite a while has passed, and you still haven't answered my question."
Man Jiangxue was rinsing the teaware that Yin Qiu had used when she heard this and asked in return, "What's the problem?"
With a gossipy expression, Wen Chaoyu leaned closer to Man Jiangxue and said, "What else could it be? Didn't I ask you before how far things have progressed between you and Yin Qiu? Tell me!"
Man Jiangxue glanced at her and said indifferently, "Why do you keep asking about these things? Mind your own business."
Wen Chaoyu wasn't annoyed by these words, and still said with great interest, "It won't hurt you to talk about it. You're not some virgin anymore. We're all adults. What's there to be ashamed of when we talk about romantic things? It's a kind of fun, isn't it? Why are you so old-fashioned?"
Man Jiangxue remained unmoved and coldly said, "I don't want to talk."
"Is it that you don't want to talk, or that you have nothing to talk about?" Wen Chaoyu seemed to see through everything and said in a rather irritating way, "Yin Qiu is already a grown woman. Speaking of which, you two have been together for almost a year. Haven't you taken good care of her yet?"
Her words startled Man Jiangxue, who remained silent for a long time.
"Did I really guess right?" Wen Chaoyu laughed heartily, pointing at Man Jiangxue with glee. "Your expression is absolutely hilarious. What are you so cowardly about? With such a lovely girl like Yin Qiu by your side, it's a bit unreasonable for you to be so celibate. People will laugh themselves to death if word gets out."
“I’m not celibate, so please stop talking nonsense.” Man Jiangxue was a little impatient, but she also thought for a moment and said, “I just thought that Xiao Qiu is still not that old, and besides, there are some things I want to respect her for, not what you said.”
"She'll be eighteen in a couple of days, isn't that old?" Wen Chaoyu said. "It's common for people in the martial arts world to marry and have children late, but in ordinary families, an eighteen-year-old girl would already be married and have children. Why are you worried about that? Besides, it's good that you want to respect Yin Qiu, but you can't expect her to bring it up herself. She's so shy, if you don't take the initiative, how can she feel comfortable bringing it up?"
Man Jiangxue paused for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "What you said... makes some sense." She washed her hands, turned to face Wen Chaoyu, and said, "Since you are so enthusiastic about this, it seems you are very experienced, while I am not. As your senior sister, you must teach me."
Wen Chaoyu hadn't expected her to turn the tables on him, and hesitated for a moment before saying with a grin, "Me? Admittedly, I don't have much experience either... I'm sorry, I was just trying to remind you, I didn't mean to teach you. Besides, you're already quite old, do you need me to teach you?"
Man Jiangxue immediately revealed a playful expression and said, "Oh, I understand."
"What do you understand?" Wen Chaoyu asked, her eyes filled with confusion.
“It’s nothing,” Man Jiangxue said. “Since you can’t share your experience, you can at least offer some other good advice. Otherwise, you’re just gossiping behind my back. I’ll tell Wan Shu later and have her keep an eye on you.”
Wen Chaoyu choked for a moment, then laughed again: "Suggestion? Of course, of course. It's Yin Qiu's birthday in a couple of days, so you should make some preparations! Besides, you have a house in Xifeng Mountain, and she likes that place. Wouldn't lovers like to meet in secret, choosing a feng shui treasure land where no one will disturb them? What do you think? Isn't my suggestion brilliant?"
Man Jiangxue said, "Indeed," and then added, "But I advise you to read more books, because the word 'private meeting' is not used like that."
·
As evening approached, Ji Wanshu had finished most of his official duties, so the group headed back to their respective residences, Mingguang Palace and Jingyue Peak.
After becoming the chief disciple, Yin Qiu became much busier. Every few days, she would go down the mountain to stay at the inn in Shangyuan City for two days, leading her disciples on patrols and taking care of all the affairs in the city. Usually, Man Jiangxue would accompany her, but this time Man Jiangxue did not go down the mountain with Yin Qiu. Yin Qiu originally thought that she would come later, but she did not see Man Jiangxue on the second day. It was not until almost nightfall that Man Jiangxue finally arrived late, and as soon as they met, she wanted to take Yin Qiu to Xifeng Mountain.
After a few days of clear skies, it started snowing again. The streets were brightly lit, but there weren't many pedestrians. The two rode together on a horse, following the road out of the city gate. Yin Qiu, wrapped in a brocade robe covered in snow, leaned against her, completely relaxed, and asked, "Why did you only come to find me now, Aunt? And why did you decide to take me to Xifeng Mountain?"
Man Jiangxue slowed down, her hand gripping the reins tightly around Yin Qiu. "Have you forgotten what day it is tomorrow again?" she said.
Yin Qiu thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up: "Ah, I had indeed forgotten, but now that you mention it, I remember again."
Man Jiangxue said, "You can never remember your own birthday. After tonight, you will be a year older."
Yin Qiu said, "Yes, time flies. In the blink of an eye, I've known my martial uncle for eight years." She turned to look at Man Jiangxue, "But why does my martial uncle look like he hasn't changed at all?"
Man Jiangxue touched her forehead and said, "How could a person not change? You're just trying to fool me."
"No, not at all," Yin Qiu said. "My feelings for my martial uncle will never change. Even if you change, I will still like you very much."
Man Jiangxue smiled, kissed Yin Qiu on the cheek, and the two went up the mountain, easily navigating the mountain path to return home. Yin Qiu jumped off her horse first and knocked on the door, but no one came to greet her. Seeing this, Man Jiangxue led her horse and pushed the door open, saying, "Just come in, there's no one inside."
Yin Qiu asked in surprise, "Nobody's here? Where did they all go?"
The two returned the horse to the stable and gave it some food. Man Jiangxue said, "I heard that your birthday is tomorrow and you will be here tonight. So Uncle Man took some people to stay at Wen Chaoyu's house, wanting the two of us to be alone."
Yin Qiu said, "So thoughtful! But Uncle Man is getting old, and I really feel bad about making him go down the mountain to the city. I'll have to take good care of him when we meet again."
The small building was brightly lit, and candles were lit everywhere inside. The gauze curtains and drapes had also been replaced with new ones. A table of steaming hot food was set in the hall, which looked like it had just been prepared.
Yin Qiu was pleasantly surprised, but upon closer inspection, she discovered that there were many flowers in the inner chamber on one side: wintersweet, black tea, and daffodils, clustered together in red and white, which was very beautiful. The fragrance of the flowers could be smelled from a distance, making one feel refreshed.
Yin Qiu cheered and rushed into the bedroom to take a look, then laughed and said, "Did you have all of this prepared by my martial uncle?"
Looking at her smiling face, Man Jiangxue said, "I picked them myself. Don't you like flowers? I'm giving them to you."
"No wonder my martial aunt only came to see me today. It turns out she was busy celebrating my birthday," Yin Qiu said happily, turning around to hug Man Jiangxue. "Martial aunt is so kind."
Man Jiangxue held her tenderly for a while, then pulled Yin Qiu to sit down in the hall and said, "You always get tired every time you go down the mountain. Eat quickly, and I'll play with you after you've eaten."
Yin Qiu nodded and obediently ate all the food on the table, feeling dazed with fullness. Man Jiangxue cleared away the dishes and went to the kitchen to wash them. Yin Qiu wanted to help, but Man Jiangxue wouldn't let her. She rolled up her sleeves and washed the dishes herself. Afterward, she took Yin Qiu to the courtyard to enjoy the snow scenery and digest her food.
Winter days are short and dark. When the two returned to the small building, it was completely dark outside. Yin Qiu turned off a few lights and ran to the study to fetch a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Man Jiangxue followed behind her and asked, "What are you going to write?"
Yin Qiu stood up and gestured for Man Jiangxue to come and sit down. Man Jiangxue complied, and Yin Qiu sat on her lap, grinding ink as she spoke: "I received a letter from my father in the city this morning. He said that my injuries have greatly improved and that I don't need to worry. He will stay in Wuzhou for a few more days. He said that if I want to write back to him, I can take this opportunity to write one. I need to write it quickly and try to get it to him before he and the master go to the next place."
“Wuzhou isn’t too far from here,” Man Jiangxue said. “Write it tonight and send it tomorrow morning. Besides, no one can deliver letters for you right now. Just take your time writing it. There’s no need to rush.”
Yin Qiu responded and moved the candle on the table closer to her, using the light to begin writing. Man Jiangxue held her steadily, and the sweet fragrance of Yin Qiu wafted into her nostrils like a gentle breeze, more pleasant than any incense. She glanced at the focused Yin Qiu, recalling the words Wen Chaoyu had urged her to do, and smiled silently to herself. She leaned over and very lightly touched Yin Qiu's earlobe.
Noticing Man Jiangxue's movement, Yin Qiu paused in her pen-holding posture and turned around. Man Jiangxue glanced at her and reassured her, "Keep writing, don't get distracted."
They were too close; her face appeared so dreamlike in the candlelight, and her warm breath as she spoke brushed against her neck, instantly creating an atmosphere of ambiguity. Yin Qiu's breath hitched slightly; she thought her martial aunt was truly beautiful, and the doting and loving gaze from Man Jiangxue made her heart flutter. She tried her best to suppress her surging emotions and calmly continue writing.
But the next moment, Man Jiangxue rested her chin on her shoulder, her slightly cool hand encircling Yin Qiu's waist, a chill spreading through her clothes, Yin Qiu trembled, and her grip on the pen tightened.
"Uncle-Master..." Yin Qiu blushed slightly for some reason and dared not look at Man Jiangxue again.
Man Jiangxue remained calm and said, "Write yours, don't worry about me."
The two huddled together, their body heat mingling. Yin Qiu's breath quickened slightly; the calluses on her palms were palpable even through her clothes. A drop of ink from the pen slid across the paper, quickly blurring the writing into a smudged mess. Leaning on the desk, Yin Qiu struggled to concentrate. She said softly, "How could I not care? I can barely write anymore..."
“That’s because you don’t have enough self-control,” Man Jiangxue said, her eyes narrowing as she watched Yin Qiu’s expression change. Her voice remained as calm as ever.
She said, "Keep writing."
The wind howled fiercely outside, and snowflakes continued to fall softly. Yin Qiu tried to stay focused and took out a new sheet of paper, but she couldn't bring herself to write. Her mind was in turmoil. She wanted to write a reply as soon as possible, but she couldn't ignore Man Jiangxue's presence, even though she hadn't done anything, just quietly holding her like this.
The pure white robes overlapped, like clusters of shimmering clouds, swaying gently in the wind. Yin Qiu felt a chill on the back of her neck as Man Jiangxue's lips suddenly drew close, as if inhaling the fragrance of her hair. Even with strands of hair separating them, Yin Qiu could feel the lips were initially cool, but soon warmed by the heat of Man Jiangxue's body. So close, yet so distant, seemingly near yet not quite, Yin Qiu's ears gradually flushed red.
But Man Jiangxue teased her, asking, "What's wrong?"
With a "thud," the wolf-hair brush in her hand fell onto the table. Yin Qiu buried her head in the letter paper and said embarrassedly, "Uncle-Master, I can't write anymore..."
Seeing that she had hidden herself away, Man Jiangxue chuckled and said, "You were just saying you wanted to write quickly, but now you can't?"
As she spoke, she was still inhaling the delicate fragrance emanating from Yin Qiu, showing no sign of stopping. Yin Qiu tensed up, stammering, "Isn't that all because of you... I really can't write anymore."
"Then let's not write it. We can write it tomorrow morning," Man Jiangxue thought for a moment, then consulted Yin Qiu and asked, "Is that alright?"
Yin Qiu said, "Okay." Only then did she raise her head, glance at Man Jiangxue shyly, and then said, "...Let's go to the room, it's too cold here."
Man Jiangxue hummed in agreement, then casually extinguished the candle on the desk, carried Yin Qiu into the inner chamber, and placed her on the couch.
The beaded curtains jingled and intertwined, and the room was filled with the fragrance of various flowers, adding just the right amount of warmth to this gradually stirring moment. As soon as Yin Qiufu lay down, she felt a pleasant warmth emanating from the bedding. She lifted the corner of the blanket and saw a warm hot water bottle underneath, where everything was cozy and warm.
Yin Qiu immediately understood, blushing as she said, "I know, Uncle-Master, you planned this all along. You were just waiting to lure me here tonight."
Man Jiangxue pressed her wrist and leaned closer, smiling as she said, "How can you call it a crutch? This is our home. Do I need to use a crutch to take you home?"
Yin Qiu smiled along with her, raised her arms to wrap around Man Jiangxue's neck, and said sincerely, "Thank you, Martial Aunt, for doing so much for me. I have a very happy day."
Man Jiangxue said, "I'll do anything as long as you're happy."
Yin Qiu pursed her lips, then took the initiative to kiss Man Jiangxue. Man Jiangxue, worried she might tire, gently placed her back against the back of her neck. They shared a long, lingering kiss at the juncture of light and shadow. Afterwards, Man Jiangxue lowered the curtains, her lips tracing Yin Qiu's chin down to her chest. Yin Qiu, ticklish, couldn't help but laugh, instinctively pushing Man Jiangxue away. But soon, her laughter subsided.
Her clothes slipped off her shoulders, and her fair skin, like moonlight, flowed through Man Jiangxue's fingers. Yin Qiu tilted her head back, letting out uncontrollable gasps under Man Jiangxue's gentle caresses. The room was still lit, so the light wasn't dim. Yin Qiu only needed to slightly open her eyes to see Man Jiangxue kissing her tenderly, but she was too embarrassed to look, nor could she concentrate on looking. She could only feel everything Man Jiangxue was giving her—warm, moist, and smooth.
Although it wasn't cold inside the bed, Yin Qiu couldn't help but tremble. Her whole body was hot, and a thin layer of sweat covered her back. She felt both uneasy and happy. Her slightly curled fingers gripped Man Jiangxue's sleeve tightly, revealing her nervousness at that moment.
So Man Jiangxue kissed her forehead again, her eyes filled with comfort. She told Yin Qiu some jokes to try and distract her, while her other hand, hanging by her side, gently stroked Yin Qiu's back.
On the surface, Yin Qiu seemed to be listening to Man Jiangxue's jokes, but she was extremely ticklish and became particularly sensitive whenever she was in such close proximity to Man Jiangxue, and this time was no exception. Yin Qiu's cheeks flushed red, and her eyes welled up with tears. She couldn't help but say, "Uncle-Master, I..."
Although she didn't finish her sentence, Man Jiangxue knew what Yin Qiu wanted to say. She pressed her forehead against Yin Qiu's and kissed her gently, saying softly, "It's okay, Xiao Qiu, don't be afraid, don't be nervous."
Under the gentle caresses and kisses, Yin Qiu gradually relaxed, no longer so tense. She responded to Man Jiangxue's kisses, indulging in this moment of tenderness. Man Jiangxue paid close attention to her every reaction, and after seeing that Yin Qiu had let go of her instinctive timidity, she smiled gently.
The warm fingertips brushed across her dress, leaving a pleasant warmth. Yin Qiu let out a low sob, her mind buzzing. She truly dared not look at Man Jiangxue again, and instinctively hid herself in her arms once more.
Man Jiangxue continued to kiss her, his kisses landing on her brow, her temples, and even on Yin Qiu's eyelashes. His hand was still patting her gently, a gesture that was almost unbelievably tender.
The night deepened, the fragrance of flowers still lingering, seeping into the tent through the gaps. Two of the lamps in the corner had inexplicably gone out, dimming the room slightly. Yin Qiu cherished this time alone with Man Jiangxue, and she loved her kisses. She was both intoxicated and shy to make a sound. Man Jiangxue held her in her arms, her long, black hair obscuring Yin Qiu's already blurred vision, as if shrouding her in a lake. But the water was warm, not frightening; rather, she willingly drowned in it, for Man Jiangxue gave her such a profound sense of security that she felt safe anywhere.
After a while, the hand finally stopped, moved to the back of Yin Qiu's head, and held her steadily. Yin Qiu's breathing became rapid, and she slightly opened her eyes. Man Jiangxue met her gaze for a moment, then lowered her head again under Yin Qiu's questioning gaze.
Cool strands of hair brushed against her skin, smooth as flowing water. Noticing Man Jiangxue's head bowed and silent, Yin Qiu was bewildered, standing there helplessly. It wasn't until she heard a few warm breaths that Yin Qiu realized what Man Jiangxue had done.
Yin Qiu was completely stunned, staring blankly at Man Jiangxue and saying, "Uncle-Master... what are you doing?"
Upon hearing this question, which was filled with shock and astonishment, Man Jiangxue slightly raised her head, looked at Yin Qiu seriously for a moment, and asked in return, "You don't know what I'm doing?"
Yin Qiu's cheeks were flushed red, and she stammered, "I...I know...but...but I don't really know."
Man Jiangxue seemed a little surprised and said softly, "I remember when Wan Shu asked me in Chenxing Palace last time... didn't you say that Fu Xiang taught you?"
Yin Qiu was completely dumbfounded: "But Fu Xiang only said it would be like that, not like this..."
Man Jiangxue then asked, "What did Fu Xiang say?"
Yin Qiu paused for a moment, then pulled the blanket over herself in a look of horror.
"I forgot!"
Man Jiangxue thought for a moment and couldn't help but laugh. She patted Yin Qiu through the blanket and said in a normal tone, "I understand. Fu Xiang will do what she said. How about we stop here for today? I'm afraid you can't handle it. Let's take it step by step and do it again next time, okay?"
Yin Qiu was speechless for a moment, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the ground, and could only mumble, "...I understand, Uncle-Master, please stop talking!"
Man Jiangxue shook her head and chuckled twice, finding Yin Qiu extremely adorable. She had thought Yin Qiu knew everything, but it turned out she wasn't much better than Ji Wanshu. It seemed Fu Xiang wasn't a good enough "teacher" and that she had to teach her herself.
Worried that Yin Qiu might not be able to breathe, Man Jiangxue reached out and pulled the blanket down over her face, giving her some fresh air. Yin Qiu covered her eyes with her hands, her lips tightly pressed together, as if afraid to meet Man Jiangxue's gaze. Man Jiangxue chuckled softly again, then lowered her head, putting the little incident behind her, and continued to kiss Yin Qiu tenderly. But after a while, Yin Qiu struggled again, her expression turning panicked as she said, "No, no, Uncle-Master... I feel so strange."
Man Jiangxue naturally prioritized her feelings, and upon hearing this, she immediately asked, "What's strange?"
Yin Qiu, sweating profusely, gasped, "I... I don't know how to describe it, it's just very strange. I don't want it anymore, Uncle-Master, please get up."
"You don't want it anymore?" Man Jiangxue said, "It's not over yet and you don't want me to kiss you anymore?"
Yin Qiu asked innocently, "Then how will it end?"
Man Jiangxue sized her up for a moment, then suddenly realized what was happening. She pushed Yin Qiu back into the blankets, both amused and exasperated, and leaned down to kiss her again. Sure enough, this time Yin Qiu started trembling again after only a short time, fussing and demanding that Man Jiangxue stop. But Man Jiangxue didn't listen to her, continuing to kiss Yin Qiu while patiently coaxing her.
Yin Qiu couldn't withstand the continuous kisses and was almost out of breath. She could only let out a muffled groan, making a sound that was a little unusual.
That was a voice that Man Jiangxue had never heard before.
Delicate as the wind, endearing and lovable, it contained an undisguised satisfaction and joy, yet also seemed to carry a hint of bewilderment and confusion—this was a voice that only Man Jiangxue could hear.
Overwhelmed with tenderness, Man Jiangxue straightened up, embraced Yin Qiu, and answered her earlier question: "Is this the end?" Then she added, "If you want, it doesn't have to end."
The lingering feeling, like a gentle spring rain in March, permeated every corner of her body. Yin Qiu silently savored the sensation from just now, and after a long while, she said, "No, no, I didn't expect it to be so tiring. Let's do it next time..." After saying that, she thought that she hadn't done anything, and that Man Jiangxue must be even more tired than her, so she wanted to lean in and kiss Man Jiangxue, but Man Jiangxue turned her face away.
"Wait a minute, I'm going to rinse my mouth."
Upon hearing this, Yin Qiu saw Man Jiangxue about to get up and leave, so she quickly hugged her and said softly, "No need. If my master doesn't dislike me, how could I dislike you?" As she spoke, she pounced on Man Jiangxue and kissed her lips, kissing her earnestly for a long, long time.
The water clock in the outer hall made a clear and ethereal sound, and the tip of the floating arrow pointed to the end of midnight. Man Jiangxue listened to the "click" sound, draped clothes over Yin Qiu, and said to her with a smile, "Xiao Qiu, midnight has passed, happy birthday."
Yin Qiu gazed at her, her eyes sparkling with a beautiful light, twinkling like stars. She was still somewhat shy, leaning bashfully into Man Jiangxue's embrace, and said, "Thank you, Martial Aunt."
The night breeze came and went, but it couldn't stir up the warmth inside the house, nor could it take away the fragrance of the flowers. The two embraced each other, gazing at one another. Man Jiangxue said, "I've prepared fireworks, shall we go set them off?"
Yin Qiu smiled gently and nodded, "Okay."
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