The Living Yama (Part 4)
As evening approached, I was checking accounts at the counter when I heard voices coming from the corridor. Looking up, I saw Feng Qiao and Huai Xu whispering to each other, discussing something.
"Is the food ready?" I asked, getting up.
"It's ready." Huai Xu strode into the front shed. "Uncle Lin is in the backyard. We can eat after he feeds the horses."
I frowned and said, "Then why aren't you two going to help?"
“We’ll go right away.” Feng Qiao explained quickly, “Aunt, we came to tell you—Master Xiong said there’s no need to trouble him to have every meal delivered to his room, he can walk around.”
I snorted: "What's the big deal? If he wants to come out, he can eat outside."
"Then how should his seat be arranged?" Feng Qiao asked.
There were four of us at the inn. We usually ate at the square table. To my left was Huai Xu, to my right was Feng Qiao, and Lin Zhong sat opposite me. If "Living Yama" were to sit at the table, it would be a bit cramped, but it didn't seem necessary to give him a separate table.
I looked at Feng Qiao: "Since he's staying in your room, he can sit in your seat. You and Lin Zhong will have to squeeze in for the next few days."
Before Feng Qiao could respond, Huai Xu quickly added, "Godmother, let Feng Qiao sit here with me!"
I thought to myself, "This is disgusting," and waved my hand at them, saying, "The Han people believe in 'not talking while eating or sleeping.' You two sitting together, don't talk too much, or people will laugh at you."
Huai Xu smiled and pulled Feng Qiao up: "Okay, godmother, we're going to help!"
Watching them walk away hand in hand, I suddenly remembered something and stamped my foot, saying, "You two—you can serve food to each other, but you can't feed each other!"
The two of them had already run off, and I don't know if my instructions were ignored. I continued to check the accounts in my hand, adding them up twice, but I misread both lines. I got so angry that I pushed the abacus far away.
A soft cough suddenly came from ahead. I stood up, pulled the abacus back, and gently turned the dial twice. Without looking up, I asked, "Lord Xiong, what are your orders?"
"I dare not," Xiong Tu said slowly. "Thank you all for your care. I will definitely repay you double for the expenses incurred in recovering from my injuries in the future."
"No need." I chuckled. "We take care of the adults not to earn money, but simply to fulfill our duty to those entrusted with this task."
"May I ask, Lady Qing, who entrusted you with this task?"
"Lord Xiong is asking a question he already knows the answer to."
"Is it—Prefect Wei?"
“That’s right.” I glanced at him and waved my hand dismissively, “I’ll settle this score with Lord Wei sooner or later. It has nothing to do with you. Lord Xiong, please don’t worry, taking care of your health is the most important thing.”
Xiong Tu remained silent for a moment before blurting out, "What is your relationship with Ji Zhou?" Realizing his abruptness, he covered his mouth with his sleeve and coughed twice.
I said slowly, "Guess?"
After a moment's thought, Xiong Tu said, "Qing Niangzi is chivalrous and Ji Zhou is upright. In my opinion, your relationship is extraordinary. You must be close friends who transcend romantic love."
I smiled and nodded: "That makes sense."
Xiong Tu also smiled.
Undeniably, the man in front of me had a rather handsome smile. The arrow wound had caused him to lose too much blood, making his face slightly pale. His long eyelashes trembled slightly when he smiled, adding to his delicate appearance.
If I were still young, what would I do with such a delicate and handsome man, even if it were a devil? I would rather drink the porridge myself and leave the solid food for him; but now, I keep both the solid and the porridge for myself, and I'll just admire his good looks.
Thinking about this, I glanced at him a couple more times.
A slight blush rose on Xiong Tu's pale face as he asked awkwardly, "Why are you staring at me?"
I replied casually, "I'm thinking—how can I get you back to health as quickly as possible."
Xiong Tu breathed a slight sigh of relief: "No rush..."
I tapped the abacus beads together and said, "You're not in a hurry, but I am."
The two chicks are quite diligent, laying eggs every day. Lin Zhong has been going fishing in the Yuejiang River lately, catching quite a few fresh fish. I also bought a ginseng from a passing caravan. After several days of extra meals, the "living Yama's" complexion has visibly improved.
There are some books left by my father in Fengqiao's house. Most of the time, Xiong Tu stays in the house reading. Before and after meals, he will wander around the front and back yards. If he encounters the two children, he will stop and chat with them for a while.
After breakfast that day, Huai Xu was decocting medicine in the kitchen, I called Lin Zhong to pound rice cakes, and left Feng Qiao alone in the backyard to repair horseshoes.
After strolling around the front and back yards for a while, the "Living Yama" walked up to Feng Qiao with his hands behind his back and asked, "Feng Qiao, have you read all the books in your room?"
"I've read some of them, and I haven't read others."
"Have you ever taken the imperial examinations?"
"I took the county-level examination, but failed."
"Not winning a few times?"
"once……"
"The county examination is held every year; if you don't pass the first time, you give up." Xiong Tu's tone seemed dissatisfied as he pressed, "So what did you do after that?"
Feng Qiao stammered, "Later, I... I became obsessed with cultivation, and then... and then I fell into your hands, sir..."
Xiong Tu pondered for a moment: "Feng Qiao, you are well-educated and polite, and your ancestors were once a prominent family. It's a pity that you now live in the mountains. If you're willing, I can arrange for you to work as a clerk in the government office. In your spare time, you can review your studies more. The three examinations for the young scholars in the southwest are easier than in your hometown of Hengshui. What do you think?"
Feng Qiao cried out in alarm, "My lord! I—this humble subject is not cut out for studying, I, this humble subject is unwilling..."
"Who says you're not cut out for studying?" Xiong Tu insisted. "You're only twenty, the perfect time for you to make progress through your studies."
Feng Qiao looked towards the kitchen pleadingly: "Lord Xiong, I really, really don't like reading. I'd rather mend horseshoes every day than read."
I smiled at Lin Zhong, who pointed at Huai Xu. Huai Xu pulled a long face, extinguished the stove fire, picked up the medicine pot, and strode out of the kitchen.
Xiong Tu was still muttering "A good man should have lofty aspirations" when he was suddenly interrupted by a voice saying, "Master Xiong, it's time to take your medicine." He immediately turned around and replied, "Coming."
In the afternoon, Huai Xu went to Yanziping to get medicine, Feng Qiao fed the chickens in the front yard, and Lin Zhong, as always, turned his back to everyone and tended to his flowers and plants. I took a short nap on the recliner behind the counter. "Living Yama" was in good spirits today and had not yet gone back to his room to rest. Instead, he was practicing standing meditation and breathing exercises alone in the east corner.
The chicken coop was built in the northeast corner of the yard. Feng Qiao herded the chickens into the coop and, passing by Xiong Tu, reminded him, "Sir, the sun is scorching hot. Why don't you go back inside and rest for a while?"
"It's alright, I'll finish practicing this Taiyi breathing technique first."
"Is the Taiyi Tianmu Skill that you practice, sir?" Feng Qiao asked enviously. "Back then, I also followed my master to learn a few moves, but unfortunately, I didn't have the comprehension and was never able to master it."
Xiong Tu's voice was laced with disdain: "Your master in that fake sect? He has no real skills, just a charlatan who parades around like a con artist." He paused, then softened his tone, "Practicing authentic techniques does indeed have the effect of strengthening the body. Do you want to learn? I can teach you."
Feng Qiao was eager to try: "Okay."
Xiong Tu recited aloud: "Bend knees, lunge, open palms, inhale..."
I couldn't help but feel curious, so I straightened up and looked out of the courtyard. I saw Lin Zhong pick up a piece of flower branch and flick it at Feng Qiao.
Feng Qiao asked in surprise, "Uncle Lin?"
Lin Zhong put down the scissors and turned halfway around: "Don't waste your time."
"Huh?" Feng Qiao looked at Xiong Tu tremblingly, confused.
Xiong Tu was quite unconvinced: "What I taught was the superior mental cultivation method of the Quanzhen School—the Taiyi Qinghua Mysterious Technique, personally taught by the sect leader, Master Runqing. How could it be a waste of time?"
Lin Zhong glanced at the two of them: "Only those with a pure Yang body are suitable to practice this."
"I'll go shovel hay!" Feng Qiao dashed off, leaving the atmosphere awkward for a moment.
"Cough—cough—" Xiong Tu looked at Lin Zhong, "How about I teach you?"
Lin Zhong coldly replied, "I can't practice." After saying that, he also walked towards the backyard.
Xiong Tu frowned at his retreating figure: "You! You are all Han Chinese..."
It was hard not to laugh at the scene. I picked up the ledger on the counter, spread it out in the middle, covered my face with it, and leaned back in the bamboo chair.
Suddenly someone called my name from above, their voice carrying a hint of sternness: "Qingcheng!"
I remained slumped in my chair, barely managing to suppress a laugh: "Your Excellency, what can I do for you?"
“It’s nothing…” The “Living Yama”’s tone softened suddenly, “I called out to you, to see if anyone was there.”
I pressed down on the ledger, revealing my eyes, and looked at him, saying, "Qingcheng, there's something I must remind you of, sir. This is an inn, and also my home, not the Luzhou government office, much less the Changning military camp. Lord Xiong is staying here to recover from his injuries, not for you to enforce military discipline here. Do you understand?"
Xiong Tu lowered his eyelids and replied softly, "Understood."
I moved the ledger back and waved my hand with satisfaction: "Good that you understand. Go back to your room and rest."
Xiong Tu grunted in response, passed by me, then suddenly stopped and called out, "Qingcheng."
"Snap—" I slammed the ledger shut and sat up: "What is it now?!"
Xiong Tu took a half step back: "Your... name is quite nice."
I looked at him coldly: "Is that so?"
"But why don't you take your father's surname?"
“My father was expelled from the Feng family genealogy decades ago, so why should I still take his surname?”
"So you... take your mother's surname?"
"No, that's not it. My mother escaped from the village by crossing a sinkhole before she died, and she also severed ties with her father."
"I'm sorry," Xiong Tu said, bowing slightly and cupping his hands in apology. "I shouldn't have inquired about these things."
I glanced at him: "Are you a disciple of Master Runqing from Qingcheng Mountain?"
Xiong Tu nodded: "I suppose so. It's just that I have worldly affairs to attend to, so I don't cultivate on the mountain."
"What a coincidence. My father, Feng Xuan, was a disciple of Runqing when he cultivated Taoism on Mount Qingcheng. In that case, you could be considered my senior uncle?"
"That doesn't count! I am not a disciple of the real person."
I laughed out loud: "Just kidding. Even if you are the old Taoist's disciple, you are not worthy of being my uncle. My father was expelled from the sect thirty-two years ago."
Xiong Tu paused for a moment, then asked, "Why is that? My teacher is not an unreasonable person."
I stopped laughing and said, "My father and mother were in love and planned to leave the monastic life and go down the mountain, but the old Taoist priest Runqing refused and wanted to pass on his mantle to my father. They each held their own opinions, so they broke up."
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