Chapter One Hundred and Six: Good Things Come in Pairs

Qiu Yifei did not have as fine a skill as Yu Wen Lingxi, but he had chosen a good route and successfully avoided the men and horses of Qin Che. By then, he was standing at the foot of Cloud Drift Mountain. He turned back to glance at the road behind him, then bowed deeply toward the mountain in solemn reverence before leaving without looking back.

For now, he needed to go first to the nearest town, find an inn, and rest properly. After that, he would set out for the City of the River Luo Prefecture. Likewise, there were things he needed to understand. To be abandoned by the one and only friend he had was, in truth, a pain beyond measure. Perhaps that person had his own bitter reasons.

The next day.

At the faintest light of dawn, Lian Yue opened her eyes. She stared blankly at the bed curtains before her for a moment or two, only then realizing that she had already left that forest. An inexplicable sense of loss stirred in her heart, and thereafter she could not fall asleep again no matter what.

Thus she rose, and under Purple Bamboo’s care washed and dressed with simple efficiency. Then she went out to the lotus pond in the courtyard, casually breaking off a branch from a tree, and with a flick of her hand performed movements she had already practiced a thousand, ten thousand times.

During those days in the forest, Dark Nether had taught her five sets of movements in all. She first practiced each movement separately a hundred times, then strung the five together. But with every move she practiced, Dark Nether’s figure performing the routine would always rise in her mind, and gradually her heart grew restless.

Martial training demanded utter concentration; especially with Lian Yue in her present state of mind, it was the gravest taboo in cultivation. A single lapse could easily lead to deviation and ruin. Lian Yue naturally knew how serious this was, but the shadow in her mind would not be driven away. In the end, she simply flung the branch in her hand to the ground.

This scene happened to catch Blue Water’s eye just as she entered the courtyard gate. She asked with concern, “Is something troubling you, Yue’er?”

“Blue Sister,” Lian Yue forced herself to brighten up and smiled at Blue Water. “No, I’m just a little tired from practice.”

Blue Water did not believe her, of course, but she did not expose her either. Stepping forward, she handed over the sachet in her hand. “Your silver needles. From now on, they must never leave your side, no matter when.”

Lian Yue took it and opened it. Seeing the silver needles lying quietly inside, tenderness welled in her eyes. This set of needles was an heirloom left behind by Meng Yue, and Lian Yue had always treasured it. Yesterday there had been too much happening, and she only remembered them at night. By then Blue Water was not there, and she had meant to ask her this morning anyway. “Thank you, Blue Sister. Yue’er will be more careful from now on.”

Lian Yue carefully tucked the sachet into her sleeve and secured it. With a turn of her hand, a silver needle appeared at her fingertip, and with another twist, it vanished once more.

She tested it several times, adjusting the position of the sachet a few more times in the process. Only then did she lower her sleeve in satisfaction. Looking at Blue Water’s gentle expression, she teased, “Blue Sister seems to be in a very good mood. Something’s going on, isn’t there?”

Blue Water did not answer, only kept smiling as she took out the handkerchief from her bosom and wiped the beads of sweat from Lian Yue’s forehead.

Seeing that Blue Water truly did not turn hostile, Lian Yue grew bolder. She reached up and plucked away the handkerchief still skimming her brow, acting spoiled as she said, “Blue Sister is the best. Just tell Yue’er already!”

“What do you want to know?” Blue Water asked, retrieving her hand after having the handkerchief stolen from her, the corners of her eyes curved in amusement as she looked at Lian Yue.

Lian Yue inwardly praised her: this was promising. Wearing a gossipy grin, she drawled, “Of course it’s about you and Big Brother…” She stretched the last syllable out long and slow, wearing an expression that said, You know what I mean.

Blue Water turned and sat on the stone bench by the lotus pond. Gazing at the unopened lotus before her, still jeweled with dew, she said softly, “What has passed is, after all, passed. Perhaps one should truly cherish what stands before one.”

Lian Yue’s eyes lit up. Sitting down on another stone bench, she said happily, “Blue Sister means you’re giving Big Brother a chance.”

Blue Water turned back to look at Lian Yue’s face, bright with excitement, and deliberately feigned puzzlement. “Did I say that? I was talking about that lotus flower.” She pointed with her slender finger at the bud before her.

Lian Yue’s eyes were full of mischief. She tapped her lips with a finger and said uncertainly, “Really? Why do I feel there’s something more to it? Yue’er is foolish, so I’d better recite your exact words to clever Big Brother and let him explain them properly to me. But with how profound Blue Sister’s words are, Big Brother may not even be able to fathom them.”

Lian Yue lifted a hand to block Blue Water’s descending jade-white hand and said unhappily, “Yue’er is telling the truth, so why is Blue Sister getting physical?”

Blue Water shot her a warning glare, then could not help but burst out laughing with a soft pfft. “You little rascal.”

“Hee hee, Yue’er is only happy, that’s all.” Lian Yue closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the fresh air. It carried a faint fragrance mixed within it. Thinking of Big Brother’s stunned expression from the day before, she laughed even harder. “Big Brother must not have slept well last night.”

No sooner had she spoken than Yue Lingjun, who had just entered the small courtyard, answered at once, “Insomnia? Why would I have insomnia?” His eyes fell without the slightest disguise on the composed and unruffled Blue Water.

His voice was also gentler by several degrees. “Did you sleep well last night?”

Blue Water smiled softly and nodded. “Very well.”

At that, Lian Yue went dumb. From the way these two looked, it seemed something had already happened between them, while she herself had been kept in the dark. Then she remembered that after returning to the Yue residence last night, Blue Water had seemingly disappeared. Could it be...

Lian Yue immediately wore the expression of someone who has caught a pair in the act, looking back and forth between Yue Lingjun and Blue Water. Deliberately setting her face, she said in sudden realization, “So that’s how it is. Already... oh, oh... Yue’er understands. I understand.”

“What do you understand? Don’t talk nonsense!”

“We have nothing whatsoever.”

Yue Lingjun’s clumsy denial only made a faint blush appear on Blue Water’s face, and that made Lian Yue even happier.

Though Lian Yue very much wanted to know exactly what had happened between them, for now it would be better not to linger here and make herself unwelcome.

She rose from the stone bench, winked at Yue Lingjun, and said, “I’m going to find Yao Yao. You two chat. See you at the dining table in a bit.” With that, she fled the small courtyard at windlike speed.

Yue Lingjun was left awkwardly rooted in the courtyard by her sudden retreat. He could only stare foolishly at Blue Water, who was half-laughing, half-exasperated, and point toward the gate. “Yue’er is really getting more and more mischievous.”

Blue Water put away the expression of mingled amusement and helplessness on her face, and with a smile in her eyes agreed, “Yes, more and more mischievous.”

Then the small courtyard fell into silence. With a barely audible soft pop, the lotus bud slowly unfolded its first petal.

Purple Bamboo, who came out of the house carrying tea and refreshments, saw exactly this scene: the young master looking at Blue Sister, Blue Sister looking at the lotus, both of them wearing smiles, both gazes especially focused.

This left the still-ignorant Purple Bamboo utterly confused. She faintly felt that something seemed different, yet could not say what. Vaguely, she also felt that it did not seem appropriate to go over there right now, and so she stood there in a dilemma.

Blue Water had already noticed her the moment she appeared, but she had not expected the girl to freeze in place. With no choice, she shifted her gaze away from the lotus in bloom and called to the girl, who was caught between advance and retreat, “Why are you still standing there? Hurry over.”

Purple Bamboo answered stupidly with an “oh” and quickly brought the tea and refreshments to the stone table. Then, following her instincts, she hastily withdrew.

Blue Water shook her head, picked up the teapot, and poured two cups of tea. “Why are you still standing there? Sit down.”

“Oh.” Yue Lingjun sat down opposite her. Blue Water pushed the filled cup before him. He picked it up and took a sip, then looked at her with hopeful anticipation. “Was what you said last night true?”

Blue Water was startled for a moment, then lifted her eyes to the expectation in his gaze. “It was true. But I cannot guarantee that I will truly fall in love with you. I can only try to accept you slowly.” Her eyes darkened. “I already told you about what happened back then yesterday. Have you thought it through?”

“I don’t mind,” Yue Lingjun hurriedly said. “That wasn’t your fault. You were a victim too. And I promised you that I would never go looking for trouble with those two people.”

Looking at Yue Lingjun’s earnest face, Blue Water felt warmth rise in her heart. The gloom in her eyes gradually dispersed, and she smiled gently. “All right. Thank you.”

At that moment, Blue Water’s tender smile, together with the lotus slowly blooming behind her, was etched firmly into Yue Lingjun’s heart.

Since the day Li Jingru had visited, Yue Lingjun had understood why Blue Water had rejected him. He had originally thought that for the rest of his life, he would only be able to stand far behind her and keep silent watch over her. That alone would have been the best ending.

What was happening now was entirely beyond his expectations. Happiness had come too suddenly, so suddenly that even the usually wise and steady young master of the Yue family was thrown into temporary disarray.

And in the small courtyard where Meng Chuchen lived in the Yue residence, another scene was unfolding.