Shangsi (Thursday)
"Yes, that's smooth talk!"
He Shu deliberately frowned and spoke in a stern tone, but there was a smile in his eyes.
"I'm telling the truth! You guys are ganging up on me because I can't see!"
Cangjue covered his forehead which had just been tapped by Heshu, and jumped behind Sang Li to hide.
He only stuck out half of his head and cried out loudly in unwillingness, trying to use this funny way to disperse the slightly stagnant atmosphere and make Sang Li smile.
"Hey, you, you're committing a crime now—"
He Shu drew out his words, slowly stood up, walked over to the boy, leaned down, got close to the little face that was aggrieved but strong, and continued to "condemn" him with a smile:
"You're lying and exaggerating! What's your crime?"
"Okay, stop making trouble."
Sang Li finally couldn't stand the two of them singing the same tune, almost joking around. She reached out her hand, not very gently but not too hard, and pushed He Shu away from Cang Jue, who was almost sticking to him.
Then, she silently raised her hand, gently took off the peach blossom pinned on her temples, and handed it back to Cangjue.
Sang Li's expression returned to its usual calm and cool demeanor. He glanced at He Shu and Cang Jue, who were already sitting quietly, and spoke in a low voice:
"I came here today to say goodbye."
As she spoke, she lifted her skirt and sat down on a stone bench nearby.
"Master will soon leave this world, shed his mortal form, and return to the immortal realm. I am at Luzhu Mountain..."
He paused for a moment, his eyes vaguely passing over the grass and trees in the mountains and forests.
"I no longer have too many concerns or nostalgia. After he leaves, I plan to send Cang Jue back to the Hantan Cave Residence for settlement, and then... continue my unfinished journey of travel and cultivation."
He Shu's eyes flashed with understanding, and he nodded in understanding. He had long expected this day to come. However, Cang Jue froze, screamed in shock, and hurriedly refused:
"No! I don't want to go back to the Cold Pond alone... It's cold and dark there... Sister Sang, please take me with you on your journey! I promise to be a good boy and never cause you any trouble!"
He suddenly opened his unfocused light grey eyes wide, as if trying to "see" Sang Li's expression clearly. His face was filled with undisguised anxiety and pleading, and his voice trembled slightly with excitement.
Sang Li looked at him with an expression of reluctance, her lips moved slightly, as if words were circling on the tip of her tongue, but in the end she did not respond, but simply shifted her gaze to the distant mountains, avoiding the boy's gaze.
"Cangjue, stop messing around."
Seeing this, He Shu could only sigh in his heart and explain for Sang Li, who was obviously not in a position to refuse directly.
He slowed down his tone and tried to make his point as euphemistic and understandable as possible:
"Your eyesight is limited, your cultivation is still shallow, and your foundation is not yet stable. She traveled to cultivate her character, improve her cultivation, and seek opportunities for the Great Dao. Along the way, she will inevitably encounter various situations, even dangerous crises. This is definitely not the relaxing and pleasant sightseeing you imagine."
He paused, observing Cang Jue's reaction.
"She's not taking you with her because she's concerned about your safety. Although Sang Li has a high level of cultivation, she's not a superhuman. She can't protect you completely. The world is treacherous and the journey is long. If something unexpected happens, and she's distracted trying to protect you and gets hurt, or if you get hurt, what will happen?"
Cangjue listened quietly, his head gradually drooping, like an eggplant hit by frost, his long eyelashes hiding the loss and sadness surging in his eyes.
He was well-behaved by nature and not the kind of person who would make a fuss. He listened to what He Shu said and found every word to be reasonable. Although he was extremely reluctant, he did not insist on his decision. He just pursed his bloodless lips and twisted the corner of his clothes tightly with his fingertips.
When He Shu saw his pitiful appearance, his heart softened and he could no longer harden his heart to say more harsh words.
He gave Sang Li a look, signaling her not to be so direct, and continued to comfort her in a gentle voice:
"If you let me go, I promise I'll visit you often at Hantan. I'll bring you lots of new storybooks, as well as delicious snacks from town, like the sweet-scented osmanthus cakes from Li's shop and the almond pastries from the teahouse... In short, I won't let you get bored alone..."
Before he could finish his words, Sang Li, who had been silent beside him, suddenly spoke up, interrupting his chattering promises.
Her tone remained calm, with no obvious emotional fluctuations. However, the content of her words caused Cang Jue, who had lowered his head, to suddenly raise his face. His lifeless grey eyes seemed to light up:
"You are in the cold pond, so you must concentrate on your cultivation and not be lazy or playful."
Sang Li's gaze was still fixed on a certain point in the void. He did not look back, and his voice was clear and calm.
"When your cultivation is advanced enough to protect yourself, I will return when the time is right and take you on a journey around the world."
"Really!"
Cang Jue suddenly jumped up from the stone bench, startling He Shu who was standing nearby:
"Oh, what are you excited about..."
He quickly reached out to steady the stone bench that had nearly fallen, patted the boy's arm, and pulled him back to a sitting position.
"Your sister Sang is so good to you, when has she ever lied to you? Since she made a promise to you, she will definitely keep it. When you return to the Cold Pond, you should focus on your cultivation and strive to achieve rapid progress and exit the retreat. Then, you can accompany your sister Sang to see the scenery of the four corners of the world."
"Yeah! I definitely will!"
Cangjue nodded vigorously, a glow of hope reappeared on his face, and he tightly grasped the cool peach blossom in his hand.
He Shu was about to say something encouraging when his ears suddenly twitched and he noticed a familiar sound of footsteps coming from not far away. It was neither fast nor slow, and it was the rhythm of Qingshan.
He quickly stood up, trotted to the edge of the yard, and leaned his hands on the rough fence to look out.
As the sun shone through the forest on the mountain path, I saw the tall figure walking on the moss-covered stone steps with his head slightly lowered.
"Qingshan!"
He Shu immediately waved his hand and shouted in surprise:
"Why is the private school dismissed so early today?"
Qingshan paused when he heard the voice. He raised his head and looked towards the courtyard. He saw Heshu, with a smile as beautiful as a flower and sparkling eyes staring at him. A gentle smile appeared on his lips, and his clear voice came through the sunlight:
"Didn't we agree that today is the Shangsi Festival, and we should go fishing and pray for blessings by the Yangchun River together? Wouldn't it be nice if I could come back early?"
"Of course!"
The smile on He Shu's face became even brighter. He was almost impatient. With one hand, he pushed himself over the not-so-high fence, landed lightly outside the yard, and walked quickly towards Qingshan.
Seeing him running towards him, Qingshan did not open his arms, but took out a simple green sachet from his arms and handed it to Heshu.
"Another Perilla sachet?"
He Shu's eyes lit up, and he immediately took it and took a deep sniff. The clear and fragrant smell of herbs made his brows relax, but he deliberately complained.
"You give this to me every Shangsi Festival, and the house is almost full of it."
"The spice combinations and embroidery patterns are naturally different from previous years."
Qingshan looked at his duplicity, his smile deepened, but he still explained patiently.
He Shu then carefully examined the sachet in his hand, and sure enough, he saw that it was embroidered with a flowing cloud pattern with silver thread, which was different from the orchid pattern of last year.
He carefully put the sachet into his arms and put it against his clothes, as if it were some rare treasure.
The two walked side by side back to the courtyard. On the way, Heshu couldn't stop talking once he opened his mouth, and kept chattering:
"Qingshan, do you know that little glutton Jin Wu somehow opened the cupboard this morning and ate several pieces of hidden dried meat while I wasn't paying attention?"
"Wasn't it pressed down with bluestone? Or did it find it? I guess I need to find a more secluded place next time."
"That's right! That little thing is a glutton. After eating, he curls up on the mat and whines uncomfortably. I don't know what's wrong with him... I guess he just ate too much and has indigestion! Before we go to the stream, let's take a detour to the city's pharmacy to buy some tangerine peel and hawthorn. I read in those medical books and miscellaneous notes that kittens with indigestion need these to help digestion and relieve stagnation."
"Okay, whatever you say."
Qingshan listened quietly to his slightly exaggerated description and concerns, nodding in response from time to time, his eyes always gently fixed on his profile.
Walking into the courtyard, he saw Sang Li and Cang Jue sitting in the yard. He nodded politely and said hello:
"Miss Sang, Master Cang, you two are here too."
Sang Li stood up, took Cang Jue's wrist, and took two steps forward. She explained the purpose of her visit to Qingshan, still speaking briefly and concisely:
"Excuse me. Master will soon return to the immortal realm. After his mortal body is transformed, I will take Cang Jue away from Luzhu Mountain. I came here today to say goodbye."
Qingshan was slightly startled when he heard this. After realizing what was happening, he nodded, his expression becoming more serious.
"I understand. I hope that Master's return to his throne goes smoothly, and I also wish Miss Sang and Master Cang a safe journey ahead."
As soon as the words fell, He Shu spoke at the right time, not letting the brief farewell scene fall into silence and sadness:
"That's perfect. We're all here. Let's not cook at noon. Let's go to Wangshanlou, the best restaurant in the city, for a meal! Consider it a farewell party for you and a celebration of the Shangsi Festival!"
The other three had no objection to this arrangement. After packing up a bit, they set out down the mountain together.
The mountain breeze blew across my face, bringing with it the fresh scent of earth and vegetation. As I approached the stream, I suddenly heard a few clear, rhythmic chants, accompanied by the sound of gurgling water.
He Shu couldn't help but stop and look curiously in the direction of the sound.
In mid-spring, I see winding water with peach and plum trees on both sides of the bank.
By the Yangchun Creek, the flowers are blooming brightly, and pink and white petals fall in the wind, dotted on the clear creek water.
Several talented young men dressed in Confucian robes and looking like scholars were sitting on the ground along the winding waterside. Exquisite lacquered wooden wine cups were displayed on the bluestone beside them.
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