Side Story - Lime's Dream
The peach blossoms are in full bloom, but Qing Ning has gotten into a little trouble.
It wasn't a bloody feud or a shackle imposed by a master's teachings, but rather a romantic affair that would be the envy of many in the martial arts world.
Shen Li, the daughter of the richest family in Jiangnan, launches an overwhelming pursuit of him.
Who is Shen Li?
She was incredibly wealthy and renowned for her beauty.
Spending money lavishly is commonplace; vast fortunes are nothing but a joke.
She never fails to get what she wants.
Our first meeting was on a painted boat.
After playing "A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" on the Qingning instrument, he leaned against the railing and drank alone.
The moonlight, like water, spilled onto his blue robe, outlining a touch of untamed spirit.
As Shen Li passed by on her luxury boat, the beaded curtain was lifted, revealing a fleeting glimpse of her beauty.
His eyes were clear as a mountain stream, seemingly oblivious to the wealth and prosperity right before him, reflecting only the lonely moon in the sky.
Who is that person?
Shen Li parted her lips slightly, her fingertip pointing towards the lime.
“Miss Hui, he is Qing Ning, a renowned musician from Shenxiang Pavilion, but... he has a somewhat unconventional personality.”
The maid replied in a low voice.
Shen Li chuckled softly.
“Unruly? Perfect. Gold and silver can wear down one’s will, and gentleness can be a deadly knife. Let’s see how long he can be so arrogant.”
The offensive began the following day.
First, twelve servants, carrying sandalwood boxes, filed into the outer courtyard of the Divine Physiognomy Pavilion.
The box contains neither gold nor jade, but Wuyi Mountain Da Hong Pao tea, which is produced in only three qian (approximately 15 grams) annually in the sacred mountain, and is extremely rare, worth more than a tael (approximately 30 grams) of gold.
The attached note is in small, elegant calligraphy, reminiscent of a hairpin.
"Having heard of your refined musical talent, a cup of tea to soothe your throat may enhance the enjoyment."
Qing Ning was playing chess with her junior brother when she glanced at him, casually poured the precious tea leaves into the earthenware pot for brewing tea, and smiled at her dumbfounded junior brother.
"Come, come, let's taste this 'Ten Thousand Gold Water' today and see if it can really make us feel like we're drinking immortality."
The junior student clicked his tongue in amazement.
"Senior brother, this..."
"Tea is just tea, it's only for quenching thirst."
The lime was dropped into the ground with a crisp "snap".
"Being priced by her makes things less interesting."
Upon hearing the news, Shen Li did not get angry but laughed instead.
"interesting."
Then, the gifts became even more unusual.
She found the rare, lost musical score from the previous dynasty, copied it again, and sent it to her.
As Qing Ning stroked the delicate, cloud-like silk, gazing at the exquisite finger markings on it, a glint of light flashed in her eyes.
He carefully read through it, then picked up a pen and annotated several errors in the blank spaces, and sent it back along with a copy of the score he had compiled, with a note.
"Guangling may be beautiful, but it is still a dream of the past. The gentle breeze and bright moon are worthless, but they may be able to relieve boredom."
Shen Li held the ordinary paper book with its fresh ink stains, staring at the elegant handwriting and insightful observations, and was stunned for the first time.
She stopped giving away ordinary gifts and started giving them away to people.
Knowing his love of travel, all the carriage shops, inns, and wineries under the Shen family's name were put to use.
Seeing Young Master Qingning is like seeing his master; he will not take a penny and will serve him with utmost care.
He traveled along the way, enjoying the finest food and lodging, yet no one accepted his money. They humbly replied, "I dare not disobey the young lady's orders."
Lime didn't refuse and accepted it all.
Wherever he went, he would set up a stall in the busiest market to perform, attracting crowds with his flute and zither music. He would then distribute all the coins and silver he earned to beggars and the elderly.
He smiled and said to the Shen family servants who were secretly observing him.
"Tell your young lady that Qing Ning is using this opportunity to accumulate merit for her."
The most sensational event was when Shen Li booked the entire Zhaixing Tower and hosted a banquet exclusively for Qing Ning.
Outside the building, pearls serve as lamps, and gold and jade pave the ground.
Inside the building, a variety of delicious dishes were served, and toasts were exchanged.
She wore a long, flowing dress adorned with golden phoenixes, her hair styled in a cloud-like pattern and her face radiant with beauty, exuding an air of supreme elegance and nobility.
"Young Master Qingning,"
She held the glass, her eyes sparkling, confident that she could melt any ice.
"Any of the world's treasures can be obtained by the Shen family at your request. Any of the world's splendors can be obtained by your mere nod."
The music was melodious, and the singing was lingering.
Qing Ning, however, only gazed at the moonlight outside the window, her fingertips unconsciously tapping out a tuneless melody on the edge of the table, as if she were composing a new piece.
Hearing the sound, he turned around, raised his wine glass, and still had that lazy smile on his face.
“Miss Chen, listen.”
Shen Li was taken aback: "What are you listening to?"
"The sound of the wind,"
He listened intently, his expression focused.
"The sound of the copper bells under the eaves is more beautiful than all the string and wind instruments in this hall."
He tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup, a common street liquor, completely out of place with the fine wines served at the banquet.
"A life of ease cannot be brewed in a wealthy household, nor can a free spirit be nurtured in a gilded cage. Thank you for your hospitality, Miss. I am drunk with pleasure. Farewell."
He rose and left, his figure in a blue robe appearing both slender and remarkably upright in the extremely luxurious hall, like a green bamboo growing on the golden palace, cutting through the glittering jewels of the hall.
Shen Li sat alone in the center of the empty banquet hall, where even the fine wine and delicacies tasted bland.
For the first time, she began to doubt her own charm and the power of money.
She could spend a fortune, but she couldn't open the seemingly casual, but actually tightly closed door to her heart.
She could weave a vast net, yet she couldn't capture that wisp of free-spirited breeze.
After a long while, she summoned her maid.
"What are your orders, Miss? Would you like to...?"
The maid thought she was about to have an outburst.
Shen Li waved wearily, took off the heavy gold hairpin from her hair, and threw it on the table with a crisp sound.
“Add three more soup kitchens in the west of the city.”
She looked out the window in the direction where the lime had disappeared, her voice very soft.
"Use the best rice."
She seemed to understand a little better what that person felt when he gave away all his gold and silver.
The next day, a small pot of jasmine appeared under the eaves of Qingning.
The pure white flower buds, glistening with dew, were lush and vibrant. Only a plain note was pasted on the edge of the earthenware pot, with no other signature.
"This flower is easy to grow; plain water is enough. It is fragrant and does not attract dust."
Lime's fingertips brushed against the delicate petals, and she lowered her head to gently inhale the refreshing fragrance, finally revealing a genuine smile that was different from her usual perfunctory one.
A breeze rustled through the eaves, and the copper bells jingled softly, seemingly carrying a hint of sweet fragrance.
The smile on Qing Ning's lips had not yet faded, and the fragrance of jasmine seemed to still linger around her nose.
Suddenly, a sharp, intense pain shot through the back of my head.
The plain ceramic pot, the pure white jasmine, and even the wind carrying a sweet fragrance before my eyes were like reflections in water shattered by a pebble, instantly distorted, blurred, and vanished.
"Well……"
He groaned and suddenly opened his eyes.
My vision was initially blurry, but then it became focused.
There was no warm sunshine like in Jiangnan, no delicate eaves, only the biting cold wind of Yanmen Pass that never melted, scraping against my face like a knife.
He was lying sprawled on a rocky ground, his forehead pressed against the cold, rough rock, and his body beneath the gritty sand.
Where is the lavish banquet of the Shen family's daughter, the relentless tenderness, and the final pot of jasmine that signifies compromise?
"woke up?"
A cold voice came from above, even more chilling than the wind from beyond the pass.
Qing Ning struggled to lift her head.
Mo Tao, dressed in a red dress, stood a few steps away, slowly wiping the hilt of a sword with a snow-white handkerchief, which she had obviously used to knock him unconscious.
The setting sun cast a sharp silhouette behind her. Her eyes were lowered, her long eyelashes casting small shadows, and she looked at him indifferently, as if he were a rock blocking her way.
"Lying here dreaming in broad daylight?"
Her tone was devoid of any emotion, yet it was more unbearable than any sarcasm.
"What did you dream about? Your smile is practically reaching your ears."
Lime: "..."
He subconsciously raised his hand to wipe the corner of his mouth, and sure enough, it was a little wet.
He touched the back of his head again and found a large, fresh, and hot bump that made him wince in pain.
All his former dashing and unrestrained charm has now turned into a body covered in dust and a sharp pain on his forehead.
That long, prosperous dream, adored by countless admirers, turned out to be nothing more than a brief and absurd fantasy after being brought down by a single sword hilt.
The reality is that not only did he fail to steal a single bamboo from this Purple Bamboo Asura, he was also knocked unconscious and left drooling and daydreaming without any regard for his image.
The sense of defeat was like ice water poured over his head, instantly sobering him up completely. What followed was an indescribable feeling of embarrassment and bewilderment.
Mo Tao wiped the sword hilt clean, then casually tossed the handkerchief aside. The snow-white silk fell onto the yellow earth, its gleaming color particularly striking.
She took a step forward, and her brocade boots embroidered with dark patterns stopped in front of Qing Ning.
"Looks like he's fully awake... my good master."
She looked down at him, her gaze sweeping over his flushed ears, and the corners of her lips seemed to curve slightly, almost imperceptibly, so quickly it was like an illusion.
"Can you get up? If you can get up..."
She paused, her voice still flat, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.
"...Get out of here. Don't lie here and block my bamboo from sunbathing."
The wind picked up, whipping up sand and dust, making Lime's mouth taste bitter.
He struggled to his feet, his body trembling, and glanced back at the bamboo growing peacefully in the crevices of the cliff, its purple light shimmering. Then he looked at the icy woman in red before him.
The extravagant spending and relentless pursuit in my dream, compared to this cold "Get out of here," is truly...
He dusted himself off, then suddenly chuckled softly, shook his head, and pulled his boss away, limping as they turned to leave.
Mo Tao stood there until that figure in the green robe disappeared into the twilight.
She slowly walked to the edge of the cliff, bent down to pick up the handkerchief that had been blown by the wind and was covered in dust, carefully folded it, and put it into her sleeve.
His gaze fell on the spot where he had just lain, and a faint, imperceptible ripple flickered in his eyes.
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