Glimpse into the myriad aspects (4)
"Name?" Yun Yanqiu was taken aback.
“That’s right, look at the cats and dogs that other people keep at home, they all have names and surnames, our little bird can’t be nameless.” Zhou Bai crossed his arms and pointed to the bird in the cage with a serious expression, “You are its owner, you give it a name.”
"Hmm..." Yun Yanqiu thought this made sense, and unconsciously rubbed her chin with her fingertips.
His gaze swept over the bird's downy feathers, and sunlight streamed through the gaps in the cage, casting streaks of light and shadow on its green feathers.
"How about calling her Qingqing?"
"Is it because its fur is blue?"
Yun Yanqiu nodded.
"Then what about the tuft of white hair on its neck?"
Upon hearing this, Yun Yanqiu frowned in distress: "Then... is it called Qingbai?"
"Then isn't it any different from other blue and white sparrows?" Li Zhoubai chuckled.
"Hiss..." Yun Yanqiu pursed his lips, when suddenly he heard the bird in the cage chirp, its black bean-like eyes shining brightly. Yun Yanqiu stared at it, and then noticed that the little guy was tilting its head, its round body looking just like a fluffy jade ball.
Those round, bright eyes were so piercing that Yun Yanqiu suddenly had an idea: "Yingying."
"Um?"
"Full of feathers and a rounded figure," Yun Yanqiu blurted out, feeling it was both fitting and elegant. "That's what we'll call her."
"Okay, okay, this name is suitable."
Upon hearing this, Ye Yingying, the bird involved, blinked, unsure whether to be happy or sad.
The master and apprentice were clearly very pleased with the name, constantly calling out "Yingying" to her. As time went on, Yun Yanqiu also developed feelings for the little pet, occasionally opening the cage to let her out for a stroll.
Taking this opportunity, Ye Yingying figured out the layout of the surroundings and found that it was different from the Xuanming Mountain she remembered. For example, the Xuanming Mountain she remembered only had a few houses and a small courtyard in the area where Yunyanqiu was, but this Xuanming Mountain also had the residences of Li Zhoubai and Qin Wenshuang, which were located halfway up the mountain behind Yunyanqiu.
Li Zhoubai was particular about his lifestyle, planting many flowers and plants in his yard. He also had a small tea garden nearby because he loved drinking tea. Yunyanqiu, on the other hand, was very monotonous. Not only was the yard empty, but the house only had essential furniture such as a bed, table, and chairs.
He practiced diligently, to the point of obsession, often practicing for seven or eight hours straight without stopping. In addition to his main swordsmanship, Yun Yanqiu also studied talismans and formations, sometimes even using Ye Yingying, an innocent little bird, as a test subject, scaring her so much that she flew all over the yard, and if all else failed, she would hide in Li Zhoubai's yard.
Li Zhoubai was naturally very welcoming, but the fact that he hadn't given up on feeding her insects was annoying.
Some time later, Qin Wenshuang returned, looking travel-worn. Her face was grave, and upon seeing Li Zhoubai, she said in a deep voice, "My father and I have completely fallen out."
Li Zhoubai didn't rush to ask any questions. He simply brewed a cup of hot tea and pushed it in front of her. Qin Wenshuang gripped the teacup tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white, as if she wanted to pour out all her pent-up emotions at once.
Ye Yingying, who had just been let out for some fresh air, quietly squatted down on the eaves and listened intently to what was happening below.
“After Mother passed away, he didn’t care about me, but now he wants to interfere in my marriage!” She tilted her head back and drank the tea in one gulp, slamming the bottom of the cup heavily on the table. “If he hadn’t gotten drunk and let it slip, I would still be in the dark!”
She became more and more agitated as she spoke, her eyes blazing with anger: "I don't like weapon crafting, and I don't care about any sect's inheritance. What right does he have to make this decision on his own and try to force me into the hands of his disciple?!"
Li Zhoubai didn't interrupt, but silently refilled her hot tea, his gaze fixed on her face, as if he wanted to steadily catch every emotion of Qin Wenshuang.
"I won't let him manipulate me." Qin Wenshuang gritted her teeth, but her voice trembled slightly as she finished speaking. "I clearly told him that I already have a Daoist partner... but he said, 'It's just playing around, it's harmless'..."
She suddenly looked up, stubbornly staring at Li Zhoubai, but her eyes involuntarily reddened: "I'm not just playing around with you."
Li Zhoubai felt a pang in his heart, immediately put down the teapot, pulled her into his arms, gently stroked her back with his palm, and whispered words of comfort.
Ye Yingying couldn't hear what he said, but she saw Qin Wenshuang's face buried deep in his shoulder, while he tightened his arms to protect his Daoist partner, letting her sobs gradually soak his clothes.
After that day, Qin Wenshuang continued to stay in Xuanming Mountain, and became even more enthusiastic towards her little apprentice, Yun Yanqiu.
With Qin Wenshuang's company, Li Zhoubai visited Yun Yanqiu less frequently. Yun Yanqiu, feeling a bit uneasy without his master's presence, released Ye Yingying from her cage to keep him company.
Now free, Ye Yingying spends all her time with Yun Yanqiu. When he meditates, she nestles in his lap to sleep; when he reads, she lands on his head to doze off. Yun Yanqiu grows increasingly fond of the little bird, even building it a small nest next to his pillow before sleeping, and stroking its little head and saying goodnight to it every night.
However, Yun Yanqiu's habit of using it to test talismans and formations remained unchanged, and in fact, it intensified. Ye Yingying was often annoyed by this, and whenever she sensed danger, she would fly far away.
One day, as usual, she flew out to take refuge while Yun Yanqiu was unaware, but found Qin Wenshuang talking to a stranger in a grove of trees.
Intuition led Ye Yingying to a tree branch not far away, allowing her to see the unfamiliar face clearly—it was a thin young man with high brow bones and faint dark circles under his eyes, as if shrouded in a gloom. He was slightly hunched over, his posture revealing a hint of timidity, and even when he called Qin Wenshuang "Senior Sister," his voice was so soft as if he was afraid of disturbing something.
"Alright, Xiao You." Qin Wenshuang waved her hand and sighed helplessly. "I know what you're going to say, but those were just my father's drunken ramblings, and they shouldn't be taken seriously."
The light in Duan Yougan's eyes suddenly dimmed. He lowered his head, his shoulders slumped involuntarily, and in a daze, he turned back into the gloomy and taciturn boy he once was—silent when ostracized by his fellow disciples, and never defending himself when wronged.
After all, he was her junior brother whom she had grown up with and had taken care of for so many years. Qin Wenshuang's heart softened, and her tone became gentler: "Xiao You, although I don't have any blood-related brothers or sisters, I have always treated you as my own brother."
"Whether others say you're arrogant or unconventional, to me, you're just a silly little brother who would only hide in the weapon-refining room when he's wronged," Qin Wenshuang said with a gentle smile.
Morning light filtered through the trees, gilding Qin Wen's brows with a golden edge. Duan Yougan stared at her, suddenly recalling the figure who had stood up for him years ago. She had smiled just like that then, before turning around and beating those gossiping bastards to a pulp.
“My silly little brother can stand on his own now. Even without me, you are the rightful next sect leader.” She suddenly straightened up and patted Duan Yougan’s shoulders twice. “Don’t be afraid, I won’t forget you just because I’ve left the sect. If anyone dares to bully you, come here and I’ll back you up!”
Duan Yougan's Adam's apple bobbed a few times, finally transforming the turmoil in his heart into a barely audible sigh: "Then it's a deal, next time I come, you can't avoid me."
"Of course!" Qin Wenshuang nodded with satisfaction, watching Duan Yougan leave Xuanming Mountain.
After he left, Li Zhoubai suddenly appeared from somewhere, bent down to examine his Daoist partner's expression, and then deliberately cleared his throat: "Finished talking?"
"Mmm," Qin Wenshuang replied, turning her head to meet his gaze, and couldn't help but tease him, "What, afraid I'll run off with someone else?"
"How could that be..." Li Zhoubai touched his nose guiltily, "I was afraid that your junior brother would be ordered to come and take you back, so I had to stay by your side to protect you."
Li Zhoubai's little schemes were laid bare to Qin Wenshuang, who laughed heartily at his antics, making Li Zhoubai even more embarrassed: "What are you laughing at? Isn't your junior brother's weapon-refining skill said to be unparalleled in the world? What if he pulls out some strange and wonderful magic weapon..."
Those who refine weapons are richer than those who wield swords, and they're also better at winning women's hearts—this is common knowledge in the cultivation world. Although Qin Wenshuang doesn't care about fame and fortune, Li Zhoubai is still worried that this guy surnamed Duan might refine some kind of odd little gadgets to lure her in.
"Ouch." Qin Wenshuang laughed until her stomach hurt. After finally calming down, she reached out and poked his forehead. "You—"
As she spoke, she suddenly moved closer, and the light floral fragrance emanating from her body wafted into Li Zhoubai's nostrils, refreshing and invigorating.
Her fingertips slid down the bridge of his nose and landed on his lips. She spoke softly, her voice hoarse: "Isn't this the magic weapon that makes me willingly let myself be kidnapped?"
A mountain breeze swept through the treetops, startling the sleeping green leaves. Ye Yingying shook her feathers on the branch and silently turned her head in a different direction.
Just as she turned, she suddenly saw Yun Yanqiu walking towards her, looking up and glancing around, clearly searching for her. Ye Yingying jumped, flapped her wings, and swooped down towards him, landing abruptly on his shoulder.
"Yingying, where have you been?" Yun Yanqiu lowered her head and pretended to scold her, raising her hand to scratch the white feather on her chest. "You're so playful."
Ye Yingying chirped a few times, clearly enjoying herself, and then flapped her wings to signal him to go home.
"Now you know you're hungry, huh?" Yun Yanqiu tapped her head and sneered, "You only remember me when you're hungry, you little ingrate."
"Chirp—"
That smile was gentle and bright, like the warm sunshine shining into her heart, making Ye Yingying's heart flutter.
She really wanted to hug Yun Yanqiu and kiss the corner of his mouth, but given her current appearance, she could only make do and rub her fluffy head against his chin to show her affection.
Ye Yingying accompanied Yun Yanqiu back to the courtyard, and life returned to normal. Yun Yanqiu's cultivation had not been going well, so she often chirped to encourage him.
These days were very pleasant, and Ye Yingying was getting more and more used to being a carefree little bird. Yun Yanqiu took good care of her, and her plump body not only didn't get thinner, but became even rounder.
Li Zhoubai saw this and felt that things couldn't go on like this. What if one day he couldn't fly anymore?
So he suggested to Yun Yanqiu, "How about taking Yingying and your master's wife out to suppress the demonic beasts?"
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