Chapter 39: Xia Yunuo Leaves the Valley

I looked at Xia Yunuo, unable to utter a single word. Truly, the human heart is unfathomable; this Xia Yunuo is much like Wang Lantian, deep and inscrutable.

Early the next morning, Ma Wencai and I changed back into our Nanshan Academy student robes. Since we had fallen down empty-handed, we had no luggage to pack, so after bidding farewell to Xia Yunuo, we were ready to set off.

I opened the door, intending to say goodbye to her, when I saw her walking toward us. However, her attire today was somewhat different. Usually, she was draped in white gauze, looking like a celestial fairy, but today her dress was quite formal. She wore a light blue embroidered silk blouse over a pearl-white lake-crepe skirt, with a blue and white striped sash tied at her waist. A jade and silver hairpin was tucked into her cascading hair, perfectly complementing her otherwise simple and elegant appearance. Xin'er followed behind her, carrying a bundle and gripping a sword.

What was this? Did Xia Yunuo actually go out? And she was carrying a sword?

"Yunuo, what are you doing?" Ma Wencai asked, frowning, his tone unfriendly.

This man was truly something—he wasn't even happy when someone wanted to go out. He was far too overbearing. If he were so reluctant to part with her, he should have just stayed there instead of returning to the academy; they could have been a pair of immortal lovers, living together in seclusion.

"I am going to Nanshan Academy with you," Xia Yunuo said.

What? Going to the academy together? What was she planning? I had heard she hadn't left that place in ten years, yet today she suddenly announced she was coming with us. What was her objective? A phrase suddenly crossed my mind: a venomous snake emerging from its hole.

"You are a young lady; what are you doing going to an academy? You are not allowed to go." Ma Wencai grabbed my arm with annoyance and pulled me along. "Let’s go."

"I want to see for myself just how outrageous this Zhu Jiumei really is. Wencai, I haven't changed since we were young. No one can stop me from doing what I want to do, and no one can keep me from the places I want to go. You should know that by now." Xia Yunuo walked behind us at a leisurely pace; she didn't seem to care whether we were traveling together or not.

Upon hearing this, Ma Wencai stopped in his tracks and looked back at her with a helpless expression. It seemed he really did understand her.

There appeared to be many things they understood about each other without needing to speak a word.

Damn it, did they really have to be so in sync? How annoying!

Climbing back up the cliff was impossible, so we had to pass through the market before heading up the mountain. In the market, I bought some grapes; since the wine in this ancient era was so hard to drink, I decided I would have to improve it myself. Fortunately, I had once looked up how to make wine on the internet—it was actually quite simple.

On the way to the academy, there seemed to be an unusual number of people coming and going. Suddenly, someone shouted, "The young master! The young master has returned!"

A large group of people immediately swarmed around us. They were from the Ma family, along with some from the Liu family. However, because I was dressed in men's clothing, it was difficult for everyone to recognize me, and I didn't recognize them either. Matong hugged Ma Wencai’s leg, crying out loudly, "Young Master! You’ve finally returned!"

Ma Wencai pulled his leg away with a look of exasperation and scolded in a low voice, "What are you crying for? I’m not dead yet."

Matong immediately turned his sorrow into joy. "That’s right, the young master has survived a great disaster and is destined for good fortune." He stood up and helped Ma Wencai toward the mountain. "The Master has come to the academy, Young Master; you should hurry back."

Ma Wencai immediately furrowed his brow, looking displeased. "Why did my father come here?"

"Oh, Young Master, the Master was worried to death when he heard you had fallen down the mountain, so he immediately brought men up to look for you," Matong said.

Magistrate Ma had come. Hearing Matong say this, it seemed he actually cared quite a bit about this son of his. I really wanted to see what kind of person this Magistrate Ma was.

"Has Yingtai been found?" Ma Wencai asked.

See? He was still concerned about Zhu Yingtai. Why pretend? He was simply the type who wanted to eat from the bowl while eyeing the pot. Despicable!

Matong said indignantly, "She returned a long time ago; Liang Shanbo brought her back. Now, Magistrate Liu and your father are furious and are talking about punishing them both. They even brought two people up the mountain—a man and a woman, one old and one young."

An old one and a young one? Who could that be? I hadn't expected us to be so like-minded; we brought two people up the mountain, and they did the same.

Hmph, Zhu Yingtai, you are finished this time. Your father-in-law wants to deal with you, your rival in love wants to deal with you, and I want to deal with you too.

This time, they weren't turning people away at the gate; they were in the academy’s lecture hall. Magistrate Liu sat in the seat of honor, with a middle-aged man sitting beside him. The man was dressed in extravagant clothing, with a high bridge of his nose and deep-set eyes. This had to be Magistrate Ma, as father and son looked remarkably alike.

The hall was very noisy, and both Magistrate Liu and Magistrate Ma looked furious. When the crowd saw us return, they immediately parted to make way. The tutor rushed over. "Young Master Liu, Young Master Ma, you have finally returned! Are you both safe and sound?"

Magistrate Ma and Magistrate Liu also rushed over. At this moment, they had set aside their official airs; they were just ordinary men concerned for their kin. Seeing the intense anxiety on Magistrate Liu’s face, I suddenly felt a pang of sorrow and leaned against his chest. "Big Brother, I’ve returned. I’m sorry to have worried you."

Magistrate Liu patted my back, comforting me. "As long as you are back, it’s fine. You really scared me."

In truth, Magistrate Ma was also very concerned about Ma Wencai—I could feel it. The bond between father and son is deep!

As soon as Xia Yunuo entered the academy, she became the center of attention. Who could blame them, with her looking like a celestial beauty? What man wouldn't be moved? She walked lightly to Magistrate Ma and performed a deep bow. "Yunuo pays her respects to my uncle."

Magistrate Ma looked at Xia Yunuo in surprise, then helped her up, exclaiming, "You... you are Yunuo? You’ve grown so much?"

The men in the academy were all staring at this fairy-like woman in a trance, including Magistrate Liu.

"How did you come to the academy with Wencai?" Magistrate Ma asked in astonishment.

"Yiqing and I fell off a cliff, and it was Yunuo who saved us. It turns out that for the past ten years, Yunuo has been living in a secluded valley," Ma Wencai replied.

"So that’s how it was." Magistrate Liu strode toward Xia Yunuo and bowed to her. "Thank you, young lady, for saving my younger brother."

Big Brother, was there really a need to be so attentive? You already have a wife, don't you?

"Yiqing, are you alright?" Wang Lantian squeezed through the crowd and looked me over carefully. "Are you injured?"

I patted Wang Lantian on the shoulder and shook my head with a faint smile. "We are both fine. Thank you for your concern, Brother Lantian."

Wang Lantian’s complexion seemed much better than before, no longer so deathly pale.

"As long as you're fine, that's what matters," the tutor said happily from the side.

I thought to myself that if Ma Wencai and I had truly met with some misfortune, Nanshan Academy would never have known peace again with Magistrate Liu and Magistrate Ma stirring things up. Officials certainly have their ways of getting things done.

The head of the academy stepped forward, walked up to us, and bowed to the two officials. "My lords, since Yiqing and Wencai have both returned safely, I ask that you please show mercy to Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo."