Chapter 74
In March, the mountain scenery is magnificent. Peach blossoms are in full bloom all over the mountain, and plum blossoms are also blooming in competition. With plenty of rain in spring, the vegetation on Yunhua Mountain is thriving. As far as the eye can see, there are lush green trees everywhere, the fragrance of flowers is intoxicating, and flocks of birds are circling in the air, making their chirping sounds.
In the deep, dense forest, a mountain stream flows, its waters shimmering. Countless pink and white peach petals cascade down from the stream, carrying scattered plum branches, like a green ribbon inlaid with delicate flowers and jade leaves, flowing endlessly into the distance.
A sudden gust of wind blew, scattering fallen leaves and petals across the sky. The wind flashed with silvery-white sword light, like streaks of brilliant moonlight reflected in the crystal-clear stream.
A fish leaped into the air, and as it fell back down, it stirred up a spray of water, creating fine ripples that disturbed the reflection of the person in the water.
Her white skirt fluttered in the spring breeze, creating a graceful arc. The sword flashed, its imposing presence radiating. The figure practicing swordsmanship by the stream was light and agile, like a fluttering butterfly, more dazzling than the peach blossoms covering the mountainside, charming and graceful.
Day and night alternate, clouds and rain alternate, spring rain comes and goes, summer sun rises, the sun shines brightly, the blue sky is clear, flowers bloom and wither, seasons change, and the scenery changes in its own way with the passage of time. Only the figure holding the sword remains the same as always, never stopping.
The fragrance of peach blossoms faded away, and the rich scent of osmanthus filled the mountains. A long sword flashed, startling a patch of green forest and vegetation. As the sword tip departed, osmanthus blossoms drifted down, carpeting the ground in gold.
Yin Qiu sheathed her sword, turned her head slightly, and looked at the osmanthus blossoms scattered on the ground by the moonlight. Her smile contained a hint of surprise as she said, "When did the osmanthus blossoms all bloom?"
As night deepened and the bright moon hung high, its light shone brightly. In that cool glow, Gongzi Fanmu seemed to be draped in a thin layer of frost. He bent down and picked up a few osmanthus blossoms in his palm, then, as he sniffed them, replied, "It's already August, so the osmanthus should naturally be in bloom."
Watching his movements, Yin Qiu wiped the sweat from her forehead and said somewhat subtly, "I haven't realized how fast time has passed these past few months of practicing swordsmanship day and night..." She looked up at the moon in the sky and belatedly realized, "Come to think of it, the new disciple assembly is in two days."
Gongzi Fan shifted his gaze to her, smiling gently: "You've made considerable progress these past few months, and your lightness skill is quite good. In my opinion, that Miss Fu might not be able to defeat you."
Yin Qiu thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "If it's just a swordsmanship contest in the palace, I'm not afraid of Fu Xiang. But if it's other skills, I'm far inferior to her."
Gongzi Fan said, "Although I don't know who her master is or how skilled she is, the mental cultivation method of my Fanxin Valley is not for self-cultivation. You only started learning a few years later than her, and your talent is obviously higher than hers. If you two started learning martial arts at the same time, she would definitely not be your match."
If this had been said in the past, Yin Qiu would never have accepted it with a clear conscience. But now, whenever she sparred with Fu Xiang, Fu Xiang was obviously struggling much more than before. Every time they competed, it was a close contest. In the past few months, Yin Qiu had also beaten Fu Xiang and won the top prize once or twice in the martial arts competitions. She could tell that Fu Xiang was not deliberately letting her win.
In the blink of an eye, almost a year has passed since she entered the palace. Xu Lianzhi has begun to teach the Yunhua Heart Method, ordering the disciples to cultivate both internal and external skills. Yin Qiu had already learned the unique secrets of Fanxin Valley from Gongzi Fan, which gave her an advantage. She was much more adept at learning the Yunhua Heart Method. In addition, she was very diligent. As a result, Fu Xiang could only cheer up and study hard. If she continued to be as carefree as before, it would only be a matter of time before she was left behind by Yin Qiu.
Moreover, the Yunhua Heart Method is relatively gentle, and its sword moves emphasize using softness to overcome hardness. The Fanxin Valley Manual is the opposite, with more lethal and ruthless moves. Yin Qiu uses both methods simultaneously, acquiring different characteristics from the two methods. Combining them together makes her stand out. Now, Yin Qiu can release sword intent to repel birds and beasts, which is something the Yunhua Heart Method cannot do yet.
The mountains and forests were quiet, and the night was deep. Yin Qiu walked to the stream, scooped up water and washed her face, and said, "It's a pity that my goal has never been Fu Xiang. I want to become someone as powerful as my uncle, so I have to have a longer-term vision."
“It’s good that you have a goal to pursue,” Gongzi Fan said slowly, throwing away the withered flower in his hand. “I won’t come again tomorrow. Focus on preparing for the competition. Although I don’t aim for first place, I’ll try my best to get second place.”
Upon hearing this, Yin Qiu stood up and looked at him, asking, "Will you come again later?"
Gongzi Fan gazed at her for a moment, then smiled and said, "That depends on who you choose to become your master."
Yin Qiu said, "If I go to Jingyue Peak as I wish, you will definitely not come again." She took two steps closer to Gongzi Fan and asked, "Then if I want to see you, how should I find you?"
Gongzi Fan sighed softly, "I've said it before, now that you have Manjiangxue, you no longer need me, and you don't need to see me anymore." He paused, "Unless you encounter some danger, or your mother appears, then there's no possibility of us meeting again."
Even though she had known for a long time that there would be a parting, hearing his words still made Yin Qiu feel a sense of loss: "Besides my martial uncle, you are the person who has been with me the longest..."
Unbeknownst to her, this mysterious masked man had already spent many nights with her. He had taught her martial arts, cared for her body and mind, and even risked his life to enter and leave the Ziwei Sect for her safety. He was the best person to her besides Man Jiangxue.
But after tonight, this person will be leaving. Even though the world is vast and the road ahead is long, no one can say for sure whether we will ever meet again. But who knows when that day will come?
“If only you were my father,” Yin Qiusong said, casually gripping the sword hilt and lightly tapping her toes on the damp soil. “At first, I really wanted my martial uncle to be my mother, but then I realized that was impossible. Then I met you, and I secretly wondered why you weren’t my father.”
A gentle breeze swept away some of the floral fragrance and ruffled Gongzi Fan's black hair, revealing his patterned silver mask, which appeared somewhat gentle in the night.
He slightly twitched the corners of his mouth, reached out and patted Yin Qiu's head, and said, "It's a pity your mother doesn't like me."
Yin Qiu looked up at him and said, "You're such a good person, my mother should like you. She shouldn't have married my father."
Gongzi Fan sighed again: "That's right, she really shouldn't have married your father..."
"And what about you?" Yin Qiu asked, "Besides my mother, don't you have anyone else you love?"
Gongzi Fan shook his head: "Of all the women in this world, I don't like any except your mother."
Yin Qiu was deeply moved and sighed, "You're so silly." She was silent for a moment, then said with some envy, "I wish someone liked me that much too."
Gongzi Fan smiled slightly: "Of course it will be." He withdrew his hand, glanced at the sky, and said, "It's getting late, I should go."
Yin Qiu lowered her eyelashes slightly, bowed her head, and said "Oh".
Gongzi Fan glanced at her, then reached out and ruffled Yin Qiu's hair again. He seemed to want to say a few more words, his lips moved a few times but he couldn't open his mouth. In the end, he just ruffled Yin Qiu's hair until it was messy, then turned away without saying a word.
As Yin Qiu watched his retreating figure, her heart stirred for a moment, and she stood there stunned for a long while. Just as Gongzi Fan was about to disappear from sight, Yin Qiu suddenly called out, "Godfather!"
Upon hearing this call, Gongzi Fan paused in his steps.
But he didn't turn around or say anything.
Yin Qiu stood there, her eyes red, stunned for a moment, then suddenly knelt down on both knees.
"Thank you so much, Godfather, for your tireless teaching and protection over the past few months. I know I have no way to repay you right now, so I can only kowtow three times to express my gratitude. Godfather, rest assured, I will not let you down. There will be a long future ahead, and I will repay your kindness tenfold!"
After she finished speaking, she immediately bent down and kowtowed three times to Gongzi Fan's back.
The tender voice was carried to his ears by the evening breeze, echoing in his heart again and again. Gongzi Fan stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant mountains and peaks, and a bright and cheerful smiling face appeared before his eyes.
That face was beautiful when she smiled, although she was smiling at someone else most of the time.
But he still loved her smile, even when she was looking at him and thinking about someone else, he still wanted to protect that smile.
Even so, in the end, he was unable to protect it.
Gongzi Fan remained silent for a long time before finally waving his sleeves and stepping into the deep night without looking back.
·
As the mist dissipated and dawn approached, the morning light slowly poured down from the mountaintop, breaking through the clouds and illuminating the earth.
Man Jiangxue got up early today and had already ordered people to clean Chenxing Palace before dawn. When she walked into the courtyard and looked around, Xie Yijun's figure appeared on the arched bridge.
"It's been a long time since I've been to your Jingyue Peak," Xie Yijun said with a smile as she looked around at the scenery after they met. "It's been more than ten years since Master passed away. You've maintained this place very well; it hasn't changed at all."
Man Jiangxue said, "There's no need to deliberately maintain it. Let nature take its course. Now that you're here, Senior Sister, please come in and have a cup of tea."
Xie Yijun fiddled with the beads on her wrist and said with great interest, "No rush, junior sister, let me take a walk around and clear my head."
There are many affairs in the palace. Even with the help of the elders from various peaks, Xie Yijun is still too busy to take a break. She lives in Mingguang Palace for a long time and rarely goes out. Today she seems to be in a good mood.
Autumn had already arrived last month, and the red maples inside and outside the courtyard were becoming increasingly vibrant. As the two stepped into the maple forest, Xie Yijun looked at the vast expanse of fiery red maple leaves and said, "Tomorrow is the new disciple assembly. Last time you said that Fu Xiang was hiding her skills, so I want to see just how capable she really is."
Man Jiangxue brushed aside the drooping branches and said calmly, "Under the watchful eyes of everyone, she won't easily let anyone see through her."
Xie Yijun said, "There is a difference between having a foundation and not having one. Unless she can do it without revealing any clues, even Fu Cen did not know that she knew kung fu. It is clear that she must have some purpose in coming to Yunhua Palace. Perhaps someone deliberately arranged it."
After hearing about Fu Xiang's situation, Xie Yijun's suspicions about Mingyue Tower grew even stronger. She even wondered if Fu Xiang was really Fu Cen's daughter. After all, she had been raised outside since childhood, and who knew if she was real or not when she returned? However, Man Jiangxue sent people to investigate in the counties and prefectures. Many people claimed to have watched Fu Xiang grow up, and Fu Xiang did not lie about her background.
As for Fu Xiang's explanation to Yin Qiu, Xie Yijun naturally didn't believe it either. If she didn't want to stay at Mingyue Tower, then why did she travel all the way back to Jinhuai City to find her relatives? If she really wanted to become an apprentice at Yunhua Palace and seek a future, then she should have come earlier. It should be noted that Fu Cen did not take Fu Xiang back after losing his son; it was Fu Xiang who wanted to go back on her own.
But what exactly is this girl, only ten years old, with no prior grudges or connections to Yunhua Palace, doing here? And what can she possibly do?
If someone really did send her, then who is that person? And what is their relationship with Yunhua Palace?
Man Jiangxue couldn't answer these questions yet, only saying, "The only thing we can rule out right now is that she has no connection with the Ziwei Sect. As for who she learned martial arts from, we have no way of knowing. In short, as long as she is sincere in seeking knowledge and has no bad intentions, Senior Sister can still be more lenient with her."
Xie Yijun stood with her hands behind her back, her prayer beads clicking as she turned them: "What I fear most is bad intentions; it's impossible to guard against them all."
“The Ziwei Sect has been completely silent these past few months, and I’m really uneasy about it,” Xie Yijun sighed, then continued, “I was worried when they were stirring up trouble, and I’m still worried now that they’ve quieted down. When Master chose me as the sect leader, I was reluctant, but I agreed to it to make things easier for you. However, thanks to the blessings of all the grandmasters, Yunhua Palace hasn’t run into any trouble since I took over, but it’s not much more prosperous than it used to be. If Master’s spirit in heaven knew, I wonder if she would blame me.”
A breeze rustled through the forest. Man Jiangxue looked at her and said, "Senior Sister, there's no need to belittle yourself. Yunhua Palace is still the number one sect in the martial world. You've done a great job."
Xie Yijun smiled bitterly: "Compared to my master, I am still far behind." She looked up at the rising sun and sighed, "Looking back, every single thing in the past is full of regrets. I don't know if I can make up for anything in the rest of my life."
Sensing the melancholy in her voice, Man Jiangxue asked, "Senior Sister, is something on your mind?"
Xie Yijun chuckled and shook her head: "Just venting. In this palace now, you're the only one I can confide in." She paused, glancing at Man Jiangxue, and said, "Since Qingming Festival, I've been dreaming about my master for the past few months. It's still early, so I plan to visit her cenotaph to pay my respects."
Man Jiangxue said, "Then I will go with my senior sister."
"Alright, you went there a few days ago. I was just thinking of having a private talk with Master. Go and see how Yin Qiu is doing," Xie Yijun said. "When you meet her, you must tell her that Fu Xiang must not win this new disciple conference. Yin Qiu must become my disciple no matter what."
Man Jiangxue nodded slightly: "Understood, I will explain it to her."
·
As Yin Qiu carried the wooden basin out of the laundry room, she immediately noticed that her room was lit by candlelight.
Overjoyed, she quickly hung the washed clothes on the drying line and ran back to her room.
But instead of pushing the door open, she quietly hid outside the window and carefully observed.
A dim oil lamp was lit on the small wooden table. Man Jiangxue, dressed in pure white, sat at the table, looking down at the articles that Yin Qiu had written that day.
The room was dimly lit, with flickering candlelight creating a hazy atmosphere. From Yin Qiu's perspective, Man Jiangxue was graceful and poised, her profile as delicate and beautiful as jade, her features as if drawn with a paintbrush, possessing a unique charm.
For many days in a row, Yin Qiu devoted herself to practicing swordsmanship and had not seen Man Jiangxue for a long time. In fact, Man Jiangxue had not visited her in the disciples' courtyard for several months.
Yin Qiu was engrossed in peeking when she suddenly heard someone behind her say, "Xiao Qiu! What are you looking at?"
Yin Qiu was startled and quickly hid from the window. When she looked back, she saw that it was Fu Xiang. Fu Xiang looked at Yin Qiu meaningfully and said, "Sneaking around like that, what are you up to!"
"Hey, keep your voice down!" Yin Qiu quickly covered her mouth. "You're so annoying!"
Fu Xiang noticed from afar that she was acting suspiciously outside the window. When she got closer, she saw Man Jiangxue sitting inside. Fu Xiang then deliberately raised her voice and called out to Yin Qiu, intending to tease her.
"Oh, Uncle-Master is here!" Fu Xiang leaned on the window frame and greeted Man Jiangxue with great enthusiasm.
Man Jiangxue glanced at her sideways, then at Yin Qiu, smiled, and said nothing.
"Get out of here!" Caught red-handed peeping, Yin Qiu was a little embarrassed and pushed Fu Xiang away, saying, "You're just teasing me!"
Fu Xiang laughed twice, then leaped off the corridor, shouting as she went, "Let's go! Let's go!"
Yin Qiu clenched her fist and shook it at her before jogging into the house. She put down the wooden basin and threw herself into Man Jiangxue's arms, beaming with joy. "Uncle-Master, it's been so long since you've come here. What made you decide to come today?"
Man Jiangxue casually put her arm around her and said without looking up, "I've come to check how your homework is going."
Yin Qiu glanced at the homework in her hand and asked, "What does my writing look like, Uncle?"
Man Jiangxue said, "It's alright," then paused and added, "The handwriting is quite good."
Yin Qiu smiled and, as if out of habit, sat on Man Jiangxue's lap. She smiled and reached out to hug her neck. Man Jiangxue then looked at her, stood up with Yin Qiu in her arms, took a few steps and said, "I think you seem to have gotten a little heavier." She lowered her eyes and looked Yin Qiu up and down for a moment, then added, "You've also grown quite a bit taller."
Fu Xiang often teased Yin Qiu about her height, but recently, Yin Qiu has been practicing diligently, eating and exercising a lot, so she has grown taller quickly. Now, when she stands next to Man Jiangxue, her head can already touch Man Jiangxue's chin.
Because she often went hungry as a child, Yin Qiu was always thin and frail. It is truly remarkable that she has grown so tall at her age.
"In two more years, I'll be taller than my martial uncle." Yin Qiu's expression was excited, with a hint of mischief in his eyes.
Man Jiangxue said, "In this kind of matter, there's no need to be so confident."
Yin Qiu said, "Who can say for sure? What if I surpass my martial uncle?"
Man Jiangxue tossed her onto a chair and said coldly, "You're overthinking it. There's absolutely no way that's possible."
Yin Qiu thought to herself that her martial aunt was really domineering, not allowing her to be confident in such matters, but her martial aunt herself was extremely confident. This was clearly a case of "the magistrate is allowed to set fires, but the common people are not allowed to light lamps."
The autumn nights began to fall quickly, and soon the moonlight enveloped the outside. Yin Qiu lay on the table, looking at Man Jiangxue, and said, "Tomorrow is the new disciple assembly. I need to go to bed early tonight and get a good night's sleep."
Man Jiangxue glanced at the sky: "It's not too late yet. You should definitely go to bed early and get some rest."
Yin Qiu said, "But I'm a little nervous about attending the conference tomorrow, and I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep."
Man Jiangxue reached out and touched her face, saying, "That won't do."
“However,” Yin Qiu said, tilting her head to rest her chin on Man Jiangxue’s palm and staring at her, “if my martial aunt could stay by my side, I would definitely be able to sleep well tonight.”
Upon hearing this, Man Jiangxue's lips curled into a slight smile.
Seeing that she only smiled but did not answer, Yin Qiu blinked: "Uncle-Master, you won't agree? You haven't slept with me in so long."
With her slender fingers slightly curled, Man Jiangxue pinched Yin Qiu's chin and lifted her up slightly.
In an instant, the distance between them closed, their noses almost touching. In the flickering candlelight, they exchanged breaths. Yin Qiu looked at Man Jiangxue with a puzzled expression, but her heart couldn't help but tremble.
Her eyes flickered. The close proximity made Yin Qiu feel shy. Just as she was about to subconsciously move away, she heard Man Jiangxue say, "I can accompany you, but you have to promise me one thing."
Suppressing the excitement in her heart, Yin Qiu tried to speak naturally, "What are your requirements?"
Man Jiangxue held her chin tightly and replied, "Tomorrow is the new disciple assembly. You must defeat everyone and become a disciple of the sect leader."
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