Chapter 8
Under the blazing sun, Luo Yan, without her grandmother's knowledge, followed Zhu Yun to the east side of the village.
The mountain is not steep, but the mountain path is very primitive, with only one or two small paths trodden out by predecessors hidden among the wildly growing branches and leaves.
While watching her step, Luo Yan asked, "Why did you come to Qingyuan Village?"
"Just like you."
She nearly tripped over her own foot after hearing this, and her voice trembled: "You know about me?"
Zhu Yun's face doesn't look like that of an ordinary passerby. Could he be a loyal male supporting character sent by the protagonist to investigate a case, or a secret informant planted by the emperor in the Luo family...?
Ke Luoyan has always had a good memory; she can remember any character who has even a few lines. So who did she miss?
The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became, her chestnut-colored pupils trembling slightly.
Zhu Yun quickly took two steps and brushed aside the branches blocking her way, saying irritably, "Just like you, I'm choosing a place to avoid trouble, that's all."
Realizing she had been overthinking things, Luo Yan chuckled dryly, "Oh, I see."
He then changed the subject: "I am not interested in the Luo family's downfall, or in your escape to Linchuan by pretending to be a grandfather and grandson with your old servant."
"?"
This is not about knowing everything clearly.
Zhu Yun scoffed, "I have eyes."
The implication is that everything was based on his observations.
Luo Yan's mood was like a rollercoaster ride, and it took her a long time to calm down before she tentatively asked, "Is your real name Zhu Yun?"
"Um."
The leader of the Xishan Divine Sect was surnamed Zhu. After the sect was destroyed, his daughter Zhu Jing changed her name to Meng Jing and founded Lanyue Tower.
Perhaps they regarded him as the successor of the religion, so they chose Zhu over Meng. As for the character Yun, it was given to him by his biological parents.
Having received a definite answer, Luo Yan felt a little relieved. Forgetting about his heavy breathing, she took the opportunity to inquire, "Will you leave once things have calmed down?"
Zhu Yun glanced at her: "You want me to leave."
"Of course I don't want that." Afraid he wouldn't believe her, Luo Yan's tone became warmer than ever before. "I can play games with you, and Grandma's cooking is delicious."
He deliberately frowned: "That's all?"
"Isn't that enough?" Luo Yan asked, counting on her fingers. "No need to be exposed to the wind and sun, no need to go hungry, and I still have family and playmates."
These are clearly what she wants.
But Zhu Yun obediently hummed in agreement: "That's enough."
She breathed a sigh of relief: "Don't worry, stay here. I'll think of you whenever there's something good to eat or something fun to do."
We had now reached the halfway point of the mountain.
Luo Yan was exhausted and gradually went from walking in front to walking side by side, and then she was being dragged along by Zhu Yun's arm.
But she had insisted on coming along, so I felt bad about complaining about being tired and said tactfully, "Don't you think the sunset is especially beautiful from here?"
Zhu Yun remained unmoved: "I don't think so."
"Ten minutes." She forcefully kept him there. "What do you say? The time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Just stay and watch with me."
The glow of the sunset, like a still candle flame, stretched for thousands of miles, gilding the mountains with gold.
Luo Yan had flown on private jets a few times and was familiar with such scenery. She was more curious about Zhu Yun and couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you tired? You're not even sweating."
"It's because your body is too weak."
"......"
Not wanting to waste any more of their time, she glanced at the path she had come from, which wasn't too steep, and decided to head down the mountain herself.
Zhu Yun suddenly squatted down: "Come on up."
The boy was slender, but his explosive power was astonishing. He carried Luo Yan on his back and lightly stepped on the stones, so that it appeared as if he were flying.
They didn't care about paths or shortcuts; if there was a road, they would walk on it; if there wasn't, they would climb trees.
All she could see were the afterimages of leaves, which made her nauseous. She buried her face in Zhu Yun's neck and held him tightly with both hands.
He landed quickly, his face slightly pale—from being strangled by Luo Yan.
"We're here." Zhu Yun pried the attacker's hand away, but she was so weak that she couldn't stand up at all. He was slightly shocked, having probably never seen someone so frail before. "What's wrong with you?"
Luo Yan said dejectedly, "I just remembered that I get motion sickness in 3D movies."
Zhu Yun was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then turned her face away, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Luo Yan, still leaning against him, thought: "?"
Regardless, they finally reached the summit. Zhu Yun found a rock for her to sit on, then drew a line a few steps away, saying, "Try not to cross this line."
Luo Yan valued her life and nodded obediently.
Apart from the peak, the rest of the area is flat and open. She was about to praise Zhu Yun for his good selection when she noticed that the branches were broken cleanly and the stones had been leveled, indicating that he often came to the mountain to practice his sword and had cleaned it day after day.
That's really hardworking.
The longsword, half a person's height, was very docile in Zhu Yun's hands. The wind from the sword swept across, causing fallen leaves to swirl and dance wildly. Her hair and skirt were also drawn in by the force, as if they were waving flags and shouting.
While she was amazed, it suddenly occurred to her that in a martial arts world where strength reigns supreme, the author had made the original character fragile to evoke the male protagonist's protective instincts.
Ke Luoyan had been protected enough and for a long time in her previous life, and even something as bizarre as time travel could happen, yet she still couldn't escape a similar fate.
Zhu Yun, who was concentrating on reviewing his sword techniques, heard raindrops pattering on the leaves. He sheathed his sword, stood still, palms facing upwards, and no raindrops fell.
Suddenly remembering something, he turned his head and saw Luo Yan first widen her eyes in panic, then raise her sleeve to cover her face.
Taking advantage of the difference in strength, Zhu Yun pushed her hand away, brushed it aside, and after removing her wet eyelashes, it was impossible to tell that she had just been crying.
Luo Yan broke free shyly: "I was just thinking about things from the past."
He was covered in sweat, and sat down beside Luo Yan, supporting himself on the stone surface with his hands to calm his breathing. He didn't say anything explicitly, but it was clear that he was willing to listen.
"Ah Yun, where are your parents?"
"have no idea."
Luo Yan asked curiously, "Don't you long for family affection?"
"No," he answered decisively.
The disciples in the building cannot leave the training ground before they reach the Bing level, and have no way of knowing that there are things like "parents" in the world.
For example, he himself, although he called Meng Jing his mother, treated it as a code name. It wasn't until he was eight years old and entered the world for the first time that he had a vague concept of her.
Seeing that his expression didn't seem like he was pretending to be strong, Luo Yan was actually a little envious and said softly, "When I was very young, my family was also a model family."
Later, she fell ill and moved to a beautiful, princess-style hospital room. Her parents visited her less and less often, and their eyes gradually changed from heartache to weariness.
She alone always remembered the happy scene of the family of four, and every day when she opened her eyes, she would start waiting, hoping, and asking.
As Luo Yan grew older, she realized that everyone has their own world. Her world was a room, but her parents' world was vast and busy.
She has no way of keeping other people around her.
Zhu Yun found it difficult to empathize after hearing this and simply asked, "You have an older brother?"
“Uh.” She hesitated for a moment, because the original owner of this body did not have a biological older brother, but the Luo family was a thing of the past, so she nodded, “My brother went to study in a very far place, and can only call or write to me occasionally.”
My brother also rarely sees his parents throughout the year, but he has friends, studies, and even a lover.
Thinking of this, Luo Yan's eyes suddenly brightened, and she said shyly, "Now that you and Grandmother are with me, I don't really remember the things from before very clearly, and they don't matter anymore."
She easily calmed herself down and then asked about something else: "Can I learn martial arts from you?"
Zhu Yun took one of her hands, running his fingers from her wrist to her shoulder, and said truthfully, "For you, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages."
"It itches." She laughed and pulled her hand away. "Never mind then, I'll just lie down until I'm fifteen."
Zhu Yun accompanied the young man in his practice until it was completely dark. On the way back, Zhu Yun carried him down the mountain with ease.
Luo Yan couldn't hide her surprise: "You can see the road clearly even without a lamp?"
"Um."
"So what are you best at? Swordsmanship or light footwork?"
Zhu Yun was momentarily bewildered, but then he realized that he would learn whatever he was taught and master whatever he learned. He had simply snatched the sword without any particular skill.
She seemed to have expected this, and before he could answer, she pouted and said, "From now on, I'll call you 'I don't know'."
“Oh,” Zhu Yun retorted, “Then I’ll call you ‘Dream on.’”
"......"
The two returned home after a quarrel. The lanterns outside the yard were already lit, and the dining table inside was steaming.
Jia Yufang was mending old clothes nearby. When she saw them, she immediately put down her small basket and said happily, "Qinglian came by earlier and brought a lot of pancakes. She said that her sister also wants to study."
Luo Yan was flattered and picked up a piece to taste: "Delicious."
“Grandma Qinglian’s cooking skills are famous throughout the village,” Jia Yufang said with a smile. “I learned a few of my signature dishes from her.”
She asked curiously, "How many people are in their family?"
"Six people."
Qinglian's grandmother had passed away, and her grandfather was unable to walk. Next were her parents, followed by her eldest sister Qingping and her second sister Qingcao.
Every family longed for a son, but Qinglian's mother couldn't give birth to one. Qinglian's father felt ashamed and started drinking heavily, which led to their already impoverished family falling into poverty.
Jia Yufang sighed, "Cui Niang's older sister knows a few words and was recruited by Madam Sheng to be a housekeeper. She is not worried about food and clothing."
"Is it the Sheng family who bought your embroidery patterns?"
"That's right."
The Luo family was related to the royal family, and they were extremely wealthy. Their servants were more knowledgeable than the masters of ordinary families.
Therefore, Jia Yufang's embroidery patterns were very popular in Hanmei Town, but it was also Qinglian's aunt who acted as a go-between, allowing the old sisters to have a stable business and also making their mistress look good.
Luo Yan was overwhelmed with emotion after hearing this, and sighed twice with an air of maturity.
Zhu Yun flicked her forehead with his finger, and when she snapped out of her daze, he teased, "If you love listening to stories so much, why don't you go work as a storyteller in a teahouse?"
What is that?
He explained that teahouses, restaurants, or storytellers would hire clowns to cheer and attract more customers in order to generate buzz.
Luo Yan chuckled after hearing this: "I can definitely do this job."
Jia Yufang laughed along, biting off the thread as she held up the mended robe to Zhu Yun, saying, "I think this fabric is nice; it would be a shame to throw it away."
Zhu Yun took it and noticed that a clump of green bamboo had appeared where the sleeve had been cut, which matched the pattern on Luo Yan's sleeve. He remained silent for a few moments before awkwardly saying, "Thank you."
"I'm satisfied." Jia Yufang put down her sewing basket and went to clean up the dishes, refusing to let Luo Yan touch them.
Luo Yan clung to her like glue, chattering on and on about village affairs.
Hearing the laughter of the grandfather and grandson, Zhu Yun curled his lips and thought to himself: Anyway, he has nowhere to go, so staying in Qingyuan Village is fine.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
