Chapter 5 Enduring Fear to Climb the Mountain
No news of Ning Jue ever came.
Bai Hua had no choice but to pack her bags and prepare to go up the mountain, as arranged by her cousin.
With the future uncertain, she comforted herself, telling herself that Ning Jue was not a vicious person, and even if he disliked her, he wouldn't harm her.
Before leaving Shiyi Township, Madam Fu specially chose a peasant girl's dress for her. It was made of coarse cloth, light blue and not eye-catching. She did not wear any kingfisher feather ornaments in her hair, and her face was plain. Her luggage was very simple.
Because her skin was so fair and had been properly cared for, every inch of her skin was so tender that it seemed as if you could squeeze water out of it. In addition, her face was beautiful and her temperament and appearance were nothing like that of an ordinary peasant girl. Therefore, Madam Fu specially found some face powder and applied it evenly to her face. She also added a few freckles to cover up her naturally radiant beauty.
When they set off, Bai Hua traveled with the merchants from Ji Ling, walking from the city all the way to the foot of Xianyang Mountain, and then continued up the mountain road into the deep forest.
Halfway up the mountain, you can see villages scattered along both sides of the mountain road, with white walls and black tiles, and houses close together with people. Near the village entrance, there are bamboo and miscellaneous trees growing everywhere. Most of the merchants carrying loads on their shoulders and peddlers stop here to wait for the villagers to come out and trade.
The peddler shook his rattle-drum a few times, finally attracting the village children who chased after him. The children stood around under his banner, their eyes fixed on the windmill and wooden toys on his cart, looking at them from every angle. The peddler smiled憨厚ly, took out a Monkey King mask, put it on, and bent down to amuse the children.
Bai Hua smiled as she watched this scene.
She leaned against an old elm tree by the roadside to rest, and after sweating in the shade, she took out a flatbread from her pack, ate a couple of bites to replenish her strength, and then, without resting for long, shouldered her pack, turned her back on the crowd, and continued alone along the only path in the mountains.
The path up the mountain became increasingly steep, winding and thick with bushes, making it more and more difficult to walk.
She gritted her teeth and persevered, picking up a thin bamboo pole from the bushes to lean on for support.
Fortunately, perseverance pays off. Before the midday sun was at its most intense, she finally reached the rushing stream winding through the mountains that her cousin had described to her.
After crossing the stream and walking another hundred paces, behind the thickets of bamboo forest lies a tiled house courtyard, surrounded by a fence. The entrance is paved with bluestone slabs, and at the end of the stone path stands a crooked walnut tree.
Bai Hua looked at the purple berries scattered on the ground below the treetops, and matching them with all the details her cousin had mentioned, she confirmed that the house in front of her was Ning Jue's mountain residence.
Although I don't know what lies ahead, I feel a sense of hope for the future.
She mustered her courage and took a step forward, accidentally touching a hidden mechanism in the bushes. Instantly, the clear, crisp sound of a copper bell echoed in her ears and then drifted into the distance.
Bai Hua's heart skipped a beat, her feet froze, and she dared not move again.
When the bell stopped, an eerie silence fell, broken only by the rustling wind in one's ears, creating a strong sense of oppression, as if a ferocious beast was lurking nearby, ready to pounce at any moment. If you made the slightest move, its sharp claws would swiftly pounce from the shadows, lock your throat, and take your life.
Time passed slowly, but... nothing happened.
Bai Hua's legs were numb from standing, and her nose was covered in sweat. She realized that continuing this stalemate was not a solution.
She tentatively took a small step forward, and seeing that nothing happened, she breathed a sigh of relief. Gradually regaining her courage, she nervously stepped onto the bluestone path leading to the courtyard gate.
She stood at the door, politely rang the doorbell, and waited, but no one answered.
The door wasn't locked. Bai Hua hesitated for a moment before pushing it open, and it opened easily.
After a moment's hesitation, she took a step forward, calling out "Young Master Ning" softly as she approached the inner room.
...
The yard wasn't big, and there were a few vegetable patches growing there.
With winter approaching, only cold-resistant vegetables can survive, so apart from scallions and lettuce, there are no other options.
As they continued walking, the closer they got to the central building, the clearer the bitter smell of herbs became. Bai Hua noticed the earthen stove and dregs of medicine under the eaves, glancing at them for a few more moments, and secretly memorized this detail.
Boiling medicine signifies that someone has fallen ill or been injured.
She continued walking, lifting her skirt as she ascended the steps, but this time, her progress was not as smooth as before.
A gentle breeze lifted a strand of hair from her temple, and at the same time, with a creak, the person inside pushed open the door before she could.
The wooden door was fully opened, revealing an unobstructed view, and the bitter smell of medicine that filled the nostrils became even stronger.
Ning Jue stood two zhang away from her, dressed in a pure white robe with a light blue belt with a beast-head buckle around his waist. His face was cold and stern, with a hint of impatience. He seemed to have just woken up and still looked listless.
His hair was unbound, flowing freely down his back, creating a natural and unrestrained demeanor.
When he lifted his eyelids to look at her, his eyes were full of unfamiliarity, as if he was wondering, who is this person?
Bai Hua took a deep breath, and before she could react, her agitated voice rang out: "Is the Sword Sect out of people? After several provocations, now they send a weak woman here again. Isn't that annoying?"
Bai Hua was intimidated by his imposing aura, her heart pounded, cold sweat poured down her back, and she dared not utter a sound.
At this moment, Ning Jue was not holding a cold weapon, but the sharp glint in his eyes was more terrifying than the flashing of swords.
Bai Hua quickly mustered her courage and revealed her identity: "Young Master Ning, do you remember me? I am A Peng from Shiyi Township. We met before at Wangyue Tower. At that time, you had the intention to recruit me as a maid and asked me to go back and wait for news. However, I waited for a long time without receiving any news, so I had no choice but to take the initiative to come up the mountain to find you and try to stay by your side."
Her words were sincere, placing herself in a humble position while praising the other person, hoping to evoke his sympathy and pity.
Ning Jue's gaze remained unchanged, devoid of tenderness. After scrutinizing her face for a moment, he said, "Your appearance has changed somewhat."
Thinking back to how Madam Fu had deliberately applied yellow powder and added freckles to her face before she set off, Bai Hua lowered her head in embarrassment. Those preparations were all to cover up her low-key ascent up the mountain. After being soaked in sweat all the way, her face must be covered in freckles by now.
Bai Hua raised her hand, rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand, and replied softly, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, young master. My face is just dirty; it will be fine after washing it off."
Ning Jue's gaze was sharp as he scrutinized her from head to toe, his suspicions clearly unresolved: "With your qualifications, it wouldn't be difficult for you to stay in a wealthy family in Jiling as a maid. Why did you insist on coming up the mountain to find me and suffer?"
Bai Hua had prepared her explanation in advance, and her response was not rushed; she simply focused on vividly portraying a pitiful expression.
She said calmly, "Replying to your question, young master, the broker who did business with you before may have mentioned that my previous master was a wealthy man named Li from Jiling who dealt in porcelain. Because the master wanted to possess me, his mistress became jealous and suspicious, and I was falsely accused of theft. When I was sold, my reputation was not good. Whether it's theft or seducing a master, either is a major taboo. Now, no respectable wealthy family in Jiling is willing to buy me. Only lustful men want to take advantage of this opportunity to buy me back into their homes so they can do dirty things..."
At this point, Bai Hua's eyes reddened, and she looked extremely aggrieved.
She sniffed and continued listlessly, "I thought I was destined to end up in a den of wolves and tigers, but unexpectedly, the young master was looking for a maid to take care of me. After seeing the young master at Wangyue Tower that day, I thought that if I could stay by his side in the future, it would be my best destiny and my greatest fortune."
Most of her earnest words were fabricated by her cousins, but some of her own words, embellished by her, made her seem even more pitiful and also elevated Ning Jue to a high position.
She completely separated him from lecherous men, showering him with positive praise, all out of a sense of caution.
Upon hearing this, Ning Jue smiled faintly and asked, "Isn't staying by my side like entering a tiger's den or a wolf's lair?"
These words would become a prophecy in the future, but at this moment, Bai Hua only understood Ning Jue's intention to relent and believed that she had a great talent for acting. So she pretended to look at Ning Jue with eyes full of admiration, her gaze firm, and shook her head in denial.
"Of course not. It is my good fortune to be able to stay by your side, young master."
Ning Jue: "So sure? You know me?"
Bai Hua mustered her courage and looked back: "When I first met you, young master, I felt that your face was familiar. I heard that you are a chivalrous knight who travels the world with a sword. You are broad-minded and insightful. Compared with those ordinary people who only think about romance, you are more worthy of A Peng's trust."
Ning Jue looked her over, his smile deepening, but it never reached his eyes.
He sat on a stool under the eaves by the door, rubbed his temples, and said lazily, "Give me another reason to take you in."
“I’m quick and efficient, and can take good care of your daily life, young master. My cooking skills are also quite good; I can handle your three meals a day. I also know some characters, so I can help you read the registers…”
Bai Hua racked her brains, detailing her advantages and doing her best to advocate for herself.
Ning Jue said, "Not many country girls can read."
Bai Hua lowered her head: "I only read a few chapters of the Thousand Character Classic with the village scholar when I was young, and I haven't touched it since."
Ning Jue nodded, as if accepting the explanation, signaling her to continue.
But Bai Hua couldn't think of any other advantages she had. Was she supposed to shamelessly boast about her good looks?
She couldn't bring herself to say it.
Ning Jue looked at her: "So, there's no other reason?"
Bai Hua's fingers clenched tightly, her voice muffled: "After we parted at Wangyue Tower, I waited a long time for your reply. Seeing that he couldn't do business with you, the slave trader changed his mind and planned to sell me to a local gentry outside Jiling City. I heard that the buyer is an elderly widower with a white beard, who has inhuman and perverse hobbies. He just got married half a year ago, but his bride died last month. I was so scared that I secretly ran away. Now I've fallen out with that slave trader. If I go back, I'm afraid I'll be dead..."
Her voice was choked with sobs, and a single tear fell from her trembling eyelashes, moving the hearts of countless ordinary men.
But Ning Jue was unusual; he was also hard-hearted.
Bai Hua looked at him with sparkling eyes and said, "I have nowhere else to go. If you refuse to take me in, I will have no choice but to die to preserve my last shred of dignity."
Ning Jue glanced at him and said with a truly ruthless tone, "Trying to kill yourself in front of me won't get you anywhere."
Bai Hua pursed her lips, her face turning deathly pale.
Ning Jue tilted his body to the side, watching her with a leisurely air. The more vivid her reactions were, the more amusing he found them.
"Let me... think about it some more."
Bai Hua was taken aback. Was this a slap followed by a sweet treat?
She couldn't fathom Ning Jue's thoughts, and she had never met anyone who didn't show any emotion in their eyes before, but who cared what the consequences were, as long as she could achieve her goal.
The two looked at each other silently, seemingly separated by a mist, even though they were not far apart.
But she wasn't in a hurry to get him to lower his guard and accept her immediately. As long as he could stay, there would be plenty of time in the future. She wasn't worried about not being able to discover his secret second-stage sword techniques while spending time together.
Ning Jue glanced sideways, pretending to think, and remained silent for a while before getting up and walking into the house without giving any explanation.
Bai Hua's gaze followed his movements, her heart filled with trepidation, as if she had fallen to the bottom.
Ning Jue, without looking to the side, was about to brush past Bai Hua when he suddenly gestured expressionlessly, "If you have something to say, come in and talk."
It's like throwing a stone into a bottomless abyss, where there's no echo for a long time. Just as the thrower is about to give up and leave, the crisp "plop" sound of the stone hitting the surface of a clear spring suddenly rings out.
The "plop" sound rang in Bai Hua's ears, resonating with her heartbeat.
Watching Ning Jue's departing figure, Bai Hua couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. She felt that she was one step closer to completing the task her cousin had assigned her, so she took a step without hesitation and followed Ning Jue.
She took this step with ease, never imagining that it would be the beginning of a life-changing journey.
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